A method of facilitating augmentation of osseous tissue on a surface of a bone is disclosed. The method includes combining a scaffolding, an enclosure substantially enclosing the scaffolding relatively to the surface of the bone and a cell culture seeded onto the scaffolding.

Alveolar bone atrophy may occur due to trauma, malignant tumors, and periodontal disease (Albandar 1990, Schwartz-Arad & Levin 2004, Irinakis 2006). Restoring the lost bone is crucial for the rehabilitation of the patient's function, phonetics and aesthetic demands.
Nowadays, the methods available for vertical bone augmentation include: distraction osteogenesis, bone blocks (autologic/allogenic or xenogenic) and guided bone regeneration (GBR). These techniques are surgically complicated, unpredictable and some of them are also associated with significant morbidity (Chiapasco et al. 2006, Rothamel et al. 2009, Greenstein et al. 2009, Esposito et al. 2006, Rocchietta et al. 2008). The idea of using a physical barrier for guided bone regeneration (GBR) was first described in the early 80's by Nyman et al (Nyman et al. 1982a, Nyman et al. 1982b, Nyman et al. 1987, Pitaru et al. 1987). It was demonstrated that creating a critical size intra bony defect and covering the defect with mucoperiosteal flap will lead to healing of the defect, mostly with soft tissue; while when a barrier to separate the bone defect from the soft tissue is used, it allows for bone regeneration into the defect (Dahalin et al. 1990, Kostopoulos et al. 1994a, Kostopoulos et al. 1994b, Dahalin et al. 1988). The biological principle of GBR also includes the creation of a space between a rigid barrier and the underlying bone which prevents epithelial and fibroblastic cells migration from the soft tissue, thus enabling the slower moving bone-forming cells to migrate from the underlying bone to populate the space (Polimeni et al. 2005, Schenk et al. 1994). Another important role of the membrane is blood clot stabilization. It was demonstrated that supra-crestal bone defects that were treated with ePTFE membrane and had root conditioning with heparin, showed compromised periodontal healing and bone regeneration (Haney et al. 1993).
As of today, bone regeneration within the bony envelope (intra-bony) using GBR technique is a common and relatively predictable procedure (Kim et al. 2004). However, only few studies that attempted to grow bone extra cortically using C3B resulted with modest success (Majzoub et al. 1999, Min et al. 2007, Lundgren et al. 1995, Wikesjo et al. 2003, Lioubavina & Kostopoulos 1999).
Both the calvaria and the jaw bones are formed through the intra-membranous bone formation pathway (Verna et al. 2002). The process begins with the proliferation of mesenchymal cells and deposition of extracellular matrix. This newly formed tissue guides cell migration and angiogenesis. The combination of matrix components with new vessels forms provisional connective tissue that is later transformed into bone along blood vessels (Lang et al. 2003).
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) contribute to the maintenance of various tissues, especially bone, in adults. They can be isolated form bone marrow, placenta, umbilical cord blood, or from adipose tissue in adults (Pittenger et al. 1999, Secco et al. 2008, Zuk et al. 2001, Yen et al. 2005). The first to describe these cells was Friedenstein in 1966. MSC present several characteristics that assist to identify them: adherence to culture plates, fibroblast-like phenotype and proliferation potential. The osteogenic potential of these cells was also recognized (Friedenstein). Since that time, in-vivo and in-vitro studies showed that MSC can be transformed into mesenchymal tissues such as: bone, cartilage, adipose, muscle and tendon. The characterization of cultured MSC relies on combination of several antigens: CD105, CD146, CD90, CD73 and CD44; furthermore, the hematopoietic origin of the cells should be excluded (CD45, CD14 and CD34) (Baksh 2004, Geregory et al. 2005).
Several preclinical studies and a few clinical studies showed the efficacy of cultured MSC for bone reconstruction. In animal models these cells showed osteoinductive properties (i.e production of ectopic bone) and improved healing of bone defects (Petite et al. 2000, Bruder et al. 1998). In humans, few clinical reports (case reports) were published: Quarto et al. 2001 reported on callus formation 2 months after administration of autologous MSC seeded on hydroxyapatite scaffold into non-union long bone defects. The I.V. infusion of autologous MSC to children with osteogenesis imperfecta resulted in increase in their body length and bone mineral content (Horowits et al. 2002).
Several attempts to heal mandibular defect in animals using MSC have also been recently published. These studies reported that the addition of MSC to scaffold have statistically improved bone regeneration compared with scaffold alone (Steinhardt et al. 2008, Jafarian et al. 2008).
Although extensively studied, several difficulties concerning the use of bone marrow MSC still exist. The main problems are the invasive nature associate with the harvesting of MSC and the morbidity of the donor. Additionally some reports suggest age-dependent decline in the proliferation and the osteogenic differentiation of these cells (Zhou et al. 2008). Finally, the limited amount of MSC in bone marrow aspirates requires ex-vivo expansion to obtain sufficient cell number for transplantation (Banfi et al. 2000). Thus, extensive research to improve our laboratory techniques and control clinical trials is still needed in order to confirm the potential of MSC to induce new bone formation.
Blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPC)—In 1997, Asahara et al. discovered the presence of bone marrow-derived circulating endothelial progenitor cells in adult peripheral blood and human umbilical cord blood (Ashara et al. 1997, Murohara et al. 2000) that participate in post-natal neovascularization (Takahashi et al. 1999). Furthermore, these cell lines were found to participate in angiogenesis, vascular repair, blood-flow recovery after tissue ischemia and vasculoprotection. The current clinical use of EPC is limited to treating ischemic tissue after acute myocardial infarct (Isner & Losordo 1999, Kalka et al. 2000). During skeletal development or bone healing processes the recruitment of EPC by vasculogenic/angiogenic molecules (e.g. VEGF, PIGF, erythropoietin) is crucial (Ferguson et al. 1999, Giannoudis et al. 2007). Studies that explored the effect of local delivery of BMP2 & VEGF loaded on scaffold on bone regeneration suggest a synergistic effect in this dual delivery system (Patel et al. 2008, Kempen et al. 2009). Dual release of BMP2 & VEGF from scaffold implanted into calvaria-bone defect in rats enhanced bone formation after 4 weeks compared to scaffold alone or scaffold with only one GF (Patel et al. 2008).
Successful regeneration of large bone defects might also benefit from concomitant stimulation of vascularization and osteogenesis. Hence, we suggest that EPC and MSC based therapy might enhance both processes because these cells are capable of participating in vasculogenesis, might induce mesenchymal progenitors to proliferate or differentiate into osteoblasts and possibly at the same time gain plasticity to differentiate themselves into bone forming cells (Bick et al. 2006).
Identification of EPC is rather controversial and complicated since three different populations of EPCs were identified:                1. CFU—Hill—these EPCs have weak proliferative and vasculogenic activities;        2. Circulating angiogenic cells—these cells are obtained from adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) and do not form colonies in culture. They are positive to: CD133, CD31, CD45 and VEGFR-2.        3. Late EPCs—these cells are derived from adherent PBMNC and form endothelial colonies after 3-4 week of culture. They are thought to play a major role in revascularization in adults; they are positive to CD34, CD144, VEGF-R2 but negative to CD133, CD45 and CD14 (Hirschi et al. 2008, Hur et al. 2004, Yoder et al. 2007).
The participation of EPC in bone repair was reported by some researchers. Lee et al. and Cetrulo et al. showed the participation of EPC in distraction osteogenesis model (Lee et al. 2009, Cetrulo et al. 2005). The injection of human CD34 progenitor cells into non healing femoral fracture in nude rats enhanced bone healing compared with control group. The addition of VEGF antagonist to this model impaired not only angiogenesis but also osteogenesis and led the authors to suggest that these cells have paracrine effect on bone forming cells. (Lee 2008, Fuchs 2009).
Transplantation of autologeus EPC into critical size gap in sheep tibiae revealed full bridging at 3 months in 6 out of 7 E PC-transplanted defects while non or minimal new bone formation was observed radiographically in 8 sham-operated defects (Rozen et al. 2009). These authors also suggested that the effect of EPC is not limited to vasculogenesis but that they are also capable to transform into bone cells. When sheep EPC were sub-cultured under osteogenic conditions they changed their morphology and formed nodular aggregates (1-2 mm diameter) following 1-2 weeks incubation and stained positively by von Kossa (vK), alizarin red (AR) and osteocalcin immunohistochemistry, which are markers of osteoblastic differentiation (Bick et al. 2006).
To be able to use cell-based therapy in animal and human defects a suitable scaffold is required that will not only serve as a vehicle for cellular delivery, but will also have osteoconductive properties. Tricalcium phosphates (TCP) is a synthetic scaffold used in the clinics for the reconstruction of bone defects. These materials provide a mineral matrix phase similar to that found in bone tissue. Following application, TCP is resorbed by osteoclastic activity and replaced by newly formed bone. Additionally, TCP as a synthetic material does not pose the risk of transmitting pathogenic agents (such is the case with allographs and xenographs). It is also being resorbed more rapidly when compared with a xenograft. (Rojbani H, Nyan M, Ohya K, Kasugai S. Evaluation of the osteoconductivity of a-tricalcium phosphate, β-tricalcium phosphate, and hydroxyapatite combined with or without simvastatin in rat calvarial defect. J Biomed Mater Res A. 2011 Sep. 15; 98(4):488-98.
By combining TCP with GBR we achieved a mean height of 5.5±0.24 mm new hard tissue under the capsule, significantly higher than bone formed when capsules were filled with Bio-Oss collagen (p<0.001). Histological analysis revealed that TCP was partially resorbed and replaced by new bone that was continuous with the original calvaria. Residual TCP particles were surrounded by vascularized dense connective tissue.

Vertical bone augmentation using endothelial progenitor cells


Methods for forming and the intermediate greensheet products formed are provided by attaching a removable support film to a first surface of a greensheet and a frame to a second surface of the greensheet. The support film is preferably a peelable support film cast to the first surface of the greensheet for providing strength thereto. A plurality of openings are formed in the greensheet by punching into the support film, through the support film and then through the greensheet. During this process, the support film provides added strength to the greensheet therein significantly reducing embossing and deformation of such greensheet. A second support film may be attached to the removable support film using an adhesive layer, which, is extruded into the openings upon attachment. The support film(s) may be peeled off the greensheet with little or no impact on via locations as a metal frame continues to support the greensheet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to processing of greensheets used to make ceramic substrates for microelectronic components.
2. Description of Related Art
In the ceramic electronics industry, multilayer ceramic (MLC) technology is typically used to create three-dimensional circuitry for microelectronic devices such as integrated circuits and ceramic capacitors. These three-dimensional circuitries are made by applying a conductive material in a circuit pattern on a ceramic/polymer composite sheet known as a greensheet.
A greensheet may have a number of via holes punched in it to allow vertical connection between the conductive material on adjacent sheets, whereby after the vias are punched in the sheets, the greensheet is screened and patterned by applying a conductive paste into the via holes and along the surface of the greensheet. A number of via punched greensheets are then stacked in a designated order and laminated together under appropriate heat and pressure to form a laminate which can be handled as a unified structure. The laminated ceramic/polymer composite is then heated to remove the polymer, and then heated to a higher temperature to sinter and densify the ceramic thereby forming the final MLC.
Over the years, future generations of MLC technology have developed to incorporate advanced technologies and groundrules, i.e., triple dense conductors, thin green sheets and large area greensheets. With these advanced technologies, as via diameters and the pitch associated therewith become smaller it is necessary to use thinner greensheets, and in particular, thinner sheets with large x-y dimensions. However, in the course of adopting such new technologies, greensheet stability has become a concern. In particular, the smaller vias and tighter grids pose radial error problems in punching and screening thinner greensheets, including deforming and embossing of the greensheet, and misalignment of the conductive vias and other features, thereby rendering the greensheet non-manufacturable.
As it is desirable that future via holes in thinner greensheets be punched and screened with a small radial error, a need continues to exist in the art for improved greensheets and methods of forming the same.

Supported greensheet structure and method in MLC processing

International Business Machines Corporation


A camera module for capturing an image. The camera module including an image sensor including a die mounted on a substrate, a housing coupled with the substrate to substantially enclose the die, and a dust trap substance adhered to the housing configured to capture and maintain at least one dust particle to decrease movement of dust particles within the housing, which decreases a number of blemishes in the captured image.

Conventional digital cameras are configured to collect light bouncing off of the subject onto an image sensor through a lens. The image sensor immediately breaks down the light pattern received into a series of pixel values that are processed to form the end digital image of the subject.
Digital image technology is being used with increasing popularity leading to increasing production volumes. The increased production volumes are due not only to the increasing popularity of conventional digital cameras, but also due to miniature fixed-focused digital cameras being incorporated into various end products, such as mobile telephones (cellular telephones), personal digital assistants (PDA's), and other electronic devices.
However, during the manufacture of the digital camera modules, dust is often trapped within the camera module. Eventually, a portion of the trapped dust may impact the image sensor, more particularly, a die of the image sensor within the camera module and cause harm to the digital images produced. In particular, pixels created by the image sensor are extremely small, and any dust from the lens housing captured by the image sensor may cover one or more pixels of the entire image produced. In particular, a dust particle of approximately 5μ is large enough to cover an entire pixel of the image sensor die. By covering a pixel of the image sensor die, the end digital image is produced with a black dot where the covered pixel was to appear. As such, it is desirable to decrease the amount of dust particles contacting the image sensor die.
However, it is unlikely, or at least not cost efficient, to remove the presence of dust during the manufacturing process. For example, digital cameras are typically manufactured in a controlled environment classified under Federal Standard 209D as a class 1,000 environment. The clean room class 1,000 environment requires that less than 1,000 particles sized 0-5μ and less than 7 particles sized 5μ are found in each cubic foot of the clean room. Manufacturing a camera module within this environment will allow dust measuring between 0-5μ to be trapped inside of the camera module during manufacturing.
In addition, a camera module housing may be attached with screws to the image sensor and the lens or lens barrel is threadably attached to the camera module housing. The screw hole and barrel threads have relatively fine pitch and, as such, create small crevices that collect and essentially trap dust that cannot be effectively removed during manufacture. In particular, a blower cannot force air inside of the threads to remove the dust due at least in part to the small size of the threads. With this in mind, dust is left trapped within and between the camera module housing and the image sensor.
Subsequent movement and use of the camera module, in particular, subsequent twisting of the lens barrel, eventually releases the once trapped dust particles. In addition, camera housings are often comprised of a plastic material with glass filler particles. Movement and use of the camera module oftentimes pulls, grinds away, or removes a glass particle or a portion of the glass particle from the composite plastic material. The released glass particle contributes to the dust particles already present in the digital camera module. The released dust particles, whether the result of dust in the manufacturing process or of glass dust from the composite plastic material, often impact the image sensor resulting in undesirable blemishes of the digital image produced by the digital camera as described above.


A method of controlling velocity of an armature of an electromagnetic actuator as the armature moves from a first position towards a second position is provided. The electromagnetic actuator includes a coil and a core at the second position. The coil generates a magnetic force to cause the armature to move towards and land at the core. Spring structure acts on the armature to bias the armature away from the second position to a resetting position. The method includes selectively energizing the coil to permit the armature to move at a certain velocity towards the core. A certain voltage corresponding to a voltage across the coil is determined when the armature is approaching the core. The certain voltage corresponds to a rate of change of magnetic flux and is used as a feedback variable to control energy to the coil so as to control a velocity of the armature as the armature moves towards the core. In one embodiment, the certain voltage is a measured terminal voltage of the coil. In another embodiment, the certain voltage is a parametrically determined voltage which mirrors the terminal voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a high-speed, high-force electromagnetic actuator and more particularly, to an electromagnetic actuator for opening and closing a valve of an internal combustion engine wherein a velocity of the armature is controlled upon landing against a stator core of the actuator.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional electromagnetic actuator for opening and closing a valve of an internal combustion engine generally includes an electromagnet which, when energized, produces an electromagnetic force on an armature. The armature is biased by a return spring and the armature is coupled with a cylinder valve of the engine. The armature is held by the electromagnet in one operating position against a stator core of the actuator and, by deenergizing the electromagnet, the armature may move towards and into another operating position by the return spring.
In an attempt to control the landing velocity of the armature, in certain electromagnetic actuator systems, power to a coil of the actuator is applied to move the armature across a gap and when the armature is approaching the stator core, a magnetic force from the coil is removed to slow down the armature and hope for a quiet or "soft" (near zero velocity) landing. Just before landing, the stator coil is reenergized to draw the armature towards and land at the stator core.
In the this type of arrangement, landing of the armature at a stator core is quite harsh and may have a velocity of approximately one meter per second. However, a required velocity value of the armature at landing calculated to provide acceptably quiet actuator operation is less than 0.04 meters per second at 600 engine rpm and less than 0.4 meters per second 6,000 engine rpm.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide control of an armature of an electromagnetic actuator to ensure that the armature completes its travel during its stroke but at the same time produces a quiet or "soft" (near zero velocity) landing of the armature against a stator core so as to prevent excessive impact wear on the armature and stator core and to reduce the amount of noise produced by such impact.

Method for controlling velocity of an armature of an electromagnetic actuator


A high magnitude potential supply comprises a first circuit for generating a first signal related to a desired output high magnitude potential across a pair of output terminals of the supply, a second circuit for generating a second signal related to an output current from the high magnitude potential supply, and a third circuit for supplying an operating potential to the high magnitude potential supply so that it can produce the high magnitude operating potential. The third circuit has a control terminal. A fourth circuit is coupled to the first and second circuits and to the control terminal. The fourth circuit receives the first and second signals from the first and second circuits and controls the operating potential supplied to the high magnitude potential supply by the third circuit. A fifth circuit is provided for disabling the supply of operating potential to the high magnitude potential supply in certain conditions so that no high magnitude operating potential can be supplied by it. The fifth circuit is also coupled to the control terminal.

This invention relates to controllers for high magnitude potential sources used in, for example, electrostatically aided coating material atomization and dispensing devices. Many such systems are known. There are, for example, the systems illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,851,618; 3,875,892; 3,894,272; 4,075,677; 4,187,527; 4,324,812; 4,481,557; 4,485,427; 4,745,520; and, 5,159,544, to identify but a few.

Programmable logic control system for a HVDC power supply


A pixel includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a capacitor, and a light emitting diode. During a non-emission period of a low frequency mode, the third transistor electrically connects a first terminal of the light emitting diode to an initialization voltage line in response to a second scan signal. An initialization voltage transferred from the initialization voltage line has a first voltage level during a normal mode different from the low frequency mode, and has a second voltage level different from the first voltage level during the non-emission period of the low frequency mode.

Embodiments of the present disclosure described herein relate to a display device.
Among display devices, an organic light emitting display device displays an image by using an organic light emitting diode that generates light by recombination of electrons and holes. Such an organic light emitting display device has an advantage of having a fast response speed and being driven with low power consumption.
The organic light emitting display device includes pixels connected to data lines and scan lines. The pixels generally include the organic light emitting diode and a circuit unit for controlling an amount of current flowing through the organic light emitting diode. The circuit unit controls the amount of current flowing from the first driving voltage to the second driving voltage via the organic light emitting diode in response to a data signal. In this case, light of a predetermined luminance corresponding to the amount of current flowing through the organic light emitting diode is generated.


A control device is provided with a controllable element and a control unit that delivers an output signal which, when a control command signal applied to the input side is at an activating level, continuously or periodically assumes an activating level and continuously assumes a deactivating level when the control command signal is at a deactivating level or there is a functional failure of the control unit. The control device incorporates a redundancy logic unit that logically links the control command signal with the output signal of the control unit to form the control signal for the controllable element in such fashion that when the output signal of the control unit is continuously at its deactivating level, the control signal, corresponding to the control command signal, is at its activating or deactivating level, while otherwise the control signal is at its activating or deactivating signal level depending on the level of the output signal of the control unit. The control device can be used for controlling the brake lights of a vehicle.

The invention relates to a control device and, more particularly, to a control device especially for vehicle braking light control including a control unit that emits an output signal to control a controllable element. The signal, when a control command signal applied on the input side is at an activating signal level, receives an activating signal level continuously or periodically. When the control command signal is at a deactivating signal level or a functional failure of the control unit occurs, the signal assumes a deactivating signal level.
A device of this kind can be used especially for controlling the brake light or lights of a vehicle, with the at least one brake light forming the controllable element that is controlled by a control unit as a function of the control command signal generated in a brake light switch. In order to be able to operate the brake light with different brightnesses when necessary, a pulse-width modulatable clock pulse signal can be provided as a control signal. This type of control for vehicle lights is described for example in German Patent documents DE 43 08 514 A1 and DE 43 41 058 C1.
A device for controlling and monitoring the brake lights of a vehicle as a function of the control state of a brake light switch is known from German Patent document DE 39 30 775 A1, in which the signal generated in a brake light switch is fed to a control and regulating unit that directs a corresponding electrical current to generate the braking light in the brake lights as a function of this signal. At the same time, the functioning ability of the brake lights is monitored by the control and regulating unit, for which purpose it is additionally supplied with the signal from a wheel speed sensor. In the event of a lack of functional ability or detection of braking with an open brake light switch or with brake lights that fail to light up, an error message is generated. The control and regulating unit preferably contains two processors connected in parallel to achieve a reliability-increasing redundancy, said processors, among other things, monitoring the function of an antilock brake system provided in the vehicle. In order to ensure that the brake lights remain supplied with electrical current even if the control and regulating unit should completely fail, it is proposed to arrange an electrical current path with a resistance parallel to the control and regulating unit and between the brake light switch and the brake lights. The resistance is so dimensioned that when the brake light switch is closed the entire current required to activate the brake lights flows through this current path if the control and regulating unit has failed, so that the current path leading from the latter to the brake lights is interrupted.
It is generally known in connection with control devices that incorporate a computer, that in the event of software errors or other problems, the computer can fail even when a so-called watchdog circuit is present, so that the tasks that it is to perform are no longer correctly performed. This situation can have a dangerous adverse effect upon functions that are relevant to safety. It is known in this connection to bring the computer to a defined secure state if it fails, but a state that is completely independent of the input signals and consequently can be improperly adapted to the current situation, for example a general activation of the low beams when the headlights of a vehicle are controlled. It is conventional to design the control device to be redundant as a reliability-increasing measure in such fashion that two or more computer units are used that are functionally identical and operate in parallel, resulting in a corresponding increased cost of implementation; see for example the magazine article by S. Storandt and O. Feger: "How Can Processor and Controller Systems Be Made More Failure-Resistant?" Elektronik, Volume 17, Aug. 19, 1988, page 72.
The technical problem which the present invention is concerned with is the provision of a control device of the above-mentioned type, in which, with the lowest possible expense, a redundancy is created in order to increase the reliability and availability of the device.
This problem is solved by a control device especially for vehicle braking light control including a control unit that emits an output signal to control a controllable element. The signal, when a control command signal applied on the input side is at an activating signal level, receives an activating signal level continuously or periodically. When the control command signal is at a deactivating signal level or a functional failure of the control unit occurs, the signal assumes a deactivating signal level. A redundancy logic unit logically links the control command signal with the output signal of the control unit in such fashion as to form the control signal for the controllable element such that when the output signal of the control unit is continuously at its deactivating signal level, the control signal is at its activating level with the control command signal at its activating signal level. The control signal is at its deactivating level when the control command signal is at its deactivating signal level. Otherwise, the control signal is at its activating or deactivating signal level in accordance with the output signal of the control unit.
In this device, a redundancy device in the form of a simple redundancy logic unit is provided that logically links the control command signal with the output signal of the control unit to form the control signal for the controllable element in such fashion that when the output signal of the control unit is continuously at the deactivating signal level, the control signal, in accordance with the control command signal, is at its activating or deactivating signal level, while otherwise the control signal has a signal level that follows that of the output signal of the control unit. Such a redundancy logic unit clearly requires much less implementation expense than providing two or more parallel control units. It is understood that the terms "activating and deactivating signal level" refer to a level that requires activation or deactivation of the controllable element to be performed. The activating signal level for the various signals does not have to be a uniform level, but can have a low level for one signal and a high level for another signal for example. The same applies to the deactivating signal level.
Advantageously, the redundancy logic unit meets the requirements imposed on a control device of the present type in a relatively simple fashion. If the control unit is functionally reliable, when the control command signal applied on the input side is at the activating signal level, it delivers an output signal that, depending on the individual application and the corresponding system design, is located continuously, or in the form of a clock pulse signal, but in any event during certain periodic intervals, at the activating signal level. This means that the controllable element is activated in a desired fashion. As long as this situation prevails, the redundancy logic unit permits the activation or deactivation requirement of this output signal of the control unit for the control signal of the controllable element to go through. When the output signal of the control unit is located continuously at the deactivating signal level, although the requesting control command signal is at the activating signal level, the redundancy logic unit interprets this as a failure of the control unit and in this case maintains an emergency operation of the controllable element by virtue of the fact that it uses the respective activating or deactivating requirement, as contained in the control command signal, as the control signal of the controllable element. For example, in a control device for controlling the vehicle braking light, in the event of failure of the control unit which normally controls the brake lights, with a pulse-width modulated clock pulse signal and with a variable brightness if necessary, the brake lights are switched by the redundancy logic unit at least to their maximum brightness state when the corresponding brake light switch is closed.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the redundancy logic unit contains an RC element which, in a manner that is simple from a circuitry standpoint, ensures that in the application in which the output signal from the control unit is a pulse-width modulated clock pulse signal, the intervals in which this output signal is not at the activating signal level but at the deactivating signal level are not interpreted as a failure of the control unit. The redundancy logic unit determines that such a failure has occurred only when the output signal from the control unit, when the control command signal is at the activating signal level, remains significantly longer than this blanking interval at the deactivating signal level, whereby the time duration relevant for failure detection is determined by the discharge time constant of the RC element.
It is a further advantage of the invention to provide a control device for vehicle braking light control with a low circuit cost.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Control device, especially for vehicle braking light control


A drink maker for processing foodstuff and dispensing the processed foodstuff therefrom. A base encloses a motor and a jar including a first recirculation surface is removably mountable to the base. A processing cup including a second recirculation surface is removably mountable to the jar and the jar and processing cup comprise a container in an assembled configuration. A recirculation chamber is defined by the first and second recirculation surfaces. The base includes an arcuate-shaped mounting wall extending from its top surface and the jar includes a skirt having a first wall and a second wall positioned radially outwardly from the first wall. The first and second walls define a mounting gap and the mounting wall is positioned in the mounting gap in the assembled configuration.

The present application is directed to a drink maker for processing foodstuff and dispensing the processed foodstuff from the drink maker. More particularly, the present application is directed to a drink maker that is able to dispense foodstuff from a spout and includes a recirculation chamber between a processing cup and a jar for circulating foodstuff into the path of a rotating impeller.
Blenders are a relatively common household or kitchen appliance that are used to blend foodstuff, typically drinks, or other foodstuff that is blended, processed or ground into a semi-fluid state. A typical blender includes a base that encloses a motor housing and a container comprised of a collar and ajar. The collar includes a blending tool rotatably mounted thereto and is typically mounted between the jar and motor housing in an assembled configuration. The blending tool is rotatably engageable with a drive shaft of the motor in the assembled configuration. A foodstuff is placed into the container and the collar is engaged with the base. Due to the symmetrical nature of the jar and the impeller, which is centrally located in a base of the jar, a vortex may be created within the container during blending. The vortex may prevent consistent blending or processing of the foodstuff within the container because all of the foodstuff may not come into contact with the rotating impeller. The foodstuff is blended and the container is removed from the base to dispense or pour the blended foodstuff from the mouth of the jar.
It would be desirable to mix a drink or process foodstuff in the container and dispense the processed drink or foodstuff directly into a cup or other receptacle without removing the container from the base or the lid from the mouth of the container. Additional foodstuff may then be inserted into the container and processed for continuous dispensing of the foodstuff from the container, without removing the container from the base. In addition, eliminating the step of removing the container from the base to dispense the processed foodstuff, in certain situations, eliminates the need to continuously replace the container onto the base to process additional foodstuff. Further, a user is not required to tip and pour processed foodstuff out of the mouth of the relatively heavy container when the foodstuff is dispensed from the dispensing spout.
It would also be desirable to reduce the inconsistent processing, mixing or blending of the foodstuff when a vortex forms within the container or a drink mixer and to include a safety interlock for the container that permits use of the device when the container is properly mounted on the motor housing, but generally prevents actuation of the motor when the container is not properly mounted to the housing. The inconsistent processing, mixing or blending of foodstuff may result in an uneven consistency in the processed foodstuff, which is generally undesirable to a user. In addition, operating the drink mixer when the container is improperly mounted on the motor housing or when the container is not mounted on the housing at all may create a safety hazard.
Further, manufacturers are continuously attempting to improve the performance of kitchen or blender-like appliances by various methods including tool operating speeds, tool geometry, container geometry and other methods. It would be desirable to further improve consistency and efficiency of the drink mixers or kitchen appliances by recirculating foodstuff through the rotating path of the impeller such that the consistency of the processed, mixed or blended foodstuff is relatively even throughout the container at the conclusion of processing.


Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can determine a user embedding for a user of a content provider based on one or more machine learning models. A job embedding for a job posting published through the content provider can be determined based on one or more machine learning models. A determination can be made of a threshold level of similarity between the user embedding and the job embedding. The job posting can be provided as a recommendation to the user through the content provider.

Today, people often utilize computing devices (or systems) for a wide variety of purposes. For example, users can use their computing devices to interact with other users, create content, share content, and view content. In some cases, users can utilize their computing devices to access a social network and post content to the social network. Content posted to the social network may include text content items and media content items, such as audio, images, and videos. The posted content may be published to the social network for consumption by others.

Systems and methods for recommending job postings


The present invention provides a novel water-soluble keratin derivative and applications thereof. Water-soluble keratin produced by the alkali treatment of feathers, and modified keratin, gives the following useful materials: (1) a high energy wave absorber, (2) a luminescent substrate, (3) a material weatherproofness improver, (4) a water repellant, and (5) a foaming agent.

There are no official statistics relating to the quantity of poultry feathers produced as by-products in the production of chicken meat and eggs, but if we do a rough calculation based on the internal reference materials one of the world's largest chicken producers, we find that the annual by-product quantity in the US is up to two million tons, and the Japanese by-product quantity extrapolated from this figure would be 150,000 tons.
Both in the US and here in Japan, the majority of the by-product feathers produced at chicken meat production plants is rendered into feather meal along with internal organs and other by-products due to their high collectability, but the majority of the feathers that are the by-product of chicken egg production plants is treated as industrial waste due to their low collectability.
Despite having good supply stability, a high protein value, and low cost, feather meal has been deemed the least valuable protein material for use as feed. The main reason for this is that it is deficient in essential amino acids and difficult for animals to digest.
In view of this situation, recent years have witnessed the development of techniques for transforming the morphology of poultry feathers, aimed mainly at making them finer, and there have been attempts at making use of the inherent water repellency and heat retention (thermal insulation) of feathers. Nevertheless, this presents the dilemma of high finished product price and the inability to create corresponding bulk demand, and so far no one has found a way to overcome this problem.

Water-soluble keratin derivative and use thereof

Institute of Rheological Function of Food Co., Ltd.

Asai Germanium Research Institute Co., Ltd.


A cooling fan assembly includes a cooling fan unit having a rotating shaft and a plurality of rotating vanes combined with the rotating shaft, and a flow control unit provided in a front of a ventilation direction of the cooling fan unit to control a flow of air to reproduce a rotational directional flow component and to reduce a resistance of the flow of the air in a central portion thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to a cooling fan assembly, and more particularly, to a cooling fan assembly to reduce a flow resistance and to maximize ventilation efficiency by converting a rotational directional flow component generated by rotation of vanes into an axial directional flow component.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, axial fans used in machinery, electronic products, etc., are widely used for cooling various kinds of heating elements, and are comprised of a rotating shaft, rotating vanes engaged and combined with the rotating shaft, and a driving unit for providing a torque to the rotating shaft. An example of a conventional axial fan structure is disclosed in Korean Patent publication No. 10-2004-0095368 published on Nov. 15, 2004.
However, such a conventional technology has a problem in that though an air flow comprising an axial direction flow component and a rotational direction flow component is created by rotation of rotating vanes and the axial directional flow component performs an effective cooling function, the rotational directional flow component will be vanished to cause a loss, thereby reducing ventilation efficiency to some extent. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 5, there is a problem that a discharged central portion is formed with an abrupt stage and the air flow cannot be facilitated, thereby increasing a resistance according to the air flow in the discharged central portion.


Monitoring method and monitoring device for a filter mounted upstream from a electric circuit which has at least one filter component with a filter characteristic. With these method and device, a time characteristic of at least one filter current flowing in the filter and a time characteristic of at least one filter voltage present in the filter are recorded during the operation of the electric circuit. At least one filter characteristic is then determined from the time characteristics.

The present invention relates to a monitoring method for a filter mounted upstream of an electric circuit having at least one filter component with a filter characteristic, and to a corresponding monitoring device.
European Patent Application No. 0 267 548 describes a rail vehicle which is operated on a DC voltage system and which has an input filter on the system side. The input filter comprises an inductance and a capacitance. A failure of one of these two components, or even both components, has adverse effects on the response to disturbing currents.
Disturbing currents are often subject to safety limit values. Consequently, it is absolutely necessary for this filter to function dependably.
The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, reliable and inexpensive monitoring method and a corresponding monitoring device with which a continuous monitoring of the filter is possible.
The object of the present invention is achieved for the monitoring method by recording a time characteristic of at least one filter current flowing in the filter, as well as a time characteristic of at least one filter voltage present in the filter during the operation of the circuit and by determining at least one filter characteristic from the time characteristics.
The object for the monitoring device is achieved by it having at least one ammeter for recording a time characteristic of at least one filter current flowing in the filter, at least one voltmeter for recording a time characteristic of at least one filter voltage present in the filter and an evaluation unit connected to the at least one ammeter and the at least one voltmeter for determining the at least one filter characteristic from the time characteristics.
If the time characteristics of the filter current and/or of the filter voltage are averaged before the determination of the at least one filter characteristic, the influences of disturbances on the filter characteristic determined are smaller.
The filter component may be an inductor with an inductance or a capacitor with a capacitance. If the filter component is an inductor with an inductance, the inductance is determined as the quotient of a filter voltage and a change in the corresponding filter current.
In this case, the determination of the inductance can be suppressed if the absolute value of the change in the filter current falls below a limit value or the change in the filter current and/or the absolute value of the filter voltage falls below a limit value for the filter voltage. This is because the inductance is then affected by a great measuring error, so that a reliable indication of the actual inductance cannot be necessarily obtained.
If, on the other hand, the filter component is a capacitor with a capacitance, the capacitance can be determined as the quotient of a filter current and a change in the filter voltage corresponding to this. In this case, the determination of the capacitance can be suppressed if the absolute value of the change in the filter voltage goes below a limit value for the change in the filter voltage and/or the absolute value of the filter current falls below a limit value for the filter current. This is because the capacitance may then be affected by a great measuring error, so that no reliable indication of the actual capacitance can be obtained.
The filter voltage and/or the filter current or their changes may possibly be corrected by ohmic components.
The monitoring method can preferably be used in the case of an input filter of a power supply device of a rail vehicle. Consequently, the circuit may preferably be a power supply device of a rail vehicle.


An interior design system of the present disclosure can comprise a user interface configured to display a plurality of interior design components. The system may further comprise logic configured to receive a user selection of one of the components and display the selected component in the user interface. The logic may further be configured to receive a plurality of user inputs, via the user interface, the inputs related to characteristics of the selected component.

Interior designers typically provide their clients assistance when determining color schemes to be used in a particular area within their home, e.g., a bedroom, a bathroom. In this regard, the designer may help the client in selecting a particular color for a wall or a group of walls and/or to select fabrics for window treatments and/or furniture, such that the selections provide consistency and interplay between multiple rooms throughout the home. Thus, it is aesthetically important that the color flow, including the paint chosen for the walls and the fabrics chosen for window treatments, are consistently complementary.
In addition to assisting the clients in determining color schemes and fabrics for furniture and window treatments throughout the home, the interior designer further provides assistance to clients in selecting, for example, window treatment components and/or bedding components. As used throughout, a "window treatment component" refers to the separate design selections that one can use when designing an entire window. Further, one can select various types of window, e.g., a bay window, a casement window, a cathedral window, an awning window, a hopper window, a double hung window, a single hung window, etc. After selecting the type of window, one can select various window treatments, including, but not limited to panel types and valance types. A "panel" refers to that part of the window treatment that actually covers the window, itself. A "valance" refers to that part of the window treatment that is ornamental and is situated at the top edge of the window. These are only examples of the various types of window treatment components. In addition, window treatments may include any various type of blind, such as, for example venetian blinds, or window scarf, which is a piece of fabric draped over the pole or rod at the top of a window.
Typically, the window treatments that include panels are comprised of a primary fabric. The panel can be designed in various ways. For example, the panel may take the form of puddled curtains, which are curtains with long side panels allowed to drape and puddle onto the floor.
In addition to helping clients' design window treatments, many interior designers also help their clients to design bedding, such as, for example, comforters and pillows. In this regard, the designer also helps to complement colors and fabrics of the bedding with those colors and fabrics used in the design and implementation of the room and/or home, i.e., window treatments.
Typically, such designing is effectuated via a measuring board that an interior designer writes upon to retain notes regarding measuring, fabric likes and dislikes of the client, color likes and dislikes of the client, and general information needed in order to meet a client's needs. For example, the designer could sketch, based upon the height and width of the wall and the placement of windows on the wall in accordance with a client's room. The designer might then sketch upon top of the windows various window treatment components, as described hereinabove.
In addition, interior designers might use transparent layers that comprise various window treatments. The designer can then layer the various transparencies of window treatment components or hardware on top of a representation of the client's wall. Thus, the client can get an idea of the contemplated look and feel of the wall after the design is implemented.


A method and an apparatus for adapting a transmission bit rate of each individual one of a plurality of connections to an available bit rate capacity in a data multiplexer operating according to an asynchronous transfer mode includes storage in memory of a total available bit rate for all of the connections. An actual bit rate of all of the connections together is continuously ascertained. A difference between the available bit rate and the actual bit rate is continuously calculated. A number of those connections without underloading is continuously ascertained. A continuous recursive calculation of a current fair share value from the former fair share value, of a number of connections without underloading, and of a difference between the available and the actual bit rate, is performed. The fair share value is written in resource management cells, if the current fair share value is less than the value already contained in the resource management cells. The transmission bit rate of each individual connection is adjusted in accordance with the value in the various resource management cells.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for adapting a transmission bit rate of each individual one of a plurality of connections to an available bit rate capacity of a data multiplexer operating according to an asynchronous transfer mode.
An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) of a standard which is defined by the CCITT (Comitte Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique) and is described in general in an article entitled: "ATM-High Speed mit drei Buchstaben" ATM: High Speed in Three Letters!, Funkschau 7-1995, pp. 40-43, is a switching method in which information is bundled in cells, and the cells are exchanged not necessarily periodically between a sender and a receiver. In switching the cells, the data of the sender are combined into portions of uniform size, such as so-called packets or cells, which are then each provided with a top line known as a header. The header includes information on the sender and the receiver. The network, for instance, includes interlinked computers as data multiplexers. Each of them reads the headers of the arriving packets and decides accordingly where they should be sent next, so that they come closer to the destination. The data multiplexers can also ascertain whether or not a connecting line has failed, so that they can then choose another route for the data transmission without bothering the sending or the destination computer about it. Under some circumstances, in some systems, the packets are conveyed over different routes and as a result do not arrive in the correct order. In that case, the destination computer must reassemble the packets correctly. A mixup in the arriving packets can also occur if one had to be re-sent because a transmission error had been ascertained. In so-called virtual data packet switching, not only the destination computer but also the path and/or possible detour paths are included in the header of the data packet, so that all of the packets reach their destination over the same route.
In data packet switching, the sender can transmit at high speed while the addressee only receives at a lower speed. The data transmission is thus not interrupted but merely throttled, since excess data packets can be buffer-stored in the data multiplexers. However, data traffic jams can occur if the packet flow exceeds the storage and transmission capacity of the network. Then the various data multiplexers must simply discard packets that they can no longer store in memory or pass on. Methods for discovering and preventing network overloads are therefore important for the further development of data packet switching. In certain services, a minimum data transmission rate must also not be undershot, an example being a video conference, in which a minimum data flow is necessary to prevent the video and audio information from being "chopped up".
In a particular traffic type of asynchronous transfer mode, namely available bit rate (ABR) traffic, the bit rate of the data senders is controlled by the network. In the case of ABR connections, the network continuously ascertains the optimal bit rate for each participant, in order to achieve the maximum possible utilization of the capacity of the connections, and it informs the participants of this in the form of explicit bit rates. The ABR method is described, for instance, in the publication entitled: "The Enhanced Rate Based ABR Scheme" BRAVE-WP1.3-ROK-95001-TD-CC/b, March 1995, and is especially suitable for applications in which the participants are represented by personal computers or servers. Those devices engender stop and go traffic. In other words, phases of maximum bit rate and resting phases can alternate with one another. Both the inactive and the active phases fluctuate quite markedly over time. The phase duration may be in the millisecond range, or in the minute or even hour range, depending on the application. Since both bit rates up to the maximum possible bit rate and pauses, and all of the values in between can occur unpredictably, it is very difficult for the network to multiplex various data senders through one connection using statistical methods. The principle on which the ABR method is based assumes that a plurality of connections together use a given transmission capacity. The transmission capacity is divided "fairly" between the active data senders. The network and the data multiplexer or multiplexers in it in particular have the task of forming a distribution value (known as a fair share) that represents the division among the various data senders, and of informing the data senders of it.
In order to ascertain the fair share, in the simplest case the total transmission capacity available is divided by the number of active connections. As a rule, however, such a distribution is not expedient, since connections can also occur that may be limited to a lesser bit rate than the one allocated to them. The result in that case would actually be non-optimal utilization of the available transmission capacity. A new fair share value is therefore ascertained, which divides the transmission capacity not used by one connection among the other active connections. If another connection is then added, an overload situation quickly arises, since the bit rates of all of the connections together exceed the available transmission capacity. The overload situation persists until the fair share value is suitably adapted. Meanwhile, the excess cells are buffer-stored in the data multiplexer. However, the overload situation may also occur if the limitation to a certain bit rate is, for instance, eliminated. In that case again, adaptation of the fair share value is necessary.
In order to inform the participants of the explicit transmission rate, that is the desired bit weight, special ATM cells, known as capacity management cells (or RM cells, where RM stands for Resource Management) are used. Each participant periodically arranges its cells in a so-called user cell stream, specifically either after a certain period of time or after a certain number of user cells. The receiving participant loops the RM cells back and inverts the directional bit, in order to identify those cells as reverse-flowing RM cells. The data multiplexers update the explicit bit rate field of the returning RM cells only in the event that their current fair share is smaller than the bit rate indicated by the RM cells. Thus the connecting element with the least available capacity determines the transmission rate for the particular connection.
It is desirable for the optimal fair share value to be determined as accurately as possible and automatically in the shortest possible time, and to assign the current fair share automatically to the RM cells moving past.

Method and apparatus for adapting a transmission bit rate of a data multiplexer operating according to an asynchronous transfer mode


A radiation therapy apparatus including a robot supporting a robot head; a therapeutic radiation source attached to the robot head; a collimator for adjusting a radiation field shape of therapeutic radiation radiated from the therapeutic radiation source; a first therapeutic radiation detector attached to the robot head; a couch configured to support a patient lying supine thereon; a second therapeutic radiation detector for detecting the therapeutic radiation, disposed opposite the first therapeutic radiation detector with the couch disposed therebetween; at least two X-ray sources and detectors for position detection of a marker and/or a treatment target; an image processor for reconstructing an image of the treatment target; and a CPU that computes the intensity, irradiation direction, dose, and dose distribution of the therapeutic radiation, and dose absorbed by the treatment target, radiation field shape, and position of the treatment target in real time for feedback to a next irradiation.

1. Field
Aspects of the example implementations relate to a real-time three-dimensional radiation therapy apparatus and method for Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). More particularly, the example implementations relate to a real-time three-dimensional radiation therapy apparatus and method that detects beam data such as radiation field shape, irradiation direction, intensity, dose, dose distribution, and the position and shape of a treatment target for each delivery of therapeutic radiation, and feeds these results back to the next irradiation in real time.
2. Related Art
Radiation therapy is carried out, in general, in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. 10. Patients who undergo radiation therapy are subjected to detailed imaging of a treatment target using diagnostic imaging equipment including a CT scanner prior to the actual course of radiation treatment, in order to identify the treatment targets (step S1). The physician develops, on the basis of the image data obtained by the imaging, a treatment plan for determining a set of irradiation conditions such as the radiation field shape, irradiation direction, intensity, dose, and dose distribution of the radiation (step S2). Prior to carrying out the radiation therapy, the developed treatment plan is simulated using X-ray simulators, or measured and evaluated using a phantom, to verify the accuracy and validity of the treatment plan (step S3). In particular, in the case of IMRT, this pretreatment verification is important because of the complex combination of irradiation conditions. The related art preparation from imaging with a CT scanner through the completion of verification takes about one to two weeks. Next, the patient progresses to the step of radiation therapy (step S4). The patient is fixed in the same body position as the body position used in the development of the treatment plan and exposed to radiation (steps S5 and S6). The number of treatment sessions varies depending on the state of the disease. For example, in the case of prostate cancer, each individual treatment session lasts for approximately 20 minutes and is continued once a day for from 36 times to 39 times (steps S7 and S8). Therefore, a full course of therapy requires approximately seven to eight weeks.
The therapy requires such a long period of time because, with related art radiation therapy apparatuses, it is not possible to intensively irradiate only the tumorous tissue with a dose of radiation sufficiently high to kill only the tumorous tissue in a single exposure without also harming surrounding healthy tissue. Conventional radiation therapy apparatuses have radiation beam resolutions only on the order of 1 cm, and are thus unable to irradiate only tumorous tissue with a high degree of accuracy, not only in the case of tumorous tissue 1 cm or smaller in size but also at the boundaries between tumorous tissue and healthy tissue in the case of tumors larger than 1 cm. Thus, a dose of radiation that is low enough to not harm healthy tissue but which is still effective against tumorous tissue has to be delivered separately many times over multiple sessions. This divided irradiation thus kills the tumorous tissue by abnormal division, while the healthy tissue can recover even if it suffers some radiation damage.
The present applicant has previously filed an application for patent for an X-ray therapy apparatus which can track the movement of a treatment target of a patient in real time, and provide X-ray therapy at high speed with a high degree of accuracy from every direction to match the three-dimensional shape of the treatment target using high-power, small-diameter or small-breadth X-ray beams, titled "X-RAY THERAPY EQUIPMENT" (Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-75008), which was patented on Dec. 11, 2009 as Japanese Patent No. 4418888 (JP-4418888-B), and for which a corresponding U.S. patent issues on Jan. 22, 2013 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,358,737. The X-ray therapy apparatus described in JP-4418888-B includes an X-ray generation source for outputting high-energy X-rays of 1 MV or more, moreover while continuously varying the beam diameter or breadth of the X-rays in a range of from 1 mm to 10 mm. This X-ray generation source has made it possible to carry out X-ray irradiation with a high degree of accuracy to match the three-dimensional shape of the treatment target. The X-ray therapy apparatus described in JP-4418888-B includes, as shown in FIG. 8, a therapeutic X-ray sensor 71 for moving in conjunction with the movement of a therapeutic X-ray generator 70 while remaining opposite the therapeutic X-ray generator 70. This therapeutic X-ray sensor 71 is a sensor for detecting X-ray beam data such as the radiation field, intensity, direction, dose, and dose distribution of the therapeutic X-rays passing through the treatment target. The data acquired by this sensor is processed in real time and fed back to the next irradiation, thereby providing high-accuracy therapy.
However, the information on the therapeutic X-rays is only data on the therapeutic X-rays after the X-rays have passed through the treatment target; the actual dose absorbed by the treatment target has to be estimated from the treatment plan data. In addition, accuracy suffers because the irradiation direction of the therapeutic X-ray is detected in one plane only. Furthermore, in the X-ray therapy apparatus described in JP-4418888-B, the radiation field is formed by an X-ray tube array consisting of a bundle of X-ray tubes for outputting small-diameter or small-breadth X-ray beams, and thus, in the case of irradiating a large area, the procedure for forming the radiation field can be complicated.
As described above, the conventional radiation therapy requires a long period of time to completion. Therefore, in order to reduce the total therapy time, it has been proposed that the verification process prior to actual radiation treatment be shortened.
Thus, for example, the invention described in JP-2010-508106-A (national stage entry of PCT/EP2007/061787; published as WO/2008/053026) discloses a verification method that eliminates the need for the conventional measurement and evaluation using a phantom. The delivery of radiation is carried out toward a two-dimensional transmission detector, and on the basis of the detection results and data such as a beam model parameter, a beam model, and a mechanical parameter set, the fluence is calculated in accordance with a fluence calculation algorithm. Next, using the calculated fluence, three-dimensional image data including information on the shape and density of a treatment target, and a dose algorithm, the three-dimensional dose distribution is acquired with respect to the treatment target.
However, the three-dimensional dose distribution acquired in accordance with the dose algorithm is a calculated dose distribution, which is problematic in terms of accuracy because the actual dose may differ considerably from the calculated dose. Furthermore, the disclosure of JP-2010-508106-A fails to make any reference to post-treatment verification of results.
In short, the conventional art described above has several shortcomings. That is, conventional X-ray equipment suffers from inadequate detection accuracy of the therapeutic X-rays, that is, the X-rays used for treatment. More specifically, detection of radiated X-ray beam characteristics, such as radiation field shape, irradiation direction, intensity, dose, and dose distribution, as well as the dose absorbed by the treatment target, is inadequate because only the X-rays passing through the treatment target are detected. In addition, it is not possible to reduce the duration of a course of therapy without degrading the accuracy of the radiation treatment. Furthermore, the treatment plan and verification thereof, as well as verification of the therapeutic outcome after therapy, require substantial time and effort.

Real-time three-dimensional radiation therapy apparatus and method


A network system is logically established according to path information to circulate a data throughout a complex of electronic equipments which are communicably connected to one another. Each electronic equipment has at least either of a receiver port which receives a data and a transmitter port which transmits a data. The path information is effective to enable a primary electronic equipment having a receiver port to identify a secondary electronic equipment having a corresponding transmitter port. The primary electronic equipment opens a logical path of the data connecting between its own receiver port and the corresponding transmitter port of the secondary electronic equipment according to the provided path information to thereby enable circulation of the data throughout the complex of the electronic equipments.

The present invention relates to a network system composed of a plurality of electronic equipments which are interconnected to one another through logical paths so as to construct a complex electronic musical instrument or other electronic compositions. More specifically, the invention relates to a self-constructable and reconstructable network system which can automatically restore the logical paths once the same has been programmed.
In a recent audio/video (AV) system, a plurality of audio and video equipments or components are interconnected to build up a complex AV installation. For example, a typical AV system is composed of a television set, a video tape recorder, an audio component, a karaoke machine and so on. Their input terminals and output terminals are mutually connected to each other to set up the AV system. In such a case, all members of the system are physically connected together one by one by means of a coaxial cable, a shield cable, a parallel line cable and so on.
Specifically, referring to FIG. 22, the complex electronic musical instrument is composed of several electronic musical components or units which are connected to each other through a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI), which is designed according to an international standard. In the system of FIG. 22, a keyboard 101 has a MIDI output terminal OUT connected to a MIDI input terminal of a sequencer (SEQ) 102 through a line L101. The sequencer 102 has a MIDI output terminal OUT connected to a MIDI input terminal IN of a first tone generator 104 through a line L102. The first tone generator 104 has a MIDI intermediate terminal THRU connected to a MIDI input terminal IN of a second tone generator 105 through a line L103. The second tone generator 105 has a MIDI intermediate terminal THRU connected to a MIDI input terminal IN of a third tone generator 106 through a line L104. Further, the first, second and third tone generators 104, 105 and 106 have respective output terminals AUDIO-OUTs which feed output signals to an input terminal AUDIO-IN of a mixer 103 through separate lines L105, L106 and L107. The mixer 103 produces a musical tone signal from its output terminal AUDIO-OUT. The MIDI intermediate terminal THRU provided in the first and second tone generators operates to directly output or pass an input signal received at a preceding input terminal, as it is.
In the conventional structure of FIG. 22, the plurality of the electronic components are physically interconnected by a number of cables which would require a considerable installation space. Further, once the cable lines are disconnected, it would require a laborious re-coupling work to reconstruct the same complex system. Further, in the conventional structure, the member components are serially connected to each other by the MIDI lines because a MIDI message is transferred in the form of a serial data. Such a rather redundant arrangement of the MIDI lines would share a considerable installation space. If one MIDI line is inadvertently disconnected from a circuit loop, a signal cannot be transferred to succeeding members so that the musical system may stop tone generation. Even worse, it would require a laborious repairing work to recover the disconnected line.

Network system having automatic reconstructing function of logical paths


An acoustic flowmeter calibration method and sampling system address a variation in acoustic transducer delay time with increasing temperature. In one aspect, calibration of the path length between the sending and receiving transducers and calibration of the transducer delay time over a wide temperature range are optimized. In another aspect, the flowmeter output is temperature compensated based on the exhaust flowmeter gas temperature. These two aspects may be embodied in an ultrasonic flowmeter for exhaust gas measurement individually or in combination in accordance with the invention.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to acoustic flowmeters including ultrasonic flowmeters used to measure flowing exhaust gas velocity.
2. Background Art
Transmitting pulses of acoustic energy through a fluid is useful for measuring the state and properties of the fluid, specifically the velocity and temperature. Piezoceramic elements are commonly used in acoustic transducers to generate ultrasonic acoustic pulses or continuous wave fields.
The ultrasonic flowmeter measures the flowing exhaust gas velocity using the relation:
      (                  1                  t          1                    -              1                  t          2                      )    =            (                        2                    V                L            )                  cos                    (        Φ        )                                    where
t1=ultrasonic pulse transit time upstream;
t2=ultrasonic pulse transit time downstream;
V=velocity of the gas through the pipe;
φ=angle between the ultrasonic beam and the pipe; and
L=path length of the ultrasonic beam between the transmitter and receiver transducers.
The transit time (i.e. t1 and t2) is measured by sending a pulse of ultrasound across the pipe, and measuring the time differential (i.e. transit time) for the pulse to be detected at the receiving transducer. With a gas flow velocity of 0 ft/s, a typical transit time is about 220 μs with a 3.1 inch path length. At maximum flow, the gas velocity is about 150 ft/s, with a resulting upstream transit time measuring about 256 μs, and a downstream transit time measuring about 34 μs.
The measured transit times are affected by the temperature of the gas. The speed of sound in air changes with temperature using the relation:c=(20.03)√{square root over (Tgas)} where
c=speed of sound in meters per second; and
Tgas=absolute gas temperature in Kelvin.
At room temperature, Tgas is 298 K and c equals 345 m/s, or 1135 ft/s. With a high gas temperature of 425° C., Tgas is 698 K and c equals 529 m/s, or 1736 ft/s.
When the ultrasonic flowmeter is calibrated with a gas temperature of 298 K, the gas velocity is calculated by the relation:
  V  =            (                        1                      t            1                          -                  1                      t            2                              )                          (                  L                      2                                      cos                                            (                Φ                )                                                    )            .
When the gas temperature is increased to 698 K, we find that this velocity relation is 5% to 10% different than the true gas velocity.
Additional background information may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,756,360; 4,336,719; 5,217,018; 5,159,838; 6,343,511; 5,241,287; 4,743,870; 5,438,999; 4,297,607; and 6,307,302.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an improved acoustic flowmeter calibration method.


Techniques are provided which address the problems associated with the conventional approaches for storing multidimensional data in a relational database system. According to technique, the many foreign key values of each row in the fact table are mapped to and replaced by a xe2x80x9creplacementxe2x80x9d value. A mapping function is provided that derives a replacement value from any given combination of foreign key values, and an inverse mapping function is provided to reproduce the combination of foreign key values given the replacement value. A mapping function is selected such that the foreign key value combinations of multidimensional values that are conceptually related to each other map to values that are close to each other. The rows in the fact table are then stored within the fact table in the sorted order, thus causing values that are conceptually related to each other to be stored physically near each other within the fact table. Various techniques are provided for generating the replacement value from the foreign key values by subdividing the multidimensional cube that contains all of the multidimensional values into smaller sub-cubes that are referred to as tiles. Variations on the tiling mechanism are provided. According to one approach, the cube is sub-divided into tiles based on the members of a particular level of a hierarchical dimension. According to another tiling approach, the tiles themselves may be subdivided into smaller tiles to create a hierarchy of tiles.

The present invention relates to relational database management systems and, more specifically, to techniques for storing multidimensional data in relational database management systems.
In the context of database systems, a xe2x80x9cdimensionxe2x80x9d is a list of values that provide categories for data. A dimension acts as an index for identifying values of a variable. For example, if sales data has a separate sales figure for each month, then the data has a MONTH dimension. That is, the data is organized by month. A dimension is similar to a key in a relational database. Data that is organized by two or more dimensions is referred to as xe2x80x9cmultidimensional dataxe2x80x9d.
Any item of data within a multidimensional variable can be uniquely and completely selected by specifying one member from each of the variable""s dimensions. For example, if a sales variable is dimensioned by MONTH, PRODUCT, and MARKET, specifying xe2x80x9cJanuaryxe2x80x9d for the MONTH dimension, xe2x80x9cStereosxe2x80x9d for the PRODUCT dimension, and xe2x80x9cEastern Regionxe2x80x9d for the MARKET dimension uniquely specifies a single value of the variable. Thus, dimensions offer a concise and intuitive way of organizing and selecting data for retrieval, updating, and performing calculations.
Multidimensional data may be stored in relational database systems (xe2x80x9cROLAPxe2x80x9d systems) or in specialized, xe2x80x9cmultidimensionalxe2x80x9d database systems (xe2x80x9cMOLAPxe2x80x9d systems). Multidimensional database systems provide structures and access techniques specifically designed for multidimensional data, and therefore provide relatively efficient storage and access to multidimensional data. However, when stored in specialized multidimensional database systems, only applications that are specially built to interact with those multidimensional database systems are able to access and manipulate the data.
On the other hand, when stored in relational database systems, all applications that support interaction with relational databases have access to the data. Such database applications communicate with the relational database system by submitting commands that conform to the database language supported by the relational database system, the most common of which is the Structured Query Language (SQL).
Relational database systems store data in the form of related tables, where each table has one or more columns and zero or more rows. The conventional mechanism for storing multidimensional data in a relational database system is to store the data in tables arranged in what is referred to as a star schema. In relational database systems, a star schema is distinguished by the presence of one or more relatively large tables and several relatively smaller tables. Rather than duplicating the information contained in the smaller tables, the large tables contain references (foreign key values) to rows stored in the smaller tables. The larger tables within a star schema are referred to as xe2x80x9cfact tablesxe2x80x9d, while the smaller tables are referred to as xe2x80x9cdimension tablesxe2x80x9d. FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary star schema with two dimensions.
Referring to FIG. 1, it illustrates a database 100 that includes tables 102, 104 and 106. Table 102 is named xe2x80x9cstorexe2x80x9d and contains information about each of the stores in which sales may occur. Each row in store table 102 contains a unique store-id and information about the particular store that corresponds to the store-id. Table 104 is named xe2x80x9cproductxe2x80x9d and contains information about each type of product that may be sold in any of the stores. Each row in product table 104 contains a unique product-id and information about the particular product.
Table 106 is named xe2x80x9csalexe2x80x9d and contains information about each sale in each of the stores represented in the store table 102. Each row in sale table 106 includes a dollar amount, a store-id to indicate the store at which the sale was made, a product-id to indicate the product sold in the sale, and the date of the sale. Typically, the number of sales will be vastly greater than both the number of stores at which the sales are made and the number of products carried by the stores. Detailed information about the store and product involved in a sale transaction does not have to be stored in the rows of table 106 because such detailed information is available in tables 102 and 104, respectively. Instead, the rows of table 106 simply contain values (store-ids and product-ids) that reference information stored in the other tables 102 and 104. Therefore, tables 102, 104 and 106 constitute a star schema in which table 106 is the fact table and tables 102 and 104 are dimension tables.
The data stored in fact table 106 only has two dimensions, and therefore fact table 106 only has two columns dedicated to storing foreign key values for those dimensions. In general, a fact table must dedicate one column for storing foreign key values for each of the dimensions associated with the multidimensional data stored in the fact table. Thus, a fact table that stores data associated with twenty dimensions would have to dedicate twenty columns to the storage of foreign key values.
Storing multidimensional data within a relational database has two significant drawbacks. First, the fact table is significantly larger than it would have to be if it only had to store the multidimensional data itself. The massive size of the fact table, relative to the dimension data itself, is largely due to the need to store a foreign key value for each dimension for each multidimensional value. Second, the rows within a conventional fact table have no particular order. Consequently, multidimensional values that are closely related to each other conceptually may be stored relatively randomly throughout the entire fact table. This leads to inefficiencies because multidimensional data that is conceptually related to each other are frequently accessed and manipulated as a group.
An alternative approach to managing multidimensional data in a relational database involves storing the data in relational files but maintaining all multidimensional structure, metadata, administration, and access control using multidimensional database system techniques. Accessing relationally-stored data using multidimensional techniques poses numerous difficulties. For example, when all administration and access to the multidimensional data are controlled exclusively through the multidimensional database system engine, two database management systems must be administered. Further, database applications that access data using conventional relational commands (e.g. SQL commands) are unable to access the multidimensional data.
The approaches described above for storing multidimensional data in relational database systems demonstrate the tradeoffs made by prior approaches, which have either (1) sacrificed the benefits of multidimensional storage to enjoy the benefits of modem relational systems, such as conventional relational access, or (2) sacrificed the benefits of relational storage to attain the efficiency of multidimensional storage.
Techniques are provided which address the problems associated with the conventional approaches for storing multidimensional data in a relational database system. According to one aspect of the invention, the many foreign key values of each row in the fact table are mapped to and replaced by a xe2x80x9creplacementxe2x80x9d value. A mapping function is provided that allows the database server to derive a replacement value from any given combination of foreign key values, and an inverse mapping function is provided to reproduce the combination of foreign key values given the replacement value.
According to another aspect of the invention, a mapping function is selected such that the foreign key value combinations of multidimensional values that are conceptually related to each other map to values that are close to each other. The rows in the fact table are then stored within the fact table in the sorted order, where the replacement value derived from the foreign key values is used as the sort key. Because the sort key value of each row generally reflects the position of the value in that row relative to the multiple dimensions, sorting the fact table based on the derived values causes values that are conceptually related to each other to be stored physically near each other within the fact table.
Various techniques are provided for generating the replacement value from the foreign key values. In general, the process involves subdividing the multidimensional cube that contains all of the multidimensional values into smaller sub-cubes that are referred to as tiles. Each tile has a particular set of coordinates within the larger cube, and each multidimensional value has a particular set of coordinates within the tile to which it belongs. All the tiles that are produced by subdividing the cube in this manner are assigned a single number, where tiles assigned closely related numbers are closely related within the dimensions of the cube. The tile number of the tile in which a particular multidimensional value resides is then stored in the row that contains that multidimensional value in the fact table, replacing the separate foreign key values that were used to derive that tile number.
Variations on the tiling mechanism are provided. According to one approach, the cube is sub-divided into tiles based on the members of a particular level of a hierarchical dimension. For example, one dimension of a multidimensional cube may be xe2x80x9cgeographic locationxe2x80x9d, where geographic location has the following levels: city, state, region, country. In this case, a particular level of the dimension may be selected, such as state, and all values within the multidimensional cube that correspond to a particular state value are considered to belong to the same tile.
According to another tiling approach, the tiles themselves may be subdivided into smaller tiles. This creates a hierarchy of tiles, where the subdividing criteria used for one level of tile may be completely different than the criteria used for subdividing the tiles at a different level.

Storing multidimensional data in a relational database management system


A subject image is converted into an electrical picture signal by an imaging device. A mode setter sets either a still picture record mode or a moving picture record mode. A recording device records on a recording medium a still picture in the still picture record mode or a moving picture in the moving picture record mode on the basis of the picture signal from the imaging device. A computer computes the remaining capacity of the recording medium for each of still and moving pictures. A display unit displays the remaining capacity of the recording medium for each of still and moving pictures simultaneously.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a picture taking apparatus which permits a still picture and a moving picture which are different in picture quality to be recorded simultaneously on the same sensor and, more specifically, to a picture taking apparatus capable of displaying a remaining capacity of a recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, still pictures are recorded by film-based cameras or still-video (SV) systems, and moving pictures are recorded by video cameras. Nowadays a wide variety of techniques are proposed for simultaneous recording of still and moving pictures. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-37835 discloses a camera which is compact in size and light in weight and adapted to simultaneously capture a moving picture on video tape and a still picture on silver-based film by the use of a single lens system.
In addition, an SV system has been developed whose mode of operation can be switched into either the moving picture mode or the still picture mode by an operator. For such a system for simultaneous recording of still and moving pictures, it is desired to alert the camera operator of the number of frames left for shooting or the remainder of the recordable time during recording.
In view of this respect, an electronic still camera is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-7647 which, in recording still and moving pictures and sound, indicates the remaining capacity of a recording medium according to a mode set. That is, this camera has a feature of displaying the remaining capacity of a recording medium for still picture when a still picture is recorded and the remaining capacity for moving picture when a moving picture shot is recorded.
Moreover, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-38785 discloses a camera which allows the operator to make sure of the used or unused capacity of a recording medium in terms of the number of frames for still pictures and in terms of time for moving picture.
However, the conventional techniques described above suppose that each of still and moving pictures will be shot individually. Thus, the display according to each of the still picture mode and the moving picture mode is merely performed. That is, these conventional techniques do not simultaneously provide information related to the two modes, as is desirable in a system which allows a still picture to be shot while a moving picture is being shot.
In addition, the conventional techniques suppose that still pictures are handled in the same quality as moving picture. However, the picture quality of the moving picture need not be as high as the still image. It is thus desirable to display how much of each of moving and still pictures can be shot with a remaining capacity of a recording medium of an SV system.

Apparatus having a moving picture recording mode and a still picture recording mode and which is capable of simultaneously displaying a remaining memory capacity with respect to each of the recording modes


A weed removal system includes a first handle integrally attached to an elongated hollow outer shaft; a second handle rotatably attached to the outer shaft; an inner shaft slidingly engaged within a cavity formed by the hollow outer shaft; and a tool secured to the inner shaft and configured to engage with a weed. The method includes adjusting the overall length of the outer shaft and the inner shaft; exerting a downward force such against the outer shaft and the inner shaft such that the tool applies pressure against the weed; and twisting the first handle relative to the second handle while the tool is in contact with the weed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to weeding tools.
2. Description of Related Art
Tools used for weeding are well known in the art and are effective means to reduce the time and effort to pull weeds from the ground surface. For example, FIG. 1 depicts a simplified front view of a person removing a weed 101 from the ground surface 103 via a tool 105 having a spade 107 for digging. During use, the spade 107 is gripped with a hand 109 of the person while the other hand 111 is used to remove the weed 101.
It should be understood that the conventional process of removing a weed 101 has limitations. For example, the process requires the person to bend over and/or sit on the ground surface to remove the weed with the weeder tool. These disadvantages are burdensome to persons having bad backs, elderly persons who do not easily bend over, and the like. Accordingly, there is a long-felt need for a weeder tool that allows the person to remove the weed without such limitations discussed above.
Although great strides have been made in the area of weeder tools, many shortcomings remain.
While the system and method of use of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims.