In a hydraulic braking pressure control system comprising a brake device (B.sub.FL, B.sub.FR, B.sub.RL, B.sub.RR), hydraulic pressure controller (4) for controlling the hydraulic pressure supply source (2) in accordance with the amount of operation of an operating member (1), an auxiliary hydraulic pressure generator (3) including a working piston (16, 17) operatively connected to the operating member to advance in response to operation of the operating member and being slidably received in a housing (14) with a front surface of the working piston facing a hydraulic pressure chamber (18, 19), a hydraulic pressure transmitter (134) comprising a free piston (132) slidably received in a cylinder body (133) and having opposite ends facing an input hydraulic pressure chamber (130) connected to the hydraulic pressure controller and an output hydraulic pressure chamber (131) leading to the brake device, respectively, and an on-off valve (135) interposed between the hydraulic pressure chamber (18, 19) in the auxiliary hydraulic pressure generator (3) and the brake device and adapted to be closed in response to an increase in output hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pressure controller, there is further included valve-opening device (136) for forcedly opening the on-off valve in response to the movement of the free piston by a predetermined distance or more in a direction to reduce the volume of the output hydraulic pressure chamber. This ensures that when an abnormality such as wear of a pad or a vapor lock is produced on the side of the brake device in a condition in which the hydraulic pressure supply source is normal, a deficiency of hydraulic pressure can be compensated for, and when a leak of fluid is produced, this can be detected promptly.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a hydraulic braking pressure control system comprising a brake device; a hydraulic pressure control means for controlling the hydraulic pressure from a hydraulic pressure supply source in accordance with the amount of operation of an operating member; an auxiliary hydraulic pressure generating means including a working piston operatively connected to the operating member to advance in response to operation of the operating member and being slidably received in a housing with a front surface of the working piston facing a hydraulic pressure chamber; a hydraulic pressure transmitting means comprising a free piston slidably received in a cylinder body and having opposite ends facing an input hydraulic pressure chamber connected to the hydraulic pressure control means and an output hydraulic pressure chamber leading to the brake device, respectively; and an on-off valve interposed between the hydraulic pressure chamber in the auxiliary hydraulic pressure generating means and the brake device and adapted to be closed in response to an increase in output hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pressure control means.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Such a hydraulic braking pressure control system is known, for example, from Japanese Patent Publication No. 53263/86.
In this prior art hydraulic braking pressure control system, a hydraulic pressure controlled in the supply source hydraulic pressure control means is applied to the brake device via the hydraulic pressure transmitting means, and if the hydraulic pressure supply source fails for any reason, with the result that a satisfactory hydraulic pressure from the supply source cannot be ensured, a hydraulic pressure from the auxiliary hydraulic pressure generating means is applied to the brake device by opening the on-off valve.
However, if uneven wear of a pad occurs in the brake device, or if a vapor lock is produced in a hydraulic circuit between the hydraulic pressure transmitting means and the brake device, for example, the amount of fluid consumed is abnormally increased, with the result that a satisfactory hydraulic braking pressure may not be obtained in some cases, even if the hydraulic pressure supply source is in its normal state. In such a case, if a deficiency can be supplied from the auxiliary hydraulic pressure generating means, a satisfactory hydraulic braking pressure can be ensured. In addition, if a leak of fluid occurs on the brake device side in a condition in which the hydraulic pressure supply source is in its normal state, a satisfactory hydraulic braking pressure cannot be provided. Therefore, it is desirable that such a leak of fluid can be promptly detected.

Hydraulic braking pressure control system having an on-off valve responsive to an output hydraulic pressure


A porous, high surface area electrode comprising a fine fibrous conductive substrate having a density less than about 50% and a specific surface area to volume ratio of greater than about 30 cm.sup.2 /cm.sup.3. The individual fibers of the substrate have a length to diameter aspect ratio greater than 1000:1. An electrocatalyst covers at least a portion of the substrate. A current distributor is electrically connected to the coated substrate. The method of fabricating the electrode includes fabricating a fine fibrous conductive substrate, preparing the surface of the substrate for receiving an electrocatalyst covering thereon, preparing the electrocatalyst for application to the substrate and applying the electrocatalyst to the substrate. Optionally, the electrode may be further treated to promote adhesion of the electrocatalyst to the substrate.

This invention relates to the fabrication and structure of electrocatalyst coated 3-dimensional porous high surface area electrode structures for use in electrolytic cells for a variety of electrochemical production processes as anodes or cathodes. More particularly, this invention relates to the fabrication and structure of electrocatalyst coated high surface area porous type electrode structures fabricated from fine metallic and/or conductive ceramic oxide composition fibrous materials.
High surface area electrodes are finding increasing use in recent years in various electrochemical processes. This is because of new advances in material processing science in the preparation and manufacture of high surface area metallic and electrically conductive inorganic substrates as well as due to the increasing need for high selectivity electrodes to achieve higher conversion efficiencies in electrochemical processes.
There are several types of commercially available high surface electrodes on the market today. These are generally made from graphite in the form of felts, foams and woven structures. In general, the felts are made from fine, short fibers that are mechanically interlocked. A problem with graphite is that it is not as conductive as metals and that there are problems with producing an adequate electrical or physical bond between the graphite material and a current distributor. In addition, significant areas of the felt structure may not participate in the electrode reactions because of minimal mechanical/electrical contact between the fibers because of their short lengths. These fibers have length to diameter ratios that are generally less than 1000:1. These graphite structures are also generally limited to operation at low cell current densities because of the low conductivity of graphite in combination with the minimal graphite inter-fiber contacts within the structure. In addition, graphite is not generally stable as an oxygen generating electrode.
Metallic materials are also now available prepared from copper, nickel and stainless steels and their alloys. One material type is in the form of a metallic foam product with specifications in terms of pores per inch (PPI). These materials range from 10 to 300 PPI, but the actual active specific surface area is generally below 30 cm.sup.2 /cm.sup.3. In addition, the metallic foams have mechanical properties that can range from being very hard and incompressible to very fragile and brittle. In addition, electrode structures may be prepared from sintering fine powders of these metals, but the density of these materials is generally limited to about 60% or greater, which greatly increases the hydraulic pressure drop through the structure, making it uneconomical or impossible to operate without employing very high pressure rated electrochemical cell designs.
Metallic felts prepared from fibers are also now becoming available, but these are generally prepared from stainless steels using small short fibers with length to diameter aspect ratios that are considerably less than about 1000:1. These felts are made by air-laying or wet filtration methods, and cannot be made by these methods using fibers with larger diameter to length aspect ratios. Woven stainless steel materials are also available made from the fine diameter wires or tow fiber bundles containing multiple filaments. Since these woven type structures use continuous length filaments, the length to diameter aspect ratio is greater than 1000:1. These stainless steel woven materials are themselves very conductive, as are their surfaces, and there is no problem with fiber to fiber conductive paths in the structure because of this conductivity.
In the case of valve metal woven wire constructions, for example titanium, the conductive paths through just the long wire lengths are not adequate for an even distribution of the current throughout the structure. The woven material to be used as an effective 3-dimensional high surface area electrode structure also requires a fiber to fiber electrical contact, which depends on the fiber surfaces and their corresponding areas being conductive and intimately in contact with each other. Since valve metals form protective nonconductive oxide films on their surfaces, these conductive contact points may not be stable in the electrochemical system and form nonconductive oxides, and the material will then not be suitable as an electrode. Also, woven materials, both made from either stainless steel or valve metals, have been observed to not be suitable as electrode structures in electrochemical cells for operation at current densities greater than about 1 to 2 KA/m2. One explanation is that the 3-dimensional electrical conductivity of the structure relying on a mechanical fiber to fiber contact is not adequate above this range, resulting in a substantially higher cell electrode operating voltage with corresponding changes in the competitive electrochemical reactions occurring at the electrode surfaces. Another explanation for inadequate performance of woven structures made from multi-filament strands (or tow bundles) is that the porosity of these structures is non-uniform, such that the zones with highest surface area do not allow penetration of current through the electrolyte between closely spaced fibers.
The technology for the processing and production of valve metals, such as titanium, in the form of fine wire, filaments and tow fiber is now available. The problem is in fabricating the filamentary valve metal raw material into a form that is suitable as a 3-dimensional, uniformly conductive high surface area electrode structure and developing methods for the application of an even, economical amount of an active electrocatalyst material onto the structure. In addition, a method for efficiently and evenly distributing electrical current to the structure is also required to be suitable for an electrochemical process. The higher the effective surface area of the electrode structure, with a uniform distributed current density, the higher the single pass conversion efficiency performance of the electrode for the specific electrochemical process application.

High surface area electrode structures for electrochemical processes


A method for analyzing a papermaking process is disclosed in which several electrochemical quantities are measured from at least one liquid flow and fingerprints according to good process situations are determined. The electrochemical measurements are carried out independently of each other using at least three electrode series, each including at least three electrodes. In addition, at least one odor measurement is used from the gases that are emitted from the liquid flow into the gas space over the free liquid surface.

Neural networks, i.e. neural calculation, is used for the analysis of various processes. One known neural network model is SOM (self oriented map). Such algorithms are used to form a database from the vectors of the output variables, with the aid of various process situations. Measurement vectors, which are compared with the vectors in the database, are calculated from the measurement values obtained in the process situation. If these deviate by certain criteria from all the vectors, an attempt is made to analyse what difference or differences in the output variables caused the difference in question.
Often when applying the neural network technique, a large number of process variables are included, but the results are not satisfactory. Apparently, some of the output variables have been particularly unstable, in which case they have upset the study, and have not properly represented the process situation.
Patent publications U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,818,348; 5,830,343; 5,393,399; 5,654,497; and EP 692711 disclose some liquid analysers that use polarographic sensors. In the first publication referred to, the liquid is vaporized and the vapour is led through parallel sensors. Finnish patent application 892351 also discloses a disposal electrochemical sensor, which is intended for medical use. The generally known sensors have a narrow area of application and they are usually only able to measure a few predefined substances and their contents in a liquid. A sensor according to publication U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,343 will not remain in operating condition for long, because even individual fibres can cause a short-circuit between the electrodes of the tiny sensor.

Method for analyzing a papermaking process and an electrochemical sensor for analyzing liquid


A method and system for obtaining and processing acquired images of an object to extract a small scale geometry (a bump map) of the object that is independent of object curvature. The method includes steps of (a) operating N (where N>3) light sources and an image input device placed at a distance from the object such that different regions of the object are illuminated by each of the multiple light sources; (b) obtaining multiple images of the object, one for each of the light sources with the other light sources turned off; (c) processing the images to derive three images, each corresponding to a component of surface normals of the object relative to directions to three of the light sources; (d) removing an effect of large scale surface shape from the derived images of the surface normals by computing low spatial frequency images from the derived images; (e) for a section or sections of the images for which the small scale geometry is to be acquired, determining transformations from the surface normals represented by the low spatial frequency images to the normals of a planar surface; (f) applying the transformations to the derived surface normal images to obtain the normals of the small scale surface variations applied to a flat plane; (g) adjusting a spacing of the values for the normals to account for foreshortening due to curvature by expanding the distances using directional derivatives computed from the surface normals at each point in the image; and (h) obtaining regularly spaced images of new surface normals by sampling the spatially adjusted images onto a new, regularly spaced image.

There are various conventional scanning systems that can be employed to acquire the geometry of an object. Typically, a system acquires the entire geometry, without separating out the large scale shape of the object and the small scale surface variations. However, the small scale surface variations, such as small bumps and ridges, form a geometric texture that alters the appearance of the large scale shape. For example, small bumps on an orange peel differentiate the appearance of an orange from that of a smooth ball.
In computer graphics such small scale surface variations can be represented as "bump maps". Bump maps are used to store a complex geometry at a physical scale between explicit geometry representation and surface microscale effects as encapsulated in a bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF). A bump map contains an array of normals that are applied as perturbations to a base geometry, and are most frequently defined procedurally.
Two conventional methods for capturing bump maps for curved objects have been developed. One method is to flatten the object, X-ray it, generate a height map from the X-ray, and then compute surface normals from the height map. The other method uses 3-d scanning techniques from computer vision methodologies to acquire a detailed triangle mesh representing the object, and then uses surface normals computed from the mesh to represent the bump map. In this case the bump map only exists for the curved object, and the normals only apply to objects with the original curvature.
In computer vision, surface normals are obtained directly from objects using variations of photometric stereo. However, these normals include the effect of the large scale geometry of the object, as well as the small scale surface variations.
Prior art systems for acquiring bump maps either require altering the original object, such as by flattening the object, or producing maps that are specific to the original large scale geometry. These techniques cannot be applied for objects that cannot be altered, such as existing artwork.
Also, prior art systems involving X-ray or 3-d scanning systems for detailed geometry acquisition are expensive and require a trained operator to use. In the case of 3-d scanning systems complex software is needed to form the detailed 3-d surface, and subsequently compute the surface normals.
It is further noted that for computer vision techniques it is known to obtain a "shape from" various lighting effects, such as shape from shading and shape from specularity. Researchers have also explored the area of "appearance based matching." In particular, various researchers have sought illumination basis images that can be used to construct an image of an object under arbitrary lighting conditions.
Epstein et al. in "Learning Object Representations from Lighting Variations", ECCV 96 International Workshop, pgs. 179-199 (April 1996) us ed the idea of illumination basis images to develop methods for obtaining an object's shape from lighting variations. These authors addressed the general problem of obtaining an object's geometry given a series of images of the object under unknown illumination conditions.
Other researchers have addressed the problem of obtaining input for rendering using inexpensive equipment. One approach measures anisotropic reflectance using a CCD camera, a quartz-halogen lamp, and a diffuse reference standard. Another approach re-renders the appearance of an object for fixed lighting conditions from a large series of video images, while another approach obtains texture maps from non-planar shiny objects using a series of video images.

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed is use of amlexanox or a salt thereof or a solvate thereof in preparation of a drug having an inhibitory action on the smooth muscle cells, in particular a drug for preventing and treating vascular restenosis. Further disclosed is a medical device, particularly a drug stent, the surface of which is distributed with amlexanox or the salt thereof or the pharmaceutical composition thereof. Amlexanox has an activity in inhibition of the proliferation of smooth muscle cells, has a low inhibitory property of the endothelial cell growth, is particularly suitable for applying on a medical device to prevent the incidence of vascular restenosis, while not delaying the repair of endothelium.

The general name of amlexanox is 2-amimo-7-isopropyl-5-oxo-5H-[1]benzopyrano-[2,3,-b]pyridine-3-carboxylic acid, also known as CHX3673. The chemical name in English is 2-amimo-7-isopropyl-5-oxo-5H-[1]benzopyrano-[2,3,-b]pyridine-3-carboxylic acid. Amlexanox is an allergic mediator blocker, which inhibits the degranulation of mast cells by stabilizing their membranes, so as to prevent the release of allergic mediators and thus has an anti-allergic effect. Amlexanox is first marketed in Japan in 1987 for the treatment of allergic bronchial asthma, and later applied to allergic rhinitis. Amlexanox is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996 for the treatment of oral ulcers.
Amlexanox is the only prescription drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of Aphthous ulcers, and its pharmacological action is mainly accelerating the healing of Aphthous ulcers by anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory action.
In vitro studies have demonstrated that amlexanox is able to strongly inhibit the formation and release of inflammatory mediators (histamines, leukotrienes) from mast cells, neutrophile leucocytes and monocytes. Animal experiments have demonstrated that amlexanox has anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects. In vitro studies have shown that 5% amlexanox oral paste has a significant therapeutic effect on experimental oral ulcer of rats induced by 10% acetic acid and experimental oral ulcer of rabbits induced by 90% carbolic acid, which is able to shorten the mean healing time of ulcer surface. Compared with the model group, the healing time is advanced by 2.5 days and 1.75 days, respectively.
From the current clinical use, amlexanox is mainly used to treat allergies and oral ulcers.
Currently, cardiovascular disease is the most serious threat to human health. According to WHO's statistics, the number of deaths due to the cardiovascular disease each year is up to 30% of the total global deaths. Treating the cardiovascular disease with cardiovascular interventional surgery is a trend of clinical development. However, for traditional interventional instruments, such as stents, balloons, occluders, and interventional valves, thrombosis and neoplasms may be formed after interventional surgery, and then Restenosis (RS) may occur, reducing the expected effect of surgery.
Vascular endothelial dysfunction and excessive proliferation/migration of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMCs) are important factors in the occurrence of RS. A large number of studies have demonstrated that the proliferation/migration of VSMCs from the tunica media of artery to the intima of artery is a key link of the development and ultimate formation of RS. If the vascular wall is damaged by the balloon or stent, the phenotype of the VSMCs in the tunica media of artery changes (from a resting/contracted state to a proliferative/synthetic phenotype), and the VSMCs increasingly proliferate and migrate to the intima, and over-synthesize and secrete a large number of extracellular matrices, which results in neointima formation of the blood vessel and thus results in restenosis.
Clinically, there is still a certain proportion of restenosis after Drug-Eluting Stent (DES) implantation. Endothelial dysfunction after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) can progress to atheromatous plaque lesions, and causes in-stent RS. Factors such as senescence of smooth muscle cells, delayed endothelialization, endothelial phenotypic changes, and stent malapposition may delay endothelialization. Reassessing the pathogenesis of RS, the current drug anti-RS is at the expense of vascular endothelial injury or delayed repair. Maintaining the integrity of the vascular endothelial structure and function plays an important role in reducing stent thrombosis and stent restenosis after PCI. For a more ideal coronary stent system, in addition to the stent itself has good biocompatibility, radial strength and the ability to pass through lesions, the implanted stent should be coordinated with the "internal environment" of the coronary artery to maintain normal endothelialization, intact endothelial function, normal systolic and diastolic function of the coronary artery at the implanted location of the stent, and the structural integrity and normal remodeling of the blood vessels.
At present, DES loaded with proliferation inhibitors (rapamycin and its analogs, paclitaxel) of the smooth muscle cells is the most commonly used treatment for clinical prevention of restenosis. Although the application of DES effectively reduces the incidence of restenosis in a short time after surgery, studies have shown that DES inhibits the proliferation of VSMCs as well as delays endothelial repair, which results in incomplete intimalization of the stent, thrombosis and other cardiovascular diseases, and ultimately weakens the long-term effect of anti-restenosis.


A novel and distinct cultivar of Gladiolus plant named xe2x80x98Anuragxe2x80x99 particularly characterized by the combined features of light reddish purple (RHS-74D) flowers with dark reddish purple (RHS-66A) color blotches at both sides of the petals; at least 1.7 spikes per plant; 120 cm long flower spike; and approximately 16 flowers per spike.

Gladiolus hybrid sp.
Anurag.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Gladiolus known by the cultivar name xe2x80x98Anuragxe2x80x99. The novel plant is a hybrid derived from the cross of Gladiolus hybrid xe2x80x98Her Majestyxe2x80x99 (unpatented) and Gladiolus hybrid xe2x80x98Aldebaranxe2x80x99 (unpatented). xe2x80x98Anuragxe2x80x99 was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by or under the supervision of the inventors Devendra Dhayani, Devashish Mukherjee, and Jaichand Rana in a controlled environment in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India in 1991. xe2x80x98Anuragxe2x80x99 is propagated vegetatively by corms and hence can be maintained as a stable genotype.
The modern garden cultivars of Gladiolus come from diverse genetic parentages. Consequently, the genus is genetically complex. The available modern cultivars are so compelx genetically that the offspring obtained by crossing them segregate diverse selections that differ phenotypically [(Misra, 1975) Gladiolus Br. Assn. Newsletter, No.12, pp. 2-5].
The inventors initiated a breeding program to develop better types of Gladiolus hybrids suitable for a wide range of climatic conditions, and having wide range of characteristics such as better color, increased number of florets and spike length as per the international standards, better yield of corms and cormels, tolerant to the common diseases, among others. The collected germplasm of Gladiolus was planted for their propagation and multiplication. In this breeding program, the conventional hybridization breeding methods were used for breeding. More than 100 cross combinations were made by using distinct varieties such as xe2x80x98Oscarxe2x80x99, xe2x80x98Jesterxe2x80x99, xe2x80x98Snow Princessxe2x80x99, xe2x80x98Eurovisionxe2x80x99, xe2x80x98Ballerinaxe2x80x99, xe2x80x98King Liarxe2x80x99, xe2x80x98Cherry Blossomxe2x80x99, xe2x80x98Her Majestyxe2x80x99, xe2x80x98Green woodpeckerxe2x80x99, xe2x80x98Friendshipxe2x80x99, xe2x80x98Vink""sxe2x80x99 xe2x80x98Gloryxe2x80x99, xe2x80x98Aldebaranxe2x80x99, xe2x80x98Red Beautyxe2x80x99, xe2x80x98Top Brassxe2x80x99, xe2x80x98Copper Kingxe2x80x99, xe2x80x98Bonfirexe2x80x99, xe2x80x98White Goddessxe2x80x99, xe2x80x98Sunny Boyxe2x80x99, xe2x80x98Tropic Seaxe2x80x99, and xe2x80x98Friendship Pinkxe2x80x99 (unpatented varieties).
Many seedlings came out from a single cross combination. These plants were critically evaluated and tagged as per the desired color combinations, growth and flowering parameters. The corn and cormels of the selected hybrid plants were replanted continuously four years in the field for further evaluation and multiplications. Based on the superior performance for attractive color combination, compactness of flower spike, number of flowers per spike, length of flower spike, number of corm and cormels per plant evaluation and selection of superior quality hybrids were made.
The program yielded a number of hybrid plants out of which one genotype xe2x80x98IHBT-GH-168xe2x80x99 was selected and named xe2x80x98Anuragxe2x80x99. This plant was found to have new color, flower size, number of florets per spikes, length of flower spikes, better yield of corm and cormels and less prone to common diseases.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of xe2x80x98Anuragxe2x80x99 which in combination distinguish this Gladiolus as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Light reddish purple (RHS-74D) flowers with dark reddish purple (RHS-66A) color blotches at the edges of the petals;
2. Flowering period of approximately 92 days;
3. 1.7 flower spikes per plant on average;
4. Average length of flower spikes is 120 cm; and
5. Approximately 16 flowers per spikes.
xe2x80x98Anuragxe2x80x99 has been developed through planned breeding experiments conducted in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India. Gladiolus varieties were collected from different sources and growth in the fields at Palampur, India for facilitating breeding program. The emasculation and pollination in different varieties were carried out in April-May, 1991. The seeds were collected in July-August, 1991 and sown in beds under open field conditions and covered with dry grasses in December, 1991. The resultant seedlings were space planted in the field at Palampur in March-April 1992. The corms and cormels of survived hybrid plants were replanted continuously four years for screening and multiplication.
Based on the superior performance and an attractive color combination, compactness of flower spikes, number of flowers per spikes, length of flower spikes, number of flowers remains open at a time, number of corm and cormel production per plant, the plant of this invention, xe2x80x98Anuragxe2x80x99 was selected for further observation and evaluation. xe2x80x98Anuragxe2x80x99 has compact flower spikes, numerous flowers, a ruffled ness of flower petals, and is not susceptible to common diseases. xe2x80x98Anuragxe2x80x99 is bi-colored, with flowers that are light reddish purple (RHS-74D) with dark reddish purple (RHS-66A) color blotches at the edges of the petals. In comparison to the parental cultivars, the primary difference is in color. xe2x80x98Her Majestyxe2x80x99 is sky blue and light blue in color, and xe2x80x98Alderbaranxe2x80x99 is straw-yellow with red blotches at the throat.
xe2x80x98Anuragxe2x80x99 was grown at row distance of 1 foot and plant to plant distance of 6 inches for 4 consecutive years to study its growth and flowering performance and multiplication. Data were recorded on randomly selected twenty plants every year. xe2x80x98Anuragxe2x80x99 maintained uniformity in its growth and flowering performance. xe2x80x98Anuragxe2x80x99 has remained stable and uniform for its morphological characters and showed consistency in performance for various growth and flowering parameters during its evaluation and vegetative multiplication since 1992. Throughout the evaluation period of xe2x80x98Anuragxe2x80x99 no variants were found from the normal population.

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research


An image processing apparatus includes a contour extraction unit and a contour correcting unit. The contour extraction unit ascertains intensity difference between each of the pixels in the original image data and pixels around the pixel, and evaluates sharpness of a contour to determine intensity of a pixel in the contour image data based on gradient of intensity of the pixel. The contour correcting unit shifts a contour of the pixel in a predetermined direction based on a direction of a slant of the gradient of intensity when an absolute value of the gradient of intensity is larger than threshold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a computer product.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, digital cameras are widely used and digital camera function is installed on a mobile phone terminal as default. Photographs taken by the digital cameras or the digital camera function are normally saved as image data, which does not fade like a photograph printed on a sheet, and can be easily improved by image processing.
One of basic technologies in the field of image processing is contour extraction. The process of contour extraction is necessary to convert an image taken by a digital camera into a hand-drawn image, or to automatically set a range to which effects, such as gradation of color, are added in the image taken by the digital camera. Generally, as described in "Practical image processing in C language" written by Seiki Inoue, Nobuyuki Yagi, Masaki Hayashi, Eisuke Nakasu, and Kouji Mitani, pp 38-50, 1999, published by Ohmsha Ltd., the contour extraction is realized by comparing intensity of each of pixels with intensity of pixels adjacent to the pixel in the image data.
In a conventional contour extraction method, in which intensity of a pixel is compared with that of adjacent pixels, a range of extracted contour is broader than a range of contour that is supposed to be extracted.
When pixels with high intensity and pixels with low intensity are adjacent to each other, it is preferable that the pixels with low intensity alone are extracted as a contour. However, due to difference in intensity among the pixels in a given area, the pixels with high intensity are also extracted as the contour, which makes the contour wider than the one that is supposed to be extracted.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer product


A transporter main body has a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels, each of which is adapted to contact with a step of an escalator, a resilient member connected to the bottom of the transporter main body, a mounting structure for mounting a wheelchair, and an extending/retracting device connected with one end of the mounting structure for pivoting the mounting structure in vertical direction. After a wheelchair is mounted on the mounting structure, the wheels allow the transporter main body to be wheeled on the escalator. The resilient member grips the steps of the escalator to allow the wheelchair to ascend or descend with the escalator.

This invention relates to a wheelchair transporter for use on an escalator, also relates to an escalator control system for transporting the wheelchair transporter on the escalator.
With the development of welfare society, there have been suggested and produced many sorts of wheelchair transporters which can be used in an railway station or a school building to transport a wheelchair up or down a stairway. However, no one has thought of manufacturing a wheelchair transporter capable of transporting a wheelchair on an escalator.
In order to solve the above problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-pen No. 7-125964 has suggested an escalator system for transporting a wheelchair, as shown in FIG. 11.
Referring to FIG. 11, the conventional escalator system 100 includes an entrance 102, an exit 104, a plurality of steps 110 connected continuously in an endless manner. There is an operation device 106 provided in the entrance 102, another operation device 108 provided in the exit 104.
When the escalator system 100 is to be used for transporting a wheelchair, the operation device 106 or the operation device 108 operates to have two adjacent steps 110, 110 combined into a large one-piece step so that a wheelchair may be mounted thereon. On the other hand, when the escalator system 100 is to be used for transporting common passengers, the one-piece step may be changed back into original two steps 110, 110.
However, there is a trouble with the above-described conventional escalator system 100. Namely, when the escalator is used to transport a wheelchair, the operating condition of the escalator has to be changed into wheelchair transporting mode, hence it is necessary to temporarily stop the transportation of common passengers.
After the transportation of the wheelchair is over, the operation mode has to be changed back into common operation mode so as to restart the transportation of common passengers. As a result, there is a relatively long time interval needed to stop the common use of the escalator for transporting common passengers, hence causing a great inconvenience in the daily use of such an escalator system.

Wheelchair transporter for use on an escalator and an escalator control system for transporting the wheelchair transporter on the escalator


This invention provides a method for optimizing the administration of leptin receptor ligands to a mammal in need of such treatment. More specifically, this invention provides an improved method of delivering leptin receptor ligands to a mammal in need of such treatment comprising pulsatile or peak delivery of leptin receptor ligands to treat obesity and related conditions, including hyperglucocorticoidinemia, fertility or delayed puberty, and/or growth hormone deficiencies.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a method for optimizing the administration of leptin receptor ligands to a mammal in need of such treatment. More specifically, this invention relates to an improved method of delivering leptin receptor ligands to a mammal in need of such treatment comprising pulsatile or peak delivery of leptin receptor ligands to treat obesity and related conditions, including hyperglucocorticoidemia, fertility or delayed puberty, and/or growth hormone deficiencies.
2. Description of the Related Art
A diurnal rhythm has been demonstrated with leptin levels peaking near midnight to early morning hours in either lean or obese subjects. Pulsatility has recently been reported to exist in leptin levels with .about.32 pulses/24 hour period (Licino, J. et al. (1996) Periodicity and pulsatility of circulating leptin levels in men. Submitted). This pulsatility suggests some coordinated synthesis and release of leptin by adipose tissue depots, although a mechanism for such coordination is unknown. Increased leptin with prolonged overfeeding may be the result of alterations in fat stores (Kolaczynski, J. W. et al (1996) Response of leptin to short term and prolonged overfeeding in humans. J. Cln. Endo. Metab. Submitted). As a result, leptin levels are altered according to several overlapping biological rhythms. These biorhythms may be key to optimal leptin action as with other hormones, e.g., LHRH, where continual stimulation yields opposite results to pulsatile stimulation.
Since chronic dosing at high levels of receptor agonists can lead to desensitization, it is possible that leptin resistance evolves from chronic hyperleptinemia.

Pulsatile delivery of leptin receptor ligands


Broadband optical switches based on adiabatic couplers having a pair of asymmetric waveguides with variable curvature sections include in a 2×2 configuration based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer two such adiabatic couplers, and in a 1×2 or 2×1 configuration an adiabatic coupler and an Y-splitter. Each adiabatic coupler includes two waveguide branches of different but constant widths having curved sections with varying radii, separated over a coupling length by a changing spacing therebetween and blending in an asymmetric intersection area, and two symmetric branches. In the 2×2 switch, the two adiabatic couplers face each other with their respective symmetric branches, and are connected by the two identical arms along a main propagation axis in a mirror image. The utilization of the variable curvature adiabatic couplers in silica MZI switches on a silicon substrate provides switches with an exceptional broadband range (1.2-1.7 μm), very high extinction ratios (>35 dB), low fabrication sensitivity and polarization independent operation. The switches are significantly smaller than known broadband switches, have significantly smaller excess loss, faster switching time and low power consumption.

The rapid progress in modern telecommunication brings with it an increasing demand for a fast and efficient way to rout information between many users. As optical fibers replace old copper wires, a need for a low-cost direct optical switching is rising. Such optical switching components should operate within contemporary communication network systems that support Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) for various applications, such as optical add drop multiplexing (OADM), optical cross connections (OXC), protection, restoration, etc.
In order to achieve higher capacity more communication channels are required. Therefore, a broader bandwidth of optical components is essential. Such broadband components must be fabricated in large numbers with low cost and high reliability. Reliable solid-state devices with no moving parts are suitable for mass production, as was demonstrated in the microelectronics industry. Planar lightwave circuit (PLC) technology is one of the most promising solid-state technologies, and a Mach Zehnder-Interferometer (MZI) is one of the most successful and useful structures built in this technology.
The MZI was invented more than century ago. It has been extensively used in the design of all-optical switches, filters, attenuators, etc. However, a standard MZI is not broadband, due to the high wavelength dependency of its couplers, and in some configurations, also due to the length difference between its two arms.
Few attempts to produce broadband MZI optical switches were made in the past. One approach, for thermo-optical silica-based switches, proposes Wavelength-Insensitive Couplers (WINCs) instead of directional couplers, where each WINC is actually a complete MZI by itself (Kitoh T. et al. "Novel broad-band optical switch using silica-based planar circuit", IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 4, pp. 735-737, 1992). This device is very long and uses three electrical drivers and three active electrodes, thus having complicated control and consuming high electrical power. In addition, its Extinction Ratio (ER) performance is insufficient—17 dB over the spectral range of 1.25-1.65 μm.
Cohen et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,868 employed broadband adiabatic couplers (first described by Henry C. H. et al. "Analysis of mode propagation in optical waveguide devices by Fourier expansion", IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 27 pp. 523-530, 1991) in their proposed MZI switch. At the core of the couplers are two closely adjacent waveguides of gradually varying widths, layed out so that the separation between the two is constant. These couplers and MZI switches have a few disadvantages: they must be very long in order to be adiabatic, and the coupling effect of the small (few μm) gap between the coupler's waveguides is very sensitive to fabrication, e.g. to over-etch, material stresses, etc., resulting in a deteriorated extinction ratio, or alternatively in a narrowed operational wavelength window. Under normal fabrication conditions, the ER over the spectral range of 1.25-1.6 μm is only 15 dB, which is also insufficient for most current applications.
Silberberg in U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,207 introduced 2×2 digital optical switches (DOS) via an electro-optic effect, and fabricated in materials such as Lithium Niobate (LiNbO3) with large electro-optic coefficients. The proposed DOS has an optical step-like response to the switching voltage. It is based on an asymmetric waveguide junction structure, composed from two input waveguides of unequal width, a wide central region and a symmetric output branching. In contrast with a MZI, a DOS has only two functional states, controlled by the electrical field. This allows the incoming optical signals to be routed to either one of the output ports (i.e. a "digital" response instead of the useful analog response of MZI switches).
Hwang et al. in a paper named "Polymeric 2×2 electrooptic switch consisting of asymmetric Y-junctions and Mach-Zehnder interferometer", Photonics Letters, vol. 9, No. 6, June 1997 describe a 2×2 switch comprising a pair of couplers, each having two straight branches of different but constant widths, separated over a coupling length by a changing spacing therebetween. The branches blend in a symmetric intersection area. Because the branches are straight, the switch is by necessity large. Hwang et al. do not mention an extinction ratio, and it is unclear that the response is wavelength independent over a large range.
There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have a high-tolerance broadband MZI switch that does not suffer from the disadvantages of previous switches, as listed above, and which has in particular a wavelength independent response and higher ERs.

High-tolerance broadband-optical switch in planar lightwave circuits


An integrated management mechanism of a storage area network (SAN) integrates and manages a traditionally dispersed security system from a single source and automates security management in the SAN. The integrated management mechanism integrates and manages the SAN, and is configured so that access relationships of the host computers and the storage devices of the SAN are managed using the integrated management mechanism. An access path on the integrated management mechanism, including a region of the storage devices to which access is attempted from the host computer, the fiber channel adapters used when accessing that storage, and the host bus adapters (HBA) are configured. Based on the access path information configured, the integrated management mechanism establishes respective storage settings, zoning settings, and accessible region permissions for a SAN management mechanism of the host computer, a zoning settings mechanism of the switch, and a storage management mechanism of the storage device.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention pertains to the management systems of storage area networks (hereafter referred to as SAN) that join several servers and several storage devices using fiber channel networks.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the capacity of single storage systems has increased and they now need to be able to function with several different types of servers. Also, with the advent of the widespread use of fiber channels, which can transfer data in parallel along data transfer routes at high speeds and among several host computers, it is expected that the scale of the connection format of storage systems is going to become even larger in this environment.
Joining several servers and several storage devices together in this way is referred to as a storage area network (hereafter referred to as a SAN) and attempts are being made to reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) or manage the storage needs of several servers that are increasingly dispersed.
Be that as it may, however, there are some problems that require solving in the areas of security and the management of regions on a storage device.
One of these problems is that it is possible for data in one storage device that is being used by one host to be inadvertently destroyed by another host when a SAN is made up of several host computers (hereafter referred to as hosts) and several storage systems. This is because all of the hosts are capable of accessing all of the storage systems.
At present there are no perfect solutions to the problems of managing regions in storage systems or security. Moreover, when there is a problem with one of the many devices making up a SAN, many different error reports are sent to the system administrator, making it difficult to pinpoint an affected area and resulting in no real method for doing so.
Several terms used herein are well known in the art. More particularly, SAN (storage area network), FCA (fiber channel adapter), HBA (host bus adapter), WWN (world wide name), PID (port identification), and TCO (total cost of ownership) are terms which are well known in the art.

Storage area network management system, method, and computer-readable medium


A brake cooling system for applying a pre-cooling bath to the brake packs of a vehicle through a brake coolant valve having an actuating piston chamber. The brake cooling system is responsive not only to the application of operating pressure to the brake pedal but also to release of the throttle. To operate the brake cooling system in response to the throttle setting, the brake cooling system utilizes a cut-off valve having a transfer chamber. A signal feed conduit communicates between the transfer chamber and the actuating piston chamber in the brake coolant valve. A computerized control member provides pressurized control fluid to the actuating chamber of a modulator control valve. The pressure of the control fluid is established in response to the throttle setting. A hydraulic timer is provided to interrupt the entry of the signal pressure into the transfer chamber after a predetermined period of time. The aforesaid cooling system is also cooperatively compatible with a customary brake apply valve that provides coolant to the brake packs in response to actuation of the brake pedal.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with torque transfer devices in the nature of multi-plate, brake packs that are hydraulically and/or mechanically actuated. Such multi-pack, brake packs are often employed with the individual transmission output shafts, or the axle assemblies connected thereto. Such brake packs are generally actuated by axial compression to effect the desired braking action in response to the depression of a brake pedal. That is, the compression of the multiple plates with the friction disks therebetween effects the torque transfer which actually slows the vehicle.
The durability, and hence the life span, of such multi-plate, brake packs is dependent upon the application of a coolant, generally a cooling fluid, to the brake packs prior to the actuating compression thereof. Simply stated, the heat that can be generated within brake packs which are not adequately precooled will distress the successively stacked plates and friction disks therein and ultimately lead to an untimely failure of the brake pack.
The preferred brake apply valves do make provision for pre-cooling, but such pre-cooling is induced by the initial depression of the brake pedal. That type arrangement can work quite well under appropriate conditions. However, in those instances where the driver depresses the brake pedal much more rapidly than normal--as in a panic stop--the pre-cooling flow might not be initiated in time for the necessary coolant to have reached the brake packs prior to their compression.
Other conditions which might also delay the desired flow of the coolant until after compression of the brake packs has been initiated are: positioning the brake coolant valve at a location which is sufficiently remote from at least one brake pack that the pre-cooling bath can not begin prior to compression of the brake packs; or, using a coolant delivery system configuration which allows the cooling fluid to drain from a significant portion of the system when the brakes are not being applied, thus requiring that the system replenish the fluid therein before the pre-cooling bath can begin.

Throttle initiated, supplemental pre-cooling system for vehicular brakes


The present invention is directed to a method of and apparatus for forming a coating film on an inner surface of a panel of a cathode ray tube. In this case, slurries are injected into the panel, the panel is rotated on its own axis so as to uniformly coat the slurries on the panel and a recovering hood is moved in an opposing relation to the panel in synchronism with the revolution of the panel to thereby recover the slurries. Therefore, particularly when the slurries are recovered, the slurries can be prevented from being scattered, thereby avoiding the surroundings from being splattered.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to methods of manufacturing a cathode ray tube and, more particularly, is directed to a method of and apparatus for injecting and recovering slurries in the process for making a phosphor screen.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When a phosphor screen of a color cathode ray tube is produced, so-called slurries, such as phosphor slurries of respective colors, carbon slurries, PVP photosensitive liquid, PVA photosensitive liquid or the like are injected into a panel in response to the respective processes, are uniformly coated on the whole surface of the panel, and then extra slurries within the panel are recovered.
In the prior art, as shown in FIG. 1, a panel 1 is located so as to face the inner surface thereof upwardly and a desired slurry 3 is injected through an injection nozzle 2 into the inner surface of the panel 1 (see FIG. 1A). Then, the panel 1 is rotated on its own axis (in the direction shown by an arrow a in FIG. 1B) so as to spread and coat the slurry 3 on the entire surface of the panel (see FIG. 1B). Thereafter, the panel 1 is revolved (in the direction shown by an arrow b in FIG. 1C) such that the corner portion of the panel 1 is faced downwardly to thereby exhaust extra slurry 3 from the panel 1 (see FIG. 1C). The panel 1 is then rotated on its own axis (in the direction shown by an arrow a) so as to urge the slurry of a desired film thickness to be coated thereon (see FIG. 1D). Thus, the coating process of slurry is finished.
According to the above conventional method in which the desired slurry 3 is injected into the panel 1, the panel 1 is revolved (in the direction shown by the arrow b) and then the panel is rotated on its own axis (in the direction shown by the arrow a in FIG. 1D) to provide the slurry of desired film thickness thereby removing the extra slurry 3 from within the panel, the slurry 3 is considerably scattered to the surroundings and the surroundings are contaminated.

Method and apparatus of forming a coating film on an inner surface of a panel of a cathode ray tube


An imaging device may comprise an image head having an elongate slot therein with first and second lengthwise ends. The image head may also include a first navigation sensor aperture and a second navigation sensor aperture positioned adjacent the elongate slot at positions other than positions that are aligned with the first and second lengthwise ends of the elongate slot. An image sensing system optically aligned with the elongate slot in the image head is responsive to image light passing through the elongate slot and produces an image signal based on the image light. A first navigation sensor optically aligned with the first navigation sensor aperture in the image head is responsive to first navigation light passing through the first navigation sensor aperture and produces a first navigation data signal based on the first navigation light. A second navigation sensor optically aligned with the second navigation sensor aperture in the image head is responsive to second navigation light passing through the second navigation sensor aperture and produces a second navigation data signal based on the second navigation light.

Imaging devices, such as optical scanners, are well-known in the art and produce machine-readable image data signals that are representative of a scanned object, such as a photograph or a page of printed text. In a typical scanner application, the image data signals produced by an optical scanner may be used by a personal computer to reproduce an image of the scanned object on a suitable display device, such as a CRT or a printer.
A hand-held or portable optical scanner is an optical scanner which is designed to be moved by hand across the object or document being scanned. The hand-held scanner may be connected directly to a separate computer by a data cable. If so, the data signals produced by the hand-held scanner may be transferred to the separate computer "on the fly," i.e., as the image data are collected. Alternatively, the hand-scanner may include an on-board data storage system for storing the image data. The image data may then be downloaded to a separate computer after the scanning operation by any convenient means, such as via a cable or an optical infrared data link.
Hand-held or portable optical scanners are well-known in the art and various components thereof are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,597 of McConica for "Hand-Held Scanner having Adjustable Light Path", U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,212 of McConica, et al., for "Optical Wave Guide for Hand-Held Scanner," U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,020 of Kochis, et al., for "Hand-Held Optical Scanner with Onboard Battery Recharging Assembly," and U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,908 of McConica, et al., for "Manually Operated Hand-Held Optical Scanner with Tactile Speed Control Assembly," all of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all that they disclose.
A typical hand-held optical scanner may include illumination and optical systems to accomplish scanning of the object. The illumination system illuminates a portion of the object (commonly referred to as a "scan region"), whereas the optical system collects light reflected by the illuminated scan region and focuses a small area of the illuminated scan region (commonly referred to as a "scan line") onto the surface of a photosensitive detector positioned within the scanner. Image data representative of the entire object then may be obtained by sweeping the scan line across the entire object, usually by moving the hand-held scanner with respect to the object. By way of example, the illumination system may include a light source (e.g., a fluorescent or incandescent lamp or an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs)). The optical system may include a lens and/or mirror assembly to focus the image of the illuminated scan line onto the surface of the detector. Alternatively, a "contact image sensor" or CIS may be used to collect and focus light from the illuminated scan region onto the detector.
The photosensitive detector used to detect the image light focused thereon by the optical system may be a charge-coupled device (CCD), although other devices may be used. A typical CCD may comprise an array of individual cells or "pixels," each of which collects or builds-up an electrical charge in response to exposure to light. Since the quantity of the accumulated electrical charge in any given cell or pixel is related to the intensity and duration of the light exposure, a CCD may be used to detect light and dark spots on an image focused thereon.
One type of hand-held scanner device may include a position sensing or "navigation" system for determining the position of the hand-held scanner with respect to the object being scanned. Essentially, such position sensing systems allow the scanner to correlate its position with respect to the object being scanned. The position correlation allows a complete image of the scanned object to be produced even though the scanner may not scan the entire object during a single pass or "swipe." For example, if two or more swipes of the object are required to scan the entire object, then the position correlation provided by the navigation system will allow the various portions of the scanned image data to be "stitched" together to form a single unitary image representative of the entire scanned object.
One type of navigation system utilizes a pair of optical sensors to detect certain inherent structural features (e.g., surface roughness, paper fiber orientation, etc.) contained on the object being scanned (e.g., a sheet of paper with text or images thereon). Examples of the foregoing type of navigation system are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,712 of Holland for "Sheet Advancement Control System Detecting Fiber Pattern of Sheet," and U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,813 of Allen, et al., for "Freehand Image Scanning Device which Compensates for Non-Linear Movement," both of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference for all that they disclose.
While such navigation systems are known and are being used, they are not without their disadvantages. For example, significant problems can arise if the user is careless with the operation of the scanner and allows one or more of the navigation sensors to move past the edge of the object (e.g., document) being scanned. If this happens, the navigation system will lose track of its position, which usually prevents the image processing system from properly stitching together the various image portions to form a whole. Another problem associated with navigation systems of the type described above is that it is often difficult for the user to ascertain precisely the location of the bounds of the scan line due to the positions of the optical navigation sensors, which are located at either end of the scan line. Consequently, the user often times fails to provide sufficient overlap of the scanning swipes, which again, can make it difficult or impossible for the scanner control system to stitch together the various image portions to form the unitary whole.
Consequently, a need exists for hand-held imaging device having a navigation system that does not suffer from the disadvantages associated with currently existing navigation systems.

Portable image scanner with optical position sensors


Apparatuses, methods and storage medium associated with capturing images are described herein. In embodiments, an apparatus may include an image or video capturing application to capture one or more images using a camera worn on a user's head, that includes an orientation function to receive a collection of a plurality of sensor data, and process the collection of sensor data to determine desired and actual orientations of the camera, and a control function to control the camera, to delay or suspend activation of the camera, if the actual orientation is misaligned with the desired orientations of the camera in excess of a misalignment threshold. In embodiments, the one or more images may be part of a time series of images or videos. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
With advances in integrated circuits, digital photography/video has become ubiquitous. In recent years, head-worn, or generally body-worn, cameras have gained increased popularity. Frequently, users of head/body-worn cameras would like to make a time lapse or hyper lapse movie by capturing a time series of images/videos, e.g., every 30 seconds, every minute, or every 15 minutes, and so forth. Frequently, users would prefer these time series images/videos being taken from a consistent view, e.g., a frontal view, reflecting what the user sees.
One issue with taking a time series of images with head-worn cameras is that the user may change his head orientation away from the desired frontal orientation when an image/video is about to be capture. For instance, when recording a time lapse movie while cycling up a mountain pass, the user might change his head orientation to the his left or right side to look at a car passing him, consulting road traffic signs, and so forth, just at the moment when an image is to be captured. As a result, the captured scene in an image/video is not towards the path the camera/bike has been following. In turn, the time lapse movies formed with the captured images/videos might look like a collection of random shots front, left and right, and appear unnatural and unpleasant. Typically, the user will have to engage in post filming editing to create a more coherent movie that is more natural and pleasant. Even with post filming editing, the improvement might be limited, since a number of the properly oriented images/videos may be missing.
While existing wearable cameras may include technologies to address the issue of image/video stability, there are no known technologies that assist/address the above described issue associated with capturing a time series of images/videos to produce a more natural and pleasant time lapsed movie.

Image/video capturing method and apparatus


There is disclosed an apparatus for controlling the transmission of enhancement layer video data for use in a video encoder containing a base layer encoder and an enhancement layer encoder. The base layer encoder receives input video frames and generates compressed base layer video frames suitable for transmission at a base layer bit rate to a streaming video receiver. The enhancement layer encoder compares the input video frames and a processed version of the compressed base layer video frames and generates enhancement layer video data suitable for transmission at a modifiable enhancement layer bit rate to the streaming video receiver. The apparatus comprises a base layer parameter monitor for receiving at least one base layer parameter and, in response thereto, modifying an allocation of the enhancement layer video data among corresponding ones of the compressed base layer video frames.

The present invention is related to that disclosed in United States patent application Ser. No. 09/347,882), entitled xe2x80x9cSYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FINE GRANULAR SCALABLE VIDEO WITH SELECTIVE QUALITY ENHANCEMENT,xe2x80x9d which is being filed concurrently herewith and is commonly assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The disclosure of the related patent application is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
The present invention is directed, in general, to video encoding systems and, more specifically, to an encoding system for streaming video data.
Real-time streaming of multimedia content over data networks, including the Internet, has become an increasingly common application in recent years. A wide range of interactive and non-interactive multimedia applications, such as news-on-demand, live network television viewing, video conferencing, among others, rely on end-to-end streaming video techniques. Unlike a xe2x80x9cdownloadedxe2x80x9d video file, which may be retrieved first in xe2x80x9cnon-realxe2x80x9d time and viewed or played back later in xe2x80x9crealxe2x80x9d time, streaming video applications require a video transmitter that encodes and transmits a video signal over a data network to a video receiver, which must decode and display the video signal in real time.
Scalable video coding is a desirable feature for many multimedia applications and services that are used in systems employing decoders with a wide range of processing power. Scalability allows processors with low computational power to decode only a subset of the scalable video stream. Another use of scalable video is in environments with a variable transmission bandwidth. In those environments, receivers with low-access bandwidth receive, and consequently decode, only a subset of the scalable video stream, where the amount of that subset is proportional to the available bandwidth.
Several video scalability approaches have been adopted by lead video compression standards such as MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. Temporal, spatial, and quality (e.g., signal-noise ratio (SNR)) scalability types have been defined in these standards. All of these approaches consist of a base layer (BL) and an enhancement layer (EL). The base layer part of the scalable video stream represents, in general, the minimum amount of data needed for decoding that stream. The enhanced layer part of the stream represents additional information, and therefore enhances the video signal representation when decoded by the receiver.
For example, in a variable bandwidth system, such as the Internet, the base layer transmission rate may be established at the minimum guaranteed transmission rate of the variable bandwidth system. Hence, if a subscriber has a minimum guaranteed bandwidth of 256 kbps, the base layer rate may be established at 256 kbps also. If the actual available bandwidth is 384 kbps, the extra 128 kbps of bandwidth may be used by the enhancement layer to improve on the basic signal transmitted at the base layer rate.
For each type of video scalability, a certain scalability structure is identified. The scalability structure defines the relationship among the pictures of the base layer and the pictures of the enhanced layer. One class of scalability is fine-granular scalability. Images coded with this type of scalability can be decoded progressively. In other words, the decoder may decode and display the image with only a subset of the data used for coding that image. As more data is received, the quality of the decoded image is progressively enhanced until the complete information is received, decoded, and displayed.
The newly proposed MPEG-4 standard is directed to new video streaming applications based on very low bit rate coding, such as video-phone, mobile multimedia and audio-visual communications, multimedia e-mail, remote sensing, interactive games, and the like. Within the MPEG-4 standard, fine-granular scalability (FGS) has been recognized as an essential technique for networked video distribution. FGS primarily targets applications where video is streamed over heterogeneous networks in real-time. It provides bandwidth adaptivity by encoding content once for a range of bit rates, and enabling the video transmission server to change the transmission rate dynamically without in-depth knowledge or parsing of the video bit stream.
An important priority within conventional FGS techniques is improving coding efficiency and visual quality of the intra-frame coded enhancement layer. This is necessary to justify the adoption of FGS techniques for the compression of the enhancement layer in place of non-scalable (e.g., single layer) or less granular (e.g., multi-level SNR scalability) coding methods.
A limitation of the compression scheme currently adopted as reference for FGS resides in its inability to exploit the base layer coding information for improving the compression efficiency of the enhancement-layer. Another disadvantage of currently adopted FGS schemes resides in the fact that enhancement layer frames are coded independently of each other (i.e., xe2x80x9cintraxe2x80x9d coding of frames). The intra-frame coding of the enhancement layer is necessary for error resilience and for easy bit rate change at transmission time. However, because each enhancement frame is optimally coded in its own context, discontinuity or inconsistency between the image quality of consecutive frames is often introduced. The resulting FGS enhanced video may have xe2x80x9cflashingxe2x80x9d artifacts across frames. This is particular annoying and highly visible when compared to the more xe2x80x9cvisually stablexe2x80x9d single layer coded video.
There is therefore a need in the art for improved encoders and encoding techniques for use in streaming video systems. There is a further need for encoders and encoding techniques that are less susceptible to flashing artifacts and other sources of discontinuity in the quality of consecutive frames in a sequence of related frames. In particular there is a need in the art for encoders that selectively allocate the enhancement layer data in relation to the amount of activity or selected characteristics in the original video image.
To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new technique for improving the coding efficiency of the enhancement layer compression scheme. The proposed encoding technique uses one or more parameters taken from the base layer compression information (e.g., motion vectors, base layer quantization errors, rate-control info, etc.) to improve the image quality of the enhancement layer. Moreover, based on the observation that single layer encoding usually does a good job in optimizing video quality for particular bit rates, the present invention may use single layer coding at multiple bit rates as xe2x80x9cguidelinesxe2x80x9d for FGS encoding. The new compression techniques may be applied independent of the transforms chosen in the base and enhancement layers (e.g., discrete cosine transform (DCT) or wavelets). However, the use of certain base layer or single-layer information is less straightforward if different coding schemes are employed at the base and enhancement layers.
Accordingly, in an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, there is provided, for use in a video encoder comprising a base layer circuit capable of receiving an input stream of video frames and generating therefrom compressed base layer video frames suitable for transmission at a base layer bit rate to a streaming video receiver and an enhancement layer circuit capable of receiving the input stream of video frames and a decoded version of the compressed base layer video frames and generating therefrom enhancement layer video data associated with, and allocated to, corresponding ones of the compressed base layer video frames and suitable for transmission at a modifiable enhancement layer bit rate to the streaming video receiver an apparatus for controlling transmission of the enhancement layer video data. The apparatus comprises a base layer parameter monitor capable of receiving at least one base layer parameter and, in response thereto, modifying an allocation of the enhancement layer video data among the corresponding ones of the compressed base layer video frames.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the video encoder comprises a motion estimation circuit capable of receiving the input stream of video frames and determining therefrom a base layer motion parameter associated with at least one selected frame sequence in the input stream of video frames.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the base layer parameter monitor receives the base layer motion parameter and, in response thereto, modifies the allocation of the enhancement layer video data according to a level of motion in the at least one selected frame sequence indicated by the base layer motion parameter.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the video encoder comprises a quantization circuit capable of receiving and quantizing transform data associated with the input stream of video frames to thereby reduce a size of the transform data and further capable of determining a base layer quantization error parameter associated with the quantized transform data.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the base layer parameter monitor receives the base layer quantization error parameter and, in response thereto, modifies the allocation of the enhancement layer video data according to a quantization error indicated by the base layer quantization error parameter.
In a still further embodiment of the present invention, the video encoder comprises a base layer rate allocation circuit capable of determining the base layer bit rate, wherein the base layer bit rate is set at a pre-determined minimum rate at which the compressed base layer video frames are transmitted to the streaming video receiver, and generating therefrom a base layer bit rate parameter associated with the base layer bit rate.
In a yet further embodiment of the present invention, the base layer parameter monitor receives the base layer bit rate parameter and, in response thereto, modifies the allocation of the enhancement layer video data according to an estimated difference between the compressed base layer video frames and estimated compressed base layer video frames associated with a second base layer bit rate greater than the pre-determined minimum rate.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.
Before undertaking the Detailed Description, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms xe2x80x9cincludexe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9ccomprise,xe2x80x9d as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term xe2x80x9cor,xe2x80x9d is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases xe2x80x9cassociated withxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cassociated therewith,xe2x80x9d as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term xe2x80x9ccontrollerxe2x80x9d means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

System and method for improved fine granular scalable video using base layer coding information


A snare-type device for removing an elongated structure such as, for example, a pacemaker lead. The device first includes a sheath having a first lumen formed therein, the first lumen having a distal end and being dimensioned to receive the elongated structure therein, and being adapted to allow advancement of the sheath along the elongated structure. The sheath also has second and third parallel lumens formed therein, all of the first, second and third lumens being unitarily formed in the sheath. The device also includes a snare contained in the second and third lumens in the sheath. The snare has a snare loop extending out of the second and third lumens, at and generally extending around the distal end of the first lumen.

A variety of medical treatments and surgical methods entail implanting an elongated structure in the body of a human or veterinary patient. Examples of such elongated structures include catheters, sheaths and cardiac electrical leads (such as pacemaker leads and defibrillator leads), and a variety of other devices. Over time, it may become necessary or desirable to remove such an elongated structure from the body of the patient. However, problems may be encountered in attempting removal of an elongated structure implanted in biological tissue.
For example, a heart pacemaker is typically implanted in a subcutaneous tissue pocket in the chest wall of a patient, and a pacemaker lead positioned in the vascular system of the patient, extending from the pacemaker and through a vein into a chamber of the patient's heart. The pacemaker lead commonly includes a coiled structure such as an electrical wire coil for conducting electrical signals (such as stimulating and/or sensing signals) between the pacemaker and the heart. Defibrillator leads are generally similar and, like pacemaker leads, are located about the heart, but are affixed both internally and externally of the heart. A typical lead includes one or more coaxial or lateral helical wire coils having a hollow inner passageway that extends the entire length of the wire coil or coils. The wire coils are surrounded by an electrically insulating material such as a flexible tube, sheath or coating. The insulating material may be silicone or polyurethane, and serve simultaneously to protect the wire coils from body fluids and to insulate the wire coils from one another.
While cardiac electrical leads typically have a useful life of many years, over time pacemaker and defibrillator leads unfortunately become encapsulated by fibrotic tissue against the heart itself or the wall of the vein, or against other surrounding tissue. Encapsulation is especially encountered in areas where the velocity of the flow of blood is low. The fibrotic tissue is tough and makes it difficult to remove the lead from the area of the heart without bleeding or other trauma to the area. For example, when small diameter veins through which a pacemaker lead passes become occluded with fibrotic tissue, separating the lead from the vein can cause severe damage to the vein or even destruction of it. Furthermore, separation of the lead from the vein is usually not possible without restricting or containing movement of the lead, that is, fixing the lead in position with respect to the patient, in particular, with respect to the patient's vein.
To avoid this and other possible complications, some useless pacemaker or other leads are simply left in the patient when the pacemaker or defibrillator is removed or replaced. However, such a practice can incur the risk of an undetected lead thrombosis, which can result in stroke, heart attack, or pulmonary embolism. Such a practice can also impair heart function, as plural leads can restrict the heart valves through which they pass.
There are of course many other reasons why removal of a useless lead is desirable. For example, if there are too many leads positioned in a vein, the vein can be obliterated. Multiple leads may be incompatible with one another, interfering with their pacemaking or defibrillating function. Of course, an inoperative lead can migrate during introduction of an adjacent second lead, and mechanically induce ventricular arrhythmia. Other potentially life-threatening complications can require the removal of the lead as well. For example, removal of an infected pacemaker lead is desirable, so as to avoid septicemia or endocarditis. Surgical removal of a heart lead in such circumstances often involves open heart surgery, with its accompanying risks, complications and significant costs.
A variety of successful methods and apparatus have been devised as alternatives to open heart surgery for heart lead removal. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,936 (Shipko et al., Dec. 16, 1997) discloses a device for removing from a patient a previously implanted elongated structure such as a catheter, a sheath, a defibrillator lead, a pacemaker lead or the like. The device disclosed by Shipko et al. includes a snare having one or more proximal or distal loops which can encircle and reversibly grasp either the proximal end or the distal end of the elongated structure to be removed. The device also includes a sheath member for delivering the snare loop or loops to the particular end of the elongated structure which is to be grasped. In some disclosed embodiments for grasping the distal end of the elongated structure, the sheath member is advanced along the elongated structure and separates the structure from any tissue which has encapsulated the structure after its implantation. The snare can be either positioned over or contained within a second sheath located in the sheath member. The patent does not appear to disclose any way for the snare loop or loops to be extended beyond the distal end of the sheath member, however.
Numerous other devices for snaring fragments or foreign bodies have been disclosed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,233 (Amplatz et al., Dec. 15, 1992) is directed to a snare-type probe in which kinking of a snare loop is obviated by the use of a shape memory material for the snare. More particularly, the snare is composed of nitinol (nickel-titanium alloy system) wire in a superelastic state, having a transition temperature below the operating temperature of the snare, for example, below body or room temperature. This allows the snare to be manipulated in a relatively severe manner during introduction into a patient, but to recover its desired shape after such manipulation, without kinking or other deformation. The loop of the snare of the device is oriented at an angle with respect to an elongate proximal member on which it is carried.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,678 (Booker, Oct. 8, 1996) discloses a reversible snare for grasping and retrieving an article such as a cardiac lead, which includes a retractable closed loop carried by a sheath member adapted for introduction into a patient. The closed loop of the snare is composed of nitinol or another shape memory material and defines a hook adapted to partly encircle the cardiac lead. The snare also includes a threader also carried by the sheath member; the threader is reversibly extendable through the closed loop, like a thread through a needle's eye, so that the hook and threader together fully encircle the lead. Retraction of the closed loop causes the hook and threader to close around the lead and permit its withdrawal into the sheath member. There appears to be no disclosure of any way in which the cardiac lead could be received through only the closed loop of the snare itself.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,527 (Hyde et al., Jun. 7, 1994) is directed to a system for removing an in-place intravascular device (such as a catheter or guidewire) from a patient's body lumen, such as from a coronary artery, in which a catheter or other similar device is advanced through the vascular system alongside the in-place device until its distal end is located at a desired location within the vascular system. The disclosed removal system includes an exchange catheter having a flexible strand which forms a loop at the distal end of the catheter, the loop being adapted to be disposed about the catheter or guidewire that is in-place within the patient. The exchange catheter includes a lumen through which the strand passes and from which the loop extends. The exchange catheter does not appear to be dimensioned or otherwise adapted for receiving the in-place catheter or guidewire within the exchange catheter as the exchange catheter is advanced. To the contrary, it is an express purpose of the disclosed device to maintain access to a region of the body lumen about the distal end of the in-place catheter or guidewire during use of the exchange catheter, and receipt of the in-place device in the exchange catheter would interfere with the desired access to that region.
Each of these devices is subject to its own advantages and drawbacks during use. The devices of Shipko et al. and Booker may be somewhat more complex in structure than might be preferred, since it is usually desirable to employ removal devices having a minimal cross-sectional area. The device of Amplatz et al. may require a disadvantageously high degree of axial and/or rotational manipulation before the loop can be slipped over the distal end of the device to be removed. The device of Hyde et al. purportedly avoids this particular problem by having its loop slipped over the proximal end of the in-place device and tightened about it before the exchange catheter is advanced, but not tightened about the in-place device so much that the exchange catheter cannot be readily advanced over the in-place device, or that the in-place device cannot be readily withdrawn. It should go without saying that the device and procedure of Hyde et al. would not be useful for retrieving an elongated structure which have been left in a patient for any extended time, since encapsulation of the structure would prevent any such advancement of the exchange catheter along the structure. Moreover, kinks or surface defects or irregularities in the in-place device could make it difficult or impossible to achieve a desirably precise degree of tightening of the loop about the in-place device. Such surface defects or irregularities could result from minor amounts of encapsulating tissue which remain on the in-place device after severing of the in-place device from the bulk of the encapsulating tissue, or from defects or breakage of the in-place device itself.
It would be highly advantageous to have a snare-type device for removing from a patient a previously implanted elongated structure (such as a catheter, a sheath, a defibrillator lead, a pacemaker lead or the like) which had a minimal cross-sectional profile. It would also be highly advantageous to have such a device which avoided the need for rotational manipulation of the snare, before closure of the snare loop about the elongated structure, to ensure that the snare loop was in fact positioned at a location allowing it to close about the elongated structure. It would further be highly advantageous to have such a device which could be used to remove an elongated structure which had been in place in a patient for a time long enough to become somewhat encapsulated within the body lumen in which the structure was positioned.

Device for removing an elongated structure implanted in biological tissue


In a motion picture decoding system, forward and reverse reproduction is carried out smoothly at a high speed without increasing an operation speed for decoding. When high speed reproduction from a record medium containing motion picture coded data is selected, a rate of data input is controlled so that a speed for reading from the record medium to a buffer is increased. Motion picture coded data is fetched from the buffer to a demultiplexer. The fetched data is separated into picture data of frames to be decoded and picture data of frames to be abandoned at a constant frame interval. Only the picture data of the frames to be decoded is sent to a further stage where the picture data is decoded at a speed equal to that for an ordinary reproduction. Thereby, high speed reproduction in forward and reverse directions can be executed without increasing the speed of the decoding operation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a motion picture decoding system, in which is capable of reproducing and decoding motion picture coded data which is recorded in a record medium such as a compact disc and a hard disc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, since the motion picture data has a remarkably large amount of information, a record medium of which continuous transmission speed is extremely high is required for recording and reproducing the data. For example, video signals of an NTSC television system are currently recorded and reproduced in and from a so-called magnetic tape or an optical disc.
In addition to the foregoing, such means is essential that can encode video signals at a high efficiency for recording and can decode the reproduced signals at a high efficiency, in order to record the video signals in a record medium having smaller sizes and smaller information recording capacity for a long time. In order to comply with such demand, there has been proposed high efficiency coding systems utilizing correlation of the video signals, including an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) system.
In the MPEG system, the difference between the picture frames of the video signals are taken to reduce the redundancy in a time axis direction, and thereafter, orthogonal transforming means such as DCT (discrete cosine transform) is used to reduce the redundancy in a spatial axis direction. In this manner, the video signals are efficiently coded for recording the same in a predetermined record medium.
For reproduction from the record medium in which the video signals coded at a high efficiency are recorded, it is designed to reproduce the video signals by efficiently decoding the signals, e.g., through inverse orthogonal transform.
In general, for the high-speed reproduction from the record medium, in which the efficiently coded video signals are recorded, as described above, decoding is carried out at intervals of few frames, and the decoded signals are supplied at the same speed as the ordinary reproduction for achieving the high-speed reproduction.
However, for the coding by the foregoing MPEG system, the coding is carried out by predicting the motion between the frames, and there exists a frame which cannot be decoded if the decoded image of a frame in the past or future with respect to the current frame does not exist. Therefore, such an disadvantage is caused that the frames may not be freely selected for the high-speed reproduction.
In practice, the frames allowing the direct access and the decoding are intraframe coded frames (will be referred to as "intraframe" hereinafter), each of which is generally contained in ten-odd frames, and thus the reproduction of only the intraframe cannot achieve smooth high-speed reproduction.
In order to overcome the above-noted disadvantages, the high-speed reproduction may be carried out by the decoding of all the frames at the processing speed several times larger than an ordinary speed. However, the processing speed of the decoding cannot be substantially increased several times due to restriction by hardware.

Motion picture decoding system which affords smooth reproduction of recorded motion picture coded data in forward and reverse directions at high speed