The invention provides methods and apparatus for the reading of data from digital memory devices, and methods and apparatus for the wireless transmittal of the data to computing devices. The apparatus combines hardware and software to serve files from the memory device to any web-capable computing device, such as a portable computer, tablet, or smart phone, by creating HTML wrappers around the files and directories on the memory device. The data is presented to the computing devices in a secure manner, through the agency of a web browser running on each device.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,522,552 describes a wireless memory card reader configured to read flash memory via a USB controller, which delivers the USB-formatted data to a computer via a Bluetooth™ wireless connection. The data is received by a Bluetooth™ receiver attached to a USB port on the receiving computer.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,606,880 describes methods for the partition of a large external storage device into a large number of small volumes, and for management of the volumes so as to permit each of them to serve as a virtual storage medium ("cloud storage") for an individual wireless device such as a smart phone or tablet.
United States Patent Application publication No. 2003/0191716 describes methods allowing individual users to encrypt and decrypt data files stored on a central server.
United States Patent Application publication No. 2004/0219949 describes methods and apparatus for the short-range (e.g. WiFi and Bluetooth™) wireless transfer of data from a mobile device memory to an external (backup) storage medium.
United States Patent Application publication No. 2010/0217871 likewise describes methods and apparatus for the wireless transfer of data between mobile device memory and external storage media, employing long-range wireless communication protocols. The method permits the mobile device memory to be mounted as a shared network drive.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0131687 describes a wireless remote USB hub apparatus; the device is essentially a Wi-Fi router having one or more USB ports for external drives, printers and the like, making the devices accessible to personal computers or other client devices via the wireless network.
Most of the prior art methods and apparatus require complex systems and dedicated hardware. Simple devices, such as the wireless card reader of U.S. Pat. No. 6,522,552, may offer controlled access to the stored data simply by virtue of the wireless network protocol, but otherwise lack security features such a copy protection. There remains a need for controlled, secure wireless access to external and/or portable data storage devices that is inexpensive and convenient for non-expert consumers.

Apparatus providing wireless access to storage devices


To provide an ink set including a recording liquid and a treating liquid capable of obtaining a high-quality-image printed matter. To provide the high-quality-image printed matter by using the ink set including the recording liquid and the treating liquid, where the component and property of the treating liquid and the recording liquid are adjusted, moreover a combination of the component and the property is adjusted. The ink set includes: the recording liquid which includes a coloring material; and the treating liquid which includes a component reactive with a component of the recording liquid. By superimposing the treating liquid and the recording liquid on a record medium, a record part is formed which includes a first layer formed of the recording liquid, and a second layer formed of the treating liquid. The treating liquid has the surface tension γ expressed by 10 mN/m≦γ≦60 mN/m.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing technology of an ink jet printer. More specifically, the present invention relates to an ink set, a treating liquid, a recording liquid, an image recording apparatus, and an image recording method.
2. Description of Related Art
An image recording method carrying out an image recording with a recording liquid (containing a coloring material) as a droplet is excellent in that a printing mechanism thereof is simple and that the method is free from noise.
On the other hand, however, the above image recording method in combination with some record media may cause an image defect typical example thereof including a feathering, thus greatly decreasing an image quality. In terms of the above problem, suppressing permeability of the recording liquid is being tried for decreasing the feathering. Suppressing the permeability, however, may deteriorate dryness of the recording liquid, thus adhering the recording liquid to a hand when the hand touches a printed matter after printing, or smearing the image, which is another problem.
Printing a color image may superimpose one after another the recording liquids with different colors, thus bleeding or mixing the color ink on a color boundary, resulting in a greatly decreased image quality. For decreasing the color bleeding, the permeability of the recording liquid is tried to be increased. Increasing the recording liquid, however, may cause the coloring material to enter the record medium, thus decreasing the image density and increasing permeation of the recording liquid to backside of the record medium. With this, a both-side print may not be carried out preferably.
The image recording method is desired to solve the above problems at the same time and increase the image quality.
With respect to the above problems, methods of combining the recording liquid with a treating liquid are proposed, where the treating liquid contains a component that can form an aggregate with a coloring material in the recording liquid.
Japanese Patent (JP-B) No. 2675001 discloses a method of using, as a treating liquid, a liquid that is a colorless or hypochromic and contains polyvalent metal compound. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2002-332438 discloses a method of using a treating liquid containing fine-particles in a dispersed state, where the fine-particles have a surface which is so charged as to have different polarity from that of a recording liquid. JP-A No. 2002-332438 is, however, not sufficient in terms of image quality. Especially, the liquid containing, in the dispersed state, the reactive fine particles can be added by a greater amount of reactive components by suppressing liquid viscosity increase, compared with the treating liquid of Japanese Patent (JP-B) No. 2675001 which dissolves the polyvalent metal compound. Compared with the polyvalent metal compound and the like, the above fine particles are larger in nature, thereby may form a large aggregate when the dispersed state is collapsed by the reaction of the fine particle with the coloring material. As a result, a great viscosity increase may occur, and thereby may suppress fluidity of the coloring material, thus improving the image by preventing the feathering and the like.
In the printing method of reacting two liquids (recording liquid and treating liquid) on the record medium, the lower the surface tension of the treating liquid is, the more widely the treating liquid spreads near the surface of the recording medium. With this, the treating liquid may become better in terms of embedding to the surface of the record medium, thereby the coloring material of the recording liquid may more stay on the surface of paper, thus improving the image including such properties as image density, back-through density and chroma. The treating liquid having lower surface tension may spread more widely. With this, even a small amount of treating liquid is sufficient for suppressing the permeation (caused by the aggregate reaction) of the recording liquid into the record medium, resulting in decreased total amount of liquid, thereby decreasing problems such as the feathering, the color bleeding and cockling.
The treating liquid having the low surface tension of less than 35 mN/m may, as a matter of fact, cause bubble in the loading of the treating liquid to a nozzle head, thus frequently causing discharge failure attributable to the bubble. With this, it may become difficult to secure discharge stability of all the nozzles, disenabling to stably produce the high-quality-image printed matter.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink set including a recording liquid and a treating liquid capable of obtaining a high-quality-image printed matter.
It is another object of the present invention to provide the ink set where the component and property of the treating liquid and the recording liquid are adjusted, moreover a combination of the component and the property is adjusted.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus and an image recording method using the ink set.

Ink set, treating liquid, recording liquid, image recording apparatus and image recording method


In an optical system having multiple cascaded splitter/combiners, a trunk port and/or a drop port is configured for at least one of the splitter/combiner units. Drop ports may be configured with an average gain control, and the trunk ports may be configured to have individual gain control to provide a more precise overall gain and to maintain adequate signal levels. Embodiments apply to evolving RFoG architectures designed to serve a large number of subscribers without suffering from OBI (Optical Beat Interference) by retransmitting an optical signal through cascading splitters/combiners.

An impairment of traditional radio frequency over glass (RFoG) communication channels is Optical Beat Interference (OBI), thereby afflicting RFoG networks. OBI occurs when two or more reverse path transmitters are powered on, and are very close in wavelength to each other. OBI limits upstream traffic, but can also limit downstream traffic. Existing efforts at mitigating OBI include adjusting ONUs to be wavelength specific, creating an RFoG-aware scheduler in the CMTS, changing ONU wavelengths in real-time, or combining multiple upstream inputs nominally in the same wavelength range.
Optical Beat Interference (OBI) and the limited return link budget are problems in RFoG return networks (see http://www.scte.org/documents/pdf/Standards/ANSI_SCTE_174_2010.pdf for an overview of RFoG networks). In such networks typically a star splitter distributes light over 32 subscribers, the same splitter combines return light from the 32 subscribers at a penalty of 15 dB of loss. Also the optical combining of multiple sources at nominally the same wavelength can cause optical beat interference such that the information content can be overwhelmed by noise.
Thus, improved techniques for reducing distortions in a network are desirable.
It is noted that while the accompanying Figures serve to illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments, the concepts displayed are not necessary to understand the embodiments of the present invention, as the details depicted in the Figures would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.


In a mobile station UE, a PHR transmission unit transmits a PHR to a RAT#1 when “prohibitPHR-Timer_up” is interrupted and when an increment in transmission power or P-MPR in second communication exceeds “dl-PathlossChange” compared with a value in finally transmitting the PHR. When “prohibitPHR-Timer_down” is interrupted and when a decrement in transmission power or a decrement in transmission power or P-MPR in the second communication exceeds “dl_PathlossChange”, the PHR transmission unit transmits the PHR to the RAT#1, and “prohibitPHR-Timer_up” is ended in a period shorter than that of “prohibitPHR-Timer_down”.

For an LTE (Long Term Evolution) system and an LTE-A (Long Term Evolution-Advanced) system, in an uplink, a UL scheduler of a radio base station eNB is configured to select a transmission format in a PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel) in each TTI (Transmission Time Interval) and in each mobile station UE.
At this point, the transmission format includes a modulation system, a code rate, and the number of resource blocks. A TBS (Transport Block Size) is uniquely determined by the modulation system, the code rate, and the number of resource blocks.
The radio base station eNB is configured to notify the mobile station UE of the transmission format in the selected PUSCH using "UL grant" in a PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel).
The mobile station UE is configured to transmit an uplink data signal through the PUSCH based on the transmission format of which the mobile station UE is notified through the PDCCH.
The UL scheduler of the general radio base station eNB estimates a PL (Path Loss) between the mobile stations UE, and selects the modulation system and the code rate such that the TBS is enlarged with respect to the mobile station UE having the small PL, thereby keeping a BLER (Block Error Rate) constant irrespective of the PL.
As a result, uplink throughput matching the PL is implemented, and system throughput can be increased while interference to another cell is suppressed.
The mobile station UE is also configured to determine a transmission power PPUSCH,c(i) in the PUSCH based on (equation 1) in FIG. 9.
Where "PCMAX,c (i)" is a maximum transmission power (after consideration of necessary power backoff) of the mobile station UE, "MPUSCH,c(i)" is the number of resource blocks, "Po—PUSCH,c(i)" is a power offset value (an annunciation parameter) that becomes a reference, "αc(j)" is an inclination parameter (an annunciation parameter) of Fraction TPC, PLc is a path loss, ΔTF,c(i) is a power offset value based on the modulation system and the code rate, and fc(i) is a closed-loop power control correction value.
The UL scheduler of the radio base station eNB selects the transmission format such that the transmission power PPUSCH,c(i) in the PUSCH of the UE becomes "PCMAX,c(i)" or less.
At this point, the UL scheduler of the radio base station eNB estimates the transmission power PPUSCH,c(i) in the PUSCH of the UE using (equation 1).
The BLER becomes larger than a target value, because the transmission power in the PUSCH of the mobile station UE is stuck to "PCMAX,c(i)" even if the UL scheduler of the radio base station eNB selects the transmission format in which the transmission power larger than "PCMAX,c(i)" is needed.
In the conventional LTE system and LTE-A system, a mechanism that feeds back "PHR (Power Headroom Report)" from the mobile station UE to the radio base station eNB is provided such that the UL scheduler of the radio base station eNB can select the proper transmission format.
At this point, the PHR is a report that reports a surplus transmission power PHtype1,c(i) of the mobile station UE. The surplus transmission power PHtype1,c(i) of the mobile station UE is obtained using (equation 2) in FIG. 10.
A term (1) in (equation 2) is the transmission power in the PUSCH in which the sticking of "PCMAX,c(i)" is not considered.
"PCMAX,c(i)" is a value in which an MPR (Maximum Power Reduction), an A-MPR (Additional-Maximum Power Reduction), or a P-MPR (P-Maximum Power Reduction) is subtracted from the maximum transmission power (or the maximum transmission power permitted/designated by a network) determined by performance of the mobile station UE.
At this point, the MPR or the A-MPR is a backoff value with respect to the maximum transmission power necessary to satisfy an adjacent channel interference provision.
In 3GPP TS36.101 (v10.0.0), a maximum allowance value of the backoff value is defined in the form of the modulation system, the number of resource blocks, a frequency band, and a position in the frequency band.
The P-MPR is a backoff value with respect to the maximum transmission power necessary to satisfy a SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) provision, which is newly introduced from an LTE-A system (that is, the LTE (Rel-10) system), and the like.
"SAR" defines an amount of energy absorbed in any tissue when a human body is exposed to an electromagnetic wave.
When the mobile station UE simultaneously performs transmission through two RATs (Radio Access Technologies), because an amount of radio wave generated from both the RATs needs to be considered, sometimes the SAR provision is satisfied only by the transmission power in one of the RATs, and possibly the backoff is performed to the maximum transmission power in the other RAT.
For example, in the case that sound communication through a cdma2000 system and data communication through the LTE system are simultaneously conducted, it is considered that the backoff is not performed to the transmission power in the cdma2000 system in order to maintain sound quality while the backoff is applied to the transmission power in the LTE system in order to satisfy the SAR provision.
At this point, because the sound communication through the cdma2000 system is a multi-rate, the backoff varies from moment to moment with respect to the transmission power in the LTE system when the transmission power varies from moment to moment.
In the LTE-A system, the mobile station UE is configured to transmit the PHR when a variation Δ in "PCMAX,c(i)" or a variation Δ in P-MPR, which is based on the P-MPR compared with a value in finally transmitting the PHR while "prohibitPHR-Timer" is interrupted, exceeds "dl-PathlossChange" (see FIG. 11).
The mobile station UE is configured to activate "prohibitPHR-Timer" when transmitting the PHR, and configured not to transmit the PHR until "prohibitPHR-Timer" is ended (see FIG. 11).
Specifically, in an example in FIG. 12, the mobile station UE is configured to transmit the PHR to the radio base station eNB at clock times t1 to t5.
At this point, the mobile station UE does not transmit the PHR, because the variation Δ does not exceed "dl-PathlossChange" although "prohibit PHR-Timer" is ended in periods A, B, and D.
The mobile station UE does not transmit the PHR, because "prohibitPHR-Timer" is not ended although the variation Δ exceeds "dl-PathlossChange" in a period C.


In a method for preparing and/or coating the surfaces of metallic hollow structural elements that have at least two connection openings between their outer and inner surfaces, first and second reaction gas mixtures (I, II) are prepared by reaction gas sources for treating the outer and inner surfaces of the hollow structural elements. The first reaction gas mixture (I) is guided over the outer surfaces and thereafter over the inner surfaces of the structural elements, and then the second reaction gas mixture (II) is guided over the inner surfaces and thereafter over the outer surfaces of the structural elements. An apparatus for carrying out the method includes a reaction vessel enclosing an outer reaction space, a central holding pipe arranged in the reaction vessel and enclosing an inner space, and hollow support arms removably attached on the holding pipe to extend radially outwardly therefrom. Each structural element is mounted on a hollow support arm so that one of the connection openings communicates with the inner space through the hollow support arm and the other one of the connection openings communicates with the outer reaction space.

EP 0,349,420 discloses a method with an apparatus for the preparation and/or coating of the surfaces of metallic hollow structural elements, which comprise at least two connection openings between their outer and inner surfaces, especially for hollow blades in the field of turbine engine construction. In the disclosed method and apparatus, a cleaning gas mixture or a coating gas mixture is generated beneath a blade in a reaction space. The blade hangs in the reaction space, from which the outer surfaces may be cleaned or coated. The reaction gas first flows over the outer surfaces in one direction and then flows through a first opening in the hollow blade into the hollow spaces and past the inner surfaces, and finally flows out of the hollow spaces through a second opening in the hollow blade into an exhaust conduit for removal or return flow of the residual gases of the reaction gas.
Such apparatus and methods have the disadvantage that the concentration of individual reaction components, which are contained in the reaction gas and which react with the surfaces, diminishes along the path over the outer surfaces, the first opening, the inner surfaces, and up to the outlet out of the second opening, to such an extent that substantial reaction differences arise between the outer and inner surfaces and over the course of the inner surfaces.
The reaction differences between the outer and inner surfaces are partially overcome by measures as are described in the patents DE 4,035,789 and DE 4,119,967. However, it can be determined that the differences over the course of the inner surfaces from the entry into the hollow spaces up to the point of flowing out of the hollow spaces cannot be substantially improved using the prior methods. Moreover, the improved methods and apparatus have the disadvantage that they require retort structures that are constructed in an extremely complex and only slightly variable manner, and appear to be unsuitable for use in mass production.
A further essential disadvantage of the prior art is that the known apparatus and methods do not permit the use of different gas sources for the treatment of the outer and inner surfaces.

Device and method for preparing and/or coating the surfaces of hollow construction elements

MTU Motoren- und Turbinen-Union Muenchen GmbH


A serial printer having a dot type printing head for printing on a paper. The printer includes 2N columns of dot forming elements where N is a positive integer equal to 2 or more and a carriage supported on the printer for reciprocal movement across the paper in a carriage direction. The columns of dot forming elements are supported on the carriage for selectively printing dots on a paper. Each column of the dot forming elements is spaced a predetermined distance from adjacent columns of the dot forming elements in the carriage direction. Each dot forming element column includes a plurality of dot forming elements arranged in a line and spaced apart from one another in the column direction by a dot pitch substantially equal to N. A drive system selectively drives selected dot forming elements in each column of dot forming elements by one of an even number timing and an odd number timing. Each column of dot forming elements driven by an even number timing is shifted in the column direction by one dot with respect to each other column of dot forming elements driven by an even number timing. Each column of dot forming elements driven by an odd number timing is shifted in a column direction by one dot with respect to each other column of dot forming elements driven by an odd number timing. Each column of dot forming elements driven by an even number timing is shifted in the column direction by less than about 1/3 dot pitch with respect to at least one column of dot forming elements driven by an even number timing.

The present invention relates generally to a serial printer, and, in particular, to a printer provided with a dot type printing head having a plurality of dot forming elements arranged as an assembly of dots to print characters and figures.
In a conventional serial printer, the dot type printing head is constructed with a large number of dot forming elements to achieve a high quality character printing and high printing speed. There are two types of arrangements of dot forming elements in a single printing head as set forth in the prior art. Referring specifically to FIG. 1(a), a first arrangement including a printing head having forty eight (48) dot forming elements is shown. When the printing head is mounted on a carriage, a four row dot forming element chain is formed by vertically arranging twelve (12) dot forming elements in four rows. Additionally, the twelve (12) dot forming elements are spaced at two dot intervals and are arranged to be vertically shifted by two dots between neighboring dot forming element chains.
Referring specifically to FIG. 2(a), a second arrangement is shown having four units. The four units are constructed by vertically arranging twelve (12) dot forming elements in four rows at two dot intervals. The neighboring first and second units and the third and fourth units are arranged to vertically align the dot forming positions. The dot forming positions are selected to vertically shift bit by bit between both the first and second units and the third and fourth units respectively.
In the first arrangement of the prior art, the dot forming positions of each unit are vertically shifted by 1/2 dot. Therefore, the dots are vertically arranged and interposed achieving an overlap of 1/2 dot as shown in FIG. 1(b). Accordingly, a fine dot pattern is produced with a high printing quality.
Further, the first arrangement of the prior art provides a printer having a draft printing mode with high printing speed, but inferior printing quality in addition to a normal printing mode with high printing quality. However, the disadvantages occur when a horizontal line is printed. When a horizontal line is printed by two units either the first and second units or the third and fourth units, the neighboring dots are vertically and alternately shifted by 1/2 dots so that character quality is degraded as shown in FIG. 1(c).
In the second arrangement of the prior art, two units are provided for printing the position of a character or figure. Therefore, since the assembly of dots are arranged in a straight line, high printing speed can be performed while at the same time a horizontal line can be printed with a high printing quality. However, since the dot forming elements are arranged at one dot intervals, a mutual interposition of dots can not be vertically performed as shown in FIG. 2(b). Therefore, the print quality is degraded in the normal printing mode as shown in FIG. 2(c).
Hence, the prior art discloses serial print heads which degrade the print quality in either the normal printing mode or the draft printing mode.
Accordingly, it is desired to provide an improved dot head for a serial printer which at a high printing speed can produce a high printing quality in both the normal printing mode and the draft printing mode.

Print element arrangement in serial matrix printer


A device includes a semiconductor region in a semiconductor chip, a gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor region, and a gate electrode over the gate dielectric. A drain region is disposed at a top surface of the semiconductor region and adjacent to the gate electrode. A gate spacer is on a sidewall of the gate electrode. A dielectric layer is disposed over the gate electrode and the gate spacer. A conductive field plate is over the dielectric layer, wherein the conductive field plate has a portion on a drain side of the gate electrode. A conductive via is disposed in the semiconductor region. A source electrode is underlying the semiconductor region, wherein the source electrode is electrically shorted to the conductive field plate through the conductive via.

In a conventional vertical power Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET), two p-body regions are formed in an n-type epitaxy region. The vertical power MOSFET are such named since its source electrode and drain region are overlapped. A portion of the epitaxy region between the two p-body regions is lightly doped to form an n-type doped region, which is sometimes known as an N-type Junction Field Effect Transistor (n-JFET) region. The p-body regions and the n-JFET region are under a gate dielectric and a gate electrode. When the gate is applied with a positive voltage, the accumulation regions of electrons are formed in the p-body regions. The accumulation regions act as the channel regions that connect the source region of the vertical power MOSFET to the n-JFET region, which is further connected to the drain region of the power MOSFET through the n-type epitaxy region. Accordingly, a source-to-drain current is conducted from the source region to the channels in the p-body regions, the n-JFET region, the epitaxy region, and then to the drain region.
The n-JFET region is underlying the gate electrode, with the gate dielectric layer disposed between the n-JFET region and the gate electrode. There is a large overlap area between the gate electrode and the n-JFET region. As a result, there is a significant gate-to-drain capacitance, which adversely affects the performance, including the speed, of the vertical MOSFET. Furthermore, the n-JFET region is lightly doped since is it a part of the n-type epitaxy region. The resistance of the n-JFET region is thus high, which adversely affects the drive current of the vertical power MOSFET.

Vertical power MOSFET and methods for forming the same

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A printed circuit board assembly comprises a printed circuit board and a heat sink that has two surface planes. One surface plane of the heat sink is raised, and provides a surface area for contact with the printed circuit board. The other surface plane is lower than the raised surface plane. The printed circuit board extends over the lower surface plane. The distance between the raised surface plane and the lower surface plane provides space for through-hole pins that extend beneath the printed circuit board, because the underside of the printed circuit board lies on the raised surface plane. The multi-plane heat sink can be formed by an extrusion process, as well as a stamping or other process that allows for more complex patterns of surfaces.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of printed circuit board assemblies, and in particular to printed circuit board assemblies that include a heat sink.
2. Description of Related Art
Heat sinks are often used to dissipate heat from electronic components. Often, a heat sink is provided for the particular component that generates substantial heat. In many cases, however, the accumulated heat of many components necessitates the heat dissipation. In such cases, it is often more efficient and cost effective to provide a heat sink that dissipates heat from a region of a circuit board, rather than individual component heat sinks. Heat sinks are commonly required in ballast circuits that provide high voltage or high current signals to operate lamps.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,908, issued Aug. 25, 1998 to Herzberger et al, discloses a printed circuit board assembly comprising a printed circuit board and an integral heat sink, and is incorporated by reference herein. The heat sink of the '908 patent comprises an aluminum plate that is adhered to the printed circuit board via a hot-press process. To accommodate both through-hole components as well as surface mount components, slots are cut into the aluminum plate to create voids under select areas of the printed circuit board, to accommodate the pins of the through hole components. This arrangement is well suited for use in a ballast assembly, wherein one or more transformers include pins that serve to mechanically hold the transformer in place on the printed circuit board, as well as providing the electrical contact between the printed circuit board and the coils of the transformer. After assembly, the voids are filled, or covered by another plate, to avoid inadvertent contact with the high voltages that are typically associated with a lamp ballast.

Printed circuit board assembly with improved thermal performance

Philips Electronics North America Corporation


A relay apparatus in a communication system including a transmission apparatus, a reception apparatus, and a plurality of relay apparatuses which include the relay apparatus, including: a receiver receiving distributed sequential packets from the transmission apparatus which distributes sequential packets for the reception apparatus among the plurality of relay apparatuses, a memory storing distributed sequential packets of the sequential packets in sequential order, the distributed sequential packets are distributed and transmitted to the relay apparatus by the transmission apparatus, and a processor selecting a discard packet from the distributed sequential packets based on a discard condition, and to add a discard information to a previous packet and to transmit the previous packet, the discard information indicates a sequence number of the discard packet to be discarded, and the previous packet is one of the distributed sequential packets before the discard packet in sequential order.

In general, to realize high-speed data transmission in a communication system, link aggregation which uses a plurality of communication links as a single large-capacity link has been generally used. Examples of the link aggregation include the IEEE 802.3ad in which link aggregation is performed in a wired Ethernet link ("Ethernet" is a registered trademark).
Furthermore, a technique of efficiently using a link band by assigning data flows to a plurality of links has been generally used. In a configuration in which data flows are assigned to a plurality of links, packets and control messages of the data flows are also transmitted after being assigned to the links, and therefore, time points when the assigned packets arrive at a reception side through the links are different from one another. Therefore, an order of packets is inversed in a data flow in some cases.
To address this problem, sequence numbers are assigned to the transmitted packets after the data flows are identified on a transmission side, the packets are assigned to the plurality of links, and the order is corrected in accordance with the sequence numbers on the reception side. By this, even when the data flows are assigned to the plurality of links, the order of the packets is ensured.
Furthermore, a technique of detecting loss of a packet on a reception side caused by a transmission error and performing a process of transmitting a packet which is in a waiting state when the loss of a packet is detected has been generally used (refer to Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2004-80139, for example). In this technique, at a timing when a packet having a sequence number which is larger than that of a packet which is expected to be received is received, it is determined that the packet which is expected to be received is lost in transmission. Therefore, in this technique, a reception of a packet is waited until a packet having a sequence number which is larger than that of the packet which is expected to be received is received.
Moreover, a technique of notifying, when a transmission side detects a poor wireless environment in a certain frame, a transmission side of information representing that data is not to be transmitted in the frame has been generally used (refer to Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2004-7029, for example).

Relay apparatus, reception apparatus, and communication system


Methods and systems are provided for synchronizing various time-stamped data streams. The data streams can be synchronized to another data stream or to a point of reference such as a reference clock. In one embodiment, synchronization processing takes place in association with a filter graph comprising multiple filters. The filter graph is configured to process multiple timestamped data streams for rendering the data streams in accordance with data stream timestamps. A synchronization module is provided and is associated with the filter graph queries individual filters of the filter graph to ascertain input timestamp-to-output timestamp mappings. The module computes adjustments that are to be made to output time stamps in order to synchronize the data streams, and then instructs queried filters to adjust their output timestamps in accordance with its adjustment computations.

Recent advances in computing power and related technology have fostered the development of a new generation of powerful software applications. Gaming applications, communications applications, and multimedia applications have particularly benefited from increased processing power and clocking speeds. Indeed, once the province of dedicated, specialty workstations, many personal computing systems now have the capacity to receive, process and render multimedia objects (e.g., audio and video content). While the ability to display (receive, process and render) multimedia content has been around for a while, the ability for a standard computing system to support true multimedia editing applications is relatively new.
In an effort to satisfy this need, Microsoft Corporation introduced an innovative development system supporting advanced user-defined multimedia editing functions. An example of this architecture is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,038, issued to Griffiths and commonly owned by the assignee of this document, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
In the '038 patent, Griffiths introduced an application program interface which, when exposed to higher-level development applications, enables a user to graphically construct a multimedia processing project by piecing together a collection of "filters" exposed by the interface. The interface described therein is referred to as a filter graph manager. The filter graph manager controls the data structure of the filter graph and the way that data moves through the filter graph. The filter graph manager provides a set of object model interfaces for communication between a filter graph and its application. Filters of a filter graph architecture implement one or more interfaces, each of which contains a predefined set of functions, called methods. Methods are called by an application program or other objects in order to communicate with the object exposing the interface. The application program can also call methods or interfaces exposed by the filter graph manager object.
Filter graphs work with data representing a variety of media (or non-media) data types, each type characterized by a data stream that is processed by the filter components comprising the filter graph. A filter positioned closer to the source of the data is referred to as an upstream filter, while those further down the processing chain is referred to as a downstream filter. For each data stream that the filter handles it exposes at least one virtual pin (i.e., distinguished from a physical pin such as one might find on an integrated circuit). A virtual pin can be implemented as an object that represents a point of connection for a unidirectional data stream on a filter. Input pins represent inputs and accept data into the filter, while output pins represent outputs and provide data to other filters. Each of the filters includes at least one memory buffer, and communication of the media stream between filters is often accomplished by a series of "copy" operations from one filter to another.
A filter graph can have a number of different types of filters, examples of which include source filters, decoder filters, transform filters, and render filters. A source filter is used to load data from some source, a decoder filter is used to decode or decompress a compressed data stream, a transform filter processes and passes data, and a render filter renders data to a hardware device or other locations (e.g., to a file, etc.).
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary filter graph 100 for rendering media content. Filter graph 100 comprises a number of different filters 104–110 and may or may not comprise a source 102. A typical filter graph for multimedia content can include, for example, of graph portion that is dedicated to processing video content and a graph portion that is dedicated to processing audio content. For example, in FIG. 1 a source 102 provides content that is typically in compressed form. A source filter 104 receives the content and then provides the content to one or more decoder filters for decompression. In this example, consider that filters 106–110 process video content, filters 106a–108a process sub-picture content (such as that used in Digital Video Data (DVD)), and filters 106b–110b process audio content. Accordingly, the decoder filters decompress the data and provide the data to a transform filter (e.g. filters 108–108b) that operates on the data in some way. The transform filters then provide the transformed data to a corresponding render filter (e.g. 110, 110b) that then renders the data.
Typically, an application program or application 112 provides a means by which a user can interact with the content that is processed by the filter graph. Responsive to a user interacting with the application, the application can issue commands to the source filter 104. Examples of commands can include Run, Stop, Fast Forward, Rewind, Jump and the like. The source filter receives the commands and then takes steps to ensure that the commands are executed at the right time. For example, the source filter 104 typically receives data and provides timestamps onto data samples that define when the data sample is to be rendered by the render filters. The source filter then hands the timestamped data sample off to the decoder for further processing. The render filters now know, because of the timestamp, when the data sample is to be rendered.
Now, when a user interacts with the various data streams via application 112, the user can typically alter the playback rate of the streams. For example, the user can fast forward the data streams and experience the streams at a faster playback rate. Altering the playback rate can typically take place via one of two ways. First, a global timing clock can be altered. This is referred to as a time compression or time expansion. Second, the application can instruct various filters to modify their output to make the data appear as if it was playing back at a different rate. This is referred to as a rate change. For example, if the user wishes to fast forward a data stream, the decoder filters can map the input timestamps of the individual data samples to different output timestamps so that the render filter renders the data streams at the requested playback rate.
As an example, consider FIG. 2. There, a graph 200 is provided. The x-axis is designated "Input Timestamp" and represents the input timestamp of a particular data sample. The y-axis is designated "Output Timestamp" and represents the output timestamp of a particular data sample. When a data sample is received for rendering, the source filter (such as source filter 104 in FIG. 1) provides the data sample with a timestamp that indicates when the data sample is to be rendered. The source filter then provides the data sample to the decoder filter (such as decoder filters 106–106b). Now assume that the user, through the application, indicates that the following should occur:                For the data samples with input timestamps of 1–10, they wish to have the samples rendered at a normal 1–1 play rate;        For the data samples with the input timestamps of 11–20, they wish to have the samples rendered at 5 times the normal rate (i.e. fast forwarded at 5×).
As part of the process that takes place, the decoder filters can adjust the timestamps for the relevant samples so that the samples' output timestamps now comport with the desired playback speeds (i.e. play at 1–1 rate and fast forward at 5×). For example, in order to render the data samples that originally had timestamps of 11–20 (10 timestamps in total) at 5 times the playback rate, those samples will need to be rendered as if they had timestamps of 11 and 12 (i.e. 2 timestamps in total).
So, with this in mind, consider again FIG. 2. For input timestamps of 1–10 there is a one-to-one correspondence between input and output timestamps, meaning that the data samples will be rendered at a normal play rate. Input timestamps of 11–20 will, however, be mapped to output timestamps of 11 and 12 because of the 5× fast forward play rate. Thus, when the render filters receive the data samples with the re-mapped timestamps, the data samples will be rendered in accordance with the desired playback speeds.
Now, in reality, the re-mapping of timestamps can lead to synchronization problems in the following way. Consider, for example, that the individual decoder filters can have different computational models. That is, the different decoder filters might be provided from different vendors. Accordingly, the different computational models may perform computations for purposes of re-mapping time stamps differently. Specifically, the computational models may perform rounding operations differently. Because of this, the re-mapped timestamps can vary as between data samples that should for all practical purposes be rendered together. This can manifest itself in some different ways. For example, the audio that accompanies the video may lag just enough to be annoying. Additionally, sub-pictures such as video overlays may be overlaid at the wrong time. Thus, the user experience can be degraded.
Products utilizing the filter graph have been well received in the market as it has opened the door to multimedia editing using otherwise standard computing systems. Yet, there continues to be a need to improve filter graph technology and further enhance the user experience, or at least not degrade it.
Accordingly, this invention arose out of concerns associated with providing improved methods and systems for synchronizing timestamped data streams and, in particular, timestamped data streams associated with filter graphs.

Methods and systems for synchronizing data streams


A compressed rendition of a video program is provided in a format suitable for electronic searching and retrieval. An electronic pictorial transcript representation of the video program is initially received. The video program has a video component and a second information-bearing media component associated therewith. The pictorial transcript representation includes a representative frame from each segment of the video component of the video program and a portion of the second media component associated with the segment. The electronic pictorial transcript is transformed into a hypertext format to form a hypertext pictorial transcript. The hypertext pictorial transcript is subsequently recorded in an electronic medium.

This invention relates generally to a method for automatically providing a compressed rendition of a video program in a format suitable for electronic searching and retrieval, and more particularly to a method for providing a compressed rendition of a video program in a format suitable for electronic searching and retrieval on the World Wide Web.
The rapid growth of the World Wide Web began with the development of an on-line browser having a graphical user interface. Graphical interfaces provide a number of important advantages, including the ability to rapidly scroll through a document to get to a particular point of interest. Moreover, the ability to interact with a medium other than text (i.e. images or audio) increases the rate at which information can be conveyed since an image often conveys an idea faster and more efficiently than text.
While graphical browsers provide an adequate interface for text and images, they provide an inadequate interface for video programs. The sequential nature of the video and audio components of a video program impedes rapid access to such programs on the World Wide Web by graphical browsers. Furthermore, because of the limited bandwidth of networks supporting the World Wide Web, and particularly the limitations of most users"" connections to such networks, it takes a long time to transmit a program with its full content. For example, at a connection speed of 28,800 bits per second, it could take up to about 45 minutes to transmit even a three or four minute audiovisual segment with sound and full-motion video. As a result, video program providers sometimes form a compressed version of the video program by manually extracting and retaining selected frames from the program while other frames are discarded. The selected frames and accompanying text, typically taken from a transcript of the program, result in a document that may subsequently be made available over the World Wide Web. However, the generation of this document is typically a tedious and time consuming task since it must be created by a manual process.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a rendition of a video program which can be automatically generated and which allows easy interaction with graphical browsers with a minimum of information loss.
The present inventors have realized that a pictorial transcript representation of a video program is particularly well suited for on-line searching and retrieving applications such as browsing on the World Wide Web. Pictorial transcripts are compact representations of video programs which are automatically generated by selecting representative frames or images from the video program and combining them with a second media component such as audio or text which is associated with each representative frame. Properly chosen, the representative frames convey a substantial portion of the information content of the original video program. Moreover, pictorial transcripts may be generated in an automatic fashion, thus eliminating the substantial time and effort that was previously required to place a document of this type on the World Wide Web.
The inventive method provides a compressed rendition of a video program in a format suitable for electronic searching and retrieval. An electronic pictorial transcript representation of the video program is initially received. The video program has a video component and a second information-bearing media component associated therewith. The pictorial transcript representation includes a representative frame from each segment of the video component of the video program and a portion of the second media component associated with the segment. The electronic pictorial transcript is transformed into a hypertext format to form a hypertext pictorial transcript. The hypertext pictorial transcript is subsequently recorded in an electronic medium.

Method for providing a compressed rendition of a video program in a format suitable for electronic searching and retrieval


A deflection wedge is positioned in a long horizontal drill hole by securing it with a shear pin to an extension on a drill string. The extension is turned independently of the drill string to enable a droparm mechanism to actuate a trigger which stops rotation at a predetermined orientation. Rotation is effected by means of a rifle bar mechanism. The rifle bar presses against the bottom of the hole to cause rotation and the trigger declutches the rifle nut when the droparm drops.

This invention relates to the positioning of deflection wedges in drill holes which are horizontal or have a pronounced horizontal component.
Deflection wedges for vertical holes are well known and consist essentially of frusto-conical segments which are wedged in position in a drill hole. When next a drill bit is inserted in the hole, the wedge causes the bit to drill at an angle to the axis of the original hole. Deflection wedges are normally positioned at the end of a drill string, let down the hole, orientated to give the correct deflection and then severed from the drill string as by shearing a shear pin. The drill string is then removed leaving the wedge in position--see U.S. Pat. No. 2,950,900.
Devices suitable for deflecting vertical holes cannot be used without change in deflecting horizontal holes. Nowadays horizontal or near horizontal holes are used extensively in very deep mining for exploration.
In South Africa a device has been used on a small scale and with success in holes up to 500 m long. Beyond that length problems are encountered. Basically the mechanism relies on a weighted droparm the free end of which follows a cam. When as a result of rotation of the string the cam attains a position where there is a vertical cam path, the droparm falls and releases a trigger.
The trigger closes a valve which stops water flow through the drill string and causes a hydraulic pulse which can be detected at the drilling machine. This pulse indicates that the cam has attained the correct position, and as the wedge is orientated relatively to the cam, that the wedge is in the correct position. By pushing the drill string forward, the wedge is wedged in position and a pin is sheared to allow withdrawal of the drill string.
When the hole is near horizontal, the drill string rests on the bottom wall of the hole and is subject to a large amount of friction when one turns it to get the correct orientation. When the drill string is very long, the friction results in a wind-up of the drill string and the resulting stored energy when released causes the free end of the string, i.e. the orientation mechanism and wedge, to whip. This energy may be released as the drill string is pushed forward to secure the wedge and shear the pin with the result that the wedge loses its original correct orientation. Also if the droparm falls during the release of energy the wedge may continue to rotate after the hydraulic pulse, indicating correct orientation, has been transmitted to the drilling machine.

Apparatus for positioning deflection wedges


As an object, the present invention provides a noodle product, process for production and method for cooking, which allows the noodles to be cooked easily by heating with the use of a microwave oven, and thereby, the mouthfeel and taste of fresh noodles can be reproduced. The noodle product of the present invention comprises noodles and a container or bag containing the noodles, the container and bag being made of heat-resistant resin or aluminum and suitable for use in a microwave oven.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing noodles and a method for cooking said noodles.
2. Prior Art
Conventional ready-to-eat noodles include the original fried ready-to-eat noodles and the latest ready-to-eat fresh-type noodles which can be stored for a long period of time (LL noodles). However, these noodles, even those called the `fresh-type` are prepared by subjecting fresh noodles to a heat process such as boiling, steaming, frying and drying after .alpha.-modification for long-term storage and ready-to-eat abilities. Therefore, they fail to sufficiently reproduce the mouthfeel characteristics of fresh noodles.
Recently, microwave ovens have been popularized and used not only for thawing and heating but for cooking. Since they are convenient, that is, they require shorter period of time for cooking, they are widely utilized, particularly for cooking of a small amount of materials, heating and cooking of single meals. For noodles, they have been used only for the thawing of frozen noodles and thawing and heating of frozen or chilled chow mein. As ready-to-eat fried noodles, there have been some products to be heated with hot water added to the container in a microwave oven (DENGEKI RAMEN, manufactured by Ace-Cock Co. Ltd.), which have a mouthfeel similar to those of the aforementioned heat-processed products. Therefore, development of ready-to-eat noodles having mouthfeel characteristics of ordinary fresh noodles has been expected.
Conventionally, to meet the demand to shorten the cooking time, fresh noodle products have been produced by thinning noodle strands or by adding more water, but there have not been known examples wherein such fresh noodles are contained in a container to be served, and directly cooked in a microwave oven.
Microwave ovens have been used not only for thawing and heating but for cooking. Since they are convenient, that is, they require shorter period of time for cooking, they are widely utilized, particularly for cooking of a small amount of materials, heating and cooking a plate. To provide such a use, noodles, for example, ready-to-eat fried noodles, ready-to-eat noodles, prepared by drying after applying an .alpha.-treatment, frozen noodles are commercially available. However, all of the noodles have been subjected to heat treatment, and there have been no fresh noodles known which are prepared without heat treatment and become edible by cooking with a microwave oven.
On the other hand, for production of noodles, the present inventor has proposed to add wheat protein comprising gliadin as a main ingredient (for example, JP-A-6-105662 and JP-A-7-289187). However, noodles prepared by adding gliadin to ordinary flour cannot easily become edible noodles by cooking with rapid heat (for 1 to 3 minutes), which is one of the characteristics of cooking using a microwave oven.
There are many proposals to compound modified starch (for example, JP-A-3-252147). Using a large amount of modified starch (not less than 30% by weight) attains gelatinization in a short time, but the resulting noodle strands become fragile during production and storage of the fresh noodles. To prevent such problems, there are methods wherein gluten is added, or noodle strands are allowed to become partly .alpha.-starch by heat sterilization, to improve storage stability.
Conventionally, for the production of noodles, the addition of oils and fats or emulsifiers has often been carried out to improve the quality of the noodles. However, there have been no examples known for that of fresh noodles to be cooked in a microwave oven. The purpose of adding oils and fats and emulsifiers is mainly to improve the moldability and stretchability of the noodles and to prevent drying.
Conventionally, microwave ovens have been used for thawing frozen food and heating cold food, rarely for heat-cooking. In particular, microwave ovens have been rarely used for boiling food, for example, boiling noodles.
In general, when noodles are boiled using pans or the like, boil-over can be prevented by controlling the heating power while monitoring the boiling conditions. However, when microwave ovens are used for such cooking, the output cannot be controlled by monitoring boiling conditions, which is one of the greatest disadvantages of microwave ovens. Accordingly, boiling noodles using a microwave oven may be accompanied with boil-over or the like, causing many problems, for example, a risk of scalding and contamination due to boil-over.
A seasoning for cooking in a microwave oven, "RENJI-DE-ORYORI " has been marketed from Shimaya KK. This product requires relatively large amounts of water in a bag made of a resin to boil food in a microwave oven. To prevent boil-over, the product employs a bag to maintain a big space above the surface of the hot water, the top edge of the bag being folded to prevent boil-over. Accordingly, the bag cannot be served for a meal as it is, and after cooking, another operation is required, that is, the content should be transferred to another container. Thus, such a product is disadvantageously less convenient.
Problems to be Solved by the Invention:
An object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing ready-to-eat noodles which can be conveniently cooked by heating in a microwave oven, and reproduce the mouthfeel and taste characteristics of fresh noodles, and a method for cooking such ready-to-eat noodles.
However, in the aforementioned method in which gluten is added, the products require a longer time for boiling, and a method which comprises changing a starch to partially an .alpha.-starch results in products with a mouthfeel different from that of the original noodles prepared using flour. The object of the present invention is to provide fresh noodles to be cooked in a microwave oven, said noodles having a good moldability and being cooked to have a mouthfeel of regular noodles by rapid cooking using a microwave oven.
However, the addition of not less than 0.1% by weight of oils and fats and/or emulsifiers will cause problems, for example, the noodles may become pasty extremely quickly after boiling by heating using a general gas heater, electric heater or the like.
The object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing fresh noodles to be cooked in microwave ovens which are free from the aforementioned problems and can become edible by rapid cooking using microwave ovens.
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing noodles to be conveniently cooked in a microwave oven, wherein the noodles can be safely boiled without causing boil-over by heating in a microwave oven.

Method for cooking fresh noodles in a microwave oven


A heat-shrinkable envelope that is composed of a shrinkable component and a reinforcing component having a metallic matrix. The strength is increased on the basis of the metallic matrix and the ability to tear or, respectively, to continue to tear is considerably reduced. In addition, the metallic matrix forms an electrical and/or magnetic shield for components wrapped in the envelope.

The present invention is directed to a heat-shrinkable envelope or sleeve comprising at least one heat-shrinkable component and of a mechanical reinforcement component.
British patent application No. 1,497,051, which was the basis of the German Gebrauchsmuster No. 75 01 913, discloses a heat-shrinkable envelope or sleeve having a reinforcing insert for reinforcing the mechanical properties of the sleeve. Here, however, only the longitudinally directed reinforcing elements are used so that the shrink direction of the envelope is not influenced. The result of this, however, is that injuries, such as, for example, tears in a longitudinal direction, can continue unimpeded. This is especially dangerous when these injuries occur adjacent a face edge prior to the heat-shrinking operation, since a further tearing in the longitudinal direction of the envelope cannot be stopped during the shrinking operation as a consequence of the shrinking forces.
In order to solve this problem, for example, weaves or fabrics have also been inserted as reinforcing elements, as disclosed in European patent application No. 0,117,026. In this arrangement, shrinkable weaves are used and are embedded in a non-shrinkable material. In order to achieve a correspondingly higher, mechanical strength, non-shrinkable, heat-resistant, non-metallic threads that proceed in a second fabric direction, are also introduced into these fabrics in addition to the shrinkable threads proceeding in the first shrinkable direction. Thus, the heat-shrinkable component is woven in a matrix with the non-shrinkable component. Since the second direction is defined by the shrinkable components, the inserts of the present invention provide production essentially only against injuries in only one direction. On the other hand, the manufacture of envelopes having such weaves with different components is extremely involved and may also be complicated under certain conditions due to the differently constituted materials. Since the individual components are composed of natural or synthetic, electrically non-conductive materials, for example, electrically as well as magnetic shielding cannot be achieved with such a weave or reinforcing element.

Firma RXS Schrumpftechnik-Carnituren GmbH


A multilayer inductor having a uniformly improved direct current superposition property and an increased inductance value is disclosed. The multilayer inductor contains a laminate of a plurality of first insulating layers and a plurality of conductive layers, and the conductive layers and through hole conductors are connected to form a helical coil in the laminate. A second insulating layer which has a magnetic permeability lower than those of the first insulating layers is disposed such that it crosses an inner magnetic path of the helical coil, and a margin of the second insulating layer overlaps with the conductive layer in the stacking direction and is in contact with the conductive layer in the overlap portion. The magnetic flux density in the laminate is likely to be highest in the overlap portion, and thus, the highest-density magnetic flux passes through the second insulating layer inevitably, whereby the direct current superposition property can be uniformly improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multilayer inductor.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Multilayer inductors contain magnetic ceramic layers and conductive layers, which are stacked to form a helical conductive coil in the magnetic ceramic material. When a direct current is applied to a multilayer inductor at a certain level, the inductance of the multilayer inductor is reduced due to magnetic saturation. This phenomenon can be improved by modifying a closed magnetic path type multilayer inductor into an open magnetic path type, specifically by, as shown in FIG. 17, placing a nonmagnetic insulating layer 103 between magnetic layers 101 in a laminate as described in JP-A-56-155516.
Further, a method of improving a direct current superposition property by, as shown in FIG. 18, placing a nonmagnetic insulating ceramic 203 on at least a part of a magnetic ceramic 201 in a coil 202 is proposed in JP-A-11-97245.
However, a multilayer inductor according to JP-A-56-155516, which contains the nonmagnetic insulating layer between the magnetic layers, is disadvantageous in that the nonmagnetic insulating layer separates the magnetic path inside or outside the multilayer inductor, to greatly reduce the inductance value. In an inductor according to JP-A-11-97245, which contains the nonmagnetic insulating ceramic on at least a part of the magnetic ceramic in the coil, the magnetic flux density is higher in a contact region of a conductive layer forming the coil and the nonmagnetic insulating ceramic than at the center of a magnetic ceramic region surrounded by the coil. In a case where the nonmagnetic insulating ceramic has a small thickness, the conductive layer forming the coil is in unstable contact with the nonmagnetic insulating ceramic, whereby the nonmagnetic insulating ceramic can prevent the passing of the magnetic flux only nonuniformly. Thus, when a direct current is applied to the inductor, the inductance value is rapidly reduced without improving the direct current superposition property in 10 to 30% of such inductors. On the other hand, in a case where the nonmagnetic insulating ceramic has a large thickness to prevent the nonuniformity, the nonmagnetic insulating ceramic separates the magnetic path of the multilayer inductor to greatly reduce the inductance value, as with JP-A-56-155516.


A data communication system is provided comprising, at a plurality of locations, data terminal equipment. Communication equipment adapted to transmit and/or receive data from location to location is provided at each location connected to the terminal equipment and interconnected between locations through a suitable communications channel or media. An auxiliary signal processor is provided at each location interfaced with the communications equipment and deriving from the communications equipment on a noninterfering basis, information relating to the status of the channel, communications equipment, and data terminal equipment. A central controller is provided at a central location and auxiliary communication equipment is provided at each location interconnected with the central controller and with the auxiliary signal processor.

The invention relates to data communications and in particular to a system for the detection and correction of faults in a data communications network from a central location.
In my copending, commonly assigned patent application, System For The Quantitative Measurement Of Impairments In The Communication Channel Of A Quadrature Amplitude Modulation Data Communication System, Ser. No. 16,912, filed Mar. 2, 1979 there is disclosed a technique for QAM eye pattern analysis which permits the quantitative evaluation of a communications channel or media interconnecting two remote communication equipments of a data communication network. The communications equipment, in the form of transmit and/or receive modems may be interconnected by a communication channel comprising dedicated or dialed up commercial, military or foreign voice-grade telephone lines and include PCM, carrier, satellite and cable links.
In my copending, commonly assigned patent application, In-Service Monitoring System For Data Communications Network, Ser. No. 17,042, filed Mar. 2, 1979 there is disclosed a technique for the non-interfering monitoring of the components of a data communications network including the detection and isolation of faults and potential failures within the network.
The techniques disclosed in the above mentioned patent applications solve many long felt needs since they permit the evaluation of the communication of data from location to location without interfering with such data communication. The systems also permit potential future problems to be located and corrected prior to a degradation of the communications system to a point where it interferes with data transmission.
While these copending cases solve many of the problems heretofore encountered they still require that at each location of a data communications network a monitoring function be performed. For multi-location networks this would be both costly and time consuming.
In view of the above, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a system whereby the monitoring of the condition of components of a multi-location data communications network may be attained from a central location.
A further object is to provide such a system wherein adjustment or reconfiguration of the components of the network at the several remote sites may be attained from the central location.
Still further objects and advantages will be apparent from a review of the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

System for in-service quantitative performance analysis of data communications system


The invention relates to a blow molding machine for the blow molding of hollow articles, with an accumulator head (1) for producing a preform and with a blow mold for forming a hollow article from the preform. After completion of a blow molding sequence, a piston positioning signal is derived by a control system (15), to regulate the position of a discharge piston (4) in the accumulator head (1), from a comparative signal of the actual position and set position of the discharge piston (4). The set position is determined by integration from a previously specified speed set point profile. The control system (15) further superimposes an influx signal on the comparative signal, which corresponds to the change in volume of plastic flowing from an extruder (2) to replace the discharged contents of the accumulator head (1). The deviation between an actual cushion and a set point cushion for the plastic remaining in the accumulator head at the end of the discharge step is reduced by regulating the rotational speed of the extruder.

1. Related Application
This application is related in subject matter to commonly owned application Ser. No. 07/326,581 filed Mar. 21, 1989 by the same inventors as herein entitled "Blow Molding Machine For The Blow Molding Of Hollow Articles With Waiting Time Control."
2. Field of The Invention
The invention relates to a blow molding machine for the blow molding of hollow articles, with an accumulator head, which is connected to an extruder supplying synthetic material such as plastic, and from which in the filled condition a discharge piston drives the plastic through an annular slit-shaped discharge opening to produce a preform, with a blow mold for forming a hollow article from the preform and with a control system which, after completion of a blow molding sequence, derives a piston positioning signal for regulating the position of the discharge piston from a comparative signal, which is formed from the difference between the actual position and the set position of the discharge piston, the set position being determined by integration from a previously specified speed set point profile.
3. Description of the Prior Art
In order to blow mold hollow articles from thermoplastic synthetic material, tubular shaped preforms are produced from the relevant plastic material using an accumulator head and in a further operation are inflated between two hollow mold halves (blow mold) to the final size. The accumulator head is connected to an extruder, from which the thermoplastic synthetic material reaches the accumulator head. The accumulator head has an annular slit-shaped discharge opening, which is adjustable. The thermoplastic material is driven out of the discharge opening by a discharge piston. The preform which results in this way is stretched nonuniformly depending on the shape of the hollow article to be obtained. Thus, a uniform wall thickness of the hollow article requires a profiling of the wall thickness in the preform (wall thickness set point profile). This wall thickness set point profile of the preform is produced by adjusting the slit width of the discharge opening during the discharge step and altering the speed of the discharge piston in the discharge stroke. A blow molding machine working in this manner is known from German Offenlegungsschrift No. 3,416,781.
During a discharge step the speed of the discharge piston is determined by regulating the position of the discharge piston. A piston actuator displaces the discharge piston depending on the piston positioning signal of a position regulator. The position regulator receives a comparative signal, which is formed in a superimposition stage by subtraction of the actual position from the set position. Here, the set position is determined by integration from a previously specified speed set point profile. The speed set point profile is divided into a certain number of segments, which define various positions. An alteration in the speed may occur from one segment to the next. This speed curve which has been preselected by the profile corresponds to the profile for the wall thickness control at the discharge opening.
The speed set point profile is determined for a certain volume within the accumulator head. If the volume of plastic within the accumulator head remains constant in successive discharge steps, a preform is produced (reference preform) which essentially exhibits the same features, namely constant length and constant volume. Here, it is necessary that the influx of plastic from the extruder remains constant. If this influx of plastic varies, e.g. by alteration of the rotational speed of the extruder, the discharged tube also varies.
Normally the discharge step begins when the accumulator head is filled with thermoplastic material (until the set point contents level is reached) and the blow molding sequence for producing a hollow article is complete. If the blow molding sequence is not yet finished, the accumulator head continues to be filled with plastic, until after the conclusion of the blow molding sequence the discharge step can begin. The additional influx of plastic caused by the overfilling of the accumulator head causes variations in the preform. Profiling of the preform is only undertaken when the additional plastic has been discharged as a so-called "run-in tube". A waiting time also arises when the blow molding sequence is complete, but the accumulator head is not yet completely filled to its set point contents level. A loss of material and a reduction in the number of hollow articles which can be produced per unit time (reduction in capacity) results from the waiting time between completion of the blow molding sequence and reaching the set point contents level in the accumulator head and vice versa.

Blow molding machine with accumulator cushion regulation


A closure cap and fitment assembly configured for use with a container having a neck with an annular lip at its uppermost end defining a mouth. The closure cap and fitment assembly includes a fitment with a dispensing surface dimensioned to span the mouth of the container and a liner. The assembly further includes a cap with a top panel, an annular skirt and threads for releasable engagement onto the neck of the container. The inner portion of the cap defines a retaining structure which is designed to retain the fitment and liner within the cap.

There are currently numerous types of closure assemblies which include a particular fitment for dispensing the contents of a container. Typical dispensing fitments, such as sifter fitments, are designed to snap onto or otherwise engage the mouth of the container and to remain on the container when the closure cap is removed. Such fitments are generally included as part of the container package for a variety of liquid and granular or powdered substances. In addition, most container closure assemblies provided with fitments include a liner that spans the mouth of the container to prevent tampering, leakage or spoilage of the contents of the container.
Frequently the liner, fitment and closure cap are sold, distributed and stored separately prior to assembly upon the container. The assembly of the closure to a container entails several steps. Typically, a liner is applied to the inside of the fitment, the fitment and liner are then applied to the mouth of the container and the closure cap is secured to the container. Because the fitment is applied over the liner and onto the container, the user must normally snap the fitment off, remove the protective liner and then reapply the fitment to the container before being able to dispense the product.
Thus, the handling and assembly costs of currently available closure assemblies are significantly increased when a fitment is incorporated as part of the package. Not only are the packaging costs increased by the addition of a particular fitment, but the consumer is burdened with trying to remove and subsequently reapply the fitment. Often a consumer may simply decide to remove the liner and forego the step of reapplying the fitment. Thus, there is a need for a closure assembly in which the cap and the fitment are assembled as a unit and are sold, stored and applied to the container as a unit.


A sound generator that has a plurality of acoustic piezoelectric transducers coupled to a single Helmholtz resonator. The resonant frequency of the Helmholtz resonator and each transducer can be intentionally chosen to be different so as to be stagger tuned so that the sound generator can create intense sound waves over a broad frequency range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to acoustic generators, in particular Helmholtz resonators.
2. Description of Related Art
It has always been desirable to control the noise, particularly the audible noise of engines or machines. Noise control can increase the comfort and experience of riding in an airplane or an automobile. Noise control and cancellation is typically achieved in flow ducts by generating a sound wave that is of the same amplitude and frequency, yet 180.degree. out of phase with the noise. Through superposition, the generated sound wave subtracts from the noise to eliminate or reduce the intensity of the undesirable sound.
Present active noise reduction systems typically have a sound transducer connected to a computer. The transducer and computer sense and digitize the noise. The computer is also connected to a sound generator. The computer analyzes the noise, and provides signals to drive the sound generator to create a sound wave that will limit or cancel the propagation of the noise. With the advancement of analytical techniques, very substantial noise reduction can now be accomplished.
One type of noise generator used in noise cancellation systems is an active Helmholtz generator. A Helmholtz generator typically has a housing with an opening that allows air flow between an internal housing cavity and the region external to the opening. Sound is created in active Helmholtz generators by displacing the air within the cavity, which moves the air within the opening. The Helmholtz resonator can be modeled as a mass/spring assembly, wherein the air within the cavity functions as a spring, and the air within the opening region as an oscillating mass. Each Helmholtz resonator therefore has a resonant frequency at which the highest intensity of audio sound is generated for a given input energy. Additionally, the Helmholtz resonator contains very high frequency acoustic resonance within the cavity of the resonator. Unfortunately, the frequency band of a single Helmholtz resonator, being a tuned system, is somewhat narrow, thereby limiting the frequency range of the noise that can be canceled in an active noise control system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,198 issued to Bost discloses a sound generator that includes a piezoelectric transducer coupled to a pair of Helmholtz resonators. The resonant frequency of each Helmholtz resonator is different from the resonant frequency of the transducer. When the transducer is excited, the sound generator can provide sound of substantial intensity across the range of the three resonant frequencies of the transducer and resonators.
Further increasing the frequency range of sound using the Bost device would require the inclusion of additional housing units each with varying resonant frequencies. Providing extra units would add to the bulk, weight and cost of the overall system. It would therefore be desirable to have a sound generator that was compact, light and was capable of providing a broad frequency range of sound waves.


The projector system of the present disclosure has a projector, a mirror, an angle detector, and a calculator. The projector projects an image. The mirror tilts each of on intersecting two axes as an axis of rotation and reflects the image projected from the projector. The angle detector detects an inclination angle of the mirror. Based on the inclination angle, the calculator calculates a reflection-possible range of the mirror, a projection-possible range of the projector that corresponds to the reflection-possible range, and an image range so that the image is arranged within the projection-possible range.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a projector system capable of changing a projecting direction of projection image by a mirror and projecting the projection image extensively in directions.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional projector system changes a projecting direction of projection image by a mirror and provides the projection image with distortion correction (see Patent Literature 1, for example).

Projector system for arranging an image within a projection range

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A signature verification system to accompany a computer-based training system to monitor the identity of the training system user. Using a stylus and digitizing pad as a computer input device, the verification system accepts a user's signature made under supervised conditions, and the computer generates various discriminator data associated with the singature, such as time to write signature, signature density and signature size. The verified, supervised signature and associated discriminator data are stored in encrypted format for security against tampering. During sessions on the training system the user is required to enter a signature at random times. Again, corresponding discriminator data for these session signatures is generated by the computer, and the session signature(s) and associated corresponding discriminator data are also likewise encrypted and stored. At a later time, e.g., after the user has completed the training course, the discriminator data corresponding to the verified signature is compared to the discriminator data corresponding to a session signature, and any anomalous session signatures detected are flagged to alert the training course administration personnel to make visual comparison of the respective signatures.

The use of CBT systems to teach students is well known in the art. Typically, CBT systems use a microcomputer work station such as an IBM PC.RTM. to run programs that provide instruction to, and test and elicit answers from, the students on a selected topic of course material. (As used herein, training sessions include instructional sessions, testing sessions, or both combined.) Advancements in the art of computer-based training include the use of interactive audio-visual systems wherein the course of instruction interfaces audio commands from a tape with on-screen computer-based training to create an integrated training environment.
A key advantage of CBT systems is the ability to provide them in an unsupervised environment which allows students to access the training systems according to their own individual schedules. However, for a training system to be effective, and in some cases to satisfy governmental or other certification requirements, it is necessary to verify that the student receiving credit for the training be the same person who participated in the training session. Because the training is unsupervised it is necessary that there be verifiable means to ensure that the student authorized for the training is the same person who performed the training. Conventional CBT systems do not provide a means of checking the identity of CBT users participating in the training session and therefore create a problem for CBT administration officials who must somehow ensure the integrity of the training.

Computer-based training system with student verification


In at least one embodiment, a battery is provided comprising an electron beam-treated current collector having an increased surface energy compared to an untreated current collector and an electrode disposed on a treated surface of the current collector. The electrode may include a water-soluble binder uniformly coating a surface of the current collector and the treated current collector may have a contact angle with the water-soluble binder of 70 degrees or less. The electron beam treatment may be applied to a moving current collector foil as part of a battery production process, prior to application of an electrode slurry.

Enhancement of battery performance is an important issue in the advancement of portable electronics, power grid regulation, and electric vehicles. Rechargeable or secondary batteries generally include positive and negative electrodes, a separator, and an electrolyte. Current collectors are typically attached to each electrode in order to extract current from the battery. A common battery production method includes preparing a slurry of active material mixed with conductive carbon and binder with solvent and spreading it on metal current collectors and drying the slurry. Rechargeable batteries are often cycled repeatedly, which may result in swelling.


Antibodies and antigen-binding fragments of antibodies that bind human CXCR3 are disclosed. In preferred embodiments, the antibodies are human. Nucleic acids and vectors encoding the antibodies or portions thereof, recombinant cells that contain the nucleic acids, and compositions comprising the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments are also disclosed. The invention also provides therapeutic and diagnostic methods which employ the antibodies and antigen-binding fragments.

C-X-C chemokine receptor-3 (CXCR3) is expressed on certain leukocytes, such as activated T cells and NK cells. The CXCR3 receptor binds ligands, such as Interferon Gamma-inducible 10 kD Protein (IP-10), Monokine Induced by Gamma interferon (MIG; Mig), Interferon-inducible T-cell Alpha Chemoattractant (I-TAC) and B cell-attracting chemokine-1 (BCA-1). Certain forms of CXCR3 also bind platelet factor-4 (PF-4, Lasagni et al. (2003) J. Exp. Med. 197:1537-1549). The expression of some of the CXCR3 ligands (IP-10, MIG and I-TAC), is induced in tissues by inteferons or Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), potent mediators of inflammation (Farber, J. M. (1997) J. Leukoc. Biol. 61:246-257; Piali, et al. (1998) Eur. J. Immunol. 28:961-972; Cole et al. (1998) J. Exp. Med. 187:2009-2021). Because of these findings, it has been postulated that during inflammation, expression of ligands for CXCR3 is upregulated, resulting in recruitment of CXCR3+ lymphocytes into the inflamed tissue. The infiltrating CXCR3+ lymphocytes can contribute to adverse pathological effects of inflammation. Inhibiting the activities of CXCR3, therefore, can have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects. There is a need for therapeutic agents that inhibit CXCR3 function.


A high-speed automatic multi-object tracking method with kernelized correlation filters is provided. The method includes obtaining an image frame from a plurality of image frames in a video, extracting a foreground object sequence from the obtained image frame, and determining similarity between each foreground object of the extracted foreground object sequence and a tracked object. The method also includes calculating HOG features of the foreground objects with a lower similarity, obtaining training samples for each of the foreground objects with the lower similarity using a circular matrix, obtaining a classifier via a kernel method accelerated by FFTW, and obtaining tracking points using a sparse optical flow. Further, the method includes detecting object matching responses using a detection response function, performing multi-scale analysis for the object based on an optical flow method, and processing a next image frame of the plurality of image frames in the video until the video ends.

Object tracking is an important research domain in computer vision. Object tracking is the basis for detailed analysis of an object. Based on the object tracking, object trajectory and behavioral analysis can be implemented. Currently, there are two types of object tracking models in the academic field: a recognition-based tracker and a generation-based tracker.
In general, a recognition-based tracker is better than a generation-based tracker. Online machine learning is generally required for the recognition-based tracker. Further, a classifier generated through online machine learning is used to identify objects.
In general, recognition-based tracking algorithms can adapt to object change in a certain extent and are robust. But the recognition-based tracking algorithms require a large number of training samples and the training process is very time-consuming. It is difficult for the recognition-based tracking algorithms to solve multi-scale problems. Therefore, to overcome disadvantages of the recognition-based tracking algorithms, a circulant matrix method can be used to obtain the training samples. On one hand, sufficient number of training samples can be obtained to train a classifier with a higher recognition rate; on the other hand, according to characteristics of the circulant matrix, Fourier transform and kernel trick are used to reduce the time required for training the classifier. Thus, the method can resolve the problem of training sample and reduce training time. However, the method cannot solve the multi-scale problems and cannot accelerate Fourier transform. In addition, the method cannot be extended to multi-object tracking scenarios.
The disclosed methods and systems are directed to solve one or more problems set forth above and other problems. For example, the high-speed automatic multi-object tracking method with kernelized correlation filters can be applied in battlefield surveillance, video monitoring, image compression, image retrieve, human-computer interaction, and so on.

High-speed automatic multi-object tracking method and system with kernelized correlation filters


It is provided an alarm system for underground boundary intrusion detection, and methods for deployment and operation. The deployment method includes constructing of a computing-and-empowering apparatus, connecting thereof a longitudinally extended power-and-communication cable, connecting addressable junction-units, storing a physical location and an address of each junction-unit in the computing-and-empowering apparatus, connecting each addressable junction-unit to a wired-mole having a wire bundle which initially is contracted there within and measurable physical characteristics, and infiltrating the wired-moles normally into ground to a desired depth. In operation, the sensors frequently measure the physical characteristics of the wired-mole, deliver the measurement of the physical characteristics to the computing-and-empowering apparatus, which stores and analyzes the measurements, comparing past and present measurements. Once it concludes that an underground boundary intrusion might occur, it issues an alarm signal which includes the physical location of the addressable junction units where intrusion presumably has occurred.

1. The Field of Invention
The invention is in the field of alarm systems, electronic fence and more general, in the field of security and defense systems.
2. The Prior Art
An illegal tunneling activity is conducted by terrorists, smugglers, or prisoners under an above-ground fence protecting a facility, a border, or a prison, respectively. The search for counter measures is a continuous effort by border control police departments, prison managements and defense departments all over the world. Butler (Geophysics, 49, 108496, 1984) suggested to use microgravity measurements to located tunnels. However, the needed equipment is expensive and cumbersome and the method is not sensitive enough.
Similarly, a press release by Western Kentucky University at May 18, 2006, reports on a robot which is "an all-terrain vehicle operated via a laptop computer carries a microgravity meter to locate underground voids, sinkholes, caves or, in the case of the US-Mexico border, clandestine tunnels". (http://www.wku.edu/news/release06/may/printer/robot.html)
Robots were proposed in the prior art for deep drilling. Liu et al (Y. Liu, B. Weinberg, C. Mavroidis, "Mechanical design and modeling of a robot planetary drilling system", Proc. of IDETC/CIE 2005) describe a robot for deep drilling in Mars. U.S. Pat. No. 7,055,625 to Myrick and Gorevan, issued Jun. 6, 2006, describes an autonomous subsurface drilling device with an ability to drill both forward and rearward.
Two U.S. patents address finding an intrusion point in a fence. U.S. Pat. No. 7,126,475 to So, issued Oct. 24, 2006 deals with a fence wire buried in a yard. U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,907 to Chun, issued Feb. 27, 2007 describe a monitoring system of a fiber optic cable, attached to a security fence, which determines the length of the fiber optic cable between a monitoring system and an intrusion point.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,778,469 to MacDonald, issued Aug. 17, 2004, describes a harbor fence "comprises a series of spars that protrude above the water surface, that are spaced approximately uniformly and that are connected to an electrical computer with a telemetry subsystem. Each spar contains electronic sensor, e.g. water immersion sensors and accelerometers and circuitry to detect intrusion an to communicate the location of the intrusion to a computer control station . . . . The embodiment also facilitates deploying and retrieving the harbor fence system".
The prior art drilling robots are very expensive and quite large, while for preventing underground intrusion along long borders a large number of cheap robots is needed. Going underground is absolutely different from going subsurface in a water environment. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to overcome some of the drawbacks of the prior art, and to address underground intrusion detection in a novel and economic way.


A user interface apparatus for a vehicle includes: a circuit part injection-molded body formed in an insert injection process in which first resin melt is injected while a circuit part is inserted; and a cover part injection-molded body coupled to the circuit part injection-molded body, and formed in an insert injection process in which second resin melt is injected while a cover part is inserted. The circuit part includes: a light emitting unit; a touch sensor that detects a touch input; and at least one processor that controls the light emitting unit in response to an event to generate light; activates the touch sensor in response to generation of the light; and generates a signal for controlling a vehicle device in response to a touch input. The cover part allows light generated by the light emitting unit to pass therethrough and illuminate a shape on the cover part.

A vehicle is an apparatus that moves in a direction desired by a user riding therein. A representative example of a vehicle may be an automobile.
A variety of sensors and electronic devices are typically mounted in vehicles for the convenience of a user who uses the vehicle. For example, for user driving convenience, an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) has been actively studied. In addition, efforts have been being made to develop autonomous vehicles.

User interface apparatus for vehicle, method of manufacturing user interface apparatus, and vehicle