A liquid cooled fuel injection valve is operable to inject fuel directly into a combustion chamber through a nozzle orifice provided in an injector tip. The fuel injection valve further comprises a cooling system for draining fuel from a fuel cavity disposed within the injector tip and a drain valve that opens when pressure within the fuel cavity is greater than a predetermined set point. Fuel drained through the cooling system is directed to a drain system that may be combined with drain passages typically found in fuel injection valves. In a preferred embodiment, the drain valve is disposed within the fuel injection valve.

A fuel injection valve comprises a nozzle, also known as an injector tip, which is inserted into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. During engine operation, this injector tip is exposed to high temperatures generated by combustion in the combustion chamber. It is not uncommon for flame temperature in the combustion chamber to exceed 4000 degrees Fahrenheit (about 2200 degrees Celsius), and in such situations the injector tip could be heated to service temperatures in excess of its tempering temperature.
For a fuel injection valve employed by a conventional diesel-fueled engine, the liquid diesel fuel serves as the cooling medium that cools the injector tip. That is, heat is transferred from the body of the injector tip to the liquid fuel that is present within the injector tip in the annular cavity around the valve needle, and the flow of liquid fuel through the injector tip and into the combustion chamber provides sufficient cooling for the body of the injector tip.
However, gaseous-fueled engines are being developed to substitute diesel fuel with cleaner burning gaseous fuels. A problem with gaseous fuels such as natural gas is that, compared to diesel fuel, much higher temperatures and pressures are needed for auto-ignition. A solution to this problem, which allows the major components of diesel engines to be preserved, injects a small amount of more auto-ignitable fuel such as conventional diesel fuel, to initiate the ignition of the gaseous fuel.
In addition, diesel fuel may be employed within the fuel injection valve to act as a lubricant and coolant. However, the quantity of pilot diesel fuel that is injected into the combustion chamber to trigger ignition of the gaseous fuel is much less than the quantity of diesel fuel that would be injected into the combustion chamber in a conventional diesel-fueled engine. During engine operation, the quantity of pilot diesel fuel may be less than 5% of the total fuel consumed (measured on an energy basis). When the diesel fuel consumption is this low, the cooling provided by the flow of liquid diesel fuel through the fuel injection valve may not be sufficient to cool the injector tip when peak combustion chamber temperatures are reached. If the injector tip overheats, possible consequences include, heat deformation of the injector tip body and fuel "coking", a condition created by fuel being exposed to reducing conditions.
Some fuel injection valves have been proposed that divert some of the liquid fuel from the nozzle tip back to drain, thereby increasing the flow of liquid diesel fuel through the fuel injection valve to help with cooling.
For example, published German patent application DE 3928912 A1 discloses a fuel injection valve that uses fuel to cool the nozzle body by draining fuel through a drain passage that is opened when the fuel injection valve is opened by lifting the valve needle from the valve seat. With such arrangements, fuel is only returned to drain when the fuel injection valve is open, so the cooling effect of the fuel flow is only realized during the brief duration of an injection event. In addition, fuel is sent to drain whenever the fuel injection valve is open, including times when extra cooling is not necessary, such as times during start up or when the engine is idling. It is especially desirable to reduce parasitic loads during start up, when power needs may be supplied by a battery. Accordingly, a problem with this arrangement is that it can result in significant parasitic loads during start-up and idling conditions. Also, because the timing for draining fuel is indiscriminant, in that an amount of fuel is drained with every injection event, this arrangement may require a larger fuel pump than would otherwise be required.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,737,100 discloses an internally cooled unit injector that intermittently drains fuel when fuel is not being injected into a combustion chamber. The times when fuel is drained from the unit injector is controlled by the position of lands and grooved features of the plunger that respectively cover and open drain passages. With this arrangement, fuel is drained in each cycle regardless of whether the engine is starting up or already running, again resulting in significant parasitic loads at times when it is desirable to reduce parasitic loading. More importantly, during start up, the fuel pump operates at a lower speed, compared to normal operation, and increasing fuel flowrate during start up may require a larger pump, which is not necessary during normal operation, when the pump typically operates at a faster speed.
Published German patent application DE 198 47 388 A1, (the '388 Application), discloses a fuel injection system that is operable to drain a portion of the fuel from the nozzle fuel cavity. The '388 application teaches cooling the fuel injection valve during engine braking or at crankshaft angles when fuel is not being injected into the engine's combustion chamber. The fuel flow to drain is regulated dependent upon an operational parameter of the engine, such as engine RPM and/or the loading pressure generated by an exhaust turbo charger. A simple shut off valve and a variable throttle are disposed in a drain line outside of the fuel injection valve to regulate flow of fuel from the fuel injection valve through the drain line. A problem with this arrangement is the complexity of the drain valve and throttle arrangement, which adds a high pressure drain system downstream from the fuel injection valve, with joints connecting the high pressure drain line to the fuel injection valve body, the drain valve, and the throttle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,782 discloses many different arrangements for cooling a fuel injection valve, including using fuel as the coolant. In one such arrangement cooling fluid passages disposed within the body of the injector tip act as a cooling jacket. The cooling fluid passages are in permanent fluid communication with the fuel supply rail for continuously draining fuel from the fuel supply system.
As noted with respect to the references already presented, continuously draining pilot fuel from the fuel supply system or the nozzle cavity increases the parasitic load on the fuel supply system and could require a larger fuel supply pump. Accordingly, there is a need to provide cooling to the injector tip, while enabling engine start up without oversizing other engine components much beyond what is required for normal operation.

Liquid cooled fuel injection valve and method of operating a liquid cooled fuel injection valve


A boot routine is initialized in a computer by bootstrapping a volume top file (VTF) located in a first addressable location accessible upon the initializing of the boot routine and the volume top file bootstrapping a set of firmware modules.

Typical computer systems have a basic input output (BIOS) program for starting the computer as well as for managing data flow between the operating system (OS) and various types of attached devices (e.g., hard disk, keyboard, mouse, printer). The BIOS is made accessible to the processing units of the computer, for example, on an erasable programmable read-only memory chip. When the BIOS boots up (starts up) the computer, it determines if the attached devices are in place and operational and then loads the operating system (or key parts of it) into the random access memory (RAM) of the computer from the hard disk. When attached device details change, the BIOS program needs to be changed, either during computer system setup or manually.

Method and apparatus for using a volume top file to boot firmware modules


A video display apparatus includes a display section that carries out a display process based on a drive signal and a drive section that outputs to the display section a first drive signal based on a video signal having undergone video processing in a first video processing section at a fixed cycle and a second drive signal based on a video signal having undergone video processing in a second video processing section at the same cycle as the cycle at which the first drive signal is outputted but at timing shifted from the first drive signal by one-half the cycle. When the video signals contain two-dimensional video images, the first video processing section produces a video signal for two-dimensional video images and the second video processing section produces a video signal for black screen insertion.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a video display apparatus capable of displaying stereoscopic video images and a video display method.
2. Related Art
There is a known video display apparatus of related art that allows stereoscopic vision by using active shutter glasses that alternately display video images for the right eye and video images for the left eye having parallax therebetween at high speed (for example, 60 frames/second for each eye or 120 frames/second for right and left eyes together) and alternately open and close right and left shutters in synchronization with the alternate right and left display operation (see JP-A-2012-029220, for example).
On the other hand, in a display apparatus that operates in a hold-type display mode, such as a liquid crystal display, unlike a display apparatus that operates in an impulse-type display mode, such as a CRT (cathode ray tube), holding operation of the same video image during a single frame period causes the contour of an image of a moving object on a display screen to be blurred, what is called motion picture blurring. To reduce the degree of the motion picture blurring, for example, there is a known black screen insertion method for providing a pseudo-impulse display mode by inserting a black screen between frames (see JP-A-2011-257562, for example). Disadvantages of the black screen introduction method are insufficient brightness and screen flickering at a typical frame rate (60 frames/second). The insufficient brightness and flickering are suppressed by increasing the frame rate to 120 frames/second and inserting black screens as the added frames.
In the video display apparatus described above, it is conceivable to achieve stereoscopic vision by providing two video processing sections, outputting a first drive signal based on a video signal for the right eye having undergone video processing in a first video processing section to a display section at a fixed cycle ( 1/60 seconds, for example), and outputting a second drive signal based on a video signal for the left eye having undergone video processing in a second video processing section to the display section at the same cycle as the cycle at which the first drive signal is outputted ( 1/60 seconds) but at the timing shifted from the first drive signal by one-half the cycle ( 1/120 seconds) to alternately display images for the right eye and images for the left eye (60 frames/second for each eye or 120 frames/second for right and left eyes together). When an inputted video signal is a two-dimensional video signal, it is conceivable to display two-dimensional video images by displaying only video images based on a video signal produced by one of the video processing sections. In this case as well as the case described above, since the frame rate at which the two-dimensional video images are displayed may be the same as the frame rate at which video images for each of the right and left eyes are displayed in the stereoscopic video display (60 frames/second), a drive signal based on a video signal for two-dimensional video images having undergone video processing in one of the video processing sections may be outputted at the same cycle as that used in the stereoscopic video display ( 1/60 seconds).
In the video display apparatus described above, however, inserting black screens when two-dimensional video images are displayed disadvantageously results in insufficient brightness and flickering. It is conceivable in this case to insert black screens at high speed by outputting the drive signal based on the video signal for two-dimensional video images having undergone video processing in one of the video processing sections at a cycle shorter than that used in the stereoscopic video display ( 1/120 seconds, for example), which, however, requires, for example, a dedicated drive circuit and control process.

Video display apparatus and video display method


An interface of a terminal switches between at least one active state (283) and a sleep state (281) according to a schedule (200). Uplink control data is transmitted which is indicative of a temporary prolongation (209) of the at least one active state (283).

In order to reduce power consumption of terminals that are connectable to a network, so-called Discontinuous Reception (DRX) is known. For example, according to Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) protocols, DRX can be implemented as described in 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 36.321 (Release 13.0.0), section 5.7 for Radio Resource Control (RRC) connected mode and in 3GPP TS 36.304, section 7.1 for RRC idle mode.
According to 3GPP LTE DRX for connected mode (connected DRX), the terminal is ready to receive downlink (DL) payload data during an ON time of the DRX cycle. An RRC connection is established at the beginning of the ON time and released at the end of the ON time. According to 3GPP LTE DRX for idle mode (idle DRX), the terminal is ready to receive network paging during the ON time of the DRX cycle. An RRC connection is not established during the ON time, but only established on demand if the terminal is in fact paged by the network. Both, in RRC connected and RRC idle, the UE may be registered with the network.
However, such techniques face certain restrictions and drawbacks. For example, it has been observed that implementing a comparably static DRX cycle can cause increased latency. Sometimes, DL payload data may not be delivered in time to the terminal before the expiry of the ON time of the DRX cycle. Then, a comparably long time may lapse before the ON time of the next repetition of the DRX cycle opens a new window of opportunity for delivering the DL payload data. In particular, such reference implementations impose certain constraints with respect to the dimensioning of the cycle length of the DRX cycle. For example, the cycle length of the DRX cycle is increased in an attempt to further reduce power consumption of terminals, the latency may further increase.


The invention relates to a melt for the coating of a layer in a photographic element and which contains water, gelatin and an anionically charged, hydrophobic group containing compound that is (a) water soluble or soluble in a solution of 5 to 20 percent of water miscible organic solvent,. said melt being further characterized by containing an amount of an amphiphilic compound which is sufficient to reduce the viscosity of said melt, said compound selected from the class consisting of:. Type A: Sugar (saccharidic) compounds, characterized by having one to three hydrophobic groups, each group containing from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, and having one or more attached hydrophilic mono- or oligosaccharidic hydrophilic chains that may or may not be terminated by a negatively charged group such as a sulfate, sulfonate or a carboxyl group; and PA1 Type B: Compounds compromising a hydrophobic group having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms and having one or two attached hydrophilic chains comprising at least 4 oxyethylene and/or glycidyl ether groups that may or may not be terminated with a negatively charged group such as a sulfate, sulfonate or a carboxy group.. and mixtures thereof. The preferred compounds for this invention are type A compounds.

In conventional photographic coatings, emulsions, dispersions, and other photographic addenda for each speed or color separation layer are coated from fluid gelatin solutions, called melts or coating melts. Usually, coating takes place at temperatures between about 35.degree. to about 50.degree. C.
Generally, in the photographic art there are two primary methods of coating photographic materials. One is the bead coating process. U.S. Pat. No. 2,761,417 --Russell et al, U.S. Pat. No. 2,681,294--Beguin, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,392--Ishizaki, illustrate simultaneously applying multiple layers of photographic materials by the bead coating process, and apparatus for practicing that process.
The second primary method is the curtain coating process. U.S. Pat. No. 3,632,374--Greiller, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,863--Koepke et al, illustrate apparatus and process for curtain coating.
It is well known that adjustment and control of viscosities of melts of individual layers can improve layer thickness uniformity of finished coated products. It is also known that layer viscosities outside optimum ranges may cause undesired variations in layer thickness during flow on the slides of the coating hopper or on a non horizontal web path after coating.
Certain photographic addenda such as masking couplers, oxidized developer scavengers, filter dyes, optical brighteners, ultraviolet radiation absorbers, dye transfer dyes, etc., when admixed in a melt comprising gelatin, produce excessively high viscosity, which leads to problems as described above. Such photographic addenda are in general molecules with large hydrophobic groups and are usually solubilized with one or more fully ionized anionic groups, such as -SO.sub.3.sup.- (i.e., sulfonate) groups, sulfate groups or carboxy groups. Such materials are usually fully water soluble, or are soluble to the extent of about 5-20% by weight, in water containing 5 to 20% by weight of a water miscible auxiliary solvent such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate, or the like. Such materials behave also in a similar manner in the presence of gelatin.
It has been known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,409,435, that certain amphiphilic addenda, such as polyalkylene oxide block oligomers or polymers, when added to melts containing the mentioned viscosity-increasing photographic addenda, produce moderation of melt viscosity. Such amphiphilic addenda of the prior art (U.S. Pat. No. 3,409,435) can be defined as follows, and are illustrated by the representative structures of such compounds shown in Table I below:
Block oligomeric compounds comprising hydrophobic polyoxypropylene blocks (A) and hydrophilic polyoxyethylene blocks (B) joined in the manner of A-B-A, B-A-B, A-B, (A-B).sub.n .ident.G.ident.(B-A), or (B-A).sub.n .ident.G.ident.(A-B), where G is a connective organic moiety and n is between 1 and 3.
TABLE I __________________________________________________________________________ Representative Structures of Prior Art Amphiphilic Compounds Used in Melt Viscosity Control Name Molecular ID (Manufacturer) Best Known Structure Weight Range __________________________________________________________________________ PA-1 Pluronic .TM. Polyols (BASF)* ##STR1## 1,100 to 14,000 a = 1-128, b = 16-69, and c = 1-128 PA-2 R Polyols (BASF) ##STR2## 1,900 to 9,000 a = 8-268, b = 43-204, and c = 8-268 PA-3 Plurodot .TM. Polyols (BASF)* Liquid Polyethers Based on 3,200 to 7,500 Alkoxylated Triols PA-4 Tetronic .TM. Polyols (BASF)* ##STR3## 3,200 to 27,000 x = 2-31 and y = 7-491 __________________________________________________________________________ *Pluronic L44 Polyol, a = c = 10; and b = 20.
Other examples of such amphiphilic addenda of prior art can be found in Ono et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,425 (1975).
However, such prior art materials that contain a large number of polyalkylene oxide groups produce adverse photographic effects in some photographic products, as will be demonstrated in one of the examples set forth in this application.
One of the ways of reducing high viscosities of melts is by dilution with water. However, such a procedure leads to increased water load in the drier, under high speed coating conditions, used for high volume film and paper products. Therefore, dilution is not always a desirable approach.
Therefore, there is a need for melt compositions which will produce photographic melts (of the aforesaid photographic addenda and agents) which have sufficiently low viscosity, and adequate gelatin concentration, such that no excessive drier wet load is encountered during manufacturing of photographic paper and film products, and such that no, or substantially no, adverse effect is produced on the desired sensitometric behavior of the photographic multilayer pack in question.


Disclosed is a method and apparatus for using iodinated polymer as an antimicrobial agent to manage the suppression and disinfection of pathogens.

With respect to antimicrobial suppression and disinfection procedures that are intended to protect humans or animals against disease or harmful biological agents, the efficacy of a product is measured by its log reduction, also commonly known as log kills. The term "log reduction" indicates a 10-fold reduction, which means that with every step, the number of bacteria present is reduced by 90 percent. For example, if there are one million bacteria present on a surface, a 1-log reduction would reduce the number of bacteria by 90 percent, or 100,000 bacteria remaining. A 2-log reduction removes 99 percent, leaving behind 10,000 bacteria, 3-log removes 99.9 percent to leave behind 1,000 bacteria, and so on. The present method and apparatus is capable of achieving a 4-log kill, removing 99.99 percent to leave behind 100 bacteria.
When speaking in terms of bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens, log reduction is very important because these organisms are numbered in the millions or more due to the rapid doubling time of microorganisms. Furthermore, with the prevalence of antibiotic resistance, antibiotics that once provided protection against these dangerous pathogens are no longer as effective.
The iodinated polymer agent disclosed herein—namely, polyiodinated resin particles—acts as an antimicrobial agent, an antiviral agent, a biochemical agent or a reducing agent which exerts a toxic effect on a diverse array of microorganisms and other pathogens and environmental toxins while not being toxic to the user.
The present apparatus and method has been shown to meet the FDA recommendation for coating of patient-care equipment, such as cystoscopes, catheters, thermometers, tubing, etc., exceeding the FDA 4-log reduction requirement for medical devices. However, it has been determined that the iodinated polymer agent can be mixed with various adhesives and other materials to form outer and internal coatings for specific applications in which one or more coated layers between surfaces can provide additional protection against pathogens.
The present apparatus and method has been shown to meet the FDA recommendation for manufacturers of delivery devices such as DPIs (Dry Product Inhalers), nebulizers or ventilators, demonstrating a 4 log reduction (through a combination of capture or destruction) of claimed particulates. In one embodiment, dry product was used, however it has been determined that the iodinated polymer can be mixed with aqueous solutions to form a nasal spray or nasal drops for use as a therapeutic treatment.
The iodinated polymer agent can also be mixed with charcoal as a therapeutic treatment in human and veterinary applications.
In addition, it has been demonstrated that the present apparatus and method meets the FDA 4-log reduction requirement for antimicrobial suppression and disinfection applied to PPE such as masks, covers, gloves, safety glasses, coats, sleeves, gowns, etc. In one embodiment, an imprinted coating process was employed, however, it is contemplated that an extrusion process be used to form face masks, gowns, surgical packs, covers and other protective devices by means of spun blown fibers/non-woven materials.
It has been determined that the iodinated polymer agent can be used in solution or as a solid dispersions to develop a foam for wound treatment or other topical applications. Similarly, the iodinated polymer agent can be used to develop a cream, lotion or gel to prevent infections in cuts and abrasions.
The present apparatus and method will also meet the FDA recommendation for manufacturers of air filtration upon the demonstration of a 4 log reduction of claimed particulates. Other applications of the iodinated polymer agent can include treatment of whole blood or blood fractions to extend shelf life and treatment of food container systems to inhibit or reduce spoilage. Furthermore, the iodinated polymer agent can be mixed with clay or other base materials to form a cat litter product that can minimize and reduce bacteria.
What is needed are apparatus capable of providing reliable protection for antimicrobial suppression and disinfection. The iodinated polymer agent disclosed herein—namely, polyiodinated resin particles—can be implemented in a variety of ways and with various media to exert a toxic effect on pathogens and environmental toxins while not being toxic to the user. The application of the present method and apparatus may have additional advantages since it can be implemented with to medical and non-medical products that do not necessarily need to meet the strict FDA 4-log reduction criteria.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for using iodinated polymer as an antimicrobial agent to manage the suppression and disinfection of pathogens


The instant invention is directed to the preparation of a catalyst composition suitable for the hydroconversion of heavy oils. The catalyst composition is prepared by a series of steps, involving mixing a Group VIB metal oxide particularly molybdenum oxide and aqueous ammonia to form an aqueous mixture, and sulfiding the mixture to form a slurry. The slurry is then promoted with a Group VIII metal. Subsequent steps involve mixing the slurry with a hydrocarbon oil and combining the resulting mixture with hydrogen gas and a second hydrocarbon oil having a lower viscosity than the first oil. An active catalyst composition is thereby formed.

Slurry catalyst compositions and means for their preparation are known in the refining arts. Some examples are discussed below.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,710,486 discloses a process for the preparation of a dispersed Group VIB metal sulfide hydrocarbon oil hydroprocessing catalyst. Process steps include reacting aqueous ammonia and a Group VIB metal compound, such as molybdenum oxide or tungsten oxide, to form a water soluble oxygen-containing compound such as ammonium molybdate or tungstate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,190 discloses a process for the preparation of a dispersed Group VIB metal sulfide catalyst for use in hydrocarbon oil hydroprocessing. This catalyst is promoted with a Group VIII metal. Process steps include dissolving a Group VIB metal compound, such as molybdenum oxide or tungsten oxide, with ammonia to form a water soluble compound such as aqueous ammonium molybdate or ammonium tungstate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,075 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,755, which are incorporated by references disclose processes for preparation of high activity slurry catalysts for hydroprocessing heavy hydrocarbon oils produced from Group VIB metal compounds. An aqueous mixture of the metal compound is sulfided with from greater than about 8 to about 14 standard cubic feet of hydrogen sulfide per pound of Group VIB metal. These patents demonstrate a process of forming a slurry catalyst precursor and adding it to a heavy feed oil to form the active catalyst.
These patents do not demonstrate the criticality of the oil viscosity in the formation of a highly active catalyst composition, nor the significance of using two distinctly different oils in forming such catalyst composition. In the inventions disclosed in these patents, the failure to form the oil and water emulsion or the slurry phase results in an inactive catalyst or a catalyst having low activity.
This invention discloses a new slurry catalyst composition that is highly active. This activity results from preparation of the catalyst using a process employing two hydrocarbon oils having appropriate viscosity ranges at 212° F. The first heavier oil is preferably a vacuum gas oil (VGO) and the second is preferably a light naphtha.

Highly active slurry catalyst composition


The present invention relates to a cable arrangement comprising a cable that has an outer conductor, and an outer-conductor contact element that is electrically connected to the outer conductor and has a diameter change. In a region of the diameter change, the cable arrangement also has a filling element, which is electrically conductive. The filling element is configured to reduce an air inclusion in the region of the diameter change.

Cables are connected in a disconnectable connection via connectors, preferably via plug-in connectors, to another cable or to a printed circuit board. Alternatively, the cable may be connected in a non-disconnectable connection, i.e. in a fixed connection, directly to another cable or to a circuit board without use of a connector.
In the case of a disconnectable connection of a high-frequency cable it is necessary to realize, both for the inner conductor and the outer conductor, respectively, a secure connection to the associated inner-conductor contact and outer-conductor contact of the connector. Equivalently, in the case of a non-disconnectable connection to another cable or to a printed circuit board, it is necessary to effect a secure connection to the inner conductor and outer conductor of the other high-frequency cable, or to the inner-conductor and outer-conductor contact on the printed circuit board.
Crimping, or pressing together, has proven effective for outer-conductor connection. For this purpose, the outer conductor is freed from the cable sheath over a certain portion at the end of the cable, and thus stripped. The outer conductor of the high-frequency cable is thus exposed in this portion. The exposed portion of the outer conductor is then connected to an electrically conductive outer-conductor contact element in a crimping process. A mechanically stable connection between the outer conductor of the high-frequency cable and the outer-conductor contact element, and thus a secure electrical contact between the outer conductor and the outer-conductor contact element, is thereby realized by means of such a conductor crimp.
In respect of high-frequency optimized transmission and contacting, the outer-conductor contact element has a coaxiality with the inner conductor that is equivalent to the outer conductor of the high-frequency cable, and is thus preferably shaped like a sleeve. An outer-conductor contact element shaped in this way is therefore also referred to as a crimp barrel.
To improve the pressing together and to prevent damage to the inner conductor during crimping, the exposed outer conductor is wrapped around a support sleeve that has a certain wall thickness. The crimp barrel, which is crimped with the outer conductor in the region of the support sleeve, thus has a larger inner diameter than the inner diameter of the outer conductor in the high-frequency cable. This abrupt change in the distance between, on the other hand, the inner conductor and the outer conductor of the cable, and on the other hand between the inner conductor of the cable and the outer-conductor contact element, disadvantageously results in a more inductive high-frequency signal path, and thus in an undesirable change in the impedance in the signal path. In order to realize, at least approximately, a constant impedance not only within the high-frequency cable, but along the entire longitudinal extent of the outer-conductor contact element, the crimp barrel has a radial constriction. This radial constriction of the crimp barrel is realized in the longitudinal direction of the cable following the conductor crimp, as shown for example in DE 20 2015 000 751 U1. The radial constriction of the crimp barrel is also referred to as a waist crimp. The radial constriction, i.e. the waist crimp, guides the outer-conductor contact to the insulator part of the high-frequency cable and thus in the direction of the inner conductor.
Due to manufacturing tolerances of the individual components and the individual assembly steps, a cavity forms between the crimp barrel and the insulator part of the high-frequency cable, in the region between the axial end of the outer conductor of the high-frequency cable and the radial constriction of the crimp barrel. This cavity, which is only filled with air and which may vary between the individual assembled cables, represents an interference point in the high-frequency signal path. In the region of this cavity, the distance of the outer-conductor contact to the inner conductor is increased compared to the distance of the outer conductor, or the outer-conductor contact, to the inner conductor in the rest of the signal path. This interference point in the impedance profile of the high-frequency signal path adversely affects the transmission behavior of a high-frequency signal, especially in the two- or three-digit gigahertz range.
This is a situation that needs to be improved.

ROSENBERGER HOCHFREQUENZTECHNIK GMBH & Co. KG


In one embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The program instructions are executable by a processing circuit to cause the processing circuit to receive collected data from one or more data collection devices, the collected data being aggregated over at least one month and comprising audio data including first voice input of a user of the one or more data collection devices. The program instructions also cause the processing circuit to store the audio data to a computer readable storage medium; determine an identity of the user based on comparing second voice input to the first voice input; and analyze the audio data for indications of hearing loss in the user over the period of time. The analysis includes determining a user's emotion during production of the audio input.

The present invention relates to detecting early signs of hearing loss, and more specifically, to detecting early signs of hearing loss using long term monitoring of routine interactions and behaviors.
Hearing loss is the third most common health condition affecting older adults, following behind hypertension and arthritis according to the New York Times. Hearing loss affects approximately 30-35% of adults between the ages of 65 and 75 years old. Hearing loss increases as a function of age during the aging process, and is known as presbycusis. Moreover, about 14% of adults between the ages of 45 and 64 have some amount of hearing loss, and about eight million adults between the ages of 18 and 44 have some hearing loss.
Medical guidelines indicate that adults should be screened for hearing loss every ten years through the age of 50, and at three year intervals thereafter. However, many adults do not have regular hearing tests administered. Some barriers to self-awareness or self-acceptance of hearing loss include the chronic nature of the hearing loss process over multiple years, and the hearing loss is too slow to notice. Many adults just assume that everyone else is mumbling. Ignorance or denial are common and the most important barrier to hearing aid use.
Among 2,232 retired older adults surveyed by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), 76% said that their hearing was of great importance to them; however, fewer than half of the survey participants had undergone a hearing test in the past five years. Nationally, fewer than 15% of seniors aged 65 and older are believed to have regular hearing tests.
Hearing loss also leads to poor cognitive function and aids in the onset of dementia, according to Frank Lin, M D, et al. "Hearing Loss and Incident Dementia," Archives of Neurology, vol. 68, no. 2 (2011). Also, people with hearing problems sometimes try to control conversations by doing most of the talking, while others choose to withdraw from difficult social activities to avoid the strain and fatigue needed to hear. Hearing loss can also lead to feelings of embarrassment and shame and can affect a person's self-esteem.
Once hearing loss is found, attempts may be made to improve day-to-day functioning for the person with hearing loss, but may only be attempted once the hearing loss is detected. Such attempts include controlling the noise in the environment, carrying and using earplugs, keeping audio playback device to no more than half volume (or some other safe listening level that will not damage hearing further), limiting exposure time to loud irritating environments, etc. Moreover, attempts may be made to learn assertive communication, e.g., allow people to get the attention of a person with hearing loss before speaking, learn how and when to ask to rephrase a query, etc., learn how to use visual cues, e.g., read a speaker's facial expression, body language, contextual information, etc., re-arranging everyday spaces, e.g., rearranging furniture to ensure face-to-face view is possible, changing lighting to ensure good lighting on a conversation partner's face, installing carpeting for ambient noise absorption, etc. In addition, hearing assistive technologies, hearing aids, or cochlea implants may be utilized to overcome the hearing loss.

Daily cognitive monitoring of early signs of hearing loss

International Business Machines Corporation


A disposable circumcision anastomat comprises an internal ring (2) and an external ring (1) having an opening (10). The internal ring (2) substantially matches an external ring (1). The external ring (1) includes a sidewall (100). The sidewall (100) is provided with a retainer (7) for holding a gasket. The retainer (7) is an annular ring (71) extended inwardly from the sidewall (100) of the external ring. The annular ring (71) is equipped with an opening (710), corresponding to opening (10) on the external ring. The width (K1) of the annular ring is less than the width (K2) of the blade. The anastomat is safe, reliable, and able to reduce pain experienced by patients after surgery.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a type of medical apparatus, especially a type of disposable circumcision anastomat.
Related Art
Redundant prepuce or phimosis is one of the reasons for male urinary system infection and aggravation of sexually transmitted diseases. Redundant prepuce or phimosis can cause urinary tract infection that may lead to chronic prostatitis, which presents as a series of symptoms such as back pain, impotence and prospermia. In addition, the effect of male circumcision has been widely recognized in reducing the transmission HIV. Therefore, removing redundant foreskin or phimosis is a good way to prevent and/or arrest these diseases.
One of the inventors of the present invention, Mr. Jianzhong Shang, has been credited by some authorities as having created key products and technologies in the field of circumcision. The development of circumcision apparatuses has now entered a new stage of design and promotion.
The inventors of the present invention have conducted numerous tests and research in the field of circumcision technology and have applied for many patents relating thereto. Present circumcision devices are shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, as a disposable circumcision apparatus comprising an internal ring 2 and external ring 1 having an opening 10 that matches each other. The external ring 1 has a side wall 100 and a blade 11, the blade comprising a single, dual, or multi-blade structure. This disposable circumcision apparatus has revolutionized the industry, bestowing benefits such as safety, minimal invasion, simplicity, beauty, and a high degree of standardization.
The present technology, however, may cause discomfort to patients, as they are required to wear the device shown in FIGS. 1-4 for several days after circumcision surgery. Anesthetic drugs meant to relieve pain after the surgery wear off after only a few hours. Typically, patients feel pain due to the incision on the prepuce. Additionally, the incision may become easily infected when from wearing the present technology after surgery. It would be beneficial, then, to increase the sterility of the apparatus.


A light control and display technology applicable to light redirection and projection with the capacity, in a number of embodiments modified for particular applications, to produce managed light, including advanced images. Applications include miniature to very large scale video displays, optical data processing, 3-dimensional imaging, and lens-less vision enhancement for poor night-driving vision, cataracts and macular degeneration.

The current invention pertains to advanced light management such as is useful in the processing of and displaying and processing of data related to light. For example, the current state of the art in display technology still falls short of providing image displays (from large screen televisions to miniature worn displays; e.g., image displaying glasses) with true and accurate depth perception, natural (wide) field of view (FOV) and control of overlaid images. Worn displays have proliferated with the miniaturization of optical parts and the widespread need for portable imaging. There are numerous "heads-up" (worn) displays based on the image (from head mounted projectors) passing through a collimator and entering the eye. The collimation (i.e. divergence reduction) process makes the image appear more distal by making the light from any given pixel less divergent. Otherwise, a head mounted projector would normally be too close for the eye to bring to a focus on the retina. The collimation process, in addition to creating the illusion of a larger, more distant display, also moves the apparent point of interest (POI, i.e. what the observer wants to see) beyond the near point so that the image can be resolved on the retina within a reasonable circle of confusion (CC). There are numerous variations on that theme including those in which the image is reflected off of mirrors, deformable mirrors, mirror arrays and beamsplitters in transit to the eye.
This external accommodation for the eye's limited diopters of focusing power for very near isotropic-pixel image sources and the other hardware typically required in directing and managing the beam to the retina all come at a high cost. That cost includes the expense of lenses (typically very precise and often compound lenses), the chromatic aberration and/or edge distortion/peripheral vision and FOV-limiting factors associated with them, the weight of those classical optics, the need for a larger housing to accommodate the collimating and beam managing optics, the often extreme sensitivity to critical alignment (and vibration-induced misalignment), and full or partial obstruction of the natural scene view (what would be seen without a display in the way) by all of these components. These and the electrical power requirements of classical display technologies prevents their use altogether in many applications and makes it difficult in others.
There are other problems with both 2-D and 3-D worn displays that are designed for assisting the viewer (the person viewing the image) with images that are either independent (only the display image is seen) or overlaid over a scene. These include:
Mixed views with conflicting focal distances: Mixing the image to be displayed against a complex landscape (that landscape having a potentially wide disparity in required focusing distances even in a narrow lateral proximity) is complex task. As you look at a near projected image with a far object visible behind it, the eye, having a single lens-accommodation apparatus, attempts to capture both landscape and image using the same focus. When the eye's focus is set on a very near object, an also-near (i.e. high divergence associated with a near isotropic emitter) display image may be in focus. If it is, then it will be out of focus if the viewer later fixates on a far object—delivering a confused view to the user that forces him to give attention selectively to the display to the detriment of the now fuzzy background or vice versa. In other words, conventional display systems can't match the display view's effective plane of focus to that of the instant scene POI (which may be in a wide variety of distances from the single effective focal plane provided by typical displays).
Safety: Soldiers in the Army's advanced military equipment program have confided that they routinely take off their heads-up displays to keep from tripping and falling down even at a slow walk due to severe spatial disorientation. This is because if they focus, for example, on a graphical pointer image (highlighting, for example, the azimuth and elevation of a threat) the ground is then out of focus causing them to be disoriented when they return their focus to the real world. More complex images (much more complex than a pointer or crosshair) create even more substantial problems.
Painful 3-D: The familiar binocular 3-D glasses (whether using red and green lenses, twin polarization, or blanking interval selection) all create a phenomenon associated with, in extended use, disorientation, dizziness and often headaches or nausea. What is happening is that the brain is getting mixed signals. For example, the binocular overlap tells the brain that an object is at an overlap-indicated distance while the lens focus and interocular cant tells another story (one related to the actual image plane). This spatial disconnect forces the brain to process disorienting, conflicting data that both distracts and, even when the brain submits to a singular component (e.g., binocular overlap), degrades the capacity for accurate depth perception and spatial orientation. This can cause the user, in applications where the 3-dimensional (3-D) imaging is for the purpose of responding to a virtual or recreated distant environment, to miss a virtual target he grabs for due to the spatial disconnects forced upon the brain.
Standing or walking 3-D: Current binocular 3-D systems, in addition to the disorientation and discomfort above, don't mix well with a forward scene. There are many applications where it would be ideal for a lightweight, inexpensive binocular-based 3-D system to overlay a 3-D image cleanly into the natural 3-D scene. However, the very nature of twin sets of isotropically emitting points in a display existing at one apparent distance and another set of isotropically emitting points from a substantially different distance has, until now, assured that one of the images would be out of focus. Thus, a viewer trying to walk or run while viewing the displayed would find objects in the natural landscape out of focus.
Thus, to date, the ideal of a pair of ordinary looking, lightweight, power-efficient glasses providing the viewer with an additive displayed image that is unobstructed by projection overhead and is always in focus with the natural scene view has eluded designers.
Enhanced perception: The medical community, despite great advances in 3-D image capture, still lacks an effective method for integrating this 3-D image with the scene image of the patient in real time as the physician's perspective continually moves. This is especially problematic at hand-eye coordination distances where lens muscular tension (a brain-recognized indication of the focal plane of an eye) varies substantially with the near-field POI.
Spatial light modulators (SLM's) are widely used in projection systems. SLM's work in a number of fashions. Heat-based spatial light modulators are optical devices that allow modulation of incident light with a phase pattern or amplitude determined by heat. Digital micro-mirror devices (DMD's) involve a matrix of micro-mirrors placed above a substrate. A voltage is applied between the micro-mirror and electrode. This allows individual adjustment of the light reflection angles of the micro-mirror. Further timing of how long light is reflected at a target can control the brightness. Liquid crystal devices (LCD's) are another form of spatial light modulation that is effective in controlling the light at a pixel level. Various DMD technologies are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,956,619 and. 5,083,857.
The unique components of all patents referenced herein are not foundational to the claims of the current invention but are mentioned here for background.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,819,469 documents another form of SLM. Here Chalcogenide materials, having nonlinear optical properties, are thus useful as nonlinear optical fibers and filters. From that patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,819,469): "Chalcogenide materials are known to be capable of reversible structural change between crystalline and amorphous state. These materials have highly nonlinear electrical conductance, which is used in many devices. As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,446, is for a LCD light modulator (display) in which ovonic (chalcogenide) material is used for pixel switching (selection) element, which allows to apply voltage to the pixel located on the given intersection of address lines, instead of traditional switching elements such as a diode or transistor.
Electro-optic (EO) materials change their refractive index (RI) in an electric field enabling yet another form of SLM. A first-order (linear) electro-optic effect, known as the Pockels effect, and a second-order (quadratic) electro-optic effect, known as the Kerr effect, occur in response to the electric field. EO materials have been shown to be effective dynamic lens materials where a matrix of selectively charged areas effect a desired matrix of refractive indexes for light to pass through. For example, a simple convex lens of a desired focal length can be emulated by an EO SLM by making the refractive index (RI) increasingly high the more distal a point on the matrix is from the center. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,942, describes a wafer of electro-optic material with an array of independently operated surface-mounted electrodes.
Other forms of SLM's include Dynamic Micromirror Displays (DMD's), LCD's and a number of others in this emerging class of imaging devices that are effective for attenuating the direction and/or characteristics of light at an individual pixel level
However, all SLM's, particularly in embodiments where large light vector changes are required in a short space or in a very small area, are inadequate for providing an unimpeded scene view and a scene-overlaid displayed image from miniaturized worn display elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,158,317 introduces depth of field enhancing patterns using Fresnel lenses and Zalevsky et al teach binary-phase masks that also sharpen an image when at a depth associated with defocus by conventional lenses. ["All-optical axial super resolving imaging using a low-frequency binary-phase mask", Zeev Zalevsky(1), Amir Shemer(1), Alexander Zlotnik(1), Eyal Ben Eliezer(2) and Emanuel Marom(2) 3 Apr. 2006/Vol. 14, No. 7/Optics Express]
Gaming glasses provide a 3-D effect as a viewer watches a monitor through them. The gaming glasses that work on the shutter principle provide each eye the image respective of its side of a binocular image. Many do this by blocking, for example, the left eye very briefly and flashing the image on the screen for the right eye. The next cycle blocks the right eye and flashes the image for the left eye. In this manner, each eye sees an image appropriate for a desired distance in a binocular view.
Laser projection is a promising area for traditional screen and worn display applications and allows a view of the scene combined with the display image. However, most involve collimation optics, image projectors (to reproduce a scene that is physically blocked by the assembly) and beam splitters which add layers of error and complexity and may severely limit effective FOV. The collimation optics themselves create physical weight and footprint overhead as well as multiple degrees of freedom potential for error in alignment of individual components. This is further compounded by the interacting misalignments of multiple collimation components required on equipment that is unfortunately destined for the impacts, water droplets, glass fog and filmy slime of hostile environments. Large screen displays are currently not associated with flat screens or efficient light control. The need exists for an power efficient, broadly scalable flat screen display (from handheld screen to billboard) that effectively delivers the vast majority of the light produced to the viewer as opposed to the surrounding area outside the field of view (FOV) of the display and, optionally, in 2-D or 3-D.
Currently available HWD's are expensive, sensitive to shock, misalignment of optical components, heat and moisture and do not provide the broad FOV, good peripheral vision, easily viewed, high-resolution scene view (integrated with the display view) or the depth-enabled pixel display necessary for natural spatial perceptions. If this were accomplished, there would also be multiple applications in vision enhancement and correction but the above limitations have not previously been overcome.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,367 discloses an ingenious device that casts raster-like rows of light along the surface of a transparent plate using total internal reflection (TIR) to keep the multi-diode-delivered light in the plate. This uncollimated light (TIR reflections and an intentional pass through a grating inject numerous light vectors) escapes the TIR (via charge-induced frustrated TIR or FTIR) when a surface area's refractive index (RI) is modified. This escaping diffuse light is redirected by a hologram at each point of activity to direct the light producing an emission viewed as a pixel. However, even this use of reflectivity, TIR mediated by FTIR, (where control of reflectivity is only used as an on/off switch for transmission vs. reflection, affects the quality of the light and ultimately image resolution.
Also, degree of illumination is controlled by attenuation of power to the light source which largely precludes or hampers the potential activation of multiple pixels in the same raster line (having different desired intensities) at once thus reducing potential refresh speed. Also, a binary electro-optic (EO) choice of off or on determines the state of the pixel but offers no favorably distributive effect as would be effected with an intensity based on duration of activation or amplitude of the activation signal to the EO modulator. Also, the switching of the laser is a key part of choosing which area is to be activated which can further limit top refresh speed by limiting or eliminating concurrent activations of multiple pixels in the same row all of which normally have a different intensity. This can become even more awkward when multi-color imaging is desired and, in a described embodiment, three or more diodes are required for each row of pixels.
The sequential switching of the elements in the row of light emitting diodes as a means of providing light to numerous pixel areas as needed also is substantially slower (in the switching process) to respond to a needed activation than a device using a constant beam which requires no waiting for the right LED sequence and the correct brightness to "come around again".
Also, the dedication of a laser diode for each row in a raster-like display both creates expense, fabrication time and registration issues as well as exacerbating wiring and timing issues while becoming even more complex when three diodes or other color controls are required for each row. Also, the switching of these as disclosed can also create issues "deriving from an NTSC video signal the signals applied to the laser diodes".
The confining of each pixel's directive control to one or two holographic elements also reduces the flexibility and increased precision potential and more uniform brightness control that can be effected by cooperating elements that produce a single pixel with broadly variable controlled properties.
The holograph-using embodiments taught in the referenced patent, particularly in the sizes responsive to the compactness required for high resolution (small pixels) and with the quality of phase-distorted TIR light reflecting off of a surface, can't redirect light at as sharp an angle with as clean a beam as the current invention.
Also, the purpose of the holographic element(s) for each pixel is to make the light appear to diverge isotropically at a manufacturer-set divergence relative to a one-time chosen display difference. Thus the fixed holographic elements of the device cannot place the objects at a context sensitive or currently desired image location (depth) because the single depth of the projected image is fixed at the factory. Thus, the image's focal plane can conflict drastically with the focal distance of a nearby area of the scene making it difficult to focus on both at the same time (e.g., when a displayed graphic or text is placed over a scene POI to identify it).
The disclosures of the referenced invention also fail to create any embodiments supportive of true 3-D imaging though it does provide the means to provide one of the multiple brain cues of depth perception, binocular overlap (as do red and green glasses). The disclosures indicate that "the virtual image viewed through a single eye will appear to be at an indeterminate distance" but "the actual appearance of depth will depend almost entirely on stereoscopic cues . . . ". The broadly understood spatial disconnect between binocular overlap and the brain's other compelling depth perception cues is responsible for the headaches, disorientation and sometimes nausea associated with using a 3-D mechanism limited to binocular overlap. Worse, the user does not have a true sense of depth of the displayed images (having, in fact, a misleading one) that could have been used to exploit natural hand-eye coordination in applications where projected images are related to POI's in the scene view such as a surgeon viewing a positionally registered image of a depth-encoded MRI superimposed over a patient enabling precise and natural hand eye coordination and sense of depth as the surgeon cuts into the patient while viewing a virtual POI inside the body (e.g., an artery to be avoided or a tumor to be precision excised).
Finally, the holographic element(s) can severely react to (negatively) bright ambient light sources and, even in controlled light, substantially distort the scene view (diffracting scene light that attempts to pass through) in addition to the deleterious scene distorting effects of potential artifacts resulting from the FTIR selection of an entire row (distorting the RI of that row for the scene view) at a time (with the chosen "column" diode identifying the pixel). This and other distorting elements in the referenced patent preclude its effective use in coordination with a scene view.
Despite a wealth of imaging technologies, both emerging and established, there is an unmet need for a worn display technology that enables any of the multiple objects of the current invention summarized below under "Summary of The Invention". There is also an unmet need for the control of light, applicable to both imaging and data control applications (e.g. light transmission switching and selective attenuation of signal channels) without the above limitations.

Light management for image and data control


An X-ray detector includes: a semiconductor substrate to generate charged particles by an irradiation of an X-ray; a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in matrix on an X-ray incident surface of the semiconductor substrate and applied with a first electric potential to detect the charged particles; and a platy electrode provided on a surface opposite to the X-ray incident surface of the semiconductor substrate and applied with a second electric potential different from the first electric potential.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an X-ray detector preferably usable for medical computer tomography (X-ray CT) and the like requiring particularly high time resolution and spatial resolution.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, X-ray computer tomography (X-ray CT) is employed for the diagnosis of an internal organ which beats extremely fast such as a heart. In order to photograph finely such an internal organ as beating extremely fast, a detector satisfying high time resolution and high spatial resolution is required.
At present, an indirect conversion type X-ray detector, which converts an X-ray into a visible light once by a scintillator and then, converts the visible light into the corresponding electric signal, is mainly employed for the X-ray computer tomography. In the indirect conversion type X-ray detector, however, the enhancement of the time resolution is pushed to the limit due to the afterglow of the scintillator. In this point of view, such a direct conversion type X-ray detector as directly converting an X-ray with semiconductor is proposed instead of the indirect conversion type X-ray detector (Reference 1).
The direct conversion type X-ray detector in Reference 1 is configured such that a platy electrode is formed on the X-ray incident surface of a CdTe semiconductor substrate and a plurality of pixel electrodes are arranged on the rear surface of the semiconductor substrate opposite to the X-ray incident surface thereof, and a signal reading circuit (CMOS) with electrode pads electrically connected with the pixel electrodes respectively via soldering portions is provided.
In the direct conversion type X-ray detector, the charged particles (electrons and holes) caused by the incidence of an X-ray onto the semiconductor substrate are detected at the pixel electrodes under the condition that a constant biasing voltage is applied between the platy electrode and the pixel electrodes, and read out at the signal reading circuit. Since the amount of the charged particles detected at the pixel electrodes is proportional to the intensity of the incident X-ray, the incident position into the X-ray detector can be known by measuring the amount of the charged particles, that is, the amplitude of the electric signal corresponding to the charged particles per pixel electrode.
With the direct conversion type X-ray detector, however, the X-ray can not be often detected in high spatial resolution in dependence on the intensity of the X-ray and the like.
[Reference 1] Radiation, Vol. 30, No. 1, p1 (2004)


A method of and device for performing a data expansion operation on a plurality of input data objects to generate expanded output data objects is disclosed. The method comprises receiving and decoding a data manipulation instruction defining a data expansion operation, a portion of the data manipulation instruction indicating an expansion operation from a number of predetermined types of data manipulation operations. The method includes generating one or more expansion objects responsive to the indication of an expansion operation, said expansion objects being for use in extending an input data object. The input data objects are manipulated according to control information expansion objects programmed to produce a set of expanded output data objects.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to methods and devices for data expansion operations which promote efficient processing.
2. Background Art
Modern computer systems use a wide variety of architectures. One particular computer architecture that has proved useful is the single instruction multiple data (SIMD) architecture, which has found application in general purpose computing as well as specific applications, such as media and graphics processing.
An advantage of SIMD architectures includes the capacity to perform parallel processing of multiple data streams while reducing the total number of instructions. For example, one particular instruction type used by SIMD processors is a permutation, or "deal" instruction, which is typically used for re-ordering bytes or words of data from one sequence to a second sequence. For instance, a graphics application may require that a stream of data having four data objects arranged in a first sequence {A, B, C, D} be rearranged to the order {B, A, C, D} and, optionally, expanded into four separate double-sized data objects {0x00, 0x00, 0x00, B}, {0x00, 0x00, 0x00, A}, {0x00, 0x00, 0x00, C}, {0x00, 0x00, 0x00, D}. Examples of data manipulations involving expansion of the input data objects include sign expansion and zero expansion operations.
As processing power increases, the number and size of data objects in the input data sequences also increases. Known methods for manipulating sequences of data objects are unnecessarily complex, leading to more processor cycles, delays and an unnecessary burden on programmers who are required to find feasible ways of configuring the many types of manipulations required.
Accordingly, preferred embodiments of this invention seek to provide a new technology that uses a permuter to perform expansion instructions. In particular, preferred embodiments use a standard permuter in a manner that reduces the number of operations required to achieve certain data manipulations and lessens the burden on the programmer of generating control information for data manipulations.

Methods and systems for data manipulation


An apparatus and method of detecting editing points of image data in order to select items of information that can be reused according to the status of the image data including the detected editing points is provided. Accordingly, an image processing apparatus may include a data converter for performing at least part of coding processing on the image data, a detector for detecting an editing point of the image data, and a controller for determining, based on the editing point detected by the detector. A reuse disable period is a period in which information concerning previous coding processing performed on the image data is not reusable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image processing apparatuses and methods, programs, and recording media. More particularly, the invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, a program, and a recording medium in which recoding can be performed by using information concerning coding previously performed on corresponding data.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a system for transmitting moving picture signals to remote places, such as in a videoconference system or a videophone system, image signals are coded by being compressed according to line correlation or inter-frame correlation in order to efficiently utilize transmission channels.
When compressing an image signal, the image signal is coded so that a bit stream to be generated has a predetermined bit rate. In practical use, however, because of the situation of the transmission channel, it may be necessary to change the bit rate of the bit stream.
When editing a transmitted image signal in a broadcasting station, editing is performed in units of frames, and thus, information concerning each frame of the image signal should be independent of information concerning the other frames of the image signal. A long group of pictures (GOP) consisting of a large number of frames to be transferred with a low bit rate (for example, 3 to 9 Mbps) should be convertible to a short GOP consisting of a small number of frames to be transferred with a high bit rate (18 to 50 Mbps) and vice versa. In the long GOP, information is closely correlated so that the image quality is not deteriorated even if it is transferred with a low bit rate.
With reference to FIG. 1, a description is now given of a system in which frames can be edited after stream data consisting of long GOPs transmitted and received via a transmission channel is recoded into all intra-stream data having short GOPs.
Upon receiving a non-compressed original image, a coding device 1 codes it into long GOPs according to the MPEG method and transmits the stream data to a transcoder 2 via a transmission channel 11. In the transmission channel 11, stream data consisting of long GOPs, which are suitable for transmission, are transmitted.
In the transcoder 2, after the MPEG long GOP stream data supplied via the transmission channel 11 is decoded in a decoder 21, it is recoded to all intra-stream frames in a coder 22, and the coded all intra-stream data (serial data transport interface contents package (SDTI CP) stream) is output to a frame editing device 3 of an SDTI CP interface.
The stream data edited in the frame editing device 3 is supplied to a transcoder 4. In the transcoder 4, after the supplied all intra-stream data is decoded in a decoder 31, it is recoded into MPEG long GOPs in a coder 32, and the coded MPEG long GOP stream data is output to a predetermined data receiver via the transmission channel 11.
With reference to FIG. 2, a description is now given of a system for coding an input image into MPEG long GOPs with a high bit rate and for decoding the MPEG long GOPs and recoding them into low-bit-rate MPEG long GOPs.
The coding device 1 codes a non-compressed input image into high-bit-rate MPEG long GOPs and outputs the coded MPEG long GOP stream data. A transcoder 51 decodes the high-bit-rate MPEG long GOPs in a decoder 71 and then recodes them into the low-bit-rate MPEG long GOPs in a coder 72. The transcoder 51 then outputs the coded low-bit-rate MPEG long GOPs to a predetermined data receiver via the transmission channel 11.
In this manner, when repeatedly coding and decoding image information, the image quality becomes lower if coding parameters are changed every time coding is performed. To overcome this drawback, a technique for suppressing the deterioration of the image quality caused by recoding by using coding history information, which is inserted into the user data area of the picture layer of a bit stream, is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-059788.
For example, in a system in which MPEG long GOPs can be converted into short GOPs, which can be edited in units of frames, recoding is performed by using coding history information. The configuration of this system is described below with reference to FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, elements corresponding to those of FIG. 1 are indicated by like reference numerals, and an explanation thereof is thus omitted.
A transcoder 101 receives MPEG long GOPs from the coding device 1 via the transmission channel 11.
An MPEG long GOP consists of three types of pictures having different characteristics, i.e., intra-coded (I) pictures, predictive-coded (P) pictures, and bidirectionally predictive-coded (B) pictures. Accordingly, video data decoded from such an MPEG long GOP also consists of I pictures, P pictures, and B pictures. Thus, when recoding the video data into the MPEG long GOPs, if the I pictures, P pictures, and B pictures of the video data are recoded with different types of pictures, the image quality may be decreased. For example, if a B picture, which is more susceptible to distortions than I pictures or P pictures, is recoded as an I picture, the preceding or upcoming pictures obtain predictions from this distorted I picture, thereby decreasing the image quality.
To prevent the deterioration of the image quality caused by recoding, upon receiving, via the transmission channel 11, stream data that was previously coded in another transcoder or a coding device, a transcoder 101 performs the following operation. After decoding the supplied MPEG long GOP stream data in a decoder 111, when recoding the decoded MPEG long GOP stream data into all intra-stream frames in a coder 112, the transcoder 101 adds parameters, such as the picture types and quantizing levels, of the coded stream supplied to the decoder 111 to the all intra-coded stream as Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) 328M history information, and supplies the all intra-coded stream to the frame editing device 3.
The stream data edited in the frame editing device 3 is supplied to a transcoder 102. The transcoder 102 decodes the all intra-stream data with history information in a decoder 121. A coder 122 recodes the all intra-stream data into long GOPs by using parameters, such as the picture types and quantizing levels, contained in the decoded history information.
There is a system in which non-compressed data is coded into MPEG long GOPs with a high bit rate and the MPEG long GOPs are decoded, and the decoded data is recoded into low-bit-rate MPEG long GOPs. In this system, the deterioration of the image quality caused by recoding is suppressed. The configuration of this system is described below with reference to FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, elements corresponding to those in FIG. 2 are designated with like reference numerals, and an explanation thereof is thus omitted.
Upon receiving an MPEG long GOP stream coded in the coding device 1, a transcoder 131 obtains required coding parameters when decoding the high-bit-rate MPEG long GOP in a decoder 141, and supplies the decoded video data and the obtained coding parameters to a coder 142. The coder 142 recodes the video data into low-bit-rate MPEG long GOPs by using the supplied coding parameters, and outputs the coded low-bit-rate MPEG long GOP stream.
When using history information and coding parameters obtained during the decoding operation so as to prevent the deterioration of the image quality, the image data of a coded stream that is edited in the frame editing device 3 becomes discontinuous, thereby making the information indicating the correlation between frames meaningless. Accordingly, when using history information and coding parameters, the editing points of the stream data must be detected, and at the editing points, recoding must be performed without using the history information and coding parameters.
The following technique is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-143607. In editing code sequences in units of GOPs, the image types (I, P, B) are determined from the headers of input code sequences A and B to be edited, and codes (flags) indicating editing points are inserted or rewritten based on the image types of input code sequences A and B and externally input editing information, thereby indicating the editing points of the stream data.
The following technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-169278 is also available. Information indicating a count number for counting frames or fields is added to stream data. When recoding images, discontinuous points of images generated by splicing, inserting, and removing the images are detected according to whether the count number is continuous.
As described above, the image quality can be maintained by performing recoding by reusing previous coding information, such as history information or coding parameters (parameters inserted into the picture layer and the macroblock layer, such as picture types, motion vectors, and quantizing levels). However, for example, during editing, streams having a bit rate, an image frame, or a chroma format that are different from that used in the previous coding may be disposed or inserted instead of the streams used in the previous coding. In this case, parameter information used in the previous coding cannot be reused for performing recoding.
As discussed above, there is one technique in which codes (flags) indicating editing points are inserted for detecting editing points. In this case, in the entire system for sending and receiving coded streams, all editing devices should be able to insert predetermined codes (flags) indicating editing points, and all coding devices should be able to detect such codes (flags). If there is one editing device that does not have a function of inserting codes (flags) indicating editing points in the system, a coded stream may include editing points without predetermined codes (flags).
As discussed above, there is another technique in which information indicating the count number for counting frames or fields is added to stream data. With this technique, even if there is an editing device without a function of inserting codes (flags) indicating editing points in the system, the editing points can be detected from the continuity of the count number. However, since the counter cannot infinitely count the number, the count number may become continuous at an editing point. Additionally, when a plurality of cameras are used to start imaging and images are time-sequentially edited by switching the cameras, the count number becomes continuous at editing points. More specifically, for example, in broadcasting a baseball game using a plurality of cameras, if camera A at a backstop and camera B at a bleacher start imaging at the same time and if a pitcher imaged by camera A and a batter imaged by camera B are time-sequentially switched, such a switching point becomes an editing point. However, the count number contained in a frame or field becomes continuous.

Image processing apparatus and method, program, and recording medium


Certain exemplary embodiments provide a method for providing multiple access to a communication channel, the method comprising: sending a reservation request of a first type into a first selected minislot of a selected frame of an uplink channel when information of a first type is to be sent, the uplink channel having a plurality of frames, each frame having a first selectable number of minislots and a second selectable number of slots, the reservation request of the first type requesting an assignment of at least one slot for transmitting information of the first type in at least one frame that is subsequent to the selected frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the fields of telecommunications and computing. More particularly, the present invention relates to a protocol for voice-data integrated multi-access to FDD (frequency division duplex) or TDD (time division duplex) local- or wide-area networks.
2. Description of the Related Art
The emerging convergence of telecommunications and computing has brought about considerable significance to dynamic multiplexing of voice and data over both wireline and wireless multiaccess channels, such as used in cellular and hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) networks. Bandwidth efficiency is a key consideration for voice-data integration and has been addressed in many studies by applying packet switching to both voice and data portions of the traffic, shunning circuit switching altogether.
For conventional multiple access, speech packets generated during active speech periods contend for channel access in a manner similar to that used for data packets, for instance, on Ethernet LANs. Packet reservation multiple access (PRMA) and derivatives of PRMA, as well as D-TDMA, are the most familiar medium access control (MAC) protocol examples that operate on this basis. Nevertheless, speech packets may encounter excessive delays for conventional multiple access, thereby resulting in speech clipping.
As is well known, bandwidth efficiency is not the only issue that merits attention in packet transmission. Quality of service is another critical factor that must be taken into account to meet the requirements of the underlying applications. In this regard, speech transmission delay should be always upper-bounded to a certain threshold for a satisfactory reception.
What is needed is a technique for dynamically multiplexing voice and data over a multiaccess channel that provides a predetermined quality of service for voice transmission by providing a speech access delay that is always upper bounded to a predetermined threshold.

Voice data integrated multiaccess by self-reservation and contention algorithm


To suppress variations of data currents dependent on a threshold voltage Vth of driving elements which form a current generation circuit. A current output section 41a has circuit systems in which a driving element DR and a switching element SW are connected in series, the number of the circuit systems corresponding to the number of the bits of input data. Each gate of the driving elements DR is commonly connected to a first node N1. The current output section 41a outputs data current Idata such that electrical currents flowing through each channel of the driving elements DR are merged in a state in which the voltage V1 of the node N1 of the node is set to a driving voltage. A gate voltage generation section 41b sets the voltage V1 of the node N1 to an offset voltage corresponding to Vth by diode-connecting at least one of the driving elements DR. Also, the current output section 41 a sets the voltage V1 to a driving voltage, in which the offset voltage is used as a reference, by varying a voltage Vref supplied to a terminal which is capacitively coupled to the node N1.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a current generation circuit, a method of driving the current generation circuit, an electro-optical device, and an electronic device. More particularly, the present invention relates to Vth compensation of a driving element which forms a portion of the current generation circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
For example, in Patent Document 1, a current generation circuit in which data current is generated in accordance with digital data which is input data (see FIG. 6 of Patent Document 1) is disclosed. The current generation circuit provided for each data line has circuit systems in which a driving element and a switching element are connected in series, the number of the circuit systems corresponding to the number of the bits of the input data. The gain coefficients of the respective driving elements are set to values corresponding to the weights of the corresponding bits, for example, as 1:2:4:8:16:32 in the case of 6-bit data. Furthermore, the respective switching elements are conduction controlled in accordance with the content of the corresponding bits. The data current is generated in accordance with the content of the input data and corresponds to the total sum of the electrical currents flowing through the channels of the respective driving elements. The generated data current is supplied to the. pixel containing an organic EL element through the data line.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-114645

Current generation circuit, method of driving current generation circuit, electro-optical device, and electronic device


Flat, insulated, metallic strips ("applicators"), are fixed to the wider sides of each permanent magnet assembly in the channel array of a Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Vacuum Pump. Electromagnetic power from an external rf/microwave generator is delivered by an appropriate transmission line to each pair of applicators, providing an rf/microwave electric field, generally parallel to the magnetic field of the magnets, across each channel in the array. As the plasma ions and electrons formed by the rf/microwave field lose energy by collisions with the channel surfaces and by collisions with neutral molecules in the channel, the microwave electric field reheats the plasma throughout its passage through the length of the channel array, increasing plasma density and enabling the use of much longer channels, thus increasing the throughput and compression ratio in the MHD Vacuum Pump.

This invention relates to the technology of removing gas or vapor from a vacuum chamber, specifically by forming a plasma (space-charge neutral mixture of free electrons and ions) in the gas, and driving a current density j through the plasma, normal to the local magnetic field B, to generate a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) pressure gradient vector j.times.B, to transport the plasma and vapor or background gases toward an outlet orifice.

Method and apparatus for increasing channel plasma density in an MHD vacuum pump


A developing agent including a core containing an amorphous polyester resin and a fatty acid ester based wax, a shell provided on the surface of the core and containing a copolymer of an aromatic vinyl monomer and acrylic acid or an acrylic ester, and a coloring agent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a developing agent for developing an electrostatic charge image or a magnetic latent image in an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic printing method, a magnetic recording method and the like and in particular, to an encapsulated developing agent.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the related-art production method of an electrostatic charge image developing toner, a kneading pulverization method was the main current. In the case of a toner particle to be produced by the kneading pulverization method, in general, its shape is amorphous, and its surface composition is heterogeneous. Though the shape or surface composition of the toner particle slightly changes depending upon pulverization properties of a material to be used or conditions of a pulverization step, it was difficult to intentionally control the shape. Also, the kneading pulverization method was limited in minimizing the particle size. Mechanical pulverization of a toner goes through steps of pulverization, classification and the like. When the particle size becomes small, the yield is lowered due to a reduction in the efficiency in the classification, and necessary energy increases. On the other hand, with the diffusion of a digital color system aiming at a higher image quality of these days, needs for realizing a small particle size of the toner have been increased. The small-particle sized toner is able to increase a coverage on a medium such as paper at a low consumption amount and is especially advantageous for colorization of electrophotography. Also, from the viewpoints of transfer properties and fixability, it is demanded to precisely control a toner particle regarding the toner shape, particle size distribution and encapsulation and the like. As a production method which meets these demands, the development of a toner by a polymerization method has been advanced in recent years.
Also, in recent years, in view of the matter that an image with higher image quality due to coloration is demanded, investigations of a polyester based resin which is able to be fixed at lower temperatures as a kind of a toner binder resin are being advanced. Furthermore, following the development of a polymerized toner, it is also actually investigated to encapsulate a core agent with a shell material. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3141783, there is proposed a production method by encapsulation in a dispersion. By performing the encapsulation, it becomes possible to achieve low-temperature fixing such that a releasing agent is not exposed on the toner surface.
In a developing agent, in general, a pigment and a releasing agent component are contained together with a binder resin. The releasing agent component is added for the purpose of widening an offset region of high temperature and low temperature in a fixing unit. In general, when the amount of the releasing agent component increases, releasing properties against a heat fusing roll are improved, and a non-offset region is widened, thereby contributing to electric power saving in a fixing step. But, especially in a state that the releasing agent component is exposed on the toner surface, a problem of filming on a control blade of a development unit or a surface of a photoreceptor is generated. Also, the preservability of the toner at high temperatures becomes worse, and a blocking phenomenon occurs. Then, an electrostatic charge image developing toner having an encapsulated structure in which a releasing agent is dispersed in a core resin, and a releasing agent component does not exist in a shell resin provided on the surface of the core resin has been demanded.
But, in the case where a toner is produced through dispersion and coagulation steps in an aqueous solution by forming a core agent by using a polyester based resin, the dispersibility of a pigment or a releasing agent in the core resin is a problem. When compatibility of the pigment or releasing agent with a so-called binder resin is poor, there is a possibility that the pigment or releasing agent is separated during the foregoing dispersion and coagulation steps. With respect to this point of issue, the case where the dispersion of the releasing agent is insufficient was seen even in the kneading step by the related-art pulverization method. However, in the production method of a polymerized toner by treatment in an aqueous solution, there may be the case where the pigment or releasing agent dispersion and the resin dispersion are completely separated, and severer compatibility is demanded. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3716847, a technology in which a toner has a core/shell structure, both a core resin and a shell resin are a polyester based resin, and a releasing agent is composed of an ester compound is reported. But, this technology involves defects that it is of a three-layered structure and is complicated in a process and that since the shell resin is a polyester based resin, in general, it is easily affected by an environmental fluctuation of the charge quantity. Also, for example, as disclosed in JP-A-2006-84952, a technology of encapsulating a polyester based core resin with a styrene-acrylic shell resin is reported. But, no particular description regarding a releasing agent is given, and there was a risk that the releasing agent is separated.
Also, as to the releasing agent, paraffin based materials or olefin based materials were frequently used. But, from the viewpoint of dispersion of a releasing agent in a polyester based resin, a releasing agent which is richer in compatibility has been desired.
In order to solve the foregoing problems, the invention is to provide a developing agent having excellent low-temperature fixability and satisfactory preservability and charge stability.