A method and apparatus is disclosed for multi-mode spectral imaging. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises the steps of illuminating an object with a modified illumination profile, producing a reflected, transmitted or fluorescence image of the illuminated object, scanning the object, and re-imaging the reflected, transmitted or fluorescence light after modifying the light's optical state. The present invention preferably works in conjunction with other imaging systems to provide both high-spectral resolution images with lower temporal resolution and multiple image acquisition with high temporal resolution.

In general, spectroscopic systems allow for the determination of the spectral (i.e., wavelength) composition of an object or a scene. Generally, these systems collect the total light coming from or emitted by the object. The wavelengths that comprise the collected light are typically separated with the use of a dispersive element employing refractive means such as a prism or diffractive means (such as, for example, a grating). After being reflected by or transmitting through one of these dispersive elements, the different wavelength components of the light propagate in different directions, and their intensities are recorded by a one-dimensional array of detector pixels. While standard spectrometers are excellent devices for determining the spectral composition of all the light emanating from an object, they are typically unable to provide two dimensional spatial maps of the spectra emanating from an object.
The present invention generally falls within the category of imaging spectrometers. Imaging spectrometers are more sophisticated than standard spectrometers because they allow for the measurement of the wavelength composition of light coming from each point in the object. Imaging spectrometers providing high spectral resolution (i.e. less than 2 nm) are known in the art as either "spectral scanning" or "spatial scanning" systems.
Spectral scanning systems typically take a series of images, where each image represents a full field-of-view, two-dimensional representation of the object, comprised of light within a certain spectral bandpass. Separate wavelength images are taken one after the other, or sequentially in time. Specific systems for spectral scanning include those incorporating liquid crystal tunable filters (LCTF), acoustic optical tunable filters (AOTF), and interferometric systems such as the Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) and the Fabry-Perot spectrometer (FPS).
With LCTF-based systems, the properties of the liquid crystals are adjusted to "tune" the spectral bandpass of the filter. In this way, different, full field-of-view, spectral images are obtained over time. These systems have a number of disadvantages. For example, these systems are polarization-sensitive and, as a result, they have low transmission efficiency, resulting in significant light loss. As another example, the minimum spectral bandpass is usually 10 nm or greater. This is the result of the physics of the LCTF and a practical limitation imposed by the significant light loss. Therefore, high-spectral resolution (less than 2 nm) imaging is rarely possible with these systems. When AOTFs are used as tunable bandpass filters, AOTF-based systems have similar disadvantages.
An FTS system is usually based on the design of a Twyman-Green interferometer or a Sagnac interferometer (such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,517), both of which are typically used to ascertain the spectral content of a point source. In typical operation for this type of system, a positive lens collimates the light from the point source before it enters the interferometer. Either a test arm or reference arm mirror is scanned along the optical axis with the intensity being detected at each scan position. Taking the inverse Fourier transform of the envelope of the detected signal yields the spectral intensity of the object as a function of frequency or wavelength.
An FPS system is based on another interferometric design that generally employs two highly reflective mirrors to form an optical cavity that functions as a spectral filter. In this type of a system, collimated light entering this system will undergo multiple reflections within the optical cavity. As a result of this configuration, only the particular wavelength component for which all the multiple reflections interfere constructively will pass through the optical cavity to be recorded by a detector. The particular wavelength that is passed by the optical filter depends on the distance between the two highly reflective mirrors. As this distance is changed, the wavelength passed by the filter also changes. Thus, the spectral bandpass of the FPS system is a function of the lateral separation of the mirrors. In this way, as one mirror is scanned along the optical axis, effectively changing the distance between the mirrors, the spectral bandpass is changed and the different spectral components of the source are recorded sequentially by the detector.
The FTS and FPS systems are also capable of performing imaging spectrometry and determining the spectral composition of an object on a point-by-point basis. However, there are certain limitations imposed by the physical geometry of these systems. In addition, in both cases, the system field of view is restricted. For example, with regard to the FTS system, the length of the system, combined with the small size of the mirrors, restricts the field of view because optical rays will not propagate through the system for large angles. Therefore, the number of points on an object which can be acquired is limited. Another problem arises with respect to image registration. Two-dimensional images are acquired as one of the mirrors is scanned. Problems associated with scanning, such as mirror jitter, uneven scanning, or beam-walking, create registration problems between the images in the different spectral bands. With regard to the FPS system, it is also limited to a small field of view because of two main effects. For example, the light coming from the source undergoes multiple reflections within the mirrored optical cavity before emerging from the system. When the incident light comes from an off-axis point on the object, it enters the cavity at an incident angle other than zero. Consequently, as the light undergoes multiple reflections, it will walk along the mirrors and eventually leak out of the cavity. The result of this behavior is that as the field increases, the light throughput of the system decreases. Another problem with the FPS configuration has to do with spectral bandpass variation with field. Since the effective mirror separation changes with field angle, so does the spectral bandpass. To minimize this field-dependent spectral variation, the field of view must necessarily be small.
Typically spectral scanning systems suffer from the fact that their inherent design does not allow for confocal imaging of the object. Confocal imaging systems always require some sort of spatial scanning. Spectral scanning systems have no spatial scanning attribute, making confocal microscopy impossible.
In addition, all spectral scanning systems have a fundamental flaw when used in low light applications such as fluorescence microscopy. These applications suffer from a phenomenon called photobleaching, where the fluorescence of an object decreases with the length of the exposure, and phototoxicity, where the light that is used to illuminate the object is toxic to the object. In all spectral scanning systems the entire object must be illuminated the entire time the wavelength scan is taking place. As a result, the images acquired later in the sequence (i.e. the longer wavelength images) will be dimmer than the images acquired first because of photobleaching. This change in intensity is not something that can easily be corrected after acquisition of the images. If toxicity becomes an issue, then the object's characteristics will change over time as the object becomes damaged. This effect cannot be corrected for post acquisition.
Spatial scanning systems, achieve the same result as the spectral scanning systems, but without the drawbacks discussed. Spatial scanning systems are optical imaging systems where a portion of a two-dimensional object is imaged onto a detector. Spatial scanning systems are usually classified into two types, based on the dispersion mechanism used. There are prism-based systems (such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,728) and grating-based systems. In typical spatial scanning systems, a dispersive element in the optical path spreads the wavelength components of each point in the image along one dimension of a detector. This behavior effectively creates a series of rainbows on the detector. When a prism is used, the dispersion is achieved via refraction of the light. Alternatively, when a grating is used, the dispersion is achieved via diffraction of the light. Prism-based systems have the advantage of higher light throughput than grating-based systems. However, prism-based systems have the significant disadvantage of producing non-linear dispersion, requiring data correction via interpolation for proper visualization and processing. Since the dispersion effect via refraction is not as pronounced as it is via diffraction, prism-based systems generally require longer optical trains to achieve the same unit dispersion as grating-based systems. Grating-based systems display linear dispersion, eliminating the data correction step. The dispersion is higher than prism-based systems, which makes the optical trains shorter, but the efficiencies slightly lower than prism-based systems.
Gratings can be reflective or transmissive. Reflective gratings that utilize metal coatings for their reflectivity are used often for imaging spectrometers in a design configuration known as the Czerny-Turner configuration. This configuration utilizes a symmetric optical design with two spherical mirrors and a planar reflective grating. The symmetry of the design minimizes optical aberration's; however, to obtain a reasonable field-of-view, the optical train tends to be long, preventing the development of a compact system. Furthermore, the reflective gratings used in the Czerny-Turner configurations are usually made with metal coatings that are quite polarization sensitive, meaning P-polarized light will yield a different result than S-polarized light. This causes a significant problem in fluorescence microscopy applications that are often, by their nature, highly polarization-dependent processes. Transmission gratings and reflective gratings that utilize "polarization insensitive" coatings do not present the same problems because they are not significantly polarization sensitive. As disclosed in the present invention, more compact designs can be utilized to obtain sizable fields of view.
In order to achieve spatial scanning, stages (such as motorized stages, for example) are used to move the object from one position to the next to create a two dimensional image. In some instances, the object is held fixed while the illumination is scanned and the detection aperture is scanned in conjunction with the detector (such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,373). These approaches are generally very slow and do not have the necessary accuracy or temporal resolution for live-cell microscopy imaging applications.
Finally, all of these high-spectral resolution imaging systems are only capable of providing high-spectral resolution with low temporal resolution. In many instances, it is desirable to use high-spectral resolution to identify an optimal smaller set of wavelengths which are then acquired instantaneously on a single or multiple detectors (i.e. high temporal resolution). One example of the usefulness of a single, multi-mode spectral imaging system in microscopy is discussed in "Spectral imaging and its applications in live cell microscopy", Timo Zimmerman, Jens Rietdorf, and Rainer Pepperkok, FEBS Letters 543, Advanced Light Microscopy Facility and Cell Biology/Cell Biophysics Programme, Heidelberg, Germany (May 2003) pages 87–92.
While different methods may be used to achieve imaging spectrometry, the prior art is generally not capable of providing the required performance within a compact, modular, flexible and fast system. The prior art also fails to disclose providing multiple imaging modalities within a single system.
There is a significant need for a compact, modular, flexible and fast system, which is adapted to provide different imaging modalities within a single system for microscopy. The present invention satisfies this need.

Method and apparatus for multi-mode spectral imaging


A dental implant assembly comprising; a first part for fixing a tooth, a second part configured for receiving a threaded fastening means, said fastening means having a head portion and a threaded portion for fastening said first and second parts, a locking mechanism provided with both said first and second parts for locking rotational motion against each other on placing on top of one another, and, characterized in that; said first and second parts and head portion of the fastening means have predetermined profiles such that on screwing said fastening means into said second part a substantial part of the head portion descends into the second part and rests on the profiled sections of first and second parts making a complete contact, thereby, shielding threaded portion of the fastening means from masticating forces.

The present invention relates generally to prosthetics, and more specifically to dental implants, and, even more specifically to a dental implant, support post, and a screw having conical head, and, further more specifically to a support post having a hexagonal groove at the bottom and a hollow countersink to hold the aforesaid screw, and, an implant having a conical passage with the protruding hexagonal structure to partially accommodate the mentioned screw.
A dental implant is a device which is biocompatible and bio functional and is placed on or within the bone associated with the oral cavity to provide support for fixed or removable prosthetic teeth by means of screws.
frequently, the screws used in connection with the prosthesis may break on the inside of an implant, causing serious problems by damaging both the fixture and/or the prosthesis. A screw fracture is usually caused by abnormal stresses produced by the prosthesis. Another problem associated with dental implants is the loosening of screws that hold the implants in position.
The loosening action depends on stress forces typically caused by masticating forces (refer FIG. 1). However, depending on the frequency and/or the intensity of these forces, it is very likely to lose friction between the male and female threads that maintain the integrity of a coupling. What follows is imperceptible movement and micro-oscillations that subsequently can cause significant movement in the threading of the screw. This concept is common to virtually all fixation screws.
Considering a simple screw mechanism, on connecting the male and female counterparts without threading them completely, a small vertical movement can be noted. This is due to slight differences between the two threads and the space between them, called "tolerance" (refer FIG. 2).
Although engaging the thread completely causes the movement to cease because it enters a perfect engagement and fit (refer FIG. 3), mastication increases the deformation of the threads and causes the male part to rotate and unscrew over a period of time. This results in loosing of joint, and possibly a fracture.
U.S. Patent publication number U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,737 discusses a support post for use with a dental implant for supporting prosthesis. The problem with such post implants is that the screw, which connects the support post to the dental implant, is held at the shoulder region of the support post and hence the surface area in contact between the screw and the support post is substantially less resulting in a limited friction between the screw and the support post which intern results into loosening of the screw because of masticating forces. Further in this invention the screw head does not have any contact with the implant and therefore when a pressure is exerted on screw head, pressure is experienced by the thread and the bore area, which causes damage of the screw threads that may lead to fracture of screw and consequently the fracture of the implant itself. The constructional features of the invention are described in para [0031].
In another analogous art, U.S. Patent publication number U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,907 describes a screw for dental implant. This invention has similar limitations as discussed in the above-mentioned prior art.
In mentioned prior arts the torque and pressure exerted on the screw is unevenly distributed which causes breaking of the screw and damaging the implant; thus requiring surgical intervention. Therefore, the present scenario is punctuated by an emerging need for a dental implant that distributes the torque and the pressure evenly on the screw.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the above-mentioned techniques, a general object of the present invention is to obviate above and other drawbacks associated with the prior art; to provide a system for an implant which can evenly bear the pressure exerted; to provide an improved assembly; to provide a screw with conical head which bears all the pressure thus preventing from the implant from fixture.
Other objects of the present invention are to provide a support post with an improved design which houses the screw conical head of the screw providing better holding and reducing the chances of under threading; to provide an improved implant with a conical passage to partially hold the conical head of the screw; and to hold the support post and implant firmly to prevent vertical circular motion of the support post over the implant. These and other objects of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the appended Summary, Description and Claims.


An optical fiber device with reduced thermal sensitivity comprises a first optical fiber arm having a first composite coefficient of thermal expansion and a first length and a second optical fiber arm having a second composite coefficient of thermal expansion and a second length. A ratio of the first and second lengths inversely matches a ratio of the first and second composite coefficients of thermal expansion to minimize thermal sensitivity in the device.

An interferometer is a device in which an optical interference pattern of fringes is formed and used to make measurements, typically related to the wavelength of the optical source. Interferometers may be used for monitoring relative wavelength changes of an optical source. In such wavelength-monitoring applications, interferometers may also be referred to as "wavecounters" or "wavemeters".
"Fiber interferometers" are interferometers constructed entirely using fiber-optic waveguides and fiber-optic components. FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows typical prior art fiber interferometer 100, which is based on a well known Michelson architecture. Interferometer 100 comprises fiber directional coupler 103 and Faraday rotator mirrors 106 and 107. Coupler leads 102 and 108 are connected to light source 101 and detector 109, respectively. Faraday rotator mirrors 106 and 107 are attached to coupler fiber leads 104 and 105. Some additional fiber (115) may also be spliced between coupler lead 104 (or 105), and Faraday mirrors 106 (or 107). The Faraday mirrors 106 and 107 reflect light from light source 101 back through arms 104 and 105, and these reflected signals are also exchanged and combined at coupling 103 and carried back through lead 108 to be detected by the optical sensor 109.
One of the main difficulties in using fiber interferometers is that, compared to free-space interferometers, they are more sensitive to changes in temperature. This thermal sensitivity arises because lengths of fiber expand appreciably with increasing temperature, while free-space, or air, expands comparably much less. Since stable operation of an interferometer depends on path length differences being stable, this thermal expansion of the fiber problematically causes thermal drift of the interferogram measurement.
Arm 120 of interferometer 100 comprises fibers 104 and 115 and lead 116 of Faraday mirror 106. Arm 121 comprises fiber 105 and lead 117 of Faraday mirror 107. The length of these arms, which are functions of the ambient temperature T, may be respectively designated as L1(T) and L2(T). Typically, all of the fiber used in interferometer 100 is of a uniform variety or construction, as is consistent with prior art interferometers. This fiber possesses a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of α parts-per-million per degree Celsius (ppm/° C.), or equivalently, parts-per-million per degree Kelvin (ppm/° K). Based on thermal expansion theory:L1(T)=(1+αT)·L1(0)  (1)L2(T)=(1+αT)·L2(0)  (2)where L1(0) and L2(0) are the lengths of the interferometer arms 120 and 121 extrapolated back to a temperature of zero degrees Kelvin. These equations show how each arm's length changes in direct proportion to the change in ambient temperature.
Thus, the path-length-difference of the two arms as a function of temperature, is:ΔL=L2(T)−L1(T)  (3)which indicates that ΔL, the path length difference between interferometer arms 120 and 121, is a function of the temperature T. Since ΔL is a function of temperature, the interferometer's output may drift with temperature.

Systems and methods for fiber optic devices with reduced thermal sensitivity


A ferrofluid chamber has a housing that is adapted to be coupled to a component that generates a magnetic field of sufficient strength to stimulate anatomical tissue. In addition, a ferrofluid is disposed within the housing for cooling the component.

Magnetic devices are used in many applications, such as in magnetic stimulation devices, speakers and so forth. Magnetic devices tend to generate heat because of resistive losses in the coil(s) that generate magnetic fields(s), and the amount of heat generated is proportional to the amount of power consumed by the device. Thus, high-voltage magnetic devices that consume large amounts of power, such as those used in magnetic stimulation therapy, can become very hot when in operation. The environment in which the magnetic device operates—or the operating characteristics of the device itself—may dictate that the device operate under a certain temperature threshold. For example, in magnetic stimulation therapy, the temperature of a magnetic stimulation device used to generate a therapeutic magnetic field should be kept below approximately 41.5° C. to stay within certain regulatory requirements (e.g., FDA guidelines). If a magnetic stimulation device is to be operated at temperatures exceeding 41.5° C., such regulatory requirements dictate that the device manufacturer and/or health practitioner must meet additional guidelines to prove that operation of the device is safe. These additional requirements increase complexity of operation and overall cost, and are best avoided when possible.
Conventionally, a magnetic stimulation device used for such therapy is used until it reaches a threshold temperature, and then the therapy is temporarily halted until the stimulation device cools. Such an arrangement therefore adds to the time required to perform a treatment, which is undesirable for both the patient and the health practitioner. Alternatively, a second magnetic stimulation device may need to be used (i.e., swapped with the first device when the first device reaches the threshold temperature) so as to continue the therapy without interruption while the first, overheated stimulation device cools. This arrangement is also undesirable because of the added expense associated with the purchase and maintenance of an additional magnetic stimulation device. Furthermore, additional time is required of the patient and health practitioner, as the second magnetic device will need to be set-up and/or calibrated to perform magnetic stimulation therapy on the patient. Because the set-up and/or calibration steps provide opportunities for operator error, requiring the operator to perform such steps multiple times may decrease the overall safety level of the treatment.
Conventional cooling solutions typically involve the use of air or fluid cooling mechanisms. An air cooling mechanism may involve a fan that rapidly circulates cooled or room temperature air past the magnetic device. A fluid cooling mechanism may involve the circulation of a cool fluid past the magnetic device, where the fluid cools the device and is heated in the process, and then to a cooling mechanism, after which the fluid is returned to the magnetic device. Both mechanisms have several drawbacks. For example, both mechanisms require additional moving parts (e.g., fans, cooling mechanisms such as a refrigeration or heat exchange unit, etc.), which add to the cost and complexity of the magnetic device. Furthermore, the additional moving parts add to the potential for a device malfunction.
An additional consideration of magnetic devices is acoustical noise generated by the magnetic coil of a magnetic device as the coil is energized. For example, when the coil is energized, it creates a strong magnetic field that, in many applications, rapidly changes in intensity. The changing magnetic field causes windings of the coil to experience hoop stresses that intermittently stress the windings, which causes a sharp acoustic click.
Such noise is especially pronounced in magnetic stimulation devices, as the therapeutic magnetic fields are created by pulsing the stimulation device's coil. Such noise is problematic for patients, as the stimulation device is typically located in close proximity to the patient's head, and therefore the noise from the stimulation device may be uncomfortable. In addition, a health practitioner who is repeatedly exposed to such noise may be adversely affected. A conventional solution, placing earplugs in the patient's ears, is undesirable because it is an additional step to perform in the therapeutic process and does not solve the problem of the noise caused by the device in the treatment facility (e.g., physician's office, hospital, etc.). In addition, the use of earplugs is undesirable because some psychiatric or young patients may be uncooperative, and therefore the use of earplugs unnecessarily complicates the procedure.
Thus, a conventional solution for the reduction of acoustical noise is the placement of noise reduction material around all or part of a magnetic device. Alternatively, a chamber containing a partial vacuum may be formed around the magnetic device, because a partial vacuum contains very few particles that may propagate a mechanical (sound) wave. However, such noise reduction techniques have the disadvantage of adversely affecting heat transfer for cooling. For example, the best noise reduction materials are fabricated to contain air pockets that do not transfer noise well. However, such air pockets also have the characteristic being poor conductors of heat. The same is true to an even greater extent in the case of a vacuum. Thus, if such a noise reduction technique is used, the magnetic stimulation device cannot be adequately cooled. Attempting to mitigate such a dilemma by placing acoustical material, or forming a partial vacuum, around a cooling system that is itself arranged around a magnetic device is undesirable because of the added size, cost and complexity of the resulting device.
Conventionally, ferrofluids have been used to cool audio speaker systems, which is a lower voltage application when compared to a magnetic stimulation device or other high voltage magnetic device. A ferrofluid is a fluid with suspended ferromagnetic particles. The ferromagnetic particles can be influenced by the magnetic field created by the speaker so as to enhance fluid convection between the speaker and a heat sink to cool the speaker. An additional benefit of ferrofluids is that they can be used to cool a device while still performing noise reduction, because a ferrofluid typically does not support shear waves. Furthermore, a mismatch in sound velocity may also cause the reflection of some of the sound waves.
Unfortunately, even the ferrofluid solution used in connection with speakers has disadvantages that may render it unsuitable for use with high voltage magnetic devices, such as a magnetic stimulation device. For example, the ferrofluid used in connection with speaker cooling, while a dielectric when exposed to normal speaker-level voltages, may be unable to maintain dielectric isolation at the higher voltage levels used in connection with a magnetic stimulation device. As a result, arcing or other problems may occur.
Therefore, what is needed is a ferrofluidic cooling apparatus, system and method for high voltage applications. More particularly, what is needed is an apparatus, system and method for convectively circulating a ferrofluid to cool a high voltage magnetic device. Even more particularly, what is needed is an apparatus, system and method of using a ferrofluid to cool such a high voltage magnetic device while also mitigating acoustical noise.

Ferrofluidic cooling and acoustical noise reduction in magnetic stimulators


A carrier layer (1) for a semiconductor layer sequence comprising an electrical insulation layer (2) containing AlN or a ceramic. Furthermore a method for producing semiconductor chips is described.

In the context of the invention, a carrier layer is regarded as a layer on which the semiconductor layer sequence is arranged in the course of its processing. In particular, this is done prior to a singulation into semiconductor chips which comprise semiconductor chip regions and the latter in turn comprise a part of the semiconductor layer sequence. In particular, the semiconductor layer sequence is intended for forming a plurality of semiconductor chip regions. Said semiconductor chips may subsequently be processed further for semiconductor components. The carrier layer is at any rate to be differentiated from a growth substrate of the abovementioned semiconductor layer sequence.
A carrier layer of this type should be well matched to the semiconductor layer sequence with regard to its coefficient of expansion, in order to avoid strains that are damaging to the semiconductor layer sequence in the event of heating, and have a high thermal conductivity, in order to ensure a good dissipation of heat from the semiconductor layer sequence, in particular the later semiconductor chip (i.e., the chip formed after singulation). For the case where the electrical contact connection of the semiconductor layer sequence is effected through the carrier layer, the electrical conductivity thereof is to be chosen to be appropriately high.
Carrier layers made of semiconductor materials, such as Ge or GaAs, and made of metals, such as Mo or CuW, are known, by way of example.
If metallic carrier layers are used, which usually have a high thermal conductivity, then during singulation, which is often effected by sawing, the risk may be increased of metal slivers or warpage arising on the metal, which render the semiconductor chip unusable, for example due to a short circuit. Frequently, the coefficient of thermal expansion is also inadequately matched to the semiconductor layer sequence and strains may arise between the carrier layer and the semiconductor layer sequence in the event of heating, which have a damaging effect on the semiconductor layer sequence.
By contrast, semiconductor materials, in comparison with metals, often have lower thermal or electrical conductivities and often have a lower mechanical stability, in particular with regard to brittlements, thereby increasing the risk of damage to the semiconductor layer sequence and thus the later semiconductor chips. With regard to the coefficients of thermal expansion, however, semiconductor materials are usually better matched to the semiconductor layer sequence than metals.
Furthermore, a chip carrier made of an electrically insulating AlN ceramic is known, on which semiconductor chips can be arranged after singulation. These chip carriers may have a conductor structure that enables the semiconductor chip to be electrically contact-connected from that side of the chip carrier which is opposite to the chip. Said conductor structure may comprise plated-through holes through the chip carrier, so-called vias, which are filled with tungsten. Chip carriers of this type are distinguished by a good thermal conductivity. With regard to their coefficients of expansion, chip carriers of this type can be matched to the semiconductor layer sequence by means of suitable process implementation during production. Since each individual chip is assigned a chip carrier of this type, the production of such chips is cost- and time-intensive.

Carrier layer for a semiconductor layer sequence and method for producing semiconductor chips


A input method selects a character from a plurality of characters of a logographic script, and identifies characters proximate the selected character. One or more candidate characters are then selected based on a composition input and the proximate characters.

This disclosure relates to input methods.
Languages that use a logographic script in which one or two characters, e.g., glyphs, correspond roughly to one word or meaning have more characters than keys on a standard input device, such as a computer keyboard on a mobile device keypad. For example, the Chinese language contains thousands of characters defined by base Pinyin characters and five tones. The mapping of these many-to-one associations can be implemented by input methods that facilitate entry of characters and symbols not found on input devices. Accordingly, a Western-style keyboard can be used to input Chinese, Japanese, or Korean characters.
Conventional input methods can utilize a session-based context to make input predictions based on composition inputs. At each input, the session-based context is reset.


An optical networking circuit pack is described. The circuit pack houses a plurality of pluggable electronic modules and includes an enclosure panel, a plurality of module identifiers, and a fiber management assembly. The enclosure panel has at least two collinear openings to receive electronic modules. The module identifiers reside on the enclosure panel and are proximate to a respective opening. Each module identifier is oriented at an angle with respect to an edge of the enclosure panel to facilitate association of pluggable electronic module with the respective opening regardless of whether the circuit pack is oriented in a horizontal position or a vertical position. The fiber management assembly is disposed at an end of the circuit pack to facilitate routing of optical fibers.

The migration from Small Form Factor (SFF) optical devices (e.g., transceivers) to Small Form Pluggable (SFP) optical devices changes the way that optical devices are coupled to a circuit board that is housed within a circuit pack. Currently, SFF devices couple to the circuit board through a "pig-tail" connection (i.e., a length of optical fiber integral with the SFF) that is coupled to the circuit board. The pig-tail connection for each optical device is managed within the internal volume of the circuit pack. As such, openings that receive the SFF devices in the front face of the circuit pack are arranged to provide easy access to the optical devices and convenient management of the pig-tail connections within the circuit pack. Using SFP devices obviates the need for pig-tail connections by connecting to the circuit board through an interface attached directly to the circuit board.
As such, a need exists for a circuit pack for use with pluggable devices. The present invention satisfies this need and provides additional advantages.


Systems, methods, and non-transitory media are provided for power-efficient image stabilization. An example method can include collecting measurements from a motion sensor, the measurements being based on movement of an image sensor while capturing frames; calculating parameters for counteracting motions in a frame, wherein first parameters are based on the measurements and second parameters are based on some of the measurements; adjusting, in a first stabilization pass of a dual-pass stabilization process, the first frame according to the second parameters; adjusting, in a second stabilization pass of the dual-pass stabilization process, the first frame according to the first parameters; based on a second frame having less motion than the first frame, enabling for the second frame a single-pass stabilization process for both a frame preview process and video record process; and adjusting, in the single stabilization pass, the second frame according to parameters for counteracting motions in the second frame.

The increasing versatility of digital camera products has allowed video recording capabilities to be integrated into a wide array of devices and has expanded their use to new applications. For example, phones, drones, cars, computers, televisions, and many other devices today are often equipped with cameras. The cameras allow users to capture video and images from any device equipped with a camera. The video and images can be captured for recreational use, professional photography, surveillance, and automation, among other applications. The quality of the video and images largely depends on the specific hardware capabilities of the camera. However, various software-based technologies have also been developed and implemented to enhance the quality of video and images captured from cameras. For example, electronic image stabilization (EIS) or digital image stabilization is a digital technique developed to minimize blurring and other image quality issues caused by movement or shaking of the camera during use.
EIS tries to detect any motion of the camera and adjust the captured image data to counter the detected motion of the camera, thereby generating a smoother video. Unfortunately, current EIS solutions are inefficient and involve unnecessarily high power consumption. For example, EIS solutions generally perform various redundant operations and consume high amounts of power in order to satisfy latency and quality requirements for both video previewing and video encoding/recording. Such high power consumption and processing inefficiencies can have a negative impact on video recording devices, and particularly those devices that have a more-limited amount of compute and energy resources such as mobile devices. Consequently, flexible and power-efficient techniques are needed to enable electronic image stabilization at lower power consumption rates while satisfying latency and quality needs.

Power-efficient dynamic electronic image stabilization


Disclosed is a method of transmitting/receiving additional information. The method includes the steps of transmitting video, audio, trailer, and EPG(program guide) signals respectively having independent PIDs(packet identification numbers), receiving the transmitted signals and extracting the video, audio, EPG, and trailer signals from the received signals, displaying the extracted EPG, and displaying the trailer signal for a selected broadcast program of the EPG. Preferably, the trailer is displayed as a motion picture or still image. Accordingly, when the audience selects a specific program on an EPG screen, the present invention displays a summary or preview of the selected program. Therefore, the transmitting side such as a broadcasting station enables to inform the audiences of the corresponding program of the broadcasting station, and the audiences are helped to select programs through program previews or summaries.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital TV (DTV), and more particularly, to a method of transmitting/receiving additional information in a digital TV servicing an electronic program guide(EPG).
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Lately, as broadcasting media such as cable TV broadcasting, digital TV broadcasting and the like are diversified, the number of broadcast channels and programs as well as broadcasting stations increases by geometric progression.
Therefore, it is not easy for audiences to select their favorite programs from a number of broadcast channels and programs.
Digital TV (hereinafter abbreviated DTV) provides a program guide or an electronic program guide(hereinafter abbreviated EPG) for the convenience of the audiences.
EPG is the additional information enabling to help the audiences to watch TV more conveniently, whereby the audiences enable to gain the information about the current and coming broadcast programs on TV screen without other guide media such as newspapers and the like.
Moreover, there is PSIP (program and system information protocol) defining both EPG and SI (system information.
PSIP has been proposed as a standard for ATSC (advanced television systems committee) of the digital broadcasting TV.
PSIP transmits and receives A/V data constructed with MPEG-2 video and AC-3 audio formats, and includes various tables enabling to transmit the information about the channels of the respective broadcasting stations as well as the programs of the respective channels.
And, PSIP can support a main function for providing A/V services of the user demand broadcast as well as an additional function of broadcast guide services such as EPG.
In this case, the channel information for the channel selection and another information such as a packet identification number (PID) for the A/V reception are transmitted through a virtual channel table (VCT), while the information such as EPG of the broadcast programs of the respective channels is transmitted through EIT.
Besides, PSIP further includes STT (system time table) for time information, RRT (rating region table) to transmit information about the regions and consultation organs for the program rates, ETT (extended text table) for additional explanation about the channels and broadcast programs, MGT (master guide table) for the management of versions and PIDs of the respective tables, and the like.
Such tables are transmitted by the data structure called sections.
Each of the tables has a basic unit of section, and the combination of at least one of the sections constructs one table.
Yet, EPG has the limited and simple information about the programs, and particularly, the information constructed mainly with characters only.
Hence, the audience anxious to be informed of the contents of a certain program through TV has no other way but to read the corresponding story provided by EPG.
Yet, the story is the character information only, thereby has a limitation in inducing interests of the audiences.

Method of transmitting/receiving additional information


Disclosed herein is a wafer processing method for dividing a wafer into a plurality of individual devices along a plurality of crossing division lines. The wafer is composed of a substrate and a functional layer formed on the front side of the substrate. The division lines are formed on the front side of the functional layer. A laser beam having a transmission wavelength to the substrate is applied to the wafer from the back side thereof to detect the height of an interface between the functional layer and the substrate in an area corresponding to each division line. The depth of cut by a cutting blade for cutting the substrate is next set according to the height detected above. The back side of the substrate is next cut by the cutting blade according to the depth of cut set above to thereby form a cut groove having a depth not reaching the functional layer with a remaining part of the substrate left between the bottom of the cut groove and the functional layer along each division line, the remaining part having a uniform thickness. Thereafter, the remaining part and the functional layer are cut along each division line to thereby divide the wafer.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wafer processing method.
Description of the Related Art
There has been put into practical use a manufacturing method for a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of semiconductor devices such as ICs and LSIs, wherein the semiconductor wafer is intended to improve the processing performance of the semiconductor devices. This semiconductor wafer is composed of a substrate and a functional layer formed on the front side of the substrate, wherein the functional layer is formed by stacking a plurality of low-permittivity insulator films (low-k films). Examples of each low-k film include an inorganic film of SiOF, BSG (SiOB), etc. and an organic film such as a polymer film of polyimide, parylene, etc. The semiconductor devices are formed from the functional layer of the wafer. The functional layer is brittle so that it is easily separated from the substrate in cutting the wafer by using a cutting blade. To cope with this problem, there has been performed a wafer processing method including the steps of applying a laser beam along both sides of each division line on a semiconductor wafer to form two laser processed grooves dividing the functional layer along each division line, and next positioning a cutting blade between the two laser processed grooves along each division line to relatively move the cutting blade and the semiconductor wafer, thereby cutting the wafer along each division line (see Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2005-64231, for example).


An audio playback system includes a handheld device and a digital stereo set. By the handheld device, a control message is converted into a modulation signal. The modulation signal is transmitted to a speaker, thereby controlling the speaker to generate a modulated sound wave signal. After the modulated sound wave signal is received by a built-in microphone of the digital stereo set, the modulated sound wave signal is restored to the control message. After the control message is received by the digital stereo set, the digital stereo set performs a corresponding control action.

Conventionally, a digital stereo set is controlled by using a control panel or a remote controller. As known, the control panel or the remote controller can only provide basic control items, and the control panel or the remote controller can not be personalized. With increasing development of science and technology, the functions of the current handheld devices such as smart phones or tablet personal computers become very complete. Moreover, the current handheld devices have diversified controllable items and can perform personalized control actions. Consequently, it is an important issue to research how to use the handheld device to control the digital stereo set.
Nowadays, the handheld device may be in communication with the digital stereo set by a wireless communication technology in order to control the digital stereo set. The wireless communication technology widely used in the handheld device is for example a Wi-Fi communication technology, a Bluetooth communication technology or a near field communication technology. Regardless of which wireless communication technology is adopted, both of the handheld device and the digital stereo set should be additionally equipped with corresponding chips. In other words, the use of the wireless communication technology is neither cost-effective nor user-friendly. For example, a Bluetooth pairing process is very complicated. In addition, the same Bluetooth device fails to be operated by many handheld devices simultaneously. Moreover, since the above-mentioned wireless communication technologies belong to radio frequency communication technologies, the generated electromagnetic radiation is detrimental to human health, and a problem of electromagnetic radiation channel occupancy occurs.
Therefore, there is a need of providing an improved communication and control method for a handheld device and a digital stereo set in order to eliminate the above drawbacks of the wireless communication and provide abundant personalized control actions.


Provided is a therapeutic agent targeting and fixation medical device that precisely targets a therapeutic agent including a magnetic substance by using an optimized array of magnets in consideration of an affected area of a patient.

The present invention relates to therapeutic agent targeting using a magnet array, and more particularly, to a therapeutic agent targeting and fixation medical device using a magnet array.
A treatment method using a typical therapeutic agent has limitations such as nonselective toxicity and related side effects due to low directivity. Accordingly, researches on various therapeutic agent delivery systems have been actively performed in order to minimize side effects of the typical therapeutic agent and maximize medical effects thereof instead of developing new therapeutic agent due to a long development period and high expenses. In particular, various researches for improving the directivity of the therapeutic agent around a lesion using various magnets have been recently performed. A basic principle of the recent researches is the delivery of the therapeutic agent by using a principle in which as a magnetic substance, which is magnetized in a magnetic field, is included in or attached to the therapeutic agent, the magnetic substance, which is magnetized in a magnetic field, moves to an area having a high magnetic flux density. However, most of typical researches use a single superconductor magnet or permanent magnet, which has an extremely great magnetic flux density, to simply maximize an attractive force toward the magnet, thereby delivering the therapeutic agent including the magnetic substance. Since the above-described typical researches do not consider a therapeutic environment such as the kind and position of an affected area and the object of the treatment, the researches are difficult to be applied to various procedural settings, and the therapeutic agent is difficult to be exactly targeted to the affected area. In relation to this, Korean Patent Registration No. 0889006 discloses a magnetic field treatment device of a low frequency rotary permanent magnetic substance.

Therapeutic agent targeting and fixation medical device using magnet array

INDUSTRY FOUNDATION OF CHONNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY


A system and a method for streaming data between a portable server computing device and a client computing device are provided. The method includes transmitting an RF signal having streaming data from a first audio file from the portable server computing device to a client computing device. The method further includes emitting sound corresponding to the streaming data in the RF signal from the client computing device, in response to the client computing device receiving the RF signal.

MP3 devices have been utilized to store digital data and to play the digital data. In order to play the digital data for more than one person, the MP3 devices can be physically connected via a coupling wire to an external audio system. A drawback with this configuration is that a user must physically connect the MP3 device to the external audio system, via the coupling wire, during use. Further, if the user does not have the coupling wire, the MP3 device cannot be connected to the external audio system.
Accordingly, the inventors herein have recognized a need for an improved system for streaming digital audio data that minimizes and/or reduces the above-mentioned deficiencies.

System and method for streaming data between a portable server computing device and a client computing device


A universal adjustable deck fill lid key may comprise a handle and a slide, the handle and the slide each mounting one small pin and one large pin, and the slide being slidably mounted on the handle in a manner that enables a user to position the slide along the handle such that either the small pins or the large pins may engage the holes of a two-hole deck fill lid to enable the key to remove or re-install the deck fill lid in a wrench-like manner. In one embodiment, the universal deck fill lid key may additionally incorporate a slot head to enable the key to interface with and operate a slotted deck fill lid. In another embodiment, the universal deck fill lid key may additionally incorporate a drive nut to enable the key to interface with and operate a socket deck fill lid.

Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application, and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
The material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. The copyright owner grants a limited license to any member of the public to reproduce the patent document as it appears in official governmental records. All other copyrights rights are reserved.
A marine deck fill is a sealable port, typically mounted into the deck or hull of a marine vessel, that functions to accommodate access to fill the marine vessel's fuel or water tanks, and to seal the access when the filling function is complete. Typically, a marine deck fill may comprise a port and a lid. The port may be installed into a deck or hull. The lid may be removed from the port to perform the filling function, may be reinstalled into the port to seal the port when the filling function is complete. The lid may have a feature to accommodate removal and re-installation of the lid. Typically, the feature may be a slot, a pair of holes, or a socket receiver.
A marine deck fill lid is removed and re-installed with the use of a tool called a marine deck fill lid key, which may be designed to interface with a slot or a hole pair, depending upon which type of marine deck fill the key is designed for. The key may be used in a wrench-like manner to rotate the lid for removal and re-installation. Where the marine deck fill lid incorporates a socket receiver, a winch handle may be used to remove the marine deck fill lid.
In addition to being designed with various removal and re-installation features (holes, slots, or socket receivers), marine deck fills may be designed in a variety of sizes. For example, the diameters of the hole pairs and the dimension between hole pairs vary from design to design. Typical, a conventional deck lid key is designed for use with a particular deck lid configuration. The specialized design of these conventional deck lid keys constitutes a limitation of the usefulness of the conventional deck lid keys in that a different specialized key must be used to remove or re-install the lid of each marine deck fill.
Attempts have been made to design an adjustable deck fill lid key. Each suffers from one or more of the following limitations: lack of structural integrity, pinch hazards, incompatibility with all deck fill lid designs, and ergonomic deficiencies.
What is needed is a sturdy, adjustable deck fill lid key that is designed to interface with a variety of deck fill lid designs and sizes, including slotted, two-hole, and socket receiver designs, that eliminates pinch hazards, and that provides an ergonomically-correct grip.

Universal adjustable marine deck fill lid key


A hair-retaining device to be worn on the head comprising two attached hair sticks with a sliding fastening member removably connected to each of the hair sticks. The hair sticks retain a portion of a user's hair between the hair sticks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention and method relates to a hair fastener. More particularly, to hair sticks comprising beads for connecting the hair sticks and for fastening hair there between.
2. Description of Prior Art
Many people like to fasten their hair into various styles. One popular way to fasten hair is to use hair sticks. Hair sticks are effective, however, they are difficult to use because the user has to tightly wrap the hair around them and try to secure them into their hair. The current invention allows the user to secure two sticks in the hair at the same time and to easily secure the two sticks to the user's hair by attaching a bead to couple the sticks together.


A rotary bristle tool having a backing with a plurality of bristles extending therefrom. The bristles have a cross section and preferential orientation to control deflection during rotation of the tool. One embodiment is well suited for refining the inside surface of two-way and three-way corners. The backing and bristles are preferably integrally molded. The rotary bristle tool is molded from a moldable polymer such a thermoset polymer, thermoplastic polymer, or thermoplastic elastomer. The rotary bristle tool can include an attachment member molded integrally with the backing. Also disclosed is a method of making a rotary bristle tool and a method of refining a workpiece surface with a rotary bristle tool.

Brushes have been used for many years to polish, clean and abrade a wide variety of substrates. These brush products typically have a plurality of bristles that contact the substrate. Abrasive particles can be added to bristles to increase their abrasiveness.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,233,272, "Rotary Brush," (Pambello), discloses brushes, particularly rotary brushes of the annularly or spirally arranged brush strip type which are primarily adapted for heavy duty such as brushing paved streets, sidewalks, concrete flooring and the like. In one embodiment, the rotary brush of Pambello comprises a rotatable structure, a brushing element formed of a unitary strip of yieldable plastic material annularly arranged on the structure, the strip having a lengthwise extending base and having vane means extending outwardly from the base and formed with a tip at the outer end thereof. The brush strip of Pambello may be formed of plastic materials by molding or extruding and cutting operations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,794, "Rotary Tool Made of Inorganic Fiber-Reinforced Plastic," (Kikutani et al.), discloses a rotary tool 5 having a rotating tip formed integrally with a shaft 3. The rotary tool is formed of a thermosetting resin containing inorganic long fibers with a high degree of hardness as an abrasive means in an amount from 50% to 81% by volume. The long inorganic fibers can have a diameter in the range of 3 .mu.m to 30 .mu.m. In one of the embodiments of Kikuluani et al., the rotating tip is formed as a column or cylinder with elements which correspond to the bristle of a brush extending from the tip.
It is known to form various types of abrasive filaments from thermoplastic elastomers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,595 (Pihl) discloses an extruded abrasive filament including a first elongate filament component having a continuous surface throughout its length and including a first hardened organic polymeric and a second elongate filament component coterminous with the first elongate filament component, including a second hardened organic polymeric material in melt fusion adherent contact with the first elongate filament component along the continuous surface. The second hardened organic polymeric material can be the same or different than the first hardened organic polymeric material. At least one of the first and second hardened organic polymeric materials includes a thermoplastic elastomer having abrasive particles adhered therein. Also disclosed is an abrasive article comprised of at least one abrasive filament mounted to a substrate such as a hub adapted to be rotated at a high rate of revolution.
U.S. Pat. No 5,460,883 (Barber) discloses a composite abrasive filament which includes at least one preformed core at least partially coated with a thermoplastic elastomer having abrasive particles dispersed and adhered therein, the thermoplastic elastomer and abrasive particles together comprising a hardened composition. The composite abrasive filament has a hardened composition over at least a portion, preferably over the entire surface of at least one preformed core. The preformed core is formed in a step separate from and prior to one or more coating steps, one of which coats the preformed core with abrasive-filled thermoplastic elastomer.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,174,795 and 5,232,470 (Wiand) teach a planar abrasive article comprising a sheet portion with a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom. Abrasive particles are homogeneously dispersed throughout the moldable material comprising the article. Wiand teaches one embodiment having short protrusions extending 1.6 mm (0.063 in) from the backing and having a 3.2 mm (0.125 in) diameter, and another embodiment having short protrusions extending 1.3-1.5 mm (0.05-0.06 in) from the backing and having a 1.3 mm (0.05 in) diameter.
G.B. Patent Application No. 2.043,501, (Dawkins) discloses an abrasive article for polishing ophthalmic workpieces. The abrasive article is made by injection molding a mixture of abrasive grains and a thermoplastic binder to form an abrasive article comprising a flexible backing having a plurality of upstanding projections, the ends of which act as operative abrading surfaces.
It is known to integrally mold bristles with the backing of a brush. U.S Pat. No. 5,679.067 issued Oct 21, 1997, discloses a molded abrasive brush having a backing with a plurality of bristles extending therefrom. The backing and bristles are preferably integrally molded. The brush is molded from a moldable polymer such a thermoset polymer, thermoplastic polymer, or thermoplastic elastomer. The moldable polymer includes a plurality of organic or inorganic abrasive particles interspersed throughout at least the bristles, and can be interspersed throughout the brush. The moldable brush can include an attaching means molded integrally with the backing. Johnson et al. discloses that the bristles may have any cross sectional area, including but not limited to, circular, star, half moon, quarter moon, oval, rectangular, square, triangular, diamond or polygonal. In one preferred embodiment, the bristles of Johnson et al. comprise a constant circular cross section along the length of the bristle. In other preferred embodiments of Johnson et al., the bristles have a non-constant or variable cross section along all or a portion of the length of the bristle. Similar brushes are also disclosed in WIPO International Patent Application Publication No. WO 96/33638. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/782,782, Holmes et al., filed Jan. 13, 1997, discloses similar brushes which additionally include knobs configured to engage with holes in a retainer nut.
ROLOC.TM. Bristle Brushes are commercially available from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn. Such brushes are molded abrasive brushes having a backing with a plurality of bristles extending therefrom. The backing and bristles are integrally molded. The brush is molded from a thermoplastic elastomer and includes a plurality of abrasive particles interspersed throughout brush. The bristles have a circular cross section along the length of the bristle, and are tapered to be wider at the base than at the tip.

Rotary bristle tool with preferentially oriented bristles


A sight glass placed between two spaced apart confronting fittings and connected to a vessel to show the level of liquid in the vessel is shielded by a novel transparent plastic enclosure. The enclosure is in the form of a polygon and is made from a sheet of impact resistant plastic. The enclosure includes an elongated main body member having a U-shaped front member that is removably attached to a rear closure member. Upper and lower end members are removably secured to each opposed end of the main body member. Each of the end members have an outwardly opening slot formed therein for slidably receiving and capturing the spaced apart fittings therewithin. The transparent plastic material preferably is polycarbomate which exhibits high impact resistance and thereby offers great protection to the sight glass.

Out in West Texas, there are numerous oil and gas wells connected for hydrocarbons therefrom to flow into storage tanks; or vessels, where the hydrocarbons accumulate and subsequently are transported by pipeline or truck to the refinery. The vessels, of tanks, often are provided with sight gauges of the type having a sight glass that is placed between two spaced apart fittings connected to a vessel or the like so as to show a liquid level therein.
Several times during the year, thunderstorms develop and drop large hailstones from the clouds. The hailstones frequently are of a size to strike and break the unprotected sight glass, whereupon, the contents of the vessel gravitate onto the ground. Sometime, the hailstones are of a size to break windshields of automobiles, and can stun or prove fatal to people and animals.
Sight gauges of this type are al so employed to gauge other vessels, some of which may be under considerable pressure and when the sight glass is broken, the escaping fluid presents a hazard to persons and property.
It is not unusual for a person working in the vicinity of a sight glass to inadvertently strike the sight glass with a tool with sufficient force to break the glass, whereupon the contents of the vessel are free to flow onto the surroundings and contaminate the immediate area.
It would therefore be advantageous to enclose a sight glass within a transparent plastic shield assembly to thereby afford protection to the sight glass.
Numerous sight glass protective shields or guards previously have been proposed, as evidenced by the art cited herein. However, none of the prior art provides a sight glass protective shield having all of the novel attributes found in the present invention.


There are disclosed a method, apparatus, computer, and program product for generating a strobe composite image from a plurality of frames of a moving image. A first frame is selected from the plurality of frames of the moving image. A plurality of second frames relating to the first frame are determined. Then, a strobe composite image is generated by superposing the plurality of second frames in accordance with a superposing manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method, apparatus, computer, and program product for generating a strobe composite image by superposing time-serially obtained object images.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image processing technique for generating and displaying a composite image by extracting only an object portion from a moving image and superposing it on another image is effective to generate a strobe composite image by superposing object images sensed at a plurality of times. In this case, if a user interface that allows the user to superpose a plurality of object images is not available, the user cannot easily generate a strobe composite image, and must spend much time in operations.
Conventionally, a technique for superposing a plurality of image components called layers each having a transparent portion has been used to generate a strobe composite image by superposing a plurality of object images (for example, see reference "Adobe Premier 6.0 Manual, Chapter 7, pp. 281–294"). Initially, only object image regions are extracted from a moving image by an arbitrary method. In this process, a chroma-key method that senses motion of an object in front of a uniform color background, and extracts object images by exploiting color component differences can be adopted. Then, the extracted object image regions are copied to form a plurality of layers using a layer function of image processing software, and a strobe composite image can be obtained by superposing these layers.
However, in order to create a strobe composite image by the conventional technique, the user must manually create layers corresponding to frames, and must manually designate the superposing manner as a hierarchy upon creating layers or must manually adjust the hierarchy of layers after the layers are created. Also, in the conventional technique, the user must execute strobe composition by capturing an image which is to undergo strobe composition, and saving it in a file. For example, if it is impossible to photograph an object in front of a uniform background like in sport games, the chroma-key method cannot be used to extract an object portion from an image. Therefore, a manual extraction process is required, thus taking much time until a strobe composite image is created.
It is often required to shorten the time period required from when an image is obtained until a strobe composite image is created, since the strobe composite image is often used in comments of, e.g., the form of a player in a television live program. Such requirements cannot be met since it takes much time to create a strobe composite image using the conventional technique. Therefore, a method of generating a desired strobe composite image within a short period of time is demanded.

Strobe image composition method, apparatus, computer, and program product


The present technology relates to a reception apparatus, a reception method, a transmission apparatus, and a transmission method that enable provision of an emergency warning service more suited to actual operation.

The DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial) standard has been adopted not only in Europe but across the world as a digital terrestrial broadcasting standard. Further, at present, the DVB-T2 standard, a revised version of this DVB-T standard, has become commercial (refer, for example, to NPL 1).
Also, an emergency warning system (EWS: Emergency Warning System) is prescribed as means conveying a warning in the event of an emergency such as natural disasters represented by earthquake and tsunami (refer, for example, to PTL 1).

Reception apparatus, reception method, transmission apparatus, and transmission method

Abstract: Provided is a reception apparatus that includes a reception section and a demodulation section. The reception section receives a physical layer frame transported as a broadcast signal. The demodulation section demodulates physical layer signalling acquired from the physical layer frame and monitors whether or not emergency warning information has been transported on a basis of emergency warning notice information acquired as a result of the demodulation. In a case where the emergency warning notice information indicates that the emergency warning information has been transported, the reception apparatus starts up automatically. The present technology is applicable, for example, to a transport system for transporting a physical layer frame compliant with a DVB-T2 standard.

SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION


A pivoted piston for an internal combustion engine. The piston has a pivot pin and an arcuate first sealing surface (12) which describes a circumferential path about the pivot pin which forms a removable and replaceable skirt to the piston. The piston also includes a second arcuate sealing surface which also describes a circumferential path about the pivot pin and which is connected to the first arcuate sealing surface (12) by a piston floor (21). The second arcuate sealing surface is composed of at least two arcuate sealing components (24) which are located on a bed (20) with the components (24) being located on the bed (20) so they will have limited transverse movement on the bed (20). The components (24) have mating faces which restrict the path of combustion gases between the mating faces. The piston further includes side seals which are located in grooves (63) in the side of the piston. A restraining pin (60) assists in locating the seals in the seal grooves (63) and also closes a pressure escape path for the combustion gases. The piston further includes means to allow liquid coolant to pass through the pivot shaft, through liquid cooling galleries in the piston and out of the pivot shaft.

In European Patent Specification WO 95/08055 the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference, there is described an internal combustion engine which utilizes a pivoted piston which rocks about a pivot point within a combustion chamber. The piston is connected adjacent the end of the piston remote from the pivot point to a connecting rod which drives a crankshaft. The piston has a first arcuate sealing surface to seal against a wall of the combustion chamber and a second sealing surface which is connected by a piston floor to the first arcuate sealing surface. Both sealing surfaces have a constant radial dimension from the pivot point of the piston.
The first arcuate sealing surface forms a skirt so a portion of the wall of the arcuate sealing surface will make a gas seal with the wall of the combustion chamber. The skirt also assists in dissipating heat in the piston. Adequate clearance between the outer surface of the piston and the chamber wall must be maintained to compensate for distortion that may occur through thermal expansion.
The piston also includes means to seal the sides of the piston against the combustion chamber walls and for this various forms of seals can be utilized. These are normally held in place either on the piston or in the wall of the combustion chamber by seal grooves into which the seal is located. Means are also provided to ensure the seals are correctly located in the grooves.
The prior art piston is generally manufactured in one piece and includes sealing grooves in the leading edge of the piston and in the sides of the piston and means are disclosed in WO95/08055 to enable adequate sealing of the piston against the walls of the combustion chamber to be obtained.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Piston for an internal combustion engine


In a television receiver, a source of super sandcastle pulse is connected via a horizontal sync signal extracting first circuit and the vertical sync signal extracting second circuit to the horizontal and vertical sync input terminals of an OSD processor. Advantageously, it has been found that such a super sandcastle pulse provides good and stable relationship between H and V so that flicker and jitter on the screen during OSD do not occur.

When displaying character or other on-screen display symbols on the screen of a television receiver or monitor, it is necessary that the OSD micro processor be properly synchronized with the horizontal and vertical synchronizing components of the video signal being displayed. Generally speaking, this synchronization is achieved by deriving horizontal synchronizing pulses from the line deflection circuitry of the receiver or from the heater voltage for the picture tube. Typically, vertical synchronization pulses for OSD use are derived from the vertical flyback pulse of the receiver vertical deflection system.
Generally speaking, the foregoing method of OSD synchronization gives adequate performance under most operating conditions. However, under some circumstances (e.g., poor signal to noise, or deflection instabilities), the conventional technique of OSD synchronization may produce erratic results due to instabilities in the deflection horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals and, as a result, displayed characters may exhibit jitter or other instabilities.

Circuit for synchronizing an on-screen display (OSD) on a picture screen


A biosensor is described. The biosensor includes a fixed multilayer stack providing a magnetization oscillation, a voltage source electrically coupled to the fixed multilayer stack, and a binding molecule covalently bonded to the biosensor. The voltage source provides a direct current through the fixed multilayer stack to generate the magnetization oscillation and a target molecule including a magnetic nanoparticle forms a complex with the binding molecule and alters the magnetization oscillation.

Biosensing is under current research and development for a wide range of applications in the field of functional genomics and molecular diagnostics, for example. One technique uses fluorescent labels, which are optically detected with laser scanners. However, the required instrumentation needs to be reduced in size and cost to realize a hand-held device. Preferred sensing systems have high sensitivity, rapid response, portability, and low cost, preferably not requiring DNA amplification process. In addition, the biosensing system is desired to be compatible with CMOS processing, and can be easily integrated with a CMOS chip to form a lab-on-a-chip system.
Biosensing using magnetic microarrays has been proposed. The basic methodology of such a magnetic microarray is that a single-stranded DNA with a known sequence is immobilized (bound) on the sensor surface through a sulfur-Au linkage. Meanwhile, a tagging process using single-domain high-moment magnetic nanoparticles as tags are attached to targeted DNA fragments. When the tagged DNA fragments are selectively captured by complementary DNA probes that are attached to the sensors, the stray field of the magnetic nanoparticles is read out by the magnetic sensors. A giant magnetoresistive spin-valves or magnetic tunnel junction is used for magnetic field sensing.
One problem with these biosensors is that the sensing suffers from a large 1/f noise coming from the sensors themselves and from the MOS switches. There is a need for a biosensor that reduces 1/f noise without increasing the complexity of the system by implementing a frequency modulation scheme.


A method for preparing polymodal tapered block copolymers in a polymerization process by sequentially charging: (a) an initiator and monovinylaromatic monomers in the presence of a randomizer; (b) an initiator and monovinylaromatic monomers; (c) a mixture of monovinylaromatic and conjugated diene monomers; (d) a mixture of monovinylaromatic and conjugated diene monomers; (e) an initiator and monovinylaromatic monomers; (f) a mixture of monovinylaromatic and conjugated diene monomers; (g) a mixture of monovinylaromatic and conjugated diene monomers; (h) conjugated diene monomers; and (i) a coupling agent. The copolymers are particularly useful for packaging applications which require good environmental stress crack resistance.

There has developed in the polymer field, and especially in the packaging and related industries, a need for thermoplastic polymers that can be formed into transparent articles having high impact strength with good environmental stress crack resistance. These should be suitable for use with conventional injection and blow molding equipment and also suitable for use in other methods of forming plastics into containers, tubes, films, fibers, and the like. Polystyrene, high impact polystyrene, branched block copolymers, and the like have been developed to meet these criteria with various degrees of satisfaction.
Much effort has been directed to the preparation of substantially transparent block copolymer resins with a variety of block structures produced by a variety of monomer addition sequences and a variety of coupling agents.
Polymerization of styrene and butadiene with organolithium initiators to produce block copolymers in which one or more non-elastomeric polymer blocks are bonded to one or more elastomeric polymer blocks has been disclosed. Block copolymers have been formed by sequential charges of the monomers followed by introduction of one or more coupling agents into the reaction. Styrene-butadiene block copolymers with tapered blocks have been prepared by simultaneous charging of two monomers to the polymerization zone.
Literally thousands of various combinations of sequences of charges of monomers and coupling agents are possible.

Conjugated diene/monovinylarene block copolymers with multiple tapered blocks


A memory management system includes a cache invalidation logic configured to invalidate, based a cache invalidation event, cache entries within a cache memory by having each cache entry, of the cache entries within the cache memory, reference a respective dummy address from among dummy addresses within a dummy address space, wherein the cache memory is assigned to a memory, the memory has a memory address space associated therewith to provide access the memory, and each dummy address of the dummy addresses within the dummy address space is distinct from any address of the memory address space.

Efficient memory management techniques may become more and more important as performance and data rates increase in computing architectures. In some applications, one or more caching schemes, also referred to as caching rules, caching algorithms, or caching policies, may be implemented in a computing system to increase I/O performance of one or more computer memories included in the computing system. In some cases, a computing system may include a memory management policy that allows, for example, storing and retrieving data from a secondary storage device (e.g., from a hard disk drive (HDD), from a solid-state drive (SSD), from a remote storage, as examples) for use in a main memory of the computing system. The main memory of a computing system may include, for example, one or more random access memory (RAM) modules. Modifications of a memory management policy may include caching data of a lower memory tier into a (usually smaller) memory of a higher memory tier. A memory tier may be also referred to as a memory level, wherein a lower memory level may indicate better performance with respect to, for example, bandwidth, latency, and the like.

Memory system, computing system, and methods thereof for cache invalidation with dummy address space


Compositions and methods described herein provide a cell culture system in which cells are in high metabolic states from the onset of the culture. Combinations of various cell culture components disclosed and employed herein allow cells to be in high metabolic states useful for drug testing immediately after the start of cell culture.

The liver constitutes a central site in the absorption, binding, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicogenicity (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity, "ADME-T") of xenogenous materials (i.e. materials foreign to the body in their origination). When a xenobiotic entity, such as a drug, pharmaceutical, or nutriceutical, enters a human body, it is frequently cleared (i.e., metabolically disposed of) in the liver by oxidation, reduction, hydroloysis, and/or hydration steps of biochemical reaction. Of the over a dozen different cell types that comprise the liver, the hepatocyte is the type primarily responsible for playing the role of "clearing house" or "biotransformation driver," metabolically disposing of xenogenous material. In the liver, the hepatocyte is the cell type wherein a family of enzymes named cytochrome P-450 or CYP450 are chiefly expressed, along with other enzymes that also mediate the Phase I as well as the Phase II metabolic disposition of drugs, and other xenogenous materials. The various CYP450 isozymes collectively comprise the most important group of metabolizing enzymes that perform the role of clearing house. The field of study of how the body disposes of xenobiotic entities is frequently called Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, or DMPK. The term "pharmacokinetics" is often used in contradistinction to the term "pharmacodynamics." Pharmacodynamics signifies the impacts and effects that a drug may biochemically exert upon a cell, an organ or an entire animal; whereas pharmacokinetics signifies the impacts, effects and ultimate disposition that a cell, organ or entire animal may biochemically exert upon a xenogenous chemical entity. In everyday language, pharmacodynamics comprises what the drug does to the body, while pharmacokinetics comprises what the body does to the drug. Toxicity, including hepatotoxicity, is a major category of pharmacodynamic effect (drug efficacy being another such major category); while drug absorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion comprise the major categories of pharmacokinetic effects.
In addition to metabolic function, signaling interactions constitute another important category of cellular function in the liver and in other organs. Classes of proteins called chemokines or cytokines, among others, frequently effectuate signaling interactions. Modern biotechnology has led to the delineation of a variety of molecular signaling pathways in the cell. These signaling pathways not only have provided insights into the mechanisms of a cell, but also have opened opportunities to intervene with cellular processes or abnormalities. Antibodies, vaccines and other forms of chemical entities have been utilized to specifically promote, inhibit, induce, or reduce one or more signaling pathways.
Many attributes of a molecular entity must be investigated and in some cases chemically modified or improved in the course of developing that molecular entity into a therapeutically efficacious and safe compound that regulatory agencies approve for marketing and clinical use. One challenge is investigating and if necessary overcoming any toxicity that the drug candidate may directly or indirectly induce. Another set of challenges is to understand and in some circumstances to improve the pharmacokinetic properties of the molecular entity. Studying and if possible improving the efficacy of the molecular entity to achieve an intended biochemical result comprises a third set of challenges to be addressed along the path of discovering, developing, testing, and ultimately receiving marketing approval for a new drug.
To address the kinds of challenges enumerated above, in vitro cell-based assay systems are frequently utilized to simulate, measure and/or predict various functional attributes (including without limitation those elaborated in the paragraphs above) of liver cells as well as of cells from other organs comprising a mammalian organism, and of the various organs themselves. These assays may be variously utilized for analytic, therapeutic, diagnostic, or industrial purposes. However, at the current state of the art, such in vitro cell-based assay systems possess limitations that impose high costs, or that limit the simulative or predictive capacities of the assay (which in turn imposes high costs when the simulative or predictive results of the assay are found to be of no or limited use). One form of limitation that currently, frequently occurs in in vitro cell-based assay systems is that the configuration of the system causes the degree of metabolic or other functional competency of the cultured cells to remain at too low a level to yield accurate, or measurable, results that afford a useful prediction of how a chemical entity being tested on the system will interact with a cell, an organ, an organ system or an entire organism in vivo. Another challenge of cell-based systems is that the system is configured such that a level of cellular functionality, once achieved, cannot be maintained over a desirable duration of time. Another such form of limitation is that the amount of time that must be devoted to the initial incubation and/or culture of the cellular materials, prior to the time when the cells assume the higher or highest degrees of functionality of which they become capable, is a time of long duration. Improvements to the state of the relevant art, which may serve to reduce any of these or other limitations or their impacts, will provide more accurate and cost-effective means of using cellular cultures.

Compositions and methods of functionally enhanced in vitro cell culture system


An authentication apparatus capable of reducing erroneous authentication. A face detection section detects a face area of an object from an image. A feature information extraction processor extracts feature information (image data) indicative of a feature of the object. An authentication determination section performs authentication by comparing registered image data and feature information of a specific object. A registration information processor determines, when one of objects associated with registered image data items is selected as an object to which the feature information of the specific object is to be added, whether or not to additionally register the feature information of the specific object as image data for the selected object, according to a degree of similarity between image data of the selected object and the feature information of the specific object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an authentication apparatus, an authentication method, and storage medium for personal authentication, and more particularly to an authentication apparatus that performs personal authentication by checking input data against dictionary data stored in advance in a dictionary.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, to perform personal authentication, authentication element data, such as faces, voices or fingerprints of a plurality of persons, are stored in advance in a dictionary as dictionary data. Then, the personal authentication is performed by comparing input data of an object to be authenticated and authentication element data items stored in the dictionary, and identifying an authentication element data item of a person which corresponds to the input data based on the result of the comparison.
In the personal authentication of this type, when a face image indicative of the face of a person is used as an authentication element data item, a face orientation and facial expressions of the face image, and a change in an optical environment when the face image is shot has large influence on the accuracy of the personal authentication. Here, the term "change in an optical environment" is intended to mean differences in light and shade caused by direct light, backlight, and side light, for example.
To perform personal authentication using a face image, there has been proposed a technique which uses auxiliary feature value data items formed by classifying, according to different shooting conditions, a plurality of feature value data items extracted from face image data of a plurality of persons, shot in the different shooting conditions (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2008-146539). In this technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2008-146539, personal authentication is performed on a face image as input data with high accuracy using the auxiliary feature value data items, irrespective of the shooting environment of the face image.
Further, to accurately perform personal authentication even in environments different in shooting conditions, there has been proposed a technique which extracts corresponding part features between input patterns and registered patterns, which are registered in advance, and generates a plurality of combinations of the part features as combined part features (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2011-100229). In this technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2011-100229, the degrees of similarity between the input patterns and the registered patterns are calculated using the combined part features, and personal authentication is executed according to the degrees of similarity.
However, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2008-146539, when it is taken into account that shooting conditions undergo complex changes including environmental changes, if auxiliary feature value data items as well are all stored as dictionary data for each of different shooting conditions including different environments which vary, burden of storage processing on the user becomes very heavy. Further, an increase in the amount of dictionary data causes an increase in time taken to execute processing for personal authentication. Furthermore, to create dictionary data, the user is required to know image shooting conditions.
Further, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2011-100229, combined part features are generated from part features corresponding between registered patterns and input patterns, and hence the calculated degree of similarity changes depending on the number of the registered patterns. This change in the degree of similarity sometimes causes erroneous authentication. More specifically, small areas of face images of the same person, stored as dictionary data, are sometimes displaced between the images, which can largely change features of the face images to cause erroneous recognition.
FIG. 10 is a diagram useful in explaining erroneous recognition caused by the conventional personal recognition method.
Now, let it be assumed that face images (hereinafter also simply referred to as the "faces") 701 to 704 are of the face of the same person. The feature of a small area 712 of the face 702 largely changes from the feature of a small area 711 of the face 701, due to a change in the orientation of the face. Further, in the case of a small area 713 of the face 703, light affects positioning of an organ detection position where an organ, such as eyes, a nose, or the like is detected for deciding the position of the small area 713, causing displacement of the organ detection position, so that the position of the small area 713 is displaced.
Further, in the case of a small area 714 of the face 704, the feature of the small area 714 is changed by an accessory, such as a mask 715 (or eyeglasses (not shown)).
As described above, when small areas of face images of the same person are displaced between the face images, the feature of the small area largely changes, which causes erroneous recognition.
FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams useful in explaining calculation of the degree of similarity, performed when face images of the same person shown in FIG. 10 are stored as dictionary data items indicative of a specific person.
In FIGS. 11A and 11B, the faces 701 to 704 shown in FIG. 10 are stored as data items of "Mr. A" in the dictionary data (here, they are shown as face images (hereinafter, also simply referred to as the "faces") 810 to 840). Further, let it be assumed here that a face image 850 is stored as an data item of "Mr. B" in the dictionary data, and the degree of similarity between a face image 800 of Mr. B as an object to be authenticated and an data item of the dictionary data is calculated.
Now, a small area 801 is set in the face image 800 as the object to be authenticated, and is compared with associated small areas 811 to 841 of the face images 810 to 840. As described above, there are displacements between the respective small areas 811 to 841 of the face images 810 to 840. When there are such displacements, the degree of similarity between any of the small areas 811 to 841 and the small area 801 sometimes becomes high.
Further, let it be assumed that when another small area 802 is set in the face image 800 as the object to be authenticated and is compared with respective corresponding small areas 812 to 842 of the face images 810 to 840, the degree of similarity between any of the small areas 812 to 842 and the small area 802 sometimes becomes high, similarly to the case of the small area 801, provided that there are displacements between the small areas 812 to 842.
To perform the personal authentication, small areas 851 and 852 are similarly set in the face image 850, and the face image 800 as the object to be authenticated and the face image 850 are also compared. In this case, a similarity degree r891, which is obtained by comparing the face image 800 with one of the face images 810 to 840 which are faces of a person other than the person of whom the face image 800 is picked up belongs can be sometimes larger than a similarity degree r892, which is obtained by comparing the face image 800 and a face image of the same person of whom the face image 800 is picked up. This causes a face image of another person to be erroneously authenticated as the face image 800.
More specifically, when the number of registered face images (i.e. dictionary data items) associated with the same person increases according to changes in shooting conditions and the like, not only the degree of similarity between the registered face images and a face image of the same person but also the degree of similarity between the registered face images and a face image of another person sometimes become high. This sometimes causes erroneous authentication.

Authentication apparatus that authenticates object, authentication method, and storage medium