Provided is a protective semiconductor device detecting a disconnection reliably with secondary cells including for each cell: cell-connecting terminals; a first resistance detecting the voltage of each cell; a comparator detecting whether or not the voltage of each cell is in the reference voltage range; a series circuit composed of a second resistance and a first switch element, and including a control circuit controlling ON/OFF of the switch element, wherein the first switch element connects the second resistance to the connecting terminals by turning ON, while disconnecting it by turning OFF, the control circuit maintains a disconnection test signal ON, while turning ON the plurality of first switch elements sequentially and detecting the disconnection between the cells and the connecting terminals based on the output signal from the comparator corresponding to the first switch element turned ON.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a protective semiconductor device for a secondary cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
Battery packs, which are easy to handle, have been widely used for mobile electronic devices. Such battery packs are formed of a package in which one or more secondary cells are contained. As the secondary cell, a high-capacity battery such as a lithium-ion battery, a lithium polymer battery, a nickel hydride battery, and so on is used. There is a possibility of evolution of high-temperature heat leading to ignition if an overcharge, an over discharge, an excess current, and so on are generated, since these high-capacity batteries have a high amount of energy therein.
Hence, a protective semiconductor device to prevent the occurrence of overcharge, over discharge, charge-excess current, discharge-excess current, short-circuit current, abnormal overheating, and so on is contained in the battery pack of the secondary cell. The protective semiconductor device also prevents deterioration of the secondary cell, while preventing evolution of heat and ignition from occurring by blocking the connection with the charger or the load device if necessary.
In recent years, a protective semiconductor device which protects a plurality of the secondary cells used by connecting them in series has been developed. However, in conventional protective semiconductor devices which protect the plurality of the secondary cells used by connecting them in series, there is a problem in that the a disconnection cannot be detected when generated at a part of a connection between the secondary cells and the protective semiconductor device.
In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-027658 (Patent Document 1), a method to compare a cell voltage when charge-discharge current is flowing with the one when the current is not flowing in order to detect the disconnection between the secondary cells and the protective semiconductor device is disclosed. However, by the method such as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the disconnection of the connection between the secondary cells and the protective semiconductor device which arises while using the secondary cells cannot be detected.

Protective semiconductor device for secondary cell


An anti-fouling agent derived by culturing Vibrio alginolyticus in a suitable aqueous solution as well as a newly isolated strain of V. alginolyticus (DSM 15590) for producing the anti-fouting agent. The anti-fouling agent can be used as a component to produce other anti-fouling compositions, Depending on the use, the anti-fouling agent derived from V. alginolyricus may be use directly, or subject to further purification.

For industries operating in the marine environment biofouling, i.e. the unwanted colonization of man-made structures by bacterial slimes, macroorganisms and macroalgae, has significant economic implications. Submerged surfaces such as water pipes, power plant water intake systems, sewer pipes, boat hulls, propellers, heat exchangers, grids, fish nets and cages, and the like are prone to marine biofouling. Aquatic pests frequently clog pipes or become attached to submerged surfaces and thus interfere with normal operations. For example, warm water associated with power plant cooling systems provides an ideal environment for the attachment and growth of aquatic organisms. Biofouling organisms also attach to other surfaces in the aquatic environment such as fishing nets, buoys, pilings, off-shore platforms, lumber, and concrete. When a clean surface is introduced into an aquatic environment, it typically becomes coated with a conditioning layer of hydrophobic dissolved organic compounds (Rittschof D. 1997 In Fingerman M et. al. (eds) Recent advances in marine biotechnology, Vol. 3. Science Publishers, Inc., NH, pp. 245–257). Microorganisms such as bacteria, algae, fungi, and protozoa attach to the conditioning layer and establish colonies, which result in the formation of a slime layer (Clare et al., 1992 Invert Reprod Dev 22:67–76). Such slimes contribute to the establishment of biofouling communities because planktonic (free floating) larvae of many invertebrate biofouling organisms are physically and chemically attracted to the slime layer (Wieczorek et al., 1997 Mar Ecol Prog Ser 119:221–226). Biofouling organisms with a calcareous shell or tubes are particularly troublesome and include mussels, tubeworms and barnacles. Biofouling of underwater structures results in significant economic losses to industry. Decreased fuel efficiency, increased cleaning and maintenance expenses, as well as outage expenses all contribute to increased economic expenditures (Rittschof D. 1997 In Fingerman M, Nagabhushanam R, Thompson M-F (eds) Recent advances in marine biotechnology, Vol. 3. Science Publishers, Inc., NH, pp. 245–257).
The incentive for preventing marine biofouling is great. As a result, various methods and compositions have been developed for the prevention of marine biofouling. For example, utilities employ several methods for removing established biofouling communities. Periodic power outages are employed to physically enter power plant systems to remove organisms and debris. In addition, utilities often attempt to kill established biofouling communities by pumping large volumes of chlorine or other biocides through water handling systems. However, these methods are slow acting and adversely affect the local ecology downstream from the effluent. Furthermore, these chemical treatments are inefficient because toxins are mixed in bulk water phase in an attempt to treat a surface phenomenon. Another drawback of certain existing chemical treatments is that relatively large toxic doses must be maintained for extended periods to effectively eliminate biofouling pests (Rittschof D. 1997 In Fingerman M, Nagabhushanam R, Thompson M-F (eds) Recent advances in marine biotechnology, Vol. 3. Science Publishers, Inc., NH, pp. 245–257). Ablative toxic antifouling coatings containing tributyl tin, copper alloys, mercury compounds, or cathodic protection have also been employed to control fouling. These antifouling coatings include toxins, which are leached into the aquatic environment to inhibit biofouling (Rittschof D. 1997 In Fingerman M, Nagabhushanam R, Thompson M-F (eds) Recent advances in marine biotechnology, Vol. 3. Science Publishers, Inc., NH, pp. 245–257). The most widely used chemical antifoulant compound is tri-n-butyl tin (TBT). High concentrations of TBT have been found in sediments particularly in harbors and along commercial shipping routes (Hashimoto et al., 1998 Mar Environ Res 45: 169–177). The adverse effects of TBT and its' derivatives on the marine environment have been recognized for some time, particularly their androgenic effect (Fisher et al. 1999 Mar Environ Res 47: 185–201; Mathiessen P., Gibbs P. E. 1998 Environ Toxicol Chem 17: 37–43). In response to these concerns Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has developed an instrument to ban the application of tributyltin paints from 1 Jan. 2003, with the intent that no TBT paints will remain on vessels after 1 Jan. 2008 (http://www.imo.org/conventions).
Vessels are increasingly painted with copper-based paints as an alternative to TBT paints. However, these "alternatives" have negative effects on the marine environment, too, e.g. oysters accumulate considerable amounts of copper and it is toxic to marine algae (Claisse & Alzieu 1993 Mar Pollut Bull 26: 395–397). Concerns about the toxicity of not only TBT, but also all antifouling biocides has stimulated research and development of non-toxic, fouling release coatings. Therefore, the development of a marine paint or paint ingredient that is non-toxic, non-heavy-metal-based and benign to the marine environment is urgently sought. A preemptive antifouling composition is needed for treating surfaces in aquatic environment in a highly effective manner.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of producing an anti-fouling agent and a composition derived therefrom.

Anti-fouling exopolysaccharides isolated from cultures of

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology


A method transmits packets over a single channel in a wireless communication network that includes multiple nodes. Access to the channel is gained in a transmitting node. Then, a block of packets is transmitted to a receiving node via the channel. The transmitting node receives only a single acknowledgement packet from the receiving node in response to transmitting the block of packets.

In wireless communication networks, common topologies are a 'star' network operating in infrastructure mode and a 'cluster' network operating in ad hoc mode. In a star network, all nodes, e.g., mobile terminals, communicate packets indirectly with each other via a central node called a coordinator or access point (AP), e.g., a base station. The AP receives packets from transmitting nodes and forwards the packets to receiving nodes. In a cluster network, all terminals communicate packets directly with each other.
The operation of such networks can be according to the IEEE 802.15.3 and IEEE 802.15.4 standards, see "IEEE Standard for Information technology—Telecommunications and information exchange between systems—Local and metropolitan area networks: "Specific requirements Part 15.3: Wireless Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications for High Rate Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs)," 2003, and IEEE Standard for Information technology—Telecommunications and information exchange between systems—Local and metropolitan area networks—"Specific requirements Part 15.4: Wireless Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications for High Rate Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs)," 2003.
Because the signals transmitted by all nodes share the same frequency band, it is necessary to enforce a channel access methodology in order to efficiently utilize the network bandwidth. This can be done with a channel access schedule, which determines when and how terminals can access the channel. The access schedule can be broadcast periodically using a beacon frame.
The beacon specifies network parameters, i.e., transmission rates, logical channels, network identifiers, and the channel access schedule. The period between successive beacon signals is called a frame. The beacon is followed by a contention period and a contention free period. The beacon frame defines the start of the contention period, the start of the contention free period, and the access schedule for the contention free period.
During the contention period, the terminals compete with each other to gain access to the physical channel. Typically, a random access method such as Aloha or CSMA is used. After gaining access, terminals transmit packets on the channel strictly according to the access schedule during the contention free period to guarantee interference free packet transmissions.
Recent advances in wireless communications, such as smart antennas, digital signal processing and VLSI, make it possible to provide very high-capacity wireless channels in the physical medium layer. These emerging physical-layer technologies offer at least an order-of-magnitude larger bandwidth than the bandwidths used by current generation standards.
For example, the IEEE 802.11n standard for a physical layer specification provides up to 100 Mb/s throughput at the medium access control (MAC) layer. The IEEE 802.15.3a standard for high-capacity wireless personal area networks aims at data rates of 110 Mb/s or higher using ultra-wideband (UWB) communications.
CSMA/CA Media Access Control
Wireless networks, based on the IEEE 802.11 standard, use a distributed coordination function (DCF) to control access to the physical channel. The DCF applies to both infrastructure and ad-hoc modes and can follow the well-known CSMA/CA medium access control (MAC).
Before each packet is transmitted, a node senses the channel, waits until the channel becomes idle, and then defers for a time interval called a DCF inter-frame space (DIFS). Then, the node enters a backoff stage and determines a random time interval called the backoff-time. The random time interval is uniformly distributed between zero and a size of a contention window (CW). After the backoff-time expires, an optional Request to Send/Clear to Send (RTS/CTS) is initiated between the two communicating nodes. After successful RTS/CTS, only one data packet is transmitted over the channel. If the packet is received correctly, the receiving node transmits an acknowledgement packet (ACK) for the single transmitted packet, unless the packet was broadcast to all nodes. If an ACK packet is not received, the packet is retransmitted, until it is correctly received.
To reduce the probability of collisions, the size of the CW is doubled after each perceived collision until a maximum value, CWmax, is reached. The size of the CW is reset to a fixed minimum value, CWmin, after a successful transmission of a packet to maintain channel efficiency.
The MAC for the IEEE 802.11e standard provides quality-of-service (QoS) for multiple contending nodes. The standard defines a hybrid coordination function (HCF), which combines DCF and point coordinated function (PCF) with enhanced QoS mechanisms. The contention based channel access mechanism in HCF is called an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA). This provides fully distributed, differential channel access.
As shown in FIG. 1, a virtual collision handler 120 for EDCA uses four access categories (ACs) 100-103. Each of the ACs can be considered as an instance of the DCF described above. To achieve different channel access priorities, ACs are configured with different value of DIFS, now called arbitration IFS (AIFS) 110, CWmin and CWmax. Moreover, the access point can dynamically adjust these parameters by setting new values in the appropriate fields of the periodic beacons. Within the four ACs, AC0 and AC1 are typically employed for carrying best effort and background traffic at relatively low data rates, video streams use AC2, and audio streams use AC3 to attain a highest priority delivery at relatively high data rates.
Limitations of Current CSMA/CA MAC
The current 802.11 MAC is inefficient for a high-capacity physical layer. FIG. 2 illustrates the MAC-layer throughput achieved by DCF when the physical layer nominal bit rate is 216 Mb/s. As shown by curve 201, the current DCF MAC can only deliver about 48 Mb/s throughput when RTS/CTS is disabled, and curve 202 shows that a mere 30 Mb/s of throughput when the RTS/CTS is enabled. This is far below the target rate of 100 Mb/s at the MAC-layer, as specified by the IEEE 802.11n MAC standard.
The fundamental problem is that current MAC according to the IEEE 802.11 standard is rather inefficient, causing a significant reduction in bandwidth. The inefficiencies are due to excessive overhead for the RTS/CTS, packet preambles, acknowledgements, contention windows and various interframe-spacing parameters. The overhead becomes even more significant as the data rate increases. This is because the relative portion of channel time actually carrying data decreases, while the overhead remains constant. The packet preambles and various interframe spacing are fixed parameters determined by specific designs of the physical layer.
Hence, it is an object of the invention to reduce this overhead.
The current CSMA/CA based design cannot exploit the multi-rate capability to increase the overall channel utilization. The DCF MAC ensures roughly the same long-term access probability, hence throughput fairness, for each node, no matter the transmit rate used by the node. As a result, the channel is unnecessarily monopolized by low-rate nodes in terms of channel access time. The high-rate nodes only utilize a disproportionately lower amount of access time. This leads to sub-optimal overall channel throughput. As a byproduct, this also results in completely unfair time allocation for nodes with different transmission rates. The unfairness especially penalizes the throughput of the high-rate nodes and largely cancels out the high capacity offered at the physical layer.
Hence, it also an object of the invention to fully exploit multi-rate capabilities.
Communication-intensive applications, such as video and audio streams, are made possible by the new physical layer. These applications typically require quality-of-service (QoS) assurances in terms of minimum delay and/or minimum bandwidth, in order to function properly. However, current MAC solutions do not provide any performance bounds.
Hence, it also an object of the invention to support service differentiation among diverse applications to assure QoS statistically within a single MAC.

Access control and protocol for packet switched wireless communications networks

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.


The invention provides ssDNA-binding proteins from three species of archaeons, Methanococcus jannaschii, Methanobacter theromoautotrophicum, and Archaeoglobus fulgidus, as well as the ability to identify ssDNA-binding proteins from other archaeons. The proteins help render DNA more accessible to DNA polymerase and are robust reagents for a variety of biotechnical processes, including PCR. The invention further provides nucleic acids encoding such proteins, vectors for transfecting host cells, host cells comprising the vectors, and methods of using the proteins.

Single stranded (ss) DNA-binding proteins are essential to virtually all aspects of DNA metabolism. These proteins, typified by the Escherichia coli ssDNA-binding protein (SSB) in Bacteria (Sancar, A., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78, 4274-4278 (1981), Lohman, T. M. et al, Annu. Rev. Biochem. 63, 527-570 (1994)) and the human replication protein-A (RPA) complex in Eucarya (Fairman, M. P. et al., Embo J. 7, 1211-1218 (1988); Wold, M. S. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85, 2523-2527 (1988); and Wold, M. S., Annu. Rev. Biochem. 66, 61-92 (1997)), are required for in vitro DNA replication and are key components in DNA recombination and repair. Although functionally equivalent, SSB protein and RPA have very different protein structures. Bacterial SSB proteins are encoded by a single gene, although the active form is a homotetramer of SSB where each monomer contributes one ssDNA-binding domain. By contrast, the RPA complex is composed of three distinct subunits.
The large subunit of RPA, RPA70, has several-domains, each associated with a given function (Gomes, X. V., J. Biol. Chem. 270, 4534-4543 (1995), Gomes, X. V. Biochemistry 35, 10558-10568 (1996)). The N-terminal region of RPA70 mediates interactions between RPA and many cellular or viral proteins, whereas the central region contains two functional, homologous, ssDNA-binding sites that are arranged in tandem. The C-terminal region of RPA70 is involved in the assembly of the heterotrimeric complex. The intermediate subunit of RPA, RPA32, which carries a third functional ssDNA-binding site (Bochkareva, E., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 273, 3932-3947 (1998)), is phosphorylated in a cell-cycle dependent manner, although no specific role is attributed to this modification (Henricksen, L. A., Nucleic Acids Res. 24, 3107-3112 (1996)). Finally, the small subunit (RPA14) carries an additional putative ssDNA-binding motif; however, but no direct evidence for DNA binding by this subunit exists.
Interestingly, the four ssDNA-binding motifs of RPA and the motif of SSB protein show a significant degree of homology (Philipova, D. et al., Genes Dev. 10, 2222-2233 (1996)). Moreover, there is striking structural conservation among the ssDNA-binding domains of RPA, and members of both the prokaryotic SSB protein family and the phage-encoded SSB proteins (Bochkarev, A., Nature 385, 176-181 (1997)). These findings suggest that RPA and SSB protein originated from a common ancestral ssDNA-binding protein and then diverged through evolution by a combination of duplications, deletions, and additions.
While ssDNA binding proteins have been known for Bacteria and for Eucarya, the art has not identified a counterpart of a ssDNA binding protein for the third domain of life, the Archaea.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Single stranded DNA binding proteins from Archaea and uses therefor

The Regents of the University of California

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


This invention relates to a breast measuring device (1) for determining bra size. The breast measuring device comprises a band size measuring tape (3, 43) and a cup size measuring tape (5, 7) mounted on and extending substantially perpendicular to the band size measuring tape. The band size measuring tape comprises a flexible tape having indicia (19) printed thereon representative of band sizes and the cup size measuring tape comprises a flexible tape having indicia (23) printed thereon indicative of cup sizes. The breast measuring device (1) has a buckle (53) mounted on one end of the band size measuring tape through which the other end of the band size measuring tape (3, 43) may be led and there is provided means (17, 29, 57) to releasably secure the band size measuring tape in a looped configuration. When the device is secured in a looped configuration, the cup size measuring tape (5, 7) can be used to measure the cup size and both the band size and the cup size will be visible simultaneously.

It is a well-documented fact that a high percentage of women worldwide wear the wrong bra size due to poor measurement. It is very important for women and girls to wear the correct size of bra. Failure to wear the correct size of bra can result in many problems including, but not limited to, health issues for the wearer. For example, if the bra is too small for the wearer it will have a tendency to distort the wearer's posture, causing the wearer to lean forward. This distorted posture puts pressure on the spine and internal organs of the wearer and over time can lead to a loss of muscle definition. In addition to health problems, an ill-fitting bra can be aesthetically displeasing as it can cause the breasts to look larger than they actually are. Poor posture and/or poor aesthetics can, over time, lead to a confidence issue for the wearer.
A woman's breast size will change over time and therefore it is important to periodically measure the breasts to ensure that the bra size being worn is correct. In order to ascertain the correct bra size, there are two essential measurements that must be obtained, band size and cup size. The band size is a measurement corresponding to the circumference of the wearer's torso at a level just below the breast. For example, in the UK and US, typically, the band size is four or five inches more than the circumference of the torso at this point. The band size is usually identified by a two digit number. Other regions often will have different measurement starting points, different measurement units and different increments. The cup size is a measure corresponding to the volume of the breast and is usually identified by one or more letters. For example, 32B and 34C are examples of two different bra sizes (according to the UK measurement system) with different band measurements (32 and 34 respectively) and different cup sizes (B and C respectively).
Unfortunately, it is all too common for women and girls to wear an ill-fitting bra. There are many reasons why this is the case. One reason that is often postulated is that many women are uncomfortable being measured for a bra and are therefore reluctant to be measured. Another reason is that the measurement, particularly if carried out by the woman herself, is performed incorrectly.
There are several tools available for determining the correct bra size for a woman. For example, WO02/39052 in the name of Morplan Limited, EP1,178,280 in the name of Lunaire, Inc., U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,761 in the name of Pechter, U.S. Pat. No. 2,946,125 in the name of Gittelson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,855 in the name of Shiraiwa et al and GB870,050 in the name of Inventex all describe measuring devices for determining the correct bra size. There are however problems with the known measuring devices. For example, some of the known measuring devices require the user to memorise measurements, perform mental arithmetic or refer to look-up tables which can be confusing and can lead to errors in measurement. Some of the known measuring devices are relatively complex or cumbersome to use and require the assistance of a third party which can cause discomfort and embarrassment.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a measuring device for determining bra size that overcomes at least some of the problems with the known devices. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a measuring device for determining bra size that is simple and intuitive to use, that is accurate and that can be operated without the assistance of a third party if desired. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a breast measuring device that offers an alternative choice to the consumer.

Breast measuring device for determining bra size


A helmet is provided. The helmet includes a helmet shell and a mounting system laterally positioned on the helmet shell. The helmet further includes a visor removably and pivotally connected to the mounting system, the visor being movable between lowered and raised positions. Finally, the helmet includes a peak removably connected to the mounting system, the mounting system being operable to disengage the visor and the peak upon manual operation thereof. A mounting system for customizing a helmet is also provided. Finally, a method of configuring the helmet is provided.

A helmet, such as those used for outdoor activities, typically comprises an external shell defining a cavity for housing a wearer's head, and a front opening to allow the wearer to see. In the case of snowmobile helmets, the front opening is traditionally covered by goggles or a visor pivotally mounted to the helmet shell to protect the eyes of the wearer when riding. Additionally, many models of snowmobile helmets are provided with a peak mounted on the front of the helmet to protect the user from weather-related issues, such as sunlight, rain and debris for example.
On occasions, it may be necessary to clean, remove or replace helmets parts, such as the visor and/or peak.

Helmet, mounting system for a helmet and method of using same


A golf ball having a coating layer which is excellent in resistance to impact, scuffing and abrasion without increasing the thickness of the layer. The coating layer has a hardness of 21 to 60 N/mm2, which is calculated by the following expression (1):

This application is based on patent application No. 10-359726 filed in Japan, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by references.
The present invention relates to a golf ball having a coating layer which is excellent in resistance to impact and scuffing. More particularly, a golf ball having a coating layer which has a high hardness with a small thickness.
A golf ball generally has a coating layer enclosing a main body of the golf ball in order to provide gloss to the golf ball surface. However, it is difficult to maintain the gloss for a long time, since the golf ball is used in various severe circumstances. Therefore, the coating layer of the golf ball is required to satisfy the following properties: 1) flexibility capable of preventing cracking even due to extremely large deformation of the ball resulting from, for example, an impact of a driver shot; 2) high scuffing resistance capable of preventing damages due to large friction resulting from an iron shot; 3) high abrasion resistance capable of preventing abrasion due to a bunker shot; 4) high impact resistance capable of preventing peeling of the coating layer from the golf ball main body due to hit by golf clubs; and 5) high waterproof capable of preventing peeling of the coating layer due to use in the rain.
To improve impact and scuffing resistance of a golf ball, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-59566 discloses a coating material for a golf ball obtained by mixing a specified polyurethane polyol with non-yellowing polyisocyanate. However, since the coating material forms a soft coating layer for the purpose of increasing its impact resistance, the formed layer is poor in scuffing and abrasion resistance.
In addition, material for a driver club has recently changed from woods into hard metals such as titanium (Vickers hardness 300), and material for an iron club has also changed from mild steel (Vickers hardness 200) into stainless steel (Vickers hardness 360). These new clubs are likely to cause more severe cracks and abrasion in the golf ball surface than conventional clubs. Thus, a demand has been increasing for a golf ball having increased scuffing and abrasion resistance.
One of the solutions for improving scuffing and abrasion resistance may be to increase the thickness of a coating layer of a golf ball. This solution, however, is likely to deform a dimple structure formed on the golf ball surface and thereby make different flight curve from that of the conventional golf ball. Thus, the golf ball having a thick coating layer may not be for practical use. Also, a thicker coating layer needs higher cost of a coating material for the layer.
An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having a coating layer which is excellent in scuffing and abrasion resistance without increasing the layer thickness.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a golf ball having a main body and a coating layer enclosing the main body. The coating layer has a thickness of 5 to 20 xcexcm and a hardness of 21 to 60 N/mm2. The hardness is calculated according to the following expression (1),
Hardness=(test load)/{26.43xc3x97(penetration depth (mm))2}xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
wherein the test load is 3 mN.

Abstract: wherein the test load is 3 mN.


Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of predicting resource availability in a given time period by leveraging profile data associated with one or more users. The method includes analyzing historical use of a resource by the one or more users based on information included in records respectively associated with each user of the one or more of users. The method includes determining, based on the analysis, that one or more factors are likely predictors of use of the resource by the one or more users. The method includes predicting that there is a statistical likelihood that the one or more users will use the resource during a period of time, responsive to the determining of the one or more factors. The method includes sending, to a venue, a notification that indicates likely use of the resource by the at least one user during the given time period.

Restaurants and sports bars are popular venues for watching sporting events. However, it is very difficult for these venues to estimate the turnover time for tables during events in order to maximize reservations and fill capacity. A sports bar that may have an average turnover time of 45 minutes in a given night, may have an adjusted turnover time of two hours on high profiled sporting event days. There is a long felt need to overcome these challenges.

Predicting resource availability based on user profile data

International Business Machines Corporation


A shooting string apparatus used in playing the sport of lacrosse. The apparatus is located in the head of a lacrosse stick during the play of the game of lacrosse. During lacrosse play, a player may find it advantageous to use this invention in the making of easy and rapid adjustments to the tensions of the webbing in the area of shooting string apparatus. There may be one or several shooting string apparatus in use simultaneously. In this invention, the shooting string apparatus is constructed with a flat central piece called the shooting string section. Affixed to the shooting section are a series of flaps or opposed flaps that fold over and hold the shooting string in place within the stick head. A tension string may be encompassed by but does not attach to and does not extend internally through the shooting string section. The shooting string section does not itself exert tension on the webbing. The shooting string apparatus of this invention can be quickly and easily moved from one stick head to another.

This invention is used in the sport of lacrosse, which is considered the oldest team contact sport of North America. The sport of lacrosse is played with sticks used for catching, carrying, and throwing a ball into the opposing team's goal. Lacrosse sticks have a handle and a head. The head of the stick is a frame. Strung across the head frame with varying degrees of looseness and tension are flexible elements such as strings, thongs and/or netting material. Within the head frame, the thongs and/or netting material are typically strung either traditionally (a complex pattern of leather and nylon strings woven together) or in mesh (a piece of mesh material attached to the head by nylon strings) to create what is known as a pocket. According to the jargon of the sport, a ball in play will be held in the pocket. The pocket is an area of slack in the flexible elements. And the determining factors as to how each individual pocket throws (the degree up or down out of the pocket when the ball is released) is the friction imparted by the shooting strings and the tension of the web elements in the location of the shooting strings.
In the lexicon of the sport, the word "tension" does not carry the meaning that an engineer would use in the sense of a force being applied. Rather, players of the sport use the word "tension" to identify the amount of slack or excess length in a flexible element. The greater the tension means the less excess slack in comparison to the slack in the other flexible elements. Similarly the word "friction" as used by players has a meaning relating to ball release characteristics and not just the strict engineering term of resistance to relative motion between two bodies in contact.
In the act of throwing or shooting, the lacrosse stick is swung in an arc and the ball, which is initially located around the center of the pocket, begins to travel away from the center of the arc out of the pocket due to centrifugal force. While the ball is accelerating out of the pocket, it remains in constant contact with the pocket and the forces exerted when the ball passes over the shooting strings and the angle created by the shooting strings determines the degree up or down the ball will travel once released from the pocket. The greater the tension of the shooting strings, the greater the downward angle the ball will follow after hitting the strings. The lesser the tension, the greater the upward angle the ball will follow since there is not as much rebound surface redirecting it down. Similarly the friction of the playing ball surface in contact with the shooting strings and flexible elements of the stick head will also control the angle of ball release.
Most players of the sport use more than one shooting string in their stick head pocket. The reason for this is to provide a more fluent release from the stick head pocket. This is achieved by staggering the differences in tension throughout multiple shooting strings, where the first shooting string with which the ball comes in contact contains the least amount of tension among the shooting strings, and the amount of tension becomes gradually greater with each shooting string with which the ball comes in contact. This eliminates the abrupt release experienced when there is only one shooting string and the ball experiences a great amount of friction and tension all at once instead of small amounts of friction and tension gradually. A small amount of friction and tension gradually creates a smooth, fluid release most players of the sport prefer. However, every player is different and has his/her own personal preference as to how the ball is released from their pocket, so best release option, whether a smooth, gradual release or a hard, abrupt release remains up to each individual players taste. It is very difficult to create the perfect tension for your style of throwing/shooting, and even when the perfect tension is found, it is extremely difficult to maintain that tension over long periods of time.
Until now, the shooting string has been nothing more than continuous common string-like material with perhaps expansions in the string as identified by the prior invention of the inventor herein. Typically, the string was intricately interwoven into the pocket, and wound over itself repeatedly. This is not only very difficult, but creates the problem of permanence, making it extremely hard to add and remove the strings. In inserting or adjusting a shooting string, the degree of tension had to be guesstimated by hand, and, when the appropriate degree of tension was thought to be found, the string had to be interwoven and wound over itself repeatedly by using both hands while simultaneously holding the stick with some other part of the body, hoping to not have altered the tension in the process. The problem here is that since the player is guesstimating the tension, it becomes a trial and error process to find the perfect tension. In addition, once the player finds the perfect tension, it takes only weeks, days, and sometimes even hours before the tension changes causing wild throws.
There are many different reasons causing the change in tension. The main reason would probably be due to the weather. Lacrosse is an outdoor sport so the lacrosse sticks are exposed to nearly all forms of natural elements. The most common element would have to be rain. When the shooting strings become wet, they expand in size and are more susceptible to be stretched when force is applied to them. While playing the game of lacrosse, each player must catch and throw the ball numerous times. Each time these actions are performed, force is applied to the shooting strings casing them to stretch. Lesser but more frequent forces are created by the mere swinging of the stick. Conversely, exposure to heat, rising temperatures, and sunlight may cause the string to shrink. Once this happens, the tension in the shooting strings becomes distorted causing the ball to be released from the sticks pocket differently, ultimately resulting in throws/shots being very off target to no fault of the player, but by fault of the shooting strings.
Because the strings are intricately interwoven into the pocket and wound over itself repeatedly, there is a great length of string being used. Even a small percentage change in length can cause a multiplicative change in tension. Players use of a great deal of interwoven and wound over itself string in order to obtain bulk and friction in the pocket that will change the release angle.
When the shooting strings stretch or shrink, it is a very unpleasant process to correct this problem. If this should happen during a practice, a player is forced to call a timeout and be replaced. The player must go to the sideline and attempt many various tensions until the player finally finds the appropriate tension. Meanwhile, the player is missing practice.
Although the practice situation of shrunken or stretched strings is annoying, it may just be the best case scenario for a player's shooting strings to fail. For example, imagine playing in a championship game and with your team down by one with only seconds left in the game. The wear and tear of a full game's worth of applied forces to your shooting strings and varying weather conditions has caused the tension to change without your knowing it. The shooting string tensions have changed dramatically just as you become open mere feet in front of the opposition's goalkeeper. Your teammate delivers a perfect pass to you with three seconds left on the clock giving you the perfect opportunity to tie the game and send it into overtime. You wind up and deliver your shot; and you can see in your mind's eye the ball entering the goal before you even release it. Then, to your horror, you see the ball sailing away, completely off line from its intended target. Your heart drops as you realize what must have happened as you watch your shot travel into the parking lot and the opposition begins to celebrate. You blew it, or should I say, your shooting strings blew it. There is no worse feeling than wondering if that shot would have scored if your shooting strings had remained at the tension you were used to, the tension you were expecting when you took that final shot.


A connection assembly has a male connector, a first engaging ring securely mounted on the male connector, a female connector and a second engaging ring securely received in the female connector. The first engaging ring has first claws formed to abut a periphery defining the second annular groove formed on the female connector and the second engaging ring has second claws formed to abut a periphery defining the first annular groove formed on the male connector. Engagement between the male connector and the female connector is accomplished after the abutment between the first claws and the second annular groove and between the second claws and the first annular groove is finished.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connection assembly, and more particularly to a connection assembly used for connection between a fuel nozzle and a filling hose to facilitate separation between the fuel nozzle and the filling hose when the fuel nozzle encounters a pulling force so as to avoid hazard caused by the breakage of the filling hose.
2. Description of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,260 ('260) discloses a conventional coupling member for connecting a fuel nozzle to a filling hose. The coupling member is composed of a male coupling member and a female coupling member. The coupling member is able to facilitate the separation between the male coupling member and the female coupling member to prevent the entrainment of the nozzle by the vehicle from rupturing the hose or damaging the fuel pump having a detent which is wedged out of engagement by a torque applied to the male member within the female member against the force of a restoring spring because of play between the male and female coupling members.
The structure disclosed in the '260 patent does have the function and ability to facilitate the separation between the fuel nozzle and the filing hose, however because the engagement between the male coupling member and the female coupling member depends solely on the detent ring and the restoring spring, it is quite easy for the filling hose and the fuel nozzle to separate when the vehicle is applying a force to the fuel nozzle, which causes a lot of unnecessary trouble in fixing the separated fuel nozzle and the filling hose.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide an improved connection assembly to mitigate the aforementioned problems.

Connection assembly used for connection between a fuel nozzle and a filling hose


In a known copy protection process for preventing recording of video signals, pseudo sync and AGC pulses are present on predetermined lines within the blanking intervals of the video signal so that any subsequent video tape recording of the video signal shows a picture of very low entertainment quality. This copy protection process is defeated first by determining the location of the video lines containing the copy protection using the color burst signal or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval to determine on-line detection. Then some or all of the lines including copy protection signals are modified so as to render the overall video signal recordable. The modification is accomplished in a number of ways, including gain shifting portions of the video signal, level shifting portions of the video signal, bandwidth limiting certain portions of the video signal or replacing certain portions of the video signal with other video elements.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for processing a video signal, and more particularly to removing (defeating) effects of copy protection signals from a video signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,603 ('603) by Ryan, issued on Dec. 23, 1986 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING A VIDEO SIGNAL SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE MAKING OF ACCEPTABLE VIDEO TAPE RECORDINGS THEREOF describes a video signal that is modified so that a television receiver will still provide a normal color picture from the modified video signal while a videotape recording of the modified video signal produces generally unacceptable pictures (incorporated by reference).
The '603 invention relies on the fact that typical videocassette recorder's automatic gain control systems cannot distinguish between the normal sync pulses (including equalizing or broad pulses) of a conventional video signal and added pseudo-sync pulses. Pseudo-sync pulses are defined here as pulses which extend down to a normal sync tip level and which have a duration of a least 0.5 microseconds. A plurality of such pseudo-sync pulses is added to the conventional video during the vertical blanking interval, and each of such pseudo-sync pulses is followed by a positive pulse of suitable amplitude and duration.
As a result, the automatic gain control system in a video-tape recorder will make a fake measurement of video level which causes an improper recording of the video signal. The result is unacceptable picture quality during playback.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,098 ('098) by Ryan, issued on Apr. 4, 1989 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLUSTERING MODIFICATIONS MADE TO A VIDEO SIGNAL TO INHIBIT THE MAKING OF ACCEPTABLE VIDEOTAPE RECORDING describes a signal modification so that a television monitor receiver still produces a normal picture from the modified signal, whereas a videotape recording of this signal produces generally unacceptable pictures and is incorporated by reference. Videotape recorders have an automatic gain control circuit which measures the sync level in a video signal and develops a gain correction for keeping the video level applied to an FM modulator in the videotape recording system at a fixed, predetermined value. A plurality of positive pulses are added to a video signal with each immediately following a respective trailing edge of a normally occurring sync pulse. These added pulses are clustered at the vertical blanking interval of each field to minimize the affect of the same on the viewability of the picture defined by the signal while still causing the automatic level control circuit in a recorder to assess the video level at many times its actual value. The sync pulses themselves can also be at a reduced level, in order to enhance the effectiveness of the process.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,901 ('901) by Ryan, issued on Oct. 2, 1990 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING PSEUDO-SYNC AND/OR AN AGC PULSES FROM A VIDEO SIGNAL describes removing pseudo-sync pulses and AGC pulses that have been added to a video signal to enable acceptable video recording thereof and is hereby incorporated by reference. The added signals previously interfered with acceptable video recording of the video signal because the automatic gain control of videotape recorders sensed false recording levels, while conventional television receivers were unaffected by those modifications to the video signal. Removal of the added pulses permits acceptable video recording of the previously modified video signal. A selectively-operable clipping circuit is used to remove selected negative-value components (i.e. pseudo-sync pulses)from the video signal, while added AGC pulses are effectively blanked from the video signal with an electrically-operated switch. Both the blanking and clipping functions are selectively achieved by sensing both the normal sync pulses of the video signal and the added pseudo-sync pulses. Method and apparatus are disclosed for "cleaning up" video signals modified by either the pseudo-sync pulses alone, the AGC pulses alone, or combinations thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,554 ('554) by Okada et al., issued on Jan. 21, 1992 entitled CODE SIGNAL BLANKING APPARATUS (incorporated by reference) describes a code signal blanking apparatus comprising a switching means operative during a given period of a vertical blanking period of a television signal and a reference level setting means for producing an output of the reference level during said given period when the switching circuit is operative.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,965 ('965) by Quan et al., issued on Mar. 16, 1993 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISABLING ANTI-COPY PROTECTION SYSTEM IN VIDEO SIGNALS describes a method and apparatus for disabling the effect of copy-protection signals placed in a recording video signals which is based on differences in the characteristics of television and VCR circuitry and is hereby incorporated by reference. Copy-protect signals include pseudo-sync pulses and/or added AGC pulses in the blanking interval of a video signal. The specific method described includes altering the level of the video signal during the vertical blanking interval, e.g. level-shifting, so as to render the copy-protect signals ineffective to prevent unauthorized copying by a VCR. A circuit for achieving the method includes a sync separator for detecting the vertical blanking interval, pulse generating circuits for producing pulses of predetermined widths during the interval, and a summing circuit for summing the predetermined pulses with copy-protect signals thereby to shift their level. An alternative method includes increasing the effective frequency and / or narrowing of the copy-protect signals during the vertical blanking interval so as to achieve attenuation and/or low-pass filtering in the VCR circuitry to thereby render the signals ineffective in preventing copying. A circuit for achieving this method includes pulse narrowing and/or pulse multiplication circuitry which effectively increases the high-frequency content of the pseudo-sync and/or AGC pulses.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,510 ('510) by Quan et al., issued on Oct. 20, 1992 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISABLING ANTI-COPY PROTECTION SYSTEM IN VIDEO SIGNALS USING PULSE NARROWING describes method and apparatus for disabling the effects of copy-protect signals added to a video signal using differences in the characteristics of television and VCR circuitry (incorporated by reference). Copy-protect signals as described include pseudo-sync pulses and/or added AGC pulses in the vertical blanking intervals of a video signal. The specific method described includes increasing the effective frequency of the copy-protect signals during the vertical blanking intervals so as to achieve attenuation and/or low pass filtering in the VCR circuitry to thereby render the signals ineffective in preventing copying. A circuit for achieving this method comprises pulse narrowing and/or pulse multiplication circuitry which effectively increases the high-frequency content of the pseudo-sync and/or AGC pulses.
U.S. patent application 5,625,691 ('691) entitled "VIDEO COPY PROTECTION PROCESS ENHANCEMENT AND VERTICAL PICTURE DISTORTIONS," by Quan issued on Apr. 29, 1997 which is incorporated by reference, discloses defeating the affects of the signal generated by the '603 patent by modifying the relative amplitudes of the pseudo sync pulses to the normal sync pulse so that synchronizing pulse detection system within a recorder will only detect the normal synchronizing pulses, thus permitting normal recording of said copy protection signal.
U.S. patent application 5,633,927 ('927) entitled "VIDEO COPY PROTECTION PROCESS ENHANCEMENT AND VERTICAL PICTURE DISTORTIONS," by Quan issued on May 27, 1997 which is incorporated by reference, discloses various defeat mechanisms the affects of the signal generated by the '603 patent to permit normal recording of said copy protection signal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,093 ('093) entitled "Method and Apparatus for Preventing The Copying of a Video Program," which is incorporated by reference, discloses a method and apparatus for detecting the ordered pairs of pseudo-sync pulses and AGC pulses described in the '603 patent and disabling the recording function of a video cassette recorder. The '093 patent discloses several detection methods.
Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,615 ('615) entitled "TIMING GENERATOR FOR SYNC SUPPRESSED TELEVISION SIGNALS," by Robbins et al. issued on Feb. 18, 1986 which is incorporated by reference, discloses a timing signal generator for recovering timing signals in scrambled video signals in which the synchronizing signals are suppressed including a detector responsive to the color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval signal contained on the back porch of a suppressed horizontal blanking interval. The vertical interval is detected as the absence of color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval for a specified time interval, and horizontal sync information is obtained by the detection of the first color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval after an absence of color burst or chroma in the horizontal blanking interval.
All of the defeat methods described in the referenced defeat patents use the vertical and horizontal synchronizing pulses to determine the location of the copy protection signals within a copy protected video signal. There is a need for copy protection defeat mechanisms that do not rely on the horizontal and vertical synchronizing pulses to determine the location of the copy protection signals within a copy protected video signal.

Method and apparatus for removing or defeating effects of copy protection signals from a video signal


A computer-readable system and method for interpreting and selectively forwarding an interpreted message derived from a user""s received electronic message, such as an e-mail, fax, converted voice and pager messages, to a mobile communications device of the user. A structured knowledge base comprises knowledge objects of user-related information and the knowledge objects are interlinked by semantic links to permit dynamic navigation thereof. Navigating means dynamically navigates through the structured knowledge base using the content of the received message and determines key term(s) relating to the content as a result of the navigating. An interpreted message is determined from those key term(s). Prioritizing means determines the priority of the message, selects the second communications device based on the current context of the user and the content of the message in relation to the user-related information and assigns priority indicia to the interpreted message according thereto. Forwarding means forwards the interpreted message to the second communications device when the priority indicia assigned to the interpreted message represents that the interpreted message is to be so forwarded.

The invention pertains to the field of intelligent electronic message management and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for intelligently handling a user""s received electronic messages such as e-mail, fax, converted voice and pager messages.
Electronic messaging systems governed by a static set of instructions or equations are known in the industry and can be used to provide fixed (selection-based) services to the public. For example, a testbed for a seamless personal information networking (SPIN) system was developed by the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada and is described in the paper entitled xe2x80x9cA Common Multi-Agent Testbed for Diverse Seamless Personal Information Networking Applicationsxe2x80x9d, Abu-Hakima et al, IEEE Communications Magazine, July 1998, pages 68-74. According to the SPIN system therein disclosed seamless messaging allows users to communicate through heterogeneous networks, such as through e-mail and cellular telephone networks, whereby e-mail messages received at a user""s desktop may, to a limited extent, be summarized to form a text (or voice) message in form for transmission to the user""s wireless communications device (e.g. cellular telephone). The referenced SPIN system also contemplates the use of limited user-specified constraints which are configured and interpreted as rules to produce fixed results for the decision-making governing the handling of a message.
Such systems which are known to date are simple rule-based systems and they are unable to dynamically interpret the content of a received message or achieve intelligent decision making based on the context of the message, the user and the user""s communications devices. Further, such systems cannot themselves enhance or build upon any designated static set of rules governing their operation. Consequently, such prior art messaging devices are unable to effectively handle the developing needs of persons (users) in business and organizational environments who may receive a very large number of separate messages on a daily basis, some being of no interest and some being urgent depending upon the context. In such environments the time constraints of users does not always allow them to input, as user-specified data, the changing (dynamic) information which is required by such systems for effective operation. Coupled to the burgeoning use of electronic messaging, and other forms of personal communication, is the growing mobility of persons. The result is a business environment in which there is a strong need for means of intelligently and automatically handling electronic messages (xe2x80x9ce-messagesxe2x80x9d) on the basis of the time-specific context (i.e. the current location and activity) of the individual addressee (user) and the content of the message. There is also a need for such means utilizing user preferences data which may be developed dynamically but without necessarily requiring the user to take the initiative to input or update such data.
In accordance with the invention there is provided a computer-readable system for interpreting the content of an electronic message received by a communications device integral with or interfaced to the computer. A structured knowledge base comprises knowledge objects of user-related information, the knowledge objects being interlinked by semantic links. Navigating means dynamically navigates through the structured knowledge base using the content of the received message and determines key term(s) relating to the content as a result of such navigating. Identifying means identifies to a user of the system an interpreted message determined from the key term(s).
Also in accordance with the invention there is provided a computer-readable system for managing electronic messages received by a first communications device and redirecting selected ones of those messages to a second communications device selected by the system. Monitoring means monitors the first communications device for a received message. A computer-readable system according to the foregoing interprets the content of the received message. Prioritizing mean prioritizes the interpreted message whereby the prioritizing means determines the priority of the message and selects the second communications device based on the current context of the user and the content of the message in relation to the user-related information and assigns priority indicia to the interpreted message according thereto. Forwarding means forwards the interpreted message to the second communications device when the priority indicia assigned to the interpreted message represents that the interpreted message is to be so forwarded.
Preferably, explanation means is provided for tracing the steps taken by the navigating means and for creating an explanation as to a particular action taken by the system, or failure of the system to take a particular action, in response to a request for such explanation by the user. The explanation means may also determine the steps which would be taken by the navigating means under one or more user-specified conditions and create an explanation as to the particular action which would be taken by the system under those conditions in response to a request for such explanation by the user. Messageback processing means is preferably also provided for processing a message received back from the second communications device following the forwarding of the interpreted message. A reply message replying to the received message is prepared and forwarded and means is provided for engaging the explanation means if the message received back includes a request for an explanation of action taken by the system.
Learning means is preferably included for learning new user-related information wherein tracing means traces the actions taken by the user in the handling of received messages and identifying means identifies the new information from the tracing means. Means for incorporating the new information into the knowledge objects is also provided.
Further in accordance with the invention there is provided a method for interpreting the content of an electronic message received by a user""s communications device and a method for managing electronic messages received by a user""s first communications device and redirecting selected ones of those messages to a selected second communications device.

Apparatus and method for interpreting and intelligently managing electronic messages


A method of processing a target object includes (a) exposing a resist mask to active species of hydrogen generated by exciting plasma of a hydrogen-containing gas within a processing vessel while the target object is mounted on a mounting table provided in the processing vessel; and (b) etching a hard mask layer by exciting plasma of an etchant gas within the processing vessel after the exposing of the resist mask to the active species of hydrogen. The plasma is excited by applying of a high frequency power for plasma excitation to an upper electrode. In the method, a distance between the upper electrode and the mounting table in the etching of the hard mask layer ((b) process) is set to be larger than a distance between the upper electrode and the mounting table in the exposing of the resist mask to the active species of hydrogen ((a) process).

In a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, an etching target layer is etched by using a mask in order to form a required shape, such as a groove or a hole, on the etching target layer. When etching the etching target layer, a resist mask has been conventionally utilized. Since, however, the resist mask has low resistance against an etchant gas for the etching target layer or plasma of the etchant gas, a pattern of the resist mask may not be maintained until the etching of the etching target layer is completed.
For this reason, there has been employed a method of etching the target layer by using a hard mask which is formed by transcribing the pattern of the resist mask onto a hard mask layer through an etching process. In this method, however, the resist mask is still exposed to an etchant gas for the hard mask layer or plasma of the etchant gas when the hard mask is formed. Thus, the resist mask needs to have resistance against the etchant gas for the hard mask layer or the plasma of the etchant gas. That is, the resist mask is required to have etching resistance.
Conventionally used to improve the etching resistance of the resist mask is a curing process of hardening the resist mask by exposing the resist mask to hydrogen active species before etching the hard mask. Such a curing process is described in Patent Document 1.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2007-189153

Method of processing target object and plasma processing apparatus


A portable exercise apparatus includes a hollow central bar member and telescopic end portions operably insertable therein. Such telescopic end portions allow the central bar member to be securely engaged between a pair of vertical members. A plurality of spring members are disposed within the hollow portion of the central bar member and provide resistive force for assisting to maintain the telescopic end portions at stable positions during operating conditions. The central bar member further includes a plurality of apertures spaced along an outer surface thereof and for receiving a plurality of fastening members therethrough so that a plurality of handle members can be selectively positioned along the length of the central bar member. The handle members preferably have first and second portions integral with each other wherein the first portion extends substantially perpendicular from the central bar member and the second portion extends obliquely from the first portion.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to an apparatus for performing upper body exercises and more particularly, to a portable exercise apparatus with telescoping ends and adjustable grip handles that a user can grasp in order to perform a variety of exercises.
2. Prior Art
Presently, there is an increased awareness of the importance of good health. The medical industry has made significant technological advances and people are more aware of the positive effect that proper diet and exercise can have on life expectancy. Toward that end, an increasing number of people closely monitor their diet and participate in some form of physical exercise in order to maintain their health and increase their chances of living longer.
The active and busy lifestyles of many individuals often necessitates an exercise program that can be completed in a short period of time without having to travel a long distance to a gym or other exercise facility. The ability to exercise outdoors in one's neighborhood is often negatively impacted by adverse weather conditions, limited number of daylight hours, traffic, and the prevalence of criminal activity. Therefore, indoor exercise in one's home, office or hotel room is often the best and most convenient choice for a place to exercise. Perhaps the most common indoor exercises are pull-ups and chin-ups. Such types of exercise require minimum equipment in terms of size and cost. Pull-ups and chin-ups may be done on any convenient horizontal bar or support which may be grasped by a user. Such activities may be performed using any number of devices of modest cost and size that may be mounted with respect to a door opening. The great majority of devices of this type require coupling through screws or the like to the periphery of a door opening. Such coupling, however, normally involves defacing of the door that leaves an unsightly appearance when the device is removed.
One other disadvantage of a straight pull-up or chin-up bar is that it limits the number of exercises, and therefore, the number and type of muscles that can be exercised. Current exercise training programs focus much more narrowly on individual muscles in order to ensure a more comprehensive exercise program. An adjustable exercise bar with adjustable appendages mounted to it would enable a user to exercise more upper body muscles than an ordinary straight pull-up or chin-up bar does.
Accordingly, a need remains for a portable and adjustable exercise apparatus that will fit different sizes of openings, not deface the surface it is secured to, and provide adjustable appendages for exercising varied upper body muscles.


This application provides a method for determining a coding tree node split mode and a coding device. The method includes the step of determining a non-split based coding cost for coding a current image area corresponding to the current node and determining a binary tree split based coding cost for coding the current image area. The method further includes determining, based on the non-split based coding cost and the binary tree split based coding cost, whether a triple tree split based coding cost for coding the current image area needs to be obtained. If the triple tree split based coding cost needs to be obtained, a triple tree split is performed on the current node. The method then determines a split mode of the current node that corresponds to a minimum coding cost.

In the H.265 video coding standard, a frame of image is split into coding tree units (CTU) that do not overlap with each other. A CTU may be further split based on a quadtree (QT). Specifically, a CTU can be used as a root node of the quadtree, and a CTU can be recursively split into several leaf nodes in a quadtree split mode. Each node corresponds to one image area. If a node is not split, the node is referred to as a leaf node, and the image area corresponding to the leaf node forms a coding unit (CU). If a node is further split, the image area corresponding to the node is split into four image areas of a same size, and each image area corresponds to one node.
Further, a binary tree (BT) split or triple tree (TT) split may be further performed on the leaf node of the quadtree. The binary tree split may be a binary tree split in a horizontal direction or a binary tree split in a vertical direction. Similarly, the triple tree split may also be a triple tree split in a horizontal direction or a triple tree split in a vertical direction. Therefore, the leaf node of the quadtree may not be split, or may be split in the foregoing four split modes. Generally, a split mode with a minimum coding cost is determined for each node by using a rate distortion optimization (RDO) method. In the prior art, a coding cost is generated when a node is not split and the coding costs corresponding to the foregoing four split modes need to be separately determined, resulting in low coding efficiency.

Method and apparatus for determining coding tree node split mode and coding device


The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions for engineering photoautotrophic organisms to convert carbon dioxide and light into fatty acid esters and other molecules, including biofuels. The molecules are then secreted by the organism into a growth medium.

Photosynthesis is a process by which biological entities utilize sunlight and CO2 to produce sugars for energy. Photosynthesis, as naturally evolved, is an extremely complex system with numerous and poorly understood feedback loops, control mechanisms, and process inefficiencies. This complicated system presents likely insurmountable obstacles to either one-factor-at-a-time or global optimization approaches [Nedbal et al., Photosynth Res., 93(1-3):223-34 (2007); Salvucci et al., Physiol Plant., 120(2):179-186 (2004); Greene et al., Biochem J., 404(3):517-24 (2007)].
Existing photoautotrophic organisms (i.e., plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria) are poorly suited for industrial bioprocessing and have therefore not demonstrated commercial viability for this purpose. Such organisms have slow doubling time (3-72 hrs) compared to industrialized heterotrophic organisms such as Escherichia coli (20 minutes), reflective of low total productivities. In addition, techniques for genetic manipulation (knockout, over-expression of transgenes via integration or episomic plasmid propagation) are inefficient, time-consuming, laborious, or non-existent.


An apparatus for determining a fluid cut measurement of a multi-liquid mixture includes a first device configured to sense at least one parameter of the mixture to determine a fluid cut of a liquid in the mixture. A second device is configured to determine a concentration of gas in the mixture in response to a speed of sound in the mixture; and a signal processor is configured to adjust the fluid cut of the liquid using the concentration of the gas to determine a compensated fluid cut of the liquid. The parameter of the mixture sensed by the first device may include a density of the mixture (e.g., by way of a Coriolis meter), a permittivity of the mixture (e.g., by way of a resonant microwave oscillator), or an amount of microwave energy absorbed by the mixture (e.g., by way of a microwave absorption watercut meter). The signal processor may employ different correction factors depending on the type of fluid cut device used. The second device may include a gas volume fraction meter.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for measuring a multi-fluid flow having entrained gas therein, and more particularly to an apparatus that measures the speed of sound propagating through the multi-fluid flow to determine the gas volume fraction of the gas in the process flow and compensating the output measurement of a fluid cut measurement device for entrained gas.
A fluid flow process (flow process) includes any process that involves the flow of fluid through pipe, ducts, or other conduits, as well as through fluid control devices such as pumps, valves, orifices, heat exchangers, and the like. Flow processes are found in many different industries such as the oil and gas industry, refining, food and beverage industry, chemical and petrochemical industry, pulp and paper industry, power generation, pharmaceutical industry, and water and wastewater treatment industry. The fluid within the flow process may be a single phase fluid (e.g., gas, liquid or liquid/liquid mixture) and/or a multi-phase mixture (e.g. paper and pulp slurries or other solid/liquid mixtures). The multi-phase mixture may be a two-phase liquid/gas mixture, a solid/gas mixture or a solid/liquid mixture, gas entrained liquid or a three-phase mixture.
In certain flow processes, such as those found in the oil and gas industries, it is desirable to separate liquid (e.g., oil and/or water) and gas (e.g., air) components of a fluid. This is typically accomplished using a separator, which is an item of production equipment used to separate liquid components of the fluid stream from gaseous components. The liquid and gas components flow from the separator in separate legs (pipes), with the leg containing the gas component referred to as the "gas leg" and the leg containing the liquid component(s) referred to as the "liquid leg".
Driven by goals of reducing size and cost of conventional three phase separation approaches, many operators have adopted approaches that utilize smaller, two-phase, gas/liquid separation in conjunction with flow and water cut measurement to measure net oil. Many techniques are used for gas/liquid separation, including level-controlled batch tank separators and continuous flow cyclonic separators.
Typically, there are three methods widely used to determine water cut and, in turn, net oil: 1) density measurement via a Coriolis meter. 2) frequency of a resonant microwave oscillator, and 3) absorption of microwave energy. Problematically, the presence of free gas in any of these devices can result in significant over-reporting of net oil.
Although most gas/liquid separator-based net oil measurement approaches are designed to eliminate gases in the liquid leg of the separator, it has proved difficult to ensure complete gas/liquid separation. Furthermore, since the fluid exits the separator at, or near, vapor pressure, additional outgassing from the liquid can occur prior to measurement due to pressure losses in the flowing mixture. As a result, errors in oil fraction measurement attributed to the entrained gasses can often be the single largest source of error in net oil measurement.
Thus, there remains a need for an apparatus to compensate for entrained gas within a multi-liquid mixture to provide an accurate fluid cut of the liquids in the mixture.

Apparatus and method for providing a fluid cut measurement of a multi-liquid mixture compensated for entrained gas


A method and system for checking whether customer orders for transactions of financial instruments conform to business logic rules. Executable rule files are created and stored in a repository. New executable rule files can be created by scripting the new business logic rules in a script file which is converted into a corresponding source code file written in a computer programming language. The source code file is compiled to create an individual executable rule file. A rule selection repository contains identification of groups of selected executable rule files. The invention determines the category of the customer order and reads, from the rule selection repository, a group of executable rule files that correspond to the identified category of the customer order. The selected executable rule files are executed to check the conformance of the customer order. Execution results are stored in a status repository for subsequent retrieval and analysis.

The brokerage industry can be highly competitive. Strategically, brokerage firms often attempt to gain a larger market share of customers by offering lower transactions fees. It is highly desirable for brokers to continually find ways to reduce their operating costs associated with fulfilling or transacting customer orders for financial instruments, such as stocks, bonds, options, and mutual funds, while maintaining or improving their ability to serve customers by reliably fulfilling customer orders on a timely basis.
Typically, brokerages accept or input customer orders via their systems and then forward the orders to an existing order fulfillment system or legacy system for subsequent transaction of the customer order. Typically, the order fulfillment system is a legacy system that has been reliably operating for many years, and legacy systems are rarely modified to perform significantly new functions to avoid potentially undesirable consequences to the overall system performance. However, when a customer order for a financial transaction has flaws, the existing order fulfillment system cannot fulfill the customer order and the subsequently unfulfilled customer order is returned by the existing order fulfillment system to the broker along with a financial charge for incurred processing time on the existing order fulfillment system. In such a situation, the customer order may not be fulfilled on a timely basis and undesirable costs may be incurred in the attempt to transact the customer order.
Typically, a programming application, written in a computer programming language, includes nested programming logic having if/then programming statements each implementing business logic rules for a specific broker. The programming application is subsequently compiled into an executable file which is then used by a central processing unit to check the conformance of customer orders. Typically, the implemented business logic rules are relevant for the business needs of a specific broker. Frequently, the programming application requires modifications to the implemented business logic rules, in which case, the entire program needs to be reviewed by an expert computer programmer and recompiled and re-tested to ensure suitable and reliable operation. However, the prior art applications are frequently difficult to maintain typically because expert computer programmers do not remain with the same employer, or documentation of the programming is severely lacking in depth. Therefore, new programmers face the task of learning a new programming language to remove, add, modify business logic rules and re-test the updated computer application. Additionally, the known prior art computer applications require that all of the rules need to be serially or sequentially applied in an inflexible manner to each customer order. This inflexibility leads to an accumulation of unnecessary processing time and effort on the behalf of a computer system because not all of the rules may be required to check whether data elements of each customer order conform to the business logic rules.
Another problem experienced with on-line transaction of customer orders is that even though the customer orders may appear to be acceptable to a existing order fulfillment system, the customer order may not be appropriate with respect to an investment profile or preferences of the customer. This can lead to brokers transacting inappropriate types of customer orders for some customers. Some jurisdictions require brokers to know the investment tolerances or profiles of their clients before transacting customer orders, which is known as 'know your customer' rules.
In conclusion, prior art systems codify the business logic rules into a single source code file and subsequently compile the source code file to create a single executable file. However, when the business logic rules require to be changed, a computer programmer is required to examine the original source code, ascertain the extent of the required changes, test, and debug the new code, followed by the required compilation to create an updated or revised executable file. Disadvantageously, this required the talents of an experienced programmer, and if that programmer were new to the organization, then more time would be required to understand the original source code especially if the original source code were not properly documented. Also, even an experienced programmer would not typically appreciate or understand the requirements of a business and the types of business logic rules that would be required to check conformance of customer orders. Disadvantageously, the business logic would change periodically to suit the needs of regulatory agencies or stock market conditions, which would place a undue burden on the programmer attempting to adapt the source code to newly developed business logic rules.

Rule based engine for validating financial transactions


The present invention relates to various methods, software programs, and systems for electronic information security. More particularly, these various methods, software programs, and systems may serve to protect information security by providing an integrated system that helps ensure confidentiality, integrity, accountability, and ease of use. Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to methods, software programs, and systems for electronic information security utilizing a file container for storing: (a) a data file, which data file is encrypted with a one-time random encryption key; (b) the one-time random encryption key, which one-time random encryption key is encrypted with a public key portion of a public key/private key pair associated with an owner of the file container; (c) an audit trail log of the history of the file container, which audit trail log is encrypted with the one-time random encryption key with which the data file is encrypted; (d) a digital signature based upon a hash of the combined data file and the audit trail log, which hash is encrypted with a private key portion of a public key/private key associated with a writer/creator of the file container; and (e) a profile associated with the file container. Additional embodiments of the present invention relate to methods, software programs, and systems for electronic information security utilizing a fully integrated system for user authentication, virus scanning, time/date certification, encryption/decryption, digital signatures, stored document protection, transmitted document protection, and delivery verification.

A. Encryption
The basis of conventional encryption typically involves the use of one or more "keys". If a party knows the encryption key and the process used to encrypt the message, the message can be encrypted. If a party knows the decryption key and the process used to decrypt the message, the party can decrypt the message. Typically, within any given system, these processes remain static and only the keys change. For example, consider the famous "2001 Space Odyssey Code": The computer's name is HAL, the HAL 9000. Many people regard that name as being an encrypted name. Why? Add one letter to each of the letters in the name "HAL". H+1=I, A+1=B, and L+1=M. "IBM". In this case the process of decryption is to add a key to each letter. The key used is the number 1. Similarly the process of encryption (to convert from "IBM" into "HAL") would be to subtract the key from each letter. Here again, the key used is the number 1.
The above-described example of encryption is illustrated in FIG. 1. Of note, such encryption is known conventionally as "symmetric encryption" (where the same key is used to both encrypt and decrypt the message).
On the other hand, a different conventional process known as "asymmetric encryption" uses two keys. Under this system one key is used to encrypt the message and the other key, a different key, must be used to decrypt it. For this system to work, the two keys must, of course, be related; however, if the asymmetric encryption is to be effective the relationship between the two different keys cannot be obvious (i.e., knowing one key does not enable someone to automatically know the other key).
An important feature of such conventional asymmetric encryption is that either key can be used as the encryption key. Thus, if the initial "plain text" message is encrypted using Key #1, the encrypted text ("cipher text") can only be decrypted (converted back into "plain text") using Key#2. But if the plain text is encrypted using Key #2, the resulting cipher text can only be decrypted using Key #1. This relationship is illustrated in FIG. 2.
In addition, it is noted that conventional public key/private key technology is based upon asymmetric encryption. The concept is that each participant in the system has two keys. One key, the "private key", is kept private, known to, or accessible by, only the individual key owner (i.e., the entity associated with the key). The other key, the "public key", is considered public and is published to the world. The two keys work symmetrically. That is: (a) if a message is encrypted with an entity's public key, the message can only be decrypted with that entity's private key; and (b) if a message is encrypted with an entity's private key, the message can only be decrypted with that entity's public key.
When one is working with a conventional encryption mechanism there are certain important factors to note (because not all encryption is the same and not all public key/private key systems are the same). Some of the relevant issues are:                The type of encryption being used—                    Symmetric            Asymmetric            A Combination (Mixed Mode)—Some conventional systems use a randomly generated symmetric key to encrypt a message. They then use an asymmetric encryption process to encrypt the symmetric key, which is stored with the symmetrically encrypted message.                        The size of the keys—In general, the longer the encryption key, the more difficult it is to crack the encryption code.        Who issues/generates the keys—Many implementations of conventional public key infrastructure ("PKI") technology rely upon "trusted authorities" (i.e., third party PKI vendors) to generate and issue all of the keys. On the other hand, some systems rely upon the end-users themselves to generate their own keys (using software supplied by the system).        Where and if the keys are stored—Some conventional systems store the public key/private key pairs within the computers being used by the system. Others systems generate the keys "on demand", when they are required, and do not store them at all. Still other systems store the public keys electronically, but generate the private keys on demand.
B. Digital Signatures
Conventional digital signatures serve two important purposes: (a) non-repudiation (i.e., the "signer" of an electronic document cannot deny having signed it); and (b) tamper-proofing (i.e., the contents of the electronic document cannot be changed without invalidating the digital signature).
Conventional digital signature technology is based upon two component technologies: (a) the public key/private key concept; and (b) a hash function (a hash function is a complex mathematical function, or formula, that uses the numeric representation of a document's content [e.g., text] to produce a specific number, the "hash value" of a document; conventional hash functions have been formulated in such a manner as to render it relatively easy to produce a hash value of a text, but almost impossible to produce a text that will yield a predetermined hash value).
Unlike handwritten, or even "digitized signatures" (i.e., digital images of handwritten signatures), each digital signature is different for each electronic document signed. In one example, a conventional mechanism used to create a digital signature for a specific document involves producing the hash value for the document and then encrypting the hash value with the signer's private key. This process is illustrated in FIG. 3A.
A signature, however, is essentially without value unless it can be "verified". Conventional digital signature verification confirms not only who signed the document but also that the document has not been changed in any way. The process of digital signature verification works as shown in FIG. 3B.
More particularly, to verify the signature using a conventional process, the verifier:                Produces the hash value of the document.        Decrypts the digital signature using the signer's public key, producing the signer's hash value. If the digital signature can be decrypted with the signer's" public key, then the signature was signed with the signer's private key (which, presumably, only the signer possesses).        Compares the hash values. If the two hash values match, the document has not been tampered with.
C. Authentication
Finally, it is noted that authentication is the means whereby system users are identified. In other words, authentication is verification of identity. Conventionally, there are three distinct types of authentication that correspond to the three distinct situations when authentication is required:                Registration Authentication (Enrollment)—When an entity is registered to use the system.        External Authentication (System Access)—When an entity "logs in" identifies his/her/itself) to use the system.        Internal Authentication (Resource Access)—After an entity has identified his/her/itself to the system and attempts to use a system resource (e.g., run a program) or access information stored in the system (e.g., open a file).
Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The figures constitute a part of this specification and include illustrative embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

Methods, software programs, and systems for electronic information security


An M-ary FSK receiver in which a frequency down-converted signal is treated as an M-ary DPSK signal with symbol repetition coding. The output of a frequency demodulator (20) is integrated (22) over an optimally chosen time interval which is a fraction of the symbol interval to obtain N phase change estimates per symbol. These N sub-symbols are manipulated (24, 26) to obtain corresponding soft decisions which are then summed (32, 34) over a symbol period (or a substantial fraction thereof) to provide an overall soft decision for each bit comprising an M-ary symbol. These outputs may be used directly as soft decisions for forward error correction or applied to a threshold circuit to obtain hard decisions.

The present invention relates to a M-ary FSK receiver and to a method of demodulating a M-ary FSK modulated signal. Such receivers are used in communications receivers, such as paging receivers for POCSAG and ERMES which use M-ary FSK modulations.
In such receivers, an input signal is frequency down-converted to an IF which is passed to a demodulator and detector. For low cost applications such as paging, a limiter-discriminator-integrator (LDI) is widely used for recovering information upon which symbol decisions are made. The LDI approach provides a robust and simple detection method for M-ary FSK modulations. However, there is a performance penalty to pay for the simplicity of the hardware, the bit error rate (BER) does not compete with that available from other receiver structures, such as matched filter or correlator based detection.


An omnidirectional LED lamp holder assembly includes a heat sink module including a heat sink base and radiation fins around the heat sink base, a lampshade and an electrical connector respectively mounted at opposing top and bottom sides of the heat sink module. The heat sink base is a one-piece extruded member defining a tubular heat-transfer base portion, a broad platform and a hollow protruding mount for holding LED chips at different angles. The broad platform horizontally protrudes over the periphery of the tubular heat-transfer base portion, providing a bearing face. The radiation fins are fastened to respective mounting grooves around the periphery of the tubular heat-transfer base portion. Waste heat produced during operation of the LED chips can be rapidly transferred by the hollow protruding mount to the broad platform and the heat-transfer base portion and then dissipated by the radiation fin into the outside open air.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to LED lamp technology and more particularly to a heat sink module and an omnidirectional LED lamp holder assembly using the heat sink module.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
For the advantage of low power consumption, LED lamps have been gradually used to substitute for conventional tungsten lamp bulbs. However, LED performance largely depends on the ambient temperature of the operating environment. During the operation of a LED lamp, waste heat must be quickly dissipated. Conventional LED lamps commonly have the LED chips arranged at the front side to emit light forward. With this arrangement, the light intensity at the border area may be weak. With continuing development of lighting technology, LED lamps capable of emitting light in different directions are created. However, because a large number of LED chips are used in a LED lamp, the temperature inside the lamp rises quickly with the operation of the LED lamp, and the LED chips can easily be damaged by heat. Thus, the heat dissipation problem is serious.
A conventional LED lamp capable of emitting light in different directions is known comprises a rectangular heat-transfer prism and a plurality of radiation fins radially arranged around one end of the rectangular heat-transfer prism. The other end of the rectangular heat-transfer prism is a heat absorbing end shaped like a rectangular table. LED chips are mounted at the end face and side faces of the heat absorbing end of the rectangular heat-transfer prism for emitting light in different directions. However, the rectangular heat-transfer prism is a solid prism that cannot dissipate heat rapidly and does not allow arrangement of wires therein. Further, the cost of the rectangular heat-transfer prism is high. The mounting arrangement between the radiation fins and the rectangular heat-transfer prism is not stable.
There is known another conventional LED lamp design, which comprises a heat-transfer base block, a heat-transfer component connected to the heat-transfer base block and providing multiple mounting faces at different angles, a plurality of radiation fins radially arranged around the heat-transfer base block, and a plurality of LED chips arranged on the mounting faces of the heat-transfer component. According to this design, as the heat-transfer base block and the heat-transfer component are two separate members fastened together, waste heat cannot be fully and rapidly transferred by the heat-transfer component from the LED chips to the heat-transfer base block, and the heat dissipation efficiency is low. Further, this design complicates the fabrication.
There is known still another conventional LED lamp design, which uses a heat sink made by a stretch forming technique. This design of heat sink cannot effectively match the radiation fins for heat dissipation. Further, the wall thickness of the heat sink cannot be freely adjusted to fit the power of the LED chips to be used. Thus, materials of different wall thicknesses should be prepared to fit different application requirements, thus complicating the fabrication and increasing the cost.

Heat sink module and omnidirectional LED lamp holder assembly using same