Method and apparatus for reducing the average size of metallic compound particles or agglomerates suspended in a fluid by flowing one or more times said fluid having metallic compound particles or agglomerates suspended therein through one or more magnetic fields to reduce the average size of a substantial portion of the metallic compound particles or agglomerates by at least 25%.

Ultrafine powders have significant potential for a wide range of applications including catalysts, magnetic recording media, optoelectronic materials, magnetic fluids and composite materials. Materials having fine-scale microstructures possess unique and technologically attractive properties, as shown by work on rapidly solidified metals, alloys and composite materials wherein grain sizes on the order of a few micrometers (microns) are obtainable. Recently, however, research has focused on reducing grain size from the micrometer to the nanometer range. A feature of such nanostructured materials is the high fraction of atoms (up to 50%) residing at grain or particle boundaries. The high fraction of the atoms residing in surface boundaries is important in creating a high density of potential sites for catalytic and electrochemical reactions. Nanostructured materials, which refer herein to materials having a grain diameter of about 1 to 100 nanometers (1 nm=10 angstroms) possess substantially different, and in many cases improved, chemical and physical properties compared to their micron-sized grain counterparts of the same chemical composition.
The synthesis of oxides and hydroxides in nanostructured form facilitates the manufacture of components and devices with modified and/or superior performance. An additional benefit of grain size refinement to the nanoscale range is the elimination of large voids at grain boundaries, which often contribute to deleterious properties. The recent demonstration that nanostructured ceramic materials (i.e., TiO.sub.2) can be superplastically deformed at relative low temperatures and pressures, as described in the examples in Nanostructured Materials, Vol. 1, 1992, has important implications in net shape forming brittle ceramic and intermetallic components. In industrial coating applications, for example thermal barrier coatings, reduction to the nanoscale is highly effective in increasing thermal impedance. In dense ceramic coatings, nanostructured materials have the potential to provide high hardness combined with good fracture toughness, and corrosion resistance.
High surface-area materials with nanoscale dimensions are of special interest in applications where active-site mediated chemical reactions play a decisive role. In catalytic applications, a high contact area for oxidation and reduction with the surrounding environment is important, and thus reduction of the catalytic material to the nanoscale is clearly a distinct advantage. Catalytic applications include pollution control, such as nuclear waste mitigation, water purification, mercury remediation, particulates remediation, and air filtration, as well as catalysis for synthetic purposes, such petroleum refinement, and the like. However, despite a strong interest in the development of nanostructured materials for catalytic applications, the present nanostructured materials suffer from the tendency of the particles to form agglomerates in which the interparticle pore space becomes comparable with the particle size, i.e. wherein the interparticle pore space itself has nanoscale dimensions.
Another area for the use nanostructured materials is rechargeable batteries and fuel cells, where the high surface area of the nanostructured materials promotes rapid interactions of the active material with the surrounding media. In high energy density rechargeable storage batteries, for example, the need to sustain high current pulses under charging and discharging conditions requires maximum contact between the electrode and electrolyte to achieve a high density of ion and electron carriers. Active nanostructured materials, with their high density of controlled surface defects, address this requirement, thus providing the means to optimize the high energy storage capacity of batteries.
Work on micron-scale nickel hydroxide-based materials indicates three forms of crystal structure, namely the hexagonal .alpha.- and .beta.-phases and the cubic .gamma.-phase. In nickel electrode applications, the .beta.-phase is usually used because of its stability during charge-discharge cycle process. However, .alpha.-nickel hydroxide, although unstable in the charge-discharge cycle, is capable of storing a higher amount of energy due to a higher valence charge. Current nickel electrodes are less than ideal because of the low volumetric energy density of the active materials. The theoretical x-ray density of nickel hydroxide is 4.15 g/cc, but the present electrode can only achieve a density of 1.8 g/cc. This is primarily due to the large micro-sized voids associated with the processed electrodes when using conventional nickel hydroxide.
The particle size in both naturally occurring and commercially synthesized manganese oxide is on the micron scale. Crystallographic studies reveal that at the molecular level manganese dioxide is constructed from octahedrons, each consisting of six oxygen atoms surrounding a manganese atom. The octahedrons are linked at their vertices and edges to form single or double chains. These chains share corners with other chains, leading to structures with tunnels or channels formed by rows of atomic empty sites. The size of these channels is related to the number of manganese-oxygen chains on each side. The presence of channels facilitates the transport of mobile ionic species, including Li+, H+, K+, Ba+2, Na+, or Pb+2. This feature is important because such cation exchange enhances both catalytic properties for oxidation reactions, and good ionic/electronic conduction for energy storage batteries.
Zirconia is another oxide of particular interest because of its chemical stability, high hardness, refractory nature (ability to withstand high temperatures), and ionic conductivity. Structurally stabilized zirconia is widely used in thermal barrier coatings for advanced engines, which are subject to extremely high temperatures. Other uses of zirconia include milling balls, refractors, oxygen sensors, and fuel cells batteries, as well as electronic ceramics.
Zirconia has a monoclinic structure at low temperatures, but exists in different forms at elevated temperatures. For example, undoped zirconia with the monoclinic structure transforms near 1170° C. to the tetragonal structure, and then near 2370° C. to the cubic structure. The presence of lower-valance cations such as Mg+2, Ca+2, Y+3, and rare earth cations stabilizes the high temperature phases to lower temperatures so that metastable tetragonal or cubic phases can exist down to ambient temperature. Also ZrO2 nanoparticles produced by sol-gel synthesis are heavily agglomerated.
As can be seen by the above discussion, despite recent developments in the synthesis of nanostructured materials, there still remains a need for materials and methods which are economical, and which produce materials which are suitable for a wide range of industrial applications. There remains a particular need for materials suitable for catalytic applications, i.e. materials having a high density of active sites.
A method for the manufacture of ultrafine powders with particle sizes less than 50 nm is described in International Application No. PCT/AU96/00539. This process involves a mechanically activated chemical reaction between a metal compound and a suitable reagent which occurs either during mechanical milling or during subsequent heat treatment of the milled powder. During mechanical activation a composite structure is formed which consists of nano-sized grains of the nano-phase substance within the matrix of the by-product phase. Removal of the by-product phase yields nano particles of the desired material.
The above described prior art techniques require the occurrence of a mechanically activated chemical reaction between the starting powders to form nano-sized particles. Ultrafine grinding processes such as attrition milling are known to be effective in producing powders with mean particle sizes down to about 500 nm. However, the achievement of smaller particle sizes generally requires long milling times and significant energy inputs and is therefore limited by economic considerations. Contamination of the product may also be a problem.
The advent of new methods to prepare semiconductor and metal nanocrystals, specifically the injection of molecular precursors into hot organic surfactants, has yielded markedly improved samples with good size control, narrow size distributions, and good crystallinity of individual and dispersable nanocrystals Using nonhydrolytic preparations of metal oxide nanocrystals at high temperature in organic surfactants, one observes markedly different properties with respect to defect structure and surface composition. Metal oxide nanocrystals with nonhydroxylated surfaces are believed to have significant advantages for applications in catalysis, ceramics, energy storage, magnetic data storage, sensors, ferrofluids, etc.
A method of increasing the refractive indexes of polymers is combining metal oxide particles with polymers to form ceramers. Ceramers may be defined as hardened or cured compositions having ceramic particles embedded or grafted into the polymer matrixes and typically having optical and physical characteristics intermediate between those of the metal oxide and the organic component. Transparency of ceramers is dependent upon, in part, the sizes and refractive indexes of the metal oxide particles contained therein. If the metal oxide particles used in ceramer preparations have large mean diameters, the transparency of the ceramers may be diminished. Light directed at the ceramer containing large metal oxide particles would be reflected back to the light source or deflected to the side, reducing the apparent transparency of the ceramer. Moreover, the transparency of the ceramer may be diminished upon the addition of very small metal oxide particles, if the particles agglomerate within the polymer. These particle agglomerates act as larger particles that may scatter or reflect light. In addition, during the preparation of ceramers, metal oxide particles may precipitate creating what appears to be separate layers(s) that have less than maximal transparency. For a transparent ceramer, the small metal oxide particles must be highly dispersed (non-agglomerated) in the polymer to avoid light scattering.
One method of ceramer preparation is to treat metal oxide particles with specific organic acids, or other surface active agents, before combining the metal oxide particles with polymer precursors. It is through that surface-active agents coat the surface of the metal oxide particles and create an organophilic interface with the polymer compositions. An adsorbed organic layer on the outside of the metal oxide particles sterically inhibits agglomeration resulting in greater metal oxide particle dispersion stability. Another method of increasing the dispersibility of metal oxides in polymer compositions is to electrostatically stabilize the metal oxide particles by forming aqueous colloids. The electrostatically charged layer surrounding the metal oxide particles provides repulsive forces between metal oxide particles inhibiting agglomeration. These methods of dispersing metal oxides suffer from various disadvantages. Consequently, transparent polymer/metal oxide compositions having high refractive indexes are desirable but difficult to obtain because the metal oxide particles, when combined with polymer precursors, may agglomerate and decrease the transparency of the resulting ceramers.
The refractive indexes of ceramers or ceramer compositions are, in part, dependent upon the refractive indexes of the metal oxide particles added to the organic matrix. The theoretical refractive index of a single ceramer can only be as high as the volume weighted average of the refractive indexes of the metal oxide particles and the polymer matrix. Consequently, it is desirable to make ceramers using metal oxide particles having high refractive indexes. Metal oxide particles in crystalline form typically have higher refractive indexes than metal oxide particles that are amorphous (that is, non-crystalline). Therefore, using crystalline metal oxides to make ceramers is desirable, though highly crystalline metal oxide particles that are dispersible are difficult to make because of their tendency to agglomerate in polymer compositions. Generally for a given particle size, the tendency to flocculate increases with increasing refractive index of the particles. For most high refractive index oxides, the form that is precipitated from solution is usually an amorphous or lower refractive index form. Treatments to induce crystallization (for example, heating at an elevated temperature) often tend to induce flocculation or agglomeration of the metal oxide particles. Heating also tends to induce sintering of aggregated of primary particles, especially very small particles that have very high surface areas and thus higher total surface energies. Because of its high dielectric constant, water is an excellent medium for crystallizing and stabilizing metal oxide particles. However, metal oxide particles that are formed in water are difficult to transfer into organic liquids without particle agglomeration and concomitant transfer of water.
Lithium based batteries have become commercially successful due to their relatively high energy density. Suitable positive electrode materials for lithium based batteries include materials that can intercalate lithium atoms into their lattice. The negative electrode can be lithium metal, lithium alloys or compounds that can reversibly intercalate lithium atoms into their lattice. Batteries formed from lithium metal or lithium alloy negative electrodes are referred to as lithium batteries while batteries formed with an anode (negative electrode) active material that can intercalate lithium ions are referred to as lithium ion batteries. In order to produce improved batteries, various materials have been examined for use as cathode (positive electrode) active materials for lithium based batteries. A variety of materials are useful in lithium based batteries. For example, vanadium oxides in certain oxidation states are effective materials for the production of positive electrodes for lithium based batteries. Also, metal vanadium oxide compositions have been identified as having high energy densities and high power densities, when used in positive electrodes for lithium based batteries. Silver vanadium oxide has a particularly high energy density and high power densities, when used in lithium based batteries. Silver vanadium oxide batteries have found particular use in the production of implantable cardiac defibrillators where the battery must be able to recharge a capacitor to deliver large pulses of energy in rapid succession, within ten seconds or less.
Nanoparticles have been reportedly made from metal carbonates such as ZnCO3. The production of such nanoparticles has been reported by methods such as chemical synthesis, gas-phase synthesis, condensed phase synthesis, high speed deposition by ionized cluster beams, consolidation, high speed milling, deposition and sol-gel methods. These methods suffer from numerous drawbacks, including agglomeration, broad particle size distribution, or low volume production.
In all the above-listed fields of industry there is a need for a cost-effective process for making nanoparticles of metallic compounds.

Method for reducing the size of metallic compound particles


A linear LED system including a plurality of line light modules, each line light module comprising an extruded light module housing profile that extends along an axis and that has a profile wall defining an inner profile contour and an outer profile contour and of which a cross sectional view along a plane that is perpendicular to the axis is closed, wherein the profile wall in the cross sectional view defines a LED chamber. At least one LED-strip including a plurality of LEDs is accommodated in an associated LED chamber. The system further includes a plurality of interface modules, each interface module that connect the housing profiles and that an inner space in which at least one power supply module is accommodated so that the power supply module and any other electronic controller equipment is not, or at least to a lesser extend exposed to heat dissipated by the LEDs.

A linear LED system is known from practice and from US2007/0058377 A1. Such a known linear LED system includes:                a plurality of line light modules each line light module comprising an extruded light module housing profile that extends along an axis and that has a profile wall defining an inner profile contour and an outer profile contour and of which a cross sectional view along a plane that is perpendicular to the axis is closed, wherein the profile wall in the cross sectional view defines                    a LED chamber;            two mounting slots that are adjacent opposite sides of the LED chamber and that are configured to mount one of a diffuser, a lens and a transparent protection shield;                        at least one LED-strip including a plurality of LEDs, the at least one LED-strip being accommodated in an associated LED chamber; and        at least one power supply module for powering an associated part of the plurality of LEDs and being configured to transform the power that is supplied to a voltage that is fit for powering the associated part of the plurality of LEDs.
US2012/0001554 A1 discloses that the LEDs generate heat that can be detrimental to their performance and operational life (see [0103]). In order to solve that problem, US2012/0001554 proposes to use a heat sink with a plurality of heat sink fins. The heat sink fins may be positioned along the length of the rail body. The problem of overheating of the power supply module is not mentioned nor recognized in US2012/0001554.


The present invention provides novel amino benzothiazole compounds, compositions comprising these compounds and methods of using these compounds as neuroprotectants. In particular, the compounds described in the present invention are useful for treating stroke and neuropathic pain.

Nitric oxide (NO) has diverse roles both in normal and pathological processes including the regulation of blood pressure, in neurotransmission, and in the macrophage defense systems (Snyder, S. H., et al., Scientific American, May 1992, 68). NO is synthesized by three isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), two of which, one in endothelial cells (eNOS) and one in neuronal cells (nNOS), are constitutive, and the one, in macrophage cells, which is inducible (iNOS). These enzymes are homodimeric proteins that catalyzed a five-electron oxidation of L-arginine, yielding NO and citrulline. The role of NO produced by each of the NOS isoforms is quite unique. Overstimulation or overproduction of individual NOS isoforms plays a role in several disorders including septic shock, arthritis, diabetes, ischemia-reperfusion injury, pain and various neurodegenerative diseases (Kerwin, J. F. Jr., et al., J. Med. Chem. 1995, 38, 4343). For example, the role of NO in cerebral ischemia can be protective or destructive depending on the stage of evolution of the ischemic process and on the cellular compartment producing NO (Dalkara, T., et al. Brain Pathology, 1994, 4, 49). While the NO produced by eNOS is likely beneficial by acting as a vasodilator to improve blood flow to the affected area (Huang, Z., et al. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 1996, 16, 981), NO produced by nNOS may contribute to the initial metabolic deterioration of the ischemic penumbra, resulting in larger infarcts (Hara, H., et al., J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 1996, 16, 605). The metabolic derangement that occurs during ischemia and subsequent reperfusion results in the expression and release of several cytokines that activate iNOS in several cell types including some of the central nervous system. NO can be produced at cytotoxic levels by iNOS, and increased levels of iNOS contribute to progressive tissue damage in the penumbra, leading to larger infarcts (Parmentier, S., et al. Br. J. Pharmacol., 1999, 127, 546). Inhibition of i-NOS has been shown to ameliorate cerebral ischemic damage in rats (Am. J. Physiol., 268, R286 1995).
NO produced by i-NOS is also thought to play a role in diseases that involve systemic hypotension such as toxic shock and therapy with certain cytokines. It has been shown that cancer patients treated with cytokines such as interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 2 (IL-2) or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) suffer cytokine-induced shock and hypotension due to NO produced from macrophages, i.e., inducible NOS (i-NOS) (Chemical & Engineering News, Dec. 20, 33, 1993). i-NOS inhibitors can reverse this. Suppression of adjuvant induced arthritis by selective inhibition of i-NOS is reported in Eur. J. Pharmacol., 273, p. 15–24 (1995).
n-NOS inhibition has also been shown to be effective in antinociception, as evidenced by activity in the late phase of the formalin-induced hindpaw licking and acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction assays (Br. J. Pharmacol., 110, 219–224, 1993). Also, opioid withdrawal in rodents has been reported to be reduced by n-NOS inhibition (see Neuropsychopharmacol., 13, 269–293, 1995).
Neuropathic pain, as defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), is pain initiated or caused by a primary lesion or dysfunction in the nervous system and may be associated with either the central or peripheral nervous system. Neuropathic pain can be subcategorized into central and peripheral neuropathic pain corresponding to lesions or dysfunction to the peripheral and central nervous system respectively. In contrast to acute nociceptive pain, which is finite, localized, subsides with healing or removal of the noxious substance, and serves a protective biological function by minimizing the exposure potential of continuing tissue damage, chronic neuropathic pain serves no protective biological function. Thus rather than being a symptom of a disease process it is itself a disease process that can persist long after the initial injury. If chronic pain is inadequately treated, associated symptoms of chronic anxiety, depression, fear, sleeplessness and social impairment may result.
Nociceptive and neuropathic pain are caused by different neurophysiological processes and thus tend to respond to different treatments. Nociceptive pain, whether somatic or visceral in nature, is mediated by A-delta and C-fibres located in skin, bone, vicera etc. Examples of this type of pain include post-operative pain, pain associated with trauma and arthritic pain and can be effectively managed with opioids or NSAIDS. Neuropathic pain is caused by pathological changes such as peripheral or central neuronal sensitization, abonormal somatic and sympathetic interactions, and central sensitization related to damaged inhibitory neuronal function. These abnormal states are manifested in the development of hyperalgesia and allodynia. Hyperalgesia corresponds to augmented pain intensity in response to a normally painful stimulus while allodynia refers to nociceptive response to normally innocuous stimuli, whether due to tactile (touch) or cold. There are many causes of neuropathic pain giving rise to hyperalgesia and allodynia and include major and minor surgery (eg dental surgery, mastectomy), major and minor trauma (eg. spinal cord damage, sports related injuries), loss of limbs (eg. phantom limb pain) neurological disorders (stroke, MS, fibromyalgia), psychiatric and affective disorders, chemically induced injury (eg chemotherapy such as cisplatin and taxol treatment), metabolic disorders (eg. diabetes), viral induced pain (eg. Shingles, HIV associated neuropathy, postherpetic neuraligia from herpes zoster) and mechanical or tactile allodynia associated with migraine. Any disease which can result in nerve damage can give rise to neuropathic pain states.
Early evidence for the role of NO in pain transmission (Meller and Gebhart; Pain, 1993, 52, 127–136) has lead to intensive research into its involvement. Extensive work has shown that nitric oxide synthase is rich in laminae I-III of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord (Dun. et. al. Neuroscience 1993; 54: 845–857), an area known to be involved in pain processing (Willis and Westlund. J. Clin. Neurophysiol. 1997; 14: 2–31) and that NOS is often co-localized with inhibitory GABA-ergic inhibitory neurons (Lian et. al. Neuroscience 1994; 61: 123–132). Physiological studies have support the role of NO in spinal modulation of pain transmission (Przesmycki et. al. Eur. Neuropsycholpharmacol. 1999; 9: 115–121) but it appears to be more involved in thermal evoked pain or changes in sustained nociceptive responses following injury rather than acute nociceptive reflexes (Meller et. al. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 1992; 214: 93–96, Meller and Gebhart; Pain 1993; 52: 127–136, Stanfa et. al. Brain Res. 1996; 737: 92–98). Recent studies using direct electrochemical measurements of NO in laminae I-III have shown that NO is released only after a titanic burst percutaneous stimulation, characteristic of activation of activation of Aβ and Aδ fibres, but not after single shock low intensity stimulus (Schulte and Millar. Pain 2003; 103:139–150). NO synthesis could be nearly abolished with the NOS inhibitor L-NAME without effect on receptive fields. Burst stimuli are known to produce windup (frequency dependent increase in the excitability of spinal cord neurones) in the dorsal horn which can be attenuated with the application of NOS inhibitors. Activation of C-fibres also produced a rise in NO levels.
Considerable evidence has demonstrated the NO and NOS are involved in the central mechanisms of inflammatory thermal hyperalgesia at the level of the spinal cord (Tao et. al. Neuroscience; 2000; 95: 525–533, Eur. J. Pharmacol. 2000; 392: 141–145, Neuroscience 2002; 112: 439–446, Handy and More Br. J. Pharmacol. 1998; 123:1119–1126, Neuropharmacology, 1998, 37: 37–43). It appears that both spinal nNOS and iNOS mRNA are upregulated during peripheral inflammation (Guhring et. al. J. Neurosci. 2000; 20: 6714–6720, Wu et. al. Exp. Brain. Res. 1998; 118: 457–465, Pain 2001; 94: 47–57) while eNOS expression after carrageenan injection is not (Tao et. al. Neurosci. 2003; 120: 847–854). Studies have shown that nNOS appears to the predominant player in inflammatory hyperalgesia. For instance, the time course and intensity of carrageenan-induced thermal hyperalgesia in iNOS knockout and wild type mice are similar in both early and late phase (secondary component). In addition, intrathecal (spinal) administration of neuronal selective nNOS inhibitor 7-nitroindazole but not eNOS selective L-N-(1-iminoethyl)ornithine, significantly reduced carrageenan-induced thermal hyperalgesia in iNOS knockout mice. It appears that nNOS may compensate for iNOS function and that iNOS is likely sufficient but not essential for late phase of inflammatory mediated thermal hyperalgesia (Tao et. al. 2003; 120: 847–854).
The use of NOS inhibitors in the treatment of disease has been described, for example, in international patent application nos. WO 94/12163, WO 93/13066, WO 94/12165, WO 95/00505, WO 95/09619, WO 95/09621, WO 95/10266, WO 95/11231, WO 95/11014, WO 96/01817 and WO 98/50382, and in European patent application nos. EP 446699, EP 547558, and EP 558468.
NOS inhibitors can be therapeutic in many disorders, but preservation of physiologically important nitric oxide synthase function requires the development of isoform-selective inhibitors.

Amino benzothiazole compounds with NOS inhibitory activity


An insulated housing, in a cylindrical structure, includes an inner metal layer, an insulating layer and an outer metal coating. The insulating layer is positioned between the inner metal layer and the outer metal coating. In any end of the cylindrical structure, both a distance from the end of the inner metal layer to the end of the cylindrical structure and a distance from the end of the outer metal coating to the end of the cylindrical structure are not equal to zero, and the distance from the end of the inner metal layer to the end of the cylindrical structure is larger than the distance from an end of the outer metal coating to the end of the cylindrical structure. The inner metal layer is composed of one first metal cylinder and two second metal cylinders respectively disposed on the both ends of the first metal cylinder.

With development of smart grids, high-power power electronic converters begin to be widely used in a field of new power supply, such as power quality control, energy storage, power transmission and solar energy, and wind power. In a medium-voltage system, insulation and protection of equipment are extremely important for safety and reliability of the system.
A medium-voltage insulated housing plays a role of insulation, shielding, support, heat dissipation and protection in the medium voltage system. The medium-voltage insulated housing has a power electronic device placed therein. Due to electrical shielding inside the housing, an insulating distance between the respective device and the air or various potential conductors is reduced, so that the product may be made more compact and the space layout is more reasonable. So, the medium-pressure insulated housing needs electrical reliability and also sufficient mechanical strength.
However, in the existing medium-pressure insulated housing, an end portion where an inner metal layer and an insulating layer intersect is prone to partial discharge, and the insulating layer is easily cracked.
Those contents as disclosed in the Background portion are merely used to reinforce understanding of the background technology of the present disclosure, accordingly the Background portion may include information that does not constitute the related art as already known by an ordinary person skilled in the art.

Insulated housing having a cylindrical structure


Methods and systems for distributing and accessing large amounts of signaling message processing data in a signaling message processing node are disclosed. More particularly, a large amount of signaling message processing data, such as number portability translation data, may be segmented and distributed across multiple processing modules. For example, subscriber portability data contained in a large national local number portability (LNP) database is divided or segmented according to NPA-NXX ranges or geographic regions, and LNP data associated with each region or segment is stored on a different database service module (DSM) within the message processing system. A signaling message requiring number portability processing is received by a communication module. The communication module directs the message a DSM that contains the LNP data segment necessary to process the message.

Some telecommunications network elements have distributed internal processing architectures. For example, the Eagle® signal transfer point (STP) and IP7 Secure Gateway™ products available from Tekelec of Calabasas, Calif., are two examples of such distributed processing systems. FIG. 1 is block diagram, which illustrates the distributed system architecture of a Tekelec Eagle® STP 100. In FIG. 1, STP 100 includes an interprocessor message transport (IMT) communication bus 102, multiple signaling system 7 (SS7) link interface communication modules (LIMs) 104, and multiple uniformly provisioned, database service modules (DSMs) 106. In this example, DSMs 106 are provisioned to support local number portability (LNP) processing of received signaling messages. Each of the DSMs of cluster 106 is provisioned with the same LNP translation data. Received signaling messages that require LNP translation processing are load-shared among DSMs of cluster 106. As indicated in FIG. 1, each DSM of cluster 106 contains a complete copy of all LNP translation data, which is obtained from a local provisioning system that includes a local service management system (LSMS) 110 and one or more Eagle® LNP application processor (ELAP) provisioning servers 112.
In the exemplary STP architecture shown in FIG. 1, a signaling message requiring LNP translation service is received by a LIM and is distributed to an available LNP DSM of cluster 106. Such a system architecture is attractive because a minimal message processing burden is placed on the LIM communication modules, and consequently, high message throughput rates may be achieved. However, recent developments in the telecommunications industry have exposed a potential weakness or shortcoming in storing all of the LNP data in a single database. This shortcoming involves cost and processing inefficiencies that emerge when the amount of number portability data that must be stored and accessed on each DSM becomes great. For example, the time required to perform each lookup in the database increases as the size of the database increases. In addition, storing multiple copies of a large database unnecessarily wastes memory and card reload times will increase proportionally to the increase in database size.
Accordingly, there exists a need for improved methods and systems for storing and accessing large message processing data sets in a signaling message routing node.

Methods and systems for distributing application data among multiple processing modules in a telecommunications network element having a distributed internal processing architecture


In a system using a microprocessor, a clock generator of the present invention is capable of varying the driving ability of a signal line with an ADC (Analog-to-Digital Conversion)/DAC (Digital-to-Analog Conversion) circuit connected to the signal line. The clock generator can therefore adjust a waveform without resorting to outside adjusting circuitry even if the conditions of loads (number of loads, capacity of the individual load and so forth) to which a clock is fed are varied.

The present invention relates to a clock generator included in a system using a microprocessor for feeding a clock.
A conventional clock generator for the above application includes an output buffer and a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) logic for clock generation. The clock generator is connected to CPUs (Central Processing Units) or similar receivers via a buffer and a damping circuit. The problem with the conventional clock generator is that the driving ability of the output buffer is fixed. As a result, the number of buffers and the number of damping resistors for wave shaping must be matched to the number of loads, scaling up the circuitry outside of the clock generator and thereby lowering the wiring efficiency while increasing the cost.
Technologies relating to the present invention are disclosed in. e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2-187811.

Clock generator having a phase locked loop


Systems and methods for classifying e-mail messages as spam by combining outputs of a plurality of spam classifiers or classification tools using a fuzzy logic voting algorithm or formula are provided. According to one embodiment, a first classification value associated with an e-mail message and a second classification value associated with the e-mail message are received. The first classification value and the second classification value being indicative of whether the e-mail message is spam. Then, a single, aggregated classification value for the e-mail message is generated by combining the first classification value and the second classification value using a fuzzy logic-based voting mechanism.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to network security systems such as firewalls and filters or other devices used in such systems for identifying and filtering unwanted e-mail messages or "spam," and in particular to a methods and systems for classifying e-mail messages as spam by standardizing, tuning, and then, combining outputs of a plurality of spam classifiers or classification tools using a fuzzy logic voting algorithm or formula.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of the Internet and other digital communication networks to exchange information and messages has transformed the way in which people and companies communicate. E-mail or electronic mail is used by nearly every user of a computer or other electronic device that is connected to a digital communication network, such as the. Internet, to transmit and receive messages, i.e., e-mail messages. While transforming communications, the use of e-mail has also created its own set of issues and problems that must be addressed by the information technology and communications industries to encourage the continued expansion of e-mail and other digital messaging.
One problem associated with e-mail is the transmittal of unsolicited and, typically, unwanted e-mail messages by companies marketing products and services, which a recipient or addressee of the message must first determine is unwanted and then delete. The volume of unwanted junk e-mail message or "spam" transmitted by marketing companies and others is increasing rapidly with research groups estimating that spam is increasing at a rate of twenty percent per month. Spam is anticipated to cost corporations in the United States alone millions of dollars due to lost productivity. As spam volume has grown, numerous methods have been developed and implemented in an attempt to identify and filter or block spam before a targeted recipient or addressee receives it. Anti-spam devices or components are typically built into network firewalls or Message Transfer Agents (MTAs) and process incoming (and, in some cases, outgoing) e-mail messages before they are received at a recipient e-mail server, which later transmits received e-mail messages to the recipient device or message addressee.
Anti-spam devices utilize various methods for classifying or identifying e-mail messages as spam including, but not limited to: domain level blacklists and whitelists, heuristics engines, statistical classification engines, checksum clearinghouses, IP and/or other reputation, message signatures, sender behavior analysis, "honeypots," and authenticated e-mail. New methods are developed on an ongoing basis as spam continues to change and evolve. Each of these methods may be used individually or in various combinations. While providing a significant level of control over spam, existing techniques of identifying e-mail messages as spam often do not provide satisfactory results. For example, some techniques are unable to accurately identify all spam, and it is undesirable to fail to identify even a small percentage of the vast volume of junk e-mail messages as this can burden employees and other message recipients. On the other hand, some spam classification techniques can inaccurately identify a message as spam, and it is undesirable to falsely identify messages as junk or spam, i.e., to issue false positives, as this can result in important or wanted messages being blocked and lost or quarantined and delayed creating other issues for the sender and receiver of the messages. Hence, there is a need for a method of accurately identifying and filtering unwanted junk e-mail messages or spam that also creates no or few false positives.
As an example of deficiencies in existing spam filters, sender blacklists are implemented by processing incoming e-mail messages to identify the source or sender of the message and then, operating to filter all e-mail messages originating from a source that was previously identified as a spam generator and placed on the list, i.e., the blacklist. Spam generators often defeat blacklists because the spam generators are aware that blacklists are utilized and respond by falsifying the source of their e-mail messages so that the source does not appear on a blacklist. There are also deficiencies in heuristics, rules, and statistical classification engines. Rules or heuristics for identifying junk e-mails or spam based on the informational content of the message, such as words or phrases, are fooled by spam generators when the spam generators intentionally include content that makes the message appear to be a non-spam message and/or exclude content that is used by the rules as indicating spam. Spam generators are able to fool many anti-spam engines because the workings of the engines are public knowledge or can be readily reverse engineered to determine what words, phrases, or other informational content is used to classify a message as span or, in contrast, as not spam.
In attempt to better classify e-mail messages, spam classification systems have been implemented that apply multiple spam classification tools to each message. Unfortunately, these combined tool systems have not been able to fully control the distribution of spam. Existing combined tool systems may poll each tool for its output or classification results. In some cases, the results are combined by Boolean or conditional logic, which leads to problems in obtaining useful or correct results when the number of classifiers becomes large. Additionally, two "weak" or marginal "not spam" results may be combined to produce a firm or final "no" unless complicated ad hoc conditions are used to make the combined determination a more proper "yes" or "spam" result. In some embodiments, the results of the tools are combined with each tool having an equal voice or each tool having one vote. For example, in a system using three classification tools, a message may be identified as spam when two of the three tools determine a message is spam. Such an equal voice polling technique is generally not effective because it does not take into account the "confidence" of each tool. This polling technique may be used because the outputs of each of the tools is not standardized and is difficult to combine. Other systems apply a score to the results of each tool and then average the scores, but, again, this results in an averaging or scoring that gives each classification tool an equal voice or vote, which may result in false positives or failure to identify a portion of received spam messages.
In other classification systems, one or more classification tool is allowed to overrule or trump the outputs of all the other tools, but this is undesirable when these tools may also be fooled or produce incorrect classification results. For example, some combined classification tool systems allow blacklist or whitelist classifiers to overrule heuristic and other classification tools. However, as indicated earlier, whitelists can be fooled by providing a false source of an e-mail message and blacklists can falsely identify e-mail as spam when a source is inappropriately added to the list of spam sources. As a result, existing techniques of providing more weight or confidence to particular classification tools have not been entirely successful in better identifying spam messages.
There remains a need for an improved method and system for accurately classifying e-mail messages as unwanted or as spam. Preferably, such a method and system would be adapted to utilize existing (or later developed) classification tools to produce a single classification result that is more accurate and reliable than the results of the individual classification tools. Further, such a method and tool preferably would allow later developed classification tools to be added to enhance the single classification result without significant modifications.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Fuzzy logic voting method and system for classifying e-mail using inputs from multiple spam classifiers


A compound possesses the chemical structure of:

Propellant formulations for rocket motors have limitations in that the goal of higher performance must be balanced with the concomitant decrease in stability and safety properties associated with performance gains. High performance propellant compositions may exhibit an undesirable pressure exponent during combustion that can lead to motor failure. The mechanical properties of the propellant grain are also important to optimum performance. Bonding characteristics between the binder and the other propellant ingredients is a factor in achieving improved mechanical properties of the propellant.
Single azo-triazine structures have been disclosed in P. Loew and C. D. Weis, J. Heterocyclic Chem., 1976, 13, 829, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. However, Loew et al. does not disclose any extended systems of these single azo-triazine structures.
There is a need in the art to provide improved energetic materials. The present invention addresses this and other needs. In particular, the present invention provides novel high-nitrogen energetic compounds. These compounds include extended networks of hydrazo and azo-linked, 1,3,5-triazines, and the preparation of dendrimers and cyclic oligomers of the 4,6-substituted triazines, wherein the substituents are energetic groups. An unexpected result is that these triazine networks provide for planar arrays of energetic compositions that maximize density and insensitivity properties, important for their application as propellant ingredients.

High-energy 1,3,5-triazinyl diazenes, and process thereof

Abstract: wherein n is greater than zero. The compound is useful in energetic composition, particularly in linear, branched, dendritric, oligomer and cyclic oligomer azo-triazine forms.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


By using a bias switch (260) to define a unique current range in a bias generator (142) for each n-bit counter output state, it is possible to control a VCO (140) which has a very wide operating frequency range. These frequency ranges must overlap to guarantee the lock irrespective of process or environmental (temperature and voltage) variations. Depending on an input value of an overall lock signal OLS to an n-bit counter (250) at the rising edge of its clock signal CLK, it is possible to scan the full spectrum of VCO frequency ranges until the lock is achieved. By comparing a switch voltage to a reference voltage Vref, it is possible to prevent the PLL from locking at the very right-hand edge of a frequency range unless it can maintain that the lock over the entire operating temperature range. By strobing a fine lock signal FLS at an integer m (>1) number of points, it is possible to prevent false lock from occurring.

This invention relates to all BICMOS voltage controlled oscillators used in frequency synthesis phase-locked loop applications.
A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is a device whose output frequency (Fout) is a function of its input control voltage (Vcnt). The VCO is often used to track a reference frequency (Fref) of a reference frequency signal by the use a phase-locked loop (PLL). A phase detector detects a phase difference between the phase of the reference frequency signal and the phase of a divided frequency Fvco/N (N=1, 2, 3, 4, . . . ) of the VCO. Depending on this phase difference, an input node of the VCO is either charged or discharged, thereby altering the VCO's frequency of oscillation. When the frequencies of the two input signals of the phase detector are the same within a given error margin, the PLL is then called to be "locked" to the reference frequency signal. VCO design is critical in determining the overall performance of the PLL. The VCO's stability to small fluctuations in its input voltage is very important in determining PLL stability and jitter. The jitter can be thought of as spurious variations in the time positions of a series of successive pulses.
As will later be described in detail, in order to realize low jitter irrespective of process variations, the VCO which has multiple current ranges and which can choose the optimum current range for each process chip, is required. Manual current switching is troublesome for the customer and increases pin count while laser trimming is extremely expensive. Thus, an automatic device of providing each type of process chip with its optimum current range is important. It is also important that the lock can be maintained over a very wide operating temperature range.

Auto-lock circuit guaranteeing low jitter in phase-locked loop frequency synthesizers irrespective of process variations


A diesel engine includes a fuel supply passage via which fuel is supplied from a fuel tank to an oil pan through a supply pump, a lubrication-system fuel supply passage via which fuel is supplied from the oil pan to engine parts to be lubricated through a lubricating oil pump, and an injection-system fuel supply passage via which fuel is supplied from the oil pan to an injection system through an injection pump.

A diesel engine lubricated with light oil is described in Japanese Utility Model Patent Application Publication No. 60-194112. This diesel engine has a reserver tank for bubble separation, which is disposed between a fuel tank and a diesel engine body. A lubrication-system fuel recycling circuit and a combustion-system fuel recycling circuit are provided between the reserver tank and the engine body. This type of fuel lubrication diesel engine uses light oil as not only fuel but also lubricating oil, and light oil lubricates parts of the engine body. Thus, there is no need for oil exclusive used for lubrication, and the trouble of oil exchange can be saved.
FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a fuel lubrication diesel engine 100 as described in the above-mentioned application, and mainly shows fuel supply systems thereof. The diesel engine 100 is equipped with a fuel tank 101, a reserver tank 102 having a combined function of a bubble separator, and an oil pan 103. The fuel tank 101 and the reserver tank 102 are connected via an oil passage composed of a water-oil separator (sedimenta) 104, and a supply pump (oil supplying pump) 105.
The diesel engine 100 has a lubrication-system fuel recycling circuit 108 that supplies fuel serving as lubricating oil to engine parts 107 necessary for supply of lubricating oil. The lubrication-system fuel recycling circuit 108 has a cooling device 112, a filter 109 and a lubricating oil pump 110. The lubricating oil pump 110 is driven to pump up fuel from the reserver tank 102 and supply it to the engine parts 107. The fuel that has lubricated the engine parts 107 flows down the engine body to the oil pan 103. Then, the fuel is pumped up by a scavenging pump 111 and is returned to the reserver tank 102.
The diesel engine 100 of fuel lubrication type has a fuel-system fuel recycling circuit 113, which supplies fuel to an injection system 114 that injects fuel into cylinders. The fuel-system fuel recycling circuit 113 has the cooling device 112 shared by the lubrication-system fuel recycling circuit 108, a filter 115 and an injection pump 116. The injection pump 116 is driven to pump up fuel from the reserver tank 102 and supply it to the injection system 114. Fuel that is supplied to the injection system 114 but is not used for combustion is returned to the reserver tank 102.
As described above, the diesel engine 100 of fuel lubrication type described in the above-mentioned application has two fuel recycling circuits, namely, the lubrication-system fuel recycling circuit 108 and the fuel-system fuel recycling circuit 113.
However, the diesel engine 100 has three tanks, which are the fuel tank 101, the reserver tank 102, and the oil pan 103. Further, the diesel engine 100 has four pumps, that is, the supply pump 105, the lubricating oil pump 110, the injection pump 116 and the scavenging pump 111. Thus, the diesel engine 100 has a very complicated structure.
The diesel engine 100 has another problem. As described above, the fuel pumped up from the reserver tank 102 is supplied to the shared cooling device 112, and is then branched toward the lubricating oil pump 110 and the injection pump 116. Here, it should be noted that the lubricating oil pump 110 and the injection pump 116 have quite different discharge capacities and discharge pressures. When fuel is supplied to these pumps via the common supply port, the injection performance and the lubrication performance may be mutually affected.

Diesel engine lubricated with fuel such as light oil


The present invention provides methods for the incorporation of sulfonate functional groups onto the surface of carbonaceous compounds and materials, and similarly provides several surface modified carbonaceous compounds and materials resulting therefrom.

The surface modification of carbonaceous compounds and materials has been widely explored as a means for achieving desired chemical and physical properties not normally exhibited by carbonaceous compounds and materials. Specifically, the introduction of sulfonate substituents, which are hydrophilic in nature, has been perceived as a potential means for enhancing the self-dispersibility and long-term stability of carbonaceous compounds and materials. Traditionally, various additives, dispersants and surfactants were used to improve the dispersibility and long-term stability of carbonaceous compounds and materials in waterborne systems. However, these materials only show marginal improvement in the dispersibility and stability of such carbonaceous compounds. Additionally, such additives can increase the viscosity of a dispersion, which would be undesired for particular end uses such as ink dispersions and, in particular, ink jet formulations. Moreover, these additives add significant costs and are therefore economically unfavorable as well.
To this end, several attempts have been made at sulfonating carbonaceous compounds and materials. However, these existing methods similarly produce, at best, undesired and marginal results. Specifically, the processes of the prior art present a considerable problem in that it is extremely difficult to avoid oxidation of a carbonaceous compound or material and the subsequent formation of tarry byproducts during the sulfonation reaction. Therefore, it is one object of the present invention to provide an improved process for the formation of sulfonated carbonaceous compounds and materials that substantially minimizes the oxidation of the carbonaceous compound(s) and formation of undesired and problematic tarry byproducts.
Additionally, the processes of the prior art only succeed in providing sulfonated carbonaceous compounds and materials having a minimal degree of surface substitution. To that end, it is a further object of the present invention to provide sulfonated carbonaceous compounds and materials having a surprisingly substantially improved degree of surface modification and thereby resulting in superior dispersibility and long-term stability in waterborne systems.


With a sign language computer interface, a user may perform one or more gestures in accordance with a recognized sign language, and have the gestures translated into information or instructions for use by one or more computers. Such interfaces may capture video imagery of a user performing gestures using one or more cameras, sense the gestures expressed in the video imagery, search a library for phrases corresponding to the gestures, and display one or more of the phrases to the user, who may indicate whether the phrases are consistent with his or her intended communication. The interfaces permit a user to communicate with computer-based systems the exclusive use of gestures, and without a single keystroke or mouse click.

The Internet has revolutionized the way individuals communicate with one another, particularly in the field of electronic commerce, where the marketing and sales of goods and services have become increasingly interactive. For example, a prospective customer may access the Internet to search for or browse through items or categories of items that may be available at an online marketplace, and the online marketplace may provide information to the prospective customer over the Internet regarding one or more items as he or she contemplates making a purchase. In order to obtain information regarding items or categories of items over the Internet, customers usually provide keywords or other data to online marketplaces through text-based (i.e., by typing words or phrases into text boxes) or audio-based (i.e., by providing spoken words or phrases to the online marketplace through telephonic communications or speech recognition software) interfaces, and such keywords or data are then transferred through one or more applications to an online marketplace over the Internet. Reciprocally, the online marketplace interprets such keywords or data provided by the customer, and, in response, transfers information pertaining to such keywords or data to the customer in the form of web pages or other files containing text, images, audio or video content over the Internet for display by one more applications, such as web browsers.
As Internet access and functionality have improved, and as the level of sophistication of Internet programming has advanced, the percentage of Internet sites that provide video capabilities to users has increased dramatically. Today, many commercial services such as Skype® or Google Talk® enable video chatting between users over the Internet, including real-time or near-real-time audio and video communication functions. Additionally, online video-sharing sites such as YouTube® or Hulu® enable users to download desired audio and video files over the Internet; it is estimated that nearly one billion unique users download over three billion hours of video content from YouTube® alone each month. Moreover, the capacity of computer software and hardware to capture and interpret video and audio content has also improved. For example, facial recognition applications are frequently utilized for security monitoring, even in large and rapidly changing environments such as airports and stadiums, and license plate capturing software is regularly used for the enforcement of parking and traffic regulations, even where the tracking platforms, or the vehicles being tracked, are traveling at high rates of speed.
Despite the evolution of Internet communications, particularly regarding the use of video technology, existing systems and methods for communicating over the Internet are typically limited to communications containing written (i.e., text- or character-based) or oral (i.e., audio and/or video files) content, expressed in one or more languages that may be typed or spoken. Such systems and methods, however, are unable to enable users to communicate through the use of sign languages, which serve as the primary communications channel for the hearing impaired, as well as small children who have yet to master the arts of oral or written communication.
Although existing computer-based communications systems and methods enable users to transmit messages including typed, text-based words or phrases, or acoustic signals that may be translated or dissected into text-based words or phrases, it is believed that no known systems or methods for communicating over the Internet are able to sense a user's motions, gestures and/or mannerisms in accordance with a recognized sign language (i.e., such as expressions of letters, words or phrases), to convert such motions into tangible computer instructions or information, and to transmit a message containing such instructions or information to a server or other computer-related machine. Similarly, it is also believed that no known systems and methods may translate a message consisting of typed words or acoustic signals into a video file or other form of media containing expressions of computer-generated responses in accordance with a recognized sign language. Because sign languages are the primary means of communication for large segments of the population, the many benefits of the Internet, particularly the advantages and improvements to electronic commerce provided by the Internet, are foreclosed to the hearing impaired, small children and others who communicate exclusively in sign language, or are unable to communicate in text-based or oral forms.

Method, medium, and system for online ordering using sign language


A system and method for asynchronous calibration of a solid-state detector are provided. A first offset is obtained with a first frame interval. A second offset image is obtained with a second frame interval that is shorter than the first frame interval. A third offset image is obtained with a third frame interval that is longer than the first frame interval. The first offset image is offset with each of the second offset image and the third offset image to produce offset comparison images. Pixels in the offset comparison images with an intensity value that exceeds an asynchronous threshold intensity value are identified as asynchronous bad pixels and added to a bad pixel map. Subsequently acquired x-ray images are offset with corresponding offset images. The bad pixel map is used to identify asynchronous bad pixels in the displayed images.

The present invention generally relates to solid-state x-ray detectors. More particularly, the present invention relates to asynchronous calibration of solid-state x-ray detectors to reduce image artifacts.
Solid-state x-ray detectors have been proposed that comprise a two dimensional array of 1,000 to 4,000 detector elements in each dimension (x,y). Each detector element comprises a photo detector that detects and stores charge representative of an amount of radiation incident on the detector element. Each detector element further includes a thin film transistor (TFT) connected to the photo diode and operated as a switch to enable and disable read out of the charge stored on the photo diode. Each detector element ultimately produces an electrical signal that corresponds to the brightness of a picture element in the x-ray image projected onto the detector. The signal from each detector element is read out individually and digitized for further image processing, storage and display.
The solid-state detector may be used in a variety of x-ray medical imaging applications. Some examples of applications where solid-state detectors are used include angiographic procedures like rotational angiography and bolus chase.
During rotational angiography, a gantry supports an x-ray source on one side of a patient and a detector on the opposite side of the patient. The gantry rotates the x-ray source and the detector around the patient. At predetermined positions during the rotation, the x-ray source emits x-rays through the patient and the x-rays impinge upon the surface of the detector.
In order to associate an acquired image with a particular angular position relative to the patient, the detector is synchronized with the angular position of the gantry. For example, if images are to be acquired with every two degree rotation around the patient, the x-ray source and detector are activated with every two degree rotation of the gantry.
Because some tissues are relatively transparent to x-rays, the patient is sometimes injected with a dye that absorbs x-rays. The x-ray image acquired while the patient is injected with the dye is commonly referred to as a contrast image or an opacified image. Absorption of the x-rays by the dye makes the tissues containing the dye appear darker on the resulting x-ray image.
To further highlight the tissues containing the dye, another corresponding x-ray image taken without the dye, commonly referred to as a mask image, may be subtracted from the contrast image. Subtraction of the mask image from the contrast image results in a combined image with most of the non-dyed material removed. Such contrast and mask images are frequently used to optimize views of vascular structures, stenoses, aneurysms, tumors, and neurovascularization.
Because of physical variations between detector elements, some pixels on a contrast image or a mask image are brighter or dimmer than neighboring pixels despite being subjected to the same level of x-ray exposure. To compensate for differences in intensity between neighboring pixel elements, an offset image may be obtained.
The offset image is typically acquired by exposing the solid-state detector to a uniform level of x-ray exposure or no x-ray exposure. The offset image is then subtracted from the mask and contrast images to cancel or "zero out" some of the effects on image quality that result from physical variations between detector elements.
One of the effects arising from physical differences between detector elements is a change in pixel intensity as the time interval, or frame interval, between image acquisitions is varied. For example, the detector elements may contain residual charge from previous acquisitions and the rate of decay of the residual charge on individual detector elements may vary due to physical variations between the detector elements. Variations in decay rate of residual charge between detector elements may result in differences in the level of charge stored by the detector elements at particular moments in time. Consequently, the level of charge stored by the individual detector elements during an image acquisition may be affected by the time that has elapsed since the last image acquisition.
Because the time interval between image acquisitions from the solid-state detector affects intensity values read from the detector elements, offset images are typically acquired with frame intervals that are identical to frame intervals of corresponding contrast and mask images. The offset images are then subtracted from the contrast and mask images to cancel some of the effects of physical differences between detector elements.
Typically, a set of offset images is acquired before mask images and contrast images are obtained. The time intervals between acquisitions of the offset images are varied to match the potential frame intervals of subsequently acquired mask and contrast images. The offset images are then saved as a set of offset images with each offset image representing a particular frame interval.
After the offset images have been obtained, a first acquisition run is performed where x-ray images are obtained of a patient before dye has been injected into the patient. During the first acquisition run, the gantry will rotate the x-ray source and detector around the patient. Images are acquired at predetermined positions as the x-ray source and detector rotate around the patient.
Next, the patient is injected with dye and the gantry again rotates the x-ray source and detector around the patient. A set of contrast images is acquired at the same positions as the mask images.
Offset images are then selected from the set of offset images based upon the frame intervals of the mask and contrast images. The offset images are then subtracted from the corresponding mask and contrast images to produce offset corrected mask and contrast images that compensate for some of the variation in pixel intensity resulting from physical differences between photodetector elements. Corresponding offset corrected mask and contrast images may then be combined to produce a combined image that highlights the tissues containing the dye.
The mask and contrast runs are performed during high-speed rotation of the gantry. During the mask and contrast runs, the gantry may go through distinct phases of acceleration, constant speed, and deceleration. Because the gantry rotates at high speeds and the speed of the gantry varies during the acquisition runs, it is difficult to synchronize motion of the gantry with the detector reads. High speed and variable rotation of the gantry also makes it difficult to reproduce image acquisitions at the identical positions and frame intervals of prior image acquisition runs. Consequently, it is difficult to acquire mask and contrast images at identical positions in separate runs and it is difficult to acquire offset, mask, and contrast images with identical frame intervals.
Another type of imaging procedure that may involve acquiring offset, mask, and contrast images is a bolus chase procedure. During a bolus chase procedure, a patient is positioned on a movable platform that slides back and forth between an x-ray source and a detector. The patient is injected with a contrast agent. As the contrast agent flows through the circulatory system of the patient, the patient is incrementally moved between the x-ray source and the detector to follow the progression of the contrast agent as it passes through the circulatory system of the patient. Images of the patient and the progression of the contrast are taken at a predetermined interval of patient movement. For example, an image may be acquired every 10 centimeters as the patient slides between the x-ray source and detector.
The rate of patient movement between the x-ray source and the detector depends on the rate at which the contrast flows through the circulatory system of the patient. Because the contrast may flow through different portions of the patient at different rates, the rate of movement of the patient between the x-ray source and the detector may vary accordingly. Consequently, the time intervals between acquisitions of the x-ray images may vary because the time for a patient to move a predetermined interval may vary.
Often, a radiologist or technician is in control of the table speed and is present to view images in real time. Because the radiologist or technician may be diagnosing a patient during the procedure, offset images are used to reduce undesirable pixel variations in images displayed during the procedure in order to provide a more accurate and immediate diagnosis. Thus, for a bolus chase procedure, the offset images are typically acquired prior to acquisition of contrast or mask images so the contrast and mask images may be offset corrected and displayed during the procedure.
However, because the offset images are acquired prior to the x-ray images, the various frame intervals of the x-ray images may not be known when the offset images are acquired. Consequently, the frame intervals of the offset images may not match-up with the frame intervals of the x-ray images obtained during a bolus chase procedure.
As presented earlier, variations in the time interval between image acquisitions may produce variations in pixel intensities. Thus, an offset image representing one frame interval may have different pixel intensity values than another offset image representing another frame interval despite being subjected to the same level of x-ray exposure. Consequently, an x-ray image obtained at a particular frame interval following the last x-ray image acquisition should be offset corrected with an offset image representing the same particular frame interval. Otherwise, if the x-ray image is offset corrected with an offset image representing a different frame interval, the resulting asynchronous combination may still include the effects on pixel intensity caused by variations in frame interval. Variations in pixel intensity in an offset corrected image resulting from an asynchronous combination of images obtained at different frame intervals may appear in final images as temporal artifacts.
Thus, it may be highly desirable to have a system that determines the effect of variations in frame intervals upon the level of charge stored by photodetector elements. It may also be desirable to have a system that determines which pixels show an unacceptable risk for becoming a temporal artifact in a final image because of real time variations in frame intervals and compensates for temporal artifact causing pixels to produce a final image with less image artifacts.

Asynchronous calibration and correction of a solid-state detector

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC


The present invention provides a technique for eliminating the effect of the thermal drift and other variances and to improve the observing or manipulating accuracy of a scanning probe microscope or atom manipulator by using the technique to correct the aforementioned change in the relative position of the probe and the sample due to heat or other factors during the observation or manipulation. To obtain an image of the sample surface at the atomic level or perform a certain manipulation on an atom on the sample surface, the present invention can be applied to a probe position control method for controlling the relative position of the probe and the sample while measuring an interaction between the objective atom on the sample surface and the tip of the probe. In the present method, the relative position of the probe and the sample are changed while the probe is oscillated relative to the sample in two directions parallel to the sample surface at frequencies of f1 and f2 (S1a). Meanwhile, a point (or characteristic point) where the frequencies f1 and f2 disappear from the measured value of the interaction working in the direction perpendicular to the sample surface is detected (S1b). Then, the relative movement of the probe and the sample is controlled so that the measurement value thereby detected is maintained (i.e. the characteristic point is tracked; S1c), and the speed of the aforementioned relative movement is determined (S1d). Subsequently, the relative position control is corrected using the detected speed (S2).

In scanning probe microscopes, or SPMs, a cantilever having a probe located at as small a distance from the sample surface as the atomic level is oscillated at its mechanical resonance frequency, and the interaction between the probe and the sample surface is detected. An atomic-level image of the sample surface can be obtained by detecting the aforementioned interaction while changing the relative position of the sample and the probe. Atom manipulators also use a probe positioned close to the sample surface. After the probe is positioned at a certain distance from the sample, a predetermined manipulation is performed on an atom on the sample surface.
Known examples of the interaction to be detected between the sample and the probe in the SPM or similar apparatus include the tunneling current, interaction forces between atoms (which is hereinafter referred to as "interatomic forces") (chemical bond force, van der Waals force, covalent bond force, ionic bond force, metallic bond force, electrostatic force, magnetic force, exchange force, etc.), capacitors and the near-field light. In general, obtaining one image by detecting one of these interactions takes anywhere from a few minutes to ten minutes or longer.
If heat is exchanged between the measuring apparatus and the surroundings in the middle of recording the sample image, the sample expands or shrinks (i.e. thermal drift). At room temperature, even in a space where the temperature is controlled, it is impossible to completely maintain the overall temperature of the measuring apparatus at the same level, so that the thermal drift is inevitable. Another problem exists in that the relative position of the sample and the probe can change due to a creep of the piezoelectric element used for changing the relative position between them. Since the measurement is performed at the atomic level, the change in the measurement position caused by a thermal drift or creep significantly affects the measurement result. For example, an image that is supposed to be as shown in FIG. 12(d) can be resultantly distorted as shown in FIG. 12(c). Such effects of the thermal drift or similar variance can not only take place in a direction parallel to the sample surface (XY plane) but also in the direction perpendicular to that surface (Z-direction).
If the sample to be measured is a solid whose surface has a highly symmetrical, well-known structure, any distortion of the image can be immediately recognized by sight, so that there is no serious problem. However, in the case of measuring a biological sample or similar matter whose surface geometry is rather asymmetrical, if an effect of a thermal drift, migration or other variance is present on the image, it is impossible to recognize and/or separate that effect. Therefore, it is practically infeasible to correctly measure the surface geometry. For the atom manipulator, a distortion of the image causes a shift of the target atom within the image, which impedes the correct manipulation of the atom.
A technique for compensating for the effect of a thermal drift or other variances to accurately position the probe and the sample is disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1. This technique, called the atom-tracking technique, corrects the thermal drift in a direction parallel to the sample by a feedback process. Recent studies have demonstrated that the interaction or potential between the probe and the atoms on the sample surface can be measured by performing ultra-precise three-dimensional positioning of the probe in relation to the sample while monitoring the change in the frequency of the probe by the atom-tracking technique (Non-Patent Documents 2 and 3).
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-289542
[Non-Patent Document 1] D. W. Pohl and R. Moeller, "Tracking tunneling microscopy", Review of Scientific Instruments, vol. 59(1988), p. 840
[Non-Patent Document 2] M. Abe et al., "Room-temperature reproducible spatial force spectroscopy using atom-tracking technique", Applied Physics Letters, vol. 87(2005), p. 173503
[Non-Patent Document 3] M. Abe, Y. Sugimoto, O. Custance and S. Morita, "Atom tracking for reproducible force spectroscopy at room temperature with non-contact atomic force microscopy", Nanotechnology, vol. 16(2005), p. 3029
Thus, an objective of the present invention is to provide a technique for eliminating the effect of the thermal drift or other variances and to improve the observing or manipulating accuracy of a scanning probe microscope or atom manipulator by using the technique to correct the aforementioned change in the relative position of the probe and the sample due to heat or other factors during the observation or manipulation.

Probe position control system and method


Embodiments of foot-worn scrubbing apparatus are disclosed. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a sole made of a suitable sponge material and having a top surface and a bottom surface. A scrubbing surface of another suitable scrubbing material is adhered to the bottom surface of the sole. The sole is also attached to a thong in order to secure the sole and the scrubbing surface to a bare foot or to a socked foot of a user.

In order to clean the surfaces of some areas such as a bath tub, for example, one may need to bend or to position one's self on hands and knees to be able to clean the entire surface by hand. If a person has suffered a back injury, or a shoulder injury, or has a loss of upper body strength, or has lost an arm, or the use of an arm, or has difficulty bending, it may be problematic to reach portions of some surfaces or it may cause physical discomfort to be placed in a position necessary to clean the surfaces of such areas.
One way to address such a problem might be to use a long handled cleaning device such as a brush or a sponge mop to reach into hard to reach areas. Yet, it may still prove difficult to adequately clean, in their entirety, the surfaces of some areas or to apply the force necessary to scrub such surfaces due to the shape or configuration of the long handled cleaning device, or due to a lack of upper body strength or mobility, or due to an injury, or due to some combination of these or other factors.
Another attempt at solving such a problem might be to use a spray-on chemical cleaner that does not require scrubbing. Yet, such chemical cleaners may not be adapted to all cleaning needs and as such may not satisfactorily address each particular situation. Use of more than one chemical cleaner may be necessary and still may not adequately clean some surfaces, causing one to resort once again to scrubbing.
What is desired is an alternative that provides for scrubbing surfaces that may be difficult to reach and/or may cause physical discomfort when attempting to scrub them by hand, in such a way as to avoid the difficulties and/or physical discomforts of actually scrubbing them by hand.


Differential displacement is optically detected by independent movement of either a collimated light source or a dual element photosensitive detector. Relative movement between the detector or light source generates a signal proportional to the amount of light striking the photosensitive elements. This invention relates to improved devices for the transformation of physical forces into mechanical and electro-optical response, for measuring the forces involved, and, in particular for wet/wet liquid and gas differential, gage and absolute, pressure measurements.

The detection of relative motion between mechanical members is used in many instruments. Measurement of physical forces within a system wherein electro-optical signals are generated, relative to position changes are in wide use. For example, diaphragms, bellows and bourdon tubes may be connected so that relative motion is developed when there are changes in the ambient pressure. Forces may be generated by weight, acceleration, temperature or other characteristics of the system.
The transduction of displaced motion into useful electrical data is widely used in many instrument applications. Previous systems have detected relative movement by the use of splitters, baffles and vanes between the light source and photosensitive detectors.
The present invention virtually eliminates previous system inaccuracies and lack of microsensitivity permits and easy adjustment. In the past, these systems have used only one photosensitive detector and no optical feedback. Therefore, these systems were subjected to electrical changes as a function of temperature, fatigue and optical drift. The symmetrical design of the pressure sensing elements and dual photosensitive detector, with optical feedback, eliminates the adverse effects of the prior art. Short and long term stability is achieved by a third photosensitive detector with electro-optical feedback from a light source into an electrically balanced circuit.
In order to obviate the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art, the principle objects of this invention are to minimize inaccuracies, temperature and optical drift and to increase sensitivity and stability without internal adjustment, by use of symmetrical strut tube force sensing members and optical feedback for electro-optical stability.

Optical transducer for measuring pressure


There is provided a node for facilitating time distribution in communication networks, and more specifically for time synchronization in digital television (DTV) distribution network. The node comprises an interface, a clock for establishing a local time, and a time-locked loop. The interface is configured for interconnecting the node to at least one neighboring node over an isochronous transport link for transmission and reception of repetitive frames comprising time information. The time-locked loop is configured for, based on remote time information received via the interface and local time information from the clock, synchronizing the clock to the clock of one of the at least one neighboring node. This facilitates that the node, or a corresponding synchronous network comprising nodes according to the inventive concept, is rather insensitive to network delays. In this way the requirements on the network infrastructure are reduced. In particular, there is no need for dedicated networks. Further, a synchronous network, a method for the node and a method for a synchronous network is provided.

Distribution of digital terrestrial television (DTT) and mobile digital television (MDTV) frequently utilizes single frequency networks (SFN). In an SFN, several transmitters simultaneously send the same signal over the same frequency channel.
The transmitters in an SFN must be synchronized to send their signals at the same time to avoid interference at the receiving antennas. This is commonly achieved by installing global positioning system (GPS) receivers at all transmitter sites. GPS receivers, however, may be easily intentionally or unintentionally jammed, or fail for other reasons such as equipment failure, and represent an additional cost in the network in terms of equipment and supervision. Further, the military control of the GPS may be an issue.
Also known are techniques for time synchronization of network nodes without utilization of GPS. For instance, the network time protocol (NTP) may be used to synchronize the clocks of network nodes to a master node or a reference clock using time stamps. However, the accuracy of NTP, at least in non-dedicated networks, is far too limited for the purpose of time synchronization in digital television (DTV) distribution networks.
WO 2008/103170 A discloses a method of a network client for extracting a reference frequency carried in the physical layer of a network signal originating from a server, and for using it to stabilize an oscillator of a clock of the client. The method also includes determining a clock correction value based on a server time stamp and a client time stamp.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,535,931 B discloses a two-way time transfer protocol for estimating a time error between the clocks of two network nodes.

Node and system for a synchronous network


A method of reducing sulfur-containing gases during conversion of a coal slab into metallurgical coke is disclosed. A sulfur-reducing agent is added to a coal slab, which may contain compacted coal aggregate. The coal slab, including the sulfur-reducing agent, is heated to produce metallurgical coke, which results in a reduced amount of sulfur-containing gases relative to an amount of sulfur-containing gases that would be produced by converting the coal slab into metallurgical coke without adding the sulfur-reducing agent to the coal slab before the coal slab is heated. The sulfur-reducing agent may be applied as a coating to the coal slab. The sulfur-reducing agent may include at least one of calcium carbonate, limestone, lime, magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide, and the like.

Coke-making is a carbonization process of coal suitable as a reducing agent for iron oxide at elevated temperatures. The resultant carbonized material is called coke. To use coke for reducing iron oxide, certain physical, mechanical, and chemical properties are desirable. Both moisture and volatile hydrocarbons are removed from coal and unique mechanical and physical properties are formed. There are two types of conventional coke-making processes: (1) recovery coke-making, and (2) non-recovery coke-making. While the recovery coke-making process (all volatile hydrocarbons are recovered) has been a dominant process for the last fifty years, the cost of environmental controls and operations have made the process economically non-competitive. Since new non-recovery processes recover heat from burning the volatile hydrocarbons and convert it to power, these new non-recovery processes are now emerging as the main coke-making processes in the industry.
Conventional sulfur-reducing technologies related to conversion of coal into metallurgical coke can be classified into two general categories: (1) removal of sulfur in the coal before the coke oven, and (2) removal of sulfur-containing gases in the flue gas of the coke oven. Technologies belonging to the first category include floatation (selective floating of the sulfur-containing compounds) and coal washing. Technologies belonging to the second category include spraying chemical compounds into the flue gas and dry/wet scrubbing.

Reduction of sulfur-containing gases during conversion of coal into metallurgical coke


A set of reference cells is used for sensing the data values stored at bit cells of a memory device. In response to an event, the reference cell providing the highest output of the set is selected as the reference cell to be used for subsequent memory access operations. The remaining reference cells are disabled so that they can recover back to or near their original non-degraded states. At each successive event, the set of reference cells can be reassessed to identify the reference cell that provides the highest output at that time and the memory device can be reconfigured to utilize the reference cell so identified. By utilizing the reference cell having the highest output to provide the read reference and disabling the remaining reference cells, the likelihood of the read reference falling below a minimum threshold can be reduced.

Non-volatile memory (NVM) devices typically are composed of an array of bit cells, with each bit cell storing a corresponding bit of data. Each bit cell generally is configured as one or more transistors capable of storing charge, and thereby affecting the relationship between the control electrode voltage and the drain current of the transistor. The transistor is "erased" to one state (e.g., a logic "1") by clearing the charge and the transistor is "programmed" to another state (e.g., a logic "0") by storing charge at the transistor. Thus, the bit value "stored" by the transistor can be sensed by comparing a reference (either a current or a voltage) with the drain current of the transistor in response to the application of a read voltage to the control electrode of the transistor, whereby the "stored" value is determined to be one state (e.g., a logic "1" or an "erased" state) if the drain current is greater than the read reference and determined to be another state (e.g., a logic "0" or a "programmed" state) if the drain current is less than the read reference.
Conventional NVM architectures make use of a reference cell to generate the read reference, whereby the reference cell is similar in structure as the bit cells used to store data so as to closely mimic the characteristics of the bit cells being sensed. However, the reference current output by a reference cell typically decreases during operation. Under certain conditions, this degradation of the read reference output by the reference cell can result erroneous read and write operations. Implementations having memories in continuous or near-continuous operation are particularly susceptible to the degradation of the reference cell. Accordingly, an improved technique for implementing a reference cell for sensing bit cells of a memory device would be advantageous.
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.

Read reference technique with current degradation protection


An operating body being made of a metal plate and being overlaid with polyamide resin layer, a side of the operating body having an operating part protruding from a front side of a switch case, and an other side having a driving part in an arm shape and a sliding guide in a frame shape surrounding the driving part, in which the driving part in the arm shape being compression pressed to be a thin plate, and the sliding guide being formed with an upper sliding contact in a hemisphere shape coming into contact with an undersurface of cover above the contact and a lower sliding contact formed long in back and forth direction coming into contact with a protective sheet under the contact.

As multi-functional electronic devises become popular, a compact and slim type electronic device is demanded as exemplified by a portable phone, and a switch having a light and comfortable touch feeling is widely used for various electronic devices, many mounted on a side of the devices.
A conventional push switch used in the electronic devices is explained with referenced to FIGS. 7 to 10. FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of a conventional push switch; FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional push switch; FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view showing an operation status of the conventional push switch; and FIG. 10 is a side view of the conventional switch showing its mounting status.
As shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the conventional push switch includes switch case 101 made of insulating resin in a square shape having upper opening 101A and concavity 101B in substantially a round shape recessed from a bottom plane of upper opening 101A. Inside a bottom plane of concavity 101B, center fixed contact 102 is disposed at its central part and a pair of outer fixed contacts 103 disposed at an outer parts of the concavity by insertion molding symmetrically with respect to center fixed contact 102. Terminals 104 and 105 are drawn out of a side wall of switch case 101 connected to center fixed contact 102 and outer fixed contacts 103.
Movable contact 106 made of an elastic thin metal plate formed in an uplifted round dome shape is placed on outer fixed contact 103 with its lower peripheral part put on the fixed contact. Flexible protective sheet 107 of an insulating resin film is attached to the bottom plane of upper opening 101A of switch case 101, covering an upper plane of concavity 101B which contains movable contact 106.
On protective sheet 107, operating body 108 is placed in a horizontally movable manner in back and forth direction. Operating body 108 has operating part 108A extended from a front side outer wall of switch case 101, driving part 108B which is elastically deformable and formed in a bar shape having pressing part 108C which has a tip extended toward a center portion of upper opening 101A of switch case 101, and sliding guide 108E in a flat shape surrounding driving part 108B through notch 108D in substantially a U-shape, and they are all one piece resin molded.
The conventional push switch includes cover 109 of a metal plate, fixed to switch case 101, covering operating body 108 and restricting an upward movement of operating body 108. Cover 109 is put on switch case 101, closing upper opening 101A of switch case 101. Cover 109 is engaged with two outside walls of switch case 101 crossing an other outside wall at right angles where terminals 104 and 105 are extended. Namely, cover 109 has engaging parts 109A extended downward, one toward a front side wall where operating part 108A is positioned and an other toward an opposing rear side. Engaging part 109A is engaged with interlocking projection 101C formed in the walls, attaching the cover to switch case 101.
On an upper central portion of cover 109, a pair of slits 109B is formed, and a portion between the pair of slits 109B is obliquely bent down forming inclined part 109C. As cover 109 is installed on switch case 101, inclined part 109C of cover 109 is placed in notch 108D of operating body 108, in which an upper part of pressing part 108C as the tip of driving part 108B of operating body 108 comes into contact with a front side plane of inclined part 109C.
The conventional push switch is thus constituted. Next, a working mechanism of the switch is explained.
First, when operating part 108A of operating body 108 is pushed forward, operating body 108 is horizontally moved to a rear side of the switch. Driving part 108B is then elastically deformed at its base part and its tip is sled obliquely downward along a slanted plane of inclined part 109C of cover 109. Accordingly, pressing part 108C, the tip of driving part 108B pushes down a top portion of movable contact 106 in a dome-like shape through protective sheet 107. When downward pushing force of movable contact 106 exceeds a specified value, the dome-like top portion of movable contact 106 is elastically turned around generating a crisp feeling and pointing downward as shown in FIG. 9. Thus, an under center part of the movable contact 106 touches a top portion of center fixed contact 102, turning the switch on.
Following, when the push force applied to operating body 108 is released, the dome-like portion of movable contact 106 restores its original shape with a comfortable feeling, pointing upward. With this self-restoring power of movable contact 106, pressing part 108C that is the tip of driving part 108B is pushed upward. The tip of pressing part 108C moves back obliquely upward along inclined part 109C helped by a self-restoring power of elastically bent driving part 108B. As a result, operating body 108 is horizontally pushed back to a front side with sliding guide 108E sliding on protective sheet 107 adhered to upper opening 101A. Thus, the switch returns to the original off state, as shown in FIG. 7.
The conventional push switch operates when pushing operating part 108A of operating body 108 is horizontally pushed. The switch is generally mounted on wiring board 110 and soldered to wiring board 110 so as operating part 108A to protrude from an end portion of wiring board 110 as illustrated in FIG. 10.
As a prior art document related to the applied invention, Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. H11-39987 and Unexamined Japanese Utility Model Publication No. H5-1126 are publicly known, for examples.
The conventional push switch, as illustrated in FIG. 10, is attached in a state where operating part 108A is protruded from the end portion of wiring substrate 110. Because of this arrangement, operating part 108A protruded from the end of wiring substrate 110 may bump into or it may hook some object, applying an unexpected load or damaging operating part 108A.
To enhance strength of the operating part, the operating body can be made thicker, but it makes the push switch thicker going against a market requirement for thin type product.