A filter connector includes a dielectric housing having a mounting face. At least one row of terminal-receiving passages are formed in the housing through the mounting face. A row of filter-receiving pockets are formed in the housing through the mounting face respectively in alignment with the passages, and with one side of each pocket communicating with its respective passage. A slot is formed in the mounting face of the housing and extends along the row of pockets in communication with opposite sides thereof. A plurality of terminals are mounted into the passages. A plurality of filters are inserted into the pockets through the mounting face, with one side of the filters respectively engageable with the terminals. A single shorting bar is inserted into the slot in the housing through the mounting face and into engagement with opposite sides of the filters.

There are a variety of electrical connectors which are termed "filter" connectors, in that an electronic component, such as a capacitor, is coupled between the terminals of the connector and a ground plate or plane or a shorting bar normally mounted to a face of a dielectric housing of the connector. The filters are used to suppress electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference entering the connector system.
One of the problems with such filter connectors simply is their cost. Normally, a ground plate or shorting bar is fabricated of stamped and formed conductive metal material and must be mounted separately to the dielectric housing of the connector. Terminals then are mounted in the connector housing. The filter capacitors then must be coupled between the terminals and the ground plate. These steps are time consuming and require assembly tooling, all of which adds considerably to the cost of the connectors. In a mass production environment, reliability and performance often have much to be desired. Typically, the terminals are mounted or inserted into a connector housing in one direction, the capacitors are mounted or inserted into the housing in a different direction and the ground plate or shorting bar is mounted or assembled in the same or different direction. All of these assembly operations require relatively expensive assembly tooling. The present invention is directed to solving these various problems.


The present invention is related to staggering data to reduce noise in a graphics display system. Line-to-line data staggering is achieved by staggering the starting point at which data is transmitted within each line of data. Frame-to-frame staggering is implemented by staggering the starting point of the first line of data from its value in the previous frame by a predetermined value each frame. Alternatively, frame-to-frame data staggering can be performed every other frame instead of every frame.

Graphics display systems receive digital video signals and display graphics data on a display. The graphics display system consists of electronics that accept the digital video signals, format the signals for the display, and drive the display with analog voltages that correspond to the formatted digital video signals.
Electrical noise in a graphics display system can result in visual artifacts on the display. In many systems, digital data is used to generate analog voltages (e.g. RGB signals) that are driven to the display. The analog voltages are generated via digital-to-analog converters (DACs). Noise can corrupt the analog voltages that are driven to the display and/or the digital data. The noise can result in visual artifacts. Visual artifacts may include lines or dots on the display for correlated noise events. Uncorrelated noise events may have other types of visual artifacts on the display.

Method and apparatus for reducing noise in a graphics display system


A random selection program stored on an optical disc, which is played on an electronic device. The electronic device is coupled to an audio/visual output device. The electronic device includes a random number generator. The random selection program includes a random selection module and a program selector module. The random selection module is programmed to initiate the random number generator to generate randomly a selection. The program selector module is programmed to receive the selection and to initiate an audio/visual presentation that corresponds to the selection on the audio/visual output device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of multimedia programming/authoring. In particular, the invention relates to authoring a DVD Video/ROM disc for playback on a conventional DVD video set top player and TV.
2. Description of Related Art
Interactive games featuring animated dice or spinner devices have been created for execution on personal computers or smaller hand-held game devices, e.g., a Nintendo Gameboy. However, if a user were to play a game stored on a DVD Video/ROM disc with the content executed on a conventional DVD player (i.e., an embedded consumer electronics device), and if that game required the use of a selection device (e.g., dice or a spinner), the selection device would not reside on the DVD or DVD/player system. Specifically, the user would have to use a physical die, dice, spinner, or other external selection device to make the relevant selections in the game.
Moreover, if a competitive position representation were to be desired, e.g., game pieces located on a board, for example, the game pieces used in the following board games; Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, Clue, Chess, Checkers, Go, etc., then an external (i.e., apart from the DVD/player/TV/display system) board would be required. For example, the recently released Scene It game employs a DVD, a conventional DVD player and associated display with a physical die and a physical board to accomplish the selections and player position representation previously mentioned.
Accordingly, there is a need for an interactive game that is stored on a DVD Video/ROM disc and played on a conventional DVD video player, and that accomplishes selection and player position representations, without requiring an external selection device and/or an external competitive position representation. The present invention satisfies these needs.

Random selection program for an optical disc and related method


In one embodiment, a panoramic camera captures a panorama of the physical environment visible from a position within the physical environment. An orientation sensor determines an orientation of a handheld device. Based on the orientation of the handheld device, a backend augmentation application selects a portion of the captured panorama visible in a corresponding orientation from the position to produce a view of the physical environment. The view of the physical environment shows physical features of the physical environment and at least a portion of the user's body. The backend augmentation application augments the view of the physical environment to merge computer-generated features with the view of the physical environment to create an augmented reality view. The augmented reality view shows a relationship between the portion of the user's body, the physical features, and the computer-generated features. The augmented reality view is displayed on the handheld device.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to augmented reality, and more specifically, to a technique for third-person view augmented reality.
Background Information
Augmented reality is a technology in which a view of a physical environment (i.e. a real-life environment) captured by a camera is merged with computer-generated graphics, text or other information (hereinafter "computer-generated features"), such that the computer generated features appear as if they are part of the physical environment. The result of this merging is an augmented reality view. The augmented reality view may be static (e.g., a still image) or dynamic (e.g., streaming video). In contrast to virtual reality, where a simulated environment is shown to a user instead of the physical environment, augmented reality blends the virtual with the real to enhance a user's perception of the physical environment.
Augmented reality has great potential in a variety of different fields, including the field of architecture, engineering and construction (AEC). In AEC, augmented reality may be used in performing a wide variety of tasks, including site planning, renovation visualization, system maintenance and repair, and asset identification and query, among others. Augmented reality may be used to show features that have not yet been constructed, that have been constructed but are not visible, and/or to provide information about features beyond what can be discerned by merely looking at them. For example, consider a renovation project where an architect, engineer, or construction contractor (generally, a user) is interested in modifying pipes hidden inside a wall. An augmented reality view may be of use to the user, allowing them to "see" the pipes through the wall. The pipes may be computer generated representations of pipes that are imposed upon a view of the actual wall. The user may use the augmented reality view to, among other things visualize and marking out the location of the pipes.
To be most useful however, the augmented reality view should be highly accurate. For the user to be able to rely upon the augmented reality view to make decisions, the computer generated features need to be registered accurately with the physical features. This registration needs to be maintained through viewing perspective changes. Returning to the above discussed pipe example, the computer generated representations of pipes need to be imposed at appropriate locations with respect to the wall, and should not "move" from these locations if the user changes viewing perspective.
However, registration has long been a challenge in the field of augmented reality. The challenges of registration are largely due to challenges in initialization and tracking. In general, "initialization" refers to techniques used to determine the initial position and orientation (i.e., the initial pose) of a camera that captures a view of the physical environment to be augmented. Similarly, "tracking" generally refers to techniques used to update the initial pose to reflect movement of the camera. A variety of different techniques have been developed to enable initialization and tracking. Among these are image-based techniques, which determine initial position and movement of a camera by detecting features in a captured view of the physical environment, matching those features to portions of a model of the physical environment. The features are typically lines, corners, or other salient details that can be reliably detected by feature detection algorithms. Image based-techniques generally work best when there are a large number of features, and the camera is moved slowly and steadily. They may work poorly when there are few or no detected features, and the camera is move rapidly or jerkily.
Users increasingly desire to utilize augmented reality upon handheld devices such as tablet computers and smartphones. However, use of such handheld devices may increase the likelihood of scenarios that challenge image-based techniques. When augmented reality is used with a handheld device, typically a camera of the handheld device is used to capture the view of the physical environment, and the augmented reality view is displayed on a screen of the handheld device. However, cameras typically found on handheld devices generally have a limited field of view (e.g., less than 120°), limiting the number of features they can capture. Further, if the moves their handheld device close to an object, the number of features visible may be decreased even further. For example, the entire field of view may be consumed by the surface of a relatively feature-less object. Further, users tend to move handheld devices in rapid, jerky manners, especially if their attention is divided with some other task. Such movements may make it more difficult to detect any features that may be present in the field of view.
Returning again to the above discussed pipe example, supposing the augmented reality view is based on a view of a wall captured from a camera of a handheld device. While trying to mark out locations on the wall, the user may move the handheld device close to the wall's surface. However, at close proximity, the entire field of view of the camera may be filled with the generally uniform, feature-less wall. Further, as the user is trying to visualize or mark pipe locations on the wall's surface, their attention may be divided, and the user may be prone to move the handheld device jerkily. As a result, tracking may be compromised.
In addition to problems with initialization and tracking, the typical implementation of augmented reality on handheld devices may suffer other shortcomings. Typically, an augmented reality view displayed on a screen of the handheld device is a first person view. The user generally does not see themselves (or at least a substantial portion of their body) in the displayed view. While this may initially seem appropriate, it can hinder the user's sense of integration into the augmented reality environment, and cause certain types of task to be difficult to perform. For example, tasks that require quick and accurate evaluation of distances may prove challenging with a first person augmented reality view. Returning again to the above discussed pipe example, a user may be called upon to estimate distances in order to mark out the location of pipes on the wall's surface. The user may need to walk a certain distance to reach an appropriate part of the wall, and then move their hand a certain distance to be able to mark upon a location on the wall. If estimating distances is difficult, the user may find it difficult to move to the exact location for marking.
Further, typical implementations of augmented reality on handheld devices hinder user interaction with the environment and extended viewing. Generally, a user must use hold the handheld device so the camera is directed in a desired orientation while an augmentation session is in progress. This may prevent two-handed work, as the user generally must use at least one hand to hold the handheld device. Further, this may be fatiguing, if a user desires to study a particular portion of the augmented reality view for a lengthy period of time. A user cannot generally place the handheld device on a surface, for example, rest it flat on a table top, to free their hands or provide a more comfortable working position. In a typical implementation, the change in orientation (e.g., with the camera now likely pointed down into the table top), would prevent meaningful augmentation.
Accordingly, there are is a need for new augmented reality techniques that may address some, or all, of these shortcomings.


Aspects of the invention relate to the use of soluble thread in the preparation of footwear, in particular athletic footwear. After preparing aspects of the footwear, the soluble thread is dissolved.

Currently, nylon or polyester threads are overwhelmingly used for slip lasting stitching of athletic footwear, such as long distance running shoes. Such stitching is suitable so long as thick sock liners are used in the shoes and/or thick socks are worn with the shoes. Otherwise, with thin sock liners or thin socks, the wearer can feel the stitching (bumps.)
Increasingly, the shoe wearer, such as a long distance runner, wears thin socks, does not wear socks, and/or does not desire thick sock liners in the shoe. However, if thin socks and/or thin sock liners are used or sock liners are simply left out, the traditional nylon or polyester threads of the stitches irritate the wearer's feet. Thus, it is desired to provide shoes that contain thin sock liners or no sock liners and are suitable to be worn with thin socks or without socks but are also light weight and comfortable to the bare feet of the wearer.

Soluble thread in the manufacture of footwear


A microscope calibrator probe includes a handle, a tool head connected to the handle, a viewable target connected to an end of the tool head opposite the handle, and three or more position signaling devices disposed on the handle for tracking the probe in an image guided surgery system. The tool head includes a bend of approximately 90 degrees to provide easy placement of the viewable target on an object being viewed below a microscope. Other angles for the bend are also acceptable. A precise location of the object being viewed is determined by sensing a location the three or more position signaling devices disposed on the handle with respect to an operating room reference frame and knowing an offset between the position signaling devices and a bottom surface of the viewable target in contact with the object. Additionally, the viewable target includes a viewable aperture for calibrating a line of sight of the microscope and a means for indicating a rotational sense of the viewable target.

Three-dimensional diagnostic images of the brain, spinal cord, and other body portions are produced by diagnostic imaging equipment such as CT scanners, magnetic resonance imagers, and the like. These imaging modalities often provide structural detail with a resolution of a millimeter or better.
Image guided surgery systems have been developed to utilize this data to assist the surgeon in presurgical planning and in accurately locating a region of interest within the body of a patient. In the operating arena, the image guided surgery systems are used to display position and orientation of a surgical tool in its correct location with respect to the images of the patient. One example of an image guided surgery system is U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,990, Stereotaxy Wand and Tool Guide, to Kalfas et al. issued May 21, 1996, incorporated by reference herein.
In order to further aid the surgeon in viewing an area of interest within the patient's body, a high powered surgical microscope is often utilized. Such a microscope may, for instance, be used to see blood vessels or other microscopic details within the patient. The microscope is supported by a movable electronic support structure which may be rolled along the ground or mounted to a ceiling or a wall, for example. Controls adjacent the microscope on the support structure allow the surgeon to manually or electronically position the microscope over the patient's body at a desired location.
In order to track the location of the microscope within the surgical room or other area, a series of position signaling devices such as infrared emitters or reflectors are typically secured to the microscope at some location. The position signaling devices are tracked by a localizer located within the surgical room capable of sensing the position signaling devices. The image guided surgery system uses this data to provide the surgeon with an indication of the position and orientation of the microscope with respect to patient data and images.
Unfortunately, calibrating views seen through a microscope with respect to images displayed on a monitor is often a nuisance. For instance, often times a surgeon is able to find a region of interest without aid of a monitor tracking the position of the microscope and thus the surgeon would prefer if he or she were able to simply verify a location and orientation of the microscope once the region of interest is sighted. Further, in situations where a microscope is not tracked by virtue of position signaling devices, determining the precise positioning of an object in view with respect to images shown on the monitor becomes extemely difficult.
The present invention provides a new and improved method and apparatus for calibrating and verifying calibration of a surgical microscope which addresses the above-referenced matters, and others.

Localizing and orienting probe for view devices


Novel addition polymers and copolymers derived from carbamate-functionalized vinyl monomers, and optionally one or more conventional vinyl monomers such as acrylonitrile and/or styrene, are disclosed. When the addition polymers or copolymers are melt processed with an elastomer containing moieties reactive with amines, novel addition polymer-rubber copolymers are formed which are useful as compatibilizers and impact modifiers in plastic blends, such as AES.

This invention relates to addition polymer compositions derived from free radical polymerizable olefinic monomers, and more particularly to addition polymers containing reactive functionalities. It further relates to addition polymer-rubber copolymer compositions prepared from an addition polymer containing reactive functionalities and a functionalized elastomer reactive therewith, and to a process of preparing the copolymer composition. More specifically, it relates to acrylonitrile-EPDM-styrene, AES, copolymer blends.
Commercial methods for toughening brittle thermoplastics usually involve blending into the plastic an elastomer having a low glass transition temperature. Often, however, the immiscibility and incompatibility of the elastomer with the thermoplastic produce poor physical properties in the blend. A combatibilization strategy is then required to improve physical properties. One strategy involves incorporating a copolymer prepared from the thermoplastic and the elastomer in the blend. The copolymer serves to improve rubber phase dispersion and adhesion, and thereby improves compatibility and physical properties.
Graft copolymers derived from addition polymers and elastomers have traditionally been prepared by polymerizing an olefinic monomer in the presence of a rubber substrate and a free radical initiator. The graft reaction can be accomplished in emulsion, suspension, solution or bulk processes. While such processes are widely used, they disadvantageously require handling and disposing of monomers, solvent, and reaction by-products. Alternatively, addition polymer-rubber copolymers can be formed by melt processing a functionalized addition polymer with a reactive functionalized elastomer. Amines, for example, are known to react with a variety of electrophilic moieties, such as anhydrides, epoxides, and alkyl halides. However, amine-functionalized addition polymers are not readily available for copolymer formation.
It is well known that the free radical polymerization of olefinic monomers containing amine functionalities is fraught with problems. Amine oxidation, free radical trapping, and chain transfer are so extensive that polymerization typically is never realized. Attempts have been made to polymerize the hydrohalide salts of amine-functionalized vinyl monomers, but the variety of organic solvents in which these materials are soluble is limited. As a further disadvantage, amines react with esters, thereby prohibiting the copolymerization of amine-functionalized vinyl monomers with acrylate comonomers. Methods which circumvent some of the aforementioned problems have been developed to produce amine-functionalized addition polymers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,410 discloses graft polymers derived from addition polymers of olefinically unsaturated monomers containing protected amine moieties. The protected moieties are disclosed to be capable of conversion at high temperature to free amino groups, which in turn are capable of undergoing reaction with reactive groups on other polymers, thereby leading to copolymer formation. In particular, the graft polymers are taught to comprise a base polymer chain consisting essentially of structural units derived from an olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbon with grafted moieties thereon derived, for example, from t-butyl allylcarbamate. They are further taught to undergo thermal degradation at high temperatures with the elimination of olefin and carbon dioxide, to yield amino-substituted polymers. The latter are capable of reaction with other polymers containing reactive functionalities, to form copolymers.
There are some disadvantages to the graft polymers disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,410, and to the process of preparing these graft polymers. Specifically, the concentration of grafted moieties is limited to levels not greater than about 3 weight percent. Moreover, during the process of preparing the graft polymer, the amine protected vinyl comonomer may homopolymerize; for example, to form oligomeric species. Alternatively, there may be unreacted monomer present in the graft polymer.
In view of the above, it remains a desirable goal to prepare an addition polymer from a free radical polymerizable olefinic monomer containing protected amine functionalities. It would be further desirable to control the concentration of protected amine moieties. It would also be desirable if the monomers were soluble in a variety of organic solvents. It would be even more desirable to eliminate problems associated with unreacted monomer in the polymer and homopolymerization of the monomer. To be truly useful, it is necessary for the addition polymer to be cost effective in terms of materials and preparation. If an addition polymer could be prepared containing amine or protected amine moieties, then that polymer might be exploited most advantageously to produce addition polymer-rubber copolymers useful as compatibilizers and useful for improving the physical properties of plastic blends.

Carbamate-functionalized addition polymers and addition polymer-rubber copolymers derived therefrom


Method and apparatus for testing a milk for mastitis wherein the milk sample is admixed with a detergent under condition that increase the viscosity of the milk sample; the increased viscosity mixture is subjected to a further procedure for further increasing its viscosity; and the further increased viscosity mixture is then tested for an attribute of somatic cells, such as DNA. This determination is then used to establish if the cow from whom the milk came has mastitis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to mastitis detection and to related apparatus, methods and procedures.
The present invention recognises that an advantage is obtained for a farmer where there is the prospect of on-line monitoring of the somatic cell count indicative of mastitis infection in individual animals. Such monitoring either allows a treatment regime to be instituted for the particular animal or animals and/or for the isolation of or recriminations, if appropriate, or in respect of any such affected milk (whether at the milking parlour, farm, factory or elsewhere).
2. Description of the Related Art
Procedures exist whereby a non isolated flow of milk might directly be tested for mastitis. Such procedures have tended to find favour but at the cost of reduced accuracy over isolated milk testing procedures.
Journal of Dairy Research (1998) 65 187–198 "Changes in Electrical Conductivity and Somatic Cell Count Between Milk Fractions From Quarters Subclinically Infected with Particular Mastitis Pathogens" M W Woolford et al. discloses that intramammary infection (which seriously reduces milk yields) is frequently associated with increases in electrical conductivity in milk owing to increased levels of sodium and chloride ions in the milk. The monitoring of electrical conductivity can therefore be a means of automatically tracking udder health. Yet Woolford et al states that factors such as temperature, fat concentration, milk solids, bacterial type, and milk fraction have variously been found to influence the measure of electrical conductivity. It is stated that such factors are important since the increase in electrical conductivity induced by intramammary infection is typically in the range of 15% to 50% only whereas the increase in somatic cell count (SCC) is usually at least 1000% increase. Moreover Woolford et al states there are substantial physiological variations in the normal electrical conductivity levels that preclude comparisons of absolute milk electrical conductivity levels amongst cows for the purposes of identifying infection.
Examples of procedures and related apparatus that have been developed reliant on electrical conductivity to test milk flows include EP0748156 of Gasgoine-Melotte B.V. and PCT/SE97/00671 (published as WO97/40374) of Alfa Laval Agri AB.
The full content of such Woolford et al publication and specifications EP0748156 and WO97/40374 are hereby here included by way of reference.
Gasgoine-Melotte BV in their EPO 748156 comment on two sampling procedures so that still milk can be tested for conductance. They refer inter alia to EP-B-137367.
The Woolford et al publication in addition makes reference to somatic cell count (SCC) as a diagnostic criteria by indicating that, for example, greater than 500,000 cells/ml might be indicative of infection whilst less than 500,000 cells/ml may be indicative of no infection.
TABLE 1(from Woolford et al) Diagnostic criteria for electrical conductivity,within-cow electrical conductivity ratio and somatic cell count usedfor prediction of the infection status of individual quarters.PredictedRequired diagnostic criteriaquarters statusConductivitySomatic cell count, cells/mlInfectedECR > 1.15>500000orEC > 7000 μSUninfectedECR < 1.5<500000where EC is electrical conductivity and ECR is electrical conductivity ratio.
Woolford et al indicates that reliance on somatic cell count (SCC) using a criteria based on 500,000 cells/ml provided greater sensitivity than did the electrical conductivity measures.
Test procedures for mastitis for manually isolated milk are known where the milk that is tested is not subsequently returned to the main volume of the milk.
One type of such isolated milk testing regime is a cow-side gel forming mastitis test procedure. This is typified by the Rapid Mastitis Test (RMT) [or California Mastitis Test (CMT)]. See "Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association, Vol 130, Mar. 1, 1957—No. 5—"Experiments and Observations Leading to Development of the California Mastitis Test" of O. W. Schalm and D. O. Noorlander.
The CMT procedure utilises an anionic surfactant (e.g. a detergent such as, for example, sodium lauryl sulphate commonly marketed at TEEPOL™). The CMT procedure results in a precipitate or gel indicative of the degree of infection (i.e. the SCC).
Australian Journal of Dairy Technology 23, 129 (1968) E A Kernohan has shown that accuracy of somatic cell count (SCC) reliant upon the CMT procedure is dependant on the relative amounts of milk and reagent utilised. For best results preferably a near one to one volume ratio of a suitable reagent to milk is used in equal volumes for best results [for example, 2% w/v sodium laurel sulphate (commonly marketed as TEEPOL™) in water used in equal volume with milk].
Historically the CMT procedure of Schalm and Noorlander was graded on a score outlined below.
This score corresponds to SCC (Milchwissenschaft 19, 65–69 (1964) Halbquantitative Ausarbeitung des Schalmtestes für wissenschaftliche Zwecke of Keirmeier and Keis). The measurement technique used an "eyeball" technique. Therefore some variation exists in interpretation:                (−) negative, remains liquid,        (T) trace, slight precipitate which tends to disappear with more movement, >116 000 cells/ml        (+) weak positive, precipitate but not gel formation, >315 000 cells/ml        (++) distinct positive, thickness immediately with some gel formation, >600 000 cells/ml        (+++) strong positive, distinct gel formation adherence to bottom of paddle and during swirling peaks forms >1 000 000 cells/ml
The Journal of Milk and Food Technology 27, 271–275 (1964)—"The Wisconsin Mastitis Test—An Indirect Estimation of Leucocytes in Milk" of Thompson and Postle discloses the Wisconsin Mastitis Test (WMT). In the WMT the milk and detergent were mixed in a tube. The tube was then inverted and a small hole in the top ( 3/64 inch diameter) allows the watery part to drain out. The height of the residual was then measured after at least a 1 min inversion This is still in use in some small laboratories today with an active SCC range from 100 000 to 1.2 million cells/ml.
This test was then investigated in the mid 1970s (Milchwissenschaft 27 (2) 1972 "A simple semi-automatic viscosimeter for the estimation of somatic cells in milk", Whittlestone et al., and Milne et al., 1976) to try and automate the testing for use in the laboratory.
It was found that some ways of measuring the viscosity of the gel destroyed the gel. Ultimately a rolling ball viscometer where the time for a ball to roll through the gel was timed. This eliminated errors due to gel destruction. The active SCC ranges were 250 000–2 million cells/ml (Whittlestone et al.) and 100 000–1.3 million cells/ml (Milne et al.) respectively. This was also undertaken in Germany (Kiermier and Keis 1964).
See also the publications:
                The Australian Journal of Dairy Technology, 21, 138–139, (1966) "An Automatic Viscometer for the Measurement of the California Mastitis Reaction" Whittlestone et al;        Journal of Milk & Food Technology 33, 35–354 (19 . . . ) "A Viscometric Method for the Estimation of Milk Cell court" Whittlestone et al;        Milchwissenschaft 27, (2) 84–86 (1972) "A Simple Semi-automatic Visosimeter for the estimation of somatic cells in Milk" Whittlestone et al and        New Zealand Journal of Dairy Science and Technology, 11, 21–23 (1976) Milne et al        each discuss procedures for measuring the viscosity of the gels of such prior art detergent/milk SCC procedures with a view to determining a viable measurement regime.
Procedures disclosed include orifice or capillary viscometers (ie; moving gel) as well as falling ball or rolling ball viscometers (ie; stationary gel).
Milne et al standardised a Whittlestone et al type rolling ball viscometer to a tilt angle of 25° in preference to less accurate falling ball viscometers as even very gentle shear forces were found to cause a significant decrease in viscosity. Milne et al found about a 3.5 sec tilt time resulted at that 25° tilt angle when they used a ball of 4.7 mm diameter in a tube of 5.5 mm I.D in a gel made using 2% w/v TEEPOL 610™ (Shell Chemical Company) in water solution as the reagent in volume ratios of 10 ml of the reagent to 5 ml of milk.
The present invention recognises a particular accuracy and convenience is available for any such monitoring regime reliant upon the gelling of a milk sample using an appropriate anionic surfactant and thereafter to test the viscosity by appropriate means to thereby (by reference to some calibration of sample viscosity against the extent of mastitis infection and/or somatic cell count) to provide an indicator representation or record for the particular sample and thus the particular animal.
All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.
It is acknowledged that the term 'comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term 'comprise' shall have an inclusive meaning—i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term 'comprised' or 'comprising' is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide apparatus, methods and systems appropriate to the end of enabling on-line monitoring of milk from animals being milked or at least to allow the automatic or semi automatic testing of milk sampled from a milk volume (preferably a milk flow).


A disk player is configured so that a steel plate-made clamper plate 3 is bridged between wall parts 2a of both sides of a cabinet and is fixed and a disk D on a tray 1 is clamped by a turntable 7 and a clamper 5 and the disk D is rotated by the turntable 7 and information recorded on the disk D is read by an optical pickup, spiral reinforcement portions 3c are formed by closely folding both side edges of the clamper plate 3 in a manner of winding at least two times.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk player for performing reproduction or recording with respect to magneto-optical disks or optical disks such as CD or DVD (hereinafter abbreviated to a disk), and particularly to a disk player in which strength of a clamper plate is increased.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, as a technique of a disk player, there is a technique described in JP-A-9-297951 and referring to its one example based on FIGS. 12 to 14, substantially L-shaped reinforcement portions 3a are formed by perpendicularly folding both side edges of a steel plate-made clamper plate 3 bridged along right and left directions AC, AD orthogonal to backward and forward directions AA, AB between wall parts 2a of both sides of a cabinet 2 in which a tray 1 for a disk D is retractably placed in directions of arrows AA, AB, and both ends of the clamper plate 3 are fixed in the wall parts 2a of both sides of the cabinet 2 by screws 4. In FIG. 13, numeral 5 is a clamper engaged in a guide hole 6 formed in the center of the clamper plate 3, and comprises a clamper body 5a, a pair of upper and lower flange parts 5b, 5c fastened in upper and lower ends of the clamper body 5a and a magnet 5d fastened on a ceiling surface of the clamper body 5a, and is formed up-and-down movably within a predetermined range by a clearance a between the clamper plate 3 and the lower flange part 5c. Numeral 7 is a turntable placed up-and-down movably inside the cabinet 2.
Referring to a loading procedure of the disk D, as shown by an imaginary line in FIG. 12, by retracting b the tray 1 based on a loading signal after putting the disk D on the tray 1 in a state of forward a, the disk D on the tray 1 is positioned in a state concentric with the clamper 5 and the turntable 7 as shown in FIG. 13. Next, the turntable 7 is moved upward through a through hole 1a of the tray 1 and thereby, a center protrusion 7a of the turntable 7 is fitted into a center hole Da of the disk D to lift the disk D and thereby, as shown in FIG. 14, the clamper 5 is pushed up by the disk D and the disk D is clamped by the clamper 5 and the turntable 7 and the disk D is rotated by the turntable 7 and thereby, information recorded on the disk D is read by an optical pickup (not shown).
In a static load test before shipment, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 12, a test bar 8 is randomly pushed on the clamper plate 3 and a predetermined load is imposed and thereby, it is checked whether or not the clamper plate 3 is deformed and it is confirmed that strength of its clamper plate 3 is a predetermined value or more.
In the conventional configuration described above, in order to increase strength of the clamper plate 3, the reinforcement portions 3a are formed in both side edges of its clamper plate, but the reinforcement portions 3a are only formed in substantially L shape by perpendicularly folding the both side edges of the clamper plate 3, so that the amount of increase in strength by the reinforcement portions 3a is relatively small. Thus, for example, a steel plate with a relatively large wall thickness t of about 0.8 mm is used as the clamper plate 3 to increase rigidity in the clamper plate 3, but this increases material cost due to use of the steel plate with the large wall thickness t and also narrows a clearance α of the clamper 5 by the amount of the large wall thickness t, so that it is necessary to increase a height of the clamper 5 in order to ensure its clearance α sufficiently and this results in upsizing of a disk player.
Thus, based on a technique described in JP-A-11-054949, as shown in FIG. 15, it is considered that substantially rectangular reinforcement portions 3b are formed by folding both sides of a clamper plate 3 plural times. However, as a result of this, strength can be increased with respect to loads of directions of F2 and F4 but strength cannot be much increased with respect to loads of directions of F1 and F3 due to a relatively large gap 9 inside the substantially rectangular reinforcement part 3b. Therefore, also in this case, it is necessary to increase rigidity in the clamper plate 3 using a steel plate with a relatively large wall thickness t.


The present invention relates to a urethane-based coating having nanoparticles for improving the characteristics of a papermaking process belt, roll cover and belts used in textile applications. For example, the present invention improves resistance to flex fatigue, crack propagation, groove closure and wear characteristics of urethane coatings on such belts and roll coverings. The present invention also improves the resistance to water and oil permeation characteristics of urethane coated belts and roll coverings.

During the papermaking process, a cellulosic fibrous web is formed by depositing a fibrous slurry, that is, an aqueous dispersion of cellulose fibers, onto a moving forming fabric in the forming section of a paper machine. A large amount of water is drained from the slurry through the forming fabric, leaving the cellulosic fibrous web on the surface of the forming fabric.
The newly formed cellulosic fibrous web proceeds from the forming section to a press section, which includes a series of press nips. The cellulosic fibrous web passes through the press nips supported by a press fabric, or, as is often the case, between two such press fabrics. In the press nips, the cellulosic fibrous web is subjected to compressive forces which squeeze water therefrom, and which adhere the cellulosic fibers in the web to one another to turn the cellulosic fibrous web into a paper sheet. The water is accepted by the press fabric or fabrics and, ideally, does not return to the paper sheet.
The paper sheet finally proceeds to a dryer section, which includes at least one series of rotatable dryer drums or cylinders, which are internally heated by steam. The newly formed paper sheet is directed in a serpentine path sequentially around each in the series of drums by a dryer fabric, which holds the paper sheet closely against the surfaces of the drums. The heated drums reduce the water content of the paper sheet to a desirable level through evaporation.
It should be appreciated that the forming, press and dryer fabrics all take the form of endless loops on the paper machine and function in the manner of conveyors. The yarns of the fabric that run along the direction of paper machine operation are referred to as the machine direction (MD) yarns; and the yarns that cross the MD yarns are referred to as the cross machine direction (CD) yarns. It should further be appreciated that paper manufacture is a continuous process, which proceeds at considerable speeds. That is to say, the fibrous slurry is continuously deposited onto the forming fabric in the forming section, while a newly manufactured paper sheet is continuously wound onto rolls after it exits from the dryer section.
Traditional press sections include a series of nips formed by pairs of adjacent cylindrical press rolls. Recently, the use of long press nips has been found to be advantageous over the use of nips formed by pairs of adjacent rolls. The longer the web can be subjected to pressure in the nip, the more water can be removed there, and, consequently, the less will remain to be removed through evaporation in the dryer section.
In long nip presses of the shoe type variety, the nip is formed between a cylindrical press roll and an arcuate pressure shoe. The latter has a cylindrically concave surface having a radius of curvature close to that of the cylindrical press roll. When roll and shoe are brought into close physical proximity, a nip is formed which can be five to ten times longer in the machine direction than one formed between two press rolls. This increases the so-called dwell time of the fibrous web in the long nip while maintaining the same level of pressure per square inch pressing force used in a two-roll press. The result of this new long nip technology has been a dramatic increase in dewatering of the fibrous web in the long nip when compared to conventional nips on paper machines.
A long nip press of the shoe type typically needs a special belt. This belt is designed to protect the press fabric supporting, carrying, and dewatering the fibrous web from the accelerated wear that would result from direct, sliding contact over the stationary pressure shoe. Such a belt is made, for example, with a smooth impervious surface that rides, or slides over the stationary shoe on a lubricating film of oil. The belt moves through the nip at roughly the same speed as the press fabric, thereby subjecting the press fabric to minimal amounts of rubbing against stationary components.
In addition to being useful in a long nip press, the present invention also relates to process belts used in other papermaking and paper-processing applications, such as calendering used to smooth paper surfaces taking advantage of the longer period that the paper web is under a pressure load. Furthermore, other press belts used for transferring paper webs in the papermaking process also are subjected to environmental stress and abrasion, compression and heat. In any case, belts of these various varieties can be made, for example, by impregnating a woven base fabric, which takes the form of an endless loop, with a synthetic polymeric resin. Preferably, the resin forms a coating of some predetermined thickness on the inner surface of the belt, so that the yarns from which the base fabric is woven may be protected from direct contact with the arcuate pressure shoe component of the long nip press.
It is typically this coating, which usually has a smooth, impervious surface to slide readily over the lubricated shoe and to prevent any of the lubricating oil from penetrating the structure of the belt to contaminate the press fabric, or fabrics, and fibrous web.
Furthermore, the opposite surface or outer surface is also coated. This surface can be smooth or can have voids, such as grooves or blind-drilled holes to receive water pressed from the paper web or press fabric(s).
Such a coating, for example, a urethane coating applied to a process belt (which may be either grooved or un-grooved), may also serve as a barrier material to prevent permeation of water from the paper side of the belt to the shoe side, where the urethane coating is constantly in contact with warm (˜50-60° C.) hydraulic oil.
In practice, during the operation of the long nip press, the belt is subjected to considerable mechanical and thermal stress. As the belt takes the form of an endless loop, it is directed through the long press nip subjecting the coating to a repeated stress that may ultimately lead to cracking of the coating.
Flex fatigue and cracking of the urethane coating of process belts is one of the shortcomings of current urethane material. This problem could be mitigated or eliminated by using softer or a less cross-linked urethane. However, softer (on an acceptable hardness scale like Shore C) or less cross-linked material tends to be less wear resistant and can allow groove closure in belts having grooves, which in turn reduces dewatering performance of the belts. Flex fatigue hysterisis and wear are also problems with roll coverings used in paper machines.
Thus, there is a need to improve resistance to flex fatigue, crack propagation and wear characteristics as well as delamination of urethane coatings in process belts and roll coverings, in addition to retarding permeation of water and oil; and in grooved belts resistance to groove closure.
For example, resistance to groove closure of the coating in a grooved belt typically needs resins of high dynamic modulus in the low strain regime; that is, strains of less than ten percent. In this connection, cast polyurethane elastomers are all segmented copolymers consisting of phases called "hard phase" and "soft phase." In addition, these cast polyurethane elastomers may be made by a one-step process or a two-step process. In the one-step process, the macroglycol, isocyanate and curative (also called a "chain extender") are all mixed together at one time. In the two-step process, the macroglycol and isocyanate are pre-reacted to form a prepolymer. This prepolymer is subsequently reacted with the curative. The latter approach is the most common one for making large castable parts.
Cast polyurethane articles include a wide range of forms and articles produced by pouring or pumping a reactive liquid polyurethane onto a substrate, or onto a mold. This broad category of polyurethane processing includes the single pass spiral (SPS) and multiple thin pass (MTP) coating processes that have been taught previously to produce process belts such as belts for shoe presses, shoe calenders and sheet transfer belts.
Increasing the dynamic modulus (of the polyurethane resin) typically requires increasing the volume fraction of the hard phase. This increase of the volume fraction of the hard phase can be achieved by increasing the weight percent of the isocyanate group or NCO, changing the type of NCO, or changing the composition of the curative.
However, increasing the modulus in this way generally increases the dynamic modulus as well as the breadth and location of the glass transition temperature. Therefore, in high strain-rate applications, such as papermaking process belt applications, the change in the weight percent of the hard segment content increases the risk of flex-cracking.
The above-noted polyurethane modifications which either increase dynamic modulus without changing the glass transition, or increase energy dissipation at the crack tip, may in either case increase abrasion resistance of polyurethane coated process belts.
Heretofore, the use of nanoparticles to improve the barrier properties and other characteristics of coatings has been proposed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,616,814 refers to the use of nanoparticles in a press belt. However, only the surface of an outer layer is equipped with the nanoparticles for wear purposes. It is said that the nanoparticles in the wear resistant outer surface(s) can be equipped with fluorocarbon chains to give the outer layer a hydrophobic characteristic.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,172 is a fiber-reinforced plastic rolls coated with a synthetic resin and an abrasive filler powder (see, e.g. col. 3, lines 37-65) having various grain sizes (col. 3, line 66 - col. 4, line 19).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,124 is a coated transfer belt for use in paper manufacturing. The coating is a type of polymer and may contain a kaolin clay particulate filler. This filler provides a surface roughness, which decreases with an increase in applied pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,819 is a method for improving the cleanability of coated belts. The polymer coating may include a particulate filler similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,124.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,136,151 is a press belt, press roll cover, or long nip shoe belt, which use a clay filler in the polymeric coating. It is an alternative to belts as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,124.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,002,791 is a woven fabric polyurethane-coated belt. The coating contains walnut shell powder to increase its coefficient of friction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,164 is a supercalendering apparatus using an elastic roll. The core metal roll has a first coating of fibrous material with inorganic (quartz) filler loaded epoxy resin impregnated in the fibrous material and a second coating of inorganic filler loaded epoxy resin formed on the first coating.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,248 is a ceramic roll with coating compositions including mixtures of chromium oxide and titanium dioxide as well as aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,915 is a lightweight textile fabric used for automobile air bags. Among other fillers, vermiculite and mica are used to lower the friction value.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,815 is a paper sheet or laminate containing grit particles, which give it a high abrasion resistance while retaining a glossy surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,231 provides a paper web transfer belt with good paper releasability. Closed bubbles, microcapsules, or a particulate filler are mixed into the polymeric resin coating.
The present invention is an alternative to those disclosed in the above patents for improving any and all of the abovementioned characteristics of urethane coated process belts and roll coverings.

Belts and roll coverings having a nanocomposite coating


A Smart ANSI Microcontroller is provided to retrofit preexisting light fixtures. The preexisting light fixtures are configured with 5 pin or 7 pin ANSI receptacles. The Smart ANSI Microcontroller is configured to accept a variety of control signals and to control the power output of the driver of the preexisting driver of the luminaire in order to control the light output of the luminaire. The Smart ANSI Microcontroller is configured with a 5 pin or 7 pin ANSI male connector that is configured for mating engagement with the 5 pin or 7 pin female ANSI connector found in typical prior art luminaires, such as street lamps. The Smart ANSI Microcontroller allows for contemporary accessory light controllers to be utilized with the preexisting luminaires. The contemporary light controllers can be configured to connect to the Smart ANSI Microcontroller via wireless and/or wired connection.

The typical outdoor street light fixture contains an ANSI Standard (C136.41) receptacle with the elements shown below, AC input voltage, AC output voltage and several control lines used for dimming and control of the light fixture. The current state of the art for years is to install a photocontrol device with a mating ANSI connector into the receptacle and control the power through a relay to the light driver turning the fixture on at dusk and off at dawn (e.g. Acuity DTL Photocontrol shown in FIG. 1). Also, dimming parameters can be set to dim to certain pre-programmed profiles. However, the Applicant is not aware of a way to attach an alternate control beyond the current state of the art controller. What is needed is a Smart ANSI Microcontroller capable of accepting varying standard control types through one or more common control lines, including a wired control line or a wireless control line, and configured at installation, in the factory or the field to connect to standard 5-pin or 7-pin ANSI connectors, and preferably being configured to detect the standard utilized by an accessory light controller upon connection of the accessory light controller to the common control line, and preferably such that the Smart ANSI Microcontroller is configured to prompt an installer to approve of the recognition of the accessory light controller or to automatically switch control of the output of the driver in response to new or different control standards and/or power input source(s).


According to one embodiment, a method for granting a transmission opportunity in a wireless local area network includes: transmitting a transmission opportunity (TXOP) granting frame to grant a TXOP to a plurality of target stations; and receiving a frame from each of the plurality of target stations that has acquired the TXOP upon receiving the TXOP granting frame.

Recently, diverse wireless communication technologies are under development in line with the advancement of information communication technology. Among them, a wireless local area network (WLAN) is a technique allowing mobile terminals such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), lap top computers, portable multimedia players (PMPs), and the like, to wirelessly access the Internet at homes, in offices, or in a particular service providing area, based on a radio frequency technology.
Since IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802, a standardization organization of a WLAN technique, was established in February 1980, a great deal of standardization works have been conducted. The early WLAN technique supported the rate of 1˜2 Mbps through frequency hopping, spread spectrum, infrared communications, and the like, by using a 2.4 GHz frequency based on IEEE 802.11, and recently, a maximum rate of 54 Mbps can be supported by employing orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) technology to the WLAN. Further, IEEE 802.11 are putting standards of various techniques, such as improvement of quality of service (QoS), allowing for compatibility of access point (AP) protocols, achievement of security enhancement, measurement radio resource measurement, wireless access vehicular environment, ensuring fast roaming, establishing a mesh network, interworking with an external network, wireless network management, and the like, into practical use or are still developing them.
Among the IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.11b supports a maximum of 11 Mbs communication speed by using the frequency band of 2.4 GHz. IEEE 802.11a, which has been commercialized following the IEEE 802.11b, uses the frequency band of 5 GHz, rather than 2.4 GHz, to reduce the influence of interference compared with the considerably congested frequency band of 2.4 GHz, and has a communication speed increased up to a maximum 54 Mbps by using the OFDM technique. However, IEEE 802.11a has shortcomings in that its communication distance is shorter than that of IEEE 802.11b. Meanwhile, IEEE 802.11g uses the frequency band of 2.4 GHz, like IEEE 802.11b does, to implement a communication speed of a maximum 54 Mbps and satisfies backward compatibility, and as such, IEEE 802.11g has come into prominence. Also, IEEE 802.11b is superior to IEEE 802.11a in terms of the communication distance.
IEEE 802.11n has been lately stipulated as a technique standard to overcome the limitation of the communication speed which has been admitted as a weak spot of the WLAN. IEEE 802.11n aims to increase the speed and reliability of a network and extend an operation distance of a wireless network. In detail, IEEE 802.11n supports high throughput (HT) of more than a maximum 540 Mbps as a data processing speed, and is based on a multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) technique using multiple antennas at both ends of a transmission unit and a reception unit to minimize a transmission error and optimize a data rate. Also, IEEE 802.11n standard can use orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) to increase the speed as well as using a coding scheme in which several duplicates are transmitted to enhance data reliability.
Meanwhile, a basic access mechanism of an IEEE 802.11 MAC (Medium Access Mechanism) is a CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance) combined with binary exponential backoff. The CSMA/CA mechanism is also called a DCF (Distributed Coordination Function) of IEEE 802.11 MAC, basically employing a 'listen before talk' access mechanism. In this type of access mechanism, a station (STA) first listens to a radio channel or a medium before starting a transmission. Upon listening, when it is detected that the medium is not is use, the listening station starts its transmission. Meanwhile, when it is detected that the medium is in use, the station enters a delay period determined by a binary exponential backoff algorithm, rather than starting its transmission.
The CSMA/CA mechanism includes virtual carrier sensing as well as physical carrier sensing in which the station (STA) directly listens to a medium). The virtual carrier sensing is to complement the limitation of the physical carrier sensing such as a hidden node problem, or the like. For the virtual carrier sensing, IEEE 802.11 MAC uses an NAC (Network Allocation Vector). The NAV is a value for the station (STA), which currently uses the medium or has authority to use the medium, to indicate a time remaining for the medium to be available, to other stations (STA). Thus, the value set as the NAV corresponds to a period during which the medium is due to be used by the station (STA) which transmits a corresponding frame.
One of procedures for setting the NAV is a procedure of exchanging an RTS (Request To Send) frame and a CTS (Clear To Send) frame. The RTS frame and the CTS frame include information informing reception stations (STA) about an upcoming frame transmission to delay a frame transmission by the reception stations. The information may be included in a duration field of each of the RTS frame and the CTS frame. When the RTS frame and the CTS frame are exchanged, a source station (STA) transmits an actual frame desired to be transmitted to a target station (STA).
In this case, however, the CSMA/CA-based channel access method does not have high efficiency. For example, when a PHY SAP (Service Access Point) provides throughput of 1 Gbps, a MAC SAP can provide throughput of merely 50% to 60% of 1 Gbps provided by the PHY SAP.
In addition, in order to effectively use a radio channel (or a wireless channel) in the VHT system, it is required to support a MU-MIMO (Multi User Multiple Input Multiple Output) to allow several VHT STAs to simultaneously use a radio channel. In the system supporting the MU-MIMO, when a channel is accessed through a CSMA/CA, several STAs must transmit and receive an RTS frame and a CTS frame to and from an AP. Here, a scheme for avoiding collision between the RTS frames and CTS frames transmitted by the several STAs is also required.
Considerations of a contention free (CF)-based channel access method, away from a contention-based channel access method, are required to overcome the foregoing problems in the VHT wireless LAN system supporting a data transmission by the MU-MIMO.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for granting a transmission opportunity in a wireless LAN system that uses a combined channel constituted by a plurality of subchannels, and station supporting the method


The invention is a method for converting a monoscopic video movie passively acquired using a single camera to a stereoscopic video movie. The method comprises generating stereoscopic pairs comprising, for each frame in the original sequence, a transformed original frame selected from the monoscopic video movie and a transformed alternate frame. The transformed frames are generated from the original and the alternate frame.

Publications and other reference materials referred to herein, including reference cited therein, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Some are numerically referenced in the following text and respectively grouped in the appended Bibliography which immediately precedes the claims.
Stereoscopic, or three-dimensional, photography is based on the principle of human vision. Two separate detectors (the eyes) detect the same object from slightly different angles and project them onto two planes (the retinas). The resulting images are transferred to a processor (the brain) which combines them and gives the perception of the third dimension, i.e. depth, to the scene.
Since the first practical demonstration of a stereoscope by Wheatstone in 1838, many different methods of creating and displaying stereo images have been developed. Most are hardware based methods such as using two cameras with a fixed relation between them or a single camera with two lenses to photograph a scene and produce the two slightly shifted images needed.
Similarly, many methods of viewing the stereoscopic images have been developed and include the use of colored or polarizing filters to separate the two images, temporal selection by successive transmission of the images using a shutter arrangement, or physical separation of the images in the viewer and projecting them separately to each eye. The last method was, on the one hand, the one originally used by Wheatstone and, on the other hand, employed in the latest virtual reality techniques.
The above mentioned methods of producing and viewing stereoscopic images and are well known in the art and need not be described in further detail herein.
Stereoscopic series of images are, in principle, nothing but a series of stereoscopic images that are viewed in succession. They are usually produced by means of series of images from cameras with two slightly displaced lenses that record pairs of frames of images. Each frame shows the scene at a slightly different angle than its partner. In order to obtain a film in which the viewed action appears to flow continuously and naturally, the utmost stability is required during the photographing process. As a result, to date prior art stereoscopic series of images have been produced only by use of specially designed and stabilized cameras.
Methods of producing a seamless stereo pair of mosaics from a moving video camera have been developed by, for example, Peleg, et. al. [WO 00/39995] and Zhu, et. al. [Parallel-Perspective Stereo Mosaics, IEEC International Conference on Computer Vision, Vancouver, Canada, July 2001, Vol. 1 pp. 345-352]. In order to produce three dimensional effects, according to these methods, matches are performed on the stereo mosaics and not on the individual video frames. These methods essentially take a video film and turn it into a static mosaic. The resulting views are static and don't give the viewer the feeling of motion of the camera that was contained in the original film.
In co-pending Patent Application WO 03/105491 by the same applicant, the description of which, including reference cited therein, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety is described a process for producing a stereoscopic movie from a sequence of consecutive images of a scene.
With the exception of the method described in the above referenced WO 03/105491, current methods for generating single camera stereoscopic videos and ad-hoc standards are typically based on creating a depth map. The depth map calculation is based on structure from motion methods. In order to work properly the depth map should be very dense and accurate. Otherwise, local deformations may occur.
It is therefore a purpose of the present invention to provide a method of producing a stereoscopic movie from any series of consecutive images of a scene in which does not depend on the calculation of the depth map.
It is another purpose of the present invention to provide a method of overcoming some of the limitations of the method taught in WO 03/105491 by transforming both of the frames from which the stereo pair is constructed.
Further purposes and advantages of this invention will appear as the description proceeds.

Automatic conversion from monoscopic video to stereoscopic video

Rafael-Armament Development Authority Ltd.


A controller of an internal combustion engine includes a sensor, a control unit controlling the engine, and a detector obtaining detection data from the sensor and transmitting the data to the control unit. The detector includes a detection data obtainer obtaining the detection data and storing the detection data in a storage upon having an input of a trigger signal, and a detection data transmitter transmitting the detection data stored in the storage to the control unit, and the control unit includes a trigger output unit outputting the trigger signal at a certain rotation angle timing of the internal combustion engine, and a detection data receiver obtaining the detection data from the detector.

In an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection amount and ignition timing must be controlled in synchronization with the rotation of the internal combustion engine. Therefore, detection data used for such control of the internal combustion engine may be required to be detected at a predetermined rotation angle timing of the internal combustion engine using a sensor.
Therefore, in this type of related art controller, various sensors provided in the internal combustion engine are classified into two types for high-speed communication and for low-speed communication, and the sensors for high-speed communication are configured to transmit detection data at a predetermined timing in synchronization with the rotation of the internal combustion engine. Note that, in the proposed controller of the related art, the detection data from the low-speed communication sensor is transmitted at a constant cycle, which is not in synchronization with the rotation of the internal combustion engine.
In the related art controller described above, since the detection data from a communication unit provided in the sensor for high-speed communication is transmitted at a predetermined rotation angle timing of the internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine is appropriately controllable based on the detection data.
However, there may be a problem that the processing load of the controller increases because the communication interval of high-speed communication is shortened at the time of high-speed rotation of the internal combustion engine. Also, for example, when various detection data are transmitted and received using a common communication line, such as SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) communication, the communication timing may be delayed even for the detection data for high-speed communication.
Further, when the communication timing of the detection data for high-speed communication is delayed, the detection data may include an error, which causes a problem of deterioration of the control accuracy of the internal combustion engine. Such a problem may be solved if the detection data can be corrected on the receiving side, but it may be difficult to add rotation angle information of the internal combustion engine indicating detection timing to the detection data for high-speed communication. That is, the detection data cannot be corrected on the receiving side, i.e., on the controller side.

Control unit of internal combustion engine


A method for prevention and/or treatment of steatorrhea in a subject is disclosed. The method comprises administering to the subject a composition comprising mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) in an amount effective for prevention and/or treatment of steatorrhea in the subject

Orlistat (also known as tetrahydrolipstatin and sold under the brand name XENICAL™) is a potent inhibitor of gastrointestinal lipases, i.e. lipases that are responsible for breaking down ingested fat (gastric lipase, carboxylester lipase, pancreatic lipase). As a consequence of this, unabsorbed fat is excreted in the feces. Pancreatic lipase is the key enzyme for the hydrolysis of dietary triglycerides. Triglycerides that have escaped hydrolysis are not absorbed in the intestine. Pharmacological studies with human patients have demonstrated that potent inhibition of fat absorption and medically relevant reduction of body weight were achieved using lipase inhibitors. However, in a subgroup of the patients unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects such as oily spotting, fatty/oily stool, fecal urgency, increased defecation and fecal incontinence were observed. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for compositions that minimize or suppress the side effects caused by inhibitors of digestive lipases.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles for oil absorption


Briefly, disclosed is an ultra high pressure blasting head for a mobile marking removal system. The blasting head includes a hydraulic motor that is constructed and arranged for direct connection to a spray bar for controlled rotation thereof. The output shaft of the hydraulic motor is constructed to be hollow or tubular so that the ultra high pressure water can be supplied to the spray bar through the output shaft. The spray head assembly is particularly suited for mobile systems utilized to remove markings and/or coatings from surfaces with high or ultra high pressure liquid.

The use of paint stripes on road surfaces is the accepted method to indicate vehicle lanes, crossing lanes, parking areas and numerous other indicators. Various pavement marking techniques are well known in the art, including the use of traffic paint, thermoplastics, epoxy paints and preformed tapes. Most pavement marking systems are intended to be as durable and permanent as possible, and resistant to weathering and wear from traffic. Common road surfaces are asphalt and concrete. The removal of such striping is typically required when the road is to be resurfaced or if the indication is to be changed.
When polymers such as paint or plastic are used for roadway marking, the surface of the pavement is penetrated from ⅛-⅜ inch, so that mere surface removal of the marking material is not sufficient to remove the marking. Therefore, current pavement marking removal machines often employ various forms of cutting devices to remove the marking material, as well as a portion of the underlying layer of pavement material in order to effectively remove painted lines.
Commonly known methods for removal of such markings typically include the use of abrasive grinding wheels, material removing cutters, or blasting of abrasive particles against the material to be removed. However, the use of these devices often results in undesirable grooves in the pavement surface.
It is also known in the art of marking removal to utilize high pressure water to remove road markings and the like. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,161 to Raghaven et al. discloses a method of cleaning an airport runway utilizing ultra high pressure water. The device disclosed by Raghaven includes a rotatably mounted spray bar. A hollow conduit extends to the spray bar through which the high pressure water is supplied to the spray bar. A hydraulic motor and belt are utilized to rotate the hollow conduit and the spray bar simultaneously. A drawback to this configuration is component failure and wasted energy. Belts or chains are prone to breakage and require additional maintenance. The use of a gear train between the motor and the conduit requires precision mounting points for alignment significantly increasing the cost of the assembly.
Therefore, what is needed in the art is a high pressure water blasting head having a hydraulic motor with a tubular output shaft. The tubular output shaft should be constructed and arranged to directly rotate at least one device, preferably a spray bar, with a first pressurized fluid while allowing the passage of a second fluid through the pump via the output shaft to supply the second fluid to the rotated device.

Water blasting head with through feeding hydraulic motor


An electric motor, which is preferably a disk drive spindle motor, contains a multi-phase stator driven by switching the phases of drive current at corresponding commutation angles of the rotor. Small semi-random offsets are introduced into the commutation angles at which the drive current is switched, spreading the frequency of excitation over a wider range, and reducing the peak harmonic excitation at the switching frequency. Preferably, a table of offsets is maintained, and an offset from the table is added to each commutation point. The table preferably has more entries than the number of commutation points, the entries being cycled on a round-robin or other basis.

The present invention relates to electric motors, and in particular, to brushless DC spindle motors used for rotating disks within disk drive data storage devices.
The latter half of the twentieth century has been witness to a phenomenon known as the information revolution. While the information revolution is a historical development broader in scope than any one event or machine, no single device has come to represent the information revolution more than the digital electronic computer. The development of computer systems has surely been a revolution. Each year, computer systems grow faster, store more data, and provide more applications to their users.
The extensive data storage needs of modem computer systems require large capacity mass data storage devices. While various data storage technologies are available, the rotating magnetic rigid disk drive has become by far the most ubiquitous. Such a disk drive data storage device is an extremely complex piece of machinery, containing precision mechanical parts, ultra-smooth disk surfaces, high-density magnetically encoded data, and sophisticated electronics for encoding/decoding data, and controlling drive operation. Each disk drive is therefore a miniature world unto itself, containing multiple systems and subsystem, each one of which is needed for proper drive operation. Despite this complexity, rotating magnetic disk drives have a proven record of capacity, performance and cost which make them the storage device of choice for a large variety of applications.
A disk drive typically contains one or more disks attached to a common hub or spindle, which are rotated at a constant speed by an electric motor, often called a spindle motor. The electric spindle motor is typically a brushless DC type motor, meaning that it contains a multiple phase stator and a permanent magnet rotor, the different phases of the stator being energized in a sequence by control electronics to impart a torque to the rotor. The sequential switching and driving of the different stator phases can induce mechanical vibrations at harmonic frequencies of the motor driving frequency of the disks. These vibrations may be audibly perceived by a user as a high-pitched whine.
A whining noise emitted by a disk drive storage device can be very annoying or distracting to a user, interfering with user productivity. Additionally, constant excitation at a particular frequency may have other undesirable side effects, such as possible interference with servoing and possible degradation of mechanical components.
Disk drive designers have long recognized the desirability of eliminating any spurious noise or vibration in the drives. Great attention is paid, therefore, to precision machining of mechanical parts and other methods and processes for controlling noise. However, noise abatement is not perfect, and there remains a need to find improved methods of reducing noise in disk drives, and in particular, noise at harmonic frequencies of the disk motor driving frequency.
In accordance with the present invention, an electric motor, which is preferably a spindle motor of a disk drive, contains a multi-phase stator driven by switching the phases of drive current at corresponding commutation angles of rotation of the rotor. Small variations, herein called semi-random offsets, are introduced into the commutation angles at which the drive current is switched. These variations have the effect of spreading the frequency of excitation over a wider range, thus reducing the peak harmonic excitation at the switching frequency.
In the preferred embodiment, a table of small, semi-random phase shift offsets is maintained, and an offset from the table is added to the commutation point (i.e., the point or angle at which a phase change occurs in the drive current). In one variation of this embodiment, the offset entries from the table are retrieved and added to the commutation points in a round robin sequence. The number of entries in the table N is preferably greater than the number commutation points P in a single revolution of the rotor, and is a prime number or a number having no common factors with P. The semi-random pattern of phase shifts therefore repeats itself every N disk revolutions. If necessary, N can be made sufficiently large so that the fundamental frequency of pattern repetition from the table is too low to be perceptible.
Preferably, semi-random commutation offsets are not employed during a spin-up period when the electronic drive circuitry is attempting to bring the motor up to its rated operating speed, and are only used after the motor has already reached operating speed. This avoids unnecessary interference with the process of spinning up the disk assembly.
It is therefore expected that an electric motor constructed in accordance with the present invention therefore will emit less noise as perceived by a user, and may have additional collateral benefits due to a reduction in mechanical vibration at the motor switching harmonic frequencies.
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

Reduced noise electric motor for disk drive data storage devices

International Business Machines Corporation


A chemical plant or a petrochemical plant or a refinery may include one or more pieces of equipment that process one or more input chemicals to create one or more products. For example, catalytic dehydrogenation can be used to convert paraffins to the corresponding olefin. A delta temperature controller may determine and control differential temperature across the reactor, and use a delta temperature to control a set point for a heater temperature controller. By doing so, the plant may ramp up a catalytic dehydrogenation unit faster and ensure it does not coke up the catalyst and/or foul a screens too quickly. Catalyst activity may be taken into account and allow the plant to have better control over production and run length of the unit.

In a carbonaceous processing plant, a number of different factors may impact plant efficiency. By improving one or more of these factors, plant efficiency may be improved. There will always be a need to improve plant efficiency, which may lead to longer plant life, a smaller environmental impact, and more effective use of resources.

Delta temperature control of catalytic dehydrogenation process reactors


A method for preparing an aliphatic chloroformate comprising, introducing a mixture of at least one aliphatic hydroxyl compound, phosgene, at least one solvent, and optionally at least one organic base into a flow reactor to obtain a unidirectional flowing reaction mixture. The at least one aliphatic hydroxyl compound comprises at least one aliphatic hydroxyl group. The unidirectional flowing reaction mixture is maintained at a temperature between about 0° C. and about 60° C. to produce a single product stream comprising an aliphatic chloroformate.

This invention relates to a method for preparing an aliphatic chloroformate useful in the preparation of polycarbonates and co-polycarbonates. More particularly the method relates to a method for preparing an aliphatic chloroformate in a flow reactor.
Aliphatic alcohols may be phosgenated in both batch processes and continuous processes to provide aliphatic chloroformates. Despite extensive research and development efforts concentrated towards the more efficient manufacture of aliphatic chloroformates, deficiencies in the manufacture of chloroformates remain.
It is of interest therefore, to develop new and more efficient processes for the formation of aliphatic chloroformates that overcome the limitations of known methods, and which achieve increased ease of operation and economic feasibility, while providing aliphatic chloroformates of high purity in high yield.

Method for the prepration of aliphatic chloroformates


Methods, systems, and apparatus for identifying landing pages for images. In one aspect, a method includes, for each image of a plurality of images, identifying web pages that each include the image, and, for each of the web pages, receiving a web score generated by a ranking algorithm. The web page having a web score indicating a highest importance relative to other web pages is selected, sets of similar images are determined from the images included in the selected web pages, and each set of similar images includes different images. For each set of similar images, an image is selected based on the selected web page that includes the selected image having a highest web score of the set, and the selected web page that includes the selected image is identified as a landing page for an image search result.

This specification relates to selecting landing pages for images.
The Internet provides access to a wide variety of resources. For example, digital image files, video and/or audio files, as well as web pages for particular subjects or particular news articles, are accessible over the Internet. A variety of search engines are available for identifying particular resources accessible over the Internet. For example, digital images that satisfy a user's informational need can be identified by an image search process in which keywords or other data are processed to identify collections of digital images. Each image is identified to the user by an image search result. An image search result references a corresponding image resource that a search engine determines to be responsive to a search query, and typically includes a representative image of the image resource, such as a thumbnail. The image search result also references a page resource that includes the image resource.


An electron emission device and a method of driving the electron emission device are capable of preventing the deterioration of luminance in displaying moving images by inhibiting the emission delay. The electron emission device includes cathode electrodes, gate electrodes formed over the cathode electrodes, and an insulating layer disposed between the cathode electrodes and the gate electrodes. Electron emission regions are formed on the cathode electrodes to emit electrons under the application of electric fields generated due to a difference between voltages applied to the cathode electrodes and the gate electrodes. A driving unit applies voltages to the cathode electrodes and the gate electrodes. An anode electrode receives a positive voltage to accelerate the electrons emitted from the electron emission regions. A first voltage Vc applied to the cathode electrodes and a second voltage Vg applied to the gate electrodes satisfy the following condition: 0.4≦Vc/Vg<0.8.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electron emission device, and in particular, to an electron emission device which prevents the luminance from being varied when displaying moving images by inhibiting the delay of emission.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, electron emission devices are classified into those using hot cathodes as an electron emission source, and those using cold cathodes as the electron emission source. There are several types of cold cathode electron emission devices, including a field emitter array (FEA) type, a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) type, a metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) type, and a surface conduction emitter (SCE) type.
The FEA type of electron emission device is based on the principle that when a material having a low work function or a high aspect ratio is used as an electron emission source, electrons are easily emitted from the material due to the electric field in a vacuum atmosphere. A sharp-pointed tip structure based on molybdenum (Mo) or silicon (Si), or a carbonaceous material, such as carbon nanotube, graphite and diamond-like carbon, has been developed to be used as electron emission regions.
In common FEA type electron emission devices, cathode electrodes, an insulating layer and gate electrodes are sequentially formed on a first substrate, and openings are formed at the gate electrodes and the insulating layer. Electron emission regions are formed on the cathode electrodes within the openings. Phosphor layers and an anode electrode are formed on a surface of a second substrate facing the first substrate.
The cathode electrodes supply the electric current required for emitting electrons to the electron emission regions, and the gate electrodes control the electron emission using the voltage difference thereof from the cathode electrodes. The anode electrode receives a direct current (DC) voltage of several hundred to several thousand volts, and keeps the phosphor layers in a high potential state, thereby effectively accelerating the electrons emitted from the electron emission regions toward the phosphor layers.
Commonly, the gate electrodes are used as scan electrodes, and the cathode electrodes are used as data electrodes for carrying the image data.
Scan pulses are sequentially applied to the gate electrodes, and data pulses are selectively applied to the cathode electrodes corresponding to the gate electrodes receiving the scan pulses. Electric fields are formed around the electron emission regions at the pixels where the voltage difference between the two electrodes exceeds a threshold value, and electrons are emitted from the electron emission regions. The emitted electrons are attracted by the high voltage applied to the anode electrode, and collide against the corresponding phosphor layers, thereby light-emitting them.
With common electron emission devices, when the presence and the amount of electron emission are quickly and correctly controlled in accordance with the driving signals applied to the cathode and the gate electrodes, accurate displaying in accordance with image signals can be accomplished. The amount of electron emission is observed by the emission current reaching the anode electrode. The amount of electron emission and the emission current will hereinafter be used interchangeably.
The above problem can be exacerbated when the electron emission device displays moving images or the images are shifted while inducing considerably large-scaled variation in the emission current. For instance, when the images are shifted from the black mode to the white mode, the emission current should be quickly recovered in accordance with the driving signals. Otherwise, the luminance is deteriorated at the initial section of the white mode.
Rectangular wave pulses are typically applied to the cathode and the gate electrodes. The rectangular wave pulses involve relatively high voltages, and the larger the number of pixels involved, the shorter the application period of the ON time becomes. A signal distortion may result from a delay in the driving signals due to the parasitic capacitance generated at the crossed regions of the cathode and the gate electrodes, or from the internal resistance of the cathode and the gate electrodes. The delay of the driving signals results in an emission delay, and deteriorates the display quality.

Electron emission device and driving method thereof