An apparatus and method for compressing multiple resolution versions of a video signal are disclosed. A first resolution version of a video signal is applied to an input of a first video compressor and to an input of a video scaler. The first video compressor encodes the first resolution version of the video signal to generate a first compressed video bit stream. The video scaler generates a reduced resolution version of the video signal from the first resolution version. The reduced resolution version is supplied to a second video compressor and to the first video compressor. The first video compressor utilizes the reduced resolution version of the video signal in performing a hierarchical motion estimation (ME) search as part of the encoding process for the first resolution version. The second video compressor encodes the reduced resolution version to generate a second compressed bit stream. The second video compressor receives motion vectors or other results of the hierarchical ME search performed in the first video compressor, and uses these results to facilitate the encoding of the reduced resolution version. The apparatus and method may be used in a non-linear video editor, a video server or other video processing system. The video scaler and first and second video compressors may share memory, a transform unit and other processing hardware such that system cost and complexity are reduced.

FIG. 1 shows an "on-line" "non-linear" video editing system 10. One or more linear video sources 12, such as video tape recorders (VTRs), each output an analog or digital video signal to a compressor 14. The compressor 14 compresses each video signal and stores the digital compressed video signals in a non-linear storage device 16, such as a magnetic disk. Unlike the linear video signal source 12, which accesses video signals sequentially, the non-linear storage device 16 supports random access of video signals. Compression of the video signals in the compressor 14 may be achieved according to the MPEG, MPEG-2, Dolby.TM. AC-3, etc., standards for compressing video and associated audio. See ISO/IEC IS 13818--1, 2, 3: Generic Coding of Moving Pictures and Associated Audio: Systems, Video and Audio. The compressed video signals are then edited using a computer 18 which accesses the compressed video signals for display and editing. In displaying a compressed video signal, the non-linear storage device 16 outputs a compressed video signal to a video decompressor 19, which decompresses the video signal for display on a display monitor. After editing, the edited compressed video signal may be retrieved from the non-linear storage device 16 and decompressed by decompressor 19 for storage on a linear storage device (such as a VTR) or transmitted.
The non-linear video editing system 10 enables the operator to access the video in a random fashion instead of a sequential fashion. This facilitates the editing of the video and provides for rather precise editing. The editing is said to be "on-line" in that the final edited video event is incrementally constructed as the edits are made. For example, if the operator chooses to splice a first video clip to a second video clip, then the compressed form of the first video clip is spliced to the compressed form of the second video clip, at the time the operator makes such a choice to produce an edited compressed video signal. The edited video event is formed by decompressing the edited compressed video signal.
FIG. 2 shows a an "off-line" "non-linear" video editing system 50. Multiple linear video sources 12 are used to input video signals to a video compressor 14. The video compressor 14 compresses each video signal and stores the compressed video signal on a non-linear storage device 16. As before, a computer 18 can access the compressed video signals on the non-linear storage device 16 for viewing and editing. The compressed video signals are decompressed in decompressor 19 prior to viewing on a display monitor (not shown).
Unlike the video editing system 10, the video editing system 50 does not incrementally form the final edited video event as each edit decision is made. Rather, the formation of the final edited video event is deferred until the editing of the video signals is complete. The computer 18 generates a "edit decision list" as each editing operation is performed by the operator. Each edit decision on the edit decision list may, for example, indicate the kind of edit transition/operation to use (cut, fade, wipe dissolve, over-dub, etc.), which video clips are operated on by the edit operation and the edit points (e.g., specific pictures or audio frames at which the editing operation begins and ends) within those clips. The operator can preview a "facsimile" of the final event as formed by performing the edit operations indicated on the edit decision list on the compressed video signals stored in the non-linear storage device 16. After the operator has approved the edit decisions, the computer 18 accesses the original video signals stored on the linear storage devices 12 and performs edit operations on these video signals according to the edit decision list.
Typically, an off-line video editor 50 produces a final edited video event with better video and audio quality than an on-line video editor 10. This is because the video event produced by on-line video editing contains compression artifacts produced by the lossy or imperfect compression and decompression of the video. Nevertheless, an on-line video editor 10 is less expensive than an off-line video editor 50 because the on-line video editor 10 needs only a single linear storage device 12. Furthermore, the linear storage device 12 used in the on-line video editor 10 need not be as sophisticated as the linear storage device 12 used in the off-line video editor 50 since it does not have to advance to multiple specific edit points (as would be necessary in the off-line video editor in forming the final edited video event from the edit list). The on-line video editor 10 is easier to use because the physical media (video tapes) on which the original video information is stored need not be resident in the linear storage device 12 to create the final edited video event. This is because once the video signals are transferred to the non-linear storage device 16, the video signals need not be retrieved from the linear storage device again.
In order to reduce the level of compression artifacts present in the final edited video event in the on-line video editor 10, the on-line video editor 10 may typically use high compression data rates, high resolution and/or inter-frame coding. Video signals from source 12 in system 10 are compressed before being stored in the storage device 16 in order to save disk space and because the throughput of inexpensive disk drives is generally insufficient to support uncompressed high resolution video. To insure sufficiently high quality edited video, a non-linear editor typically uses high resolutions such as 720.times.480 pixels at 30 frames/sec and high compressed bit rates such as 18-50 Mbits/sec.
The use of high resolutions, high bit rates and/or inter-frame encoding in the compressor 14 can increase the difficulty of processing functions such as accessing stored compressed video streams, playing back more than one bit stream at the same time, and decoding/decompressing with trick modes such as fast forward and fast reverse. A compression system which utilizes compressed video bit streams having low resolution, low bit rate and/or only intra-frame encoding does not suffer these drawbacks. It is therefore desirable in many applications to provide a system in which multiple resolution and/or multiple bit rate versions of a given video signal can be compressed and stored. The high resolutions, high bit rates and inter-frame encoding can then be utilized when necessary, while the advantages of low resolution, low bit rates and intra-frame encoding can also be provided in appropriate applications.
Video servers represent another application in which storage of multiple versions of compressed video bit streams is desirable. Such video servers are used to deliver video bit streams to end users over data communication networks. For example, a World Wide Web server may be used to deliver video bit streams to different end users over different types of lines, including plain old telephone service (POTS) lines, integrated services digital network (ISDN) lines, T1 lines and the like. A version of a given compressed bit stream that may be suitable for a POTS user would be considered poor quality by a T1 user, and a bit stream suitable for a T1 user would be at too high a bit rate for a POTS user. It is therefore desirable for the video server to store a given video bit stream at multiple bit rates. The "optimal" resolution for a compressed video bit stream is the one that yields the best subjective video quality after decompression. This optimal resolution generally decreases with bit rate, such that it is desirable for the video server to compress the different bit rate streams at different resolutions.
FIG. 3 shows a conventional video compression system 20 which generates and stores multiple resolution versions of a given bit stream. The system 20 includes a video source 12, video compressor 14 and storage device 16 which operate in the manner previously described in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2. The system 20 also includes a video scaler 22 which receives a given video signal from the source 12 and generates a number of reduced resolution versions thereof. These reduced resolution versions are supplied to the video compressor 14, which generates a compressed video bit stream at an appropriate bit rate for each of the reduced resolution versions of the video signal, and stores the resulting compressed streams on the storage device 16.
The system 20 suffers from a number of significant problems. For example, each of the reduced resolution versions of a given video signal are separately and independently compressed. The information used to encode the video signal at one resolution is generally not used to facilitate the encoding process for the other reduced resolution versions. In addition, the video scaler 22 and video compressor 14 are not configured in a manner which enables them to share at least a portion of a common memory. The system 20 therefore requires relatively large amounts of memory. These and other drawbacks of the system 20 unduly increase its cost and complexity, and limit its usefulness in non-linear editor applications, video server applications and numerous other important video processing applications.
As is apparent from the above, there is a need for an improved multiple resolution video compression system in which hardware and processing resources can be shared to thereby significantly reduce the cost and complexity of the system.


A dissolvable connector allows a wireline or similar conveyance to be detached from a downhole tool or device based on conditions in a downhole environment instead of an external action, such as application of tension or an electrical pulse. The dissolvable connector can be strategically positioned to allow retrieval of expensive tools and equipment that are located above the connector. A protective sheath may be provided around the dissolvable connector that opens or unsheathes based on conditions in the downhole environment (e.g., pressure, temperature), a telemetry signal (e.g., from the surface or from a tool string), or tension, to provide greater control over the timing of the release of the dissolvable connector. Such a dissolvable connector allows the device to be detached from the conveyance without the need for wire-cutting operations or weak-point breaking operations.

Exploring, drilling and completing hydrocarbon and other wells are generally complicated, time consuming and ultimately very expensive endeavors. In recognition of these expenses, added emphasis has been placed on efficiencies associated with tool deployment and delivery in a downhole environment. Over the years, ever increasing well depths and sophisticated well architecture have made reductions in the time and effort spent in completions and maintenance operations of even greater focus.
Several downhole applications require the release of a cable or a tool in a downhole environment. The mechanisms responsible for releasing the cable or tool typically require telemetry actuation, wire-cutting operations, weak-point breaking operations, or the like. For example, the release may be accomplished through the use of an electrical pulse to trigger an explosive charge or open a mechanical latch. The release may also be accomplished by placing a device in tension to actuate the release. An example of the latter is the Cable Safe-Release tool (CSR) from Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., which can release a wireline from a stuck logging or perforating string without the need to conduct risky cutting operations.
While existing release mechanisms may be suitable for their intended purposes, there is a need in the art for a release mechanism that is based on environmental conditions in the wellbore and not based on an external action, such as application of tension, an electrical pulse, or costly wire-cutting operations. Such a system would allow safe release of tools and equipment downhole without the need for telemetry, wire-cutting operations, or weak-point breaking operations.

Dissolvable connector for downhole application


A method and a system for selecting and ordering broadcast programs uses an electronic program guide that may be broadcast to subscribers or posted on an Internet web site. The system allows national broadcasters to provide one or more channels of pay-per-view or subscription programming and to establish a mechanism for billing subscribers who access the programs. Subscribers may access the Internet and send a program request to a web site. An authorization is then forwarded to a billing center and to a local broadcaster. The billing center debits the subscriber's account, or prepares a bill. The local broadcaster sends the authorization to the subscriber. The authorization includes a program code and a terminal identifier that permit the subscriber's television or set top terminal to decrypt and display the program.

The invention relates to television entertainment systems for providing television programming to consumer homes. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and an apparatus that allows subscribers to order broadcast digital television programming.
Advances in television entertainment have been primarily driven by breakthroughs in technology. In 1939, advances on Vladmir Zworykin's picture tube provided the stimulus for NBC to begin its first regular broadcasts. In 1975, advances in satellite technology provided consumers with increased programming to homes.
In addition to advances in television broadcast technology, government regulatory agencies have placed requirements on the broadcast television industry. In particular, the over-the-air broadcast television networks will soon transition to high definition television (HDTV)—a broadcast digital television standard. These broadcasters may elect to provide a single HDTV digital signal in their allotted bandwidth, with the remaining bandwidth used for standard definition television (SDTV) digital programming. While the broadcast networks may desire to structure some of these channels to include a subscription, or pay-per-view feature, no mechanism currently exists to allow the broadcast networks to control access to their future digital programming. Without an effective authorization and billing system, the broadcast networks will likely not implement pay-per-view programming, thereby reducing programming choices for consumers.
The broadcast networks may also provide the same broadcast programming over existing cable television and digital satellite television systems. As before, the broadcast networks may want to control access to specific channels of their broadcast programming.
The present invention solves these problems so that over-the-air broadcast television services can be expanded to incorporate increased programming choices.


A system for cooling a semiconductor device is disclosed. The system includes a lid encasing the semiconductor device, a first plurality of carbon nanotubes disposed within the lid, and a fluid system configured to pass a fluid through the lid. Furthermore, a second system for cooling a semiconductor device is disclosed. The second system includes a lid, a first plurality of carbon nanotubes disposed within the lid, and a fluid system configured to pass a fluid through the lid. The lid is configured to be mounted over and encase the semiconductor device. Additionally, a method for cooling a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes disposing a first plurality of carbon nanotubes within a lid, mounting the lid over the semiconductor device, and passing a fluid through the lid.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to systems and methods for cooling semiconductor devices.
2. Background Art
Computer cooling involves the removal of heat from computers and associated components, such as semiconductor devices. All semiconductor devices have some form of conduction resistance which leads to the generation of heat when these devices are operated. Heat flow begins at the semiconductor junction through which electric current travels. This heat is conducted from the device body onto the package that the semiconductor is housed in, and then to the air. This heat energy increases the temperature of the semiconductor. If heat is not dissipated from the semiconductor fast enough, the semiconductor temperature may increase beyond the specified operating temperature, resulting in shorter component life spans as well as problems such as computer system freezes or crashes.
The current approach for cooling a semiconductor device involves conducting heat away from the semiconductor device. FIG. 1 shows a typical cooling system 10 for cooling a semiconductor device 12. The semiconductor device 12 is mounted onto a substrate 14 and sandwiched between the substrate 14 and a first thermal interface material (TIM) layer 16. A lid 18 encases the semiconductor device to provide structural rigidity and protection from external elements. A second TIM layer 20, which may be an adhesive material bonding the lid 18 to a heat sink 22, is disposed on a top surface of the lid 18. The heat sink 22 is mounted onto the second TIM layer 20, and has a plurality of fins and a large surface area to facilitate heat transfer to surrounding air. As heat is dissipated from the semiconductor device 12, the first and second TIM layers 16, 20 and the lid 18, which are constructed of materials chosen for high thermal conductivity, transfer the heat to the heat sink. Heat is then transferred from the heat sink 22 to the surrounding air.
The removal of heat from a semiconductor device is dependent on numerous factors. For example, the thermal conductivity of the materials used to construct a cooling system (e.g., the lid, heat sink, and TIM layers) have a direct effect on the ability of the cooling system to transfer heat to the surrounding air.

Carbon nanotubes for active direct and indirect cooling of electronics device


A three-phase dc to-ac power inverter includes a dc power source with a first dc node for positive voltage, a second dc node for negative voltage, and a third dc node for zero voltage. A set of three-level pole circuits are connected to the first dc node, the second dc node, and the third dc node of the dc power source. A control circuit, responsive to an inverter voltage vector reference demand signal with a voltage magnitude reference demand component and a voltage phase reference demand component, generates pole control signals for the three-level pole circuits using logic circuitry which combines phase indexed digital waveform values stored in a pair of lookup tables. The pole control signals force the three-level pole circuits to generate a set of phase-shifted waveforms with zero voltage components. The phase-shifted waveforms are combined by a set of transformers to produce a three-phase output voltage with a harmonic content lower than the harmonic content of the phase-shifted waveforms.

1 Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to devices to control power distribution. More particularly, this invention relates to a three-phase, dc-to-ac power inverter that utilizes three-level pole valves to produce waveforms with zero voltage components.
2 Background Information
Three-phase, dc-to-ac power inverters are used in electric power distribution systems. These devices have a set of switches that are used to convert a dc voltage signal into discreetly displaced square waveforms. The waveforms are subsequently combined to produce a high quality sinusoidal output signal.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art three-phase, dc-to-ac power inverter 20. The inverter 20 includes a first inverter stage 22 and a second inverter stage 24 connected by a dc source 26. Each inverter stage includes twelve two-level inverter poles 28.
FIG. 2a is an enlarged view of a two-level inverter pole 28. Each two-level inverter pole 28 includes a positive polarity thyristor 30 and an anti-parallel diode 32. When the positive polarity thyristor 30 is fired (closed), a positive dc waveform is produced at the output node (Vout). Each two-level inverter pole 28 also includes a negative polarity thyristor 34 and an anti-parallel diode 36. When the negative polarity thyristor 34 is fired, a negative dc waveform is produced at the output node. FIG. 2b illustrates a two-level square wave 38 produced by the two-level inverter pole 28. The term "two-level" is used in reference to the signal because the signal either has a positive value (V/2) or a negative value (-V/2).
Returning now to FIG. 1, it can be appreciated that the different two-level inverter poles 28 are used to generate a set of square waveforms. The waveforms are then combined by a set of interphase transformers 40. In addition to combining waveforms, the interphase transformers 40 serve to remove harmonic components associated with the input waveforms. The outputs of the interphase transformers are combined at a harmonic blocking transformer 42. The output from the harmonic block transformer 42 is applied to a main transformer 44, which includes primary delta windings 45, primary wye windings 46, and secondary delta windings 48. The three-phase output of the main transformer 44 is then applied to a load 50 which may be an electric power transmission line in the case of a utility application.
FIG. 3 illustrates a single phase, forty-eight pulse waveform generated by the apparatus of 20 of FIG. 1. Each pulsed signal is generated by a two-level inverter pole 28. By phase-shifting the signals generated at the two-level inverter poles 28 and then combining the phase-shifted signals with the transformers 40, 42 and 44, the waveform of FIG. 3 is produced. The output of the main transformer 44 includes the signal of FIG. 3 along with two identical signals which are phase-shifted 120.degree. from one another.
In many existing applications, it is sufficient for an inverter to have limited control capability. For example, limited control capability is sufficient in static condensers (STATCONs). A static condenser is a power circuit that is connected in shunt with the power line to draw a controlled reactive current, thereby regulating the voltage at the point of connection and increasing the achievable power transmission. In existing static condensers, the inverter is controlled entirely by varying the phase angle of the inverter output voltage. There is no direct control of the ratio between the dc input voltage and the ac output voltage. Accordingly, the inverter cannot, for example, be controlled to produce a desired mix of positive and negative sequence voltages at its terminals. In addition, the dc input voltage cannot be maintained at a substantially constant level while varying the ac output voltage.
New applications are emerging where it is important for an inverter to quickly generate an arbitrary output voltage vector. That is, it is important for the inverter to quickly generate arbitrary magnitude and phase voltage quantities.
An example of the need for arbitrary inverter output voltage vector control is the unified power flow controller described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,139 (the '139 patent). The '139 patent, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein, describes an apparatus with an inverter serially connected (serial inverter) to a three-phase distribution network, an inverter connected in parallel (parallel inverter) to the three-phase distribution network, and a common dc source supplying each inverter. The dc voltage is held substantially constant by the parallel inverter, but the series inverter must produce widely varying ac voltage. In this case, a fast vector-controlled inverter makes it possible to implement active feedback control of the transmission line power which would not otherwise be possible. Another demanding application for a fast-acting vector-controlled inverter is flicker-reduction on power lines supplying electric arc furnaces.
Thus, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved three-phase, dc-to-ac power inverter. More particularly, it would be highly desirable to provide a three-phase, dc-to-ac power inverter that can rapidly generate arbitrary magnitude and phase output voltage values.

Three-phase DC-to-AC power inverter with three-level poles


A fundus camera according to the present invention includes a light metering unit configured to change a light metering area within an image captured by an imaging unit based on one of a position and a size of a light blocking member, and a controlling unit configured to control an amount of light emission from a light source based on a light metering value corresponding to the light metering area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to light amount control of illumination light in a fundus camera, and more specifically, to a light metering area used to control an amount of illumination light.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional fundus cameras are configured to set a predetermined amount of light to use according to when the camera changes a photographing method, such as a color photographing mode and a visible fluorescent photographing mode, or performs microcoria photographing, or changes a magnification ratio of photographing.
In the field of fundus camera, technology to control an amount of light for photographing by detecting return light from a fundus is also known.
As an example of the control technology, Japanese Patent Publication No. 03-032367 discusses a fundus camera which receives light reflected from a fundus at a plurality of points located in an area having a diameter larger than that of an optic disk and determines an amount of exposure so as not to be affected by the optic disk portion.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-131321 discusses an ophthalmological examination apparatus that changes a reference value of an amount of light to be received during fluorescence imaging according to insertion and removal of an excitation filter and a barrier filter to/from an optical path.
In these fundus cameras, if a subject's eye has a pupil of a small diameter, a light blocking member is switched to one of a smaller size so that illumination light can reach the fundus of the eye. In this case, however, the illumination light reflected at the cornea and the crystalline lens of the eye may appear as a flare at the peripheral part of a fundus image to be obtained. In addition, the switching of the light blocking members may cause changes in brightness distribution of the fundus image.
A brightness distribution of a fundus image varies depending on the ways of focus adjustment, one way with a focus target projected onto a fundus, and another way without use of the focus target. Thus, insertion and removal of a focus target may affect light metering values to be used.


A method and apparatus for Dynamic MAC Allocation and Configuration is based on the ability to remotely boot a client machine from a server machine and adds the capability to assign a Locally Administered Address (LAA) to override the Universally Administered Address (UAA). A set of programs at the workstation allows a remote boot and interaction the server. The client machine will send out a DMAC discovery frame. The discovery frame will be intercepted by a DMAC program installed on the server which will be running and listening for the request. Once the DMAC program intercepts the request it analyzes the request and takes one of two actions. If necessary, the server will run an xe2x80x9cinitializationxe2x80x9d script. For workstations that have already been initialized, the server will send an LAA to the client workstation from a table or pool. The client workstation will then request an operating system with its new LAA. The boot options will be a table or pool corresponding to an LAA or range of LAA""s. In order to achieve the override of the UAA, the DMAC will assign an LAA to the workstation. Once the LAA is assigned the boot will proceed based on the package that will be shipped to that address.

The present invention relates to the control of a client computer system""s Medium Access Control (MAC) address by a server computer system.
A computer or computer system, when turned on, must be prepared for operation by loading an operating system. In the normal operation of a single computer system, when a user issues a boot command to the computer, the computer responds to the boot command by attempting to retrieve the operating system files from the computer systems memory. Configuration data files are also needed to configure the specific machine with the hardware parameters necessary for the specific hardware configuration. These files also contain information needed to initialize videos, printers, and peripherals associated with the particular machine. For example, the files would include CONFIG.SYS in the MS-DOS operating system, available from Microsoft Corporation.
Computers or computer systems can be connected in a network normally consisting of a client workstation, a server and a central network. In a system where the computer""s storage is maintained when the power is turned off, the operating system can be stored in the computer itself. In a system where the computer has only storage that is lost when the power is turned off, the computer cannot retrieve the boot information from within the computer itself. In that case, the client sends a request for the operating system files via the network to the server acting as a boot server. Even when the client workstation has non-volatile storage capability, it is advantageous to boot from the server because memory space is saved in the workstation computer. As operating system and application programs expand to provide new and greater capabilities, booting from a server can be highly advantageous.
Several methods of remote booting exist in the marketplace. One is called Remote Initial Program Load (RIPL). RIPL is the process of loading an operating system onto a workstation from a remote location. The RIPL protocol was co-developed by 3Com, Microsoft, and IBM. It is used today with IBM OS/2 Warp Server, DEC Pathworks, and Windows NT. Two other commonly used Remote IPL protocols are a Novell NCP (NetWare Core Protocol), and BOOT-P, an IEEE standard, used with UNIX and TCP/IP networks.
RIPL is achieved using a combination of hardware and software. The requesting device, called the requester or workstation, starts up by asking the loading device to send it a bootstrap program. The loading device is another computer that has a hard disk and is called the RIPL server or file server. The RIPL server uses a loader program to send the bootstrap program to the workstation. Once the workstation receives the bootstrap program, it is then equipped to request an operating system, which in turn can request and use application programs. The software implementations differ between vendors, but theoretically, they all perform similar functions and go through a similar process. The client workstation requires a special Read Only Memory (ROM) installed on its (Local Area Network) LAN adapter or Network Interface Card (NIC). The special ROM is known generally as a remote boot ROM, but two specific examples of remote boot chips are the RIPL chip, which supports ANSI/IEEE standard 802.2, and the Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) chip, which is used in the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) environment.
While the process has many advantages for booting a computer that has volatile storage, such as a network computer, the computer is required to have a remote boot ROM on the LAN adapter or Network Interface Card (NIC). The remote boot ROM requirement does not allow any user interaction with the remote boot process.
Application Ser. No. 09/329,457 discloses a remotely controlled boot process allowing a client computer to boot from a server without the remote boot ROM requirement.
The client""s Medium Access Control (MAC) address is the key factor that determines many characteristics of the boot process. The MAC address determines what server the client will boot from, what operating system will be loaded and what the client""s computers configuration will be.
However, in the server-managed client environment, there currently does not exist a way to automatically assign and configure a client""s MAC address. The MAC address can be a Universally Administered Address or a Locally Administered Address. The Universally Administered Address (UAA), in a local area network, is the address permanently encoded in an adapter at the time of manufacture. All Universally Administered Addresses are unique. A Locally Administered Address (LAA), in a local area network, is an adapter address that the user can assign to override the Universally Administered Address. Therefore, a need exists for an automatic way of configuring and distributing a Locally Administered Address (LAA). If this can be done, then when the boot configuration is changed, an address corresponding to the configuration desired can be assigned. Such a system would provide a seamless solution in dynamically changing a client""s boot environment and would greatly expand the ability of the administrator to remotely configure the client machines within a network.
The invention meeting the needs identified above is a method and apparatus for Dynamic MAC Allocation and Configuration. Such a system is based on the ability to remotely boot a client machine from a server machine and adds the capability to assign a Locally Administered Address (LAA) to override the Universally Administered Address (UAA).
The first part of the process is to set up the capability for remote booting. In the preferred embodiment, a set of programs at the workstation allows a remote boot and interaction with a program on the server. Instructions from a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) ROM are executed to load a Boot Code Loader (BCL) from a nonvolatile, read/write memory, such as a diskette or hard disk. The BCL executes to load a Remote Control Program (RCP), and the RCP executes to load a message program, a protocol manager and/or device drivers without loading an operating system. The message program and/or device drivers communicate with a Dynamic Mac Allocation and Configuration (DMAC) program in the network server. First, the program will interface with an NDIS compliant Network Interface Card (NIC) to send out a DMAC discovery frame. At this point the workstation seeks MAC specific information. The discovery frame will be intercepted by a DMAC program installed on the server which will be running and listening for the request. Once the DMAC program intercepts the request it will analyze the request and take one of two actions. First, if this is the first time that the client machine has been booted, the server will run an xe2x80x9cinitializationxe2x80x9d script. In other words the DMAC will prepare the other boot servers by informing them that in the future, the workstation in question will boot. The workstation will be placed in a MAC table or pool. The second action, for workstations that have already been initialized, is that the server, based on the information received, will send an LAA to the client workstation from the table or pool. The client workstation will then request an operating system with its new LAA. The boot options will be a table or pool corresponding to an LAA or range of LAA""s. In other words, a particular boot option or package will be sent to a system making a request that has the corresponding LAA. In order to achieve the override of the UAA, the DMAC will assign an LAA to the workstation. Once the LAA is assigned the boot will proceed based on the package that will be shipped to that address.

Dynamic mac allocation and configuration

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention relates to a method for connection of an optical element to a mount structure, whereby in a first step the optical element is connected to the mount structure and in a second step the optical element is welded to the mount structure in the region of the connection.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for connection of an optical element to a mount structure, a use of the optical element connected to the mount structure by means of the method, an arrangement comprising an optical element and a mount structure connected to the optical element, and a projection objective for microlithography comprising such an arrangement.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,101 describes the connection of a lens to a holder by means of soldering.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,144 reveals a method for welding a large optical component to a metallic mount.
Further possibilities for connection of optical elements to mount structures are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,229,657 B1 or U.S. Pat. No. 6,392,284 B1.
Furthermore, the combination of wringing with adhesive bonding is known from the general prior art.
If the resolution of a lithography objective equipped with a plurality of optical elements is intended to be improved, then one possibility consists in inserting a so-called immersion medium between the last optical element and the wafer to be exposed. The numerical aperture can be increased to a value of >1.0 in this way. The immersion medium, for example water, is usually present at the connection of the terminating element to a mount structure in such a case. Said immersion medium may attack the connection between the optical element and the mount structure and damage it in this way. Said damage may proceed to such an extent that the immersion medium can penetrate into the interior of the lithography objective.

Method for connection of an optical element to a mount structure


Described is a lab-on-a-chip device and a method employing a lab-on-a-chip device for determining the concentration of species present in water.

Accurate alkalinity determinations are important to many industries and water types. For example, in drinking water, a high alkalinity can result in an objectionable taste. Alkalinity of water is the same as its acid-neutralizing capacity and is measured by the sum of all the titratable bases. Water may have a high alkalinity due to the presence of hydroxides, carbonates, bicarbonates, and other forms of oxidized carbon.
Alkalinity is a required reporting parameter for many regulatory agencies such as the EPA and FDA. The EPA has listed pH (which is a function of alkalinity) as a secondary drinking water regulation, limiting pH to 6.5-8.5. Alkalinity concentration is also used in industrial water discharge regulation. Per the EPA disinfection byproduct rule, industrial effluent alkalinity is controlled as alkalinity is increased or decreased based upon the Total Organic Carbon (TOC) concentration in the water—as TOC relates to the formation of trihalomethanes. Trihalomethanes can have adverse health effects, and the EPA limits the concentration of some trihalomethanes in drinking water to 80 parts per billion (ppb).


A lock mechanism for causing an openable member such as a cover or a door of a box or the like to engage with or disengage from a main body as the openable member is pressed, and a latch device for retaining a latch body in the housing in a pushed-in state or in a withdrawn state. The center of rotation of each of a pair of arms of the latch device is formed on substantially the same line as a line of action of a force acting on a retaining surface of each of the arms for retaining a striker.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lock mechanism in which, by pressing an openable cover of an audio apparatus, an audio-apparatus accommodating case or the like, or an openable member of such as a door of a box or the like, the openable cover or member is engaged with or disengaged from a main body. The present invention also relates to a latch device in which a latch body is retained in a pushed-in state or a withdrawn state in a housing so as to be provided with the same function as that of the lock mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a typical audio apparatus or the like, a latch device L is provided on an openable cover so as to retain the openable cover, as shown in FIG. 4.
As shown in the drawing, the latch device L is arranged such that each time a latch body 10 is pressed by a striker 34 in the direction of arrow A, a tracing member provided in a housing 14 moves halfway in a heart-shaped circulatory cam groove formed in the latch body 10, thereby allowing the latch body 10 to be retained in the housing 14 alternatively in a state in which the latch body 10 is pushed in and in a state in which it is withdrawn. Concurrently, as shown in FIG. 5, while a pair of arms 50 formed on the latch body 10 are respectively being pressed by a pair of rectangular frames 40 of the housing 14, the striker 34 fixed to the openable cover is clamped or released, thereby setting the openable cover in a closed state or in an openable state.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the arms 50, which are generally provided on the latch body 10, comprises a holder portion 50A for clamping the striker 34 and a hinge portion 50B serving as a center of rotation of the holder portion 50A. The arms 50 are formed of a flexible material such as nylon so as to facilitate the bending of the hinge portions 50B and reduce their frictional resistance with respect to the rectangular frames 40.
However, there has been a drawback in that if a large tensile load (acting in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 5) is continuously applied to the striker 34 while the respective holder portions 50A of the arms 50 are holding the striker 34, since the hinge portions 50A are flexible, the hinge portions 50B become elongated or offset in the direction in which the holder portions 50A are spaced apart from each other, thus causing the striker 34 to come off the holder portions 50A.
To give a more detailed description, when a tensile force W shown in FIG. 5 acts on each holder portion 50A via the striker 34, if the length of the arm is assumed to be L, a bending moment M (M=WL/2) acts on each hinge portion 50B. Accordingly, each hinge portion 50B rotates in the direction in which the holder portions 50A are spaced apart from each other. In addition, since a tensile force .sigma. (.sigma.=M/Z, Z: coefficient of a cross section) due to the bending moment M acts on each hinge portion 50B, the hinge portions 50B become elongated in the direction of arrow B. As a result, the holder portions 50A become offset in the direction of arrow B while becoming spaced apart from each other. Hence, there has been the drawback that the striker 34 is liable to come off the holder portions 50A.
In addition, since an outer side of the hinge portion 50B is formed as a curved portion D, there has been another drawback in that if the tensile force W acts, the curved portion D is pulled, so that the hinge portion 50B becomes elongated.
In a typical latch device such as the one shown in FIG. 14, a rear end portion 182B of a tracing member 182 moving in a circulatory cam groove 180 in a circulatory manner is rotatably inserted in a fitting hole 184 formed in the unillustrated housing. In addition, the tracing member 182 is pressed by a pressing leaf spring 188 secured to the housing by means of a screw 186 such that the tracing member 182 will not come out of the fixing hole 184.
However, with the above-described structure for fitting the tracing member 182, the tracing member 182 cannot be fit in the housing from the outside thereof. For this reason, it has been necessary to fixedly hold the tracing member in the housing in advance, and then to allow a tip portion 182A of the tracing member 182 to be fitted into the circulatory cam groove 180 formed in a latch body 190 which is inserted into the rear portion of the housing.
For this reason, in the event that the tip portion 182A of the tracing member 182 is shaken during the assembling operation, the tip portion 182A cannot be inserted into the circulatory cam groove 180, and the tip portion 182A of the tracing member 182 is brought into contact with a different portion of the latch body 190. Hence, a drawback has been encountered in that the latch body 190 cannot be inserted into the housing, so that the assembling of the latch device has been troublesome. In addition, a pressing member (e.g., a pressing leaf spring 188) is required for pressing the tracing member 182, with the result that the number of component parts used disadvantageously increases and the assembling efficiency has been low.
Meanwhile, in a center cluster portion of an automobile, a push-open type ash pan is provided which automatically slides out upon pressing of its cover.
This push-open type ash pan is provided with a lock mechanism 280 as shown in FIG. 30. This lock mechanism 280 operates as follows: If a front face portion of the unillustrated ash pan is pushed in the direction of arrow R, a tracing member 284 fixed to a rear end portion of the ash pan is inserted into a heart-shaped circulatory cam groove 282 formed in a box. The inserted tracing member 284, when thus pressed, moves in the heart-shaped circulatory cam groove 282 in a circulating manner, and when the tracing member 284 engages a recessed (cusp) portion 292 of the heart-shaped circulatory cam groove 282, the tracing member 284 retains the ash pan in a state in which the ash pan is pushed in.
In the lock mechanism 280 shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, a stepped portion 288 is provided so that the tracing member 284 can circulate in a set direction (in the direction of arrow Q) in the circulatory cam groove 282, so as to prevent the tracing member 284 from circulating in an opposite direction. In addition, an urging means 290 is provided separately for urging a tip portion 286 of the tracing member 284 vertically toward the bottom surface of the circulatory cam groove 282 to ensure that the tracing member 284 will circulate with its tip portion 286 brought positively into sliding contact with the bottom surface of the circulatory cam groove 282.
With the mechanism in which the tip portion 286 of the tracing member 284 is caused to slide on the bottom surface of the circulatory cam groove 282, a shortcoming has been experienced in that, owing to the friction of the bottom surface of the groove with the tip portion 286 of the tracing member 284, the circulatory cam groove 282 sometimes becomes worn or deformed, and the stepped portion 288 is scraped off, thereby causing the tracing member 284 to circulate in the opposite direction.
In the state in which the ash pan is pushed in, the tracing member 284 is retained at the recessed portion 292 formed in the circulatory cam groove 282, and the state in which the ash pan is pushed in is maintained against the urging force of an unillustrated compression coil spring. However, since the urging force of the compression coil spring is supported at one recessed portion 292, the recessed portion 292 is liable to become damaged. Hence, the rupture strength of the lock mechanism 280 has been low.
In addition, since the tip portion 286 of the tracing member 284 is urged towards the bottom surface of the circulatory cam groove 282, there is a need to provide the urging means 290 separately, so that the number of component parts used disadvantageously increases and the assembling efficiency has been low.
Although the tracing member 284 is usually formed of a metal material into the shape of a lever, there have been cases where if fabrication accuracy at the time of its formation is poor, the tracing member 284 scrapes off the bottom surface of the circulatory cam groove 282, or the tracing member 284 undergoes deformation due to its frictional resistance with respect to the circulatory cam groove 282.
In the case of a latch device employing the above-described lock mechanism 280, since it is necessary to form the stepped portion 288 in the circulatory cam groove 282 provided in the latch body, and to provide the tracing member 284 with the urging means 290, the housing which accommodates the latch body and the tracing member is required to have a minimum thickness. For this reason, it has been difficult to make the latch device thin beyond this restriction.


A position sensor for determining the position of an object, comprising at least one sensing element to transduce a time-varying external signal into an electrical signal; at least one comparator circuit adapted to perform a thresholding operation on the electrical signal being characterized by a hysteresis curve; the position sensor is adapted to provide information relating to the last crossed to store it at least while the position sensor is in an inactive mode and to restore the information to obtain a selected threshold when it is switched from inactive to active mode; and configured such that a transition in an output signal is generated by the thresholding operation if the selected threshold is crossed by the electrical signal and configured to change the selected threshold after it was crossed by the electrical signal.

Modern vehicles contain numerous adjustable and movable parts, such as car windows, seats, and electric sunroofs that rely on sensor output to accurately determine the position, direction or speed of motion of the respective movable parts. A motor-driven car window for instance is lifted to a final, closed position by comparing its actual position with the final position and determining the necessary travel distance. Moreover, it is desirable that the driving motor decelerates with the car window approaching the maximum height so as not to damage mechanical parts for fixture and guidance by overstraining them, or that the motor stops driving the car window if a body member, e.g. a hand, is still present in the closing window slit and blocks it.
For determining the position, the number of rotations of the motor may be counted. This may be done using a magnetic field sensor in a rotating magnetic field. Miscounting is caused by the fact that in the currently available magnetic field sensors the threshold during the activation phase (transition from inactive to active mode) is predefined for example (high, low, or even undefined at all) and does not depend on the last threshold being exceeded before the deactivation phase. This could result in missing or extra transitions (depending on the way of processing of the output(s)) during the activation phase (following the deactivation phase) and this in turn leads to miscounting.
Miscounting has been felt a long-standing problem in determining the position of motor-driven objects by means of magnetic field sensors to which a rotating magnetic field is applied. Few attempts were made setting the initial output, however, such systems need extra hardware and complicated processing.

Position sensor for position determination of an actuated object


A scopic probe adapted to dissect various tissue includes a shaft and a wire tip. The wire tip includes an arcuate portion that is at a 90.degree. angle relative to the shaft. The arcuate or loop portion then extends to a linear tip that is parallel to the shaft. The tip is used to separate tissue which in turn is hooked by the loop allowing the surgeon to visualize depth and divide the hooked tissue. This permits a surgeon to perform tasks generally requiring several instruments with only one instrument.

In surgical procedures, it is frequently necessary to dissect out ducts, veins, nerves and other sinuous tissue from associated tissue. Particular examples of this are: isolating the cystic duct and cystic artery prior to clipping and dividing these; dissecting out the Vagus nerve or its branches when performing Vagotomies for ulver surgery; dissecting mesenteric vessels for future large and small bowel resections; and dissecting hilar vessels for pulmonary resectioning; and dissecting out vessels for doing hysterectomies or nephrectomies.
In typical procedures, this does not present a problem. By using a combination of scalpel, forceps and probes, a surgeon can separate and pull apart the desired vein or duct and separate this from the associated tissue. The surgeon has two free hands and an open area to work with to accomplish this.
In scopic and laparascopic procedures, this is not the case. To begin with, only a limited number of instruments can be used at one time, generally only one or two. Further, the instruments, due to the way they are inserted into the body cavity, have a limited range of motion. For this reason, it is very difficult to separate veins, ducts and the like from the associated tissue. It can be done, but it generally requires substantial effort and time. When scalpels are employed, the possibility of cutting thevein or duct which is being separated is increased.


A fusing system and a temperature control method thereof for use in an image forming apparatus. The fusing system includes a control unit having a controller. The controller determines whether to initiate a heater driving-start timing, on the basis of one of a first time t1 and a third time t3, and a second time t2, when a sheet of printing paper is picked up by the pickup roller, or when a leading end of the sheet of the printing paper picked up by the pickup roller operates the paper jam sensor, the first time t1 being a time when the sheet of printing paper is picked up to a point of time when the sheet of printing paper arrives at the fusing roller, the second time t2 being a time required until a heat generated from the heater arrives at a surface of the fusing roller, and the third time t3 being a time from when the sheet of printing paper operates the paper jam sensor to when the sheet of printing paper is arrives at the fusing roller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fusing system and a temperature control method thereof for use in an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer, a facsimile machine (FAX), a copier, and the like, and more particularly, it relates to a fusing system and a temperature control method thereof for use in an image forming apparatus, which is capable of stably fusing a toner image onto a recording medium such as a sheet of printing paper, by minimizing a fluctuation width in surface temperature of a fusing roller in the fusing system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A general image forming apparatus such as a copier, a laser beam printer and the like, prints a desired image on a recording medium i.e. a sheet of printing paper using a series of image forming processes. The image forming processes include electrically charging a surface of a photosensitive drum by rotating an electrostatic charging roller disposed adjacent to the photosensitive drum, exposing the surface of the photosensitive drum to a laser beam projecting from a laser scanning unit (LSU) to thus form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum, developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum into a toner image having a powdery state i.e. a visible image by applying a toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum, transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum onto the sheet of printing paper which passes between the photosensitive drum and a transfer roller which are in contact with each other under a predetermined pressure, supplying a predetermined transfer voltage to the transfer roller and the photosensitive drum, and fusing the toner image of the powdery state to affix it onto the sheet of printing paper by heating the sheet of printing paper with the toner image transferred thereon through a fusing system including a fusing roller.
Generally, in the process of fusing the toner image, a halogen lamp is employed as a heating source for the fusing system. The halogen lamp is disposed inside the fusing roller and/or a fusing backup roller to heat a surface of the fusing roller and/or the fusing backup roller to a predetermined temperature using a radiant heat thereof.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a fusing system 10 of a general electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
The fusing system 10 includes a cylinder-shaped fusing roller 11, and a halogen lamp 12 disposed in an inner center thereof. The halogen lamp 12 generates heat inside the fusing roller 11,.
Disposed under the fusing roller 11 is a fusing backup roller 13. As shown in FIG. 3, the fusing backup roller 13 is resiliently supported by a spring 13a, to enable the pressing of a sheet of printing paper 14 passing between the fusing roller 11 and the fusing-backup roller 13, toward the fusing roller 11 with a predetermined pressure.
Accordingly, while the sheet of printing paper 14 is passing between the fusing roller 11 and the fusing backup roller 13, a toner image 14a formed on the sheet of printing paper 14 in the powdery state is subjected to a predetermined pressure and a predetermined heat. As a result, the toner image 14a is fused and fixed onto the sheet of printing paper 14 by the predetermined pressure and the predetermined heat imposed thereto via the fusing roller 11 and the fusing-backup roller 13.
Referring to FIG. 1, installed at a side of the fusing roller 11 are a thermistor 15, a thermostat 16 and a power switching part 19 such as a thyristor. The thermistor 15 is for detecting or sensing a surface temperature of the fusing roller 11 via an electric signal, the thermostat 16 is for blocking an electric power to the halogen lamp 12 when the surface temperature of the fusing roller 11 exceeds a given threshold, and the power switching part 19 is for switching a power supply of an AC power source 18 to the halogen lamp 12 according to a signal from a controller 20.
The thermistor 15 detects the surface temperature of the fusing roller 11, and transmits the detected temperature to the controller 20. The controller 20 compares the detected temperature with a predetermined set temperature, and regulates the power supply to the halogen lamp 12 using the power switching part 19, thereby maintaining the surface temperature of the fusing roller 11 at a fusing temperature suitable to fuse the toner image 14a and to affix it onto the sheet of printing paper 14.
As shown in FIG. 4, the controller 20 usually controls the surface temperature of the fusing roller 11 using a temperature control process that includes an initial heating step S1 of heating the surface temperature of the fusing roller 11 to a print standby temperature, a print standby step S2 of maintaining the surface temperature of the fusing roller 11 at the print standby temperature and waiting for a print command, and a printing step S3, S4, S5 and S6 of maintaining the surface temperature of the fusing roller 11 higher than the print standby temperature to offset a loss in heat which occurs during the fusing operation of fusing the toner image.
At each of the steps S1 through S6 of the temperature control process, the controller 20 controls the power supply to the halogen lamp 12, by comparing the detected surface temperature of the fusing roller 11 with the set temperature and then turning on the halogen lamp 12 through the power switching part 19 when the detected temperature is below the set temperature and turning off the halogen lamp 12 when the detected temperature is above the set temperature, and thereby the surface temperature of the fusing roller 11 is maintained within a given range.
Also, the thermostat 16 functions as an overheating prevention means to protect the fusing roller 11 and its neighboring components, in case the thermistor 15 and the controller 20 fail to regulate the surface temperature of the fusing roller 11.
In such a conventional fusing system 10, as shown in FIG. 2, the fusing roller 11 is usually comprised of an aluminum cylinder having a rubber layer 11a of low thermal conductivity coated on an outer surface thereof.
The rubber layer 11a functions to make the sheet of printing paper 14 maintain a given contact area with the fusing roller 11 while it passes through a nip between the fusing roller 11 and the fusing backup roller 13, thereby providing enough time to supply the heat radiated from the halogen lamp 12 to the sheet of printing paper 14, and at the same time, keep the heat radiated from the halogen lamp 12, thereby preventing the surface temperature of the fusing roller 11 from suddenly lowering even though the sheet of printing paper 14 passes therethrough. However, due to low thermal conductivity, the rubber layer 11a presents a problem of increasing the time required for the heat supplied from the halogen lamp 12 to reach the surface of the fusing roller 11.
More specifically, in the process of fusing the toner image, when the halogen lamp 12 is turned off after the thermistor 15 detects that a surface temperature of the rubber layer 11a of the fusing roller 11 has reached the fusing temperature, the surface temperature of the rubber layer 11a continues to increase above the fusing temperature for a given period due to the heat of the aluminum cylinder of the fusing roller 11 heated by the halogen lamp 12 to reach fusing temperature.
Also, when the halogen lamp 12 is turned on after the thermistor 15 detects that the surface temperature of the rubber layer 11a of the fusing roller 11 has fallen below the fusing temperature, the surface temperature of the rubber layer 11a further drops for a given time until the temperature of the aluminum cylinder rises to a certain temperature level able to increase the surface temperature of the rubber layer 11a to the fusing temperature. Since the temperature of the aluminum cylinder goes below the certain temperature that is able to increase the surface temperature of the rubber layer 11a to the fusing temperature, for a given time the surface temperature of the rubber layer 11a rises above the fusing temperature due to the heat of the aluminum cylinder of the fusing roller 11.
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the halogen lamp 12 is driven for 90 seconds and then turned off after the surface temperature of the rubber layer 11a of the fusing roller 11 has reached the fusing temperature, for example, 180° C., the surface temperature of the rubber layer 11a further rises above the fusing temperature, since the aluminum cylinder of the fusing roller 11 has been heated to a temperature of 230° C. Whereas, when the halogen lamp 12 is turned on after the surface temperature of the rubber layer 11a of the fusing roller 11 has risen above the fusing temperature due to the temperature of the aluminum cylinder of the fusing roller 11 and then fallen again below the fusing temperature, the surface temperature of the rubber layer 11a further falls for a given time until the heat of the aluminum cylinder of the fusing roller 11 heated by the halogen lamp 12 reaches the surface of the rubber layer 11a.
Thus, the fusing roller 11 having the rubber layer 11a does not suddenly change the surface temperature thereof as compared with a fusing roller formed of only an aluminum cylinder but, instead, presents a problem of increasing the fluctuation width in the surface temperature thereof.
If the fluctuation width in the surface temperature of the fusing roller 11 increases, the fusing temperature is unstably regulated. Thereby, when the sheet of printing paper passes through the fusing roller, the toner image formed on the sheet of printing paper is irregularly fused and affixed.
Accordingly, in order to solve the problem of the fusing roller 11 having the rubber layer 11a, a new fusing system and a temperature control method, which does not simply turn on or off the halogen lamp 12 at predetermined or non-predetermined intervals of time by using the thermistor 15, as in the conventional fusing system 10. The new fusing system and temperature control method should regulate the surface temperature of the fusing roller 11 into the fusing temperature, by taking into account the fluctuation difference in the surface temperature of the rubber layer 11a.

Fusing system and temperature control method thereof for use in an image forming apparatus


An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire printer information from a printer, a display unit configured to, by being called from a first print setting screen offered by an operating system, display a second print setting screen offered by a device application based on the printer information, and a responding unit configured to, if the first print setting screen is called from the second print setting screen, transmit capability information as a response, based on the printer information, wherein the first print setting screen is displayed based on the capability information transmitted by the responding unit as the response.

Field
Aspects of the present invention generally relates to a technique for displaying a print setting screen.
Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there has been a function of allowing a user to set paper information in a printer to meet a demand for performing printing on a type of paper other than types of paper set in the printer at the time of shipment. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-92289 discusses a technique for acquiring user-defined paper formation from a printer and listing it.
As such, there has conventionally been a technique for acquiring information from a printer and displaying it.

Information processing apparatus, control method, and storage medium


A method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving reference signals in Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems includes determining whether a dedicated reference signal is detected in a current subframe; estimating, if a dedicated reference signal is detected in the current subframe, a data channel using the dedicated reference signal to receive data; and estimating, if no dedicated reference signal is detected in the current subframe, a data channel using a common reference signal detected in the current subframe to receive data. The transmission scheme uses a DeModulation Reference Signal (DM-RS) for channel response estimation. To secure backward compatibility of the LTE-A system, a Common Reference Signal is transmitted in normal subframes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to wireless communications and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving reference signals in Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the advance of communication technologies, the conventional voice telephony-oriented mobile communication systems have evolved to high speed, high quality packet data-oriented mobile communication systems for providing data and multimedia services. In order to support such high speed, high quality data transmission services, various mobile communication technologies have been standardized. These technologies include 3GPP High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) and LTE, 3GPP2 High Rate Packet Data (HRPD) and Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), and IEEE 802.16e.
In order to improve transmission efficiency, these mobile communication technologies use various advanced techniques such as Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) and channel sensitive scheduling. The AMC technique allows the transmitter to adjust the data rate according to the channel condition. The AMC technique decreases the data rate for bad channel conditions so as to maintain a reception error rate at an intended level and increases the data rate for good channel conditions to maximize the throughput. The channel sensitive scheduling technique allows the transmitter to provide the service to a receiver having the best channel condition among a plurality of receivers, thereby improving system throughput.
The AMC and channel sensitive scheduling techniques receive Channel State Information (CSI) fed back from the receivers and perform data transmission at an optimal timing with an optimal modulation and coding scheme. The AMC and channel sensitive scheduling techniques can be referred to as techniques for improving transmission efficiency with the enough information on the transmission channel. In a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system in which the transmitter cannot analogize the transmission channel condition from the reception channel, the receiver is designed to feed back transmission channel information to the transmitter. Meanwhile, a Time Division Duplex (TDD) system has a characteristic that the transmission channel condition is analogous to the reception channel condition such that there is no need for the receiver to report the information on the transmission channel to the transmitter.
Recently, research has been conducted to replace the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) scheme dominant in the 2nd and 3rd generation mobile communication systems with the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) scheme. Actually, the standardization organizations such as 3GPP, 3GPP2, and IEEE are in the middle of standardization of the advanced communication systems adopting OFDMA or modified OFDMA. This is because OFDMA is expected to provide superior throughput as compared to CDMA. One of the main factors that allows OFDMA to increase system throughput is the frequency domain scheduling capability. As channel sensitive scheduling increases the system capacity using the time-varying channel characteristic, OFDM can be used to obtain more capacity gain using the frequency-varying channel characteristic.
The LTE system uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) in the downlink and Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) in the uplink. Both OFDM and SC-FDMA have the characteristics allowing frequency domain scheduling.
In the meantime, the LTE system supports multiple antenna transmission in the downlink (DL). An LTE transmitter can be provided with one, two, or four transmit antennas. By using multiple antennas, beamforming gain and spatial multiplexing gain can be achieved with a precoding scheme.
The LTE-A system can support up to 8 transmit antennas in the downlink. As the number of transmit antennas increases, the transmitter can further improve the beamforming gain and spatial multiplexing gain. In addition, the LTE-A system can support other various transmission techniques in the downlink. One of the newly introduced downlink transmission techniques is Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP), which improves the communication quality of specific receivers through the cooperation of multiple cells. In terms of downlink CoMP, two different approaches can be considered: Joint Transmission (JT) in which multiple transmission points transmit signals to a single receiver simultaneously and Coordinated Scheduling/Coordinated Beamforming (CS/CB) in which the receiver receives the signal transmitted by its serving cell. However, the scheduling including any beamforming functionality is dynamically coordinated between the cells in order to control and/or reduce the interference between different transmissions. Unlike JT in which multiples cells have to prepare the symbol streams simultaneously, CS/CB can be implemented by exchanging the scheduling and beamforming information among the multiple cells. This means that, although JT is expected to secure higher performance gain, there are many problems to be solved for implementation such as high traffic load and low delay requirement between cells. In contrast, CS/CB gives relatively low performance gain but is advantageous to the low traffic load between cells.

Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving a reference signal in a wireless communication system


The subject invention pertains to methods of treating immunocompromised patients, such as individuals infected with HIV, that exhibit elevated levels of IgA relative to IgG. The use of IgA-binding compositions immobilized onto a support matrix to extracorporeally remove IgA molecules from a sample or biological fluid for therapeutic purposes is provided by the present invention. The subject invention further pertains to novel polypeptides which bind in a specific manner to human IgA. The polypeptides of the present invention comprise an IgA-binding region from an IgA-binding protein of Group B streptococcal bacteria.

The immune system of mammals, and specifically humans, is a finely balanced interaction between cellular responses and molecular responses. Cellular responses include reactions initiated by phagocytes, monocytes, and cytotoxic T cells. Molecular responses include the production of immunoglobulins, antibodies, initiation of complement, etc. It is the responsibility of the immune system in this coordinated effort to form a barrier between self and non-self and to protect us against invasion of external potentially harmful substances. Nonetheless, animals routinely consume a multitude of foreign material in the form of nutrients and inhale numerous foreign airborne particles. Reproduction of mammalian life itself depends on a female being impregnated with an egg fertilized by sperm, in essence a foreign body to the female, and carrying a child internally for nine months only partially like herself. In the vast majority of individuals, these daily exposures to foreign matter elicit little, if any, noticeable immune activity. Much of our understanding of the function of each part of the immune system has come from the study of individuals who lack some particular component or who are deficient in a specific activity. While some imbalances within this complex coordinated endeavor can be compensated for and tolerated by the host, others lead to unhealthy, dangerous conditions.
The subdivision of the immune system which seems to be the most well poised to maintain this equilibrium is located just below the mucosal epithelium throughout the body and is collectively known as the mucosal immune network. The mucosal immune network accounts for over 85 percent of all lymphoid tissue and specializes not only in acting as a deterrent to keep foreign matter from entering the body but also prevents over-stimulation of the systemic immune system. Excessive stimulation of the systemic immune system often results in bystander tissue damage and destruction.
The major immunoglobulin produced by the mucosal immune network is immunoglobulin A (IgA) which is secreted by activated, differentiated lymphocytes in the lamina propria. The structure and function of IgA is quite distinct from that of systemically produced immunoglobulin G (IgG). These differences in structure and function of IgA are in accordance with the major objectives of mucosal immunity. Firstly, IgA molecules occur predominantly as dimers and tetramers and have four to eight antigen-binding sites. This increase in binding-site density is one explanation for the greater avidity of IgA for foreign antigens as compared to that of IgG. Secondly, increased glycosylation of IgA molecules helps to protect them from proteolytic digestive enzymes found in the gut. Thirdly, IgA molecules also contain regions important for their active displacement from the lamina propria to the outside of the body. This active transport mechanism seems to perform two important functions. It maintains the largest amount of IgA at the site of highest exposure to foreign substances, for example, on the surfaces of the gastrointestinal, pulmonary, and urogenital tracts. It has been shown that IgA present on these surfaces inhibit binding and subsequent penetration of pathogens and allergens across the epithelial cell boundary. If by chance some foreign material does breach the epithelium, the second important function of the active transport mechanism is to bind the antigen either within epithelial cells or in the lamina propria and to remove it from the body via excremental pathways.
Another important function of IgA is to keep the responsiveness of the immune system to a minimum. However, the ability of the immune system to intensify at times is clearly important. This happens, for example, when physical injury occurs or when an accumulation of pathogens overwhelms the mucosal immunity. Yet obviously this intense activity cannot and should not occur every time an animal consumes food. Nor should such intensity, once initiated, remain sustained over long periods of time. However, once the immune system is activated, IgA down-regulates this activity as soon as possible in order to regain the proper and healthy equilibrium in the immune system. IgA molecules accomplish this task by intervention into the complement cascade.
In conjunction with systemic immunity and IgG, the complement system is a group of proteins which, through a progression of reactions, amplify and intensify immunological responses. It has been shown that IgG molecules aligned in close proximity initiate the reaction. This can occur, for example, when IgG molecules attach to bacteria or other foreign bodies. The end product of this reaction, called the membrane act complex or MAC, inserts itself into the invading organism causing cell lysis and death.
When levels of IgA are diminished or completely lacking, the complement cascade can be initiated. In carefully controlled studies, it has been demonstrated that by the addition and subsequent interdigitation of a relatively few IgA molecules between molecules of IgG, the complement cascade can be inactivated (Russell-Jones et al. 1980). This in turn down-regulates all subsequent immune activation events. In addition, the ability of IgA to minimize cellular immune responses is less well documented but nonetheless evident (Russell-Jones et al. 1981).
Examples of what results when the mucosal immune system becomes imbalanced have been reported. The simplest, most easily identified irregularity of the mucosal immune system is the complete absence, or reduced production, of IgA. The frequency of this condition has been reported as high as 1 out of every 400 individuals (Eckrich et al. 1993; Sandler et al. 1995). Patients exhibiting diminished or non-existent levels of IgA reveal themselves by having an inordinate number of allergies and allergic reactions. Such individuals are also frequently identified with severe serum reactions following blood transfusions and gamma globulin therapy (Sandler et al. 1995; Misbah & Chapel, 1993; Dabrow & Wilkins, 1993).
At the other end of the spectrum, the elevation of IgA has been, until recently, less frequently observed. Indeed, scientists interested in exploiting the mucosal immune system for vaccine purposes have been frustrated by the inability to mount and sustain a significant, specific IgA response. Most often, IgA has been studied in isolation and out of context with the other components of the immune system. These studies have shown that IgA can bind to and inhibit the interactions of pathogens within human cells and tissue. Ways to increase IgA activity against pathogens has been a major avenue of research.
Although the ratio of IgA to IgG for a specific antigen usually remains within a relatively narrow range, variations in this ratio have been reported. A recent study demonstrated that patients with increased levels of IgA reactive to their foreign, transplanted kidneys had significantly lower rates of rejection compared with patients with lower IgA levels (Lim et al. 1993). The investigators proposed that anti-HLA IgA antibody contributed to the high kidney graft survival in patients with elevated IgA by blocking IgG antibodies or inhibiting cellular immune responses. This study suggested that elevated levels of IgA may have an impact on cellular responses of the immune system and graft rejection.
The effects of abnormally elevated IgA/IgG ratios have also been described by researchers studying an outbreak of bacterial meningitis in Seattle, Wash. (Griffiss & Bertram, 1977; Griffiss, 1975; Griffiss, 1983; Griffiss & Goroff, 1983; Griffiss, 1982). These studies showed that the majority of patients in this outbreak had elevated levels of IgA reactive to the invading meningococcal pathogens compared to uninfected controls and that sera from these patients were unable to kill the bacteria. However, after the IgA was removed from the patients' sera, the serum was then able to destroy the bacteria. It was felt that these patients were originally normally immune and had the ability to destroy as well as resist infection by these pathogens, but, due to an immune response of unknown origin, the IgA/IgG ratio became imbalanced and the increased anti-meningococcal IgA may have interfered with the ability of systemic IgG and complement to eliminate these organisms. Similar effects have been observed for other pathogenic bacteria (Apicella et al. 1986; Musher et al. 1984; Taylor, 1972). Elevation in specific IgA antibodies reactive to tumor antigens has been observed in women with malignant ovarian carcinomas as compared with normal women or women with benign tumors (Gupta et al. 1994). In addition, a statistically significant correlation has been found with increased levels of IgA antibody reactive to the Epstein-Barr virus and the appearance of esophageal cancer in patients from Southeast Asia (Filipovich et al. 1994).
All of the reports referred to above have focused on elevations in the levels of IgA immunoreactive to a specific antigen. Thus, in most cases, the concentration of IgA antibody to a specific antigen was increased, but the overall total concentration of IgA was not increased. An association between elevated levels of IgA has been observed in nephropathy and kidney disease (Lim et al. 1993), but the genesis of this IgA is unknown. Recently, it has been demonstrated that HIV seropositive individuals have a statistically significant increase in IgA as they progress into AIDS, whereas serum levels of other immunoglobulins remain normal (Quesnel et al. 1994a; Quesnel et al. 1994b; Anonymous, 1994). The concentration of IgA continued to rise in these patients and upon their death was several hundred-fold above normal levels. How this elevation in IgA affects all of the symptoms and diseases which afflict AIDS patients is unknown. It has been shown in isolated instances that vaccination to increase systemic IgG levels improves the specific immunity for which the vaccine was made (Conlon, 1993; Birx et al. 1991; Rhoads et al. 1991; Guerra et al. 1992). However, it is impossible to raise systemic IgG antibody levels to each of the antigens to which the IgA levels have become elevated.
The ability to accomplish extracorporeal removal of certain components from bodily fluids without increased risks to the patient has been established. Although extracorporeal devices, such as kidney dialysis machines, are known in the art and have been shown to be therapeutically effective in eliminating abnormally high concentrations of certain components of serum, none of these extracorporeal devices are directed to specifically removing IgA from blood or serum. Moreover, there is no teaching or suggestion in the art directed to the extracorporeal removal or reduction of IgA from biological fluids as a therapeutic treatment for immunocompromised patients, particularly those patients that are infected with HIV. U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,449 which issued to Balint, Jr. et al. discloses an immunoadsorbent material comprising Protein A for removing IgG from biological fluids as a method for treating Kaposi's sarcoma. U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,112, which issued to Jones teaches a method for treating antigen-related disease by identifying the predominant antigen associated with the disease and then using an antigen-specific immunoadsorbent to remove the antigen from a patient's system.

Methods for therapeutically treating immunocomprised persons


Devices (100) comprise light sources (1) for producing light into directional ranges (70) and light blockers (10) for blocking the light in parts (71) of the directional ranges (70). The light blockers (10) have inner sides (11) and outer sides (12), and are made of materials having optical indices. Combinations of shapes of the outer sides (12) and the optical indices will reflect the light in the parts (71) of the directional ranges (70) at the outer sides (12), for example back to the light sources (1). The shapes of the outer sides (12) may be saw tooth shapes, the optical indices may be larger than 1.4, total reflection may take place for the light in the parts (71) of the directional ranges (70) when incoming at angles smaller than 40° with sides (14, 15) of saw teeth (13) of the saw tooth shapes. Shapes of the inner sides (11) may correspond with shapes of light output graphs of the light sources (1) in the parts (71) of the directional ranges (70).

Devices comprising light sources and light blockers are of common general knowledge.
A video device such as a television receiver usually comprises a display for displaying video, and may further comprise a light source for producing ambient light for supporting the video. To direct the ambient light into preferred directions, a light blocker may be used to block the ambient light in non-preferred directions.
A lighting device such as a lamp usually comprises a light source for producing light. To direct the light into preferred directions, a light blocker may be used to block the light in non-preferred directions.
Known light blockers for example absorb the light, which reduces an efficiency of the light source of the device.

Device comprising light source and light blocker


The terminal holding device includes an attaching unit to be attached to a vehicle, a holding unit which removably holds a terminal device in such a manner that a display unit of the terminal device is exposed and which includes a contact surface to be contact with the terminal device, an acceleration sensor which detects acceleration in a direction from a side of the contact surface to a side opposite to the contact surface, and a supplying unit which supplies a detection signal of the acceleration sensor to the terminal device.

Recently, a portable type navigation device is widely used. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of installing a portable type navigation device in a vehicle by using a cradle.
On the other hand, recently, a portable type terminal device such as a high-function portable telephone called "smartphone" is installed and used in a movable body such as a vehicle. Applications similar to the navigation device are proposed for a smartphone, and a smartphone can be installed in a vehicle to be used as a navigation device. Generally, a smartphone have a GPS function, but does not have a sensor such as a gyro sensor.


Heating devices are formed of a conductive loaded resin-based material. The conductive loaded resin-based material comprises micron conductive powder(s), conductive fiber(s), or a combination of conductive powder and conductive fibers in a base resin host. The ratio of the weight of the conductive powder(s), conductive fiber(s), or a combination of conductive powder and conductive fibers to the weight of the base resin host is between about 0.20 and 0.40. The micron conductive powders are formed from non-metals, such as carbon, graphite, that may also be metallic plated, or the like, or from metals such as stainless steel, nickel, copper, silver, that may also be metallic plated, or the like, or from a combination of non-metal, plated, or in combination with, metal powders. The micron conductor fibers preferably are of nickel plated carbon fiber, stainless steel fiber, copper fiber, silver fiber, or the like.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to heating devices and, more particularly, to heating devices molded of conductive loaded resin-based materials comprising micron conductive powders, micron conductive fibers, or a combination thereof, homogenized within a base resin when molded. This manufacturing process yields a conductive part or material usable within the EMF or electronic spectrum(s).
(2) Description of the Prior Art
From common kitchen appliances to sophisticated temperature control devices for scientific application, resistive heating elements are ubiquitous in application. Most heating elements are highly resistive metal wire, such as nickel-chromium (nichrome) or tungsten, designed to provide the necessary resistance for the heating required. The resistance of the heating element is determined by the resistivity of the wire, its cross-sectional area, and its length. The heat generated by the heating element is determined by the current passing through the heating element. Typically, the heating element further comprises an outer layer of a material that serves as an electrical insulator and a thermal conductor.
Heat generated in a resistive heating element is transferred to heated objects by conduction, convection and/or radiation. Conduction heat transfer relies on direct contact between the heating element and the heated object. For example, the transfer of heat from an electric range to a metal pan is essentially by conduction. Convection heat transfer relies on fluid flow to transfer heat. For example, an egg cooking a pan of boiling water relies on convection currents to transfer heat from the metal pan through the water and to the egg. Water at the bottom of the pan is superheated causing it to lose density such that it rises. This rising superheated water transfers heat energy to the egg floating in the water. Conversely, the water at the top of the pan is cooler and denser and, therefore, falls to toward the bottom of the pan. A convection current is thereby established in the pan of water. Radiation heat transfer relies on electromagnetic energy (such as light) to transfer heat from the heating element to the object. For example, a cake baking in an electric oven will be heated, in part, by the radiated heat from the glowing heating element. Radiant heating in how the sun's energy reaches the earth. In practical application, the three means of thermal transfer are found to interact and frequently occur at the same time.
Resistive heating elements used in various heating systems and applications have advantages over, for example, combustion-based heating sources. Electric heating elements do not generate noxious or asphyxiating fumes. Electric heating elements may be precisely controlled by electrical signals and, further, by digital circuits. Electrical heating elements can be formed into many shapes. Very focused heating can be created with minimal heat exposure for nearby objects. Heating can be performed in the absence of oxygen. Fluids, even combustible fluids, can be heated by properly designed resistive heating elements.
However, resistive heating elements currently used in the art have disadvantages. Metal-based elements, and particularly nichrome and tungsten, can be brittle and therefore not suitable for applications requiring a flexible heating element. Further, the large thermal cycles inherent in many product applications and the brittleness of these materials will cause thermal fatigue. Other metal elements, such as copper-based elements, bring greater flexibility. However, if the application requires the resistive element to change or flex positions, then the resistive element will tend to wear out due to metal fatigue. Metal-based resistive heating elements are typically formed as metal wires. These elements are expensive, can require very high temperature processing, and are limited in shape. In addition, when a breakage occurs, typically due to fatigue as described above, then the entire element stops working and must be replaced.
Several prior art inventions relate to electrically conductive plastics. U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,218 to McKaveney describes electrically conductive articles. The articles are formed from a non-conductive matrix containing an electrically conductive dispersion of finely divided ferroalloy, silicon alloy, or mixtures. U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,027 to Marks et al describes a composite antenna with a grid comprised of electrical conductors woven into the warp of a resin reinforced cloth forming one layer of the multi-layer laminate structure of the antenna. U.S. Pat. No. 6,249,261 to Solberg, Jr. et al details a direction-finding antenna constructed from polymer composite materials that are electrically conductive. The polymer composite materials replace traditional metal materials. U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,303 to Foulger describes conductive polymer composite materials. The conductive polymer composite material includes a minor phase material that has a semi crystalline polymer. The composite material further includes a conductive filler material dispersed in the minor phase material in an amount sufficient to be equal to or greater than an amount required to generate a continuous conductive network within the minor phase material. The composite material also incorporates a major phase material. The major phase material being a polymer which when mixed with the minor phase material will not engage in electrostatic interactions that promote miscibility. The major phase material has the minor phase material dispersed within it in an amount sufficient to be equal to or greater than an amount required to generate a continuous conductive network in the major phase material. This composite then forms a semiconductive ternary composite with distinct co-continuous phases.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,558,746 to Starz et al details a coating composition for producing electrically conductive coatings, containing one or more electrically conductive pigment and an organic binder. The coating composition, optionally, contains additives and auxiliary agents. The coatings thus obtained are especially well-bonded and resistant to mechanical influences and to solvents, and exhibit suitable conductivity (sheet resistivity) values. U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,446 to Ushijima provides an electrically conductive paste made up of an electrically conductive filler combined with a heating element adapted to generate heat upon electromagnetic induction. The paste is then compounded with a resin. In addition, Nv Bekaert sa of Kortrijk, Belgium manufactures metal yarns, knitted metal fabric, chopped metal fibers and pellets, and sintered porous media. The fibers are marketed with diameters of from 1 μm to 20 μm and may be chopped into fiber pieces or be of continuous yarns. The metals shown in the product description found www.bekaert.com Jan. 25, 2003 are stainless steel, temperature resistant alloys, nickel and nickel alloys, titanium, aluminum, and copper. In the article, "I Want My Pizza Hot!," by Sbenaty, in the Journal of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education, January-April 2000, Volume 1, Issue 1 a design exercise describes a heating element for home delivery of food such as Pizza using a material that consists of a flexible conductive polymer material connected between integral copper bus wires.
In the article, "Nanocomposite Materials Offer Higher Conductivity and Flexibility", McCluskey, et al., Proceedings of 3rd International Conference on Adhesive Joining and Coating Technology in Electronics Manufacturing, 1998, pp: 282-286, describes the mechanical and electrical characteristics of a conductive polymer made with conductive silver flake nanoparticle fillers. The use of nanoparticle fillers allows the material to attain the same level of conductivity exhibited by traditional filled polymers at significantly lower particle loading. The conductive polymer combines the high conductivity and stability of a filled polymer with the flexibility and low density of an intrinsically conductive polymer. The nanoparticle metal fillers examined have dimensions between 200 nm and 20 μm, and when mixed with a non-conductive polymer matrix, they have a resistivity of from 10-100 Ohm-cm. Further, McCluskey et al. discusses that the onset of conductivity of a silver filled silicone begins with 65-75% ratio by weight of silver to the silicone for a 3 μm-20 μm particle size. A 200 nm particle has an onset of conductivity at 35-40% ratio by weight of silver to the silicone.

Low cost heating devices manufactured from conductive loaded resin-based materials