Methods and systems for tracking movements of participants in a market research study, for example, outside retail establishments, are provided. The methods and systems employ portable monitors carried on the persons of the participants to gather location data.

Managers of commercial establishments, such as retail stores, shopping malls, transportation centers and the like, responsible for maximizing sales of products and services, are well aware that the layout of their facilities has a substantial impact on sales volume. To evaluate this impact, it is necessary to gather data characterizing the flow of customer traffic into and within the facility. This data will reveal the locations where customers are present more frequently ("hot spots") and those where customer traffic is lighter ("cold spots").
With this information, it is possible for the manager to make changes in features that affect accessibility, lighting, fixture space, product placement, and the like that will improve product exposure and reduce the number and/or size of cold spots. After such changes have been made, the manager will often wish to conduct a further traffic flow study to assess the effectiveness of these changes.
The tracking data, along with product placement data are also important to distributors of products sold in commercial establishments. This information enables them to evaluate whether their products are receiving sufficient attention in a commercial establishment, so that the cost of shelf space, among other things, is justified. It also enables them to assess whether they should request shelf space for their products in a different location in the commercial establishment. Tracking data also enables distributors and other entities to better understand particularly how customers shop within commercial establishments, and also may be used to better understand operations and activities of competitive businesses.
Traditionally such traffic flow studies have been conducted manually. One or more of the manager's employees would record the movements of customers within the facility on a sheet representing its layout. The accumulated data would then be reviewed by the manager. Clearly, this is a labor-intensive way of gathering such data. It is also potentially annoying to customers if the employees tracking them are not very discrete. Traffic flow also is assessed utilizing electronic or mechanical methods, such as by the use of turn-styles, electronic beams and other known techniques. However, these "people counters" are of limited value since they generally only ascertain the number of people passing a specific location without regard to the identities or demographics of those people. Employees, and sometimes non-humans, such as pets, passing by such counters also are included in the data. Sales or purchasing data (e.g., via frequent shopper type cards) also may be utilized to estimate traffic flow.
In addition to in-store traffic flow studies and measures, owners, managers, distributors, etc., of commercial establishments are further interested in tracking retail customers' other patterns of movements, such as customers' travel and store visiting patterns prior to entry and after exiting such commercial establishments. This information enables them to assess, among other things, which stores represent their greatest competition. Current studies employ surveys and shopping diaries that require customers to manually record their travel patterns, identifying the stores they visited and for how long. Similar to the above-mentioned manually performed in-store traffic flow studies, surveys and shopping diaries are also labor-intensive and are generally not popular. Many consumers find it difficult to complete surveys and shopping diaries, often making omissions or over-statements when recording their activity and travel patterns.
It is desired, therefore, to provide less expensive, less labor-intensive and less potentially annoying ways to gather in-store and out-of-store traffic flow data. In addition, owners and managers of commercial establishments as well as manufacturers and distributors would like to obtain reports from which they can evaluate the effectiveness of their advertising expenditures, based not only on such traffic flow data but also on media exposure data and the like. Such reports would in turn enable retailers to better understand the shopping characteristics and habits of customers in ways previously not possible.

Methods and systems for gathering market research data inside and outside commercial establishments


A load carrying vehicle including: a chassis; a load carrying container connected to the chassis; a plurality of wheels; a suspension arrangement coupling the wheels to the chassis; wherein the suspension arrangement is configured to controllably lower the container such that the container makes contact with at least two wheels.

In connection with transportation of heavy loads, e.g. in construction work, work machines are frequently used. A work machine may be operated with large and heavy loads in areas where there are no roads, for example for transports in connection with road or tunnel building, sand pits, mines and similar environments.
Load carrying work machines such as an articulated hauler or dumper are typically used to transport heavy loads shorter distances and over rough terrain. Current load carrying vehicles have containers that need to be strongly dimensioned in order to be able to receive dumped loads, e.g. up to 60 tons per load from a cable-operated excavator, meaning that the container needs to be able to withstand the increased stress resulting from dumping a heavy load onto the container.
However, the construction required to withstand the stress during loading results in a high vehicle weight which is higher than if the vehicle was dimensioned to only transport the load. The high weight in turn leads to a higher fuel consumption. Accordingly, it is desirable to reduce the vehicle weight without affecting the load carrying capacity of the vehicle.

Load carrying vehicle having a container and method for controlling the load carrying vehicle


A portable communication terminal employs an electro-acoustic transducer having openings on the housing. The openings of the transducer are coupled to a housing of the terminal or acoustic pipes unitarily formed with the housing of the transducer. An opening of the acoustic pipe faces an opening provided in the housing of the terminal. The terminal uses a transducer including a diaphragm, a cover closely jointed to an outer periphery of the diaphragm and facing a front face of the diaphragm, and a frame provided at a rear face of the diaphragm. The terminal and the transducer consume less power and yet radiate greater output sound pressure with smaller bodies. They can deliver sound from a display section, so that a user accepts the sound normally.

A conventional portable communication terminal is described with reference to FIGS. 11 (a), 11 (b), 11 (c) and FIG. 12 which illustrate a portable telephone. FIG. 11(a) is a front view of the portable telephone in use. FIG. 11(b) is a side view of the same including a partial sectional view. FIG. 11(c) is a rear view of the same. FIG. 12 is a side sectional view of a transducer incorporated in the portable telephone.
In FIG. 11(a), on the front face of portable telephone 10, operating section 10a including pushbutton digits is prepared, and a transmitter (not shown) is also provided to the front face. Display section 10b including a liquid crystal display is disposed on an upper part of the front face, and a receiver (not shown) is provided to this upper part. In FIG. 11(c), opening 10c is provided on the rear face and guides the sound generated by transducer 11 to the outside.
A structure of transducer 11 is described with reference to FIG. 12. Circular diaphragm 1 generating aerial vibration is supported by frame 2 at its outer periphery with adhesive. Frame 2 includes a plurality of first sound-paths 2a. An end of voice coil 3 is rigidly fixed to a center portion of diaphragm 1, and both the ends of voice coil 3 are electrically coupled to terminal section 4 disposed at a lower end portion of frame 2.
A magnetic circuit formed of magnet 5, top plate 6 and yoke 7 is disposed in a recess provided at a center of frame 2. Voice coil 3 is inserted in a space (magnetic gap) between the outer periphery of top plate 6 and the inner wall of yoke 7.
Protector 8, to which second sound-paths 8a are provided, protects diaphragm 1, and forms a housing of the transducer together with frame 2. The foregoing portable telephone thus radiates only the sound delivered from second sound-paths 8a provided to protector 8 to the outside. On the other hand, the sound delivered from first sound-paths 2a provided to frame 2 is radiated within portable telephone 10. For that purpose, protector 8 is bonded to the inner wall of phone 10 via a spacer, so that transducer 11 is mounted in phone 10. This structure allows the sound delivered from first sound-paths 2a and the sound from second sound-paths 8a of protector 8 to be separated and free from interference.
The portable telephone has changed its function drastically from a telephone to an information terminal these days. This change entails the following requirements from the market: more sophisticated performances of the display such as a larger and color display, and better characteristics on an output sound-pressure from the display side as an interactive device. Further, a display of portable communication terminals such as portable telephones accompanies sound more often, such as reproduced sound of a video game, or a tone verifying a operation of pushed buttons.
Under these circumstances, reproduced sound by a conventional transducer or a conventional mounting structure of the transducer in operating the display lowers a directivity toward the front side of the communication terminal due to diffraction effect, because the sound is delivered only from second sound-paths 8a. Thus, sufficient volume and quality of sound cannot be expected to the front side of the portable telephone. The present invention aims to provide a portable communication terminal that overcomes the foregoing problems.

Mobile communication terminal and electro-acoustic transducer used for the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A reinforcing fiber sheet is provided which includes a support sheet and reinforcing fibers. The fibers are arranged in one direction on at least one surface of the support sheet and attached thereto through an adhesive layer. There is also provided a method of reinforcing a structure, which includes arranging bundles of the reinforcing fibers in one direction on at least one surface of a support sheet in parallel apart from each other or close to each other, wherein the surface of the support sheet is coated with an adhesive layer. Thereafter, pressing the bundles against the support sheet such that the reinforcing fibers are adhered through the adhesive layer to the support sheet in one direction in a slightly unfastened state to thereby produce the reinforcing fiber sheet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reinforcing fiber sheet which can easily be handled at a reinforcement cite where structures, such as bridges or elevated roads, are reinforced using fiber reinforced plastics and which enables the reinforcement strength of the structure to be increased, a method of manufacturing such a reinforcing fiber sheet, and a method of reinforcing structures using the sheet.
2. Description of the Related Art
Reinforcement of bridges and piers of elevated roads using fiber reinforced plastics has been practiced.
Following reinforcing methods have been known:
(1) The method in which a set fiber reinforced plastic is adhered to the portion of a pier to be reinforced. PA0 (2) The method in which a prepreg is adhered to the portion of a pier to be reinforced, a press tape is coated on the prepreg to prevent deformation which occurs during the thermosetting, and then the prepreg is caused to thermoset to make it a fiber reinforced plastic. PA0 (3) The method in which a cloth made of reinforcing fibers is wound around the portion of a pier to be reinforced, the cloth is impregnated with a room-temperature setting type matrix resin, a press tape is coated on the cloth, and then the matrix resin is left to make it a fiber reinforced plastic.
However, the method itemized by (1) cannot be conducted on the curved portion of the pier, although it assures effective reinforcement efficiency.
The method itemized by (2) has a disadvantage in that it requires thermosetting of the prepreg adhered to the portion of the pier to be reinforced at the reinforcement cite.
The cloth employed in the method itemized by (3) is obtained by, for example, plainly or diagonally weaving reinforcing fibers, and is thus characterized in that it is weak at the intersections of warps and wefts. Hence, the cloth cannot assure sufficient reinforcement effect when it is made into a fiber reinforced plastic.
In another reinforcing method, reinforcing filaments impregnated with matrix resin are wound around the portion of the pier to be reinforced by the filament winding process and then thermoset to make it a fiber reinforced plastic at the cite. However, the structures on which this method can be performed are restricted, and expensive equipment is required. Hence, this method is not practical.

Reinforcing fiber sheet, method of manufacturing the same, and method of reinforcing structure with the reinforcing fiber sheet


An apparatus for exercising a bed-ridden patient includes a frame; a load movably supported by the frame and having a load attachment point for movably carrying a limb of the patient, the load including a wheeled carriage, the frame including a track for guiding the carriage; a drive for repetitively cycling the load in a carriage path relative to the frame and including a first crank driven by a motor, and a first connecting rod pivotally connected to the first crank for reciprocating the carriage along the track; a base for supportively anchoring the apparatus; a pivot for adjustably orienting the frame in a fixed position relative to the base, the pivot having a first position for horizontally orienting the track for lateral movement of the limb and a second position for vertically orienting the track for raising and lowering the limb; and a base plate, the frame being supported by the base plate, the lift attachment point being fixably located relative to the base plate, a clamp arm pivotally connected between the clamp and the base plate, and a clamp lock for fixably locating the clamp arm in a plurality of angular orientations relative to the base plate.

The present invention relates to physiotherapy, and more particularly to apparatus for mechanically exercising the muscles and joints of a patient's body.
Machines and other devices for manipulating the limbs of bedridden and otherwise physically impaired patients are known. For example, U.S Pat. No. 2,183,265 to Maloney discloses a rope having a sling at one end and a hand grip on the other, the rope being movably supported by a ceiling-mounted pulley for raising a patient's legs when the patient pulls downwardly on the hand grip, a releasable catch holding the legs in an elevated position. U.S. Pat. No. 2,631,582 to Bensfield discloses a portable adjustable manipulating apparatus, the apparatus including a U-shaped frame disposed on its side, a standard projecting up from one end of the carriage, and an arm projecting horizontally from the upper end of the standard for overlying the carriage. The carriage can be inserted beneath a bed so that the standard projects upwardly at an edge or end of the bed, thus positioning the arm over the bed. The carriage includes motor which operates a crank at variable speeds. A sling for holding a patient's limb is attached to a line which is operated by the crank. Adjustable and traveling blocks vertically movable within the standard provide an adjustable stroke of the line. U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,898 to Underwood discloses a therapeutic apparatus including an exercise bar supported above a bed by a block and tackle assembly. The block and tackle assembly is connected with a motor for reciprocating the bar vertically. The bar is also supported and optionally driven for angular displacements about a generally vertical axis. U.S. patent No. 3,693,614 to Schon patent discloses an exercise apparatus including a support beam attached to the frame of a patient's bed by a vertical post. A motor driven pedal device is adjustably affixed to the beam, the pedal device having a pair of crank arms attached to opposite ends of a drive spindle, outwardly extending pedal rods being attached to the free end of each crank arm. The apparatus includes a pair of support plates designed to be affixed to the patient's shoes and another pair of support plates designed to be affixed to gloves for the patient's hands. The patient's hands or feet can be thus attached to the pedal device by slipping the tubular portion of the support plates over the pedal rods. An upwardly extending leg supports a pair of extension springs that biasingly support corresponding leg straps. U.S. Pat. No. 4,282,865 to Pogue discloses an apparatus for exercising a limb of a supine user, including a housing, a movable member on the housing for engaging an extremity of the limb, and a drive mechanism on the housing for reciprocating and/or oscillating the movable member on an adjustably inclined axis for exercising the user's limb in a generally horizontal, longitudinal direction.
These and other prior art devices are subject to one or more of the following disadvantages:
1. They are so bulky and unwieldy that they are impractical for use in confined spaces that are typically available at hospital and home bed locations, especially in view of other equipment that is likely to be needed for the patient;
2. They are limited in application in that they are capable of movement in a single direction only, at a fixed speed, and/or through an unchangeable distance; and
3. They are mechanically cumbersome and complicated, being difficult to use and expensive to produce.
Thus there is a need for a device for manipulating the limbs of patients that may be bedridden or otherwise physically impaired, that overcomes the above disadvantages.


A stabilizer is provided which is movable in two planes relative to the bow. The stabilizer includes an arm and a stabilizer bar. The arm has a fixed end which is pivotally mounted to the bow so that the stabilizer can be pivoted relative to the bow. The stabilizer bar is received in a free end of the arm and is slidable relative to the arm. Thus, the stabilizer is movable in a generally vertical plane and a generally horizontal plane. Tighteners are provided to secure the stabilizer in a desired angular and horizontal position.

This invention relates to bow stabilizers, and in particular, to a single stabilizer which can be used to offset the weight of several attachments to a bow.
To ensure an accurate shot, an archer's bow must be properly balanced. If the bow is not properly balanced, the arrow shot will not be true. That is, various forces will cause the bow to pull to one side or another, or cause the bow to lift up or pull down. All this, can obviously affect the archer's shot.
Typically, an archer will add or mount various items to the bow. Such items include, for example, bow sights, arrow quivers, and stabilizers. These items are typically mounted on one side of the bow. To counteract the weight of the attachments to the bow, counter-balances are provided on the opposite side of the bow. All the attachments add extra weight to the bow. However, it is generally desired to keep the bow as light as possible.


A connection device restriction program for preventing use of uncalled-for connection devices. A permission list setting unit sets a connection permission list holding information defining connection devices whose connection is to be permitted, and a list memory stores the connection permission list. When a connection device is connected to one of first to third connection ports, a connection restriction unit acquires device information from the connection device, and collates the device information with the connection permission list to determine whether or not the connection device corresponds to any one of the connection-permitted devices. If the connection device corresponds to any one of the connection-permitted devices, connection of the device is permitted; if not, connection of the device is forbidden.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to connection device restriction program and device, and more particularly, to a program and device for restricting use of connection devices connected to a computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computers used in offices and homes, for example, personal computers (hereinafter PCs), have a built-in function of automatically installing device drivers and making necessary settings when peripheral devices or expansion cards (hereinafter referred to generically as devices) are connected. For example, PCs are equipped with connection devices, as typified by USB (Universal Serial Bus), which permit easy connection of various peripheral devices including a keyboard, a mouse, an external storage, etc.
A USB device has a built-in function of transmitting information such as device type in response to a request from an OS (Operating System), which is basic software, when the USB device is connected to a PC.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a conventional procedure for reading out USB device information. On receiving a notification that a USB device has been connected to a connection port, the OS requests device information on the connected USB device and extracts target USB device information (Step S91). The extracted USB device information is then sent to the OS (Step S92). After the USB device information is acquired in this manner, the OS identifies the device type etc. of the connected device and performs necessary processing to permit use of the connected device. This procedure enables immediate use of a device newly connected to USB.
However, the ease of connection of peripheral devices poses security problems such as a leakage of information from the PC or ingress of unnecessary information into the PC.
To solve such problems, there have been proposed techniques for restricting use of peripheral devices according to their categories. The category "storage", for example, is set, whereupon a storage device, if connected, cannot be used.
A connection collation system has also been proposed in which the serial numbers of connection terminals are registered in a computer, the serial number of a connection terminal requesting permission for connection is collated with the registered serial numbers, and connection of the terminal is permitted only if the serial number of the terminal is registered (see Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-6166 (paragraph nos. [0007] to [0019], FIG. 1), for example).
However, the conventional connection device restriction techniques are poor in usability because of the inability to allow detailed setting of restriction conditions or the need for complicated setting operation, and are associated with a problem that the use of uncalled-for connection devices cannot be prevented.
Where the use of devices is restricted according to categories, it is not possible to place restrictions on individual devices separately, since the determination as to restriction is made at a level near the application program, namely, at a level where the information on devices is so abstracted that detailed information on individual devices is not available. For example, if restriction is placed on the category "storage", all storages fail to be connected. A problem also arises in that restriction can be imposed only on the existing categories.
On the other hand, with the connection collation system in which the serial number of a connection terminal is collated to determine whether to permit connection of the terminal, it is necessary to register the serial numbers of all terminals whose connection is to be permitted. Thus, if the system is operated on a large scale, the number of terminals to be registered increases, making the registration work complicated and also possibly entailing erroneous registration. Further, the system merely determines whether a terminal may be connected or not and does not allow detailed settings such that a certain terminal is permitted to read but not to write, for example.
Thus, with the conventional device restriction techniques, restrictions can only be placed according to existing categories or on individual devices, and it is not possible to make various restriction settings, such as restrictions on users, makers, products, connection devices to be used, modes of use, etc. For example, the conventional techniques are unable to cope with a situation where "Mr. A is permitted to use only the USB memory with the identification number Z and the product name Y, produced by X Corporation, and is not permitted to use other USB memories and USB devices." Accordingly, there is every possibility that restriction fails to be imposed in a desired manner or that the settings are omitted or erroneously made, giving rise to a security problem that the use of uncalled-for devices cannot be prevented.

Connection device restriction program and device


Tire sensor packaging capable of being installed on a standard snap-in tire valve stem is provided. The sensor package includes an attachment member capable of being disposed in the flexible bore of a snap-in tire valve stem, and of securely engaging with the inner wall of the flexible bore. The attachment member can be an integral part of the sensor package, or it can be a separate part that acts as an expansion device (e.g., an expansion nut) when engaged with the sensor package. Preferably, the attachment member includes features, such as barbs, to provide more secure engagement with the tire valve stem. Packages according to embodiments of the invention include a package passage (e.g., a channel or a bore) to permit the flow of air past the sensor, so that the tire can be inflated or deflated. Sensors can be attached to the tire valve stem before or after the tire valve stem is installed in the wheel.

Tire pressure sensors for monitoring tire pressure have been under development for some time. Since such sensors are typically disposed on the tire being monitored, various sensor attachment/packaging approaches have been considered. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,517, a sensor is mounted in the cap of a tire valve stem. More commonly, sensors have been attached to and/or integrated with modified valve stems of various kinds.
For example, in US 2004/0046649, a sensor is attached to a metal bore of a valve stem, which can serve as an antenna for the sensor. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,014, a modified tire valve stem is employed, having a pressure sensor integrated with the valve stem. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,131, a sensor is connected to a metal tire valve stem with a hollow screw that engages into the valve bore.
One commonly employed type of tire valve stem is the so-called "snap-in" tire valve stem, which has been in use for many years. For example, a snap-in tire valve stem is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,968,333, issued in 1961. A snap-in tire valve stem includes a metal tube surrounded by and bonded to a flexible valve stem body, where the flexible valve stem body is configured to snap in to a valve opening of a wheel rim, and the metal tube is configured to accommodate a valve. Part of the bore of a standard snap-in tire valve stem is flexible, in order to provide the above-described snap-in functionality.
Several approaches have been demonstrated for attaching a sensor to a snap-in tire valve stem. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,480, the sensor is engaged with the metal tube of the tire valve stem, by threads or a press fit. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,409, a snap-in tire valve stem is fabricated having a second metal insert within it, to which a sensor can be attached.
The snap-in concept has also been applied in a somewhat different manner in U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,412 and US 2005/0087007. In this work, a snap-in grommet is employed having an outer flexible body surrounding a metal sleeve. The valve stem and sensor are both attached to the metal sleeve of the grommet.
However, these prior art approaches tend to suffer from the disadvantage that substantial modification of an otherwise standard valve stem is required to permit sensor attachment. For example, the snap-in valve stem of U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,480 must have a metal tube that is threaded or capable of making a press fit connection with a sensor package, thereby making it a non-standard part. Similarly, the snap-in valve stem of U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,409 is made with a second metal insert, again making it a non-standard part.
Accordingly, it would be an advance in the art to provide attachment of a sensor to a standard snap-in tire valve stem.

Monitoring device attachment to rubber valve stems


Aiming at providing a straddle-type all terrain vehicle effectively improved in the operational stability of vehicle and engine performance, power transmissions transmitting driving force of a power unit to a rear axle shaft, and braking devices exerting braking force to rear wheels are provided respectively at both side of an end of a rear swing arm in the vehicle width direction, and an exhaust silencer is disposed in a space between the power transmissions and the braking devices, below a seat.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a straddle-type vehicle typically referred to as ATV (all terrain vehicle).
2. Description of the Related Art
This sort of vehicle exhibits excellent drivability not only in on-road driving, but also under severe driving conditions typically in off-road driving or at the waterside, showing a high level of mobility. The basic configuration is typically such as having four wheels on the front and rear sides of a chassis frame, a steering device between the front wheels, an engine mounted on the chassis frame, and a fuel tank, a seat and so forth placed thereabove.
Operational stability during driving is a matter of great importance particularly for so-called performance ATV oriented to racing, so that the engine mass is necessarily centralized in order to fulfill the requirement. A specific example of conventional all terrain vehicle will be outlined. Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, an engine 1 is mounted on a chassis frame 2 as being located at the center of the vehicle, front wheels 3 are disposed at the front portion of the chassis frame 2, and rear wheels 4 are disposed at the rear portion of the chassis frame 2.
In an exhaust system in this example, an exhaust pipe 5 connected to an engine cylinder on the front side of the engine 1 is once projected towards the front, then routed through one side of the engine 1 (on the right side in the illustrated example) in the tread-wise direction, and extended towards the rear of the vehicle. The exhaust pipe 5 is further extended to a muffler 7 disposed on the rear side of an air cleaner 6, and connected thereto. The muffler 7 is mounted aside a seat rail 9 supporting a seat 8.
The muffler 7 is a heavy matter in the conventional all terrain vehicle, causative of deflection of the center of gravity towards the side where the muffler 7 is disposed (right side in this example), and this largely affects the operational stability of the vehicle. In particular, the lateral balance affects the straight drivability, cornering performance, sliding control performance, grip feeling and so forth. Such deflection in disposition of the muffler 7 from the center of gravity of the vehicle also increases moments in the yaw direction and the roll direction, and affects the motion performance, steering, anti-roll property and so forth.
Also twisting force is exerted on the seat rail 9 supporting the muffler 7, and this raises a need of high rigidity and strength of the seat rail 9 in order withstand the twisting force. The seat rail 9 is sometimes formed as being curved so as to ensure a necessary gap or clearance with respect to the muffler 7 and the exhaust pipe 5, or may tend to deform because the distance between the individual components in the vertical direction is limited. Reinforcement as a countermeasure therefor results in increase in the weight, and also warping and increase in weight of the seat rail 9 adversely affect the operational stability.
Furthermore, for vehicles having a large cushion stroke of the rear wheels 4, it is necessary to ensure a sufficient gap with respect to a rear wheel brake caliper. In order to ensure the gap, it is necessary to dispose the muffler 7 and so forth in an outer portion or in the side portion, but such positional relation unless otherwise being modified inevitably raises a disadvantage in terms of the operational stability.
Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. S62-11029 discloses this sort of all terrain vehicle having a muffler disposed nearly at the center position between the left and right rear wheels.
Considering the above-described situation, the present invention is aimed at providing a straddle-type all terrain vehicle capable of effectively improving, in particular, the operational stability, the engine performance and the like.


A field effect transistor formed of a semiconductor of a III group nitride compound, includes an electron running layer formed on a substrate and formed of GaN; an electron supplying layer formed on the electron running layer and formed of AlxGa1-xN (0.01≦x≦0.4), the electron supplying layer having a band gap energy different from that of the electron running layer and being separated with a recess region having a depth reaching the electron running layer; a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the electron supplying layer with the recess region in between; a gate insulating film layer formed on the electron supplying layer for covering a surface of the electron running layer in the recess region; and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film layer in the recess region. The electron supplying layer has a layer thickness between 5.5 nm and 40 nm.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a field effect transistor made of a group III nitride semiconductor.
2. Related Art
A MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) using GaN material and a HEMT (High Electron Mobility Transistor) using AlGaN/GaN material are known as field effect transistors using a group III nitride semiconductor, as shown by Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2 and Patent Document 1, for example. These devices have higher dielectric breakdown voltage (referred to hereinafter as "withstand voltage") and higher saturation mobility (referred to hereinafter as "mobility") than field effect transistors using other group III compound semiconductor materials such as Si, GaAs, and InP. Furthermore, these devices perform normally-off operation, and are therefore suitable for power devices.    Non-Patent Document 1: M. Kuraguchi et al., "Normally-off GaN-MISFET with well-controlled threshold voltage", International Workshop on Nitride Semiconductors 2006 (IWN2006), Oct. 22-27, 2006, Kyoto, Japan, WeED1-4.    Non-Patent Document 2: Huang W, Khan T, Chow T P: Enhancement-Mode n-Channel GaN MOFETs on p and n-GaN/Sapphire substrates. In: 18th International Symposium on Power Semiconductor Devices and ICs (ISPSD) 2006 (Italy), 10-1.    Patent Document 1: International Publication WO 2003/071607
Among conventional GaN MOSFETs, devices have been announced that have high mobilities of 167 cm2/Vs or high withstand voltages near 1000 V, but a field effect transistor that has both high mobility and high withstand voltage has yet to be realized.
In light of this, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a normally-off field effect transistor that has both high mobility and high withstand voltage


This relates to filter columns for isolating nucleic acids. The filter column is adapted for stable placement within the upper portion of standard plastic collection tubes of various sizes. The body of the filter column has a number of surfaces to accommodate placement within variously sized collection tubes. The filter column contains nucleic acid-specific filter which can be located at alternate regions within the filter column, providing different filter surface areas and loading volume capacities using the same column body. The filter column has an opening on an upper end adapted to be sealed by a cap. A method for recovering nucleic acids using such filter column is also provided.

Isolation and purification of nucleic acids play a central role in modern molecular biology, and increasingly in medicine. Both laboratory and diagnostic research require the use of nucleic acids in gene cloning and genetic analysis. Many of these techniques require keeping ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) pure and free of contamination. In many instances, the availability of small amounts of starting sample material poses a problem during isolation of the nucleic acid. The limited amount of sample material makes the need to limit loss of the sample material a critical concern.
A known method for isolating nucleic acids from a small amount of starting material includes the use of a spin filter column ("filter column") that contains a nucleic acid binding material (i.e., a filter). Examples of binding material/filters include silicas like glass powder, silica particles, glass microfibers, diatomaceous earth, etc. These filters are often associated with a "filter surface area." This filter surface area is not limited to the surface area of a side of the filter. Instead, since the filters are usually comprised of microscopic fibers, particles, porous substances, etc., the filter surface area is actually defined by the surface area of the components which comprise the filter. For example, a filter that comprises glass microfibers may have a filter surface area defined by the surface area of the microfibers within the filter (either all of the microfibers or a portion thereof).
In some cases, filter columns may isolate nucleic acids directly from cells or biological tissue. In the first step a filter column is inserted into a microcentrifuge tube (e.g., a 1.5 ml tube) and a solution containing nucleic acids along with undesirable impurities is loaded into the top of the filter column. Depending upon the application, the starting material containing the nucleic acids is prepared from cells that have been treated with a disrupting solution causing the release of the nucleic acids. Alternatively, the nucleic acid solution is the product of an earlier reaction step. In either case, the nucleic acid binds to the filter column filter in the presence of a chaotropic agent. Then the filter column is centrifuged in a microcentrifuge. Centrifugation forces the solution through the filter column's filter and binds the nucleic acid to the filter. Next, the filter with the nucleic acids bound therein is washed by applying a washing solution to the top of the filter column, and centrifuging again. After each wash the filter column can be removed from the collection tube so that the collection tube may be emptied. Finally, placement of an elution buffer (usually water having a specific pH) at the top of the column and applying centrifugation elutes the nucleic acid that is bound to the filter. Given the proper pH, the nucleic acid elutes into the liquid, and then collects into the collection tube. It is important to note that the volumes of the binding and wash solutions can be relatively large, thus necessitating the use of a larger (1.5-2.0 mL) tube. On the other hand, the volumes for elution are often smaller, making it desirable to have a smaller tube for the elution step. Eluting directly into a smaller tube allows one to proceed to the next reaction step in the small tube, rather than having to pipette out of the large tube. As discussed herein, use of a pipette is undesirable as it introduces the risk of loss of samples as well as contamination of the sample. Moreover, as described herein, there are additional benefits in keeping the sample solution in a smaller tube.
Several companies provide kits that include filter columns designed to use this technique for isolating nucleic acids. QIAGEN, Promega, and Boehringer Mannheim GmbH offer filter columns based on the above described principle. However, existing filter columns cannot be used interchangeably with collection tubes of different sizes. Instead, these previously known filter columns only fit into a single size collection tube (e.g., a standard 1.5-2.0 mL microcentrifuge tube.)
This limitation presents a problem as many applications may benefit if a single filter column could be interchanged with collection tubes of multiple sizes. For example, given a small amount of nucleic acid in the starting material, it is best to elute the purified nucleic acid into a very small volume of fluid so that nucleic acid does not become too dilute in the fluid. Obviously, the resulting combination of elution buffer and nucleic acid will occupy a small volume. Many applications that require processing of nucleic acid may benefit when storing this small volume of material in a smaller sized collection tube. For instance, an application such as amplification of the purified DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) requires placement of the nucleic acid into a thin-walled 0.5 mL or 0.2 mL microcentrifuge tube.
Accordingly, it may seem ideal to use a smaller filter column which is specifically designed to fit a 0.5 mL or 0.2 mL microcentrifuge tube. However, a significant drawback is that these smaller filter columns limit the amount of wash solution that can be passed through the column with each wash. This limitation necessitates additional wash steps and increased handling of the filter column and microcentrifuge tube, thus presenting an undesirable increased risk of contamination. Also, as discussed above, the requirement of large volumes of binding and wash solutions often necessitate the use of a larger collection tubes (e.g., a 1.5-2.0 mL microcentrifuge tube.)
The remaining alternative is to use a filter column specifically designed to fit into a larger collection tube (e.g., a 1.5 mL-2.0 microcentrifuge tube.) While this alternative minimizes the additional wash steps and increased handling discussed above, the alternative presents additional problems. For instance, after purification, the nucleic acid solution must be eluted from the filter column into an appropriately sized 1.5 mL-2.0 mL microcentrifuge tube. As discussed above, many applications may benefit by storing the elution buffer and nucleic acid in a smaller sized microcentrifuge tube. Consequently, the elution buffer and nucleic acid must then be transferred (e.g., by aspiration) into a smaller (e.g. 0.5 mL) tube. Again, this extra transfer step introduces the undesirable potentials of contamination and loss of some of the nucleic acid.
In view of the above, there remains a need to use different-sized collection tubes with a single filter column. The ability to use different-sized collection tubes with a single filter column overcomes the problems associated with the existing art.
The invention described herein addresses the problems discussed above. Moreover, the invention described herein allows centrifugation from one filter column into at least two distinct sizes of collection tubes. The disclosed invention may be used with commercially available collection tubes.

Filtration column devices and methods of filtering therewith


Method of preparing and introducing fuel into the combustors of a gas turbine in which a hydrocarbon containing feed, oxygen and steam are introduced into a catalytic partial oxidation reactor to produce a product stream. The hydrocarbon containing feed contains no less than about 15 percent by volume on a dry basis of hydrocarbons with at least two carbon atoms and/or at least about 3 percent by volume of olefins. The reactant mixture formed of the hydrocarbon containing feed, oxygen and steam has an oxygen to carbon ratio of between about 0.08 and about 0.25 and a water to carbon ratio of between about 0.05 to about 0.5. The hydrocarbon containing feed is introduced into the reactor alone or with a steam at a temperature no greater than 600° C. and the product stream is produced at a temperature of between about 600° C. and 860° C. and contains less than about 0.5 percent of olefins and less than 10 percent of hydrocarbons with two or more carbon atoms on a dry basis. After cooling the product stream the product stream is introduced into the combustors of the gas turbine to form part or all of the fuel required to support combustion.

Gas turbines are used in a variety of industrial settings to supply power to a load, generally an electrical generator. A gas turbine consists of a compressor to compress air and an expander to recover energy from the compressed air after having been heated. The compressed air is heated within a set of combustors located between the compressor and the expander.
Gas turbines are designed to burn a variety of fuels such as natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas and synthesis gases containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide as well as liquid fuels such as #2 fuel oil. Additionally, gases that are produced from steel production, such as blast furnace gases and coke oven gases are also utilized. Blast furnace gases are typically blended with other gases in that they do not have sufficient heating value to be used alone. Coke oven gases contain too much hydrogen to be used in connection with lean premix combustion systems.
Coke oven gases can be produced with a high content of hydrocarbons containing two or more carbon atoms or a high olefin content that can thermally crack and produce carbon deposits in gas turbine combustion components. While blending such gases will reduce the problems associated with thermal cracking, the degree to which such gases are blended also will act as a limitation on the utilization of such gases. There are other offgases produced in refineries, for instance, sweet refinery gases and fluidic catalytic cracker offgases that similarly contain a high content of hydrocarbons with two or more carbon atoms and have the potential for thermal cracking. Similar problems exist in using other types of offgases and byproducts produced in other chemical production facilities. A further problem is that the makeup of such gases can vary over time and as such, their use as gas turbine fuel can be highly problematical.
As will be discussed, the present invention provides a method in which fuels are pretreated at a catalytic partial oxidation reactor to lower the heavy hydrocarbon content of such gases, for example the hydrocarbons with two or more carbon atoms and/or unacceptably high olefin contents to acceptable levels so as to be utilized as a source of fuel for a gas turbine. Moreover, such treatment also dampens the effect of variability in the consistency of the hydrocarbon makeup of such gases.

Gas turbine fuel preparation and introduction method


Disclosed herein is a method for doping a substrate, comprising disposing a coating of a composition comprising a copolymer, a dopant precursor and a solvent on a substrate; where the copolymer is capable of phase segregating and embedding the dopant precursor while in solution; and annealing the substrate at a temperature of 750 to 1300° C. for 0.1 second to 24 hours to diffuse the dopant into the substrate. Disclosed herein too is a semiconductor substrate comprising embedded dopant domains of diameter 3 to 30 nanometers; where the domains comprise Group 13 or Group 15 atoms, wherein the embedded spherical domains are located within 30 nanometers of the substrate surface.

This disclosure relates to the doping of a substrate via a dopant containing polymer film that is disposed upon the substrate.
One of the challenges of scaling electronic devices down to the nanometer regime (sizes less than 100 nanometers (nm)) is achieving controlled doping of semiconductor materials in the sub-10 nanometer size range. For example, with transistor gate lengths fast approaching sub-10 nm size range, highly conductive ultra-shallow junctions on the nanometer length scale are used to scale down transistor size to achieve faster transistor speeds and higher packing densities. Furthermore, a wide range of proposed miniaturized electronic applications incorporate nanowire building blocks or other non-planar conductive nanostructures that use doping.
Current methods are not suitable for doping to depths of less than 10 nm. Ion implantation involves the bombardment of silicon substrates with high-energy dopant ions that replace silicon atoms in the substrate lattice. However, the process also produces point defects and vacancies in the lattice, which interact with the dopants to broaden the junction profile, thereby limiting the formation of sub-10 nm doping profiles. Furthermore, ion implantation is incompatible with non-planar, nanostructured materials because the energetic ions have a significant probability of penetrating completely through the nanostructure without remaining in the lattice while causing significant crystal damage. On the other hand, conventional solid-source diffusion procedures lack control and uniformity when doping is to be conducted at depths of less than 10 nm.
Monolayer doping procedures overcome the difficulties of current technologies and achieve high-quality, sub-5 nm doping profiles with high areal uniformity. During this procedure, a highly uniform, covalently bonded monolayer of dopant-containing small molecules is formed on silicon surfaces. In a subsequent thermal annealing step, the dopant atoms are diffused into the silicon lattice. This approach has resulted in the demonstration of shallow junctions (e.g., between 5 and 10 nanometers from the surface) with low sheet resistivity for both p- and n-type doping, and is compatible with non-planar, restricted-dimension nanostructured substrates. However, the monolayer doping strategy uses a couple of steps that are cumbersome. Firstly, deposition of the dopant containing small molecules is carried out in an oxygen free atmosphere (i.e., in an inert atmosphere or in a reduced pressure oxygen free condition) to prevent oxidative contamination. In addition, a silicon oxide capping layer is evaporated on top of the surface-functionalized silicon substrate before the annealing step in order to achieve efficient diffusion of the dopant atoms into the silicon substrate. The evaporation of the capping layer requires high vacuum of approximately ˜10−6 Torr.
Japanese Pat. App. JP 2005-123431 discloses forming an n-type diffusion zone by coating a film of an acidic organic phosphoric acid ester polymers (degree of polymerization of 500 or lower) dissolved in a polar organic solvent or water or a mixture thereof on a substrate followed by heating for a period of time at a first temperature that is lower than the diffusion temperature of phosphorus, then heating for a period of time in an oxidizing atmosphere at a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature but lower than the diffusion temperature of phosphorus, followed by heating for a period of time, such as 10 hours, in a non-oxidizing atmosphere at a third temperature that is higher than the second temperature in order to diffuse phosphorus into the substrate. This is a complex approach, necessitating three different heating cycles, and switching atmospheres between cycles. Also, the use of such polar solvents is often incompatible with standard processes used in semiconductor manufacture, possibly leading to poor film coating. If such a film is coated incompletely on the substrate, then the substrate will likely have a non-uniform doping of phosphorus.
Accordingly, it is desirable to develop a process for doping a substrate in ambient conditions without using a high vacuum, oxide capping layer, or oxidizing step.

Doping of a substrate via a dopant containing polymer film

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA


A content recording/reproducing system, which records and reproduces a sub-content relating to a main content, includes a distribution device, first and second recording media, a recording device and a reproducing device. The first recording medium that is non-rewritable prestores key data based on which a public key is derivable, and the main content. The distribution device outputs verification information that includes the sub-content and is generated by applying a digital signature to relative information relating to the sub-content based on a secret key corresponding to the public key. The recording device acquires and records the verification information on the second recording medium that is rewritable. The reproducing device acquires the key data from the first recording medium and the verification information from the second recording medium, derives the public key from the key data, verifies the verification information using the public key, and reproduces the sub-content if the verification succeeds.

Recently, hybrid media have been put into practical use. Each of the hybrid media includes a non-rewritable area, which becomes not-rewritable once data is written in it, and a rewritable area, which is rewritable. Such hybrid media are disclosed by PATENT DOCUMENT 1.
One possible use of the hybrid media is that a distributor prerecords a content such as music, movies and games in the non-rewritable area, distributes the media, and then distributes, via a network and so on, an additional content which is to be added into the rewritable area.
For instance, the distributor can distribute the hybrid media including a movie content to the users, and then distribute, via a network, the making of the movie to the users, as the additional content which is to be added into the rewritable area. In this way, the users can further enjoy the content recorded in the non-rewritable area with the additional content.
However, once the distributor has written a content into the non-rewritable area and has distributed the hybrid media, anybody can write any data into the rewritable area. Therefore, an additional content that is not expected by the distributor might be recorded in the rewritable area and reproduced. Content distributors have demands that the distributed hybrid media be protected against such rewriting, and reproduction of an unexpected and unauthorized additional content.
Patent Document 1
Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 7-235095

Content recording/reproducing system, distribution device, reproducing device, and recording device


A mobile chemical mixing and injection unit adapted for use during the extraction of an oil/water/sand slurry from an oil field storage tank wherein said tank has a body of accumulated sand therein. The unit comprises a motorized truck body having a flat bed with a water storage tank and two mixing tanks mounted thereto. A high pressure injection pump pumps water from the water storage tank to the oil field storage tank and creates a slurry. The slurry is pumped to an adjacent settlement tank hopper where the oil, water and sand will stratify. An effective amount of a flocculating agent, coagulating and surfactant are mixed in each of the water filled mixing tanks and then pumped into the slurry to facilitate separation of oil, sand and water. The high pressure injection water and the water for the mixing tanks are replenished by pumping water from the settlement tank hopper thereby ensuring a continuous process until the field storage tank is cleaned.

Oil that is pumped from a producing oil formation at a remote well head is often stored on-site in a tank. The oil often contains large amounts of water and formation sand or proppant/frac sand. Over time, the oil, water and solid phases will separate out. The sand will collect at the bottom of the tank and the oil will float on top of the water. Other particulate matter such as shale and clay may also accumulate. A significant amount of oil may remain emulsified in the water and adsorbed on the particulate matter. In a typical field oil storage tank in the region of Innisfree, Saskatchewan, Canada, the non-aqueous components may have the following composition:
TABLE 1Oil/paraffin17.65%Asphaltene1.81%Carbonates0.34%Iron salts0.68%Insolubles79.52%
The insolubles consist primarily of silica sand.
To further collect and process the oil, it is necessary to separate the water and sand from the oil. The water and sand present disposal problems that must be addressed in a cost efficient and ecologically sound manner. Separating the sand and water from the oil waste has a number of advantages including recovery of a reusable product, reduction of waste storage costs and mitigation of toxic waste pollution. Major hydrocarbon producers are under increasing public and regulatory pressure to conduct their businesses in a manner that is as environmentally benign as possible. This has created a problem that was heretofore addressed by burying the mixtures or spreading the mixture on rural roads as a dust control agent. Since, burying or long-term storage is not longer a feasible solution, there has been created an imperative to resolve this issue.
This problem was partially solved by my invention entitled "Treatment of Oil, Water and Sand Mixtures" described in my Canadian Patent 2,196,522. This invention provides for chemical addition and describes a method and apparatus for treating oil, water and sand mixtures into separate components. However, this invention was designed to be stationary and feedstock has to be transported to the treatment site. Due to the remote nature of many oil and gas well fields, trucking oil, water and sand mixtures to a separation plant is prohibitively expensive. My co-pending patent application "Trailer Mounted Mobile Apparatus for Dewatering and Recovering Formation Sand" having a filing date of Oct. 29, 2003 and a Ser. No. 10/694,716, incorporated herein by reference addresses the problem of removing and dewatering sand from remote oil field storage tanks. However, it does not directly address the requirement of treating oil field storage tank effluent by chemical means to further promote separation of oil, sand and water. The additional of chemicals to the effluent from storage tanks is necessary in order for the process to work effectively.
Therefore, there continues to be a need, not heretofore known in the prior art, of a self-contained mobile chemical mixing and injection unit and method for using the same to enhance the remote processing of oil field storage tank effluent and in order to promote separation of sand, oil and water.

Mobile chemical mixing and injection unit and method for using the same


The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating, screening and diagnosing macular degeneration in a subject. This is a new pathway found which is the only one known to be involved in development of the human macula. Manipulation and control of this pathway will allow rebuilding and/or repair of the macula, making new and improved better maculae.

Few tissues in the human body are as important to the wellbeing of a person as the central 3 mm of the human retina. The ability to drive a car, recognize friends in public, and see words on a computer, cell phone or printed page are just a few of the many activities of daily living that depend heavily on the normal function of the macula. Only primates have maculae and this is a major distinguishing feature for human and primate visual function.
For all but a few people, the macula functions very well for the first 6 or 7 decades of life, but in older individuals, the macula is prone to a genetically and mechanistically diverse group of disorders that are known collectively as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). For many years, the neovascular complications of AMD were the most common cause of irreversible blindness in developed countries.1-4 However, the recent advent of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs5-8 has dramatically reduced vision loss from neovascularization, thereby increasing the fraction of blindness caused by geographic atrophy of the macula.
There are at least 2 approaches that one could envision for reducing the burden of blindness caused by geographic atrophy of the macula. The first would be to understand the pathophysiologic mechanisms of AMD in sufficient detail that one could detect the disease at a very early stage, perhaps even as an asymptomatic genetic predisposition, and deliver a safe and effective preventive therapy to those at risk, much as statins are now used to reduce the risk of heart disease. Another strategy would be to rebuild an injured macula with new stem cell-derived retinal cells.9, 10 Molecular genetics will play an important role in both of these approaches.
In the 1990s, scientists sought the genetic causes of several Mendelian forms of human macular disease for at least 2 reasons. First, it was possible that mild mutations in the genes responsible for these early-onset conditions might prove to be responsible for a significant subset of the age-related forms of the disease. Second, it was thought that by discovering how relatively minor alterations of individual genes could cause clinical findings similar to AMD, one would gain valuable insight into the normal function of the macula. Twenty years later, it is clear that none of the genes that cause the classic Mendelian macular dystrophies cause a significant fraction of the late-onset disease, and none of the genes that have been shown to predispose people to typical AMD cause any meaningful fraction of early-onset Mendelian macular disease.
The first of the classic macular dystrophies to have its gene mapped to a chromosome,11 North Carolina macular degeneration (NCMD), is one of the last to have its specific disease-causing mutations identified. The reason for this delay—the unusual developmental mechanism of this disease—may ultimately make NCMD the most relevant of the Mendelian macular dystrophies to the treatment of AMD and other macular diseases. North Carolina macular degeneration was first described in a large kindred from North Carolina by Lefler et al12 and later described in more detail by Frank et al.13 The cross-sectional nature of these studies led the investigators to believe that the disease was slowly progressive. However, Small14 reexamined the original Lefler kindred approximately 20 years later and realized that NCMD is in fact a nonprogressive developmental disorder with highly variable expressivity.
In the decades since the MCDR1 locus was mapped by Small et al., many additional families were found (most by Small et al.) worldwide with NCMD have been described,15-20 including 1 family that links to a separate locus on chromosome 5 (MCDR3).21,22 The critical region on chromosome 6 has been considerably narrowed to 856 kb by Small et al,23,24 and all of the coding regions of genes within this interval have been exhaustively studied by us and other investigators.25 The failure of these experiments to identify plausible disease-causing mutations in any of these kindreds suggested that the mutations were likely to exist in nonexomic DNA and to affect the expression of a nearby gene or genes rather than the structure of its gene product. The purpose of this study was to take advantage of recent advances in whole-genome sequencing to comprehensively screen the nonexomic sequences within the MCDR1 and MCDR3 loci to identify disease-causing mutations in families affected with these diseases.

Methods for treating macular degeneration


Disclosed herein is a device that includes: a sense amplifier circuit activated in response to a first control signal; a first global bit line coupled to the sense amplifier circuit; a first local bit line; a first transistor electrically coupled between the first global bit line and the first local bit line, the first transistor being rendered conductive in response to a second control signal; a first memory cell; a first cell transistor electrically coupled between the first local bit line and the first memory cell, the first cell transistor being rendered conductive in response to a third control signal; and a control circuit producing the first, second, and third control signals such that the second control signal is produced after producing the third control signal and the first control signal is produced after producing the second and third control signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly relates to a semiconductor device including bit lines that are hierarchically structured.
2. Description of Related Art
Many of semiconductor memory devices as represented by a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) have a plurality of word lines extending in a row direction and a plurality of bit lines extending in a column direction. A plurality of memory cells are arranged at intersections between the word lines and the bit lines. When one of the word lines is selected, memory cells allocated to the selected word line are electrically connected to corresponding bit lines and then data held in the memory cells are readout to the bit lines. The read data are amplified by sense amplifiers connected to the bit lines, respectively.
However, with the configuration mentioned above, one sense amplifier needs to be provided for each bit line or each pair of bit lines and thus many sense amplifiers are required. As a method to solve this problem, a semiconductor memory device using bit lines that are hierarchically structured is proposed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2009-271985).
The semiconductor memory device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2009-271985 includes local bit lines each connected to memory cells and global bit lines each connected to a sense amplifier. A plurality of local bit lines are allocated to one global bit line to reduce the number of required sense amplifiers.
However, in the semiconductor memory device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2009-271985, switch circuits that connect the global bit line and the local bit line are configured to be turned on simultaneously with activation of a corresponding word line. As a result, the local bit line is connected to the global bit line before data is sufficiently read out to the local bit line. Thus, for example, when the global bit line receives noise from another adjacent global bit line, data is adversely inverted. Such a problem occurs not only in semiconductor memory devices such as a DRAM but also in all semiconductor devices including bit lines that are hierarchically structured.

Semiconductor device having bit lines hierarchically structured


Disclosed is a method of storing a scene model (230) used for foreground/background separation of a scene (223) captured by a camera (100), the scene model comprising a plurality of visual element models (240) each associated with a set (250) of mode models (260, 270, . . . ), said method comprising determining (330) if a change in the scene satisfies a pre-determined threshold (MFGT), creating (710) a background image based on a plurality of the mode models classified as background, matching (360) an input image (210) captured by the camera and the background image by determining a similarity score, and updating the set of mode models if the similarity score satisfies a pre-determined similarity threshold by creating at least one mode model based on the received input image, said mode model being classified as background.

A video is a sequence of images (also referred to as "frames") that may be encoded and compressed by various methods including motion-JPEG (M-JPEG) or according to the H.264 standard. The terms 'frame' and 'image' are used throughout this specification interchangeably to describe a single image in an image sequence. An image is made up of visual elements such as pixels or 8×8 DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform) blocks as used in JPEG images in a motion-JPEG stream.
The purpose of creating a scene model is to enable foreground objects and static background of a scene viewed by a camera to be distinguished. The real world environment is dynamic. As a result, a scene model developed from the camera input image may vary over time. For example, the overall lighting in the scene captured by a camera can change, and for example objects can enter, move around or leave the scene.
A scene model maintained by a computer system may be subjected to large environmental changes that affect the captured image. Such rapid changes can occur, for example, due to lights turning on or off in a room. Since rapid lighting changes affect the captured images in the scene, the effect on updating a scene model are correspondingly great. For instance, with typical parameter settings a large part of a scene, due to said rapid lighting changes, will likely be determined to be foreground for several minutes, causing any software that uses the output of the scene model to behave in an erroneous manner.
One method to improve the stability of scene models is to adjust the luminance level of the input image. However, in general luminance compensation techniques do not help to improve the stability of a scene model in a rapid lighting change situation. This is because luminance compensation only helps when there is gradual lighting change in the scene.
In another method, heuristic rules are employed in which, if the total percentage of detected foreground pixels in the scene is greater than a specified threshold value, the whole scene is temporarily treated as background, or in other words, no objects in the scene are classified as foreground objects. This approach however makes no distinction between rapid global lightings and a real large foreground object standing in front of the camera which is capturing the scene.
Thus, a need exists for an improved method for foreground background (FG/BG) separation using a scene model.

Method and system for robust scene modelling in an image sequence


In an information processing system comprising an input/output device, a main memory device, a processing device including a first-in first-out type write-in buffer, and a bus connecting thereamong, the first-in first-out type write-in buffer comprises a flag bit holding area for holding a bus release request signal from the input/output device as a flag bit to produce the flag bit as a flag signal. The bus arbitration circuit determines the bus available right so as to grant a priority right for data write-in processing by the input/output device rather than data write-in processing by the processing device when the bus arbitration circuit receives the flag signal. The bus arbitration circuit determines the bus available right on the basis of the bus release request and the flag signal.

This invention relates to an information processing system comprising an input/output device, a main memory device, and a processing device including a first-in first-out type write-in buffer and, more particularly, to a bus arbitration method between the processing device and the input/output device.
Various bus arbitration methods for information processing systems are already proposed. For example, a bus arbitration method is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Prepublication of Kokai No. Hei 4-333,950, namely, 333,950/1992 having the title of invention "INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM". According to Kokai No. Hei 4-333,950, an information processing system for realizing a bus arbitration method comprises a processing device, a bus arbitration circuit, an input/output device, a main memory device, and a bus. The processing device comprises a central processing unit and a first-in first-out type write-in buffer therein. The main memory device stores a plurality of instructions and data. The main memory device includes a memory array. The central processing unit carries out data processing in accordance with the instructions on the main memory device. The first-in first-out type write-in buffer successively holds write-in addresses and data from the central processing unit to successively supply held addresses and data to the bus. The input/output device is operable at a relatively lower processing rate than that of the processing device. When the input/output device would like to use the bus, the input/output device delivers a bus release request signal to the bus arbitration circuit. The bus arbitration circuit arbitrates between the processing device and the input/output device to determine a bus available right for either the processing device or the input/output device. The bus arbitration circuit delivers first and second enable signals to the processing device and the input/output device, respectively, one at a time. The bus connects between the processing device, the input/output device, and the main memory device.
Recently, the central processing unit is operable at a high operation rate which is several times a transfer rate of the bus. As a result, in a conventional bus arbitration method, continuous write-in processing on addresses and data occurs for the main memory device by the first-in first-out type write-in buffer. Accordingly, the conventional bus arbitration method is disadvantageous in that data write-in processing for the main memory device cannot be carried out by the input/output device during occurrence of the continuous write-in processing on the addresses and data for the main memory device by the first-in first-out type write-in buffer.
In addition, it is impossible to perform data write-in processing by the input/output device although a data write-in request for the input/output device occurs during data write-in processing by the processing device. This is because the data write-in processing by the processing device is carried out continuously. As a result, it is impossible to carry out data write-in processing for the main memory device in the order in which data write-in requests occur in the central processing unit and the input/output device. Accordingly, replacement of the order occurs in the data write-in processing.
Other bus arbitration methods are known. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Prepublication of Kokai No. Hei 2-144,652, namely, 144,652/1990 proposes a bus arbitration system which rationalizes the arbitration of bus available right by changing bus acquisition priority in accordance with data volume stored at present in a first-in first-out (FIFO) storage device to apply the bus available right. Japanese Unexamined Patent Prepublication of Kokai No. Hei 1-200,461, namely, 200,461/1989 discloses an arbitration system using FIFO type memory which ensures the satisfactory arbitration of a system where resources are shared by a plurality of processes or processors by using a simple constitution using an FIFO type memory and a data driver. Japanese Unexamined Patent Prepublication of Kokai No. Sho 63-147,252, namely, 147,252/1988 discloses a multiprocessor system which omits the need to decide the priority of interruptions by arbitrating a common bus line when a slave processor board gives an interruption request to a master processor board. Japanese Unexamined Patent Prepublication of Kokai No. Sho 62-202,253, namely, 202,253/1987 discloses a memory access shared control system which eliminate the need of extending a DMAC by sending an access permitting signal to an input/output device when the DMAC does not set flag information through control information set in an information setting part by a data signal and a data write clock signal from a processor.
However, each of the above-mentioned Japanese Unexamined Patent Prepublications neither disclose nor suggest technique which provides for data write-in processing by an input/output device while a processing device carries out continuous data write-in processing. In addition, each of the above-mentioned Japanese Unexamined Patent Prepublications neither disclose nor suggest technique which is capable of carrying out the data write-in processing for a main memory device in the order in which data write-in requests occur.

Bus arbitration between an I/O device and processor for memory access using FIFO buffer with queue holding bus access flag bit


Synchronizing a data stream with an associated metadata stream by receiving a data stream and a metadata stream having a plurality of metadata events associated with the data stream, identifying within the data stream a plurality of data events, matching each of the data events to one of the metadata events in accordance with a matching criterion, and synchronizing the data stream with the metadata stream by effecting a relative time shift between the metadata stream and the data stream in accordance with a time shift adjustment value that results in the smallest sum of absolute differences between time indices of each matched data event and metadata event.

In a typical computer network-based conferencing system a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) receives audio/video data streams from multiple participants of a conference, where each data stream that is received from a participant is rebroadcast to the other participants. MCUs are also typically able to separately provide metadata of real-time events that occur during a conference, such as indicating the start and end of a conference, when a participant joins and leave a conference, and which participant is currently speaking. Recording separate data and metadata streams after they are rebroadcast by an MCU faces the difficult challenge of synchronizing the separate data and metadata streams to each other, particularly where the streams themselves do not include explicit synchronization data.

Synchronization of data streams with associated metadata streams using smallest sum of absolute differences between time indices of data events and metadata events

International Business Machines Corporation


Provided is a sound source signal filtering method and apparatus. The sound source signal filtering method includes: generating two or more microphone output signals by combining sound source signals input through a plurality of microphones; calculating distances between the microphones and a sound source from which the sound source signals are emitted by using distance relationships according to frequencies of the sound source signals extracted from the generated microphone output signals; and filtering the sound source signals to obtain one or more sound source signals corresponding to a predetermined distance by using the calculated distances. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain only sound source signals emitted from a sound source at a particular distance from the microphone array among a plurality of sound source signals input through the microphone array.

1. Field
One or more embodiments of the present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for filtering sound source signals in a sound acquisition device including a microphone array, and more particularly, to a method of and apparatus for filtering a plurality of sound source signals input through a microphone array to obtain particular sound source signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nowadays, recording of an external voice, recording of a video file, or speaking on the phone can be easily performed by using a portable digital device. In order to record sound source signals, microphones are used for various digital devices such as mobile phones and consumer electronics. In addition, a microphone array including a plurality of microphones is generally used to easily process an acquired sound source signal.
The microphone array can obtain additional characteristics on directivity such as a direction or a position of a sound source signal to be acquired in addition to the sound source signal itself by combining a plurality of microphones. The directivity represents increases in sensitivity of sound source signals emitted from a sound source in a particular direction by using differences in times the sound source signals arrive at each microphone. Therefore, by acquiring sound source signals through a use of the microphone array, the sound signal input in a particular direction can either be emphasized or suppressed.
Unless recording is performed in a soundproof studio, recording a sound source signal or receiving a sound source signal by using a general digital device is more often performed in an environment with a presence of noise and interferences rather than in a quiet environment free from noise. Therefore, in order to extract a particular sound source signal for a user from mixed sound source signals via the division of each sound source signal, or to remove a sound source signal corresponding to unnecessary interference noise, various sound source signal processing technologies have been developed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Sound source signal filtering apparatus based on calculated distance between microphone and sound source


In accordance with various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, a system, device and method for an electrically tunable wavelength selection filter comprising a wavelength selection filter portion having a plurality of alternating thin films of two dielectric materials with a thin film capacitor displacing one pair of alternating thin films, and an order sorting filter portion electrically isolated from but proximate the wavelength selection filter and having a plurality of alternating thin films of two dielectric materials where one of the dielectric materials exhibits a voltage-dependent refractive index. Independently controlling the capacitor charging voltage and the voltage across the order sorting filter enables selective transmission of narrow spectral lines across a desired frequency region.

Contemporary optical bandpass filters generally function by absorption or reflection. Standard colored glass filters, for example, absorb incident frequencies and pass only a selected frequency band. Reflective bandpass filters are generally dielectric stacks where the thickness and refractive index of alternating layers of dielectric materials is chosen so that a specific set of frequencies is transmitted through the thin film stack, while all others are reflected back into space. When one or more non alternating materials different in composition, refractive index, and thickness, from the alternating materials is inserted into the stack, the structure becomes a Fabry-Perot etalon. This structure then transmits a specific, narrow range of frequencies, within the reflective region. The etalon becomes tunable when a mechanism alters the refractive index of the non-alternating material or when the optical angle of incidence is changed.
Unfortunately, existing tunable bandpass filters suffer from a number of compromises in terms of performance, mechanical requirements and the like. For example, schemes in which the angle of the filter is changed relative to a propagating beam of light require careful optical alignment and rotation mechanisms which degrade and break down over time. When one of the alternating materials in the dielectric stack exhibits a voltage tunable refractive index, each layer in the stack must have a ground and signal electrode. This significantly increases the fabrication and operational complexity of the device. Liquid crystal Fabry-Perot etalons are quite useful, although the liquid crystal component must be hermetically sealed for proper operation, which increases the cost and complexity of such filters. Insertion of electronic components such as a p-n diode junction do show good wavelength tunability, but require high quality (often epitaxial), crystalline materials to be optimally effective.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a Fabry-Perot etalon, reflective bandpass filter that exhibits excellent wavelength tunability, simple fabrication and no moving parts.

Multi-order, tunable Fabry-Perot etalon filter with wavelength down-selector

United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


An image capture device captures an image of crop after it has been processed by a kernel processing unit on a forage harvester. A size distribution indicative of the distribution of kernel fragment sizes in the harvested crop is identified from the image captured by the image capture device. A control system generates control signals to control a speed differential in the speed of rotation of kernel processing rollers based on the size distribution. Control signals can also be generated to control a size of a gap between the kernel processing rollers.

There are many different types of agricultural harvesting machines. One such machine is a forage harvester.
A forage harvester is often used to harvest crops, such as corn, that is processed into corn silage. In performing this type of processing, the forage harvester includes a header that severs the corn stalks from the roots and a cutter that cuts the plants into relatively small pieces. A kernel processing unit includes two rollers that are positioned with a gap between them that receives the cut crop. The gap is sized so that, as the cut crop travels between the kernel processing rollers, they crush the kernels into smaller pieces or fragments.
The rollers often operate at different speeds. In this way, as material passes between them, the rollers produce a grinding effect as well. This type of kernel processing operation affects the feed quality of the corn silage. For instance, kernels that have been broken into small pieces by the kernel processing unit are more digestible to dairy cattle and thus result in higher milk production. Kernels that are unbroken, or that are broken into relatively large pieces, are less digestible.
However, processing kernels in this way also uses a significant amount of the overall machine horse power. The power used to process kernels varies significantly with the size of the gap between the kernel processing rollers and the speed differential of the rollers.
One metric that is currently used to quantify the efficacy of a machine's kernel processing unit is known as the Corn Silage Processing Score (CSPS). In determining the CSPS value, a sample of silage is usually sent to a laboratory, where the sample is first dried, and then sieved through a machine which has a number of different sieves, with different hole sizes. The sieved material is then evaluated. The kernel portion that falls through a 4.75 mm sieve is the numerator of the CSPS, and the total kernel portion that was sieved is the denominator in the CSPS. Thus, the more of the kernel portion that falls through the 4.75 mm sieve, the higher the value of the CSPS metric.
Given this method, it is very difficult to use the CSPS metric value for anything, except determining the quality of the silage, after it is harvested. This can be used to determine the level of supplements that should be fed to the dairy cattle that will be consuming the silage.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Controlling a machine based on cracked kernel detection


A disconnectable vessel mooring system including a storage vessel (10) with a turret (32) mounted therein so that the vessel is free to weathervane about an anchored turret. A spider buoy (44) in a docked position is received within the turret (32) with the upper part of the buoy at a position above the sea water level to permit dry servicing of the buoy (44). Anchor legs (68) in the docked position are secured to the turret (32) by securing means (71). Guide tubes (72) on the outer surface of the buoy (44) receive the anchor legs (68) therein for limited longitudinal travel. Selected anchor legs (68) may be disconnected from the buoy (44) when detached from the turret (32) for lowering onto the sea floor to reduce the weight of anchor legs supported by the buoy (44).

1. Reference to Related Provisional Application
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/023,069 filed Aug. 2, 1996.
2. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a disconnectable vessel mooring system in which the vessel includes a structure for mounting a turret about which the vessel may weathervane when the turret is anchored to the sea floor by a spider buoy releasably connected to the turret. The spider buoy is buoyant and is anchored to the sea floor by a plurality of spaced mooring lines.
3. Description of the Prior Art
Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,186 dated Apr. 26, 1994, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated within this application as a written description for all purposes. As shown in the '86 patent, the spider buoy has a plurality of anchor legs comprising chains which are connected to the sea floor by anchors such as piles or drag embedment anchors. The anchor legs in the docked position of the buoy remain connected directly to the buoy. Anchoring forces are transmitted to the buoy. The spider buoy which is also referred to as a "mooring buoy" or "mooring element" is pulled tightly against the bottom of the turret below sea level by a mooring chain. The spider buoy is detachably latched to the turret. Thus, the turret is substantially fixed to the sea floor with the spider buoy docked against the turret. Any connections of the spider buoy to the turret, as disclosed in the '86 patent, must be made below the sea level.
Drilling and production operations are being performed at increased water depths and in even more harsh environments that include the potential passage of large icebergs. In instances where the water depth is great or the anchor legs are heavy to meet other design considerations, the design of the spider buoy and its connecting hardware becomes increasingly complex and expensive.
A spider buoy supports risers which extend to wells on the sea floor for the transport of hydrocarbon product to storage areas in the vessel. Connections of product lines on the turret are made to the risers in the buoy. Because the buoy is normally docked on the lower end of the turret, the buoy is below the level of sea water within the moon pool or vertical opening in the hull of the vessel which receives the turret. As a result, any coupling or connection of product lines from the turret to the risers of the buoy is performed beneath the sea level.
Mooring lines for the buoy are commonly formed of metal chains which may be of great weight, particularly at large water depths over thirty-five hundred (3500) feet, for example. Thus, a spider buoy when detached from a turret and supporting a plurality of heavy mooring lines or chains may submerge to a depth greater than desired. Otherwise the buoy must have great buoyancy to support the anchor legs. It is often uneconomical to provide a buoy of sufficient size and buoyancy to support the anchor legs or mooring lines when the buoy is detached from the turret and submerges to a suitable water depth for equilibrium.
A marker or spotter buoy floating on the surface of the sea water is usually connected to the submerged spider buoy to indicate the location of the submerged spider buoy. A small retrieval line extends from the marker buoy to the submerged spider buoy. A tanker or storage vessel locates the marker buoy and retrieves the spider buoy from its submerged position. The spider buoy is submerged at a depth low enough so that passing ships do not interfere. A suitable submerged depth is generally between thirty-five (35) and one hundred and fifty (150) meters. Thus, it is desirable to provide a disconnectable mooring system so that the spider buoy when disconnected from the turret is submerged to a desired depth range.

Disconnectable turret mooring system utilizing a spider buoy


The invention relates to a combination valve and back pressure valve which in one embodiment performs as a two-way check valve, and in another embodiment performs as a back pressure valve. The invention contains both apparatus and method claims. The valve includes a cylindrical member having an inlet port and an outlet port, with a bore therethrough. A valve sleeve is disposed within the bore. A valve stem is also slidably disposed within the bore. A selective dis-attachment assembly is incorporated into the valve and includes pre-selected shear pistons.

This invention relates to valves installed in tubing strings. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this invention relates to a combination two-way check valve and back pressure valve which in one embodiment performs as a two-way check valve, and in another embodiment performs as a back pressure valve.
A typical oil and gas well completion comprises a well bore that intersects a reservoir. A tubing string provides for a conduit so that the produced oil, gas and water may flow to the surface. Once at the surface, a series of surface valves (also known as the christmas tree) control the flow of the oil, water and gas.
During the life of the reservoir, the operator may deem it advisable to workover the well, which may require reworking the present zone, or alternatively, recompleting to another zone. In the course of workover operations, the christmas tree will be removed, and blow-out preventers will be joined to the tubing string via the tubing head and tubing hanger. In order to perform this operation, it is necessary to first install either a check valve or back pressure valve.
The check valve usually employed is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For instance, Cameron sells a "H" & "HM" Two-Way Check Valve. The valve is installed by using a lubricator, also well known in the art, such as the P-10 lubricator sold by Lubricators International. The advantage of using a check valve is that once in place, the blow-out preventer stack can be pressure tested for any leaks in the stack, manifold, etc. The two-way check valve can then be removed by the lubricator.
The typical back-pressure valve, which may be purchased from Cameron Iron Works, Inc. and known as the "H" Back Pressure Valve, may be used after the workover procedure. Thus, a back-pressure valve will be placed in the tubing hanger, the blow-out preventer stack will be disassembled, and the christmas tree will be put back in place. If pressure from the formation has built back up, fluid can be pumped through the back-pressure valve, and down the tubing string thereby creating a balanced hydrostatic head (also known as killing the well).
Prior art two-way check valves contain certain inherent deficiencies. For instance, when testing the Blow-Out Preventer's, if pressure has built up from the formation, it will be necessary to rig down the Blow-out Preventer's stack, re-install the christmas tree, remove the two-way check valve, locate in its place the traditional back pressure valve, and pump fluid down the tubing string in order to equalize the hydrostatic pressure i.e. kill the well.
Of course, it is not possible to first install the back pressure valve because of its inability to resist pressure from the top side, thereby precluding a testing of the Blow-Out Preventers. However, if the two way check valve is used, but is required to be replaced because of pressure build-up, such an operation is time consuming and very costly.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a combination two-way check valve that can be converted to a back-pressure valve by applying a pressure force to the two way check valve at the option of the operator. Another object of the invention is to combine the use of two separate tools into one which is more simple, and cost effective apparatus. Yet another object of the invention is to eliminate the procedure of changing out a two way check valve in order to locate a back pressure valve to equalize well pressure.

Combination check valve & back pressure valve