A fiber optic gyroscope that includes an improved winding transition section otherwise known as a "jog zone". The improved jog zone reduces losses due to micro-bends and cross-coupling in the fiber optic coil. The reduced losses enable a more accurate measurement of rotation rate of the fiber optic coil, while minimizing unwanted phase-shifts that can cause false readings in the fiber optic gyroscope.

Fiber optic gyroscopes are used for detection of rotation particularly in navigation systems such as those used in aircraft and spacecraft. Fiber optic gyroscopes are desirable due to the high-level of accuracy and reliability of sensing inertial rotation rate that they possess.
Fiber optic gyroscope technology is well known in the industry. In a fiber optic gyroscope, light from a laser or some other light source is divided into two separate beams by means of a fiber optic coupler and then coupled into the two ends of a multi-turn coil of optical fiber. The fiber optic cable may consist of many of the standard types commercially available on the market. Light that emerges from the two fiber ends is combined by the fiber optic coupler and detected by a photodetector.
The fiber optic gyroscope senses rotation rate by detection of a rotationally induced phase shift between the light beams that propagate in opposite directions around the coil of the fiber optic cable. The signal that is detected corresponding to the phase difference between the counter-propagating beams is typically subjected to some form of phase modulation. The photodetector converts the modulated light beam to an electrical signal that corresponds to the rate of rotation of the coil of optical fiber. The signal is processed to provide a direct indication of the exact rate of rotation of the coil of optical fiber that has occurred.
Other physical phenomena may contribute to phase differences between the counter-propagating light beams than the mere physical rotation of the fiber optic gyroscope. Some of the most common performance limiting phenomena include: micro-bends in the fiber within the wound coil; polarization cross-coupling of the light within the coils; and most notably, the inconsistencies due to the winding process of the coil.
Losses due to micro-bends or any non-orthogonal relationship, between symmetrical points in the fiber optic coil and the center axis of the fiber optic coil are exacerbated by external temperature variations. When a thermal gradient passes through a fiber optic coil, the change in temperature produces a change in the refractive index of the material from which the fiber is made. An asymmetrical change in the refractive index of the fiber will cause a phase shift between the clockwise and counterclockwise paths of the rotating beams of light passing through the coil. Cross-coupling of the polarization states within the coil may also cause unwanted phase shifts.
Furthermore, when the winding process of the coil is more difficult, the machines used for winding the coil are more difficult to automate and maintain the precision winding pattern without excessively stressing the fiber. A poorly wound coil leads to the loss and polarization cross-coupling discussed above. If these external phenomena are introduced into the gyroscope, the unwanted phase shifts or losses cause the fiber optic gyroscope to indicate false measurements that translate into false readings of rotation rate.
The largest contributor to these losses and phase shifts occur in the region of the coil where each turn makes a transition to the next turn or wind. This section of each wrap is known as the "Jog Zone". In the past, the length of this zone was kept to a minimum. Unfortunately, a short jog zone will maximize these performance-limiting errors in high-performance fiber optic gyroscopes. In order to reduce the errors and sensitivities discussed above, it would be desirable to provide a new jog zone configuration that is independent of the coil configuration, i.e. quadrupole, octupole, interleave, or other variations thereof.
In the prior art, the length or angle of the jog zone was intentionally kept to a minimum in order to maximize the orthogonal winding section of the coil. U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,708 issued to Bednarz entitled "Fiber Optic Sensing Coil" teaches a symmetric fiber optic sensing coil for use in a rotation rate sensing device such as a gyroscope. This patent teaches that the jog zone of the fiber optic coil should consist of only 5 to 10% of the entire winding of the coil. Although this patent discloses that the jog zone is an essential portion of the entire winding of the coil, it does not suggest any basis for choosing the 5 to 10% figures. Furthermore, the patent does not teach that inherent advantages would exist by increasing the angle of the jog zone to a size that minimizes losses due to micro-bends, that when combined with external temperature fluctuations, can create unwanted phase shifts. The present application proposes the improved jog zone size that is entirely independent of the coil configuration.

Job zone for a high performance navigation grade rate sensing coil


According to one embodiment, a facial image search system including, search module configured to calculate degree of similarity between facial features extracted by feature extraction module and facial features contained in database and output search result based on calculated degree of similarity, measuring module configured to measure amount of search result output by search module, and selection module configured to sort out search result output by search module if amount of search result measured by measuring module is equal to or more than preset threshold.

A facial image search system that detects a facial image from images acquired by a plurality of cameras installed at a plurality of locations and searches a database for the facial image is known. The facial image search system also detects a facial image from images acquired by a camera or images stored in a recording apparatus and stores the facial image in a database.
If the number of cameras supplying facial images to the facial image search system or the amount of information in a database of the facial image search system increases, search results output by the facial image search system increase. Thus, the burden on an administrator of the facial image search system may grow. Accordingly, a problem that confirmation work by the administrator of the facial image search system may not be in time is posed.

Facial image search system and facial image search method


Based on the event detected by event detection unit 3, scene definition unit 4 defines the segment from the frame which is one screen of the moving picture corresponding to the event to the end of the next event as the scene The scene information of the defined scene is stored in scene information storage unit 5, and moving picture display unit 9 reads and displays the moving picture stored in moving picture storage unit 2 based on the scene information stored in scene information storage unit 5.

As a general and conventional moving picture playback apparatus for playing back moving pictures, there is a video tape recorder (VTR). With VTR, moving pictures are recorded on a video tape. When a user presses buttons such as "playback", "stop", "frame forward", "frame rewind" etc., on the VTR apparatus, which the video tape is set to, the tape is controlled according to an instruction, and the recorded moving pictures are displayed on a screen.
Furthermore, as the general and conventional moving picture collection apparatus for collecting moving pictures, there is a video camera recorder. The video camera recorder is a video camera combined with the VTR in one piece so as to make it easy to carry, and moving pictures shot with the video camera are to be recorded on the video tape by the VTR.
Here, let us consider a case when we shoot moving pictures with the video camera, and record and edit the moving pictures and produce a video title.
On the video tape, several scenes, for example, a "Scene at the Airport",a "Scene at the Port",a "Scene on a Superhighway",a "Scene on the Railroad",etc., are recorded. Suppose if we are to produce a video title regarding ground transportation, we have to select appropriate scenes such as the scenes at the airport, the scenes on the superhighway, the scenes on the railroad, etc., from the video tape, and then rearrange and concatenate them in a desired order. Moreover, in order to playback a certain segment of a scene, we have to set a playback segment in the scene, and we have to implement processing so as to specify the playback speed in order to playback the part in slow motion. For additional effects, such as overlapping the scene of the railroad on the scene of the superhighway, several scenes must be composited.
As an example of moving picture edit apparatus designed for such editing based on the moving pictures recorded on the video tape, there is a video edit system which combines the edit control apparatus with two or more VTRs. This system designates one VTR as an input VTR and the other VTRs as output VTRs, and edit operation such as processing or concatenating scenes are carried out by dubbing necessary scenes from the input VTR to output VTR in the order. Also, a composite edit operation is implemented by compositing signals from several input VTRs by the edit control unit and then sending out to the output VTRs.
Those are examples of the conventional and general moving picture playback apparatus and the moving picture edit apparatus using it, in recent years, a moving picture edit apparatus using a computer called a non-linear edit system is widely put to use (a typical product of the non-linear edit system is the MCXpress by Avid Technology Company of the United States). The non-linear edit system applies the technology which digitallizes moving picture data, compresses the data, and stores it in a computer memory, and then reads the data as necessary and playbacks after expanding the data. When this non-linear edit system is compared with the previously mentioned video edit system, the non-linear edit system has an advantage in editing without repeating dubbing from the video tape to the video tape, and thereby it's usage is gradually spreading.
The operation of the non-linear edit system, which is one example of the conventional moving picture edit apparatus, will be explained next.
FIG. 38 shows a general configuration of the conventional non-linear edit system.
The non-linear edit system is configured with a sequential access type moving picture storage unit 2 (the moving picture storage unit for VTR, etc., and called as the sequential access type moving picture storage unit hereinafter in order to distinguish it from the moving picture storage unit using a hard disk of a computer.) connected to a computer 50. In a typical configuration of the non-linear edit system, computer 50 and sequential access type moving picture storage unit 2 are connected with a signal cable and control cable. The signal cable inputs signals of moving pictures or sound played back by sequential access type moving picture storage unit 2 into computer 50. And the control cable is used for controlling playback, stop, frame forward, or frame rewind from computer 50 to sequential access type moving picture storage unit 2, and for transmitting the frame number of the frame currently displayed from sequential access type moving picture storage unit 2 to computer 50.
Moving pictures shot with the video camera are recorded on a medium such as the video tape, and then stored in the sequential access type moving picture storage unit 2.
The user performs editing by inputting a command from a command input unit 8 using a keyboard or a mouse of the computer.
An example of user interface for editing is illustrated in FIG. 39.
In the figure, there are shown a scene menu window 111, a displayed scene icon 112, a moving picture playback window 113 for playing back one of the scenes, playback control buttons 114 for controlling moving picture playback by the moving picture playback window 113, a stop button 115, a playback button 116, a frame rewind button 117, a frame forward button 118, a scene definition window 119 for specifying a starting frame and an ending frame for each scene, a new scene display button 120 for displaying new scenes, and a moving picture edit window 121 for concatenating and compositing each scene and defining a new scene.
The editing is performed in the following procedure using the user interface aforementioned.
(1) Defining a Scene
The user firstly defines a scene of related segment in the moving pictures such as the scene of the airport, the scene of the superhighway, and so forth, by a scene definition unit 20. The information of the defined scene is stored in scene information storage unit 5. The scene information contains a specified starting frame number and ending frame number for each scene.
FIG. 40 indicates one example of the scene information.
The explanation of the frame number is now given. A moving picture, for instance, consists of 30 images per second. Each image is referred to as the frame. Moving pictures are recorded on a medium such as the video tape by sequential access type moving picture storage unit 2, and the number specifying each frame on the medium is called the frame number.
Business VTRs use the number called the time code for the purpose of specifying frames. The time code is expressed with an 8-digit number such as 01:10:35:08, which represents the 8th frame of one hour, ten minute, and 35 seconds.
Defining a scene is, for example, carried out as below.
First of all, in FIG. 39, a new scene display button 120 is clicked with the mouse. Then, a new scene having no defined title, starting frame and ending frame is displayed on moving picture playback window 113. The scene is then defined by inputting the title, starting frame number, and ending frame number at the keyboard on scene definition window 119.
For defining a scene in the previously mentioned method, the user has to know the starting frame number and the ending frame number of the scene to be defined beforehand. Business VTRs are provided with a function to display the time code of the frame currently displayed on the monitor screen, which enables the user to know the starting frame number and the ending frame number by reading the displayed time code from the screen by positioning the desired frame using such buttons as the forward button, rewind button, frame forward, frame rewind, etc., of the VTR.
(2) Reading a Moving Picture
Then, the defined scene is digitally compressed by a moving picture digital compression unit 6, and stored in direct access type moving picture storage unit 7 of computer 50 (a hard disk memory, and is referred to as the direct access type moving picture storage unit hereinafter to distinguish it from sequential access type moving picture storage unit 2 of the VTR, etc.).
With regard to the format of digital compression of moving pictures, there are various types of formats such as MPEG, Motion-JPEG, Cinepak, and so forth, but because the computation amount becomes huge whichever system is used for digital compression, it is common to execute by inserting an extension board special for digital compression into the computer so as to shorten the processing time.
The processing for digital compression of moving pictures becomes as explained below.
The system first performs processing of digital compression for each scene defined by scene definition unit 20. Because each scene has its starting frame and ending frame described, computer 50 controls sequential access type moving picture storage unit 2 to position the starting frame of a target scene.
Then, the playback of sequential access type moving picture storage unit 2 is started, and at the same time, an instruction is sent to moving picture digital compression unit 6, and the processing for digital compression starts. Moving picture digital compression unit 6 inputs signals output from sequential access type moving picture storage unit 2, and converts each frame into digital data, and performs data compression. The obtained digital compression data is stored in direct access type moving picture storage unit 7.
(3) Displaying a Scene
In FIG. 39, scene menu window 111, for each scene stored in a scene information storage unit 5, moving picture display unit 9 creates a scene icon 112 and displays. For scene icon 112, any image which allows the user to easily grasp the content of the scene can be used, but it is typically created by contracting the first frame of each scene. Furthermore, when one of the scenes is selected by the click of the mouse, moving picture display unit 9 displays the selected scene on a moving picture playback window 113. The display of moving picture playback window 113 can be controlled by playback control button 114, and the playback of the moving pictures is started when playback button 116 is clicked, and the playback of the moving pictures is stopped when stop button 115 is clicked. Or, when frame rewind button 117 or frame forward button 118 is clicked, a frame immediately before or after the current frame is displayed and stopped.
In such a case, moving picture display unit 9 reads the moving picture data digitally compressed and stored in direct access type moving picture storage unit 7, expands the data on the spot, and performs processing of displaying the obtained data on the screen.
The edit operation explained below is proceeded by displaying and checking the contents of each scene as thus far explained.
(4) Executing an Edit Operation
The edit operation involves processing, concatenating, and compositing scenes. As an example of a scene processing, there are a setting of a playback area or partial change in playback speed. This operation is performed by specifying the playback area by the frame number on scene definition window 119. Also, a scene concatenation or scene composition is performed by lining each scene icon 112 on moving picture edit window 121. On moving picture edit window 121, the horizontal axis corresponds to the time axis, and when scene icon 112 is lined within this window in order, each scene is concatenated from left to right in order and the new scene is defined. Moreover, there are two tracks A and B on moving picture edit window 121, and when scenes are lined at the same time belt on both tracks, two scenes are composited.
The defined scene is stored in direct access type moving picture storage unit 7, and the scene information is stored in scene information storage unit 5. An example of describing the newly defined scene is shown in FIG. 41.
(5) Creating a Moving Picture
The new scene is defined by the above mentioned edit operation. Based on the description of the scene, moving picture creation unit 11 reads the moving picture data of each scene stored in direct access type moving picture storage unit 7, and processes, concatenates, composites, and performs other operations to create a new moving picture data. The created moving picture data is again stored in direct access type moving picture storage unit 7. When the moving picture data is read and copied onto a medium such as a CD ROM, the medium can be distributed and data can be played back on other computers. It is also possible that the moving picture data is played back and the signal can be transmitted to sequential access type moving picture storage unit 2, and then recorded onto the medium such as the video tape, then the medium can be distributed and the data can be played back on the VTR, and so on.
The conventional moving picture playback apparatus and the moving picture collection apparatus are configured as above mentioned. Let us suppose now that one hundred scenes are shot with the video camera, and each scene is about 30 seconds, and then edit those moving pictures. In order to perform editing, scenes in the moving pictures must first be defined. In order to define the scenes, a work of specifying, the starting frame and ending frame for each of the 100 scenes must be performed. For defining one scene, if it takes about 30 seconds to perform the operation for finding out the starting fame and ending frame by implementing the forward, rewind, frame forward, frame rewind, etc. of the VTR, then, it amounts to about 50 minutes to define 100 scenes.
Also, for the processing of compressing data by digitallizing the moving pictures, because it generally takes about the same time period as the continuation time period of the moving pictures, it takes about 50 minutes for processing digitally compressing 100 scenes and storing in the direct access type moving picture storage unit.
In this way, the conventional moving picture playback apparatus and the moving picture collection apparatus pose a problem of taking substantial time period until the edit operation is enabled after the shooting of moving pictures has ended, in order to define the scenes or to read the moving pictures.
Or, in defining the scene, the work of specifying the starting frame and ending frame of the scene exactly is a troublesome task which cannot be done without careful attention.
Furthermore, the moving picture data must be digitally compressed and stored in the computer memory, if, for instance, data compression is performed in the MPEG1 compression format, the digitally compressed moving picture data becomes about 1.5 megabit data amount per second. In order to digitallize all 100 scenes and store in the computer memory in the MPEG1 format, a storage capacity of at least 500 mega bytes is required.
Also, in order to perform digital compression of moving pictures, an expansion board special for digital compression of moving pictures must be inserted into the computer.
In this way, because the conventional moving picture edit apparatus needs a large capacity storage or a compression board special for moving pictures, it poses problems that it becomes a large-size apparatus not suited to carry around or for use in a limited space such as a home or office
This invention is designed to solve above-mentioned problems, and it aims at obtaining a moving picture playback apparatus or a moving picture collection apparatus which can define scenes or read moving pictures in a short time, and confirm the contents of the collected moving pictures quickly.


Deposition of material is performed on a substrate by causing short-distance reciprocating motions of the substrate that improve uniformity of material on the substrate. A series of reactors for injecting material onto the substrate is arranged along the length of the substrate in a repeating manner. During each reciprocating motion, the susceptor moves a distance shorter than an entire length of the substrate. Portions of the substrate are injected with materials by a subset of reactors. Since the movement of the substrate is smaller, a linear deposition device including the susceptor may be made smaller.

1. Field of Art
The present disclosure relates to depositing one or more layers of materials on a substrate using vapor phase deposition.
2. Description of the Related Art
An atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a thin film deposition technique for depositing one or more layers of material on a substrate. ALD uses two types of chemical, one is a source precursor and the other is a reactant precursor. Generally, ALD includes four stages: (i) injection of a source precursor, (ii) removal of a physical adsorption layer of the source precursor, (iii) injection of a reactant precursor, and (iv) removal of a physical adsorption layer of the reactant precursor. ALD can be a slow process that can take an extended amount of time or many repetitions before a layer of desired thickness can be obtained. Hence, to expedite the process, a vapor deposition reactor with a unit module (so-called a linear injector), as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0165715 or other similar devices may be used to expedite ALD process. The unit module may include an injection unit and an exhaust unit for a source material (collectively a source module), and an injection unit and an exhaust unit for a reactant (collectively a reactant module). To deposit different films or laminates onto the substrate, different source precursors and/or reactant precursors can be injected into different modules.
A spatial ALD vapor deposition chamber has one or more sets of reactors for performing spatial ALD on substrates. Spatial ALD refers to a process where source precursor, purge gas, reactant precursor and purge gas are sequentially injected onto a moving substrate to form a layer of film thereon. As the substrate passes below the reactors, the substrate is exposed to the source precursor, a purge gas and the reactant precursor. The source precursor molecules deposited on the substrate reacts with reactant precursor molecules or the source precursor molecules are replaced with the reactant precursor molecules to deposit a layer of material on the substrate. After exposing the entire substrate to the source precursor or the reactant precursor, the substrate may be exposed to the purge gas to remove excess source precursor molecules or reactant precursor molecules from the substrate.
The substrate and the reactors may be moved by a reciprocating movement where the substrate is exposed to the precursor molecules in a different sequence during a forward stroke and a backward stroke. In order to expose the entire substrate to the precursor molecules or purge gas, the substrate or the reactor may have to travel a long distance. Hence, the vapor deposition reactor may be very large to accommodate the reciprocal movement of the substrate or the reactor.

Spatial deposition of material using short-distance reciprocating motions


A liquid-phase process for hydrolyzing a carboxylic acid alkyl ester having 2 to 18 carbon atoms to provide a product mixture comprising a carboxylic acid and an alcohol comprising contacting a feedstock comprising the carboxylic acid alkyl ester and water with an acidic carbon catalyst under reaction conditions sufficient to form the product mixture comprising the carboxylic acid and the alcohol. Suitable acidic carbon catalysts include charcoal and carbons produced from a variety of sources including coconut shells, coal, wood and peat. Carbon catalysts may be rendered acidic by treatment with nitric acid.

The hydrolysis of esters is limited by thermodynamic equilibrium, meaning that conversion of reactants to products is controlled by the ratio of the reactants, namely, the desired carboxylic acid alkyl ester, and water and reaction temperature. Conversion can be increased to some extent by increasing reaction temperature and/or by removing either of the reaction products, namely, the carboxylic acid or alcohol from the product mixture.
The hydrolysis of carboxylic acid methyl esters is a commercially significant reaction and is typically catalyzed by acid cation exchange resins. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,936,321 discloses a continuous process wherein an ester of a lower alkanoic acid such as methyl acetate is hydrolyzed in the presence of water and a catalyst consisting of a cation-exchange resin in its hydrogen form to produce a mixture of an acid (acetic acid), an alkanol (methanol), unreacted ester (methyl acetate), and water. The reaction mixture is withdrawn from the hydrolysis reactor and the ester is separated from the reaction mixture.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,248 discloses a continuous process for hydrolyzing carboxylic acid alkyl esters which utilizes a solid bed which acts as a catalyst for hydrolysis and as an adsorbent for at least one of the reaction products. The process is operated in simulated moving bed mode. A process embodiment is disclosed wherein the reactants are placed in contact with a strongly acidic macroreticular polymeric resin which functions as a hydrolysis catalyst and at least one solid which acts as an adsorbent for at least one hydrolysis product. Suitable adsorbents include molecular sieve carbon and activated carbon.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,016,180 discloses a low cost, two-stage adsorption-desorption process of concentrating dilute supplies of chemicals. The process is particularly adapted toward concentrating waste condensates derived from pulp-making operations such as the Kraft or sulfite processes, but may be applied toward treating all types of dilute organic or inorganic absorbable chemicals. The process comprises adsorbing a chemical fraction of the mixture to be concentrated onto activated carbon followed by regenerating the adsorbed chemicals and concentrating the same by fractional distillation whereupon the partially concentrated chemicals are again adsorbed, regenerated, subjected to a second fractional distillation concentration step, and recovered.
Example 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,016,180 discloses a process for concentrating the components of a waste liquor comprising methanol, furfural, acetic acid, sulfur dioxide and water. During the process, the initially adsorbed acetic acid is first substantially converted to methyl acetate during regeneration operations. Methyl acetate is not hydrolyzed to acetic acid when adsorbed onto the activated carbon adsorbent according to the Specification (col. 11, lines 60-68 and col. 12 lines 1-3) which states that "During the early stages of fractionation of course, the effluent leaving through line 112b can be recycled through line 148 or 149 in order to assure complete removal of the acetic acid from the system. It will be appreciated from the foregoing that in the operation of this embodiment there is no conversion of acetic acid to methyl acetate with consequent reconversion of the latter and accordingly the operation of the FIG. 2 is somewhat simpler."
Izumi and coworkers (Catalysis Today 33 (1997) 371-409) present a review of processes for hydrolyzing alkyl esters in the presence of solid acid catalysts. Only a few solid acid catalysts provide acceptable activity and stability for liquid phase hydrolysis of esters. Suitable solid acid catalysts include cation exchange resins such as Amberlyst 15, zeolites and cesium salts of 12-tungstophosphoric acid. These solid acid catalysts were tested for the hydrolysis of ethyl acetate at 60.degree. C. using a mol ratio of ethyl acetate to water of 38.8 to 1.
Researchers are searching for carboxylic acid alkyl ester hydrolysis catalysts which can be operated at higher temperatures than conventional hydrolysis catalysts in order to maximize conversion to the desired products of the corresponding carboxylic acid and alcohol while minimizing formation of undesirable byproducts such as dialkyl ethers which are difficult to separate from the product mixture.

Hydrolysis of carboxylic acid alkyl esters in the liquid phase


The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for delivering customer specified receipt types at checkout. A customer specifies receipt delivery preferences at a mobile device (e.g., specifying delivery of a digital receipt and/or a paper receipt at checkout). The mobile device sends the customer's receipt delivery preferences to a receipt preferences database server for storage in a receipt preferences database. During a sales transaction, a point-of-sale (“POS”) system refers to the receipt preferences database (or a relevant portion thereof) to access the customer's receipt delivery preferences. Based on the customer's receipt delivery preferences, the point-of-sale (“POS”) system delivers appropriate types of receipts (e.g. digital and/or paper) to the customer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of electronic sales transactions, and, more particularly, to delivering customer specified receipt types at checkout.
2. Related Art
In a variety of transactions, consumers or buyers of goods or services typically receive receipts from their respective merchants or service providers as proof of existence of conducted transactions. Generally, receipts are issued by merchants and service providers for a number of reasons including, for example, regulatory or tax reasons and convenience purposes. A receipt provides information about a corresponding transaction for the purpose of providing all participants with a trace or record of the transaction. Receipts can later be used by a consumer for various purposes including, for example, proving participation in a transaction for tax reporting purpose, product returns, use as a claim ticket for a further transaction, provisioning warranties, etc. Depending on a variety of factors, such as, for example, items being purchased, business or personal purchase, amount of purchase, etc., a consumer may desire an electronic receipt and/or a paper receipt.
For in-store purchases, consumers generally obtain a paper receipt at the point-of-sale. However, some point-of-sale systems also support the delivery of digital receipts at the point-of-sale. Further, for telephone or online purchases digital receipts are typically delivered to a customer.
In some situations, receipt deliver mechanisms may be somewhat rigid and may not allow a user to configure desired receipt types (e.g., digital and/or paper) for use at checkout. For example, a conventional point-of-sale ("POS") system typically includes a POS terminal, one or more peripheral devices (display monitor, receipt printer, barcode scanner, weigh scale, electronic signature pad) and a payment processor with pin pad (for credit and debit cards). The data for sales transactions is usually stored in a storage device of the POS terminal, which may be uploaded to one of the remote transaction authorization servers or another remote server of the credit/debit card companies. Although POS systems are well equipped for merchants to monitor and collect transaction data from the POS system, the ability of the customer to input or extract useful information from the POS system is typically limited to pinpad interactions (entering tip amounts, obtaining additional cash back, etc.), and obtaining printed receipts, the format and content of which has been pre-determined by the merchant.
Further, POS systems are typically sold with a proprietary on-board software system that may be specific to the merchant's business. The merchant may be able to make minor programming adjustments to add discount codes and other special offers, but may have limited ability to add functionality to the POS system.

Delivering customer specified receipt types at checkout


One aspect of the invention discloses a method of determining the dopant profile of doped regions in a semiconductor substrate. A pump laser is used to create excess carriers in this semiconductor substrate. The excess carrier concentration will influence the reflection of a probe laser. From the reflected probe laser not only the bulk components but also the near-surface components are eliminated to only yield the bulk components.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to the evaluation of semiconductor material, particularly evaluating the bulk properties of the semiconductor material.
2. Description of the Related Technology
In semiconductor processing the properties of semiconductor materials, such as Si, SiGe, GaAs, etc. . . . , and their dependence on processing conditions need to be determined. The properties of the bulk material can be changed by introducing species, e.g., by ion implantation, by annealing, e.g., Rapid Thermal processing (RTP), by manufacturing of the substrate, etc. In CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Silicon) devices, for example, the junction depth and profile of the source/drain regions formed in the semiconductor substrate need to be determined. To yield advanced, high-performance Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) technologies, it is crucial to be able to characterize quickly and reliably ultra shallow junctions. The process conditions can then be optimized to obtain the desired junction depth and profile and hence the required device characteristics.
There exist various methods to investigate the properties of the semiconductor profile. Some of these techniques are destructive, for example, spreading-resistance-profile (SRP) whereby the semiconductor substrate is cleaved along a diagonal cleavage line and a two point electrical measurement is performed at subsequent positions along this cleavage line. Some techniques are non-destructive, for example, the Carrier Illumination (CI) technique, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,049,220 and 6,323,951, both hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. For in-line monitoring of the pre- and post-anneal process steps, this Carrier Illumination™ technique has established itself as a fast, non-contact, non-destructive tool with wafer mapping capability. For process monitoring applications, the exact quantitative interpretation of the CI signal is less important as long as high repeatability and sensitivity for a particular profile or process parameter can be demonstrated.
In CI, typically, a focused "pump" laser beam (also labeled generation beam), operating at a fixed wavelength of typically 930 nm, which is larger than the band gap of the material under study, is used to generate a quasi-static excess carrier profile in the bulk of the semiconductor profile, giving rise to a depth dependent index of refraction. The excess carriers distribute themselves in the semiconductor material according to a profile which is defined as the carrier concentration (in number of carriers per cubic cm exceeding the level of carriers present within the semiconductor substrate without stimulation labeled as the background carrier concentration or profile), e.g., in the absence of illumination. This background concentration is dependent, inter alia, on the concentration of dopant atoms. Specifically, the excess carrier concentration changes from being zero outside a surface of the semiconductor material to a finite value inside the semiconductor material. This change results in a step increase in the concentration of excess carriers at the surface of the semiconductor substrate. This step increase of the excess carriers concentration at the interface between the semiconductor material under study and its surroundings, e.g., air, will be labeled as the near-surface component which will result in a near-surface component of the reflected probe beam as will be discussed later on. As the depth z, defined from the front surface into the semiconductor substrate, increases, the excess carrier concentration changes in a manner proportional, inter alia, to the change in the concentration of dopant atoms or to the presence of recombination centers. For example, in some cases, the dopant concentration rises, but in other cases the dopant concentration dips first and then rises, depending on the detailed shape of the doping profile.
The measured CI-signal is then generated by illuminating the semiconductor material with a second "probe" laser (also labeled analyzer beam), having a fixed wavelength higher than the fixed wavelength of the "pump" laser, typically 990 nm. This probe laser will be reflected at the sample surface and/or at any region with a large change in the index of refraction.

System and method for measuring properties of a semiconductor substrate in a non-destructive way

Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC) vzw


A new and distinct Daylily plant named ‘Going Bananas’ characterized by full, light-yellow, fragrant flowers, on compact plants that bloom for at least 16 weeks during the growing season and are suitable for landscape or potted culture use.

The new and distinct Hemerocallis cultivar 'Going Bananas', hereinafter also referred to as 'Going Bananas' and "the plant" is a new and distinct plant. It was hybridized by Chris Meyer in the summer of 1992, and discovered as first flowered in 1994 as part of an on-going hybridizing program to develop new and improved cultivars. The plant was found growing in trial fields of a nursery in Zeeland, Mich., USA. The plant has been successfully propagated by division methods at the same nursery to produce identical plants that maintain the unique characteristics of the original plant.

Hemerocallis plant named ‘Going Bananas’


An integrated dynamic interconnect device for connecting and disconnecting at least a portion of a parasitically powered integrated electronic circuit, includes a power input, a power output, a signal input to receive a connect/disconnect signal, and an integrated switching mechanism which is responsive to the signal input receiving a connect/disconnect signal to electrically connect and disconnect the power input and the power output.

Parasitically powered electronic devices derive their power from the power transmitted over an attached data line. Generally, when the attached data line is at a high voltage, a capacitor on the electronic device (an "on-board power storage capacitor") is charged to the data line's potential. When the data goes to a low voltage, such as during communication, the device can no longer derive its power from the data line potential, therefore it is usually powered by the onboard power storage capacitor.
Parasitically powered electronic devices must be designed to minimize power consumption while the data line is at a low potential, so that the on-board power storage capacitor does not discharge too much, which could cause device circuitry to reset.
Current electronic design practices have brought the power consumption of many elements or parts to a very low level. The minimum power consumption level of any given device is determined at least in part by the amount of leakage current that flows through reverse-biased PN silicon diodes that are present on every MOSFET on the device. Since the reverse leakage current is proportional to the area of PN diode junctions, the smaller the area of the PN diode junctions, the lower the reverse leakage current. However, there is a limit as to how small the area of the PN diode junctions can be made, and further, even with the smallest PN diode junction area, the reverse leakage current increases exponentially with increased temperature.
In circumstances when the area of the PN diode junctions cannot be minimized or when the device is to function at high temperatures, such as when the device is designed to serve as a thermometer, the reverse leakage current that results often is too high, causing undesired power drain of the on-board power storage capacitor.

Integrated power switch for parasitically powered devices


Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a system and method for the assembly of a program having one or more methods. In an embodiment, one or more sequences for the methods of the program are determined based, at least in part, on data format information provided by the methods. In one embodiment, one of the sequences is selected based, at least in part, on a data format efficiency computation.

In the past, enterprises were willing to reorganize their business processes to fit them into the relatively static structures of business software systems. More recently, however, enterprises have been more reluctant to reorganize their business processes for reasons such as the expense incurred by the reorganization. In addition, many enterprises are interested in retaining (rather than changing) business processes that have proved to be successful.
A conventional approach to providing more flexible business software systems involves the configuration of system process flows with parameters. The individual values of these parameters are set during customization of the software and respected by the processes during runtime. The configuration of process flows via parameters, however, is encumbered by a number of limitations. For example, the way in which certain parameter values influence the process flow within the system is not always clear to a user. This limitation can be partly addressed through thorough documentation and/or the expertise provided by consultants. Either of these partial solutions, however, increases the costs of the software implementation.
A second limitation of the conventional approach is that the complexity of the coding of business software increases disproportionately with the number of parameters. The increase in the complexity of the coding leads to a greater possibility of coding faults, especially for unusual parameter value combinations. This complexity and the resulting maintenance and support challenges cause functional extensions of the software to be developed more slowly or not at all.

System and method for the assembly of programs


The state of operability of a circuit having at least one group of condition responsive monitoring switches, the switches having first terminals connected to an input signal source and output terminals connected to an evaluation unit, is monitored by periodically interrupting the connection between at least one of the condition responsive switches of each group and the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit compares the change in potential at the output terminal of the one switch, resulting from the interruption, with the potential at the output terminal of another switch.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to protective systems and, particularly, to monitoring the state of operability of a circuit including plural switches which change state in response to the movement of a guard member such as a security door. More specifically, this invention is directed to methods of and apparatus for periodically evaluating the state of operability of a circuit which includes plural, parallel-connected interlock switches. Accordingly, the general objects of the present invention are to provide novel and improved apparatus and methods of such character.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
While not limited thereto in its utility, the present invention is particularly well suited for employment in monitoring devices which, via a plurality of condition responsive electrical switches, monitor the state, i.e., the open or closed position, of protective coverings such as doors, covers, etc. of machinery or the like. In this demanding operating environment, it is common for plural switches, operatively associated with the secured door, to be hard wired to a remotely located control or alarm. It is possible for the electrical conductors which extend between the switches and the remote control to become damaged over an extended use period of the associated machine. Such damage, i.e., a fault, may take the form of a hard to detect "cross", i.e., a short circuit may develop between a pair of the conductors which are respectively associated with different of the plural interlock switches.
A short circuit of the type discussed above can be laboriously detected by the application of a positive voltage to one of a pair of parallel connected monitoring switches while simultaneously causing the other switch to "switch" zero potential. Observation of the voltage received at the remote control/alarm station during such switching will indicate whether there is a short circuit in the system.
The above-described manual testing technique is, of course, applicable when both of a pair of parallel operated switches operate in the same sense, i.e., are simultaneously either normally closed or normally open. The technique is, however, also applicable in the situation where one of the switches is normally open and the other is normally closed. Under such circumstances, should a short circuit occur, the potentials at monitored terminals located at the control station terminals, which terminals correspond to the output terminals of both switches, will assume the same potential thus indicating the presence of a fault.
The state-of-the-art is also exemplified by the teachings of German Patent 32 41 492. In accordance with this prior art, the switches of the protective circuit to be monitored are connected between a voltage source and a signal processor and the states of the switches are cyclically interrogated through the generation of interrogation pulses which are respectively fed to the processor via a coding line. The processor detects the combination of the pulses on the coding line and thus obtains information as to which switch group as just been interrogated. Although the interrogation of the switching states can be performed in a very short time period, simultaneous monitoring of the switches for their proper functioning is not possible in accordance with the teachings of German Patent 32 41 492.

Monitoring device having monitoring switches


Multi-wavelength light is transmitted from a sending station to a receiving station. An erbium-doped optical fiber is installed on the transmission path that connects the sending station and the receiving station. Pump light is supplied from a light source installed in the receiving station to the erbium-doped optical fiber. In the receiving station, the multi-wavelength light is decomposed into the component wavelength signals. The light level of each component wavelength signal is detected, and the power of the light emitted by the light source is controlled so as to equalize those light levels.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a system for remote control of an amplifier that amplifies multi-wavelength light in a system that transmits multi-wavelength light. In particular, it relates to a remote pump system for an optical fiber amplifier.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the advanced information society that has developed in recent years, optical fiber has become widely used in transmission paths to transmit information. Optical fiber not only makes it possible to transmit larger amounts of data at higher speed, but also is superior in long-distance transmission.
However, even in optical fiber that is superior for long-distance transmission, the signal that is transmitted through the optical fiber attenuates as the transmission path becomes longer. For this reason, in, for example, a long-distance optical transmission system that connects cities or continents, normally relay nodes are established at specified intervals; at each relay node the signal is amplified and sent on to the next relay node.
A variety of types of optical amplifiers have been developed to amplify light signals. One of them is known as the optical fiber amplifier. In particular, in the 1.55 micrometer wavelength band, rare earth-doped optical fiber amplifiers into which a rare earth substance such as erbium has been injected are widely used. In a rare earth-doped optical fiber amplifier, the rare earth substance that has been injected into the optical fiber is raised to the excited state by pump light that is input separately from the signal light, and the signal light is amplified by that pump energy.
When data are transmitted between continents, particularly in high-speed communication, ocean floor cables are usually used. These ocean floor cables are normally optical fiber cables, and optical amplifiers are installed at specified intervals. That is to say, in this kind of long-distance optical transmission system, the optical amplifiers such as optical fiber amplifiers are often laid on the ocean floor.
However, if trouble occurs in an optical amplifier laid on the ocean floor or if it deteriorates, that optical amplifier must be raised to the ocean surface in order to repair or replace it, making maintenance work difficult. Meanwhile, in order to minimize the occurrence of such trouble and deterioration, such an optical amplifier is required to have far greater reliability than an ordinary optical amplifier and it is necessary to use expensive components, making the manufacturing cost very high.
Remote pump has been proposed as one means to deal with this problem. In a remote pump system, a light source that supplies pump light for the optical fiber amplifier (and the circuit that controls that light source) are installed at some distance away from the optical fiber amplifier, normally, as shown in FIG. 1A, the light source is installed at or near the transmitter or receiver. That is to say, in a remote pump system, the light source unit and the control circuit, in which it is easy for trouble to occur, are installed on the ground, and only the optical fiber components (identified in the figures as EDF=erbium-doped fibers), in which breakdown and deterioration almost never occur, are laid on the ocean bottom. For this reason, it is possible to construct a system that is easy to maintain without making an optical fiber amplifier of higher quality (reliability) than necessary, reducing the cost.
However, the amount of information transmitted through the networks has been increasing greatly. In this situation, a great deal of research and development work has been done on the technology to increase the amount of information that the transmission paths can handle. Wavelength Division Multiplex (WDM) transmission is a technology to increase the capacity of transmission paths. Multi-wavelength transmission is a method in which several light signals at different wavelengths are multiplexed for transmission through a single optical transmission path; information can be transmitted on each wavelength (channel). Recently it has been proposed to introduce such a multi-wavelength multiplex transmission system into the remote pump optical transmission system described above. One particular case in which multi-wavelength light is transmitted in an optical transmission system with a remote pump configuration is illustrated in FIG. 1B.
When multi-wavelength light is amplified using an Er-doped fiber (EDF) in a remote pump system, normally the pump light power output from a pump light source ("pump") is held at a constant value in order to measure the stability of the amplification action in the optical fiber amplifier. When pump light is supplied to the optical fiber amplifier, all of the wavelengths of the multi-wavelength light are amplified at once. That is to say, when the multi-wavelength light is being multiplexed in a plurality of channels, signals on a plurality of channels at mutually different wavelengths are amplified all at once.
However, in general the gain in an optical fiber amplifier depends on the wavelength. For this reason, if appropriate pump control is not applied to the optical fiber amplifier, the gain on the different channels on which the multi-wavelength light has been multiplexed will no longer be the same, and the light levels on the different channels will become different. In addition, in multi-wavelength transmission, the greater the number of channels that are multiplexed on one optical fiber, the greater the amount of pump energy that becomes necessary, making it desirable to control the action of the optical fiber amplifier according to this number of channels.
However, in existing remotely pumping systems, control has not been applied considering the wavelength dependence of the optical fiber amplifier gain or the number of channels that are multiplexed. For this reason, the levels on each channel deviate from one another, or the signal light level can be inappropriate causing increased noise.

Remotely pumping type multi-wavelength light transmission system


A magnetic powder brake device of a motor used for oil production is provided. The motor has a turning shaft and an oil extraction pump, and is coupled with a magnetic powder brake. The magnetic powder brake is connected with an electromagnetic switch and a battery. The electromagnetic switch is provided with a power sensor and connected with a power source. When the motor is turned under a normal power supply, the electromagnetic switch is in a disconnection state and the battery doesn't supply power to the magnetic powder brake, so the turning shaft is not braked by the magnetic powder brake. In case of an unexpected power failure, the electromagnetic switch is in a connection state, the battery supplies power to the magnetic powder brake, and the magnetic powder brake is activated to brake the turning shaft, preventing the turning shaft from turning reversely.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic powder brake device of a motor used for oil production, and more particularly to a motor having a magnetic powder brake device to prevent a turning shaft of the motor from turning reversely in case of an expected power failure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional spiral rod motor used for oil production has a long hollow turning shaft and an oil extraction pump to extend into an oil field underground. The turning shaft and the spiral oil extraction pump are turned to extract the petroleum underground. The conventional spiral rod motor doesn't have a brake device. Hence, in case of a power failure, the turning shaft and the oil extraction pump which are very long (about thousands of meters) will generate a counterforce when they are stopped turning, which causes a reverse turning of the turning shaft and the oil extraction pump. The reverse tuning will cause the petroleum to flow reversely and the parts of the equipment to turn reversely and to cause damages accordingly. To prevent the reverse turning in case of a power failure, it is necessary to provide an apparatus to prevent the petroleum from flowing backward, namely, the conventional motor used for oil production doesn't have a brake device itself. Thus, the conventional motor is unable to brake the turning shaft and the oil extraction pump instantaneously in case of a power failure to result in a reverse turning. Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve these problems.

Magnetic powder brake device of motor used for oil production


A cue having a hollow cylindrical handle and a hollow cylindrical shaft with a constant external diameter. A tip member fixed to one end of the shaft and a connector fixed to the other end of the shaft. A butt member fixed to one end of the handle and a connecting member fixed to the other end of the shaft to connect the handle to the shaft. An adjustable weight is located in the hollow handle and a bridge sleeve surrounds the shaft. The bridge sleeve has a bushing at each end with an inner diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of the shaft so that the shaft can slide through the bridge sleeve to cause a steady movement of the cue.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a billiard cue or a pool cue and more particularly to a cue which is provided with an adjustable weight in the handle and a bridge sleeve slideably mounted on the shaft.
2. Description of Prior Art
Multipart billiard cues and pool cues have a shaft with an end connected to an end of a handle by a threaded connecting arrangement. A butt member is located at the distal end of the handle and a replaceable tip for contacting a ball is located at the distal end of the shaft. A slideable bridge sleeve may be located around the shaft of the cue to permit movement of the shaft relative to the sleeve. The player holds the bridge sleeve in a stationary position with one hand and grasps the handle of the cue with the other hand to slide the cue laterally along its axis through the stationary bridge sleeve. The bridge sleeve provides a straight and steady movement of the cue and enables the player to contact a ball with greater accuracy than is possible when the player's hand is used to form the bridge. A cue may have a weight in the handle which is adjusted for the individual player when the cue is purchased.


A Personal Computer (PC) adjusts a color of an image received from a digital camera to produce an estimated reflectance spectrum and/or to convert the color to a new color space. First, an input compensation transform is generated, e.g. based on a Macbeth color chart in the image, to compensate for the sensitivity of the camera used to generate the image to different wavelengths of light and the illumination spectrum incident on an object of interest to which the image relates. In order to estimate the reflectance spectrum, a reflectance spectrum estimation transform is then generated by the PC. In order to convert the color of the image to the new color space, a color space conversion transform is generated by the PC. Both the reflectance spectrum estimation transform and the color space conversion transform are based on the input compensation transform and reference reflectance spectra stored in a reference reflectance spectra database.

Colours can be deterministically defined by a distribution of light intensities at different wavelengths in the visible spectrum (i.e. between around 400 nm and 700 nm). However, the way in which we perceive and usually record colour is subjective. For example, our eyes and most conventional photographic methods are more sensitive to light at some wavelengths than others. This means that light at certain wavelengths has greater influence on our perception or recordal of colour than others. Similarly, whilst an object tends to reflect light at different wavelengths by consistent proportions defined by the reflectance spectrum of the object, the actual colour of light reflected by the object also depends on the intensity at different wavelengths of light by which the object is illuminated, e.g. the illumination spectrum. As the illumination spectrum will tend to change, e.g. according to the time of day or according to the location of the object, the object may therefore be perceived or photographed with a variety of different colours. So, it is widely recognised that colours of objects can only be completely defined by their reflectance spectra. Much effort has therefore been expended in developing methods of recording and estimating reflectance spectra. These recorded or estimated reflectance spectra are useful for a variety of scientific and technical purposes. They can also be used for image processing. For example, it has been suggested to convert images of objects recorded in a given colour space, e.g. a Red Green Blue (RGB) signal of a digital camera, to another colour space, e.g. Cyan Magenta Yellow black (CMYK) ink dot quantities of a printer, using the estimated reflectance spectra of the objects.
For example, reflectance spectra can be measured using an apparatus known as a spectroradiometer or spectrophotometer. The spectrophotometer splits light reflected from an object into different component wavelengths, e.g. using a prism or diffraction grating, and measures the light intensity at each component wavelength. The illumination spectrum incident on the object is usually also measured, e.g. by measuring light reflected from an object having neutral reflectance characteristics, such as a piece of matt white card. The reflectance spectrum of the object can then be deduced. Whilst this is generally effective, spectrophotometers are complex and expensive. They are also poor at generating images. More specifically, in order to generate a two-dimensional image, a separate measurement must be performed for each pixel of the image. Most spectrophotometers can only make one measurement at a time, with the result that image generation is at best an incredibly slow process.
Spectrophotometers that are able to measure the spectral characteristics of many pixels of an image at once are available and are generally known as hyper-spectral imaging systems. However, these are very complex and expensive. They also require a reasonable amount of expertise to operate effectively, making them unsuitable for many commercial uses.
Methods of estimating reflectance spectra from images captured by conventional photographic equipment have also been explored. So-called multi-spectral imaging systems usually comprise conventional cameras equipped with multiple filters. Each filter only allows a limited range of wavelengths of light to pass. By capturing an image of an object through the different filters, spectral information about the object can be deduced. However, multi-spectral imaging systems are generally laborious to operate and can only record limited spectral information.
WO2003/030524 describes a method of estimating reflectance spectra from RGB signals of a digital camera. An RGB signal is converted to a spectrum using knowledge of the illumination spectrum and the sensitivity of the digital camera to different wavelengths of light. Weighting is applied to improve the smoothness and colour constancy of the spectrum to produce an estimated reflectance spectrum. In order for this method to be effective, the illumination spectrum must be known precisely. The camera therefore photographs objects in a closed box, inside which is a light source producing a known illumination spectrum. This is clearly impractical in many situations, such as when it is desired to photograph an object in situ. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the digital camera to different wavelengths of light is defined by three different sensitivity functions, broadly for red, green and blue light, with the levels of response of the camera for each sensitivity function making up values for each of the red, green and blue components of the RGB signal. Even with precise knowledge of the sensitivity functions, the RGB signal does not therefore allow complete reconstruction of the spectrum of light received by the camera. Rather, some information about the spectrum of light received by the camera is lost. So, despite the weighting to improve the smoothness and colour constancy of the estimated reflectance spectrum, the method inevitably produces only approximate reflectance spectra estimations.
The paper "Characterisation of natural illuminants in forests and the use of digital video data to reconstruct illuminant spectra", Chiao et al, Journal of the Optical Society of America, Vol. 17, No. 10, October 2000, shows that RGB signals of a digital camera can be mapped onto a family of known illuminant spectra. RGB signals representing the illuminant spectra are generated using the digital camera at the same time as the illuminant spectra are measured using a spectrophotometer. A linear transform is then derived between the RGB signals representing the illuminant spectra and the illuminant spectra as measured by the spectrophotometer using a least-squares procedure. Whilst this method obtains good results, it only applies to a closely related family of illuminant spectra. In order to apply the method to different illuminant spectra, RGB signals representing the different illuminant spectra must be generated using the digital camera and the different illuminant spectra must be measured using the spectrophotometer. Furthermore, the derived transform is specific to the particular digital camera used to generate the RGB signals. If it is desired to use RGB signals representing the illuminant spectra generated by a different camera, a new transform must be derived. In order for the new transform to be accurate, the illuminant spectra must be measured again using the spectrophotometer at the same time as the RGB signals representing the illuminant spectra are generated using the new digital camera. The method is therefore time consuming and impractical. This paper is also limited to the consideration of illuminant spectra, rather than the more complex problem of estimating reflectance spectra of objects.
WO2004/012442 describes a method of converting an image from RGB signals to CMYK ink dot quantities of a printer using estimated reflectance spectra. The reflectance spectra can be measured using a multi-spectral imaging device. Alternatively, in its fourth embodiment, WO2004/012442 describes estimating reflectance spectra from RGB signals using reference reflectance spectra stored in a database. An RGB signal representing a pixel of an image is converted into tristimulus values L*, a*, b* (which represent colours in a similar way to RGB signals but using a standard defined by the Commission Internationale d'Eclairage (CIE)) using knowledge of a model light source selected by a user. Likewise, tristimulus values L*, a*, b* are calculated for the reference reflectance spectra stored in the database. The reference reflectance spectrum in the database having tristimulus values L*, a*, b* closest to those of the pixel is then identified as the estimated reflectance spectrum of the pixel. In a fifth embodiment, it is suggested to allow users to select a category of reference reflectance spectra in the database, e.g. relating to flesh, flowers or such like, to narrow the comparison. This method may be effective in some circumstances. However, the comparison of tristimulus values L*, a*, b* to identify an appropriate reflectance spectrum can be inaccurate. In particular, different spectral sensitivities of different cameras that produce the RGB signals and differences between the actual illumination spectrum illuminating an object and the illumination spectrum of the model light source selected by the user can cause large inaccuracies in the calculated tristimulus values L*, a*, b*. The comparison is therefore likely frequently to identify an incorrect reflectance spectrum. So, likewise, the image conversion process can also be inaccurate.
The present invention seeks to overcome these problems.

Reflectance spectra estimation and colour space conversion using reference reflectance spectra


An ink-jet printing apparatus for printing seamless cans comprising a mandrel wheel, a plurality of mandrels that can rotate and are provided on the mandrel wheel, and ink-jet printing stations for ink-jet printing images on at least the can walls on the outer surfaces of seamless cans fitted onto the mandrels, and a method of printing seamless cans by using the same apparatus. A plurality of ink-jet heads are arranged in each of the ink-jet printing stations to improve reproduceability of printing and productivity.

Seamless cans made from a metal such as aluminum or steel have large shock resistance and do not permit gases such as oxygen to pass through, offer such advantages as far superior preservability of the contents to the plastic containers as well as small weight as compared to glass bottles, and have been widely used as containers for containing carbonated beverages, alcohol beverages and many other beverages and foods.
Trade names and a variety of designs have been printed on the outer surfaces of the cans by the plate-type printing using a printing plate, such as offset printing (patent document 1), by the ink-jet printing without using the printing plate, or by the printing systems based on a combination thereof (patent documents 2 to 4).
The plate-type printing executes a multi-color printing by preparing plates for each of the ink colors, and is efficient when the seamless cans having the same image are to be mass-produced. When the design being printed is to be changed, however, the plates must be newly prepared. Namely, the plate-type printing requires an extended period of time for changing the design, has no freedom for changing the design that is to be printed specifically in the production within short due terms or in the production of small lots, and can print only limited kinds of designs.
The ink-jet printing, on the other hand, requires no plate offering such advantages that the design to be printed can be freely changed in short periods of time (variability), that the ink can be thickly printed enabling images with deepness to be formed and that highly fine images such as photographs can be excellently reproduced.

Ink-jet printing apparatus and method of printing seamless cans by using the same printing apparatus


The present invention is related to a novel method of detecting mRNA, based on the fact that the newly synthesized mRNA is confined inside the cell nucleus. According to the novel method cells are captured on a membrane and then treated by a cell membrane permeation solution, thereby increasing permeability of cell membranes. After the cytoplasm is washed away, nuclei are dissolved with a cell dissolving solution, and then mRNA can be successfully recovered from the obtained solution.

Conventional methods of isolation of mRNA isolate total mRNA from the cell. The mRNA isolated this way includes cytosolic mRNA and nuclear mRNA. For the purposes of quantitation and analysis of expression, it is important to only isolate the newly synthesized mRNA, not that which is being degraded in the cytoplasm. In this way one gets a "true" reading of the expression level or the changes in expression of a gene.
Gene expression analysis is of major interest in the field of functional genomics. Now that the human genome has been sequenced, there is a great need to identify genes and mutations which are involved in disease. These may be genes which are up- or down-regulated or genes which have polymorphisms. Many of the methods used to analyze these genes involve the isolation of mRNA. For example, DNA microarray chips can analyze the expression profile of thousands of different genes simultaneously. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is a very sensitive method used to quantitate the expression of individual genes, and is rapidly replacing the more labor-intensive Northern blot analysis. There are many other non-PCR technologies available for sensitive gene detection, such as Nucleic Acid Sequence Based Amplification (NASBA), Strand Displacement Amplification (SDA), and branched DNA (bDNA) amplification.
Although many of these and other detection technologies have been developed and commercialized, the starting material is always total RNA or poly(A)+ RNA from cells or tissue samples. When total RNA or mRNA from a whole cell is used, the results are a mixture of the products of transcription as well as degradation products from the cytosol. This makes it difficult to detect expression of new mRNA under conditions that digestion of mRNA is in progress. Further, when a large amount of mRNA is already present, it is difficult to detect a slight change in the quantity of mRNA, and thus sensitivity is low.
The transcription of immature mRNA occurs in the nucleus, where poly(A) tails are attached and splicing occurs as needed. After this, the mature mRNA molecules then migrate into the cytoplasm and are translated and degraded. Since the amount of mRNA in the nucleus is directly related to the amount of transcription—not degradation—of mRNA, attempts have been made to purify the nuclear fraction in order to measure the amounts of specific mRNA (or nuclear RNA) in the nuclear fraction. Previous attempts to specifically analyze the nuclear fraction include the nuclear run-on assay which measures the level of transcription of specific genes. However, a major obstacle to the use of this assay is the amount of time required, the need for very careful handling to avoid ribonuclease contamination, and the generation of radioactive waste. Other techniques for purification of the nuclear fraction used time-consuming ultracentrifugation or labor-intensive microinjection to perform nuclear mRNA purification and analysis. These methods are not high throughput, and not suitable for precise quantitation. Moreover, it is not clear whether nuclear mRNA is preserved, for example, during the ultracentrifugation.
Thus, a rapid, sensitive, reliable, and high throughput methodology for isolation and analysis of the nuclear fraction of mRNA is needed. This would allow the analysis of "true" transcription levels of a gene.

Method for collecting and using nuclear mRNA


Disclosed herein are compounds represented by Structural Formula (I):

PGD2 belongs to the class of prostaglandins derived from arachidonic acid. It is the predominant prostanoid produced by activated mast cells and is involved in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases such as asthma, rhinitis and atopic dermatitis (see Lewis et al. J. Immunol. 129:1627 (1982), Hardy et al., N. Eng. J. Med. 311: 209 (1984), Murray et al., N. Eng. J. Med. 315: 800 (1986), Barry et al., Br. J. Pharmacol. 94:773 (1988). PGD2 is a ligand for the DP receptor and was initially thought to elicit all its biological actions through this receptor. The role of the DP receptor in allergic asthma has been demonstrated with DP deficient mice (see Matsuoka et al Science 287: 2013 (2000)). More recently PGD2 was identified as the ligand for another G-protein coupled receptor referred to as "chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on Th2" or simply "CRTH2" (see Tanaka et al., J. Immunol. 164:2277 (2000), and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2002/0022218). CRTh2 is expressed on basophils, eosinophils and immune helper cells of the Th2 type. Th2 cells have been shown to be involved in the orchestration of allergic response (see Wills-Karp, Annual Review of Immunology, 17: 255 (1999)). It has been shown that PGD2 induces chemotaxis in Th2 cells and eosinophils via the CRTH2 receptor, suggesting that CRTh2 may play a pro-inflammatory role in allergic diseases (see Hirai et al. J. Exp. Med. 193: 255 (2001). It has also been shown that in atopic
dermatitis patients there is an increase in circulating T cells expressing CRTh2 which correlates with the severity of the disease. (see Cosmi et al. Eur. J. Immunol. 30: 2972(2000), Iwazaki et al. J. Investigative Dermatology, 119: 609 (2002). Thus, PGD2 is involved in various aspects of inflammation through its receptors DP and CRTh2. Antagonists of CRTH2 and DP are therefore expected to be useful in the treatment of PGD2 mediated disorders. Unfortunately, there are few if any known CRTH2 inhibitors. As a consequence, clinicians will be unable to exploit these discoveries until new CRTH2 inhibitors are developed.

PGD2 receptor antagonists for the treatment of inflammatory diseases

Abstract: (I), wherein the variables are defined herein.

Abstract: Also disclosed is the use of such compounds for inhibiting the G-protein coupled receptor referred to as chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on Th2 (“CRTH2”) for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.


An injection molding apparatus includes a first mold half, a second mold half opposite to the first mold half, an eject pin, a component collector and a buffer device. The eject pin penetrates through the first mold half. The component collector is configured for receiving the molding component molded. The buffer device includes a buffer plate, a connection plate and an elastic element. The elastic element includes two elastic arms connected with each other. The two elastic arms form an angle θ in a range 0°<θ<180° in its natural state and partly inserting into the buffer plate and the connection plate respectively. The buffer device is disposed at a same side as the first mold half and the buffer plate is adjacent to the second mold half. The buffer device is configured for buffering the molding component during a knockout process.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to molding apparatuses and, more particularly, to an injection molding apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Molding apparatuses are widely used for manufacturing optical articles, such as light guide plates, lenses, and so on. Generally, a molding method using the molding apparatuses includes a knockout process.
Referring to FIG. 11, an injection molding apparatus 100 includes a core 10, an eject pin 12 and a component collector 14. The core 10 defines a cavity 1022 therein. A molding component 16 is received in the cavity 1022. A through hole 1024 is defined in the core 10 and intercommunicates with the cavity 1022. The eject pin 12 passes through the through hole 1024 and touches the molding component 16 to eject the molding component 16 out of the cavity 1022. The component collector 14 is located at one side of and below the cavity 1022. The component collector 14 is configured for collecting the molding component 16 ejected out from the cavity 1022. A knockout process of the molding component 16 from the cavity 1022 using the eject pin 12 is described as below: firstly, the eject pin 12 moves towards the molding component 16 and knocks the molding component 16 out from the cavity 1022; then the molding component 16 falls into the component collector 14.
However, the molding component 16 may be ejected out with a large force that the molding component 16 may be disposed beyond the component collector 14 (see broken lines in FIG. 1). Sometimes, the molding component 16 may be broken because of that.
What is needed, therefore, is an injection molding apparatus can prevent the molding components from being broken.


A pressure sensing element (100) includes a support substrate (11); a sensor electrode (12) supported by the support substrate (11); a pressure sensing film (14) functionalized to be electro-conductive, at least in a portion thereof faced to the sensor electrode (12); and an insulating layer (13) which keeps the sensor electrode (12) and the pressure sensing film (14) apart from each other by a predetermined distance A, and has formed therein an opening (20) in which the sensor electrode (12) is exposed to the pressure sensing film (14), the insulating layer (13) having an aperture wall (13b) which partitions the opening (20), and an aperture end (top aperture end (13a)) faced to the pressure sensing film (14), and the insulating layer (13) being increased in height, measured from the support substrate (11), continuously towards the opening (20).

In recent years, tactile sensing has rapidly been expanding its presence in the fields of medical treatment, welfare, robot, virtual reality, and so forth.
In the automotive field, for example, it has been general to embed a pressure sensing element into a seat. This is aimed at prompting a passenger who gets on a vehicle and sits on the seat to fasten a seat belt. More specifically, upon sitting of the passenger on the vehicle seat, a predetermined level or larger load (weight) is applied to the pressure sensing element. Accordingly, a pressure sensor equipped with the pressure sensing element senses the presence of the passenger, and prompts him or her to fasten the seat belt.
Other expected applications of the pressure sensor include those in medical or nursing field.
More specifically, for example, the pressure sensing element embedded in a mattress of a bed is expected to monitor how the weight of a patient or aged person (also referred to as patient, etc., hereinafter) is applied when he or she lies thereon. By the monitoring, it becomes possible to discover that the patient, etc. has been lying on bed with a fixed posture for a long time. The monitoring enables a third party to know the time to appropriately change the posture of the patient, etc. lying on bed, for bedsore prevention.
It is also possible to use the pressure sensor for a walking aid of the patient, etc. More specifically, if an aged person, while waking with a waking aid, embedded with a pressure sensing element, should lose his or her balance, the pressure sensor can detect the unbalanced weight of the aged person as a change in pressure distribution. It is therefore expected to provide falling prevention for the aged person, or detection of falling. As described above, fields where the pressure sensor may be utilized have been diversified in these years. In particular, the pressure sensor is expected to be mounted on the surface of an article other than flat surface, or to be used in a flexible mode.
There has been proposed a pressure sensing element embodied so that a support substrate having a sensor electrode, and an opposing substrate opposed therewith and having a pressure sensitive resistor, are provided while placing an insulating film in between. In these embodiments, it is important that the sensor electrode and the pressure sensitive resistor, under no load, neither contact nor short-circuit. For this reason, there has been known an embodiment in which the insulating film serves as a spacer for keeping the sensor electrode and the pressure sensitive resistor apart by a predetermined distance.
For example, Patent Literature 1 listed below describes a stacked structure of a pressure sensor in which one circuit board having a sensor electrode provided thereon, and the other circuit board having a pressure sensitive resistor formed thereon by printing, are opposed while placing a spacer sheet in between (see Table 2 in this literature). The spacer sheet is a PET film having tacky layers formed on both surfaces thereof, and on both surfaces of which, the one circuit board and the other circuit board are bonded.
A pressure sensor disclosed in Patent Literature 2 listed below is configured by a resistor board and an electrode support substrate, which are bonded while placing in between a spacer composed of an adhesion layer (see paragraph [0031] of this literature). The literature describes that the adhesion layer is an acrylic tacky film or the like.
A pressure sensor disclosed in Patent Literature 3 listed below is configured by one base film having thereon an electrode, the other base film having thereon a pressure sensitive resistor, and a spacer interposed in between (see FIG. 1 of this literature). Without load, the mutually opposed electrode and the pressure sensitive resistor are kept apart by the thickness of the spacer. The spacer is formed using a resin film, and on both surfaces of which a thermosetting resin adhesive is provided. With the aid of tackiness of the thermosetting resin adhesive, the one base film, the other base film, and the spacer are integrated.

Pressure sensing element having an insulating layer with an increased height from the substrate towards the opening


A brake actuator mechanism has an inner shaft received at least partially within an outer shaft. The overload protection device is disposed between the inner shaft and the outer shaft. The device selectively couples the inner shaft and the outer shaft so that when the outer shaft receives a torque beyond a predetermined limit, the device allows the outer shaft to rotate about the inner shaft without rotating the inner shaft.

Brake actuator mechanisms of the prior art have adjustment devices that allow the brake clearance to be precisely adjusted manually from a point exterior to the brake while the brake is installed on the vehicle. The adjustment devices have structures, called back-off tools, that are designed to break at a lower torque rating than any other internal component of the brake actuator mechanism. Such devices are important because they break before other internal components are damaged during an improper adjustment procedure. The internal components of the brake actuator mechanism are expensive and/or difficult to replace, thus they require such protection.
Various prior art devices are known to prevent improper adjustment of brake mechanisms and/or facilitate proper adjustment of brake mechanisms. For example, in both U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,478,316 and 4,478,317 a slack adjuster is taught having clutch means between the adjusting sleeve and the housing. The clutch means includes a helical spring that extends around the sleeve. The clutch means is used to prevent clockwise rotation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,890 provides for an automatic slack adjuster having a force limiting clutch that is wound such that when transferring clockwise torque from the intermediate sleeve to the driven sleeve, its torque transmitting capability is greater than that required to rotate a nut member when the friction linings are not in contact with the disc, but less than the torque required to rotate the nut member if the friction linings are in contact with the disc. A driving sleeve is connected to the intermediate sleeve by another clutch. The clutch is designed to transmit all of the torque developed by the driving sleeve in one direction of rotation to the intermediate sleeve, but will transmit very little of the torque developed by the driving sleeve to the intermediate sleeve in the other direction of rotation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,894 teaches a push rod slack adjuster having a disc clutch drive. The disc clutch drive is comprised of a pair of clutch plates which have a tanged connection to an actuating shaft. A compression spring bears against one of the clutch plates. The spring presets the pressure existing between the various clutch plates and determines the torque at which this clutch will slip.
The prior art devices briefly discussed above, and those known to those skilled in the art, have several disadvantages. First, if the back-off tool in the adjustment device breaks under an excessive torque, although it protected the internal components of the mechanism, the back-off tool still must be replaced prior to completing maintenance on the brake. Replacing a broken back-off tool increases the brake maintenance cost.
Second, an individual performing brake maintenance may not know the back-off tool is broken, if they do know, they may forget to replace it during maintenance. A broken back-off tool can cause damage to the brake mechanism.
In light of at least the above-disadvantages, it would be advantageous to have a device that is permanently installed in the brake actuator mechanism that continuously provides overload protection to the brake actuator mechanism.

Brake actuator mechanism with overload protection