A method of forming channels on a die or other substrate. Also disclosed are liquid cooling systems including such channels.

Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a conventional packaged integrated circuit (IC) device 100. The IC device 100 includes a die 110 that is disposed on a substrate 120, this substrate often referred to as the "package substrate." The die 110 may comprise a microprocessor, a network processor, or other processing device. Die 110 may be coupled with the substrate using, for example, a Controlled Collapse Chip Connection (or "C4") assembly technique, wherein a plurality of leads, or bond pads, on the die 110 are electrically connected to a corresponding plurality of leads, or lands, on the substrate 120 by an array of connection elements 130 (e.g., solder bumps, columns, etc.). Circuitry on the package substrate 120, in turn, routes the die leads to locations on the substrate 120 where electrical connections can be established with a next-level component (e.g., a motherboard, a computer system, a circuit board, another IC device, etc.). For example, the substrate circuitry may route all signal lines to a pin-grid array 125—or, alternatively, a ball-grid array—formed on a lower surface of the package substrate 120. The pin-grid (or ball-grid) array then electrically couples the die to the next-level component, which includes a mating array of terminals (e.g., pin sockets, bond pads, etc.).
During operation of the IC device 100, heat generated by the die 110 can damage the die if this heat is not transferred away from the die or otherwise dissipated. To remove heat from the die 110, the die 110 may ultimately be coupled with a heat sink 170 via a number of thermally conductive components, including a first thermal interface 140, a heat spreader 150, and a second thermal interface 160. The first thermal interface 140 is coupled with an upper surface of the die 110, and this thermal interface conducts heat from the die and to the heat spreader 150. Heat spreader 150 conducts heat laterally within itself to "spread" the heat laterally outwards from the die 110, and the heat spreader 150 also conducts the heat to the second thermal interface 160. The second thermal interface 160 conducts the heat to heat sink 170, which transfers the heat to the ambient environment. Heat sink 170 may include a plurality of fins 172, or other similar features providing increased surface area, to facilitate convection of heat to the surrounding air. The IC device 100 may also include a seal element 180 to seal the die 110 from the operating environment.
The heat sink 170, heat spreader 150, and first and second thermal interface devices 140, 160 collectively form a cooling system for the die 110. The power dissipation of microprocessors and other processing devices generally increases with each design generation, as the operating frequencies of these devices are ratcheted upwards. Also, the design and operating conditions for a die may lead to "hot spots" on the die where the local temperature is significantly greater than in surrounding regions on the die, and a failure to adequately extract heat from such hot spots may lead to damage and/or a degradation in performance of the die. Thus, the thermal performance of die cooling systems in future generations of IC devices will become increasingly critical, and the thermal performance required for these devices may push the limits of the conventional cooling system illustrated in FIG. 1.

Methods of forming channels on an integrated circuit die and die cooling systems including such channels


Techniques are provided to determine a more realistic measure of a physical carrier-to-interference plus noise radio (pCINR) associated with a wireless channel between first and second wireless communication devices. Channel conditions are used to derive a channel margin quantity that is in turn used “discount” the pCINR. The discounted pCINR is then used to determine a modulation and encoding scheme that can be used on the wireless channel for communications between the first and second wireless communication devices.

Carrier-to-interference plus noise ratio is a measure of the signal quality between two wireless communication devices, e.g., between a base station and a mobile (typically remote) station. There are two types of CINR: Physical CINR (pCINR) and Effective CINR (eCINR).
pCINR is the inherent measure of the signal quality. eCINR is an indication of the actual performance of the signal under real channel conditions, i.e., what order of modulation and encoding scheme can the channel support under real channel conditions. eCINR, and thus the MCS, depend both on the pCINR and the actual conditions of the wireless channel between the two devices.
eCINR is the ultimate measure of signal quality under prevailing channel conditions, and it dictates the actual modulation and encoding scheme when transmitting to a destination device under fading channel conditions. In accordance with the IEEE 802.16 wireless communication standard (known commercially as WiMAX™), a mobile station needs to compute the downlink signal eCINR and report it back to the base station. The base station then assigns a modulation and encoding scheme for downlink traffic to the mobile station accordingly. For uplink transmissions, the base station needs to compute the uplink traffic eCINR, and it assigns a modulation and encoding scheme to be used by the mobile station for uplink traffic accordingly. eCINR is thus a significant parameter used in link adaptation. As such, there is a need to properly obtain an appropriate value for eCINR.

Determining effective carrier-to-interference plus noise ratio in OFDMA systems


When a yoke 11 is inserted into a bobbin hole 20 from the one end of a coil bobbin 13A, 13B until a positioning portion 17 of the first leg 11A, 11B of the yoke 11 is brought into contact with the one end of the coil bobbin 13A, 13B a engaging portion 18 of the first leg 11A, 11B is engaged with the projection 13e of the coil bobbin 13A, 13B within the bobbin hole 20 so that the longitudinal movement of the yoke 11 for the coil bobbin 13A, 13B is limited. Through this limitation, the yoke 11 can be attached to the coil bobbin 13A, 13B.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a small-sized plunger and more particularly to a small-sized plunger which is employed for aperture control or shutter control of a camera, tape rotation direction control or start/stop control of an audio device or VTR, or a device requiring a power source such as a household electric appliance and others, and has a structure in which a part of a yoke is passed through a coil bobbin.
2. Description of the Related Art
A previously known plunger is a self-holding type plunger in which with a movable piece is attracted to a yoke by a permanent magnet, an opposite magnetic field is generated by passing a pulse current through a coil to cancel the attractive force in the yoke so that the piece attracted is released from the yoke. This plunger has a structure as shown in FIG. 12.
A plunger 100 shown in FIG. 12 includes a yoke having a pair of first legs 101A, 101B and a coupling 101C is formed of a magnetic material such as Fe (iron) in a ⊃-shape; a permanent magnet 102 is mounted in a slit 106 formed by a gap between the first legs 101A and 101B of the yoke 101; coil 104A, 104B are wound on a pair of cylindrical coil bobbins 103A, 103B, respectively; and a movable piece 105 having a pair of second legs 105A, 105B and a coupling 105C is formed of material such as CU (copper) in the ⊃-shape. Incidentally, FIG. 13 is an external appearance perspective view of a single body of the yoke 101.
The yoke 101 is firmly mounted on the coil bobbins 103A, 103B by an adhesive so that the first legs 101A, 101B with the adhesive applied thereon are inserted into bobbin holes 103a, 103b of coil bobbins 103A, 103B from their end to a nearly central position. On the other hand, the movable piece 105 is slidably mounted on the coil bobbins 103A, 103B so that the respective second legs 105A, 105B of the movable piece 105 are inserted into the bobbin holes 103a, 103b until they are brought into contact with the first legs 101A, 101B, respectively from the other ends of the bobbin holes 103a, 103b of the coil bobbins 103A, 103B. The movable piece 105 is held in a state where the pair of second legs 105A, 105B of the movable piece 105 have been attracted to the S and N poles generated at the tips of the pair of first legs 101A, 101B of the yoke 101. Incidentally, with the pin of a lever (not shown) inserted into an attaching opening 105D for the movable lever 105, spring force F1 is always applied to the movable piece 105 through this lever.
For this reason, while a current is not passed through the coils 104A, 104B, the movable piece 105 is attracted to the yoke by attractive force F2 by the permanent magnet 102 against the spring force F1. When a current is passed through the coils 104A, 104B to generate a magnetic field opposite to the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet 102, the attracted movable piece 105 is separated from the yoke 101 by the spring force F1. The movement of the movable piece 105 when it is separated provides a necessary operation.
Incidentally, the structure of the self-holding type plunger as described above has been proposed In J-UM publication 5-47450 in addition to FIG. 12.
In the conventional plunger structure described above, the yoke 101 is fixed to the coil bobbins 103A, 103B through the adhesive. Until the adhesive hardens, further operations must wait. This reults in poor operability and long assembly time. In addition, because adhesive is used, working rooms become dirty and, because adhesives tend to have an unpleasent odor, working enviroments become less hospitable due to the smell. Further, when external force is applied to the bobbin before the adhesive hardens, the bobbin has a defective posture when fixed to the yoke which adversely affects operation of the movable piece.


An optical amplification device includes: an optical module that outputs an amplified light; and a controller that makes the optical module emit a light when an emission command is input into the controller, wherein the controller cancels an inputting of the emission command until a predetermined time passes, when a protection for forbidding a light emission of the optical module is canceled.

In an optical communication between stations, an optical module for optical amplification amplifies an optical signal in order to amplify a maximum output of the optical signal, For example, Japanese Patent Application Publications No. 2005-244305 (hereinafter referred to as Document 1) and No. 2010-279956 (hereinafter referred to as Document 2) disclose a countermeasure against an erroneous light emission.
However, Document 1 and Document 2 lack in safety measure during canceling an light emission.

Optical amplification device and method of controlling optical module


A method for encoding an image having been cut up into partitions. The method includes: predicting data of a current partition based on an already encoded and then decoded reference partition, generating a predicted partition; determining residual data by comparing data relating to the current partition with the predicted partition, the residual data associated with various digital data items. Prior producing a signal containing the encoded information, performing the following steps: determining, from the predetermined residual data, a subset containing residual data capable of being modified; calculating the value of a function representative of the residual data; comparing the calculated value with a value of at least one of the digital data items; based on the comparison, modification or non-modification of at least one of the residual data items of the subset; and, in the event of a modification, entropy encoding the at least one modified residual data item.

Current video encoders (MPEG, H.264, etc) use a representation by blocks of the video sequence. The images are split into macroblocks, each macroblock is itself spilt into blocks and each block, or macroblock, is encoded by intra image or inter image prediction. Thus, some images are encoded by spatial prediction (intra prediction), while other images are encoded by temporal prediction (inter prediction) with respect to one or more reference encoded-decoded images, with the aid of a motion compensation known by the person skilled in the art.
For each block, there is encoded a residual block, also called prediction residue, corresponding to the original block reduced by a prediction. The residual blocks are transformed by a transform of the discrete cosine transform (DCT) type, then quantized using, for example, a scalar type quantization. Coefficients, some of which are positive and others negative, are obtained at the end of the quantization step. They are then scanned in a generally zigzag read order (as in the JPEG standard), thereby providing for exploiting the significant number of zero coefficients in the high frequencies. At this end of the aforementioned scan, a one-dimensional list of coefficients is obtained, which will be called "quantized residue". The coefficients of this list are then encoded by an entropy encoding.
The entropy encoding (for example of the arithmetic coding or Huffman coding type) is carried out as follows:                an information item is entropically encoded in order to indicate the position of the last non-zero coefficient in the list,        for each coefficient located before the last non-zero coefficient, an information item is entropically encoded in order to indicate whether or not the coefficient is zero,        for each non-zero coefficient indicated previously, an information item is entropically encoded in order to indicate whether or not the coefficient is equal to one,        for each coefficient that is not zero and not equal to one, and located before the last non-zero coefficient, an amplitude information item (absolute value of the coefficient, which value is reduced by two) is entropically encoded,        for each non-zero coefficient, the sign assigned to it is encoded by a '0' (for the + sign) or a '1' (for the − sign).
According to the H.284 technique for example, when a macroblock is split into blocks, a data signal, corresponding to each block, is transmitted to the decoder. Such a signal comprises:                the quantized residues contained in the abovementioned list,        information items representative of the encoding mode used, in particular:                    the prediction mode (intra prediction, inter prediction, default prediction producing a prediction for which no information is transmitted to the decoder (called "skip");            information specifying the type of prediction (orientation, reference image, etc);            the type of partitioning;            the type of transform, for example 4×4 DCT, 8×8 DCT, etc;            the motion information if necessary;            etc.
The decoding is performed image by image, and for each image, macroblock by macroblock. For each partition of a macroblock, the corresponding elements of the stream are read. The inverse quantization and the inverse transformation of the coefficients of the blocks are performed to produce the decoded prediction residue. Then, the prediction of the partition is calculated and the partition is reconstructed by adding the prediction to the decoded prediction residue.
The intra or inter encoding by competition, as implemented in the H.264 standard, thus relies on piecing various encoding information items, such as those mentioned above, in competition with the aim of selecting the best mode, i.e. the one which will optimize the encoding of the partition in question according to a predetermined performance criterion, for example the rate distortion cost that is well known to the person skilled in the art.
The information items representative of the encoding mode selected are contained in the data signal transmitted by the encoder to the decoder. The decoder is thus capable of identifying the encoding mode selected at the encoder, then applying the prediction that conforms with this mode.
The document "Data Hiding of Motion information in Chroma and Luma Samples for Video Compression", J.-M. Thiesse, J. Jung and M. Antonini, International workshop on multimedia signal processing, 2011, presents a data hiding method implemented during a video compression.
More specifically, it is proposed to avoid including in the signal to be transmitted to the decoder at least one competition index as issued from a plurality of competition indexes to be transmitted. Such an index is for example the index MVComp which represents an information item for identifying the motion vector predictor used for a block predicted in inter mode. Such an index which can take the value 0 or 1 is not included directly in the signal of encoded data items, but transported by the parity of the sum of the coefficients of the quantized residue. An association is created between the parity of the quantized residue and the index MVComp. By way of example, an even value of the quantized residue is associated win the index MVComp of value 0, while an odd value of the quantized residue is associated with the index MVComp of value 1. Two cases can arise, in a first case, if the parity of the quantized residue already corresponds to that of the index MVComp which is desired to be transmitted, the quantized residue is encoded conventionally. In a second case, if the parity of the quantized residue is different from that of the index MVComp which is desired to be transmitted, the quantized residue is modified such that its parity is the same as that of the index MVComp. Such a modification involves incrementing or decrementing one or more coefficients of the quantized residue by an odd value (e.g. +1, −1, +3, −3, +5, −5 etc) and retaining only the modification which optimizes a predetermined criterion, in this case the previously mentioned rate distortion cost.
At the decoder, the index MVComp is not read in the signal. The decoder is satisfied simply with conventionally determining the residue. If the value of this residue is even, the index MVComp is set to 0. If the value of this residue is odd, the index MVComp is set to 1.
In accordance with the technique that has just been presented, the coefficients which undergo the modification are not always chosen optimally, such that the modification applied brings about disturbances in the signal transmitted to the decoder. Such disturbances are inevitably detrimental to the effectiveness of the video compression.
An embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for encoding at least one image split into partitions, such a method implementing the steps of:                prediction of data items of a current partition as a function of at least one reference partition already encoded then decoded, delivering a predicted partition;        determination of a set of residual data items by comparison of data items relating to the current partition and the predicted partition, the residual data items being associated respectively with various digital information items which are intended to undergo an entropy encoding,        generation of a signal containing the encoded information items.
The method according to the invention is notable in that it implements, prior to the signal generation step, the following steps:                determination, from the determined set of residual data items, of a subset containing residual data items suitable for being modified,                    calculation of the value of a function representative of the residual data items of said determined subset,            comparison of the calculated value with a value of at least one of the digital information items,            depending on the result of the comparison, modification or no modification of at least one of the residual data items of the subset,            in the event of modification, entropy encoding of the at least one modified residual data item.
Such an arrangement provides for applying a data hiding technique on a reduced set of residual data items, in which set the residual data items are suitable for being modified.
According to the invention, the expression "residual data items suitable for being modified" is understood to mean data items for which the application of a modification does not bring about desynchronization between the encoder and the decoder.
Thus, in accordance with the invention, the residual data items which are intended to undergo a modification are selected much mere reliably than in the previously cited prior art, thereby providing for obtaining a better qualify of reconstruction of the image at the decoder.
Moreover, the possibility of modifying a reduced number of residual data items provides for accelerating the encoding.
In a particular embodiment, the steps which follow the step for determining the subset of residual data items are implemented only if a predetermined criterion, dependent on the residual data items suitable for being modified, is met.
Such an arrangement additionally enables the encoder to decide in a rational manner whether or not it is appropriate to apply a data hiding technique. Such a decision step has the advantage of being applied only on the reduced set of residual data items suitable for being modified. It is thus ensured that the data hiding technique is applied much more appropriately than in the previously cited prior art in particular on a better chosen number of residual data items, for which it is certain that once these data items are modified, the disturbance of the signal generated by such a modification will not have a negative impact on the quality of the reconstruction of the image at the decoder.
In another particular embodiment, the predetermined decision criterion is dependent on the result of a comparison between the number of residual data items suitable for being modified and a predetermined number.
Such an arrangement provides for improving the compression performance of the arithmetic encoder while effectively reducing the signaling cost. Specifically, this arrangement provides for precisely detecting the number of residual data items from which it is judicious to apply the data hiding technique without the latter bringing about high disturbance levels in the signal to be transmitted to the decoder.
In yet another particular embodiment, if a plurality of digital information items is considered during the comparison step, the latter entails comparing the calculated value of a function representative of the residual data items of the determined subset with the value of a function representative of the plurality of digital information items.
Such an arrangement provides for optimizing the compression performance of the arithmetic encoder while optimizing the reduction in the signaling cost, since it provides for hiding several digital information items in the signal to be transmitted to the decoder.
In yet another particular embodiment the at least one digital information item corresponds to the sign of a residual data item.
The sign is a particularly relevant information item to be hidden due to the fact that the probability of appearance of a positive or negative sign is equiprobable. As such, given that a sign is necessarily encoded on one bit it is thus possible, by hiding this information, to economize one bit in the signal to be transmitted to the decoder, thereby substantially reducing the signaling cost. The reduction in such a cost will be all the more higher when it is possible according to the invention to hide a plurality of signs, and therefore a plurality of bits.
Correlatively, the invention relates also to a device for encoding at least one image split into partitions, such a device comprising:                means of prediction of data items of a current partition as a function of at least one reference partition already encoded then decoded, delivering a predicted partition,        means of determination of a set of residual data items suitable for comparing data items relating to the current partition and the predicted partition, the residual data items being associated respectively with various digital information items which are intended to undergo an entropy encoding,        means of generation of a signal containing the encoded information items.
Such an encoding device is notable in that it comprises, upstream of the generation means, processing means which are able to:                determine, from the determined set of residual data items, a subset containing residual data items suitable for being modified,        calculate the value of a function representative of the residual data items of the determined subset,        compare the calculated value with a value of at least one of the digital information items,        modify or not modify at least one of the residual data items of the determined subset, depending on the result of the modification,as well as means for the entropy encoding of the at least one modified residual data item, in the event of modification by the processing means.
In a corresponding way, the invention relates also to a method for decoding a data signal representative of at least one image split into partitions which has been previously encoded, comprising a step for obtaining, by the entropy decoding of data of the signal, digital information items associated with residual data items relating to at least one previously encoded partition.
Such a decoding method is notable in that it comprises the following steps:                determination, from the residual data items, of a subset containing residual data items able to have been modified during a previous encoding,        calculation of the value of a function representative of the residual data items of said determined subset,        obtaining of the value of at least one digital information item that is different from those obtained by entropy decoding, from the calculated value.
In a particular embodiment, the steps which follow the step for determining the subset of residual data items are implemented only if a predetermined criterion, dependent on the residual data items able to have been modified, is met.
In another particular embodiment, the predetermined decision criterion is dependent on the result of a comparison between the number of residual data items able to have been modified and a predetermined number.
In yet another particular embodiment, a plurality of values associated respectively with a plurality of digital information items that are different from those obtained by entropy decoding is obtained from said calculated value.
In yet another particular embodiment, the at least one digital information item corresponds to the sign of a residual data item.
Correlatively, the invention relates also to a device for decoding a data signal representative of at least one image split into partitions which has been previously encoded, comprising means for obtaining, by the entropy decoding of data items of the signal digital information items associated with residual data items relating to at least one previously encoded partition.
Such a decoding device is notable in that it composes processing means which are able to:                determine, from said residual data items, a subset containing residual data items able to have been modified during a previous encoding,        calculate the value of a function representative of the residual data items of the determined subset,        obtain the value of at least one digital information item that is different from those obtained by entropy decoding, from the calculated value.
The invention relates also to a computer program including instructions for the execution of the steps of the encoding or decoding method above, when the program is executed by a computer.
Such a program can use any programming language and be in the form of source code, object code or a code intermediate between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form or in any other desirable form.
Yet another subject of the invention is a recording medium readable by a computer and including instructions of a computer program as mentioned above.
The recording medium can be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, such a medium can include a storage means such as a ROM, for example a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or a magnetic recording means, for example a floppy disk or a hard disk.
On the other hand, such a recording medium can be a transmittable medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which can be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, via radio or via other means. The program according to the invention can in particular be downloaded over an internet type network.
Alternatively, such a recording medium can be an integrated circuit in which the program is incorporated, the circuit being adapted to execute the method in question or to be used in the execution of the latter.
The encoding device, the decoding method, the decoding device and the computer programs mentioned above exhibit at least the same advantages as those provided by the encoding method according to the present invention.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of coding and decoding images, coding and decoding device and computer programs corresponding thereto


The present invention is for an oat or rice-based frozen dessert composition which has been prepared using the grain derived solids, including the bran. In the method of the invention, cooked oat or rice grain is mixed with sufficient liquid so as to form a mixture having a composition of about 30% to 70% cooked grain by weight with a moisture content of 50% to 85%. Sweetening and flavoring agents are added to this mixture according to personal preference. The mixture is then homogenized and frozen with churning until a temperature of about -9.5.degree. C. to -5.5.degree. C. is obtained.

Nutritional experts suggest that a healthful diet should contain low amounts of fat, low cholesterol, high amounts of complex carbohydrates and high amounts of fiber. Among grains, oat and rice contain relatively significant amounts of protein and some fat, but the primary solid component of these grains is starch, fiber and other complex carbohydrates. The bran component of oat and rice is particularly high in dietary fiber containing both soluble and insoluble forms. Bran has long been recognized for its digestive benefits. More recently the soluble fiber component of oat and rice bran has been reported to help reduce serum cholesterol levels which may have a beneficial health effect.
The present invention affords a new way to deliver the healthful benefits of oat and rice grains. The invention comprises a complex carbohydrate-based, frozen dessert composition made with oat or rice grain-derived solids including the bran of the grain and a method for its preparation. Depending on the method of preparation, the invention can have either a sorbet-like or an ice cream-like texture. It can be either dairy or non-dairy and still provide the healthful benefits of bran referred to above.
Imitation ice creams have been developed, both for the purpose of eliminating dairy components that cause allergic or intolerance reactions, and to eliminate dairy fat and cholesterol. Examples of such dairy products include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,355,300 and 3,702,768. Examples of such non-dairy products include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,069,561 and 4,643,906. These are all fat- and/or protein-based frozen food products. They all require added emulsifiers and/or stabilizers. They have reduced or eliminated dairy fat and cholesterol, but most use saturated vegetable fats and in some cases, eggs, all of which may not be desirable components of a healthy diet.
Starch, in the form of potato flakes, is used as a sweetener in a commercial ice cream product marketed by Al & Reed's Dairy in Idaho Falls, Id. This also is a dairy-fat based product, has little, if any, soluble fiber and requires added stabilizers in the form of vegetable gums.
A fruit-puree-based non-dairy frozen dessert is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,211. In addition to the fruit-puree, the product requires the addition of a whipping agent, a bodying agent, a stabilizer and an edible fatty triglyceride, in order to make the product organoleptically acceptable.
The inventors of the present invention have made the surprising discovery that the various components of the grain and in particular the polysaccharide gums that make up the water-soluble dietary fiber components of the bran of oat and rice, not only increase the health benefits of the product, but contribute significantly to the body, texture and stability of the product. Thus, if an oat- or rice-based ice-cream-like frozen food is prepared using the method described herein, the need to add whipping agents, bodying agents or stabilizers, which are often artificial and contain unhealthy chemicals, is eliminated or greatly minimized.
Thus, an object of the present invention is to produce an oat or rice-based frozen dessert which retains the nutritional and health benefits of oat or rice bran.
Another objective of the present invention is to produce a frozen dessert product which has a pleasant taste.
Yet another object of the present invention is to produce an oat or rice-based frozen dessert which uses natural ingredients, is easy to manufacture and provides a pleasing texture without the necessity of adding expensive and perhaps unhealthy additives.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

Oat or rice based frozen dessert and method for preparation


A method and system for authorizing a user at a field device by a portable communications device. A first information is acquired by the portable communications device for identifying the field device. The portable communications device sends to a system the first information and a second information for identifying at least one of (i) the portable communications device, and (ii) the user thereof. The system determines a first piece of access information on the basis of the first information and the second information, and sends the first piece of access information to the portable communications device. The portable communications device transmits the second information and the first piece of access information to the field device. The field device determines a second piece of access information on the basis of the second information, and compares the first piece of access information with the second piece of access information. Access to the field device is allowed upon determining that the first piece of access information and the second piece of access information match.

1. Field of the Invention
The application generally relates to a method and an access control system for authorizing a user at a field device by a portable communications device.
2. Related Art
The use of role-based access control (RBAC) is being transferred increasingly from the preserve of telecommunications to the automation sector. Role-based access control makes use of the facility to assign a plurality of subjects, in particular real users, to a category, i.e. a role. Subjects assigned to a shared role are thereby assigned shared functions and permissions. Using role-based access control thus simplifies the administration of permissions, for instance on individual field devices in a system. For example, a real user no longer needs to be administered by his permissions but authenticates himself at the field device using an item of role information and associated authorization evidence and can perform actions commensurate with his role. In this regard, the field device now only implements the assignment of roles to permissions.
Existing approaches to providing a device with the authorization evidence belonging to a role include techniques such as the use of USB sticks or smartcards or connection to a downstream infrastructure. However, physical interfaces are needed for each authentication process using USB sticks, smartcards or similar auxiliary authentication. A connection between the auxiliary authentication device and the field device needs to be established, for instance by inserting a smartcard. This is normally followed by clearance by an associated password.
One of the problems here is that field devices, especially those with a relatively old date of manufacture, do not support the technique described above or do not have a suitable interface. In addition, the auxiliary authentication device must always be carried on the person to be authorized, so for instance a USB stick must always be provided for logging onto a device.
Patent DE 10 2007 046 079 A1 discloses using one-off passwords in the automation sector for remote-maintenance access.

Authorizing a user by means of a portable communications terminal


A drive mechanism of an injection molding machine includes a position adjustment part capable of adjusting a relative position between a rear plate and a motor fixing member. The position adjustment part includes a plurality of screw holes formed in the motor fixing member, a plurality of bolts threadedly engaged with these screw holes, and an abutting part that abuts on these bolts. These bolts are rotated to abut on the abutting part, so that the relative position between the rear plate and the motor fixing member can be adjusted.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drive mechanism of an injection molding machine, and more particularly to a drive mechanism of an injection molding machine having an adjustment function of the shaft centers of a ball screw shaft and a motor shaft.
Description of the Related Art
An example of a configuration of a conventional injection molding machine will be described with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.
A movable plate 1 is supported by a guide member 2 to be movable in an axial direction. A ball screw nut 3 is fixed to this movable plate 1 in a manner such that it does not rotate, and a ball screw shaft 4 is engaged with the ball screw nut 3. This ball screw shaft 4 is supported by a rear plate 5 through a bearing 21, and is rotatable, but is unmovable in the axial direction. The ball screw shaft 4 thus configured is rotated, so that the ball screw nut 3 moves in the axial direction. Consequently, the movable plate 1 to which the ball screw nut 3 is fixed also moves.
The ball screw shaft 4 is rotationally driven by a ball screw driving motor 8. The ball screw driving motor 8 is fixed to the rear plate 5. A shaft of the driving motor 8 and the ball screw shaft 4 are coupled by a coupling member 6, so that torque of the driving motor 8 can be transmitted to the ball screw shaft 4.
In a ball screw drive mechanism of an injection molding machine, in a case where a ball screw shaft and a shaft of a ball screw driving motor are coupled with each other through a coupling member, the shaft center of ball screw shaft is preferably made to coincide with the shaft center of the motor shaft. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to improve the accuracy of the machining of each of a motor fixing part and a ball screw shaft fixing part. However, even when each machining accuracy is improved, it is necessary to provide a slight clearance in order to mount each member, and such a clearance could lead to deviation of the shaft centers.
As a conventional technology for solving such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-138599 discloses an in-line screw type electric injection molding machine in which a pair of injection motors are mounted on a rear surface of a pressure plate by using a bracket, respectively, and the output shafts of these motors are coupled to rear ends of ball screw shafts. Additionally, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-984 discloses an injection apparatus in which the driving shaft center is aligned with the screw shaft center.
However, the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-138599 discloses that the driving motor is fixed to the rear plate by means of the bracket, but does not disclose how to fix the bracket or does not disclose an adjustment mechanism for making the shaft center of the ball screw shaft coincide with the shaft center of the motor shaft.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-984, mentioned above, describes an adjustment mechanism for aligning the screw shaft center with the driving shaft center, wherein an adjustment protrusion is movable in an adjustment recess, but does not describe how to move the adjustment protrusion or how to adjust a slight deviation of the shaft centers.

Drive mechanism of injection molding machine


The invention relates to a method and device in the crawling operation of a press felt in a paper machine. The press felt is passed as a closed felt loop through a nip defined between a center roll and a press roll in a press section of the paper machine. The felt is driven during the running operation of the paper machine by means of a nip drive between the center roll and the press roll of the press. When the paper machine is not operating, and the nip between the center roll and the press roll in the paper machine is open, the felt is moved, so as to moisten the new felt, by means of the crawling drive by rotating the drive roll. An axle of the drive roll is permanently connected to a drive rim. During the crawling operation, a drive wheel of a hydraulic device is brought into engagement with the drive rim. When the crawling drive of the felt is not in operation, the drive roll is switched to the free revolving position by shifting the drive wheel of the hydraulic device apart from the drive rim. The drive wheel is operationally connected to the drive rim.

The invention relates to a method and device in a crawling operation of a press felt in a paper machine. In the paper machine, the press felt is passed as a closed loop through a press nip defined between a center roll and a press roll. The drive of the felt is produced by means of a nip drive during a running operation of the paper machine.
When replacing the press felt and installing a new felt, the new felt is advantageously moistened before starting the operation of the paper machine. In this felt-moistening stage, the felt is driven with a low crawling speed by means of a separate drive gear while the press nip is open.
In prior art devices, the drive gear consists of an electric motor whose speed of rotation is lowered by means of a reduction gear. An output shaft of the reduction gear is connected to a mechanical cylinder-operated coupling. The rotational movement of the output shaft is transferred through the coupling to an axle of a drive roll of the felt. The drive gear is connected to the drive roll in order to cause the drive roll to revolve and thus turn the felt so that it can be moistened.
The device described above has been formed by coupling the constructional units of the mechanism one after the other. However, in this manner, the length of the device becomes detrimentally long. Further, the device consists of a number of individual components each one of which has a certain rate of failure. For this reason, the susceptibility of failure of the complete operating mechanism of the device is relatively high.
In the cylinder operation of the coupling, separate limit detectors have been used. By using these detectors in the prior art devices, the main drive of the felt is prevented from switching on in situations where the auxiliary drive, i.e. The nip drive, is still in operation. However, it is a significant drawback that the detectors are susceptible to contamination, in which case the data on limit positions given by the detectors has not always been reliable.

Method and device in a crawling operation of a press felt in a paper machine


A rod insertion device for inserting a rod into a bone anchor includes a shaft having a first end, a second end, and a shaft axis; a rod holding member connected to the first end of the shaft and configured to pivot relative to the shaft about a pivot axis and to receive a portion of a rod therein, the rod holding member comprising at least two recesses in an outer surface of the rod holding member and separated from each other along a circumferential direction about the pivot axis; a handle at the second end of the shaft; a locking member configured to lock an inserted rod in the rod holding member; and a detent member configured to selectively engage the rod holding member to latch a pivot position of the rod holding member relative to the shaft.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a rod insertion device for inserting a rod into a receiving part of a bone anchor, in particular, for use in minimally invasive surgery (MIS). The invention also relates to a system including a rod insertion device and a rod adapted to be used with the rod insertion device. The rod insertion device includes a shaft, a handle, a rod holding member pivotably connected to the shaft, a locking member to lock an inserted rod in the rod holding member, and a detent member for latching the rod holding member in at least two pivot positions relative to the shaft axis.
Description of the Related Art
A rod holder for a minimally invasive fixation system is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 7,758,584 B2. The fixation system includes a rod holder including an elongated body operably associated with an articulating portion wherein the articulating portion is pivotably connected to the elongated body and wherein the articulating portion is constructed and arranged to engage the rod. The elongated body of the rod holder has an outer elongated member and an inner elongated member, wherein the articulating portion is selectively pivotable relative to the outer elongated member, and the inner elongated member engages a surface of the articulating portion to prevent pivoting of the articulating portion relative to the elongated member. The handle may provide variable braking of the articulating portion so that the surgeon may have control over the degree of hinge articulation.

Rod insertion device for inserting a rod into a bone anchor


A semiconductor memory device includes word drivers for selectively activating word lines with respect to memory cells. The semiconductor memory device further includes a control unit for controlling a gate voltage of transistors in the word drivers so as to reduce inter-band tunnel currents of the transistors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to semiconductor memory devices, and particularly relates to a reduction of power consumption in a semiconductor memory device in a standby condition.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order to shrink a size of transistors to step up an integration density of semiconductor memory devices such as DRAM, SRAM, flash memories, EPROM, etc., a concentration of impurities doped in the transistors needs to be increased. An increase in the impurity concentration narrows a width of depletion layers in the transistors, resulting in a larger electric field applied to the depletion layer. As a result, an inter-band tunnel current is generated, which is especially prominent in PMOS transistors. The inter-band tunnel current is caused by a large degree of bending of the band at the depletion layer, and flows even when a high voltage is applied to the gate of a PMOS transistor to turn it off.
FIG. 1 is an illustrative drawing for explaining an effect of the inter-band tunnel current. FIG. 1 shows an inverter circuit which is often used in word drivers for driving word-selection lines in a semiconductor memory device. The inverter circuit of FIG. 1 includes a PMOS transistor 201 and an NMOS transistor 202. In word drivers or the like in a semiconductor memory device, a high voltage (V.sub.DD) is applied to a gate G1 of the PMOS transistor 201 and a gate G2 of the NMOS transistor 202 when the semiconductor memory device is in a standby condition waiting for data input/output. This high voltage turns the PMOS transistor 201 off and turns the NMOS transistor 202 on, thereby turning an output of the inverter circuit into a low voltage.
With an intensified electric field applied to the depletion layer because of an increased integration density of the semiconductor memory device, however, an inter-band tunnel current I.sub.BT is generated in the PMOS transistor 201 of FIG. 1. The inter-band tunnel current I.sub.BT flows from a bulk B to a drain D in the PMOS transistor 201. As long as it remains a small amount of current, the inter-band tunnel current does not cause any detrimental effect to circuit operations.
In a semiconductor memory device, the inverter circuits as shown in FIG. 1 are used at various points across the chip. Word drivers for driving word-selection lines, in particular, include the inverter circuits of FIG. 1 for each of the word lines to which a high voltage is applied, so that the number of the inverter circuits is large, and the inter-band tunnel current flows in a large amount in each of these inverter circuits. Because of this, the inter-band tunnel current I.sub.BT in all the inverter circuits of the word drivers becomes significant in its total amount when the semiconductor device is in the standby condition.
Even when the semiconductor memory device is in operation for reading data, the inverter circuits of the word drivers are in a condition for outputting a low voltage level in unselected memory blocks. The inter-band tunnel current I.sub.BT in these inverter circuits are also significant in its total amount.
Power consumption caused by the inter-band tunnel currents is not preferable, especially when the semiconductor memory device is mounted in portable equipment, because it adds to the consumption of a battery. Portable equipment usually need a semiconductor memory device with low power consumption in order to make an efficient use of limited battery power.
Accordingly, the inter-band tunnel current should be reduced in a semiconductor memory device in order to suppress an amount of consumed current during the standby-condition period. It is known that the inter-band tunnel current is prominent generally in a turned-off transistor with a high voltage applied between a bulk and either a source or a drain. A reduction in the voltage between the bulk and either the source or the drain should thus result in a suppression of the inter-band tunnel current. Alternately, a change in the gate voltage to bring the transistor closer to a turned-on condition should decrease the inter-band tunnel current.
Accordingly, there is a need for a semiconductor memory device which can suppress an inter-band tunnel current in word drivers for driving word-selection lines so as to reduce a consumed current during the standby-condition period.

Semiconductor memory device with reduced inter-band tunnel current


A method, system, and computer readable code for enabling use of smart cards by consumer devices for Internet commerce. This is achieved by integrating an existing “Integrated Circuit Card Specification for Application Payment Systems” standard (commonly known as the “EMV” standard) with an augmented version of the Four-Party Credit/Debit Payment Protocol which was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,578. The result of the integration allows a consumer to use a smart card from a personal computer system for credit or debit transactions, while preserving the level of security and other features required by the credit card associations and banks. No modifications are required to the existing EMV standard or existing EMV smart cards.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computer system, and deals more particularly with a method, system, and computer program product for enabling use of smart cards by consumer devices for Internet commerce. This is achieved by integrating an existing "Integrated Circuit Card Specification for Application Payment Systems" standard (commonly known as the "EMV" standard) with an augmented Four-Party Credit/Debit Payment Protocol disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,578.
2. Description of the Related Art
Using the Internet and World Wide Web (where the World Wide Web, hereinafter "Web", is a subset of the Internet) for "on-line shopping" with a credit or debit card, a consumer today is able to purchase items from merchants around the corner, as well as from merchants around the globe and anywhere in between, all from the comfort of the consumer's own home. (Hereinafter, the terms "Internet" and "Web" are used interchangeably unless otherwise noted.) A consumer navigates to a merchant's Web site, and typically browses one or more Web pages to select goods or services to purchase. The consumer uses a credit or debit card for an on-line shopping transaction by supplying the card number to the merchant-for the amount of the purchase. There are various methods for supplying the consumer's card information, including the use of "electric wallet" software which is becoming common on many systems. An electronic wallet, which is often referred to simply as a "wallet", is software which securely stores the consumer's card information (and may also store other information such as the consumer's name and billing address). When a purchase is made over the Internet, the wallet software provides the consumer's personal information to the merchant as part of the purchasing transaction, thereby relieving the consumer of the burden of remembering and retyping the stored information for each transaction. The wallet software typically executes on the consumer's computing device, and is invoked in response to a message from the merchant after the consumer indicates he or she wishes to make a purchase. The result of using the wallet software is essentially the same as using a telephone to order products from a merchant and verbally exchanging information such as card number, name, address, etc. (Server-based wallet software implementations are also known in the art, where the wallet software operates either entirely or partly on a network-based server. These wallets are accessed over the network by the consumer's browser or by thin-client software that, at a minimum, assures authentication of the consumer.)
U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,578 (Ser. No. 09/221,869, filed Dec 29, 1998), which is titled "Four-Party Credit/Debit Payment Protocol" and which is incorporated herein by reference, teaches a technique for efficiently authorizing credit and debit card transactions for a consumer when shopping on the Internet. (This invention is referred to hereinafter as "the related invention", and the protocol disclosed therein is hereinafter referred to as "the 4-party protocol".) The authorization process is performed between a consumer (using his or her credit or debit card and a consumer device such as a personal computer, or "PC") and the bank that issued the consumer's card (hereinafter referred to as the "issuing bank" or "issuer"). This is in contrast to prior art techniques, as will now be described.
Without the use of this 4-party protocol, authorization is more complex and requires much more system overhead (as described in the related invention). The techniques existing in the prior art, before the related invention, began by the consumer indicating to the merchant that he or she wished to purchase an item, after which the merchant requested the credit or debit card information from the consumer either directly (e.g. by sending a Web page into which the consumer would fill in the blanks) or by sending an initialization message to start the consumer's wallet software. When the merchant received the card information, either from the returned Web page or from the wallet software, the merchant would then request an authorization for the transaction from the issuing bank by routing the authorization request through the bank used by the merchant for card transactions (hereinafter referred to as the "acquiring bank"), through a private card network (operated by MasterCard®, Visa®, or a similar company or card association), and finally to the issuing bank. Once the transaction was authorized by the issuing bank, the authorization was routed back over the card network to the acquiring bank and then to the merchant. The merchant then indicated to the consumer that the purchase was approved. At some later point in time, the merchant sent the necessary information to the acquiring bank to collect the funds from the issuing bank. ("MasterCard" is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated, and "Visa" is a registered trademark of Visa International Service Association.)
One key advantage of using the 4-party protocol is the ability to send a "pre-authorized" payment message from the consumer's wallet to the merchant. By using the 4-party protocol, the consumer's computing device (which will be referred to as a PC hereinafter, for ease of reference) interacts directly with the issuing bank to perform the authorization, instead of the merchant requesting the authorization as in the prior art. When the issuing bank has authorized the transaction, it sends an "authorization token" (which is the pre-authorized payment message) to the consumer's PC, which is then forwarded to the merchant as part of the payment response from the consumer's wallet. The merchant need not perform a separate real-time authorization of the card information since the transaction has already been approved by the issuing bank. (The merchant at some later time forwards the authorization token to the acquiring bank to use for requesting the funds from the issuing bank.)
A new type of card has emerged in recent years that is designed to be more secure than existing credit and debit cards. This card is referred to as a "smart card". This smart card includes a logic chip that contains stored information pertaining to the owner, such as the owner's name, address, and account number; the card issuer (such as Mastercard, Visa, etc.); a Personal Identification Number (PIN); and any limitations on the card's use (such as a dollar maximum used for an individual purchase). A standard titled "Integrated Circuit Card Application Specification for Payment Systems" specifies how credit and debit card systems may use smart cards for point-of sale (POS) retail purchases and automated teller machine (ATM) transactions. This standard was promulgated by three of the leaders in the charge card industry: Europay International, Master, and Visa. Because of the involvement of these parties in drafting the standard, the card standard is commonly referred to as the "EMV" standard. (The most recent version of the EMV standard is version 3.1.1, dated May 31, 1998, which may be found on the Internet.
The smart card is designed for use in a device attached to a POS terminal (or ATM) which is physically located at a merchant's business. Instead of "swiping" the card (as with current credit and debit cards that contain a magnetic stripe), the merchant or consumer will plug the smart card into a smart card reader. Power is then supplied to the card by the POS terminal (or ATM), and information is exchanged between the terminal and the smart card to enable a consumer to perform a transaction. (Hereinafter, smart cards are discussed with reference to use with a POS terminal. These discussions apply equivalently to use of a smart card with an ATM unless stated otherwise.)
According to the EMV standard, there are two types of authorization interaction that may occur between the smart card and the merchant. The first type of authorization is "off-line authorization", where logic on the card directly approves the transaction using information available from the smart card and POS terminal. This may occur, for example, when the transaction amount and other parameters fall within risk management guidelines established by the card issuer, merchant, and acquirer. The second type of authorization is "on-line authorization", where the transaction must be authorized by the issuing bank using a message sent from the card, through the POS terminal, the acquiring bank, the appropriate card network (i.e. MasterCard, Visa, etc.) and finally to the issuing bank. The transaction is either approved or declined in a response message sent from the issuing bank via the card network to the acquiring bank, to the merchant's POS terminal, and ultimately to the consumer's smart card. Following a successful transaction (i.e. when the consumer is authorized for the transaction), a message is eventually transmitted from the merchant to the acquiring bank to actually collect the funds associated with the transaction from the issuing bank.
The EMV standard is defined for use with POS terminals which are physically located at a merchant's business, as previously stated. The standard presumes the POS terminal can be trusted to perform a number of critical security functions such as the authorization of transactions. Because a consumer device is under control of the consumer, responsibility for these security functions must be moved elsewhere, and thus the existing EMV standard does not directly adapt to use of smart cards in conjunction with Internet purchases (where the physical merchant POS terminal does not exist). Furthermore, the existing EMV standard fails to take advantage of the global connectivity of the Internet when performing transaction authorization.
Accordingly, what is needed is a technique which allows consumers to purchase items from a consumer computing device over the Internet using smart card technology, but without requiring modification of the existing EMV standard or of existing smart cards.

Enabling use of smart cards by consumer devices for internet commerce

International Business Machines Corporation


An image forming apparatus which is capable of eliminating influence of in-plane variation contained in secondary-color patches, which is caused by devices, in performing gradation correction. A first toner pattern having a uniform density (of gray) and a second toner pattern having gradation (of gray and black) are formed in a direction orthogonal to a direction of driving an image bearing member. Gradation correction data for converting an input image signal associated with the toner of black is formed, based on density information on the second toner pattern formed by the two toners, and density information on the second toner pattern formed by the toner of gray.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, such as a printer, which performs image formation by superimposing a toner of a first color and a toner of a second color that has the same hue as that of the first color an a density higher than that of the first color, one upon the other.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an image forming apparatus by electrophotography, there occurs a case where the gradation of an input image and that of an actually output image do not match. This is because image formation is performed under the influences of the reading characteristics of an image reader element, such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), used in an image reading section, the electrostatic charging characteristics, developing characteristics, transfer characteristics, fixing characteristics, and so forth of an image forming section. Therefore, in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, to cause the gradation of the input image to match that of the actually output image, the signal of the input image is converted using gradation correction data, such as a gamma lookup table (hereinafter also referred to as "the LUT") (gradation correction). The LUT is a table associating an input image signal and an output image signal with each other. The input image signal is converted based on the LUT. If image formation is performed based on the converted image signal, the image is output at a desired gradation.
The characteristics of the apparatus change with the lapse of time and changes in the environment, and hence the gradation of an output image change with changes in the apparatus. To maintain the gradation of the output image, it is necessary to correct the gradation correction data. As the method of correcting the gradation correction data, there is one proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H09-233350.
In this data correction method, gradation patches (small areas varying from light to dark) of an object color are formed on a recording medium, and the luminance of each patch is read by a scanner or the like and is converted into a density of the patch. Then, a gradation correction table is formed such that the densities of the read patches form a desired curve.
However, the apparatus that performs image formation using a dark toner and a light toner sometimes suffers from the problem that even if the above-described gradation correction data is corrected, the correction is not accurate enough.
FIGS. 22A and 22B are graphs showing how a gradation step is caused in a gradation characteristic curve of gradation expression using a dark toner and a light toner.
The dark toner and the light toner have the same hue and different densities. Colors having the same hue means that the colors belong to substantially the same color classification, such as black or yellow.
The apparatus that uses a dark toner and a light toner performs image formation in a low-density area using only the light toner. Further, from a certain density area, image formation is performed using a mixture of the light and dark toners. By using the light toner, it is possible to restrict the sense of graininess of an image (particularly in a low-density area), which makes it possible to improve image quality.
Assuming that gradation correction is performed on the dark toner and the light toner such that they have target gradation characteristics as shown in FIG. 22A, respectively, and the toners are mixed, a gradation characteristic curve indicative of the gradation characteristics of the mixture becomes an ideal one as shown by a broken line W1 in a FIG. 22B graph on condition that the image forming apparatus is in an ideal state.
However, when performing gradation correction, the above-mentioned characteristics of the apparatus are sometimes changed to be no longer properly associated with the LUT due to aging of the aging of transfer members and degradation of developers. As a consequence, a gradation characteristic curve of the obtained gradation characteristics of the mixture is sometimes not the above-described ideal one but has a gradation step as appearing in a solid line W2 in the FIG. 22B graph. To suppress such a step, it is necessary to directly detect patches formed by a mixture of the dark toner and the light toner (hereinafter the mixture is referred to as the "dark/light toner"), and form a LUT which is capable of correcting the gradation characteristics of the light toner, and that of a color formed by the dark/light toner. When the dark/light toner is considered to be composed of toners of types different from each other, this correction of the gradation correction data can be considered as correction which attaches importance to the gradation characteristics of a secondary color that is formed by superimposing the dark toner and the light toner one upon another.
A method of correcting gradation correction data of a secondary color has been proposed e.g. in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-205701. In the method disclosed in this publication, matrix patches of secondary colors, which are output in a state not subjected to gradation correction, are read and its chromaticity of each of the read colors is calculated. Then, the calculated chromaticity is converted to hue information and chroma information of primary colors equivalent to the secondary color to thereby calculate combinations of primary colors that correspond to secondary colors that have a fixed hue angle and are increased in chroma at fixed intervals. The thus determined combination is caused to be reflected on a LUT for a single color, whereby it is possible to realize gradation correction for suppressing variation in hue of secondary colors.
However, the correction of gradation correction data by the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-205701 is not accurate, because it is not free from influences of in-plane variation caused by devices used in electrophotography.
Here, a description will be given of the in-plane variation caused by the devices. In the image forming apparatus by electrophotography, it is desirable to form an image in the plane of each sheet of recording medium without variation while maintaining color uniformity, but actually, variations in colors (in-plane variation) are caused in the plane of the recording medium by various devices provided in the image forming apparatus. Examples of the in-plane variation caused by the devices include variation due to the inclination of an in-developer sleeve with respect to a photosensitive member, variation due to the inclination of a charger with respect to the photosensitive member, variation due to the inclination of an intermediate transfer member with respect to the photosensitive member, sensitivity variation in the photosensitive member, variation in the amount of laser light, and so forth.
Toner patches, which are formed during correction of gradation correction data in a manner associated with respective gradations, are formed along the rotating shaft of the photosensitive drum (in a direction orthogonal to the direction of conveyance of the recording medium) and along the direction of rotation of the photosensitive drum (the direction of conveyance of the recording medium). It is considered that when in-plane variation as described above is caused, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-205701 cannot perform accurate correction of gradation correction data since the toner patches are not formed at proper densities due to the in-plane variation.
To eliminate this inconvenience, there has been proposed a gradation correcting method free from the influence of in-plane variation caused by devices, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-260407. In this method, gradation toner patches for forming gradation correction data and an array of patches in the direction of the rotating shaft of the photosensitive drum which are of the same color and with the same output value for grasping in-plane variation are formed in a gradation correction chart, and the densities of all the above patches are measured. Then, in-plane variation is grasped based on obtained information on the densities of the patch array, and based on information on the in-plane variation, density information on the gradation toner patches is corrected by the amount of deviation of the density due to the in-plane variation, whereafter a LUT for object colors is formed based on the corrected density information.
However, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-260407 cannot accurately grasp information on in-plane variation contained in secondary-color patches in the correction of gradation correction data of secondary colors, and therefore it is impossible to perform gradation correction free from the influence of the in-plane variation. For example, when a LUT for a light tone is formed, since toner patches are formed only by the light toner, the LUT can be accurately formed by eliminating the influence of the in-plane variation by the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-260407. However, toner patches formed by using the light toner and a dark toner include in-plane variation due to an image forming section of the dark toner and in-plane variation due to an image forming section of the light toner, which makes it impossible to form an accurate LUT without taking both the in-plane variations into account.


The vibration of a radiator is insulated from being transmitted to a vehicle body by an insulator having vibration-dampening protrusions, air pockets, and sub-air pockets, thereby greatly reducing noise and vibration of the vehicle compartment. The insulator includes an insertion portion, flange, supporting portion, coupling hole, air pockets, and vibration-dampening protrusions.

Typically, a radiator is mounted with a cooling fan and can vibrate due to operation of the cooling fan. Such vibration may be transmitted to the vehicle compartment through the vehicle body that supports the radiator.
Thus, an insulator is required for isolating the vibration of the radiator between the radiator and vehicle body and for minimizing noise and vibration of the vehicle compartment thereby.


The present invention provides a crude drug composition comprising extracts of radish and tea leaf and additionally comprising an extract extracted from at least one crude drug selected from a group consisting of Daucus carota var sativa, Aurantii nobilis Pericapium, Aurantii immatri Pericarpium, Ficus carica L., Allium cepa L., Mume Fructus and Prunus armeniaca. Inventive composition induces the functional activation of intestine in the charcoal-administered animal model experiment and constipation-induced animal model and improves the constipation by activating mucus secretion in the intestine. And the composition is confirmed to inhibit the growth of intestinal harmful bacteria without affecting the growth of beneficial bacteria. Therefore, the crude drug composition of the present invention may be useful for the pharmaceutical composition and health care food for preventing, alleviating and treating intestinal disease and constipation.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a composition for prevention and treatment of intestinal disease and constipation. More specifically, the present invention provides the composition essentially comprising extracts of radish and tea leaf and additionally comprising an extract extracted from crude drug selected from the group consisting of Daucus carota var sativa, Aurantii nobilis Pericapium, Aurantii immatri Pericarpium, Ficus carica L., Allium cepa L., Mume Fructus and Prunus armeniaca and the process for preparing them.
2. Background
Recently, the number of patient suffering from constipation has been increased with modem high fat and high protein meal pattern and the syndrome of constipation is characterized in anorexia, skin aging, headache, acne, skin rash, hemorrhoids, colon cancer, which are caused by absorbed toxic substance exuded from feces not yet discharged through intestinal peristaltic movement. It has been reported that constipation is caused by weak peristaltic movement or defecation reflex leading to hindrance in propagation, and the criteria for judging constipation is in case that the number of bowel movement is less than twice a week and the mass of feces is less than 35 g.
There have been tried to alleviate constipation or to stimulate peristaltic movement by using therapeutic method such as exercise as a first choice and various drug such as herbal laxative containing anthraquinone derivatives isolated from senna folium, rhei rhizoma (Rheum undulatum) and the like or food such as dietary fiber as a second choice till now. However, the laxative drug has limit such as the caution not to be administered everyday or during the pregnancy because of its high irritancy.
Common functional food material for improving constipation have been manufactured by using dietary fiber, sea tangle (Laminaria japonica), yakon, Saururus chinensis, tea of Cassia tora seed, tea of Malva verticillata seed, aloe, sea weed and so on, however, the efficacy of those have not been substantiated scientifically yet till now.
Intestinal disease includes chronic/acute gastroenteritis and food poisoning caused by bacteria such as E. coli, salmonella and the like.
In particular, Salmonella typhimurium DT104 has been reported to show multiple antimicrobial resistance against several antibiotics such as ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfonamides and tetracycline. Such an antibiotic-resistance bacteria makes it difficult to treat infectious disease, and propagates the antibiotic resistant-gene to other bacteria through transformation. Furthermore, Salmonella typhimurium DT104 having additional resistance to trimethoprim and ciprofloxacin was reported in England.
Recently, Escherichia coli O157:H7 broke out mass food poisoning in U.S. and Japan accompanying hemolytic uremia and hemolytic colitis in patients.
There have been lots of trial to investigate effective drug or health food to treat or alleviate constipation and to regulate intestinal microflora from natural products till now.
It has been reported that Raphanus sativus L. and Brassia Lap. belonged to Cruciferae, contains glucose, fructose, coumaric acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, phenylpyruvic acid, gentidin acid, hydroxy benzoic acid and several amino acids in the radix thereof and the alcoholic extract of the radix shows anti-microbial and anti-fungal activity (Chung. B. S. and Shin M. K.; HyanghakDaeSaJeon, Youngrim Press, pp 582-584, 1998).
It has been reported that the young tender leave of Camellia sinensis belonged to Theaceae contains 1-5% purine alkaloid and caffeine besides theobrornine, theophylline and xanthine. Most of tannin in tea leaf is galloyl-l-epigallocatechol together with several amount of caffeine, which shows the antibiotic and vitamin P-like activity, CNS excitation, momory enhancing activity, vasodilatory and diuretic activity due to xanthine derivatives such as caffeine and theophylline (Chung. B. S. and Shin M. K.; HyanghakDaeSaJeon, Youngrim Press, pp 403-405, 1998). The young leaves of Camellia sinensis may be processed as various teas such as black tea, oolong tea, Tien-Guan-In tea, Boe-Jong tea, green tea according to their respective processes, for example, post-fermentation, fermentation, half-fermentation, non-fermentation and the like.
Daucus carota L. var. sativa DC. belonged to Umbelliferae contains various carotenoids such as α-, β-, γ-, ε-carotene, lycopene, phytofluene, and vitamin B1, B2 and anthocyanidin etc, which has been used to strengthen the internal organs such as heart, stomach and spleen, and to treat dyspepsia.
Aurantii nobilis Pericapium is a dried peel of mature fruit of Citrus unshiu MARCOR. belonged to Rutaceae, while Aurantii immatri Pericapium is a dried peel of immature one and contain limonene, flavonoid glycoside, hesperidin, citric acid, naringin, aspartic acid and so on. It has been known to show the strengthening activity of the internal organs such as heart, stomach and spleen, the dyspepsia-treating activity, antitussive activity, and type I anti-allergic activity.
The fruit of Ficus carica L belonged to Moraceae, contains approximately 10% saccharides such as glucose, fructose and the like, organic acids such as malic acid, citric acid, benzaldehyde, various enzymes such as ficin, lipase, amylase and oxydase, fiber and protein. It has been used for treating hypogalactia, anorexia and detoxifying agent.
Allium cepa L. belonged to Liliaceae, contains thiol, dimethyl disulfide, dially-disulfide and dially thioether, thiosulfinic acid salt and malic acid, of which root and leaf contain coumaric acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and sinapic acid and have pharmacological activity such as lowering blood cholesterol and decreasing fibrin solubility.
Mume Fructus, a steamed and dried immature fruit of Prunus mume belonged to Amygdalaceae contains citric acid, malic acid, sitosterol and oleanolic acid, and shows anti-bacterial, anti-fungal activity and detoxifying activity.
A fruit of Prunus armeniaca L. belonged to Amygdalaceae contains citric acid, β-carotene and essential oil such as myrcene, limonene, p-cymene and terpinolene and it is reported that it has been used for treating asthma, bronchitis and acute hepatitis.
There have been several reports on above described herbs or crude drug.
For example, Raphanus sativus showed anti-cancer activity (Adv. Exp. Med. Biol., 289, pp 153-163, 1991; Am. J. Epidemiol., 144, pp 1015-1025, 1996) and liver detoxificating activity (Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 59, pp 1882-1886, 1995; Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 316, pp 797-802, 1995).
Korea patent publication No. 180452 discloses the health nutrient composition for improving constipation and scavenging feces smell comprising Aloe arborescens, a seed extract of Cassia tora, a seed extract of Malva verticillata and green tea leaves.
Korea patent publication No. 149389 discloses crude drug composition comprising dried mandarin orange peel, ginseng, fruit of Schizandra chinensis, alum, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, seed of apricot and fruit of Lycium chinensis for treating constipation.
U.S patent application Ser. No. 2002-0068097 discloses a composition consisting essentially of extracts of Paeonia lactiflora, Atractylodes macrocephala, Citrus reticulata and Saposhnikovia divaricata for treatment of bowel disorders.
The disclosures of which above cited literatures or patents is incorporated herein by reference.
The inventors of the present invention have intensively carried out the scientific investigation concerning pharmacological effects and its mechanism of action, in particular a treating activity of intestinal disease and constipation or inhibiting activity of intestinal microbial growth.
As a result of the investigation, the inventors have discovered that the inventive extract of crude drug combination shows novel pharmacological effects, especially, its treating or alleviating activity for intestinal disease or constipation confirmed by various in vitro, in vivo and clinical experiments and they have finally completed the present invention.

Crude drug compositions and the process for preparing them


A high efficiency amplifier arrangement consistent with certain embodiments of the invention has an amplifier (104) that receives an input signal and amplifies the input signal to produce an output signal that drives a load (108). A variable impedance transformer (300) is disposed between the amplifier (104) and the load (108) to presents a varying load impedance to the output of the amplifier (104). A control mechanism, such as a programmed processor (604, 504), controls the variable impedance transformer (300) with a control signal so that the load impedance seen by the amplifier (104) varies in accordance with an envelope of the input signal. The control signal varies the load impedance in a manner that keeps the output of the amplifier (104) near a peak value. The arrangement may further include a circuit for controlling a DC input bias (420) of the amplifier (104) to keep the amplifier (104) operating within a predetermined class of operation throughout a range of input signals. The control signal may be calculated, looked up in a lookup table (610) or derived from an envelope detector (404).

With the proliferation of battery powered wireless communication devices, it is generally desirable to maximize information throughput. As a result, wireless communications systems with maximized information rate per unit Hertz of spectrum are resulting in higher ranges of RF signal amplitude modulation. Statistical values of the amplitude modulation result in two parameters, peak and average output power ratio. The average power determines in part the wireless product's communication range. Peak power and peak-to-average power define the RF power amplifier amplitude requirements and the average DC to RF conversion efficiency for a standard linear amplifier. As the peak-to-average power ratio increases the information rate per unit Hertz can also be increased. However, an increased peak-to-average power ratio serves to decrease the DC to RF conversion efficiency of an RF amplifier resulting in shorter batter life. This is generally undesirable in a portable RF communication device since it directly translates to shorter time between charges or battery replacement.


A resin composition that becomes a cured product that exhibits force response behavior such that an area surrounded by a tensile stress-strain curve f1(x), when an amount of strain is increased from 0% to 0.3% by pulling at 999 μm/min while plotting the amount of strain on the x axis and tensile stress on the y axis, and also surrounded by the x axis, is greater than an area surrounded by a stress-strain curve f2(x), when the amount of strain is decreased from 0.3%, and also surrounded by the x axis, and the amount of change in the amount of strain when tensile stress is 0, before and after applying tensile stress, is 0.05% or less.

Accompanying the reduced size and thickness of electronic devices, surface mount packages are being increasingly used for electronic components provided in these electronic devices. Examples of such packages include packages in which a semiconductor chip is mounted on a board such as a chip-on-board (BOC) package. These packages employ a structure in which the semiconductor chip and board are bonded. Consequently, warpage and other forms of package deformation occurred due to temperature changes attributable to a difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between the semiconductor chip and the board. In addition, as this warpage increases, force that acts to separate the semiconductor chip and board becomes large, thereby causing a decrease in connection reliability between the semiconductor chip and board in these packages.
In addition, electronic devices are being required to become even smaller and thinner. In order to satisfy these demands, efforts are being made to reduce the size and thickness of electronic components, and studies are being conducted to reduce the thickness of the boards that compose the packages of electronic components. In the case of a board that has been reduced in thickness in this manner, there tends to be increased susceptibility to the occurrence of warpage, thereby requiring these boards to more effectively inhibit the occurrence of warpage.
Moreover, in order to make electronic devices multifunctional, it is necessary to increase the number of electronic components installed therein. In order to satisfy this requirement, a type of package known as a Package on Package (PoP) is employed in which a plurality of sub-packages are laminated and mounted on a board followed by integrating into a single package. For example, these PoP are frequently employed in portable terminal devices such as Smartphones or tablet computers. In addition, since these PoP are of a form in which a plurality of sub-packages are laminated, the connection reliability of each sub-package becomes important. In order to enhance this connection reliability, it is necessary to reduce warpage of each package that is used as a sub-package.
On the basis thereof, studies have been conducted on the development of board materials that enable the production of boards that are able to adequately inhibit warpage even in the case of packages using boards of reduced thickness. An example of these board materials is the resin composition described in WO 2012/099134.
WO 2012/099134 describes a resin composition containing a maleimide compound having at least two N-substituted maleimido groups in the structure of a single molecule thereof and a silicone compound having at least one amino group in the structure of a single molecule thereof.
According to WO 2012/099134, it is disclosed to the effect that a multilayer printed wiring board can be produced that has superior glass transition temperature, coefficient of thermal expansion, soldering heat resistance and warpage characteristics, and is useful as a printed wiring board for electronic devices.
However, when using a board obtained using the resin composition described in WO 2012/099134, there are cases in which a package is unable to be obtained that adequately inhibits warpage and other deformation that occurs due to changes in temperature.
In this manner, a bonded body obtained by bonding two or more members made of different materials is subjected to stress in the direction in which warpage occurs caused by a change in temperature that is due to a difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion of each member. Consequently, in the case of a bonded body in which two or members made of different material are bonded, the problem of the occurrence of warpage caused by a change in temperature may occur in the same manner as in the case of the packages described above. In addition, the problem may also occur in which the bonded state of two members may be unable to be maintained. It is therefore necessary to inhibit the occurrence of such problems.
With the foregoing in view, an object of the present invention is to provide a resin composition that allows the obtaining of a compact that adequately inhibits the occurrence of warpage even in the case of bonding to another member. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a resin varnish, a prepreg, a metal-clad laminated board and a printed wiring board that use this resin composition.

Resin composition, resin varnish, prepreg, metal-clad laminated board and printed wiring board

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


There is provided a golf club head cover with golf ball holders on the outside comprising of a golf club head cover, golf ball holders attached to the outside of the golf club head cover and fasteners that attach the golf ball holders to the golf club head cover. The golf ball holders may form an animal or character feature such as an eye.

This application pertains to the field of golf.
For years, golf club head covers have been used to protect golf clubs from damage or from elements of the environment. Golf club head covers protect the clubs from collisions that would create damaging marks, dents, or scuffs to the golf clubs. The golf club head covers give the golf clubs a protective barrier. Golf club head covers also protect the golf club from the elements such as rain, snow and dust. Rain can contribute to the corrosion of a golf club
During a game of golf, the golfer can lose a golf ball by hitting the ball in the woods or in the water. The golfer must then find another golf ball to play with. Typically, golf balls are kept in zipped compartments on the side of the golf bag. Losing a golf ball can be a stressful time for a golfer and finding a golf ball to replace the lost ball can add to the stress.
Current commercially available golf club head covers don't have a location to store golf balls. If a golfer loses a golf ball while playing, they have to find a new golf ball. Typically, that new golf ball is found in one of the compartments on the side of the golf bag.
It should be noted that this Background is not intended to be an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter nor be viewed as limiting the claimed subject matter to implementations that solve any or all of the disadvantages or problems presented above. The discussion of any technology, documents, or references in this Background section should not be interpreted as an admission that the material described is prior art to any of the subject matter claimed herein.


A Satellite Weather Modification System (SWMS) uses earth satellites to harness solar energy to modify the thermodynamics and composition of the earth's atmosphere. SWMS has three subsystems: The first subsystem includes a network of earth satellites called Satellite Engines (SEs) used to reflect solar energy and/or transform solar energy into other forms of energy beams discharged at specified locations. The media at these locations and the media through which the energy beams pass absorb these energies and change them into heat. The second subsystem includes a large network of Remote Sensing Devices (RSDs). These sensors are used to measure local media compositions, dynamic parameters and thermodynamic properties. Sensor measurements are fed back to the third subsystem, which includes a network of Ground Control Stations (GCSs). GCSs provide energy beam guidance by estimating each beam's characteristics and its aim point trajectory as functions of time. Integration of these three subsystems establishes a sensor feedback energy beam guidance and control loop. SWMS's weather modification applications include alteration of precipitation, reclaiming of wasteland, reducing damage by bad weather, and improving environment. Its non-weather related applications include supplying concentrated energy to electricity generating stations (solar, wind and hydro), high latitude greenhouse farms, and solar powered airplanes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to solar-based weather modification and energy transfer in such a manner as to improve people's living standards by reducing their energy cost and food cost and simultaneously improving the environment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Art prior to the present application includes the following:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,480
Title: Atmosphere Modification Satellite PA1 Inventor: D. M. Udell, Sep. 6, 1983 PA1 Title: Weather Modification Method PA1 Inventor: R. J. Knollenberg, Oct. 19, 1971 PA1 Title: Solar Array Spacecraft Reflector PA1 Inventor: J. E. Keigler, Feb. 1, 1983 PA1 Title: Solar Energy System with Relay Satellite PA1 Inventor: C. E. Davis, Dec. 15, 1981 PA1 by R. H. Battin, McGraw-Hill Book Co. 1964 PA1 by M. I. Skolnik, McGraw-Hill Book Co. 1962 PA1 by A. J. Bogush, Jr., Artech House 1989.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,613,992
U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,135
U.S. Pat. No. 4,305,555
In addition, the following publications are of interest:
Astronautical Guidance
Introduction to Radar Systems
and
Radar and the Atmosphere
In contrast to much of the prior art, this invention employs only solar energy, earth satellites, remote sensing devices and ground control computers. No dispensing of chemicals is needed. The Satellite Weather Modification System (SWMS) is a local as well as a global weather modification tool. For example, SWMS can simultaneously bring rain to dry regions in southern California and drought regions in southern Ethiopia within in a few orbital periods of the Satellite Engines. Most remarkable of all is that these and many other tasks can all be accomplished by switching between some computer codes.
This invention is based on the realization that natural weather patterns always leave opportunities to permit regional weather modifications which are within the capabilities of the proposed Satellite Weather Modification System (SWMS). A fully developed SWMS has the potential to provide the following benefits.
1. Modify cooling, warming, or precipitations of selected regions of earth, thus modifying local and/or global weather patterns.
2. Create and maintain grass or forest lands to balance the rise of carbon dioxide contained in the earth's atmosphere, thus reducing the threat of global warming.
3. Transform some wasteland into productive farmland.
4. Increase farm, fishery and forestry productions at higher latitudes.
5. Increase electricity production on land directly from concentrated solar energy.
6. Increase hydroelectricity production by inducing precipitation in regions upstream of hydroelectric dams.
7. Reduce home and industry energy cost.
8. Reduce environmental damage by harsh weather.
9. Reduce damage to the environment due to the use of fossil fuel and nuclear fuel.
10. Create a unique self-supporting business based on SWMS, which can provide both weather-related and non-weather related services.
SWMS can be implemented employing components which are currently available, including means for reflecting solar rays or discharging infrared radiation or laser beams or incandescent lights.
SWMS improvements can be augmented gradually, still using conventional components, to include discharging frequency agile and or intensity agile energy beams or pulse trains from Satellite Engines (SEs). Each frequency agile energy pulse is designed to penetrate a specified air mass layer of specified composition. For example, these energy pulses can be used to modify a specified air mass inside a thick cloud.

Weather modification by artificial satellites