An apparatus for controlling the motion of a structural member on a space platform truss structure, launch vehicle, automobile, building, or the like is comprised of a first driving piezoelectric element and a second constraining piezoelectric element. The first piezoelectric element is embedded in or bonded onto the structural member. The second piezoelectric element is bonded onto the structural member, with a viscoelastic material (VEM) layer sandwiched between the structural member and the second piezoelectric element. The first and second piezoelectric elements are electrically connected in opposite phase. When the structural member is deformed by an applied force, the first driving piezoelectric element is correspondingly deformed, generating an electrical field. The electrical field is then applied in an opposite sense to the second piezoelectric element through the electrical connections, thereby oppositely deforming the second piezoelectric element with respect to the first piezoelectric element. This opposite deformation induces a large shear strain in the VEM layer, giving the apparatus a large damping capacity. Because the system is passive, it has great advantages over prior art systems, because of its greater simplicity, lower cost, easier maintainability, and lower weight.

This invention relates to damping systems, and more particularly to a passive damping system using a combination of piezoelectric and viscoelastic elements.
Adding damping, or energy dissipation, has been and is a critical problem for many structures, including but not limited to large space platform truss structures, launch vehicle shrouds, automobile structures, and civil engineering structures. Traditionally, many structures have been treated with layers of viscoelastic materials (both constrained and unconstrained) to increase the overall damping of the structure. A viscoelastic material (VEM) is one which is viscous but which also exhibits certain elastic properties such as the ability to store energy of deformation. In such a material, the application of a stress gives rise to a strain that approaches its equilibrium value slowly. A classical traditional approach is to sandwich a layer of VEM between a structural member and a rigid constraining layer, the rigid constraining layer being more rigid than the VEM layer. When a force is applied to the structural member, from a vibration, a change in motion of the structure, or the like, the member deforms, with the portion of the VEM layer adjacent to the member deforming along with it. The purpose of the rigid constraining layer is to fix the portion of the VEM layer adjacent to it, thereby setting up an increased shear strain in the VEM layer. As a result, more energy is dissipated per cycle of vibration and damping of the vibration occurs more rapidly than would be the case without the constraining layer, thereby increasing the damping capacity of the system.
More recently, embedded piezoelectric ceramics with some associated electronics have been used to dissipate structural vibrations in beams. An example of this type of system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,626,730. In that system a piezoelectric film is applied either directly to a structural member or atop an intermediate VEM layer. The structural member has on it a plurality of strain sensors, which are connected to a signal generator and amplifier circuit. The strain sensors, in turn, are connected to the piezoelectric film. In operation, when the strain sensors detect a deformation of the structural member, the signal generator is activated to signal the piezoelectric film. The voltage from the signal generator induces a strain in the piezoelectric film, which in turn induces distributed shearing displacement across the entire viscoelastic layer, thereby increasing damping capacity.
The problem with the above discussed systems is that the classical approach, employing a rigid constraining layer, often does not produce an adequate level of damping capacity. The second system, employing a piezoelectric film, requires a fully active circuit to obtain adequate damping response, adding a great deal of expense and complexity. What is needed, therefore, is a passive, simple, self-contained system which provides the level of damping response obtainable by an active system such as that discussed above.

Apparatus for passive damping of a structure


A method for localizing an object, including the acts of: transmission of a first signal by a first transmitter assigned to the object and of a second signal by at least one second transmitter; reception of the first and of the second signal by at least three receivers; in each receiver and for the first and the second signal: a) generation of a first and of a second reference signal; b) correlation between the first signal and the first reference signal and between the second signal and the second reference signal; c) interpolation of samples resulting from the correlation; d) deduction of the propagation time of the first and of the second signal; e) calculation of the difference between the propagation times of the first and of the second signal; and, by triangulation, deduction of the position of the object.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to the localization of an object belonging to a network of objects communicating together by radio transmission. The present disclosure more specifically relates to low-cost and low-consumption wireless sensor networks using short-range radio transmissions such as ZigBee wireless communication protocols based on standard IEEE 802.15.4.
2. Description of the Related Art
To determine the position of an object belonging to a network of objects communicating together by radio transmission, a solution is to use a triangulation technique associated with signal propagation time measurements.
In low-cost and low-consumption wireless sensor networks, receivers comprise analog-to-digital converters operating at low sampling frequencies, which limits the accuracy of the determination of propagation times, and thus of the position of the object.
A method to more accurately localize an object belonging to a network of objects communicating together by radio transmission is desired.


A film includes a core layer having an amorphous polyamide; two intermediate layers, disposed on opposite surfaces of the core layer, including a semicrystalline polyamide; two adhesive layers, each disposed on a surface of the respective intermediate layer, including a polymeric adhesive; and two outer layers, each disposed on a surface of a respective adhesive layer, including an ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, or propylene/alpha olefin copolymer; and a second outer layer, disposed on a surface of a respective adhesive layer, including amorphous polyamide, semicrystalline polyamide, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, or propylene/alpha olefin copolymer. The film can alternatively have a core layer including a polymeric adhesive, and two intermediate layers each having an amorphous polyamide. A method of packaging a product using these films, and a package, are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a thermoplastic film that can be used to make packages for a wide variety of food and non-food products.
Vertical form/fill/seal (VFFS) packaging systems have proven to be very useful in packaging a wide variety of flowable products. An example of such systems is the Onpack(trademark) flowable food packaging system sold by W. R. Grace and Co.-Conn. through its Grace Packaging group. The VFFS process is known to those of skill in the art, and described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,247 (Tsuruta et al), incorporated herein by reference. A flowable product is introduced through a central, vertical fill tube to a formed tubular film having been sealed transversely at its lower end, and longitudinally. The pouch is then completed by sealing the upper end of the tubular segment, and severing the pouch from the tubular film above it.
The choice of packaging materials is important, and should be matched to the intended end use of the pouch.
Several properties are often desirable in such pouches.
Dimensional stability is of great importance in VFFS systems. In such systems, the equipment fills a pouch to a certain level. If the film stretches, too much product is put into the pouch. This phenomenon makes it difficult to standardize pouch dimensions, which leads for example to difficulty in packing off of pouches in shipping boxes of pre-determined size.
Sometimes a pouch material is used to package a product, such as an aqueous liquid food product, at an elevated temperature of 170 to 210xc2x0 F. This is known as a hot fill process. Sometimes the pouch, after filling, is exposed to retort conditions. In either case, the dimensional stability of the package is severely tested, and the possibility of package distortion increases.
The package material is preferably stiff (i.e. has a high modulus), especially at high temperatures. This is often necessary because the film tracks more easily on a packaging machine. Also, a hot fin seal can stretch undesirably; therefore, to preserve seal integrity, the ability to package at high speeds is limited by the degree to which hot seals will elongate or stretch. If a heavy load, e.g. 5 to 20 pounds of shredded cheese, is thrust into a pouch with transverse seals just formed, these seals are still hot and the pouch, or the seal area of the pouch, can deform. More uniform package length is related to more uniform package weight, which is important to the food processor in order to provide packages with consistent weights.
Good tensile strength is necessary in films used for such applications. Where flowable foods are packaged, as in many VFFS applications, the hydrostatic pressure of many oil and water based foods requires a tough, impact and abuse resistant packaging material that will maintain its structural integrity during the packaging process, and subsequent distribution and storage.
For hot fill and retort applications, heat resistance is essential to avoid package distortion or degradation of the film itself, or of the transverse and longitudinal seals associated with the VFFS process.
Oxygen barrier properties are also essential in end-uses where the product is susceptible to oxidative degradation.
Depending on the packaging process, form of the package, and nature of the product, physical properties such as barrier to ultraviolet light, surface printability, clarity, flatness, thermoformability, and low tear initiation and propagation (for easy-open packages) may become significant.
The inventors have found that a combination of many of these properties is possible through the use of at least one layer consisting essentially of amorphous polyamide in a multilayer thermoplastic film.
In a first aspect, a multilayer film comprises a core layer consisting essentially of an amorphous polyamide; two intermediate layers, disposed on opposite surfaces of the core layer, comprising a semicrystalline polyamide; two adhesive layers, each disposed on a surface of the respective intermediate layer, comprising a polymeric adhesive; and two outer layers, each disposed on a surface of a respective adhesive layer, comprising a material selected from the group consisting of amorphous polyamide, semicrystalline polyamide, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and propylene/alpha olefin copolymer.
In a second aspect, a multilayer film comprises a core layer comprising an amorphous polyamide adhesive; two intermediate layers, disposed on opposite surfaces of the core layer, consisting essentially of an amorphous polyamide; two adhesive layers, each disposed on a surface of the respective intermediate layer, comprising a polymeric adhesive; and two outer layers, each disposed on a surface of the respective adhesive layer, comprising a material selected from the group consisting of amorphous polyamide, semicrystalline polyamide, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and propylene/alpha olefin copolymer.
In a third aspect, a method of packaging a food product comprises providing a rollstock film, the film comprising a core layer consisting essentially of an amorphous polyamide; two intermediate layers, disposed on opposite surfaces of the core layer, comprising a semicrystalline polyamide; two adhesive layers, each disposed on a surface of the respective intermediate layer, comprising a polymeric adhesive; and two outer layers, each disposed on a surface of a respective adhesive layer, comprising a material selected from the group consisting of amorphous polyamide, semicrystalline polyamide, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and propylene/alpha olefin copolymer; forming the film into a tube in a vertical/form/fill/seal process; filling the tube with a food product; and closing the tube to form a sealed pouch containing the food product.
In a fourth aspect, a package comprises a flowable food product; and a pouch containing the food product, the pouch made from a film comprising a core layer consisting essentially of an amorphous polyamide; two intermediate layers, disposed on opposite surfaces of the core layer, comprising a semicrystalline polyamide; two adhesive layers, each disposed on a surface of the respective intermediate layer, comprising a polymeric adhesive; and two outer layers, each disposed on a surface of a respective adhesive layer, comprising a material selected from the group consisting of amorphous polyamide, semicrystalline polyamide, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and propylene/alpha olefin copolymer.
In a fifth aspect, a method of packaging a food product comprises providing a rollstock film, the film comprising a core layer comprising an amorphous polyamide adhesive; two intermediate layers, disposed on opposite surfaces of the core layer, consisting essentially of an amorphous polyamide; two adhesive layers, each disposed on a surface of the respective intermediate layer, comprising a polymeric adhesive; and two outer layers, each disposed on a surface of the respective adhesive layer, comprising a material selected from the group consisting of amorphous polyamide, semicrystalline polyamide, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and propylene/alpha olefin copolymer; forming the film into a tube in a vertical/form/fill/seal process; filling the tube with a food product; and closing the tube to form a sealed pouch containing the food product.
In a sixth aspect, a package comprises a flowable food product; and a pouch containing the food product, the pouch made from a film comprising a core layer comprising an amorphous polyamide adhesive; two intermediate layers, disposed on opposite surfaces of the core layer, consisting essentially of an amorphous polyamide; two adhesive layers, each disposed on a surface of the respective intermediate layer, comprising a polymeric adhesive; and two outer layers, each disposed on a surface of the respective adhesive layer, comprising a material selected from the group consisting of amorphous polyamide, semicrystalline polyamide, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and propylene/alpha olefin copolymer; forming the film into a tube in a vertical/form/fill/seal process; filling the tube with a food product; and closing the tube to form a sealed pouch containing the food product.
Definitions
xe2x80x9cAdhesivexe2x80x9d herein refers to polymeric adhesive, more preferably an olefin polymer or copolymer having an anhydride functionality grafted thereon and/or copolymerized therewith and/or blended therewith.
xe2x80x9cAmorphous polyamidexe2x80x9d herein refers to those polyamides which are lacking in crystallinity as shown by the lack of an endotherm crystalline melting peak in a Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) test (ASTM D-3417). Examples of such polyamides include those amorphous polymers prepared from the following diamines: hexamethylenediamine, 2-methylpentamethylenediamine, 2,2,4-trimethylhexamethylenediamine, 2,4,4- trimethylhexamethylenediamine, bis(4-aminocyclohexyl)methane, 2,2-bis(4-aminocyclohexyl)isopropylidine, 1,4-diaminocyclohexane, 1,3-diaminocyclohexane, meta-xylylenediamine, 1,5-diaminopentane, 1,4-diaminobutane, 1,3-diaminopropane, 2-ethyldiaminobutane, 1,4-diaminomethylcyclohexane, p-xylylenediamine, m-phenylenediamine, p-phenylenediamine, and alkyl substituted m-phenylenediamine and p-phenylenediamine. Examples of polyamides that can be used include those amorphous polymers prepared from the following dicarboxylic acids: isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, alkyl substituted iso- and ter-ephthalic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, butane dicarboxylic acid, and the like. The diamines and diacids mentioned above can be combined as desired, provided the resulting polyamide is amorphous. That is, an aliphatic diamine can generally be combined with an aromatic diacid, or an aromatic diamine can generally be combined with an aliphatic diacid to give suitable amorphous polyamides. Preferred amorphous polyamides are those in which either the diamine or the diacid moiety is aromatic, and the other moiety is aliphatic. The aliphatic groups of these polyamidesides preferably contain between 4 and 12 carbon atoms in a chain or an aliphatic cyclic ring system having up to 15 carbon atoms. The aromatic groups of the polyamides preferably have mono or bicyclic aromatic rings which may contain aliphatic substituents of up to about 6 carbon atoms.
xe2x80x9cAmorphous polyamide adhesivexe2x80x9d herein refers to those polymeric materials which bond a layer of amorphous polyamide to a layer comprising another polymer or blend of polymers. Preferred polymeric materials include semicrystalline polyamide; anhydride grafted polymers such as anhydride grafted ethylene/1-butene copolymer, anhydride grafted ethylene/1-hexene copolymer, and anhydride grafted ethylene/1-octene copolymer; ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer; and ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymer.
xe2x80x9cAnhydride functionalityxe2x80x9d herein refers to any form of an hydride functionality, such as the anhydride of maleic acid, fumaric acid, etc., whether grafted onto a polymer, copolymerized with a polymer, or blended with one or more polymers, and is also inclusive of derivatives of such functionalities, such as acids, esters, and metal salts derived therefrom.
xe2x80x9cCore layerxe2x80x9d herein refers to the central layer of a multi-layer film.
xe2x80x9cEthylene/alpha-olefin copolymerxe2x80x9d (EAO) herein refers to copolymers of ethylene with one or more comonomers selected from C4 to C10 alpha-olefins such as butene-1 (i.e., 1-butene), hexene-1, octene-1, etc. in which the molecules of the copolymers comprise long chains with relatively few side chain branches or cross-linked structures. This molecular structure is to be contrasted with conventional low or medium density polyethylenes which are more highly branched than their respective counterparts. EAO includes such heterogeneous materials as linear medium density polyethylene (LMDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and very low and ultra low density polyethylene (VLDPE and ULDPE); as well as homogeneous polymers (HEAO) such as TAFMER(trademark) ethylene/alpha olefin copolymers supplied by Mitsui Petrochemical Corporation and metallocene-catalyzed polymers such as EXACT(trademark) resins supplied by Exxon and AFFINITY(trademark) resins supplied by the Dow Chemical Company. EAO includes long chain branched homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer. An EAO can for example, have a density of between 0.916 and 0.945 grams/cc.
xe2x80x9cEthylene/vinyl ester copolymerxe2x80x9d (E/VE) herein refers to a copolymer derived from ethylene and an ester such as vinyl acetate, alkyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, or other monomers, wherein the ethylene derived units in the copolymer are present in major amounts and the ester derived units in the copolymer are present in minor amounts.
xe2x80x9cFlowable materialsxe2x80x9d herein means food or non-food items which are flowable under gravity, or can be pumped, as defined in U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,437 (Storms), incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
xe2x80x9cHeat shrinkablexe2x80x9d herein is a property of a material which, when heated to an appropriate temperature above room temperature (for example 96xc2x0 C.), will have a free shrink of 5% or greater in at least one linear direction.
xe2x80x9cHigh density polyethylenexe2x80x9d (HDPE) herein has a density of 0.94 grams per cubic centimeter to 0.96 grams per cubic centimeter.
xe2x80x9cIntermediatexe2x80x9d herein refers to a layer of a multi-layer film which is between an outer layer and core layer of the film.
xe2x80x9cLinear low density polyethylenexe2x80x9d (LLDPE) herein has a density in the range of from 0.916 to 0.925 grams per cubic centimeter.
xe2x80x9cLinear medium density polyethylenexe2x80x9d (LMDPE) herein has a density from 0.926 grams per cubic centimeter to 0.939 grams per cubic centimeter.
xe2x80x9cOuter layerxe2x80x9d herein refers to what is typically an outermost, usually surface layer of a multi-layer film, although additional layers and/or films can be adhered to it.
xe2x80x9cPolyamidexe2x80x9d herein refers to both polyamides and copolyamides, and means a polymer in which amide linkages (xe2x80x94CONHxe2x80x94) occur along the molecular chain. Examples are nylon 6, nylon 11, nylon 12, nylon 66, nylon 69, nylon 610, nylon 612, nylon 6/66, and amorphous polyamide.
xe2x80x9cPolymerxe2x80x9d herein refers to homopolymer, copolymer, terpolymer, etc. xe2x80x9cCopolymerxe2x80x9d herein includes copolymer, terpolymer, etc.
xe2x80x9cPropylene/alpha-olefin copolymerxe2x80x9d herein refers to copolymers of propylene with one or more comonomers selected from ethylene, and butene-1 (i.e., 1-butene).
xe2x80x9cSemicrystalline polyamidexe2x80x9d herein refers to polyamides having readily determined crystalline melting points, for example, nylon 6, 9, 11, and 12. Such nylons may also have amorphous regions, and may even have measurable glass transition temperatures.
All compositional percentages used herein are calculated on a xe2x80x9cby weightxe2x80x9d basis.
xe2x80x9cLDxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cMDxe2x80x9d herein refers to longitudinal direction or machine direction respectively, synonymous terms for the direction of the film parallel to the path of extrusion. xe2x80x9cTDxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cCDxe2x80x9d herein refers to transverse or cross direction respectively, synonymous terms for the direction of the film transverse to the path of extrusion.

Multiple layer film with amorphous polyamide layer


A facsimile apparatus uses IP addresses in facsimile communications. A communicating section receives image data sent from a communication partner apparatus via a facsimile transmission, based on an IP address of the communication partner apparatus and of the facsimile apparatus. A printing section prints the image data. An IP address registering section registers therein, in advance, an IP address of each of one or more communication partner apparatuses. An IP address obtaining section obtains the IP address of the communication partner apparatus. A printing rejection processing section judges whether the obtained IP address has already been registered. If the obtained IP address is determined as an unregistered IP address, the printing rejection processing section performs a printing rejecting process, and the printing rejection information storing section stores therein a specifying image and the unregistered IP address as printing rejection information. A notifying section provides printing rejection information as a notification.

The present disclosure relates to a facsimile apparatus that uses Internet Protocol (IP) addresses in facsimile communications.
Facsimile apparatuses are configured to read an original document, to generate image data of the original document, and to send, via a facsimile transmission, the generated image data to a communication partner facsimile apparatus. In other situations, facsimile apparatuses are configured to receive image data that has been sent from a communication partner facsimile apparatus via a facsimile transmission and to print a facsimile image represented by the received image data.
Facsimile communications that use analog telephone lines such as the G3 facsimile have widely been used. In recent years, due to the development of the Internet and intranet networks, facsimile communications that use email addresses and facsimile communications that use IP addresses are becoming popular.
Facsimile apparatuses have a function of informing a communication partner facsimile apparatuses of the facsimile number thereof (hereinafter, "sender number"). The sender number informing function is realized by a facsimile apparatus having registered therein, in advance, the facsimile number thereof that is set therewith (the sender number), so that a communication partner facsimile apparatus is informed of the sender number when the facsimile apparatus sends a facsimile thereto.
This function is, conversely, realized by a communication partner facsimile apparatus having registered therein, in advance, the facsimile number thereof that is set therewith, so that a receiving facsimile apparatus is informed of the sender number of the communication partner facsimile apparatus when the communication partner facsimile apparatus sends a facsimile thereto.
Further, facsimile apparatuses have a reception rejecting function. The reception rejecting function is a function realized by a facsimile apparatus having registered therein, in advance, the facsimile number set with a communication partner facsimile apparatus, so as to reject the reception of image data sent from the communication partner facsimile apparatus via a facsimile transmission. For example, a user registers in advance, into the facsimile apparatus, the facsimile number of a communication partner that may send, via a facsimile transmission, image data of a facsimile image which the user does not wish to print. By using the reception rejecting function, it is possible to reject the reception of the image data and is therefore possible to prevent the facsimile image represented by the image data from being printed.
Facsimile images for advertisement purposes (called junk faxes) that are unilaterally sent without any prior notice are problematic.
When the sender numbers of such communication partner facsimile apparatuses that send a junk fax are disclosed to the receivers, the sender numbers may be subject to the reception rejection. Thus, some communication partner facsimile apparatuses do not register the sender number thereof on purpose. Accordingly, those communication partner facsimile apparatuses send a facsimile without informing the receiver of the sender number.
To cope with this situation, the reception rejecting function includes a function of rejecting the reception of image data sent via a facsimile transmission without informing the receiver of the sender number.
Facsimile apparatuses are able to perform facsimile communications even if the sender number is not registered therein. Thus, some users forget to register the sender number in the facsimile apparatuses.
When a facsimile is sent from a communication partner facsimile apparatus of which the user has forgotten to register the sender number therein, if a receiving facsimile apparatus is configured with a setting to reject the reception of image data sent via any facsimile transmission without informing the receiver of the sender number, the receiving facsimile apparatus rejects the reception of the image data. In other words, because of the setting where, for the purpose of rejecting the reception of junk faxes, the reception of image data is rejected if sent via a facsimile transmission without informing the receiver of the sender number, it may be impossible to receive some image data sent via facsimile transmissions that actually needs to be received.
To cope with this problem, a notification technique has been proposed by which a communication partner facsimile apparatus that has sent a facsimile without informing the receiver of the sender number is prompted to configure a setting so as to inform receivers of the sender number.


Provided is a dynamometer system capable of stable speed control and position control even in instances of large load inertia. A speed-control device (6C) in a dynamometer system is provided with: a speed-control-circuit unit (61A) for calculating a torque-current-command value (T2) on the basis of an angular-velocity-command value (ωref) and the angular velocity (ωM) of the dynamometer; a disturbance-observer-compensation unit (63C) for correcting the torque-current-command value by subtracting a disturbance observer (Tobs) from the torque-current-command value (T2); and a shaft-torque-detection-compensation unit (62A) for correcting the torque-current-command value by adding a shaft-torque-detection-compensation amount (Tsh_K), which is obtained by multiplying a filter transfer function (GBPF) and a control gain (K1) by a shaft-torque-detection value (Tsh), to a torque-current-command value (T1). Therein, the filter transfer function (GBPF) has only the resonance frequency and vicinity thereof for mechanical systems comprising load devices and dynamometers set as a passband.

With a dynamometer system, by connecting a load device such as an electric motor, engine and roller with a dynamometer that absorbs the dynamic force generated by this load device, as well as controlling the velocity or position of the dynamometer based on the detection signals of an encoder and shaft torque meter, and controlling the output of the load device while applying an appropriate load to the load device, various performance tests thereof are carried out.
As the speed-control device of such a dynamometer (electric motor), for example, Patent Document 1 has become well-known. More specifically, the speed-control device of Patent Document 1 is configured by a 2-degree-of-freedom control system in which feed-forward compensation is added to I-P speed control in order to achieve both response to command values and response to disturbances. In particular, a method of uniquely setting a plurality of control parameters such as proportional gain and integral gain in such a 2-degree-of-freedom control system is shown in Patent Document 1.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2011-152005


A teleconferencing system includes: a camera system for imaging a plurality of persons; a voice collector for capturing voices generated by a plurality of persons; and a transmitter for multiplexing an image signal acquired from the camera system and a voice signal acquired from the voice collector and transmitting a multiplexed signal via a communication line. The camera system includes: a camera; a driver for changing the viewing direction of the camera; and a camera controller for controlling the driver. The camera controller includes: a face position detection unit; a registration unit; a timing unit; a drive control unit; and a hold time control unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to camera controllers and teleconferencing systems, and more particularly, to a camera controller for controlling an imaging range of a camera provided with a driver for changing its viewing direction and a teleconferencing system having the camera controller.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, teleconferencing systems enabling multipoint conferences by transmitting and receiving voice and video data via a plurality of terminals placed at remote points have been receiving attention. This type of teleconferencing system has a camera having the function of changing its viewing direction and a camera controller for electronically controlling the viewing direction of the camera so as to image a speaker and transmit the obtained image signal to remote terminals.
When a participant in a conference starts to speak, the camera controller controls the viewing direction of the camera so that the speaker can be imaged by the camera. For example, the camera controller predicts a direction from which voices have emanated (hereinafter referred to as a voice direction) via a microphone for capturing voices and causes the camera to automatically pan toward the voice direction. Subsequently, the camera controller detects the contour of the speaker's face, and controls the tilt direction and zoom adjustment of the camera so that the face can be placed at the center of a screen. Thus, the speaker can be imaged by the camera.
A camera direction automatic controller for causing a camera to automatically track an earphone microphone with a lighted lamp has been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-307870, paragraphs [0016] to [0030] and FIG. 1). Upon capturing the voice of a speaker, the earphone microphone with a lamp lights its lamp. All participants in a conference wear these earphone microphones. The camera direction automatic controller detects the position of an earphone microphone with a lighted lamp on the basis of image data transmitted from the camera and directs the camera toward the earphone microphone with a lighted lamp.

Camera controller and teleconferencing system


The combination of a fibrinolytic and a prostacyclin analogue is very useful for thrombosis treatment, especially to avoid subsequent rethrombosis.

This invention relates to the use of a combination of a fibrinolytic and a prostacyclin analogue for thrombosis treatment, and to the corresponding combination product.
According to K. H. Gold et al. Circulation 68, I-50 to I-54 (1983) and W. Ganz et al. Amer. Heart J. 101, 4 (1981), the recurrence of thrombosis (rethrombosis) after an initially successful thrombolysis, continues to represent a problem in fibrinolytic therapy. As pathogenic mechanisms, these mention the presence of a damaged and thus a thrombogenic vascular inner wall on the originally thrombosed site after dissolution of thrombi, and in many cases a bleeding anomaly induced by stenoses. Thrombogenic surfaces and rheological disturbances result in renewed activation of the plasma clotting system and thrombocytes (platelets).
In his article "Pharmacology of Streptokinase" (from the manual "Experimental Pharmacology 46: Fibrinolytics and Antifibrinolytics, F. Markward (ed.), Springer-Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg-New York, 1978, 151-177), H. P. Kloecking writes that, particularly after thrombolysis with streptokinase and urokinase but to a lesser extent also after use of t-PA and pro-urokinase, cleavage products of fibrinogen and fibrin occur. These result in an increased aggregation tendency of platelets and thus promote quick new growth of platelet thrombi on the original site of a lysed thrombus.
Current clinical prophylaxis of fast rethromboses involve the inhibition of plasmatic clotting by heparin. E. Hiller comments on this in the Muenchner medizin. Wochenschrift 126, 13 (1984). He considers a prophylaxis with heparin as problematic, since platelet-induced rethromboses are not thereby prevented. According to his data, these are more likely even promoted. According to Kloecking, because of the consumption of the clotting factors, the plasmatic clotting system is no longer fully functioning especially after thrombolysis with streptokinase or urokinase. By the additional administration of heparin, thus, the danger of bleeding is promoted.
To what extent platelets and to what extent the plasmatic clotting system are involved in rethrombosis is indeed often discussed but still has not been clarified.

Thrombosis treatment with fibrinolytics and prostacyclins


A compilation and archiving platform is disclosed that includes at least one piece of information, wherein each piece of information comprises at least one tag and wherein the at least one piece of information is organized in a predetermined logical order in the platform. Methods of forming a compilation platform are also disclosed that include: a) providing at least one piece of information, wherein each piece of information comprises at least one tag; and organizing the at least one piece of information into a predetermined logical order in the platform.

Consumers have been looking for ways to get the entire history of a favorite musician, author, artist, event or family for as long as there have been methods to collect that information. Unfortunately, there have not been any simple or straightforward methods or platforms available to label, archive, sort, search and present all of that information in one format. In addition, when new information—whether contemporary or historic—is introduced on a particular subject, it is practically impossible to archive that information intelligently into the collection without reorganizing the collection manually.
For example, dedicated fans of an musician may spend the better part of several decades, along with a great deal of money, collecting everything by or about that musician, including recordings, articles, ticket stubs, programs, posters, books, letters, interviews, notes and anything else that artist may have produced. Although these consumers may still be willing to spend the same amount of money to acquire all of these items, it is clear that many consumers would like to consolidate all of these items into a compact and easily reviewable space. An example of this point may be a collection of vinyl recordings. While these recordings may be the preferred recording for many music lovers—these vinyl recordings are susceptible to damage or destruction by heat, children, pets or poor audio equipment.
One of the methods of presenting information on a television channel, such as the History Channel, is to present a documentary on a particular topic—say, the War of 1812—and then present additional information on the Internet at HistoryChannel.com, such as letters from soldiers, timelines, electronic texts of history books and scholarly articles on the War of 1812. While this process is certainly one way of providing different types of information on a topic—it still does not solve the problem of providing intelligently sorted new information to an interested consumer.
In another example, a family either compiles or pays for another entity to compile a history of the family whether it's in family tree form or another form. Regardless of the method of compilation, the "compilee" is missing information—whether it's information from the family or information found outside of the family's knowledge. Therefore, it is easy to comprehend that a family history may be initially prepared and include certain information, but a true family history is prepared by including letters from family members, stories that are told on video and in writing, photos, videos and documents. In addition, when a new family member or members are discovered or born, it is not easy to incorporate that additional information into an already existing family history without significantly reorganizing the entire collection of information. Also, as technology advances, it may be difficult to migrate that information to new formats without losing information.
These examples, along with countless others, show that there is still a need for a method and platform for intelligently organizing and archiving the information at hand, while at the same time allowing the flexibility of incorporating new information as it comes available. In addition, consumers with these "ultimate collections" should have the ability to be notified as this information becomes available, so that they may decide whether to add it to the collection where it will be intelligently sorted and archived in relation to everything else in the collection.

Sortable and updateable compilation and archiving platform and uses thereof


A process for manufacturing a modular multi-pin package for an integrated circuit die is formed of standardized parts and a redesigned, integrated circuit specific circuit substrate possessing a design pattern for providing electrical connection between die pads and output pins. The substrate includes a pattern of electrically conductive traces each terminating in a die pattern at an interior portion of the substrate and terminating in a pattern of pin connecting pads at a peripheral portion of the substrate. A pin holding frame is formed with a plurality of holes in which are inserted a selected number and pattern of package terminal pins, each having a shank protruding outwardly from the pin holder for connection to external circuits or components and each having an inner head pressed against one of the pin connecting pads of the substrate circuit traces. A conductive epoxy may be interposed between the pin heads and the substrate pin connecting pads to ensure electrical contact, and a dielectric gas impermeable adhesive may be employed to secure the pin holder frame to the substrate. A die is inserted through a central aperture of the pin holder frame for attachment to the substrate by connecting the die pads to the die connecting ends of the substrate circuit. The package is completed by bonding a gas impermeable lid of metal or a transparent material to the pin holder frame to cover the opening of the frame and seal the die within the package.

Integrated circuit dies are generally mounted in a package that not only protects the die from the external environment itself but also facilitates electrical and physical connection of the die to a circuit board or to other external circuit components.
Generally the production of dies in quantity from silicon wafers employs processes and production facilities different from those involved in package production. Accordingly, packages, which may cost more than the die alone, are often produced at a different location or by a different fabricator. Importantly, the time for production of a package that is designed for a particular die is generally greater than the time for production of the die itself. Thus, once design of the die has been finalized the design must be transmitted to the package fabricator, which then designs and produces packages in quantity for the dies. In some instances the time required for package design and production causes undesired delays in the availability of packages, thereby slowing die production. Once the package design has been finalized any further changes only greatly increases the total time of package design and production. This is true for dies of generally standardized design. Even greater delays are incurred in post-final design changes to packages intended for dies of custom design.
To avoid delays associated with package redesigning, it is often necessary for the die manufacturer either to stock large quantities of packages for a given die or stock large quantities of packages for many different types. Design and fabrication of a specially designed package may require up to several months, whereas design and fabrication of the die itself may require only a few days. Since package fabrication is a major consideration in the time of manufacture of useful die packages, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multiple-pin die package that avoids or minimizes the above mentioned problems and delays.

Process of fabricating an integrated circuit die package having a plurality of pins


The present invention relates to a wireless communication system and method for establishing connection between a User Equipment (UE) and a Mobility Management Entity (MME) in the wireless communication system in which the data-centric terminal requests the mobility management entity for attachment and checks, when the mobility management entity responds, data-centric features supported by the mobility management entity. According to the present invention, it is possible to connect the data-centric terminal to the mobility management entity supporting the data-centric features of the corresponding data-centric terminal efficiently in the wireless communication system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system and communication method thereof and, in particular, to a wireless communication system and method for establishing connection between a User Equipment (UE) and a Mobility Management Entity (MME) in the wireless communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is the third generation wireless communication system based on Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) and General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) and uses Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA). The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) as the UMTS standardization organization has proposed Evolved Packet System (EPS) such as Long Term Evolution (LTE). The LTE is a technology for implementing high speed packet-based communication. An LTE system includes a Mobility Management Entity (MME) which manages the mobility of the User Equipment (UE) connected thereto.

Wireless communication system and method for establishing a connection between user equipment and a mobility management entity thereof


A formal shirt that allows for increased athletic movement and a method for production of such a shirt. Increased movement is achieved by sewing a “pivot panel” between the front and back shirt panels. The pivot panel moves the side seam away from the major stress concentrations caused by common lumbar and brachial rotations. The pivot panel avoids binding at the shoulders, tends to reduce wrinkling, and prevents the shirttails from coming untucked.

Traditional dress shirts tend to restrict upper body movement. For example, bending forward (anteriorly) at the waist more than a few degrees tends to displace the entire shirt in relation to the wearer's body. This displacement tends to pull the rear shirttails 101 out of the pants. Reaching forward (rotating the arms at the shoulders as shown in FIG. 1) while bending at the waist amplifies this problem. Reaching forward while bending concentrates tensile stresses laterally across the yoke 102 and axially down the sleeves 109. As a result of these stresses, the cuffs 103 are axially displaced away from the wrist and toward the shoulders. If such sleeve displacement is opposed by other forces, the shirt will begin to fail, often tearing at the seams between the sleeve and armscye 104.
Traditional dress shirts restrict this type of abdominal and brachial movement because they are made from relatively inelastic textiles. While these textiles maintain a crisp, professional appearance, they allow only small elastic deformations before failure occurs. The greatest restrictions tend to occur at the seams connecting the front and back panels of the shirt 5 (the "side seams"). In traditional dress shirt construction, the side seam runs from the center of the armpit 6, downwardly to the bottom of the shirt 107. Stitching (such as the stitching of the side seam) significantly restricts textile deformation axially along the direction of the seam. The unstitched fabric surrounding the seam permits more elastic deformation. As a result, a stitched seam concentrates and transmits tensile stress while shearing the neighboring fabric.
The stitching of the side seam resists forward and upward movement of the arms when rotated at the shoulders. This seam translates tensile stress, under the armpit, in three directions. First, stresses extend laterally across the yolk 102 and back panel 108 towards the opposite shoulder; second, stresses run down the back panel towards the rear shirttails 101; and third, stresses extend axially down the sleeve 109 towards the cuff 103. The resulting stresses tend to pull the cuff 103 away from the wrist and the shirttails 101 out of the pants. In addition, the resulting stresses cause wrinkling (semi-permanent three-dimensional fabric deformations). Wrinkling creates an unprofessional appearance and tends to reduce the lifespan of a garment.
The prior art teaches a variety of athletic shirts that allow for a full range of lumbar and brachial movement. However, such athletic shirts are inappropriate in formal business settings. Athletic shirts are often made from elastomers (fabrics with a low Young's modulus and high elastic limit). These elastic properties allow unconstrained upper body movement and greater fabric deformations before fabric or seam failure occurs. Other prior art shirt designs use traditional textiles, but add extra large shoulders to afford an increased range of motion. Either type of prior art design fails to maintain the finely tailored appearance required for formal and business attire.
Several attempts have been made to reconcile the requirements of formal appearance and athletic mobility. Many of these efforts involve adding additional material, such as darts or plackets, to the shirt's back panel or sleeves. However, this additional material adds cost and complexity to the production process. Furthermore, such additional material adds weight and bulk to a shirt. This tends to reduce comfort and may deviate from the requirements of formal or business attire.
A prior art shirt design may be custom tailored to the wearer. Custom tailoring may improve appearance and help reduce the functional problems associated with dress shirts, but it adds significant production costs.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a shirt that may be worn in a formal or business setting, while also allowing the wearer to engage in physical activity such as bending and reaching forward without tearing the shirt or pulling the shirttails out of the pants.


An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of toner-image forming units. Each toner-image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum and a charging unit that is arranged to abut against or remain detached from the photosensitive drum, and that electrically charges the photosensitive drum. Each of the toner-image forming units forms an image of a different color. At least one of the charging units functions as a corona charging unit and at least another one of the charging units functions as a non-contact charging unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an image forming apparatus, and specifically relates to a charging mechanism for photosensitive drums.
2. Description of the Related Art
A tandem-type full-color electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a plurality of toner-image forming units. Each toner-image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a charging unit that electrically charges the photosensitive drum such that the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum is developed with a single-color toner, such as yellow, cyan, magenta, and black, into a single-color toner image. The charging unit is arranged to abut against or remain detached from the photosensitive drum. To downsize such an image forming apparatus, the charging unit is usually arranged such that a charging roller, a charging brush, or a charging blade in the charging unit abuts against the photosensitive drum or lies adjacent to but detached from the photosensitive drum.
Each of the charging rollers charges a corresponding photosensitive drum either by using direct current (DC) charging or alternate current (AC) superimposition charging. The DC charging has a drawback that sometimes the photosensitive drums are not charged uniformly thereby failing to maintain the image quality. The AC-superimposition charging is advantageous in that the photosensitive drums are always uniformly charged thereby improving the image quality. That is why the AC-superimposition charging is gaining popularity. However, because the amount of discharging in the AC-superimposition charging is more, the surface of the photosensitive drums may get damaged due to the byproducts produced due to the discharge and the image quality may deteriorate.
In recent years, organic photosensitive drums are widely used in the image forming apparatuses. However, the organic photosensitive drums have a low degree of hardness and a weak tensile strength. Thus, they are prone to abrasion wear. Moreover, toner components or paper dust easily gets attached on the surface of such organic photosensitive drums thereby degrading the quality of cleaning or efficiency of image transfer, which results in corrupt images. In an image forming apparatus in which cleaning of the organic photosensitive drums is performed by blades, because of the high friction coefficient of the organic photosensitive drums, noise is generated at the time of cleaning. To solve such problems, a lubricant in liquid form or solid form, which also functions as a surface protectant, is applied on the surface of the organic photosensitive drums.
The lubricant lubricates the surface of the photosensitive drums such that the friction between the cleaning blades and the photosensitive drums is controlled. The lubricant also guards the surface of the photosensitive drums from being damaged due to collision of excited electrons generated during the AC-superimposition charging.
A tandem-type full-color image forming apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3587094 in which a photosensitive drum that forms electrostatic latent images in black is charged by a non-contact charging mechanism, while photosensitive drums that form electrostatic latent images in a color other than black are charged by a contact charging mechanism. In the contact charging mechanism, charging rollers are arranged to abut against the corresponding photosensitive drums.
A tandem-type full-color image forming apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2002-156806 and 2002-341618 in which photosensitive drums are charged by using charging members that abut against the corresponding photosensitive drums or lie adjacent to but detached from the corresponding photosensitive drums. The photosensitive drum that forms electrostatic latent images in black is charged by the DC charging, while the photosensitive drums that form electrostatic latent images in a color other than black are charged by the AC-superimposition charging.
A tandem-type full-color image forming apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-034111 in which the amount of lubricant applied on the surface of each photosensitive drum is adjusted as per the requirement. Particularly, more amount of lubricant is applied on the photosensitive drums that lie on the downstream along the direction in which a transfer paper is conveyed.
A tandem-type full-color image forming apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-061855 in which the amount of lubricant applied on the surface of a photosensitive drum that forms electrostatic latent images in black is more than the amount of lubricant applied on the surface of photosensitive drums that form electrostatic latent images in a color other than black.
In the tandem-type full-color image forming apparatus as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3587094, because the photosensitive drums that form electrostatic latent images in a color other than black are charged by the contact charging mechanism, the surface of those photosensitive drums is damaged due to the friction with the charging rollers. As a result, such photosensitive drums have less durability than the photosensitive drums that are charged by a non-contact charging mechanism. Moreover, toner gets attached easily to such a contact charging mechanism thereby reducing its durability. Instead of the contact charging mechanism, if a corona charging mechanism, particularly a scorotron charging mechanism, is used to charge a photosensitive drum, then poison gases such as ozone are produced that need to be properly disposed. Hence, if the scorotron charging mechanism is used to charge all the photosensitive drums, the size of the image forming apparatus becomes large because of the additional components required to exhaust the poison gases.
On the other hand, in the tandem-type full-color image forming apparatus as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2002-156806, 2002-341618, 2001-034111, and 2004-061855, the problem of damaging the surface of the photosensitive drums due to the friction with the charging members is not comprehensively solved. Hence, there is a need of a technology that would uniformly charge the photosensitive drums with minimum damage to their surface.

Image forming unit, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus


A sensor panel having a matrix of independently decoded sensors, arranged in a two-dimensional pattern allows a consumer identification unit (CIDU) to detect a user-specific gesture made with a gesturing instrument such as an RF ID device. The CIDU monitors on a timed basis which of the sensors in the panel are receiving a signal from an RF ID device which has entered the proximity of one or more of the sensors. The user moves the sensor in a two-dimensional pattern to perform a “gesture signature” in free space near the panel, and the CIDU records the sequence of receiving sensors. This sequence can then be quickly and efficiently handled as a number to be looked up to identify and authenticate the user. Preferably, the user is allowed to define multiple signature gestures, each having the possibility of being associated with a transaction or authorization level.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the arts of user identification, such as personal identification numbers and signature recognition.
2. Description of the Related Art
When making a transaction using a credit account, credit card, or automatic teller machine ("ATM"), many systems require users to identify themselves using a unique number, such as a personal identification number (PIN), or to place their signature onto a paper slip or into a digitizing tablet. Methods for verifying a user's PIN from data stored on the magnetic strip of a card or via a transaction over a computer network are well known. Additionally, methods for recognizing a digitized signature are also well known in the art.
PINs are highly subject to fraud, however. For example, it is well known in the law enforcement community that many identity thieves simply sit in a position within a public space such as an airport terminal where they can view an ATM or pay phone. Then, when an unsuspecting user keys in his or her PIN, the thief simply watches the entry, sometimes with the aid of binoculars. In the case of a phone credit card, the thief may also be able to watch and learn the user's account number, thereby directly enabling him or her to use the victim's account. In the case of an ATM or credit card, the thief may then proceed to steal the victims wallet or purse to obtain the card.
Signature recognition has promised greater security, and many point-of-sale (POS) systems have been equipped with electronic tablets upon which a credit card or ATM card user must sign in order to complete a transaction. However, due to the limitations in accuracy and the shear volume of data needed to store many reference copies of signatures for card holders, as well as the intense computational capabilities needed to accurately characterize and recognize a human signature, these POS systems are rarely used to actually perform signature recognition. Rather, they have been used to reduce the physical storage requirements for a retailer to maintain paper copies of signed credit slips. Instead, copies of the digitized signatures are kept electronically for a period of time in case they are needed during a credit card dispute resolution investigation.
Recently, another consumer identification device has been introduced into the market place, most notably in the "pay-at-the-pump" retail fuel market. These small devices hang on a key chain or ring, and contain a small integrated circuit ("IC") similar in technology to those employed for theft prevention in retail stores. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the system (1) consists of a key fob (11) device, which is usually hand held by a user (12). The point-of-sale system (or other system requiring user identification such as an automatic door lock) has a radio-frequency ("RF") transparent panel (10), behind which is concealed a transmitter-receiver "sensor" (13) element such as an antenna element. The transmitter-receiver (13) is interfaced to a Consumer Identification Unit ("CIDU") (14), which is usually microprocessor based. To improve performance, a large panel may be equipped with multiple sensors whose signals are summed by the CIDU.
In practice, the consumer places the key fob (11) within a sensitivity proximity P of the panel (10) when he or she wishes to authorize a transaction. A low-power RF signal which is constantly emitted by the sensor (13) is received by the IC in the key fob (11), which induces enough energy from the emitted signal to power the IC and to transmit a unique code or number which is associated with the consumer or user. This signal is received by the CIDU, decoded, and the user's identity is determined (either in a local datastore or via a look-up over a computer network (15)). The transaction can then be processed as is done in the art currently, either by requesting transaction authorization from a credit server over a computer network (15), or performing the authorization locally.
This technology can be applied to a number of problems requiring quick identification of a user. For example, the same system can be applied to the controls for an automatic door lock, and the IC device can be carried in a key fob or a ID "badge", thereby allowing the user to approach the door, place the key fob or badge within proximity of the access control panel, and the system automatically verifies authorization to enter the door and unlocks the door.
However, this RF ID process does not actually verify that the person who possesses the RF ID device is the actual user associated with the device. For example, if a woman's purse is stolen, the thief may simply use her key fob device to purchase fuel at such a gas pump because the system does not require entry of a signature or PIN. This step is avoided because one key to the marketability of the key fob device is convenience and quickness of completing the transaction—simply "wanding" the key fob past the panel to complete a transaction. Adding a step to enter a PIN number or sign a touch-sensitive pad would make this process less convenient than the standard credit card and ATM process previously in use.
As such, this type of RF ID technology has seen limited adoption by the industry, primarily limited to applications where purchase amounts are limited by some practical factor. Gasoline purchases, for example, rarely exceed $50 for a typical retail customer, and as such, the increased risk of fraudulent use of the devices is not associated with tremendous loss when measured in dollar value.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a system and method which allows the convenience of the RF ID system to be securely employed in applications which authorize transactions of greater significance in order to promote their use in a widespread manner. Further, this new system and method must provide a user-unique identification step which does not decrease the convenience or speed with which the transaction can be completed (when compared to the current RF ID process), does not significantly increase the processing requirements of a CIDU to perform the decoding and user identification functions, and preferably allows a single user to define his or her own identification signature or multiple signatures.

Free-space gesture recognition for transaction security and command processing

International Business Machines Corporation


A networked computer system for generating promotional offers for casino property patrons is described herein. The networked computer system includes a promotions management computer server including a processor programmed to execute an algorithm to display an offer selection screen including an event calendar displaying a period of calendar dates, a period token balance associated with the period of calendar dates including an amount of tokens, and a plurality of promotional offers associated with the casino patron, with each promotional offer being displayed with an associated number of tokens. The processor receives a selection of one of the displayed promotional offers and a calendar date, assigns the selected promotional offer to the selected calendar date, reduces the period token balance by the number of tokens associated with the selected promotional offer, and modifies a patron account file to include the selected promotional offer assigned to the selected calendar date.

At least some known casino management systems are programmed to monitor casino patron activities and qualify patrons for promotional awards based on the monitored activity to attract and retain patrons at casino properties. In addition, known casino management systems may be programmed to provide promotional awards upon the predefined event, such as a time of day, or day of the week. For example, known casino management systems may be programmed to provide a promotional award to each patron playing a qualifying electronic gaming machine at a predefined time of day. However, these known systems require a significant use of computing resources at the time of providing the promotional awards. For example, upon detecting the occurrence of the predefined event, the system must dedicate significant computer resources to quickly identify each qualified player, associated a promotional award to the player, and generate and transmit a notification message to the player to notify the players of the awards, which reduces the amount of resources available for other monitoring and reporting activities. As such, these known systems are limited in their ability to allow casino patrons to select and/or schedule promotional awards, and are non-scalable across multiple casino properties.
The present invention is aimed at one or more of the problems identified above.

System, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for generating data for use in casino property management computer systems


The present invention provides compositions and methods for ameliorating neurological, attention, or memory disorders and improving learning and cognition through the delivery of insulin A-chain and analogs thereof to a subject. Insulin A-chain, peptides comprising the 21 amino acid sequence GIVEQ CCASV CSLYQ LENYC N (SEQ ID NO:1), and functional analogs thereof are disclosed to modulate neurological activity when administered to a subject. The methods of the invention can be used to prevent or treat neurological disorders as well as improve memory retention and acquisition. The invention includes pharmaceutical compositions comprising a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of insulin A-chain peptide or a functional analogs thereof.

Approximately 80% of people over 30 complain of some degree of memory loss. Normal memory loss includes the misplacing an item or forgetting the name of a person that you just met. Memory loss associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition characterized by a memory deficit, but not dementia, is more severe than normal memory loss and often involves continuing problems in delayed recall of information. Most individuals who eventually develop dementia go through a phase of mild cognitive impairment, and some individuals with MCI develop the clinical stages of Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
Dementia, a structurally-caused, permanent or progressive decline of intellectual function, is one of the most serious disorders facing the elderly population. Dementia, which normally results in a loss of short-term and/or long-term memory, interferes substantially with social as well as economic activities. Memory loss is not only characteristic of the normal aging process but also of many neurological disorders. The risk of dementia is correlated with age and doubles every five years after the age of 60. Studies report that up to 50% of people over the age of 85 are afflicted with this disorder. An estimated 60-80% of elderly nursing home residents are affected by this disease.
Notably, the various forms of dementia are attributable to different causes. Many neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, can lead to forms of dementia. For example, Alzheimer-type dementia has been attributed to specific cellular and histological degenerative processes resulting in brain atrophy and the loss of cells from the basal forebrain, cerebral cortex, and other brain areas. Stroke, head trauma, and epilepsy can also lead to memory impairment. Epilepsy, a brain disorder in which neurons signal abnormally, can cause strange sensations, emotions, and behavior, or sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness.
MCI patients over the age of 65 develop Alzheimer's Disease, one of the most common forms of dementia, at a rate of 12-15% yearly, which greatly exceeds the 1% to 2% incidence in normal controls healthy people. Thus, early treatment of patients with MCI could prevent further cognitive decline, including development of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative brain disorder that afflicts millions of people worldwide. Alzheimer's Disease can affect memory, mood, personality, and cognitive ability. As the average human life-span continues to increase, the number of people developing Alzheimer's Disease at some point in their lives is escalating rapidly. Currently, an estimated one in twenty people over the age of 65 are affected by some form of dementia. In persons over the age of 80, that number rises to one in five.
Existing medications for neurological disorders and memory weaknesses are not always well tolerated, nor have they been proven effective in alleviating symptoms of dementia and memory loss. In addition, drugs, such as anti-epileptic drugs, can interfere with the effectiveness of other medications, such as oral contraceptives. Furthermore, while gingko biloba, piracetam, and various other "smart drugs" are being actively marketed, no proven memory-enhancing drug exists.
With the increasing lifespan of people, the lack of drugs that treat the biochemical causes of neurological disorders and memory impairment is becoming an acute problem. Thus, there exists a need in the art for drugs that can alleviate MCI, dementia and improve cognition and memory.

Insulin-associated peptides with effects on cerebral health


This invention relates to suppression of density unevenness caused by occurrence of ink-landing position shifts between print scans. In an embodiment, upon printing by scanning an inkjet printhead including printing elements, the following control is executed. That is, in order to form an image by print scans of the printhead on a single print area on a print medium, image data are acquired in correspondence with the respective scans. Also, the printing elements are partitioned into plural groups each including continuously arrayed printing elements, and the printing elements in each of the plural groups are time-divisionally driven based on drive sequences. Then, the drive sequences upon time-divisional driving in respective scans are set to include elements having the same drive timings and those having different drive timings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and printing control method thereof, and particularly to a printing apparatus, which performs multipass printing by time-divisionally driving a plurality of printing elements of an inkjet printhead, and a printing control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Of many inkjet printing apparatuses, a serial type inkjet printing apparatus, in which a printhead including a plurality of nozzles is mounted on a carriage, and which forms a print image by repeating a carriage scan and intermittent conveyance of a print medium, has prevailed, since it is inexpensive and compact.
In such a printing apparatus, density unevenness often occurs on a print image due to variations of nozzle diameters and of ink discharge directions. In order to suppress this density unevenness, multipass printing, which completes printing by complementing one pixel by printing operations of a plurality of carriage scans, is used. Multipass printing has the aforementioned advantage, but it also has a disadvantage. That is, in the plurality of carriage scans required to complete printing, unexpected ink-landing position shifts caused by, for example, an uneven surface of a print medium, have occurred between a certain scan and another scan, thus causing density unevenness of an image on that occurrence area.
To solve such a problem, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-103088 has proposed the following method. That is, multi-valued image data is divided into data for a plurality of times used to scan a predetermined area, data conversion of the divided multi-valued image data is performed using different coefficients, and binarization processing is applied to the respective converted data. According to this method, since some pixels have an opportunity of receiving ink discharged twice or more in a plurality of print scans, a situation in which all pixels have a complementary relation can be avoided. As a result, multipass printing, which hardly causes density changes of an image even when ink-landing position shifts have occurred between print scans, can be realized.
The aforementioned related art has a sufficiently high effect when one dot per pixel is allotted on an average. However, when a high-density image is to be output, dots more than one dot per pixel have to be allotted, and in such a case a new problem is posed.
FIGS. 21A to 21C are views for explaining the conventional problem.
FIG. 21A shows a conventional dot allotment when all pixels are completely complemented without using the method proposed by Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-103088. Also, FIG. 21B shows a dot allotment when some non-complemented pixels are generated using the method proposed by Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-103088. Furthermore, FIG. 21C shows a dot allotment when two dots are allotted per pixel using Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-103088.
Black dots shown in FIGS. 21A to 21C are allotted in a first print scan, white dots are allotted in a second print scan, and gray dots are allotted in the first and second print scans. The left figure of each of FIGS. 21A to 21C shows a case free from any ink-landing position shifts between the first and second print scans, and the right figure shows a case in which ink-landing position shifts have occurred between the first and second print scans.
In the case shown in FIG. 21A, if no ink-landing position shifts occur between the print scans, white and black dots are neatly aligned in a checkerboard pattern. However, when ink-landing position shifts have occurred, white dots get closer to black dots, and partially overlap each other. Thus, a state in which a print area is not filled is formed compared to an original state. In this manner, when ink-landing position shifts have occurred at certain timings in an image area, the state shown in the left figure in FIG. 21A and that shown in the right figure are formed at adjacent positions, and this state is visually recognized as density unevenness.
On the other hand, the case shown in FIG. 21B includes pixels on which no dots are printed, and those on which dots are printed by both the first and second print scans when no ink-landing position shifts occur. Hence, when ink-landing position shifts have occurred, originally overlapped dots appear, and separated dots overlap each other, thus suppressing a density change due to the presence/absence of ink-landing position shifts as a whole. The reason why white dots and black dots have different allotments even when ink-landing position shifts do not occur is that parameters associated with binarization processing (error diffusion processing in this case) are different for white dots and black dots. In this case, when an image having a higher density than the example shown in FIG. 21B, generation ratios of both white dots and black dots have to be increased.
The case shown in FIG. 21B has higher degrees of freedom in pixel positions where both white and black dots are allotted. However, when dot generation ratios are to be increased, the number of dots to be allotted has to be increased, thus lowering degrees of freedom in allotment. This cannot be coped with by the data ratios between the first and second print scans and the contents of a diffusion matrix described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-103088. When dot generation ratios are to be increased, the state shown in the left figure of FIG. 21C is reached at last, and all pixels are configured by gray dots printed in the first and second print scans, thus printing an image having a highest density. However, in this state, all overlapped dots unwantedly appear when ink-landing position shifts between scans have occurred, and density changes caused by the presence/absence of ink-landing position shifts become large, as shown in the right figure of FIG. 21C. As a result, such state is visually recognized as density unevenness, as described above.

Printing apparatus and printing control method thereof


A method for electricity purchase of an electric car (22) at a power charging procedure at a power charging station (30), which is connected to the grid (15), a PV system (10) or other domestic system for generating electricity is feeding current at a first measurement system (16) into the grid (15), and the electric car (22) charges current at a second measurement system (26) from a power charging station (30) where both measurement systems (16, 26) are integrated in a communication network (20) and are, at least indirectly, in communication connection (K1, K2) with each other to control the charging current, preferable to synchronize it with the fed in current.

In DE 10 2011 075 529 A1 a method of this kind is described. A charging cable of the electric car is provided with an intelligent plug which communicates with a fitting power charging station. After an authentication the charging procedure starts. EP 2 324 327 B1 describes a mobile measurement system which is also communicating with the power charging station. Therefore, also a sophisticated authentication and billing system is intended for the charging procedure.

Method of charging current for an electric car and control system therefor


An optical device of an automotive vehicle comprises a first luminous source and a light duct designed to conduct light originating from the luminous source in the form of a beam with substantially parallel rays. The light duct comprises a rear face forming at least one reflecting facet designed to return some of the beam substantially along an optical axis (E) of the light duct. It also comprises a front face fashioned as at least one dioptric element associated optically with each reflecting facet and through which the light exits the light duct after return by the associated reflecting facet. Each dioptric element is configured so as to be stigmatic between a point in the substance of the light duct situated in immediate proximity to the center (Oi) of the associated reflecting facet and a point situated at infinity.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is that of an automotive vehicle optical device, in particular an optical device for signaling and/or lighting, comprising a first luminous source and a light duct designed to conduct light originating from the first luminous source in the form of a beam with substantially parallel rays.
The subject of the invention is more particularly such an optical device in which the light duct comprises a rear face forming at least one reflecting facet designed to return some of the beam substantially along an optical axis of the light duct and a front face through which the light, after return by reflection on the facets, exits the light duct substantially along the optical axis.
Such solutions have already been developed to limit the amount of space required depth-wise along the optical axis.
2. Description of the Related Art
To ensure a signaling function, the document GB2320562A describes an optical device in which a collimator concentrates the light rays emitted by a luminous source, so that the beam with substantially parallel rays thus generated is directed into an entry face of a light duct in the form of a plate of small thickness, furnished with a plurality of reflecting facets. Through a front face of the light duct, the light rays exit the duct after having been returned by the facets. There are no dioptric elements adapted to the construction of a single beam of predetermined luminous distribution.
To ensure a lighting function of automotive vehicle headlight type, the document FR2514105A1 describes a similar solution, in which the optical device essentially comprises three functional assemblies: luminous flux concentration means, a light duct in the form of a unique transparent bar, and an add-on assembly of lenses attached forward, along the optical axis (direction of illumination), of the exit front face of the bar. The flux concentration assembly, arranged on the longitudinal axis of the bar, consists essentially of a luminous source and of an elliptical reflector or mirror. The luminous source consists of the filament or the arc of an automobile lamp. The lens assembly can be produced in the form of a unitary assembly forming the crystal of the headlight. The convergent lenses have axes substantially parallel to the direction of emission and are arranged in a relation of optical cooperation with reflecting facets (which are at the focus of the lenses) constituted by niches at the rear of the bar so that these lenses project in this direction, images corresponding to the facets.
These two known devices thus comprise a real luminous source, means for concentrating the luminous radiation issuing from this source onto the entry end of a light duct furnished with a plurality of reflecting facets forming as many virtual luminous sources and cooperating with a plurality of homologous dioptric elements so as to form an assembly of elementary beams merging into a single beam. By fitting the lenses outside the duct and optional hoods in the duct, on its own the device described in the document FR2514105A1 allows the construction of a single beam of predetermined luminous distribution, in particular a cutoff beam for a passing light for example.
But these solutions present the following main drawbacks:                high weight by reason of the use of lenses made of a material (glass) for withstanding the heat from the luminous sources,        significant complexity and cost, difficulty in obtaining and assembling, by reason of the number of parts used,        high aperture of the beams due to the presence of the lens assembly added forward of the front face of the duct,        tricky construction of a precise and highly efficient beam with predetermined luminous distribution,        necessity for relative centerings and positionings of the various constituent assemblies of the optical device,        difficulty in satisfying various possible functions to be carried out by the optical device,        mediocrity of style and of esthetic look.
In the field of signaling, just as in that of lighting, numerous regulatory constraints leave little room to modify the look of the lights in the lit state, since the photometry of the light beams is imposed to a very broad extent. However, style and aesthetics are very significant data for this type of product, and automobile equipment manufacturers are seeking to give their products a "signature", so that they are readily identifiable by the end user,

Automotive vehicle optical device having dioptric elements integrated into the light duct


An improved threshing and separating mechanism for a combine that includes an elongated rotor mounted for rotation about a rotor axis within a rotor housing on the combine. The rotor has a threshing portion and a separating portion. The housing has a threshing section and a separating section corresponding to the threshing portion and the separating portion. The housing surrounds the rotor and is spaced from the rotor to form an annular space between the rotor and the housing for crop material to flow through in an axial crop flow direction from an inlet end of the housing to an outlet end of the housing. A rear portion of the rotor tube includes one or more discharge flights or vanes that are adjustable in height and assist in discharging material through the outlet of the rotor housing. The discharge vanes work in conjunction with the vanes in the top covers of the rotor housing.

Agricultural combines are large machines that harvest, thresh, separate and clean an agricultural crop. The resulting clean grain is stored in a grain tank located on the combine. The clean grain can then be transported from the grain tank to a truck, grain cart or other receiving bin by an unloading auger.
Rotary combines have one or two large rotors for threshing and separating the harvested crop material. In most rotary combines the rotor or rotors are arranged along the longitudinal axis of the machine. These rotors are provided with an infeed section for receiving harvested crop material, a threshing section for threshing the harvested crop material received from the infeed section and a separating section for freeing grain trapped in the threshed crop material received from the threshing section.
Rotors have been provided for combines in a variety of configurations to optimize harvesting efficiency for a wide variety of crops and crop conditions. Examples are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,445,563 and 5,688,170 assigned to the assignee of the present application. These two patents both disclose rotary crop processing units having two or more sections. The relationship between the rotor axis and the housing axis varies from one section to the other. The rotor axis becomes increasingly offset from the housing axis in the crop flow direction from the housing inlet to the housing outlet. This is accomplished by abrupt transitions in the housing structure between sections where the housing shape changes. As the housing shape changes, the housing axis steps upward relative to the rotor axis and the gap between the rotor and the top of the housing increases at each step in the housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,070,498 describes a combine rotor having both infeed and threshing sections on a common frusto-conical portion of the rotor drum. The rotor in the infeed section is provided with helical infeed elements located on the fore-region of the frusto-conical portion of the drum. Immediately downstream from the infeed section, the threshing section is provided with a number of threshing elements. A portion of the threshing elements are attached to the aft-region of the frusto-conical portion of the drum, with the remaining portion being attached to the rearward cylindrical portion.
In such rotary combines, due to the shape and sizing of the housing covers, the rotor housing expands in steps as the material moves rearward. The first step is over the threshing area. The other expansion point is over the separator portion of the rotor.
The present inventors have recognized that when straw material exits from the rotor housing on a combine, there is typically some stagnation in the movement of the straw material as straw movement changes from a rotational direction to a linear direction into and through the discharge beater. This change in direction leads to loss of angular momentum and velocity which results in straw building up and congestion at the discharge point of the rotor housing. Extreme hesitation can result in a plug of the discharge of the rotor housing and the transition area, or in a failure of the surrounding housing and grates in the transition area. Current combines have a discharge paddle option to address material stagnation in this area. However, there is lacking a manner of fine-tuning the discharge paddles for proper material handoff to the discharge beater for different crops and conditions.
The present inventors have recognized that a need exists for providing a rotor housing for an axial rotary agricultural combine that provides for efficient and effective discharge of straw material, an increased wear life, and decreased damage to the straw.


Disclosed is a printing plate material in roll form of the on-press development type comprising a support, a functional layer including a hydrophilic layer and a thermosensitive image formation layer provided on one side of the support, and a back coat layer provided on the other side of the support, the functional layer containing first matting agents and having first protrusions formed from the first matting agents, and the back coat layer containing second matting agents and having second protrusions formed from the second matting agents, wherein an average protrusion height of the first protrusions is 0.5 to 5.0 μm higher than that of the second protrusions.

In recent years, a computer to plate system (CTP), in which image data can be directly recorded in a printing plate material, has been widely used accompanied with the digitization of printing data. As a printing plate material usable for CTP, there are a printing plate material comprising an aluminum support such as a conventional PS plate, and a flexible printing plate material comprising a flexible resin film sheet and provided thereon, various functional layers. Recently, in the commercial printing industries, there is a tendency that many kinds of prints are printed in a small amount, and an inexpensive printing plate material with high quality has been required in the market. As a conventional flexible printing plate material, there are a silver salt diffusion transfer type printing plate material as disclosed in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 5-66564, in which a silver salt diffusion transfer type light sensitive layer is provided on a flexible sheet; an ablation type printing plate material as disclosed in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication Nos. 8-507727, 6-186750, 6-199064, 7-314934, 10-58636 and 10-244773 in which a hydrophilic layer and a lipophilic layer, one of which is the outermost layer, are provided on a flexible sheet where the outermost layer is ablated by laser exposure to prepare a printing plate; and a heat melt type printing plate material as disclosed in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 2001-96710 in which a hydrophilic layer and a heat melt image formation layer are provided on a flexible sheet where a hydrophilic layer or a heat melt image formation layer is imagewise heated by laser exposure to heat-fix the image formation layer onto the hydrophilic layer.
The silver salt diffusion transfer type printing plate material requires a wet development step and a drying step after exposure, which does not give sufficient dimensional accuracy during the image formation step, and is not suitable to obtain printed matter with high image quality.
The ablation type printing plate material does not require a wet development step, but image formation due to ablation is likely to fluctuate in dot shape. Further, there is problem in which the interior of the exposing apparatus or the printing plate surface is contaminated by scattered matters caused by ablation of the layer.
A process, comprising a step of forming on a hydrophilic layer a heat-melted image, heated by conversion from laser light, is suitable to obtain high precision images. Among types of this process, there is a so-called on-press development process in which when a printing plate material after image writing is mounted on an off-set press, and a dampening solution is supplied to the printing plate material during printing, only the image formation layer at non-image portions is swollen or dissolved by the a dampening solution, and transferred to a printing paper (paper waste), whereby the image formation layer at non-image portions is removed. This process does not require a special development after exposure, resulting in excellent stability of printing quality and excellently meeting environmental concern.
Generally, a printing plate material having a plastic film sheet as a support is placed in the roll form in an output apparatus and automatically cut to a given size there. A printing plate material for CTP having a plastic film sheet as a support may have a back coat layer for controlling electroconductivity, friction or surface shape on the surface of the support opposite the image formation layer in order to fix easily the printing plate material on an exposure drum or a plate cylinder.
When a printing plate material is wound around a core in roll form, the back coat layer and the image formation layer contact each other, and therefore, it is necessary that both layers be unaffected by each other. A method has been proposed which a matting agent is incorporated in a back coat layer of a printing plate material to control its coefficient of friction or surface shape of the back coat layer (see for example, Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 11-91256).
The technique disclosed in the Patent document above is a printing plate material in which when the printing plate material is wound around a core in the roll form, and stored for a long time, a spotted pressure due to protrusions derived from the matting agent is applied to the image formation layer, resulting in lowering of printing image quality such as stain occurrence at non-image portions. It has been found that particularly in a printing plate material of the on-press development type comprising a plastic sheet support, a functional layer comprised of a hydrophilic layer and a thermosensitive image formation layer provided on one side of the support, and a back coat layer provided on the other side of the support, which is put on the market in the roll form, there occur phenomenon that development speed partially decreases and ink transfer to image portions is non-uniform. Further, it has been found that particularly when ink containing no petroleum volatile solvent (for example, soybean oil ink), which has been widely used in view of environmental protection, is employed, ink transfer to image portions is more non-uniform.

Printing plate material in roll form of the on-press development type


A housing structure includes an upper housing, a lower housing, a first waterproof member and a second waterproof member. The upper housing has a first connecting portion, and the lower housing has a second connecting portion. The upper housing and the lower housing are connected to each other by the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. The first waterproof member is disposed between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. The second waterproof member is disposed between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. Wherein, a distance is formed between the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a housing structure and, more particularly, to a housing structure with a waterproof structure for an electronic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Please refer to FIG. 1. A conventional housing structure 10 of an electronic device includes an upper housing 11, a lower housing 12 and a waterproof member 13. The waterproof member 13 has a surrounding portion 13C and protrudent portions 13P integrally formed with the surrounding portion 13C. The surrounding portion 13C is disposed around edges of the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 12 along the housing structure 10. Positions of the protrudent portions 13P are corresponding to locking locations of the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 12, respectively. When the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 12 are combined via the locking member 14, the waterproof member 13 can prevent liquid or water vapor from entering into the interior of the housing structure 10 through apertures between the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 12.
Please refer to FIG. 2. The surrounding portion 13C and the protrudent portion 13P of the conventional waterproof member 13 are integrally formed by the rubber. When the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 12 are combined, the locking member 14 exerts an axial locking pressure on the protrudent portion 13P, and the surrounding portion 13C is compressed and deformed, so that the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 12 cannot be tightly fit with the waterproof member 13. Then water vapor is still possible to infiltrate into the electronic device and the objective of waterproofing cannot be achieved.


In one embodiment, an interface circuit is configured to couple to one or more flash memory devices and is further configured to couple to a host system. The interface circuit is configured to present at least one virtual flash memory device to the host system, wherein the interface circuit is configured to implement the virtual flash memory device using the one or more flash memory devices to which the interface circuit is coupled.

Flash memory devices are gaining wide popularity and are used in many products such as MP3 players, USB storage keys, digital still cameras, even flash hard drives. These applications demand higher capacity, and higher performance while the marketplaces require ever lower and lower cost. The increase in flash capacity is limited by process technology, die size and production cost. Novel solutions are required to increase capacity, performance, and flexibility of flash while still resulting in cost effective implementations.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

System and method for increasing capacity, performance, and flexibility of flash storage