This invention provides a composite gas separation membrane comprising: (a) a porous polyacrylonitrile structural support material having a polyacrylonitrile surface; (b) a gutter layer coating comprising a crosslinked polar phenyl-containing-organopolysiloxane material on the polyacrylonitrile surface of the structural support material, leaving an uncoated gutter layer surface; and (c) an ultrathin 6FDA type polyimide selective membrane layer coating on the uncoated gutter layer surface. In preferred embodiments, the phenyl-containing-organopolysiloxane material additionally comprises a silica-sol. Processes for making the composite gas separation membrane and for using the membrane to carry out gas separations are also provided.

Much technology has already been developed concerning composite gas separation membranes. Fundamentally, the purpose for a composite (or "multiple-layer") membrane structure is to allow the selection and combination of multiple materials which can each perform some of the necessary functions of the overall membrane better than any one of the materials could perform all of such functions. The process of selective passage of certain types of molecules in gaseous phase through a nonporous membrane material is a complex phenomenon occurring on a molecular level. Generally, the molecular selectivity is a combination of diffusion through the membrane material (controlled by the packing and molecular free volume of the material), and gas solubility within the membrane material. Returning to the diffusion concept, the selective membrane material must have the very special performance property that certain types of molecules preferentially will pass through it, resulting in a concentration of such types of molecules on the permeate side of the membrane. Such selective membrane materials can be very expensive to develop and produce, and accordingly they command a high price. Further, since the gas molecules must physically pass through the selective membrane itself, overall membrane flux will be maximized when the selective membrane thickness is minimized. This is a crucial consideration in designing a gas separation membrane, because higher flux translates into higher productivity. Lower flux directly results in greater compression requirements to force the gas through the membrane, translating into increased operating costs. As a result of these considerations, the gas molecule selection function of a gas separation membrane is best performed by an ultrathin layer of a specially-selected, often expensive selective membrane material.
Another important function of a gas separation membrane is to withstand the pressure drop across the membrane which is encountered in and necessary for its operation, and otherwise endure a reasonable lifetime as an integral material in the intended operating environment. This function is best performed by a structural support material which (1) can be prepared economically as a relatively thick layer which will provide adequate mechanical strength, and (2) is highly permeable, so as not to markedly reduce the gas flux of the overall membrane.
Ideally, the selective membrane material is directly placed over the structural support material. The two-layer composite then combines optimum selectivity, gas flux and mechanical durability. However, disclosures have been made of many circumstances in which a gutter layer is interposed between the selective membrane material and the structural support material, in order to facilitate and improve the combination of such structural support and selective membrane materials. For example, the Browall et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,986 discloses the interposition of an organopolysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer layer as a gutter between a microporous backing material (such as Acropore polyvinyl chloride-acrylonitrile copolymer) and an ultrathin polyphenylene oxide (PPO) selective membrane; the gutter overcomes delamination problems by adhering both to the PPO layer and to the Acropore backing. (We hereby incorporate by reference the complete contents of every patent and every other document which is mentioned anywhere in this application). See similarly, the Browall U.S. Pat. No. 3,980,456. The Cabasso et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,922 discloses a composite gas separation membrane made by in situ crosslinking of an aminoorganofunctional polysiloxane with a diisocyanate to constitute a gutter layer on the surface of a highly porous polymer substrate such as polysulfone or polystyrene; a gas separating entity such as polyphenylene oxide can then be coated on the gutter layer. (Cabasso discusses the two abovementioned Browall patents at column 7, lines 33-39).
Despite these advances, the need to further develop the composite gas separation membrane art continues, driven in part by incompatibility problems between particular polymeric materials which desirably could be incorporated in composite structures. One class of such polymers are those referred to as the "6FDA polyimides". These polymers can be formed (as illustrated in FIG. 1 of this application) by (A) the condensation of 5,5'-2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene-bis-1,3-isobenzofuraned ione (Formula I, known as "6FDA") with an aromatic diamine such as 1,3-diaminobenzene (Formula II) or 1,5-naphthalenediamine (Formula III); and (B) dehydration to yield a 6FDA polyimide (Formula IV). The value and applicability of 6FDA polyimides as gas separation membranes is well known and documented, e.g., in the Hoehn et al U.S. Pat. Reissue No. 30,351 (based on U.S. Pat. No. 3,899,309), the Hayes U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,394, and the Ekiner et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,676. Asymmetric monolayer films of these polymers, moreover, can be made. However, the expensive status of these polymers virtually mandates a composite membrane structure.
The Hayes U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,394 discloses certain classes of 6FDA-type-polyimide polymers (we mean to indicate by the term "6FDA-type polyimide" that 6FDA can be replaced by another dianhydride having similar molecular structure and activity; and that the aromatic diamine can also be varied), and gas separation membranes fabricated from them. Hayes discusses the impact of relative polymer chain rigidity on membrane gas permeance, and presents means for the controlled addition of reduced chain rigidity, asserting that these modifications allow for improved membrane selectivity while still maintaining high permeance to gases. Hayes discloses that the polymers can be solution cast on a porous solvent-resistant substrate to serve as the dense separating layer of a composite membrane. In Examples 1-21, the polymers are cast on a glass plate to form a cast membrane film; in Examples 22 -36, the polymers are again cast on glass, but asymmetric membranes are formed.
The Ekiner et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,676 is the most recent patent of which applicant is presently aware that relates to the preparation of 6FDA-type-polyimide gas separation membranes. According to Ekiner, two or more film-forming polymer solutions are simultaneously coextruded to form a nascent membrane, followed by precipitation to form a composite multicomponent membrane comprised of a dense or asymmetric gas separating layer and a microporous layer which structurally supports the separating layer. The membrane is then quenched and the remainder of the solvent is removed to form a gas separation membrane. The substrates for the 6FDA-type-polyimide polymers in Ekiner's Examples include: glass (from which a solidified membrane film is then stripped); polyether sulfone/polyvinylpyrrolidone flat sheet substrates; polyether sulfone/polyvinylpyrrolidone hollow fiber substrates; and polyamide hollow fiber substrates.
The Hoehn et al U.S. Pat. Reissue No. 30,351 (based on U.S. Pat. No. 3,899,309), discloses certain classes of aromatic polyimides, polyesters and polyamides and their fabrication into gas separation membranes. Hoehn discloses, at column 4, lines 39-54, that these polymers can be solution cast on a support to produce a sheet membrane or spun through a spinneret to yield hollow fibers. Hoehn notes that both uniform and asymmetric membranes can be made. In Hoehn's Examples concerning polyimide membrane preparation, the polymer is cast onto glass or Inconel and then stripped from it.
In spite of these developments, the need continues for improvements in membranes having ultrathin 6FDA-type polyimide selective membrane layers. In particular, composite structures which will take advantage of the demonstrated gas separation utility of 6FDA-type-polyimide polymers, while avoiding the need for great amounts of the expensive 6FDA-type-polyimide polymers, would be desirable.

Composite gas separation membrane having a gutter layer comprising a crosslinked polar phenyl-containing - organopolysiloxane, and method for making the same -


A method and apparatus for protecting an electronic implantable medical device prior to it being implanted in a patient's body. The apparatus affords protection against electronic component damage due to electrostatic discharge and/or physical damage due to improper handling. The apparatus is comprised of a circuit board having conductive surface means for receiving and releasably grasping the electrodes of the medical device to support the device's housing proximate to the surface of the circuit board. First and second conductive paths are formed on the circuit board extending between the first and second conductive surfaces for shunting electrostatic discharge currents to prevent such currents from passing through the device's electronic circuitry. The respective shunt paths include oppositely oriented diodes, preferably comprising diodes which emit light (i.e., LEDs) when current passes therethrough. Additionally, means are provided to enable functional testing of the medical device.

Many types of electronic medical devices are known which are intended for implantation in a patient's body. Although these devices vary widely in design, they typically include a housing containing electronic circuitry connected to two or more electrodes which extend exteriorly from the housing (or one or more electrodes when the housing is the other electrode). The circuitry can, for example, include a functional circuit (e.g., a pulse generator), a power supply circuit (e.g., rechargeable battery), and a transceiver for wirelessly communicating with an external controller. Implantable medical devices of this sort are useful in a variety of applications for stimulating muscle or nerve tissue and/or monitoring body parameters. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,164,284; 6,185,452; 6,208,894; 6,315,721; and 6,472,991; which primarily relate to such devices that are battery powered, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. Also see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,193,539; 5,193,540; 5,312,439; 5,324,316; and 5,405,367; which primarily relate to such devices that are RF powered, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
To minimize device failure and maximize device reliability, it is important that an electronic medical device be properly handled along the entire chain from manufacturing, through shipping and storage, and on to the medical procedure for implanting the device in a patient's body. For example, improper handling can subject the device to physical damage and/or component damage due to electrostatic discharge (ESD).

Protection apparatus for implantable medical device

Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research


This invention is a contactless label chipcard including payment and identification information and a check-out system including a contactless reader for reading and updating payment information stored in that label chipcard. The contactless label chipcard is attached to a product, and the system further includes a device for reading and initiating updating of the payment status resident on the chipcard. The device includes the contactless reader for reading information stored in the contactless label chipcard, and a component for generating an invoice based on the information received from the contactless label chipcard. Further, the device includes a component for checking payment of the invoice and a component for initiating update of the payment status. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided.

In supermarkets or department stores consumers normally put articles selected to buy into a shopping cart, move the cart to a check-out station at which the articles have to be paid and put them onto a belt. The cashier scans each article separately by the use of a bar code reader and puts the article back on the belt. Then, the customer puts back the articles into his cart or into a bag.
In more advanced supermarkets customers are entitled to scan the barcode of the articles by themselves by a device embedded in the cart or by a hand held device. At the check-out station the cashier or the customer transfers the data from the device into the POS system and the invoice or bill is issued by the check-out system. Preventing frauds customers will be selected accidentally and controlled. This system is based on trusting in the customer. A disadvantage of that system is that frauds cannot not be excluded totally.
Prior art systems which deal with contacts labels attached to articles or products mainly discusses anti theft systems. The operation of those antitheft systems with the single use label is based on two principles. One system utilizes an electromagnetic radio frequency (RF) field of a defined frequency and works with labels or tags which contains a tuned circuit consisting of a coil and capacitor. The other systems utilizes an electromagnetic RF field of a defined frequency and works with labels containing a strip of amorphous metal having specific properties.
Few examples of those systems are disclosed in the following US patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,380 discloses a deactivation and coding system for contactless anti theft or identification label. This system uses a pyrotechnic material to burn away a track portion, whereby an electrical connection is severed. The labels in the system consist of tuned circuits in the form of one or more coil/capacitor combinations. Deactivation can be effected by severing the connection between coil and the associated capacitor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,210 discloses an activatable/deactivatable security tag for use with a electronic system for a controlled area. The tag comprises circuitry for initially establishing a resonant circuit having a first resonating frequency within a first frequency range which is outside the range of the detection frequency of the electronic security system. The tag is activated by changing the resonating frequency of the resonant circuit to a second frequency within the detection frequency range by exposing the resonant circuit to electromagnetic energy with the first frequency range at the predetermined minimum power level to short-circuit a first circuit component. The tag is deactivated by again changing the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit to a third resonant frequency within a third frequency range which is also outside of the detection frequency range exposing the resonant circuit to electromagnetic energy within the detection frequency range of at least a predetermined minimum power level to short-circuit a second component.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,445 discloses an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags which are attached to articles of merchandise not at the stores using EAS equipment, but in conjunction with the manufacture of these articles. At that stage, the tags are detectable by the EAS equipment. They are made detectable upon receipt by an EAS using store. For swept frequency RF EAS equipment, the tags are initially provided with two capacitors which make the tags resonant at a first frequency not detectable by the store's equipment. To activate them, one capacitor is disabled, thereby making the tags resonant at a different frequency which is detectable.
A further use of label chipcards is disclosed in the press announcement of Philips (http://www-us.semiconductors.com/news/content/file—381.html) as follows:
The world's first large-scale trial to identify airline luggage, using disposable "smart labels" to speed up luggage handling, reduce missing baggage and increase security, began this month. For the two month trial, British Airways has asked Philips Semiconductors to test its I•CODE smart label radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to identify 75,000 suitcases travelling with passengers from Munich, Germany and Manchester, UK to London's Heathrow airport.
Each "smart bag tag" contains an integrated circuit (IC), that can be programmed with detailed information such as the date and time the luggage is checked in, the weight, as well as a unique identification number and the passenger's destination.
The I•CODE IC is so thin and small it can be placed between two layers of paper, inside the baggage tag currently used by airlines. The IC is attached to an antenna, which also lies inside the label, and communicates with the scanner by radio signals, from a distance of up to 1.2 meters away. No battery is required inside the label as the I•CODE chip is powered by the radio signal from the scanner.
With the present bar coded luggage tags, nearly half of baggage in transfer requires manual handling to route it to the correct aircraft. Smart labels have many advantages over bar coded alternatives as they use radio frequency to communicate and therefore do not require a direct "line of sight". They can also be scanned from over one meter away. The technology allows several smart labels to be scanned simultaneously, speeding up the baggage handling process. In addition, the information on smart labels can be re-programmed, or added to, without the need to print and attach a new label. This means, for example, that new travel details can be easily added.
British Airways is carrying out the field test on a non-competitive basis, inviting other major airlines to visit the installation. The results will be presented to IATA, the International Air Transport Association.
All above mentioned anti theft systems have the disadvantage that the labels are exclusively used as a security labels for detecting not paid articles. The labels itself does not simplify the payment. Furthermore, the security labels having no sufficient protection against manipulation.

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention discloses an antenna comprising a substrate, a first dual-frequency antenna, a second dual-frequency antenna, a first frequency select switch, a second frequency select switch and a feed end, wherein the first and the second dual-frequency antennas are disposed on the substrate, and the first frequency select switch has a first end connected to the first dual-frequency antenna and a second end connected to a first radiating conductive wire, and the second frequency select switch has a first end connected to the second dual-frequency antennas and a second end connected to a second radiating conductive wire, and the feed end is disposed between the first dual-frequency antenna and the second dual-frequency antenna. The present invention also discloses an antenna array comprising a substrate, two dual-frequency antenna pairs and a feed structure; wherein the two dual-frequency antenna pairs are installed on the substrate correspondently and the feed part is connected between the two dual-frequency antenna pairs.

As the wireless communications industry blooms, the fast development of wireless transmissions brings in various products and technologies that are used in multiple-frequency transmissions. Thus, many products are equipped with the wireless transmission capability to meet consumer requirements. In addition, it is very important for a wireless transmission product to have a good antenna.
In general, conventional antennas for wireless transmission products are divided into two types: Planar Inverted F Antenna (PIFA) and dual-frequency dipole antenna, and both types have an operating mode that resonates at ¼ wavelength. Further, these conventional antennas can only provide a single frequency band for its operation. As the market grows and the technology advances, a single frequency band no longer can meet the market requirement. Therefore, the present invention provides an antenna that can be operated in a dual-frequency mode.


A trash receptacle particularly configured to be mounted on a column in an encircling fashion, and which includes a pair of outer baskets of generally half-cylindrical shape, an inner wall of each outer basket being provided with a recessed mounting channel dimensioned to accommodate the column. An inner basket is nested within each outer basket and is slidably retractable therefrom through the provision of handle grips formed thereon. A generally cylindrical periphery formed by the outer baskets has a number of display chambers spaced evenly thereabout for displaying visual media. A two piece conical hood is mounted on the column upward of the baskets, and provision is made for locking the inner baskets in place. Where the column is provided with a service connection adjacent a pedestal base, the mounting channels are preferably stepped in transverse dimension to accommodate same.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a trash receptacle for the deposition and containment of waste material therein. It is particularly configured for attachment to the columnar portion of a lighting standard, such as those regularly found in parking lots, malls, shopping centers, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
The need for trash receptacles in such locations is clear. Additionally, the general public is becoming more conscientious about disposing of trash in a socially responsible manner, and proprietors and managers of such locations realize that providing for convenient trash disposal can result in tidier parking areas and lower maintenance costs. Placing trash containers in easily accessible locations, close by to parking lots or other heavily trafficked areas, encourages their use. Columnar supports, such as those used for lighting standards, are often found in such areas.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,788,720 relates to a rectangular frame around which the neck of a flexible refuse sack may be secured. The frame is attached to a vertical support. However, the apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,788,720 is not particularly well suited for mounting on a lighting standard, such as those found in parking lots, where exposure to rain and/or snow should be taken into consideration.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,645 relates to a trash receptacle provided with back-lit advertising, but similarly fails to address the above considerations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,762 relates to a free-standing garbage container having a cover which is permanently attached thereto by a flexible hinge.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,938 is directed to a support stand for providing access to a number of generally cylindrical garbage cans in a homeowner's garage, wherein the garbage cans are placed on a pair of vertically disposed turnstile arrangements.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 250,691 is directed to a design for a free-standing garbage container.

Trash receptacle mountable on a columnar support


The head rest is detachably mounted to the seat back of the front seat and the air bag unit with an air bag mounted therein is mounted to the head rest. The air bag is expanded toward the passenger seated on the rear seat in response to an explosion signal from the control unit into which signals are entered from impact sensors. The air bag is so disposed as to expand only when the passenger is seated on the rear seat. The posture and position of the air bag unit is adjusted in association with the movement or displacement of the front seat to which the air bag is mounted, thereby improving the ability of the expanded air bag to confine the passenger seated on the rear seat and protecting the passenger in a safer fashion. Further, the air bag unit is mounted to the head rest of the front seat, so that the air bag can be exchanged with ease and at a cheap cost without needing to exchange the front seat itself.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air bag system for an automotive vehicle and, more particularly, to an air bag system for an automotive vehicle so adapted as to protect in particular the passenger seated on the rear seat against impact of the automotive vehicle or a car crash.

Air bag system for an automotive vehicle


Methods for treating muscular wasting diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy are disclosed. Specifically, the methods include administering to a subject in need of treatment for a muscular wasting disease, an NF-κB activation inhibitor capable of blocking the activation of NF-κB.

The present invention generally relates to treating muscular wasting diseases by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway.
Muscular wasting diseases, such as muscular dystrophies, are a group of degenerative diseases that culminate in progressive skeletal muscle wasting leading to muscle weakness, wheelchair dependence, and in some cases death. Of the muscular dystrophies, Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most severe and most widely recognized. Duchenne muscular dystrophy occurs in one in 3500 male births per year and is the most frequent of all lethal X-linked recessive diseases. Duchenne muscular dystrophy symptoms typically appear in boys by the ages of 3 to 5 years old. By their teenage years these affected boys are wheelchair bound, and by their second or third decade of life, they usually succumb to the disease due to diaphragm and/or cardiac muscle dysfunction.
Another muscular wasting disease, which shows similar symptoms, although less severe, as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, is Becker muscular dystrophy. Even though the defective dystrophin gene causing both Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Becker muscular dystrophy has been known for over 20 years, a cure is still lacking.
Also included in the class of muscular dystrophies, yet not as well-known as Duchenne muscular dystrophy or Becker muscular dystrophy, is Limb Girdle muscular dystrophy. Specifically, for many types of Limb Girdle muscular dystrophy, the defective gene causing the disease is not yet known.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods of treating muscular wasting diseases using NF-KB activation inhibitors


A computer is configured to obtain a digital image (e.g., a video) of a customer in a retail store setting, and analyze the digital image to determine whether the customer was assisted with a particular sales transaction by one or more sales associates. If so, the computer identifies which particular sales associates assisted the customer based on the analysis, and links those sales associates to the customer's sales transaction. Such linking provides a basis for training tools, as well as for the accurate apportionment of a sales commission.

One of the benefits of shopping at a so-called "brick-n-mortar" establishment, such as a retail store, is the availability of sales associates. Besides having specific knowledge about a product, sales associates will often times work with customers to ensure they get the product they wish to purchase. Not only does this help the customer, but a sales associate's ability to ensure a smooth sales transaction process helps the owner of the retail store as well.
Typically, sales associates are compensated with a regular salary. However, in some cases, sales associates can also receive commissions on the sales transactions they help finalize. A commission is a form of variable compensation in which a sales associate is paid a predefined percentage of the sales price or revenue earned on a sales transaction connected to the sales associate, and can be awarded in lieu of, or in addition to, the sales associate's salary. There are various analytics and algorithms used to compute the amount of commission due to a sales associate. However, to receive a commission for a particular sales transaction, the sales associate must be properly linked to that sales transaction.

System and method for linking sales associates to customer


A rapid detached connecting device comprises a rod body having an engaging portion; the rod body having a hollow body; an engaging block installed within the rod body; the engaging block having a stop block; a buckling unit inserted into the engaging portion for limiting the movement of the engaging block; an elastomer resisting against the engaging block so as to move toward a front end of the engaging portion; and an opener head having an guide tapered end and an annular groove; the guide tapered end having a shape corresponding to the stop block of the engaging block. When the opener head is inserted into the engaging portion of the rod body; a distal end of the opener head will press the engaging block so that the engaging block moves; and the stop block capable to adhere to the guide tapered end.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a prior art rapid detached connecting device and an opener head are illustrated. A front end of the rapid detached connecting device has an engaging portion. An engaging block 91 is installed within the engaging portion. A spring is installed after the engaging block 91. A buckling unit 92 is installed within the engaging portion. The buckling unit 92 resists against the engaging block 91. When the engaging block 91 is pushed inwards, the buckling unit 92 will insert into the engaging portion. A front end of the opener head has a driving end corresponding to various screws. A middle section of the opener head has an annular groove and the rear end of the opener head has a guide tapered end 93 with a smaller diameter. Thereby, the user can insert the opener head into the engaging portion of the rapid detached connecting device. When the guide tapered end 93 at the rear end of the opener head is inserted into the engaging portion, the opener head will press the engaging block 91. At the same time, the buckling unit 92 of the engaging portion will insert into the engaging portion and collapse into the guide tapered end 93 of the opener head (see FIG. 12). Therefore, it is difficult to insert the opener head and thus the buckling unit is difficult to be buckled to the annular groove of the opener head. Thereby, a trouble in use is induced.


Macrocrystalline .alpha.-alumina hexagonal platelets, well adapted as reinforcing materials and polishing agents, are prepared by calcining admixture of transition or hydrated alumina and a fluorocompound flux, such fluorocompound flux having a melting point of up to 800.degree. C. and, in the molten state, serving to dissolve the transition/hydrated alumina.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to novel macrocrystals of .alpha.-alumina, or aluminum oxide or corundum, in the form of hexagonal platelets and to a process for the preparation of such novel crystals from aluminum oxide or aluminum hydroxide.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
The preparation of macrocrystals of alumina from aluminum hydroxide is known to this art. Thus, French Patent No. 2,441,584 describes macrocrystals of .alpha.-alumina in the form of hexagonal platelets having a particle size ranging from 16 to 250 .mu.m and a diameter/thickness ratio ranging from 3/1 to 7/1, such macrocrystals being prepared by calcination of aluminum hydroxide at a temperature ranging from 1,200.degree. C. to 1,450.degree. C. in the presence of a mineralizing agent containing 0.001% to 0.5% by weight of fluorinated compounds.
Published German Patent Application DE-OS 2,623,482 describes the preparation of primary crystals having an average size ranging from 16 to 25 .mu.m by calcination of aluminum hydroxide in the presence of at least one fluorinated salt and a vanadium salt.
According to the above '584 French patent (page 2, lines 19-22), increasing the temperature or the use of other mineralizing agents has no or virtually no influence on the size and the shape of the crystals.
Moreover, Keiji Daimon and Etsun Kato, in Yogyo Kvokai Shi, 94, [3], pp. 380-382 [78-80] (1986), describes the production of hexagonal platelets of .alpha.-alumina having a diameter ranging from 1.5 to 40 .mu.m from hydrated aluminum sulfate in the presence of aluminum trifluoride.
Published Japanese Patent Application No. 60/54,916 describes the preparation of platelets having an average diameter of 1.7 .mu.m and a thickness of 0.18 .mu.m from a mixture of hydrated aluminum sulfate and an alkali metal carbonate.
Published Japanese Patent Application No. 60/38,486 describes the preparation of platelets having a thickness of less than 5 .mu.m and a diameter (derived from the diameter/thickness ratio) ranging from 25 to 150 .mu.m.
And Russian Patent No. 416,313 describes the preparation of hexagonal platelets of alumina which have a diameter ranging from 4 to 12 .mu.m by thermal dissociation of an aluminum compound in the presence of hexagonal alumina seed material at 1,170.degree. C.
Finally, B. P. Locsel, in INTERCERAM, No. 3 (1981), describes the preparation of .alpha.-alumina crystals having a diameter/thickness ratio ranging from 6 to 10 from bauxite having a low ferric oxide content, in the presence of aluminum trifluoride.


A method including: receiving, by a computing device, a request from a user device for access to a hosted virtual machine; dedicating, by the computing device, a port to forward a cast of a particular hosted virtual machine instance to the user device; establishing a connection between the user device and the particular hosted virtual machine instance through the dedicated port; receiving, by the computing device and from the user device, instructions to execute an application on the particular hosted virtual machine instance; logging external calls made by the particular hosted virtual machine instance; and transmitting, by the computer device, the log of external calls to be stored on a server, the logs being synced by the server with the user device in substantially real time.

Debugging is a process of finding and correcting errors in a computer program to make the program behave as expected. With application development, certain errors may occur when improper calls are made to the hosting system (e.g., operating system or web browser). Such errors may be difficult for an application developer to detect. While support teams of the hosting system may be more easily able to detect these errors, application developers are often hesitant to share source code with the support teams. In traditional computing systems (e.g., desktop computers), support teams utilize web tracking to record HTTP activity and detect errors. However, implementing web tracking in mobile environments is more difficult, and mobile HTTP activity is often unobservable. Further, it may not be possible to verify client configurations and setups for mobile environments, and solace code of applications executing on a mobile device is frequently private. Therefore, it is often difficult to provide support to mobile application developers.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved tools to assist in application development and in detecting errors in the code.

Collaborative hosted virtual systems and methods


A voltage regulator includes an energy storage element to produce an output voltage, a switch and a controller. The switch energizes and de-energizes the energy storage element at a switching frequency. The controller is coupled to the switch and receives an indication of the output voltage. The controller controls the switching frequency to regulate the output voltage based on the indication.

The invention generally relates to a voltage regulator, such as a switching voltage regulator.
A DC-to-DC voltage regulator typically is used to convert a DC input voltage to either a higher or a lower DC output voltage. One type of voltage regulator is a switching regulator which is often chosen due to its small size and efficiency. The switching regulator typically includes one or more switches that are rapidly opened and closed to transfer energy between an inductor (a stand-alone inductor or a transformer, as examples) and an input voltage source in a manner that regulates an output voltage.
As an example, referring to FIG. 1, one type of switching regulator is a synchronous Buck switching regulator 10 which receives an input DC voltage (called V.sub.IN) and converts the V.sub.IN voltage to a lower regulated output voltage (called V.sub.OUT) that appears at an output terminal 11. To accomplish this, the regulator 10 may include a switch 20 (a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistor (MOSFET), for example) that is operated (via a voltage called V.sub.SW) in a manner to regulate the V.sub.OUT voltage, as described below.
Referring also FIGS. 2 and 3, in particular, the switch 20 opens and closes to control energization/de-energization cycles 19 (each having a constant duration called T.sub.S) of an inductor 14. In each cycle 19, the regulator 10 asserts, or drives high, the V.sub.SW voltage during an on interval (called T.sub.ON) to close the switch 20 and transfer energy from an input voltage source 9 to the inductor 14. During the T.sub.ON interval, a current (called I.sub.L ) of the inductor 14 has a positive slope 17. During an off interval (called T.sub.OFF) of the cycle 19, the regulator 10 deasserts, or drives low, the V.sub.SW voltage to open the switch 20 and isolate the input voltage source 9 from the inductor 14. At this point, the level of the I.sub.L current is not abruptly halted, but rather, a diode 18 begins conducting to transfer energy from the inductor 14 to a bulk capacitor 16 and a load (not shown) that are coupled to the output terminal 11. During the T.sub.OFF interval, the I.sub.L current has a negative slope, and the regulator 10 may close a switch 21 to shunt the diode 18 to reduce the amount of power that is otherwise dissipated by the diode 18. The bulk capacitor 16 serves as a stored energy source that is depleted by the load, and additional energy is transferred from the inductor 14 to the bulk capacitor 16 during each T.sub.ON interval.
For the Buck switching regulator, the ratio of the T.sub.ON interval to the T.sub.OFF interval, called a duty cycle, generally governs the ratio of the V.sub.OUT to the V.sub.IN voltages. Thus, to increase the V.sub.OUT voltage, the duty cycle may be increased, and to decrease the V.sub.OUT voltage, the duty cycle may be decreased.
The regulator 10 may include a controller 15 (see FIG. 1) that regulates the V.sub.OUT voltage by using a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique to control the duty cycle. In this manner, the controller 15 may include an error amplifier 23 that amplifies the difference between a reference voltage (called V.sub.REF) and a voltage (called V.sub.P (see FIG. 1)) that is proportional to the V.sub.OUT voltage. The controller 15 may include a comparator 26 that compares the resultant amplified voltage (called V.sub.C) with a sawtooth voltage (called V.sub.SAW) and provides the V.sub.SW signal that indicates the result of the comparison. The V.sub.SAW voltage is provided by a sawtooth oscillator 25 and has a constant frequency (i.e., 1/T.sub.S).
As an example, due to the above-described arrangement, when the V.sub.OUT voltage increases, the V.sub.C voltage decreases and causes the duty cycle to decrease to counteract the increase in V.sub.OUT. Conversely, when the V.sub.OUT voltage decreases, the V.sub.C voltage increases and causes the duty cycle to increase to counteract the decrease in V.sub.OUT.
A problem with this arrangement is that when the power requirements of the load abruptly change, the regulator 10 may take a long time (3.3 microseconds (.mu.s), for example) to respond, and as a result, the V.sub.OUT voltage may fall outside of a regulated range of values for this time interval. The time in which the V.sub.OUT voltage is unregulated, in turn, may decrease the power conversion efficiency of the regulator 10. Unfortunately, if the regulator 10 is used in a notebook computer, for example, this inefficiency may affect the battery life of the computer and may affect the internal temperature of the computer.
For purposes of decreasing the time for the regulator 10 to respond to transient load conditions, the size of the bulk capacitor 16 and the size of the inductor 14 may be increased. However, increasing the sizes of these components may significantly increase the size of the regulator 10.
Thus, there is a continuing need for a voltage regulator that responds more quickly to transient load conditions. There is also a continuing need for a voltage regulator that has a more compact size.

Voltage regulator having variable frequency-based control


A device for indicating an internal pressure of an inflatable medical cuff, comprising: a membrane movable in response to a difference between the internal pressure and an external pressure; and movable indication means operably associated with the membrane for indicating, in use of the device, the internal pressure.

In 1988, Dr. Archie Brain invented a new airway device, called the laryngeal mask, for delivering anaesthetic gases and oxygen to an unconscious patient during an operation. Prior to this, patients were commonly anaesthetised using an Endotrachael Tube running through the vocal cords of the patient into the trachea. Alternatively, a face mask connected to a gas source was held over the patient's nose and mouth.
In use, the laryngeal mask is inserted into the pharangeal space (throat) deflated, and when correct positioning is observed, an inflatable cuff around the outside of the mask is inflated with air using a syringe. The syringe is inserted into an end of a valve which is connected to the cuff by a small tube, such that air passed through the valve from the syringe is used to inflate the cuff. There are presently eight different sizes of the laryngeal mask available, and while all require different volumes of air to inflate the cuff, the maximum recommended intra cuff pressure is 60 cm H2O.
The Laryngeal Mask is now the preferred choice of anaesthetists in many countries, and its use continues to grow. The greater prevalence in use of the laryngeal mask has brought certain possible dangers to light. Due to human errors and the possible diffusion of nitrous oxide into the silicone cuff, the cuff may be excessively inflated. Such excessive inflation of the cuff has the potential to damage nerves and tissues around the hypopharynx, and this potential danger has been the subject of scientific papers in anaesthesia journals.
In order to prevent over-inflation of the cuff, it is desirable to check the intra cuff pressure when the laryngeal mask is in place. Currently, the means for checking the air pressure of the cuff include a small inflatable bulb in fluid communication with the cuff inflation tube. To get an indication of the cuff pressure, medical personnel squeeze the bulb under slight pressure from their figures to thus subjectively judge the intra cuff pressure. Alternatively, a manometer may be connected to the cuff inflation valve in order to obtain an accurate pressure measurement. Manometers are, however, relatively expensive and somewhat bulky and can be inconvenient to connect to the cuff inflation valve as the valve is usually close to the patient's mouth.
Similar problems can occur in other airway devices having an inflatable cuff, such as endotracheal tubes, for example.
The present invention attempts to address or ameliorate one or more of the shortcomings of the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative thereto.

Device and method for pressure indication


A preassembled gas well blower assembly includes a platform which supports a blower above the ground. An inlet pipe had an outlet end connected to the blower inlet and extends downwardly through the support surface to an inlet end . An outlet pipe has an inlet end connected to the blower outlet and extends downwardly through the support surface to an outlet end. The preassembled is moved to a position over first and second gas pipeline sections. The inlet pipe inlet end is coupled to the first gas pipeline section, and the outlet pipe outlet end is coupled to the second gas pipeline section, permitting the blower to cause gas to be blown through the pipeline sections.

The present invention pertains to a blower assembly for gas wells and to a method of coupling a gas blower to a gas pipeline. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an improved blower assembly which can be easily and inexpensively installed and which minimizes the amount of above-ground piping and other components and also permits those above-ground components to be protected from the outdoor elements so as to minimize exposure to extreme weather conditions.
Much gas is produced from natural and coalbed methane gas fields. A blower is usually utilized to move the gas through the gas pipelines. The temperatures in such gas fields might run to well over 100xc2x0 F. during the summer and to lower than xe2x88x9250xc2x0 F. during the winter. The gas flows twenty-four hours a day year around. Consequently, the blower must be capable of long run times under extreme weather conditions. The blower must also be easy and inexpensive to install and to maintain.
The present invention is an improved gas blower assembly particularly suited for gas fields to move gas through pipelines and to a method of coupling a gas blower to a gas pipeline. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a preassembled gas well blower assembly includes a platform having a support surface above a surface of the ground. A blower is supported on the support surface and has an inlet and an outlet. An inlet pipe has an outlet end connected to the blower inlet and extends downwardly through the support surface to an inlet end adapted to be coupled to a first gas pipeline section to receive gas therefrom. An outlet pipe has an inlet end connected to the blower outlet and extends downwardly through the support surface to an outlet end adapted to be coupled to a second gas pipeline section to provide gas thereto. The platform, with the blower supported thereon and having the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe connected thereto, can be positioned over first and second gas pipeline sections and coupled thereto to permit the blower to cause gas to be blown through the pipeline sections.
In a second embodiment, the inlet pipe extends horizontally from the wellbox to a gas pipeline extending from the wellhead, which can also be within a wellbox. Since at most only minimal pipes are exposed to the ambient conditions, the hazards of freezing and of exposed gas pipe are significantly reduced. The overall height of the assembly allows the assembly to be easily enclosed within a standard wellbox, such as a fiberglass insulated box.
A preferred embodiment of the method of coupling a gas well blower to a gas pipeline in accordance with the present invention includes preassembling a gas well blower assembly including a platform having a support surface which are above a surface of the ground, a blower supported on the support surface and having an inlet and an outlet, an inlet pipe having an outlet end connected to the blower inlet and extending downwardly through the support surface to an inlet end, and an outlet pipe having an inlet end connected to the blower outlet and extending downwardly through the support surface to an outlet end. The gas well blower assembly is moved to a position over first and second gas pipeline sections. The inlet pipe inlet end is coupled to the first gas pipeline section to permit said inlet pipe inlet end to receive gas from the first gas pipeline section, and the outlet pipe outlet end is coupled to the second gas pipeline section to permit the outlet pipe outlet end to provide gas to the second gas pipeline section, and so to permit the blower to cause gas to be blown through the pipeline sections.


The present invention relates to visualizing information of an object. In order to provide spatial information and in addition situation specific data to the user while ensuring an effective perceptibility, a method (110) is provided comprising the steps of: a) providing (112) pre-navigation data (114) of a region of interest of an object (22); wherein the pre-navigation data comprises spatial geometrical data (116) and a functional parameter surface (118) in correspondence to the spatial geometrical data; b) acquiring (120) live image data (122) of the region of interest; c) detecting (124) an element (126) in the live image data; d) determining (128) spatial relation (130) of the pre-navigation data and the live image data; e) determining (132)the position (134) of the detected element in the spatial geometrical data, which determining is based on the spatial relation, and computing (136) a predetermined related point of location (138) on the functional parameter surface; f) generating (140) a combination (142) of a simplified surface representation (144) of the region of interest, which simplified surface representation is based on a visualization of the functional parameter surface, and a marker (146) indicating the computed predetermined related point of location; and g) displaying (148) the combination as navigation guidance (150).

To visualize information about a situation of an object, for example a patient, it is known to overlay two-dimensional live images to preoperative images. The preoperative image data contains information, for example, about the vascular structure, whereas the 2D live image provides information about the current situation. For example, in document WO 2008/107814 A1, a method is described to provide a user with such information. However, the information thus presented only provides limited information, for example for cardiovascular interventional guidance. However, with the development of new examination and treatment procedures, for example for interventional cardiovascular procedures, specifically, for complex procedures such as ablations and device implantations in cardiac electrophysiology, the demand for provided information increases constantly.


A column shroud for covering a steering column including a shroud body. The shroud body has first and second portions connectable to one another about a steering column. The shroud body defines an opening in the first portion. An ignition receptor is accessible through the opening for receiving a pass key. The column shroud also includes a coil bobbin fixed to the shroud body adjacent to the opening. In the event of an attempted theft of the vehicle, the coil bobbin would be removed from the column in the event the shroud body is removed and the vehicle would be disabled.

Vehicles include security systems to prevent unauthorized ignition of the vehicle engine. The most common type of security system is an ignition lock defining a slot to receive a key. The ignition lock will not turn unless the key is inserted in the slot and the vehicle will not start unless the ignition lock is turned. A more complicated security system includes a key recognition system in which the vehicle's key includes a transponder that communicates with a sensor in the vehicle. Each key is uniquely identifiable and unless the proper key is inserted in the ignition lock the vehicle will not start. Generally, the transponder associated with the key requires a magnetic field to communicate with the sensor and so a coil encircles the ignition lock to carry an electric current and generate a magnetic field.

Integrated electronic security system for vehicle


Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can obtain a media item. The media item is positioned in a content item. A plurality of histograms are generated based on colors of a first portion and a second portion of the media item. A custom background for the media item in the content item is generated based on the plurality of histograms.

Today, people often utilize computing devices (or systems) for a wide variety of purposes. Users can use their computing devices to, for example, interact with one another, access content, share content, and create content. In some cases, content items can include postings from users or third party entities (e.g., businesses, organizations, etc.) participating in a social network. The postings may include text and media content items, such as images, graphical interchange formats (GIFs), videos, and audio. In some cases, the postings may also include advertising content items. The postings may be published to the social network for consumption by others.

Systems and methods for providing content


A radar apparatus is provided. The radar apparatus includes a transmitter configured to transmit radar signals via a radar antenna, a receiver configured to receive reflection waves that are echoes of the radar signals, via the radar antenna, a radar image generating module configured to generate a radar image based on the reflection waves received by the receiver, a performance monitor configured to measure performance of at least one of the transmitter and the receiver, and a controller configured to cause the performance monitor to perform the measurement while the transmission of the radar signals is suspended.

Transmitters (e.g., magnetrons) and receivers (e.g., electronic components of reception circuits) provided in radar apparatuses may deteriorate as being used, or be damaged by a strong signal received externally. Thus, there has been a case where a radar performance monitor is provided to such a radar apparatus in order to check if the transmission intensity and the reception sensitivity of the radar apparatus are good.
This kind of radar apparatus generally includes a radar unit and a PM unit. The radar unit transceives radar signals and generates a radar image. The PM unit receives a radar signal transmitted from the radar unit and measures the transmission intensity. Moreover, the PM unit transmits a performance signal (hereinafter, referred to as the PM signal) after receiving the radar signal. The radar unit receives and analyzes the PM signal to measure the reception sensitivity of the radar apparatus. Each of JP2011-117808A and JP2011-117809A discloses such kind of radar apparatus provided with a performance monitor.
In the radar apparatus of JP2011-117808A, a transception circuit of the radar unit and a transception circuit of the PM unit are commonalized. Moreover, the radar apparatus can switch its mode between a mode in which the radar image is generated by transceiving the radar signals and a mode in which the transmission intensity and the reception sensitivity of the radar apparatus are measured as described above.
Here, in the case of measuring the performance of the radar apparatus by switching the mode as disclosed in JP2011-117808A, there is a disadvantage that the radar image cannot be updated while the performance of the radar apparatus is measured. The radar apparatus disclosed in JP2011-117809A solves this disadvantage.
In the radar apparatus of JP2011-117809A, similarly to the radar apparatus in JP2011-117808A, a transception circuit of the radar unit and a transception circuit of the PM unit are commonalized. Moreover, radar apparatuses generally detect, based on a time length from a transmission of a radar signal to a reception of the radar signal (an echo), a distance of the received echo. The radar apparatus of JP2011-117809A performs a transception of a PM signal and measures the performance of the radar apparatus after a period of time for the radar signal to travel a distance corresponding to the display distance range of the display unit from its transmission, but before the next radar signal is transmitted.
However, with the radar apparatus in JP2011-117809A, there has been a problem that a transmission cycle of the radar signal becomes slow. Especially when a radar signal with a long pulse width is transmitted for long distance detection, since a detection range in an azimuth direction becomes wider, a problem arises that the echo cannot be detected in a large area.
Moreover, in the radar apparatus of JP2011-117809A, even if the transmission cycle of the radar signal is shortened by sacrificing the reflection echo of the radar signal from a long distance area, a problem arises that a target at a distant location from the radar apparatus cannot be displayed.

Radar apparatus and method of measuring radar performance


A terminal of a connector includes two contact points, that is, a front contact point and a rear contact point. An angle formed by a line extending from an upper end of a rear terminal portion to the rear contact point and a direction in which the connector is inserted and removed is smaller than an angle formed by a line extending from an upper end of a front terminal portion to the front contact point and the direction in which the connector is inserted and removed. Thus, the insertion force used to insert the rear contact point can be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector mounted on a member, such as a print circuit board, and used to electrically connect the member to another member. The present invention also relates to a terminal that serves as a contact point of the connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
A pair of connectors for electrically connecting print circuit boards together include a first connector and a second connector. The first connector includes multiple first terminals and a first housing mounted on a first member, and the second connector includes multiple second terminals and a second housing mounted on a second member that is to be connected to the first member. When the first housing and the second housing are fitted together as a result of inserting the second connector into the first connector, the first terminals and the second terminals are in contact with one another, whereby the first and second members are electrically connected together.
Some of the connectors publicly known include terminals each including two contact portions at respective two contact arms in order to establish secure connection between terminals of a first connector and terminals of a second connector. Such connectors are described in, for example, Japanese Patent Nos. 5197216 and 5220888.
In the above-described connector according to the existing technology, the contact pressure at a front contact portion of a front elastic arm, which comes into contact with the companion terminal first, is made higher than the contact pressure at a rear contact portion of a rear elastic arm, which comes into contact with the companion terminal next, so that the rear contact portion of the rear elastic arm can be pressed by the force by which the front contact portion has been pressed for smooth connector fitting. However, the increase of the contact pressure at the front contact portion increases an insertion force exerted to insert the front contact portion and thus increases a resistance exerted at the beginning of insertion (at the beginning of fitting). The existing technology is thus disadvantageous in terms of insertion of the connector.
On the other hand, when the contact pressure at the rear contact portion, which comes into contact with the companion terminal next, is higher than the contact pressure at the front contact portion, which comes into contact with the companion terminal first, an operator may mistake a mere contact of the front contact portion as a completion of fitting the connectors together and stop inserting the connector further, thereby possibly causing fitting failure.

Terminal of a connector including two contact points


A display device, and an optical compensation system and an optical compensation method thereof. A display device including a display panel including pixels; and a display driving circuit for driving the display panel and including: a storage unit for storing defect pixel information indicating which of the pixels are detected as defect pixels based on a brightness trend line of the pixels, and for storing compensation parameters regarding the defect pixels; and a brightness compensation unit for converting image data corresponding to the defect pixels according to the defect pixel information and the compensation parameters.

1. Field
Aspects of the present invention relate to a display device, and an optical compensation system and an optical compensation method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, various flat panel display devices having small weights and volumes, unlike cathode ray tube (CRT) devices, are being produced. Examples of these flat panel display devices include a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, a plasma display panel (PDP), and an organic light emitting diode (OLED).
Flat panel display devices may have a mura defect. A mura defect refers to a stain generated due to an error or a defect generated in a process of manufacturing a panel, and causes non-uniform brightness characteristics on a whole surface or a partial region of the panel. According to a particular cause of the mura defect, the mura defect may have a typical shape such as a dot, line, strip, circle, or polygon, or may have an atypical shape. The mura defect may be generated due to defect pixels having brightness deviations greater than those of the other pixels.

Display device, and optical compensation system and optical compensation method thereof


A processor architecture for processing data packets representing voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls in a packet-switched network is disclosed. According to an embodiment, a VoIP processor executes a voice packet processing operating system that is configured to monitor or manipulate the packets at an IP layer, media layer and signaling layer of the call. The VoIP processor includes a plurality of independently callable primitive software functions that carry out low-level VoIP packet processing functions. The VoIP processor executes one or more application programs that selectively call one or more of the primitive software functions and are independent of any underlying protocols of the existing network, thereby isolating the application programs from low-level processing details. Further, techniques are described for modifying characteristics of VoIP traffic for the purpose of monitoring and directing the VoIP traffic through a network. The techniques include extracting information associated with the VoIP traffic and using the information for the purpose of controlling access, for fraud detection, for billing, for enforcing policy decisions, for protection against denial of service attacks, for lawful interception, for service selection, and other applications.

Packet-switched data networks now carry a high volume of messages ("traffic") pertaining to specialized services such as digitized voice, music, video, and streaming media. There is particular technical interest in improving the capabilities of the global, packet-switched family of internetworks known as the Internet for carrying voice conversations, as an alternative to the traditional circuit-switched public telephone network. Advancements in voice over Internet Protocol services (VoIP) have lead to development of numerous technical recommendations and protocols. Significantly, VoIP is no longer a technical novelty, but a real business for a growing number of for-profit organizations that sell and service VoIP connectivity ("service providers"). An overview of these developments is provided in U. Black, "Voice Over IP" (Prentice-Hall, 2000).
VoIP service providers now face challenges similar to those experienced by electronic commerce ("eCommerce") service providers at the onset of the Internet explosion. The typical eCommerce service provider network comprised routers, switches, Web servers and application servers. Architectural limitations inherent in this configuration initially prevented eCommerce service providers from effectively increasing their services while maintaining the expected high quality of service with minimal operational costs. Certain limitations in the areas of network performance, quality of service (QoS), and security have been addressed by the development of specialized networking hardware and software, such as local and distributed load balancers, cache engines, QoS processors, firewalls, application level security processors, etc.
Similar operational challenges are now appearing as a result of significant growth of commercial VoIP traffic. In particular, Internet Protocol is not designed to accommodate synchronous, real-time traffic, such as voice. Also, traffic losses typically experienced in IP networks, as well as the amount and variability of delay in transmitting packets, hampers effective support of voice and video traffic in an IP network.
Another problem stems from the disparate nature of the public Internet. The Internet is an amalgamation of disparate networks and service providers and thus there is no guaranteed bandwidth for a voice call. These and other barriers may prevent successful deployment of VoIP, as described in Black.
In addition, limitations of IP network infrastructure impose costs on VoIP service providers and reduce profitability. Bandwidth costs, billing discrepancies, network congestion that causes quality degradation, complex network management and limited control of network access directly affect profitability for VoIP service providers. IP networks simply impose inherent architectural constraints on basic VoIP elements, creating barriers to effective resolution of technical problems that affect profitability.
One specific technical problem is that current VoIP network elements require extensive device-specific application programming in order to produce working software. Application programmers are required to write code to carry out the same primitive operations on an ongoing basis. There is a need for improved modularization of such primitive operations.
A related problem is that current VoIP network elements typically operate only at one particular layer among the Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) logical model of network messaging. One VoIP element may process packets at the transport layer, another at the media layer, and still another at the signaling layer. When a software application needs to carry out operations at multiple layers, it is required to distribute its operations across multiple devices. Such applications rapidly become extremely complex. There is a need to provide a way to process packets at multiple layers concurrently and in a way that hides processing details at each layer from the application programmer.
One approach to addressing some of these problems might be to configure a router or switch for implementing low-level packet processing functions. However, routers and switches are not designed for and do not offer any programmable interfaces to external applications; therefore, external applications could not use such low-level functions. Further, they are not always located in the network at a place that is convenient to carry out aggregation, or at a location from which they can process traffic from multiple VoIP gateways and many IP phones.
Based on the foregoing, there is clear need for an improved method for processing VoIP traffic without requiring any modifications to the existing IP and VoIP network infrastructure.
Further, there is a need for a way to efficiently monitor and modify packets involved in VoIP traffic at a plurality of logical layers in a single processing element.
There is also a need for a VoIP processor that exposes programmable packet processing interfaces to application programs, thereby allowing such programs to use and control primitive packet processing functions.
There is also a need for a VoIP processor that can be placed in the network at a location that facilitates aggregation of network data and processing traffic from multiple VoIP gateways and IP phones.

Method and apparatus for monitoring and processing voice over internet protocol packets


Methods of reducing the viscosity of crude oil in an oil well are provided. The methods comprise the introduction of at least on reductant to an injection fluid which is then injected into the well. Aromatic hydrocarbons in the oil are reduced in the presence of reductant and indigenous microbial populations to reduce the viscosity of the oil.

Crude oil is a complex mixture. Standard analytical techniques used to fractionate this mixture show that crude oil is composed of a variety of hydrocarbon chemistries. Paraffinic and aromatic components may contribute to the viscosity, "heaviness", of the crude oil (Hyne, N.J. 2001, "Non-technical guide to petroleum geology, exploration, drilling, and production", 2nd edition, Pen Well Corp., Tulsa, Okla., USA). Heavy oil is more difficult to recover than light oil. Improved oil recovery depends on the improved flow of the oil through the porous reservoir media to the production well. Flow improvement can be achieved in a number of ways. Administering a second fluid to the reservoir, such as water, to push the oil through the formation has been utilized. Injection of water, often called waterflooding, is commonly used to improve oil recovery in the middle to late stages of the life of an oilfield (Hyne, N.J. 2001, "Non-technical guide to petroleum geology, exploration, drilling, and production", 2nd edition, Pen Well Corp., Tulsa, Okla., USA). Techniques to reduce oil viscosity have also been used in addition to, or independently, of water flooding to improve oil flow. Reduction of oil viscosity may be achieved by physical or chemical means. Increasing the oil temperature via techniques such as fire flooding or steam injection will reduce viscosity, improving flow, (Hyne, N.J. 2001, supra), but in most situations, the vast amount of heating required to mobilize the reservoir will be too costly. In addition, in regions where reservoirs exist near permanent frozen surface strata, e.g. permafrost, such heating can result in the undesirable melting and collapse of the surface strata. Viscosity reduction has also been achieved through in situ biological modification of oil chemistry. This process is dependent on the addition of an inoculum of industrially produced aerobic (oxygen dependent) microbes that degrade long chain paraffins in the oil (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,905,870 B2). However, pumping air into the formation is costly and oxygen is highly corrosive to most equipment used in the oil field. Also, oil dominated by aromatic compounds cannot be modified by the described biological process because the microbial modification is specific to straight chain compounds. Yet, pi-bond interactions in aromatic compounds will contribute to oil viscosity (Sygula, A., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 129, 3842-3843, 2007).
Microbial transformation by reduction of organic compounds has been observed in various environments. Cholesterol is reduced to coprostanol in the gut by microbes, including the genus Eubacterium (Eyssen, H J et al Eur. J. Biochem. 36, 411-421, 1973). Humic acids in soils are reported to act as electron acceptors for anaerobic microbial respiration (Lovley D R et al., Nature, 382, 445-448,1996). Microbial reduction of azo compounds has been used to remove color from aqueous wastes (dos Santos, A B et al Enzyme and Microbial Technology. 39: 38-46, 2006). Some members of the genus Acetobacterium are reported to reduce acrylic groups in cinnamate derivatives (Foroughi, F et al., Enzyme and Microbial Technology. 39, 1066-1071, 2006). Microbial reduction of halogenated compounds under anaerobic conditions also serves as an important application in bioremediation for environmental pollutants (e.g. Tandol, V Environ. Sci. & Technol., 28, 973-979,1994). As reflected in these reports, microbial transformation by reduction of polyaromatic compounds is not known to the art of biochemical transformation by natural microbial populations.
Transformation of polyaromatic compounds to alicyclic compounds has been described from pure culture experiments in the laboratory (Safinowski, M and Meckenstock R U, Environ. Microbiol., 8, 347-352, 2006). For example, 5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydro-2-naphthoic acid is reported in cell extracts from anaerobic sulfate reducers during the degradation of aromatic derivatives (Annweiler, E Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 67, 5077-5083, 2001), but evidence for such transformations is rarely found in the environment (Safinowski, M et al Environ. Sci. Technol. 40, 4165-4173, 2006). The process described herein is designed to encourage the development of natural microbial populations that will promote reduction of aromatic compounds associated with oil.
Previous microbial approaches to aromatic modification have generally used oxidative microbial metabolism. In an environment with excess organic matter, such as an oil reservoir, oxidizing agents such as oxygen or nitrate will be scavenged by microbes that are not active in aromatic modification. This lowers the efficiency of oxidant usage for aromatic modification. In contrast the reductants described in this case are not scavenged for organic matter oxidation, which leads to a more efficient microbial aromatic modification process. In addition, oxidative microbial metabolism often leads to hydrocarbon degradation, which can result in decreased oil recovery (Grishchenkov, V G et al Appl. Biochemi. Microbiol. (Translation of Prikladnaya Biokhimiya i Mikrobiologiya, 38,125-128, 2002). Reductive transformation does not cause hydrocarbon degradation.
Biochemical reduction of aromatic compounds in oil requires a reductant with a relatively low equilibrium redox potential, EH. Therefore, the reductants used to drive aromatic reduction must be able to supply electrons at a low redox potential. CO and H2 are examples of such reductants that can also be easily generated from precursors available at the oil well site such as natural gas and air. In addition, CO is also available to only a restricted group of anaerobic microbes, and therefore encourages the development of desirable populations. However, other materials that are good sources of low potential electrons, for example, formic acid, formate, 2-methoxy ethanol or sodium lactate or mandellic acid, or trimethylamine or ethylene glycol, may also be used to drive biochemical reduction of aromatic compounds.
Thus there is a need for developing means to reductively transform environmental chemicals particularly aromatic constituents of an oil reservoir to assist crude oil recovery.

Ring reduction via natural anaerobic microbiological activity for transformation of crude oil-associated aromatic chemicals


An optical inclination sensor is provided having at least one reflective surface and at least two separate optical fibers having ends spaced from a reflective surface. As the reflective surface tilts with respect to a pre-determined reference position the gap lengths between the fiber ends and the reflective surface change and the differences in these gap lengths is used to calculate an angle of inclination with respect to a reference position. The optical inclination sensor can include at least one mass attached to a housing and moveable with respect to the housing as the mass and housing are rotated about one or more axes. Optical strain sensors are disposed a various locations between the mass and housing so that as the mass moves with respect to the housing, each one of the optical strain sensors are placed in compression or tension. The housing can be a generally u-shaped housing having two arms and a base section with the mass disposed within the housing. Alternatively, the housing includes a first beam, and the mass is a second beam arranged generally orthogonal to the first beam and pivotally attached thereto. The optical strain sensors are disposed between the first beam and the second beam. The optical strain sensors are placed in tension or compression as the second beam pivots with respect to the first beam.

Tilt meters or tilt sensors are used in the geophysical sciences and other applications to measure tilt or inclination of the ground or of structures. These measurements can be taken at the surface or, particularly in the case of geophysical applications, below the surface of the Earth in, for example, gas or oil wells. In these applications, the tilt meters are used to provide information about the general shape of a well or of sudden turns in the well. For example, oil wells can extend 10,000 or 30,000 feet below the surface of the Earth. At these depths, the wells can develop helical or corkscrew bores. These bores need to be monitored and tracked during the drilling process. In addition, highly sensitive tilt sensors are used in oil and gas wells to detect subtle changes in the Earth's structure, to measure subsidence, shifting or the quality or effects of nearby fracturing operations.
In general, tilt sensors are arranged to provide an indication of when the sensor changes orientation with respect to a predetermined reference, for example tilting with respect to horizontal, vertical or with respect to the direction of the Earth's gravitational pull. These sensors can provide a simple indication of tilt or can be calibrated to provide a measurement of the degree of tilt. Conventional tilt sensors are electronic devices that utilize a pendulum type sensor or a magnetic resistance element. Other types of tilt sensors include potentiometer type, servo type, bubble type, capacitance type and mercury type.
Other types of tilt sensors have combined optical elements with electronic elements. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,239 is directed to a soil analyzer and penetrator that includes a cone connected to the lower end of a hollow tube for measuring various ground parameters. A cone angle measuring device, which is an optical tilt meter, includes a light source, a photo sensor and a concave lens positioned between the light source and photo sensor. A steel ball rides on the concave surface of the lens. Therefore, the light from the source is limited in reaching the sensor depending upon the position of the ball. As the sensor is tilted, the ball rolls on the concave surface of the lens allowing more light to pass. Therefore, the output from the photo sensor is proportional to the angle of tilt of the sensor and thus of the cone.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,283 is directed to an optical detection apparatus whereby the tilting state, such as rolling or pitching state, of an object, may be detected by a simplified optical system. The optical detection apparatus includes a light emitting element provided at distal end of a moveable member for radiating light downwards. A condenser lens is mounted below the moveable member, and a photo sensor device, for example a photodiode device, is mounted below the condenser lens. A signal processing circuit determines the position on the photo sensor device of a light spot from the condenser lens.
One system utilizes optical fibers in combination with conventional electronic optical detectors. U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,654 is directed to a two-axis quartz fiber passive tilt meter utilizing a quartz fiber suspended for emitting radiation from a distal end thereof and a pendulous mass suspended from the quartz fiber to improve the pendulous response. The infrared radiation transmitted and emitted by the quartz fiber is directed by a lens system to strike an axially displaced position on a detector producing DC signals representative of the intensity of light falling on the respective detector quadrants.
The combined systems still utilize electronic components that limits how small or compact the sensor can be. In addition, electronic sensors can be influenced by electromagnetic effects, temperature and signal attenuation, especially in deep well applications.
Therefore, a need exists for a tilt meter that is compact and suited for subsurface measurements. The tilt meter would obviate the need for electronic components located distally at the point of measurement, thereby eliminating electromagnetic interference.


Channel coupling for an AC-3 encoder, using mixed precision computations and 16-bit coupling coefficient calculations for channels with 32-bit frequency coefficients.

Recent years have witnessed an unprecedented increase in the use of psycho-acoustic models for the design of audio coders. This has led to high compression ratios while keeping audible degradation in the compressed signal to a minimum. Description of one such method, which is the centre of current discussion, can be found in the ATSC Standard, "Digital Audio Compression (AC-3) Standard", Document A/52, 20 Dec., 1995.
In the AC-3 encoder the input time domain signal is sectioned into frames, each frame comprising of six audio blocks. Since AC-3 is a transform coder, the time domain signal in each block is converted to the frequency domain using a bank of filters. The frequency domain coefficients, thus generated, are next converted to fixed point representation. In fixed point syntax, each coefficient is represented as a mantissa and an exponent. The bulk of the compressed bitstream transmitted to the decoder comprises these exponents and mantissas.
Each mantissa must be truncated to a fixed or variable number of decimal places. The number of bits to be used for coding each mantissa is to be obtained from a bit allocation algorithm which may be based on the masking property of the human auditory system. Lower number of bits result in higher compression ratio because less space is required to transmit the coefficients. However, this may cause high quantization error leading to audible distortion. A good distribution of available bits to each mantissa forms the core of the advanced audio coders.
Further compression can be successfully obtained in AC-3 by use of a technique called coupling. Coupling takes advantage of the way the human ear determines directionality for very high frequency signals, in order to allow a reduction in the amount of data necessary to code audio signals. At high audio frequency (approximately above 2 KHz.), the human ear is physically unable to detect individual cycles of an audio waveform, and instead responds to the envelope of the waveform. Consequently, the coder combines the high frequency coefficients of the individual channels to form a common coupling channel. The original channels combined to form the said coupling channel are referred to as coupled channels.
The translation of the AC-3 Encoder Standard on to the firmware of a DSP-Core involves several phases. Firstly, the essential compression algorithm blocks for the AC-3 Encoder have to be designed. After individual blocks are completed, they are integrated into an encoding system which receives a PCM (pulse code modulated) stream, processes the signal applying signal processing techniques such as transient detection, frequency transformation, psychoacoustic analysis (coupling & bit-allocation), and produces a compressed stream in the format of the AC-3 Standard.
The coded stream should be capable of being decompressed by any standard AC-3 Decoder and the PCM stream generated thereby should be comparable in audio quality to the original music stream. If the original stream and the decompressed stream are indistinguishable in audible quality (at reasonable level of compression) the development moves to the third phase. If the quality is not transparent (indistinguishable), further algorithm development and improvements continue.
In the third phase the algorithms are implemented using the word-length specifications of the target DSP-Core. Most commercial DSP-Cores allow only fixed point arithmetic (since floating point engine is costly in terms of area). Consequently the algorithm is translated to a fixed point solution. The word-length used is usually dictated by the ALU (arithmetic-logic unit) capabilities and bus-width of the target core. For example AC-3 Encoder on Motorala's 56000 would use 24-bit precision since it is a 24-bit Core. Similarly, for implementation on Zoran's ZR38000 which has 20-bit data path, 20-bit precision would be used [4].
If, for example, 20-bit precision is discovered to provide unacceptable level of sound quality, the provision to use double precision always exist. In this case each piece of data is stored and processed as two segments, lower and upper words, each of 20-bit length. The accuracy of implementation is doubled but so is the computational complexity—double precision multiplication could require 6 or more cycles while single precision multiplication and addition (MAC) requires only a single cycle).
Twenty four bit AC-3 Encoders are known to provide sufficient quality. However 16-bit single precision AC-3 Encoder quality is viewed as terribly poor. Consequently few or no attempts (at least not published) to use 16-bit Core for AC-3 Encoder has been made to date.
Coupling is one of the most difficult and tricky algorithm to implement on a fixed-point processor and it becomes even more so when attempted on a 16-bit processor. It can be quite computationally demanding and if not implemented intelligently can lower the accuracy of the represented signal, thereby effecting final quality of the reproduced (decoded) signal.
Single precision 16-bit implementation of AC-3 Encoder is generally considered unacceptable in quality and such a product would be at a distinct disadvantage in the consumer market. Double precision implementation is too computationally costly. It has been estimated that such an implementation would require over 120 MIPS (million instruction per second). This exceeds what most commercial DSPs can provide (moreover, extra MIPS are always needed for system software and value-added features). One of the most difficult section of AC-3 for a 16-bit processor is the Coupling. So the question is: is it possible to implement high quality AC-3 Encoder Coupling on a 16-bit DSP with reasonable computational requirement ?

STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific PTE Ltd.


Disclosed are methods and apparatus related to an LED-based luminaire (10) that redirects substantially all light output from LEDs (40) thereof off of an interior reflective surface at least once prior to the light exiting the LED-based luminaire (10). In some embodiments, an LED-based luminaire (10) is provided that includes a housing having a light output opening (20), a reflective interior surface, a diffusing cover lens (30) across the light output opening (20), and a plurality of optics (50) that are configured to redirect light output from a plurality of LEDs (40) within the lighting fixture (10).

Digital lighting technologies, i.e. illumination based on semiconductor light sources, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), offer a viable alternative to traditional fluorescent, HID, and incandescent lamps. Functional advantages and benefits of LEDs include high energy conversion and optical efficiency, durability, lower operating costs, and many others. Recent advances in LED technology have provided efficient and robust full-spectrum lighting sources that enable a variety of lighting effects in many applications. Some of the fixtures embodying these sources feature a lighting module, including one or more LEDs capable of producing different colors, e.g. red, green, and blue, as well as a processor for independently controlling the output of the LEDs in order to generate a variety of colors and color-changing lighting effects, for example, as discussed in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,016,038 and 6,211,626, incorporated herein by reference.
Lighting fixtures (or "luminaires") employing a plurality LEDs often have one or more localized bright spots (e.g., localized areas of significantly increased luminance) that are noticeable due to the point source nature of LEDs. For example, LED-based direct-view lighting fixtures implementing LEDs often contain several visible localized bright spots corresponding to the location of the LEDs of the lighting fixture. Also, multi-channel lighting fixtures implementing multiple colors of LEDs of a variety of colors often have one or more localized color spots (e.g., localized areas of visibly different colors) due to the different colors of the LEDs. For example, direct view multi-channel lighting fixtures implementing LEDs often contain several visible localized color spots corresponding to the locations of the various colors of LEDs. These bright spots and/or color spots may provide an undesirable aesthetic appearance when a lighting fixture is directly viewable and/or may provide undesirable lighting characteristics at a location illuminated by a lighting fixture.
Thus, for many LED-based luminaires capable of producing light at particular color points and color temperatures, it is desirable to appropriately mix the light output of such LEDs prior to the light output exiting the LED-based lighting fixture. Appropriate mixing of the LEDs may reduce the presence of any undesired chromatic non-uniformity in the light output of the lighting fixture and provide more desirable light output characteristics. In implementing mixing solutions, many lighting fixtures employ multiple large mixing chambers and/or only provide illumination from a single planar light exit opening. Such configurations may result in an undesirably large mixing solution and/or a mixing solution of limited utility.
Also, various techniques developed for mixing light from LED light sources in the far field, i.e., illuminating a distant surface with light having uniform brightness or color, do not satisfactorily address the color mixing, uniformity, or lit appearance of a direct-view luminaire. Specifically, one important characteristic of a direct-view luminaire is the uniform appearance of the surface that emits light. A uniform appearance is one in which there are no bright or dark areas or color variations in the light, such as greenish or pinkish spots. Preferably, an observer should not be able to distinguish individual light sources (or rows thereof) or discern individual colors (e.g., red, green, or blue) simply by looking at the luminaire.
Color uniformity is important because architects and lighting designers go to great lengths to obscure individual bright spots and color variations on luminaires for aesthetic appeal. For example, fixtures may be installed within a recess (or at a further distance from a wall) to hide scalloping effects and direct glare. The value of a product that creates uniform color on a wall is greatly diminished when the luminaire exhibits prominent color or brightness non-uniformities that have to be hidden using other techniques.
The discrete nature of color LED light sources used in luminaires makes it more difficult to provide a uniform brightness and color for direct-view LED-based luminaires.
Thus, there is a need in the art to provide an LED-based direct-view luminaire producing satisfactory mixing of light output from a plurality of LEDs, such that its light-emitting surface appears substantially uniform in brightness and color, and that may optionally overcome one or more drawbacks with existing mixing solutions.

LED-based direct-view luminaire with uniform lit appearance


Large, complex SoCs comprise interconnections of various functional blocks. Such functional blocks contain scan chains that are used for their individual production testing. The present invention utilizes these scan chains as a tool in the debugging of these SoCs by providing the internal contents of registers and memories contained on the SoC device. Accordingly, both hardware and software designers are provided a means to observe the effect of their designs on the internal operation of the SoC device. The invention is compatible with current integrated circuit design methodology and requires minimal area on the SoC for support circuitry.

Since the 1990's, integrated circuit (IC) design has evolved from a chip-set philosophy to an embedded core based SoC concept. An SoC IC includes various reusable functional blocks, such as microprocessors, interfaces, memory arrays, and DSPs (digital signal processors). Such pre-designed functional blocks are commonly called "IP cores", "cores", or "blocks", and will collectively be referred to hereafter as "functional blocks" or simply, "blocks". The resulting SoCs have become quite complex. Moreover, the techniques used in the design of these SoCs have not scaled with the complexities of chip designs. That is, SoCs are currently designed by combining functional blocks from different vendors into a single design. Prior to their incorporation on the SoC, these functional blocks typically will have been subjected to various production testing procedures, to include scan chain tests. Scan chain testing is well-known in the prior art and permits determining the internal states of various memories and registers contained on the functional block. In addition to prior testing of the component functional blocks, the interfaces between these blocks are functionally verified by various well-know techniques. Frequently, problems in the resulting SoC are encountered in spite of these two levels of testing. Moreover, if there are problems in a design after the device has been fabricated, it may be extremely difficult to determine the cause of the problems. This difficulty can be attributed to the number of functional blocks that are potential sources of the problem and the lack of visibility of the internal operation of the SoC device. Additionally, the operation of the device can differ significantly from the simple functional vectors that are typically used to verify the interfaces of the functional blocks.
Various prior art methods exist whereby designers take preventive steps for avoiding problems with their SoC designs. Preventive steps include writing many vectors to check the functionality of a device and running code coverage tools to evaluate the test results. In spite of such efforts, functional problems do occur in fabricated devices. The likelihood of functional problems occurring increases with the complexity of the SoC. For such complex systems, it is virtually impossible to write vectors to test all the different combinations of functional operation of functional blocks. Moreover, there may be functional features that the designer did not think about testing. Further, the functional problem may occur after extended periods of operation and accordingly cannot be easily detected by running simple test vectors.
When functional problems do occur with fabricated SoCs, designers attempt to determine the cause by observing the state of internal registers, internal memories, or by monitoring the outputs of the pins to the device (e.g., by various prior art means such as test probing of the device pins as well as more sophisticated methods employing computer driven debugging interfaces). Often, there is insufficient visibility to the internal state of the SoC device. In such cases, the designer must speculate as to what the cause of the functional failure is. As a result, it may take several revisions to the circuit design before the problem is corrected.
Lacking in the prior art is a more accurate means of determining the internal state of an SoC device to thereby better determine the nature of a failure and thereby more efficiently effect a remedy.

System and method for debugging system-on-chips