An apparatus and method for segmenting a medical image are provided. The apparatus includes a user interface unit, which provides interface with a user, a volume data input unit, which inputs medical image information; a two-dimensional image display control unit, which receives the volume data, generates and displays a two-dimensional image corresponding to a predetermined position in the medical image, and performs segmentation of the two-dimensional image; and a three-dimensional image display control unit, which receives the volume data, generates and displays a three-dimensional image with respect to the medical image, performs segmentation of the three-dimensional image, transmits the result of the segmentation to the two-dimensional image display control unit, receives position information of the two-dimensional image and the result of the segmentation of the two-dimensional image form the two-dimensional image display control unit, and displaying them on the three-dimensional image.

In general image segmentation methods, for an image with a particular number of dimensions, segmentation and verification are performed using visualization information of only the particular number of dimensions. For example, when a two-dimensional image is segmented, visualization information of only the two-dimensional image is used. When a three-dimensional image is segmented, visualization information of only the third-dimensional image is used. That is, according to conventional image segmentation methods, although the geometrical characteristics of a segmented region is used for segmentation of a two dimensional image, visualization information of a three-dimensional image is not used for verification of the segmented two-dimensional image. Moreover, according to the conventional image segmentation methods, the result of segmentation using visualization information of a three-dimensional image is not applied to segmentation of a two-dimensional image. Accordingly, the conventional image segmentation methods are disadvantageous in that a user interface is restrictively provided.
In addition, according to the conventional image segmentation methods, segmentation tools by segmentation types and a drawing tool for modification operate independently, so segmentation and modification are performed inefficiently. In other words, operating environments must be separately set for the individual segmentation tools and drawing tool. Since the segmentation and modification results exist independently, a segmentation method using each segmentation tool and the segmentation result are not organically coordinated with each other, so synergy effects cannot be created.

Medical image segmentation apparatus and method thereof


A current sensor device includes: at least one bus bar; at least one sensor package that includes a magneto-electric conversion element which detects a current flowing through the bus bar and an external connection terminal which is electrically connected to the magneto-electric conversion element; a printed circuit board that is disposed on the sensor package opposite to the bus bar, and electrically connected to the terminal; a magnetic shield body that shields the magneto-electric conversion element from an external magnetic field; and a resin element that integrally holds at least a part of the magnetic shield body and the bus bar fixed to the sensor package.

A current sensor device (current detection device) is a careless type current sensor device including a bus bar, a magneto-electric conversion element (magnetic detection element), a printed circuit board, a housing, and a magnetic shield body. The magneto-electric conversion element is mounted on the printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board is fixed to the housing. The bus bar and the magnetic shield body are held by a resin housing.


A method of processing a multiphase well effluent mixture comprises: transferring the multiphase well effluent mixture (G+L) via a multiphase well effluent flowline (3, 23) to a gas liquid separator (5, 24) in which the multiphase well effluent mixture is separated into substantially gaseous and liquid fractions; transferring the substantially liquid fraction L into a liquid flowline (7, 25) in which a liquid pump (8, 29) is arranged; transferring the substantially gaseous fraction into a gas flowline (6, 26) in which a gas compressor (10, 30) is arranged; protecting the gas compressor (10, 30) against pressure and/or liquid surges by recirculating a recycled gas stream (Ghot) via a gas recycling conduit (14, 44) through the gas compressor in response to detection of a pressure and/or liquid surge in the multiphase well effluent mixture; cooling the recycled gas stream by injecting cooled recycled liquid (Lcold) from the liquid flowline (7, 25) into the recycled gas stream (Ghot) which recycled liquid is cooled in a heat exchanger (9, 49), which may be a compact liquid-liquid heat exchanger that is about ten times smaller than a bulky gas-liquid heat exchanger that could be arranged in the gas recycling conduit (14, 44).

The invention relates to a method of processing a multiphase well effluent mixture.
Such a method is known from OTC paper 17399 "Subsea Gas Compression—Challenges and Solutions" presented by R. Fantoft at the Offshore Technology Conference held in Houston, USA on 2-5 May 2005 and from International patent applications WO03/033870 WO03/035335 and WO2005/026497. The method known from WO2005/026497 comprises:                transferring the multiphase well effluent mixture via a multiphase well effluent flowline to a gas liquid separator in which the multiphase well effluent mixture is separated into substantially gaseous and liquid fractions;        transferring the substantially liquid fraction into a liquid flowline in which a liquid pump is arranged;        transferring the substantially gaseous fraction into a gas flowline in which a gas compressor is arranged;        protecting the gas compressor against liquid surges by recirculating a recycled gas stream via a gas recycling conduit through the gas compressor in response to detection of a liquid surge in the multiphase well effluent mixture.
In the method known from WO2005/026497 the recycled gas is heated up each time when it is compressed in the gas compressor and subsequently cooled in a heat exchanger arranged in the gas recycling conduit. Such a heat exchanger is a large piece of equipment because heat conductivity of the recycled gas is small, so that a large heat exchanging surface is required to cool the recycled gas stream to such a temperature that overheating of the gas compressor is prevented.
In the known method liquid in the liquid flowline may be cooled and recycled into the multiphase well effluent flowline, but in case the well effluents are substantially liquid, then the gas compressor may be substantially solely fed with recycled gas, so that the influx of substantially liquid well effluents and of recycled cooled liquid is inhibited.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of processing a multiphase well effluent mixture, wherein the processing involves the use of a compact fluid separation and pressure boosting assembly. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved method of processing a multiphase well effluent mixture in which a gas compressor is protected against pressure and/or liquid surges and overheating by using a gas recirculating conduit, in which the need for a bulky gas-liquid heat exchanger in the gas recycling conduit is obviated.

Method of cooling a multiphase well effluent stream


During a "make before you break" handoff performed within a CDMA communications system, duplicate downlink communications are generated and routed through different base stations for delivery to the mobile station. At the mobile station, the duplicate signals are received and the frame sequence numbers of the substantially simultaneously received frames therein are compared. If the sequence numbers do not match, the duplicate signals are identified as not being synchronously received by the mobile station. In response thereto, the mobile station signals the communications network on the uplink with a timing adjustment message, and appropriate timing modifications are made with respect to the transmission of the duplicate signals in order to provide for substantially synchronous reception. Diversity combination and decoding are then performed on the received signals. Alternatively, the mobile station buffers the earlier arriving signal and waits for the later arrival of the sequence number matching frame of the duplicate signal before engaging in diversity combining and decoding of the received signals.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the transmission of duplicate communications and, in particular, to the synchronous reception of the duplicate communications. The present invention more specifically relates to handoff within a cellular telephone system and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for effectuating a seamless soft handoff within a code division multiple access (CDMA) cellular communications system wherein the call subject to handoff utilizes duplicate downlink communication transmissions.
2. Description of Related Art
System configuration and operation of a code division multiple access (CDMA) cellular communications system is well known to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, detailed information concerning CDMA system configuration and operation is not provided. However, technical information concerning this topic may be obtained by referring to a number of available documents. For example, for a description of the use of CDMA techniques in a multiple access communications system, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,307, entitled "Spread Spectrum Multiple Access Communication System Using Satellite or Terrestrial Repeaters". Furthermore, for a description of the generation of signal waveforms for use in a CDMA communications system, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,459, entitled "System and Method for Generating Signal Waveforms in a CDMA Cellular Telephone System". Finally, for an identification of industry standards relating to CDMA cellular communications systems, reference is made to TIA/EIA Interim Standard IS-95-A dated May, 1995. The disclosures of the foregoing references are expressly incorporated by reference herein.
In cellular communications systems of many types (for example, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems such as the Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), or combined FDMA and time division multiple access (TDMA) systems such as the Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications, or code division multiple access (CDMA) systems such as that specified by IS-95-A), a handoff scheme of some sort is implemented to allow a cellular call to continue in instances when a mobile station crosses the boundary between two cells. In one commonly used handoff scheme, handoff is initiated when received signal strength in a given cell (or sectors if cell is split, with each sector considered orthogonal) for mobile station communication falls below a given threshold. The system then determines whether a neighboring cell can receive mobile station communications with a greater signal strength. If such a cell is identified, that cell is selected for the handoff. In another commonly used handoff scheme, the mobile station additionally or alternatively makes downlink signal strength measurements with respect to the given cell and its neighboring cells. These measurements are reported to the system for use in making the handoff determination and selecting the cell to which handoff occurs. In either of these schemes, the system informs the mobile station as to which cell is to be used in the future for continuing the call, and a corresponding re-routing of the call to that cell is made.
In conventional FDMA or FDMA/TDMA type cellular communications systems, each (adjacent) cell operates with a different set of radio frequencies. Accordingly, for each of the foregoing handoff schemes, the handoff must comprise a "hard" handoff. By this it is meant that the mobile station must change transceiver operation from a radio frequency used in and assigned to the current cell to a radio frequency used in and assigned to the new cell. Due to the limited functionalities of the transceiver for the mobile station, the mobile station must break its communication link with the currently serving cell before making the communication link with the newly serving cell. This "break before you make" hard handoff operation presents some serious operational concerns because it is especially susceptible to loss of information during the time elapsed between the "break" of the old link and the "make" of the new link.
In CDMA communications systems, however, the same frequency band can be used for all cells. Accordingly, for each of the foregoing handoff schemes, the handoff may comprise a "soft" handoff. By this it is meant that the mobile station needs not necessarily change frequencies when switching communications from the current cell to the new cell. Communication with the mobile station is often simultaneously effectuated by two or more cells using the same frequency band, with the call switched between the two or more cells as measured signal strength dictates. When the signal strength measurements confirm a complete mobile station transition into the newly serving cell, communications utilizing the prior cell are discontinued. This "make before you break" soft handoff operation is less susceptible to instances of loss of information because the mobile station is continuously in communication with at least one cell throughout the handoff process.
Operation of a code division multiple access cellular communications system to implement soft handoff operation is well known to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, detailed information concerning conventional CDMA soft handoff processes is not provided. However, technical information concerning this topic may be obtained by referring to a number of available documents. For example, for a description of a system for controlling soft handoff in a CDMA system, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,501, entitled "Method and System for Providing a Soft Handoff in Communications in a CDMA Cellular Telephone System". Furthermore, for a description of a system implementing mobile assisted soft handoff, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,261, entitled "Mobile Station Assisted Handoff in a CDMA Cellular Communications System". Still further, for a description of the use of a packet switching architecture to support, among other operations, a CDMA soft handoff, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,308, entitled "Wireless Access Telephone-To-Telephone Network Interface Architecture". The disclosures of the foregoing references are expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Handoff generally occurs with respect to one of two potential cell configurations. In a first configuration, see FIG. 1A, a cell 10 is divided into a plurality (typically three) sectors 12, each having a different associated antenna 14, but served by a single base station (BS) 16. As a mobile station 18 moves in the direction of arrow 20, it may pass from the radio coverage area of a first sector 12(1) of the cell 10 to the radio coverage area of a second sector 12(2) of the same cell. In such a case, and in accordance with the make before you break handoff process, the mobile station 18 simultaneously communicates with the base station 16 utilizing both a first antenna 14(1) and a second antenna 14(2), respectively. The duplicate frames of data simultaneously communicated between the mobile station 18 and base station 16 utilizing both antenna 14(1) or 14(2) and their associated communications paths 22(1) or 22(2) arrive at the intended destination substantially simultaneously (i.e., within microseconds of each other). This is important because synchronized processing of the duplicate transmitted frames is essential to proper soft handoff operation and continued processing of the call.
In a second configuration, see FIG. 1B, synchronization of frame processing becomes more problematic. Two cells 10 (possibly each including multiple sectors--not shown) are illustrated each served by a different base station 16 having an antenna 14. The base stations are connected to a mobile switching center (MSC) 24. As the mobile station 18 moves in the direction of arrow 20, it may pass from the radio coverage area of a first cell 10(1) to the radio coverage area of a second cell 10(2). In such a case, and in accordance with the make before you break handoff process, the mobile station 18 simultaneously communicates with the mobile switching center 24 utilizing both the first base station 16(1) and the second base station 16(2). The duplicate frames of data simultaneously communicated between the mobile station 18 and base station 16 utilizing either base station 16(1) or 16(2) and their associated communications paths 22(1) or 22(2) are assumed to arrive at the intended destination substantially simultaneously. However, due to differences in propagation times over the paths 22, as well as differences in transmission delay between the mobile switching center 24 and the base stations 16, the frames may not arrive substantially synchronously and in fact may be offset in time from each other by many milliseconds.
A CDMA frame may have a duration as short as 20 ms. If the encountered offset exceeds this frame duration, then the simultaneously transmitted duplicate frames may arrive at the destination a full frame or more apart from each other. Depending on the duration of this offset, synchronized processing of the duplicate transmitted frames may be difficult, if not impossible, and proper soft handoff operation impeded to a degree that potentially compromises call continuation.
Accordingly, the second configuration soft handoff of FIG. 1B requires the following: (1) routing of duplicate mobile station communications through different cells to a common call processing point (such as a mobile switching center); (2) simultaneous (i.e., synchronous) processing of the duplicate mobile station communications at the common call processing point; (3) routing of duplicate common call processing point communications through different cells to a mobile station; and (4) simultaneous (i.e., synchronous) processing of the duplicate common call processing point communications at the mobile station. First configuration soft handoff requires substantially the same operational characteristics except that the duplicate communications are instead routed through different antennas of the same cell (base station) rather than through different cells. Difficulties with synchronous processing are not, however, typically a concern because signal transmission times in FIG. 1A are nearly identical. Such is not the case, however, with FIG. 1B. There is a need then for a method and apparatus for facilitating synchronous processing of the duplicate communications in those instances where the signal transmission times of the duplicate communications are not substantially the same.

Seamless soft handoff in a CDMA cellular communications system


A song selection device stores song characteristic quantities of a plurality of songs. A user operates the song selection device to enter personal properties and a sensibility word. The song selection device selects a song having a song characteristic quantity corresponding to the personal properties and the sensibility word. The song selection device may select a plurality of songs.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device and method for selecting a song from among a plurality of songs.
2. Description of the Related Art
In one method of selecting a song matching the preferences of a user from a plurality of songs, the physical characteristics of songs are extracted beforehand as data, the songs are classified according to the extraction results, and the classifications are used in song selection. The physical characteristic data of a song is, for example, power spectrum data obtained from the song data. Such song selection method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai (Laid-open application) No. 10-134549. Another physical characteristic data of a song is a pattern (i.e., change with time) of frequency bandwidth, lengths of sounds, and musical score of the song, which are prepared by an N-gram method.
These song selection methods, however, cannot always select the song expected by the user because the physical characteristic data does not necessarily have a correlation with the sensitivities and preferences of the user.


A superpattern generator uses a first halftone pattern representing a first gray level and a second halftone pattern representing a second gray level to generate a larger pattern or “superpattern”. In a preferred implementation, the superpattern generator generates a grid of elements to be used as a template for the superpattern, calculates a distance value representing the “distance” from the first gray level to a desired gray level TX, determines how many elements of the grid represent the first halftone pattern and how many represent the second halftone pattern based on the distance value, superimposes a dither matrix on the grid and assigns values representing the first halftone pattern or the second halftone pattern to pixels within the elements of the grid by examining threshold values in the dither matrix. This process is repeated for various values of TX to generate a set of superpatterns representing a set of gray levels intermediate to the first gray level and the second gray level.

Halftoning is a technique commonly used to convert a rasterized image into an output image. Halftoning techniques address certain limitations of binary printing devices, which operate by turning a pixel "on" or "off" without the capability of depicting intermediate intensity or "gray" levels. Halftoning techniques make it possible for such devices to depict multiple gray levels by representing features in a printed image using patterns of small dots. If the human eye views a pattern of sufficiently small dots, the viewer generally does not perceive the individual dots but instead perceives the average gray level of the pattern. Halftoning techniques accordingly depict different regions within an image by using different patterns of small dots chosen to have an appropriate average gray level. A binary printing device typically generates patterns of dots by selecting an array of pixels, referred to as a halftone "screen", and selectively turning the pixels within the screen on or off to produce a variety of patterns. A pattern generated in this way is referred to herein as a "halftone pattern". Each halftone pattern corresponds to and is used to represent a particular gray level. The number of gray levels that can be rendered by a given halftone screen is limited by the number of pixels in the screen. On a binary printing device, an N-by-N halftone screen can depict N2+1 different gray levels. The average gray level represented by a particular halftone pattern is commonly referred to simply as the gray level of the halftone pattern.
The desired gray level is not the only factor considered in selecting a halftone pattern or a halftone screen. The halftone pattern or the size of the halftone screen may also be adjusted within an image to optimize image resolution, to minimize artifacts, or for other reasons. Where a printing system produces an image containing several regions representing different "modes", i.e., photo, text and/or graphics, it may be preferable to vary the size of the halftone screen within the image based on the desired degree of spatial resolution in each region. The degree of spatial resolution provided by a halftone screen is determined by its "screen frequency". Typically, a smaller halftone screen has a higher screen frequency. Subpixels generated by applying pulse-width modulation techniques can be used to create halftone screens as small as one pixel in size.
To render text or line art, it is often preferable to use a high-frequency screen having a high spatial resolution to avoid the appearance of artifacts such as jagged edges in the printed image; however, the use of a high-frequency screen tends to limit the number of gray levels that can be generated. Photographic images, in contrast, tend to contain many gray levels but require lower spatial resolution than is needed for text images. Consequently, a lower-frequency screen which permits the rendition of a greater number of gray levels, but offers lower spatial resolution, may be preferable for a region of an image containing a photographic image.
The use of different halftone patterns, or the use of multiple halftone screens of different sizes within a halftoned image can cause some printing devices to produce defects in regions of the printed image where more than one halftone screen or pattern are used. Some defects are printer-dependent and in many cases their appearance is unpredictable. Common techniques that apply different halftone patterns having the same screen frequency to render multiple gray levels generally produce a smooth transition in gray level from darker to lighter regions; however, in some printing devices a defect known as a "discontinuity" may appear in which an abrupt change from one gray level to another is visible within the transition region. Another technique uses halftone patterns generated using a high-frequency halftone screen to render a darker region but selects a lower-frequency halftone screen to render a lighter region. If the high-frequency and low-frequency halftone screens are carefully chosen, this technique produces a smooth transition from the darker region to the lighter region; however, in some printing devices a defect known as a "divergence" may appear in which the printing device fails to depict accurately the gray level of one or more halftone patterns in the transition region, and the shift from one screen frequency to another is visible.
An additional problem associated with some high-frequency halftone screens is instability. Printing devices that use electric charges in the printing process, including many toner-transfer printing devices, sometimes fail to print very small, isolated dots and therefore may fail to print one or more dots within a halftone pattern. A halftone screen that displays such behavior is referred to as being unstable. Instability represents an obstacle to achieving fine control over the gray level in a printed image, and can be especially problematic when a high-frequency halftone screen is used to depict lighter regions in an image. One solution commonly used is to select a relatively stable, lower-frequency halftone screen to render lighter regions; however, if such a selection necessitates a transition from a high-frequency to a low-frequency halftone screen, a divergence may appear within the printed image. There is a need to overcome the problems outlined above and to develop a technique permitting the use of different halftone screens and halftone patterns to achieve consistent and accurate rendition of multiple gray levels and of transitions between gray levels in a printed image while minimizing the occurrence of defects.

Mixed screen design for multi-mode document


A digital pulse-width-modulation (PWM) generator comprising: an n bit digital magnitude comparator having first and second n bit inputs and an output indicative of the relative values of the signals applied at the first and second inputs; a first n bit digital up/down counter having a count direction input coupled to receive a sign bit of a digital unary input signal, an n bit parallel binary count output connected to the first n bit input of the magnitude comparator, and a clock input; a second n bit counter having a clock input coupled to receive a constant rate clock signal and an n bit parallel binary count output connected to the second n bit input of the magnitude comparator; an AND gate having a first input coupled to receive the constant rate clock signal in frequency divided form and a second input coupled to receive a magnitude portion of the digital unary input signal, and further having an output connected to the clock input of the first counter; and wherein the comparator continually generates an output signal indicative of the relative magnitudes of the counts of the first and second counters, whereby said output signal is a PWM output signal with an average value representing a ramp voltage having a slope determined by magnitude portion of the digital unary input signal with a direction of a slope of the output signal being determined by the polarity of the sign bit.

Conventional analogue loudspeakers rely for their operation on the motion of a diaphragm which is driven by some type of electromechanical motor, moving coil being the most common, though electrostatic, piezoelectric and ionisation devices have all been tried and used. The analogue loudspeaker as a whole attempts to reproduce the desired sound by moving all or part of the diaphragm closely in synchronism with a smoothly varying analogue electrical signal which is usually interpreted as representing the instantaneous sound pressure that a listener to the loudspeaker device should hear. The inherent limitations of such analogue loudspeakers are related to: the stiffness of the diaphragms used, the mass of the diaphragms, the linearity and efficiency of and power available from electromechanical motors with adequate bandwidth and limitations on the throw of the diaphragm. These and other factors combine to cause the analogue loudspeaker to operate with low efficiency and relatively high distortion levels.
With the current prevalence of high quality digital audio material available, frequently in 16-bit binary format with an inherent distortion level of close to 0.002%, it is clear that analogue hi-fidelity loudspeaker systems operating close to the 1% distortion level (500 times worse) are now the limiting factor in audio quality when listening to reproduced sound (including radio, television, compact discs (CD), and digital tape). Recent trends in electronic equipment have also been to minimise power consumption, not only to reduce power wastage, but also to reduce equipment operating temperatures thus allowing miniaturisation and high reliability, as well as portability, and allowing operation from small batteries. Again, the linear analogue power amplifier/loudspeaker combination operating at the 0.3% to 1% efficiency level is out of step with these trends. Lastly, even though digital audio source material is now commonplace and becoming increasingly so with the advent of digital radio and television, all conventional hi-fidelity systems for the reproduction of digital source material need to contain a digital to analogue converter (DAC) at some point in the system, to produce analogue signals for application to the analogue loudspeaker. The DACs themselves produce further noise and distortion that adds to that already present in the system, and also add extra cost.
Attempts have been made to develop a digital loudspeaker design that overcomes some or all of the limitations of analogue loudspeakers mentioned above. These fall into several categories: Pseudo-digital loudspeakers comprising a digital signal processor driving a standard analogue loudspeaker; Moving Coil Digital Loudspeakers with tapped "voice-coils"; and piezoelectric and electrostatic drivers, where the area of the diaphragm is divided into separate regions with binary-related areas
Pulse-width-modulation (PWM) has also been used in the context of "digital loudspeakers". Here an analogue or digital input signal is converted into a two-level (binary in some sense) digital waveform whose instantaneous mark-space ratio is proportional to the instantaneous value of the input signal, with 50% mark-space ratio corresponding to zero input signal. The frequency of the PWM waveform may or may not be constant, but needs to be much higher than the highest input frequency, and for audio applications this implies it must in practice be greater than about 40 KHz. So long as that criterion is satisfied, the actual frequency is not critical. With a digital input signal, it is possible to produce a PWM waveform entirely digitally. However, when it comes to producing sound output, the PWM signal is applied to conventional linear transducers (e.g. moving coil loudspeakers). The result is that the inertia of the transducer causes it to respond to the average value of the PWM waveform (which instantaneously is the same as the mark-space ratio) which in turn is equal to the instantaneous value of the input signal. Sound is then produced corresponding to the input audio signal. As the device relies on the linearity of the transducer, this system has all of the disadvantages of analogue loudspeakers plus some extra ones related to the PWM conversion process, and so is really a digital amplifier technology, not a digital loudspeaker technology. It does have the virtue of higher efficiency than linear amplification.
Most previous attempts at building a digital loudspeaker system have assumed that binary digital code was the digital signal medium, not only at the input of the device but also right through to the output transducers. This causes serious technical problems in practice.
In an n-bit system, the transducer used for the least significant bit (LSB) of the output operates at a power level 2.sup.n-2 times less than the most significant bit (MSB) (discounting an assumed sign bit included in the n-bits). In an 8-bit system (the least that is useful for reasonable sound reproduction) there is thus a 64 times power ratio between MSB and LSB transducers. Because of the necessarily mechanical nature of sound producing devices (sound is a mechanical movement of air) this wide dynamic range imposes serious design constraints on the types of devices used for LSB and MSB transducers, and thus makes matching of the devices very difficult—the problems are much worse when one considers a more realistic 10 or 12 bit system where the ratios in power levels between the MSB and LSB transducers are then of the order of 250 to 1000 times, and for a 16-bit system the ratio rises to greater than 16000.
In a binary-weighted transducer (or transducer-array) system, there are serious transient problems caused at points where the code changes from a value with many consecutive low order zeroes or ones to the next level (up or down) where there are many consecutive low order ones or zeroes. For example, consider a 9-bit binary code where the signal level changes from (decimal) 255.sub.10=(binary) 011111111.sub.2 to (decimal) 256.sub.10=(binary) 100000000.sub.2. At this transition, the signal itself has changed by one least significant bit, i.e. a very small change. The binary code representation has changed from a zero plus all-ones code to a one-and-all-zeroes code. The effect of this on a system where the code bits each drive binary weighted transducers (and also binary weighted transducer-arrays as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,997 which does not address this problem) is that in the first state all transducers except the most significant will be on, and in the second state all will be off except for the most-significant. Thus two half full-power acoustic transitions occur at this code point change which will inevitably produce considerable sound energy, even though the code change represents only a least significant bit change in signal amplitude which normally would be expected to be nearly inaudible. Other such ones-to-zeroes and zeroes-to-ones transitions occur throughout the signal amplitude range, and become more of a problem as the total number of bits increases, as the power of the transient increases relative to the system's least significant bit power level. Thus, increasing the resolution of the system by adding more bits makes the problem worse, not better.
In addition to the switching transient problem outlined above, there is also a level error associated with such zeroes-to-ones and ones-to-zeroes code changes. This is because in a real system the transducers cannot easily be matched precisely enough that the most significant bit transducer is precisely one least significant bit greater in effective power or amplitude than the sum of all the lesser-bit transducers acting in concert. The same is also true to a smaller extent for the next most significant bit transducer and its lesser-bit transducers acting in concert. Such unavoidable errors can in practice easily dominate the accuracy of the system and quite independently of the transient effects described above can lead to large distortion components. In a binary weighted transducer or transducer-array system (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,997 which does not address this problem either), only extreme mechanical precision can eliminate this problem even in principle, which will inevitably lead to high manufacturing costs even if the precision required is achievable. In practice, the transducers will necessarily be spatially separated and the matching problems at such transition points then become intractable. In a 16-bit system, compatible with current digital audio standards, it is highly unlikely that the necessary precision could be achieved at any cost.
Another problem not adequately addressed by existing digital loudspeaker designs is that of transducer dynamics and appropriate drive waveforms for producing the desired acoustic sound output waveform. All previous designs appear to make the assumption that the application of a square drive pulse (of voltage or current as appropriate) to the output transducers will produce a square acoustic output pulse. This is almost never the case in practice and leads to serious distortion in the generated acoustic waveform. For example, in the common case where the transducer moving mass is the dominant factor, and the principal forces to be overcome are inertial, then the application of a square drive pulse to such a transducer will produce approximately constant acceleration of the diaphragm which in turn will produce, to first approximation, a triangular or ramped acoustic output pulse, which will continue after the end of the input drive pulse at approximately constant amplitude as the diaphragm continues to "coast" due to its inertia. For the other common case where the diaphragm restoring spring forces are the dominant factor, then the application of a square drive pulse to such a transducer will produce a very rapid initial acceleration of the diaphragm causing it to move quickly to the point where the spring restoring force equals the driving force after which it will overshoot (depending on the damping of the system), and then settle around that point of equilibrium, after which the end of the drive pulse will produce a similar velocity profile in reverse. This motion will produce, to first approximation, a pair of narrow impulsive spike acoustic output pulses of opposite sign, separated by a time interval approximately equal to the input driving pulse length. Only in the case where the dominant forces on the moving mass of the transducer are resistive (e.g. due to friction or viscosity of the air being moved by the diaphragm) will its motion be of approximately constant velocity when driven by a square drive pulse, and only in this case will the output acoustic pulse be approximately of square pulse waveform. What this means in practice is that electrostatic transducers with exceptionally light diaphragms (which constitute the only moving mass in this type of transducer) are the only devices where a square drive pulse might be expected to produce an approximately square acoustic output pulse.
Definition of Terms used in the Description & Claims
A digit is a single symbol representing a unique integer number. A decimal digit can take on any of the ten values 0, 1, 2, 3, . . . , 8, 9. Decimal integer positional notation uses the normal convention that digits within a decimal number represent factors times powers of ten, with the right hand digit representing a factor times 10.sup.0=1, the 2nd digit from the right a factor times 10.sup.1=10, the 3rd digit from the right a factor times 10.sup.2=100, etc. The value of the number represented by the decimal positional code is the sum of the factors times each of their respective powers of ten. So, e.g.357.sub.10=3.times.10.sup.2+5.times.10.sup.1+7.times.10.sup.0=300+50+7=357−.
A binary digit can take on either of the two values 0, 1. Binary integer positional notation is similar to decimal integer positional notation except powers of two are used instead of powers of ten. Thus the 4th binary digit from the right in a binary positional integer represents a factor of 1 or 0 times 2.sup.3. So, e.g.11010.sub.2=1.times.2.sup.4+1.times.2.sup.3+0.times.2.sup.2+1.times.2.sup.−1+0.times.2.sup.0=16.sub.10+8.sub.10+0+2.sub.10+0=26.sub.10
A unary digit can also take on any of the two values 0, 1 or alternatively can be defined to take on only the single value 1, and its absence is then used to represent 0 somewhat as in Roman Numeral notation. Unary integer positional notation is similar to binary or decimal positional notation except that integer powers of one are used instead of powers of 2 or 10. As all positive integer powers of 1 are equal to 1, it is clear that with a unary representation, all digits have equal weight, and that weight is unity and that the position of a unary digit in a unary positional notation number is irrelevant, only its value of 1 or 0, or alternatively, its presence or absence, having any significance. Thus the 4th unary digit from the right in a unary positional integer represents a factor of 1 or 0 times 1.sup.3=1, and the first unary digit at the right represents a factor of 1 or 0 times 1.sup.0=1. So, e.g.11010.sub.1=1.times.1.sup.4+1.times.1.sup.3+0.times.1.sup.2+1.times.1.sup.−1+0.times.1.sup.0=1.sub.10+1.sub.10+0+1.sub.10+0=3.sub.10,
which is just the number of 1-digits in the number. Thus digit position becomes irrelevant in unary numbers. It is for this reason that the 0 is not needed since its use as place-keeper in positional notations is irrelevant in the unary case. Thus we may just as precisely write the number 11010.sub.1 as 111.sub.1 with both representations having the decimal value 3.sub.10. Unary numbers are simply a formal name for the marks people frequently use for tallying when, e.g. counting items. It is important to realize that in unary representation it is the number of one-digits that matters, not the position of the one-digits. Note also that an unsigned N digit unary code can represent N+1 different values, because zero is represented by all the unary digits being 0 or absent and does not need an additional unary digit. A signed N digit unary code where one particular digit is reserved to represent the sign of the number (e.g. 0 for positive, 1 for negative) can represent 2N−1 values (i.e. 0 and .+−.1 to .+−.N−1). It follows, that where a digital signal is to be represented in unary code, that a unipolar signal that can take on N distinct levels can be represented by N−1 unary digits. This is to be compared with binary notation where N−1 binary digits are able to represent as many as 2.sup.N−1 distinct levels. Unary representation therefore requires many more digits than binary representation to represent a given range of values, just as binary representation requires many more digits than decimal representation to represent a given range of values.
Terminology: There is no special name for decimal digits. It is conventional to abbreviate the phrase binary digit to bit. Similarly, it is conventional to abbreviate unary digit to unit. However, as the word unit is easily confused in this unfamiliar role with its more conventional meaning, we use the phrase unary digit.


Cross-service connectivity between use of the telephone network and use of an e-mail data network is provided by enabling a recipient of an e-mail message to receive e-mail messages through an alias e-mail address which is directly associated with the recipient's telephone number. Thus, the alias e-mail address consists of the recipient's telephone number as the recipient name at a well-known and publicized common domain name server. A sender therefore addresses an e-mail message to the recipient to that alias e-mail address using the recipient's alias telephone number name. A message addressed to the alias e-mail address is sent to a translation server at that known domain name, where the alias telephone number-recipient name is translated to the actual e-mail address comprising the recipient's actual name and associated domain name server, and the message is then forwarded to that recipient at that actual e-mail address. Such aliasing capabilities are effected through a registration process in which the recipient registers for such a service and provides to the translation server his or her actual e-mail address and associated telephone number to which senders of messages to that recipient can use to address e-mail messages.

More and more people in both the business world and non-business world are moving into the electronic age of communication in which e-mail messaging between senders and recipients is becoming the accepted and normal mode of information transfer. The difficulty with e-mail messaging is that the sender must know the actual e-mail address of the recipient in order to transmit a message. Such an address commonly consists of a name, or handle associated with the recipient and a domain name associated with the particular e-mail server with which the recipient is a subscriber and has an established e-mail account. Such an e-mail address will typically take the form of recipient.sub.-- email@example.com.-- name. Generally, the recipient name chosen by the user can be a first or last name, a combination of both, initials, or a fanciful combination of letters and numerals that in some way uniquely identifies the particular user on the particular e-mail server on which that user has established an e-mail account. As people become overloaded with needing to keep track of their own multiple Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), etc., and the phone numbers of all the parties with whom they communicate, the need to also remember and/or keep track of the e-mail addresses of the multiple recipients that a sender may be in communication with can add another layer of complexity in what is generally an otherwise easy method of communication.

Method of providing seamless cross-service connectivity in telecommunications network


Apparatus and methods for forming self-assembly arrays of substances, such as nanoparticles, on a substrate are disclosed. The apparatus may include a substrate supporting a liquid composition including the substance and a solvent, and a removable micro-mold placed over the substrate and the liquid composition. To form the self assembly arrays of the substance, the solvent may be evaporated through at least one evaporation channel formed between the micro-mold and the substrate. The evaporation channel may be adjustable by subjecting the micro-mold to a positive pressure.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure generally relates to methods and apparatus for forming self-assembly arrays of substances, such as nanoparticles, on a substrate. In particular, this disclosure relates to the use of a micro-mold to control the dewetting dynamics of a liquid composition containing the substances and a solvent.
2. Description of the Related Art
Development of nanotechnology focusing on the control of matter on an atomic and molecular scale has gained significant interest in recent decades. In general, nanotechnology deals with structures having sizes of 100 nanometers or smaller, and involves developing materials or devices within that size. Nanotechnology is very diverse, ranging from novel extensions of conventional device physics, to completely new approaches based upon molecular self-assembly, to developing new materials with dimensions on a nanoscale.
Molecular self-assembly is an important aspect of bottom-up approaches to nanotechnology. Using molecular self-assembly the final (desired) structure is programmed in the shape and functional groups of the molecules. Self-assembly is referred to as a 'bottom-up' manufacturing technique in contrast to a 'top-down' technique such as lithography where the desired final structure is carved from a larger block of matter. In the speculative vision of molecular nanotechnology, microchips of the future might be made by molecular self-assembly.
Transition metal nanoparticles, such as gold nanoparticles, have been the focus of intense interest recently due to their potential use in the fields of optics, immunodiagnostics, and electronics. The transition metal nanoparticles may exist in a variety of shapes including spheres, rods, cubes, and caps. In application, the transition metal nanoparticles are generally coordinated to, and stabilized by, a ligand.
The development of parallel, inexpensive approaches to patterning crystalline materials is essential in making use of their outstanding properties in bottom-up nanodevices. Nanoparticle superlattices comprise a new class of crystals ('supra-crystal') with collective properties that are different from those of bulk phase materials, isolated nanoparticles and even disordered nanoparticle assemblies. For instance, coherent vibrational modes can only appear in highly ordered nanoparticle superlattices, and synergistic effects in superlattices can lead to enhanced p-type conductivity. Hence, nanoparticle superlattices are poised to become a 'new periodic table', which could be used for high performance devices such as high-density data storage, more efficient energy harvesting systems and ultra-sensitive biosensors.
Applying the collective properties of nanoparticle superlattice entities in nanodevices usually requires methods capable of patterning them into desired structures while maintaining a high degree of internal order. However, superlattices usually form from the evaporation of a drop of nanoparticle solution, which is essentially a far-from-equilibrium process. Capillary flow induced by a non-uniform evaporation field and fluid fluctuations during late-stage drying often lead to irregular features such as isolated islands, worm-like domains, ring-like structures and cellular networks. Owing to the statistical nature of drying-mediated self-assembly, it remains a challenge to pattern superlattices with comprehensive control over internal order and overall morphologies.

Apparatus and method for forming self-assembly arrays


A pharmaceutical formulation has (S)-[2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-(7-morpholin-4-yl-quinazolin-4-yl)phenyl]-(6-methoxy-pyridazin-3-yl)methanol or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical formulation of (S)-[2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-(7-morpholin-4-yl-quinazolin-4-yl)phenyl]-(6-methoxy-pyridazin-3-yl)methanol, as well as a method of making same, as well as medical uses thereof.
(S)-[2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-(7-morpholin-4-yl-quinazolin-4-yl)phenyl]-(6-methoxy-pyridazin-3-yl)methanol is disclosed as Example 136 in WO 2014/183850, as one member of a family of arylquinazolines which have been found to have valuable pharmacological properties. It is a potent and selective inhibitor of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) activity translating into potent inhibition of DNA-PK autophosphorylation in cancer cell lines, which has been demonstrated both by in vitro as well as in vivo data. It can therefore be used, in particular, for the sensitisation of cancer cells to anticancer agents and/or ionising radiation.
Human genetic material in the form of DNA is constantly subjected to attack by reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are formed principally as by-products of oxidative metabolism. ROSS are capable of causing DNA damage in the form of single-strand breaks. Double-strand breaks (DSBs) can arise if prior single-strand breaks occur in close proximity. In addition, single- and double-strand breaks may be caused if the DNA replication fork encounters damaged base patterns. Furthermore, exogenous influences, such as ionising radiation (for example gamma or particle radiation), and certain anticancer medicaments (for example bleomycin) are capable of causing DNA double-strand breaks. DSBs may furthermore occur as intermediates of somatic recombination, a process which is important for the formation of a functional immune system of all vertebrates.
If DNA double-strand breaks are not repaired or are repaired incorrectly, mutations and/or chromosome aberrations may occur, which may consequently result in cell death. In order to counter the severe dangers resulting from DNA double-strand breaks, eukaryotic cells have developed a number of mechanisms to repair them. Higher eukaryotes use predominantly so-called non-homologous end-joining, in which the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) adopts the key role. DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) is a serine/threonine protein kinase which is activated in conjunction with DNA. Biochemical investigations have shown that DNA-PK is activated most effectively by the occurrence of DNA-DSBs. Cell lines whose DNA-PK components have mutated and are non-functional have proven to be radiation-sensitive (Smith and Jackson, 1999). DSBs are considered the most lethal type of DNA damage if left unrepaired.
(S)-[2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-(7-morpholin-4-yl-quinazolin-4-yl)phenyl]-(6-methoxy-pyridazin-3-yl)methanol has poor solubility in water and simulated gastric fluids. Also, in an amorphous form, the compound is voluminous and electrostatically charged and thus does not readily lend itself to further processing into a solid formulation. In addition, the manufacturing of a solid formulation of enantiomeric pharmaceutically active ingredients always bears the risk of undesirable conversion of the eutomer into the distomer.
It was therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pharmaceutical dosage form of (S)-[2-Chloro-4-fluoro-5-(7-morpholin-4-yl-quinazolin-4-yl)phenyl]-(6-methoxy-pyridazin-3-yl)methanol that would provide sufficient bioavailability and enantiomeric stability and a suitable process for its manufacture.


A protective cover for a cutting wheel of a hand-held cut-off machine driven by an internal combustion engine has a circumferential wall and two opposed sidewalls adjoining the circumferential wall. The circumferential wall and the two sidewalls are a monolithic component made of cast light metal. The circumferential wall in a circumferential direction has at least over sections thereof a first integral thicker portion. The two sidewalls are thinner than the first integral thicker portion. Preferably, the protective cover is made of diecast magnesium.

The invention relates to a protective cover for a cutting wheel of a hand-held cut-off machine driven by an internal combustion engine, wherein the protective cover comprises a circumferential wall and two opposed sidewalls adjoining the circumferential wall.
Small hand-held circular saws are known in which the circular saw wheel is enclosed relative to the operator by a protective cover made of cast light metal. The protective cover provides a contact protection and serves for catching or removing by suction the relatively lightweight sawdust. The protective cover as a whole is exposed only to minimal operating loads.
When performing a cut in stone or similar materials, hand-held cut-off machines generate large amounts of grinding dust that can also be mixed with coarse particles. For collecting the grinding dust, the particles, and optionally also sparks that are generated, a protective cover is provided that partially covers the cut-off wheel of the cut-off machine.
In particular in the case of large cut-off machines that are driven by an internal combustion engine and have cutting wheels having a diameter, for example, of 300 mm or 350 mm, a significant driving power is required for performing a cut. The great power output causes large amounts of dust, particles, sparks or the like that are swirled at extremely high kinetic energy and thrown against the inner side of the protective cover of the cutting wheel. Making things worse is the fact that the stone or cement dust or the like has a high abrasive effect that, in combination with the great kinetic energy, leads to a correspondingly high wearing load on the protective cover.
In addition to be thus resulting requirement of a high wear resistance, the weight of the cover is of particular importance. Cut-off machines having an internal combustion engine as the drive motor belong to a size class that, based on the configuration, have a higher inherent weight in comparison to smaller devices. In order to enable, in spite of this, excellent handling in the case of manually performed cutting tasks, a lightweight construction for compensation of the high concept-based basic weight is a primary objective.
DE 295 08 950 discloses that the protective cover of a cut-off machine of the aforementioned kind made of aluminum is correspondingly lightweight but does not fulfill the requirements in regard to a long service life and wear resistance. As a solution to this problem, the aforementioned document proposes a two-part protective cover that is joined of aluminum sheet and has a wear strip riveted into its circumferential wall. The rivet connection secures the wear strip and serves at the same time for providing a connection of the two cover parts made of aluminum sheet. A cover of such a configuration is comparatively lightweight and has also an improved wear resistance. The service life however is limited because of the rivet heads that project into the interior of the cover and are exposed to the grinding dust and thus to abrasion.
The invention has the object to provide a protective cover for a cutting wheel of a hand-held cut-off machine which provides improved wear resistance while being made of a lightweight construction.

Protective cover for a hand-held cut-off machine


A surface plasmon sensor includes a plurality of light supply devices for irradiating a beam, a plurality of surface plasmon resonance detection surfaces where the beam irradiated from the light supply means being incident to, a plurality of light detection devices for detecting the beam reflected at the surface plasmon resonance detection surface, a plurality of reflective surfaces provided at respective optical paths from the light supply devices to the light detection devices, the reflective surfaces being arranged opposing to the respective surface plasmon resonance detection surfaces, a wave formed multiwell formed with the surface plasmon resonance detection surfaces and the reflective surfaces, and the light detection devices positioned close to the light supply means.

A known surface plasmon resonance measurement device for detecting and determining the quantity of various materials to be detected at once described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-65729 detects a surface plasmon resonance angle (hereafter referred as SPR angle) relative to sample solutions provided in each cell of a cell plate with the following construction. A glass substrate formed with a metal membrane on a first surface thereof is glued at a whole bottom surface of a cell, plate including plural cells. Thereafter a prism is adhered to the glass substrate at a second surface side not provided with the membrane. The known surface plasmon resonance measurement device detects the SPR angle by measuring the light intensity reflected from a boundary surface between the glass substrate and the metal membrane by irradiating the light with a predetermined angular width while adhering the prism to the second side of the glass membrane.
A known surface plasmon resonance measurement device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 9-292333 includes plural metal membranes formed at a prism. The known surface plasmon resonance measurement device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 9-292333 detects the SPR angle relative to the sample contacting each metal membrane by irradiating a beam including various incident angle to respective metal membranes to measure the intensity of the beam totally reflected at a boundary of the prism and the metal membranes.
Notwithstanding, with the surface plasmon resonance measurement device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-65729, it is required to position each cell of the cell plate vis-a-vis the single prism by moving the cell plate manually or with a slider of three dimensional moving mechanism in order to detect and determine the quantity of the minute amount of the material relative to the sample solutions provided in the cells of the cell plate. With this construction, it consumes time for detecting and determining the quantity of the various kinds of the materials to be detected at once.
With the surface plasmon resonance measurement device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 9-292333, the detection and the determination of the quantity of the various kinds of the materials to be detected requires shorter time than the surface plasmon resonance measurement device described in Japanese Patent laid-Open Publication No. 2000-65729 because the intensity of the reflected beams at the boundary between the prism and the metal membranes can be measured simultaneously by simultaneously irradiating the beams to the respective metal membranes formed at the prism. However, a large space is required for an optical system and a light detection means to function because the optical system for obtaining various angles of the incidence for each beam and the light detection means for detecting the intensity of the beam totally reflected at the boundary between the prism and the metal membranes are positioned on a incident light path and a reflective light path assuming at least two times of the SPR angle in order to detect the SPR signal, which requires the optical system and the light detection means away from each other.
A need thus exists for a surface plasmon resonance measurement device for detecting and determining the quantity of the various materials to be detected at once, a surface plasmon sensor used for the surface plasmon resonance measurement device, and a detection chip used for the surface plasmon sensor, which enable the stable simultaneous detection and the determination of the quantity of the various materials to be detected with low manufacturing cost and enable the reduction in size.

Surface plasmon sensor, surface plasmon resonance measurement device, and detection chip


Glasses are described having a frame which accepts a lens. No screws or other fasteners are required. The lens fits within a first and second groove in the frame. A unitary lens design is preferred having a first and second lens portions. The lens can be tinted or clear, can contain corrective or noncorrective optics.

Glasses are essential for a large percentage of both children and adults. The glasses can be prescriptive to correct a visual defect, sunglasses to reduce eye fatigue and irritation from a bright sun, or both. Because of varying requirements, a person can own many pairs of glasses. This is expensive and can also be inconvenient. For example, a nearsighted person often carries both clear and tinted glasses. Sunglasses offer a wide variety of options as well. Some have a gray tint which merely reduces the amount of light transmitted to the eye. Other lenses can be tinted yellow to improve the visual contrast experienced by the wearer. Others prefer brown or even rose colored tints. Likewise, a single lens can be placed with various frame colors.
A need exists for a frame that allows the wearer to exchange lenses. The frame should provide a secure mount for the lens while also allowing its easy removal. U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,148 to Conway discloses an example of a frame system that allows for interchangeable lenses. The frame has a top frame and a rotatable nose piece. The nose piece has large lateral grooves. Two lenses are specially designed to engage the frame and nose piece. Each lens has two projections that fit notches in the frame. In other words, the system uses four separate pieces. If any one piece is damaged or lost, then the system will not work. Likewise, if the projections from either lens is broken, then the lens will not securely engage the frame. A need exists for a simpler frame system that provides the user with a secure method of attaching the lens to the frame.

Eyewear having a unitary flexible frame and an interchangeable lens


A hub drive includes an in-hub motor and a shifting in-hub transmission coupled with the motor. A hub drive wheel assembly includes a wheel comprising a hub, an in-hub motor, and a shifting in-hub transmission having an input attached to the motor and an output attached to the wheel. A vehicle includes a chassis, a wheel comprising a hub, an in-hub motor, and a shifting in-hub transmission having an input attached to the motor and an output attached to the wheel for rotating the wheel with respect to the chassis. A method includes providing a shifting transmission and a motor coupled with the transmission in a hub of a wheel, providing electrical power to the motor, and rotating the motor with the electrical power. The method further includes rotating the transmission with the motor and rotating the wheel with the transmission.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a drive for rotating a wheel and, in particular, to a hub drive for rotating a wheel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wheeled ground vehicles have been used for many years to carry personnel, cargo, and other equipment. Such vehicles generally have some means of producing a motive force to the wheels, such as an engine or motor in combination with a drive train. For example, in a rear-wheel drive automobile, an engine generates the motive force for propelling the automobile and the drive train includes a transmission, drive shaft, differential, and driven axles. The transmission, which is rotationally coupled with the engine, allows the automobile to be propelled at various speeds. The drive shaft transmits rotary motion from the transmission to the differential, which couples the drive shaft and the driven axles. The driven axles are attached to the driven wheels and, thus, are supplied with the motive force from the engine.
Such systems used to provide a motive force to wheels of ground vehicles are often large, heavy and complex. In applications wherein it is desirable for some or all of the wheels to be capable of being driven independently (i.e., at different speeds), the complexity and size of the motive force system may increase dramatically. For example, in vehicles with a single engine or motor, a transmission may be required for each of the wheels if they are to be capable of being driven independently. Such complex systems often are difficult to install and maintain and may be prone to failure merely due to their complexity. Conventional systems may also limit the types of suspensions possible for the vehicle, due to difficulties encountered in routing power transmitting elements therethrough.
Further, conventional vehicles often experience a jolt or hesitation during transmission shifting, which may be undesirable depending upon the use of the vehicle. For example, if the vehicle is being used to transport a gun or the like, such jolting or hesitation may decrease the accuracy of the gun, if it is fired while the vehicle is being operated.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing, the effects of one or more of the problems set forth above.


A self-luminous road sign system comprises a plurality of sensor units 1 . . . 1 each of which is equipped at least with a visibility meter and an illuminance meter, or which may be equipped with an anemovane and a thermometer as well as the visibility meter and the illuminance meter; and an information processing and management department 2 for centralized management of weather information detected by the plural sensor units in order to predict any danger in the road observation area, wherein the output information from the information processing and management department 2 is displayed on road installations 4 . . . 4 connected via a network. Based on the road background brightness obtained by the illuminance meter in the sensor unit, the optimum luminous brightness which provides a predetermined contrast is calculated. Based on this optimum luminous brightness and depending on the visibility information outputted from the visibility meter, the luminous brightness or information display of the sign part is controlled.

In order to assist the safety of road traffic, a conventional system utilizes an ITV camera as a device for detecting road conditions, and displays a detection output from the ITV camera by means of a controller device having a display part (hereinafter mentioned as Prior Art 1). In this system, a road manager who takes charge of this controller device makes a comprehensive judgement based on the road information displayed on the display part, the road information on other areas, the weather forecast, etc. This judgement is outputted to a certain display device, which provides drivers with the road weather information or indicates safe driving signs. As the examples of conventional self-luminous road installations, use have been made of self-luminous information panels for notifying drivers of road information, LED-equipped vision guidance signs for representing a curved line shape that matches the curve on the road. The luminous part in these self-luminous road installations can be regulated at a fixed brightness, or two-stage brightness control can be applied to adjust the brightness for the day and the night, respectively.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H9-128688, a system for assisting safe road travel (hereinafter mentioned as Prior Art 2) comprises obstruction detecting means which includes a visibility meter and an obstruction detection radar for detecting the road driving environment, and displaying/warning means which is controlled in accordance with the output from the obstruction detecting means. These means are combined as an obstruction detecting/warning device, which is serially installed along the central reserve or a side of a road.
This system has the displaying/warning means integrated into the obstruction detecting/warning device, which is serially located along the central reserve or a side of a road. The display modes of the displaying/warning means include sound, text display, indication light (in regard to color, brightness and flash interval) and the like, and these modes can be applied singly or in combination.
As mentioned above, Prior Art 1 uses an ITV camera as the device for detecting road conditions. The ITV camera, however, is very expensive and should be mounted on a large gatepost or a giant system. Besides, in order to provide detailed information to drivers, a number of ITV cameras should be installed at required locations. Hence, it is practically impossible to place so many ITV cameras in the above manner. In another respect, since this system depends on a road manager for a comprehensive judgement, the system requires much time for such judgement and fails to give real-time information. What is worse, this self-luminous road installation is controlled to give a light at a fixed brightness. Accordingly, when visibility drops under bad weather conditions (e.g. fog, snow), the luminous brightness is seriously degraded from the viewpoint of drivers. As a consequence, the signing function as the road sign device is impaired. This problem may be solved by setting the luminous brightness of a sign, based on the low visibility situation under poor weather conditions. However, drivers find such illumination too bright in the night and feel awkward even during the day. Thus, this attempt is rather dangerous to the drivers, only to create another problem. Besides, when the level of luminous brightness is intensified, the structure consumes a greater amount of electric power and, therefore, is uneconomical.
As for Prior Art 2, the system does not rely on the centralized management by a road manager, and it assists drivers' safe driving by furnishing local or fixed individual information. In this case, it is difficult to grasp foggy, snowy or other conditions in a wide area properly, or to assist safe driving in compliance with the changing weather conditions in a particular area or the conditions across some areas. Besides, the displaying/warning means provides a single type of information merely by issuing a warning in response to obstructions on the road. More disappointingly, despite the fact that the visual perceptibility is adversely affected under a low visibility condition, the information is displayed without any consideration.
The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving these problems. The first object is to provide a road traffic weather-monitoring system which properly grasps foggy, snowy and other conditions in a wide area and which allows a road manager and others, in response to such conditions, to issue real-time weather information to drivers, thereby contributing to safe vehicle travel.
The second object is to provide a self-luminous road sign system which prevents degradation of the luminous brightness of a self-luminous road installation and improves its visual perceptibility even in a poor visibility situation, and which ensures reliable visual guidance.

Road traffic weather-monitoring system and self-luminous road sign system


A silver halide color photographic light sensitive material excellent in both sharpness and whiteness of background while being capable of satisfactorily displaying the yellow coupler characteristics including an excellent color reproduction is provided, wherein the silver halide color photographic light sensitive material contains a compound represented by the following Formula [I] in at least one of the photographic component layers thereof, a compound represented by the following Formula [II] in at least one of the silver halide emulsion layers thereof, and a compound represented by the following Formula [III] in at least one of the photographic component layers; and ##STR1##

In the silver halide photographic light sensitive materials such as a direct appreciation type color print paper treated in a subtractive color system, the improvements of dye image qualities have been demanded more in recent years and, particularly, the improvements of the color reproduction, image sharpness and white background have been strongly demanded among the improvements of the image qualities.
Usually in the subtractive color systems and for forming yellow, magenta and cyan dye images, yellow couplers such as those of the acylacetamido type, magenta couplers such as those of the 5-pyrazolone type, pyrazoloazole type and pyrazolobenzimidazole type and cyan couplers such as those of the phenol type and naphthol type have been preferably used. Particularly among the couplers, each of the conventional yellow couplers has formed a dye having the maximum absorption wavelength of the positioned generally on the longer wavelength side from the wavelength for the absorption characteristics preferable from the viewpoint of the color reproduction. A yellow coupler has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection (hereinafter referred to as JP OPI Publication) Nos. 63-123047/1988 and 63-231451/1988, in which the maximum absorption wavelength is shifted to the shorter wavelength side and the absorption in the longer wavelength side is sharpened.
On the other hand, the magenta couplers of the pyrazoloazole type and the cyan couplers of the phenol type are advantageous from the viewpoints of color reproduction.
When making combination use of the above-mentioned yellow, magenta and cyan couplers, the considerable improvements the hue can be observed in yellow, yellowish green, green, bluish green, orange, red and so forth. However, on the other hand, monochromatic yellow density is required to increase more than in the past because the visual yellow density is substantially low, though it is excellent for the yellow color reproduction. It has therefore been demanded for providing a silver halide color photographic light sensitive material advantageous for making the color forming property higher than before.
Relating a color forming property and a photosensitive speed, it has been known that the configurations, sizes and compositions of the silver halide grains of the silver halide emulsions applied to a light sensitive material influence greatly upon the development speeds and so forth. In particular, it has been known that the silver halide compositions greatly influence thereupon and a high development speed can be performed when making use of a highly chloride-containing silver halide.
When a development speed is increased, there may often be the instances where a fog density is eventually increased, and a variety of inhibitors have been applied as an antifoggant to light sensitive materials.
On the other hand, for the achievement of high image quality, it is one of the essential keys to improve the image sharpness. As for the sharpness improvement means, there has been a known method in which a silver halide photographic emulsion layer or other hydrophilic colloidal layer is colored with a dye capable of absorbing light having a specific wavelength so as to improve the optical properties of a support and to prevent a halation and an irradiation.
The dyes applicable to light sensitive materials are ordinarily used in embodiments and can play the roles as follows.
(1) In order to modify the spectral component of an incident light reaching a photographic emulsion layer or change the incident light quantity so that the sensitivity can be controlled, a colored layer is provided to the side of the photographic emulsion layer farther from the support of a light sensitive material so as to cut off any unnecessary light. Such a colored layer as mentioned above is called a filter layer and, when plural emulsion layers are provided, the filter layer may sometimes be interposed between one and the other emulsion layers.
(2) A colored layer is interposed between a photographic emulsion layer and a support or provided to the surface of the support opposite to the emulsion layer so as to prevent any image blur produced when the light transmitted through the emulsion layer are reflected on the interface between the emulsion layer and the support or reflected on the surface of the support opposite to the emulsion layer and the reflected light are then made incident again into the emulsion layer; that is to prevent any halation. Such a colored layer is called an antihalation layer. When plural emulsion layers are provided thereto, the antihalation layer may sometimes be interposed between one and the other emulsion layers.
(3) A photographic emulsion layer is colored for preventing any light scattering (generally called irradiation) produced by the silver halide grains contained in the photographic emulsion layer.
The dyes applicable with the above-mentioned purposes are to satisfy the following various requirements; the dyes are to display the spectral absorption characteristics capable of excellently meeting the purposes of application; the dyes are to be decolored completely in a photographic processing solution and readily dissolved out of the subject light sensitive material so that any residual color stains produced by the dyes can be eliminated after completing the treatments; the dyes are not to affect any spectrally sensitized photographic emulsions by any sensitization, desensitization or fog production; the dyes are to be excellent in aging stability and not to be faded, nor decolored in any processing solutions or a light sensitive material.
For the purpose of finding out the dyes capable of satisfying the above-mentioned requirements, many studies have been made and a variety of dyes have been proposed so far. For example, the oxonol dyes proposed in British Patent No. 506,385, U.S. Pat. No. 3.247.127, JP Examined Publication Nos. 39-22069/1964 and 43-13168/1968; the styryl dyes proposed typically in U.S. Pat. No. 1,845,404; the merocyanine dyes proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,493,747 and British Patent No. 1,542,807; the cyanine dyes proposed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,843,486 and 3,294,539; and the anthraquinone dyes proposed typically in U.S. Pat. No. 2,865,752.
Among the above-given dyes, oxonol type dyes and anthraquinone type dyes are comparatively few to adversely affect any photographic emulsions and, therefore, they have been preferably used in silver halide color photographic light sensitive materials for direct appreciation use.
The present inventors have variously studied of the above-mentioned dyes to discover the dyes which are advantageous for improving the image sharpness and are also capable of satisfying every one of the aforementioned requirements of which the dyes are to be completely decolored in a photographic processing solution, the dyes are to be readily dissolved out of a light sensitive material so that any residual color stains cannot be produced by the dyes after completing processing; any spectrally sensitized photographic emulsions are not to be affected by any sensitization, desensitization nor fog production; and the dyes are to be excellent in aging stability in any solutions or light sensitive materials.
Resultingly, the present inventors have discovered that the dyes each having a specific structure are capable of achieving the above-mentioned purposes.
However, when making use of the above-mentioned specific dyes in combination with a silver halide color photographic light sensitive material applied with the aforementioned highly chloride-containing silver halide and the aforementioned yellow coupler excellent in color reproduction, it has been proved that a problem of increasing fog is raised. A fog increase will lead to spoil background whiteness which is essential for making image quality higher. It has also been found that the deterioration of the white background will further become serious in a rapid processing treatment which has been strongly demanded in recent years, and in a low-replenishing treatment.
In the above-mentioned combination use, another new problem has been raised to increase the absorption in the long wavelength region exceeding 550 nm of a dye formed from a yellow coupler and then not to sharply decay to zero.
Therefore, the conventional techniques have been difficult to provide any silver halide color photographic light sensitive material capable of satisfying every requirement particularly for obtaining the excellent color reproduction and sufficiently high color density of a yellow dye, the image sharpness and the white background property.

Silver halide color photographic light sensitive material


A system for automatically planning firmware card ports on multiplexors in a DSL network is disclosed. The system is operable to query element management systems (EMS's) in a DSL network to identify the multiplexor devices that each of the EMS's is dedicated to managing. Thereafter, the system queries the multiplexor devices identified as being managed by a particular EMS for the planning status of the multiplexor's ports. Upon identifying unplanned ports, and those that are inconsistent with the prescribed plan, the system plans the ports consistent with a prescribed planning arrangement.

Demand for in-home data and telephony services has grown dramatically in recent years and is expected to continue to increase. Accordingly, providers of data and telephony services have sought to design and deploy broadband networks with increased delivery capacity.
One broadband technology that has become particularly popular is digital subscriber lines (DSL). DSL offers increased data transfer rates and integrated telephony and data services using the existing public switched telephone network (PSTN), which previously was used exclusively for telephone voice communications.
As the demand for DSL service has grown, service providers have needed to build-out their infrastructure for providing DSL service. In particular, service providers have needed to quickly install large numbers of network elements devoted to providing DSL service. For example, service providers have needed to install large numbers of digital subscriber line multiplexors (DSLAM's), remote access multiplexors (MiniRAMs), subtends, element management systems, as well as other network elements, in a geographically distributed network. Installing, managing, and administering these quickly expanding, geographically distributed DSL networks has become increasingly complex, time consuming, and expensive.
One aspect of DSL network maintenance that is very cost and labor intensive is pre-provisioning, or planning of DSL multiplexor devices, cards, and ports. Generally, DSL multiplexor devices such as for example, DSLAM's and MiniRAM's, serve as a termination point for DSL subscriber lines. In some instances, DSL multiplexor devices may also serve as a termination point for connections between multiplexing devices such as for example, between a MiniRAM and a DSLAM. Typically, DSL multiplexor devices comprise a series of slots or ports, usually arranged in rows on shelves, into which termination firmware cards are placed. These are designated as network or line terminated cards wherein the line cards are used to terminate customer lines and network cards are used to terminate network lines to the ATM core. The characteristics of the termination firmware card that is inserted into a port depend upon the function to be performed by the DSL line terminating in the port. For example, if the line is used to service an individual customer, an ADLT card from Alcatel may be used. Conversely, if the line serves a subtending remote multiplexor, a D1LT card from Alcatel is used
Prior to physically placing a card in a port of a multiplexing device, the device must be pre-provisioned, which comprises a process often referred to as planning. Planning is the process by which a particular port of a DSL multiplexing device, such as a DSLAM, is configured to accept a card of a particular type. For example, if a port will ultimately receive a model D1LT card manufactured by Alcatel Corporation for connecting to another multiplexing device, the slot needs to be configured to operate with that particular card. Similarly, if a card port is to accept a model ADLT card manufactured by Alcatel Corporation for providing DSL service to an end user, the port needs to be configured to operate with that particular card. Generally, planning of a port comprises programming the multiplexor device with information identifying the card type to be accepted in the port, the software release that the card will run, and profile information regarding the card to be placed in the port. The ports of the multiplexor devices are configured to operate in accordance with the information provided during the planning process.
In existing systems, DSL card planning is accomplished manually. Typically, a technician must visit the multiplexor and plan the port. Often, the technician must call a control center to retrieve the planning information.
Applicants have noted that relying on technicians to manually plan card ports on as-needed basis is costly, inefficient, and prone to human error. Such inefficiencies may be tolerable when only a few cards need planning, but quickly become unsatisfactory when, as is now the situation, thousands of DSL lines are ordered on a daily basis.
Accordingly, Applicants have recognized a need in the art for automated systems and methods for planning DSL multiplexor card ports.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for planning ports in DSL network elements


An apparatus for removing dust from a photographic film is disclosed. The apparatus includes cylindrical rotatable dust removing members disposed upwardly and downwardly of the film, and a dust take-off member disposed adjacent the dust removing members for taking off the dust from the dust removing members. The dust removing members may be brush members or members having an adhesive face. Further, these dust removing members may be adapted to be movable between a dust removing position and a non dust removing position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing dust from a dusty surface of e.g. a photosensitive material.
2. Description of the Related Art
A dust removing apparatus of the above-noted type functions to remove dust adhered to a surface of a photosensitive material such as a photographic film which is transported along a transport passage.
A conventional apparatus provides e.g. a dust removing member such as a brush fixedly disposed at a location in the transport passage of the material, so that the dust removing operation is effected as the brush picks up the dust from the material which is transported through the location of the brush.
With the above-described conventional art, however, the dust removing member such as the brush is fixedly disposed and the dust is removed from the material surface in association with the transportation of the material. Hence, the dust removing ability of the apparatus is significantly limited. Further, if the brush has some irregularity in the density of its bristles or the dust is adhered to a certain portion of the material in a concentrated manner, this leads to local concentration, i.e. unevenness, in the dust removing operation, and the dust cannot be removed properly.
The present invention is addressed to the above-described problem and a first object of the invention is to provide a dust removing apparatus for a photosensitive material, which may reliably remove dust adhered to a surface of the material.
A second object of the present invention is to facilitate proper maintenance of the transported material within the transport passage, while achieving the first object.


A pair of windshield eyeglasses (101) comprises: lenses (106) and a frame (102) for holding the lenses. Each of the lenses or the frame includes an edge formed with a windshield (107) for sealing a gap between the edge and a face of a user. The windshield extends from the edge and ranges from laterally inward side of the face to an upper intermediate portion and to a lower intermediate portion of the frame.

Sunglasses are often used when riding on motorcycles, driving convertibles or playing outdoor sports such as skiing. Sunglasses protect the eyes not only from ultraviolet rays but also from being hit directly by airflow during high-speed moving.
There is another option available, in the form of goggles. The frame or lenses of goggles have their perimeters completely enclosed by a wall that prevents wind and dirt from coming in, there is no airflow coming into the space enclosed by the lenses and the frame. This prevents wind and airflow from affecting the eyes.
Human eyes are constantly lubricated with tears supplied by lachrymal glands. Lachrymal glands are located above and laterally outward of respective eyeballs, i.e. above respective lateral angles of eyes. Therefore, tears flow above the lateral angles of eyes toward the medial angles of eyes, lubricating and protecting the eyes from various stimuli.
Now, when moving forward at a high speed, with the face oriented ahead, the face is hit by a flow of air. The airflow is divided by the nose ridge in right and left directions, and then continues to flow along the face. When eyeglasses are worn, the airflow along the face comes into gaps between the eyeglasses and the face, and flows over the eyeball surfaces in directions against the flow of tears. This interferes the flow of tears, and dries the eyes even if eyeglasses are worn. Also, this often causes inflammation in the eyes. For this reason, conventional sunglasses and eyeglasses often do not work as a windshield when riding on motorcycles, skiing, and so on.
In an attempt to alleviate the problem, some eyeglasses are designed so that the lenses and the frame will be closer to the face. However, placing the lenses and the frame simply closer to the face does not eliminate the gap between the face and the lenses. Therefore, this does not prevent the airflow along the face from coming sideways behind the eyeglasses. Further, if the lenses are placed too close to the face, lens surfaces make contact with user's cilia, and are often smudged or otherwise damaged.
Goggles, which have surrounding walls capable of sealing entirely around the eyes, can perfectly prevent the airflow along the face from entering the inner space behind the eyeglasses. However, due to the surrounding wall design, the user's face looks so different that there is resistance in people to wearing goggles in the same manner as they wear eyeglasses in their daily lives. Further, due to the need for the surrounding wall to be fitted to the contours of the face, goggles must be constantly pressed against the face by means of a rubber band for example. For this reason, it is troublesome to wear goggles. Still further, it is difficult to incorporate nicely looking outer design in goggles. In addition, the lenses of goggles, which are isolated from the outer atmosphere, will easily be clouded when there is a temperature difference between inside and outside of the goggles, often making it difficult to see clearly and widely enough.
Sometimes, ordinary eyeglasses mounted with prescription lenses are converted to sunglasses by providing color coating on the prescription lenses or by attaching a colored plate over the prescription lenses for shielding ultraviolet rays.
However, the colored plate is placed over the outer surface of the lenses. This interferes with originally designed looks, and reduces the esthetic value of the eyeglasses. Further, the colored plate, which is detachable from the lens outer surface, does not have a very firm hold in place, and therefore can be vibrated by strong airflow or potentially blown off the eyeglass frame.

Windshield eyeglasses, windshields for eyeglasses and method for wind shielding in eyeglasses

Abstract: By providing the windshield, the airflow along the user's face is changed to flow along the outside of the windshield. Therefore, the airflow along the face is prevented from entering between the eyeglass inner surface and the user's face. In particular, the airflow is effectively prevented from affecting the eyes from medial angles of eyes toward lateral angles of eyes. This eliminates interference with the natural flow of tears on the eye surface, making it possible to effectively prevent drying and inflammation in the eyes, or prevent foreign materials from coming into the eyes.


The present invention is directed to a filter apparatus for filtering out suspended solids from liquid that is passed through filter material supported within a tank. The invention is also directed to a method of cleaning the filter material while the filter material remains inside the tank. The disclosed apparatus and method facilitates the removal of solids which are deposited on the filter material during the filtering operation, as well as biogrowth and other foreign matter. The cleaning method utilizes a suction generating device, such as a pump and associated suction heads, for backwashing the filter material. The cleaning method also utilizes a device for directing a liquid stream of a chemical cleaning solution at high velocity to the filter material thereby chemically washing the filter material and dislodging filtered solids and other foreign matter therefrom. The suction heads and the nozzle heads are positioned relative to the filter material such that substantially all of the runoff which results from operation of the liquid directing device is removed from the filter material by the suction heads.

A filter apparatus for filtering suspended solids is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,374,360, issued to Weis, and 5,362,401, issued to Whetsel. The filter apparatus shown there comprises a tank having an inlet and an outlet, one or more filter frames positioned between the inlet and outlet, and filter material supported within the filter frames. During a filtering operation, liquid influent is passed through the filter material such that the filter material filters out suspended solids from the influent stream. The filtered solids are deposited on the filter material while the filtered liquid stream is discharged from the tank as effluent.
To clean the filter material of filtered solids without having to remove the filter frames from the tank, it is known to provide the filter apparatus with a suction generating device having one or more suction heads positioned adjacent a surface of the filter material. It is also known to provide spray nozzles for directing a high-pressure liquid spray to another surface of the filter material. Typically, the spray nozzles are fed by a pump which draws water from a source external to the filter apparatus. The known method of cleaning the filter material is a two-stage process involving the operation of these two components.
In a first stage called the backwash operation, the suction generating device is operated to draw filtered liquid through the filter material in a reverse or backwash direction. The backwash stream that results acts to dislodge solids which have been deposited on the surfaces of the filter material.
In practice, filtered solids continue to accumulate within the filter material despite successive backwash operations. In a second stage of the cleaning process, the spray nozzles are operated to direct a high-pressure liquid spray to the surface of the filter material. The spray acts to dislodge solids which are deeply entrained in the filter material and cannot be removed by the backwash operation. Typically, the dislodged solids either sink to the tank bottom or dissipate into the liquid influent to be re-filtered and eventually removed from the filter material by the backwash operation.
Nevertheless, the high pressure spray does not completely clean the filter material of all filtered solids, biogrowth, oily buildup, and other foreign matter. In time, so much of these contaminants accumulate on the filter material that the filter apparatus has to be taken out of service for intensive washing of the filter material.

Method and apparatus for cleaning filter material in a filter apparatus