A method of masking a residual echo signal by an echo canceller is provided. The method comprises receiving a far-end signal, adjusting filter coefficients of an adaptive filter in response to the far-end signal, generating an echo model signal based on the far-end signal using the adaptive filter, receiving a near-end signal, subtracting the echo model signal from the near-end signal to generate an output signal, defining a spectral mask based on the near-end signal, wherein the spectral mask is indicative of near-end spectral peaks and near-end spectral valleys, de-emphasizing the output signal in spectral regions of the near-end spectral peaks, and emphasizing the output signal in spectral regions of the near-end spectral valleys, wherein the de-emphasizing occurs during filter coefficients determination for the adaptive filter. A weighted filter may perform the de-emphasizing and the emphasizing operations, where the weighted filter uses medium term spectral characteristics of the near-end signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to echo canceller systems in communication networks. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and systems for masking the residual echo in echo canceller systems.
2. Background Art
Subscribers use speech quality as the benchmark for assessing the overall quality of a telephone network. A key technology to provide a high quality speech is echo cancellation. Echo canceller performance in a telephone network, either a TDM or packet telephony network, has a substantial impact on the overall voice quality. An effective removal of hybrid and acoustic echo inherent in telephone networks is a key to maintaining and improving perceived voice quality during a call.
Echoes occur in telephone networks due to impedance mismatches of network elements and acoustical coupling within telephone handsets. Hybrid echo is the primary source of echo generated from the public-switched telephone network (PSTN). As shown in FIG. 1, hybrid echo 110 is created by a hybrid, which converts a four-wire physical interface into a two-wire physical interface. The hybrid reflects electrical energy back to the speaker from the four-wire physical interface. Acoustic echo, on the other hand, is generated by analog and digital telephones, with the degree of echo related to the type and quality of such telephones. As shown in FIG. 1, acoustic echo 120 is created by a voice coupling between the earpiece and microphone in the telephones, where sound from the speaker is picked by the microphone, for example, by bouncing off the walls, windows, and the like. The result of this reflection is the creation of multi-path echo, which would be heard by the speaker unless eliminated.
As shown in FIG. 1, in modern telephone networks, echo canceller 140 is typically positioned between hybrid 130 and network 150. Generally speaking, echo cancellation process involves two steps. First, as the call is set up, echo canceller 140 employs a digital adaptive filter to adapt to the far-end signal and create a model based on the far-end signal before passing through hybrid 130. After the local-end signal, including near-end signal and/or echo signal, passes through hybrid 130, echo canceller 140 subtracts the far-end model from the local-end signal to cancel hybrid echo and generate an error signal. Although this echo cancellation process removes a substantial amount of the echo, non-linear components of the echo, which are also known as residual echo, may still remain.
To cancel non-linear components of the echo, the second step of the echo cancellation process utilizes a non-linear processor (NLP) to eliminate the remaining or residual echo. As known in the art, in stationary conditions, the residual echo is similar to a white noise signal after convergence of the adaptive filter. When the near-end talker is not active, the residual echo is eliminated by applying the NLP, such that the NLP removes the original filtered signal and replaces it with a synthetic signal that mimics the spectral characteristics of the background noise by using a Comfort Noise Generator (CNG). On the other hand, when the near-end-talker is active, conventional echo cancellers generally assume that the attenuation introduced by the adaptive filter is strong enough to bring the residual echo below the auditory capability of the far-end listener. However, such assumption is not always true and such false assumption can cause undesirable results.
In conventional echo cancellers, if we define the estimated echo as:
      e              (      n      )        =            ∑              k        =        0                    L        -        1                                                  Rxin                          (                      n            -            k                    )                    ·              α                          (          k          )                    where α(n) are the EC filter coefficients at sample n and L is the length of the filter, then the EC output signal will be:Txout(n)=Txin(n)−e(n)
With these definitions the power of the output signal will be:
  E  =                    ∑                  n          =          0                          N          -          1                                                                      (                      Txout                                      (              n              )                                )                2              =                            ∑                      n            =            0                                N            -            1                                                                                (                                          Txin                                                  (                  n                  )                                            -                              e                                                  (                  n                  )                                                      )                    2                    =                        ∑                      n            =            0                                N            -            1                                                                                (                                          Txin                                                  (                  n                  )                                            -                                                ∑                                      k                    =                    0                                                        L                    -                    1                                                                                Rxin                                                              (                                              n                        -                        k                                            )                                                        ·                                      α                                                              (                      k                      )                                                                                )                    2
The α(n) coefficients are defined by finding the set of coefficients that minimize the energy E by using the decent gradient algorithm on the equation:
            ∂      E              ∂              α                          (          n          )                      =      -                  ∑                  n          =          0                          N          -          1                                                                      Rxin                                (                          n              -              k                        )                          ·                  (                                    Txin                                            (                n                )                                      -                          e                                            (                n                )                                              )
Therefore, as shown, conventional echo cancellers fail to distinguish between near-end talker activity when processing the residual, by making a false assumption that, when the near-end talker is active, the attenuation introduced by the adaptive filter is strong enough to bring the residual echo below the auditory capability of the far-end listener. Therefore, conventional echo cancellers merely rely upon the attenuation introduced by the adaptive filter to bring the residual echo below the auditory capability of the far-end listener.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for echo canceller systems that can overcome the shortcoming of the conventional echo cancellers and process the residual echo properly even when the near-end talker is active.


There is described a method for processing data generated by a synthetic aperture imaging system, comprising: receiving raw data representative of electromagnetic signals reflected by a target area to be imaged; receiving a parameter change for the synthetic aperture imaging system; digitally correcting the raw data in accordance with the parameter change, thereby compensating for the parameter change in order to obtain corrected data; and generating an image of the target area using the corrected data.

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging systems are widely used in aerial and space reconnaissance. Usually, an aircraft or a spacecraft is provided with a SAR imaging system which transmits radar pulses and collects radar echoes corresponding to the radar pulses reflected by an object to be imaged.
Due to the large amount of data generated by a SAR system, optical solutions have been developed for processing the SAR raw data. For example, the SAR raw data can be recorded on a photosensitive film, or an optical image of the SAR raw data can be generated using a light modulator. However, in such optical processing systems, the position of optical components has to be changed in order to compensate for parameters changes for the SAR imaging system, such as an altitude change for example. The requirement for moving the optical components reduces the sturdiness and viability for the optical SAR raw data processing system.
Therefore there is a need for an improved method and apparatus for compensating for a parameter change in a SAR imaging system.

Method and apparatus for compensating for a parameter change in a synthetic aperture imaging system


A method and software is provided for placing an order for goods and/or services from a remote service provider over a communication network from a subscriber's computer, comprising the steps of: providing preprogrammed software on the subscriber's computer for allowing the subscriber to prepare the order while the subscriber's computer is not connected to a computer server of the remote service provider over the communications network; the subscriber creating the order using the preprogrammed software; the preprogrammed software displaying the subscriber's account status to the subscriber after preparing the order but prior to connecting to the remote service provider over the communications network; and the subscriber forwarding the order for goods and/or services to the remote service provider over the communications network.

With the advent of digital cameras, consumers capture picture memories and subsequently store them either on their own personal computers or by utilizing one of a number of online Internet photographic service sites (e.g., OFOTO™, or Kodak Picture Center Online™) which offer storage. At the same time the number of images captured by digital camera has increased, the percentage of these images being printed has decreased. This is due to many reasons, for example consumers selecting only their very best images to be printed, or the printing solutions themselves being too difficult to use for all except the most experienced computer users.
The options available for obtaining prints from a digital camera include printing at home, which can be very challenging, and which sometimes produces less than desirable quality prints. In addition, the materials needed for home photo printing (typically inkjet cartridges and photo-quality print paper) can be quite expensive.
Consumers can also order hard copy prints and other image products online from an Internet photographic service (e.g. OFOTO™) site where their images are stored, but this, too, involves many steps including the use of multiple user interface screens. Typically, obtaining prints from a remote photographic service site requires first connecting to the site and then uploading the images to the user's account. Uploading can be a slow and cumbersome process, especially if a narrow band-width dial-up connection to the Internet is used. To place a print order, a user must remain connected to the service site while carrying out a number of steps to specify which images are to be printed, and the quantities desired. This process can be slow even when a broad-band connection to the Internet is available, especially when traffic on the service site is high. The user must progress through several screens and often there is wait time for the next screen to appear. Finally, an e-commerce step must be carried out to arrange payment, typically involving a transaction such as the entry of the credit-card which then requires a wait for confirmation of validity.
The social exchange of hard copy prints as a means of sharing pictures has also always been popular. When using film for image capture, a convenient means for sharing prints was employed by many consumers when they selected the option of getting two sets of prints from a photo processing service. The consumer would keep one copy of a print, while the second copy was used for sharing with family and friends. Now, because of the problems previously mentioned with obtaining prints from digital cameras, the sharing of pictures by means of hard copy prints from digital cameras has decreased. And no matter the source of the hard copy print (from film or digital), there is extra work associated with sharing by sending prints by mail. Envelopes have to be addressed and stamped, notes written, and a trip to the post office must be made. Prints ordered remotely from a photographic service site may be shipped to an address of recipient for sharing, but the complexity of this multi-step task has already been described.
A new means of social sharing of images enabled by digital technology has recently emerged. So-called electronic sharing of images often involves the e-mailing of a digital image file as an attachment or the posting of images to a personal website or a photo website such as Ofoto™. While this is an increasingly popular means of sharing images, it, too, can be complex, requiring multiple steps. In sharing via a website, a URL must first be supplied to the recipient who must, in turn, access the website in order to view the images. When emailing images, the sharer must also decide what size digital image to share (e.g., a smaller size to facilitate transfer but suitable for display only, or a larger size for printing but slower to transfer) and understand how to resize the image appropriately if resizing is needed.
Finally, if a consumer wishes to share the same set of images using email and prints, it is necessary to follow two distinct, multi-step workflows.
Thus there is a need to provide a greatly simplified means for consumers to share digital images with friends and family by electronic sharing, or by means of hard copy prints, and also to simplify the ordering of image-related goods or services on-line.

Computer software product and method for sharing images and ordering image goods or services


The present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus having high printing quality, in which each nozzle array is driven using a plurality of driver ICs. Assuming that the input terminal nozzles Y (n-3), M (n-2), C (n-1), and Bkn of four actuators form a group n, a group 4 (G4) is formed from input terminals spanning four stages, i.e. Y1, M2, C3, Bk4, and from a group 5 onward, similar groups are formed repeatedly. Input terminals of different colors are connected in succession to a driver IC 26a according to a color cycle of C→Y→Bk→M. Meanwhile, input terminals of different colors are connected in succession to a driver IC 26b according to a color cycle of Bk→M→C→Y. In all of the nozzle arrays, the driver ICs which drive the nozzles are connected alternately in staggered form.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording by discharging ink from nozzles onto a recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, this type of ink jet recording apparatus performs recording by driving an electromechanical transducing element such as a piezoelectric element or an actuator such as an electrothermal transducing element, thereby varying the pressure inside a pressure chamber connected to a nozzle such that ink in the pressure chamber is discharged from the nozzle onto a recording medium.
In recent years, there has been a tendency toward an increased number of nozzles and higher nozzle density in ink jet recording apparatuses in order to achieve higher recording quality. In such ink jet recording apparatuses, either the driver IC is enlarged or a plurality of driver ICs is provided to correspond to the increased number of nozzles. When the driver IC is enlarged, an expensive IC must be used due to low yield and so on, which is disadvantageous in terms of cost. In response to this, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H8-258292 (see FIGS. 6 and 9) enables high-speed recording output by driving a plurality of independent decoders independently.
However, the use of a plurality of decoders is problematic. Particularly in terms of cost reduction, when driver ICs installed with an amp circuit having no feedback control are used, differences may arise among the driver ICs in the ON resistance (resistance in a conductive state) of the amp circuits, and at the same time variation may exist in the output current, output waveform, and other output characteristics of the driver ICs. For example, when a single nozzle array is divided into two groups and driving is performed using one driver IC for each group, differences in the ink droplet speed and ink droplet volume between the groups during discharge lead to tonal variation, printing deviation, and so on between the groups, causing so-called banding, in which a band-form boundary is formed between the groups.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the printing condition when an actuator is driven using two driver ICs having different output characteristics. For example, a nozzle array 83 of a head 81 comprises nozzles N1 to N12. The upper nozzles N1 to N6 are connected to a driver IC 80a, and the lower nozzles N7 to N12 are connected to a driver IC 80b. The two driver ICs 80a and 80b have different output characteristics, and according to these output characteristics, the driver IC 80a has a tendency toward small droplet volume and early discharge timing, whereas the driver IC 80b has a tendency toward large droplet volume and late discharge timing. When a recording medium moves relative to the head 81 in a direction shown by an arrow X in FIG. 8, the nozzle array N1 to N6, driven by the driver IC 80a, produces a printing condition in which the dot diameter is small, as shown by a dot array 82a, and the nozzle array N7 to N12, driven by the driver IC 80b, produces a printing condition in which the dot diameter is large and the dots are deviated from the dot array 82a in the opposite direction to the arrow X in FIG. 8, as shown by a dot array 82b. In other words, the upper half of the printing area is printed palely, whereas the lower half is printed deeply, and hence a difference in the halftones of the color occurs. Moreover, since the discharge timing of the two driver ICs is different, printing deviation also occurs. Note that each of the dot arrays 82a, 82b occupies a substantially identical area. These differences in printing condition between wide areas such as the upper half and lower half of the printing area lead to the occurrence in the printing area of the aforementioned banding phenomenon.
To avoid this phenomenon, the individual output characteristics of the driver ICs must be matched between themselves. Methods which may be considered for this purpose include:
(1) measuring the output characteristics of driver ICs one by one and combining those having close characteristics; and
(2) selecting driver ICs manufactured in adjacent sites on a wafer.
However, both of these methods are laborious and expensive, and therefore not practical.


A coupling transformer 15 necessary for power line communication is provided in a connector device 3. The coupling transformer 15 is formed by winding an AC line 11 and a signal wire 13 around an annular toroidal core 15a, which is to be fitted on a tubular part 32 of the connector device 3. Cutouts for housing the AC line 11 and the signal wire 13 wound around the toroidal core 15a are formed in the tubular part 32 of the connector device 3. Further, a coil 17a is connected to the AC line 11, a capacitor 17b is connected to an AC line 12, and the coil 17a and the capacitor 17b are connected to each other with a wire 17c provided along the AC lines 11 and 12, whereby a filter circuit is formed.

In recent years, there are beginning to prevail electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles which include devices such as motors and batteries and which travel by driving the motors, using power accumulated in the batteries. Electric vehicles need to have their batteries to be charged by external feeding devices, and even hybrid vehicles include plug-in hybrid vehicles that allow their batteries to be charged by external feeding devices. In a vehicle whose battery is charged from outside, a plug of a charging cable connected to an external feeding device is coupled to a connector device of a charging port provided in the vehicle, and power is supplied from the feeding device to the battery of the vehicle via the charging cable, whereby the battery is charged.
Patent Literature 1 proposes an electric vehicle charging connector in which a DC power receiving portion and an AC power receiving portion are collectively provided. In the electric vehicle charging connector, the DC power receiving portion and the AC power receiving portion, which are defined from each other, are arranged in a power receiving connector of a single structure, and a first cap for openably closing the entirety of the open end of the power receiving connector, and a second cap for openably closing a through hole formed through a portion of the first cap corresponding to the AC power receiving portion, are provided.
On the other hand, in the case of charging a battery of a vehicle by a feeding device, a communication function is required that allows transmission and reception of information for controlling the charge and information for managing the amount of charge, accounting, etc. between the vehicle and the feeding device.
Patent Literature 2 proposes a power system in which a plurality of electric vehicles and a supply management unit perform power line communication with each other, and in which the plurality of electric vehicles each configured to be able to supply AC power can supply AC power to a common power consuming unit. In this power system, each of the plurality of vehicles having received a supply start instruction through power line communication transmits an identifier to other vehicles, one of the vehicles is determined as a master, and notification that the vehicle is the master is transmitted to other vehicles. The master vehicle generates an AC voltage in accordance with its own period, and other vehicles each generate an AC voltage synchronized with that of the master vehicle, whereby the plurality of vehicles start supplying power to a power load in a cooperative manner.

Power line communications system, power line communication device, and connector device


A holder for a smoking article may be inserted into the ground or golf tee holder on a golf cart, or secured over and about the upper opening leading into a garment pocket or golf bag. The holder is used to protect the smoking article from exposure to poisons and injurious chemicals used in fertilizers, and weed and fungus killers, in addition to water, dirt and debris that also cause damage to a golfer's cigars or cigarettes. A golfer can place a cigar or cigarette between the jaws of the holder, and insert the shaft into the ground or golf tee holder, thereby allowing the golfer to easily insert a tee into the ground, remove a club from the golf bag, take a shot, or drive a cart without holding a cigar or cigarette in his/her hand or mouth, and without having to be concerned about the position or location of a lit cigar or cigarette, and preventing any water, grass, dirt, chemicals or debris from adhering to the smoking article.

Golf has become one of the most popular individual sports engaged in by people of all ages. Given the nature of this outdoor sport, it is common practice for golfers to smoke cigarettes or cigars while playing golf. When a smoking golfer prepares to take a golf swing or stroke, on the tee, in the fairway, in the rough, adjacent to the green, or on the green, the golfer typically lays the lighted cigarette or cigar on the ground.
Typically, the golfer places the cigar on a dry grassy spot in an effort to minimize the exposure of the cigar to the elements. After taking the stroke, the golfer again picks up the lighted cigar and continues to play the game. The practice of laying a lighted cigar on ground is not only unsanitary, but it subjects the golfer to the hazards of contamination from poisons and injurious chemicals used in fertilizers and in weed and fungus killers used to combat the growth of undesirable plants on the golf course. Such impurities can readily be picked up and absorbed by the moistened end of the lighted cigar while laying on the ground. These materials are then transferred to the lips or to the face of the golfer so as to cause infection or other injury.
Hastily laying a cigar or cigarette may also risk exposure of the smoking article to becoming contaminated by water, dirt, or other debris. Thus, in addition to the potential health hazards associated with fertilizers and other chemicals, exposure to water, dirt and debris also cause damage to a golfer's cigars or cigarettes may render them unpalatable.


A human safety system includes a circuit including a microcontroller and at least one power source; a probe in communication with the circuit; at least one use detector in communication with the circuit; and at least one alert indicator in communication with the circuit. A method of using a human safety device, the method includes initiating operation of the human safety device; arranging the human safety device in communication with skin; and monitoring the human safety device for alert indicators. A method of monitoring a user includes waking from sleep state; sensing at least one condition of the user; determining if the sensed condition is in a human condition; continuously monitoring the condition of the user; and, returning to sleep state when the user condition is outside of the human condition for an amount of time.

Unsafe temperatures can lead to injury and even death in humans. Athletes, utility workers, construction workers, manufacturing workers, and hazardous-material workers are among those especially subjected to harsh temperatures, increasing the concerns for employers and schools on how to protect workers and athletes. Other individuals also may be subjected to dangerous overheating in some circumstances.


A bendable caulking nozzle extension device for use with a caulking tube having a nozzle, said device comprising an elongated tube portion extending between a proximal base portion and a distal tip portion, and having a hollow passageway defined therein. The elongated tube portion is constructed from a flexible, resilient material that may be repeatedly and forcibly deformed. An attachment means is positioned within the proximal base portion for releasably affixing said device to the nozzle of the caulking tube. A deformable stiffening element is positioned on the elongated tube portion, and is constructed of a material that allows it to be repeatedly and forcibly deformed whilst substantially retaining such deformed configuration after the removal of a deforming force. Caulking material flowing from the caulking tube flows into said hollow passageway, and out of the exit aperture of the distal tip portion to a work surface remote from the nozzle of the caulking tube.

It is common in certain fields, such as in plumbing, heating and home maintenance systems, to use dispensing devices to dispense materials, such as caulking, glue, adhesive, sealant or other substances. More particularly, the use of a caulking gun to dispense material from a conventional caulking cartridge is known in the prior art. There are, however, certain limitations to the effective application of caulking materials to the location where it is needed, particularly in crowded spaces, such as around heating ducts located in rafters and the like.
Over time there has been developed various devices to facilitate the dispensing or application of caulking material to difficult-to-reach places, for example, by modifying the design of the caulking gun, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,920. Others have redesigned the nozzle to facilitate the application of caulking material in difficult-to-reach locations, such as the caulking nozzle that is beveled on three sides, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,551. Still others have provided for extensions, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,258,884 (Rogers), or curved or flexible nozzle extensions, such as that disclosed in, U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,128 (Richici et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,716 (O'Sullivan), U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,380 (Ables) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,712 (Esber et al.), the teachings of which patents are all hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The bendable caulking nozzle extension device of the present invention relates to this latter group of curved or flexible nozzle extensions. The prior art of curved or flexible nozzle extensions, however, suffer from several shortcomings. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,716 discloses a caulking nozzle assembly that comprises a separate rigid curved tube that fits over a flexible caulk dispensing tube to hold the nozzle in a curved position. The caulking material within the caulk cartridge is then directionally dispensed in accordance with the curved shape imposed upon the caulk dispensing tube by the shape of the rigid curved tube. Such a flexible caulking nozzle, however, only permits for standardized directional dispensing in accordance with the shape of the rigid curved tube and thus limits the usefulness of the device. Moreover, the use of a two part assembly not only contributes to the cost of manufacture of this type of flexible caulking nozzle, but raises the possibility of losing a part of the assembly should it become detached from the other part.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,712 discloses a flexible caulk tube nozzle that comprises an accordion flexible section positioned between a tapered nozzle end portion and caulk tube attachment portion to provide a mechanism for orienting the tapered nozzle end portion at a desired angle. The ability of such an accordion flexible section to bend, however, is limited by the construction of the accordion, for example, the width of the pleats of the accordion or the distances therebetween. As a result, such an accordion flexible section only permits such a flexible caulk tube nozzle to reach a limited number of difficult-to-reach places, a shortcoming also shared by the prior art devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,004,128 and 5,346,380.
Additionally, known prior art flexible caulk tube nozzles such as that taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,346,380 and 6,076,712 typically require the operator of a caulking gun utilizing such a flexible caulk tube nozzle to use both hands to operate the flexible caulk tube nozzle, one hand to guide and hold the tapered nozzle end portion against the work surface where the caulking material is being applied, and the other hand to hold the caulking gun and activate its dispensing trigger. The flexible caulk tube nozzle is, therefore, further limited by the ability of its operator to position his or her guide hand, particularly in tight working spaces, thereby to guide the tapered nozzle end portion.
Moreover, the use of a caulking gun to dispense material from a conventional caulking cartridge is known to generate significant back-pressure within the tube or barrel of the extension, such that it is not uncommon for known prior art nozzle extensions to 'pop' off the tapered nozzle of conventional caulking tubes or cartridges during use. This is not only frustrating for the user, but is inefficient and messy. The operator of a caulking gun may, therefore, be further concerned with ensuring that prior art nozzle extensions remain in place during the application of the caulking material to the work surface.
The present invention addresses these and other problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art by providing a caulking nozzle extension device that represents a significant improvement over known prior art caulking nozzle extension devices. More specifically, the present invention: (a) is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture; (b) is quickly and easily attachable to a wide variety of conventional caulking tubes or cartridges for effective dispensing of material therefrom; (c) provides attachment means that ensures that the caulking nozzle extension device will not become detached from the tapered nozzle of a conventional caulking tube or cartridge in use; (d) allows for one-handed use by an operator; (e) facilitates access to difficult-to-reach places from angles and distances determined by its operator and not by the construction or geometry of the device itself.

Bendable caulking nozzle extension device


An electrolyte additive composition of the present invention may improve high-rate charge and discharge characteristics and high-temperature storage and life characteristics of a lithium secondary battery and may achieve an effect of increasing reversible capacity when the electrolyte additive composition is used in an electrolyte while including a novel borate-based lithium compound as well as a lithiated additive.

As the miniaturization and weight reduction of electronic devices are realized and the use of portable electronic devices is common, research into secondary batteries having high energy density, as power sources of these devices, has been actively conducted.
The secondary battery includes a nickel-cadmium battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel-hydrogen battery, and a lithium secondary battery, and, among these batteries, research into lithium secondary batteries, which not only exhibit a discharge voltage two times or more higher than a typical battery using an aqueous alkaline solution, but also have high energy density per unit weight and are rapidly chargeable, has been emerged.
A lithium metal oxide is used as a positive electrode active material of a lithium secondary battery, and lithium metal, a lithium alloy, crystalline or amorphous carbon, or a carbon composite is used as a negative electrode active material. A current collector is coated with the active material of appropriate thickness and length or the active material itself is coated in the form of a film, and the resultant product is then wound or stacked with an insulating separator to prepare electrodes. Thereafter, the electrodes are put into a can or a container similar thereto, and a secondary battery is then prepared by injecting an electrolyte.
Charge and discharge of the lithium secondary battery is performed while a process of intercalating and deintercalating lithium ions from a lithium metal oxide positive electrode into and out of a graphite negative electrode is repeated. In this case, since lithium is highly reactive, the lithium reacts with the carbon electrode to form Li2CO3, LiO, or LiOH, and thus, a film may be formed on the surface of the negative electrode. The film is referred to as "solid electrolyte interface (SEI)", wherein the SEI formed at an initial stage of charging may prevent a reaction of the lithium ions with the carbon negative electrode or other materials during charge and discharge. Also, the SEI only passes the lithium ions by acting as an ion tunnel. The ion tunnel may prevent the collapse of a structure of the carbon negative electrode due to the co-intercalation of the carbon negative electrode and organic solvents of the electrolyte having a high molecular weight which solvates the lithium ions and moves therewith.
Thus, in order to improve high-temperature cycle characteristics and low-temperature output of the lithium secondary battery, a robust SEI must be formed on the negative electrode of the lithium secondary battery. Once the SEI is formed during initial charge, the SEI may prevent the reaction of the lithium ions with the negative electrode or other materials during repeated charge and discharge caused by the subsequent use of the battery and may act as an ion tunnel that only passes the lithium ions between the electrolyte and the negative electrode.
Conventionally, with respect to an electrolyte which does not include an electrolyte additive or includes an electrolyte additive having poor characteristics, it was difficult to expect the improvement of low-temperature output characteristics due to the formation of a non-uniform SEI. Furthermore, even in a case in which the electrolyte additive is included, since the surface of the positive electrode is decomposed or the electrolyte causes an oxidation reaction during a high-temperature reaction due to the electrolyte additive when an amount of the electrolyte additive added may not be adjusted to the required amount, irreversible capacity of the secondary battery may ultimately be increased and output characteristics may be reduced.
Thus, there is a need to develop a compound which may be used as an electrolyte additive for improving overall performance, such as high-rate charge and discharge characteristics, high-temperature performance characteristics, and life characteristics, of the battery by forming a robust SEI on the negative electrode.

Electrolyte additive and electrolyte for lithium secondary battery including the same


A sub-band processing system for reducing computational complexity and memory requirements is disclosed. The sub-band processing system includes: a first logic that partitions and stores a frequency spectrum of bins of real and imaginary data into a smaller number of sub-bands; a second logic that executes a first lossy compression for a first set of the sub-bands, wherein the first set includes those sub-bands having indices that are greater than or equal to a first index; and a third logic that executes, subsequent to a frequency spectrum processing of the lossy compressed data rendered by the second logic, a second lossy compression for a second set of the sub-bands, wherein the second set includes those sub-bands having indices that are less than the first index and greater than or equal to a second index.

Frequency domain based adaptive filtering is computationally intensive as it translates a time domain signal into multiple frequency components that are processed individually. Wider bandwidth networks provide higher throughput and better performance than narrowband networks but at the expense of an increase in processing loads and memory requirements—as the bandwidth increases, so too does the number of frequency components used to represent the signal. This increase in the number of components at higher sampling rates results in a proportional increase in processing loads and memory required.
To reduce processing load and memory requirements for ease of implementation, a frequency domain-based system compresses data through a lossy compression scheme and performs subsequent processing of the lossy signal before reconstructing back the data into the time domain with an inverse process to the one used to translate the time domain signal into multiple frequency components. It is desirable to perform the lossy compression in a way that ensures minimal perceptual distortion is introduced in the resulting reconstructed data.
Like reference numerals are used in the drawings to denote like elements and features.

Method for multi-stage compression in sub-band processing


A collection device for plasma preparation for diagnostic assays. The device comprises a spray-dried anticoagulant formulation on the interior surface of the device and a thixotropic polymeric gel. The device is an improvement over commercially available devices which contain liquid anticoagulant formulations, for use in nucleic acid testing that employ amplifications technologies including, but not limited to, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), branched DNA (bDNA) and nucleic acid sequenced based amplification (NASBA).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for blood plasma preparation for a variety of analytical assays. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a blood collection device comprising a thixotropic polymeric polyester gel and an anticoagulant formation. The device of the present invention is most preferably used in nucleic acid testing, which use amplification technologies including, but not limited to, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), branched DNA (bDNA) and nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA).
2. Description of Related Art
New amplification technologies, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), branched DNA (bDNA), and nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA), allow researchers to monitor the levels of infectious agents in plasma. Studies have demonstrated that the number of extracellular HIV RNA viral copies, or viral load, is a surrogate marker for the progression of the HIV infection. Scientific research has shown that HIV replication occurs throughout the life of the infection. After the initial infection, the HIV viron enters susceptible cells, replicates rapidly creating billions of copies of the HIV viral RNA soon after infection. Although the HIV RNA viral load varies across the patient population, the disease follows a specific progressive pattern within each patient. Therefore, monitoring the HIV RNA viral load of HIV infected patients can be used to manage the disease. In addition, the patients' response to approved drugs, new drugs and combination drug therapies can be evaluated by monitoring the patient's HIV RNA viral load.
In addition to the HIV virus, there are a number of other infectious diseases that would benefit from viral load monitoring, such as the Hepatitis C virus.
Measurements of the viral load are determined by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), branched DNA (bDNA), and other amplification techniques. The quality and consistency of the sample is critical to obtaining optimal test results using these technologies. There are a number of variables that influence the sample quality, such as the collection method, centrifugation time, sample preparation technique, transport to the test laboratory, contamination with cellular materials, and the like.
Numerous sample types have been evaluated for nucleic acid testing, including whole blood, serum and plasma. Studies have shown that the HIV viral load is stable for up to 30 hours in a whole blood sample using EDTA as the anitcoagulant. The clotting process required to produce serum can artificially lower the viral load by trapping viral particles in the resulting clot. Although the preferred sample type is plasma, the preparation of a plasma sample may adversely affect the outcome of the amplification process. For example, if the plasma sample remains in contact with the red blood cells, heme molecules from the hemoglobin contained within red blood cells will interfere with PCR amplification if hemolysis occurs. In addition, since the half-life of the neutrophils is approximately 24 hours in a blood collection tube, and as the neutrophils begin to die they release granules which contain myeloperoxidase into the sample, and since myeloperoxidase causes reduction in the viral load, this is also another factor that supports the need to sequester the plasma sample away from blood cells.
A further example of the difficulties associated with current plasma preparation is the fact that blood collection tubes may contain a liquid anticoagulant to prevent clotting of the sample. A liquid anticoagulant may dilute the viral load value per volume of sample. Therefore, the viral load value may be below the threshold of detection.
Commercially available blood collection products such as (all sold by Becton Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, N.J. and all registrations and trademarks are of Becton Dickinson and Company) VACUTAINER Brand Hematology tubes, Catalog nos. 367650-1, 367661, 6405, 6385, 6564, 367653, 367665, 367658, 367669, 6450-8, 6535-37, 367662; VACUTAINER Brand K.sub.2 EDTA tubes catalog no. 367841-2, 367856, 367861; VACUTAINER Brand PST tubes catalog nos. 367793-4, 6698, 6595, 6672; VACUTAINER Brand CPT tubes catalog nos. 362753, 362760-1; VACUTAINER Brand SST tubes catalog nos. 367782-89, 6509-17, 6590-92; and VACUTAINER Brand ACD tubes catalog nos. 367756, 364012, 4816; may be used for nucleic acid testing. However, these commerically available products may not consistently provide a sample of good integrity and therefore may not provide consistent and adequate amplification results.
Therefore, a need exists to provide a standard device designed to collect, process, and transport plasma samples for use with amplification technologies. Most preferably, the device should be able to assist in standardizing specimen handling, provide a closed system, isolate the plasma from the cellular components, produce minimal plasma dilution, and minimize interference with the nucleic acid testing.

Tube for preparing a plasma specimen for diagnostic assays and method of making thereof


A development device includes a sheet member, a support member, and a vibration applying device. The sheet member is disposed between a developer carrier and a blade to receive a developer falling from the developer carrier toward the blade. The developer carrier is disposed to face to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and configured to supply the developer to the image carrier in a facing area to the image carrier. The blade is configured to regulate an amount of the developer carried on the developer carrier. The support member holds the sheet member. The vibration applying device applies vibration to the sheet member. The sheet member is stretchable and flexible and is stretched over the support member.

The present disclosure relates to a development device configured to supply a developer to an image carrier and to an image forming apparatus including the same.
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is configured to form an image through processes of forming an electrostatic latent image by irradiating a beam formed on the basis of image information to a circumferential surface of an image carrier (a photosensitive drum), of transferring a toner image formed by supplying a toner (a developer) to the electrostatic latent image from a development device on a sheet, and of carrying out a fixing process.
In recent years, with advances of color printing and high-speed processing, a configuration of the image forming apparatus is becoming sophisticated and rotational speed of a toner agitation member in the development device is being increased. According to this, a pressure within the development device becomes positive, i.e., higher than an atmospheric pressure. Due to that, the toner floats from an inside of the development device, is discharged out of an opening facing to the photosensitive drum, and contaminates an inside of an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. It has also become difficult to supply a required toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum.
In particular, in the development device, there is a case where the scattered toner accumulates around a blade regulating an amount of the developer to be carried on a developer carrier. If the accumulated toner coagulates and adheres on a developing roller, a fall of toner occurs, thereby causing an image defect.
In order to solve such a problem, there is a development device in which an elliptic roller is disposed in a concave part formed on a wall provided between an area where a developing roller faces to a photosensitive drum and an ear-breaking blade and in which a film member is attached so as to cover the concave portion by fixing an upper end part thereof and leaving a lower end part as a free end. In the development device, by rotating the elliptic roller, a convex part of the elliptic roller pushes up the film member to largely move the free end side of the film member. According to this, the toner is prevented from accumulating on the film member.
There is also a development device including a toner receiving member, a sheet member and a vibration motor. The toner receiving member has a wall part provided between an area where a developing roller faces to a photosensitive drum and an ear-breaking blade and is disposed in a substantially whole longitudinal area of the wall part to receive the toner falling from the developing toner. The sheet member is pasted on a surface of the toner receiving member. The vibration motor has an exciting weight attached to an output shaft in order to vibrate the toner receiving member. This development device prevents the toner from accumulating on the film member by rotationally driving the vibration motor to vibrate the toner receiving member.
However, in the former development device mentioned above, although the largely movable free end side prevents the toner from accumulating on the film member, there is a possibility that the barely movable fixed end side cannot sufficiently prevent the toner from accumulating on the film member.
Regarding this point, in the latter development device mentioned above, because the toner receiving member on which the film member is pasted vibrates by the drive of the vibration motor, the toner is prevented from accumulating on the film member. However, the latter development device mentioned above needs to be provided with a mechanism that permits fine movements of the vibration motor, wiring and the toner receiving member, and others within the development device. In the latter development device mentioned above, because the film member needs to be pasted on the toner receiving member, there are problems that it is inevitable to enlarge and complicate the development device and to increase costs and an assembly time.

Development device and image forming apparatus including the same


A memo block in the present invention is composed by a pile of notepapers. In a proper section near the fore edge of each notepaper, the memo block is provided with predetermined designs or advertisement. The fore surface of the memo block is cut by a predetermined mode from the first page to the bottom page so as to form a wavy surface, and then the fore surface is pushed backward by a paper-regulating machine to form a proper slope. Upon forming the fore surface with a slope, the rear surface of the memo block is also formed with a slope same as that of the fore surface. The rear outward slope is cut off to be a vertical plane surface, and then the rear plane surface is glued to form a spine. Thus, the designs or advertisement of the memo block can gradually change paper by paper and have genuinely vivid and solid advertising effects because of the wavy and oblique fore surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memo block with slant and wavy fore surface, more particularly to a memo block which is provided with predetermined designs or advertisement on the wavy fore surface so as to have the effects of being solid, vivid and attractive.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional memo block 100 is composed by a pile of notepapers 101, and in a proper section 102 near the fore edge of each notepaper 101 is provided with predetermined designs or advertisement. The rear edges opposite to the proper sections 102 of the pile of notepapers 101 are fixed together by glue to form a spine. The proper sections 102 near the fore edges of the notepapers 101 are obliquely cut from the first page 103 to the bottom page 104 to form an outward oblique surface 105 so as to make the designs or advertisement gradually change paper by paper and look vivid and solid.
However, the above-mentioned prior art of the memo block is found to have following defects:
1. The fore edges of the conventional memo block are cut to form an outward oblique surface (about 45 degrees) but it can only have the plane effect and can not present the solid effect.
2. While the mentioned conventional memo block being spread out, the displaying effect makes not so much difference from that of a spread-out common memo block.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a memo block which can substantially obviates the defects of the related conventional memo block.
An object of the present invention is to provide a memo block which is provided with a wavy fore surface so as to make the predetermined designs or advertisement look genuinely solid and vivid.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a memo block which can display a solid, vivid and attractive outlook while the memo block being spread out to form a semicircle so as to achieve the advertising effect and have visual sense of beauty.
To achieve these advantages, the present invention provides a memo block, which is composed by a pile of notepapers. In a proper section near the fore edge of each notepaper is provided with predetermined designs or advertisement. The fore surface of the memo block is cut by a predetermined mode from the first page to the bottom page so as to form a wavy surface, and then the fore surface is pushed backward by a paper-regulating machine to form a proper slope. The rear surface of the memo block also forms a same slope with that of the fore surface. The rear outward slope is cut off to be a vertical plane surface, and then the rear plane surface is glued to form a spine. Thus, the designs or advertisement of the memo block can gradually change paper by paper and have the genuinely vivid and solid advertising effect because of the wavy and oblique fore surface.


A receipt storage and presenting device is described. The device allows for the storage of various media, such as receipts, slips, forms, labels, tickets, tags, etc. The receipts are introduced into the device by an adjacently disposed printer. The web of the receipt enters the storage and presenting device and is stored within a rib-cage mandrel in an overflow bucket. The device is able to store various lengths of the media up to about twenty feet. The device is then caused to rotate through an angle transverse of the printer discharge direction, which angle is preferably ninety degrees.

Retail establishments usually print receipts of the sales transactions upon a supply roll of paper. Very often, a plurality of transactions causes the printing of a lengthy receipt document. The long document presents an unwieldy and unmanageable web that is both unsightly and cumbersome to handle. The lengthy receipt web often drapes awkwardly from the print register, interfering with the entering of additional transactions and summing of the final receipt total.
It would be desirable to provide a means by which the lengthy web can be temporarily contained until the completion of printing and cutting of the receipt.
It would also be advantageous to provide a device in which a long receipt, multiple tickets, labels, forms, etc., can be confined or contained (i.e., "buffered") before presentation.
It would additionally be a benefit to provide a mechanism wherein a lengthy receipt can be temporarily stored and thereafter discharged at a right angle to the normal discharge direction, so as not to interfere with the keyboard or face (display) of the register.
The present invention seeks to provide a device that captures and temporarily stores a lengthy receipt web, as the transactions are printed and totalled, and the web is cut. The device then rotates through an angle of between approximately 0 to 90 degrees (preferably 90 degrees) from the normal web discharge direction, and issues the receipt. The apparatus may be oriented to allow rotation to the left or to the right, providing a presentation field of 180 degrees. In this manner, the front of a register is not encumbered by a long, suspended, receipt web.

Receipt printing, storage and discharging mechanism


A PC BIOS can contain an early memory test that can identify a memory slot containing a bad memory. The BIOS can also contain a program module for using a communications port to report the identified memory slot. The communications port used for reporting is one that can be used without using system memory. In fact, the communications port can be used when there is no system memory installed in the PC. The parallel ports, LPT1 and LPT2 are such communications ports, as are the serial ports COM1 and COM2. An indicator can be electrically connected to the communications port to give a visual indication of a memory slot containing bad memory.

In 1981, International Business Machines (IBM) introduced the IBM PC. Originally, PC was an acronym for "personal computer". Other personal computers were, or are, the Apple II, the MITS Altair, and the Macintosh. The PC architecture, however, was unique because it was not proprietary. As such, the PC architecture became an unintentional standard. Any company could design and build a PC compatible computer. A computer was PC compatible if it could use the same parts and run the same software as other PC compatible computers.
From 1981 until 1987, IBM controlled the PC architecture. Other companies, such as Compaq, built computers that were compatible with those that IBM designed and released. In 1987, IBM introduced the PS/2 line of personal computers that did not conform to the PC architecture that IBM itself had created. As such, in 1987 IBM lost control of the PC architecture. Until that time, an "IBM compatible" meant that it used a standard PC architecture. After that time, a computer using the PC architecture was simply called a "PC" or "PC compatible".
The reason PCs were so popular is that many manufacturers competed to make parts that could be assembled to produce computers that, more likely than not, would run Microsoft's Windows™ or MSDOS™ operating systems as well as a plethora of useful programs. The PC architecture allowed the hardware manufacturers to build computers while the software companies produced software. The separation of roles helped produce the PC revolution.
The PC architecture has evolved since 1981 with different manufacturers introducing variations on the basic design. The market did not accept some of the variations and they disappeared. The market accepted other variations and they flourished until supplanted. No single manufacturer or standards body has successfully and continuously controlled the PC architecture. It is constantly evolving with different groups competing to introduce variations and the market choosing the winners.
Microsoft and Intel collaborated to document the PC architecture and to drive it forward. The result was a series of design guides beginning with "Hardware Design Guide for Microsoft Windows 95". The "PC 2001 System Design Guide" is the last one of the series. Since then, the series has been supplanted by the Windows Logo certification program in which Microsoft documents how Windows™ and other programs can successfully interact with the evolving PC architecture. Due to their market dominance, Microsoft and Intel have been fairly successful in defining and guiding the PC architecture.
Just as IBM lost control of the PC architecture in 1987 because PC manufacturers did not produce PS/2 compatible computers, Microsoft and Intel may also be losing control. The reason is that Microsoft is meeting credible competition for open source operating systems and applications while Intel has lost significant market share to other manufacturers.
Regardless of who or what controls it, all PC architecture computers are direct descendants of the 1981 IBM PC. As such, they have certain things in common. They all have central processing units (CPUs) with instruction sets derived from the Intel 8088, which was the IBM PC's CPU. If there is a first line printer port (LPT1) it is located at IO address 0x378. A second line printer port (LPT2) is at 0x278. The line printer ports are often called legacy ports because certain "legacy free" PCs do not have them. Regardless, the defining characteristic of the PC and the PC architecture is the clear evolutionary path from the original IBM PC. This evolutionary path is not shared by any other computer architecture.
FIG. 4, labeled as "prior art", illustrates a high level block diagram of a PC compatible motherboard, meaning it is based on the PC architecture, in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. The components on the motherboard are divided into two groups, those that require high bandwidth communications and those that do not. The north bridge 102 coordinates communications between high bandwidth components such as the CPU 101, the system memory 103, the video subsystem 405, the Ethernet controller 406, and the south bridge 104. The south bridge 104 controls communications between low bandwidth devices and the north bridge 102. Some of the low bandwidth devices are the BIOS 105, LPT1 108, LPT2 409, the first serial port 410, the second serial port 411, the floppy drive 412, the PCI bus 413, the keyboard controller 414, the mouse controller 415, the firewire controller 416, the EIDE controller 417, the ATA controller 418, the USB controller 419, and the PCI express controller 420. Many of the low bandwidth devices are actually contained within the same computer chip as the south bridge 104.
In this document, a PC motherboard's LPT ports, serial ports, USB ports, firewire ports, and Ethernet port are all considered communications ports whereas its other components are not.
It is interesting to note that some components that were considered high bandwidth in the 1981 IBM PC architecture are now considered low bandwidth devices. For example, the 1981 IBM PC had an ISA bus that was considered quite fast. The ISA bus is no longer present, but the much faster PCI bus is. The PC architecture is currently evolving from the PCI bus to the much faster PCI Express bus. In 1981, the ISA bus was high bandwidth. In 2005, the PCI express bus is not. As the PC architecture continues to evolve, other buses and components will appear, disappear, and shift around.
FIG. 5, labeled as "prior art", illustrates memory and memory slots in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. A system memory 103 is shown in FIG. 4. The system memory 103 is made of one or more memories. A first memory 501, second memory 502, and third memory 503 are shown in FIG. 5. The first memory 501 is held in a first memory slot 117. The second memory 502 is held in a second memory slot 118. The third memory 503 is held in a third memory slot 119. The three memories 501, 502, 503 combined are the system memory. The three slots 117, 118, 119 are used to hold the memories 501, 502, 503 and to electrically connect them to the motherboard.
Those skilled in the arts of PC hardware maintenance, PC design, or PC manufacture are familiar with all the aspects of the PC architecture discussed herein. In particular, they are familiar with PC motherboards, PC motherboard components, PC memory, and PC memory slots.
When a PC boots, it accesses instructions in the BIOS and executes them. The instructions in the BIOS can test the PC hardware, prepare it to run the operating system, and then run the operating system. Occasionally, the BIOS tests discover malfunctioning hardware, such as a bad memory. When a hardware malfunction is serious enough, many BIOS implementations cause the computer to emit a series of sounds called beep codes. A technician can listen to the beep codes and diagnose the malfunction.
A PC memory can fail in a variety of ways. Three of the ways are: a misprogrammed serial presence detect (SPD) failure, a data strobe (DQS) calibration failure, and a retention failure.
Each dual in-line memory module (DIMM), or similar memory used in a PC architecture, has a non-volatile memory containing the information necessary for the BIOS to program the North Bridge memory controller. The information, which can include size, speed, number of columns, rows, ranks, banks, manufacturer, and serial number is vital. An SPD misprogramming failure occurs when a manufacturer forgets to store information in the SPD or stores the wrong information in the SPD. Such failures prevent the DIMM from being usable at all.
When a memory controller wants to read data from a DIMM, it sends a read command, delays a calibrated amount of time, and then latches the received data. The calibrated amount of time is the time for the read command to travel from the memory controller to the DIMM plus the time for the DIMM to fetch the data plus the time for the data to travel from the DIMM to the memory controller. These timings are so critical that the Northbridge manufacturer will usually specify down to the board level how the board needs to be designed. The specification includes printed circuit trace lengths and similar low level and precise details. As with all manufacturing processes, some variation is expected. The memory controller uses a data strobe, often carried by a wire with a DQS label, to control the precise timing for latching the data. The amount of time between receiving the data strobe and latching the data is set by a process called DQS calibration. DQS calibration ensures that the data is latched at the center of the data window. DQS calibration, however, can only compensate for a certain range of timing variation. If the amount of time required by a particular DIMM is outside the DQS calibration window then the DIMM is unusable. This is called a DQS calibration failure.
A retention failure occurs when a memory can not retain data for a long enough time period. When data is written to a memory and then immediately read back from the memory, the data read is usually equal to the data written. Over time, the data stored in any memory becomes corrupted. Under current architectural guidelines, a PC memory that cannot store data for more than a few milliseconds is deemed to suffer a retention failure.
The reason beep codes are used is that they can be used when nearly every PC component is failing or cannot be used. For example, malfunctioning system memory prevents the computer from accessing the Ethernet port, the video subsystem, and other PC components. Beep codes allow a PC to report diagnostic results even if a PC computer has no system memory at all.
The problem with beep codes is that many PCs are installed in noisy environments and some do not have speakers. For example, compute clusters can have many PCs installed in close proximity. Compute cluster environments are often very noisy and crowded. Many compute clusters lack speakers because the speakers can make even more noise and because the speakers often get in the way.
Another problem with beep codes is that upon encountering a bad memory, they simply report that the system memory is bad. Recalling FIG. 5, any one of the three memories 501, 502, 503 can be bad. A technician can diagnose which memory is bad by pulling out memories, swapping them in an out of the slots 117, 118, 119, and observing the boot up sequence. This can take considerable time and break additional hardware through handling. Handling damage can be aggravated when the technician is working in a cramped and unstable position which often happens because the diagnosis must often be performed in place. Another option is for the technician to simply replace all the memory and send the suspect memory elsewhere for diagnosis and testing. This option also involves unnecessary effort, logistics problems, and arguments if the diagnosis that takes place elsewhere does not match the environment in which the memory failed.


A gauging system for monitoring channel depth in percutaneous endocardial revascularization surgery includes a catheter for percutaneous insertion into a heart chamber, including a source of tissue ablative energy for ablating a part of the wall of the heart chamber where a channel is to be created; a sensor device proximate the distal end of the catheter for sensing a boundary of the heart wall proximate the channel; and a detection circuit, responsive to the sensor device, for determining the position of the terminus of the channel in the heart chamber; alternatively, a mechanical stop extending radially beyond the distal tip may be used for physically limiting penetration of the catheter tip into the drilled channels.

Transmyocardial revascularization (TMR), including endocardial revascularization (ECR), is a surgical treatment for cardiovascular disease. Present ECR procedure is an open chest technique which uses a laser beam to drill holes in the myocardium, specifically a chamber of the heart, typically the left ventricle. These holes or channels extend through the entire heart wall thickness from the outside through to the ventricle. The channels heal on the outside surface of the heart due to external pressure from the surgeon, but remain open on the inside, allowing blood to enter the heart wall tissue from the ventricle.
In another approach ECR could be performed percutaneously using a catheter introduced percutaneously so that the tip of the catheter is inside a chamber of the heart, typically the left ventricle, where the holes or channels can be created from the inside toward but not through the outside of the heart. The energy used to drill these channels can be mechanical, e.g., a needle; electrical, e.g., bipolar or unipolar electric current, r.f., microwave; or optical, e.g., laser. In one combined optical and mechanical approach a holmium laser initiates the channel and a force is applied through the tip of the catheter to deepen the channel. Typically a holmium (HO:YAG) laser or an excimer laser would be used percutaneously. One problem in percutaneous ECR is that, unlike in open chest TMR, channels being drilled are not plainly visible but their depth must be controlled to prevent the channel going all the way through the myocardium and penetrating the outer wall of the heart. Monitoring of the depth can be done with biplanar fluoroscopy but this is expensive and can be confusing even to experienced physicians under the stress of performing heart surgery. This approach is not very reliable; is expensive; requires additional equipment in the operating theater. In another approach the cumulative amount of energy consumed during a drilling is monitored and the drilling is stopped when a certain amount of energy has been expended. This assumes a correlation between hole depth and applied ablative energy and also assumes a thickness of the heart wall, both of which are approximations at best and cannot be relied on for accurate depth gauging. This is a particularly serious problem that needs accurate gauging because if the channel punches through the outer wall of the heart the patient could bleed to death or die of cardiac tamponade if the pericardium is not open due to previous surgery, for example. That would require emergency action to open the chest and stanch the bleeding. This technique, using delivered energy to estimate channel depth, is not reliably accurate nor consistent.

Gauging system for monitoring channel depth in percutaneous endocardial revascularization


Methods and compositions for the treatment of intestinal disorders, such as IBD and Crohn's disease, are disclosed. Preferred compositions include siNA. Also disclosed is a method of specifically targeting siNA to treat intestinal disorders by intrarectal administration of siNA compounds.

RNA interference refers to the process of sequence-specific post-transcriptional gene silencing mediated by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). After the discovery of the phenomenon in plants in the early 1990s, specific and selective inhibition of gene expression in an extremely efficient manner in Caenorhabditis elegans using dsRNA was reported (Fire et al., 1998). The sequence of the first strand (sense RNA) coincided with that of the corresponding region of the target messenger RNA (mRNA). The second strand (antisense RNA) was complementary to the mRNA. The resulting dsRNA turned out to be several orders of magnitude more efficient than the corresponding single-stranded RNA molecules (in particular, antisense RNA).
The process of RNAi begins when the enzyme DICER encounters dsRNA and chops it into pieces called small-interfering RNAs or siRNAs. This protein belongs to the RNase III nuclease family. A complex of proteins gathers up these siRNAs and uses their code as a guide to search out and destroy any RNAs in the cell with a matching sequence, such as target mRNA (see Bosher & Labouesse, 2000, Nat Cell Biol, 2000, 2(2):E31; and Akashi et al., 2001, Antisense Nucleic Acid Drug Dev, 11(6):359).
In attempting to use RNAi for gene knockdown, it was recognized that mammalian cells have developed various protective mechanisms against viral infections that could impede the use of this approach. Indeed, the presence of extremely low levels of viral dsRNA triggers an interferon response, resulting in a global non-specific suppression of translation, which in turn triggers apoptosis (Williams, 1997, Biochem Soc Trans, 25(2):509; Gil & Esteban, 2000, Apoptosis, 5(2):107-14).
In 2000, dsRNA was reported to specifically inhibit three genes in the mouse oocyte and early embryo. Translational arrest, and thus a PKR response, was not observed as the embryos continued to develop (Wianny & Zernicka-Goetz, 2000, Nat Cell Biol, 2(2):70). Research at Ribopharma AG (Kulmbach, Germany) reported the functionality of RNAi in mammalian cells, using short (20-24 base pairs) dsRNAs to switch off genes in human cells without initiating the acute-phase response. Similar experiments carried out by other research groups confirmed these results (Elbashir et al., 2001, Genes Dev, 15(2):188; Caplen et al., 2001, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 98:9742). Tested in a variety of normal and cancer human and mouse cell lines, it was determined that short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) can silence genes as efficiently as their siRNA counterparts (Paddison et al., 2002, Genes Dev, 16(8):948). Recently, another group of small RNAs (21-25 base pairs) was shown to mediate downregulation of gene expression. These RNAs, small temporally regulated RNAs (stRNAs), regulate timing of gene expression during development in Caenorhabditis elegans (for review see Banerjee & Slack, 2002 and Grosshans & Slack, 2002, J Cell Biol, 156(1):17).
Scientists have used RNAi in several systems, including Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila, trypanosomes, and other invertebrates. Several groups have recently presented the specific suppression of protein biosynthesis in different mammalian cell lines (specifically in HeLa cells) demonstrating that RNAi is a broadly applicable method for gene silencing in vitro. Based on these results, RNAi has rapidly become a well recognized tool for validating (identifying and assigning) gene functions. RNAi employing short dsRNA oligonucleotides will yield an understanding of the function of genes being only partially sequenced.
Recently, Krutzfeldt and colleagues have shown that a class of specially engineered compounds called 'antagomirs' can effectively silence the action of microRNAs (miRNAs), non-coding pieces of RNA that regulate gene expression (Krutzfeldt et al., 2005, Nature, 438(7068):685-9).
The preceding is a discussion of relevant art pertaining to RNAi. The discussion is provided only for understanding of the invention that follows, and is not an admission that any of the work described is prior art to the claimed invention.
Although potential applications of siRNA technology are vast in medical science, their administration and delivery to the desired site of action proves a significant complication, due mainly to ubiquitous expression of RNAses. In fact, in the state of the art, delivery is achieved mainly, by direct injection into the desired tissue, this form of administration not being appropriate for treatment of many different diseases. For example, the treatment of intestinal conditions affecting the whole intestine or a significant portion, via the injection of formulations containing siRNAs into the intestinal tissue would be highly impractical, due to the dimensions of the organ.
This invention relates to a method for intestinal delivery of siRNA, and provides a specific example of the same comprising treatment of Crohn's disease via administration of IL-12 specific siRNA.
Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a heterodimeric 70 kDa glycoprotein (IL12-p70) consisting of a 40 kDa subunit (designated IL12-p40) and a 35 kDa subunit (designated IL12-p35) linked by disulfide bonds that are essential for the biological activity of IL-12.
IL-12 is a key cytokine that regulates cell-mediated immune responses and type 1 T helper (Th1) cell inflammatory reactions (Gately et al., 1998 Annu Rev Immunol. 16:495-521; Trinchieri, 1998, Adv Immunol. 70:83-243).
One particular IBD is Crohn's disease, a pathology characterized by an increased production of IL-12 by antigen-presenting cells in intestinal tissue and interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) by intestinal lymphocytes and macrophages (Fais et al., 1994, J Interferon Res. 14(5):235-8; Fuss et al., 1996, J Immunol. 157(3):1261-70; Monteleone et al., 1997 Gastroenterology, 112(4):1169-78; Parronchi et al., 1997 Am J Pathol. 150(3):823-32; Plevy et al., 1997, J Immunol. 15; 159(12):6276-82).
Crohn's disease causes inflammation in the small intestine. The inflammation can cause pain and can make the intestines empty frequently, resulting in diarrhoea. The most common symptoms of Crohn's disease are abdominal pain and diarrhoea, although rectal bleeding, weight loss and fever may also occur. Bleeding may be serious and persistent, leading to anaemia. Children with Crohn's disease may suffer delayed development and stunted growth.
Most people are first treated with drugs containing mesalamine, a substance that helps control inflammation. Sulfasalazine is the most commonly used of these drugs. Patients who do not benefit from it or who cannot tolerate it may be put on other mesalamine-containing drugs, generally known as 5-ASA agents, such as Asacol, Dipentum or Pentasa. Possible side-effects of mesalamine preparations include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and headache. Some patients take corticosteroids to control inflammation. These drugs are the most effective for active Crohn's disease, but they can cause serious side effects, including greater susceptibility to infection. Drugs that suppress the immune system are also used to treat Crohn's disease. Most commonly prescribed are 6-mercaptopurine and a related drug, azathioprine. Immunosuppressive agents work by blocking the immune reaction that contributes to inflammation. These drugs may cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea and may lower a person's resistance to infection. Surgery to remove part of the intestine can help Crohn's disease but cannot cure it. Due to the side effects and the lack of effectiveness of the current treatments for Crohn's disease, researchers continue to look for more effective treatments.
Inhibiting the action of IL-12 has been shown to suppress development and clinical progression of disease in a multitude of experimental models of autoimmunity and chronic inflammation (Caspi, 1998, Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 88(1):4-13). These models include experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU), collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), autoimmune nephritis, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and different models for IBD (Vandenbroeck et al., 2004, J Pharm Pharmacol. 56(2):145-60). In these models, the role of endogenous IL-12 has been addressed by using IL-12p40 knockout mice or by administering anti-IL-12 antibodies.
In particular, targeting IL-12 with antibodies is an effective treatment for the intestinal inflammation in animal models of Crohn's disease (Mannon et al., 2004, N Engl J Med. 351(20):2069-79). Thus, mice with trinitrobenzene sulfonate-induced colitis have a Th1-mediated gut inflammation characterized by greatly increased production of IL-12, interferon-γ and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α). In mice, administration of a monoclonal antibody against IL-12 can result in the resolution of established colitis and, if given at the time of induction of colitis, can prevent inflammation (Neurath et al., 1995, J Exp Med. 182(5):1281-90).
Anti-interleukin-12 can also prevent and treat the spontaneous colitis seen in models of Th1-mediated inflammation such as mice that over-express the human CD3ε gene and mice deficient in interleukin-10 (Davidson et al., 1998; Simpson et al., 1998).
Data from an early phase 2 study provide some evidence that treatment with a monoclonal antibody against IL-12 p40 may induce clinical response and remission in patients with active Crohn's disease (Mannon et al., 2004). This treatment is associated with decreases in Th1-mediated inflammatory cytokines at the site of disease.
Previous evidence obtained from animal models, as well as the clinical effects of anti-IL-12 in patients with Crohn's disease (Mannon et al., 2004, N Engl J Med. 351(20):2069-79), highlight the importance of IL-12 as a target for future treatments for Crohn's disease.
siRNA targeting of IL-12 expression has already been used to obtain modified dendritic cells (DC) that might be used in a variety of therapeutic in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo methods to modulate T cell activity, and thus have use in therapeutic approaches for the treatment of immune disorders in a mammalian subject (WO 03/104456; Hill et al., 2003, J Immunol. 171(2):691-6). siRNA targeting of IL-12 expression in mature DC has revealed a critical role for IL-12 in natural killer cell interferon γ (IFN-γ) secretion promoted by mature DC (Borg et al., 2004, Blood 104(10):3267-75). Further, IL-12 p35 inhibitors including siRNA have surprisingly demonstrated to block differentiation of preadipocytes to adipocytes and triglyceride accumulation in adipocytes (WO 03/104495).
siRNA targeting IL-12p40 delivered by means of liposome encapsulation to murine peritoneal cavity has been reported to modulate the local and systemic inflammatory response after endotoxin challenge (Flynn et al., 2004, J Inflamm 1(1):4).

Methods and compositions for the treatment of intestinal conditions


A signal processing circuit includes a digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion circuit having a D/A converter and a buffer for converting input digital grayscale data into an analog voltage and outputting the converted analog voltage, a first switch that changes its output mode so that a supplied voltage is output as a supply analog voltage, a second switch that outputs any of the converted analog voltage and the supply analog voltage as an analog voltage, and a detection circuit. The detection circuit determines whether or not the input digital grayscale data matches internal set data. When it is determined that the input digital grayscale data matches the set data, the detection circuit switches the first switch so that the supply analog voltage corresponding to the digital grayscale data is output, and also switches the second switch so that the supply analog voltage is output.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a signal processing circuit, and particularly to a circuit that drives a liquid crystal device in a liquid crystal display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 4, a liquid crystal driving circuit is formed comprising a digital circuit and an analog circuit.
The digital circuit includes a shift register 101 to which data is input column-by-column, data registers 102 that receive data to be displayed from the shift register 101 and that temporarily store the received data, and data latches 103 that hold the data which is being displayed.
The analog circuit includes D/A (digital-to-analog) converters 104 that convert digital data to analog data based on a predetermined relationship, and buffers 105 for power amplification of the converted analog data to drive liquid crystal devices.
A liquid crystal display device has the structure shown in FIG. 5, including a source driver 200 that outputs and supplies display data to a liquid crystal device 203 connected with each column line, and a gate driver 201 that outputs a control signal to a gate of a transistor connected with a desired row line and that supplies the display data to the liquid crystal devices corresponding to the row line to be displayed and thereby writing the display data to the predetermined liquid crystal devices. Due to their low-power-consumption, liquid crystal display devices have recently seen increased usage in portable devices such as cellular phones. In order to support smaller portable devices, the demands for liquid crystal display devices having even lower power consumption have increased.
In the conventional liquid crystal driving circuit such as shown in FIG. 4, the power consumption of the analog circuit is higher than the digital circuit. In particular, the power consumption required for digital-to-analog conversion of the D/A converters 104 and power amplification of the buffers 105 to drive the liquid crystal devices occupies 70% to 80% of the overall power consumption of the liquid crystal display device.
It is therefore necessary to reduce the power consumption of the D/A converters 104 and the buffers 105 in order to efficiently achieve low power consumption of the overall liquid crystal driving circuit.
In one known mechanism, the operations of the buffers 105 and the D/A converters 104, which require high power consumption; are turned on or off by a source driver according to an external signal (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-188499). The structure of such a source driver will be described with reference to FIG. 6.
A control signal to provide low power consumption is input to a buffer 106, an inverter circuit 108, and a switch 107 in a standby mode.
In the standby mode, the power supply to the buffer 106 is turned off and the power supply to the inverter circuit 108 is turned on, so that a signal from the inverter circuit 108 is output from the switch 107.
In a non-standby mode, the power supply to the buffer 106 is turned on and the power supply to the inverter circuit 108 is turned off, so that a signal from the buffer 106 (analog grayscale data generated by the D/A converter 109, corresponding to a certain number of gray levels) is output from the switch 107.
Therefore, the operation of the buffer 106 is controlled, thus realizing low power consumption.
However, this structure allows for only chip-based batch control of the output modes of the source driver because of standby-mode control.
In this structure, the most significant bit (MSB) of the input digital grayscale data is output to the inverter circuit 108 in the standby mode so as to output binary data.
Thus, only eight colors are represented by using one-bit (the most significant bit) grayscale data for each of R (red), G (green), and B (blue); whereas, 260,000 colors are represented by using 6-bit grayscale data for each of R, G, and B. The above-described structure provides fewer displayable colors, resulting in degradation in image quality.
It is therefore difficult to provide low power consumption for a normal display without reducing the number of displayable colors and the image quality. Accordingly, what is needed is an improved liquid crystal driving circuit providing low power consumption while maintaining the number of gray levels for the image.

Signal processing circuit and liquid crystal display device using the same


Opportunity of enjoying video and music is enlarged. A content reproducing device is used in a contents exchange system including a plurality of contents reproducing devices. The content reproducing device includes a short range communication unit, a memory, a control unit, and a speaker. The short range communication unit communicates request information, response information, content data and flag information to/from content reproducing devices. The control unit controls the short range communication unit so that content data is transmitted. The control unit controls the memory such that the content data and the flag information received by the short range communication unit are stored.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication terminal and, more specifically, to a communication terminal suitable for obtaining content data.
2. Description of the Background Art
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-094687 discloses a portable information terminal including an acquisition information storage unit, a response information storage unit, a radio communication unit, a first transmission control unit, and a reception control unit. The acquisition information storage unit stores information of which acquisition is desired. The response information storage unit stores the acquired information. The radio communication unit transmits/receives information to/from other apparatus. The first transmission control unit is connected to the acquisition information storage unit and to the radio communication unit, and transmits the information stored in the acquisition information storage unit to other apparatus. The reception control unit is connected to the response information storage unit and to the radio communication unit, receives information from other apparatus and stores it in the response storage unit.
The portable information terminal allows exchange of information while no other person is aware of it.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-054023 discloses an information processing device including a reproduction unit, a reproduction state detecting unit, a selection unit, a generation unit, and a transmitting unit. The reproduction unit reproduces a tune. The reproduction state detecting unit detects the state of reproduction of the tune by the reproduction unit. The selection unit selects, in accordance with the state of reproduction, the tune reproduced by the reproduction unit as a recommended tune. The generation unit generates tune information of the recommended tune selected by the selection unit. The transmitting unit transmits the tune information to other information processing devices.
The information processing device allows selection of preferable tune efficiently without sticking to a specific genre, and a preferred tune can be selected without using a server.
International Publication No. 2004/066178 discloses a method of distributing contents to wireless terminals. The contents distributing method includes the following four steps executed by a wireless terminal: the first step of detecting a wireless terminal capable of communication; the second step of receiving a content; the third step of receiving control information related to the content; and the fourth step of performing control in accordance with the control information.
This method enables communication reflecting the intention of contents provider.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-223466 discloses an information exchange system including a terminal and an information providing station. The terminal includes a short range radio communication device. The information providing station also includes a short range radio communication device. The short range radio communication device of the information providing station includes an information content holding unit and a first broadcasting unit. The information content holding unit stores information content registered in advance. The first broadcasting unit broadcasts the information content stored in the information content holding unit at a prescribed time interval. The short range radio communication device of the terminal includes a first reception unit and a storage unit. The first reception unit receives the information content broadcast from the first broadcasting unit of the information providing station. The storage unit stores the received information content.
According to this system, efficient exchange of information is possible between information providing side and provided side, not necessitating any specific operation by the user or repeated transmission/reception.
The inventions disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 2002-094687 and 2004-054023, however, are disadvantageous in that chances of enjoying video or music could possibly be limited. According to these inventions, the video or music as the object information to be provided is limited to those evaluated in some aspect by the user of the terminal that provides the information. Therefore, even for a video or music that could be prized by many users, there would be no chance for any user to enjoy the video or music unless the user who first enjoyed the video or music evaluates it.
The invention disclosed in International Publication No. 2004-066178 is also disadvantageous in that chances of enjoying video or music could possibly be limited. Though it is possible to know users' evaluation of a video or music, measures that could be taken to promote usage are limited.
The invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-223466 is disadvantageous as it has no consideration on limited chance of enjoying video and music.

Communication terminal and communication method for exchanging contents


An on-chip circuit for defect testing with the ability to maintain a substrate voltage at a level more positive or more negative than a normal negative operating voltage level of the substrate. This is accomplished with a chain of MOSFETs that are configured to operate as a chain of resistive elements or diodes wherein each element in the chain may drop a portion of a supply voltage coupled to a first end the chain. The substrate is coupled to a second end of the chain. The substrate voltage level is essentially equivalent to the supply voltage level less the voltage drops across the elements in the diode chain. A charge pump maintains the substrate voltage level set by the chain. Performing chip testing with the substrate voltage level more negative than the normal negative voltage level facilitates detection of devices that will tend to fail only at cold temperatures. Performing chip testing with the substrate voltage level more positive than the normal negative voltage level facilitates detection of other margin failures and ion contamination.

During testing for margin defects in packaged semiconductor integrated circuit chips, it is desirable to vary the voltage level of the substrate from its normal negative operating level. One method is to set the substrate voltage level to ground. However, setting the substrate voltage level to ground during testing of some types of chips, such as 16-megabyte memory chips, may be an unrealistic testing condition because some chips that fail the testing process would operate satisfactorily with a negatively biased substrate. What is needed is an on-chip substrate regulator with the ability to vary the substrate voltage level during testing to be more positive or more negative than its normal negative operating level while maintaining the substrate voltage level below ground.


An anode including; an anode active material; and a porous binder including a nanopore, wherein an anode mixture density is about 1.5 g/cc or greater, a lithium battery including the anode and a binder composition. A method of manufacturing the anode material using a polymer that is thermally decomposed in a vacuum at about 200° C. or higher for about 1 hour.

Field
One or more embodiments relate to an anode, a lithium battery including the anode, a binder composition, and a method of manufacturing an electrode.
Description of the Related Art
Lithium batteries have high voltage and high energy density, and thus are used in various applications. Devices such as electric vehicles (HEV, PHEV), and the like should be operable at high temperatures, be able to charge or discharge a large amount of electricity, and have long-term usability, and thus require lithium batteries having high-discharge capacity and better lifetime characteristics.
Carbonaceous materials are porous and stable with little volumetric change during charging and discharging. Carbonaceous materials may lead to a low-battery capacity due to the porous structure of carbon. For example, graphite, which is an ultra-high crystalline material, has a theoretical capacity density of about 372 mAh/g when made into a structure in the form of LiC6.
In addition, metals/metalloids that are alloyable with lithium may be used as an anode active material with a higher electrical capacity as compared with carbonaceous materials. Examples of metals/metalloids that are alloyable with lithium are silicon (Si), tin (Sn), aluminum (Al), and the like. These metals/metalloids alloyable with lithium are apt to deteriorate and have relatively poor lifetime characteristics. For example, with repeated charging and discharging operations, repeated agglomeration and breakage of Si particles may occur, leading to electric disconnection.
Therefore, there is a demand for a method with increased tolerance to a volumetric change of the electrode active material to prevent deterioration of the electrode active material, that is, a demand for a lithium battery with improved discharge capacity and lifetime characteristics with increased tolerance to volumetric change of the electrode active material.

Anode, lithium battery comprising the anode, binder composition, and method of manufacturing the electrode