An apparatus and method for performing treatment on an internal target region while compensating for breathing and other motion of the patient is provided in which the apparatus comprises a first imaging device for periodically generating positional data about the internal target region and a second imaging device for continuously generating positional data about one or more external markers attached to the patient""s body or any external sensor such as a device for measuring air flow. The apparatus further comprises a processor that receives the positional data about the internal target region and the external markers in order to generate a correspondence between the position of the internal target region and the external markers and a treatment device that directs the treatment towards the position of the target region of the patient based on the positional data of the external markers.

This invention relates generally to an apparatus for improving the accuracy and efficacy of surgical treatments and more particularly to locating a target region to be treated and tracking the motion of the target region due to respiratory and other patient motions during the treatment.
Various different treatments may accurately track the motion of a target region in order to apply the treatment to the target region. In radiation therapy and radiosurgery, for example, a tumor may be destroyed by a beam of ionizing radiation which kills the cells in the tumor. The problem is that the tumor may move during treatment, especially due to the breathing motion of the patient. Such respiratory motion is difficult to track using external sensors, since the extent and direction of the internal breathing motion of the patient cannot be seen with traditional imaging devices. The breathing and other motion of the patient means that it is more difficult to focus the radiation on the tumor which means that the treatment may be less effective and healthy tissue may be unnecessarily damaged.
The goal of radiosurgery is to give a very high dose of radiation to the tumor only, while protecting surrounding healthy tissue as much as possible. Although radiosurgery has been applied with dramatic success to brain tumors, the extension of this technique to tumors outside the head or neck areas has eluded easy solutions. The main reason for this difficulty has been the problem of accurate target localization (i.e., accurate tracking of the motion of the target). In particular, breathing motion and other organ and patient motion make it difficult to track the target tumor with high precision. Thus, in the presence of breathing motion, for example, it is difficult to achieve the goal of providing a high dose of radiation to the tumor while protecting surrounding healthy tissue. Therefore radiosurgery is currently applied nearly exclusively to brain tumors. Conventional systems can only move the radiation beam along circular arcs in space so that irregular breathing motions cannot be easily followed since these breathing motions may not occur along the axis of the circular arcs traced by the radiation beam.
Another radiosurgery technique uses a mechanical robotic device having six degrees of freedom that targets a radiation beam as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,223 to Adler. The is robotic device permits the radiation treatment beam to be accurately positioned to apply the treatment beam directed to the target region. A method for neurosurgical navigation is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,861. This method relates to finding fixed targets, such as a brain tumor, but does not address tracking the motion of a target organ, such as lung due to breathing, with respect to the skin surface, or tracking the motion of internal abdominal organs with respect to externally visible motion. A fiducial that may be implanted into the human body so that it is detectable by an imaging system is also disclosed in which the fiducial implant is implanted into the bone or organs of the human body. This fiducial implant permits internal structures of the human body to be analyzed, but does not attempt to compensate for motion of a target organ which moves throughout the respiratory cycle. Thus, it is desirable to provide an apparatus and method for compensating for respiratory and other patient motion in radiation treatment and it is to this end that the present invention is directed.
In accordance with the invention, an apparatus and method for compensating for breathing and other motion of a patient is provided which combines internal markers placed on the target organ with one or more external sensors to accurately track the position and motion of a moving target region, such as an internal organ. In particular, the position of the internal markers, determined periodically by x-rays, may be combined with the position of the external markers/sensors. The internal markers may be imaged only periodically since an invasive technology, such as x-rays, are needed to image the internal markers. The external continuous or real-time sensor, which may be an external marker, determines external motion during treatment. Thus, the position of the target organ may be precisely determined by the position of the internal markers when the internal markers are periodically imaged and may be determined based on the external sensor data while the internal markers are not being imaged. The position and motion of the internal markers relative to the external sensors are determined so that the position of the internal markers and therefore the target organ may be accurately determined by the position of the external sensor. Thus, the position of the target organ may be accurately determined throughout the medical procedure being performed.
The internal markers may be imaged using a number of different imaging technologies, including x-rays, nuclear magnetic resonance, ultrasound and other technologies which permit markers inside of the body of the patient to be imaged. Alternatively, three dimensional ultrasound images may be used to establish the location of the internal target region in lieu of discrete fiducials. The position of the external sensor may also be determined using a number of different technologies including infrared imaging, visual imaging, magnetic localization, the measurement of respiration, and any other type of technology which permits the external markers to be imaged. In addition to using external sensors (i.e., external fiducials may not be used), it is also possible to visually image a body surface which is then correlated to the internal fiducials.
Thus, in accordance with the invention, an apparatus for performing treatment on an internal target region while measuring and in some cases compensating for breathing and other motion of the patient is provided. The apparatus comprises a first imaging device for periodically generating positional data about the internal target region and a second imaging device for continuously generating positional data about one or more external markers attached to the patient""s body. The apparatus further comprises a processor that receives the positional data about the internal target region and the external sensor readings/measurements in order to generate a correspondence between the position of the internal target region and the external marker or sensor readings and a treatment device that directs the treatment towards the position of the target region of the patient based on the positional data of the external markers or sensor readings. An apparatus for compensating for motion of a patent during treatment is also disclosed as well as a method for compensating for motion of the patient.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, no fiducials are attached to the target, the target is delineated in x-ray images (manually or semi-automatically), and the target""s position is subsequently matched to the position of the tumor in preoperative tomographic images. In addition, motions of the target region resulting from pulsation effects can be compensated for via a sensor by recording both pulsation data and time points of pulsation data acquisition or both pulsation and respiratory motions may be compensated for simultaneously. In addition, the deformation or squeezing of the target region may be determined and that deformation may be compensated.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a single image of the patient may be used to generate a model and then the patient is instructed to return to the position within the respiration cycle corresponding to this single point. In addition, the motion model in accordance with the invention may be continuously updated. In addition,a general model for a particular motion may be determined. In addition, the time lag between a command and the beam actually being at that position may be compensated for. Finally, respiratory motion may be distinguished from other motion.

Apparatus and method for compensating for respiratory and patient motions during treatment


A test and measurement instrument including a plurality of input ports; an acquisition system coupled to the input ports and configured to acquire frequency domain data from the input ports; a user interface configured to present frequency domain controls for at least two of the input ports; and a controller configured to adjust frequency domain acquisition parameters of the acquisition system in response to the frequency domain controls such that frequency domain acquisition parameters associated with a first input port can be different from frequency domain acquisition parameters associated with a second input port.

This disclosure relates to test and measurement instruments, in particular to test and measurement instruments with multiple frequency domain channels.
Electronic devices can operate with signals in multiple frequency ranges. That is, an electronic device can have baseband signals, such as digital data, and optical, microwave, or radio frequency (RF) signals, such as modulated RF and/or optical carriers. For example, baseband digital data can be used to modulate an RF carrier. Each of the baseband digital data and the modulated RF carrier can have a particular frequency spectrum.
However, bandwidths of filters, mixers, transmitters, antennae, or the like can affect the transmitted RF spectrum. As the baseband digital data and the modulated RF carrier can occupy different frequency ranges, analysis of the frequency spectra can be difficult. In particular, frequency domain test and measurement instruments typically have a single channel. Thus, comparison of the frequency spectra and, in particular, comparison of substantially time correlated frequency spectra cannot be performed.

Multi-channel frequency domain test and measurement instrument


The disclosure relates to an array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof, and a display panel. The array substrate includes a plurality of data lines and a plurality of first gate lines, a plurality of first pixel units and a plurality of second pixel units; a plurality of second gate lines; a first TFT and a second TFT, where a first electrode of the first TFT is disposed at one side of the second gate line, the gate and the second electrode of the first TFT is disposed at the other side of the second gate line, the gate, the first electrode, the second electrode and the active layer of each second TFT are disposed at the same side of the second gate line, where the first electrodes of the first TFT and the second TFT are electrically connected to the date lines respectively.

With the development of display technologies, a liquid crystal display panel has been widely used, and a display effect of the display panel has been continuously improved.
In the related art, a dot inversion effect is implemented in a column inversion manner in an array substrate of a zig-zag structure, thereby reducing power consumption of the array substrate in displaying. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing a structure of an array substrate having the zig-zag structure in the related art. As shown in FIG. 1A, the array substrate includes a plurality of data lines 11, a plurality of gate lines 12 and a plurality of pixel units 13 defined by intersecting the data lines 11 with the gate lines 12, where the data lines 11 are electrically insulated from the gate lines 12, and each pixel unit 13 includes a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) 131 and a pixel electrode 132 electrically connected to the TFT 131. Further, each one of the TFTs 131 in a first row is electrically connected to an adjacent data line 11 at the left side of the TFT 131, each one of the TFTs 131 in a second row is electrically connected to an adjacent data line 11 at the right side of the TFT 131, each one of the TFT 131 in a third row is electrically connected to an adjacent data line 11 at a left side of the TFT 131, and so on. That is, the TFTs 131 in odd-numbered rows are electrically connected to the adjacent data lines 11 at left sides of the TFTs 131, and the TFTs 131 in even-numbered rows are electrically connected to the adjacent data lines 11 at right sides of the TFTs 131, thus such electrical connections between the TFTs 131 and the data lines 11 implement the zig-zag structure.
A symbol "+" in FIG. 1A indicates a positive polarity of a data signal, while a symbol "−" in FIG. 1A indicates a negative polarity of the data signal, where the polarity of the data signal depends on a voltage difference between a voltage of the data signal and a common voltage. If the voltage difference is larger than 0, the polarity of the data signal is positive, otherwise, the polarity of the data signal is negative. A dot inversion effect is implemented by means of column inversion in the array substrate having the zig-zag structure as shown in FIG. 1A, as can be seen from the polarity of the data signal applied to each data line 11 and the polarity of the data signal received by each pixel electrode 132 as shown in FIG. 1A.
While the disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Array substrate and manufacturing method thereof, and display panel

SHANGHAI TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.


A gasket is provided having a body including at least one service aperture and an integrally formed sealing bead portion. In an embodiment, the sealing bead portion includes a first outwardly extending bead and a first concave channel opposite the first outwardly extending bead. The first concave channel is defined by a second outwardly extending bead and a third outwardly extending bead. In an alternative embodiment, the sealing bead portion includes an annular sealing member molded to the body, and the annular sealing member is opposite an outwardly projecting sealing bead. In a second alternative embodiment, the sealing bead portion includes an internal chamber filled with a pressurized gas. In a third alternative embodiment, the sealing bead portion defines a chamber filled a polymeric material.

Gaskets have been used for many years for providing a sealed connection between two relatively static members. Gaskets typically require a compressive load between the members being sealed in order for the gasket to provide an effective seal. For example, a gasket placed between two stationary members, such as an engine block and an oil pan or an engine cylinder head and a valve/cam cover, is compressed between these elements.
One gasket design includes a molded plastic body having a solid molded sealing bead surrounding a central service aperture. The use of a solid molded sealing bead requires a large clamping force to ensure a good seal. The high clamping force results in a high compression force which in turn may cause the plastic to deform over time and thus reduce the effectiveness of the seal.
Accordingly, a need exists for a gasket having a sealing bead with a reduced propensity to deformation.


A lighting device (31) is configured to determine a group of service-providing devices (41-44) and determine a schedule for the service-providing devices in the group. The group (101) comprises at least two service-providing devices capable of performing a similar or a same lighting service. The schedule indicates for each service-providing device of the group in which time period the service-providing device is able to receive messages such that at least one device of the determined group of service-providing devices is able to receive messages. The lighting device is configured to transmit the schedule to the service-providing devices.

The Internet of Things (IoT) provides opportunities for (smart) devices to be connected. The number of devices that communicate with each other will therefore increase. In order to reduce power consumption, such devices will often not be active all the time, but stay in a standby mode most of the time. In this standby mode, the receivers of the IoT devices are normally still listening to signals and become active after being triggered by a signal. The IoT devices that are in standby mode and are listing still consume a certain amount of power. Although this certain amount of power is minor, taken over time, such power consumption will still add up to a significant amount and may still exceed the requirements of certain governments.
International application WO2015125054A2 discloses a method to implement automatic lighting control that can save power, which takes into account user occupancy in a monitored area. Wherein lights in a spatial location near a monitored area can be turned on (after a small time gap, if required), after confirming that a person is staying near that location and is not simply passing by. To this end it is proposed to monitor user activity near that spatial location.
"Geography-informed Energy Conservation for Ad-hoc Routing" by Y. Xu, J. Heidemann and D. Estrin, Proceedings of the Seventh Annual ACM/IEEE International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking, pages 70-84, 2001, discloses an algorithm that allows nodes to stop listening during certain periods, thereby reducing power consumption. This publication describes an energy-aware location-based routing algorithm designed for mobile ad hoc networks. The network area is first divided into fixed zones and forms a virtual grid. Inside each zone, nodes collaborate with each other to play different roles. A node that is awake is responsible for monitoring and reporting data to the base station on behalf of the nodes in the zone. Hence, energy is conserved by turning off unnecessary nodes in the network without affecting the level of routing fidelity.
A drawback of this energy conservation mechanism is that it only works well if the nodes of a network perform network routing and is not suitable for networks with devices that provide other non-communication services, e.g. a lighting service.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Determining a duty schedule for a group of lighting devices providing a similar lighting service


A game of skill and strategy that can be played on almost any surfaces (grass, sand, water, cement, etc.), indoors as well as outdoors. This game shows some resemblance with "tic-tac-toe". The game comprises a reception frame divided into nine squares and four groups of disks, two for each player. The squares from targets to be hit with the disks. The first set of disks is made up of at least nine disks of the same diameter, density and thickness. The second set has only three disks of a larger diameter than those of the first group. The larger size of the disks of the second set makes them harder to lodge in the target squares. This is compensated by the fact that a larger disk can remove one of the opponent's disks and take possession of the square. First, the players take turns trying to toss the small disk into the squares. After this phase, they use the larger disks to try to dislodge the opposing player's disks and gain an advantage on him.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pitch games utilizing disk-type throwing devices and a frame designed to receive the disks.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A past art patent search was conducted and a list of patents which appeared to us to be most pertinent to the invention follows.
NL 7,415,769, Reunders concerns a game using balls that are thrown onto a flat board divided into nine zones. These zones are identified by letters (A, B, C) and numbers (1, 2, 3). Each zone is pierced at its center with a hole to receive the balls.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,656 Jun. 23, 1992, Green represents a target made of vertical receptacles, internal and external. This target may receive many kinds of small projectiles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,139, May 5, 1992, Baumgartner illustrates a game using disks that are tossed into a receptacle placed at a certain distance. The receptacle is divided into zones to which are attributed different scores.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,441, Jul. 10, 1992, Novinsky represents a disk-like projectile. The weight of the projectile can be modified by removing the central part of the disk.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,590, Jun. 26, 1990, Palmer describes a pitch game utilizing disk-type throwing devices and a standing platform designed to catch and retain the disks.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,758, Nov. 19, 1985, Zehr refers to a disk that can bounce on water a great number of times.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,046, Jul. 26, 1983, Cosmopoulos illustrates a disk designed to bounce on water.
CN 2,0927,388 is a game made up of fork-like pickets and ring projectiles.
CN 1,181,446 uses the principle of tick-tack-toe*. Projectiles made of little sacks filled with loose material are tossed onto a receptacle frame that can be magnetic. FNT *corresponds to Webster's tick-tack-toe or tit-tat-toe
A tick-tack-toe game available in stores is made of a frame holding nine rectangular tilting targets. Upon the impact of a projectile, the target rotates and displays an "X" or an "O".


Cones or cone assemblies with one or two oppositely positioned torque transmitting devices, such as torque transmitting arcs of constant pitch (formed by torque transmitting members) or teeth. The torque transmitting devices will be used for torque transmission between at least one means for coupling, such as transmission belt or chain, and a cone or cone assembly. The cones or cone assemblies can be used to construct CVT's for which significant circumferential sliding between the torque transmitting surfaces of the torque transmitting devices and the torque transmitting surfaces of the means for coupling engaged to them due to change in pitch diameter can be eliminated, as to reduce wear and frictional energy loses typical in similar devices of prior art and allow the usage of positive engagement devices, such as teeth, in coupling the torque transmitting devices with their means for coupling. CVT's that consist of at least one cone or one cone assembly of this invention that is coupled by a means for coupling to at least one means for conveying rotational energy, such as a pulley, a sprocket, a cone assembly of this invention, or a cone of this invention. Adjuster systems that can increase the performance of the CVT's of this invention and other CVT's that suffer from either or both transition flexing and a limited duration at which the transmission ratio can be changed, so that efficient non-friction dependent CVT's and efficient friction dependent CVT's that do not suffer from transition flexing and/or a limited duration at which the transmission ratio can be changed can be constructed.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to variable torque/speed transmission, specifically to a variable transmission where the transmission ratio can be varied continuously between any two predetermined values.
2. Description of Prior Art
In most applications the transmission ratio, which is the torque vs. speed ratio transmitted by a driving source, needs to be adjustable in order for the driving source to operate efficiently and effectively. For example, for a vehicle, during start-up, assuming that it is on a level road, the driving source needs to provide torque to accelerate the vehicle and torque to overcome the resisting forces mainly due to friction and wind resistance. Once the vehicle has reached its desired speed, again assuming that it is on level road, the engine only needs to provide torque to overcome the resisting forces, which in this case is likely to be greater than during start-up, but less than the total torque needed during start-up. Hence in this case the torque that the driving source needs to provide is less than the torque that it needs to provide during start-up. However, here the driving source needs to rotate the output shaft at a higher speed since the desired speed of the vehicle is assumed to be greater than the speed of the vehicle during start-up. From the example above, it can be seen that during start-up, the driving source needs to provide a relatively large torque and operate at a relatively low speed. And once the desired speed is reached, the driving source needs to provide a relatively small torque and operate at a relatively high speed. Here a relatively large torque would be wasteful. Hence in order to increase the efficiency of the driving source most vehicles have a transmission, which can vary the torque vs. speed ratio of the driving source.
Most vehicles, such as cars, bikes, or motorcycles use a discrete variable transmission. Here the operator can select between several discrete transmission ratios usually by selecting an input gear or sprocket that is coupled to an output gear or sprocket, which is selected from a set of output gears or sprockets of various pitch diameters. The main advantage of a Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) over a discrete variable transmission is that a CVT can provide the driving source with a more efficient transmission ratio under most conditions.
One well know CVT, which principal of operation is similar with many CVT's of prior art, consists of two cones, each keyed to a separate shaft, that are coupled by a belt. Because the cones have a tapered surface, the pitch diameters of the cones, which depend on the diameters of the surface of the cones where the belt is axially positioned, changes as the axial position of the belt is changed. Since the apex of the cones point in the opposite direction, changing the axial position of the belt increases the pitch diameter of one cone while decreases the pitch diameter of the other cone. This fact is used to change the transmission ratio between the shafts. One problem with this CVT is that changing the transmission ratio causes wear and frictional energy loses, since the belt has to slide and/or stretch relative to the surfaces of the cones as the pitch diameters are changed.
Another problem with the CVT mentioned in the previous paragraph is that torque can only be transmitted by friction. The need of friction limits the torque that can be transmitted, without causing unpractical high stresses in the belt and in the CVT's supporting members.

Cones, configurations, and adjusters for friction and non-friction dependent continuous variable transmissions


An image processing apparatus for storing and reading out image data. An authorization code inputting element reads in an authorization code from an authorization medium on which a particular authorization code is recorded and a user identification inputting element inputs user identification information including the individual user authorization number issued at the time of the user being registered. A user control element controls the users by the authorization code and the user identification information, and a function-limiting element limits the scope of functions that can be used by the user in case the user can not be identified by the inputted authorization code or the inputted user identification information. Thus, the storing of image data by an unidentified user can be blocked, and the confidentiality of stored imaged data can be secured.

The progress of digital technology has made it possible not only to copy or print image data on paper but also to store those image data as file in such media as magnetic disk, optical disk and optomagnetic disk. In the copying apparatus field, too, there has been continuing technological development as represented by digital integrated machine which incorporates the functions of printer, facsimile and other devices. Furthermore, a digital integrated machine with such a filing function as aforementioned incorporated additionally therein is beginning to be commercialized. In the apparatus like the copying machine which is in common use by a plurality of people, however, stored data are shared and such data as can not very well be made public are subject to easy access. An image copying apparatus which solves such a problem is disclosed in the Japanese patent laid-open publication No.4-183175.
Now, the configuration of the foregoing image copying apparatus is shown in FIG. 13 and the outline thereof is described hereinafter with reference to the drawing.
First, the identification (ID) card of the user is inserted into the ID card reader 205 and the user's ID code memorized on the card is read out and stored on the memory of the control circuit 206.
The original image placed on the original stand is optically read in by CCD 201 and turned into electric signals. The output from CCD is amplified by an analog signal processor 202 and then digitized by a digital signal processor 203, followed by signal processing including shading correction. A control circuit 206 regulates the flow of image data, and the read-in image data are stored in an image storage 207. These stored image data are printed on paper by a printer 204. Thus the copying ends.
Another ID card is inserted into the ID card reader. If the ID code of the second user is different from that stored on the memory of the aforesaid control circuit 206, the image data in the foregoing image storage 207 will be erased. If, on the other hand, the ID code is identical with that of the first user, the recopying lamp will go on, indicating to the user that the foregoing image data stored in the foregoing image storage 207 can be printed again. If the user chooses to recopy, the printer 204 will output the image data stored in the aforementioned image storage 207.
This image copying apparatus can secure the confidentiality of image data, because it erases the image data stored in the above-mentioned image storage 207 if the ID code of the new user is not identical with that of the previous user. However, since the image data stored in the image storage 207 is erased when another person with a different ID code uses the machine as described, the first user with the identical ID code can not pick out the image data in the image storage again. The image data is already lost.
In the network use of the computer, access to the computer is regulated by the user's identification and password system, which has been long utilized.
Unlike with such equipment as computer, the use of ID and password makes it complicated to operate such office automation (OA) apparatus as copying machine of which the inputting means is limited, and it is apparently troublesome, especially for those who are not familiar with the computer. There is also developed a copying machine which regulates access by magnetic card, for example. But this system is originally intended for accounting the fee of copying service, and if a valid card is available, the machine allows unlimited use to anyone. For this reason, this system as it is now can not be used where a high confidentiality is required as is today.
In view of such circumstances as described, the present invention is disclosed for the purpose of providing an image processing apparatus which can secure the confidentiality of stored image data without making the operation complicated.

Image processing apparatus with user authorization mechanism

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A system, method, and a computer program product that enrolls a user with a bill payment service without requiring a user to provide account information.

The present invention relates to enrolling a user with a bill payment service.
It has become commonplace for individuals to use online bill payment services to pay bills. Moving bill payment online eased lives of individuals in many different ways. Paying bills online allows individuals not only switch from writing checks to issuing payment instructions online, but also to stay organized. For example, online bill payment services allow individuals to have a better sense of their personal finances. In addition, online bill payment services save a great deal of time. A person only needs to enter his account number and address the first time he pays the bills, and the service remembers all the information.
Setting up an account with a bill payment service, however, requires a user to provide a significant amount of personal information, such as name, date of birth, Social Security Number, as well as funding information (e.g., account number and routing number). Both authentication information and funding information are used by the bill payment service to check the identity of the enrollee and to eliminate a possibility of fraud. Typically, to achieve the first goal—verifying the identity of the enrollee—a bill payment service scrapes the enrollee's information from a web site of a financial institution for which an account number was provided and compares it to the information provided by the individual. If the authentication information is correct, the server authenticates the user and enrolls the user with the bill payment service.
To accomplish the second goal—checking the validity of the funding account—a bill payment service scrapes account information from the financial institution's web site using the user's ID and password provided by the user, thereby confirming that the user has access to the web site of the financial institution (and therefore to the accounts for that user ID). This approach has the well-known problem that users do not want to spend time entering a large amount of personal data to enroll with any kind of online service, including a bill payment service. In addition, entering account number and routing number is error-prone, which inevitably leads to data entry mistakes.

Mechanism for express enrollment of a user with an online bill payment service


Disclosed is system and method for generating data visualization. The system comprises a database arrangement configured to store data retrieved from one or more data sources, and a server arrangement comprising a user profile module configured to define one or more user profiles, and associate one or more data sources and data-object thereto; a receiving module configured to receive data visualization request from the user profile; and a data processing module configured to determine connections between the one or more data sources and data-object based on the user profile; select one or more data sources from the one or more data sources based on the data visualization request; retrieve data associated with the one or more selected data sources based on the data visualization request; and generate at least one data-object based on the retrieved data from the one or more selected data sources and defined connections therewith.

In the recent years, with the advancement in technology, billions of connected devices generate and exchange data. The rate of generation of data has grown exponentially in terms of amount, types and complexity of the available data. The interpretation of information from such data, is done by visualizing the data in form of graphs, flowcharts, block diagrams termed as data visualization. Generally, data visualization commonly refers to techniques utilized to communicate data or information by representing it as visual objects that can be displayed. However, when done manually, data visualization is a tedious, cumbersome and time-consuming process, often leading to inaccuracies. To increase the complexity of data to be visualized, augmented and virtual reality techniques have been implemented which leverage stereoscopic interactive imagery and utilize the entire space around the user.
Several systems, including hardware and software have been developed to visualize data from several sources of input data. However, the conventional data visualization systems are associated with a number of problems. One such problem is the collection of input data from multiple sources in an efficient and reliable manner, leading to inaccurate data visualization results. Conventional data visualization systems generally employ a single system performing all the operations, rendering the data visualization process slower due to limitations of data processing speed of a standalone system. For example, the device handling the drawing of the data visuals in a head mounted device, cannot also handle data management, receiving and filtering for performance reasons. Such conventional data visualization systems are incapable of processing data in real-time due to dimensionality and complexity of data, inadequate storage space, and slower processing speed. Furthermore, visualization has to be equally compatible with mobile devices as well as with virtual and augmented reality devices.
Therefore, in light of the foregoing discussion, there exists a need to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks associated with conventional data visualization systems and the procedures for obtaining data visualization, in particular there is a need to provide computing systems that are specifically configured for high speed visualization of data in real-time.

System and method for generating data visualization


A FeRAM array configured in a ROM format is provided. The FeRAM array includes a memory array that has a plurality of segmented BL/PL arrays, and each segmented BL/PL array defines an I/O. A plurality of charge transfer sense amplifiers is further provided. Each charge transfer sense amplifier is associated with each I/O, and each charge transfer sense amplifier includes a cross coupled latch that is connected between a memory cell access portion and a reference voltage generation portion of the charge transfer sense amplifier. The reference voltage generation portion further includes a reference bitline (Crb) coupled to a reference voltage (Vr), and the reference bitline (Crb) is coupled to a pair of dummy capacitance cells. Each of the dummy capacitance cells is preset before reading at an opposite relative polarity. A pair of parallel capacitances is coupled to the reference voltage (Vr), and the pair of dummy capacitance cells and the pair of parallel capacitances operate to generate a mid-voltage at the reference voltage (Vr) during a particular state of operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to memory circuitry and, more particularly, to high density and low power FeRAM devices integrated based on a read only memory (ROM) architecture.
2. Description of the Related Art
Similar to dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cells, a ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) cell structure includes a storage capacitance (C) to retain data and a transistor (T) to access data. Unlike DRAMs, which use paraelectrics such as silicon oxidized films or silicon nitride film for the storage capacitance, FeRAM structures use ferroelectrics. Cell information is detected by reading the change in current that results from the change in polarization charges when a voltage is applied to a cell.
As shown in prior art FIG. 1, the storage cell 10 is activated through the word-line (WL) 12, and written or read through the bit-line (BL) 14 and plate-line (PL) 16. As illustrated, the storage cell 10 includes a storage capacitor that can store a ferroelectric capacitance (CFE), to define a voltage differential "Vc." In writing a binary digit 0 to the cell, a positive voltage (normally the full power supply, VDD) is applied to BL 14 while PL 16 is grounded and WL 12 is asserted. In writing a binary digit 1, a positive voltage is applied to PL 16 while BL 14 is grounded and WL 12 is asserted.
Reading stored data includes a sequence of: (1) precharging BL 14; (b) asserting WL 12; (c) pulsing PL 16; and (d) sensing the voltage developed on BL by a sense amplifier (not shown). Since the reading procedure is destructive, the sensed data must be written back to the memory cell 10. This will be automatically done after the data is latched in the sense amplifier by restoring PL 16 back to ground level.
A DRAM cell, which is volatile memory, is designed to keep information in only a power-on state even though it has a high operating speed. A DRAM therefore has a drawback in that the consumption of power is excessive because refreshing of data is carried out at certain time intervals to prevent data from being lost due to leakage current from a charge transfer transistor coupled to a capacitor. FeRAM cells have an advantage in that they have an operating speed similar to that of DRAMs while exhibiting reduced power consumption. That is, a FeRAM is a non-volatile memory capable of keeping data even in a power-off state, like EEPROMs and flash memories.
However, in current designs, FeRAMs are based on a standard RAM array architecture, which necessarily introduces challenges. For instance, when plate line (PL) and wordline (WL) are parallel, the design will activate all cells being controlled by the same wordline, and the respective sense amplifiers (SAs) are turned on necessarily so that the stored data of the cells will not be lost. In cases where the PL/BL are parallel and in cases of shifted bias PL, there will be only one SA ON for every I/O, however, there are respective SAs connecting to the bitlines (BL). Accordingly, current prior art techniques, such as those mentioned above, which include: (a) PL/WL parallel; (b) PL/BL parallel; and (c) shifted bias PL, all have drawbacks. Case (a) has large power consumption (i.e., high active current drain) requirements due to the need to turn all sense amplifiers along a wordline ON. And, cases (b) and (c) each require many SAs to be used, which takes up valuable chip area, although only one SA of one I/O is ON for accessing at a particular time.
Additional details regarding FeRAMs are set forth in the following publications: (1) S. Kawashima, T. Endo, A. Yamamoto, K. Nakabayashi, M. Nakazawa, K. Morita, and M.Aoki, "A Bit-Line GND Sense Technique for Low-Voltage Operation FeRAM," Symp. VLSI Circuits 2001 Tech. Dig., pp. 127–128 (2001); and (2) L. Heller, D. Spaminato, Y. Lao, "High Sensitivity Charge-Transfer Sense Amplifier," IEEE J. Solid State Circuits, vol. SC-11, pp. 596–601, October 1976. The disclosures of these publications are incorporated herein by reference.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a storage memory array architecture that provides high speed characteristics, provides low power consuming characteristics, and also provides for a dense layout for reducing chip area usage.

FeRAM memory design using ROM array architecture


A method of obtaining a new color temperature point as applied in a color display device. The color display device has a brightest temperature point when its red, green, and blue components are all in their brightest states. The method of obtaining a new color temperature point uses a mathematical method to find the new point which substantially satisfies the specific color temperature and also causes a minimum loss in brightness.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for adjusting a color temperature point for a color display device, and, more particularly, to color temperature adjustment for the color display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ultimate goal for various display technologies is to truthfully present the captured image via the display system, which requires color temperature adjustment technology. Different light sources create different colors on objects; therefore, light changes at different locations or at different times can yield images having different color temperatures. If the display device has only a fixed color temperature output, then it will not be able to truthfully present the picture as seen by human eyes. In addition, different races tend to have different colors preferences; for example, Asians prefer warm colors, whereas Europeans prefer cold colors. Therefore, for users in different countries, some color temperature adjustments may be needed.
A prior art document "Method and device for adjusting color temperature of a color display device" (R.O.C. published patent No. 200532637) provides a method for adjusting display color temperatures, which works by setting a corresponding (x1, y1) chroma coordinates for a target color temperature on a CIE1931 xyY chromaticity diagram, and then measuring the current color temperature of the display and converting it to a corresponding (x2, y2) chroma coordinate. The direction of a vector R between (x2, y2) to (x1, y1) is then found. The standard output of red (R), green (G), and blue (R) components are adjusted according to the direction of the vector R. Finally, the color temperature of the display is re-measured to determine if the adjusted display is now close to the target color temperature so as to determine whether fine-tuning processes should be repeated. This color temperature adjustment method relies primarily on experience rather than on an accurate analysis and requires a repetitive, time-consuming adjustment process.
Another prior art document, "Liquid display color temperature automatic adjustment system and method" (R.O.C. patent No. I246319) discloses a method for adjusting a display color temperature, which involves setting predetermined x, y values for a target color temperature; measuring x, y values of the display; respectively comparing two x, y values to determine whether increasing or decreasing of the standard output of the R, G, B components is required; and repeating the measuring and adjustment processes to cause the color temperature of the display to approach the target color temperature. However, on the CIE1931 xyY chromaticity diagram, the directions from the color temperature point to R, G, B points are not parallel to the x axis or the y axis, and increasing or decreasing any standard output of the R, G, B components, both x value and y values are changed simultaneously. Therefore, this method requires repetitive measuring and comparing to approach the color temperature point, which is time consuming and does not provide accurate results.
Another prior art document, "Color correction circuit and method for a liquid display," (R.O.C. published patent No. 200521605) discloses a method that comprises: establishing a color choosing unit having a color temperature value and gamma options; storing the color choosing unit in a read-only memory (ROM) to provide a plurality of sets of color temperature value and Gamma value (a scale between brightness and grey scale) options; after the user has selected one set, calculating a corresponding correction parameter of the selected color temperature value and gamma value using functional interpolation; and loading the correction parameter into a parameter register to correct the color temperature and gamma. This method can obtain results quicker than the previous two technologies (R.O.C. patent published No. 200532637 and R.O.C. patent No. I246319), however, it does not have an algorithm firmly based on scientific theory, and the accuracy and results are not very satisfactory.
It is therefore desirable to provide a method for adjusting color temperature that mitigates and/or obviates the aforementioned problems.

Method and device of obtaining a color temperature point


A seat structure for a vehicle of the present invention comprises a seat cushion frame, slide mechanisms including a pair of guide rails provided at a vehicle floor and a pair of sliders, a pair of connecting members connecting the pair of sliders and the seat cushion frame, a connection position of the connecting members and the seat cushion frame being located inward in a seat width direction relative to a connection position of the connecting members and the sliders, and a coupling member coupling the pair of connecting members in a vehicle width direction so as to restrain the pair of connecting members from moving inward in the seat width direction in a rear-end collision of the vehicle.

The present invention relates to a seat structure for a vehicle, and particularly to a seat structure for a vehicle which comprises a seat cushion, a seatback, and a headrest.
It is required for a seat of a vehicle to ensure the safety of a passenger in a rear-end collision of the vehicle, in addition to the performance of the seat itself, such as the function of holding a passenger's position and the comfortableness. The rear-end collision of the vehicle occurs when the vehicle is hit from behind by another vehicle or the vehicle moving backward hits against an obstacle or something. In the rear-end collision of the vehicle, a load acts on the seat from the rear, so that a passenger is pressed against a seatback and a headrest. In this case, it is necessary to control such that the position of a passenger's head portion does not improperly change relative to the headrest in order to prevent whipping of the passenger properly.
More specifically, in the vehicle rear-end collision, a rearward load operative to cause a rearward move of the seat relative to a vehicle body due to the force of inertia acts on the seatback mainly. Consequently, another load operative to push down a rear portion of the seat cushion in which the passenger is seated occurs, too. When the rear portion of the seat cushion lowers, there is a concern that the position, in a vertical direction, of the head portion of the passenger relative to the headrest may change improperly.
In general, the seat cushion of the seat includes a frame member, such as a seat cushion frame, and this frame member is connected to and supported at a pair of slide mechanisms (a guide rail and a slider, primarily) which are provided at right and left both-side portions of the seat fixed onto a vehicle floor via a bracket for seat fixing or a lifter mechanism. That is, between the side mechanisms and the seat cushion are provided a pair of right-and-left connecting members which connect the side mechanisms and the seat cushion and support the seat.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2012-148721, which shows the above-described fixation structure (support structure), discloses a seat structure in which a lifter mechanism is provided between a floor of a vehicle body and a seat cushion. According to the seat structure disclosed in the above-described patent document, the distance, in a vertical direction, between the floor and the seat cushion is so long because of providing the lifter mechanism that the amount of lowering of the rear end of the seat cushion tends to increase. Therefore, the seat structure of the patent document is configured such that a rear link of the lifter mechanism comes to contact a stopper in the rear-end collision, thereby restraining the amount of lowering of the rear end of the seat cushion.
Herein, the inventors of the present invention and others have considered a seat structure in which at both sides or one side of the pair of right-and-left connecting members, a connection position of the lifter mechanism and the seat cushion frame is located inward in a seat width direction relative to a connection position of the lifter mechanism and the slide mechanism in order to provide a properly small-sized lift mechanism for the light-weight achievement. However, in this seat structure, when the rear-end collision of the vehicle occurs, the lift mechanism tends to fall down toward the inside of a pair of slide rails (i.e., move inward in a seat width direction) due to the above-described load acting on the seat. Herein, there is problem in that in a case in which the above-described situation happens, the rear link and the stopper of the above-described patent document may not properly restrain the rear end portion of the seat from lowering.
Herein, in a case in which at both sides of a pair of right-and-left lift mechanisms, the connection positions of the lifter mechanisms and the seat cushion frame are located inward in the seat width direction relative to the connection positions of the lifter mechanisms and the slide mechanism, the passenger also lowers as an entire part of the rear portion of the seat cushion lowers, so that there is a problem in that the position of the passenger's head may change vertically relative to the headrest. Meanwhile, in a case in which at one side of the pair of right-and-left lift mechanisms, the connection position of the lifter mechanism and the seat cushion frame is located inward in the seat width direction relative to the connection position of the lifter mechanism and the slide mechanism, the passenger also slants as only the one side of the rear portion of the seat cushion lowers mainly, so that there is another problem in that the position of the passenger's head may change vertically and laterally relative to the headrest.
Further, the above-described problems happen not only to the seat equipped with the above-described lift mechanism(s) but also to a seat structure designed for different types of vehicle for commonality in which the width of a seat itself is set to be relatively short for a particular type of vehicle and a connection position of a bracket for seat fixation and a seat cushion frame is located inward in the seat width direction relative to a connection position of the bracket for seat fixation and a slide mechanism.


A force-transmitting arrangement (4) for a valve train (1) of an internal-combustion engine (2) is provided with hydraulic valve play compensation device (6) with a hollow cylindrical compensation piston (13). This borders, on one end, a working space (28) of the valve play compensation device (6) and, on the other end, a hydraulic medium reservoir (29), which is used for supplying the working space (32) and which is connected to a hydraulic medium supply (18) of the internal-combustion engine (2). Here, a run-off safety device (27) at least partially prevents a hydraulic medium flow from the hydraulic medium reservoir (29) in the direction of the hydraulic medium supply (23). The hydraulic medium reservoir (29) includes an inner storage space (15) enclosed by the compensation piston (13) and at least one outer storage space (52) located outside the compensation piston (13). The run-off safety device (27) is arranged as a component of the force-transmitting arrangement (4) between the hydraulic medium supply (23) and hydraulic medium reservoir (29).

Such force-transmitting arrangements are known to someone skilled in the art of valve controllers with hydraulic valve play compensation and are embodied according to the architecture of the internal-combustion engine. Thus, for the so-called "Overhead Camshaft" valve train construction also known as "OHC" with a camshaft arranged in the cylinder head, for the most part bucket tappets, rocker arms or finger levers, and also stationary pivot bearings for pivot levers are used, each with hydraulic valve play compensation.
In addition, such force-transmitting arrangements also find multipurpose use in the so-called "Overhead Valve" valve train arrangement also known in short as "OHV" predominantly for large-volume internal-combustion engines embodied as V engines. In the OHV arrangement, the valve train is characterized by a camshaft, which is supported in the engine block of the internal-combustion engine in the vicinity of the crankshaft and whose cam lobes are picked up by tappets as force-transmitting arrangements, which can move in the longitudinal direction and which are usually equipped with hydraulic valve play compensation, and are transformed into a stroke movement of each tappet which contacts the cam. The stroke movement of the tappet is typically transmitted to one or more gas-exchange valves allocated to the tappet via a tappet push rod, which activates a rocker arm supported in the cylinder head of the internal-combustion engine.
The known advantages of a hydraulic and thus automatic valve play compensation device includes, in particular, the elimination of the valve play adjustment at the initial assembly and service of the internal-combustion engine, its quiet running, and favorable exhaust-gas emission behavior. However, these advantages can be realized completely only under the assumption that the hydraulic valve play compensation device is functional or ready to function in all operating states, including standstill and starting of the internal-combustion engine. The essential basis for this obviously consists in a suitable supply of hydraulic medium to the valve play compensation device. For this purpose, the hydraulic medium is fed during the operation of the internal-combustion engine by a hydraulic-medium pump via supply lines to a compensation piston of the valve play compensation device, wherein the compensation piston borders a hydraulic pad used for transferring movement or force in a working space. The working space has a variable volume, because the compensation piston is always striving to adjust the height of the hydraulic pad enclosed by the working space, so that mechanical play in the valve train is eliminated during the stroke-free base circle phase of the cam. The compensation piston is typically formed with a hollow cylindrical shape and encloses a hydraulic medium reservoir, which supplies the working space with hydraulic medium via a non-return valve during valve play compensation movements, i.e., for an expanding working space. Here, it has proved to be useful that the volume of the hydraulic medium reservoir equals a multiple of the volume of the working space, in order to reliably exclude undesired suctioning of air or gas bubbles into the working space under all operating conditions of the internal-combustion engine.
A starting process of a cold internal-combustion engine represents an especially critical operating state in this condition, wherein the engine typically was turned off with one or more open gas-exchange valves, so that the compensation pistons of the associated valve play compensation devices have descended partially or completely due to extensive displacement of hydraulic medium from the working space due to the force effect of the gas-exchange valve spring and after a period of temporary standstill phase of the internal-combustion engine. In addition, during the starting process the hydraulic medium pump does not deliver any or a sufficient hydraulic medium volume flow to the compensation piston. In this respect, it is essentially the only task of the hydraulic medium reservoir to completely cover the considerable need for hydraulic medium of the working space during its expansion from the descended position of the compensation piston in its working position. An insufficiently large or an insufficiently filled hydraulic medium reservoir would inevitably lead to suctioning of air or gas bubbles into the working space. The consequences of a working space containing air or gas bubbles are known to someone skilled in the art and are perceived audibly and disruptively as so-called valve tapping primarily due to high contact speeds of the gas-exchange valve during its closing process.
The requirement for a sufficiently large hydraulic medium reservoir is increasingly in contrast with the goal of further reducing the installation space and/or the mass of the force-transmitting arrangement or for expanding the functionality of the force-transmitting arrangement for an unchanged installation space. The latter case includes, in particular, variable force-transmitting arrangements, which are formed as switchable cam followers and can transfer the strokes of various cams selectively to the gas-exchange valve according to the switching state of their coupling means and/or can completely cancel out the stroke of a cam. Thus, it is typical, for example, in switchable tappet push rod valve trains with an OHV arrangement to nest cam follower parts, which can move longitudinally relative to each other and which can be coupled to each other, so that the outer and attachment geometry of the cam follower can remain essentially unchanged. However, this usually requires a reduction in installation space of the hydraulic valve play compensation device and consequently a volume reduction of the hydraulic medium reservoir enclosed by the compensation piston with the previously mentioned risk and consequences of a lack of hydraulic medium supply to the working space.
This problem is often intensified in that the force-transmitting arrangement and with it the compensation piston together with the hydraulic medium reservoir are installed in the internal-combustion engine at an angle to the force of gravity. This can lead to a significant loss of hydraulic medium from the hydraulic medium reservoir, which also endangers successful refilling of the working space, because the hydraulic medium can return via supply openings from the hydraulic medium reservoir into the hydraulic medium supply.
In the state of the art, there are already approaches to solving this intensification of the problem mentioned above. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,688,319, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,364, and also in DE 197 54 016 A1, limiting means are proposed, which are supposed to prevent draining of the hydraulic medium reservoir. However, these limiting means are all arranged in the immediate area of the compensation piston and consequently can guarantee at most a filling level corresponding to the hydraulic medium reservoir enclosed directly by the compensation piston. Consequently, it can be necessary, especially for switchable cam followers with reduced installation space compensation pistons, to expand the then insufficiently large hydraulic medium reservoir by cavities located outside the compensation piston. In this case, the limiting means of the cited documents are unsuitable, because they cannot prevent return of hydraulic medium located outside of the compensation piston.

Force-transmitting arrangement for a valve train of an internal-combustion engine


A blur correcting lens driving apparatus of a camera in which a blur correcting lens is moved in a direction to eliminate a displacement, due to a camera shake, of an object image on a film plane, including a first rotary disk rotatably mounted to a stationary member of the camera to rotate about a first shaft parallel with an optical axis of the camera, a second rotary disk rotatably mounted to the first rotary disk to rotate about a second shaft parallel with the optical axis, a first motor provided on the stationary member of the camera to drive the first rotary disk about the first shaft, and a second motor provided on the first rotary disk to drive the second rotary disk about the second shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a blur correcting apparatus which prevents an image on a film plane from blurring, due to a displacement of an optical axis of a picture taking optical system of a camera, caused, for example, by camera shake. More precisely, it relates to a driving apparatus of a blur correcting lens in such a blur correcting apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Upon taking a hand-held photograph, an accidental movement of an optical axis of a picture taking optical system of the camera tends to occur due to a camera shake which is caused particularly when the camera is not held stably or firmly by the photographer, a picture of a dark object is taken at a slow shutter speed, or a photographer takes a picture while moving, etc. The blurred picture is not clearly seen due to the streaked image thereof. The blur caused by the camera shake can be eliminated to some extent, on one hand (solution from the viewpoint of hardware), by using a bright lens or increasing the film sensitivity to increase the shutter speed, and on the other hand (solution from the viewpoint of software) by improving the photographer's skill.
A solution to prevent the occurrence of blurring due to camera shake has been proposed, in which angular velocity or acceleration of the camera is detected and the blur correcting lens is moved opposite to the direction of camera shake to prevent movement of the image on the film plane.
However, to incorporate such a proposed blur correcting or preventing apparatus in a known compact camera, it is necessary to provide a simple, small and inexpensive blur correcting apparatus.

Apparatus for driving blur correcting lens in camera


The present invention relates to a novel compound which is useful as an agent for prevention and treatment of diseases associated with HDAC, in particular, tumor or cell proliferative diseases. The depsipeptide compound or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the present invention has a good HDAC inhibitory activity and an inhibitory activity of cell proliferation against human cancer cells and, therefore, is useful in treatment and improvement of diseases and pathogenic conditions associated with histone acetylation, in particular, tumor or cell proliferative diseases.

It is known that histone acetylation is controlled by the balance of histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC). Recently some HATs and HDACs were identified and reported to play an important role in the regulation of gene expression (Ogryzko, V. V. et al., Cell 87, 953–959, 1996, Brown, C. E. et al., Trends Biochem. Sci. 25(1), 15–19, 2000, Grozinger, C. M. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 96, 4868–4873, 1999).
On the other hand, it has been known that butyric acid having various functions such as cell cycle arrest, morphological normalization of transformed cells and induction of differentiation induces accumulation of a highly acetylated histones in cells and has an HDAC inhibitory activity (Counsens, L. S. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 254, 1716–1723, 1979). In addition, it was found out that Trichostatin A (TSA) which is a microorganism metabolite shows cell cycle arrest and induction of differentiation (Yoshida, M., et al., Cancer Res. 47, 3688–3691, 1987, Yoshida, M. et al., Exp. Cell Res. 177, 122–131, 1988) and induces apoptosis. TSA induces accumulation of a highly acetylated histones in cells, and from the study using partially purified HDAC, it was demonstrated that TSA is a strong HDAC inhibitor (Yoshida, M., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 265, 17174–17179, 1990).
The HDAC inhibitor has functions such as cell cycle arrest, morphological normalization of transformed cells, induction of differentiation, induction of apoptosis and inhibition of angiogenesis, therefore, the effect as an antitumor agent has been expected (Marks, P. A. et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 92, 1210–1216 2000, Kim, M. S. et al., Nature Med., 7, 437–443, 2001). Other than this, various applications have been attempted, for example, for an agent for treatment and improvement of cell proliferative diseases such as infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases and dermatologic diseases (Darkin-Rattray, S. J. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93, 13143–13147, 1996), an agent for prevention and treatment of progressive neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease (Steffan, J. S. et al., Nature, 413, 739–743, 2001), enhancement of the expression of an introduced gene (Chen, W. Y. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 94, 5798–5803, 1997) and the like, and it is expected to become an effective medicament.
In recent years, depsipeptide compounds derived from the culture broth of microorganisms having an HDAC inhibitory activity, for example, FK228 (see Non-Patent Reference 1) and the compounds A, B and C represented by the following formulae (see Patent References 1 and 2) have been reported. These compounds have a good HDAC inhibitory activity and are expected as a new type of antitumor agent.

However, even at present, development and production of a medicament whose intensity of activity, stability, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and the like and further improved has been awaited anxiously.    [Non-Patent Document 1] Nakajima, H. et al., "Experimental Cell Research", Vol. 241, 126–133, 1998    [Patent Document 1] International Patent WO 00/42062    [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2001–348340


Examples of a content alignment system are provided. The system may receive a content record and a content creation requirement. The system may implement an artificial intelligence component to sort the content record into a plurality of objects and for identifying an object boundary for each of the plurality of objects. The system may identify a plurality of images and implement a first cognitive learning operation to identify an image boundary for each of the plurality of images. The system may identify a plurality of exhibits and implement a second cognitive learning operation to identify a data pattern associated with each of the plurality of exhibits. The system may implement a third cognitive learning operation for determining a content creation model by evaluating the plurality of objects, the plurality of images, and the plurality of exhibits. The system may generate a content creation output to resolve the content creation requirement.

The importance of content marketing across various organizations has increased with the advent and rapid progression of digital marketing technologies. Various organizations across the globe have invested a vast amount of resources into the creation of effective product-related marketing text for content marketing. The marketing text may comprise, for example, a new product launch, a new feature highlight about an existing product, a new drug launch and its associated details on dosage, a set of health symptoms, and the like. This text may also include active hyperlinks, which may be useful for providing additional relevant information to a customer. Also, the marketing content may have to be configured to ensure compatibility with various digital channels such as, for example, email channels.
Many organizations may deploy various creative teams to create the marketing text for content marketing. Manual creation of an email compatible file from the marketing text may be cumbersome, complex, and time-intensive. Additionally, testing the email compatible file for assessing its quality against the marketing text may also be a labor-intensive time-consuming process. For example, the marketing text may involve substantial time and human resources with respect to work involved regarding the font size color, type of images, layout and the like. Furthermore, marketing text files may be manually compared to the email-compatible file for assessing features, such as, for example, spacing, font size, font color and type, superscripts and subscripts, an overall layout match, and the like. In addition to being susceptible to errors and time-intensive, a manual process of validating the marketing text with the email compatible file may not provide any quantitative values to identify the nature of the match and mismatch.
Therefore, to ensure effectiveness, efficiency and completeness, both qualitatively and quantitatively, a content alignment system may be required to ensure that a structure of the marketing text file in terms of segments and layout may automatically be transferred to the email compatible file. Additionally, there may be a requirement for a tool that may compare the email compatible file with the marketing text and highlight any differences between them. There may also be a requirement for a system to reduce the manual task of validation and also reduce the time needed to perform a quality assessment of the email compatible file.
Accordingly, a technical problem with the currently available systems for content alignment is that they may be inefficient, inaccurate, and/or not scalable. There is a need for a content alignment system that may account for the various factors mentioned above, amongst others, to generate an email compatible file from a given marketing text in an efficient and cost-effective manner.


A method and system for using key performance indicators of a transport channel to determine key quality indicators associated with information transported there through.

The transmission of video streams over internet protocol (IP) networks (referred to as IP-Video) may impair video quality in specific ways. Key considerations for how network errors impair video image (image quality loss) include the type of equipment used to decode the video stream and the subjective perception of the human viewer. The complexity of video decoding and the subjective nature of the image quality assessment make quantitative interpretation of "quality" difficult.

Method and apparatus for measuring subjective assessment of digital video impairment


According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for determining a power spectral density of an edge of at least one patterned feature situated over a semiconductor wafer includes measuring the edge of the at least one patterned feature at a number of points on the edge. The method further includes determining an autoregressive estimation of the edge of the at least one patterned feature using measured data corresponding to a number of points on the edge. The method further includes determining a power spectral density of the edge using autoregressive coefficients from the autoregressive estimation. The method further includes utilizing the power spectral density to characterize line edge roughness of the at least one patterned feature in a frequency domain.

As semiconductor devices provided by modern semiconductor technology continue to scale down in size, critical dimension variation across a semiconductor wafer can significantly affect the production yield and electrical performance of the devices fabricated on the wafer. A high percentage of the critical dimension variation is caused by "line edge roughness" resulting from lithographic processing of the semiconductor wafer. "Line edge roughness" refers to variations that occur along an edge of a patterned feature as a result of semiconductor wafer processing. To understand the specific causes of line edge roughness, power spectral density for an edge of a patterned feature, such as a transistor gate, can be determined and utilized to analyze the distribution of line edge roughness in the "frequency domain."
In the present application, "frequency domain" refers to the summation of frequencies into which line edge roughness can be resolved. Line edge roughness is typically measured in a spatial dimension, such as length of deviation from a reference line. However, the variations that occur along the length of an edge of a patterned feature, i.e. the line edge roughness, can be represented as a summation of different frequency components, i.e., the "frequency domain" of the line edge roughness.
In a conventional approach, line edge roughness can be represented in the frequency domain by determining power spectral density for an edge of a patterned feature by utilizing a fast Fourier transform algorithm. In the conventional approach, line edge roughness is typically measured by using a tool such as a scanning electron microscope. However, since the scanning electron microscope has limited sampling length and resolution, the power spectral density determined by the fast Fourier transform algorithm includes a large amount of noise, which undesirably reduces the accuracy of the line edge roughness represented by the power spectral density.

Method for determining low-noise power spectral density for characterizing line edge roughness in semiconductor wafer processing


A modular die cast enclosure comprising a top section with a top mid-plane and a bottom section with a bottom mid-plane and an internal bottom cover. The bottom section having one or more of a first type of connectors. The top section having one or more of a second type of connectors on. The internal bottom cover having one or more of a third type of connectors. Wherein said first type of connectors couple with said second type of connectors when the top section is placed on the bottom section and allow to electrically connect said top and bottom sections via said third type of connectors.

To develop a transceiver, the following characteristics are required:                High speed data transmission, up to 10 GHz.        Increased bandwidth.        Increased reliability.        Increased EMC immunity.        Tolerance to shock & vibration.
Low cost stranded wire or flat ribbon cables that interconnect PCBs cannot meet the required electrical performance. There is a need to provide these characteristics in a die-cast enclosure while providing an option to interchange enclosure halves (self-contained modules), in order to create product variants.

High performance modular die-cast enclosure system


A potential estimation apparatus estimates a potential of a photosensitive body of an image forming apparatus that carries out an electro-photography process using the photosensitive body. The potential estimation apparatus includes a sensor group for sensing and outputting data related to information which affects the electro-photography process, a storage unit for at least storing the data output from the sensor group and information related to charge of the photosensitive body, and an estimation circuit including a neural network for estimating a charged portion potential of the photosensitive body based on a charge retentivity of the photosensitive body learned by the neural network. The neural network in a learning mode receives at least one of the data output from the sensor group and time-sequentially sampled, and parameters which affect the charge retentivity of the photosensitive body as an input, and receives as a teaching value a charged portion potential which is obtained in advance with respect to at least an amount of charge and the charge retentivity of the photosensitive body.

The present invention generally relates to potential estimation apparatuses, and more particularly to a potential estimation apparatus which is suited for estimating a potential of an electro-photographic photosensitive body of an image forming apparatus that carries out an electrophotography process. In other words, the potential estimation apparatus is suited for use in a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine and the like which carry out image formation such as copying and printing by the electrophotography process.
Conventionally, various methods have been proposed to control the latent image in the electro-photography process. For example, there is a first method which measures the surface potential of a photosensitive drum using a surface electrometer, and looks up values for control input such as the charger voltage, the charging grid voltage and the exposure lamp voltage from a table using each measured value. This table prestores values (voltages in this case) for the control input which are obtained in advance for various measured values, and the latent image is controlled based on the values read from the table. On the other hand, there is a second method which feeds back the state of the image forming apparatus via sensors or the like while changing the control input, so as to find optimum control input by a PID control, for example.
However, according to the first method which looks up the table, there was a problem in that it is difficult to correctly grasp the characteristics of the photosensitive drum. In addition, according to the second method which uses the feedback control, the feedback loop must be repeated a plurality of times, that is, the charging and exposing processes are repeated, until an ideal controlled state is reached. For this reason, it takes time until the ideal controlled state is reached according to this second method, and there were problems in that the performance of the image forming apparatus itself deteriorates. In other words, the image forming speed per unit time deteriorates according to the second method, and it takes a long time until a first copy or print is formed by the image formation.
On the other hand, there is a proposed method which carries out a control to constantly form an image of a high quality by correcting the deterioration of the sensitivity based on the number of copies or prints made and the total rotational time of the photosensitive drum. However, this proposed method had a problem in that it is impossible to correct the deterioration of the potential characteristic which occurs on a short term basis due to the repetitive charging, exposure and discharging of the photosensitive drum.

Potential estimating apparatus using a plurality of neural networks for carrying out an electrographic process


The present invention is to provide an optical feedback control unit for determining an optical output by a feedback control, an optical communication system, a feedback control method, and a recording medium for recording a program. According to the present invention, even when used in the system to which a plurality of nodes are connected, the unstable system may become stable by the proper feedback control without being affected by the optical level change according to the polarized variation or the loss variation. In The optical feedback control unit according to the present invention, an optical output control portion determines an optical output by a feedback control using the result detected by a detection portion, a dead zone not performing the feedback control is set for the difference between the detected value from the detection portion and the control target value, and when the difference between the detected value and the control target value is within the dead zone, a width of the dead zone is set to be wider than that of the dead zone when the difference between the detected value and the control target value is out of the dead zone.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical feedback control unit for determining an optical output by a feedback control, an optical communication system, a feedback control method, and a recording medium for recording a program.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, a transmission technology such as a metropolitan WDM (wavelength division multiplexing) has been come into practical use, and an optical direct amplified transmission has been popularized in multiple node links. Generally, for example, an optical add/drop apparatus, a gain-deviation compensation apparatus (optical equalizer), and a wavelength cross-connect apparatus, etc. are disposed in each node, thereby performing a feedback control such that an optical output of each node is constant.
This feedback control is to compensate an optical level when changing a setting of the optical add/drop or the loss increase of parts over a long-term (several months or several years) span and the loss change of a transmission path when transferring obstruction.
The feedback period is regulated by a response and operation time of devices such as a wavelength blocker, a wavelength selection switch, and an optical channel monitor, or the like that are used in the above-mentioned apparatuses, the feedback period being about several hundreds ms to about several s. In addition, as the feedback control, there is a digital feedback that feedbacks quantity provided by a prescribed calculation in each prescribed period.
Furthermore, as an optical communication system related to the technology of the present invention, OADM (optical add/drop multiplexer) node that monitors a power level by branching off an inserted optical signal in an output unit of an optical amplifier to hold an optical output per channel of the inserted optical signal at a predetermined value being equalized to the optical output per channel of another optical signal is used (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2002-185407).
Furthermore, as the related art performing the feedback control, a continuously variable transmission stopping the feedback control sets a width of a dead zone during transmission to be smaller than that of the dead zone during non-transmission when a deviation between a target transmission ratio or a target rotation number and an actual transmission ratio or an actual input rotation number is within a prescribed dead zone (for example, see JP-A No. 2004-116537).
Hereinafter, the problems of each of the related arts will be described.
First, since the above-described feedback period is the comparable order as the period of an optical level change due to the loss of the transmission path and the polarized variation, unnecessary response behavior is sometimes shown so that it may become one factor making the system unstable.
FIG. 1 illustrates representative variable elements to be occurred in the optical communication system and variation span and variation quantity due to the variable elements. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the variation spans become short by means of the variable elements such as a setting modification of a breakdown or add/drop, but the variation span becomes long in a part degradation or season variation. Preferably, among the variable elements, the feedback control does not respond to the optical level due to the polarized variation or the loss variation but reliably can respond to the other variable elements.
Here, for example, when the feedback period is sufficiently (for example, more than ten times) longer than the variation period of the optical level due to the polarized variation or the loss variation, it can make no response to the optical level change due to the polarized variation or the loss variation. However, in this case, there is a problem that the response with respect to the optical level change which is to be quickly compensated, such as the optical level compensation, etc., during the breakdown or the setting modification is also delayed.
In addition, according to JP-A No. 2002-185407, the optical output per the channel of one optical signal is equalized to the optical output per the channel of another optical signal by the feedback control. Accordingly, there is no consideration to perform the stable feedback control without being affected by the optical level change due to the polarized variation or the loss variation.
Furthermore, according to JP-A No. 2004-116537, there is no consideration about the application to the optical signal and the width of the dead zone is only changed from the feedback control by the operation mode during the transmission or non-transmission so that there is no consideration to perform the stable feedback control in the system to which plural nodes are connected.
That is, in a case where the feedback control is performed in the optical communication system to which the plural nodes are connected, for example, when the fluctuation of the optical signal from the sending terminal occurs in the system configuration illustrated in FIG. 2, the feedback control is asynchronously initiated in each node so as to compensate the fluctuation. Since variable elements increase with forwarding downstream nodes, the stabilization is progressed in the order from an upstream node close to the sending terminal.
Here, the dead zone is uniformly installed irrespective of whether the system is the stabilized status or the fluctuation state as well as even in the state where the fluctuation occurs in the upstream, the feedback control is continuously performed until the width of the dead zone in the state where the system is stabilized.
In the upstream node, when the feedback control is performed until the dead zone in the state where the system is stabilized, the upstream node is stabilized, but there is a risk of increasing the variable elements in the downstream node. Therefore, it takes much time until the overall system is stabilized.
As described above, according to the feedback control of JP-A No. 2004-116537, there is no consideration to make the unstable system stabilize by the proper feedback control without being affected by the optical level change due to the polarized variation or the loss variation in the optical communication system to which the plural nodes are connected.

Optical feedback control unit, optical communication system, feedback control method, and recording medium for recording program


A method and system is provided for detecting a charging system fault in a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle includes an existing warning indicator driven by a first signal for indicating when one aspect of the motor vehicle performance is faulty. The method includes detecting a charge system fault, determining if the one aspect of the motor vehicle""s performance is faulty and, if so, driving the existing warning indicator with the first signal. If the one aspect is not faulty and a charge system fault has been detected, the method includes driving the existing warning indicator with a second signal corresponding to the detected charge system fault. The second signal provides a different visual indication than the first signal.

Motor vehicles include warning systems for providing audible, visible or other warning indications to a motor vehicle operator of a problem condition related to the performance of the motor vehicle. Often, the warning system include s a display panel that has indicators for signaling of fault conditions. Each indicator traditionally has a single function, warning against a particular condition that has been detected by the warning system.
A conventional display panel is limited in size. As a practical matter, the number of faults that can be detected in the complex motor vehicles of today far exceed the amount of space available in a conventional display panel. In some motor vehicles, such as motorcycles, the size of the display panel is severely restricted. Accordingly, conventional warning systems group similar faults creating generalized system level warning indicators (e.g., oil pressure, temperature, battery etc.) Users are alerted to the system level event and respond in accordance with operator instructions. In general, the warning system provides rudimentary information that must be investigated further as to its ultimate cause and correction. While the information is rudimentary, the value is often quite significant. If the motor vehicle operator chooses to disregard the detected fault, permanent damage to the motor vehicle and/or its systems can result.
In one aspect, the invention provides a fault detector for determining a charge system fault in a motor vehicle charging system using an existing warning indicator on a display panel of the motor vehicle. The fault detector includes a charge isolator receiving as an input a signal indicative of the charge voltage provided from an alternator of the motor vehicle to the battery, a charge power loss detector operable to determine when a voltage level of the input signal is less than a predetermined threshold, a flasher operable to generate a pulsed signal if the voltage level of the in put signal is less than the predetermined threshold and signaling logic operable to transmit the pulsed signal to an existing warning indicator on a display panel of the motor vehicle, detect a fault associated with the existing warning signal and prioritize between the fault and the charge system fault including selecting a higher priority fault to drive the existing warning indicator.
Aspects of the invention can include one or more of the following features. The fault detector can include a flasher timer for controlling a duty cycle of the pulsed signal. The fault detector can include motor vehicle shut-off logic for detecting when the motor vehicle is not operating, and flasher power shut-off logic for shutting down the flasher when the motor vehicle is not operating. The fault detector can include a flasher amplifier operable to receive the pulsed signal and drive the existing warning indictor at a steady rate. The flasher can be an integrated circuit. The fault detector can be a CMOS integrated circuit operating as a monolithic timer in an a stable configuration. The motor vehicle can be a motorcycle, snowmobile, Altra-lite aircraft, or motorboat. The existing warning indicator can be a low oil pressure indicator. The charge isolator can be a rectifier isolation diode. The signaling logic can be operable to transmit the pulsed signal to an existing warning indicator on a display panel of the motor vehicle if a charge system fault is detected and disable the transmission of the pulsed signal to the existing warning signal if the fault associated with the existing warning indicator is detected. The fault associated with the existing warning indicator can be a low oil pressure fault. The oil pressure fault can have a higher priority than a charging system fault. The charger isolator can be operable to isolate the charging system from the motor vehicle""s load and a battery. The charger isolator can be operable to current limit received signals. The existing warning indicator can be selected from the group of a low oil pressure indicator, a high oil temperature indicator, a high water temperature indicator and a low fuel indicator.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method for detecting a charging system fault in a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle includes a low oil pressure warning indicator for indicating when oil pressure for the motor vehicle is too low. The method includes detecting a charge system fault, determining if the oil pressure is too low, and if so, driving the low oil pressure warning indicator with a first signal. If the oil pressure is within an acceptable range, and if a charging system fault is detected, the method includes driving the low oil pressure warning indicator with a second signal that is distinct from the first signal used to drive the low oil pressure warning indicator when oil pressure is too low.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method for detecting a charging system fault in a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle includes an existing warning indicator driven by a first signal for indicating when one aspect of the motor vehicle performance is faulty. The method includes detecting a charge system fault, determining if the one aspect of the motor vehicle""s performance is faulty and, if so, driving the existing warning indicator with the first signal. If the one aspect is not faulty and a charge system fault has been detected, the method includes driving the existing warning indicator with a second signal corresponding to the detected charge system fault. The second signal provides a different visual indication than the first signal.
Aspects of the invention can include one or more of the following advantages. A self-contained, hermetically sealed, alternator-charging system fault detector for any battery charging system is proposed. The battery charging system can be included on a motorcycle snowmobile, motorboat, Altra-lite aircraft and the like. The alternator-charging system utilizes existing vehicle wiring and fault displays. A fault detector uses a single, instrument panel mounted, indicator (e.g., low oil pressure light) for two operational meanings. In a first operational mode, the fault detector operates to detect an alternator low voltage output condition. Upon detecting the alternator low voltage output, the fault detector operates to cause the flashing of the (low oil pressure) indicator. In a second operational mode, when a loss of oil pressure is detected, the oil pressure indicator is illuminated steadily. Both of the fault modes indicate a very serious condition, however, the engine having low oil pressure is generally deemed to be of a more critical nature. A system is provided for prioritizing among the plurality of faults associated with a single fault indicator, and includes a priority indication to distinguish the higher priority fault in the event of a dual system failure.

Alternator-charging system fault detector