Methods and apparatuses for multiple redundancy schemes in an optical network are described herein. In one embodiment, an exemplary method includes receiving a demand for allocating a first protection path that meets a first set of disjointness constraints with respect to a first working path according to a first protection scheme having a first priority, in response to the demand, locating a second protection path that meets a second set of disjointness constraints with respect to a second working path according to a second protection scheme having a second priority, and assigning the second protection path as a protection path to the first working path if the first priority of the first protection scheme is higher than the second priority of the second protection scheme. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

An optical network is a collection of optical network devices interconnected by links made up of optical fibers. Thus, an optical network is a network in which the physical layer technology is fiber-optic cable. Cable trunks are interconnected with optical cross-connects (OXCs), and signals are added and dropped at optical add/drop multiplexers (OADMs). The optical network devices that allow traffic to enter and/or exit the optical network are referred to as access nodes; in contrast, any optical network devices that do not are referred to as pass-thru nodes (an optical network need not have any pass-thru nodes). Each optical link interconnects two optical network devices and typically includes an optical fiber to carry traffic in both directions. There may be multiple optical links between two optical network devices.
A given fiber can carry multiple communication channels simultaneously through a technique called wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), which is a form of frequency division multiplexing (FDM). When implementing WDM, each of multiple carrier wavelengths (or, equivalently, frequencies or colors) is used to provide a communication channel. Thus, a single fiber looks like multiple virtual fibers, with each virtual fiber carrying a different data stream. Each of these data streams may be a single data stream, or may be a time division multiplex (TDM) data stream. Each of the wavelengths used for these channels is often referred to as a lambda.
A lightpath is a one-way path in an optical network for which the lambda does not change. For a given lightpath, the optical nodes at which its path begins and ends are respectively called the source node and the destination node; the nodes (if any) on the lightpath in-between the source and destination nodes are called intermediate nodes. An optical circuit is a bi-directional, end-to-end (between the access nodes providing the ingress to and egress from the optical network for the traffic carried by that optical circuit) path through the optical network. Each of the two directions of an optical circuit is made up of one or more lightpaths. Specifically, when a given direction of the end-to-end end-to-end_path of an optical circuit will use a single wavelength, then a single end-to-end end-to-end_lightpath is provisioned for that direction (the source and destination nodes of that lightpath are access nodes of the optical network and are the same as the end nodes of the optical circuit). However, in the case where a single wavelength for a given direction will not be used, wavelength conversion is necessary and two or more lightpaths are provisioned for that direction of the end-to-end path of the optical circuit. Thus, a lightpath comprises a lambda and a path (the series of optical nodes (and, of course, the interconnecting links) through which traffic is carried with that lambda).
Put another way, when using GMPLS on an optical network, the optical network can be thought of as circuit switched, where LSPs are the circuits. Each of these LSPs (uni-directional or bi-directional) form an end-to-end path where the generalized label(s) are the wavelength(s) of the lightpath(s) used. When wavelength conversion is not used for a given bi-directional LSP, there will be a single end-to-end lightpath in each direction (and thus, a single wavelength; and thus, a single generalized label).
The term disjoint path is used to describe a relationship between a given path and certain other network resources (e.g., nodes, links, etc.). There are various levels of disjointness (e.g., maximally link disjoint, fully link disjoint, maximally node disjoint, and fully node disjoint; and each can additionally be shared risk group (SRG) disjoint). For instance, a first and second paths are disjoint if the network resources they use meet the required level of disjointness.
Disjoint paths are formed for a variety of reasons, including forming restricted paths and protection paths. Restricted paths are formed to carry traffic that is not to travel through certain network resources for security reasons. Protection paths are used to provide redundancy; that is, they are used as alternate paths to working paths in case of a network failure of some kind. Protection paths are commonly implemented as either: 1) 1+1 protected; 2) 1:1 protected; or 3) 1:N mesh restored. A 1+1 or 1:1 protected path is a disjoint path from node A to node B in the network where one of the paths is a working path, and the other is a protection path. The working path and the protection path are typically established at the same time. In the case of a 1+1 protected path, the same traffic is carried on both paths, and the receiving node selects the best of the paths (i.e., if the one currently selected by the receiving node degrades or fails, that node will switch to the other). In contrast, in the case of a 1:1 protected path, traffic is transmitted on the working path; when a failure occurs on the working path, traffic is switched to the protection path. A mesh restored path from node A to node B is a pair of shared resource group disjoint paths in the network, where one of the routes is a working path and the other is a backup path. The capacity dedicated on the backup path can be shared with backup paths of other mesh-restored lightpaths.
Typically, the paths (e.g., working or protection paths) are established and provisioned manually, for example, by a network administrator. Protection schemes used in a conventional optical network assumes there is only one failure at a time. When a second path failure occurs before the first failed path recovers, particularly, in a 1:N protection scheme, the traffic of the second failed path is dropped because the protection path is being used by the first failed path, until the network administrator can provision another path to take over the traffic of the second failed path.
In addition, an owner of an optical network typically has no discretion on how many working paths can share a 1:N protection scheme. Typically, when a demand for a path with 1:N protection is received, if there is no room for the 1:N protection, the demand is dropped.

Multiple redundancy schemes in an optical network


A system and method to maximize fuel efficiency for a plurality of simultaneously operating engines is disclosed. The system includes means to determine the fuel consumption of the engine, measure the thrust of each engine and means to substantially equalize the ratio of the fuel consumption to the thrust between each of the engines. A pressure transducer is included to provide thrust data supply to each of the engines to a microprocessor, and a microprocessor is run to substantially equalize the ratio of the fuel consumption to the thrust to provide an increased fuel efficient system.

This invention relates to increasing fuel efficiency of multi-engine machinery, and more particularly to multi-engine aircraft.
The need to maximize the efficiency of fuel consumption in jet aircraft is well known. Fuel costs continue to rise, and an important element of operating such aircraft is to maximize fuel efficiency.
The prior art is replete with differing techniques and approaches to achieve this objective. U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,041 entitled Flight Performance Data Computer System employs a system to determine different flight profile data to provide the most fuel efficient flight. U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,123 entitled Economy Performance Data Avionic System employs a system in which fuel efficiency is sought to be achieved by determining the most economical engine thrust settings and air speeds for different phases of the flight as well as considering the drag and thrust peculiarities of the aircraft, zero fuel weight errors and other factors.
One of the inherent problems of engine fuel efficiency, especially jet engines, is that as they are manufactured and assembled, each has different operating characteristics. No two jet engines are alike, and this becomes further emphasized due to wear characteristics of such jet engines as they age. Thus, in considering how to maximize fuel efficiency, the ultimate objective of maximizing total thrust in relationship to the fuel efficiency is an important factor to be determined.
An object of this invention is to provide a system which minimizes fuel consumption for aircraft powered by two or more jet engines.
Another object of this invention is to provide such a system which is easy to operate, yet reliable.
Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become more apparent from the following description.

Method and apparatus for maximizing fuel efficiency for jet engines


Automatic quotes or references are generated based on a user's interaction with one or more pieces of content. A passage for quotation may be determined based at least in part on usage data including information about interaction with one or more pieces of content. A user may begin to type a quotation and a corresponding passage is inserted. The user may vary the scope of the passage, such as adding sentences or paragraphs. User annotation of the passage while the content is presented may also generate an automatically inserted quotation. A citation descriptive of the quoted passage may also be inserted. The automatically inserted quotation may be configured with a link or script, allowing additional functions or access to source content.

Students, scholars, lawyers, reporters, and many others frequently generate content in which other content is referenced or quoted. For example, research papers may reference various articles, legal briefs may reference cases, reporters may reference other reports, and so forth. Proper quotation and referencing can be tedious and error prone. Furthermore, due to the differences in formatting and management, citation of electronically delivered content may be more complicated.
Certain implementations will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various implementations and/or aspects are shown. However, various aspects may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the implementations set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.


A closed-loop feedback-control system for a screw anchor driving machine that uses a controller such as a programmable logic controller (PLC) and an array of sensors providing real-time data to control an automated screw anchor driving operation relying on a rotary driver, a crowd motor applying downforce to the rotary driver and a tool driver extending a tool through the rotary driver and screw anchor to drive screw anchors to a target depth. The tool driver is independently controllable to advance the tool at a different feed and speed than the rotary driver to respond to underground conditions encountered during driving.

As the price of solar has dropped relative to fossil fuel-based energy sources, single-axis solar trackers are becoming the preferred form factor for so-called utility-scale solar arrays. Utility-scale arrays may span a few megawatts of capacity up to hundreds of kilowatts. Single-axis trackers are configured as North-South oriented single or double rows of solar panels attached to a torque tube. The torque tube is attached to a motor or other drive mechanism that slowly rotates all the attached panels at once, so they move from East-facing to West-facing to follow the sun's daily movement through the sky.
Tracker companies usually supply all the components that attach to the torque tube (e.g., bearings, motors or drive assemblies, dampers and module brackets), but rely on other companies to supply the foundation that anchors their systems to the Earth using a standard interface. The predominate foundation is a standard is the W6×9 or W6×12 galvanized steel H-pile that provides a six-inch web between a pair of opposing flanges with predrilled holes in the web, flanges or both to enable universal attachment to different tracker makers' systems.
H-piles are driven into the ground using a pile driver—a percussive tool that holds the pile at a plumb orientation and beats on the head of it repeatedly to incrementally drive it into the ground. Although the pile driver is a piece of standard equipment, given their prevalence in the commercial solar industry, certain equipment makers have begun manufacturing tracked pile driving machine specifically for solar developers.
Applicant has developed a novel multi-piece foundation system marketed commercially as EARTH TRUSS that is formed from below ground screw anchors, upper legs and an adapter that joins the legs to form and A-frame shaped truss. The screw anchors are installed adjacent one another, at opposing angles in a common, East-West plane. They are open at both ends allowing for a mandrel, drill or other tool to be extended through them while they're being driven into the ground. Anchors are driven with a combination of rotation and downforce while a separate tool actuates a mandrel or drill bit through the open screw anchor with a combination of rotation and hammering. To do this quickly and efficiently on the scale required for large, commercial solar projects requires the development of a machines and systems and methods for controlling such machines to performed automated screw anchor driving operations in a variety of driving conditions.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems, methods, and machines for autonomously driving foundation components


A free standing rotary tower assembly for applying a force to a damaged part of a vehicle, the assembly including a tower, a support plate mounted on the bottom of the tower, a cylindrical member mounted on the bottom of the plate and a floor mount for supporting the tower assembly, the floor mount including a center plate having a tubular member for matingly engaging the cylindrical member and a number of caster assemblies mounted in the centering plate in a position to engage the support plate when the cylindrical member is aligned with the tubular member.

Work rack structures of the type contemplated herein are of the type as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,335, issued on Feb. 2, 1982, entitled "Vehicle Work Rack Structure." This type of a structure is used to correct damaged or misaligned vehicle frames and body parts. Force applying towers are provided around the periphery of the work rack for exerting a pulling force on any damaged portion of the vehicle to correct the damaged condition of the vehicle frame and/or body. The force applying member generally includes a base which is mounted on the work rack and a standard which is secured to the base and projects upwardly from the base. The pulling action is provided by a chain mounted on the tower and connected to a lever arm that is pivoted by a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly mounted on the back of the tower to apply a pulling action on the chain. The pulling force is applied from fixed points on the tower. This type of equipment lacks mobility and versatility and is difficult to connect in position to provide the proper straightening forces to a damaged member. Also, the space in which such equipment is installed is limited in use only for body and frame straightening activities or other closely associated work.


Malware may be identified based on attempts to use tainted data in certain ways, such as by attempting to execute the tainted data, by attempting to modify execution control based on tainted data, or by attempting to apply an existing function to the tainted data. A data's taint is determined based on the location from which the data originates. When data from a tainted source is moved to an otherwise non-tainted destination, the taint may be propagated from the source to the destination, to indicate that the destination is now of unknown safety. A component may be used to observe the operation of a process, in order to determine what data is being moved with respect to the process, and how that data is being used.

Attacks on computer systems are often based on exploitation of security vulnerabilities in the system's software and/or hardware. The complexity of a typical computer system means that vulnerabilities often exist even in systems that are well-designed. When a vulnerability has been found, an attacker can create malware that exploits the vulnerability to cause behaviors that can range from nuisance (e.g., minor performance degradation) to catastrophe (e.g., deletion of data).
Various mechanisms exist to protect systems against malware attacks. Anti-virus ("AV") software uses definitions to detect signatures in existing or incoming data, and/or patterns of software behavior that are consistent with known malware. However, the ability of AV software to detect malware is based on a human analyst's having discovered the malware's tell-tale (i.e., signature) data or behavior. This discovery is made after the malware has already been observed in the wild and has infected machines. Moreover, after the signature data and/or behavior has been discovered by a human, individual machines are unprotected until a definition based on that signature has been created and distributed to client AV engines. In many cases, this process is not fast enough to protect machines. Malware may spread widely before an AV definition can be detected by human analysts and distributed to a large number of machines.
Some protection mechanisms can guard against certain classes of attacks without relying on humans to react to problems. Some operating environments may provide Data Execution Prevention ("DEP"), which allows software to declare certain memory pages as non-executable. Some attacks are based on writing malware code into data pages and then causing a program to execute code from the data pages. If the data pages have been declared non-executable by the program, then DEP may stop the program from executing if the program attempts to execute an instruction located in a data page. However, this technique does not guard against attacks that use existing code in pages that have been declared executable, such as in the case of "return to libc attacks." Address Space Layout Randomization ("ASLR") protects against attacks that rely on the attacker's knowledge of where certain executable code is located. In ASLR, the location of executable code is randomized, so the attacker will not know the layout in memory of processes that could be used to implement an exploit. However, ASLR may be of limited effectiveness. Even if ASLR can defeat some instances of attack, it can be shown that one may wage an attack against an ASLR-protected system, which has some probability of succeeding.
Moreover, a system has been described that detects worms based on the notion that worms infect machines through network traffic, and through data that is derived from network traffic. However, such a system does not address more general types and sources of infection.


A process for the treatment of non-keratinaceous textiles, preferably cellulosic fibers, which comprises the step of treating the textiles with a composition which comprises: a self-crosslinking polymer and a nucleophilic species (preferably a polymer comprising at least one protected thiol group), and a textile compatible carrier. Under domestic washing conditions the polymer forms reactive thiol groups which are capable of causing covalent cross-linking with the polymer. Preferably, the thiol group is protected as an isothiouronium group.

The appearance of coloured fabrics, e.g., clothing, bedding, household fabrics like table linens is one of the areas of concern to consumers. Indeed, upon typical consumer's uses of the fabrics such as wearing, washing, rinsing and/or tumble-drying of fabrics, lead to changes in fabric appearance, which is at least partly due to loss of colour shade intensity, fidelity and color definition.
Such a problem of colour loss is even more acute in laundry treatment after multiwash cycles, especially for dark colours, such as blacks, reds, blues, and greens.
Several mechanisms have been speculated upon for colour loss and various means have been proposed to prevent or reduce the extent of the loss or transfer of colour. For example, colour fixatives, known in the dyeing industry have been proposed, as have agents (such as PVP) to hold colour materials in solution to prevent re-deposition or to prevent abrasion between fibers. It has also been suggested to add bleaching agents to wash liquor to bleach any dye that enters solution.
One cause of colour loss is the use of an inappropriate detergent composition. Thus, many manufacturers produce 'colour care' formulations that do not contain bleaches. Despite this, colour damage remains a significant problem in the eyes of consumers.
WO 00/15746 (P&G), filed 15th, September 1998, published 23rd March 2000, discloses fabric care compositions, which comprise low molecular weight polyamines for colour care. It is believed that the polyamines intercept peroxygen bleaching. A dye fixative may also be present in the compositions disclosed, as may an 'abrasion reducing polymer' such as the N-heterocyclic polymer PVP (see examples 50–53 in table XII).
In order to overcome these problems it has also been proposed to use self cross-linking agents, to treat the fabric. These are believed to form a protective matrix around the fibers of the fabric, which reduces fiber damage. It is believed that this structure restricts relative movement of the textile fibers and consequently reduces damage to the textile fibers during the laundering process. It is also believed that this reduces pilling and provides shrink resistance.
It is further believed that the structure prevents apparent colour loss by retarding damage to the fibers leading to a rough fiber surface which would give the appearance of colour lose due to a modification of the manner in which light is scattered from the fiber surface.
Laundry detergent compositions containing reactive polyamide-polyamine fabric treatment agents are known. The compositions are claimed to impart improved overall appearance to fabrics laundered using the detergent compositions, in terms of surface appearance properties such as pill/fuzz reduction and anti-fading. Other cationic self cross-linking agents are known.
Polyamine epichlorohydrin resins (PAE) are effective self cross-linking agents, which is known to reduce fiber damage. However under certain circumstances use of PAE can lead to changes in the appearance of dyed fabrics as regards their colour. There is a need to overcome this problem.
WO 98/12295 (P&G: published 1988) discloses the combination of dye fixing agents and amino-functional polymers to improve the colour appearance of laundered fabrics especially after multi-wash cycles. One possible mechanism of action is that the dye fixative locks the dyestuff to the surface preventing colour loss, while the amino functional polymer prevents bleaches having a detrimental effect on dyes. There is no suggestion in this document that there is any reaction between the amini-functional material and the dye fixative.

Textile laundering composition comprising a self-crosslinking cationic polymer

Unilever Home & Personal Care USA Division of Conopco, Inc.


A method is used to largely suppress the offset of a rotation rate sensor in that a given rotation rate is only subjected to integration if it exceeds a lower rotation rate threshold and lies below an upper rotation rate threshold. The thresholds are predefined as a function of an offset of the rotation rate sensor in question, and integration of the rotation rate is aborted after a predefined reset time and restarted.

The present invention relates to a method for determining a critical angular position of a vehicle that will cause a rollover event, with one or more rotation rate sensors measuring the vehicle""s rotation rate about its longitudinal axis and/or transverse axis, and then the roll angle about the vehicle""s longitudinal axis and/or the pitch angle about the vehicle""s transverse axis is determined by obtaining the integral of the measured rotation rates so that a critical angular position can be detected therefrom via a threshold value decision unit.
A method of this kind is described in German Patent Application No. 196 09 717.1. If a vehicle undergoes a rollover, protection devices installed in the vehicle must be triggered in a timely manner; these include, for example, a roll bar, a seatbelt tensioner and various airbags. To ensure that all these protection devices are triggered in a timely manner, it is important that it be determined as early as possible whether the vehicle""s rotations about its longitudinal axis and its transverse axis will result in a rollover. It is important that as far as possible erroneous decisions regarding a rollover event be eliminated. Erroneous decisions occur if, when the integral of the rotation rate is determined, the result indicates a roll or pitch angle which does not match the vehicle""s actual angular position. Because the rotation rate sensors generally have an offset, errors may inadvertently occur when the vehicle""s angular position is calculated.
Therefore the object of the present invention is to provide a method with which as far as possible an error arising from an offset when measuring rotation rate is suppressed.
The aforementioned object is achieved in that a given rotation rate is only subjected to integration if it exceeds a lower rotation rate threshold and lies below an upper rotation rate threshold, the thresholds being predefined as a function of the offset error of the rotation rate sensor in question. The integration of the rotation rate is aborted after a predefinable reset time and restarted. This prevents a situation where, because integrals are being calculated on an ongoing basis, angles which have a value that is much greater than the actual angular position and which are then interpreted as a rollover event, which is not actually occurring, are obtained.
It is useful if the reset time is set as a function of the magnitude of the roll angle or pitch angle obtained via integration and/or as a function of the magnitude of the sensor error.

Process for determining a critical angular position of a vehicle leading to roll-over


An illumination system has a glove and an illumination device. The illumination device may be attached to an upper portion of the glove via first and second fastening materials. The illumination device includes a battery operably connected with a light source through a switch, for illuminating a selected part of a work space. A plurality of pliant support legs of the illumination device extend generally radially outwardly and downwardly, for supporting the housing upon the back of the hand. The first fastening material has a width and a length that are dimensioned so that the illumination device may be removably attached to the glove via the second fastening material to point in any of 360 degrees of rotation, such that the light source directs illumination in a selected direction with respect to the glove.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to illumination systems, and more particularly to a glove illumination system that includes an illumination device that can be mounted on a glove in any orientation to illuminate a selected part of a work space.
2. Description of Related Art
Mechanics, plumbers, electricians and others use gloves every day for a variety of tasks, which include tasks that are performed in small, dark areas requiring dexterity as well as illumination. Different conventional ways of illuminating these areas include a hand held flashlight, or portable light mounted or hung adjacent to the area. Often times, however, it is awkward holding a flashlight while performing the task and there is no convenient location to mount or hang a light so that the desired area is effectively illuminated. Also, when working in the area the user's hands or arms can block the light.
Various prior art references teach light devices that are adapted to be mounted on a glove, so that the light is provided where needed, without the user having to hold the light device.
Raz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,397, teaches a glove with integrated light for illuminating a work area. The glove includes a housing adjacent a knuckle portion of the glove for containing an illumination device. A second housing mounted on the back of the glove includes a battery for powering the illumination device, and circuitry operably connects the two. While the Raz glove provides excellent illumination for particular purposes, the illumination device cannot be customized so that the light is directed in another direction.
Myers et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,105, entitled "Work Glove and Illuminator Assembly," discloses a surgical or worker glove having an illuminator in a light housing on one of the glove fingers, with the illuminator oriented to project a light beam distally of the glove. The light source for the illuminator can be self-contained within the light housing or can utilize fiber optics to transmit light to the illuminator from a remote light source. Another embodiment discloses a translucent glove wherein the output of the illumination means is disposed on the interior of the glove and the light shines through a fingertip of a glove.
One disadvantage of the glove in the Myers et al. patent is that its light housing is bulky and extends a significant distance above the surface of the finger. This can result in the housing interfering with a task being performed in a tight space. The fiber optic embodiments rely on a light source external to the gloves which adds complexity and cost. All of the embodiments have a light source attached to one of the glove fingers and as a task is being performed, the fingers move. This movement can result in the light moving from the desired area when performing the task. Further, the light on the fingertip embodiment would be blocked by any dirt, oil, grease, blood, etc. that accumulates on the glove fingers during use.
Clanton, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,131, is entitled "Finger Light," and discloses a light worn on, and turned on by, a finger. It has a substantially hollow tubular housing with an opening at one end through which a finger can be inserted. The light source is self-contained in the opposite closed end of the housing. Pressure from the finger activates a light, which provides illumination through the closed end. One disadvantage of this arrangement is that the light emanates from the end of the finger, and as the fingers move during a task, the light can move off the desired area. This device also prevents bending of the portion of the finger within the tubular housing, reducing dexterity. The housing is also made of rubber or plastic and the light source is arranged at the end of the finger, such that the user's tactile feel is blocked.
Bain, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,011, is entitled "Hand Glove and Light Attachment Therefore," and discloses a glove with a light housing that is attached to a finger and extends a significant distance above the surface of the finger. This configuration is bulky, cumbersome, and would likely be damaged when used in tight spaces. Like the gloves above, the light source in this device is also mounted on the finger such that it will move from the desired area during use.
Sundh, U.S. Pat. No. 1,230,943, is entitled "Portable Light," and discloses a glove with a leather strip that extends transversely across the back of the glove and also longitudinally toward the wrist. A number of light sockets are riveted to the strip, and near the wrist a pocket is included for batteries to power lights mounted in the sockets.
Ziemer, U.S. Pat. No. 7,152,248, teaches a flashlight glove that includes an LED flashlight held in a pocket on the back of the glove, along with a battery pack. The LED flashlight cannot be rotated or otherwise positioned, but simply shines directly forward from the back of the hand.
Other similar glove illumination devices that cannot be customized to point in any direction, within 360 degrees of rotation, include Kerr, U.S. 2001/0048596, and Huff, U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,368, both of which only direct light forward along the back of the hand.
The above-described references are hereby incorporated by reference in full.
The prior art teaches various forms of gloves with illumination devices. However, the prior art does not teach an illumination device that may be rotated 360 degrees with respect to the glove so that the user can select a desired part of a work space to illuminate. The prior art also does not teach an illumination device that includes a plurality of pliant support legs for mounting the illumination device securely yet comfortably on the back of the hand of the user. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.


A low power data retiming circuit incorporates CMOS components in certain sections that operate at a lower frequency in comparison to certain other sections that use components based on bipolar technology for operating at a relatively higher frequency. The data retiming circuit includes a clock recovery circuit wherein a voltage controlled oscillator provides a recovered clock to a clock generator circuit for generating a latched clock that is provided to a phase detector and a data serializer. The data serializer operates as a synchronous multiplexer for generating a retimed data output signal from a pair of latched data input signals. The phase detector and the data serializer operate in a half-rate mode wherein high and low voltage levels of the latched clock are used for clocking data. The half-rate mode of operation permits the use of a clock frequency that is half that of an input data rate.

Reducing the power consumption in electronic circuits is often an important aspect of circuit design, more so when such electronic circuits are incorporated into integrated circuits. Designers elect to reduce power consumption in various ways depending upon the nature of the electronic circuitry being designed. In some cases, a particular materials technology such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology can provide an advantage in terms of a lower level of power consumption in comparison to another material technology such as bipolar complementary metal oxide semiconductor (BiCMOS) technology. However, selecting CMOS technology over BiCMOS technology solely on the basis of reducing power consumption in an electronic circuit does not constitute a universal solution due to additional factors that should be taken into consideration in selecting the materials technology. For example, higher mask costs, poorer noise performance, and speed limitations of CMOS technology in comparison to BiCMOS technology, can render CMOS technology unsuitable for some types of high speed electronic circuits such as, for example, a data retiming circuit designed to operate at radio frequency (RF) rates. Consequently, in some cases, a designer may opt to forgo the use of CMOS technology and instead select a faster but more power-hungry technology such as BiCMOS in order to achieve satisfactory high speed circuit performance. While the use of a more power-hungry technology may be justified in some such cases, it may be unnecessary in some others where alternative solutions can exist.
Furthermore, in some cases, irrespective of the material that is selected, a circuit that is optimized solely on the basis of performance may include certain elements that incur unnecessary voltage drops that lead to a larger voltage overhead requirement upon the power supply. It is desirable that at least a part of this larger overhead be reduced or eliminated in order to provide a more power efficient solution.

Integrated circuit incorporating a low power data retiming circuit

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A system controller of an optical disk recording and reproducing device writes test data in a test writable area of a loaded optical disk if it is an unused disk and calculates a maximum amplitude value of an RF signal at an inner radius. Then, it calculates the maximum amplitude value of a tracking error signal at the inner radius and further calculates the maximum amplitude value of the tracking error signal at the outer radius. After that, it calculates a primary approximate expression about a tilt from the maximum amplitude value of the tracking error signal at the inner radius and the maximum amplitude value of the tracking error signal at the outer radius. It further offsets the primary approximate expression by a difference between the tilt values that is obtained by subtracting the maximum amplitude value of the tracking error signal at the inner radius from the maximum amplitude value of the RF signal at the inner radius. As a result, a tilt control is performed in accordance with the RF signal of the virtual maximum amplitude value that is obtained by adding the difference between the tilt values to the primary approximate expression.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disk recording and reproducing device for recording and reproducing information on an optical disk. In particular, the present invention relates to a control of correcting tilt of an optical pickup with respect to the optical disk.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional optical disk recording and reproducing devices have an optical pickup that emits a laser beam, which is focused through an objective lens to form a light spot having a diameter of approximately 0.5 μm, for example. Thus, information can be recorded on the optical disk along tracks having a pitch of approximately 0.74 μm, for example, and information recorded along tracks can be reproduced. If the optical axis of the laser beam projected to the surface of the optical disk is not perpendicular to the surface of the optical disk but has some relative tilt error, the light spot may swell to a neighboring track. In this case, information of the neighboring track may be mixed, and aberration may be generated in the light spot on the surface of the optical disk, resulting in substantial deterioration of recording and reproducing quality.
This deterioration of recording and reproducing quality may become a serious problem if the optical disk recording and reproducing device has the optical pickup with a large numerical aperture of the objective lens for realizing high density. Therefore, it is important to control the tilt error of the optical axis of the laser beam with respect to the surface of the optical disk under a predetermined angle. For this purpose, the optical disk recording and reproducing device is required to have a tilt correcting mechanism for controlling the tilt of the optical pickup so as to correct the tilt error in accordance with warp or tilt of the optical disk.
The conventional optical disk recording and reproducing device performs a tilt control of the optical pickup by calculating a maximum amplitude value of an RF signal that is read out from the optical disk if the optical pickup has no tilt sensor, so as to adjust the optical pickup to be a tilt position corresponding to the calculated value. In addition, since an unused optical disk has no RF signal, it is difficult to adjust the optical pickup to be the tilt position corresponding to the maximum amplitude value of the RF signal even if the optical pickup has a variable radial tilt function. Therefore, for an unused optical disk, a tilt adjustment value when a tracking error signal that can be adjusted without the RF signal becomes a maximum amplitude value is usually adopted. However, even if the tilt position of the optical pickup is adjusted at the time point when the tracking error signal becomes the maximum amplitude value, it does not always mean that light to the optical pickup becomes the best state, which can cause deterioration of the recording quality.
For example, JP-A-2004-95035 discloses a conventional technique that utilizes a property that there is a difference of a predetermined offset quantity between the radial tilt correction quantity when the amplitude value of the RF signal read out from the optical disk becomes the maximum and the radial tilt correction quantity when the amplitude value of a land prepit signal becomes the maximum, and the difference does not change regardless of a position on the optical disk, for the tilt correction. In this technique, an optimal correction quantity is determined as the radial tilt correction quantity when the amplitude value of the RF signal becomes the maximum for a used disk, while it is determined for an unused disk by considering the above-mentioned offset quantity that is added to the radial tilt correction quantity when an amplitude value of a land preset signal becomes the maximum.
This patent document says that even an optical disk has a warp, the tilt quantity when the amplitude value of the RF signal becomes the maximum and the tilt quantity when the amplitude value of the land prepit signal becomes the maximum have the same offset regardless of a radial position on the optical disk. However, when information is recorded on an unused disk having a warp, the radial tilt correction quantity corresponding to the radial position when the amplitude value of the land prepit signal at the inner radius of the optical disk becomes the maximum is different from the radial tilt correction quantity corresponding to the radial position when the amplitude value of the land prepit signal at the outer radius of the optical disk becomes the maximum, for example. Nevertheless, this patent document does not disclose a radial position on the optical disk of the radial tilt correction quantity that is used. Therefore, it is not always possible to determine the optimal correction quantity for an unused disk by considering the offset added to the radial tilt correction quantity when the amplitude value of the land preset signal becomes the maximum.
Furthermore, JP-A-2003-16678 discloses another conventional technique for controlling a tilt of an optical pickup. This technique uses a tilt changing portion that changes a tilt quantity between an information surface on the optical disk and a laser beam with respect to a reference angle as a center by changing an angle of the optical pickup with respect to an information quantity, while it calculates an amplitude value of the maximum tracking error signal with respect to a tilt quantity detected by a tilt detecting portion. In accordance with a relationship between the measured tilt quantity and the amplitude value of the tracking error signal, the tilt of the optical pickup is controlled so that the amplitude value of the tracking error signal becomes the maximum.
As the maximum value of the amplitude of the tracking error signal, an average value is used. This average value is obtained by measuring 1/n of a time period necessary for a predetermined number of rotations of the spindle motor, detecting the maximum value of the amplitude of the tracking error signal every n rotations and calculating the average value of the maximum value of the amplitude of the tracking error signal detected n times. Therefore, even if an average value of the maximum value of the amplitude of the tracking error signal is determined by detecting the maximum value of the amplitude of the tracking error signal every n rotations at the inner radius of the optical disk that has a warp, the maximum value of the amplitude of the tracking error signal may be changed at the outer radius in accordance with a state of the warp of the optical disk. Therefore, the determined average value of the maximum value of the amplitude of the tracking error signal is not reliable for a precise tilt control of the optical pickup.
In addition, JP-A-2003-346369 discloses still another conventional technique for a tilt control of an objective lens of the optical pickup. According to this technique, in the case of an unused disk, a warp of an optical disk is detected from an offset of the push-pull tracking error signal. A signal indicating the detected warp is regarded as a tilt correcting signal that is used for the tilt control of an objective lens of the optical pickup. Although the tilt correcting signal is due to the offset of the push-pull tracking error signal, it does not disclose about the RF signal. Therefore, it is not always possible to perform the tilt control such that the amplitude value of the RF signal becomes the maximum.

Optical disk recording and reproducing device


The inventive subject matter is directed to an artificial intelligence intra-operative surgical guidance system and method of use. The artificial intelligence intra-operative surgical guidance system is made of a computer executing one or more automated artificial intelligence models trained on data layer datasets collections to calculate surgical decision risks, and provide intra-operative surgical guidance; and a display configured to provide visual guidance to a user.

Many of the radiographic parameters essential to total hip arthroplasty (THA) model performance, such as wear and stability, can be assessed intraoperatively with fluoroscopy. However even with intraoperative fluoroscopic guidance, the placement of an implant or the reduction of a bone fragment can still not be as close as desired by the surgeon. For example, mal-positioning of the acetabular model during hip arthroplasty can lead to problems. For the acetabular implant to be inserted in the proper position relative to the pelvis during hip arthroplasty requires that the surgeon know the position of the patient's pelvis during surgery. Unfortunately, the position of the patient's pelvis varies widely during surgery and from patient to patient. During trauma surgery, proper fracture management, especially in the case of an intra-articular fracture, requires a surgeon to reduce the bone fragment optimally with respect to the original anatomy in order to: provide the anatomical with joint the best chance to rehabilitate properly; minimize further long-term damage; and, if possible, to regain its normal function. Unfortunately, in a fracture scenario, the original anatomical position of these bone fragments has been compromised and their natural relationship with the correct anatomy is uncertain and requires the surgeon to use his/her best judgment in order to promote a successful repair and subsequent positive outcome. During a surgery, a surgeon is required to make real-time decisions that can be further complicated by the fact that there are multiple decisions needing to be made at the same time. At any given time, there can be a need for a decision made on a fracture reduction guidance for example and simultaneously a decision required on implant placement and an error at any stage will likely increase the potential for a sub-optimal outcome and potential surgical failure. Unfortunately, most of these problems are only diagnosed and detected postoperatively and oftentimes lead to revision surgery. These risks and patterns need to be identified in real-time during the surgical or medical event. As surgeons and medical professionals must often rely solely on themselves to identify hazards and risks or make decisions on critical factors in, and surrounding, a surgical event, a need exists for a system and method that can provide intraoperative automated intelligence guided surgical and medical situational awareness support and guidance.

Artificial intelligence intra-operative surgical guidance system and method of use


The invention is directed to a ventilation control system for controlling the ventilation of a patient. The ventilation control system utilizes a user-friendly user interface for the display of patient data and ventilator status, as well as for entering values for ventilation settings to be used to control the ventilator.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of medical equipment for respiratory therapy and more specifically to the user interface for a ventilator used for monitoring and controlling the breathing of a patient.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modern patient ventilators are designed to ventilate a patient's lungs with breathing gas, and to thereby assist a patient when the patient's ability to breathe on his own is somehow impaired. As research has continued in the field of respiration therapy, a wide range of ventilation strategies have been developed. For example, pressure assisted ventilation is a strategy often available in patient ventilators and includes the supply of pressure assistance when the patient has already begun an inspiratory effort. With such a strategy, it is desirable to immediately increase the pressure after a breath is initiated in order to reach a target airway pressure for the pressure assistance. This rise in pressure in the patient airway which supplies breathing gas to the patient's lungs allows the lungs to be filled with less work of breathing by the patent. Conventional pressure assisted ventilator systems typically implement a gas flow control strategy of stabilizing pressure support after a target pressure is reached to limit patient airway pressure. Such a strategy also can include programmed reductions in the patient airway pressure after set periods of the respiratory cycle in order to prepare for initiation of the next patient breath.
As patient ventilator systems and their various components, including sensors and control systems, have become more sophisticated, and more understanding is gained about the physiology of breathing and the infirmities and damage which form the requirements for respiratory therapy, the number of variables to be controlled and the timing and interrelationships between the parameters have begun to confront the caregiver with a daunting number of alternative therapeutic alternatives and ventilator settings. Also, in such a complex environment, the interface between the ventilator and the caregiver has often not been adaptable to the capabilities of the operator, thus running the chance of either limiting the choices available to a sophisticated user or allowing a relatively less sophisticated user to chose poorly from the alternatives presented. Thus, it would be beneficial if a ventilator interface guided the user through the setup or therapy modification process, illustrating the relationship between changes, preventing incorrect or dangerous settings and sounding alarms or other audible indications of invalid settings when something is about to done that exceeds limits, but also allowing the advanced and sophisticated user to gain access to the full range of ventilator capabilities through an interface which both presents the various parameters and allows the visualization of their relationships.
Clinical treatment of a ventilated patient often requires that the breathing characteristics of the patient be monitored to detect changes in the breathing patterns of the patient. Many modern ventilators allow the visualization of patient breathing patterns and ventilator function and the caregiver adjusts the settings of the ventilator to fine tune the respiratory strategy being performed to assist the patient's breathing. However, these systems have been, up until now, relatively difficult to use by the unsophisticated user unless a limited number of options are selected. For example, in one prior art system, only a single respiratory parameter may be altered at a time. Moreover, the various respiratory parameters must often be entered into the ventilator controller in a prescribed order, or, where no order is prescribed, certain orders of entry should be avoided, otherwise the intermediate state of the machine before entry of the remaining parameters may not be appropriate for the patient. This inflexible approach to ventilator setup requires additional time and training if the user is to quickly and efficiently use the ventilator in a critical care environment.
Previous systems have also been deficient in that it is often difficult to determine the underlying fault that has caused an alarms to be sounded, and what controls or settings should be adjusted to cure the problem causing the alarm. For example, prior alarm systems have consisted of nothing more than a blinking display or light with an alarm to alert the user that a problem existed. Similarly, many prior art systems provided only limited assistance to a user or technician in setting the parameters to be used during treatment. For example, if a technician attempted to enter a setting that was inappropriate for the patient because of body size or for some other reason, the only alarm provided may have been an auditory indication that the value was not permitted, but no useful information was provided to assist the technician in entering an appropriate setting.
One problem consistently presented by prior art ventilator control systems has been that the user interface has offered relatively little to guide and inform the user during the setup and use of the ventilator. Prior systems typically utilized a single visual display of the operating parameters of the ventilator and sensed patient parameters. Alternatively, prior systems may have numerous fixed numeric displays, certain of which may not be applicable during all ventilation therapies. Even when more than one display has been provided, users typically received limited feedback, if any, from the control system indicating the effect that changing one particular setting had on the overall respiratory strategy. If a parameter was to be adjusted, the display would change to display that particular parameter upon actuation of the appropriate controls, and allow entry of a value for that parameter. However, the user was provided with no visual cue as to how the change in the parameter value would effect the overall ventilation strategy, and thus had no assistance in determining whether the value entered for the parameter was appropriate for the patient.
What has been needed and heretofore unavailable in patient ventilators is a user friendly graphic interface that provides for simultaneous monitoring and adjustment of the various parameters comprising a respiratory strategy. Such an interface would also preferably guide sophisticated users in implementing ventilation therapies, provide guidance on the relationships between parameters as they are adjusted, allow rapid return to safe operation in the event that an undesirable strategy was inadvertently entered, provide alarms that are easily understood and corrected and present all of the relevant information in an easily understood and graphic interface. The present invention fulfills these and other needs.

Graphic user interface for a patient ventilator


A recirculation filter element for a disc drive enclosure. The filter element has a body having a surface area to volume ratio of at least 100/m and a self-assembled monolayer. The self-assembled monolayer may adsorb volatile contaminants from the enclosure or may have a chemical affinity to particulates, to accumulate and sequester particles on the body.

Disc drives are sensitive to moisture, chemical contamination, and particulate contamination. Chemical contaminants, such as hydrocarbons and acid gases, can condense onto a disc and degrade the head/disc interface and possibly corrode the heads. Particulate contaminants can lead to head and media scratches, and can cause read/write errors and can lead to interface failure and head crashes. As the drive heads become smaller and areal densities increase, disc drives are more susceptible to these contaminants.
Most current disc drives include a filter to remove particles (i.e., a particle filter) and a filter to remove gaseous contaminants (i.e., a chemical filter). The chemical filter typically includes activated carbon. It is well known that a life span of a chemical filter is limited by the amount of adsorption material (e.g., the activated carbon) and its surface area available for adsorption. With the continuing tendency to increase areal densities of disc drives and to reduce their size, having a relatively small chemical filter, with a relatively limited surface area for adsorption, may result in potential susceptibility to contaminants.
Breather and recirculation filters have been used in hard disc drives for removing contaminates. Typically, recirculation filters have been included to remove unwanted particulates. They are not, however, typically suitable for removing organic vapors since they do not have a capacity for permanently adsorbing organic vapors. To provide enhanced organic vapor removal, activated carbon or other adsorbent material has been used in recirculation filters as well as breather filters. For example, activated carbon in the form of granules or fiber can adsorb and remove organic vapors from the air within a disc drive housing.
The present disclosure provides a recirculation chemical filter for inside disc drive enclosures.


Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a biological marker, the gamma isoform of protein kinase C (PKCg), which surprisingly allows rapid identification of compromised cognitive, behavioral, and neuropsychological functions under conditions associated with acute, transient hypoxia in humans. It was surprisingly discovered that PKCg is released from neural cells and can be detected in peripheral blood after hypoxic events unrelated to the reduction or elimination of blood flow through affected tissues. Embodiments of this invention are also directed to a broad range of clinical applications, particularly in emergency medicine. Other embodiments are related to compositions and methods for distinguishing between hypoxic encephalopathies and conditions arising from neuroanatomical/structural anomalies and/or incidental pathologies, for example, alcohol intoxication.

1. Field of Invention
This invention is directed to kits, compositions and methods of identifying neurological, neuropsychological, neuropsychiatric, behavioral and cognitive functions in the central nervous system, PKCg biomarkers directed to non-ischemic events.
2. Description of the Background
The events of ischemia include hypoxia and hypoglycemia due to the reduction or elimination of blood flow through affected tissues. However, hypoxia also occurs under conditions of normal or even increased cerebral blood flow.
The effects of hypoxia on central nervous system functions, such as short-term memory loss and the impairment of cognition and performance tasks have been studied through a variety of experimental approaches and models. Neurological, neuropsychological and psychometric tests have been used to assess central nervous system function. Additionally, dysfunctions of the cerebellum include cognitive affective syndrome, ataxia, and dysmetria of thought. Considerable efforts are underway to clarify the cellular and molecular mechanisms contributing to these processes. The gamma isoform of protein kinase C (PKCg) is unique to the central nervous, including the eye. Although broadly distributed throughout the brain, PKCg is concentrated in the hippocampus and cerebellum, structures associated with information processing such as learning and cognition. In ischemia, PKCg has been found in samples of peripheral blood (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,223); however, hypoxia occurring under conditions of normal or even increased cerebral blood flow has not heretofore been studied in detail.
Acute mountain sickness is among the most prominent pathophysiological conditions related to hypoxia at high altitudes and is characterized by a range of neurological impairments. Table 1 depicts physiological variables in healthy subjects at sea level and at high altitude. If not effectively treated, high altitude cerebral encephalopathies (HACE), a potentially lethal condition, ensue.
TABLE 1Central Hemodynamic, Blood Gases, and Transcranial DopplerVariables in 35 Healthy Subjects at Sea Level and atHigh Altitude. (Cf. Van Osta)Sea LevelAltitudePHR, bpm76 ± 2085 ± 12<0.05Sao297 ± 1 79 ± 7 <0.001Pao2, mm Hg90 ± 1141 ± 6 <0.001Paco2, mm Hg40 ± 2 30 ± 2 <0.001Systolic BP, mm Hg137 ± 20 137 ± 26 NSDiastolic BP, mm Hg81 ± 1282 ± 17NSMean BP, mm Hg100 ± 14 100 ± 18 NSSystolic Vmca, cm/s69 ± 1172 ± 18NSDiastolic Vmca, cm/s34 ± 7 37 ± 13NSMean Vmca, cm/s49 ± 8 52 ± 14NSARI4.44 ± .0864.55 ± 1.16NSData are given as mean ± SD.
Table 2 depicts hypoxic thresholds for central nervous system dysfunctions at sea level and simulated altitudes causing hypoxia.
TABLE 2Hypoxic Thresholds for CNS Dysfunction (Values derived fromyounger volunteers subjected to acute (minutes) decompressionhypoxia. FiO2, fractional percentage of ambient oxygen.(Cf. Bailey; Butterworth; Huff; Kirkham & Datta)Simulated altitude (ft)FiO2 (%)PaO2 (mm Hg)Neurological statusSea level2190Normal 5,0001780Impaired dark vision 8,000-10,00015-1455-45Impaired short-termmemory, difficultylearning complextasks15,000-20,00011-9 40-30Loss of judgment,euphoria,obtundation>20,000<9<25 Coma
Retinal encephalopathies also occur at these altitudes and include torturous, leaky vasculature consistent with established physical symptoms of HACE. These are clear examples of hypoxic encephalopathies at partial pressure of oxygen; PKCg is present in samples of peripheral blood during hypoxic encephalopathies. These same oxygen pressures elicit short-term memory impairment, difficulty learning complex tasks, loss of judgment, euphoria, and obtundation.

Protein kinase C gamma as a biomarker for neuropsychological and cognitive functions in the central nervous system


A noise canceler comprising: a first low-pass filter that a demodulated signal is to be input to; an interpolation processing unit that the demodulated signal after passing through the first low-pass filter and a pulse noise detection signal indicating presence of a pulse noise, are to be input to, the interpolation processing unit configured to perform interpolation processing on a demodulated signal present during a period determined by the pulse noise detection signal, out of the input demodulated signal, based on the input demodulated signal; a replacing processing unit that the demodulated signal subjected to the interpolation processing, the pulse noise detection signal, and the demodulated signal before passing through the first low-pass filter, are to be input to, the replacing processing unit configured to output a signal obtained by replacing a demodulated signal present during the period, out of the demodulated signal before passing through the first low-pass filter, with the demodulated signal subjected to the interpolation processing, wherein the demodulated signal is present during the period; and a second low-pass filter that the signal output from the replacing processing unit is to be input to, the second low-pass filter including a cut-off frequency higher than that of the first low-pass filter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a noise canceler and a receiving apparatus using the same and relates to a technology for improving quality of a signal reproduced by a receiving apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 7 shows a configuration of an FM receiving apparatus 1. The FM receiving apparatus 1 comprises an antenna 10, a front end (FE) circuit 11 for performing tuning and high frequency amplification of a received signal and converting the received signal to an intermediate frequency signal, an AGC (AGC: Automatic Gain Control) circuit 12 for controlling an amplification gain in the FE circuit 11 depending on field strength of the intermediate frequency signal, an IF stage signal processing circuit 13 comprising an amplifying circuit for amplifying the intermediate frequency signal and a limiter circuit, an FM detecting circuit 14 for demodulating the intermediate frequency signal, an S-meter 15 for outputting an alternating current (S-AC) and a direct current (S-DC) corresponding to the field strength of the intermediate frequency signal based on the intermediate frequency signal output from the AGC circuit 12, a multipath noise detecting unit 16 for outputting a multipath noise detection signal that is a signal indicating presence or absence of the multipath noise based on the alternating current (S-AC), a composite stage signal processing circuit 17 to which the demodulated signal, the multipath noise detection signal, and the direct current (S-DC) are input and which attenuates the demodulated signal during a period in which the multipath noise is included in the signal, a stereo demodulating circuit 18 for generating a main channel signal (L+R) and a sub-channel signal (L−R) by performing matrix processing of the signal output from the composite stage signal processing circuit 17, a pulse noise detecting unit 19 for outputting a pulse noise detection signal that is a signal indicating presence of a pulse noise such as an ignition noise and a mirror noise contained in the intermediate frequency signal output from the AGC circuit 12, a noise canceler 20′ for removing the pulse noise contained in the main channel signal (L+R) and the sub-channel signal (L−R) output from the stereo demodulating circuit 18 based on the pulse noise detection signal, and an audio stage signal processing circuit 21 for generating an L signal and an R signal based on the main channel signal (L+R) and the sub-channel signal (L−R).
The direct current (S-DC) output from the S-meter 15 and the multipath noise detection signal output from the multipath noise detecting unit 16 are input to the audio stage signal processing circuit 21. The audio stage signal processing circuit 21 has an SP (SP: SeParation) processing unit 211 for performing separation processing of changing a degree of separation between the main channel signal and the sub-channel signal, and an HC (HC: High Cut) processing unit 212 for performing high-cut processing of improving an S/N ratio by removing a high frequency component, based on these signals.
FIG. 8 shows a specific configuration of the noise canceler 20′ and the audio stage signal processing circuit 21. The noise canceler 20′ comprises a low-pass filter (LPF) 202 with a cut-off frequency of 15 kHz provided for the purpose of cutting a high-frequency noise contained in the main channel signal (L+R) and the sub-channel signal (L−R), a de-emphasis processing unit 203, and a noise canceling processing unit 201′ for removing the noise by performing interpolation processing such as a linear interpolation for a period to be determined based on the pulse noise detection signal (hereinafter, interpolation period).
The audio stage signal processing circuit 21 comprises a high-pass filter (HPF) 213 for cutting a direct current component contained in the main channel signal (L+R) and the sub-channel signal (L−R) and a multiplexer (MPX) 214 for generating an L signal and an R signal by the main channel signal (L+R) and the sub-channel signal (L−R).
Length of the interpolation period during which the interpolation processing is performed by the noise canceling processing unit 201′ is stored as a fixed vale in the noise canceler 20′. The noise canceling processing unit 201′, upon detecting the presence of the pulse noise by the pulse noise detection signal, sets the length of the period corresponding to the fixed value from the time of the detection of the pulse noise as the interpolation period and performs the interpolation processing of the signal during thus set interpolation period. (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication Nos. 1990-283129, 2001-36422, and 2005-277565)
Since the low-pass filter 202 causes a pulse width of the pulse noise mixed in the main channel signal (L+R) and the sub-channel signal (L−R) to be extended, the fixed value must be set at the length sufficient to cover such extended pulse width of the pulse noise. For this reason, the interpolation period is lengthened and quality of reproduced signal of the FM receiving apparatus is unnecessarily deteriorated.
Description will be made more specifically. For example, when the main channel signal (L+R) and the sub-channel signal (L−R) shown in FIG. 9A are input from the stereo demodulating circuit 18, the signal output from the low-pass filter 202 will have a waveform shown in FIG. 9B. The signal output from the de-emphasis processing unit 203 will have the waveform shown in FIG. 9C and the signal output from the noise canceling processing unit 201′ will have the waveform shown in FIG. 9D. The signal output from the high-pass filter 213 will have the waveform shown in FIG. 9E and the signal output from the multiplexer 214 will have the waveform shown in FIG. 9F.
When a comparison is made between the waveform of the original signal input from the stereo demodulating circuit 18 shown in FIG. 9A and the waveform of the signal output from the noise canceling processing unit 201′ shown in FIG. 9D, the pulse noise has the pulse width on the order of 0.02×10−3 in FIG. 9A, while the interpolation period has the width of 0.2×10−3 or over in FIG. 9D and the interpolation period is of the order of 10 times as long as the pulse width of the original pulse noise. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 9F, the waveform of the signal output from the multiplexer 214 is considerably distorted as compared with the waveform of the original signal.

Noise canceler and receiving apparatus using the same


A variable pitch band saw is provided which has a toothed edge comprising a plurality of recurrent groups of teeth. Each group includes an unset leading tooth and a plurality of teeth that are alternately set laterally to opposite sides of the saw. Each tooth has a cutting edge disposed in a predetermined cutting plane and an accumulated pitch distance between it and the next preceding saw tooth having a cutting edge coplanar with said predetermined plane. The size of gullet area of each tooth is made directly proportional to the accumulated pitch distance of that tooth so that the size of the gullet areas are the same for all teeth having the same accumulated pitch. Each of the tooth groups may include teeth of varying height and degrees of lateral set, some of the teeth of each group having a different pitch, measured from the tip of one of said teeth to the tip of a tooth adjacent the one, to avoid uniform tooth spacing between all the teeth to the group.

It has long been recognized by those skilled in the band saw blade art that a saw tooth edge having a "variable pitch" tooth pattern will avoid the problems of excessive noise and vibrations brought about by equally spaced teeth impacting the work in equal time intervals, with the end result being substantially reduced noise levels and increased blade life. Although band saw blades have generally developed as a distinct branch of the cutting tool art, separate from other cutting tools and other types of saws, it has also been common practice to use variable pitch tooth patterns on cutting edges of cylindrical hole saws for more reliable cutting operations.
Historically, "variable pitch" saw tooth patterns are composed of repetitive groups of saw teeth that are arranged with progressive variations in the pitch between successive pairs of teeth in the cutting direction of the saw blade. The variations are in pitch distances between corresponding points on adjacent teeth, e.g., the pitch distance between the tips of adjacent teeth of the saw. The variations in pitch start at the leading end of the saw and extend toward the trailing end of the saw and are generally cyclical from fine-to-coarse and back to fine again, or visa versa.
One skilled in the art of band saw blades will recognize references to "fine" and "coarse" in relation to a pattern of saw teeth, as referring to the pitch distance between one adjacent leading pair of teeth being less or fine in relation to a coarse, or greater pitch distance between another adjacent pair of trailing teeth in the pattern. It does not mean that such teeth are higher or lower than the others, as measured from a given reference line along the saw.
Examples of earlier attempts at variable pitch type saw blades are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,227,864 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,568,870. Both patents disclose saws having finer teeth at the leading end of the blade with the teeth gradually become coarser and thereafter again becoming fine. The cycle is repeated over the length of the saw. The gullets also go through the same progression. Thus, these patents relate to changing progressively both pitch and gullet sizes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,967 (reissued as Re. 31,433 in 1983) discloses a variable pitch band saw blade, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, in which the gullet depth and pitch distance between adjacent teeth arranged along the saw first decrease progressively from a leading, unset raker tooth 11 that is the coarsest tooth, to the finest tooth 15, and then progressively increase again to a tooth having the same characteristics as the leading tooth. The teeth also have varying rake angles and the trailing teeth are alternately set laterally to the same extent. While this latter configuration of the '967 patent offers some advantages over the above-referenced '864 and '870 patents, particularly with respect to the reduction of noise and vibration, there remains a common tendency of reduced cutting rates and tooth breakage in all such variable pitch blades, especially when cutting large cross-sections of difficult-to-cut materials. It has been found that such reduced cutting rates and blade failures occur as a result of certain gullets that are too small to accommodate the size of chip material being cut by the blade particularly when being operated at the higher feed rates, as shown at C in FIG. 1.

Synchronized variable tooth arrangements for saws


A scanner is presented that may include a prism shaped, symmetric scanner that can be rotated to enable paper to be fed from the top or the bottom of the scanner. The scanner of the present invention may also include a button to control the direction of the motor so that the user can select to feed paper from either the top for automatic document feed operations or the bottom for single sheet feed operations. These and other advantages are accomplished in a desktop scanner that leverages the desktop real estate, while at the same time provides the scanner flexibility of an automatic document feed scanner.

The present invention relates generally to the field of scanners and more particularly to an automatic document feed scanner. In particular, this invention provides a rotatable, desktop sheet feed scanner.
A scanner is a device which converts a visible image such as a photograph, transparency or printed paper into an electronic form suitable for copying, storing or processing by a computer. As technology evolves, there are more and more peripherals such as scanners that computers support. This improves the work efficiency of office workers, students, telecommuters, etc. Yet, the desktop is becoming so crowded that it is becoming difficult to find space to work.
Current desktop sheet feed scanners are either designed to feed paper in from the top or from the bottom. The top feed scanners offer the user the advantage of being able to feed multiple pages in at one time, thus, the user receives the automatic document feed functionality with the top feed scanner. However, the drawback to the top feed scanner is that the scanner requires space for the outputted paper. This deprives the user of desk space and undercuts the initial small footprint advantage of the scanner.
Bottom feed scanners, on the other hand, offer the user the full advantage of its small footprint. However, paper can only be fed into the scanner by hand, one sheet at a time. Accordingly, there is a need in the field of desktop, sheet feed scanners for a scanner that provides both a small footprint and the ability to perform automatic document feeding of multiple pages.
The above listed shortcomings of current desktop scanners is overcome by the scanner of the present invention. These and other advantages are accomplished in a desktop scanner that leverages the desktop real estate, while at the same time provides the scanner flexibility of an automatic document feed scanner. The scanner of the present invention may include a prism shaped, symmetric scanner that can be rotated to enable paper to be fed from the top or the bottom of the scanner. The scanner of the present invention may also include a button to control the direction of the motor so that the user can select to feed paper from either the top for automatic sheet feed or the bottom.

Rotatable sheet feed scanner and method for using the same


Provided herein are methods, compounds, and compositions for reducing expression of KEAP1 in animal. Such methods, compounds, and compositions are useful to treat, prevent, delay, or ameliorate oxidative stress or a disease, disorder or condition related to oxidative stress an animal in need. Diseases, disorders or conditions related to oxidative stress include NASH, NAFLD, asthma and insulin resistance.

Oxidative stress, which results from an imbalance between the generation of electrophiles (e.g., free radicals) and the antioxidant response in a body, has been linked to a number of pathologic processes including diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Oxidative stress linked complications of diabetes include stroke, neuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy.
Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) functions as an oxidative stress-sensitive substrate adaptor protein for a Cul3-based E3 unbiquitin ligase complex. KEAP1 and the substrates it binds are key regulators of the antioxidant response and KEAP1 is a key defence against oxidative stress.
Transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a substrate of KEAP1. KEAP1 acts upstream of Nrf2 in the cellular response to oxidative and xenobiotic stress. KEAP1 binds NRF2 and, under normal quiescent conditions, KEAP1 sequesters NRF2 in the cytoplasm and targets NRF2 for ubiquitination and degradation. However, in the presence of xenobiotics or oxidative stress (for example the presence of electrophiles such as reactive oxygen species (ROS)), KEAP1 releases NRF2 which then translocates to the nucleus where it binds to antioxidant response elements (AREs) and initiates transcription of a battery of cytoprotective detoxifying and antioxidant genes including glutathione 5-transferase alpha 1 (GSTA1) and NAD(P)H: Quinone Oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1). Thus, KEAP1 represses Nrf2 function by detecting oxidative stress signals, and the stress signals release KEAP1 repression of Nrf2 (Chartoumpekis, et al., 2015, Biochem. Soc. Trans. 43:639-644; Padmanabhan, et al., 2006, Molecular Cell 21:689-700; Wakabayashi, et al., 2003, Nature Genetics 35:238-245).
Phosphoglycerate mutase family member 5 (PGAM5) is another substrate of KEAP1. KEAP1 interaction with PGAM5 targets it for ubiquitination and degradation and is another defense mechanism against oxidative stress (Lo and Hannink, J Biol Chem, 2006, 281(49): 37893-37903).
It has been shown in several mouse models that reducing KEAP1 expression leads to a heightened antioxidant response, making it an attractive pharmacologic target. Studies have been conducted with KEAP1 knockout mice (Ramadori et al., Free Radic Biol Med, 2016, 91:114-126; Xu et al., PLoS One, 2013 8(11):e79841; Kulkarni et al., Pharm Res, 2013, 30(9):2221-31), small molecule inhibitors (Shimozono et al., Mol Pharmacol, 2013, 84(1):62-70) and nucleic acid inhibitors such as siRNA (Xu et al., Cancer Res. 2013, 73(14): 4406-4417; Soares et al., Diabetes, 2016 65(3)633-646; Gonzalez-Rodriguez et al., Dis Model Mech, 2014, 7(9):1093-100; Zhong et al., Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2013, 54(6):3941-8; U.S. Pat. No. 8,785,408) to treat a disease related to oxidative stress. However, to date, no therapeutic strategies to target KEAP1 are commercially available. Accordingly, there is an unmet need to develop KEAP1 inhibitors for use in treating KEAP1 related diseases or conditions.


The present invention discloses an array substrate comprising a plurality of common electrode lines, a plurality of gate lines, and a plurality of data lines formed on a substrate, and a plurality of pixel units formed among the gate lines, the data lines and the common electrode lines, each pixel unit comprises: a pixel electrode, a first TFT, and a common electrode, the gate line and the data line drive the pixel electrode through the first TFT, the common electrode line is connected to the common electrode, the common electrode line and the data line do not overlap with each other, and an insulating layer is disposed between the common electrode line and the date line. The present invention further discloses a fabrication method of the array substrate and a display device comprising the array substrate.

In traditional Fringe Field Switching (FFS) mode and Advanced super Dimension Switch (ADS) mode display technologies, a common electrode line and a gate line are simultaneously deposited on a TFT substrate by using a same material, the common electrode line and the gate line are parallel to each other and the common electrode line (and the gate line) overlaps with a data line. Therefore, parasitic capacitance is generated between the data line and the common electrode line.
The common electrode line supplies a DC voltage to a common electrode of each pixel, and as the common electrode line is influenced by the parasitic capacitance, greenish picture problem will occurs, thereby compromising the display effect. Under the FFS or ADS mode, this problem gets worse as the size of a panel is larger.

Array substrate and fabrication method thereof, and display device

Beijing BOE Display Technology Co., Ltd.


An electronic device for storing data content by storing at least a portion of the data content in a rewritable memory device by storing an n bit count value associated with the status of the data content in a one time programmable memory. The n bit count value is written to the secure memory device along with the corresponding data content. Then the n bit count value is incremented and stored in the one time programmable memory each time there is a modification of the data content in the rewritable memory device. The number of bits of the one time programmable memory may correspond to the number of potential modifications of the stored data content.

A typical requirement in the secure storage of sensitive data is to provide a memory having memory fields that can be written once with the assurance that once a memory field is written it can no longer be modified.
Some forms of secure data storage are based on cryptographic mechanisms using a unique key to provide confidentiality and integrity of the stored data. However, in such storage it is sometimes possible to replace the stored data content with previous content of the secure memory. For example, if the supposed state at date T of the data is stored in the secure storage, and it is changed (by setting a bit to 1) at date T′, it is possible to revert to a prior data state by replacing the data of the secure storage with a copy of the data of the secure storage at date T. For example in the case of a software update a more recent version of software may be replaced by an older version of the software, an undesirable process which is often referred to as rollback.
A one time programmable (OTP) memory is often used to store sensitive data, which should be integrity and/or confidentiality-protected. An OTP memory is a form of digital memory where the setting of each bit can be locked by a fuse or anti-fuse. The memory can be programmed just once after manufacturing by an irreversible process for opening a connection in the case of a fuse or closing a connection in the case of an anti-fuse. Due to the irreversible processes involved once data is set to a certain state in such a memory it can no longer be modified. Some processors (baseband, application processors) embed a number of OTP memories containing at least one secret key, unique to each chip. This key can then be used to provide a secure storage functionality often required by manufacturers to bind data to the platform.
An OTP memory is however very costly. In particular in the case of the storage of keys or hashes, which include at least 128 bits, the related cost for storage of the data can be very high.
Moreover, a problem sometimes encountered when programming an OTP is when a loss of power occurs during the programming procedure. When rereading the OTP memory after the power has been restored, an error will be indicated because of the loss of power having taken place during writing of the memory. It will not be clear however if the indicated error relates to a loss of power or to another cause such as an unauthorized attempt to rewrite the OTP memory.

Method of and apparatus for storing data


A computer-based method and scoring system for management of metadata is provided.

Metadata or metacontent provides information about one or more aspects of data including, but not limited to, means of creation of the data, purpose of the data, time and date of creation, creator or author of data, and standards used.
Many organizations such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO, the Book Industry Study Group (BISG), EDiTEUR (define) have established extensive detailed rules and/or standards for metadata and registries in various disciplines. These standards often regulate .xml standard computer code that is used for the sharing of catalogue information between parties in fields where correct standardized catalogs are important, such as books, art, images, music and film.
Managers of such catalogs attempt to keep hundreds, thousands, and sometimes hundreds of thousands of individual records complete, of the highest quality, as determined, for example, by searchability, relevance and richness, and in compliance with such standards.
Computer-based methods exist for evaluating and/or verifying whether or not necessary tags of a file containing .xml metadata are completed, or are in the correct order or have the right codes for specific tags.
However, evaluating whether or not the provided metadata in the fields meets the established rules and/or standards and/or best practices for the selected discipline with respect to accuracy and/or format and/or quality, and/or relevance and/or completeness requires review by a human with advanced expertise in the rules and/or standards and/or best practices and/or quality of metadata for the selected discipline. Such human review is extremely time-consuming and laborious and is often inaccurate. Further, it is not possible for a human or a group of humans to maintain the huge number of records in these catalogs, often kept in different places and/or databases, in conformance with very nuanced and specific industry standards and/or other qualitative standards. Currently, such review is performed by random selection of catalogue entries for human review. This method provides neither an accurate representation of the quality of the metadata nor a cost-effective means for those who need to maintain accuracy and consistency within large catalogs.


A multi-time programmable semiconductor memory device includes a unit array, a unit decoder and a cell distribution circuit. The unit array includes a plurality of programmable units, each of which has a plurality of one-time programmable cells. The unit decoder generates a unit select signal for selecting a programmable unit of the unit array based on an address signal. The cell distribution circuit generates an odd-numbered cell programming signal for programming one of odd-numbered one-time programmable cells of the plurality of the one-time programming cells of the programmable unit that is selected by the unit select signal, and an even-numbered cell programming signal for programming one of even-numbered one-time programmable cells of the plurality of the one-time programming cells, based on previous data state of the selected programmable unit received from the unit array, and present data state to be programmed to the selected programmable unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device using a one-time programmable device, and more particularly to a multi-time programmable semiconductor memory device, and a multi-time programming method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Non-volatile storing devices may be divided into one-time programmable (referred to as OTP) type devices and multi-time programmable (referred to as MTP) type devices based on the allowable programming frequency. An OTP cell allows for only one programming on an electronic circuit and no additional programming is permissible. The OTP cell may be a fuse, an anti-fuse, an electrically programmable fuse (e-fuse), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), etc. It is impossible to erase the program stored in the OTP cell without using a separate device. In case of the EPROM, an erase operation may be performed using ultraviolet rays, but a physical auxiliary device is needed for the erase operation and the erase operation cannot be selectively performed at a bit unit level.
Therefore, when using an array of the OTP cells for storing data, additional programming operations are disabled so that once the OTP cell is programmed at either a wafer level or an end user level, updating data is impossible. Thus, when stored data needs to be updated, the use of the MTP cell is inevitable despite the advantages of OTP cells, such as lower cost, logic compatibility, etc.
The non-volatile MTP cells include a variety of types such as an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a ferroelectric random-access memory (FRAM), a magnetic RAM (MRAM), a phase-change RAM (PRAM), etc. However, despite the fact that multi-time programming may be feasible within the endurance limits of the MTP cell, the MTP cell has a complex structure and higher manufacturing costs due to an additional separate mask. Therefore, in some applications where a relatively low amount of data is to be stored, the MTP cells may result in the loss of competitive advantage in the marketplace for manufacturers and providers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,339 assigned to International Business Machines Corp., discloses a multi-time programmable semiconductor memory device using a fuse cell. A unit includes a plurality of fuse cells to store a data bit, and an XOR operation is performed on states of the fuse cells for use in updating data.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,339, when the unit is programmed, the fuse cells included in the unit are sequentially programmed so that when an additional programming operation is performed on the fuse cell, the data in the unit is repeatedly updated.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional multi-stage reprogrammable fuse logic, which is described in the above U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,339.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional multi-stage reprogrammable fuse logic includes four fuses: FUSE A, FUSE B, FUSE C, and FUSE D respectively having inputs P1, P2, P3, and P4. The first two fuses, i.e., FUSE A and FUSE B, are connected to each other by way of an exclusive OR circuit. An output Y1 of the exclusive OR circuit is combined by the fuse FUSE C by way of an exclusive OR circuit. In a similar manner, the reprogrammable fuse in FIG. 1 may be repeatedly programmed.
However, according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,339, the following technical problems remain.
First, in order to update data stored in the unit, the stored data needs to be known to an external device. The data stored in the respective units are transmitted to an external device and compared with a new data that is to be written to the unit. Therefore, an additional device is needed to perform the above operation.
Secondly, when the data currently stored in the unit is to be updated, a fuse among a plurality of fuses in the unit, of which is to be programmed, cannot automatically be known. Therefore, over-programming, in which a fuse may be programmed over twice, or simultaneous programming, in which at least two fuses in the same unit are simultaneously programmed, may occur. Particularly, the electrically-programmed fuse is generally implemented using a polysilicon fuse, which is cut by allowing a strong current pulse to flow, exceeding a threshold value during a programming operation. Therefore, compared with a laser-blown fuse, there are few differences between the programmed state and a non-programmed state. In addition, the endurance of each state may be so poor that over-programming may occur.
Therefore, to program a desired fuse in the selected unit, the programming state of the respective fuses in the selected unit needs to be checked. Accordingly, there exists a need for a device that provides each programming state of the fuse in either serial or parallel to an external device. Employing such a device may require a plurality of pads or registers according to the number of fuses included in the unit, and is thus disadvantageous in view of chip area.
Third, in order to sequentially program one fuse at a time, a decoding circuit is needed to select a fuse among a plurality of fuses in the unit. The use of the decoding circuit may require an additional address pad, register, etc., and is thus disadvantageous in view of chip area.
Fourth, to disallow any additional programming when all the fuses in the unit are programmed, an external device needs to be notified of the programming state.
Fifth, when the unit is programmed and additional programming commands for writing different data is received by the unit, a device for preventing the additional programming, or for indicating to an external device the input of additional programming commands, is needed.

Multi-time programmable semiconductor memory device and multi-time programming method therefor


An image signal is divided into blocks and encoded in a plurality of encoding modes by different encoding operations, and mode information indicative of an encoding mode with respect to the block are input. A check is made to see if the input mode information is erroneous or not. The input image signal is decoded by using mode information generated for the erroneous mode information in accordance with the mode information of blocks neighboring the block corresponding to the detected erroneous mode information, thereby enabling a preferred image to be obtained even though there is an error in the input mode information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and, more particularly, to an apparatus for obtaining a reproduction image by encoding and transmitting an image signal and decoding the encoded signal on the reception side.
2. Related Background Art
In the field of a digital transmission of a moving picture, studies of an image encoding technique are actively performed and an apparatus for obtaining a reproduction image by decoding an image signal encoded by a motion compensation prediction encoding which performs a preferable image transmission even at a low data rate is realized.
Image data that is handled in such type of apparatus is encoded by using an intrafield encoding in which image data of one picture plane is encoded only by data in the same picture plane, a prediction encoding in which interfield differential data and interframe differential data between the picture planes which are different with respect to a time are encoded, or the like.
When the image data encoded as mentioned above and encoding mode data are transmitted through a transmission line and are decoded on the reception side, an error occurring in the data in the transmission line is corrected and the corrected data is decoded. However, there is a case which occurs where an error which cannot be corrected by such an error correction occurs. When the error cannot be corrected, a decoding apparatus cannot accurately decode the image data even when the uncorrectable error is any one of the encoded image data and the data in the encoding mode. In such a case, the uncorrectable encoded image data or the encoding mode data is forcedly replaced to predetermined data, thereby concealing the image data.
In such type of apparatus, since the concealed image becomes a reference image when executing the decoding operation to the next and subsequent picture planes, in the case where the uncorrectable error occurs in the encoding mode data and the data is concealed in a specific encoding mode, the concealed image is often different from the actual reference image, so that an error from the actual image data appears in the decoded image and the reproduction image deteriorates.


This invention concerns an interactive interface description tool that uses an interpreted language in which both the data and the programs have a similar representation. This tool also has an interpreter that is embedded with the interface description program. This interpreter consists of a mixture of "C" language and interpreted language instructions and uses a library ("X/MOTIF") of interactive command objects ("widget") and a library of graphical objects ("GO").

Interactive software has very specific constraints. The most important limitation is that they can be changed very often. In fact, for ergonomic reasons, it is difficult to develop programs that are user-friendly and ready for marketing in a single try. The first version is almost always a failure and needs numerous revisions and modifications.
Moreover, it may be desirable or necessary to change the way an operation is activated by adapting it to a different context or to a different user.
Finally, a good program that uses a bad interface can expect to have mitigated commercial success.

Using an embedded interpreted language to develop an interactive user-interface description tool