A medication inventory system may include a medication tray that includes partitions defining compartments. The medication tray has a tray identifier associated therewith, and each compartment is for storing a respective medication having a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated therewith. The system may include an RFID tag reader, and a processor and an associated memory configured to maintain in the memory a desired respective medication within each compartment based upon the tray identifier, and cooperate with the RFID tag reader to determine the respective medication within each compartment based upon the respective RFID tag. The processor and associated memory may also be configured to determine a discrepancy between the determined medication within each compartment and the desired respective medication within each compartment, and when so generate a display notification that includes a visual indicator corresponding to each compartment determined to have the discrepancy.

Medications, including controlled substances, medical devices, and/or medical tools may be relatively important for treatment of a patient. Thus, it may be desirable to maintain medications in a relatively orderly and predictable fashion to reduce the amount of time it takes to access these medications, particularly in a time sensitive situation.
A medication tray is often used to provide a specific selection and quantity of medications for a particular medical use case, physician preference, and/or location. A given health care facility may have multiple variations of medication trays in use, each varying in type, amount, and/or placement of medications within the medication tray. Multiple medication trays may be used within a crash cart, which is a wheeled cart for dispensing of medication (e.g., in an emergency). Consequently, health care facilities may process and manage a relatively large quantity of medication trays used throughout a facility.
Accordingly, the medication trays are typically managed. Contents of the medication trays may be replenished and verified, for example, between uses. The verification may be performed manually and include inspection for recalled, expired, and misplaced medications.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0288952 to Smith et al. is directed to a system and method for tracking medical device inventory. More particularly, Smith et al. discloses trays that include implants and/or instruments, with each tray having a unique alphanumeric identifier (e.g., barcode) for inventory purposes, and each lot having a unique lot number. Each tray has an arrangement of implants or instruments predetermined by the manufacturer.

Medication inventory system including RFID based medication discrepancy determination and related methods


The invention relates to a rivet element, in particular for attachment to components of fiber composite materials, having a rivet section which is formed at least regionally as a spike which tapers in the direction towards a tip and which can be dilated by means of a die button.

For the attachment of fastener elements, such as in particular rivet elements to components of sheet metal or fiber composite materials, one previously assumed that it is necessary to form an opening in the component for the fastener element. For components of fiber composite materials in particular, a procedure of this kind is however associated with considerable disadvantages because discontinuities arise at openings in the material, which considerably weaken the material and indeed at positions where, as a result of the fastener elements, a particularly high material strength is actually required.
The object of the invention is thus to provide a possibility of attaching fastener elements, such as in particular rivet elements, to components in such a way that the components do not have to be weakened in a disadvantageous manner and indeed it should in particular be possible to attach fastener elements to components of fiber composite materials.
This object is satisfied by the invention by a rivet element having a rivet section (11) which tapers in the direction towards a tip which is formed at least regionally as a spike which tapers in the direction towards a tip and which can be dilated by means of a die button (31); by a component assembly comprising a component (51) of fiber composite material and a rivet element having a rivet section (11) which tapers in the direction towards a tip which is formed at least regionally as a spike which tapers in the direction towards a tip and which can be dilated by means of a die button (31); by a die button having a rivet section (11) which tapers in the direction towards a tip which is formed at least regionally as a spike which tapers in the direction towards a tip and which can be dilated by means of a die button (31), the die button having a dilation section (33) for the dilation of the spike of the rivet element, with the dilation section (33) being itself formed at least regionally as a spike which tapers in the direction of a tip; and also by a method for the attachment of a rivet element to a component (51) of the fiber composite material in which a rivet element and a die button (31) are each provided with a section formed as a spike, are pressed into a component (51) with the spike of the rivet element being dilated by means of the spike of the die button (31) for the formation of a rivet connection.


A data transport device for transporting a data stream, the device including: a data stream processing unit for receiving an input data stream including a plurality of data items, performing processing in dependence on the content of the items and forming an output data stream including at least some of the data items; and a data item injection unit including a memory for storing a plurality of injection data items and associated with each injection data item an injection action, and an injection processor arranged to retrieve the injection action for each of the injection data items in turn and in dependence on the retrieved injection action to inject the associated injection data item into the output data stream.

There is an increasing number of applications in which data is transferred between a transmitter and a receiver as a plurality of data streams over a single logical link. The data streams can be segmented at the transmitter into packets, each of which contains some data from the data streams. Usually, but not necessarily, each packet contains data from only one of the data streams. The packets are then transmitted independently over the link. When the packets are received at the receiver they are reassembled so as to re-form the data streams. Advantages of this system over conventional analogue techniques are that there is no need for a dedicated link or channel to be assigned to each of the data streams; that interference in transmission may affect only some of the packets, leaving some data streams unaffected; and that packets may be routed to the receiver over any available physical link and still combined properly to re-form the data streams even if the packets arrive out of order.
Each packet normally includes control data that allows the packet to be reassembled properly by the receiver. This may comprise data indicating the data stream whose data is included in the packet, and a serial number for the packet so that the packet can be combined in the correct order with others from that data stream. The control data can also comprise error-check data such as a checksum for allowing the receiver to verify that the packet has not been corrupted during transmission.
One application for the above technology is in the delivery of digital video signals to households via cable or satellite links. Digital video streams may be packetized and then broadcast to household receivers. A user of a receiver may then select one of the streams for viewing. The receiver can then reassemble that video stream from the received packets, convert it to a form suitable for input to the user's television and then output the resulting signal to the television. It has been proposed that such systems could offer additional features. These features include the storing of received streams for later viewing, and the displaying of program guides (lists of programs with transmission times) which could be assembled by the receiver from certain transmitted packets.
FIG. 1 shows the transport packet stream syntax specified in ITU-T standard H.222.0, equivalent to ISO/IEC standard 13818-1. (Further detail of the structure is available from the standard itself, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference). FIG. 1 is equivalent to annex F.0.1 of the H.222 standard. The transport stream 1 comprises a stream of packets, each of which consists of 188 bytes. Each packet has a variable length header illustrated at 2 and a payload which occupies the remainder of the packet. The header has the following structure:
Number of bitsSignification8Synchronization byte1Transport error indicator1Payload unit start indicator1Transport priority13 Program identification (PID)2Transport scrambling control2Adaptation field control4Continuity counterVariableAdaptation field
The structure of the adaptation field is shown in more detail in FIG. 1.
Data representing video, audio, system information such as program guides and other user data streams can be carried as PES packets, which can be included in the payloads of the transport stream packets. The structure of a PES packet is shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is equivalent to annex F.02 of the H.222 standard. Each PES packet comprises a 24 bit packet start code prefix, an 8 bit stream identification, 16 bits indicating the length of the PES packet, an optional variable length PES header and PES packet data of variable length.
FIG. 3 shows that the PES packets together form part of a program stream, whose structure is shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is equivalent to annex F.0.7 of the H.222 standard.
In addition, section data can be carried in the packets. The section data can include information that is to be interpreted by the decoding unit. For example, section data may include:
1. data that is to be assembled by the receiving unit into a program guide indicating the programs that are to be provided on a channel;
2. data that is to be assembled into code that can be executed by an interpreter (an "o-code interpreter") in the receiving unit; and/or
3. data that is to be assembled into decoding keys to allow the receiving unit to decrypt encoded data transmissions such as pay-per-view video.
The overall structure of an H.222 packet containing section data is summarized in FIG. 4, which shows schematically some important features of the packet. The packet comprises a header 5, an adaptation field 6 and a payload 7. The header includes a payload unit start bit 8 and a program identifier (PID) 9. The payload includes one or more sections 10 and, if the payload unit start bit is set, a pointer field 11 which indicates the offset x to the start of the first new section (the intervening bits of the packet may represent tail data of a preceding section). Each section includes information giving the length of that block, and periodically a section includes CRC (cyclic redundancy check) data for it, in order for the receiver to check that section has been correctly received.
A receiving unit can check that a contiguous group of blocks of data forming a section has been received correctly, by calculating a CRC value for the section once it has been received and comparing the calculated CRC value with the received CRC data or, for example, a preset value. If there is the required match then it is assumed that the data has been received correctly. If there is not the required match then the whole section as received is discarded. Retransmission of the section may then be requested, or the receiver may assume that the incorrectly received section has been lost and continue by receiving the next section. In one such checking method a counter is maintained at the receiver, with an initial value of −1. Every incoming byte is combined in turn with the value in the counter to create a new value. The 4 bytes of CRC data at the end of a section are of the values such that if they and the rest of the section have been correctly received then after those 4 bytes have been combined in turn with the counter the value of the counter will be zero. A final value in the counter that does not match zero indicates that data has been corrupted.
During the processing of a data stream it is often required that data packets be injected into the stream, regularly or irregularly. For example, it may be required to insert program guide or teletext information into a digital video transport stream. Conventionally, the insertion of these packets is performed in-line with the standard processing of the data stream, and it therefore puts additional load on the apparatus that performs that standard processing since that apparatus must periodically interrupt its normal operations and determine which additional packets are to be inserted. Furthermore, relying on the standard processing apparatus to insert the packets does not take advantage of the fact that some data packets may have to be inserted repeatedly, at fixed or different intervals.
There is therefore a need for an improved means of inserting data packets into a data stream.


The present invention provides a method and apparatus for managing the presentation and regulation of E-Commerce, content and service providers access in an interactive television environment comprising interactions between a server, a client, and a service provider. Components are provided for managing and completing a purchase or delivery of an item offered by a service provider. A purchase transaction uses client information comprising partial client information from the client and a list of purchased items. Upon receiving partial information from the client, the server retrieves corresponding additional related information within its database and transmits this retrieved data from the server, along with the list of purchased items to complete the transaction. Business Agents are provided for logging the transaction, creating an electronic receipt, logging patches, logging error events, and viewer logging. The invention further comprises a method for measuring audience behavior and response to particular events or programs and advertisements; and a method for adaptive delivery of advertisements to a client. Advertisements are scheduled according to an agreement and manifested into campaign rules and desired run times. A profile of a viewer that resides on the client device is used as the criteria for selection of a particular advertisement from a broadcast and for polling of audience viewing habits. The present invention further monitors the integrity and connectivity of the interactive television network and service providers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to managing a suite of services in a distributed computer system, and in particular managing an interactive television system suite of services provided to a group of client subscribers.
2. Summary of the Invention
Interactive television systems can be used to provide a wide variety of services to viewers. Interactive television systems are capable of delivering typical video program streams, interactive television applications, text and graphic images, web pages and other types of information. Interactive television systems are also capable of registering viewer actions or responses and can be used for such purposes as marketing, entertainment and education. Users or viewers may interact with the systems by ordering advertised products or services, competing against contestants in a game show, requesting specialized information regarding particular programs, or navigating through pages of information.
Typically, a broadcast service provider or network operator generates an interactive television signal for transmission to a viewer's television. The interactive television signal may include an interactive portion consisting of application code or control information, as well as an audio/video portion consisting of a television program or other informational displays. The broadcast service provider combines the audio/video and interactive portions into a single signal for transmission to a receiver connected to the user's television. The signal is generally compressed prior to transmission and transmitted through typical broadcast channels, such as cable television (CATV) lines or direct satellite transmission systems.
Typically, the interactive functionality of the television is controlled by a set-top box connected to the television. The set-top box receives a broadcast signal transmitted by the broadcast service provider, separates the interactive portion from the audio-video portion and decompresses the respective portions of the signal. The set-top box uses the interactive information, for example, to execute an application while the audio/video information is transmitted to the television. The set-top box may combine the audio/video information with interactive graphics or audio generated by the interactive application prior to transmitting the information to the television. The interactive graphics and audio may present additional information to the viewer or may prompt the viewer for input. The set-top box may provide viewer input or other information to the broadcast service provider via a modem connection or cable.
In accordance with their aggregate nature, interactive television systems provide content from numerous service providers in various different communication protocols that must be understood by the client or viewer who receives the information from the broadcast service provider/network operator. Typically the client is a set top box with a processor possessing limited processing power. There is a need for an architecture that provides a comprehensive management solution for regulation of content, advertising and E-Commerce in an interactive television environment. There is also a need for a comprehensive architecture that provides adaptive control of access, content and scheduling in an interactive television environment. There is also a need for monitoring service provider and the platform connection of and content integrity provided to the interactive television system.

Service platform suite management system


Adjustable tube-cleaning device (10) has a scraper sub-assembly (16) which includes a substantially annular sleeve (32) on a circumferential outer surface (30) of an elastic core (14) which, in turn, is mounted on a central shaft (12). The sleeve (32) contracts toward a pre-formed, non-loaded configuration in which it has a smaller internal diameter than a diameter of the outer surface of the elastic core. The scraper assembly further includes a plurality of scrapping vanes (32) held by the sleeve to the elastic core and extending radially outwardly from the elastic core. Each of the scraping vanes has a scraping edge (54) directed radially away from the elastic core. The elastic core is substantially cylindrical and surrounds the central shaft between anchor (18) and adjustable compression member (26). The scraping vanes in one row of vanes can be placed on an angle relative to a plane perpendicular to an axis of the central shaft.

This invention relates to devices for cleaning insides of tubes or pipes, such as those found in heat exchangers, condensers, and other applications where tubes are susceptible to scale build-up, bio-fouling, or other heat-transfer-inhibiting deterioration.
Heat exchangers for steam turbines have anywhere from 3,500 to 70,000 tubes therein, each being from 20 to 115 feet long. The efficacy of these tubes as heat exchangers, depends to a large extent, on the speed with which heat is transferred through their walls. "Build-up" on interior surfaces of the walls of these tubes detracts from their ability to transfer heat. Thus, tube cleaning devices are used to clean interior surfaces of such tubes, as well as of other tubes and pipes.
U.S. Pat. No. 576,425 to Bilton et al discloses an appliance for scraping interiors of water mains or pipes including a screw-threaded spindle with two cones mounted thereon. Lever-like cutter blades mounted on each of the cones are expanded and contracted by stout rubber washers and regulating nuts mounted on the spindle behind the cutter blades. Thus, a scraping power of the cutter blades is obtained by adjusting each of the regulating nuts, which respectively bear on the rubber washers, for, in turn, bearing on the cutter blades.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,488 to Lyle similarly discloses a tube-cleaning tool having a central shaft and two truncated-cone-shaped cutters with cutter blades, mounted thereon. In this regard, each of the cutters has a hole through a central axis thereof through which the shaft passes so that the cutters can slide along the shaft. Also mounted on the central shaft, one adjacent each respective cutter, are flexible bushings to press against the cutters and exert outward pivoting pressure on the lever-like cutter blades, as in Bilton et al. In Lyle, the cutters can slide along the shaft and press against each other, so that adjustment of cutter blades of both cutters with one adjustment is allowed. The shaft used to secure the cutters and flexible bushings to one another is formed with a twist in order to offset the two cutters with respect to one another. The Lyle device is propelled through an interior of a tube by fluid projected against a separate tail portion on the device. The tail portion is formed with openings that allow some fluid to flush through the tail portion to the cutter blades of the device. The Lyle device can be formed with a flexible shaft to enable it to move through "U" bent tubing.
Other similar lever-blade expandable tube, or pipe, cleaning devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,122,246 to Beam; 1,608,347 to Thompson et al; 1,612,842 to Thompson et al; 2,402,796 to Wood; 2,636,202 to Hinzman; and 4,891,115 to Shishkin et al.
There are several difficulties with these tube cleaning devices. For one thing, it is very difficult and expensive to refurbish scraper blades thereof when they become worn because they attach to and lever from hubs. Also, it is difficult to control, and to make uniform, forces exerted by their scrapers on interior walls of tubes because the pressures their scrapers exert depend upon flexibilities of cutter blades as well as on force applying mechanisms at the hubs, including in some cases the elasticities of rubber washers, or bushings. In this regard, in both Bilton et al and Lyle, as resilient members are compressed, lever cutting blades pivot outwardly from central axis areas, or hubs (cones), thereby causing exaggerated motion of outer scraping areas of the lever cutting blades. This aggregated motion, along with the flexibility of the lever cutter blades, makes it difficult to achieve a predictable final adjusted movement and a predictable scraping pressure.
It is an object of this invention to provide an adjustable tube-cleaner device that can be manufactured and assembled simply and economically, that can be economically refurbished, and that can be reliably and accurately adjusted to produce a predictable scraping pressure with a fine movement adjustment.


A molding fixing assembly for securing a roof molding in a roof groove includes a bracket fixedly secured in the roof groove and a separate clip mounted to the molding. The bracket includes a base and a pair of arms extending substantially perpendicularly from opposed longitudinal side edges of the base. At least one of the arms includes a first retaining member and a second retaining member having a configuration different than the first retaining member. The clip includes a body having a pair of longitudinal sidewalls and a pair of end walls. At least one of the sidewalls has a post projecting therefrom. To connect the clip to the bracket, the sidewalls of the clip are positioned between the pair of arms of the bracket. The first retaining member engages one of the sidewalls of the clip and the second retaining member engages the post.

Vehicles typically include a roof panel and a side body panel that are joined together at the bottom of a flange structure extending along the mating edges of the roof panel and the side body panel. This structure creates a groove or ditch at the juncture between the roof panel and the side panel that extends along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle roof. A roof molding is installed into the roof ditch to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance and also prevent dirt and foreign matter from residing in the ditch. The roof molding can be retained within the ditch by a series of clips. The molding is inserted into the clips, and the clips can then be secured to studs (e.g., T-shaped studs) provided in spaced relation on a bottom wall of the ditch.
When fixing the roof molding to a predetermined position of a vehicle body panel, an insertion hole of the clip is arranged just above the stud. The roof molding is then inserted into the ditch and a head portion of the T-shaped stud is inserted into the insertion hole of the clip. Then, a forward end portion of the roof molding in the longitudinal direction thereof is pushed toward the bottom wall of the ditch and the roof molding is moved in the longitudinal direction while being pushed. In this way, the head portion of the stud is inserted into the insertion hole of the clip thereby fixing the roof molding within the roof ditch. With this arrangement, both the clip fixed to the lower surface side of the roof molding and the stud fixed on the bottom wall of the ditch cannot be completely viewed by a worker because they are generally hidden by the roof molding (or positioned at a blind spot). Accordingly, the fixing of the roof molding requires much skill and attention. Further, the use of the T-shaped studs can create problems with the attachment of the roof molding within the ditch. For example, there can be a height and/or angle variation between adjacent studs. This can reduce worker efficiency with respect to installation of the roof molding.

Retaining clip and bracket for roof molding


A component comprising a silicon-based substrate and a braze-based protective coating disposed on the silicon-based substrate. The braze-based coating comprises a brazed layer, wherein the brazed layer comprises at least one intermetallic compound. A scale layer may be formed on the brazed layer. An environmental barrier coating may be disposed directly on the brazed layer or directly on the scale layer. A thermal barrier coating may be disposed on the environmental barrier coating. Methods for making a Si-based component having a braze-based protective coating are also disclosed.

The present invention generally relates to a braze-based protective coating for a Si-based substrate. The present invention also relates to components having a braze-based protective coating, and to methods of making such components.
Hot section components, such as blades, bladed disks (blisks), nozzles, turbine shrouds, and combustors, made from silicon-based materials, such as silicon nitride (Si3N4), silicon carbide (SiC), and their composites, have the potential to increase the operating temperatures of gas turbine engines, as compared with Ni-based superalloys. However, in the gas turbine environment, such silicon-based materials are prone to excessive oxidation to form a silica layer, and the subsequent rapid loss of the silica layer. The silica layer reacts with water vapor in the combustion gas environment to form a volatile Si(OH)4 species. The combination of excessive oxidation of silicon-based components and continual thinning of the resulting silica layer by Si(OH)4 evaporation leads to recession of the components, reduced load-bearing capability, and shortened lifetime.
Attempts have been made to inhibit oxidation of silicon-based components by applying an environmental barrier coating to prevent direct exposure of the silica layer or substrate to oxygen and water vapor in the gas turbine engine environment. However, reaction of the silica layer with constituents of the environmental barrier coating (EBC) at the substrate-EBC interface degrades the protective property of the silica layer. Similarly, the silica layer may be degraded by reaction with constituents of the substrate with which it may be in contact. Further, silica layers of the prior art which are in direct contact with Si-based substrates continue to grow in thickness until through-thickness cracks develop, this may lead to spallation of an entire environmental barrier coating.
Prior art processes for coating silicon-based substrates, such as plasma spray and electron beam-physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD), are expensive. Further, such line-of-sight coating processes are not suited to depositing a uniform coating on substrates of complex geometry, such as multi-airfoil components (e.g., integral nozzles and integral turbine wheels, or blades).
Thus, there is a need for a high temperature (>2200° F.) oxidation barrier for Si-based gas turbine engine components. There is an additional need for a protective coating for a Si-based substrate, wherein the protective coating includes an oxidation barrier disposed on the Si-based substrate, and an environmental barrier coating disposed on the oxidation barrier. There is also a need for a low cost process for forming a dense, uniform layer of the oxidation barrier on a Si-based component of complex geometry, such as an integral nozzle or an integral turbine bladed disk (blisk).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Braze-based protective coating for silicon nitride


An anti-terrorist and crime fighting system, method and apparatus, of isolating terrorists and criminals by providing a predetermined audio-visual stimulus into controlled public or private environments in order to elicit specific human responses, reactions and judgment changes in terrorists or other criminals. This stimuli is further utilized to create multiple stimuli points in the controlled environment by the dissemination of real-time intelligence being shown to the general public. This action creates further observable judgment changes in the terrorists and criminals as the general public become more aware of their environment and the people in it. The suspicious reactions are monitored by the general public as well as by onsite and behind the scenes security personnel via a real time camera system. The audio visual stimulus is provided by the nation's most active intelligence agencies in real time, which further stimulates terrorists or criminals into manifesting suspicious or guarded-judgment or physical action-changes, due to the uncertainty of what new information may be displayed next. This also serves as a continued interest point for the general public because of it's ever-changing nature of the information. Provided in the system is a method of making “one touch” e-911 call or terrorist hotline call via a specially designed emergency communication device. The system enables highly populated areas to be stimulated strategically in order isolate terrorists amongst the general public in high risk public places such as, airports, borders, public buildings, courthouses, hotels, sports events and other such high risk targets to potential terrorists. The system can also be utilized to quickly disseminate Amber Alerts across the nation.

While airline hijackings have occurred on several occasions in the past, it was not until the events of Sep. 11, 2001 that the potential use of such aircraft for mass destruction was seen by most people. While boarding checks and other security measures have been in place for many years, the events of September 11 have driven home the point that it is possible for potential terrorists to get past normal security measures and get on board planes or past security check points into public places with could potentially become targets of terrorists. The present invention provides a variety of advantages over earlier systems of by a new combination of technologies to bring about a much more effective system of achieving Homeland Security than has been seen before been available to Law enforcement and the nations public.

Anti terrorist and homeland security public safety warning system


A novel retractable thruster unit for a marine vessel using a tunnel thruster includes a nozzle having an end, the end being provided with two closing plates, a top closing plate, and a bottom closing plate. The closing plates are arranged 180 degrees apart on opposite sides of the axis of the propeller and extend substantially axially from the end of the nozzle.

Marine vessels use various propulsion systems or units. The main propulsion unit or units is/are normally arranged in the aft part of the ship. The main propulsion unit may be either a fixed propeller arrangement creating a thrust force in the longitudinal direction of the marine vessel, or it may be a pod or a thruster, i.e. a propeller arrangement that may be rotated round a vertical axis.
The marine vessels have also other propulsion arrangements that are mainly used when manoeuvring a ship in a port, for instance. One type of such propulsion arrangements is a tunnel thruster, which may be used both at the bow and at the stern of a ship. The tunnel thruster is arranged in a horizontal tunnel running transverse to the longitudinal direction of the marine vessel through the hull of the marine vessel for assisting in moving the entire ship or one end of the ship sideways for instance for docking purposes.
The tunnel thrusters have been developed further by making such retractable i.e. the thruster unit may be kept within the hull but it may also be lowered below the hull i.e. below the baseline of the marine vessel. When the thrusters unit is in lowered position it may be rotated round a vertical axis, and it may thus be used to generate thrust in any desired direction for steering purposes.
As an example of a prior art retractable thruster U.S. Pat. No. 3,550,547 may be discussed. The document discloses an auxiliary maneuvering means for ships, which provide an improved maneuvering capability in deep water and which also are applicable when travelling in low waters, wherein a lateral thrust device is combined with a slewing propeller. The centre part of the tunnel of the lateral thrust device together with the propeller arranged therein is located in a recess in the interior of the ship. The centre part of the tunnel is constructed as nozzle, which is downwardly extendible and in the extended position turnable around 360°.
As another example of a prior art retractable thruster U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,335 may be discussed. The document discloses an auxiliary thruster for a marine vessel. The auxiliary thruster includes a submersible propulsion unit which has a shroud with a propeller rotatably mounted therein. A canned electric motor is mounted between the propeller and the shroud for rotating the propeller to create thrust. A propulsion unit deploying and rotating mechanism is mounted on the hull and on the propulsion unit. The propulsion unit deploying and rotating mechanism is operable to extend the propulsion unit out of the hull and retract it into the hull and to rotate the propulsion unit to direct the thrust generated thereby in any desired direction when the thruster is in the deployed position. When the thruster is retracted, it is positioned with a tunnel extending transversely through the hull. Rotation of the propeller while in the retracted position generates laterally directed thrust through the tunnel.
Both above discussed documents illustrate a retractable tunnel thruster where the thruster propeller is lowered with a part of the tunnel. In other words, with the propeller a lengthy conical or cylindrical tunnel part is moved below the keel of the marine vessel. The length of the tunnel part is of the order of the diameter of the propeller or even more, i.e. long enough to house the thruster entirely. When operating below the keel such a long tunnel part increases the flow resistance of the water 'pumped' through the tunnel part as well as outside the tunnel part. Also, the force needed to turn the thruster unit in its lowered position is relatively big, as the retractable tunnel part is long.
An object of the present invention is to optimize the structure of the retractable tunnel part for minimizing the flow resistance.

Retractable thruster unit for a marine vessel


A dual-port RAM according to the present invention includes means responsive to a first control signal for determining at an input of a counter whether or not a redundancy substitution is required during a time period for which a serial read out is performed, outputting a result of the determination as a second control signal and holding the second control signal. Therefore, the determination of necessity of redundancy substitution can be performed at a timing prior to the conventional serial read by one serial read cycle. Further, since there are a plurality of read data buses provided, an interleave read out becomes possible. Therefore, a time from the determination of necessity of substitution to the redundancy circuit to an execution of substitution is also shortened by one serial read cycle, resulting in a speed up of the serial read.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and, particularly, to a high speed serial accessible dual port semiconductor memory device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a compact computer such as a personal computer, a dual port memory for image processing, which is to be arranged between a CPU and a data display device to write/read display data under control of the CPU is commercially available and used widely. Such dual port memory has a random access port and a serial access port such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,441 issued to S. Ishimoto on Dec. 30, 1986 and assigned to NEC corporation. The serial access port of the conventional dual port memory includes a memory cell array composed of a number of memory cells arranged at respective intersections of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, means for selecting one of the rows in response to a row address signal, means for transferring memory information of respective memory cells connected to the selected row in synchronism with transfer control signal and a data register for temporarily storing thus transferred information. Further, in order to serially read the temporarily stored data in the data register, the serial access port includes a serial data output buffer, a serial data output terminal, data shift means for sequentially shifting data up in synchronism with a first control signal, switch means responsive to an output of the data shift means for selecting one of data read out from the data register, a read bus line for connecting, through the switch means, the output of the data register to the serial data output buffer, means for decoding a row address signal for selecting one of the plurality of rows and initial value setting means for setting an initial value of the data shift means to an output of the decode means in synchronism with the transfer control signal and operates to output the output of the data register from the serial data output buffer.
On the other hand, with the recent development of semiconductor manufacturing technique, miniaturization of circuit elements on a semiconductor chip is enhanced, so that an area of the semiconductor chip required for one bit of memory cell is reduced, resulting in an increase of memory capacity from 256 K bits several years ago through 1 M bits to recent 4 M bits.
However, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,181 issued to M. Harada on Jan. 29, 1991 and assigned to NEC corporation, miniaturization of circuit elements may cause the number of defects per semiconductor chip to be increased, so that the yield of such semiconductor memory device may be lowered. In order to avoid such degradation of yield, Harada employs the redundancy circuit technology.
A redundancy circuit of a serial access port of a conventional dual-port memory described in Harada includes a counter circuit having an externally supplied address signal code word as an initial value and incrementing from it in response to a first control signal, a defective address memory circuit for storing an address of a memory cell, a bit line and/or a serial register at which a defect is contained and a coincidence detection circuit for comparing an output of the counter circuit with an output of the defective address memory circuit. The redundancy circuit operates in response to a second control signal produced by the coincidence detection circuit upon detection of a coincidence of the outputs of the counter circuit and the defective address memory circuit to substitute a redundancy memory cell, a redundancy bit line and a redundancy serial register of the redundancy circuit for the defective memory cell, the defective bit line and/or the defective serial register, respectively.
The conventional dual-port semiconductor memory including such redundancy circuit as mentioned above sets the address signal code word in the counter circuit as well as a shift register included in the dual-port memory as their initial values in a serial read mode. Then, the shift register is incremented from the initial value by the first control signal as clock signal synchronized with an external clock. At the same time, the counter circuit is incremented by the first control signal and the output of the counter circuit is compared with the output of the defective address memory circuit.
The second control signal becomes active when the comparison indicates a coincidence upon which the redundancy circuit substitutes the memory cell, the bit line and/or the data register, which contains defect, by the memory cell, the bit line and/or the data register of the redundancy circuit having a corresponding address and reads a value stored in the data register of the redundancy circuit to an output portion of the serial port of the dual port memory. On the other hand, when the comparison indicates non-coincidence, the second control signal becomes inactive and the output value of the data register which has been transferred from the main memory cell in response to the output of the shift register and stored therein is read out to the output portion of the serial port. With the operations mentioned above, a cycle of serial read operation is completed and the first control signal is shifted to a next read out cycle. By repeating this operation cycle, the output of the data register is read out sequentially to the output portion of the serial port in response to the output of the shift register.
In the dual-port memory having such conventional redundancy circuit, however, time required to read from the serial port (referred to as "serial read time") is a sum of a shift operation time for shifting the output value of the data register to the serial port in response to the shift operation of the shift register due to the first control signal and a count-up coincidence detection time from a start time of count-up operation of the counter circuit by the first control signal to a time of coincidence detection between the outputs of the counter circuit and the defective address memory circuit. It is well known that the shift operation time is shorter than the count-up coincidence detection time. That is, the serial read time of the dual-port memory having the redundancy circuit is larger, so that an image processing speed of the dual-port semiconductor memory device becomes low.
In the serial read operation of the conventional dual-port memory mentioned above, the counter circuit counts up the first control signal one by one and the content of the counter circuit is compared with the value of the address which contains defect. Therefore, the comparison is performed for addresses subsequent to the initial value corresponding to the address code word. This means that, when there is any defect at the address corresponding to the initial value, it can not be substituted by a corresponding address of the redundancy circuit. In order to avoid this problem, it is necessary to access the address on the chip corresponding to the initial value by driving the counter circuit with another control signal and, therefore, the serial read control becomes complicated correspondingly.


The present invention relates to a process for preparing a resin binder for toner, comprising the steps of (A) carrying out an addition polymerization reaction of addition polymerization resin monomers including styrene in the presence or absence of an organic solvent; and (B) mixing the resulting reaction mixture from the step (A) with water at a rate of 0.002 to 0.5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the addition polymerization resin monomers per minute at a temperature of 100° to 300° C. during and/or after the step (A), wherein the amount of water to be mixed in the step (B) is 0.1 to 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the addition polymerization resin monomers. The resin binder for a toner obtained according to the present invention can be used, for instance, for developing electrostatic latent images formed in electrophotography, electrostatic recording method, electrostatic printing method, and the like, and a toner containing the resin binder.

Requests for safety in resin binders for toner have been stronger in recent years. In addition, an odor emitted when the resin binders are exposed to an environment at high temperature during the melt-kneading in toner manufacturing or during fusing and fixing in using tones is a problem to be solved. In view of this, therefore, various methods have been studied for reducing the amount of monomers remaining in the resin binder.
For example, there is a method in which polymerization initiators having different half lives are used (JP-A-Hei-7-120971 and JP-A-Hei-7-49588). In these methods, however, the effect of reducing the styrene content is insufficient, and increase in the reaction time, variation in the molecular weight distribution of the resin, difficulty in adjusting various physical properties, and the like are caused. Moreover, odor due to remnants of the initiator is a matter to be concerned.
Also, there has been proposed a method for reducing the amount of remaining monomers by distilling water in the reaction system off as water vapor after polymerizing monomers in a suspension polymerization system (JP-A-Hei-8-328311).
A method in which an alkali metal hydroxide is added (alkaline treatment) has been also proposed (JP-A-Showa-61-176603). However, since care must be taken to avoid hydrolysis, as noted therein, this method cannot be used in a wide variety of applications. In cases that hydrolysis is not caused, the alkali metal hydroxide is to remain in the resin, so that influence on the physical properties of the toner is a matter to be concerned.
Further, there has been proposed a method of improving manufacturing facilities for toners (JP2000-298374 A). In this method, the effect of reducing the styrene content is insufficient, and introduction of additional equipment is required.

Process for preparing resin binder for toner


An object of the present invention is to provide an image restoration function which ensures physical accuracy, while reducing computational cost, by eliminating a division into local regions. The present invention provides an image processing apparatus including: an initial solution generating unit configured to generate an initial solution of a restored image and an initial solution of a transmittance distribution; and an iterative processing unit configured to receive input data on the generated initial solution of the restored image and input data on the generated initial solution of the transmittance distribution, and to repeat updating of one of the transmittance distribution and the restored image, using the transmittance distribution and the restored image, in such a way as to alternate the updating of the transmittance distribution with the updating of the restored image independently for each pixel.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image processing for generating an image with the influence of scattered light reduced.
Description of the Related Art
Image capturing of an outdoor distant scene for the purpose of monitoring an airport, a harbor area or the like involves a problem of reduction in sharpness of an image caused by light scattered by airborne fine particles (such as fog, rain, snow, dust and smoke). Image capturing for undersea exploration or the like also poses the same problem caused by light scattered by underwater impurities.
An algorithm for performing processing from a single image based on a dark channel is known as a conventional technology related to image restoration processing which is executed in order to compensate for such image quality degradation in an input image (Refer to U.S. Pat. No. 8,340,461). This technology involves resolving an image into local regions, determining a dark channel from a minimum luminance value of each local region, and determining a transmittance distribution based on the determined dark channel, thereby executing the image restoration processing.
An algorithm for determining a dark channel based on similarity between a pixel of interest and a candidate region is also known (Refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-221237).
Meanwhile, an algorithm which involves dividing an image into local regions and determining a scattering coefficient thereby to generate a restored image is known as a restoration algorithm without use of a dark channel (Refer to Japanese Patent No. 4807439).

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and medium


A method for fabricating a semiconductor transistor including forming a first insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming an LDD region using ion implantation; patterning the first insulating layer; forming a trench in the substrate; forming a trench gate by depositing and planarizing a second insulating layer and a conductor on the substrate with the trench formed therein; forming a photoresist pattern on the substrate; forming source/drain regions by performing an ion implantation using the photoresist pattern as a mask; and removing the photoresist pattern and the first insulating layer.

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (a)-(d), based on Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2003-0075431, filed on Oct. 28, 2003, 10-2003-0075440, filed on Oct. 28, 2003, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2003-0078770, filed on Nov. 7, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Method for fabricating a trench transistor of semiconductor device

Abstract: Thus, a method for fabricating a semiconductor transistor according to the present invention can reduce source/drain resistances and gate resistance by forming a trench type gate and can efficiently control a short channel effect.


An I/O address assigning device in a data processing apparatus having a standard port provided in the main unit for connecting the main unit to an I/O address assigning device so as to increase the function of the data processing apparatus and an I/O connecting portion for connecting an additional board provided with an I/O port therein. The I/O address assigning device comprises a control means for disabling the I/O port in the main unit for operation in order to prevent conflict of the I/O port in the main unit and on an additional board which have the same address, a detecting means for detecting the preset I/O address of the additional I/O port in the state in which the I/O port in the main unit is disabled, and an address assigning means for assigning an I/O address different from the preset address of the additional I/O port which is detected by the detecting means to the I/O port in the main unit. When the I/O address of the standard port on the additional board which is detected by the detecting means in the state in which the standard port in the main unit is disabled is the same as the I/O address of the standard port in the main unit, an I/O address different from that of the standard port on the additional board is assigned to the standard port on the main unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus and, more particularly, to a method and a device for assigning I/O address in a data processing apparatus which is capable of changing the assignment of the address to an I/O port.
2. Description of the Related Art
Printer, RS-232C, floppy disk drive (FDD), hard disk drive (HDD), etc. are connected to personal computers and the like through standard ports. Since the number of standard ports is different depending upon the demand of the user, the main unit of a personal computer is generally provided with an extension slot (I/O slot) and a standard port is added by inserting an additional board provided with a standard port into the I/O slot.
Devices such as a printer are often necessary to a personal computer. Most personal computers are therefore provided with standard ports for such devices in the main unit as the standard equipments.
In this case, if the standard port in the main unit and the standard port on the additional board which is inserted into the I/O slot have the same function, since the addresses of both standard ports are the same, there is a concern that both standard ports will not be operable due to the conflict in addresses.
To preclude this possibility, an additional board generally has a DIP switch for setting the address of the standard port thereon, and it is possible to change the I/O address of the standard port on the additional board by operating the DIP switch, thereby preventing the conflict of both standard ports.
As shown in FIG. 5, such an additional board is provided with a connecting portion 1 which is connected to the main unit, a decoder 2, a standard port 3 and a DIP switch 4. An address signal supplied from the main unit through an address bus A is input to the decoder 2. When the address signal indicates a preset value (preset address), the decoder 2 supplies a decoding signal (chip selecting signal CS), which indicates that the standard port 3 is selected, to the standard port 3.
The I/O address which is to be assigned to the standard port 3 is determined in accordance with the I/O device which is to be connected to the standard port 3. There are two addresses, for example, a primary address and a secondary address for one I/O device. The decoder 2 can decode either of the addresses.
The DIP switch 4 is connected to the decoder 2, and the decoder 2 can select the I/O address to be decoded by turning on and off the DIP switch 4. A connector 3a connects the additional board to an external device such as a printer.
When the address of the standard port 3 on the additional board is actually assigned, the DIP switch 4 is operated so as to prevent the address of the standard port 3 on the additional board from being identical to the address of the standard port in the main unit, thereby preventing the conflict of both standard ports.
However, in setting the additional board, it is necessary for the user to refer to the manual or the like before setting the DIP switch and then to operate the DIP switch. This operation is troublesome and involves a possibility of error when setting the DIP switch. In addition, in personal computers or the like, since a new model is frequently developed, the corresponding model is sometimes not described in the manual for the additional board. In such case, it is necessary for the user to refer to the manuals for both the main unit and the additional board in order to know the addresses of the standard port in the main unit and the standard port on the additional board and to set the DIP switch so as to prevent the conflict of both standard ports. This operation is very difficult. It is therefore demanded to facilitate the operation at the time of using the additional board such as the setting of the DIP switch and to omit such operation, if possible, thereby preventing an error in setting the DIP switch.

Method and device for assigning I/O address in data processing apparatus


A quick-release mechanism includes a screw shaft rotatably extending through a first member, a central hole of a gear and a second member, the first member having a slot defined therein so that a plate is movably received therein which has a notch portion defined in a front end thereof so as to engage with the screw shaft and a first protrusion extending upwardly from a rear end thereof. The screw shaft has a groove longitudinally defined in an outer periphery thereof and the gear has a second protrusion extending inwardly and radially-from a periphery defining the central hole so that the second protrusion is received in the groove. A bolt is threadedly inserted into the first member and contacts the rear end of the plate which has a spring mounted thereto so as to bias the plate toward the bolt. A pinion driven by a motor is engaged with the gear so as to drive the gear and the screw shaft. The screw shaft is allowed to be pulled directly when the plate is disengaged from the screw shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a quick-release mechanism and, more particularly, to an improved quick-release mechanism for a compressing device so as to pull a screw shaft quickly.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
A compressing device is generally used to compress a tube of silicon gel, for example, to fill cracks defined in objects. Generally, the compressing device is driven by electrical power and has a screw shaft rotatably moved forwardly to compress the tube of silicon gel so as to extrude the silicon gel from an outlet of the tube. In order to fill cracks steady, the screw shaft is controlled to move slowly so that a user is allowed to operate the compressing device properly and carefully. When the tube of the silicon gel is run out, the screw shaft should be moved rearwardly to its original position so as to be ready for next operation. However, the screw shaft can only be moved slowly by reversely actuating a mechanism which drive the screw shaft. Therefore, the user has to wait for a period of time and this wastes electricity. Although to arrange a gear shifting mechanism to pull the screw shaft quickly is possible, it will increase a manufacturing cost of the device.
The present invention intends to provide an improved quick-release mechanism for a compressing device to mitigate and/or obviate the above-mentioned problems.

Quick-release mechanism for a compressing device


Provided are an apparatus and method for limiting bandwidths of burst aggregate flows according to the present invention. The apparatus comprises: a bandwidth measuring unit measuring a bandwidth of at least one input aggregate flow; a grade determining unit determining abnormal grades according to abnormal levels of the input aggregate flows; a bandwidth limit determining unit determining a bandwidth volume and aggregate flow to be limited; a bandwidth limiting unit inputting a result determined by the bandwidth limit determining unit, limiting or releasing a bandwidth of a aggregate flow selected among the input aggregate flows and outputting the selected aggregate flow; and a status information storage unit storing status information including a usage bandwidth, an abnormal grade, and a limited bandwidth volume of the input aggregate flow. Accordingly, the apparatus and method provide an effect of dropping attack aggregate flows corresponding to excessive traffic while not influencing normal aggregate flows.

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application Nos. 2003-92569, filed on Dec. 17, 2003 and 2004-26639, filed on Apr. 19, 2004 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for limiting bandwidths of burst aggregate flows which act to deteriorate network service quality by generating abnormal and excessive traffic, such as denial of service (DoS) attacks and worm scan attacks.
2. Description of the Related Art
Attacks, which generate excessive traffic, cause network congestion by concentrating a lot of traffic over a short time. Therefore, the attacks may act to deteriorate service quality provided to authenticated users and finally paralyze the attacked network. Conventional technologies for preventing a network congestion are as follows.
(1) Queuing Technology
A packet to be dropped when a network is congested or in order to prevent network congestion is determined using queuing technology. As methods of determining the packet to be dropped, first-in first-out (FIFO), fair queuing (FQ), and random early detection (RED) have been suggested. In a case of traffic following a network status, that is, traffic where the transmission amount decreases if it is detected that the network status is in a congested state, the conventional queuing technology provides a significant effect for dropping or preventing the network congestion. However, in DoS attacks continuously generating excessive traffic even in the congested state or many kinds of artificial flows, the excessive traffic cannot be controlled by those technologies.
(2) Intrusion Detection and Prevention Technology
An intrusion detection system has been suggested to detect activities, such as scanning, hacking, or paralyzing a target system by generating abnormal packets or flows, in a network. The intrusion detection system drops traffic recognized as an attack by linked to a firewall or with its own ability. The latter is called an "intrusion prevention system", which detects and then drops the intrusions by itself. The intrusion prevention system uses a technology for protecting a destination system and a network by detecting the attacking activities and then early dropping them. However, the biggest problem of the intrusion prevention system is a false-positive problem of dropping normal traffic, which occurs when the normal traffic is wrongly determined as attack traffic. Due to this problem, most systems are operated by a method of automatically detecting attacks and manually dropping the attacks by a manager's decision.
(2) Threshold—Based Rate-limit
This technology drops DoS attacks by transmitting or discarding each packet by comparing measured traffic volumes and threshold values, respectively. The threshold values are obtained using statistic values obtained by directly measuring each subscriber's traffic. This technology provides an effect of dropping the DoS attacks since the amount of traffic cannot exceed the threshold values. However, it is impossible to precisely measure the threshold values. Therefore, when the threshold values are not accurately measured, it may lead to the false-positive problem of dropping normal traffic.
(4) Aggregate Congestion Control (ACC)
ACC technology monitors a status of a packet transmission queue in each interface of router. In the ACC technology, if the packet transmission queue is full for a predetermined time, a network status is regarded as a congested status, and the congested network status is solved by classifying packets with aggregate flows according to destination addresses of the packets and limiting bandwidths of the aggregate flows each having a relatively larger bandwidth. Since this technology limits bandwidths of aggregate flows according to a destination address, a DoS attack on a specific destination address can be effectively dropped. However, this technology requires new protocol for communication between routers, and since a bandwidth is limited only by a traffic volume without checking whether a packet is abnormal, the false-positive problem cannot be completely solved.
As described above, the conventional technologies for counter-attack against abnormal burst traffic provide partial effects. However, the technologies cannot radically drop various attacks, such as a DoS attack and a worm scan attack. Also, the technologies may generate the false-positive problem.

Apparatus and method for limiting bandwidths of burst aggregate flows

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


The present invention discloses a novel use of a pharmaceutical composition in the preparation of a medicament in the treatment of opioid-induced tolerance and addiction, in particular to the use of AC1 inhibitor NB001 and AC1&8 mixed inhibitors NB010 and NB011 in the preparation of a medicament in the treatment of opioid-induced tolerance and addiction.

The term "opiate" has been used to designate pharmacologically active alkaloids derived from opium, e.g., morphine, codeine, and many semi-synthetic congeners of morphine. After the isolation of peptide compounds with morphine-like actions, the term opioid was introduced to refer generically to all drugs with morphine-like actions. Included among opioids are various peptides that exhibit morphine-like activity, such as endorphins, enkephalins and dynorphins. However, some sources use the term "opiate" in a generic sense, and in such contexts, opiate and opioid are interchangeable. Additionally, the term opioid has been used to refer to antagonists of morphine-like drugs as well as to characterize receptors or binding sites that combine with such agents.
Opioids are generally employed as analgesics, morphine is often used to relieve some of the severe pain, however, the clinical use of morphine is limited by the development of analgesic tolerance, physical dependency, and addiction. It is known that long-term administration of morphine may induce tolerance in humans and animals but does not desensitize μ-receptors. In contrast, long-term use of morphine may lead to hypersensitization of adenylyl cyclase (AC), which contributes to opioid tolerance and dependency (Nestler, 1997; 2001a, b; 2002). Long-term changes in adenylyl cyclase activity in several brain regions have been reported, such as the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc) area (both of which are critical for consolidating opium medicament) within the mid-brain, as well as in the locus coeruleus and dorsal nucleus (critical for opium withdrawal) (Nestler and Aghajanian, 1997; Jolas et al., 2000; Williams et al., 2001; Chao and Nestler, 2004).
Although the role of ACs in modulating opioids has been suggested, the lack of specific inhibitors to define the role of different AC isoenzymes has led to a relative slow progress in research. To date, genes of 10 ACs have been cloned, each with a different expression pattern in the central nervous system and peripheral sensory nervous system (Xia and Storm, 1997). Among them, AC1 and AC8 are exclusively stimulated by Ca 2+/calmodulin in the brain. AC1 and AC8 are widely distributed in different brain regions, including VTA, NAc, locus coeruleus, and dorsal raphe nucleus (Zhuo, 2012).
In addition, many studies have involved CREB in drug addiction (Guitart et al., 1992; Hyman, 1996; Maldonado et al., 1996; Walters et al., 2001). Western blot analysis showed increased expression of CREB or phosphorylated CREB (pCREB) in morphine-tolerant animals (Li et al., 1999; Gao et al., 2004). CREB-mutated mice showed less severe withdrawal symptoms after morphine treatment was discontinued (Maldonado et al., 1996). In addition, the G protein-coupled receptor M opioid receptor (MOR), which essentially mediates the physiologic effects of morphine, comprises CRE elements and has been proved to be activated via the CREB-mediated pathway (Min et al., 1994; Nestler, 1997. Lee et al., 2003). In the central nervous system, AC1 and AC8 are known to act on upstream key signaling proteins to regulate CREB in neurons (Wei et al., 2002; Zhuo, 2012). Through the use of AC1 and AC8 knockout (KO) mice, and DKO mice, it is reported that there is no difference in the analgesic effect of morphine in short-term in the AC1 or AC8 knockout mice, or DKO mice and wild-type mice (Li et al., 2006). AC1 &8 DKO mice and AC8 knockout mice continued to induce reduced tolerance by daily injections of morphine (10 mg/kg body weight). In DKO mice treated with morphine continuously, the withdrawal behavior was significantly reduced (Li et al., 2006). A recent study using a AC1 inhibitor ST034037 found that AC1 activity does require AC sensitization induced by chronic activation of MOR, suggesting that AC1 inhibition may be beneficial to overcome chronic morphine induced tolerance and other responses (Brust et al., 2017).
During the treatment of pain by using opioids, the decline in efficacy is often explained by pharmacological tolerance mechanisms (or exacerbation of the original condition), and the dose must be increased to maintain the original efficacy. Recent studies have confirmed that opioids, in addition to producing analgesic effects, can also activate the in vivo mechanisms of promoting harm, leading to increased body sensitivity to pain, namely opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). Onset of sensitivity to pain was observed early in the opioid withdrawal response. The latest evidence suggests that sensitivity to pain may also occur during opioid treatment. In other words, the discontinuation of opioids and the continued administration of opioids both result in an increase in pain sensitivity, which is clearly contradictory. Therefore, the decrease of opioid analgesic effect is likely to be the role of OIH (the mechanism of promoting harm), and not just the mechanism of pharmacological tolerance. Among them, both sensitization processes and desensitization processes occur. OIH has its unique cellular mechanism involving endogenous dynorphin, glutamatergic systems, and descending facilitation mechanisms. Interestingly, the mechanism of OH is largely overlapped with the mechanism of neuropathic pain and opioid tolerance. For example, peripheral nerve injury and repetitive opioid administration can activate the same glutamatergic cellular pathway.
The decline in the effectiveness of drug analgesia during opioid therapy is considered to be a pharmacological tolerance or an increase in existing pain status. Therefore, the addition of drug doses is taken for granted the only choice for the reconstitution of drug effects. However, according to a contradictory evidence provided by the clinical and laboratory research institute for opioid-induced pain, the inventor must reconsider the explanation to this phenomenon. On the one hand, if the decrease in opioid efficacy is related to the drug tolerance mechanism, then it is obviously beyond reproach to increase the dose; on the other hand, if the decrease is due to OIH, to increase the dose blindly will only enhance the in vivo process for promoting harm, thereby increase pain and tolerance.
Accordingly, it is significantly important for the research and development of new medicament or combination preparations in order to prolong the pain relief of opioids and overcome the analgesic tolerance, physical dependency, and addiction in clinical applications.

Pharmaceutical compositions for treating pain


The present invention discloses an eDP interface, including: a determination module, a clock signal generating module, a clock signal adjusting module, a first eDP data processing chip and a second eDP data processing chip. When the determination module determines that a target transmission rate is not equal to a protocol rate, the clock signal generating module generates a first clock signal and a second clock signal. The clock signal adjusting module adjusts the frequency of the second clock signal. The first and second eDP data processing chips process data according to the first and second clock signals, respectively.

With the increasingly high display resolution, traditional interfaces such as VGA, DVI and the like could not meet the visual demands of people. Novel digital interfaces represented by HDMI and Displayport are accordingly available.
In terms of an internal interface, an internal interface eDP (Embedded Displayport) of Displayport is produced to gradually replace the traditional LVDS.
Taking a condition in which full high definition (FHD) resolution (1920*1080) is achieved as an example, if an existing mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) is used as the internal interface of a device, at least four lanes are needed to transmit data, whereas if the eDP interface is used as the internal interface of the device, only two lanes are needed, thus compared with the MIPI interface, by adopting the eDP interface, the number of control lines may be decreased.
Meanwhile, since eDP interface protocol adopts an embedded clock signal, and MIPI protocol adopts a pair of clock signals which are separated provided, an eDP interface module has significant anti-electromagnetic interference capability, and the eDP interface may further reduce power consumption by automatically refreshing, reducing amplitude of fluctuation in power consumption, additionally providing connection options, compressing transmission data, controlling regional backlight, etc., so as to prolong the service life of a battery.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a structure of an eDP interface in the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, the traditional eDP interface includes a clock signal generating module and an eDP data processing chip. The eDP data processing chip processes data according to a clock signal generated by the clock signal generating module and sends the processed data to a lane for transmission.
The transmission rate in a traditional eDP protocol is fixed, namely, the eDP interface includes four lanes, in each of which the transmission rate may only be one of 1.62 Gbps, 2.7 Gbps and 5.4 Gbps. The transmission rate of a lane is controlled by a clock signal, for example, if the frequency of the clock signal is a first frequency, the processing speed of the eDP data processing chip is 1.62 Gbps, and the transmission rate of the corresponding lane is 1.62 Gbps; if the frequency of the clock signal is a second frequency, the processing speed of the eDP data processing chip is 2.7 Gbps, and the transmission rate of the corresponding lane is 2.7 Gbps; if the frequency of the clock signal is a third frequency, the processing speed of the eDP data processing chip is 5.4 Gbps, and the transmission rate of the corresponding lane is 5.4 Gbps. In a transmission process, one, two or four lane(s) may be selected to transmit data according to actual demand so as to support corresponding resolution. When multiple lanes are used for transmission, the transmission rate of each lane is the same.
Since the transmission rate of the lane is defined in the traditional eDP protocol, the existing eDP interface can only support limited types of transmission rates (each lane has three transmission rates, and the selection of lane number has three options, thus nine transmission rates are supported in total), and the applicable resolution types are very limited, thereby limiting the use of the eDP interface.

eDP interface and control method of transmission rate of eDP interface

BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A baffle assembly for connection to the intake of an exhaust gas recirculation valve. The baffle assembly has a central intake chamber which is protected from the inflow of contaminants. The baffle assembly provides drain paths for any water or contaminants which may get into the inner chamber.

The present invention relates to the venting of EGR valves in an internal combustion engine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a design for a baffle assembly for confining the ingress of water contaminants into an EGR vent.
Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valves are known in the art. Generally, they restrict the exhaust gasses back into the cylinders for lowering nitrogen oxide emission levels caused by high combustion temperatures. Typically, exhaust gas recirculation valves include holes in the base thereof for intake when necessary. Because of the necessity of these vent holes, the positioning of the EGR valve in the engine compartment must be considered. Particularly, if the EGR valve is positioned too close to conditions which would cause water, road slurry and the like to enter the EGR valve, it may cause failure of the EGR valve. Of course, this is an undesirable condition. Typically in the past, EGR valves have been readily placed in positions of the engine compartment which do not receive very much road splash or the like. Therefore, there have been no problems with EGR valves in the past. However, in today""s market where redesigns of engine compartments and components are desirable for both cost savings and weight reductions, there has been interest in placement of EGR valves in other than ideal locations, in order to accommodate size, weight and manufacturing conditions. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide EGR valves which are improved such that placement of the EGR valve is less critical.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an EGR system having a single intake tube and a baffle assembly, for that tube. The baffle assembly includes a first baffle portion and a second over flow vent portion. A cover portion is included for preventing ingress of contaminants from above, and the baffle portion prevents contaminant ingress from below.
The EGR system of the present invention readily provides for venting of an EGR valve in a harsher environment where road splash may be evident. The EGR valve breather assembly blocks the ingress of contaminants from the lower end by way of a baffle assembly. Any splash or road debris which comes from above the baffle assembly is guarded by an upper cover portion which prevents inflow from water from above.


A method for creating a coffee drink that having the addition of a nutraceutical additive composition of milk thistle; chromium picolinate, and carnitine. Milk thistle is present from about 50 to 99.7 parts by weight of the total composition, and preferably 50 to 60 parts by weight. Chromium picolinate is present from about 0.01 to 0.23 parts by weight of the composition and preferably from 0.01 to 0.1 parts by weight. Carnitine is present from about 0 to 50 parts by weight of the total composition, and preferably 40 to 50 parts by weight. The coffee drink can be created by an admixture of the composition with ground beans, sprayed and/or coated on the bean prior to grinding, or added to a brewed much the same as one would add sugar or other known flavor additives. The instant composition does not subtract from the flavor and improves human physiology by assisting in weight loss, body cleansing, weight loss, fat burning, and sugar regulation.

The instant invention relates to a flavorless synergistic nutraceutical composition which can be added to coffee in its many forms to promote health and prevent disease and/or illnesses. The nutraceutical composition described in the instant invention can be added by mixing the composition with a desired anhydrous coffee before water is added, or by adding the composition directly to the coffee after it is hydrated.
Nutraceuticals, also known as phytochemicals, are natural, bioactive chemical compounds that provide numerous physiological benefits, including, inter alia, disease prevention and health promotion. Nutraceudicals are used to achieve both long-term and short-term health objectives. There are a huge, varied and almost unlimitless variety of nutraceuticals. This application, having reviewed the thousands available, demonstrates a synergistic interplay among the three selected, which are critical, at the ranges selected.
Nutraceuticals supplement the diet. Nutraceuticals can be either purified or concentrated by using bioengineering methods. Nutraceuticals can also be enhanced through genetic methods, which contain elevated levels of natural substances. Nutraceuticals are a low cost nutritional supplement which the consumer can ostensibly use to manage their own health care, increasing or decreasing the use (or frequency of use) thereof as the consumer sees fit, based either on their own perceived needs or on the advice of a medical doctor. Unfortunately, however, most information is unreliable and scant, and the individual is frequently unable to make proper or rational decisions to improve his or her health. The instant invention "takes the guess work out of it."
Various types of nutraceuticals include isolated nutrients, including one or more dietary supplements or herbal products. Nutraceuticals contain at least one of the following dietary ingredients: a vitamin, a mineral, an herb or other botanical, an amino acid, a metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of these ingredients. Common examples of nutraceuticals include beta-carotene (used to prevent cardiac arrest), ephedra (used to aid in weight loss), ginko biloba (used as a circulatory stimulant), goldenseal (used in the prevention and/or treatment of infectious diseases), valerian (used as a sedative and anxiolytic), ginseng (used for stress relief and restoration of homeostasis), and echinacea (used for prophylaxis and treatment of viral, bacterial and fungal infections).
As demonstrated above, a wide variety of nutraceuticals have previously been implemented in the treatment of various physiological and pathological conditions. For example, Konishi, U.S. Pat. No. 6,932,990 discloses a carbohydrate absorption inhibitor derived from the nutraceudical evening primrose seed. McPeak, U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,739 discloses formulations for treating an inflammatory disease or reducing an inflammatory reaction comprising via a fortified formulation comprising rice bran derivative and a fortification agent. Shashoua, U.S. Pat. No. 6,890,896 discloses a composition using various nutraceuticals to counteract harmful oxidative effects of reactive oxygen species and other free radicals. Giori, U.S. Pat. No. 6,881,426 discloses an extract of the nutraceutical echinacea to strengthen immune defenses of the lymphatic system. Mousa, U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,864 discloses a garlic-derived compound for the prevention and treatment of vascular-related disorders. Hong, U.S. Pat. No. 6,827,950 discloses a composition comprising extracts of the nutraceutical aralia to preven cataract, delay the development of cataract, and treat cataract. Nair, U.S. Pat. No. 6,818,324 discloses an extract of the nutraceutical anthocyanin for pain relief and anti-inflammation. Holub, U.S. Pat. No. 6,784,159 discloses the use of the nutraceutical soyasaponin B. sub. b for the treatment of polycystic kidney disease. Butters, U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,913 discloses an extract of celery seed for treatment and prevention of acute and chronic pain, inflammation and gastrointestinal irritation. Heeg, U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,798 discloses cranberry seed oil for the treatment of burned tissue. Garrity, U.S. Pat. No. 6,703,333 discloses a composition including the nutraceutical mangosteen for improving general health and wellness. Nair, U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,743 describes a nutraceutical composition comprising anthocyanins, bioflavonoids, phenolics or mixtures thereof from cherries for inhibiting oxidation. Cartwright, U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,998 discloses a nutraceutical composition including a tripeptoid component, a flavonoid component, guanidine hydrochloride, .alpha.-lipoic acid, an amino acid component, a brazilin component, catalase, and, optionally, vitamin E ans selenium to maintain normal blood sugar levels and normal levels of non-enzymatic protein glycosylation. Henderson, U.S. Pat. No. 6,492,349 discloses a composition including the nutraceuticals glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for the treatment and repair of connective tissue.
Heretofore, unknown in the art is the specific, synergistic combination that is disclosed and claimed herein. To the inventor's knowledge, there has been no composition of nutraceuticals that can be added to coffee without undergoing a mechanical process (most suited to large bottlers in the industry), or altering the flavor of the beverage, or losing any potential beneficial effects. For example, Nickolas, U.S. Pat. No. 6,855,358 discloses a process for the addition of a nutraceutical to a beverage by treating a beverage with a sterilizing agent, filling a container with the beverage, and finally adding an amount of a nutraceutical and sealing said container. It has now been discovered that admixtures of specific flavorless nutraceuticals have broad physiological effects and can easily be added to coffee for consumption.
It is thus an object of the instant invention to provide a composition that can be either admixed with ground coffee, applied to unground coffee beans, or added directly to a brewed cup of coffee that adds no negative flavor and improves human physiology without any known adverse side effects.

Nutraceutical method and additive for improving human physiology


A system and method for optical wireless communication with fading resistance. A delayed diversity approach reduces fading significantly. Data is sent in a set of light signals (also called diverse light signals) which each have a different polarization and/or a different wavelength. The diverse light signals are also temporally different in that they are transmitted in a delayed fashion with respect to one another. In this way, each light signal is carried over a different, uncorrelated “channel” through the atmosphere. At a receiver, original data in each received light signals is temporally adjusted and combined into a single output data signal. The accuracy of each bit in the output data signal is then due to the reception of the combined diverse light signals. In this way, even if fading occurs in one channel (effecting one diverse light signal), a combined output data signal can still be generated at relatively high accuracy from the original data carried in one or more of the other diverse light signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to optical communication.
2. Related Art
Optical communication is in increasing demand. In optical communication, digital data is carried in an optical signal. The digital data consists of bits of information (e.g., "1s" and "0s"). Such data is transmitted in an optical signal using modulation. Examples of modulation which can be used in optical communication are modulation based on amplitude, frequency, phase, polarization, or a combination thereof.
Communication between a source node and destination node is conducted through one or more links. A link can include logical and/or physical layers to support data transfer. An optical wireless communication system includes a physical layer with an optical wireless link. An optical wireless link can be any optical link through a turbulent medium such as, the atmosphere. For example, an optical wireless link can include, but is not limited to, an optical line of sight (LOS) link that uses a transmitter, such as, a laser or light-emitting diode (LED). Data is transmitted on the emitted beam using some form of amplitude, frequency, phase, or polarization modulation, or a combination thereof.
Optical wireless links are increasingly popular as they can provide relatively low cost, high performance communications over short distances—typically up to a few kilometers at sea level. Other advantages of optical wireless links are: no FCC spectrum allocation is required for their use, they have a high degree of physical security because of the directionality of the transmitted beam, the communication channel infrastructure exists with a low probability of detection, and easy set-up and removal. Optical wireless links have a further advantage in that no communication channel infrastructure such as, optical fibers, needs to be installed. Of course, an optical wireless link can be a separate stand alone path between a source node and destination node or it can be combined with any other type of conventional communication link, such as, a fiber link, RF link, or wired link.
In an optical wireless link, the optical beam passes from transmitter to receiver along a path through the atmosphere. Since the atmosphere is a turbulent medium the optical wavefronts are distorted in passing from transmitter to receiver. Such fluctuations in received power are unpredictable and can result in the loss of data (that is, "1" bits can be detected as "0" bits). This fluctuation problem is known as fading. Because of the potential for fading, there is some probability that the fluctuating received intensity will fall below a threshold value and lead to unacceptable bit error rates on an optical wireless link.
Different approaches can be used to reduce fading. One approach is to simply re-send packets of data. In this case, if data does not arrive satisfactorily, then it is re-transmitted. Unfortunately, this scheme may significantly reduce the overall data transfer rate and increase system complexity. Other approaches include the following:
(1) Increasing the transmitter power, which is not always possible because of electrical power requirements and eye-safety issues;
(2) Increasing the effective size of the receiver, which may not always be possible because fast optical receivers are generally of small size, and keeping light collected over an aperture (lens, mirror, or non-imaging light collector) focused on a small detector may require active tracking, or over-filling of the detector;
(3) Introducing spatial diversity, which amounts to sending several optical beams from transmitter to receiver along generally parallel paths, which are hopefully uncorrelated with regard to turbulent effects in the beams traveling along each path; and
(4) Introducing phase scrambling at the transmitter, which can reduce the degree of scintillation at the receiver.
These approaches, however, have limitations such as complexity or additional cost. Also, despite all these approaches, at some level fading will remain.
What is needed is a method and system for optical wireless link communication that reduces fading.

System and method for optical wireless communication


A method is provided for forming a through substrate via in a compound semiconductor having a transistor on a front side of the substrate. The method comprises forming a protective stop pad over a contact area on the front side of the substrate, forming a contact pad overlying the protective stop pad, such that the contact pad is in contact with a terminal of the transistor and plasma etching a backside of the substrate to form a contact coupling via to the protective stop pad. The method further comprises performing a chemical wet etch to remove the protective stop pad and depositing a conductive contact layer in the contact coupling via to provide a conductive contact to the contact pad.

The method presently used for etching through substrate vias in Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) is to use a chlorine-based plasma that kinetically and chemically attacks the GaAs. A bias voltage directs the plasma ions with some kinetic energy into the hole as it etches at a given etch rate, giving a high aspect ratio (steep sidewall) hole. The chemical reaction helps remove GaAs. The bias voltage, which is across the plasma and not the device can be greater than 100 V at acceptable etch rates. In the case of Indium Arsenide (InAs), this voltage associated with the plasma is enough to exceed the breakdown voltage of the high electron mobility transistor (HEMT), thereby damaging or destroying the device. The standard via etch cannot be used on InAs-channel HEMT MMICs. Furthermore, as etch rates increase the bias voltage can increase resulting in damage to other types of HEMT devices such as Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) and GaAs based devices.
InAs-channel HEMTs have superior low noise, low power consumption, and high speed due to the "supreme electronic properties of InAs" such as electron mobility and peak velocity. Table I shows 2.5× mobility and 1.5× velocity compared to InGaAs-channel devices, and even greater performance relative to GaAs. The high peak electron velocity at a low electric field enables the operation of InAs HEMTs at very low drain voltage, and therefore at very low power consumption.
TABLE IHEMT Channel Electronic Material PropertiesPropertyInAsIn0.53Ga0.47AsGaAsEffective Mass0.0230.0410.067Mobility20,0008,0004,500Peak Velocity4.02.72.2Valley0.900.550.31Separation (eV)Band Gap (eV)0.360.721.42
The high speed, low power consumption advantages are, however, offset by a size disadvantage. The InAs-channel HEMTs presently have to be made in a coplanar transmission line environment, with no through substrate vias. This is because of the low band gap of InAs (last row in Table I). The standard plasma etch via process results in a voltage on the HEMT contact pads that damages the low band gap device. The solution thus far has been to abandon the use of vias and use coplanar transmission lines which are noted for their large ground plane areas on the top surface of the substrate.

Method of forming a through substrate via in a compound semiconductor


Various implementations described herein are directed to a method for acquiring a manifest having a trial flag with a status indicator and providing the manifest to a plurality of devices. The status indicator may inform the plurality of devices to provide update acceptability reports. The method may include receiving the update acceptability reports from the plurality of devices and determining an update deployment rate based on the update acceptability reports received from the plurality of devices. The method may include deploying the update in accordance with the update deployment rate.

This section is intended to provide information relevant to understanding the various technologies described herein. As the section's title implies, this is a discussion of related art that should in no way imply that it is prior art. Generally, related art may or may not be considered prior art. It should therefore be understood that any statement in this section should be read in this light, and not as any admission of prior art.
In some instances, when a cloud update is executed for a large fleet of devices, it may be possible that there are some devices in the fleet that may not accept and deploy the update at a time when an update campaign is run. Some failures may include multiple reasons that vary, e.g., from temporarily out of storage space to planned network outages, and the failure of the update on such devices may only be noticed during or after running the update campaign from the cloud. For the failing devices, one or multiple new update campaigns may need to be executed to get the update working, which can be inefficient, inconvenient and difficult to implement universally in some devices.


Techniques for debugging are presented. Executable instructions, as they are executed, along with variable values, as they appear when being processed, are output as an executable instruction set when an executable application comprising the executable instructions are processed. The outputted executable instruction set includes the processing flow sequence that occurred within the executable application when the executable application was processed.

Enterprises have automated virtually every aspect of their businesses with software applications. A tremendous expense is incurred by these enterprises in support staff and in some cases development staff to maintain and develop these software applications.
Software is very difficult to definitively verify or certify before it is released into production as a product. This is because there are often many different branch points within a single application and the potential for virtually any kind of erroneous input data can occur during operation of the application. The difficulty becomes compounded when many applications are interfaced together to form a system of applications or a processing environment. In fact, often depending upon the size and complexity of an application it is mathematically impossible to verify that the application is error proof.
As a result, most if not all applications are released with latent errors that are only discovered during operation of those applications within disparate processing environments.
When an error is detected, a developer is usually consulted to resolve and fix the error. This process can be laborious and in many cases the process of finding the error can take much more time than fixing the error.
In a typical debugging scenario, a developer has the input data that generates the error, which is being analyzed by the developer. Usually, two approaches are used by the developer. The first is to insert break points into the software code of the application that is used by a debugging application to produce variable values for the developer to inspect as the input data works it way through the application being debugged. A second approach is for the developer to manually insert his/her own debugging code into the application that outputs a variety of information of interest to the developer when the input data works its way through the application.
Both of the above mentioned debugging approaches are largely trial and error approaches. They are both iterative approaches as well meaning that if the error is not located during one iteration additional break points or additional developer-inserted debugging statements are used by the developer until the error is found.
Accordingly, debugging remains an ad hoc technique where some existing market debuggers are used by developers in an effort to assist in the debugging process.
Thus, what are needed are improved techniques for debugging.

Techniques for generating an executable debugger script