A process for collecting and storing data related to a condition of an absorbent product is disclosed. The process includes the steps of: receiving, in a server unit, measurement data related to said condition; storing said measurement data in a first database; adapting said measurement data to a format in which it can be utilized by at least one application program configured for analyzing said condition; storing the adapted measurement data in a second database; and providing access to said second database from at least one application program arranged for analyzing said measurement data. Also disclosed is an arrangement for collecting and storing incontinence-related data.

Today, there are many persons around the world who suffer from incontinence, i.e. involuntary and uncontrolled excretion of bladder or bowel contents. For example, it is relatively common that elderly and bedridden persons in hospitals, nursing homes and similar institutions suffer from incontinence and consequently may not always anticipate or control the need for toilet visits. For this reason, it is common for such persons to use absorbent products such as incontinence pads or incontinence pants. It is also common that such persons need assistance from nurses or other caretakers for manually checking whether the incontinence pads need changing.
There is a general need both for persons suffering from incontinence, and also for caretakers, assistants and relatives, to be able to optimize the care related to incontinence. For example, it is desirable that a wearer of an incontinence pad does not have to wear such an incontinence pad during a long time after an insult. It is also a general requirement for a person suffering from incontinence to use an incontinence pad which is suitable as regards parameters such as size, absorbent capacity etc. There is also a general requirement to provide users of incontinence products with guidance and assistance as to their use. The ultimate aim with these measures is to allow such persons to maintain a high quality of life even though they suffer from incontinence.
For caretakers and for administrators in hospitals and similar, there is also a need to analyze trends, patterns and behaviour relating to incontinence and to the use of incontinence products within a group of patients. The purpose of such analysis is to improve the care and quality of life for persons suffering from incontinence. For example, a situation in which such a person in a hospital is left for a long time with a wet incontinence pad is not satisfactory, since it will cause discomfort and since it may cause health problems such as skin irritation for that particular person. There is also a need for institutions and companies involved in incontinence care to be able to plan and optimize staffing of nurses and other persons involved.
In order to address the issues mentioned above, systems and devices for detecting conditions relating to incontinence have previously been developed. For example, there exist sensors which can be used in connection with incontinence products in order to indicate when a certain degree of wetness occurs in an incontinence product. Such an indication can be used by a nurse or caretaker in order to assist in finding a suitable time to change the incontinence product in question.
The patent document WO 2011/054045 discloses a system for monitoring incontinence which is based on the use of detectors which are associated with one or more persons. The detectors are associated with transmitters which are arranged to transmit signals containing continence-related data from corresponding continence sensors to a mobile display unit, which can be used by a nurse or caretaker in order to monitor the incontinence situation for the persons involved.
Although the system according to WO 2011/054045 is useful for monitoring the status of persons suffering from incontinence, there is still a need for improved systems and methods for monitoring the incontinence situation for a number of persons, for example within a hospital or nursing homes. The goal is to improve the quality of life of such persons, and this can be achieved by monitoring incontinence product use and by analysing such use. A further goal is to provide flexible and reliable ways of measuring and analyzing incontinence-related data originating from a number of users of incontinence articles, for example patients in a hospital or nursing home.

Process and arrangement for collecting and storing data related to a condition of an absorbent product


A prism and an optical pickup employing such prism includes a parallel prism having a polarization beam splitter film and a reflection film. The polarization beam splitter film is formed on an angled plane of a glass material having an approximate parallelogram cross-section, and consists of a multi-layer film of a composite film made of Si and SiO.sub.2-x (x<0.5) and multiple layers of multiple dielectric films. The reflection film is formed on an angled plane of the same glass material approximately parallel to the angled plane on which the polarization beam splitter film is formed, and consists of a multi-layer film of a composite film made of metal Si and oxide SiO.sub.2-x (x<0.5) as a high refractive film and multiple layers of multiple dielectric films as a relatively low refractive film.

At present, magneto-optical disks, write-once optical disks, and compact disks (CDs) are already commercialized as optical disks for recording and reproducing information via irradiation of laser beams. There is, however, increasing interest in digital video disks (DVDs) as the next generation recording medium.
An optical pickup is a device for recording and reproducing information to and from optical disks. Increasing importance is now being placed on development of technology for miniaturization of optical pickups in response to the increasing trend towards integration.
One example of an optical pickup is Japanese Patent Application H7-136462 which discloses a small optical pickup for magneto-optical disks shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B. FIG. 11A is a simplified sectional view of an optical system of the above prior art. FIG. 11B is a top view of a light receiving element, light emitting element, and analyzer. In FIGS. 11A and 11B, a substrate 82 is provided inside an optical module 81. A laser diode 83 as the light emitting element and photo detectors 84, 85, and 86 as the light receiving element are disposed on the substrate 82. The laser diode 83 has a structure which allows, for example, a concave portion having a 45.degree. angled plane (not illustrated) to be disposed on one part of the substrate 82, and a light emitting chip (not illustrated) to be disposed inside that concave portion for reflecting light radiated from the light emitting chip on the 45.degree. angled plane, thus routing the beam upward. Each of the photo detectors 84 and 85 consists of six components: 84a to 84f and 85a to 85f, respectively. The photo analyzer 86 consists of two components: 86a and 86b which are inclined approximately 45.degree. with respect to the array direction of the photo detectors 84 and 85.
The transparent substrate 87 is made of glass or resin, and has a hologram diffraction grating 88 on the side facing the laser diode 83. The hologram diffraction grating 88 has a lens effect, giving different focal lengths to .+-. primary diffraction light which have been diffracted between approximately 5.degree. and 20.degree.. The transparent substrate 87 is provided over the optical module 81 to seal the inside of the optical module 81. A polarizing prism 89 has a trapezoidal cross-section, formed by bonding a triangular prism having a right triangle cross-section and an approximate parallel prism having an approximate 45.degree. cross section. A polarization beam splitter film consisting of multiple layers of a range of thin dielectric films as shown in Table 1 is applied to a bonded portion 89a of the crystal polarizer 89 in such a way, for example, that the transmittance of p-polarized light is approximately 70%, the reflectance of p-polarized light is approximately 30%, and the reflectance of s-polarized light is approximately 100% when p-polarized light is emitted from the laser diode 83.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Film thickness ______________________________________ Substrate n = 1.635 -- 1st layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 2nd layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 3rd layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 4th layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 5th layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 6th layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 7th layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 8th layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 9th layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm Substrate n = 1.635 -- ______________________________________
The polarizing prism 89 is integrated onto the transparent substrate 87, and an angled plane 89b inclines toward the inside of the optical module 81. A reflection film consisting of multiple layers of a range of thin dielectric film as shown in Table 2 is applied to the surface of the angled plane 89b.
TABLE 2 ______________________________________ Film thickness ______________________________________ Substrate n = 1.635 -- 1st layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 2nd layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 3rd layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 4th layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 5th layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 6th layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 7th layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 8th layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 9th layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm l0th layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 11th layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 12th layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 13th layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 14th layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 15th layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 16th layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 17th layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 18th layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 19th layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 20th layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 21st layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 22nd layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 23rd layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 24th layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 25th layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 26th layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 27th layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 28th layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 29th layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 30th layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 31st layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm 32nd layer SiO.sub.2 183 nm 33rd layer TiO.sub.2 119 nm Substrate n = 1.635 -- ______________________________________
A prism analyzer 90 has a trapezoidal cross-section, formed by bonding a prism having a triangular cross-section and a prism having a parallelogram cross-section. The prism analyzer 90 has a polarization splitting plane 90a at the junction plane of the above two prisms which is set to transmit approximately 100% of p-polarized light and reflect approximately 100% of s-polarized light. The prism analyzer 90 is disposed on the substrate 82 over the photo detector 86. The polarization splitting plane 90a is located over the component 86a of the photo detector 86, and an angled plane 90b is located over the component 86b of the photo detector 86. An object lens 91 is disposed over the polarizing prism 89 to focus the light.
In the magneto-optical pickup as configured above, p-polarized light emitted from the laser diode 83 is transmitted through the transparent substrate 87 on which the hologram diffraction grating 88 is formed, and enters the polarization splitting plane 89a of the polarizing prism 89. Since the polarization splitting plane 89a is set to transmit approximately 70% of p-polarized light, reflect approximately 30% of p-polarized light, and reflect approximately 100% of s-polarized light; approximately 70% of entering light is transmitted and focused by the object lens 91 on the magneto-optical recording medium 92. The polarization plane of light is rotated about 0.5.degree. on the magneto-optical recording medium 92, depending on the type of recorded magnetic signals, for reflecting the light incorporating a small quantity of s-polarized light component as the magneto-optical signal component, following which the reflected light is transmitted through the object lens 91 again, and back to the polarization splitting plane 89a of the polarizing prism 89.
The polarization splitting plane 89a is set to transmit approximately 70% of p-polarized light, reflect approximately 30% of p-polarized light, and reflect approximately 100% of s-polarized light. Thus, approximately 70% of the p-polarized component is transmitted, and approximately 30% of the p-polarized component and 100% of the s-polarized component, which is the magneto-optical signal component, are reflected. Here, the components reflected on the polarization splitting plane 89a is reflected onto the angled plane 89b, passes through the transparent substrate 87 into the optical module 81, and enters the polarization splitting plane 90a of the prism analyzer 90. Since the polarization splitting plane 90a is set to transmit approximately 100% of p-polarized light and reflect approximately 100% of s-polarized light, the p-polarized light component passes through the polarization splitting plane 90a and enters the part 86a of the photo detector 86; the s-polarized component is reflected on the polarization splitting plane 90a, reflected on the angled plane 90b, and then enters the component 86b of the photo detector 86.
In the magneto-optical pickup as configured above, the polarizing prism 89 with different refractivity and transmittance for p-polarized light and s-polarized light is integrated into the optical module 81. The laser diode 83 and the photo detectors 84 to 86 are provided inside the optical module 81, and the prism analyzer 90 is integrated into the substrate 82. This configuration realizes a smaller, lower cost, and integrated optical pickup for magneto-optical disks.
Japanese Patent Application H7-188898 discloses a small optical pickup for DVDs as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B. FIG. 12A shows a simplified sectional view of an optical system of the prior art, and FIG. 12B shows a magnified top view of a light receiving element.
In FIGS. 12A and 12B, an optical module 103 has a substrate 104 inside. A laser diode 105 and photo detectors 106, 107, and 108 are disposed on the substrate 104. The laser diode 105 is provided, for example, with a concave portion (not illustrated) having a 45.degree. angled plane on a part of the substrate 104. A light emitting chip (not illustrated) is mounted inside, and light emitted from the light emitting chip is reflected on the 45.degree. angled plane and radiated upwards. The laser diode emits linearly p-polarized light. The photo detectors 106 and 108 consist of four areas: 106a, 106b, 106c, and 106d; and 108a, 108b, 108c, and 108d respectively. The direction of the line that splits the areas 106b and 106d, and areas 108b and 108d is approximately parallel to the direction of the information tracks of a information recording medium 124. The transparent substrate 109 is made of glass or resin, and has a hologram diffraction grating 120 on the side facing the photo detectors 106, 107, and 108. A hologram diffraction grating 120 has a lens effect, giving .+-. primary diffraction light diffracted between approximately 5.degree. and 20.degree. to be focused close to and far from the transparent substrate 109 respectively, centering on the plane of the photo detectors 106, 107, and 108. The transparent substrate 109 is disposed to seal the inside of the optical module 103.
A polarization beam splitter 121 is formed by bonding a prism having an approximate right triangle cross-section and an approximate parallel prism having an approximate 45.degree. cross-section. An optical film 121a which transmits p-polarized light and reflects s-polarized light is applied to the junction plane of the two prisms. The optical film 121a consists of multiple layers of multiple dielectric films as shown in Table 3.
TABLE 3 ______________________________________ Film thickness ______________________________________ Substrate n = 1.51 -- 1st layer TiO.sub.2 97 nm 2nd layer SiO.sub.2 152 nm 3rd layer TiO.sub.2 97 nm 4th layer SiO.sub.2 152 nm 5th layer TiO.sub.2 97 nm 6th layer SiO.sub.2 152 nm 7th layer TiO.sub.2 97 nm 8th layer SiO.sub.2 152 nm 9th layer TiO.sub.2 97 nm Substrate n = 1.51 -- ______________________________________
The polarization beam splitter 121 is disposed on and integrated into the transparent substrate 109. An angled plane 121b inclines towards the inside of the optical module 103. A quarter-wave plate 122 is disposed on the surface of the polarization beam splitter 121 in an integrated fashion, where it converts linearly polarized light to circularly polarized light.
In the optical pickup as configured above, p-polarized light emitted from the laser diode 105 passes through the transparent substrate 109, enters the polarization beam splitter 121, passes through the optical film 121a, and enters the quarter-wave plate 122. The p-polarized light is converted to the circularly polarized light in the quarter-wave plate 122, and the circularly polarized light is focused on the information recording medium 124 by an object lens 123. The circularly polarized light reflected upon receiving the information signal on the information recording medium 124 passes through the object lens 123 again, and enters the quarter-wave plate 122. Here, the circularly polarized light is again converted to linearly polarized light which orthogonally crosses the p-polarized light emitted from the laser diode 105, i.e. s-polarized light, in the quarter-wave plate 122. The s-polarized light then enters the polarization beam splitter 121, is reflected on the optical film 121a and on the angled plane 121b, and enters the hologram diffraction grating 120 of the transparent substrate 109.
Here, the light is diffracted at diffraction angles of approximately 5.degree. to 20.degree.. The + primary diffraction light, for example, enters the photo detector 106, zero diffraction light enters the photo detector 107, and the - primary diffraction light enters the photo detector 108.
In the configuration of the optical pickup for DVDs as explained above, the optical module 103 and polarization beam splitter 121 are integrated, and the polarization beam splitter 121 and quarter-wave plate 122 are also integrated, offering drastically smaller optical pickups. Furthermore, the number of components has been reduced by integrating the laser diode 105 and photo detectors 106, 107, and 108 into the optical module 103; and manufacturing costs have been reduced due to lack of need for extreme precision in the positioning of the photo detectors 106, 107, and 108.
Integration of components of optical pickups is achieved by employing a semiconductor laser which essentially generates diffused light, spreading to a certain range, as a light source. Therefore, the optical characteristics of components of optical pickups are strongly affected by the incident angle.
In the optical pickup for magneto-optical disks shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, a phase difference may occur between the p-polarization light and s-polarization light responsive to broad incident angles because the polarization beam splitter film and reflection film disposed respectively on the face 89a of a glass material having an approximate parallelogram cross-section and the plane 89b which is approximately parallel to the plane 89a only consist of dielectric films.
FIG. 13 shows the phase difference between the p-polarized light and s-polarized light (hereafter referred to as the "p-s phase difference") of light reflected on the polarization beam splitter film, the p-s phase difference of light reflected on the reflection film, and the total of the p-s phase difference of the polarization beam splitter film and of the reflection film. This explains the dependence of the p-s phase difference on the incident angle when the light reflected on a disk enters a photo detector. As shown in FIG. 13, the p-s phase difference of the polarization beam splitter film is -50.degree. to +40.degree. when the light incident angle is .+-.10.degree. with respect to the prism, therefore 45.degree..+-.6.degree. with respect to the optical film. The p-s phase difference of the reflection film exceeds -50.degree. to +50.degree. and the p-s phase difference of the light entering the photo detector (shown as the total p-s phase difference in FIG. 13) also exceeds -50.degree. to +50.degree..
To satisfactorily reproduce the information recorded on a magneto-optical disk, the p-s phase difference when the light enters the photo detector may require to be within -20.degree. to +20. With the polarization beam splitter film and reflection film of the prior art, it may be difficult to design an optical pickup which achieves the above preferable range for diffused light.
In the optical pickup for DVDs as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, transmittance of the p-polarized light in the polarization beam splitter film greatly depends on the incident angle, as shown in FIG. 14, when the light enters at a wide incident angle (the incident angle to the optical film is 45.degree..+-.7.degree. when the incident angle to the prism is 1.degree..+-.0.degree.). This may cause unsatisfactory reproduction due to reduced light entering the light receiving area.
Furthermore, since the hologram diffraction grating 120 is disposed on the transparent substrate 109 which seals the inside of the optical module, it may be necessary to broaden the diffraction angle .theta. of the diffracted light, i.e. to narrow the pitch of the diffraction grating, when the distance between the hologram diffraction grating 120 and photo detectors 106, 107, and 108 is short. This may cause difficulties in manufacturing such diffraction gratings, resulting in failure to achieve a satisfactory optical pickup.

Composite prism and optical pickup using the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Apparatus for automatically trimming and cutting images on support sheets, which comprises two cutting devices (1, 2) arranged upstream and downstream, respectively, a conveying device (3) which is suitable for conveying to the second cutting device (2) the sheet portions cut by the first cutting device (1) and comprises one or more conveyor belts (12) tight between a pair of rollers (13), at least one being mechanically connected to a motor (14), a plurality of sensors (16, 17, 18) suitable for detecting the presence of a sheet portion on the conveyor belts (12), as well as one or more conveying rollers (25) suitable for taking a sheet portion placed on the conveyor belts (12) and conveying it to the second cutting device (2).

The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically trimming and cutting images on sheets of paper and other graphic and photographic supports, and in particular images, also with different formats, arranged on said sheets along several rows and columns.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,479 to Roy et al. discloses an apparatus for trimming and cutting images of the same format arranged on a sheet of photographic paper along several rows and columns parallel to each other, but not necessarily parallel to the edges of the same sheet. This known apparatus comprises two cutting devices arranged perpendicular to each other upstream and downstream, respectively, of a conveying device which aligns the strips of images coming from the first cutting device before sending them to the second cutting device. However, in this known apparatus the sheet to be cut must be carefully guided, since if it is not conveyed with the edges arranged perfectly parallel to the feed direction, the images can be not precisely cut along their edges. For avoiding this drawback, the patent applications EP 951973 and PCT/IT01/00131 of the same applicant disclose two cutting devices wherein the sheet to be cut can be inserted and/or conveyed with the edge not necessarily parallel to the feed direction, even when the same sheet is very large. However, these known cutting devices can cut the images from the sheet only along one axis, so that a manual intervention is necessary when the images are arranged along several rows and columns.

Apparatus for automatically trimming and cutting images on sheets of paper and other graphic and photographic supports


Techniques for application quality testing time predictions are described that provide customized processing time predictions for application testing. Testing times for various stages of testing are collected during application testing. The collected testing data may be stored in association with various attribute values ascertained for the applications. The collected timing data is used to predict processing times for applications that match defined profiles. The profiles may be defined to include selected attributes and values used to identify applications having corresponding attributes and values. The collected timing data may be processed to derive predictions for processing times on a profile-by-profile basis. When a new application is submitted, the application is matched to a particular profile based on attribute values possessed by the application. Then, processing time predictions associated with the matching profile may be obtained, assigned to the application, and output for presentation to a developer of the application.

The amount of application content consumed by users of various computing devices including tablet devices, laptops, mobile phones, desktop computers, and so forth, is ever-increasing. To assist users in obtaining application content, a service provider may provide an application store through which users may access, browse, select, purchase, and/or download applications for their devices. To ensure the integrity of the store and quality of application provided, the service provider may conduct quality testing on applications submitted by third party developers for distribution via the store before releasing the applications to the store.
As this quality testing may take some time, developers may be interested in tracking progress of the quality review. Traditionally, limited information is provided to developers regarding the progress of testing being performed on their applications. For example, a "one-size-fits-all" approach may provide just a generic or average overall testing time that is used for all different kinds of applications and developers. Using generic/average overall testing times fails to account for individual characteristics of different application submissions and may not be very accurate for many applications.

Application quality testing time predictions


Compositions and methods useful in restorative dentistry are disclosed. Compositions of the present invention include a peptide, and a polymer matrix. The peptide is one capable of reacting with a source of mineralizing ions to initiate deposition of hydroxyapatite crystals within the polymer matrix. Compositions of the present invention are uniquely capable of sealing a junction between a dental restorative material and adjacent native tooth tissue.

Tooth decay, or dental caries, initially results in the demineralization, and ultimately, in the complete destruction of tooth enamel and the underlying dentin. Currently, the restoration of carious teeth typically involves removing the demineralized enamel and dentin, followed by the placement of dental restoratives such as silver amalgams, cast gold inlays, ceramics, composite resins, and various organic polymers. However, despite major technological advances that have significantly improved the clinical performance of dental composite resins and ceramics, no current method of restoring teeth completely joins the alloplastic restorative material to the remaining mineralized natural tooth structure. Indeed, many dental restorations will ultimately fail because bacteria will penetrate this junction, leading to a condition known as recurrent caries.
Enamel is the hardest substance produced by a mammal's body. In mammals, the enamel layer of a tooth is formed during embryogenesis from protein secretions from ameloblast cells. As the tooth erupts, the layer of ameloblast cells is shed, and no more enamel can be naturally produced. Many groups have studied the formation of enamel and have attempted to imitate enamel formation and mineralization through various tissue engineering techniques.
There are two major groups of proteins found in the developing extracellular matrix ("ECM") of enamel: amelogenins and enamelins. The amelogenins constitute 90% of the ECM proteins and are lost during mineralization. Deutsch et al., J. Biol. Chem. 266:16021-16028 (1991). Conversely, the enamelins constitute only a minor fraction of the ECM proteins, but are partially retained in mature dental tissue. The acidic nature of enamelins (they include glutamic acid, aspartic acid, serine, and glycine residues), as well as their beta-pleated sheet structure, suggests a role in nucleation and regulation of enamel crystal growth. Recognizing this, U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,032 to Slavkin et al. provides methods for the formulation of dental enamel crystals in a biosynthetic matrix by the nucleation of calcium solutions with enamel proteins, and for the use of these enamel crystals as a dental restorative material. The methods assume the carious lesion does not extend into the tooth structure beyond the dentin/enamel junction ("DEJ"). In addition, the method does not provide for a rigid support capable of sustaining masticatory forces until the nascent enamel eventually becomes mineralized.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,958 to Hammarstrom et al. describes a process utilizing enamel matrix proteins for inducing binding between parts of living mineralized tissue by regeneration of mineralized tissue on at least one of the parts. Similar to Slavkin et al., however, the enamel matrix proteins are not applied within a rigid support, and are therefore unable to withstand masticatory crushing forces.
Recent advances in calcium phosphate chemistry have produced dental composite formulations that promise to remineralize demineralized enamel, dentin and cementum. See, U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,859 to Dickens et al., for example. These compounds are able to react with water to release calcium phosphate with release kinetics predicted to produce hydroxyapatite or fluoroapatite. However, the released mineral does not remain associated with the composite, but is instead deposited on the tooth surface. Currently, there is no known dental restorative material that has the ability to incorporate or form highly ordered mineral, such as hydroxyapatite or fluoroapatite, after placement, thereby sealing the junction between the restorative material and adjacent dental tissue.
The present invention is directed to overcoming these and other deficiencies in the art.

Mineralizing composite materials for restoring teeth


A bicycle frame provided with increased stiffness in one direction without increasing the stiffness in another direction. In particular, a bicycle frame is provided that increases the stiffness in the lateral direction while not increasing the stiffness in the vertical direction.

Conventional bicycle frames are designed with tubular members of the bicycle frame having a uniform wall thickness. The uniform walls provide uniform stiffness in each direction. Typically, if an increase in stiffness is desired, the thickness of the uniform thickness wall size is increased with the disadvantages of increase in weight and inability to customize the stiffness directionally.
Conventional bicycle frames are also designed with a uniform wall thickness in a cross-section and with differing wall thickness in the longitudinal direction of the bicycle tubes. In particular, a cross-section taken at one point compared to a cross-section taken at a different point in the longitudinal direction may be different when compared to each other. When comparing these different cross-sections, one cross-section may be stiffer because of stiffer material being used or one cross-section may be thicker than the other.


According to some embodiments, devices, systems, and methods for autonomously or semi-autonomously conveying downhole oil and gas wellbore tools and performing downhole oil and gas wellbore operations are disclosed. The exemplary devices, systems, and methods may include an untethered drone that substantially disintegrates and/or dissolves into a proppant when shaped charges that the untethered drone carries are detonated. Two or more untethered drones, wellbore tools, and/or data collection devices may be connected in an untethered drone string and selectively detonated for efficiently performing wellbore operations and reducing the amount of debris left in the wellbore after such operations.

Hydraulic Fracturing (or, "fracking") is a commonly-used method for extracting oil and gas from geological formations (i.e., "hydrocarbon bearing formations") such as shale and tight-rock formations. Fracking typically involves, among other things, drilling a wellbore into a hydrocarbon bearing formation; installing casing(s) and tubing; deploying a perforating gun including shaped explosive charges in the wellbore via a wireline or other methods; positioning the perforating gun within the wellbore at a desired area; perforating the wellbore and the hydrocarbon formation by detonating the shaped charges; pumping high hydraulic pressure fracking fluid into the wellbore to force open perforations, cracks, and imperfections in the hydrocarbon formation; delivering a proppant material (such as sand or other hard, granular materials) into the hydrocarbon formation to hold open the perforations, fractures, and cracks (giving the tight-rock formation permeability) through which hydrocarbons flow out of the hydrocarbon formation; and, collecting the liberated hydrocarbons via the wellbore.
Perforating the wellbore and the hydrocarbon formations is typically done using one or more perforating guns. For example, as shown in FIG. 1A and further described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,494,021 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, a conventional perforating gun string 100 may have two or more perforating guns 110. Each perforating gun 110 may have a substantially cylindrical carrier body 120 housing a charge carrier 130 including, among other things, one more shaped charges 140, a detonating cord 150 for detonating the shaped charges 140, and a conductive line 160 for relaying an electrical signal between connected perforating guns 110. In such "enclosed" perforating guns 110, the carrier body 120 may use, for example, a variety of seals and connections (unnumbered) to prevent the charge carrier 130, shaped charges 140, and other internal components from being exposed to harsh wellbore conditions which may include damaging temperatures, pressures, fluids, corrosive materials, etc. Exposure to such conditions may, for example, deactivate or destroy the perforating gun 110 and associated components or cause premature detonation.
Another known perforating gun type is an "exposed" perforating gun 200, as shown in FIG. 1B. The exposed perforating gun 200 includes a charge carrier 220 with a plurality of encapsulated shaped charges 210. The encapsulated shaped charges 210 are exposed to the surrounding environment. Thus, the encapsulated shaped charges 210 may include a structure and/or material that substantially isolates and seals the internal components of the encapsulated shaped charge 210 from external conditions. The exposed perforating gun 200 also includes a conductive line 250 for relaying an electrical signal along the length of the perforating gun 200 and a detonating cord 230 for detonating the encapsulated shaped charges 210. The conductive line 250 and the detonating cord 230 are exposed to external conditions. Thus, the conductive line 250 and the detonating cord 230 must be configured to withstand the temperatures, pressures, and materials that are found within a wellbore. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1B, the exposed perforating gun 200 includes a firing head 240 that will house an initiator (not shown) and initiate the detonating cord 230 upon activation. Multiple exposed perforating guns 200 may also be connected in a gun string.
Gun strings including multiple perforating guns help to improve operational efficiency by allowing multiple perforating intervals to be perforated during one wireline run into the wellbore. The gun string may also include wellbore tools such as one or more fracking plugs ("frac plug") or bridge plugs, tubing cutters, etc. for downhole operations. For ease of reference in this disclosure, a "gun string" may include any combination of perforating guns and wellbore tools, which further encompasses control devices and the like for use in downhole wellbore operations. Each of the individual perforating guns and/or wellbore tools in the string may have selective detonation/initiation capability. By "selective" what is meant is that a detonator or initiator assembly of an individual perforating gun or wellbore tool is configured to receive one or more specific digital sequence(s), which differs from a digital sequence that might be used to arm and/or detonate another detonator or initiator assembly in a different, adjacent perforating gun or tool. So, detonation of the various perforating guns and/or tools does not necessarily have to occur sequentially upon a single detonation signal. Any specific perforating gun or tool can be selectively detonated/initiated, although the sequence must progress from the bottom up—i.e., the gun/tool that is furthest downstream (within the wellbore) must be detonated before others—otherwise the conductive line that relays the electrical signal through successive guns/tools will be severed and downstream guns/tools may not be initiated. For purposes of this disclosure, "downstream" means in a direction deeper or further into the wellbore and "upstream" means in a direction towards the wellbore entrance or surface. Thus, in operation, the gun string is lowered or pumped down into the wellbore to a desired location, one or more of the perforating guns and/or tools is detonated/initiated, and the wireline is retracted to the next desired location at which additional perforating gun(s) and/or tool(s) are detonated/initiated. The process repeats until all of the operations have been completed. The wireline cable is then retracted to the surface of the wellbore along with any components that have remained attached to the gun string. Additional debris that remains in the wellbore may need to be recovered or is left in situ.
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a wellbore and wellhead according to the prior art use of a wireline cable 2012 to place drones in a wellbore 2016. In oil and gas wells, the wellbore 2016, as illustrated in FIG. 2 is a narrow shaft drilled in the ground, vertically and/or horizontally deviated. A wellbore 2016 can include a substantially vertical portion as well as a substantially horizontal portion and a typical wellbore may be over a mile in depth (e.g., the vertical portion) and several miles in length (e.g., the horizontal portion). The wellbore 2016 is usually fitted with a wellbore casing that includes multiple segments (e.g., about 40-foot segments) that are connected to one another by couplers. A coupler (e.g., a collar), may connect two sections of wellbore casing.
In the oil and gas industry, the wireline cable 2012, electric line or e-line are cabling technology used to lower and retrieve equipment or measurement devices into and out of the wellbore 2016 of an oil or gas well for the purpose of delivering an explosive charge, evaluation of the wellbore 2016 or other well-related tasks. Other methods include tubing conveyed (i.e., TCP for perforating) or coil tubing conveyance. A speed of unwinding the wireline cable 2012 and winding the wireline cable 2012 back up is limited based on a speed of the wireline equipment 2062 and forces on the wireline cable 2012 itself (e.g., friction within the well). Because of these limitations, it typically can take several hours for a wireline cable 2012 and a toolstring 2031 to be lowered into a well and another several hours for the wireline cable 2012 to be wound back up and the expended toolstring retrieved. The wireline equipment 2062 feeds wireline 2012 through wellhead 2060. When detonating explosives, the wireline cable 2012 will be used to position the toolstring 2031 of perforating guns 2018 containing the explosives into the wellbore 2016. After the explosives are detonated, the wireline cable 2012 will have to be extracted or retrieved from the well.
Wireline cables and TCP systems have other limitations such as becoming damaged after multiple uses in the wellbore due to, among other issues, friction associated with the wireline cable rubbing against the sides of the wellbore. Location within the wellbore is a simple function of the length of wireline cable that has been sent into the well. Thus, the use of wireline may be a critical and very useful component in the oil and gas industry yet also presents significant engineering challenges and is typically quite time consuming. It would therefore be desirable to provide a system that can minimize or even eliminate the use of wireline cables for activity within a wellbore while still enabling the position of the downhole equipment, e.g., the toolstring 2031, to be monitored.
During many critical operations utilizing equipment disposed in a wellbore, it is important to know the location and depth of the equipment in the wellbore at a particular time. When utilizing a wireline cable for placement and potential retrieval of equipment, the location of the equipment within the well is known or, at least, may be estimated depending upon how much of the wireline cable has been fed into the wellbore. Similarly, the speed of the equipment within the wellbore is determined by the speed at which the wireline cable is fed into the wellbore. As is the case for a toolstring 2031 attached to a wireline, determining depth, location and orientation of a toolstring 2031 within a wellbore 2016 is typically a prerequisite for proper functioning.
One known means of locating a toolstring 2031, whether tethered or untethered, within a wellbore involves a casing collar locator ("CCL") or similar arrangement, which utilizes a passive system of magnets and coils to detect increased thickness/mass in a wellbore casing 1580 (FIG. 15) at portions where coupling collars 1590 (FIG. 15) connect two sections of wellbore casing 1582, 1584 (FIG. 15). A toolstring 2031 equipped with a CCL may be moved through a portion of the wellbore casing 1580 having the collar 1590. The increased wellbore wall thickness/mass the collar 1590 results in a distortion of the magnetic field (flux) around the CCL magnet. This magnetic field distortion, in turn, results in a small current being induced in a coil; this induced current is detected by a processor/onboard computer which is part of the CCL. In a typical embodiment of known CCL, the computer 'counts' the number of coupling collars 1590 detected and calculates a location along the wellbore 2016 based on the running count.
Another known means of locating a toolstring 2031 within a wellbore 2016 involves tags attached at known locations along the wellbore casing 1580. The tags, e.g., radio frequency identification ("RFID") tags, may be attached on or adjacent to casing collars but placement unrelated to casing collars is also an option. Electronics for detecting the tags are integrated with the toolstring 2031 and the onboard computer may 'count' the tags that have been passed. Alternatively, each tag attached to a portion of the wellbore may be uniquely identified. The detecting electronics may be configured to detect the unique tag identifier and pass this information along to the computer, which can then determine current location of the toolstring 2031 along the wellbore 2016.
Accordingly, current wellbore operations and system(s) require substantial amounts of onsite personnel and equipment and sometimes result in large residual debris post perforation in the wellbore. Even with selective gun strings, a substantial amount of time, equipment, and labor may be required to deploy the perforating gun or wellbore tool string, position the perforating gun or wellbore tool string at the desired location(s), and remove residual debris post perforating. Further, current perforating devices and systems may be made from materials that remain in the wellbore after detonation of the shaped charges and leave a large amount of debris that must either be removed from the wellbore or left within. Accordingly, devices, systems, and methods that may reduce the time, equipment, labor, and debris associated with downhole operations would be beneficial, including systems and methods of determining location along a wellbore that do not necessarily rely on the presence of casing collars or any other standardized structural element, e.g., tags, associated with the wellbore casing.

Selective untethered drone string for downhole oil and gas wellbore operations


A locomotive auxiliary power system and control techniques for such a system are provided. In one exemplary embodiment the auxiliary power system includes an auxiliary alternator coupled to the internal combustion engine of the locomotive. The system further includes an auxiliary power bus powered by the auxiliary alternator. A rectifier may be connected between the auxiliary alternator and the auxiliary power bus. A plurality of devices may be electrically powered by the auxiliary power bus. A respective inverter is connected between the auxiliary power bus and each device, wherein the inverter provides a path for diverting electrical power generated during a transient mode by at least one the plurality of devices. In one exemplary embodiment, the auxiliary alternator is made up of a single alternator connected through a single shaft to the internal combustion engine.

The present invention is generally related to locomotives and, in particular, to an auxiliary power system of a locomotive.
A diesel-electric locomotive typically includes a diesel engine coupled to drive a main alternator and a set of auxiliary alternators, made up of several physically distinct alternators. The main alternator is coupled to power one or more traction motors, and the auxiliary alternator set is coupled to power locomotive auxiliary electrical equipment. The auxiliary alternator set may include a first alternator for powering a battery, a second alternator for powering auxiliary equipment, and a third alternator for providing field excitation to the auxiliary alternator and the traction alternator.
It is known to provide variable frequency and/or voltage by way of inverters so that the auxiliary equipment may be driven at any speed below or above the engine speed. The auxiliary equipment is generally operable in an electrical power consumption mode but may be capable of at least transiently entering into an electrical power-generating mode. For example, due to windy conditions and prior to turn on, a cooling fan may be rotating opposite to its normal direction of rotation and during such a condition the cooling fan would generate electrical power. It is known that this power generating condition has necessitated either the addition of power dissipating resistor elements or, in lieu of using straightforward diode rectifiers, designers may be forced to use relatively costlier regenerative rectifier drives. Either of these options is not fully satisfactory since each entails incremental costs and undue complexity for the auxiliary power system of the locomotive. Thus, it would be desirable to provide system and techniques that allow to divert electrical power that may be generated by the auxiliary equipment in a manner that avoids or reduces such incremental costs and complexity and allows for useful utilization of such electrical power, as opposed to merely dissipating such electrical power into heat.
As noted above, the auxiliary alternator in known auxiliary power systems for locomotives is traditionally made up of three physically distinct alternators. This consumes valuable and scarce space in the locomotive and requires careful analysis of mechanical resonances that may develop along the common shaft that mechanically interconnects these distinct alternators to the internal combustion engine of the locomotive. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a locomotive auxiliary power system wherein the auxiliary alternator comprises just a single alternator that may be connected through a single shaft to the internal combustion engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,486,568, assigned in common to the same assignee of the present invention discloses innovative techniques regarding a power system for a locomotive, including an option that allows removing altogether the auxiliary alternator for powering the auxiliary bus of the locomotive. It is noted that traditional auxiliary equipment (such as may part of a fleet of field-deployed locomotives) is generally operated at a different voltage than the operating voltage of the traction motors. For example, the traction motors may be typically operated at a relatively higher voltage, while the auxiliary equipment may be operated at a relatively lower voltage. Accordingly, if the voltage level of a common bus, or bus voltage, for powering both the traction motors and the auxiliary equipment is set to a voltage level appropriate for powering the traction motors, the auxiliary equipment may not be able to be directly connected to the bus because the bus voltage is different from the voltage required to power the auxiliary equipment. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a locomotive power system with a common bus for powering the traction motors and the auxiliary equipment and configured to enable such auxiliary equipment to be compatible with the voltage level available at that common bus.


The present invention concerns an adaptive streaming method, at a client device, for receiving content split into chunks corresponding to a content duration, the chunks being encoded at a server into at least a first and a second formats, the first format corresponding to a better content rendering quality level than the second format, a chunk being received during a chunk reception period. According to the invention, the method comprises the steps of measuring the available bandwidth between the client and the server for the next chunk reception period, requesting the server to send a chunk encoded at a format so that the chunk can be received during the next chunk reception period, and if some bandwidth is available for the next chunk reception period, requesting the server to send a part of a chunk encoded at a second format, the chunk having been received encoded at the first format.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art, which may be related to various aspects of the present invention that are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Media delivery streaming solutions are mainly based on protocols such as Real time streaming Protocol (RTSP) as defined in the IETF RFC 2326, Microsoft Media Server (MMS) proprietary protocol from Microsoft or Real Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) proprietary protocol from Adobe Systems. More recently new streaming techniques based on HTTP protocol have emerged. Adaptive streaming technology provides a way to compensate erratic network behavior regarding available bandwidth by continuously and gracefully upgrading or downgrading the video quality in order to fit with the bandwidth constraint. More precisely, a video stream is encoded into several encoded bit streams, each corresponding to a bit rate constraint, such as for example 300 kbps, 600 kbps, 1200 kbps 2000 kbps or 3000 kbps. Each of these streams is then split into chunks, representing for example two seconds duration, all well aligned in a way that each chunk starts with a reference frame; no frame of any given chunk references a frame in another chunk. In other words, the video stream is cut into short segments called chunks and encoded to the desired delivery format. Chunks are typically 2-to-4-seconds long. At the video codec level, this typically means that each chunk is cut along video Group of Pictures (GOP) boundaries and has no dependencies on past or future chunks and GOPs. This allows each chunk to later be decoded independently of other chunks.
A client device requests a HTTP server, to send a chunk attached to a particular bit rate regarding the estimated bandwidth, where the available bandwidth can be measured e.g. by measuring the round trip time used by of an HTTP request/response. The video stream is then delivered, chunk after chunk based on client requests. This is illustrated in FIG. 1, which shows four levels of chunk bit rates, from the lower to the upper bit rate. Video chunks, all corresponding to a fixed duration, are more or less large. A large chunk requires higher bandwidth and provides better video quality. The chunk selection depends on the estimated available bandwidth that corresponds to the curve. Of course, depending on the implementation, the environment, the network technology and the client application, the strategy may be more or less conservative. When conservative, the client requests higher bit rate chunk only after a certain time, ensuring smooth upgrade transition. A less conservative strategy would be to request higher bit rate chunk as soon as the client detects that more bandwidth is available. And in general, the client requests lower bit rate chunk as soon as it detects a bandwidth decrease implying rapid downgrade transition.
Examples of such streaming techniques are the "Move Adaptive Stream" from Move Networks, the "HTTP Live Streaming" from Apple Inc. and the "IIS (Internet Information Services) Smooth Streaming" from Microsoft. The benefit of using the HTTP protocol in these streaming solutions is its capability to cross over NAT and firewall seamlessly. These HTTP streaming technologies provide a way to compensate erratic network behavior regarding available bandwidth by continuously and gracefully upgrading or downgrading the video quality in order to fit with the bandwidth constraint.
In more details, WO 2005/109224 A2 from Move Networks describes a mechanism in an Agent Controller Module hosted in the client side and able to adapt to the fluctuant network bandwidth thanks to the fact that the media to stream is previously organized in a plurality of streamlets, also called chunks, each of them being encoded from low to high bit rates. According to the available network bandwidth and some other additional information a monitoring tool incorporated in the Agent Controller Module uses the HTTP protocol to request the server to send the best suited chunk to be streamed over a TCP/IP connection. On an elementary chunk basis the quality is up-shifted or down-shifted according to the Agent Controller Module.
The IIS Smooth Streaming Technical Overview, from Alex Zambelli, Microsoft Corporation, March 2009, describes the IIS Smooth Streaming Technique based on HTTP protocol over TCP/IP connection. The media to be streamed by the Server is previously chopped into chunks representing for example one to ten seconds duration. Then these chunks are encoded according to the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC standard at different bit rates and stored within a MP4 file format container. The mechanism selecting the bit rate according to the network bandwidth fluctuation and requesting seamlessly the corresponding chunks to the server is entirely implemented in the client side through an application code, the Silverlight application. The HTTP Live Streaming supports dynamic switching between streams of different data rates in response to changing connection speeds.
Apple Inc. submitted an Internet Draft to IETF in October 2009 on an HTTP streaming method specification entitled "HTTP Live Streaming draft-pantos-http-live-streaming-02". The HTTP streaming architecture is based on 3 pillars: a Server, a Distribution, through a Web server or a Web caching system, and a Client. The media to be streamed is a video encoded in H.264 and an audio encoded in AAC. At a server, it is encapsulated in MPEG-TS containers and fragmented into chunks of equal duration with a specific tool named Apple stream segmenter. This tool generates the chunks that are saved into *.ts files and an index file *;m3u8 constituting the chunks playlist. Then a client fetches the index file first thanks to an URL pointer. The index file in turn specifies the location of the available media files, decryption keys, and any alternate streams available. For the selected stream, the client downloads each available media file in sequence.
With such adaptive streaming techniques, the video quality is irregular. A stream acquired by a client chunk after chunk does not have a consistent quality as it is a mix of different bit rate chunks. That video may be stored at the receiver to be replayed later on. Usually with such streaming applications, there is no need to resend the stream over the network as the chunks could have been recorded in a local storage facility. However the series of recorded chunks correspond to the network conditions that were experienced during the streaming session resulting in the non consistent quality of the video.
A solution to this problem would be to reacquire from the server the chunks corresponding to the low quality chunks. This can be done as a grouped download before the recorded stream is replayed. However this may be time consuming. Another solution is to replace the low quality chunks on-the-fly during the recorded stream playback. There is no guaranty however that the client would get better quality chunks at the time they are needed either. And, both solutions oblige the client to be connected to the server.

Method for recovering content streamed into chunk


The present invention allows the transmitting side and receiving side to exchange the device characteristic, color matching function and visual environment information used according to task assignment of color reproduction pursuant with a color reproduction target, sets color control parameters on the transmitting side or color control parameters on the receiving side, and thereby allows the transmitting side and receiving side to share the color reproduction target in such a way as to be flexibly applicable to a plurality of color reproduction targets and assigned tasks of color reproduction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color management apparatus and color management system to accurately control colors in a still image system or moving image system, which consists of image capturing using a still camera, video camera and scanner, etc., image transmission using the Internet or dedicated line, etc. and image display using a display, printer, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the progress of digitalization of image processing apparatuses and network technologies centered on the Internet, a cross media system whereby a variety of image processing apparatuses are connected on an open system is becoming widespread on a full scale in recent years. An open system requires individual image processing apparatuses and applications to have a common interface and adopt a configuration with high-level versatility and expandability. From the standpoint of color reproduction, an image processing apparatus that transmits color information, that is, a camera or scanner needs to accurately deliver captured color information to the open system. On the other hand, an image processing apparatus that receives and displays color information, that is, a display or printer, needs to accurately display the color information received. For example, even if a camera acquires color information accurately, color reproduction of the overall system deteriorates with inappropriate color information shown on a display.
Accurate color management among a plurality of image processing apparatuses is becoming commercially practical with the emergence of an ICC profile recommended by the ICC (International Color Consortium). For example, Tim Kohler proposes a next-generation color management method, which also takes into account differences in a visual environment as an expansion of the ICC profile in "The Next Generation of Color Management System (8 th IS&T/SID Color Imaging Conference, P61 to p64)". On the other hand, there is also a proposal of a mode not limited to an ICC profile. For example, the Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. HEI 11-85952 discloses a color management apparatus capable of realizing accurate color reproduction even if illumination on the image capturing side (color information transmitting side) differs from illumination on the observing side (color information receiving side).
Furthermore, accurate color control among a plurality of image processing apparatuses requires a colorimetric value XYZ, which is an objective scale of color. Calculating the colorimetric value XYZ as the objective scale of color requires spectral reflectance Rλ, color matching function (x′λ, Y′λ, z′λ) and spectral distribution Eλ of illumination of an object as shown in (Mathematical expression 1).
[Mathematical Expression 1]
                              [                                                    X                                                                    Y                                                                    Z                                              ]                =                  [                                                                                ∑                    λ                                                                                R                      λ                                                                                E                      λ                                                                                x                      λ                      ′                                                            d                                                                                λ                                                                                ∑                    λ                                                                                R                      λ                                                                                E                      λ                                                                                y                      λ                      ′                                                            d                                                                                λ                                                                                ∑                    λ                                                                                R                      λ                                                                                E                      λ                                                                                z                      λ                      ′                                                            d                                                                                λ                                                                                ]                                    (        1        )
Therefore, when the image capturing side estimates spectral reflectance of the object and transmits this to the observing side and XYZ is calculated according to the spectral distribution of illumination on the observing side, it is possible to absorb differences in illumination and realize accurate color reproduction.
However, the above-described conventional color management apparatus has the following problems yet to be solved.
First, there is no means for controlling targets of color reproduction. A target of color reproduction is a target to control colorimetric value XYZ of an image to be reproduced by a display apparatus and there are as many types of color reproduction targets as combinations of types of spectral distribution of illumination of (Mathematical expression 1) and color matching function. For example, when the spectral distribution of illumination on the image capturing side is used as spectral distribution Eλ of illumination and a CIE1931 color matching function specified by the CIE (International Commission of Illumination) is used as the color matching function (x′λ, y′λ, Z′λ), the colorimetric value XYZ calculated expresses colors of an object viewed by a CIE standard observer in image capturing illumination. Then, the target of color reproduction is to "reproduce colors when a CIE standard observer views an object in image capturing illumination". In this case, the color management apparatus needs to give the display apparatus an image signal that allows the display apparatus to display the "colors of an object viewed by a CIE standard observer in image capturing illumination".
On the other hand, when the spectral distribution of illumination on the observing side is used as spectral distribution Eλ of illumination and a CIE1931 color matching function specified by the CIE is used as the color matching function (x′λ, y′λ, z′λ), the colorimetric value XYZ calculated expresses colors of an object viewed by a CIE standard observer in observation illumination. Then, the target of color reproduction is to "reproduce colors when a CIE standard observer views an object in observation illumination". In this case, the color management apparatus needs to give the display apparatus an image signal that allows the display apparatus to display the "colors of an object viewed by a CIE standard observer in observation illumination".
When the spectral distribution of illumination on the image capturing side differs from the spectral distribution of illumination on the observing side, the colorimetric value XYZ which becomes the target for control of the display apparatus is different. Thus, the image reproduced on the display apparatus has different colors.
The above problem is the one pointed out by the above-described conventional example. Furthermore, the Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No.HEI 11-85952 discloses the means applicable to two targets of color reproduction by the image capturing side and receiving side having their respective spectral distributions of illumination.
However, the Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. HEI 11-85952 does not disclose how this target of color reproduction is determined, that is, the means for controlling the target of color reproduction and lacks a mechanism where by the image capturing side and the observing side can be connected without discrepancy so as to be flexibly applicable to the target of reproduction of a plurality of colors. That is, since there is no "protocol" that connects the image capturing side (color information transmitting side) and observing side (color information receiving side) over a network, there is a problem that a color reproduction intention cannot be exchanged appropriately between the image capturing side and the observing side.
For example, when the observing side sets "reproducing colors of an object viewed from a CIE standard observer in image capturing illumination" as the target of color reproduction, the observing side requests the image capturing side to send the spectral distribution of illumination for image capturing. However, when the image capturing side sets a target of color reproduction different from that of the observing side and sets "reproducing colors of an object viewed from a CIE standard observer in illumination of observation" as a target of color reproduction, spectral distribution Eλ of illumination of (Mathematical expression 1) becomes illumination for observation. For this reason, the image capturing side has no intention to send the spectral distribution of illumination for image capturing to the observing side. This is an example of harmful effects when a common target for color reproduction is not set between the image capturing side and receiving side.
Furthermore, a target of color reproduction is defined in a variety of ways not only from the spectral distribution of illumination but also from differences in the color matching function. Thus, management of a target of color reproduction is a more important issue.
For example, when five observers have color matching functions differing from one another, there are five types of color matching function (x′λ, y′λ, Z′λ) of (Mathematical expression 1). Thus, there are five sets of colorimetric value XYZ as the targets of the display apparatus. Since an infinite number of color reproduction targets are theoretically conceivable, it is impossible to design color reproduction unless a common target is set beforehand between the image capturing side and the observing side.
Second, there is no means for managing task assignment of color reproduction. Task assignment of color reproduction refers to assignment of different types of processing such as calculation of colorimetric value XYZ, estimation of spectral reflectance of images captured and colorimetric control of the display apparatus to different processing sections of the color management apparatus.
For example, when the image capturing side assumes all responsibility for color reproduction and executes all of estimation of spectral reflectance of images captured, calculation of colorimetric value XYZ and calculation of signals for the display apparatus, the image capturing side needs to send the colorimetric device characteristic of the display apparatus to the image capturing side. The image capturing side keeps track of the characteristic of the display apparatus, sends an image signal optimized for the display apparatus to the observing side and the observing side displays the image without applying colorimetric processing, and the target of color reproduction is achieved in this way.
On the contrary, when the observing side assumes all responsibility for color reproduction and executes all colorimetric processing, the output signal of the image capturing apparatus is directly sent to the observing side without being subjected to colorimetric processing. Then, the receiving side performs all processing of estimation of spectral reflectance of images captured, calculation of colorimetric value XYZ and calculation of all signals for the display apparatus and the target of color reproduction is achieved in this way.
Thus, the above-described conventional color management apparatus has a fixed process of colorimetric processing and is not constructed in such away as to flexibly assign a variety of tasks of color reproduction between the transmitting side and receiving side.
Third, there is no means for managing task assignment of color reproduction according to a target of color reproduction. This is a problem that combines the above-described first and second problems. That is, unless the image capturing side and the observing side have a common target for color reproduction, it is impossible to assign tasks of color reproduction between the image capturing side and the observing side and the color management apparatus does not function correctly. For color management that realizes accurate color reproduction, the color reproduction target should be checked between the image capturing side and the observing side and task assignment of color reproduction should be performed between the image capturing side and the observing side. However, the above-described conventional color management apparatus has no means for checking the color reproduction target with each other and has a fixed process of colorimetric processing. For this reason, the conventional color management apparatus is not constructed to flexibly meet a variety of color reproduction targets and color reproduction tasks assigned according to the color reproduction targets.

Color management apparatus and color management system

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method of tracking objects uses an anchor beacon that can emit a broadcast over a range that is detectable by an object tracking device. The object tracking device can automatically detect a presence or absence of the broadcast. When the broadcast is present, the object tracking device can take no action. When the broadcast is absent, the object tracking device can determine a current location for the object tracking device and can convey an OTA communication to a tracking server. The OTA communication can indicate the absence of the broadcast and can also including the current location. The tracking server can selectively send a notification to a previously designated communication device to notify a user that the object tracking device is outside the range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to mobile telecommunications and, more particularly, to selectively sending notifications; when an object tracking device is outside a range of an anchor beacon.
2. Description of the Related Art
The ability to use electronic tracking and/or location determination devices is becoming a popular means to automatically determine the location of designated objects. For example, it is becoming a standard feature for mobile telephones to be equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) components, which permit precise location determinations for emergency 911 calls. This feature also allows associated functions to be added to a mobile device, such as a GPS navigational capability. This type of electronic tracking is also often used in shipping systems to track packages and in the automotive industry to provide anti-theft and protection services.
In addition to locating objects, this technology is used in a number of geo fencing solutions to establish permitted geographical zones. For example, a mobile telephone that includes GPS components and a geo fencing feature can be configured by a family member, such as a parent, to establish permitted zones for school, work, friends' houses, malls, and the like, for the carrier of the mobile telephone. Notifications can be automatically sent to the parent's mobile telephone when a monitored family member, such as a child, enters or leaves any of the established zones. Notifications can also be issued when a mobile telephone travels over an established speed, which presumably indicates a child or teen is traveling in a vehicle at excessive speeds.
A number of circumstances exist, where a user wants to establish geo fence boundaries based upon a fixed reference point or safe zone. For instance, a pet owner may desire to establish a geo fence about the owner's house that represents a safe zone for the pet. Current solutions require users establish a set of geographical coordinates, such as GPS coordinates for a geo fence zone, which can be complicated or at least inconvenient for many users. It is believed that many of these users would prefer to be able to set an anchor beacon with a user adjustable range, where the geo fence boundary can be based upon this range. Such a capability is not currently available using any known solution.

Selectively sending notifications when an object tracking device is outside a range of an anchor beacon


An apparatus for performing multi-dimensional assays using a microfluidic chip is presented. The apparatus comprises of two crossing series of micro-channels on the microfluidic chip. The apparatus further comprises of a plurality of magnetic valves placed at the crossings and a guiding magnet. When an operator places the guiding magnet in a vicinity of the chip, the guiding magnet produces a proximal magnetic field gradient at a location of each of the plurality of magnetic valves. At the first micro-channel crossing, a magnetic valve controls fluid flow in the first micro-channel, and another magnetic valve controls fluid flow in the second micro-channel at the first micro-channel crossing. Each magnetic valve comprises a magnetic bead and a cavity on the chip next to a corresponding micro-channel section.

Over the past several decades, some technologies have been developed to control or measure the flow of fluids. Design of many aerospace, chemical, and mechanical systems have been dependent on assessment of amount of fluid passed a certain point in the process or in the equipment. However, the available methods or equipment are most efficient in the conventional ranges used in the established industry.
In microfluidic devices, as used in emerging technologies, the features and passages of flows are extremely small, hence, extra forces come to play and appear in the governing laws of the fluid flow. Furthermore, in life sciences, samples and reagents are frequently expensive and/or available in very limited quantities.
Capillary-driven microfluidic chips enable minute amounts of biological samples to be analyzed. These differences have created the necessity of new designs for specialized flow control. Chips have been developed by IBM® for high-sensitivity and low-volume immunoassays, reserved for high-end assays.
A high level of expertise and too many steps are required for taking advantage of the full spectrum of possibilities offered by micromosaic immunoassays. They necessitate two expensive chips, which poses a strong obstacle to automation which is critically needed for using these chips and getting high-quality data. Each chip must be cleaned and treated with chemicals to have appropriate surface chemistry.
New chips, which are being made, are very large and therefore expensive. Furthermore, these chips cannot be reused indefinitely because of contamination, dust particles, scratches, etc. In order to use only one chip for these devices, the microchannels on the chip's surface need to cross each other. Microfluidics having crossing channels can bring various liquids for analysis in one area.
However, the liquids must be passed in the right sequence, at the right time and using the right volume of solution. Typically, actuators or valves are used to stop or let a liquid pass in a microchannel. As one of their drawbacks, actuators are expensive to fabricate and necessitate peripheral equipment. Magnetically actuated valves are simpler to fabricate and actuate than many other types of valves. The act of actuation can be done in them by as simply as applying an external magnetic field.
This is an issue for magnetic valves that are used to control the flow of liquid at areas where microchannels cross.

Magnetic valves for performing multi-dimensional assays using one microfluidic chip

International Business Machines Corporation


The boxed-in slot antenna is provided with a conductive box, functioning as a waveguide, which is configured substantially parallel to the ground plane in which the slot is formed, thereby providing significant space savings relative to prior art designs wherein the box is positioned perpendicular to the conductive ground plane. The inventive antenna can be easily constructed using printed circuit board technology, by forming the ground plane as a coating on one side of a printed circuit board substrate, forming the main conductive plane of the conductive box structure on the other side of the printed circuit board, and interconnecting the two using plated through holes (that is, vias). The folded structure of the conductive box of the present invention makes it particularly suited for space-critical applications, such as may be found in laptop computers and other portable and handheld electronic devices, which it is desired to interconnect with a wireless local area network (wireless LAN).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to antennas, and more particularly relates to a boxed-in slot antenna having a folded, space-saving configuration, which can be employed in space-critical applications, such as a laptop computer.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
There is increased interest in enabling laptop computers and other portable electronic devices to interface with a wireless local area network (WLAN). WLANs may operate under a number of standards, for example, the so-called xe2x80x9cBluetoothxe2x80x9d standard. In such systems, an antenna is required to send and receive data via radio frequency (RF) cornmunications.
In portable electronic devices, space is typically at a premium. Accordingly, it is desirable to minimize space to be occupied by an antenna in such devices. One prior art approach to providing an RF antenna which takes up minimal space is disclosed in World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) international publication number WO 95/06338 published on Mar. 2, 1995. In this publication, a folded monopole antenna is discussed. The folding of the monopole reduces its height so as to enable it to fit into small areas. However, the folding of the monopole has undesirable effects on the electrical match, frequency bandwidth and electromagnetic fields, requiring the introduction of a shunt inductance between the monopole and the ground plane.
Slot antennas are known in the prior art, and are useful for low-profile or flush installations, such as in high-speed aircraft. A traditional slot antenna is described in the book Antennas by John D. Kraus, at pages 624-632 (Second Edition, McGraw-Hill 1988). FIG. 1 shows a prior art slot antenna, designated generally as 10. A conductive ground plane 12, typically metallic, is formed with a slot 14. The slot has a length, L, which is typically equal to half of the electric wavelength xcexe The slot 14 typically also has a width, w, which is much less than the wavelength. Such an antenna will radiate equally from both sides of the ground plane 12. It is typically fed by a coaxial cable 16, which can be attached at an off-center feed point in order to obtain a 50 Ohm antenna impedance so as to match the characteristic impedance, typically 50 Ohms, of coaxial cables.
In some applications, it is desirable to have a slot antenna which radiates in only one direction. This can be achieved with a fairly large conductive ground plane, with one side of the slot boxed-in, as shown in FIG. 2. This type of structure is also discussed in the aforementioned Kraus reference book. The prior-art boxed-in slot antenna of FIG. 2 is designated generally as 20. The antenna 20 of FIG. 2 is also formed with a conductive ground plane 22, and with a slot having dimensions L,w as before. The slot is designated as 24. A box structure 26 is used to box-in the slot 24, and typically extends a depth, h, below the surface of the conductive ground plane 22. The distance h is typically one-quarter of the waveguide wavelength xcexg The box structure 26 blocks radiation in the rearward direction in FIG. 2, so that radiation in the forward direction is enhanced; further, it doubles the radiation resistance of the original slot antenna 10. Feed can be via a coaxial cable 28. The original slot antenna 10 is not appropriate for use in a handheld electronic device or a laptop computer because of the radiation in both directions, while the prior art boxed-in slot antenna of FIG. 2 is also unsuitable, as the distance h must be so large that the antenna occupies an unacceptably large space. Note that the Kraus reference uses xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d for xe2x80x9chxe2x80x9d; the xe2x80x9chxe2x80x9d terminology is used herein to avoid confusion with a xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d parameter referred to below with respect to the present invention.
It will be appreciated that the prior art folded monopole approach of the aforementioned WIPO publication results in unadvantageous changes to the electrical match, frequency bandwidth and electromagnetic fields, necessitating the introduction of a shunt inductance. Further, the slot antennas discussed immediately above are unsuitable due to either bi-directional radiation or excessive size.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need in the prior art for a compact antenna suitable for use in laptop computers and other portable electronic devices. There is the need for such an antenna which takes up minimal space, can be easily fabricated, and has desirable electric characteristics.
The present invention, which addresses the needs identified in the prior art, provides a boxed-in slot antenna wherein the conductive box structure has a folded, space-saving configuration suitable for use in space-limited locations such as a laptop computer. The inventive antenna is for radiation having a free-space wavelength xcex, a waveguide wavelength xcexg, and an electric half-wavelength xcexe/2. The antenna includes a conductive ground plane having a slot formed therein, with the slot having a length L which is at least substantially equal to the electric half-wavelength. The slot also has a width w which is less than the length L, and the slot further has a longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal edges. The antenna also includes a conductive box structure. The conductive box structure in turn comprises a main conductive plane which is substantially parallel to the ground plane and which is spaced a distance d therefrom. The distance d is substantially less than xc2xc of the waveguide wavelength xcexg. The conductive box structure further includes first and second conductive structures which are substantially parallel to each other and which are spaced apart a distance g which is at least substantially equal to L. The first and second conductive structures are substantially perpendicular to the conductive ground plane and the main conductive plane and are also substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slot.
The conductive box structure yet further includes third and fourth conductive structures which are substantially parallel to each other and which are spaced apart a distance a, with the third and fourth conductive structures being substantially perpendicular to the conductive ground plane and the main conductive plane, and also being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slot.
The distance a can preferably be substantially equal to one of: the width w plus xc2xc of the waveguide wavelength, and the width w plus xc2xd of the waveguide wavelength. The first, second, third and fourth conductive structures form conductive paths between the conductive ground plane and the main conductive plane. When viewed in plan, the first, second, third and fourth conductive structures bound the slot.
Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the inventive antenna is an improvement over the prior-art boxed-in slot antenna, inasmuch as the arrangement just described provides a folded, space-saving configuration for the conductive box structure which permits its incorporation into space-limited locations such as a laptop computer. In particular, the distance d can be much less than the distance h in the prior-art type of boxed-in slot antenna.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated by reading the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the scope of the invention will be set forth in the appended claims.

Boxed-in slot antenna with space-saving configuration

International Business Machines Corporation