An implantable medical device operates to promote intrinsic ventricular depolarization according to a pacing protocol. The medical device monitors the number of attempts made to promote intrinsic conduction in comparison with the number of successful cardiac cycles to determine an efficiency value.

While a variety of pacing modes are available, dual chamber pacing/sensing (DDD) is commonly utilized. With a DDD mode, atrial and ventricular events are both sensed. If an expected intrinsic event is not sensed within a predetermined time window, an appropriate atrial or ventricular pacing stimulus is delivered. This mode provides a great deal of control over the patient's cardiac rhythm and the timing (e.g., the atrial-ventricular or AV delay) may be modified based upon many different factors. One of the many benefits provided by the DDD mode is the ability to maintain AV synchrony. That is, for any given atrial event there will be a corresponding ventricular event, either intrinsic or paced.
Another beneficial feature is rate responsive (RR) pacing. With rate responsive pacing, a demand sensor is provided that seeks to approximate activity levels or physiological need from the patient and increase or decrease the pacing rate accordingly. For example, an accelerometer is used to sense the patient's motion. As the patient is more active, the accelerometer senses increased movement. This is recognized by the implantable medical device (IMD), which could be, for example, an implantable pulse generator (IPG) or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) with pacing capabilities, sometimes referred to as a PCD or pacemaker-cardioverter-defibrillator. In any event, the accelerometer's signal causes the IMD to pace at a higher rate. The assumption is that increased patient activity requires higher cardiac output and increasing the patient's heart rate (i.e., pacing rate) will lead to greater cardiac output. The higher the activity levels sensed, the higher the paced rate, up to a predetermined maximum rate. There are a variety of demand sensors the may be employed such as, a minute ventilation sensor, blood oxygen sensor, QT interval, chemical sensors, motion/movement sensors, or any other device that will approximate one or more demand parameters of the patient.
Typically, rate responsiveness is a positive feature that allows patients to engage in higher activity levels than would be possible with fixed rate pacing. The combination of DDD with rate response is also generally positive in that as the pacing rate is increased, the DDD mode will adjust parameters to assure proper timing throughout the cardiac cycle.
Recently, there has been a recognition that conducted or intrinsic ventricular depolarizations are vastly preferable to ventricular pacing in general and pacing in the right ventricular apex in particular. The difficulty in facilitating this preference is that in a great many patients, the intrinsic AV delay is so long that traditional DDD timing will almost always deliver a ventricular pacing pulse. In order to minimize or greatly reduce ventricular pacing, a protocol had been provided that, in one embodiment, utilizes an atrial based timing mode that allows a full cardiac cycle to elapse without ventricular activity; thus providing the greatest opportunity to safely allow intrinsic conduction whenever possible. These protocols are described in U.S. Ser. No. 10/755,454, filed Jan. 12, 2004, entitled "Preferred ADI/R: A Permanent Pacing Mode to Eliminate Ventricular Pacing While Maintaining Backup Support", which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/246,816, filed Sep. 17, 2002, entitled "Preferred ADI/R: A Permanent Pacing Mode to Eliminate Ventricular Pacing While Maintaining Backup Support", which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/746,571, filed Dec. 21, 2000, entitled "Preferred ADI/R: A Permanent Pacing Mode to Eliminate Ventricular Pacing While Maintaining Backup Support", recently granted as U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,005, all of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.
As used herein, an atrial based pacing mode is a mode that is programmed to pace in the atria, but only to sense in the ventricles. True single chamber atrial pacing would imply that only a single lead is present and ventricular activity may not be sensed from within the ventricle nor would ventricular pacing be deliverable. In the present context we discuss an IMD operating in an atrial based mode (e.g., AAI, AAIR, ADI, ADIR), but at least having ventricular sensing capabilities. Though not required, such a device would generally include ventricular pacing. However, in order to deliver ventricular pacing the device would typically mode switch to a different mode, such as DDD, DDDR, DDI, or DDIR.

System and method for determining an effectiveness of a ventricular pacing protocol for an implantable medical device


An optical signal converter and a method or controlling an amplification gain according to a rotating speed of an optical disc. An optical signal detector detects an optical signal reflected from an optical disc in a reproduction mode and converts the detected optical signal into an electrical signal. A gain control signal generator generates a gain control signal when a voltage level of a driving signal used to drive the optical disc exceeds a maximum output voltage of the optical signal converter. A gain switcher selects an amplification gain of the optical signal converter in response to the gain control signal and an external control signal. A signal amplifier amplifies a signal output from the optical signal detector in response to an output signal of the gain switcher.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical signal converter for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal, and more particularly, to an optical signal converter and a method of controlling an amplification gain according to a rotating speed of an optical disc reproducing apparatus or an optical disc reproducing and recording apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a conventional optical signal converter. Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional optical signal converter 101 includes an optical signal detector 111, a signal amplifier 121, and a gain switcher 131.
The optical signal detector 111 detects an optical signal reflected from an optical disc in a reproduction mode and converts the detected optical signal into an electrical signal.
The signal amplifier 121 amplifies a signal output from the optical signal detector 111. In this case, a rate of amplifying an optical signal is differently applied by an output of the gain switcher 131 that controls an amplification gain of the optical signal converter 101 according to a rotating speed of an optical disc. Here, the rotating speed of the optical disc is different according to types of optical discs.
Likewise, the conventional optical signal converter 101 uses a method of changing a reproduction mode into a gain mode according to types of optical discs. A speed at which data is recorded on an optical disc is gradually increased. Also, an optical power should be increased so that a data recording speed is increased.
However, even though the optical power is increased so as to record data on the optical disc at a high rotating speed, since an amplification gain of the optical signal converter 101 is fixed, an output of the conventional optical signal converter 101 is saturated.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are waveform diagrams showing input and output signals of the conventional optical signal converter 101. As shown in FIG. 2A, when the optical power is increased so as to drive the optical disc at a high rotating speed and a signal V1 reflected from the optical disc and input into the optical signal converter 101 exceeds a maximum output voltage Vmax of the optical signal converter 101, since the amplification gain of the optical signal converter 101 is fixed, an output signal Vout of the conventional optical signal converter 101 is saturated at a value Va (211) as shown in FIG. 2B, and an optical device having the optical signal converter 101 malfunctions.

Optical signal converter and method of controlling amplification gain according to rotating speed of optical disc


A cam-operated pipe puller for pulling and extracting a pipe through a conduit wherein the pipe puller has members for grasping the inner sides of the pipe and apparatus attached to the grasping members for holding the grasping members in a retained position as they are initially inserted into the pipe and for releasing and expanding the grasping members to engage the inner surface of the pipe after the grasping members are fully inserted into the pipe so as to pull and extract the pipe from and through the conduit.

Underground wells are often used as water sources especially in suburban areas to supply water taken from an underground source of water to supply water to dwelling and commercial structures located on the surface near the source of water. After the underground water source has been located, a submersible pump is inserted into the source of water so that the pump may pump water through a pipe attached to the pump to the surface. After the underground water source has been located, well digging apparatus is brought to the location to start the process of installing the pump. Typically, a hole or conduit is dug from the surface to the source of the water and is of such a diameter to receive a casing of a size sufficient to slidably receive the pump. The pump and water pipe attached thereto for transporting the water from the pump to the surface is lowered through the casing so that the pump may be submerged in the water. In operation, the pump is operated to pump water from the water source through the attached pipe to the surface for use by the dwelling and commercial structures.
A problem arises in that the pump may become inoperative and require either repair or replacement. In addition, the water pipe attached to the submersible pump may develop leaks and also require replacement. Over a period of time it becomes difficult to remove the pump and piping through the casing and it becomes necessary to dig another hole and install new casing and another pump and attached pipe.
In other applications, piping is horizontally installed in conduits so that liquids such as water may be transported from one location to another distant location. In addition, the horizontally installed piping may be conduits to receive cabling that connects one location to another. Typically, the concept of directional boring is used to drill a horizontal underground conduit that connects the one location to the distant location. The piping is then pulled through the drilled horizontal conduit from the one location to the distant location. In the pulling operation, a collar may be fitted around the outer diameter of the pipe at one location and attached to a pulling cable extending through the horizontal conduit to the distant location such that the pulling cable may be used to pull the piping or conduit through the horizontal hole. In another operation, the pulling cable may be welded to the piping to be pulled through the horizontal or slanted conduit. Problems arise with these operations in that they take time to prepare the piping and conduit for the pulling operation and it is required to bore a larger hole then is necessary to just pull the piping through the hole.
Accordingly, a need exists in the art for apparatus to remove vertical piping and attached submersible pump from underground well operations and to pull piping structures through horizontal, vertical or slanted conduits without attaching collars or to weld the pulling cable to the piping.


An audio adjustment method for an electronic device having an audio playback function includes: acquiring an interference parameter, the interference parameter characterizing an impact of an interference surface on the audio playback function of the electronic device; determining a first audio parameter that corresponds to the interference parameter; and adjusting audio playback of the electronic device according to the first audio parameter.

With the development of electronic technology, various audio playback devices have been developed. However, in existing systems, the sound quality may only be adjustable according to a manual input from a user, such as the user manually adjusting the volume of the playback. The sound quality resulted from the adjustment may be unsatisfactory in certain scenarios.

Audio adjustment method and electronic device thereof


An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge including a developing roller and movable between a contact position and a spaced position, a first spacing member configured to move the developing cartridge between the contact position and the spaced position, a first cam configured to move the first spacing member, and a lock member movable between a lock position at which the photoconductive drum is locked to the housing and a lock releasing position at which the lock of the photoconductive drum with respect to the housing is released. The lock member is configured to move from the lock releasing position to the lock position by being pushed by the first spacing member.

The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus.
There have been known an image forming apparatus includes, a housing, a drum cartridge having a photoconductive drum, a developing cartridge having a developing roller, a spacing member, a lock member, a link member, and a cam. The developing cartridge is movable between a contact position at which the developing roller contacts the photoconductive drum and a spaced position at which the developing roller is spaced apart from the photoconductive drum. The spacing member moves the developing cartridge between the contact position and the spaced position. The lock member is movable between a lock position at which the photoconductive drum is locked to the housing and a lock releasing position at which the lock of the photoconductive drum with respect to the housing is released.
The lock member and the link member are located on the opposite side of the spacing member with respect to the photoconductive drum. The spacing member moves by being pushed by the cam, and moves the developing cartridge between the contact position and the spaced position. The link member moves by being pushed by the cam, and moves the lock member between the lock position and the lock releasing position.

Image forming apparatus including developing cartridge


Providing a retrofocus lens system and an image-taking device having small variation in aberrations upon focusing on a close object with a high imaging magnification. The retrofocus lens system includes, in order from an object, a first lens group G1 having negative refractive power, a second lens group G2 having negative refractive power, and a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power. Upon focusing from infinity to a close object, the first lens group G1, the second lens group G2, and the third lens group G3 are moved to the object such that a distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 increases, and a distance between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 decreases.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a retrofocus lens system suitable for a single-lens reflex camera and a digital camera, and an image-taking device.
2. Related Background Art
Focusing of an imaging lens is generally carried out by extending the whole lens system to an object side. However, when this focusing method is applied to a retrofocus type wide-angle lens, since variation in spherical aberration and astigmatism is large upon focusing on a close object, there happens to be a problem that good optical performance cannot be obtained. Accordingly, in order to preferably suppress variation in aberration upon focusing on a close object, there has been proposed a retrofocus lens system applying a floating method in such as Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-181852.
The lens system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-181852 is composed of, in order from an object, a first lens group having negative refractive power, a second lens group having positive refractive power, and a third lens group having positive refractive power. Upon focusing on a close object, the first lens group is fixed, a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group increases, and a distance between the second lens group and the third lens group decreases
However, since the second lens group has positive refractive power, distortion is generated excessively upon focusing to cause a problem. Moreover, since the first lens group is fixed upon focusing, sufficient correction of aberrations upon focusing on a close object cannot be carried out to cause another problem.

Retrofocus lens system and image-taking device


A circuit breaker having a positive-off stop feature includes an operating lever rotatably coupled to a side frame, a tension lever coupled to the side frame, and an upper toggle linkage and a stop link each rotatably coupled to the tension lever. The upper toggle linkage may be configured to rotate the stop link. The operating lever may be configured to move rotatably to and from an ON position and an OFF position provided the main contacts of the circuit breaker are not welded or otherwise stuck together. Should the main contacts become welded or otherwise stuck together, the upper toggle linkage may be configured to rotate the stop link to a position wherein the stop link may be configured to prevent the operating lever from moving into the OFF position. Methods of assembling a circuit breaker positive-off stop feature are also provided, as are other aspects.

Circuit breakers may be used to protect an electrical circuit coupled to an electrical power supply. Circuit breakers may automatically interrupt power to the electrical circuit when, e.g., an overcurrent (i.e., excessive current) is detected. An overcurrent may result from, e.g., a short circuit, an overload, or a ground fault. The automatic interruption of power may prevent electrical shock hazards and/or damage to electrical equipment and surrounding infrastructure. Circuit breakers may also be manually operated to connect and disconnect power to an electrical circuit by moving an operating handle mounted on the housing of the circuit breaker. The operating handle typically has three positions: ON, OFF, and TRIPPED. The ON position typically indicates that the main contacts of the circuit breaker are closed (i.e., in contact with each other), which connects power to the electrical circuit. The OFF position typically indicates that the main contacts have been opened manually via the operating handle to disconnect power from the electrical circuit. And the TRIPPED position typically indicates that the main contacts have been opened automatically by a tripping mechanism of the circuit breaker in response to detection of an overcurrent to also disconnect power from the electrical circuit.
Under some abnormal operating conditions, the main contacts may become welded, fused, or otherwise stuck together. For example, a high in-rush current and/or a partial failure and/or delay of the tripping mechanism may cause the main contacts to overheat to a point where they may fuse or weld together upon contact. Such a condition may go undetected. Consequently, a subsequent movement of the operating handle into the OFF position, which may not result in the stuck main contacts opening, may erroneously and dangerously indicate that power is disconnected from an electrical circuit when, in fact, power remains connected.
Accordingly, there is a need for apparatus and methods that prevent an operating handle of a circuit breaker from being moved into an OFF position after the main contacts of the circuit breaker have become stuck together. Such apparatus and methods may be referred to as "positive-off stop" apparatus and methods.

Apparatus and methods for a circuit breaker positive-off stop feature


A transmission control apparatus is used with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a transmission connected to the engine and having a plurality of gear positions, and a generator which is disposed between the transmission and drive wheels and which is capable of generating electric power through regenerative braking during deceleration of the vehicle. The control apparatus operates to detect a revolution speed of the internal combustion engine, and to place the transmission in a highest gear position selected from one or more gear positions that enable the engine revolution speed to be maintained at a level not lower than a predetermined lower limit above which the engine can operate by itself (i.e., re-start), when the generator generates electric power through regenerative braking.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-082762 filed on Mar. 23, 2000 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to an apparatus for controlling a transmission of a vehicle such as, for example, an automotive vehicle, and more particularly to an apparatus for controlling a transmission having a plurality of gear ratios provided in a vehicle that also includes an internal combustion engine and an electric generator which is disposed downstream of the transmission and which is capable of effecting regenerative braking so as to convert the energy of the braking into electric energy (that can be stored in a battery). The apparatus may assure smooth running of the internal combustion engine as well as efficient conversion of the regenerative braking energy into the electric energy.
2. Description of Related Art
A motor vehicle of the type powered by an internal combustion engine (gasoline engine or diesel engine) is usually equipped with a battery for power supply to energize various electronic components. This battery is charged by an electric generator (alternator) provided on the vehicle. In recent years, development and marketing of a hybrid vehicle (HV) equipped with a hybrid power train system have been in progress, in an effort to protect the environment and to improve the fuel economy of the vehicle. The hybrid power train system employs a combination of two different types of drive power sources such as a combination of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor (commonly referred to as xe2x80x9cmotor/generatorxe2x80x9d and abbreviated as xe2x80x9cMGxe2x80x9d). In the hybrid power train system, the internal combustion engine and the electric motor are selectively used depending upon a specific running condition of the vehicle. The hybrid power train system permits highly smooth and highly responsive control of the vehicle drive power, while making a good use of different characteristics of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, with their disadvantageous aspects being compensated for by each other. Such a hybrid vehicle is also equipped with a battery for operating the MG as an electric motor. This battery is charged with an electric energy generated by the MG operated as an electric generator. More specifically, the electric generator is driven by a drive force produced by the internal combustion engine, or by a kinetic energy of the vehicle under deceleration, which kinetic energy is utilized by the electric generator for regenerative braking.
The regenerative braking with the electric generator (MG) takes place during deceleration of the vehicle, so as to convert the kinetic energy of the vehicle into an electric energy to be stored in the battery. The energy conversion efficiency is maximum if the entire amount of the kinetic energy of the vehicle can be converted into the electric energy. In this respect, the drive shaft connected to the drive wheels of the vehicle and the MG (electric generator) are connected to the engine through at least a transmission. Accordingly, the kinetic energy of the vehicle during deceleration is partly consumed by an action of the engine so-called xe2x80x9cmotoringxe2x80x9d, which creates a drag on the power train. The motoring of the engine results in an energy loss due to friction (engine friction being proportional to the square of the engine speed), so that the amount of the kinetic energy available for consumption by the electric generator is made smaller than the entire amount of the kinetic energy, and the amount of electric power that can be generated by the electric generator is accordingly reduced.
In order to increase the amount of electric power that can be generated during regenerative braking with the electric generator, there is known a method in which a clutch disposed between the drive shaft and the engine is released upon regenerative braking, so as to prevent the motoring of the engine, thereby avoiding an otherwise possible loss of the kinetic energy. With this method, the amount of the kinetic energy of the drive shaft that can be used by the electric generator may be increased to improve the regenerative braking efficiency. There is known another method in which the transmission having a plurality of gear positions (speed positions) that provide respective different gear ratios or speed ratios is automatically shifted up to the highest-gear position or highest-speed position (e.g., fifth-gear or sixth-gear position) upon regenerative braking, to lower the revolution speed of the engine connected to the transmission through the drive shaft, for reducing the engine friction and the resulting energy loss, to improve the regenerative braking efficiency. It is noted that the highest-gear position is defined as the position having the highest ratio of the output speed of the transmission to the input speed of the transmission. JP-A-8-251708 discloses a technique relating to the latter method. According to this technique, the shifting action of the transmission is controlled to select the appropriate gear ratio that enables the electric generator to operate in an optimum condition with the highest efficiency.
However, the method of releasing the clutch to disconnect the engine from the electric generator suffers from a speed reduction of the engine down to its idling speed or stalling of the engine. Therefore, this method requires a rise of the engine speed and an engaging action of the clutch, upon subsequent transition of the vehicle running state from the decelerating state into an accelerating state. These requirements cause a delay of the vehicle accelerating action with respect to an operation of the accelerator pedal (i.e., a poor response of the power train to an increase in the operating amount of the accelerator pedal), and prevent smooth acceleration of the vehicle, unexpectedly to the vehicle driver. On the other hand, the method of shifting the transmission up to the selected high-gear position or high-speed position may cause the engine speed (rotating speed of the drive shaft multiplied by the gear ratio of the transmission) to be lowered below a certain lower limit while the vehicle running speed is lowered during the deceleration. In this event, it is difficult to re-start (re-fire) the engine because its speed is lower than the lower limit. Further, the deceleration (or stopping) of the vehicle with the transmission placed in its highest-gear position when the vehicle is required to be shifted down toward the lowest-gear position requires the transmission to be accelerated again (to be re-started or launched). Thus, this method also suffers from a delay of the vehicle acceleration with respect to the accelerator pedal operation (i.e., a poor response of the power train to the accelerator pedal operation), preventing smooth acceleration of the vehicle, unexpectedly to the vehicle driver.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for controlling a transmission provided in an automotive vehicle that includes an electric generator which is disposed downstream of the transmission and which is capable of effecting regenerative braking during a decelerating phase of the vehicle, which apparatus is arranged to assure smooth transition of the vehicle running state from the decelerating phase to an accelerating phase by re-starting of an internal combustion engine, as well as efficient conversion of the regenerative braking energy into electric energy.
The above and/or other objects may be achieved according to one aspect of the invention, which provides a transmission control apparatus of a vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, a transmission connected to the internal combustion engine and having a plurality of gear positions with respective gear ratios, and a generator disposed between the transmission and drive wheels, which generator is capable of generating electric power through regenerative braking during deceleration of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a detector that detects a revolution speed of the internal combustion engine, and a shift controller that places the transmission in a highest gear position selected from one or more gear positions that enable the engine revolution speed to be maintained at a level that is not lower than a predetermined lower limit above which the engine can operate by itself (i.e., be re-started), when the generator generates electric power through regenerative braking.
According to the apparatus of this aspect of the invention, the transmission is automatically shifted, upon deceleration of the vehicle, to a highest gear position selected from one or more gear positions which enables the internal combustion engine to maintain its speed at a level not lower than a predetermined lower limit above which the engine can operate by itself. This arrangement not only enables the internal combustion engine to run at a speed not lower than the predetermined lower limit, but also permits the revolution speed of the internal combustion engine to be kept close to the predetermined lower limit, due to the automatic up-shift action of the transmission. Thus, the instant arrangement makes it possible to reduce the friction of the internal combustion engine and minimize the energy loss during the regenerative braking, resulting in an increase in the regenerative braking efficiency. Further, since the revolution speed of the internal combustion engine is kept high enough to enable the engine to be re-started, the transition of the running state of the vehicle from the decelerating phase to the accelerating phase (starting phase) can be smoothly effected with a high degree of response, as desired by the vehicle driver, without the conventionally required operations to control the power train, such as an engaging action of the clutch, an increase of the engine speed, and a down-shift action of the transmission.
In one preferred aspect of the invention, the shift controller determines whether the revolution speed of the engine is higher than the predetermined lower limit, and shifts down the transmission by one gear position when the revolution speed of the engine is not higher than the predetermined lower limit.
In another preferred aspect of the invention, the vehicle further includes a clutch disposed between the transmission and the engine, and the shift controller operates to release the clutch so as to disconnect the internal combustion engine and the transmission from each other, when the selected highest gear position is the lowest one of the plurality of gear positions of the transmission.
In the above aspect of the invention, the disconnection of the internal combustion engine from the transmission eliminates the friction of the internal combustion engine, and reduces the energy loss, permitting efficient regenerative braking with a kinetic energy transferred from the vehicle drive wheels. In addition, the transmission is shifted down to its lowest gear position before the internal combustion engine is connected again to the transmission, so that the vehicle can be smoothly accelerated (or started), without the conventionally effected down-shift action of the transmission from the highest-gear position.


Substrates are aligned and then bonded to each other. A substrate bonding apparatus includes a deformer that deforms at least a first one of two substrates that are to be bonded to each other in order to correct misalignment between the two substrates, a holder that holds the deformed first substrate in the deformed state achieved by the deformer, a transporter that transports the holder from a position at which the deformed first substrate is held by the holder while the first substrate remains deformed, and a bonder that bonds the first substrate that has been transported by the transporter to the second substrate. In the above-described substrate bonding apparatus, while the first substrate is not held by the holder, the deformer may deform the holder from a first state to a second state that is more deformed than the first state, and while the first substrate is held by the holder, the deformer may reduce the amount of the deformation of the holder to less than the amount of the deformation of the second state to deform the first substrate.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a substrate bonding apparatus, a substrate holding apparatus, a substrate bonding method, a substrate holding method, a multilayered semiconductor device and a multilayered substrate.
2. Related Art
A known multilayered semiconductor device is provided by stacking and bonding a plurality of substrates onto each other (see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-251972). To bond a plurality of substrates together, the substrates are aligned to each other with high accuracy on the order of the line width of semiconductor devices.
Referring to semiconductor device manufacturing process, parameters such as the magnification ratios of patterns transferred from masks and substrate flatness may be different globally or locally on substrates. Therefore, substrates to be bonded together cannot be aligned to each other simply by moving them relative to each other.

Substrate bonding apparatus, substrate holding apparatus, substrate bonding method, substrate holding method, multilayered semiconductor device, and multilayered substrate


An operating system shell provides on a display screen a graphical user interface through which a user interacts with the operating system. The operating system shell provides a background noisy display rendered on the display screen in accordance with a background physical lighting model, and an ambient notification rendered over at least a portion of the background noisy display to provide a user notification. The ambient notification is rendered in accordance with an ambient notification physical lighting model that is different from the background physical lighting model.

It is now common for operating systems to have a shell that provides a graphical user interface (GUI). The shell is a piece of software (either a separate program or component part of the operating system) that provides direct communication between the user and the operating system. The graphical user interface typically provides a graphical icon-oriented and/or menu driven environment for the user to interact with the operating system.
The graphical user interface of many operating system shells is based on a desktop metaphor that creates a graphical environment simulating work at a desk. These graphical user interfaces typically employ a windowing environment with the desktop.
The windowing environment presents the user with specially delineated areas of the screen called windows, each of which is dedicated to a particular application program, file or document. Each window can act independently, as if it were a virtual display device under control of its particular application program. Windows can typically be resized, moved around the display, and stacked so as to overlay another. In some windowing environments, windows can be minimized to an icon or increased to a full-screen display.
Windows may be rendered beside each other or may have a top to bottom order in which they are displayed, with top windows at a particular location on the screen overlaying any other window at that same location according to a z-order (an order of the windows along a conceptual z-axis normal to the desktop or display screen). The top-most window has the "focus" and accepts the user's input. The user can switch other windows to the top (and thereby change the z-order) by clicking on the window with a mouse or other pointer device, or by inputting certain key combinations. This allows the user to work with multiple application programs, files and documents in a manner similar to physically working with multiple paper documents and items that can be arbitrarily stacked or arranged on an actual desk.
In conventional graphical user interfaces all major graphical user interface objects (e.g., windows, icons, toolbar, etc.) are typically rendered as fixed, static graphical objects. Changes in the user interface that arise when a system notification is provided to a user are typically rendered as a fixed, static change to the user interface. The intent is that the notification attract the user's attention from another ongoing task or operation. For example, a conventional static user notification could include a notification window that pops-up on a user display screen (e.g., to notify a user of new email), or a change in color of a display object (e.g., the name of a friend in a list of messaging chat buddies indicating the a user has signed on or off), etc.
As part of a psychological phenomenon known as the "just noticeable difference", or JND, human visual perception is highly sensitive to change. JND is the amount of change in a perceptual signal (such as a change in the pitch or volume of a sound or the color or intensity of light) that is conspicuous to a person's consciousness. An aspect of the optical characteristics of conventional graphical user interfaces is that the display changes that are used to provide user notifications are highly distracting to users. The reason is that the display changes that occur with notifications occur in the context of static displays with virtually no display variation. Such dramatic user notifications may be warranted for important system notifications. However, dramatic user notifications of ordinary system events can be highly distracting and disruptive for users who have multiple applications operating concurrently.
Accordingly, the present invention includes a software application or an operating system shell that provides on a display screen a graphical user interface through which a user interacts with computer software (e.g., the operating system). In one implementation, an operating system shell provides a background noisy display rendered on the display screen in accordance with a background physical lighting model, and an ambient notification rendered over at least a portion of the background noisy display to provide a user notification. The ambient notification is rendered in accordance with an ambient notification physical lighting model that is different from the background physical lighting model.
In one implementation the background physical lighting model and the ambient notification physical lighting each are based upon a noisy user interface object data structure that includes desktop element models, desktop element texture maps, and a lighting model. The desktop element models provide three-dimensional representations of plural noisy graphical user interface desktop objects (e.g., windows, icons, toolbar, etc.).
One or more desktop element texture maps are associated with each desktop element model, the desktop element texture maps including at least image color information for each desktop element model. The lighting model has one or more light source representations that each include a light color, light intensity, and light direction, for example. A three-dimensional rendering engine provides three-dimensional rendering on a display screen of noisy graphical user interface desktop objects based upon the desktop element models, the desktop element texture maps, and the lighting model.
The background noisy display may be implemented by rendering user interface objects and lighting effects between them with the three-dimensional rendering engine based at least upon the desktop element models and the lighting model. Three-dimensional or physical lighting interactions between the user interface objects can provide a background noisy display to which users can acclimate and on which ambient notifications can be applied. Ambient notifications can be of perceptual amplitudes that are great than or less than the "just noticeable difference" (JND) change in a perceptual signal.
The ambient notification can provide notification information to a user without having to bring to the front of other active user interface objects (e.g., windows) a notification or a window with notification, or otherwise alter the screen layout in a distracting fashion. The ambient notification may be implemented as optical or visual effects, such as inter-object lighting, shadows, or surface effects, for example, to provide notification information. As a result, the user can readily perceive ambient notifications without the disruptions of conventional static system notifications.
Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A system and method of computer-aided detection (CAD or CADe) of medical images that utilizes persistence between images of a sequence to identify regions of interest detected with low interference from artifacts to reduce false positives and improve probability of detection of true lesions, thereby providing improved performance over static CADe methods for automatic ROI lesion detection.

Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD), sometimes referred to as CADe or CADx, is used in the diagnosis of abnormal brain, breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, bone metastases, coronary artery disease, congenital heart defect, and Alzheimer's disease. Conventional systems are used to detect lesions in a single image. These systems require the extraction of features which characterize the boundary shape of the lesion (morphology features) and the homogeneity of the grey level within the lesion (texture features). The variation in size, shape, orientation, as well as ill-defined or diffused boundaries of lesions and background noise makes it difficult to detect a true lesion from other ultrasound artifacts found in the body.
Ultrasound medical imaging systems must address numerous artifacts which can make the detection of lesions more difficult. Generally ultrasound artifacts can cause false detections and sometimes mask true detections of lesions. Common artifacts encountered in ultrasound imaging include: anisotropy, reverberation, acoustic shadowing, acoustic enhancement, edge shadowing, beam width artifact, slice thickness artifact, side lobe artifact, mirror image, double image, equipment-generated artifact, and refraction artifact.
Anisotropy is the effect that makes a tendon appear bright when it runs at 90 degrees to the ultrasound beam, but dark when the angle is changed. The reason for this is that at particularly smooth boundaries, the angle of reflection and incidence are the same, just as they are with a conventional mirror. Reverberation is the production of false echoes due to repeated reflections between two interfaces with high acoustic impedance mismatch. Acoustic shadowing on an ultrasound image is characterized by a signal void behind structures that strongly absorb or reflect ultrasonic waves. Acoustic enhancement, also called posterior enhancement or enhanced through transmission, refers to the increased echoes deep to structures that transmit sound exceptionally well. Ultrasound beam width artifact occurs when a reflective object located beyond the widened ultrasound beam, after the focal zone, creates false detectable echoes that are displayed as overlapping the structure of interest. Slice thickness artifacts are due to the thickness of the beam and are similar to beam width artifacts. Side lobe artefacts occur where side lobes reflect sound from strong reflector that is outside of the central beam, and where the echoes are displayed as if they originated from within the central beam. Mirror image artifact in ultrasonography is seen when there is a highly reflective surface in the path of the primary beam. Double image artifact is due to refraction of a region like a muscle which acts as a lens which generates a second image of a reflector. Equipment-generated artifacts due to incorrect settings can lead to artifacts occurring. Refraction artifacts are due to sound direction changes due to passing from one medium to another.
It is with these observations in mind, among others, that various aspects of the present inventive concept were conceived and developed.

Method and system of computer-aided detection using multiple images from different views of a region of interest to improve detection accuracy


A flow cytometer is provided which includes an interrogation flow cell and a plurality of assay fluidic lines extending into the interrogation flow cell. A method of operating such a flow cytometer includes priming the interrogation flow cell with a sheath fluid and injecting different assay fluids into a flow of the sheath fluid through the plurality of fluidic lines. A fluidic line assembly is provided which includes a plurality of capillary tubes coupled to a base section configured for coupling to an interrogation flow cell assembly of a flow cytometer. The capillary tubes are dimensionally configured such that when the fluidic line assembly is arranged within the flow cytometer and fluid is dispensed from one or more of the capillary tubes at a given pressure differential with respect to an encompassing sheath fluid within the interrogation flow cell the fluid is substantially centrally aligned within the interrogation flow cell.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to fluid flow devices and, more specifically, to the use of multiple sample injection needles in a flow cytometer.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following descriptions and examples are not admitted to be prior art by virtue of their inclusion within this section.
Spectroscopic techniques are widely employed in the analysis of chemical and biological systems. Most often, these techniques involve measuring the absorption or emission of electromagnetic radiation by the material of interest. One such application is in the field of microarrays, which is a technology exploited by a large number of disciplines including the combinatorial chemistry and biological assay industries. Luminex Corporation of Austin, Tex., has developed a system in which biological assays are performed on the surface of variously colored fluorescent microspheres. Contemporary flow cytometers using these microspheres can test for tens to over one hundred different analytes in a biological sample and future increases are probable. While the ability to test for large numbers of analytes has improved, the fluid handling of a sample for examination has surfaced as an impediment to productivity.
In a typical flow cytometer, a sample is aspirated into the flow cytometer using a positive displacement pump and a network of tubing and valves. The sample is then injected through a sample injection needle into an interrogation flow cell (e.g., cuvette) which hydrodynamically focuses the sample via a sheath fluid. This focusing technique serves to separate particles for individual interrogation and confines the particles to a known location in the flow cell. In many cases, the sample injection needle is centrally positioned within the interrogation flow cell such that a sample may be introduced and focused within a central portion of an encompassing sheath fluid. Such a configuration has generally limited flow cytometers to have only one sample injection needle within the interrogation flow cell as multiple injection needles would constitute at least some of the needles to be off center, hindering the focus of fluid dispensed therefrom. As a consequence, throughput of flow cytometers is generally limited. In addition, a single injection needle configuration requires assays to be fully prepared prior to being injected into an interrogation flow cell, increasing time and money for analyzing a sample and further limiting the application of the flow cytometers to fully prepared assays.

Flow cytometer and fluidic line assembly with multiple injection needles


A field emission array which does not contain any organic material is manufactured by separately preparing nanostructures whose one ends were coated and then adhering the coated ends of the nanostructures to a metal electrode layer formed on a substrate.

Nanostructures such as carbon nanofibers, cabon nanotubes, carbon nanohorns and nanowires containing Si, Ge, an alloy of III and V-group elements (e.g., GaAs, GaP, InAs/P) or an alloy of II and VI-group elements (e.g., ZnS, ZnSe, CdS, CdSe) have good mechanical strength, heat- and electro-conductivity and chemical stability, suitable for various industrial applications.
In particular, when used as an emission source of a field emission array in an electronic device, the nanostructure is capable of increasing the work function and lowering the driving voltage due to its high aspect ratio (=length/diameter), as compared to a conventional field emission source such as an Mo tip (see FIG. 1). Such a field emission array comprising a nanostructure field emission source can be prepared by directly growing nanostructures on a patterned electrode layer formed on a supporting plate using a chemical vapor deposition, as disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 2001-91389. However, the method is not suitable for the preparation of a field emission array having a large area.
In order to overcome the above problem, there has been reported a method of preparing a field emission array by screen printing on a patterned electrode layer formed on a supporting substrate a paste or slurry composition comprising carbon nanostructures in combination with an organic binder and an organic dispersing agent (Korean Patent Publication Nos. 2000-61757 and 2000-20870). A schematic diagram of a field emission array prepared by this method, which comprises a substrate/electrode layer (10) and a layer of nanostructures (30) fixed thereto by a paste medium (20), is shown in FIG. 2.
Such a screen printing method makes a preparation of a large-area field emission array possible, but has a problem in that organic materials remaining in the nanostructure layer generate undesired gases under an evacuated condition, lowering the display efficiency.
For the purpose of solving this problem, there have been reported a method of further adding into the paste or slurry composition a heat-decomposition accelerator to heat-decompose organic materials (Korean Patent Publication No. 2001-109538) and a method of applying a voltage to a mixed solution of a polymer precursor and a carbon nanostructure to carry out in situ electrochemical polymerization (Korean Patent Publication No. 2001-17543). However, these methods cannot completely eradicate the problem associated with using an organic material.

Preparation of field emission array comprising nanostructures


A cappuccino attachment for an espresso machine, the attachment comprising an upper frother body having a threaded upper opening, a threaded lower opening, and an aperture formed adjacent the upper opening; an extension having a first end coupled with the upper frother body, and a second end opposite the first end, a first aperture formed within the second end, a second aperture formed through the extension; an internal passage providing a fluid interconnection between the upper opening, the lower opening, the first aperture, and the second aperture, the passage being threaded adjacent the lower opening; an air intake adjustment mechanism having a cylindrical member with a hollow interior, the cylindrical member having a first end connected with the second end of the extension, the air intake adjustment mechanism operatively engaged with the hollow interior of the cylindrical member and functioning to control the amount of air passing into the internal passage; a hollow frothing tunnel having a threaded upper opening adapted to be connected with the threads of the passage adjacent the lower opening of the upper frother body, the frothing tunnel functioning a aerate passing fluids; a lower frother body having a threaded upper opening and a lower aperture, the threaded upper opening of the lower frother body adapted to be connected to the threaded lower opening of the upper frother body; and a steam valve attachment assembly adapted to couple the upper frother body with a steam valve assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cappuccino attachment for an espresso machine and more particularly pertains to an attachment for combining steam, milk, and air to produce aerated milk.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of frothing devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, devices for frothing milk are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,042 discloses a device for frothing and heating milk for beverages. The device includes a steam outlet tube and a milk intake tube.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,810 discloses an automatic device for obtaining frothy milk. The device includes a milk feeding duct and a nozzle for pressurized steam.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,133 discloses a milk heating and emulsifying device for the preparation of cappuccino. The device includes a passageway for admitting sucked-in air and one passageway for milk.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,824 discloses a cappuccino making adapted for use with a coffee maker. The adapter includes a first inlet for the discharge end of a steam-supplying conduit and a second inlet for the discharge end of an air supplying device.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,474 discloses an espresso machine with a cappuccino making attachment. The espresso machine includes a steam supplying first conduit and a second conduit having an air admitting inlet.
While these frothing devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a cappuccino attachment device with an air intake adjustment mechanism. Furthermore, the aforementioned patents do not describe a cappuccino attachment device with a steam valve attachment assembly. Additionally, the aforementioned patents do not describe such a cappuccino attachment device which is constructed solely from metal.
In this respect, the cappuccino attachment device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an attachment device with an integral air intake adjustment mechanism and steam valve attachment assembly.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved cappuccino attachment for an espresso machine which can be used for the convenient and reliable making of cappuccino. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

Cappuccino attachment for an espresso machine


Method and means for porting an existing application (An) using a relational-database with SQL interface toward a hardware platform (HW2) with a reduced software configuration which does not include an SQL relational-database. The invention emulates an SQL database enabling hardware resources saving and providing a subset of functions for: creating SQL tables and defining fields; storing, modifying and deleting data on created tables, with a type check, retrieving such data by using SQL filters. Functions can be subdivided into levels (M1, M2, M3) in order to: convert an SQL statement, coming from an existing user application (An), into a sequence of elementary interface functions (IF1 . . . IFn), use said interface functions to read/write data files (F1 . . . Fn), process output data to be supplied to the requesting user application (An).

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method of providing a subset of SQL (Structured Query Language) relational-database functions to existing applications.
2. Discussion of Related Art
There still exist a variety of commercially available databases with SQL interface, providing an exhaustive set of functions, but they are highly hardware resource consuming.
As a result, computer programs written for one computer with a software platform including a commercial SQL relational-database are frequently unsuitable for use with computers having a reduced hardware configuration.
In the past many existing applications had to be rewritten in order to enable them to interface with a proprietary database resident on that equipment.
Furthermore proprietary databases are usually equipment dependent and cannot be used for the same or other applications on other equipment.
One of the major problems that application developers are faced with when porting existing applications, developed on a different hardware and software platforms and using an SQL relational-database, toward equipment with reduced hardware configuration, for example communication servers, other network apparatus etc., is the need to rewrite part of the applications in order to enable them to interface with a proprietary database resident on that equipment, otherwise the applications could not be used or must be rewritten completely. Sometimes the destination equipment has a reduced availability of hardware resources because of the installation of other resource consuming applications (e.g., communication software like ISO/OSI stack protocols, TCP/IP and others) and since commercial SQL relational-databases are highly hardware resources consuming it could be desirable to avoid installing it, for example in the case of the porting of an application toward one or more communication servers.
It will be recognized that an SQL database running on any equipment with any configuration is essential in order to allow an existing application using an SQL database to be ported toward an equipment and to function correctly, when a commercial database has not been installed.


A system for distributing seeds is configured to be transported by an agricultural vehicle along a direction of travel. The system includes a main frame extending along the direction of travel, a first wing frame extending from a first side of the main frame in a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel, and a second wing frame extending from a second side of the main frame in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel. The system further includes at least one row unit arranged on the first side of the main frame and supported by the first wing frame, at least one row unit arranged on the second side of the main frame and supported by the second wing frame, a first seed reservoir arranged on the first side of the main frame, and a second seed reservoir arranged on the second side of the main frame. A first seed delivery hose assembly system connects the first seed reservoir to the at least one row unit arranged on the second side of the main frame, and a second seed delivery hose assembly system connects the second seed reservoir to the at least one row unit arranged on the first side of the main frame.

Agricultural implements, such as seed distribution machines towed by tractors, are often employed to distribute materials such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, other chemicals, and other materials along the ground as they travel. Commonly, slurry of a given material is separated into finely-granulated particles and then distributed in a highly controlled manner (e.g., one particle at a time) by one or more meters that are positioned at different locations along the implement.
Seed distribution machines generally include a laterally extending toolbar that supports a plurality of parallel planting units (also known as row units). The toolbar is typically coupled to a tractor or like vehicle through a frame suitable for towing the planting assembly along a field. Each row unit includes a seed meter to dispense seeds at a controlled rate into a seed furrow as the meter is advanced above and along the seed furrow during operation. One such seed metering assembly is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,638 assigned to Case Corp., Racine, Wis., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference for the purpose of general background information. Generally, seeds are delivered to the metering assembly from a seed reservoir located on the row unit or, alternatively, from a smaller container fed from a large centralized reservoir used to feed all or a portion of the row units.
Air pressure differential seed meters, which are commonly known as air seed meters, are generally of two types, the first being a positive pressure type meter, and the second relying upon negative pressure or a vacuum. A positive pressure air seed metering mechanism includes rotating disc defining apertures extending therethrough that are sized to retain one or more seeds to be planted. The metering mechanism is connected to an air pump that blows air into the seed chamber and onto the surface of the disc. The high pressure caused by the air pump creates a high pressure in the chamber that forces seeds from a seed mass into the apertures where they are retained for subsequent release into the seed furrow as the seed member rotates. Vacuum seed meters typically include a vacuum source coupled to a separate chamber on the opposite side of the seed disc from the seed mass in the metering assembly. The vacuum pressure communicates through the disc apertures, and is sufficiently strong to draw the seed mass into the seed disc apertures. The seeds are held in the apertures until the disc rotates the seeds to the seed discharge area of the metering mechanism.
Some seeding machines have pneumatic, seed-on-demand, delivery systems in which the row unit seed reservoirs are automatically refilled with seed as needed from a main reservoir. Pneumatic, seed-on-demand, delivery systems automatically direct seed from a main seed reservoir to a plurality of individual row units. Each of the individual row units has an auxiliary seed reservoir for receiving the seed, a seed meter for metering the seed from the auxiliary seed reservoir, and a furrow opener into which the metered seed is deposited. A fan is used to create pressurized air that forms an air stream on which the seed is carried to the row units. These systems automatically replenish the auxiliary reservoirs as needed.
Pneumatic, seed-on-demand, seeding machines and other systems employ two large central seed reservoirs: one located on each side of the main frame. In these seeding machines the left seed reservoir supplies seed to all of the row units on the left side of the seeding machine, while the right seed reservoir supplies seed to all of the row units on the right side of the seeding machine. To this end, seeding systems employing centralized reservoirs require a large number of hoses to transport the seeds from the central seed reservoirs to the individual row units. This configuration of the seed distribution machines requires the seed delivery hoses to take sharp turns of up to 180 degrees, which inhibits the seed flow. These sharp turns create inefficiencies, add resistance to the seed flow, require extra supports to contain the hoses, and greatly reduce the cosmetic appearance of the machine.
In many cases, these systems have advantageously been designed to collapse into a position providing a reduced profile to facilitate transport between seeding operations, for example, over a road. Such systems typically include a small toolbar that is supplemented by a pair of wings that extend beyond the toolbar to provide the desired span across which the row units are arranged. These wings are typically connected to the frame or toolbar through a pivot and can be rotated to collapse the wings against the frame to provide the reduced profile. However, to provide for a full range of wing motion between the extended and collapsed positions, the hoses must have a large amount of excess length.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a system and method for seed delivery that does not require the hoses to take sharp turns. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to have a system and method for an adjustable seed delivery system that does not require a significant amount of excess hose length to facilitate a full range of motion.

Crisscross seed distribution system and method


A data transition minimization method includes exclusive-NORing inputted nth image data (where n is a natural number) and (n−m)th image data (where m is a natural number smaller than n) expressing the same color as that of the nth image data to generate transition information data; generating inversion data indicative of inversion information by inverting all bits included in the transition information data and adding a unit bit having the logic value ‘1’ to the inverted transition information data when the number of unit bits having a logic value ‘1’ in the transition information data is larger than the number of unit bits having a logic value ‘0’ in the transition information data, and adding a unit bit having the logic value ‘0’ to the transition information data when the number of unit bits having the logic value ‘1’ in the transition information data is equal to or smaller than the number of unit bits having the logic value ‘0’ in the transition information data; exclusive-NORing the transition information data with the inversion data added and corrected image data of (n−1)th image data to generate corrected image data of the nth image data, and supplying the generated corrected image data to a data driver through data transmission lines; and restoring the corrected image data supplied to the data driver to restored image data corresponding to the original nth image data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for minimizing a data transition, and more particularly, to a data transition minimization method and a data transition minimization circuit which can minimize a transition between data having different color information.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A conventional data transition minimization method is adapted to perform a comparison between two data which are outputted adjacent to each other in time and determine based on the comparison result whether to invert data to be currently outputted.
However, in the case where the conventional method is applied to a display device which consecutively outputs data having different color information, little transition reduction effect can be seen.

Method for minimizing data transition and circuit for minimizing data transition


A method for coordinating interaction between one or more computing devices for users participating in an interactive activity is provided. A reference point is identified on a physical surface via a primary computing device. The primary computing device may include a mobile computing device. The physical surface is utilized to render an interactive activity for one or more users. The reference point is communicated to one or more secondary computing devices, via the primary computing device. An interaction between the primary computing device and the secondary computing devices is coordinated utilizing the reference point. A user perspective image of the interactive game relative to the reference point is rendered on the physical surface via the primary computing device and the secondary computing devices to the users.

Mobile computing devices such as personal desktop assistants, personal digital assistants, mobile phones, hand-held and pocket-sized computers and tablet personal computers provide users with a platform to access and exchange information. Mobile computing devices are compact, easy to transport and provide a host of features and services, such as communications, information storage and retrieval and multimedia entertainment. Users typically interact with applications and features in a mobile computing device via a display screen which may be a touch sensitive screen and one or more physical controls on the mobile computing device. However, the area available for user interaction via the display screen is still relatively small in comparison to the size of, for example, a television or a monitor for a desktop computer.

Coordinating device interaction to enhance user experience


A fin-assembled tube includes a helical fin arranged in an interior of a tube, wherein the tube has: a straight tube portion the center line of which extends in a substantially straight line; and a bent portion the center line of which is curved, and the helical fin is formed such that a helical pitch in an axial direction is longer in a portion positioned in the bent portion relative to the helical pitch in a portion positioned in the straight tube portion, the helical pitch being a pitch of a plate-shaped fin material twisted by a certain angle about the center line.

JP62-268994A discloses a heat exchanger in which a helical plate is installed in an interior of a heat-conducting tube.
When the above-described heat exchanger is manufactured, a long plate is twisted in advance to form the helical plate, and thereafter, the helical plate is arranged in the interior of the heat-conducting tube.
During the manufacture of the above-described heat exchanger, a bending process may be performed such that the heat-conducting tube is curved.
However, because a flexural rigidity of a curved bent portion is not uniform due to a position of the helical plate interposed in the interior of the heat-conducting tube, there is a risk in that the above-described heat-conducting tube is not formed into the designed shape.


A drinking container that can be used for various applications such as toasting for producing a sound for enjoyment at table, dinning or banquet, a bell, or further, determination of a beverage poured into the drinking container is used for producing a sound for enjoyment and comprises: a container-type resonator; and a handle connected to the resonator at a position of a node of vibration during resonance of the resonator.

At banquet or the like, beverages are poured into glasses or the like for toasting at a start of the banquet.
For toasting using conventional glasses, people just clink the glasses with care so as not to break the glasses, and cannot enjoy producing a sound.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-533174 discloses a liquid container such that a wine bottle can be used as a wine glass, and partially refers to a liquid container made of metal. However, it is unclear what type of metal is used to fabricate the liquid container.
Also, various types of stainless tumblers are commercially available, which are not used to produce a sound for enjoyment.
The present inventor has focused on the fact that clinking stemmed glasses such as wine glasses or goblets produces a good ringing sound, and fabricated a stemmed drinking container made of brass so that a user can further enjoy the ringing sound.
Lightly hitting such a drinking container provided a comfortable tone like that of a bowl hit by a Buddhist monk when chanting a Buddhist sutra.
Pouring sake into the prototype containers and clinking the containers such as for toasting provided a sound with a long lingering sound.
However, surprisingly, pouring beer into the containers and clinking the containers provided a completely different sound.
As a container that produces a sound, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 49-52875 discloses a glass with a call bell.
However, the glass disclosed in the document is such that the glass is simply fitted to the call bell, and not such that a container such as a glass and a resonator are integrated.

Drinking container used for toasting and drinking container serving as bell


A process for determining the presence of either speech or one of a plurality of expected single-frequency signals on a line includes the steps of measuring the total signal energy on the line; measuring the signal energy present in each one of a plurality of selected separate frequency bands and identifying the two frequency bands having the highest signal energies; determining whether the highest signal energy exceeds a first selected threshold value; determining whether the highest signal energy exceeds the second highest signal energy by greater than a second selected threshold value; determining the amount of out-of-band signal energy; and determining whether the highest signal energy exceeds the out-of-band signal energy by greater than a third selected threshold value. A process for determining the presence of two of a plurality of expected a single-frequency signals on a line includes the steps of measuring the total signal energy on the line; measuring the signal energy present in each one of a plurality of selected separate frequency bands and identifying the three frequency bands having the highest signal energies; determining whether the two highest signal energies exceed a first selected threshold value; determining whether the second-highest energy exceeds the third-highest energy by a second selected threshold value; determining the amount of out-of-band signal energy and determining whether the sum of the two highest signal energies exceeds the out-of-band energy by a third selected threshold value; and determining whether the ratio of the two highest signal energy values exceeds a fourth selected threshold value.. A method for identifying expected call progression signals on a telephone line, comprises the steps of (1) sensing the presence of energy on the line and determining if the energy comprises speech; (2) identifying the frequency content and duration of the energy; 3) comparing the frequency content of the energy with stored information comprising the frequency content of expected signals and identifying the energy as one of the expected call progression signals if a match is found; (4) sensing the presence of silence on the line if no match is found; (5) identifying the duration of the silence; (6) repeating steps (1) through (5) for a predetermined number of times; and then (7) comparing the frequency content of the energy, the duration of the energy, and the duration of the silence with stored information comprising the frequency content of energy, the duration of energy, and the duration of silence for a plurality of expected call progression signals and identifying the energy as one of the expected call progression signals if a match is found.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to circuits and other apparatus and to methods for tone decoding. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for decoding single tones and dual tones, such as those used in telephone applications to decode DTMF tones, dial tones, busy signals and other tones used in telephone systems, for recognizing call progress signals in PBX and other telephone systems, for adapting tone recognition systems to new environments, and for recognizing voice energy.
2. The Prior Art
Modern telephone systems automate and implement many useful functions by detecting the presence of control tones and response tones generated by the telephone company central office or local PBX in response to the condition of individual telephone sets in the system. Depending on location, telephone systems throughout the world utilize different combinations of periodic or continuous single tones and dual tones, such as dial tones, DTMF tones, ringback and no-ringback signals, busy signals, and connect signals.
Circuits are known in the prior art for detection of single and dual tones used in telephone systems, and for classifying these tones by their function. A combination of frequency decoding and cadence detection is commonly employed to identify telephone system tones. Frequency decoding, as its name suggests, identifies tones by their characteristic frequency or frequencies. Cadence detection looks for a repeating pattern in the audio signal, such as the pattern produced by a ringback or a busy signal. These patterns are called audio cadences. Once a cadence has been established, it can be classified as a single ring, a double ring, or a busy signal by comparing the periods of silence and sound to established parameters stored in or otherwise known by the circuitry. Cadence detection differentiates between the no-ringback, no-answer, busy, and connect states of a telephone system. An example of a prior art cadence detection system is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,698.
The capability of a signal processing system to identify these different call progression tones and to differentiate between these tones, noise, and voice energy on a signal line would be useful capability. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide apparatus and a method which is capable of identify different call progression tones and differentiating between these tones, noise, and voice energy on a signal line.

Adaptive efficient single/dual tone decoder apparatus and method for identifying call-progression signals


Novel phosphate-bearing prodrugs of sulfonyl hydrazines have the formula presented below. Pharmaceutical compositions and uses thereof in the treatment of cancer are claimed. The aforementioned prodrugs include enantiomers, stereoisomers and tautomers thereof, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates and metabolites from all stages. The aforementioned prodrugs are preferentially activated in hypoxic tumors and can be given either alone, or in combination with other anticancer agents or with phototheraphy or radiotherapy.

Eradication of solid tumors requires strategies that address the viable populations of malignant cells within hypoxic regions of such tumors. An insufficient and poorly organized vasculature, a major characteristic of rapidly growing tumor masses, results in poor oxygenation, high interstitial pressure, and a population of cells that are hypoxic, quiescent or slowly cycling, and distal to the blood supply, thus inadequate vascularization in solid tumors results in low oxygen and being difficult to reach with cytotoxic levels of drugs (Hockel, et al. Cancer Res. 1991, 51: 6098). Radiotherapy is thus ineffective in these areas as the radiation fails to generate sufficient oxygen radicals to result in cytotoxicity (Brizel, et al. Radiother Oncol. 1999, 53: 113). Moreover, the activity of cytotoxic drugs is also attenuated. Thus cells from these regions are frequently responsible for the re-establishment of disease. After treatment with oxygen-dependent cytotoxins such as x-irradiation, which generates oxygen radicals that damage cellular DNA, and conventional chemotherapeutics that target the well-oxygenated, rapidly growing portion of the tumor mass, the resistant hypoxic cell fraction can repopulate the tumor (Stratford, et al. Anticancer Drug Des. 1998, 13: 519). Moreover, hypoxic cells are subjected to an environment that enhances the selection of mutations which cause the progression of the neoplasm towards an increasingly aggressive phenotype. For example, hypoxia selects for cells deficient in p53-mediated apoptosis, enhances mutation rates, upregulates genes involved in drug resistance, angiogenesis, and tumor invasiveness (including HIF-1α), and thus is associated with a more metastatic phenotype (Ashur-Fabian, et al. Pro Natl Acd Sci USA. 2004, 101: 12236).
Prodrugs that act as hypoxia-selective cytotoxins generally must be substrates for one electron reductases such as NADPH:cytochrome (P450) reductase. The one-electron reduced prodrug radical, in the presence of oxygen, redox cycles back to the parent prodrug, preventing progression of the activation cascade and release of the cytotoxic, DNA damaging species. Under hypoxic conditions, further reduction of the radical anions alters the chemistry of the prodrug to allow release of the cytotoxic species (Yang, et al. Cancer Res. 2003, 63: 1520). Nitroaromatic and nitroheterocyclic compounds readily undergo one electron reduction to nitro radical anions (Korbelik, et al. Mutal Res, 1980, 78: 201). These molecules react rapidly with oxygen to regenerate the parental molecule. However in the absence of oxygen they are reduced further to generate hydroxylamine derivatives and then final aniline forms. While the nitro group is highly electron withdrawing, the hydroxylamine group is strongly electron donating. This results in a major change in the chemistry of the aromatic or heterocyclic ring, triggering the activation cascade and the release of parent drug.
As alkylating agents, a novel series of 1,2-bis(sulfonyl)hydrazine prodrugs (SHPs) with the ability to generate active chloroethylating species had been developed recently (Sartorelli, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 006,040,338, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 005,637,619, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 005,256,820, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 005,214,068, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 005,101,072, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 004,849,563, 1989; and U.S. Pat. No. 004,684,747, 1987). The anti-tumor activity has been suggested to result from chloroethylating and subsequent cross-linking of DNA (Shealy, et al., J Med Chem. 1984, 27: 664).
1,2-Bis(methylsulfonyl)-2-(2-chloroethyl)-hydrazine carboxylic acid 1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl ester (KS119), the current lead compound in the SHP series, requires enzymatic nitro-reduction to generate the alkylating species 90CE, as demonstrated in FIG. 1. Thus, KS119 takes advantage of the hypoxic, reductive environment of solid tumors, thus creating an exploitable difference between cells in normal, well oxygenated tissues and hypoxic neoplastic cells (Shyam, et al. J Med Chem. 1999, 42: 941; and Seow, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2005, 102: 9282).
However, KS119 is rather insoluble in aqueous solution, even it has not sufficient solubility (<5 mg/mL) in co-solvent system like polyethylene glycol (PEG) and ethanol in order to meet clinical requirements of this drug. Therefore, our aim was to synthesize analogs of KS119 that (a) were capable of improving its water-solubility and stability in aqueous solution at pH 3 to 8; (b) were capable of forming chloroethylating species; and (c) were capable of maintaining hypoxia-selective activation.
Turning to the present invention, we believe that water-soluble compounds according to the present invention satisfy the above conditions. An example of such an SHP (KS119W) would be the phosphate-containing analog of KS119 shown in FIG. 2 for the following reasons:                (a) In general, a phosphate-bearing analog, including its salt form should have good water-solubility and stability at neutral pH;        (b) The bioconversion of compounds according to the present invention proceeds via alkaline phosphatase (AP) cleavage of the oxygen-phosphorous bond to form the phenol intermediate, as shown in FIG. 2.        (c) The bioconversion of the 2-nitrophenol intermediate is selectively activated under conditions of hypoxia to generate a hydroxylamine derivative or aniline form.        (d) The above intermediate of the amino analogs subsequently undergo fragmentation resulting in the formation of chloroethylating species (90CE). Release of 90CE would only occur on reduction of the nitro group under conditions of hypoxia.        (e) Compounds of the present invention are considered as prodrugs of 90CE that has been identified as an alkylating agent against a broad anticancer spectrum of neoplastic disease states, including, for example, numerous solid tumors.

Phosphate-bearing prodrugs of sulfonyl hydrazines as hypoxia-selective antineoplastic agents

Abstract: where R is C1-C10 alkyl or haloalkyl;    R′ and R″ are each independently C1-C10 alkyl;    R1 is CH3; and    X is O;or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, polymorph or metabolite thereof.


A method for non-lethal crowd and personal protection. The method includes: firing non-lethal bullets towards a person; and deploying portions on the non-lethal bullets prior to impacting the person to decrease its impact pressure on the person.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to bullets, and more particularly, to bullets, which have deployable blades or other portions thereof to increase the footprint of the bullet and/or decrease the momentum of the bullet.
2. Prior Art
The first less-than-lethal bullets appeared in the 1880s when Singapore police shot sawed-off broom handles at rioters. By the 1960s, riot control police in Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong were using more sophisticated wooden bullets. British colonists brought the idea back home to England, where they replaced the wood—which could shatter and possibly penetrate—with rubber. By the 1980s the British had switched to more accurate plastic bullets, solid polyvinyl chloride cylinders about 4 inches long and 1½ inches wide. The bullets are supposed to be shot at the lower half of the body. In the late 1980s, the Israeli military developed its own rubber bullets designed to disperse crowds, to injure but not kill. These small rubber-coated metal pellets are supposed to be shot from a distance of about 130 feet and aimed at people's legs. Rubber bullets were introduced in the United States to quell anti-war and civil rights demonstrators in the 1960s. Though famously deployed against recent protesters, they are most often used by individual police officers to subdue armed and mentally ill people. Rubber type bullets are also used in delicate environments, such as on aircraft, where a regular bullet may compromise the pressurized environment inside the aircraft cabin. The most common kinds are the bean-bag bullet, a cloth pouch with about 40 grams of lead shot that delivers the equivalent of a punch from a heavyweight boxer, and a plastic cylinder like that used in Northern Ireland.
Personal security for law enforcement officers using non-lethal force has been carried over into the public sector. As a result several new tools, in addition to rubber bullets, have been developed. These include stun guns and batons, air tasers, and pepper spray.
Stun guns and batons are devices that use high voltage to paralyze the target. This is accomplished by touching the device to the target. Air tasers are a variation on this by firing two small probes up to a range of 15 feet to deliver the paralyzing voltage. While pepper spray, as the name implies, uses a highly concentrated spray of pepper, up to 3 feet, to be fired into the targets eyes to temporarily blind the target.
There are significant flaws in the designs of all these types of personal security tools. Modern day rubber bullets still kill to often and are only effective if they target and impact a person's torso or leg area. If they impact a person's head, they can do considerable damage and even cause death, which is not generally the intent in situations that call for the use of rubber bullets. The stun guns and batons must be used at point blank range and are useless unless full contact is made. Common clothing, such as leather jackets, can provide adequate shielding. Air tasers are limited to 15 feet and can only be fired once. As with the stun gun/baton version both probes must penetrate the skin of the target to be effective. Pepper spray is limited to 3 feet and must be sprayed into the target's eyes or will back wash into the shooter eyes.

Deployable bullets having high voltage electrodes


An airbag module may include an inflator, an air bag, and an air bag case housing. The air bag case housing may be attached to the air bag and attached to the inflator. The inflator supplies a gas to the air bag housed in the air bag case. The air bag case may include an engagement member having an opening and a hook disposed on two opposing sides of thereof, and a lower surface plate member that is attached to the engagement member by a bridge member. The hooks may be shaped to engage an instrument panel, thereby attaching the air bag case to the instrument panel. The air bag module may also include a fabric housing disposed around the air bag housed. The fabric housing may have a box-like shape with a bottom portion, an open ceiling portion, and a connecting hole disposed in the bottom portion.

Several safety devices are disposed in an automobile with the aim of securing occupant safety. For example, an air bag module for deploying an air bag using gas generated by an inflator during an emergency, such as a collision, is one such safety device.
As shown in FIG. 7, a front passenger seat air bag module, which is one type of air bag module, is housed in an air bag case 2 such that a folded air bag 1 is covered by a strip-form flap 3 (Patent Document 1, for example).    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-62455
As shown in FIG. 8, this air bag module is attached by engaging a hook 2b, which is attached to the vicinity of an opening in one side wall 2a of the air bag case 2, with an engagement hole 4aa in an upright wall 4a provided on an inner side of an instrument panel 4. Note that a reference numeral 5 in FIG. 8 denotes an inflator.
Incidentally, in this air bag module, the entire periphery of the air bag is covered by a box-shaped metal or resin air bag case having an open ceiling surface in order to maintain the folded shape of the air bag during installation in a vehicle and restrict a deployment direction during deployment.
However, this air bag case is heavy, which runs counter to recent trends toward weight reduction. Further, the air bag case requires a large amount of resources, which runs counter to recent trends toward resource conservation. Moreover, the strength of an attachment portion of the air bag module must be increased in accordance with the increased weight of the air bag case.
A problem to be solved by the present invention is that when a conventional metal or resin box-shaped air bag case is employed, an increase in the amount of required resources and an increase in weight occur, and therefore resource saving and weight reduction cannot be achieved. Moreover, the strength of the attachment portion of the air bag module must be increased in accordance with the increase in weight.


An organic light emitting display is disclosed. The display includes a pixel unit for displaying a black image during a non-emission period and for displaying an image based on data during an emission period in every frame period. The display also includes a current sensor which determines current flowing in a power line during the non-emission period and generates a stop signal if the current is greater than a threshold, and a power supply which supplies power to the pixel unit unless the stop signal is received from the sensor.

1. Field
The disclosed technology relates to an organic light emitting display and a method of driving the same, and more particularly, to an organic light emitting display capable of detecting whether a short is generated without affecting the driving of the organic light emitting display and a method of driving the same.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Recently, various flat panel display (FPD) technologies having reduced weight and volume as compared to cathode ray tubes (CRT) have been developed. By way of example, FPDs include liquid crystal displays (LCD), field emission displays (FED), plasma display panels (PDP), and organic light emitting displays.
Organic light emitting displays display images using organic light emitting diodes (OLED) that generate light through the re-combination of electrons and holes. Organic light emitting displays have high response speed and are driven with low power consumption.
In general, an OLED display may be either a passive matrix type display (PMOLED) or an active matrix type display (AMOLED) according to a method of driving the display.
The AMOLED includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of power source lines, and a plurality of pixels coupled to the lines arranged in a matrix. In such an organic light emitting display, power source lines may be formed to overlap each other or power source lines and data lines may overlap each other. However, when lines that overlap are shorted by a manufacturing defect, such as a particulate, over-current may be generated. Furthermore, in some cases a single short generates only a small amount of current, and it is therefore difficult to sense.

Organic light emitting display capable of detecting a short circuit and method of driving the same


An apparatus for providing remote client deactivation includes a processing element. The processing element may be configured to receive a message associated with a service related to a communication session with a client, determine whether the client is associated with an indication to deactivate the client and communicate a signaling message to deactivate the client in response to a determination that the client is associated with the indication to deactivate the client.

Given the ubiquitous nature of mobile electronic devices such as, for example, mobile communication devices like cellular telephones, many people are utilizing an expanding variety of applications that are executable at such mobile electronic devices. For example, applications for providing services related to communications, media sharing, information gathering, education, gaming, and many others have been developed, fueled by consumer demand. One particular area in which consumer demand has triggered an expansion of services relates to provision of services related to managing the establishment of communications with, for example, users of other mobile electronic devices. For example, a communication session may be established between various client devices via a network server. Protocols which may be used in such communication sessions may include, for example, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), Motorola Push-to-Talk (M-PTT) protocol, and the like.
SIP is an application-layer control (signaling) protocol for creating, modifying, and terminating sessions with one or more participants. SIP is widely used as a signaling protocol for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and media sharing applications. SIP is addressing neutral, with addresses expressed as a uniform resource locator (URL), a uniform resource identifier (URI), a telephone number, an email like address, or the like. SIP is generally considered to be lightweight since it has a limited number of methods to reduce complexity, and transport-independent since it can be used with User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Transport Control Protocol (TCP) and other transport protocols.
M-PTT is an example of a SIP based protocol which may be employed for session based communications such as push-to-talk (PTT) communications. M-PTT signaling messages are text based messages which may be used to set up calls from one network node (e.g., a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone) to another. For example, M-PTT or another session based protocol may be used to set up a PTT call between two network nodes that have subscribed to a PTT service.
SIP, M-PTT and other protocols for establishing communication sessions often include a server or proxy device for facilitating session setup. For example, when powering up, a PTT enabled device may be configured to automatically register with the server or proxy. In this regard, for example, a client application may be stored at the PTT enabled device which, when executed, executes instructions to register the PTT enabled device to a PTT server to enable the PTT enabled device to conduct PTT communications. However, according to current practices, if a user of the PTT enabled device discontinues the PTT service, but still uses the PTT enabled device for other non-PTT related services (e.g., voice, BREW, WAP or the like), the client application in the PTT enabled device may still attempt to register with the PTT server each time the PTT enabled device is powered up. Since the PTT server must respond to the registration attempt, server resources are unnecessarily consumed. Accordingly, if large numbers of inactive PTT enabled devices attempt registration, a significant traffic load may be placed on both network and server resources. A misbehaving client device may also cause excessive network and server resource consumption due to repeated attempts at registration to a service.
Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide a mechanism by which to address at least some of the problems described above.

Method, apparatus, computer program product and network node for providing remote client deactivation