The specification discloses a method and additive for increasing the surface activity of non-polar polymeric materials, and a non-polar polymeric material exhibiting increased surface activity. The invention employs an additive of the formula EQU A-B-A.sup.1. wherein each of the A and A.sup.1 blocks which may be the same or different has a number molecular weight in the range of from about 200 to about 1000 daltons and is selected from the group substituted and unsubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl and alkylaryl units derived from one or more esters, organic acids, organic halides or organic acid halides, and units derived from alkyl or aryl isocyanates or ester-amides. The B-block is a polyepichlorohydrin unit derived from a polyepichlorohydrin polyol having at least two terminal hydroxyl groups and having an average molecular weight in the range of from about 400 to about 4000 daltons. Use of the additive significantly increases the surface activity of a non-polar polymeric material for improved surface hydrophilicity, printability and coatability.

Polymeric materials such as polypropylene, low density polyethylene, alpha-olefin modified polypropylene, polystyrene, poly(4-methylpentene-1) and other organic polymeric materials having substantially non-polar characteristics are used in high volume applications in the packaging industry and are usually considered to have relatively low surface energies. These materials may be in the form of injection molded parts, free extruded films, and extrusion coatings on substrates such as paper, metal foils or non-woven fabrics. It is often desirable to modify the surface properties of these materials for special purposes such as for improved wettability, printing and coating of the polymers.
Methods for increasing the surface energies of polymeric materials are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,196 to Gardiner and U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,438 to Gardiner et al. The methods described in the '196 and '438 patents employ an amphiphilic resin of the formula EQU RA(CHR.sup.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.n A.sup.1).sub.m R.sub.1
wherein R and R.sup.1 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl and alkylaryl groups and acyl and arylacyl derivatives of an aliphatic or aliphatic/aromatic mono-acid with a molecular weight of from about 200 to about 500 daltons, A and A.sup.1 are selected from the group consisting of --O--, --S-- and --NR.sup.3- wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are selected from the group consisting of H, CH.sub.3 and C.sub.2 H.sub.5, n is an integer from 0 to 3 and m is an integer from 2 to 20. The resin is blended with a non-polar polymeric material to increase the surface energy of the material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,425 to Ohmura et al. describes modification of the surface of a polymeric material by adding a peroxy or azo derived diblock copolymer to the polymeric material. According to the '425 patent, the diblock copolymer must have at least two peroxy bonds in the molecule in order to be effective. However, it is well known that diblock copolymers are not effective surface modification agents for polymeric materials because they tend to form micelles in the host polymeric material. The micelles inhibit the migration of the hydrophilic portions of the copolymer to the surface of the host material. Under carefully controlled laboratory conditions the hydrophilic ends of the copolymers can be made to migrate to the surface to a limited degree. However, such conditions are largely impractical for commercial applications.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide compositions for modifying the surface properties of polymeric materials, especially non-polar polymers.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a non-polar polymer which exhibits enhanced hydrophilicity and wettability.
Another object of the invention is to provide a non-polar polymeric material exhibiting improved printability and coatability using a range of inks and coatings heretofore difficult to apply to such materials.
A further object of the invention is to provide an additive for a non-polar polymeric material which is adaptable in a range of embodiments to tailor the polymer for various end use applications.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an additive for a non-polar polymeric material which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which is readily incorporated into the polymer materials.

Polyepichlorohydrin-based tri-block additive for surface modification of polymer films and articles


The present invention is to provide a mobile phone comprising a body and a housing. A hollow is formed within the housing and the body is slidably disposed in the hollow. The hollow has an opening in an end of the housing and the other end terminated at a closed end of the housing distal the opening. A display (e.g., LCD (liquid crystal display)) is disposed on a front surface of the housing. The body comprises a circuit board and an input device. The circuit board is installed within the body and comprises electronic circuits and devices for controlling the components of the mobile phone. The input device (e.g., alphanumeric keypad) is disposed on a front surface of the body for operating the mobile phone. The body is capable of being engaged with the housing and being slid towards outside of the hollow through the opening to expose the input device for a user to make a phone call.

Wireless telecommunication technologies have a rapid, spectacular development in recent several decades, resulting in a great impact to the modern society. One example of a variety of available electronic telecommunication devices is a mobile phone. Features of a mobile phone are advanced gradually and a wide variety of mobile phones are commercially available in a faster pace. Market growth is also significant. And in turn, it makes mobile telephony industry advance greatly. Human life and working modes are thus brought into a revolutionary change. It is estimated that there are more than 1 billion mobile phone subscribers in the world. Modern mobile phones have functions other than only the standard voice function of a telephone. In fact, latest mobile phones can support many additional services such as text messaging, Internet accessing, etc. This is because the mobile phone market is very competitive and the world's largest mobile phone companies want to own a larger share of the global market. It is clear from above and in view of the trend that only those mobile phone companies are capable of providing powerful functions and friendly services can survive in the competitive market.
More additional services are available as mobile phones gradually become a ubiquitous tool in our daily life. Designs of a mobile phone are also diversified for the purposes of satisfying the needs of telecommunications and increasing competitiveness of the mobile phone company in the market. In brief, the traditional function oriented design has gradually changed into a design focusing on novelty and being visually aesthetic so as to gain popularity among vast consumers.
A conventional mobile phone is shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a first half body 10 and a second half body 11. On a surface of the first half body 10 there are an upper display 12 and a lower alphanumeric keypad 13 both being typical components of a mobile phone. In use, a person may press keys of the keypad 13 to make a call or perform other operations. The person may also view messages shown on the display 12. Such mobile phones are ordinary types.
Another conventional mobile phone as an improvement of the mobile phone of FIG. 1 for preventing keys of the keypad 13 from being depressed inadvertently is shown in FIG. 2. The mobile phone comprises a body 21 and a cover 20 having one end hinge connected to a top end of the body 21 such that the other end of the cover 20 is adapted to engage with a bottom end of the body 21 by pivoting about the hinge toward the body 21. As a result, an inner surface of the cover 20 is closed onto a front surface of the body 21. That is, a display 22 on the inner surface of the cover 20 is engaged with a keypad 23 on the front surface of the body 21. The mobile phone is thus in an inoperative position. To the contrary, the other end of the cover 20 is adapted to pull away from the bottom end of the body 21 by pivoting about the hinge away from the body 21. As such, both the keypad 23 and the display 22 are seen and the mobile phone is thus in an operative position.
A further conventional mobile phone is shown in FIG. 3 as a design variation of the mobile phone shown in FIG. 2. The mobile phone comprises a body 31 and a cover 30 slidably provided on the body 31. The cover 30 comprises a display 32 provided on its front surface. The body 31 comprises an alphanumeric keypad 33 provided on a lower portion of a front surface thereof. The mobile phone is in an inoperative position (i.e., incapable of making a call or performing other operations) when the cover 30 slides down to conceal the keypad 33. To the contrary, the mobile phone is in an operative position (i.e., capable of making a call or performing other operations) when the cover 30 slides up to expose the keypad 33.
Above three types of mobile phone are most often available in the market. Designs of modern mobile phones are substantially minor improvements or modifications of the above mobile phones. That is, designs of modern mobile phones are limited to the above three types. No breakthroughs have been made so far as the present inventor is aware. Thus, it is desirable among manufacturers of the art and consumers to provide a novel mobile phone having a construction completely different from the above three types in order to overcome the inadequacy of the prior art.

Mobile phone with sliding keypad insertion into housing


A locking toggle clasp assembly for releasably coupling opposing terminal portions of a jewelry item, includes a toggle bar connected to a first terminal portion of the jewelry item. A toggle clasp having an opening is connected to a second terminal portion of the jewelry item. The toggle clasp is selectively movable between an open position in which the toggle bar may pass through the opening and a locked position in which the toggle bar is prevented from passing through the opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to clasps for coupling ends of an article of jewelry together and, more particularly, to a locking toggle clasp assembly for selectively connecting the terminal ends of a chain or link bracelet, necklace or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Jewelry items are commonly draped or fastened about the wrist, neck or other appendage of a person to accessorize that person's appearance. Bracelets and necklaces are examples of such jewelry items. Various fastening mechanisms have been utilized to secure the jewelry item to the person wearing it.
Conventional chain or link bracelets and necklaces typically have a "closed loop" structure that can be opened to permit the bracelet or necklace to be draped about the wrist, neck or other appendage of the person wearing it. There are many types of conventional spring-operated clasps for securing the ends of chain or link bracelets and necklaces. The most widely known and used clasp is a spring ring connected to one end of the bracelet or necklace and a jump ring connected to the opposing end. The spring ring typically includes a C-shaped tubular housing containing a movable arcuate insert. The insert is normally biased by a spring to close the spring ring (i.e., to close the opening or gap in the C-shaped housing) and is selectively movable to an open position so that the jump ring on the opposing end of the jewelry item may be selectively connected to or disconnected from the spring ring.
Other conventional bracelets or necklaces include pivotally connected sections that lock together to form a closed loop configuration. A male section typically has a protruding member while a female section has a recess for receiving the protruding member. The protruding member is cooperatively positioned within the recess to lock the bracelet or necklace in the closed position.
It is desirable to provide an improved jewelry clasp assembly over conventional jewelry clasps that offers, at least, the following attributes: (1) ease of manipulation by the person wearing the jewelry item; (2) secure, positive closure; (3) compactness of size; (4) aesthetic appearance; (5) strength and reliability; (6) simplicity of construction; (7) economy of manufacture; (8) ease of assembly; (9) absence of sharp or jagged edges; and (10) application to a wide spectrum of jewelry.


Bleach-additives and bleaching compositions comprising glycine anhydride activators are provided. The activators have the general formulas of: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 can be the same or different and are a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.9 alkyl or aryl residue; or ##STR2## where n is 0 to 50, R.sub.3 is a linear or branched alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl or arylalk with C.sub.1 -C.sub.25, --H, --OH, --OR.sub.5, --COOM, or SO.sub.3 M, where M is H or alkali metal or alkaline earth metal; R.sub.4 is a linear or branched alkylene, arylene, or alkylarylene or arylalkylene with C.sub.1 -C.sub.25 ; and, R.sub.5 is a linear or branched alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl or arylalk with C.sub.1 -C.sub.25. The compositions display low soil resistivity and are formulated to provide in-use pH values of from 7 to about 9.5. Additional ingredients may include detersive surfactants, emulsifiers, chelants, and nonsoap pH reducing ingredients. Both granular and liquid compositions are provided.

The formulation of bleaching compositions which effectively removes a wide variety of soils and stains from fabrics under wide-ranging usage conditions remains a considerable challenge to the laundry detergent industry. Challenges are also faced by the formulator of automatic dishwashing detergent compositions (ADD's), which are expected to efficiently cleanse and sanitize dishware, often under heavy soil loads. The challenges associated with the formulation of truly effective cleaning and bleaching compositions have been increased by legislation which limits the use of effective ingredients such as phosphate builders in many regions of the world.
Most conventional cleaning compositions contain mixtures of various detersive surfactants to remove a wide variety of soils and stains from surfaces. In addition, various detersive enzymes, soil suspending agents, non-phosphorus builders, optical brighteners, and the like may be added to boost overall cleaning performance. Many fully-formulated cleaning compositions contain oxygen bleach, which can be a perborate or percarbonate compound. While quite effective at high temperatures, perborates and percarbonates lose much of their bleaching function at the low to moderate temperatures increasingly favored in consumer product use. Accordingly, various bleach activators such as tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) and nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate (NOBS) have been developed to potentiate the bleaching action of perborate and percarbonate across a wide temperature range. NOBS is particularly effective on "dingy" fabrics.
A limitation with activators such as the widely commercialized TAED is that the wash solution or liquor should have a pH of about 10 or higher for best results. Since soils, especially from foods, are often acidic, detergent products are frequently quite alkaline or are buffered sufficiently to maintain a high pH so the bleach activator system can operate effectively throughout the wash. However, this need runs counter to providing milder formulations which could be improved in their compatibility with fabrics, glassware and/or skin. In cleaning operations below pH 10, many of the existing bleach activators lose their effectiveness or undergo competing side reactions which produce ineffective byproducts.
The search, therefore, continues for more effective activator materials, especially for use in mildly alkaline washing liquors or with decreased levels of perborate or other sources of hydrogen peroxide. Improved activator materials should be safe, effective, and will preferably be designed to interact with troublesome soils and stains. Various activators have been described in the literature. Many are esoteric and expensive.
It has now been determined that certain selected bleach activators are unexpectedly effective in removing soils and stains from fabrics and hard surfaces such as dishes even under low alkaline wash conditions or with decreased levels of hydrogen peroxide. These activators also have advantageously high ratios of rates of perhydrolysis to hydrolysis and of perhydrolysis to diacylperoxide formation. Without being limited by theory, these unusual rate ratios lead to a number of significant benefits for the instant activators, including increased efficiency, avoidance of wasteful byproduct formation in the wash, increased color compatibility, increased enzyme compatibility, and/or better stability on storage.
When formulated as described herein, bleaching compositions are provided using the selected bleach activator to remove soils and stains not only from fabrics, but also from dishware in automatic dishwashing compositions, from kitchen and bathroom hard surfaces, and the like, with excellent results. The activators are designed to function well over a wide range of washing or soaking temperatures and are compatible with rubber surfaces, such as those of sump hoses found in some used in European front-loading washing machines. In short, detergent compositions herein provide a substantial advance over those known in the art, as will be seen from the disclosures hereinafter.

Bleach additive and bleaching compositions having glycine anhydride activators


Portable data medium with integrated memories is used for various purposes, for example for storing personal medical data or for storing amounts of money. The danger exists that if the data medium is lost or stolen, data or, respectively, amounts of money, are irretrievably lost to the legitimate user. In order to secure these data for the user, it is suggested with the invention to use a small terminal in addition to the data medium, with which the data medium can be connected and wherein subsequently data are copied from the data medium to the terminal. Such terminal is for example necessary in any event for specific types of data media for the operation and for displaying amounts of money. If the data medium is lost, in this case the data can be recovered from the terminal.

The invention relates to a method for securing data stored in the memory of a portable data medium as well as a system for securing such data.
Portable data media are used for storing various data. Such data media serve, for example, for storing medical data of persons and recently data media have also been used for storing data representing amounts of money or other value units. This last type of data medium is also referred to as an electronic wallet. The data media represent a value corresponding to the amount of money or value units stored therein, which, in the event the data medium is lost or stolen, represents a loss to the rightful owner. It is, on the other hand, conceivable that a deceitful owner changes data on the data medium in order to pretend the availability of greater amounts and thus to defraud the user's bank or the card issuer. It is also possible that with fraudulent claims for damages of supposedly lost data media, a greater amount of money than that still stored in the data media can be claimed. Furthermore, in the case of other types of data media the loss or unauthorized change of data can have unpleasant or even serious consequences.

Method and system for securing and restoring data of a portable chip-card if lost or stolen


In an atomizer head that produces a conical droplet mist, two shaping air ducts are diametrically opposing and are provided in the vicinity of the mist outlet aperture. The shaping air jets emerging from these ducts flatten the droplet mist which thus has a larger cone angle in one direction and a smaller cone angle in the other direction. A droplet mist thus flattened can be used to apply a liquid layer in a manner particularly true to the areas and contours of a workpiece surface.

This application is a 371 of PCT/EP96/05228, filed Nov. 26, 1996.
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an atomizing head and to a device for spraying workpieces with liquids by using such atomizing heads.
Atomizing heads of the type are found in diverse forms by way of atomizing heads in commercially available spray guns.
Atomizing heads of this type generally produce an axially symmetrical cone of droplets having a predetermined apex angle. If it is desired, with the aid of atomizing heads of this type, to spray workpieces with a liquid within a precisely predetermined edge contour, which is often rectangular or polygonal, the apex angle of the cone of droplets has to be chosen to be small and the surface to be sprayed has to be traversed with a propelled atomizing head, a procedure which is time-consuming and which in the case of automation necessitates a high degree of effort for a coordinate drive of the atomizing head and the control thereof. If working is effected with a relatively large number of atomizing heads that are distributed in accordance with the surface region to be covered, then in view of the costs of an atomizing head and the installation associated with it this again represents a considerable effort. In addition, the readjustment of an appropriate arrangement of fixed atomizing heads from one surface geometry to be sprayed to another is associated with many mechanical alterations and a great deal of time.

Atomizer head for liquids and a device for spraying workpieces with liquids using atomizer heads of said type


A sorting nozzle having two tapered zones with elliptical cross-sections is able to orient and sort a large fraction of asymmetrical or "flattened" cells. This nozzle has particular application for sorting viable male (Y) and female (X) sperm populations in a cell sorter.

1. Field of the Invention
The physical separation of semen into purified X- and Y-chromosome bearing sperm populations using flow cytometry and sorting has proven to be effective in humans, cattle, swine, sheep and rabbits for gender preselection.
The success of the sorting process is dependent on the accuracy and efficiency of analyzing sperm for DNA content. High resolution flow cytometric DNA analysis of sperm is hampered by its uneven emission of fluorescence. Due to the sperm head's flat shape, compactness of chromatin and a high index of refraction, fluorescence from the edge is much brighter than from the flat side of the sperm (Gledhill et al., J Cell Physiol. 87:367-376 (1976); Johnson et al., Cytometry 7:268-273 (1986); and Pinkel et al., Cytometry 3:1-9 (1982)]. This fact, coupled with random orientation, results in a broad fluorescence distribution hiding specific subpopulations with different contents of DNA within a sample. A solution for this problem is to use an epiillumination flow cytometer employing co-axial flow characteristics. However, this system is generally not suitable for cell sorting. The only solution that incorporates DNA analysis and sorting is to collect only fluorescence from properly oriented cells using an orthogonal flow cytometer/cell sorter (Johnson et al. and Pinkel et al., supra). In the orthogonal system, a 90.degree. fluorescence detector is used for detection of properly oriented sperm. A bright signal indicates that a sperm's bright edge is effectively orientated to the 90.degree. detector and consequently the flat side will face the laser beam. A forward fluorescence detector (0.degree.) is added to the cell sorter to collect the fluorescence from the flat face opposite to the laser beam. The forward fluorescence signal when collected from the flat side of the properly orientated sperm is an accurate measurement of DNA content (Johnson et al. and Pinkel et al., supra).
Improved high efficiency sorting can only be valuable for sperm sexing if three criteria are met:
1) It does not decrease the accuracy of the DNA measurement (maintain 90% purities). PA1 2) Stability of sort is not compromised (time not wasted adjusting cell sorter). PA1 3) Enough sperm can be recovered enabling their use for in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination.
This invention relates to a novel nozzle which is designed to orient and sort a large fraction of sperm independent of sheath fluid velocity and sample rate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The orientation of sperm (cells) is random in conventional cell sorters. For sperm sexing, cell sorters have been modified by replacing the sample injection needle with a beveled needle [Dean et al., Biophys. J. 23:7-13 (1978); Fulwyer, J. Histochem. Cytochem. 25:781-783 (1977); Johnson et al., supra; Pinkel et al., supra; Stovel, et al., Biophys. J. 23:1-5 (1978); and Welch et al., Cytometry 17(Suppl. 7): 74 (1994)]. This beveled needle forces a larger proportion of sperm to pass the laser beam in the proper orientation because it reshapes the cylindrical sample stream into a thin ribbon. The beveled needle helps to orient sperm, especially sperm heads, e.g., sperm without their tail. The sample core leaving the beveled needle will be in the shape of a ribbon, which applies orienting forces to the sperm. However this ribbon only exists when the sample stream is narrow; that is, under low sample pressure and concomitant low sample rate. These conditions are not advantageous for efficient sperm sorting. Also, the improvement in orientation attributed to use of a beveled needle is less pronounced for living and motile sperm. Only 20-40% of intact viable sperm are correctly orientated using this system [Johnson, Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 7:893-903 (1995)]. This means that between 60% and 80% of the detected sperm are not analyzed for DNA analysis. The ability to sort intact and viable cells in conjunction with improved orientation efficiency would lead to a much higher sorting efficiency.
Kachel et al. [J. Histochem. Cytochem. 25:774-780 (1977)] disclose an asymmetric Plexiglas.RTM. chamber for orienting flat particles (fixed chicken erythrocytes) on a microscope. Kachel et al. suggest that the simplest flow path for applying the necessary hydrodynamic focusing forces consists of a tube with an elliptical cross-section and ending in an elliptical outlet having a long axis at right angles to the long axis in the cross-section of the constricting elliptical tube. This device was not proposed for use in combination with a cell sorter.

Flow cytometry nozzle for high efficiency cell sorting

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture


The invention relates to a phase detector. The phase detector includes data sampling cells to sample a stream of serial data and generate primary data samples and also includes edge data sampling cells to sample the stream of serial data and generate edge data samples. The phase detector further includes phase detecting cells to generate phase control signals. Each phase detecting cell includes a first circuit to receive data and sampled edge data and to generate a first signal and a second signal. The first signal from a phase detecting cell is a delayed sampled edge data. The second signal from that phase detecting cell will be a delayed sampled edge data before data is sampled by the data sampling cell. Once data is sampled by the data sampling cell, the second signal from that phase detecting cell will be a secondary data sample. Each phase detecting cell also includes a comparator circuit to receive the first signal and second signal and to generate a phase control signal therefrom.

a. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic circuits. More specifically, the present invention relates to data capture and clock recovery.
b. Background Information
Phase detectors and phase locked loops may be used in integrated circuits for clock synchronization and recovery of serial data streams. Because of variations in the fabrication process, operating temperatures, power supply levels, and interconnection routings, individual clock delays may be different from one integrated circuit to the next. These differences may create a clock skew between each integrated circuit and a system clock or serial data stream. Clock skew may significantly degrade system performance and may make it difficult to synchronize an individual edge with the system clock edge.
To minimize clock skew and achieve synchronization, a phase locked loop (PLL) may be used to track the system clock or incoming serial data stream, compare it with an on-chip clock, detect any phase or frequency difference, and then make any necessary adjustments to the on-chip clock until the on-chip clock matches the system clock. When this occurs, the phase locked loop may be xe2x80x9clocked-onxe2x80x9d to the system clock. After every integrated circuit in the system is synchronized with the system clock, the entire system may work in unison. If the operating conditions in the system should change, such as a temperature increase that degrades performance, the PLL may continue to track the system clock to restore normal operation.
A typical PLL may include a phase detector, a charge pump, a loop filter, and a voltage control oscillator (VCO). One type of phase detector is known as xe2x80x9cbang-bangxe2x80x9d phase detector. This technique uses a two times oversampling technique to detect phase error. In a bang-bang phase detector, the data stream may be sampled twice: once at the optimal sampling point, known as the center of the eye, and again as data switches to a different logic level, known as the edge transition. In other words, for data comprising one bit sent every nanosecond, the one bit may be sampled twice per nanosecond. By comparing the data sampled at the center of the eye with the data sampled as the data is switching, a determination may be made as to whether the system clock is leading or lagging the switch point of the data (here, the edge transition).
If the sampled data is different than the value sampled during the prior transition, i.e., during the prior edge transition, then the edge transition sample is made before the data changes to its new value. Thus, the system clock is leading. In this case, the phase detector generates a down signal to decrease-the speed of the system clock. Likewise, if the sampled data is different than the value sampled during the following edge transition, then the clock is lagging. Here, the phase detector generates an up signal to increase the speed of the system clock.
This bang-bang determination may be used to tune an oversampling clock to occur exactly as the data is switching. Since the data-sampling clocks occur between each oversampling clock (in the middle), a sample may be guaranteed of the exact center of the eye. However, a problem with this bang-bang phase detector is that the up and down control signals generated by the phase detector take a relatively long time to be validated, making the clock recovery circuit harder to stabilize.

Phase control signals for clock recovery circuits


A method of producing a MEMS device provides an apparatus having structure on a first layer that is proximate to a substrate. The apparatus has a space proximate to the structure. The method adds doped material to the space. The doped material dopes at least a portion of the first layer.

Microelectromechanical systems ("MEMS," hereinafter "MEMS devices") are used in a wide variety of applications. For example, MEMS devices currently are implemented as microphones to convert audible signals to electrical signals, as gyroscopes to detect pitch angles of airplanes, and as accelerometers to selectively deploy air bags in automobiles. In simplified terms, such MEMS devices typically have a movable structure suspended from a substrate, and associated circuitry that both senses movement of the suspended structure and delivers the sensed movement data to one or more external devices (e.g., an external computer). The external device processes the sensed data to calculate the property being measured (e.g., pitch angle or acceleration).
During production, the structure on a MEMS device commonly is doped so it can cooperate effectively with the circuitry. This process generally involves applying doping material to the top surface of the structure prior to a release step (i.e., the step that frees the structure to move relative to the substrate). When the structure is relatively thick, (e.g., about ten microns or greater), however, the doping material, which was applied to the top surface, may not dope the opposite side of the structure to adequate levels. In addition, it also is very difficult to actually release the structure when it is so thick. If not appropriately doped or released, the MEMS device will not operate properly.


An insulating glass (IG) window unit, and/or a method of making the same is/are provided. The IG window unit includes two spaced apart substrates that are separated from one another by at least one seal and/or spacer. One of the substrates supports both a solar management coating for blocking significant amounts of infrared (IR) radiation and a coating for blocking amounts of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

IG window units are known in the art. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,014,872; 5,800,933; 5,784,853; 5,557,462; 5,514,476; 5,308,662; 6,632,491; 5,306,547; and 5,156,894, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. An IG window unit typically includes at least first and second substrates spaced apart from one another by at least one spacer and/or seal. The gap or space between the spaced apart substrates may or may not be filled with a gas (e.g., argon) and/or may or may not be evacuated to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure in different instances.
Many conventional IG window units include low-E coating (e.g., multi-layer coating including at least one IR reflecting layer such as a silver-based layer for reflecting at least some infrared radiation) on an interior surface of one of the two substrates. While such IG units enable significant amounts of infrared (IR) radiation to be blocked so that it does not reach the interior of the building (apartment, house, office building, or the like), such IG units are typically lacking in terms of blocking UV radiation. In other words, the low-E coatings provided on IG units while capable of blocking satisfactory amounts of IR radiation are often not capable of blocking as much UV radiation as would be desired.
In view of the above, it can be seen that there exists a need in the art for an IG window unit that is capable of blocking both (a) significant amounts of IR radiation, and (b) significant amounts of UV radiation, so that the blocked amounts of IR and UV radiation do not reach the interior of the building in which the IG window unit is mounted. In certain embodiments, there may also exist a need in the art for a method of making such an IG window unit.
Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,632,491 is incorporated herein by reference, and includes a low-E coating on one substrate and a UV blocking coating on the other substrate of an IG unit. However, it will be appreciated that in the '491 Patent the low-E and UV coatings are on opposite substrates, thereby requiring IG window fabricators to use two pieces of coated glass (which is more prone to damage) for each IG unit.
It will be appreciated that there exists a need in the art for an IG window unit that is capable of blocking both (a) significant amounts of IR radiation, and (b) significant amounts of UV radiation, so that the blocked amounts of IR and UV radiation do not reach the interior of the building in which the IG window unit is mounted, and is also designed so that IG window fabricators can manufacture such windows with less risk of damage. In certain embodiments, there may also exist a need in the art for a method of making such an IG window unit.

IG window unit and method of making the same


Disclosed embodiments relate to a customized assembly of osteosynthesis plates. The customized assembly of osteosynthesis plates is custom-made, for example I-shaped and/or L-shaped and/or cross-shaped and/or crow's-foot-shaped ones which are themselves customized according to the operation to be carried out and the future anatomy of the patient, characterized in that the osteosynthesis plates are connected together by a rod, the rod further comprising two protrusions (4) protruding from the rod towards the nasal orifice (8) of the patient into positions that correspond to the two ends (5, 6) of the base (7) of the nasal orifice (8) of the patient. The invention can be used during dental occlusion operations, for example.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a customized assembly of at least two osteosynthesis plates, for example straight I-shaped and/or L-shaped and/or cross-shaped and/or crow's-foot-shaped ones which are themselves customized according on the one hand to the operation to be carried out on one jaw or on both jaws of a patient and, on the other hand, according to the future anatomy of the patient.
It also relates to a method for implanting said customized assembly on the patient.
2. Description of the Related Technology
In the context of plastic surgery, in particular orthognatic and traumatic surgery or also during certain surgical interventions and notably during an osteosynthesis maxillo-mandibular intervention, it is known that the latter does not modify the occlusion or that it does not modify the occlusion relationships, whether it is total, i.e. by modifying an alveolar arch, or segmental, i.e. pertaining only to part of the ridge—it is always necessary to resort to setting osteosynthesis plates, i.e. fastening plates screwed between the bone parts that are then disjoined.
Such plates are well known, in particular from French patent published under No. 2,531,855 or also French patent published under No. 2,725,124.
These osteosynthesis plates, which are more and more often made of titanium, are bent by hand by the surgeon, with pincers, so that they adapt perfectly to the future anatomy of the patient.
It is also known how to make, on the basis of data from a scanner or an MRI, an osteosynthesis simulation thanks to which it is possible to electively move the maxillary and/or mandibular bone part forwards or backwards until the desired arrangement of the patient's teeth in relation to one another is achieved.
Before proceeding with such a dental occlusion operation, it is known how to simulate in advance the results of the operation on the patient and it is thus consequently possible to prepare customized osteosynthesis plates of various shapes that will have to be screwed at the appropriate places into the bone elements of one or both jaws of the patient, until the bone has healed up.
This preparation will itself lead, as has been stated by way of preliminaries, to all desired curvatures of the osteosynthesis plates, in order to adapt the latter perfectly to the future anatomy of the patient.
Having said this, and this problem having not been resolved yet, nothing will make it possible to guarantee that the surgeon will place exactly at the right place on the patient's jaw or jaws the osteosynthesis plates customized in advance.


A method for selecting a chapter boundary for a digital video recording is provided that includes examining cut-rates for the recording. A determination is made regarding whether a default chapter length has passed. A determination is made regarding whether the cut-rate for the recording at the default chapter length is low. The chapter boundary is selected at the default chapter length when the cut-rate for the recording at the default chapter length is low.

Digital video recording technology, such as DVD+RW technology, is rapidly progressing and gaining a large portion of the market for video recordings due to its picture and audio quality and ease of use. One example of the ease of use associated with these video recordings involves navigation of the recordings. Current digital video recording technology divides the video recording into segments called chapters so that users may more easily navigate within the recording, such as by instantly jumping to a particular scene within the video recording.
Typical video recordings include chapters of a fixed length, such as five minutes. However, using fixed length chapters may result in chapter breaks, or boundaries, that occur at inappropriate moments within the video recording. For example, a movie with fixed length chapters may have a chapter boundary right in the middle of an important battle scene or dialogue.
In addition, each chapter generally has a corresponding keyframe in order to identify the chapter for the user. Thus, for example, a user may search through a series of still pictures that are obtained from within the chapters in order to identify the chapter that he or she wishes to view. Currently, these keyframes are selected either automatically or by hand.
However, the currently available methods for automatically selecting keyframes use techniques such as shot break detection. This can result in chapters being divided in the middle of a high cut-rate area, such as may occur in a high action sequence or during a dialogue, as described above. Using a method of selecting keyframes by hand, however, is a cumbersome, personnel intensive process.

Method and system for selecting chapter boundaries for digital video recordings


A cage can include a thermal plate positioned so as to be aligned with a bottom of a channel. An adjustable biasing system is provided to urge a module toward the thermal plate. The adjustable biasing system may be a riding heat sink. The thermal plate may include a fin to help increase its surface area. A housing with a card slot aligned with the channel can be provided in the cage to provide a receptacle that has a card slot aligned with the channel. A receptacle so configured allows for greater thermal energy to be removed from a module.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of input/output (I/O) connectors, more specifically to I/O connectors that handle higher amounts of power.
2. Description of Related Art
I/O connectors are commonly used in system architectures where it is desirable to pass information between two separate components via a flexible cable. Often a first connector will be mounted to a first circuit board and a second connector will be mounted to a second board and a cable with corresponding mating connectors will be plugged into the first and second connector so as to allow information to pass therebetween. Due to increased end-user needs, there has been a general interest in providing I/O connectors that can handle high data-rates (such as 10 Gbps and greater). Future I/O standards may include a 25 Gbps channel. This is expected to be beneficial, at least in part, because data rates of optical channels are suited to operate at 25 Gbps, thus allowing a one-to-one arrangement. For example, a 4X connector (where the X represents a transmit channel and a receive channel) that could operate at 25 Gbps would enable four two-way communication channels of 25 Gbps. While a passive cable would allow the signals to be transmitted for shorter distances, at the frequencies that tend to be used, a passive cable is unsuitable for long-distance communication. Such a 4x connector could therefore be coupled to an active module (either active copper or optical) so as to allow for increased cable lengths (optical cables offering the potential for lengths of a kilometer or more, for example).
One potential issue with such a solution, however, is that the use of active modules creates significant thermal energy. A module, for example, may need to dissipate more than 3 watts. If there is only one connector, the use of a convention riding heat sink can be sufficient. However, if the 4X connectors are ganged or stacked, it becomes much more challenging to cool the connectors. Therefore, certain individuals would appreciate an improved thermal solution.

Cage, receptacle and system for use therewith


A memory circuit includes a latch circuit having a first inverter and a second inverter, a first ferroelectric capacitor that gives a first capacitance to a power supply terminal of the first inverter, a second ferroelectric capacitor that gives a second capacitance different from the first capacitance to a power supply terminal of the second inverter, and a voltage source that starts supplying a drive voltage for driving the latch circuit to the power supply terminal of the first inverter to which the first capacitance is given and the power supply terminal of the second inverter to which the second capacitance is given.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to memory devices and semiconductor devices. In particular, the present invention relates to memory circuits that can readily read stored data, and semiconductor devices equipped with the memory circuits.
2. Related Art
JP-A-64-66899 describes a memory cell that is equipped with a static cell having two internal nodes and a nonvolatile section having two ferroelectric capacitors. When a voltage that inverts the polarity of the ferroelectric capacitors is applied to the ferroelectric capacitors, the voltage at one of the internal nodes becomes slightly higher than the voltage at the other internal node. As a result, data is transferred from the nonvolatile section to the static cell.
However, when data is transferred from the nonvolatile section to the static cell in the memory cell described above, the bit line needs to be pre-charged, and further the voltage needs to be applied to the ferroelectric capacitors, which causes a problem in that the operations become complex. When the memory cell is used in a program circuit, data must be determined immediately after the power turns on, and therefore a circuit for detecting the power-on and a control circuit for performing the operations are required. Moreover, because a control signal is generated for the operations after detecting the power-on, it takes some time for determining data. Also, in the memory cell described above, although the voltage at one of the internal nodes becomes higher than the voltage at the other internal node, their voltage difference is very small, which causes a problem in that the static cell may malfunction when manufacturing differences are present in the threshold voltages of transistors that compose the static cell.


Systems and methods for operation upon a mobile device to handle a duress situation caused by another person. An input password is received from a user. The input password is decoded by the device. Responsive to the input password being a duress indication, a duress operation is performed to protect data on the mobile device.

Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to mobile device operations, and in particular, to handling duress situations involving a mobile device.
Description of the Related Art
Mobile devices (e.g., personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular phones, mobile messaging devices, etc.) often carry sensitive information that could be the target of theft. A user of the mobile device in such a duress situation may desire to erase his or her data from the mobile device. However, an owner could be put at physical risk from a thief if the thief should become aware that the user is trying to erase data from the device or otherwise trying to impair the operational capability of the device.
The same reference numerals are used in different figures to refer to similar elements.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Password methods and systems for use on a mobile device


The present invention provides a burner for use in a combustion-type waste gas treatment system for combusting waste gases emitted from semiconductor manufacturing system, particularly, a deposition gas containing SiH4 and a halogen-base gas, simultaneously at a high efficiency of destruction, making it difficult for a powder of SiO2 to be attached and deposited, performing a low-NOx combustion, and maintaining a desired level of safety. The combustion-type waste gas treatment system has a flame stabilizing zone (15), which is open toward a combustion chamber (11), surrounded by a peripheral wall (12), and closed by a plate (14) remotely from the combustion chamber. A waste gas, an auxiliary combustible agent, and air are introduced into and mixed with each other in the flame stabilizing zone (15), and the mixed gases are ejected toward the combustion chamber (11) perpendicularly to the plate (14).

Semiconductor manufacturing system emits harmful waste gases such as a deposition gas containing SiH4 and a halogen-base gas (CHF3, C2F6, CF4, etc.), which should not be discharged directly into the atmosphere. It is therefore the general practice in the art to introduce such harmful waste gases into an abatement system where the waste gas is detoxified by way of combustion. According to the general waste gas treatment system, an auxiliary combustible gas is used to produce flames in a furnace for thereby combusting the waste gases.
In the combustion-type waste gas treatment system, the auxiliary combustible gas is usually in the form of a combination of a fuel gas such as hydrogen, a town gas, LPG, etc. and an oxidizing agent such as oxygen or air. Most of the operating cost of the combustion-type waste gas treatment system constitutes expenses required by the consumption of the fuel gas and the oxidizing agent. One of the indicators of the performance of combustion-type waste gas treatment system is how much harmful waste gases can be destroyed with a high efficiency with a small amount of auxiliary combustible gas. It is known in the art that when the deposition gas containing SiH4 is thermally destroyed, a powder of SiO2 is generated which tends to be deposited in the combustion chamber and cause various troubles to the combustion chamber. Consequently, a design approach to make the combustion chamber resistant to the deposition therein of a powder of SiO2 is also an important element in evaluating the combustion-type waste gas treatment system.
One general burner for use in conventional combustion-type waste gas treatment system is shown in FIGS. 28 and 29 of the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, the burner has a waste gas nozzle 2 defined centrally in the ceiling of a cylindrical combustion chamber 1, for introducing a waste gas A to be treated into the combustion chamber 1, and a plurality of auxiliary combustible gas nozzles 3 defined in the ceiling of the cylindrical combustion chamber 1 around the waste gas nozzle 2, for introducing an auxiliary combustible gas B into the combustion chamber 1, with a combustion gas outlet 4 integrally joined to the lower end of the combustion chamber 1. The auxiliary combustible gas B ejected from the auxiliary combustible gas nozzles 3 produces flames in a circular pattern. While the waste gas A passes centrally through the circular pattern of flames, the waste gas A is mixed with and combusted by the flames, emitting a combustion exhaust gas which is discharged out of the combustion chamber 1 through the combustion gas outlet 4.
With the conventional burner, however, since the flames produced by the auxiliary combustible gas are formed in front of the auxiliary combustible gas nozzles, the waste gas discharged forward from the waste gas nozzle which is positioned inwardly of the auxiliary combustible gas nozzles is not necessarily sufficiently mixed with the flames, and hence the efficiency of destruction of the waste gas is not sufficiently high. In order to increase the efficiency of destruction, it is necessary to increase the amount of auxiliary combustible gas to produce large flames, which allow the waste gas to be easily combusted and destroyed. However, the amount of auxiliary combustible gas, which does not contribute to the destruction of the waste gas is also increased, resulting in an increase in the operating cost of the combustion-type waste gas treatment system.
When a SiH4 gas is destroyed by way of oxidization, a produced powder of SiO2 is attached to and deposited on wall surfaces where the exhaust gas flows slowly. If the concentration of SiH4 in the waste gas is high, then the powder of SiO2 is produced and deposited in an increased quantity on the wall surfaces. In worst cases, an auxiliary combustible gas may not be continuously combusted, and it may be necessary to shut off the combustion-type waste gas treatment system for removal of the deposited powder.


Methods, systems, and computer program products for identifying a desired target from among a more general class(es) of objects are provided. A method includes receiving one or more sensor feeds including one or more objects that are identified as being from the same class of objects, scanning the one or more objects to determine if a desired target is among the one or more objects based on a target profile, and identifying the desired target if the target profile matches one or more characteristics of a particular object in the one or more objects. One system includes a sensing device in communication with a hardware processor in which the hardware processor is configured for performing the above method. A computer program product includes computer code for performing the above method when a hardware processor executes the computer code.

In recent years, the use of unmanned vehicles or drones has increased significantly. During operation, the user of an unmanned vehicle controls the unmanned vehicle from a remote location. That is, the user is able to control the movements of the unmanned vehicle via a controller and usually a screen.
An advantage of using an unmanned vehicle instead of a manned vehicle is the ability of the unmanned vehicle to enter dangerous environments without risking the life of the human operator. In addition, without the need of a human occupying the unmanned vehicle, the unmanned vehicle is able to have a smaller size than the equivalent manned vehicle.
Most of the recent developments in human interaction with unmanned vehicles have largely been related to automation control (e.g., navigation and auto-piloting behaviors) or other functions more pertinent to the pilot role of the unmanned vehicles. In other words, other automated functions related to, for example, automated target recognition, discrimination, and tracking have largely been unaddressed. That is, previous unmanned vehicles heavily rely on human eyes to identify and track targets of interest.

Methods and systems for adaptable targeting of an object or event


Example implementations relate to method and system for data management in a computing system, such as an edge server having a processing resource. During operation, the processing resource collects data from a plurality of smart devices and process a portion of the data at each edge-stage of a plurality of first edge-stages to generate partially processed data. Further, the processing resource evaluates a data processing load at an edge-stage of the plurality of first edge-stages based on a throughput of the edge-stage or a size of a data processing queue of a next edge-stage of the plurality of first edge-stages. The processing resource further pushes the partially processed data to the next edge-stage or a portion of the partially processed data to an external computing system and a remaining portion of the partially processed data to the next edge-stage, based on the data processing load at the edge-stage.

The use of smart devices, for example, Internet of Things ("IoT") devices is increasing at a rapid pace, with a corresponding increase in the amount of data being processed by these devices. Processing of data from the IoT devices may involve sending data from the IoT devices to an edge server communicatively coupled to the IoT devices, and then to a server(s) on a cloud network communicatively coupled to the edge server. Processing of data from the IoT devices may incur network and computation latency issues.

Method and system for data management in an edge server

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


An apparatus and method to dynamically shape the projected energy profile of an electron beam and the energy distribution of an electron beam of a cathode ray tube to provide a single cathode ray tube the ability to display multiple image formats of varying resolutions, brightnesses and aspect ratios. In one embodiment, the invention contemplates the introduction of a shaping lens along the path of the electron beam comprising at least three electrodes. Voltages are selectively applied to the electrodes to dynamically and selectively vary the projected energy profile of an electron beam in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cathode ray tube.

Electron optics of traditional CRTs are constructed of mechanical electrodes having apertures to which voltages are applied. It is also known to supply currents to coils to create magnetic fiels for shaping the electron beam of a CRT. These systems alter the electron beam trajectory with electrostatic or magnetic fields.
In prior art CRTs, the electron beam is generated from a thermoinic dispenser or field-emitting cathode. The beam is accelerated and focused to a first crossover (object point) by first and second accelerator electrodes. The apertures in these electrodes are known to have either a circular cross-section or a two-axis (rectangular) cross-section and provide a desired shape, or projected energy profile, of the electron beam in the plane perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. The projected energy profile at an object point correspondingly will have a circular or elliptical profile in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the electron beam. In both cases, the electron beam has a closely Gaussian energy distribution along each axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the electron beam.
The beam is then focused to an image point on the phosphor screen using traditional main focusing lenses, which are either electrostatic or magnetic. The apertures of these lenses have a circular cross-section and provide a magnified or minified image point energy profile of the object point energy profile. Elliptical object point projected energy profiles are used to match the color stripes of color CRTs. Circular object point projected energy profiles are used for high-resolution monochrome CRTs.
It is also known to dynamically correct for astigmatism of projected energy profiles in a plane that is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the electron beam by altering the projected energy profile of an electron beam in a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal axis by using a focusing lens placed along the path of the electron beam. Astigmatism occurs when the angle of the deflection of an electron beam is high enough to strike the outer edges of a large phosphor screen. Although an electron beam generally maintains the shape of its projected energy profile in a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, the edges of a large phosphor screen are far from being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the electron beam. Thus, the energy profile projected onto the edge of a phosphor screen is different than the energy profile projected in a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. As the deflection angle of the electron beam increases, so does the amount of distortion, or astigmatism, to the projected energy profile of the electron beam. Others have suggested correcting for astigmatism by using different focusing lenses comprising a series of electrodes to alter the profile of the electron beam in the plane perpendicular to its longitudinal axis before deflection. (See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,164,640 to Son et al.; 5,055,749 to Chen et al.; 5,036,258 to Chen et al.; 4,978,886 to Miyamoto et al; and 4,814,670 to Suzuki et al.) Thus, the desired image point projected energy profile is projected on the edges of the phosphor screen.
It is also known to use a single CRT to display images from different imaging sources, such as charge-coupled device cameras (CCD cameras) and infrared cameras (IR cameras). Unfortunately, CCD and IR cameras normally have different resolutions and/or aspect ratios. CCD cameras traditionally have high horizontal and vertical resolution (e.g., 640 pixels.times.480 pixels) whereas IR cameras traditionally have high horizontal resolution but low vertical resolution (e.g., 640 pixels.times.120 pixels). An IR image may only use one-quarter of the vertical resolution of a CRT designed for a CCD camera, thus leaving dark horizontal bands on the CRT. This "venetian blind" effect is distracting and reduces the usefulness of the displayed IR image. Accordingly, it would be useful to provide a CRT capable of displaying images from sources having dissimilar resolutions and/or aspect ratios.
Heads-up-display (HUD) systems are well known. They comprise a CRT which projects an image onto a transparent carrier through which a pilot/driver views a scene. The projected image may include data such as navigational information, weapon status information, targeting information and terrain enhancement. The pilot/driver sees the projected image as part of the scene viewed. However, the different types of data typically provided by HUD systems are best delivered at different resolutions and brightness. For example, alphanumeric information is presented in high brightness and medium resolution, (e.g., 320 pixels.times.240 pixels) and is drawn using a stroke (vector) mode display. This allows the alphanumeric information to be easily viewed even when the pilot/driver is surrounded by bright light. Terrain enhancement is accomplished by displaying an IR camera image at lower brightness, high-horizontal resolution and low-vertical resolution (e.g., 640 pixels.times.120 pixels), and by using a raster scan (line scan) mode display. Finally, CCD images are best presented in low brightness and high resolution (e.g., 640 pixels.times.480 pixels), and by using a raster scan (line scan) mode display. The prior art teaches using a different CRT to provide each type of image to a HUD system.
In addition, it is known to display more than one type of information on a HUD system simultaneously using sources having different display characteristics. For example, it may be necessary for the pilot/driver to use both IR terrain enhancement and alphanumeric navigation and targeting information concurrently. The multiple CRT solution of the prior art is capable of providing multiple displays simultaneously to a HUD system where each CRT provides a display of varying resolution, brightness and mode. Unfortunately, multiple CRT systems are expensive and susceptible to mechanical and electrical failure. It would be advantageous to provide a single CRT that could switch between multiple display modes having different characteristics to display images in rapid succession such that the human eye would perceive the projected images as being presented simultaneously.

Electron beam profile and energy shaping lens

Imaging & Sensing Technology Corporation


In some implementations, a method includes changing a master business object that is resident at a first location on a network, generating a change message for changing a replicated business object, the replicated business object being based on the master business object and being resident at a second location on the network remote from the first location, determining an update duration for updating the replicated business object, incorporating the change routine into a synchronization message when the update duration is less than a temporal constraint, and transmitting the synchronization message from the first location to the second location to update the replicated business object based on the synchronization message.

In business applications, such as enterprise resource planning or supply chain management, a business object represents a container for storing complex business data. In particular, a business object represents a type of a uniquely identifiable business entity, or object instance, described by a structural model. Processes operate on business objects. Business objects can provide a specific view on some well-defined business content. Properly implemented, business objects are free of redundancies.
Business applications can be hosted at application servers. The applications are locally distributed and replicated to achieve scalability, fast local access, and efficient processing for the clients. Business objects can be operated on using either read access or write access. Read access is defined as reading data from a business object, while write access is defined as creating, updating, or deleting the business object. The creation of a business object includes generating a business object instance (e.g., from a master data business object) that did not exist before the current instantiation. The content in the newly created business object can be equal or similar to an existing business object instance, and includes at least a unique identifier that differs from that of all other business object instances. The deletion of a business object instance includes permanently removing the complete content of the business object instance from the system. The updating of a business object includes adding elements to a business object and deleting or modifying elements within the business object.

Adaptive synchronization of business objects


Embodiments described herein relate to time division duplexing (TDD) support for in-band, guard band, and standalone operation modes of narrowband internet-of-things (NB-IoT) systems. At least one example is directed to an indication technique for transmission of a narrowband system information block type 1 (SIB1-NB) on a carrier.

The Internet-of-Things (IoT) is a concept in which a large number of computing devices are interconnected to each other and to the Internet to provide functionality and data acquisition at relatively low levels. IoT is envisioned as a significantly important technology component, which has huge potential, and may change our daily life entirely by enabling connectivity between tons of devices.
As used herein, an IoT device (also referred to as a "Machine-Type Communication device" or "MTC device") may include an autonomous or semiautonomous device that performs one or more functions, such as sensing or control, among others, in communication with other IoT devices and a wider network, such as the Internet. Often, IoT devices are limited in memory, size, or functionality, allowing larger numbers to be deployed for a similar cost to smaller numbers of larger devices. However, an IoT device may be a smart phone, laptop, tablet, or personal computer (PC), or other larger device. Further, an IoT device may be a virtual device, such as an application on a smart phone or other computing device. IoT devices may include IoT gateways, used to couple IoT devices to other IoT devices and to cloud applications, for data storage, process control, and the like. IoT devices (or groups of IoT devices) may be accessible through remote computers, servers, and other systems, for example, to control systems or access data. A group or set of IoT devices that are connected to one another using wired and/or wireless technologies may be referred to as a "network of IoT devices," an "IoT network," or the like.
Networks of IoT devices may be used for a wide variety of applications in various deployment scenarios, including commercial and home automation, smart factories or smart manufacturing, smart cities, smart environment, smart agriculture, and smart health systems. For example, IoT networks may be used for water distribution systems, electric power distribution systems, pipeline control systems, plant control systems, light switches, thermostats, locks, cameras, alarms, motion sensors, and the like.
Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has standardized two designs to support IoT services: enhanced Machine Type Communication (eMTC) and Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT).
Because eMTC and NB-IoT user equipments (UEs) will be deployed in huge numbers, lowering the cost of these UEs is a key enabler for implementation of IoT. Also, low power consumption is desirable to extend the life time of the UEs' batteries. In addition, there are substantial use cases of devices deployed deep inside buildings, which would require coverage enhancement in comparison to the defined long term evolution (LTE) cell coverage footprint. In summary, eMTC and NB-IoT techniques are designed to ensure that the UEs have low cost, low power consumption, and enhanced coverage.

Indication techniques for narrowband system information block type 1 (SIB1-NB) transmission on a carrier


An LCD device includes: a backlight unit including a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) which generate light, and emit the light to a liquid crystal panel; a main flexible circuit board on which driving circuits to drive the LEDs and the liquid crystal panel; a sub-flexible circuit board on which the LEDs are mounted and electrically connected to a wire pattern formed on the main flexible circuit board by being soldered to a side surface of the main flexible circuit board to electrically connect the light emitting diodes and the driving circuits for the light emitting diodes; and a support main encompassing the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit and including a step portion at a side surface thereof to accommodate a soldering portion between the side surface of the main flexible circuit board and the sub-flexible circuit board which are connected by soldering.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device which may be manufactured to be compact and reduce a manufacturing cost.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Cathode ray tubes (CRTs), one of widely used display devices, are mainly used as TVs or monitors for measuring apparatuses or information terminals. However, the heavy weight and large size of the CRT have been major hindrance to manufacturing of small and light electronic products.
As a solution to the above problem, LCD devices are gradually used in a wide range of application fields due to their advantages such as lightness, thinness, and low power consumption driving. Accordingly, the LCD device is being manufactured to have a larger screen, to be thinner, and to consume lower power.
The LCD device displays an image by controlling the amount of light transmitting liquid crystal. Since the LCD device is not a self-illuminating display device unlike the CRT, a backlight unit including a separate light source providing light is provided on a rear surface of an LCD panel to visually present an image.
Light emitting diodes (LEDs), cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs), and external electrode fluorescent lamps (EEFLs) are used as the light source of the backlight unit. Among these light sources, the LED that is a point light source is widely used for small LCD devices. In general, the LED that is mounted on a flexible printed circuit (FPC) which is advantageous for making the LCD device thinner is widely used for small LCD devices such as mobile phones. Also, driving circuits to drive the LED are mounted on the FPC.
The FPC on which the LED and the driving circuits for driving the LED are mounted is connected to a main FPC on which driving circuits such as a gate driver, a data driver, and a timing controller for driving an LCD panel are mounted, by soldering. When the main FPC and the FPC on which the LED and the LED driving circuits are mounted are connected by soldering, a soldering portion bulges higher than a bottom case. An insulation tape is attached to the soldering portion for the insulation of the soldering portion from an external system. Since the soldering portion bulges higher than the bottom case and the insulation tape is attached to the soldering portion, it is difficult to manufacture a thin LCD device.


A leaf spring suspension includes a plurality of leaf springs fixedly secured together by a bolt in the form of a stack. A first leaf spring of the plurality of leaf springs has ends configured to be coupled to a vehicle frame. A pin extends through each leaf spring except for the first leaf spring to prevent splaying between the leaf springs during transverse loading of the suspension.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a leaf spring suspension assembly for an automotive vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to a leaf spring suspension having a pin preventing relative transverse displacement between the sleeves.
2. Description of the Related Art
Automotive vehicles typically include a suspension for coupling a wheel to a vehicle body. Suspensions serve a dual purpose of contributing to the car's handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants comfortable and reasonably isolated from road noise, bumps, and vibrations. All suspensions utilize some form of a spring to absorb impact associated with the wheel rolling over a road. For example, a coil suspension uses a helical coil spring that is continuously compressed between a fixed point on the vehicle frame and a pivotable linkage in the suspension.
Another type of suspension is a leaf spring suspension, which utilizes a slender arc-shaped length of spring steel having a generally rectangular cross section. The center of the arc is configured to support the axle, while tie holes are provided at opposite ends for attaching to the vehicle body. A leaf spring suspension may include several leaves clamped together in a stack having several layers. A multilayer leaf suspension typically uses systematically shorter leaves with the longest leaf being directly coupled to the vehicle body. Conventional leaf spring suspensions are not well suited to handling transverse loads on the vehicle, such as those experienced during a high speed turn. The transverse loading may cause the leaves to separate or "splay" relative to each other, which then adversely affects the handling characteristics of the suspension. It is known to insert a pin through a bore formed in each leaf of the suspension in order to prevent relative transverse movement between the leaves. However, providing a bore in the leaf springs introduces an undesired stress concentration, particularly in the longest leaf that is directly coupled to the vehicle.
Accordingly, it remains desirable to provide a leaf suspension design that prevents separation or splaying between the leaf springs during transverse loading of the suspension and at the same time minimizes or eliminates undesired stress concentrations in the leaf that is directly coupled to the vehicle frame.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


A method for manufacturing metal by a cold worked powdered metal forging process is disclosed. A certain amount of a powdered metal is measured out and then compacted into a briquette or other compact. The briquette is then sintered to form a preform. After sintering, the preform is then cold worked to increase its strength. After cold working, the preform is forged to form the desired part. The resultant part has improved fatigue life, surface finish, and metallurgical characteristics.

The formation of powder forged precision components is well known in the art. This formation process involves compacting a powdered metal into a briquette or other form, sintering the powdered metal briquette to form a preform or blank, and then forging the blank or preform such that a part is formed with the desired shape and dimensions. After the sintering step, the preform is typically transferred directly from the sintering furnace to the forging press without any intermediary cooling. Alternatively, it is also known that the preform can be allowed to cool and then be re-heated by HF induction or other means, prior to the forging process. Whether the preform is transferred directly from the sintering furnace to be formed or is allowed to cool and then is reheated prior to forging, the heated preform or blank is placed into a forging press and then hammered or otherwise formed into the desired part having the proper size and shape.
The as-forged surface produced by conventional powdered metal forging has surface finish, porosity, and oxide characteristics which are dependant on many factors such as preform shape, die lubrication, preform temperature, tooling temperature, and forging tonnage. Typically, the resultant as-forged surface finish and porosity of the preforms manufactured by these prior processes have an optimization limit depending upon these process characteristics.
One application for these preforms or blanks that are formed by these prior processes is the formation of a cam for an inner or outer race of a one-way roller clutch. The surface finish, porosity, and surface oxides of these products, influence the tendency of the cam surface to spalling or other failure. Once the cam surface spalls or otherwise fails, the clutch becomes inoperable and must be replaced. Because the cams of one-way clutch races for roller clutches are more susceptible to spalling at higher loads, sprag clutches are typically used in applications requiring a one-way clutch. Sprag clutches, however, are far more expensive to manufacture than roller clutches.

Method of forming by cold worked powdered metal forged parts


Systems and methods for maintaining a current database of point of interest (POI) by automatically detecting a change associated with a POI based on cohort analysis are provided. A networked system accesses trip data associated with the POI. Using the analyzed trip data, the networked system generates a cohort associated with the POI. The networked system monitors for, and detects a change in, trip behavior in the cohort associated with the POI. In response to detecting the change in trip behavior, the networked system updates a database in a data store to indicate a status update.

Various systems maintain a catalog of points of interest (POI) that include a name, address, and in some cases, a geographic coordinate. A constant challenge in maintaining such a catalog is that the POI may often close or move. In these situations, an update of the catalog is often slow to manifest, or the catalog may never be updated as conventional systems have difficulties in detecting the closure or moving of a POI.

Automatic detection of point of interest change using cohort analysis


Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for delivering a message to a communications device. One method migrates a subscriber's communications device to a Global System for Mobile communications network. The subscriber's communications device is migrated from a Time Division Multiple Access communications network or a Code Division Multiple Access communications network. An origination request is received from the communications device, and the origination request is for sending the message from the communications device. The origination request includes a network address. The network address is associated to a signaling point code, and the signaling point code identifies a message service center in the Global System for Mobile communications network. The origination request is routed to the message service center in the Global System for Mobile communications network, wherein the origination request is processed by the message service center.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to mobile communications and, more particularly, to methods for delivering messages to and from a migrated communications device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Migration of subscribers is a concern for mobile telecommunications service providers. Sometimes a telecommunications service provider will move, or "migrate," a subscriber from one network standard to another network standard. The subscriber, for example, may be migrated from a TDMA/CDMA communications network to a GSM communications network. Before the subscriber is migrated, however, network provisioning is a concern. The GSM/TDMA/CDMA communications networks must be re-provisioned to correctly locate and access subscriber information that is required to process communications (e.g., calls, messaging, content delivery, etc.). If the GSM/TDMA/CDMA communications network is not re-provisioned to correctly find the subscriber's information, the subscriber may be prevented from sending and/or from receiving communications.
Messaging service is an example. Some subscribers may send and receive messages at their communications device. These messages are composed of alphanumeric characters and are presented on a display of the subscriber's communications device. Before a message can be delivered, however, the communications network must access the subscriber information that is required to process the message. The communications network, for example, must determine which message service center, and which Home Location Register, is associated with the subscriber. The communications network must also exchange status messages when processing the message. When the subscriber is migrated from one network standard to another network standard, a new message service center and a new Home Location Register are associated with the subscriber. If, however, the communications network continues routing messages to the old message service center and to the old Home Location Register, the messages will fail—that is, the messages are not delivered to the communications device. The communications network, then, must be re-provisioned to continue correctly delivering messages to the subscriber.
There is, accordingly, a need in the art for an improved messaging service for mobile communications subscribers, a need for improved methods of routing messages to and from a communications device, and a need for improved methods of migrating subscribers from one network standard to another network standard.

Messaging service for communications devices


Based on numerical values with respect to factors influencing shares of existing products and a new product evaluated by more than one people, a structured neural network calculates predictive shares of the new product predicted by the respective persons. Comprehensive evaluations on the respective products and the new product are calculated for each person, based on the numerical values with respect to the respective factors. Correlation coefficients between the comprehensive evaluations on the respective products by the respective persons and the actual shares are calculated. The predictive shares calculated by the structural neural network are layered out in accordance with the correlation coefficients for the respective person. Average values of the predictive shares and confidence intervals are calculated for the respective layers, and based on them and the calculation result obtained by the structured neural network, a share of the new product is predicted.

The present invention relates to a method of predicting an initial input of a new product which is for predicting a sales volume or market share at the launch of the new product, a system for predicting an initial input of a new product which is for predicting a sales volume or market share at the launch of the new product, and a recording medium which can be read with a computer and which stores a program which causes a computer to predict a sales volume or market share at the launch of the new product.
To quickly provide excellent products to a market at low prices is becoming an essential strategy for a company which manufactures and sells products in order to survive in a competition in business, and a cycle of this is becoming shorter and shorter. Meanwhile, how large a share (a market share) would be and how large the production should be based on what level of a predictive volume, i.e., a quantity of the initial launch (an initial input) is an issue for the launch of a new product into a market.
While prediction mechanisms and systems assuming that a future volume is an extension of a past volume have heretofore been already provided, mainly used among methods of predicting an initial input of a new product has been a method which applies a trend of an existing similar product with reference to a past record of actual sales, shipment and the like or a method which uses preceding experiences, hunch or a wide variety of techniques such as statistical schemes.
However, with such a method, it is difficult to determine which similar product is applicable and predict an initial input amid fierce changes in life cycle.
In addition, there is another problem that a company has been repeating similar experiences but yet to make a specific use of those experiences. Still other problem is that while it takes time to cultivate professional marketing people, it is difficult to satisfy all in such an environment of today.
Among techniques for predicting an initial input or a share of a new product is a method based on a regression model which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-120395 (1997) and a method based on a questionnaire result on customers who purchased a product and a similar questionnaire-based evaluation result from in-house people which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-200260.

Method of predicting initial input of new product, system for predicting initial input of new product, and recording medium


A light flux controlling member includes a plurality of incident units and an emission unit. The incident unit includes an incidence surface and a reflection surface. At least a part of a side surface of the light flux controlling member is configured such that θ2 is smaller than θ1, where L is a line connecting a gravity center G1 of the light flux controlling member and a center G2 of the reflection surface, L1 is a line connecting a center P1 of a light-emitting surface of the light-emitting element and a point P2 on the side surface where light emitted from the center P1, L2 is a line along light emitted from the point P2 to outside, θ1 is an angle between L and L1, and θ2 is an angle between L2 and a line L′ that is parallel to L.

In recent years, a direct surface light source device including a plurality of light-emitting elements as a light source is used in transmission image display devices such as liquid crystal displays. A large number of light-emitting elements may be disposed to illuminate a wide range with light.
PTL 1 discloses a light flux controlling member (microarray lens) suitable for being disposed over a plurality of light-emitting elements. A plurality of lenses is connected by a support plate in these microarray lenses, and one microarray lens is disposed above the plurality of light-emitting elements (mini LEDs) disposed on a substrate. This configuration eliminates the necessity to dispose lenses individually above corresponding light-emitting elements, and improves the ease of handling at the time of mounting, facilitating the mounting.                Citation List        Patent Literature        PTL 1        Publication of Unexamined Application of Chinese Patent Specification No. 110208984

Light flux controlling member, light-emitting device, surface light source device and display device


A system includes a compensating lens unit capable of decentering for camera shake compensation and a non-decentering lens located closer to an image than the compensating lens unit and not decentering in camera shake compensation. An aspherical surface is formed in the compensating lens unit, and an aspherical surface which tends to counteract an aspherical effect of the aspherical surface formed in the compensating lens unit is formed in the non-decentering lens.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical system having camera shake compensating function, and more specifically, to an optical system (e.g. zoom lens system, fixed focal length lens system) having a camera shake compensating function capable of preventing image blur due to camera shake (e.g. shake of the camera caused when the user holds the camera to perform photographing).
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, the failure in photographing was mostly attributed to camera shake and being out of focus. In recent years, however, most cameras employ the automatic focusing mechanism and with the improvement of focusing accuracy of the automatic focusing mechanism, the problem of the failure in photographing due to being out of focus has been practically solved. On the other hand, the lens system normally incorporated in the camera has shifted from a fixed focal length lens system to a zoom lens system, and with the shift, the magnification and the longest focal length have been increased. Consequently, camera shake very frequently occurs. As a result, presently, it is no exaggeration to say that the failure in photographing is caused by camera shake. For this reason, a camera shake compensating function is indispensable for the lens system (particularly, zoom lens system).
As optical systems having a camera shake compensating function, optical systems have been proposed in which camera shake is compensated for by decentering a part of the lenses (hereinafter, this type of optical system will be referred to as "camera shake compensating optical system"). For example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. H6-123836 discloses a five unit zoom lens system of positive, negative, negative, positive, negative configuration in which camera shake compensation is made by decentering the negative third lens unit. This five unit zoom lens system is based on a four unit telephoto zoom lens system having positive, negative, positive, negative configuration and the negative second lens unit is divided into two negative lens units. The five unit zoom lens system is compact as a whole since it is based on the four unit system of positive, negative, positive, negative configuration.
In the camera shake compensating optical system, not only optical performance is necessarily excellent in the normal condition (i.e. "pre-decentering condition") but also the generation of aberrations due to the decentering of the lens is necessarily restrained to maintain desired optical performance in the compensated condition (i.e. "post-decentering condition").
However, the five unit zoom lens system of Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. H6-123836 has a problem that the aberration performance after the camera shake compensation (i.e. after decentering) is inferior. Although Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. H6-123836 positively appraises the performance of the system at an angle of compensation of approximately 0.15.degree., when the compensation angle is greater, the aberration degradation is impermissible.
In particular, axial coma, which is generated in proportion to the third power of the focal length, increases with an increase in focal length. That is, in a normal telephoto zoom lens system for use in a single-lens reflex camera, the focal length is 120 mm or more (corresponding to a half angle of view of 10.degree. or less) on the longer focal length side in 35 mm format and the minimum F-number is approximately 6.7 or less. When a camera shake compensating system is incorporated therein, since axial coma is proportional to the third power of the focal length and inversely proportional to the second power of the F-number, if the telephoto zoom lens system is provided with a camera shake compensating function, axial coma is very great, so that it is very difficult to excellently correct aberrations (i.e. aberrations including axial coma) with good balance in the entire zoom range.
If a lens unit capable of decentering is added as the first lens unit, aberration performance such as off-axial image point movement error, one-side blur and axial coma after the camera shake compensation can be excellently corrected in the entire zoom range. However, since the first lens unit has a large diameter, a driving mechanism for decentering it should be large. This increases the size of the lens barrel.

Optical system having an optical system shake compensating function