In one aspect, the invention features a method including sorbing carbon monoxide to a catalyst layer of a fuel cell, and oxidizing the carbon monoxide. The method can be used to pre-condition or activate the catalyst layer.

A fuel cell can convert chemical energy to electrical energy by promoting electrochemical reactions between two reactants.
One type of fuel cell includes a cathode flow field plate, an anode flow field plate, a membrane electrode assembly disposed between the cathode flow field plate and the anode flow field plate, and two gas diffusion layers disposed between the cathode flow field plate and the anode flow field plate. A fuel cell can also include one or more coolant flow field plates disposed adjacent the exterior of the anode flow field plate and/or the exterior of the cathode flow field plate.
Each flow field plate has an inlet region, an outlet region and open-faced channels connecting the inlet region to the outlet region and providing a way for distributing the gases to the membrane electrode assembly.
The membrane electrode assembly usually includes a solid electrolyte (e.g., a proton exchange membrane, commonly abbreviated as a PEM) between a first catalyst and a second catalyst. One gas diffusion layer is between the first catalyst and the anode flow field plate, and the other gas diffusion layer is between the second catalyst and the cathode flow field plate.
During operation of the fuel cell, one of the gases (the anode gas) enters the anode flow field plate at the inlet region of the anode flow field plate and flows through the channels of the anode flow field plate toward the outlet region of the anode flow field plate. The other gas (the cathode gas) enters the cathode flow field plate at the inlet region of the cathode flow field plate and flows through the channels of the cathode flow field plate toward the cathode flow field plate outlet region.
As the anode gas flows through the channels of the anode flow field plate, the anode gas diffuses through the anode gas diffusion layer and interacts with the anode catalyst. Similarly, as the cathode gas flows through the channels of the cathode flow field plate, the cathode gas diffuses through the cathode gas diffusion layer and interacts with the cathode catalyst.
The anode catalyst interacts with the anode gas to catalyze the conversion of the anode gas to reaction intermediates. The reaction intermediates include ions and electrons. The cathode catalyst interacts with the cathode gas and the anode reaction intermediates to catalyze the conversion of the cathode gas to the chemical product of the fuel cell reaction.
The chemical product of the fuel cell reaction flows through a gas diffusion layer to the channels of a flow field plate (e.g., the cathode flow field plate). The chemical product then flows along the channels of the flow field plate toward the outlet region of the flow field plate.
The electrolyte provides a barrier to the flow of the electrons and gases from one side of the membrane electrode assembly to the other side of the membrane electrode assembly. However, the electrolyte allows ionic reaction intermediates to flow from the anode side of the membrane electrode assembly to the cathode side of the membrane electrode assembly.
Therefore, the ionic reaction intermediates can flow from the anode side of the membrane electrode assembly to the cathode side of the membrane electrode assembly without exiting the fuel cell. In contrast, the electrons flow from the anode side of the membrane electrode assembly to the cathode side of the membrane electrode assembly by electrically connecting an external load between the anode flow field plate and the cathode flow field plate. The external load allows the electrons to flow from the anode side of the membrane electrode assembly, through the anode flow field plate, through the load, to the cathode flow field plate, and to the cathode side of the membrane electrode assembly.
Electrons are formed at the anode side of the membrane electrode assembly, indicating that the anode gas undergoes oxidation during the fuel cell reaction. Electrons are consumed at the cathode side of the membrane electrode assembly, indicating that the cathode gas undergoes reduction during the fuel cell reaction.
For example, when hydrogen and oxygen are the gases used in a fuel cell, hydrogen flows through the anode flow field plate and undergoes oxidation. Oxygen flows through the cathode flow field plate and undergoes reduction. The specific reactions that occur in the fuel cell are represented in equations 1–3.H2→2H++2e−  (1)1/2O2+2H++2e−→H2O  (2)H2+½O2→H2O  (3)
As shown in equation 1, hydrogen forms protons (H+) and electrons. The protons flow through the electrolyte to the cathode side of the membrane electrode assembly, and the electrons flow from the anode side of the membrane electrode assembly to the cathode side of the membrane electrode assembly through the external load. As shown in equation 2, the electrons and protons react with oxygen to form water. Equation 3 shows the overall fuel cell reaction.
In addition to forming chemical products, the fuel cell reaction produces heat. One or more coolant flow field plates are typically used to conduct the heat away from the fuel cell and prevent it from overheating.
Each coolant flow field plate has an inlet region, an outlet region and channels that provide fluid communication between the coolant flow field plate inlet region and the coolant flow field plate outlet region. A coolant (e.g., liquid de-ionized water) at a relatively low temperature enters the coolant flow field plate at the inlet region, flows through the channels of the coolant flow field plate toward the outlet region of the coolant flow field plate, and exits the coolant flow field plate at the outlet region of the coolant flow field plate. As the coolant flows through the channels of the coolant flow field plate, the coolant absorbs heat formed in the fuel cell. When the coolant exits the coolant flow field plate, the heat absorbed by the coolant is removed from the fuel cell.
To increase the electrical energy available, a plurality of fuel cells can be arranged in series to form a fuel cell stack. In a fuel cell stack, one side of a flow field plate functions as the anode flow field plate for one fuel cell while the opposite side of the flow field plate functions as the cathode flow field plate in another fuel cell. This arrangement may be referred to as a bipolar plate. The stack may also include monopolar plates such as, for example, an anode coolant flow field plate having one side that serves as an anode flow field plate and another side that serves as a coolant flow field plate. As an example, the open-faced coolant channels of an anode coolant flow field plate and a cathode coolant flow field plate may be mated to form collective coolant channels to cool the adjacent flow field plates forming fuel cells.


The present invention relates to an in vitro method for differentiation and maturation of isolated monocytes into IL3-R+CD11c+ myeloid dendritic cells consisting of incubating the monocytes with a combination of a type I interferon and IL-3.

Dendritic cells (DC) are key players in the initiation of immune responses. This cell type constitutes the most potent antigen-presenting cell, endowed with the unique capacity to cluster naïve T cells. Consequently, it has been proposed as a natural adjuvant, aiming at the triggering of T-cell responses against poor immunogens, such as tumor-associated Ag (TAA). The realization of clinical trials has long been impaired by the low frequency of circulating DC available in the blood. The development of methods of generating large numbers of DC from hemapoietic precursors has recently allowed the initiation of pioneer clinical trials. These trials have yielded promising results for cancer therapy.
Dendritic cells (DC) represent a major class of antigen-presenting cells characterized by their unique ability to prime naive T cells1. Recent works demonstrated the existence of several DC subsets which differentiate from either lymphoid or myeloid bone marrow progenitors2;3. A critical factor for myeloid DC development is granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating-factor (GM-CSF)4;5 whereas lymphoid DC are dependent on interleukin (IL)-3 for their survival6;7. On the basis of the expression of myeloid markers (i.e. CD11c) or IL-3 receptor-α (IL-3Rα) chain (CD123) expression, two types of DC precursors have been isolated from human peripheral blood7. One subtype displays myeloid surface markers and low levels of IL-3Rα, whereas another subtype of putative lymphoid origin express IL-3Rα, is exquisitely dependent on IL-3 for its survival and is a strong producer of type I interferons (IFNs).
Human myeloid DC can be easily generated in vitro by culturing monocytes in presence of GM-CSF and IL-44;5 whereas the so-called lymphoid DC have been obtained by isolation of precursors from blood or lymph nodes6;7.
The GM-CSF/IL4 DC have been used in clinical trials in cell therapy44. However, using these conditions, only 67% of immunized patients showed an increase in response to the treatment. Therefore it is important to improve the method, conditions or substances to improve the efficacity of the treatment.


A method, a food container, a lid, and pad for a food container that actively removes moisture in the food container without changing the food temperature inside the container in a meaningful way are disclosed herein. The removal of moisture is achieved by introducing a cold spot (below the dew point temperature) inside the food container that forces condensation of moisture near the cold spot. The condensed moisture is then captured by an absorbent element placed below, and preferably adjacent to/collocated with, the cold spot and between the cold spot and the stored food. The cold spot is preferably achieved by a properly chosen frozen substance such as an ice cube or a frozen gel packet or ice trapped inside an absorbent pad.

Crispy or crunchy food stored in a food container becomes soggy after a very short period of time. Because of this, delivered or take-out food rarely tastes as good as it is served in a restaurant, and lunches prepared at home in the morning are not as delicious as they should be.
This problem is caused by moisture trapped in the food container. Existing solutions, such as US Patent Publication No. 2010/00320210, passively vent the trapped moisture out of the container. These solutions are limited because relying on air circulation alone, the moisture is not removed fast enough, or at least in an amount of time that is meaningful to avoid condensation inside the container, and eventually the moisture comes back to the food. In addition, by introducing ambient air from outside the container (through an open vent), the temperature inside changes, making hot food colder or salads warmer. Furthermore, since the replacement air that enters the vented container contains moisture as well, adopting these solutions results in introducing more moisture into the food container and the food.
Other strategies, such as US Patent Publication No. 2013/0056369, use absorbent materials placed on the interior side of the lid with passive/natural convection to absorb moisture. Like the solutions previously stated, the absorbent materials do not work well when a relatively large amount of moisture comes up from sizzling food.
Because the problem affects not only people's enjoyment of their lunches but also customer satisfaction of businesses that serve take-out food, and food shelf life, food containers that quickly and effectively remove moisture in the containers are needed.

Food container with forced moisture removal


An augmented reality system which enables grasping of virtual objects is described such as to stack virtual cubes or to manipulate virtual objects in other ways. In various embodiments a user's hand or another real object is tracked in an augmented reality environment. In examples, the shape of the tracked real object is approximated using at least two different types of particles and the virtual objects are updated according to simulated forces exerted between the augmented reality environment and at least some of the particles. In various embodiments 3D positions of a first one of the types of particles, kinematic particles, are updated according to the tracked real object; and passive particles move with linked kinematic particles without penetrating virtual objects. In some examples a real-time optic flow process is used to track motion of the real object.

In augmented reality applications the real world is enhanced with virtual computer graphics. Modern computing hardware and software enables the creation of rich, realistic 3D virtual environments. Such 3D virtual environments are widely used for gaming, education/training, prototyping, and any other application where a realistic virtual representation of the real world is useful. To enhance the realism of these 3D virtual environments, physics simulations are used to control the behavior of virtual objects in a way that resembles how such objects would behave in the real world under the influence of Newtonian forces. This enables their behavior to be predictable and familiar to a user.
It is, however, difficult to enable a user to interact with these 3D virtual environments in a natural manner where direct-as-possible interactions with virtual objects are enabled. Most interactions with 3D virtual environments happen via indirect input devices such as mice, keyboards or joysticks. Other, more direct input paradigms have been explored as means to manipulate virtual objects in such virtual environments. Among them is pen-based input control, and also input from vision-based multi-touch interactive surfaces. However, in such instances there is the mismatch of input and output. Pen-based and multi-touch input data is inherently 2D which makes many interactions with the 3D virtual environments difficult if not impossible. For example, the grasping of objects to lift them or to put objects into containers etc. cannot be readily performed using 2D inputs.
In the real world users readily apply a variety of strategies to manipulate objects such as pushing, pulling, dragging and grasping using the full dexterity of human hands. Previous approaches to enabling virtual objects to be manipulated in these ways have involved detecting and tracking iconic gestures made by human hands and using those detected and tracked gestures to put virtual objects under grasping and other types of control. Other approaches have involved using inverse kinematics to track an articulated model of a human hand and using the tracked model to enable manipulation of objects in some ways.
The embodiments described below are not limited to implementations which solve any or all of the disadvantages of known augmented reality systems.

Grasping virtual objects in augmented reality


Representative embodiments are disclosed of a system and method for linearly exposing client-server interaction comprising interpreting a function command representing a first group of sequential action requests to an integrated multimedia communication server (iMCS), sequentially transmitting the first group of sequential action requests from an interactive multimedia runtime (iMR) client to the iMCS, wherein a next sequential action request of the first group is transmitted to the iMCS prior to receiving a response message from the iMCS associated with a previous sequential action request of the first group, queuing response messages received from the iMCS, and handling the queued response messages.

In the realm of computing, the relationship that drives most useful applications is the client-server relationship. The interaction between client and server allows most computing beyond an unconnected, single computer. The client-server relationship defines an architecture in which a user's computer, which may be a personal computer (PC), may be the client machine or entity requesting something from a server, which is the supplying machine or entity. However, a PC may also operate as the server side of the client-server relationship. Both are typically connected via some kind of network, such as a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN).
In the client-server model, the client typically processes the user interface (WINDOWS™, MACINTOSH™, etc.) and may perform some or all of the application processing. Servers may range in capacity from high-end PCs to mainframes. A database server typically maintains databases and processes requests from the client to extract data from or to update the database. An application server, which is a software server, typically provides additional business processing for the clients.
While many client-server models are now commonly referred to as "Web based" and/or "Web enabled," the architecture is conceptually the same. Users' PCs may still be clients, and there are tens of thousands of Web servers throughout the Internet delivering Web pages and other functionality. On the Web, the client typically runs the browser and, just like legacy client/server systems, can perform a little or a lot of processing, such as simply displaying hypertext mark-up language (HTML) pages, processing embedded scripts, or considerable processing with JAVA™ applets. A myriad of browser plug-ins provide all sorts of possibilities for client processing.
The server side of the Web is typically a multi-tiered server architecture with interlinked Web servers, application servers, database servers, and caching servers. In developing network applications that are offered on the Web, the developer typically codes all aspects of communication between the client and server. Actions intended for the client may depend on responses or actions on the server. Similarly actions on the server may depend on actions or responses from the client. This architecture produces an asynchronous event model. If step 1 is dependent on a response from the server, the process grinds to a halt, and step 2 will be delayed until the response for step 1 has been received.
The programming model for dealing with the asynchronous nature of the client-server architecture may be awkward even to experienced programmers. Therefore, the development of applications which include client-server interaction have generally been reserved for experienced programmers.

Method and system for facilitating comunications between an interactive multimedia client and an interactive multimedia communication server


A semiconductor memory having bit lines and wordlines crossing each other, a memory cell array formed by memory cells arranged in rows and columns on crossover points of the bit lines and wordlines, and sense amplifier banks arranged on opposite sides of the memory cell array. Each sense amplifier bank has staggered sense amplifiers connected to a bit line according to an interleaved arrangement whereby bit lines alternate in the direction of the wordlines between bit lines coupled to different sense amplifiers. This results in interconnect spaces parallel to the bit lines. Also, each sense amplifier bank includes a local column decoder for selecting a sense amplifier and which is staggered with the sense amplifiers and coupled to the sense amplifier by an output line running in an available interconnect space parallel to the bit lines.

Basically, a DRAM is an integrated circuit that stores data in binary form (e.g., "1" or "0") in a large number of cells. The data is stored in a cell as a charge on a capacitor located within the cell. Typically, a high logic level is approximately equal to the power supply voltage and a low logic level is approximately equal to ground.
The cells of a conventional DRAM are arranged in an array so that individual cells can be addressed and accessed. The array can be thought of as rows and columns of cells. Each row includes a wordline that interconnects cells on the row with a common control signal. Similarly, each column includes a bit line that is coupled to at most one cell in each row. Thus, the word and bit lines can be controlled so as to individually access each cell of the array.
To read data out of a cell, the capacitor of a cell is accessed by selecting the wordline associated with the cell. A complementary bit line that is paired with the bit line for the selected cell is equilibrated to an equilibrium voltage. This equilibration voltage (Veq) is typically midway between the high Vdd and low Vss (typically ground) logic levels. Thus, conventionally, the bit lines are equilibrated to one-half of the power supply voltage, Vdd/2. When the wordline is activated for the selected cell, the capacitor of the selected cell discharges the stored voltage onto the bit line, thus changing the voltage on the bit line. A differential amplifier, conventionally referred to as a sense amplifier, is then used to detect and amplify the difference in voltage on the pair of bit lines.
FIG. 1 represents a conventional memory architecture wherein in order to correctly read a data item from a memory cell of a memory array, a current read from a cell of an addressed memory matrix AM is compared at a sense amplifier SA0-SA7 of a sense amplifier array SAA to a current read from a cell of a reference memory matrix RM that serves in particular to compensate for unknown offset values that are due to irregularities in the fabrication process.
In order to reduce the surface area of a memory, a stacking technique, so-called "staggering" technique, is conventionally used to take into account the pitch difference in between the sense amplifier and the cells. Several sense amplifiers SA0-SA7, generally 4 or 8 as shown in FIG. 1, are therefore staggered one behind each other in the longitudinal direction of the bit lines, such as the bit lines BL2 and bBL2 (complementary to BL2) coupled to sense amplifier SA2.
The architecture of FIG. 1 is disadvantageous in that a bit line and its complementary run over all the staggered sense amplifiers. This leads to a congestion of the space available as metal-0 (metal used for the bit lines) indeed covers 100% of the sense amplifiers.
Moreover, addressing a specific cell of the memory necessitates row and column address buses built from metal tracks, generally metal-1 tracks. When 64 column address buses are used to decode the sense amplifiers of the sense amplifier array, around 100 metal-1 tracks need to be present for power supplies, control commands, I/Os and decoding (64 tracks for this latest group). But in the near future, there needs to be much more focus of the core circuits of a DRAM, especially on the sense amplifier. Indeed, with introduction of Fully Depleted Silicon On Insulator (FDSOI) technology or introduction of high-k/metal gate, devices will get smaller and the metal lines would likely become the limiting factor, not any more the size of the devices. It is therefore understood that 100 metal-1 tracks are far too many for such smaller devices.
FIG. 2 shows another memory architecture that helps limiting the available space congestion. In this architecture, the sense amplifiers array is split into pairs of staggered sense amplifier banks SABe, SABo and the bit lines adopt an interleaved arrangement whereby bit lines alternate in the lateral direction of the wordlines WL between a bit line BL0, bBL0, BL2, bBL2 coupled to a sense amplifier SA0, SA2 of the first bank SAB0 of the pair and a bit line BL1, bBL1 coupled to a sense amplifier SA1 of the second bank SAB1 of the pair. The alternative arrangement of the bit lines result in interconnect spaces available in each sense amplifier bank of the pair parallel to the bit lines. Taking bank SABe as an example, interconnect space is available in between bit lines BL0, bBL0 and bit lines BL2, bBL2. Taking bank SABo as an example, interconnect space is available before bit lines BL1, bBL1. With this alternative arrangement, metal-0 now covers only 50% of the sense amplifiers. With relaxed constraints on the sense amplifiers, the layout is easier.
On the other hand, this architecture necessitates dividing the memory cells array into sub-arrays, which results on the top and bottom sub-arrays being only half-used. Moreover, when 64 column address buses CAB are used (32 buses dedicated to each of the sense amplifier sections), around 140 metal-1 tracks needs to be drawn (around 70 per sense amplifier section). The architecture of FIG. 2 therefore also suffers from the high number of column address buses.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved memory architectures and these are now provided by the present invention.

Semiconductor memory having staggered sense amplifiers associated with a local column decoder


A method and apparatus are disclosed for measuring the magnetic properties of magnetic materials by generating flux lines through a balanced magnetic core and through a magnetic sample placed adjacent to the core. Increased sensitivity is accomplished through a modulation of the flux in the magnetic core which is measured and subsequently demodulated to yield an electrical signal corresponding to the magnetic properties of the material being tested.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for measuring the magnetic properties of magnetic materials and particularly concerns an apparatus that is capable of highly sensitive and non-destructive testing of the M-H hysteresis loop on a wide variety of magnetic materials.
2. Discussion
Currently available techniques for measuring the M-H hysteresis loop properties of magnetic materials require test samples to be produced to a specific geometry. An instrument such as a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), loop tracer, or hysteresigraph is then used to measure the M-H hysteresis loop of the sample. A disadvantage associated with these techniques is the inconvenience of sample preparation given the many different forms of magnetic products to be tested. Many commercial magnetic products have the form of thin sheets such as magnetic recording tape, hard disks for computer data storage and laminations used for transformers. Producing a sample of specific size suitable for testing from these products, using a cutting, punching or forming process, may stress the material, thereby changing the magnetic properties being measured due to magnetostriction. In addition, these methods of sample preparation may cause ferromagnetic contamination around the edges or on other surfaces, which can cause significant error in measurement of the hysteresis loop, especially in small or weakly-magnetic samples. The preparation of samples and measurement of M-H loop hysteresis properties with a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) is also time-consuming, usually requiring 20 to 40 minutes per sample. Test methods which destroy the samples so that they can no longer be used are often impractical or unusable in applications where process control testing is desired.
Other difficult and time-consuming sample preparations are sometimes required, which make prior testing techniques impractical. For example, the testing of amorphous ribbon laminations requires that a sample strip be rolled in the shape of a toroid and that primary and secondary windings be wound on the toroid. Sample preparation is time-consuming and can distort the magnetic properties of the material.
Several attempts have been made in the prior art to improve the accuracy and speed of M-H hysteresis loop testers. LDJ Electronics, Inc. of Michigan, sells an M-H hysteresis loop tester that measures the magnetic properties of computer data storage disks non-destructively. This device tests a large portion of the disk by applying a magnetic field to the entire disk. It then measures the resulting magnetization change across the diameter of the disk. This technique has the disadvantage of measuring both sides of the disk at the same time, as it is not capable of measuring the M-H hysteresis loop over a small section of the disk. Further, this technique is limited to measuring products which fit into the drive coil of the testing device.
Magneto-Optic hysteresis loop testers measure the magnetic characteristics of the surface of a magnetic film by the Kerr effect. A disadvantage to the Magneto-Optic technique, however, is that it cannot detect the additional magnetization flux below the reflective surface of the magnetic film. Magnetization-times-thickness product is a figure of merit relating to available magnetic signal strength and is an important parameter for controlling the manufacturing process. Since a Magneto-Optic system does not respond to film thickness, it cannot measure this important parameter.
Another device sold by Innovative Instrumentation, Inc. uses a technique that mimics magnetic recording where a signal is written to a computer data storage disk. The disk is rotated past a sensor that records the magnetic intensity of the signal. With each rotation, the write signal is increased and the sensor measures the resultant induction signal. This technique, however, is slow and cumbersome and cannot measure the actual M-H hysteresis loop of the material.
An alternative prior art testing device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,316 to Hesterman. The Hesterman apparatus is a non-destructive M-H hysteresis tester for magnetic computer disks which utilizes a series of balanced drive coils about a magnetic core to magnetize a sample, which in turn produces a voltage signal detected by a sense coil located in the center of the magnetic core. This apparatus is easier and less time-consuming for testing magnetic properties because of the elimination of sample preparation, and is also useful for applications where destruction of the material cannot be allowed. However, the shortcomings associated with this device involve its inability to produce sufficient sensitivity while overcoming background electrical and magnetic noise for measuring thin film samples such as those of less than one micrometer thickness, or other samples that are weakly magnetic and therefore produce low signal to noise ratios. In fact, all currently available magnetic testing systems lack the ability to increase the signal to noise ratio to produce sufficient sensitivity for testing thin or weakly magnetic samples.
The need therefore exists for an improved method and apparatus for non-destructively testing magnetic samples with increased sensitivity.

Surface magnetometer with modulated flux gate section


A video conference session is established between a plurality of meeting clients, where each meeting client includes a computing device that communicates via a network and at least one host server with computing devices of other meeting clients. A presenter is established for the video conference session, where the presenter includes at least one of the meeting clients, and audio and video content generated from the presenter is provided to other meeting clients within a base room of the video conference session, where the presenter provides audio content to the base room in a first language. In response to at least one meeting client selecting a translation of the audio content from the presenter from the first language into a second language, audio content is provided to the at least one meeting client in the second language during the ongoing video conference session.

Video conferencing has become increasingly important, e.g., in business and other environments, as businesses or relationships between entities continually increase and expand vast distances within and between countries. Due to the distances between groups of people, a meeting via video conferencing between groups of people at different locations becomes more convenient instead of requiring groups to travel to a common meeting point.
While video conferencing is beneficial in bringing together groups of people for meetings that may be great distances from each other, language barriers that may exist between certain groups engaged in the video conference (e.g., for two groups of people having a meeting from two different language speaking countries) can present difficulties in effective communications occurring within a video meeting.

Simultaneous language interpretation during ongoing video conferencing


Logic circuits are employed in a telecommunications bridge/router device to examine a received frame to determine which VLAN, if any, the frame is associated with. The protocol type, receive port identification, and receive VLAN tag are employed to determine the transmit port identification and transmit VLAN tag. A predefined table indicates which ports within the bridge/router are associated with the VLAN. The frame is excluded from transmission through the ports that are not associated with members of the respective the VLAN.

Telecommunications networks facilitate exchange of voice, video and computer data. Local area networks ("LANs") of devices may be formed within a telecommunications network in order to increase network bandwidth usage efficiency by segregating network traffic within such a LAN. In particular, a group of devices in relatively close physical proximity and sharing a common administrative purpose may be designated as members of a LAN.
More recently, virtual LANs ("VLANs") have been developed. In a VLAN, devices that are not in relatively close physical proximity belong to a common network that is analogous to a LAN. However, unlike LANs, VLANs contain broadcast and multicast traffic within a predefined group to limit unnecessary bandwidth use in the overall network. Data units that are associated with a VLAN are identified by a field located at layer-3 of the header of each such data unit. In particular, data transmitted from a member of the VLAN to another member of the VLAN may contain VLAN tag indicators that allow the data to be easily filtered outside of the VLAN, thereby reducing superfluous network traffic. While this distinguishing feature allows devices that are not in close proximity to be members of a common VLAN, examination and processing of layer-3 header information is time consuming and processor intensive. A more efficient method and apparatus for supporting VLAN operation would therefore be desirable.


An endoscope probe system includes an endoscope probe to be inserted into a body cavity to observe tissue of a living body. The endoscope probe system further includes a laser source that emits multiple laser beams, a light detector having multiple light receiving elements each of which detects intensity of light incident thereon, and a plurality of confocal optical systems arranged to focus the laser beams emitted from the laser source to small spots arranged in a matrix pattern on the target and selectively transmit the laser beams reflected by the target at the spots to respective ones of the light receiving elements of the light detector.

The present invention relates to an endoscope probe to be inserted into a body cavity to observe in vivo tissues (i.e., tissues of a living body) and an endoscope probe system including such an endoscope probe.
Conventionally, a confocal light scanning probe has been known, which scans a laser beam on tissues within a body cavity through a confocal optical system and receives the laser beam reflected by the tissues through the same confocal optical system to observe a precise surface image or tomogram of the tissues. An example of such a probe is disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. P2002-277743, for example.
Such a confocal light scanning probe selectively receives the laser beam reflected by the tissues at an object side focal plane of an objective lens of the confocal optical system by disposing a pin hole at an image side focal point of the objective lens, which pin hole allows only the light reflected at the object side focal plane to pass therethrough. The reflected light that has passed through the pin hole is then received by a light detector that generates an electrical signal representing the intensity of the reflected light.
To build up a two- or three-dimensional image of the tissues from the output of the light detector, the laser beam emitted from the confocal light scanning probe should be scanned on the target tissues. Therefore, the confocal light scanning probe is generally provided with a scanning mirror for scanning the laser beam on the tissue either two dimensionally or three dimensionally.
The confocal light scanning probe such as one disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Provisional Publication No. P2002-277743 is provided with a scanning mirror, which is produced by etching a silicon substrate and is typically supported by torsion bars which are produced by etching integrally with the mirror portion. The scanning mirror is generally actuated by an electrostatic force to rotatably vibrate by twisting the torsion bars.
It should be noted that the scanning mirror arranged as above can precisely control the vibrating amplitude of the mirror since it is actuated by a electrostatic force. However, since the required driving voltage of the entire system is quite high, e.g. a few hundreds volts, a leakage current may occur when the confocal light scanning probe is inserted into a body cavity.
Further, the torsion bars supporting the mirror may break when they are twisted by an excessively large force (i.e. when the laser beam scanning range is too large), or for a large number of times (i.e. when the laser beam scanning is carried out for a long time).
Further, the conventional confocal light scanning probe requires a finite duration of time for scanning an area on the tissue to be observed using a beam. Therefore, it is difficult to achieve real time observation of the tissue by using the confocal light scanning probe.

Endoscope probe system having confocal optical systems


The pass-gate circuit with backgate pull-up includes: a pass-gate transistor coupled between a first port and a second port; a backgate pull-up transistor coupled between a back gate of the pass-gate transistor and a gate of the pass-gate transistor; a first MOS transistor coupled between a first port and the gate of the pass-gate transistor; and a second MOS transistor coupled between a second port and the gate of the pass-gate transistor.

A back-gate pull-up is used to reduce switch off current and powered down leakage current (Ioff) in solid state switches. In switches where power down leakage is a concern, the path from the PMOS back-gate to supply voltage needs to be blocked. Placing a diode between the back-gate and supply meets the need, but allows the back-gate voltage to drift due to substrate leakages. Lower back-gate voltages will reduce the potential between the back-gate and the drain and source of the transistor. This lower potential results in higher leakage.


A mechanical lifting jack. The jack includes a single gear rack having a single row of spaced-apart teeth. A gear member having two pin members is held in meshing engagement with the gear rack by a gear housing circumscribing the gear rack. The teeth of the gear rack collectively define a teeth profile line. The gear member is rotatable about an axis of rotation, and is held by the gear housing such that the axis is maintained interiorly of the teeth profile line as the gear member operates and engageably advances along the gear rack. The pin members preferably reside on opposing sides of the axis of rotation and the teeth are sufficiently long to define gaps therebetween that are longer than diameters of the pin members, structural conditions which combine with the position of the axis to enable the pin members to impose forces against and normal to upper surfaces of the teeth.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to mechanical transmission devices. More particularly, it concerns a mechanical jack transmission which incorporates a single gear rack and pinion gear system for lifting or lowering a load.
2. The Background Art
Mechanical lifting jacks are known in the prior art for lifting vehicles and other loads. One of the principal aspects of every mechanical jack is the transmission mechanism by which an external applied force is transmitted to the load to be lifted.
Some prior art mechanical jacks are specially designed for high lifting. Such jacks often involve one or more gear racks with rotational gearing disposed in meshing engagement with the gear rack. The prior art designs involving gear racks are characterized by the disadvantage that unsafe backspin may occur during operation of the jack, causing the load carrier to plummet rapidly downward under the force of the load and thereby posing a serious risk of damage and injury. Some of the high-lift jacks have utilized spring-loaded pawl devices to solve the problem of unsafe backspin, while others have introduced additional gearing. Either solution introduces unneeded complexity and expense to the jack.


An apparatus that facilitates network security for input network traffic includes microcode controlled state machines, each of which includes a computation kernel. Rules applied to a network traffic segment are distributed across the computation kernels. At least two of the computation kernels include condition logic configured by microcode stored in an associated control store to evaluate a unique configured rule in microcode to produce modification instructions. A distribution circuit routes the network traffic segment to each of the microcode controlled state machines. A circuit generates a modification command by combining the modification instructions from each of the at least two computation kernels, and performs a modification of the input network traffic based on the modification command to produce modified output network traffic that facilitates network security.

The pervasive use of computer networks to increase productivity and to facilitate communication makes network security and network traffic monitoring critical concerns. Attacks targeting both individual hosts or local area networks (LANs) and the wide-area network (WAN) infrastructure are becoming increasingly sophisticated and frequent. Typically, a perimeter firewall is used to exclude unauthorized traffic from a customer LAN. Anti-virus (AV) software is used to eliminate viruses that may have entered the LAN and infected individual hosts. These existing preventive strategies, though simple and useful, have not prevented continuing damage in the billions of dollars from attacks on major organizations.
Both a firewall and AV software have limited monitoring, detection, and reaction capabilities for facilitating network security. A firewall filters out traffic from known unauthorized sources based on packet header. A firewall is typically not designed to diagnose or to react to a potential attack based on changes in network behavior or performance, or based on signatures hidden deep within packet contents. Also, a firewall typically does not provide flexibility in how to react beyond filtering of all traffic with specific header fields, such as source and destination addresses and ports. A firewall is usually deployed only at the LAN perimeter and therefore does not prevent propagation of attacks inside a LAN.
AV software runs primarily on hosts. Such software recognizes the digital signatures of known viruses but typically cannot detect new viruses, and is also not suited to monitoring of high-speed network traffic. Inherently, AV software has limited visibility of network traffic because AV software resides on a particular host.
It would be highly desirable to provide an apparatus with monitoring capabilities sufficiently comprehensive to enable detection of new types of attacks, and with reactive options proportionate to the threat posed by the attack.
The architecture of an apparatus with this advanced feature set desirably should overcome various hurdles. Current advanced security systems such as intrusion detection systems (IDS) typically rely on off the shelf computer system components, including central processing units (CPUs), memory, operating systems, and peripherals. Additional co-processors, such as network processors (NPs) and content addressable memories (CAMs), provide enhanced monitoring and detection capabilities at higher speeds, but at substantial additional cost. Hardware architectures that are not customized to this application often have non-deterministic performance that depends on the dynamic variation of input traffic patterns, making hardware resource use inefficient and validation difficult. The inability to guarantee performance is often a barrier to deployments in high speed networks where traffic has real time characteristics (e.g. interactive voice and media applications). Additional complexity, such as memory hierarchy, caches, or complex queuing structures, is required to support high bandwidth and/or low latency networks and to avoid unacceptable network performance degradation in corner case traffic scenarios. Inflexibility may result from limitations inherent to the components used, such as unoptimized instruction sets or unavailability of desired building block features. It would be desirable, given the importance of customer LAN performance, to provide a low cost, high speed, robust, and flexible apparatus with the advanced features needed for facilitation of network security traffic monitoring. Such an apparatus would enable a paradigm shift in network security and network traffic monitoring toward more rapid reaction to and tighter containment of attacks on networks that are not initially prevented.

Apparatus and method for facilitating network security with granular traffic modifications


A tool for polishing and fine-grinding optically active surfaces in precision optics has a main body which can be attached in a rotationally fixed manner to a tool spindle of a machining machine. A guide element is arranged concentrically in the main body and is mounted such that it can be displaced axially therein. A machining disk is replaceably attached to the outer end of the guide element. The main body is rigidly connected in a rotationally fixed manner, over the full displacement travel, to the guide element mounted such that it can be displaced axially therein, and in that the machining disk is rigidly fixed in a non-tiltable manner on the guide element.

In such a known tool (EP 1 698 432 A2) for the fine-machining of optically active surfaces, in particular on spectacle lenses, a spherical head is arranged at the end of the guide element and engages in an associated receiving chamber of the machining disk, so that the machining disk can tilt relative to the guide element at the spherical head. If, for example, a higher relative machining speed is desired in order to increase the removal of material, the tool must be brought into engagement with the workpiece in the edge region, i.e. at a radial distance from the tool rotation axis. In this case, a return movement of the machining disk relative to the workpiece in the direction of the tool rotation axis may be obtained by tilting the machining disk at the spherical head. This may result in relative positions between the machining disk and the workpiece in which an undefinable removal of material on the workpiece is obtained, which is undesirable in applications in precision optics. In the known tool, the rotating drive of the machining disk takes place by means of an elastic bellows, which is fixed on the one hand to the main body and on the other hand to the machining disk by ring clips.
What is needed is a tool of the type specified in the introduction, which allows a stable, clearly definable polishing and/or fine-grinding process for applications in precision optics.

Tool for polishing and fine-grinding optically active surfaces in precision optics


A security system incorporating one or more biometric data recognition capabilities in a non-intrusive way to enhance the overall security provided by the system. The biometric recognition may be provided by incorporating one or more cameras in a keypad system wherein the key identifications are altered between uses, and wherein the viewing of the key identifications is sufficiently restricted so that an operator must be adequately aligned with the key identifications when operating the system that reliable biometric data may be automatically obtained during system operation without the need for additional explicit positioning requirements placed upon the user. Other biometric data sensors may also be used if desired. Various embodiments are disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of high security locks and related security devices.
2. Prior Art
High security locks and similar security devices of various kinds are well-known in the prior art. One class of such locks is keyboard or keypad operated locks wherein users of the locks are provided a code which, when entered into the keyboard, will operate the same. Such codes may be lock dependent, essentially serving as a combination for the lock, may be user dependent, essentially identifying the user to the lock system, or may be a combination of lock and user dependent. An example of the first type of lock are locks controlling access to parts of a secure facility where all authorized persons have the same entry code, whereas locks of the second type include those used as part of an automatic teller machine to enable function keys which allow one to withdraw money and conduct other transactions. Locks of the third type include locks controlling access to parts of a secure facility where each authorized person has a respective unique entry code that identifies that person to the system as well as provides the desired entry. In that regard, the words lock, locks and security devices as used herein are used in a general sense to denote a means for granting access to a place or enabling a function or an action which is otherwise disabled, such as the operation of a door latch, the withdrawal of funds in an automatic teller machine, or enabling any of various types of services in communication devices, computing devices, cash machines, point of sale terminals, etc., or alternatively, the disabling of something which is normally enabled, such as might be required to lock or disable something normally left unlocked or enabled.
In a conventional keyboard operated lock, the level of security attained is relatively low because the number to key assignments are fixed and ordered, with each key representing a specific number or numbers where such number or numbers are often permanently imprinted on or adjacent to the key, and the sequence of key depressions by a user are normally observable from either side of the user without substantial difficulty. To alleviate this problem and enhance the security of the overall system, keyboards and/or keypads are known wherein the keys are not given a predetermined and ordered and fixed 1-2-3 type sequence, but rather are given unique identifications for each use of the keypad, "which identifications are effectively scrambled before the next such use". In this manner, the physical key depression sequence observed by any outside observer during one operation of the system will have no meaning during the next operation of the system when the keys are identified differently, and reentry of the same physical key depression sequence by an interloper will result in the entry of a different code and thereby not result in a breach. Further, in such systems the key identifications appearing when the user is standing in front of the keyboard are highly directional, and not observable from the side. Thus, the body or head of the user blocks the key identifications from view by others, so that while the physical key depressions can be observed from the side, the key identifications associated therewith cannot similarly be determined.
Apparatus of the foregoing type provides a high level of security, as no information concerning the code for operating the lock, which may be personal to a specific user, is conveyed to an interloper watching the sequence of key depressions used to operate the security device. However, it is still possible with such systems that an interloper obtain the code through the use of force, threat, deceit, fraud, theft, or other malicious acts.
Biometric devices, including but not limited to optical biometric devices such as facial recognition, which includes but is not necessarily limited to, iris recognition, retina recognition, etc., may be used to enhance the security of a security system. Such biometric devices may provide an additional level of security since they require the presence of the person rather than simply the knowledge of a personal code that could have been obtained by way of force, threat, deceit, fraud or other malicious acts.
However, a drawback of biometric devices is that they typically require the position of a specific body part of a user to be consistently placed at a precise location for user recognition. For example, some biometric devices require a binocular type of device to position the retina and/or iris, or a mirror that requires the user to position themselves at a specific distance and in a specific inclination to a camera or reader for facial/iris recognition. In addition, these devices require that the user be aware of the positioning process and willingly comply in order to be recognized. Furthermore, they require time for the user to reach the proper position.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a new security device that would enhance the level of security achieved individually by the hereinbefore described devices. In addition, it would be desirable for such a security system with a biometric device to provide a means by which information can be gathered from the user without inconveniencing the user.

Data entry systems with biometric devices for security access control


A micropump comprises a housing for defining a pump chamber, an inlet valve disposed in an inlet flow passage, a outlet valve disposed in a outlet flow passage, and an actuator for changing a volume of the pump chamber. The actuator is formed of a thermo-responsive polymer gel material. Fluid is supplied and fed by heating and cooling the actuator.. A micropump comprises a pump body member for defining a tank chamber holding liquid, a liquid inlet portion, a liquid outlet portion for discharging the liquid medium in the tank chamber, a liquid outlet portion for discharging the liquid medium in the tank chamber, and an actuator, for reducing a volume of the tank chamber. The actuator is formed of a liquid-absorptive polymer gel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a micropump for supplying and feeding fluid at a low flow rate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, research into micro-electromechanical systems has become more active, and for example, several designs of micropumps have been proposed, including a chemical pump using electrically shrinking high molecules.
In the use of a conventional micropump of this kind, there are many problems to be solved, as described in the following;
(1) Construction is complex,
(2) Minimizing to the required size is difficult,
(3) Adequate and reliable opening and closing operations of the inlet flow passage and outlet flow passage is difficult, and so on.


When image data is sent and received between cameras via communication, it is possible for the user to ascertain the images that are being communicated. Thumbnail image data for transfer purposes is transmitted from a transmit-side camera to a receive-side camera. Main (full-size) image data is thenceforth transmitted from the transmit-side camera to the receive-side camera. When the main image data is sent and received, display screens on respective ones of the cameras display an image in which a transfer thumbnail image represented by transfer thumbnail image data moves from the display screen on the transmitting side to the display screen on the receiving side.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a portable image communication system, a transmitting unit and a receiving unit that construct the system, and methods of controlling the transmitting and receiving units.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are occasions where image data is transmitted from one digital still camera to another. Such transmission makes it possible for image data obtained by photography using one digital still camera to be stored in the other digital still camera. In order to notify the user of the status of transmission of the image data, the user is informed of the number of images for which transmission has been completed (see the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-175794).
Further, in a case where the image data is transmitted to an apparatus such as a computer, printer or facsimile machine, there are instances where an animation is displayed (see the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-137827).
However, the user cannot determine what image is being transmitted.

Portable image communication system, transmitting and receiving units constructing said system, and methods of controlling said units


Metal-organic framework (MOFs) compositions based on post¬synthetic metalation of secondary building unit (SBU) terminal or bridging OH or OH2 groups with metal precursors or other post-synthetic manipulations are described. The MOFs provide a versatile family of recyclable and reusable single-site solid catalysts for catalyzing a variety of asymmetric organic transformations, including the regioselective boryiation and siiylation of benzyiic C—H bonds, the hydrogenation of aikenes, imines, carbonyls, nitroarenes, and heterocycles, hydroboration, hydrophosphination, and cyclization reactions. The solid catalysts can also be integrated into a flow reactor or a supercritical fluid reactor.

For decades, many organic transformations, such as hydrogenation reactions, have relied on precious metal catalysts. However, the low abundance, high price, and inherent toxicity of precious metals have led to intense interest in developing earth-abundant metal catalysts. See Chirik et al., Acc. Chem. Res., 2015, 48, 2495. Significant progress has been made in recent years on the development of base metal catalysts. For example, single-site hydrogenation catalysts based on iron, cobalt, nickel, or copper coordinated with sterically encumbered strong field nitrogen- or phosphorus-donor ligands have been reported. See for example, Bart et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2004, 126, 13794-13807. However, each of these homogeneous base metal catalysts typically only hydrogenates a narrow class of substrates with limited turnover numbers. Furthermore, few examples of earth-abundant metal catalyzed hydrogenation reactions of imines and heterocycles exist and they generally require harsh reaction conditions. See Chen et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2015, 137, 11718-11724; and Zhanaq et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2012, 51, 12102-12106.
Homogeneous base metal catalysts typically rely on coordination of sterically bulky chelating ligands to prevent the formation of catalytically incompetent oligomeric species by shutting down the intermolecular decomposition pathways. Such steric protection is important for stabilizing weak-field ligand-coordinated metal catalysts, particularly for late first-row transition metals in a very weak field coordination environment consisting of oxygen-donor atoms. See Bellow et al., Organometallics, 2015, 34, 2917-2923. However, steric protecting groups often weaken metal-ligand binding and impede catalytic activity by preventing challenging hydrogenation substrates, such as tri- and tetra-substituted olefins, from accessing the catalytic sites. See Crabtree, Acc. Chem. Res., 1979, 12,331-337. Immobilization of catalytic species in structurally regular porous solid supports can provide catalytic site isolation without relying on bulky ligands, thus offering an alternative route to obtaining highly active base metal catalysts. Significant efforts have been devoted to the development of zeolite-, silica- or graphene-supported iron- and cobalt-based heterogeneous hydrogenation catalysts (see, e.g., Chen et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2015, 137, 11718-11724) and bare or protected metallic nanoparticles-based catalysts. See Stein et al., Adv. Synth. Catal., 2011, 353, 523-527; Welther et al., ChemCatChem, 2012, 4, 1088-1093; Hudson et al., Green Chem., 2013, 15, 2141-2148; Kelsen et al., Chem. Commun., 2013, 49, 3416-3418; and Mokhov et al., Russ. J. Gen. Chem., 2014, 84, 622-628. However, the activities and lifetimes of these heterogeneous hydrogenation catalysts can still be unsatisfactory.
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are an emerging class of porous molecular materials (see Moulton et al., Chem. Rev., 2001, 101, 1629; Evans et al., Acc. Chem. Res., 2002, 35, 511; Lan et al., Angew. Chem., Int. Ed., 2009, 48, 2334; Uemura et al., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2009, 38, 1228; Das et al., Angew. Chem., Int. Ed., 2011, 50, 10510; Wiers et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2011, 133, 14522; Kreno et al., Chem. Rev., 2012, 112, 1105; Li et al., Chem. Rev., 2012, 112, 869; Furukawa et al., Science, 2013, 341; and Shustova et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2013, 135, 13326) assembled from organic linkers and metal ions or metal cluster nodes. They find application in gas storage (e.g., hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane storage), molecule separation, and drug delivery. MOFs can also provide a highly tunable platform to engineer heterogeneous catalysts for chemical reactions, including asymmetric organic transformations and/or transformations that cannot be achieved with traditional porous inorganic materials. See Kesanli et al., Coord. Chem. Rev., 2003, 246, 305.
However, there remains an ongoing need in the art for additional heterogeneous catalysts for catalysis. In particular, there is an ongoing need for additional catalysts that have good stability and recyclability. There is an ongoing need for additional heterogeneous catalysts that can catalyze reactions at low catalyst loadings, with high turnover and good yields. Further, there is a need for additional heterogeneous catalysts to catalyze additional types of reactions and/or reactions of additional types of substrates.

Stabilization of active metal catalysts at metal-organic framework nodes for highly efficient organic transformations


Disclosed is method of manufacturing catalytic converters having a ceramic honeycomb surrounded by a supporting mat and located within a housing, comprising the following steps: (1) forming a cylindrical metal shell exhibiting a uniform curvature and having a lap joint exhibiting substantially the same curvature as the outer surface of the metal shell; (2) wrapping the honeycomb in a sufficient amount of supporting mat material and inserting the wrapped honeycomb into the metal shell; (3) compressively closing the metal shell around the wrapped honeycomb thereby, eating a substantially uniform compressive stress on the honeycomb by the supporting mat.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for the production of catalytic converters for purifying exhaust gases, and more particularly to a method for producing the catalytic converter utilizing a pre-formed rectangular metal sheet exhibiting a substantially uniform curvature.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, the purification of exhaust gases from internal combustion engines, particularly in motor vehicles, is generally achieved by an exhaust gas purification system in which a ceramic element having a honeycomb cell structure acts a catalyst carrier. More precisely, this honeycomb cell structure is covered with a catalyst which contains a precious metal which functions, in the presence of O.sub.2, to convert noxious components of the exhaust gas, such as HC and CO, to CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O. The honeycomb cell structure is housed within a gas-tight, sheet metal or cast-metal heat resistant housing or can.
Honeycomb structures currently employed are typically comprised of a ceramic material such as cordierite; a brittle material exhibiting limited mechanical strength. For this reason, catalytic converters in use today, typically include a supporting mat which is wrapped around the periphery of the honeycomb. This resilient material, which distributes any compressive forces uniformly on the ceramic, typically expands as the temperature increases. This being the case, the compressive supporting pressure on the honeycomb therefore increases at elevated temperatures, and in some degree compensates for the thermal expansion of the outer metal shell. Since the metal shell expands more than the enclosed ceramic honeycomb, this mat expansion with temperature rise prevents the honeycomb from becoming loose in the can shell.
There are known to the art various methods of fabricating catalytic as described above, including inserting tight-fitting mat-wrapped honeycombs into tubular shells (see, for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,423 (Neumann) ), as well as utilizing two metal shell halves which are closed around a mat-wrapped honeycomb and thereafter welded together; see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,724 (Bos). Another such method of fabrication, commonly referred to as the "tourniquet wrap" method involves forming a rectangular flat sheet metal piece into a cylindrical body having a lap joint. A mat-wrapped honeycomb is loosely inserted into the cylindrical metal can and the combined assembly is pulled together to form the desired mat compression. Thereafter, the lap joint is welded together thereby holding the can at the desired compression while at the same time preventing gas leakage; see for Example U.S. Pat No. 5,082,479 (Miller).
The aforementioned forming of a rectangular flat sheet metal piece into a cylindrical body is usually accomplished using a three-roller sheet metal rolling device and technique. An inherent deficiency of these pre-rolled metal bodies is that the end portions of the cylindrical metal body do not have the same curvature as the middle portion of the cylindrical sheet. An outcome of using these cylindrical metal bodies, exhibiting non-uniform curvature, is that irregular gaps are formed between the honeycomb structure and the metal body or can. While the supporting mat acts to alleviate some of this non-uniformity, there is imposed upon the honeycomb non-uniform compressive loading. In those areas where the gap is the smallest, point loading leads to localized compressive failure of the honeycomb structure, i.e., crushing of the brittle honeycomb structure.

Method of making a catalytic converter for use in an internal combustion engine


A door handle assembly for a vehicle includes a housing, a handle, and a compression mechanism. The handle is rotatably attached to the housing and rotatable between a resting position and a depressed position. The compression mechanism is configured to allow rotation of the handle between the resting position and the depressed position. The compression mechanism includes a plunger and a biasing member. The plunger is coupled to one of the housing or the handle and translatable between a first position when the handle is in the resting position and a second position when the handle is in the depressed position. The biasing member is coupled to one of the housing or the handle and configured to bias the plunger between the first position and the second position.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure and is not necessarily prior art.
Some vehicles, such as automobiles, include door handles that are substantially flush with an outer surface of the vehicle body, e.g., a door panel. In such applications, the door handle may be moved to an extended or ready position relative to the vehicle body, such that a user may grasp the handle and open the door. In certain circumstances, such as when moisture accumulates on the vehicle body and the temperature is below freezing, a layer of ice may form on the vehicle body, including over the door handle. In such situations, it may be difficult for the door handle to be moved to the extended position due to the ice freezing over the door handle and the vehicle body.


The present invention relates to acrylic adhesive compositions, and more precisely, acrylic adhesive compositions having improved anti-static capacity without damaging durability, transparency and peel strength which are composed of an acrylic copolymer, a hydrophilic complex compound and a hydrophobic complex compound to sufficiently inhibit the development of static electricity, regardless of the surface condition (hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity) of a polarizing plate.

Friction charging is one cause of static electricity, generated by friction between two subjects, and peeling charging is another cause of static electricity, generated by separation of a closely adhered subject. Static electricity can cause the adhesion of foreign materials, such as dust, electrostatic breakdown of a device, malfunctioning of a measuring instrument, and fire. According to the widespread use of mobile computers, liquid crystal TVs, and multifunctional cell-phones, liquid crystal displays are in increasing demand and thus the inhibition of static electricity development caused by the integration of each auxiliary device has become a major concern.
According to the increasing demand for liquid crystal displays (LCD), optical films such as polarizing plates are also in demand, thus requiring high speed LCD production processes. Major LCD production companies have been focused on the production of small panels up to 20 inches, but recently, according to new techniques, the sizes of products has become larger than 20 inches.
Various treatments have been performed on the surface of polarizing plates. For example, the surface of a polarizing plate can be coated with an anti-glare layer, a low-refractive and/or high-refractive layer, and an anti-staining layer, and each layer has a different surface roughness and surface energy. In general, to produce the anti-glare layer, micro-sized inorganic particles are mixed with acrylic resin as a binder, followed by coating. At this time, the popular inorganic particle is micro-sized silica. So, the surface roughness of the anti-glare layer is coarser than that of the triacetyl cellulose layer itself. Thus, wettability of an adhesive applied to a protective film is very important. In the meantime, using acrylic resin binder induces hydrophobicity because of lowered surface energy, compared with the triacetyl cellulose layer.
With the realization of high-speed polarizing plate production, TFT IC device destruction has been observed during the peeling of a polarizing plate protective film, which is attributed to static electricity generation not common in the conventional processes, resulting in a poor LCD panel. It is known that TFT IC device destruction has been observed when at least 0.7 kV of electrostatic voltage is generated on the surface of a polarizing plate.
To avoid such a generation of static electricity, an anti-static layer has been applied on the outside of a polarizing plate or a protective layer, but the effect is controversial and static electricity development has not been controlled yet. Therefore, an anti-static function needs to be added to an adhesive layer to inhibit static electricity development from the beginning.
The conventional methods to add an anti-static function onto an adhesive layer are adding a compound having a conductive component such as conductive metal powder or carbon particles, and adding an ionic or non-ionic material in the form of a surfactant. In the case of adding the conductive metal powder or carbon particles to give an anti-static function, the required amount of such a compound is huge, resulting in a decrease in transparency. In the case of adding an ionic or non-ionic material in the form of a surfactant, the composition is affected easily by humidity and the adhesive property is reduced by bleeding into the surface of the adhesive.
Another conventional technique of eliminating static electricity is by using a static eliminator during the protective film separation process. This technique also has a problem of lowered productivity owing to the limitation of static elimination and slow processing speed.
Korean Patent Publication No. 2004-0030919 describes an organic salt being added by at least 5 weight % to give a pressure sensitive adhesive and an anti-static effect is brought about by inducing a specific resistance up to 1013 Ω/□ on the adhesive surface. However, according to this method, high priced organic salt has to be used and only surface resistance is reduced without predicting the variations of constant voltage caused by static electricity generated during the separation.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.2004-287199 describes an ionic conductive polymer having a hydroxyl group being added to endow an anti-static function. However, this polymer is reacted with a conventional cross-linking agent (isocyanate), so that the adhesive property and the rheological property are changed, and accordingly the anti-static and adhesive capacities are out of control.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Hei6-128539 describes a method to generate an anti-static function by mixing a polyether polyol compound and one or more alkali metal salts. However, if the cross-linking agent used is isocyanate, the degree of cross-linking is vulnerable and the adhesive property is reduced by surface migration attributed to an ether bond (that is attributed to the hydrophilicity of ethylene oxide).

Acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive compositions


A non-volatile memory device including a control gate pattern having a tunnel insulation pattern, a trap-insulation pattern, a blocking insulation pattern and a control gate electrode, which are stacked on a semiconductor substrate. A selection gate pattern is disposed on the semiconductor substrate at one side of the control gate pattern. A gate insulation pattern is interposed between the selection gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate, and between the selection gate electrode and the control gate pattern. A cell channel region includes a first channel region defined in the semiconductor substrate under the selection gate electrode and a second channel region defined in the semiconductor substrate under the control gate electrode.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor memory device, more particularly, to a non-volatile memory device having a dual gate and a method of forming the same.
2. Disclosure of Related Art
Semiconductor memory devices may be classified into volatile memory devices and non-volatile memory devices. A volatile memory device loses stored data when power to the device is cut off. DRAM devices and SRAM devices are examples of volatile memory devices. A non-volatile memory device maintains stored data even when power to the device is cut off. A flash memory device is an example of a non-volatile memory device.
In a conventional flash memory cell, electric charges in the form of free carriers are stored within an isolated floating gate. Silicon-Oxide-Silicon (SONOS) memory devices, which store electric charges within a deep level trap, have also been investigated.
SONOS memory devices are non-volatile memory devices. A flash memory cell may lose all electric charges if a part of a tunnel oxide suffers from defects because electric charges are stored in the form of free carriers. To the contrary, a SONOS memory device maintains electric charges even if a part of the tunnel oxide suffers from defects because electric charges are stored in an isolated deep level trap. Accordingly, the tunnel oxide of SONOS memory devices can be formed thinner than that of flash memory devices having a floating gate. Consequently, it is possible for SONOS memory devices to operate with low voltage as compared with flash memory devices having a floating gate. There are two conventional methods of storing data in SONOS memory devices. These methods are the Fowler-Nordheim tunneling (FN tunneling) method and the hot carrier injection method.
A SONOS memory cell is disclosed in U.S. Pat. 5,768,192 entitled Non-volatile Semiconductor Memory Cell Utilizing Asymmetrical Charge Trapping, issued to Eitan et al. A program operation for a conventional SONOS memory cell is explained below with reference to FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, a first silicon oxide layer '2', a silicon nitride layer '3', a second silicon oxide layer '4' and a gate electrode '5' are sequentially stacked on a semiconductor substrate '1'. Source region '6' is formed at one side of the gate electrode '5' and drain region '6a' is formed at another side of the gate electrode '5' in the semiconductor substrate '1'.
According to the operation of the SONOS memory cell having the above structure, programming voltage is applied to the gate electrode '5' and drain voltage is applied to the drain region '6a'. Ground voltage is applied to the source region '6'. Accordingly, hot carrier injection occurs at portions neighboring the drain region '6a'. Consequently, electronic charges are stored at a predetermined region of the silicon nitride layer '3', so that charging region 'k' is formed. The charging region 'k' is adjacent to the drain region '6a'.
In the conventional SONOS memory cell, the distance between the source region '6' and drain region '6a' may be shortened to accommodate high integration of a semiconductor device. Accordingly, punch through between drain/source regions '6' and '6a' may take place during program operation. Thus, SONOS memory cells have not been widely used because of their inability to be highly integrated.

Non-volatile memory device having dual gate


A method for first path acceptance for secure ranging includes determining a Channel Impulse Response (CIR) of a communication channel for a plurality of channel taps. Each channel tap corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of time slots of the CIR, wherein the CIR includes a plurality of estimated CIR values. A statistical characteristic is extracted from the estimated CIR values within a temporal range of the channel taps. The statistical characteristic is compared to a reference value to detect a distance decreasing attack.

Radio Frequency (RF) ranging determines a distance between a transceiver, (or a collocated transceiver and receiver), and a second object by measuring a Time-of-Flight (ToF) of an RF transmission between the transceiver and the object. This ToF measurement is then multiplied by the speed of light to determine the distance (or "range"). An erroneous ToF measurement can result from the transceiver receiving a multipath transmission caused by reflections of the RF transmission from other objects or surfaces, rather than a line-of-sight transmission. Accordingly, proper ranging requires the line-of-sight path or "first path" to be determined.
In an unsecured system, an adversary can mimic characteristics of the RF transmission to provide a shorter first path, thereby validating an illegitimate transmitter used for gaining access to the system. In systems employing pseudo random sequences in the RF transmission, an adversary can guess the sequence. The success of an adversary's guess depends on part on the length of the pseudo random sequence, as well as the sensitivity of the RF receiver. Degrading the sensitivity of the RF receiver to require a stronger correlation between the received sequence and the expected sequence undesirably reduces the link budget of the system.

First path acceptance for secure ranging


An infrared-transmissive lens formed by using glass including germanium and selenium or germanium and sulfur as main components and a human body detecting device including the lens and a pyroelectric infrared sensor are disclosed. With this configuration, glass having excellent transmissivity of infrared rays, no poisonous characteristic and difficulty to be crystallized is obtained and the glass is subjected to thermal pressing work to form a lens. The lens and a pyroelectric infrared sensor are combined to obtain a scanning type human body detecting sensor device. Further, the scanning type human body detecting sensor device can be used to detect a plurality of human bodies simultaneously.

The present invention relates to an infrared-transmissive lens made of chalcogenide glass and a human body detecting sensor including the lens and a pyroelectric infrared sensor.
Human body detecting sensors using pyroelectric infrared sensors are widely used in the field of home electric appliances and industrial equipments. The sensors are used, for example, to open and close a door, to operate a water tap for a toilet bowl and to operate an air conditioner. Generally, a filter for transmitting only infrared rays is provided before an infrared sensor in order to collect infrared rays having a wavelength of 8 to 12 .mu.m emitted from a human body effectively. These filters have heretofore been made of silicon, germanium and metal halide.
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example of a conventional human body detecting sensor. As shown in FIG. 2, a lens 12 is disposed before a plurality of pyroelectric infrared sensors 11 (only one sensor is shown in the drawing for clarification) arranged side by side and the lens 12 is moved right and left to send an image to the pyroelectric infrared sensor. A lens driver for moving the lens is disposed in alignment with the lens in the vertical direction and hence the driver is not shown. Electrodes 13 for obtaining a voltage generated by the pyroelectric infrared sensor 11 are disposed on both sides of the infrared sensor 11 and a chopper 14 for intensity-modulating the infrared rays is disposed before the infrared sensor 11. The chopper is rotated at a constant speed by a chopper driver 15. Further, the infrared sensor 11 is supported by supporting rods 16 and an output signal of the infrared sensor 11 is delivered by lead wires 17 to outside.

Infrared-transmissive lens and human body detecting sensor using the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Membranes comprising graphene oxide sheets and associated filter media and methods are provided. In some embodiments, a membrane may comprise graphene oxide sheets that have undergone one or more chemical treatments. The chemical treatment(s) may impart beneficial properties to the membrane, such as a relatively small d-spacing, compatibility with a broad range of environments, physical stability, and charge neutrality. For example, the graphene oxide sheets may undergo one or more chemical treatments that form chemical linkages between at least a portion of the graphene oxide sheets in the membrane. Such chemical linkages may impart a small d-spacing, broad compatibility, and/or allow relatively thick membranes to be formed. In certain embodiments, the graphene oxide sheets may undergo one or more chemical treatment that imparts relative charge neutrality to the membrane by altering the ionizability of certain functional groups. Graphene oxide membranes, described herein, can be used for a wide range applications.

Membranes provide a barrier, partial or complete, to solids, liquids, and/or gases. Semipermeable membranes allow certain molecules (e.g., permeates) to pass through while restricting the passage of other molecules (e.g., retentates). Recently, research has focused on the use of semipermeable membranes for ultrafiltration (UF) and nanofiltration (NF). Ultrafiltration membranes are used to separate higher molecular weight molecules, such as proteins, from lower molecular weight molecules, such as salts. Ultrafiltration membranes are often used to concentrate molecules, desalt solutions, exchange buffers, and/or fractionate molecules. Nanofiltration membranes have a smaller molecular weight cutoff (i.e., the lowest molecular weight that at least 90% of a molecule is retained by the membrane) than ultrafiltration membranes. Accordingly, nanofiltration membranes are often used to separate molecules having a relatively low molecular weight, such as the separation of divalent ions (e.g., calcium, magnesium) from smaller hydrated monovalent ions (e.g., sodium). Despite their utility, many existing ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membranes have technical or economical limitations that hamper their use. For instance, many ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membranes are costly to manufacture and/or maintain, require complex and/or time consuming manufacturing techniques, and are not suitable for use in a wide range of chemical environments.

Graphene oxide membranes and related methods


A slide door is provided to be movable between a closed position to cover a side opening formed at a vehicle-body side face and an open position. The slide door is configured to move outward and subsequently slide rearward along a rear vehicle-body outer face when the slide door moves from the closed position to the open position. There is provided a detection sensor to detect a foreign matter in coming into a gap from a vehicle-compartment inside. A drive of the slide door is stopped in case the detection sensor detects the foreign matter in coming into the gap when the slide door moves toward the open position. Thereby, any foreign matter can be prevented from being pinched in the gap formed between the slide door and the rear edge portion of the side opening.

The present invention relates to a pinch prevention structure of a slide door.
A vehicle, such as a so-called one-box type of automotive vehicle, is equipped with a slide door that is provided to open and close a side opening formed at a vehicle-body side face, through which a passenger gets onto or gets off from a rear seat. The slide door is generally configured to move outward and subsequently slide rearward along a rear vehicle-body outer face when the slide door moves from its closed position to its open position. The slide door may be driven by an electric motor.
Herein, when the slide door is moved from the closed position to the open position, a gap is formed between an inner side face of the slide door and a rear edge portion of the side opening. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-56522 discloses a pressure sensitive sensor that is provided at the inner side face of the slide door to detect a load that occurs in a vehicle width direction thereof when any foreign matter is pinched in this gap. This publication also discloses an electrically-driven slide-door control, in which when this foreign-matter pinch is detected, the drive of the slide door is stopped or its drive direction is reversed. Meanwhile, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 11-182136 discloses another pinch detection by a pressure sensitive sensor that is provided at a front edge portion of the slide door to detect any foreign matter when the slide door moves from the open position to the closed position (detection of pinch between the slide door and the front edge portion of the side opening).
The above-described publications just disclose the foreign-matter pinch detection itself, but not disclose any effective measures to prevent the foreign-matter pinch properly.

Pinch prevention structure of slide door


A wireless terminal reliably supplies battery power to a wireless terminal body, and reduces the number of fabrication processes and fabrication cost. The battery contact system of the wireless terminal includes a body having a printed circuit board, a battery compartment, a battery detachably accommodated in the battery compartment, and at least one connection unit for transmitting battery power the body. The connection unit is an insulated elastic body protruding from the battery compartment and encompassing flexible conductors within the insulated elastic body.

Generally, a wireless terminal is a communication device for transmitting and receiving calls to and from another party anywhere as a user conveniently carries it. Previously, the wireless terminal has been used for voice communications only, but recently the wireless terminal is useful for transmitting and receiving multimedia information.
The wireless terminal is portable because the terminal has a battery for supplying power. In order to connect the battery and the terminal body to each other, the body and the battery are equipped with contacts. However, in case of an impact to the wireless terminal, the battery and terminal contacts may be disconnected thereby interrupting power to the wireless terminal.
FIG. 1 is a disassembled perspective view showing a battery of a wireless terminal in accordance with the conventional art, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1.
As shown, the conventional wireless terminal includes: a body 10; a battery 20 detachably mounted at the body and supplying power to the body; and a contact portion 30 for electrically connecting the body 10 and the battery 20 to each other.
The body 10 includes: a printed circuit board (PCB) 14 (shown on FIG. 2) mounted therein and having circuit components; a battery compartment 11 for mounting the battery 20; a folder 12 rotatably coupled to the outside of the body 10 and having a display (not shown); and an antenna 13 provided at one side thereof.
The PCB 14 receives an electric power from the battery 20 through the contact portions 30. The contact portions will be explained in greater detail below.
The battery compartment 11 is provided with a contact terminal 31 for contacting a corresponding flat metal terminal 36 on the battery 20 thereby transmitting power.
The battery compartment 11 is provided with an outer peripheral wall 45 protruding to a certain height along the circumference of the battery 20 in order to firmly fix the battery 20 to the body 10.
A coupling protrusion 41 partially inserted into a coupling groove 42 formed on the battery 20 is provided at the center of one side of the outer peripheral wall 45. Also, on the opposite side of the outer peripheral wall 45, a fixing groove 44 is provided for inserting a fixing protrusion 43 of the battery 20 thereby fixing a lower end of the battery 20.
The coupling protrusion 41 is mounted to the body 10 by a spring (not shown) so as to be easily inserted into the coupling groove 42 when attaching the battery 20 to/from the body 10. The coupling protrusion 41 is integrally formed with a coupling member 40.
The battery 20 is provided with flat metal terminals 36 on one side surface of the battery 20 for contacting the battery compartment 11. Also, the coupling groove 42 having a certain depth for inserting the coupling protrusion 41 formed at the body 10 is formed at the center of one edge of the battery 20 so as to couple the battery 20 to the body 10. Also, the fixing protrusion 43 protruded with a certain height to be inserted into the fixing groove 44 formed at the body 10, for fixing a lower end of the battery 20 to the body 10 is provided at both sides of a lower end of the battery 20.
As shown in FIG. 2, the contact portion 30 includes: a contact terminal 31 inserted into a contact accommodating hole 32 penetrating a case of the body 10 where the battery compartment 11 is formed; a retainer 37 circumferentially protruding at one end of the contact accommodating hole 32 preventing the contact terminal 31 from being detached from the contact accommodating hole 32; and an elastic spring 33 connected to one end of the contact terminal 31 for supporting the contact terminal 31.
A circumferential stopping protrusion 34 is formed for contacting the retainer 37 at one side of the contact terminal 31.
A lower end of the elastic spring 33 is fixed to the PCB 14 by a soldering portion 35, and the soldering portion 35 is connected to a PCB contact portion 15 of the PCB 14. The contact terminal 31, the elastic spring 33, the soldering portion 35 and the PCB contact portion 15 are formed of conductive material to be used for supplying power of the battery 20.
The conventional battery contact system of a wireless terminal will be explained as follows. When the battery 20 is coupled to the body 10, the fixing protrusion 43 formed on one surface of the battery 20 are inserted into the fixing groove 44 of the body 10 thereby fixing a lower end of the battery 20 to the body 10. Then, a rear surface of the battery 20 is attached to the body 10 thereby to insert the coupling protrusion 41 of the coupling member 40 to the coupling groove 42 formed on one surface of the battery 20.
As the battery 20 is coupled to the body 10, the metal terminal 36 of the battery 20 presses the contact terminal 31 into the body 10. As the result, the contact terminal 31 is inserted into the body 10 by the elastic spring 33 and is in point-contact with the metal terminal 36. As the contact terminal 31 and the metal terminal 36 are in contact with each other, battery power is supplied to the body 10. In the conventional battery contact system of a wireless terminal, the contact terminal 31 mounted at the body 10 is biased by the spring to be in point-contact with the metal terminal 36 mounted at the battery 20 thereby supplying power to the body 10.
However, when an impact is applied to the wireless terminal, the contact terminal 31 mounted at the body 10 may become detached from the metal terminal 36 by overcoming the bias of spring 33 thereby to interrupting power to the body 10.
Also, since the soldering portion 35 is used to connect the contact terminal 31 to the PCB contact portion 15, and the elastic spring 33 is biased to support the contact terminal 31, fabrication processes are complicated and the fabrication cost is increased.

Battery contact system and wireless terminal having the same


A camera with a photographing optical system, including a focus adjusting system which captures images at different focal positions via an image pickup device while moving a focusing lens group within a controllable searching range, and moves the focusing lens group to the in-focus position; a memory which stores a first image captured when an in-focus state is achieved; and a comparing device which compares the first image stored in the memory with a second image captured via the image pickup device before commencement of movement of the focusing lens group. The focus adjusting system operates within a limited searching range including a current position of the focusing lens group when predetermined conditions are satisfied, including a condition upon which it is determined that the first image and the second image match each other completely or by a predetermined degree.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a focus adjusting system, and in particular relates to a camera having a contrast-detection type focus adjusting system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional digital camera with a contrast-detection type focus adjusting system (focusing system) which detects a focus state by performing an AF search operation in which a focusing lens group is moved from one to the other of the infinite focus position (far extremity/position for bringing an object at infinity into focus) and the closest (shortest) focus position (near extremity/position for bringing an object at the shortest distance in working range into focus) is known in the art, wherein the AF search operation is terminated upon a peak contrast occurring during the AF search operation on the supposition that this position of the focusing lens group at which the peak contrast is obtained is an in-focus position. This digital camera is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 2002-311325. In this digital camera, the aforementioned AF search operation commences upon the release bottom of the camera being depressed in a half way at normal times. Moreover, a digital camera is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 2002-072074, wherein the AF search operation starts from the infinite focus position when the focusing lens group is positioned closer to the infinite focus position than the closest focus position, and starts from the closest focus position when the focusing lens group is positioned closer to the closest focus position than the infinite focus position, in order to reduce the time for the AF search operation.
Furthermore, among conventional cameras having a shake reduction system (camera-shake reduction system/camera-shake correcting system/image stabilizer), a camera is known in the art in which it is detected which of the following three different states the camera is currently in according to the output of a gyro sensor: a first state in which the camera is being swung for panning, a second state in which the camera is being swung for tilting, and a third state in which the camera is being shaken due to hand shake or the like, and in which an autofocusing operation is performed when it is detected that the camera is currently in the aforementioned first or second state. This camera is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication H06-153053.
However, in conventional digital cameras, even if the release button is again depressed half way with a main object substantially remaining unchanged after focus is achieved (an in-focus state is obtained) on the main object by the AF search operation, the AF search operation in which the focusing lens group is moved from the infinite focus position or the closest focus position is performed again, and accordingly, it sometimes takes time for the AF search operation to be performed when it is performed for a searching range in which no main object exists.

Camera having a focusing adjusting system