A method and apparatus for performing a constrained shortest path first (CSPF) computation is described. In one embodiment of the invention, the network element receives a request with one or more exclusion constraints or a path re-optimization request. The network element marks one or more attribute bits in a traffic engineering data structure based on the request. If an exclusion bit is set for a link, that link is skipped during CSPF computation. If a re-optimization bit is set for a link, the allocated bandwidth of the link is added to the advertised bandwidth of the link to form a re-optimization comparison value, which is used for a bandwidth comparison during path re-optimization.

1. Field
Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of networking; and more specifically, to computing a constraint based path.
2. Background
Constraint based path computation processes paths based on one or more constraints. For example, a network administrator may use constraint based path computation to select a path from a source to a destination in a given network based on one or more constraints. In the network, the characteristics of the links (e.g., cost, available bandwidth, link color, etc.) are propagated throughout the network using link-state routing protocols (e.g., Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) (described in Request For Comments (RFC) 2328, "OSPF Version 2", April 1998), Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS) (described in International Standard ISO/IEC 10589:2002E, Nov. 15, 2002)). Typically these characteristics are stored in a traffic engineering database on each network element in the network. Thus, the traffic engineering database stores a representation of the topology of the network. A network element may receive a service request for a path to a destination (thus this network element is the source of the path) with one or more constraints (e.g., a network administrator, using a command line interface (CLI), requests a path to a destination given one or more constraints). The network element computes the requested path based on the constraints and the information in the traffic engineering database.
For example, the request may include one or more exclusion constraints that require the path not go through certain network elements or certain links. Typically, during path computation, each network element or link in the network is compared to the list of exclusion constraints to determine if that network element or link should be excluded. Thus, if there are many exclusion constraints, multiple comparisons are made for each network element and/or link in the network (e.g., one comparison for each constraint on the list).
After a path has been computed, that path can be re-optimized. For example, after a path has been computed and the path has been assigned a certain amount of bandwidth, a network administrator may want to see if that path can be re-optimized, for example, with a bigger amount of bandwidth. There may be numerous reasons why a better path and/or better path characteristics (e.g., higher available bandwidth) exist in the network compared to the computed path. For example, if a network element joined the network after the path was originally computed, a better path and/or better path characteristics may exist. As another example, the characteristics of the links of the path may change over time (e.g., they may have more available bandwidth at a later time). During path re-optimization, the currently allocated bandwidth of the links of the calculated paths is taken into account. For example, if the path had reserved a bandwidth of 50 (e.g., each link has a currently allocated bandwidth of 50), that allocation is taken into account when processing the re-optimization request.
Typically, during path re-optimization, each link in the network is compared to the links of the calculated path to determine whether to take into account the currently allocated bandwidth of that link. Thus, if there are many links in the calculated path, multiple comparisons are made for each link in the network (e.g., one comparison for each link in the path).

Method and apparatus for performing a constraint shortest path first computation


The ability to determine the stage or pathway of cysteine proteases in a single cell assay has long been desired as a material event in apoptosis. The present invention relates to a method and assay reagents for determining enzyme activity and relating said activity to the apoptotic pathway. In addition, the method find utility in distinguishing apoptotic activity from necrotic activity.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to cytoenzymology, and more particularly to methods and reagents used in cytoenzymology.
2. Discussion of the Background Art
Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a process that involves the activation of a genetic program when cells are no longer needed or have become seriously damaged. This process, occurring in most cells from higher eukaryotes, is necessary for normal development and maintenance of homeostasis. It is a major defense mechanism of the body, getting rid of unwanted and possibly dangerous cells such as virus-infected cells, tumor cells, and self-reactive lymphocytes. Apoptosis probably exists as a safeguard to prevent damaged cells from reproducing. If the damaged cells remained, they may ultimately be detrimental to the organism.
Apoptosis involves a cascade of specific biochemical events. Regulation of apoptosis involves a large number of genes. These can be classified into three general categories. The first is made up of genes whose primary function is to suppress apoptosis. This group includes some members of the bcl-2 family. Other members of the bcl-2 family can promote apoptosis. The second group includes the intermediate genes upstream such as Fas/Fas ligand, myc, p53, and WAF1. The last group includes genes that act as effectors of apoptosis. An example is the interleukin-1.beta. converting enzyme (ICE) family of genes.
Fas is a cell surface protein that triggers apoptosis in a variety of cell types. The Fas death pathway can be triggered by either anti-Fas monoclonal antibody or by cell-associated Fas ligand. This protein is identical to the CD95 protein. CD95 is involved in regulation of tissue development and homeostasis. Cloning of Fas and APO-1 cDNA has demonstrated that these two genes are identical. The Fas antigen is a cell surface protein that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor/nerve growth factor receptor family. The mechanism by which Fas triggers cell death is not completely understood. It appears to require multivalent cross-linking of the receptor. This inhibits RNA and protein synthesis in certain cell types. The amino acid sequences that take part in cell death have been mapped in Fas and tumor necrosis factor receptors. This area is called the "death domain" and is essential for the initiation of apoptosis, which may happen through an interaction with other intracellular proteins.
Many cysteine proteases have been identified in mammals. Interleukin-1.beta.-converting enzyme (ICE) is a cysteine protease whose activity is increased in apoptosis. Several homologues of ICE have been identified, including CPP32- and Ich-1-like proteases. Specific inhibitors of ICE-like proteases can inhibit apoptosis. This indicates there is a requirement for specific degradation by proteases in mammalian apoptosis. The ICE family of cysteine proteases has an indispensable role in the regulation of apoptosis.
It appears that the ICE family of proteases process themselves and each other by proteolytically cleaving a "pre" enzyme into the active form. The ICE family of proteases is generically referred to as caspase enzymes. Alnemri, et al., Cell, Volume 87, page 171, 1996. The "c" is intended to reflect a cysteine protease mechanism and "aspase" refers to their ability to cleave after aspartic acid, the most distinctive catalytic feature of this protease family.
Enari, et al, Nature 380, pages 723-726 (1996) have suggested that apoptotic events may sequentially activate ICE and CPP32-like proteases in Fas-mediated apoptosis. Enari used specific inhibitors of ICE and CPP32 to show that CPP32-inhibitor only inhibited CPP32 activity. ICE-inhibitor, on the other hand, inhibited both ICE and CPP32 activity. This indicates that the production of CPP-32-like activity during Fas-mediated apoptosis depends on the previous presence of ICE-like activity. This experiment was performed in a cytosol of approximately a billion human cells.
Cell death can occur by either necrosis or apoptosis. Necrosis, which is not genetically controlled, is usually the result of physical injury. Apoptosis is genetically controlled and is the deliberate cellular response to specific environmental and developmental stimuli. The signs of necrosis and apoptosis are different. Necrosis involves the destruction of cytoplasmic organelles and a loss of plasma membrane integrity. Cells undergoing apoptosis exhibit cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation and fragmentation. After the DNA damage in the caspase enzyme pathway, there are a series of events which occur that involve calcium activation and calpain enzymes which further leads to other cellular changes and regulation of cytoplasmic enzymes.
A major difference between necrosis and apoptosis in vivo is the complete elimination of the apoptotic cell before an inflammatory response is seen. Necrosis usually causes inflammation. Thus, apoptosis can be thought of as a clean and neat process where cells are killed with minimal damage to surrounding cells or tissue.
One test to study proteases is to provide a substrate that is recognized by the enzyme, with a fluorescent compound which will undergo a detectable change when the substrate, or "leaving group", is cleaved from the compound by the enzyme. Mangel et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,557,862 and 4,640,893, disclose Rhodamine 110-based derivatives as fluorogenic substrates for proteinases. These compounds have the general formula: EQU (Cbz-peptide-NH).sub.2 -Rhodamine 110
where the peptide includes known amino acids or amino acid derivatives, and "Cbz" refers to the blocking group benzyloxycarbonyl. When the amino groups of Rhodamine 110 are blocked the compound is "quenched", and is relatively colorless and non-fluorescent. Cleavage of one of the peptides from the non-fluorescent bisamide substrate results in a 3500-fold increase in fluorescence intensity.
Other substrates for conducting cytoenzymological studies are sold by Kamiya Biomedical Company, Seattle Washington and have the formula (Z-Asp Glu Val Asp-AFC), (Z-Ala Ala Asp-AFC) and (Z-Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-AFC), wherein AFC is 7-amino4 trifluoromethyl coumarin and Asp Glu Val Asp, Ala Ala Asp and Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp are abbreviations for amino acids as later defined in this specification. However, these reagents either bind to the external cell membrane or exhibits solubility problems so that they fail to measure intracellular enzymes. In addition, courmarin excite and emits in the ultraviolet light range which is known to cause DNA damage which is detrimental to cell viability.
Prior method and reagents have failed to provide an effective test to monitor the efficacy of a drug or the progression of a disease through the use of an intracellular analysis of apoptosis. Moreover, the present invention provides an additional feature of distinguishing between apoptosis and necrosis by using enzymes other than the ICE family of caspase enzymes.

Method and reagent for monitoring apoptosis and distinguishing apoptosis from necrosis


Implantable medical devices, including stents, grafts, covered stents, catheters, patches or the like having regions of the device which are functionalized employing microelectromechanical systems that are capable of acting as electromechanical sensors or biosensors in response to either an endogenous event, such as tissue growth, biochemical binding events, pressure changes, or respond to an externally applied stimulus, such as RF energy, to cause a change in the state of the device, such as to induce an oscillation signal which may be interrogated and interpreted external the body or may generate an induced electrical or electromagnetic potential in the device to activate micromotors to effect a geometric change in the device.

The present invention relates generally to the field of medical devices suitable for in vivo use, such as implantable devices, indwelling devices, catheters and delivery systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to implantable medical devices, such as endoluminal stents, that are capable of acting as sensors and/or actuators in vivo.
With the advent of microelectromechanical system (MEMs) technology, manufacture of very small scale devices has become feasible. The principal application of MEMs technology has, heretofore, been in the electromechanical arts, in particular fluidics and fluid sensors. The present invention, however, adapts MEMs technology to the field of medical devices and, in particular, to the field of implantable medical devices that are designed to sense in vivo conditions, alter the geometry of the device, and/or deliver metered doses of bioactive substances in vivo.
The field of implantable MEMs based medical devices has extended to diagnostic microsystems, including miniature mass spectrometers, molecular-recognition biosensors, and microfluidic processors, surgical Microsystems, such as microsensors and micromotors, and therapeutic Microsystems, such as implantable and transdermal drug delivery Microsystems. Such types of microdevices are described in Polla, D. L., et al., "Microdevices in Medicine," Ann. Rev. Biomed. Eng. 2000, 02:551–576, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Further description of implantable medical sensors is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,201,980, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Further description of a microactuator for controlled drug delivery may be found at Low, L. M., et al., "Microactuators toward microvalves for responsive controlled drug delivery," Sensors and Actuator, B 678 (2000) 149–160, which is also hereby incorporated by reference.
Micropumps, high resolution microaccelerometers, and electrostatic linear motors are examples of micro-scale electromechanical machines that rely upon low-voltage and low power consumption requirements. See, e.g., Yun, K. S., et al., "A Surface-Tension Driven Micropump for Low-voltage and Low-Power Operations," J. Microelectromechanical Sys., 11:5, October 2002, 454–461, Yeh, R., et al., "Single Mask, Large Force, and Large Displacement Electrostatic Linear Inchworm Motors," J. Microelectromechanical Sys., 11:4, August 2002, 330–336, and Loh, N. C., et al., "Sub-10 cm3 Interferometric Accelerometer with Nano-g Resolution," J. Microelectromechanical Sys., 11:3, June 2002, 182–187, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Conducting polymers have been used as sensors for the development of electronic tongues by fabricating nanostructured films for use as individual sensing units. The films operate by impedance spectroscopy for signal transduction in the frequency range of 1–1 MHz to detect trace amounts of tastants and inorganic contaminants in liquid systems. Riul, Jr., A., et al., "An Artificial Taste Sensor Based On Conducting Polymers," Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 00 (2003) 1–5, which is hereby incorporated by reference. In a related vein, hydrogels and conducting polymers have been combined as an electroactive hydrogel composite that traps enzymes within the composite matrix for biosensor construction and chemically stimulated controlled release. Glucose, cholesterol and glactose amperometric biosensors have been made using this composite material that display extended linear response ranges between 10−5 to 10−2 M with response times of less than sixty seconds. pH sensors were made by cross-linking the hydrogel component with dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate monomer. See, Brahim, S., et al., "Bio-smart Hydrogels: Co-joined Molecular Recognition and Signal Transduction in Biosensor Fabrication and Drug Delivery," Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 17 (2003) 973–981, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Single crystalline MgO nanotubes filed with Gallium have been used as wide-temperature range nanothermometers. See, e.g., Li, Y. B., et al. "Ga-filled Single-Crystalline MgO Nanotube: Wide-temperature Range Nanothermometer," App. Phys. Let., 83:5, August 2003, 999–1001, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
It has been recognized that ion-channel switches may be used in biosensors and the current flux generated by ion's passing through the ion channel may serve as a basis for sensing a given condition. For example, an ion-channel switch has been made of a lipid membrane containing gramicidin ion channels linked to antibodies and tethered to a gold electrode. This tethered membrane creates an ionic reservoir between the gold electrode and the membrane which is electrically accessed through connection to the gold electrode. In the presence of an applied potential, ions flow between the reservoir and the external solution when the channels are conductive. When the ion current is switched off, mobile channels diffusing within the outer half of the membrane become crosslinked to the antibodies and immobilized. See, Cornell, B. A., et al., "A Biosensor that uses Ion-channel Switches," Letters to Nature, 1997.
Finally, it is now known that electrical fields effect endothelial cell migration. See, Li, X., et al., "Effects of Direct Current Electric Fields on Cell Migration and Actin Filament Distribution in Bovine Vascular Endothelial Cells," J. Vasc. Res., 2002; 39:391–404, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Controlling endothelial cell migration is a significant step toward designing implantable devices that exhibit greater healing responses. Thus, by designing implantable devices that employ controlled electrical fields, endothelial cells will be more susceptible to binding to the device and propagating along the device surfaces to promote rapid and complete healing and minimize smooth muscle cell proliferation or thrombogenic effects.
In order to design implantable devices having controlled electrical fields, advantageous use may be made of interdigitated electrodes to create a galvanotactic medical device. Interdigitated electrodes have been employed in dielectrophoresis to separate live and heat-treated Listeria innocua cells on microfabricated devices employing interdigitated electrodes by utilizing the difference in dielectric properties between the alive and dead cells, Li, H., et al., at http://www.nnf.cornell.edu/2002cnfra/2002cnfra54.pdf and Li, H., "Dielectrophoretic Separation and Manipulation of Live and Heat-Treated Cells of Listeria on Microfabricated Devices with Interdigitated Electrodes," J. Sensors and Actuators, Apr. 2002 which are hereby incorporated by reference. Interdigitated microsensor electrodes, also called interdigitated arrays are microfabricated from patterns of noble metals deposited on an insulating substrate chip. These devices are designed for simultaneous interrogation of electrical, electrochemical or optical properties of polymeric films and coatings in microelectrochemistry and electrical/electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. See, e.g., Guiseppi-Elie, A., "Measuring Electrical Materials Properties Using Microfabricated Interdigitated microsensor Electrodes (IMEs) and Independently Addressable Microband Electrodes (IAMEs)," An ABTECH Application Note, http://www.abtechsci.com/pdfs/resist0501.pdf, May 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Medical devices having MEMs functionality and methods of making same


Disclosed is a lithium ion secondary battery including: a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material layer comprising a positive electrode active material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions, and a positive electrode current collector; a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material layer comprising an alloy-formable active material, and a negative electrode current collector; a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode active material layer has an easily swellable resin having a degree of swelling with the non-aqueous electrolyte of 20% or more, and the negative electrode active material layer has a hardly swellable resin having a degree of swelling with the non-aqueous electrolyte of less than 20%.

Lithium ion secondary batteries including an alloy-formable active material as a negative electrode active material (hereinafter referred to as "alloy-type secondary batteries") have higher capacities and higher energy densities than conventional lithium ion secondary batteries including graphite as a negative electrode active material. Therefore, alloy-type secondary batteries are expected not only as power sources for electronic equipment, but also as main power sources or auxiliary power sources for transportation equipment or machining equipment. Examples of a known alloy-formable active material include a silicon-based active material such as silicon and a silicon oxide, and a tin-based active material such as tin and a tin oxide.
In an alloy-formable active material, internal stress is generated during charge due to excessive expansion of its particles. This may cause separation of the negative electrode active material layer from the negative electrode current collector, or deformation of the negative electrode, and thus, the cycle characteristics of the battery may deteriorate. In order to solve such a problem of an alloy-formable active material, it is proposed to form a coating made of a resin material on an outer surface of the negative electrode active material layer including an alloy-formable active material.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a negative electrode in which a polymer film layer composed of a polymer support and a cross-linkable monomer is formed on an outer surface of a negative electrode active material layer including lithium alloy particles.
Patent Literature 2 discloses a negative electrode including: a negative electrode current collector; a negative electrode active material layer being supported on a surface of the negative electrode current collector, including an alloy-formable active material, and having recesses and protrusions on its outer surface; and a resin layer formed in the recesses, wherein the outer surface of the resin layer is flushed with the outer surfaces of the protrusions.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


An object of the present invention is to provide a camera capable of exactly displaying the number of residual films, even if there is concerned with such a situation that at the time when layered films remain in a film pack, the rear cover is opened and the film pack is re-mounted. The operational amplifier 236 is used to detect a current IM conducting through the feeding motor 214, and the detected current is subjected to the AD conversion by the MPU 220. The display unit 61 displays a predetermined number corresponding to the number of films layered within the film pack having the shielding plate, or a number in which one is subtracted from the number of residual films stored in the storage section 210, according as it is detected that now discharged one is the shielding plate.

The present invention relates to a camera on which a film pack adapted for accommodating layered instant photographic films is mounted.
Hitherto, there is known a camera on which a film pack adapted for accommodating layered instant photographic films is mounted inside a frame member having an aperture, the film pack having such a structure that the aperture of the frame member being closed by a shielding plate. In such a type of camera, there is one having a display unit for displaying the number of residual films within the mounted film pack wherein when a new film pack is mounted, there is performed an initialization processing such that the displayed content is altered into the number of films accommodated in the new film pack. The shielding plate consists of a plastic member or the like having a sufficient thickness since there is a need to provide a sufficient shielding property so as to protect the layered films from the external light. After an exchange of film packs is performed, for example, at the time when the rear cover is closed, the display unit displays a predetermined number (for example 10) corresponding to the number of films layered within the new film pack, and upon receipt of an electric power from a built-in battery, first the shielding plate is discharged. Thereafter, in accordance with a photographic operation, a top layer of film of the layered films is exposed, so that a developer, which is stored in a part of the exposed film beforehand, is equally diffused in the film to develop and discharged. As a result, the number of residual films is decreased by 1 and then displayed on the display unit.
According to the above-mentioned camera, when the rear cover is closed after an exchange of the film packs, it is always decided that a new film pack is mounted, and the initialization processing is performed. For example, the display unit displays the number of films accommodated in the new film pack. A photographer confirms the photography-possible number of films through an observation of the number of films displayed on the display unit.
There is a case where a photographer performs such an operation that he erroneously opens the rear cover at the time when the layered films still remain in the film pack, and he becomes aware of his error and then immediately closes the rear cover. For example, the above-mentioned operation is performed at the time when five sheets of layered films remain in the film pack, the camera decides, in view of the fact that the film pack is mounted and then rear cover is closed, that a new film pack is mounted. According to such a type of camera, when a sheet of film is discharged from the film pack, the camera decides that the shielding plate is discharged, and although the number of residual films is actually four sheet, the display unit displays the number of residual films xe2x80x9810xe2x80x99. For this reason, the conventional camera is associated with a problem that the number of residual films, which is actually possible to be used for photography, is different from the number of residual films, which is displayed on the display unit.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a camera capable of performing a proper control according to a situation, for example, in such a manner that in the event that at the time when layered films remain in a film pack, the film pack is re-mounted, the number of the residual films is accurately displayed.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a camera wherein a plurality of instant photographic films are layered, a film pack having a shielding plate for shielding the layered films is loaded, the shielding plate is first discharged by a power of a built-in battery and thereafter a top layer of film of the layered films is exposed in accordance with a photographic operation, and an exposed film is discharged while developed, said camera comprising:
a shielding plate detection section for detecting a presence of the shielding plate of the loaded film pack; and
a control section for performing a control in accordance with a detection result by said shielding plate detection section.
According to the camera of the present invention, the presence of the shielding plate of the loaded film pack is detected. This feature makes it possible to distinguish the state in which a new film pack is loaded and the state that a film pack exchange operation is erroneously performed on the film pack involved in photograph on halfway, and then perform a proper control.
In the camera according to the present invention as mentioned above, it is preferable that said shielding plate detection section detects whether one discharged by a present discharge operation is the shielding plate, in accordance with the shielding plate of the loaded film pack or a load at the time of a discharge operation for the film.
The shielding plate is formed by a plastic member or the like having a sufficient thickness, and the material of the shielding plate is larger in hardness and rigidity than the material of the film. For this reason, the load current of the feeding motor at the time of discharge of the shielding plate and the voltage drop due to the internal impedance of the built-in battery are larger than the load current at the time of discharge of the film and the voltage drop. Utilization of this feature makes it possible to detect whether it is concerned with the shielding plate through comparison of magnitude of the load current and the voltage drop. In this case, as shown in the embodiments, which will be described later, it is possible to use a relatively simple circuit structure.
In the camera according to the present invention as mentioned above, it is preferable that the camera further comprises a display unit for displaying a state of the camera, and said control section controls a display content of said display unit in accordance with a detection result by said shielding plate detection section.
As states of the camera, there are raised states of a counter for storing the number of films, a film speed, a lens position, an electronic flash control mode (on/off/auto) as the exposure mode, and an exposure correction (darken/normal/lighten). The control as mentioned above makes it possible to distinguishably display the state of the camera at the time when the new film pack is loaded and the state of the camera in half way of photography.
In the camera according to the present invention as mentioned above, it is preferable that the camera further comprises a display unit for displaying the number of residual films within the loaded film pack,
wherein said control section comprises a storage section for storing the number of residual films within the film pack before a film pack exchange operation, and a display control section for causing said display unit to display a predetermined number corresponding to the number of films layered within the film pack having the shielding plate, or a number in which one is subtracted from the number of residual films stored in said storage section, according as said shielding plate detection section detects that now discharged one is the shielding plate, in a case where the film pack exchange operation is made.
The above-mentioned xe2x80x9cfilm pack exchange operationxe2x80x9d includes not only the operation wherein the loaded film pack is removed and a new film pack is loaded, but also an operation wherein the loaded film pack is removed and the removed film pack is loaded as it is, and an operation wherein an operation (for example, an operation of opening the rear cover) for removing the film pack is performed, and an operation (for example, an operation of closing the rear cover) for completing the loading of the film pack is performed without removing the film pack.
According to this arrangement, in the event that the shielding plate is discharged, the display unit may display a predetermined number corresponding to the number of films layered in a new film pack. And in the event that a film is discharged, the display unit may display the number in which one is subtracted from the number of residual films stored in the storage section. For this reason, even if it is concerned with such situations that at the time when layered films remains in the film pack, an exchange operation is performed on the film pack, it is possible to exactly display the number of residual films on the display unit, without bringing about, as in the former camera, such a situation that the photography-possible number of residual films is different from the number of residual films displayed on the display unit.
In the camera according to the present invention as mentioned above, it is acceptable that said camera adapts for loading thereonto a film pack recording film information related to an incorporated film, and
said camera has a sensor for reading the film information recorded on the film pack, and said control section causes said sensor to read the film information upon receipt of that said shielding plate detection section detects the shielding plate.
Here, the film information related to an incorporated film implies the number of films stored in the film pack, and a film speed.
This arrangement makes it possible to perform a control of a camera in accordance with the film information read by the sensor.
Further, in the camera according to the present invention as mentioned above, it is acceptable that said control section performs an initialization on at least one portion of element of said camera upon receipt of that said shielding plate detection section detects the shielding plate.
Here, it is preferable that xe2x80x9cat least one portion of elementxe2x80x9d referenced above is one or more among a lens position, an electronic flash control mode as the exposure mode, and an exposure correction. Upon receipt of that the shielding plate is detected, the initial setting is performed on xe2x80x9cat least one portion of elementxe2x80x9d. This feature makes it possible to enhance an operational efficiency.
As mentioned above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform a proper control according to a situation, for example, in such a manner that in the event that at the time when layered films remain in a film pack, the film pack is re-mounted, the number of the residual films is accurately displayed.


An optical fiber connector can include an optical fiber interface, an identification circuit, and an electrical interface that is communicatively connected to the identification circuit. The identification circuit may be a non-volatile memory such as, for example, a read only memory, a magnetic random access memory and/or a flash-random access memory. The identification circuit may include a housing that can be releasably connected to a Light Guide Cross Connect (LGX). The identification circuit may generate an electrical signal that identifies a fiber, a fiber bundle, a fiber type, a connector type, who manufactured an optical fiber, when an optical fiber was manufactured, and/or when an optical fiber was installed.

Communication systems are increasingly using optical fibers to provide high bandwidth communication services to regional areas and to subscriber equipment in homes and business. Light Guide Cross Connects (LGXs) are regionally distributed in the field to route, combine, and/or split signals between a plurality of connected optical fibers. A Trunk Information Record Keeping System (TIRKS) is used to track which optical fibers are being used for communications or are available for use, and to track which LGX the optical fibers are, or can be, connected. It the responsibility of field technicians who install and connect optical fibers and LGXs to generate reports that can be used by operators to update the records in TIRKS. If the records in TIRKS are inaccurate, in that they do not reflect the actual optical fiber and LGX connections in the field, mistakes may occur when optical fibers and/or LGX connections are inventoried and assigned for use.

Optical fiber connectors with identification circuits and distribution terminals that communicate therewith

Abstract: Related optical fiber distribution terminals are also discussed.

BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation


A method of identifying gestural interaction comprises detecting a user with an imaging device, detecting with the imaging device the depth value at the centroid of the user with respect to the imaging device, detecting with the imaging device the closest distance of the user with respect to the imaging device, and, with a processor, identifying the initiation of a gestural interaction based on the ratio of the closest distance and the depth value at the centroid of the user is above a predetermined threshold. A computer program product for identifying initiation and termination of gestural interaction within a gestural interaction system comprises a computer readable storage medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising computer usable program code that identifies the initiation of a gestural interaction by a user depending on whether a virtual bubble around the user has been broken.

Gestural interactive systems are computing systems that sense the movements of a user and translate those movements into commands. The commands then cause an attached computing device to execute code based on the command. These gestural interactive systems may be used in situations wherein a user may desire a more intimate, efficient, and meaningful interface with a computing device, and, more specifically, within gaming and remote control applications, for example.
However, in gestural interactive systems, unintentional movements of a user may be detected by the system and translated into commands to be performed by the gestural interactive system. These gestural interactive systems can not determine when a bona fide and intended gesture command begins and ends, and what the system can disregard as unintentional movements of the user.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


In a burner for a heat generator, which consists essentially of a swirl generator (100a) for a combustion air stream (115) and of means for injecting a fuel into this combustion air stream, a mixing stage (220) is arranged downstream of said swirl generator. This mixing stage has, within a first stage part (200), a number of transition channels (201) running in the direction of flow, which ensure the continuous transfer of the flow (40), formed in the swirl generator (100a), into a tube (20) located downstream. A nozzle (103), arranged on the head side and on the burner axis (60), for the injection of a fuel is offset upstream at a distance relative to the start of the swirl generator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a burner having a swirl generator.
2. Discussion of Background
A problem exists in the case of swirl-stabilized burners, as disclosed, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,861 to Keller et al. as a premixing burner, if a liquid fuel is injected along the burner axis. The liquid column forming downstream of the fuel nozzle acts, particularly in the initial region downstream of the injection, in the same way as a solid body for the combustion air stream flowing tangentially into the interior of the premixing burner. In comparison with the flow without the injection of liquid fuel, the inflow of combustion air in the burner head is impeded, with the result that the tangential component of the swirl flow increases. This leads to a change in the flame position, which travels further upstream. If a further injection of a fuel is carried out along the tangential air inlet slits, then such fuel injection becomes extremely hazardous to operate, because a flame front acting in this region leads unavoidably to a flashback into the system. Furthermore, there is an enrichment of the flame center, which impairs the operation of such a premixing burner in many ways. In such operation, various disadvantages may arise, and these can be listed below, albeit not conclusively:
a) There is an increase, which cannot be underestimated, in the risk of a flashback, and this may easily lead to a burnup of parts of the premixing burner. If this occurs, there is a potential risk, inasmuch as parts which crumble away may cause serious damage to the machine;
b) Operation in an optimum flame position with a liquid fuel should not be designed to be over a wide range for safety reasons, and therefore the premixing burner has a small operating range;
c) The absence of integral intermixing from the outset between the spray cone and the combustion air stream leads unavoidably to an increase in the NOx emissions for the reasons mentioned above;
d) Furthermore, the inhomogeneous mixture distribution leads to further disadvantages which cause increased pollutant emissions and the generation of pulsations;
e) There are pronounced deviations from the optimum flow conditions for reliable and efficient combustion.


An echo canceler for calculating an echo impulse response during a training sequence, wherein a sequence of data samples is selected such that a full rank data correlation matrix comprised of such data samples is diagonal at the Nth iteration. The echo canceler estimates the echo impulse response based on such data samples and an echo generated during the training sequence using a normalized least means square algorithm, wherein the length of the data sequence to sound the echo channel is N. This normalized LMS algorithm, wherein the data sequence is specifically selected, converges toward an echo impulse response much faster than standard LMS algorithms, while having a computational complexity comparable to that of the standard LMS algorithm.

Standard telephone lines are used for digital transmissions. A modem (modulator/demodulator) is used to transmit digital data by converting bit-serial digital quantities into analog signals which are transmitted over the telephone lines. The transmitting portion of the modem modulates the digital data into a sine wave carrier signal having a frequency within the voice transmission band. The receiving portion of the modem receives the analog signals and demodulates them back into digital data. U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,591, entitled "Dual Mode LMS Nonlinear Data Echo Canceler," to Walter Y. Chen and Richard A. Haddad and Richard D. Gitlin, Jeremiah F. Hayes, and Stephen B. Weinstein, Data Communication Principles 607 et seq. (1992) provide a detailed description of modem communication via the telephone channel. Both these references are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
A full duplex modem transmits and receives using the same bandwidth in a two-wire (bilateral) telephone channel used for both voice and data transmission. When signals are transmitted over the telephone channel an echo is generated which is added to the transmitted signal. Thus, the signal received at the receiving end includes not only the originally transmitted signal, but echo components.
The echo occurs as a result of a hybrid coupler ("hybrid") converting a four-wire loop to a two-wire loop within the telephone network. These conversion from four-wire to two wire creates an echo in the transmitted data signal which arises as a result of an impedance mismatch. This impedance mismatch causes a portion of the data signal generated by the transmitter of the near end modem to return to the receiver of the near end modem. The near end echo is comprised of two components. The first component of the near end echo arises when a hybrid converts the two-wire transmitter and two-wire receiver, a total of four wires, to the two-wire local loop of the telephone network. The second component of the near end echo results when a hybrid converts the two-wire local loop to the four-wire loop of the telephone network.
The far end echo is also comprised of two components. The first component of the near end echo arises when a hybrid converts the four-wire network to a two-wire local loop. The second component arises when a hybrid converts the two-wire local loop to the four-wire connection within the receiving modem, the two-wire receiver and two-wire transmitter. This far end echo is less significant than the near end echo.
It is the role of an echo canceler to remove or minimize the echo component from the signal received at the near end modem receiver. The signal received by the modem receiver can be modeled as follows: EQU y.sub.n =r.sub.n +z.sub.n
Where y.sub.n is the data signal received by the receiver. It is comprised of r.sub.n, which is the actual signal transmitted from a remote modem or source, and z.sub.n, which is the actual echo component of the received signal. The echo canceler estimates z.sub.n to obtain z'.sub.n and then subtracts this value from the received signal y.sub.n to get the an estimate of the received signal, r'.sub.n, which has the estimated echo removed. Below is an equation showing the estimated received signal with the estimated echo subtracted: EQU r'.sub.n =y.sub.n -z'.sub.n
In a conventional echo canceler, the modem initiates a training sequence when the carrier signal is received, prior to receiving data or going into a data mode. During this training sequence, the echo canceler estimates the impulse response of the echo path by modeling the transmission channel as an adaptive digital filter, such as an FIR filter. Such adaptive FIR filters are known in the art to cancel echos, and described in Data Communications, supra, at 619-624. This calculated echo impulse response is then used to calculate an estimated echo. During the data mode when the modem is receiving data signals, the echo canceler within the modem receives data from the data transmitter of the modem. The echo canceler performs an operation on the transmitted data signal with the estimated echo channel impulse response signal to obtain an estimated echo signal, which is then subtracted from the data received from a remote modem as discussed above.
Two commonly used methods to estimate the echo path impulse response are the LMS and Recursive Least Squares (RLS) algorithms. The LMS algorithm adjusts the calculated values to minimize the error between the actual echo signal (z.sub.n) at time n and the estimated echo signal (z'.sub.n). The RLS algorithm converges about 10 times faster than the LMS algorithm. However, the LMS algorithm is preferred over the RLS algorithm because the LMS algorithm has significantly less computational complexity. For instance, setting N as the number of data taps or length of the data sequence to sound the echo channel, the RLS algorithm requires N.sup.2 computational steps, whereas the LMS method only requires N computations. One attempt to reduce computational complexity has been the use of Fast Kalman algorithms that have computational complexities of 7-8 N. Although the Fast Kalman method may converge quickly, it is problematic because it exhibits high sensitivity to roundoff and other errors.

Orthogonal LMS algorithms for fast line echo canceler training


An arrangement for a MALDI sample plate for ion mass spectroscopy is disclosed. The sample is configured to shape the hypersonic explosion which creates the ions generated in a MALDI-type time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The MALDI sample plate includes a glass wafer formed from a plurality of clad glass fibers and has a first planar surface. The plate also has a plurality of micro-wells formed in the glass wafer. The micro-wells extend to a depth that is less than the thickness of the glass wafer and act to hold a spot sample in a manner that prevents spreading, maximizes the formation of ions, and shapes the resulting ion cloud to improve ion migration.

A mass spectrometer is an analytical instrument which is capable of identifying an unknown material. The identification process begins by ionizing the unknown material. The ions are next separated by the mass to charge ratio. The ions are then detected by an electron multiplier which amplifies the weak signal produced by the ions. The amplified signals are then recorded by a computer or other instrument as a series of mass peaks. By comparing these mass peaks to those recorded in a library, the unknown material can be identified with a high degree of accuracy.
MALDI is a form of photo-ionization that has become a popular ionization technique for organic and biological compounds because the resulting series of ions is rich in structural information about the compound. In the MALDI process, the material to be analyzed (the analyte) is mixed with a matrix material in order to enhance the absorption of the energy from the photon source. The matrix material is typically a form of salt. The mixture of the analyte material and the matrix material is then spotted onto a target referred to as a MALDI Plate or MALDI Target. The spots are typically deposited in rows and columns by a robot. Each position corresponds to a sample number. Dozens of samples can be loaded onto a single sample plate, which is a significant productivity advantage. The spots are then dried of all solvents and the plate is loaded into the mass spectrometer for analysis. Loading and unloading of the mass spectrometer is also automated in modern machines.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the structure and operation of a MALDI time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer 10 has an ionization section 12, an ion drift chamber 14, and a detection section 16. The ionization section 12 includes a target plate 18 on which at least one spot sample 20 is deposited and a pusher plate assembly 22 which is connected to a voltage source (not shown). A laser 24, preferably a nitrogen laser, is disposed for directing a pulsed laser beam 26 onto the spot sample 20. The detection section 16 includes a detector 28 which is preferably a microchannel plate-type ion detector.
In operation, the nitrogen laser 24 is operated to aim at a fraction of single spot. The laser is fired in a short burst which briefly exposes the selected spot sample to the intense light energy. The matrix material is specifically chosen to be able to absorb the energy from the laser pulse. As the matrix absorbs the laser energy, a hypersonic explosion occurs which causes the analyte material to fractionate and ionize.
The resulting ions are then pushed out into a field free region in the drift chamber 14 through the application of a high voltage pulse to the pusher plate assembly 22. The ions travel toward the detection section 16, with the lower mass ions reaching the detector 28 first and the highest mass ions arriving last. Each time a group of ions with the same mass reach the detector, a very fast voltage pulse is produced by the detector which can be recorded.
In the time-of-flight mass spectrometer 10, the exact mass of an ion can be determined, and therefore identified, by precisely recording the amount of time it takes for the ion to travel through the field free region. This is usually done by solving the equation KE=½ mv2.
The accuracy of a MALDI time-of-flight mass spectrometer depends not only on the precise recording of the ion arrival times, but also on the assumption that all the ions of a given mass arrive at nearly the same time. In practice this latter assumption is seldom achieved. Modern ion detectors have a temporal response of less than 400 picoseconds. However, the time window in which ions of the same mass arrive at the detector can be thousands of times longer than the response time. Although there are many contributing factors, one of the largest contributors is the spatial distribution of the ions immediately after the hypersonic explosion.
The analyte-matrix spot samples for MALDI analysis are typically deposited on a polished metal plate in rows and columns. When the laser radiation impinges on the matrix material, the resulting hypersonic explosion sends the ions out in all directions with significant velocity. FIG. 2 illustrates this effect. The ion cloud 30 is large and interdispersed with ions of very different masses. Because ions of like masses begin their journey from different locations within the ion cloud source, travel times will differ in proportion to the distance traveled. The differences in travel time are manifested as time jitter which serves to degrade the mass resolution.

MALDI target plate utilizing micro-wells


This disclosure discloses a printer comprising a USB port, memory, a printing device, and a processor configured to control the printing device and the memory, wherein the regular storage area includes a first memory area, and at least a second memory area in which at least an instruction file including the print data, and wherein, the processor executes a plurality of processing while concurrently performing at least one processing thereof, the plurality of processing including file write processing for updating a content of original instruction file stored in the second memory area by writing the instruction file in the second memory area, update preparation processing for enabling to be updated later a content of the instruction file stored in the second memory area, and print processing for making the printing device execute printing of print data corresponding to the instruction file written in the second memory area.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a printer which performs printing based on operation in a host connected to a USB port, and to a print processing program and a print processing method which are executed in the printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A printer which performs printing based on operation in a host connected to a USB port has been known. In the printer of a prior art, the host connected to the USB port is made to recognize a regular storage area of memory as a removable drive, which is a device of a USB mass storage class. Consequently, an executable file of an application program stored in a first memory area of the regular storage area becomes readable by the host using regular access operation from the host. Additionally, an instruction file including print data produced with the application program on the host is written in a second memory area of the regular storage area by regular access from the host.
Meanwhile, a processor provided in the printer writes the instruction file received from the host in the second memory area to thereby overwrite and update (file write processing). After performing the file write processing, the processor analyzes the written instruction file to extract print data as well as developing the print data in a print buffer area (data development processing). Additionally, printing device provided in the printer executes printing based on the print data developed in the print buffer area. As a result of this, even if the application program and a device driver are not installed in the host, printing using the application program can be performed from the host.

Printer, print processing program, and print processing method


The present invention refers to the arrangement of components comprised in a linear compressor (1), which is fundamentally composed by at least one resonant oscillating mechanism comprising at least one resonant spring (2) which defines at least one neutral point (21), at least one magnet (3) and at least one piston (4); at least one intermediate element (5) which defines an axially flexible surface (51); at least one flat spring (6) which defines at least one binding structure (62); at least one shell (7); and at least one attaching means (8).

According to the skilled in the art, linear compressors comprise at least one arrangement wherein the piston is functionally associated with a linear electrical engine, wherein the objective of this arrangement consists of axially moving the piston in the interior of a cylinder, promoting the compression of a working fluid.
Thus, the skilled in the art already known linear compressors based on resonant oscillating mechanisms, wherein the piston (which glides in the interior of a cylinder, promoting the compression of a working fluid) and the linear engine (fundamentally composed by a fixed stator and a movable magnet) have their motion dynamics defined by means of a body with resilient features and which is susceptible of resonant linear vibration (which comprises the attaching element between the piston and the magnet of the linear engine).
Some functional examples of linear compressors based on resonant oscillating mechanisms are described in document BRPI0601645. One of these functional examples comprises a compressor wherein the magnet of the linear engine is attached to the piston by means of a resilient element as a resonant helical spring, wherein said piston (together with corresponding attaching elements thereof) is arranged in one of the ends of the resilient element, while the magnet (together with corresponding attaching elements thereof) is arranged in its opposed end. This arrangement enables that the movement between the opposed ends of the resilient element presents a difference of 180° (a hundred and eighty degrees). In this arrangement, the resilient element further presents a region in which the axial oscillation (or axial movement) tends to zero, wherein said region—which comprises all the region located the springs of the resilient element (or resonant spring)—is known as neutral point. Furthermore, in accordance with document BRPI0601645, the mechanical attachment between the external shell of the compressor (normally cylindrical and tubular) and the resilient element shall be effectuated through said neutral point, aiming not modifying the oscillation conditions of the already mentioned elastic element.
Although the concepts and constructiveness observed in document BRPI0601645 meet all the intended objectives (in ideal operating situations), it shall be noted the lack of axial stiffness necessary for maintaining the positioning of the resonant oscillating mechanism in the interior of the shell in situations wherein it is noted the unbalance of mass or stiffness (neutral point with oscillation different from zero), which may occur due to several reasons (non-ideal situations).
To overcome this unfavorable aspect, the current state of the art further provides an arrangement of linear compressor (based on a resonant oscillating mechanism) wherein it is included an intermediate element among the compressor shell and the resilient element.
This arrangement including an intermediate element is defined, in detail, in the Brazilian document No. BRPI1005184 of Dec. 27, 2010, which is also applied to the same author of the present application.
Thus, it is defined an intermediate element composed by an integrated tubular body, at least a group of rips (which defines an axially flexible surface), and at least one attaching point for the resilient element or resonant spring. Specifically, it is provided two symmetrically-arranged attaching points, wherein each one of the attaching points comprises a thru hole defined in the axially flexible surface. According to said document, the intermediate element is arranged in the interior of the compressor shell, and the resonant spring is arranged in the interior of the intermediate element. This arrangement is fixed with bolts and similar tools, which pass through the axially flexible surface of the intermediate element and the neutral point of the resonant spring.
The Brazilian document No. BRPI1005184 further discloses the presence of flat leaf springs assembled together with the side faces of the intermediate element. Said flat springs have the function of increasing the transverse stiffness between the resonant oscillating assembly and the compressor shell and further guaranteeing that occasional concentricity errors (of the resonant oscillating assembly) will be reduced.
If said flat leaf springs do not have an angular indexing related to the resilient element that connects the magnet to the piston, the transverse vibration of the compressor, measured in two transverse directions, one direction on the base plan of the compressor (bottom) orthogonally to the direction of the piston motion and the other direction on the vertical plan orthogonally to the piston motion, will also have a variability that will follow the position of spring legs. Considering the indexing, the forces transmitted to the shell by the spring legs will have a fixed position. Consequently, the vibration caused by said forces will have a lower variability.
The lack of indexing can also result in a concurrence (coincidence) between the frequencies of some vibration modes and some harmonicas of functioning, resulting in the increase of compressor vibration, or even its non-operation.
In view of the foregoing, it remains obvious the need of developing a linear compressor based on a resonant oscillating mechanism not containing the disadvantages described above.

Arrangement of components of a linear compressor


A method include obtaining at least one first PET image of a subject acquired by a PET scanner and at least one first MR image of the subject acquired by an MR scanner. The method may also include obtaining a target neural network model. The target neural network model may provide a mapping relationship between PET images, MR images, and corresponding attenuation correction data, and output attenuation correction data associated with a specific PET image of the PET images. The method may further include generating first attenuation correction data corresponding to the subject using the target neural network model based on the at least one first PET image and the at least one first MR image of the subject, and determining a target PET image of the subject based on the first attenuation correction data corresponding to the subject.

Nuclear medicine imaging is widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions based on images acquired by using radiation emission. Positron emission tomography (PET) is an exemplary nuclear medicine imaging technique. PET is used to generate images that may reflect metabolic activities of a specific organ or tissue (e.g., a tumor). Generally, a PET image may be reconstructed based on attenuation correction data to present accurate information of a specific organ or tissue in a body. With the development of multi-modality imaging technique (e.g., PET-magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technique), MR images may be used for attenuation correction of a PET image. However, an MR image cannot directly present the electron density of tissue in a body, such that an attenuation correction image associated with the PET image cannot be generated directly based on the MR image. It is desired to provide systems and methods for PET image attenuation correction based on MR images.

Systems and methods for attenuation correction

SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.


A semiconductor memory module includes a control component connected via various buses to semiconductor memory components on the top and bottom of a module board. Depending on the storage capacity and the rank configuration of the semiconductor memory module, address terminals are actuated via selection circuits either with address signals or control signals. According to an embodiment of the control component, control terminals are actuated with different control signals. The multiplexing of address and control signals allows the control component to control semiconductor memory components, in a semiconductor memory module, with different memory configurations without requiring an increased number of control terminals.

In the case of a semiconductor memory module, a module board includes a plurality of semiconductor memory components which communicate with the memory module's environment via a control component. FIG. 1 shows a module board MP on which a control component SB is arranged. The control component SB is situated at a central position on a top of the module board. On left-hand and right-hand sides of the control component, semiconductor memory components HB are arranged on the top of the module board and further semiconductor memory components HB arranged on the bottom of the module board. The semiconductor memory components are connected to the control component via various buses for transmitting clock, control, address and data signals. To this end, the control component comprises a number of clock, control, address and data terminals.
Each of the semiconductor memory components HB includes one or more memory chips C. FIG. 2A shows a semiconductor memory component HB in which four memory chips C are situated in a stack arrangement. Each of the memory chips comprises a memory cell array containing a multiplicity of memory cells. FIG. 2B shows a memory chip comprising a memory cell array in an enlarged illustration. The memory cells are arranged along word lines WL for activating one of the memory cells and bit lines BL for writing a memory state to one of the memory cells or for reading a memory state from one of the memory cells.
In the case of DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) memory cells, a memory cell comprises a selection transistor AT and a storage capacitor SC. The storage capacitor SC can be conductively connected to the bit line BL via an appropriate control signal on the word line WL for the purpose of memory access. To improve the signal integrity for write access, a terminating resistor (On-Die Termination Resistor) ODTW, which is used to terminate a data bus for transmitting the data from the memory chip, is activated on the memory chip.
To activate the terminating resistor, the control component SB actuates the relevant semiconductor memory component or the memory chip of the memory component via a control signal ODTS (On-Die Termination Signal). In addition, the semiconductor memory components are actuated in order to select one of the memory chips of the memory component via a control signal CS (Chip Select Signal). Address signals are produced on address terminals of the control component SB and are supplied to the memory chips via address buses in order to select one of the memory cells in the memory cell array for memory access.
In the case of a memory module with the module configuration 2Rx4, a semiconductor memory module holds a total of 36 memory chips. A rank indicates the number of memory components necessary to provide the bus width for the control component. Since the bus width generally comprises 72 bits, an x4 organizational form for the semiconductor memory comprises 18 memory chips associated with a rank. If the semiconductor memory module in FIG. 1 is operated in a configuration of 2Rx4, each of the semiconductor memory components comprises two memory chips, therefore a total of 36 memory chips are situated on the module board.
Since particularly the control components SB have a high power consumption, great efforts are made to reduce the number of semiconductor memory modules required for implementing a memory with a certain capacity. With a semiconductor memory module in the 4Rx4 module configuration comprising semiconductor memory components that each include two stacked memory chips with a storage density of 1 Gbit, a storage capacity of 8 GB can be produced, for example, while only a storage capacity of 4 GB can be achieved with a semiconductor memory module in the module configuration 2Rx4, which contains semiconductor memory components that each include two stacked memory chips with a storage density of 1 Gbit. Therefore, the power consumption in a memory can be reduced by approximately half if, instead of using memory modules in the 2Rx4 configuration, memory modules in the 4Rx4 configuration are used. In this case, only 8 memory modules in the 4Rx4 configuration are required to design a memory with a storage capacity of 64 GB, for example, whereas 16 semiconductor memory modules in the configuration 2Rx4 would be necessary to design a memory of this kind. Since the number of control components is thus also reduced by half, the use of 8 semiconductor memory modules in the 4Rx4 configuration also allows the power consumption to be reduced by half in comparison with the use of 16 memory modules in the 2Rx4 module configuration.
If the semiconductor memory module in FIG. 1 is designed in a module configuration of 4Rx4, the module board holds a total of 72 memory chips. As FIG. 2A shows, each of the semiconductor memory components respectively contains 4 memory chips in a stack arrangement. To control a semiconductor memory module of this kind, further control signals need to be produced by the control component SB in comparison with a semiconductor memory module in the 2Rx4 configuration. Thus, particularly for the purpose of actuating the two additional ranks, further control signals CS (Chip Select) are required for selecting the memory chips in the additional ranks and additional control signals ODTS are required for activating the terminating resistors for the memory chips in the additional ranks. However, the provision of additional output terminals for providing the additional control signals is associated with an increase in the chip size for the control component and with an increase in the power requirement for the control component.

Control component for controlling a semiconductor memory component in a semiconductor memory module


An energy usage display unit for displaying energy usage of gas used for a water heater, water used for the water heater or electricity used in housing where the water heater is set. The energy usage display unit includes a clock section; a counting section for counting usage of gas, water or electricity; a memory section for storing a count value of usage counted by the counting section retroactive to past by a predetermined number with a predetermined time unit; a counting control section for writing the count value of usage at predetermined time; a display control section for reading one or both of the count value and a stored value in the memory section to prepare display data of usage; and a display section for displaying usage based on the display data prepared by the display control section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an energy usage display unit for displaying energy usage such as usage of gas or water service for a water heater or usage of electricity at housing where the water heater is set.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is a known water heater which can display usage of gas or water used for a water heater (Japanese Patent No. 3061215). As shown in a block diagram in FIG. 6, as a configuration for displaying usage of gas and the like, the water heater includes gas amount detecting means 631, water amount detecting means 641, gas amount integrating means 674, water amount integrating means 675, periodic integrating and managing means 673, memory means 677, display means 676, display switching means 678, integrating period setting means 671, clock means 672 and the like.
The gas amount integrating means 674 adds up a gas amount used in a water heater main body (not shown) detected by the gas amount detecting means 631. The water amount integrating means 675 adds up a water amount used in the water heater main body detected by the water amount detecting means 641. The integrating period setting means 671 sets a reference day of integration, and inputs a reference day data 671a to the periodic integrating and managing means 673. The clock means 672 has a calendar function, and supplies clock data 672a such as month, day, hour, minute to the periodic integrating and managing means 673.
The periodic integrating and managing means 673 compares the reference day data 671a with the clock data 672a, reads integration results 674a, 675a of the gas amount integrating means 674 and the water amount integrating means 675 every integration period, stores the integration results 674a, 675a in the memory means 677 in association with the integration period, generates reset signals 673a, 673b to clear the integration values of the gas amount integrating means 674 and the water amount integrating means 675, and restarts the integration from zero.
The water heater adds up the gas amount and an water amount used in the water heater main body by means of the gas amount integrating means 674 and the water amount integrating means 675 (hereinafter generally referred to "integrating means 674, 675",) over the integration period which is set by the integrating period setting means 671, and displays the integration results 674a, 675a using the display means 676. In a case where it is requested to display a past usage by designating year and month from the display switching means 678, corresponding data is read out from the memory means 677 and is displayed on the display means 676.
According to the conventional water heater, if the periodic integrating and managing means 673 outputs the reset signals 673a, 673b based on the integration period which is set by the integrating period setting means 671, the integrating means 674, 675 adds up usage of gas and water service in accordance with the integration period, and the display means 676 shows the integration results 674a, 675a in accordance with the integration period. Therefore, in order to change the period unit (month unit or the like) of usage which is displayed on the display means 676, it is necessary to again set the integration period by the integrating period setting means 671, change output timing of the reset signals 673a, 673b of the periodic integrating and managing means 673, and change the integration periods of the integrating means 674, 675.
In this case, if the integration period is changed, the periodic integrating and managing means 673 outputs the reset signals 673a, 673b to the integrating means 674, 675, and, clears the integration values of the integrating means 674, 675, and restarts the integration. Therefore, the current usage which is added up by the integrating means 674, 675 is cleared and the usage can not be displayed. Further, the data stored in the memory means 677 has a different integration period from that before the integration period is changed and thus, the past usage can not be displayed either.
The integration period in the periodic integrating and managing means 673 is obtained by the reference day data 671a of the integrating period setting means 671 and the time-counting data 672a of the clock means 672. Therefore, time of the clock means 672 is changed, the integration period is reduced or increased by the corresponding time before or after the change and thus, the integration period of the periodic integrating and managing means 673 is changed. Therefore, the periodic integrating and managing means 673 outputs the reset signals 673a, 673b to the integrating means 674, 675 by the change of the integration period caused by the change in time, and the periodic integrating and managing means 673 clears the integration values of the integrating means 674, 675 and restarts the integration. Thus, in this case also, the current usage which is added up by the integrating means 674 and 675 is cleared and the current usage can not be displayed.


The disclosure describes a technique for medical imaging, referred to herein as the Rapid Interleave Overlap Technique (RIOT), wherein image data is acquired as a plurality of series sequences in a manner that allows for unlimited overlap. RIOT involves interleaving and overlapping 2D image slices of multiple series of image data of the same ROI into a composite data set from which MPR and 3D reconstructions exhibiting excellent resolution properties and crisp image quality can be generated.

Multi-planar (MPR) and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of two-dimensional (2D) image slice data can be very helpful to clinicians, particularly in connection with surgical planning. However, current MR imaging techniques for acquiring medical image slices of a patient's region of interest (ROI) are of limited value when high quality MPR and 3D reconstructions are desired. In MR, the slice thickness for a given acquisition is constrained by multiple factors such as sequence, specific absorption rate (SAR) and field of view (FOV). In addition, in MR there is only one "detector," the coil unit (e.g., the head coil). Since there is only one detector with MR imaging (unlike CT imaging, wherein multi-detector CT scanners can use several detectors to simultaneously acquire image data), acquisition parameters such as base resolution and slice thickness have much more of a direct impact on acquired images. This limits the ability to change parameters readily before and after image acquisition. In MR there is always a trade-off. For example, although a smaller slice thickness will yield better resolution, smaller slice thickness will also result in decreased signal to noise (SNR), thereby leading to increased scan time and SAR. Each sequence therefore has an allowable slice thickness range. In addition, as the slice thickness decreases, other factors such as "cross-talk"may increase, thereby further reducing image quality. This in turn limits the ability to overlap slice information, a problem that has plagued conventional high resolution MR MPR and 3D reconstruction techniques.
In order to produce high quality MPR and 3D images, an overlap of 50% is desirable. For the reasons stated above, traditional MR techniques do not allow for this degree of overlap of 2D images. Currently, the best MR techniques available for generating 3D images are believed to be volumetric acquisitions, where the base image resolution can be quite good. However, as stated above, with the increase in resolution for such techniques, the SNR is decreased, with the end result being that even the most optimal 3D MR sequence cannot compare to the 3D images derived by current multi-detector CT technology. 3D reconstructions derived from 2D MR acquisitions are even more limited. These images, which have limited resolution and poor SNR, do not produce 3D volumetric images with the quality required for many diagnostic assessments.
Additional background information pertaining to MR imaging issues can be found in the following publications, the entire disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: Sailhan F, Chotel F, Guibal A L, Gollogly S, Adam P, Berard J, Guibaud L: Three-dimensional MR imaging in the assessment of physeal growth arrest, European Radiology, 2004; April 3 [Epub ahead of print]; Klingebiel R, Thieme N, Kivelitz D, Enzweiler C, Werbs M, Lehmann R: Three-dimensional imaging of the inner ear by volume-rendered reconstructions of magnetic resonance data, Archives of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, 2002; 128:549-53; Lee V S, Lavelle M T, Krinsky G A, Rofsky N M: Volumetric MR imaging of the liver and applications, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Clinics of North America, 2001; 9:697-716; Kleinheinz J, Stamm T, Meier N, Wiesmann H P, Ehmer U, Joos U: Three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging of the orbit in craniofacial malformations and trauma, International Journal of Orthodontic Orthognath Surgery 2000; 15:64-8; Krombach G A, Schmitz-Rode T, Tacke J, Glowinski A, Nolte-Ernsting C C, Gunther R W: MRI of the inner ear: comparison of axial T2-weighted, three-dimensional turbo spin-echo images, maximum-intensity projections, and volume rendering, Investigational Radiology, 2000; 35:337-42; McKinnon G C, Eichenberger A C, von Weymarn C A, von Schulthess G K; Ultrafast imaging using an interleaved gradient echo planar sequence in Books of Abstracts, 11th Annual Meeting, Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 1992; 106; Phillips M D, Lowe M J, Lurito J T, Dzemidzic M, Mathews V P: Temporal lobe activation demonstrates sex-based differences during passive listening; Radiology, 2001; 220:202-07; and Haacke E. M., Brown R. W., Thompson M. R. and Venkatesan R.: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Physical Principles and Sequence Design, John Wiley & Sons, 1999.

Method and apparatus for acquiring overlapped medical image slices


A process for determining the flow rate of a fluid, in particular of an air flow of an internal combustion engine, a temperature dependent resistor through which a heating current flows being arranged in the flow path of the fluid, the size of the heating current being a measure of the flow rate of the fluid, the temperature of the resistor being determined by a temperature sensor and being set to a constant value by means of a circuit arrangement which influences the heating current, and the fluid flow rate determined immediately after the start of the fluid flow being corrected by means of a correction value (k, k') in order to compensate for a measurement error which occurs when the heating current is switched on but when fluid is not yet flowing due to temperature deviation of the resistor.

A process of this kind is disclosed in German No. DE-A1-3 433 368, in which the air flow fed to the internal combustion engine is determined, the determined value being fed to a control device for influencing the operating parameters of the internal combustion engine. It is known to use a so-called hot-wire or hot-film air flow rate meter for this. In the case of the hot-wire air flow rate meter, the intake air flow is directed past a heated wire (hot wire). This wire is part of an electrical bridge circuit. It constitutes the temperature-dependent resistor already mentioned, through which a heating current flows. The hot wire is held at a constant higher temperature than the intake air temperature by the heating current. The required heating current is a measure of the air flow sucked in by the engine. It is converted into a voltage signal which is processed by the control unit as an important input variable in addition to the engine speed. A temperature sensor, i.e., the temperature sensor already mentioned, installed in the hot-wire air flow meter ensures that the output signal is not dependent on the intake air temperature. In addition, it serves to keep the resistor through which the heating current flows at the constant higher temperature. A hot-film air flow rate meter is of a corresponding design. Instead of the hot wire, a film-like resistor is used.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,641 discloses a process for determining the flow rate of a fluid which is used to determine the air flow rate in an internal combustion engine. In order to prevent the temperature-dependent resistor heating up too strongly when the air flow is switched off (when the internal conmbustion engine is stationary), the heating current is switched off as soon as the air flow rate undershoots a predetermined threshold value.
European No. EP-A300 144 027 discloses a device for measuring the sucked-in air flow in an internal combustion engine which has a bridge circuit. The bridge circuit comprises a heatable resistor in the intake path of the internal combustion engine, a resistor for measuring the temperature of the sucked-in air and further bridge resistors. A heating current is fed to the bridge circuit via a transistor which is periodically driven by a signal which is generated by a microcomputer. A signal which represents the temperature change of the resistor which can be heated up by a heating current is detected by the microcomputer. A first correction signal is determined from the difference between a value detected by the microcomputer and a signal which takes into account the temperature of the heatable resistor at normal temperature and in the case of equilibrium of the bridges. A correction value which influences the duration of the control signal is determined as a function of the first correction signal with the aid of a table. This second correction signal is used for the correction of the duration of the passage of current.
German No. DE-A1-4 004 552 also discloses a signal processing method for a flow rate sensor of the thermal type which has a resistor with temperature dependency. When the fluid flow is in the steady state, that is, in the so-called state of equilibrium, the following steps in this signal processing method are carried out: setting in advance the relation of a value assigned to the flow rate, which value changes in accordance with the change in the flow rate, and in accordance with a first operating value which indicates the temperature characteristic of the carrier component bearing the temperature-dependent resistor, which value or which characteristic changes as a function in order to produce a value, as parameter, assigned to the flow rate; calculation of the first operating parameter from a value assigned to the flow rate when the flow rate is detected in accordance with the predetermined relation; comparison of the calculated first operating value with the second operating value which is set in relation to the first operating value; correction of the second operating value so that it can be approximated to the first operating calculation of a compensation factor by means of a predetermined calculation formula with the calculated first operating value and the correct second operating value; and compensation of the compensation factor by means of multiplication.

Process for determining a flow rate of a fluid


A dustproof device is disclosed. The first blade set includes a plurality of first blades. The first blade has a first linking portion and a first blocking portion. The first blocking portion forms a first opening with another first linking portion of an adjacent first blade. The second blade set includes a plurality of second blades. The second blade has a second linking portion and a second blocking portion. The second blocking portion forms a second opening with another second linking portion of an adjacent second blade. Dust or particles entering the first blade set will be blocked by the second blade set and fallen between the first blade set and the second blade set.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to dustproof devices and, in particular to a dustproof device installed in an air inlet of a heat sink.
2. Description of Related Art
Nowadays air conditioner equipment is an important temperature-controlling facility for providing comfortable living temperature and humidity in living environment. Furthermore, batteries or electronic components of communication devices in cabinets will operate normally under a proper temperature. Thus, poor heat dissipation in surrounding environment will result in overheating and a service life might be reduced.
Moreover, air conditioner equipment not only controls temperature and humidity, but also keeps air quality and cleanliness. Therefore, air quality is an important part of the air conditioner equipment. Air conditioner equipment or a ventilation system usually filters out air by air filters to fulfill a qualified indoor cleanliness. Hence air conditioner equipment must have a good purifying device for air conditioner equipment for providing a qualified indoor air quality and cleanliness.
However, when air conditioner equipment is installed in a bad environment outdoors, such as in a desert area, the replacement frequency of air filters is very often that leads to a high maintenance cost of air conditioner equipment.
In view of the above drawbacks, the Inventor proposes the present invention based on his expert knowledge and elaborate researches in order to solve the problems of related art.


A wireless User Equipment (UE) is configured to hand over to a roaming network. The wireless UE comprises a radio and processing circuitry. The radio wirelessly transfers UE capabilities to a home wireless network and receives performance information for the wireless networks from the home wireless network. The radio measures signal strengths for the roaming wireless networks. The radio transfers the performance information and signal strengths to the processing circuitry. The processing circuitry determines candidate roaming networks based on the signal strengths. The processing circuitry determines performance differentials between the home network and the candidate roaming networks based on the performance information. When at least one of the performance differentials exceeds a performance differential threshold, the processing circuitry generates a handover request to attach to the candidate roaming network with the largest performance differential and transfers the handover request to the home wireless network.

Wireless communication networks provide wireless data services to wireless user devices. Exemplary wireless data services include machine-control, internet-access, media-streaming, and social-networking. Exemplary wireless user devices comprise phones, computers, vehicles, robots, and sensors. The wireless communication networks have wireless access nodes that exchange wireless signals over frequency channels with the wireless user devices using wireless network protocols. Exemplary wireless network protocols include Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (WIFI), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR), Millimeter Wave (MMW) and Low-Power Wide Area Network (LP-WAN).
Wireless user devices register with the wireless communication networks to receive the wireless data services. The wireless communication network that a wireless user device is registered with is referred to as a "home wireless network". When the wireless user device is unable to establish a wireless connection with its home wireless network, the wireless user device will typically attach to a different wireless communications network referred to as a "visitor wireless network". When the wireless user device is served by the visitor wireless network, the wireless user device is roaming. Typically, wireless user devices will roam when the signal strength of the home wireless network is too weak for wireless data services.
When wireless user devices attach to a wireless access node, the wireless access node becomes loaded. An increase in load decreases the ability of the wireless access node to provide wireless data service to the wireless user devices. With the increase in the amount of wireless user devices, the load in the wireless access nodes has also increased. The wireless user devices are faced with the problem of trying to receive wireless data services with the increase in load. Moreover, wireless user devices which subscribe to premium wireless data services struggle to receive their premium services from heavily loaded networks. Unfortunately, the wireless user devices do not effectively and efficiently roam given the increase in load.

User equipment (UE) roaming based on network performance


Disclosed is a sound-suppressing device that employs a porous micro-channel diffusion matrix surrounding a hollow core tube that acts to exponentially increase the surface area of the suppressor and allow combustion gasses to diffuse and exit the suppressor across the entire outer surface of the suppressor.

Sound generation occurs when discharging a firearm. The sound heard is due to the following sources: the ignition of the cartridge; the discharge of propellant gas from the end of the barrel of a firearm, the flight of the bullet, the bullet impacting its target and the mechanical operation of the firearm itself. Multiple technologies can be employed to reduce the perceived sound associated with discharging a firearm. Typically, a suppressor (commonly known as a "silencer") is capable of reducing some of the sound emitted from discharging a firearm.
A suppressor generally takes the form of a cylindrically shaped metal tube with various internal mechanisms to reduce the sound of a discharge. The suppressor is typically made of metal (e.g. steel, aluminum, or titanium) that can withstand the heat and pressure associated with escaping propellant gasses. Previous suppressor designs utilize baffling of all shapes and sizes to trap, cool, and decompress gasses released by a firearm in a controllable manner. The baffling design reduces the energy of the gasses, and when the gasses exit the suppressor, the perceived audible signature of the weapon is significantly reduced. Some examples include U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,579,075, 8,104,570, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,311.
Traditional suppressor designs have drawbacks that make them undesirable or inconvenient for some users. Drawbacks of these traditional suppressors may include but are not limited to: altering the point of the bullet's impact on the target; adding significant weight to the firearm; increasing the blow back; having increased difficulties and increased costs associated with manufacturing intricate designs; changing the recoil of the firearm; increasing the barrel temperature of the firearm which gives the user a perceived mirage effect and decreases the effectiveness of suppressor, and difficulty in cleaning.