A concept cache useful in a vocabulary management system stores references to individual information objects that can be retrieved and dynamically assembled into electronic documents. Information objects are organized in one or more hierarchical trees, and references to nodes in the trees are cached. A query processor receives a cache query from a delivery engine that is attempting to dynamically construct an electronic document with content that matches the query. For example, a common Web site query contains a concept and an information type. The cache is searched to identify one or more rows that match the query concept and the query information type. An intersection of the rows is determined, yielding a result set of rows. Index pointers in the rows of the result set lead to stored information objects, which are passed to the delivery engine. The delivery engine assembles the electronic document using the information objects. Unlike past approaches that cache static pages, rapid delivery of dynamic pages is facilitated. Vocabularies and relationships are cached with their references to other objects, as needed, facilitating speed of execution of both the logic of constructing a document and in finding the appropriate cached version of an information object.

Through economic growth, mergers and acquisitions, business enterprises are becoming ever larger. Further, large business enterprises in the field of high technology now offer ever larger numbers of products and services that derive from an increasingly large variety of technologies.
In this environment, managing the creation, use, and maintenance of the company's intellectual assets, such as products and technologies is an acute problem. As an enterprise grows, maintaining consistent usage of names of products and services throughout the enterprise becomes even more challenging. When an enterprise derives its business opportunities from research and development into new technologies or improvements of existing technologies, maintaining consistent usage of technology designations is a challenge, especially when there is disagreement or confusion about the uses, advantages or benefits of a particular technology. Such confusion can arise whether disagreements arise or not, as when there is no communication between different teams within an enterprise.
The World Wide Web is one communication medium that exacerbates the problem, by showing internal information to the enterprise's partners and customers. Large enterprises that own or operate complex Web sites or other network resources that contain product and technology information face a related problem. Specifically, ensuring consistent usage of product names and technology terms across a large, complicated Web site is problematic. A particular problem involves maintaining consistent use of terms when different parts or elements of the Web site applications are created or content is authored by different individuals or groups.
Based on the foregoing, there is a clear need for improved ways to manage one or more vocabularies of all company business practices and pertaining to all business terminology ("concept"), including but not limited to product names and technology terms.
In particular, there is a need for a way to structure stored information about those concepts so that it can be located and navigated easily regardless of who authored the information and where the information resides.
There is also a need for a system that can rapidly and efficiently select vocabulary concepts and related information from among a large volume of stored information that is inter-related by overlapping hierarchies, and deliver the selected information to another system for use in assembling electronic documents based on the selected information.
There is also a need for a way to deliver information distributed over one or more networks that is relevant to a user query based on the vocabulary information to individuals who are distributed among many groups of a large enterprise, or who are outside the enterprise.
There is also need for a system that is extensible or adaptable when new business practices, products or technologies are developed by diverse, distributed groups in a large business enterprise.
A system that meets the foregoing needs is useful for managing highly complex Web sites and similar information resources that can store, retrieve and deliver vast amounts of information to clients. Moreover, the information that is delivered can be provided in a personalized manner. Based on a client query, dynamic pages are constructed from individual information object components, and delivered in assembled form, with content responsive to the query. While such systems are powerful, they are also extremely complex and are required to rapidly deliver large amounts of information.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system having the foregoing characteristics that can provide improved performance. Specifically, a complex Web site based on the foregoing is required to perform as fast as possible to improve customer satisfaction and experience.
Past approaches involve caching Web site pages. An example of a commercial product series representing such past approaches is the Cisco 500. Series Cache Engine, e.g., the Cisco 550. Cache Engine. However, in these past approaches, electronic documents or Web site pages are created in advance in a fixed form ("static pages") and therefore are easily stored in a cache and delivered from the cache to clients. But when virtually all the pages delivered from the Web site are dynamic, and are created based on individual component information objects, use of traditional caching approaches is impossible because there is no way to cache a dynamically constructed page.
Another deficiency of such prior approaches is that they cannot cache multiple versions of electronic documents that are only slightly different, such as pre-rendered Web site pages that are "personalized" by association with a specific client.
Thus, there is a need for a way to cache dynamically generated electronic documents, such as Web site pages.
There is a particular need for a way to efficiently cache the information objects that form components of dynamically constructed electronic documents, in a manner that is compatible with the foregoing characteristics, so that requested information objects are rapidly and efficiently delivered from a data store that holds the information objects.

Dynamic information object cache approach useful in a vocabulary retrieval system


In one embodiment, there is provided a server. The server includes: a receiver configured to receive, from an electronic device, an instruction signal instructing the server to detect a name of a first person, positional information representing a position of the electronic device and an image data of the first person; an extractor configured to extract electronic devices existing within a certain range from the electronic device based on the positional information, wherein positional information of the electronic devices are stored in the server; a detector configured to detect the first person by performing face detection on persons who are associated with the extracted electronic devices using the image data of the first person; and an output module configured to output the name of the first person.

1. Field
Embodiments described herein relate to a server, an electronic device, a server control method, and a computer-readable medium.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, an electronic device is connected to a server, and thus it possible to acquire desired information from the server and to display the acquired information.
For example, an exemplary system is disclosed in which personal information including name of persons who are acquainted in a business or a social meeting.

Server, electronic device, server control method, and computer-readable medium


The disclosure relates to a self-adaptive leakage value neuron information processing method and system. The method includes: receiving front end pulse neuron output information; reading current pulse neuron information, wherein the current pulse neuron information includes self-adaptive membrane potential leakage information; calculating current pulse neuron output information according to the front end pulse neuron output information and the current pulse neuron information; updating the self-adaptive membrane potential leakage information according to the current pulse neuron output information; outputting the current pulse neuron output information. The self-adaptive leakage value neuron information processing system utilizes self-adaptive membrane potential leakage information to participate in calculation of current pulse neuron output information, and utilizes the calculated current pulse neuron output information to update the self-adaptive membrane potential information to participate in calculation of a next time step, and a good balance between sensitivity and stability of a neural network is achieved.

Most of today's artificial neural network researches are still achieved in a Von Neumann computer software matched with a high-performance GPGPU (General Purpose Graphic Processing Units) platform, but the hardware overhead, energy consumption and information processing speed of the whole process are not optimistic. For this purpose, the neuromorphic computing field in recent years has developed rapidly, that is, hardware circuits are used to directly construct neural networks to simulate functions of the brain, so as to achieve a massively parallel, low-energy, computing platform that can support a complex learning mode.
However, in traditional neuromorphic systems, how to effectively balance issuance frequency of each pulse neuron in an whole neural network, so that each pulse neuron can play a role in processing information, for saving an overall cost of the neural network and improving an information processing efficiency, which is an urgent problem to be solved in traditional neural networks.

Self-adaptive threshold neuron information processing method, self-adaptive leakage value neuron information processing method, system computer device and readable storage medium


A semiconductor substrate that has a MOS transistor with a high breakdown voltage having double sidewall insulation films and can inhibit negative effects on the electric characteristics and method thereof. The semiconductor device is formed as a transistor with a configuration having gate insulation film 21 and gate electrode 22 formed on semiconductor substrate 10, inner sidewall insulation film 25 formed at least on part of the gate insulation film and on both sides of the gate electrode, outer sidewall insulation film 26 formed at least on part of the gate insulation film and on both sides of the inner sidewall insulation film, low concentration impurity area 23 containing an impurity at a low concentration and formed in the semiconductor substrate in the area underneath the inner sidewall insulation film and the outer sidewall insulation film, and high concentration impurity area 27 containing an impurity at a concentration higher than the low concentration impurity area and formed in the semiconductor substrate in the area underneath both sides of the outer sidewall insulation film.

MOS (metal-oxide-semiconductor lamination) field effect transistors are widely used as basic components in semiconductor devices.
ICs (integrated circuits) with high breakdown voltages use MOS transistors with medium-high drive voltages, for example, about 10–20 V (referred to as MOS transistors with high breakdown voltages hereinafter).
A type of MOS transistor with a high breakdown voltage and double sidewall insulation films on both sides of the gate electrode has been proposed to achieve compatibility in the manufacturing process with MOS transistors with low drive voltages.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor device of the aforementioned conventional example.
A first gate insulation film 111 made of silicon oxide is formed in an active area forming the first channel creation area of the p-type semiconductor substrate 110, which is partitioned by component separating insulation film 140. A first gate electrode 112 made of polysilicon is formed on this gate insulation film.
First inner sidewall insulation film 114 and first outer sidewall insulation film 116 made of silicon oxide are formed on both sides of the first gate electrode 112.
A first lightly doped area 113 containing an n-type impurity at a low concentration is formed adjacent to the first channel creation area in semiconductor substrate 110 in the area underneath the first inner sidewall insulation film 114.
A first high-concentration area 115 containing an n-type impurity at a high concentration is formed adjacent to the first lightly doped area 113 in semiconductor substrate 110 in the area underneath the first outer sidewall insulation film 116 and in the bordering area of the substrate.
In this way, a MOS transistor TR1 with a low drive voltage is formed.
In contrast, a second gate insulation film 121 made of silicon oxide is formed in an active area forming the second channel creation area of the p-type semiconductor substrate 110, which is partitioned by component separating insulation film 140. A second gate electrode 122 made of polysilicon is formed on this gate insulation film.
Second inner sidewall insulation film 125 and second outer sidewall insulation film 126 are formed on both sides of the second gate electrode 122.
A second lightly doped area 123 containing an n-type impurity at a low concentration is formed adjacent to the second channel creation area in semiconductor substrate 110 in the area underneath the second inner sidewall insulation film 125 and the second outer sidewall insulation film 126.
A second heavily doped area 127 containing an n-type impurity at a high concentration is formed adjacent to the second lightly doped area 123 in semiconductor substrate 110 in the area underneath the two sides of the second outer sidewall insulation film 126.
A third low-concentration area 124 containing an n-type impurity at a lower concentration than the second lightly doped area 123 is formed in such a way that it is deeper than the second lightly doped area 123 and the second heavily doped area 127 and it extends into the second channel creation area farther than the end of the second lightly doped area 123 on the side of the second channel creation area.
In this way, a MOS transistor TR2 with a high breakdown voltage and a medium-high drive voltage, for example, about 10–20 V is formed.
The aforementioned semiconductor device, for example, is manufactured as follows.
First, the first gate insulation film 111 is formed in the first transistor fabrication area having the first channel creation area on p-type semiconductor substrate 110 and the second gate insulation film 121 is formed in the second transistor fabrication area.
Then, the first gate electrode 112 is formed on the first gate insulation film 111 and the second gate electrode 122 is formed on the second gate insulation film 121.
Subsequently, a low concentration of n-type impurity ions is injected into the first transistor fabrication area with the first gate electrode 112 used as a mask to form the first lightly doped area 113.
Subsequently, n-type impurity ions are injected into the second transistor fabrication area with the second gate electrode 122 used as a mask to form the second lightly doped area 123. Also, the third low-concentration impurity 124 is formed by ions injected into the semiconductor substrate obliquely, for example, at an angle of 45°.
Subsequently, silicon oxide is deposited on the entire surface using, for example, the CVD method. Then, the entire surface is etched to form the first inner sidewall insulation film 114 on both sides of the first gate electrode 112 and to form the second inner sidewall insulation film 125 on both sides of the second gate electrode 122.
Subsequently, a high concentration of n-type impurity ions is injected into the first transistor fabrication area with the first inner sidewall insulation film 114 used as a mask to form the first heavily doped area 115.
Subsequently, silicon oxide is deposited on the entire surface using, for example, the CVD method. Then, the entire surface is etched to form the first outer sidewall insulation film 116 on both sides of the first inner sidewall insulation film 114 and to form the second outer sidewall insulation film 126 on both sides of the second inner sidewall insulation film 125.
Subsequently, n-type impurity ions are injected into the second transistor fabrication area with the second inner sidewall insulation film 125 and the second outer sidewall insulation film 126 used as a mask to form the second heavily doped area 127.
In this way, the semiconductor device with the configuration shown in FIG. 12 can be manufactured.
However, for MOS transistors with high breakdown voltages having double sidewall insulation films for compatibility in the manufacturing process with MOS transistors for low drive voltages during the etching performed to form the second inner sidewall insulation film 125 on both sides of the second gate electrode 122, the naked substrate is exposed or the surface layer of the substrate is removed. This has a negative effect on the electric characteristics, as described later.
This problem is common to n-channel type and p-channel type MOS transistors with high breakdown voltages.
First of all, when a positive drain voltage VD is applied, the gate voltage VG in the aforementioned MOS transistors with high breakdown voltages becomes 0 V and the drain leakage current becomes large.
FIG. 13(A) is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the expanded source-drain area. During the etching performed to form the second inner sidewall insulation film 125 on both sides of the second gate electrode 122, semiconductor substrate 110 is exposed or the surface layer is removed. As a result, regions with defects/contaminants DC are formed in the second lightly doped area 123 due to the introduction of lattice defects or contaminants.
FIG. 13(B) is a schematic diagram illustrating the energy band in the channel direction on the cross section shown in FIG. 13(A). It shows the conduction band Ec and valence band Ev of each area of the semiconductor substrate 10, the third lightly doped area 124, the second lightly doped area 123, and the second heavily doped area 127. Due to the formation of the regions with defects/contaminants DC in the second lightly doped area 123 as described above, an allowed energy state is formed in the forbidden band. This energy state becomes the recombination/generation center RGC. The recombination/generation center RGC becomes the medium for generation of electron-hole pairs. The number of electron-hole pairs increases exponentially compared with the case where there is no recombination/generation center RGC. The generated electrons e and holes h move in opposite directions due to the electric field in the depletion layer of the reverse biased second lightly doped area 123 and becomes a drift current, which is observed as the drain leakage current.
Exposure of the substrate or removal of the surface layer also occurs in the second heavily doped area 127, which leads to the formation of a region with defects/contaminants DC that becomes a recombination/generation center RGC. However, since the concentration of the impurity is very high, the electric field in the lateral direction in this area is very small, so there is no substantial contribution to the drain leakage current.
Second of all, if the aforementioned MOS transistors with high breakdown voltages are connected in series by the lightly doped areas of the transistors, the cutoff source voltage becomes low.
FIG. 14(A) is a cross-sectional view illustrating two MOS transistors (TR2a, TR2b) that have high breakdown voltages and that are connected in series by the lightly doped areas.
Each of the MOS transistors (TR2a, TR2b) with high breakdown voltages has the same configuration as MOS transistor TR2 with a high breakdown voltage shown in FIG. 12. However, the second heavily doped area is not formed in the region where the two MOS transistors (TR2a, TR2b) with high breakdown voltages are connected in series. There are only the second lightly doped area 123 and the third lightly doped area 124.
FIG. 14(B) shows the equivalent circuit of the configuration shown in FIG. 14(A). The MOS transistors (TR2a, TR2b) with high breakdown voltages are formed in the substrate B having a channel creation area and have gate electrodes (G1, G2), respectively. The heavily doped area of one MOS transistor TR2a with a high breakdown voltage becomes drain D, while the heavily doped area of the other MOS transistor TR2b with a high breakdown voltage becomes source S.
In the aforementioned configuration, when a high drain-substrate voltage VDB is applied, the drain current becomes small, and the apparent substrate effect becomes high. This is because the area with the highest impurity concentration in the surface layer of the second lightly doped area 123 in the region where the two MOS transistors (TR2a, TR2b) with high breakdown voltages are connected is removed by etching and becomes a high-resistance area. When the drain-substrate voltage VDB is further increased, the depletion layer V of the pn junction of the substrate—third lightly doped area reaches up to the surface of the substrate, and the drain junction enters the pinch off state. When the surface layer of the second lightly doped area 123 is removed, the drain has a stronger effect as the channel of a parasitic coupling field effect transistor PJ, which increases the drain resistance. As a result, the on current is reduced significantly for a lower source potential, and the cutoff source voltage decreases.
One task of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problem by providing a semiconductor device, which has a MOS transistor with a high breakdown voltage and double sidewall insulation films for compatibility in the manufacturing process with a MOS transistor with a low drive voltage and which can inhibit increases in the drain leaking current, decreases in the cutoff source voltage, and other negative effects on the electric characteristics. Another task is to provide the manufacturing method of this semiconductor device.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof


There are provided methods and apparatus for performing modified cosine transformation (MDCT) with an analysis/synthesis windowing function, using an analysis windowing function having a meandering portion which passes a linear function in correspondence of at least four points.

Lapped transforms have been developed for several audiocoding applications. These transforms are normally performed on consecutive blocks of a larger dataset (e.g., two consecutive frames) for an audio signal. Subsequent blocks may be overlapped. Accordingly, a last part of one block coincides with a first part of a subsequent block. A windowing function may be used.
Asymmetric modified discrete cosine transform (MDCT) windows, asymmetric modified discrete sine transform (MDST), time to frequency transformations, have been developed which embody modulated lapped transforms.
Asymmetric modified discrete cosine transform (MDCT) windows, asymmetric modified discrete sine transform (MDST) windows and other types of windows have been developed in the past years as they provide improved frequency responses compared to symmetric shapes, esp. for low delay signal applications, such as audio coding applications.
The first generation of window shapes just focused on the design of the frequency response, e.g. the G.718 or MPEG-4 AAC-ELD window. Recent developments also take the temporal shape of the window into account which is responsible for the temporal modulation of the quantization error, e.g. the ALDO window as used in the 3GPP EVS codec.
However, the design approach presented there comes along with the problem that the window shapes show a non-continuous differentiation which leads to a suboptimal frequency response. The described invention in this document presents a solution to overcome this problem.

Analysis/synthesis windowing function for modulated lapped transformation


A double-coated optical fiber and method includes providing a core that serves as a light transmission medium. A cladding surrounds the core and has a smaller reflective index than the core. A primary coating layer is formed of a UV-cured polymer around the clad, and a secondary coating layer is formed of a UV-cured polymer around the primary coating layer, to a thickness ranging from about 22 to 37.5 μm in order to obtain a coating strip force ranging from about 1.0 to 1.63 N and a dynamic stress corrosion parameter ranging from 20 to 29. The primary and secondary coating layers can be formed by a wet on wet or wet on dry process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an optical fiber. More particularly, the present invention relates to a double-coated optical fiber and its coating strip force.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an optical fiber comprises a core that provides a light transmitting medium, a cladding that surrounds the core for trapping light in the core; A coating layer surrounds the cladding, for protecting the inside of the fiber from an external environment.
The coating layer is a rather significant component that determines physical fiber optic characteristics such as bending, chemical resistance, and mechanical strength. In order to measure the mechanical characteristics of an optical fiber, it is common to the art that both a dynamic fatigue test and a coating strip test are performed to evaluate the quality the optical fiber.
The dynamic fatigue test is used to estimate the mechanical life and the degradation of the optical fiber during usage, because the optical fiber undergoes physical changes due to external factors when it is applied in actual field use.
A dynamic stress corrosion parameter (Nd) is defined as a ratio of the change of fracture stress distribution with respect to the change of an applied stress rate. The dynamic stress corrosion parameter is equal to or greater than 18 in accordance with FOTP-28 under the test standard of GR-20-CORE 4.4.4. The coating strip test is normally performed using a tensile testing machine that measures the tensile force to strip the coating from the surface of the cladding. The tensile force is also referred to as a coating strip force. The coating strip force testing tests for the adhesive force of the coating layer.
The peak value shall range from 1.0 to 9.0N in accordance with FOTP-178 under GR-20-CORE 4.4.2.
If the coating strip force is too great, this value is not ideal in that it leads to fiber breakage and excessive coating residue. However, on the contrary, if the coating strip force is too small, the adhesive force between the optical fiber and the coating layer is insufficient and coating delamination occurs. Therefore, it is of extreme importance to set the coating strip force appropriately.
With regard to the mechanical characteristics of a double-coated optical fiber, UV curing conditions and physical, chemical, and thermal tendencies are well known. However, with regard to the characteristics over a passage of time, the geometrical coating structure and mechanical characteristics of the optical fiber is unknown. For example, there is a specification that the diameter of an optical fiber is 125±1.0 μm and the outer diameter of a secondary coating layer is 245±10 μm under the existing provisions. Yet, there is no explicit specification for the outer diameter of a primary coating layer (test standards: IEC 60793-2, GR-20-CORE, TIA/EIA-492c000, etc.).


A stent system comprising zero or more inner stents inserted into an outer stent. The inner stents and outer stent are separated and/or encapsulated by a protein-based material of a protein matrix and/or a set biocoacervate, each comprising one or more biocompatible proteins and one or more biocompatible solvents. The protein-based material may also include one or more carbohydrates and one or more pharmacologically active agents.

Stents are generally known in the medical arts. The term "stent" has been used interchangeably with terms such as "intraluminal vascular graft" and "expansible prosthesis". As used throughout this specification the term "stent" is intended to have a broad meaning and encompasses any expandable prosthetic device for implantation in a body passageway (e.g., a lumen or artery) to keep a formerly blocked passageway open and/or to provide support to weakened structures (e.g. heart walls, heart valves, venous valves and arteries).
The use of stents has attracted an increasing amount of attention due the potential of these devices to be used, in certain cases, as an alternative to surgery. Generally, a stent is used to obtain and maintain the patency of the body passageway while maintaining the integrity of the passageway. As used in this specification, the term "body passageway" is intended to have a broad meaning and encompasses any duct (e.g., natural or iatrogenic) within the human body and can include a member selected from the group comprising: blood vessels, respiratory ducts, gastrointestinal ducts and the like.
Stent development has evolved to the point where the vast majority of currently available stents rely on controlled plastic deformation of the entire structure of the stent at the target body passageway so that only sufficient force to maintain the patency of the body passageway is applied during expansion of the stent.
Generally, in many of these systems, a stent, in association with a balloon, is delivered to the target area of the body passageway by a catheter system. Once the stent has been properly located (for example, for intravascular implantation the target area of the vessel can be filled with a contrast medium to facilitate visualization during fluoroscopy), the balloon is expanded thereby plastically deforming the entire structure of the stent so that the latter is urged in place against the body passageway. As indicated above, the amount of force applied is at least that necessary to expand the stent (i.e., the applied the force exceeds the minimum force above which the stent material will undergo plastic deformation) while maintaining the patency of the body passageway. At this point, the balloon is deflated and withdrawn within the catheter, and is subsequently removed.
Ideally, the stent will remain in place and maintain the target area of the body passageway substantially free of blockage (or narrowing).
See, for example, any of the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,665 (Palmaz), U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,762 (Palmaz), U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,882 (Gianturco), U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,336 (Gianturco), U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,706 (Gianturco et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,392 (Hillstead), U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,126 (Gianturco), U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,417 (Palmaz), U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,385 (Beck et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,824 (Gianturco), U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,023 (Palmaz et al.), Canadian patent 1,239,755 (Wallsten), Canadian patent 1,245,527 (Gianturco et al.), Canadian patent application number 2,134,997 (Penn et al.), Canadian patent application number 2,171,047 (Penn et al.), Canadian patent application number 2,175,722 (Penn et al.), Canadian patent application number 2,185,740 (Penn et al.), Canadian patent application number 2,192,520 (Penn et al.), International patent application PCT/CA97/00151 (Penn et al.), International patent application PCT/CA97/00152 (Penn et al.), and International patent application PCT/CA97/00294 (Penn et al.), for a discussion on previous stent designs and deployment systems.
Furthermore, the administration of stents that carry therapeutic coatings, such as one or more polymeric coatings including pharmacologically active agents, have been utilized to reduce some of the problems created by the implantation of stents, such as restinosis and other biocompatibility responses to the foreign implant. Therefore, the search to find optimum materials and coatings, which enhance biocompatibility and prevent the occlusion of the passage through clotting or tissue growth is the ultimate goal of many manufacturers.


A developing device includes a developer supporting member abutting against an image supporting member for developing a static latent image on the image supporting member. In a state that a film member is disposed between the image supporting member and the developer supporting member, it is arranged such that the film member is extended with a tensional force N (N) when the image supporting member and the developer supporting member rotate. The tensional force N has a relationship as follows:(A×B×exp(0.32×F−16))/N≦11.6where A (mm) is a difference between an outer diameter of a center portion of the developer supporting member and an outer diameter of an end portion of the developer supporting member; B (mm) is a wobble amount of the end portion of the developer supporting member; and F (degree) is an Asker C hardness of the developer supporting member.

The present invention relates to a developing device and an image forming apparatus.
In a conventional image forming apparatus, a developing device is provided with a developer supporting member. The developer supporting member may have a crown shape having a difference in outer diameters between a center portion thereof and a end portion thereof in an axial direction thereof. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain a constant nip amount with respect to an image supporting member (refer to Patent Reference).    Patent Reference: Japan Patent Publication No. 2001-350351
In the conventional developing device described above, even though the developer supporting member has a crown shape, when the developer supporting member has an elastic layer having a high hardness, and an end portion thereof tends to wobble to a large extent, the nip amount tends to decrease at the end portion. Accordingly, it is difficult to develop a static latent image on the image supporting member, thereby causing a blank portion in an image.
In view of the problem described above, an object of the invention is to provide a developing device and an image forming device, in which it is possible to solve the problems of the conventional developing device. In the developing device, in a state that a film member is disposed between an image supporting member and a developer supporting member, it is arranged such that the film member is extended with a force within a specific range when the image supporting member and the developer supporting member rotate. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain a sufficient nip amount between the image supporting member and the developer supporting member, thereby preventing a blank portion in an image due to an insufficient nip amount.
Further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.

Developing device with image supporting member and developer supporting member disposed in specific arrangement, and image forming apparatus


In one arrangement, a non-transitory computer readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied therein that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing system, cause the computing system to process an electronic transaction using a schema. The schema includes a first unique entity object identifier identifying a sender, a second unique entity object identifier identifying a receiver, and a first transaction object identifier identifying the transaction. The first transaction object identifier is located at a top level of a hierarchy of a plurality of transaction object identifiers. The schema further includes transaction information comprising the first unique entity object identifier, the second unique entity object identifier, and the unique transaction object identifier.

Today's business applications rely on a wide variety of cybersecurity and cryptographic solutions that are implemented haphazardly that often ignore industry practices for sound key management. Examples of poor key management practices include allowing raw public keys, self-sign certificates, fixed keys, and electronic signatures used in an attempt to achieve legally defined non-repudiation. Some message protocol implementations offer no cryptographic solutions, relying solely on network security solutions such as Transport Layer Security (TLS), Internet Protocol Security (IPsec), or wireless protocols. Inconsistent, improper, and invalid cryptographic controls are an unrealized vulnerability that advanced adversaries are exploiting today.


A system and method may track data from one or more sensors during vehicle driving. Based on the sensors data, one or more alerts or potential hazards may be identified. The system and method may generate a drive summary including information and optional statistics about the alerts or potential hazards.

Vehicles such as automobiles are often provided with radar or infrared sensors that can alert the driver with an audible or flashing visible alerts when the vehicle is in proximity to an object or on a collision course with an object.
However, these vehicle-integrated safety systems do not include capabilities for identifying objects and providing appropriate alerts for the type, location, and relative motion of the objects in many circumstances. It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved vehicle safety systems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Real-time driving behavior and safety monitoring


In a driving zone where a torque converter is to be locked up, a lockup force of a lockup clutch is weakened in the deceleration driving state compared with that in the non-deceleration driving state. Moreover, during transition from the deceleration driving state to the non-deceleration driving state, increase control of the lockup force is forcedly delayed for a predetermined time. By this, during acceleration from the deceleration driving state, the clutch is made to slip with a rapid increase in engine output torque and a rise in the engine output torque is buffered by the lockup clutch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates a control device for an automatic transmission for a vehicle and particularly to a method, in an automatic transmission for a vehicle provided with a torque converter between an output shaft of an engine and an input shaft of a gear type transmission and provided with a lockup clutch for mechanically and directly engaging an input shaft with an output shaft of the above torque converter, for controlling a lockup force of the above lockup clutch and more particularly to an improvement in lockup force control during acceleration from a deceleration driving zone.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known that transmission efficiency of a torque converter is improved by providing a hydraulic lockup clutch that can mechanically and directly engage an input shaft with an output shaft of a torque converter therein and by locking the above lockup clutch in a conventional automatic transmission for a vehicle.
Also, by locking this lockup clutch during deceleration so as to restrain rapid lowering of engine rotation by transmitting a reverse driving force from the driving wheel side to the engine side, a fuel supply stop control is carried out for a long time during deceleration driving so as to improve fuel consumption (See Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 62-115556).
In the meantime, when lockup control is executed during deceleration driving and particularly when an accel pedal is depressed the low car-speed side in a deceleration driving zone where vehicle speed or engine rotation speed is more than a predetermined value and the engine is in the non-load state, rapid fluctuation in engine output torque is transmitted to the wheels through the lockup clutch, which imports unpleasant vibration to passengers in the vehicle. Thus, there is the problem that the set vehicle speed at which the lockup control is to be executed cannot be significantly lowered.
The applicant then considered lowering the lockup force of a lockup clutch in a deceleration driving zone more than that in a non-deceleration driving zone so as to buffer a rapid rise in the engine output torque during acceleration from the deceleration driving state by the above lockup force, which was lowered in advance.
In order to favorably buffer the above rapid increase in torque with the torque converter, it is only necessary to substantially reduce the lockup force of the lockup clutch in the deceleration driving state. However, when the lockup force during deceleration driving is lowered excessively, the object of increasing the transmission efficiency during deceleration driving could not be fully attained, and even if the lockup force during deceleration driving is fully lowered, the lockup force was immediately increased to a level corresponding to non-deceleration driving and a rise in torque could not be favorably absorbed, which may impart an unpleasant vibration to passengers.

Control device and control method for automatic transmission for vehicle

Japan Electronic Control Systems Co., Ltd.


Chemical agents of the general formula (I) and (II), such as derivatives of 3-hydroxy-pyrrole containing hydroxamic acid, and including salts thereof, that modulate levels of gene expression in cellular systems, including cancer cells, are disclosed, along with methods for preparing such agents, as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing such agents as active ingredients and methods of using these as therapeutic agents.

Screening assays for novel drugs are based on the response of model cell based systems in vitro to treatment with specific compounds. Various measures of cellular response have been utilized, including the release of cytokines, alterations in cell surface markers, activation of specific enzymes, as well as alterations in ion flux and/or pH. Some such screens rely on specific genes, such as oncogenes or tumor suppressors.

Derivatives of 3-hydroxy-pyrrole-2,4-dicarboxylic acid and uses thereof


In a telecommunication network, a switching system routes a call to a service platform. The service platform transfers a prompt message over the call, collects caller-entered information from the caller, and transfers the caller-entered information to an SCP system. The SCP system transfers the caller-entered information to a first destination processor, processes a first destination routing code from the first destination processor to determine a first destination routing instruction, and transfers the first destination routing instruction to the switching system. The switching system routes the call to a first destination in response to the first destination routing instruction. The SCP system transfers the caller-entered information to a second destination processor, processes a second destination routing code from the second destination processor to determine a second destination routing instruction, and transfers the second destination routing instruction to the switching system. The switching system routes the call to a second destination in response to the second destination routing instruction.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to the field of communications, and in particular, to telecommunication networks that provide caller-entered information to call destinations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a telecommunication network, a switching system routes calls from callers to destinations. To determine how to route these calls, the switching systems may transfer queries to a Service Control Point (SCP). The SCP translates dialed telephone numbers into routing instructions, and responds to the switching system with the routing instructions. For example, the SCP might translate an 800 number into a routing instruction that indicates a switch and trunk coupled to the call destination.
As a part of the translation, the SCP may transfer queries to routing processors. The routing processors process the queries to determine labels that ultimately control how the calls are routed. The routing processors transfer the labels to the SCP, and the SCP translates the labels into the routing instructions. Customers of the telecommunication network may operate their own routing processors to control incoming calls. The telecommunication network may also use routing processors to internally route calls within the network.
Many calls require the use of a service platform. The service platform executes call processing scripts, typically selected based on the dialed number, that direct the service platform to apply services to the call. One example of a service is a calling card service where a the service platform answers the call and prompts the caller with audio messages to enter their calling card number, a personal identification number, and a number to call. The service platform then checks the numbers and initiates the call to the desired number. Another example of a service is interactive call routing where the service platform prompts the caller to enter a "1" for customer service, "2" for accounting, or a "3" for product ordering, and then the service platform directs the switching system to route the call to the destination selected by the caller.
In many cases, the destination owns and operates call systems that interact with the caller to collect information. For example, an airline may have its own service platform that collects frequent flyer numbers for incoming calls, so the agent has caller information when they answer the call. In other cases, the agents themselves collect the caller information.
To relieve the destination of this burden, the telecommunication network can use its service platform to collect caller information and transfer the caller information to the destination call system. Thus, the destination may have: 1) a routing processor that interacts with the network SCP to direct call routing, 2) a call system that interacts with the network service platform to receive caller information, and 3) call agents to answer calls. Unfortunately, the destination must coordinate the call system and the routing processor if routing decisions are to be made using the caller-entered information.
Calls are often transferred from one destination to another. For example an airline may transfer a call to a car rental agency after booking a flight for the caller. After each transfer, the caller may be required to re-enter the caller information. In addition, the telecommunication network must use service platform capacity to re-collect the caller information.

Telecommunication network that provides caller-entered information to multiple call destinations


The present invention proposes a method whereby during a specified/specifiable observation period (Ttotal) , the polarization states of optical transmission system and/or the optical signals transmitted by the optical transmission system are changed by applying a targeted intervention in at least one position of the transmission line, and at a second position which is interposed at least one place downstream from the first position of the optical transmission line, a specified/specifiable signal characteristic (BER) is qualitatively measured and checked for adherence to a specified/specifiable threshold condition (BERth) and the PMD-induced outage probability of the optical transmission system is calculated on the basis of the ratio between the length of that share of the time (Tout), during which the measured signal characteristic fails to meet the threshold condition (BERth), to the length of the observation period (Ttotal).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for the determination of a PDM-induced outage probability of an optical transmission system and to devices and systems to implement the process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Polarization mode dispersion (PMD) is a well known property of optical elements, such as, for example, fiber optics, optical multiplexers and optical amplifiers.
An important cause of polarization mode dispersion rests on the phenomenon that upon launching an optical signal in an optical element generally several so-called polarization modes are initiated which propagate at different speeds. An initiation of several modes of polarization may, for example, also be the consequezce of a change of the refractive index into a single direction as a response to mechanical irregularities, for example, by curvatures, pressure, tension and/or temperature, of an optical element by means of which one of the orthogonal polarization modes is transmitted faster than the others. In total, the different speeds of several polarization modes lead at the output of the optical element to a distortion of the optical signal and are, therefore, the cause of signal degradation.
Now if in an optical transmission system several optical elements are cascaded then accordingly the PMD-induced signal distortions caused within the individual optical elements shall be accumulated. Provided that these distortions of the signal remain within certain tolerance limits, the optical transmission system fundamentally still works within an admissible area.
For example, for a digital optical signal the bit error rate (BER) constitutes a typical measurement of admissible signal changes, whereby above a certain bit rate threshold value (BTH) the resulting signal degradation reaches such a proportion that the optical signal transmission has to be classified as flawed in its totality.
Processes for measuring the polarization mode dispersion of individual optical elements are known, for example, from the recommendation "ITU-T-G.650.2", wherein ITU-T stands for a specific committee within the international body "International Telecommunication Union" which devotes itself to standardization in the area of communication engineering and issues corresponding recommendations.
Moreover, there are fundamental models available which state the probability of the occurrence of Differential Group Delays (DGD) in so-called DGD values if the polarizations mode dispersion values have been previously measured.
Publications to be named in this context are, for example, the ITU-T recommendation No. G.691 and the Technical Report (TR) IEC/TR 61282-3 which were issued by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). What should be considered disadvantageous in this context that by making use of the differential group delays it is always only possible to present a part of the effects which are based on polarization mode dispersion.

Processes and devices for the determination of a PMD-induced outage probability of an optical transmission system

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation


A kernel receives a request to execute a first process instance from an agent. The first process instance is an instance of a first program. The kernel obtains one or more access control rules related to the agent. The kernel permits execution of the first process instances based on the access control rules. The kernel detects the first process instance attempting to access a second process instance during execution of the first process instance. The second process instance is an instance of a second program currently being executed. The kernel determines whether to grant the first process instance permission to access the second process instances based on the access control rules.

The present disclosure relates to inter-process communication, and more specifically, to granting and denying access between process instances.
Inter-process communication may enable higher performance computing by allowing operations to be performed on multi-core processors. Inter-process communication may enable more scalable computing by allowing distributed computing systems and hardware from multiple computers to perform operations cooperatively. Inter-process communication may enable more efficient computing by separating larger programs into smaller programs. Inter-process communication may be used by computers in various fields such as business, medicine, and science.

International Business Machines Corporation


A constant-current controller that supplies a constant-current to a solenoid driver for use with an electromechanical device. The controller comprises a PCB containing a constant-current control circuit. The circuit comprises a GaNFET primary switch and a secondary switch. The PCB is integrated with and made a part of the solenoid driver. A standard electromechanical device may be converted to a constant-current controlled electromechanical device by exchanging the solenoid driver.

Solenoids are often used as the driver to operate many types of electromechanical devices, such as for example electromechanical door latches or strikes. In the use of solenoids as drivers in electromechanical door latches or strikes, when power is applied to the solenoid, the solenoid is powered away from the default state to bias a return spring. The solenoid will maintain the bias as long as power is supplied to the solenoid. Once power has been intentionally removed, or otherwise, such as through a power outage from the grid or as a result of a fire, the solenoid returns to its default position. Depending on the type latch or strike (fail-safe or fail-secure), the default position may place the latch in a locked (fail-secure) or unlocked (fail-safe) state. In a "fail-safe" system, as long as the latch or strike remains locked, power has to be supplied to the solenoid to maintain stored energy in the return spring. In a "fail-secure" system, the opposite is true.
The current to pull in the plunger of the solenoid against the return spring is referred to as the "pick" current and the current to hold the plunger against the return spring is referred to as the "hold" current, Typically, the pick current is much greater than the hold current regardless of whether the solenoid is used in a "fail-safe" or "fail-secure" system. Power provided to the solenoid of an electric latch or strike is most efficiently maintained if a constant current is provided to the inductive load.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/098,522 and assigned to Hanchett Entry Systems, Inc. (the "Parent Application"), a constant-current controller circuitry operable to supply a constant current to an inductive load is disclosed. The circuitry includes a switching circuit comprising a primary switch and a secondary switch. The switches are sequentially opened and closed as timed events whereby a periodic current to the solenoid becomes constant when a sufficiently large switching frequency is implemented. The controller may be operated as a pulse-width modulated controller. In one aspect of the circuit disclosed, the primary switch is a MOSFET.
Because of the size of the MOSFET, the PCB containing the MOSFET and supporting components is relatively large and substantially rigid, and therefore must be mounted remote from the solenoid and typically in the housing of the electric latch or strike remote. Thus, since the controller circuitry is made an integral part of the latch or strike itself when manufactured, retrofitting of an existing electromechanical door latch or strike with constant current controller circuitry is difficult and costly.
Therefore, there exists a need for a constant-current controller circuit to be integrated with an associated solenoid so that a constant current controlled solenoid may serve as a drop-in replacement for a standard solenoid of any solenoid-driven device.

Solenoid assembly with included constant-current controller circuit


A control apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention is configured to control a friction brake by calculating a brake attitude control amount outputted from the friction brake such that the acceleration detected by the vertical acceleration sensor becomes an acceleration corresponding to a target sprung state, and to control a damping force variable shock absorber by calculating a damping force control amount of the damping force variable shock absorber such that the stroke speed detected by the stroke sensor becomes a stroke speed corresponding to the target sprung state and/or a target unsprung state.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a control apparatus configured to control a state of a vehicle.
2. Related Art
As a technique related to a control apparatus for a vehicle, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Hei 7-117435 discloses a technique of controlling a vehicle body attitude using a suspension control apparatus capable of changing a damping force.


Provided are a solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization and a catalyst comprising the component for olefin polymerization, in which the electron donor is free from the problem of lacking in safety and sanitation, and is inexpensive and easy to produce, and which exhibit high activity in producing olefin polymers with high stereospecificity, and also a method for producing olefin polymers in the presence of the catalyst. The solid catalyst component comprises titanium, magnesium and an electron donor compound of formula (I):

The present invention relates to a solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization and a catalyst comprising the component for olefin polymerization, which are used in homo- or co-polymerization of xcex1-olefins to give homopolymers or copolymers, and to a method for producing olefin polymers.
A variety of solid catalyst components comprising, as the indispensable ingredients, magnesium, titanium, halogen and electron donor have heretofore been proposed for catalysts. It is well known that the catalysts comprising the component of that type have high catalytic activity in olefin polymerization and that xcex1-olefin polymers produced in the presence of the catalyst have high stereospecificity. In particular, it is known that the solid catalyst components comprising, as the electron donor, an aromatic ester such as typically a phthalate exhibit excellent capabilities. However, using aromatic compounds is often disliked as being not safe and not good for the health.
Regarding non-aromatic electron donors, a method of using an electron donor of a malonate derivative has been reported. For example, in Japanese Patent Publication (JP-B) Hei-4-80044, proposed were compounds of a general formula (II):
wherein either one or both of R4 and R5 are linear or branched hydrocarbon residues having 4 carbon atoms, or aromatic hydrocarbon residues. However, the stereospecificity of the polymers to be produced in the method in which the proposed compound is used is not good. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Hei-6-122716, proposed are compounds of formula (II) in which R4 and R5 are bonded to each other to form a ring. In JP-A Hei-279517, proposed were compounds of formula (II) in which R4 and R5 are both hydrogens, those in which either one of R4 and R5 is a linear or branched hydrocarbon residue having 1 or more carbon atoms or an aromatic hydrocarbon residue, and the other is a hydrogen atom, and those in which R4 and R5 are both linear hydrocarbon residues having 2 or more carbon atoms. In the method in which the proposed compound is used, however, the yield of the polymers produced is extremely low. In JP-A Hei-8-157521, proposed were compounds of formula (II) in which R4 and R5 are both branched or cyclic hydrocarbon residues having 3 or more carbon atoms. In the method, however, the proposed malonates having branched or cyclic hydrocarbon residues are difficult to produce, and the yield of the polymers produced is low. Therefore, the method is not practicable. Other methods of using electron donors of other non-aromatic diesters were reported in JP-A Hei-3-124705 and JP-A Hei-3-168208. However, these methods are not always satisfactory for obtaining stereospecific polymers at high yields.
The object of the present invention is to provide a solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization and a catalyst comprising the component for olefin polymerization, in which the electron donor is free from the problem of lacking in safety and sanitation, and is inexpensive and easy to produce, and which exhibit high activity in producing olefin polymers with high stereospecificity, and also to provide a method for producing olefin polymers.
We, the present inventors have assiduously studied in order to attain the object noted above, and, as a result, have found that the problems mentioned above can be solved by the use of a solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization which comprises titanium, magnesium and an electron donor of a compound of the following general formula (I). On the basis of this finding, we have completed the invention.
Specifically, the invention provides a solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization, a catalyst for olefin polymerization, and a method for producing olefin polymers, which are as follows:
(1) A solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization, which comprises titanium, magnesium and a compound of a general formula (I):
xe2x80x83wherein R1 and R2 each represent a linear or branched hydrocarbon residue having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and these may be the same or different ones; R3 represents an alicyclic hydrocarbon residue having from 3 to 20 carbon atoms; and n represents an integer of from 1 to 10.
(2) A catalyst for olefin polymerization, which comprises (A) a solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization of (1), and (B) an organic aluminium compound.
(3) A catalyst for olefin polymerization, which comprises (A) a solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization of (1), (B) an organic aluminium compound, and (C) a third component of an electron donor compound.
(4) The catalyst for olefin polymerization of (3), wherein the third component of an electron donor compound (C) is an organic silicon compound.
(5) A method for producing olefin polymers, which comprises polymerizing olefins in the presence of a catalyst for olefin polymerization of any one of (2) to (4).

Solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization, catalyst for olefin polymerization, and method for producing olefin polymers

Abstract: wherein R1 and R2 each represent a linear or branched hydrocarbon residue having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; R3 represents an alicyclic hydrocarbon residue having from 3 to 20 carbon atoms; and n represents an integer of from 1 to 10. The solid catalyst component is combined with an organic aluminium compound to prepare a catalyst, which is used in producing olefin polymers.


A process to produce a polymer is provided. The process comprising contacting a treated solid oxide compound, an organometal compound, and an organoaluminum compound in the presence of an alpha olefin under polymerization conditions to produce the polymer.

The production of polymers is a multi-billion dollar business. This business produces billions of pounds of polymers each year. Millions of dollars have been spent on developing technologies that can add value to this business.
One of these technologies is called metallocene catalyst technology. Metallocene catalysts have been known since about 1958. However, their low productivity did not allow them to be commercialized. About 1974, it was discovered that contacting one part water with one part trimethylaluminum to form methyl aluminoxane, and then contacting such methyl aluminoxane with a metallocene compound, formed a metallocene catalyst that had greater activity. However, it was soon realized that large amounts of expensive methyl aluminoxane were needed to form an active metallocene catalyst. This has been a significant impediment to the commercialization of metallocene catalysts.
Fluoro organic borate compounds have been used in place of large amounts of methyl aluminoxane. However, this is not satisfactory, since borate compounds are very sensitive to poisons and decomposition, and can also be very expensive.
It should also be noted that having a heterogeneous catalyst is important. This is because heterogeneous catalysts are required for most modern commercial polymerization processes. Furthermore, heterogeneous catalysts can lead to the formation of substantially uniform polymer particles that have a high bulk density. These types of substantially uniform particles are desirable because they improve the efficiency of polymer production and transportation. Efforts have been made to produce heterogeneous metallocene catalysts; however, these catalysts have not been entirely satisfactory.
An object of this invention is to provide a process for producing a catalyst precursor for use in a catalyst composition.
Another object is to provide the catalyst precursor.
Another object of this invention is to provide a process for producing the catalyst composition.
Another object of this invention is to provide the catalyst composition.
Another object of this invention is to provide a process of using the catalyst composition to polymerize at least one alpha olefin to produce a polymer.
Another object of this invention is to provide the polymer produced by the catalyst composition.
These objects, and other objects, will become more apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art after reading this disclosure.


A flexible shielded cable that employs a thin metallic foil or plastic metallic foil tape having a metal surface wherein the metallic foil or metal surface is less than 0.0030 inches in thickness disposed about a layer of dielectric material and disposed within a metallic serve or braid. The thin metallic foil prevents or reduces relative movement of the dielectric and the conductor core disposed therein relative to the braid. Preferably, either the metallic foil or braid is a noncopper metal.

Various type of flexible cables are heretofore known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,252, for example, discloses a coaxial cable comprising a conductor core, a layer of dielectric disposed about the core, and a layer of conductive or semi-conductive matter surrounding the dielectric. A copper shield, which may be braided, is embedded in the layer, and the layer is softened by heating.
Another type of flexible cable heretofore known is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,122. It comprises a flexible metal conductor core, a layer of dielectric positioned about the conductor core, and a flexible copper shield disposed about the dielectric. The metallic shield has a copper foil with overlapping edges and a copper braid disposed about the foil. A layer of metal such as solder, bonds the overlapping edges, bonds the braid and the foil, and encloses the openings of the braids. Although the heretofore known coaxial cables have achieved commercial success, a certain degree of movement of the core relative to the cable still may occur, which may especially be a problem in connection with shorter cable assemblies.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a flexible cable assembly that improves upon the prior art.
It is further object to provide a flexible cable assembly that provides a stronger adhesive between the metal shield and the conductor.


A communication system that performs data communications based on an SCSI command defined in the SCSI standard, the communication system includes; a peripheral device that performs at least one of writing and reading to/from a recording medium inserted into a slot; and an information processing device connected to the peripheral device, including: an OS kernel; an adding unit that adds communication data to a free area of Inquiry data generated by issuing Inquiry command to the OS kernel; and a transmitting unit that transmits the Inquiry data to the peripheral device including the communication data added by the adding unit, wherein the peripheral device includes: a receiving unit that receives the Inquiry data transmitted by the transmitting unit; and an extracting unit that extracts the communication data added to the received Inquiry data.

In recent years, a so-called memory card (an example of recording medium) is widely known where a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory is packaged into a card shape. The memory card has been rapidly spreading as a data storage medium used for digital devices such as a digital camera and a portable music player. There are no unified specifications for memory cards. Various types of memory cards are on the marketplace such as a compact flash (registered trademark, hereinafter referred to as the "CF"), smart media (registered trademark, hereinafter referred to as the "SM"), a memory stick (registered trademark, hereinafter referred to as the "MS"), and an SD memory card (registered trademark, hereinafter referred to as the "SD").
An access from such a memory may be available to a PC by using a memory card reader/writer (one example of peripheral device, hereinafter abbreviated as the "reader/writer) used to read/write from/to a memory card while connected to a PC. This allows data communications between a PC and a memory card. Such a reader/writer may be a single slot type equipped with a slot for inserting a memory card and multi-spot type including multiple slots to allow data read/write from/to more than one memory card, as disclosed in JP-A-2005-18645 and JP-A-2005-107875.
To read/write data stored in a memory card from/to a PC by using a reader/writer, it is necessary to recognize a reader/writer and install driver software to allow access to an inserted memory card. In recent years, an operating system (hereinafter abbreviated as the OS) for a PC comes preinstalled with driver software to support various types of reader/writer and memory cards. On the other hand, a PC including an OS such as a Windows98 and Windows2000 (Windows is a registered trademark) as earlier version of windows (hereinafter referred to as a lower-rank OS) than the multi-slot type developed after the single-slot type does not have dedicated driver software supporting the multi-slot type. The user thus needs to install dedicated compatible driver software as in the related art practice. In case a multi-slot type reader/writer (hereinafter referred to the multi-reader/writer) should be connected to a PC including a lower rank OS, access to only a predetermined slot is allowed.
Data communications between a PC and a reader/writer, that is, a communication protocol used for data communications between a PC and a memory card is often designed so that the data communications may be performed based on an SCSI command defined in the SCSI standard. The SCSI standard is a communication protocol established by the ANSI (American national Standard Institute) and enjoys global conformance. The SCSI command is a command term specified in the SCSI standard. Such a communication protocol is capable of enhancing the versatility of a PC and a reader/writer and is thus widely used. In the following description, the SCSI standard mainly refers to SCSI-2.
Data communications made based on an SCSI command between a PC 3 and a reader/writer 77 connected via USB ("Universal Serial Bus") to the PC 3 via a USB-I/F 78 will be described referring to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a conceptual drawing for explaining an OS 70 (Windows2000 in this example) running on the PC 3 and an application running on the OS 70. The OS 70 has a basic system including a GUI (Graphical User Interface) 71, a file system 72 and an OS kernel 73. The GUI 71 is a user interface that provides the user's input by way of computer graphics and a pointing device such as a mouse. The file system 72 includes a method of managing data by using files and folders in a computer and its management system. The OS kernel 73 is a software program that implements basic features such as one supervising applications and peripheral device. The PC 3 has driver software 74 preinstalled therein to allow an access to a reader/writer. The driver software 74 is implemented in modular form in the OS kernel 73.
As shown in the figure, assume that the Explorer 75 as an example of application used to access the reader/writer 77 and an R/W application 76 are activated on the PC 3. The Explorer 75 is created in conformity to the system of the OS 70 and generally recognized as a feature of the OS 70. Thus, the Explorer 75 communicates with the reader/writer 77 via the file system 72. On the other hand, the R/W application 76 is a unique software application developed by the manufacturer of the reader/writer 77 and performs processing to write or read data to/from a recording medium inserted into the reader/writer 77. In general, the R/W application 76 is created without conformity to the OS 70 because the specifications of the file system 72 are not made public.
First, an access to the reader/writer 77 from the Explorer 75 will be described. Once the OS 70 is activated and the Explorer 75 is accordingly activated, the Inquiry command (one example of SCSI command) is issued to the OS kernel 73 via the file system 72 by the Explorer 75. Note that all SCSI commands including the Inquiry command are designed to be issued to an SCSI command processing entry 79 virtually provided to the OS kernel 73. When the Inquiry command is issued, configuration information such as the type and device name of the reader/writer 77, SCSI-ID, presence/absence of LUN and type of memory card are returned from the reader/writer 77. This allows the reader/writer 77 to be recognized. When the reader/writer 77 is recognized, a drive icon of the reader/writer 77 is created on the Explorer 75 by the GUI 71. When the user accesses the drive icon by using a mouse to enter a data read instruction, the Explorer 75 engages the file system 72 to issue the Read command (one example of SCSI command). On the other hand, when the user enters a write instruction, the Explorer 75 engages the file system 72 to issue the Write command (one example of SCSI command) These command data are transferred to the reader/writer 77 via an I/F such as the USB, followed by data read/write operation on the reader/writer 77 in accordance with the command. The Inquiry command is issued also when the poser of the PC 3 is reset with the reader/writer 77 connected.
Next, an access to the reader/writer 77 from the R/W application 76 will be described. Once the R/W application 76 is activated, a request to open a data bus to the R/WW application alone is issued to the OS kernel 73. Receiving this request, the OS kernel 73 causes the R/W application 76 to occupy the data bus. In other words, the SCSI command issued to the SCSI command processing entry 79 is not accepted at the SCSI command processing entry 79. Thus, while the R/W application 76 is being activated, the file system 72 cannot access the reader/writer 77. When the R/W application 76 is activated, an input screen (user interface screen) programmed by the R/W application 76 is presented on the display via the GUI 71. The Inquiry command is issued to the OS kernel 73 by the driver software 74 to acquire configuration information such as the type and device name of the reader/writer 77. This allows the reader/writer 77 to be recognized. After that, data read/write operation is made on the reader/writer 77 in accordance with the Read command or Write command issued to the OS kernel 73 by the driver software 74.
Recognition of the reader/writer 77 is made as follows. First, the Inquiry data generated when the Inquiry command is issued to the OS kernel 73 is transmitted to the reader/writer 77. Receiving the Inquiry data, the reader/writer 77 references various information included in the Inquiry data to generate configuration information in accordance with the information, and transmits Standard-Inquiry data including the configuration information to the PC. Based on the returned Standard-Inquiry data, the reader/writer 77 is recognized.

Communication system, information processing device, peripheral device and communication method


A freeform surface reflective scanning system includes a light source, an aperture, a first freeform surface mirror, and a second freeform surface mirror. The light source is configured to provide a laser. The first freeform surface mirror is located on an aperture side that is away from the light source. The first freeform surface mirror is configured to reflect the laser to form a first reflected light. The second freeform surface mirror is located on a first reflected light path. The second freeform surface mirror is configured to reflect the first reflected light to form a second reflected light. Both the first freeform surface mirror and the second freeform surface mirror are a fourth XY polynomial surface.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a scanning system, and particularly to a freeform surface reflective scanning system.
2. Description of Related Art
Compared with conventional rotationally symmetric surfaces, freeform surfaces have more degrees of design freedom, which can reduce the aberrations and simplify the structure of the reflective scanning system.
However, the freeform surfaces are rarely used in conventional reflective scanning systems, because of their multi variables and high degrees. And, when the freeform surfaces are used in a scanning system, a volume, a weight and number of lenses of the reflective scanning systems should be considered. As such, it is difficult to design a freeform surface reflective scanning system with simple structure and superior imaging effect.
What is needed, therefore, is to provide a freeform surface reflective scanning system with simple structure, and superior imaging effect.

Freeform surface reflective scanning system


Embodiments may comprise a personal cargo device. According to some embodiments a personal cargo device may include an elongate strip defining a band, and the band may include fastening means at either end so that the ends may be joined. Furthermore, the bands may have at least one lateral fastening means disposed along the length of the band which is adapted to engage a hanging cargo member. A hanging cargo member may be so dimensioned as to substantially cover and/or protect a thigh of a wearer, and may include one or more integrated storage means. An integrated storage means may be closable with a closure flap, which may be removable from an embodiment.

A. Field of Invention
Some embodiments may generally relate to wearable devices for storing arbitrary objects and/or protecting selected parts of the body.
B. Description of the Related Art
It is known to have garments which are adapted to carry arbitrary objects. Such garments may include one or more pockets. For example, cargo pants or shorts may include relatively large pockets worn to the front or side of the thigh. However, such garments are not amenable to be worn over clothing other than traditional undergarments. What is needed is a device or garment which can be worn over clothing and provides means for adjustment and reconfiguration of the device or garment.
Some embodiments of the present invention may provide one or more benefits or advantages over the prior art.


The present invention relates to a method of making nicotinamide ribofuranosie salts, in particular pharmaceutically acceptable nicotinamide ribofuranoside salts. The invention further relates to the nicotinamide ribofuranoside salts as such, in particular carboxylic acid salts in crystalline form, and their use in nutritional supplements and pharmaceutical compositions.

Nicotinamide riboside (nicotinamide-β-D-ribofuranoside; CAS no 1341-23-7)
is a precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+/NADH) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+/NADPH). In addition, nicotinamide riboside is a niacin (vitamin B3) equivalent.
Nicotinamide riboside has been reported to increase NAD+ levels in liver and skeletal muscle and to prevent body weight gain in mice fed a high-fat diet. It also increases NAD+ concentration in the cerebral cortex and reduces cognitive deterioration in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. For these reasons, nicotinamide riboside salts have been suggested for use in nutritional supplements and pharmaceutical compositions. In fact, the chloride salt of nicotinamide-β-D-ribofuranoside is a commercially available nutritional supplement.
However, broad application of these compounds as dietary supplements has been limited by production methods which are low in yield, have poor stereoselectivity, and/or employ expensive and/or hazardous reagents, or which lead to pyridinium salts comprising pharmaceutically unsuitable counter-ions. Therefore, many known synthetic methods are not amenable to large-scale, commercial syntheses.
WO 2016/014927 discloses a crystalline form of nicotinamide riboside chloride which is described to have advantageous properties, e.g. ease in purification, relative to amorphous forms of nicotinamide riboside salts.
WO 2017/218580 discloses synthetic methods for the preparation of nicotinamide riboside salts including salts comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable anion. The methods may include converting one pharmaceutically acceptable counter-ion of the nicotinamide-β-D-ribofuranoside moiety to another pharmaceutically acceptable counter-ion through ion exchange chromatography or salt exchange reaction and precipitation. In certain embodiments, the described methods include converting a salt of nicotinamide riboside or analogs thereof, where the salt is not the chloride salt, to the corresponding chloride salt.
WO 2015/186068 A1 discloses the reaction of nicotinamide-β-D-ribofuranoside triflate with sodium methylate in an ion exchange reaction to afford crystalline nicotinamide-β-D-riboside chloride.
CN 108774278 discloses the reaction of nicotinamide triacetylribofuranoside triflate with a base in order to deacetylate the furanoside. Subsequently, the deacetylated product is treated with an acid to give the corresponding salt product.
However, for given applications, alternative pharmaceutically acceptable salts of nicotinamide riboside are desirable as well as methods that allow for their preparation in an inexpensive, efficient and convenient way.

Method of making nicotinamide ribofuranoside salts, nicotinamide ribofuranoside salts as such, and uses thereof


An optical disc drive usable with discs to which data is continuously recorded and discs having a sector format can quickly resume playback signal output after passing imperfection causing potential reading errors, and plays disc with few read errors. A detection signal generator detects DC level fluctuation in the playback signal read from the disc and generates a detection signal tracking the DC level fluctuation. A selector selects a detection signal or a null signal without valid polarity based on the detection signal generated by the detection signal generator and input to the selector. A clamping unit performs a clamping process to suppress DC level fluctuation in the playback signal based on the detection signal when the selection unit selects the detection signal, and does not perform the clamping process when the selection unit selects the null signal. A signal processor performs specific signal processes based on clamping unit output.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an optical disc drive for reproducing content from either continuously recorded media or sector format media, and relates more specifically to an optical disc device for reading content with few errors from an optical disc having black dots, scratches, or other imperfections causing read errors.
It should be noted that Japanese Patent Application 11-207601 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,104,682 relating to the present invention are incorporated herein by way of reference in their entirety.
2. Description of Related Art
Discs, such as DVD-ROM discs, that record data continuously, and discs, such as DVD-RAM discs, having a sector format and recording data by sector, are both commonly used today. Signals are generally recorded to continuous-recording disc media so that the playback signal is DC-free. "DC-free" represents the average signal level of the playback signal obtained from the pattern recorded to the medium being always constant within a certain data length (such as one byte).
A digital sum value (hereinafter referred to as DSV) can be used to evaluate DC-free performance. The DSV is the sum of signs within a specific data period where positive (+) polarity is assigned to the mark side, and negative (−) polarity is assigned to the gap (that is, the unrecorded part between marks) side of the playback wave obtained from the recorded signal pattern. If a signal is completely DC-free, the DSV will be 0, and if the DSV of a particular byte is 0, the byte is considered to be DC-free.
By recording continuously recorded data so that the playback signal is generally DC-free, it is not necessary to consider DC level fluctuation when the playback signal is processed after analog-to-digital (hereinafter referred to as A/D) conversion. A conventional optical disc drive thus only needs to control the DC level of the input signal to the A/D converter so that the DSV of the A/D converted signal is 0.
When the playback signal is obtained from sector format media such as DVD-RAM discs, however, there is a sharp change in the DC level between the playback signal from the prepit address area of the disc and the playback signal from the data content storage area of the disc. There is also no assurance that signals are recorded in all areas because recorded sectors and blank sectors are intermixed.
Conventional disc drives control the DC level of the input signal to the A/D converter so that the DSV of the signal after AND conversion is 0.
DC level convergence where the DC level changes greatly and abruptly at the change between the prepit address area and the content recording area is, however, time consuming.
The gain crossover point can be raised to speed this convergence, but this technique adds noise to the data after AID conversion. Another method of reducing the effects of DC level fluctuation is to first pass the signal through a high-pass filter before A/D conversion. However, when an area where there is a scratch or black dot or other imperfection on the disc is reproduced, the signal level changes greatly after passing the scratch or black dot, for example, and may exceed the tolerance range of the A/D converter. Recovering the playback signal in such cases takes time.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A bottle washing apparatus for effectively washing the inside of bottles that are coated with solid particulate residue. The apparatus includes a fixed portion that connects to a conventional faucet and an elongated closed ended hollow shaft that is provided with a plurality of small orifices. A second closed ended hollow shaft concentrically overlies the first shaft and is rotationally affixed thereto. The second shaft is provided with a plurality of smaller orifices that are tangential with the circumference of the shaft so that when water pressure is applied to the fixed portion, water passes through the orifices in the first shaft and then through the tangential orifices of the second shaft causing the second shaft to rotate at a high rate of speed while discharging the water in needle-like streams under high pressure. When the rotating shaft is placed into a small mouth bottle with deposits of reside on the inside surface, such as a baby formula residue, the combination of the high pressure discharge and high speed rotation provide a highly efficient and effective washing action.

The present invention relates generally to washing bottles and more particularly to a new and improved bottle washing apparatus for washing the interior of small mouth bottles such as baby bottles and test tubes.
Cleaning the interior of small mouth bottles such as baby bottles and test tubes have presented problems for many years that to date have not been effectively solved for home and small laboratories that do not have access to commercial equipment. While commercial bottling plants have automatic machines that insert spray heads, rotating brushes and super heated water and detergent under pressure into bottles, as described, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 1,940,615 to Webster, this procedure cannot be duplicated in a home kitchen for baby bottles or in a small laboratory for test tubes. Instead, a number of methods of washing bottles have been used. The most common method is the utilization of a bottle brush. While a bottle brush when combined with soap and hot water will clean the interior of a bottle with dried residue or the like adhering to the interior surfaces, it requires considerable effort and a brush always presents the possibility of introducing bacteria and germs into a bottle and a separate and through rinsing operation has to be manually performed after the brushing. There have also been several patents in the prior art that address the problem of bottle cleaning. U.S. Pat. Nos. 466,680 to Harris and Goodsell, 1,893,498 to Herzog, and 1,577,236 to Huss, all disclose rigid or flexible shafts that are inserted into a bottle and water pressure is discharged through the shaft to wash the interior of the bottle.
While the aforestated devices provide washing action, when the solids in the liquid previously held by the bottle dry in the bottle and become encrusted on the interior surface the bottle, the washing action afforded by these devices is generally ineffective or the time required to loosen and remove such material is excessive.


A crib sheet with attachment points used to attach to the crib rails or bed frame. The crib sheet is used in combination with an infant sleep garment that attaches to the crib sheet by hook and loop mechanism. Attachment to the crib frame or bed frame, rather than the mattress, eliminates the risk that the infant's movements can cause the crib sheet to move or shift. Two points of attachment lie on either side of the shoulders or upper torso of the infant. The sleep garment has a arm restraint mechanism that acts to prevent movement of the infant's arms so that the infant cannot use its arms to escape the garment or to move itself about the crib or bed.

Newborn babies are accustomed to the close, warm, secure environment of their mother's womb prior to birth. Newborns and young infants are commonly wrapped in swaddling type blankets to provide warmth and comfort, which simulates the cocoon-like state of the mother's womb. Swaddling mimics the pre-birth experience resulting in a comfortable and content newborn. Swaddling also helps settle the developing nervous system of the infant since newborns are overwhelmed by novel feelings and sensations in their nerves; swaddling places an infant's muscles and joint position sensors at rest.
Swaddling has been shown to calm babies with colic and fussiness. Swaddling especially settles the startle reflex in preventing the flailing of the infant's arms and thus helps the infant feel more secure.
In addition to providing comfort and warmth, parents and caregivers must provide protection from danger in an infant's sleep environment. This is generally achieved through safe positioning of infants so that they are prevented from getting into awkward positions and either harming themselves or waking themselves unnecessarily.
A general problem for positioning infants for sleep is the risk that a blanket or bedding will be loosened and/or re-positioned during sleep. In the case of the blanket being moved off the infant's body, there is a risk that the infant will become chilled from exposure to cold air and in the case of the blanket being moved over the infant's face, there is the risk of the infant suffocating from lack of oxygen.
Swaddling, if done properly, reduces the risk that an infant will become uncovered or that the swaddling blanket or bedding will come loose. However, swaddling alone cannot eliminate these risks. This is especially true for infants that are more than six weeks old, when they are stronger and more active than newborns. Furthermore, many parents and caregivers have difficulty properly swaddling infants. To obtain a proper swaddle and to achieve the desired result, the blanket must be snug enough to immobilize the infant's arms and, to a certain degree, its legs, but loose enough that it is still comfortable.
Many parents experience difficulty with swaddling due to unfamiliarity with swaddling folds; it is difficult to effectively swaddle an infant in a rectangular or square-type blanket. If not swaddled correctly, the infant often wriggles free of the swaddle, resulting in the arms being freed and vitiating the desired effect. An infant wriggling free of the swaddling blanket also is exposed to a serious risk of suffocation or SIDS related issues due to loose bedding and unrestricted positioning of the infant. Even when swaddled correctly, infants can potentially roll, becoming entrapped in the swaddling blanket or trapped faced down while still wrapped in the blanket.
The difficulties with current swaddling blankets, sleep garments, and sleep safety devices include: a propensity to come undone and become loose in the crib, putting the infant at risk of suffocation; difficulty of proper and effective application; and an inability to prevent the infant from rolling into a prone position, thus potentially becoming trapped face down in the blanket creating a serious safety issue.
Other available swaddling implements on their own may be sufficient to swaddle and position an infant during the six week post-partum stage when the infant lacks the strength and developmental capacity to roll or break free. However, after the newborn stage and still within the period of time an infant is at risk for SIDS and/or other sleep-related hazards, many implements do not properly restrain the infant's arms, do not stay on the infant's body, and do not prevent the infant from rolling into a face-down position.
In light of recent research on SIDS, it is recommended babies be placed on their backs for sleeping for as long as the infant will tolerate this position during the infant's first year. Unfortunately, presently available infant positioning implements have difficulties related to functionality and safety. Examples include, but are not limited to, positioning wedges, foam apparatus and rolled pieces of fabric.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,513 discloses a fitted sleeping sac that is attached to a sheet. The arms of the infant are not restrained, thereby allowing the infant to move freely and to escape the sleeping sac. Furthermore, the sheet is simply a fitted sheet with a band that passes around the mattress, which is likely to be shifted by the movements of the infant, thereby exposing it to risk of injury.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,576 discloses a body conforming blanket that forms a pouch by using flaps that are wrapped and secured by using a hook and loop fastening system. With this design, the infant is not prevented from rolling over or from wriggling free or kicking its way out of the blanket.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,729 discloses a pocket type bedding device that secures an infant between a sheet and the mattress cover. It does not restrain the infant's movements, the infant is not prevented from rolling over, and the infant can escape as easily as from regular bed sheet or blanket.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,528 discloses a crib sheet with a blanket sewn on it to wrap around the infant to retain the infant in a supine position. This device does not swaddle the infant, rather, it simply wraps around the baby's torso leaving the arms and shoulders free. Because the infant's arms remain free, this design allows a baby a great deal of mobility. In practice, an infant is still able roll onto its stomach within the apparatus, exposing the infant to a risk for SIDS and suffocation. In addition, since the crib sheet is fastened about the mattress, it is likely to be shifted by the movement of the infant, thereby potentially loosening bedding and bringing the infant closer to the edge of the bed/crib.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,048 discloses an infant restraining device with a bottom sheet tied to a mattress with ropes or ties and a sleep pouch attached to the bottom sheet by a material pivot and with a piece of hook and loop material. It is suggested in the '048 patent that the material pivot allows the infant to move, without allowing it to rollover. However, in practice, it is unnecessary and simply increases the risk that the baby will rollover and/or become entangled. Furthermore, the device of the '048 patent leaves the infants arms free, which significantly increases the risk that the infant will be able to escape. In particular, the device has Velcro™ shoulder straps that are fastened on the front of the infant within easy reach of the infant's hands. The infant can, therefore, easily undo the straps with its hands, effectively defeating the purpose of the device. In addition, having long, thin straps so close to a child's neck presents an unnecessary hazard. These straps pose a risk of chafing and/or strangulation if they were to come undone.
The apparatus of the '048 patent uses a bottom sheet that is a "half-sheet mattress cover" attached to a mattress with straps going underneath to the other side. The infant's movement can cause the entire blanket, device and infant to shift over to the edge of the bed, thereby defeating the purpose of the device.
Thus, there remains a need in the art for an infant bedding product which functions to restrain an infant's movements, keeps an infant warm, prevents the infant from escaping, prevents an infant from moving from a supine or side-lying position to a dangerous prone position, and prevents an infant from shifting or loosening the bedding.