A method includes, while an application is installed on a device and a representation of the application has a designated location in a respective portion of an application launching user interface, detecting an application-demotion request to delete the application from the device without deleting associated data for the application. In response to detecting the application-demotion request, deleting the application from the device without deleting the associated data for the application. After deleting the application from the device, detecting a request to display the respective portion of the application launching user interface and, in response to detecting the request to display the respective portion of the application launching user interface, displaying the respective portion of the application launching user interface, including displaying the representation of the application in the designated location in the respective portion of the application launching user interface.

The use of touch-sensitive surfaces as input devices for computers and other electronic computing devices has increased significantly in recent years. Example touch-sensitive surfaces include touchpads and touch-screen displays. Such surfaces are widely used to manipulate user interface objects on a display. Example manipulations include adjusting the position and/or size of one or more user interface objects or activating buttons or opening files/applications represented by user interface objects, as well as associating metadata with one or more user interface objects or otherwise manipulating user interfaces. Example user interface objects include digital images, video, text, icons, control elements such as buttons and other graphics. A user will, in some circumstances, need to perform such manipulations on user interface objects in a file management program (e.g., Finder from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), an image management application (e.g., Aperture, iPhoto, Photos from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a digital content (e.g., videos and music) management application (e.g., iTunes from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a drawing application, a presentation application (e.g., Keynote from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a word processing application (e.g., Pages from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a website creation application (e.g., iWeb from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a disk authoring application (e.g., iDVD from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), or a spreadsheet application (e.g., Numbers from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.).
Some devices present user interfaces that can be manipulated to manage data stored on the device (e.g., within a non-transitory memory of the device), such as deleting data from the device, compressing data on the device, or organizing data on the device. But methods for performing these manipulations are cumbersome and inefficient. For example, these methods take longer than necessary, thereby wasting energy, a consideration that is particularly important in battery-operated devices. In addition, these methods manage the data inefficiently, thereby wasting storage space on the device, a consideration that is particularly important for portable devices with limited storage space.

Device, method, and graphical user interface for managing data stored on a device


In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for generation of starter websites. A content management system (CMS), such as for example, an Oracle Content and Experience Cloud (CEC) environment, can be provided. The content management system can include a site generator within the CMS. The site generator can receive a selection of content managed by the CMS, wherein the content includes data associated with the content. The site generator can determine, based on the data associated with the content, a layout of the content on a document. The site generator can generate machine readable code that, when interpreted or executed by a machine, causes the machine to produce a document including the content wherein the content is displayed in the determined layout.

A content management system (CMS) generally allows users to collaboratively manage digital content, such as web content, for display on websites, or on mobile device apps, or other platforms.
For example, a content management system such as Oracle Content and Experience Cloud (CEC) enables the creating, storing, administering, and publishing of associated digital content. Such systems reduce the amount of low-level development required to create and publish the various document forms through which the managed content can be viewed by consumers of that content.

System and method for generation of starter websites


For fiberoptic endotracheal intubation, a method is disclosed that uses a device having a cannula with a first, distal end for placement within the pharynx of a patient, a second, proximal end for being disposed outside of the patient's oral cavity, and a flow passage between the first and second ends. The cannula has a length such that, when the distal end is placed within the pharynx, it terminates distally at a point near the patient's epiglottis. The device includes an inflatable cuff structure for forming a seal between a wall of the cannula and the patient's pharynx. The cuff is positioned adjacent to the distal end of the device and defines, on inflation, a ventral/anterior portion and a posterior portion. The method involves a step of inserting the device, with cuff deflated, into a patient's mouth so that the distal end of the device is disposed at a point near the patient's epiglottis to establish an airway column down the core of the device. Once the cuff structure is inflated, the patient's airway is supported to provide spontaneous breathing and controlled ventilation through the flow passage of the device. Then, a fiberoptic scope, on which an endotracheal tube has been preloaded so that the distal tip of the scope projects beyond the endotracheal tube, is inserted into the patient through the patient's oral cavity so that the lip is in the throat past the uvula, whereby after insertion of the device and insertion of the fiberoptic scope, the scope is disposed exteriorly of the device. Then, the tip of the fiberoptic scope is advanced so that it enters the trachea. The endotracheal tube is then advanced through the oral cavity and into the trachea using the fiberoptic scope as a guide. Finally, the fiberoptic scope is removed from the trachea.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fiberoptic endotracheal intubation and, more particularly, to a method for fiberoptic endotracheal intubation using a cuffed oro-pharyngeal airway (COPA).
2. Description of the Related Art
Fiberoptic endotracheal intubation has been used for several years and may be performed orally or nasally. Conventional methods of fiberoptic endotracheal intubation use the internal passage of a device, such as a laryngeal masked airway, Combitube.RTM., Ovassapian Airway, or the like. The main disadvantage of passing the fiberoptic scope through an airway device is the increased airway resistance encountered, since the fiberscope occupies a significant portion of the lumen of the device. Moreover, it is impossible with such techniques to provide continuous airway support, either controlled inspired gas concentration or assisted/controlled positive pressure manual ventilation.
Fiberoptic intubation with the patient under general anesthesia presents special problems. The main disadvantage of intubation under general anesthesia is that the tongue and pharyngeal tissues lose their tonicity and close down the pharyngeal space, blocking visualization of the larynx. Thus, in such circumstances, to minimize apnea time, and to facilitate laryngeal exposure, an assistant is required.

Copa method for fiberoptic endotracheal intubation


An energy diffusing helmet assembly includes an outer hard shell and an inner fluid filled bladder. The hard shell defines a head cavity into which a head of a wearer is inserted. The fluid filled bladder is positioned within the outer hard shell. There is further provided a fluid filled impact dispersal field mounted on a torso of the wearer. A connective conduit connects the fluid filled bladder and the impact dispersal field. A force of impact exerted upon the fluid filled bladder increases pressure in the impact dispersal field through fluid via the connective conduit.

There have been a series of incidents in which high profile athletes in the sports of hockey and football have sustained concussions, notwithstanding the fact that they were wearing state of the art protective sports helmets at the time of their injury. It is now realized that as athletes become bigger, faster and stronger, helmet technology must be improved. There is a need for a helmet that is more effective in diffusing energy in contact sports.


The present invention is directed to various embodiments of a connector. In one illustrative embodiment, the connector includes a first connector half and a second connector half adapted to be coupled to a power supply source, wherein the first and second connector halves are adapted to, when coupled to one another, define at least one electrical conductive path through the first and second connector halves by contact between at least one conductive member in each of the first and second connector halves, and wherein the first and second connector halves are adapted to be mated or unmated while power is being supplied to at least the second connector half.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally directed to the field of electrical connectors, and, more particularly, to an electrical connector that may be employed in subsea applications and other wet environments.
2. Description of the Related Art
In many industries, electrical power is supplied to components positioned in a body of water. For example, in the oil and gas industry, power may be supplied to various components or devices positioned on the floor of the ocean. As a specific example, electrical power may be supplied to various valves and electrical instrumentation positioned on or adjacent a Christmas tree or blowout preventer positioned on a subsea wellhead. The power is typically supplied by a power generation unit or plant located on a surface vessel or on a drilling or production platform located above the surface of the ocean. In some cases, the power supply unit may be located on land adjacent the body of water.
Typically, an electrical connector is provided between the power supply unit and each of the subsea components so that, when desired, the power supply may be disconnected if needed. Electrical connectors employed with such subsea components are usually contact-based electrical connectors wherein a conductive electrical flow path is established through the connector halves by contact between one or more electrically conductive components in each connector half. Such contact-based electrical connectors are different from induction-based electrical connectors wherein the conductive flow path is established, at least in part, by the interaction between various electrical fields.
To date, contact-based electrical connectors employed in such wet environments suffer from several deficiencies and cause many problems. For example, with existing subsea contact-based connectors, the power supply must be shut off before mating or unmating the electrical connector. That is, with existing subsea contact-based connectors, the connection cannot be established or broken without shutting off the power supplied to the connector. If a connection is broken with electrical power on, these connectors tend to fail. Such deficiencies with existing subsea connectors cause many problems. In some applications, many such contact-based connectors are employed to provide electrical power to several components on various subsea systems and installations. Such systems may be very complex and, once they reach an operational state, it is undesirable to shut off power to all or substantially all of the system when it is necessary to connect/disconnect power to a particular subsea component.
Troubleshooting various problems is also difficult due to the inability of subsea contact-based connectors to be mated/unmated with the power supply on. For example, if a particular downhole component malfunctions or completely stops working, it may be difficult to determine if the cause of the failure is due, in whole or in part, to the electrical power supplied to the malfunctioning component or other components. In a typical system installed on land, part of the troubleshooting process might involve mating/unmating various electrical connectors that supply power to various components of the land-based system. This mating/unmating process may provide useful information as it relates to determining potential causes of the failure or malfunction and/or eliminating potential causes of the failure or malfunction.
With subsea contact-based connectors, where the electrical connections may not be readily established and broken with the power supply "on," i.e., when the connections are "hot," operating personnel may undertake additional actions as it relates to troubleshooting problems. For example, engineers may review many electrical power schematics in an effort to determine potential causes of the failure. Such a procedure can be very time consuming and somewhat inefficient as it is a less direct method of investigating some problems encountered in many failure situations.
Induction-based connectors also suffer from several deficiencies as it relates to their use in subsea applications. In general, such induction-based connectors have not met the high degree of reliability desired for subsea equipment applications. Moreover, the physical size and expense of such induction-based electrical connectors are drawbacks to their widespread implementation in subsea applications.
The present invention is directed to various devices and methods for solving, or at least reducing the effects of, some or all of the aforementioned problems.


A portable mixer comprising a frame assembly. Wheels are operatively mounted on the frame assembly. A deck assembly is pivotally mounted on the frame assembly for tilting forwardly and rearwardly. A mixing bag is suspended from the frame assembly.

The most commonly used method to mix concrete is to pour dry concrete mixture into a wheelbarrow or the like, and add small amounts of water until the desired consistency is reached.
It is well known that this method has a number of drawbacks. Firstly, it is necessary to lift the bag of concrete mixture of above the height of the wheelbarrow in order to dump the concrete mixture into the wheelbarrow. Further, the wheelbarrow becomes covered in moist, yet drying, concrete and is very difficult to clean. The method also requires a shovel to mix the water into the concrete mixture. Further, the actual mixing with a shovel is physically demanding and also causes the shovel to become covered in moist, yet drying, concrete.
One such device assists with the mixing of concrete, and the like, in a wheelbarrow. U.S. Pat. No. 6,749,328 issued Jun. 15, 2004 to Killen, discloses a Wheelbarrow with Mixing Assembly, wherein a wheelbarrow has a base assembly and an open hopper mounted on the base assembly. A motor turns a mixing blade positioned within the hopper. A shaft extends from the motor to the mixing blade. This apparatus is not suitable for mixing anything other than concrete and the like.
It is also well known to keep compostable materials in composters. Such composters typically comprise plastic containers with airflow vents. In order to assist the composting process, it is necessary to frequently mix the compost in such compost containers, perhaps as often as every couple of days in order to maximize the decomposition of the material in the compost.
Such mixing of compost is time-consuming and also is difficult if the composter is relatively full. Further, it is necessary to re-distribute the compost at the bottom of the composter, which is often quite difficult.
One such apparatus that tries to make the mixing of compost easier is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,754 issued May 17, 1994 to Bryan-Brown and entitled Composting Apparatus and System. A second embodiment of this invention comprises a high strength fabric suspended on a tubular steel frame. The top layer of the fabric is perforated to allow the control passage of pressurized air therethrough, and forms an upper half of an inflatable cylinder. The outer layer of the fabric is impervious and forms a lower half of the inflatable cylinder. Pressurized air is forced in the inflatable cylinder, between the top and bottom layers, so as to inflate the high strength fabric cylinder. Upon inflation, the top layer raises compost piled thereon, thereby mixing the compost. Further, air passes through the perforated upper layer of fabric to aerate the compost. When the cylinder is deflated, further mixing of the compost takes place. The compost is retained in place by sloping walls that are each attached to the frame by a hinge. The sloping walls are folded down to remove the compost.
This unit has a significant disadvantage in that it requires a source of pressurized air in order to operate. Further, this apparatus cannot be used for mixing concrete and the like.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable mixer that mixes concrete.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable mixer that mixes concrete, wherein it is not necessary to lift the bag of concrete mixture two or three feet in order to dump the concrete mixture into the mixer.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable mixer that mixes concrete, wherein the mixer is easy to clean.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable mixer that mixes concrete, wherein a shovel is not required to mix the water into the concrete mixture.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable mixer that mixes concrete, wherein the mixing of the concrete is not physically demanding.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable mixer that mixes compost.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable mixer that mixes compost, wherein the proper mixing of the compost is not overly time consuming.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable mixer that mixes compost, wherein the proper mixing of the compost is not difficult even if the composter is relatively full.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable mixer that mixes compost, wherein all of the compost in the container is mixed fully and properly.


An electrical connector includes a housing, a cable, a contact and an encapsulant. The housing extends from a cable exit to an opposite end along a longitudinal axis and from a mounting face to a top face along a vertical axis. The housing includes a cable opening that extends into the cable exit in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and a window extending into the housing from the top face toward the mounting face in a direction parallel to the vertical axis. The cable extends through the window and into the housing through the cable opening. The contact is held by the housing and is configured to electrically couple the cable with a mating device when the housing face of the housing is mounted to the mating device. The encapsulant is disposed within the window to seal an interface between the cable and the housing. The encapsulant prevents ingress of moisture into the housing through the interface.

The subject matter herein relates generally to electrical connectors and, more particularly, for electrical connectors that are coupled with one or more cables.
Some known electrical connectors are joined with cables to electrically couple the connectors with the cables. For example, the connectors may include contacts that engage a mating device. The contacts electrically join the connector with the mating device. The cable typically includes one or more conductors enclosed by an insulative jacket extending along the interior of the cable throughout the length of the cable. The cable is connected with the connector with the conductors electrically terminated with the contacts to electrically couple the cable with the contacts. Thus, the connector electrically connects the mating device with the cable. Electrical power and/or signals may then be communicated between the mating device and the cable. In applications where the mating device is a solar module or panel, the connector may communicate electric potential or current from the solar module or panel to another mating device via the cable.
In some applications, the cables joined with the connectors may experience significant forces that pull the cable away from the housing of the connector. For example, environmental factors such as ice and snow may add weight to the cables joined to connectors on solar panels. This additional weight may pull the cables away from the connectors. If the cables are not affixed to the connectors in a sufficiently strong manner, the cables may become detached from the housings of the connectors.
Some known connectors include retention mechanisms that assist in preventing the cable from being separated from the connector housing. But, these retention mechanisms may be relatively large. For example, some known solar module connectors include pinch ring and nut combinations to secure cables to the connector housings. The pinch ring is a ring that is placed around the cable. The pinch ring includes several slots that permit the ring to be compressed down onto the cable. The nut is placed into the connector. The pinch ring is screwed into the nut to compress the pinch ring onto the cable and to couple the cable with the connector. The pinch ring is compressed around the cable when the nut is screwed down or tightened onto the connector. But, the size of the nut limits the size of the connector. That is, the size of the connector typically must be at least as large as the nut. As a result, the profile height of the connector is limited by the size of the nut. In certain applications, the size of the nut may require the connector to have a profile height that is too large. For example, the location in which some solar module connectors are required may be too small to fit a connector having a nut and pinch ring combination.
The interface between the cable and the housing at the opening provides a location where moisture can enter into the housing. In connectors that have too small of a profile to permit use of the pinch ring and nut combination, the cable/housing interface may be exposed to the atmosphere surrounding the connector. In conditions where the cable and housing experience changes in temperature, differences between coefficients of thermal expansion between the cable and the housing may result in a gap forming at the cable/housing interface. For example, the housing may be formed of a material that expands and contracts a greater distance than the material of the outer jacket of the cable over a common change in temperature. When the connector is used in environments experiencing relatively large temperature changes, the differences in coefficients of thermal expansion may cause a relatively large gap to be formed. The gap permits moisture to seep into the interior of the housing, where the moisture can electrically short the contacts or other electrical components of the housing.
Thus, a need exists for a connector assembly that affixes cables to connectors in such a manner to maintain a relatively small profile height of the connector while preventing moisture from entering into the housing.

Electrical connector having an encapsulant to seal the connector


In one embodiment, a lateral FET cell is formed in a body of semiconductor material. The body of semiconductor material includes alternating layers of opposite conductivity type that extend between a trench drain region and a trench gate structure. The trench gate structure controls at least one sub-surface channel region. The body of semiconductor material provides sub-surface drift regions to reduce on resistance without increasing device area.

This invention relates generally to semiconductor devices, and more specifically to lateral field effect transistor (FET) structures and methods of manufacture.
Metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) are a common type of integrated circuit device. A MOSFET device includes a source region, a drain region, a channel region extending between the source and drain regions, and a gate provided over the channel region. The gate includes a conductive gate structure disposed over and separated from the channel regions with a thin dielectric layer.
Lateral MOSFET devices are often used in high voltage (i.e., greater than 200 volts) applications such as off-line switching regulators in AC/DC voltage conversion. Lateral MOSFET devices typically comprise a source region and a drain region separated by an intermediate or drift region. A gate structure is disposed over the channel region of the device. In the on state, a voltage is applied to the gate to form a conduction channel region between the source and drain regions, which allows current to flow through the device. In the off state, voltage applied to the gate is sufficiently low so that a conduction channel does not form, and thus current flow does not occur. During the off state, the device must support a high voltage between source and drain regions.
ON resistance (RON) is an important performance figure of merit for MOSFET switching devices. ON resistance is the ohmic resistance that exists between an input and an output pin of a MOSFET switch when the switch is closed and passing a signal. ON resistance correlates to how much signal attenuation will result as the signal passes through the device. Another important figure of merit is specific on resistance (RSP), which is the product of RON and surface area, or RON*Area. A lower RON*Area allows a designer to use a smaller high voltage lateral MOSFET to meet ON resistance requirements for a given application, which reduces the area and cost of a power integrated circuit.
One problem with conventional high voltage lateral MOSFETs is that techniques and structures that tend to maximize breakdown voltage (VBD) adversely affect RON and vice versa. For example, typical lateral MOSFETs require a larger surface area in order to support a higher VBD, which increases specific on-resistance (RSP).
To overcome this problem, several designs have been proposed in an attempt to provide acceptable combinations of high breakdown voltage and low RON*Area. For example, devices have been designed with one or more reduced surface field (RESURF) regions and/or regions of localized doping (also referred to as superjunction or multiple conduction structures). However, these designs require expensive wafer processing involving multiple masking and ion implant steps, very deep diffused body regions or contacts (e.g., 30 to 40 microns deep), and/or expensive silicon on insulator substrates, which increase the cost of chip manufacturing. Also, these designs are not optimized to support a multitude of blocking voltages, which adds to cost.
Accordingly, a need exists for cost effective structures and methods that improve the Ron*Area performance of lateral MOSFET devices while maintaining high blocking voltage capability and manufacturing flexibility.

High voltage lateral FET structure with improved on resistance performance

Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.


In optical two-way communication using a single optical fiber, part of the light transmitted from an apparatus is received as stray light by the apparatus itself. This occasionally hampers accurate detection of disconnection from the partner apparatus and of the start of data communication by the partner apparatus after the establishment of connection. To overcome this, the timing with which an apparatus transmits a tone signal after the establishment of connection is compared with the timing with which the apparatus receives a tone signal from the partner apparatus, and the two apparatuses use different sets of data transmission properties (for example, different wavelengths) to accurately detect disconnection. Moreover, based on the properties of the received light and the characteristics of the receiving amplifier, repetition of the same code for longer than a predetermined period is detected to accurately detect disconnection. Furthermore, in response to a request for data communication after the establishment of connection, a tone signal having a different pattern from that used to establish connection is used to accurately detect the start of data communication.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data communication apparatus used in communication using an optical fiber as a data transmission medium.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The IEEE Std. 1394-1995 (hereinafter IEEE1394) has been receiving widespread attention as a data communication method between digital home information appliances. As a complement to IEEE1394, the IEEE Std. 1394a-2000 (hereinafter IEEE1394a) aims at higher communication efficiency and lower power consumption, and a draft standard called p1394b tackles faster data rates over longer distances.
Tone Signals and Data Signals
According to p1394b, which is an example of optical two-way communication (full-duplex communication) using two optical fibers, connection between apparatuses is established by exchanging tone signals, and, after the establishment of connection, a data signal starts being transmitted when a request for communication occurs in one of the apparatuses. On the other hand, according to IEEE1394a, when no communication with a partner apparatus takes place after the establishment of connection, a suspended state (a connection-established state) is maintained by canceling the request for data communication to achieve low power consumption.
Detection of Disconnection Based on SD Signal
According to the standard p1394b, a binary signal called SD (signal detect) is used to detect disconnection between apparatuses. The SD signal is a signal that remains active while a tone signal is being oscillated and while a normal data signal is being received. When apparatuses are disconnected from each other as a result of physical disconnection or power-down, the SD signal becomes non-active, and this permits easy detection of disconnection.
Detection of Start of Communication Based on SD Signal
Moreover, when a transmitted signal is switched from a tone signal to a continuous data communication signal, the SD signal becomes continuously active. By detecting this, the receiving side can easily detect the starting of data communication by the communication partner.
Use of a Single Optical Fiber
While, as described above, p1394b is optical two-way communication using two optical fibers, there is observed a trend toward the realization of optical two-way communication (single-fiber full-duplex communication) using a single optical fiber for cost reduction and space saving.
Reason for Difficulty in Detecting Disconnection Based on SD Signal
However, in optical two-way communication using a single optical fiber, a light-emitter cannot be optically separated from a light-receiver, and therefore the light receiver of one apparatus (hereinafter the home apparatus) receives not only the light (partner light) transmitted from another apparatus (hereinafter the partner apparatus) but also part (stray light) of the light transmitted from the light-emitter of the home apparatus itself toward the partner apparatus. As a result, even when the two apparatuses are disconnected from each other, the stray light so received may keep the SD signal active. This occasionally makes it impossible to detect disconnection on the basis of the value of the SD signal alone.
Reason for Difficulty in Detecting Start of Communication Based on SD Signal
Moreover, when the home apparatus starts data communication first, the received stray light may make the SD signal active. This occasionally makes it impossible to detect the starting of data communication by the partner apparatus thereafter on the basis of the value of the SD signal alone.
Reason for Difficulty in Maintaining Connection-Established State
Moreover, after a transition from a state in which two communication apparatuses are transferring data to a connection-established state resulting from simultaneous cancellation of requests for data transfer in both apparatuses, even though the apparatuses try to maintain the connection-established state by exchanging tone signals, if the home apparatus transmits a tone signal at almost the same time as the partner apparatus transmits a tone signal, the home apparatus cannot distinguish whether the received tone signal is from the partner apparatus or from the home apparatus itself. This makes it impossible to maintain the connection-established state, occasionally causing an unwanted transition to a disconnected state.
Reason for Difficulty in Shifting from Disconnected State to Connection-Established State
Moreover, during a transition from a disconnected state to a connection-established state resulting from recognition of the partner apparatus through exchange of tone signals, if the tone signals used have a fixed period, once the tone signal from the home apparatus overlaps with the tone signal from the partner apparatus, the stray light makes it impossible for the home apparatus to distinguish, by the method of detecting tone signals on the basis of the SD signal, whether the tone signal received is from the partner apparatus or from the home apparatus itself. This makes it impossible to detect the tone signal of the partner apparatus. As a result, no transition to a connection-established state ever takes place, with a disconnected state maintained for ever.

Apparatus and method for data communication including establishing communication using tone signal


There is provided is a computer system that outputs a predicted value of data to be evaluated using a predictor generated using learning data. The computer system includes the predictor; an index calculation unit that calculates an interpretation index of the data to be evaluated; and an extraction unit that selects the learning data useful for a user to interpret the predicted value of the data to be evaluated, wherein index management information for managing an interpretation index of the learning data is stored, the index calculation unit calculates the interpretation index of the data to be evaluated, and the extraction unit calculates a selection index based on the interpretation index of the data to be evaluated and the interpretation index of the learning data, selects the learning data based on the selection index, and outputs display information for presenting information indicating a processing result.

The present invention relates to a system and a method that presents useful data for interpreting a prediction basis of AI.
In recent years, support systems utilizing AI in various fields such as medical care and finance have been provided. For example, in the medical field, AI is utilized to predict the morbidity of a disease, identify symptoms, and the like. In the financial field, AI is utilized to perform credit screening and the like.
As a result of an advance in technological development aiming at improving the accuracy of prediction output by AI, such as prediction of the morbidity of a disease, the black-box processing of an AI model (algorithm) is accelerated. Therefore, there is a problem that a user who uses AI cannot trust a predicted value of AI.
Under such a background, there is an increasing demand for explaining a prediction basis of AI and verifying an operation by a developer or an operator of a system utilizing AI.
Techniques disclosed in Patent Literature 1 (JP-A-2016-162131) and Non-Patent Literature 1 (Marco Tulio Ribeiro, etc. "Why Should I Trust You?": Explaining the Predictions of Any Classifier, KDD′16 Proceedings of the 22nd ACM SIGKDD International Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining, August 2016, Pages 1135 to 1144.) are known as techniques for presenting information indicating the reliability of a system to a user who uses the system.
Patent Literature 1 describes "Medical care data display screen displays diagnostic support information calculated by a diagnostic support program. The diagnosis support program calculates the diagnosis support information by performing an operation using a plurality of items of patient medical care data as input items. In addition to the diagnosis support information, contribution information is displayed on the medical care data display screen. The contribution information is information including, among the plurality of the input items, an item of which contribution degree to the diagnosis support information, which is a calculation result, exceeds a predetermined value."
Non-Patent Literature 1 and Non-Patent Literature 2 (Scott M Lundberg et, "A Unified Approach to Interpreting Model Predictions", Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems 30, December 2017, Pages 4765 to 4774.) describe data calculation methods that use a combination of a plurality of perturbation data generated by changing data to be evaluated and predicted values obtained by inputting the perturbation data to AI to explain a prediction basis of AI for the data to be evaluated.
The contribution degree disclosed in Patent Literature is calculated based on the similarity of values of examination data items. However, AI does not necessarily predict based on the similarity of the item values. For example, high prediction accuracy can be achieved by predicting based on a combination of a plurality of items. Therefore, the technique disclosed in Patent Literature 1 cannot be applied to such AI. In addition, there is a problem that the user lacks persuasiveness if only outputting data calculated using the techniques described in Non-Patent Literature 1 and Non-Patent Literature 2 as information for interpreting a prediction basis.

Computer system and method of presenting information related to basis of predicted value output by predictor


A variety of sensing assembly components, and methods of assembling, mounting, and orientating such assemblies and/or components, are disclosed. In one example embodiment, a sensing assembly includes a main body including at least a housing portion, and a mounting portion protruding outward from the main body. The mounting portion includes an outer connector section including at least one electrical connector, and an intermediate section that includes an outer surface that either has substantially a shape of a polygon or is at least partly threaded, where the intermediate section is positioned in between the main body and the outer connector section. Additionally, the intermediate section has an outer diameter, the outer connector section has an outer diameter, and the intermediate section outer diameter is greater than the outer connection section outer diameter. In other example embodiments, retaining structures on portions of a sensing assembly, or bracket assembly components, are provided.

Sensing devices of many different types are commonly employed in a variety of environments and applications. Sensing devices encompass a broad spectrum of devices including, for example, various light-sensing devices such as laser-sensing devices, light sensing devices that are capable of distinguishing among different colors of visible light, and devices for sensing various other types of radiation including infrared radiation or heat, microwave radiation, and x-ray radiation. Additionally, other sensing devices include, for example, devices that are capable of sensing the positions of other structures, acoustic sensors, vibration sensors, motion sensors such as accelerometers, orientation sensors involving gyroscopes, and numerous other types of sensing devices.
Sensing devices are employed in a wide variety of industrial, commercial, military, residential and other environments and applications. For example, in industrial environments, light sensors are often employed in conjunction with conveyor systems such as those used in assembly lines. Such light sensors are often used to detect the presence of objects moving down an assembly line and to determine whether a given object has entered or exited a particular region of the assembly line. Light sensors of similar design can also be used in residential applications, for example, in connection with garage door openers. Also for example, in many commercial facilities as well as residential homes, various sensing devices are used in security systems in order to detect the presence of potential intruders within or nearby those facilities or homes. Sensing devices can further be implemented on vehicles, for example, to detect the presence of objects behind vehicles. Indeed, sensing devices are ubiquitous in today's modern world.
Although in some cases sensing devices are free-standing, typically sensing devices are mounted upon or in relation to other supporting structures. Further, in many if not most circumstances, it is desirable that the sensing devices be mounted in relation to such supporting structures in a fixed manner, or at least in a manner by which the location and orientation of a given sensing device relative to the supporting structure(s), target(s), and/or signal source(s) are known or predictable. For example, in the case of a light sensing device implemented in a manufacturing assembly line, it is typically desired that the light sensing device be fixedly orientated in a particular direction so as to be aligned to receive a light beam from a light source located elsewhere. The mounting of light sensing devices in other environments, such as in the case of garage door openers, similarly can entail the careful, fixed positioning of the sensing devices.
Although it is often desirable to be able to fixedly and reliably orient a sensing device in a desired direction or otherwise, it is also often desirable that a sensing assembly be suitable for use in a variety of locations and environments. For this reason, some known sensing assemblies include multiple components that can be repositioned relative to one another so as to allow the orientation of the sensor face (e.g., the face of the sensor at which light or another signal is incident on the sensor) to be varied in its position relative to another supporting portion of the sensing assembly by which the sensing assembly is mounted to a supporting structure such as a wall. Although such sensing assemblies can often provide desired flexibility in terms of positioning of the sensor face, some such sensing assemblies are disadvantageous in that the reorientation of the different sensing assembly components requires time-consuming efforts such as screwing and unscrewing bolts used to secure the various components to one another.
Therefore, it would be advantageous if improved sensing devices, sensing assemblies and/or assembly components, and/or methods for assembling, mounting, and/or orientating same, can be developed so as to address one or more of the above issues and/or one or more other goals.

Sensing assembly components and methods of assembling, mounting and orientating same


A method and a device for removing high priority samples from a primary conveyor and transferring such samples directly to an analyzer's sampling location even if other samples have been previously removed from the conveyor and are in a queue to be analyzed.

Clinical diagnostic analyzers are being developed with increasing levels of complexity and sophistication in order to fully automate the performance of chemical assays and immunoassays of biological fluid samples such as urine, blood serum, plasma, cerebrospinal liquids and the like, these fluid samples almost universally being contained in open or capped sample tubes. Generally, chemical reactions between an analyte in a patient's biological sample and reagents used during performing the assay result in generating various signals that can be measured by the analyzer. From these signals the concentration of the analyte in the sample may be calculated.
A wide variety of automated chemical analyzers are known in the art and are continually being improved to increase analytical menu and throughput, to reduce turnaround time, and to decrease requisite sample volumes. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,103,193, and 6,027,691 and 5,482,861. Such improvements, while necessary in themselves, may be hampered if sufficient corresponding advances are not made in the automation of pre-analytical sample preparation and handling operations like sorting, batch preparation, centrifugation of sample tubes to separate sample constituents, cap removal to facilitate fluid access, and the like.
Automated clinical sample treatment and transportation systems generally include conveyor systems for conveying specimens to processing stations, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,060,022, and 5,972,295. Typical of such systems, a sample is transported to an analyzer by a primary conveyor and shuttled onto an analyzer-specific buffer lane that transports samples to the sampling area of an adjacent analyzer in the order in which they were placed. A problem with such systems arises when an incoming sample has a higher priority for testing than samples already on the primary conveyor or already in the processing station-specific buffer lane. One solution is to control the conveyor so that all samples preceding the higher priority are forced to by-pass the target processing station and/or to move the samples already in the specific buffer lane back onto the primary conveyor in order to allow the higher-priority sample to be processed without further delay. Both of these solutions are undesirable since the overall throughput of the sample handling treatment and transportation system is reduced when samples are inefficiently passed more than once around the primary conveyor.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,011,792 discloses an automatic analyzing apparatus having a plurality of analyzer units for serum, blood plasma and urine arranged along a main transfer line for transferring a sample rack from a rack providing portion to an analyzer specific sampling lane to a rack storage area. Each newly added sample follows a previously added sample on the main transfer line and/or within the analyzer specific sampling lanes. In the event of a high-priority sample, samples are forwarded directly to the analyzer unit at which the operation priority is assigned, however it is not clear how one sample on the main transfer line can by-pass another.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,907 discloses a sample handling system with a transportation line for transporting a sample rack, a rack loading device for loading the transportation line, a rack storage device for storing the sample rack transported by the transportation line, a plurality of treating units for treating samples held in a sample rack. The transportation line includes pairs of plural partitive line units and treating units. In the case of high-priority samples, an operator sets such samples at an emergency sample mounting position and are provided with priority over normal sample racks in a normal sample mounting areas. Again, the high-priority samples are not given priority over samples already on the transportation line nor over sample racks buffered in the sample processing area of an analyzer.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,022, automatically presents pre-treated samples in open containers to robotic devices operated in conjunction with independent stand-alone analyzers. No special provision is made for high-priority samples.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,295 discloses an automatic analyzing apparatus having a rack supply unit and a transfer line for transferring a sample rack supplied from the rack supply unit to a sampling position within an analyzing unit. An emergency (high-priority) sample input unit is provided so that the high-priority sample rack can be placed at the entrance of the conveying line giving priority over ordinary sample racks in the rack supply unit. However, the high-priority sample rack is not given priority over sample racks already on the conveying line nor over sample racks buffered in the sample processing area of an analyzer.
Although these prior art systems have advanced the art of sample handling and processing, what has not been addressed is the challenge of enabling samples to be presented to a processing station from the conveyor in a prioritized, independent order without delays from other samples scheduled to be processed by the same processing station.

Programmable random access sample handler for use within and automated laboratory system


There is provided a security chip having a tamper-resistant feature, including an acquisition part configured to acquire specific information transmitted by a device performing challenge-response authentication, the specific information being specific to the device, a storage configured to store second key information that enables generation of first key information from the specific information, the first key information being used by the device for challenge-response authentication, and a generation part configured to generate, using the second key information, the first key information from the specific information. A response to be transmitted to the device is generated, using the first key information, from a challenge transmitted by the device. In the device, the first key information is not stored in a tamper-resistant security chip.

The present disclosure relates to a security chip, a program, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing system.
In recent years, fake peripheral devices (for example, battery packs) have been distributed in the market. Accordingly, those fake peripheral devices cause various issues. For example, the following accident occurs: a fake battery pack that does not have overcharging protection circuit is connected to a main device such as a digital camera or a personal computer (PC), and thus the fake battery pack explodes.
In order to solve such issue, it is necessary that a main device authenticate a peripheral device (for example, battery pack) that is connected to the main device. That is, it is necessary that the main device determine whether the peripheral device connected to the main device is a genuine product (or authorized product) or a fake product. Then, in the case of determining that the fake battery pack is connected to the main device, for example, the main device performs control such that charging of the fake battery pack is not started. In this way, overheating and explosion of the fake battery pack can be prevented. Accordingly, a technology is suggested for performing challenge-response authentication between a main device and a peripheral device each having a tamper-resistant chip (that is, security chip).
For example, JP 2008-85547A discloses a technology for performing authentication between devices in the following manner: a main device transmits random number data to an accessory device; the accessory device transmits a result obtained by performing arithmetic processing on the random number data to the main device; and the main device compares the decrypted data of the result with the random number data.

Security chip, program, information processing apparatus, and information processing system


Provided in embodiments of the present application are a method and device for age estimation. The method comprises: performing gender training with respect to a gender model on the basis of facial image samples so as to allow the gender model to converge, where the gender model comprises at least two convolution layers; performing age training with respect to an age model on the basis of the facial samples so as to allow the age model to converge, where the age model comprises the at least two convolution layers, the converged age model comprises the weights of the at least two convolution layers, and the weights of the at least two convolution layers that the converged gender model comprises; and performing age estimation with respect to an inputted facial image on the basis of the converged age model. The technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application eliminates the problem of inaccurate age estimation as a result of gender differences of facial images, thus increasing the accuracy of age estimation.

As the age of the face image is more and more widely used in the fields of Internet user portrait, precise advertising delivery, image or video recommendation, etc., the demand for the age estimation of the face image is increasing. The age of the face image is the age of the person in the face image, and the age estimation of the face image is the age estimation of the person in the image based on the face image.
At present, the methods for the age estimation of the face image mainly include traditional machine learning methods. Specifically, the artificial features such as Histogram of Oriented Gradient (HOG) and Scale-Invariant Feature Taransform (SIFT) are firstly designed and defined, then the effective features useful for the age estimation in the face image are extracted by the dimensionality reduction method, and finally the age of the face image is estimated by using the extracted features and a regression model.
The features learned by the traditional machine learning methods have poor robustness to the information such as noise, background, light, and different states of the face, resulting in the inaccurate age estimation of the face image. For example, by using the traditional machine learning methods, the age difference detected for face images of the same person taken in different scenes is relatively large, and the accuracy of the age estimation of the face images is relatively low.

Beijing Dajia Internet Information Technology Co., Ltd.


Systems, methods, and computer products for deriving custom cache dependencies are explained. A framework that includes an extensible cache dependency base class that can be used to derive custom cache dependency classes for invalidating cache entries on some custom condition is disclosed. In some embodiments, a Web page server includes a cache and the framework including the extensible cache dependency base. Methods are disclosed for causing a cache entry to be dependent on a customized cache dependency and for invalidating cache entries based on customized cache dependencies. For example, cache entries can depend on and be purged based on dependencies on database tables and Web services.

1. The Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to managing cached content. More specifically, the invention relates to extending cache dependency classes such that developers can create custom cache dependencies.
2. Background and Relevant Art
In modern computer systems and network systems, data caching is an effective tool to speed-up the delivery of data to those who request it. Generally, data caching involves storing frequently requested data at a location where the data can be quickly retrieved. In one example, data stored in physical memory of a computer system can be retrieved quicker than data stored on a hard drive in the computer system. This is in part due to hard drives typically having greater data retrieval latencies as compared to physical memory. Likewise, data stored on a hard drive or in memory on a server computer system can be accessed more efficiently than data stored at a remote database. Further, the use of cached data can reduce the number of calculations needed to generate content for delivery to a requesting client computer system.
Modem networks have facilitated the ability to broadly transfer digital information to and from various locations. One way of making data available for transport is by creating a static file such as an HTML file that can be downloaded from the server to a client computer system where it can be viewed. Static files can be cached in a variety of locations including at a server computer system, in a regional database, or even locally on the client computer system. When computer system static files are stored at a client computer system, retrieval and display by the client computer system is, for all practical purposes, instantaneous. Even when static files are stored directly on a server computer system connected to the client computer system (commonly known as output caching), retrieval of cached content can occur relatively quickly. Further, because of their static nature, static files can be cached for long periods of time, essentially indefinitely.
Unfortunately, static files cannot include real-time or custom content. Often, it is desirable to present content that changes on a periodic basis or that is formed from a calculation or manipulation of other content. While such content can still be cached, the cached values of the content are valid only for a limited duration. As such, the cache must be refreshed to ensure that the data is valid.
One technology that has assisted Web developers in creating Web pages and Websites is the use of scripts or modular pieces of computer executable code that are run on a Web page server such as, for example, an Internet Information Server. Scripts can be embedded among other HTML tags to create Web pages that are dynamic and customizable. Just as objects can be called in programs such as those written in Visual Basic, JavaScript, and C#, so to can the same objects be called in scripts that are based on these and other languages.
A class is an object within a programming framework such as the ASP.NET framework. The ASP.NET framework comprises thousands of classes that Web page developers can use to develop Web pages. In a manner similar to accessing a file through a directory path, classes can be accessed by reference to a particular name space. For example, a reference to the name space System.WinForms.Form provides an indication of the location of a particular class. Classes can be associated with properties, events and methods. A property can be thought of as some variable assignment or a setting in a corresponding class (e.g., x=5). An event is a flag that is raised upon the occurrence of an event. The event can be read by other classes or other applications to cause some action to be taken. A method provides a way to invoke the functionality of a corresponding class to perform an action (e.g. output data to a display device). A method defines how functionality is offered to external components.
To facilitate the caching of content and hence improve performance of a Web page server, a programming framework can include classes for retrieving data from various locations such as for example, files, databases and Web services, and classes for manipulating data through various operations. In some environments, a Web page server computer system with access to these classes (e.g., an ASP server) may create and store HTML code based on real time content, which is to be sent to the client computer system in an output caching scenario. In other environments, a Web page server computer system may cache content, such as an XML file, locally at the Web page server computer system so that the content does not need to be retrieved or recalculated each time a Web page that is to include the content is requested.
Some programming frameworks allow Web developers to create instructions that, when executed, cause content to be stored in cache. For example, to insert an entry into cache, the following instruction can be executed: Cache.Insert([key], [value], [dependency]) where key is reference identifier for the cache entry, value is the value (or content) placed into the cache entry, and dependency is an optional argument that defines when the value for the key should be purged from the cache. Dependency is an instance of a class, for example a CacheDependency class, that can be used to cause the cache value to be dependent on the occurrence of a particular event.
Some programming frameworks support cache dependencies that cause a cached value to be dependent on either a time, a file or a key. A time cache dependency causes an entry associated with the specific dependency to be purged after the expiration of a specific period of time. For example, the Cache.Insert instruction can be implemented as follows to cause data to be dependent on time:
Cache.Insert(strCacheKey, dataset, nothing, DateTime.Now.AddMinutes(60), TimeSpan.Zero, CacheItemPriority.High),
More specifically, the DateTime.Now.AddMinutes(60) instruction causes an entry in the cache to be purged from the cache after 60 minutes. Using a time cache dependency that is set too short can result in the too frequent purging of the cache and the added cost of frequently fetching data from a database or the cost of calculating data to be stored in the cache. If the time value is set to long, there is the risk that the data stored in the cache will be invalid when it is delivered to a requesting client computer system.
The Cache.Insert instruction can also be used to implement a file cache dependency that causes a cache entry to be purged if there is a change in a particular file. Further, the Cache.Insert instruction can be used to implement a key dependency that causes one or more cache entries to be purged when some other cache value stored in memory changes. Using a key dependency, the changing of one cache value can cause a number of dependent cache values to be purged from the cache.
While the three cache dependencies described above: time, file and key, are useful for keeping values stored in cache fresh, the classes that implement these dependencies are typically sealed. Thus, Web developers typically have no way to cause cache entries to be dependent on other types of events. This prevents various other types of cache dependencies, which may make the management of the cache more efficient, from being used. Accordingly, what would be advantageous are mechanisms for extending the types of dependencies the can be used to invalidate cache entries.

General dependency model for invalidating cache entries


Methods of forming a total-internal-reflection (TIR) optical fiber lens are disclosed. The methods include heating an end of an optical fiber with a defocused infrared laser beam to form a bulbous tip having a curved outer surface that defines a lens surface. The bulbous tip is laser cleaved to define a TIR facet. Light traveling in the fiber diverges at an effective fiber end and is reflected by the TIR facet through the lens surface to form an image at an image plane.

Optical fibers are used for a wide range of optics- and optics-electronics-based applications and systems. In essentially all such applications and systems, light needs to be coupled into and out of the optical fiber in some manner.
One way light is coupled into and out of optical fibers is through the use of optical fiber lenses. An optical fiber lens is a lens that resides at an end of an optical fiber. The optical fiber lens serves to couple light into and/or out of the optical fiber according to the particular needs of the system or application. Optical fiber lenses are used, for example, in optical fiber connectors and optical-coherence-tomography applications.
Several types of optical fiber lenses that are available have light-turning capability. However, such lenses include separate molded parts such as mirrors and lenses that need to be added to the optical fiber. The need for manufacturing separate parts and aligning them during manufacturing adds cost to the fiber-lens system.

Methods of forming a TIR optical fiber lens


A transport and storage container of plastic for a filling material, having an inner container of polyethylene which is produced in the blow-molding method and which has a single-layer wall structure. The inner container is accommodated by an outer container, which is open at the top and which contains at least one layer of electrically conductive plastic. The outer lateral surface of the inner container is wrapped with an electrically dissipative flexible material, wherein at least one electrically conductive tab covers at least part of the top side of the inner container.

The invention relates to a plastic transport and storage container for a filling material, comprising an inner container having a capacity of 50 to 5000 L for receiving the filling material and an outer container which is open at the top and accommodates the inner container and includes at least one layer made of electrically conductive plastic material.
A container of this type is known from DE 201 07 962 U1. For preventing electrostatic chargings which may result in gas discharges, a conductive filler is admixed to the plastic material of the inner container so that a certain electrical conductivity and thus an electrically antistatic or charge-dissipating effect is achieved. The outer container is likewise made of plastic material and has a multi-layer structure, with its inner layer and its outer layer being formed of electrically conductive plastic material.
In the case of a highly pure filling material, such as in the chemical industry, also the plastic material for the inner container must have a very high purity. However, due to admixture of electrically conductive fillers and the use of co-extrusion blow molding it cannot be guaranteed that no impurities are released from the container walls to the filling material. Moreover, the manufacture of multi-layer walls for the inner container using blow molding is complex.

Transport and storage container of plastic for a filling material


Computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems are provided. A method includes generating a running result matrix for a plurality of batch jobs, indicating corresponding running results for respective processing actions in batch jobs of the plurality of batch jobs. The method further includes obtaining an internal dependency matrix for the plurality of batch jobs, indicating corresponding dependencies between respective processing actions within a batch job of the plurality of batch jobs. The method further includes calculating a recovery matrix for the plurality of batch jobs based, at least in part, on the running result matrix and the internal dependency matrix, the recovery matrix indicating corresponding recovery actions for respective processing actions in batch jobs of the plurality of batch jobs. The method further includes executing failover management for one or more batch jobs based, at least in part, on the calculated recovery matrix.

The present application relates generally to batch job processing, and more specifically to failover management for batch jobs.
A batch job, in the simplest terms, is a scheduled program that is assigned to run on a computer system with little or no further user interactions. Batch jobs are often queued up during working hours and then executed during the evening or weekend when the computer system is idle. Once a batch job is submitted, the job enters into a queue where it waits until the system is ready to process the job. If the job queue contains many jobs waiting to be processed, the system processes the jobs either in chronological order or by priority. Batch jobs are frequently used to automate tasks that need to be performed on a regular basis. A batch job comprises a plurality of processing actions each of which is an independent and a sequential phase of the batch job such as a step of the batch job and the like. In addition to processing actions, a batch job may also contain one or more decision actions which utilize the exit status of the previous processing action to determine the next processing action or terminate the batch job altogether. Decision actions set the status of the batch job when terminating it, noting if it was terminated successfully, it was interrupted, or it failed. Batch jobs are widely used in cloud computing environments.
Failover, in computing and related technologies, is switching to a redundant or standby computer system, server, hardware component, or network upon a failure or abnormal termination of the previously active application, system, server, hardware component, or network. Failover is automatic and usually operates without warning. Batch job failover management is the management of failover upon a failure or abnormal termination of batch jobs.

International Business Machines Corporation


A passive optical network suitable for use as a telecommunications access network, having a head-end transmitting in a first optical frequency and one or more subscriber stations transmitting on a second common optical frequency. A carrier sense, multiple access protocol, with collision detection, is used, the collision detection being performed in the subscriber and head-end stations.

This invention relates to fibre in the loop access networks, and in particular to fibre to the home (FTTH).
A characteristic of known FTTH networks is that customers tend to exist in groups situated geographically close to each other (say, within 200 meters), but the head end (or central office) may be some kilometers away for example, 5 km.
In networks where multiple nodes share a common medium, a multiple access protocol is needed to manage access to the medium such that individual nodes on the network can transmit their information successfully without interruption by transmission attempts from other nodes. Ethernet (IEEE standard 802.3) has adopted a 'Carrier Sense' with 'Collision Detection' protocol. When a node has data to transmit, it monitors the medium to check whether any other node is currently transmitting (Carrier Sense). If not, it is permitted to start transmission. Other nodes on the network might also start transmitting when they detect that the medium is free, but might not know of other nearly simultaneous transmissions by another node because of the inherent transmission delay of the medium. Simultaneous transmission results in a 'collision' which must be detected by all nodes simultaneously attempting to transmit. Once a collision is detected, each node ceases transmission and waits for a random time interval before sensing the medium and trying again.
Current implementations of Gigabit Optical Ethernet use point-to-point optical links to an 'unbuffered repeater' at the logical hub of the network. The repeater demodulates incoming signals from the point-to-point links and identifies a collision when optical activity occurs simultaneously on more than one input.
A disadvantage with this system is that it requires active electronics in the repeater which is not compatible with operator requirements to remove active electronics from street locations.
It is also known to use a passive optical star coupler to interconnect nodes in an optical network. A star coupler has a number of inputs and outputs where an optical signal on any input appears (attenuated) at all coupler outputs. Various techniques are known for constructing passive star couplers. One common technique is to interconnect a number of simpler fused fibre couplers, each having two inputs and two outputs, to form a larger matrix with the required functionality. For example, an eight by eight star coupler can be made up from 12 two by two couplers.
In a practical network, a coupler with an equal number of input and output ports, say eight input and eight output ports, would be used. Each node in the network connects to an input/output pair of ports. In this way, each node receives traffic sent by itself and all other nodes on the network. Carrier sense and collision detection can then be performed by each node to implement the multiple access protocol.
For collision detection to work properly it is desirable (in the case of Gigabit Ethernet, mandatory) that any collision should be detected before a transmitting node has finished the transmission. For high speed networks such as these using a passive optical star coupler, this results in a tradeoff between the physical size of the network and the minimum length of the transmitted packet. For a network running at a nominal bit of 1 Gbit/s and with an overall size of 5 km (typical of an access network) the minimum packet size to guarantee detection of a collision is around 6 kbytes.
A problem with this is that such a network is very inefficient for short packets, which must be extended to the minimum packet size to guarantee detection of any possible collisions. In practice, a significant proportion of packets (such as those used for voice and TCP/IP acknowledgements) will be short.
A further problem is that, the maximum permitted packet size on an Ethernet network is around 1500 bytes; any network including Ethernet segments cannot therefore use a larger packet size than this unless data is reformatted.
Collision detection also requires that any transmitter must be able to detect reliably when more than one node is transmitting simultaneously. In a network interconnected with a passive optical coupler, tolerances in the port to port coupler loss, differing attenuation in fibre connections between nodes and the passive coupler, and variations in node transmitter output powers combine to give a wide variation in optical signal level received at any node. It is then difficult to detect collisions, since a weak signal can be swamped by a strong one. Indeed, when practical tolerance levels are fully taken into account, it may not be possible to build a suitable receiver economically.
An earlier version of Ethernet, running at 10 Mbit/s, included an option to operate collision detection in the optical domain using a passive star coupler (known in the standard as '10baseFP'). In practice, this system is rarely used because of the difficulty of implementing a receiver capable of reliable collision detection. The problems associated with implementing such a receiver can be expected to be much more severe at a bit rate of 1 Gbit/s.


A racket frame guard assembly is provided. The assembly includes a flexible abrasion-resistant section (ARS) for covering an outside portion of a racket frame, and a collar with a fastener cavity, formed with the ARS. The assembly also includes either a separate or attached fastener strip, insertible through the collar fastener cavity, having a length sufficient to wrap around a radial circumference of the racket frame. The fastener strip is used to secure the ARS to a racket frame. For example, the fastener strip can be a tie wrap, Velcro tie, or even a twist tie. Typically, the ARS has a tubular-shape with an inside surface formed along an interior axis, and the collar fastener cavity is formed by the ARS inside surface. The ARS inside surface can be an inside cylinder surface or a rectangular slit for example.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to sporting goods and, more particularly, to a frame bumper guard for protecting the head of a racket from skinning, abrasions, and stresses associated with unintentionally contacting a court surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
In games that involve the use of a racket and ball, such as tennis, squash, and racquetball, there is inevitable wear and tear induced on the racket frame as a result of the racket striking the playing surface. With enough contact, the frame becomes worn and may even crack. When sufficient wear is induced, the frame may collapse as a result of impacting a ball, or stringing the racket with new strings. In fact, many rackets are constructed with a plastic or rubber-like guard on the head of racket to address this problem. These products are very effective for a period of time. However, most participants in these types of games have a tendency, due to a swing style or play habits for example, to scrape or wear in fairly specific and consistent places along the frame. Once the guard becomes worn, the frame is exposed. The conventional guard that comes with the racket is held in place by the strings and, therefore, cannot be relocated. The entire guard needs to be completely replaced by re-stringing the racket, even though only a small portion of the guard may be worn.
Since new rackets are constantly being introduced to the market, and old racket designs withdrawn, it is likely that replacements are unavailable when it becomes time to replace a worn guard. Many a player has had to retire a beloved set of rackets, or use their rackets until they break, only because they could not find replacement racket head guards.
There are some after-market protection devices that have been introduced as a replacement, or as an augmentation to the guard systems that come standard with most rackets. For example, a "head tape" exists that can be attached to the frame. The "head tape" is easily applied to any location on the frame, but is not very durable. Another device uses a long plastic filament that spiral wraps around the frame or is secured by using a winding tie, both of which span an extended length along the top of the frame. However, this system requires the replacement of the entire length, even if only a portion of the device is worn. The long length and added coverage also creates additional, unnecessary weight.
Another conventional protection system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,130, Beranek. This patent uses a one-piece reinforced tie wrap-like device. This single-piece system is designed with a uniform thickness that extends the length of the device. The device thickness protects the exterior portion of the frame. However, the device is thicker than necessary on the interior portion of the frame where the opposite ends mate. The thickness prevents the device from being tightly secured. As a result, the device is likely to spin on the frame, and is unlikely to remain secured over the frame region needing the protection.
It would be advantageous if a frame guard could be secured to specific regions of a racket head needing protection.
It would be advantageous if the above-mentioned frame guard could be secured to the racket overlying the racket strings, or without having to restring the racket.


When fully closed throttle opening learning device M1 learns a fully closed throttle opening value THMIN on the basis of an actual throttle opening value TH at an idle running time, comparison device M2 compares the sum of the fully closed throttle opening value THMIN and a predetermined value a with the actual throttle opening value TH to decide the possibility of the occurrence of a fault, and fault decision acceptance device M3 decides the acceptance/rejection of execution of the fault decision of an idle revolution controlling unit IC on the basis of the comparison result of the comparison device M2. As a result, even with a degradation in the output characteristics of a throttle opening sensor, an erroneous decision can be avoided by rejecting the execution of the fault decision when there is a possibility of an erroneous decision.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fault deciding system for detecting a fault of an idle revolution controlling unit of an engine.
2. Related Art
An idle RPM (revolution-per-minute) of the engine is controlled by adjusting the degree of opening of an EACV (Electronic Air Control Valve) bypassing a throttle valve when the throttle valve is fully closed, to control the air flow to be fed to the engine. In this case, the idle RPM controlling unit is determined to be normal when the actual idle RPM Ne detected by the RPM controlling unit integrated circuit (IC) falls within the following normal region: EQU Target RPM-100 rpm.ltoreq.Ne.ltoreq.Target RPM+200 rpm.
The idle RPM controlling unit IC is determined to be faulty when the actual idle RPM is not within the previously specified range.
The actual idle RPM Ne is detected as the engine RPM for the fully closed throttle opening value, which in turn is detected in terms of the output voltage value of a throttle opening sensor. The throttle opening value is decided to be fully closed when the output value TH of the throttle opening sensor falls within the region which is defined by a preset fully closed value TH.sub.0 and a fixed value .alpha., as follows: EQU TH.sub.0 .ltoreq.TH.ltoreq.TH.sub.0 +.alpha..
If, however, the fully closed throttle opening value is decided on the basis of the aforementioned preset fully closed value TH.sub.0, fault detection is impossible when the output value TH at the fully closed time of the throttle valve is raised to be greater than TH.sub.0 +.alpha. due to the aging of the throttle opening sensor.

Fault deciding system for idle revolution controlling unit