An amplitude component and a phase component of a modulated signal are inputted into a power supply terminal and an input terminal of an RF power amplifier, respectively, and a modulated wave that is produced by demodulating an original modulated signal is obtained from the RF power amplifier. A supply voltage is supplied to an emitter follower and an operational amplifier via a switch group from a DC-DC converter group whose output voltages are sequentially different. As the supply voltage, any pair of outputs of DC-DC converters by the switch group is selected according to levels of the amplitude component, and provides them to the emitter follower and the operational amplifier. The emitter follower performs a DC conversion of the provided supply voltage to provide it to the RF power amplifier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio transmitter being used for a communication mode which uses a multicarrier signal, such as OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) scheme.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, to process a signal modulated with an amplitude modulation scheme, especially a signal modulated with a multi-level modulation scheme, such as a quadrature amplitude modulation (hereinafter, referred also to as QAM) scheme, a linear amplification is required to an RF power amplifier for transmitting power to an antenna. For that reason, class A or class AB has been adopted as an operation class of the RF power amplifier.
However, with the progress of broadband communications, a communication mode using a multicarrier signal, such as an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (hereinafter, referred also to as OFDM) scheme has come to be used. However, when using a conventional class A or class AB RF power amplifier in such a communication mode, an improvement in efficiency may not be expected. In other words, in the OFDM scheme, a large amount of power is instantaneously generated completely at random due to a superposition of subcarriers. That is, it means that a ratio between an average power and an instantaneous peak power, i.e., a Peak to Average Power Ratio (hereinafter, referred also to as PAPR) is large. For this reason, a large amount of DC power needs to be always maintained so as to also amplify the instantaneous peak power linearly, which is much greater than the average power. In class A operation, power efficiency is only 50% at the maximum, and particularly in the OFDM scheme, since PAPR is high, the power efficiency will be dropped to about 10%.
Meanwhile, when a saturated type amplifier can be used, a period while a drain current and a drain voltage are simultaneously generated is reduced as short as possible, thereby making it possible to suppress power consumption. The saturated type amplifier includes a class F amplifier in which a higher harmonic is controlled so that a drain voltage waveform may be a rectangular wave, or a class E amplifier or a class D amplifier in which a load condition is optimized so that a drain voltage waveform and a drain current waveform may not be overlapped.
For example, supposing that a DC power with a current of 200 mA and Vdd of 3 V is supplied, the amount of the DC power will be 600 mW. In the saturated type amplifier composed of a transistor, the current does not flow when the transistor is in OFF-state, but only the voltage Vdd is applied, resulting in zero DC power consumption. Meanwhile, when the transistor is in ON-state, the current of 200 mA will flow, but the transistor is completely conducted, so that it is assumed that a drain-source voltage VDS may be about 0.3 V at the maximum, which is a saturation voltage. In this case, it means that the amount of the DC power of 0.3×0.2=0.06, i.e., 60 mW is consumed in the transistor. The power efficiency reaches as high as (600−60)/600=90%. Since power efficiency of the class A amplifier reaches 50% at the maximum, this effect is significant.
That is, the saturated type amplifier will allow a high power efficiency. However, since the saturated type amplifier is a nonlinear amplifier, it can not be used for a signal whose amplitude level of a modulated wave changes like a QAM signal because of a remarkable deterioration of a modulation accuracy.
An Envelope Elimination and Restoration (hereinafter, referred also to as EER) method that is known as Kahn Technique has been proposed to solve such a problem (for example, refer to patent document 1).
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an outline of the EER method. In a transmitter shown in FIG. 5, a signal which is generated by a modulated signal generating means 50, for example, a QAM signal, is separated into a phase component and an amplitude component by an amplitude phase separating means 51. The phase component is inputted into an quadrature modulator 52 as an quadrature signal, frequency-converted by it, and outputted to a saturated type amplifier 53. Meanwhile, the amplitude component is amplified to a desired amplitude level by an operational amplifier 55, and inputted into a DC converter 54. The DC converter 54 outputs a current required by the saturated type amplifier 53 to the saturated type amplifier 53 with the amplitude component. In the saturated type amplifier 53, the phase component inputted as an RF, and the amplitude component inputted from a power supply are multiplied to restore a QAM modulated wave.
By taking such a configuration, a highly efficient amplifier such as the saturated type amplifier can be employed although it may be non-linear, thereby making it possible achieve an improvement in efficiency.
Patent document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,482B1 (page 3 of the drawings, FIG. 6)
Generally, when the modulated signal is separated into the amplitude component and the phase component, a band thereof is spread about 5 times. For example, in the case of an OFDM signal of an IEEE802.11a standard which is a standard for wireless LAN, since a signal band of a baseband is approximately 8 MHz, it will be spread to a band of 40 MHz. However, a band of the DC converter 54, for example a switching regulator, which modulates the amplitude component, is at most 1 MHz, so that the EER method of such a signal can not be achieved by using the conventional configuration.
In order to spread the band, it is necessary to improve the speed of a switching element of the DC converter (switching regulator) 54. Whereas, since an improvement in speed of the switching element will lead to a decrease in withstand voltage thereof, it is thought that a further improvement in speed beyond this may not be made.
In addition, when a series regulator is used as the DC converter 54, a product of the amount of DC conversion (difference between a supply voltage and an amplitude component voltage) and a drain current of the RF power amplifier will be given as the power consumption. In the OFDM scheme, since an average voltage of the amplitude component is equal to or less than one half of the supply voltage, the improvement in efficiency can not be expected in this case, either.
Further, in order to amplify the amplitude component without distortion also in the operational amplifier 55, the supply voltage equal to or more than a peak amplitude component needs to be maintained, so that the OFDM scheme that has a large difference between the peak voltage and the average voltage will causes a reduction in power efficiency.


An inflatable air bag (10) for restraining an occupant (12) of a vehicle (14) has a deflated, folded condition and an inflated, unfolded condition. The air bag has layers (20, 22) defining between them an inflation volume into which gas is directed to inflate the air bag. The air bag when in the inflated and unfolded condition has upper and lower sections (30, 40). The air bag when in the deflated and folded condition has a lower end portion (60) of the air bag disposed between the layers at a location adjacent an upper end portion (50) of the air bag. The lower section of the air bag is turned inside out and located inside the upper section of the air bag. The lower section of the air bag is the final portion of the air bag to unfold when the air bag is inflated.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an air bag which is inflatable to restrain an occupant of a vehicle during a collision.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An air bag is typically folded and supported in the instrument panel or steering wheel of a vehicle. An inflator assembly is actuated to direct high pressure gas into the air bag to inflate the air bag. The air bag unfolds and inflates. The air bag when inflated restrains a vehicle occupant during sudden vehicle deceleration such as occurs in a collision.
It is preferable that an air bag, when inflating, not brush against the head or upper torso of a vehicle occupant. This is especially desirable if the vehicl occupant is not close to or against the vehicle seat back when the inflator assembly is actuated.


Method for preparing a mixed powder sample by mixing two or more different powders comprising transferring a quantity of a first powder to a mixing vessel and transferring a quantity of a second powder to the mixing vessel to form a powder bed in the mixing vessel comprising the first and second powders. The quantities of the powders are selected so the mixed sample has a predetermined ratio of first powder to second powder. The powder bed is fluidized to mix the powders and produce a mixed sample. The mixed sample weighs about 5 grams or less. The invention also includes apparatus for preparing mixed powder samples by mixing two or more different powders.

This invention relates generally to powder handling apparatus and methods, and more particularly to a system for efficient preparation and handling of powdered mixtures.
Automated powder dispensing systems are used in many laboratory and commercial applications. In the pharmaceutical industry, for example, such systems are used to fill capsules with small but accurate doses of drugs, typically using gravimetric or volumetric techniques. These systems suffer various disadvantages, including an inability to handle a wide range of particulate materials at optimal speeds and accuracies, particularly when very small doses are involved (e.g., 20 mg or less). Further, the operation of conventional systems tends to crush the particles being handled.
Automated powder handling systems also have application to combinatorial (high-throughput) research. For example, they can be used for combinatorial catalysis research where catalyst candidates are evaluated using various screening techniques known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,356 to Schultz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,617 to Schultz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,917 to Weinberg et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,959,297 to Weinberg et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,882 to Guan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,181 to Cong, U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,633 to Willson, U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,409 to Nielsen et al., and PCT patent to Willson, U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,409 to Nielsen et al., and PCT patent applications WO 00/09255, WO 00/17413, WO 00/51720, WO 00/14529, each of which U.S. patents and each of which PCT patent applications, together with its corresponding U.S. application(s), is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
The efficiency of a combinatorial chemistry discovery program is, in general, limited by rate-limiting steps of the overall process work flow. One such rate-limiting step has been the mechanical pretreatment and handling of catalyst candidates after synthesis but before screening. U.S. application Ser. No. 902,552, filed Jul. 9, 2001 by Lugmair, et al., published Feb. 7, 2002 as Pub. No. US 2002/0014546 A1, and assigned to Symyx Technologies, Inc., incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes, is directed to more efficient protocols and systems for effecting the mechanical treatment of materials, and especially, mechanical treatment of catalysis materials such as heterogeneous catalysts and related materials. The disclosed protocols provide an efficient way to prepare catalysis materials having a controlled particle size for optimal screening. However, the handling and transfer of such powders from one location to another as they are prepared for screening and ultimately delivered to the screening device (e.g., a parallel flow reactor) is not addressed in detail. The circumstances are similar in the pharmaceutical industry. For example, processes used to screen one or more excipients (i.e., diluents, pH modifiers, viscosity modifiers, stabilizers, flavorings, colorings, fillers and combinations thereof) for suitability for use with one or more active pharmaceutical ingredients can involve preparation and handling of powdered samples. Commonly assigned U.S. application Ser. No. 10/790,956 entitled "Evaluating Effects of Exposure Conditions on Drug Samples Over Time" filed Mar. 1, 2004, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes, describes forced degradation testing of excipients. That disclosure sets forth detailed analytic methods for using combinatorial chemistry to screen powdered excipients, but does not address powder handling in detail. Similar methods can be used to screen the compatibility of one powdered active ingredient with one or more other powdered active ingredients. Likewise, combinatorial chemistry can be applied to the creation and testing of various powdered polymorphs of drug candidates, such as is described in commonly assigned PCT application No. WO 03/014732, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. That disclosure refers to screening powdered samples without discussing any powder handling systems in detail.
In some cases two or more different powders, such as an active ingredient and one or more excipients, are mixed together for further analysis. Many powder handling systems are based on the premise that any powdered ingredients in a sample will be dissolved in a solution, thereby obviating the need to mix powdered ingredients in their powdered form. But some research requires the powders to be maintained in solid form for testing. For example, a powdered mixture may be formed into a tablet for pharmaceutical testing. It may also be desirable to maintain a powdered mixture in solid form to conduct various spectroscopic, X-ray, or other solid-phase analyses.
A stirrer, such as the end of a pipette, a stirring bar, or a milling ball can be used to mix powders. Unfortunately, removal of the stirrer after mixing can alter the sample composition because one powder may have more or less affinity for the stirrer than other powders in the sample. Consequently, removal of the stirrer risks disproportionate removal of one or more powders in a residue on the stirrer. When the sample size is small, as is typically the case in combinatorial chemistry, the problem is exacerbated because disproportionate removal of relatively smaller amounts of powder significantly alters the overall sample composition. Thus, it is common practice to leave at least the portion of the stirrer that contacts the powder in the sample to avoid removal of any residue. For example, the tip of a pipette can be broken off and left in the sample container. Likewise, stirring bars and milling balls are often left in the sample after mixing. Not only does this consume the stirrer, but there is also a chance that the continuing presence of the stirrer could affect the sample analysis or limit the types of analyses that can be performed. Furthermore, if mixed powder samples are to be pressed into tablets for ingestion (e.g., in a pharmaceutical trial), it would be preferable not to have foreign objects like milling balls and pipette tips in the tablets.
Similar rate limiting steps and/or the need to mix powders can arise whenever a process requires preparation and handling of powdered materials. This can be the case during synthesis or screening of pharmaceuticals and catalysts (as already mentioned) as well as agricultural chemicals, pigments, and flavorings to name just a few of the other applications for powder handling systems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and apparatus for mixing powdered samples


The present disclosure relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of realizing grasping of a state of a projected image at a lower cost. A difference between discontinuous frames of a captured image configured with a plurality of frames obtained by capturing a projected image which is obtained by sequentially projecting predetermined pattern images opposite in sign, which are positive and negative pattern images, at a higher frame rate than a frame rate of the projected image by a rolling shutter scheme is calculated. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, an image processing apparatus, a projection apparatus, an imaging apparatus, a projection imaging apparatus, a controller, a projection imaging system, or the like.

A method of capturing a projected image projected by a projector using a camera, estimating a position and a posture of the projector, a projection plane shape, and the like using the captured image, and geometrically correcting the projected image in accordance with the estimations for reduction of a distortion in the projected image, and the like has been known. For example, in a case in which a screen does not face the projector, the projected image projected onto the screen is captured by the camera. In addition, in a case in which the projected image is deformed into a trapezoid shape or the like, a process such as one for correcting the image to be projected into an inverted trapezoid shape is performed such that the image can be correctly projected onto the screen.
In a case of such a method, it is necessary to obtain correspondence points between the projected image and the captured image. In addition, as a method of obtaining the correspondence points, ISL (Imperceptible Structured Light) for performing sensing during viewing/listening of content has been proposed (refer to, for example, NPL 1). According to an ISL scheme, pattern images that are images of predetermined patterns are embedded into an image of the content and projected while being imperceptible to a person using an integration effect. In addition, correspondence points are detected using the pattern images.

Image processing apparatus and image processing method


Loading mechanisms for front loading refuse trucks provided with fluid cylinder operated lift arms and associated fluid cylinder operated lift forks are provided with an improved operating system which allows the lift forks to attain one working position limit for tipping containers and an additional stowage position limit allowing the truck to travel with the arms fully raised.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains generally to refuse collection vehicles and to associated material handling equipment including a vehicle body having a collection receiving receptacle and an integral container lifting and tipping mechanism for use during collection efforts. More particularly, the invention focuses on loading mechanisms for front loading refuse trucks and on an aspect related to the control and stowage for travel of the lift forks of a container lifting and tipping apparatus characterized by pivoting lift arms and connected lift forks.
II. Related Art
Front loading-type refuse handling equipment typically includes a pair of spaced lift arms connected to opposite sides of the vehicle body and a pair of extendable lift forks connected to pivot from joints at the ends of the lift arms and designed to engage corresponding fork receiving passages or recesses connected to the opposite sides of a refuse container for lifting and dumping the refuse container into a refuse charging hopper on the vehicle.
The arms and forks are designed to pivot in parallel planes in the direction of the vehicle length to address a container in front of the vehicle and lift it over the cab and empty the container into a charging hopper behind the cab. The forks are designed to be rotated forward as a container is lifted by a rearward pivoting action of the spaced arms to maintain the container in a generally upright position until it is over the charging hopper where the forks are rotated rearward to tip the container.
With regard to the design of the mechanism for lifting and tipping containers, when the system is in use, it is necessary to limit the rearward pivotal travel of the forks relative to the lift arms to prevent the container from contacting the ejector or other internal parts in the charging hopper which might cause the container to be lifted off the forks and allowed to fall into the hopper or otherwise damage either the container or the vehicle. When the front loader is traveling down the road, other factors come into play. It is clearly undesirable for the lift arms to be in their fully lowered position with the forks protruding horizontally, this extends the overall length of the vehicle and leaves the protruding forks in a position where they can easily cause damage to objects or be damaged themselves. On the other hand, if the arms are allowed to remain in the fully raised position, the forks protrude upward and the vehicle may exceed legal height limitations or the allowable useful storage height must be reduced accordingly.
It has, therefore, become customary to drive such front-loading vehicles with the arms and forks in a partially raised position to avoid these problems. This solution, however, also creates problems of its own. In the partially raised position, the forks are located at a height approximately equal to the top of the windshield on the truck cab which can distract the driver. It has also been found that this may produce undesirable sway during movement of the vehicle; and driving with the arms in the partially raised position transmits additional road shock and impact to the arm pivot bearings located on the body of the vehicle which produces rapid wear and early failure. It appears that travel with the fully raised arms potentially provides the fewest problems. Thus, it would be desirable if the vehicle could travel over the road with the arms in the fully raised position if the over height problem could be resolved.
One alternate solution to the situation is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,118 to Pittenger in which the pivotal fork arms are made foldable vertically relative to the lift arms when the latter are in a lowered or transport position to eliminate horizontal protrusion. That mechanism also includes a cam abutment arrangement to establish the minimum angle to which the fork arms can be moved relative to the lift arms in the container unloading position to prevent interference between the vehicle and the refuse container.
It would desirable, however, to provide a mechanically uncomplicated system that limits fork travel to permit safe tipping yet allows the forks to be fully retracted into the charging hopper when the arms are in the fully raised position for travel down the road. In this manner, there would be two required positions for the forks when the arms are fully raised; namely, one position for tipping a container into the receiving or charging hopper and one fully folded position for traveling which exceeds the tipping or working position. Attempts have been made to accomplish this, for example, by sensing the position of the forks with a proximity or mechanical switch which can be used to limit the travel depending on whether a working or traveling mode is desired. A system of this nature, unfortunately, involves wiring, wire routing, switches and the like which produce, in the end, a complex system which may fail and leave the loading mechanism totally inoperative.
There clearly remains a need to provide an uncomplicated method for controlling the position of the forks so that both a working position and a traveling position can be realized without additional moving parts or complicated electrical or electromechanical interlocks.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved control system for a lifting and tipping apparatus associated with a front loading refuse vehicle having pivoting lift arms and lift forks which improves the flexibility of operation of the lift forks.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved control system for operating the rotating lift forks associated with a front loading refuse vehicle which allows the forks to have one folded position for container tipping and one for stowage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved control system for a lifting and tipping apparatus associated with a front loading refuse vehicle which allows stowage of the forks for travel with the lift arms in their fully elevated position.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved control system for a lifting and tipping apparatus associated with a front loading refuse vehicle which allows multiple folding positions of the lift forks and yet does not interfere with the normal lifting and tipping cycle.
A yet still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved control system for a lifting and tipping apparatus associated with a front loading refuse vehicle which controls the rotation of the lift forks by controlling the operating speed of the lift fork cylinders.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a flow-limiting, speed-modulating or cushioning system with respect to the operation of the lift fork cylinders of a lifting and tipping apparatus associated with a front loading refuse vehicle.
Other objects and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art upon familiarization with the specification and drawings contained herein.

Lifting and tipping mechanism for front loading refuse truck


A first normal bit and source lines are connected to a first memory cell. Second normal bit and source lines are connected to a second memory cell. A first column switch connects one of the first and second normal bit lines to a first global bit line. A second column switch connects one of the first and second normal source lines to a first global source line. A first reference bit and source lines are connected to a third memory cell. A third column switch connects the first reference bit line to a second global bit line. A fourth column switch connects the first reference source line to the first global source line. A sense amplifier is connected to the first and second global bit lines, and reads data stored in one of the first and second memory cells.

In recent years, semiconductor memories in which non-volatile memories, for example, a resistance change memory (Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM), Phase Change Random Access Memory (PRAM), Resistive Random Access Memory (ReRAM), and the like) are used as semiconductor memory devices are attracting attention.
In a resistance change memory, data "1" or "0" is determined by using a change in the resistance value when an electric current (or a voltage) is applied.


A controller includes: a plurality of first drivers that outputs a plurality of drive signals to drive a plurality of motors, respectively, and stops an output of the drive signals with a stop signal; a second driver that outputs a drive signal to drive another motor, and stops an output of the drive signal with a stop signal; a first transmitter that transmits the stop signal to all the first drivers; a second transmitter that transmits the stop signal to the second driver; and a stop signal introduction unit capable of introducing separate stop signals to into the first transmitter and the second transmitter, respectively.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a controller and a robot system.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, industrial machines such as robots and NC (Numerically-Controlled) machines automatically controlled by controllers have been widely put to practical use. For ensuring safety in a manufacturing process using such industrial machines, a mechanism that reliably stops the industrial machines in operation is required. On the other hand, in a case in which the industrial machines are caused to stop by the interruption of power, it takes time for the industrial machines to restart due to the restoration of the power again or the like, which causes a reduction in the operation efficiency of the industrial machines. In order to address the problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-23080, for example, discloses a controller capable of simultaneously interrupting an output to all the actuators of a robot or the like without interrupting power.


The determination of wax crystal particle size and population is used to monitor the performance of wax crystallizers used in lubricant oil processing using solvent dewaxing. The wax crystal particle size is monitored using online measurements. The information obtained from on-line monitoring is then used to control crystallization in the dewaxing equipment in order to optimize performance of the dewaxing units.

Higher molecular weight hydrocarbon fractions used as feedstocks to prepare lubricating oil basestocks typically have an initial boiling point in 343° C.+ range. These feedstocks usually contain wax, irrespective of whether the fraction is derived from natural or synthetic sources. Most wax containing feedstocks are derived from naturally occurring sources, such as petroleum, bitumen and the like, but in the future more and more will be derived from synthetic crudes and hydrocarbon fractions produced by processes such as gas conversion, wherein natural gas or a gas comprising primarily methane is converted to a synthesis gas which, in turn, is used to synthesize hydrocarbons. The trend to lubricating oils having higher VI to meet government mandated standards leads to feedstocks having increasing wax contents. Basestocks meeting the Group I classification for motor oils are typically prepared using solvent techniques, while Groups II and III basestocks typically utilize catalytic techniques.
Feedstocks boiling in the range of from about 343 to about 566° C. or greater are used to prepare lubricating oils for motor vehicles, turbines, machining and the like. In order for a lubricating oil fraction to be useful as a lubricating oil base stock, the wax must be at least partially removed. This is accomplished by either solvent dewaxing or catalytic dewaxing. Most dewaxing facilities used to prepare Group I basestocks still employ solvent dewaxing, in which a chilled dewaxing solvent is slowly mixed with the lubricating oil fraction and the mixture slowly cooled, under conditions of agitation, down to the desired cloud or pour point temperature. Group II basestocks are typically prepared using either solvent or catalytic techniques. Group III and higher basestocks are prepared using catalytic techniques for dewaxing.
One method of dilution chilling dewaxing is the DILCHILLSM process (DILCHILLSM is a registered Service Mark of ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company). DILCHILLSM is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,650. A number of improvements and modifications have been made to the basic concept of DILCHILL. For example it has been shown that in a vertically staged cooling tower, the velocity of the solvent at the injection points within each stage should be at least 5-30 times that of the peripheral velocity of the mixer blades. This results in greater filtration rates and higher dewaxed oil yields than could otherwise be obtained without the relatively high velocity solvent injection. It has also been shown that a combination of dilution chilling with scraped surface chilling is useful for dewaxing lubricating oils. Other methods teach adjusting the dewaxing solvent composition so that the waxy oil and solvent are immiscible near the last stage of the cooling zone. This results in superior dewaxed oil yields and higher filter rates when the waxy oil stock being fed to the tower is relatively high in viscosity and molecular weight. It is also known to partially predilute the waxy oil when the oil is a relatively heavy feed such as a resid or a bright stock before the oil is introduced into the chilling zone. However, in all of these DILCHILLSM dewaxing processes, it was thought that the rate of solvent addition to each stage should be adjusted so as to obtain the same or approximately equal temperature drops in each stage.
It is known that the DILCHILLSM process is improved when the waxy lube oil stocks are solvent dewaxed by contacting them with successive increments of cold dewaxing solvent at a plurality of points along the height of a vertical tower divided into a plurality of stages while agitating the oil solvent mixture in each stage to provide substantially instantaneous mixing of the waxy oil and solvent thereby precipitating wax from the oil. The well known shock chilling effect is avoided by adjusting the cold solvent addition to each stage in a manner so as to modify the temperature profile along the tower to ensure that the temperature drop per stage in the initial stages in which wax precipitation occurs is greater than the temperature drop per stage in the final or later stages in which wax precipitation occurs.
Various methods have been proposed to monitor wax crystallization. In one method, a laser beam reflected by wax crystals is used in determining the wax crystallization temperature of a hot dewaxing solvent upstream of solvent chillers. This is automatically achieved by an on-line method from a remote control point, in which a slipstream of solvent is passed through an attached solvent loop into a sample chamber in the loop, without being exposed to ambient conditions. As the sample is cooled, the beam reflections are detected and indicate the wax to crystallization temperature. Corrective measures can then be taken to prevent fouling of the chillers, if need be. Another method uses an electronic analyzer which involves the transmission of light or in the degree or intensity of reflected light associated with wax formation.
The above methods are directed to analyzing for total wax content. There is still a need to monitor the effectiveness of the wax crystallization process itself, especially as it relates to crystal size distributions.

Method for on-line monitoring of wax crystallization


A substrate for mounting a semiconductor chip is formed as a multilayer substrate by alternately laminating insulation layers and wiring layers. Wires of the wiring layers are electrically connected through a via-hole for interlayer continuity. A through-hole provided through the insulation layer of the outermost surface layer is formed. A bump is inserted in the through-hole to a bump allocating position of the semiconductor chip to be mounted in the insulation layer of the outermost surface layer. A portion of the wire in the wiring layer of the outermost surface layer is projected to the internal side of through-hole at the aperture of the through-hole.

Wire bonding and flip chip mounting have been proposed as methods for mounting a semiconductor chip. FIG. 28A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a flip chip mounted to a laminated substrate 100. In the flip chip mounting, a semiconductor chip 110 is mounted face down on the substrate 100 and connected to the substrate 100 through bumps 111. When high density mounting is required, a bonding pad is unnecessary for the periphery of semiconductor chip 110 and the flip chip which requires less occupation area on the substrate 100 of the semiconductor chip 110 is suitable. Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 28B, as the flip chip structure to the single layer substrate 120, the chip 110 is allocated over the substrate 120 and bumps 111 and wires 121 are joined.
As a multilayer wiring substrate 100 for flip chip mounting required to realize high density wiring, interlayer continuity is realized not by using a through-hole (TH) which is provided through all layers but by an inner via-hole (IVH) 101 which may be individually arranged for each layer for enabling high density wiring. The inner via-hole (IVH) 101 can be formed to the laminated substrate which is represented by a ceramics multilayer substrate. The ceramics multiplayer substrate can be manufactured, as illustrated in FIG. 29, through the boring process of insulation base material, paste printing process, simultaneous laminating process, and simultaneous thermal baking process.
In recent years, a mobile computer is more and more required to realize reduction in size through the high density mounting technology because of increase in various control computers due to introduction of sophisticated functions of automobile (using electronic circuits) and reduction in mounting space of computer due to the requirement for expansion of the residential space. Therefore, for actual mounting of the semiconductor chip, adaptation of the flip chip bonding technology is required to realize higher density mounting. However, in the flip chip bonding, the substrates 100 and 120 and semiconductor chip 110 are bonded, as illustrated in FIGS. 28A and 28B, via a very small gap G (20 μm to 70 μm) through the bump 111. Therefore, stress generated due to difference in the line expansion coefficients of the semiconductor chip 110 and substrates 100 and 120 is concentrated to the bonding area of the bump 111 and substrates 100 and 120, resulting in the problem that the connecting portion is broken when the applied temperature is repeatedly changed. Because of such problem, application into such mobile computer to be placed under the severe operation environment becomes difficult.

Substrate for mounting semiconductor chip, mounting structure of semiconductor chip, and mounting method of semiconductor chip


A tungsten film forming method includes: supplying a tungsten chloride gas as a source material of tungsten and a reducing gas towards a substrate to be processed under a depressurized atmosphere to cause reaction between the tungsten chloride gas and the reducing gas while heating the substrate to be processed, such that a main tungsten film is directly formed on a surface of the substrate to be processed without forming an initial tungsten film for nucleus generation.

In a process of manufacturing a semiconductor device, tungsten is used as material for filling contact holes and via holes between wirings, material for forming wirings and diffusion barriers, and the like, which are all formed in a semiconductor wafer (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "wafer") as a target object.
Physical vapor deposition (PVD) has been used in tungsten film deposition in the art. However, tungsten (W) is a metal having a high melting point, and it is difficult to achieve high step coverage corresponding to a recent trend of miniaturization of devices using PVD. For this reason, a tungsten film is formed using chemical vapor deposition (CVD), which does not require melting of tungsten having a high melting point and is capable of achieving sufficient miniaturization of devices.
In a tungsten film forming method using CVD (CVD-tungsten film), for example, tungsten hexafluoride (WF6) as a source gas and H2 gas as a reducing gas are generally used to cause reaction of WF6+3H2→W+6HF on a wafer. Also, in recent years, atomic layer deposition (ALD), in which WF6 gas and the reducing gas are alternately supplied, has attracted attention as a technology for providing higher step coverage.
In the tungsten film formation through CVD or ALD using WF6 as a source gas, it is difficult to form a good tungsten film on a base film such as a TiN film. Accordingly, a two-step film formation process is performed wherein an initial tungsten film (new creation film) for nucleus generation is first formed and a main tungsten film is formed on the new creation film.
However, the new creation film is formed for nucleus generation and has a higher resistance than the main tungsten film in a bulk state. Recently, as semiconductor devices are further miniaturized, the ratio of the new creation film in the tungsten film buried in a depression is also increased. Therefore, it is likely that the new creation film having a high resistance deteriorates the overall resistance of the tungsten film. Moreover, formation of the new creation film in addition to the main tungsten film requires a complicated process.

Tungsten film forming method, semiconductor device manufacturing method, and storage medium


A scanning optical apparatus includes two deflectors that are driven by motors to deflect laser beams. One of the deflectors is provided while inclined by about 10° from an attaching reference plane in an optical box, and the other deflector is provided in parallel with the attaching reference plane. An image forming apparatus provided with the image forming apparatus includes four photosensitive drums corresponding to Y, M, C, and K colors. In the image forming apparatus, the photosensitive drums corresponding to Y, M, C, and K colors are alternately irradiated with laser beam fluxes from the deflectors. Accordingly, the two photosensitive drums corresponding to the K and M colors are irradiated with one of the deflectors, and the two photosensitive drums corresponding to the C and Y colors are irradiated with the other deflector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as "image forming apparatus") such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and a multi function peripheral which is of a multi-function copying machine and a scanning optical apparatus incorporated into the image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, in the scanning optical apparatus incorporated into the copying machine, the laser beam printer and the like, a light beam emitted from a laser beam source is deflected with a deflector and collected with an imaging optical system such as an f-θ lens, a beam spot is formed on a photosensitive drum which is of an image bearing member, and the photosensitive drum surface is scanned by the beam spot. For example, in a tandem type color image forming apparatus in which four photosensitive drums corresponding to Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black) colors are arranged to form a multi-color image using Y, M, C, and K developers (hereinafter simply referred to as "toners"), laser beams emitted from laser beam sources are deflected, the photosensitive drums are scanned with the laser beams to form electrostatic latent images respectively. The electrostatic latent images are developed to four toner images with Y, M, C, and K development devices respectively, and the toner images are sequentially superposed and transferred onto an endless belt which is of an intermediate transfer member. The toner images transferred onto the intermediate transfer member belt are further transferred to a sheet. Then, the sheet is delivered to a fixing device, and the toner images are heated and pressurized to permanently fix the toner image onto the sheet.
For the tandem type image forming apparatus, there has been proposed an image forming apparatus in which one deflector are commonly used for the four photosensitive drums for the Y, M, C, and K colors.
In this case, the laser beam from the deflector toward the photosensitive drums is divided. In the laser beam separation method, there is a technique in which the laser beam is obliquely incident from each laser beam source to the deflector to provide an angle difference between the incident and reflected beams (obliquely incident optical system). In the laser beam separation method, there is also proposed a technique in which a height of the deflector is increased to provide plural deflection and reflection points in a vertical direction (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-242131).
In the photosensitive drums in which the deflector is commonly used, because the plural laser beams pass through different heights in a sub-scanning direction on a single imaging lens, an amount of change in imaging position depends on the laser beam when an environmental temperature is changed, which results in color shift on an image. Because the deflector is located in the central portion of an optical box, it is necessary that plural reflecting mirrors be provided to increase an optical path length in the optical box. This causes a problem in that a structure is complicated as a whole.
On the other hand, in the tandem type image forming apparatus, there has been proposed a structure in which two deflectors and four photosensitive drums corresponding to the Y, M, C, and K colors is accommodated in a optical box. Each of the two deflectors is commonly used by the two photosensitive drums (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-208176).
However, in this case, because each optical system is accommodated in a half of the total length of the optical box, when the optical path length is increased in the optical box, laser beams from the adjacent deflectors interfere with each other at the central position. Adoption of a structure in which the deflectors are forced away from each other leads to upsizing of the apparatus. When the number of reflecting times by the mirror is increased to increase the optical path length, the number of reflecting mirrors is increased to cause a problem of the complicated entire structure. The problem of the complicated entire structure is also generated in the case where the deflectors of the obliquely incident optical system are disposed while facing each other. This is attributed to the fact that, because a laser beam incident angle is not increased too much due to the color shift, the laser beams deflected by the deflectors interfere with each other or the laser beams are brought into close to each other.
Generally, a plane inclination correcting optical system is adopted when the deflector is used, there is a conjugate relationship between the deflector and the photosensitive drum surface in the sub-scanning direction, and an imaging optical system are commonly used in the Y, M, C, and K colors.
Therefore, it is necessary that the optical path lengths from the reflecting surfaces of the deflectors to the photosensitive drum surfaces of the Y, M, C, and K colors be matched with one another. Accordingly, in the scanning optical apparatus, each optical path is appropriately folded in the sub-scanning direction by the reflecting mirror and the like such that the optical paths from the deflection and reflection plane to the photosensitive drum surfaces are matched with another.
There is a limitation to a space which can be utilized in the image forming apparatus. In order to effectively use the limited space, desirably the optical path is shortened as much as possible outside the scanning optical apparatus.

Scanning optical apparatus and image forming apparatus wherein a route of the second laser beam reflected by the first rotating polygon mirror and a route of the third laser beam reflected by the second rotating polygon mirror cross each other in the optical box


Profile data from multiple networking services can be combined and queried from one networking service. A primary networking service may store user profile data for one or more secondary networking services and the primary networking service. When stored, the data from the multiple networks may be aggregated or merged. The stored data may include user profile data and relationship data for each networking service that a primary networking service has a profile account with. A graph of user-contact relationships existing over the primary networking service and one or more secondary networking services may be constructed and queried against.

The growing presence of the Internet as well as other computer networks such as intranets and extranets has brought many new network services, including personal and professional networking services. Many people have one or more accounts over networking services that allow users to maintain a profile. The profiles may include social and professional networking relationships, contact information, blogs, photo sharing, video, classified ads and other content.
Though several networking services are available, they typically contain separate data and are operated independently of each other. To experience and view user profiles over different networks, a viewing user must access each service that a second user has subscribed to. Traversing to separate networking services to view and search separate profiles can be burdensome, even if the viewing user knows the location of each user profile to be viewed (which may not be the case).

Aggregating and searching profile data from multiple services


The present invention relates to pharmaceutical formulations comprising a hot-melt extrudable mixture of a therapeutic compound and a high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) in an essentially non-film like preparation. In some embodiments, the formulation further comprises poly(ethylene glycol). The present invention also includes efficient methods for hot-melt extruding pharmaceutical formulations in essentially non-film preparations.

The present invention relates to the field of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) based hot-melt extrudable pharmaceutical formulations that are not film-like preparations. The invention relates more specifically to non-film formulations which have been prepared by hot-melt extrusion of mixtures containing high molecular weight PEO and a therapeutic compound. The present formulations cited relate to the field of non-film controlled-release drug delivery preparations, as they provide preparations useful for providing controlled drug delivery.
Hot-melt extrusion as a method for producing polymer-based sustained-release pharmaceutical formulations, such as with derivatized cellulose, poly(methacrylate) derivative, poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), poly(ethylene), poly(vinyl acetate-co-methacrylic acid), epoxy resins and caprolactones is known. These methods do not teach the use of poly(ethylene oxide). Hot-melt extrusion as a method for producing poly(ethylene glycol) based pharmaceutical formulations comprising an xe2x80x9cerosion rate modifierxe2x80x9d has been disclosed. These particular compositions have, been described as further containing trace amounts of high molecular weight PEO, and the hot-melt extrusion process used to prepare them requires several steps. These particular compositions are also based upon a low melting matrix drug delivery system, and are predominantly for transdermal rather than oral administration.
Alderman et al. (EP 0177893 A2) relates to a thermoformable sustained release matrix for the prolonged release of an active organic material of a thermoplastic water-soluble gel having a water-soluble hydroxypropylmethylcellulose a plasticizer and an active organic material dispersed in said gel. The plasticizer may be a low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol).
Mooney et al. (EP 0598606 A1) relates to compositions of a thermoplastic water-soluble polymer; a water-soluble polymer derived from a carboxylic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and a plasticizer. The thermoplastic water-soluble polymer may be poly(ethylene oxide), and the compositions can be prepared as hot-melts.
These various methods require several components to achieve a desired controlled release profile. Various technical disadvantages exist for each of them that creates a significant potential for loss in pharmacological activity of the included therapeutic agent.
Hot-melt extrusion processes in the art have generally required elevated temperatures. Elevated temperatures in processing have been recognized by those in the pharmaceutical formulation arts to cause decomposition of the therapeutic agent or polymer matrix. The process of hot-melt extrusion of a therapeutic agent and a high molecular weight polymer PEO has been primarily confined to the preparation of film-like preparations.
Although various hot-melt extrusion pharmaceutical formulations and methods for making them are known, development of simple formulations for drug delivery and methods for producing them remains a problem in the pharmaceutical industry.
There continues to exist a need in the art to develop controlled-release pharmaceutical formulations, as well as improved, more efficient methods for their preparation.
In one aspect of the present invention comprises a hot-melt extrudable controlled-release pharmaceutical formulation. This formulation in some embodiments is further described as comprising an effective amount of a therapeutic compound and a high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hot-melt extrudable controlled-release pharmaceutical formulation comprising high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) and an effective amount of a therapeutic compound.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hot-melt extrudable controlled-release pharmaceutical formulation comprising high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide), an effective amount of a therapeutic compound and a plasticizer. By way of example, the plasticizer may comprise poly(ethylene glycol).
It is contemplated and within the scope of the present invention that the pharmaceutical formulation may be administered to a subject by any of a variety of methods known to the artisan. In some embodiments, the formulations are designed to be particularly well suited for oral delivery.
It is also contemplated and within the scope of the present invention that the pharmaceutical formulation may comprise other components.
The methods provided on some aspects of the present invention may comprise a single step or multiple steps for preparing the pharmaceutical formulation.
It is also contemplated that the particular combinations of therapeutic compound and PEO (of given molecular weight) will result in various formulations, each possessing a particular combination of properties. Some combinations may be better suited for particular types or classes of therapeutic compounds while another combination may be better suited for other types or classes of therapeutic compounds. Methods for the selection of a particular therapeutic compound/PEO (of a given molecular weight) combination are also provided as part of the present invention.
Some embodiments of the invention comprise a plasticizer. The particular combinations of therapeutic compound/plasticizer/PEO (of given molecular weight) may be selected to provide a desired combination of physical properties. Some particular combination of these ingredients may accordingly be better suited for a particular therapeutic compound while another combination may be better suited for a different therapeutic compound. Methods for the selection of a particular therapeutic compound/plasticizer/ PEO (of a given molecular weight) combination are also disclosed as part of the present invention.
Another aspect of the invention provides a process for preparing a controlled-release pharmaceutical formulation comprising a therapeutic compound and a high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer. The process in some embodiments comprises hot-melt extruding a pharmaceutical formulation. The pharmaceutical formulation comprises a therapeutic compound and a high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer.
Other embodiments of the present controlled-release pharmaceutical formulations comprise a therapeutic compound and a high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer, where the formulation is prepared by hot-melt extruding a mixture of its components.
In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical formulations of the invention may contain more than one therapeutic compound, as well as other non-therapeutic compound components. The pharmaceutical formulations may be formulated to provide sustained, extended, controlled, timed or other equivalent release dosage forms.
Other features, advantages and embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, accompanying data and appended claims.
As used in the description of the present invention, the term xe2x80x9ceffective amountxe2x80x9d is defined as an amount or dose sufficient to elicit a physiological response in vitro or in vivo

Hot-melt extrudable pharmaceutical formulation


Provided are a method and apparatus for performing an internet protocol television (IPTV) communication service. The method includes: acquiring an application message providing the IPTV communication service from an external input with respect to a general-purpose web application by using plug-in application programming interfaces (APIs) of a web browser which are independent of an IPTV communication service provider; sending the application message to an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) gateway (IG) functional entity apparatus; and receiving a response message comprising a result of processing the application message as a response to the sending of the application message, from the IG functional entity apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present invention relate to performing an internet protocol television (IPTV) communication service by using plug-in application programming interfaces (APIs) of a web browser, the APIs being independent of an IPTV communication service provider.
2. Description of the Related Art
An internet protocol television (IPTV) communication service denotes a service providing an information service, a video content service, and a broadcasting service to TVs through an IP network, that is, a high-speed internet network. As a communication-broadcasting convergent service is being developed, interest in IPTV services is growing. Activation of the IPTV service may greatly affect not only communication and broadcasting industries but also content manufacturing and home appliance industries.
Conventionally, in order for an IPTV service user to be provided with the IPTV service through an IP network, the IPTV service user may own set-top boxes that are different for each IPTV vendor. Only the IPTV service user who owns an IPTV set-top box manufactured according to the standards set by an IPTV service provider providing an IPTV service may be provided with the IPTV service from the corresponding IPTV service provider. For example, when there are three IPTV service providers A, B, and C, a user who purchases A's set-top box may only use an IPTV service provided from A. Also, in order to use an IPTV service from B or C, a set-top box manufactured by B or C are separately purchased. Due to such a compatibility problem between the IPTV services and the set-top boxes, selection of the IPTV services is limited and consequently, the quality of the IPTV services deteriorates or it is difficult to expand a service base.
In this regard, an open IPTV forum has been recently established and the standardization is under discussion. In this forum, common standards, which are not dependent upon IPTV service providers, are formed and the provision of IPTV services to service users based on the common standards is under discussion.
The open IPTV forum aims to form an interface and a hardware platform which are not dependent upon IPTV service providers and to use IPTV services provided from a plurality of IPTV service providers by users. According to open IPTV forum architecture, even if the user does not own the set-top boxes that are different for each IPTV service provider, the user may use the IPTV services provided from a plurality of different IPTV service providers and thus a range of selection for the services may be expanded.
In order for the user to use the services provided from the plurality of different IPTV service providers, apparatuses for relaying services provided from the plurality of different IPTV service providers are present in a residential network having functional architecture according to the open IPTV forum. The apparatuses may be entities such as Application Gateway (AG), IMS Gateway (IG), and CSP Gateway (CG) according to the functional architecture of the open IPTV forum. These relaying apparatuses receive IPTV services provided from a provider network outside of the residential network and relay the received IPTV services to a terminal included in the residential network.

Method and apparatus for performing IPTV communication service


A virtual endoscope image is generated based on an opacity template in which a pixel value of a three-dimensional image is associated with an opacity, the opacity template being capable of showing both of an inner wall of a large intestine region and an inner wall of a residue region present in the large intestine region on the virtual endoscope image, a viewpoint set in the vicinity of a boundary between a space region and the residue region in the large intestine region, a set surface set at a position separated by a previously set distance in a previously set line-of-sight direction from the viewpoint, and a pixel value on a light beam vector beyond the set surface among pixel values of the three-dimensional image on the light beam vector extending from the viewpoint.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a virtual endoscope image-generating device, method, and program for generating a virtual endoscope image representing an inner wall of a large intestine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, extraction of a hollow organ such as a large intestine, a small intestine, or a stomach of a patient from a three-dimensional image captured by a modality such as a computed tomography (CT) device, and use of a three-dimensional image of the extracted hollow organ in image diagnosis has been performed.
For example, CT imaging is performed in a state in which air is in the large intestine, and a three-dimensional image obtained by this photography is subjected to volume-rendering from the inner side of the large intestine. Accordingly, an image as an image when observation is performed using an endoscope can be created, and this image is called a virtual endoscope image.
When this virtual endoscope image is generated, it is necessary to empty the inside of the large intestine before examination, but a residue may remain in the large intestine. When this residue remains in the virtual endoscope image, observation of the inside of the large intestine is disturbed.
Therefore, the residue is imaged in advance in order that CT imaging is performed, and an imaged tagged region is removed through image processing after the CT imaging. Accordingly, a three-dimensional image in which the residue is not virtually present generated, and is subjected to volume rendering. This is called a digital cleansing process. For example, JP2012-504003A and JP2009-511216A disclose a method of detecting polyps or the like after such a digital cleansing process is performed.

Virtual endoscope image-generating device, method, and program


The present invention relates to a system and method for electronic and algorithmic data mining of an individual physician's prescribing history to determine the approximate distribution of diseases within their practice population for optimizing pharmaceutical sales and marketing. Rapid and large-scale determination of specific clinical safety and efficacy attributes of a marketed drug which are most pertinent and relevant to a given physician, when compared to a competitor's drug, are defined and tabularized. Major clinical characteristics taken into account include a drug's safety, efficacy, cost, dosing convenience, formulary insurance coverage, side effect profiles, and FDA approval for the intended use. A symbolic representation of knowledge is employed in which the marketed drug and each competitor's drug are compared algorithmically against each other with a scoring system that is based upon machine analysis of each major clinical characteristic. The score is further refined according to the number and severity of safety interactions which are relevant to the comparison, and also based upon predicted prevalence of such interactions within a specific physician's practice.

An estimated $6 billion is spent per year by the U.S. pharmaceutical industry to provide one-on-one marketing to physicians using its sales force. The process is highly competitive, expensive, inefficient, and its attendant costs are growing rapidly. This one-to-one marketing is traditional known within the pharmaceutical industry as physician detailing. Detailing costs today are approaching $400 per physician visit, which averages 3-7 minutes of personal interaction time. Additionally, the number of sales representatives involved in drug detailing activities has grown from 35,000 to 70,000 during the preceding 6 years, yet the number of practicing physicians has remained essentially unchanged for the same period of time. The pharmaceutical industry is therefore highly concerned about rising cost trends which, if continued, are viewed as being unsustainable. Indeed, the majority of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies now spend more on sales and marketing than on research and development.
Today's marketing messages to individual physicians are generic and therefore highly inefficient. For example, representatives typically leave samples of newer medications along with published articles or clinical case reports related to safety, cost, or efficacy of the marketed drug, FDA-approved package insert information, and gifts, along with corporate brochures. Also utilized are generic marketing materials in which the marketed drug is compared against a competing drug in terms of various attributes, such as price, dosing, safety, FDA-approved indications for its use, or efficacy.
It is hoped that these aforementioned items will influence MD prescribing behavior. However, the fundamental limitation of these materials is their generic and static nature, which limits the impact they may have on the physician, and contributes to inefficient marketing. For example, generic materials do not typically (except by coincidence) explicitly address the specific needs of patients and specific economic considerations which exist within a physician's practice. For instance, a primary care physician may have 1500 hypertensive patients in his practice who are being treated with a specific high blood pressure medicine (medication "X"). A drug company may wish to market to this physician an allergy medicine (medication "A"), and consider its primary competitor allergy medicine "B". In doing so, the drug company may leave advertising materials with the physician in which the attributes of allergy drug A are contrasted to allergy drug B. However, B may not even be a relevant competitor to A, because the majority of patients in the doctors practice have insurance company formularies which do not pay for drug B in the first place. Therefore, the more relevant competitor to allergy medicine A is actually another allergy medicine "C".
Considering this particular line of reasoning, it may also be the case that allergy medicine C, the more likely competitor, has a serious drug-to-drug interaction with high blood pressure medicine X, which is used by 1500 of the physician's patients. In this scenario, a very relevant and powerful marketing message would be that allergy medicine A is safe in the doctor's patients, but allergy medicine C is dangerous. The cost effectiveness of such a message may be orders of magnitude higher than traditional generic materials which are not MD-specific.
Indeed, each physician's practice is totally unique from any other, in terms of the types and prevalence of diseases which exist, and the medications which the MD has chosen to treat those diseases. Because there are more than 500,000 practicing physicians in the U.S., manual determination of the specific and relevant elements within each physician's practice is not feasible on a vast scale. Thus, there is a need for a system which can algorithmically and rapidly determine sales and marketing safety and efficacy information which is specific to the needs of an individual physician's or physician group's patient population, and in which the marketed drug is superior to its competitors.

System and method for multi-dimensional physician-specific data mining for pharmaceutical sales and marketing


In the recording apparatus and reproducing apparatus employing variable length coding, a formatting which prevents propagation of error due to transmission route error is realized. The input quantized value is coded in variable length and recorded in a first memory. The variable length code words recorded in the first memory are read out and formatted, and recorded into a second memory. In reproduction, the quantized value is decoded in the reverse sequence. By executing variable length coding and formatting in a pipeline operation by using two memories, high speed input signals such as moving picture signals can be formatted. Components of the recording apparatus and reproducing apparatus can be shared, and the circuit scale may be effectively reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for recording video information or audio information by variable length coding and to a reproducing apparatus for reproducing the recorded information.
2. Description of the Prior Art
To replace the analog video tape recorder (VTR) for recording a video signal on a magnetic tape directly as an analog signal, recently, it is being promoted to develop and commercialize a digital VTR which converts the video signal from analog signal into digital signal, and processes and records the digital signal, with the purpose of improving the picture quality and preventing deterioration at the time of dubbing, for example.
Its operation is explained below by reference to the block diagram of a signal processing unit in FIG. 31.
The video signal which is converted from analog to digital (A/D) by the known art is fed into a discrete cosine transform (DCT) circuit 401 in order to undergo DCT for the purpose of data compression. In the DCT circuit 401, DCT is conducted in a unit of 8 pixels.times.8 pixels (hereinafter called a DCT block), and the transformed signal is produced in the unit of 1 pixel into a quantizing circuit 402 (the data of 64 transformed pixels is produced by 1 DCT). In the quantizing circuit 402, the input data is quantized by every 1 pixel, and is put into a variable length coding circuit 403 for coding at high efficiency. In the variable length coding circuit 403, according to a known algorithm such as two-dimensional Huffman code (to determine the code word from the number of zero runs and the succeeding non-zero values, and the greater the number of zeros in the input data, the smaller becomes the number of code words in the DCT block), the data is converted into variable length code according to the zero run length and amplitude value of the quantized data, and the output is sent into an error correction coding circuit 404. The length of the output data row of the variable length coding circuit 403 varies with the quantized value and is not in a constant length. In the error correction coding circuit 404, an error correction code such as Reed Solomon code is added so that the error occurring at the time of reproduction may be corrected, and its data row is produced to a modulation circuit 405. The output data row is modulated in the modulation circuit 405, and is recorded and amplified in a recording circuit 405, and is recorded on a tape 500 through a magnetic head 407.
In reproduction, the signal reproduced from the tape 500 by the magnetic head 407 is sufficiently amplified in a reproduction amplifying circuit 408, and demodulated in a demodulation circuit 409, and is put into an error correction circuit 410. In the error correction circuit 410, the error occurring due to dropout or the like on the tape is checked, and the corrected data is put into a variable length decoding circuit 411. The variable length decoding circuit 411 decodes the zero run length and amplitude value from the signal coming out of the error correction circuit 410. An inverse quantizing circuit 412 inversely quantizes the amplitude value including the obtained zeros and con obtain the signal generated right after DCT. This signal is converted into a signal on the time axis by an inverse DCT circuit 413, and an analog video signal is produced through a digital/analog conversion circuit (not shown), and is interfaced with a monitor or device apparatus.
In this conventional constitution, however, since the signal is put into the error correction coding circuit 403 right after variable length coding, the data is recorded in the tape continuously from the low frequency components to high frequency components in one DCT block. That is, assuming the data array in the DCT block unit, it is regarded as follows:
(DCT1: low range to high range) to (DCT2: low range to high range) to (DCT3: low range to high range), and so forth.
Therefore, in reproduction, when a data string that cannot be corrected in the error correction circuit 410 because of a large error scale occurs, since variable length coded signals are recorded, it is impossible to distinguish the divisions of data, and the data after the error onset cannot be used at all, that is, normal reproduction after the error is disabled, and moreover it is practically impossible to realize special reproduction such as high speed reproduction that does not trace the recording tracks normally, involving a high risk of occurrence of such error.
To realize such format, however, the data once coded in variable length must be reshuffled, which requires complicated circuitry and a very large memory. In particular, it can not be applied an apparatus requiring real time processing at high speed, such as moving picture processing.
It is hence a primary object of the invention to solve the problems of the conventional recording apparatus and reproducing apparatus.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A computer mouse capable of stimulating therapeutic points of the human body to reduce user fatigue. Projection bodies for stimulating the therapeutic points are provided on the main body and click buttons of the computer mouse.

In a personal computer, a computer mouse is moved on a surface body to input positioning of a cursor on a computer screen and is frequently used to facilitate the input and selection options.
However, the long-time use of a personal computer causes user fatigue, for example eyestrain or stiffness in the shoulders in the human body. When the personal computer is operated by the use of the mouse, movement of the mouse in various directions is needed, which makes user fatigue quite remarkable and a significant problem.
In order to eliminate the above disadvantages, the present invention has as an object to provide a mouse having a main body and a click button including projection bodies on the main body and the click button for stimulating therapeutic points on the user's hand.
According to this invention, the fatigue can be diminished and possibly banished since the therapeutic points in the palm of the hand are stimulated by the projection bodies when the palm is put on the upper surface of the mouse. Thusly, the ergonomics of the mouse are improved.

Wakamatsu-machi, Nonoichi-machi, Ishikawa-gun, Ishikawa-ken


A mechanism for stopping an object to be swung in a predetermined stop position and holding the object in that position includes a temporary stopping unit for stopping the swing of the object in a temporary stop position before the stop position, a rotation complementing unit for complementarily further rotating the object from the temporary stop position to the stop position, and a holding unit for holding the object in the stop position. As a preferable embodiment of the rotation complementing means, it is possible to use a) a coupling unit for coupling a mounting member to a second power transmission wheel such that the mounting member can freely rotate in both the forward and reverse directions with respect to the second power transmission wheel, b) a rotation angle regulating unit for regulating the angle range within which the mounting member can freely rotate in the forward and reverse directions with respect to the second power transmission wheel, c) a mounting member pre-rotating unit for allowing a driving unit to rotate the mounting member within the angle range prior to the second power transmission wheel, and driving the second power transmission wheel after the mounting member stops rotating due to the rotation angle regulating unit, and d) a complementary torque apply unit for applying a complementary torque to the object in the temporary stop position and complementarily further rotating the object from the temporary stop position to the stop position.

The present invention relates to a swing support apparatus for swingably supporting an object, e.g., a heavy object, and an object which has a testing device.
A swing support apparatus according to the present invention swingably supports a heavy object around its rotating shaft. For example, a test system necessitates a swing support apparatus for swingably supporting a testing device around its rotating shaft. As a typical application example, a test system (probe system) for performing a probe test in the field of semiconductors will be described below.
Conventional probe systems continuously perform electrical testing of a large number of IC chips formed on a semiconductor wafer. Generally, the probe system includes a loader unit and a prober unit. The loader unit has a transfer mechanism for transferring semiconductor wafers one by one, which are carried in and out in units of cassettes. The prober unit exchanges semiconductor wafers one by one with the transfer mechanism of the loader unit and performs electrical testing separately or continuously for a plurality of IC chips on a semiconductor wafer. This prober unit constitutes a main body of the probe system for performing a probe test and includes a wafer table, a contact mechanism (probe card), and a test head. The wafer table exchanges semiconductor wafers one by one with the transfer mechanism. The probe card has probe needles for connecting the electrodes or pads of an IC chip or chips on a semiconductor wafer to a test circuit. The test head electrically interfaces the probe card to the test circuit. This test head is fixed to a rotating shaft via a frame for supporting the test head main body and hinges. The test head is supported by the main body so as to turn, e.g., 180.degree., together with and around the rotating shaft, between the probe system main body and a maintenance area.
The test head incorporates a large number of electronic parts for electrically interfacing the probe card to the test circuit. The weight of the test head and its accessaries such as the frame reaches about 30 to 100 kg even if the test head is a small one. A motor is often used to swing the test head around the rotating shaft.
A large driving force is required to swing a heavy object such as the test head of the above conventional probe system. Since not only the motor but also gears for transmitting the driving force of the motor become large, it is necessary to increase the mechanical strength of the driving mechanism constituted by these members. Additionally, to prepare for a case where, e.g., the motor fails, a fall preventing mechanism (U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,512 issued Apr. 9, 1996) for preventing the fall of the test head is provided. This further complicates the structure of the swing support apparatus and increases the cost of the apparatus. Furthermore, it is difficult for the motor to accurately position the test head and bring the test head into contact with the contact mechanism such as a probe card without any overload. Therefore, a mechanically complicated positioning mechanism must be provided in addition to the motor, and this further increases the cost of the apparatus. These problems of positioning and holding are left unsolved.
To solve these problems, the invention proposed (Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 6-11542 issued Jan. 21, 1994) uses a torque reducing means for reducing the torque applied on a rotating shaft by the weight of the test head of the above probe system.
With this prior art, it is possible to reduce the driving force required of the motor, smoothly swing an object to be swingably supported, and control inconveniences caused by the fall of the test head.
The problem of positioning, however, is still left unsolved.


Methods and devices for attribute coding for point clouds. In a top-down coding process a predicted geometry-weighted sum of attributes is determined for each occupied sub-volume of a volume based on a prediction operation that uses at least a geometry-weighted sum of attributes for the volume. The prediction operation involves up-sampling data from the preceding (parent) depth of the coding tree. The predicted geometry-weighted sums of attributes and corresponding original geometry-weighted sums of attributes are subtracted, in the attribute domain or in a transform domain to result in residual coefficients. The AC residual coefficients are coded in the bitstream. The transform used has a DC coefficient property, whereby the DC coefficient from transform of the geometry-weighted sums of attributes for the set of child sub-volumes is the geometry-weighted sum of attributes for the volume.

Data compression is used in communications and computer networking to store, transmit, and reproduce information efficiently. Three-dimensional representations of physical space are often stored as point clouds, where the point cloud is made up of a plurality of points each having a geometric location in a given space. There are a range of applications for point clouds. In one example, they may be for virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) applications. In another example, point clouds may be for computer vision applications, such as automated vehicles.
Point cloud data can be very large, particularly when it is time variant. For example, LiDAR scans may produce a large volume of sparse point cloud data that must be processed, analyzed, or transmitted very quickly for real-time vehicular control applications. As another example, a detailed VR application may involve dense point cloud data with rapid real-time user movement. Accordingly, the efficient compression of point cloud data is a challenge.
Much work has gone into mechanisms for efficiently coding the geometric structure of point clouds. This typically involves the recursive splitting of the geometric space into smaller and smaller sub-units until each occupied sub-unit contains only one of the points. Octree-based coding processes for efficiently coding this positional or geometric data have been developed.
In addition to coding geometry, one or more attributes regarding the points may be coded. For example, in the case of VR, colour or intensity (luma) information may be coded for each pixel. In the case of LiDAR scans, reflectance information may be coded for each pixel. Pixels may have alternative or additional attributes.
It would be advantageous to provide for methods and devices that efficiently and/or effectively compress attribute data for point clouds.
Similar reference numerals may have been used in different figures to denote similar components.

Methods and devices for predictive point cloud attribute coding


A modular system of multipurpose rods for drilling soil is constituted by rods (1) crossed by an internal passage (2) for the passage of concrete, of substantially cylindrical shape, that completely crosses the rod; each of the rods is provided at the endings with a male insert (5) and a female insert (6) respectively, adapted to be plugged in one to the other for permitting the assembly in batteries of any length. The inserts (5, 6) are provided with transmitters (11, 11a) for transmitting the rotation along the whole battery of rods (1) and arranged for fixing elements that reduce the internal passage (2).

The present invention takes its place in the field of mixing, consolidation and compaction technologies and concerns a modular system of multipurpose rods for drilling soils.
Various procedures are known for the consolidation of the soil through the formation of cylindrical columns of consolidated soil, based on the mixing of particles of the soil itself with binders, usually cemented mixtures.
A traditional procedure, through which a mainly mechanic mixing is carried out, uses the rotating movement of tools (see FIG. 1) able to dig and breaks up the soil through appendixes which radially extend to the axis of the tool itself. The soil so broken up is kneaded with a low-pressure (1-2 MPa) cemented mixture pumped through openings obtained on the tubular shaft right under the blades.
A known variant of the described procedure is to use higher pressures for the cemented mixtures. This technique, by using the combination of the mechanical action of the disintegrating gears of the tool and of the kinetic energy of the pressurized jets, differs for a substantial execution speed, with considerable economic advantages.
There are variants of these techniques which require a double line of cemented mixtures. In addition to the outputs on the shaft of the tool which interact with the disintegrating gears, there are others on the upper parts of the blades which treat a diameter of soil bigger than the one treated by the mechanical disintegrating gears. This increase of the treated diameter when it is not requested for all the depth, makes it necessary a double supply.
Another technology taken into consideration by the present invention is the one of compacting piles. From the European patent EP 0 228 138 it is known an excavation and compaction equipment for the construction of compacting piles. In this technology, during the excavation phase, the equipment undergoes a torque on the drill rod and a thrust on the excavation screw relatively elevated as the quantity of soil to be compacted during the excavation by the displacer element (FIG. 2) is of significant relevance and exerts also a strong resistance to the advancement of the tool in the soil itself. During the ascent, the excavation is filled by means of injection of concrete which passes through the rods and the tool itself.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 7,494,299 describes an equipment provided with screw tool to which a plurality of hollow, extended and substantially cylindrical shaped rods is applied.
The rods are provided with special endings adapted to vertically connect them. The inner of the rods is destined to be filled with concrete at the end of the anchoring procedures which provide that the rods themselves are disposable as reinforcing structural elements.
However, the internal passage of the rods is not cylindrical and reduces in correspondence with the endings provided with particular inserts for the assembly of the rods themselves.
Furthermore, the rods are designed for carrying inner elements adapted for realizing the rotation which reduce the internal passage but only in correspondence of said endings.

Modular system of mutli-purpose rods for drilling soil


An assembly for arrangement to the surface of an aerodynamic profile comprises an array of actuators, which are designed as piezo actuators and plasma actuators.

Flow control through plasma actuators has been proposed by S. Grundmann et al., "Plasma zur Strömungskontrolle, Wissenschaftsmagazin der TU Darmstadt", fall 2009, pages 64-67", which actuators are realized as DBD actuators (DBD: dielectric barrier discharge; referred to as DBE in the German language use: "dielektrische Barriereentladung").
The influencing of the flow over airfoils of aircraft has also been proposed by R. Erfani et al., Development of DBD plasma actuators: The double encapsulated electrode, Acta Aeronautica 109 (2015), pages 132-143, publisher ELSEVIER. There, DBD actuators having an encapsulated electrode (SDBD actuator) or multiple encapsulated electrodes (MEE actuators) are described. In the most simple case of an SDBD actuator an exposed electrode is provided, which is connected to a high-voltage power supply (typically in the kV range), which is operated with an AC (or pulsed) voltage (typically with an AC voltage in the kHz range).
The exposed electrode is arranged at the top of a dielectric layer, wherein at its underside an encapsulated electrode is provided, which is electrically connected to ground. The complete DBD actuator is placed on a substrate.
During the operation of the DBD actuator at the exposed electrode a plasma is created from the ambient air, i.e. ionized air, which consists of ions and electrons.
Furthermore, piezo elements as actuators are known, at which a small plate made from a piezoelectric crystal or a piezoelectric ceramics is enclosed between two electrodes. When an electric voltage is applied, a mechanical motion is created (piezo actuator, so-called inverse piezo effect), or when a mechanical force acts on it, an electric voltage between the electrodes is created (piezo effect).

Actuators for flow control at surfaces of aerodynamic profiles


A food preparation device has a base with a motor located within the base and having an output shaft defining a first axis of rotation. A jar is removably coupled with the base. A food processing assembly is coupled with the jar and has a drive shaft defining a second axis of rotation. A drive coupler comprises a splined socket coupled with one of the output shaft and the drive shaft, and a splined insert coupled with the other of the output shaft and the drive shaft. The splined insert is sized to be received within the splined socket when the jar is mounted to the base to operably couple the output shaft and the drive shaft, the splines of the splined insert having an arcuate profile.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to motor-driven food preparation devices, and more specifically to a coupling connecting a blender motor to a blender blade assembly which can accommodate misalignment of a blender jar with a blender base.
2. Description of the Related Art
Blenders are a common motor-driven appliance in home, commercial, and institutional kitchens. FIG. 1A illustrates in a sectional view a conventional prior art blender assembly 10 comprising a jar 12 and a motorized base 14. The jar 12 comprises a perimeter wall 20 and a bottom wall 44 which together define a chamber 22 adapted to hold a food item (not shown). The perimeter wall 20 transitions to a downwardly-extending skirt 24 which defines with the bottom wall 44 a skirt recess 40.
A rotating blade assembly 26 for processing food items in the chamber 22 is mounted to the jar 12. The blade assembly 26 comprises a bushing assembly 30 mounted within an opening in the bottom wall 44 of the jar 12 and a drive shaft 34 rotatably mounted to the bushing assembly 30 and defines an axis of rotation 42. A blade 28 is mounted to one end of the drive shaft 34 and a male coupler 32 is mounted to the other end of the drive shaft 34.
The motorized base 14 comprises a base housing 50 enclosing a drive motor 52. The armature of the drive motor 52 terminates in an output shaft 54 which mounts a female coupler 56. The output shaft 54 defines a second axis of rotation 64. The base housing 50 transitions upwardly to a jar pedestal 62 adapted for cooperative registry with the skirt recess 40 when the jar 12 is seated on the base 14.
Referring to FIG. 1B, the male coupler 32 is a disk-shaped, gear-like body having a circumscribing perimeter surface 36 that ends in opposing upper and lower edges 46, 48, respectively, having a plurality of regularly-spaced longitudinal splines 38 having tips that form the perimeter surface.
The female coupler 56 is a somewhat cup-shaped body having a circumferential inner surface 58 from which project a plurality of regularly-spaced longitudinal splines 60, which are complementary to the splines 38 on the male coupler for cooperative registry with the male coupler 32 to effect rotation of the mixing blades 28 by rotation of the drive motor 52.
When the jar 12 is properly seated on the motorized base 14, the jar pedestal 62 will be received in the skirt recess 40 so that the drive shaft rotational axis 42 and the output shaft rotational axis 64 are coaxial. However, in some instances, the jar 12 may be unintentionally seated on the motorized base 14 so that the blade assembly rotational axis 42 is misaligned relative to the drive motor rotational axis 64 as seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B. This misalignment will cause the male coupler 32 to improperly seat in the female coupler 56, resulting in the upper and lower edges 46, 48 of the male coupler 32 contacting the inner surface of the female coupler 56 as the tip of each male coupler spline 38 is received between adjacent female splines 60. The misalignment results in asymmetric rotation of the male coupler 32 relative to the female coupler 56 and the contacting of the edges 46, 48 with the inner surface 58 causes excessive vibration and noise, as well as accelerated wear of the couplers 32, 56.

Drive coupler for a food preparation device


A welding jig and welding process for planar magnetic components are provided. The welding jig includes a fixed piece and an elastic piece. The fixed piece includes a base and a carrier. The base has an opening, bumps at the bottom of the opening and a pair of operation ends extending from the opening. The carrier is fixed on the base and located in the opening, and has multiple through holes. When the bumps are located respectively in the through holes, an accommodation interval is formed between adjacent pairs of the bumps for the placement of the planar magnetic components. The elastic piece is secured to the fixed piece, and when the planar magnetic components are placed in the accommodation intervals of the fixed piece, the elastic piece covers the planar magnetic components and the planar magnetic components abut against two side edges of the elastic piece.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to welding. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel welding jig and welding process for planar magnetic components.
2. Description of Related Art
Compared with the traditional transformer, a planar magnetic component, such as a planar transformer, employs a material such as a single layer or multilayer printed wiring board (PWB) or copper foil to replace copper wires found in the traditional transformer. The wires in the planar transformer actually are planar conductors, and the current tends to flow at the edges far away from the center but totally passes through the conductor, so that a high current density can be obtained. In addition, the magnetic core applied in the planar transformer has a small volume, large area and flat shape, thereby achieving a good heat dissipation effect and obtaining a high efficiency. Furthermore, the planar transformer has the advantages of a compact structure, good coupling effect, small leakage inductance, excellent insulation performance and the like, so that the planar transformer conforms to modern trends of product miniaturization and high power density. As a result of these advantages, the planar transformer has been applied in many fields.
FIG. 7 is a front view of a PIN needle for a planar magnetic component in the prior art. As shown in FIG. 7, the PIN needle 73 in the prior art is formed in a straight columnar configuration. The method for fabricating the planar magnetic component using the PIN needle in the prior art generally includes providing a semi-finished planar magnetic component and then inserting the PIN needle into a PIN pin of a PWB of the planar magnetic component, after which this assembly is placed into a jig. Thereafter, the junction of the PIN needle and PIN pin is soldered at the front and back sides of the planar magnetic component using a soldering iron. This is repeated for a plurality of PIN needles and PIN pins, in which only one end of one PIN pin is soldered at a time for each soldering operation. Finally, the unnecessary part of each PIN needle is cut off. Such a method for fabricating the planar magnetic component has at least the following disadvantages:
1) Manual soldering using the soldering iron is time-consuming, and only a small operating space is provided for this operation.
2) Manual soldering using the soldering iron is performed only on one end of each PIN pin at a time. This reduces the speed of the production line.
3) Manual soldering is performed by a human which increases labor costs.
4) During the cutting of the PIN needles, the solder on the PWB may crack. This may be the source of quality problems in follow-up processes.
In view of the above, those in the industry are endeavoring to design a welding jig and welding process for planar magnetic components in a manner that results in a reduction in manufacturing time and labor costs associated with the PIN pin welding process of the planar magnetic component, and also that eliminates quality problems associated with the cracking of solder on a PWB.

Welding jig and welding process for planar magnetic components


A multiplier apparatus is arranged for multiplying a first long integer entity with a second long integer entity modulo a prime number. In particular, the comprises a pipelined multiplier core, whilst executing the overall multiplication in Montgomery fashion.

Multiplication of long integers modulo a prime number is a basic and repetitive operation that is used for so-called public key systems and various other applications. For an efficient usage of such applications, the execution time of the multiplication should be minimum. In consequence, the invention relates in particular to an apparatus for multiplying a first long integer entity with a second long integer entity modulo a prime number. Various methods and apparatuses have been proposed for the above through using a combination of multiplication and reduction operations. In particular, often the most significant part of the result has been used to actually effect the reduction. However, the present inventor has recognized that the developing of such most significant part will substantially delay the overall operation, especially, when the available hardware should be used at the highest possible duty cycle, in that a sequence of such multiplications must be executed in a contiguous manner.