Camera dolly track has adjustable width and is foldable for transport or storage. A track section has first and second rails connected via first and second cross braces. The cross brace includes a first bar pivotally attached to the first rail, and a second bar pivotally attached to the second rail. The first bar is securable onto the second bar at multiple positions along the second bar, to change the length of the cross brace to allow a track width of the dolly track to be changed. The length of the cross brace may be changed via a straight slot in the first bar and at least one projection in the second bar extending into the slot, to allow the bars to slide in and out over each other.

In motion picture, video and television production, smooth camera movement is essential. To this end, the camera is often supported on a camera dolly, especially for tracking shots where the camera is moved to follow the subject. The camera dolly is typically pushed or driven with the camera dolly wheels rolling on the ground. However, when filming on outdoor sets such as grass, snow, beaches or other uneven surfaces, dolly track is used. Dolly track generally has two tubular parallel rail sections joined by spreaders or ties, similar to railroad track. The wheels of the camera dolly are adapted to fit onto the rails.
The track is provide in straight and curved sections of varying lengths, with the sections joined together to provide the desired track route. The track provides a uniform and rigid surface for the dolly to allow for smooth filming. With some types of track, the rails are pivotally attached to the spreaders, to allow the track sections to fold inwardly for storage or transport. Although various forms of camera dolly track have been used, improvements are needed to provide better performance and versatility.

Adjustable width and folding camera dolly track


A system and method in a communications network of testing a communications link between Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) and a Broadband Remote Access Server (BBRAS). The CPE and BBRAS communicate mutually via an intermediate Internet Protocol Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (IPDSLAM). The CPE is connected to the IPDSLAM via an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) link, and the BBRAS is connected to the IPDSLAM via an Ethernet link. When a customer complaint is received in a Customer Care Center (CCC), the IPDSLAM is instructed to test the link. The IPDSLAM executes a first loop-back test with the CPE according to the ATM standard, and executes a second loop-back test with the BBRAS according to the Ethernet standard. The results of the first and second loop-back tests are reported to the CCC.

Traditionally, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks have been based on Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) technology. ATM is a high-speed cell-based data transmission protocol. A Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) is a device that takes a number of DSL subscriber lines and concentrates them onto a single ATM line. Today's DSLAM network infrastructure is based on ATM technology between Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) on one side of the DSLAM and a Broadband Remote Access Server (BBRAS) on the other side of the DSLAM.
An ATM layer loop-back capability allows for operations-related information to be inserted at one location along a Virtual Path Connection (VPC) and to be returned or looped-back at a different location. When a customer has a complaint, operators normally execute a loop-back command in the BBRAS for testing the ATM Virtual Circuit towards the CPE. The CPE answers back with a loop-back signal. This test verifies the physical link between the CPE and the BBRAS. The bases for this functionality are described in ITU-T I.610, which is incorporated by reference herein.
DSLAM products have recently been launched based on Ethernet DSL technology. Instead of communicating mutually via only one transmission media, network nodes may mutually communicate via more than one transmission media. This creates a problem, however, in testing the connection between the CPE and the BBRAS. Operators, of course, desire to have the same testing functionality as they have in their existing DSL network in which ATM is used all the way from the CPE to the BBRAS. By adding Ethernet into the broadband network, however, the standard testing method is limited to the part of the connection between the DSLAM and the CPE (i.e., where ATM is used). A full verification of the connection between the CPE and the broadband network, which is based partly on ATM technology and partly on switched Ethernet, cannot be executed in the operator's network according to standard practice.


A method of dynamically modifying web page displays used in various mobile devices. The method uses a motion detection mechanism to detect whether the mobile device is moving or in motion and then modifies web page displays sent to the device based upon the sensor readings. As such, the method, system, and apparatus are capable of automatically modifying a display provided to a mobile device based upon a determination that the user and/or device are moving and/or in motion. In another aspect, the method, system, and apparatus are also capable of modifying the complexity of a display provided to a mobile device based upon the degree of movement and/or motion by the user and/or device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of the transfer of electronic information and, more particularly, to displays of web pages on mobile devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the growth of wireless mobile devices, there is a concurrent growth with providing adaptability and improved ease of use and interactivity. The mobile wireless device may be any device capable of receiving a visual communication from a wireless or non-wireless device or network, a server or other communication network, including, but not limited to, a cellular phone, a laptop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), a pager, a smart phone, or any other suitable device as recognized by one having ordinary skill in the art to receive visual communication.
Highly miniaturized computing devices, such as handheld computers and PDAs, have significant operational limitations as a consequence of their small size. In particular, the visual display is highly constrained: the small size greatly restricts the size of images and/or data displayed to the screen.
Accordingly, due to the size of screens, one of the major problems facing users of mobile devices is the ability to read what is displayed on the screen of the device while the user is in motion. A user that is in motion may not be able to read the display on the mobile device, while a user that is stationary would be able to read the display. The bulk of mobile screens that have been developed are suitable for stationary users, but difficult for users on the move to read. For example, it is easy to check one's flight schedule if one is sitting at an airport terminal. However, a traveler who is rushing from one gate to another is unlikely to use his personal digital assistant (PDA) to confirm the departure gate as he would likely have to stop to read the display, which would cost the traveler time he may not have.
There have been a few proposed solutions to this problem. One technique is the development and use of very simple screens that may be easily read by the user on the move, as well as by the stationary user. The disadvantage of this technique is that the stationary user may find these simple screens to be simple and dull and may not use it, in part, due to the limited amount of information provided.
Another proposed option is to provide a profile that a user may specify it they wish to see a simple screen, a medium screen or a complex screen. The appropriate screen would then be displayed. The disadvantage of this technique is that the user has to manually modify the profile when their situation changes, and many users will not or can not do this, especially a user suddenly on the move attempting to change their preference from a complex screen to a simpler one.
Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a system and method that is capable of automatically modifying a display provided to a mobile device based upon a determination that the user and/or device are moving and/or in motion. It would also be beneficial to provide a system and method that is capable of automatically modifying the complexity of a display provided to a mobile device based upon the degree of movement and/or motion by the user and/or device.

Method and apparatus for dynamically modifying web page display for mobile devices

International Business Machines Corporation


A saddle ride type all-terrain vehicle includes left and right front wheels supported independently of each other on a vehicle body such that driving power is transmitted to said front wheels by way of a pair of left and right drive shafts extending from a driving source side. The vehicle also includes universal couplings provided at opposite end portions of each of the drive shafts, covered by rubber boots. The vehicle further includes a protector for covering the rubber boots.

In general, a protector for a saddle ride type all-terrain vehicle (hereinafter referred to as "ATV") is known wherein the protector is attached to a suspension arm.
A protector of this type has an upper side arm member attached for upward and downward movement on a frame through a bearing, and a lower side arm member attached for upward and downward movement on the frame through a bearing. A protector of this type also has a knuckle connected to free ends of the upper side arm member and the lower side arm member, and a front wheel attached to the knuckle for rotation. A protector of this type also has a drive shaft structure for transmitting driving force, wherein a guard plate is attached to the lower side arm member. One example of such a structure is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-open No. Hei 6-37090.
FIG. 3 of Japanese Utility Model Laid-open No. Hei 6-37090 is shown as FIG. 14 in the present application. It is to be noted that reference numerals are re-numbered.
FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of a conventional protector for an ATV. An upper side arm member 203 is attached for upward and downward movement on a frame 201 through a bearing 202, and a lower side arm member 206 is attached similarly for upward and downward movement on the frame 201 through a bearing 204. A knuckle 207 is connected to free ends of the upper side arm member 203 and the lower side arm member 206, and a front wheel 208 is attached for rotation on the knuckle 207. A drive shaft 211 extends from a front wheel def (not shown) on the driving source side to the front wheel 208 to form a structure for transmitting driving force. A guard plate 212 is attached to the lower side arm member 206.
According to the structure disclosed in FIG. 14, although the guard plate 212 covers a central portion of the drive shaft 211, it does not cover the opposite end portions of the drive shaft 211. Therefore, another countermeasure is sometimes required, for example, against a flying stone or the like from a place in the proximity of the frame 201 or from a place in the proximity of the knuckle 207.
For example, when the front wheel 208 is steered, since the knuckle 207 is rocked to move forwardly and backwardly together with the front wheel 208, a rubber boot that covers a front portion of the drive shaft 211, for example, a universal coupling provided on the drive shaft 211, is sometimes detached from the guard plate 212.
Further, where a brake caliper for a disk brake is attached to the knuckle 207, the guard plate 212 is sometimes disposed in a spaced relationship by a great distance from the knuckle 207 so that, upon steering of the front wheel 208, the brake caliper may not interfere with the guard plate 212. In this instance, since the gap between the guard plate 212 and the rubber boot becomes greater, the possibility that a countermeasure for the rubber boot may be required increases. It is an object of the present invention to improve a protector for an ATV to effectively protect a rubber boot provided for a drive shaft, particularly for a universal coupling.
In the case of such a structure adapted for an ATV, although the guard plate covers a central portion of the drive shaft, it does not cover the opposite end portions of the drive shaft. Therefore, another countermeasure is sometimes required, for example, against a flying stone or the like from a place in the proximity of the frame or from a place in the proximity of the knuckle.
Also, in the case of such a structure, when the front wheel is steered, since the knuckle is rocked to move forwardly and backwardly together with the front wheel, a rubber boot that covers a front portion of the drive shaft, for example, a universal coupling provided on the drive shaft, is sometimes detached from the guard plate.
Further, where a brake caliper is attached to the knuckle, the guard plate is often disposed an even greater distance from the knuckle so that, upon steering of the front wheel, the brake caliper does not interfere with the guard plate. Because of this, a countermeasure may be required for protecting the rubber boot.
Moreover, an ATV often travels on muddy and/or snowy surfaces. Because of this, a location behind the guard plate sometimes becomes a place where mud, snow, or the like is piled up on the lower arm member. Although the mud, snow, or the like may be removed before traveling or after traveling, removal of the mud, snow, or the like by manual operation is cumbersome.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to improve a protector for an ATV to effectively protect a rubber boot provided for a drive shaft, particularly for a universal coupling. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to allow for easy removal of mud, snow, or the like piled up on a suspension arm in an ATV without depending on manual operation.

Protector for a saddle ride type all-terrain vehicle


An air conditioner for automotive vehicle use intended to prevent a defrosting operation in an instantaneous foot-defroster mode. The DEF mode in which air mainly from a DEF opening is blown toward the windshield is set by an exclusive front DEF switch. The F/D mode for blowing a substantially equal amount of air to the windshield and the feet of the occupants from the DEF opening and the FOOT opening, respectively, together with the other blow modes (FACE, B/L, FOOT), are sequentially switched for each operation of the blow mode switch in a predetermined sequence. In the case where the F/D mode is selected, the air condition control operation is not performed nor is the blow mode displayed in F/D mode before the lapse of a predetermined length of time (about 1 second). In the case where the blow mode other than F/D mode is desired, therefore, the unrequired control operation in F/D mode is not performed and the instantaneous change is not displayed even though the F/D mode is unavoidably passed-through.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates an air conditioner for automotive vehicle use.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional air conditioner for automotive vehicle use is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 60-4409, wherein in the case where the vehicle window is frosted, an occupant depresses a switch (DEF switch) to blow the air from the defroster air outlet and thus to quickly blow off the frost from the vehicle window by increasing the air capacity from a minimum level.
In another conventional air conditioner for automotive vehicle use, in the case where an occupant selects a foot-defroster mode to blow air from both the foot air outlet and the defroster air outlet, the air capacity is increased or the refrigerant compressor for the evaporator is activated to blow the dehumidifying air or the internal-external air switching means is switched to external air side to quickly defrost the window.
The foot-defroster mode may be selected not by an exclusive switch such as the DEF switch to set the defroster mode but by a change-over switch to switch the air outlets. The air outlet change-over switch, however, is required to be depressed a plurality of times to select the foot-defroster mode by sequentially switching a plurality of blow modes. Therefore, the occupant, even if not desirous of the foot-defroster mode, is required to pass through the foot-defroster mode by the air outlet switching operation. In the process, a problem is posed that the foot-defroster mode operation is undesirably performed, though temporarily, to increase the air capacity or activate the compressor.


A method of ameliorating the hidden node problem in wireless local area networks employing power control is disclosed. The illustrative embodiments function in a variety of ways that have a common theme: while the Data Frames are transmitted at lesser potency, at least one of the control frames—Request-to-Send, Clear-to-Send, and Acknowledgement—associated with the Data Frame are sent at a greater potency. This causes at least one of the “loud” control frames to be heard and decoded by all of the potentially contending stations. And because the control frames carry duration information for the virtual carrier sense mechanism, their reception suppresses transmissions by potentially-contending stations that cannot sense the “quiet” Data Frames.

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram of an IEEE 802.11-compliant wireless local area network, which comprises: station 101-1, station 101-2, which is an access point, and station 101-3. The communications between station 101-1, station 101-2, and station 101-3 occur within a shared-communications channel, and, therefore, a medium access control protocol is used to allocate usage of the channel among the stations.
In accordance with the IEEE 802.11 standard, one medium access control protocol used by the stations is carrier sense multiple access. In accordance with carrier sense multiple access, a station desiring to transmit a frame first listens to the channel and transmits only when it fails to sense another transmission.
For the purposes of this specification, the "potency" of a transmitted frame is defined as the effective spatial reach of the transmitted frame. As is well-known to those skilled in the art, the potency of a frame can be adjusted by the transmitter and is affected by the energy per bit at which the frame is transmitted. When, as in FIG. 1, each station is within the transmission range of every other station, carrier sense multiple access works well. In contrast, when every station is not within transmission range of every other station, as in FIG. 2, carrier sense multiple access might not work as well. For example, when station 201-1 transmits a Frame, station 201-3 will not sense it, and, therefore, might begin a transmission that prevents station 201-2 from correctly receiving either transmission. This is known as the "hidden" node problem.
The IEEE 802.11 standard addresses the hidden node problem with a mechanism known as Request-to-Send/Clear-to-Send. The message flow associated with the Request-to-Send/Clear-to-Send mechanism is depicted in FIG. 3.
In accordance with the Request-to-Send/Clear-to-Send mechanism, station 201-1 sends a Request-to-Send Frame at time t0 to all of the stations within its transmission range (i.e., station 201-2). The Request-to-Send Frame contains a duration value that extends through the duration of the Clear-to-Send Frame and any Data and Acknowledgement Frames that station 201-1 expects will be transmitted as part of its request. All of the stations within the transmission range of station 201-1 receive and decode the Request-to-Send Frame to recover the value in the duration field. The value in the duration field is then used to populate a timer, called the Network Allocation Vector, which indicates how long those stations are to refrain from transmitting, regardless of whether they sense a transmission in the channel or not.
In response to the receipt of the Request-to-Send Frame, station 201-2 transmits a Clear-to-Send Frame at time t2 to all of the stations within its transmission range (i.e., station 201-1 and station 201-3). The Clear-to-Send Frame contains a duration value that extends through the duration of any Data and Acknowledgement Frames that station 201-1 desires to transmit. All of the stations within the transmission range of station 201-2 receive and decode the Request-to-Send Frame to recover the value in the duration field. The value in the duration field is then used to populate their Network Allocation Vector.
In this way, the Request-to-Send/Clear-to-Send mechanism addresses the hidden node problem by ensuring that station 201-3 will not transmit while station 201-1 is transmitting its Data Frame to station 201-2.

Transmit power management in shared-communications channel networks


Each nonvolatile memory cell transistor has such directivities that a current flows only from the drain to the source and that charge is exchangeable only at the source. The source of one of a pair of memory cell transistors connected to each word line is connected to the drain of the other memory cell transistor, and the drain of the one memory cell transistor is connected to the source of the other. During a data rewrite operation, reverse voltages are applied to the sources and drains of the pair of memory cell transistors. Because of the directivities of each memory cell transistor, charge is exchanged with a charge accumulation layer only in the source region. This makes the data rewritable in only one of the pair of memory cell transistors. As a result, data is rewritable on a memory cell basis without increasing the memory cell size.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nonvolatile semiconductor memories such as EEPROMs store data by injecting electrons into a charge accumulation layer of a memory cell and thereby changing the threshold voltage of the memory cell. In general, a state that the threshold voltage is high and no current flows through the memory cell during a read operation is a state that data "0" has been written (0-state, programmed state), and a state that the threshold voltage is low and a current flows through the memory cell during a read operation is a state that data "1" has been written (1-state, erased state). A 0-state or a 1-state is detected by comparing a current (memory cell current) that flows through the memory cell during a read operation with a reference current that flows through a reference memory cell. The outline of this kind of nonvolatile semiconductor memory is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-61505, for example.
In general byte-rewrite-type EEPROMs, data can be written or erased on a memory cell basis. However, in EEPROMs, a select gate (select transistor) needs to be provided for each memory cell to connect a gate line (word line) and a bit line to the control gate of each memory cell. As a result, the memory cell area is large and hence EEPROMs are not suitable for large-capacity storage.
On the other hand, flash memories have been developed in which the memory cell area can be reduced though the unit of data rewriting is increased. Flash memories do not have select gates and each word line is connected to the control gates of plural memory cells together. Each source line is wired so as to be common to each of blocks that are a unit of rewriting. In flash memories, an erase operation is performed on a block-by-block basis or a full-chip basis. In general flash memories, the minimum unit of erasure (block size) is about 8 Kbytes.
Although flash memories of the above kind enable construction of a large-capacity memory, they have a disadvantage that data cannot be rewritten on a memory cell basis. As such, flash memories of the above kind are restricted in use.
In general, not all memory cells have the same characteristic. Therefore, even if the same electric field is applied to memory cells, resulting threshold voltage variations are not identical. That is, charge exchange rates vary. In flash memories, data of the memory cells in a block are erased together. Therefore, if a memory cell that is high in the tendency to release electrons from a charge accumulation layer exists in a block, the threshold voltage of that memory cell becomes negative (over-erased cell) during an erase operation.
FIG. 1 shows an attempt to read data from a memory cell that is connected to the same bit line as an over-erased cell is connected to. This example is directed to a NOR-type flash memory.
In the figure, electrons are accumulated in the floating gate of a memory cell MC1 as a result of a write operation and a logical value "0" is stored there. Memory cells MC2 and MC3 store a logical value "1" because electrons have been released from their floating gates as a result of an erase operation. Because of a high charge exchange rate, the threshold voltage of the memory cell MC2 is made negative (over-erased cell) as a result of the preceding erase operation.
To read data from the memory cell MC1, a high voltage "H" is supplied to a word line WL1 that is connected to the memory cell MC1 and a low voltage "L" (e.g., ground potential) is supplied to word lines WL2 and WL3 that are connected to the other memory cells MC2 and MC3. The ground voltage is supplied to a source line SL.
If the threshold voltages of the memory cells MC1–MC3 were set at correct values, no current would flow from a bit line BL to the source line SL even if the voltage of the word line WL1 is set at the high voltage "H." Therefore, it could be judged as a result of the read operation that a logical value "0" is stored in the memory cell MC1. However, since the memory cell MC2 is in the over-erased state, a current flows from the bit line BL to the source line SL via the memory cell MC2 even if the gate voltage of the memory cell MC2 is 0 V. As a result, it is judged that a logical value "1" is stored in the memory cell MC1. That is, the presence of the over-erased cell causes incorrect data reading.
One measure for preventing over-erasure is to manage the threshold voltage of each memory cell so that it is set higher than usual in an erased state. However, in this case, the difference between a threshold voltage of a memory cell in an erased state and that of the memory cell in a written state is decreased. This lowers the read margin.
Another measure for preventing over-erasure is to apply erasing voltages plural times in a divisional manner. Threshold voltage variations are reduced and an event that many memory cells are rendered in an over-erased state at one time is thereby prevented. A measure for enabling an easy recovery from an over-erased state even in the event of the over-erasure is also taken. However, in this case, the erase time is increased.


A method of purifying or sanitizing contaminated water to be potable, by exposing the water in the presence of light, to an electrically neutral metal complex of a perfluoroalkylated fluorinated phthalocyanine photosensitizer, having only external R groups with C—F bonds, preferably F64PcZn; whereby, a sufficient quantity of singlet oxygen is provided by the chemical reaction of the light and the photosensitizer to destroy the pollutants or pathogens present in the contaminated water.

Sewage effluent, industrial pollutants, surface runoff, animal waste and carcasses impact the potability of water worldwide. In many parts of the world, bacteria, protozoa, and/or parasites also impact the potability of water-particularly significant pathogens including: Giardia lamblia, a flagellated protozoan parasite, and Cryptosporidium, a genus of protozoan, which commonly cause diarrhea. To address such pollutants and pathogens, the sterilization of water is a critical need. Common methods such as filtering or boiling water may not be fully effective. Filtering can remove most bacteria and protozoa, but not viruses. Bacteria form spores that are resistant to boiling. Further, some strains of bacteria are resistant to heat above the boiling temperature of water.
Alternative chemical means of purification, such as the use, for example, of chlorine, chlorine dioxide, silver ion/chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), iodine, or ozone, can be hazardous—as such materials themselves are potentially hazardous to the user and the environment. Further, neither chlorine nor iodine alone is considered completely effective against Cryptosporidium, although they are partially effective against Giardia. Other known chemical means, such as the use of bromine ion exchange resins and granular calcium hypochlorite are generally not effective in killing highly resistant microorganisms.
Further, alternative means of water purification involve electrochemical sterilization, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,236,992, 4,308,117, 4,555,323, and 4,761,208, which means the use of electrodes and/or electrolytic cells. Electrochemical methods, as disclosed in these patents, require a power source, are relatively expensive while using and discharging materials which are potentially hazardous. The requirement of a power source is particularly restrictive.
Finally, an alternative nonchemical mean, such as the use of ultraviolet radiation is not effective in turbid water, and not very effective against viruses. Also, the use of relatively low intensity natural sun light UVA radiation can take significant time to produce the desired sterilization, and the use of relatively more intense artificial ultraviolet radiation can be potentially harmful to the user and also requires a power source and relatively significant cost.
As stated above, ozone (O3, also known as trioxygen) is one of the alternative chemical means of purification, functioning as a powerful oxidant; however, O3 is known to damage mucus and respiratory tissues in animals, and to damage plant tissues. Another form of oxygen is singlet oxygen (or 1O2) which is less stable than triplet oxygen, the O2 present in air, lasting only a about an hour at room temperature—depending on the local environment—so as not to be as environmentally damaging as ozone. Singlet oxygen is a very reactive oxidant, which is known as a means of killing cancer cells in photodynamic therapy. Also, work by P. Wentworth, Jr., et al, Science (2002) 298, 2195, indicates that singlet oxygen might form in aqueous biological environments dihydrogen trioxide (HOOOH), a powerful oxidant that antibodies might use to destroy bacteria. Interestingly, further, Maria C. DeRosa, et al, in an article titled: Photosensitized singlet oxygen and its applications, Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 233-234 (2002), pgs. 351-371, reported that significant work has been done on the use of photosensitized singlet oxygen in oxidation reactions for use in wastewater treatment. For example, with respect to use of photosensitized singlet oxygen for the conversion of sulfide to sulfate in aqueous solution—a reaction which is important in wastewater treatment—DeRosa reported on the use of Al(III), Zn(II), and Ga(III) complexes of anionic 2,9,16,23-tetrasulfophthaloxyanine, with the addition of oppositely, i.e. positively charged detergents to discourage aggregation; especially, Zn(II) phthalocyanine; Zn(II)-2,9,16,23-phthalocyanine tetracarboxylic acid; and/or sulfated phthalocyanine. DeRosa concluded that Zinc phthalocyanines showed oxygen consumption consistent with the complete conversion of sulfide to sulfate in aqueous solutions (and photosensitized singlet oxygen was thought to be responsible for the photooxidation). DeRosa opined that, once again, the use of detergents, such as cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAC) strongly enhances the photoactivity of the sensitizers that have high aggregation tendencies—such as the subject phthalocyanines—and that detergents are required to avoid such aggregation that reduces reactivity. However, detergents such as CTAC are known to be very toxic to aquatic organisms, to be harmful if ingested, damaging to the eyes and irritating to the skin, and, to cause serious defects in developing embryos. Further, due to the C—H bonds and other functional groups of the photosensitizers disclosed by DeRosa et al, these materials are subject to self-destruction by the singlet oxygen that they produce.
There is clearly a need in the art for effective, quick, economically, and non-hazardous, environmentally friendly means to sterilize water and make it potable for human consumption; such as the use of photosensitized singlet oxygen—which are stable and not subject to destruction by singlet oxygen.

Fluorophthalocyanine photodynamic water sterilization

The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army


A cover for plastic pails having a dispensing closure adjacent the cover periphery which allows unimpeded flow of liquid from the pail. An anti-glug vent device is integrally molded in the cover diametrically opposite from the dispensing closure to permit surge free, controlled pouring. A vent panel is disposed in the central top wall of the cover bounded by a cutting zone of reduced cross section and a hinge connection to the cover. An axially disposed actuating lever extends upwardly from the central area of the vent panel. To activate the vent for smooth pouring, the cutting zone is cut with a knife or punctured with a screw driver allowing the vent to open by pushing the actuating lever away from the cutting zone causing the vent panel to pivot about the hinge connection. To reclose the vent, the pivoting action on the actuating lever is reversed causing the cutting zone on the vent panel to become frictionally engaged within the resulting opening in the pail cover.

In the dispensing of fluid from large volume containers such as five gallon pails achieving a smooth rapid flow without surging or gluging is always desirable. Such nonpulsating flow is currently accomplished by a variety of arrangements all of which are successful to a degree and al of which have certain deficiencies which the invention seeks to overcome. Incorporating an anti-glug feature in the primary pouring spout dispensing closure is perhaps the most popular approach in that it avoids any addition of labor in the pail manufacture. Such vented dispensing closures, however, are frequently more costly to produce but more importantly, their construction which attempts to freely permit the entry of air at atmospheric pressure, significantly restricts the outflow of fluid. The resulting dispensing performance of these arrangements where air is trying to enter and fluid is trying to exit through the same opening can only be characterized as "disappointing". Another common and very effective arrangement is to provide a completely separate vent closure inserted in the container top diametrically opposite the dispensing closure. This construction produces an excellent flow characteristic but is quite costly in pail manufacturing terms due to the additional component and labor for its insertion. The most cost effective approach, of course, is to simply punch a hole in the top of the container opposite the dispensing closure. This method lacks practicality in that it tends to freely let fluid out and foreign matter in. Finally, several arrangements have been brought forward attempting to integrate an anti-glug vent into the structure of the pail top which have obvious security advantages but have fallen short of commercial use due to undue complexity of molding or impracticality of function.

Royal Packaging Industries Van Leer N.V.


A position processor can be mounted on the head of an athlete by means of, for example, a head band. The position processor includes a sensor in the form of a twelve position mercury switch for sensing the direction and angle of tilt of the head. The ON/OFF states of the switches of the sensor are sampled by a multiplexer under the control of a microprocesor. The multiplexer presents the ON/OFF states to the microprocessor for further procesing. Software of the microprocessor processes the sensed ON/OFF states through filtering and hysterisis algorithms and conveys the processed states as positional information to the athlete as a pattern of lights and tones. Proper and improper head positions are indicated for a plurality of directions of tilt. The system uses software filtering to provide hysterisis in order to eliminate rapid changes of state of the switches of the sensor due to sporadic movement caused by the motion of the athelete. The training system is user controllable by means of rotary switches to adjust, among other things, the level of sensitivity of the system.

It is a problem to reliably and acurately monitor the position of a human body during various activities. For example, is important for athletes to monitor and maintain proper body position while performing or training for athletic events. In the game of tennis, it is particularly important for the tennis player to keep his or her head in what is known as a "head-up" position, not only when approaching the ball, but also while stroking the ball with the racquet. Professional tennis players recognize that maintaining a proper head-up position is a key factor in perfecting one's proficiency in the game. It is a problem to provide the tennis player or tennis coach with visual or audible cues to indicate that the player's head is in the proper head-up position.
Numerous systems are known in the prior art for indicating a player's head position during sports activities. However, the known systems generally require substantial set-up in order to operate properly. Furthermore, the known systems generally are best suited for sports activities where the player's body is in a relative static position, and head movement is relatively infrequent, and the head position is only critical for a short period of time.
For example, a number training systems are known for golf players which give an indication if the golf player lifts his head head prematurely during a golf swing. That is, the device mounted on the golf player's head simply gives an alarm when it senses any movement of the head.
The game of tennis, unlike golf, requires that the player moves rapidly on the court, frequently shifting body position, with sudden stops and starts, while responding to the celeritous movement of the tennis ball. As the player moves, the head is likely to bob up, down, and sideways with relative frequency, and thus, known training systems would too often give erroneous positional information, making them difficult and annoying to use.
Therefore, there is a need for a training system which can reliably monitor and indicate head positions while the tennis player moves on the court. Furthermore, it is desirable that such a system be simple to operate while giving the player and the coach accurate positional information.


An electrophotographic printer including feature extraction means 12 for judging on the basis of pattern matching whether a reference area generated by area generating means 11 is an image which should be subjected to smoothing processing, and detecting the gradient of a contour portion of the image when the image is judged to be subjected to the smoothing processing, resolution enhancing means 13 for subdividing each pixel in the reference area generated by the area generating means 11 into small areas in accordance with the extraction result of the feature extraction means 12 to thereby perform resolution enhancing correction processing, density calculation means 15 for calculating the density of an overall selected area of the corrected pixels generated by the resolution-enhancing means 13 on the basis of the respective pixel values of the selected area, center-of-gravity calculation means 16 for calculating the center of gravity of an overall selected area of the corrected pixels generated by the resolution-enhancing means 13 on the basis of the respective pixel values of the selected area, and characteristic correction means 17 for correcting the density and the center of gravity calculated by the density calculation means 15 and the center-of-gravity calculation means 16 in accordance with preset input/output characteristic information of the engine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic printer, and more particularly to an electrophotographic printer having a smoothing circuit for smoothing slant portions of characters and figures on the basis of modulated video signals to enhance image quality.
2. Description of Related Art
As a technique on a smoothing circuit in a conventional electrophotographic printer have been known Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-2-112966 entitled "IMAGE OUTPUTTING METHOD AND DEVICE" and U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,641 entitled "PIECE-WISE PRINTIMAGE ENHANCEMENT FOR DOT MATRIX PRINTER" which were filed by and patented to Hewlett-Packard Company, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-3-33769 entitled "OPTICAL RECORDING DEVICE" filed by Hitachi, Ltd., and Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-5-6438 entitled "METHOD FOR CORRECTING PICTURES DISPLAYED BY PRINT DEVICE OR DISPLAY DEVICE AND DEVICE FOR CORRECTING OUTPUT OF PRINT DEVICE AND DISPLAY DEVICE FOR PRODUCING DIGITALIZED PICTURES IN DOT MATRIX FORMAT" and U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,108 entitled "EDGE ENHANCEMENT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DOT MATRIX DEVICES" which have been filed by and patented to Destiny Technology Corporation.
Further, there have been also known Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-4-268867 entitled "INFORMATION RECORDING DEVICE", Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-4-341060 entitled "INFORMATION RECORDING DEVICE" and Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-6-992 entitled "RECORDING DEVICE" which were filed by Canon Inc., Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-4-304070 entitled "IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE" filed by Ricoh Co., Ltd., Japanese Patent Application No. Hei-5-500443 entitled "RASTER PRINT DRIVING DEVICE" and U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,283 entitled "RASTER SCANNING ENGINE DRIVER WHICH INDEPENDENTLY LOCATES ENGINE DRIVE SIGNAL TRANSISTORS WITHIN EACH CELL AREA" which were filed by Xerographic Laser Images Corporation".
According to the Japanese Laid-open Patent application No. Hei-2-112966 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,641, as shown in FIG. 98, there are provided an FIFO buffer 550 for outputting a sampling window formed of 49 cells containing the center cell which are selected from a subset 11 bits.times.7 lines formed by inputting a bit map image, a piecewise matching network for inputting the sampling window to compare plural preset templates, and a compensation sub cell generator 552 for replacing the center cell of the sampling window by a compensation sub cell and outputting it if the sampling window is coincident with any template or directly outputting the center cell as it is if the sampling window is coincident with no template. The setting of the templates and the detection of the coincidence in the piecewise network 551 are performed by a programmable logic array (PLA). Generation of a compensation sub cell in the compensation sub cell generator 552 is performed with a clock whose period is equal to eight times of the period of the ordinary video output, and the compensation sub cell generator 552 generates eight kinds of compensation sub cells in accordance with the kind of the coincident template.
According to the Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-3-33769, as show in FIGS. 99 and 100, there are provided a buffer memory 560 which has a memory capacity of four lines and is adapted to store pixel data corresponding to pixels to be recorded and pixel data around the pixel data concerned within a predetermined range from input pixel data of a host computer, a pattern recognition device 561 for recognizing on the basis of the stored pixel data what kind of image the pixel data corresponding to the recording image quality belongs to as a pixel, and outputting a recognition result as recognition data, a data base 562 for storing a light exposure pattern signal on a photosensitive member of an engine so that the recording pixel can be most ideally recorded, and selecting a light exposure pattern signal on the basis of recognition data, and a current converter 563 for converting the light exposure pattern signal to a driving current for the engine. The pattern recognition in the pattern recognition device 561 and the definition of the light exposure pattern signal to the recognition data in the data base 562 are performed by a memory 564 in which a value of five pixels in longitudinal direction and five pixels in lateral direction is set as an address. The generation of the driving current in the current converter 563 is performed by shifting and outputting the light exposure pattern signal with a clock having four times of the period of ordinary video output by shift registers 565, and then generating current values of four levels per bit with a transistor.
According to the Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-5-6438 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,108, as shown in FIG. 101, there are provided an FIFO 570 which has a capacity of seven lines and is adapted to temporarily store input video picture data to assign a predetermined bit location as TBAP (to-be-adjusted-pixel), a gradient mask edge detector 571 for detecting an edge segment on the basis of a convolution of a 3.times.3 pattern matrix containing the TBAP at the center thereof and a 3.times.3 gradient mask matrix and classifying the bit pattern matrixes into either a horizontal or vertical group on the basis of the direction of gradient change indicated by the result of the convolution while previously-evaluated pixels and yet-to-be-evaluated pixels are contained, a segment change detector 572 for comparing the vertical and horizontal groups with vertical and horizontal sets of reference bit patterns to judge necessity of correction of TBAP, and generating a specific internal code when the necessity is judged, an address generator 573 for converting the internal code to an address code, a lookup table 574 for receiving the address code and outputting a modulation instruction code, and a modulator 575 for outputting a video signal which is modulated by the modulation instruction signal. The generation of the video signal modulated in the modulator 575 is performed by forward and reverse clocks of eight times of the period of the ordinary video output.
According to the Japanese Laid-open patent Application No. Hei-6-992, as shown in FIGS. 102 and 103, there are provided a line memory 580 which is input with an image signal VDO with a clock signal VCLK and adapted to store dot information of nine lines, a shift register 581 for forming dot matrix data of 11 dots in the main scanning direction and 9 lines in the auxiliary scanning direction on the basis of the output of the line memory 580, a processing circuit 582 for detecting the feature of the dot matrix data to change a pixel being noted (hereinafter referred to as "target pixel") 5f if occasion demands, and outputting a parallel signal MDT of 4 bits and light amount indication codes L1 to L3 of 3 bits indicating the irradiation intensity of each bit, a clock generating circuit 583 for generating a clock signal which is synchronized with a main operating synchronous signal BD and has the frequency of four times of the ordinary output period, a frequency-dividing circuit 583 for quartering the clock signal VCK to generate a clock signal VCKN, and a parallel/serial converter 585 for converting a parallel signal MDT to a serial signal VDOM on the basis of the clock signal VCK.
The feature detection of the target pixel in the processing circuit 582 is performed by a logic circuit which is adapted to detect a boundary line in the neighborhood of the target pixel by collation with predetermined patterns from reference areas of 11.times.9, a logic circuit for detecting the coincidence of pixels of each of seventeen divided small areas, and a logic circuit for determining the value of the parallel signal MDT and the light amount indication code in accordance with a combination condition of the above detection results. The generation of the driving current of a laser diode is performed by generating current values of 8 levels per bit on the basis of the serial signal VDOM and the light amount indication codes L1 to L3 by constant current switching circuits 586.
According to the Japanese Laid-open patent application No. Hei-4-304070, as shown in FIG. 104, there are provided an FIFO buffer 590 for storing binary image data supplied from a page memory for three(n) lines and supplied the data in m(dot).times.n(line) area with a notice picture, a comparison pattern unit 591 for storing comparison patterns each comprising 3 pixels.times.3 pixels, an enlargement processor 592 for comparing the comparison patterns and image data of a 3.times.3 area which contain a target pixel at the center thereof and are supplied from the FIFO buffer 590, and performing 2.times.2-enlargement processing to enlarging the target pixel by 2.times.2 times in accordance with the comparison result, a line buffer 593 which has a capacity of two lines and is adapted to store data which are enlarged by 2.times.2 times, and a filter processor 594 for performing spatial filtering processing of 2.times.2 areas and converting the enlarged image to multivalue data. The multivalue data generated in the filter processor 594 are supplied to a laser printer having a multivalue laser driver.
According to the Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-5-500443 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,283, as shown in FIG. 105, there are provided a software 600 which operates on a host computer and severs to control the overall print driving device, a line data storage unit 601 for temporarily storing image information input from the host computer, a timing controller 602 for generating necessary timing signal and control signal in response to a horizontal synchronous signal and a vertical synchronous signal of an engine, a lookup table 603 for outputting a digital signal indicating the position of a transition point of an output picture signal in a basic print cell while a data signal transmitted from the line data storage unit 601 is used aa an address, and a modulation circuit 604 for outputting the transition modulation signal to the engine in accordance with the digital signal.
The image information input from the host computer comprises a binary image whose resolution is two times as high as that of the engine in both horizontal and vertical directions, or a multivalue image whose resolution is equal to that of the engine. With respect to the binary image, a pixel array of 4 pixels in the horizontal direction and 4 pixels in the vertical direction is set as a basic print cell, and it is used as an address for the lookup table 603. With respect to the multivalue image, a pixel array of 2 pixels in the horizontal direction and 2 pixels in the vertical direction is set as a basic print cell, and the value of each pixel and the position information are set as an address for the lookup table 603. A synchronizing circuit for generating a basic double clock signal in the timing controller 602 comprises a selection circuit 605, a delay circuit 606, a priority encoder 608, etc. as shown in FIG. 106. The modulation circuit 604 is achieved by an analog circuit comprising a D/A converter, an analog/ramp generator, a comparator and a coupler. Further, in place of the timing controller 602 and the modulation circuit 604, a digital picture signal modulation circuit which comprises a digital circuit may be used.
The conventional electrophotographic printers as described above have the following problems.
First, in the Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-2-112966 and the U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,641, since the templates are empirically-derived bit patterns representing composite error elements which are common to all the bit map images, tests and estimations are required for various images every engine in order to design the templates and establish the association between each template and each compensation sub cell, and an application to each individual device is not easy. Further, since the compensation sub cell is generated with the clock based on an ordinary oscillator, the variation point of the compensation sub cell becomes rough when the transmission rate of the video signal is high, and thus the optimum compensation sub cell cannot be generated, so that the best image quality cannot be obtained. In addition, an FIFO buffer having a capacity enough to store pixels of eight lines is needed, resulting in cost-up.
In the Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-3-33769, calculations and recording tests are required for various images every engine in order to design recognition data and establish the association between each recognition data and a light exposure pattern signal, and thus an application to each individual device is not easy. Further, the engine is required to be a multivalue laser printer having a representation capability of 4-level gray scale and this technique is not applicable to a general binary laser printer. Further, the driving current to the engine is merely varied at 4-division/4-level per output pixel, and synchronization based on the clock signal of four times increases jitter in the horizontal direction, so that the best image quality cannot be obtained. In addition, a buffer memory having a capacity enough to store pixels of four lines and a memory having a 25-bit address space for generating the light exposure pattern signal are needed, resulting in cost-up.
In the Japanese Laid-open Patent Application NO. Hei-5-6438 and the U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,108, a slight improvement is made from the viewpoint of the direction of the gradient change of a 3.times.3 area having a target pixel at the center thereof. However, no clear definition is provided to the design of the reference bit pattern and the establishment of the connection (association) between each detection result and the address code, and this definition must be prepared every device. Therefore, the application of this technique to an individual device is not easily performed. Further, since the modulated video signal is generated by the clock based on the ordinary oscillator, the variation point of the video signal becomes rough when the transmission rate of the video signal is high, so that the optimum video signal cannot be generated and thus the best image quality cannot be achieved. In addition, since an FIFO having a capacity enough to store pixels of seven lines, the cost is increased.
In the Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-6-992, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-4-341060 and the Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-4-268867, an improvement is acknowledged from the viewpoint of the support of the binary half-tone images. However, the association between the result of the feature detection of the target pixel and the output signal to the engine in the processing circuit is fixed in the circuit, and this circuit must be designed and prepared every device. Therefore, the application to an individual device cannot be easily preformed. Further, a multivalue laser printer having a representation capability of 8-level gray scale must be used as the engine, and thus this technique is not applicable to a general binary laser printer. Still further, the driving current to the engine is merely varied at 4-division/8-level per output pixel, and the synchronization based on the clock signal of four times increases the jitter in the horizontal direction, so that the best image quality cannot be obtained. In addition, a line memory having a capacity enough to store pixels of 9 lines is needed, so that the cost is increased.
In the Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-4-304070, since the scale of enlargement in the enlargement processor is fixed, there are some input images for which the contours of the enlarged images cannot be smoothed. Further, since the multivalue data generated in the filter processor is disposed at the center of print pixels, the contour of the output image cannot be aligned, and thus the best image quality cannot be obtained. Still further, this technique is used on the assumption that a multivalue laser printer is used, and it is not applicable to a general binary laser printer. In addition, a line buffer is needed to hold an enlarged image, and thus the cost must be increased.
In the Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-5-500443 and the U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,283, an image to be generated is a binary image having two-times resolution in the horizontal and vertical directions or a multivalue image of 8 bits. Therefore, in the case of the binary image, a memory capacity and a processing capability of four times are needed. In the case of the multivalue image, a memory capacity and a processing capability of eight times are needed. Therefore, this technique causes the cost to increase remarkably. Further, in the case of the binary image, the frequency of the maximum transition in the basic print cell of input four pixels is equal to 2, and thus a larger amount of information may be lost as compared with an ordinary print mode. On the other hand, since the transition modulation signal is generated with plural clock signals using a delay circuit, this technique may be applied even when the transmission rate of the video signal is high, and the jitter in the horizontal direction can be minimized. However, the delay circuit is constructed by an LCR time-constant circuit or a one-shot multivibrator. Not only does the characteristic of each of these constituent elements of the delay circuit have a large dispersion, but also the characteristic itself is greatly varied with variation of temperature and applied voltage. Therefore, a user must provide an observing means and an adjusting means for the delay characteristic, and must adjust the delay characteristic to his desired characteristic by using these means at all times.


A sharpening apparatus for razors includes a blade sharpener rotatably supported within a housing and driven by mechanical activation or by a motor. An opening in the housing provides access to the blade sharpener for a blade head of a razor containing one or more blades. The rotatably supported blade sharpener includes at least one flexible sharpening strip on a body, the sharpening strip presenting an abrasive outer surface for contacting the blades. The sharpening apparatus can also include a spring loaded clamping plate for retaining the blade head in the opening.

Razors having a handle, and one or more blades housed in a head connected or releasably connected to the handle, are used by both men and women for personal shaving needs. The term "razor" as used herein is not limited to handles that are integrally connected to a blade head but rather is intended to include handles that are either integral with or removably attachable to the blade head. Furthermore, the term "blade head" covers integral blade heads or blade cartridges that include one or more blades and which are releasably connected to the handle to permit replacement of the cartridge. The blade sharpener of the present invention, therefore, could be used to sharpen razors having either integral blade heads or replaceable blade cartridges.
While razors are capable of providing multiple shaves, the number of uses of each razor, or blade head, is limited. The cutting edges of the individual razor blades that shear hair, are dulled by use and may become unfit for shaving after only a few uses. Most razors are not equipped with sharpeners. As a result, the razor, or the blade head, must be discarded when its useful life is reached. The life of the average razor, or blade head, is estimated to be approximately three to seven shaves. Assuming a user that shaves daily, approximately seventy razors or blade heads would need to be purchased and discarded annually. This is not only costly, but adds to the environmental burden of discarded plastic, packaging and metal.
Known devices for sharpening blades are shown, for example, in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,251 to Paule describes a device wherein the safety razor blade to be sharpened reciprocates between a series of honing elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,979,857 to Kobylarz describes a safety razor sharpener wherein an abrasive disc is hand rotated over the blade.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,322 to Butka describes a knife that can be sharpened with a hand operated movable casing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,731 to Fletcher describes an apparatus used for the sharpening of a razor blade by hand operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,138 to Isaksen describes a combination razor assembly for shaving and a container for sharpening the blade manually.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,586 to Delsignore describes a method and apparatus for sharpening a blade by polishing it in a slurry.
Other sharpening devices are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,281 to Cozzini, U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,834 to Francis, U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,106 to Fletcher and U.S. Design patents Des. 162,356, Des. 211,482, and Des. 446,883.
Other known devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,859,554; 2,098,465; 2,331,370; 2,458,257; 2,511,188; 2,565,281; and 3,057,062.
The sharpener disclosed in each of these references has one or more disadvantages. For example, the sharpening action for some of the devices must be provided manually by a user requiring effort and time to achieve the benefit of sharpening. Other known devices that are motor-driven to provide blade sharpening, rely upon an external power source. Such devices lack portability. Some of these devices, in which the external power source is that typically supplied to a household at 120 volts AC, present a potential electrical hazard when the sharpener is used in wet environments. Other known sharpening devices are directed to sharpening razor blades that are intended to be inserted by a user into a blade head. Such devices, therefore, cannot be used to sharpen the razor blades of a razor. Other known sharpening devices are included in combination with shavers, thereby adding weight to the shaver and resulting in a less ergonomic design.


A method and system for enabling an auxiliary system to retrieve the system information from a computing device are disclosed. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method, which includes the steps of requesting for the system information from an embedded controller of the computing device through a first bi-directional data bus if the computing device is shut down, requesting for the system information from the computing device through the first bi-directional bus during the boot-up sequence of the computing device, and requesting for the system information from the computing device through a general purpose input/output (GPIO) after the computing device completes the boot-up sequence.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Windows SideShow technology, and more particularly, to a method and system for enabling a SideShow device to retrieve system information from a computing device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Windows Vista™ is a commercially available operating system from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., hereinafter referred to as WINDOWS VISTA. With WINDOWS VISTA operating systems becoming the dominant operating systems for personal computers, a variety of software or hardware applications compatible with Vista-based computer systems are also becoming more and more popular. One of the Vista-based software/hardware applications is Windows SideShow, which is a technology that supports an auxiliary screen to the Vista-based computer system.
A conventional SideShow device is configured to display system information, such as time, system temperature, or battery condition of a computing device to which the SideShow device is connected. To display the system information, the conventional SideShow device passively waits for the computing device to not only to monitor but also to retrieve its system information. In addition, the conventional SideShow device relies on WINDOWS VISTA operating system on the computing device to establish a connection between the computing device and the SideShow device to send the system information. In the event the operating system of the computing device crashes or simply shuts down, the monitoring, retrieving, or establishing of the connection activities also stop. As a result, the SideShow device has no way to obtain the system information of the computing device.
To illustrate, FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a conventional computer system 100 supporting WINDOWS VISTA and the SideShow technology. The computer system 100 includes a computing device 102 and a SideShow device 104. The computing device 102 and the SideShow device 104 are connected via a standardized data bus 106, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or a Bluetooth connection. The computing device 102 runs Window Vista operating system 110, and the SideShow device 104, as an auxiliary system, is configured to receive and display system information 112 of the computing device 102, such as battery condition 114, fan speed 116, system time 118, system state (e.g., active or not) 120, and other diagnostic information 122 on an auxiliary display. As mentioned above, the operating system of the computing device 102 is responsible for obtaining the system information 112, establishing the standardized data bus 106, and sending the information via the data bus to the SideShow device 104. If the computing device 102 shuts down (i.e., the WINDOWS VISTA 110 stops running) or the WINDOWS VISTA 110 simply stops to function properly, the SideShow device 104 stops getting the system information 112. Furthermore, since the SideShow device 104 is configured to passively receive the system information 112 from the computing device 102, the SideShow device 104 is incapable of causing certain actions carried out by the computing device 102 to be suspended.
What is needed in the art is thus a method and system that enable the SideShow device to retrieve the system information from the computing device, regardless of the operating state of the computing device, and addresses at least the problems set forth above.

Method and system for enabling an auxiliary system to retrieve system information from a computing device


The present invention is directed to providing a security sticker which is hard to be counterfeited, cannot be reused if being released and includes a printed image that is stable over a long period of time, and is directed to providing a method for manufacturing the same. The security sticker of the present invention includes: a surface resin layer (A)1 that has a weak affinity with a sublimable dye and allows the dye to penetrate; a print layer (B)2 that contains a low-molecular-weight compound with a molecular weight of 1300 or less in an amount of 0% to 20 wt % inclusive, has an affinity with the dye, and includes an image formed in a thickness direction of the layer by the dye; a self-destructive film layer (C1)3; and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (D1)4 in this order, wherein the self-destructive film layer (C1) includes a dye migration preventive resin layer (E) for preventing migration of the dye and a self-destructive layer (F), and the dye migration preventive resin layer (E) is a resin layer containing a certain kind of a vinyl resin as a main component, or a certain kind of a biaxially stretched film.

Conventionally, registered vehicles in every country in the world are provided with numbers that are unique to the respective vehicles, and each vehicle is provided with number plates including such a number on its front and back sides. However, since the number of stolen vehicles has increased recently, and the number plates of such stolen vehicles can be replaced by those of other vehicles, the detection of the stolen cars has become difficult. Moreover, the cases where only number plates are stolen for criminal purposes also are increasing.
In order to solve these problems, it has been proposed to attach a sticker having vehicle information and a counterfeit-preventing function to an inner surface of a window of the vehicle. As such a sticker that is attached to a transparent object from a back side thereof so as to be observed from a front side thereof, for example, a vehicle-identifying sticker including a print layer showing vehicle information such as text information and a bar code on a support, and a self-destructive layer containing a hologram and the like formed on an upper surface of the print layer, which cannot be tampered, is proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). This vehicle-identifying sticker is provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on the self-destructive layer side, and is attached to an object via the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. If the thus once-attached vehicle-identifying sticker is peeled off, the self-destructive layer is destroyed, and thus the vehicle-identifying sticker cannot be reused.
In addition, as such a sticker that is attached to a transparent object from a back side thereof so as to be observed from a front side thereof, for example, a hologram sticker to be attached from a back side, in which a transparent adhesive layer, a hologram layer and a light transmission suppressing layer are laminated, is known (for example, see Patent Document 2). This light transmission suppressing layer has a dark color, and suppresses transmission of visible light toward a back surface of the hologram layer so as to enhance the visual contrast of a hologram image. Accordingly, when being observed from the transparent adhesive layer side, which is attached to the object, the hologram layer easily can be identified visually with the light transmission suppressing layer in its background. In addition, as the light transmission suppressing layer, a plastic film and the like that are colored by a dye or a pigment as appropriate can be used.
Whereas, a sharp image is formed in a film by a method including: disposing a transfer paper with an image formed thereon by an ink containing a sublimable dye on a surface of a white film layer of a laminate of the white film layer having no affinity with the sublimable dye and a transparent film layer so that the transfer paper and the white film layer may be in contact with each other; and heating them, whereby the dye is sublimated, penetrates the white film layer and diffuses in the transparent film layer so as to form an image (for example, see Patent Document 3).
In addition, another method is exemplified, which includes: printing, with the ink containing the sublimable dye, on a releasable ink jet receptive layer of a laminate including the ink jet receptive layer, a surface resin layer having no affinity with the sublimable dye and a dye fixing layer that are laminated in this order; subsequently heating the laminate so as to sublimate the sublimable dye, allow the sublimable dye to migrate into the dye fixing layer and form an image in the layer; and then removing and releasing the ink jet receptive layer (for example, see Patent Document 4). However, in the vehicle-identifying sticker of Patent Document 1 that is attached to an object, a self-destructive layer, a print layer including text information or the like and a support layer are provided in this order, when being observed from the object. Accordingly, if the support layer is shaved off by any means while the sticker is attached, the print layer can be reached. Thus, there is a problem that, if the print layer is further shaved off, and the text information or the like is modified using a means such as an ink for marker pens, subsequently, another print layer is newly formed, and the sticker can be counterfeited from its back surface side without being released.
In addition, the vehicle-identifying sticker of Patent Document 1 also has a problem that, even if the print layer is formed on the self-destructive film in order to avoid the above-described problem, an authenticating pattern such as a hologram used as the self-destructive layer is shielded by the print layer and thus is difficult to identify when being observed from the object. Then, since it is difficult to distinguish a sticker having a print layer including counterfeited text information or the like from the vehicle-identifying sticker of Patent Document 1 when being observed from the object, the thus counterfeited sticker is likely to be used with ease.
In addition, in the hologram sticker to be attached from a back side of Patent Document 2 that is attached onto an object, a transparent adhesive layer, a hologram layer and a light transmission suppressing layer are provided in this order, when being observed from the object. Accordingly, Patent Document 2 does not refer to forming an image such as text information, and even if an image is formed, the image is difficult to identify, because the dark-colored light transmission suppressing layer lies in its background.
Moreover, a film in which an image is formed according to Patent Documents 3 and 4 has a problem that sharpness of the image deteriorates over the course of time.
Patent Document 1: JP 2002-366036 A
Patent Document 2: JP 2000-206884 A
Patent Document 3: JP 9(1997)-277731 A
Patent Document 4: JP 2002-79751 A

Security sticker and method for manufacturing the same


A system and method of correcting an anomaly in a split computer network, where the split computer network includes a first subnet, connecting one or more requestor nodes to a first intermediary node, and a second subnet, connecting the first intermediary node to one or more approver nodes may include performing, by at least one processor associated with the first intermediary node: monitoring transactions between the one or more requestor nodes and the one or more approver nodes, via the first intermediary node; analyzing the monitored transactions, to obtain a transaction pattern; probing communication between an examined requestor node and at least one approver node; analyzing the probed communication, in view of the transaction pattern, to identify a suspected transaction anomaly; and producing a suggestion of at least one corrective action, based on the suspected transaction anomaly.

Systems and methods for analyzing traffic over computer networks, such as the Internet, are ubiquitous. These may include an abundance of network modules, implemented in hardware and/or software, adapted to monitor or probe communication that traverse the network, analyze the probed data, and apply any one of a plurality of networking protocols to improve or fix a condition of the network. These protocols may include for example, routing protocols which may be designed to redirect messages to overcome local network failures or balance a network's load.

System and method for analyzing and correcting an anomaly in split computer networks


A turntable assembly generally comprises a supporting base and an oven fixed to the top of the supporting base. A rotational disk can be rotationally and movably supported between the oven and the supporting base. The rotational disk is above the surface of the table without touching the dishes or bowls disposed on the table. By this arrangement, a plurality of courses can be simultaneously supported and the people may enjoy these food simultaneously.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a turntable assembly, more particularly, to a rotational tableware supporting device having at least one rotational disk each with a plurality of supporting brackets which are extended radially and outward for receiving a dish or bowl thereon.
2. Description of Prior Art
As our economic growth and success have brought a great deal of wealth to those who are diligent at work. Getting stuffed is not the priority. All of our people are now pursuing something special for meals. However, when a plurality of courses are provided, a larger size of table is also required. Normally, the size of the table is fixed and the dishes or plates are also disposed at a fixed position. If someone is sit opposite to a special course which he/she prefers, he/she can only eat it with eyes since he/she can not get it as the distance is too long to reach.
An additional turntable has been introduced and which can be disposed in the center of the table and the course can be rotated to the front position of the people. However, this turntable is quite small as compared to the table and it can not provide a robust space for each of the courses. As a result, the course shall be provided one after the other. Even the preferable one is not finished, when the new course comes, it shall be moved out for the new one. This always happen when eating in a restaurant or hotel. This has been the common experience for all of us and right now it has not been successfully solved.


A flat display structure including a substrate, a pixel matrix, a driving circuit and several voltage adapting devices and driving method thereof are provided. Each of voltage adapting devices includes an input terminal, a first control terminal and an output terminal. The input terminal is electrically connected to the i-th gate line Gi corresponding to the i-th pixel row Ri. The first control terminal is adapted to receive a first control signal. The output terminal is adapted to receive a working voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a flat display and driving method thereof, and more particularly to a flat display structure using a voltage adapting device to input a working voltage to a gate line and driving method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional large-scaled glass on array (GOA) liquid crystal display (LCD), the gate line has a high loading charge, so the gate signal is likely to be coupled with the clock signal of the driving circuit, resulting in the problems of gate signal distortion and gate delay. To resolve the coupling and distortion problems, a pull down circuit is disposed on each gate line to improve the display quality.
Referring to FIG. 1, partial structure of a conventional GOA liquid crystal display equipped with a pull down circuit is shown. The liquid crystal display 100 includes a scan driving circuit 102, a data driving circuit 104, a pixel matrix 108 consisting of a number of pixels 106, and n pull down circuits 109. The pull down circuit 109 includes N-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistors Q1˜Qn, n is a positive integer.
When the scan driving circuit 102 sequentially outputs n gate signals S1˜Sn through n gate lines G1˜Gn to the pixels 106 on each row to turn on the thin film transistor (TFT) 106a of each pixel 106, the data driving circuit 104 outputs a data signal through m data lines L1˜Lm and charges the pixel electrode 106b of each pixel 106 through the TFT transistor 106a, so that the liquid crystal molecules are rotated to display corresponding pixel images.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the NMOS transistors Q1˜Qn are disposed outside the pixel matrix 108. The drains of the NMOS transistors Q1 Qn are respectively coupled to the tail ends of the gate lines G1 Gn. The sources of the NMOS transistors Q1˜Qn are coupled to a low level working voltage Vee of the scan driving circuit 102. The gates of the NMOS transistor Q1˜Q(n−1) are respectively coupled to the front end of the next gate lines G2˜Gn through (n−1) transmission lines T1˜T(n−1), and the gate of the NMOS transistor Qn is coupled to the scan driving circuit 102 through the transmission line Tn. By doing so, the scan driving circuit 102 outputs the gate signal Sn to turn on the corresponding nth row pixel 106 through the gate line Gn for example; and during the next timing period, the scan driving circuit 102 turns on the NMOS transistor Qn by using the high level gate signal S(n+1) outputted by the transmission line Tn so that the gate signal Sn is promptly boosted to Vee level. The remaining gate signals S1˜S(n−1) can use the NMOS transistors Q1˜Q(n−1) to achieve the same function. Thus, the above problems of gate delay and signal distortion are resolved.
Despite the conventional liquid crystal display 100 can improve the gate delay by using the NMOS transistors Q1˜Qn, however, in terms of structure, the transmission lines T1˜Tn disposed according to the disposition of the NMOS transistors Q1˜Qn have to pass through the pixel matrix 108, significantly decreasing the aperture ratio of each pixel 106 of the pixel matrix 108. Besides, when the scale of the liquid crystal display 100 is enlarged, the accompanied loading effect will cause significant ripple effect to the gate signals S1˜Sn. However, within the display time of one frame, each of the NMOS transistors Q1˜Qn is only turned on once and is incapable of decreasing the ripples generated when the NMOS transistor is not turned on, largely affecting the display quality.

Flat display structure and method for driving flat display


An umbrella support device for securing an umbrella in an operative position for a user, comprising a frame securable to the user's back and at least one receptacle for retaining the handle of a conventional umbrella. A fastening system is incorporated in the receptacle, having a pair of arms selectively movable between open and closed positions for enabling the user to insert the handle in the receptacle and secure the handle therein. In a first embodiment, the handles include rigid gripping members extending into the receptacle, which engage the umbrella shaft immediately adjacent the handle upon insertion of the handle into the receptacle. In a second embodiment, the gripping members are replaced with latch bolts having inclined upper surfaces, so that insertion of the handle automatically moves the arms to their open position.

The present invention relates to umbrellas and, more particularly, to a back supported umbrella holding device.
A need has long been recognized for a device which holds an umbrella in an operative position over a user's head to provide protection from either the sun or rain while leaving the user's hands free for other tasks. Examples of efforts to devise umbrella support structures for this general purpose are shown in the following U.S. Pat. No. 191,782 issued Jun. 12, 1877 to Smith; U.S. Pat. No. 202,140 issued Apr. 9, 1877 to Bowers; U.S. Pat. No. 229,912 issued Jul. 13, 1880 to Ray; U.S. Pat. No. 1,460,821 issued Jul. 3, 1923 to Morris; U.S. Pat. No. 2,223,253 issued Nov. 26, 1940 to Hamilton; U.S. Pat. No. 2,496,769 issued Feb. 7, 1950 to Battle; U.S. Pat. No. 3,204,650 issued Sep. 7, 1965 to Shinew; U.S. Pat. No. 3,554,203 issued Jan. 12, 1971 to Hall; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,965 issued Feb. 19, 1980 to Morman. However, all of the known support devices are either too complicated for commercial feasibility, or require a specially configured umbrella which can only be used with the support device.
Accordingly, a need continues to exist for a device which supports an umbrella in an operative position on the back of a user, which is simple in construction, accommodates and securely locks into place a conventional umbrella handle, and is easily adjustable to the height and working position of the user. The present umbrella support device overcomes the limitations of the prior art by adopting a configuration which supports a conventional umbrella, is simple to construct, has a comfortable, padded back support and is easily adjustable. Further, the present device has a simple locking mechanism to securely lock into place a conventional umbrella. The umbrella support device may also include additional receptacles and compartments for storing a water bottle, a portable radio, or a second umbrella, as well as a battery-powered fan to help cool the user when working outdoors in warm weather.