A metal flow system, for high pressure die casting of alloys using a machine having a pressurized source of molten alloy and a mould defining at least one die cavity, defines a metal flow path by which alloy received from the pressurized source is able to flow into the die cavity. A first part of the length of the flow path includes a runner and a controlled expansion port (CEP) which increases in cross-sectional area, in the direction of alloy flow, from an inlet end of the CEP at an outlet end of the runner to an outlet end of the CEP. A CEP exit module (CEM) forms a second part of the length of the flow path from the outlet end of the CEP. The increase in cross-sectional area of the CEP is such that molten alloy, received at the CEP inlet end at a sufficient flow velocity, undergoes a reduction in flow velocity in its flow through the CEP whereby the alloy is caused to change from a molten state to a semi-solid state. The CEM has a form which controls the alloy flow whereby the alloy flow velocity decreases progressively from the level at the outlet end of the CEP whereby, at the location at which the flow path communicates with the die cavity, the alloy flow velocity is at a level significantly below the level at the outlet end of the CEP. The change in state generated in the CEP is able to be maintained substantially throughout filling of the die cavity and such that the alloy is able to undergo rapid solidification in the die cavity and back along the flow path towards the CEP.

This invention relates to an improved alloy flow system for use in the pressure casting of alloys.
In a number of recent patent applications, we have disclosed inventions relating to the pressure casting of alloys, utilising what is referred to as a controlled expansion port (or CEP). Those applications include PCT/AU98/00987, relating to magnesium alloy pressure casting and PCT/01/01058, relating to aluminium alloy pressure casting. They also include the further applications PCT/AU01/00595 and PCT/AU01/01290, as well as Australian provisional applications PR7214, PR7215, PR7216, PR7217 and PR7218 each filed on 23 Aug. 2001. These further applications relate variously to the pressure casting of magnesium, aluminium and other pressure castable alloys and to devices and apparatus for use in pressure casting of those alloys.
As indicated, a CEP is utilised in the inventions of the above-identified patent applications. A CEP is a relatively short part of the alloy flow path which increases in cross-sectional area, from an inlet end to an outlet end of the CEP, such that alloy flowing through the CEP has a substantially lower flow velocity at its outlet end relative to the inlet end. The reduction in flow velocity is such that, in its flow through the CEP, the alloy undergoes a change in its state. That is, with molten alloy received from a pressurised source of supply to the inlet end of the CEP, the reduction in flow velocity from that attained at the inlet end to that at the outlet end is such that the state of the alloy changes from the molten state at the inlet end to a semi-solid or thixotropic state at the outlet end.
In its flow beyond the outlet end, and substantially throughout a die cavity with which the flow path communicates, the alloy most preferably is retained in the semi-solid or thixotropic state. With sufficiently rapid solidification of alloy in the die cavity, and back from the die cavity back to or into the CEP, a resultant casting produced is able to be characterised by a microstructure having fine, spheroidal or rounded primary particles of degenerate dendritic form in a matrix of secondary phase. With sufficiently rapid solidification back into the CEP, the alloy solidified in the CEP is able to have a similar, related microstructure, but with this exhibiting fine striations or banding extending transversely of the CEP, that is, transversely with respect to the direction of alloy flow through the CEP. The striations or banding are a reflection of intense pressure waves which are generated in the alloy in its flow through the CEP. Those pressure waves give rise to the formation of the degenerate dendritic primary particles in generating the change in state of the alloy from a molten to a semi-solid or thixotropic state. The intense pressure waves also cause alloy element separation on the basis of density, with this being made manifest by the striations or banding, but also by radial separation of elements in the primary particles such as in a somewhat decaying sinusoidal form.
The use of a CEP in the inventions of the above-identified patent applications gives rise to a number of highly practical benefits. A principal one of those benefits is the microstructure detailed above. The primary particles are able to be less than 40 μm in size, such as about 10 μm or less. This fine primary phase and the fine matrix of secondary phase contributes significantly to physical properties of castings, such as tensile properties, fracture toughness and hardness.
A further benefit from the use of a CEP in those inventions is that substantial cost savings are obtainable. The savings result in part from the tonnage of alloy cast, to achieve a given product weight, being substantially reduced relative to the tonnage of alloy cast for the same product weight by current practice. The runner systems of current practice are large relative to the metal flow systems of those inventions, such that the volume and hence weight of solidified metal in the feed systems used in current practice is large relative to the casting volume and weight, and thus necessitate a higher tonnage of alloy cast to achieve the same product weight. Additionally, the tonnage of alloy loss also is correspondingly reduced with the reduction in tonnage of alloy cast. Moreover, those inventions facilitate production of a given casting on a smaller machine relative to current practice. Also, for a given casting, the use of a CEP in those inventions gives rise to greater flexibility in choice of location of an inlet to a die cavity, relative to the limited choice in current practice.
In general, the CEP of the inventions of the above-mentioned patent applications increases the range of shapes and sizes of castings able to be produced. This applies where die cavity fill is by direct injection in which an inlet to a die cavity is at a location from which alloy flows outwardly to peripheral regions of the die cavity. Indeed, the use of a CEP increases the opportunity to employ direct injection for many castings. However, the increased range of shapes and sizes of castings also applies where die cavity fill is by indirect or edge feed in which an inlet to a die cavity is at a location from which alloy flows across the die cavity and then peripherally, or simply flows peripherally, to achieve die cavity fill.
There are circumstances in which, despite the benefits of using a CEP, difficulties can be encountered in obtaining optimum benefit of the inventions of the above-mentioned patent applications. These difficulties may be evident from a required microstructure not being attained fully throughout a casting, due for example to an insufficient back pressure to alloy flow, or insufficient cooling, resulting from the geometric form of the die cavity for some castings. Generally the difficulties are encountered with indirect or edge feeding arrangements in the production of castings which are small in size and/or are relatively thin or have relatively thin sections. With these castings, it is difficult to control alloy flow velocities within the die cavity and, due to this and the small die cavity volume, die cavity fill time tends to be very short. Also, while the small die cavity volume is small and results in relatively rapid alloy solidification within the die cavity, the relatively low ratio of that volume to the volume of alloy in the metal flow system tends to result in an insufficient rate of solidification back from the die cavity along the flow path of the flow system.

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation


A variable valve control apparatus includes an oscillating arm and a pivot lever pivotably mounted to each other via a swivel joint. A first roller, which is rotatably mounted on an arm of the pivot lever engages with the camming surface of a cam, while a second roller which is rotatably mounted on another arm of the pivot lever makes contact with a contact surface of an arcuate sliding block disposed within a housing of the valve control apparatus. The contact surface of the sliding block includes a first region which has an arcuate contour, and a radius that is centered on a pivot axis of the swivel joint when the valve is in the closed position, as well as a second region which adjoins the first region and has a curved spur that extends inwardly toward the swivel joint. The sliding block is slidable along an arcuate path between a first position in which the second roller engages the first region of the contact surface and a second position in which it engages the second region of the contact surface, so that, when the sliding block is in the first position, the pivot joint remains stationary, and the valve remains closed. When the sliding block is in the second position, the second roller engages with the spur, so that camming movement of the first roller actuates the valve to an open position.

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/941,617, filed Sep. 15, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,628,128 which is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP03/03262, filed Mar. 28, 2003, and claims the benefit of priority to German patent application 102 14 802.3, filed Apr. 4, 2002.
The present invention concerns space-saving and easily assembled systems for guiding mechanical and variable valve controls. Each system includes a rocker and a walker. The rocker is driven by a cam by way of a follower. The rocker is articulated to and drives the walker by way of a swivel accommodated on the walker. The swivel can be shifted by a steering mechanism along the arc of a circle or along a similar curve around the axis of rotation of a follower mounted on the walker that actuates the valve. The rocker drives the walker by way of an engagement contour and by means of a follower.
The rocker can alternatively drive the walker by way of an engagement contour that arches outward in the form of an arc of a circle, in which case the rocker can be shifted along the arc of a circle or along a similar curve around the axis of the arching engagement contour.
The rocker can alternatively be driven by a cam by way of an engagement contour.
The rocker can alternatively drive one-armed and two-armed levers.
Valve controls wherein the rocker's swivel can be shifted in a circular path around the axis of rotation of a follower accommodated in the walker and engaged by the rocker are disclosed in German Application 10 136 612.4.
The valve controls disclosed in German Application 10 155 007.3 feature an engagement contour or a follower shifted along a circular path by a shift and engaged either by a rocker and a follower or by an engagement contour, whereby the rockers drive a valve-actuating walker by way of a swivel.
The valve controls disclosed in German Application 10 136 612.4 feature a shift that shifts a swivel along a circular path, whereby a rocker is articulated to the swivel and drives a valve actuating walker by way of a follower.
The shifts in these embodiments can be complicated to install because of lack of space or of assembly problems, and can also be too delicate, in that the swivels lie along the axis of rotation of the swivel accommodated on the walker and in reach as long as the valve remains closed or along that of the follower accommodated on the walker.

Guide systems for variable valve controller


A pressure sensor device for a modular pressure sensor package is provided, comprising a substrate having a pressure port that extends through the substrate from a first side of the substrate to a second side of the substrate. A pressure sensor die is attached to the first side of the substrate, forming a seal over the pressure port on the first side of the substrate. A cover is attached to the first side of the substrate over the pressure sensor die, forming a sealed cavity wherein the pressure sensor die is located within the cavity. The device also comprises a plurality of electrical connectors mounted to the substrate external to the cavity, the plurality of electrical connectors electrically coupled to the pressure sensor die. Further, the substrate includes at least one mounting element configured to secure a pressure port interface to the second side of the substrate in a position around the pressure port.

High accuracy pressure sensors are applicable to many different types of applications and usually require precise sealing. A typical legacy pressure sensor maintains a vacuum cavity between a header and a pressure sensor die. Often the pressure sensor and its attachment must be custom designed for a particular application and is not easily replaced. Electrical pins extend into a reference cavity and are subject to mechanical loading, possibly leading to leaking of the cavity. Molecular off-gassing into the cavity ages and degrades the performance of the pressure sensor. Additionally, legacy pressure sensor packages are also constrained with respect to the size of the pressure sensor die (with different header designs for different pressure sensor die sizes) and mounting the pressure sensor package can be difficult due to inconvenient placement of the electrical pins.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the specification, there is a need in the art for a modular sensor package with improved stress isolation, reduced aging effects, and is adaptable for many end-use applications.


An anonymity authentication method in multi-server environments is provided. When a user switches between various remote servers, it is not necessary to perform many times of complicated verification procedures, only a set of user identity and password is required for switching between the different remote servers. Moreover, the operation of the transmitted messages uses only hash function and XOR operator, and a random number is also applied thereto. Therefore, the anonymity authentication method of the present disclosure has high computational efficiency and high security.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an authentication method in a server environment, especially relates to an anonymity authentication method in multi-server environments.
2. Description of Related Art
With the technology development and generalization on the Internet, various kinds of services are provided by various kinds of remote servers.
Conventionally when a user attempts to login in various kinds of remote servers for obtaining various services, different identities and passwords are required for authentication. Therefore it is inconvenient for the user to use the service.
Moreover, providing a security verification procedure is an important manner. Conventionally many authentication methods are available. However, in these methods, there still exists many holes, and may be attacked by the hackers. For achieving high security, the message operation and transmission procedures are so complicated that leading to low efficiency and high cost.

Anonymity authentication method in multi-server environments

NATIONAL CHIN-YI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY


An image pickup apparatus capable of obtaining a high AF accuracy while reducing unnecessary power consumption and a release delay when photographing while detecting a focusing state using auxiliary light. The image pickup apparatus is capable of mounting a light emission device with which a first light emitting section of which an irradiation direction can be changed with respect to a body of the light emission device and a second light emitting section of which an irradiation direction is fixed to the body are provided. An obtaining unit obtains information about the irradiation direction of the first light emitting section. A control unit controls one of the first light emitting section and the second light emitting section on the basis of the information about the irradiation direction obtained as a light emitting section for irradiating with auxiliary light at the time when the focus detection unit performs focus detection.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup system that detects focused state to a subject by irradiating a field with auxiliary light, an image pickup apparatus and a light emission device that are included in the image pickup system, and a focus detection method in the image pickup system.
Description of the Related Art
Image pickup apparatuses, such as a film camera and an electronic camera, employ LED light irradiation that irradiates a subject with LED light pattern and flash irradiation that irradiates a subject with flash light emitted from a discharge tube of a light emission device as methods for irradiating a subject with auxiliary light at the time of detecting a focused state of the subject. For example, an autofocus device that performs focus detection with auxiliary light from a flash device and focus detection with auxiliary light from an LED, selects a focus detection result that has high reliability, and performs lens drive control is proposed (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 4324318 (JP 4324318 B2)).
Since the irradiation with the auxiliary light from an LED (referred to as "LED auxiliary light", hereinafter) is pattern irradiation, it is effective to a low-contrast subject, but its irradiation range is restricted. On the other hand, although the irradiation range of the auxiliary light from a flash device (referred to as "flash auxiliary light", hereafter) is wide and is effective to the autofocus (AF) within a wide area in an image pickup screen, it is not enough effective to a low-contrast subject. Accordingly, the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned publication aims to improve AF accuracy by bringing out the merit of each irradiation method exactly in consideration of the merit and demerit of these irradiation methods.
In light photography (referred to as "flash light photography", hereafter), an image pickup apparatus may use a photographing method what is called bounce flash photography by which irradiates a ceiling etc. with flash light and irradiates a subject with diffuse reflection from the ceiling etc. With the technique described in the above-mentioned patent publication, when a subject is irradiated with the flash auxiliary light in the setting of the bounce flash photography, there is a possibility that a focusing state is not appropriately detected because the subject is not enough irradiated with the flash auxiliary light. Moreover, when the flash auxiliary light is emitted in the state where there is low chance of the focusing state being detected appropriately, there is a problem of consuming electric power superfluously. Furthermore, it is necessary to wait for recovery of the electrical energy accumulated in a capacitor of an electronic flash device in order to perform the flash light photography as the original purpose after emitting the flash auxiliary light. Accordingly, when a release process is performed during the accumulation of the electrical energy, a release delay occurs.
On the other hand, since a light amount of pattern auxiliary light like LED auxiliary light is smaller than that of the flash auxiliary light in general, an area in which the AF auxiliary light functions effectively is limited to the center area in a photographing area of an image pickup apparatus and to a range of a short distance, and there is a problem that it cannot respond to a wide AF area. Accordingly, if priority is always given to irradiation with the pattern auxiliary light, there is a case where the pattern auxiliary light is insufficient to detect the focusing state. In such a case, irradiation with the flash auxiliary light is needed after irradiation with the pattern auxiliary light as a result, which causes a problem of a release delay.

Image pickup system that detect focus by irradiating auxiliary light, image pickup apparatus, light emission device, and focus detection method


A wiring substrate for a semiconductor device includes a heat spreader; a polyimide layer provided with through holes and provided on the heat spreader via an adhesion layer; through wirings formed to fill the through holes of the polyimide layer; a thermal diffusion wiring provided on the polyimide layer and is configured not to be electrically connected to the semiconductor device; an electrical connection wiring provided on the polyimide layer at a same plane with the thermal diffusion wiring and is configured to be electrically connected to the semiconductor device; and an insulating layer provided on the polyimide layer with a first open portion and a second open portion that expose the electrical connection wiring and the thermal diffusion wiring, respectively, the thermal diffusion wiring being formed to extend at an outer side of the second open portion and have a larger area than the electrical connection wiring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wiring substrate and a semiconductor package.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a wiring substrate has been provided for mounting a semiconductor device such as a light emitting device or the like. For example, a wiring substrate is known in which a wiring is formed on a heat spreader via an adhesion layer. In such a wiring substrate, when heat is generated by a semiconductor device that is mounted on the wiring, it is necessary to transfer the heat to the heat spreader. At this time, as the adhesion layer functions as a part of a radiation path, a material with a high coefficient of thermal conductivity such as insulating resin including alumina filler or the like is used as the adhesion layer.
However, as the wiring and the heat spreader are electrically-conductive materials, if the adhesion layer is made thin (about 50 μm, for example), there is a possibility that the wiring and the heat spreader are not sufficiently insulated. Thus, it is necessary to form the adhesion layer to have a thickness of about 100 to 200 μm. On the other hand, although the wiring and the heat spreader are sufficiently insulated by forming the adhesion layer to have the thickness of about 100 to 200 μm, in such a case, there is another problem that a thermal radiation property becomes lower due to the increase of heat resistance of the adhesion layer.
As described above, it is difficult for a conventional wiring substrate for mounting a heat generation semiconductor device such as a light emitting device or the like to ensure an insulation property and to improve a thermal radiation property at the same time.

Wiring substrate and semiconductor package


To provide navigation directions in mapping applications, an indication of a geographic location and an indication of a map viewport that includes the geographic location are received. Several candidate starting points from which people are more likely to access the geographic location than from other locations within the map viewport are identified. A starting point is selected from among the several candidate starting points, and navigation directions for guiding a user of the user device from the starting point toward the geographic location are generated for display on the user device.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Today, many users request map and navigation data for various geographic locations. Software applications typically generate navigation data in response to receiving input from a user, specifying the starting point and the destination.

Navigation directions between automatically determined starting points and selected destinations


A coupling structure for coupling a piston and a connecting rod has a protrusion formed on the rear surface of the crown of the piston and having a semi-spherical concavity and a threaded portion concentric to the concavity, a substantially spherical small end formed at one end of the connecting rod, a holder holding the spherical small end of the connecting rod slidably in the semi-spherical concavity of the protrusion and a fixing ring having a threaded portion engaging with the threaded portion of the protrusion for securing the holder to the protrusion of the piston.

There is known a coupling structure between a piston and a connecting rod using a spherical joint as disclosed in, for example, JP-UM-A-3-17369, JP-A-9-144879, JP-A-2000-337506 and JP-A-2000-213646.
The coupling structure disclosed in JP-UM-A-3-17369 has a semi-spherical concavity 201 formed in the rear surface of the crown of a piston 200, a small end 203 formed on a connecting rod 202 in a substantially spherical shape conforming to the shape of the concavity 201 and two split flanges 204 screwed to the crown surface extending around the concavity 201 of the piston 200 for holding against the piston 200 the small end 203 of the connecting rod 202 fitted slidably in the concavity 201, as shown in FIG. 17.
The coupling structure as described requires for securing the flanges 204 to the piston 200 six screws 206 which add to the number of parts for the structure, its cost and its weight correspondingly. As the number of the screws 206 which are used is large, a correspondingly large amount of time and labor is required for coupling the piston to the connecting rod and thereby brings about a lowering of productivity.
FIG. 18 shows the spherical coupling structure between a piston and a connecting rod as disclosed in JP-A-9-144879. The coupling structure includes a concave spherical washer 212 fitted in a concavity formed in the rear surface of the crown 211 of a piston 210, though not designated, a small end 216 formed on a connecting rod 214 in a spherical shape conforming to a concave spherical surface 213 formed in the concave spherical washer 212, a holder 217 for holding the small end 216 slidably in the concave spherical washer 212, a rotation-preventing member 218 held on the holder 217 and a plurality of pairs of bolts 221 and nuts 222 for securing the concave spherical washer 212, holder 217 and rotation-preventing member 218 together to the piston 210.
The coupling structure as described includes the concave spherical washer 212, holder 217, rotation-preventing member 218 and pairs of bolts 221 and nuts 222 which increase the number of parts for the structure and its weight. The concave spherical washer 212 is, among others, responsible for the increased weight, since it is made of an iron-based material. The increased number of parts as stated requires an increased amount of time and labor for coupling the piston to the connecting rod and thereby brings about a lowering of productivity, as in the case of the coupling structure disclosed in JP-UM-A-3-17369 (FIG. 17).
The coupling structure disclosed in JP-A-2000-337506 includes a small end 235 formed on a connecting rod 234 in a substantially cross shape having a spherical surface, as shown in FIG. 19A. The substantially cross-shaped small end 235 has a first protrusion 236 and a second protrusion 237 crossing each other at right angles, the second protrusion 237 being smaller in diameter than the first protrusion 236. A piston 230 has a concavity 241 (FIG. 19B) formed in the rear surface of a crown 231 and having a spherical inner wall surface. The concavity 241 has at its open end a cross-shaped opening 242 conforming to the shape of the small end 235 of the connecting rod 234. For assembly, the protrusion 237 of the connecting rod 234 is inserted into the concavity 241 of the piston 230 through its cross-shaped opening 242 and turned by 90 degrees, whereby the piston 230 and the connecting rod 234 are coupled together.
The coupling structure as described makes it possible to reduce the number of parts and the amount of time and labor as required for assembly, since it does not require any of the screws, bolts or other fasteners as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. However, the opening 242 of the concavity 241 of the piston 230 and the small end 235 of the connecting rod 234, which are both cross-shaped, require a complicated machining job and need to be improved from the standpoints of productivity and production cost. The cross-shaped small end 235 of the connecting rod 234 has a relatively small area of contact with the wall of the concavity 241 of the piston 230, which increases the pressure acting upon the joint and thereby lowers its coupling strength.
FIG. 20 shows the spherical coupling structure between a piston and a connecting rod as disclosed in JP-A-2000-213646. The coupling structure has a semi-spherical concavity 251 formed in the rear surface of the crown of a piston 250, a fixing plate 252 secured to the rear surface of the crown of the piston 250 and a spherical small end 256 of a connecting rod 254 held slidably in a spherical space defined by the concavity 251 of the piston 250 and a spherical inner surface 253 of the fixing plate 252. The small end 256 of the connecting rod 254 has its center C (i.e. the center of the joint between the piston 250 and the connecting rod 254) offset radially of the piston 250 by an amount δ of eccentricity from its axial centerline CL.
The offsetting of the center C of the joint between the piston 250 and the connecting rod 254 by δ from the axial centerline of the piston 250 prevents the piston 250 from rotating about the center C of its joint with the connecting rod 254 by causing the piston 250 to contact the wall surface of a cylinder. When the piston 250 and the cylinder has a large clearance therebetween during, for example, the beginning of engine operation when the piston 250 is still at a low temperature, however, the piston 250 rotates about the connecting rod 254 and if the piston 250 contacts the cylinder in any portion of high rigidity other than its skirts, the piston 250 gives the cylinder a large striking force which is likely to deprive the clearance between the piston 250 and the cylinder of a lubricant oil film. It is, therefore, desirable to be able to prevent the rotation of the piston 250 about the connecting rod 254 irrespective of the stage of engine operation. It is also desirable to prevent the rotation of the piston 250 without incurring any additional cost.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a spherical coupling structure between a piston and a connecting rod which requires only a small number of parts, is thus inexpensive and small in weight and thereby improves productivity, and which makes it possible to prevent the rotation of the piston about the connecting rod irrespective of the stage of operation of an internal combustion engine and without incurring any additional cost.

Spherical coupling structure between a piston and a connecting rod


Provided is a quantum encryption communication apparatus of a transmission side which performs a communication process based on quantum encryption, including: a light source unit which generates a light pulse; a polarization modulating unit which performs polarization modulation of the light pulse by using a variable wavelength plate; and a controller which drives the variable wavelength plate to convert a polarization state of the light pulse to one of a plurality of predetermined polarization bases at random.

The present disclosure relates to a quantum encryption communication apparatus, a quantum encryption communication method, and a quantum encryption communication system, and more particularly, to a miniaturized quantum encryption communication apparatus performing quantum encryption communication, which is capable of being mounted on a portable electronic apparatus or the like.
In the related art, in a communication performed in the Internet or the like, security has been kept by an encryption technique. The encryption systems are mainly divided into two encryption systems of a common key encryption system and a public key encryption system. For example, at present, AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) or the like has been widely used as the common key encryption system, and RSA or the like has been widely used as the public key encryption system.
In the common key encryption system, two parties that perform communication retain a common secret key. A transmitter encrypts a plaintext by using the secret key to generate a ciphertext, and a receiver decodes the ciphertext by using the same secret key to obtain the original plaintext.
In the common key encryption system, the important factor in the retaining of security is to keep the secret of the key. In the common key encryption system, if so-called "brute-force attack" which searches for the key by the brute-force is made, the key is revealed with a high probability. In the common key encryption system which is used at present, it is estimated that an impractically large amount of resources (performance of computation or an amount of computation) for making the brute-force attack would be necessary. Therefore, at present, it may be considered that the common key encryption system is safe. However, in the future, it may be predicted that the brute-force attack is a practical attack due to improvement in the performance of computers or the like. In fact, it is recommended that a method called 2-key TDES (Triple DES) which has been used in the related art be replaced by the AES.
With respect to an attack including the brute-force attack, the security is reinforced by using a method of frequently updating the common key. In other words, although an attacker eavesdrops on the communication and acquires a key, if the key is frequently updated, the amount of the ciphertext which may be deciphered with the key is reduced, so that the overall amount of the information which is acquired by the attacker is relatively lowered.
As one of the methods of frequently updating the common key, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4015385, a method of performing quantum key distribution (QKD: Quantum Key Distribution) by using quantum encryption communication is proposed. The quantum key distribution is a protocol which generates a common secret key between the two parties which are connected by a communication line which may transmit quantum state and a general communication line. The protocol is based on quantum mechanical principles. Therefore, although an attacker eavesdrops on the communication line, it is considered that the information on the generated secret key is not leaked to the attacker. If the quantum key distribution protocol is used, the secret key may be safely shared by the two parties which are separated from each other, and the key may be generated at any time by using the quantum key distribution protocol, so that the aforementioned updating of the common key may be frequently performed. In this manner, by combining the quantum key distribution and the common key encryption, it is possible to reinforce the security of the common key encryption system.
In the quantum key distribution, for example, the BB84 protocol or the 6-state type protocol as an extension of the B84 protocol disclosed in "Secret key can be obtained from both compatible and incompatible measurements in the six-state QKD protocol" (Matsumoto Ryutaro, IEICE Technical Report IT2007-43, ISEC20070140, WBS2007-74 (2008-02)) has been used. In addition, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No 2007-286551, a decoy method is used where the intensity modulation of the light pulse is performed, so that it is possible to further increase the encrypted intensity of the quantum key distribution.

Quantum encryption communication apparatus, quantum encryption communication method, and quantum encryption communication system


The present invention is directed to an arrangement for the elimination of substances by means of a membrane filter wherein the use is foreseen both in the blood cleaning procedures as well as in chemical and biotechnological separation techniques. The fluid containing the substances is run through the primary side of the membrane filter and the secondary side is flowed through by a adsorptive suspension which contains the substance binding particles. A pump drives the adsorptive suspension through the secondary side of membrane filter and causes in this way locally differentiable positive and negative transmembrane pressure differences whereby a local fluid exchange occurs and by means of which the active substances come into contact with the particles. Since the volume of the adsorptive suspension in the secondary circuit is held constant, the mean transmembrane pressure does not alter.

The invention is directed to an arrangement for the elimination of substances from fluids in particular blood which comprises in the first circuit wherein the fluid to be treated flows, an attachable membrane filter and in whose secondary, for example, filtrate side there is a suspension containing an adsorbent for binding those substances passing through the membrane.
The elimination of patho-physiologically relevant substances can be carried out with extra corporeal systems, wherein membrane filters and adsorption procedures may be utilized. Included in such processes there may particularly be mentioned hemodialysis, high-flux hemodialysis, hemofiltration, membrane plasma separation, hemoperfusion and plasma perfusion. For special purposes, for example, the therapy of liver failure, hybrid systems which comprise the provision of special cell types such as hepatocytes, are in clinical trial. For example, such therapeutic procedures are utilized for chronic kidney insufficiency, acute exogenic intoxication, acute and chronic liver insufficiency, endotoxin shock, metabolic disturbances, hyperlipidemia, and auto immune diseases. With respect to the presently known pathophysiologically relevant substances, one is concerned with a substantial spectrum of different substances having different chemical (protein-lipid-waterbound, hydrophilic, hydrophobic) and different physical properties (molecular size, molecular weight) for which reason different procedures must be utilized.

Arrangement for removing substances from liquids, in particular blood


A solar collector arrangement includes a number of assemblies (1), which are immersed or partially immersed in a pond of water (2). Each assembly (1) includes a parabolic reflector (3) and an absorber (6). Barriers (10) are located on or near the surface of the water (2) and operate to reduce waves which may otherwise disturb the direct passage of sunlight in windy conditions. The complete immersion of the assembly (1) in the liquid serves to simultaneously protect and cool the apparatus, while allowing ease of sun 10 tracking movements by buoyancy induced rotation. Partially immersed versions have higher efficiency and protect against severe weather by inverting into the water.

There is a need to economically collect solar energy in concentrated form prior to direct use or conversion to electricity or other useable forms of energy. Solar energy has a modest intensity at the earth's surface of about 1000 Watts per square meter.
It is thus highly desirable to concentrate the energy to higher intensity (usually expressed in Watts per square meter, or W/m2) before use. This is particularly so where solar cells are used to convert the solar energy into electrical energy. The photovoltaic cells that are used to convert the solar energy into electrical energy are relatively expensive. Concentration of the incident solar energy into a smaller area allows the use of a smaller area of energy conversion cells, with lower resulting costs of conversion cells. The key requirement in a concentrating collector is a means to concentrate the energy as much as possible with a system which is very low in cost per unit area and which can track the sun by rotation about one or two axes.
In the past, various forms of concentrator have been used. These have included refractive concentrators (lenses) and, more commonly, curved reflectors (mirrors). The concentrators are generally mounted on structures that allow movement to follow or track the movement of the sun accurately across the sky each day. For economy the system used to track the sun must be as simple and robust as possible. Present methods of tracking use either motors and gears, or sliding hydraulic actuators, both of which add considerable cost. The need for tracking makes the concentrator structures heavier and more complex than static non-concentrating solar energy collectors, because the tracking movements usually require that all support be provided through rotary joints which are subject to very high forces during extreme winds.
Any structures used for concentration must be well protected from high winds, hail and other aspects of extreme weather conditions. It is also most commonly desirable to provide some form of cooling of the devices that convert the concentrated solar energy to electricity.
Silicon photovoltaic cells, which are the most economical variety at this point in time, operate less efficiently as their temperature increases. If a mechanism for cooling the cells is not used, the use of concentrators tends to cause the cells to operate at higher temperature, decreasing their energy conversion efficiency.
Most concentrators designed so far employ very substantial mechanical structures to resist movement and damage from the wind. In addition they usually employ heavy and strong materials such as glass with metal backing for the reflective element to protect the device from damage by wind, ice and hail. Such structures are, at present, either very expensive or too fragile for continuous outdoor use.
One method that has been used to protect the reflective concentrator surface has been the use of an inflatable, aluminised, flexible plastic membrane as a concentrating reflector. The shape of the membrane is maintained by an air pressure difference from one side to the other. Such reflectors can be deflated during severe weather. They are relatively cheap, but are still subject to damage from high winds and by ultraviolet light. In addition they require substantial structures to support the moving parts against high winds.
Another method that has been used to protect concentrators is the use of a transparent dome or building to cover and protect the whole solar concentrator. This does allow some simplification of the structural design of the moving concentrator. However, this method has little or no overall cost advantage due to the added cost of the protective structure.
The Yeomans patents WO93/09390 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,241 B1 use temporary immersion in water to protect a reflective concentrator. It consists of a reflective concentrator floating on water with a heat collector at the focal point in the air above. The concentrator can be submerged using pumps for limited periods to avoid damage to the concentrator mirror during adverse weather conditions. This is achieved by flooding its' buoyancy tanks with water, a change in the absolute buoyancy of the apparatus. It is not able to operate as a solar concentrator or energy collector while submerged. The concentrator may still be damaged in bad weather if the mechanism fails or loses power at a critical time (it is not passively robust). This system also achieves tracking movement in an azimuth direction (rotation about the vertical axis only), using movement within the water. Tracking about a horizontal axis is achieved via motors, gears and levers.
Virtually all the existing concentrating collectors require the mechanism to move to a special protected position for protection against adverse weather, making them particularly vulnerable to damage when there is a mechanical or electrical breakdown.
Russian patent number SU1430-927-A to Novorossiisk Naval describes the general concept of floating a flexible transparent sack in water to create a lens, but no details are given of the material to fill this sack, or of any energy collector or conversion device, or of the scale of the device and no tracking method is proposed.
Aims
The present invention accordingly aims to provide protection against weather conditions and ultraviolet radiation for solar concentrators and collectors. Subsidiary aims of the present invention are, to provide a simple means for tracking solar concentrators to follow the sun and to provide cooling for solar collectors, and to provide more lightweight structures than was previously possible. The invention addresses these aims, at least in part, by using the protective, cooling and buoyancy properties of a body of liquid, such as a lagoon, pond, tank, lake, dam or the like of water or other liquid.


An online system receives information describing a collection of objects associated with a third-party system and an objective associated with each object. Upon receiving a request to present content associated with the third-party system to a user of the online system, the online system determines one or more groups in which each object is included based on a condition satisfied by objects included in each group. For each of multiple formats that may be used to present each group of objects, the online system computes a format score indicating a predicted likelihood that the user will perform a set of actions corresponding to a set of objectives associated with the group if the format is used. The online system selects a format for presenting each group of objects based on the format scores and/or a set of format selection rules and generates the user interface using the selected format(s).

Content presented to users of online systems may allow the users to access and perform actions associated with objects, in which the objects are associated with third-party systems (e.g., via links to landing pages associated with the third-party systems). These objects may correspond to physical objects (e.g., products), applications (e.g., mobile applications, gaming applications, etc.), services, events, content items, or any other suitable types of objects that may be associated with a third-party system. The objects may be associated with objectives that may be achieved if online system users presented with the objects perform various actions associated with the objects (e.g., maximizing a number of installations of an application). Furthermore, objects may be presented in a user interface using a particular format, such as a grid format, a carousel format, etc.
However, formats used to present objects associated with third-party systems may not maximize the likelihood that online system users presented with the objects will perform actions that will achieve their associated objectives. Some online system users who are presented with objects in a particular format may be more or less likely than other users to perform these actions for various user-specific reasons. For example, objects presented in a particular format may appear differently to different users due to different screen sizes or screen resolutions of client devices being used by the users to view the objects. As an additional example, different online system users may prefer to view objects in one format (e.g., a grid format) while other online system users may prefer to view objects in a different format (e.g., a carousel format or a list format). Additionally, the formats may have characteristics that may make it difficult for some online system users to perform these actions. For example, if objects are presented in an automatically scrollable carousel format, an online system user who is in a hurry may not have the patience to view all of the objects while another user who is not in a hurry may not have enough time to view one or more of the objects.

Selecting an optimal format for presenting a group of objects associated with a third-party system in a graphical user interface


In an integrally molded capped type connector, the insulating body of the connector has a contact hole extending therethrough from the rear end face to the front end face thereof and an inlet aperture leading to the contact hole from the front end face. The contact hole comprises a slot and a pin contact receiving bore extending along a common longitudinal axis and having cross-sectional areas superposed on each other. The forward end of the slot extends across the inlet aperture perpendicularly to the width thereof and beyond the opposite sides of the slot to define protective walls between the opposite widthwise end portions of the slot at its forward end and the front end face of the body. The base of the socket contact is formed on its opposite side surfaces with lugs adapted to fill up the pin contact receiving bore.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a connector having a plate-like socket contact, and more particularly, to a connector comprising a body having a socket contact and a cap integrally molded on the rear end face of the body so as to cover the connection between the socket contact and a cord.
2. The Prior Art
One example of the prior art connector of the type concerned is illustrated in FIG. 1. The connector shown comprises a generally rectangular body 11 made of resin material having a plurality of contact holes 12 formed therein in a predetermined array. Mounted in each of the contact holes 12 is a socket contact 13 the side view and cross-sectional view of which are shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, respectively. Each contact hole 12 comprises a vertically elongated slot 12a extending from the front end face of the body rearwardly halfway to the rear end face and a transversely elongated slot 12b extending through the body from the front end face to the rear end face thereof and traversing the vertically elongated slot 12a, with the vertically elongated slot 12a and the transversely elongated slot 12b being cooperative to define a contact accommodating aperture 12A having a cross-shaped cross-section. The socket contacts 13 are press-fitted or snap-fitted into the respective transversely elongated slots 12b from the rear end face of the body 11 to be thereby secured to the body. Connected by soldering to the protuberance 14 of each socket contact 13 protruding from the rear end face of the body 11 is the corresponding core wire 16 of the cord 15, and a cap 17 is integrally molded on the rear end face of the body 11 so as to cover the connections between the socket contacts and the cord.
The socket contact 13, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B which are the side view and cross-sectional view of the contact 13 taken along the line 2B--2B in FIG. 2A, respectively, is in the form of a plate having one end portion bifurcated like a fork to define a pair of resilient or spring contact blades 18 adapted to hold the pin contact of a mating connector. The base 19 of the socket contact 13 joining the contact blades 18 have press-fitting detents 21 protruding from the opposite sides thereof. It is to be noted that the protuberance 14 of the socket contact 13 protruding from the rear end face at the other end of the body 11 is slightly bent arcuately along its opposite lateral edges, as shown in a cross-sectional view in FIG. 2B.
When viewed in another aspect, the contact hole 12 formed in the body 11 comprises the contact accommodating aperture 12A which is a forward portion of the hole, and a contact locking slot 12B joining with and extending from the forward aperture 12A to the rear end face of the body 11, as seen in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C which are the front view, longitudinal cross-sectional view and rear view of the body 11, respectively. The contact locking slot 12B is a rectangular aperture complementary to the rectangular cross-section of the base 19 of the socket contact 13.
The socket contact 13 is pressed into the contact hole 12 from the rear end face of the body 11 until the detents 21 of the base 19 of the socket contact 13 fitted into the contact locking slot 12B whereby the socket contact 13 is locked to the body 11 while at the same time the locking slot 12B is plugged with the body 11 to prevent resin material from leaking into the contact hole 12 while the cap 17 is molded from resin material.
The spring contact blades 18 of the socket contact 13 are received in the criss-cross contact accommodating aperture 12A with the forward ends of the blades positioned adjacent the front end face of the body 11. The pin contact 24 is in the form of a plate-like pin having a rectangular cross-section as shown in FIG. 4 and is inserted in between the two contact blades 18 such that it forms a criss-cross with respect to the socket contact 13. Accordingly, the vertically elongated slot 12a enlarged so as to form a criss-cross with respect to the rearward contact locking slot 12B in the criss-cross aperture 12A has a vertical height sufficient to accommodate the pin contact 24. It is noted that the forward end of the vertically elongated slot 12a is provided with a taper 25 to facilitate the insertion of the pin contact 24.
If the contact hole 12 is to be formed in the process of molding the body 11 as described above, it is required to use a mold insert 51 comprising, for example, a criss-cross columnar portion 51A having a criss-cross cross-section complementary in shape to the criss-cross contact accommodating aperture 12A and a rearward plate portion 51B complementary in shape to the contact locking slot 12B, extending from one of the criss-cross legs of the columnar portion 51A, as shown in FIG. 5A. In order to make the mold insert 51 removable from the molded part upon completion of the molding, it is to be understood that the forward end portion of the criss-cross contact accommodating aperture 12A should not be narrowed relative to the rearward plate portion 51B of the mold insert 51, so that the entire forward end portion of socket contact 13 is visible from the exterior of the front end face of the body 11. Consequently, should an excessive force be exerted on the socket contact 13 by a round pin contact, for instance, of a different type of connector plug in an attempt to forcedly insert such round pin into this connector socket by mistake, the socket contact 13 could possibly be deformed.
In order to avert such drawback, it is possible to use a criss-cross mold insert 51 as illustrated in FIG. 5B comprising a vertically elongated rectangular plate portion 51a shaped complementarily to the vertically elongated slot 12a and extending through the body 11 from the rear end face to the front end face, and ridge portions 51b transversely extending from the opposite sides of the plate portion 51a and extending longitudinally from the rear end face and terminating short of the front end face of the body, said ridge portions being complementary in shape to the transversely elongated slot 12b. It is to be understood that the mold insert 51 shown in FIG. 5B makes it possible to form a contact hole 12 only the vertically elongated slot 12a of which is visible from the front end face while the forward end of the transversely elongated slot 12b is concealed behind the front end face so that the forward ends of the socket contact 13. In this case, however, it should be noted that a criss-cross opening is formed in the rear end face of the body 11. Consequently, even if the socket contact 13 is pressed from the rear end face of the body into the transversely elongated slot 12b of the thus formed contact hole 12, the rearward portion of the vertically elongated slot 12a extending from the rear end face into the body remains open as such. This will allow resin material to enter into the contact hole through the exposed rearward portion of the vertically elongated slot 12a when molding a cap 17 integrally onto the rear end portion of the body 11, making it difficult to produce a normal connector.


Information carrier precursor comprising a rigid sheet or support; a receiving layer configuration comprising at least one layer; and at least one substance, optionally provided pattern-wise, capable of and available for interacting in situ with at least one species diffusing through the receiving layer configuration to produce a functional species, wherein at least one layer of the receiving layer configuration comprises at least one pigment, at least one binder, opaque porous parts capable of being rendered substantially transparent by penetration by a lacquer provided at the outermost surface of the receiving layer configuration and non-porous transparent parts; a method for producing the above-mentioned information carrier precursor; a method for producing an information carrier; and information carriers produced therewith.

The security field encompasses not only personalized documents such as passports, driving licenses, identity cards (ID cards) and admission documents such as visa's and entry tickets, but also the authentification and identification of goods to avoid counterfeiting, tampering and fraud such as lottery tickets, share certificates, transaction documents, labels on luggage and the packaging of pharmaceuticals and high value products in general.
The term "identity card" encompasses cards requiring bearer identification and range from national identity cards to establish the national identity of their civilians to cards involved in the electronic transfer of money such as bank cards, pay cards, credit cards and shopping cards to security cards authorizing access to the bearer of the card to particular areas such as a company (employee ID card), the military, a public service, the safe deposit departments of banks, etc. to social security cards to membership cards of clubs and societies.
ID cards usually contain information referring both to the authority issuing the card on the one hand and to the owner of the card on the other. The first type of information may be general information such as a name and/or logo of the issuing authority, or security marks, such as a watermark and security print, e.g. a repeating monochrome pattern or a gradually changing colour pattern which are difficult to counterfeit. The second type includes e.g. the unique card number, personal data such as a birth day, a photo of the owner, and a signature. The card can further contain hidden information and therefore contain a magnetic strip or an electronic chip ("smart cards").
A large set of ID cards are usually prepared on a large web or sheet by a step and repeat process, after which the web or sheet is cut into multiple items with the appropriate dimensions each representing a personal ID card. Smart cards and ID cards have now the standardized dimensions of 85.6 mm×54.0 mm×0.76 mm.
Normally, the card is protected by a plastic sheet material for example by lamination of the card to a plastic sheet or, as is usually the case, by lamination between two plastic sheets.
In view of their widespread uses, particularly in commercial transactions such as cashing cheques, credit purchases etc., it is important that the person relying on the ID card to identify the bearer have maximum assurance that the ID card has not been altered and/or that the ID card is not a counterfeit.
The art's response to the counterfeiting problem has involved the integration of "verification features" with ID cards to evidence their authenticity. The best known of these "verification features" involve signatures such as the signature of the one authorized to issue the ID card or the signature of the bearer. Other "verification features" have included the use of watermarks, fluorescent materials, validation patterns or markings and polarizing stripes. These "verification features" are integrated into ID cards in various ways and they may be visible or invisible in the finished card. If invisible, they can be detected by viewing the feature under conditions which render it visible. Details relating to the use of "verification features" in ID cards can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,984,030, 3,279,826; 3,332,775, 3,414,998, 3,675,948, 3,827,726 and 3,961,956.
One method of realizing information in a multicoloured form, e.g. as an image or pattern, is the use of a dye diffusion transfer imaging system in which dye(s) are made to diffuse in pattern-wise distribution. All dye diffusion transfer imaging systems are based on the same principle of modifying the solubility of the dyes as a function of the amount of photographic silver halide developed. In commonly known dye diffusion transfer imaging processes the dye-providing substances are either initially mobile in alkaline aqueous media and become immobilized during processing, or initially immobile and become mobilized during processing. A survey of such processes has been given by C. C. Van de Sande in Angew. Chem.-Int. Ed. Engl. 22 (1983) no. 3, 191-209. More details on such processes and on dye-providing substances can be found in the literature cited therein and in DE-A Nos. 1,095,115; 1,930,215; 1,772,929; 2,242,762; 2,505,248; 2,543,902; 2,645,656; and the Research Disclosures Nos. 15,157 (November 1976) and 15,654 (April 1977).
EP-A 0 250 658 in claim 1 discloses an image receiving material suitable for image production by dye diffusion transfer processing controlled by the development of (an) image-wise exposed silver halide emulsion layer(s), wherein the support of the material is a resin support coated with an image receiving layer containing gelatin in admixture with a cationic polymeric mordant containing glycidyl groups that can react with active hydrogen atoms of gelatin, characterized in that the support is substantially consisting of a vinyl chloride polymer and the image receiving layer coated thereon has a weight ratio of the polymeric mordant to gelatin from 25:1 to 2.5:1, the gelatin being present at a coverage of at least 0.1 g per m2.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,608 discloses an image receptor element for dye diffusion transfer imaging processes comprising a support and an image-receiving layer incorporating a hydrophilic colloid, a non-polymeric phosphonium mordanting agent comprising at least one long chain hydrocarbon group and capable of fixing acid image dyes transferred to the image-receiving layer by diffusion, and a polymer comprising free acid groups, wherein the polymer is a copolymer latex comprising free weak acid groups and the image-receiving layer also comprises at least one heterocyclic compound corresponding to one of the following general formulae I, II, and III:
wherein: Y represents the non-metallic atoms needed to complete a saturated or unsaturated 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic nucleus, which may carry a fused-on aromatic ring system, and M represents hydrogen, an alkali metal atom, a quaternary ammonium group, or a negative charge forming an inner salt with a quaternized nitrogen atom of the heterocyclic compound.
The term "silver halide diffusion processes" refers to all black and white image-forming processes in which a positive is formed by diffusion reversal. The principles of the silver complex diffusion transfer reversal process, hereinafter called DTR process, have been described e.g. in U.S. Pat. No. 2,352,014 and in the book "Photographic Silver Halide Diffusion Processes" by André Rott and Edith Weyde, The Focal Press, London and New York, (1972). In the DTR process non developed silver halide of an information wise exposed photographic silver halide emulsion layer material is transformed with a so called silver halide solvent into soluble silver complex compounds which are allowed to diffuse into an image receiving element and are reduced therein with a developing agent, generally in the presence of physical development nuclei, to form a silver image having reversed image density values ("DTR image") with respect to the black silver image obtained in the exposed areas of the photographic material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,756 discloses a negative silver diffusion transfer process for making a reflective electrically non-conducting data storage medium from a photosensitive silver-halide emulsion comprising, defining at least one recording field in a photosensitive silver-halide emulsion, forming an area-wise surface latent image layer of silver precipitating nuclei by means of contacting the recording field of the photosensitive silver-halide emulsion with a fogging agent, said layer having a maximum nuclei volume concentration at one surface of the emulsion and a gradient in the depth-wise direction of decreasing concentration, contacting said photosensitive silver-halide emulsion with a reagent comprising a weak silver-halide developing agent for chemical development of said surface latent image layer of silver precipitating nuclei and a rapid-acting, silver-halide complexing solvent for reacting with unexposed and undeveloped silver halide to form soluble silver ion complexes which are transported by diffusion transfer to said chemically developed silver precipitating nuclei where silver of said silver ion complexes is precipitated and adsorbed on said chemically developed nuclei in the presence of said developing agent acting as a reducing agent, thereby forming a reflective, electrically non-conducting layer of aggregated and individual silver particles in the recording fields, the activity of solvent permitting chemical development of said surface latent image by the weak developing agent while simultaneously all of the undeveloped and unexposed silver halide is dissolved by the complexing agent.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,645,280 discloses an ink composition comprising a slow evaporating solvent and a translucentizing agent, wherein the ink composition is free or substantially free of colorants and is suitable for use in ink jet printing on paper substrates, and the slow evaporating solvent is present in an amount of from about 15% by weight to about 70% by weight of the ink composition, the translucentizing agent making the paper less opaque, and thus forming a visible image on the paper when viewed under light and typically, the translucentizing agent has a refractive index of from about 1.3 (±0.05) to about 1.7, and preferably from about 1.4 to about 1.6, at 20° C.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,358,596 discloses a cellulosic substrate having at least one transparentized portion formed therein, wherein said cellulosic substrate defines first and second major faces; said transparentized portion comprises a transparentizing composition applied to said cellulosic substrate in a predetermined pattern so as to define a graphical image having a relative transparency selected so as to define an area of increased transparency in said substrate; said area of increased transparency resembles a graphical watermark and defines a degree of transparency that excludes the degree of transparency defined by a transparent window; said transparentizing composition comprises a transparentizing agent and a security agent. The radiation curable transparentizing composition disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,358,596 comprises at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylate or methacrylate esters of polyhydroxy polyethers made from polyhydric alcohols (polyols) starting materials (compounds of Formula I) and/or acrylate or methacrylate esters of polyhydroxy polyethers made from primary or secondary amine starting materials (compounds of Formula II).
EP-A 1 362 710 discloses a method for producing a tamper proof carrier of information, said method comprising the following steps, in order: (1) providing a two-layer assemblage comprising (i) a rigid sheet or web support, and (ii) a porous opaque ink receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder whereby either the surface of said support, or the surface of said opaque layer carries a first set of printed information, (2) printing a second set of information, different from said first set, onto said porous opaque ink receiving layer by means of ink jet printing, (3) covering totally, partially, or pattern-wise the thus obtained assemblage with a UV-curable lacquer composition, by means of coating, printing, spraying or jetting, whereby on penetration of the lacquer in said porous opaque ink receiving layer this layer becomes substantially transparent, (4) curing said lacquer composition by means of an overall UV exposure, thereby improving the adhesion between said support and said ink receiving layer, and the cohesive strength of said ink receiving layer.
EP-A 1 398 175 discloses four different embodiments of an information carrier. In the first embodiment the information carrier comprising: a rigid sheet or web support; an opaque porous receiving layer capable of being rendered substantially transparent by penetration by a lacquer, said receiving layer containing a pigment and a binder; an image provided onto and/or in said receiving layer; a cured pattern of a varnish provided onto said receiving layer provided with said image or onto and/or in said receiving layer provided with said image if said varnish is incapable of rendering said receiving layer transparent; and a cured layer of said lacquer provided on said receiving layer provided with said image and said cured pattern of said varnish, said lacquer having rendered said parts of said receiving layer in contact therewith substantially transparent, wherein said cured pattern of said varnish forms an opaque watermark. In the second embodiment the information carrier comprising: a rigid sheet or web support; an opaque porous receiving layer capable of being rendered substantially transparent by penetration by a varnish, said receiving layer containing a pigment and a binder; an image provided onto and/or in said receiving layer; a cured pattern of said varnish provided in said receiving layer provided with said image; and a cured layer of a lacquer provided onto said receiving layer provided with said image and said cured pattern of said varnish, or onto and/or in said receiving layer provided with said image and said cured pattern of said varnish if said lacquer is incapable of rendering said receiving layer transparent, said varnish having rendered said parts of said receiving layer in contact therewith substantially transparent, wherein said cured pattern of said lacquer forms a substantially transparent watermark. In the third embodiment the information carrier comprising: a rigid sheet or web support; a transparent porous receiving layer capable of being rendered substantially opaque by penetration by a lacquer, said receiving layer containing a pigment and a binder; an image provided onto and/or in said receiving layer; a cured pattern of a varnish provided onto said receiving layer provided with said image, or onto and/or in said receiving layer provided with said image if said varnish is incapable of rendering said receiving layer opaque; and a cured layer of said lacquer provided on said receiving layer provided with said image and said cured pattern of said varnish, said lacquer having rendered said parts of said receiving layer in contact therewith substantially opaque, wherein said cured pattern of said varnish forms a transparent watermark. In the fourth embodiment the information carrier comprising: a rigid sheet or web support; a transparent porous receiving layer capable of being rendered substantially opaque by penetration by a varnish, said receiving layer containing a pigment and a binder; an image provided onto and/or in said receiving layer; a cured pattern of said varnish provided in said receiving layer provided with said image; and a cured layer of a lacquer provided onto said receiving layer provided with said image and said cured pattern of said varnish, or onto and/or in said receiving layer provided with said image and said cured pattern of said varnish if said lacquer is incapable of rendering said receiving layer opaque, said varnish having rendered said parts of said receiving layer in contact therewith substantially opaque, wherein said cured pattern of said lacquer forms a substantially opaque watermark.
GB 1 073 433 discloses the method of forming an image on a porous, opaque layer comprising applying an imaging material in imagewise configuration which is of similar refractive index to the opaque layer and reducing the viscosity of said imaging material so that it flows into the pores to fill the pores of said opaque layer to render said opaque layer clear in said image areas.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,601 discloses an information recording kit for making transparencies for projection of information or for making photographic negatives for reproductions comprising an opaque recording material, a writing liquid for recording information on the recording material and means for applying the writing liquid on the opaque recording material in the form of transparent lines wherein said recording material comprises a transparent backing sheet and an opaque layer adhered to one surface of said backing sheet, said opaque layer comprising a finely divided particulate organic styrene resin pigment uniformly distributed throughout a polyvinylidene chloride film-forming resin binder, said writing liquid comprising a solvent for the organic styrene resin pigment, whereby when said writing liquid is applied to said opaque layer according to a pattern of information the opaque layer becomes transparent to visible light according to said pattern.
WO 81/01389A1 discloses a self-supporting microvoid-containing sheet material which is substantially insensitive to marking by the localized application of heat or pressure but which is receptive to ink, pencil, crayon or similar markings and which is adapted to being temporarily or permanently provided with markings by the application of a colorless liquid, comprising in combination: a self-supporting base sheet and, bonded over at least one side of said base sheet, a reflective opaque white to pastel layer comprising particles bonded by a binder, said particles and binder both having a refractive index in the range of 1.3 to 2.2, interconnected microvoids being present throughout said layer, characterized in that the binder : particle volume ratio being in the range of about 1:20 to 2:3, so that the particles are held in pseudo-sintered juxtaposition, the void volume of the layer being in the range of 15-70%, said binder being thermoset, and layer having an image force of at least 200 grams-force.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,211 discloses a microporous molded article having an open-cell structure and comprising a thermoplastic material which possesses an inherent latent structural convertibility and includes effective pores of a diameter in the range from about 0.002 to 10 μm, said thermoplastic material comprising at least about 70 percent by weight of a terpolymer which is composed of from about 20 to 80 percent by weight, relative to the total weight of the terpolymer, of copolymerized fluorinated olefin selected from the group consisting of ethylene and propylene, up to about 40 percent by weight, relative to the total weight of the terpolymer, of copolymerized olefin selected from the group consisting of ethylene and propylene, and from about 80 to 20 percent by weight, relative to the total weight of the copolymer, of copolymerized vinyl acetate, with at least 5 percent of the total proportion of acetate groups contained in the copolymer being converted by saponification into OH groups after copolymerization of the specified comonomers to form the terpolymer.
EP-A 0 390 638 discloses a base sheet comprising a layer capable of becoming, in reversible manner, transparent by contact with a liquid, resistant to a marking by localized application of pressure and/or heat, characterized by the fact that it comprises: at least one flexible sheet, at least one layer applied in aqueous form on the flexible sheet and then dried, said sheet being microporous, opaque, and containing at least non-thermoset particles, at least one binder and optionally other additives.
JP 10-157280A discloses a recording material capable of being printed repeatedly by ink jet printing without deteriorating its recording performance even in the case of using many times by incorporating mat or porous surface and a solvent receiving layer which becomes opaque when no solvent exists and transparent when solvent is received.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,993 discloses a laminate comprising a substrate having a first substrate surface containing an image thereon and a polymeric film laminated to said first substrate surface overlying said image, said film containing an exposed water activatable opaque layer having a thickness ranging from about 0.6 mil to about 2.0 mil, said opaque layer derived from a coating formulation comprising from about 5 to about 40 wt. % aluminum silicate and from about 60 to about 95 wt. % binder, wherein the binder comprises a mixture of solvent, butyl acetate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and propylene glycol.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,723,383 discloses a process for producing a dry image comprising the steps of: (a) applying an opaque coating composition to the surface of a substrate to form an opaque coating on the substrate, wherein the surface is selected from the group consisting of a light-emitting surface, a reflective surface, a glossy surface, a luminescent surface, and a combination thereof; and (b) contacting the coated substrate with a recording liquid, wherein the opaque coating composition includes an opaque coating agent comprising a polymeric polyacid and a polymeric polybase, and wherein the opaque coating contacted with the recording liquid becomes transparent as a result of the contact.
WO 04/052655A1 discloses a multi-layer opaque and matte ink-jet recording medium, suitable for recording images with dye and pigmented inks, which goes through phase change from opaque to transparent and glossy in at least one printed area to reveal the surface of a substrate and thereby provide light-emitting, reflective, glossy, metallic-looking images or to show holographic images, wherein the recording medium comprises a substrate coated with at least two chemically layers comprising: (a) a first transparent ink-receptive layer comprising a polymeric binder and a cross-linker and optionally having a plasticizer and pigment particles such as alumina and silica coated over the substrate, wherein the cross-linker comprises an azetidinium polymer or a salt thereof, and/or a polyfunctional aziridine or a salt thereof, or a polyfunctional oxazoline and metallic salts ; and (b) a second ink-receptive layer comprising an opaque or semi-opaque coating composition, wherein the opaque or semi-opaque coating composition is capable of accepting a printed image and thereby becoming semi-transparent or clearly transparent from application of ink-jet printing ink or similar inks, while presenting a light-emitting, reflective, glossy, metallic-looking or holographic or transparent image of high clarity and quality, wherein said first layer is located between said second layer and the substrate in said recording medium and the first and second layer are chemically coupled.
The inventions of EP-A 1 362 710 and EP-A 1 398 175 both disclose a porous opaque ink receiving layer comprising a pigment and a binder, which is capable of being transparentized with a UV-hardenable lacquer. Moreover, the adhesion of the porous opaque ink receiving to the contiguous layer or support is improved upon transparentization with the UV-hardenable lacquer implying diffusion of the UV-hardenable lacquer to the interface with the contiguous layer or support.
There is a need to extend the security possibilities for providing additional security features to the information carriers disclosed in EP-A 1 362 710 and EP-A 1 398 175. There is also the need for the possibility of personalizing the information carrier i.e. incorporating personal details of the information card carrier e.g. an image or other identification.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Information carrier precursor and information carrier produced therewith


In a peer-to-peer collaborative system in which collaborators communicate via a shared telespace and exchange data change requests, a unique number is assigned to each endpoint (a unique pairing of a device and a person) of each of the telespace members. Each endpoint number indicates the order in which the member joined the telespace, and, for each member invited to join (or otherwise sponsored) by another telespace member (the “inviting member”), it also indicates the inviting member. As more and more members are invited to join by those new members, the designations add additional orders of digits to indicate the family tree or chain of inviting members. The designations are used to resolve collisions between two data change requests that are both dependent on the same data change request.

The Internet has established a dynamic, public environment for communication and interaction among its millions of users. In business, the Internet has redefined vendor-manufacturer, manufacturer-distributor, distributor-customer, and other relationships. With extension of the Internet technology into internal, secured networks of individual companies, the "intranet" or "private Internet", as it is called, has enabled new forms of document and information sharing between individual employees and work groups using company directory and network infrastructure. On-line services, such as electronic bulletin boards and chat rooms, electronic commerce, and technical support for products, are available on the World Wide Web ("WWW" or "Web") operating over the Internet.
The Internet has, at its core, a server-client architecture, in which individual clients (i.e., Internet-content users) interface via computer-executable applications such as browsers with servers (i.e., Internet-content providers) to obtain documents from Web sites. Browsers are software programs that enable personal computers to request, receive (e.g., download), interpret, and present Internet documents, and generally navigate the Internet. Web servers typically have standard interfaces for running external programs, the most common is the Common Gateway Interface (CGI). Web sites are collections of documents, usually consisting of a home page and related, linked documents, located on servers remote from the client. The documents can be compound documents, containing data, graphics, video, sound, and/or other types of media, as well as links to other documents. Essentially, the WWW is a web of interconnected documents, or, more precisely, document objects that are located at various sites on the Internet.
Among the types of document objects on the WWW are documents and scripts. A script is an executable program, or a set of commands stored in a file, that can be run by a Web server to produce a document that is then returned to the Web browser. Typical script actions include running library routines or other applications to get information from a file or database, or initiating a request to get information from another computer, or retrieving a document corresponding to a selected hypertext link. A script is run on the Web server when, for example, a user selects a particular hypertext link in the Web browser.
Underlying the Internet technology are advances in standardization, including personal computer hardware, software, network protocols, and infrastructural conventions (such as the "Uniform Resource Locator" or "URL"). URLs provide location addresses for all document objects on the WWW. A URL uniquely references a document object and often defines an access algorithm using Internet protocols.
"Internet protocols", as that expression is used herein, are defined as current or future language conventions and present or future communication protocols that are generally-accepted and used for generating messages including documents for transmission over the Internet, or for transmitting such messages over the Internet, respectively. Such language conventions include, for example, at present, Hypertext Markup Language ("HTML") and eXtensible Markup Language ("XML"). Such communication protocols include, for example, at present, Hypertext Transfer Protocol ("HTTP"), TCP/IP, FTP and GOPHER. Those skilled in the art will be familiar with these language conventions and protocols.
HTML is a language used for writing hypertext documents, containing multimedia content and links to other documents. An HTML document includes a hierarchical set of markup elements, where most elements have a start tag, followed by content, followed by an end tag. Tags are enclosed in angle brackets ("<" and ">") and indicate how the document is structured and how to display the document, as well as destinations and labels for hypertext links. There are tags for markup elements such as titles, headers, text attributes such as bold and italic, lists, paragraph boundaries, external links to other documents, and internal links to other parts of the same document, graphic images, and many other document features. Many books are in wide circulation regarding programming using HTML.
XML is another of the language conventions included in the Internet protocols. XML is compatible with and complementary to HTML, at least in its current version. It is a standard way of describing a class of data objects as stored in computers, called XML documents, and behavior of programs that process these objects. XML documents are made up of storage units called entities, which contain either text or binary data. Text is made up of characters, some of which form the character content of the documents, and some of which form markup. Markup encodes a description of the document, such as its storage layout and logical structure. A software module called an XML processor is used to read XML documents and provide access to their content and structure. Further information regarding XML can be had with reference to Version 1.0 of the XML specification, available at <HTTP://www.w3.org/XML>, and incorporated herein by reference.
A Web server and a Web browser communicate typically using the HTTP message protocol and the underlying TCP/IP data transport protocol of the Internet. In HTTP, the Web browser establishes a connection to a Web server and sends an HTTP request message to the server. In response to the request message, the Web server checks authorization, performs any requested action such as downloading a document identified by its URL, and returns an HTTP response message containing either the HTML document resulting from the requested action or an error message. The returned document may simply be a static file stored on the Web server, or it may be generated dynamically using a script called in response to the request message.
To take advantage of the Internet, tools and resources have been developed in compliance with the Internet protocols, including company-critical applications such as e-mail. E-mail is electronic mail, by means of which documents are sent and received electronically at selected addresses. It has been estimated that a vast majority of Internet-based interaction is through the use of e-mail and other browser-based media that follow a "document send and receive" model. Perhaps due to that model, users often view the Internet as inherently "peer-to-peer", with individuals accessing documents provided by other individuals, without intervention by a higher authority.
The Internet is dynamic and flexible in providing users with entertaining and useful ways of communicating, though it does not meet all the needs of users. While users interact increasingly through the Internet, they continue to interact "off" of the Internet in more conventional ways, such as through multi-medium (phone, fax, whiteboard), multi-temporal (real-time, overnight mail) and other informal means of communication.
It would be desirable to extend the Internet paradigm to personal and private communications and other shared and mutual activities between individuals and small groups in shared private spaces. Such interactions should preferably occur instantly, directly, and confidentially between participants' personal computers, or other network-capable devices, without exposing such interactions to server bottlenecks through which Internet traffic is typically funneled to third-party Web sites where communications can be intercepted and confidences violated.
It would also be desirable to provide a technique that allows users at various remote sites to share and edit documents on a peer-to-peer basis, while maintaining consistent copies of the documents at local sites. Such a technique should permit any of the users to issue change requests regarding the documents, which changes can then be made asynchronously to the copies at all the local sites in a coordinated fashion even if the sites are disconnected from the network when the change requests are issued. The technique should provide a high level of data consistency across all the sites so that each site presents essentially the same document for viewing and/or editing by the various, geographically dispersed users.

Method and apparatus for designating endpoints in a collaborative computer system to facilitate maintaining data consistency


A method and system for estimating the state of health of an object sensing fusion system. Target data from a vision system and a radar system, which are used by an object sensing fusion system, are also stored in a context queue. The context queue maintains the vision and radar target data for a sequence of many frames covering a sliding window of time. The target data from the context queue are used to compute matching scores, which are indicative of how well vision targets correlate with radar targets, and vice versa. The matching scores are computed within individual frames of vision and radar data, and across a sequence of multiple frames. The matching scores are used to assess the state of health of the object sensing fusion system. If the fusion system state of health is below a certain threshold, one or more faulty sensors are identified.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to estimating state of health of an object sensing fusion system and, more particularly, to a method for estimating state of health of an object sensing fusion system in which target data from two or more object sensors with an overlapping field of view are analyzed to determine target correlation matching scores, where the matching scores are calculated both within individual frames of data and across a sequence of frames.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Object detection systems, also known as object sensing systems, have become increasingly common in modern vehicles. Object detection systems can provide a warning to a driver about an object in the path of a vehicle. Object detection systems can also provide input to active vehicle systems—such as Adaptive Cruise Control, which controls vehicle speed to maintain appropriate longitudinal spacing to a leading vehicle, and Collision Avoidance systems, which can control both steering and braking to attempt to avoid an imminent collision.
Object detection systems use one or more sensors, which may be radar, lidar, camera, or other technologies, to detect the presence of an object in or near the path of a host vehicle. Software is used to track the relative motion of objects over time, determine if the objects are moving or stationary, determine what each object is likely to be (another vehicle, a pedestrian, a tree, etc.), and determine whether each object poses a collision threat to the host vehicle.
Object sensing fusion systems are also known in the art, where the fusion system performs a fusion calculation on target data from two or more sensors, and provides a more robust assessment of in-path objects as a result. However, even with an object sensing fusion system, it is possible for accuracy to suffer if a sensor fails, or if a sensor is partially or completely obscured by dirt or debris, or if a sensor is blinded by direct sun or other light. It would be advantageous to have an assessment of the state of health of the object sensing fusion system, and an indication of possible faulty sensors if the state of health is low.

Method and apparatus for state of health estimation of object sensing fusion system


Image data of a digital signal is inputted to a digital signal processor. A CPU reads out color correction coefficients from a ROM. Weights are added to the color correction coefficients based on information regarding transfer efficiency of a CCD image sensor such that the coefficients in a horizontal direction are set larger than those in a vertical direction. Further, an interpolation processor calculates horizontal and vertical components of R, G, and B colors of each pixel through color interpolation processing based on image data of each pixel and its peripheral pixels. A linear matrix circuit is controlled by the CPU and subjects the horizontal and vertical components to linear matrix operation using the color correction coefficients, thus subjecting each pixel data to color correction processing.

Recently, there is known a digital camera, which is provided with a CCD image censor and subjects image data captured by the CCD image sensor to various kinds of image processing to record the image data on a recording medium such as a memory card. Such a digital camera has a problem in that, due to the deterioration of transfer efficiency of the CCD image sensor, leak of charges occur between the pixels adjacent to each other at the time of being transferred, to cause color phase shift, and therefore the quality of captured image is deteriorated.
Further, in order to solve the problem described above, there is known an invention as follows. Before image data obtained by capturing a subject by use of a time delay integration (TDI) type image sensor including a plurality of one-dimensional image sensors arranged in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the TDI type image sensor is subjected to image processing, the total amount of charges remained not being transferred vertically of each image sensor is preliminarily obtained based on the vertical transfer efficiency of the TDI image sensor, and the total amount of charges remained not being transferred vertically is subtracted from the image data captured by the TDI image sensor, thus subjecting the image data to image processing (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-295709, for example).
Additionally, there is known an invention in which an electronic shutter pulse corresponding to a signal with a different storage time is applied as a driving voltage to read electrodes capable of being independently driven, to enhance the electric charge amount processed by a V resistor and to improve the transfer efficiency (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-172859, for example).
However, according to the inventions disclosed in Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open Nos. 2004-295709 and 2004-172859, it is necessary to preliminarily obtain the total amount of charges remained not being transferred vertically of each image sensor and subtract the total amount of charges remained not being transferred vertically from the image data. Therefore, there is a problem in that the processing speed is decreases. Further, it is also necessary to divide the read electrodes into a plurality of systems capable of being controlled independently. Accordingly, there is a problem in that a production cost of the imaging devices increases.


A chest bag apparatus is arranged to be worn and carried in position secured against the chest of a wearer both in a first, closed, carrying condition and in a second, open, substantially L-shaped, tray-like condition providing facilitated access to the interior of the bag and its contents during its use while being worn by a wearer. The chest bag may further have a second, fully open condition for use of the chest bag in a hanging condition on a support hook or in condition laid out on an underlying ground surface. The chest bag preferably includes a quick release, temporary closure arrangement to permit the bag to be quickly closed temporarily so that it does not obstruct the wearer's view and activity.

This invention relates to utility bags arranged to be secured to and carried on the body of the wearer, such as backpacks and the like, and more particularly to a utility bag arranged to be worn, carried and accessed while worn in a supported condition against the chest area of a wearer.
Utility bags that are arranged to be secured onto and worn on the body of a person are known and have come in various forms arranged for the particular contents to be carried and the need of the wearer. Examples of such bags are backpacks, Fanny packs and small packs arranged to be worn in front at the waist, for convenient access to the contents of the pack as it is being worn. Many other types of bags and packs have been provided for support on a carrying strap slung over the shoulder of a wearer, such as purses, etc. However, these bag structures are not primarily arranged or configured to permit convenient access to their interior while the bag is being worn.
In military and emergency rescue situations however, personnel invariably have to carry, either on their person or in their hands, a great deal of burdensome equipment and supplies related to their specialties when they are in the field. An example is combat lifesavers, corpsmen and medics in military situations when in addition to the gear that they carry as soldiers in the field, they also need to carry supplies of first aid materials, bandages, splints, I.V. bags, medications and a multitude of other very important supplies and equipment necessary for rendering emergency aid to a soldier or civilian injured in the field and in urgent need of immediate treatment before being transported to a safer area or a medical aid station for comprehensive care. Of course, it is preferable that various supplies be held within the dedicated bag in an organized manner so that they may be readily accessed when needed in an emergency situation, as well as to facilitate inventory upkeep as those skilled in the art will readily recognize.

Medical chest bag for military, emergency rescue and other personnel