An image sensing system provide feature tone detection. A feature tone detection module receives illumination compensated pixel data. To perform feature tone identification the illumination compensated pixel data is transformed to a color space having hue and saturation and then compared against pre-selected ranges of hue and saturation. Noise filtering is performed using an erosion-dilation process. A bit code is used to identify pixels having a specified feature tone, such as a skin tone.

There is increasing interest in the detection of human skin tones in digital images. Skin tone detection may be used, for example, to assist in facial detection and body detection. In the prior art various skin tone detection techniques have been implemented using expensive Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) or computers to identify skin tones in digital images using complicated optimal solution mathematical algorithms to identify skin tones and perform various image analysis processes. However, these approaches based on optimal solution image processing algorithms typically require substantial computational resources and are too expensive to be integrated into high-volume consumer products.
There is interest in implementing skin tone detection in digital cameras having a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. CMOS image sensors typically generate pixel data in a color space, such as the Red (R), Green (G), and Blue (B) color space. One conventional approach in CMOS image sensors is to convert the RGB color space into a UV chrominance space and then perform skin tone analysis in the UV space. For example, the research paper, "Real Time Skin-Region Detection with a Single-Chip Digital Camera", in Proc. IEEE Intl. Conf. Image Processing, Thessaloniki, Greece, October 2001, describes a CMOS image sensor having a massively parallel embedded processor that implements skin tone detection in which R, G, B color values are transformed to U, V chrominance components (a UV color space) to perform skin tone detection.
However, the conventional approach to achieving an integrated skin tone detection capability in a CMOS image sensor has several drawbacks. One problem with UV based skin detection approaches is that it still requires more computing power than desired, due to the need to perform mathematical division operations to transform the RGB space into the UV space. Another problem is that performing skin tone detection in a UV space may make the skin tone detection accuracy dependent on lighting conditions. That is, when the same skin surface is lit with different illuminants the UV components of the captured image will vary, which in turn may cause errors in the skin tone detection algorithm. This is exacerbated by the problems in the prior art in implementing a low-cost noise filtering to eliminate false skin detection.
Therefore in light of the previously described problems what is desired is a new apparatus, system, and method to implement skin tone detection in CMOS image sensors.

Apparatus, system, and method for skin tone detection in a CMOS image sensor


An information processing apparatus (1) includes a processing execution unit (19) that, if a positional-relationship specification unit (18) detects that a positional relationship between an electronic device (2) and the own apparatus is held continuously for a predetermined time or longer, references a processing specification table (17), specifies processing, and executes the specified processing.

Recently, an information processing apparatus and an electronic device increase in performance and functionality. Accordingly, operation of a device becomes further troublesome and complicated. In particular, people in countries or regions unfamiliar with such devices and elderly people have serious difficulty in such operation. Owing to this, there are suggested various user interfaces that can be easily used even by users unfamiliar with the operation of the devices.
For example, PTL 1 describes that a RFID tag is mounted on a remote controller of a television set, and RFID readers that read the RFID tag are arranged at a plurality of positions in a house. PTL 1 also describes that the location of the remote controller in the house is specified from the reading result of the RFID reader, and control information of the television set corresponding to the specified position is transmitted from a home server to the remote controller. Accordingly, the control information can be re-set for the television set without an operation by a user.

Information processing apparatus, control method for information processing apparatus, control method for electronic device, and storage medium containing control program


This invention provides devices and methods for mixing and extruding compositions which are medically and non-medically useful. The devices are particularly useful for mixing substances which are relatively inert when alone but become reactive when mixed. A common feature of all of the devices is that they allow the user to mix and ultimately extrude a composition from a single device which includes a single container or multiple interconnected containers.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to medical devices for mixing and extruding medically useful compositions, such as those used as bone replacement materials.
2. Background of the Invention
Certain medically useful substances are composed of component parts that require mixing prior to use. One such example is the mixing of the components used in preparing compositions as replacement materials for bones. Bone replacement materials typically are composed of a mineral component and a glue that surrounds and binds the mineral component. Often the mineral component is a calcium based mineral, and the glue component is a fibrin glue. The fibrin glue is formed by mixing fibrinogen and thrombin components.
Bone replacement material is typically mixed using a mortar and pestle and then applied as a paste. The mortar and pestle method, however, often destroys or greatly compromises the integrity of the fibrin glue matrix. This is due to the mechanical grinding action associated with using the mortar and pestle. Other similar methods involve mixing of the components on a flat surface using a spatula or like implements. In this regard, another disadvantage of current methods of mixing bone replacement materials is that they do not provide for final mixtures wherein the component parts are distributed homogeneously and in precise quantities.
There is therefore a need for medical devices that facilitate the mixing of substances that, when mixed, yield medically useful compositions. More specifically, there is a need for such devices that can conveniently and efficiently mix the component parts of bone replacement materials. Ideally the devices should be of a nature such that the mixing of the component parts, as well as the ultimate extrusion of the final composition, can be carried out wholly within the devices themselves.

Devices and methods for mixing and extruding medically useful compositions


Methods and compositions are presented for use in diagnostic, imaging or targeting of therapeutic agents to treat obesity/adiposity-associated disorders, compositions and methods identify and use peptides to selectively target adipose tissue stromal cells in mammals.

Transplantation of stem cells is accepted as a way to boost tissue regeneration in preclinical trials, and this strategy is being translated to the bedside (Kolonin and Simmons, Nat. Biotechnol. 27, 252-253, 2009). Stem cell therapy would greatly benefit from a capacity to target mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) in specific organs for imaging or therapeutic applications. MSC are a mixed cell population that comprises multipotent adult progenitor cells (Bianco, et al., Cell Stem Cell 2, 313-319, 2008). Due to the ability of these cells to differentiate into mesenchymal lineages, such as osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes, they are commonly referred to as mesenchymal stem cells (Pittenger, et al., Science 284, 143-147, 1999; Prockop, Science 276, 71-74, 1997). Recent studies reveal that MSC function as perivascular cells (pericytes) maintaining vascular integrity (Crisan, et al., Cell Stem Cell 3, 301-313, 2008; Tang, et al., Science 322, 583-586, 2008; Traktuev et al., Circ. Res. 102, 77-85, 2008).
Preclinical studies and clinical trials with transplanted MSC support the therapeutic potential of these cells and suggest that these cells are also activated during disease to participate in tissue repair and regeneration. However, the clinical application of MSC for cell therapy require the ability to track and control this plastic cell population, due to safety concerns related to their capacity to promote cancer (Zhang et al., Cancer Res. 69, 5259-5266, 2009).
MSC were originally isolated from the bone marrow stroma and termed fibroblast colony-forming units (CFU-F) based on their fibroblastic morphology (Friedenstein, Haematol. Blood. Transfus. 25, 19-29, 1980). Since then, MSC have been identified in the majority of adult organs, with white adipose tissue (WAT) being the largest reservoir of MSC, these cells being termed adipose stromal cells (ASC: Gimble et al., Circ. Res. 100, 1249-1260, 2007; Daquinag et al., Trends in Pharmacol. Sci. 22, 1-8, 2011). While WAT is primarily composed of adipocytes, ASC constitute the majority of cells in the stromal/vascular fraction (SFV), which also contains endothelial cells (EC) and infiltrating hematopoietic cells (Hausman et al., Obes. Rev. 2, 239-254, 2001). ASC have been revealed to be a rich source of multipotent progenitors that display multipotency and proliferation capacity comparable to those of bone marrow MSC, while also having clear unique features (Rodeheffer et al., Cell 135, 240-249, 2008; Tang et al., 2008, ibid; Zuk et al., 2001, Tissue Eng. 7, 211-228).
Current understanding of the mechanisms through which intercellular interactions of MSC with other tissue components mediate tissue remodeling is limited by the lack of specific MSC markers. While a number of cell surface molecules, including platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFRβ), CD146, CD44, CD90, CD105, CD73, CD29, and Stro-1, have been used for positive selection of MSC, each one of them is also expressed on other cell types (Bianco et al., 2008, ibid; Gimble et al., 2007, ibid; Nie et al., Stem Cells 26, 2735-2745, 2008). MSC (including those from WAT) can be distinguished from hematopoietic cells based on the lack of the pan-leukocyte marker CD45 and from endothelial cells (EC) based on the lack of the pan-endothelial marker CD31/PECAM-1 (Bianco et al., 2008, ibid; Rodeheffer et al., 2008, ibid). Because CD34 is expressed on perivascular MSC of several organs in vivo, the CD34+CD45−CD31− immunophenotype has been used to separate MSC from other cells (Gimble et al., 2007 ibid; Tang et al., 2008, ibid; Traktuev et al., 2008, ibid; Zhang et al., 2009, ibid). However, because this signature does not differentiate MSC in different tissues, new markers for prospective isolation and tracking of ASC and MSC in other tissues are urgently needed and are constraining the field of stem cell transplantation as a whole.
Furthermore, adipose associated disorders include, but are not limited to, obesity, body weight and body composition disorders, including eating and other disorders effecting regulation of body fat and body weight, represent major health problems in all industrialized countries. The prevalence of obesity in developed countries is high. For example, by the year 2002 approximately 30% of Americans were obese (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). Obesity is a condition in which there is an excess of body fat relative to lean body mass, and is defined as a body mass index (weight/height2) greater than 30 kg/m2 (Kopelman, Nature 404:635-643, 2000). Obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing many serious diseases, including, but not limited to, type 2 diabetes, stroke, hypertension, coronary artery disease, certain cancers, chronic fibrosis in certain tissues, fatty liver disease, chronic venous insufficiency, deep vein thrombosis, arthritis, breathing problems such as obstructive sleep apnea, and gallbladder diseases such as cholelithiasis, among other complications (Willett et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 341:427-434, 1999).
Of further note, stromal cells are connective tissue cells that support the function of the parenchymal cells of an organ. Fibrosis is a pathologic process, which includes scar formation and over production of extracellular matrix, by the connective tissue, as a response to tissue damage. Confluent fibrosis can obliterate the normal architecture and function of the underlying organ or tissue. Fibrotic disorders, include but are not limited to, pathologic scarring in the skin, such as, colloid and hypertrophic scar; cirrhosis of liver and gallbladder, fibrosis in the heart, eye and the kidneys, pulmonary and bone-marrow, fibrosis in the gastro intestinal tract, that associated with cancers, such as sarcomas and hemangiopericytoma as well as scleroderma. Additional fibrotic disorder include scurvy and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus and genetic disorders examples of which include Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome, pseudoxanthoma elasticum, osteogenesis imperfect, fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive and spontaneous pneumothorax, among others.
The above mentioned disease associations explain why the economic costs of obesity are estimated to be more than 100 billion dollars (Daniels, Am. J. Nurs. 106:40-49, 2006), which is estimated to be as much as 7% of total health care costs (Seidell, Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 19(Suppl 6):S13-S16, 1995).
The regulation of body composition in mammals is a complex process that involves the regulation of both appetite and energy expenditure. Human body composition and body weight homeostasis is poorly understood. The epidemiology of obesity strongly shows that the disorder exhibits inherited characteristics, and human twin studies strongly suggest a substantial genetic basis in the control of body composition and body weight, with estimates of heritability on the order of 80-90 percent. Studies of the genetics of human obesity and of animal models demonstrate that obesity results from the complex interactions of defective regulation of food intake, food induced energy expenditure, and the balance between lipid and lean body anabolism. Thus, obesity is not merely the result of negative behavior, i.e., the result of voluntary hyperphagia, but results from differences in eating patterns, metabolism, and neurologic/metabolic interactions. These differences seem to be due, in some degree, to differences in gene expression, either the level or activity of gene products (Friedman et al., Mamm. Genome 1:130-144, 1991).
Current methods for control of body weight include dieting and surgical procedures. However, diet is often unsuccessful and the few obesity therapeutics approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, such as Phentermen, fenfluramine, Meridia, Xernical, Orlistat, Adipex-P, Bontril and Ionomin have unacceptable or dangerous adverse effects and those few that have been approved have been removed from the marketplace. Surgical methods for weight reduction, such as liposuction, gastric bypass or banding surgeries, have many risks. None of the presently available methods for weight control is satisfactory and a need exists for improved methods of weight loss and control.
In addition to the obesity problem in the human population, there is a growing problem of obesity in companion animals, such as dogs and cats (German, J. Nutr. 136:1940S-1946S, 2006). In the United States, it is estimated that 25-40% of all dogs and cats are overweight or obese. As in humans, obesity can have detrimental effects on the health and longevity of companion animals. Additionally, the ability to reduce or eliminate the use of body composition and body weight manipulators in commercial livestock feed has significant utility not only in savings to the grower, but to the consumer and to society as a whole. Therefore, the ability to manipulate body composition and body weight and to treat body composition disorders in humans and companion animals such as, but not limited to, obesity, and the ability to increase the size of livestock, have broad utility and represent significant opportunities.
Diabetes is a long-term, currently incurable disorder, associated with body composition disorders, specifically obesity and the metabolic syndrome, with greatly increased risks for developing additional pathologic conditions resulting from poor glycemic control. Chronic, short-term risks include, but are not limited to, hypoglycemia, infections, and disorders associated with hyperglycemia, such as ketoacidosis. Long-term complications resulting from diabetes include, but are not limited to, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, vascular disease, visual impairment, nephropathy, and neuropathy. According to a 2005 survey by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, over 20 million people in the United States have diabetes, and the percentage of the population with diabetes is rapidly increasing. In 2005 in the United States, 1.5 million people were diagnosed with diabetes. Some studies project that about 250 million people worldwide will be afflicted by diabetes by the year 2020 (O'Rahilly, BMJ, 314: 955-959, 1997). The most prevalent forms of this disorder are insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM or type I) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM or type II). Due to the high incidence of diabetes, and the irreversible damage that is incurred with many of the associated complications, the cost of treatment surpasses any other single disease in the United States. In 2002, more than $132 billion was spent on direct and indirect costs for treatment, with about $92 billion of that going to direct medical costs (Hogan et al., Diabetes Care 26:917-932, 2003).
Recently, obesity has emerged as one of the factors predisposing cancer patients to mortality as a result of advanced cancer progression (see for example, Daquinag et al., Vascular targeting of adipose tissue as an anti-obesity approach. Trends in Pharmacol. Sci. 22, 1-8, 2011; Zhang, et al. Adipose-tissue derived progenitor cells and cancer, World Journal of Stem Cells (Topic Highlight), 2 (5): 103-113, 2010; Bellows, et al., Influence of BMI on Level of Circulating Progenitor Cells, Obesity, online; Flegal, et al. Cause-specific excess deaths associated with underweight, overweight, and obesity. JAMA. 298, 2028-2037, 2007; Roberts, et al. Biological mechanisms linking obesity and cancer risk: new perspectives. Annu Rev Med. 61:301-316, 2010). Survival of patients with prostate and breast carcinomasis decreased by obesity more than for other cancers. WAT has a direct effect on cancer progression (Vona-Davis, et al., Adiposity, type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome in breast cancer. Obes Rev; 8: 395-408, 2007) as a potent endocrine organ secreting numerous soluble adipokines implicated in inflammation and the metabolic syndrome (Rosen et al., Adipocytes as regulators of energy balance and glucose homeostasis. Nature; 444: 847-853, 2006). Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are among those that could directly stimulate tumor cell proliferation. Leptin, interleukin-6, as well as various other hormones and inflammatory cytokines, may also play a role (Baillargeon. Obestity adipokines and prostate cancer (review). Int J Oncol; 28: 737-745 2006). However, clinical and experimental data addressing the role of these factors in cancer has remained controversial. For example, in animal models ablation of circulating IGF-1 has shown no effect on prostate tumor growth (Anzo et al., Targeted deletion of hepatic Igf1 in TRAMP mice leads to dramatic alterations in the circulating insulin-like growth factor axis but does not reduce tumor progression. Cancer Res; 68(9):3342-9, 2008). Therefore, alternative mechanisms must be considered.
As opposed to WAT, whose physiological function is to store excess energy, brown adipose tissue (BAT) is responsible for energy dissipation in the form of heat. The fine balance between WAT and BAT is an important issue to take into consideration in designing targeting therapies. A number of results from the rodent models indicate that BAT has a protective effect against the pathological consequences of obesity. The significance of discovering BAT in adults lies in possible new approaches to treatment of obesity and of the associated disorders. ASCs are one of the progenitor cell types giving rise to BAT (Elabd et al. Human multipotent adipose-derived stem cells differentiate into functional brown adipocytes. Stem Cells 27, 2753-2760, 2009). More importantly, white adipocytes can be directly converted to a BAT-like phenotype both in culture and in vivo (Cinti. Transdifferentiation properties of adipocytes in the adipose organ. Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 297, 977-986, 2009). In mice, expansion of residual BAT "patches" within WAT can lead to virtually all adipose depots becoming BAT-like at the expense of WAT. The apparent dependence of adipocyte physiology on the status of the vasculature suggests that vascular-targeting agents could be designed to convert WAT into BAT, rather than destroying tissue altogether, as a more physiological and safer anti-obesity treatment. Development of pharmacological approaches to activate proliferation, vascularization and/or metabolism of the existing residual BAT could, in theory, tilt the WAT/BAT balance and be used to treat obesity.
In summary, adipose associated body composition and body weight disorders such as obesity and diabetes represent major health problems. Given the severity, prevalence, and complexity of adipose associated body weight disorders, there exists a great need to identify genes and proteins that participate in body composition and body weight control, and to develop new drugs and therapies to treat adipose associated body composition disorders, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. Targeting treatment and imaging modalities to different type of cells in adipose tissue (WAT and BAT), such as ASC, can be beneficial for biomedical applications in obesity, cancer and fibrosis.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and compositions for targeting adipose cells in mammals

BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM


Methods and apparatuses for masking the edges of a substrate when performing direct or reverse gravure coating using a kiss-coat configuration, particularly useful for in-line coating of biaxially oriented polymeric films. The methods and apparatuses include a masking plate configured to prevent the edge of a portion of a substrate from contacting a gravure roll, the masking plate includes a top portion having a Rockwell B hardness equal to or greater than 80, and a thickness of between 0.03125 inches and 0.375 inches. This masking plate prevents build-up of coating on the edges of the substrate which otherwise can cause film orientation production instabilities such as film breaks, sticking to tenter clips, and/or edge trim recycling incompatibilities. The masking plate provides a masking method that is effective and durable, minimizing production downtime and maintenance.

Gravure coating processes have been established and are well known within the industry, as they provide a method to coat a flexible substrate in a uniform manner. Complete coating of the substrate is common among many of these applications, particularly in printing and priming industries. However, complete coating is not advantageous in some other processes, particularly when the material is subjected to further stretching.
Biaxial orientation, which involves sequential or simultaneous machine and transverse direction stretching is common in the production of some polymer substrates (polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polylactic acid, etc.) as the orientation imparts desired properties that are useful for packaging films and many industrial films. Transverse stretching is commonly done by a tenter process within the industry, wherein the edges of the film are captured by clips on a moving chain that will then stretch the film to a desired width before releasing it. In some cases, it is desirable to coat one or both sides of the substrate to provide useful properties such as gas barrier, printability, heat sealability, etc. It can be also desirable in some cases to apply the coating "in-line" in a biaxial orientation process, typically between the machine direction orientation process (MDO) and the transverse orientation process (TDO) in a sequential orientation line. (In a simultaneous orientation line, such a coating process can be placed after the extrusion and casting section but prior to the tentering oven.) Typically, a coating station is placed between the MDO and TDO and the coating may be applied by any means well-known in the art, including but not limited to gravure coating, rod coating, slot die coating, etc. Preferred is gravure roll coating. In order to avoid build-up of coating and a detrimental effect to machine performance, coating close to the thick edges of the MD-oriented sheet is avoided.
There are many configurations for gravure coating a substrate, but most can be described within two application categories: standard configurations where a backing roll places the substrate in contact with the gravure roll or offset roll; or kiss-coat configurations (see FIGS. 1 and 2) where the substrate is wrapped around the gravure roll or offset roll without the use of a backing roll. U.S. Pat. No. 3,844,813 to Leonard et al. describes these gravure coating processes onto a textile substrate. The '813 patent, however, does not disclose any edge masking systems that may be employed in the process.
Edge masking can be employed by current commercial systems provided by machinery manufacturers such as Davis Standard, LLC of Pawcatuck, Conn. Commercial designs for a conventional gravure method include manufacturing the backing roll in a way to provide a two-stepped roll diameter so that the edges of the substrate are not pressed into the gravure roll, and therefore not coated, due to a smaller roll diameter on the edges. One obvious drawback in this design is that the uncoated region can only be adjusted by changing the backing roll, necessitating significant downtime for every width change in the substrate. Additionally, in certain applications, using a backing roll can be very difficult as slight misalignments or speed differences can cause wrinkles or other defects into the finished product. Defects can also occur when running in reverse gravure (when the gravure roll runs counter to the film direction), and slight coating fluid property differences fail to provide the necessary lubricity. These defects can be particularly detrimental in further stretching processes and can cause complete failure within the process (i.e. film breaks).
Commercial designs for kiss-coat edge masking include use of a thin (40 mil or 1000 μm) TEFLON® (PTFE or polytetrafluoroethylene) sheet at custom widths (typically 2-4 inches or 5-10 cm) that is wound on spools before and after the gravure roll. The wound material can be manually indexed to account for wear. While this system does mask the edges it fails to provide long-term abrasion resistance with indexing potentially necessary every 30-60 minutes depending on the substrate. The indexing is also limited by the total amount of material that can be wound, necessitating a more involved change every 1-2 days with substantial downtimes incurred. Additionally, this design is in a fixed transverse location so that any product width changes require a reconfiguration of the hardware with additional downtime incurred. This lack of transverse or side-to-side adjustment flexibility while in production mode is very limiting and unproductive.
Wear to the masking material with the commercial design can be exacerbated when using gravure coating substrates with thick edges, particularly with in-line coating methods used in biaxial orientation film manufacturing. As described earlier, in many polymer orientation processes the substrate is captured within a clip system for transverse or simultaneous machine and transverse stretching. To withstand this clip system, finished thin films (less than 5 mil or 125 μm) require that the edges of the film be much thicker than the middle of the film substrate. This thick edge portion is typically about 40-50 mm wide and is the portion of the film that goes inside the tenter chain clip. The tenter chain clip then closes upon this edge portion and is the method by which the film is conveyed into the tentering oven. This edge thickness can cause excessive wear on the commercial edge masking, necessitating very frequent indexing of the masking material and eventual production losses as downtime is needed to replenish the masking material and/or clean-up of coating build-up.
Additionally, with transverse stretching of polymers, the transition between uncoated substrate and coated substrate can be exceptionally difficult to manage for stability of the process. If the desired coating thickness is high (high stretch ratio, low solids, etc), the temperature difference between the coated and uncoated polymer within the tenter oven, which performs a dual function of both drying the wet coating as well as heating the substrate to enable orientation, can lead to overstretching failure of the uncoated portion within the process. Precise management of this transition from coated to uncoated regions is desired for a stable process in this instance. With polymer stretching, slight differences in width between and during runs are common after machine direction stretching, up to 3% of the width of the MD-oriented film. This makes any fixed masking setup difficult to manage for a stable process. Thus, the masking system should have the ability to be adjusted side-to-side (or transversely) to effectively mask the edges and prevent coating of the edges if such width variations occur.
The current invention addresses the above deficiencies regarding wear and coating width management.

Gravure roll edge masking system for in-line film coating


An image processing device includes a rotation processor, a parallax image generator, and a rotation controller. The rotation processor makes rotation processing including rotating first left and right images in a stereo image, to generate second left and right images. The parallax image generator calculates corresponding left and right image points in the second left and right images, to generate a parallax image. The rotation controller obtains a coordinate point to calculate an amount of angular change in a rotation angle in the rotation processing. The coordinate point indicates relation of a first positional difference in a horizontal direction and a second positional difference in a vertical direction, between first and second positions. The first and second positions are respective positions of the left and right image points in the second left and right images.

The disclosure relates to an image processing device that obtains a parallax image on the basis of a stereo image.
Some vehicles such as automobiles generate a parallax image on the basis of a stereo image obtained by a stereo camera. The parallax image includes parallax-related information. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2015-175635 describes a distance estimation device. The distance estimation device generates a parallax image by calculating an amount of positional deviation between right and left image sensors with the use of monocular motion stereo, and making a correction of a captured image on the basis of the amount of positional deviation.


A game simulating a team sport which tests and improves players' knowledge of, for example, favorite teams, whereby players select play cards and alternately ask and answer questions. Players generally advance teams and score by answering questions correctly. After answering questions correctly, players spin a move wheel, determining by chance move outcomes. Move outcomes include realistic possibilities, such as various numbers of yards to advance, interception by the opposing team exchanging defense and offense, number of penalty yards to retreat and awards of first downs or touchdowns. Players roll dice to begin play or attempt supplementary moves. Players mark scoreboards to record teams' changing scores. Scoreboards include play counters and question counters for convenience.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to board games and more particularly to board games mimicking team sports, whereby players strive to advance a game piece and score by answering questions correctly and then spinning a wheel to determine the move's outcome. Players may roll dice to begin play or attempt supplementary moves.
2. Description of the Related Art
Board games attempting to simulate real play of particular team sports like baseball, basketball, football and hockey are popular and well known. People play these games for diversion and enjoyment.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,173,346 issued to Godwin discloses a football board game giving players choice between selecting cards or rolling dice to simulate results of conventional football games.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,410 issued to Smith discloses a football board game including dice, manually operated chance device, play selector and simulated football field with regularly spaced openings for receiving player pieces. Player(s) roll dice to determine yardage of a designated play. Player(s) operate a manually operated chance device to determine kick results, pass results and penalties.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,569 issued to Frohlich discloses a baseball board game consisting of a board having a baseball diamond, a realistic random number generator and two sets of cards for player identification and play event. Players generate random numbers and consult cards.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,593 issued to DiPersio et al. discloses a board game simulating baseball combining a die and playing cards with a video cassette recorder ("VCR"). Players roll die to determine pitch result. When die rolls indicate hits, players select cards to determine hit result. Cards may direct players to subsequently consult a VCR tape having recorded baseball plays.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,653 issued to Murphy et al. discloses a basketball board game including a miniature basketball goal and basketball, question and answer cards and means to determine by chance which questions player(s) use during player(s)' turns. Player(s) answering questions correctly make shots at the goal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,229 issued to Jaime discloses a football board game including representation of a football field having goal and yard line indicia. Players roll various die (extra point, field goal, kick-punt and yardage), then consult associated charts.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,412 issued to McMahon discloses a baseball board game utilizing various dice and a sectored spinner. Player(s) roll dice to determine pitch result. When dice rolls designate hits, player(s) spin the spinner to determine hit type. Player(s) roll dice to determine steal attempt outcomes. Player(s) arrange common baseball cards on playing surface illustrations to pretend.
As evidenced by the above patents, various board games exist. However, new games are useful where unobvious combinations of new and old game elements renew player(s)' desire to purchase and play games. No known games comprise the board game elements included in the present invention. The differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and the prior art are such that the subject matter of the present invention as a whole would not have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter pertains.


A flash controlling method is disclosed. The method includes: acquiring image data by photographing a subject; detecting a predetermined target object from the image data; calculating a distance to the predetermined target object based on a size of the detected predetermined target object; controlling an amount of flash light to be emitted based on the calculated distance; setting a predetermined threshold based on a reachable distance of the flash light; and inhibiting emission of the flash light when the calculated distance is larger than the predetermined threshold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flash controlling device and a flash controlling method for use with a photographing apparatus, such as a digital still camera, with a flash function.
2. Description of the Related Art
Photographing methods for use with photographing apparatuses, such as digital cameras and digital video cameras, in which a target object is detected from a photographed image during photographing and a distance to the target object is calculated based on the size of the target object, to carry out some control based on the result of the calculation, have conventionally been known.
One example of such photographing methods is a method of controlling a light modulation operation according to the distance to the target object calculated based on the size of the target object on the photographing screen. Examples of the light modulation operation include increasing an amount of emitted light and increasing the aperture when the distance is large, and decreasing the amount of emitted light and decreasing the aperture when the distance is small (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-075717).
Another example is a method of preventing "white out" of the target object by decreasing the amount of flash light when the ratio of the size of the detected target object on the photographing screen is higher than or equal to a predetermined value, determining that a close-up image of the target object is being photographed (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-107567).
However, in the above-described photographing methods, although the amount of emitted light is controlled, flashing is carried out when the target object has been detected. In these methods, even if a target object has been detected, the flash light may not reach the target object if the distance to the detected target object is large.


A method (20) of fabricating a large component such as a gas turbine or compressor disk (32) from segregation-prone materials such as Alloy 706 or Alloy 718 when the size of the ingot required is larger than the size that can be predictably formed without segregations using known triple melt processes. A sound inner core ingot (12) is formed (22) to a first diameter (D1), such as by using a triple melt process including vacuum induction melting (VIM), electroslag remelting (ESR), and vacuum arc remelting (VAR). Material is than added (26) to the outer surface (16) of the core ingot to increase its size to a dimension (D2) required for the forging operation (28). A powder metallurgy or spray deposition process may be used to apply the added material. The added material may have properties that are different than those of the core ingot and may be of graded composition across its depth. This process overcomes ingot size limitations for segregation-prone materials.

The use of nickel-iron based superalloys to form disks for large rotating apparatus such as industrial gas turbines and compressors is becoming commonplace as the size and firing temperatures of such engines continue to increase in response to power, efficiency and emissions requirements. The requirement for integrity of such components demands that the materials of construction be free from metallurgical defects.
Turbine and compressor disks are commonly forged from a large diameter metal alloy preform or ingot. The ingot must be substantially free from segregation and melt-related defects such as white spots and freckles. Alloys used in such applications are typically refined by using a triple melt-technique that combines vacuum induction melting (VIM), electroslag remelting (ESR), and vacuum arc remelting (VAR), usually in the stated order or in the order of VIM, VAR and then ESR. However, alloys prone to segregation, such as Alloy 706 (AMS Specification 5701) and Alloy 718 (AMS Specification 5663), are difficult to produce in large diameters by VAR melting because it is difficult to achieve a cooling rate that is sufficient to minimize segregation. In addition, VAR will often introduce defects into the ingot that cannot be removed prior to forging, such as white spots, freckles, and center segregation. Several techniques have been developed to address these limitations: see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,496,529 and 6,719,858, incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
Alternative methods such as powder metallurgy and metal spray forming are available for producing large diameter segregation free ingots, however, these methods have not been demonstrated as being commercially useful either for yielding acceptable properties or for their cost effectiveness. Accordingly, enhanced methods of producing large diameter preforms from segregation prone metallic materials are needed.


A receiver includes a filter stage that receives, filters, and equalizes a received signal, and a decisional feedback loop coupled to the filter stage that receives and processes a signal output from the filter stage using remodulation. The decisional feedback loop includes a converter that generates a baseband signal, a detector that generates a decision signal, a restorative signal generator that generates a restorative signal using remodulation, and a carrier loop that generates a frequency correction signal and provides a frequency-offset estimate. The restorative signal and the frequency correction signal are provided to the converter to compensate for inter-symbol interference. The presented “remodulation” technique decouples interaction between the carrier loop, the pre-filters, and the equalizer of the restorative signal generator, providing an architecture that is more stable and significantly faster than conventional architectures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to receivers, and more particularly, to a receiver with equalization.
2. Related Art
A conventional receiver includes multiple receiver components, some of which may be used to overcome signal impairments. Some of the components may implement a carrier tracking loop. The carrier tracking loop tracks differences between transmit and receive carrier frequencies and/or phases. Because a carrier tracking loop having a short loop delay is usually considered to have better performance than a loop with a long loop delay, it can be beneficial to close the loop closer to an end of the receiver. However, this arrangement can result in an undesirable interaction between the tracking loop and other receiver components. Thus, the arrangement can disadvantageously reduce the effectiveness and/or adaptability of some or all of these other receiver components. This may disadvantageously increase receiver acquisition time and reduce receiver Signal-to-Noise ratio (SNR) performance. There is a need therefore for a receiver arrangement that overcomes these disadvantages.

Receiver having decisional feedback equalizer with remodulation and related methods


For supplying a power supply voltage to a Low Noise block with a plurality of different receiver-decoders connected to the same Low Noise block by a cable which transmits an intermediate-frequency signal as well as a power supply voltage intended for the Low Noise block, the receiver-decoders are connected in cascade and the upstream receiver-decoder (5) includes a transfer module (23) which transmits the intermediate-frequency signal of a connector (8) for connection to the Low Noise block to a connector (9) for connection to a downstream receiver-decoder when the upstream receiver-decoder is inoperative, and supplies a power supply voltage between the same connectors in the other direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of supplying a power supply voltage to satellite converter block, named "Low Noise Block", during use of a plurality of different receiver-decoders connected to the same Low Noise block by means of a main cable for transmitting an intermediate-frequency signal from the Low Noise block and for supplying a power supply voltage and possibly a low-frequency control voltage to the Low Noise block.
The invention also relates to a television receiver-decoder and to a transfer module, in which units the method is carried into effect.
2. Description of the Related Art
A satellite reception unit comprises a parabolic antenna which concentrates a signal in the range of 12 GHz onto a Low Noise block which converts the signal into an intermediate-frequency signal in the range of 1 GHz, and this signal is transmitted through a cable to a receiver-decoder which selects a channel and demodulates it for generating a video and an audio signal supplied, for example, to a conventional television set. The Low Noise block does not have its own supply but is fed via the cable by a power supply in the receiver-decoder. A problem occurs when one and the same Low Noise block is connected to several receiver-decoders because this presents the risk of conflict between the power supply voltages transmitted through the same cable by several receiver-decoders, and, moreover, it is necessary to split the signal among the different receiver-decoders. A solution to this problem is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,486. In accordance with this patent, each receiver-decoder comprises a switch allowing supply or no supply through the cable, and a distributor module splits the signal among different receiver-decoders. The user must activate the switches himself.

Television receiver-decoder for receiving signals from and for supplying power to a satellite converter


Monochromatic and multicolor light emitting devices which make use of phosphor layers to downconvert light emitted from organic light emitting materials into different, more desired colors. The light emitting devices of the present invention are used in a variety of applications to provide displays with high brightnesses and efficiencies.

Organic light emitting devices (OLED's), which make use of thin film materials that emit light when excited by electric current, are becoming an increasingly popular form of flat panel display technology for applications such as television sets, computer terminals, telecommunications equipment and a host of other applications. There are presently three predominant types of OLED construction: the "double heterostructure" (DH) OLED, the "single heterostructure" (SH) OLED, and the single layer polymer OLED. In the DH OLED, as shown in FIG. 1A, a substrate layer of glass 10 is coated by a thin layer of indium-tin-oxide (ITO) 11. Next, a thin (100-500 .ANG.) organic hole transporting layer (HTL) 12 is deposited on ITO layer 11. Deposited on the surface of HTL 12 is a thin (typically, 50 .ANG.-500 .ANG.) emission layer (EL) 13. The EL 13 provides the recombination site for electrons injected from a 100-500 .ANG. thick electron transporting layer 14 (ETL) with holes from the HTL 12. Examples of prior art ETL, EL and HTL materials are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,870, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Often, the EL 13 is doped with a highly fluorescent dye to tune color and increase the electroluminescent efficiency of the OLED. The device as shown in FIG. 1A is completed by depositing metal contacts 15, 16 and top electrode 17. Contacts 15 and 16 are typically fabricated from indium or Ti/Pt/Au. Electrode 17 is often a dual layer structure consisting of an alloy such as Mg/Ag 17' directly contacting the organic ETL 14, and a thick, high work function metal layer 17" such as gold (Au) or silver (Ag) on the Mg/Ag. The thick metal 17" is opaque. When proper bias voltage is applied between top electrode 17 and contacts 15 and 16, light emission occurs from emissive layer 13 through the glass substrate 10. An LED device of FIG. 1A typically has luminescent external quantum efficiencies of from 0.05% to 2% depending on the color of emission and the device structure.
The SH OLED, as shown in FIG. 1B, makes use of multifunctional layer 13 to serve as both EL and ETL. One limitation of the device of FIG. 1B is that the multifunctional layer 13 must have good electron transport capability. Otherwise, separate EL and ETL layers should be included as shown for the device of FIG. 1A.
A single layer polymer OLED is shown in FIG. 1C. As shown, this device includes a glass substrate 1 coated by a thin ITO layer 3. A thin organic layer 5 of spin-coated polymer, for example, is formed over ITO layer 3, and provides all of the functions of the HTL, ETL, and EL layers of the previously described devices. A metal electrode layer 6 is formed over organic layer 5. The metal is typically Mg or other conventionally used low work function metal.
OLED materials for the emission of red, green and blue light are known in the art. Conventional red OLEDS, however, are generally inferior to blue and green OLEDs in terms of brightness and efficiency. An example of a multicolor electroluminescent image display device employing organic compounds for light emitting pixels is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,870.

Light emitting device with stack of OLEDS and phosphor downconverter


A cathode stack with a getter layer is disclosed. The cathode stack includes an electron injection layer, a capping layer and a getter layer. An organic electroactive device including a cathode stack with a getter layer is also presented. A method of fabricating an electroactive device with a cathode stack including a getter layer is also provided.

The invention relates generally to electrodes for electroactive devices. The invention particularly relates to electrodes for organic electroactive devices.
Organic electroactive devices include organic light emitting devices and organic photovoltaic devices. Organic electroactive devices operate by injection of charges, which combine to result in radiation of energy as in a light emitting device, or by separation of charges as in a photovoltaic device. Efficient operation of electroactive devices depends, among other things, on efficient transport of charges across an interface between an electrode and an adjacent medium.
Metals having low work functions, desirably lower than 4.0 eV such as alkali and alkaline-earth metals, are often used as cathode materials to promote electron injection. Cathode materials such as calcium, lithium, and cesium, used to promote electron injection, are usually reactive metals and are sensitive to moisture and oxygen and degrade upon exposure to the environment. A hermetic seal is thus required to prevent exposure of such cathode materials to oxygen and moisture. Conventionally, devices using these metals as cathode materials are often encapsulated to prevent oxygen and moisture from reaching the active components of the device. Capping layers including less reactive metals, such as aluminum, have also been used to cover and protect layers with such cathode materials. Disadvantageously, capping layers may be prone to pin holes and defects, which allow moisture and oxygen to permeate through to the reactive cathode materials.
Accordingly, a technique is needed to address one or more of the foregoing problems in electroactive devices, such as organic electroactive devices.

Electrode stacks for electroactive devices and methods of fabricating the same


Syringe assemblies comprising a disinfecting reservoir collar to ensure an adherence to aseptic techniques for use in flush procedures for vascular access devices (VAD's) are described. The syringe assemblies include a plunger rod, a syringe barrel, and the reservoir collar that permits disinfection of a hub of a VAD connector upon connection to the reservoir collar. Also described are methods of disinfecting the vascular access devices.

VAD's are commonly used therapeutic devices and include intravenous (IV) catheters. There are two general classifications of VAD's, peripheral catheters and central venous catheters. To ensure VAD's are used and maintained correctly, standards of practice have been developed, which include a cleaning procedure, commonly referred to as flushing a catheter.
VAD standards of practice usually recommend that flush procedures be performed after catheter placement, before fluid infusion, and before and after drug administration, blood sampling, transfusions and parenteral nutrition. The goal of these flush procedures is to confirm catheter patency, avoid drug incompatibilities, ensure complete drug dose administration, prevent thrombus formation and minimize the risk of blood stream infections. Flush procedures require different types and amounts of flush solutions. The most commonly used flush solutions are saline and/or heparin lock solution. The type of flush solution and amount vary depending on the specific type of catheter. Flush solution volumes between 5 and 10 ml are most common but can range from 1 ml to 20 ml.
For flush procedures, an IV line refers to a system that can include a VAD, a tubing set with clamp and a VAD connector as a termination. Common types of VAD connectors are covered by pierceable septums or pre-slit septums made of rubber or another elastomeric material, which permits insertion of a sharp needle cannula in order to infuse fluids into or to withdraw fluids from the catheter. Upon withdrawal of the needle cannula, the septum seals itself. Ports having pre-slit septums are used with blunt plastic cannula or the frusto-conically shaped tip of a syringe barrel. The syringe tip or the blunt plastic cannula (which is usually attached to a syringe) is gently pushed through the pre-slit septum to establish fluid communication.
IV valves, another type of VAD connector that does not require a needle having a sharp tip, are activated by the frusto-conically shaped tip of a syringe barrel to allow fluid communication between the interior of the syringe and the catheter. These valves may contain features for delivering fluid from a storage compartment in the valve to the catheter, and are referred to in the art as positive displacement valves. Such a valve is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,861.
Bacteria and other microorganisms may gain entry into a patient's vascular system from access hubs and ports/valves upon connection to the VAD to deliver the fluid or pharmaceutical. Each access hub (or port/valve or connection) is associated with some risk of transmitting a catheter related bloodstream infection (CRBSI), which can be costly and potentially lethal.
Throughout the sequence of procedures associated with the transmission of a microorganism that can cause a CRBSI, there are many risks of contact or contamination. Contamination can occur during drug mixing, attachment of a cannula, and insertion into the access hub. Because the procedure to connect to a VAD is so common and simple, the risk associated with entry into a patient's vascular system has often been overlooked. Presently, the risk to hospitals and patients is a substantial function of the diligence of the clinician performing the connection, and this diligence is largely uncontrollable.
Current "recommended practice" for aseptic IV line maintenance and IV drug delivery practices require adherence to a stepwise process referred to as "SASH." During the first step of the process, the clinician cleans/disinfects (generally with an alcohol swab) the VAD connector. Second, a syringe containing saline is used to flush the IV line or catheter (Saline flush), and then the VAD connector is disinfected a second time. Third, the fluid or pharmaceutical therapy is administered through the IV line or catheter (Administer therapy), the VAD connector is disinfected a third time, followed by a second Saline flush step. The final step, which is dependent upon the patient's need and institutional policy, is a final disinfection of the VAD connector followed by a Heparin lock step, where a small amount of heparin is injected into the IV line or catheter to prevent the formation of thrombi or blood clots. At the conclusion of this tedious stepwise process, the inlet port of the VAD connector is left exposed to the environment. This "recommended practice" requires disinfecting the VAD connector after each step, and makes IV line maintenance a very burdensome and time consuming process. Because the process is so cumbersome, clinicians very rarely implement this "recommended practice" in its entirety, and, thus, patients are exposed to the risk of contracting CRBSIs. Microorganisms populate exposed connector inlet surfaces, and, when the "recommended practice" is not adhered to, the microorganisms can enter the IV line during flushing. Furthermore, blood reflux into the IV line or catheter can cause clot formation inside the lines, and microorganisms from the connector inlet surfaces can colonize blood clots inside the lines and infect the patients during flushing.
A product currently available that aims to combat the problems associated with contaminated VAD connectors is the SwabCap®. This device disinfects a VAD connectors by covering the connector and protecting it from touch and airborne contamination after the cap has been applied. As the SwabCap® is twisted onto VAD connector, a foam pad inside the cap is compressed, releasing the isopropyl alcohol that bathes and passively disinfects the top and threads of the VAD connector while the cap is in place. Friction between the SwabCap® and VAD connector is essential to ensure proper swabbing and disinfecting as the twisting action helps focus the alcohol on the targeted areas. However, for several reasons, the SwabCap® falls short of accomplishing the desired goal of effectively cleaning and disinfecting the VAD connector. First, the caps do not always engage the threads on the catheter hub, so that friction during swabbing may be inefficient. Additionally, the caps are small, and thus, may result in touch contamination when they are being removed. Despite the fact that the caps are bright orange in color so that compliance can be visually confirmed, because the SwabCap® is a separate entity, only the most diligent clinician will utilize the cap after every step of the flush process. Thus, the cap does not ensure compliance with aseptic technique.
Substantial morbid and mortal risk is, therefore, associated with a number of routine procedures defined primarily by the uncontrollable diligence of the clinician administering the therapy. Unfortunately, the result is that a substantial degree of unnecessary risk and injury, in the form of CRBSIs, to patients occurs. There is a need, therefore, for a flush syringe assembly that promotes compliance with aseptic technique by eliminating the additional swabbing and disinfecting steps.


Sensor devices and corresponding methods are provided. When a signal path output (COMP OUT) indicates no threshold crossings, diagnosis is performed with a timing based on a clock. In case threshold crossings are indicated, diagnosis is performed with a timing based on threshold crossings.

Sensor devices are used in various applications to measure a physical quantity and output a signal representative of the physical quantity to further devices. Such sensor devices are for example used in control loops to control an apparatus based on the signal output from a sensor device or for monitoring correct operation of an apparatus.
An example for sensor devices are magnetic field sensor devices, where the physical quantity is a magnetic field. Such magnetic field sensor devices typically comprise a magnetic field sensor like a Hall sensor or a sensor based on magnetoresistive effect (xMR sensor), signal processing circuitry like filters or amplifiers and an output stage which generates an output signal to be transmitted to further devices like a controller. Such magnetic field sensor devices may be used to detect and measure a movement like a rotary movement or a linear movement. For such application, a magnet arrangement is provided to a moving part (like a rotary shaft or a linearly moving element) which, at the position of the magnetic field sensor device, generates a modulated magnetic field when moving.
Such magnetic field sensor devices are for example used in automotive applications to measure rotational speeds like a wheel speed or a speed of a motor like an electric motor in an electric or hybrid vehicle. Other applications of such magnetic sensor devices include magnetic switches, used for example for wipers systems or window lifters in automotive applications.
Such applications in the automotive field or other fields may be safety-critical, for example important for safe operation of an automobile or parts thereof. In such safety critical applications, it may be desirable or even required that the correct operation of the sensor device is monitored by a diagnosis circuit to be able to detect a fault of the sensor device.
Such a diagnosis or monitoring should not influence the measurement of the physical quantity by the sensor device.
In some conventional solutions, operation of a magnetic field sensor device is switched continuously (in intervals determined for example by some clock signal) between normal operation for measuring the physical quantity and a diagnosis mode where a diagnosis of the sensor device is performed. However, such an approach may introduce or increase sampling jitter when an internal sampling of the sensor signal is switched between normal operation and diagnosis mode. For some applications and sensor devices this sampling jitter may be a significant disturbance of the signal output by the sensor device.


The present invention provides a finisher for a lithographic plateobtained by a DTR process comprising (a) hydrophobizing agent(s) in a total concentration between 0.1 g/l and 10 g/l, (a) surface-active compound(s) and (a) polyglycol(s) or (a) carbohydrate(s), characterized in that said finisher further comprises a non-proteinic hydrophilic film-forming binder selected from the group consisting of dextrin, maltodextrin and dextran in a concentration between 10 and 200 g/l.

The principles of the silver complex diffusion transfer reversal process, hereinafter called DTR-process, have been described e.g. in U.S. Pat. No. 2,352,014 and in the book "Photographic Silver Halide Diffusion Processes" by Andre Rott and Edith Weyde--The Focal Press--London and New York, (1972).
In the DTR-process non-developed silver halide of an information-wise exposed photographic silver halide emulsion layer material is transformed with a so-called silver halide solvent into soluble silver complex compounds which are allowed to diffuse into an image receiving element and are reduced therein with a developing agent, generally in the presence of physical development nuclei, to form a silver image having reversed image density values ("DTR-image") with respect to the black silver image obtained in the exposed areas of the photographic material.
A DTR-image bearing material can be used as a planographic printing plate wherein the DTR-silver image areas form the water-repellant ink-receptive areas on a water-receptive ink-repellant background.
The DTR-image can be formed in the image receiving layer of a sheet or web material which is a separate element with respect to the photographic silver halide emulsion material (a so-called two-sheet DTR element) or in the image receiving layer of a so-called single-support-element, also called mono-sheet element, which contains at least one photographic silver halide emulsion layer integral with an image receiving layer in water permeable relationship therewith. It is the latter mono-sheet version which is preferred for the preparation of offset printing plates by the DTR method.
Two types of the mono-sheet DTR offset printing plate exist. According to a first type disclosed in e.g. U.S Pat. No. 4,722,535 and GB 1,241,661 a support is provided in the order given with a silver halide emulsion layer and a layer containing physical development nuclei serving as the image-receiving layer. After information-wise exposure and development the imaged element is used as a printing plate without the removal of the emulsion layer.
According to a second type of mono-sheet DTR offset printing plate a hydrophilic support, mostly anodized aluminum, is provided in the order given with a layer of physical development nuclei and a silver halide emulsion layer. After information-wise exposure and development the imaged element is treated to remove the emulsion layer so that a support carrying a silver image is left wich is used as a printing plate. Such type of lithographic printing plate is disclosed e.g. in U.S. Pat. No. 3,511,656.
As for other printing plates it is required that the offset printing plates belonging to the second type of mono-sheet DTR offset printing plates have good printing properties: a high printing endurance, good ink acceptance in the printing areas, no ink acceptance in the non-printing areas (no toning) and a low number of copies that have to be disposed off because of ink acceptance in the non-printing areas (so called staining) during start-up of the printing process. Furthermore these printing properties should be preserved even after storing the printing plates for some time.
In order to improve the printing properties, it is common practice in the art to subject the imaged surface of the support to a chemical treatment that increases the hydrophilicity of the non-silver image parts and the oleophilicity of the silver image. This chemical after-treatment is preferably carried out with a lithographic composition often called finisher, which comprises at least one compound enhancing the ink-receptivity and/or lacquer-receptivity of the silver image, and also comprises at least one compound that improves the ink-repelling characteristics of the hydrophilic supports. Actually U.S. Pat. No. 4,062.682 discloses a finisher containing 5 g/l of a imidazoline-2-thione, 50 ml of oleic acid and 50 ml ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,410 discloses a finisher containing 1 g/l of a mercaptotriazole and 5 g/l of polyethylene oxide with a molecular weight of 4,000, U.S. Pat. No. 5,068,165 discloses a finisher containing 2 g/l of a mercaptotetrazole, 2.5 g/l of n-hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride and 20 g/l of polystyrene sulphonic acid and EP-A 278,766 discloses a finisher containing 2 g/l of a mercaptotetrazole and 100 ml of polyethylene oxide with a molecular weight of 200. EP-A 681,219 discloses a very efficient finisher comprising (a) hydrophobizing agent(s) in a total concentration between 0.1 g/l and 10 g/l, (a) surface-active compound(s) and (a) polyglycol(s) comprising at least 50% by weight ethyleneoxide groups and/or propyleneoxide groups whose total sum is at least 12 and being present in said finisher in a total amount of at least 20 g/l.
However, even when using said finisher in the preparation of a lithographic printing plate of the second type, the results are not quite satisfactory. When a lithographic printing plate, treated with such a finisher was stored for some time in warm and humid conditions, said plate showed ink acceptance in the background area in the form of fingerprints on the areas of said plate which were touched by fingers. Furthermore there are corrosion point (printing points in the non-image area) present.

Method for making an offset printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process


A system and method for checking the fuel quantity of a vehicle based on vehicle performance includes predicting vehicle performance based from a number of vehicle related input parameters including assumed fuel quantity to provide predicted vehicle performance data. Actual vehicle performance is measured from a number of vehicle sensor systems to provide measured actual vehicle performance data. The predicted vehicle performance data is compared with the measured actual vehicle performance data to provide an indication as to whether the vehicle is operating within a selected tolerance of the prediction. An alert message is provided if the vehicle is determined to be operating outside of the selected tolerance of prediction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fuel quantity indicators for vehicles, and more particularly to systems and methods for checking the fuel quantity of a vehicle based on vehicle performance.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the event of an aircraft being dispatched without operational fuel quantity indicators, the aircraft's total fuel quantity is calculated via the "known" amount of fuel in the tanks at the beginning of the flight (calculated by ground personnel and confirmed by the flight crew) and then decremented by onboard computers (such as the flight management system (FMS)) as fuel is burned in-flight. Although this system is typically very accurate, it is fully dependent upon being correctly initialized with the proper information.
A well-known example of improper initialization is illustrated by the case of the "Gimli Glider," the nickname of an Air Canada aircraft that was involved in an unusual aviation incident in 1983. In Air Canada flight 143, the state-of-the-art Boeing 767 aircraft ran out of fuel while at cruise due to a clerical error in kg/lb unit conversions, resulting in the aircraft only being filled with less than half the required amount of fuel needed for the flight. The aircraft was supposed to take 22,300 kg of fuel. However, it was filled with 22,300 lbs instead (less than half of the required amount). Due to this particular aircraft's fuel quantity indicators being inoperable, there was no indication of this fuel shortage. Since the FMS had been programmed with the assumed (yet incorrect) quantity that the aircraft should have been filled with, everything appeared normal to the crew with no indication that the aircraft was flying with almost 27,000 pounds of fuel absent. Performance characteristics depend significantly on the gross weight (and center of gravity) of the aircraft. In the example Air Canada incident, the aircraft would have taken off with approximately a 7-10% lighter gross weight than intended, with a displaced center of gravity. This would have resulted in significant takeoff and climb performance deltas from those expected, in addition to different trim settings needed for cruise.
There has been a partial response to this problem. U.S. Pat. No. 8,467,918 B2, issued to Lieu entitled, "HEURISTIC METHOD FOR COMPUTING PERFORMANCE OF AN AIRCRAFT," discloses a method for estimating the vertical airspeed and fuel flow of an aircraft at a point along a flight plan using other aircraft parameters for that point. The process uses a database having entries containing sets of actual values of operating parameters obtained during prior aircraft flights. The database is sorted by data set aggregate values that are is calculated from each set of actual values. When the vertical airspeed and fuel flow estimates are needed, a section thereof is identified based on the aggregate values. That section of the database is analyzed to identify the set of actual operating parameters values that best matches the other aircraft parameters for the flight plan point. The vertical airspeed and fuel flow values from that identified set are used as the estimates. The process reduces the amount of the database that has to be analyzed to locate the data to use.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,695, issued to Baldwin, entitled, "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREDICTING AND MONITORING AIRCRAFT TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE," discloses a method for predicting and monitoring the takeoff performance of an aircraft uses information from one or more previous takeoffs of the aircraft to generate a prediction of the takeoff performance for the current takeoff. In the preferred embodiment, a takeoff profile for the current takeoff is generated and includes information about predetermined characteristics of the aircraft and information about ambient conditions at an airport from which the takeoff is being monitored. Expected performance data for the current takeoff is then generated from the takeoff profile and used to select a set of actual performance data previously stored from the one or more previous takeoffs. A selected "best fit" actual performance data set is then displayed in an appropriate fashion. Upon takeoff, a set of monitored performance data is generated as a function of one or more of sensed takeoff parameters. The monitored performance data set for the current takeoff is then displayed in conjunction with the actual performance data previously selected to provide the crew with an indication of the progress of the current takeoff.
Both of the above patents disclose methods for observing and predicting the performance of an aircraft; however, neither method uses the observed performance as a means of checking for an error in the data used to make the prediction. An error that is particularly of interest is a discrepancy in fuel quantity, and this will be the focus of the method as described herein.

Performance-based method and system for checking the fuel quantity of a vehicle


A system and method of path planning utilizing a clothoid curve to connect a start point and an end point is provided. The method includes receiving at a path planning system inputs including the start point and the end point of a desired path. The method further includes calculating clothoid parameters for a clothoid curve connecting the start point and the end point based the received start point, the received end point, and a closed-form expression, wherein the closed-form expression is generated based on a relationship between a plurality of unique center point values associated with a plurality of unique clothoid curves and the clothoid parameters associated with each of the plurality of unique clothoid curves. A clothoid curve is generated based on the determined clothoid parameters, wherein the generated clothoid curve represents a planned path from the start point to the end point.

As autonomous vehicles become more and more prevalent, a number of issues have been identified. For example, given a current position of a vehicle and a desired position of a vehicle, the problem becomes how to control the vehicle to smoothly move between the respective positions. That is, the transition should be comfortable to passengers within the vehicle. This type of problem is often-times referred to as path planning. The problem becomes particularly difficult when the orientation of the vehicle changes from the current position to the desired position, for example when the car is being parked.
A clothoid or Euler spiral is a type of curve characterized by its curvature being proportional to its length. Clothoids have long been identified as providing the type of smooth transition between points that is a desirable in path planning of autonomous vehicles. However, given a current position of a vehicle and a desired position of a vehicle, it is not computationally possible to generate a clothoid that will generate the desired transition. For example, the position of a point along a clothoid curve is given by the following equations:
                              x                                [            t            ]                          =                  a                                π                              F                    r                    e                    s                    n                    e                    l                                S                                      [                              t                                  π                                            ]                                          )                                            y                          [          t          ]                    =              a                          π                        F                r                e                s                n                e                l                          C                                [                          t                              π                                      ]                                                                    F                r                e                s                n                e                l                          S                                [            t            ]                              =                        ∫          0          t                                              sin                                      [                                                π                                                        z                    2                                                  2                            ]                                          dz                                Fresnel                                              C                          [          t          ]                      =                  ∫        0        t                                    cos                                [                                          π                                                  z                  2                                            2                        ]                                  d                z            Given a desired position, it is not possible (or at the very least, extremely computationally expensive) to back solve these equations to determine the parameters (radius R and length L—expressed here as the parameter a) of the clothoid required to connect a start point to an end point.
It would therefore be beneficial to develop a computationally efficient method of generating clothoids to be utilized in path planning of vehicles.

System and method for path planning in vehicles


Systems, devices, and methods that ensures that an ultrasonic fingerprint detection process is not interfered with by using a screen protector. An example screen protector for a mobile device is disclosed that is capable of an in-screen fingerprint detection. The screen protector includes a first layer made of a clear rigid material and configured to be touched by a user. The screen protector also includes a second layer beneath the first layer and made of a film. Additionally, the screen protector includes a third layer beneath the second layer and configured to contact the mobile device. The third layer includes a fingerprint conduit configured to facilitate the in-screen fingerprint detection.

Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers are used by many individuals, and screen protectors are used by many mobile device users to protect the display screen of the mobile device. For example, screen protectors may help keep screens from being cracked when a mobile device is dropped, an item is dropped on the mobile device, for example. Some mobile devices have fingerprint sensors that are embedded into the display screen. The fingerprint sensor may be used to identify a user and allow access to the mobile device. Conventional screen protectors may not be compatible with these mobile devices. Thus, there is a need for an improved screen protector.

Fingerprint sensor compatible screen protector


A cascaded die mounting device and method using spring contacts for die attachment, with or without metallic bonds between the contacts and the dies, is disclosed. One embodiment is for the direct refrigerant cooling of an inverter/converter carrying higher power levels than most of the low power circuits previously taught, and does not require using a heat sink.

Methods of cascading semiconductor die have been in use in the semiconductor industry since the 1990s. This technology has been primarily used for memory chips in computer systems. With increasing trends towards systems on chips this packaging methodology is rapidly expanding into other applications. Stacking of semiconductor die is ideal for low current, low power systems. Thermal considerations have prevented these packaging methods from being used for higher power devices.
Typical IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) module die arrangements have the dies attached to copper which is bonded to a ceramic backplate. The heat generated by the dies is transferred through the ceramic to the heat sink located under the backplate. Bonded wires are used for electrical connection between the dies and electrodes. The connection wires are encased in a podding gel for insulation, thermal transfer, and mechanical stability purposes. Thermal resistance along the heat transfer path makes the junction temperature higher than it would be for a directly liquid cooled arrangement.
With dies stacked, the small die resides atop the larger and wire bonds are brought out to either the substrate or a lower level die. This method can be expanded to larger numbers of layers. Using several layers of die, the topmost layer has two separate dies sitting on the layer beneath it. Cascading die in this manner results in increases in packing density, reductions in cost, less inductance, and faster signal transmissions because the dies are closely stacked. Most stacking methods still rely on wire bonds for bringing the I/O from the outside world to the silicon.
Within the semiconductor packaging industry there is a growing desire to move away from the wire bonding of the die to the substrate or output pins. Size, performance, and cost considerations are driving new packaging methods. This is true for low as well as high power devices.
Silicon Power Corporation is developing a new packaging method for power devices. The wire-bondless package is a soldered assembly of a semiconductor power device, such as an IGBT, and a thin ceramic lid. The lid is metalized on the bottom side and designed to mate to large and small device electrodes, which are connected by metalized vias to a more rugged and convenient pattern of top-side metal. If the lid material is a good conductor and/or if the lid vias are very dense, the ThinPak lidded device can be cooled from both sides or treated as a flip chip device, but without the usual limitations in achievable breakdown voltage. The low impedance and small size and weight of the device, as well as the rather large mechanical tolerances of the lid, make it convenient for module applications.
The thin-film power overlay (POL) technology developed at General Electric is an approach to reducing the cost of mass production and improving the reliability and efficiency of power electronics packages. Power semiconductor devices are soldered to a Direct Bonded Copper (DBC) substrate from the backside. Differences in device thickness are compensated by copper shims. A thin layer of polyamide sheet is laminated over the die after vias are laser machined or mechanically punched through the film. These vias provide openings for the power interconnect to the top layer. The whole top surface is then metallized (electro-plated) with copper. Circuit patterns are achieved by the application of photo resist and chemical etching processes. More layers can be built up repeatedly to realize a multilayered interconnect structure. Low-profile passive components can be embedded into the overlay flex.
Dimple Array Interconnect (DAI) packaging involves the use of a copper sheet with arrays of dimples preformed serving as electrical interconnections. The Dimple Array Interconnect structure has similar shape as the hourglass-shaped flip chip interconnect.
International Rectifier's DirectFET is a surface-mount package that improves MOSFET performance by lowering both the package's electrical and thermal resistance. It does so with a design that permits direct attachment of the die to the pc board via solderable pads on the chip and through attachment to a copper drain clip that allows double-sided cooling. The DirectFET package consists of a passivated die attached to a copper clip. Solderable metal contacts on the bottom of the die provide gate and source contacts to the pc board, while the copper clip provides an electrical connection to the drain and permits topside cooling. Although the package has the same outline as an SO-8, the DirectFET's height is 60% less.
In Vishay Siliconix's PowerConnect technology, traditional bondwires are replaced with a direct connection between the MOSFET die and the copper leadframe to lower a package's contribution to the device's on resistance, RDS(on) in low-voltage power MOSFETs. To accomplish this direct connection, the top surface of the MOSFET die had to be made solderable. Toward that end, the company developed a nickel-based metallization process on top of the aluminum. The result is that the leadframe can be attached to both the bottom and the top surface of the die.
Semikron is making baseless IGBT power modules based on pressure contact packaging technology through the use of a spring pad and a pressure plate. The elimination of the base plate and thus the solder joint between the base plate and substrate, together with the use of spring contacts to establish connections between the built-in gate drive board and the substrate, leads to improved reliability and enables a very cost effective module and power electronic system assembly. Semikron packaging is designed for traditional heat-sink cooling and is not applicable to direct refrigerant cooling. The chips are cooled by a heat sink.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University disclosed a three-dimensional packaging technique developed for power electronics building blocks using direct copper bonding to interconnect power devices. The parallel-plate structure provides the potential for double-sided cooling, direct liquid cooling of the power devices between the plates, and integration of passive components in the module.
FlipChip technology uses a ball grid array package resulting in a wire bondless system. The interconnection between the die and carrier in flip chip packaging is made through a conductive "bump" that is placed directly on the die surface. The bumped die is then "flipped over" and placed face down, with the bumps connecting to the carrier directly. After the die is soldered, underfill is added between the die and the substrate. Underfill is a specially engineered epoxy that fills the area between the die and the carrier, surrounding the solder bumps. It is designed to control the stress in the solder joints caused by the difference in thermal expansion between the silicon die and the carrier. Once cured, the underfill absorbs the stress, reducing the strain on the solder bumps, greatly increasing the life of the finished package. The chip attach and underfill steps are the basics of flip chip interconnect.
A flex-circuit interconnection system is being developed at the Center for Power Electronics Systems at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. This method offers extra layout design freedom in the vertical dimension of the package. Compared with the conventional power module, the power terminals in the flex-circuit package are distributed on the DBC and the flex substrate with close proximity and planar configuration. As a result, the package parasitic inductance can be reduced significantly.

Method of making cascaded die mountings with springs-loaded contact-bond options


The NK1 fragment of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) binds to and activates the Met receptor, a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase that plays a critical role in embryonic development and organ formation. The instant application discloses NK1 variant polypeptides which act as agonists or antagonists of HGF. Further disclosed are covalently linked NK1 variant polypeptides. Many of the disclosed variant polypeptides possess improved stability characteristics.

Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), also known as Scatter Factor (SF), is a multi-functional heterodimeric protein produced predominantly by mesenchymal cells and is an effector of cells expressing the Met tyrosine kinase receptor ("c-Met")(Bottaro et al. (1991) SCIENCE 251: 802-804, Rubin et al. (1993) BIOCHIM. BIOPHYS. ACTA 1155: 357-371). Mature HGF contains two polypeptide chains, the α-chain and the β-chain. Published studies suggest it is the α-chain that contains HGF's c-Met receptor binding domain.
Mature HGF contains two polypeptide chains, the α-chain and the β-chain. Upon binding to its cognate receptor, HGF mediates a number of cellular activities. The HGF-Met signaling pathway plays a role in liver regeneration, wound healing, neural regeneration, angiogenesis and malignancies. See, e.g., Cao et al. (2001) PROC. NATL. ACAD. SCI. USA 98: 7443-7448, Burgess et al. (2006) CANCER RES. 66: 1721-1729, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,997,868 and 5,707,624.
Dysregulation of cell signaling pathways that mediate proliferation, survival, and migration are an underlying cause of many cancers. In particular, dysregulation and over-expression of the Met tyrosine kinase receptor correlates to poor prognosis in many human tumors, making it an attractive target for therapeutic intervention.
There are currently no FDA approved therapeutics targeting the Met receptor, however, a few candidate molecules are in various stages of clinical trials. As such, molecules that potently inhibit Met receptor activation may have a significant impact on cancer therapy. In addition, studies to develop Met-targeted molecular imaging agents for non-invasive visualization of Met expression in vivo have been extremely limited compared to other cancer targets. The availability of such imaging agents would aid in cancer diagnosis, staging, and disease management, as well as help identify patients who would be good candidates for Met-targeted therapies.
The present invention provides potent activators and inhibitors of the Met receptor, methods for their production and use.

Hepatocyte growth factor fragments that function as potent met receptor agonists and antagonists

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


A zoom lens includes sequentially from an object side, a first lens section G11 having a negative refractive power and a second lens section G12 having a positive refractive power. The first lens section G11 includes sequentially from the object side, a negative lens L111, a negative lens L112, and a positive lens L113. Both surface of the negative lens L112 are aspheric. The second lens section G12 includes sequentially from the object side, a front group G12F having a positive refractive power and a rear group G12R having a positive refractive power. Both surfaces of a negative lens L126 included in the rear group G12R are aspheric. The zoom lens can maintain high imaging performance while achieving size reductions and wide angle views by satisfying given conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compact wide angle zoom lens.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a wide angle zoom lens widely used on single-lens reflex cameras, a 4-group zoom lens includes sequentially from an object side, lens groups having negative, positive, negative, and positive refractive powers, respectively (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 2006-276452 and 2006-39531, and Japanese Patent No. 3391883).
The zoom lenses recited in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 2006-276452 and 2006-39531, and Japanese Patent No. 3391883 respectively include sequentially from the object side, lens groups having negative, positive, negative, and positive refractive powers, respectively and are capable of 1.5× or greater zoom. The zoom lens recited in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-276452, secures an angle of view on the order of 80 degrees at the wide angle edge, and is capable of 2.8× zoom. The zoom lens recited in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-39531, secures an angle of view on the order of 105.8 degrees at the wide angle edge, and is capable of 1.95× to 2.36× zoom. The zoom lens recited in Japanese Patent No. 3391883 secures an angle of view on the order of 99 degrees at the wide angle edge, and is capable 1.85× zooming.
As with the zoom lenses recited in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 2006-276452 and 2006-39531, and Japanese Patent No. 3391883, conventional wide angle zoom lenses, in general, have aspheric surfaces formed on multiple surfaces of the lenses configuring a first lens group, to achieve both correction of prominent aberration consequent to increasing the angle of view at the wide angle edge and a reduction of the size of the first lens group. In particular, a large-diameter, aspheric glass lens is employed for the lens disposed farthest on the object side of the zoom lens.
In the zoom lens recited in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-276452, an aspheric lens having a strong negative refractive power is disposed farthest on the object side of the zoom lens, and the zoom lens suppresses the effective diameter of the front frame and secures high imaging performance at wide angles. However, this zoom lens has a narrow angle of view on the order of 80 degrees at the wide angle edge and meeting demands for a wider angle of view is difficult. In addition, since the glass lens disposed farthest on the object side is aspheric, a problem of extremely high manufacturing cost arises.
The zoom lenses recited in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-39531 and Japanese Patent No. 3391883, both have an aspheric lens of a strong negative refractive power disposed farthest on the object side and are designed to achieve both an ultra wide angle and reduction of the front frame. Although these zoom lenses both have angles of view on the order of 100 degrees at the wide angle edge and are designed to achieve sufficiently wide angles, the first lens group is large and thus, are not suitable for imaging apparatuses of which compactness is strongly demanded of late. In addition, since the glass lens disposed farthest on the object side of the zoom lens is aspheric, a problem of extremely high manufacturing cost further arises.


An oil passageway structure for internal combustion engines includes a cylinder head having an inter-bearing wall fluid communication oil passage for providing fluid communication between a plurality of bearing walls to allow oil to flow therebetween. The cylinder head further includes a bearing wall oil passage branched from the inter-bearing wall fluid communication oil passage to supply oil to a bearing surfaces of at least one of the bearing walls. The inter-bearing wall fluid communication oil passage is defined in one of facing side walls. The bearing wall oil passageway is defined in at least one of the bearing walls. The oil passageway structure is thus made up of a reduced number of parts, can be assembled with a reduced number of man-hours, can lead to productivity growth, and is inexpensive to manufacture.

Some internal combustion engines have an engine body including a cylinder block and a cylinder head that are stacked obliquely upward on and fastened to a crankcase and that are inclined forward of vehicles on which the internal combustion engines are mounted. In such an internal combustion engine, camshafts of an engine valve operating mechanism are usually rotatably supported on and sandwiched between the cylinder head or the cylinder block and a camshaft holder.
According to a conventional example, e.g., Patent Document 1, see below, bearing walls and bearing surfaces of the camshaft holder by which journals of the camshafts are rotatably supported are supplied with lubricating oil through oil passageways that are defined in the camshaft holder.

Oil passageway structure for internal combustion engines