The combined TV receiver can receive and process an analog broadcasting signal as well as a digital broadcasting signal, and includes a controller determining whether a channel selected by a user is a digital broadcast or an analog broadcast. The controller generates station selection data on the selected channel and a control signal pertinent to the determination. A tuner receives the station selection data and tunes to a broadcasting signal associated with the selected channel, out of signals received through an antenna. A switch unit forwards the broadcasting signal tuned at the tuner, in response to the control signal, to either an analog broadcasting processor or a digital broadcasting processor. An AGC (auto-gain controller) receives a gain signal either from the analog broadcasting processor or from the digital broadcasting processor, and adjusts a signal gain of the broadcasting signal tuned at the tuner, thereby allowing reception of both analog and digital signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a TV, and more particularly, to a combined TV receiver which can receive and process an analog broadcasting signal as well as a digital broadcasting signal.
2. Background of the Related Art
The TV receiver is an appliance for decoding a broadcasting signal transmitted from a broadcasting station into an image signal and presenting image information to TV watchers. There are different standards of TV systems depending on scanning lines, frames per second, modulation type, channel bandwidth, video signal bandwidth, and audio channel modulation of a broadcasting signal transmitted from the broadcasting station, inclusive of the NTSC(National Television System Committee), PAL(Phase Alternation by Line), SECAM(Sequential Couleur a Memoire). The NTSC system is a standard system of a broadcasting signal having 525 scanning lines and transmitting 30 frames per second used in the north America, Japan and Korea. The NTSC system is compatible with black and white TV and has a simple driving circuit compared to other systems. The PAL system is a standard system of a broadcasting signal used in most European countries except some eastern European countries starting from France, in which a phase of one of two color difference signals are inverted at every scanning line in modulation. Though the PAL system has a somewhat poor compatibility with a black and white TV, a video signal of the PAL system is less influenced by a phase distortion caused by recording or transmission. The SECAM system is a standard system of a broadcasting signal developed in France and used in France, the old soviet union, east Europe and some African countries, in which a color subcarrier is frequency modulated and overlapped with a luminance signal while the two color difference signals are cut off in a sequence before transmission. Though the SECAM system is advantageous in small amplitude and phase distortions during transmission, a vertical resolution is poor.
FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a related art analog TV receiver circuit schematically, of which operation will be explained. A tuning data is received at a tuner 1. Then, a VIF(Video Intermediate Frequency) 2 provides a video signal, of which synchronizing signal is detected by a synchronizing signal detector 3. If a synchronizing signal is contained in the signal received from the antenna, the signal is an analog signal, if there is no synchronizing signal, the signal is not an analog signal. An analog broadcasting receiver determines the presence of a broadcasting signal according to existence of a synchronizing signal, and stores a channel number having a broadcasting signal in a memory.
In the meantime, there have been research and other efforts for replacing a related art analog transmission type TV system with a digital transmission type TV gradually as digital technologies and video and audio data compression and restoring technologies are developed. In such a digital terrestrial TV broadcasting transmission system, there is a system of the USA and a system of Europe. The USA system is a VSB transmission system in which a single carrier is used and the European system is a COFDM(Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) transmission system in which multi carriers are used. Particularly, because the multi carriers are used, the COFDM system is strong against interference and ghost in multiple path channel and allows to construct an SFN(Single Frequency Network) which can make a wide band transmission in a signal frequency. Because the present carrier condition is sensed in the COFDM system for making a Viterbi decoding with reference to the channel condition, an interference between channels or a selective fading of a frequency affect system performance, seriously. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, in the COFDM system, a signal called pilot 5 having a predictable value is added at every fixed intervals both in frequency axis Nf and time axis Nt directions between carriers of data at a transmitter side before transmission, which is used in synchronization or equalizing required in reception for restoring data at a receiver side. Together with this, the related art COFDM transmitter side transmits TPS(Transmission Parameter Signaling) including information on various transmission modes, and the receiver side decodes the TPS for use in demodulation. That is, the COFDM system is characterized in the use of multi carrier intransmission as well as the addition of pilots before transmission for use at the receiver side.
FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate reception blocks in a COFDM system. As shows, signals (t) received through an antenna is amplified as necessary through a transmission channel 11 and the amplification terminal 12. An amplification gain is controlled through an AGC(Auto Gain Controller) 16. The amplified signal is digitized at an A/D converter 13, provided to an I and Q demodulator 14, and converted into of an I signal and a Q signal. The I signal and Q signal are subjected to adjustment of frequencies and powers as they pass through an FFT(Fast Fourier Transformer) block 15 and an equalizer 31, and are restored into an original data as they pass through a demapper 32, deinterleavers 33 and 36 and FEC(Forward Error Corrector)(not shown). At first, the received data is provided to a course timing block 17 for being divided into an effective data interval and a guard interval. The course timing block 17 shifts data by one interval to obtain correlation between data, and provides the correlation to an FFT start window generator 18 for establishing an interval of the data appropriate for subjecting to FFT. After the I and Q composite signals are converted at the FFT block 15, TPS information is demodulated. The TPS demodulator 19 analyzes the pilot signals, and corrects frequency and time basis distortions of the received data using a result of the analysis, to decode a correct TPS signal. The pilot signals are detected from the signal subjected FFT at a scattered pilot extractor 20 and analyzed at an IFFT block 21 and a narrow and fine frequency controller 22 for obtaining a correct frequency band of the signal. The signal subjected to FFT is provided to a continual pilot extractor 23 for being frequency synchronized by which an error in a received frequency is corrected. And, the fine timing block 24 receives the data subjected to FFT and decodes a pilot signal in the data, for finding an exact timing of conversion of the FFT. The signal having frequency synchronized and frequency band corrected through the IFFT block 21, the narrow and fine frequency controller 22, and the fine timing block 24 is provided to the FFT block 15, again. The signal provided to the FFT block 24 is corrected for an error in a data carrier by hard or soft decision. The FFT 15 should be provided in a COFDM demodulating system for receiving an I signal and a Q signal and transform into frequency components. The signal transformed into the frequency components at the FFT is provided to a TPS(Transmission Parameter Signalling) decoder 19.
A memory 2 stores a signal from the FFT block 15 and provides the stored signal to the equalizer 31, and the equalizer 31 compensates for a distortion in a frequency response signal caused in a transmission channel. The demapper 32 receives both the signal having distortion compensated at the equalizer 31 and a TPS signal from the TPS decoder 19, and analyzes a mapped signal. The internal deinterleaver 33 subjects the signal analyzed at the demapper 32 to internal deinterleave, and provides the result to a Viterbi decoder 34. The Viterbi decoder 34 receives both 20 a signal from the internal deinterleaver 33 and the TPS signal, and subjects to viterbi decoding. An external deinterleaver 36 subjects the signal subjected to internal interleave to external interleave with reference to a synchronizing signal detected at a synchronizing signal detector 35. RS decoder 37 and a derandomizer 38 process the signal subjected to external interleave, for extracting a broadcasting signal of the channel the user selected. Also, the TPS decoder 19 receives a frequency component from the FFT block 15, analyzes a modulation type of the signal, and provides a result of the analysis to a processor(not shown). In this instance, different parameters are provided to the TPS decoder in succession until a right modulation type of the signal is analyzed. Accordingly, when the right modulation type of the signal is analyzed, the processor stores a channel of the signal having analyzed by the TPS decoder in an internal memory. If the TPS decoder can not detect the modulation type of the signal, the digital tuner receives information on a new channel number, and the aforementioned process is repeated. The TPS decoder is adapted to provide a right result only when the entire COFDM demodulator in the digital broadcasting receiver is operative regularly.
Most of the digital broadcasting signals provided to such digital TV receivers are based on the MPEG standards. Particularly, the MPEG-3 which is an MPEG standard for broadcasting and has all standards for system, audio and video established therein. For reference, the system standard No. in the MPEG-2 is ISO/IEC 13818-1, the video standard No. is ISO/WEC 13818-2, and the audio standard No. is ISO/IEC 13818-3.
A system and operation of a related art digital TV receiver based on the MPEG-2 standard will be explained with reference to FIG. 4.
Referring to FIG. 4, the related art digital TV receiver is provided with a tuner 100 for receiving a digital broadcasting signal, an IF converter 110 for subjecting the digital broadcasting signal received from the tuner 100 to frequency conversion to provide an intermediate frequency signal, a channel decoder 120 for detecting a pilot signal from the IF signal and decoding a lower frequency broadcasting signal, a TP parser 130 for parsing a TP signal from the lower frequency broadcasting signal to detect audio/video signals, audio/video decoders 140 and 150 for decoding the audio/video signals parsed at the TP parser, respectively, an audio signal converter 170 for converting a digital audio signal decoded at the audio decoder, a TV microprocessor 200 for controlling a TV system, a ROM 210 storing channels, programs, and the like, a RAM 220 for storing temporary data following operation of the TV microcomputer 200, an OSD processor 190 for processing OSD text, a switch unit 160 for selective forwarding the digital video signal decoded at the video decoder and the OSD text from the OSD processor 190, and a video signal encoder 180 for converting a video signal from the switch unit 160 into an image signal displayable on a TV or a monitor.
The tuner 100 receives and detects a QPSK(Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) signal or a QAM(Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) signal. The IF converter 110 receives a signal detected at the tuner and converts it into a signal of IF band, because the high frequency signal in a very high frequency band detected at the tuner can not be processed by a driving circuit of the digital TV, directly. The channel decoder, identical to the COFDM receiver block shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, detects a pilot signal from the IF signal, decodes a baseband signal, converts the baseband signal into a digital signal, restores timing appropriate for the symbol rate, thereby correcting errors. The signal from the channel decoder 120 is a signal stream in the form of a transport stream packet in byte units. A transport signal stream as in MPEG-2 is a time-multiplexed signal stream named as a transport stream packet. The transport stream packet has a header at a beginning portion of the packet having a PID(Packet Identifier) number recorded therein. The PID number can be used as information which can demultiplex a time multiplexed signal. And, the PID number denotes a kind of the present packet, and, by analyzing the PID number, the present packet can be known as either a video packet, an audio packet, or program specific information. The video and audio standards in the MPEG-2 are standards on compressed video and audio signal streams. According to the MPEG-2 standards, all video signals, audio signals and program specific information signals are time-multiplexed, and transported as plural transport stream packets which can be identified with PID numbers.
The TP parser 130 parses a signal stream of such a transport stream packet form based on the PID number, and provides the result to respective decoders 140 and 150. That is, the TP parser 130 receives a transport signal stream through the tuner 100 and detects a PID number at a header of the signal stream. Thereby, the TP parser 130 parses a video signal stream, an audio signal stream and program specific information stream according to the PID numbers. Then, the TP parser 130 provides the video signal stream to the video decoder 150, the audio signal stream to the audio decoder 140, and the program specific information signal stream to the microcomputer 200.
The video decoder 150 decodes the video signal stream from the TP parser 130, and provides the result to the NTSC encoder 180. The video signal stream from the TP parser 130 is data compressed according to the MPEG-2 standards. According to this, the video decoder decompresses the compressed video signal stream, to restore an original digital video data. The audio decoder 140 decodes the audio signal stream from the TP parser 130, and provides to an audio digital to analog converter 170. The audio signal stream from the TP parser 130 is a data compressed according to the MPEG-1 standards. Therefore, the audio decoder 140 decompresses the compressed audio signal stream, to restore an original digital audio data. The audio digital to analog converter 170 converts digital audio data from the audio decoder 140 into an analog audio signal an amplifier or a speaker can process. The analog audio signal is presented as voice or sound by stereo speakers(not shown).
The NTSC encoder 180 converts the digital video data from the video decoder 150 into a luminance signal Y and a color difference signal C which can be displayed on a related art TV or a monitor. The luminance signal Y and the color difference signal C can be displayed by a CRT.
The microcomputer 200 controls operation of the digital TV receiver. And, programs and OSD information required for controlling the microcomputer 200 are stored in the ROM(Read Only Memory) 210, and temporary information required for the microcomputer control operation is stored in the RAM 220(Random Access Memory). That is, the microcomputer 200 processes the program specific information signal stream from the TP parser 130 and provides a program specific information data to the OSD processor 190 in response to control signals provided through a user input device 230, such as a remote controller or a key pad. Though OSD information is stored in the ROM 210, when a control signal is provided from the input device, the microcomputer 200 draws out OSD information corresponding to the control signal from the ROM 210 and provides it to the OSD processor 190. The OSD processor 190 converts the OSD information transmitted by the microcomputer 200 into a video signal that the NTSC encoder 180 can process. The switch unit 160 selects the OSD information converted into the video signal at the OSD processor 190 and the video signal converted at the video decoder 150 and provides the selection to the NTSC encoder 180. If no OSD information is provided according to the user input device, the switch unit 160 provides the video signal provided from the video decoder 150 to the NTSC encoder 180. And, if the OSD information is provided according to the user input device, the switch unit 160 provides the OSD information provided from the OSD processor 190 to the NTSC encoder 180.
However, the related art digital TV receiver can not receive an analog broadcasting signal, and the related art analog TV receiver can not receive a digital broadcasting signal. Therefore, if the user intends to watch both the analog broadcasting signal and the digital broadcasting signal, the user must provide two separate TV receivers, which is a substantial burden to the user.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a combined TV receiver which can receive and process an analog broadcasting signal as well as a digital broadcasting signal that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the digital/analog TV receiver includes a controller for determining a channel of user""s selection of being of a digital broadcasting or an analog broadcasting, and generating a station selection data on the channel and a control signal pertinent to the determination, a tuner for receiving the station selection data and tuning to a broadcasting signal pertinent to the channel out of signals received through an antenna, an IF switch unit for selecting a direction of forwarding the broadcasting signal tuned at the tuner in response to the control signal, an analog broadcasting processor for demodulating the broadcasting signal selected at the IF switch unit into an audio signal and a video signal, a digital broadcasting processor for decoding the broadcasting signal selected at the IF switch unit into digital broadcasting information, and an AGC(auto-gain controller) for receiving a gain signal either from the analog broadcasting processor or from the digital broadcasting processor and adjusting a signal gain of the broadcasting signal tuned at the tuner.
It is foreseen that the digital TV broadcasting systems will use channels the present analog broadcasting systems do not use, frequently. Therefore, the digital TV broadcasting signals can be received by an existing analog TV antenna. Moreover, an output frequency band of a digital tuner is also similar to an output frequency band of a tuner of an existing analog TV receiver.
However, a digital TV broadcasting signal has program specific information in addition to video and audio information. The program specific information allows a digital TV receiver to provide more information than an analog TV receiver. The present invention utilizes the very feature of frequency common use between a digital TV receiver and an analog TV receiver and the distinctive feature of the digital TV receiver of having the program specific information, for providing a combined TV receiver which can receive and process both the analog broadcasting signal and the digital broadcasting signal.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

TV receiver for digital/analog combined use


A method for performing thread scheduling in an electronic device having a hardware processor configured for executing an operating system is provided. The operating system includes a thread scheduler and a queue manager. The method includes the following steps. In response to one of a plurality of predefined conditions is met, enable a virtual manager executed by the hardware processor. Receive a request by the thread scheduler for scheduling a thread to be executed. Mask the scheduler by the virtual manager from accessing a first queue including a plurality of first threads in a runnable state. Direct the scheduler to a first virtual queue including a first portion of the plurality of first threads in the first queue for selecting the thread to be executed. The first portion of the first threads associated with at least one application currently running. Schedule execution of the selected thread by the hardware processor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a system for thread scheduling. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and a system for user-centric thread scheduling.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a modern operating system, a run-queue is maintained in which one thread is chosen as the next scheduled candidate for execution. Concerning fairness, each thread is assigned a time-slice which defines how long at most the thread is able to run at its scheduling interval. Priority is set for each thread as well to determine its execution order. The scheduler of the operating system inserts all runnable threads to a run-queue in prioritized order and picks up the thread with the highest priority as the next scheduled candidate to be executed by the processor.
User experience is a very important aspect of consumer electronic devices, such as smart phones, tablet computers and personal computers. However, the computing resources of a consumer electronic device are limited. When the processor of such a consumer electronic device is executing too many processes or threads at the same time, the user often feels obvious lag.

Method and electronic device for thread scheduling


An elongate mercaptan injection apparatus is disclosed. From the remote end, there is an external fitting for connection with a supply line of liquid mercaptan. It communicates serially with an internal check valve captured in a chamber. The check valve includes a spring and ball cooperative with a valve seat. Through the check valve, the liquid mercaptan flows into an elongate hollow tubular member which is sealed externally with a number of fittings to prevent leakage. It extends to the interior of the pipeline through a fitting which seals to the wall of the pipeline. On the interior, it connects with an elongate hollow member packed with particulate material. A number of transverse openings provide cross ventilation so that flowing natural gas is able to pass through the particulate material. The liquid mercaptan is provided to the surfaces of the particulate material to provide an enhanced area which is moistened by the mercaptan liquid, and the flowing natural gas vaporizes the liquid to provide the proper odorization.

The present apparatus is directed to a mercaptan injection mechanism and particularly one which is used with pipeline. Pipelines delivering natural gas primarily carry methane and only a few heavier molecules. Ordinarily, the gathering lines in a natural gas field deliver the flowing natural gas products to separation equipment which removes the heavier molecules such as butane or pentane. The primary constituents therefore delivered into a natural gas pipeline system are methane which is CH.sub.4, perhaps trace amounts of CO.sub.2 and perhaps some N.sub.2. This readily combustible natural gas flow is odorless. Ordinarily, the odorless natural gas is delivered by high pressure, large diameter pipelines extending hundreds of miles to local municipal distribution systems. At the local system, the odorless natural gas is provided with an odorant which is ordinarily in liquid form but which vaporizes in the flowing natural gas. This odorant is thus injected after delivery from a large diameter pipeline into a local distribution system which is then delivered through neighborhoods by small lines ultimately ending up in very small gas lines. Because the possibility of leaks increases with the number of lines and connections, most natural gas leaks occur in such populated areas so it is essential that an odorant be added in the local distribution system.
Distribution of liquid mercaptan into a high pressure line requires that the mercaptan vaporize to be distributed in the flowing natural gas. If the gas velocity is quite high, vaporization is accomplished rather easily. However, there are slack moments such as a warm day in the midst of the winter when the gas flow may actually become quite slow. Then, the liquid mercaptans which are otherwise introduced into the pipeline may form a puddle in the pipeline and not vaporize. Then when the gas flow does increase in velocity, the liquid may vaporize almost excessively for a particular flow rate of natural gas. Inevitably, this creates an irregular odorant mix in the flowing natural gas which creates problems. The odorant may be too mild in fragrance to be noticed in the event of a leak. On the other hand, the puddle may be vaporized rather quickly and create an excessively strong odorant dose, thereby creating undue alarm with just even a modest use of natural gas in an open flame. The fragrance spreads too readily if the concentration of the mercaptan in the natural gas is excessively high.
The present apparatus sets forth a mercaptan injection apparatus which particularly takes advantage of the ability of the mercaptan to vaporize in the flowing natural gas. The present apparatus is particularly able to do this by incorporating a large surface area which is exposed to the liquid mercaptan because the large area is coated in the liquid mercaptan. This enhances the delivery of the mercaptan into the natural gas by making it more easily vaporized. The large surface area boosts the vaporization process so that the mercaptans are vaporized substantially when introduced. This reduces the tendency of the newly added mercaptans to form a puddle and to otherwise retard the vaporization and distribution of the odorant material added to the natural gas.
The present apparatus is an injection mechanism which is adapted to be installed in a middle sized natural gas flow line. For instance, a very large natural gas line may deliver natural gas to a region perhaps 800 miles from the wells where the natural gas is produced. In that region, the number and size of the natural gas subscribers in the local distribution network may require a lateral line of four inches from the large transcontinental pipeline. A lateral line of four inches is typically the location at which mercaptans are then injected. It is not common to introduce the mercaptan into the large pipeline. Rather, the local distribution main is targeted for this purpose. In this instance, the local distribution line of four inches serves as a mounting for the mercaptan injection apparatus of the present disclosure. Primarily, it includes a fitting which connects with a mercaptan supply line delivering liquid mercaptan under pressure, a ball and spring in a closed cavity serially connected with a fitting which functions as a check valve which is responsive to pipeline pressure, seals and fittings connected with an elongate hollow tube, the tube being positioned axially through a threaded plug supporting internal seals for preventing leakage therearound wherein the rod extends into the pipeline. The tube defines an axial passage along the length of it and at its distal portions, the tube is perforated with a number of openings. This defines an internal cavity which is filled with wool such as metal shavings or fibrous plastic shavings. Mercaptan which is delivered through the elongate tube flows through the lower end of it and into contact with the wool particles and provides mercaptan wetting over a greater area. Perforations introduce pipeline gas flow into the cavity supported at the end of the tube. This spreads the liquid mercaptan over a much greater surface area than would otherwise occur by simple drip feeding. This enables distribution of vaporized mercaptan liquid into the flowing natural gas without creating a liquid accumulation in the pipeline .

Mercaptan injection apparatus for use with a pipeline


Controlling an in-flight spin-rate of a spin-stabilized guided projectile is disclosed. In various embodiments, the projectile includes a despun control portion configured for despinning relative to a projectile chassis and for directional control of the projectile. In various embodiments, controlling the in-flight spin-rate includes determining a gyroscopic stability factor for the guided projectile using the in-flight spin rate and a forward velocity of the guided projectile, determining that the gyroscopic stability factor exceeds a stability threshold, and spin-braking the guided projectile, in response to determining that the gyroscopic stability factor exceeds a threshold value, by braking rotation of the despun control portion by which the gyroscopic stability factor of the guided projectile is reduced to a second gyroscopic stability factor.

In various instances, non-boosted barrel-fired projectiles, such as bullets, shells, or other projectiles, are spin-stabilized to improve their accuracy via improved in-flight projectile stability. Generally, these projectiles are fired from a rifled barrel where rifled grooves grip the projectile and force it to spin at a high rate about a central projectile axis as it is pushed down the bore of the barrel by propellant gasses. This process imparts a spin to the projectile as it passes through the bore and, as such, the projectile is stabilized for flight.
In order to be considered stable, a projectile will generally possess gyroscopic stability. Gyroscopic stability generally acts to resist torqueing forces on the projectile to keep the nose of the projectile generally pointed in the forward firing direction during flight. In addition, different projectiles will require different spin rates to perform optimally. For example, among projectiles of the same caliber, longer projectiles will need a higher spin rate to stabilize than compared with shorter projectiles.
Projectile stability can be quantified by a gyroscopic stability factor (SG). Typically, a projectile that is fired with inadequate spin will have an SG less than 1.0 and will tumble in flight. However, if the projectile has a spin rate high enough to achieve an SG of 1.0 or higher, the projectile will fly generally pointed forward with improved accuracy and reduced drag compared to a non-spinning projectile.
Generally, a projectile will need a spin rate that is sufficient high enough to stabilize the projectile based on properties of the projectile, size, forward velocity, shape and other factors. For example, certain long range bullets will be longer and therefore possess special (e.g. higher) twist rate requirements.
Spin stabilized guided projectiles fired from rifled barrels typically have a main body portion and a flight control portion rotatable with respect to the main body. The rifling in the barrel rotates the projectile in a first direction by way of engagement with the main body portion or sabots containing the projectile. Upon firing, the main body portion is spun in a first rotational direction at a spin rate based on rifling and muzzle velocity. In some cases, the spin rate may exceed 10 kHz. The flight control portion of the projectile has aerodynamic surfaces, such as fins, to despin the flight control portion using oncoming airflow after the projectile is fired. The differential in spinning between the flight control portion and the main body portion may provide power for operating systems in the cartridge. In some instances, the spin rate of the flight control portion may be braked to 0 Hz, with respect to earth, by a braking system, and have an aerodynamic surface that may be appropriately positioned, that is, positioned in a desired rotational area, for changing the direction of the projectile.
Further improvements are always welcome for enhancing accuracy, allowing miniaturization, increasing range, providing cost savings and improved reliability of guided ammunition.


An exemplary controller includes an input for receiving information related to a signal of supraventricular origin, control logic to determine a control signal and an output to deliver the control signal to thereby actively filter the signal of supraventricular origin in the His bundle. Other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.

In a normal human heart, the sinus node, located generally near the junction of the superior vena cava and the right atrium, acts as the primary natural pacemaker. For a variety of reasons, cardiac rhythm may be compromised if the sinus node malfunctions or its pacemaker activity is supplanted by other activity. For example, a change in autonomic tone can accelerate (e.g., increase in sympathetic activity or decrease in parasympathetic activity) or decelerate (e.g., increase in parasympathetic activity or decrease in sympathetic activity) the sinus node's pacing rate. Further, the presence of an atrial arrhythmia generally indicates that sinus node pacing has been supplanted or become ineffective. In these examples, consequences for one or both atria are apparent; however, profound consequences can also exist for ventricular activity.
In a normal human heart, the atrio-ventricular conduction system provides for coordination between atrial and ventricular activity; however, as discussed above, if the atrial activity is compromised, then a high likelihood exists that ventricular activity will be compromised. In general, the atrio-ventricular conduction system has few inherent mechanisms to prevent inappropriate atrial activity from affecting ventricular activity. The mechanisms that do exist include secondary pacemaker activity and low pass filtering such as 2:1 atrio-ventricular node block, both of which can be affected by or responsive to autonomic activity. To augment or replace these natural mechanisms various artificial mechanisms have been proposed to maintain proper ventricular activity where inappropriate atrial activity exists. Such artificial mechanisms include ablation of the atrio-ventricular node in conjunction with artificial ventricular pacing. Other artificial mechanisms involve direct stimulation of the atrio-ventricular node or parasympathetic nerves to achieve some degree of reversible atrio-ventricular node block. Overall, such mechanisms should consider the complex physiology of the atrio-ventricular node, which can vary considerably from patient to patient.
To overcome various issues associated with artificial control of the atrio-ventricular, mechanisms described herein focus on the His bundle. The His bundle has sparse autonomic innervation and a narrow tubular histology consisting of Purkinje fibers in longitudinal compartments. Various exemplary mechanisms presented herein account for such features and allow for control of conduction through the His bundle.


Disclosed is a method of treating, fly ash having an unacceptably high concentration of carbon, with ozone produced in situ by corona discharge. This method will allow high carbon-content fly ash to be used with air entrainment agents as an additive to cement. The corona discharge can be produced in the exhaust pipe with a venturi of various combustion systems. The device of this invention can be used in conjunction with a triboelectric carbon-fly ash separation system or in a conventional combustion system. The corona discharge is produced off of sharp-tipped metal devices. A venturi is used in the exhaust pipe in the exhaust pipe in conjunction with the sharp-tipped metal devices.

Large quantities of coal are burned world wide. Typically, coal is ground to a fine powder, conveyed to the boiler and burned to produce steam to power turbines which generate electricity. A by-product of this coal combustion is a fly ash residue. During the combustion process inert clay and shale minerals in the fly ash react with lime to form cementacious materials. This pozzolanic property of fly ash is exploited. That is, fly ash incorporated into cement reacts with free lime during the concrete forming process to produce a cement forming a stronger concrete. Using fly ash as a pozzolan in concrete saves on the amount of cement to be used. There is a caveat however to using fly ash in concrete. The American Society for Testing and Material specifies a carbon content in fly ash of less than 6% as being useable in cement. It would be advantageous to employ fly ash having higher concentrations of carbon as a fly ash additive in cement to make concrete. The herein disclosed invention addresses this problem and offers a solution.
It is known in the art to treat fly ash containing higher levels of carbon with ozone to make the fly ash with a higher level carbon useable in cement. This ozone treatment of fly ash is referred to in the art as pacification. When pacifying fly ash, the prior art has employed an ozone generated by an external source. The elimination of this prior art external ozone generation system is a main goal of the present invention. As described, reacting ozone with high carbon fly ash produced by the combustion of fossil fuels will pacify the carbon and make it possible to use high carbon fly ash as a concrete additive.
The herein disclosed invention recognizes that processes designed to reduce carbon in fly ash are often remiss in not effectively reducing the carbon content to acceptable levels. The herein disclosed invention is designed to remedy the problem of insufficient or inefficient carbon reduction of fly ash. An example of a process in which carbon in fly ash may not be sufficiently reduced is in a triboelectric process for reducing carbon in fly ash.

Fly ash treatment by in situ ozone generation employing a venturi


A branch junction box containing a flexible printed circuit sheet includes circuit terminals and other parts which are easily mounted. A first insulation plate is provided on one of its faces, with a plurality of printed circuit terminals vertically fixed therethrough. On its other face, the first insulation plate carries a flexible printed circuit sheet, the printed circuit of which is electrically connected to the circuit terminals. The surface of the insulating plate facing the circuit terminals may be provided with bus bar wiring patterns and corresponding bus bar terminals. These circuit terminals and bus bar terminals are branch-connected to wiring harnesses in a proper and reliable way through connectors formed in the casing of the box.

A branch junction connector can be based on a bus bar wiring system through which wiring harness terminals are interconnected. To this end, the bus bar wiring is formed by cutting thin bent metallic sheets into narrow strips. Other connecting systems are based on printed circuit boards on which wiring is added in the form of copper layers. Branch junction boxes comprising the aforementioned bus bar wiring system can withstand strong electric currents. However, the cutting and forming of the thin metallic sheets is labor intensive and the approach is not amenable to a speeding up the assembly of the junction box.
On the other hand, in the branch junction box comprising the print circuit, it is relatively easy to form the circuit wiring system and miniaturization is possible. However, the printed wire circuit cannot withstand high currents.
As a way of solving the above-mentioned problem, a branch junction box has been described in JP-A-1 202 109. When configured for connecting terminals, the branch junction box combines a bus bar wiring system with high current capacity connections and a sheet wiring system using a flexible printed circuit (FPC) for weak and moderate currents. In this way, means are provided for accommodating the large currents whilst enabling the dimensions of the box to remain reasonably small.
In branch junction boxes comprising FPC sheet wiring systems, connecting terminals are formed by reinforcing FPC terminals that are integrally formed by the FPC sheet. FIG. 9 shows an example of such a connecting terminal, wherein connector housing 10 on branch junction box 11 is integrally provided with reinforcing wall 12, the latter then being covered with FPC terminal 13.
FIG. 10 shows another example of a connecting terminal in which protruding portion 14 is provided at an internal face of connector housing 10, while FPC terminal 13 is provided with hole 13a for receiving the protruding portion. Thus, FPC terminal 13 is fixed by engagement of protruding portion 14 by hole 13a.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, connecting terminal 15 of a wiring harness is formed by elastically bending a narrow metallic band along part of its length. This terminal 15 is inserted into connector housing 10 and connected to a connecting terminal therein.
However, the FPC sheet in such a known branching junction box 11 is thin and easily bent, so that it is difficult to secure it reliably in branch junction box 11. Moreover, when box 11 is composed of a lower case and an upper case (not shown in figures), the FPC sheet may be nipped between the two when they are assembled, with the risk of cutting off a portion of the sheet wiring.
Moreover, FPC terminal 13, being integral with an FPC sheet, has to be thin and soft. This makes it difficult to work the terminal through and insert it securely into connector housing 10. Further, the electrical connection between FPC terminal 13 on the side of branch junction box 11 and connecting terminal 15 on the side of the wiring harness requires a certain amount of resilience. In such a structure, when branch junction box 11 is deformed by heat, such as is generated within a vehicle, especially at the level of connector housing 10, proper electrical contact may no longer be ensured between FPC terminal 13 and connecting terminal 15.
It is, therefore, an object of the present Invention to solve each of the above-mentioned problems by providing an interconnecting system for wiring harnesses and a branch junction box containing the latter, in which a thin and foldable FPC sheet is easily fixed without being impaired and in which connecting terminals are easily installed, thereby enabling proper electric contact with a wiring harness.


A seal assembly and a rotary machine, such as a steam turbine, containing the seal assembly. A casing circumferentially surrounds a rotor and includes a circumferential channel open to the rotor. Seal segments are circumferentially arrayed in the channel and are movable between radially inward and outward positions. Circumferentially adjacent seal segments have circumferentially opposing surface grooves. A resilient and imperforate member is engaged in the grooves of circumferentially-adjacent seal segments circumferentially urging apart such segments and providing sealing between such segments.

Rotary machines include, without limitation, turbines for steam turbines and compressors and turbines for gas turbines. A steam turbine has a steam path which typically includes, in serial-flow relationship, a steam inlet, a turbine, and a steam outlet. A gas turbine has a gas path which typically includes, in serial-flow relationship, an air intake (or inlet), a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, and a gas outlet (or exhaust nozzle). Gas or steam leakage, either out of the gas or steam path or into the gas or steam path, from an area of higher pressure to an area of lower pressure, is generally undesirable. For example, gas-path leakage in the turbine or compressor area of a gas turbine, between the rotor of the turbine or compressor and the circumferentially surrounding turbine or compressor casing, will lower the efficiency of the gas turbine leading to increased fuel costs. Also, steam-path leakage in the turbine area of a steam turbine, between the rotor of the turbine and the circumferentially surrounding casing, will lower the efficiency of the steam turbine leading to increased fuel costs.
It is known to position variable-clearance labyrinth-seal segments in a circumferential array between the rotor of the turbine and the circumferentially surrounding casing to minimize steam-path leakage. The ends of coil springs engage circumferentially-opposing and generally-matching holes in circumferentially-adjacent seal segments. The coil springs circumferentially urge apart circumferentially-adjacent seal segments. Such circumferentially-urging-apart causes the seal segments to move radially outward within a channel in the casing. This prevents damage to the labyrinth-seal teeth from transient radial movement of the rotor during turbine startup. As the rotor reaches steady-state operating conditions, steam pressure builds up in the turbine, and such pressurized fluid enters the channel and pushes the seal segments radially inward such that the labyrinth-seal teeth are in close proximity to the rotor for more efficient sealing. Designs have been proposed which add brush-seal bristles to a labyrinth seal segment.

Seal assembly and rotary machine containing such seal assembly


A COF package having a tape substrate including external input terminals and external output terminals provided in a chip non-mounting area, input wirings connected to the external input terminals respectively, output wirings connected to the external output terminals respectively, internal input wirings which are provided from the chip non-mounting area to a chip mounting area and provided between the input wirings and which are connected to the external input terminals, respectively, and a dummy wiring provided from the chip non-mounting area to the chip mounting area and provided between the internal input wirings; and a semiconductor chip including input electrodes connected to the input wirings respectively, output electrodes connected to the output wirings respectively, internal input electrodes connected to the internal input wirings respectively, and a dummy electrode provided spaced from each input electrode along one side of the chip surface, and connected to the dummy wiring.

The present invention relates to a COP package and a tape substrate used therein.
A driver mounted in a liquid crystal display is generally mounted in its corresponding display in a state in which a semiconductor element is being sealed onto a substrate made up of a tape. In a recent driver for a display or display unit, the proportion of a D/A converter for converting a digital signal to an analog signal within a semiconductor element is so increasing with multigradation. With the scale-up of the display unit and a reduction in the number of drivers mounted to the display unit, the number of output terminals per driver is exceeding 720. Respective companies or manufacturers involve a problem that since the recent driver needs to form so many wiring areas inside the semiconductor element in order to meet these demands, the area of the semiconductor element increases significantly.
Since a chip area is headed for its reduction contrary to the increase in the number of the output terminals, the interval between adjacent electrodes provided on a chip is becoming very narrow. With its view, there has been an increasingly demand for a COF (Chip On Film) which can be miniaturized than a TCP (Tape Carrier Package).
Disclosed in a patent document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-80167) is a technique wherein with a view toward realizing a size and weight reduction in semiconductor device by paying attention to an increase in wiring in a semiconductor element, particularly, a problem that wirings must be routed or run from an electric circuit of the semiconductor element to bumps when signals are taken out from the electric circuit to the outside, semiconductor element surface bumps provided at the center of the semiconductor element corresponding to the output of the electric circuit, and bumps provided at the outer peripheral portion of the semiconductor element are respectively connected by wiring patterns provided on a substrate.
According to the present technique, since the connections between the semiconductor element circuit and the wiring patterns can be conducted even by connecting wirings, the connecting wirings can be substituted for the wirings routed at the surface or inside, thus resulting in the realization of a size and weight reduction in the semiconductor element.
In the technique disclosed in the patent document 1, however, no consideration was given to the signals inputted to the semiconductor element although the wirings relative to the output of the semiconductor element circuit can be reduced. Under the stereotype that first connecting terminals are formed at a peripheral portion on the semiconductor element in particular, the size reduction in the semiconductor element was insufficient. It also falls short of examining a structure that makes it possible to ensure reliability with a size reduction in chip.

COF package and tape substrate used in same


A microcavity pixel design and structure allowing for tuning the optical cavity length of the microcavity of a microcavity pixel structure. This is achieved by including an intermediate electrode in the device which has an overhang region to form a connecting area to a bottom electrode, alleviating design restrictions in material type and dimensions throughout the optical microcavity tuning process. A method for the fabrication of a multi-colored microcavity pixel array facilitating the use of blanket deposition methods for select layers within a microcavity pixel structure.

Light field displays provide multiple views, allowing a user to receive a separate view in each eye. While current displays in this category provide an interesting viewing experience, a captivating light field display requires a very high pixel density, very low angular separation between views, and a large viewing angle. It is desired that a user experiences smooth transitions between viewing zones, while maintaining an independent and perceivable view from the adjacent views. A fundamental requirement in achieving these viewing parameters is controlling the output characteristics of the emission source. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) bound in a microcavity allow control of the spectral bandwidth and output angle of the resulting light.
Organic light-emitting diodes consist of thin-film layers of organic material coated upon a substrate, generally made of glass, between two electrodes. OLEDs have a characteristic broad spectral width and Lambertian intensity distribution profile. The thin-film layers disposed between the anode and cathode commonly include one or more of an Organic Hole-Injection Layer (HIL), an Organic Hole-Transporting Layer (HTL), an Emissive Layer (EML), an Organic Electron-Transporting Layer (ETL), and an Organic Electron-Injection Layer. Light is generated in an OLED device when electrons and holes that are injected from the cathode and the anode (electrodes), respectively, flow through the ETL and the HTL and recombine in the EML.
One method for controlling the output characteristics of light is through the use of a microcavity. The microcavity is formed between two mirrors. The first mirror can be a metal cathode and the second mirror may be a layered stack of non-absorbing materials. The layered stack of non-absorbing materials is referred to as a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR). A DBR is an optical mirror composed of multiple pairs of two different dielectric layers with different refractive indices in an alternating order. The highest reflectivity is attained when the layer thicknesses are chosen such that the optical path length of each layer is one quarter of the resonance wavelength, commonly referred to as the Bragg Wavelength, λBragg. Two main design variables affecting the output characteristics of a microcavity are the reflectance of the top and bottom surfaces (i.e. opposing mirrors) and the optical path length. The optical path length between the mirrors is a multiple of the wavelength. The wavelength of the light output by such a resonant OLED structure is dependent, in part, upon this optical path length of the microcavity. The optical path length in the cavity can be manipulated in different ways, one of which is by changing the thickness of the layers that make up the microcavity. One challenge for the design of OLEDs which are suitable for light-field displays is how to determine the optimum optical path length of the microcavity to decrease the spectral bandwidth and output angle.
The traditional two electrode microcavity OLED design is such that the materials and thicknesses of all layers within the organic stack must be chosen based on electron-hole balancing requirements, leaving little room for color tuning of the microcavity. As a result, an additional filler layer is often added to adjust the microcavity and for a larger Q factor and a thicker filler layer is required.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,023,013 to Ricks et al. describes an array of light-emitting OLED microcavity pixels. The pixels disclosed use transparent conductive oxides (TCO) such as indium tin oxide (ITO) and indium-doped zinc oxide (IZO) as the filler layer. While the cavity adjustment is possible, the materials choice and thickness for the filler layer are the main constraints. In particular, the filler layer must be conductive because it is also in the pathway of the electrical current that drives the OLED. However, a thicker TCO layer is not preferable because of optical loss due to non-negligible light absorption with the TCO.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,340,480 to Peckham describes a microcavity OLED device that places the filler layer outside of the vertical path of electrical current driving the OLED light by utilizing transparent and/or semi-transparent electrodes adjacent to the filler layer. Compared to U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,023,013, 10,340,480 removes the filler material and thickness constraints as now insulating dielectric materials can be used. However in this design of the multi-color microcavity OLED pixel array different thicknesses are required for R, G, B color. With this design, an additional patterning step for the filler layer after OLED patterning is required onto the sensitive OLED materials.
This background information is provided for the purpose of making known information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

Microcavity pixel array design and method


Techniques perform failure recovery of a storage device. The techniques involve: determining, based on failure data indicating at least one failed disk, whether the at least one failed disk comprises a system disk associated with an extent pool of the storage device, the extent pool being built based on system disks and user disks; in response to determining that the at least one failed disk comprises a system disk, rebuilding the user data of the system disk to one or more further disks associated with the extent pool; and in response to the system disk being replaced with an updated system disk, restoring the rebuilt user data from the one or more further disks to the updated system disk, an association of the system disk with the extent pool being maintained until the system disk is replaced by the updated system disk.

In order to better manage and optimize data storage performance, a storage device usually divides and pools several system disks and user disks into an extent pool. In a conventional failure recovery solution of the storage device, after the user data on the failed system disk is rebuilt on other user disks in the extent pool, the failed system disk does not belong to the extent pool any longer. After a certain period of time, the user uses a new system disk to replace the failed system disk physically.
Since an available storage space of the system disk is usually less than the storage space of the user disk, the user disk for rebuilding the user data in the failed system disk has more free storage space which is not used yet. In addition, the free storage space on the newly-substituted system disk is also not used sufficiently. Hence, the free storage space existing on the user disk for rebuilding data and the newly-substituted system disk cannot be used sufficiently, thereby substantially reducing the I/O performance of the whole storage system.

Method and apparatus for failure recovery of storage device


Provided are an augmented reality optical module, including a first lens, a second lens, a third lens group, a first polarization modulation unit provided on a side of the third lens group and configured to modulate the light emitted by the image source into first circularly polarized light, an angle selection film provided on a first surface of one side of the first lens and configured to reflect light having an incidence angle greater than or equal to a first angle and transmit light having an incidence angle smaller than or equal to a second angle, and a second polarization modulation unit provided on the other side of the first lens and configured to modulate incident circularly polarized light into linearly polarized light.

Augmented Reality (AR) technology is a technology that uses a projection system to generate superimposition of a virtual image and a real-world information to improve users' perception of the real world, and a purpose of such a technology is to interact the virtual world with the real world on the screen. AR technology is widely used in many fields such as military, medicine, construction, education, engineering, film and television, entertainment and the like.
Augmented reality optical modules generally include two transflective lenses and one third lens group, and the transflective lens close to human eyes is generally at an angle of 45° with respect to an optical axis of light emitted by the module. In application, since the transflective lens is obliquely arranged, the ambient light incident under the transflective lens will also irradiate the transflective lens and enters the human eyes after being reflected, during which interference may be generated, negatively affecting user experience.


The present invention relates to a process for cleaning multi-product production plants for polyester polyols with a cleaning polyol. The cleaning polyol can be used as a raw material in the production of further polyols.

A characterizing feature of such multi-product production plants for polyester polyols is that a wide range of polyester polyols are produced in a limited number of reaction vessels, wherein the number of products produced normally exceeds the number of vessels available several times. Because undesired cross-contamination has to be avoided, the sequence, in which different polyester polyols may be produced in the same vessel is subject to certain constraints which may severely restrict allocation of resources. After production, the polyester polyols are transferred into tank trucks, storage vessels or drums via a fixed pipe system. Undesired cross-contamination of the various products must again be avoided at this point.
According to prior practices in such cases, a full cleaning operation has to be performed, by rinsing the vessel(s) and optionally the corresponding pipes with hot aqueous sodium or potassium hydroxide solution. This step is conventionally followed by a neutralization step using dilute acetic acid and a final rinsing process using water. These steps disadvantageously result in a worthless rinsing liquid, which has to be disposed off at considerable cost and has an impact on waste water treatment plants.

Process for cleaning production plants for polyester polyols


A method for creating highly accurate construction and renovation estimates and proposals for a client is described. The computer implemented method includes providing a platform to include all of the items and assemblies required in a construction project that make up the construction proposal, including all labor costs, material costs, and additional costs for taxes and mark ups. The method simplifies a highly complex and usually inaccurate process of having to calculate all of the costs associated with construction and renovation, in particular for residential properties, and allows clients to select desired items and receive a highly accurate, detailed estimate and proposal very quickly. The process further includes the ability to make any changes and upgrades quickly because of the unique system which includes linked dimensions, linked line items, and linked assemblies that allows a selection to affect multiple related elements, and further includes all hidden costs for better accuracy.

Currently, it is a frustrating and unresolved fact that most proposals and estimates for construction, renovation, or repair related projects and services are known for being inaccurate and vague in their overall details. Clients are usually not very sure as to what fixtures or services are being provided for each phase or stage of the construction project. Too often, clients are frequently left wondering whether they are being taken advantage of or whether they are working with a reliable general contractor and/or sub-contractors who is fulfilling the client's expectations or not. A contractor may honestly estimate a price initially and then during the project's course, the client wants to add upgrades or make changes that end up costing thousands of dollars more. The client may feel as if the contactor had not given them a correct or accurate price and may become frustrated with the contractor and entire construction and renovation project.
Several problems exist with the technologies and methods available for providing quotes or proposals for construction related projects and services. Such problems include the fact that accurate quoting and estimating of any construction work takes a long time and involves a great deal of manual calculations and tracking of these manual calculations. Accordingly, such quotes or estimates are prone to a great deal of human error. Further, the quotes or estimates that are provided by the proposal creator (e.g. usually the general contractor) to a client or other intended recipient are static and inflexible, meaning the estimate cannot be easily modified by the consumers or other party to reflect a quick change in real time. Rather, it is a time consuming, back and forth progress to finalize the quote to the satisfaction of the client in order to actually book the construction, renovation, or repair project.
Contractors and sub-contractors may do their best to provide accurate quotes, but the construction quotes and proposals using currently available options involve complex and inadequate technology. Under the conventionally available means for preparing a quote or a proposal, the general contractor (or other party) may manually prepare a quote or estimate by researching and collecting all required dimensions and estimated costs for the amounts of material, labor, and other costs, and then may share the quote or estimate with the client based on these manual calculations. The problem is that such estimates are extremely time consuming for a contractor to prepare because there are so many interconnected elements and values that have to be taken into account, including the markup costs and taxes for each material used and/or labor fee charged. Many errors are possible and may be included in the typical quotes and estimates provided to a client, because these elements are not always calculated correctly by the general contractor. Further, the quote or estimate requires the contractor to be aware that any change in quantity, sizing, or addition of an upgrade to the quote or estimate results in extensive time and effort to make sure all the other sections of the quote or estimate are also adjusted. Many contractors have to hire one or more costly professional estimators who are experienced enough in how to prepare these quotes and estimates for various construction projects, including in particular residential construction projects, in order to deliver somewhat accurate and reliable quotes.
Some technologies exist that attempt to solve the issue of how long it takes to prepare a construction quote by hand and to reduce the number of errors involved. Such previous technologies attempted to use drawings of a property focusing on specific locations where construction or renovation work is to occur. Using such previous technologies, the estimator would create drawings and attempt to include the cost of each item in the drawing. This is an overly complex process and still has the disadvantage that the consumer or laymen cannot modify an estimate based on this technology and see the change in real time. Any change to the quote requires the party who prepared the quote to go back in and spend a great deal of time to make the change.
Other technologies use flat templates with many phases of the construction or renovation project, but none of the phases relate the common dimensions together. Because the items are not related to the dimensions for the locations in a property where the construction, renovation, or repair is to occur, such quotes are very prone to error and miscalculation. Also, this option does not solve the problem of allowing consumers or other laymen to modify the quote or estimate easily and in real time.
Other technologies utilize a wizard or tutorial that asks a series of questions from which a quote or estimate may be produced. One important problem with such wizards or tutorials is that they are unidirectional and rigid, so that if a consumer or contractor or another party wants to edit and change the created estimate, they must go through the entire wizard again. Further, one would have to change the hard wired programming to change the wizard templates, which requires both programming knowledge and estimating knowledge.
Additional issues with existing proposals or quotes are that they do not often break down the projects so that it is clear which vendors are supplying which parts or which sub-contractors may be working on which projects, which would help the general contractor keep track of hours and labor spent and any costs associated with labor or materials for a project. Further, these quotes and proposals do not include the markup costs or profit margins in a clear way to the contractor or the client. Additionally, these quotes and proposals may not include pictures or images of the final result or the type of materials being used for the construction repair project.
Notably, if a client responds that they want to downgrade and remove features included in the quote or if they want to upgrade and include additional recommended fixtures or features to their construction project, the contractor has to go back and perform a re-estimate which will take several more hours, thus delaying the work and costing the contractor more money in labor before the contractor has even secured the bid for the project from the client.
Accordingly, there are still multiple deficiencies with the existing means for quoting clients for any construction repairs. Notably, there remains a great and urgent need for an improved system and method to prepare construction based quotes and proposals that would be reliable and trusted by the client so as to improve the client's experience with construction, renovation, or repair related projects and services. Additionally, it would be beneficial to have a construction management program that allows the contractor to efficiently manage these projects and proposals.

System for construction based proposals and method of use


A method of steering a drill bit while drilling a wellbore can include periodically delivering an impact to the drill bit as the drill bit is rotated by a drill string. The impact may be delivered to the drill bit when an axis of the drill bit is oriented in a desired azimuthal direction relative to an axis of the drill string. Another method of steering a drill bit while drilling a wellbore may include interconnecting a bend in a drill string between an impact tool and the drill bit, and periodically delivering an impact from the impact tool to the drill bit as the drill bit is rotated by the drill string. A directional drilling system can include a drill string having a bend interconnected therein, an impact tool, and a drill bit, the bend being interconnected in the drill string between the drill bit and the impact tool.

The present disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized and operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean well and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides for timed impact drill bit steering.
It is frequently desirable to drill a wellbore in a selected direction, for example, to steer toward a hydrocarbon reservoir, or to steer away from a fault or a water zone (although in some circumstances, such as geothermal and conformance operations, it may be desirable to steer toward a fault or water zone). Therefore, it will be appreciated that improvements are needed in the art of steering a drill bit to thereby drill a wellbore in a desired direction.


Provided herein are dual contrast agents or nanocomposite particles designed to enhance optoacoustic-ultrasonic imaging. The contrast agents or particles have a core designed to enhance response to incident transient ultrasonic pressure waves and at least two layers disposed around the core. The inner first layer is designed to effectively absorb incident transient optical waves, convert absorbed optical energy into heat and demonstrates significant thermal expansion and/or conversion of thermal energy into acoustic pressure. The outer second layer thermally insulates the inner layer from the surrounding aqueous environment and enhances the generation of transient ultrasonic pressure waves during optoacoustic-ultrasonic imaging and sensing. Also provided are methods of enhancing contrast in a tissue optoacoustic-ultrasonic imaging and producing enhanced optoacoustic images by contacting the tissue with the dual contrast agent or nanocomposite particles.

Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the fields of optoacoustic-ultrasonic methods and contrast agents suitable for imaging and sensing purposes, and in particular, but not limited to, nanocomposite particles designed to have properties to maximize contrast during optoacoustic-ultrasonic imaging and sensing procedures.
Description of the Related Art
Optoacoustic imaging, sensing and monitoring are rapidly emerging biomedical technologies with significant potential for a growing number of applications in detection and treatment of cancer and vascular diseases (1). Combining optoacoustic imaging with ultrasonic imaging is technologically natural and beneficial from a biomedical prospective because the two types of imaging provide complementary information to the physician (2). The acoustic contrast of ultrasonic imaging based on density and speed of sound can provide fine morphological details, while optoacoustic imaging has better contrast for blood and can be used to acquire functional information with molecular specificity. That is why optoacoustic molecular and functional imaging combined and coregistered with ultrasonic imaging is thought to have the most merit for health care.
Exogenous contrast agents are administered to the body for purposes of biomedical imaging, sensing and monitoring therapeutic and surgical interventions in situations where a specific volume in the body of medical interest does not have sufficient endogenous contrast. While ultrasonic contrast agents based on encapsulated gas bubbles have been developed and used in clinics, necessarily nontoxic and sufficiently effective optoacoustic contrast agents have not been developed. Ultrasonic contrast agents are relatively successful because biological tissues do not possess strong echogenicity. The problem and the challenge associated with optoacoustic imaging is that optoacoustic contrast agents must effectively compete with the contrast of red blood cells and achieve sufficient contrast enhancement in concentrations substantially lower than the concentration of hemoglobin in blood.
With a large number of proposed designs for optoacoustic contrast agents (3) and recently two different designs for dual modality optoacoustic-ultrasonic contrast agents (4-6), none of them met the challenge of being necessarily nontoxic and sufficiently effective in generation of ultrasonic, i.e., pressure, waves in response to optical illumination. Contrast agents based on nanocomposite particles are more effective compared with molecular probes because the optoacoustic signals they emit or ultrasonic signals they reflect are proportional to their volume.
Thus, there is a present need for dual contrast agents with improved capabilities for contrast enhanced optoacoustic-ultrasonic imaging and sensing in vivo or in vitro. Specifically, the prior art is deficient in non-toxic, nanocomposite particles that both generate and reflect detectable ultrasonic signals upon interaction with optical and ultrasonic energy. The present invention fulfills this longstanding need and desire in the art.

Optoacoustic-ultrasonic contrast agents with enhanced efficiency


Systems and methods for managing data assets in an enterprise computing environment are provided. Data assets associated with a plurality of source systems operating within the enterprise computing environment may be registered with an asset repository hub. The asset repository hub receives a registration request from a source system for a particular data asset and determines whether the data asset is unique within the enterprise computing environment. If the data asset is unique, then the data asset is stored at the asset repository hub and a unique enterprise identifier is associated with the data asset. In determining whether the asset is unique, the asset repository hub may cleanse the data asset against a set of business rules; generate a plurality of match codes that describe the content of the data asset; and cluster the generated match codes against clusters of previously generated match codes. Also provided herein is a mechanism for searching and locating data assets stored within the enterprise computing environment by submitting queries to the asset repository hub.

As modern businesses have become more reliant on information systems to conduct their affairs, it has become typical for such companies to employ distributed enterprise computing environments having many different databases and many different enterprise applications for managing the day-to-day business activities of the company. These varying enterprise applications may include transactional databases, CRM applications, ERP applications, data warehouse and the like, and oftentimes these applications are distributed across local and wide area network connections and may operate on many distinct server systems at numerous geographic locations. Moreover, each of these varying applications may include a separate database of business-related data, much of which may overlap, at least in part, with data maintained in other databases maintained by other enterprise applications.
The kinds of data that these systems manage can vary from customer data, to inventory data, to financial transaction data, etc. In addition, each of these different kinds of data can be made up of any number of unique data assets that have particular attributes specific to a given subject area. For example, a customer is a specific type of data asset. It can be differentiated from a product data asset in that they both have different attributes or rules for use. The former may contain address or other contact information of the customer, while the latter may contain size, weight and quantity information of a particular product.
As noted above, oftentimes the data assets produced and processed by these various and numerous enterprise applications are segregated within each application, server, or sub-network of the enterprise computing environment such that other applications are not aware of the same data assets maintained by a particular application. Unfortunately, in this scenario, two different server systems executing two different enterprise applications may be aware of the same customer, but they may store substantially differing accounts of the attributes or activities of that particular individual. For example, one system may store only the name, address and social security number of a particular customer, whereas the second system may store this same information and may also store information regarding products recently purchased by the customer. In addition to this disparity in the types of data attributes being stored, each system may also store the data attributes in slightly differing formats.
The scenario described above, which is typical in most enterprise-wide computing environments that employ multiple, separate applications and databases, almost guarantees that the overall computing system includes large amounts of non-standard, redundant, and sometimes confusing data regarding the customers, products, etc., that are critical to operating the business. Because of this, it can be very difficult to get an accurate view of the business activities of the enterprise, such as, for example, obtaining a clear and complete picture of particular customer activities of the business.


Optical spectrum filtering devices displaying minimal angle dependence or angle insensitivity are provided. The filter comprises a localized plasmonic nanoresonator assembly having a metal material layer defining at least one nanogroove and a dielectric material disposed adjacent to the metal material layer. The dielectric material is disposed within the nanogroove(s). The localized plasmonic nanoresonator assembly is configured to funnel and absorb a portion of an electromagnetic spectrum in the at least one nanogroove via localized plasmonic resonance to generate a filtered output having a predetermined range of wavelengths that displays angle insensitivity. Thus, flexible, high efficiency angle independent color filters having very small diffraction limits are provided that are particularly suitable for use as pixels for various display devices or for use in anti-counterfeiting and cryptography applications. The structures can also be used for colored print applications and the elements can be rendered as pigment-like particles.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Electromagnetic spectrum filters, such as color filters, are an important component for various display technologies, including flat panel displays, liquid crystal displays, projection displays, eye-wear displays, complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors, light emitting diodes, and the like. For example, transmission-type optical spectrum filters are widely utilized in applications such as liquid crystal display (LCD) panels. Conventional optical filters use pigment dispersions to produce red-green-blue (RGB) colors by absorbing complementary colors. Colored pigments also form the basis for most of the colored prints widely used in the printing industry.
However, such conventional optical pigment-based filters and colored print are manufactured by four separate processes, which not only complicates the manufacturing process and increases cost, but also wastes significant chemical materials in the process. For display and imaging applications, while Fabry-Perot based etalon color filters have been proposed, the conventional Fabry-Perot based filter still presents issues regarding undesirable angle dependence, meaning that the filtered light wavelength exiting the filtering device suffers from a significant shift of wavelength and therefore color shift, depending upon the viewing angle. Such angle dependence is undesirable in various imaging and display applications.
Accordingly, there is a need for a new spectrum filter technology, like a color filter, that can produce optical filters in the visible or near infrared range, for example, with high transmission efficiency and with minimal angle dependence, as well as reduced manufacturing complexity.

Dye and pigment-free structural colors and angle-insensitive spectrum filters

The Regents Of The University Of Michigan


A swab product is provided which includes a swab defined by an elongate stem and a fibrous absorbent covering such as cotton on at least one end of the stem. The fibrous absorbent covering is held together by a film-forming polymer. A treatment agent is provided which includes an active agent in a carrier. Particularly preferred is a highly viscous hydrophobic treatment composition such as petrolatum serving as a carrier for actives such as bacitracin ointment.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns swabs impregnated with physiologically active agents and a related method for topically treating skin, hair and the oral cavity.
2. The Related Art
Swabs having an absorbent covering on the tip and an elongated stem are well known. Cotton is generally used as the absorbent covering material. Stem materials are often of wood, rolled paper or plastic. An adhesive binder may be used to more firmly hold the absorbent covering in place upon the swab. Ordinarily extremely small amounts of binder are used so as not to interfere with the billowy nature of the attached cotton.
Swabs have been used as applicators for a variety of cosmetic and pharmaceutical purposes. Rarely are they pretreated with any sort of agent intended for transfer. It is up to the consumer to dip the swab into a particular agent or cosmetic which they wish to apply to their body. Non-pretreatment of swabs has the advantage of universality and allows choice to the consumer. Unfortunately, universality sacrifices the advantage of convenience. Perhaps even more important is sacrifice of the functional advantage from a swab engineered to solve a particular problem.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,348 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,028, both to Seifert and assigned to the Institute Guilfoyle, disclose an engineered swab-type article intended for delivery of liquid products to the skin. Therein is disclosed a flexible stick-like fluid dispenser mounted with a cotton tip. A frangible seal separates the fluid compartment from the tip. Upon application of force against the seal, a separation wall breaks allowing fluid to permeate the cotton tip. Products related to this technology are sold by the Purdue Frederick Company under the trademark Betadine(copyright) Prep Stick. This product is described as a self-saturating disposable swab applicator for povidone-iodine used as a topical antiseptic. The Betadine(copyright) Prep Stick applicator is marketed as an individual swab sealed within a tear open pouch. Systems of this type are expensive to manufacture, and somewhat messy considering the requirement for the active agent to be delivered in a relatively non-viscous highly fluid carrier. Active agents must also be soluble in that carrier for transfer to the tip.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,215 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,152 to Zygmont disclose a swab whose absorbent covering has been treated for resistance to bacterial contamination. The covering, in particular a cotton wad, is dipped into a padding medium which includes an anti-microbial agent dispersed in a water slurry having up to 20% of a binder. The swab is dried after the padding step resulting in the anti-microbial agent being deposited in dry form onto the cotton wad.
A particular problem in transference of active agents occurs where the transferred composition is a relatively viscous substance. Fibers of the cotton tend to adhere to the viscous composition causing clumps of fibers to transfer with the composition onto the body. Not only is deposition of fibers onto the skin aesthetically and functionally displeasing, but transfer of the composition as a non-messy, accurate application is thereby hindered.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a swab pretreated with an active agent for topical application to the body.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cotton swab pretreated with an active agent forming an applicator system that can cleanly deliver the agent without interference and transfer of any substantial amount of cotton from the applicator tip.
A swab product is provided which includes:
(i) an elongate stem with first and second ends opposite one another, a fibrous absorbent covering surrounding at least one of the first and second ends, the covering being held together by a film-forming polymer; and
(ii) a treatment composition including an active agent, the composition having a viscosity ranging from about 50 cps to about 5,000,000 cps.
In a more particular aspect of the present invention, there is provided a swab product including:
(i) an elongate stem with first and second ends opposite one another, fibrous cellulosic absorbent covering surrounding at least one of the first and second ends, the cotton being held together by a film-forming polymer in an effective amount to prevent the fibrous covering from unfurling during use; and
(ii) a treatment composition including from about 0.0000001 to about 20% by weight of the composition of an active agent and from about 80 to about 99.9% by weight of a composition of a hydrophobic cosmetically acceptable carrier, the composition having a viscosity ranging from about 100,000 cps to about 3,500,000 cps.
Still further, there is provided a method for treating diseased or injured skin by applying through aid of a swab, a treatment composition including an effective amount of an active agent against the disease or injury suspended in a cosmetically acceptable carrier, the composition having a viscosity ranging from about 50 to about 5,000,000 cps, the swab including an elongate stem with first and second ends opposite one another, an absorbent covering such as cotton surrounding at least one of the first and second ends, the covering being held together by a film-forming polymer and whereupon is deposited the treatment composition.


The present invention is directed at systems and methods for detecting flue blockages in an HVAC system without the addition of numerous additional sensor elements, wiring, and connections that can unduly increase the cost and possibly reduce the reliability of the HVAC system. In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, changes in the output of a flame sensor are used to detect when a likely flue blockage exists.

HVAC heating systems typically include a combustion chamber that works cooperatively with a burner. The burner receives fuel from a fuel source, and when ignited, provides the necessary heat to a controlled space. Gases from the combustion chamber typically exit the combustion chamber and the controlled space through a flue.
A problem recognized with some HVAC systems is that if the flue becomes sufficiently blocked or otherwise obstructed, gasses generated in the combustion chamber may fail to exit the chamber and thus the controlled space. Such gasses can back up into a house or building, creating hazardous conditions for occupants. A flue can become blocked for any number of reasons, including nesting animals, fallen sticks/leaves, ice blockages, and/or other objects or materials that may become lodged in the flue. In some cases, the flue may become sufficiently blocked by simply by build up of ash, creosote and/or other combustion waste vented from the chamber.
To help detect such flue blockages, pressure sensors, flow sensors, temperature sensors, and the like, are often provided in the flue to detect insufficient flow of exhaust gases through the flue. However, it has been found that these additional sensor elements, wiring, and connections can unduly increase the cost and possibly reduce the reliability of the HVAC system.

Blocked flue detection methods and systems


A system and method provide for the processing and routing of incoming calls for a call center. The system is specially configured such that incoming calls are prioritized and placed in a virtual queue if it is determined that a live call attendant is not available. While in the queue, the system is further configured such that the caller may initiate and participate in various interactive functions while simultaneously maintaining their priority position in the virtual call queue.

Many organizations today, especially those which provide some sort of customer service, employ various forms of customer call centers in order to put customers in contact with parties affiliated with the organization which can provide assistance. A call center which is in connection with the public switch telephone network (PSTN), typically includes an automatic call distributor (ACD) which is employable to route incoming telephone calls to available live call attendants. In order to serve a maximum number of incoming callers, call centers are typically designed to optimize call handling efficiency and telephone attendant productivity.
Many conventional systems allow call attendants to service a greater number of customers by ascertaining the nature of a customer's request through collection of initial information from the customer, and then transferring the call to a voice response unit (VRU) to address the specific request of the customer. Other systems may reverse this process by connecting the customer initially to a VRU which is configured to automatically provide various interactive menus through which an incoming caller may move in order to access desired prerecorded information. Selections made by the incoming caller within the VRU may also be employed to route the caller to an appropriate call attendant.
When the number of incoming callers to a call center is greater than the number of available call attendants, a number of the incoming calls may be placed in a call queue. Call queuing works well for call center operators in that it minimizes idle time for attendants, provides for simultaneous handling of a greater number of calls, provides intelligent routing of calls to appropriate call attendants, and provides indication to incoming callers that they will be able to speak with a call attendant and not have to continuously try to establish a connection. In most call center configurations, once an incoming caller is positioned within a call queue, the to caller is subjected to recorded messages or music until their call is routed to an available call attendant. During this time, the caller has no ability to perform other functions without losing their place in the call queue.

Method and system for call queueing and customer application interaction

Qwest Communications International, Inc.


A method of modeling a pullup device and a pulldown device with delay back annotation in accordance with the VITAL application specific integrated circuit modeling specification. The modeling method comprises the steps of modeling an entity and creating an identity primitive procedure which delays an input signal by a value specified in a timing generic and also preserves the signal shape. The procedure is then used to perform state pre-mapping of the incoming signal to preserve the identity of selected states (including all states). The delayed and pre-mapped signal forms the input to a VITAL state table to model the behavior of the device. The identity primitive procedure is then used to post-map the resulting signal in order to recover the selected states of the input signal. By altering the state pre- and post-mapping tables, either pullup or pulldown, both with delay back annotation may be modeled using the functions and procedures of the VITAL specification.

VITAL Model of a Pullup Device Without Delay Back Annotation
A pullup device without delay back annotation (FIG. 1) is simply a resistive connection to the bias supply VDD, and is trivially modeled as a connection to a weak `1`, i.e. state `H` in the 9-state logic system defined in the IEEE package STD.sub.-- LOGIC.sub.-- 1164 (FIG. 2).
Conceptually, the pullup device of FIG. 1 can be thought of as supplying or outputting a weak `1`at node O. Hence, the mode of port O in FIG. 2 is `out`.
According to the 1995 version of the IEEE VITAL standard ASIC Modeling Specification 1076.4, (which is incorporated herein by reference) a VITAL Level 1 architecture must contain at least one VITAL process statement or VITAL concurrent procedure call. Since the architecture in FIG. 2 contains neither of these two constructs, it can only be decorated with a VITAL.sub.-- LEVEL0 attribute, which designates a VITAL Level 0 architecture.
Note that the reference to the VITAL.sub.-- Timing package in the second library use statement is required, even though the model does not have delay back annotation. This is because the package contains definitions for the VITAL.sub.-- LEVEL0 and VITAL.sub.-- LEVEL1 attributes.
Rationale for Developing a Pullup Model with Delay Back Annotation
The modeling problem becomes significantly more complex if the model is required to import a delay via a timing generic and apply it to model the transition delay from the high impedance state `Z` to the weak `1` state `H` at port O. In practice, this modeling requirement can arise in a high speed design employing wired logic. Consider, for example, two tristate buffers TBUF1 and TBUF2 whose output ports O1 and O2 are tied together and connected to the port O of a pullup device PULLUP (FIG. 3).
In FIG. 3, the numbers are delay values in nanoseconds. Two numbers separated by a colon specify rise and fall delay values, respectively. For example, in TBUF1, 2.5:2.5 denotes a rise delay of 2.5 ns from port I1 to port O, and a fall delay of 2.5 ns from port I1 to port O.
In FIG. 3, tristate enable ports T1 and T2 are assumed to be active high. (Active high means that the buffer output will be high impedance when the tristate control signal is high.) Referring again to TBUF1, port O will go to the high impedance state `Z` 3.9 ns after port T1 goes to `1`. Port O will go to `0` or `1` 5.2 ns after port T1 goes to `0`. The delay of 9.5 ns shown for PULLUP signifies that port O will go to the `H` state 9.5 ns after it enters the `Z` state, but only if the model for PULLUP allows back annotation of a delay for use in modeling the `Z`-to-`H` transition. The simple model of FIG. 2 doesn't allow this back annotation. Therefore, the delay of 9.5 ns has to be accounted for by adding it to the tristate enable delay of 3.9 ns as shown in FIG. 4.
In FIG. 4, assuming TBUF1 is on (i.e. port T1 is `0`), port I1 is `0`, TBUF2 is off (i.e., port T2 is `1`) and port I2 is `1`, a `0` to `1` transition at port T1 will cause port O to go from `0` to `H` 13.4 ns later, without first going to `Z`. Therefore, for contention free operation, TBUF2 cannot be switched on until (13.4 ns-5.2 ns) i.e. 8.2 ns after TBUF1 has been switched off. For high speed applications, where every nanosecond counts, this long delay of 8.2 ns may not be acceptable. Hence the rationale for developing a pullup model with delay back annotation.

Method for providing a vital model of a pullup/pulldown device with delay back annotation


A system for enhancing an image displayed on a display unit of an aircraft is shown and described. The system includes an enhanced vision system that detects a scene and enhances the scene for display on the display unit. The enhanced vision system includes a sensor having a filter configured to filter out all but at least one narrowband spectrum of light from the scene to detect elements of a first color. The enhanced vision system causes remaining content of the scene to be removed from the filter output for completing the detection of the elements of the first color. The enhanced vision system enhances the elements of the first color on the display unit.

The present invention relates generally to the field of aircraft navigation. The present invention more particularly relates to the fields of aircraft navigation systems and display features.
Some modern aircraft include enhanced vision systems that detect and enhance airfield approach lighting. Conventional enhanced vision systems (EVS) use an infrared sensor to detect the thermal signature of airfield approach lighting for operations in low visibility. Updates at some airports involve a transition to LED-based lighting. The thermal signatures of some LED-based lighting systems are not significant enough for reliable detection by conventional EVS systems or sensors.
What is needed are systems and methods for improving detection of airfields having low thermal signature levels.

Spectrally enhanced vision system for low visibility operations