A method of synchronizing a base station of a wireless communication system and a subscriber communication equipment located in the coverage area of the base station by compensating a sampling frequency offset in the subscriber equipment by interpolating input and/or output signals of a radio frequency part of the communication equipment to generate samples corresponding to the original symbol timing of the base station, and compensating the carrier frequency offset from the estimate of the sampling clock error.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless communication systems and, in particular, to wireless communication systems based on the IEEE 802.16 specifications.
However, the invention also applies in general to any communication system in which the carrier and sampling clock frequencies of all the signals transmitted between the base station and the subscriber equipment are locked to a same and unique reference clock frequency derived from a reference oscillator of the base station.
2. Description of Related Art
As a matter of fact, in wireless communication networks, a base station serves a number of users that are located in its coverage area. This is the case in the current mobile cellular networks including GSM, third-generation mobile cellular networks (UMTS, CDMA 2000, . . . ), wireless local area networks (WiFi) and broadband wireless access networks (WiMax). Most of recent wireless communication standards are based on the multicarrier transmission technique known as orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM). Indeed, the IEEE 802.11a specifications for WiFi are based on 64-carrier OFDM and the mode of IEEE 802.16 specifications adopted by WiMax is based on 256-carrier OFDM.
In a number of system specifications including WiMax, the transmit center frequency, receive center frequency and the symbol clock frequency at the base station must be derived from the same reference oscillator. The subscriber station or equipment may use this relationship between the symbol clock frequency and the base station transmit center frequency to avoid explicitly estimating the receive center frequency. The receive carrier frequency at the subscriber equipment may be indeed derived from the symbol clock frequency, and in this case a simple timing estimator is sufficient to perform timing and carrier frequency estimation.
In the IEEE 802.16 specifications, both the transmit center frequency and the symbol clock frequency of the subscriber equipment must be synchronized and locked to the base station with a precision better than 2% of the OFDM sub-carrier spacing. During the synchronization period, the subscriber equipment must acquire frequency synchronization within the specified tolerance before attempting any uplink transmission. During normal operation, the subscriber equipment must track the frequency changes and defer any transmission if synchronization is lost.
Reference is now made to FIG. 1 which illustrates a simplified block diagram of a conventional symbol timing recovery device of subscriber equipment highlighting the position of the symbol timing functions within the overall receiver structure.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the timing recovery device, denoted by reference 10, is placed between the radio frequency part 12 and the digital modem 14 of a subscriber equipment or station, such as a mobile cellular phone terminal, and is partly incorporated within the modem 14.
The timing recovery device comprises essentially a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit 16 comprising a timing error detector 18, a loop filter 20 and a voltage-controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO) 22.
In this conventional scheme, the PLL circuit is used to control a clock generator 24, the output of which delivers a receive sampling clock RX sampling clock and a transmit sampling clock TX sampling clock to an analog-to-digital converter circuit 26 and to a digital-to-analog converter circuit 28, respectively, which communicate with a digital demodulator 17 and a digital modulator 19.
In addition, the clock generator 24, which is composed of a PLL and a direct digital synthesis DDS clock, provides the radio frequency part 12 of the equipment with a reference clock RF part reference clock in order to control this radio frequency part accordingly.
As a matter of fact, the voltage-controlled oscillator VCXO adjusts the frequency and, hence, the phase according to the loop filter output. This frequency, which is locked to the base station, is used to generate the sampling frequency for the analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 26 and the carrier frequency of the RF receiver of the radio frequency part 12. On the other hand, it is also used to generate the sampling frequency for digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 28 and the carrier frequency of the RF transmitter of the radio frequency part 12.
The loop filter is employed to limit the variance of the noise in the error signal generated by the error detector 18. Hence, its bandwidth determines the performance of the PLL when noise is present. The smaller the bandwidth of the loop filter, the smaller is the variance of the noise in the error signal.
On the other hand, the tracking ability of the PLL is also determined by the loop filter bandwidth. A larger bandwidth enables the PLL to track rapidly changing phase. Therefore, the bandwidth of loop filter is chosen as a compromise between robustness to noise and tracking ability.
With this scheme, the sampling frequency and carrier frequency are adjusted by controlling the reference clock via the VCXO. This solution requires costly analog components like VCXO and DDS clock.

Method and system for synchronizing a base station of a wireless communication system and a subscriber communication equipment


A technique according to the present invention allows a projection-type image display system to suppress the temperature rise of the polarization split devices and secure high image quality. Polarization split means has a polarization split device arranged in a medium with a refractive index larger than 1. The polarization split device has a polarization split surface on which a diffractive grating structure is formed to polarize and split light. An air layer is formed in contact with the polarization split surface. In a projection type image display apparatus or an optical unit using this apparatus, light fluxes are polarized and split by the polarization split means before irradiated to light valves and after modulated by the light valves and color composition is made from the polarized and split light fluxes before enlarged and projected by a projection lens unit.

The present invention relates to a polarization split technique in a projection-type image display apparatus which forms an optical image according to an image signal by irradiating light valves such as liquid crystal panels with light from the light source side and enlarges/projects the optical image.
Business-use liquid crystal projectors have become widespread. In addition, as a substitute for the conventional projector which displays an image on a cathode-ray tube for projection to a screen, liquid crystal panel-used projection TVs have been developed. In particular, home-use projection TVs require higher fidelity color reproduction, higher contrast performance and faster motion image display performance than business-use liquid crystal projectors.
In the case of a reflective liquid crystal panel, it is possible to substantially halve its liquid crystal layer in thickness as compared with transmissive liquid crystal panel since the liquid crystal layer is passed back and forth, that is, passed twice in total due to reflection. Reducing the thickness of a liquid crystal layer to a half results in quadrupling the response speed. This is advantageous when motion images are displayed.
Generally, in a liquid crystal projector system employing such a reflective liquid crystal panel, polarization split means is provided in front of the reflective liquid crystal panel. Serving as both a polarizer and an analyzer, the polarization split means transmits waves polarized in a specific direction and reflects waves polarized perpendicular to the direction. Techniques of this kind are described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-142028 and Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-131212.
In these laid-open patents, three polarization split means are respectively combined with three reflective liquid crystal panels; one for red light, one for green light and one for blue light. The red, green and blue light rays are composed by a cross dichroic prism.
Examples of the polarization split means includes a PBS prism where a dielectric multilayered film serves as a polarizing beam splitter (hereinafter denoted as a PBS) is formed in an interface between two rectangular prisms (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-142028) and a wire grid type polarization split device which has a diffractive grating structure constructed by forming wire (metal) grid lines with a predetermined pitch (patterning period) on a glass substrate (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-131212).
The PBS prism described in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-142028 shows superior polarization split ability with large extinction ratio for a perpendicular incident light beam. However, if oblique light, not parallel to the plane (principal plane of incidence) formed by the optical axis and the line normal to the surface of the PBS film, is incident on the PBS prism, leakage light occurs lowering the extinction ratio. Although a quarter-wave plate is placed in front of each reflective liquid crystal panel to solve this problem, its effect is not necessarily possible to sufficiently raise the contrast.
In the case of the wire grid type polarization split device described in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-131212, although the peak value of the extinction ratio is low at an incident angle of 45 degrees, the extinction ratio does not show large deteriorations for oblique light beams as indicated by the polarization split characteristics of FIG. 4 in the laid-open patent. Total contrast performance for the flux of light is therefore good. In the wire grid type polarization split device, however, the following point must be taken into consideration.
As illustrated in FIG. 12, there are two ways of arranging a wire grid type polarization split device in an optical path along which a flux of light is reflected by a reflective liquid crystal panel and then enters a projection lens. In the arrangement method of FIG. 12(1), a flux of S-polarized incident light from an illuminating optical system is reflected by a wire grid type polarization split device 17 and then enters a reflective liquid crystal panel 214. The flux of light is changed to P-polarized light by the reflective liquid crystal panel 214. The outgoing light (reflected light) passes through the wire grid type polarization device 17 and goes to a projection lens (not shown in the figure) (For convenience, this arrangement is referred to hereinafter as "transmissive arrangement" since the reflected light from the reflective liquid crystal panel passes through the wire grid type polarization split device and goes to the projection lens.). In the arrangement method of FIG. 12(2), a flux of P-polarized incident light from an illuminating optical system passes through a wire grid type polarization split device 17 and enters a reflective liquid crystal panel 217. The flux of light is changed to S-polarized light by the reflective liquid crystal panel 217. The outgoing light (reflected light) is reflected by the wire grid type polarization device 17 and goes to a projection lens (not shown in the figure) (For convenience, this arrangement is referred to hereinafter as "reflective arrangement" since the reflected light from the reflective liquid crystal panel is reflected by the wire grid type polarization split device before going to the projection lens.).
In the reflective arrangement, a wire grid type polarization split device is placed as shown in FIG. 12(2). In this case, the projection performance may deteriorate if the wire grid type polarization split device gets out of position or the wire grid type polarization split device thermally expands/transforms. In the transmissive arrangement, a wire grid type polarization split device is placed as shown in FIG. 12(1). In this case, the projection performance may also deteriorate due to the astigmatism caused during transmission through the plate-shaped wire grid type polarization split device.
In Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-131212, a wire grid type polarization split device is set in the transmissive arrangement as shown in FIG. 1 therein. In addition, to reduce the astigmatism peculiar to the transmissive arrangement, polarization split means is constructed by forming the wire grid type polarization split device in an oblique interface between two rectangular prisms as shown in FIG. 2 therein. In this case, the astigmatism is reduced since the glass substrate of the wire grid type polarization split device has almost the same refractive index as the rectangular prisms.
In this kind of polarization split prism (hereinafter denoted as a "diffractive prism") constructed as polarization split means by forming a wire grid type polarization split device in an oblique interface between two rectangular prisms, it is possible to shorten the optical path length. This makes it possible to shorten the back focus of the projection lens and therefore miniaturize the projection lens. Further, since widening of the light beam can be reduced, it is possible to miniaturize the diffractive prism.
Almost the same effect can also be obtained by placing a wire grid type polarization split device in a rectangular translucent container filled with a liquid medium whose refractive index is substantially the same as the glass substrate of the wire grid type polarization split device.
The wire grid of a wire grid type polarization split device is heated since it absorbs 5 to 10% of the incident light. The temperature rise may cause birefringence in the translucent glass substrate due to thermal stress, which may lower the contrast. In addition, the temperature rise may thermally expand/transform the glass substrate which may cause deterioration in the projection performance as well. If the wire grid type polarization split device is set in a liquid medium, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise while providing the same effect as the above-mentioned diffractive prism.
Wavelengths of light in a wire grid type polarization split device placed in a medium (glass, ethylene glycol or the like) whose refractive index is larger than that of the air as in a diffractive prism are shorter than those in the same polarization split device used in the air. To secure appropriate polarization split performance for use in such a medium, it is therefore necessary to further shorten the lattice pitch of the wire grid.
A method of manufacturing a wire grid type polarization split device is described in paragraph 0039 of Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2003-131212. In this method, an underlayer aluminum film is formed on a glass substrate and a resist pattern is formed thereon by electron beam lithography. Then, aluminum is vapor-deposited to a predetermined depth and unnecessary aluminum is selectively removed by the lift off method to form a metal grid. Thus, its dimensional accuracy depends on the performance of the electron beam lithography system. As for the minimum line width that can be drawn by existing electron beam lithography systems, typical systems allow line widths down to 100×10−9 m while high resolution systems allow line widths down to 30×10−9 m.
A typical commercially available example of a wire grid type polarization split device is from MOXTEK, Inc. In this product, a wire grid is formed with a line width of 6.5×10−9 m and a lattice pitch of 150×10−9 to 200×10−9 m. The glass substrate of the wire grid is 0.7×10−3 to 1.6×10−3 m in thickness. To obtain the same polarization split performance in a medium having a refractive index of 1.5 as in the air, it is necessary to reduce the line width to 43×10−9 m and the lattice pitch to 100×10−9 to 130×10−9 m. Taking the required dimensional accuracy into consideration, these values are difficult to realize even with a high resolution electron beam lithography system.
Reducing the lattice pitch of the wire grid to such a level faces manufacturing difficulties. Currently, commercially available wire grid type polarization split devices are assumed to use in the air.
FIGS. 13 and 14 show how the polarization split performance of a wire grid type polarization split device designed for use in the air changes if the device is placed in a mixture of ethylene glycol and glycerin (hereinafter denoted as "GE55) having a refractive index of 1.45. FIG. 13 concerns the transmission of P-polarized light while FIG. 14 concerns the transmission of S-polarized light. As apparent from FIGS. 13 and 14, if the wire grid type polarization split device designed for use in the air is set in the medium GE55, the transmission of P-polarized light to be transmitted decreases whereas the transmission of S-polarized light to be reflected increases. In the aforementioned transmissive arrangement, if the transmission of P-polarized light decreases, the brightness deteriorates due to a decrease in the amount of light going to the projection lens from the reflective liquid crystal panel. In addition, the contrast deteriorates since the transmission of the S-polarized light to be removed increases to lower the polarization degree.
In the case of a polarization split device which splits light by polarization by means of a diffracting grid structure, such as a wire grid type polarization split device, its polarization split performance deteriorates as mentioned above if the device is used in a medium whose refractive index is larger than the air. The present invention is directed to this problem of the related art technique.

Optical unit and projection-type image display apparatus using the same


A component includes a substrate having at least one flexible substrate area which has at least one area reinforced by forming a material composite. The material composite includes at least a portion of the flexible substrate area. The component also includes a first microstructured or nanostructured element and a connecting mechanism configured to attach the first microstructured or nanostructured element to the flexible substrate area. A damping mass is configured to cover at least the first microstructured or nanostructured element and a portion of the substrate protruding over the material composite. The component is configured to provide a secure receptacle for the electronic element and to offer good vibration decoupling of the electronic element from vibrations of the component.

Electrical elements, such as micromechanical sensors, are usually packaged in housings. Here, a distinction is drawn between housings having contact feet, what are known as leaded housings, and housings having contact surfaces, what are known as leadless housings. In particular, a micromechanical sensor can be inserted into a prefabricated, injection-molded basic housing, what is known as a pre-molded housing, which is then closed with a lid.
Depending on the installation location, micromechanical sensors can be subjected to different loadings. In particular, micromechanical sensors, for example ESP sensors in the control device, can be subjected to vibration loadings.
One possible way of protecting a sensor against these vibrations consists in fitting the sensor to a metal plate which is mounted on a gel layer. Another possible way is described in the document DE 10 2005 041 577 A1, in which undesired external vibrations are attenuated by a wiring element.

Component and method for producing a component


A graphical user interface comprises aspect and style elements for controlling the type of information associated with objects displayed on a display screen of a computer system when browsing through the objects. The aspect element controls the particular type of information displayed for an object on a portion of a window, called a pane, while the style element controls the types of information displayed for all objects within that pane.

Graphical user interfaces are typically based on bit-mapped graphic display technology that employs iconic (pictorial) representations, multi-font typographic-style text and other art work on a display screen of a computer system. These interfaces include a window environment that configures the screen to resemble a graphical display for a user to enter or view information. Specifically, an application program executing on the computer system presents the information to the user through a window by drawing images, graphics or text within the window region. The user, in turn, communicates with the application by "pointing" at objects in the window region with a cursor that is controlled by a hand-operated pointing device, such as a mouse.
Transient "pop-up", "pull-down" and "hierarchical" menus are examples of user interface elements that list command selections that are available to a user at all times, regardless of what else may be displayed on the screen. For example, there is no need to close a document and return to a main menu screen in order to select and issue commands from a menu. The menus can be activated and commands selected merely by pointing to them with the cursor-controlled mouse. That is, the commands may be issued by actuating the mouse to move the cursor onto or near the command selection and pressing and quickly releasing, i.e., "clicking", a button switch on the mouse.
These menus may be manifested in a variety of ways, including direct access menus which show all possible choices on a window, such as with a panel of buttons, and taxonomic menus which classify a domain hierarchy and allow the user to navigate through it. In many situations it is not necessary for a menu to remain permanently visible on the display screen and it can thus be "popped-up" on the screen when required. Typically, the button on the mouse is pressed to display the menu, which is painted on the screen near the cursor position. When the button is released, the menu disappears. Menu selection is achieved by pointing the cursor at the desired item with the mouse, which visually shades the selected item.
The pop up menu is a convenient way to keep frequently used commands and information accessible without occupying space on the window screen. Alternately, several different menus can be provided by buttons on a menu bar extending across the top of the window screen which, when selected by the mouse, display its menu; these are called pull-down menus. Typically, these menus remain drawn only while the mouse button is depressed.
A hierarchical menu is a menu that has a submenu attached to one or more of its menu items. These submenus provide additional choices to a user without consuming extra space in the menu bar. Typically, a menu item of a pull-down menu is the title of the attached submenu.
Graphical user interfaces are exemplified by the Finder application software system used in the Macintosh.RTM. series of computers manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. An aspect of that software system is described in U.S. Pat. 4,931,783, which is hereby incorporated by reference as through fully set forth herein. That patent describes how to manipulate and control the functions available from the Finder system though the use of pull-down menus. The details of how to implement such a system, as well as other Finder functions, are described in a volume of the publication "Inside Macintosh", published by Addison-Wesley, titled "Macintosh Toolbox Essentials", which volume is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
Another example of a popular software system that provides a graphical user interface is the Windows.RTM. operating system, which is commercially available from Microsoft Corporation. The present invention is applicable to all such systems and is concerned with accessing user interface elements via a control device, such as a mouse, to perform operating system or program functions associated with information browsing.
Object-oriented programming is a paradigm for designing and implementing software programs. Fundamentally, object-oriented programming defines and packages objects, where an object consists of a data structure together with the operations available for that structure. Once such objects have been defined, it is possible to build a program as a simple sequence of processes to be performed on specified instances of these objects. An integral part of object definition is the ability to create new, more elaborate objects as enhancements of those previously defined.
Frequently, a user may want to view different types of information associated with these objects. For example, to examine the contents of a particular object such as a file folder, the user may "open" that file folder object. Yet, when "opening" a document, the user may actually desire to start the application that created the document prior to displaying the contents of that document in the context of that application.
Opening an object in the context of a prior art navigation or "browsing" tool typically means expanding the contents of that object to display a predetermined type of information about that object. To vary the type of information displayed about that object, however, a variety of tools must be utilized that provide sorting and selection of the types of information desired by the user. For example, after selecting an object, if the user desires to look at, e.g., the classes associated with the object, the user must retrieve a menu to select a class browser. Upon selecting a class of interest, if the user wants to examine the methods associated with that class, a method browser must be utilized. It is clear that such an approach is time consuming and inefficient.
Alternatively, another prior art browser enables a user to examine multiple views of objects in various areas of a window on a screen. However, the information displayed in each window area cannot be varied, thus rendering this tool static and not dynamically-configurable. That is, the tool may always allow a user to view the classes of an object in one window area, the methods associated with a selected class in another window area and the source code of a selected method in still yet another window area of the screen.
Accordingly, it is among the objects of the present invention to provide an interactive graphical user interface having the capability of varying the meaning of "opening" an object depending upon the type of information the user desires.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an interactive graphical user interface having the capability to flexibly display various types of information associated with an object.

Aspect and style elements of an improved graphical user interface


A new cultivar of Hydrangea, Hydrangea paniculata ‘RENHY’, characterized by its large panicles of sterile flowers that emerge white and change to pink and finally to a red with maturity with the red coloration lasting about 3 to 4 weeks, its continuous flush of new flowering stems that give an overall multicolored effect in late summer to early fall, and its plant habit that changes from erect in early summer to cascading as the season progresses.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea paniculata and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, 'RENHY'. 'RENHY' represents a new deciduous shrub grown for landscape use.
The new Hydrangea resulted from a controlled breeding program that commenced in 1987 in Gorron, France with the objective of obtaining a selection of Hydrangea paniculata that blooms early in the season with red, sterile flowers. The inventors started the breeding program by self-pollinating Hydrangea paniculata 'Unique' (not patented) and the parents of 'RENHY' were unnamed proprietary seedlings that arose after seven series of subsequent crosses. 'RENHY' was selected as a single unique plant amongst the progeny in Gorron, France in 2002.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by softwood cuttings in May of 2003 by the inventors in Gorron, France. The characteristics of this cultivar have been determined to be stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.


In a plastic packaged semiconductor device, a chip support formed on the same lead frame as leads is disposed so as to extend over the surface of a semiconductor element, the chip support is bonded and fixed to the surface of a polyimide wafer coat on the semiconductor element by means of an insulating tape, the leads are brought into contact with the polyimide wafer coat on the semiconductor element without being fixed, the leads and the electrodes of the semiconductor element are connected by means of gold wires, and these are packaged by a packaging material. Generation of crack in the sealing material thereby prevented, and the thickness of the plastic packaged semiconductor device is reduced.

The present invention relates to the structure of a semiconductor device, especially to the structure of a plastic packaged semiconductor device and its fabrication method.
In recent years, in plastic packaged semiconductor devices, with an increased size of a pellet (chip), the dimension between the edge of a package and a semiconductor element tends to be increasingly smaller. This is because, although the semiconductor element has become large in size, the size of a package for housing it has been standardized and cannot be made larger. Accordingly, in order to solve such a problem, a plastic packaged semiconductor device of an LOC (Lead On Chip) structure as disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokoku Publication 6-105721 has come into use.
The plastic packaged semiconductor device of this LOC (Lead On Chip) structure is structured such that leads are bonded to the surface of a semiconductor element via insulating tapes, gold wire platings applied to the top surfaces of the leads and gold balls on the electrodes of the semiconductor element are connected by means of gold wires, and in addition, they are sealed by a resin material.
However, as a major problem with such conventional plastic packaged semiconductor devices, it sometimes happens, for example, that the function is impaired by a crack produced in the resin material due to the heat during the mounting on a board. If the resin becomes moist, having absorbed moisture while the semiconductor device is kept in the air, the moisture is vaporized due to the heat during the mounting on the board, and the force produced from it may bring about the crack. The insulating tape is particularly apt to absorb moisture, so that it often happens that a crack is produced from the area around the insulating tape. Further, as another problem, since there is the insulating tape, the reduction in the thickness of the semiconductor device is subject to a limitation.

Semiconductor IC device having chip support element and electrodes on the same surface


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes performing extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography that uses a mask for the EUV lithography manufactured by using a design layout on which optical proximity correction (OPC) is performed, and performing the OPC includes dividing respective patterns included in the design layout into partial patterns, classifying the partial patterns into a plurality of partial pattern groups, performing a first OPC on the design layout, and performing a second OPC that is different from the first OPC on the design layout on which the first OPC is performed, wherein performing the first OPC is performed on representative patterns selected from the plurality of partial pattern groups.

A lithography process in processes relating to manufacturing a semiconductor device is a technique of forming a circuit pattern by irradiating a light beam onto a photosensitive film coated on a substrate. At least due to recent refinement to the processes, exposure techniques using extreme ultraviolet rays (EUV) and electron beams are brought into the spotlight. As patterns are miniaturized, an optical proximity effect (OPE) can occur at least due to the influence between the patterns during an adjacent exposure process, and research into optical proximity correction (OPC) has been conducted to solve this limitation.

Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices, method sof performing extreme ultraviolet ray exposure, and methods of performing optical proximity correction


Case images and report text models, each of which is a text model derived from a report text of each of the corresponding case images by making at least certain words/phrases within the report text changeable, are stored in association with each other in a case report storage unit. A case image which is similar to a diagnosis target image is retrieved from the case images stored in the case report storage unit by a similar image retrieval unit. Input of a word/phrase corresponding to the diagnosis target image is accepted in a changeable word/phrase section of the report text model by a report creation unit, thereby a report text of the diagnosis target image is created.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a report creation support apparatus and report creation support method for supporting creation of a medical report, and a program therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image diagnosis in which medical staff, including doctors, observes medical images for diagnosis and provides findings, reports, or the like is performed. Digitization of findings or reports using computers, instead of papers, is underway in medical institutions to improve work efficiency and to facilitate the services. In addition, a system that includes electronic reports in a common server, accessible from a plurality of terminals, to allow a plurality of doctors to share the medical reports is proposed.
It is often the case that such reports are entered in free-form texts, and are created while observing displayed medical images. Therefore, it takes time and effort to create the reports. Consequently, a method for reducing the burden of creating the reports is proposed as described, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-160502. In the method, sample texts for describing medical images are stored in association with the accompanying information, including the types of imaging devices used for obtaining the medical images, regions, examination dates and times, patient identifications, and the like, then a sample text is automatically selected from these samples based on the accompanying information, and the features of a lesion in a medical image are applied to the selected sample text to create a report of the medical image. Further, the method allows created sample texts and reports to be edited, and use of past reports of patients.
The method described above, however, uses past reports of the same patient, so that the report needs to be modified largely according to the progression of the lesion. Further, the past reports of the same patient are not always useful, depending on the progression of the disease.
In the mean time, if the features of lesions appearing on medical images are similar to each other, it is often the case that similar reports are created. Further, when performing diagnosis, it is often the case that a similar image is retrieved from the medical images obtained in the past, and a report for the patient is provided by referring to the case of the retrieved image.

Method and apparatus for supporting report creation regarding images of diagnosis targets, and recording medium having program for supporting report creation regarding images of diagnosis targets recorded therefrom


A heat treatment apparatus including a vacuum vessel, a substrate stage which holds a substrate mounted on it, a heating unit for heating the substrate, and an exhaust unit for evacuating the vacuum vessel includes a first reflector which covers the upper portion of the exhaust port of the exhaust unit while being spaced apart from the exhaust port, and a second reflector which surrounds the exhaust port. At least one of reflector members which form the second reflector faces a direction defined from the heating unit to the exhaust port.

The semiconductor manufacturing technology often requires a process of rapidly heating/cooling a semiconductor substrate. Especially activation annealing of wide-bandgap semiconductors typified by silicon carbide (SiC) requires temperatures as high as about 2,000° C.
As a high-temperature heating apparatus, a heat treatment apparatus which is characterized by including a heating means in the upper portion of a vacuum vessel and in that a heat treatment is performed by radiant heat from the heating means while a substrate is mounted on a substrate holder having a lift lower portion has been proposed (PTL1).
In the heat treatment apparatus disclosed in PTL1, the substrate holder ascends in heating the substrate to shorten the distance between the heating means and the substrate, and descends after the heat treatment to separate the heat-treated substrate from the heating means and thereby cool the substrate. Moreover, the heat treatment apparatus described in PTL1 includes an exhaust port connected to a vacuum pump in order to evacuate the vacuum vessel to a vacuum atmosphere.
PTL2 discloses a heat treatment apparatus provided with an exhaust means without deteriorating the exhaust conductance. The heat treatment apparatus described in PTL2 has its one end connected to a rotary pump and its other end connected to a cryopump. Each of the cryopump and the rotary pump is connected to this apparatus via a heat treatment chamber and a valve. A water cooling baffle is provided between the valve and the heat treatment chamber, and a cryobaffle and a heat-shielding plate are provided between the cryopump and the valve.

Heat treatment apparatus and semiconductor device manufacturing method


As used to connect a combustor of a gas turbine to a stage of the gas turbine, a transition piece has a generally tubular body, an inlet to receive hot gases from the combustor, and an outlet to discharge the gases. The transition piece has a frame, which surrounds the outlet, and two mounting connectors, which are spaced from each other and which extend from the frame, away from the outlet. The mounting connectors are welded to a pedestal, which is formed unitarily with the frame so as to extend partially but not completely around the outlet.

A transition piece of the type noted above is exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,999, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. This invention addresses perceived shortcomings in the transition piece disclosed therein. As disclosed therein, the transition piece has an inlet to receive hot gases and an outlet to discharge the gases. Moreover, the transition piece has a frame, which frames the outlet and which has three ribs surrounding and extending away from the outlet. The frame has a longer, arcuate portion, a shorter, arcuate portion, two lateral, radial portions, which are shorter than the shorter, arcuate portion, and four rounded, corner portions joining the arcuate and radial portions. Moreover, a mounting connector extends from a middle one of those ribs, away from the outlet.


An approach for identifying missing content is provided. An approach includes: receiving a search string; determining a skill rating associated with a searcher that generated the search string; and searching a database using the search string. The approach also includes: updating at least one of a first score associated with the search string and a second score associated with the database based on the skill rating; and generating an alert based on one of the first score exceeding a first threshold and the second score exceeding a second threshold.

Searchable content is highly useful in customer support organizations. As a result, businesses expend great amounts of resources to provide and maintain searchable content both for inside the company for their support teams, but also for external customer searching to find answers to customer-identified problems. Searching a knowledgebase and tracking metrics on search results does not account for the possibility that knowledge may be lacking from the knowledgebase, which knowledge is sought by and would have value to users.

Identifying missing content using searcher skill ratings

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


An APS (Advanced Photo System) film of new type has a plurality of image recording areas along the center thereof, a first longitudinal side edge of the film is formed to have perforations corresponding to the image recording areas, and a second longitudinal side edge of the film is formed to have optical information recording areas corresponding to the image recording areas. While the APS film is being conveyed in its longitudinal direction the perforations are sensed and optical information in the optical information recording areas is read with the sensed perforations serving as a reference.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a film scanner for reading images that have been recorded on photographic film.
2. Description of the Related Art
APS (Advanced Photo System) film has been proposed as photographic film in accordance with a new standard. In addition to areas in which images are recorded, APS film is further provided with areas for recording magnetic information and areas for recording optical information. The information recorded in these areas includes information relating to the film, such as film ID, information relating to each frame, such as the frame number, information for printing, such as aspect ratio, and information relating to other aspects of photography.
A film scanner reads the image information that has been recorded on the photographic film, thereby obtaining image data used to display or print the images. The magnetic information and optical information is required to execute image display and/or print processing.
Film scanners may be considered to be of two types. One is of the flat-bed type, in which the image information on the film is read with the film held at rest. The other is of the conveyance type, in which the image information is read from the film while the film is conveyed.
With the film scanner of the latter type, control of the timing at which the magnetic information and optical information recorded on the film is read is of great importance.

Film scanner and method of reading optical information using same


A consecutive acupuncture device for consecutively inserting needles into afflicted sites of the body. The device comprises a cartridge charged with and storing one or more needles, a first magnet positioned at a side of the cartridge to pull a needle stored in the cartridge by magnetic force and automatically place the needle at a striking position, striking means positioned on the cartridge to strike the needle placed at the striking position and insert the needle into an afflicted site of the body, and a discharge section positioned underneath the cartridge and defined with a hole through which the needle struck by the striking means is discharged. By storing one or more needles in the cartridge in a disarranged state and pressing a button, the stored needles can be driven one by one into the afflicted sites of the body.

Up to now, a number of patent documents have disclosed various techniques related to acupuncture devices. For example, Korean Patent No. 10-497115 discloses a consecutive acupuncture device.
Referring to FIG. 1, such a consecutive acupuncture device comprises a needle storage section 60 for storing a plurality of needles 70 side by side, needle moving means 51 for pushing the stored needles 70 toward a needle projecting section 55, and an acupuncture conduction section 80 for pressing one needle 70 through the needle projecting section 55 to insert the needle 70 into a specified site of the body.
However, this kind of conventional consecutive acupuncture device has a problem in that, since the plurality of needles 70 are stored side by side, the device has a substantial size so that it is inconvenient for a user to conduct acupuncture by grasping the device using one hand.
Also, in the conventional consecutive acupuncture device, because the needles 70 must be stored one by one and side by side, a great deal of effort and time is required to store the needles 70.
Further, in the conventional consecutive acupuncture device, due to the fact that each needle 70 is gradually inserted into an afflicted part of the body, as in the case of using a conventional needle tube, an acupuncture conduction time is lengthened, so that a patient feels a pain.


A plurality of MOS transistors each having an SOI structure includes, in mixed form, those brought into body floating and whose body voltages are fixed and variably set. When a high-speed operation is expected in a logic circuit in which operating power is relatively a low voltage and a switching operation is principally performed, body floating may be adopted. Body voltage fixing may be adopted in an analog system circuit that essentially dislikes a kink phenomenon of a current-voltage characteristic. Body bias variable control may be adopted in a logic circuit that requires the speedup of operation in an active state and needs low power consumption in a standby state. Providing in mixed form the transistors which are subjected to the body floating and the body voltage fixing and which are variably controlled in body voltage, makes it easier to adopt an accurate body bias according to a circuit function and a circuit configuration in terms of the speedup of operation and the low power consumption.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit using SOI (Silicon On Insulator) type field effect transistors (called MOS transistors in the present specification), and particularly to a power shutdown technique thereof.
In a bulk type MOS integrated circuit, active regions are formed in a substrate and well regions to configure MOS transistors. In an SOI type MOS integrated circuit, however, a large number of active regions are formed in an insulating thin film provided on a substrate, without using the well regions, and MOS transistors are configured in the individual active regions. Thus, the SOI type MOS integrated circuit is fundamentally different from the bulk type MOS integrated circuit in terms of device isolation. There are little junction capacitance and junction leak between the same circuit and the substrate. In this respect, the SOI type MOS integrated circuit is superior to the bulk type MOS integrated circuit in terms of a low voltage operation, low power consumption and a high-speed operation. From the viewpoint of the low power consumption and the high-speed operation, a patent document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 8(1996)-228145) illustrates by way of example, a configuration wherein the bodies of MOS transistors constituting a logic circuit are respectively set to a low threshold voltage by bringing them into floating, and the MOS transistors constituting the logic circuit are brought into a high threshold voltage by body-biasing a power supply switch connected to a power supply and ground respectively. According to this example, a high-speed operation of the logic circuit can be attained by the MOS transistors low in threshold voltage, and low power consumption at standby can be achieved by the power supply switch high in threshold voltage. A patent document 2 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 9(1997)-121152) describes that the body of a power supply switch is biased by its own gate potential thereby to realize the setting of a variable threshold voltage to the power supply switch. When the power supply switch is in an on state, current supply capability can be obtained by bringing the power supply switch to a low threshold voltage. Further, when the power supply switch is in an off state, a subthreshold leak current is reduced by bringing the power supply switch to a high threshold voltage. A backbias technique that an input terminal of a CMOS inverter is connected to its body has been described in the patent document 2.


An apparatus and a method is provided for detecting a privacy condition in a communication device and disclosing the privacy condition to a second communication device. A privacy condition is detecting in the communication device, wherein the privacy condition is a condition that can affect the privacy of a call. The privacy condition can be the enablement of a speakerphone, the detection of a non-private environment, or the detection of a nearby electronic signal. Thereafter, during an active call, a notice of the privacy condition is sent to the second communication device. A privacy condition can be displayed in response to receiving a privacy condition message from the second communication device.

Communication devices can be used to transmit voice and other forms of data between locations. Many communication devices are wireless devices, such as cellular telephones, smart phones, and tablet computers. Communication devices can also include computers, laptop computers, and other data processing devices, which can use Internet Protocol to communicate voice (e.g., Voice over Internet Protocol, or Voice over IP, or VoIP), text, images, video, data files, command and control information, and other forms of data.
One problem with voice communication (e.g., phone calls) between communication devices, and particularly between wireless devices, is that they are frequently made when one or more parties to the conversation is not in a private environment. For instance, many people can be put in an awkward social situation when a call is answered when a speakerphone is enabled on the communication device, or when the audio of the call is broadcast through the audio system of an automobile when the caller did not realize that other parties were present in the car. Also, the caller can benefit from knowing if the called party is driving, or in a restaurant, etc., so that the called party can avoid awkward conversations between friends and strangers alike about the overheard conversation on the phone.
Another problem with not knowing whether a party to the call is in a non-private situation can occur when the non-private party tries to end the call, or change the subject, or otherwise avoid a conversation, because someone else can hear part or all of the conversation. In this case, the other party to the call can feel ignored, or discouraged, or avoided, or hurried off the call. Also, the situation can be hard for the non-private party to explain on the phone in the presence of another person who is listening but not a party to the call.
There are other times when the calling party should end the call and let the called party concentrate on more important items, or let the called party get to a place where it is easier to conduct a conversation later. For example, if a calling party knew that the called party was in a subway station, and needs to pay attention, the calling party could easily end the conversation and call back later.
Similarly, phone calls received while at a restaurant, a party, a sports event, or other activity can be inconvenient for the called party. The call can be difficult to hear, or it can be difficult to talk clearly, or it can be difficult to talk privately. If the called party is driving a car, or conducting an activity that makes it difficult to hold a telephone, or focus on a conversation, the calling party may want to call back later.
Thus, calls may be more efficient if a calling party understood the context of the called party. In view of these deficiencies in the operation of communication devices, and wireless devices in particular, an improved apparatus and method for disclosing privacy conditions between communication devices is needed. It is in view of this background information related to the design and use of a communication device the significant improvements of the present disclosure have evolved.

Apparatus and method for disclosing privacy conditions between communication devices


An electric brake circuit for holding an alternating current motor rotor stationary uses a direct current brake acting on an AC motor rotor. The rotor has at least one groove formed therein positioned for alignment with at least one AC motor pole when switching from an alternating current to DC. The AC induction motor holds the rotor stationary against a heavier load by using the grooved rotor with the grooves formed in the rotor aligning with the AC motor's poles.

Induction motors are among the simplest and most rugged electric motors and are made up of a wound stator and a rotor assembly. The rotor assembly resembles a squirrel cage from one end so that the motor is commonly called a squirrel cage motor. A shaded pole motor is an AC single phase induction motor which has a squirrel cage rotor. Single phase motors require some means for producing a rotating magnetic field for starting the motor. The shaded pole motor, a part of the face of each field pole carries a copper ring called the shading coil which induces a rotating magnetic field.
In many applications, it is desirable to bring an AC motor to a rapid and controlled stop. One technique for accomplishing this in an AC motor is to apply a direct current across the windings of the motor. The application of direct current to the windings generates an electromagnetic force within the motor to stop the rotor with a rapid braking action. In braking systems using a synchronous motor, a starting capacitor in the AC motor may be charged during operation of the motor and then electrically coupled to the windings of the AC motor to produce a braking force on the motor when the motor is switched off. However, sometimes braking affects afforded by the starting capacitor does not stop the motor within the desired time due to the limited charge the starting capacitor can store to increase the braking affects. Some prior art systems utilize a braking capacitor having a greater storage capacity. During the motor's operation, the braking capacitor is charged. When the motor is stopped, the braking capacitor is applied across the windings of the motor to bring the motor to a rapid halt.
The present invention is directed towards an alternating current induction motor which switches from an AC load to applying a DC current to the motor for purposes of holding or locking the rotor in place against torque being placed on the motor shaft and on the rotor and to accomplish a greater holding ability of the rotor with a smaller amount of DC current.
Prior art electric braking systems for alternating current motors can be seen in the Hastings U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,903 for an electric brake circuit for bringing an alternating current motor to a rapid halt which uses a braking capacitor charged to a preselected voltage. In the Oltendorf, U.S. Pat. No. 3,475,669, a variable dynamic direct current brake circuit for an AC motor is provided while in the Gross U.S. Pat. No. 3,872,363 an electric motor braking system is utilized. In the Gross U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,523, a single phase induction motor brake uses a capacitor and a current limiting impedance in a DC braking circuit. The Guttmann, U.S. Pat. No. 4,195,255, is for an electric brake for AC motors which has a control rectifying means for applying direct current to the motor. The Ramirez, Jr. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,906,493, provides for an electric brake for a motor by applying a direct current voltage from a capacitor across terminals of an alternating current motor. The Gritter et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,844, is a DC braking of an inverter driven AC motor. In the Nagel, U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,770, an automatic flue damper control system is normally energized to hold the damper closed as a mechanical biased mechanism to move the damper to an open position in the absence of motor energization. A braking arrangement applies a direct current to the motor for dynamic braking as the damper closely approaches its open position.
In contrast to this prior art, the present invention is directed towards a single phase induction motor in which direct current is applied to the terminals of an alternating current motor for purposes of holding the rotor in a stationary position against a biasing torque placed on the rotor. The present rotor holding circuit is accomplished using a reduced amount of electric power.

Electric brake circuit for holding an alternating current motor rotor stationary


A system and method for adjusting the color of a scanned image includes obtaining image data for the scanned image, generating an output image from the scanned image, and obtaining image data for the output image. The differences between the image data of the scanned image and the image data of the output image are determined, coefficients are generated from the determined differences. The image data of the scanned image is then adjusted based on the generated coefficients.

Hardcopy devices, such as photocopiers, scanners and printers, are capable of reproducing color images from color documents and photographs. To reproduce the color images, the images from the color documents or photographs are sensed and reproduced based upon tristimulus values, whose amplitude is proportional to radiance, but whose spectral composition is carefully chosen according to the principles of color science. Tristimulus values in typical imaging systems are represented as red, green and blue (RGB), which are linear light values. In the typical imaging systems, the RGB tristimulus values are subjected to a nonlinear transfer function, such as gamma correction, that mimics the lightness response of vision. The resulting non-linear light values may be represented as R′G′B′ tristimulus values.
A digitized color image is represented as an array of pixels, where each pixel contains numerical components that define a color. The systems that may be used for image coding include the linear RGB and nonlinear R′G′B′ systems described above. Other image coding systems include nonlinear cyan, magenta and yellow (CMY), nonlinear CMY and black (CMYK), and derivatives of these coding systems. Cyan in tandem with magenta produces blue, cyan with yellow produces green and yellow with magenta produces red. The CMY values are typically derived from the RGB or R′G′B′ values, and the K value is typically derived from the CMY values.
In a color image, there are regions that include black and regions that do not include black. These regions can be referred to as black color regions and non-black color regions. The non-black color regions may correspond to regions of light tones, such as regions incorporating skin color. After an image is scanned, RGB data is generated and can be converted to CMY data. The CMY data is then used to determine the K data or black level for each pixel.
Conventional hardcopy devices capable of producing color images can include color adjusting functions to allow users to change and preferably improve the reproduction of a color image. However, given the difficulty of understanding color theory and the poor functionality of these color adjusting functions, proper color adjustment can be very difficult and often fails to produce acceptable image quality. The difficulties in generating acceptable reproduction of color images using these color adjusting functions is equally applicable to color copiers and color printers.

System and method for adjusting color reproduction


A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery obtained by the present invention is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including an electrode body having a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet 20 stacked via a separator sheet 40. A porous layer 42 having filler particles 44 and a binder is formed between the separator sheet 40 and at least one of the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet 20. The median value in the circularity distribution of the filler particles 44 contained in the porous layer 42 is 0.85 to 0.97.

In recent years, a lithium ion battery, a nickel hydrogen battery, and other non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries have, been growing in importance as on-vehicle power sources, or power sources for personal computers and portable terminals. Particularly, the lithium ion battery which is light in weight, and capable of providing a high energy density is expected as the one to be preferably used as an on-vehicle high-output power source. With one typical configuration of this kind of lithium secondary battery, as a separator to be interposed between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, a polyolefin type porous film is used.
However, the polyolefin type porous film is made of a synthetic resin, and hence becomes more likely to be deformed when the temperature increases in the battery. This results in a higher risk of occurrence of the internal short circuit or the like. Therefore, as one of the means for surely preventing the occurrence of a defective condition such as the short circuit occurrence, a study has been conducted on, for example, the formation of a heat-resistant porous layer made of an inorganic filler on the surface of any of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, or a separator (e.g., Patent Literature 1). With this configuration, even when a deformation is caused in the separator, the heat-resistant porous layer can prevent the contact between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, which can inhibit the short circuit occurrence.

Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a porous layer having filler particles and method of making thereof


First, an offset spacer including a stacked film of insulating films is formed on the upper surface of the semiconductor layer, the side surface of the gate electrode, and the side surface of the cap film. Next, a part of the insulating films is removed to expose the upper surface of the semiconductor layer. Next, in a state where the side surface of the gate electrode is covered with the insulating films, an epitaxial layer is formed on the exposed upper surface of the semiconductor layer. Here, among the offset spacers, the insulating film which is a silicon nitride film is formed at a position closest to the gate electrode, and the position of the upper end of the insulating film formed on the side surface of the gate electrode is higher than the position of the upper surface of the gate electrode.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof, and, for example, to a technique effective for application to a semiconductor device using an SOI substrate.
As a semiconductor device for low power consumption, there is a technique of forming a MISFET (Metal Insulator Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor on an SOI (Silicon On Insulator) substrate having a semiconductor substrate, an insulating layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a silicon layer formed on the insulating layer. In order to adjust the width of the extension region when an impurity region such as an extension region is formed in the silicon layer of the SOI substrate, there is a technique of forming an insulating film called an offset spacer on the side wall of the gate electrode.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-171086 discloses a technique in which a silicon nitride film is formed as a first-layer offset spacer and a silicon oxide film is formed as a second-layer offset spacer on a side wall of a gate electrode.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-536734 discloses a technique in which a silicon oxide film is formed as a first-layer offset spacer on a sidewall of a gate electrode on an SOI substrate, a silicon nitride film is formed as a second-layer offset spacer, a silicon oxide film is formed as a third-layer offset spacer, and then an epitaxial layer is formed on a semiconductor layer.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


A memory subsystem enables per device addressability (PDA) to target configuration commands to one of multiple memory devices that share a select line or buffer devices that share an enable line. The system includes a host and multiple memory devices that can be coupled over a command bus and a data bus. The devices include a configuration or mode register to store a value to indicate whether PDA enumeration is enabled. When enabled, the host can provide an enumeration identifier (ID) command via the command bus with a signal via the data bus to assign an enumeration ID. After assignment of the enumeration ID, the host can send PDA commands via the command bus with the enumeration ID, without a signal on the data bus. Devices only process PDA commands that match their assigned enumeration ID, enabling the setting of device-specific configuration settings without needing to use the data bus on every PDA command.

As memory interface frequencies increase, the margining of input/output (I/O) signaling is stricter, as even small variances can cause I/O errors. Recent generations of memory systems have begun to provide for individual configuration settings for memory devices that are part of a group (e.g., programming individual DRAM (dynamic random access memory) devices in a DIMM (dual inline memory module)). The individual configuration allows for different configuration settings for different memory devices to ensure reliable operation. Traditional training has used the data bus to program the individual configurations. When setting the configuration for each device separately is performed in the training of the I/O interface, the writing of configuration settings can introduce errors because the data bus timings have not been trained. Thus, writing individual configurations has traditionally required the use of an untrained interface, which makes the interface particularly susceptible to errors during the training flow.
One way to accommodate for potential errors is to extend the amount of time spent training each device to ensure that proper signaling occurs during training to provide the configuration settings for normal operation. However, extending the amount of time spent training a device extends the overall time of the training and setup, which can result in a training period that degrades performance of the system, especially as the number of devices increases and the amount of configuration applied to each device increases.
Descriptions of certain details and implementations follow, including non-limiting descriptions of the figures, which may depict some or all examples, and well as other potential implementations.

Enumerated per device addressability for memory subsystems


In a housing for removable computer mass-storage drives, commands coming in over a computer bus direct a removable mass-storage drive to spin down. Electronics in the housing detects that a removable mass-storage drive has begun to spin down by sensing the amount of current it is using. Following a delay period which is set by jumpers on the removable mass-storage drive itself, to allow for spin down to complete, the housing actuates a latch which releases the removable mass-storage drive and allows the user to remove it.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to removable rotating mass-storage drives for computers, and more specifically to mechanisms for ensuring that the user does not remove the drives from the computer until it is safe to do so.
2. Related Art
The use of removable computer mass-storage drives, particularly hard disk drives storing hundreds of megabytes, is growing in popularity. An important advantage of removable mass-storage drives is the ability to take large amounts of data from one computer to another and have the data be immediately usable without need of running a copying or backup program to put the data on the second computer's disks. Another advantage is that one can prevent tampering with the data in a computer by locking a removable mass-storage drive containing that data in a safe or drawer. Locking removable mass-storage drives is generally much easier and more convenient than locking away the computer itself.
Removable mass-storage drives are to be distinguished from drives (whether removable or not) having removable storage media. In a removable mass-storage drive, only the drive as a whole is removable. The magnetic or other media inside the drive is not itself removable without the remainder of the drive.
Although it has proven possible to design removable mass-storage drives which can withstand the ordinary shocks of being transported from one computer to another, rotating removable mass-storage drives can only be moved safely once they have stopped spinning. Moving the drives while they are still spinning risks damage to them. It typically takes tens of seconds for rotating mass-storage drives to "spin down." It is thus desirable to prevent users from removing rotating removable mass-storage drives while they are still spinning.
In older technology it was comparatively easy to provide this safety function. A locking mechanism actuated by a solenoid would keep the removable mass-storage drive from being pulled out whenever it was spinning. The user would press a button on the drive or on the drive housing to direct that the drive spin down. After this button was pressed, the drive would spin down and, following a certain preset time interval, the locking mechanism would release and let the user pull the drive out of the housing.
The development of ever-more sophisticated user interfaces, however, has made it desirable to move to a system in which the spinning down and locking function operates under software control. In a Macintosh computer in particular, users are accustomed to having their floppy disks and other removable storage media eject under software control. Instead of pressing an eject button on the floppy disk drive (as PC users do), Macintosh users use a mouse to operate on an icon on their screen which represents the floppy disk drive, overlaying that icon on another icon in the form of a trash can. They thereby cause software to command the drive to eject the floppy. To make this happen, the ejection function on the drive has to be under the control of operating system software on the Macintosh. An ejection function driven by the operating system software has a number of advantages. For example, with such a function software always knows when floppies are removed, and thus one does not get into situations where the software only notices the absence of a floppy long after it is gone and refuses to proceed until the user puts that floppy back, as certain PC software does.
Macintosh users who employ removable mass-storage drives, such as removable hard disk drives, want to be able to use a user interface for spinning down and removing those drives which is analogous to the user interface they employ for ejecting floppy disks and other removable media. Because of this demand for more sophisticated user interfaces to deal with removable mass-storage drives, the drives now have to spin down, not in response to the user pressing a button on the drive housing or on the drive itself, but in response to a command which comes over a bus from the computer. That bus may be, for example, the Small Computer Systems Interconnect (SCSI) bus. In response to that command, all the steps needed to bring the removable mass-storage drive to a state where the user can pull it out have to take place automatically. In particular, it is necessary that the locking mechanism, which prevents the user from removing the drive until it has spun down, operate in response to that command.
One solution to this problem is to have the electronics that operates the locking mechanism monitor the computer bus and respond to spin down commands which are asserted on that bus by the software. This solution, however, suffers from serious drawbacks. To begin with, while the removable mass-storage drives themselves contain complex electronics which can perform the actual spin down, the locking mechanism is normally part of the housing for the removable mass-storage drives and not part of the removable mass-storage drives themselves. That housing is often a box containing little more than mechanical support for the removable modules, a power supply, and various connectors. It does not normally contain the kind of comparatively expensive digital electronics which is needed to respond to bus commands over a bus such as the SCSI bus, and it would not be cost-effective to add such electronics just for the purpose of carrying out the locking and unlocking. A second important problem with this solution is that each drive which is connected onto a bus such as a SCSI bus creates loading on that bus, which consumes power and limits the possibility of connecting other devices to the bus. It is thus undesirable to connect the housing as an additional device on the bus and impose this burden on the bus simply in order to perform the locking and unlocking function.

Housing for removable mass-storage drives


One embodiment of the invention sets forth a control crossbar unit that is designed to transmit control information from control information generators to destination components within the computer system. The control information may belong to various traffic paradigms, such as short-latency data traffic, narrow-width data traffic or broadcast data traffic. The physical connections within the control crossbar unit are categorized based on the different types of control information being transmitted through the control crossbar unit. The physical connections belong to the following categories: one-to-one (OTO) connections, one-to-many (OTM) connections, valid-to-one (VTO) connections, valid-to-many (VTM) connections wire-to-one (WTO) connections and wire-to-many (WTM) connections.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of data transport management and, more specifically, to mitigating main crossbar load using dedicated connections for certain traffic types.
2. Description of the Related Art
In many computing systems, a data transport mechanism is responsible for the physical transfer of data from a source component to a destination component. The source and destination components may include system elements, such as computation engines and memory subsystems. As is well known, the bandwidth of the data transport mechanism is the rate of data transfer between the source and destination components, measured in bits per clock cycle. As is also well known, data is transmitted to and from components within a computing system in collections of bits, where a collection of bits is referred to as a 'data packet.' In general, the size of a single data packet may not exceed the bandwidth of the data transport mechanism.
Data that is transmitted from a source component to a destination component may be of various types and sizes. Further, data belonging to certain data types may have different delivery requirements than data belonging to other data types. For example, some data traffic, such as the state information associated with the source component, may need to be flow controlled when the rate of transmission of the source component is different than the rate of transmission of the destination component. Other data traffic, such as buffer space availability, may not need to be flow controlled when the rate of transmission of the source component is different than the rate of transmission of the destination component.
In some systems, the same physical channel within the data transport mechanism is used to transmit data of different types and sizes between two components. In such cases, the physical design of the data transport mechanism is usually optimized to handle the data traffic paradigm set forth by the majority of the data traffic transmitted through the data transport mechanism. For example, if the majority of the data traffic is being transmitted is large data packets, then the physical channel within the data transport mechanism is designed with a high bandwidth. Consequently, for data traffic transmitted in small data packets, the unused bandwidth is wasted. In certain computing systems, where there is a variety of data types being transmitted, optimizing the physical design of the data transportation mechanism based on the data traffic paradigm set forth by the majority of the data traffic may significantly impact performance within the computing system.
As the foregoing illustrates, what is needed in the art is a mechanism for efficiently transmitting different types of data between components within a computing system that, among other things, reduces the incidence of unused bandwidth in such transmissions.

Mitigating main crossbar load using dedicated connections for certain traffic types


An apparatus for composing a printable text, comprising coded characters, comprises: A--a text-composing device; B--a memory for storing character grids, representing clear characters, arranged in at least a coded font wherein the character grids are derived from a common, scrambled reference grid; and C--means associated with said text-composing device for selecting clear characters or character grids, as desired. A process for composing a printable text, comprising coded characters and graphic matter obtained thereby, are also described.

Printed educational material often contains questions, the answers to which must be provided by the reader and checked against a set of answers. Thus, in exercise books relating to natural sciences or other subjects, problems are set forth in a part of the book, and the solutions to the problems are set forth in a different part of the book, e.g. an appendix, to which the reader must continuously refer. In more complex cases, a text may be provided in which some words or figures are missing and the missing words or figures are supplied in a different part of the book. The necessity of constantly referring to a different part of the exercise book creates inconvenience and fatigue, is the source of not uncommon mistakes, such as when the reference numerals or other indications which correlate the questions to the corresponding answers are not accurate, and greatly limits the possibility of inserting within the printed text indications that must be supplied by the reader and may present increasing degrees of difficulty, in order gradually to advance the learner's knowledge. It would be highly desirable to provide printed matter which includes elements which cannot be read unless the reader wishes it, e.g. answers to questions or data which must be supplied by the reader.
In general, graphic matter, in particular printed texts, often contains information, which it is desired to keep private and protect from casual prying. For instance, information as to the balance of bank accounts is often exposed to the eyes of strangers and is readable at a glance; or certain confidential data may be contained in office documents which pass through the hands of employees who may not be completely trusted not to divulge them. Such texts therefore cannot be transmitted by such widely used means as telecopier apparatus. It would be desirable to permit creation and transmission of such matter in such a way as to assure that it cannot be read and understood by unauthorized persons who may see it or gain access to it.
Identifying graphic matter, such as words or numbers, is often included in documents to identify their origin, their destination etc. Such identifying graphic matter, however, can easily be reproduced or counterfeited and is often unreliable. It would be desirable to find a way to prevent such reproduction and counterfeiting.
Authentication of documents is desirable in a number of other instances. For example, diplomas or certificates of various kinds may be counterfeited and the agency, such as a public office or an institute, that is purported to have issued them, may find it difficult to check their authenticity as many years are supposed to have passed since they have been issued. Again, public offices may not have the time and/or the personnel for checking the authenticity of documents submitted to them in support of an application for a registration, a compensation, and so on. Further, tickets which are supposed to be issued to specified persons for admission to performances or games or the like, may be lost or stolen or counterfeited, and this is true of cards required to obtain admission to restricted premises, such as offices or laboratories engaged in confidential work; and the problem exists in checking whether the ticket or card has truly been issued to the person presenting it. As far as it is known to the applicant, no satisfactory solution to the aforesaid problems has been offered so far in the art. Also, in the case of fiscally relevant documents, such as bills, which purport to have been issued by a person or company to another person or company, with respect to the merchandise supplied or services rendered, it would be highly desirable to provide means for permitting the competent authority easily to determine whether any particular bill is truthful, viz. has been issued by the person or company purporting to have issued it, and is regular in all respects, whereby to prevent the counterfeiting of such bills or the preparation of bills that do not originate with recognized suppliers of bills or services or are irregular in other respects.
The prior art has dealt with these problems, or at least with part of them, essentially in three ways: by encoding, by scrambling and by encryption. Encoding is a complex procedure that cannot be used in everyday office or administrative work and which requires special training. Furthermore codes are easily broken unless they are so complex as to be usable only in very special circumstances. Scrambling is usually carried out in real time, viz. a message must be scrambled, transmitted and unscrambled concurrently. If it is not, there is time to unscramble the scrambled message by well known methods, based e.g. on the frequency of the letters of the alphabet in the languages. Furthermore, an apparatus which permits to read a scrambled message, also permits to scramble a clear message, whereas it would be highly desirable, and it is a purpose of this invention, as will appear hereinafter, to provide graphic matter that may be read by persons that are not authorized nor capable of producing it.
Encryption methods are known which are based on the transformation of an original image into a coded image by means of a key grid and visualization of the original image from the coded image by optical means are disclosed e.g. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,914,877. Such encryption methods however are more or less complex and lengthy and they cannot be carried out in the course of ordinary printing processes. They are therefore not applicable to the production of documents or to their transmission.
Cryptographic systems, based on public key cryptosystems, are described e.g. in the article by P. G. Comba "Exponentiation cryptosystems on the IBM PC", in IBM Systems Journal, vol. 29, No. 4 (1990), 526-538. While they may afford a high degree of secrecy, they are too complex to be currently used by unspecialized personnel in normal office procedure and for widespread use. Further, they--like other systems--are highly sensitive to noise.
It is a purpose of this invention to provide graphic matter, in particular printed texts, that cannot be read and understood except by authorized persons.
It is another purpose to provide such matter in an easy and economical way, as a part of conventional printing operations.
It is a further purpose to provide such matter which may be transmitted by means of conventional apparatus, in particular by telecopier.
It is a still further purpose to provide such matter which permits authentication of documents carrying it and of photostatic or other copies of an original document.
It is a still further purpose to provide an apparatus and a process for producing and visualizing and/or reading such graphic matter.
It is a still further purpose to provide such apparatus and process that permit the transmission of such graphic matter in a form that cannot be visualized and/or read by unauthorized persons and subsequently visualizing and/or reading the same.
It is a still further purpose to provide apparatus and process for authenticating, by means of such graphic matter, documents, such as fiscally relevant documents, e.g. bills, receipts and the like, or documents bearing the seal of a company or a public authority or the like, or tickets or admission cards.
Other purposes of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Graphic matter and process and apparatus for producing, transmitting and reading the same


A retinoscopic device, technique and scale for estimating the reflectance of the macula pigment optical density (MPOD) in normal and abnormal eyes in order to detect early pathology of the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors thus screening for macular pathology the most prevalent of which is Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and retinal edema and cystoid macular edema post cataract surgery.

In the Western world, maculopathy or AMD is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly population and affects 10%-13% of adults over 65 in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia In 2012 the undiagnosed prevalence of AMD in the USA was estimated to be 2.3 million. Estimates of the global cost due to AMD are US$343 billion with US$255 billion in direct health care costs.
According to the International Classification age-related maculopathy (ARM) is a degenerative disease of the macula characterized in the early stage by large, soft yellow drusens, hyper-/hypopigmentation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and a moderate loss of central vision (age-related maculopathy). Age related maculopathy disease (AMD) is a late stage of ARM. Dry AMD refers to geographic atrophy and wet AMD is characterized by choroidal neovascularization (CNV), detachment of the RPE, subretinal hemorrhage or retinal scarring.
Currently, several AMD classification schemes, grading systems, and severity scales have been developed in an effort to provide standards to assist clinicians and researchers in the diagnosis and management of this important disorder. The most current clinical classification of AMD takes in consideration pigment abnormalities and is illustrated in FIG. 16.
It is believed the ultimate therapy for AMD will lie in the preclinical identification of those who are genetically "at risk" for the disease and treatment with genetically specific supplements. At the present time, AMD is initially diagnosed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist with a fundus examination and Amsler grid of patients who complain of a decrease in their vision. The hallmarks of early AMD are yellow drusens and pigment abnormalities (hypo and hyperpigmentation) of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) which occur after the onset of the AMD process. AMD is characterized by a degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors (rod and cones) and a thickening of the Bruch's membrane in the macula.
The early detection of AMR could reduce the growing societal burden by targeting and emphasizing modifiable habits earlier in life. With genetic testing antioxidants and other supplements specific to the patient's genotype can be recommended. More frequent examinations of those at high risk due to family history or signs of early or intermediate disease would be beneficial.
It is believed that the pigmentary changes observed in the macula of AMD eyes are attributable to degenerative changes in the highly melanized RPE cells because most of the early clinical signs and histopathological changes have been localized to this cell layer. It has been suggested that melanin in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroid may protect the macular region by its antioxidant capability and its capability to attenuate or reflect light thereby decreasing photochemical light damage.
In retinoscopy, a light is shone into a patient's eye and the reflected "streak" of light is used to estimate the correction of a patient's refractive error. The results are then the beginning point for a refraction. However, with the calibrated retinoscope and this technique, the brightness of the reflected beam is dependent on the health of the pigment epithelium and thus gives an early indication of macular pathology. This calibrated diagnostic retinoscope and technique allow the general ophthalmic physician to detect early and late stages of the destruction of the retinal pigment epithelium in AMD. The common denominator between AMD and the pupillary reflex in retinoscopy lies in the melanin pigment particles of the microvilli of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) which surrounds the photoreceptors, the choroid and/or the outer segment of the cones.
In 1926, Jacob C Copeland designed a retinoscope (U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,051) and a technique of retinoscopy which has since been taught to optometrists and ophthalmologists for obtaining an objective measurement of the refractive error of patient's eyes for spectacles and/or contact lenses. All retinoscopes have been based upon on his work.
Originally, Copeland's and other retinoscopes used diverging light and spots of light to estimate the refractive error. Copeland introduced streak retinoscopy in the US and it was rapidly accepted because it made determination of the axis of astigmatism more precise. The technique was referred to as "streak retinoscopy" because a streak of reflected light, or the pupillary reflex, was produced during the technique.
In 1968, Copeland and Walter M. Lewis designed the Copeland Optec 360 Streak Retinoscope, U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,051 (as illustrated in FIG. 17). This retinoscope contains a +20.00 D condensing lens and a bi-pin filament bulb. When the thumb-slide is in its upper position, the filament of the lamp is less than five centimeters from the condensing lens and the rays emanating from the filament and passing out of the condensing lens are diverging. Moving the thumb-slide to a lower position causes the light rays to converge. When the filament is at the focal point of the +20.00 D lens or approximately 5 cm from the +20.00 D lens, the light rays are parallel.
Sims' calibrated refractive retinoscopic techniques uses converging rather than diverging light. The Sims' retinoscope can also be used for calibrated diverging or conventional diverging retinoscopic techniques. It has been modified so that auxiliary lenses can be attached to the back of the head of the retinoscope to place the examiner's eye in focus with the patient's pupillary plane in order to have an identical (conjugate) image of the pupillary reflex. Parallel light is used after the refractive error has been determined to judge the streak on a reflectance scale 1 (very poor and difuse) to 5 (brilliant).
In conventional retinoscopy, the pupillary reflex cannot be used to evaluate the melanin reflectance. The endpoint of conventional retinoscopy is an infinity neutrality reflex which fills the pupil and there is no streak. The width of the reflected retinoscopic light from the reflecting membrane spans an area much larger than the size of the pupil and is enormous, making it impossible to evaluate the reflectance of the macular pigment (MP). With conventional retinoscopy, the refractive error is initially determined by under correcting the refractive error to create a visible with-motion pupillary streak reflex that expands and moves at an exponentially increasing speed as neutrality is reached. These exponential changes of the with-motion streak makes it impossible to evaluate the reflectance of the MP.
Production of the Pupillary Reflex:
The cones act as an optical waveguide for visible light due to their tubular structure and the index gradient between the cell wall and internal medium. Since the cone's receptors are tightly packed, they act as a "fiber optic plate" extending from the external limiting membrane to the pigment epithelium (as illustrated in FIG. 18). Therefore light, that strikes the outer limiting membrane located at the openings of the photoreceptors, is transmitted to the photosensitive pigment in the outer segments by a waveguide mechanism and then reflected to the outer limiting membrane.
The reflected light from the retina pigment epithelium (RPE) interface appears to be due to Fresnel reflection from the melanin granules within the melanosomes in the RPE. A Fresnel reflection is a reflection of light on a planar interface between two homogeneous media having different refractive indices. The melanin granules in the pigment epithelium have a high index of refraction compared to the surrounding tissue. The reflected light then reenters the photoreceptors and transmitted to the external limiting membrane (ELM) and pupil. The ELM is considered the effective ocular reflecting surface for visible light in the performance of retinoscopy or photorefraction. Conventionally, the pupillary reflex is used to measure or estimate a refractive error, not to evaluate the reflectance from the melanin pigment.
Macular Degeneration and Reflectance:
Most of the early clinical signs and histopathological changes have been localized to the pigment epithelium. It is believed that it is the melanin in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroid which protects the macular region through its antioxidant capability and its capability to attenuate blur light thereby decreasing photochemical light damage. Healthy pigment epithelium is more reflective than that which is damaged and when evaluated produces a brilliant to clear streak.
The calibrated retinoscope and diagnostic technique described in this patent application allows the average ophthalmic physician to detect early and late stages of the destruction of the retinal pigment epithelium in AMD.
The relevant prior art includes the following references:
Pat. No.InventorIssue/Publication Date3,597,051CopelandAug. 3, 19715,430,508SimsJul. 4, 19955,500,698SimsMar. 19, 19965,632,282Hay et al.May 27, 19975,650,839SimsJul. 22, 19976,578,965GrantJun. 17, 20036,640,124Elsner et al.Oct. 28, 20032008/0221416BakerSep. 11, 20087,467,870van de Kraats et al. Dec. 23, 20088,272,739SimsSep. 25, 20128,272,740SimsSep. 25, 20128,485,664RoweJul. 16, 20132014/0140112LashkariMay 1, 2014CN202458313 ZhangOct. 3, 2012(Non-Patent Literature)    Ferris, F L III, Wilkinson, C P, Bird A, et al. CLINIAL CALSSIFICATION OF AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEBENERAITON. Ophthalmology, 2012, 844-851 Beatty S, Boulton M, Henson D, Koh H H, Murray I J (1999) Macular pigment and age related macular degeneration. Br J Ophthalmol 83:867-77

Diagnostic method and system for detecting early age macular degeneration, maculopathies and cystoid macular edema post cataract surgery