A portable, self-contained visitor identification system comprising a first camera for recording a first image and a second camera for recording a second image from a piece of identification and a recording device connected to the first video camera and the second video camera for alternatively recording the first image and the second image. A switching mechanism switches the video recording device to record the first image from the first video camera, to subsequently record the second image from the second video camera and then to record the image of the first video camera.

Video identification systems with video monitoring and/or video recording have been developed in the past. However, for one reason or another, most previously suggested systems have met with limited success either due to their high cost and complexity. For example, some prior art systems required users to keep video records for each camera or device when only one complete record is desired. In addition, several VISs incorporate video identification recording devices such as palm readers, bar scanner, and magnetic strip readers as a means for gathering and recording additional information making the need for a single combined record even more essential and desirable. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,118 to Lafreniere describes a system equipped with a video imager capable of taking a still picture of a person's face with one camera and a still picture of a person's palm and a piece of identification with another camera and recording them for retrieval purposes later. Other patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,189 to Feix et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,634 to Williams, disclose speech recognition devices and badge scanners for recording additional personal information and storing the same for retrieval and archival purposes. Still other patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,644 to Maeno and U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,522 to Lambert incorporate elaborate comparators, video identifiers and the like for authorizing access to secured areas and/or detecting unwanted intruders.
For the most part, the prior art inventions are overly complex and record either too much information, too little information or record the information on separate recording devices or on different records and formats making retrieval overly burdensome and slow. In addition and primarily due to their many components and bulky features, most of the prior systems have to be permanently installed at a specific area making portability of the unit difficult and in some instances entirely impracticable. So far as is known, none of the prior art devices disclose a portable VIS wherein a first camera monitors and records a first image until a second camera is activated upon the happening of an event. Nor is there known a system wherein a second camera then records a person's personal indicia on the same record and then switches back to the first camera for continued monitoring and recording.


Systems, devices, and methods for establishing a secure session for the transmission of data from an input device to a remote server device is disclosed. The input device may be an electronic check scanner attached to a banking customer's home personal computer. The customer may visit a bank's Internet website using the web browser or other application on their personal computer, and then submit scanned images of check to the bank. The bank, however, to ensure security and prevent fraud, may wish to establish a secure session between the devices and components in the system before the image data may be scanned and transmitted.

A new banking law, the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act ("Check 21 Act"), took effect in October 2004. The Check 21 Act permits banks and institutions to substitute a paper check with a substitute check bearing a reprint of an electronic image of the check to create a legally binding transaction. The Check 21 Act also created an environment where banks and their customers could exchange check images in lieu of paper checks to negotiate payments and deposits. Prior to the enactment of the Check 21 Act, financial institutions and businesses were required to collect, bundle, and submit paper checks to the respective issuing banks at the end of the business day. In some instances a financial institution were required to make multiple courier runs each day to submit collected paper checks to a check processing facility. This process was time-consuming, inefficient, and cost-ineffective.
In some instances a check processing facility provided financial institutions and/or businesses with computer software. The computer software was installed on a computer located at the financial institution or business and was used to transmit images of paper checks to a remote server with large data storage capabilities. Under this arrangement, the financial institutions and businesses have to deal with the added step of installing and updating the software on their computers whenever a new version of the software is released. Moreover, the software creates a heavy memory footprint on the computer.
Furthermore, in an effort to reduce the support costs and heavy memory footprint of fat-client software required to be present on a computer's hard drive, check image submission software has also been provided through an Internet web browser. In such a thin-client configuration, the functionality of the submission software is provided to the user through an Internet web browser, but the software code resides on a sever computer at a remote location. Once a user authenticates himself/herself using the web browser interface, the user can submit check images and check image data to a remote banking webserver through the web browser. A thin-client configuration results in a smaller memory footprint on a client computer. Also, a thin-client configuration alleviates the added step of individually installing fat-client software on computers located at the financial institutions and businesses. However, in industries such as banking where security is of a major importance, a thin-client configuration poses some security risks.
Since the aforementioned configuration permits any authorized user to access online banking functionality from any Internet-accessible computer with a web browser, there is a need in the art to provide systems and methods with added security to the sensitive banking data being transmitted.


In a photographic apparatus (1), there are included a housing (11) consisting of a pair of side panels (13, 14) and a top panel (15) provided contiguously to the side panels (13, 14) in pair, these panels defining together a photo compartment (16) in the housing (11), a photographic unit (17) provided at the rear side of the housing (11) to take a picture of an object person inside the photo compartment (16), printers (18, 19) installed to the housing (11) to print an image of the object person, captured by the photographic unit (17), onto a photographic paper and eject the photographic paper having the object image printed thereon to a photo outlet (38), and a curtain (33) provided, by hanging, on the top panel (15) at the front side, opposite to the rear side, of the housing (11) to face the photographic unit (17). One (13) of the side panels (13, 14) is formed narrower than the other (14). The housing (11) is generally flush, at the bottom thereof, with the floor surface. The area extending from the front end of the housing (11) to that of the narrower side panel (13) is an entrance (23) for the object person entering the photo chamber (16). Because of this wide entrance (23), even a person sitting on a wheelchair or using any other aid can easily enter the photo compartment (16) for photography.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a conventional photographic, generally indicated with a reference number 100, for an identification picture. As shown, the photographic apparatus 100 consists of a generally rectangular housing 101 having a photo compartment 102 defined therein. The housing 101 has built therein a photographic unit 103 to take a picture of a person as an object (will be referred to as "object person" hereinafter) having entered the photo compartment 102, and a printer 104 to print out a picture taken by the photographic unit 103.
Also, the housing 101 has an entrance 105 for access to inside the photo compartment 102. The entrance 105 is provided with a shade curtain 106. The photo compartment 102 has provided therein a chair 107 on which an object person sits. In addition, the photographic apparatus 100 has provided therein an illuminating device 109 to illuminate the object person. Also, a coin slot and safe (not shown), etc., are provided in the photographic apparatus 100.
When an object person enters the photo compartment 102 of the photographic apparatus 100 through the entrance 105 and sits down on the chair 107, the photographic unit 103 is ready for taking a picture of the object person. Then, a flash photography is made of the object person sitting on the chair 107 and the printer 104 prints out the captured image data.
In the field of medicine, however, medical personnel such as a doctor, nurse or the like has to identify each of their patients by a medical record, registration card or the like of the patient. On this account, a facial portrait is attached on such a medical record or registration card to prevent the medical personnel from mixing up their patients and taking a wrong procedure to the patient in question. The photographic apparatus 100 is used to make a facial portrait which is to be attached on the medical record or registration card.
Patients include ones needing a wheelchair or axillary crutches to move. The aforementioned conventional photographic apparatus 100 cannot be said to be suitable for such patients. That is, there is a step 108 between the entrance 105 and a floor surface 110 on which the apparatus 100 is installed, and the entrance 105 is designed as narrow as possible to minimize external light coming into the photo compartment 102. A patient using a wheelchair or axillary crutches cannot easily enter the photo compartment 102 because the step 108 and narrow entrance 105 will be obstacles to such a patient.
Also, since the chair 107 is provided in the photo compartment 102 of the conventional photographic apparatus 100, a patient on a wheelchair has to move himself or herself from the wheelchair to the chair 107, which is very hard for the patient. Also, since the photo compartment 102 of the photographic apparatus 100 is designed to have only a necessary space for shooting a person sitting on the chair 107, it is hard for the attendant of such a handicapped patient to go along with the patient into the photo compartment 102 for assisting the patient during photography and operating the photographic unit 103 for the patient.


A method for the synthesis of micron- and submicron-sized, nanostructured metal carbide powders, comprising high energy milling of metal oxide and carbon precursors followed by annealing of the as-milled powders. The annealing is preferably carried out under a flow of inert gas or subatmospheric pressure to drive the reaction to completion in one to two hours. The powders thus synthesized comprise high purity particles having a narrow particle size range.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to carbide powders. In particular, this invention relates to a method for synthesizing micron- and submicron-sized, high purity, high surface area, nanostructured carbide powders from oxides using a high energy milling step.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Micron-, submicron-, and nanosized carbide powders are important materials for engineering applications. As used herein, "micron-sized" powders refers to powder particles wherein the mean particle size is equal to or greater than about 1.0 micron. "Submicron-sized" powders refers to powder particles wherein the mean particle size is in the range from about 0.1 to about 1.0 microns. "Nanosized" powders refers to powder particles wherein the mean particle size is less than about 0.1 micron (about 100 nm). In certain instances, micron- and submicron-sized particles comprise many nanosized crystalline grains rather than a single, large grain. In these cases, the particles are referred to as "micron- and/or submicron-sized particles with nanostructures" or "micron- and/or submicron-sized, nanostructured particles". Nanosized and micron- and/or submicron-sized, nanostructured particles have a high fraction of atoms located at the grain boundaries of the particle. Such materials accordingly have different, and often advantageous properties compared to conventional particles having the same chemical compositions.
Currently, the primary process for the production of micron- and submicron-sized carbide powders is high-temperature, carbothermic reduction of the corresponding oxides by carbon powders. For example, most industrial silicon carbide (SiC) powders are manufactured via the Acheson process through carbothermic reduction of silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2) by carbon powder at temperatures up to 2000-2300.degree. C. for 30 hours. A carbothermic method based on reduction of one or more metal oxides reacted with a binder material and a source of carbon is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,839 to Bachelard et al. Similarly, as described in UK Patent No. 811,906 (issued in 1959), industrial titanium carbide (TiC) powders are produced through reduction of titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) by carbon at temperatures ranging from 1700 to 2100.degree. C. for 10-20 hours. U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,952 to Rasit et al. discloses carbothermic reduction of a titanium precursor after pyrolytic deposition of the titanium.
Advantages of using high-temperature carbothermic reduction for the production of carbides include low cost of the oxide raw materials, and ease in scale-up for tonnage-level production. However, the final products have a wide range of particle sizes, and moreover are normally larger than one micron, due to high reaction temperatures and long reaction times. Milling after carbothermic reduction is required. Undesirable inhomogeneities are also frequently found in the stationary reaction mix. These inhomogeneities are due to diffusion gradients established during the reduction reaction, and require extensive milling and purification procedures in order to convert the as-synthesized products into high quality, sinterable powders. The SiC powder produced by the Acheson process, for example, has a large grain size and is contaminated with oxygen. Accordingly, there remains a need for a method whereby homogenous carbide powders may be produced having a controlled and uniform size, without extensive milling and purification procedures.

Sinterable carbides from oxides using high energy milling


Method and apparatus for reducing dehydration during freezing of foodstuffs utilizing a combination of cryogenic freezing to lock in moisture followed by vaporized cryogen assisted mechanical freezing to through freeze other foodstuff.

Attempts have been made in the past to combine use of a cryogenic freezing process prior to mechanical refrigeration to freeze food products. The so called hybrid systems boost overall production, reduce dehydration to some extent, but increase the freezing costs. In order to use a hybrid system attempts have been made to utilize the vaporizing cryogen in the mechanical refrigeration system to enhance the mechanical refrigerator. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,856,285 and 4,858,445 disclose and claim devices to utilize vaporized cryogen by heat exchanging the vaporizing cryogen against the atmosphere in the mechanical refrigeration unit by means of a separate heat exchanger. Such devices require extensive equipment and the heat transfer is not as effective as could be accomplished with a direct heat exchange.

Cryo-mechanical system for reducing dehydration during freezing of foodstuffs


An engine fuel injection system is provided, wherein pumping maximum possible fuel required by the engine and by-passing excess fuel not used by the engine are eliminated, the speed of the variable speed electric fuel pump for the system being controlled so as to pump only the quantity of fuel required to operate the engine under certain sensed engine and/or ambient operating conditions, such control being provided by a fuel pressure sensor/electronic pump motor speed control.

The cars, trucks and other vehicles driven by gasoline fuel internal combustion engines today are designed with an on-board computer to electronically control the various systems and devices contained in these vehicles.
As is well-known in the art, the basic components of a typical prior art electronically-controlled fuel metering system in such vehicles are generally as follows:
1. a fuel tank; PA1 2. an electric fuel pump, often mounted in the fuel tank; PA1 3. a pressure regulator for maintaining the pressure of the fuel supplied by the pump at a required constant pressure; PA1 4. sensors appropriately mounted on the engine or vehicle, each producing an electrical signal representative of the various conditions under which the engine must operate, in accordance with which the quantity of fuel supplied to the engine is to be controlled; PA1 5. a solenoid-operated or other suitable electrically-controlled fuel injector(s) for supplying a metered quantity of pressure-regulated fuel to the engine fuel induction system or to the individual engine cylinders; PA1 6. an electronic control unit for receiving, as inputs thereto, the electric signals generated by the sensors and producing, as the output therefrom, a single integrated electrical signal for controlling the injector(s); PA1 7. a direct current electrical power source, such as a battery and/or an alternator; PA1 8. appropriate electrical switches and conductors (electrical circuit) connecting the electrical/electronic components (electrical circuit) of the system; and PA1 9. appropriate fuel conduits connecting the fuel components (hydraulic circuit) of the system. PA1 a. Substantial energy (gasoline to provide the required power) is being wasted pumping fuel, to approximately 30-40 psi, and consuming very little (about 20%) of the total pumped fuel. PA1 b. Vapor is being churned out of the fuel, which also requires energy and reduces fuel economy. PA1 c. Pumping any fluid to high pressure creates heat that must be dissipated somehow. This is specially true in gasoline engines where the injectors are designed to and must meter liquid fuel, rather than fuel vapors. It is understood that various automotive vehicle manufacturers and others are going to the expense of trying to develop ways to dissipate this heat to cure well known vapor and other hot fuel handling problems.
The fuel pump component of current state of the art systems is typically a positive displacement electric pump activated by turning the vehicle ignition switch to the ON position and designed to constantly supply the maximum quantity of fuel that will be required by the engine under the most severe conditions of speed, load, low ambient temperatures, etc., with all other power-demanding systems (air conditioning, heater, radio, lights, windshield wipers, etc.) operating.
However, since much more than 50% (possibly as much as 90%) of normal vehicle operation requires only a very small portion (possibly about 20%) of the above-mentioned constant, total, maximum-required fuel pump output, it is necessary to by-pass the excess fuel (pumped to 30-40 psi) not required by the engine during most normal operating conditions back to the fuel tank or to sump pressure, through a by-pass conduit that normally carries a much greater volume of fuel than the conduit carrying fuel to be consumed in the engine cylinders. Obviously, total pumped fuel equals consumed fuel plus by-passed fuel.
Such fuel by-pass systems, especially where the by-passed fuel greatly exceeds the consumed fuel, creates and experiences serious inherent problems, such as the following, for example:

Internal combustion engine fuel injection apparatus and system


In one general embodiment, a magnetic head includes an inner module comprising an array of data writers; and first and second outer modules flanking the inner module. The outer modules are identical, each outer module comprising an array of data readers. A number of active data readers in each outer module is less than a number of active data writers in the inner module. For the first outer module, one of the active data readers is aliened with one of the data writers positioned towards a first end of the inner module array in the direction generally parallel to the path of tape travel thereacross. For the second outer module, one of the active data readers is aligned with one of the data writers positioned towards a second end of the inner module array in the direction generally parallel to the path of tape travel thereacross.

The present invention relates to magnetic head structures, and more particularly, this invention relates to a magnetic head structure having asymmetric channel arrays.
Business, science and entertainment applications depend upon computing systems to process and record data, often with large volumes of the data being stored or transferred to nonvolatile storage media, such as magnetic discs, magnetic tape cartridges, optical disk cartridges, floppy diskettes, or floptical diskettes. Typically, magnetic tape is the most economical and convenient means of storing or archiving the data. Storage technology is continually pushed to increase storage capacity and storage reliability. Improvement in data storage densities in magnetic storage media, for example, has resulted from improved medium materials, improved error correction techniques and decreased areal bit sizes. The data capacity of half-inch magnetic tape, for example, is now measured in hundreds of gigabytes on 896 or more data tracks.

Multi-channel tape head having asymmetric channel arrays

International Business Machines Corporation


A guide bar assembly (10) for use in a T-slot (20) of a woodworking table (22). The assembly includes a top member (12) slidably disposed on a bottom member (14). The top and bottom members include cooperating pairs of wedge shapes (24) that cause a change in width (W) of the assembly in response to relative longitudinal (L) movement between the top and bottom members. Contacting angled side surfaces (30, 32) of the male and female wedge members (26, 28) provide area contact between the top and bottom members that functions to maintain the top and bottom members parallel during tightening of the fasteners (34) used to lock the assembly at a desired width.

High quality woodworking with safe operation requires the ability to maintain very close tolerances. Woodworking power tools such as table saws are known to include a straight groove or slot, known as a miter slot or a T-slot (referring to its common cross-sectional shape), for slidably receiving a guide bar. The guide bar moves within the T-slot to guide a work piece through a cutting tool, such as a saw blade, in a precise linear direction parallel to a desired cut line. Any gap between the width of the guide bar and the width of the slot allows for some undesirable horizontal and angular movement of the guide bar and the guided work piece as it is moved through the cutting tool.
The width of a T-slot has a nominal dimension, for example 750 mils on many table saws, but that dimension may vary by as much as 2-10 mils for any given table due to manufacturing tolerances. Such variation can create an unacceptable amount of positional uncertainty during woodworking operations. There is an ongoing effort in the woodworking industry to develop guide bars that can accommodate such variations in the slot width in order to minimize any gap between the width of the guide bar and the width of the slot. For example:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,601 issued on 24 Mar. 1992 describes the use of a plurality of set screws that can be rotated to project from the sides of the guide bar to span the gap between the guide bar and the slot, thereby ensuring a tight fit between the guide bar and the slot. Adjustment of the set screws prior to inserting the device into the slot requires a trial and error approach, or alternatively, adjustment of the set screws when the device is in the slot is difficult due to their horizontal orientation and limited access to the set screws.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,074 issued on 4 Jan. 1994 describes the use of a plurality of wedging members to spread apart sections of the guide bar side walls to ensure engagement with the adjoining slot walls. The wedging members are controlled by screws which can be accessed conveniently from above the slot. However, localized deformation of the guide bar side walls does not provide a uniform fit of the guide bar along the full length of the guide bar within the slot.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,581 issued on 4 Apr. 1995 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,492 issued 7 Jan. 2003 describe two-piece guide bar assembly designs wherein top and bottom members can be horizontally displaced relative to each other to expand the overall width of the device to obtain a uniform fit within the slot. In the '581 patent, the top and bottom members are urged apart by small springs to expand the device within the slot.

Adjustable guide bar for woodworking table slot


A liquid crystal projection panel construction and a method of making it includes securing an interference color filter member and a lenticular lenslet array plate to a high resolution display panel to produce a bright, full color high resolution image. The panel construction is small in size, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

There have been many types and kinds of projection systems for projecting bright full color images onto a remote viewing surface. One such system utilizes three liquid crystal display panels to generate red, green, and blue monochromatic images. Each liquid crystal display has an associated color dye or pigment filter to produce each of the monochromatic images.
While such a system provides an adequate full color image, the system is relatively large in size. Thus, a bulky housing must be employed to accommodate the three liquid crystal displays so constructed and arranged for combining the monochromatic images. Furthermore, such a system is relatively expensive to manufacture, since three liquid crystal displays are employed. Thus, it is desirable to have a full color panel construction which is extremely compact in size and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, at the same time, such a panel construction should be capable of projecting bright full color images.
To reduce the size and expense of a full color projection panel construction, systems have been devised which utilize a single active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD). The AMLCD is comprised of a large number of monochromatic sub-pixels arranged in a triad or stripe arrangement, wherein each triad or group of three stripes forms a single full color pixel element. To produce the monochromatic sub-pixels, color dye or pigment filters are attached or deposited on the AMLCD to absorb unwanted wavelengths of light. One dye or pigment filter for each sub-pixel is required to achieve the triad or stripe full color pixel.
Although such a single panel construction has been successful in producing full color projected images, the size and efficiency of the AMLCD panel has been constricted by the physical limitations of the dye or pigment filters. In this regard, the dye or pigment filter functions by absorbing unwanted wavelengths of light and permitting a desired wavelength to pass therethrough. To accomplish this, the filters must have certain physical attributes, such as the proper thickness to absorb completely the unwanted wavelengths of light. Thus, the thickness of the filter limits the acceptable thickness of the combination of the AMLCD and the filter.
In addition to the size limitations of the dye or pigment filter, the inefficiency of the filter also detracts from its overall suitability. The absorption of unwanted wavelengths of light generates heat within the dye or pigment filter, adversely affecting its ability to absorb light. Such heat can be transmitted to the AMLCD, thereby affecting adversely the proper operation of the AMLCD which contains a heat sensitive liquid crystal material. Furthermore, dye or pigment filters are relatively hard to etch or deposit on glass during fabrication.
Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have a new and improved projection panel construction, which is relatively small in size, and yet highly efficient to produce bright full color images. Such a construction should be relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
In addition to the foregoing desirable characteristics, it would be further desirable to have such a panel construction, which can produce a high resolution image, and which at the same time can be relatively small in size.
A problem in reducing the overall size of such a panel construction has been the reduction of the pixel element aperture ratio. The aperture ratio refers to the actual area of the thin film transistor layer deposited on the AMLCD which activates the liquid crystal to modulate light passing therethrough relative to the area which does not activate the liquid crystal. The area of the thin film transistor layer which does not activate the liquid crystal is comprised of electrical circuit elements to transmit signals to the area which does activate the liquid crystal. As pixel density increases, which occurs when the size of the AMLCD is reduced, the activating area is reduced substantially in proportion to the non-activating area, thus the decrease in aperture ratio.
The reduction of the aperture ratio results in a reduction of the transmissivity of the AMLCD panel. Lower transmissivity detrimentally affects the brightness of the projected full color image. Also, cross talk can occur between the pixel elements. Thus, the image can appear to be degraded in quality.
Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have a new and improved panel construction, which is extremely compact in size, having a high density of pixel elements to produce a high resolution image. Also, such a projected image should be a bright full color image. Additionally, such a panel construction should be relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Liquid crystal projection panel construction and method of making same


A method of assigning a buffer size in a video decoder includes the step of establishing a first buffer size for a scalable buffer. A video data stream is then processed with the scalable buffer configured to the first buffer size. A second buffer size is then selected for the scalable buffer. The video stream is then processed with the scalable buffer configured to the second buffer size. Memory utilization data characterizing memory performance during processing with the scalable buffer at the first buffer size and the second buffer size is then created. Afterwards, a buffer size is assigned for the scalable buffer in accordance with the memory utilization data.

Digital image video devices (e.g., high definition television, digital video recorders, cameras, and conference systems) have data rate or bandwidth limitations. A digital image video recording creates an enormous amount of digital data. To accommodate digital image video device bandwidth limitations, and deliver digital data at increased transmission speeds, digital image data is compressed, or encoded, before being transmitted or stored. A compressed digital video image is decompressed, or decoded, prior to its display. Examples of widely used compression techniques ("standards-based") are those that comply with the Moving Pictures Experts Group ("MPEG") and Joint Pictures Experts Group ("JPEG") standards.
Decoding encoded image data is computationally intensive and is associated with a heavily pipelined data-path where vast amounts of data move through a processor. The decoding process may be performed with a dedicated hardware decoder or it may be performed on a general purpose computer. The present invention is applicable to both types of decoders. However, by way of example, the present invention is disclosed in the context of a decoder implemented on a general purpose computer.
A number of advanced processor instruction sets (e.g., Sun SPARC VIS, sold by Sun Microsystems, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif.) have been introduced for use in general purpose computers. These advanced processor instruction sets optimize the computational aspects of standards-based video decoding. However, there is still a need for a standards-based video decoder design that optimizes the heavily pipelined data-path aspects of the video decoder's underlying memory system. CPU performance is directly related to the time the CPU spends in executing a program and the time that the CPU waits for the memory system. By reducing memory system access times, CPU performance can be enhanced.
An optimized decoder design involves several challenges. The design must consider effects that its implementation can have on performance aspects of the decoder's underlying memory system. For example, to facilitate rapid access to data and instructions, a general purpose CPU typically uses a Data Cache ("D-cache") and a separate Instruction Cache ("I-cache"). Cache use is optimized when required data and instructions are located in a respective cache. CPU stall-cycles come primarily from cache misses (a cache miss occurs when the necessary data or instructions are not in a cache). To optimize cache use and increase overall processor performance, a video decoder should design its data-path both in a way that cache misses are minimized and caches are not underutilized.
Most existing cache use optimization schemes are optimized for a particular platform. Thus, a single cache use optimization scheme is not readily ported to different computer architectures.
Designers often need to make difficult cache use design tradeoffs to design a video decoder that is portable across several architectures. These tradeoffs involve balancing cache use factors that cannot all be maximized at the same time. The results of implementing these design tradeoffs are unpredictable and often lead to costly software rewrites to accommodate some new knowledge about the costs and benefits of the design tradeoffs.
In view of the foregoing, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved video decoder with scalable buffers that can be dynamically re-sized to optimally process a video input stream.

Apparatus and method for scalable buffering in a digital video decoder


The input and output of amplifier (110) are sampled and downconverted in frequency and filtered at (124 and 126) to produce sub-band signals. The input signal sub-band (134) is then subtracted from the output signal sub-band (136) at (130) to produce a residual signal (132) containing any distortion present in the sub-band selected by the downconversion oscillator (128). Signal analyser (158) compares the input and output signal energy to deduce the amount of distortion in the output signal, to provide signals for controlling a distortion reduction mechanism such as a predistorter operating on amplifier (110). Alternatively, the input signal sub-band (134) and the output signal sub-band (136) are Fourier transformed (210 and 212) to produce spectrums which can be analysed to determine the presence of distortion in the output of amplifier (110).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for detecting distortion in an output signal which a signal handling means (such as an amplifier) produces in response to an input signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to use distortion reduction mechanisms on amplifiers in an attempt to linearise the amplifier's response. It is often desirable to monitor residual distortion in the output of the amplifier, and to use this signal to adapt the distortion reduction mechanism to maximise the cancellation of the distortion. It is known to use a pilot signal to detect residual distortion. The pilot signal is added to the input signal and detected in the output signal so that any distortion it experiences can be assessed. The use of pilot signals for distortion detection has the disadvantage that a pilot signal must be generated, detected and then removed from the output signal afterwards. Thus, the use of pilot signals increases system complexity and adds the risk that spurious noise or continuous wave (CW) emissions introduced by the pilot signal detection system will remain as unwanted residues in the amplifier output.

Distortion detection for a power amplifier


Disclosed are compositions, methods, and systems of treating a well. A method may comprise providing a treatment fluid comprising a fluorous oil external phase, a salt-free non-chloride containing internal phase, and a fluorous-based surfactant; and introducing the treatment fluid into a wellbore. A treatment fluid composition may comprise a fluorous oil external phase, a salt-free non-chloride containing internal phase, and a fluorous-based surfactant.

Methods of using treatment fluids and, more particularly, methods of using treatment fluids in the form of an invert emulsion comprising a fluorous oil external phase, a salt-free non-chloride containing internal phase, and a fluorous-based surfactant in well operations may be provided.
Treatment fluid may be used in a variety of well operations. Examples of treatment fluids include drilling fluids, packer fluids, displacement fluids, completion fluids, work-over fluids etc. Drilling fluids may be used to maintain hydrostatic pressure in the wellbore, prevent formation damage, suspend cuttings, and to transport cuttings to the surface. Drilling fluids may be water-based or oil-based. Typical water-based drilling fluids may be composed of solely water or a mixture of water and various types of clay. Oil based drilling fluids may use a base fluid of a petroleum product.
Packer fluids may be used during drilling and/or completion and may serve a variety of functions. Generally, they are placed above a packer and may be used to provide hydrostatic pressure, prevent collapse of the wellbore, prevent heat transfer, protect wellbore components as well as any metals and elastomers from corrosion, and be of a sufficient density to control the producing formation. Typical packer fluids may be solids-free and resistant to changes in their viscosity.
Fluid displacement utilizes one or more fluids to displace another fluid from the wellbore. Typically this may be done to prevent contamination of one fluid with another or the contamination of one fluid with the formation. A displacement fluid or as it is also known, a spacer fluid, may be water-based fluids. In most instances, spacer fluids may be used to separate drilling fluid from a cement composition during a cementing operation. Because the spacer fluid will be used to separate two other fluids, such as the drilling fluid and the cement composition, the spacer fluid should be compatible with both treatment fluids.
Treatment fluids for some well applications may comprise brines. Problems with brines may include high thermal conductivity and the potential for corrosion of well components. Additionally, using treatment fluids of different formulations may create incompatibility issues. Switching between treatment fluids in a subterranean operation may be costly in both time and resources. Varied fluid types may require separate fluid storage, additional manpower, and additional equipment. In addition to the increased operating expenses, varied fluid use may create additional worksite problems such as higher environmental burdens, fluid incompatibilities, and the inability to reuse fluids and materials once their respective portion of the operation has been completed.

Salt-free fluorous-invert emulsion fluid


An entity of the smart card type has an application layer linked to a communication protocol layer. A time manager containing a timer interfaces with the protocol layer. The time manager substantially periodically constructs waiting time extension requests transmitted to a terminal through the protocol layer as long as data are being processed in the application layer. The application layer is thus freed from any time constraint.

The present invention relates to time constraints in communication protocols of the application layer used in entities of the smart card type, also referred to as an integrated circuit card or microprocessor card. It relates particularly to communication protocols where time measurement constraints are severe, for example for communication protocols dedicated to cards with or without contacts, and difficult to take into account, for example for open operating systems.
The majority of smart cards, such as a credit card or a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) telephone subscriber card, exchange, with terminals, such as readers or mobile radiotelephone stations, to which the cards are electrically connected during operation, data according to dedicated communication protocols according to ISO standard 7816-3.
According to this standard, during a process of exchanging data blocks (I-blocks) according to the T=1 asynchronous block transmission protocol at application layer level, the time between the leading edge of the last character of a first block received by the card and the leading edge of the first character of a second data block transmitted by the card may not exceed a predetermined maximum time BWT (Block Waiting Time). If, during the sequence of operations of the application process, the application layer of the card knows that the processing of the first block will exceed the predetermined maximum time and it must therefore put the terminal into a "wait state", the application layer transmits a specific protocol request referred to as "Waiting Time eXtension" WTX before expiry of the maximum time BWT. The information field of the WTX request contains an integer multiple of the maximum time BWT, defining a time allocated to the application layer of the card which starts after the reception of an acknowledgement transmitted by the terminal in response to the request.
If, following a first block, the card does not send another block normally before expiry of the time BWT, or on request, before expiry of the allocated time, the terminal interprets this absence of a block as a time-out and for example sends the first block again.
However, at application level, the smart card software programs are first designed independently of any notion of time relating to information exchanges.
On the one hand, the application is not intended to count the time since the performance time-wise is dependent on the operating system, particularly on the characteristics of the microprocessor, the system routines, etc. This problem is very difficult to solve in open operating systems such as JavaCard, where the application, such as an applet, is assumed to be an independent platform.
On the other hand, it is not desirable that the lower level sub-programs (kernel) are responsible for issuing these requests since they are completely disconnected from the time aspects.
Thus, certain communication protocols are very restrictive in terms of time management, since the time values are directly linked to the efficiency of the protocol, for example dedicated contactless card protocols.
Two types of management of waiting time extension WTX requests are known according to the prior art for solving this problem.
In a first type, as shown in FIG. 1, the waiting time extension WTX requests supplied by the protocol layer PR1 underlying the application layer AP1 in the card are managed by the application layer AP1 itself. This software architecture is not portable, that is to say the times are dependent on the sub-programs K1 (kernel), it has an empirical time counting, is not applicable when the application calls a service having a long processing process, for example a complex cryptography algorithm, does not take into account specific parameters such as the durations of waiting times, and is very restrictive for the application during short waiting times, for example those relating to dedicated contactless protocols.
According to a second type, the waiting time extension WTX requests are supplied by the protocol layer PR2 to the sub-programs (kernel) K2 which manage them, as shown in FIG. 2. This second known software architecture is advantageous in that the application is relieved of the management of the WTX requests which is a requirement in open operating systems since the functions of the application are independent of the functions of applications with at least one external entity. Furthermore, the software architecture facilitates the implementation of a long process by inserting a number of calls with WTX requests during the process.
However, this second software architecture is neither rigorous nor exhaustive owing to the difficulties to be considered each call sequence by sub-programs, does not taken into account specific protocol parameters, such as waiting times, and may have repercussions on each sub-program.

Time management at communication protocol layer for a smart card-type device


A controller, an organic light-emitting display panel, an organic light-emitting display device, and a method of driving the same able to compensate for the dropped driving voltage, thereby preventing image quality from being degraded due to the dropped driving voltage.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a controller, an organic light-emitting display panel, an organic light-emitting display device, and a method of driving the same.
Description of Related Art
Organic light-emitting display devices have recently been prominent as next generation display devices. Such organic light-emitting display devices have inherent advantages, such as relatively fast response speeds, high contrast ratios, high light-emitting efficiency, high luminance levels, and wide viewing angles, since organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) able to emit light by themselves are used therein.
Each subpixel disposed on an organic light-emitting display panel of such an organic light-emitting display device commonly includes a driving transistor driving an OLED, a switching transistor transferring a data voltage to a gate node of the driving transistor, and a capacitor maintaining a constant voltage during the period of a single frame.
The driving transistor in each subpixel has unique characteristics, such as a threshold voltage and mobility, which may differ according to driving transistors.
Degradations in the performance of the driving transistors may occur along with the lapse of driving time. Differences in degrees of degradation may cause variations in the characteristics of the driving transistors.
Such variations in the characteristics of the driving transistors may cause variations in luminance, leading to non-uniformity in the overall luminance of the organic light-emitting display panel.
Therefore, technologies for compensating for variations in the characteristics of driving transistors have been developed. However, regardless of compensation for variations in the characteristics of the driving transistors, the luminance of each subpixel may be lower than a desired level, leading to poor image quality due to, for example, stains.

Controller, organic light-emitting display panel, organic light-emitting display device, and method of driving the same


The present invention introduces a method to fabricate a self-aligning active PMOS device fabricated on top of an NMOS active device, thereby forming a CMOS inverter having a gate electrode being common to the two active devices. This fabrication technique provides for a less expensive method to form a CMOS inverter that may be used simply as an inverter or as a building block to construct an SRAM cell which results in reduced manufacturing cost compared to that of conventional CMOS fabrication processes. Standard transistors are formed in a starting substrate with a poly gate sandwich structure having its top layer serving as the channel region of the active PMOS of the present invention. Next, an inter-poly dielectric is deposited and a buried contact are formed to allow a subsequently deposited P+ poly of the PMOS device to make connection to the substrate diffusion areas. This P+ layer of poly is planarized to clear the poly over the NMOS poly gates and exposed the underlying oxide. The exposed oxide is removed and a thin blanketing layer of undoped poly is placed and patterned to form the active PMOS device of the present invention with subsequent anneals diffusing the underlying P+ dopant into the thin layer of poly and provides adequate source/drain overlap of the gate in the 3-dimensional PMOS device.

One of the common elements required in electrical circuit devices is the simple pullup (or pulldown device) from an active device to one of the power supply buses. The pullup is simple if used to construct a circuit using discrete components in that all that is required is selecting a resistor of the desired resistance and tolerance, connecting it between an active device, such as an open collector transistor, and V.sub.cc and the transistor's output would be pulled up to V.sub.cc once the transistor is forward biased. With the advent of the integrated circuit (IC) however, fabricating a resistance onto a wafer substrate, such as silicon or gallium arsenide, takes special consideration particularly when resistivity and tolerances play an important part in circuit operation.
For example, as SRAMs have evolved from the small 4Kb memory arrays to more densely packed array sizes, tolerances of pullup resistances (or pullup loads) had to be tightly controlled. In order to minimize standby current many fabrication processes adopted using an active device as the pullup. In CMOS fabrication it is common to see a PMOS transistor acting an active load device, by providing a current path between a memory cell access transistor and the power supply bus. In this manner the PMOS transistor could be gated on only when the desired line was to be pulled to V.sub.cc and turned off otherwise, thereby virtually eliminating leakage current and minimizing standby current for the SR device as a whole. In still other CMOS circuits, the active PMOS device in combination with the active NMOS device creates the common CMOS inverter which is used throughout integrated circuit.
Conventional methods to fabricate an active pullup device, such as is the method of fabricating a PMOS active device by the use of selective epitaxially grown silicon (EPI), are expensive. As integrated circuits become more dense (i.e., as the SRAM generations continue to grow) cost becomes an even more critical factor that must be taken into account in order to produce competitively priced parts.
The present invention introduces a method to fabricate a self-aligning active PMOS device fabricated on top of an NMOS active device, thereby forming a CMOS inverter having a gate electrode being common to the two active devices. This fabrication technique provides for a less expensive method to form a CMOS inverter that may be used simply as an inverter or as a building block to construct an SRAM cell which results in reduced manufacturing cost compared to that of conventional CMOS fabrication processes.

Self-aligned 3-dimensional PMOS devices without selective EPI


A process for making an electroconductive polymer composition containing a matrix composed of a mixture of at least two polymers which are incompatible with each other, and an electroconductivity-imparting filler distributed predominantly in the polymer having a higher affinity with the filler. The plastic composition exhibits a higher conductivity than that obtained by blending each of the polymers as the matrix with the same filler.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electroconductive polymer composition. More particularly, it relates to an electroconductive polymer composition for preventing electromagnetic interference (hereinafter referred to as "EMI") and an accumulation of static electricity.
(2) Description of the Related Art
With the development of electronic appliances such as a computer, the prevention of EMI and an accumulation of static electricity have become important, and various processes therefor have been proposed. Typical examples of known EMI prevention processes are a surface-treating process in which only the surface of a non-electroconductive material is treated, for example, coated with an electroconductive substance; an internal treating process in which an electroconductive filler is dispersed in or laminated on a non-electroconductive material; and a metal process in which a metal having a high electroconductivity is used.
Note, an electroconductive polymer composition comprising a thermoplastic resin and an electroconductive filler dispersed in the resin is known.
Of these conventional techniques, many reports have been made on an electroconductive polymer composition comprising an electroconductive filler dispersed in a polymer.
In the usual process for the preparation of an electroconductive polymer article, a filler is first mixed and kneaded with a matrix resin and the mixture is shaped by injection molding or the like. A banbury mixer, a mixing roll, a twin-screw extruder or the like is used for the kneading.
If the amount of the filler incorporated is increased, to improve the electroconductivity, the melt fluidity is reduced and the molding and processing become difficult. Furthermore, even if molding is possible, because of a short shot or the like, a satisfactory shaped article cannot be obtained, and often the resulting shaped article has poor mechanical properties, such as a poor impact strength.
The incorporation of excessive amounts of some fillers is not advantageous from the economical viewpoint.
The scatter of the electroconductivity of products is large, due to the processing conditions, and in practical operation, it is often found that the electroconductivity of the products differs. Moreover, in some cases, even if a good electroconductivity is obtained just after the preparation, the electroconductivity is gradually lost with the lapse of time.
The present inventors collectively reported on the series of investigations they made, in the "Journal of the Adhesion Society of Japan, Vol. 23, No. 3, pages 103-111 (1987)", and in this report showed that the interfacial affinity between the polymer and the filler is an important factor having an influence on the manifestation of the electroconductivity, the behavior of the electroconductivity in various resin matrices can be elucidated based on the difference in the dispersion state of the filler, and the volume fraction (hereinafter referred to as "Vf") of the filler producing the electroconductivity by a formation of conducting paths differs greatly according to the kind of resin matrix. Furthermore, by changing the dispersion state of fine particles of carbon black by utilizing a thermal relaxation of polymers, it was found that the electroconductivity was improved by an aggregation of the filler.
When preparing an electroconductive polymer composition by dispersing an electroconductive filler into a polymer, if an attempt is made to improve the electroconductivity by increasing the amount of the electroconductive filler, a deterioration of properties other than the electroconductivity, such as the processability and mechanical properties, and an increase of the costs, cannot be avoided.

Process for making an electroconductive polymer composition


The invention relates to an installation for extinguishing fire in a railway carriage for transportation of lorries, trailers and the like. In order to extinguish a fire efficiently in a trailer or the like, the installation comprising at least two spray heads (1, 2), whereof the first spray head (1) is placed in the railway carriage close to a first longitudinal side wall (3) of the railway carriage and obliquely directed downwards at an angle (.alpha.1) of 40 to 70.degree. in relation to a vertical plane, and the second spray head (2) is placed in the railway carriage close to a second longitudinal side wall (4) of the railway carriage opposite the first side wall and obliquely directed downwards at an angle (.alpha.2) of 40 to 70.degree. in relation to the vertical plane, the spray heads being placed at a height of 3,2 to 4 m above the railway carriage floor (11) and arranged to spray water-based extinguishing medium at a spread angle (.beta.1, .beta.2) of 45 to 120.degree..

The invention relates to an installation for extinguishing fire in a railway carriage for transportation of lorries, trailers and the like. The invention also relates to an installation for extinguishing fire in a tunnel, preferably in a car or train tunnel.
Railway carriages transporting vehicles, such as lorries and trailers, are rarely equipped with fire extinguishing installations; the reason being the problematic surroundings for fire extinguishing installations. One problem is to extinguish a fire that starts inside a covered trailer transported by the railway carriage. The fire is very difficult to extinguish, since the top of the trailer is covered, typically with an aluminium cover, and the sides of the trailer are covered with a tarpaulin preventing the extinguishing medium from being sprayed from the outer side of the trailer into the goods space of the trailer. Owing to the above the goods that have caught fire have plenty of time to burn, and the fire may rapidly spread far, before the extinguishing medium is delivered to the fire area. If extinguishing medium is sprayed towards the side surfaces of the tarpaulin, said surfaces will only be cooled and protect the tarpaulin from burning, while the goods inside the tarpaulin can unimpededly continue to burn.
Car tunnels are another problematic environment for extinguishing fire, which is why fire extinguishing installations are seldom installed therein. As regards fire extinguishing a similar problem to the one with railway carriage transportation arises when trailers and the like are transported in tunnels. Consequently, a possible fire extinguishing installation is rarely capable of preventing the goods in the trailer from burning.


This application provides a steam turbine. The steam turbine may include a number of controlled flow runners and a number of controlled flow guides. The controlled flow guides may include an upstream passage ratio (Wup/W) of 0.4 to 0.7.

Generally described, steam turbines and the like may have a defined steam path that includes a steam inlet, a turbine section, and a steam outlet. Steam leakage, either out of the steam path, or into the steam path from an area of higher pressure to an area of lower pressure, may adversely affect the operating efficiency of the steam turbine. For example, steam path leakage in the steam turbine between a rotating shaft and a circumferentially surrounding turbine casing may lower the overall efficiency of the steam turbine.
Steam generally may flow through a number of turbine stages typically disposed in series through first-stage blades such as guides and runners (or nozzles and buckets) and subsequently through guides and runners of later stages of the turbine. In this manner, the guides may direct the steam toward the respective runners, causing the runners to rotate and drive a load, such as an electrical generator and the like. The steam may be contained by circumferential shrouds surrounding the runners, which also may aid in directing the steam or combustion gases along the path. In this manner, the turbine guides, runners, and shrouds may be subjected to high temperatures resulting from the steam, which may result in the formation of hot spots and high thermal stresses in these components. Because the efficiency of a steam turbine is dependent on its operating temperatures, there is an ongoing demand for components positioned along the steam or hot gas path to be capable of withstanding increasingly higher temperatures without failure or decrease in useful life.
Certain turbine blades may be formed with an airfoil geometry. The blades may be attached to tips and roots, where the roots are used to couple a blade to a disc or drum. The turbine blade geometry and dimensions may result in certain profile losses, secondary losses, leakage losses, mixing losses, and the like that may adversely affect efficiency and/or performance of a steam turbine.
In some cases, e.g., steam delivery on the saturation line from a Pressurized Water Reactor, the turbine may operate with wet steam flows. Such flows may create additional wetness losses via the non-equilibrium expansion of the steam (which generates fine fog) and consequential coarse water losses.


The present invention provides a fish cage having a body portion and floats or weights attached thereto at one of a plurality of different positions so that the cage will float in water with a first part exposed and a second part submerged. Changing the position of attachment of the floats or weights results in different first and second parts being respectively exposed and submerged allowing successive cleaning of different first parts of the cage body.

This invention relates to a method for cleaning fish cages and to a fish cage adapted for use in said method.
During recent years, a substantial fish-farming industry has grown up, in which fish, confined within mesh cages, are reared in a manner analogous to that employed with farm animals. The cages usually used in fish farms are cuboidal with an open top. One severe problem encountered when using such cuboidal cages is that, after a few weeks use, the mesh sides and base of the cages become fouled and must be cleaned. At present such cleaning is effected by fixing a net around the outside of the cage to prevent fish escaping during the cleaning operation. The mesh panels constituting the sides and bottom of the cage are then removed individually for cleaning. Not only is such a cleaning process laborious (especially since the mesh panels, which may be twelve feet square, are not easy to handle), but it normally requires the provision of a walkway around at least part of the periphery of the cage, and this walkway adds to the cost of the cage.
The present invention seeks to provide a method of cleaning a fish cage, which method is less labour-consuming than that described above and which does not require the provision of a walkway around the cage. The present invention also provides a fish cage for use in said method.

Fish cage and method of cleaning fish cage


An improved agricultural spray plane of the biplane type, the improvement including a pair of spray booms mounted on each of the lower wings and defining the trailing edge of each of the wings for substantially the entire length of the wings. A spoiler is mounted on the upper surface of each of the lower wings forward of the spray booms to compensate for the elimination of ailerons found on conventional biplanes. Each of the upper wings include an aileron and apparatus for simultaneously controlling ailerons and spoilers is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, in general, to biplanes, and in particular, to biplanes equipped with spraying apparatus for agricultural purposes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Biplanes excel in their use as agricultural spray planes because of their large lift capacity and their maneuverability. Conventional spray planes, of the biplane type, have spraying booms of generally tubular structure which are mounted on the wings parallel with the trailing edge of the wings and generally below and rearward of the wings. The booms are equipped with laterally spaced spraying nozzles. This type of boom significantly increases the air drag of the aircraft thereby making the plane less maneuverable and lowering the amount of spray material which the aircraft can carry. Additionally, conventional biplanes include ailerons on both upper and lower wings which extend to include the trailing edge of the wings, thereby preventing a continuous boom across the expanse of each wing immediately adjacent the trailing edge. Where booms are mounted adjacent the trailing edge of the wing the connecting tubes between the boom sections must, of necessity, be routed around the ailerons, also causing air drag. U.S. Pat. No. 3,933,309 to R. J. Odegaard and U.S. Pat. No. 2,426,771 issued to C. B. Harp typify the present state of the art.


The invention relates to pharmaceutical formulations, and more particularly to formulations containing cannabinoids for administration via a pump action spray. In particular, the invention relates to pharmaceutical formulations, for use in administration of lipophilic medicaments via mucosal surfaces, comprising: at least one lipophilic medicament, a solvent and a co-solvent, wherein the total amount of solvent and co-solvent present in the formulation is greater than 55% wt/wt of the formulation and the formulation is absent of a self emulsifying agent and/or a fluorinated propellant.

It has long been known to introduce drugs into the systemic circulation system via a contiguous mucous membrane to increase onset of activity, potency etc.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,560,625 disclose aerosol formulations for introducing an alkoxybenzamide into the systemic circulatory system. Two different types of aerosol formulations are disclosed:
a) fluorinated hydrocarbon type comprising 2% by weight alkoxybenzamide, 18% ethanol, and 80% propellant; and
b) nebuliser type comprising 0.5% by weight alkoxybenzamide, a mixed solvent system comprising 10.3% ethanol and 31.4% propylene glycol and 57.8% deionised water.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,560,625 identifies a problem in finding a suitable solvent system to produce an aerosol spray for inhalation of the ortho-ethoxybenzamide, due to the fact that whilst ethanol was undoubtedly the best solvent, a mixture containing more than 18% of ethanol by weight produced an unpleasant oral reaction which more than counterbalanced the efficacy of the oral route.
When the present applicant set out to produce spray formulations for a botanical drug substance comprising one or more cannabinoids they were aware that the highly lipophylic nature of the cannabinoids could present problems in formulating the active component(s).
The present applicant first sought to develop a formulation for oromucosal, preferably sublingual, delivery in a pressurised aerosol or spray form, as disclosed in international patent application PCT/GB01/01027. Their initial focus was on propellant driven systems with HFC-123a and HFC-227 but these proved to be unsuitable as solvents for the cannabinoids. The formulations comprised synthetic Δ9-THC in amounts from 0.164 to 0.7% wt/wt, with ethanol as the primary solvent in amounts up to 20.51% by weight. One particular composition comprised 0.164% synthetic Δ9-THC, 4.992% ethanol, 4.992% propylene glycol and 89.582% p134a (propellant).
The applicant found that even at ethanol levels of 20% by volume of the total formulation volume they were unable to dissolve sufficient levels of Δ9-THC in a standard spray dose to meet clinical needs, because of the cannabinoids poor solubility in the propellant. They also found that the ethanol level could not be increased, as the delivery characteristics of the device nozzle altered substantially when the lower volatility solvents were increased above a critical ratio. The HFC-123a and HFC-227 propellant sprays delivered a maximum of 7 mg/ml, whereas initial clinical studies suggested the formulations would be required to contain up to 50 mg cannabinoids/ml.
Thus, the present applicants focussed on self-emulsifying drug delivery systems, as are discussed in detail in a review article European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics 50 (2000) 179-188, which concluded that the poor aqueous solubility of many chemical entities represents a real challenge for the design of appropriate formulations aimed at enhancing oral bioavailability.
In their co-pending International application PCT/GB02/00620 the applicant discloses a wide range of cannabinoid-containing formulations containing at least one self-emulsifying agent. The inclusion of at least one self-emulsifying agent was thought necessary to get the formulation to adhere to the mucosal surface in order to achieve sufficient absorption of the cannabinoids. One particular formulation comprised 2% by wt glycerol mono-oleate, 5% CBME of G1 cannabis to give THC, 5% CBME of G5 cannabis to give CBD, 44% ethanol BP and 44% propylene glycol.


Systems, methods, and instrumentalities are disclosed for inverse shaping for high dynamic range (HDR) video coding. A video coding device, e.g., such as a decoder, may determine a plurality of pivot points associated with a plurality of piecewise segments of an inverse reshaping model. The plurality of pivot points may be determined based on an indication received via a message. Each piecewise segment may be defined by a plurality of coefficients. The video coding device may receive an indication of a first subset of coefficients associated with the plurality of piecewise segments. The video coding device may calculate a second subset of coefficients based on the first subset of coefficients and the plurality of pivot points. The video coding device may generate an inverse reshaping model using one or more of the plurality of pivot points, the first subset of coefficients, and the second subset of coefficients.

A variety of digital video compression technologies enable efficient digital video communication, distribution and consumption. Some examples of standardized video compression technologies are H.261, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, H.263, MPEG-4 part2 and H.264/MPEG-4 part 10 AVC. Advanced video compression technologies, such as High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), may provide twice the compression or half the bit rate at the same video quality compared to H.264/AVC.

Inverse reshaping for high dynamic range video coding


To provide a method for tempering glass to obtain tempered glass having high surface quality and a deep compression stress layer. The present invention relates to a method for tempering a glass plate comprising a preparation step of preparing a glass plate having a surface temperature of at most the strain point, an internal heating step of heating the internal temperature of the glass plate to be at least the annealing point, while maintaining the surface temperature of the glass plate within 10 minutes, or to be at most the strain point, and a cooling step of cooling the glass plate.

Heretofore, as a method for tempering a glass plate, a chemical strengthening method for forming a chemically strengthened layer at the surface layer of a glass plate by using ion exchange, or a physical tempering method for forming a compressive stress layer at the surface layer of a glass substrate by quenching the surface of the heated glass substrate as disclosed in Patent Document 1, is known.

Method for tempering glass plate, and tempered glass plate


The present invention relates to the design, manufacture and use of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) polypeptides having improved receptor specificity. In particular, the invention relates to isolated FGF2 polypeptides comprising a truncated N-terminus and optionally N-terminal amino acid substitutions. The present invention provides polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides, compositions comprising same and methods for use thereof.

Fibroblast Growth Factors and their Receptors
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) comprise a large family of evolutionarily conserved polypeptides involved in a variety of biological processes including morphogenesis, angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling as well as in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. The various members of this family stimulate the proliferation of a wide spectrum of cells, including those deriving from mesenchymal, endothelial, epithelial and neuroectodermal origin. FGFs are expressed in a strict temporal and spatial pattern during development and have important roles in patterning and limb formation (reviewed in Ornitz, 2000). All members of the FGF family share a homology core domain of about 120 amino acids, 28 aa residues are highly conserved and four are identical. The adjacent N- and C-termini are of variable length and share limited homology. The core domain comprises both the primary receptor binding sites and a heparin-binding domain, which are distinct from each other (reviewed in Ornitz and Itoh, 2001).
Fibroblast growth factor 2, also known as FGF2, basic FGF, bFGF, prostatin and heparin binding growth factor 2, is highly conserved among species and has been shown to stimulate the proliferation of a wide variety of cell types. Human FGF2 is expressed in several forms, a 210 aa precursor, a 155 aa form, a 146 aa N-terminal truncated form and several others (reviewed in Okada-Ban et al., 2000). A method for purifying recombinant FGF2 has been disclosed in WO 91/09126.
The biological response of cells to FGF is mediated through specific, high affinity (Kd 20-500 pM) cell surface receptors that possess intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity and are phosphorylated upon binding of FGF. Five distinct Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors (FGFRs) have been identified, FGFR1-4 are transmembrane-protein kinases while FGFR5 lacks a tyrosine kinase domain. The FGFR extracellular domain consists of three immunoglobulin-like (Ig-like) domains (D1, D2 and D3), a heparin binding domain and an acidic box. Alternative splicing of D3 in FGFR1-3 mRNAs generates six different receptor subtypes, each having unique ligand specificity and tissue distribution pattern.
Another critically functional component in receptor activation is the binding to soluble heparin or a heparan sulfate proteoglycan. Different models have been proposed to explain the role of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) in FGF signaling, including the formation of a functional tertiary complex between FGF, FGFR and an HSPG (Yayon et al., 1991). Most naturally occurring heparan sulfate are incapable of promoting heparin dependent high affinity FGF receptor binding and activation (Aviezer et al., 1994). Moreover, heparan sulfate which is locally secreted by cells, masks receptor specificity of the FGF ligands.
FGFRs and Disease
A number of birth defects affecting the skeleton are associated with mutations in the genes encoding FGF receptors. Certain FGFRs have been implicated in certain malignancies and proliferative diseases. FGFR3 is the most frequently mutated oncogene in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder where it is mutated in about 50% of the cases; the FGFR3IIIc isoform is ectopically expressed in 15-20% of patients with multiple myeloma and is over expressed in the white blood cells of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. A mutation in FGFR3 is linked to cervical carcinoma. FGFR4 was shown to be associated with pituitary tumors and breast cancer progression. In contrast, certain FGF ligands have been shown to be highly useful for treating indications including wounds (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,950,483, 5,859,208 and 6,294,359), myocardial infarction (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,296,100 and 4,378,347), skeletal disorders (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,614,496 and 5,656,598) and for remodeling cardiac tissue (U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,971).
FGF Variants and Receptor Specificity
All members of the FGF family share a homology core domain of about 120 amino acids (aa), 28 aa residues are highly conserved and four are identical. Structural studies on several FGFs identified twelve antiparallel β strands each one adjacent to β-loops comprising the core region, conserved throughout the family. The core domain comprises the primary FGFR and heparin binding sites. Receptor binding regions are distinct from heparin binding regions (reviewed in Ornitz and Itoh, 2001).
In view of the large number of FGFs and FGF receptor variants, a major question regarding FGF function is their receptor specificity or selectivity. Most FGF ligands bind more than one receptor subtype and such a degree of cross-reactivity is shared between all FGF receptors, demonstrating a highly redundant signaling network. All FGFRs tested so far bind FGF1 (acidic FGF, aFGF) with moderate to high affinity, further demonstrating the apparent redundancy in the FGF system (Ornitz et al., 1996).
Various types of FGF variants are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,294,359 discloses agonist and antagonist analogs of FGF2 that comprise amino acid substitutions in the C8 and C96 residues. U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,589 discloses derivatives in the C78 and C96 residues. U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,589 discloses derivatives of FGF2 that act as antagonists or speragonists. On particular construct comprises a human or boine derivatie wherein amino acids 27-32 have been deleted. Wong et al., (1995) identified putative heparin binding domains in FGF1 (154aa form) based on consensus sequence motifs, including amino acids 22-27. Nevertheless, according to that citation substitution of Lys23, Lys24 or Lys26 with glycine residues had no effect on the activity of FGF1.
Attempts have been made to achieve altered FGF receptor specificity by mutating or truncating the ligands, by means of mutations introduced at certain locations within the gene encoding for the proteins. Certain truncated and mutated variants have been disclosed by some of the inventors of the present invention in PCT publications WO 02/36732 and WO 03/094835. International patent applications WO 02/36732 and WO 03/094835 of some of the applicants of the present invention, disclose FGF variants having at least one amino acid substitution in the β8-β9 loop, and/or an N- and/or C-terminal truncation, having increased receptor specificity to one receptor subtype compared to the corresponding wild type FGF. PCT publication WO 02/36732 discloses specific FGF9 variants having 36, 44 or 63 amino acid truncations at the N-terminus. The shortest variant was shown to retain weak activity towards FGFR3 while losing almost all activity towards FGFR1. PCT publication WO 03/094835 teaches an FGF4 variant having both an N-terminal truncation (55 amino acids) and an amino acid substitution in the β8-β9 loop, the variant exhibiting enhanced receptor specificity towards FGFR3 with substantially unchanged activity towards FGFR1 and FGFR2.
Several investigators have demonstrated FGF mutants and variants affecting receptor and heparin binding. Kuroda et al., (1999) demonstrated that a full-length FGF4 polypeptide (191 aa) and an N-terminal truncated version containing 134 amino acid residues exhibit comparable cellular proliferation on NIH3T3 cells and increase of bone density. The shortest form of FGF4 tested, containing only 111 amino acid residues, exhibited limited growth stimulatory activity.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,170 discloses a biologically active FGF16 molecule having from one to thirty-four amino acids deleted from the N-terminus or from one to eighteen amino acids deleted from the C-terminus. The truncated ligands were shown to retain biological activity including hepatocellular proliferation and increased production of triglycerides and serum proteins, when administered to animals.
X-ray crystallography has been used in an attempt to study the basis of specificity of FGFs to their receptors (Plotnikov et al., 2000; Olsen, et al., 2004; Mohammadi et al., 2005). The role of the N-terminal domain of the FGFs was resolved in only a few of the abovementioned crystal structures. Olsen et al., (2004) compared receptor binding of a full length FGF1 (155 aa) to a N-terminal truncated form (21-155) and show that the N-terminus of FGF1 may be relevant to binding and activation of the FGFR3c isoform. The (21-155) form also exhibits reduced FGFR2 and FGFR3 phosphorylation.
Plotnikov et al., (2000) determined the crystal structures of FGF1 and FGF2 complexed with the ligand binding domains (Ig-like domains 2 and 3) of FGFR1 and FGFR2, respectively and shows that certain N-terminal residues of FGF, in particular Phe17 and Lys18 of FGF2 (Lys27 of 155 aa form), could be in contact with the D3 domain of FGFR2. The authors speculated, but did not provide experimental evidence, that amino acids 7-13 of FGF1 play a role in receptor binding. The deletion of that specific sequence, which had originally been proposed to be a nuclear localization sequence, reduces the ability of FGF1 to induce cell proliferation in endothelial cell lines by about 250-fold (Imamura et al., 1990). These findings neither suggest nor teach that the deletion of that specific sequence would affect receptor selectivity.
Seno et al., (1990) teach certain bFGF variants having N- and C-terminus truncations and have characterized their ability to bind heparin. The mitogenic activity of those variants in BALB/c3T3 cells was determined and the N14 variant (corresponding to a 22 amino acid truncation of the 155 aa bFGF species) showed an activity of 68% that of the mature form of bFGF. A much larger truncation, N41, which corresponds to a 49 amino acid truncation of the 155 aa species, exhibits only about 2% mitogenic activity. There is neither teaching nor suggestion of a truncated FGF exhibiting receptor selectivity toward one or another FGFR species.
In another study the basic residues in an analogous stretch of FGF2 (aa 27-31, 155 aa form) were modified to neutral glutamine residues, specifically K27Q, K30Q and R31Q (Presta et al., 1993). That mutant retains receptor binding capacity and mitogenic activity on endothelial cells yet exerts reduced uPA inducing activity.
The above disclosures show that modifications in certain N-terminal residues affect cell proliferation, yet they neither teach nor suggest that mutations or substitutions in N-terminal residues of FGF would affect receptor selectivity.
A hexapeptide, consisting of N-terminal amino acids 13-18 of FGF2 (146 aa form, corresponding to aa 22-27 of the 155 aa form), was shown to inhibit binding of FGF2 to FGFR-1, implicating this motif in receptor binding (Yayon et al, 1993). There was neither teaching nor suggestion of receptor specificity.
Attempts have been made to alter FGF receptor specificity and heparin binding by means of site directed mutagenesis within the FGF genes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,460 discloses a biologically active FGF9 (glia activating factor, GAF) molecule comprising N-terminus and C-terminus truncations of 53 aa and 13 aa, respectively. U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,895 discloses an N-terminus 54 aa deletion yielding a 154 aa protein retaining its biological activity, as measured by glial cell growth activity.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,220 to one of the inventors of the present application discloses structural analogues of FGF2 comprising substitution of the β9-β10 loop having altered biological properties and binding specificity.
Springer et al., (1994) identified two FGFR binding sites on FGF2, the first includes hydrophobic residues Y24, Y103, L140 and M142 and polar residues R44, and N101. The author concludes that R44 and N101 were the only polar residues observed to be important in the primary binding interaction between FGF2 and FGFR.
In an attempt to identify FGF2 antagonists having reduced binding affinity towards FGFR1. Zhu et al. (1997) tested N101A, N102A, Y103A, N104A and T105A muteins and their binding affinity to FGFR1. These correspond to amino acid residues N110, N111, Y112, N113 and T114 of the 155 aa species. The N101A and N102A muteins were shown to have FGFR1 binding similar to that of the wild type protein, while the N104A mutein exhibited 400 fold reduced FGFR1 binding.
There is neither teaching nor suggestion of receptor selectivity in the above-cited references.
Bellosta et al., (2001) have disclosed mutated and truncated FGF4 variants having reduced receptor binding and a low mitogenic potential. Of interest is a truncated variant, which lacks 78 N-terminal amino acids and, according to the published data, retains the core domain, exhibiting FGFR binding affinities similar to that of the wild type ligand. Certain mutations within the core domain were shown to have a deleterious effect on both DNA synthesis and receptor binding.
The extensive efforts made to produce truncation, deletion and point mutation variants in FGF have resulted in certain alterations in receptor specificity. There remains an unmet need for highly active and selective ligands for the various FGF receptor isoforms, useful in selective stimulation or inhibition of these receptors, thereby addressing the clinical manifestations associated with receptor mutations, and modulation of various biological functions.
It is to be understood that known variants of FGF are excluded explicitly from the present invention.
A need for FGF variants having increased receptor selectivity is manifest. Lack of receptor selectivity is often detrimental to tissue repair and regeneration both ex vivo and in vivo. For instance, FGFR1 activation is often critical for cell survival and proliferation; hence, a ligand having enhanced FGFR1 specificity would be ideal for supporting physiological FGF mediated activities in processes such as wound healing, independent of the heparan sulfate environment.

FGF-2 variants having N-terminal deletions and increased receptor selectivity and methods of use thereof


A portable exercising apparatus (10) that allows a person to exercise the ankle, foot and toes either individually or in a combination exercise. The apparatus (10) includes a lower stationary platform (12) that is attached to an upper movable platform (20) by a platform spring (22). When a foot is placed upon the upper platform (20), the ankle and feet are exercised by moving the upper platform up and down and/or in a radial motion. The apparatus (10) also includes a pressure and hand/forearm exercising strap assembly (30) that attaches to the left or right edges (20C,20D) of the upper platform. The assembly (30) allows pressure to be maintained on the foot when exercising and includes on its upper end a hand and forearm exerciser (40). The apparatus also has a foot holding strap (64) which allows the foot to be held in-place upon the upper surface of the upper movable platform (20).

The field of body exercising is replete with various simple exercising devices and with complex exercising apparatuses. In general, the simple prior art devices are designed to exercise a certain part of the body such as the hand/forearm, neck, biceps, legs etc. The more complex exercisers are typically large, stationary apparatuses, that allow an individual, by changing or adjusting certain implements of the apparatus, to perform combination routines that exercise most all parts of the body. These combination exercisers are relatively expensive, heavy and large. Therefore, moving them from one location to another is not practical.
All of the prior art exercising devices and apparatuses, in one design or another, serve to exercise various parts of the body. However, none were disclosed that specifically allowed a person to exercise his or her toes in combination with complimentary exercising of the foot and ankle. The ability to exercise the toes is especially important for the relief of sore feet that can occur after a day of walking, running or just sitting with the feet planted on a floor.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention. However, the following U.S. patents were considered related:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. INVENTOR ISSUED ______________________________________ 5,069,445 Mai 3 December 1991 4,573,678 Lamb, et al 4 March 1986 4,279,415 Katz 21 July 1981 ______________________________________
The Mai U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,445 discloses a foot-leg exercise device that includes two foot supporting platforms that each are connected to and swing about a base structure. Each platform has a spring attached that provides resistance against a downward deflection of the platform by a person's foot. The resistive force of each spring can be adjusted to suit the requirements of an individual by a manual screw adjustment. The device may also includes a hand-grip cross bar to which a user grasps while performing the exercise routine.
The Lamb et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,678 discloses a lower extremity muscle conditioner device consisting of an adjustable foot gear that is strapped to a user's foot. The foot gear includes a base having an angularly adjustable sole platform connected by a heel pivot to the base. The platform has an associated manual adjustment mechanism for raising the toe end of the platform to any selected degree above the heel end. This adjustment allows the foot to dorsiflex upon walking so that the lower extremity muscles are stretched and conditioned.
The Katz U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,415 discloses a treadle type exercise device which simulates a jogging condition. The device consists of at least two pedals pivotally mounted to one end of each platform member and spaced at the other end from the platform member by springs. The space between the inclined pedals and platform member is substantially filled with a cushable, energy-absorbent, resilient material. This material functions to provide a cushioned resistance when foot pressure is applied to the platforms.
For background purposes and as indicative of the art to which the invention relates, reference may be made to the following remaining patents found in the search:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. INVENTOR ISSUED ______________________________________ 5,178,596 McIntire 12 January 1993 4,159,111 Lowth 26 June 1979 ______________________________________

Ankle, foot and toes exercising apparatus


A motor controller for controlling an electric motor includes a motion control microcontroller unit (MCU) for storing initial control parameters for the electric motor, and a wireless receiver communicatively coupled to the motion control MCU. The wireless receiver is configured to activate in response to initiation of a wireless connection with a remote device, receive a wireless control signal from the remote device, the wireless control signal including updated control parameters, and transmit the updated control parameters to the motion control MCU. The motor controller also includes an energy management system configured to power the wireless receiver and the motion control MCU.

The field of the disclosure relates generally to a controller for an electric motor and, more specifically, a motor controller and methods of wirelessly reprogramming the motor controller without connecting the motor controller to an external power source.
It is not uncommon for a motor, such as a motor used in various residential applications, to be produced and to be stored for a period of time before that motor is installed and used "in the field." For instance, the motor may be stored in a production factory, a storage area, various transportation vehicles or location, and/or in OEM warehouses. During this period of time between production and installation, it may be desirable or necessary to update firmware or software of the motor to ensure proper functionality of the motor once it is installed. Typically, a technician must retrieve each individual motor needing an update, connect the motor to a power source, and physically connect the motor to another device including the updates (e.g., in a wired connection), such that the motor can download and implement the updates. This process can be time-consuming and also increases the risk that the motor may be damaged or otherwise mishandled during these updates.

Motor controller and methods of wirelessly reprogramming motor controller