A linear damper includes a conical housing with a friction cone in the housing and a rod extending therethrough and axially moveable relative thereto. The friction cone is axially moveable in the housing and radially expandable and contractible to provide clamping force against a rod when the rod is moved in one axial direction and to relieve clamping force from the rod when the rod is moved in the opposite axial direction.

Movement dampers have many applications and uses for controlling the movement of things. Dampers are used extensively in automotive applications for controlling the movement of glove box doors, cup holders, assist handles and the like. Dampers are often used to control the natural gravitational movement of such components, and to provide a desired feel to the movement of the component being controlled. Uses for dampers in assemblies other than automobiles are also known widely, such as, for example, and not by way of limitation, furniture doors and drawers, appliances, electronic components and other assemblies that have doors, drawers and other components that open or close, move in and out, fold up and down, etc.
It is known to provide center consoles between occupant seats in automobiles, trucks, SUV's and the like. In larger vehicles, the center console can be quite large. Often a door is provided on the top of the console having a hinge at the back and a latch at the front. The door is opened by lifting the front edge upward, thus pivoting the door on the hinge at the back. Such console doors can be both bulky and heavy. Opening can be assisted by springs or the like so that the vehicle occupant is not burdened with lifting the entire weight of the door. Movement dampers can be used to lessen the closing force from the weight of the door, thereby preventing the door or cover from falling shut forcefully, potentially causing damage.
It is often desirable for dampers of this type to work in confined spaces, yet provide significant resistance to the gravitational movement of the object. Limited space can require straight line movement. It is known for damping requirements to be in one direction only, with the damper providing significant resistance in the desired direction and with little or no resistance or damping effect in the opposite direction.
In automobile applications it is desirable for a damper to work effectively without adjustment and to perform satisfactorily through many cycles without failing. Also, it is desirable for the damper to be small and operate effectively in a confined space, to minimize the intrusion in the occupant space of the vehicle.
Accordingly, there is need for improved linear dampers.


A computer includes a filter module providing a standardized interface for intercepting file access requests. The computer also includes a cache manager that manages the caching mode used with the requests. An application on the computer issues a file access request and explicitly or implicitly specifies a cache hint informing the cache manager of a desired caching mode. A security scanner module scans files on the computer for malicious software. The security scanner module intercepts a file access request and alters the caching mode, if necessary, to one optimized for security scanning. The security scanner module performs the file scan using the optimal caching mode, and, if necessary, resets the caching mode to its original state.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains in general to software for detecting viruses and other malicious software and in particular to techniques for scanning a computer file for the presence of the malicious software.
2. Description of the Related Art
Caching is a well-known technology for optimizing access to data stored by a computer. Typically, a computer uses a relatively large yet slow memory device for long term storage of data. Examples of slow memories include hard drives, CD-ROMs, and DVDs. Additionally, the computer uses a relatively small yet fast memory for short term storage of data. An example of such a fast memory is the computer's random access memory (RAM). Caching accelerates the operation of the computer by anticipating which data in the slow memory will be used by the computer, and moving those data to the fast memory before they are needed.
Modern file systems include a cache manager that performs file caching for processes executing on the computer. The cache manager identifies the files and/or parts of the files that are likely to be accessed by a process, and loads those files or portions into a fast memory in anticipation of the process's request for access. The NTFS and WinFS file systems from MICROSOFT CORP. of Redmond, Wash. are examples of operating systems having cache managers.
To facilitate selection of the correct caching strategy, file systems allow a process to specify a "cache hint" when requesting access to a file. The cache hint indicates the manner in which the process expects to access the data. For example, a process can use a cache hint to specify whether it is reading a file sequentially. The cache manager receives the hint and uses it to select a caching mode that is optimized for the expected data accesses.
Antivirus and other types of security scanners scan files on a computer's storage device to detect the presence of viruses and/or other malicious software. In most instances, a security scanner scans all files of certain types accessed by other processes executing on the computer. This scanning allows the security scanner to proactively detect malicious software and quarantine or remove it before the software has a chance to perform malicious actions.
One way that a security scanner implements its scanning is by intercepting file access requests from other processes. Under this technique, however, the caching mode for the file is based on the cache hint in the original file access request, and is not necessarily the mode that is optimal for security scanning. The use of a suboptimal caching mode can make the scanning process inefficient, which is undesirable because security scanning is performed frequently and even minor inefficiencies can have an impact on the overall performance of the computer. Therefore, there is a need in the art to use the optimal caching mode when a security scanner is scanning a file for the presence of malicious software.

Cache hint correction for security scanning


A modular crossbar arrangement for molded case circuit breakers allows a plurality of contact arm assemblies to be interconnected from a single modular unit. To provide increased acceleration to the movable contact arms a contact arm accelerator lever interfaces with the contact arm and crossbar assembly. To promote further acceleration of the movable contact arms to their closed positions, the movable contact arms in a multi-pole circuit breaker are staggered with respect to their rotational alignment within each pole on the crossbar assembly.

Multi-phase industrial electrical power distribution systems are protected against damage from overcurrent circuit conditions by corresponding multi-pole circuit breakers wherein each phase of the power distribution circuit is directed through a separate pole within the circuit breaker assembly.
One of the problems encountered in the design and manufacture of a multi-pole circuit breaker is the provision of a pair of operating springs of sufficient strength to open and close each pole simultaneously when turning the circuit breaker contacts between their open and closed positions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,157 entitled "Operating Handle Means for Stacked Circuit Breaker Modules" proposes the use of a separate operating spring within each separate pole of a multi-pole circuit breaker arrangement. U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,174 describes a pair of operating springs used within the center pole of a three-pole circuit breaker to separate the circuit breaker contacts within each individual pole during overcurrent conditions as well during manual opening and closing of the circuit breaker contacts.
In some industrial electrical power distribution systems, four-pole circuit breakers are installed to protect the electrical circuit as well as the associated industrial equipment. The movable contact arms which carry the movable contacts within the separate poles are, in turn, carried by a common unitary crossbar assembly. The provision of such a four-pole circuit breaker requires a unitary crossbar assembly of increased length. The addition of a fourth pole to a standard three-pole circuit breaker design increases the static coefficients of friction associated with the pivot pins that rotatably carry the movable contact arms and hence requires larger operating springs to overcome the increased friction.
It would be economically advantageous to provide a four-pole circuit breaker capable of separating the contacts within the separate poles without requiring a larger pair of operating springs than a three-pole circuit breaker or a longer crossbar assembly. It would be further advantageous to provide a modular crossbar unit that could be additively combined to form multi-pole circuit breakers without requiring a separate crossbar assembly for each multi-pole design.
One purpose of the invention is to provide a modular crossbar arrangement whereby a plurality of circuit breaker poles can be fabricated from a common modular crossbar unit.
A further purpose of the invention is to provide a contact arm accelerator lever to increase the closing force applied to the movable contact arms within a standard multi-pole circuit breaker design.
An additional purpose of the invention is to provide means for decreasing the effects of friction on the movable contact arms in existing multi-pole circuit breaker designs.

Molded case circuit breaker multi-pole crossbar assembly


A traffic information aggregating apparatus (hereinafter an aggregating apparatus) receives traffic information from a network apparatus. The aggregating apparatus generates aggregated data in which the traffic information for each previously determined aggregation time is aggregated, and stores the aggregated data into an aggregated data management table correspondingly to an aggregation identifier. The aggregating apparatus determines, at the interval of the aggregation time, whether a difference between the aggregated data and a base value is within a previously determined range, and accumulates, in the case where it is within the range, the aggregated data to corresponding accumulated data of the aggregated data management table, and resets the aggregated data. In the case where it exceeds the range, the aggregating apparatus exports the aggregated data and/or the accumulated data of the aggregated data management table to the monitor server.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a traffic information aggregating apparatus, and particularly to a traffic information aggregating apparatus in a traffic monitor system in which traffic information is accumulated and aggregated.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a traffic monitor system, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a traffic information aggregating apparatus is connected to a network apparatus, and further, a monitor server is connected. Traffic information such as NetFlow or sFlow is transmitted from the network apparatus to the traffic information aggregating apparatus. The traffic information aggregating apparatus aggregates the received traffic information and transmits it to the monitor server.
Besides, there is disclosed a system in which an intermediate router aggregates information from a terminal router, and transmits the aggregated result to an aggregated information reception apparatus (see, for example, patent document JP-A-2005-72907).
In the case of the related art system, the traffic information aggregating apparatus exports all aggregated data to the monitor server at every specific period. In this case, when the number of monitor flows in the network apparatus is large, the monitor server receives a huge amount of aggregated data, and congestion can occur.

Traffic information aggregating apparatus


An apparatus and method for controlling lighting in a plant factory are disclosed. The apparatus includes a weight calculation unit, a height calculation unit, a light information extraction unit, and a distance control unit. The weight calculation unit calculates the weight of at least one crop being cultivated based on a sensing result received from a weight sensor disposed in a crop cultivation bed. The height calculation unit calculates the height of the crop based on information about the growth of the crop corresponding to the weight of the crop. The light information extraction unit extracts information about artificial light corresponding to the height of the crop based on the information about the growth of the crop. The distance control unit controls the height of an artificial lighting device based on the information about artificial light.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for controlling lighting in a plant factory and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for providing optimal lighting in accordance with the growth rate of crops being cultivated in a plant factory.
2. Description of the Related Art
To provide light energy required to cultivate crops in plant factories, artificial lighting devices are widely used, such as white fluorescent lamps, external electrode fluorescent lamps (EEFLs), light emitting diodes (LEDs), active matrix organic light emitting diodes (AMOLEDs), organic electroluminescent (EL) displays, and organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs).
For example, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2013-0001434 entitled "Light Source Control System For Plant Factory" discloses light sources configurd to have different spectral distributions and to radiate light onto plants in a cultivation space, a reference reflection panel installed in the cultivation space and configured to reflect the radiated light from the light sources, a camera configured to measure the ratio between the intensities in respective wavelength ranges of light reflected from the reference reflection panel, and a controller configured to control power to be applied to the light sources based on the ratio between intensities in the respective wavelength ranges of light, which are measured by the camera.
The light source control system for a plant factory controls the light sources based on the ratio between the intensities in respective wavelength ranges of light reflected from the reference reflector, rather than the state of crops being cultivated. Therefore, there is a need for a technology for controlling light sources in accordance with the state of crops being cultivated.
In addition, the switching on/off of the light sources and the strength of light required to cultivate crops in a plant factory may be controlled using a separate lighting control device. In particular, artificial lighting devices, such as LEDs and metal-halide lamps, have the disadvantages of having a low efficiency because of the generation of heat, having the side effect of increasing the internal temperature of a plant factory and temperature around crops being cultivated, and increasing maintenance and repair cost because of a reduction in their lifespan attributable to the generation of heat.

Apparatus and method for controlling lighting in plant factory

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A fire extinguisher comprises a pressure bottle containing the fire extinguishing material and having mounted therein a diffuser-actuation housing. A source of pressurized gas is in at least one of the pressure bottle or the housing or may be in both. The housing has internal exhaust ports for permitting flow of the fire extinguishing material from the interior of the pressure bottle to the interior of the housing and external diffuser ports for delivering the fire extinguishing material from the interior of the housing to the area of a fire. Intermediate the internal exhaust ports and the external diffuser ports there is positioned a burst element, for interrupting the flow path between the internal exhaust ports and the external diffuser ports until the burst element is ruptured. Mounted within the housing, on a side of the frangible burst element opposite the exhaust ports, is an initiator or electro-explosive device and a rupture element, such as a projectile or gas-producing pyrotechnic material or a combination of both, for rupturing the frangible burst element and opening the flow path upon actuation of the initiator. The exhaust ports preferably have pick-up tubes extending into powdered fire suppression material in the pressurized bottle.

Basically there are two methods of fire-fighting. The first method involves maintaining a temperature in the area of the fire which is below the combustion temperature of those areas surrounding the burning areas. The second method is directed to stopping combustion or burning once it has begun by some means of smothering the fire, usually by depleting the oxygen supply. This latter method generally involves dispersing a fire extinguishing material onto the fire to separate it from the oxygen supply.
Fires can occur in a wide variety of environments and the ability to effectively extinguish such fires can vary from relatively simple to complex. One area of particular concern is the occurrence of fires in motor vehicles where the danger posed by ruptured fuel lines or the like can result in extremely dangerous situations occurring if the fire or source of flame is not rapidly extinguished. Similarly, where fires can occur in undetected locations, for example, in unmanned telephone switch rooms or the like, it is essential that a rapid means of extinguishing a fire be available.
While a number of systems have been proposed for delivering a fire extinguishing material to the area of a fire for extinguishing or suppressing the fire, a wide variety of drawbacks have limited their effectiveness and usefulness for fire-fighting.


Disclosed are a crystal form of a URAT1 inhibitor, and a preparation method therefor.

Uric acid is a metabolic product of purine compounds in animals. For humans, due to the lack of uricase capable of continuing to oxidize and degrade uric acid in the body, uric acid is excreted through the intestine and the kidney as the final metabolic product of purine in the human body, wherein renal excretion is the main pathway of uric acid excretion in the human body. The upper limit of the normal uric acid concentration range in the human body is 400 μmol/L (6.8 mg/dL) for males and 360 μmol/L (6 mg/dL) for females. Abnormal uric acid levels in the human body are often due to increased uric acid production or decreased uric acid excretion. Diseases associated with abnormal uric acid levels include hyperuricemia, gout, etc.
Hyperuricemia is a disorder of metabolism of purine substances in the human body, which results in an increase of the synthesis of uric acid or decrease of excretion of uric acid in the human body and an abnormally high level of uric acid in the blood. Gouty arthritis refers to when the concentration of uric acid in the human blood exceeds 7 mg/dL, uric acid is deposited in the form of monosodium salt in joints, cartilage and kidneys, resulting in painful inflammation due to the overreaction (sensitivity) of the body's immune system. The general attack site is the big toe joint, ankle joint, knee joint, etc. Red, swollen, hot and severe pain appear in the attack site of acute gout, which usually occurs at midnight to wake people from sleep. In the early stage of gout, onset is more common in the joints of the lower limbs. Hyperuricemia is the pathological basis of gout arthritis, and the use of drugs to reduce the concentration of uric acid in the blood is one of the common methods for preventing gouty arthritis.
In Europe and the United States, the onset of hyperuricemia and gout disease is on the rise. Epidemiological studies have shown that the incidence of gouty arthritis accounts for 1-2% of the total population as the most predominant type of arthritis in adult men. Bloomberg estimates that there will be 17.7 million patients with gout in 2021. In China, the survey shows that 25.3% of the population aged 20-74 has high levels of blood uric acid and 0.36% suffers from gout disease. At present, clinical treatment drugs mainly include 1) drugs that inhibit uric acid production, such as xanthine oxidase inhibitors allopurinol and febuxostat; 2) drugs that promote uric acid excretion, such as probenecid and benzbromarone; 3) inflammation inhibitors, such as colchicine, etc. These drugs have certain defects in treatment, such as poor efficacy, large side effects and high cost, which are the main bottlenecks of their clinical application. It has been reported that 40%-70% of patients do not reach the expected treatment target (<6 mg/dL) after receiving standard procedure treatment.
As a uric acid excretion promoter, its mechanism is to reduce the reabsorption of uric acid by inhibiting the URAT1 transporter on the brush border membrane of proximal convoluted renal tubules. Uric acid is a metabolic product of purines in the body, which is mainly filtered by the glomeruli in the original form, reabsorbed and re-secreted by renal tubules, and finally excreted from the body through urine and very few of which can be secreted into the intestinal cavity by mesenteric cells. The S1 segment of the proximal convoluted renal tubule is the place of uric acid reabsorption, and 98% to 100% of the filtered uric acid enters the epithelial cells through the uric acid transporter URAT1 and the organic anion transporter OAT4 on the brush border membrane of the tubular epithelial cells. The uric acid that enters the epithelial cells is reabsorbed into the capillaries around the tubules via the renal tubule basal lateral membrane. The S2 segment of the proximal convoluted renal tubule is the place of uric acid re-secretion, and the amount of secretion is about 50% of the amount of glomerular filtration. The uric acid in the renal interstitium first enters the epithelial cells via the anion transporters OAT1 and OAT3 on the basal lateral membrane of renal tubular epithelial cells. The uric acid that enters the epithelial cells is then discharged into the renal tubules via another anion transporter, MRP4, on the brush border membrane. The S3 segment of the proximal convoluted renal tubule may be the place of reabsorption after uric acid secretion. The amount of the reabsorption is about 40% of the amount of glomerular filtration, and similar to the first step of reabsorption, URAT1 may be a key reabsorption transporter. Therefore, if the urate transporter URAT1 can be significantly inhibited, the excretion of uric acid in the body will be enhanced, thereby reducing the level of blood uric acid and thus the possibility of gout attacks.
In December 2015, the FDA of U.S. approved the use of the first URAT1 inhibitor Zurampic (Leinurad) at 200 mg dose in combination with xanthine oxidase inhibitor XOI (such as Febuxostat, etc.) for the treatment of hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis. However, compared with the use of the xanthine oxidase inhibitors alone, the additive effect of the use in combination is not very significant. The 400 mg dose of Zurampic was not approved due to the significant toxic side effects (incidence of kidney-related adverse events, especially kidney stone) at high doses. Therefore, the FDA requires a black-box warning labelling for Zurampic to warn medical personnel of the risk of acute renal failure caused by Zurampic, which is more common when it is not used in combination with XOI, and if Zurampic is used in an over-approved dose, the risk of renal failure is higher. Meanwhile, the FDA required that after Zurampic was marketed, AstraZeneca should continue to investigate the safety of Zurampic on the kidney and cardiovessel. Therefore, the development of a novel and safe blood uric acid-lowering medicine has become a strong demand in this field.
WO2009070740 discloses Leinurad, which has the structure as follows:

Crystal form of URAT1 inhibitor, and preparation method therefor


An electronic device with an illuminated nameplate includes at least one light-emitting device, at least one circuit board, at least one casing and at least one opening. In this casing, at least one connector connects with the circuit board. The casing has at least one nameplate. The light emitted by the light-emitting device passes through at least one part of the nameplate. The opening is formed on the nameplate.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to an electronic device and, in particular, to an electronic device with illuminated nameplate that allows light to pass via a board at the opening thereof to a connector.
2. Related Art
Due to the advance in technologies, electronic products play an important role in daily life. Take computers as an example, aside from using them to process documents, sending and receiving E-mail, browsing network information, people further use them to watch movies or to hold online video conferences as a result of mass production of large-size screens, large storage capacities, and high processing speeds. It is thus seen that computers have a very close relation with human life.
In offices or study rooms, it is not suitable to put the computer together with the screen on the desk or table due to its larger volume. Thus, people usually put the computer under the table to save space. Normally, connector interfaces 4 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) are provided on the back of the computer 5. When connecting a peripheral device (such as a mouse, joy stick, keyboard, scanner, video conference device, speaker, and digital stereo) to the computer, the user may not be able to quickly and correctly identify the position and type of a connector 6 because of the dim light (such as under a table). Therefore, it is very inconvenient and may result in damages to the connector and even the computer 5.
It is therefore an important subjective of the invention to provide an electronic device with an illuminated nameplate for solving the above-mentioned problem.

Electronic device with illuminated nameplate


An aluminum alloy containing dispersoid-forming elements selected from the group consisting of Zr, Mn, Cr, V, Hf, Ti, Nb, Y, Sc and combinations thereof. The improved alloy comprises the dispersoid-forming elements partially in solid solution above the saturation limit and partialy in a form of aluminide particles having an average particle size of less than 1 micron.

In the aluminum industry, dispersoid-forming elements such as Zr, Mn, Cr, V, Ti, Sc and Hf are used to increase recrystallization temperature and to control the grain structure in cast and wrought products. Many different methods have been employed to add these types of alloying elements to molten metals. Typically, master alloys which contain the desired elements are added directly to the melt in the forms of a cast lump, bar, waffle or added as briquettes composed of mixtures of aluminum and elemental powders or chips.
The alloying elements in the master alloys are normally present in a form of coarse intermetallics such as for example Al.sub.3 Zr. These intermetallics require superheat and a long period of holding time to be dissolved in the melt. The heavy intermetallics also tend to settle to the bottom of the holding furnace due to gravity. Thus, master alloys are generally added in the melting or holding furnace to allow sufficient time for the intermetallics to dissolve in the superheated melt which is occasionally stirred.
In addition, the level of these desirable dispersoid-forming elements in the commercial aluminum alloys has been limited to the liquid solubility at peritectic reaction temperature. For example, in the case of aluminum binary systems, the maximum liquid solubility of Zr, Cr, V and Hf is 0.12, 0.37, 0.2 and 0.2 wt. %, respectively. In commercial aluminum alloys, these maximum limits of liquid solubility at peritectic temperatures will be reduced even further. Casting of aluminum alloys containing dispersoid elements at levels above their natural saturation limit can result in formation of undesirable coarse primary intermetallics in the molten metal.
If coarse intermetallics are not filtered out of the molten metal, they will adversely affect the ability to cast the metal as well as the mechanical properties of the end product by reducing ductility, fracture toughness, or fatigue properties. Since coarse primary intermetallics can rapidly nucleate and grow in melts which exceed the maximum solubility limit, the conventional alloying approach is to add dispersoid-forming elements in the melting or holding furnace in amounts below the liquid saturation limit.
It would be highly desirable to form metal which has been cast such that it contains dispersoid-forming elements at a level greater than the liquid solubility limit of the elements. Supersaturated levels of dispersoid-forming elements in solid solution will increase the number of nucleation sites which form fine dispersoids during preheating of the cast alloy, which enables the recrystallization temperature to be increased, and inhibits grain growth during hot working.
For structural applications, a fine grain unrecrystallized microstructure has a better combination of strength, elongation and toughness than a coarse grain recrystallized alloy. Metallurgically, a high volume fraction of fine dispersoids which are less than about 0.1 microns in size are useful for retaining a fine grain unrecrystallized microstructure.
Currently the volume fraction of dispersoids which can be formed is limited by the liquid solubility of the dispersoid-forming elements in the alloy.
It is against this background that the present invention was made.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide aluminum alloys having high levels of fine dispersoids.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for increasing the amount of dispersoid-forming elements in solid solution which is not limited to the liquid solubility level.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method to increase the volume fraction of dispersoids formed by precipitating from a supersaturated solid solution.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method for casting aluminum alloys with supersaturated levels of dispersoid-forming elements.
Yet it is another object of this invention to provide aluminum alloys having levels of Zr greater than about 0.12 wt. %.
Yet it is another object of this invention to provide aluminum alloys having levels of Mn greater than about 2.06 wt. %.
Yet it is another object of this invention to provide aluminum alloys having levels of Cr greater than about 0.37 wt. %.
Yet it is another object of this invention to provide aluminum alloys having levels of V greater than about 0.2 wt. %.
Yet it is another object of this invention to provide aluminum alloys having levels of Ti greater than about 0.14 wt. %.
Yet it is another object of this invention to provide aluminum alloys having levels of Hf greater than about 0.20 wt. %.
Yet it is another object of this invention to provide aluminum alloys having levels of Y greater than about 0.16 wt. %.
Yet it is another object of this invention to provide aluminum alloys having levels of Nb greater than about 0.016 wt. %.
Yet it is another object of this invention to provide aluminum alloys having levels of Sc greater than about 0.47 wt. %
It is a further object of this invention to provide a method for casting aluminum alloys having levels of dispersoid-forming elements in solid solution greater than the liquid solubility limits.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated with reference to the following description.

Aluminum products containing supersaturated levels of dispersoids


The invention relates to an optical device, apt to generate and process optical codes at least one wavelength, comprising P inputs s, with 1≦s≦P, and P≧1, and N outputs k, with 1≦k≦N and N≧1, characterized in that it is apt to simultaneously generate and process Nc≧2, made of C chips with time interval τ, with C≧2, characterized in that the transfer function Tsk(f) from the input s to the output k satisfies the following formula: where: Fv is a transfer function of an optical filter, for v=0, 1 . . . , V−1, av is a constant value, for v=0, 1, . . . , V−1 Ssk is an integer number (SskεZ), Nk is a constant value, for k=2, . . . N, and V is a positive integer number with 1≧V≧log2N. The invention further relates to a set of optical codes, apt to be generated, in particular, by such optical device, and to networks and apparatus comprising such optical device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention refers to an optical device, preferably realised in Planar Lightwave Circuits or PLC technology, for simultaneously generating and processing optical codes, which allows the label generation and processing to be executed directly in the optical domain and which is accurate, reliable, simple, and inexpensive. In particular, the device may be used in Multi Protocol Label Switching or MPLS communication networks, and in Code Division Multiple Access or CDMA network.
1. Description of the Related Art
The presently most diffused communication networks, employing the IP (Internet Protocol) protocol, use a SONET/SDH (Synchronous Optical NETwork/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) transport layer over which an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) switching layer rests, on which data according to IP protocol travel. In particular, voice traffic typically travels on SONET/SDH layer. Such networks allows even more than one wavelength to be employed for transmission, according to WDM (Wavelenght Division Multiplexing). This four-layer architecture is too slow for managing high traffic volume at reasonable costs. But above all it is inefficient as far as scalability and flexibility of the whole network are concerned.
For these reasons, MPLS system has been proposed and standardised by IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) organisation, system which is based upon a set of protocols used for scaling and managing optical networks so as to reduce the protocol stack, by incorporating the SONET/SDH and ATM layers into one sole IP/MPLS layer. In fact, as described by K. H. Liu in "IP Over WDM", John Wileym & Sons, Ltd West Sussex, England 2003, by M. Murata and K. I. Kitayama in "A perspective on photonic multiprotocol label switching", IEEE Network, July/August, pp. 56-63, 2001, by R. Xu, Q. Gong and P. Ye in "A novel IP with MPLS over WDM-based broad-band wavelength switched IP network", IEEE J. Lightwave Technol., vol. 19, n. 5, pp. 596-602, 2001, by M. Koga in "Photonic MPLS router", Proc. Lasers and Electro-Optics, (CLEO), Long Beach, Calif. USA, vol. 1, pp. 581-582, vol. 1, 2002, and by D. J. Blumenthal in "Photonic packet and all-optical label switching technologies and techniques", Opt. Fiber Comm. Conf. (OFC), Anaheim, Calif. USA, paper W03, pp. 282-284, 2002, MPLS protocols overlap IP protocols for simplifying traffic engineering and allowing the use of the network resources to be efficient.
With reference to FIG. 1a, at input node 1 of a MPLS network, a label 2 having constant format is inserted at the head (or at the tail) of each data packet 3. In particular, such labels are codes generally having up to 32 bits, each label bit being more properly called chip. At each following node 4, the packet 3 is routed on the basis of the value of the label 2 itself until destination node 5, which finally receives the packet 3.
In other words, MPLS networks generates virtual link or tunnel connecting external nodes 1 and 5 of an optical network. If a data packet 3 is entered in the input of a tunnel, the normal IP procedure are suspended and packets are routed towards destination node 5 on the basis of only the value of the labels 2, according to the so-called label switching.
Hence, MPLS protocol does not replace the normal routing of IP packets, but it overlaps this protocol for increasing data transmission speed, allocating a sufficient band for traffic flows with different QoS (Quality of Service) requirements.
However MPLS networks present some drawbacks.
The main limitation in current MPLS networks is the fact that label generation and processing occur at electronic level instead of optical, limiting in a very large measure the maximum transmission speed, which is reduced to the order of 10 Gbit/sec.
In fact, current technology uses labels, i.e. codes with length up to 32 chips which are inserted at the front (or at the back) of the data packet; the so obtained electric signal is converted in an optical signal and transmitted into the MPLS network. At each single node, the optical signal, comprising the data packet 3 and the label 2, has to be reconverted in an electric signal from which the label 2 is extracted. The label 2 is read by carrying out the correlation between the label 2 itself and all the other labels, which are inserted into a table of stored codes.
The labels are all orthogonal with respect to each other and only when the input label matches its corresponding one in the table there is a peak of the auto-correlation function. In such case, the data packet 3 provided with the same label 2 is converted again from electric to optical signal and routed to the subsequent node. In the case when it is necessary a label change, the data packet is provided with a new label, through a label swapper, and then routed. All the above involves that at each node an electric-optical-electric double conversion is needed, using a photodetector and a laser source. It is known that these devices make up more than 75% of the cost of an optical network and that hence it is financially advantageous to reduce their use at most.
Some solutions to these drawbacks have been proposed by K.-I. Kitayama, N. Wada, and H. Sotobayashi in "Architectural considerations for photonic IP router based upon optical code correlation", IEEE J. Lightwave Technol., vol. 18, n. 12, pp. 1834-1844, 2000, by K.-I. Kitayama and N. Wada in "Photonic IP routing", IEEE J. Lightwave Technol., vol. 11, n. 12, pp. 1689-1691, 1999, by N. Wada and K.-I. Kitayama in "Photonic IP routing using optical codes: 10 Gbit/s optical packet transfer experiment", Proc. Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC), Baltimore, Md. USA, vol. 2, paper WM51-1, pp. 362-364, 2000, and by K.-I. Kitayama and M. Murata in "Photonic access node using optical-code based label processing and its applications to optical data networking", IEEE J. Lightwave Technol., vol. 19, n. 10, pp. 1401-1415, 2001. In particular, in such architectures it has been proposed to generate and process labels directly in the optical domain.
Since in order to read a label it is necessary to carry out N correlations between the input label and all the N labels of the table, such solutions carry out said N correlations in the optical domain by using N different devices, one for each label.
This consequently entails other drawbacks, due to the complexity and to the cost of the correlation apparatus, which requires N copies of each packet and N correlators.
Another solution for managing MPLS networks directly in the optical domain is to use multi protocol wavelength switching or MPλS (Multi Protocol Lambda Switching) systems, also called generalised MPLS systems, wherein different wavelengths are used as labels.
However, also these systems present some drawbacks.
The main limitation of these systems is the small code cardinality, i.e. the small number of labels, due to the strict one-to-one correspondence between labels and corresponding wavelengths λ.
Moreover, generalised MPLS systems need tunable laser sources for generating different wavelengths which are more expensive than normal laser sources.
Furthermore, these systems need a demultiplexer at each node for reading the different labels.
What has been described so far is valid also for CDMA networks, wherein multiple access techniques make simultaneous access to a transmission channel possible for a large number of users.
In particular, the CDMA technique assigns a specific code to each user, code which is independent of the information signal to be transmitted. The encoding operation, called spreading, consists of multiplying the code assigned to each single user by the information signal. Instead, in the decoding operation, the receiver carries out a correlation between the received signal and the code of the user which is intended to be received (despreading). In order to avoid interference among the various users simultaneously accessing to the network, it is necessary that the codes are orthogonal with respect to each other.
As described by D. D. Sampson, G. J. Pendock, and R. A. Griffin in "Photonic Code-division multiple access communications" Fibre and lnt. Opt., vol. 16, pp. 129-157, 1997, by M. Azizoglu, J. A. Salehi, and Y. Li, in "Optical CDMA via temporal codes" IEEE Trans. Commun., vol 40, n. 7, pp. 1162-1170 (1992), by J. A. Salehi in "Code division multiple-access techniques in optical fiber networks-part I: fundamental principles," IEEE Trans. Commun., vol 37, n. 8, pp. 824-833 (1989), by M. E. Marhic, in "Coherent optical CDMA networks", J. Lightwave Technol., vol. 11, n. 5/6, pp. 854-864 (1993) and by K.-I. Kitayama in "Code division multiplexing lightwave networks based upon optical code conversion" IEEE J. Select. Areas Commun., vol. 16, n. 7, pp. 1309-1319, 1998, in a multiple access optical network, as the one schematically shown in FIG. 1b, the signals transmitted by all the users 50 are distributed to each receiver 51 by means of a star coupler 52. If data coding and decoding are carried out in the optical domain, aggregated transmission speeds very much higher than the ones possible with electronic encoders and decoders are reached. In all the architectures proposed in literature N different encoders 53, one for each user 50, are used. At reception, decoding is carried out by using an adapted filter, once that the desired user code is known. Obviously it is necessary to have N different decoders 54, one for each code.
MPLS and CDMA networks present further drawbacks.
In fact, in order to precisely distinguish the different optical codes, it is necessary that the peak of the auto-correlation function is as higher as possible whereas the cross-correlation function must be close to zero everywhere. A review of characteristics and properties of the optical codes proposed in literature has been made by S. W. Lee and D. H. Green in "Coding for coherent optical CDMA networks", IEEE Proc. Commun., vol. 145, n. 3, pp. 117-125, 1998, by S. W. Lee and D. H. Green in "Performance analysis method for optical codes in coherent optical CDMA networks", IEEE Proc. Commun., vol. 147, n. 1, pp. 41-46, 2000, by S. W. Lee and D. H. Green in "Performance analysis of optical orthogonal codes in CDMA LANs", IEEE Proc. Commun., vol. 147, n. 4, pp. 256-271, 1998, by F. R. K. Chung, J. A. Salehi, and V. K. Wei in "Optical orthogonal codes: design, analysis, and applications" IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory, vol. 35, n. 3, pp. 595-604, 1989, and by G.-C. Yang and T. E. Puja in "Optical orthogonal codes with unequal auto- and cross-correlation constraints", IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory, vol. 41, n. 1, pp. 96-106, 1995. The codes proposed by K.-I. Kitayama, N. Wada, and H. Sotobayashi in "Architectural considerations for photonic IP router based upon optical code correlation", IEEE J. Lightwave Technol., vol. 18, n. 12, pp. 1834-1844, 2000, and by K.-I. Kitayama in "Code division multiplexing lightwave networks based upon optical code conversion" IEEE J. Select. Areas Commun., vol. 16, n. 7, pp. 1309-1319, 1998 are the Hadamard codes which present an auto correlation peak or ACP equal to ACP=N2, whereas the maximum value of the cross-correlation function or CCP (Cross Correlation Peak) is CCP=(N−1)2. By way of example, in the case when N=8, the auto correlation peak is equal to ACP=64, whereas the maximum value of the cross-correlation function is CCP=49. Consequently, the parameter of code orthogonality is quite high, equal to r=CCP/ACP=49/64=0.77, thus not enabling particularly accurate performances for routers of a MPLS network and for detection in CDMA systems.

Optical device for simultaneously generating and processing optical codes


A power converter module includes power transistors and a substrate having a first surface and a second surface that opposes the first surface. A thermal pad is situated on the second surface of the substrate, and the thermal pad is configured to be thermally coupled to a heat sink. The power converter module also includes a control module mounted on a first surface of the substrate. The control module also includes control IC chips coupled to the power transistors. A first control IC chip controls a first switching level of the power converter module and a second control IC chip controls a second switching level of the power converter module. Shielding planes overlay the substrate. A first shielding plane is situated between the thermal pad and the first control IC chip and a second shielding plane is situated between the thermal pad and a second control IC chip.

In electrical engineering, power conversion is the process of converting electric energy from one form to another. A power converter module is an electrical device that includes a power converter that can convert electrical energy. Some power converters convert direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). Such power converters are sometimes referred to as a DC-to-AC power converter, or more simply as a power inverter. Some power converters convert AC into DC, such power converters are referred to as AC-to-DC power converters. Still other power converters, namely a DC-to-DC power converter converts a source of DC from one voltage level to another voltage level.
Gallium Nitride (GaN) has a relatively high electron mobility and saturation velocity that enables the employment of GaN for high-power and high-temperature microwave applications. High-power/high-frequency devices based on GaN include microwave radio-frequency power amplifiers (such as those used in high-speed wireless data transmission) and high-voltage switching devices for power grids. More particularly, GaN is employable to fabricate GaN field effect transistors (FETs). As compared with a metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), the GaN FET has a lower drain to source resistance when the GaN FET is on (RDS(ON)). Also, a GaN FET has lower input capacitance than a MOSFET, such that the GaN FET has a faster on/off switching rate.


This invention relates generally to the field of cell culture. More particularly, the invention relates to improving viability of recombinant cell cultures and the yields of secreted polypeptides therefrom by the addition of betaine to the tissue culture medium.

Many commercially important polypeptides are recombinantly produced in cells that are adapted grown in culture. One of the limits to growing cell lines in culture is the decreased viability of the cells over time, which is partially rectified by the addition of growth factors. However, while this extra step improves cell viability, it adds significant costs to the production of the desired recombinant polypeptide.
Betaine has been shown to counteract the effects of hyperosmotic conditions in cell cultures in vitro, and also counteracts the denaturing tendency of urea (Kim et al., (2000) Biotechnol. Prog., 16:775-781; Ryu et al., (2000) Biotech. Bioeng., 70:167-175). However, it was also reported that betaine had no effect on cell culture growth or maximum viable cell concentration when cultures were at physiological ranges, i.e., 292 mOsm/kg, of osmolality (Ryu et al., (2000) Biotech. Bioeng., 70:167-175).
Thus, there is a need in the art for methods of improving the cell viability of cell cultures so as to reduce cell death, to reduce the dependence on growth factors to increase recombinant polypeptide production while not increasing costs. The invention fulfills this need by providing a simple, easy and inexpensive way of increasing cell viability and reducing the requirement for growth factors by cultured cells.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A power tool that includes a housing and a transmission assembly. The housing has a pair of mating housing shells that cooperate to define a handle and a pair of first mounts. Each of the first mounts includes a pair of circumferentially spaced-apart ribs. At least one of the circumferentially-spaced apart ribs is contoured to define a notch. The transmission assembly has a transmission sleeve into which a multi-speed reduction gearset is received. The transmission sleeve has a pair of second mounts. Each of the second mounts includes a boss that is configured to be received in an associated one of the notches between a corresponding pair of the circumferentially-spaced apart ribs to thereby inhibit axial and rotational movement of the transmission sleeve relative to the housing.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Manufacturers have introduced rotary power tools that have variable speed motors and multi-stage multi-speed transmissions. The tools may provide the user with sufficient control over the output speed and the torque of the tool so as to facilitate diverse operations without resorting to additional specialized tools. While the tools have performed satisfactorily, there remains room in the art for improvements to increase performance and reduce complexity and cost.
One manner for improvements to performance and the lowering of costs concerns the manner in which a transmission assembly can be mounted to the housing of a power tool. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,289 describes an arrangement in which the transmission assembly includes a transmission sleeve into which a reduction gearset assembly is received. The transmission sleeve includes first grooves that are configured to receive alignment ribs formed on mating handle shells to mount the transmission assembly to the handle shell in a manner that permits the transmission assembly to slide axially relative to the handle shell. Such configuration can be advantageous in some circumstances (e.g., the configuration permits the transmission assembly to be withdrawn from a handle shell assembly without separating the two handle shells from one another). We have determined, however, that improvements to the power tool are needed to facilitate more cost efficient volume production.

Power tool with transmission cassette received in clam shell housing


A linear guide bearing apparatus 1 includes a guide rail 2 and a slider 4 riding over the guide rail 2 movably relative thereto, the slider 4 includes a slider main body 8 and end caps 10 respectively joined to both end faces in an axial direction of the slider main body 8, and the end cap 10 includes an end cap main body 44 formed with a middle guide face 54 and an outer peripheral guide face 56 of an inner side direction change path 50 as well as an inner peripheral guide face 62 and a middle guide face 64 of an outer side direction change path 60, a return guide 46 formed with an inner peripheral guide face 52 of the inner side direction change path 50, and a lid member 48 formed with an outer peripheral guide face 66 of the outer side direction change path 60.

The present application claims foreign priority under 35 USC 119 based on Japanese application no. 2004-179791, filed on Jun. 17, 2004, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. This priority claim is being made concurrently with the filing of this application.
The present invention relates to a linear guide bearing apparatus used in a machine tool, a semiconductor fabricating apparatus or the like of a machine element part for guiding a linearly moving body.
There is a generally used linear guide bearing apparatus described in, for example, Patent Reference 1. As shown by FIG. 14, the linear guide bearing apparatus 1 is provided with a guide rail 2, and a slider 4 riding over the guide rail 2 movably relative to each other.
Each of both slider faces of the guide rail 2 is formed with two rows of rolling member rolling grooves 6 extended in an axial direction.
The slider 4 comprises a slider main body 8 and end caps 10 respectively joined to both end faces in the axial direction of the slider main body 8. As shown by FIG. 15, inner side faces of both sleeve portions of the slider main body 8 are respectively formed with rolling member rolling grooves 16 opposed to the rolling member rolling grooves 6 of the guide rail 2, and a load rolling path 14 is constituted from an interval between the two rolling member rolling grooves 6, 16. Further, thick wall portions of the both sleeve portions are respectively formed with two rows of rolling member return paths 24.
The load rolling path is rollably charged with a plurality of cylindrical rollers 18 as rolling members, and the slider 4 is made to be movable along the axial direction on the guide rail 2 relative to each other by way of rolling of the cylindrical rollers 18.
When the slider 4 is moved, the plurality of cylindrical rollers 18 charged to the load rolling path 14 are moved to an end portion in the axial direction of the slider 4 while being rolled. Therefore, in order to continuously move the slider 4 in the axial direction, it is necessary to infinitely circulate the plurality of cylindrical rollers 18.
Therefore, by forming a direction change path communicating between the load rolling path 14 and the rolling member return path 24, there is formed a rolling member rolling path for infinitely circulating the plurality of cylindrical rollers 18.
As shown by FIG. 16, the end cap 10 is constituted by an end cap main body 44 and a fit-to-insert member 90. Further, by providing an opening portion at a face of the end cap main body 44 for joining with the slider main body 8 and fitting the fit-to-insert member 90 to the opening portion, an inner side direction change path 50 and an outer side direction change path 60 are formed.
As shown by FIG. 17, the inner side direction change path 50 is constituted by an inner peripheral guide face 52 and an outer peripheral guide face 56 opposed to a rolling face of the cylindrical roller 18, and a middle guide face 54 opposed to an end face of the cylindrical roller 18. Also the outer side direction change path 60 is similarly constituted by an inner peripheral guide face 62 and an outer peripheral guide face 66 opposed to the rolling face of the cylindrical roller 18, and a middle guide face 64 opposed to the end face of the cylindrical roller 18. The inner side direction change path 50 and the outer side direction change path 60 are intersected by each other in a crossing shape, and communicate between the load rolling paths 14 and the rolling member return paths 24 different from each other.
[Patent Reference 1]
JP-A-Hei4-366016
However, according to the linear guide bearing apparatus 1 having the above-described constitution, a connecting portion 92 for connecting the end cap main body 44 and the fit-to-insert member 90 is formed at the middle guide face 54 and the outer peripheral guide face 56 of the inner side direction change path 50. Further, when a stepped difference is produced at the connecting portion 92 by an error in molding the end cap main body 44 and the fit-to-insert member 90 or the like, smooth circulation of the cylindrical roller 18 is hampered and therefore, operability of the linear guide bearing apparatus 1 is deteriorated. Particularly, when the stepped difference is produced at the connecting portion 92 formed at the middle guide face 54, a problem of catching the end face of the cylindrical roller 18 by the stepped difference or the like is posed and therefore, the operability of the linear guide bearing apparatus 1 is further deteriorated.
Such a problem can be prevented by molding the end cap main body 44 and the fit-to-insert member 90 with high accuracy or promoting accuracy of attaching the fit-to-insert member 90 to the end cap main body 44. However, the end cap main body 44 and the fit-to-insert member 90 are fabricated by injection molding and therefore, deformation is frequently brought about by a sink mark in molding or the like and it is difficult to mold the end cap main body 44 and the fit-to-insert member 90 with high accuracy. Further, there is a limit also in promoting the accuracy for attaching the fit-to-insert member 90 to the end cap main body 44 and it is difficult to firmly prevent the stepped difference from being produced to the connecting portion 92.


A video processing device includes an audio event detector and a memory that stores video data and audio data corresponding to the video data. The audio event detector detects an audio event in the audio data and indexes the video data at about a beginning of the audio event.

Video devices are any type of device used to capture, store, process or play back video. Video devices generally work with a video captured by some manner of video recording device, such as a video camera. A video recording device may be used to record video of persons, events, scenes, etc. In addition, some video recording devices may be capable of adding effects directly into the video.
Many video processing devices exist that cannot record video but are capable of storing and/or processing it. One example is a video editor device. Home computers, when configured with video processing software, may be able to store and process digital video data, including processing operations such as editing, adding effects, trimming, etc. The processed video may then be electronically transferred to other devices or played back to users. Another type of video processing device may be a playback device such as a VCR or a DVD player that displays videos to a user.
Video recording devices have become very popular, especially for home use. As they become cheaper they have become increasingly widespread. As a result, many non-professional videographers are capturing videos.
Most video tapes contain multiple video scenes. A video scene may be defined as a continuous portion of video having a common subject over a contiguous period of time and in the same or contiguous space. A scene therefore contains a story or at least contains an independent semantic meaning.
Each video scene typically comprises one or more video shots. Each shot is a video segment captured from a record button press to a stop button press, i.e., a shot is a continuous capture period.
Captured video may be processed at a later time. The processing may be performed for various reasons, including imposing some form of organization that is useful for viewing. The processing therefore may include segmenting the video, such as by inserting indexes into the video. The segmenting is done so that particular video scenes or video shots may be easily found. In addition, the segmenting may enable a person to later determine what is stored on a particular tape.
The problem with most video recordings is that they are typically captured to magnetic tape. Magnetic tape is heavily used for video recording because it is widely available and can store large quantities of video. Magnetic tapes are also cheap and easy to use, with one exception. The exception is that videographers end up with many different scenes captured on a single tape, and may accumulate many tapes. Therefore, video segmenting and indexing becomes a large, complicated, and time-consuming task. The same problem exists for other types of storage media as well, such as solid-state memory, memory disc, optical memory, etc.
The prior art has approached the video indexing and segmenting problem in several ways. In a first prior art approach the photographer (or other user) must manually fast-forward or rewind through a tape in order to find a particular video shot or scene. Moreover, the user may occasionally have to pause to play the tape in order to see if the desired scene has been found. The user may then still need to do additional fast-forwarding or rewinding once the shot or scene has been found in order to find the beginning of the shot or scene. Then the video indexing or segmenting can be performed. This manual searching process may need to be done many times per tape.
The first prior art approach therefore has many drawbacks. Finding a particular video scene may be very difficult and very time consuming. This difficulty will be greater if the user is searching for a shot or scene that is relatively short (i.e., it will be harder to locate the desired video scene by fast-forwarding or rewinding). The problem is compounded when the user must find multiple scenes and therefore must move backwards and forwards many times in a recorded video.
In a second prior art approach, professional video segmenting systems have been developed (such as part of a professional video editing system). However, these prior art video segmenting systems are focused on professionally produced video. They typically feature specialized expensive equipment and operate on recorded audio that is unlike audio data captured within a home video tape. The professional video segmenting systems of the prior art operate on audio that is generally separately captured and tightly controlled during capture, such as in a studio environment. The prior art video segmenting systems typically segment video wherein the audio component has been subjected to processing, such as filtering and noise control, regulation of the captured audio level, etc.
One drawback to the second prior art approach is that such professional video editing/segmenting systems are expensive and are designed for highly processed audio. Furthermore, the prior art professional video approach may not work satisfactorily on home audio that has varying capture levels and large amounts of background noise.
Another drawback is that the segmenting and indexing of the prior art professional approach operates through shot detection. The prior art professional segmenting approach analyzes video frames, separates the video into shots, and extracts one or more frames from each shot to represent it. The prior art video indexing and segmenting therefore cannot segment video into semantically meaningful video scenes, and is only capable of indexing and segmenting individual shots. This kind of indexing lacks semantic meaning because one scene or story may contain many shots, and there is no way to decide what shots are within one story. As a result, there may be too many index frames within a video tape or video file. As a result, the user cannot easily browse and retrieve the video segments.
Therefore, there remains a need in the art for improvements to video segmenting and indexing.

Indexing video by detecting speech and music in audio

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Mass amounts of information, such as entire libraries of songs or movies, for example, may be stored locally near end-users, and this information may be accessed and reproduced in response to commands received from a transmitting station via a network. When a radio or television station desires to transmit a song or movie, for example, the radio or television station can, rather than transmitting the entire song or movie, merely transmit a command for reproducing the song or movie. An end-user's performance reproduction device, such as an enhanced radio or a television set, then accesses and reproduces the locally stored song or movie. Since the radio or television station need not transmit the entire performance, network traffic can be significantly reduced. The performance reproduction device may actively request information from the radio or television station when fresh or additional information is needed.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to pseudo-live performance.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, performances such as radio or television broadcasts are transmitted to end-users via wireless and/or wired networks. Due to increased network traffic, better technology is needed to make more efficient use of available network resources.

Active requesting of information for psuedo-live performance


Advertisement is a multi-billion dollar business in US (per year). Here, we use license plate frames for the advertisement. One example of the application describes a license-plate-frame-based advertisement verification system. In order to validate and verify the correct placement/mounting of a license plate frame advertisement at a given location over time, it is necessary to validate that both (a) the ad is correctly placed on the vehicle, and (b) to verify that the ad is at a given location at that time. The method required to verify these includes some control systems and components. Different variations and examples are also presented here.

People and businesses try to advertise on new media, or try to explore/use new/innovative methods, to find new channels to reach consumers and potential buyers, or try to do those tasks more efficiently and/or with less cost.
One advertising method is on automobiles. Automobiles are mobile, and thus, they can carry the information about a product or advertisement to different parts of a city or a country, presenting a large audience for the ad or product (or service or brand). Advertisements can be attached to an automobile through the license plate feature, but to be able to sell license plate frame based advertising, it is preferred that one can validate and verify the correct placement/mounting of a license plate frame advertisement at a given location over time. This is useful because the license plate fixture is one of the only few standardized aspects of vehicles that can be used to mount advertisements. However, without verification of the ad placement, it is difficult to sell advertisements on third-party vehicles based on time and location.
Some of the related art are listed below:
U.S. 20100036739, Mobile Billboard Advertising System and Apparatus
U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,291, License Plate Frame with Detachable Display Panels
20080162154, System and Method for Vehicle Advertising Network
In this disclosure, we present a system and method for validation of correct ad placement on a license plate frame and verification of ad location over time.

System and method for license plate frame advertising verification and validation


An opto-electric module adapted to be coupled with an optical fiber on a first side and a plurality of electrical conductors on a second side. The opto-electric module includes a header with a plurality of pins extending through the header a thermo-electric cooler with a hot plate of the thermo-electric cooler disposed against a second, opposing side of the header and a plurality of active and passive optical components adapted to convert between an optical signal format within the optical fiber and an electrical signal format within at least one conductor of the plurality of conductors, said plurality of active and passive optical components all being in thermal contact with a cold plate of the thermo-electric cooler.

This application is related to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/059,790 filed on Feb. 16, 2005 (pending), assigned to the common assignee.
A variety of electro-optic transceivers are known in the art. Such devices typically include an optical laser module that converts an electrical signal into a modulated light beam that is coupled to an optical fiber, and a receiver that receives an optical signal from an optical fiber and converts it into an electrical signal. Traditionally, the optical laser module includes a laser diode (LD) and other optic components and it focus or directs the light from the laser diode onto the optic fiber, which in turn, is connected to network transmission line. The laser module is typically packaged in a hermetically sealed package in order to protect the laser diode from harsh environmental conditions.
The laser diode is provided as semiconductor chip that is typically a few hundred microns wide and 100–500 microns thick. The package in which they are sealed is typically in the butterfly or coaxial form factors with several electrical leads coming out of the package. These electrical leads are typically soldered to the circuit board containing the amplifier/limiter.
The coaxial laser modules have seen some use in fiber optic telecommunication and CATV applications. Such modules typically use transistor outline (TO) packages and provide a relatively low cost solution in some markets. However, for applications where the laser consumes a relatively large amount of power or the laser is operated over a wide range of ambient temperatures, the laser diode and other optical components must be cooled in order to meet the requirements of an extremely narrow frequency spectrum and stable LD performance. External, forced air cooling has been the method of choice.
The use of internal cooling with TO packages has proven difficult due to the limited space within the TO header and the size of the active and passive components found therein. One previous effort in this regard involved the cooling of a converter module using very small custom thermo-electric coolers (TECs) and was limited to the cooling of only the active components (i.e., the LD) and not the passive components (i.e., lens and isolator). The cooling of only the active components has been found to result in unstable optical performance where a wide range of operating temperatures are involved.
In order to address these deficiencies in prior designs, a new style of coaxial cooled laser module based on an optimized thermal and mechanical design is described below under illustrated embodiments of the invention. This proposed cooled laser module uses a commercially available miniaturized TEC and integrates both the active and the passive optical components on a temperature controllable platform to provide a stable laser and optical performance.

Coaxial cooled laser modules with integrated thermal electric cooler and optical components


A flat-type fluorescent lamp device includes a first substrate, a plurality of first and second electrodes arranged on the first substrate at fixed intervals, a first fluorescent layer on an entire surface of the first substrate including the first and second electrodes, a second substrate having a plurality of projection portions for maintaining a uniform gap between the first and second substrates, and a second fluorescent layer on the second substrate except at regions of the projection portions that contact the first substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fluorescent lamp device, and more particularly, to a flat-type fluorescent lamp device and a method of fabricating a flat-type fluorescent lamp device.
2. Background of the Related Art
Currently, cathode ray tubes (CRTs) are commonly used in televisions, as monitors in scientific instruments, and information terminals. However, the CRTs have size and weight limitations that are in direct opposition to the trend of electronic products becoming smaller and lighter. Different types of flat display devices that are expected to replace the CRTs include liquid crystal display (LCD) devices that make use of electro-optical effects, plasma display panel (PDP) device that make use of gas-discharge, and electro-luminescent display (ELD) device that make use of electroluminescent materials.
Among these flat display devices, the LCD devices have been commonly selected to replace the CRTs because of their small size, light weight, and low power consumption. Since most of the LCD devices are light receptive devices, wherein a quantity of light receivable from an exterior source is controlled to display image data, i.e., pictures, a separate light source for illuminating an LCD panel is necessary. Generally, a backlight unit is used as the light source of the LCD device and includes cylindrical fluorescent lamps. The backlight unit may be divided into different functional categories including bottom-type and edge-type backlight units.
The bottom-type backlight unit includes a plurality of lamps arranged along a first direction beneath a spreading plate for directing light toward a front surface of the LCD panel. The bottom-type backlight unit has a high light utilization efficiency as compared to the edge-type backlight unit, and is commonly used in large sized LCD panels requiring high luminance. However, incorporation of the bottom-type backlight in a thin LCD panel is limited because a gap is required between the lamps and the LCD panel in order to prevent the lamps from being visible on the LCD panel.
The edge-type backlight unit includes a fluorescent lamp at a side of a light plate for spreading the light to an entire surface of the LCD panel through the light plate. The edge-type backlight unit is commonly used in comparatively small sized LCD devices, such as monitors for laptop and desktop computers. However, incorporation of the edge-type backlight unit results in low luminance since the fluorescent lamp is provided at the side of the light plate. Accordingly, the edge-type backlight unit requires high optical design and processing technologies of the light plate for obtaining a uniform distribution of light intensity across an entire surface of the LCD panel.
FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an edge-type backlight unit according to the related art. In FIG. 1, a backlight unit is mounted on an under side of an LCD panel that displays image data and includes a lower cover 3 for protecting a base l, a lamp assembly 10 for holding a lamp to be used as a light source, a light plate 5 for uniform supply of a light from the source to the LCD panel, an upper spreading plate 9 and a lower spreading plate 6 over the light plate 5 for spreading the light from the light plate 5, and an upper prism 8 and a lower prism 7 between the upper spreading plate 9 and the lower spreading plate 6 for converging and directing the light toward the LCD panel.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an edge-type backlight unit according to the related art. In FIG. 2, an edge-type backlight unit includes a lamp having a high voltage side lamp wire 13a and a low voltage side lamp wire 13b connected to a connector 16 in a high voltage side lamp holder 12a and a low voltage side lamp holder 12b, respectively. In addition, the lamp wires 13a and 13b are soldered to a high voltage side and a lower voltage side of the lamp, respectively, and lamp holders 12a and 12b are attached to cover the soldered part of the lamp. The lamp is placed in a lamp housing 15.
Next, the lamp assembly is mounted onto a base 1, and a lower cover 3 is attached to a part of the base 1 around a light reception part of a light plate 5. This protects the lamp assembly from external impact. After a reflective plate 4 is placed on an inside bottom of the base 1, the light plate 5 is inserted in an inside of an inner cap part of the lamp housing 15 without deforming the inside cap of the lamp housing 15. A lower spreading plate 6, a lower prism 7, an upper prism 8, and an upper spreading plate 9 are sequentially placed on the light plate 5.
When power is provided to the backlight unit through the connector 16 connected to a power source, light is emitted from the lamp as a glow discharge. Accordingly, the emitted light is incident on a light reception surface of the light plate 5, and is reflected and scattered by dots printed on a bottom of the light plate 5. The light is scattered along an oblique direction as it passes through the spreading plate 6, which is arranged along a vertical direction as the light passes through the upper and lower prisms 8 and 7. The light is scattered again along an oblique angle as the it passes through the spreading plate 9. Eventually, a portion of the light passed through the spreading plate 6 illuminates the LCD panel from a back surface. Thus, when the reflective plate 4 reflects the light, the light escapes to a back surface without being reflected and scattered by the printed dots on the light plate 5, and is transmitted upward again.
However, the backlight unit has the following disadvantages. First, since the light progresses along a lateral direction from the fluorescent lamp, the backlight unit cannot provide adequate amounts of light. Accordingly, uniform luminance cannot be provided along an entire surface of the LCD panel. Second, it is very difficult to control a surface state of the light plate and a direction of the light progression by using the light plate having the fixed pattern of printed dots. Third, the fabrication process is complicated, thereby resulting in poor device yield. For example, many defects may be generated during the fabrication process, including deformed light plates or light plates having inaccurate dimensions. Specifically, since there are different thermal expansion coefficients between the different sheets and structures, wrinkles are generated. In addition, large dimensional variations of the light plate are caused by high absorption of moisture when the LCD panel and backlight unit are exposed to high humidity. Fourth, measures to prevent contamination by foreign matter and to prevent scratches on the light plate and sheets increase production costs.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a flat-type fluorescent lamp device according to the related art, and FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view and a plan view of dark spots on the flat-type fluorescent lamp device in FIG. 3 according to the related art. In FIGS. 3 and 4, a flat-type fluorescent lamp device includes a plurality of first and second electrodes 31 and 32 arranged on a first substrate 30 at fixed intervals, a barrier layer 33 covering an entire surface of each of the first and second electrodes 31 and 32, a first fluorescent layer 34 on an entire surface of the first substrate 30 including the first and second electrodes 31 and 32 and the barrier layer 33, a second fluorescent layer 41 on a second substrate 40, and supports 42 formed between the first substrate 30 and the second substrate 40.
The first and second substrates 30 and 40 may be formed of glass or heat resistive flat material. The barrier layer 33 is formed of a material that can function as a reflective layer for directing UV light along an upward direction. The support 42 is arranged between the first and second substrates 30 and 40, and supports the first and second substrates 30 and 40, wherein sides of the support 42 are concave for providing improved discharge efficiency. In addition, side supports 43 provide support for the first substrate 30 and the second substrate 40, and confine an inert gas, such as Xe, between the first and second substrates 30 and 40.
In FIG. 3, upon application of a voltage to the first and second electrodes 31 and 32, electrons emitted from the first electrode 31 collide with atoms of the inert gas to form a plasma that emits UV light. Then, the UV light collides with the second fluorescent layer 41 on the second substrate 40 to cause the second fluorescent layer 41 to emit white light. Accordingly, the white light passes through the second substrate 40 to emit a light from an entire upper surface of the second substrate 40. However, the UV light cannot transmit through the supports 42, and this dark spots are formed in areas of the fluorescent layer 41 where no white light is transmitted. Accordingly, since the dark spots deteriorate a uniform intensity of the white light, an additional spreading film must be incorporated. The spreading film decreases productivity, increases weight, and decreases an overall luminance of the flat-type fluorescent lamp device. Moreover, the process required for attaching the supports 42 between the first and the second substrates 30 and 40 at required positions further decreases productivity.

Method of sealing a flat-type fluorescent lamp device and process for coating fluorescent layers on corresponding first and second substrates


Device data is generated at each medical device in a system including a plurality of medical devices. Priority information is dynamically assigned to the device data at each medical device based on the character of the device data. The device data and the priority information are transmitted from each medical device. Interfering communications of device data and priority information from multiple medical devices are processed successively based on the priority information.

The present invention relates to communicating data between medical devices and a processing unit. More specifically, the present invention relates to prioritizing and trafficking simultaneous interfering telemetric communications by multiple medical devices with a processing unit.
There have been considerable advancements in both the field of electronics and medicine, such that there is presently a wide assortment of commercially available body-implantable and non-implantable electronic medical devices. The class of medical devices now includes pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, neural stimulators, and drug administering devices, among others. Today's state of the art medical devices are vastly more sophisticated and complex than early ones, and are capable of performing significantly more complex tasks. The therapeutic benefits of these devices have been well proven.
It has proven useful for medical devices to have the capability of communicating data wirelessly with a processing unit that in turn is capable to process, store, and/or display data provided by the medical device. The data provided by the medical device may be real-time or recorded data. The processing unit may also transmit signals to the medical device in order to provide some control over the medical device. This communication is achieved by wireless telemetry, which involves wireless data transfer between the medical device and the processing unit or another medical device using radio frequency (RF) signals, infrared (IR) frequency signals, or other electromagnetic signals.
At present, a medical device attempting to communicate information may open a communication session ad hoc. As medical devices become more prevalent, the possibility increases that multiple medical devices (either in the same patient or in different patients) will attempt to communicate simultaneously. Various communications technologies currently exist that allow multiple communications to be processed simultaneously. For example, communications in time division multiple access (TDMA) systems are assigned blocks of time in which to transmit data, communications in frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems are assigned channels within a frequency in which to transmit data, and communications in Quad-QAM modulated systems employ aspects of both TDMA and FDMA systems. However, since the frequencies available for telemetric communication by medical devices are limited, the potential for simultaneous communications from multiple medical devices attempting to communicate during the same block of time or on the same channel also increases. This may cause errors in communications between a medical device and another medical device or a processing unit. For example, one medical device may be prevented from communicating if the channel is occupied by another medical device, which is also communicating. In addition, the communications between one medical device and the processing unit may be interrupted by another medical device attempting to communicate with the processing unit. This is especially troublesome if an urgent communication to or from a medical device is prevented or interrupted by another medical device try to access the same transceiver or similar host.

Prioritization of communications from medical devices


A multi-terminal electromechanical nanoscopic switching device which may be used as a memory device, a pass gate, a transmission gate, or a multiplexer, among other things.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a hybrid switching device and, in particular, to a multi-terminal electromechanical and semiconductor device which may be used, among other things, as a memory element, pass gate, transmission gate, or multiplexer.
2. History Of The Prior Art
Building computers and other electronic devices at the present state of the present art utilizes building blocks of complicated circuitry defined in metal/oxide/silicon (MOS) and linking the blocks together. The basic building blocks utilize components such as transistors, resistors, and capacitors. One of the important building blocks of circuitry is a memory element.
Important characteristics of memory structures are data retention, density, cost, power, and speed. There are a number of different types of memory structures which display differing characteristics making them suitable for different applications.
For example, read only memory (ROM) is relatively low cost but cannot be written. Programmable read only memory (PROM), electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), and electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) have read cycles that are fast relative to ROM and can be written; however, each has relatively long erase times and can be written reliably only over a only few iterative read/write cycles. Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) may be written and read rapidly but stores charge on capacitors which must be electrically refreshed by separate circuitry every few milliseconds to retain the memory contents. Static random access memory (SRAM) does not need to be refreshed and is fast relative to DRAM but more expensive. Both SRAM and DRAM are volatile in the sense that they do not retain stored data when power to the computer is removed.
Recently, the authors of "Carbon Nanotube-Based Nonvolatile Random Access Memory for Molecular Computing," Science, vol. 289, pp. 94-97, Jul. 7, 2000, proposed memory devices which use nanoscopic wires, such as single-walled carbon nanotubes, to form crossbar junctions to serve as memory cells. The article describes individual single-walled nanotube wires suspended over other wires to define memory cells. Electrical signals are written to one or both wires to generate electrostatic fields which causes the wires to physically attract one another. Each physical state, i.e. contact or no contact between the wires, corresponds to an electrical state. Wires that are not in contact form an open circuit junction, and wires in contact form a closed state form a rectified junction. When electric power is removed from the junction, the wires retain their physical (and thus electrical) state thereby forming a non-volatile memory cell. The carbon nanotube memory cell device described in the article is thus an electromechanical device.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,130, entitled "Hybrid Circuit Having Nanotube Electromechanical Memory," Segal et al, furnishes additional details including modifications for manufacturability of such memory devices.
As the patent discloses, it is possible to construct a hybrid electromechanical technology memory cell using semiconductor and carbon nanotube technology.
One especially useful building block used in electronic circuitry is the field programmable gate array. A field programmable gate array is programmable logic circuit typically implemented as an integrated circuit that includes a two-dimensional array of general-purpose logic circuits whose functions are programmable. For example, pass gates and transmission gates use transistors that act as switches to allow signals to pass from one node to another. Multiplexers allow the selection of one output from multiple inputs. These logic circuits are linked to one another by programmable buses. Memory cells can be used to program the interconnect buses to select among a variety of different functions that the logic circuits are able to perform. A field programmable gate array is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,531,891.
These semiconductor logic structures are critical to the area density and power efficiency of modern electronic devices. Although these semiconductor circuits offer state of the art abilities, carbon nanotube technology appears to offer improved characteristics. For example, the hybrid memory cell has a symmetrical response to a given signal, is of small area. Moreover, these devices offer significant power efficiency and operating speed while requiring no additional circuitry to maintain their on or off states.
It would be desirable to provide a new hybrid electromechanical device which can be utilized to replace some of the memory and logic devices used in a field programmable gate array since. It would also be desirable to provide a hybrid electromechanical device which can be used as a number of different functional circuits by simply varying the signals controlling its operating parameters.

Multi-terminal electromechanical nanocsopic switching device with control and release electrodes


A cathode material and a fabricating method thereof, and a lithium-ion battery are described. The cathode material is a 1D metal-organic coordination polymer of [CuL(Py)2]n, and its structure is formed by interlinking organic ligands (L) and metals (Cu). The cathode material can use redox active sites on both the metal and organic ligand to carry out multi-electron transfer. A C≡N bond contained in L together with a benzene ring of L in an adjacent polymer chain form a weak interaction of C≡N . . . π. In addition, a Py of adjacent polymer chains also have an interaction of π . . . π. Therefore, [CuL(Py)2]n chains are closely interlaced and packed, but there is still enough regular space for lithium ions to enter and exit quickly, so it can be charged and discharged rapidly and exhibits high power density.

In recent years, lithium-ion batteries have been widely used in various electronic products, electric vehicles, or energy storage devices. Therefore, many researches are focused on improving an efficiency, an energy density and safety of lithium-ion batteries. However, existing lithium-ion batteries have insufficient capacity at low current density (for example, 20 mA/g) or at high current density (for example, 1000 mA/g). Therefore, both the capacity and charge/discharge rate capability need to be improved.
Therefore, it is necessary to provide a cathode material and a fabricating method thereof, and a lithium-ion battery to solve problems of conventional technologies.

Coordination-polymer cathode material and fabricating method thereof, and lithium-ion battery


An internal combustion engine includes a variable valve timing control apparatus including a driving-side rotating member rotating about a rotary axis by rotational force transmitted from a crankshaft, a driven-side rotating member including at least one fluid pressure chambers partitioned and formed with at least one advanced angle chambers and at least one retarded angle chambers and integrally rotating with a camshaft for opening and closing a valve, and a lock mechanism configured with a lock member provided at one of the driving-side rotating member and the driven-side rotary member to be engageable and disengageable with a recessed portion formed at the other of the driving-side rotating member and the driven-side rotary member, and an engine control unit for stopping the internal combustion engine to position a portion where the lock mechanism is formed below a virtual line passing through the rotary axis when the internal combustion engine is stopped.

A known internal combustion engine disclosed in JP2010-223212A (hereinafter referred to as Patent reference 1) includes a variable valve timing control apparatus configured with a driving-side rotating member synchronously driving with a crankshaft and a driven-side rotating member integrally and coaxially rotating with a camshaft.
According to the variable valve timing control apparatus disclosed in Patent reference 1, a vane is formed to be projected on an outer circumference of the driven-side rotating member. A fluid pressure chamber formed between the driving-side rotating member and the driven-side rotating member is divided by the vane to form an advanced angle chamber and a retarded angle chamber. A lock mechanism is configured such that a recessed portion is formed on the outer circumference of the driven-side rotating member and a lock member, corresponding to a lock piece disclosed in Patent reference 1, engaging and disengaging with the recessed portion is formed in a projectable and retractable manner from an inner circumference of the driving-side rotating member.
According to Patent reference 1, respective oil paths communicating with the advanced angle chamber and the retarded angle chamber are formed to shift, or change a relative rotational phase of the driving-side rotating member and the driven-side rotating member in an advanced angle direction and in a retarded angle direction. Further, an oil path is formed for unlocking the lock mechanism by supplying hydraulic oil to the recessed portion in a state where the lock mechanism is locked.
Particularly, the variable valve control apparatus disclosed in Patent reference 1 is configured to slightly leak the hydraulic oil while including an air inflow mechanism that positively discharges the hydraulic oil from the retarded angle chamber of the variable valve control apparatus when the internal combustion engine is stopped.
Comparing to a known variable valve timing control apparatus that leaves hydraulic oil in a fluid pressure chamber, the variable valve control apparatus including the air inflow mechanism as disclosed in Patent reference 1 easily shifts, or changes the relative rotational phase of the driving-side rotating member and the driven-side rotating member in a short time to establish the required relative rotational phase when the internal combustion engine is started. However, the air inflow mechanism disclosed in Patent reference 1 is configured to be closed by centrifugal force against the spring force when the variable valve control apparatus is rotated and to be opened by the spring force when the rotation of the variable valve control apparatus is stopped. Accordingly, the number of components is increased and the inflow of air may be impaired in case of operation failure of the air inflow mechanism.
When the operation of the air inflow mechanism is failed, the variable valve control apparatus including the air inflow mechanism as disclosed in Patent reference 1 leaves the hydraulic oil in the fluid pressure chamber. Thus, shifting, or changing the relative rotational phase of the variable valve control apparatus to an intermediate phase is time consuming. For example, when the internal combustion engine is started in a state where the relative rotational phase of the variable valve control apparatus is in the most retarded angle phase, changing the relative rotational phase to the intermediate phase is time consuming.
A need thus exists for an internal combustion engine which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.