A chain module with an undulating edge has an upper conveying surface having an opening for receiving a projecting portion of an adjacent chain module. The upper conveying surface has a top edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The leading edge has first and second portions separated by the opening. The trailing edge has first and second portions separated by the projecting portion. A curved portion extends from the top edge of the conveying surface to the leading edge. The leading edge and trailing edge have alternating peaks and valleys such that the peaks on the trailing edge align with the valleys on the leading edge of an adjacent chain module. A pair of opposed first hinge eyes extends from the upper conveying surface on opposite sides of the opening, each hinge eye having a transverse pivot rod opening. A second hinge eye is disposed in the projecting portion and also has a transverse pivot rod opening. The transverse pivot rod opening in the second hinge eye aligns with the transverse pivot rod openings in the first hinge eyes of an adjacent chain module for pivotally connecting adjacent modules to form a conveying chain.

Plastic chains are widely used for the transport of bottles and cans at high speeds. It is also common to have chains running in parallel at different speeds and to transfer the goods (i.e., bottles, cans or the like) from one chain to the parallel running adjacent chain. Some of these chains are designed to be able to move straight as well as to negotiate a curve. The different speeds of the respective chains causes the goods to be accelerated or decelerated when the goods change from one chain to the next. During the changeover, the goods are shifting not only transversely, but also longitudinally over the chain surface. In order to prevent the goods, particularly bottles and the like, from tilting over, it is important for the chains to provide a smooth surface. This requirement becomes particularly important if a chain suitable for negotiating curves is used. An example of a chain for use with a curved track is shown in U.S. Pat. No. RE 38,543. The chain disclosed in this patent has convex front edges matching with the concave rear edge of the adjacent link module. The two mating edges need to have a small gap. When the chain is negotiating a curve, the gap becomes larger at the portion of the chain located on the outside of the curve. This is an important area for moving bottles or the like over these gaps without tilting.
There have been chains provided with finger-like overlapping of link plates as, for example, shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,697,492 and 6,347,699. These chains however have the disadvantage of lengthening the gap line drastically and therefore increasing the unevenness of the surface for transversal movement over the chain surface.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved chain module design that provides a smoother surface to reduce the risk of tilting bottles.


Multi-drop Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Loop (ADSL) modems have at least two sets of digital front end circuitry which allow for simultaneous connections to at least two local loops. A shared DSL modem is operably associated with each of the two sets of digital front end circuitry and transmits and receives data to and from the digital front end circuitry. A digital interface is operably associated with the shared DSL modem and is configured to communicate with an external network.

The present invention relates generally to communications systems and, more particularly, to discrete multi-tone communications systems and digital subscriber line communication systems.
Remote client personal computers (PCs) are typically connected to the Internet over a telephone network of twisted-pair transmission lines via analog modems, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Unfortunately, analog modem speeds are currently limited to 56 thousand bits per second (56 Kbps) because of various constraints of existing telephone networks.
Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) technology is currently being developed to extend bandwidth over twisted-pair transmission lines by an order of magnitude. ADSL is based on a discrete multi-tone (DMT) transmission system. ADSL transmission rates over twisted pair transmission lines can reach as high as 8 million bits per second (8 Mbps) downstream (i.e., towards a client PC) and up to 256 Kbps upstream (towards a server). Data transmission rates for ADSL are substantially higher in the downstream direction than in the upstream direction. The asymmetric nature of ADSL fits well with data delivery requirements of the Internet. More data is typically transmitted downstream to a client PC than upstream from a client PC to a server.
Unfortunately, a significant problem currently plaguing the implementation of ADSL is the bandwidth burden placed on a telephone network by ADSL as illustrated in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, lines 20 correspond to individual analog lines, such as local subscriber loops or lines and plain old telephone system (POTS) connections to a telephone company central office (CO) switch. Lines 22 correspond to T-1 lines (i.e., lines having bandwidth capabilities of 1.544 Mbps and capable of carrying 24 digitized voiceband connections). Lines 24 correspond to T-3 lines-(i.e., lines having bandwidth capabilities of 28 T-1 lines and that are time-division multiplexed).
Although 24 analog POTS connections can be handled by a single T-1 line, 24 ADSL connections utilize almost the entire bandwidth of a T-3 line. This bandwidth constraint is further complicated by the fact that many analog subscriber lines may not terminate at a CO switch. Analog subscriber lines may terminate in remote locations, such as a manhole or utility box in a neighborhood, where a subscriber line is digitized and then routed to a CO switch via a T-1 or T-3 line. Increasing bandwidth for these remote links may be costly and may complicate implementation of ADSL.
In addition, current ADSL implementations typically include a dedicated pair of ADSL modems for each subscriber line. This is in contrast to voice-band modems, where a server only utilizes dedicated modems for each active connection. Requiring a dedicated pair of ADSL modems for each subscriber line may add significantly to the cost of ADSL implementation by telephone service providers.
Various solutions have been proposed to alleviate bandwidth constraints and thereby facilitate implementation of ADSL technology. One solution involves statistical multiplexing at the remote site. Another solution proposes terminating multiple ADSL subscriber lines in a single shared modem at the client side. This may simplify hardware requirements on the telephone network side of each ADSL subscriber line because each subscriber line may share a high-speed transmitter. A single shared modem eliminates the need for separate ADSL modems for respective ADSL subscriber lines.
Unfortunately, a limitation of a single shared ADSL modem is that modems on the other end of subscriber lines connected to the shared modem may need to receive the same signal. Accordingly, the bandwidth of the transmitted signal within each frequency band may need to be reduced to accommodate the subscriber line in the group with the lowest bandwidth within each of these frequency bands. Accordingly, the net bandwidth that can be exploited by a shared modem on the server end may be less than that of a single modem on the worst line.
Various ways of overcoming limitations with shared ADSL modems have been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,612 to Bingham relates to a system for establishing communications between a central unit and a plurality of remote units wherein access requests include an identification of each remote unit. A particular subchannel is allocated to the remote units by the central unit in an ADSL application. Units requiring bandwidth already allocated to other clients may be denied service. U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,725 to Grube et al. relates to establishing a communications system wherein a primary site is coupled to a plurality of secondary sites via low pass transmission paths. However, only a single secondary site may be active at a time. Furthermore, the primary site allocates carrier channels of the inbound and outbound low pass transmission paths.
In view of the above discussion, it is an object of the present invention to facilitate the implementation of ADSL by including statistical multiplexing within an ADSL modem.
It is another object of the present invention to facilitate the implementation of ADSL without requiring a separate ADSL modem at each end of a subscriber loop.
It is another object of the present invention to help lower costs associated with ADSL implementation.
These and other objects of the present invention are provided by a multi-drop Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Loop (ADSL) modem having at least two sets of digital front end circuitry which allow for simultaneous connections to at least two local loops. A shared DSL modem is operably associated with each of the two or more sets of digital front end circuitry and transmits and receives data to and from the digital front end circuitry. A digital interface is operably associated with the shared DSL modem and is configured to communicate with an external network.
By providing multiple analog front ends and shared modem components, the present invention allows for multiple ADSL local loops to be provided by a single modem. The shared components reduces the cost of each connection by reducing the number of components required for the modem. Furthermore, space constraints may be overcome by allowing multiple local loops to connect to a single modem. Accordingly, the total number of modems required and the total space and power consumption needed to support the modems may be reduced by the multi-drop ADSL modem of the present invention.
The digital front end circuitry may include a transmit isolation buffer associated with each local loop. The transmit isolation buffer isolates transmitted communication signals of the local loops from each other and is operably associated with a transmitter portion of the shared DSL modem. The digital front end circuitry may also include a receive isolation buffer associated with each local loop which isolates received communication signals of the local loops from each other and which is operably associated with a receiver of the shared DSL modem.
The digital front end circuitry may also include a receive filter and a sample and hold circuit associated with each receive filter. The receive filter is operably associated with the receive isolation buffer for filtering signals received by the analog front end circuitry. The sample and hold circuit associated with each receive filter receives filtered signals from the corresponding receive filter. An analog to digital converter may be associated with each sample and hold circuit to receive a held signal from the corresponding sample and hold circuit and convert the analog signal to a digital signal.
The shared ADSL modem may include a receiver having a multiplexer and an analog-to-digital converter. The multiplexer receives an output of the receive filter of each local loop and provides one of the outputs of one of the receive filters as a multiplexer output. The analog-to-digital converter receives the multiplexer output and converts the multiplexer output to a digital signal. The receiver may also include a timing equalizer and a memory device. The timing equalizer utilizes local loop specific equalizer information to equalize the digital signal from the analog-to-digital converter and to time-domain equalize the digital signal to provide an equalized digital signal. The memory device is operably associated with the timing equalizer and stores local loop specific equalizer coefficients.
The receiver may further include a serial to parallel converter, a Discrete Fourier Transform circuit, a symbol detector, and a memory device operably associated with the symbol detector. The serial to parallel converter converts the equalized digital signal from a serial signal to a parallel signal so as to provide a parallel digital signal. The Discrete Fourier Transform circuit transforms the parallel digital signal from a time domain signal to a frequency domain signal so as to provide digital frequency coefficients. The symbol detector receives the digital frequency coefficients and detects symbols from the frequency domain coefficients based on local loop specific symbol information to provide client specific symbols. The memory device operably associated with the symbol detector stores local loop specific symbol information.
The receiver may also include a decoder and a memory device operably associated with the decoder. The decoder receives client specific symbols from the symbol detector, descrambles, provides Reed-Solomon decoding and de-interleaves the symbols based on client specific information to provide client specific data. The memory device operably associated with the decoder stores the client specific information.
The ADSL modem may also include a symbol buffer and a packet buffer for each local loop. The symbol buffer receives symbols from the symbol detector and provides symbols to the decoder. The packet buffer receives packets from the decoder.
The ADSL modem may also include a transmitter having an encoder, a memory device operably associated with the encoder, a symbol mapper, and a memory device operably associated with the symbol mapper. The encoder receives client specific symbols for transmission on a local loop and scrambles, provides Reed-Solomon encoding and interleaves the symbols based on client specific information to provide client specific symbol data. The memory device operably associated with the encoder stores the client specific information. The symbol mapper receives client specific symbol data and maps the client specific symbol data to frequency domain symbols based on local loop specific frequency information to provide local loop specific symbol data. The memory device operably associated with the symbol mapper stores local loop specific frequency information.
The transmitter may also include an Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform circuit, a parallel to serial converter, a digital to analog converter, and a transmit filter. The Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform circuit transforms the local loop specific symbol data from frequency domain data to a time domain signal so as to provide parallel digital symbol data. The parallel to serial converter converts the parallel digital symbol data from a parallel signal to a serial signal so as to provide a serial digital signal. The circuit also adds a framing bit and a cyclic prefix. The digital to analog converter converts the serial digital signal to an analog signal. The transmit filter provides a filtered transmit signal to the transmit isolation buffers.
According to another aspect of the present invention, methods and computer program products are provided for allowing multiple simultaneous local loops to connect to a single ADSL modem. Operations include isolating the local loops from one another, storing loop dependent information for each connected local loop, and communicating with each local loop utilizing the loop dependent information.

Shared asymmetric digital subscriber line modem

International Business Machines Corporation


An image-generating system for generating data of an image on the basis of data of a photographic image obtained by capturing an image of an object. The image-generating system includes a color sample to be arranged in the proximity of an object, an illumination unit, an image pick-up unit, a color sample specifying unit and an image processing unit. The illumination unit can illuminate the object and the color sample with light lower in light quantity than ordinary light. The image pick-up unit obtains a photographic image by capturing an image of the object together with the color sample illuminated by the illumination unit. The color sample specifying unit specifies the color sample in the photographic image. The image processing unit converts colors of the object in the photographic image, taking the color sample specified by the color sample specifying unit as a reference.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image-generating method and an image-generating system for generating data of an image on the basis of data of a photographic image obtained by capturing an image of an object.
2. Background Art
For protection of an object such as an old painting by restoration or regeneration, the object of protection has been heretofore manually restored or regenerated while checked by eye observation. Examples of the old painting are a painting on a folding screen, a painting on a scroll, a painting on a fusuma, and a painting on a ceiling.
When the color or shape (painting range) of a portion in a painting needing to be repaired was not clear at the time of restoration, the painting was repaired by analyzing a pigment of the color used in this portion; preparing the same kind of pigment on the basis of the analysis; and painting it. When the contour of a painting pattern was unknown, the painting was repaired as the contour was determined by referring to literature, etc.

Image-generating method and image-generating system


A dynamic neuropsychological assessment tool according to an embodiment utilizes speech recognition, speech synthesis and machine learning to assess whether a patient is at risk for a neurological disorder, such as Alzheimer's disease. The dynamic neuropsychological assessment tool enables self-administration by a patient. The tool performs pre-test validation operations on the test environment, test equipment, and the patient's capability for performing the test at that time. The tool also enables dynamic modification of a questionnaire presented to the patient while the patient completes the questionnaire. Also provides the dynamic modification of which tests to present the patient with. The modification can be rule based or modified by a provider. The dynamic neuropsychological assessment tool enables providers and administrators to modify and improve tests and validate them using machine learning based on previously completed assessments and results.

The prevalence of cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, is increasing as the population ages. Many cognitive disorders evolve in the patient over several years before clinical manifestations occur. Early and accurate detection of cognitive disorders benefits research and clinical practice. Accurate detection may facilitate improvement in drug outcome through the enrollment of appropriate study participants. For example, inaccurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease may contribute to the 99% failure rate among stage III drug trials. Early and accurate detection benefits patients, caretakers and families by facilitating access to appropriate therapeutics.
In the earliest phases of cognitive disorders the clinical standard of care is prone to misdiagnosis. An increasing shortage of neurologists and neuropsychologists is resulting in delayed diagnosis and care.
Physicians and the general public have no easy way to accurately detect and diagnose cognitive disorders. The majority of primary care physicians are not screening patients for cognitive disorders. The financial burden of Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders is staggering and increasing. Early detection is shown to result in substantial cost savings.
Current neuropsychological tests require a test administrator trained in assessment and interpretation, and are currently performed with pen and paper and administered by a test administrator. A test administrator is required for both computerized tests and manually administered pen and paper tests.
Patients must visit a location where a test administrator can administer a test. The location is usually a neurology office. Primary care physicians are usually not equipped to administer neuropsychological testing. This prevents some patients from being tested and delays testing for others.
Current computerized neuropsychological tests require the user to utilize a pointing device and a keyboard for every test. The requirement of a pointing device and keyboard is a barrier to some elderly people, as they may not be computer savvy. The testing performs no readiness validation of the user and/or testing equipment or testing environment. Therefore, the quality of the testing is not always ideal and there is no way to determine whether test conditions are sufficient.
The current administration of neuropsychological tests presents a burden on the physician and the physician's staff, because they have to administer the tests to the patient. This consists of telling the patient the instructions for each test, possibly reading out words/phrases/digits and recording responses, timings, etc. Once the test is completed, the test administrator has to look at tables or use a formula to convert the results they recorded into a normalized score. This also presents a burden to patients in that they have to schedule appointment(s), travel to and wait at a medical facility to take the test, and meet with someone to administer the test.
Although there are chemical precursors and tests that can identify the onset of Alzheimer's disease, such as amyloid precursor precursors, for early testing has shown to provide improved evidence for early detection.
Accordingly, there is a need for a reliable neuropsychological testing system that enables the patient to self-administer the test where and when the patient desires.

Dynamic neuropsychological assessment tool


An intraocular lens system adapted to be implanted within an eye includes an anterior optic movable in a forward direction within the eye. The intraocular lens system further includes at least two anterior haptic arms, each anterior haptic arm having a first end coupled to the anterior optic and a second end adapted to be coupled to the eye. The intraocular lens system further includes a posterior optic movable in the forward direction within the eye and coupled to the anterior haptic arms. The intraocular lens system further includes at least one posterior haptic member adapted to be coupled to the eye and coupled to the posterior optic. The anterior haptic arms are responsive to a first forward movement of the posterior optic by actuating a second forward movement of the anterior optic substantially larger than the first forward movement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to intraocular lens systems, and more particularly to accommodating intraocular lens systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
The ability of the eye to modify its refractive power for viewing objects of varying distances is termed "accommodation." Upon relaxation of the ciliary muscle, the zonular fibers, which connect the capsular bag of the lens to the ciliary muscle, pull on the capsular bag around its equator, causing the entire lens to become less convex (i.e., flatten), so that the lens can focus light from objects at a distance. Similarly, contraction of the ciliary muscle (i.e., reduction of the circumference of the ciliary muscle) results in relaxation of the zonular fibers. Correspondingly, the lens equatorial diameter decreases, the lens central thickness increases, and the lens becomes more spherical with an increased curvature of the anterior and posterior lens surfaces. These changes of the shape of the lens result in accommodation by increasing the dioptric power of the lens so as to focus light from nearer objects onto the retina.
Synthetic intraocular lenses implanted in patients for the treatment of cataracts typically do not have the ability to change shape as do natural lenses. Therefore, such patients experienced a degradation of their ability to accommodate. Efforts to develop intraocular lens systems which provide some degree of accommodation have included single optic intraocular lens systems and dual optic intraocular lens systems.

Accommodating intraocular lens system with enhanced range of motion


A grille shutter for a vehicle includes a frame, an actuator, a grille flap, and a grille shaft. The actuator includes a casing mounted on the frame, an electric motor received in the casing, an output member having a first end, a second end and a stop projection between the first and second ends, and stop members stationary relative to the casing. The stop members cooperate with the stop projection to limit rotation of the output member. The grille shaft is coupled to the output member and rotatably couples the grille flap to the frame.

Grilles are widely used in vehicles to allow air to enter for engine cooling. A vehicle grille is typically located at the front of the engine compartment of the vehicle. Grille shutters are used to control air flow through the grilles. Grille shutters can improve the overall fuel efficiency of a vehicle. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a traditional vehicle grille shutter 10 that includes a frame 12 and a plurality of grille flaps 14 rotatably supported by the frame 12. The grille flaps 14 are linked together by a linkage 16 and driven by a input mechanism 18 to rotate between a fully closed position (as shown in FIG. 1) and a fully open position (as shown in FIG. 2). The input mechanism 18 mates with an output of an actuator. When the grille flaps 14 are in partially or fully open position, openings 20 between adjacent flaps 14 allows air to flow there through to cool the radiator and the engine of the vehicle. When the grille flaps 14 are in the fully closed position, the openings 20 are closed and outside air is blocked by the flaps 14 in order to improve fuel efficiency when the vehicle is in motion or at a temperature below a threshold value.
A pair of stop projections 22 are formed on the frame 12. When the flaps 14 rotate to the fully closed position, as shown in FIG. 1, further rotation of the flaps 14 is stopped by contact between adjacent flaps 14. When the flaps 14 rotate to the fully open position, as shown in FIG. 2, further rotation of the flaps 14 is stopped by contact between the stop projections 22 and at least one of the flaps.
In such a vehicle grille shutter arrangement, the stopping system is external to the actuator and the actuator torque stresses the mechanical parts of the grille shutter, including the stop projections, the flap and the linkage. The stresses could deform or even break the grille flaps. To avoid this problem, the mechanical parts are required to be made of a strong material. However, this makes the grille shutter heavier and less cost efficient. In addition, the external stopping system brings spatial constraints to the mechanical parts outside the actuator.


A liquid crystal display control circuit comprising a counter, inputted with a first signal for controlling a display status of a display unit and a second signal corresponding to an image data to be displayed on the display unit, for counting clocks for the second signal in 1 cycle of the first signal and for outputting the count value, a latch circuit for latching the number of clocks for the second signal included in 1 cycle of the first signal and for outputting the number of CLKs in 1 cycle, a reference count value circuit for generating a reference count value according to the number of CLKs in 1 cycle, and a comparator for generating a driver control signal that changes a current capacity of the driver unit according to the reference count value and the count value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display control circuit, and particularly to a liquid crystal display control circuit for driving a liquid crystal display using a high power mode and a low power mode.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, liquid crystal displays are widely used for portable information equipments such as cell phone and notebook computer. In portable information equipment, reduction in power consumption for longer battery duration is strongly desired. Along with an improvement of processing speed in portable information equipments, high quality display capability is demanded having more display colors and pixels. Display panel such as TFT (Thin Film Transistor) with pixels arranged in matrix are used to satisfy such demand.
In a liquid crystal panel, an image is displayed on a display area by a driver unit of a liquid crystal display control circuit applying a voltage corresponding to a picture signal onto the display area (display unit) including a capacitive load. FIG. 7 is a view showing a liquid crystal panel and its driver unit according to a conventional technique. In order to display a high quality image, voltages for pixels must be switched at high speeds. Accordingly a large current capacity is required for the driver unit in a liquid crystal display control circuit of a liquid crystal panel so as to drive the parasitic capacitance fast. However providing large current capability on a driver unit introduces a problem of increasing a power consumption of the driver unit. To overcome this problem, a technique for lowering a power consumption of the driver unit is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-117742.
A technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-117742 provides large current capacity to a driver unit during a period in which a large charge/discharge current is required at a start of driving, in a case of driving pixels in a liquid crystal display (such condition is hereinafter referred to as high power mode). Contrarily in a period in which voltages for pixels are somewhat stable and a large charge/discharge current is not required, current capacity for the driver unit is reduced (such condition is hereinafter referred to as low power mode). Switching between high power mode and lower power mode is carried out by a driver control signal from outside. This is how a reduction of unnecessary current and thus low power consumption is achieved by appropriately changing the current capacity of the driver unit.
In liquid crystal displays generally, switching of display mode such as the number of display pixels or switching to a partial mode for restricting a display area is performed. If the display mode is changed, a switch timing for switching between high power mode and low power mode in the driver unit may need to be altered as well.
In such a case, a conventional liquid crystal display control circuit stores outside a switch timing for switching between high and low power modes for the driver unit depending on the display mode. An appropriate stored timing needs to be selected to be used depending on the display mode.
However it has been discovered that prepared display modes may not be able to cover all display modes even if a setting for mode change of a driver unit is prepared in advance in accordance with display modes, because the display mode is often changed by a user specification.


A dilator is axially movable to have its tubular member movably extended through the tubular portion of an introducer with the dilator hub abuttable against the tubular portion proximal edge. A locking finger mounted to the introducer tab (or handle) is radially extendable into a hub recess to lockingly retain the dilator and introducer in a coupled relationship to prevent accidental axial separation. The recess is formed by the hub main body and a radially extending flange to open radially outwardly. In one embodiment, the introducer tab is of a flexibility for being manually bent to move the locking finger out of the recess to permit axial separation while in a second embodiment, a flange notch is provided for the locking finger to relatively move axially therethrough when the dilator and introducer are relatively rotated from a position where the locking finger abuts against the flange. In the third embodiment, a slider is axially movable on the tab between a locking finger locked coupling position, a valving position blocking fluid flow through the tubular portion when the dilator and introducer are axially separated, and a valve open position permitting axial separation of the dilator and the introducer; while a fourth embodiment has a slider and an introducer notched flange.

This invention relates to a dilator and an introducer having cooperating parts for releasably locking the dilator and introducer together with the dilator extending into the introducer and axially therethrough.
In the prior art it is known to provide dilator and introducer tubular portions with interference fits in an attempt to prevent the dilator from accidentally separating from the introducer and falling onto a surface whereby the dilator becomes contaminated and has to be thrown away. Further, it is known to provide an introducer with radially outwardly extending, diametric opposite tabs at its proximal end and a dilator having a hub portion that has diametric opposite, axially extending clip legs with leg axial mid-portion joined to the hub, axial inner hook ends for abutting against the axial inner (distal) surfaces of the tabs of the introducer and axial outer portion that when manually squeezed together (toward the hub), move the hook ends apart to permit axial separation of the dilator from the introducer. This results in the dilator hub end portion being somewhat more bulky than desired.
Additionally, problems are encountered when a dilator introducer combination extends within a living body, for example a subclavian vein, and only the dilator is removed. With presently known introducers, in order to prevent either the loss of blood from the human body or air being aspirated into the body, through the introducer, the doctor or another party places their thumb over the introducer proximal end.
In order to overcome problems such as described above and to provide an improved structural arrangement for releasably retaining a dilator and introducer in a coupled relationship, as well as achieving other advantages, this invention has been made.
A mechanical locking member is provided on the tab of an introducer to removably remain in an annular groove, or a radially recessed arcuate portion, of the hub of a dilator to lockingly retain the dilator to the introducer with the tubular member of the dilator extending into the tubular portion of the introducer. In one embodiment, the locking finger is resiliently retained in the groove while in another embodiment, a hub flange is rotatable relative to the introducer locking finger between a position permitting axial separation of the dilator from the introducer and a position blocking the axial separation of the dilator from the introducer. In a third embodiment, a slider is mounted on the introducer tab, the tab in turn mounting the locking finger for movement between a dilator introducer coupling position and a dilator introducer uncoupling position, the slider also serving to substantially eliminate egress flow through the introducer when the dilator has been removed from the introducer.
One of the objects of this invention is to provide a new and novel introducer and dilator combination that is releasably couplingly engageable for retaining the dilator tubular portion extending within the introducer tubular portion. Another object of the invention is to provide new and novel means on an introducer to lockingly couple to a conventional hub of a catheter or dilator to prevent accidental separation. An additional object of this invention is to provide an introducer having new and novel means for selectively blocking fluid flow through the introducer tubular member when the dilator has been axially separated from the introducer.

Dilator - Introducer locking hub and sheath valve apparatus


A voltage change detecting circuit part amplifies an output signal of a differential amplifying circuit so that a slew rate thereof may be larger than that of a control signal output from a first error amplifying circuit to an output transistor, responding to change of an output voltage output from an output terminal quicker than a control signal output from the first error amplifying circuit to a first transistor, and causing a discharging circuit part to carry out discharging operation.

In a constant voltage circuit converting an input voltage into an output voltage having a constant voltage and outputting the same, ordinarily, a voltage obtained from dividing the output voltage is compared with a reference voltage, and feedback control is carried out to an output transistor for outputting the output voltage, in such a manner as to minimize a voltage difference. Therefore, some time delay is required for returning the output voltage to a predetermined voltage value after the change in the output voltage is transmitted to the output transistor. Such a time delay required for the transmission corresponds to a response delay. When the response delay is large, the output voltage may change greatly for a case where, for example, the load electric current transitionally change greatly, and, in the worst case, the output voltage may lower under a guaranteed lowest operation voltage of a circuit connected to the output terminal, and thus, an apparatus using the circuit may have a trouble.
In many cases, such a response delay depends on an input capacitance of a transistor included in the constant voltage circuit, a phase compensating capacitance, and values of electric currents for charging or discharging these capacitances. Especially, an input capacitance of an output transistor used for outputting a large electric current or the phase compensating capacitance for phase compensation may be very large, and thus, it may cause a serious response delay. That is, in order to improve a response speed, the above-mentioned input capacitance should be reduced, or, the value of the electric current for charging or discharging the capacitance should be increased. However, the input capacitance is determined approximately by a size of the output transistor required for outputting a large electric current or a value of the capacitance required for keeping circuit stability. Therefore, actually a method by increasing the electric current value for charging or discharging the input capacitance may be used in common. In order to increase the charging or discharging electric current, a bias current value should be increased. As a result, an electric current consumption in the constant voltage circuit itself increases accordingly.
Recently, in consideration of an environmental problem, energy saving in electric appliances is required. In particular, as to a constant voltage circuit used in a portable device driven by a battery, energy saving in the constant voltage circuit must be achieved in order to elongate a possible continuous operation time of the device. For this purpose, it is preferable to lower, as much as possible, an electric current consumption required for operating a control circuit controlling an output transistor in the constant voltage circuit. Further, various applications are mounted in the portable device, the constant voltage circuit which can output a larger electric current, can operate with a reduced voltage, and can output a low voltage, is required, and thus, the size of the output transistor increases accordingly. As a result, serious degradation in the response speed may occur accordingly. Further, a circuit connected to the constant voltage circuit has a range of a guaranteed operation voltage, which is recently reduced due to miniaturization of the circuit which is recently demanded. As a result, further reduction in output voltage fluctuation of the constant voltage circuit is required.
In order to solve these problems, as a first method in the prior art to improve the output voltage response speed in response to a possible steep change in a load electric current, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2000-47740 for example discloses a configuration in which, when the output voltage lowers, the reduction in the output voltage is transmitted to a non-inverted input end of a comparator via a capacitor, and, when a voltage in the non-inverted input end of the comparator thus lowers, a PMOS transistor controlled by an output signal of the comparator is turned on, and thus the output terminal is charged. Thereby, the reduction in the output voltage is controlled.
As a second method in the prior art, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2005-47740 for example discloses a configuration in which, as shown in FIG. 7, normally an output voltage Vout is made constant by means of carrying out control of operation of an output transistor M101 by a first error amplifier AMPa having a superior linearity. When the output voltage Vout lowers steeply, before the first error amplifier AMPa responds thereto and carries out control of operation of the output transistor M101, a second error amplifier AMPb having superior response is used to carry out control of operation of the output transistor M101 for a predetermined duration, so as to make the output voltage Vout constant. By configuring so, it is possible to improve an output voltage response speed with respect to a possible steep change in an input voltage or a load electric current. As a result, it is possible to provide a constant voltage circuit having both superior linearity and superior response.
In a third method in the prior art, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2006-18774 for example discloses a configuration in which an operation electric current of a voltage amplifying circuit is controlled with a detection of a change in a power source voltage, and thereby, an electric current consumption reduces during normal operation having no change in the power source voltage, while, in a transition response occasion in which the power source voltage changes, response improves with the increased electric current consumption.
However, in the above-mentioned first method, the PMOS transistor charging the output terminal should have sufficient capability for compensating a possible steep change in the load electric current. As a result, the size of the PMOS transistor should be very large. As a result, a capacitance in a gate of the PMOS transistor increases. Accordingly, in order to rapidly turn on the PMOS transistor for achieving rapid response, an electric current consumption in the comparator controlling the PMOS transistor should increase. As a result, the electric current consumption increases accordingly.
In the above-mentioned second method, the second error amplifier AMPb detecting sleep reduction in the output voltage is previously provided with an offset such that the second error amplifier AMPb should not influence the output transistor M101 when no steep reduction in the output voltage occurs. That is, a change in the output value cannot be detected when the change in the voltage is less than the offset voltage of the second error amplifier AMPb. In a common error amplifier, a random offset voltage occurring during a manufacturing process is on the order of ±15 mV. As a result, in consideration of a margin to the random offset, the offset voltage of the second error amplifier AMPb should be set on the order of 20 mV. When the random offset occurring during the manufacturing process is +15 mV for example, it is added to the previously set offset voltage and thus, the total offset amounts to 35 mV.
Further, variations in electric characteristics occur in the manufacturing processes in all devices included in the constant voltage circuit. As a result, the response characteristics may degrade twice accordingly. As a result, even if the second error amplifier AMPb has superior response, the second error amplifier AMPb may not respond until a voltage change in the output voltage amounts to 35 mV×2=70 mV, because of the above-mentioned variations in the manufacturing processes.
For example, assuming a logic circuit manufactured with a fine process not more than 90 nm, as a load of a constant voltage circuit for which high speed response is required, it is expected that the guaranteed operation voltage range may be 1 V±50 mV. In this case, it may be clearly seen that the response characteristics may not be sufficient in the second method. Further, although it is possible to correct the above-mentioned variations occurring in the manufacturing processes by means of trimming, a chip size may increase and also, a test process may increase as a result of a trimming device being disposed. Accordingly, the cost may increase.
In the above-mentioned third method, when the power source voltage lowers due to a steep increase in the load electric current, respective gate voltages of the two NMOS transistors having different threshold voltages are lowered via the capacitor, and the transistor having the large threshold is turned off. As a result, a drain voltage of the transistor increases. Response is improved as a result of an operation electric current being increased in response to the increase in the drain voltage. However, the operation electric current increases after the change level in the power source voltage reaches the voltage difference of the threshold voltage. Accordingly, the problem same as that in the second method may be involved.


In a sound output system including: an information processing apparatus; a first output device; and a second output device, the information processing apparatus generates, based on predetermined information processing, a first sound signal to be outputted to the first output device, and a second sound signal that is a sound signal to be outputted to the second output device and has a content different from that of the first sound signal. When headphones are connected to the second output device, the second sound signal is generated such that at least a part of a first sound which is not outputted as a second sound when no headphones are connected, is contained in the second sound, and the second sound is outputted from the headphones.

To date, sound reproduction devices capable of outputting a predetermined sound from loudspeakers have been known. As such sound reproduction devices, sound reproduction devices to which headphones are connectable, have been also known. In such a device to which headphones are connectable, an acoustic characteristic of a sound to be reproduced is changed according to whether or not the headphones are connected to the device. For example, when no headphones are connected (a sound is outputted from loudspeakers), an acoustic characteristic is adjusted so as to emphasize a bass sound, and when headphones are connected, a sound is outputted to the headphones without performing such an adjustment. In such a manner, an acoustic characteristic is changed according to whether or not headphones are connected.
In the sound reproduction device as described above, although an acoustic characteristic of a sound to be reproduced is changed according to whether or not headphones are connected, a content to be reproduced (for example, music to be reproduced) is not changed. An exemplary case is assumed where a plurality of sound reproduction devices are simultaneously used, and sounds representing different contents are outputted from loudspeakers of the sound reproduction devices, respectively. In such a case, when a user connects headphones to one of the sound reproduction devices, wears the headphones, and listens to a sound through the headphones, the user, who wears the headphones, cannot hear sounds outputted from (the loudspeakers) of the other sound reproduction devices, or merely can faintly hear the sounds even if the user can hear them at all.
Therefore, a feature of the exemplary embodiments is to make available a sound output system, an information processing apparatus, a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having an information processing program stored therein, and a sound output control method each of which allows a user wearing headphones to listen to a sound as intended by a sound creator, even under a situation that, in a case where a sound composed by different sounds outputted from a plurality of sound output devices, respectively, being combined, is intended to be heard, the headphones are connected to one of the sound output devices, and the sound is heard through the headphones. In the description herein, the computer-readable storage medium may include, for example, a magnetic medium such as a flash memory, a ROM, and a RAM, or an optical medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, and a DVD-RAM.
The aforementioned feature can be attained by, for example, the following configurations.
A feature of the exemplary embodiment provides a sound output system that includes an information processing apparatus, a first output device having a first sound output section, and a second output device having a second sound output section. The information processing apparatus includes a sound generation section configured to generate, based on predetermined information processing, a first sound signal to be outputted to the first output device, and a second sound signal that is a sound signal to be outputted to the second output device and has a sound content different from that of the first sound signal. Further, the second output device includes: a headphone connection section configured to connect headphones; a second sound output control section configured to output, from the second sound output section, a second sound based on the second sound signal, and to output, when the headphones are connected to the headphone connection section, the second sound from the headphones; and a connection notification section configured to notify the information processing apparatus whether or not the headphones are connected. The sound generation section generates, when the connection notification section notifies that the headphones are connected to the second output device, the second sound signal such that at least a part of a first sound which is based on the first sound signal and is not outputted as the second sound when no headphones are connected, is contained in the second sound.
According to the feature described above, also when a player wears headphones, the player is allowed to hear a sound (a sound as is outputted when no headphones are connected) as intended by a sound creator.
Furthermore, the sound generation section may generate the first sound signal based on predetermine music data and generates the second sound signal based on predetermined sound effect data, when no headphones are connected to the second output device, and may generate, when the headphones are connected to the second output device, the second sound signal such that at least a part of a sound represented by the predetermined music data is contained in the second sound.
Furthermore, the first output device may further include a first display section, the second output device may further include a second display section, and the information processing apparatus may further include an image generation section configured to generate a first image to be displayed on the first display section, and a second image to be displayed on the second display section.
Furthermore, the second output device may further include an operation data generation section configured to generate operation data based on an operation performed by a player, and the information processing apparatus may further include a game processing section configured to perform a game process based on the operation data.
Furthermore, another feature of the exemplary embodiment provides a sound output system that includes an information processing apparatus, a first output device having a first sound output section, and a second output device having a second sound output section. The information processing apparatus includes a sound generation section configured to generate, based on predetermined information processing, a first sound signal to be outputted to the first output device, and a second sound signal that is a sound signal to be outputted to the second output device and has a sound content different from that of the first sound signal. The second output device includes: a headphone connection section configured to connect headphones; a second sound output control section configured to output, from the second sound output section, a second sound based on the second sound signal when no headphones are connected to the headphone connection section, and to output, when the headphones are connected to the headphone connection section, the second sound only from the headphones; and a connection notification section configured to notify the information processing apparatus whether or not the headphones are connected. The sound generation section generates a sound signal such that at least a part of a first sound which is based on the first sound signal and is not outputted as the second sound when no headphones are connected, is contained in the second sound, and generates a sound signal such that at least a part of the second sound which is not outputted as the first sound when no headphones are connected, is contained in the first sound, when the headphones are connected to the second output device.
According to the feature described above, also when a player is using headphones connected to the second output device, persons other than the player using the headphones are allowed to hear a sound as intended by a sound creator.
A still another feature of the exemplary embodiment provides a sound output system that includes an information processing apparatus, a first output device having a first sound output section, and a second output device having a second sound output section. The information processing apparatus includes a sound generation section configured to generate, based on predetermined information processing, a first sound signal to be outputted to the first sound output section, and a second sound signal that is a sound signal to be outputted to the second sound output section and has a sound content different from that of the first sound signal. The second output device includes: a headphone connection section configured to connect headphones; a second sound output control section configured to output, from the second sound output section, a second sound based on the second sound signal when no headphones are connected to the headphone connection section, and to output, when the headphones are connected to the headphone connection section, the second sound only from the headphones; and a connection notification section configured to notify the information processing apparatus whether or not the headphones are connected. The sound generation section generates, when the headphones are connected to the second output device, a sound signal such that a sound that is not contained in a first sound and a second sound which are outputted when no headphones are connected, is contained in the second sound.
According to the feature described above, a sound that can be heard by a player only when headphones are connected, can be provided. Therefore, for example, when a game process is executed, an entertaining characteristic of the game can be enhanced.
A still another feature of the exemplary embodiment provides an information processing apparatus capable of outputting a sound signal to a first output device having a first sound output section, and to a second output device having: a second sound output section; and a headphone connection section that connects headphones. The information processing apparatus includes: a connection detection section configured to determine, by detection, whether or not the headphones are connected to the second output device; and a sound generation section configured to generate, based on predetermined information processing, a first sound signal to be outputted to the first output device, and a second sound signal that is a sound signal to be outputted to the second output device and has a sound content different from that of the first sound signal. The sound generation section generates, when the headphones are connected to the second output device, the second sound signal such that at least a part of a first sound which is based on the first sound signal and is not outputted from the second sound output section when no headphones are connected, is contained in a second sound based on the second sound signal.
Furthermore, a still another feature of the exemplary embodiment provides an information processing apparatus capable of outputting a sound signal to a first output device having a first sound output section, and to a second output device having: a second sound output section; and a headphone connection section that connects headphones. The information processing apparatus includes: a connection detection section configured to determine, by detection, whether or not the headphones are connected to the second output device; and a sound generation section configured to generate, based on predetermined information processing, a first sound signal to be outputted to the first output device, and a second sound signal that is a sound signal to be outputted to the second output device and has a sound content different from that of the first sound signal. The sound generation section generates a sound signal such that at least a part of a first sound which is based on the first sound signal and is not outputted as a second sound based on the second sound signal when no headphones are connected, is contained in the second sound, and generates a sound signal such that at least a part of the second sound which is not outputted as the first sound when no headphones are connected, is contained in the first sound, when the headphones are connected to the second output device.
Furthermore, a still another feature of the exemplary embodiment provides an information processing apparatus capable of outputting a sound signal to a first output device having a first sound output section, and to a second output device having: a second sound output section; and a headphone connection section that connects headphones. The information processing apparatus includes: a connection detection section configured to determine, by detection, whether or not the headphones are connected to the second output device; and a sound generation section configured to generate, based on predetermined information processing, a first sound signal to be outputted to the first output device, and a second sound signal that is a sound signal to be outputted to the second output device and has a sound content different from that of the first sound signal. The sound generation section generates, when the headphones are connected to the second output device, a sound signal such that a sound that is not contained in a first sound and a second sound which are outputted when no headphone are connected, is contained in the second sound.
According to the exemplary embodiment, when a sound is composed by different sounds outputted from a plurality of sound output devices, respectively, being combined, a player is allowed to hear a sound as intended by a sound creator in both a case where headphones are worn and a case where headphones are not worn.

Sound output system, information processing apparatus, computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having information processing program stored therein, and sound output control method


A high-performance zoom lens having a long back focus and thus ideally suited to electronic imaging equipment. The zoom lens comprises a first lens group G1 having positive refractive power, a second lens group G2 having negative refractive power, a third lens group G3 having negative refractive power, a fourth lens group G4 having positive refractive power, and fifth lens group G5 having positive refractive power. When zooming from the maximum wide-angle state to the maximum telephoto state, the air space between first lens group G1 and second lens group G2 increases, the air space between second lens group G2 and third lens group G3 changes linearly or non-linearly, and the air space between fourth lens group G4 and fifth lens group G5 changes linearly or non-linearly. The zoom lens preferable satisfies at least one of a number of design conditions.

The demand for increased performance of zoom lenses in recent years has resulted a variety of types of zoom lenses. In particular, zoom lenses for electronic image equipment, such as video cameras and digital still cameras, have employed to date so-called Yamaji-type zoom lenses and four-group type zoom lenses having an objectwise to imagewise positive-negative-positive-positive refractive power arrangement. However, these types of zoom lenses are disadvantageous because satisfactory imaging performance at an intermediate focal length state, as well as satisfactory correction of distortion, is not ensured.
With the progress in lens mechanical technology in recent years, zoom lens types having five or more lens groups have been proposed. However, it has proven extremely difficult to simultaneously achieve superior imaging performance, an increased field of view, an increased variable power (i.e., an increased zoom ratio), a compact size, and the like.

c/o Nikon Corporation, Intellectual Property Headquarters, Fuji Bldg.

2-3, Marunouchi 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo


In an inventive stent (10), helical filaments (12, 13) are disposed on a first tubular layer (11). The helical filaments (12, 13) are mutually phase-shifted such that they do not touch and lie in one plane. The helical filaments (12, 13) are completely coated by a second elastic tubular layer (14) which is connected to the first elastic tubular layer (11). Further helical filaments may be disposed on the second elastic tubular layer (14). The inventive stent can be lengthened for introduction into a hollow organ and is self-expanding.

The invention concerns a self-expanding stent for transluminal implantation into a hollow organ. Narrowed hollow organs can be splinted and/or kept open by means of a self-expanding stent.
A stent of this type is disclosed in the document EP 0 901 353 B1.
The known stent permits radial expansion of vessel narrowings as well as splinting or keeping them open. In its tapering and stretched state, the stent is introduced into a hollow organ and radially expanded at the narrowed location of the hollow organ to ensure that the hollow organ assumes its original lumen at this location if possible permanently. For self-expansion, meshworks are conventionally used which can be processed into stents. The meshworks can be lengthened against their load-free initial structure. If lengthening or radial deformation is released, these known stents return into their initial state through radial extension. This effect is used for widening stenoses in hollow organs to prevent their function from being impaired if possible.


A planetary gear set equipped with a pinion shaft and a carrier may include a pinion shaft having a engaging portion that protrudes in a longitudinal direction on an end thereof; a carrier into which the engaging portion of the pinion shaft is inserted; and a fastener engaged to the engaging portion of the pinion shaft, such that a portion of the carrier is fixed to the pinion shaft.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a planetary gear set, and more particularly, to the planetary gear set in which a coupling structure of a pinion shaft and a carrier is improved.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Generally, a planetary gear set includes a carrier assembly connecting a sun gear, a ring gear, and a pinion gear with each other. The carrier assembly further includes a carrier and a pinion-shaft fixed to the carrier.
There are several methods for fixing the pinion shaft to the carrier. A typical method is that holes are made at some portions of the pinion shaft and the carrier, and a pin is inserted into the holes.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a planetary gear set of a related art.
Referring to FIG. 3, a planetary gear set 10 includes pinion shaft 12, pinion gear 16, and carriers 30a and 30b. A bearing 32 is interposed between an interior circumference of the pinion gear 16 and an exterior circumference of the pinion shaft 12, and the pinion gear 16 rotates about a center axis of the pinion shaft 12. Also the carriers 30a and 30b are engaged to distal ends of the pinion shaft 12 respectively, and a spline 28 is formed on an exterior circumference of the carrier 30b.
A first pin hole 22a is formed in the right end portion of the pinion shaft 12, and the carrier 30a is provided at a portion where the first pin hole 22a is formed. As shown, a second pin hole 22b is also formed in the carrier 30a,
A fixing pin 20 is inserted into the first and the second pin holes 22a and 22b together. Thus the pinion shaft 12 and the carrier 30a are engaged with each other.
However, since the fixing pin 20 is forcefully fitted when the fixing pin 20 is inserted to the pin holes 22a and 22b, it is difficult to insert the fixing pin 20 in the pin holes 22a and 22b.
In addition, there is a problem in that residual stress occurs between the fixing pin 20 and the pin holes 22a and 22b. If residual stress is increased, the size of components around the fixing pin 20 or the pin holes 22a and 22b can be changed. Further, it is difficult to draw out the fixing pin 20 from the pin holes so as to disassemble the pinion shaft 12 from the carrier 30a.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Planetary gear set equipped with pinion shaft and carrier


A system and method for detecting a pick-up of an item and determining analytics based on the detected pick-up. The method includes receiving data packets from a plurality of Internet of Things (IoT) tags, wherein each of the IoT tags is attached to a product, extracting a frequency word from each of the plurality of IoT tags, analyzing each of the extracted frequency words to detect a pick-up event associated with each IoT tag, and determining analytics related to an interest in the product based on the detected pick-up events.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the inter-networking of physical devices, vehicles, buildings, and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and network connectivity that enable these objects to collect and exchange data. IoT is expected to offer advanced connectivity of devices, systems, and services that goes beyond Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications and covers a variety of protocols, domains, and applications.
IoT can be encapsulated in a wide variety of devices, such as heart monitoring implants, biochip transponders on farm animals, automobiles with built-in sensors, automation of lighting, Heating and Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, and appliances such as washer/dryers, robotic vacuums, air purifiers, ovens or refrigerators/freezers that use Wi-Fi for remote monitoring. Typically, IoT devices encapsulate wireless sensors or a network of such sensors.
Most IoT devices are wireless devices that collect data and transmit such data to a central controller. There are a few requirements to be met to allow widespread deployment of IoT devices. Such requirements include reliable communication links, low energy consumption, and low maintenance costs.
To this aim, an IoT device and wireless sensors are designed to support low power communication protocols, such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Long Range (LoRa) platform, and the like. To achieve low power consumption, at the physical layer, a wireless BLE-compliant device can be configured as a transmitter or a receiver. That is, a device can implement only a transmitter or a receiver. At the Link Layer, devices are divided into advertisers, scanners, slaves, and masters. An advertiser is a device that transmits packets; a scanner is a device that receives the advertiser's packets. A slave is connected with a master. Typically, advertisers and slaves have the lowest possible memory and processing burden, thus demonstrating low power (energy) consumption.
On the other hand, the scanners and masters perform most of the processing and thus, are equipped with batteries, user interfaces, and possibly even an electricity supply. In an IoT network (i.e., a network of IoT devices), a typical design would be to shift most processing tasks from slaves to masters and from advertisers to scanners. Such a design would reduce the power consumption of the most resource-constrained devices, and the cost of the most resource-intensive devices.
That is, all electronic devices require a power source to operate. Even devices such as low-power Internet of Things (IoT) devices that are designed to support low power communication protocols operate using a battery, (e.g., a coin battery). As an alternative to batteries, power supply may be harvested from other sources, such as light, mechanical movement, and electromagnetic power (e.g., existing radio frequency transmissions). The harvested power is stored in a rechargeable battery.
The current sensing solutions today relies on an ad-hoc sensor (accelerometer, gyroscope, etc.), in addition to a Bluetooth-capable System-on-Chip (SoC) to send via Bluetooth whether an item is being picked-up and infer consideration to purchase a product. The use of an external sensing element, or the encapsulation of an ad-hoc sensor on the SoC adds cost to the overall solution. Also, when using a BLE radio, an external crystal is used today to provide a timing and frequency reference for the Bluetooth Low Energy PHYsical layer (PHY) modulation/demodulation, increasing the total cost of the solution as well as the space required for a final product integration. Additionally, currently the combination of the pick-up sensing and Bluetooth radio requires the use of a battery, which makes it unsuitable for an end product integration because of limited embeddability for several products. The integration of a battery to power the SoC, the external crystal, and the sensor (if external) has also the disadvantage of maintenance, cost of battery replacement, disposition and recycling of depleted battery.
That is, the reliance on a power source such as a battery is a limiting factor for electronic devices due to cost, size, lack of durability to environmental effects, requires frequent replacement, and the like.
Also, in making a sale of an item to the customer, there is usually little feedback on how well a marketing campaign is going, or how well a store is arranged to promote purchase of a product. Often, the information is delayed until all of the sales receipt of a product has been gathered. Even then, it is difficult to keep track of whether the purchase of the product was made as a result of an advertisement campaign involving the use of coupons, or where the product was placed when it was purchased.
In view of the above discussion, there is a need to provide a system that would overcome the deficiencies noted above.

System and method for determining an interest in a product in response to battery-less pick-up sensing information


Methods and devices in a mobile communications system for over the air management of mobile stations contain a secure identification element such as a subscriber identity module. A standard challenge-response authentication procedure is implemented in a mobile communications system not for its intended authentication purpose, but for providing a mobile station with subscription data. The standard challenge-response authentication procedure is modified in that the challenge is used as a carrier for subscription data. The challenge containing the subscription data is provided to the mobile station in response to a request of the mobile station to be allowed access or attachment to the mobile communications system containing a special mode indicator data element, which indicates to the mobile communications system that the mobile station is requesting subscription data and suitably forwarded to a data providing unit configured to provide subscription data.

The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is the world's most popular standard for mobile communications systems. The technical features of GSM are defined by a large number of interrelated and mutually dependent specifications published by the ETSI standardization organization. Generally, for communicating with a mobile station (also referred to as a mobile or cellular phone) via a public land mobile network (PLMN) implemented according to the GSM specifications requires a secure identification element called subscriber identity module (SIM), usually in the form of a smart card. The SIM contains subscription data for authenticating and identifying the subscriber of the PLMN, including in particular the International Mobile Security Identity (IMSI) and the authentication key Ki. This network-specific information is generally stored on the SIM by the PLMN operator or the SIM manufacturer during a SIM personalization process prior to providing the subscriber with his SIM. A nonpersonalized SIM is generally not suited for use in a mobile phone, i.e. the use of the services provided by a PLNM with a nonpersonalized SIM is not possible.
According to the GSM standard the IMSI stored on the SIM is a number with up to 15 digits that allows for an internationally unique identification of the subscriber. The first 3 digits of the IMSI number represent the Mobile Country Code (MCC), the next 2 or 3 digits represent the Mobile Network Code (MNC), and the remaining digits (up to 10) represent the mobile station identification number (MSIN) assigned by the PLMN operator. The IMSI number allows the operator of the PLMN to identify a subscriber and to provide the subscriber with those services he has subscribed to.
The authentication key Ki is a 128-bit data element for authenticating the SIM contained in a mobile phone with respect to the PLMN. The authentication key Ki is paired with a specific IMSI number during the SIM personalization process. For security reasons the authentication key Ki is only stored on the SIM and on a database of the PLMN called authentication center (AUC).
The GSM authentication procedure, described in the following, is an implementation of a general challenge-response authentication procedure, in which one party, i.e. the PLMN, presents a challenge and another party, i.e. the mobile phone, must provide a valid response to be authenticated. When a mobile phone starts up, it retrieves the IMSI number from its SIM. The user of the mobile phone generally has to enter a PIN before the SIM will grant access to the IMSI number. The mobile phone sends the IMSI number via the air interface and the base station subsystem (BSS) to the mobile switching center (MSC) of a PLMN. The MSC forwards the IMSI to the home location register (HLR) and requests authentication triplets. When the HLR receives the IMSI number and the request for authentication triplets, it first checks its database to make sure the IMSI number is valid and belongs to the network. Once it has accomplished this, it forwards the IMSI number and request for authentication triplets to the AUC. The AUC uses the IMSI to look up the authentication key Ki associated with that IMSI. The AUC will also generate a 128-bit random number called RAND, which together with the authentication key Ki is fed into the A3 encryption algorithm. The output of the A3 encryption algorithm is a 32-bit number called Signed Response (SRES).
The RAND number and the authentication key Ki are moreover fed into the A8 encryption algorithm. The output is a 64-bit number called Kc. The Kc is the ciphering key that is used in the A5 encryption algorithm to encipher and decipher the data that is being transmitted over the air interface between the mobile phone and the PLMN.
The RAND number, the SRES, and the ciphering key Kc form an authentication triplet that is unique to the IMSI number used for creating this triplet. Once the AUC has generated such an authentication triplet, it forwards it to the HLR, which, in turn, sends it to the requesting MSC. The MSC stores the ciphering key Kc and the SRES but forwards the RAND number as the challenge of the GSM challenge-response authentication procedure to the mobile station and requests authentication.
The authentication key Ki is securely stored on the SIM of the mobile phone. The A3 and A8 encryption algorithms also reside on the SIM. The RAND number received from the MSC via the air interface and the authentication key Ki are fed into the A3 and A8 encryption algorithms to generate another signed response SRES* and the ciphering key Kc, respectively. The mobile phone stores the ciphering key Kc on the SIM and sends the generated signed response SRES* as the response of the GSM challenge-response authentication procedure back to the mobile network. The MSC receives the signed response SRES* generated by the mobile phone and compares it with the signed response SRES generated by the AUC. If they match, the SIM of the mobile phone is authenticated.
It is known to manage SIMs or devices equipped with such SIMs over-the-air (OTA) using standardized protocols carried over SMS (short message service) or IP (Internet protocol) communication channels using an already established connection in a mobile communications system. WO 2010/093312, for instance, describes a method for OTA activation and management of a SIM using an ODA (On Demand Activation) application. The method described in WO 2010/093312 is adapted to activate and manage a SIM after it has authenticated itself relative to the PLMN according to the above described GSM challenge-response authentication procedure.
One particular field of application of SIMs which is expected to grow rapidly within the next couple of years is M2M, i.e. the communication between machines over a mobile communications network without human intervention, also called the Internet of things. In M2M data is automatically transmitted between many different types of machines equipped with a SIM, such as TV systems, set top boxes, vending machines, vehicles, electronic books, automatic cameras, sensor devices, and the like. It is foreseeable that at least for some of these devices it will not be possible or at least very difficult to provide the SIM beforehand with a complete subscription data set, for instance an IMSI number. This is because in some M2M applications the SIM can be a surface mounted device, which has to be embedded within the respective machine during the manufacturing process thereof without the possibility of providing the SIM with complete subscription data beforehand. Consequently, once in the field, these machines require the provision of subscription data over-the-air.
US 2009/0217038 discloses a method for a wireless device to obtain the IP address of a data server in a wireless network for downloading subscription data. The wireless device derives the data server address from an authentication challenge value send by the wireless network in response to the wireless device's authentication request. According to the method disclosed in US 2009/217038 any subscription data is downloaded from the data server defined by the address derived from the authentication challenge value or has to be present on the wireless device in the first place, such as the secret authentication key Ki.
The problem addressed by the present invention is to provide for methods and devices that allow providing a mobile phone including a secure identification element, such as a SIM, over-the-air with subscription data that allow even a mobile phone having practically no subscription data in the first place to attach to a PLMN.

Methods and devices for OTA management of subscriber identity modules


An apparatus which routes light generated by a light source to a remote destination. The apparatus includes a cylindrical optical element defining a longitudinal axis. The element has an end face which is oblique relative to the longitudinal axis. The end face routes light by refraction or reflection. A support having a support surface is provided for positioning the optical element between the source and the destination so that the longitudinal axis of the element is substantially parallel to the support surface. The support substantially prevents rotational movement of the optical element about an axis extending normal to the support surface while allowing rotational movement of the optical element about its longitudinal axis so that the direction of the light routed by the end face can be selectively and continuously changed as a function of the rotation of the optical element.

Optical systems used in conventional telecommunication systems typically include a light source which supplies light that must be properly directed to a remote destination. Typically, the light source is a laser diode or an optical fiber, and the destination is a light detector or an optical fiber. Proper routing of the light requires that the light source and the remote destination be properly aligned with one another.
Proper alignment of such systems has been conventionally accomplished by repositioning the light source and/or the remote destination. Such repositioning may require re-melting the solder used for bonding the light source and/or the remote destination to an associated supporting structure. Typical lateral positioning tolerances for optical elements such as a laser diode are on the order of approximately 1 .mu.m or less. Due to such small tolerances, the laser diode and an accompanying collimating lens must be carefully bonded to a support structure to ensure that they are properly aligned. If the laser diode is positioned with a lateral control of 2 .mu.m and used with a 1 .mu.m focal length collimating lens, the pointing error can typically be 2 milliradians (vertically and horizontally).
However, even when the pointing error of the light source is controlled, the pointing error of the destination may also need to be controlled. For instance, if the destination is a collimating lens and a single-mode fiber, light from a second light source may be directed backward through the fiber and the collimating lens towards the first light source to ensure proper alignment of this first light source and the destination. If the pointing error of the collimating lens and single-mode fiber is not controlled, the light from this second light source will not reach the first light source. Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus which adjusts for pointing errors both near a light source and a destination so that the light is properly routed from the source to the destination without having to reposition the source and/or the destination.

Rotatable cylindrical elements for optical alignment


The invention relates generally to remote health monitoring systems, as applied to the field of public health surveillance. In particular, it relates to a multi-user remote health monitoring system that is capable of reliably identifying and collecting data from frontline healthcare providers, laboratory and hospital information systems, patients and healthy individuals in a number of ways, with a view to aid in the field of public health. The system can also be used to query and collect additional information regarding specifics pertaining to the health of the individuals, and for patient tracking, monitoring, and the collection of individual data.

Recent events including the ongoing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Epidemic underscore the constant public health threat faced by the United States with regard to new and emerging infectious diseases.
There is a need for a disease surveillance system that reduces time-to-detection monitors preparedness at the local level, and automatically integrates information from range of sources and facilitating investigations and enabling rapid statistical analyses to performed. The surveillance systems should monitor the health of the population in real and on a continuous basis. Many disease agents offer only a brief window between exposure and the onset of symptoms. In addition, many agents, like anthrax, cannot be successfully treated once the condition has become advanced but can be treated if caught early. Thus, window of time during which effective intervention is possible can be very narrow. In to facilitate rapid responses, surveillance systems must be capable of monitoring information on an ongoing basis. In order to intervene successfully to treat existing infections and prevent the onset of new ones, health surveillance systems should provide a continuous, realtime (or as near real-time as possible), and accurate overview of a population's health. Monitoring, and following up individuals who present themselves at healthcare facilities in both the emergency and the routine setting, and monitoring the results of laboratory and radiological investigations, routine hospital census information and autopsy reports of unexplained deaths would help accomplish this in real life.
Information systems that integrate data collected over multiple healthcare facilities and large populations enable dedicated public health analyst(s) at the Health Departments to attach significance to seemingly disparate events, and subsequently recognize the occurrence of a biological event far earlier than if it were done on an individual basis at an individual healthcare facility.
Current infectious disease reporting systems typically wait until the diagnosis of a specific disease before the care provider reports to the public health department. Crucial time is also lost from when a test is reported as positive to its report reaching the physician who ordered it. Many possible bioterrorism agents do not present with specific symptoms in the early stages of the disease and therefore are difficult to identify. This means that care providers have to wait until the disease has progressed to advanced stages before they report to the local health department. Given the contagious nature of many targeted diseases and the potential threat of cross contamination from biological agents, the early identification of biological attacks is imperative. The ability to quarantine or decontaminate exposed populations thereby preventing further dissemination of harmful agents will be greatly facilitated by the use of active surveillance and monitoring.
Last year, there were approximately 100 million emergency room visits in the United States. Therefore, each of the approximately 4,200 emergency rooms received on average of 66 visits per day, with some larger emergency departments at academic medical centers and major trauma centers experiencing greater than 150 visits per day. If the scope of surveillance is expanded to include physicians' offices, walk-in clinics, laboratory and radiological data, and hospital information systems the requirements for the successful collection of information on each patient's symptoms, become particularly challenging.
Many emergency care facilities currently participate in rudimentary active surveillance programs. Such programs typically involve paper-based surveys that are faxed to a central county location for manual tabulation. In addition to their time consuming nature, paper-based surveys greatly reduce the ability to query discrete data elements, limit the ability to change the data elements collected in response to a new event, and are much more open to errors due to manual recording, tabulation and data entry.
For an active surveillance system to succeed, it must have the following characteristics: real time data collection, low burden of data entry and maintenance on healthcare providers, ability to dynamically respond to new information, ability to collect data from a wide range of settings (ERs, clinics, physicians' offices, laboratories, hospital information systems etc.), ability to aggregate data across jurisdictions and regions, ability to collect incrementally more information about high-risk patients, two way communication capabilities to provide immediate feedback and education to front-line healthcare providers. The invention described below enables public health officials do this in an inexpensive and convenient manner. In addition, the system may be used to automate components of standard hospital procedures/protocols, and save precious time to detection in case of the unfortunate occurrence of such an event.


An object of the invention is to obtain cellulose acetate with improved physical properties, particularly film strength arid improved flexibility of the molded product. Cellulose acetate wherein average degree of acetylation is not less than 59%, viscosity average degree of polymerization (DP) is not less than 290, and concentrated solution viscosity (.eta.) according to the falling ball viscosity method for viscosity average degree of polymerization (DP) is expressed by the following formula (1): 2.814.times.ln(DP)-11.753.ltoreq.ln(.eta.).ltoreq.7.28.times.ln(DP)-37.059 (1) and a process for production thereof.

Cellulose acetate, particularly cellulose triacetate, which has excellent physical properties, particularly good processability and high optical properties, has been utilized through many years in the field of plastics, fibers, films (e.g., photographic film, etc.). Further, cellulose acetate has attracted attention from the viewpoint of global environment, because it possesses biodegradability.
In general, cellulose acetate is a semi-synthetic polymer obtained by esterification from cellulose as a starting material using acetic anhydride. Presently commercially available cellulose acetates may be roughly divided into two groups mainly according to degree of acetylation thereof. One is cellulose triacetate (hereinafter referred to as CTA) having degree of acetylation of not less than 59%. The other is cellulose diacetate of wide range. Among them those having degree of acetylation of about 50 to 59% are referred to as cellulose diacetate (CDA). In other words, it is cellulose acetate solubLe in acetone.
As for use of cellulose acetate, in particular, CTA includes, it can be used as various films including base materials for photographic film as well as fibers and medical materials. In general, molded product of cellulose acetate is rigid and brittle. Such properties may become more significant the higher acetylation degree becomes. Physical properties of polymeric materials greatly depend on their crystallizability. That is, those having high crystallizability are imparted with strength while flexibility, for example, elongation is reduced, resulting in brittle product. Of course, CTA is not an exception, and has high crystallizability due to the homogeneity of its structure. That is, in cellulose acetate, higher degree of acetylation results in higher crystallizability. In general, lower molecular weight material becomes a nucleus, forming a crystal. Accordingly, when CTA, CDA are used, a plasticizer is generally added to impart flexibility to the molded product. For example, acetate plastics used for a grip of a screw-driver and the like often utilizes phthalate plasticizer such as diethyl phthalate. Cellulose acetate, particularly, CTA, is used as raw materials for various films due to its excellent transparency, while it has defects, for example, providing rigid and brittle film. To overcome its physical defects, a plasticizer is also used in this case. Addition of a component such as a plasticizer is accompanied not only with poor yield of the final product due to bleedout during molding as well as with economical disadvantage. Thus, cellulose acetate with excellent physical properties as well as characteristics of CTA has been expected.
On the other hand, as increase of the uses of cellulose acetate, speeding up of processing technique is required, and high speed molding, high speed spinning, high speed processing of the molded product have been tried. For example, in the production of film, it is proposed to cast a solution of cellulose acetate at a high speed to mold into film. In order to improve moldability corresponding to such speeding up, it is proposed that average degree of polymerization of cellulose acetate is reduced to lower solution viscosity of cellulose acetate. However, using cellulose acetate with low degree of polymerization, physical strength of the molded product is impaired.
Among cellulose acetates, cellulose triacetate which has been used in various purposes, is crystalline and its solubility in a solvent is reduced as crystallization properties increase. To improve solubility in a solvent and moldability of cellulose triacetate, it is considered to be useful to make amorphous or lower crystallizability by reducing degree of substitution of cellulose triacetate. However, when degree of substitution of cellulose triacetate is reduced, hygroscopicity is increased and dimensional accuracy of the molded product is impaired.
Therefore, it is difficult to improve solubility in a solvent, moisture resistance, moldability and the like by reducing crystallizability of cellulose acetate.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to further improve characteristics of CTA and improve physical properties of the molded product, and to provide a process for production of such cellulose acetate.
An another object of the present invention is to provide cellulose acetate with low crystallizability and excellent moldability.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide cellulose acetate with high solubility in a solvent and moldability, in spite of high average degree of polymerization and high average degree of substitution.

Cellulose acetate excellent in physical strength, and process for production thereof