In a method for forgery recognition in the fingerprint recognition, at first an image sequence is captured, which comprises a plurality of images of the fingerprint to be recognized. From at least two images capturing a texture captures a differential image. The texture will be compared with a predetermined texture in order to determine whether the captured image sequence comes from a real finger or from an imitation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for forgery recognition in fingerprint recognition by using a texture classification of gray scale differential images and particularly to a method for forgery recognition in fingerprint recognition based on a image sequence. In particular, the present invention relates to a dynamic software-based method for forgery recognition.
2. Description of Related Art
Fingerprint recognition is a reliable and widespread technique for personal identification. Several methods for the recognition of fingerprints are known in the related art, at first, the simple image recognition that capture an image of a finger being placed and compare it with stored images to identify a person.
The drawback of those methods is that they are very easy to deceive, for example by placing a silicone cast of a fingertip or something similar. Further, the large storage need for the comparison images ("templates") being used as well as the large computing effort are disadvantageous. The disadvantage of easy deceit also exists in minutien-based methods.
For the solution of these problems the related art has suggested to extract features from the fingerprints and to perform the recognition based on these features. Known biometric methods for personal recognition can for example be implemented in automated systems. Such systems process the input data comprising the biometric features and extract characteristic features that can then be associated with a person.
However, for a reliable personal association it has to be made sure that no manipulation is possible on the signal path between the object to be measured and the image capturing means.
In the recognition of fingerprints by an automatic system for fingerprint recognition methods are therefore necessary that only pass on images generated from real fingers to the processing means and eventually refuse images from imitations.
Approaches for solving these problems known in the related art will be discussed briefly below, wherein a distinction is made between hardware-based solutions and software-based solutions.
A first solution is to supplement the sensor by which the fingerprint is to be captured with integrated or external hardware components. Such known solutions capture, for example, an impedance of the placed fingers, as it is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,331. Other technical realisations of hardware-based forgery recognition comprise moisture measurement, pulse measurement and pressure measurement.
Apart from the hardware-based solutions, solutions are known where the data for forgery recognition are evaluated via software. In the software-based forgery recognition there is made a distinction between static and dynamic methods.
In the static methods only one image is evaluated, usually the one that is also used for recognition. Static software-based forgery recognition method base for example on the evaluation of fingerprint images that exist as bitmap with gray scales. Other software-based static methods evaluate the sebaceous glands visible in the image.
In the dynamic methods a sequence of consecutive images of the sensor describing the process of placing the finger is used. A dynamic forgery recognition increases the recognition and forgery security of biometric fingerprint systems, where additionally, for example, a movement of the person, a pressure with which the finger is placed, or sweat on the finger are taken into account in the recognition. Other dynamic methods take the respective information for forgery recognition from sequences of finger print images.
The above-described dynamic software-based solution for forgery recognition, where respective information is extracted from sequences of finger print images for forgery recognition, is based on the large area deformation of the skin and therefore the fingerprint, which is known as "macro elasticity". The disadvantage of using the macro elasticity is that visible differences between original fingers and forgeries in general can only be recognised when the finger or the forgery are being placed with considerable pressure.

Method for forgery recognition in fingerprint recognition by using a texture classification of gray scale differential images


A combined sheet bending brake, coil holder and cut-off mechanism that includes a sheet bending brake having a support base, and elongated fixed and movable clamping members carried by the support base so as to clamp sheet stock extending longitudinally between the clamping members. A coil holder has a support frame removably cantilevered from one end of the support base. A trolley is removably mounted on the support frame, and has a pair of spaced rollers that extend axially in a direction transverse to the elongated fixed and movable clamping members on the brake for extending through and rotatably supporting a coil of sheet stock. Bars are carried by said support frame for releasably clamping a stock end extending from a coil on the trolley. A cut-off mechanism is removably mountable on the coil holder for severing sheet end stock extending from the holder into said bending brake. The coil holder has structure for guidingly supporting the cut-off mechanism for controlled severing of end stock clamped by said clamping bars.

In recent years, various structures have been provided to form a portable sheet bending brake for bending metal or plastic sheets such as are used in siding on homes and buildings. Typical patents comprise U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,161,223, 3,481,174, 3,482,427, 3,559,444, 3,817,075, 3,872,755, 4,321,817 and 4,557,132. Such brakes comprise a fixed member on which the sheet is clamped and a movable bending member for bending the sheet. A major problem with respect to such sheet bending brakes is the tendency of the bending member to move relative to the portion of the sheet being bent and thereby mar the surface of the sheet.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,161,223, the tendency to mar the surface of the sheet material was minimized by having the intermeshing integral projections between the fixed member and the bending member, which extend longitudinally and define the hinge that connects the bending member with the fixed member having the clamping surface, positioned so that all portions of the projections do not extend above the plane of the surface of the members when the surfaces are substantially aligned. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,481,174 and 3,482,427 were directed to an arrangement which included a floatable compensator on the bending member which engages the sheet material and, as the bending member is swung to bend the sheet, pivots so that the contact with the sheet material is maintained.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,132, there is disclosed and claimed a sheet bending brake that incorporates a novel construction for minimizing the marring of the surface of the sheet material during bending; which functions without the need for added parts; which can be manufactured at low cost; which can be adapted to sheet material of various thicknesses; and which can be utilized in a novel fashion to provide a complete 180.degree. bend to the sheet material. As described in this patent, each of the fixed and movable bending members has substantially the entire length of the longitudinal edges thereof formed with longitudinally spaced intermeshing integral projections. The projections on the bending member have a plurality of aligned openings, and the projections on the fixed member have a plurality of aligned openings comprising slots extending axially with respect to the longitudinal axis of such member. A hinge pin extends through the openings of the bending member and the slots of the fixed member. The slots have a configuration such that, as the bending member is moved relative to the fixed member to bend a workpiece, the hinge pin is guided along the slots such that the contacting portion of the bending member remains substantially in the same position relative to the workpiece.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,254, there is disclosed a table mounted on the sheet bending brake and extending horizontally and rearwardly from the clamping surface of the sheet bending brake. A coil stand is mounted on the end of the sheet bending brake such that the axis of the roll of sheet stock extends transversely of the longitudinal axis of the sheet bending brake so that a length of sheet material can be unrolled from the coil stand onto the table, severed from the remainder of the uncoiled stock in the coil stand and then manually transferred from the table to the sheet bending brake for bending.
Among the objectives of the present invention are to provide a combined sheet bending brake, coil support and cutter, and a method of use, which permit the leading edge of the workpiece to pass directly from the coil between the clamping member and the fixed member; which provide a portable bending brake coil support and a hand-operated cutter system that is removably mounted on the coil support; which will accurately cut the workpiece to a desired length; which require minimal modification of the portable sheet bending brake; which can be readily added to an existing portable sheet bending brake; which will provide accurate, smooth and flat edges on the workpiece; which cut the workpiece quickly and is therefore time saving; which do not damage the aluminum parts of the portable sheet bending brake; and which are low in cost; wherein the coil support has a detachable trolley member for insertion through the coil opening thereby facilitating the elevation of the coil to the bending brake; wherein the detachable trolley member with a separate base member allows the rotational dispensation of the coil stock from any flat surface; and wherein the support coil apparatus has a movable clamping track portion for allowing unobstructed passage of the coil stock material through and into the sheet bending brake to a predetermined point at which the clamping track is closed to clamp the coil such that subsequently a hand operated cutter is extendable along a track on the clamp to sever the extended end from the coil.
In accordance with the invention, a workpiece coil support is adapted for attachment to a sheet bending brake and comprises a main frame on one end of the brake. Coil trolley receiving rails support the trolley and coil and maintain the orientation of the dispensed material to the brake. A movable clamping member is attached and includes a track. The clamping member is associated with a fixed clamp surface. The coil trolley comprises opposing end supports attached by a cross-member. Situated on either side of the cross-member, and mounted on the ends of the supports, are rollers which allow the free-rotation of the coil.
In practice, the trolley is inserted through a coil so that it can be lifted with its leading edge facing toward sheet bending brake. The trolley is slid onto the receiving rails and fixed with a hitch pin. The leading edge of the coil is advanced between the fixed and movable clamping surfaces, and onto and through the opened clamping member of the sheet bending brake so that a portion of the coil rests on the fixed clamping member of the sheet bending brake to a desired length. The movable clamp of the coil support is locked to the fixed clamp holding the material therebetween. A hand-removable and hand-operable sheet cutter is then fitted to the track and extended therealong severing the material from the coil. The severed material provides a workpiece, which is then repositioned in the sheet bending brake and clamped. To prevent the coil from unwinding, a pinch roller is placed between opposing control forks mounted on the receiving rails. Spring biasing retainers are then fitted over the axles extending from the ends of the roller. The downward pull of the springs against the axles cause biasing contact between the roller and the top surface of the coil, causing a drag on the rotation of the coil.
Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a free-standing base member adapted for receiving the trolley as above described. The base comprises horizontally extending rails oppositely fixed by cross-members. Centrally extending upward from the base frame rails are support masts which terminate with receiving trolley supports. As with the main embodiment of the present invention, the trolley is inserted through the coil opening elevating, and sliding onto, the receiving supports. Control forks extend upward from the receiver supports to a point consistent with communicating with the axles of a pinch roller used to prevent the unraveling of the coil. Further, a fixed clamp bar is attached to the base rails and adapted for communication with a movable clamp bar attached to locking clamp members mounted also to the base rails. The leading edge of the coil is fed between the clamping surfaces, which are then locked. A utility hand knife is then used to score the material using the clamping bar as a guide. The material is then flexed at the score effecting the sever of the material. To prevent damage to the clamping bar, as well as the movable track of the main embodiment, due to shaving from the utility knife blade, a stainless steel strip is fitted to the edge of the clamping bar.


An active stabilization device for stabilizing, for example, a vessel at sea, both in a first operating state in which the vessel moves and in a second operating state in which the vessel is in a rest position, includes at least one fin body (2) and a drive device which is connected to the fin body and is configured to drive the fin body. The device furthermore includes a hinge mechanism (5) which is connected to the fin body and is configured to position the fin body with respect to an outer side (1) of the construction by rotating the fin body about a first rotation axis 4 in such a manner that the fin body can generate a lifting force which can stabilize the construction at least in the second operating state. A vessel at sea which includes the device is also described.

The invention relates to a device for actively stabilizing a construction which, in use, floats in a liquid, such as a vessel at sea, wherein the construction, in a first operating state, moves through the liquid and, in a second operating state, is in a rest position in the liquid, wherein the device comprises at least one fin body and a drive device which is connected to the fin body and is configured to drive the fin body.
The invention furthermore relates to a construction which, in use, floats in a liquid, such as a vessel at sea, wherein the construction comprises a device according to the present invention.

Stabilizing fin and construction comprising said fin


A frequency overlay communication system that includes a first communication system for performing communication using a first frequency band being a preset bandwidth; and a second communication system for performing communication using a second frequency band being a second preset bandwidth, wherein the second frequency band includes the first frequency band.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a communication system and a control method thereof, and in particular, to a communication system using a frequency overlay scheme (hereinafter referred to as a "frequency overlay communication system") and a control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of communication systems, diverse types of services are being provided, raising the need for a broadband communication system supporting these broadband services. However, due to the limited frequency resources, there is a limitation on the available frequency band even for the broadband communication system. In addition, because backward compatibility with the previously installed communication systems should also be taken into consideration, design of the broadband communication systems raises many difficulties.
The current broadband communication systems were designed on the basic assumption that they are separately allocated different frequency bands to provide the broadband service in their service areas. However, the increasing demand for frequency bands for the broadband service increases the license cost for the frequency bands, making it impossible to use the various available schemes proposed to provide the broadband service.
As a result, there is a need for a scheme for efficiently providing the broadband service while overcoming the limitation on the frequency bands, i.e., solving the high license cost problem associated with the frequency bands.

Frequency overlay communication system and control method thereof


A socket for an electrical part has a socket body 14 and a contact pin 15. The contact pin 15 has a fixed portion 15e fixed to a through hole 14d of the socket body 14, a plate-like elastic pieces 15b extending upward from the fixed portion 15e and a contact portion 15c to contact the electrical part. The elastic piece 15b is elastically deformable along a plate surface of the elastic piece so as to cause the contact portion to contact to and separate from a terminal of the electrical part. A biting portion 15f formed between the fixed portion 15e and the contact portion 15c for biting a bitten portion 14h formed on an inner wall of the through hole 14d. When the biting portion 15f bites the bitten portion 14h, vertical movement of the contact pin 15 is restricted and also a preload is given to the elastic pieces 15b in a direction of closing the contact portion 15c of the elastic piece 15b.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a socket for an electrical part for use, for example, in testing the electrical part after mounting the electrical part such as semiconductor device or the like on the socket, more particularly, relates to an improvement of a socket for an electrical part in which a contact pin having an elastic piece, which is inserted into through holes of both a socket body and a movable member and is elastically deformable when the movable member is moved.
2. Related Art of the Invention
In a known art, there has been provided a socket for an electrical part for use such as in testing an electrical part by electrically connecting the electrical part such as a semiconductor device (hereinafter called "IC package") etc. to a wiring board. Such conventional socket has, for example, a socket body placed on the wiring board, a movable member movably disposed on the socket body, contact pins each inserted into respective through holes formed in both the socket body and the movable member. The contact pin has a lower edge portion which is connected to an electrode of the wiring board and a contact portion provided at its upper edge portion, which is contacted to a terminal of the electrical part.
The lower edge portion side of the contact pin is fixed to the socket body and the upper edge portion thereof is provided with the contact portion designed to be contacted to the terminal of the electrical part. Further, a portion between the upper edge portion and the lower edge portion is designed to be elastically deformable (this portion is called hereinafter the "elastic piece"). When the movable member is moved, this elastic piece is elastically deformed such that the contact portion of the contact pin is contacted to the terminal of the electrical part by using this resulting elastic force.
Such type of known contact pins has a pair of elastic contact pieces extending in parallel. A pressed portion is provided on at least one of the elastic contact pieces for opening and closing the elastic piece. When the pressed portion is pressed by the movable member, one of the elastic pieces is structured to be opened or closed with respect to the other elastic piece (for example Patent document 1: Japanese patent publication JP2003-157944 A1).
Another type of contact pin is also disclosed which has a pair of elastic pieces each having a contact portion at its end edge to be contacted to a terminal of the electrical part. At the middle portion of the elastic pieces, bent portions are formed such that bent portions are each bent toward a direction opposite to each other. And when the contact pin is disposed in the socket body, the apexes of the bent portions are pressed by preload means to give a preload to the elastic pieces (Patent document 2: Japanese patent publication JP2000-21531 A1).
However, in such conventional contact pins, a fixed portion of the contact pin is, for example, press-fixed or the like to the socket body so that the fixed portion would not be displaced when the elastic piece extending upward from the fixed portion is elastically deformed. Therefore, much working time is required for mounting the contact pin. Furthermore, the contact pin is usually secured so tightly to the socket body that there is no freedom in changing or adjusting the position or direction of the contact pin after the contact pin is once tightly secured to the socket body. And in a case where positional displacement between the through holes of the socket body and the movable member is occurred due to manufacturing errors, insertion of the contact pin can hardly be carried out smoothly, taking a lot of time in assembling the socket.
In addition, the conventional contact pin is produced by bending a plate-like elastic piece, differences in the shape of the contact pin can be occurred, resulting in a difference in the contact pin's elasticity.
Therefore, when the preload is given to the contact pin as shown in the above mentioned Patent document 2, difference in the amount of preload for each elastic piece is likely to occur, thus being inconvenient and disadvantageous.


Bioartificial implants and methods for their manufacture and use are described, particularly bioartificial pancreases. In particular, the implants may be thin sheets which enclose cells, may be completely biocompatible over extended periods of time and may not induce fibrosis. The high-density-cell-containing thin sheets are preferably completely retrievable, and have dimensions allowing maintenance of optimal tissue viability through rapid diffusion of nutrients and oxygen and also allowing rapid changes in the secretion rate of insulin and/or other bioactive agents in response to changing physiology. Implantations of living cells, tissue, drugs, medicines and/or enzymes, contained in the bioartificial implants may be made to treat and/or prevent disease.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to the field of bioartificial pancreases, bioartificial implants generally, and methods for their manufacture and use. In particular, the present invention is directed to the fabrication of thin sheets which enclose cells, which are completely biocompatible over extended periods of time and which do not induce fibrosis. The present invention also concerns cell-containing thin sheets which are easily completely retrievable, and which have dimensions allowing maintenance of optimal tissue viability through rapid diffusion of nutrients and oxygen and also allowing rapid changes in the secretion rate of insulin and/or other bioactive agents in response to changing physiology. The present invention also concerns implantations made using these bioartificial implants. The present invention may be used for implantation of living cells, tissue, drugs, medicines and/or enzymes, contained in the bioartificial implants.
2. Discussion of the Background
Traditional medical treatments for functional deficiencies of biological organs have focused on replacing identified normal secreted products of the deficient organ with natural or synthetic pharmaceutical compositions. For example, for treating insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), also known as type I or juvenile diabetes, the normal secretion of insulin by the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas must be replaced since functional islets are no longer present in the pancreas. This islet function is emulated by administering insulin, titrating the injections in response to blood glucose level measurements. The normal production of hormone by the islets is poorly approximated. This therapy is known to be associated with premature morbidity and mortality.
Organ replacement has also been applied. For IDDM, whole pancreas and islet transplants both have been performed with significant success.sup.1. Such transplants require continuous use of immunosuppressive agents to prevent immunological rejection of the organ, depriving the patient of the full protective function of the immune system against disease and subjecting the patient to the side effects of the drugs.
The bioartificial implant is the manufactured solution to replacing organ function without reliance on immune suppression; this topic has been reviewed.sup.2,3,4,5,6. Many approaches have been tried for fabrication of bioartificial implants having in common the use of some semipermeable barrier allowing the tissue to function and simultaneously protecting tissue from rejection. Prior to the present invention, such bioartificial implants have proven unsatisfactory for a variety of reasons.
Because of severe limits on availability of human tissue, a practical therapy for IDDM will likely require the use of xenografts, most likely of porcine tissue. Porcine tissue is known to stimulate a vigorous immune response in humans, including complement mediated rejection of the xenograft, posing a significant obstacle to use of porcine tissue in a bioartificial implant. The bioartificial implant barrier should sufficiently exclude antibody-complement to prevent complement mediated damage to cell and tissue xenografts.
Some bioartificial implants require grafting into the vascular system, usually with connections to an artery and a vein to take advantage of the pressure difference. Blood flow through such vascular grafts has proven to be traumatic to blood, and continuous systemic administration of pharmaceutical preparations to prevent clotting and foreign body reactions is required. Thus optimal bioartificial implant design, not requiring continuous systemic pharmaceutical administration, is limited to implants that rely on passive diffusion.
Most such passive diffusion bioartificial implants fail because their dimensions are such that the enclosed tissues cannot receive enough nutrients, especially oxygen. When tissue is starved of oxygen its metabolism declines and it loses its ability to secrete hormone. Extended hypoxia leads to cell death.
In these same devices, the tissue may be prevented from responding in a timely way to changes in the physiological environment because of the dimensions of the bioartificial implant. In the case of implants containing insulin-producing islets, an unsatisfactory bioartificial implant may not be able to sense that previously secreted insulin has successfully reduced blood sugar levels, and thus, will continue to secrete insulin even when the effect of this insulin is to plunge blood sugar levels below normal, endangering the host.
Many bioartificial implants fail because their surface is not biocompatible. When exposed to living tissues, especially when they have been seeded with allogeneic or xenogeneic living tissue, they provoke a foreign body response. The foreign body response may be caused by a material on the surface of the implant, antigens shed by the cells within, or by a combination of both. The foreign body response includes fibrosis, in which fibroblasts and macrophages apply proteins including collagen to the surface of the implant, attracting other effector cells, and eventually leading to the formation of a capsule of connective tissue that isolates and starves the implant.
Some bioartificial implants are unsatisfactory because they cannot be easily removed in the event of implant failure or dysfunction.
Some processes previously developed for fabrication of bioartificial implants did not yield reproducible products having the desired porosity and thickness required for the implant.
Some processes previously developed did not completely cover the living tissue, thus allowing access by host immune system to the living tissue, leading to foreign body reactions and/or sensitization and antibody formation followed by complement-mediated lysis.
Some processes previously developed for bioartificial pancreas implants did not make efficient use of islets, wasting a significant fraction of them during fabrication.
Some bioartificial implants are so bulky that implantation is difficult or impossible. This problem occurs when only a small fraction of the volume of the implant consists of living cells.
Prior to the present invention, all bioartificial implants have proven unsatisfactory for one or more of these reasons, and for other reasons as well.

Retrievable bioartificial implants having dimensions allowing rapid diffusion of oxygen and rapid biological response to physiological change


An improved ball and socket-type coupling adapted to provide a tamperproof coupling between a tow arm of a towed vehicle and a support member of a towing vehicle, the socket thereof having a dome shaped portion adapted to embrace the ball in a conventional manner, said ball being connected to said support member by a bolt means, said bolt means having an upper non-threaded shank, a lower non-threaded shank, an intermediate threaded portion, and a bolt head connected to said lower shank remote from said intermediate threaded portion, said upper shank defining a transverse aperture therethrough passing through the axis of rotation of said bolt, a nut means having threads corresponding with said intermediate threaded portion of said bolt adapted to mesh therewith so as to sandwich said support member between said bolt head and said nut means, said ball defining a partially hollow interior opening downwardly, said ball further defining a transverse aperture therethrough intersecting said hollow interior at a right angle, said transverse aperture of said ball adapted to align coaxially with the transverse aperture of said upper shank to form a keyway, and pin means adapted to be placed through said keyway to prevent movement of said ball relative to said upper shank.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to couplings of the ball and socket type used for towing vehicles and more particularly relates to a tamper-proof trailer hitch ball and ball mounting assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous examples of tamper-proof coupling arrangements for joining a towed vehicle with a towing vehicle have been proposed, wherein a portion of such coupling is permanently mounted upon the rear of the towing vehicle and a mating portion thereof permanently connected to the leading end of the towed vehicle. Perhaps the most common of these is the familiar ball and socket coupling apparatus, which is typically comprised of a ball component affixed to the towing vehicle and a socket element affixed to the towed vehicle. Included in the coupler is a manually operable clamping arrangement which retains the ball within the socket to thereby articulatedly interconnect the towed and the towing vehicles.
Frequently the two vehicles joined by the coupling apparatus are stored or left unattended for extended periods of time. During such periods, the risk of theft of the towed vehicle is a source of general concern. Certain anti-theft precautions have been evolved by vehicle operators. For example, it is common practice to pass a chain between the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle and secure the chain with a padlock. Such chains have proven to be relatively ineffective because a chain link may be quickly severed by cutting or sawing.
In other instances, the ball is welded to the towing vehicle. However, such permanent attachment of the ball component is highly impractical because towed vehicles are equipped with couplers having variously sized sockets. Accordingly, it is desirable to be able to rapidly replace one ball with another.
An arrangement is presently in use wherein the ball may be removed from the bolt which connects it to the towing vehicle and replaced by one of a different size. To accomplish this, a pin is passed through an aperture disposed transversely through the ball and also through a correspondingly positioned and sized aperture in the bolt. As presently used, however, the bolt is provided with a threaded lower end over which a securing nut and lock washer are threaded to connect the ball and bolt arrangement to the towed vehicle. By simply removing the nut, the bolt, ball and trailer may be removed from the towed vehicle and connected to another vehicle.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a trailer hitch which can be used in a conventional manner and which provides for the prevention of unauthorized use of the towed vehicle.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a trailer hitch which adds additional safety features to the connection between the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a coupling apparatus having theft retarding means.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an improved ball component of a coupling apparatus having a locking element, which, under certain conditions, prevents removal of the attachment bolt.
Still another object of this invention is the provision of an improved coupling apparatus in which the ball component cannot be removed from the support member when engaged with the coupling component.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide anti-theft improvements to a ball and socket coupling apparatus which are compatible with commercially available prior art coupling apparatus.
In accordance with these and other objects which will be apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.


Disclosed are a robot cleaner, a controlling method of the same, and a robot cleaning system. The robot cleaner can perform a cleaning operation with respect to only a user's desired region, in a repeated and concentrated manner. Further, as the robot cleaner runs on a user's desired region in a manual manner, a designated region can be precisely set. Further, as the robot cleaner performs a cleaning operation by setting a user's desired region, only a simple configuration is added to a terminal device such as a remote control unit. Accordingly, additional costs can be reduced, and a malfunction can be prevented.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to a robot cleaner, and particularly, to a robot cleaner capable of performing a cleaning operation with respect to a user's desired region.
2. Background of the Disclosure
Generally, a robot has been developed for an industrial use, and has managed some parts of factory automation. As the robot is applied to various fields recently, medical robots, space robots, home robots, etc. are being developed.
A representative of the home robot is a robot cleaner, a kind of home electronic appliance capable of performing a cleaning operation by sucking peripheral dust or foreign materials with autonomously moving on a predetermined region. This robot cleaner is provided with a chargeable battery, and is provided with an obstacle sensor for avoiding an obstacle while moving. Further, robot cleaners, capable of performing a self position recognition function and a map creating function using cameras or various types of sensors, are being developed.
When a robot cleaner performs a cleaning operation with respect to a large space, the following problems may occur. First of all, it takes a lot of time to perform the cleaning operation. Further, some regions may not be cleaned to result in lowering of cleaning efficiency. In this case, a user may reduce a cleaning time by firstly cleaning some regions, or by repeatedly cleaning only some regions.
In the conventional robot cleaner, as shown in the following precedent patent documents 1 and 2, a user positions a robot cleaner below a position recognition mark installed on the ceiling within an operation region. Then, if the user controls the robot cleaner to remember an identification number of each room, the robot cleaner can distinguish a plurality of operation regions from each other. However, in this case, the following problems may occur. Firstly, in order to set a position of a specific region, the user should mount the position recognition mark on the ceiling. Further, a recognition function by the robot cleaner may be degraded as dust or foreign materials cling to the position recognition mark.
In the conventional robot cleaner, as shown in the following precedent patent document 3, light is emitted from a laser point of a remote controller so that a specific region can be cleaned. Then the emitted light is reflected with a value. Based on the value, a position of the robot cleaner can be detected. However, in this case, it is difficult to detect a precise position according to a form of a bottom floor. Further, in a case where a specific region is set by the laser point of the remote control unit, there may be some points within the region, on which the robot cleaner can not move.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Robot cleaner, controlling method of the same, and robot cleaning system


An ophthalmic lens with a circular surface structure and limited adjacent echelettes that provides enhanced image quality across an extended range of foci.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to vision treatment techniques and in particular, to ophthalmic lenses such as, for example, contact lenses, corneal inlays or onlays, or intraocular lenses (IOLs) including, for example, phakic IOLs and piggyback IOLs (i.e. IOLs implanted in an eye already having an IOL).
Presbyopia is a condition that affects the accommodation properties of the eye. As objects move closer to a young, properly functioning eye, the effects of ciliary muscle contraction and zonular relaxation allow the lens of the eye to change shape, and thus increase its optical power and ability to focus at near distances. This accommodation can allow the eye to focus and refocus between near and far objects.
Presbyopia normally develops as a person ages, and is associated with a natural progressive loss of accommodation. The presbyopic eye often loses the ability to rapidly and easily refocus on objects at varying distances. The effects of presbyopia usually become noticeable after the age of 45 years. By the age of 65 years, the crystalline lens has often lost almost all elastic properties and has only limited ability to change shape.
Along with reductions in accommodation of the eye, age may also induce clouding of the lens due to the formation of a cataract. A cataract may form in the hard central nucleus of the lens, in the softer peripheral cortical portion of the lens, or at the back of the lens. Cataracts can be treated by the replacement of the cloudy natural lens with an artificial lens. An artificial lens replaces the natural lens in the eye, with the artificial lens often being referred to as an intraocular lens or "IOL".
Monofocal IOLs are intended to provide vision correction at one distance only, usually the far focus. Predicting the most appropriate IOL power for implantation has limited accuracy, and an inappropriate IOL power can leave patients with residual refraction following surgery. Accordingly, it may be necessary for a patient who has received an IOL implant to also wear spectacles to achieve good far vision. At the very least, since a monofocal IOL provides vision treatment at only one distance and since the typical correction is for far distance, spectacles are usually needed for good near vision and sometimes intermediate vision. The term "near vision" generally corresponds to vision provided when objects are at a distance from the subject eye of between about 1 to 2 feet are substantially in focus on the retina of the eye. The term "distant vision" generally corresponds to vision provided when objects at a distance of at least about 6 feet or greater are substantially in focus on the retina of the eye. The term "intermediate vision" corresponds to vision provided when objects at a distance of about 2 feet to about 5 feet from the subject eye are substantially in focus on the retina of the eye.
There have been various attempts to address limitations associated with monofocal IOLs. For example, multifocal IOLs have been proposed that deliver, in principle, two foci, one near and one far, optionally with some degree of intermediate focus. Such multifocal or bifocal IOLs are intended to provide good vision at two distances, and include both refractive and diffractive multifocal IOLs. In some instances, a multifocal IOL intended to correct vision at two distances may provide a near add power of about 3.5 or 4.0 diopters.
Multifocal IOLs may, for example, rely on a diffractive optical surface to direct portions of the light energy toward differing focal distances, thereby allowing the patient to clearly see both near and far objects. Multifocal ophthalmic lenses (including contact lenses or the like) have also been proposed for treatment of presbyopia without removal of the natural crystalline lens. Diffractive optical surfaces, either monofocal or multifocal, may also be configured to provide reduced chromatic aberration.
Diffractive monofocal and multifocal lenses can make use of a material having a given refractive index and a surface curvature which provide a refractive power. Diffractive lenses have a diffractive profile which confers the lens with a diffractive power that contributes to the overall optical power of the lens. The diffractive profile is typically characterized by a number of diffractive zones. When used for ophthalmic lenses these zones are typically annular lens zones, or echelettes, spaced about the optical axis of the lens. Each echelette may be defined by an optical zone, a transition zone between the optical zone and an optical zone of an adjacent echelette, and an echelette geometry. The echelette geometry includes an inner and outer diameter and a shape or slope of the optical zone, a height or step height, and a shape of the transition zone. The surface area or diameter of the echelettes largely determines the diffractive power(s) of the lens and the step height of the transition between echelettes largely determines the light distribution between the different add powers. Together, these echelettes form a diffractive profile.
A multifocal diffractive profile of the lens may be used to mitigate presbyopia by providing two or more optical powers; for example, one for near vision and one for far vision. The lenses may also take the form of an intraocular lens placed within the capsular bag of the eye, replacing the original lens, or placed in front of the natural crystalline lens. The lenses may be in the form of a contact lens, most commonly a bifocal contact lens, or in any other form mentioned herein.
Although multifocal ophthalmic lenses lead to improved quality of vision for many patients, additional improvements would be beneficial. For example, some pseudophakic patients experience undesirable visual effects (dysphotopsia), e.g. glare or halos. Halos may arise when light from the unused focal image creates an out-of-focus image that is superimposed on the used focal image. For example, if light from a distant point source is imaged onto the retina by the distant focus of a bifocal IOL, the near focus of the IOL will simultaneously superimpose a defocused image on top of the image formed by the distant focus. This defocused image may manifest itself in the form of a ring of light surrounding the in-focus image, and is referred to as a halo. Another area of improvement revolves around the typical bifocality of multifocal lenses. Since multifocal ophthalmic lenses typically provide for near and far vision, intermediate vision may be compromised.
A lens with an extended depth of focus may provide certain patients the benefits of good vision at a range of distances, while having reduced or no dysphotopsia. Various techniques for extending the depth of focus of an IOL have been proposed. For example, some approaches are based on a bulls-eye refractive principle, and involve a central zone with a slightly increased power. Other techniques include an asphere or include refractive zones with different refractive zonal powers.
Although certain proposed treatments may provide some benefit to patients in need thereof, still further advances would be desirable. For example, it would be desirable to provide improved IOL systems and methods that confer enhanced image quality across a wide and extended range of foci without dysphotopsia. Embodiments of the present invention provide solutions that address the problems described above, and hence provide answers to at least some of these outstanding needs.

Limited echelette lens, systems and methods


A high frequency signal line facilitates the adjustment of the strength of branched output or inductively coupled leakage field depending on the particular requirement of operation. In the preferred embodiment, a transmission line consists of a central conductor and a cylindrical outer conductor formed with a longitudinally extending opening, the transmission line being covered with a cylindrical shielding shutter formed with a longitudinally extending opening. The high frequency signal line also includes an induction line including a trough-shaped shielding cover formed with a longitudinally extending opening and which is adapted to be detachably attached to the shielding shutter. The induction line also includes a directional coupling conductor for high frequency coupling which extends within the shielding cover generally parallel to the central conductor.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a high frequency signal line adapted to be selectively used as an open-type (leakage) or as a closed-type (transmission) signal line.
Known high frequency signal lines, such as that described in Japanese Patent No. 2579583, typically include a coaxial cable having a central conductor and a cylindrical outer conductor. The outer conductor includes a longitudinal opening, and contains the central conductor therein. In addition, known signal lines of this type include a series of shielding covers arranged along the longitudinal opening of the outer conductor and adapted to be detachably attached to the opening.
The signal line also includes a directional coupling conductor for high frequency coupling. The directional coupling conductor is disposed within at least one of the shielding covers and is positioned to extend parallel to the central conductor. A matching resistor is connected to one end of the directional coupling conductor, and a branch line is connected to the other end of the directional coupling conductor. The space defined between the central conductor and the outer conductor is typically filled with an insulator.
As will be apparent from the foregoing description, known high frequency signal lines are constructed in a relatively simple manner in which the shielding cover is mounted outside of the opening of the outer conductor. However, such construction often makes it difficult to secure the shielding cover to the opening and inevitably is accompanied by a significant risk that the outer conductor might come in contact with the directional coupling conductor. In addition, with respect to high frequency signal lines, the strength of the branched output signal necessarily depends on the length of the induction line and, therefore, to adjust a strength of the output, known high frequency signal lines require induction lines of different lengths. Consequently, shielding covers of different lengths are also required.

High frequency signal directional coupling line


A method, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, includes detecting a memory page miss associated with a thread operating on a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). A request can be issued to receive the memory page associated with the memory page miss. There can be a switch into a runahead mode. During the runahead mode, a future memory page miss can be detected. During the runahead mode, a request can be issued to receive the future memory page associated with the future memory page miss.

It is understood that future operating systems will require Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) to be able to support virtual memory. Therefore, GPUs will no longer be limited to the physical amount of directly connected video-memory or accessible system memory that can be allocated to them. As such, video memory becomes a virtualized resource that the operating system may page in on demand from one or more external storage devices such as disk drives.
When supporting virtual memory, it is understood that the GPU can request data that is not currently within video-memory, thereby causing the GPU to experience a page miss. In response, a request is sent to a Central Processing Unit (CPU) to initiate the fetching of the desired page from disk memory, which has such a significant latency that it can adversely affect the performance of the GPU. Therefore, servicing virtual page misses becomes a potentially severe bottleneck. While traditionally GPUs are able to hide the memory latency of an internal cache miss, e.g., by building long graphics pipes and having many pixels in flight at the same time, it is unrealistic to expect GPUs to build up to the point where it becomes possible to hide the latency of a virtual memory page miss because page-in times from disk are too long for that to be practically feasible.
Regardless, applications involving graphics are going to take advantage of the virtual memory model. As such, the GPU is expected to incur the occasional virtual page miss with potentially disastrous performance breakdowns to the GPU as a consequence.

Runahead execution for graphics processing units


A safety switching device, with which a safety-related device, can be set into a safe state. The safety switching device has a microprocessor or microcontroller, which can set an electric drive to be protected into a safe state both if an emergency circuit breaker, protective door switch, and/or two-hand switch is activated and also if there is faulty operation of the safety-related device or electric drive. For this purpose, the microprocessor is implemented such that it can determine from at least one analog signal to be measured whether a predetermined parameter lies outside a predetermined operating range. In addition, the microprocessor can be a component of a safety device which is constructed for multiple-channel control of a safety-related electric drive. In this way, the safety switching device can respond to several safety functions independent of each other in order to set an electric drive into a safe state.

So that an electrical drive, for example, a three-phase-current motor, can be used in applications or systems as a safety-related component, safety relays, motor protective switches, or motor protective relays and fuses are necessary, which can move the drive into a safe state. Safety relays are used to turn off an electric drive as soon as an emergency shutdown switch, protective door switch, or two-hand switch has been activated. Motor protective switches have the task, for example, if there is a thermal overload, of moving the drive into a safe state with the help of bimetals.
A disadvantage in such safety measures is that the components have large space requirements and considerable wiring complexity. This leads to, among other things, high costs and significant maintenance expense. In addition, the electromagnetic contactors that are used exhibit contact wear. In addition, there is the risk that, in the implementation of a system with safety-related components, the motor protective switches and the safety relays will be connected incorrectly to the safety-related components, or defective components will be used, so that the system, the electric drive, and/or operating personnel can be endangered due to incorrect operation.

Safety switching device for setting a safety-related device to a safe state


A fluid pressure cylinder. A first stepped section having a greater diameter than a cylinder chamber is formed at one end of a cylinder tube constituting a fluid pressure cylinder. A disc-shaped head cover is inserted into the cylinder chamber. The one end is pressed and plastically deformed by a staking jig to form a deformed section, and the head cover is affixed within the first stepped section by the deformed section. As a result of this configuration, the head cover can be more firmly affixed while the sealing effect between the cylinder tube and the head cover is ensured. This eliminates need for a seal means and an engagement means which is used to affix the head cover, and consequently, the number of parts can be reduced.

The applicant of the present application has proposed, as a conveying means for a workpiece or the like, a fluid pressure cylinder, which functions as a fluid pressure device, disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5212773, for example. The fluid pressure cylinder includes, for instance, a tubular cylinder tube, a set of cylinder covers which are provided at the ends of the cylinder tube, and a piston which is provided inside the cylinder tube in a displaceable manner, and, by supplying pressure fluid to ports of the cylinder covers, presses the piston by the pressure fluid introduced into the cylinder tube and displaces the piston in an axial direction.

Fluid pressure device and method for manufacturing same


A magnetic head having a magnetic pole that includes a pole tip and a yoke. The pole tip includes an elongated neck, having an anchor piece on one end and a yoke interconnection piece on the other end. The air bearing surface of the head is located approximately at the midpoint of the elongated neck, and shadowing effects of the end pieces during the ion milling notching process do not create significant variations in the width of the neck at locations near the midpoint of the neck. As a result, variations of the pole tip width at the ABS of fabricated magnetic heads is significantly reduced, and processing yield is therefore increased. The yoke is engaged to the pole tip at a location along the neck that is close to the air bearing surface. In a preferred embodiment, the yoke interconnect piece is encapsulated within the yoke.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to magnetic heads that are utilized with thin film hard disk data storage devices, and more particularly to the design and fabrication of a magnetic head having an improved second magnetic pole including a coplanar P2 pole tip and pole yoke.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the process for fabricating magnetic heads for hard disk drives, thousands of magnetic heads are simultaneously fabricated in rows and columns across the surface of a substrate wafer, and it is a processing consistency goal that each of the magnetic heads be virtually identical. One of the most important magnetic head parameters is the width of the base of the pole tip which determines the track width that data bits will be written by the magnetic head. Therefore, process consistency in identically forming the width of the base of the pole tip of each of the magnetic heads is very important in obtaining acceptable throughput in fabricating the magnetic heads.
In the magnetic head pole tip fabrication process that pertains to the present invention, one of the many fabrication steps in forming the pole tip is an ion milling step, which is conducted following the fabrication of the pole tip in order to notch a magnetic pole that is disposed beneath to the pole tip. This notching process is well known and understood by those skilled in the art. When the pole tip is fabricated, it is formed with a thin neck, a large anchor piece on one end of the neck, and a large yoke interconnect piece at the other end of the neck. Significantly, during the ion milling notching step, the large pieces at the neck ends have been shown to produce a shadowing of the milling ions during the notching step. As a result, the width of the neck will vary between the two large end pieces, being generally narrower in the more exposed central portion of the neck and wider in the portions of the neck that are shadowed by their closeness to the large end pieces.
The variation in the width of the neck of the pole tip is undesirable in that it results in a variation of the width of the pole tip base throughout the many magnetic heads that are simultaneously formed on the substrate. The present invention is a method for achieving process uniformity of the pole tip width throughout the many magnetic heads that are fabricated across the surface of the substrate.

Magnetic head having magnetic pole with lengthened neck pole tip and coplanar yoke, and method of fabrication thereof

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.


An integrated calendar-phone mail system accepts input from a workstation to a calendar or to a voice-mail program periodically updating the phone mail data with new data from the calendar and updating the calendar data with new data from the phone mail.

In contemporary practice in office administration, even quite small entities (for-profit and non-profit) operate computerized calendar systems and phone-mail systems. A user will enter his (his or her being understood) appointments, meetings, time out of the office for personal matters such as vacation and doctor's appointments, etc. in his calendar. Other employees will be able to view the data in the calendar to find times when all of a group of people can attend a meeting. Meeting notices can be entered in the calendar selectively (when issued by co-workers) or automatically (e.g. when issued by management).
Telephone systems have recording facilities that permit a caller to leave a message on the computer that controls the telephone system (the computer can be located in an individual handset or in a "PBX" system).
It happens quite often that a calendar and phone-mail system will not be kept up to date; e.g. the phone-mail message states that someone is out of the office for weeks after he returns.
It would be advantageous for users of such systems if the data bases were automatically updated and reconciled to contain the same information.

Integrated calendar and phonemail system

International Business Machines Corporation


An error correction system for a data storage device comprises a direct access module and a buffer control module. The direct access module receives a data stream that includes a plurality of data words from a host, generates data integrity information based on the plurality of data words, and inserts the data integrity information into the data stream. The buffer control module receives the data stream and stores the data stream to a memory.

Host devices such as computers, laptops, personal video recorders (PVRs), MP3 players, game consoles, servers, set-top boxes, digital cameras, and/or other electronic devices often need to store a large amount of data. Storage devices such as hard disk drives (HDD) may be used to meet these storage requirements.
A hard disk controller (HDC) communicates with the storage device and the host system. The HDC manages interaction between the storage device and the host system. Communication between the host system and the HDC is usually provided using one of a variety of standard I/O bus interfaces. Typically, when data is read from a storage device, a host system sends a read command to the HDC, which stores the read command into a buffer memory. Data is read from the storage device and stored in the buffer memory.
A conventional controller stores data bytes on the storage device in sets of a predetermined length. The HDC or a host may generate error correction code (ECC) bytes and cyclic redundancy checks (CRC) bytes for each set of data bytes. For example, the host may generate data bytes, and the HDC may generate a distinct set of CRC and/or ECC bytes. CRC and ECC information is used to reliably recover the data bytes from the storage device. Typically, CRC and/or ECC bytes are computed when data bytes are transmitted from the HDC to the storage device. The CRC and the ECC bytes are appended to the end of the set of data bytes. The data bytes, ECC bytes, and/or CRC bytes constitute a sector of data that is stored to the storage device.
Errors can occur when data bytes are transmitted from the HDC and stored to the storage device. An ECC module detects and corrects errors in the sector as the sector is read from the storage device.


A method of culturing aquatic animals utilizes a habitat including at least one habitat unit, each habitat unit being constructed of a plurality of concentric tubes with a fixed radial spacing. The habitat is immersed in an aquatic environment containing larvae of aquatic animals to be raised so that the larvae settle on the habitat, the aquatic animals are fed until the animals grow to a desired size, and the cultured animals are then harvested.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for raising small marine echinoderms and bivalve mollusks which need to settle on a substrate to develop into juveniles and ultimately into adults, and particularly to a method for culturing sea urchins from settling to maturity or any stage from metamorphosis to market.
2. Description of the Related Art
The increasing demand for aquatic animals including echinoderms and mollusks as a source of food, as well as concerns regarding over-harvesting and potential contamination from pollution, have led to the growth and expansion of the aquaculture industry.
Echinoderms include starfishes, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers, having an internal calcareous skeleton and often covered with spines. Bivalve mollusks include oysters, clams, scallops, and mussels, having a shell consisting of two hinged valves. Spawning of mature marine animals results first in the development of the embryo. The embryo develops to a larval stage. Initially, the larvae are free swimming. After a time, the larvae metamorphose into a juvenile stage, and are capable of crawling and attaching to a substrate. After settling on a substrate, the juveniles are allowed to develop and are finally harvested when they reach a suitable size.
The juvenile stage of the green sea urchin may be broken up in four stages, i.e. post-metamorphosis, neo-juvenile, early juvenile and juvenile. The post-metamorphosis stage initiates immediately following metamorphosis and lasts until the development of the mouth is complete and feeding can commence (5–14 days). During the neo-juvenile stage, the individuals have a fully developed mouth but graze primarily on benthic diatoms and bacteria (about 30 days). In the early juvenile stage, the sea urchins have a diameter range of 1–15 mm and are able to consume macroalgae such as kelp, as well as mussels and other food sources. During the juvenile stage, the sea urchins have a diameter of over 15 mm, but have not reached sexual maturity. For additional details, see Devin et al., Development of Grow-Out Techniques for Juvenile Sea Urchins Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, in Proceedings of the International Conference on Sea Urchin Fisheries and Aquaculture 2003, J. Lawrence, Ed., DEStech Publications, Inc. pp. 246–254.
Currently available aquaculture systems are generally classified as open or closed. Open systems are typically created by building a net-pen in a body of water, such as a bay, a lake or stream. Closed systems generally recirculate the water in a closed tank, the water being pumped from the tank through a treatment cycle and back into the tank.
For both open and closed aquaculture systems, the yield of harvested aquatic animals is always a significant factor impacting the commercial viability and profitability of farming. Thus, methods which produce commercially viable numbers of aquatic animals have been developed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,930 discloses a method of rearing commercially desirable bivalve mollusks such as oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops under artificial conditions to any marketable size in substantially reduced time periods. Oyster spat (<0.5 mm) produced by known means are placed in growing tanks and fed at certain regular times, with certain species of algae in unusually large quantities, at unusually high algal cell concentrations, and maintained at unusually high temperatures until oysters reach the desired size. The tanks and oysters are meticulously cleansed and seawater or other source of salts and minerals is added at regular times during the rearing period.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,291 endeavors to achieve high yield of crustaceans and shellfishes to be cultivated, by employing unicellular algae whose cells are disrupted as the feeds for larvae.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,907 discloses a method of culturing giant scallops from the egg stage to the juvenile stage under controlled conditions, involving, as essential steps: after a pre-selected period of time of growing larvae in deep larval tanks, allowing the larvae to settle on bottom of the larval tanks in pre-selected lighting conditions and become spat, while periodically changing the water in the tanks and feeding the larvae with food; after a pre-selected period of time, brushing the spat out of the larval tanks, catching the brushed-out spat on screen trays; placing the spat contained on the screen trays in a culturing tank of selected water with the screen trays being stacked vertically therein; and periodically changing the water in the culturing tanks by inflow/outflow of water and monitoring food levels in the culturing tanks.
In order to produce high yields of aquatic animals, these methods attempt to establish optimum conditions related to the quality and quantity of food, feeding methods, temperature, and water. However, none of the methods proposes an inexpensive, durable and efficient habitat for economically producing commercially viable numbers of aquatic animals. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,907, the larvae are allowed to settle on the bottom of the larval tanks until they develop to spat, and then are brushed out of the larval tanks, finally are put on screen trays as their substrate. This not only complicates the settling of spat and involves intensive labor, but also disturbs the growth of the aquatic animals, because farmers have to change the substrate and brush the spat out of the larval tanks. Moreover, the bottom of the tank and the screen trays do not provide a surface area for the spat like to settle on which fully utilizes the volume of the tank. Using mesh bags filled with bare mollusk shells in a tank as substrate has similar drawbacks.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,212,268 describes an aquaculture habitat for the rearing of post-larval crustaceans in which a cellular honeycomb structure, preferably of opposed cones, provides compartments for the animals and serves as the domicile core. Individual animals are inserted into the core compartments and the core is sealed with a screen or a mesh on either side of the core. This aquaculture habit is directed to raising small crustaceans whose carnivorous nature necessitates physical separation of the animals. This habitat still does not meet the need for a low cost, durable, efficient aquaculture habitat with a substrate having a large surface for raising the aquatic animals with high yield.
Thus, it is desired to have a durable, transportable, reusable and transportable aquaculture habitat which can be deployed at sea or in land-based tanks, and which utilizes space efficiently. It is also desired to have an inexpensive and light aquaculture habit made from simple, low cost materials. It is further desired that the habitat have a modular construction, so that the scale of the operation can be easily modified. Additionally, there is a need to provide convenience for the care and protection of the cultured animals.


Systems and methods of managing cookie handling settings provide for retrieving a web page based on a browser request and detecting one or more cookie requests associated with the web page being viewed rather than the web page associated with the cookie. A real-time dialog containing data corresponding to each cookie request associated with the web page being viewed may be generated while the web page is displayed.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to browser cookies. More particularly, embodiments relate to the enhanced management of browser cookies.
2. Discussion
The use of browser cookies to facilitate advertising, web page functionality and statistical analysis has continued to grow on the part of web site operators and developers. End users, on the other hand, may have privacy concerns with regard to the setting of cookies on their machines. These concerns are often balanced, however, against the ability to have a fully functional web browsing experience, which can often require the setting and usage of cookies. Accordingly, depending on the browser and platform configuration, the user might have the option of automatically or manually deciding whether to allow or deny the setting of cookies.
Although conventional cookie handling techniques may be acceptable in certain circumstances, there still remains considerable room for improvement. For example, the automated process of handling cookies may not give the user a sufficient level granularity as to the type of cookies to allow or deny. In addition, the manual process is typically done on a per-cookie basis, which can make it difficult for the user to gain a relative perspective of which cookies to allow or deny. Accordingly, it might not be uncommon for a user to allow a cookie that should have been denied or deny a cookie that should have been allowed. While some browsers might permit the user to view and/or change the cookie handling decisions that have been made offline via cookie hosts lists, these lists may not enable the user to effectively identify the web pages associated with the cookies in question.


The reflectarray comprises an array of patch elements (10-13). Each patch element has a cut ring shape formed of a conductive ring with at least one crossing gap. The outer diameter and inner diameter and crossing gap are adjusted so that a phase shift β defined by the following relations is different from zero: φ(Eox)=φ(Eix)+α (1) φ(Eoy)=φ(Eiy)+α+β (2) where: −φ(Eox) and φ(Eoy) are the phases of the orthogonal components and of the reflected wave, respectively, −φ(Eix) and φ(Eiy) are the phases of orthogonal components and of the incident wave, respectively, −α is a phase angle.

Reflectarrays are particularly useful to build antenna having specific purposes.
There exist reflectarrays having an array of patch elements, each patch element being designed to shift a phase of an incident polarized electromagnetic wave by a predetermined phase angle.
The phase angle represents the delay or the advance in time introduced by the patch element between the incident electromagnetic wave and the outgoing or reflected electromagnetic wave.
For some specific applications, it is needed patch elements having both:
a) the capability to shift the phase of the incident polarized electromagnetic wave by the predetermined phase angle, and
b) the capability to set a predetermined phase difference between two orthogonal components of the incident polarized electromagnetic wave.
By orthogonal components of the electromagnetic wave, we mean the decomposition into two orthogonal components of the electric field vector in a two-dimension plane. The two-dimension plane is perpendicular to the propagation direction of the electromagnetic wave. Each orthogonal components has its own phase. The difference between the phase of each orthogonal component is called "phase difference".
For instance, if the phase difference is equal to 0° or 180°, the electromagnetic wave is said to have a linear polarization. If the phase difference is equal to + or −90° and the amplitudes of the orthogonal components are equal, the electromagnetic wave is said to have a circular polarization. For other values of the phase difference, the electromagnetic wave is said to have a elliptical polarization.
Rectangular patch elements having both capabilities a) and b) have been disclosed in the following reference D1:
"Millimeter-Wave Folded Reflector Antennas with High Gain, Low Loss, and Low Profile", Wolfgang Menzel, Dietmar Pilz and Maysoun Al-Tikriti, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 44, No. 3, June 2002.
It is desirable to have patch elements other than rectangular patch elements that have both capabilities a) and b).

Reflectarray and a millimetre wave radar

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.)

Electronic Navigation Research Institute Independent Administrative Institution


Quality of service is assured for connections routed via a plurality of subregions of a packet-oriented network via connection paths having prescribed transmission system resources by a resource manager in the packet-oriented network which has access to associated information relating to address ranges of the subregions, routes from source subregions to destination subregions through other subregions, and prescribed transmission system resources between the subregions. When a connection is initialized, a requested scope of resources and source and destination addresses are signaled to the resource manager, and a route through the network is ascertained. Then, taking into account the requested scope of resources and the scope of resources between the subregions of the route, a check is carried out to determine whether the initialized connection is authorized. In addition, the transmission system resources may be reserved for the initialized connection in the subregions included in the ascertained route. The resource manager can be arranged centrally in the network in one of the subregions, and the connection controllers, e.g., the gatekeeper in H.323 networks, provided in the subregions involve the resource manager in the signaling that occurs when a connection is initialized.

In connectionless, packet-oriented networks, such as on the Internet or in networks based on ITU-T Standard H.323, no quality of service is guaranteed for connections between terminals in these networks. The quality of service also comprises the bandwidth and the transmission speed which is provided for a connection.
In the case of data or voice transmission in local area networks, that is to say in packet-oriented networks, the quality of service is assured by over-dimensioning the transmission system resources, since high bandwidths can be achieved inexpensively in local area networks. Frequently, subregions of local area networks—for example company-internal communication networks—are connected to one another to form other local area networks—a number of branch offices having a number of subsidiary branch offices. Since the subregions of the local area networks are usually provided at geographically different locations, leased lines are usually provided for the connections between these subregions. To assure a sufficient quality of service for connection paths routed between the subregions via these lines, there must only be as many connections routed via this connection path between the networks as there are available transmission system resources, a transmission system resource being demanded for each connection during connection initialization. In most applications, central units are provided which coordinate and monitor the connections within a subregion. By way of example, a packet-oriented multimedia communication system based on ITU-T Standard H.323 contains, for each of the subregions, gatekeepers which control and monitor data links and voice links—in the case of access to the Internet, also Voice over Internet links. Since the route through the network which is provided for each connection frequently runs via a plurality of subregions, it is a complex matter to monitor the bandwidth for each individual connection over the data paths for all connections beyond the respective subregions as well. To do this, it is necessary to know the exact switching paths for the connections within the subregions or within the local area network. However, the very high level of complexity means that such implementation is not economical in the gatekeepers of the multimedia communication systems based on Standard H.323.
Another alternative for assuring the quality of service in connections routed between subregions of a local area network is to over-dimension the connection paths between the subregions of the local area network. Such a solution requires a high level of additional technical and hence also financial input.

Method for assuring the quality of service of connections between subregions of a packet-oriented network having a resource manager


A base for a multi-chip module that provides for built-in testability. Active test components are embedded in a module substrate. These test components primarily consist of boundary scan cells that comply with the IEEE 1149.1 test standard. The scan cells are connected to each other, and are connected to interconnection paths among chips and to individual chips, thereby partitioning the module into testable partitions. These partitions permit testing of chip interconnections, chip functionality, and module functionality. Scan cell connections may be mask programmable so that the same multi-chip module base can be used for many different multi-chip module configurations.

Multi-chip modules are assemblies of two or more integrated circuits, capacitors, resistors, or other such devices, each connected to a single substrate. The chips are interconnected to implement a system function of the module. The chips on the module may be simple devices, such as transistors or diodes, or may be medium or large scale integrated circuits.
Although multi-chip modules have many advantages, such as reduced size, reduced signal path length, and convenience, they are difficult to test. The pin spacings among chips are close, often in the order of 0.010 inch or less. Also, the chips may be placed irregularly on the surface of the module. As a result, pin connections from the module to test equipment are difficult because of the large number of contact points, tight geometries, and randomness of contact placement. Testing the substrate connections before the chips are mounted is difficult because of the closeness and randomness of pin mount locations. Also, after chips are assembled onto the module, it is difficult to load test vectors for individual chips, unless extra test pads for each chip have been provided on the module. In short, the "bed of nails" approach to testing components of a printed circuit board is not practical for multi-chip modules.
Although "end to end" functional testing of multi-chip modules is available, this type of testing does not guarantee isolation of faults within a module. Several approaches have been used to isolate faults within a multi-chip module. One approach is to test individual chips by placing additional test components, such as boundary scan test devices, on the module. However, this approach defeats the purpose of multi-chip modules, which is to provide a dense and compact device. Another approach is to test chips by providing them chips with built-in test features. However, not all chips can be expected to have this feature. A need exists for a method of testing each chip on the module and the interconnections among them, as well as the entire module.


A method for activating surface of electron emission source of a field emission display. After a cathode structure is fabricated and sintered with high temperature, the surface of electron emission source is activated by employing a spray coating technology. The spray coating technology includes a spraying device. The spraying device employs compressed air to homogeneously spray the solution onto the surface of the cathode structure. The solution will then cover the gate electrode layer and permeate into the hole and sagged area on the surface of electron emission source to form a covering layer. The covering layer is then dried and peeled off using a roller peeling device. The roller peeling device includes two rollers, one of which includes a heating unit to heat and soften the covering layer when rolled on the covering layer of the cathode structure. The other roller can thus peel off the covering layer easily.

The present invention relates generally to a method for activating the electron emission surface of a field emission display. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for activating electron emission surface by employing a spray coating technology. By using compressed air, the solution is homogeneously spray coated on each pixel of the cathode structure. The solution forms a film after being dried, and the dried coating film is peeled off using a peeling apparatus, so as to activate the electron emission surface.
Conventional triode field emission display includes an anode structure and a cathode structure. There is a spacer disposed between the anode structure and the cathode structure, thereby providing a space and a support for the vacuum region between the anode structure and the cathode structure. The anode structure includes an anode substrate, an anode conducting layer, and a phosphorus layer, while the cathode structure includes a cathode substrate, a cathode conducting layer, an electron emission layer, a dielectric layer and a gate layer. The gate layer is provided a voltage difference to induce the emission of electrons from the electron emission layer. The conducting layer of the cathode structure provides a high voltage to accelerate the electron beam, such that the electron beam can have enough kinetic energy to impinge and excite the phosphorous layer on the anode structure, thereby emitting light. Accordingly, in order to maintain the movement of electrons in the field emission display, a vacuum apparatus is required to keep the vacuum degree of the display being below 10−5 torr. Therefore, the electrons can have appropriate mean free paths. Meanwhile, the pollution and toxication of the electron emission source and the phosphorous layer should be prevented from happening. Furthermore, in order for the electrons to accumulate enough energy to impinge the phosphorous powder, a space is required between the two substrates. Consequently, the electrons can be accelerated to impinge the phosphorous layer, thereby exciting the phosphorous layer and emitting light therefrom.
The electron emission layer is composed of carbon nanotubes. Since carbon nanotubes, discovered by Iijima in 1991 (Nature, 354, 56 (1991)), comprises very good electronic properties that can be used to build a variety of devices. The carbon nanotubes also has a very large aspect ratio, mostly larger than 500, and a very high rigidity of Young moduli larger than 1000 GPn. In addition, the tips or defects of the carbon nanotubes are of atomic scale. The properties described above are considered an ideal material for building electron field emitter, such as an electron emission source of a cathode structure of a field emission display. Since the carbon nanotubes comprise the physical properties described above, a variety of manufacturing process can be developed, e.g. screen printing, or thin film processing.
However, the art of manufacturing the cathode structure employs carbon nanotubes as a electron emission material, which is fabricated on the cathode conducting layer. The manufacturing process can employ chemical vapor deposition process, or any kind of process that can pattern the photosensitive carbon nanotube solution on any pixel of the cathode conducting layer. Moreover, the cathode structure can also be manufactured by coating the carbon nanotubes solution while incorporating with a mask, or depositing the carbon nanotubes on the cathode conducting layer by an electrophoresis method. Nonetheless, the cathode structure needs to be sintered in a 500° C. oven, so as to remove the residual solvent left on the cathode structure and to enhance the adhesion of the carbon nanotubes affixed on the cathode conducting layer.
However, the manufacture process of the cathode structure is not completed yet. In general, a so-called surface activation process is needed after the high temperature sintering process. Since the high temperature sintering process still can not remove other non-nanotube carbon bulks, other non-crystalline carbon nanotube, other bulky carbon balls, or other organic materials formed during the high temperature sintering process on the electron emission surface. The impurities described above can affect the electron production rate of the carbon nanotube electron emitter. Therefore, the surface activation process described above is deemed necessary, so as to remove or transform the above impurities, thereby enhancing the electron production rate of the electron emitter.
One conventional method is disclosed in the Taiwanese publication no. 480537, entitled "a method for enhancing the field emission efficiency of carbon nanotube emission source". The film peeling process after the adhesion thereof uses a type to adhere on the surface of the electron emission source. The tape is then peeled off to remove the residue materials described above, thereby achieving the activation purpose. In addition, the recently developed thermal processing of laser or plasma can produce high temperature instantaneously to re-crystallize or remove the non-crystalline carbon. Moreover, using the sandblast processing can also destroy and remove the defective materials.
However, the method as described above still involves disadvantages. For example, since a tape can reach the electron emission source, although the film peeling using a tape is less costly, it is inapplicable to the electron emission source already manufactured in the triode of the cathode structure. In addition, the laser or plasma processing is inapplicable to panels of larger sizes, while the manufacturing cost thereof is very high. Furthermore, the sandblast processing can damage the carbon tube structure, and in applicable to the cathode structure of high pixel resolutions.
Another conventional method is disclosed in the Taiwanese letters patent no. I223308, entitled "a process for enhancing the field emission current of carbon nanotube electron source". This method uses a thermal glue or a soluble paint to perfuse onto each pixel of the triode structure on the surface of the electron emission source. The thermal glue is peeled off after curing, so as to activate the surface of electron emission source. The advantage of this method is in that the manufacturing process is simple and less costly. However, this method is still very restrictive. One of the restrictions is that the viscosity of the thermally soluble paint is still higher than 1000 cps even during the thermal process. Since the field emission display is of a product of high resolution, the length and width of each pixel is very small. For this reason, air bubbles are easily formed between the thermal glue and the pixel hole even if the high viscosity glue is heated up to a high temperature. The air bubbles will prevent the glue from securely sealing the electron emission source of carbon nanotubes. Accordingly, the surface is unlikely to be activated in full, which will render inhomogeneous activation areas on the surface of the electron emission source, thereby victimizing the display quality.
In addition, the peeling mechanism described above has not been disclosed completely. The peeling process described above requires a homogeneous physical force applied vertical to the electron emission source. If an arbitrary peeling process is performed, a homogeneous activation will not be obtained. In particular, a peeling mechanism applicable to mass production for the future large size displays is especially demanding.

Method for activating electron source surface of field emission display


The invention provides a packaged tow being characterized in that a carbon fiber precursor tow having a flattened shape in cross section and having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface is layered and packaged in a packaging container in untwisted state. A front end and a back end of the carbon fiber precursor tow thus packaged are placed on a top of the fully-packaged carbon fiber precursor tow. When the front end and a back end of the tow are respectively applied with top/bottom surface identification means to identify top and bottom surfaces thereof, top and bottom surfaces on front ends and back ends of tows packaged in a plurality of packaging containers can be correctly identified and joined. As a result, thread breakage due to heat accumulation in twisted parts in a flame proofing process can be prevented from happening.

The carbon fibers excel in specific intensity, specific modulus, flame resistance, heat resistance, and durability. Therefore, a range of application of the carbon fibers thus technically advantageous is increasingly expanding. In recent years, thickened carbon fiber precursor tows including 50,000 filaments or more started to be used in order to improve the productivity of carbon fibers for cost reduction. In consequence of the ongoing trend, any packaged tow with such a thickened fiber tow is inevitably enlarged in size. An advantageous way to manufacture the packaged tow thus upsized is to throw the tow into a packaging container. So far were invented and disclosed variously different tow throw-in packaging techniques.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-176328 (Patent Document 1) discloses such a packaging technique. According to the packaging method disclosed in the Patent Document 1, a moisture-contained carbon fiber precursor tow having a large degree of fineness of 48,000 dtex to 720,000 dtex and a flame-proofed carbon fiber precursor tow (hereinafter, the carbon fiber precursor tow and the flame-proofed carbon fiber precursor tow are both simply called carbon fiber precursor tow) are thrown into a packaging container through a tow throw-in shoot, and a press plate on standby at a position above an end on the side of a folded end is pressed down when the packaging container reciprocated in a tow-width direction arrives at a folded end on the other side to compress the tows to obtain a packaged tow. The technique of the Document 1 is particularly characterized by setting a storage bulk specific gravity of the carbon fiber precursor tow thus packaged to at least 340 kg/m3.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-121147 (Patent Document 2) discloses a packaging technique similar to the method disclosed in the Patent Document 1. According to the packaging method, a tow throw-in shoot is elevated relative to a packaging container as a tow throw-in top in the packaging container rises to a higher level. The method is particularly characterized in that a distance a (mm) between a lowest position on a tow lead-out end and the tow throw-in top, a thickness h (mm) of a press plate, and a minimum distance y (mm) between the press plate and the tow throw-in shoot meet a relationship expressed by the formulas; 10≦a≦400, and (a-h)/y≦3.3, when a total degree of fineness of the tow is at least 48,000 dtex to less than 180,000 dtex.
The carbon fiber precursor tow thus packaged in the packaging container is not infinitely continuous but has a finite length, therefore, it is not possible to directly flame-proof and carbonize different tows in succession. In fact, the flame-proofing and the carbonization processes have to be suspended every time when these processes for the tow in one packaging container are over. The technical disadvantage resulted in the development of a piecing work to obtain a string of continuous tow by connecting front and back ends of tows. With this technique, the tow can be continuously flame-proofed and carbonized.
A long and continuous tow obtained by the piecing work still possibly undergoes a problem; thread breakage at joined parts of the tows due to heat accumulation particularly in the flame proofing process which generates heat. This sometimes interrupts the flame-proofing and carbonization processes desirably continuously performed. As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-150733 (Patent Document 3), for example, a thread breakage preventing technique performed prior to the piecing work was developed, wherein ends of the tows, at which the tows are joined with each other, are flame-proofed in advance.
It is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication 47-51979 (Patent Document 4) that when a yarn continuously supplied, such as synthetic-fiber filament yarn, spanned yarn, or textured yarn, is introduced in a housing container, a front end thereof is led out of the container, ends of the yarn at its front and back are fixed to an outer surface of the housing container, and the front end of the yarn is joined with a back end of a yarn introduced in another housing container.
It is disclosed in the Patent Document 5 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-138326) that a fiber tow is cut as soon as a corrugated board box or a can is fully filled with fiber, and the cut end is knotted to prevent unraveling of the tow, or a clip-like member is applied to the tow end to prevent unraveling of the tow end.

Packaged carbon fiber precursor tow, and method and device for manufacturing same