An embodiment of a portable tube flaring system for flaring a flexible plastic tube end includes a hand-held wand with a heating element for heating a tube heater receptacle, which provides direct contact heating of the tube end about the entire outer periphery of the tube end. A mandrel device is configured for manual insertion into the heated tube end by the user after the tube end is removed from the wand and heater receptacle. A power/control unit is connected to the wand by a wiring bundle to provide electrical power to the heating element, and to optionally provide a visual and/or audio signal to the user for indicating when the tube end should be removed from the wand receptacle, and thereafter, when the mandrel may be removed from the tube end after sufficient cooling or curing time. The system may be carried by a person.

Flexible and rigid tubing may have formed ends for use in coupling the tube to a fitting or to another tube. Flexible tubing may, for example, have flared ends to be joined to a flexible or rigid tube or fitting. A flared tube may be joined without a bushing and/or a nut. The inner diameter of the flare may be sized to accept and be joined to the outer diameter of a tube or fitting. The end of rigid tubing may be formed into a flare or flange.
Flexible tubing ends may be formed into flares using "cold flare" tools or heated flare tools. Cold flare tools use pressure alone to shape a tube end into a flare. Conventional heated flare tools unevenly heated the end of a tube and may use a flare form inserted into the tube to form a flare. Shaped tube end flares made by these methods typically lose their shape, due to the elastic memory of the tubing, at normal operating temperatures and pressures. As a result, the connections to the flared ends often developed leaks over time.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,604,472 B2, hereinafter referred to as the '472 patent, describes a method and apparatus for forming flared tube ends, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference. As described at column 1, line 66 to column 2, line 14 of the '472 patent, a flared tube end may be used in coupling a flexible tube to a tube, pipe or fitting. FIG. 1 of the '472 patent illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a flexible tube 1 with a flared end 2 to be fitted to a mating portion 3. A nut 4 may be provided to mate with threads 5 on the mating portion 3 to secure the fitting. The inner profile 6 of the flared end 2 of the flexible tube 1 may be formed to conform to the profile of the outer surface 7 of the mating end 8 of the mating portion 3. The flexible tube may be selected so that the inner diameter 9 of the flexible tube 3 matches the inner diameter 10 of the mating portion 3 where the interior surface 11 of the flexible tube meets the interior surface 12 of the mating portion 3, which may provide surface continuity along the interior surfaces of the fitting and may reduce the likelihood of leaks or fitting failure. In an exemplary embodiment, the flare is at a 45 degree angle with a 0.060 inch radius. The method and system disclosed in the '472 patent solved the problems of leakage, and provided flared flexible tubing ends which provide excellent performance against connection leakage.

Portable tube flaring system for flexible tubing


A multi-conductor lead body having improved mechanical characteristics and improved manufacturability is disclosed. The lead body includes multiple conductors wound around a generally cylindrical or tubular, insulative core member. Ones of the conductors are spaced from other ones of the conductors by means of insulative strands or tubes wound around the core intermediate the conductors. The conductors may be stranded or cabled conductors. The core may be an insulative cylindrical or tubular member having a centrally located tensile reinforcement member, or may take the form of an insulated coiled conductor, allowing the use of a centrally located stylet to place the lead. Preferably, conductors and insulative strands or tubes separating the conductors are sized relative to the core member such that a gap is allowed between the conductors and associated insulative strands or tubes. In one embodiment, at least one of the conductors may be electrically and mechanically coupled to one or more electrodes such as a defibrillation electrodes. The electrodes may each be may be positioned along a respective portion of the outer surface of the conductor. Openings fashioned in the jacket of the lead body expose the electrodes so that the outer surface of the electrodes is substantially adjacent to the outer surface of the lead body, thus providing a lead body having minimal dimensions.

The present invention relates generally to body implantable biomedical leads and more particularly to multi-conductor leads.
In the field of implantable electrical leads, a wide variety of configurations have been employed and proposed for providing multi-conductor lead bodies. The two most widely employed approaches are the coaxial design, wherein multiple coiled conductors are mounted around one another, separated by tubular insulative sheaths, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,355,646 issued to Kallok and the multi-lumen design, wherein the lead body takes the form of a multi-lumen tube, each lumen carrying a separate conductor, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,873 issued to Shoberg, et al. Additional alternative approaches have included embedding multiple conductors within the wall of an insulative lead body, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,087 issued to Hess, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,646 issued to Gotthardt, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,396 issued to Altman et al. An additional alternative approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,159 issued to Cross et al, in which individual conductors are separated from one another by means of a central strut having laterally extending projections, serving to space and insulate adjacent conductors from one another, within a tubular outer sheath.
Notwithstanding the variety of lead body designs that have been proposed, there is still a desire to improve the mechanical characteristics and the producability of multiple conductor lead bodies.
The present invention is directed toward providing a multi-conductor lead body having improved mechanical characteristics and improved manufacturability. Lead bodies according to the present invention are manufactured by winding multiple conductors around a generally cylindrical or tubular, insulative core member, and by spacing adjacent ones of the conductors from one another by means of insulative strands or tubes, wound around the core intermediate the conductors. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the conductors may take the form of stranded or cabled conductors, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,873 issued to Shoberg, et al., cited above and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In some embodiments, the core may take the form of an insulative cylindrical or tubular member having a centrally located tensile reinforcement member. In these embodiments, the insulative member may be extruded over the tensile member. In other embodiments, the core may take the form of an insulated coiled conductor, allowing the use of a centrally located stylet to place the lead. In these embodiments, the insulative coating of the coiled conductor may be formed as a separate tubular member or may be extruded in one or two layers, as is desired.
Preferably, the conductors and insulative strands or tubes separating the conductors are sized relative to the core member such that a gap is allowed between the conductors and associated insulative strands or tubes may be physically displaced under loading, improving the crush resistance and durability of the lead bodies. In embodiments employing tubular insulative members separating adjacent conductors, the tubes serve a function similar to that of the compression lumens described in the above-cited Shoberg, et al. patent, further facilitating the ability of the lead to withstand damage due to compression.
According to another aspect of the invention, at least one of the conductors may be electrically and mechanically coupled to an electrode. The electrode may be a defibrillation electrode of the type used in an implantable medical device, and the coupled conductor may be a high-voltage conductor. The electrode may be of an elongated configuration, and positioned along the outer surface of a portion of the conductor. Alternatively, multiple electrodes of this nature may each be positioned along a respective portion of the at least one of the conductors. Openings such as slits fashioned in the jacket of the lead body expose the electrodes so that the outer surface of the electrodes is substantially adjacent to the outer surface of the lead body. This configuration provides a lead of minimal size.

Electrically-isolated multiple conductor lead body


A scribe-and-break tool for fracturing the free end of an optical fiber that is especially suitable for hand-holdable configurations and field use which has an elongate body with a plunger that is interrelated to a blade for scribing the free end of an optical fiber retained in tension within a depressible head that extends outward from the body and is depressible inward to bring the free end of the optical fiber into contact with the blade, thereby scribing the free end of the fiber causing the free end to break off.

The segments of optical fiber used in fiber optic systems are taken from long lengths of optical fiber. These segments must be cut from the longer lengths and then joined with other fiber optic devices, such as another segment of optical fiber or an electro-optic device. In order to maximize signal transmission across these interfaces, it is necessary that the ends of the segments be free of imperfections.
It is known that by scribing an optical fiber and inducing a tensile stress, the optical fiber will fracture at the scribe point. This leaves a fiber surface that has only slight imperfections, requiring minimal polishing to produce a defect-free surface. The scribe-and-break technique is especially useful for field work because it can be incorporated into a hand tool that produces a clean break at a determinable location without complex machinery. A scribe-and-break tool that will be used in the field must be user-friendly and rugged enough to withstand the inevitable mishandling.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,025 discloses a scribe-and-break hand tool having a scribe fixed to a frame opposite an arcuatly shaped fiber supporting surface that is displaceable towards the scribe. The optical fiber is placed on the arcuate surface where it is held in place by spring members. As the arcuate surface is moved towards the scribe, the spring members form the fiber along the arcuate surface, thereby instilling a tensile stress into the optical fiber. The fiber fractures and breaks when the scribe contacts the fiber.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,672 discloses another scribe-and-break hand tool that has a scoring probe that is reciprocally moveable within a generally hollow body in response to actuation of a trigger mechanism upon the body. The body itself supports and positions the fiber and the scoring probe moves to contact with the fiber.

Scribe-and-break tool for optical fibers


A load-carrying bed system for a vehicle having a cargo bed includes a bed floor defining a cargo receiving area and first and second sidewalls disposed along lateral sides of the bed floor. A forward wall is disposed along a forward side of the bed floor and laterally between the first and second sidewall. A tailgate is disposed along the rearward side of the bed floor and laterally between the first and second sidewalls. A cargo bed divider is movable between a stowed state wherein the cargo bed divider is stowed in a cargo bed divider cavity defined in the tailgate and a dividing state wherein the cargo bed divider has a first end removably secured to the first sidewall and a second end removably secured to second sidewall to divide the bed floor into distinct storage areas.

The present disclosure generally relates to load-carrying beds for vehicles, and more particularly to a load-carrying bed system for a vehicle having a cargo bed including a stowable cargo bed divider.
There are several known dividers for vehicle cargo beds. However, usually these dividers are after-market parts and/or are not well integrated into the design of the vehicle bed. For example, while some beds include structure for particularly positioning the divider in a desired location or locations in the vehicle bed, there is often not an easy and aesthetically pleasing place in which to stow the divider when not in use.
Accordingly, there is a need for a bed divider that is integrated into the base vehicle design and a further need for a bed divider that is easily stowed when not in use in a functional and aesthetically pleasing way.

Vehicle load-carrying bed system having bed divider


According to examples, an apparatus may include a memory on which is stored machine-readable instructions that may cause a processor to determine, for each of a plurality of members in a group, a respective least privilege level for a resource and determine, based on the determined respective least privilege levels, a privilege level to be assigned to the group for the resource. The instructions may also cause the processor to assign the determined privilege level to the group for the resource and apply the assigned privilege level to the members of the group for the resource.

Cloud providers may provide users access to a variety of resources, which may be shared among many users. In order to provide secure access, guarantee privacy, and adhere to legal and compliance regulations, cloud providers may implement access models that may allow for organizational administrators to apply restrictions on resource access. For instance, cloud providers may employ a Rule Based Access Control (RBAC) as an access model for the users over the resources.


A method of delivering a drug or other compound to the lens of the eye. A conduit through which a drug is introduced penetrates at least the outer lens capsule for drug delivery. When withdrawn, the aperture is self-sealing, thus minimizing trauma and minimizing the risk of cataract formation. The drug remains localized within the lens.

A cataract refers to any opacity of the ocular crystalline lens. The normal crystalline lens is transparent, refractive, and provides adequate accommodation (shape change) to transmit and focus light on the retina at various distances. Accommodation in the human eye occurs through controlled changes in crystalline lens shape, thickness, and refractive surface placement relative to the cornea. With cataracts, the normally clear lens becomes cloudy, affecting the transmission of light through the lens and resulting in loss of visual acuity. Cataracts are most frequently associated with the normal aging process or pathology, but injury or mechanical violation of the ocular capsule surrounding the lens also causes cataract formation.
Because of the risk of inducing cataract formation, penetrating the lens capsule to introduce drugs or other agents into the lens has not been favorably considered.


Apparatus and methods are provided for thermally and/or mechanically treating tissue, such as valvular structures, to reconfigure or shrink the tissue in a controlled manner. The apparatus comprises a catheter in communication with an end effector which induces a temperature rise in an annulus of tissue surrounding the leaflets of a valve or in the chordae tendineae sufficient to cause shrinkage, thereby causing the valves to close more tightly. Mechanical clips can also be implanted over the valve either alone or after the thermal treatment. The clips are delivered by a catheter and may be configured to traverse directly over the valve itself or to lie partially over the periphery of the valve to prevent obstruction of the valve channel. The clips can be coated with drugs or a radiopaque coating. The catheter can also incorporate sensors or energy delivery devices, e.g., transducers, on its distal end.

Degenerative valvular disease is the most common cause of valvular regurgitation in human beings. Regurgitation is typically characterized by an expanded valve annulus or by lengthened chordae tendineae. In either case, an increase in the geometry of a valve or its supporting structure causes the valve to become less effective, as it no longer fully closes when required.
Loose chordae tendineae may result, for example, from ischemic heart disease affecting the papillary muscles. The papillary muscles attach to the chordae tendineae and keep the leaflets of a valve shut. Some forms of ischemic cardiac disease cause the papillary muscles to lose their muscle tone, resulting in a loosening of the chordae tendineae. This loosening, in turn, allows the leaflets of the affected valve to prolapse, causing regurgitation.
It therefore would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus for treatment of tissue that modify the geometry and operation of a heart valve.
It would also be desirable to provide methods and apparatus that are configured to thermally treat chordae tendineae, the annulus of a valve, or valve leaflets.
It would also be desirable to further provide methods and apparatus that are configured to mechanically modify the geometry and operation of a heart valve and annulus of a valve either alone or in addition to thermal treatment.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and methods for treating tissue


A card having a paper as a base material laminated with decomposable plastic layers having such properties as durability, banding resistance, water resistance, chemical resistance, waterproofness, surface smoothness, glossiness end workability. Any visible information/design portion and/or a magnetic recording portion may be formed as required. The present invention improves the durability of a card using paper as a base material and provides the card which spontaneously decomposes even when left after being discarded.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disposable card used for prepaid cards, admission tickets, or a disposable card-type material used for letters of guarantee, securities and the like, and more particularly to a card whose entire composition has decomposition properties.
2. Background Art
Currently, cards are utilized in wide fields such as ID cards or membership cards identifying social standing, cash cards, credit cards, prepaid cards, passes or traffic tickets having monetary values, or letters of guarantee, securities and the like.
Cards which have increased most in the number of cards utilized among those as mentioned above are the so-called prepaid cards in which monetary value information has been recorded equivalent to a certain amount of money previously paid.
Usually, such cards after being sold to users are discarded when users use up the full amount of money recorded. Generally such prepaid cards comprise plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin as a card base material, in which pattern and character information are printed on the card base material, while digital information is recorded on a magnetic recording portion or an optical recording portion provided on the card base material. Although such plastic cards after being fully used are currently disposed of by incineration or by landfill as a waste, plastic waste, when being incinerated, causes burning temperature to become higher, leading to problems with the durability of incinerators and with the environmental pollution due to combustion gas, while plastic waste, when being used for landfill, does not decompose, remaining as it is, so that it remains permanently as refuse, leading to problems with the effect on natural environment.
Heretofore, there have been produced and utilized cards employing paper as their base material, which paper is easy to be discarded for incineration or landfill and less expensive in manufacturing cost, so that paper has been considered to be an optimum card material with respect to the above-mentioned, currently-discussed environmental problems.
Also recently, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 57-150393, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.59-220192, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.51-93991, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.63-260912 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.57-150393, plastics, which are decomposable under natural environment such as light or underground condition, have been developed, have been particularly for throwaway products, and have now commercially been available partly. With respect to the cards field, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.5-42786 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.5-85088 by the present applicant disclose that decomposable plastics are used for card base material. Problems that the Invention is to solve
However, where paper is used for card base material as shown in FIG. 3, considering the suitability for cards, such as durability, bending resistance, water resistance, chemical resistance, waterproofness, surface smoothness, glossiness and workability, paper is inferior in function in all respects. Thus sole paper application is limited to a temporary one such as traffic tickets, admission tickets and railway tickets, and not suitable for the above-mentioned prepaid cards used for a certain period. For such a purpose, although it is considered that an outer layer of plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate, or those other than plastics such as aluminum foil are laminated as a protective layer on a paper bass material as shown in FIG. 4, these cards are inferior in discardability and have a disadvantage not significantly different from plastic cards.
A card in which the base material itself is composed of a decomposable plastic gradually decomposes due to its plastic function after being discarded. However, cards are to be produced with consideration to convenience in themselves and to a problem with card manufacture, so that where a decomposable plastic is used only for a card base material, problems as shown below exist.
The problems exist in that first a card is required to have a certain thickness from the strength and user-friendliness points of view, so that when the card is molded, a warpage develops on the card surface; that the decomposition of a decomposable plastic requires a longer time corresponding to such thickness; and that since a decomposable plastic is expensive, the card itself becomes expensive.


A water-based dispersion adhesive composition and use thereof for bonding floor coverings or for bonding wood floors to substrates. The water-based dispersion adhesive composition includes an aqueous polymer dispersion including water and at least one water-dispersible polymer, at least one calcium ion complexing agent, at least one calcium ion precipitating agent, and at least one calcium-containing filler.

Dispersion adhesives are widely used in the construction industry for bonding substrates using contact bonding, wet-bonding and semi wet-bonding techniques. In contact bonding, the adhesive is applied on the surfaces of the substrates to be bonded, flashed off, after which the substrates are contacted with each other to create an adhesive bond. In semi wet-bonding the adhesive is applied to one of the substrates, dried to a semi-wet state and contacted with the surface of the other substrate. Typically solvent based adhesives are used in contact-bonding whereas water-based dispersion adhesives are mainly used in wet- or semi-wet bonding.
Compared to solvent-based adhesives, water-based adhesives have the advantage related to improved ecology, safety and industrial hygiene. On the other hand, water based adhesives have limited application temperatures due to the high water content and they tend to have higher production costs than solvent based dispersion adhesives. Due to the requirements related to working safety and application temperature, water-based dispersion adhesives are per se suitable for use as adhesive in the installation of floor coverings in interior rooms of buildings. When used for bonding floor coverings, a semi-wet bonding is typically used. In semi-wet bonding, the dispersion adhesive is first applied in their wet-state on the surface of a substrate. After being contacted with air, the water content of the adhesive starts to decrease and after a certain time period the adhesive reaches a semi-wet state. The floor covering is then contacted with the semi-wet adhesive film after which the drying and curing of the adhesive is continued between the floor covering and the substrate. It is typical for the water-based dispersion adhesives that the initial tack (ability to form adhesive bond) of the wet adhesive layer is quite low and that there is a significant increase in the initial tack towards the end of the wet-phase.
There are some particular requirements for the water-based dispersion adhesives used in bonding floor coverings to substrates. It is generally required that the adhesive in its semi-wet state is able to provide sufficient tackiness soon after the floor covering is contacted with the adhesive film. The initial tack is needed to fixate the floor covering to the substrate for the subsequent curing phase, during which a high strength adhesive bond is formed via further drying. Furthermore, since the adhesive is able to provide sufficient initial tack only in the semi-wet-state, it is required that the adhesive is able to wet the backside of the floor covering in the semi-wet state. Otherwise no adhesive bond could be formed between the floor covering and the substrate. The adhesive should also have long enough working time to enable easy installation with the possibility to correct the initial position of the floor covering after it has been contacted with the adhesive film. The term "working time" refers in the present disclosure to the length of the time period during which the adhesive is in semi-wet state and is still able to form an adhesive bond after being contacted with the substrate. A relatively short waiting time is also desirable in order to decrease the total installation time. The term "waiting time" refers in the present disclosure to the length of the wet-phase, i.e. the length of the time period after the adhesive has been applied to the substrate and before it is contacted with the surface of the substrate. Finally, the adhesive should have a fast tack development, which basically enables short waiting times in semi-wet bonding.
Low boiling plasticizers and/or solvents and/or polymers with very low glass transition temperature are typically added to water-based dispersion adhesives to improve the bond strength development and to reduce the waiting time. However, due to the regulations related to emissions of (semi) volatile organic compounds (VOC) the volatile plasticizers cannot be included in dispersion adhesives in many developed markets. State-of-the-art low-VOC water-based dispersion adhesives typically suffer from significantly longer waiting times compared to water-based dispersion adhesives containing volatile plasticizers.
US2005/0113499 A1 discloses a low-emission dispersion adhesive composition comprising an aqueous polymer dispersion comprising water and water-dispersible polymer and a carboxylated tall oil resin colophony. The water-dispersible polymer is obtained by free-radical polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers using an initiator selected from the group of sodium persulfate, potassium persulfate and ammonium persulfate, tert-butyl hydroperoxides, water-soluble azo compounds, and redox initiators, such as H2O2/ascorbic acid. The adhesive composition can also comprise filler such as a carbonate (especially calcium carbonate), quartz powder, silicates (for example talc, clay, mica), siliceous earth, sulfates such as calcium or barium sulphate or aluminium hydroxide.
There is thus need for water-based dispersion adhesives, which exhibit low emission of volatile organic compounds and which meet the requirements for good bond strength development, short waiting time and long working time, and which are thus suitable for use in bonding floor coverings or wood floors to various substrates.

Low emission aqueous dispersion adhesive


A high quality dielectric layer, typically silicon dioxide, is formed on a multi-layer deposited semiconductor structure, typically polysilicon or amorphous silicon. The multi-layer structure is formed by varying the silicon deposition rate so as to obtain a low stress deposited silicon structure. The low stress allows for a higher quality dielectric to be formed on the exposed top surface. One application is for thin film transistor gate oxides. Other applications included capacitor dielectrics and the tunnel oxide on the floating gate of EEPROMs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for making a semiconductor device that includes the formation of an improved quality dielectric on a deposited semiconductor layer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the production of semiconductor devices, a layer of a dielectric material is often formed on a layer of deposited silicon. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a first capacitor plate may be formed by depositing a first conductive layer of doped polysilicon (103) on a substrate (101) having a dielectric layer (102) thereon. The top surface of the first polysilicon layer is then oxidized, to form the capacitor dielectric (104). Then, the second capacitor plate is formed by depositing a second conductive layer (105), which may be a metal or doped polysilicon. A high quality capacitor dielectric (105) is indicated by a high breakdown voltage and low leakage current. In another device application, the surface of a deposited polysilicon layer is oxidized to serve as the thin "tunnel" oxide on the floating gate of an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM). In that case, the quality of the dielectric is measured by the ability to allow electrons to tunnel from the floating gate while erasing the memory, while preventing the loss of stored charge at other times. In still another device application, a field effect transistor may be formed in a deposited silicon layer. The gate dielectric is then formed by oxidizing the top surface of the deposited silicon layer. The quality of the gate dielectric is measured in terms of low leakage current and low degree of charge trapping, while maintaining a thin dielectric for good device characteristics. The quality of the dielectric depends on the substructure (state of stress, grain structure and defect state) of the top surface of the polysilicon.
Still other device applications exist, and various criteria for a high quality dielectric may be defined in each case. The deposited silicon layer, as noted above, is typically polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon). However, the use of deposited amorphous silicon is also known in the art. The dielectric formed may include a silicon nitride layer in addition to, or in lieu of, the silicon dioxide layer. The usual method of forming the dielectric layer is by heating in an ambient comprising oxygen (to form an oxide) or nitrogen (to form a nitride) or both (to form an oxynitride). Either a dry or steam ambient, at atmospheric or hyperatmospheric pressure, is frequently used for oxide formation. The heating step may be accomplished in a convection oven over a period of an hour or more. However, more recently, the use of rapid thermal oxidation (RTO) has been investigated, so that the dielectric is formed in a few minutes, or even a few seconds. For example, see the description in U.S. Pat. No. 4,814,291, co-assigned with the present invention. Although successful in many respects, the prior art dielectric forming techniques are reaching practical limits in some cases. This is especially so with integrated circuit technologies that produce sub-micron minimum feature sizes.

Forming a device dielectric on a deposited semiconductor having sub-layers


A data storage device such as a disc drive is described that has a controller chip with an integral embedded read/write channel on the chip. The chip includes a built in test capability for testing the controller logic via the device microprocessor and a nonreturn to zero test FIFO and control logic module. The module includes an internal first in/first out buffer (FIFO) that has variable data speeds and is provided on the chip to provide the test capability thereby permitting testing that would otherwise be difficult to perform.

The control circuitry for a data storage device such as a magnetic disc drive typically resides on discrete chips mounted on a printed circuit board fastened to the underside of the disc drive. There is a trend in data storage device development to make the devices smaller while maintaining or increasing the device storage capacity. Recently, this trend as lead to the incorporation of most if not all of the circuitry and control systems previously found on the printed circuit board into a single integrated circuit known as a SOC (System On a Chip). The SOC incorporates several discrete devices on a single silicon substrate. This configuration can improve performance, reduce cost, and reduce power consumption.
However, there is a serious drawback to such configurations. Previously visible device input/output (IO) pads are no longer visible making testing very difficult or impossible. In the case of a data storage device such as a magnetic, or magneto-optical disc drive controller with an embedded read/write channel in an SOC, the controller/channel interface is no longer visible or directly controllable. The Non Return to Zero (NRZ) data bus between the controller and the channel, in particular, makes testing of the controller in a standalone manner impossible. Attempts to test the controller logic via the internal channel are very difficult, time consuming, and expensive.
Accordingly there is a need for providing a simple mechanism in a data storage device that has an integrated read/write channel control to permit testing of controller functions. The present invention provides a solution to this and other problems, and offers other advantages over the prior art.

Built in full speed nonreturn to zero test method and apparatus for a data storage device controller


A mechanism is provided for optimizing energy efficiency in a set of processor cores while maintaining application performance for a set of applications. A quality of service (QoS) level is received for one or more active applications in the set of applications and state information associated with each processor core in the set of processor cores is identified. Responsive to the QoS level and the state information indicating an action to be implemented, a change is implemented to reduce power utilization by one or more processor cores in the set of processor cores in the data processing system, where the change is via at least one of dynamic frequency scaling, dynamic voltage scaling, or core folding.

The present application relates generally to an improved data processing apparatus and method and more specifically to mechanisms for optimizing energy efficiency in multicore processors under quality of service (QoS)/performance constraints.
Dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) is a popular technique for power saving in a computing system. If the throughput required of a processor is low, clock frequency and the supply voltage may be reduced while maintaining throughput. In multicore processors, another option for power saving is to consolidate work to a subset of processor cores, allowing the remaining unused cores to be put in a deep sleep state or power gated, which may be referred to as core folding. Interestingly, core folding is orthogonal to and may be combined with DVFS to maximize power savings. As technology progresses, power saving techniques like core folding may become increasingly important, due to the reduction in the overall DVFS range.

Energy efficient optimization in multicore processors under quality of service (QoS)/performance constraints

International Business Machines Corporation


A printer and a control method thereof. The printer includes an optical scanner for scanning light to a photosensitive medium according to image information, a developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image formed by the optical scanner, a transfer unit for transferring the image of the photosensitive medium to paper, an engine driving unit for driving the optical scanner and the developing unit, a feed unit having a paper feed distance shorter than an image feed distance, and being disposed at a predetermined position of a main body, for stacking paper, a residual amount sensing unit for sensing a residual amount of paper, and a control unit for controlling the engine driving unit to perform a normal printing mode when the residual amount of paper exceeds a predetermined limit value, and to perform a contamination prevention mode when the residual amount of paper is below the predetermined limit value. As a result, the photosensitive medium is prevented from being contaminated due to lack of paper in the consecutive printing process, by using the feed unit having the paper feed distance shorter than the image feed distance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printer and a control method thereof and, more particularly, to an improved printer capable of preventing a photosensitive medium from being contaminated due to lack of paper in a consecutive printing process, by using a feed unit having a paper feed distance shorter than an image feed distance, and a control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a printer performs a printing process through the processes of charging an image surface of a photosensitive medium such as a photosensitive belt or photosensitive drum with electricity, varying an electric potential level of the image recording surface according to selectively-scanned light, and forming an electrostatic latent image on the image surface. A charged developing solution is added to the electrostatic latent image, to thus visualize an image.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a general wet printer. Referring to FIG. 1, a photosensitive medium 1 rotates in an endless track under the support of a driving roller 3a, a steering roller 3b and a transfer backup roller 3c.
A remainder of the electrostatic latent image on the image surface of the photosensitive medium 1 is removed by an eraser 11. Then, the image surface passes through a corona charging device 13, and thus is homogeneously charged to a predetermined potential.
The charged image surface of the photosensitive medium 1 is selectively photosensitized due to a laser beam scanned from a laser scan unit 15, and thus a potential level of the photosensitized region is varied, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image. In addition, a developing unit 16 develops the electrostatic latent image on the image recording surface of the photosensitive medium 1, by using a yellow(Y), magenta(M), cyan(C) or black(K) developing solution from a mixing container 25. That is, the respective color developing solutions are pumped by a pump 26 from the mixing container 25 to a developing roller 17 adjacent to the image surface of the photosensitive medium 1. According to the rotation of the developing roller 17, the developing solutions are added to the electrostatic latent image of the photosensitive medium 1, to form the respective color images. In the developing process, the developing solution dropping into the developing unit 16 is returned to the mixing container 25. The mixing container 25 is filled with the color developing solution where a toner charged to a predetermined potential and a liquid phase carrier are mixed in an appropriate concentration. Here, reference numeral 20 denotes an ink cartridge filled with the high concentration developing solution, and 27 denotes a carrier tank filled with a liquid phase carrier. The developing solution of the appropriate concentration is filled in the mixing container 25 in an appropriate level, by adjusting an amount of the high concentration developing solution and carrier supplied from the ink cartridge 20 and the carrier tank 27, respectively, through valves, V. In addition, the mixing container 25 and the developing unit 16 may be integrated.
After the color image is formed on the image surface according to the developing process, the photosensitive medium 1 is dried in a dry unit 28. Therefore, the liquid phase carrier is removed, while the toner particles remain on the image surface of the photosensitive medium 1. The image of the photosensitive medium 1 is transferred onto a transfer roller 29, and printed on paper 30 passing between the transfer roller 29 and a fixing roller 31.
The paper 30 is picked up from a first feed unit 33 or second feed unit 35 of the printer by feeding rollers 39a, 39b, 39c, and moved along a guide unit 37.
During the consecutive printing process on the paper 30 from the second feed unit 35, the printing process is interrupted if the second feed unit 35 is out of paper 30. Here, since the image to be transferred to the succeeding paper 30 remains on the photosensitive medium 1, it is required to remove the image of the photosensitive medium 1 before re-operating the printer. That is, the residual image is considered as a pollutant. The image remains on the photosensitive medium 1 because a distance between a developing point D of a first color (generally, yellow) and a transfer position B of the image to the paper 30 (hereinafter xe2x80x9cimage feed distance DBxe2x80x9d) is longer than a distance between a paper pickup position C of the feed unit 35 and the transfer position B of the image to the paper 30 (hereinafter xe2x80x9cpaper feed distance CBxe2x80x9d).
Accordingly, when the printer is interrupted, a cleaning process is required to remove the residual image of the photosensitive medium 1. The repeated cleaning processes, however, may shorten the life span of the cleaning unit. In addition, since the photosensitive medium 1 is rotated several times for the cleaning process, the life span of the photosensitive medium 1 is also shortened. Moreover, even when the printer is interrupted, ink is unnecessarily consumed for the image remaining on the photosensitive medium 1.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printer which can prevent a photosensitive medium from being contaminated due to lack of paper in a consecutive printing process, by using a feed unit having a paper feed distance shorter than an image feed distance, and a control method thereof.
In order to accomplish the above-described object of the present invention, there is provided a printer including: an optical scanner for scanning light to a photosensitive medium according to image information; a developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image formed by the optical scanner; a transfer unit for transferring the image of the photosensitive medium to paper; an engine driving unit for driving the optical scanner and the developing unit; a feed unit having a paper feed distance shorter than an image feed distance, and being disposed at a predetermined position of a main body, for stacking paper; a residual amount sensing unit for sensing a residual amount of paper; and a control unit for controlling the engine driving unit to perform a normal printing mode when the residual amount of paper exceeds a predetermined limit value, and to perform a contamination prevention mode when the residual amount of paper is below the predetermined limit value.
Preferably, the residual amount sensing unit includes: a paper holding lever securely mounted on one side of the feed unit, for slightly pressing the stacked paper; a paper support unit elastically biased by an elastic member opposite to a direction of gravity; and a residual amount sensor disposed at the feed unit, for sensing a position variation of the paper support unit, and measuring the residual amount of paper.
In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, when the residual amount of paper equals the predetermined limit value in the contamination prevention mode, the control unit controls the engine driving unit to interrupt the operation of the optical scanner, and to print all the images of the photosensitive medium on the available paper.
In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, when the residual amount of paper equals the predetermined limit value in the contamination prevention mode, the control unit varies a predetermined image pitch, and prints the image of the photosensitive medium on the paper according to such varied image pitch.
In addition, a control method of a printer including an optical scanner for scanning light to a photosensitive medium according to image information, a developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image formed by the optical scanner, and a transfer unit for transferring the image of the photosensitive medium to paper, includes the steps of sensing a residual amount of paper of a feed unit having a paper feed distance shorter than an image feed distance; comparing the residual amount of paper with a predetermined limit value; performing a normal printing mode and returning to the residual paper amount sensing step when the residual amount of paper exceeds the predetermined limit value; and performing a contamination prevention mode when the residual amount of paper is below the predetermined limit value.
In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, the contamination prevention mode step includes the steps of varying an image pitch when the residual amount of paper equals the predetermined limit value; forming an image on the photosensitive medium according to the varied image pitch; printing the image on the paper; re-sensing the residual amount of paper; returning to the image formation step when the residual amount of paper is re-sensed; and temporarily interrupting the printing process when the residual amount of paper is not sensed.
In accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, the contamination prevention mode step includes the steps of interrupting the operation of the optical scanner by controlling the engine driving unit when the residual amount of paper equals the predetermined limit value; printing all the images of the photosensitive medium on the available paper by driving a corresponding unit when the optical scanning is interrupted; and temporarily interrupting the operation of the printer when the printing step is finished.


To print sub-wavelength features on a wafer, a mask set including a full phase PSM (FPSM) and a corresponding trim mask can be used. Phase assignments on the FPSM can result in some feature definition with the trim mask, particularly in non-critical areas. Unfortunately, this limited feature definition can cause significant critical dimension (CD) variations in these non-critical areas. Undesirable critical dimension (CD) variations can be better controlled, even with substantial mask misalignment, by defining multiple feature edge portions with the trim mask in non-critical areas, such as T-intersections, elbows, and other types of intersecting lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to layouts used to fabricate a phase shifting mask (PSM) and a trim mask, and in particular to various modifications that can be made to the PSM layout and the trim mask layout to provide critical dimension (CD) control, even in non-critical areas.
2. Description of the Related Art
An advance in lithography called phase shifting is able to generate features on the wafer that are smaller than the corresponding wavelength of the light. These ultra-small features are generated by the interference of light in adjacent, complementary pairs of phase shifters having opposite phase, e.g. 0 and 180 degrees. In one embodiment, the phase shifters can be formed on a phase shifting mask (PSM), which is used in conjunction with a trim mask to define features of a layout. In the PSM, complementary phase shifters (hereinafter referred to as shifters) are configured such that the exposure radiation transmitted by one shifter is 180 degrees out of phase with the exposure radiation transmitted by the other shifter. Therefore, rather than constructively interfering and merging into a single image, the projected images destructively interfere where their edges overlap, thereby creating a clear and very small image between the phase shifters.
The PSM has been used to define certain critical edges of a feature, whereas a light field trim mask has been used to define the other edges of the feature. For example, the PSM can be used to define the gates of an integrated circuit, whereas the trim mask can be used to define the other edges in the integrated circuit. More recently, the PSM has been used to define substantially all features on the layout including both critical and non-critical features. For example, in one type of PSM called a full phase PSM (FPSM), a trim mask can protect areas defined by the FPSM as well as,expose undesirable features that may print because of phase assignments on the FPSM.
For example, FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary layout 100 for a FPSM, wherein this layout defines a T-intersection. Layout 100, which is implemented in a dark field mask, includes two 0 degree shifters 101 and 104 as well as two 180 degree shifters 102 and 103. Shifters 101 and 103 define one line of the T-intersection, shifters 102 and 104 define another line of the T-intersection, and shifters 101 and 102 define yet another line of the T-intersection.
Note that the phase assignments discussed herein are illustrative only. The important aspect is that shifters on opposite edges of a line have a phase difference of approximately 180 degrees. Thus, shifters 101 and 104 could be 180 degree shifters, whereas shifters 102 and 103 could be 0 degree shifters. Moreover, shifters 101 and 104 could be 185 degree shifters, and shifters 102 and 103 could be 5 degree shifters. To conform to this configuration in a T-intersection, one corner can include one shifter (e.g. shifter 101) and another corner can include two shifters (e.g. shifters 103 and 104).
A cut 105 between shifters 103 and 104 solves a potential phase conflict when assigning phase to the T-intersection (i.e. a "cut" separates two shifters that in the absence of a phase conflict could be implemented as a single shifter), but results in an extraneous feature when exposed. A trim mask layout 110, shown in FIG. 1B, can erase this extraneous feature (i.e. by exposing the photoresist in that area). Specifically, trim mask layout 110 includes a cut 111 to account for the proximity of shifters 103 and 104 in the right corner of FPSM layout 100. Of importance, cut 111 on trim mask layout 110 actually defines the right corner of the feature (i.e. the T-intersection). The other areas of trim mask layout 110 protect the features defined by FPSM layout 100.
FIG. 1C illustrates an aerial image 120 (determined by simulation) assuming a double exposure using masks implementing FPSM layout 100 and trim layout 110. In image 120, the following parameters were used: a wavelength of 193 nm, a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.7, and a partial coherence factor (σ) of 0.5. In this case, the trim mask is exposed to twice the energy of the FPSM (i.e. a 1:2 exposure ratio). In other words, if the FPSM is exposed to N mJ/cm2, then the trim mask is exposed to 2N mJ/cm2.
The blue portion of image 120 indicates a low intensity, the red portion indicates a high intensity, the yellow portion indicates an intermediate intensity, etc. The high intensity correlates to a high exposure, whereas the low intensity correlates to a low exposure. As evidenced by the thin band of yellow in image 120, the transition from high to low intensity is abrupt, thereby resulting in well-defined features. However, the described corner cut in the trim mask can cause the right and left corners of the T-intersection to print differently (i.e. cause CD variations).
FIG. 2A illustrates a graph 200 that plots the CD error versus the distance to a polysilicon line for various misalignments of the FPSM mask and the trim mask. (For reference, FIG. 2B illustrates the desired T-intersection that is to be produced using the masks created from the layouts of FIGS. 1A and 1B, wherein a CD is measured at a cut line 201 taken at a distance 202 from a polysilicon line 203.) The indicated measurements in FIG. 2A, i.e. the CD errors, distances, and misalignments are in nanometers. The misalignments shown in the legend (to the immediate right of FIG. 2A), d(0,0), d(10,10), etc., refer to (x,y) misalignments of the PSM and trim mask relative to each other. Graph 200 shows that as the distance increases (i.e. moving away from the corner of the T-intersection), the CD error decreases irrespective of mask misalignments. However, the mask misalignments can cause significant CD errors, particularly near the corners.
FIG. 2C illustrates a graph 210 that plots the CD versus the distance to the poly line (both measurements in nanometers). In this example, the CD decreases (e.g. the layout is changed and the corresponding PSM and trim mask are revised as well) from approximately 135 nm to approximately 115 nm as the distance to the polysilicon line increases from 75 nm to 200 nm. In other words, the CD at a corner is significantly greater than the nominal CD, e.g. in this case, 100 nm, but approaches the nominal CD as the effects of the corner rounding decrease.
Therefore, a need arises for a technique in a full-phase PSM that provides CD control at line intersections while at the same time minimizes sensitivity to mask misalignment.

Critical dimension control using full phase and trim masks


A pressure sensor is used to automatically calculate physical parameters of a tire, for example, groove area fraction or shoulder center ratio. In one approach, a pressure sensor measures the pressure distribution produced by a tire when a known load is applied to the tire while it is resting on or traversing the pressure sensor. The resulting pressure map corresponds to tread area and features of the tread contact area.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the automatic detection and analysis of tire treads, and more specifically to automatic detection and analysis using a pressure mapping system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Tire performance research and design has for many years involved the analysis of the tire tread with respect to the contact surface that the tire is resting upon. This typically involves analyzing contact pressures and tread deformations for both static and rolling tires. Before pressure mapping products were available, this analysis was restricted to the examination of tread deformation and tread physical parameters using manual techniques such as applying ink to the tread and rolling the tire across construction paper to record the tread footprint. Others have attempted to improve the crude nature of these approaches.
For example, published application US2010/0274447 describes the use of transducer matrix film for measuring tire tread pressures. The measurements may be used for tire testing and evaluation purposes or as part of a safety or performance feedback system. However, the system requires considerable manual effort to extract the required data.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,037,744 describes a method of analyzing tire treads using CCD camera technology. A tire tread is applied to a transparent faceplate and cameras capture images for further processing and analysis. However, this system is limited in that it does not capture pressure data and only analyzes one tread at a time.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,588 describes another optical imaging system that analyzes a tire footprint on a transparent planar surface. Image processing of the captured images is used to identify various tread parameters. However, this system has only coarse capabilities and it is not capable of measuring pressure.
Thus, there is a need for approaches that can perform surface pressure measurements in addition to automatically measuring various physical parameters for tire treads.

Automatic detection and analysis of tire treads


Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer program products are provided for wirelessly synchronizing datasets that are stored on a wireless device and at a network device, such as a network server or database. Present aspects provide for a simplified and efficient synchronization process, whereby synchronization can be completed in a single round-trip of wireless communication between the wireless device and the network device. Single round-trip synchronization provides for less use of network resources, shorter overall synchronization cycle times and lessens the likelihood of wireless network failures, such as call drops or the like, causing the synchronization process to fail. Additionally, simplification and efficiency are further realized by creating a synchronization process that allows the network dataset to be independent of the wireless device datasets, i.e., the network server does not require a full change history nor is the network server required to know the wireless device dataset version.

1. Field
The disclosed aspects relate to wireless communication devices, and more particularly, to systems, methods and apparatus for wirelessly synchronizing datasets stored on the wireless communication device with corresponding datasets stored at a network site.
2. Background
Synchronization is the process by which a single file, otherwise referred to as a dataset, is synchronized between two or more devices. The process is carried out by automatically copying changes back and forth amongst the devices until the dataset is generally equivalent amongst the devices.
Synchronization of files or datasets is becoming more commonplace in the wireless environment. For example, a user's contact list stored on one wireless device can be synchronized with other wireless devices or with networked databases. Synchronization of datasets is especially beneficial in instances in which applications are used in an off-line mode prior to moving to an on-line mode, which triggers data exchange. An exemplary application includes electronic mail (email), in which a user inputs email during an off-line mode and the email is subsequently sent to network database once the device is returned to on-line mode. The synchronization process is also implemented in community-type environments, in which multiple users interact through a shared network database. For example, in the wireless environment, gaming communities, which allow users to participate in real-time video games, also provide for gaming information to be stored and shared at a central network database. Such community activities are also prone to use in an off-line mode, in which a user can make changes to the user's locally stored database and the changes are synchronized with the network database when the user moves to an on-line mode.
In one approach, synchronization can be conducted locally, by docking a wireless device, such as a personal data assistant (PDA) or the like to a docking device having a serial connection to a personal computer. This type of synchronization requires the wireless device and the computer to be in close proximity to one another. However, the advent of more powerful wireless devices has made it possible to remotely synchronize datasets over the wireless network.
Remote synchronization of data has been accomplished via Synchronization Markup Language (SyncML), which provides a common data synchronization protocol for wireless networks. SyncML relies on eXtensible Markup Language (XML) as the underlying carrier protocol for all SyncML communications transpiring during the wireless synchronization ("sync") session. As such, multiple messages are sent between the wireless device and the network server during any one sync session. Additionally, the data structure of each message is large resulting in a high bandwidth requirement to exchange the messages. Thus, SyncML is a relatively complex synchronization process that necessitates the exchange of multiple messages, demands a large amount of network bandwidth, and requires a relatively long amount of time for completion. The complexity of the SyncML process, coupled with the limitations of cellular networks (e.g., potential loss of signal, bandwidth limitations, etc.), causes the synchronization process to be less than reliable. For example, failure to make a connection or dropping a connection during the synchronization process often results in the need to perform a full synchronization process. During a full synchronization process, the entire dataset is communicated to the wireless device or network, as opposed to just the changes that have occurred.
Therefore, a need exists to develop a synchronization process for the wireless development that is less complex, more efficient, and more robust than current wireless solutions.

Methods and apparatus for dataset synchronization in a wireless environment


In the embodiments of the present invention, a transmit optical signal includes a reference optical signal and a quantum optical signal, optical splitting processing and coherent coupling are performed on the transmit optical signal by using a local oscillator optical signal to obtain at least two coherently coupled optical signals, and then optical-to-electrical conversion and amplification are separately performed on a first coherently coupled optical signal that includes the reference optical signal and a second coherently coupled optical signal that includes the quantum optical signal, to obtain a first electrical signal and a second electrical signal. Then, phase frequency information between the local oscillator optical signal and the reference optical signal is obtained from the first electrical signal, and an original key is recovered from the second electrical signal based on the phase frequency information.

With rapid development of network technologies, a large amount of sensitive information needs to be transmitted through a network, and people need to protect the sensitive information from being lost or attacked. Encryption is an important means to ensure information security. An existing classical encryption system is established based on computational complexity, and may be deciphered. In a classical cryptosystem, only a one-time key can be used to achieve unconditional security, but how to generate a large quantity of random number keys is always a problem. A quantum key distribution (QKD) technology resolves this problem.
Specifically, in QKD, a quantum state is used as an information unit, and some principles of quantum mechanics are used to transmit and protect information. Usually, two communication parties establish a shared key between the two secure communication parties through quantum channel transmission by using the quantum state as an information carrier and using a quantum mechanics principle. Security of the QKD is ensured using quantum properties, such as "Heisenberg's uncertainty relationship" and "single-quantum no-cloning theorem" in quantum mechanics, or coherence and nonlocality of entangled particles.
FIG. 1a shows an example of a schematic structural diagram of a system to which quantum communication is applied. As shown in FIG. 1a, the system includes a sending apparatus 101 and a receiving apparatus 102. The sending apparatus includes a master control unit 103, a quantum transmitter 104, a synchronization clock transmitter 105, a negotiation information transceiver 106, and a service information transmitter 107. The receiving apparatus includes a master control unit 108, a quantum receiver 109, a synchronization clock receiver 110, a negotiation information transceiver 111, and a service information receiver 112. The sending apparatus sends, using the quantum transmitter to the quantum receiver of the receiving apparatus, a quantum optical signal that carries an original key, so that the receiving apparatus recovers an original quantum key from the quantum optical signal. The sending apparatus sends a synchronization clock signal to the synchronization clock receiver of the receiving apparatus using the synchronization clock transmitter, so that the receiving apparatus implements clock synchronization with the sending apparatus. Negotiation information is sent and received between the negotiation information transceiver of the sending apparatus and the negotiation information transceiver of the receiving apparatus, so that the sending apparatus and the receiving apparatus determine a final quantum key from the original quantum key based on the negotiation information. The sending apparatus sends service information to the service information receiver of the receiving apparatus using the service information transmitter.
A quantum key distribution process includes the following. A sending apparatus adds an original key to a quantum optical signal and sends the quantum optical signal to a receiving apparatus. After receiving the quantum optical signal, the receiving apparatus recovers the original key from the quantum optical signal. Further, a key that is finally used is determined from the original key through negotiation between the sending apparatus and the receiving apparatus.
In a current system, a sending apparatus generates a local oscillator optical signal, and transmits the local oscillator optical signal and a quantum optical signal through a same optical fiber. In this case, if a receiving apparatus needs to accurately recover an original key, a time at which the local oscillator optical signal and the quantum optical signal arrive at an input end of a 2:2 coupler needs to be strictly ensured. To be specific, the receiving apparatus needs to perform strict equal-length control on paths through which the local oscillator optical signal and the quantum optical signal pass. This technical solution is very difficult to use in engineering.
To sum up, an original key recovery apparatus and method are urgently needed to recover an original key from a received quantum optical signal more simply and accurately.

Original key recovery apparatus and method


Methods and systems for setting selected automatic speech recognition parameters are described. A data set associated with operation of a speech recognition application is defined and includes: i. recognition states characterizing the semantic progression of a user interaction with the speech recognition application, and ii. recognition outcomes associated with each recognition state. For a selected user interaction with the speech recognition application, an application cost function is defined that characterizes an estimated cost of the user interaction for each recognition outcome. For one or more system performance parameters indirectly related to the user interaction, the parameters are set to values which optimize the cost of the user interaction over the recognition states.

A telephone-based speech recognition application such as a spoken dialog system can be modeled as a sequence of recognition states. At each state, a prompt is played, the caller responds to it and his voice response is sent to the recognizer. The recognized utterance is returned with a confidence value reflecting the confidence the system has that the utterance was assigned to the correct class. Depending on the confidence value, the system may take one of several actions, based on thresholds set by a speech recognition engineer.
Often there are two confidence score thresholds, a low-confidence threshold (LCT) and a high-confidence threshold (HCT), which divide confidence scores into three Regions—reject, confirm, accept:                If the confidence score is below the LCT, it is rejected and typically the caller is asked to repeat his answer to the prompt.        If the confidence score is between LCT and HCT, the caller is asked to confirm his response, i.e. "Did you say your number was 1234?"        If the confidence score is above the HCT, the utterance is accepted, and the dialog continues to the next state, assuming the recognizer was correct.
Depending on how the confidence score thresholds are set, the following recognition outcomes can occur:                Correct acceptance (CA): the utterance was recognized correctly and accepted. This is generally considered the best outcome.        False acceptance (FA): the utterance was recognized incorrectly and accepted. This is generally the worst outcome.        Correct confirmation (CC): the utterance was recognized correctly and caller was asked to confirm. He will typically say "yes" and the call will continue.        False confirmation (FC): the utterance was interpreted incorrectly and caller was asked to confirm. He will typically say "no" and will be asked to repeat his original response.        Rejection (R): The utterance as rejected and typically the caller will be asked to repeat his original. One can further divide rejection into "correct' and "false" rejection, depending on whether or not rejection was the best action to take.
The correctness of the recognition in determining which of the above outcomes occurred is determined by comparing the annotation of a human transcriber with the recognizer output, with some allowance for "filler words." For example, if the caller says account balances or account balances, please and the recognizer returns account balances, this is deemed correct. FIG. 1 shows the relationship between recognition correctness, the confidence score thresholds, and the various recognition outcomes. Varying the thresholds will vary the relative occurrence of the five different outcomes. As the LCT is increased, there are more rejections and fewer confirmations, while as the HCT is increased, there are more confirmations and fewer acceptances. However, without an underlying idea of what makes the "best" application, it is unclear how to best set these thresholds to an optimal distribution of the various recognition outcomes.

Method and apparatus for setting selected recognition parameters to minimize an application cost function


A fume hood adapted to be connected to an exhaust system, the fume hood including a cabinet formed with a chamber having a generally flat bottom wall and a sash door mounted at the front end of the chamber for movement in a vertical plane to provide an access opening to the chamber. An air directing member is mounted on the cabinet outside of the plane of movement of the sash door relative to the chamber and it is generally aligned with the bottom wall. The air directing member is formed with an opening positioned to cause a first path of outside air to flow into the chamber along the surface of the bottom wall and being formed with another portion for directing a second path of outside air in a direction generally parallel to and above the first path.

The present invention relates generally to fume hoods, and more particularly to a fume hood provided with an air directing member uniquely formed to direct the inflow of air into the chamber of the fume hood in a path that prevents fumes from exiting the chamber.
Fume hoods are used in laboratories and other similar locations where it is necessary for technicians to work with materials that generate noxious and poisonous fumes. These fume hoods are formed with an interior, generally enclosed chamber in which the work is done, and the front of the chamber has an access opening through which the arms and hands of the technician can extend to work on materials within the chamber. The fume hood includes a sash or door that moves vertically to open and close the access the opening, or to vary the size of the access opening.
Because of the harmful effects of the fumes generated within the chamber of the fume hood, it is imperative that these fumes be maintained within the confines of the fume hood and then be exhausted therefrom so they will not be permitted to escape though the access opening and endanger the technician standing just outside the access opening. For this purpose, fume hoods are provided with exhaust systems of some kind that exhausts the air and fumes from the interior of the chamber and then transports them to a location outside the fume hood where they can be safely disposed of. The exhaust system creates a negative pressure within the chamber that, in turn, causes outside air to flow into the chamber through the partially open access opening between the bottom of the sash and the work surface of the chamber, and this inward flow of outside air tends to prevent the fumes from exiting the chamber through the access opening. However, if this inward flow of air is not properly directed, some of the fumes will leak out through the access opening and present an undesirable and often dangerous situation for the technician working in the fume hood.
For example, where no structure or device is provided for directing the inward flow of air into the chamber, the momentum of the inward flow of air entering a region of lower static pressure tends to cause a vortex of air to form adjacent along the bottom surface of the chamber and adjacent the front edge thereof. This vortex captures some of the fumes within its generally circular flow pattern, and the vortex is very sensitive to any variation of air pressure or airflow. As a result, even movement of the technician, or someone walking past the partially open access opening can create an external pattern of airflow that is sufficient to disrupt the vortex to an extend that fumes will be released from the chamber through the access opening.
One of the first attempts to correct this problem was to add a permanent air directing plate, or airfoil, that was mounted to the fume hood to extend into the chamber through the bottom of the access opening at a location about one inch above the bottom wall of the chamber. The airfoil is shaped to direct the incoming air along the bottom surface of the chamber, beneath the airfoil, and this airflow essentially eliminates the undesirable fume-carrying vortex. However, this airfoil has its own disadvantages. First, because it is a permanent structure extending through the access opening and into the chamber just above the bottom wall thereof, the airfoil creates a stop member for the sash in its downward movement that prevents the sash from fully closing. Therefore outside air constantly flows into the chamber beneath the airfoil which increases the energy costs in operating the fume hood and its exhaust system. Additionally, because of its location, it creates an obstacle when objects and equipment, particularly heavy objects, had to be moved into and out of the chamber through the access opening.
Another solution to the vortex problem is to mount a simple flat air-directing member at the front edge of the bottom wall of the chamber at an incline thereto and outside of the path of vertical movement of the sash. Because of its location, this airfoil does not interfere with the movement of the sash and does not form a barrier to the movement of objects into and out of the chamber. This type of airfoil has been found, in most cases, to effectively eliminate the formation of the undesirable vortex by directing the incoming air along the surface of the bottom wall of the chamber. However, this type of airfoil is effectively only when the velocity of the airflow into the chamber is at or above approximately seventy feet per minute (70 FPM). Energy conservation considerations now make it very desirable to use a smaller-capacity exhaust system, and reduce the airflow velocity into the chamber to something less that 70 FPM, and at this reduced velocity the air flow directed by the airfoil tends to separate from the bottom surface of the chamber and allow "dead" air containing fumes to form along the bottom surface of the chamber and beneath the separated airflow created by the airfoil. This dead air, like a vortex, is sensitive enough that even small disturbance of the air outside of the access opening (e.g. a technician walking by the front of the fume hood) can cause the dead air with the fumes entrained therein to be drawn outwardly though the access opening.
It has also been proposed to mount an airfoil at the front end of the fume hood for pivotal movement between an operable position and a position where the airfoil has not effect on the airflow. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,331 there is disclosed a fume hood with a pivoted airfoil having a single air-directing surface that, in its operable position, directs air along a path parallel to the bottom surface of the fume hood. It appears this construction would have the same problem described above where the velocity of the air is less the 70 FPM. U.S. Pat. No. 6,582,292 discloses another pivoted airfoil having multiple air-directing surfaces. In both of these patents, the air directing member is positioned inwardly of the plane of the sash or door, and this location creates problems in terms of maintaining the inward flow of air along the bottom surface of the interior of the fume hood, particularly at low air velocities.


The present invention relates to an inclusion compound of fumagillol derivative or its salt with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin or sulfobutylether-7-β-cyclodextrin, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same. The inclusion compound according to the present invention has superior water solubility and stability while exhibiting low toxicity, rendering it valuable as an anticancer agent or inhibitor of tumor metastasis.

Cyclodextrins are cyclic compounds consisting of glucopyranose units through α-1,4-glycosidic linkages. The exterior surface of the cyclodextrin ring is hydrophilic, whereas the inside cavity thereof exhibits a hydrophobic character. Therefore, it is possible that other molecules referred to as "guest molecule" or part thereof, which are less polar than water (hydrophobic molecules) and have suitable dimensions to be required to fit into the cyclodextrin cavity, are included in the hydrophobic cavity of the cyclodextrin molecule and form inclusion compounds. The pharmaceutical applications with cyclodextrins are disclosed in many articles (Journal of Parenteral Science & Technology 43 (5), pp 231-240 (1989) and Pharmaceutical Research 14 (5), pp 556-567 (1997)).
Cyclodextrins consisting of 6, 7 or 8 glucopyranose units are generally referred to as α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrin, respectively. Although β-cyclodextrin is the most useful one of the above natural cyclodextrins for pharmaceutical preparations in terms of inclusion capacity and economical efficiency, it is not always ideal for drug formulations due to its relatively low aqueous solubility (1.8 g per 100 ml of water), serious renal toxicity and biological membrane incompatibility after parenteral administration. Therefore, its application is limited to merely food products or oral pharmaceutical preparations.
Recently, a number of chemically modified cyclodextrins such as alkylated-, hydroxyalkylated-, carboxyethylated- and sulfoalkylether-cyclodextrins have been prepared to improve the inclusion capacity and physicochemical properties of natural cyclodextrins.
Among them, as hydroxyalkylated group, Clue alkyl group is preferable, and hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl and hydroxybutyl group can be enumerated. In particular, hydroxypropyl group is preferable. In addition, as sulfoalkylated group, C1-6 allyl group is preferred, and sulfomethyl, sulfoethyl, sulfopropyl and sulfobutyl group can be enumerated. In particular, sulfobutyl group is preferable. The specific product in the hydroxyalkylated cyclodextrins includes 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, and the specific product in the sulfoalkylether cyclodextrins includes sulfobutylether-7-β-cyclodextrin Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and sulfobutylether-7-β-cyclodextrin are especially suitable for the parenteral application because of their high water-solubility and minimal-toxicity, which are well disclosed in Journal of Pharmaceutical Science 85 (11), pp 1142-1169 (1996).
Further, with regard to cyclodextrin inclusion compounds, U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,673 discloses two types of water-soluble cyclodextrin complexes with retinoid-polymers and complexes of retinoids with ether type derivatives of cyclodextrins. U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,795 discloses results for administering a complex of sex hormone and cyclodextrin derivative via sublingual and buccal route. And U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,064 describes results on the conversion methods of drugs with ready crystallization and low water-solubility into intrinsically amorphous complexes, which have improved pharmaceutical properties by using cyclodextrin derivatives. U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,127 discloses sulfoalkylether cyclodextrin derivatives and their use as solubilizing agents for poorly water-soluble drugs for oral, intranasal or parenteral administration.
Recently, it has been proposed as a promising concept that solid tumor growth beyond a certain size requires newly-formed blood vessels for the transport of nutrients and oxygen, which is called to be angiogenesis-dependent, and it is expected that the inhibition of angiogenesis would provide a powerful and selective therapy for a wide variety of tumors. In particular, fumagillol derivative has been reported to exhibit pharmacological properties as an effective inhibiting agent for tumor-induced neovascularization by European Patent No. 415,294 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,812. However, further development of those compounds applicable to the clinical use is hampered considerably by the fact that they are poorly soluble in water and very unstable at room temperature.
It is well known that low drug solubility causes low absorption upon oral administration, precluding parenteral formulations. Furthermore, low stability imposes short shelf-life of products, low-temperature storage requirement and restrictions on mechanical movement, resulting in economical inefficiency and inconvenience.
Preparation studies of fumagillol derivatives are disclosed in several literatures. Solubility improvement of fumagillol derivatives was established in U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,406, but the stabilization of resulting products was not disclosed in the art. Other solubility improvement of fumagillol derivatives was established in European patent No. 519,428 but organic solvents such as ethanol, acetonitrile, isopropyl alcohol and acetone rather than cyclodextrins contributed more to the improved solubility. However, the use of organic solvent potentially may cause the side effects of the therapy. That is, further dilution in a large volume parenteral fluid such as saline or 5% dextrose solution on intravenous or intramuscular administration could lead to life-threatening precipitation followed by phlebitis due to the limited solubility. Also, in the art, stability was not consistent depending on the particular kind of cyclodextrin derivative. The stability of the mixture with maltosyl-β-cyclodextrin was improved, whereas the stability of the mixture with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin was rather worse than the parent compound alone. In addition, though the formulation with maltosyl-β-cyclodextrin seemed to be stable, maltosyl-β-cyclodextrin has not been yet guaranteed for a parenteral use, and its cost has made its universal use for various formulations economically unfavorable in contrast to hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin that proved to be safe and economical. Also, though a stable composition of fumagillol derivatives was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,363, all excipients, fatty acid esters of glycerin or polyglycerin, used in the formulations are not suitable for the parenteral application.
Therefore, there was a need to convert fumagillol derivatives into a form, which is better soluble and stable, and thus possesses improved pharmaceutical properties.
Concerning the above, the inventors of the present invention developed novel fumagillol derivative and filed (U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,812), and the compounds used in the present invention are identical to the compounds disclosed therein.
The present inventors continued studies to provide fumagillol derivative preparations that can be applicable to parenteral administration such as intravenous or intramuscular injection, or oral administration by ensuring homogeneity, safety, bioavailability and stability under storage at room temperature through increasing solubility of fumagillol derivatives or their salts which were found to be superior as an angiogenesis inhibitor but unstable under storage at room temperature or in aqueous solution. As a result, we discovered that the inclusion compound of fumagillol derivative or its salt with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin or sulfobutylether-7-β-cyclodextrin is useful as an antitumor agent or antimetastatic agent with superior water-solubility and stability but low irritancy effect, and based on these, completed the present invention.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide inclusion compound of fumagillol derivative or its salt with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin or sulfobutylether-7-β-cyclodextrin, and pharmaceutical composition comprising the same.

Inclusion compounds of fumagillol derivative or its salt, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same


The technical solutions relate to the technical field of compilation of applications, and particularly to the technical field of mini programs. A developer tool constructs a first compilation result of the hosted APP before compilation optimization and a second compilation result of the hosted APP after the compilation optimization respectively based on a source code of the hosted APP, and uploads them to a management platform. The management platform sends the corresponding compilation results according to environment data of the hosted APP running environment provided by the host APP, so that the host APP uses the hosted APP running environment provided by the host APP to run the obtained compilation result.

With in-depth development of the Internet, applications (APPs) applied on terminals are booming. Some applications may be referred to as host APPs which can provide specific services of some other applications through specific forms of applications running therein. These specific forms of applications needn't be installed on a terminal and may be referred to as hosted APPs, for example, various mini programs such as Baidu Know-how Mini program, Baidu Library Mini program etc. in Baidu APP that provide specific services. Usually, a developer needs to use a developer tool to compile the source code of a hosted APP, and the developer tool packages and uploads a compilation result obtained by the compilation, for use by a user in search.
However, since the hosted APP running in the host APP completely depends on the host APP, the host APP of a current version used by partial users might fail to obtain and run the compilation result of the optimized hosted APP. Hence, it is difficult to optimize the compilation processing of the hosted APP, thereby causing the reduction of the running efficiency and reliability of the hosted APP.

Method for compilation optimization of hosted app, electronic device and readable storage medium

BAIDU ONLINE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.


A method and apparatus for reducing skidding of wheels on a passenger boarding bridge is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving a travel direction (505), providing a skid compensation control signal (506) to an actuator (728) in response to the travel direction, and aligning by the actuator the wheel (214, 216) in response to the skid compensation control signal. A passenger boarding bridge (110) is provided that includes an extensible tunnel (114) with a fixed end (124) and a free end (116). A plurality of wheels (204, 206, 214, 216) are placed on the free end for moving the free end of the tunnel in a desired direction. The bridge includes a steering mechanism (502) for controlling the direction of movement of the free end and a control system (500) for aligning at least one of the wheels to reduce skidding. The control system includes a computing device (504) for generating a control signal and an actuator for rotating at least one of the wheels in response to the control signal.

Passenger boarding bridges have numerous applications such as connecting an airplane to an airport terminal or a ship to a dock. One type of passenger boarding bridge is an extensible bridge, which has a variable length to accommodate varying distances between passenger departure points and the ship or airplane. Some extensible bridges have a fixed end and a free end. In those types of bridges, the bridge may be rotated about the fixed end while the bridge is maintained at a constant length. In such a case, the free end travels along a circular path. In addition, the bridge may also extend at the free end while rotating, thus providing a non-circular path of travel for the free end. Rotation and extension enables the free end to be positioned at a desired point along the dock or airport terminal. Both rotating and extending are generally accomplished through steering two sets of drive wheels positioned on the free end. To stabilize the bridge, the two sets of wheels are often separated by a large distance, but are nevertheless each steered in the same direction based the direction of travel of the free end. These wheels often skid during rotation and extension causing wear of the wheels and damage to the bridge.
This problem of skidding has been previously addressed in bridges that do not extend in length, which are sometimes called radial bridges. In radial bridges, the free end of the bridge swings in a fixed arc. Skidding of the wheels is reduced through separately aligning each set of wheels in a predetermined and fixed direction. However, this method of preventing skidding does not address skidding of wheels in a bridge that may extend as well as rotate. Therefore, a need has arisen for a new method and apparatus that overcomes the disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior art.

Method and apparatus for reducing skidding of wheels on a passenger boarding bridge


A feminine sanitary protection packaging is disclosed which includes a packaging article and method. The feminine sanitary protection packaging provides a vaginal insert or insert applicator and a panty liner configured to fit the pudendal region of a woman. The panty liner is C-wrapped longitudinally to form a longitudinally C-wrapped combination panty liner and vaginal insert or insert applicator. A pouch encloses the longitudinally C-wrapped panty liner and vaginal insert or insert applicator combination. The pouch provides a means for transporting and disposing of the longitudinally C-wrapped combination. The vaginal insert includes a tampon or a vaginal suppository. The vaginal insert applicator includes a tampon applicator or a vaginal suppository applicator. The pouch is sealed and optionally can be perforated on at least one closed end for ease in opening. The pouch can be formed from the release strip of the panty liner and can be sealed around the longitudinally C-wrapped combination.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a feminine sanitary protection absorbent article and method designed to protect a user by absorbing or containing menstrual fluids and other body exudates. More specifically, this invention relates to a feminine sanitary protection packaging which provides full and complete sanitary protection, ease in handling, and discretion in packaging appearance.
2. Background of the Invention
Absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins are designed to absorb body fluids, including menses, and may come in different functional designs as grouped into categories. In one category, sanitary napkins are externally worn about the pudendal area and are designed primarily for heavy flow. Secondly, panty liners or panty shields are thin products externally worn about the pudendal area and are developed for light flow. Thirdly, tampons are designed to be positioned internally within the vagina.
Sanitary napkins, as viewed as a first category of several different functional designs for feminine sanitary protection, can have high absorptive capacity with either a thin or thick absorptive element. However, compressive forces of the wearer's thighs and pudendal region during any physical movement, such as walking, can cause the sanitary napkin to shift from an original position protecting the vulvar area. After a relatively short period of time, the sanitary napkin may move away from the vaginal orifice. The wearer's movement, particularly vigorous movement such as rapid walking or running, also can cause discomfort such as by rubbing or chafing in the sensitive vulvar area.
In addition to concerns of sanitary napkin movement and wearer discomfort, a concern of high degree of wearing awareness is present. Some thick sanitary napkins have a high profile appearance when viewed through a wearer's outer garments. The sanitary napkins can be very apparent when worn with tight fitting clothing including slacks, body suits, swimming suits, or similarly thin or close fitting outer garments.
Panty liners or panty shields, as viewed as a second category of functional designs for feminine sanitary protection, have been developed for light or low menstrual flows. Some panty liners or panty shields have the same concerns associated with sanitary napkins although their thin profile makes them more flexible, less obtrusive in appearance, and generally more comfortable than the bulky sanitary napkins. However, the thinprofile panty liners or panty shields can have a drawback in the performance area of absorptive capacity.
Tampons, as viewed as a third category of feminine care devices, are worn internally within the vaginal canal to intercept body fluid. Sometimes tampons may not function completely to prevent leakage because radial expansion of the tampon within the vaginal canal does not form a perfect seal. Yet without such radial expansion and swelling of the tampon within the vaginal canal, the tampon does not serve as a completely reliable sanitary protection device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,868, issued to Hyun, discloses a sanitary napkin for absorbing and collecting a woman's menstrual fluids. An absorbent pad is positioned against the woman's abdomen and the skin area between the thighs so as to overlie the vaginal opening. A porous absorbent plug extends from one face of the pad so as to be inserted into the woman's vagina. Menstrual blood and associated secretions flow through the porous plug into the pad for collection and safe retention. The Hyun sanitary napkin does not provide a portable and disposable means of carrying vaginal absorbents or suppositories with a panty liner. The Hyun sanitary napkin further does not allow for a woman to use an applicator and then dispose of it conveniently.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,916, issued to Manko, discloses a kit or case with hinged sections for carrying feminine hygiene materials. The case is made of a washable material such as canvas or vinyl and is closed by a zipper. The Manko kit suffers from the drawbacks of a lack of disposability and a lack of a preferred level of discretion.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,620, issued to Barabino, discloses a re-usable method of storing and removal of personal hygiene products ranging from tampons to cosmetics, similar to a pocketbook or purse. The Barabino purse kit suffers from the drawbacks of a lack of disposability and reusability and does not include tampon applicators with absorbents or suppositories and liners. The Barabino purse only provides a storage container.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,130, issued to DesMarais, discloses a compound sanitary napkin having a primary menstrual pad and a panty protector. The DesMarais primary menstrual pad and panty protector are joined at their corresponding ends. The DesMarais compound sanitary napkin does not provide a separate, loose device in each package.