The present invention reduces parasitic capacitance in a capacitive element distribution system by running unit electrode lead lines and common electrode lead lines in different directions so that the conductor lines may be sufficiently separated to suppress parasitic capacitance.

As shown in FIG. 6, a typical capacitive element CD in a semiconductor consists of a plurality of unit electrodes (not shown) in capacitive element area CDA and a common electrode (not shown) facing the capacitive element area through an insulation layer (not shown). The unit capacitor electrodes are arranged two-dimensionally to form one, or a plurality of, capacitive element(s) with predetermined capacitance. Each unit electrode is linked to main conductor lines L1 and L2 through lead lines UL1 and UL2 respectively; and the common electrodes are linked to main conductor line L3 through lead lines OL. These conductor lines generally lead in the direction of the capacitive element with spacing between lines minimized to reduce interconnection space and achieve a compact semiconductor.
However, in such an interconnection layout structure, parasitic capacitance is generated between L3 and L1 or L2. This parasitic capacitance reduces the ability to accurately calculate the capacitance of the capacitive element(s) especially when a plurality of capacitive elements are arrayed, as above, because the parasitic capacitance value differs for every capacitive element, in that the parasitic capacitance between L1 and L3 and that between L2 and L3 are not generally equal. Consequently, parasitic capacitance causes output errors.

Layout structure of capacitive element(s) and interconnections in a semiconductor


A device, system, and method that: acquires information that a sterilized endoscope, having reusable and non-reusable parts, is used; outputs an instruction for collecting the used endoscope from a medical institution; acquires information on the number of endoscopes scheduled for inspection, a predetermined number of endoscopes not scheduled for inspection, and the number of endoscopes in an endoscope inventory; outputs an instruction for delivering a non-used replaceable endoscope to the institution in response to the collection instruction; and outputs an instruction for delivering a non-used endoscope to the institution when equation (2) is not satisfied, equation (2) being: endoscope inventory quantity>number of endoscopes scheduled for inspection+predetermined number.

After the endoscopic examination is performed, reprocessing such as cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of the used endoscope is required. Since the endoscope has a plurality of narrow pipelines such as channels, the reprocessing requires labor and time.
An endoscope separated into a video capsule and an endoscope body has been proposed (Patent Literature 1). A video capsule is a unit that encapsulates an image sensor, an imaging lens, and a light emitting element which are expensive parts among parts that constitute an endoscope. The video capsule do not have narrow pipelines such as channels, and therefore, can be easily reprocessed. The endoscope body is a so-called single-use that is discarded after being used once. The video capsule is reprocessed in a medical institution and attached to a distal tip of a new endoscope body to perform the endoscopic examination.

Information processing method, information processing device, and information processing system


Diaminodipropyl ethers and hydroxyaminodipropyl ethers are prepared by catalytic amination of dipropylene glycol.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of diaminodipropyl ethers and hydroxyaminodipropyl ethers by catalytic amination of dipropylene glycol and to the ethers produced by this process.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,654,370 discloses a process for producing polyoxyalkylenediamines by reacting polyoxyalkylene diols with ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of a nickel catalyst. However, the polyoxyalkylene skeleton is rearranged in the course of this reaction. (cf. JP 029 313 (1974)).

Process for the preparation of diaminodipropyl ethers and hydroxyaminodipropyl ethers


Methods and systems consistent with this invention identify a buried object using array-based ground penetrating radar having a control device, a plurality of transmit antennas, and a plurality of receive antennas. Such methods and systems receive a transmit timing input signal and a receive timing input signal. Such methods and systems comprise a first delay circuit for receiving the transmit timing input signal and generating a number of intermediate transmit timing signals delayed with respect to each other by a delay time, and transmit output switch circuit to select either the transmit timing input signal or a corresponding one of the intermediate transmit timing signals as a corresponding output transmit timing signal. Such methods and systems also comprise a second delay circuit for receiving the receive timing input signal and generating a number of intermediate receive timing signals delayed with respect to each other by the delay time, a shift-delay circuit coupled to the second delay circuit and the receive timing input signal to add the delay time to the intermediate receive timing signals, and a receive output switch circuit to select either the receive timing input signal or a corresponding one of the intermediate receive timing signals as a corresponding output receive timing signal. Such methods and systems also comprise an antenna array comprising a plurality of transmit antennas, a plurality of receive antennas, and means for selectively enabling the transmit and receive antennas to allow each of the receive antennas to receive energy from any one of the transmit antennas.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), and more specifically to a GPR antenna array and timing circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Unlike upward-looking radar used for air traffic control and meteorology, the antenna array in a GPR is directed toward the ground. For example, GPR is used for geophysical applications such as mapping subsurface strata, locating toxic waste sites for remediation, and detecting of unexploded subsurface ordinance.
A GPR system comprises at least one transmitter that transmits an electromagnetic impulse, usually in the frequency range of 1 MHz to 10 GHz. The system also comprises at least one receiver that receives a reflected waveform. The length of the impulse is adjusted to match the desired frequency range. The desired impulse duration may be expressed in nanoseconds (ns) as 1/f, where f is a center frequency in Gigahertz (GHz). Therefore, a 1 GHz antenna is fed with an impulse of 1 ns duration, a 500 MHz antenna is fed with an impulse of 2 ns duration, and a 100 MHz antenna is fed with an impulse of 10 ns duration. Ideally, this gives the transmitted waves very broad frequency content, centered around the frequency f. In practice, the impulse is between one to two cycles of the frequency. Therefore, GPR systems are sometimes referred to as xe2x80x9cimpulsexe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cultra-wide bandxe2x80x9d (xe2x80x9cUWBxe2x80x9d) radars.
Subsurface industries such as construction, utility location, environmental remediation, and unexploded-ordnance detection have long sought safe, reliable, cost-effective methods for xe2x80x9cseeing into the ground.xe2x80x9d The utility location market suffers greatly from inadequate location technologies that result in hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, delays, and lost revenue for utility companies and contractors every year, losses than can be reduced significantly by use of GPR. Three utility locating market segments, other than GPR, can be distinguished by their accuracy and price: (1) One Call; (2) private locating; and (3) subsurface utility engineering (SUE).
xe2x80x9cOne Callxe2x80x9d is a nationwide clearinghouse that provides an alert to all public and private utilities of when and where construction may impact their lines. By law, contractors must register their site with One Call, which in turn contacts all the relevant utilities so they can mark their utility lines. One Call locating systems are based on electromagnetic induction technology that sense current passing through a conductor attached to the underground utility. Utility companies, responding to a One Call work order, guarantee accuracy on conductive lines within twenty-four inches horizontally on either side, with no guarantee of depth. With One Call, utility line locations are simply painted temporarily on the ground, easily subject to erosion or destruction. This poor accuracy results in broken utility lines and revenue loss.
Construction, utility, and industrial companies often relay on xe2x80x9cprivate locating.xe2x80x9d Private locating provides a greater degree of accuracy than is delivered by One Call. These companies often hire a utility locating company or a geophysics company to apply more expensive and time-consuming locating techniques. Private locating companies typically use electromagnetic induction technology, GPR, and magnetometry. Often this includes excavation, the most reliable and expensive method for determining the exact location of utilities.
Industrial and utility companies, however, frequently require more accurate maps of the subsurface than One Call or private locating can provide. For instance, extra accuracy may be needed while excavating near an oil pipeline because it may be too dangerous to break the pipe. Or, it may be too costly to accidentally cut an interstate fiber optical cable carrying important communications. In such situations, excavators perform a total cost/value analysis, including consideration of risk/cost avoidance. Often, they are more willing to pay higher fees to ensure greater accuracy.
xe2x80x9cSUExe2x80x9d can provide more accuracy than One Call or private locating. SUE is a rapidly growing specialty service offered by geophysical and engineering companies. It entails planning and designing utility arrangements before highway or other larger infrastructure construction. SUE engineers painstakingly map all discernible utilities at a given site using a variety of traditional and advanced geophysical methods. SUE uses electromagnetic induction technology, GPR, and magnetometry. It is generally more costly than private locating services because it uses computer aided design to produce a permanent record of the location of utilities. Even this premium service often only identifies 80% of utilities with certainty, frequently less when unknown non-conductive utilities are present. Further, SUE is very expensive.
An advanced GPR system may overcome the disadvantages of One Call, private locating, and SUE by providing a cost effective method to locate and image conductive and non-conductive utilities, vertically and horizontally, with a margin of error to satisfy any excavating needs. An advanced GPR system may also provide a permanent record of images of the excavation site that can be used in the future.
There are technical difficulties that must be address to implement such a GPR system, however. As mentioned above, for instance, GPR, antennae may transmit an impulse signal that lasts for a very short time. Because the center frequency of a GPR system may exceed 10 MHz, there may be no xe2x80x9csampling circuitxe2x80x9d whose sampling and digitizing rate is fast enough to sample the whole received waveform at once with a high enough dynamic range. In order to solve this timing problem, it is common to transmit a plurality of impulses, each having the same waveform. Instead of sampling a received waveform multiple times, each of the plurality of received waveforms is sampled only once, but at a different point along the waveform. A signal processor acts upon these sampled points. It is very difficult, however, to accurately schedule the time when each transmitter transmits an impulse signal and when each receiver samples the received waveform. Typical GPR systems cannot accurately schedule the time when each transmitter transmits and when each receiver samples the received waveform in a way optimized for an antenna array.
Currently available systems capable of handling multiple antennas use one digitizing circuit (one A/D converter), and one impulse generation circuit. These systems thus select one pair of antennas and route the generated high-voltage impulse to the transmitter, and the received sampled, analog, value to the single A/D converter. Because of the difficulty of creating high-voltage impulses at a higher rate than approximately 100 KHz, and due to the limited speed of the existing A/D converters with sufficient dynamic range, the data acquisition rate is effectively limited to approximately 100-150 kHz, independent of the number of receiving and transmitting antennas used.
Furthermore, existing systems use combined receiving and transmitting antennas, without the possibility of individually positioning each antenna element to form a suitable antenna array. If the receiving and transmitting antennas are not separate, the array may not have suitable coverage or sufficiently different polarization schemes. Horn antennas may be separable, but may also be unsuitable for GPR applications.
Further, for a GPR system to be practical, it should easily fit onto a moving vehicle, trailer, or portable housing so that subsurface images can be formed as the system is moving. This requirement introduces width and length requirements on the shape, arrangement, and number of transmit and receive antenna.
Thus, there is a need for a highly accurate timing circuit capable of timing multiple transmit and receive antenna to accurately image the subsurface. Further, it is necessary to have a transmit and receive antennas that meet the necessary physical design constraints for a mobile system.
This summary and the following detailed description should not restrict the scope of the claimed invention. Both provide examples and explanations to enable others to practice the invention. The accompanying drawings, which form part of the detailed description, show several embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, explain the principles of the invention.
Methods and systems consistent with this invention control an impulse radar having a plurality of transmit antennas and a plurality of receive antennas, wherein a control circuit of the radar receives a transmit timing input signal and a receive timing input signal. Such methods and systems delay the transmit timing input signal and generate a number of intermediate transmit timing signals delayed with respect to each other by a delay time, select either the transmit timing input signal or a corresponding one of the intermediate transmit timing signals as a corresponding output transmit timing signal, delay the receive timing input signal and generate a number of intermediate receive timing signals delayed with respect to each other by the delay time, add the delay time to the intermediate receive timing signals, and select either the receive timing input signal or a corresponding one of the intermediate receive timing signals as a corresponding output receive timing signal.
A system consistent with this invention comprises an antenna array. Such an antenna array comprises a plurality of transmit antennas, a plurality of receive antennas, and means for selectively enabling the transmit and receive antennas to allow each of the receive antennas to receive energy from any one of the transmit antennas. In such a system, the plurality of transmit antennas may be linearly arranged, and the plurality of receive antennas may be linearly arranged and parallel to the transmit antennas.
A system consistent with this invention provides a high voltage generator and a high-voltage impulse generator for each transmit antenna, and a sampler and analog to digital converter for each receive antenna.

Ground penetrating radar array and timing circuit


Human interaction with a webpage may be determined by processing an event stream generated by the client device during the webpage interaction. A classification server receives the event stream and compares components of the event stream, including components of an event header message, with prerecorded datasets. The datasets include prerecorded event streams having a known interaction type. Training clients may be provided for generating the prerecorded datasets.

In many web based applications, it may be necessary to verify that a human is using a computer, rather than an automated computer program, as one example. One well known solution for use with web based forms, is to use an application such as CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart). A CAPTCHA is a type of challenge-response test presented on screen to determine if the user is a human. A problem with using CAPTCHAs is that they can be automatically solved by computer algorithms. Further, humans can be used to solve CAPTCHAs the first time, with the response being recorded with the original challenge so if the same challenge is reused later a computer program can respond without assistance from a human. CAPTCHAs can be annoying to users and can typically only be used at predetermined locations within an application (e.g. a web form during user logon).
An alternative solution, often used in video games is to insert random events. Random events interrupt some otherwise predictable order of events by presenting new activities to the player/user. These are usually used to discourage players from using automated means to artificially gain experience within a gaming environment. Random events are annoying to users/players unless well crafted within the web page/game. Random events do not occur at predetermined locations but may require ongoing background analysis to estimate when a user/player may be using automated means of control.
What is required is a system, method and computer readable medium that can determine whether user interface events are human generated.

System, method and computer readable medium for determining an event generator type


The present invention is an electrically grounded hanger system for supporting a plurality of articles to be electrostatically coated with a paint particulate. The hanger system is supported from a grounded conveyor system and comprises a support descending from the conveyor system and several slide bars carried by the support. A plurality of hooks having a shoulder and an arm are slidably positioned within the slide bar with the arms extending through a slot within the slide bar. The shoulder of the hook engages the interior surface of the side bar in at least two contact points and the arm carries the articles to be painted. The slot extends the length of the slide bar such that the hooks are universally placeable along the length of the slide bar. In addition, by having the shoulder positioned within the interior of the slide bar, paint particulate does not accumulate or adhere to the contact points between the slide bar and the shoulder. Therefore, the support and slide bars may be used in numerous subsequent painting operations without having to be cleaned, by replacing the painted hooks if necessary.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hangers or support racks used for supporting articles in electrically conductive contact during transport through an electrostatic finishing station. In particular, the present invention relates to support racks having universally adjustable support hooks.
2. Discussion of Background
In the powder painting industry, articles are supported on hangers and carried along by a conveyor through a finishing station, which may include the steps of cleaning, rinsing, drying, coating and baking. Usually finishing includes traveling through an electrostatic spray booth where the articles, electrostatically grounded through the hanger to the conveyor, are coated with an electrically charged paint particulate. After the articles have been coated with the paint particulate, the hangers are transported to an oven where the paint is baked onto each article.
Each painting and baking operation, in addition to applying paint to the articles, applies a coating to the exposed portions of the hanger as well as the hooks, except for a small area where the hooks contact the articles. Unless similar articles are painted in subsequent operations, where each article would be in electrical contact with the hook in the same location, it is necessary to provide a clean support hook for each subsequent operation. In addition, because the hanger is coated each time it travels through the finishing process, the electrical contact between the hooks and the hangers can become covered and damaged, thus requiring the hanger to be cleaned before using it in another coating process.
When the hooks and hangers become coated with a baked paint, the coating cannot be merely washed away or cleaned but must be either burned off or chipped away. During the baking process the articles are subjected to temperatures between approximately 300.degree. F. and 400.degree. F., but in order to burn the paint off, the hangers and hooks must be subjected to temperatures over 1000.degree. F., which obviously consumes a large amount of energy. Therefore, it is important that the hangers be able to be used as many times as possible before having to be cleaned.
It is not practical to chip away the paint from the hanger, thus the paint must be burned away; however, with regard to the hooks, the paint can be chipped away. By tumbling the hooks together with stones, rocks, or some other tumblers, the paint will chip away. This is a practical and economical solution for the hooks, but it is not practical for the hangers. Consequently, it is important to provide a hanger system that optimizes the number of cycles the hanger can undergo before cleaning is necessary.
It is also important in electrostatic painting operations that the articles be in good electrical connection with the hooks and that the hooks be in good electrical connection with the hanger. In addition, because there are a variety of sizes and shapes of articles to be painted, it is important that the hanger and hooks be able to be adapted or modified to support the various articles. In other words, each hanger must have flexibility regarding the size and shape of article to be supported, otherwise the number of dedicated hangers would be enormous.
Consequently, there is a need for a hanger system that will provide flexibility and which will assure good electrical contact between the articles and hooks and, more importantly, the hooks and hangers. In addition, there is a need for a hanger system having the previous described features, but also a system which can be used numerous times or cycles without having to be cleaned.

Hanger for supporting articles to be electrostatically painted


A transceiver is used to receive remotely-broadcast, radio frequency (rf) signals at a first frequency. The remotely-broadcast rf signals contain encoded, partial control commands as message packets. Each transceiver is adapted to respond only to signals addressed to it. Upon receipt of an intended rf signal, the transceiver decodes and authenticates the signal. If authenticity is established and the decoded signal is recognized as a proper control signal, a new control message packet is generated using information contained in the incoming message packet and information stored in the memory of the internal micro-controller. The new message packet is broadcast using by a low-power rf transmitter tuned to a different frequency that the frequency of the incoming rf signal. A random delay may be introduced between the receipt of the incoming message and the broadcast of the outgoing message to minimize the probability of correlating the output signal with the input signal. Each controlled device within range of the low-power transmitter then receives the new signal, decodes its contents, and responds appropriately to signals intended for the individual device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of remote control and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for remotely controlling a plurality of devices by means of radio frequency signals. The invention includes a number of novel security features to prevent unauthorized usage.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
The use of radio frequency (rf) signals for the remote control of equipment is well known. For example, most automatic garage door openers employ low-power rf transmitters to open or close the garage door from within an approaching or departing vehicle. Children's remote controlled cars, trucks, boats and airplanes are also popular. However, most remote control systems have very little inherent security since the radio frequency spectrum is open to eavesdropping with both simple and elaborate receivers. Even digitally encoded control messages may be readily intercepted and these same messages may be rebroadcast by an unauthorized "intruder" at will. It is often easy for an intruder to correlate an intercepted digital message with the observation of a controlled activity and then for the intruder to replicate the desired controlled activity at will.
Most remote control devices of the prior art are configured for the control of a single device. If multiple devices must be controlled, multiple remote control channels and associated hardware (i.e., receivers, antennas, etc.) are generally required. The use of multiple rf channels makes the interception task of an intruder relatively simple since individual remote control tasks are more easily correlated with individual, identifiable rf signals. The present invention overcomes this problem by utilizing a single, primary rf channel (i.e., frequency) for the control of multiple devices. A transceiver usually located proximate the device(s) to be controlled receives remote control commands over a primary rf signal. The transceiver, in turn, decodes, authenticates, modifies, and rebroadcasts the remote control commands to individual devices using one or more low-power transmitters. The rebroadcast signal are at a different frequency than the primary rf signal. In addition, random time delays may be introduced before the rebroadcast to further disassociate the rebroadcast signal from the primary signal. Other security features are also included to make the task of interception of control signals extremely difficult.
Many attempts have been made to remotely control multiple devices. U.S. Pat. No. 3,735,412 for Remote Control Systems; issued May 22, 1973 to Roy Kampmeyer, teaches a simple, self-powered rf transmitter and receiver combination for use in a security system. The operating frequency is in the commercial fm band (88-109 MHZ) and the receiver output has only a simple relay contact. The system differs significantly from the system of the present invention. First, no attempt is made to keep the operating frequency secret. No transceiver employing a secondary frequency for rebroadcasting control information is employed. In addition, there is no attempt to encode a digital message packet, or to transmit only partial control information. Finally, unlike the inventive system, the Kampmeyer system is only capable of controlling a single device.
The problem of controlling multiple devices is addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,835,454 for Plural Channel Fm Remote Control System; issued Sep. 10, 1974 to Joseph Palmieri, et al. Palmieri, et al. teach a system for remotely controlling multiple servo units by using multiple, discreet transmission frequencies. In contradistinction, the system of the present invention features the use of a single transmission frequency and the encoding of a digital message including both address and control information to allow control of multiple, diverse remote devices. The Palmieri, et al. system controls only a single type of remote device, namely a servo unit. In addition, unlike the inventive system, no security features are disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,355,309 for Radio Frequency Controlled Light System; issued Oct. 19, 1982 to Robert M. Hughey, et al. teaches a system for the remote control of plural lights. The system operates at a frequency in the 320-360 MHZ range and features a digitally encoded device address. Plural receivers are set to one of several possible address codes so that each receiver responds only to transmissions intended for it. Complete control information is transmitted. The Hughey, et al. system also differs significantly from the inventive system. No transceiver is employed. No secondary, time delayed signal is utilized, and none of the other security features of the instant invention are present.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,509 for Apparatus for Addressably Controlling Remote Units; issued Jun. 12, 1984, to James A Buennagel, et al. uses a central message generation site and transmitter to send tone-encoded messages to a plurality of receivers. Upon command, each receiver may connect or disconnect an electrical load from the electrical power distribution network. In contradistinction, the inventive system utilizes a wireless command converter (transceiver) to rebroadcast a digitally encoded message packet on a different frequency. Also, elaborate security precautions at the central control center of the inventive system are missing from the Buennagel, et al. system.
Another attempt to provide remote control of multiple devices is disclosed in Telephone Operated Heating, Ventilating And/or Air Conditioning, the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,461, issued Jan. 31, 1995 to Richard R. Gedney. Gedney teaches a system for intercepting dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) signal sent over a regular telephone line. Tones are decoded and utilized to activate a switch to provide on/off control of an electrical load. In an alternate embodiment, Gedney teaches the use of a low-power rf link between the tone decoding apparatus near a telephone line, and a thermostat in a remote location within the building. Specific tone sequences are used to set the thermostat to a desired temperature. The system of the present invention differs in that no telephone line is required for operation. In addition, the inventive system may be used to control a plurality of devices as opposed to the single heating, ventilating, air conditioning (HVAC) device described by Gedney. The inventive system utilizes significantly more secure encoding than is possible with simple, DTMF-based control systems. Also absent from the Gedney system is any provision for the authentication of a control signal. In contradistinction, the present invention features elaborate provisions to insure that only authorized control messages may be issued.
Another telephone-based control system, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,434,973 for Microcontroller for Providing Remote Control of Electrical Switches, issued Jul. 18, 1995 to Chao-Cheng Lu. Lu teaches a system for conveniently controlling multiple electrical loads within the confines of an area such as a house. Load switching is initiated at a local keyboard, although activation by means of telephone, cellular telephone, or computer network using conventional DTMF technology is also taught. Unlike the system of the present invention, no security is provided in the Lu system. Neither is the control of the system by means of a rf link (other than the cellular phone line) per se taught. In addition, Lu does not teach the use of a low power, secondary rf transmitter for the control of multiple loads within the structure.
It is, therefor, an object of the present invention to provide a radio frequency-based, remote control system for a plurality of diverse devices.
It is another object of the invention to provide control only from a central location.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a multiplicity of security features to prevent unauthorized control of any of the remotely-controlled devices.
It is still a further object of the invention to utilize wireless command converters (transceivers) which receive a partial or incomplete control message packet on a first frequency, authenticate the message packet and then form a new, complete message packet for re-transmission at a different frequency.
It is an additional object of the invention that the wireless command converter introduce a random time delay between reception of a message packet and rebroadcast of a new, complete message packet.
It is a further object of the invention to occasionally transmits spirrous, dummy control message packets.

Apparatus and method for wireless, remote control of multiple devices


The present invention provides propofol prodrugs, methods of making propofol prodrugs, pharmaceutical compositions of propofol prodrugs and methods of using propofol prodrugs and pharmaceutical compositions thereof to treat or prevent diseases or disorders such as migraine headache pain and post-chemotherapy or post-operative surgery nausea and vomiting.

Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol), (1), is a low molecular weight phenol that is widely used as an intravenous sedative-hypnotic agent in the induction and maintenance of anesthesia and/or sedation in mammals. The advantages of propofol as an anesthetic include rapid onset of anesthesia, rapid clearance, and minimal side effects (Langley et al., Drugs 1988, 35, 334–372). Propofol may mediate hypnotic effects through interaction with the GABAA receptor complex, a hetero-oligomeric ligand-gated chloride ion channel (Peduto et al., Anesthesiology 1991, 75, 1000–1009.).

Propofol is rapidly metabolized in mammals with the drug being eliminated predominantly as glucuronidated and sulfated conjugates of propofol and 4-hydroxypropofol (Langley et al., Drugs 1988, 35, 334–372). Propofol clearance exceeds liver blood flow, which indicates that extrahepatic tissues contribute to the overall metabolism of the drug. Human intestinal mucosa glucuronidates propofol in vitro and oral dosing studies in rats indicate that approximately 90% of the administered drug undergoes first pass metabolism, with extraction by the intestinal mucosa accounting for the bulk of this presystemic elimination (Raoof et al., Pharm. Res. 1996, 13, 891–895). Because of its extensive first-pass metabolism, propofol is administered by injection or intravenous infusion and oral administration has not been considered therapeutically effective.
Propofol has a broad range of biological and medical applications, which are evident at sub-anesthetic doses and include treatment and/or prevention of intractable migraine headache pain (Krusz et al., Headache 2000, 40, 224–230; Krusz, International Publication No. WO 00/54588). Propofol, when used to maintain anesthesia, causes a lower incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting ("PONV") when compared to common inhalation anesthetic agents and numerous controlled clinical studies support the anti-emetic activity of propofol (Tramer et al., Br. J. Anaesth. 1997, 78, 247–255; Brooker et al., Anaesth. Intensive Care 1998, 26, 625–629; Gan et al., Anesthesiology 1997, 87, 779–784). Propofol has also been shown to have anti-emetic activity when used in conjunction with chemotherapeutic compounds (Phelps et al., Ann. Pharmacother. 1996, 30, 290–292; Borgeat et al., Oncology 1993, 50, 456–459; Borgeat et al., Can. J. Anaesth. 1994, 41, 1117–1119; Tomioka et al., Anesth. Analg. 1999, 89, 798–799). Nausea, retching and/or vomiting induced by a variety of chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, anthracycline drugs, etc.) has been controlled by low-dose propofol infusion in patients refractory to prophylaxis with conventional anti-emetic drugs (e.g., serotonin antagonists and corticosteroids).
Propofol has also been used to treat patients with refractory status epilepticus (Brown et al., Pharmacother. 1998, 32, 1053–1059; Kuisma et al., Epilepsia 1995, 36, 1241–1243; Walder et al., Neurology 2002, 58, 1327–1332; Sutherland et al., Anaesth. Intensive Care 1994, 22, 733–737). Further, the anticonvulsant effects of propofol have also been demonstrated in rat efficacy models at sub-anesthetic doses (Holtkamp et al., Ann. Neurol. 2001, 49, 260–263; Hasan et al., Pharmacol. Toxicol. 1994, 74, 50–53).
Propofol has also been used as an antioxidant (Murphy et al., Br. J. Anaesth. 1992, 68, 613–618; Sagara et al., J. Neurochem. 1999, 73, 2524–2530; Young et al., Eur. J. Anaesthesiol. 1997, 14, 320–326; Wang et al. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 2002, 452, 303–308). Propofol, at doses typically used for surgical anesthesia, has observable antioxidant effects in humans (De la Cruz et al., Anesth. Analg. 1999, 89, 1050–1055). Pathogenesis or subsequent damage pathways in various neurodegenerative diseases involve reactive oxygen species and accordingly may be treated or prevented with antioxidants (Simonian et al., Pharmacol. Toxicol. 1996, 36, 83–106). Examples of specific neurodegenerative diseases which may be treated or prevented with anti-oxidants include, but are not limited to, Friedrich's disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ("ALS"), multiple sclerosis ("MS"), Pick disease, inflammatory diseases and diseases caused by inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and IL-1.
A significant problem with the formulation and use of propofol is poor water solubility. Accordingly, propofol must be specially formulated in aqueous media using solubilizers or emulsifiers (Briggs et al., Anaesthesia 1982, 37, 1099–1101). For Example, in a current commercial product (Diprivan®, Astra-Zeneca) an oil-in-water emulsion (the emulsifier is the lecithin mixture Intralipid®), is used to formulate propofol (Picard et al., Anesth. Analg. 2000, 90, 963–969). Unfortunately, the oil-in-water emulsion formulation causes discomfort and pain at the site of injection.
One potential solution to the poor water solubility of propofol which avoids the use of additives, solubilizers or emulsifiers and the attendant injection site pain, is a water-soluble, stable propofol prodrug that is converted to propofol in vivo. (Hendler et al., International Publication No. WO 99/58555; Morimoto et al., International Publication No. WO 00/48572; Hendler et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,853; Stella et al., United States Patent Application No. US2001/0025035; Hendler, U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,234; Hendler, International Publication No. WO 02/13810; Sagara et al., J. Neurochem. 1999, 73, 2524–2530; Banaszczyk et al., Anesth. Analg. 2002, 95, 1285–1292; Trapani et al., Int. J. Pharm. 1998, 175, 195–204; Trapani et al., J. Med. Chem. 1998, 41, 1846–1854; Anderson et al., J. Med. Chem. 2001, 44, 3582–3591; Pop et al., Med. Chem. Res. 1992, 2, 16–21). A significant problem with these existing propofol prodrugs is their high stability in vivo. This stability prevents release of therapeutically significant concentrations of propofol, particularly when the prodrug is orally administered.
Accordingly, there is a need for propofol prodrugs, which are sufficiently labile under physiological conditions to provide therapeutically effective concentrations of propofol, particularly, when the prodrug is orally administered.

Amino acid derived prodrugs of propofol, compositions and uses thereof


An apparatus for managing a plurality of wireless sensor networks selects a configuring policy according to a characteristic of each wireless sensor network and configures a network with the selected configuring policy for management. When an error occurs in the wireless sensor network, the apparatus performs error diagnosis based on a configuring policy applied to the error-detected wireless sensor network, infers a cause of the error, and provides an error recovery method corresponding to the inferred cause of the error to the error-detected wireless sensor network.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus and method for managing wireless sensor network.
This work was supported by the IT R&D program of MIC/IITA [2006-S-022-02, Development of USN Middleware Platform Technology].
(b) Description of the Related Art
Currently, with the development of computing networking technology and wide-spread use thereof, ubiquitous computing technology and ubiquitous sensor network technology have been in the spotlight as next generation computing technologies. The ubiquitous computing technology is any computing technology that provides all user-desired computing services anywhere and anytime, and is based on a sensor network.
The wireless sensor network is formed of a plurality of wirelessly connected sensor nodes. The sensor nodes have computing capability and wireless communication capability, they autonomously form a network, and they wirelessly exchange sensing information with each other. The wireless sensor network can be used for remote monitoring and controlling purposes.
The wireless sensor network has been separately managed by a gateway or a manager. However, in an environment where a plurality of heterogeneous wireless sensor networks exist, a separate wireless sensor network management method is applied to a wide area server system that manages the plurality of heterogeneous wireless sensor networks so that management complexity increases due to separate configuration and management for each wireless sensor network, and the plurality of wireless sensor networks cannot be provided with a normalized monitoring and diagnosing method and a normalized service environment. Therefore, a method for efficiently managing the plurality of heterogeneous wireless sensor networks is needed.

Apparatus and method for managing wireless sensor network

Electronics & Telecommunications Research Institute


A storage box power supply structure for a saddled vehicle includes a storage box (30), a carrier (50) configured to detachably mount the storage box (30) on a vehicle body, a hook (33) configured to connect the storage box (30) to the carrier (50), a hook receiving section (53) configured to receive the hook (33), a hook-side terminal (70) provided inside the hook (33) and configured to supply electric power to an electrical component (46), and a receiving-side terminal (80) provided in the hook receiving section (53) and connected to the hook-side terminal (70) when the storage box (30) is mounted on the carrier (50).

In the related art, a storage box power supply structure for a saddled vehicle including a storage box having electrical components therein and a carrier configured to detachably mount the storage box on a vehicle body is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1). Since the storage box is attached to the carrier, a carrier-side connector and a storage box-side connector are connected, and electric power can be supplied to the electrical component from a battery of a vehicle.

Storage box power supply structure for saddled vehicle


A three-dimensional inductor coil is fabricated on top of a semiconductor substrate. The fabrication process includes the steps of depositing a first photoresist layer (406), forming a trench therein, and filling the trench with electroplated metal (404). A second photoresist layer (408) is deposited, and first and second trenches (410) are formed therein and filled with electroplated metal (412). A third photoresist layer (416) is deposited and a trench (418) formed therein, and then filled with electroplated metal (420). The first, second, and third photoresist layers (406, 408, 416) are then removed to expose a multi-loop inductor coil (500, 550).

The limited availability of low-loss integrated inductor structures has long hindered the development of integrated circuits (IC) such as passive filters, voltage controlled oscillators (VCO)s, matching networks, and transformers. Today's portable communications environment strives to achieve more fully integrated circuits that operate at radio frequency (RF) and microwave frequencies. Recent trends indicate a push to integrate entire receivers onto a single substrate.
Most radio receivers are built in bipolar or gallium arsenide (GaAs) technologies, and some integrated planar spiral inductors have been developed which are compatible with widespread silicon-based integrated circuit fabrication processes. However, these planar inductors tend to suffer from high losses and low quality factors (Q) at radio frequencies. These losses and low Q factors are generally attributable to dielectric losses incurred from parasitic capacitances and resistive losses due to the use of thin and relatively high resistivity conductors.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional planar spiral inductor 102 formed on an integrated circuit substrate 104. Typically the planar spiral 102 is formed of a relatively thick copper trace deposited on a silicon substrate. There are several problems that stem from this construction. Firstly, magnetic field lines generated from the RF current flowing in the planar inductor 102 can be represented in the form of closed loops 106 beginning and ending in the center of the planar spiral inductor. The collection of loops 106 forms the shape of a toroid enclosing the spiral inductor 102. As indicated in FIG. 1, the plane containing each individual loop of magnetic field lines is perpendicular to the surface of the integrated planar spiral 102. Thus, the magnetic field lines enter any material above, beside, and below the planar spiral inductor as they complete the closed loop path dictated by Maxwell's equations governing electromagnetics. The observation that the magnetic field lines penetrate the dielectric materials above, beside, and especially below the spiral inductor is very important, because it is in these dielectric materials that losses occur which lower the quality factor of the inductor.
Secondly, unless the spiral inductor is placed far enough away from underlying circuits embedded in the silicon substrate of the IC, the magnetic field generated by the inductor may induce currents in (and therefore disrupt the operation of) underlying integrated circuits. Thirdly, if two planar spirals are placed in close proximity to one another, some degree interaction and cross-coupling will occur between the linked magnetic fields of the two inductors.
Finally, a thin lossy conductor 108 must be located on an underlying metal layer in order to bring a center tap 110 of the spiral inductor 102 to the outside edge of the substrate. This thin underlying conductor 108 adds substantial resistance and parasitic capacitance, along with associated conducted and dielectric losses, which further lower the quality factor of the inductor.
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a three-dimensional integrated inductor structure 200 in which copper traces 202 are electroplated around an insulating core 204. However, the insulating core 204 is typically formed of alumina which tends to be too lossy for many high frequency applications, such as multi-GHz VCOs. The use of an insulating core also increases the complexity of the fabrication process and limits the minimum height of the structure to the thickness of a commercially available alumina sheet. Furthermore, the Q factor of these structures is further limited by lossy adhesives 206 generally used in the fabrication process. Hence, it would be desirable from both a design and manufacturing standpoint to eliminate the insulating core while maintaining or increasing the Q factor.
Accordingly, there is a need for a fabrication process which will allow for the implementation of practical integrated RF inductor structures using standard IC processes. A process which provides for the formation of a toroidal and horizontal helical inductor without the use of an insulating core is desirable in order to ease the fabrication process as well as to reduce losses.

Method of forming a three-dimensional integrated inductor


An apparatus and method are disclosed for the aerial spraying of agricultural chemicals with improved spray deposition and reduced drift. The spraying apparatus includes two oppositely charged sets of spray nozzles which may be fitted onto an aircraft. Both sets include one or more nozzles having spraying tips which produce a hollow cone spray pattern, and at least the tips of these nozzles are constructed of a substantially non-conducting material. Cylindrical electrodes are positioned concentric to the nozzle tips for inducing an electrostatic charge upon liquid spray emitted from the nozzles. The electrodes are in turn connected to high voltage power supplies, with the electrodes corresponding to the first nozzle set being connected to a power supply of opposite potential than the electrodes corresponding the second nozzle set. Consequently, the spray issuing from the nozzle sets will be oppositely charged. For effective electrostatic aerial spraying from an aircraft, the corona discharge of the airframe must be substantially near zero. In practice, this is accomplished by maintaining equal mass flow rates of the fluid dispensed from each nozzle set, and adjusting the charging voltage of the each power supply such that the fluids provided to each nozzle set have equal charge to mass ratios which are at a level of at least 0.8 mC/kg.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for aerial spraying of agricultural chemicals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Several United States patents exist that are known to have relevance to aerial electrostatic spraying (i.e., U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,004,733; 4,328,940; 4,703,891; 4,560,107; and 5,042,723). It is an experimental fact that electrostatically charged sprays do not show depositional enhancement upon crops until the associated spray charge-to-mass ratio exceeds 0.8 millicoulomb/kilogram, symbolically: (Q/M.gtoreq.0.8 mC/kg) (Law and Lane, 1981, ibid). Accordingly, if this ratio is elevated to Q/M=1.0 mC/kg, then there would be an expected depositional advantage of 1.0/0.8=1.25 or 25% by using the higher (Q/M=1.0) charge level. However, aerial sprays labeled for agricultural use are not directly chargeable with conventional nozzles. Specifically, there are currently no known commercial or patented nozzles capable of meeting the requirements of a practical, aerial, electrostatic spray-charging nozzle.
Research has shown however that if these foregoing problems can be overcome, biological efficacy can be obtained with less aerial sprayed chemicals than are currently used. Some examples of recent research document this Carlton et al. (1995b, Cotton pesticide deposition from aerial electrostatic charged sprays, ASAE Paper No. AA95-007, ASAE, St. Joseph, Mich.) showed that an aerial spray charging level of Q/M=.+-.1.15 mC/kg significantly increased deposition on cotton over that of one where Q/M=.+-.0.80 mC/kg. Latheef et al. (1995, Aerial electrostatic charged sprays for control of sweetpotato whitefly in cotton, ASAE Paper No. AA95-008, ASAE, St. Joseph, Mich.) showed that whiteflies were controlled significantly better using a charged spray (Q/M=.+-.1.15 mC/kg) than the conventional sprayed cotton. The charged spray achieved this result using 1/10 the volume of water carrier as the conventional aerial spray while both sprays contained the same amount of active ingredient. Carlton et al. (1995a, ibid) also has shown that a bipolar charged spray of Q/M=.+-.2.64 mC/kg resulted in a deposition on cotton that was 4.3 times greater than the uncharged counterpart. These data show that by properly controlling the spray charging process, deposition can be enhanced while resulting in efficacy.

Technique to reduce chemical usage and concomitant drift from aerial sprays

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture


The present invention relates to a method and a system to reduce losses of energy due to ripples, especially at the power grid, the ripples being short term power shortages or excess power. The method is based on the idea of shutting off energy consuming devices during a period of power shortage, if their operation is not necessary, and optionally to turn on such energy consuming devices during periods of excess power, if energy may be stored in them, especially when energy may be stored as some physical parameter or variable, being a part of the operation of the energy consuming devices, such as the temperature of a freezer.

Presently electricity produced by the power plant is not stored in the transmission system, but is rather generated at the same time as it is consumed. Consequently, it is necessary to uphold reserves at all times in order to respond instantly to unexpected changes in consumption. These are especially short term load variations, also referred to as ripples, being fluctuations in the order of minutes or even less than one minute. The reserves are activated within a few seconds in order to compensate for load variations. Other options to compensate for load variations are to adjust the energy production such as through fuel adjustment, throttling steam valve or condensate flow control. All of these lead to reduced efficiency of power generation, and it has been estimated that the annual global costs of operational losses in the power industry amounts to more than 14.000.000 .
One document U.S. Pat. No. 7,123,994 describes a power consumption management method of managing energy consumed by a group of energy consuming devices. The energy consuming devices exchange messages according to an energy management control protocol via a communication media. The energy management control protocol comprises an energy booking message type for announcing future energy consumption, an energy reduction indication message type for announcing possible reduction of energy consumption and a granting message type for granting an energy booking message and/or an energy reduction indication. The energy consuming devices negotiate their energy consumption by means of the messages exchanged according to the energy management control protocol and control their energy consumption according to the result of this negotiation.
When receiving a request to decrease power consumption, the energy consuming devices determine possible reduction of energy consumption, assign priorities to these possibilities and announce these possibilities via an indication message to the other ones of the energy consuming devices.
Among the examples is the operation of a compressor or a refrigerator or freezer that might be interrupted for a specific time, if the cooling temperature of the refrigerator or freezer does not exceed a predefined critical temperature. If the cooling temperature exceeds such temperature, the control units assign a correspondingly high priority to the booking and indication messages.
Another example is a tumble-drier that may be interrupted within predefined time frames without any operational drawback.
A further example is a washing machine that can stop at stage of the washing program and may delay the start of the spin-dry-program.
Further, it is possible that different device priorities are assigned in the scheduling rules to different energy consuming devices. Such device priorities reflect the priorities chosen by the customer for its different energy consuming devices.
The system thus includes knowledge of the coming energy consumption of the devices of the group by the use of a protocol, and does not relate to short term non-predictable ripples.
Another document, WO06128709 does relate to a grid responsive control device, describing a load control device which is responsive to a physical variable representing the balance between load and generation on an electricity grid. The control device varies the energy consumption of the load based on the current value of the physical variable of the grid relative to a central value of that physical variable, which is derived from past readings of the physical variable of the grid. The grid responsive control device also takes into account the time since the load last varied its energy consumption in determining whether or not the grid variable load control should be provided.
Further, the document mentions that the primary function of the load is to maintain the physical variable within specified control limits. The loads will generally operate on a duty cycle, usually with a period in which the load is on and with a period in which the load is off.
The document, however, describes a method relating to a history of measurements of the individual devices, and is therefore not very suitable for short term responses to ripples on the power grid.

Power saving system and method for a refrigeration system, providing for short term response to reduce ripples on a power grid


The invention relates to a system, comprising a camshaft with at least two bearing points, a two-part camshaft receptacle which has, in a lower part, at least two bearing saddles and, in an upper part, at least two bearing covers corresponding to the bearing saddles, the camshaft being mounted with its bearing points in the bearing saddles and bearing covers. Further, bearing half shells are provided, of which in each case two are arranged in pairs between a bearing point and the bearing saddle and bearing cover receiving this bearing point, so that, the bearing half shells are supported on the bearing saddle or bearing cover and in each case two bearing half shells, together with a bearing point form a radial plain bearing.

The operating method of a four-stroke internal combustion engine comprises the charge exchange in addition to the compression of the fuel/air mixture or of the combustion air and to the expansion as a result of the combustion taking place in the combustion space. Within the framework of the charge exchange, the expulsion of the combustion gases via the outlet valves and the filling of the combustion space with fresh mixture or fresh air by the inlet valves take place. To control the charge exchange, four-stroke engines make use almost exclusively of stroke valves which, while the internal combustion engine is in operation, execute an oscillating stroke movement and thereby carry out the operation of opening and closing the inlet and outlet ports.
The required actuation mechanism, including the valves, is designated as the valve drive. The task of the valve drive is to open and close the inlet and outlet ports of the combustion chamber in due time, the aim being to achieve a rapid opening of as large flow cross sections as possible.
For this purpose, according to the prior art, as a rule, a valve is used which can be moved along its longitudinal axis between a valve closing position and a valve open position, in order to open or shut off an inlet or outlet port of a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. To actuate the valve, on the one hand, valve spring means are provided in order to prestress the valve in the direction of the valve closing position, and, on the other hand, valve actuation devices are used in order to open the valve counter to the prestressing force of the valve spring means.
The valve actuation device comprises a camshaft, on which a multiplicity of cams are arranged and which is set in rotation by the crankshaft, for example by means of a chain drive, in such a way that the camshaft and, with it, the cams rotate at half the rotational speed of the crankshaft.
In this context, a basic distinction is made between an underneath camshaft and an overhead camshaft.
Underneath camshafts are suitable for the actuation of what are known as side-by-side valves, but also, with the aid of push rods and levers, for example oscillating levers or rocker levers, for the actuation of overhead valves.
By contrast, overhead camshafts are used solely for the actuation of overhead valves, a valve drive with an overhead camshaft having, as a further valve drive component, an oscillating lever, a rocker lever or a tappet. One advantage of using overhead camshafts is that, particularly by the push rod being dispensed with, the moved mass of the valve drive is reduced and the valve drive is more rigid, that is to say less elastic. The present invention relates to systems with an overhead camshaft.
When a tappet is used, the tappet is placed onto that end of the stroke valve which faces away from the combustion chamber, so that the tappet participates in the oscillating stroke movement of the valve when the cam is in engagement with the tappet.
According to the prior art, overhead camshafts are mounted in two-part camshaft receptacles, as they may be referred to. For this purpose, the camshaft has at least two bearing points. The camshaft receptacle comprises a lower part and an upper part, bearing saddles, as they are known, being provided in the lower part and bearing covers, as they are known, being provided in the upper part. In the assembled state, that is to say when the lower and the upper part of the camshaft receptacle are joined together, in each case one bearing saddle and one bearing cover form a bore for receiving and mounting the camshaft. In this case, the camshaft is received and mounted with its bearing points directly, that is to say without the introduction of any intermediate elements, in the bearing saddles and bearing covers. The bores are conventionally supplied with lubricating oil, so that, when the camshaft is rotating, a lubricating film is ideally formed between the inner face of the bore and the bearing points, in a similar way to a plain bearing.
The two parts of the camshaft receptacle are often castings which are remachined in further manufacturing steps. The bearing saddles are in this case incorporated into narrow webs which are provided in the lower part of the receptacle. These webs, and consequently also bearing saddles worked out from the webs, are very narrow, for example of the order of 1.5 to 3 millimeters. The reason for this is to be seen in that what are known as pockets or chambers, through which the tappets are inserted during assembly, have to be provided between the webs. By contrast, during remachining, the bearing covers are incorporated into the upper part of the camshaft receptacle and can be designed with a substantially greater width, for example of the order of 12 to 14 millimeters.
One disadvantage of the small width of the bearing saddles which serve for mounting the camshaft is, in particular, the low load-bearing force. When the camshaft is rotating, a lubricating film is formed between a bearing saddle and a shaft shoulder, in a similar way to a plain bearing. The load-bearing capacity of this lubricating film is codetermined critically by the width of the plain bearing or of the bearing saddle.
When the bearing force is increased, the thickness of the lubricating film decreases. With a decreasing lubricating film thickness, the fluid friction zone is left when the surface roughness of the sliding faces exceeds the lubricating film thickness. Mixed friction occurs. With a further increase in the bearing load, the fraction of solid friction increases. The destruction of the bearing, that is to say of the camshaft and of the camshaft receptacle, may occur.
The usually one-sided load on the camshaft when the internal combustion engine is in operation has a beneficial effect with regard to the small width of the bearing saddles. To be precise, the camshaft is loaded predominantly in such a way that it is pushed or pressed into or against the bearing covers.
Thus, the valve spring means act upon the valves in the direction of the valve closing position. Consequently, the valve spring means also exert forces on the camshaft via the valve tappets and the cams, an overhead camshaft being pressed into the bearing covers. Particularly when the valves are deflected during charge exchange, the return forces of the valve spring means are high. These prestressing forces are intended to prevent the cam from being lifted off from the tappet.
If, however, the camshaft is additionally used in order to actuate a fuel pump, this results in loads from the camshaft which press the camshaft into the narrow bearing saddles. This is because, for reasons of space, the fuel pump is arranged above the camshaft and is actuated by means of an additional control cam arranged on the camshaft. The control forces exerted in this case by the fuel pump on the control cam which is directed upward during the actuation of the pump are directed downward in the direction of the bearing saddle.
The loads on the bearing saddles increase, and therefore concepts have to be developed which ensure a sufficient load-bearing capacity of the lubricating film in the camshaft mounting and reduce the specific surface pressure in the bearing.
Accordingly, the disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by a system, comprising a camshaft receptacle having a lower part and an upper part, said lower part having at least two bearing saddles, said upper part having at least two bearing covers corresponding to said two bearing saddles; a camshaft having at least two bearing points, said camshaft mounted with its bearing points in the bearing saddles and bearing covers; and a bearing half shell mounted at each of said bearing points.
According to the invention, bearing half shells are provided for receiving and mounting the camshaft. In this case, after the introduction of the tappets during assembly, a bearing half shell is arranged on each bearing saddle. In a preferred embodiment, a bearing half shell is selected, the width of which exceeds the width of the narrow bearing saddle, so that the plain bearing face, formed between this bearing half shell and the bearing point, of the system according to the invention, is larger than the sliding face formed according to the prior art between the narrow bearing saddle and the bearing point.
A bearing having a substantially higher load-bearing capacity is thereby formed in the region of the bearing saddle of the camshaft receptacle. The arrangement of the bearing half shell on the web or on the bearing saddle may in this case take place separately during an individual assembly step or else, which is to be preferred, together with the camshaft which, with the bearing half shells already arranged on it, is arranged as a preassembled structural unit in the lower part of the camshaft receptacle in a single assembly step.
The rotating camshaft is in this case carried by a wide hydrodynamic lubricating oil film which is formed in the bearing point and bearing shells. The camshaft mounting according to the invention can in this case absorb higher bearing loads in the region of the bearing saddles as a result of a wider plain bearing face, without leaving the fluid friction zone. Mixed friction or high solid friction in the bearing face can be avoided.
As a result, using a system according to the present invention, a fuel pump arranged above the camshaft can easily be actuated via an additional control cam arranged on the camshaft, without there having to be the fear that the camshaft runs dry in the region of the bearing saddle.
The embodiments of the system are advantageous in which in each case the two bearing half shells provided at a bearing point are fixed with respect to the camshaft.
This makes it possible to install the camshaft, with bearing half shells already arranged on the latter in the installation position, as a preassembled structural unit. This not only reduces the number of assembly steps during assembly, but also reduces the number of individual parts to be kept in stock and to be administered and, consequently, the overall production costs.
The bearing shells are in this case fixed at least in such a way that they do not come loose from the camshaft and are not lost. Fixing may, however, be executed even more comprehensively. Thus, the bearing half shells may be fixed axially in such a way that they cannot be displaced in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the camshaft. This affords advantages, since, during assembly, the bearing shells are then positioned directly in the bearing saddles and bearing covers provided for them, without a readjustment, that is to say an axial alignment, of the shells becoming necessary. The bearing shells may also be fixed securely against twisting, so that the joint, as it is known, that is to say the region in which the two parting planes of the half shells lie opposite one another, comes to lie in a predetermined position in the circumferential direction.
The fixing, insofar as it is not detrimental to the functioning capacity of the system, may remain on the assembled system or else be removed after or during assembly. In any event, it is necessary to ensure that the camshaft can subsequently rotate or revolve during operation.
The embodiments of the system are advantageous in which the two bearing half shells are fixed at a bearing point in each case by means of a holding element. This embodiment makes it possible to fix the bearing half shells simply and quickly.
Embodiments of the system are in this case advantageous in which the holding element is a ring. A ring constructed from elastic material may in this case be pushed laterally over the bearing shells arranged on the shaft shoulder. The return forces of the ring then press the shells onto the shaft shoulder in a similar way to a spring.
Embodiments of the system are advantageous in which the holding element is a staple-shaped clip with a tong-like aperture. In contrast to the ring described above, this staple is guided radially over the shells, fixing taking place as soon as the clip engages.
Embodiments of the system are advantageous in which the holding element is produced from a strip-like material. The strip-like material may be, for example, an adhesive strip which is provided as an endless tape and a piece of which is wound around the bearing shells for fixing. A wire or a plastic cord are only two further examples of the holding element formed from a strip-like material.
Embodiments of the system are advantageous in which the holding element is connected to the bearing half shells in a materially integral manner, preferably by means of an adhesive bond. An unwanted loosening of the holding means, which would result in the fixing of the bearing half shells being canceled, can thereby be prevented.
Embodiments of the system are advantageous in which the bearing half shells have, on their outer surface area facing the camshaft receptacle, a recess in a circumferential direction for the reception of the holding element.
Embodiments of the system are advantageous in which the holding element is embedded completely in the recess.
This embodiment is advantageous because the holding elements then do not need to be removed during assembly, but can remain in the bearing shells. An additional assembly step can thus be avoided. Since the holding elements are received completely in the recess, they do not obstruct the assembly operation, that is to say the introduction of the camshaft, together with the half shells, into the camshaft receptacle. This also prevents the bearing half shells from slipping out of place during the removal of the holding means.
Embodiments of the system are also advantageous, however, in which the holding element is embedded partially in the recess and projects partially out of the recess.
The projecting part of the holding means may in this case assume various functions. For example, this part may be used to fix the shells in the bearing saddle or bearing cover, in order thereby to prevent an unwanted movement of the shells, in the axial direction or in the circumferential direction, when the camshaft is rotating. They are also suitable, however, as an assembly aid, in order to arrange the bearing shells in the intended position.
For this reason, embodiments of the system are advantageous in which the camshaft receptacle has in each case in the region of the bearing cover and/or of the bearing saddle a recess for the reception of the holding element. When the holding means engages, on the one hand, into the recess of the bearing shell and, on the other hand, into the recess of the bearing cover and/or of the bearing saddle, the shells are fixed in their position in relation to the camshaft receptacle.
The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and from the claims.

System with camshaft and camshaft receptacle


A floating apparatus for supporting fishing accessories includes a base member having a plurality of apertures. The apparatus further has a mechanism for floating the base member and a tether line including a plurality of spring clamps having opposed end portions removably connectable to the base member and a user respectively. The floating mechanism includes a first plurality of floats and a second plurality of floats provided with a conduit formed therein respectively. The second plurality of floats are juxtaposed between the first plurality of floats respectively and spaced radially about the base member. The floating mechanism further includes a resilient cord passing through the first and second plurality of floats via the respective conduits thereof. The floating mechanism further includes a plurality of fastening members having opposed end portions for securing the cord about the perimeter of the base member.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to fishing accessories and, more particularly, to a floating apparatus for supporting fishing accessories and other objects above water level.
2. Prior Art
It is quite common for fishermen to wade in shallow waters while fishing. A typical example is wade fishing in the shallow water areas along the U.S. Gulf Coast. There, the bottom slopes gently from the shoreline to permit a wade fisherman to walk quite a distance out into the water. This is also commonly done in many other areas and regions, limited primarily by water temperature, dangerous currents, and steepness of the bottom extending from the shoreline.
The paraphernalia required for fishing is as simple or as complex as one might wish. Realistically, however, wade fishing practically always requires at least some spare fishing gear such as additional lures, etc. to make a change or to replace those otherwise lost.
Another factor required for practically any fisherman is available bait. While it is possible to fish with artificial lures, it is desirable to fish with live bait and in particular with live minnows, shrimp, etc. It is not otherwise possible to carry bait in the water except in some kind of bait bucket. At this juncture, the bait bucket becomes unwieldy. It must be drug or otherwise rested on the bottom. Ordinarily, it must be submerged to some extent to provide continual water interchange to keep the bait alive. In any event, the equipment essential for operation of a wading fisherman is unwieldy and involves many different things.
Additional fishing tackle is limited to only that which the wading fisherman can put in his pocket or perhaps hang from loops on a belt. Often, a stringer for newly caught fish must also be included. All of these entanglements add to the complexity, and thereby inhibit fishing while wading.
Accordingly, a need remains for a floating apparatus for supporting fishing accessories and the like.

Floating apparatus for supporting fishing accessories


A vacuum cleaner comprising a moisture cleaner device which is easily attached and removed. The moisture cleaner device comprises a frame providing the circulation track of the moisture cleaner; a working roller and a driven roller mounted sideways in the top and lower part of the said frame; a first coupling means for attachment and removal of the lower part of the moisture cleaner to the vacuum suction head section; a second coupling means for attachment and removal of the top part of the moisture cleaner to a connecting pipe; and a moisture cleaner mounted to the surface of the frame. Because the peripheral surface of the working roller is uneven, when the vacuum suction head portion is moved back and forth, the working roller and driven roller are rotated, the moisture cleaner thus being operative such that the moisture cleaner contacts the floor as the normal vacuum suction cleaning proceeds.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional vacuum cleaner is composed of a primary body 1 that accommodates both a motor fan 2 and a cinder catching filter 3, and that induces vacuum produced suction; a device 10 that forms a dust suction hole 11 at the bottom of the primary body 1 and that collects fragments and dust on a floor; and a connecting pipe 15 connecting the primary body 1 to the device 10.
In the conventional vacuum cleaner, if the interior part of the cinder catching filter 3 is set to a vacuum situation by operating motor fan 2, dust and fragments on the floor are gathered with air through the connecting pipe 15. Afterward, the dust and fragments are filtered through cinder catching filter 3, and only pure air is exhausted through an outlet 4 located at the back of primary body 1.
However, by sucking up the surrounding air, the vacuum cleaner is only able to remove the dust and the fragments on the floor while leaving behind muck and spots on the floor.
In order to remove muck and spots as well as dust and fragments, a moisture, or wet, type cleaner is typically used after one uses a separate vacuum cleaner. However, the additional cleaning step of using a separate moisture type cleaning device afterwards in order to maintain a clean floor is an unnecessary annoyance. When cleaning a large area, in particular, this extra step is time consuming and unnecessary.
Recently, several devices have been developed centering on the vacuum cleaner in which a towel or a sponge is affixed to the device 10, making it possible to clean a floor by using a vacuum cleaner and a moisture cleaning device at the same time.
FIGS. 2A to FIG. 2C are side sectional views of a device 10 that is mounted to various kinds of moisture cleaning devices.
FIG. 2A shows a moisture cleaning device disclosed in Korea Utility Model No. 93-25020. The device comprises a structure in which the roller moisture cleaner is wrapped around the peripheral surface of the rotation axis 21 located at the center of the device 10. Therefore, if device 10 is moved back and forth, the roller moisture cleaner 20 rotates and rubs the floor. Therefore, at the same time that the spots or muck are removed, dust and fragments are sucked up though the dust suction hole 11 positioned at the front and rear of moisture cleaner 20.
FIG. 2B is a moisture cleaner device disclosed in Korea Patent Publication No. 94-10754. The moisture cleaner device operates by the connection of a roller moisture cleaner 25 to a working motor 24 by a belt 26. The working motor 24 is operated by an operating switch 27 that connects and shorts the power according to the movement of device 10. As shown in FIG. 2B, when device 10 is moved forward, the operating switch 27 is converted to the right direction, and power is sent to a driving motor 24. Rotation of belt 26 causes the roller shaped moisture cleaner 25 to rotate and the clean side of the moisture cleaner device 25 rubs the floor.
On the other hand, when device 10 is moved backwards, the operating switch 27 is converted to the left direction and power is broken, so the driving motor 24 ceases to operate. FIG. 2C is a moisture cleaning device disclosed in Korea Patent No. 94-2584, Unlike the roller-styled moisture cleaners shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, a belt-styled moisture cleaner 32 is used. The liquid cleaner 32 comprises a belt styled moisture cleaner 32 rolled around a pair of rollers 31 and 31'; a driving motor 30; and a pair of transferring rollers 33 and 33' which transfer the driving power of the driving motor 30 to the belt-styled moisture cleaner 32, and which accommodate the device 10. The dust suction hole 11 is located at the front of moisture cleaner 32. If the driving motor 30 is operated, the transferring rollers 33 and 33' are rotated, the belt-styled moisture cleaner 32 is rotated in one direction, whereby the floor is rubbed removing the spots and muck.
The above-mentioned moisture cleaner devices enlarge the size of device 10 since the moisture cleaner devices are positioned in the interior part of device 10. Therefore, the handling of device 10 is difficult and dust intake on the corner is impossible during the cleaning. In addition, device 10 does not allow the user to operate only the dust intake if desired, the moisture cleaner operating in conjunction with the dust intake due to the structure of the prior art devices.
Moreover, the used moisture cleaner must be removed and replaced by a clean moisture cleaner, a difficult procedure in view of the structure of the above prior art devices. In essence, the moisture cleaner structure and function is dictated by the size of device 10, the structure of the prior art being complex which increases the cost of device 10.

Vacuum cleaner having a wet duster device


A substrate carrying an unfixed toner image is fed through a contact zone which extends continuously from an entrance to an exit (18; 78). The zone is defined by an endless surface such as a first belt and a reaction surface such as a second belt in face-to-face pressure contact therewith. The first belt adjacent the entrance is heated to a temperature sufficient to reduce the viscosity of the toner to less than 50 Pa s. The first belt is forcibly cooled intermediate the entrance and the exit to a temperature below the glass transition point T.sub.g of the toner. Thereby un-fixed toner images can be fixed to the substrate and provided with a desirable level of gloss in one single device, while widening the range of operating conditions without risk of offset occurring.

In present day copying machines or electronic printer devices, the fixing or permanent adherence of a toner image on a substrate in the form of a sheet is often carried out with a so-called hot roller or nip-roller fixing system. This image-fixing device comprises a pair of rollers through the nip of which a sheet carrying a toner image is fed. The surface of the roller contacting the toner image is heated above the softening temperature of the toner resin, which becomes tacky or molten and forms a permanent bond with the surface of the sheet. The roller, contacting the toner image, is provided with a coating having abhesive (i.e. non-adhesive) properties versus the toner image. In order to increase the non-adhesive characteristics of the roller surface, use is often made of silicone oil. The rollers forming the image-fixing unit are pressed against each other. The roller contacting the backside of the sheet is generally covered with a silicone elastomer, capable of resisting the heat generated by the image-fixing roller.
Problems arise with hot roller image-fixing devices. In particular, in heavy duty printers where long periods between servicing are usual, it is difficult to maintain a constant image-fixing quality and a long roller lifetime.
A technique known as "flash-fixing" is also known in which a short intense burst of radiant energy is applied to the substrate carrying the toner image to be fixed. The wavelength of the radiant energy is chosen to be absorbed by the toner. Such a technique is unsuitable for multi-color images, where toners of different composition are carried on the substrate, said toners having different absorption characteristics in the spectrum.
A number of constructions of image fixing devices using infra-red radiant fixing have been proposed in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,449,546 (Dhoble/Xerox Corporation) describes a xerographic fusing apparatus, which is capable of heating toner powder to its glass transition point without damaging the paper support material, wherein the paper acts as a heat source to aid in the fusing process. U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,108 (Billet et al/Xeikon NV) describes a radiant fixing device comprising at least one radiant source, the peak energy output wavelength of which lies in the non-visible part of the spectrum.
Infra-red fixing devices however cause a loss of moisture from the substrate, as a result of the high temperature to which the substrate is heated, i.e. the substrate becomes too dry. This loss of moisture can result in deformation of the substrate and the low moisture level can result in the generation and retention of electrostatic charges on the substrate, both of which effects can produce problems in subsequent handling of the substrate.
A number of proposals have been made for fixing toner images by the use of a belt.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,215 (Namiki/Ricoh Co., Ltd) a toner image on a support sheet is fused either by disposing the sheet in with a heating surface or by additionally pressing the sheet. After the toner particles are fused, the sheet is cooled while maintaining its image bearing side in contact with the surface previously used for heating, so that the particles solidify and the toner image is stiffened. Pressure may be applied to the support sheet as it contacts the heating surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,331 (Wayman et al./Xerox Corporation) describes a transfer and fusing belt arrangement in which three fuser rollers cooperate with a pressure roller to form an extended fusing zone through which an electrically resistive substrate carrying toner images passes, with the toner images contacting the fusing belt. Electrical power is applied to the three fuser rollers so that only the portions between these rollers are heated.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,281 (Mitani et al./Hitachi Koki Co. Ltd) describes a thermal fixing device including a metal belt press contacted to a pressing roller. A heating device is associated with the belt. An image support carrying an unfixed toner image is passed through the nip between the roller and the belt so that the image is thermally fixed. The belt is also associated with a cooling device which cools the image support beyond the nip so that the image support can be stripped from the metal belt.
European patent application EP 0848304 (Xeikon NV), published Jun. 17, 1998, discloses a fixing device which comprises a belt in face-to-face contact with a reaction surface to form an extended contact zone therebetween. A substrate, carrying an unfixed toner particle image, is passed through the contact zone. The belt is heated adjacent the entrance to the contact zone to a temperature above the softening point of the toner. The belt is forcibly cooled intermediate the entrance and the exit to a temperature below the softening point of the toner. Pressure rollers apply pressure between the belt and the reaction surface intermediate the entrance and the exit. The belt is also heated adjacent the exit.
EP 0848304 also discloses an embodiment in which an unfixed toner particle image is transferred to a substrate in the contact zone. In the case of such transfer, it is recommended that the surface of the image should contact the substrate above the "fluid temperature", so as to ensure mixing of the toner particles of different colors. The "fluid temperature" is defined as the temperature at which the viscosity of the toner falls below 50 Pa s.
Due to the fact that dry toner images have a high thickness (sometimes more than 10 .mu.m), the appearance of such images is sometimes unnatural and non-uniform and these images usually have a non-uniform color saturation. While this appearance is acceptable for many applications, it is sometimes desired to provide an image having a different appearance or finish. By the term "finish" in the context of the present invention, we mean either a surface characteristic which is glossy, i.e. highly reflective, and/or which provides high saturation of colors, this usually being achieved by reducing the scattering of light from the surface of the printed article, or both such characteristics. A higher degree of color saturation can be very desirable in high quality print work.
It has been proposed to provide glossy images by the use of a toner which incorporates a glossing agent, or by the application of a transparent glossing layer over the toner image. However, these methods are costly in terms of consumables.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,688 (Moser/Xerox Corporation) it has been proposed to provide glossy images by passing the substrate carrying the toner images through an oven heater to fix the images and then through a pair of glossing rollers operating at approximately the same temperature as the oven.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,429 (Fukuchi et al./Konica Corporation) describes a color printer having a fixer for fixing a toner image on a recording sheet, which includes an endless polyimide heat belt which is supported by a heat roller and a separation roller, and an endless conveyance belt which is supported by a pressure roller and another separation roller. The endless heat belt and the conveyance belt are pressed together over part of their length, so that a nip region is created between the first pair of rollers and the second pair. The belts have glossy surfaces. It is recommended in U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,429 that the most appropriate fixing condition can be obtained when the viscosity of the toner is about 5000 poise (=500 Pa s).
European patent application EP 0758766 (Xeikon NV) discloses an electrostatographic printer in which a web of receiving material, after passing through a fixing device, is contacted with a finishing element while at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the toner to modify the finish of the toner image.
It would be desirable to use one and the same device to fix the toner images and to provide them with the desired gloss. However, contact-less fixing devices are unable to provide a uniform glossing effect, while we have found that the use of known heated rollers or heated belt fixing devices suffer from toner offset problems and do not provide sufficient control over the gloss and color saturation of the images. In particular such known devices exhibit limited process parameters, with a narrow window of optimum performance.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and method whereby un-fixed toner images can be fixed to a substrate and provided with a desirable level of gloss in one single device, while widening the range of operating conditions without risk of offset occurring.

Device and method fixing and glossing toner images


The invention provides methods and devices for determining molecular signatures in a cancer that predict response to a MARPK pathway inhibitor and methods of use of such signatures.

Oncogenic mutations in the serine/threonine kinase B-RAF (also known as BRAF) are found in 50-70% of malignant melanomas. (Davies, H. et al., Nature 417, 949-954 (2002).) Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that the B-RAF (V600E) mutation predicts a dependency on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade in melanoma (Hoeflich, K. P. et al., Cancer Res. 69, 3042-3051 (2009); McDermott, U. et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 104, 19936-19941 (2007); Solit, D. B. et al. BRAF mutation predicts sensitivity to MEK inhibition. Nature 439, 358-362 (2006); Wan, P. T. et al., Cell 116, 855-867 (2004); Wellbrock, C. et al., Cancer Res. 64, 2338-2342 (2004))—an observation that has been validated by the success of RAF or MEK inhibitors in clinical trials (Flaherty, K. T. et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 363, 809-819 (2010); Infante, J. R. et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 28 (suppl.), 2503 (2010); Schwartz, G. K. et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 27 (suppl.), 3513 (2009).)
However, clinical responses to targeted anticancer therapeutics are frequently confounded by intrinsic or acquired resistance. (Engelman, J. A. et al., Science 316, 1039-1043 (2007); Gorre, M. E. et al., Science 293, 876-880 (2001); Heinrich, M. C. et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 24, 4764-4774 (2006); Daub, H., Specht, K. & Ullrich, A. Nature Rev. Drug Discov. 3, 1001-1010 (2004).) Accordingly, there remains a need for new methods for identification of resistance mechanisms in a manner that elucidates "druggable" targets for effective short- and long-term treatment strategies, for new methods of identifying patients that are likely to benefit from the treatment strategies, and for methods of treating patients with the effective short- and long-term treatment strategies.

Methods of identifying responses to map kinase inhibition therapy


The present disclosure provides for a system to secure an anchor within a bore hole comprising a drill bit tool to be connected and secured to an improved setting tool head. The system is also comprised of an anchor removably secured to the setting tool head to optimize the setting strength of the anchor. The system is also comprised of bullets having preferred size ranges to further optimize the setting of various anchors.

Anchors are conventionally used in construction to attach various components of a building construction to an overhead ceiling or other structure. Such components to be attached can relate to, for example, services that provide plumbing, electrical, drainage, sprinkler system piping and drop ceilings. From these anchors, which are usually of the sleeve type or wedge type variety, all the above services and ceilings are suspended or secured.
Conventionally, in setting anchors in concrete to suspend an awning, for example, a hole is pre-drilled in the surface to which the anchor is to be applied, and then the anchor is inserted into the pre-drilled hole. However, when setting such anchors in concrete it is not uncommon for such anchors to weaken and loosen over time, particularly in situations where cracking or chipping of the concrete around the pre-drilled hole has occurred.
Furthermore, studies have revealed that cracking can typically occur in the concrete element, and that such cracks can significantly impact the performance of anchors. Cracks can originate on a concrete beam or slab in a variety of ways, such as creep, temperature settlement of the support or foundation, thermal expansion and contraction stress overload, or from a natural disaster such as an earthquake or flood. In such circumstances, the situation can arise where, if one such concrete anchor fails and lets go, the remaining anchors, by virtue of the weight they additionally assume in light of such failure, can also similarly collapse and fail.
It has been found that enlarging the lower (interior) part of the pre-drilled hole can allow for the use of anchors in a more secure manner. It has further been found that providing a pre-drilled hole with an enlarged, conical lower end can be advantageously provided by an expansion anchor having an anchor with spreading lamellae, including a carbide bit on at least one of the lamellae, whereby tightening of a nut and washer, which are flush with the bore hole, would cause the cone tip to move back, upwards relative to the bottom of the hole, and into the anchor to spread the lamellae.
It is also desirable that in lieu of a carbide bit, cutters could be provided to further expand radially into the bore hole. Such cutters would be shaped to optimally expand and set the anchor into the bore hole.

Locking drill bit tool and stabilizing setting tool head system


Techniques for displaying content using an augmented reality device are described. Embodiments provide a visual scene for display, the visual scene captured using one or more camera devices of the augmented reality device. Embodiments adjust physical display geometry characteristics of the visual scene to correct for optimal projection. Additionally, illumination characteristics of the visual scene are modified based on environmental illumination data to improve realism of the visual scene when it is displayed. Embodiments further adjust display characteristics of the visual scene to improve tone mapping output. The adjusted visual scene is then output for display on the augmented reality device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a human-computer interface and more specifically to techniques for rendering realistic scenes on an augmented reality device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computer graphics technology has come a long way since video games were first developed. Relatively inexpensive 3D graphics engines now provide nearly photo-realistic interactive game play on hand-held video game, home video game and personal computer hardware platforms costing only a few hundred dollars. These video game systems typically include a hand-held controller, game controller, or, in the case of a hand-held video game platform, an integrated controller. A user or player uses the controller to send commands or other instructions to the video game system to control a video game or other simulation being played. For example, the controller may be provided with a manipulator (e.g., a joystick) and buttons operated by the user.
Many hand-held gaming devices include some form of camera device which may be used to capture an image or a series of images of a physical, real-world scene. The captured images can then be displayed, for instance, on a display of the hand-held gaming device. However, the displayed images may not accurately reflect all the visual properties of the physical scene. For instance, due to limitations in the camera device and/or the display device, color tones of displayed objects on the hand-held gaming device may not match the color tones of the respective objects in the physical scene. Furthermore, while a user may manually adjust display properties of the hand-held gaming device (e.g., contrast, brightness, etc.) so that the display is more realistic for certain environments, these same adjustments may produce an unrealistic display in other environments.

Virtual lens-rendering for augmented reality lens

ETH Zurich (Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule Zurich)