A clear coat dicyandiamide cured epoxy powder coating for non-metallic substrates wherein the finish coat is visually haze-free as a result of the addition of a small amount of an aromatic substituted urea compound. Non-metallic substrates, such as brass, cannot withstand extremely high temperatures which are required to cure well known powder coatings. However, coating systems which cure at lower temperatures often produce a haze within the finish clear coat. The present invention alleviates this problem.

The subject invention relates to a thermosetting epoxy powder coating composition and method of use thereof. More particularly, this invention relates to an epoxy powder coating which is adapted to prevent the generation of a haze within a clear coat film finish formed therefrom during thermal curing at low temperatures.
Non-ferrous metals, such as brass and copper, are utilized in industry as components in the manufacture of machines and other such devices as well as in the manufacture of furniture and cabinets as hinges and handles. Items which are more decorative than functional, such as candle holders, lamp components and the like, may also be made with such metals. These non-ferrous metals generally require a clear coat finish to enhance their luster and appearance and to provide protection against handling, wear and tear or adverse environmental factors. Solvent-borne liquid coatings have been employed in the past, but they fail to provide the desired level of performance. Solvent-borne formulations also contain high levels of hazardous volatile organic compounds which evaporate during the setting and curing of the coating. Due to environmental regulations these vaporized organic solvents must be trapped, isolated and collected to prevent their release into the environment. This is a very costly operation.
Fusion bonded, thermosetting powder coating compositions have also been employed to coat non-ferrous parts. Powder coatings offer a number of advantages over liquid coatings. For instance, corrosion and scratch resistance is much superior to that of liquid coatings. Further, powder coatings are virtually free of the harmful fugitive organic solvents normally present in liquid coatings.
Many non-ferrous components, such as brass or brass plated zinc die cast parts, experience outgassing upon heating, especially at the higher temperatures normally associated with traditional thermosetting epoxy based coatings. This condition will cause permanent discoloration or scarring of the metal finish. In order to prevent such an undesirable result, cure temperatures below 350xc2x0 F. are most preferred.
Among the commercially available low temperature cure thermosetting powder coatings, glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) powder coatings have seen widespread use in businesses such as the brass die cast or brass finishing industries. GMA compounds offer coatings with exceptional smoothness and clarity. However, their use presents a number of drawbacks, such as, poor substrate adhesion and a relatively high cost. As a consequence, attempts have been made to replace GMA materials with traditional thermosetting epoxy coatings, which offer improved adhesion and a lower relative cost. While this has been a significant step forward in this industry, one problem is that, with the standard cure system, e.g. utilizing dicyandiamide, the curing of these coatings at the desired low temperature cure conditions very often leads to the generation of an undesirable visible haze in the powder coating finish.
Clear coat finishes on brass parts should be clear enough so as to permit the distinctness of the brass surface to show through visually unimpeded. In dicyandiamide cured epoxy clear coat systems, a visibly detectable milky haze will appear in the finish coating when this resin system is cured at low temperatures. This milkiness, which is unmelted dicyandiamide, distorts the distinctness of the image of the underlying metallic surface.
The problem addressed by the present invention is the elimination of a visually hazy appearance, in epoxy clear coat finishes which are cured with dicyandiamide at the low temperatures required to process non-ferrous metallic substrates. In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a powder coating composition comprising an epoxy resin, dicyandiamide as the curing agent and an aromatic substituted urea. In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for obtaining a visually haze-free coating on non-ferrous metallic substrates susceptible to degradation when subjected to high temperatures comprising applying the powder coating composition of the present invention on the surface of the substrate and curing the powder coating at a temperature below that which will harm the substrate wherein the resultant cured coating is without visible haze.
Aromatic substituted ureas are known as being latent accelerators for the dicyandiamide cure of epoxy resins. It is surprising, however, that the addition of such a compound to a clear-coat dicyandiamide epoxy based powder coating would substantially eliminate the visually perceptible haze usually present in the finished coat. The preferred aromatic substituted urea is toluene bis dimethyl urea, which may be acquired from CVC Specialty Chemicals, Inc. as OMICURE(copyright) U-410. The aromatic substituted ureas of the invention are present in the powder coating formulation in an amount of 0.1 to 5.0 phr, preferably, 0.5 to 2.0 phr.
The resin which may be employed in the practice of this invention is any epoxy which may be applied via a powder coating formulation. Examples include resins produced by the reaction of epichlorohydrin and a bisphenol, such as bisphenol A, epoxy phenol novolac resins, such as ARALDITE(copyright) GT-6259, epoxy cresol novolac resins, and 4,4xe2x80x2-isopropylidenediphenol/epichlorohydrin resins, such as Ciba-Geigy""s GT-7013 and GT-7072.
The curing agent used in this powder coating system is dicyandiamide. This curing agent may be commercially acquired from SKW Chemicals under the tradename Dyhard 100S. Dicyandiamide is added to the powder coating composition in an amount up to 8 phr (the amount of epoxy resin in the powder coating composition is equal to 100 parts; levels of other components are calculated as parts relative to 100 parts of the resin: hence, xe2x80x9cXxe2x80x9d phr, or xe2x80x9cparts per hundredxe2x80x9d). Preferably, the amount of dicyandiamide is from 2 to 8 phr and, more preferably, from 4 to 6 phr.
The powder coating composition of the present invention may also contain additives traditionally found in such coatings, such as, dry flow additives, flow control agents, leveling agents, degassing agents, antioxidants, UV absorbers, light stabilizers, etc.
The cure temperatures of the powder coating of the present invention may vary somewhat depending upon the specific ingredients employed and the specific substrate being coated. However, since the substrates being coated are susceptible to outgassing and/or degradation upon heating, the cure temperatures must be below 350xc2x0 F. Therefore, it is necessary that the powder coating of this invention be formulated to cure to a thermoset state at temperatures below 350xc2x0 F., and preferably below 325xc2x0 F., within commercially acceptable processing times, such as for 30 minutes or less, while still producing a haze-free clear coating.
Powder coatings of this invention may be prepared in the usual manner. First, an intimate mixture is formed by dry blending together all of the formulation ingredients in a mixer. The dry blend is then melt-blended in a mixing extruder with heating above the melting point of the resin and the other ingredients, so that the extrudate comprises a homogeneous mix of all of the individual powder coating components. After extrusion, the extrudate is rapidly cooled to form solid xe2x80x9cchipsxe2x80x9d. These chips are then ground in a mill to the desired particle size. Average particle size for electrostatic application of the powder coating is generally from 20 to 60 microns.
The powder coating formulations of this invention may be applied to target substrates by any conventional powder coating techniques. However, electrostatic spraying is preferred. In electrostatic spray coating, electrostatic spray booths are employed which house banks of corona discharge or triboelectric spray guns and a reclamation system for recycling the overspray powders back into the powder feed system. The substrate is heated, at least on the surface, at the time of application and/or subsequent thereto to a temperature equal to or above the temperature needed to cure the powder coating but below the temperature at which substrate outgassing and/or degradation might occur, in order to cause the powder coating to flow evenly on the substrate surface and subsequently cure the powder resin. Heating can be achieved via infrared ovens, convection ovens, or a combination of both. Infrared ovens, however, are more traditionally employed. Final cure temperatures and oven residence times will vary depending on the coating powder formulation used, the specific substrate and the conditions of use. Nonetheless, the use of the specific formulation and process of the present invention will provide a coating film which has a haze-free uniform appearance.
The powder coating compositions of the present invention are particularly suited for application onto non-ferrous metallic substrates, such as brass, copper, brass-coated zinc die cast materials, and the like, which are susceptible to outgassing and/or degradation upon exposure to excessive heat. These powder coatings are especially suited for application onto brass materials where a non-hazy clear coating is required.

Thermosetting epoxy powder coatings having improved degassing properties


Techniques are disclosed relating to determining or executing a survey pattern for a marine seismic survey vessel. The survey pattern may be determined based on a determined subsurface illumination area. The subsurface illumination area may be identifiable from primary reflections and higher-order reflections detected by sensors disposed in a sensor streamer configuration that may be towed behind the survey vessel. The sensor streamer configuration may include a plurality of streamers.

Marine seismic surveys may utilize energy, such as sound, that is transmitted to subsurface features and reflected back to sensors. The sensors may be configured as part of a number of streamers that may be towed behind a survey vessel. These streamers may be configured as a submerged array of multiple streamers, that may be arranged in parallel.
One common application of marine seismic surveying is oil and gas exploration in marine environments. For example, sound waves received during a marine seismic survey may be analyzed to locate hydrocarbon bearing geological structures, and thus determine the location of oil and natural gas deposits. To this end, survey paths may be calculated in order to provide optimal survey coverage of an area of interest. Such surveys paths may require a survey vessel to conduct numerous survey passes to adequately cover the area of interest.

Seismic surveying techniques with illumination areas identifiable from primary and higher-order reflections


A wire bonding system is provided. The system includes a bond head, a bonding tool carried by the bond head, a wire supply configured for bonding by the bonding tool, and a wire shaping tool carried by the bond head. The wire shaping tool is independently moveable with respect to the bond head and the bonding tool.

In the processing and packaging of semiconductor devices, ultrasonic bonding (e.g., wire bonding, ribbon bonding, etc.) continues to be a widely used method of providing electrical interconnection between two locations within a package (e.g., between locations in a semiconductor package, between locations in a power module, etc.). The electrical connections between the locations are typically referred to as wire loops. In many wire looping applications it is desirable to form wire loops having certain shapes and characteristics. In certain conventional wire bonding systems, a wire loop shaping tool is provided for contacting the wire loop during formation to affect the shape of the wire loop. JP58-192688 is an example of such a conventional system.
However, conventional systems including such a wire loop shaping tool suffer from certain deficiencies. For example, conventional wire loop shaping tools are typically mechanically adjusted, and as such, only a single type of wire loop may be formed using the wire loop shaping tool between mechanical adjustments. This is not desirable in certain applications (e.g., where there may be multiple different wire loop shapes in a given package). Thus, it would be desirable to provide improved wire bonding systems including wire loop shaping tools.

Wire loop forming systems and methods of using the same


The present invention relates to a method for detection of binding or interaction events between a binding agent and its corresponding analyte (such as an antibody and an antigen) in which a signal is detected which is substantially more amplified and thus easier to detect than in prior art systems. The method comprises simultaneous but separate addition of a first enhancement reagent having affinity for said analyte and a second enhancement reagent having affinity for the first enhancement reagent wherein the first enhancement reagent binds to the analyte and the second enhancement reagent binds to the first enhancement reagent, and, wherein the first and second enhancement reagents have more than one binding site so that they are able to bind to each other to thereby amplify a detectable signal from the binding event.

There is a strong demand for higher sensitivity in SPR (surface plasmon resonance) assays e.g. in concentration analysis, host cell protein assays, measurements of protein A leakage from columns and for the detection of a wide range of molecules and biomarkers in complex biological media including immunogenicity assays. In primary antibody screening a higher sensitivity and higher throughput is needed in SPR assays. An improvement of sensitivity could allow shorter injection times and by that means higher through-put.
One commonly used approach to increase sensitivity is to sequentially inject one enhancement reagent i.e. a polyclonal antibody after the injection of analyte. This will give a limited enhancement since there is a limited number of binding sites for the enhancement molecules. Pei, Wang and Wang enhanced the response of a biotinylated enhancement reagent by injection of a strepavidin-biotinylated protein complex in a SPR-instrument. However large complexes tend to lose their binding capacity to sensor chips provided with a dextran matrix. Pei, Wang and Wang used a flat CO2H layer (C1 sensor chip) in their study with large complexes but this chip has limitations in terms of unspecific binding and sensitivity.
Instead of injecting a large complex for enhancement one could build the large complex on the surface. Laminar flow-assisted dendritic amplification is a signal amplification method for biomolecular binding events in microchannels (Hosokawa et al 2007) and JP 2008292270. However, the solution relies on presenting two combinable substances in parallel laminar flows which combines in a boundary layer in a narrowly defined detection zone. This creates high demands on the flow conditions and limits also the choices of detection device.
One could achieve a dendritic amplification by alternately inject the two enhancement molecules with ordinary injections (Yamaguchi and Harada). However repeated injections of two enhancement molecules is time consuming and also consumes considerable amounts of material.
All the above described prior art methods present significant limitations for efficient and high enhancement amplifications in flow cell assays formats, such as lengthy assays with multiple steps, high consumption of enhancement reagents, demands on delicate detection configurations as well as unspecific binding and lack of sensitivity. There is therefore a need for a quick an easy-to-perform assay that permits determination of an analyte by using an amplification step that is well suited for flow cell applications.


A telescope mirror assembly includes a space frame; a deformable mirror body; a plurality of spaced supporting elements bonded to the mirror body by an adhesive; a fastening assembly for releasably securing each supporting element to the space frame for combining the mirror body and the space frame into a self-supporting construction; piezoelements interposed between each supporting element and the space frame for selectively imparting by the piezoelements a pressing or pulling force to a portion of the mirror body for moving such portion toward or away from the space frame.

This invention relates to a telescope mirror assembly which has a deformable glass-ceramic mirror body, support elements engaging the mirror body and setting drives which are mounted on a supporting space frame and by means of which the supporting elements are adjustable in their position relative the space frame to thus displace defined areas of the mirror body.
One of the greatest challenges of modern astronomy is the detection of celestial bodies of extremely weak light, which are situated at a distance of many billions of light years from earth. To make possible such a detection, an enlargement of the light-gathering surface of the telescope mirrors is required while the surface accuracies are preserved or even augmented in the nanometer range.
In the periodical "Journal of Modern Optics" 1987, Volume 34, No. 4, on pages 485-509 the proposal has been submitted to so design a telescope mirror that it is deformable by means of drive mechanisms mounted on a supporting structure for improving the optical quality and economy of large telescopes. According to the proposal the mirror body merely lies, by virtue of its large own weight, on the respective supporting elements so that a deformation in the direction of the supporting structure is effected exclusively by gravity, taken up by an expensive setting mechanism.
In the "Technische Mitteilung Krupp" ("Krupp Technical Bulletin"), Volume 1 of 1990, pages 27-42, a telescope is described which has a mirror body supported by a space frame formed of node elements of Invar steel interconnected by space frame struts. The struts include pipes made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic on which coupling cones also made of Invar steel (Ni 36) are secured by an adhesive.
An optical surface adapted for a telescope is obtained if the root mean square (rms) of the surface errors does not exceed a value in the magnitude of rms=.lambda./28 wherein .lambda. is the wavelength of light. In case of visible light, care has to be taken that the mirror surface has, under all operating conditions, an rms value of less than 18 nanometer.

Krupp Industrietechnik Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Hattung


In the magnetic disk unit comprising suspensions in each of which an IC is mounted on a load beam, a magnetic head displacement caused by the warp of the load beam occurring due to heat generated from the IC is compensated, whereby the shortening of an access speed and high reliability of reading/writing are realized. The thermal displacement of the magnetic head is compensated by operating micro actuators on the load beam in accordance with the temperature rise of the IC which is measured by a temperature sensor. Namely, by driving the micro actuators so that the magnetic head may move in a direction reverse to the direction of the magnetic head movement caused by the thermal displacement, the thermal displacement of the magnetic head is made to be substantially zero.

The invention relates to a magnetic disk unit, and particularly relates to a magnetic disk unit having two types of actuators, that is, coarse actuators for large movement and micro actuators and further having a controlling IC on a suspension supporting a magnetic head.
As a prior art of the invention, JP-A-11-195215 discloses that, in a magnetic head-supporting mechanism having two-stage actuators and an IC (integrated circuit) mounted in a suspension, the mechanism is provided with means for preventing the IC itself from being damaged due to heat occurring during the operation of the IC. Further, regarding a conventional head-supporting mechanism of one stage, JP-A-4-103085 discloses a controlling method for compensating the position deviation of the head-supporting mechanism which deviation occurs due to temperature rise of a magnetic disk unit.
In a chip-on-suspension (hereinafter referred to as COS) in which an IC is mounted on a suspension, there is such a case as a magnetic head deviates in the direction of the radius of a disk due to the temperature rise of the IC.
In a magnetic disk unit having a plurality of magnetic heads mounted therein, there is such a case as, in a plurality of magnetic heads initially located in an identical cylinder, a certain magnetic head successively performs reading or writing, and in this case there occurs a phenomenon explained below. In the case where one magnetic head is successively operated, the IC of the magnetic head rises, so that a suspension is deformed with the result that the successively operated magnetic head and other magnetic heads (non-operated magnetic heads) deviate in the direction of the radius. The successively operated magnetic head is servo-controlled to thereby follow the identical cylinder. In this state, when magnetic-head-switching from the successively operated magnetic head to another magnetic head is performed, the magnetic head commencing the operation by the magnetic-head-switching comes to lose its location because the switched magnetic head is located in another cylinder different from that of the successively operated magnetic head. Thus, it is necessary for the switched magnetic head to seek in the direction of the radius so that location information recorded in a disk may be read out. Accordingly, since it is impossible to immediately perform the writing/reading of data, there is such a problem as the transfer speed decreases.
Further, in a case of writing servo information (location information) through STW (servo track writer), there is such another problem as tracks can not be written at an equal pitch due to the thermal deformation.
The object of the invention is to obtain a magnetic disk unit having a plurality of suspensions in the same cylinder, in which magnetic disk unit, even at a time when reading/writing operation is transferred from the first suspension to the second suspension under a state that servo control is performed regarding the first suspension while a heating element such as IC is operated in the first suspension, it is possible for the transferred, second suspension to perform smooth operation.
According to the first aspect of the invention, there is provided a magnetic disk unit having micro actuators for slight movement and an IC for amplifying the reading/writing signals of a magnetic head which IC is mounted on a suspension, the magnetic disk unit comprising: a sensor for monitoring the temperature of the IC which is operating (, that is, during the reading/writing operation of the magnetic head); and means for compensating the location of the magnetic head of a suspension mounting the IC the temperature of which rises, in compliance with the temperature variation (temperature rise) by use of the micro actuators. In other words, the amount of displacement which occurs regarding the magnetic head due to the temperature rise of the IC is compensated by the micro actuators. This compensation is performed by a displacement amount corresponding to the temperature rise while sensing the temperature rise of the IC through the sensor. In this case, it is necessary to previously measure a relation between the temperature rise and the displacement amount, and by use of a table in which this relation is written, the compensation can be performed. Alternatively, the compensation table of the magnetic head relating to the temperature rise of the IC (, that is, the relation between the compensation amount of displacement of the magnetic head and the temperature rise) may be previously stored in the IC.
Further, in a case of successively writing information as in the case of the STW, the IC may be preheated prior to the writing of the information up to a temperature corresponding to that of the successive writing, and the preheating is ceased at the same time as the writing is commenced. By these, since the temperature of the IC is kept to be constant, it becomes possible to prevent the thermal displacement of the magnetic head from occurring due to the temperature rise caused with the elapse of time after the commencement of the writing, whereby it is possible to write servo information at an even track pitch. (Further, by keeping the temperature of the IC so that it may be the temperature of the successive writing or successive reading, the amount of the thermal displacement of the magnetic head can be kept to be constant. Thus, it becomes possible to prevent the thermal displacement of the magnetic head from occurring due to the temperature rise caused after the commencement of the writing or reading.)
Further, by providing controlling means for maintaining a predetermined temperature regarding the IC while detecting the temperature of the IC, it becomes possible to record servo information at an even track pitch from the inner periphery of a disk to the outer periphery thereof. Since the flow rate of air flow above the inner periphery of the disk differs from that above the outer periphery thereof, the temperature of the IC varies in a case of heating with the same amount of heat generation insofar as the inner and outer peripheries are concerned, so that there occur such a problem as no writing can be performed at an even track pitch. However, by providing the controlling means for making the IC temperature constant, the thermal displacement becomes constant between the inner and outer peripheries of the disk, whereby the servo information can be recorded at the even track pitch. Thus, the precision of positioning and the quality of reading/writing are enhanced, so that high recording density can be achieved.

Magnetic disk unit including temperature sensing of IC mounted on suspension


A symbol length is evaluated on the basis of receiving a first-symbol length, and a phase error with respect to detection of a length of the first symbol before receiving a length of a second symbol following the first symbol. The process includes evaluating at least two random phase errors on the basis of the phase error received. A first random phase error is dependent on a deterministic phase error with respect to a first state corresponding to an absence of a corrected first-symbol length. A second random phase error is dependent on a deterministic phase error with respect to a second state corresponding to the corrected first-symbol length. The process includes retaining as an evaluated symbol length the first-symbol length received if the absolute value of the first random phase error reduces a condition of passing through the first state. The second step also retains as an evaluated symbol length the corrected first-symbol length if the absolute value of the second random phase error reduces the condition of passing through the second state.

Technological performance is evolving towards an increasing density of storage, and towards an increasing speed of reading recorded media. High information density and a fast reading speed are particularly concerned with the bandwidth of the transmission channel between the recording medium and the device for retrieving the stored information.
Approaches have been developed with success for communication applications and for magnetic recording media. For example, the coding of information on hard disks often uses the known partial response (PR) codes. These are multilevel codes whose signal spectrum is easily adaptable to the transmission channel for a given running speed. The retrieval device then uses a maximum likelihood (ML) decoding. The various levels of the signal transmitted in analog form are converted into a digital signal by samplings of an analog digital converter (ADC) with several bits. However, these systems which are known as PRML, implement a digital filtering which does not allow the use of a single-bit ADC converter.
To obtain a high density storage on the information medium, the information may be coded using symbols of various lengths on two possible aspects of a surface of the medium. For example, on an optical disk, a presence and an absence of a hole differently reflects a light ray causing binary modulation of a transmission signal. This makes it possible to code a symbol as a hole whose length is representative of this symbol, and to code the following symbol directly by an absence of a hole whose length is likewise representative of this following symbol. It is thus possible to code a succession of symbols on the medium by a succession of holes and an absence of holes without losing room. The symbol length is obtained directly in digital form by counting clock periods on the same aspect of the surface of the medium, then similarly on the same complementary aspect for the following symbol. It would then be beneficial to use a single-bit analog-to-digital converter.
However, the evaluation of symbol lengths is disturbed by numerous phenomena, such as the transfer function of the transmission channel, its sensitivity to noise having a random nature and inter-symbol interference. Interference between symbols, although not generally exceeding two symbols, is particularly acute for symbol lengths on the order of 0.42 μm with a reading beam diameter on the order of 0.74 μm.
The devices of the prior art particularly require careful calibration and give rise to constraints in the design of the analog circuits and in their parameterization.

Process and device for evaluating symbol lengths on a recording medium


A cacheable memory access space receives memory access addresses having different data structures according to a status of a cache capacity from a processor. A cache hit detector determines whether data has been hit based on a mode signal, an enbblk [n] signal, and a signal indicating whether the way is valid or invalid, which are preset in the cache hit detector, a tag comparison address received from the cacheable memory access space, and a tag received from the storage unit.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cache memory and the like that utilizes a set associative method having a plurality of ways, and delivers data to a processor according to a request from the processor, and more particularly, to a cache memory that enables the cache capacity to be condensed without a reduction in performance during an application, and a method of controlling the memory.
2) Description of the Related Art
As a central processing unit (CPU) has become faster in recent years, there has been a problem that the processing speed of a main memory cannot keep up with the CPU, which temporarily stops processing while accessing data in the main memory, and shifts to standby, resulting in memory delay.
Accordingly, many systems include a high-speed cache memory between the CPU and the main memory, in order to relieve the speed difference between them. There are many types of cache memory associative methods, such as a direct mapping method, a full associative method, and a set associative method. Among these, the set associative method is most widely used.
In the set associative method, the cache line is divided into a plurality of ways, and each way is directly mapped. Generally, the greater the number of ways is, the more the hit rate increases.
In consideration of the manufacturing yield and the like of large-scale integration (LSI) in techniques relating to conventional set associative methods, when a defect occurs in the cache memory, the function of the way that includes the defect is terminated, and use of the unit where the defect occurred is avoided.
The cache mechanism described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2001-216193 discloses a technique for increasing the cache efficiency by changing the line size, this being the size of the block data, and the cache memory system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. H5-241962 discloses a technique for efficiently reconfiguring the cache memory.
However, the conventional technology has a problem that, when condensing the cache capacity while there is a defect or the like inside the cache memory, the performance during actual application deteriorates since the functions of the corresponding way are terminated.
In a cache memory that uses a set associative method utilizing several hundreds to several tens of ways, no particular problems are caused by terminating the functions of a way where a defect or the like exists. However, since many cache memories, which are designed for general personal computers (PC), use a set associative method with only four ways, terminating the function of a way that handles the set associative method results in a noticeable reduction in performance during application.

Cache memory and method of controlling memory


A range check instruction sequence, which performs a logical comparison between two 32-bit values and updates the condition code as a result. It operates identically to the ESA/390 instruction compare logical (CLR) except for the way in which the condition code is set. The new condition code is a function of both the comparison result and the previous condition code. If the first operand is greater than the second operand, the condition code remains unchanged. If the first operand is less than or equal to the second operand, the condition code is set to 2 if it was previously 0 or 1, and is set to 3 if it was previously 2 or 3. This may be understood as advancing the state of the condition code among the groups (0,1), 2, and 3 if the first operand is not greater than the second operand.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to improvements in pipelined computer processors that execute relatively simple instructions in hardware controlled execution units and execute relatively complex instructions in a milli-mode architected state with vertical microcode (i.e. millicode) routines executing in the same hardware controlled execution units. More particularly, this invention relates to a set of specialized millicode instructions which reduce the number of millicode instructions and machine cycles required to perform certain operations; namely, range checking.

Specialized millicode instruction for range checking

International Business Machines Corporation


A head-mounted-display system may include 1) a support assembly and 2) a pair of display assemblies moveably coupled to the support assembly such that the display assemblies are moveable between a plurality of positions corresponding to a plurality of user interpupillary distances, with the pair of display assemblies respectively defining separate viewing regions for a user's right and left eyes. Each of the pair of display assemblies may include a lens and a display screen. The head-mounted-display system may also include a detection subsystem having 1) at least one position sensor and 2) a determination module that determines a positional relationship between the pair of display assemblies based on measurements obtained by the at least one position sensor. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Virtual reality and augmented reality headsets are widely gaining in popularity for use in a growing number of activities. Such headsets may integrate visual information into a user's field of view to enhance their surroundings or allow them to step into immersive three-dimensional environments. While virtual reality and augmented reality headsets are often utilized for gaming and other entertainment purposes, they are also commonly employed for purposes outside of recreation—for example, governments may use them for military training simulations, doctors may use them to practice surgery, and engineers may use them as visualization aids. Virtual and augmented reality systems are also increasingly recognized for their utility in facilitating inter-personal interactions between individuals in a variety of contexts.
Such headsets commonly include display and optical elements that project separate images to the eyes of users so that the users perceive three-dimensional content. Unfortunately, variations in the shapes of human faces may present difficulties in properly displaying these images to users. For example, variations in users' interpupillary distances (i.e., the distance between a person's eyes) may cause discomfort to users due to optical distortions, eye strain, and/or facial discomfort if display elements are not precisely configured to accommodate such variations. Because of this, traditional virtual reality and augmented reality headsets may include adjustment mechanisms to tailor the spacing between optical elements to more precisely fit each user's unique interpupillary distance. In addition, measurement devices, such as linear potentiometers, may be utilized to determine distances between optical elements of headsets to ensure that content is properly displayed to users. Unfortunately, such measurements devices may be mechanically complex and bulky and may impede smooth and precise adjustment of the optical elements.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for determining interpupillary distances of head-mounted displays


Chemical compounds are provided which act on GPR17 receptors and are useful in the treatment or amelioration of chronic and/or acute neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, inflammatory diseases, pathologies involving the immune system, cardiovascular diseases, and renal diseases.

The seven-helix transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family, encompassing more than 1,000 putative members, is crucially involved in cell-to-cell communication, in the response to environmental factors and hormones, and in the regulation of key cellular functions such as growth, differentiation and death. Due to such central roles, the malfunctioning of GPCRs (or of their signaling cascades) is associated to disease. A large majority of currently marketed drugs (including widely utilized anti-hypertensive, anti-thrombotic, anti-psychotic, anti-asthmatic and anti-ulcer drugs) indeed act through GPCRs.
Among all GPCRs, GPR17, is located at intermediate phylogenetic position between known purinergic P2Y and cysteinyl-leukotrienes (cysLTs) receptors (CysLTRs). Already characterized P2Y receptors and CysLTRs are activated, respectively, by extracellular nucleotides (Abbracchio et al., 2006) or cysLTs (Brink et al. 2003), two distinct families of inflammatory molecules acting as "danger signals" (Lecca et al., 2008), that sense damage in tissues and activate local reparative processes. These endogenous signaling molecules and their receptors mediate immune responses and ischemic/inflammatory conditions, including stroke and several currently incurable neurodegenerative diseases (Abbracchio et al., 2009). GPR17 signals through G(i) and inhibition of adenylyl cyclase and it has been previously shown that GPR17 responds to both uracil nucleotides and cysLTs (Ciana et al. 2006; Lecca et al., 2008; Pugliese et al. 2009). By employing a variety of in vivo rodent models of acute and chronic nervous system degenerative disorders, GPR17 has been validated as a novel target for the design of new drugs of potential use in human diseases characterized by neuronal and myelin dysfunction, including stroke, brain and spinal cord trauma and multiple sclerosis (Lecca et al. 2008; Ceruti et al. 2009; Chen et al. 2009). In a rat brain focal ischemia model, the selective in vivo knock down of GPR17 by anti-sense technology or P2Y/CysLTRs antagonists reduced progression of ischemic damage (WO2006/045476). Moreover, the involvement of GPR17 in the transition from oligodendrocyte precursors to mature oligodendrocytes expressing a myelinating phenotype has been demonstrated (Lecca et al., 2008; Chen et al. 2009; Fumagalli et al., 2011). These mature oligodendrocytes are able to repair a myelinic damage, by restoring the damaged myelinic envelope en-wrapping neuronal axons. All the published experimental data on GPR17 have been obtained using already available agonists and, in most cases, antagonists that have been purposely developed for other GPCRs.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive disorder. It is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms. MS is one of the central nervous system pathology with the largest diffusion. It affects about 1.3 million persons in the world, of which 400.000 in Europe. This incidence is worsened by the fact that MS affects still young peoples, who need chronic treatments, with a strong social and economical impact. The pharmacological treatments currently available are symptomatic and are not able to counteract MS progression. Immunomodulators are actually used and revealed a certain grade of effectiveness in acute treatments. However, they fail to solve the pathology. Moreover, all of the currently available therapeutics display significant side effects, both local and systemic.
Given the role played by GPR17 in the myelination process (Lecca et al. 2008, Chen et al. 2009; Fumagalli et al., 2011) and in the reduction of ischemic damage progression, there is the strong need to identify molecules capable to specifically bind said GPR17 receptor to be used as novel therapeutics in ischemia and MS or in any other condition characterized by demyelination. It is worth to note that for many of the conditions characterized by demyelination, such as schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Huntington's Disease, no curative therapy are currently available. Up to now, only non specific compounds have been tested on GPR17. In particular, CysLTRs antagonists have been used, selected from Montelukast, Pranlukast, Zafirlukast. These compounds are commercially available for asthma therapy. Alternatively, P2Y receptor antagonist have been used. Among these, Cangrelor and Ticagrelor. Ticagrelor has been approved by EMEA and FDA as a platelet aggregation inhibitor.
Rational drug development is a process to develop lead molecules, not by randomly screening thousands of molecules in the blind hope of finding one that shows the desired activity, but rather by deducing the active site of the target and devising a chemical that interacts with that site in the appropriate manner.
A crystallographic structure of GPR17 is not available so far. However, the crystallographic structures of the human CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) (Wu et al. 2010) is known and it is of particular interest for the purpose of the here claimed invention. In fact, the G protein-coupled chemokine receptor CXCR4 has been demonstrated to be phylogenetically and structurally very close to GPR17. CXCR4 crystallographic structure revealed a consistent homodimer with an interface including helices V and VI that may be involved in regulating signaling (Wu et al. 2010). The location and shape of the ligand-binding sites differ from other G protein-coupled receptors and are closer to the extracellular surface.
Here we describe families of compounds specifically able to interact with GPR17 receptor. Compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are useful in the treatment of pathological conditions such as stroke, heart disease, heart failure, high blood pressure, neurodegenerative diseases selected from, for example, Huntington's Disease, motor neuron diseases, leukodystrophies and MS.

FONDAZIONE ITALIANA SCLEROSI MULTIPLA—FISM ONLUS


A streak retinoscope has an external control sleeve that is fully rotatable and is movable axially for rotating the lamp and focusing the lens assembly, respectively. The lens assembly is carried on the lens holder and the lamp assembly is carried on a lamp carrier. The lamp carrier is rotatable but is held against axial motion, while the lens holder sleeve is held against rotation but is movable axially. A sliding gear arrangement is formed wherein the lamp carrier sleeve is configured with axially elongated teeth, thus serving as a sun gear. The outer control sleeve has internal teeth and serves as the ring gear. Planet gears can be carried on the lens carrier sleeve.

The present invention relates to hand-held medical diagnostic instruments of the type which contain a light source, and is more particularly concerned with a streak retinoscope in which a bar or streak of light can be focussed and defocussed and continuously adjusted at any angle by use of a control sleeve on the instrument's handle.
Streak retinoscopy provides the eye practitioner with valuable information about the refractive state of a patient's eyes. Streak retinoscopy, in conjunction with trial lenses, can not only measure the refractive error of the eye but can also determine the axis of astigmatism.
In streak retinoscopy, a streak or bar of light, as distinguished from a spot of light, is projected through the lens of the eye onto the retina, and the image of the streak on the retina is observed by the practitioner. For effective examination, the streak or bar should be fully rotatable 360 degrees and beyond without a stop. Full 360 degree rotation is advantageous in that the streak can be rotated from any starting position. The physician or other practitioner should also be afforded freedom in the use of hands, so that the angular and focussing adjustments can be carried out with the right hand alone or with the left hand alone.
A typical retinoscope illustrative of the state of the art is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,439,978, granted Apr. 22, 1969, and is also shown in U.S. Pat No. Des. 243,973, granted Apr. 5, 1977.
Other hand-held diagnostic instruments having a light source and a power source contained in their handles are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,147,163, granted Apr. 3, 1979, and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,441,340, granted Apr. 29, 1969.
The present retinoscopes as described e.g. in U.S. Pat. No. 3,439,978 usually achieve rotation with a control sleeve that is fitted inside an outer sleeve. The outer sleeve has openings or slots that permit the practitioner to rotate the control sleeve using his or her fingers. The control sleeve can also be manipulated up and down within the outer sleeve to move the lens nearer or further from the lamp.
The retinoscope of this system requires adjustment of the angular position of the head to the handle for convenient positioning of the slots in the outer sleeve. This can require loosening and tightening of a separate nut or actually removing the head and adjusting the orientation of the head to slots. Some instruments do not allow adjustment of slot orientation to head. Some retinoscopes have external control sleeves but because of mechanical constraints cannot rotate more than about 180 degrees.

Retinoscope with external control sleeve


A water-based composition containing oil soluble components may include an anhydrous concentrate including hydroxypropylcocoate PEG-8 dimethicone and a hydration component, which may be stored in separate vessels prior to mixing. The anhydrous concentrate may be combined with the hydration component to create a consumer product such as a topical cream. The anhydrous concentrate may include a preparation that includes a liquid dispersion polymer, an inverting surfactant and a binding agent, and also may include lipid-soluble vitamins, antioxidants and the like. The hydration component may include water and a preservative system, and also may include water-soluble vitamins, antioxidants and the like. Two forms (i.e. lipid-soluble and water-soluble) of a given ingredient (such as vitamin C) may be provided in the concentrate and the hydration component, respectively. A third vessel may be used for mixing the concentrate with the hydrator and/or dispensing the concentrate, the hydrator and/or the consumer product.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to an emulsion compositions and related methods and/or packaging including the composition for use in water-based consumer products, including but not limited to cosmetics.
2. Related Art
Consumers, cosmetologists, and dermatologists recognize the beneficial effects of skin care ingredients like retinol and vitamin C. These and other beneficial ingredients are among a class of unstable raw materials that are valued for their efficacy in the laboratory but are criticized in the marketplace due to their short shelf life. Commonly, exposing these ingredients to oxygen, extreme temperatures, or UV light cause the compounds to degrade and lose efficacy. Thus, the beneficial impact of the product is diminished.
To overcome these issues, cosmetic manufacturers may deliver a concentrate including various active components to an end user, who then mixes the concentrate with a predetermined amount of water to create the final product such as a jar of skin cream, such as the one described in United States Patent Publication No. 2014/0275289. This type of delivery method has several benefits for the manufacturer, such as a longer shelf-life for the product, simplified manufacturing processes, reduced material usage, reduced shipping costs, and the like. In addition, the consumer becomes an engaged member of the product creation process by mixing the concentrate with water to generate the final product. Ideally, this process can be fun for the consumer but if the emulsion process takes too long or the emulsion does not remain stable for a suitable period of time, the consumer can become frustrated and dissatisfied with the process.
Because of the unstable nature of the active components used in these formulas, it can be difficult to predict the results of a modification to an existing product. For example, certain types of emulsification methods may work for certain types of oils and vitamins while being ineffective for others. Specifically, it has been found that some types of polymer preparations and/or emulsifiers may emulsify retinol, but may not emulsify vitamin C, or vice versa. Similarly, some types of polymer preparations and/or emulsifiers may emulsify one form of an oil or vitamin but not emulsify other forms. Even seemingly subtle modifications to a formula may cause the end product to exhibit undesirable characteristics, such as an undesirable viscosity (e.g. too thick or too thin), discoloration, foaming, and the like. This problem is exacerbated by the high concentration levels at which these materials may be provided in a given concentrate. And even if a suitable emulsion is formed, separation may occur before even a small amount of composition is used, resulting in an aesthetically unpleasant and/or less effective product.
In addition, providing only an anhydrous concentrate that is mixed with water alone hinders the ability of a manufacturing to provide water-soluble components that may enhance the desirability of the end product.
Accordingly, a need has long existed for improved water-based cosmetics and methods for delivering the same.

Water-gel emulsion compositions and methods


A steerable first catheter directs the introduction of a guide sheath, which can otherwise be free of any onboard steering mechanism. The guide sheath, in turn, directs the introduction of the electrode-carrying second catheter, which can likewise be free of any onboard steering mechanism. Use of a guide sheath positioned by a separate, dedicated steering catheter to guide a separate, dedicated electrode-carrying catheter results in a significant reduction in the overall size of the system components.

Physicians make use of catheters today in medical procedures to gain access into interior regions of the body to ablate targeted tissue areas. It is important for the physician to be able to carefully and precisely control the position of the catheter and its emission of energy within the body during tissue ablation procedures.
The need for careful and precise control over the catheter is especially critical during procedures that ablate tissue within the heart. These procedures, called electrophysiological therapy, are becoming more widespread for treating cardiac rhythm disturbances.
During these procedures, a physician steers a catheter through a main vein or artery into the interior region of the heart that is to be treated. The physician then further manipulates a steering mechanism to place the electrode carried on the distal tip of the catheter into direct contact with the tissue that is to be ablated. The physician directs energy from the electrode through tissue to an indifferent electrode (in a uni-polar electrode arrangement) or to an adjacent electrode (in a bi-polar electrode arrangement) to ablate the tissue and form a lesion.
Cardiac mapping can be used before ablation to locate aberrant conductive pathways within the heart. The aberrant conductive pathways constitute peculiar and life threatening patterns, called dysrhythmias. Mapping identifies regions along these pathways, called foci, which are then ablated to treat the dysrhythmia.
There is a need for cardiac mapping and ablation systems and procedures that can be easily deployed with a minimum of manipulation and effort.
There is also a need for systems and procedures that are capable of performing cardiac mapping in tandem with cardiac ablation. Such multipurpose systems must also be easily introduced into the heart. Once deployed, such multipurpose systems also must be capable of mapping and ablating with a minimum of manipulation and effort.

Systems using guide sheaths for introducing, deploying, and stabilizing cardiac mapping and ablation probes


A frame assembly for retaining a window panel in an aperture in a door. The frame assembly having a first frame member having a first outer face, a first window engaging surface, and a first door engaging surface, a second frame member having a second outer face, a second window engaging surface, and a second door engaging surface, a third frame member adapted to attach to the first outer face of the first frame member by a plurality of first screwless connectors, and a fourth frame member adapted to attach to the second outer face of the second frame member by a plurality of second screwless connectors. The first frame member is secured to the second frame member such that the window panel is held in the aperture between the first window engaging surface and the second window engaging surface and the door is held between the first door engaging surface and the second door engaging surface.

Doors, such as residential entry doors, may include a semi-transparent or fully transparent window panel, known as a door lite, positioned within an aperture in the door. To attach the window panel to the door and hold it within the aperture, a door lite frame is typically used. Typical door lite frames include two frame members or halves that are positioned on opposite sides of the window panel and fastened or otherwise interconnected to one another and to the door to secure the window panel to the door.


In a double beam spectrophotometer, a sample beam is irradiated to a large-sized sample in a substantially vertical direction, and the beam upwardly transmitted through the large-sized sample is reflected by a reflecting mirror and sent to an integrating sphere including a detector. A reference beam irradiated parallel to the sample beam is deflected by reflecting mirrors such that the reference beam goes around the large-sized sample, and guided to the integrating sphere. Thus, a holder is not required to correspond to a size or shape of the sample, and measurement position can be freely changed by moving the sample. Also, in case of utilizing a conventional standard sample chamber, movable reflecting mirrors are inserted in the optical paths to transfer the beams to the standard sample chamber.

The present invention relates to a double beam spectrophotometer which has two routes of optical paths for a sample side beam and a reference side beam.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic view showing an example of an optical path structure in a general double beam spectrophotometer which has been known conventionally. The spectrophotometer is provided for measuring an absorbance or transmittance of, for example, a liquid sample contained in a sample cell.
In FIG. 2, light irradiated from a light source 1 is introduced into a monochromator 2, wherein monochromatic light having a predetermined wavelength is taken out. The monochromatic light is sent to a sector mirror 4 by a reflecting mirror 3, and is alternately distributed by the sector mirror 4, which rotates on an axis A, into two directions, that is, a sample side and a reference side. In a standard sample chamber 11, there are provided a reference side cell 12 containing only a solvent or liquid, and a sample side cell 13 containing a sample solution. A reference side beam R reflected by the sector mirror 4 is irradiated to the reference side cell 12 through a reflecting mirror 5, and after the reference side beam R passes through the reference side cell 12, the beam is reflected and condensed by a condensing mirror 7 to be guided to a light receiving surface of a photodetector 10.
On the other hand, a sample side beam S which does not hit a reflecting mirror surface of the sector mirror 4 is irradiated to the sample side cell 13 through a reflecting mirror 6, and after the sample side beam S passes through the sample side cell 13, the beam is reflected and condensed by a condensing mirror 8, and further returned and reflected by a plane mirror 9 to be guided to the light receiving surface of the photodetector 10. Since the reference side transmitted beam Rxe2x80x2 which has passed through the reference side cell 12, and the sample side transmitted beam Sxe2x80x2 which has passed through the sample side cell 13, are guided alternately into the photodetector 10 in synchronism with a rotation of the sector mirror 4, the absorbance can be calculated by using a strength difference or strength ratio between the light receiving signals of both beams.
In the double beam spectrophotometer described above, since it is preferable to keep the symmetry between the sample side beam S and the reference side beam R as much as possible, optical paths of both beams S and R are normally set to be parallel to each other on the same horizontal plane. Also, in order to commonly use an accessary device, such as a sample chamber, with respect to various kinds of spectrophotometers sold by the same maker or manufacturer in a market, in the same maker, a clearance or separated distance d (normally around 100 mm to 200 mm) between the beams S and R is unified or standardized in many cases.
In the conventional optical path structure as described above, there is no problem in case the liquid sample accommodated in the sample cell with the predetermined size is measured. However, in case a solid sample, especially, a large-sized solid sample is measured, a clearance or separated distance d between the sample side beam S and the reference side beam R becomes a cause for limiting the size of the sample. Namely, a part of the large sample has to be cut into a measurable size. It is impossible to measure the large-sized sample which can not be cut as described above. In recent years, a size of a silicon wafer for a semiconductor or liquid crystal display plate, which is one of objects to be measured by the spectrophotometer of this type, has become larger rapidly, and the number of cases is increasing where the measurement can not be carried out in the standard sample chamber in which the separated distance d is set generally as described above.
Also, in the aforementioned conventional structure, since the beam passes through the sample in the horizontal direction, in order to set a sample with a thin shape, such as a silicon wafer or liquid crystal display plate, in the sample chamber, a holding mechanism for holding a sample vertically is necessary. This kind of the holding mechanism requires a cost, and setting thereof takes time and labor. Accordingly, in case the solid sample is measured, it is preferable to have a structure in which the sample can be placed horizontally.
The present invention has been made to solve the aforementioned problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a double beam spectrophotometer which can measure a solid sample with a large size in the condition that the sample is placed horizontally.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.
To achieve the aforementioned object, the present invention provides a double beam spectrophotometer using a sample side beam and a reference side beam, wherein the sample side beam is provided or irradiated from a lower surface or upper surface of the sample, and the sample side beam passing through or ejected from the upper surface or the lower surface of the sample is reflected by a reflection optical system to be guided to a detector disposed outside projecting surfaces in a vertical direction of the sample. Also, in the double beam spectrophotometer, the reference side beam advancing parallel to the sample side beam is reflected by a reflection optical system having one or plural reflecting surfaces such that the reference side beam passes around the sample, and the reference side beam is guided to the detector.
Namely, in this structure, the sample side beam and the reference side beam advance in a direction to respectively hit the lower surface or the upper surface of the sample. The sample side beam advances straight as it is to pass through the sample. On the other hand, the reference side beam is deflected right before the sample by the reflection optical system in the direction to perpendicularly or obliquely cross the sample side beam, and reaches the detector without hitting the sample.
Also, in the double beam spectrophotometer according to the invention, reflecting mirrors, which can be freely retreated, may be inserted in optical paths for the sample side beam and the reference side beam so that both beams are deflected, and also, another reflection optical system may be inserted if necessary. Then, both beams may be guided into a sample chamber on a premise that the sample side beam and the reference side beam are disposed parallel to each other on the same horizontal plane with a predetermined distance therebetween.


An optical module and a method for its used are provided. The optical module comprises: an image capturing device; an illuminating device; a position measurement unit and a processor configured to: a) identify objects included in at least one frame that has been captured by the image capturing device; b) determine expected position of the one or more identified objects based on data received from the position measurement unit; and c) control operation of the at least one illuminating device while capturing a new image, to illuminate only part of the field of view of the target being acquired by the at least one image capturing device, wherein the one or more identified objects are included.

In many cases, it is very important for the system being used to identify its own position and orientation in space. For a solid object, position and orientation have for example the following 6 Degrees Of Freedom ("DOF"): translation (x, y, z) and rotation (yaw, pitch, roll). These six DOF may be defined relatively to a first position measured in time (or relatively to earth by using GPS).
There are various methods that are designed to enable a system finding its own 6 DOF in time, while moving the system in order to find its 6 DOF. One such method is by using a camera for capturing sequential frames and then analyze the differences between the frames, in order to retrieve the camera shift that occurred between the frames taken and aggregate those shifts in order to determine a current position relative to the initial position.
Another option is to use an Inertial Measurement Unit ("IMU") which includes accelerometers, gyros and magnetic compass, in order to measure the system's movement. Moreover, it is possible to use a combination that comprises one or a few cameras and one or a few IMUs, in order to improve the accuracy of the position detection.
Various applications require the use of such systems. For example, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), in which a system is located on top of the user's head for measuring the movements of the user's head, where movements are defined as translation and/or rotation.
In the case of Augmented Reality, knowledge about the exact head position enables rendering an artificial object within the world around the user. In this scenario, one can mount a device on one's head, e.g. in the form of AR glasses, and the device would display an object onto the AR glasses. In order to simulate a real object in the world that remains at the same position, being independent of different head positions, the device requires the knowledge of the head position. If, for example, the head is turned to left, the augmented object should be moved to a right position from its previous location at the AR glasses, whereas if the head is turned to the right, the augmented object should be moved to a left position from its previous location at the AR glasses.
For the case of Virtual Reality, in order to avoid nausea and sickness, one should measure the head movement and render a virtual world relative to the head position, in a way that the world changes essentially according to the user's head movements.
Another example for such an application can be a 3D reconstruction, in which the user can scan an object from different angles and create a 3D model of the object from these scanning results. One can use a camera of a mobile phone or a drone in order to scan small or big objects. Knowing the exact camera position in such applications enables retrieving data from the different images obtained and aggregate it into one exact 3D model.
Under poor light conditions, the above-described systems can operate within the Infra-Red (IR) spectrum, by illuminating the environment with an IR projector that does not interfere with the human eye, yet enable an IR camera to view the environment, and the system to determine its position by analyzing the shift occurring between the frames captured by the IR camera. Using depth cameras is also common in such cases, because depth cameras may provide the exact 3D position of the respective objects in the world.
All of the above applications can be in the form of embedded solutions, where the power supply is a battery. In these cases of operating under a dark environment, where the IR projector might consume most of the battery power, reducing its power consumption is a factor that has a critical effect on the systems' ability to function for a long period of time.
The typical prior art solutions for this matter are either using RGB cameras having no projectors which do not function satisfactorily under poor light conditions, or using a projector while capturing all images, resulting in a high-power consumption. Still, in order to reduce power consumption in these systems, one may reduce the frame rate of the images being captured in the attempt to rely extensively on extracting the camera's position from IMU readings. Reducing the frame rate is required to allow increasing the integration time (per frame), in order to get reasonably decent signals under poor light conditions. This in turn leads to smeared images, and consequently reduction of SLAM precision and increase SLAM sensing latency.
The term "SLAM" as used herein stands for Simultaneous Localization and Mapping. Localization relates to finding the current camera position. Mapping refers to saving the positions of objects in a scene so that when one returns to the same scene, he/she would not have to scan the whole scene again and instead will be able to retrieve objects' location from a database (a map of the scene that was saved).
The present invention seeks to provide a solution that will reduce power consumption when operating under poor light conditions while overcoming the problems described above, thereby enabling such systems to operate for longer periods of time.

Optical module and a method for objects' tracking under poor light conditions


A solar simulator with at least one lamp module, where the luminous module contains multiple light generating units is disclosed. Each of the light generating units contain at least one semiconductor light source, which generate light in a plurality of separately controllable wavelength ranges. Disposed downstream from the light generating units is a light-concentrating primary optical unit. A light-homogenizing secondary optical unit is likewise disposed downstream of the light generating units. And an imaging tertiary optical unit is disposed downstream of the secondary optical unit. A method for operating the solar simulator and the light generating units in such a way that the solar simulator generates light radiation that alters over time is also disclosed.

Xenon flash lamps for testing solar cells are known. The use of xenon flash lamps has the disadvantage that a poor reproducibility of rapidly cyclic measurements arises since a capacitor charge influences a flash power. Moreover, the xenon flash lamps have only a short lamp lifetime in conjunction with high process costs and a high use of energy. Furthermore, the emitted spectrum is fixedly predetermined and cannot be tracked. Moreover, a high power is consumed in wavelength ranges in which solar cells are not active.

Solar simulator and method for operating a solar simulator


A computer-implemented method of down-sampling time series data for display is described. The method comprises a step of determining an absolute distance between a previous data point in the series and the present data point, and discarding the present data point if the determined absolute distance is less than a threshold value. The threshold value is dependent on a data value range for the time series data, and a size of a display area within which the time series data is to be displayed.

The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus and method for down-sampling time series data for display.
The advent of big data has resulted in massive amounts of time series data that may cover a wide period of time with a large number of measurements. Line series charts are commonly used to display time series data in an understandable manner.

International Business Machines Corporation


A disposable tissue removal device comprises a “tube within a tube” cutting element mounted to a handpiece. The inner cannula of the cutting element defines an inner lumen and terminates in an inwardly beveled, razor-sharp cutting edge. The inner cannula is driven by both a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. At the end of its stroke, the inner cannula makes contact with the cutting board to completely sever the tissue. An aspiration vacuum is applied to the inner lumen to aspirate excised tissue through the inner cannula and into a collection trap that is removably mounted to the handpiece. The rotary and reciprocating motors are hydraulically powered through a foot pedal operated hydraulic circuit. The entire biopsy device is configured to be disposable. In one embodiment, the cutting element includes a cannula hub that can be connected to a fluid source, such as a valve-controlled saline bag.

In the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, it is often necessary to remove multiple tissue samples from a suspicious mass. The suspicious mass is typically discovered during a preliminary examination involving visual examination, palpitation, X-ray, MRI, ultrasound imaging or other detection means. When this preliminary examination reveals a suspicious mass, the mass must be evaluated by taking a biopsy in order to determine whether the mass is malignant or benign. Early diagnosis of breast cancer, as well as other forms of cancer, can prevent the spread of cancerous cells to other parts of the body and ultimately prevent fatal results.
A biopsy can be performed by either an open procedure or a percutaneous method. The open surgical biopsy procedure first requires localization of the lesion by insertion of a wire loop, while using visualization technique, such as X-ray or ultrasound. Next, the patient is taken to a surgical room where a large incision is made in the breast, and the tissue surrounding the wire loop is removed. This procedure causes significant trauma to the breast tissue, often leaving disfiguring results and requiring considerable recovery time for the patient. This is often a deterrent to patients receiving the medical care they require. The open technique, as compared to the percutaneous method, presents increased risk of infection and bleeding at the sample site. Due to these disadvantages, percutaneous methods are often preferred.
Percutaneous biopsies have been performed using either Fine Needle Aspiration or core biopsy in conjunction with real-time visualization techniques, such as ultrasound or mammography (X-ray). Fine Needle Aspiration involves the removal of a small number of cells using an aspiration needle. A smear of the cells is then analyzed using cytology techniques. Although Fine Needle Aspiration is less intrusive, only a small amount of cells are available for analysis. In addition, this method does not provide for a pathological assessment of the tissue, which can provide a more complete assessment of the stage of the cancer, if found. In contrast, in core biopsy a larger fragment of tissue can be removed without destroying the structure of the tissue. Consequently, core biopsy samples can be analyzed using a more comprehensive histology technique, which indicates the stage of the cancer. In the case of small lesions, the entire mass may be removed using the core biopsy method. For these reasons core biopsy is preferred, and there has been a trend towards the core biopsy method, so that a more detailed picture can be constructed by pathology of the disease's progress and type
The first core biopsy devices were of the spring advanced, "Tru-Cut" style consisting of a hollow tube with a sharpened edge that was inserted into the breast to obtain a plug of tissue. This device presented several disadvantages. First, the device would sometimes fail to remove a sample, therefore, requiring additional insertions. This was generally due to tissue failing to prolapse into the sampling notch. Secondly, the device had to be inserted and withdrawn to obtain each sample, therefore, requiring several insertions in order to acquire sufficient tissue for pathology.
The biopsy apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,822 to Burbank, et al was designed in an attempt to solve many of these disadvantages. The Burbank apparatus is a biopsy device that requires only a single insertion into the biopsy site to remove multiple tissue samples. The device incorporates a tube within a tube design that includes an outer piercing needle having a sharpened distal end for piercing the tissue. The outer needle has a lateral opening forming a tissue receiving port. The device has an inner cannula slidingly disposed within the outer cannula, and which serves to cut tissue that has prolapsed into the tissue receiving port. Additionally, a vacuum is used to draw the tissue into the tissue receiving port.
Vacuum assisted core biopsy devices, such as the Burbank apparatus, are available in handheld (for use with ultrasound) and stereotactic (for use with X-ray) versions. Stereotactic devices are mounted to a stereotactic unit that locates the lesion and positions the needle for insertion. In preparation for a biopsy using a stereotactic device, the patient lies face down on a table, and the breast protrudes from an opening in the table. The breast is then compressed and immobilized by two mammography plates. The mammography plates create images that are communicated in real-time to the stereotactic unit. The stereotactic unit then signals the biopsy device and positions the device for insertion into the lesion by the operator.
In contrast, when using the handheld model, the breast is not immobilized. Rather the patient lies on her back and the doctor uses an ultrasound device to locate the lesion. The doctor must then simultaneously operate the handheld biopsy device and the ultrasound device.
Although the Burbank device presents an advancement in the field of biopsy devices, several disadvantages remain and further improvements are needed. For example, the inner cutter must be advanced manually, meaning the surgeon manually moves the cutter back and forth by lateral movement of a knob mounted on the outside of the instrument or by one of the three pedals at the footswitch. Also, the vacuum source that draws the tissue into the receiving port is typically supplied via a vacuum chamber attached to the outer cannula. The vacuum chamber defines at least one, usually multiple, communicating holes between the chamber and the outer cannula. These small holes often become clogged with blood and bodily fluids. The fluids occlude the holes and prevent the aspiration from drawing the tissue into the receiving port. This ultimately prevents a core from being obtained, a condition called a "dry tap."
In addition, many of the components of the current biopsy devices are reusable, such as the driver portions, which control the outer and inner needles. This poses several notable disadvantages. First, the reusable portion must be cleaned and/or sterilized. This increases the time necessary to wrap up the procedure, which ultimately affects the cost of the procedure. In addition, the required clean-up and/or sterilization of reusable parts increases the staffs' potential exposure to body tissues and fluids. Finally, the reusable handle is heavy, large and cumbersome for handheld use.
A further disadvantage is that current biopsy devices comprise an open system where the tissue discharge port is simply an open area of the device. A surgical assistant must remove the tissue from the open compartment using forceps and place the tissue on a sample plate. This ritual must be followed for every sample and, therefore, multiple operators are required. In addition, the open system increases the exposure to potentially infectious materials, and requires increased handling of the sample. As a practical matter, the open system also substantially increases the clean-up time and exposure, because a significant amount of blood and bodily fluid leaks from the device onto the floor and underlying equipment.
Additionally, when using the current biopsy devices, physicians have encountered significant difficulties severing the tissue. For instance, the inner cutter often fails to completely sever the tissue. When the inner cutting needle is withdrawn, no tissue sample is present (dry tap), and therefore, reinsertion is required. In the case of the Burbank apparatus, the failure to completely sever the tissue after the first advancement of the inner cutter results in a necessary second advancement of the inner cutter. In this event, the procedure is prolonged, which is significant because the amount of trauma to the tissue and, ultimately, to the patient is greatly affected by the length of the procedure. Therefore, it is in the patient's best interest to minimize the length of the procedure by making each and every attempt at cutting the tissue a successful and complete cut.
Additionally, when using the "tube within a tube" type biopsy device, the inner cutter can lift up into the tissue receiving opening during cutting. This lifting causes the inner cutter to catch on the edge of the tissue receiving opening, which ultimately results in an incomplete cut and dulling of the blade, rendering the blade useless.
Also, prior devices often produce small tissue samples. As the inner cutter advances, the cutting edge not only starts to sever the tissue, it also pushes the tissue in front of the cutter. This results in a tissue sample that is smaller than the amount of tissue drawn into the tissue receiving opening.
An additional disadvantage of the prior devices is presented by the complexity of the three-pedal footswitch. Prior devices utilized a three-pedal footswitch; one pedal for advancing the inner cannula, another pedal for retracting the inner cannula, and a third pedal for turning on the aspiration. Operation of the three pedals is difficult and awkward.
These disadvantages become even more significant when using the handheld biopsy device. For instance, the physician must operate the biopsy device and the ultrasound probe simultaneously making it particularly difficult to manually advance of the inner cutter. In addition, when an assistant is required to remove each sample from the open discharge pod, use of the handheld device becomes even more awkward. Due to these disadvantages, many physicians have declined to use the handheld models.
This is unfortunate because, some lesions that can signify the possible presence of cancer cannot be seen using the stereotactic unit. In these cases, the doctor must resort to either the handheld device or open surgical biopsy. Due to the difficulties associated with the handheld device, doctors often choose the open surgical biopsy, which is particularly unfortunate because a majority of the lesions that cannot be seen using the stereotactic unit turn out to be benign. This means that the patient has unnecessarily endured a significant amount of pain and discomfort; not to mention extended recovery time and disfiguring results. In addition, the patient has likely incurred a greater financial expense because the open surgical technique is more difficult, time consuming and costly, especially for those patient without health insurance.
The disadvantages of the open surgical technique coupled with the odds that the lesion is benign present a disincentive for the patient to consent to the biopsy. The added discomfort alone is enough to cause many patients to take the risk that the lesion is benign. The acceptance of this risk can prove to be fatal for the minority of cases where the lesion is malignant.
Finally, current vacuum assisted biopsy devices are not capable of being used in conjunction with MRI. This is due to the fact that many of the components are made of magnetic components that interfere with the operation of the MRI. It would be desirable to perform biopsies in conjunction with MRI because it currently is the only non-invasive visualization modality capable of defining the margins of the tumor.
In light of the foregoing disadvantages, a need remains for a tissue removal device that reliably applies a vacuum without becoming plugged with blood and bodily fluids. A need also remains for a tissue removal device that is entirely disposable so that both exposure to bio-hazard and clean-up time are significantly minimized, while convenience is maximized. A further need remains for a tissue removal device that completely severs the maximum amount of tissue without requiring numerous attempts at cutting the tissue. A need also remains for a tissue removal device that is MRI compatible. Finally, a need remains for a biopsy tissue removal device that is completely automated, therefore making the handheld biopsy device a more efficient and attractive option.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A watch includes a quartz-controlled electronic drive circuit for the control of the clockwork mechanism of a pointer-driving system for analog display of the time of day, and a digital read-out unit and control circuit for the display of additional data such as month, day of the month, day of the week, and the like. A synchronizing unit is located between the analog and digital systems to provide a synchronous link between the time of the day and the digitally displayed data. This synchronizing unit is coupled with the pointer-driving clockwork mechanism and generates a synchronizing pulse which is derived from the clockwork, preferably at a rate of one pulse per 24 hours. The synchronizing pulse is fed into the display control circuit to synchronously advance the digital read-out of the month, day of the month and day of the week, for example.

The present invention relates to an electronic clock, and more particularly to a battery-powered quartz crystal wrist watch having a quartz oscillator circuit and a frequency divider circuit for supplying control pulses to a pointer-driving clockwork mechanism for the analog indication of at least hours and minutes. The wrist watch to which the present invention pertains also includes an electronic digital display unit, for the display of additional data such as month, day of the month, day of the week and the like, a display control circuit for driving the digital display unit, and manually operated positioning devices for setting or correcting the analog and digital displays.
British Pat. No. 1,462,898 discloses a clock of the previously mentioned type wherein the pointer-driving system, which operates one hour and one minute hand, and the digital display unit, which displays additional data such as month and day of the month, are each controlled by pulses which are derived from a frequency divider. This arrangement has a disadvantage in that each display system must be individually set or corrected because a manual adjustment of the pointer-driving clockwork mechanism does not result in a simultaneous adjustment of the digital read-out system.

Electronic clock having synchronized analog and digital displays


The invention relates to a measuring system, especially for display devices in the automobile technology, with at least one first and one second separately actuated control, as well as a first and second driven shaft (17, 19) which can be rotationally fixed to a display element. The second driven shaft (19) of the second control is co-axially driven by the driven shaft (17) which is designed as a hollow shaft in the first control and the second driven shaft (19) protrudes above the end of the first driven shaft (17).

The subject invention is directed to the art of measuring systems and, more particularly, to display devices such as gauges or the like for visual presentation of associated parameters.
Measuring systems including gauges of the type under consideration are commonly used in the automotive arts to display associated parameters derived from a motor vehicle such as, for example, vehicle speed, engine rotational speed in revolutions per minute, fuel gauge indicia, and other parameters. Typical analog display instruments include a movable indicator needle that is operated by means of an underlying control mechanism such as, for example, a stepping motor or a rotor coil. The indicator needle typically extends adjacent a graduated scale providing indicia of the value range of the parameters of interest. The rotor coil or stepping motor in the underlying measuring system control actuates motion of the movable indicator needle relative to the graduated scale for a representation of the subject parameter.
In many known display systems, separate measuring systems are typically used for the display of each individual parameter. Each separate measuring system includes a set of connection contacts for supplying the respective signals to the measuring system from the corresponding parameters. Also, each measuring system typically includes a separate driven shaft provided in a housing or the like of the measuring system. The driven shaft is typically connected with an indicator needle which is moved relative to a graduated scale in a manner described above.
One problem arises, however, with respect to combination instruments of the type described above. Frequently, the desire to place the required number of measuring systems within the housing of a single combined gauge or instrument presents a space constraint problem. Often, it is desired to arrange the analog displays in close proximity to each other. However, the measuring systems that drive the analog displays often restrict the ability to do so.
One solution to the above problem consists of providing two or more measuring systems with corresponding controls in a single housing together with the use of gears or the like to effect the transfer of rotary motion between an output shaft of the measuring system and the one or more indicator needles. This solution facilitates a more remote arrangement between the respective measuring systems and the controls. Both of these solutions, however, are often costly and are therefore expensive to implement.
It is therefore desirable to provide a measuring system such as an automotive gauge system or the like that is inexpensive, occupies a small space, and has the ability of displaying the status of at least two monitored parameters simultaneously.
The subject invention provides a compact dual integrated gauge system for visual display of at least two associated parameters simultaneously. The gauge system includes first and second intermateable independently operable control devices. The first control device includes a first housing and a first hollow driven shaft extending from the first housing. The second control device includes a second housing and a second driven shaft extending from the second housing. The second driven shaft extends coaxially through the first hollow driven shaft thereby realizing the smallest possible overall construction dimensions of the subject measuring system.
The coaxial arrangement of the two driven shafts extending from two respectively independently actuatable controls enables analog display of at least two parameters within an extremely small area. The present invention conserves on space both with respect to the display elements or the display scales as well as with respect to the measuring system.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the measuring system includes at least two separate housings, each of which including a control and a driven shaft. At least one of the driven shafts includes a hollow opening so that the two separate housings can be assembled into a single measuring system in a stacked relationship with the hollow driven shaft of a first individual measuring system being penetrated by the driven shaft of the other individual measuring system. The inner driven shaft is coaxially received in the outer driven shaft with the free end of the inner shaft extending beyond the free end of the outer shaft for ready attachment to a display needle or the like.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the two measuring system are substantially identically formed except for the driven shafts and the related components or areas influenced by the shafts. This arrangement is conducive to high volume industrial production resulting in significant cost savings.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a guide sleeve is disposed on the housing of the second individual measuring system. The guide sleeve supports the second driven shaft of the second individual measuring system. Further, the guide sleeve protects the second driven shaft from movement or the like that may occur in the first hollow driven shaft or the first measuring system.
Similarly, in accordance with another aspect of the invention, a positioning collar is provided at the housing of the first individual measuring system. The positioning collar surrounds and supports the first hollow driven shaft. In addition, the positioning collar provides an installation aid for guiding the first and second driven shafts into a hole or the like of an associated installation component such as a support member or a conductor plate for mounting the assembled subject measuring system in an installed position.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention, the first and second individual measuring systems include electrical connection contacts extending from the first and second housings thereof, respectively. The first individual measuring system includes a first set of electrical contacts extending from the first housing. Similarly, the second individual measuring system includes a second set of electrical connection contacts extending from the second housing. The second set of electrical contacts have a height sufficient to extend in a first direction beyond the first housing and substantially adjacent to the first set of electrical connection contacts when the first and second individual measuring systems are arranged in the preferred stacked relationship to form the assembled subject measuring system. The size and orientation of the sets of electrical connection contacts in this fashion enables electrical connection to the overall measuring system from one side thereof.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a locking means is provided to enable the selective stacked joining of the first and second individual measuring systems to form the subject dual integrated gauge system.
In addition to the above, the individual measuring systems of the present invention can be connected by means of screws, application of pressure, or the like. In addition, the present invention contemplates initially joining the two individual measuring systems by simply inserting the two driven shafts into each other and then connecting the combination of the two individual measuring systems via screws, holding clamps, or the like to an associated assembly component such as, for example, an associated conductor plate of a combination instrument. In this arrangement, one or more connection contacts of the individual measuring system can penetrate the housing of the other individual measuring system and thereby fix the relative position between the measuring systems.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a support member is further provided having separate retaining recesses adapted to receive the first and second individual measuring systems. A guide sleeve is preferably provided at the second individual measuring system for penetrating the support member and engaging the first individual measuring system through the support component. This advantageously results in the benefit that the second individual measuring system is fixed in place relative to the support member by means of the guide sleeve which concurrently serves as a support mechanism for the hollow second driven shaft.
In accordance with yet still a further alternative form of the invention, the support member is eliminated and the guide sleeve of the second individual measuring system is used to engage and support the hollow driven shaft of the first individual measuring system. In addition, the guide sleeve is selectively adapted to provide a means of retaining the individual measuring systems in their relative stacked relationship by means of an appropriate passage aperture provided in the housing of the first individual measuring system.
In a yet further aspect of the invention, the support element includes a locking area for engaging first and second locking means provided on the first and second housing members, respectively. The locking area holds the first and second measuring systems in place relative to the support element. This results in a simple installation of the subject measuring system.
In addition, the support element is further provided with connection means adapted to cooperate with corresponding connection means provided on an associated installation element for fastening and retaining the subject measuring system thereto. These connection means can be formed as locking members, screw connections, crimping connections including assembly pins penetrating the assembly element with pin ends twisted under pressure, or the like.
Still other aspects, advantages, and benefits the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed description.

Dual integrated gauge system for simultaneous visual display of at least two associated parameters

TRW Automotive Electronics and Components GmbH and Co. KG

deceasedby Margit Sauter nxc3xa9e Schwaderer