A method and device for communicating private application data, along with audio data (e.g., MPEG-2 encoded audio data) and video data (e.g., MPEG-2 encoded video data), from a first location to a second location. The private application data is either stuffed into a header portion of packets of encoded audio or video data, or packetized and multiplexed with packets of encoded audio or video data. The multiplexed packets form a packet stream which is communicated to the second location.

a. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for combining audio, video, and private application(s) data for communication and, in particular, concerns a method and apparatus for inserting private application(s) data, such as text and graphics overlays and gaming data, for example, onto an MPEG (Motion Pictures Experts Group) or MPEG-2 transport stream including packets carrying MPEG encoded video and audio data. In particular, the present invention concerns a method and apparatus for inserting private application(s) data onto an MPEG or MPEG-2 transport stream such that:
(i) the private application(s) data is synchronized with packets of encoded video data on the MPEG or MPEG-2 transport stream; and/or PA1 (ii) the format of packets defining the transport stream can be dynamically adjusted based on the bandwidth required to communicate the private application(s) data. PA1 (a) encoding the audio data in accordance with an audio compression algorithm to produce encoded audio data; PA1 (b) encoding the video data in accordance with a video compression algorithm to produce encoded video data; PA1 (c) packetizing the encoded audio data to produce packets of encoded audio data, each of the packets of encoded audio data having a header portion and a payload portion, each header portion of the audio packets having a fixed area for accommodating private application data; PA1 (d) packetizing the encoded video data to produce packets of encoded video data, each of the packets of encoded video data having a header portion and a payload portion, each header portion of the video packets having a fixed area for accommodating private application data; PA1 (e) inserting the private application data into the fixed areas of the headers of the packets of encoded audio data and packets of encoded video data to produce stuffed audio and video packets; PA1 (f) multiplexing the stuffed audio and video packets to form a packet stream; and PA1 (g) transmitting the packet stream from the source location to the destination location. PA1 (a) extracting private application data from the stuffed audio and video packets of the transmitted packet stream; PA1 (b) demultiplexing the transmitted packet stream to separate the packets of encoded audio data from the packets of encoded video data; PA1 (c) decoding the payload portion of the packets of audio encoded data to form audio data; and PA1 (d) decoding the payload portion of the packets of encoded video data to form video data. The extracted private application data may then be provided to a private application process. PA1 (a) encoding the audio data in accordance with an audio compression algorithm to produce encoded audio data; PA1 (b) encoding the video data in accordance with a video compression algorithm to produce encoded video data; PA1 (c) packetizing the encoded audio data to produce packets of encoded audio data, each of the packets of encoded audio data having a header which includes a first packet identification number; PA1 (d) packetizing the encoded video data to produce packets of encoded video data, each of the packets of encoded video data having a header which includes a second packet identification number; PA1 (e) packetizing the private application data to produce packets of private application data, each of the packets of private application data having a header which includes a third packet identification number; PA1 (f) multiplexing the packets of private application data, encoded audio data, and encoded video data to produce a packet stream; and PA1 (g) transmitting the packet stream from the source location to the destination location. PA1 (h) demultiplexing the transmitted packet stream to separate the packets of encoded audio data, packets of encoded video data, and packets of private data; PA1 (i) decoding the payload data of the packets of encoded audio data to form audio data; and PA1 (j) decoding the payload data of the packets of encoded video data to form video data. The private application data located in the payload of the packets of private application data may then be provided to a private application process.
b. Related Art
The International Organisation for Standardisation (or the Organisation Internationale De Normalisation) (hereinafter referred to as "the ISO/IEC") has produced a standard for the coding of moving pictures and associated audio. This standard is set forth in four documents. The document ISO/IEC 13818-1 (systems) specifies the system coding of the specification. It defines a multiplexed structure for combining audio and video data and means of representing the timing information needed to replay synchronized sequences in real-time. The document ISO/IEC 13818-2 (video) specifies the coded representation of video data and the decoding process required to reconstruct pictures. The document ISO/IEC 13818-3 (audio) specifies the coded representation of audio data and the decoding process required to reconstruct the audio data. Lastly, the document ISO/IEC 13818-4 (conformance) specifies procedures for determining the characteristics of coded bitstreams and for testing compliance with the requirements set forth in the ISO/IEC documents 13818-1, 13818-2, and 13818-3. These four documents, hereinafter referred to, collectively, as "the MPEG-2 standard", are incorporated herein by reference.
A bit stream, multiplexed in accordance with the MPEG-2 standard, is either a "transport stream" or a "program stream". Both program and transport streams are constructed from "packetized elementary stream" (or PES) packets and packets containing other necessary information. A "packetized elementary stream" (or PES) packet is a data structure used to carry "elementary stream data". An "elementary stream" is a generic term for one of (a) coded video, (b) coded audio, or (c) other coded bit streams carried in a sequence of PES packets with one and only stream ID. Both program and transport streams support multiplexing of video and audio compressed streams from one program with a common time base.
FIG. 7 illustrates the packetizing of compressed video data 706 of a video sequence 702 into a stream of PES packets 708, and then, into a stream of transport stream packets 712. Specifically, a video sequence 702 includes various headers 704 and associated compressed video data 706. The video sequence 702 is parsed into variable length segments, each having an associated PES packet header 710 to form a PES packet stream 708. The PES packet stream 708 is then parsed into segments, each of which is provided with a transport stream header 714 to form a transport stream 712. Each transport stream packet of the transport stream 712 is 188 bytes in length.
Transport streams permit one or more programs with one or more independent time bases to be combined into a single stream. Transport streams are useful in instances where data storage and/or transport means are lossy or noisy. The rate of transport streams, and their constituent packetized elementary streams (PESs) may be fixed or variable. This rate is defined by values and locations of program clock reference (or PCR) fields within the transport stream.
Although the syntax of the transport stream is described in the MPEG-2 standard, the fields of the transport stream pertaining to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 3 for the reader's convenience. As shown in FIG. 3, a transport packet stream 300 includes one or more 188 byte packets, each of the packets having a header 302 and an associated payload 304. Each header 302 includes an eight (8) bit synch byte field 306, a one (1) bit transport error indicator field 308, a one (1) bit payload unit start indicator field 310, a one (1) bit transport priority field 312, a thirteen (13) bit packet identifier (or PID) field 314, a two (2) bit transport scrambling control field 316, a two (2) bit adaptation field control field 318, a four (4) bit continuity counter field 320, and an adaptation field 322. Each of these fields is described in the MPEG-2 standard. However, for the reader's convenience, the fields particularly relevant to the present invention are described below.
First, the synch byte 306 has a value of "01000111" and identifies the start of a 188 byte packet. The PID field 314 indicates the type of data stored in the payload 304 of the 188 byte packet. Certain PID values are reserved. For example, PID values 0x00010 through 0x1FFE may be assigned as a Program map PID. The program map provides mappings between program numbers and the elementary streams that comprise them. The program map table is the complete collection of all program definitions for a transport stream. The program map shall be transmitted in packets, the PID values of which are privately selected (i.e., not specified by the ISO/IEC).
As shown in FIG. 3, the adaptation field 322 includes an eight (8) bit adaptation field length field 324, a one (1) bit discontinuity indicator field 326, a one (1) bit random access indicator field 328, a one (1) bit elementary stream priority indicator field (330), a five (5) bit flag field 332, optional fields 334 and stuffing bytes 336.
As is further shown in FIG. 3, the optional fields 334 include a 42 bit program reference clock (or PRC) field, 338, a 42 bit original program reference clock (or OPCR) field 340, an eight (8) bit splice countdown field 342, an eight (8) bit transport private data length field 344, a transport private data field 346, an eight (8) bit adaptation field extension length field 348, a three (3) bit flag field 350, and optional fields 352. Each of these fields is described in the MPEG-2 standard. However, for the reader's convenience, the fields particularly relevant to the present invention are described below.
First, the 42 bit program clock reference (or PCR) field 338 and the 42 bit original program clock reference (or OPCR) field 340 are time stamps in the transport stream from which timing of a downstream decoder is derived. The eight (8) bit transport private data length field 344 describes the length (in bytes) of the adjacent transport private data field 346. The contents of the transport private data field 346 are privately determined (i.e., not specified by the ISO/IEC).
As is also shown in FIG. 3, the optional fields 352 include a one (1) bit legal time window valid flag field 354, a fifteen (15) bit legal time window offset field 356, two (2) undefined bits, a 22 bit piecewise rate field 358, a four (4) bit splice type field 366, and a 33 bit decoding time stamp next access unit field 362. A description of these fields is not necessary for understanding the present invention.
The payloads 304 of one or more transport stream packets may carry "packetized elementary stream" (or PES) packets 800. To reiterate, a "packetized elementary stream" (or PES) packet 800 is a data structure used to carry "elementary stream data" and an "elementary stream" is a generic term for one of (a) coded video, (b) coded audio, or (c) other coded bit streams carried in a sequence of PES packets with one and only stream ID.
FIG. 8 is a diagram which illustrates the syntax of a PES packet 800. As FIG. 8 shows, a PES packet 800 includes the PES packet header 710 comprising a 24 bit start code prefix field 802, an eight (8) bit stream identifier field 804, a sixteen (16) bit PES packet length field 806, an optional PES header 808; and the payload or data section 706. Each of these fields is described in the MPEG-2 standard.
The MPEG-2 standard focuses on the encoding and transport of video and audio data. In general, the MPEG-2 standard uses compression algorithms such that video and audio data may be more efficiently stored and communicated. FIG. 4 is a block schematic showing the steps of encoding, communicating (from location 440 to location 450), and decoding video and audio data in accordance with the MPEG-2 standard.
As shown in FIG. 4, at a first location 440, video data is provided to a video encoder 402 which encodes the video data in accordance with the MPEG-2 standard (specified in the document ISO/IEC 13818-2 (video), which is incorporated herein by reference). The video encoder 402 provides encoded video 404 to a packetizer 406 which packetizes the encoded video 404. The packetized encoded video 408 provided by the packetizer 406 is then provided to a first input of at least one of a program stream multiplexer 410 and a transport stream multiplexer 412. For the purposes of understanding the present invention, it can be assumed that program streams are not generated.
Similarly, at the first location 440, audio data is provided to an audio encoder 414 which encodes the audio data in accordance with the MPEG-2 standard (specified in the document ISO/IEC 13818-3 (audio), which is incorporated herein by reference). The audio encoder 414 provides encoded audio 416 to a packetizer 418 which packetizes the encoded audio 416. The packetized encoded audio 420 provided by the packetizer 418 is then provided to a second input of at least one of the program stream multiplexer 410 and the transport stream multiplexer 412.
The transport stream multiplexer 412 multiplexes the encoded audio and video packets and transmits the resulting multiplexed stream to a second location 450 via communications link 422. At the second location 450, on a remote end of the communications link 422, a transport stream demultiplexer 424 receives the multiplexed transport stream. Based on the packet identification (or PID) number 314 of a particular packet, the transport stream demultiplexer 424 separates the encoded audio and video packets and provides the video packets to a video decoder 430 via link 428 and the audio packets to an audio decoder 434 via link 432. The transport stream demultiplexer 424 also provides timing information to a clock control unit 426. The clock control unit 426 provides timing outputs to the both the video decoder 430 and the audio decoder 434 based on the timing information provided by the transport stream demultiplexer 424 (e.g., based on the values of the PCR fields 338). The video decoder 430 provides video data which corresponds to the video data originally provided to the video encoder 402. Similarly, the audio decoder 434 provides audio data which corresponds to the audio data originally provided to the audio encoder 414.
In some instances, communicating private application data from the first location 440, at the near end of link 422, to the second location 450, at the far end of the link 422, is desired. This private application data may, for example, include graphics and text screens which are to overlay the video data, gaming data associated with the video data, or pricing and ordering information related to the video data, for example. Some private application data will not need to be synchronized with the video data. For example, private application data corresponding to real-time stock ticker information including financial news and analysis can be overlaid over a television program without synchronization. On the other hand, some private application data must be synchronized with the video and audio data. For example, private application data corresponding to pricing and ordering information for a sequence of products to be overlaid over a home shopping program displaying a sequence of various products must be synchronized with the video of the products such that the pricing and ordering information corresponds to the appropriate product being displayed.
Known MPEG systems do not specify how to communicate such private application data from a first location 440 to a second location 450. Thus, a need exists for a method and device for communicating such private application data. Such a method or device should use the existing communication link 422, if possible, so that such data can be transmitted with the packetized MPEG video and audio data. Moreover, such a method or device should permit the private application data to be synchronized with the decoded MPEG video and audio data. Furthermore, such a method or device should conserve bandwidth and prevent buffers storing MPEG packets from underflowing (in which case the same frame of video may be played more than once) or overflowing (in which case packets are lost) Finally, such a method and device should permit the communication of more than one type of private application data.

Data multiplexing in MPEG server to decoder systems


A mask is disclosed. The mask includes a light-blocking region and a slit-like light-transmitting region. The slit includes two edges that are disposed oppositely to each other, and each of the edges is made up of a plurality of arcs.

With the development of high resolution display technologies, sizes of the pixels are gradually decreased. To maintain the aperture ratio, metal electrodes of the pixels and line width of the color filter black matrix (BM) have to be narrower as well. However, it is difficult to realize narrower line width in known photolithography processes due to the diffraction effect of light.
Currently, to overcome the influence of the diffraction effect, a method realizes narrower line width by way of a sawtooth-shaped slit as illustrated in FIG. 1. The line width is adjusted by adjusting a width a, a gap b and an angle θ. The advantage of the method lies in that the narrower line width effect can be realized by simply changing the layout design of the mask slits. However, it has the disadvantage of having too many burrs, not smooth and lacking corner design. In fact, a straight line design is normally combined with the sawtooth design. That is, the straight line design is used in a direction not requiring narrower line width while the sawtooth design is inserted in the straight line design for a direction requiring narrower line width as illustrated in FIG. 2. The joining part between the two designs lacks smooth connection design, making the line width at the corner too narrow as to being etched and causing broken-line defect. Furthermore, when both directions require the narrower line width design, the design as FIG. 2 cannot meet the requirement of having narrower line width design in both directions.


A random access memory architecture and method of handling data packets is described. According to embodiments of the invention, an apparatus includes a first processing unit for receiving serial data input, a switch, and a plurality of serially connected random access memory devices. The random access memory devices transmit data packets and commands via write input ports, write output ports, read input ports, and read output ports. A method for routing data includes receiving serial data input in a first processing unit, generating a data packet based on the serial data input, transmitting the data packet to a first random access memory device via a write input port, decoding the data packet, determining whether to perform a command in the first random access memory device based on information in the data packet, and transmitting the data packet to a second random access memory device.

As the need for bandwidth expands in information and communication networks, bottlenecks develop in the switching hardware due to increases in the number of ports and throughput per port in routing. To handle the increased bandwidth, architectures arose that rely upon increased internal bus widths, increased bandwidths on the busses, and decentralized processing. A block diagram of an example of the architecture of a known router system 100 is shown in FIG. 1. Incoming packets can be temporarily stored in a local buffer 102 until one or more network layer processors, shown as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) 104 and 106, classifies and determines the forwarding address of the packet. The packets are then routed to the target destination.
Buffer 102 includes gigabytes of SRAM arranged in a very wide data bus (512 bits or more) 108 to allow several simultaneous search operations. Router system 100 analyzes the headers of incoming packets for the appropriate types of operations to be performed on the packet. In the case of TCP/IP route look-up, for example, router system 100 matches a combination of source/destination addresses with entries in a routing table for an exact match or a longest prefix match. Content addressable memory (CAM) 110 offloads ASIC 104 by processing a limited set of lookup instructions. In other applications such as load balancing and URL routing, router system 100 performs more complex search rules and routing data structures.
A successful search will result in router system 100 modifying the header and optionally, the payload, with new information. A packet header may be modified for its output port/queue, output connection, or additional labels for switching, for example. The packets are then queued by priority as well as latency to absorb the time needed to implement the search/modify steps. Output queuing reorders packets in the event multiple packets are searched in parallel.
In the example shown in FIG. 1, data bus 108 is a 640 bit bus with a speed of 133 MHz or 167 MHz. Greater efficiency can be achieved with large data packets, while transfers over data bus 108 are very inefficient for small data packets. ASICS 104 and 106 have a pin count of over 1000 pins. The number of pins cannot be expanded without changing ASICs 104, 106. The bandwidth of router system 100 is therefore limited.
If an ASIC with an expanded number of pins is used, other problems arise which increase production costs and limit scalability of router system 100. For example, the memory interface presents board layout problems, including positioning components to avoid long data bus lines; routing wide data bus lines to memory and processor devices with a large number of pins; and multidrop connections on all busses. Other problems include limited bandwidth per pin, and limited memory access time. Additionally, address fan-out problems arise with increasing address bandwidth and address loading and buffering. Further, noise issues arise with heavy bus loading and heavy bus drivers, line termination, bus contention, and the length of the data bus lines. There are also logistical problems with bus arbitration, transferring small amounts of data on very wide busses, bottlenecks at the memory interface, and bus/clock skew and bit alignment. Numerous memory devices switching on many pins at very high speed also dissipates a large amount of power. Additionally, because increasing bus widths, bus bandwidths, bus loading, ASIC size, and memory depth brings diminishing returns, router system 100 cannot efficiently be expanded to handle greater packet bandwidth.
It is therefore desirable to provide a router that is cost effective and scalable, and alleviates many of the problems listed above.

Random access memory architecture and serial interface with continuous packet handling capability


The present invention is directed to a quantitatively analysis method for the phenomena of glare. The method includes the steps of reading light source picture information from a memory part and displaying the light source picture on a display part, reading position information of the circumference of the glare when a patient suffering from the phenomena of glare draws circumference line of the glare by means of a pointing device and calculating area of circumference of glare and outputting the calculated area. The output of the area indicates the condition of illness and the degree of remedy of the patient.

The phenomena of glare or halo occurs when, after an operation of refraction-correction such as lasik or lasek, an iris of an eye excessively contracts and a pupil is enlarged that external light comes in through wider area than the operated cornea area. In this case, a focus of an image of objects is formed in front of a retina and the patient feels the glare or halo spread out from the object when he or she sees the objects. FIG. 1 shows the structure of an eye 100 in which the phenomena of the glare occurs. The operation of refraction-correction such as lasik or lasek is to cut off a portion of the cornea by means of laser in order to adjust the refractive index so that the object image is exactly focused on the retina. With reference to FIG. 1, by the operation, the cornea is cut off by the area of the shaded portion 23 so that the object focus f1 is exactly formed on the retina 40. Since the external light comes in through the cut off area of retina to pass lens 30, the object focus f1 is exactly formed on the retina 40. The track of the light in this case is shown by reference number 50. However, in some cases, the iris 10 which adjusts the lens 30 excessively contracts and the pupil is enlarged. In that case, as indicated by the dotted line of reference number 60, the external light comes in through wider area than the operated cornea area and, as a result, the focus f2 of the object image is formed in front of the retina 40. Patients who have this phenomena feel glare or halo spread out from the objects when they see the objects. This phenomena may cause troubles and inconveniences. Especially, the patient has a difficulty in driving at night.
Conventionally, an ophthalmologist treats the patient in such a way that the doctor asks the patient some questions about the symptoms and hears the answers. Based on the answer the doctor analyzes the condition of illness and the degree of remedy. For instance, the doctor asks how much glare the patient feels when seeing a street light at night and checks the condition of illness by the answer.
Beyond the above conventional way, the present invention provides an apparatus which can quantitatively analyze the phenomena of glare and the method for the same.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which can quantitatively analyze the phenomena of glare and the method for the same.
Quantitatively analysis method for the phenomena of glare according to the present invention includes the steps of reading light source picture information from a memory part and displaying the light source picture on a display part, reading position information of the circumference of the glare when a patient suffering from the phenomena of glare draws circumference line of the glare by means of a pointing device and calculating area of circumference of glare and outputting the calculated area. The output of the area indicates the condition of illness and the degree of remedy of the patient.
It is preferable that the quantitatively analysis method for the phenomena of glare further includes the step of producing circumference display information by using the position information of the circumference of the glare and displaying circumference on the light source picture on the display part according to the circumference display information. This display visually enhances the understanding of the condition of illness and the degree of remedy. Especially, the step of calculating area of circumference of glare may includes the steps of calculating distances between points of the circumference which are symmetric each other with respect to a central point of the light source, producing average value of the distances and calculating area of circle by using the average distance value as a diameter.
The present invention may be embodied by a computer readable storage medium containing a computer readable program to make computer execute the described above steps.
Quantitatively analysis apparatus for the phenomena of glare according to the present invention includes means for memorizing light source picture information, means for reading the light source picture information and displaying the light source picture on a display part, means for inputting position information of circumference, means for calculating area of the circumference of glare by using the position information of the circumference of glare and means for outputting the calculated area.
Preferably, the quantitatively analysis apparatus for the phenomena of glare further includes means for producing circumference display information by using the position information of the circumference of the glare and means for displaying circumference on the light source picture on the display part according to the circumference display information. Especially, the means for calculating area of circumference of glare may include means for calculating distances between points of the circumference which are symmetric each other with respect to a central point of the light source, means for producing average value of the distances and means for calculating area of circle by using the average distance value as a diameter.

Quantitative analysis apparatus for phenomena of glare and the method for the same


Some embodiments include apparatus and methods having a first module with a capacitor network configured to receive a sample of an analog input signal and an amplifier configured to couple to the capacitor network in a plurality of arrangements to successively generate a plurality of residue signals at an amplifier output node of the amplifier without resetting the amplifier between generation of least two of the plurality of residue signals, and a second module configured to generate a digital signal based on a plurality of intermediate codes generated from the sample signal and the plurality of residue signals, the digital signal including a digital value of the sample.

Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are circuitry in many electronic devices such as audio and video players, digital cameras, cellular phones, televisions, and the like. An ADC converts analog signals into digital signals. Some device may receive information such as sound and light and use an analog signal to present the information. The analog signal usually has a continuous curve shape. The device may use an ADC to convert the analog signal, which presents the received information, into a digital signal for further processing. The digital signal usually has a square-like shape representing digital values such as binary value zeros and ones (digits "0" and "1"). Some devices may choose to process digital signals instead of analog signals for various reasons such as device performance.
Many different types of ADCs are available. Depending on the application of a device, one type of ADC may suit a device better than the other types. Selecting which type of ADCs to use in a device may involve consideration of the characteristics of the ADC, such as size, speed, accuracy, and power consumption.

Cyclic pipeline analog-to-digital converter


Carbon components contained in large quantities in bone components are isolated. The isolated carbon components are gasified and plasma-processed by means of microwave or high-frequency heating and the etching curing of hydrogen atoms is utilized to form diamond-like film on the surface of the base material to produce an esthetically pleasing ornament.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an effective utilization of industrial waste and more specifically to a method of producing esthetically pleasing ornaments from bone components, in which carbon components in bone components are gasified and plasma-processed and the etching effect of hydrogen atoms is utilized to form thin diamond-like carbon (DLC) film on the surface of the base material.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditional processes in the meat industry and medical industry produce large quantities of animal bones, some of which are incinerated as waste. As shown in the patent literatures listed below, waste animal bones produced from the meat industry are partially dried, crushed and mixed with powders made from dried organs, etc., to be utilized as condiments and other food materials.
Since waste animal bones contain a lot of calcium, phosphate and potassium, they are also made into ash and used as a component of fertilizer for promoting the growth of plant roots and blooming of flowers. Although waste bones are utilized effectively as explained above, the absolute supply quantity is huge and not all waste bones are effectively utilized. As a result, there has been a need for new applications in which they can be utilized effectively.
As described above, animal bones are utilized in numerous fields, main examples of which include: feeds such as animal feeds (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 2004-49178 and Hei 10-117702) and nutrition-enriched feed compositions (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 2003-199510 and 2000-4802), fish farming feed (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-18965), and chicken farming feeds (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 2002-171917 and Hei 6-178655); applications for reinforcing bones and promoting bone growth such as bone-formation accelerators and fortifiers (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 2004-231616, 2001-302539, Hei 10-298082 and Hei 9-227403), and composition for prevention of bone mass reduction (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2000-247896); and condiments such as meat and bone meal (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-116468). Examples for medical use include artificial bones (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 2001-346818, 2004-269333, Hei 7-048109 and Hei 5-294752), improvement of bone adhesion (as disclosed in Published Japanese Translation No. 2001-525718 of PCT International Patent Publication No. WO99/45979 and Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 10-234843), bone implant materials (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. Sho 62-053663 and Sho 59-211447), and composite biomaterial intended for dental cement (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-309970). The applications for agricultural, forestry and medical uses are limited to those in which enzymes and proteins contained in bones are utilized, and in the area of industrial chemical processes only applications as sintered abrasives and sliding members (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (Examined) No. Hei 7-075831 and Japanese Patent Nos. 3121274 and 3590992) are known. Presently, animal bones are rarely used as functional materials.
Related art references in this case are as follows:
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2004-49178
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 10-117702
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-199510
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2000-004802
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-018965
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2002-171917
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 06-178655
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2004-231616
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-302539
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 10-298082
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 09-227403
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2000-247896
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-116468
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-346818
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2004-269333
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 07-048109
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 05-294752
Published Japanese Translation No. 2001-525718 of PCT International Patent Publication No. WO99/45979
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 10-234843
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 62-053663
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 59-211447
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-309970
Japanese Patent Publication (Examined) No. Hei 07-075831
Japanese Patent No. 3121274
Japanese Patent No. 3590992
On the other hand, the remarkable advancement of various industries of late has made it possible to use in many fields a number of composite materials combining the advantages of multiple materials including various metal materials, plastics and other organic polymer materials and other inorganic materials. Regarding these composite materials, surface reforming, or surface treatment of base material, is one of the technology areas that are drawing the most attention. Surface reforming can be implemented by adding chemical resistance, durability, wear resistance, hardness and other properties directly to the surface of conventional materials that already offer excellent machinability and are thus used in various industries. However, there are still a great number of materials that cannot be utilized, because they do not provide function suitable for the intended application or cannot demonstrate their natural function after surface reforming.
For this reason, there is a view that these materials can be used in greater applications once these drawbacks are improved, and therefore technologies to form thin diamond-like carbon (DLC) film, which is expected to improve durability such as chemical resistance, hardness and wear resistance, are drawing the attention and being applied in many fields. However, such applications also present concerns regarding the adhesion of thin film and various base materials as well as the level of achieved durability, and many study results have been reported regarding these issues. For example, thin DLC film is likely effective in medical device applications that make up a large market for technologies to form thin DLC film, because conventional medical devices do not provide sufficient compatibility or antithrombotic effect with respect to human body tissues such as blood and interior walls of blood vessels. Also, there are studies showing that thin DLC film containing fluorine can further improve the antithrombotic effect and lubrication property of catheters and implant-type medical devices. If such DLC can be formed more cost-effectively, DLC applications should expand further.

Method of producing esthetically pleasing ornaments from bone components


A pacing lead, and system for pacing, where the lead has an improved distal tip designed to provide reliable chronic fixation of the electrode-heart interface, while also providing low pacing threshold. The distal end of the lead has a standard surface, of roughly hemispherical shape, made of a porous material. In one embodiment, the tip surface is suitably about 6-8 square mm, and there is a smaller surface of about 1.5-2.0 square mm which is electrically isolated from the remainder of the porous surface; the smaller surface acts as a high impedance electrode, providing low threshold, while the larger porous surface provides the stable fixation. A steroid source is housed in the distal end of the lead, so as to provide an eluted steroid to the electrode surface area, as well as at least part of the remaining porous surface, whereby the overall porous surface and the eluted steroid minimizes the resulting capsule of non-excitable tissue around the electrode, providing for a stable reduced threshold. In another embodiment, a switching network is provided, suitably in the pacemaker, for selectively connecting one or both portions as the active electrode for pacing and for sensing.

The importance of effective and reliable endocardial leads in modern pacing systems is well recognized. Advances in the design of implantable pacemaker units have been spectacular, resulting in an array of long-life pulse generators which can provide pacing in modes that can be selected for the patient, and re-programmed to adapt to changes in patient conditions. But the pacing system needs to interface with the patient's heart, both to deliver the generated stimulus pulses and to sense spontaneous cardiac signals. It is the pacing lead that provides this interface, and its reliability and performance must match that of the pulse generator in order to ensure overall system functionality over the lifetime of the pacemaker.
In delivering stimulus pulses from the pacemaker unit to the patient's heart, the lead must perform the functions of carrying the pulses the length of the lead, and then delivering them to the heart wall, i.e., the myocardial tissue. This must be done in a manner such that the resulting electric field evokes depolarization of the cardiac cells and thus produces a cardiac contraction, either ventricular or atrial. The first task, that of carrying the pulses, requires integrity of the conductor (or conductors, for a bipolar lead) as well as the insulation that surrounds the conductor. The second task is complex. For a unipoloar or bipolar lead, an electrode is positioned at the distal tip, to provide an optimal electrode-myocardial interface. This interface must provide a good electrical connection, but in order to achieve this, a good mechanical connection must be provided in order that the electrode is well fixed, or anchored, with respect to the myocardium so as to provide stable chronic delivery of the stimulus pulses. Many anchoring mechanisms have been developed for employment at the distal end of endocardial leads, probably the most successful of which is the use of tines which engage the traebaculae and thus hold the distal tip in place. However, a further advance was provided by the development of the porous metal coated electrode. Such electrodes have a porous, or micro-porous surface which, when nestled against the heart wall, allows fibrous tissue ingrowth, resulting in stable long term fixation. Also, and importantly, the fibrous growth into the porous surface provides anchoring which reduces mechanical movement. In turn, this reduces the growth of connective tissue around the electrode surface which occurs as a reaction to the foreign body electrode, thus resulting in a reduced connective tissue "capsule" between the electrode surface and the excitable myocardial muscle. This is of great importance, as the capsule is not excitable, and acts as an effective extension of the distance between the electrode surface and the myocardial cells, which adversely affects both pacing threshold and sensing.
The importance of the porous surface is illustrated by considering the electric field strength established by a pulse of voltage V which is delivered to the electrode surface. For a spherical electrode, the field strength is inversely proportional to the square of (r+d), where r is the radius of the spherical electrode and d is the distance from the electrode surface to the boundary of the fibrous capsule and the undamaged myocardium. Thus, for a stimulus pulse of a voltage V, the field strength is reduced significantly by capsule thickness; stating the matter in an alternate way, the reduction of the capsule thickness by a porous surface provides a substantial improvement in pacing threshold. Capsule formation has been further reduced by the use of steroid elution, whereby a material which suppresses the myocardial/electrode interface reaction is eluted through the electrode surface, resulting in a lessened threshold rise as the electrode becomes fixed with respect to the myocardium.
Another important characteristic of the electrode is that of electrode impedance, i.e., the ratio of pulse voltage to the current drain at the electrode surface. Pacing impedance is inversely proportional to electrode surface area. Since it is desirable to provide a moderately high pacing impedance to reduce current drain while providing good power transfer, electrode surface should be as small as possible, although in practice there is an optimum surface size related to the thickness of the connective tissue capsule. Stokes et al developed the "Nano Tip" lead, which combines deep porosity, steroid elution, and a low surface area down to about 1.5 square mm. Stokes K, Bird T, "A New Efficient Nano Tip Lead", PACE, 1990; 13 (Part II): 1901-1905. This lead provides low pacing thresholds, and a pacing impedance in the range of about 1 to 1.2 Kohm, compared to an impedance of about 600 ohm for conventional electrodes of about 6-8 square mm surface. Additionally, Stokes showed that such small electrodes can provide good sensing, because of the high input impedance relative to the sensing impedance of the porous surface electrode. See Stokes K., "Do small electrodes have good sensing?", Reblampa. 1995; 8: 198-200. For good sensing, the source impedance should be small, so as to avoid attenuation when the sensed signal is connected to the input of a sense amplifier, which desirably has a high input impedance. While a larger electrode surface in principle provides a better (smaller) source impedance than a smaller surface, more porous surfaces also provide smaller source impedance; microporous surfaces provide even better sensing than porous surfaces.
However, the small surface electrode does not provide as much porous surface for tissue ingrowth as the larger surface, and this can present stability problems. Specifically, for a porous surface which is much smaller than the prior standard of 6-8 mm, there are indications that the stability of the electrode fixation may not be enough to guarantee clinical safety. Stable fixation is a key to maintaining a thin capsule and chronic low threshold, and accordingly there remains a need for improvement in electrode design which will provide the necessary stable electrode/heart wall interface, consistent with optimally reliable and stable thresholds, good sensing, and high pacing impedance.

Pacing lead with porous electrode for stable low threshold high impedance pacing


A catheter assembly which permits simultaneous dilatation and incision of tissue whereby trauma and damage to the tissue due to uncontrolled tearing is reduced or eliminated comprising an elongated tubular body having a distal end that carries a dilatation balloon and cutting element carried on the exterior of the balloon and that moves radially in concert with the exterior of the bladder as the bladder is inflated and deflated. A radiofrequency current is directed through the cutting element to incise proximate tissue. Pressure can be applied to the tissue prior to cutting to facilitate separation and subsequent to cutting to inhibit bleeding.

In radiofrequency electrosurgical cutting a radiofrequency current is allowed to pass from an active cutting electrode through a patient's tissue and into a grounding pad or cable. The current cuts tissue at the active cutting electrode, the cutting rate being dependant on current density through the tissue in that area. With a low current density heat is generated but no cut is achieved. With a high current density fast cutting occurs.
Current density depends upon the voltage applied to the electrosurgical circuit and the series impedance or resistance to current flow of that circuit. Current density is also dependent upon the area the active cutting electrode presents to the patient's tissue. The smaller this area, the higher the current density. Since the area of the active electrode is fixed for a specific cutter, and the series impedance of the circuit is beyond the surgeon's control, the current density is typically adjusted by varying the voltage applied to the electrode. This adjustment is typically present on conventional electrosurgical generators.
The series impedance is dependent upon several factors which are outside the control of the surgeon. These factors may include the material and design of the active electrode, the type of tissue to be cut, and the location of the grounding pad relative to the cutting site. Generators used in this type of surgery have a wide range of power output to accommodate a variety of procedures and devices. For example, the generator can be adjusted to either cut tissue or to merely cauterize previously cut or torn tissue.
The objective in electrosurgical cutting is to heat the cells of the tissue so rapidly that they explode into steam leaving a cavity in the cell matrix. The heat is meant to be dissipated in the steam and not to dry out adjacent cells. When the electrode is moved and fresh tissue is contacted, new cells are exploded and the incision is made. The current utilized in electrosurgical cutting is in the radiofrequency range and operates by jumping across an air gap to the tissue. This is commonly referred to as sparking.
An explanation of electrosurgical cutting theory can be found in the FORCE 1 Instruction Manual published by Valleylab of Boulder, Colo., on Mar. 1, 1986.
An advantage of electrosurgical cutting, particularly if it is performed utilizing a cutting electrode as disclosed in application Ser. No. 07/522,254 filed May 11, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,660 is that overheating of adjacent tissue with accompanying desiccation and damage is limited or prevented. Thus, this procedure provides a clean cut without damage to adjacent tissue. A clean controlled cut is particularly desirable to assure that tearing does not occur in a direction away from the desired orientation of the cut.
Dilatation catheters are used to dilate body vessels, orifices and conduits such as an artery narrowed by atherosclerotic plaque or a urethra constricted by an enlarged prostate. These catheters basically consist of an elongate cannula having an inflatable non-extensible balloon or bladder at or near its distal end. A guide wire or other axial support means is often included to improve the torque control or "steerablilty" of the catheter.
The major advantage of using a dilatation catheter instead of conventional surgery is that it is less invasive. Nevertheless, the dilatation processes of the past can also result in significant trauma. As the elastomeric bladder expands, it exerts pressure on the surrounding tissue, causing the tissue to compress, deform and expand. The tissue, of course, has an inherent limit of deformability. When the dilation pressure causes the tissue to deform beyond that limit, the tissue tears apart, often to form a jagged wound. A principal object of the present invention is to provide a dilatation catheter that permits tissue to be stressed, even beyond its limit of deformability, without experiencing uncontrolled tearing and the undesirable conditions associated therewith.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,405 issued to Leckrone on May 31, 1988, U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,469, issued Jun. 2, 1987 to Gifford, III., et al., and PCT/US 86/02617 application of Leckrone, published Jun. 16, 1988, are each concerned with atherecotomy devices wherein a balloon is used to position an opening in a casing about an obstruction such as plaque. The balloon does not carry a cutting element to incise tissue but does carry means for disintegrating the plaque which is generally entrapped within a hole in the casing. The balloon basically positions the hole in the casing up against and about the plaque. Thus, the balloon is not symmetrically located within the blood vessel, an outward cutting element is not present, and the blood vessel is not torn by the dilation force.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,479, issued Jan. 24, 1989 to Spears, shows use of a balloon to open up an artery and then utilizes a laser, heated wire mesh, or the like, to heat up blood trapped between the media and the plaque so that dilation will be maintained and so that a smooth wall will result.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,128, issued Jun. 16, 1981 to Lary, teaches the use of a balloon with a knife blade, or a series of knife blades, longitudinally distally removed from the balloon.
Soviet Patent 599802 published in 1976 utilizes a balloon which is located within a tube. When the balloon is extended this forces a cutting element through a window in the tube to accomplish fenestration. Balloon pressure is not exerted against body tissue as the balloon is expanded within the tube.
German Patent 3,402,573 is concerned with a single lumen multi-purpose catheter having an extensible elastic balloon with a cutting facility for treatment of stenosis. This patent utilizes three balloons of equal size at the distal end of the catheter. Each elastomeric balloon carries small cutter elements which extend in the longitudinal direction and which are held in a trough made of hard rubber or plastic. Prior to use the cutters lie hidden in longitudinal slots of the relatively thick wall of the one-lumen catheter. Threads anchor the plate when the balloons are inflated thereby limiting the degree of penetration of adjacent plaque and possibly tissue.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,579, issued to Meno, et al. on Nov. 27, 1984, is concerned with a commissurotomy catheter which serves for separating fused heart valve leaflets. The device includes four balloons carried by a single catheter structure. In use the device fits through the valve with two balloons on each side of the valve. A nylon or similar string is attached between the pairs of balloons on each side of the valve. The balloons can be alternately expanded and contracted thereby causing the strings strung between each pair of balloons to saw or pulsate into fused portions of the heart valve leaflets and separate them. The actual cutting portion of the string is not carried on the exterior of the balloons.
The above-mentioned patents do not make use of an electrosurgical or radiofrequency cauterizing or cutting element. Nor do the above patents either suggest or show any advantages for utilizing an inextensible bladder or balloon, i.e., a balloon which is not elastomeric (or elastic) and which can be inflated to only a selected shape and volume. Furthermore, the above discussed patents are not concerned with a radially symmetrically, generally cylindrical in shape when expanded, balloon which extends longitudinally along a body passage and a cutting element which extends longitudinally along and generally parallel to the balloon, which balloon creates a substantially uniform tangential tension in tissue being cut, and which cutting element at the same time performs the necessary cutting whereby a clean longitudinally extending incision results and uncontrolled tearing of the tissue does not occur.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.


A semiconductor device bonded by an anisotropic conductive film and an anisotropic conductive film composition, the anisotropic conductive film including a reactive monomer having an epoxy equivalent weight of about 120 to about 180 g/eq; a hydrogenated epoxy resin; and a sulfonium cation curing catalyst.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to an anisotropic conductive film and a semiconductor device bonded by the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, anisotropic conductive films (ACFs) refer to film-like adhesives in which conductive particles, e.g., metal particles including nickel or gold particles or metal-coated polymer particles, are dispersed in a resin, e.g., an epoxy resin. Anisotropic conductive films may denote polymer layers having electric anisotropy and adhesive properties, and which exhibit conductive properties in a thickness direction of the films and insulating properties in a surface direction thereof. When an anisotropic conductive film is disposed between circuit boards to be connected and subjected to heating and pressing under particular conditions, circuit terminals of the circuit boards may be electrically connected through conductive particles, and an insulating adhesive resin may be filled in spaces between adjacent circuit terminals to make the conductive particles independent from each other, thereby achieving high lateral insulation performance between the circuit terminals.

Anisotropic conductive film and semiconductor device bonded by the same


An automated condiment dispensing system for dispensing predetermined amounts of condiments such as are commonly utilized in connection with the preparation of food sandwiches or other food menu items, particularly within fast food restaurants, whereby a particular condiment, or a combination of condiments, can be automatically dispensed onto a food sandwich or food item transported to a particular condiment dispensing station at which the particular condiment dispensing system is located and from which the particular condiment is to be dispensed. Multiple different condiment dispensing stations can be employed so as to dispense different condiments in accordance with a patron's food item order, and the entire dispensing system is automatically controlled by a programmable logic controller (PLC).

Conventionally, when preparing specific food orders, particularly in a fast-food restaurant, food preparation personnel must handle food products in an individual or one-by-one manner when, for example, preparing sandwiches or other food menu items. This is especially true in connection with specific condiments or relishes, such as, for example, shredded lettuce, shredded onions, shredded cheeses, and the like, which are commonly added to hamburger sandwiches or other food menu items in accordance with a particular order by a food patron. One problem with dispensing or depositing condiments onto various different condiments is that the amount of a particular condiment to be applied to a particular food item may vary. In addition, in connection with a particular food item, a combination of condiments may sometimes be required as per the food patron's order. As is also well-known, speed, in connection with the preparation of the particular food item for the patron, as well as accuracy, in connection with the preparation of the particular food item in accordance with the food patron's particular condiment selections, are critical factors to be considered so as to effectively the success of the food establishment.
A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved piece of food service equipment. An additional need exists in the art for a new and improved piece of food service equipment which is adapted to automatically dispense condiments onto food items being prepared in accordance with the food patron's order. A still additional need exists in the art for a new and improved piece of food service equipment which is adapted to automatically dispense condiments onto food items in precisely controlled, predetermined quantities. A yet additional need exists in the art for a new and improved piece of food service equipment which is adapted to automatically dispense a combination of condiments onto food items in accordance with a food patron's order selections. A still yet additional need exists in the art for a new and improved piece of food service equipment which is adapted to be incorporated within a food preparation system which automatically conveys the food item to selected condiment stations such that selected or required condiments can in fact be dispensed or deposited onto the food item at different condiments dispensing stations as desired by the food patron. A yet still additional need exists in the art for a new and improved piece of food service equipment which is adapted to automatically control the various operations of the condiment dispensing apparatus at a particular condiment dispensing station in order to achieve the speedy and accurate preparation of the particular food item.

Automated condiment dispensing system with precisely controlled dispensed quantities


A connection apparatus for controlling the supply of electrical power to a load, the connection apparatus comprising first and second electrically controllable devices connected in parallel to each other and in series with the load; wherein the first and second electrically controllable devices are dissimilar, and where a safe operating area product of voltage, current and safe operating area time for the first device is greater than the product of voltage, current and the same safe operating area time for the second device, and an on state resistance for the second device is less than an on state resistance for the first device, and where a controller is provided to use the first device for a first period of time to power up the load, and thereafter the second device is used to maintain power to the load.

There are instances when it is desired to connect an electrical load to a power supply that is already on. This can give rise to large inrush currents as capacitive components of the load charge up.
Such inrush currents can perturb the operation of the power supply, possibly causing protective measures within the power supply to trip. Furthermore the inrush currents may introduce perturbations in the power supplied to other loads connected to the power supply, and these perturbations may effect the operation of those circuits.
In order to address these issues it is known to provide "hot swap" circuits that regulate the current flow to a load that is newly introduced to a power supply.


A garment mounted harness having an associated vest and/or back pack having attachment means for engagement of said garment mounted harness to an associated vest or backpack having a plurality of mating attachment ends for attachment of the straps thereto garment thereto of the straps and connecting elements of the present invention enabling the user to carry an optical device hands free about the front of ones chest for easy quick use and access when required. Additionally the present invention has adjustments about the strap portion for length and comfort adjustment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to harnesses and, more specifically, to adjustable lengths of elastomeric material fastened to a garment extending from the upper shoulder to their respective side having slidable fasteners for attachment thereto of optical equipment.
The present invention provides means whereby the straps are fixed to the aforementioned attachment points or one member of a mating pair of releasable fasteners are permanently fixed to their respective attachment points with the elastomeric straps having the other members of the mating fasteners fixed to the distal ends whereby the straps are releasable at one or both ends.
Additionally, the present invention provides that the elastomeric straps can be fixed to a backpack conjointly with the backpack straps providing means for attachment of optical equipment
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other harness devices designed for equipment. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 939,871 issued to Sherman on Nov. 9, 1909.
Another patent was issued to Popelakova on Feb. 16, 1932 as U.S. Pat. No. 1,845,099. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 2,643,803 was issued to Bates on Jun. 30, 1953 and still yet another was issued on Feb. 7, 1961 to Silin as U.S. Pat. No. 2,970,316.
Another patent was issued to Handsman on Nov. 14, 1978 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,211. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,852 was issued to Bell on Jun. 16, 1981. Another was issued to Weissmann on Jun. 16, 1981 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,216 and still yet another was issued on Aug. 15, 1995 to Abrams, et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,761.
Another patent was issued to Schweer on May 17, 2005 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,395. Yet another International Patent Application No. WO2004098483 was issued to Rogers on 18 Nov. 2004. Another was issued to Townsend on Oct. 21, 2000 as Canadian Patent No. CA2306544.


A composition comprising extract of one or more plants of one or more of the following plant families: Cissus, Vernonia and Brillantasia. Such compositions have beneficial activity principally in controlling light gain and obesity, especially in conjunction with chitosan or a chitosan derivative and an antioxidant such as vitamin C.

The present disclosure is directed to the use of plant extracts from one or more plants of the Cissus, Vernonia and Brillantasia plant families to provide a variety of health related benefits, including but not limited to, enhancing fat-binding capacity, inhibiting carbohydrate breakdown, inhibiting amylase activity and/or improving nutrient absorption in the presence or absence of fat binding materials.
The present disclosure is also directed to the use of mixtures comprising plant extracts from plants in at least one of three families (one or more of Cissus, Vernonia and Brillantasia) to enhance fat-binding capacity as well as the inhibition of carbohydrate breakdown, amylase activity and nutrient absorption in the presence of fat binding materials. In at least on embodiment the mixtures can be combined with chitosan or chitosan derivatives to synergize their fat binding properties.
Fat binding materials e.g. chitosan have applications in industry and in health. In both cases, the binding capacity of these materials is limited because of their bulk. The new combination of plant extracts has the ability to enhance the fat binding capacity of such materials as well as alter the metabolism of other compounds in animals, including humans.
Chitosan is widely used for the control of weight. Its use is based on its ability to bind fatty acids in vitro and in vivo, thereby reducing the ability of the body to absorb and utilize dietary fats. By combining chitosan with two plant extracts; Cissus quadrangularis and Vernonia glabra, its ability to bind fatty acids and triacylglycerols in vitro was significantly increased (p<0.05 and p<0.01 respectively). This is reflected in the significantly higher fat content of the feces of subjects on chitosan or chitosan based formulations. Compared to chitosan, the combination of chitosan and Cissus quadrangularis significantly increased the fecal pH (p<0.01), fecal ash (p<0.02) and mineral content (p<0.02) in overweight women (BMI 25-29 kg/m2) over a six month period, while decreasing the fecal water content (p<0.01). The combination of chitosan and Vernonia glabra did not alter the mineral content or the pH of the feces although it caused a significant increase (p<0.05) in fecal bulk. The results indicate that the chitosan and Vernonia glabra combination can be effectively used in long term weight control regimes.
Chitosan is a polysaccharide produced from chitin found in the exoskeletons of arthropods (crustaceans and insects) and the endoskeletons of cephalopods. It is widely spread in the biomass, being the most abundant biopolymer after cellulose. It is generally accepted that chitin is extensively acetylated while chitosan is largely deacetylated. Chitosan is a cationic glucosamine polymer with a high anion-exchange capacity as a result of quaternary ammonium ions. It is known to have a marked hypocholesterolemic effect in rats, alters bile acid metabolism and increases the HDL to total cholesterol ratio in broiler chickens. The hypocholesterolemic effect of chitosan can be theoretically explained by its ability to decrease lipid absorption and increase fecal cholesterol excretion. The alteration of bile acid can be due to the modification of colon pH.
Chitosan is widely used in weight control products. Its application is a result of its ability to bind triglycerides in vitro. In principle therefore, chitosan limits the amount of fat energy that can be absorbed and used by the body. The use of chitosan therefore does not find application only as a weight loss supplement, but also as a means of reducing blood lipids.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An output of an internal combustion engine is transmitted to an output shaft by controlling a control motor to change a rotation speed output from the engine without speed steps via power distribution planetary gear. An output of a drive motor is input to the output shaft by changing the speed into two-step decelerated rotation by means of an automatic transmission. The transmission produces a desired torque by decelerating the speed by a large degree when a vehicle speed is low, and produces a desired number of revolutions by decelerating the speed by a small degree when the vehicle speed is high.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a hybrid drive system incorporated in a vehicle and a vehicle equipped with the hybrid drive system, and more specifically, to an output structure from a drive (assist) electric motor.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, a hybrid drive system of a so-called mechanical distributing type (a distribution type or a two motor type) has been provided in a vehicle (registered trademark name "PRIUS") for commercial practice, in which the engine output is distributed in a planetary gear to a control motor and to a traction output side, and the motor is controlled mainly as a generator for step-less control of the output torque of the planetary gear, and torque of another electrical motor for driving (assisting) is combined with the output torque of the planetary gear as required and then output to the output shaft.
The above hybrid drive system of mechanical distributing type includes a hybrid drive system for FF (front engine, front drive) as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 8-183347. An FR-type hybrid drive system is also possible. An example of the FR-type hybrid drive system is shown in FIG. 9.
In a vehicle 1 equipped with the hybrid drive system, as shown in FIG. 9, an internal combustion engine 5, such as a gasoline engine or the like is provided. The longitudinal direction of the engine 5 is aligned with the crank shaft and the engine 5 is, in a portion generally between the front wheels 3, 3, in a front part of a vehicle body 2. Further, the above two-motor type hybrid drive system 6 is arranged adjacent to and behind the engine 5. The hybrid drive system 6 is generally aligned with the crank shaft in the axial direction and has a first motor (electric motor for control) 7, a power distribution planetary gear 9, and a second motor (electric motor for drive) 10 arranged in order from the engine side.
The above hybrid drive system 6 has an input shaft 12 connected via a damper 8 with an output shaft 5a which is provided with the rear protruding portion of the engine crank shaft. The first motor 7 is arranged coaxially with the input shaft 12 on the outer radial side of the input shaft. The first motor 7 is provided with an AC permanent magnet synchronous type (brushless DC motor), and has a stator 13 fixed on the case, and a rotor 15 which is rotatably supported on the inner radial side of the stator with a predetermined air gap being provided therebetween.
The above power distribution planetary gear 9 is provided with a simple planetary gear arranged coaxially with the input shaft 12, and has a carrier CR1 connected with the input shaft 12 and supporting a plurality of planetary pinions P1, a sun gear S1 connected with the rotor 15, and a ring gear R1 which serves as a traction output portion. The ring gear R1 is connected with an output shaft 16 extending backward on the same axis line as the input shaft 12.
The second motor 10 is provided with a similar brushless DC motor larger than the motor 7. The second motor 10 is arranged coaxially with and on the outer radial side of the output shaft 16, and has a stator 17 fixed to the case, and a rotor 19 rotatably supported on the inner radial side of the stator 17 with a predetermined air gap being provided therebetween.
The output shaft 16 protrudes from the case and further extends toward the rear of the vehicle where it is connected with a differential device 22 via a flexible connection 20 and a known propeller shaft 21 (actually, a universal joint, center bearing and the like are provided though they are omitted in the figure). Further, the rotation (drive) is transmitted from the differential device via the left and right drive shafts 23l, 23r to the rear wheels 25, 25.
In the FR-type vehicle 1 equipped with the hybrid drive system 6, the output of the engine 5 is transmitted to the carrier CR1 of the power distribution planetary gear 9 via the damper 8 and the input shaft 12. In the planetary gear 9, the above engine output is distributed and transmitted from the sun gear S1 to the first motor (motor for control) 7, and from the ring gear R1 to the shaft 16 for traction. At this point, the first motor 7 is controlled for step-less adjustment of the output torque and rotation which is input to the output axis 16, and then output therefrom. Furthermore, in a case where a large torque is required at a time of starting or other cases, the second motor (motor for drive) 10 is driven, then the motor torque of the second motor 10 assists the torque of the output shaft 16 and is transmitted to the propeller shaft 21. The motor torque is then further transmitted to the rear wheels 25 via the differential device 22 and the left and right drive shafts 23l, 23r.
Note that the second motor 10 uses electrical energy generated by the first motor 7, and, additionally, when the generated energy is insufficient for the required energy, it uses battery energy generated by the first motor 7 when functioning as a generator and stored in the battery. Furthermore, the second motor 10 functions as a regenerative generator when braking is applied.

Hybrid drive system and vehicle equipped therewith


An inductive wireless power system using an array of coils with the ability to dynamically select which coils are energized. The coil array can determine the position of and provide power to one or more portable electronic devices positioned on the charging surface. The coils in the array may be connected with series resonant capacitors so that regardless of the number of coils selected, the resonance point is generally maintained. The coil array can provide spatial freedom, decrease power delivered to parasitic loads, and increase power transfer efficiency to the portable electronic devices.

An inductive power supply may be used to supply wireless power to power or charge secondary devices. In some known inductive power supplies, secondary devices are powered or charged by placing them on a charging surface. Many inductive power supplies limit spatial freedom by requiring specific placement and orientation of the remote device with respect to the inductive power supply.
In some known inductive power supply systems, a single primary coil 102 is embedded in a charging surface 104 of a charging device 106 and a single secondary coil 108 is embedded in a secondary device 110. For example, in the prior art inductive power supply system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 one secondary coil 108 is embedded in the secondary device 110 and is aligned in close proximity to the primary coil 102 embedded in the charging device 106. Power is provided from a mains input to the charging device 106, sometimes referred to as a wireless power supply. Assuming the mains input provides AC power, the power can be rectified in a mains rectification circuit 202 into DC power and then can be adjusted in a DC/DC power supply 204. An inverter 206 can switches the DC power at a frequency controlled by the controller 208 in order to generate an AC signal across the inductive tank circuit 210 to produce an electromagnetic field. The tank circuit in most conventional inductive power supplies includes a primary coil 102 and a primary capacitor 213 The secondary device 110 includes a secondary coil 108 and an optional resonant capacitor 214 to receive the electromagnetic energy. The AC signal can be rectified into DC power in a rectification circuit 216. From there, the DC power can directly power the load 220, or where the load is a battery the power can be used to charge the battery. A controller 218 may be utilized to control how the power is applied to the load or to control a charging algorithm for charging a battery. In this type of system, power transfer efficiency is typically increased when the coils are aligned center to center, and when the spacing between the primary and secondary coils is reduced. However, this requirement of close one-to-one alignment in order to effectively communicate and transmit power restricts spatial freedom and limits the charger to operation with one secondary device at a time. To enable a surface with wireless power, the user is typically provided with information about where the device needs to be located. This is usually done with a magnetic alignment feature, or with different mechanical guides that force devices to be placed in a certain place, or with graphical elements that guide the user to correctly place the device. Some users would like more freedom to move the secondary device around on the surface of the charging device.
Some solutions to this problem have been proposed. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/652,077 to Baarman et al, filed on Jan. 5, 2010 discloses an inductive power supply with a movable coil and is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. The moveable coil is one mechanical solution to achieve the desired spatial freedom over the surface of the charger while maintaining close coil proximity. The moving coil solution can increase spatial freedom but can introduce the risk of potential mechanical reliability problems.
Another proposed solution is to utilize a large primary coil so that energy can be provided over a greater area. This solution can be problematic because a larger coil may create undesired stray magnetic fields and it can be difficult to transfer power efficiently.
Yet another proposed solution is to provide an array of coils arranged adjacently in a single layer. In this solution, a number of primary coils are disposed in an array near the charging surface. When a device is placed on the charging surface that is greater in size than the device, energy is only transferred from that part of the planar charging surface that is directly beneath the device, and possibly immediately adjacent areas that are able to couple to the secondary coil. That is, in one configuration, all of the coils of the array of primary coils are driven simultaneously to create magnetic flux that is substantially uniform over the charging surface so that the precise position and orientation of the electronic device on the charging surface is not critical. In addition, parasitic loads, such as pieces of metal or non-wirelessly powered devices, can absorb the magnetic field and lower the system efficiency.
Some solutions propose a multi-layer coil array in order to provide a more uniform magnetic field distribution. One problem with a single layer array of coils is that where there are gaps between the coils, the magnetic field is lower, which is sometimes referred to as a valley. By having two or more layers of coils arranged such that the center of a winding pattern on one layer is placed on the gap between adjacent winding patterns on the other layer, a more uniform field distribution can be achieved. Energizing all those coils simultaneously can lead to hot zones and dead zones due to field construction and field deconstruction effects that occur from overlapping fields. In addition, parasitic loads, such as pieces of metal or non-wirelessly powered devices, can absorb the magnetic field and lower the system efficiency.
Some array solutions attempt to circumvent having to turn on a large amount of coils by providing magnetic attractors to specifically locate the device on a charging surface so that power can be transferred utilizing a single coil. However, magnetic attractors add cost, complexity, and can lower efficiency of the power transfer system. Various ergonomic alignment solutions have also been proposed, but these aids can disrupt the aesthetics of surfaces, add complexity to the design of the surface, and can affect the usability because alignment still may not be guaranteed.


A method and system for preventing a computer worm from unauthorized use of data indicative of at least one e-mail address stored in a data base is presented. The method comprises the steps of encrypting said data, receiving at least one e-mail message by accessing an e-mail server, decrypting said selected ones of said data to provide access thereto, and addressing at least one e-mail message using said decrypted data. The method further includes the step of re-encrypting the selected decrypted data. In one aspect of the invention, the method of encrypting the data comprises the steps of obtaining a key value, selecting each of the at least one e-mail address, encrypting the selected e-mail address using the key value; and storing said encrypted e-mail in the data base.

It has been known for some time that computer viruses and worms represent a significant threat to computer systems. A computer virus or worm can generally be identified as a program or set of computer instructions that is loaded onto and executed by a user's computer without the user's knowledge. A worm differs from a computer virus in that a computer virus typically attaches itself to another computer program or data file, i.e. an infected or target file, and is spread by a user's interaction with the target file, albeit unknowingly. In contrast, a worm self propagates without any user intervention. Computer viruses and worms often undesirably reduce otherwise available system resources such as memory and disrupt data stored on infected computer systems often resulting in system failure.
Recently, a new type of worm has seen increased commonality. This type of worm spreads, or replicates itself, from an infected system by automatically sending a copy of itself via e-mail to addresses identified in an address book. Examples of these types of worms include the widely disseminated "MELISSA" and "ILOVEYOU" worms. Of course, e-mail refers to the transmission of messages over communications networks, such as the global interconnection of computers and computer networks commonly referred to as the Internet. An address file, address book, or data base, acts as an electronic phone book which stores names, personal information and e-mail addresses of other users or computer systems for intended email recipients or frequently contacted e-mail addresses.
Hence, there is a need for a method and system for preventing computer worms from accessing the address book of a recipients and disseminating itself using the information or e-mail addresses contained therein.

Method and system for preventing computer worm dissemination using encryption


A microelectronic assembly (10) includes an integrated circuit die (12) mounted onto a substrate (14) by solder bump interconnections (32). The die (12) and the substrate (14) are spaced apart by a gap (30) that is filled with a polymeric encapsulant (16). The die (12) includes a die perimeter (24) and a face (27) facing away from the substrate (14). A polymeric reinforcement (18) is disposed onto the die face (27) to protect the die (12) and to reduce the effects of thermally induced stresses on the die (12) and the solder bump interconnections (32). The polymeric reinforcement (18) is spaced apart from the die perimeter (24) to maintain a desired peripheral fillet geometry of the encapsulant (16).

It is known to form a microelectronic assembly by a direct chip attach method, commonly referred to as flip chip, wherein an integrated circuit die is mounted directly onto a substrate, such as a printed circuit board, by solder bump interconnections. The integrated circuit die is spaced apart from the printed circuit board by a gap, and the solder bump interconnections extend across the gap and connect bond pads on the integrated circuit die to bond pads on the printed circuit board. In this manner, the integrated circuit die is attached to the printed circuit board, and electrical signals are conducted to and from the die for processing.
Because of differences in the coefficients of thermal expansion of the die and the board, stresses are created when the assembly is subjected to thermal cycling of the type experienced during operation. These stresses tend to fatigue the solder bump interconnections and can lead to failure of the assembly. In order to strengthen the solder joints without affecting the electrical connection, the gap is filled with a polymeric encapsulant.
The encapsulant is typically applied after the die is attached by the solder bump interconnections to the printed circuit board. A curable mixture comprising inorganic particulate filler dispersed in a polymeric precursor is dispensed onto the printed circuit board adjacent to the die and is drawn into the gap by capillary action. The precursor is then cured, typically by heating, to form the encapsulant. The encapsulant strengthens the assembly and protects the solder bump interconnections from environmental damage.
The curing process, however, creates thermal stresses during the heating and cooling of the assembly. Stresses are also experienced during use of the microelectronic assembly. These stresses can be detrimental to the die and the solder bump interconnections and can cause a detrimental warping of the integrated circuit die. The stresses can also lead to cracking of the die, particularly on the side of the die opposite the solder bump interconnections, commonly referred to as the non-active face of the die.
Therefore, a need exists to reduce the detrimental effects of thermally induced stresses upon an integrated circuit die and solder bump interconnections of a microelectronic assembly. Further, a need exists to strengthen and improve the reliability of integrated circuit die that includes reducing cracks or other defects and to extend the useful life of a microelectronic assembly.

Microelectronic assembly including polymeric reinforcement on an integrated circuit die, and method for forming same


A control method for using a core drilling system is disclosed. In an embodiment the method includes detecting a predetermined drilling situation on the basis of the attainment of a predetermined threshold value for at least one predetermined corresponding drilling parameter and ending the core drilling operation by selecting a reverse-travel mode for removing the drilling tool from the borehole if the advancing device does not reach a predetermined threshold value for a predetermined corresponding distance value in a direction and the core drilling machine does not reach a predetermined threshold value for at least one predetermined corresponding drilling parameter or continuing the core drilling operation by selecting a predetermined operating mode if the advancing device reaches a predetermined threshold value for a predetermined corresponding distance value in a direction and the core drilling machine reaches a predetermined threshold value for at least one predetermined corresponding drilling parameter.

The present invention relates to a control method for using a core-drilling system containing a core drilling machine with a drilling tool for producing a borehole in a material and an advancing device for driving the core drilling machine along a machine-holding device.
Moreover, the invention relates to an advancing device for driving a core drilling machine along a machine-holding device for using the method according to the invention.
In addition, the invention relates to a core drilling machine for using the method according to the invention.
The invention also relates to a core drilling system containing a core drilling machine and an advancing device for driving the core drilling machine along a machine-holding device for using the method according to the invention.
The quality of a mineral material, e.g., concrete, sandstone, masonry or similar, in which a borehole is supposed to be cut using a core-drilling system, is rarely completely homogenous in its structural construction. In other words: in addition to concrete reinforcing bars (also referred to as reinforcing steel, rebar, reinforcing bars) cavities, gaps and/or intermediate layers of isolating or damping material are frequently also found in the mineral material. These intermediate layers usually have a lower thickness than the mineral material whereby these are essentially softer than the mineral material.
The cavities, gaps and intermediate layers of isolating or damping material found in the mineral material pose a significant problem for the core drilling systems or for core drilling machines. As soon as a core drilling tool designed as a drill bit impacts a cavity, a gap or an intermediate layer in the mineral material, the core drilling system wrongly expects based on the corresponding change to certain drilling parameters that material is no longer present for cutting and the core drilling system considers the core drilling operation completed.
Such a situation is designated as a "breakthrough" of the mineral material. The user of the core drilling system must then re-start the core drilling operation until, or so frequently until, all the material has really been cut. This significantly prolongs the entire core drilling operation.
There is a further problem with core drilling systems according to the prior art in that a distinction can either not be made at all or only very inaccurately between certain situations which may occur during the actual core drilling operation. Certain drilling situations such as, for example, impacting a pre-selected stopping device (depth stop) on the machine-holding device, an undesired blocking of the advancing device, reaching a pre-selected drilling depth or weakening of the cutting function of the drill bit segments (so-called polishing of the drill bit), substantially require immediate ending of the drilling operation and removal of the drill bit from the borehole.
However, conventional core drilling systems disadvantageously do not make a distinction between reaching cavities, gaps and intermediate layers of isolating or damping material located in the mineral material, the existence of a breakthrough in the material to be processed or the existence of one of the previously mentioned drilling situations.
The fact that the core drilling system does not recognize or make this distinction leads to a significant prolonging of the entire core drilling operation.
The object of the present invention is to provide a control method for using a core drilling system containing a core drilling machine and an advancing device for driving the core drilling machine along a machine-holding device by means of which the previously described problems can be solved and a core drilling operation can be designed more quickly and efficiently. The object of the present invention is also to provide an advancing device for driving a core drilling machine along a machine-holding device, a core drilling machine and a core drilling system containing a core drilling machine and an advancing device for driving the core drilling machine along a machine-holding device for using the method by means of which the previously described problems can be solved and a core drilling operation can be designed more quickly and efficiently.
A control method is therefore provided for using a core drilling system containing a core drilling machine with a drilling tool for producing a borehole in a material and an advancing device for driving the core drilling machine along a machine-holding device.
According to the invention, the method contains the steps:    detecting a predetermined drilling situation on the basis of the attainment of a predetermined threshold value for at least one predetermined corresponding drilling parameter;    ending the core drilling operation by selecting a reverse-travel mode for removing the drilling tool from the borehole if the advancing device does not reach a predetermined threshold value for a predetermined corresponding distance value in a direction (C) and the core drilling machine does not reach a predetermined threshold value for at least one predetermined corresponding drilling parameter; or    continuing the core drilling operation by selecting a predetermined operating mode if the advancing device reaches a predetermined threshold value for a predetermined corresponding distance value in a direction (C) and the core drilling machine reaches a predetermined threshold value for at least one predetermined corresponding drilling parameter.
A distinction can be hereby made between the cavities, gaps and intermediate layers of isolating material or damping material located in the mineral material and a breakthrough. The control method according to the invention can also distinguish between the previously described drilling situations such as, for example, impacting a pre-selected stopping device (depth stop) on the machine-holding device, an undesired blocking of the advancing device, reaching a pre-selected drilling depth or weakening of the cutting function of the drill bit segments.
The predetermined drilling situation may for example be impacting a pre-selected stopping device (depth stop) on the machine-holding device, an undesired blocking of the advancing device by a foreign body, reaching a pre-selected drilling depth and/or dulling or weakening of the cutting function of the drill bit segments (so-called polishing of the drill bit).
According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, it is useful for the drilling parameter to correspond to a rotational speed value of a drive of the core drill machine, a torque value generated by the drive and transferred to the drilling tool or to a current strength value of the drive.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, it is possible for the drilling parameter to correspond to a rotational speed value of an advancing drive, a torque value generated by the advancing drive or to a current strength value of the advancing drive.
According to an additional embodiment of the present invention, it may be advantageous for the predetermined threshold value to correspond to a predetermined percentage portion of the corresponding drilling parameter.
The invention is explained further with regard to advantageous exemplary embodiments.


A moon phase wheel chart for determining the phase of the moon for a particular date, past, present, or future, has three wheel members adapted to rotate about a common center. The first wheel member has in its center indicia representing the phases of the moon and has around its circumference indicia representing the century. The second wheel member has in its center a first transparent window and has around its circumference indicia representing the year for aligning with the century indicia of the first member and indicia representing the month of the year. The third wheel member has in its center a second transparent window and has around its circumference an indicator for aligning with the month indicia of the second member and indicia for representing the day of the calendar month for aligning with the moon phase indicia of the first member.

The present invention relates to moon phase wheel chart for manually calculating the phase of the moon for a particular date.
Moon phase wheel charts or moon phase devices that can determine the moon phase for a particular date are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,001 to Barton, U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,031 to Kaneko et al., and U.S. Pat. No. D254,124 to Greenfield are examples of devices that are capable of such a task. However, the problem with these devices is that they are relatively complex or bulky machines that are complex in design and are relatively difficult to manufacture, maintain, and store.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a device that can quickly and accurately determine the phase of the moon for a particular date such that the device is not unduly complex or bulky and is relatively inexpensive to build. Such a device should be relatively simple to operate and should be able to calculate the moon phase for dates past, present, and future.


A switching power source includes: a dimmer connected to an alternating current power supply and having a plurality of operating modes; a filtering/rectifying module connected to the dimmer to filter an alternating current output from the dimmer to obtain a filtered alternating current and rectify the filtered alternating current into a direct current; a dimmer switching module connected to the dimmer; a control module connected to the filtering/rectifying module and the dimmer switching module, respectively, and configured to detect a current operating mode of the dimmer when the switching power source is powered on, generate a dimmer control signal according to the current operating mode, and control the dimmer switching module to turn on or off according to the dimmer control signal to control the dimmer to enter an operating mode; and a primary constant current circuit connected to the control module and the filtering and rectifying module.

Currently, with the enhancement of people's awareness of protecting the environment and saving energy, a new generation of semiconductor lighting sources has become the mainstream lighting source due to its high efficiency, low consumption, energy conservation, environment protection, rapid response, long service life and the like. Nowadays, many common lighting products make use of the silicon controlled dimming solution, which seeks to ensure the normal operation of a dimmer system with minimal cost and without changing the dimmer system, and provides the power source with a high-precision constant current function and a high power factor.
For existing control chips which realize the high-precision constant current function and the high power factor, many elements must be connected to the peripheral system to ensure normal operation of the silicon controlled dimmer as shown in a dashed box of FIG. 1. In conventional solutions, a fourteenth resistor R14 is used as a dummy load to provide a conduction circuit for the silicon controlled rectifier to ensure normal timing of the silicon controlled dimmer. However, when the silicon controlled rectifier is conducted, the conduction current in the silicon controlled rectifier is great, even reaches to dozens of milliamperes, which may result in that the fourteenth resistor R14 consumes too much power. Thus, the tenth resistor R10, the twelfth resistor R12, the fifteenth resistor R15, the third triode Q3, the thirteenth resistor R13 and the seventh capacitor C7 start timing after the silicon controlled rectifier is conducted, and control the second MOS transistor Q2 to turn on to short the fourteenth resistor R14, thus reducing the power consumption of the fourteenth resistor R14. The third triode Q3 is configured to leak electric charges in the seventh capacitor C7 to ensure that the tenth resistor R10, the twelfth resistor R12, the fifteenth resistor R15, the third triode Q3, the thirteenth resistor R13 and the seventh capacitor C7 start to time normally after the silicon controlled rectifier is conducted such that the second MOS transistor Q2 is controlled to turn on when the next timing starts. Apparently, to ensure normal operation of the silicon controlled dimmer, the conventional solution requires many elements, which increases the cost of the power source.

Switching power source, method and control chip for controlling the same