An X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray imaging unit, rotating unit configured to rotate a subject about an axis of rotation relative to the X-ray imaging unit, supporting unit configured to support the subject, and a limiting unit configured to limit the range in which the X-ray imaging unit is moveable along the axis of rotation depending on the position of the supporting means relative to the axis of rotation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an X-ray imaging apparatus configured to generate an X-ray image of a subject using an X-ray beam passing through the subject.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a computed tomography (CT) apparatus for generating a three-dimensional cross-sectional image of a subject is used in the medical area. In order to obtain the three-dimensional cross-sectional image, radiation emitted to the subject from a circumference of the subject is detected and converted into an image signal after it passes through the subject. Then, through reconstruction processing, the image signal is converted into a three-dimensional cross-sectional image.
A helical scanning CT apparatus is a type of apparatus which is commonly used today. The helical scanning CT apparatus is configured such that a radiation source and a radiation detector, configured as a pair, rotate helically around the subject with a virtual body axis of the subject as their axis of rotation to detect intensity of transmitted radiation at a plurality of positions.
On the other hand, in recent years, a CT apparatus has been developed in which a subject, which is positioned between a fixed radiation source and a fixed radiation detector, is rotated in generating a tomographic image. This type of CT apparatus includes a two-dimensional plane sensor as the radiation detector. By emitting a conical radiation beam to the subject, this CT apparatus can generate fluoroscopic images which are necessary in reconstructing a three-dimensional image by a single scan. Further, this CT apparatus eliminates the need for a continuous movement of the subject in the direction of the body axis, which is essential to the common CT apparatus.
An apparatus by which the subject is rotated while its image is taken is discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-205082. According to this apparatus, it is important to confirm safety of the subject and then rotate the subject after its position is stabilized. A CT apparatus which satisfies such needs is being developed nowadays.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-205082 discusses an image taking method in which the subject is rotated while its image is taken. Further, an apparatus discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-205082 has the capability to secure the safety of the subject and stabilize the posture of the subject during the rotation, which is required during the image taking process.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-43193 discusses an apparatus in which a supporting member used for controlling a body motion of the subject is set on a rotating platform. The subject, taking a half-crouching position, is supported by this supporting member on the rotating platform. Further, the CT apparatus discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-205082 provides a lower limb guard in front of the subject. With this guard, a lower limb of the subject is prevented from contacting a non-rotating portion around the subject during the rotation. By rotating the subject instead of the radiation source and the detector, CT images can be taken with enhanced throughput. Accordingly, CT images are replacing general still images in the area of chest screening.
Further, in order to secure the subject safely, the CT apparatus discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-43193 detects a state of a member supporting the subject and controls a rotation of a rotation table based on the result of the detection.
However, since radiation detectors of the aforementioned imaging apparatuses are large-sized two-dimensional plane sensors, these imaging apparatuses are generally expensive. Further, from the viewpoint of effective use of a limited installation space in a hospital, a demand for an X-ray imaging apparatus which is capable of taking two different types of images, that is, the CT image and the general still image, is increasing. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-205082 discusses such an imaging apparatus. When a still image is taken using this imaging apparatus, a space is made on the rotating platform by moving the subject supporting member away from a range of X-ray emission.
In taking a CT image with such an imaging apparatus, the subject is preferably positioned in a close vicinity of an X-ray imaging unit so long as the subject does not contact the unit during the rotation. This contributes to providing a wider reconstruction area, and further, to reducing a possibility of a blurred image. Accordingly, in the actual image taking, it is necessary to set the X-ray imaging unit at a position nearer to the subject compared to the position of the X-ray imaging unit discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-205082.
In the actual image taking, a lower limb Pa of a subject P seated on a rotating table 2 passes adjacent an X-ray imaging unit 3 while the subject is exposed to the X-ray beam irradiated from an X-ray tube 1 as shown in FIG. 5. Further, if a lower limb guard 4 is provided in front of the subject P, the lower limb guard 4 will rotate under the X-ray imaging unit 3 as well as the lower limb Pa. Thus, in taking a CT image, the X-ray imaging unit 3 needs to be positioned within an imaging range L1.
On the other hand, in taking a still image, as discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-205082, the subject supporting member is moved away from the imaging area by a moving unit located under the subject supporting member, and the subject is moved closer to the X-ray imaging unit. Then the image is taken while the subject is in full contact with the outer portion of the X-ray imaging unit. On the other hand, the CT apparatus is required to be capable of taking a general still image of a wider range, e.g. the whole body of the subject, from the head to the lower limb. This is because still images are generally taken when patients go through a first medical testing. Therefore, the X-ray imaging unit 3 is required to move up and down in a wider range while a still image is taken compared to when a CT image is taken.
However, if the X-ray imaging unit 3 is configured to cover a wide movable range for the still images, then, the X-ray imaging unit 3 tends to move in a more than necessary range for the CT images. For example, if the X-ray imaging unit is set at a position inappropriately low for the CT imaging, the subject supporting member or the lower limb Pa of the subject P may contact the X-ray imaging unit 3 during rotation. In order to ensure safety, attention needs to be paid when setting the position of the X-ray imaging unit 3. As a result, ease of operability of the X-ray imaging apparatus is reduced.
A similar problem occurs when the image taking mode is changed. If a general still image is taken at a low position by the X-ray imaging unit 3, and then the mode is changed to the CT mode and the subject supporting member is moved, the lower limb Pa of the subject P may contact the X-ray imaging unit 3 if the rotating table 2 is rotated without changing the position of the subject. In this case, safety is reduced as described above.
Furthermore, with respect to a subject-rotating CT imaging apparatus including a plane sensor, a movement of the subject in the body axis direction, which is necessary in the common helical scanning CT apparatus, is not required. On the contrary, images need to be taken from many different angles from a certain height during the CT imaging. Thus, if an imaging apparatus including a height-adjustable X-ray imaging unit moves the X-ray imaging unit up and down during the CT imaging, proper images may not be obtained and therefore reconstruction becomes difficult. Since the conventional apparatus does not include a method for prohibiting the up-and-down movement during the rotation, there is a possibility that the X-ray imaging unit moves up-and-down during the image taking.


An automobile seat includes a cushion, a back coupled with the cushion, and a mounting unit. The mounting unit includes a mounting track and an actuator slidably coupled with the mounting track and coupled with the cushion. The actuator is extendable along an axis to move the cushion toward and away from the mounting track and is rotatable about the axis to rotate the cushion relative to the mounting track.

Entering and exiting a motor vehicle, an automobile in particular, may be difficult for those with limited mobility. The forward-facing driving position of vehicle seats can be difficult to reach from the typical, laterally-disposed vehicle door. Further, the height of such seats, particularly in cars, may require additional lowering of one's body in combination with proper orientation thereof with respect to the seat. The rocker of a vehicle, which bounds the lower edge of the door opening and is often of a lateral thickness that separates the seat from the outside edge of the door opening, may present additional difficulty for vehicle ingress and egress. In particular, the configuration of a particular rocker may require one into a seating position that is uncomfortably rearward of the individual's feet and may also require one to lift his or her legs thereover while swinging them into the forward-facing seating position.
Various seats have been developed in an attempt to aid those with limited mobility in entering and exiting the associated automobile. However, none have provided a mechanism that overcomes both the restriction in geometry presented by the presence of the rocker, nor have they provided a seat that is capable of helping the occupant navigate the rocker. Accordingly, further advances are desired.


A process for preparing microcrystalline perborate hydrate products and highly concentrated, storage stable aqueous solutions used for this purpose which have a stable active oxygen content and a boron content of 3 to 8% by wt. based on the total weight of the solution. The products of the invention are suitable for numerous uses in the field of bleaching agent, disinfectant and liquid detergent formulations, and other fields of use.

This invention relates to on a process for preparing microcrystalline perborate products and highly concentrated, storage stable aqueous solutions which are used for said preparation in one variant of the process and which contain a boron-oxygen compound, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium hydroxide in a special composition.
In the production of liquid bleach, disinfectant and liquid detergent formulations, including liquid aqueous detergent formulations, producers wish to incorporate compounds having a bleaching activity such as perborates (e.g. sodium perborate tetrahydrate=PBS4) in the liquid formulations. The perborates exist as suspended particles in these formulations and therefore must not exceed a certain particle size for reasons relating to the physical stability of the suspension. Therefore, attempts are made to incorporate the perborates (e.g. PBS4) in the formulations in a form which is as finely divided as possible, i.e. in the form of microparticles having a particle diameter not greater than 20 micrometers, preferably with a particle diameter of less than 5 micrometers.
According to the processes of the prior art, it is difficult to prepare sufficiently fine perborate particles which are highly suitable e.g. for forming a suspension in liquid detergent formulations. In order to ensure the physical stability of the suspension of perborate particles in liquid detergent formulations, thickeners and dispersing aids must be used in the prior art. It is however, disadvantageous that, as a result of this measure, the proportion of active ingredients in the liquid detergent formulation is decreased by the proportion of thickeners and dispersing agents.
Aqueous liquid detergent formulations containing sodium perborate tetrahydrate in the form of fine crystals, and processes for forming the perborate in the form of fine crystals in such formulations are already known from European patent application No. EP 294,904. An "in situ crystallization" of PBS4 is described, i.e. the crystallization of PBS4, optionally after in situ formation from metaborate and H.sub.2 O.sub.2 in the presence of at least 5% by wt. surfactant and at least 5% by wt. builder. Moreover, liquid aqueous washing agent formulations are claimed which contain PBS4 "crystallized in situ" having particle diameters m of 0.5 to 20 micrometers. According to the examples, the particle sizes obtained at the lower end of the range average from 4 to 7 micrometers.
The above-mentioned European patent application discloses two process variants for preparing these washing agent formulations which contain PBS4 "crystallized situ". The first process variant is a dissolution/recrystallization process in which the perborate particles are formed by intensively stirring a perborate composed of relatively large crystals in the presence of the surfactant and builder. PBS4 particles having an average particle diameter of approximately 7 micrometers are obtained. The second process variant is a process in which the perborate is formed in situ by chemical reaction of metaborate (Na:B=1:1) with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of at least 5% by wt. surfactant and at least 5% by wt. builder and crystallized out. In this process, either metaborate is used as the boron component, or it is also possible to use borax or boric acid. In this case, however, metaborate is formed initially due to the stoichiometric addition of NaOH, and the metaborate is subsequently converted by the addition of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 in the presence of surfactant and builder to the perborate which crystallizes out. PBS4 particles having an average particle diameter of approximately 4 micrometers are obtained.
The prior art processes have a number of disadvantages. The limited solubility of metaborate permits only moderate concentrations of dissolved boron components (approximately 20% by wt. metaborate in water at 20.degree. C.). Moreover, the only moderately concentrated metaborate solutions tend to crystallize prematurely.
In the process of European patent application no. EP 294 904, the presence of surfactant and builder is essential to obtain small particle diameters, but on the other hand, it can lead to undesired secondary reactions during the reaction with H.sub.2 O.sub.2. Moreover, there are problems with "in situ crystallization" with regard to control and reproducibility of the required small particle diameters.

Process for preparing microcrystalline perborate products


A suspension system for a row crop planter unit which includes a shock absorber extending between the planter unit mounting bracket and the parallel arm linkage which vertically mounts the planter unit to a toolbar. The shock absorber permits the planter unit to move more quickly in the rebound cycle than in the compression cycle to reduce row unit bounce.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a suspension system for a row crop planter unit and more particularly to a suspension system preferably in the form of a coil-over shock absorber which is operatively connected to the supporting frame of the planter unit and to the parallel arm linkage of the row crop planter unit to reduce row unit bounce (R.U.B.).
2. Description of the Related Art
Many types of suspension systems or mounting systems for row crop planter units have been previously provided. In most instances, the row crop planter units are connected to a transversely extending toolbar in a horizontally spaced-apart manner for single row planting or in a horizontally spaced-apart and staggered or offset manner for twin row planting. The toolbar is normally wheel supported or three-point hitch supported and is pulled through a field by a prime mover such as a tractor or the like. Each of the planter units is normally connected to the toolbar by means of a parallel arm linkage so that the planter units may vertically move with respect to the toolbar. As the planter is pulled through the field, the planter units tend to bounce upwardly and downwardly due to encountering uneven terrain. If the planter unit does objectionably bounce, the seed spacing and seed depth of the planter unit will not be proper. Seed spacing is extremely important in planting operations wherein single rows are planted, and is even more important when the row crops are being planted in twin rows.
One prior art method of attempting to reduce the row unit bounce is to utilize coil springs which interconnect the upper and lower parallel arms of each of the parallel arm linkages. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,271 and published application No. 2006/0213407 A1. The coil springs of the prior art do exert a certain amount of down pressure on the planter unit and do reduce row unit bounce to some degree. However, it has been found that the coil spring arrangements commonly found in the prior art do not satisfactorily reduce row unit bounce thereby resulting in improper seed spacing and seed depth.

Suspension system for a row crop planter unit


Embodiments seek to prevent detection of a sandbox environment by a potential malware application. To this end, execution of the application is monitored, and provide information about the execution to a reinforcement learning machine learning model. The model generates a suggested modification to make to the executing application. The model is provided with information indicating whether the application executed successfully or not, and this information is used to train the model for additional modifications. By modifying the potential malware execution during its execution, detection of a sandbox environment is prevented, and analysis of the potential malware applications features are better understood.

Dynamic malware analysis observes behavior of suspect code when detonating (executing) each sample of potential malware in a controlled analysis environment (sandbox). Actions of the suspect code are then studied. Results of these studies can include indicators of compromise (IOC). Furthermore, the behavior of the suspect code during execution is used to determine if the code is malicious. The IOC's extracted are then leveraged to:                Extend defenses against future variants,        Block other related malicious activity,        Dissect malware families of interest to understand their operations,        Take down responsible malware actors
Many sandboxes are implemented as virtualized systems that can easily be rolled back to a clean state once the analysis is complete. However, these virtualized systems may not realistically simulate a real user's machine in one or more respects. Given the use of sandboxing to identify a malware threat, attackers have employed multiple techniques to detect the presence of such a virtual environment and change behavior of the malware application's behavior based on this detection. Moreover, some of today's malware is designed to bypass detonation using many different evasion techniques. A large amount of time and effort is spent by malware researchers in identifying these evasive techniques and patching the detonation environment to avoid to such checks.


An examination region (12) is defined along a z-axis offset from a geometric center (30) of a gradient coil assembly (20). Cylinders of a non-conductive, non-magnetic material support x, y, and z-gradient coils (24, 26, 22) for causing orthogonal magnetic field gradients through the offset examination region. The z-gradient coil (FIG. 2 ) includes a plurality of distributed loop arrays with a winding pattern selected to cause a region of linear magnetic field gradients in the z-direction in a region offset toward a cylinder first end (32). The x and y-gradient coils each include two pairs of oppositely disposed windings (FIG. 3 ) which include a pair of inner spirals (96, 98) offset towards the first end of the cylinder and an outer spiral (90) extending therearound. The outer spiral bows in (92) toward the cylinder first end and fans out (94) toward the second end. In this manner, the x, y, and z-gradient coils create linear magnetic field gradients along x, y, and z-directions which have a region of primary linearity offset from their geometric center.

The present invention relates to the art of magnetic field gradient generation. It finds particular application in conjunction with establishing gradient magnetic fields in magnetic resonance imaging techniques and will be described with particular reference thereto. It is to be appreciated, however, that the invention will also find application in spectroscopy and other processes and apparatus in which accurate and predictable magnetic field gradients are established or maintained.
In magnetic resonance imaging, a uniform magnetic field is created through an examination region in which a subject to be examined is disposed. A series of radio frequency pulses and magnetic field gradients are applied to the examination region. Gradient fields are conventionally applied as a series of gradient pulses with preselected profiles. These radio frequency and gradient pulses excite magnetic resonance, phase and frequency encode the resonance, and cause phase and frequency encoded magnetic resonance signals to be emitted.
More specifically, the gradient magnetic pulses are applied to select and encode the magnetic resonance. In some embodiments, the magnetic field gradients are applied to select one or more planes or slices to be imaged. Gradient field pulses are also applied for selectively modifying the uniform magnetic field to encode frequency and phase into the magnetization, hence the resonance signals, in order to identify a spatial location.
The magnetic resonance signals are then processed to generate two or three dimensional image representations of a portion of the subject in the examination region. The accuracy of the resultant image representation is dependent upon the accuracy, among other factors, with which the actually applied magnetic field gradient pulses conform to selected gradient pulse profiles.
Linear magnetic field gradients are commonly produced by cylindrical gradient field coils. Discrete coils are wound in a bunched or distributed fashion on a large diameter hollow right cylinder tube, commonly 65 centimeters in diameter or larger. Conventional bunched geometries include Maxwell or modified-Maxwell pairs for z-gradient production and single or multi-arc Golay saddle coils for x and y gradient production. The coils are normally wound in a series arrangement and positioned to give a magnetic field profile with the desired linearity over a predefined volume. The distributive windings on the cylinders are generally wound and in pairs and driven anti-symmetrically. The coils are driven in an anti-symmetric manner such that only odd derivatives are non-zero at the coil origin. The first derivative is the field gradient while the third and higher order derivatives represent distortion. If the diameter of the cylinder and coil placement are chosen properly, the third derivative is canceled at the origin making the relatively weak fifth derivative component the first distortion term.
The conventional gradient coils are constructed of copper rods or multi-strand wires that are wound on a fiberglass reinforced plastic tube. The inductance, which is related to the stored magnetic energy, is critical in gradient coil design. The inductance determines to how quickly the coil can switch the gradient field on and off with a given supply of voltage. Larger inductances, as are typical in wound cylindrical coils, slow the switching speed of the gradient magnetic fields.
For maximum efficiency, it would be advantageous to reduce the diameter of the gradient coil cylinders to be as close as possible to the subject, provided gradient linearity can be maintained. The required energy for field gradient production varies roughly as a fifth power of a gradient coil cylinder diameter in free space. In an actual magnetic resonance imager, the gradient coils interact with other adjoining structures, such as radiation shields of superconducting magnets, making the relationship somewhat greater than the fifth power. Thus, reducing the coil size has a dramatic effect on power consumption.
Typically, the sweet spot or most linear, useable region at the coils is within the geometric center. A common way for improving the linearity or increasing the linear region in the axial direction is to lengthen the coil. Conversely, shortening the axial length of the coil tends to reduce the size of the linear region.
When imaging the head, particularly lower portions of the head and upper portions of the neck, the coils must be large enough to receive the patient's shoulders. When the coil is reduced in diameter to improve the switching speed and power consumption such that it just fits the head, the shoulders limit how far the patient's head can be inserted into the coil. Commonly, the linear portion or sweet spot of the coil can only be brought down to a central portion of the patient's head before the leading edge of the coil abuts the patient's shoulders. To move the imaging region down to the jaw or the top of the spine, for example, whole body size coils or surface coils are typically utilized. The whole body coils, being often twice the diameter or more of a head coil, suffers from slower switching times and higher power requirements.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,591, issued Aug. 25, 1987 to McDougall illustrates a whole body size coil in which the homogeneous region is offset from the geometric center of the coil.
The present invention provides a new and improved gradient coil configuration which facilitates shifting the linear volume of a coil axially, even on smaller diameter head coils.

Gradient coil with off center sweet spot for magnetic resonance imaging


A grip-handle for coupling to a resistance force provided by exercise equipment. The handle includes a hollow, generally-cylindrical hand hold. A flexion cable is fixed to opposed ends of a central shaft that is coaxial with the hand hold with a pulley guide member having a hook for engaging the equipment cable located therebetween. Generally-planar, circular side members having notched peripheries are fixed to the ends of the hand hold. The diameters of the side members exceed that of the hand hold to maintain the cable in position and removed from the hand of a user during the full range of wrist motion provided by the grip-handle during exercise.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to exercise equipment. More particularly, this invention pertains to a grip-handle for coupling to exercise equipment of the dynamic resistance type.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The health advantages of regular and rigorous exercise have led to the advent of numerous machines which offer advantages over free weight-based systems. Such machines may be based, inter alia, on elastomer, rubber band or tubing, pneumatic, spring coil and pulley system-based resistance forces. Examples include the cable and pulley-based devices taught by U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,057 of Shifferaw for "Universal Exercising Machine" (marketed under the trademark "BOWFLEX") and that of U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,955 of Westfall et al. for "Collapsible Exercise Device" (marketed under the trademark "TOTAL GYM").
Such equipment typically requires the user to grasp a grip-handle that attaches or clips to a direct (generally the case for elastomer, pneumatic and spring-based systems) or indirect resistance member (generally the case for cable and pulley-based systems) that provides measured resistance to the user's muscular contractions. Generally, such equipment includes a "standard" grip-handle of the type that allows simple wrist flexion and extension, but limits shoulder flexion, extension, abduction and adduction when the wrist attempts to deviate in a radial or ulnar direction in relation to the resistive force. Although the wrist is a complex joint capable of a wide range of motion, conventional grips do not routinely permit proper alignment of the joint with respect to a resistance force so that the user's musculature can gain the benefits that are otherwise made possible by the wrist's total motion capacity and the attendant possibilities for alignment and orientation of the body with respect to the resistance force transmitted through a cable or like device. Most commercially available handles for coupling to a cable that transmits a resistance force effectively limit wrist motion during exercise to flexion and extension from a supinated or pronated wrist starting position or wrist radial deviation and ulnar deviation from a semi-supinated wrist starting position.

Universal grip-handle for exercise equipment


Methods and apparatus are provided for cooperative file distribution with receiver determined quality of services. A receiver obtains a file by selecting a target rate for downloading a file, identifying one or more unreliable data sources and one or more reliable data sources wherein each source contains one or more portions of the file, obtaining at least a portion of the file from the one or more unreliable data sources at a first rate, determining a throttle rate for downloading at least another portion of the file from the one or more reliable data sources, retrieving the at least another portion of the file from the one or more reliable data sources at a second rate, and adjusting the throttle rate such that an amount of data obtained from the one or more reliable data sources is minimized, and the target rate is maintained.

1. Field
The aspects of the disclosed embodiments generally related to communication methods and systems, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus for cooperative file distribution with receiver determined quality of services (QoS).
2. Brief Description of Related Developments
The providers of popular, large digital files, such as software, music or video files, must keep pace with the ever increasing bandwidth demands for delivering such files. As the popularity of a file increases, a larger number of users are requesting the file and more bandwidth is required to deliver the file. If a file is to be conventionally delivered by a central server via the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), the bandwidth requirements increase linearly with the number of requesting users, and quickly become prohibitively expensive.
A number of techniques have been proposed or suggested for reducing the bandwidth demands of file delivery on the server, using peer-to-peer content sharing. In a peer-to-peer content sharing model, often referred to as "cooperative distribution," one or more users that have downloaded one or more files from the server can share the file(s) with other users. A cooperative distribution model allows a server to deliver large files in a reliable manner that scales with the number of requesting users. Among other benefits, cooperative distribution models exploit the under-utilized upstream bandwidth of existing users.
The BitTorrent file distribution system, described, for example, in http://www.bittorrent.com, is an example of a cooperative distribution technique. When multiple users are downloading the same file at the same time using the BitTorrent file distribution system, the various users upload pieces of the file to each other. In other words, a BitTorrent user trades pieces of a file that the user has with other required pieces that other users have until the complete file is obtained. In this manner, the cost of uploading a file is redistributed to the users of the file and the cost of hosting a popular file becomes more affordable. In addition, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/096,193, filed Mar. 31, 2005, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Offline Cooperative File Distribution Using Cache Nodes," discloses a cooperative file distribution system that uses one or more storage proxies to store the files that are being transferred among users.
While such cooperative file distribution systems provide an effective mechanism for distributing large files in a cost effective manner, they suffer from a number of limitations, which if overcome, could further improve the utility and efficiency of cooperative file distribution. In particular, it is difficult to guarantee a desired quality of service, such as a desired data delivery rate. A need therefore exists for improved cooperative file distribution systems that can satisfy a target data delivery rate. Yet another need exists for cooperative file distribution systems that supplement the peer-to-peer content sharing with more reliable data sources, such as web servers.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus for cooperative file distribution that addresses at least some of the problems identified above.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for cooperative file distribution with receiver determined quality of services


The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for selecting representative recent cover images from collections of digital portraits by determining selection scores based on average face vectors. For example, the disclosed systems can generate an average face feature vector to represent a common appearance or facial expression of a user in the collection of digital portraits. The disclosed systems can further determine representativeness scores that indicate measures of closeness of digital portraits to the average face feature vectors. In addition, the digital portrait selection system can determine various other factors, such as recency scores, face area scores, and face expandability scores. Based on these factors, the digital portrait selection system can determine an overall selection score and select a digital portrait as a cover image.

Often when someone attends an event or goes on a trip, they return with dozens or hundreds of digital images. Users are often eager to search through the images and select one as a profile picture for various social platforms or as a cover image for a digital folder of the digital images. To automate this process, some software and hardware platforms can analyze collections of digital images to group faces of like users together and then select cover photos from the collection automatically. Despite these advances however, conventional digital image systems continue to suffer from a number of disadvantages, particularly in their accuracy, efficiency, and flexibility selecting cover photos for users.

Selecting representative recent digital portraits as cover images


Method and systems for automated anticipatory braking of a vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, the system comprises a vehicle accelerator movable between a maximum speed position and a minimum speed position, and a sensor configured to determine the rate of travel of the accelerator toward the minimum speed position. The system further comprises a controller configured to utilize the rate of travel of the accelerator to determine if a rapid braking condition is desired, and to provide a control signal to apply increased negative torque to the drive wheels of the vehicle prior to the user applying the vehicle brake. In some embodiments, driver history and/or other vehicle conditions are taken into account. In some embodiments, negative torque is applied via varying of valve timing, control of combustion chamber intake, control of exhaust backpressure, control of motor energy, and/or shifting of a transmission to a numerically higher speed ratio.

Current systems for decelerating a vehicle include wheel braking. Wheel braking is achieved by using friction to convert the kinetic energy of the rotating components of the vehicle to thermal energy which is dissipated to the environment. However, when the driver of the vehicle requires immediate deceleration, the driver typically must first reduce pressure on the accelerator pedal and move the foot to the brake pedal, then depress the brake pedal. This delay can be very significant in determining whether the vehicle is able to stop in time.
Another method of deceleration is via motor braking, where the vehicle decelerates during standard operation by way of the coupling between the motor and the drive wheels. This coupling may or may not include a discrete ratio or continuously-variable transmission. Motor braking may occur from via the internal-combustion engine, through friction and pumping losses, and/or an electric motor/generator in power generation mode.
During such braking which can occur during regular operation, some control systems may inhibit the transmission from shifting to a numerically lower speed ratio. However, this may not provide any substantial reduction in speed, especially if the transmission is already at a numerically lower speed ratio (which is typical when the vehicle is simply cruising at speed). In addition, some control methods can command a shift to a numerically higher speed ratio if a brake input is given from the driver under certain conditions and/or is higher than a predetermined threshold, or if other on-board vehicle systems detect an imminent crash event. However, with such systems, if the vehicle is in motion with an automatic transmission in a numerically lower speed ratio (such as overdrive) and/or an electric motor/generator is not in power generation mode, then the vehicle will initially offer little brake force in the form of motor-braking in between the time when the driver rapidly releases the accelerator and then applies pressure to the brake pedal.
Some control systems can detect that the accelerator pedal is no longer depressed and actuate a brake in response thereto. However, such systems can inaccurately and inefficiently brake the vehicle, and can cause the vehicle to brake even when braking was not intended. Moreover, such systems can cause undue wear to the brake system, and can require significant additional components or costs. In addition, such systems can have other disadvantages. For example, if the friction elements are wet (from rain, snow, etc.) the initial response/capacity may be slower or lower. Moreover, the friction elements may have diminished braking capacity (brake "fade", boiled brake fluid, etc.) from prior use (such as braking while traveling downhill.) In addition, the friction elements are maintenance items which need periodic replacement; if the parts are near the end of their life they may not have adequate brake response and capacity.
In such instances, the vehicle may not be providing substantial and efficient deceleration at the earliest correct indication of the driver's intent to decelerate the vehicle. The delay and/or other shortcomings associated with other methods and systems can be very significant in adequately and efficiently braking the vehicle. Accordingly, improved methods and systems are desired for providing automated control of vehicle braking.

Methods and systems for automated control of vehicle braking

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


A winding device includes a support roller receiving strips of a material web to be wound up on two coil rollers mounted on respective winding supports flanking the support roller and movable parallel to an axis of the support roller along with respective electric motors actuating respective drive heads and getting cooled by respective flexible carriers movable along with the winding supports.

From the article "Roller Cutters and Roll Machines For the Paper Equipment, Part 3" in COATING 1/89, pages 8-12, a winding up device of this type is known which has a driven support roller and winding stations arranged on both sides of the support roller. Each winding station is comprised of two swingable support arms, each of which is equipped with a respective hydraulic winding drive. The two hydraulic motors of a winding station are connected in parallel and are fed from a hydraulic variable displacement pump.
Hydraulic drives have relatively small sizes for high powers, but it has been found that their use in winding machines brings disadvantages; that is outside of the winding machine large hydraulic installations are required and the adjustment of the winding station in the case of size changes presents problems. Because of the requisite high pressure (for example 300 bar) in the feed piping, these are very stiff and can be brought into the required new positions in a format change only with difficulty. In addition the requisite control is very complex with hydraulic drives.


A system includes a waste heat recovery heat exchanger configured to heat a heating fluid stream by exchange with a heat source in a crude oil associated gas processing plant. The system includes an Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system including a pump, an energy conversion heat exchanger configured to heat the working fluid by exchange with the heated heating fluid stream, a turbine and a generator configured to generate power by expansion of the heated working fluid, a cooling element configured to cool the expanded working fluid after power generation, and an accumulation tank. The heating fluid flows from the accumulation tank, through the waste heat recovery heat exchanger, through the Organic Rankine cycle energy conversion system, and back to the accumulation tank.

Natural gas and crude oil can be found in a common reservoir. In some cases, gas processing plants can purify raw natural gas by removing common contaminants such as water, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Some of the substances which contaminate natural gas have economic value and can be further processed or sold or both. Crude oil associated gas processing plants often release large amounts of waste heat into the environment.

Organic Rankine cycle based conversion of gas processing plant waste heat into power


Described herein is an apparatus and system for generating a signal with phase angle configuration. The apparatus comprises an array of switch-resistors, each switch resistor to receive a control signal, wherein the array of switch-resistors to generate an output signal; and a circuit to configure phase angle of the output signal. The apparatus can be used for different package and inductor configurations. The apparatus provides flexibility to mitigate switching noise by adjusting phase angles, and provides the ability to enable and disable switch-resistors on the fly without ripples. The apparatus also saves power consumption by selectively turning off switch-resistors when phases are disabled. The output signal of the apparatus has smooth triangular waveforms for improving the quality of power supply generated using the output signal. Overall, the apparatus exhibits reduced sensitivity to process variations compared to traditional signal generators.

A power converter, such as a Direct Current (DC) to DC (DC-DC) power converter, for a processor may provide a voltage supply to the processor. The power converter may be driven by a signal generating circuit. The signal generators for power converters have a fixed phase angle assignment for each phase. These phases cannot be enabled or disabled safely on the fly, i.e. enabling or disabling the phases causes ripples in the signal generated for the power converter by the signal generator.
Such ripples compromise the stability of the power converters and the voltage supplied by the power converters. The fixed phase angle assignments also impede re-use of the signal generator for different package and inductor configurations.

Apparatus and system for generating a signal with phase angle configuration


A method for reducing an amount of time needed for a single iteration of arithmetic encoding and arithmetic decoding is provided. Rescaling and range are calculated in parallel, range being a High parameter bound of a symbol-interval—a Low parameter bound of the symbol-interval+1. A new iHigh (iH) parameter and a new iLow (iL) parameter or a given/decoded symbol is found according to a cumulative frequency for an ith symbol. iH parameter and iL parameter rescaling is performed by shifting an amount of most significant bits of iH, iL in accordance with values of iH and iL. iRange is shifted to the left in accordance with a number of digits needed to represent iRange and a total number of bits reserved for iRange. A shifted iRange is divided by CF[N] and saved to Step_tmp while awaiting a result of H,L rescaling.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to flash memory encoding/decoding, and, more particularly, to arithmetic coding used therewith.
Discussion of Related Art
Currently, memory devices such as memory cards, USB ports, and the like, have been getting smaller and cheaper to produce. NAND flash technology is a technology that helps make portable memory devices operate effectively. NAND flash technology uses floating-gate transistors connected in a way that resembles a NAND gate.
Such NAND flash memories can utilize arithmetic coding and corresponding encoders (algorithms which compress an input sequence) and decoders (algorithms which decompress an encoded output sequence) to implement the arithmetic coding. A need exists to improve the speed of such encoders/decoders and reduce the amount of time needed for a single iteration, which is particularly useful for all NAND flash memory devices.

Method and apparatus for flash memory arithmetic encoding and decoding


A frequency tuneable or chirped laser device is described that includes a laser cavity formed from a plurality of optical components. The optical components include a laser source for generating a beam of light, a spectral tuning element and one or more further optical components for directing the beam of light on to the spectral tuning element. At least one of the plurality of optical components is moveable in a first degree of freedom; such movement simultaneously altering the effective optical path length of the laser cavity and the tuning frequency of the spectral tuning element. The effective optical path length and the tuning frequency of the device are substantially insensitive to any movement of said at least one moveable optical component in degrees of freedom other than the first degree of freedom. This provides frequency tuning in which mode hopping is suppressed.

The present invention relates to a frequency controllable laser device. In particular, the invention relates to a frequency controllable laser device that is capable of being modulated or chirped at a high frequency.
Frequency chirped laser devices, for use in interferometry and the like, are known. In particular, it is known to provide laser devices that implement a so-called Littrow scheme in which the laser cavity includes a diffraction grating onto which collimated light is directed. Tilting of the diffraction grating permits the frequency and cavity length of the laser to be simultaneously altered to provide the required frequency tuning without mode hopping. The Littrow arrangement has, however, the disadvantage that the diffraction grating must be rotated about a well defined pivot point. The critically stable mechanical arrangement required to provide the necessary accuracy of grating motion thus makes it difficult to obtain high frequency modulation speeds.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,554 describes various examples of laser cavities based on the above mentioned Littrow scheme and the similar Littman scheme. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,554 describes in detail how the pivot point for a diffraction grating or mirror can be mathematically derived to provide the synchronous change in laser frequency and cavity length that allows the output frequency to be changed without introducing unwanted mode hopping effects.


A sieve for a thresher, especially a combine-harvester, for the separation of grain-like field fruits from stalk-like and chaff-like components has channels (2, 2a, 2b) extending parallel to a longitudinal axis (1). The channels (2, 2a, 2b) are open to a first side A, from which they are loaded. The channels (2, 2a, 2b) are delimited by a bottom 3 and laterally following flanks (4, 5) which include openings (9). Air guide following channels (10, 11) are open to a second side B, which face away from the first side A. The two air guide channels (10, 11) are arranged in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis (1) and are separated by a continuous separation wall (13). The separation wall (13) extends between two neighbouring channels (2, 2a) which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis (1). In these separated air guide channels (10, 11), respectively, the openings (9) of only one of the two channels (2, 2a) separated by the air guide channels (10, 11) are open.

Modern threshers, especially large combine-harvesters, have very aggressive threshing equipment, which not only disengage the grains from the stalks but also very heavily comminute the stalks. Thus, a large number of short stalk portions or chaff-like constituents are produced, which heavily load the sieve. This has the disadvantage, that the short stalks can align in the conveying direction and provide no sufficient resistance for the air blower to transport them away.
DE 44 24 383 C2 (=U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,912) describes a cleaning sieve having parallel to the longitudinal axis, channels and air guide channels. The channels and air guide channels alternate. The channels are open on a first side from which they are loaded. An air channel is arranged between the respective two channels, following each other in the transversal direction to the longitudinal axis. The air channel is open to a second side, which faces away from the first side. The channels are delimited by a bottom and laterally following flanks. Openings are provided in the flanks, which are open to the corresponding air guide channel, through which the grains can be transported out.
In this embodiment, each air channel provided between two subsequent channels is connected with two laterally following channels, via openings in the flanks. The cleaning air arriving from the second side is guided through the air guide channels. The cleaning air is also guided through the openings in the flanks to the channels and transports the lighter chaff or stalk constituents out through the channels. Such sieves have a very good cleaning effect. Accordingly, during a normal operation, no blockage is produced at a high output. However, a disadvantage is that the stalk constituents, which are aligned in the longitudinal direction in the channels, can be caught in the openings provided in the lateral flanks. The stalk constituents can penetrate, in an inclined manner, the mating air channel and can settle in the opening of the channels following in the transverse direction. Thus, the air pushes the stalk constituents against the limitations of the openings, so that they cannot be transported out of the channels.


Pastes for use in producing sintered frit patterns (14) on glass sheets (12), such as the glass sheets used as covers for OLED (18) display devices (10), are provided. The pastes include glass particles, filler particles, and a vehicle. The sizes of the filler and/or glass particles are reduced compared to prior art pastes. Reductions in porosity and surface roughness of sintered frits produced using the pastes, as well as improvements in the available process window for producing OLED packages and the hermeticity and strength of those packages, are reported.

OLED-based displays are currently being considered for use in many applications which presently employ liquid crystal displays (LCDs). OLED-based displays can provide brighter and clearer images than liquid crystal displays and also need less power. However, OLEDs are susceptible to damage resulting from exposure to oxygen and moisture. Such exposure may lead to a reduction in the useful life of the light emitting device. Therefore, hermetic sealing is one of basic requirements for long term performance of OLEDs.
Efforts have been made to hermetically seal OLED-based displays with organic materials, such as epoxy resins. An alternate technology with substantially better performance has been developed by Corning Incorporated, the assignee of this application. In accordance with this approach, a frit-containing paste is made by mixing glass particles, filler particles, e.g., crystalline particles, and a vehicle, e.g., a vehicle comprising one or more solvents and one or more binders and/or dispersing aids. The paste is dispensed on a glass sheet and is sintered using, for example, a high temperature furnace to produce a sintered frit pattern.
The resulting assembly, known as a frit cover glass or simply a cover, is combined with a substrate carrying one or more OLED devices. The cover and the substrate are sealed together by exposing the sintered frit pattern to laser energy. In particular, a laser beam is scanned (traversed) over the sintered frit pattern. The power density of the laser beam and the exposure time are selected so that the temperature of the frit is raised to above its softening point. In this way, the frit adheres to the substrate and forms a strong seal between the cover and substrate. Since the sintered frit is a glass and ceramic material, as opposed to an organic material, the penetration of oxygen and moisture through the frit seal is much slower than through the epoxy seals previously used to encapsulate OLED devices.
Although display devices using sintered frit seals have worked successfully in the past, such devices would benefit from improved bonding strengths, wider processing windows, lower porosities, and/or increased hermeticity. In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that the size distribution of the filler particles used in the pastes from which such seals are made, as well as the size distribution of the paste's glass particles, play important roles in determining these properties. As fully detailed below, it has been further discovered that by using filler and/or glass particles having specified distributions at least one and preferably all of the strength, processing window, porosity, and hermeticity parameters can be substantially improved.

Frit-containing pastes for producing sintered frit patterns on glass sheets


The self-braking wheelbarrow of the present invention comprises a wheelbarrow bin assembly mounted so as to pivot relative to an undercarriage assembly whereby the bin assembly interferes with the wheels on the undercarriage assembly causing a friction on the tread of the wheel and restricting the rotation of the wheel. In normal usage the undercarriage assembly is secured to the wheelbarrow bin assembly by securing latches. Braking is accomplished by selectively releasing securing latches, thereby permitting the wheelbarrow to pivot, and lifting the handles as if to move the wheelbarrow. The braking force applied to the tread on the wheel is proportional to the bin load thereby resulting in higher braking force with higher bin loads.

The present invention relates to wheelbarrows and, more particularly, to a wheelbarrow with a self braking mechanism.
Wheelbarrows are widely used in the construction industry to transport materials on a construction site. Unloading a wheelbarrow typically involves tipping the wheelbarrow forward to dump the load contents from the front of the wheelbarrow. On level surfaces, a difficulty experienced during dumping is the forward movement of the wheelbarrow experienced as the handles of the wheelbarrow are lifted to accomplish the dumping due to the forward force vector on the wheelbarrow as the handles are lifted. The operator must restrain the wheelbarrow from rolling forward. As a result, the operator may lose control of the wheelbarrow, whereupon the wheelbarrow continues to move forward instead of tipping, risking damage to property and injury to others nearby. Additionally, once the wheelbarrow contents are dumped, the wheelbarrow may become unstable as it rests on the single axle wheel whereupon the wheelbarrow may roll backward or forward further risking injury to the operator.
When dumping on a forward sloping surface, the forward roll problem becomes worse. Yet more challenging is dumping the load contents on a reverse sloping surface, whereupon the wheelbarrow tends to roll towards the operator during dumping. To restrain the wheelbarrow tendency to roll forward during dumping, the operator may use a chock placed in front of the wheel such as a piece of lumber.
Prior art attempts to prevent or reduce the motion of the wheelbarrow during dump have been proposed including applying a brake. Previously proposed brake systems have been inadequate and have presented problems principally related to manipulating the brake activation mechanism during dumping and fouling of complex mechanisms by construction site debris.


An objective (2) with at least one optical element (4), which is mounted in an inner ring (3). The inner ring (3) is connected to an outer mount (1). A manipulator (10) is provided for displacing the optical element (4) in at least a direction perpendicular to an optical axis. The inner ring (3) is connected to the outer mount (1) by means of at least two adjusting joints (5) with manipulators (10) and at least one swivel joint (6). The at least two adjusting joints (5) and the at least one swivel joint (6) are provided with joint arms (8) extending at least approximately in a tangential direction with respect to the inner ring (3), by means of which arms the inner ring (3) is elastically connected to the outer mount (1). The ends of the joint arms (8) are articulated on the inner ring (3) in such a way that temperature-induced changes in length of the joint arms (8) are converted into a uniform turning direction of the inner ring (3) with respect to the outer mount (1) about the center of the optical element.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an objective with at least one optical element, which is mounted in an inner ring, the inner ring being connected to an outer mount, and with a manipulator device for displacing the optical element in at least a direction which lies perpendicular or at any desired angle to the optical axis, the inner ring being connected to the outer mount by means of at least two adjusting joints with manipulator members and at least one swivel joint, the at least two adjusting joints and the at least one swivel joint being provided with joint arms extending at least approximately in a tangential direction with respect to the inner ring, by means of which arms the inner ring is elastically connected to the outer mount.
An objective of this type with a manipulator device is known from DE 199 01 295 A1.
2. Description of the Related Art
With a manipulator device of this type, it is intended to improve the optical imaging quality of an objective. To compensate for production tolerances in an objective, an optical element is displaced in a direction which lies perpendicular or at any desired angle to the optical axis in a path-controlled defined manner with a construction which is optimized with respect to flux of force and stiffness.
The outer mount, inner ring and manipulation device in this case form a unit, in particular if the inner ring and the outer mount are of one piece. With the manipulator members, an elastic or compliant connection can be created between the outer mount and the inner ring, achieving a compliance or possibility of displacement in the x and y directions while at the same time, however, there is great stiffness in the z direction, i.e. in the direction of the optical axis.
If the optical element, for example a lens, heats up, there is the problem that the heat can be dissipated only poorly on account of the few and narrow connecting points with respect to the outer mount via the joint arms. This means that differences in temperature may occur between the optical element with its inner mount and the outer mount, which can have adverse effects on the imaging quality. In particular, changes in length of the joint arms on account of changes in temperature lead to a relative displacement of the inner ring with respect to the outer mount in the x-y plane. This displacement is based essentially on the articulation of the joint arms of the adjusting joints on the inner ring and their longitudinal extent. The resultant displacement of the inner ring transversely to the z axis leads to aberrations, in particular to coma.

Objective with at least one optical element


A standing-up trainer, in particular for use in rehabilitation for mobilizing persons having limited mobility. In order to adjust a seat base between a sitting position and a standing position, a positioning unit that is adjustable by a drive is provided, and at least one securing device for securing the convalescent is provided.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a standing-up, for example, sit-to-stand, trainer, particularly for mobilizing convalescents with limited mobility in the rehabilitation sector, whereby to move a seat base between a sitting position and a standing position, a positioning unit movable by a drive is provided and at least one securing device for securing the convalescent is provided.
Description of the Background Art
Convalescents, who have limited mobility due to illness, for example, stroke patients, are often confronted with the problem that they must relearn motion sequences necessary for daily life. In particular, the coordination of movements that are associated with a shifting of the body's center of gravity often poses great problems for these convalescents. Thus, for example, they must relearn how to stand up and sit down. This motion sequence makes high demands on coordination abilities. Thus, when standing up, the shoulders must first be shifted forwards in the direction of the toes. The center of gravity is then shifted further forwards in that the lower legs are tilted over the ankle joint, as a result of which the knees are also shifted forwards. This then results in a slight lifting of the thighs and buttocks from the seat base. The convalescent is then brought into the standing position by extending the legs and a simultaneous movement back of the shoulder section and thereby also of the center of gravity. With these shifts in the center of gravity, there is always the risk, however, that the center of gravity is shifted too far, which leads to a considerably increased risk of falling. There is the problem, moreover, that the muscle strength of the convalescents is often not sufficient to be able to perform the motion sequence independently.
For this reason, when the standing up process is being relearned, a supervising attendant must always be present, who supports the convalescent and takes him actively from the sitting position to the standing position. The associated effort has the result that the reintegration of these convalescents into daily life is highly care-intensive and thereby also very cost-intensive. In other respects, these exercises are physically very strenuous not only for convalescents, but also for the assistants, particularly if the assistant is much lighter in weight.
DE 20 2009 013 889 U1 discloses an adjustment device, in which by means of a electromotive adjustment, which is realized by a spindle drive, a seat base can be taken from a horizontal position to a vertical position. However, the use of such a device is associated with the problem that a spindle drive often cannot stand up to stress, particularly in the case of overweight patients, as a result of which the lifetime of the device is appreciably shortened. In addition, there is no guidance for the positioning unit, which has a negative effect on the stability of the adjustment device.
Furthermore, EP 1 716 834, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 7,601,104, discloses a sit-to-stand device in which the standing up motion is supported by a counterweight. A drive and a seat base are omitted, however, so that a forced movement is not possible. Furthermore, the user must be awkwardly attached to the device because of the lack of a seat base.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,440,046 B1 discloses a training device for disabled persons, particularly for wheelchair users. In this case, a seat base is taken from a horizontal position to a vertical standing position by means of an air spring adjustable with a lever. A motorized adjustment of the seat base is not provided, however. Furthermore, the sit-to-stand training of the user is not the main focus here. Rather, the standing position is used to enable the user to perform a positively controlled walking motion of the legs, which is initiated via handles by a movement of the arms, similar to a cross trainer.


A road finishing machine includes a control panel that can be moved between end positions on the left and right sides of the road finishing machine in a control platform. The control panel comprises a bearing roller fixed by means of a thrust bearing, and the bearing roller is engaged with a fixed bearing rail provided at the control platform.

Road finishing machines are construction machines that are employed in road construction to apply a surfacing layer onto the road. Here, it is in particular important that the operator of the road finishing machine can monitor the newly applied surfacing while it is being laid at the side and in the rear region of the road finishing machine. Therefore, usually seats are attached for the operator on the control platform on either side of the road finishing machine from which the operator can monitor the application of the surfacing on one side each. It is known in prior art to provide a control panel for each side and thus for each seat, so that altogether two control panels must be installed in the road finishing machine. However, this is a relatively complicated and cost-intensive solution, in particular if the control panel contains a plurality of displays and operational controls.
It was furthermore suggested in prior art to provide the control panel at a swivel arm, so that the control panel can be moved between the end positions in front of the respective seats by pivoting. It is furthermore known in prior art that the control panel is movable along a linear guide which extends essentially in the width direction of the road finishing machine, where a bearing on the linear guide is accomplished by means of sliding roller bearings and radial roller bearings which are attached to the bottom of the control platform or at the side of the control platform. This bearing, however, requires great shifting forces or a high break away torque for control panels of relatively high weight. Moreover, by means of these bearings, the clearance of the control panel with respect to the linear guide cannot be adjusted.

Road finishing machine with mobile control panel


A hardware implemented method for incorporating a border region within an image region is provided. In this method, a portion of the border region is stored in memory. Thereafter, a determination is made as to a relative position of a pixel within the image region. An image pixel or each pixel of the portion of the border region is then fetched from the memory dependent upon the relative position of the pixel. An apparatus and display controller for incorporating a border region within an image region are also described.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to computer graphics and, more particularly, to methods and apparatuses for incorporating a border within an image.
2. Description of the Related Art
In computer graphics, a border is commonly placed around an image being displayed. FIG. 1 is an illustration of a conventional method to implement the border around the image. Currently, to place border 102 around image 106, a graphics controller must use an overlay 108 that is equal in size to the image. Overlay 108 includes border 102 and center area 104 that is programmed to be transparent. Thus, even though border 102 comprises only a portion of an area of image 106, the number of overlay pixels being stored equals the number of image pixels. In addition, extra circuitry is needed to process the transparent pixels in center area 104 within overlay 108, which consumes additional power and bandwidth.
As a result, many small, portable devices have problems processing a border overlay because these devices typically have limited power, memory, and computing capability. Since these devices are limited in their memory and computing power, processing the overlays may exceed the memory limitations and dominate the CPU cycles of these devices and, as a result, dramatically slow down the executed applications.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need to provide apparatuses and methods for reducing the memory requirements and CPU processing power required to implement a border.

Apparatuses and methods for incorporating a border within an image by defining a portion of the border


An adaptable drum practice device includes an attachment mechanism, including a clip or a clamp; a sliding rail; a one-piece or telescoping shaft; and a device practice pad; such that the device practice pad is rotationally connected to the shaft, which allows a drummer to set the device practice pad to preferred height and rotational, vertical, and horizontal angles, and longitudinal position. The adaptable drum practice device can further include a ball joint with a locking mechanism, and the telescoping shaft can further include upper and lower shafts. The adaptable drum practice device allows a practicing drummer to attach the adaptable drum practice device to an existing conventional training drum, quickly and securely, thereby allowing the drummer to have two drumming surfaces that resemble a drum and a hi-hat, cymbal, or additional drum.

Drum practice pads are well known as convenient training equipment for practicing drummers, which can provide a full drumming set-up for use in practice or warm-up, while keeping sound levels at a minimum.
However, existing available practice pads are typically configured as one-level surfaces, or if configurable as a multi-level surface, can only provide a static pre-determined configuration.
Existing devices are therefore not able to replicate normal drum set configurations fully, in the plurality of different configurations that may be preferred by individual drummers.
As such, considering the foregoing, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for novel and improved devices and methods for drum practice.


A fixed wing flight vehicle has wing, a center-mounted propulsion unit and a pod that is moveable between a center of the wing and a displaced position at or near one end of the wing. When the pod is at or near the center of the wing, that is, having a center of mass at or near a thrust vector of the propulsion unit, the flight vehicle flies with the characteristics of a regular fixed wing aircraft. However, when the pod is translated to the position at or near an end of the wing, an overall center of mass of the flight vehicle is substantially offset from the thrust vector of the propulsion unit. This causes the flight vehicle to spin like a samara, e.g., a maple seed, so that the flight vehicle can take off or land in a very limited space, much like a helicopter.

Fixed wing flight vehicles enjoy good stability and control, efficient fuel economy, and good payload carrying capability. However, these vehicles require long take-off and landing areas. Conversely, vertical flight vehicles, such as helicopters, can take off and land vertically in very tight areas but are slower and have reduced endurance compared to a fixed wing vehicles of comparable mass and payload.


An image forming device includes: a fixing portion including a nip that is formed between a heat roller and a back-up roller pressurized by a pressurizing mechanism and holds and conveys a toner-bearing sheet; a pressure switching mechanism for changing a pressurizing force of the pressurizing mechanism; and a sheet detecting portion for detecting a sheet conveyed to the fixing portion. The sheet detecting portion changes a state of sheet detection by the sheet detecting portion in tandem to operation of the pressure switching mechanism. The image forming device includes a pressurization state determining portion for determining a state of pressurization of the pressurizing mechanism on the basis of an output of the sheet detecting portion for a sheet non-passing time, and a pressurization state display portion for displaying the pressurization state determined by the pressurization state determining portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming device including a fixing portion including a nip that is formed between a heat roller and a back-up roller pressurized by a pressurizing mechanism and holds and conveys a toner-bearing sheet while fixing toner thereto, a pressure switching portion for switching the pressurizing force of the pressing mechanism between a strong force and a weak force, and a sheet detecting portion for detecting a sheet conveyed to the fixing portion.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heat roller-type fixers provided in electrophotographic image forming devices each include a heat roller heated to a predetermined temperature by a heater mounted inside the heat roller and a back-up roller pressed into contact with the heat roller.
The heat roller and the back-up roller are pressurized by a pressurizing mechanism to form a nip that holds a sheet, thus conveying it while fixing toner thereto.
Since suitable nip pressure varies depending on the kind of sheet passed through the fixing portion, image forming devices configured to be able to change the nip pressure depending on the kind of sheet have been conventionally proposed.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-337612 describes an image forming device including a fixing portion configured to hold and convey a record material while fixing an unfixed image thereto with a heat roller and a back-up roller, characterized in that the fixing portion is user operable and has a lever switchable between a first position at which normal nip pressure is effected to the heat roller and the back-up roller and a second position at which nip pressure for special paper is effected to the rollers.
Such an image forming device enables an operator to switch the nip pressure to the heat roller and the back-up roller by handling the lever in accordance with the kind of sheet.
The image forming device described in the JP6-337612 publication involves laborious handling when checking the current nip pressure; the operator has to open the cover of the device and check the position of the lever.
Convenience for the operator improves when the image forming device includes an actuator that operates in tandem to the lever and a pressurization state sensor including a photosensor for detecting the posture of the actuator so that the state of the nip pressure is automatically displayed on a display portion or the like of the image forming device on the basis of an output signal from the sensor.
However, adding the sensor to the image forming device is not preferable in that the manufacturing cost increases.


First and second ridge type photonic waveguides are provided. Each of the waveguides includes a core layer and a reflective cladding layer in continuous contact with a first side of a core layer. The core layer has a core index of the refraction and is formed in a ridge in a dimension and shape to impose lateral confinement. The reflective cladding layer has an index of refraction that is substantially different than the core index of refraction. An inter-waveguide slab portion is provided between the first and second waveguides. A substrate supports the first and second waveguides, the slab portion, and the reflective cladding layer. A light interceptor region is provided to hinder a transfer of photons between the first and second waveguides through the inter-waveguides slab portion. The light interceptor region may include a trench region, which is an air gap in one embodiment.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to photonic wires, otherwise referred to as photonic waveguides. Other aspects relate to methods to reduce crosstalk between adjacent photonic waveguides.
Optoelectronics, otherwise called photonics, may form the basis for a new generation of circuits, that manipulate photons in the creation of sophisticated networks, systems, and devices. Photonic circuits can provide, among other benefits, speed and low-noise performance.
Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) is a popular platform for implementing photonic components and integrated circuits. SOI platforms have optical properties well suited to the creation of waveguides and other photonic components. In addition, SOI platforms are considered to be more readily compatible with silicon CMOS integrated circuit processes than are other photonic platforms. For example, some such silicon CMOS processes include deep UV lithography.
Photonic circuits also employ platforms based on III–IV semiconductors such as gallium arsenide (GaAs) and indium phosphide (InP) compounds.

Decreased crosstalk in adjacent photonic waveguides


The invention relates to a method for producing light-guiding LED bodies, in two casting and/or injection molding steps, from a material which is free-flowing before being finally solidified. First, the electronic components, consisting of at least one light-emitting chip and at least two electrical terminals connected to said chip, are coated by means of casting or injection molding, and are then recoated by means of casting or injection moulding, at least in one region, in a larger LED end mold. The present invention provides a method for the production of light-guiding LED bodies, whereby almost all light-emitting diodes produced have the same optical characteristics, and rejection caused by damage of the individual LED electronic elements is avoided.

Such a method for producing LED bodies is known from EP 0,290,697 A1. In this method, the front electrode regions, the chip and the bond wire are dipped in a resin bath in a first step. In another step, the electrodes and the resin-coated, cured end are placed in a mold where the resin-coated end is coated with plastic by injection molding in order to produce the LED body. In this method, the shape and the wall thickness of the coating on the electronic components varies from batch to batch. Consequently, the finished LEDs have different emissive properties when different materials are used in the individual coating steps on account of the different relative indices of refraction. In addition, regardless of the materials used, there exists the danger of damage to the electronic components through uncontrolled melting of the first coating.

Method for producing light-guiding LED bodies in two spatially and temporally separate steps


The invention concerns an electrical pin-and-socket connector, in particular for use between a socket (primer) and an electrical control unit for a retention system in motor vehicles, which provides for the locking of the pin-and-socket connector with a long-lasting connecting and engaging and disengaging ability in its locked position, to a great extent tension-free.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns an electrical pin-and-socket connector, in particular for use between a socket (primer) and an electrical control unit for a retention system in motor vehicles, for example an airbag.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a pin-and-socket connector should have the smallest possible dimensions due to the meager space available in the retention system. From this it follows that individual components of the pin-and-socket connector or associated socket, if applicable, are to have only an extremely small structural size, yet with respect to use involving safety regulations (for example, belt tighteners, airbags) a light assembly on the one hand and a high operational safety on the other is required.
This is so especially with respect to the locking of the connector and socket, whereby the contact elements of the components in the locked state must make secure contact. In the same way, the connector and socket may not inadvertently be detached from one another.
The known pin-and-socket connectors have a controlled latching bar, which is locked so it cannot operate in the initial position and can be moved only in the end position (locked position) if the pin-and-socket connector is inserted into the socket part (primer). The pin-and-socket connectors are essentially made of plastic, whereby the controlled latching bar is at least in part live in the locked end position.
If an external force acts on a plastic, the plastics behave in different ways. Thermoplasts react to an applied force with a continuing force effect (flowing). The flowing is nonreversible and is visible as a deformation. Duroplasts and elastomers do not display this behavior because only a reversible, elastic deformation takes place due to their complete cross-linkage. The flowing can occasionally lead to malfunctions of the latching bar.
If the pin-and-socket connector comes loose after some time and then needs to be put together again, putting it back together again can be problematic due to the remaining deformation of individual components.


A robot arm includes a drive assembly and an articulated arm assembly pivotally connected to the drive assembly. The articulated arm includes a pivoting base link system, a wrist link system, and a first elbow link system rotatably connected to the base link system by a pair of upper arms and connected to the wrist link system by a pair of forearms, a second elbow link system rotatably connected to the base link system by another at least one upper arm and connected to the wrist link system by another at least one forearm, wherein the drive assembly is connected to at least one of the upper arms and the base link system to provide three degrees of freedom by driving the at least one of the upper arms and pivoting the pivoting base link system to position the wrist link system at a given location with a predetermined skew relative to an axis of translation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to transport mechanisms and, more particularly, to a robot arm transport device.
2. Brief Description of Related Developments
The existing manufacturing technologies for semiconductor integrated circuits (IC) and flat panel displays (FPD) include processing of silicon wafers or glass panels, referred to as substrates, in fully automated vacuum cluster tools. A typical cluster tool is shown in FIG. 1 and may include a circular vacuum chamber with radially connected load locks and process modules arranged in a star pattern.
The tool may be serviced by a robot which is located at the center of the chamber, and cycles the substrates from the load locks through the process modules and back to the load locks. Another robot may be located in an atmospheric transfer module which serves as an interface between the load locks of the vacuum chamber and standardized load ports serviced by an external transportation system.
Typical operations performed by the vacuum robot include rotational and radial straight-line moves in a horizontal plane. In order to position the substrate to a given point in the plane of operation, the robot arm needs to be capable of a planar motion with two degrees of freedom. Since the load locks and process modules, also referred to as robot stations, are connected radially to the chamber, the orientation of an end-effector of the arm needs to be kept radial regardless of the position of the robot arm. Typical arm designs that provide such a functionality include telescoping, scara-type, and frog-leg mechanisms. FIG. 2 shows an exemplary telescoping arm 200a, an exemplary scara arm 200b, and an exemplary frog-leg arm 200c. In many applications, the robot includes a vertical lift drive which provides an additional DOF required to pick/place substrates from/to fixed pins, and for servicing stations at different vertical levels.
The drawbacks of the star configuration of the cluster tool chamber include a relatively large footprint and inconvenient interface geometry. In response to the growing demand for footprint reduction and standardized factory interface, tools with stations arranged in a non-radial manner are being introduced. An example of such an arrangement is the atmospheric transfer module of the cluster tool of FIG. 1. In order to access non-radial (orthogonal) stations properly, the atmospheric robot needs to be capable of moving and positioning the end-effector to a given point with a specified orientation, i.e., providing three degrees of freedom (3DOF) in the plane of operation.
A typical example of such a 3DOF robot may be a planar three-link manipulator comprising an upper arm, forearm and end-effector that are coupled and actuated through revolute joints, as shown in FIG. 3. An alternative four-link design is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,789,890, issued Aug. 4, 1998, to Genov et al. Typically, the end-effector is driven by a motor located at the robot wrist joint 300a (FIG. 3), or through a multiple-stage belt arrangement from an actuator installed inside the robot arm 300b (FIG. 3) or in the robot base 300c (FIG. 3).
The multiple-stage belt arrangements of 300b and 300c add to the mechanical complexity of the robot arm, present a reliability risk, complicate manufacturing and maintenance of the arm, and produce particles which may leak outside and contaminate the workspace of the robot. The approach of 300a eliminates the drawbacks of multiple belt stages, but the actuator at the wrist joint adds mass to the moving components of the robot, thus limiting the speed of motion and increasing the overall power requirements. In addition, the power and signal lines routed through the moving components of the robot arm often represent significant cost and reliability concerns. This approach is particularly problematic in vacuum applications due to sealing and heat removal issues.

Three-degree-of-freedom parallel robot arm