A woven preform used to reinforce a composite structure which includes a central portion having a plurality of interwoven layers. The preform also includes first and second end portions having a plurality of independent woven layers that are integrally woven with the plurality of interwoven layers in the central portion and which extend along the entire length the preform. Interspersed between the plurality of independent woven layers in the first and second end portions are bias plies.

1. Field of the Invention
The instant invention relates to the geometrical configuration of three-dimensional woven preforms for reinforced composite structures having quasi-isotropic or multi-directional reinforcement on one or two ends of the structure and approximately unidirectional reinforcement in all other areas.
2. Background of the Invention
The use of reinforced composite materials to produce structural components is now widespread, particularly in applications where their desirable characteristics for being lightweight, strong, tough, thermally resistant, self-supporting and adaptability to being formed and shaped are sought. Such components are used, for example, in the aeronautical, aerospace, satellite, and battery industries, as well as for recreational uses such as in racing boats and autos, and in countless other applications. A three-dimensional fabric generally consists of fibers oriented in three directions with each fiber extending along a direction perpendicular to the other fibers, that is along the X, Y and Z axial directions.
Typically, components formed from such fabrics consist of reinforcement materials embedded in matrix materials. The reinforcement component may be made from materials such as glass, carbon, ceramic, aramid (e.g., "KEVLAR®"), polyethylene, and/or other materials which exhibit desired physical, thermal, chemical and/or other properties, chief among which is great strength against stress failure. Through the use of such reinforcement materials, which ultimately become a constituent element of the completed component, the desired characteristics of the reinforcement materials such as very high strength, are imparted to the completed composite component. The constituent reinforcement materials may typically be woven, knitted or otherwise oriented into desired configurations and shapes for reinforcement preforms. Usually, particular attention is paid to ensure the optimum utilization of the properties for which these constituent reinforcing materials have been selected. Generally, such reinforcement preforms are combined with matrix material to form desired finished components or produce working stock for the ultimate production of finished components.
After a desired reinforcement preform has been constructed, matrix material may be introduced and combined with the preform, so that the reinforcement preform becomes encased in the matrix material such that the matrix material fills the interstitial areas between the constituent elements of the reinforcement preform. The matrix material may be any of a wide variety of materials, such as epoxy, polyester, vinylester, ceramic, carbon and/or other materials, which also exhibit desired physical, thermal, chemical and/or other properties. The materials chosen for use as the matrix may or may not be the same as that of the reinforcement preform and may or may not have comparable physical, chemical thermal or other properties. Typically, however, they will not be of the same materials or have comparable physical, chemical, thermal or other properties, as the reinforcement preform, since a usual objective sought in using composites in the first place is to achieve a combination of characteristics in the finished product that is not attainable through the use of one constituent material alone.
When combined, the reinforcement preform and the matrix material may then be cured and stabilized in the same operation by thermosetting or other known methods, and then subjected to other operations toward producing the desired component. It is significant to note that after being so cured, the then solidified masses of the matrix material are normally very strongly adhered to the reinforcing material (e.g., the reinforcement preform). As a result, stress on the finished component, particularly via its matrix material acting as an adhesive between fibers, may be effectively transferred to and borne by the constituent material of the reinforcing reinforcement preform.
Typically, simple, two-dimensional woven fabrics or unidirectional fibers are produced by a material supplier and sent to a customer who cuts out patterns and lays up the final part ply-by-ply. The simplest woven materials are flat, substantially two-dimensional structures with fibers in only two directions. They are formed by interlacing two sets of yarns perpendicular to each other. In two-dimensional weaving, the 0° yarns are called warp fibers or yarns and the 90° yarns are called the weft or fill fibers or yarns. For resin transfer molding, a series of woven fabrics can be combined to form a dry lay-up, which is placed in a mold and injected with resin. These fabrics can be pre-formed using either a "cut and sew" technique or thermally formed and "tacked" using a resin binder.
Two-dimensional woven structures, however, have limitations. The step of pre-forming requires extensive manual labor in the lay-up. Two-dimensional woven structures are not as strong or stretch-resistant along other than the 0° and 90° axes, particularly at angles farther from the fiber axes. One method to reduce this possible limitation is to add bias fibers to the weave, fibers woven to cut across the fabric at an intermediate angle, preferably at ±45° to the axis of the fill fibers.
Simple woven preforms are also single layered. This limits the possible strength of the material. One possible solution is to increase the fiber size. Another is to use multiple layers, or plies. An additional advantage of using multiple layers is that some layers may be oriented such that the warp and weft axes of different layers are in different directions, thereby acting like the previously discussed bias fibers. If these layers are a stack of single layers laminated together with the resin, however, then the problem of de-lamination arises. If the layers are sewn together, then many of the woven fibers may be damaged during the sewing process and the overall tensile strength may suffer. In addition, for both lamination and sewing of multiple plies, a hand lay-up operation usually is necessary to align the layers. Alternatively, the layers may be interwoven as part of the weaving process. Creating multiple interwoven layers of fabric, particularly with integral bias fibers, has been a difficult problem.
One example of where composite materials are used to produce structural components is in the production of struts and braces. Struts and braces typically comprise a central column having lugs on each end of the structure. These lugs can have either male or female (clevis) configurations and are used to attach the strut or brace to the structure it is reinforcing or bracing. As previously discussed, in order to achieve increased strength of the composite structure, multiple layers or plies are used for the lug and column portions of the struts and braces. Although using multiple layers is advantageous since individual layers can be oriented to provide reinforcement in the 0° and 90° directions as well as can be oriented on the bias to provide reinforcement in additional directions, such as the ±45° directions, if laminated together with resin, delamination of the layers may be problematic. Alternatively, if the layers are sewn together, then as previously discussed, many of the woven fibers may be damaged during the sewing process, reducing the overall tensile strength of the final structure.
Many examples of laminated lugs exist, some using hybrid materials (i.e. alternating carbon and titanium plies), but the laminated lugs have not been combined with a three-dimensional woven column. The viability of laminated composite lugs for very highly loaded structures has been demonstrated in several government funded programs. However, to the Applicant's knowledge, none of these programs considered the use of three-dimensional woven preforms.
Thus, three-dimensional preforms for use in struts and braces, having laminated lug ends or portions and a monolithic three-dimensional woven central column are desirable. The advantages of using a three-dimensional construction in the central portion of the preform are that it reduces the labor required to cut and collate all of the plies required for a thick composite, and it provides better damage tolerance than conventional laminated composites. The advantage of the independent layers in the ends is that the laminate can be tailored to have specific properties.
Accordingly, a need exists for a woven preform having an integrally woven three-dimensional central portion with laminated lug ends comprised of independent, woven layers.

Hybrid three-dimensional woven/laminated struts for composite structural applications


A self-carbonating beverage container includes a beverage can housing adapted to hold a fixed portion of liquid. A carbonating gas bottle containing carbonating gas stored under pressure has a breakable seal through which the carbonating gas is released. The carbonating gas bottle is attached to the can. A spout is attached to the can such that one end of the spout is introduced into the beverage can housing and the other end of the spout has a puncturing mechanism facing the breakable seal of the carbonating gas bottle. Actuating the puncturing mechanism enables the carbonating gas to flow into the beverage can housing.

Beverage containers such as a common beverage can with a pop-open tab are well known in the art. Such a beverage can is a metal container designed to hold a fixed portion of liquid such as carbonated soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, fruit juices, teas, herbal teas, energy drinks, etc. Usually, beverage cans are made of aluminum or tin-plated steel. Even though most of the abovementioned containers provide enough sealing to prevent the carbonating gas from leaking the carbonated liquid rapidly became flat from gas after the can is opened.
In many cases the absorptive degree of the carbonating gas and a major part of the beverage flavor are correlated. Thus, after opening a beverage can the flavor of the beverage rapidly changes and losses its original flavor. Accordingly, there is a need for a self-carbonating drinking can which can carbonate a beverage on demand and thus, preserving the beverage original flavor.
Additionally, many alcoholic beverages comprise carbonating gas as essential ingredient of their flavor. In most cases these alcoholic beverages are usually poured and mixed by a bartender or the like before being served to the ordering client. In many cases there is a substantial time gap between the ordering and the actual drinking of the alcoholic beverages. Accordingly, there is a need for a self-carbonating drinking can which can carbonate a beverage on demand, by the ordering client, right before the drinking and thus, preserving the beverage original flavor.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,844 discloses a gas storage and delivery system for replacing gas lost from a pressurized container or a carbonated beverage, or for introducing a gas such as oxygen into a beverage such as bottled water or a sports drink. The system uses material that is capable of adsorption and storage of large quantities of gas and then to release them under predetermined conditions. However, the system of U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,844 is designed to release gas in a moderate paste, thus, it fails to carbonate the beverage on demand, by the ordering client, right before the drinking, and thus, preserving the beverage original flavor.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a self-carbonating beverage can which can carbonate a beverage on demand, by the ordering client, right before the drinking and thus, preserving the beverage original flavor.


Techniques are described herein for detecting and suppressing commands in media that may trigger another automated assistant. A method includes: determining, for each of a plurality of automated assistant devices in an environment that are each executing at least one automated assistant, an active capability of the automated assistant device; initiating playback of digital media by an automated assistant; in response to initiating playback, processing the digital media to identify an audio segment in the digital media that, upon playback, is expected to trigger activation of at least one automated assistant executing on at least one of the plurality of automated assistant devices in the environment, based on the active capability of the at least one of the plurality of automated assistant devices; and in response to identifying the audio segment in the digital media, modifying the digital media to suppress the activation of the at least one automated assistant.

Humans can engage in human-to-computer dialogs with interactive software applications referred to herein as "automated assistants" (also referred to as "digital agents", "interactive personal assistants", "intelligent personal assistants", "assistant applications", "conversational agents", etc.). For example, humans (which when they interact with automated assistants may be referred to as "users") may provide commands and/or requests to an automated assistant using spoken natural language input (i.e., utterances), which may in some cases be converted into text and then processed, by providing textual (e.g., typed) natural language input, and/or through touch and/or utterance free physical movement(s) (e.g., hand gesture(s), eye gaze, facial movement, etc.). An automated assistant responds to a request by providing responsive user interface output (e.g., audible and/or visual user interface output), controlling one or more smart devices, and/or controlling one or more function(s) of a device implementing the automated assistant (e.g., controlling other application(s) of the device).
As mentioned above, many automated assistants are configured to be interacted with via spoken utterances. To preserve user privacy and/or to conserve resources, automated assistants refrain from performing one or more automated assistant functions based on all spoken utterances that are present in audio data detected via microphone(s) of a client device that implements (at least in part) the automated assistant. Rather, certain processing based on spoken utterances occurs only in response to determining certain condition(s) are present.
For example, many client devices, that include and/or interface with an automated assistant, include a hotword detection model. When microphone(s) of such a client device are not deactivated, the client device can continuously process audio data detected via the microphone(s), using the hotword detection model, to generate predicted output that indicates whether one or more hotwords (inclusive of multi-word phrases) are present, such as "Hey Assistant", "OK Assistant", and/or "Assistant". When the predicted output indicates that a hotword is present, any audio data that follows within a threshold amount of time (and optionally that is determined to include voice activity) can be processed by one or more on-device and/or remote automated assistant components such as speech recognition component(s), voice activity detection component(s), etc. Further, recognized text (from the speech recognition component(s)) can be processed using natural language understanding engine(s) and/or action(s) can be performed based on the natural language understanding engine output. The action(s) can include, for example, generating and providing a response and/or controlling one or more application(s) and/or smart device(s)). Other hotwords (e.g., "No", "Stop", "Cancel", "Volume Up", "Volume Down", "Next Track", "Previous Track", etc.) may be mapped to various commands, and when the predicted output indicates that one of these hotwords is present, the mapped command may be processed by the client device. However, when the predicted output indicates that a hotword is not present, corresponding audio data will be discarded without any further processing, thereby conserving resources and user privacy.
Some environments may include multiple client devices that each include one or more automated assistants, which may be different automated assistants (e.g., automated assistants from multiple providers) and/or multiple instances of the same automated assistant. In certain situations, the multiple client devices may be positioned close enough to each other such that they each receive, via one or more microphones, audio data that captures a spoken utterance of a user and may each be able to respond to a query included in the spoken utterance.
The above-mentioned and/or other machine learning models (e.g., additional machine learning models described below), whose predicted output dictates whether automated assistant function(s) are activated, perform well in many situations. However, in certain situations, such as when multiple automated assistant devices (client devices) each including one or more automated assistants are located in an environment, an audio segment from digital media (e.g., a podcast, movie, television show, etc.) being played back by an automated assistant included on a first automated assistant device in the environment may be processed by an automated assistant included on a second automated assistant device in the environment (or by multiple other automated assistants included on multiple other automated assistant devices in the environment). In the case where audio data processed by the second automated assistant (or by multiple other automated assistants) includes the audio segment from digital media being played back by the first automated assistant, when one or more hotwords or words that sound similar to hotwords are present in the audio segment, the hotword detection model of the second automated assistant (or of the multiple other automated assistants) may detect the one or more hotwords or similar-sounding words from the audio segment. This may be particularly likely to occur as the number of client devices that include automated assistants or the density of client devices that include automated assistants in an environment (e.g., a household) increases or as the number of active hotwords (including warm words) increases. The second automated assistant (or multiple other automated assistants) may then process any audio from the media content that follows within a threshold amount of time of the one or more hotwords or similar-sounding words and respond to a request in the media content. Alternatively, the automated assistant(s) may perform one or more action(s) (e.g., increasing or decreasing audio volume) corresponding to the detected hotword(s).
The activation of the second automated assistant (or multiple other automated assistants) based upon one or more hotwords or similar-sounding words present in the audio segment from digital media being played back by the first automated assistant may be unintended by the user and may lead to a negative user experience (e.g., the second automated assistant may respond even though the user did not make a request and/or perform actions that the user does not wish to be performed). Occurrences of unintended activations of the automated assistant can waste network and/or computational resources and potentially force the human to make a request for the automated assistant to undo an undesired action (e.g., the user may issue a "Volume Down" command to counteract an unintended "Volume Up" command present in media content that triggered the automated assistant to increase a volume level).

Detecting and suppressing commands in media that may trigger another automated assistant


A method for recording and profiling information of a plurality of aborted transactions from a plurality of transactions is executed by processor core with a transactional memory, a transaction failure instruction address register (TFIAR), and a transaction failure data address register (TFDAR). The transactional memory stores information of a plurality of transactions executed by the processor core. The processor core retrieves instruction and data address associated with the aborted transaction from TFIAR and TFDAR respectively and stores them into a profiling table. The processor core then generates profiling information based on instruction and data addresses associated with the aborted transaction.

The present invention relates generally to computer systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to hardware transactional memories in computer systems.
In computer systems, parallel or concurrent programming can be implemented in form of transactions that involve executing a set of instructions in an atomic and isolated manner. A programmer can specify a group of instructions as a transaction for execution thereof. In atomic execution, either all instructions of the transaction are executed as a single atomic block, or none are executed. For instance, in case of a transaction that includes ten instructions executing sequentially, if an error occurs at the fifth instruction and an abort condition is encountered, the first through fourth instructions which have already been executed are also aborted along with the remaining instructions. The architecture of the computer system is also restored to its original state, when the transaction is aborted. Restoring the architecture of the computer system involves restoring contents of all registers and memory blocks used during the execution of the transaction.
Transactional execution helps in managing shared memory access of transactional memories in a parallel programming environment. Transactional execution can be implemented in two ways—by using a hardware transactional memory (HTM) and by using a software transactional memory (STM). HTM is implemented in the processor hardware and a transaction using HTM is committed to a system memory only after the transaction is completed. STM is implemented in software and intermediate results generated during the execution of the transaction, along with the final results of the transaction are stored in the system memory, before the transaction is committed. Once the transaction is executed, the results of the transaction that are already stored in the system memory are marked as committed. HTM transactions are increasingly being used because of quicker turnaround times and fewer storage requirements.
In case of a computer system executing a transaction using HTM, if the transaction aborts due to an error in one instruction, detecting the source of the error is important to debug the transaction. In HTM, the transaction is committed only after the completion of the execution and therefore no intermediate values are available to analyze the source of the error. Lack of explicit information about the error and its context in the transaction makes it difficult to debug large transactions.
It would be desirable to record information about the source and cause of the error in the transaction, so that programmers can be provided with a context of the error to debug the transaction. This would be helpful to the programmers in debugging the transaction, especially in debugging large transactions. It would also be helpful to use the context of the error to generate profiling information about instructions and memory locations that cause the error. For instance, a memory location involved in a plurality of transaction failures can be spotted and the number of errors, along with the type of errors with respect to the memory location can be generated. The generated profiling information can be used to identify the cause of the plurality of errors in the memory location.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a system and method for recording information about the aborted transaction, which generates profiling information associated with the aborted transaction.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Recording and profiling transaction failure addresses of the abort-causing and approximate abort-causing data and instructions in hardware transactional memories

International Business Machines Corporation


A fabric width control system for a fabric compactor for compacting a moving fabric web. The system includes a vision assembly for measuring the width of the moving fabric web downstream of the fabric compactor. A mechanical spreader is located upstream of the fabric compactor for adjusting the width of the web in response to a control signal from an open loop controller. The controller is connected to the vision assembly and the mechanical spreader for controlling the position of the mechanical spreader in response to a change in the width of the moving fabric web from a pre-set value. In the preferred embodiment, a cloth stabilizer is located downstream of the fabric compactor for maintaining the moving fabric web at a pre-determined position with respect to the vision assembly, thereby further increasing the accuracy of the system.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to finishing fabric and, more particularly, to an automatic fabric width control system for a fabric compactor.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
In the manufacture of apparel, particularly t-shirts and the like, after the greige goods have been knit they are inspected and transferred to a finishing line. During finishing, the goods are bleached or dyed in preparation for cutting. Since "soft" materials, such as fabric, are not dimensionally stable and may vary from source to source, it is the general practice to run the fabric through a compactor to set the fabric before cutting.
Generally speaking, a compactor includes a mechanical spreader for spreading the fabric to a preset width and at least one pair of steam heated rolls for setting the fabric to that width. If there was little variability in finished fabric, all that would be necessary would be to set the width of the mechanical spreader and run a trial length of fabric web, make a measurement of the width of the compacted fabric and readjust the width of the mechanical spreader. However, fabric varies considerably from machine to machine based on knit type, counts per inch and other variables including variables introduced into the fabric web during finishing. Accordingly, it is necessary to constantly monitor the width of the fabric exiting the compactor. Unfortunately, it is difficult for a human operator to make adjustments on width of fabric exiting a compactor at about 80 yards a minute.
In the past, PID open loop controllers have been used to control the width between the mechanical separator bars based on the measured width of the fabric exiting the compactor. However, prior art systems using a PID open loop controller measured the width of the fabric directly and then made an adjustment in the width of the spreaders. While this seems simple enough, because of the speed that the cloth is exiting the compactor there often is no relationship between the width of the measured cloth exiting the compactor and the cloth entering the mechanical spreader on the inlet of the compactor. Accordingly, this would often cause the control system to oscillate out of control as the control system tried to correct errors that were no longer the cause of the problem.
This has become more of a problem as fabric speed has increased for more modern equipment. In addition, by the time the fabric has been finished and compacted, there is a substantial investment in the fabric which is wasted if the fabric web cannot be held to the proper dimensions for the style of the garment which is being cut from it.
Thus, there remains a need for a new and improved fabric width control system which is sufficiently sensitive to measure small changes in a high speed fabric web while, at the same time, overcomes the tendency of such a control system to go into an oscillation mode.


In one aspect, the invention provides an access panel that comprises one or more access control boards, each of which provide at least an interface for controlling access to one or more building entry points or zones (via associated sensors) and for monitoring intrusion prevention devices. The access panel includes at least one connector that provides communications coupling between at least one of the control boards and the aforementioned sensors or intrusion prevention devices (e.g., detectors, electrified locks, etc.). That connector permits that coupling without requiring that a field technician, or other person installing the panel at a site, pass wire through the enclosure in order to establish that communications coupling.

The invention pertains to access/security control systems. It has application in the protection of buildings, homes, properties and people.
Access control typically refers to electromechanical security products/systems that monitor and control access in and out of buildings or other properties. Often, an access control system utilizes third party software to communicate with electronic panels that authorize a door to open, lock, be held, or any other combination of events through the use of electronic control hardware that is physically attached to the door.
The panels (referenced above) that are utilized for this process are typically wall-mounted in a centralized area (communications closet, security office, telephone room, etc.). Regardless of where the panels are physically located, the panels are connected to a computer server that controls access to each door by authorizing individuals with proper credentials to enter the space.
Literally, there are hundreds of companies that manufacture access control software and each of them manufactures their own access control panel that is intended to be wall-mounted. These manufacturer's also sell separately the circuit boards that are in a typical panel/enclosure as a "board only" component (i.e. sold without the wall mounted panel).
A typical security integrator buys "board only" components and mounts them in enclosures (e.g., provided by the components manufacturer) for wall-mounting. This often takes many hours and after mounting it takes many more hours in the field to make all of the connections.
An object of the invention is to provide improved access control panels and methods.
A further object is to provide such panels and methods as speed and lower the cost of installation.
A still further object is to provide such panels and methods as can be used with control boards from multiple manufacturers.
A still further object is to provide such panels and methods as can be used in an IT environment (e.g., a computer room).

Rack mounted access/security control panel


A liquid dispenser head includes nozzles, pressure chambers, an energy generator, a shared chamber, a vibration member, and a specific wall portion. The nozzles discharge liquid. Each of the pressure chambers communicates with a corresponding one of the nozzles. The energy generator, provided for each of the pressure chambers, generates energy for pressurizing liquid in the pressure chamber. The shared chamber supplies liquid to the pressure chambers. The vibration member, forming a wall of each one of the pressure chambers, includes an energy-transmitting area configured to transmit the energy generated by the energy generator to each one of the pressure chambers. The specific wall portion, constituting at least a part of the same wall, or a different wall, of each of the pressure chambers, has a structural compliance set greater than a compression compliance of liquid in the pressure chamber.

In general, an image forming apparatus is available as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, a plotter, or a multi-functional apparatus having multiple functions thereof. Such image forming apparatus may include a liquid dispensing unit having a liquid dispensing head (or a recording head) for dispensing droplets of recording liquid onto a recording sheet to form an image on the recording sheet.
Such sheet includes, but is not limited to, a medium made of material such as paper, string, fiber, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, timber, and ceramic, for example. Further, the term "image formation" used herein refers to providing, recording, printing, or imaging an image, a letter, a figure, or a pattern to a sheet. Moreover, the term "liquid" used herein is not limited to recording liquid or ink but includes anything discharged in fluid form. Hereinafter, the recording liquid is referred to as ink for simplicity of description.
Furthermore, a liquid dispensing unit having a liquid dispenser head can be used in any application area, including, but not limited to, forming an image on a sheet, dispensing liquid for specific purposes (e.g., fabrication of semiconductor), and the like.
Such liquid dispensing unit or image forming apparatus have found industrial applications in such fields as cloth-printing apparatuses and metal wiring devices, while commercial demand for better image quality and faster printing speed continues to grow.
In view of such demand for better image quality, nozzle density, or a number of nozzles per unit area of the liquid dispenser head, continues to increase, narrowing spacing between pressure chambers of a recording head and increasing an energy frequency, or number of vibrations applied to the recording head.
Further, in view of such demand for faster printing speed, a line printer having page-wide arrays (PWA) of recording head has been developed. The main advantage of such PWA head is that it has a length sufficient to print a single line image on a recording medium with a single liquid discharge. However, a drawback of such PWA head is that its manufacture requires consistently high precision to very narrow tolerances.
In general, a recording head or liquid dispenser head includes a nozzle, a liquid chamber communicated to the nozzle, and a pressure generation device to generate pressure for discharging liquid droplets from the nozzle, and a common chamber for supplying liquid to the liquid chamber.
In general, a recording head or liquid dispenser head includes a nozzle, a liquid chamber that communicates with the nozzle, and a pressure generator to generate pressure for discharging liquid droplets from the nozzle.
Such recording head may use known methods for discharging liquid droplets, such as a thermal method, a piezoelectric method, and an electrostatic method. In the thermal method, an electricity-heat conversion element such as a heating resistor is used to cause a film boiling of liquid. In the piezoelectric method, an electricity-mechanical energy conversion element such as a piezoelectric element is used. In the electrostatic method, an electrostatic actuator, which generates electrostatic force, is used.
In such image forming apparatus, an image having higher quality can be produced by enhancing a responsiveness of the pressure chamber with respect to energy (e.g., pressure) applied to the pressure chamber.
Specifically, if a resonance cycle of the pressure chamber can be set shorter, the pressure chamber may response to energy (e.g., pressure) applied to the pressure chamber more efficiently and effectively.
For example, such resonance cycle of the pressure chamber can be set shorter by reducing a size (or volume) of the pressure chamber. However, if the size (or volume) of the pressure chamber is reduced, liquid volume that can be dispensed by a single dispensing operation becomes smaller, which is not preferable for producing an image having higher quality.
If liquid volume dispensed by a single dispensing operation becomes smaller, an amount of liquid droplets, which is required for forming an image having higher quality, may be jetted by increasing a number of nozzles (or density of nozzles) of the recording head or by increasing scanning movement of the recording head in case of a serial image forming process. However, such modification to an image forming process may result into complicated manufacturing processes of a recording head, or decreased productivity (e.g., decreased print speed) due to increased number of scanning movement of the recording head.
Alternatively, in some related arts, a resonance cycle of a pressure chamber may be set shorter by increasing rigidity or stiffness of parts configuring a pressure chamber of a recording head.
In this disclosure, rigidity or stiffness of parts configuring the pressure chamber may be referred with a term of "compliance". In general, "compliance" indicates a volume change of an object (e.g., parts configuring a pressure chamber) per unit pressure applied to the object, and the compliance inversely relates to rigidity or stiffness of the object.
For example, if one object has a lower compliance value, the object has a greater stiffness, which means the object is relatively hard to change its volume when a pressure is applied to the object. On the other hand, if one object has a greater compliance value, the object has a lower stiffness, which means the object is relatively easy to change its volume when a pressure is applied to the object.
Accordingly, in case of related arts, if compliance of parts configuring a pressure chamber can be set to a smaller value, a stiffness of the pressure chamber can be increased, by which a resonance cycle of the pressure chamber can be set shorter.
Generally, background arts have a configuration, which may increase a stiffness of a pressure chamber so that a resonance cycle of the pressure chamber can be set shorter. In other words, compliance of a pressure chamber may have a smaller value in background arts.
In one related art, a structural compliance of parts configuring a pressure chamber is set smaller than a compression compliance of a recording agent (e.g., ink) used for the pressure chamber, wherein the structural compliance indicates a volume change rate of parts configuring the pressure chamber per unit pressure applied, and the compression compliance indicates a volume change rate of the recording agent per unit pressure applied.
By setting the structural compliance of parts configuring the pressure chamber smaller than the compression compliance of the recording agent, a stiffness of the pressure chamber may be increased, by which a resonance cycle of the pressure chamber can be set shorter.
Further, in another related art, a vibration plate, used to apply a pressure to a pressure chamber, may be configured with a plurality of layers (e.g., three layers), in which one layer has a higher rigidity (or smaller compliance) and another layer has a lower rigidity (or greater compliance). The vibration plate may have such configuration so that a layer having smaller rigidity can vibrate by a pressure energy applied to the pressure chamber and a layer having greater rigidity may contribute to set a resonance cycle of the pressure chamber to a shorter time.
Furthermore, in another related art, a compliance of ink "C1" and a compliance of vibration plate "C2" used for a pressure chamber may have a compliance ratio of C2/C1, ranging from 5.4 to 10, for example.
Although the rigidity of a pressure chamber may be increased with above-mentioned methods, such methods may have some drawbacks for a viewpoint of configuration of the pressure chamber.
In general, a pressure chamber may be configured with a metal material having higher rigidity (e.g., Si, SUS, Ni) and a vibration plate, which becomes a wall face of the pressure chamber, wherein the vibration plate has an energy-transmitting area (or portion) for transmitting pressure energy, generated by a pressure generator, to the pressure chamber. Because such energy-transmitting area (or portion) of the vibration plate may need to have a lower rigidity for effectively vibrating and transmitting pressure energy to the pressure chamber, such energy-transmitting area of the pressure chamber may not be set to a greater rigidity. Accordingly, the rigidity of the pressure chamber as a whole may not be increased so easily.
Further, if a rigidity of the pressure chamber as a whole may be set to a lower level by setting a structural compliance of parts configuring a pressure chamber smaller than a compression compliance of a recording agent (e.g., liquid) as above mentioned, a compliance of the pressure chamber as a whole may become greater. In other words, the rigidity of the pressure chamber as a whole may become smaller, which may result into a longer resonance cycle of the pressure chamber, which is not preferable for producing an image having higher quality.
Further, although the rigidity of a pressure chamber as a whole can be set greater by using a vibration plate configured with a plurality of layers as above mentioned, such vibration plate may need a complicated or time consuming manufacture process, or such vibration plate may cause to restrict a structural design of a recording head, which is not preferable from a view point of manufacturing cost or design works of a recording head.

Liquid dispenser head, liquid dispensing unit using same, and image forming apparatus using same


A method and apparatus for performing signature analysis of video data being output by a RAMDAC so that starting and stopping the sampling of data is made precise so that the data sampled is a known set. The invention uses a timing generator and signature analysis hardware integrated with a RAMDAC to start and stop the sampling and signature calculation of video data on frame boundaries. A signature capture request bit is used to request that the next frame be sampled and a signature calculated. The hardware waits until the beginning of the next frame starts, and then samples data until the frame ends. The calculated signature is made available in a signature analysis result register for reading. The resulting signature is held in the signature analysis result register until cleared or another signature capture request is made.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to computer systems and, more particularly, to a RAMDAC (random access memory-digital-to-analog converter) used to transfer and process data from a frame buffer to an output display device.
2. History of the Prior Art
One of the significant problems involved in increasing the operational speed of desktop computers has been in finding ways to increase the rate at which information is transferred to an output display device. Many of the various forms of data presentation which are presently available require that large amounts of data be transferred. For example, if a computer output display monitor is operating in a color mode in which 1280.times.1024 pixels are displayed on the screen at once and the mode is one in which thirty-two bits are used to define each pixel, then a total of over forty million bits of information must be transferred to the screen with each individual picture (called a "frame"} that is displayed. Typically, sixty frames are displayed each second so that over one and one-half billion bits must be transferred each second in such a system. This requires a very substantial amount of processing power.
In order to provide such a large amount of information to an output display device, computer systems typically utilize a frame buffer which holds the pixel data which is to be displayed on the output display.
Typically a frame buffer offers a sufficient amount of random access memory to store one frame of data to be displayed. The information in the frame buffer is transferred to the display from the frame buffer sixty or more times each second. After (or during) each transfer, the pixel data in the frame buffer is updated with the new information to be displayed in the next frame.
In DRAM frame buffers, pixel data may be read from the same port as data is written. VRAM frame buffers add a separate video data port so that the main pixel port remains free for rendering. Two-ported video random access memory (VRAM) or frame buffer random access memory (FBRAM) has been substituted for dynamic random access memory so that information may be transferred from the frame buffer to the display at the same time other information is being loaded into the frame buffer.
The data from the frame buffer is input to circuitry which converts the data from the frame buffer memory to a form usable by the output display device. FIG. 1 shows a computer system in which the present invention may be utilized where data in a memory 11 from a host CPU 12 is placed on host bus 13 and passed by rendering controller 14 to the frame buffer memory (shown as VRAMs 15a-15d, which may also be FBRAMs). A RAMDAC 21 is coupled to the host bus through the rendering controller and to the frame buffer memories and includes a look-up table (or LUT which is the RAM part of the RAMDAC) and other elements for translating 16 bit data from the frame buffer memory to a 64 or 128 bit digital RGB signal which is converted by a digital to analog converter (DAC) to three analog signals representing voltage levels for red, blue and green which when combined at a pixel location in monitor 25 create a desired color at that pixel. The particulars of the frame buffer memory, rendering controller and monitor components are well known in the art and will not be described herein except as necessary for a proper understanding of the invention. In this connection, for the most part, the present invention is directed to certain improvements to RAMDAC 21 which provide the enhanced capabilities of the invention.


A template for aligning a rework tool head and a substrate (such as a printed circuit board) for the accurate placement of a ball grid array package on the substrate with the head, prior to soldering the package to the substrate. The template has a top formed to attach the template to the head in a reproducible position and an indicator rigidly connected to the top to align the template to a feature on the substrate. In one embodiment, the template has a top side formed to mimic the top of the ball grid array package and a bottom side rigidly connected to the top side and formed to show the placement of the balls on the bottom of the ball grid array package in reference to the top of the ball grid array package. Used for the accurate placement of a ball grid array package on a substrate with a head, this embodiment of the template is attached to the head in the place of the package, the head and/or substrate are moved to align bottom of the template with the part of the substrate to which the package is to be attached, and removing the template from the head without changing the alignment.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to attaching or soldering BGA packaged components to substrates, and, in particular, to circuit boards in the process of reworking the circuit boards.
2. Background
Ball grid array (BGA) packages present many advantages to the electronics industry, such as reduced package size, increased input/output switching, and resiliency for initial production placement, because of the absence of leads typical to most surface mount components, which are susceptible to bending/deforming while handling.
One of the principal drawbacks to BGA packages has been the difficulty of replacing a BGA package back on a printed circuit board (PCB) during rework or repair. The process of rework and repair of a PCB is typically done in a selective manner, that is, not in a high volume or repetitive manner. In rework, each component package is usually individually removed and replaced, without use of the expensive pick and place machinery, with optical alignment features, that are generally used in the initial manufacture. Thus, because a BGA package does not allow a rework technician visibility under the BGA package to align the package's solder balls with the corresponding solder pads on the PCB, a serious problem has long existed for the rework technician who does not have use of such expensive pick and place machinery.
A currently available solution to this problem is a split beam vision system consisting of a prism, video camera, and monitor. Briefly, the camera with the aid of the prism allows the technician to "see" both the balls underneath the BGA and the grid of pads on top of the PCB where it is to be placed. By superimposing the two images on top of each other, an accurate alignment can be made before placing the BGA on the PCB to the soldered. This is a very costly solution.

Ball grid array rework alignment template


A disc brake for a commercial vehicle, operated pneumatically or by electric motor, comprising a brake caliper, an application device and at least one adjuster device arranged with the brake caliper, is characterized in that both adjuster elements of the at least one adjuster device are fixed in a non-rotating manner to a common connector plate in the region thereof facing the brake lining and/or a single- or multi-piece thermal insulation layer is at least partly applied to the connector plate or parts connected thereto on the side thereof facing the relevant braking lining to form a region like a pressure piece.

The present invention concerns a pneumatically and/or electromotively actuable disc brake.
Disc brakes are known, e.g. as sliding caliper disc brakes, swivel caliper disc brakes, or fixed caliper disc brakes.
Sliding caliper disc brakes require a fixed-axis component or carriers, which carries the brake linings effective at one side of the disc brake, and which absorbs its peripheral force when the disc brake is activated, and also holds the caliper displaceably lodged in parallel to the axis of the vehicle. The relative movement, which the caliper performs against the fixed-axis component, can be divided into a power stroke and wear stroke.
To balance the wear of the brake lining and/or disc brake, at least one adjustment device is arranged in the caliper, which acts upon the brake lining by means of one or two pressure pieces that are displaceable essentially axially to the disc brake, in order to adjust the distance between the brake lining and the brake disc.
If separate adjustment devices are arranged on both sides of the brake disc, it is merely necessary to align the displacement path of the brake disc in such a way that the release clearance can be overcome and the elastic deformation of the brake lining and the caliper, in other words the power stroke, can be balanced out (see e.g. PCT/EP01/09366).
The adjustment devices provided on both sides of the disc brake consist e.g. of adjustment sleeves, which, as adjustment elements of an electric motor or another mechanical device, are pivotable via a gear. These adjustment sleeves consist of an inside thread, into which a bolt-like spindle of the respectively thereto arranged pressure piece is screwed, so that with appropriate rotation, a relative axial movement is provided between the adjustment sleeves and the pressure pieces. Also known is a reverse arrangement, in which the pressure pieces have a sleeve-like spindle, which is pivotable on a bolt that forms the adjustment element.
The brake lining material is directly connected to the lining support, which in turn is either connected with the pressure piece, or rests against the pressure piece "loosely" without connection.
From German Patent document DE 42 30 005 A1, a disc brake with a sliding caliper is known, in which on each side of the disc brake, two pressure pieces arranged next to one another each act on a lining support of a brake lining, which is equipped with a lining support material.
A disadvantage of these known constructions lies in the fact that the frictional heat that is generated during a braking action is conducted through all components of the adjustment device without any blockage, whereby the downstream functional elements are exposed to a special stress, which reduces the service life. This is especially of concern when electric motors are employed as drive units for the adjustment devices.
Since disc brakes, which are utilized in utility or commercial vehicles, are subjected to the highest stresses, this issue is of particular significance, especially in terms of economy, since a shortened service life, and consequently the replacement of the corresponding functional elements, entails not only repair costs, but also costs that arise from the necessary out of service time of the utility vehicle.
From German Patent document DE 39 19 179, a disc brake is known, in which, at the side of the brake lining that faces the pressure piece, an insulating board is mounted at the lining support, which reduces the flow of heat between the brake lining and the pressure piece. Since a high generation of heat at the brake disc and the brake linings is obtained with braking, the insulating board protects the inside of the caliper—that is the brake application unit and the adjustment device—against overheating. The problem can be minimized by means of this solution.
It is also necessary to keep the pressure pieces and the adjustment elements torsion-resistant, in order to achieve, in conjunction with stationary, yet pivotable corresponding elements, such as adjustment sleeves with an inside thread, in which the adjustment elements are provided as a thread spindle, an axial movement of the thrust pieces.
The present invention is, therefore, based on the objective of further developing a disc brake of the above-mentioned type such that, with constructively minor measures, on the one hand during braking actions a reduced heat conduction into the inside of the caliper, and/or a constructively simple method for securing torsion-resistance of the adjustment elements and their corresponding elements, is achieved.
This objective is attained with a pneumatically and/or electromotively actuable disc brake for a utility vehicle, having a caliper that straddles a disc brake, at least one brake application unit arranged in the caliper for clamping the disc brake, and at least one adjustment device arranged in the caliper to offset brake lining wear, and/or brake disc wear by adjusting a distance between at least one brake lining, and the brake disc, which consists of two axially displaceable adjustment elements, each with a pressure piece, wherein the two adjustment elements of the at least one adjustment device are fixed torsion-resistantly in their areas that face the respective brake lining at a common connection plate, and/or at the connection plate, and/or at the pressure piece on the side facing the respective brake lining, a single- or multi-part heat-insulting layer is attached at least section-wise.
Accordingly, the two adjustment elements of the at least one single adjustment device, are attached torsion-resistantly in their area facing their respective brake lining, on a common connection plate; and/or at the connection plate, and/or at the pressure piece on the side facing the respective brake lining a one-part or multi-part heat-insulating layer(s) is/are attached at least in sections.
As compared with the state of the art, this connection plate in its function as securing torsion-resistance offers not only substantial advantages as far as production and assembly are concerned, due to its simple construction, but also functional advantages, since the connection plate always remains at the same position on the pressure pieces, i.e. the connection plate moves according to the axial displacement of the pressure pieces along with them.
Thereby, in addition to the constructively uncomplicated securing of torsion-resistance of the pressure pieces, a protection of the downstream functional components from the effects of heat is also effectively enabled via simple means; this is achieved on the one hand by the connection plate itself, and on the other hand by the layer on this plate, or at the pressure piece.
Thereby, strain caused by the excessive heating of the parts arranged in the inside of the caliper, or an impairment of their ability to function during continuous or frequent heating with the resulting issues described in the state of the art, are prevented.
Preferably, the connection plate is realized as a thermal shield, which is dimensioned in such a way that it covers the opening of an installation space in the caliper, in which the adjustment device is placed, covered to a large extent. In addition, the opening may be closed by a further cover plate, which is screwed in at the opening of the caliper, and therefore is not axially displaceable, and has breakthroughs for the thrust elements.
It is extremely advantageous if the heat-insulating layer is realized in one part or several parts, and is directly mounted onto the connection plate. The layer may consist of one or two ceramic plates, which protrude over the pressure piece beyond its largest diameter dimension, wherein this ceramic plate is mounted on the connection plate, which is connected form flush and/or force flush with the pressure pieces, and which functions as heat protection, and as a device for securing torsion-resistance for the two pressure pieces of an adjustment device.
According to a further preferred modification, a pressure piece that forms the thrust piece plate is positioned upon the connection plate, and supports the heat-insulating layer. It is also contemplated, however, to place a ceramic layer on the pressure piece plate. In this manner, the connection plate is clamped by the pressure piece plate.
Preferably, the pressure piece plate is held at the connection plate form flush in an axial direction and torsion-resistant.
Especially preferably, the pressure piece plate has recesses that face the connection plate, which are contact-free in the material.
According to a further advantageous modification, the connector plate, in turn, has protuberances in the connection area with the adjustment elements facing the brake lining, in which protuberances the adjustment elements are appointed in a simple manner axially, and torsion-resistantly.
It is thus a further advantage for the cylinder-shaped protuberance to have stop notches formed in its surface area, which are realized in the interior of the protuberance in the form of catch grooves, and which on the outside correspond to catch grooves on the pressure piece plate, and on the inside correspond to noses of the adjustment element, and thus especially allow for a simple assembly of these constructional elements.
According to a further modification, the area embedded in the protuberance of the adjustment element has on its surface side slots that break through the material. In order to achieve optimized heat insulation, the pressure piece plate may also be provided with breakthroughs, which are, for example, arranged next to one another in a radial direction, and which effect heat insulation in this area. In each of these cases, the pressure piece plate and the pressure piece are connected torsion-resistantly to the connector plate.
In addition, expansion bellows may be connected at the connector plate, covering the respective adjustment elements as protection.
According to a further—also to be considered separately—modification of the invention, the pressure pieces and the lining support are each connected to one another in such a way that—continuously and in a simple way—a retraction of the brake lining is guaranteed, when the adjustment elements are turned back and when the brake is released.
With respect to the construction, it is a special advantage if, at the pressure piece, or at a component of the adjustment element connected with this, one or several plate springs are arranged, which undercut a rod in a recess of the lining support. As an alternative, one or more plate springs may be arranged at the lining support, which undercut the pressure piece or a component of the adjustment element connected to it.
Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described and claimed herein.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in the following by way of the enclosed drawings.

Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH


A system and method for embedding a written signature into a secure electronic document is disclosed. In certain embodiments, a user views the electronic document on a first computing device and creates an electronic digital signature on a mobile computing device. The user is securely certified by a system created alphanumeric code and the identification of the mobile device. The signature is then embedded into the electronic document and stored securely on a central server.

The present inventive subject matter generally relates to digitally signing documents, and more particularly, is related to methods, systems and computer program products for digitally signing an electronic document with a user-entered signature image from a mobile computing device.
Digital documents are widespread in society today. However, at some point or another, it usually becomes necessary to print these documents in order to complete or execute them. Businesses, government agencies, and individuals are seeking methods of keeping documents in the digital domain for the life of the document, from cradle to grave. One reason this objective has evaded many is due to the need to sign documents in order to execute them.
Previous systems for digital signing require a user to pick a signing certificate from a non-intuitive list of computer signing certificates. Signing certificates may be purchased from a signing authority. However, there is no intuitive way to sign electronic documents. Most implementations show canned, generally textual only, representations. However, canned pictures of signatures are very different than the intuitive practice of actually taking a pen and writing or scrawling a signature on each signature line of a document.
Alternatively, conventional electronic signatures can be typewritten, such as the name between backslash characters, "/signature/". However, a problem with this technique is that such signatures are easy to forge and therefore present authentication concerns.
Finally, there is a need and demand to use mobile devices such as smartphones both for convenience and security purposes to electronically sign documents.
Accordingly there is an unaddressed need in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

System and method for digitally signing documents from a mobile device


A gaming apparatus may include a cabinet having a front face, a gaming display supported inside the cabinet and positioned adjacent the cabinet front face, the gaming display being operable to generate images and a controller operatively coupled to the gaming display. The controller may comprise a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor. The controller may be programmed to allow a person to make a wager, cause an image associated with a game to be generated on the gaming display, to determine an outcome of the game represented by the image and to determine a value payout associated with the outcome of the game. The controller also may be programmed to display on the gaming display a plurality of display elements which change from displaying cards to displaying portions of a first display object wherein the portions of the first display object create an identifiable image.

This invention relates to a gaming apparatus for playing games such as slots, poker, keno, bingo and blackjack. Conventional gaming units are typically provided with a cabinet and a gaming display mounted inside the cabinet. The gaming display may be mechanical, such as a series of stepper wheels, or may be electronic such as a video display that is capable of generating video images. Whether mechanical or electronic, the gaming display may be capable of generating images associated with a game, such as poker, blackjack, slots, keno, or bingo.
While the gaming display is the primary functional component, many gaming units include one or more design or stylistic elements to attract a player's attention to the gaming unit. Design elements also can be incorporated into the gaming display. In addition to attracting the player's attention, many gaming units incorporate additional stylistic or functional elements to keep the player's attention as long as possible by increasing the play value of the gaming unit. For example, a gaming unit may have a special or bonus mode that is triggered as a result of a certain outcome of the game. During the bonus mode, the gaming unit may run a different game or provide increased value payouts, thereby enhancing the play value. During an attract mode, interesting images may be displayed to attract users. Overall, it is important to adequately attract and maintain player interest in the games.

Gaming apparatus with novel display technique


A magnetic recording device comprising a magnetic recording medium, a read-write channel for modulating write data, writing it on the magnetic recording medium, reading data from the magnetic recording medium, and demodulating the read data, and a processor for supplying the write data to the read-write channel and being supplied with the read data from the read-write channel. The processor supplies to the read-write channel a microdefect detection pattern having a first pattern for generating a consecutive magnetization inversion during writing and a second pattern for generating, during reading, a signal having a S/N ratio higher than the signal produced by the first pattern, the read-write channel modulates the microdefect detection pattern, writes it to the magnetic recording medium, reads the microdefect detection pattern, which was written, from the magnetic recording medium, and conducts abnormality detection of the microdefect detection pattern, which was read out.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording device for detecting microdefects in magnetic recording media.
2. Description of Prior Art
Magnetic recording devices are designed to record and reproduce information by rotating a magnetic disk composed of a ferromagnetic material and causing a magnetic head to scan over the magnetic disk and are generally used as auxiliary storage devices in computers.
With respect to data areas of magnetic recording medium of the magnetic recording devices, detection processing of defects is conducted during shipping from the production plant. The defect as referred to herein means the presence of scratches, contaminants, or particles on the surface of the magnetic storage medium. In the zones where defects are present, the degree of magnetization during writing is reduced and writing or reading is made difficult. The design is that the defect zone discovered in detection processing of defects during shipping from the production plant will be skip registered in the memory area of the processor that controls the magnetic recording device.
In the delivered magnetic recording devices, the zones where data is difficult to read or write during reading and writing of data are also skip registered. As a result, with respect to the defects that appeared after the delivery, the destruction of data that will be written into the zones of such defects can be prevented in advance.
Methods for writing and reading the usual data are considered as the conventional defect detection methods. Thus, the presence of defects can be detected by writing and reading the usual data and observing changes in the amplitude or phase of the signals that were read out.
FIG. 1 shows a signal that was read out during defect detection by writing and reading the usual data. In the zone DEF where a defect is present, the signal becomes discontinuous or the phase and amplitude change significantly. Detecting this zone makes it possible to detect the defect location.
Further, when the usual data is written or read, the data pattern is randomized, repetitions of "0" and "1" are restricted, and bit inversions that continue for a long time are rare.
Here, randomization is a processing conducted to eliminate the regularity of the write data. For example, a pattern with a repeating magnetization inversion, such that the data recorded on a medium is "1", "1", "1", "1", has a poor S/N ratio and a high error rate. Therefore, it is preferred that the occurrence thereof be reduced to a minimum. Accordingly, in the usual data writing, the processing for eliminating the regularity is conducted by using a scrambler.
FIG. 2 is an example of a scrambler for conducting randomization. A scrambler 100 comprises two exclusive OR (hereinbelow, ExOR) circuits 101a, 101b and a 10 bit shift register 102. Data X9-X0 stored in the shift register 102 are successively shifted from X0 to X9, the value of X9 and the value of X2 are inputted in the ExOR circuit 101a, and the output thereof is inputted as X0 in the shift register 102. Data BR prior to randomization is 8 bit parallel data; it is inputted in the ExOR circuit 101b together with the 8 bit data X2-X9 located in the shift register and is outputted as data AR after randomization from the scrambler 100. The scrambler 100 uses a 10 bit shift register 102 and, therefore, has a 1024 byte periodicity.
The technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H11-328877 represents a circuit for detecting defects in magnetic recording devices. With this technology, defect detection in a magnetic recording device is conducted by using usual data writing and reading.
However, all the defects are difficult to detect with the defect detection based on the usual data writing and reading. With the defect detection function provided in the conventional magnetic recording devices, the defects include microdefects that cannot be detected as rapid changes of phase or amplitude. Usually those microdefects in most cases can be repaired by an error correction function. However, the problem is that in the case where those microdefects have grown and increased in size, for example, due to changes in characteristics of head medium, the data discrimination capability of the location thereof is reduced, error correction capability is exceeded, and data restoration is impossible.


The invention relative to a positioning device for the scanned object of a scanner may make a positioning function to a document or a book to be scanned. Through designing a positioning element on the shell body of a scanner, a book of many pages may be positioned or secured on the positioning element, which may be designed on the scanning window. According to the size, the form, or the thickness of the book, an appropriate positioning element may be used, and its number is selectively applied. The book is placed on the positioning element, wherein the middle recession part of the book is placed at the top end of the positioning element, by which a bulged-out part is formed and sandwiched into the middle recession part of the book to thereby secure the book in the positioning element.

Accordingly, computer has already penetrated into each family and enterprise to become an indispensable electronic product in our modern lives. Following the prevalence of computer multi-media, more accessory products are needed as the input and output devices, wherein the scanner further becomes one important input device for computer and is also an indispensable accessory device for computer in the application fields of image procession and word data input, such that the scanner is applied in various fields extremely extensively.
Currently, when an optical scanner used for ordinary document is scanning a book of plural pages, the user, in order to consider the fastness and convenience, mostly puts the book pages on the scanning window glass to proceed the scanning job. Usually, the user roughly aligns the book to the surface of the supporting glass by hand together with eye-viewing manner, then starts the scanner to scan so, although it is faster, the page to be scanned will not exactly be within the scanning zone on the supporting glass. Not only so, most pages of the book usually have certain degree of inclination or distortion, such that there are always some errors happened between the original manuscript and the image data after being scanned and, sometimes, a repeated scan has to be proceeded for obtaining a more accurate image effectiveness and, not only is the time wasted, but also is the scanning result poor.
Please refer to FIG. 1, which is an illustration for scanning a book of plural pages by an optical scanner according to the prior arts. As shown in FIG. 1, the scanner 1 includes: shell body 10, upper lid 11, and transparent supporting glass 12, etc. When the user is going to scan a book 13 of plural pages, the book 13 may be roughly put on the supporting glass 12 by manual manner, then the scanner is started to scan but, since the user only puts the book 13 roughly on the surface of the supporting glass 12, so there are often errors happened from this kind of human manner operated by hand and, for most of the time, the pages of the book won't be aimed within the scanning range of the supporting glasses and, sometimes, there is some degree of inclination or distortion, such that various shortcomings are caused as described thereinbefore. Therefore, if a device is designed at the scanner for securing and positioning the book, then above various shortcomings may be avoided, even though it is still operated manually.

Positioning device for scanned object of scanner


A method of assaying genetic sequences comprises introducing double stranded DNA to be assayed into an aqueous buffer medium containing complexes of an anchor DNA strand anchored to a support matrix and hybridized with a reporter DNA strand having a detectable label. A portion of the anchor strand or the reporter strand consists of a selected sequence of bases capable of forming a triple helix or triple strand structure with a portion of particular double stranded DNA. The reporter strand is displaced from the complex upon formation of a triple helix or triple strand structure, and displaced reporter strands are detected to determine the presence of the particular double stranded DNA. Gene probes, anchor/reporter hybrids, selected gene sequences and kits, useful in the assay method, are provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for assaying genetic sequences to genetic sequences useful in the method, and to the relevant components of a kit for the assay of such sequences. It also embodies the selection and use of triple helix forming regions or triple strand forming regions in a number of genes of clinical importance.
The identification of genetic sequences is an important procedure in biological, medical and biotechnological research. Quantitative information about the copy number of genes in humans is particularly important in the early recognition of cancer and the prenatal identification of genetic defects. In the case of cancer cell recognition, such cells frequently have elevated copy numbers of regulatory genes and in some cases, the severity of the prognosis reflects the magnitude of the increase in copy number. Early detection while the copy number is still relatively low allows treatments that can give complete elimination of the cancer with minimum discomfort to the patient. The prenatal detection of genetic defects such as trisomy (three copies of a particular chromosome) or deletions or duplications of small portions can prepare parents and medical staff for later problems and the screening of high risk groups for such defects can help limit the number of births of children with low survival.
2. Description of the Related Art
A number of techniques exist for the detection of genes in human DNA but all of these are skilled techniques that are still principally used in the research laboratory environment. Southern blotting, Polymerase Chain Reaction and Ligase Chain Reaction have all been used to detect specific DNA sequences, but making the techniques quantitative is an extremely skilled process requiring considerable technical expertise and some statistical analysis. The technique described herein is part of a larger process that offers an easy-to-use alternative that combines sensitivity with reliability.
Triple helix formation is described in a publication of Moser, H. E. and Dervan, P. B. (1987) Science, Vol. 238, pages 645-650.
European Publication EP-A 0 330 185 of the present assignee describes a method for assaying genetic sequences in which a labelled reporter molecule is hybridized with a genetic probe and upon introduction of genetic material which more strongly hybridizes with the genetic probe, the reporter molecule disassociates from the genetic probe and is detected.
European Publication EP-A 0 304 845 of the present assignee describes and claims a method of assaying gene expressions which comprises linking MRNA molecules to a solid substrate and contacting the solid substrate with an aqueous suspension of labelled microbeads to which gene probe molecules are linked. The gene probe molecules comprise sequences which hybridize with sequences comprised by and characteristic of the unknown or target mRNA molecules to be assayed, so that the labelled microbeads are linked to the target MRNA molecules on the substrate. By separating the solid substrate from microbeads unlinked to target mRNA molecules and detecting labelled, linked microbeads, the gene expressions are assayed.
Labelled microbeads have been used in a number of analytical methods such as immunoassay methods. Extensive prior art concerning microbeads is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,454,233 granted Jun. 12, 1984 and 4,436,826 granted Mar. 13, 1984, both assigned to the present assignee.
The method of the present invention for assaying genetic sequences is based on displacement of a reporter molecule hybridized to an anchored single-stranded DNA molecule. The displacement relies on the formation of a triple helical or triple strand DNA structure (triplex) between a portion of the sequence of the reporter and double-stranded DNA sequences in sample DNA. The reporter molecule in this case constitutes the "third strand" of the triple helix. The reporter/anchor hybrid is maintained in a suitable buffer in a reaction vessel. Double-stranded sample DNA is added to the buffer and the whole is incubated at a defined temperature. The free 5'-end of said reporter molecule forms a triple helical DNA segment with the sample DNA. The formation of the triple helix reduces the stability of the reporter/anchor stability and thus the reporter is displaced from the anchor DNA to the liquid phase where it can be assayed by means of the submicron particle attached to the reporter. The steps in this process are shown in diagrammatic form in FIG. 1.
According to the present invention there is provided a method for assaying genetic sequences which comprises the formation of a weak DNA-DNA duplex in aqueous solution where one of the strands (the anchor strand) is covalently bound to a solid phase and the other (the reporter strand) has an assayable molecule or particle comprising assayable groups attached to one end. A portion of the reporter molecule is not hybridized to the anchor molecule and has a DNA sequence such that it can form a triple-helical DNA structure with a double stranded duplex DNA molecule of suitable sequence. This double stranded DNA molecule would be found in the sample DNA added to the reaction vessel. When the triple helical DNA structure forms, it causes the reporter molecule to be displaced from the reporter/anchor duplex. The amount of said reporter molecule that is displaced, when compared with suitable standards, will then give a measure of the amount of the double helical sequences present in the sample. The use of specific DNA sequences allows for absolute specificity in the displacement reaction.
According to the present invention there is provided a method of assaying genetic sequences, which comprises introducing a sample containing double stranded DNA to be assayed into an aqueous medium containing at least one complex comprising an anchor DNA strand anchored to a support matrix, said anchor strand being hybridized with a reporter DNA strand having a detectable label, a portion of the anchor strand or the reporter strand consisting of a selected sequence of bases capable of forming a triple helix or triple strand structure with a portion of particular double stranded DNA, whereby said reporter strand is displaced from said complex upon formation of said triple helix or triple strand structure, and displaced reporter strands are detected to determine the presence of said particular double stranded DNA.
According to the invention there are also provided a DNA probe, a DNA complex, a kit and selected gene sequences, useful for assaying genetic material.
In an embodiment of the invention there also is provided a method of assaying genetic sequences, which comprises contacting a sample containing double stranded DNA to be assayed fixed to a support with an aqueous buffer medium containing a protein which promotes formation of a triple strand structure and containing at least one reporter DNA strand having a detectable label, a portion of the reporter strand consisting of a selected sequence of bases capable of forming a triple helix or triple strand structure with a portion of particular double stranded DNA, incubating the medium, washing to remove unbound reporter, and detecting bound reporter strands to determine the presence of said particular double stranded DNA.
Prior art techniques such as Southern blotting, polymerase chain reaction or ligase chain reaction involve many time-consuming steps. Also since all the steps in the process are performed in the diagnostic laboratory, the staff have to be highly skilled and trained scientists. In the present embodiment, the assay vessel would be supplied containing the preformed reporter/anchor hybrid duplex. In the diagnostic laboratory, the sample DNA is added to the reaction vessel and incubated at a controlled temperature for a defined period of time. These parameters are defined in the production laboratory. The amount of reporter released is then determined using technology not part of this invention. Thus the steps required are simple and rapid and do not require great technical skill on the part of the operator. As a result, the time taken for the assay is significantly reduced and the cost correspondingly reduced.

Genetic sequence assay using DNA triple strand formation


Peteye is the appearance of an unnatural coloration (not necessarily red) of the pupils in an animal appearing in an image captured by a camera with flash illumination. Systems and methods of detecting and correcting peteye are described. In one aspect a classification map segmenting pixels in the input image into peteye pixels and non-peteye pixels is generated based on a respective segmentation condition on values of the pixels. Candidate peteye pixel areas are identified in the classification map. The generating and the identifying processes are repeated with the respective condition replaced by a different respective segmentation condition on the pixel values.

Redeye is the appearance of an unnatural reddish coloration in the pupils of a person appearing in an image captured by a camera with flash illumination. Peteye is the appearance of an unnatural coloration (not necessarily red) of the pupils in an animal appearing in an image captured by a camera with flash illumination. Redeye and peteye are caused by light from the flash illumination reflecting off the retina and returning to the camera. Redeye typically results from light reflecting off blood vessels in the retina, whereas peteye typically results from light reflecting off a reflective layer of the retina.
Image processing techniques have been proposed for detecting and correcting redeye in color images of humans. These techniques typically are semi-automatic or automatic. Semi-automatic redeye detection techniques rely on human input. For example, in some semi-automatic redeye reduction systems, a user must manually identify to the system the areas of an image containing redeye before the defects can be corrected. Many automatic human redeye reduction systems rely on a preliminary face detection step before redeye areas are detected. A common automatic approach involves detecting human faces in an image and, subsequently, detecting eyes within each detected face. After the eyes are located, redeye is identified based on shape, coloration, and brightness of image areas corresponding to the detected eye locations.
Detecting and correcting peteye are significantly more difficult than detecting and correcting redeye because peteye may be any of a variety of colors and face detection cannot be used to localize peteyes in an image. In addition, the reflective retinal layer that is present in the eyes of many animals, such as dogs and cats, can cause a variety of peteye colors as well as brightly glowing large white peteyes. Although techniques for detecting and correcting redeye in images may be used to correct some peteyes, such systems and methods cannot satisfactorily detect and correct the majority of peteyes that appear in images. What are needed are systems and methods that are designed specifically to detect and correct peteyes in images.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A photoelectric sensing instant display type golf swing collimation trainer comprises a base (1) and a display device (2), two photoelectric sensor mounting supports (3, 3′) are mounted on the base (1), two groups of photoelectric detection devices with transmitters (4) and sensors (5) are mounted on each mounting support (3 or 3′), the distance between the two sensors (5) on each mounting support is matched with the distance of the straight line section at the bottom of a club head of a golf club, when the club head of the golf club passes between the transmitters (4) and the sensors (5), the pulse receiving of the sensors (5) is blocked, and the sensors (5) are used for sending the synchronous state of blocking the pulse receiving of the club head of the golf club to the display device (2) which is electrically connected with the sensors (5) for real-time display.

At present, golf sports are widely developed in China, as the golf sports have high requirements on athletes, and the swing angle is particularly in direct relation with the movement track, the distance, the falling point and other key parameters, the swing must be exercised for well playing the golf.
As known to all, a golf ball needs to be sequentially hit into 18 holes during the golf sports, the total length of the distance among the holes is more than 6000 m, a lawn region, namely a putting green, is arranged on the periphery of each hole, and a putter is used on each putting green for putting the golf ball into the hole. The putting greens are connected through fairways and the distances between every two holes vary from 230 m to 540 m, the ball can achieve the putting green by being hit by wood clubs and iron clubs for a plurality of times.
The ball hitting club head of the wood club or the iron club forms a certain include angle with a club body, the included angle is named as a club head angle, the angle can increase along with the increase of the number of the wood club or the iron club, wherein the using frequency of the medium iron clubs (No. 5-No. 7) is highest, the club head angles vary in a range of 30-39 degrees, and the angle is the included angle formed between the hitting surface of the club head and the club body. As long as the direction of the normal line of the club head is consistent with the direction line of a target when the club head takes a swing at the ball during swing, the deviation of the flight direction of the golf ball is very small and the ideal swing effect can be achieved.
Therefore, in order to well play the golf ball, the swing needs to be exercised. In general, the swing exercises need to be done by going to a golf course for exercises with the balls, thereby needing to consume a lot of time and being high in cost. Then, people invent various swing trainers and the athletes can complete the swing exercises indoors, such as the inventions in the publication numbers of CN1153055A and CN1169687A and the swing trainers developed by America, Korea and the like.
As for these swing trainers, the balls need to be used for performing practical ball hitting exercises, and equipment is further expensive in price, thereby being not suitable for indoor use. For this reason, Chinese patent ZL200720038548.0 designed a golf swing trainer which could better solve the problem of indoor swing exercises of the athletes, and was conductive to development of the golf sports and the improvement of the level of the players.
But the applicant finds that the trainer disclosed by ZL200720038548.0 can only detect the collimation degree during ball hitting due to the fan-shaped distribution of transmission sensing elements and can not detect the translation state of the club, which is the most key factor and can directly affect the ball hitting distance and the collimation in the golf sports, namely the bottom of the club still needs to keep the state during ball hitting for 5-30 cm after the club hits the ball; furthermore, the longer the kept translation distance, the better the ball hitting effect.
Simultaneously, the applicant further finds that the trainer of the patent has the problems of great debugging difficulty and higher equipment cost, so that the trainer needs to be improved.

Photoelectric sensing instant display type golf swing collimation trainer


A system and method for providing rewards in a game space based on errors disrupting user interactions with the game space is disclosed. For providing such rewards, error information indicating the errors may be obtained and the errors may be extracted from the obtained error information. In some examples, levels of disruption caused by the errors may be determined. In some examples, support resources for addressing the errors may be determined. Rewards may be determined to be awarded to the users based on the determined levels of disruption and/or the determined support resources. In some examples, the determined rewards may be distributed to the users responsive to the users performing one or more actions addressing the errors on the client computing platforms associated with the users.

Game systems that provide access to shared, online game spaces are known. These systems typically enable users to access an online game through a client computing platform. The client computing platform executes a game or space client application that receives information from a game server, and uses the received information to present the game space to the user. For any of several reasons, interaction of the user with the game space through the client computing platform may be interrupted. These reasons may include, among other things, one or more of a bug in the client application, a discontinuity in operation at the server, a network issue, operator error, and/or other reasons.

Dynamically providing rewards to users in a game space


The present invention provides a unique method and user interface that facilitates accessing and browsing objects in which a user begins with a center object (e.g., one or a few focal objects) displayed on a screen and related objects are populated on the screen as well. The related objects can be further organized into clusters whereby each cluster or grouping of objects expands on a particular attribute of the center object. The attributes correspond to metadata. Thus, the objects are populated based upon the metadata of the center object. According to one aspect, the user can access one or more specific objects having a plurality of attributes and then relax at least one of the attributes to see what other objects share at least one attribute with the center object. According to another aspect, the object having the closest match to a search request can be centrally displayed with other close matches arranged by their respective metadata.

As the availability of searchable objects (e.g., movies, music, photographs, e-mail, documents, text, word(s), phrase(s), files, video or sound cliplets, pictures, and/or messages) has increased, the task of effectively browsing and retrieving these objects has become difficult and cumbersome. Conventional systems for searching, browsing, modifying, sorting, and the like have provided limited ability for a user to access the objects in a meaningful manner.
For example, photographs digitally scanned onto a computer processor typically have nonsensical filenames associated therewith, making it difficult to manipulate and organize them. Providing more meaningful information to each file or media object must be done individually and separately which is time-consuming and tedious for regular or frequent use involving editing, sampling, and viewing, for example. Further, conventional browsing systems are typically rigid and thus limit a user's ability to personalize Such systems. Conventional searching/browsing methods also have limited options for providing and displaying results. Moreover, conventional browsing systems remain complex and incomprehensible for quick retrieval, use, and viewing of the objects while traditional methods remain stagnate and inadequate for today's user.


Wireless communication synchronization at a wireless signal receiver is described. A wireless signal received may be a spread spectrum signal containing a periodic extension of a primary code, a periodic extension of a secondary code, and a data portion. The receiver may determine a first chip sequence representative of the secondary code by extraction of the primary code and the data portion from a first received wireless signal. The receiver may further determine, from a second received wireless signal, a second chip sequence representative of the secondary code by extraction of the primary code from the second received wireless signal. The receiver may identify a phase offset associated with the received wireless signals by analyzing the first chip sequence and the second chip sequence.

Typical digital communication systems involve using a transmitter to send a bit stream to a receiver. The bit stream contains digital information that the receiver decodes and makes use of. In some communications systems, the digital information is extracted by first converting the analog representation of the bit stream to digital samples. Each sample represents the signal at the time of sampling. Because of noise and other effects, signal transitions may not be cleanly represented.
Such digital communication can be used in different systems, such as a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). GNSS is a satellite system that involves a network of satellites in space. Each satellite wirelessly transmits coded signals at precise intervals. A receiver analyzes the signal information to determine position, velocity, and time estimates. The GNSS signal is used for various applications such as to determine the geographic location of a user's receiver anywhere in the world. Using the information in the transmitted signal, the receiver on or near the earth's surface can calculate the exact position of the transmitting satellite and the distance (from the transmission time delay) between the satellite and the receiver. For accurate operation of a system based on receipt of GNSS signals, the transmitting satellite and the receiver are time synchronized.
GNSS are especially sensitive because the GNSS signals are communicated between satellites above the earth's atmosphere and receivers on the earth's surface. In addition, the signals transmitted to the receiver are generated by the transmitter and therefore synchronized to the time base in the transmitter. Thus, the signals are not synchronized to the receiver's time base, and therefore the location of bit transitions in the receiver's time base cannot be assumed.

Wireless communication synchronization system


An electrical device having a generator, e.g., for use in the vehicle electrical system of a motor vehicle, includes a controller for controlling the generator voltage. In the device, an area is provided in which a voltage control is carried out, and other areas are provided in which a torque control is carried out.

It is known that switching into the vehicle's electrical system an electrical consumer having high electrical power results in a high load on the generator. Since switching on the electrical consumer leads to a voltage dip in the vehicle's electrical system, a voltage controller assigned to the generator tries to increase the power supplied by the generator by increasing the exciting current. However, this results in the braking torque caused by the generator being increased in such a way that, especially in response to a low rotary speed of the internal combustion engine, an interfering sudden drop of the rotary speed may occur. In order to minimize such a sudden drop in the rotary speed, measures are provided in systems that have a so-called load-response device which prevents the generator from being loaded too greatly. It is thereby also prevented that a sudden drop in rotary speed occurs in the combustion engine. However, since the required electrical power can no longer be supplied, an undesired voltage dip can now occur.
Such a rotary speed change can be countered, at least in certain operating states, in that a sufficient excess torque is supplied. However, this leads to increased usage, in a disadvantageous manner. As an alternative, the generator adjustment can be specifically slowed down. However, this may lead disadvantageously to an increase in the fluctuations of the voltage of the vehicle's electrical system. Such fluctuations are undesired, however, since they disadvantageously influence the service life of the battery, and are able to damage component parts that are sensitive to voltage. As an alternative, an additional consumer could be switched on in a specified manner via a ramp function. However, this requires a greater switching technology expenditure, and therefore leads to higher product costs. In all the alternatives mentioned, an optimum adaptation to the actually available excess torque is not readily possible.
A method is described in published German patent document DE 39 31 897 for voltage control for generators in motor vehicles, in which, in a first time interval, the generator output voltage is set to a maximum value, so that reliable loading of the vehicle's battery takes place independently of the environmental temperature. In a second time interval, the generator output voltage is regulated usually as a function of the battery temperature, according to a known method. In this context, the establishment of the first time interval takes place as a function of the loading state of the battery.