According to one aspect of the invention, an inlet of an underground reservoir having a multiple-stage structure includes: a flow portion, wherein water flowing in the flow portions; a drop portion transporting the water to a underground reservoir from the flow portion; and an inlet portion having a multiple-stage structure to generate a vortex in the water to be transported to the drop portion.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to an inlet of an underground reservoir, and more particularly, to an inlet of an underground reservoir for generating a vortex in a flux (a rate of flow) lower than a design flow.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, inlets for flowing rain to an underground reservoir after the rain are formed at conventional drains or drainage holes of road sides.
The inlets are classified into a tangential intake structure and a spiral intake structure that are usually used for the inlets. In the inlet having the tangential intake structure, an installation space is a small and the installation process is simple when it is installed. In the inlet having the spiral intake structure, a spiral structure is formed from an inlet portion to a shaft (a vertical shaft or a mineshaft) to form a vortex inside the inlet. And thus, the vortex flow is naturally generated in the inlet having the spiral intake structure.
However, when a flux flowing into the inlet, which is for guiding the water such as rain to a conventional underground reservoir, is lower than a design flux, the vortex flow is not sufficiently formed inside the inlet. Therefore, an original function of the inlet cannot be achieved.
When the vortex flow inside the inlet does not generate, since energy of the flow does not dissipate, various problems such as damage, breakage, and so on of a structure are caused.

Inlet of underground reservoir having multiple-stage structure

Korea Institute of Construction Technology


A firmware upgrade method can be applied to a terminal, and include: receiving a broadcast message for broadcasting an updated firmware type sent by a cloud server; sending firmware information matching the firmware type to the cloud server; and receiving a firmware upgrade package corresponding to the firmware information pushed by the cloud server. As a result, the space of the storage medium of the terminal is effectively saved, and the efficiency of firmware upgrade is improved.

The Over The Air (OTA) technology is a common firmware upgrade method. In the application process, it may first be necessary to package all the firmware upgrade packages into the storage medium of the terminal, and then make a selection and judgment for the firmware upgrade packages packaged into the storage medium of the terminal to determine which firmware upgrade packages are upgrade packages of the firmware that needs to be upgraded by the terminal.

Firmware upgrade method and device, and storage medium

BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.


Methods, non-transitory computer readable media, network traffic management apparatuses, and network traffic management systems that identify a first service based on inspection of a message received from a server. The message is associated with a flow between a client and the server. The first service is incorporated in, or removed from a service chain associated with the flow. The message, or other received network traffic associated with the flow, is then steered according to the service chain. With this technology, network traffic can advantageously be processed and steered according to services within a service chain that more accurately reflect the communications occurring within particular flows with this technology. In particular, service chains for flows can advantageously be established or modified to account for server-speaks-first protocols, as well as protocols that may be used inside secure or encrypted connections.

Many networks employ network traffic management devices that provide security services, load balancing, and/or application acceleration, for example, among many other types of services. Network traffic management devices can operate in a full proxy mode in which connections from clients are terminated and separate server connections are initiated for a particular flow.
Services can be provided by network traffic management device for a flow, as part of a service chain that can utilize local services as well as third party services that may be hosted externally. Exemplary services can include Internet content adaptation protocol (ICAP), data loss prevention (DLP), e-mail, firewall, antivirus, and video compression services, although many other types services can be utilized.
Currently, flows are classified in order to establish a service chain based on an initial communication received from a client. Accordingly, flows are classified based on contextual information, such as time of day or port number on which the traffic originating from the client was received, for example. Since flows are classified based on the first message received from a client, flow classification does not operate effectively when the traffic relates to certain protocols, often referred to as server-speaks-first protocols (e.g., simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP)).
Further, flow classification is ineffective for flows in which protocols are layered, such as when SMTP communications, for example, are encrypted using a transport layer security (TLS) protocol. Even further, current flow classification is not dynamic and does not consider feedback from various services within a service chain that could be used to modify the service chain associated in order to optimize the processing of network traffic associated with a flow.

Methods for improved service chain classification and management and devices thereof


An improved sanding wheel configured to rotate axially for sanding or polishing milled contours that will provide sharp edges and corners in the workpiece. The preferred sanding wheel has a cylindrical body with a plurality of segments extending radially from the body that have vertical, horizontal, angled, convex, or concave faces that match the contour of the milled workpiece. The faces of each of the segments have abrasive that may have a generally horizontal or vertical lay and the segments may be alternated. In one embodiment, equal numbers of segments with horizontal, vertical arcuate or angular faced abrasive surfaces are provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to profile sanding devices, and more particularly to an improved sanding wheel for use with a rotary disk sanding apparatus such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,180, issued May 17, 1988, to Theodore Voorhees; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,787, issued Oct. 3, 1989, to Theodore Voorhees; owned by the inventor. These patents are incorporated by reference herein as though set forth in full. The patents describe a cylindrical sanding wheel with abrasive operably coupled to a motor and guide and configured to sand the edge of a generally planar workpiece.
2. Description of Related Art
Motorized tools with distinctively shaped blades have been used to shape or contour the edges of wooden workpieces for use in door center panels and edges, bar and chair rails, casing, wainscots, crown moulding, window sills and the like. Such tools provide a consistent and precisely shaped edge on a plank that is far superior to what can be achieved by hand. However, in either case, the contoured edges typically require sanding in order to remove any irregularities due to the grain of the wood, knots or other imperfections and to prepare the contoured workpiece for staining or painting.
Sanding an angled edge with sandpaper by hand can produce rounded edges or grooves because of inconsistent pressure and imprecise placement of the abrasive paper. Sanding by hand is also inefficient and incompatible with large scale milling operations.
Grinding disks and sanding wheels were developed to provide consistency in the sanded surface and overall contour. Sanding wheels are typically mounted axially to a motor driven shaft. The head of the wheel has a contoured shape that engages and abrades the milled edges of the panel. The sanding wheel may be drawn across the edge of the panel or the panel drawn across the sanding wheel. Sanding belts have also been used with simple contours.
One difficulty experienced with the use of sanding disks and belts is the build up of dust on the abrasive surfaces that reduce the function of affected points on the abrasive surface and limits the useful life of the sanding disk. It is often necessary to make multiple passes over the sanding heads due to the dust build up on the abrasive surface of the belt or disk. Sections of the sanding wheel that are configured for sanding small or tight edges in the contour of a workpiece are particularly susceptible to dust buildup. Inconsistent wear or dust clogged abrasive surfaces can result in scarring of the surface of the workpiece as well as rounded corners or inside edges of the profile.
Another difficulty experienced by the sanding heads of the prior art is the imprecision found in the sanding head and sanding operation. Imprecise sanding operations can result in dulled or inconsistent edges and notches. Even with custom made sanding wheels, it is difficult to form the abrasive on the sanding wheel to match a convex sharp contour because the plane of the abrasive must form as a radius equal to the material thickness to provide a sharp edge while sanding. Consequently, multiple passes in machines with different wheels configured for different portions of the panel profile are required to cut and maintain a sharp linear edge or notch in the workpiece.
It can be seen that the need for multiple sanding wheels in several machines and several passes through the machines is both time consuming and expensive. In addition, the abrasive on the edges of the sharp corners of the sanding wheel profile experiences greater wear than the abrasive near the center of the strip greatly reducing the service life of the sanding wheel.
Replacement or repair of the sanding wheel will require the line of operations to stop to allow the wheel to be changed resulting in a loss of production time and increased expense. This productivity loss is compounded when the number of sanding wheels and sanding machines in the processing line is increased.
Accordingly, there is a need for a sanding wheel with multiple cutting edges that is resistant to the build up of abrasive dust and that will have a horizontal and vertical profile that can maintain sharp edges and grooves as well as arcuate surfaces of a workpiece. The present invention satisfies that need as well as others and generally overcomes the deficiencies in the art.


A novel probiotic strain termed Lactobacillus pentosus NCIMB 41114 is capable of preventing growth of pathogenic microorganisms in the GI tract. In particular, this bacterium inhibits Candida overgrowth, and can be employed to prevent and treat associated diseases, including IBS and thrush.

The healthy resident gut microflora comprises a host of beneficial bacteria, predominantly members of the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. The balance of microorganisms can be disrupted by infection, by alteration in diet, through antibiotic treatment, and by stress or physiological trauma. When this occurs a number of adverse reactions may be triggered. Digestive patterns may be altered, with occurrence of diarrhea, constipation and other symptoms of gut irritability. The immune system may be compromised, with consequent reduced resistance to infectious diseases. Pathogenic bacteria or fungi make take hold and colonise the digestive system or other parts of the body.
Traditionally, fermented milk products such as yogurts have been regarded as healthy foods capable of soothing the digestive system; this observation is now explained by the presence of lactic bacteria. Microorganisms such as Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria which can promote health are termed "probiotics". Research has shown that particular probiotic microorganisms can influence the composition of the gut microflora by competing out pathogenic bacteria and yeast. Probiotics are also alleged to promote healing of the intestinal mucosa, for example in patients with milk allergy, by reducing gut permeability and by enhancing local intestinal immune responses. Use of probiotics has been advocated for prophylaxis and treatment of diarrhea and for enhancing the recovery of commensal flora after antibiotic therapy. Anticarcinogenic activity has also been demonstrated in clinical trials with probiotics.
A number of "live" dairy products on the market are claimed to contain particularly high counts of certain probiotic Lactobacilli or Bifidobacteria species for promotion of digestion and a healthy immune system. However, the full range of desirable probiotic effects is exhibited by only a selected few strains of bacteria. It must also be borne in mind that the survivability of a strain in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is crucial for the biological efficacy of that strain in situ. In order for the strain to implant and establish itself in the intestine it should ideally adhere to the mucosal surface of the GI tract and be able to survive the rigours of transit, such as exposure to stomach and bile acids.
The present invention concerns a novel probiotic strain of Lactobacillus, termed Lactobacillus pentosus LPK, which was deposited 28 Aug. 2001 according to the Budapest Treaty at the NCIMB, Aberdeen, UK and has received the accession number NCIMB 41114. In addition to exhibiting characteristics typical of Lactobacilli in general, this strain has a further surprising property: it is capable of suppressing the growth of Candida species to a degree never previously achieved through use of a probiotic. Furthermore, tetracycline and related antibiotics have no effect on growth of this strain. This unique combination of properties can be exploited to combat undesirable growth of Candida in any region of the body. In particular, since Candida is considered to be a causative factor in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), it is envisaged that this novel strain of L. pentosus could be employed in treating or preventing that disorder.

University of Reading, School of Food Biosciences


A porous fluoropolymer membrane comprising a first surface, a second surface, nodes and free fibrils, wherein one of the first and second surfaces has a greater number of free fibrils per unit area of the surface than the other of the first and second surfaces, is disclosed. A process for preparing porous fluoropolymer membranes is also disclosed, comprising splitting a thicker membrane in a dimension different from, e.g., perpendicular to, its thickness dimension.

Fluoropolymer membranes such as PTFE membranes have several attractive properties, for example, compatibility with solvents and corrosive chemicals, ability to withstand high (e.g., sterilizing) temperatures, low pressure drop, toughness, insulating properties, non-adhesiveness, and resistance to damage, and, therefore, have found wide use in industry, for example, as a filtration medium for corrosive gases and liquids and as a separator in electrolytic cells and batteries. Although fluoropolymer membranes have these and other attractive properties, the industry has a desire to improve one or more of its properties. For example, there is a desire to improve the permeability, i.e., flow rate of fluids through the membranes.
Attempts have been made to produce highly permeable fluoropolymer membranes. Many of these attempts are based on stretching, with or without heat, to a large draw ratio, a pre-formed membrane such as a sintered fluoropolymer membrane. However, these attempts involve processes which are relatively complex, cumbersome, and/or expensive to practice; and these processes also alter (undesirably) other properties, e.g., porosity, of the membrane.
Thus, there exists a need for highly permeable porous fluoropolymer membranes. There further exists a need for thin porous fluoropolymer membranes having a desired porosity and/or pore rating. There also exists a need for a process for producing such porous fluoropolymer membranes.
The present invention provides for ameliorating at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art fluoropolymer membranes. These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description as set forth below.


Embodiments described herein are generally directed to techniques for avoiding or mitigating shared-state damage during a split-brain condition in a distributed network of compute nodes. According to an example, a number, N, of nodes within the distributed computing system is determined. During normal operation of the distributed computing system, a unified state is maintained by synchronizing shared state information. The nodes are ordered by increasing importance to an application from 1 to N. A quora value, qn, is assigned to each of the nodes in accordance with the ordering, where q1=1 and each subsequent quora value, qn+1, is a sum of all prior quora values, q1 to qn, plus either 1 or a current value of n. These quora values may then be used to determine membership in the dominant or a yielding set to facilitate recovery from the split-brain condition by performing pessimistic or optimistic mitigation actions.

In distributed computing systems in which a shared state is synchronized across multiple interconnected compute nodes, it is possible for subsets of the nodes to become completely isolated from each other as a result of a fault condition, for example, a failure in the communication infrastructure through which the nodes are connected. This partitioning of nodes into subsets (referred to as "islands") is known as a split-brain condition.
During the split-brain condition, the islands remain functional and may continue to receive requests from client systems. In response to these requests, unless appropriate mitigation measures are put in place, the shared state may become inconsistent across the islands.

Assignment of quora values to nodes based on importance of the nodes

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


A data processing method for a distributed system, the distributed system comprising a master storage node and multiple slave storage nodes, includes: storing, responsive to a request for writing a data file, multiple replications of the data file on the multiple slave storage nodes, each of the replications being segmented into data blocks of a same size, wherein the sizes of the segmented data blocks of at least two replications are different; and storing distribution information of the multiple replications.

The present invention relates to distributed systems, and more specifically, to a data processing method and apparatus for distributed systems.
HDFS (Hadoop Distributed File System) is a typical example of a distributed file system. The characteristics and drawbacks of an existing distributed file system are explained below using HDFS as an example.
The HDFS adopts the Master/Slave architecture. An HDFS cluster comprises a name node and a plurality of data nodes. The name node is a master storage node that manages the name space of the entire file system and an access request for a client. At the name node, operations such as opening/closing/renaming a file or catalog can be performed. The data node is a slave storage node that receives a read/write request from the client and performs creation, deletion and replication of a file block based on an instruction from the name node. In order to improve the reliability of storage, a file is generally stored with three replications, and each replication is stored with a fixed block size. An HDFS default data block size is 64 megabytes (MB). According to a replication mechanism of HDFS, segmented blocks are copied to other data nodes respectively based on the number of file replication factors, and then the name node records and saves which data blocks are included in one file replication as well as storage distribution information about being distributed in which data nodes (which is also called metadata information of the file system).
However, existing distributed file systems do not take the actual operation of a distributed program into consideration. Considering the MapReduce program as an example, when a data file stored with small data blocks is processed, more map tasks will be initiated, but relatively large overheads will also arise. When large blocks are adopted, the demands from the client and master server communication will be reduced, as will the space for the metadata which are needed to store by the master server, but available parallel computing resources cannot be utilized effectively. Referring to the example of Table 1, when 1 terabyte (TB) of data is sorted on 20 nodes, suppose each node can run 40 map tasks to the utmost simultaneously, then there are 800 map slots in total. It is seen that when adopting large blocks, only 200 map tasks are utilized in the second round, and the available computing resources cannot be utilized fully.
TABLE 1BlockTotal timeSizerunning condition of Map tasksconsumed 1 GBFirst round: using 800 map tasks to sort80 + 80 =800 GB data, taking 80 sec160 secSecond round: using 200 map tasks to sortthe remaining 200 GB data, taking 80 sec256 MBIn each round, use 800 map tasks to sort 20028 * 5 =GB data, taking 28 sec; 5 rounds in total140 sec
Another typical example of a distributed file system is GFS (Google File System). GFS and HDFS have a correspondence relationship in terminology, for example, a master node of GFS corresponds to the name node in HDFS, a GFS block server corresponds to a data node in HDFS, a block in GFS corresponds to a block in HDFS; GFS likewise has the above problems.
Therefore, the prior art still has room to improve, and it is desirable for a data processing method and apparatus for a distributed system.

Data processing method and apparatus for distributed systems

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


Color image decoding is achieved by a simplified method of decoding a spatially and chromatically multiplexing image plane (32), such as a plane consisting of RGB (Red-Green-Blue) pixels (22) by performing a summation of pixels of all three colors in a neighborhood of a missing pixel. The decoding process has applications in decoding images made by a data processor, made by an imaging device with a mosaic color filter, or made by a multi-sensor CCD imaging device with a sensor offset (800). Various techniques of entropy reduction, smoothing and speckle reduction may be incorporated into the coefficient pattern. The coefficient pattern may be generated automatically using a process of correlated decoding and may be adjusted by hand using a process of trial and error.

This invention relates to decoding spatiochromatically multiplexed digitized color images with applications to compression, transmission, reception, storage, and improving image quality.
Related background material and disclosure are found in coinvented and coassigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,066, (the '066 patent) and coinvented and coassigned U.S. application Ser. No. 08/401,825, filed Mar. 10, 1995, U.S. Pat. No. 5,541,653, both incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Other background information and descriptions of the prior art may be found in the references cited and submitted along with those applications.
As the above referenced documents thoroughly describe, in digital image processing, a representation of an image is typically stored and transmitted as an array of numerical values. The image is divided up into a grid. Each small square in the grid is referred to as a pixel. The intensity of the image at each pixel is translated into a numerical value which is stored in an array. The array of numerical values representing an image is referred to as an image plane.
Black and white (gray scale) images are commonly represented as a two-dimensional array where the location of a pixel value in the array corresponds to the location of the pixel in the image. Each location in the array for gray scale images can commonly store a number, for example, an integer value of between 0 and 255 (an 8-bit binary number). This means that there can be 1 of 256 different gray levels displayed at each pixel in the image.
Color images are commonly represented by three two-dimensional arrays. Each array (or plane) represents one of the primary colors, e.g., red, green, or blue. The planes overlap so that each pixel in the displayed image displays a composite of a red, green, and blue value at that pixel. In a common 24-bit color system, each pixel in each of the three planes can store a value of between 0 and 255. This means that there can be 1 of 256.sup.3 or 16 million different colors displayed at each pixel. Typical digital color images can range in size from 10.sup.7 bits/image (a TV frame) to 10.sup.10 bits/image (a satellite image) thus posing problems for efficient storage and transmission.
In practice the number of bits required to represent the information in realistic digital images may be greatly reduced without significant loss in perceived quality by taking advantage of the fact that in ordinary images the pixel values tend to be strongly redundant in three domains: spectral (because pixel values from different spectral bands-e.g., RGB-are generally highly correlated); spatial (because neighboring pixels also tend to be highly correlated); and, for dynamic images, temporal (because consecutive frames tend to be very similar). Image compression techniques can reduce the number of bits required to represent images by removing these redundancies.
The above cited references discuss one type of prior art digital color image system having a single array CCD-type cameras with a mosaic color filter covering the CCD array. These cameras, by their inherent nature, produce a representation of an image that contains just one color component at every pixel. The arrangement of the components is determined by the mosaic pattern in the filter. Digital images produced by such systems are referred to as being spatiochromatically multiplexed.
The above cited references also discuss two other means of producing a spatiochromatically multiplexed digital image plane, (hereinafter referred to as an M plane) either by decoding a 3-plane image as described in the '066 patent or by using a multiple array CCD-type cameras with array offset and interpreting the multiple array CCD image as a single spatiochromatically multiplexed plane and then decoding that plane to produce a resolution enhanced image as described in the '825 application.
However the M plane is produced, and whatever the pattern of spectral pixels in the M plane, the M plane must generally be decoded before viewing to recreate full multi-spectral image planes. Prior art methods for decoding spatiochromatically multiplexed digital images have commonly required that the image first be decoded as a YIQ JPEG image before being reconstructed as a full three-plane RGB image, as discussed in previously cited references.
The inventors of the present invention described in the '066 patent a method and system for decoding spatiochromatically images directly, without conversion to another color representation such as YIQ. This decoding has proven and been described as useful for any spatiochromatically multiplexed plane, regardless of how produced, including multiplexed planes using just two spectral components.
While this has been shown to be a simplification and improvement over systems that require YIQ conversion, even in this decoding, a multi-pass mathematically process is required to decode high-quality images. This process can be complex to implement and can consume a large amount of computer resources.
What is need is a method and system capable of more quickly and efficiently decoding a spatiochromatically multiplexed image plane to derive a full multi-spectral image. Preferably, the method will be generalizable to advantageously decode a number of different types of spatiochromatically multiplexed planes while requiring a minimum of calculations and processing.

Method and apparatus for decoding spatiochromatically multiplexed color images using predetermined coefficients


A business monitoring system and method having a supervisory work station and a staff work station as well, having a judgment condition storage function having stored therein a condition described for selecting and extracting contents of a business process transaction, having a judgment function for extracting a transaction having contents to be processed on the basis of the condition, and having a transaction-to-mail converting function for converting the transaction to a mail form according to the judgment result before sending it as electronic mail. The system and method allow a supervisor to register his problem concerned in the judgment condition storage function in a computer language suitable for end users or delete or change the already registered problem. The transaction-to-mail converting function allows the electronic mail converted to mail form to be sent to and stored in a mail box for the supervisory work station. The supervisor can then receive a report related to business processes of concern to him in the mailbox at his convenience.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a business monitoring system and method, and more particularly concerns a business monitoring system and method suitable for a supervisor to automatically obtain necessary information without interrupting staff or a section in charge of performing business process, and further deals with a business monitoring and supporting system and method thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order for a supervisor of an organization to make a decision, he has to obtain results of business processes made by his related staff and make a judgment on the basis of the information. For the purpose, this supervisor desires to properly and conveniently obtain information such as, for example, contents of transactions and the order situation of specific goods.
On the other hand, a staff member who has to provide the information lowers his efficiency when he reports his own business process to his supervisor. In a conventional manner, therefore, the supervisor directs items to be reported to the staff aurally or in writing, and the staff reports to the supervisor only the specific business process in that regard.
Recently, computers have been increasingly used for data base in which the information acquired by staff members can be related to one another and stored. Principles of the data base is described in the "Principles of Data Base System", pp 17-48, Toshiryo Uemura, Ohm Co., Ltd.
FIG. 10 shows a block diagram for a business monitoring and supporting system configured on the basis of the typical data base. It comprises a basic information system 1000 for performing a variety of businesses, a communication controller 1100 for controlling communication between the basic information system 1000 and external workstations, a data base manager 1200 for operating a data base system, a basic data base 2000 for storing business results, a staff work station 3000 to be used by staff members in business, and a communication line 5000 for connecting the basic information system 1000 with the external work station.
In the prior art, a transaction transmitted through the communication line 5000 from the staff work station 3000 is processed through the communication controller 1100 in the basic information system 1000 and sent to the data base manager 1200. The data base manager 1200 accesses the basic data base 2000 for a result. The result is returned from the communication controller 1100 back to the staff work station 3000.
The system shown in FIG. 10 has a transaction input from the staff work station 3000 and processed in the data base manager 1200. The processed result is returned back to the staff work station 3000 as in the prior art.
FIG. 11 shows a block diagram for an example of prior business monitoring and supporting system built up on the basis of the system in FIG. 10. This example is a system that allows for message processes related to orders from sales shops.
The prior system comprises a basic information system 1 for processing data of a variety of businesses, a staff system 2 used for business processes by staff, another party's system 4 which is an inventory control system of another company, an inventory retrieving apparatus 12 for checking goods for presence, an inventory data base 13 (hereinafter referred to as the "inventory DB") for storing inventory information, communication controller 18 for controlling communication with external systems, another party's basic control system 41 for business processing with use of other party's system, inventory retrieving apparatus 42 for checking goods for presence with use of the other party's system, an inventory data base 43 (hereinafter referred to as the "other party's inventory DB") for storing inventory information related to the other party, a controller 67 for controlling the inventory retrieving apparatus 12, the communication controller 18, and similar units, a communication line 61 for connecting the basic information system 1 with the external system, and a staff system terminal 29 to be operated by the staff.
The basic information system 1 and the staff system 2 are included in an organization, for example, a company, and the other party's system 4 is in another organization, for example, another company.
The staff can issue a transaction for requesting inventory retrieval from the staff system terminal 29 to time basic information system 1. The communication controller 18 of the basic information system 1 can receive the transaction. The controller 67 sends it to the inventory retrieving apparatus 12. The inventory retrieving apparatus 12 retrieves the inventory data base 13 to check goods required for presence. The controller 67 sends the results to the communication controller 18.
If the requested goods are stocked, the controller 67 returns confirmation of the presence of goods through the communication controller 18 and at the same time, sends a transaction to the staff system 2 asking for confirmation whether the goods are to be provided.
In the prior example, when an inquiry from a sales shop is to be processed, the flow of business processes such as provision for inventory and order of goods to a manufacturer for no provisions is partly automated with respect to inventory control, for example. The remaining processes are decided by staff in a head office of a sales company.
The prior art achieves all information control with use of the data base system as shown in FIG. 11 as a business monitoring and supporting system.
However, in FIG. 11, the following case may occur as an example. If goods are not stocked, it may be desirable that the goods already reserved by another user be delivered to an important customer on a date he desires. Such a decision is usually made by a supervisor of the staff in charge or an executive of the company if the order is important. It is therefore desirable that the supervisor conceive all the contents of processes of the staff so that he can make the decision. This however is difficult. It is also not possible for the supervisor and executive, who are generally busy, to check such a task even if their business is interrupted at the time of occurrence of a business process transaction.
There is the following problem specific to inquiry business. A need for shorter delivery has increased in recent years. To satisfy this need, inventory retrieval should be made at a high speed in a method, for example, where a sales man can inquire in real time to the inventory DB of the head office and those of other related companies, such as manufacturers and sales companies, as well. This method involves an organizational problem. The other companies strictly control their inventories. It is the problem of security when the inventories are retrieved or reserved for order by people of other companies. Further, there may be cases where good sellers should be provided with future orders from the company's customers without distributing to other companies, even if they are stocked and not reserved.
For these reasons, problems are caused in the method when direct retrieval of the other company's DB is made, or a transaction is issued to the other company's DB even if it is made by subsidiary companies
Items desired to be reported from the staff to the supervisor may vary with a change of business situation, for example, when a new noticeable product is announced. In that event, the supervisor has a heavy burden as he has to account for the changes among a number of staff members whenever the change happens.
Also, the staff generally cannot understand the intention of the supervisor depending on the contents of a direction. As a result, no report may be given to the supervisor, or wrong reports may be prepared for him. These prevent the supervisor from proceeding with his work.


Since split electrodes are disposed along the x-axis of an AT cut quartz crystal plate on its ultrathin vibratory portion formed integrally with a thick frame-like marginal portion surrounding it, desired acoustic coupling can be obtained although the split electrodes are disposed closely to such an extent as not to cause shorting between them. It is therefore possible to obtain, with a satisfactory yield, filter elements which have center frequencies in the range greater than about ten megahertz and sufficiently wide passbands.

A quartz crystal plate to be used for a conventional ordinary AT cut quartz crystal resonator is flat, and hence the highest fundamental frequency obtainable for practical use is around 40 MHz from present manufacturing techniques and mechanical strength. On this account there has been widely employed what is called overtone oscillation means which extracts a higher order harmonic mode vibration of an AT cut quartz crystal resonator to obtain a frequency which is an odd multiple of the fundamental resonance frequency, but its oscillation circuit requires for an LC tuning circuit including a coil and hence is not suitable for fabrication as an IC, besides the overtone oscillation circuit may sometimes be difficult to maintain at a stable oscillation because a resonator to be included in the overtone oscillator has a large capacitance ratio and consequently a high impedance level. On the other hand, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator, whose resonant frequency is determined by the pitch of electrode fingers of an interdigital transducer, is able to resonate at a maximum of 1 GHz or so due to the progress in photolithography, but a piezoelectric substrate when used as the surface acoustic wave resonator is remarkably inferior to the AT cut quartz crystal in terms of temperature-frequency characteristic. To solve this problem, there has been proposed and is now under study an ultrathin piezoelectric resonator which has a cavity provided, by etching or mechanical grinding, in one side or in both sides of a block of AT cut quartz crystal to form an ultrathin vibratory portion surrounded with a support frame so that the fundamental resonant frequency may extend from ten megahertz to hundreds of megahertz while retaining the mechanical strength of the vibratory portion.
By fabricating a multimode filter element using such an ultrathin piezoelectric substrate as above, a filter with a center frequency in the range from about ten to about 100 megahertz could be easily obtained without utilizing the overtone techniques.
Incidentally, as regards a conventional multimode piezoelectric filter element, it is said to be preferable that when the center frequency of the filter is 10 MHz, the thickness of an electrode to be evaporated onto the piezoelectric substrate should be about 3000 .ANG. so there is entrapping or confinement of the vibration energy at an appropriate value and an ohmic loss which is sufficiently low. The mass of electrodes is one of the parameters in the analysis of the confinement of vibration energy, and the equivalent thickness of electrode films is defined as the sum of the thicknesses of the select films formed on both sides of the quartz crystal substrate to calculate the mass of electrodes. Here, this definition of the thickness of electrode films is employed.
On the other hand, in the case where a filter element which has a center frequency of 100 MHz and is similar to the above-mentioned filter element in the vibration energy entrapping characteristic and other basic characteristics is manufactured using an ultrathin AT cut quartz crystal plate, the electrode should be vapor-deposited to a thickness of 300 .ANG., i.e. 1/10 of the above-said value. However, it is evident that such an electrode thickness is so small that the ohmic loss will increase, making it impossible to obtain a sufficient attenuation of the filter.
If the thickness of the electrode is set to around 1000 .ANG. to keep the ohmic loss sufficiently low, the electrode is too thick as compared with the thickness of the AT cut quartz crystal substrate (about 17 .mu.m), and consequently, the amount of vibration energy entrapped or confined becomes excessive and satisfactory acoustic coupling between the electrodes cannot be obtained unless the inter-electrode gap is reduced by a large amount accordingly, the passband width of the filter inevitably becomes very small. If the inter-electrode gap is reduced to such an extent as to provide desired acoustic coupling so as to avoid the above-noted problem, a highly accurate mask is needed for vapor deposition of the electrodes, besides the possibility of shorting between the divided electrodes increases, making it virtually impossible to manufacture a filter of a passband wide enough for practical use.
In addition, substantially no studies have been made so far as to what method should be used to obtain desired acoustic coupling between electrodes disposed closely to such an extent as not to cause shorting therebetween in the case of employing such a resonator as a multimode filter, partly because the resonator has been confined to studies in laboratories and has not been mass-produced.
The present invention is based on the fact that in the case of making a multimode filter element by forming split electrodes on an ultrathin AT cut quartz crystal plate as mentioned above, the passband of the filter element varies substantially with the direction of alignment of the electrodes, and it is an object of the invention to provide an ultrathin multimode quartz filter crystal element which is capable of obtaining desired acoustic coupling between electrodes in close proximity without causing shorting therebetween and thus is well suited for practical use.

Ultrathin multimode quartz crystal filter element


Methods of the invention include delivering a grasper, a clip applier, and an endoscope transorally to the site of fundoplication; grasping the fundus with the grasper (or similar device, e.g. corkscrew) and pulling it into the jaws of the clip applier; closing the jaws of the clip applier over the fundus and applying a clip to the fundus.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to endoscopic surgical procedures. More particularly, the invention relates to procedures for the transoral invagination and fundoplication of the stomach to the esophagus.
2. State of the Art
Gastroesophageal fundoplication is a procedure for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which gastric acids are regurgitated into the esophagus resulting in one or more of esophagitis, intractable vomiting, asthma, and aspiration pneumonia. The fundoplication procedure involves wrapping the fundus of the stomach around the lower end of the esophagus and fastening it in place. Traditionally, this procedure is accomplished via open surgery with the use of sutures to secure the plicated fundus of the stomach around the esophagus without penetrating (incising) the stomach. Although traditional fundoplication involves plicating the fundus and the esophagus, as used herein the term includes plicating the fundus to itself near the esophagus.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,326 to Harrison et al. discloses a method of performing endoscopic fundoplication using surgical staples or two-part surgical fasteners. The procedure disclosed by Harrison et al. involves performing two percutaneous endoscopic gastrotomies (incisions through the skin into the stomach) and the installation of two ports through which a stapler, an endoscope, and an esophageal manipulator (invagination device) are inserted. Under view of the endoscope, the esophageal manipulator is used to pull the interior of the esophagus into the stomach. When the esophagus is in position, with the fundus of the stomach plicated, the stapler is moved into position around the lower end of the esophagus and the plicated fundus is stapled to the esophagus. The process is repeated at different axial and rotary positions until the desired fundoplication is achieved. While, the procedure disclosed by Harrison et al. is a vast improvement over open surgery, it is still relatively invasive requiring two incisions through the stomach.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,116 to Bolanos et al. discloses a non-invasive treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease which utilizes a remotely operable invagination device and a remotely operable surgical stapler, both of which are inserted transorally through the esophagus. According to the methods disclosed by Bolanos et al., the invagination device is inserted first and is used to clamp the gastroesophageal junction. The device is then moved distally, pulling the clamped gastroesophageal junction into the stomach, thereby invaginating the junction and involuting the surrounding fundic wall. The stapler is then inserted transorally and delivered to the invaginated junction where it is used to staple the fundic wall.
Bolanos et al. disclose several different invagination devices and several different staplers. Generally, each of the staplers disclosed by Bolanos et al. has an elongate body and a spring biased anvil which is rotatable approximately 15 degrees away from the body in order to locate the invaginated gastroesophageal junction between the body and the anvil. The body contains a staple cartridge holding a plurality of staples, and a staple firing knife. Each of the invagination devices disclosed by Bolanos et al. has a jaw member which is rotatable at least 45 degrees and in some cases more than 90 degrees to an open position for grasping the gastroesophageal junction. One of the chief disadvantages of the methods and apparatus disclosed by Bolanos et al. is that the stapler and the invagination device must both be present in the esophagus at the same time. With some of the embodiments disclosed, the presence of both instruments is significantly challenged by the size of the esophagus. In addition, the actuating mechanism of the device disclosed by Bolanos et al. is awkward. In particular, the stapler anvil is biased to the open position, and it is not clear whether or not the stapler anvil can be locked in a closed position without continuously holding down a lever. In addition, it appears that the staple firing trigger can be inadvertently operated before the anvil is in the closed position. This would result in inadvertent ejection of staples into the stomach or the esophagus of the patient.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,600 to Kortenbach discloses an endoscopic surgical instrument including a flexible tube, a grasping and fastening end effector coupled to the distal end of the tube, and a manual actuator coupled to the proximal end of the tube. The manual actuator is coupled to the end effector by a plurality of flexible cables which extend through the tube. The tube contains a lumen for receiving a manipulable endoscope and the end effector includes a passage for the distal end of the endoscope. The end effector has a store for a plurality of male fastener parts, a store for a plurality of female fastener parts, a rotatable grasper, a rotatable fastener head for aligning a female fastener part and a male fastener part with tissues therebetween, and a firing member for pressing a male fastener part through tissues grasped by the grasper and into a female fastener part. According to a stated preferred embodiment, the overall diameters of the flexible tube and the end effector (when rotated to the open position) do not exceed approximately 20 mm so that the instrument may be delivered transorally to the fundus of the stomach.
While transoral invagination and fundoplication apparatus and procedures have improved over the years, it is still difficult to deliver and manipulate the necessary apparatus transorally. The primary reason for the difficulty is that the overall diameter, or more accurately the cross sectional area, of the equipment is too large. Notwithstanding Kortenbach's reference to 20 mm, most of the equipment in use today is at least 24 mm in diameter. Moreover, even if the equipment could be reduced to 20 mm in diameter (314 mm2 cross sectional area), it would still be difficult to manipulate. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that larger instruments are less pliable and that the invagination and fundoplication procedure requires that the instruments turn nearly 180 degrees. Moreover, it will be appreciated that large instruments obscure the endoscopic view of the surgical site.
Still other issues which need to be addressed in this procedure include the need to suitably grasp the fundus before plication so that all layers of the fundus are plicated. Preferably, plication damages the fundus so that adhesion occurs during healing.
3. Co-owned Technology
Previously incorporated application Ser. No. 09/730,911, filed Dec. 6, 2000, entitled "Methods and Apparatus for the Treatment of Gastric Ulcers", discloses a surgical tool which is delivered to a surgical site over an endoscope rather than through the working lumen of an endoscope.
Co-owned provisional application Ser. No. 60/292,419, filed May 21, 2001, entitled "Methods and Apparatus for On-Endoscope Instruments Having End Effectors and Combinations of On endoscope and Through-Endoscope Instruments", discloses many tools and procedures including an on-scope grasper assembly having grasping jaws, and a through-scope clip applier having jaws adapted to close about tissue and apply a clip over and/or through the tissue. In operation, the grasper jaws may grab and hold tissue, e.g., the fundus of the stomach or esophageal tissue, while the jaws of the clip applier surround a portion of the tissue held by the grasper jaws and apply a clip thereover.
Previously incorporated application Ser. No. 09/891,775, filed Jun. 25, 2001, entitled "Surgical Clip", discloses a surgical clip having a U-shaped configuration with first and second arms, and a bridge portion therebetween. The first arm is provided with a tip preferably having a catch, and the second arm extends into a deformable retainer having a tissue-piercing end and preferably also a hook. During application, tissue is clamped, and the clip is forced over the clamped tissue and the retainer of the second arm is bent and may be pierced through the tissue. The retainer is toward and around or adjacent the tip of the first arm preferably until the hook is engaged about the catch to secure the clip to the tissue and prevent the clip and tissue from separating. The clip is provided with structure that facilitates the stacking of a plurality of clips in a clip chamber of a clip applier.
Previously incorporated application Ser. No. 09/931,528, filed Aug. 16, 2001, entitled "Methods and Apparatus for Delivering a Medical Instrument Over an Endoscope while the Endoscope is in a Body Lumen", discloses methods and apparatus for delivering a medical instrument over the exterior of an endoscope while the endoscope is installed in the patient's body in order to allow the use of instruments which are too large to fit through the lumina of an endoscope.
The previously incorporated simultaneously filed application entitled "Flexible Surgical Clip Applier", discloses a surgical clip applier having a pair of clip applying jaws at the distal end of an outer coil, a set of pull wires extending through the outer coil and coupled to the jaws, and a push wire extending through the outer coil. A clip chamber is provided in the distal end of the coil. A clip pusher is provided at a distal end of the push wire, and adapted to advance a clip into the jaws. The jaws include clamping surfaces which operate to compress tissue between the jaws when the jaws are closed, channels in which a distalmost clip rides when the jaws are closed and the pusher is advanced thereby causing the distalmost clip to be pushed over the tissue, and distal anvil portions which operate to bend a portion of the distalmost clip to facilitate its retention on the clamped tissue. The clip applier is capable of providing a pushing force far in excess of a perceived possible maximum of the 200 grams (0.44 lbs.) published in the art. One embodiment of the device of the invention provides a pushing force in excess of 2267 grams (5 lbs.


A slave electronic device is provided, including a capture unit, at least one low-speed unit and an embedded control unit. The capture unit is coupled to a host electronic device through a transmission lane to filter out a high-frequency signal part from a control signal outputted by the host electronic device to generate a low-frequency control signal, wherein the control signal has a plurality of periods and the control signal respectively has a low-frequency signal part and the high-frequency signal part during odd periods and even periods of the periods. The low-speed unit is coupled to the capture unit to operate according to the low-frequency control signal. The embedded control unit is coupled to the transmission lane for communicating with the host electronic device using a predetermined communications protocol via the high-frequency signal part.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, to slave electronic devices connected to host electronic devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
With vigorous development in the computer and communications industries, various new peripherals can easily be connected to personal computers (PCs), notebooks and so on, including the internet and external storage devices. However, for the conventional architecture, the PCs and notebooks require complex circuits to control low-speed devices (such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) or lock units). It is therefore a desire to provide an electronic system and a signal transmission method for solving this problem.

Electronic systems, slave electronic devices and signal transmission methods


A cooling system for a host device affords enhanced reliability using multiple blower units mounted in parallel between a low pressure plenum and a high pressure plenum and a control system that senses when a blower unit is failing or has failed and responds by shutting down the failed unit and increasing the speed of the remaining blowers to maintain the air flow volume delivered to the cooling path. To maintain the integrity of the cooling air path while affording continuous operation of the host device, a spring biased closure door seals the access opening through which the blower is mounted when a blower unit is removed and displaced by the blower unit to an inoperative position against the biasing force of the spring when the blower unit is installed or replaced. To prevent recirculation through a vacated blower unit mounting space, a one way air flow device, in the form of a shutter assembly including plural pivoting louvers or vanes is mounted at the exhaust location of each blower. Thus the cooling air delivery is maintained and a blower unit can be removed for maintenance or replacement without interruption or impairment of host device operation.

Electrical components have achieved high reliability that enable using systems to attain high standards of reliability, availability and serviceability. To attain the optimum reliability of which the electrical components are capable, it is necessary to have the more simple, low tech elements of the system also perform with maximum reliability. Among such elements that can malfunction and cause an electronically functional system to fail are connectors that separate or otherwise interrupt circuit connections and thermal cooling systems that may only partially fail, causing system shutdown to prevent system damage or erroneous system operation.
It is undesirable to have a system shutdown if an air circulating component fails or must be removed for service. Thus the cooling apparatus associated with a data processing system should tolerate a partial failure and subsequent removal and replacement of components without interrupting operation or causing a diminished performance of the data processing system. The system must correct for a failed cooling apparatus unit or element without operator or service intervention and must continue uninterrupted functioning when an element of the cooling system is removed for repair or replacement. The control of the cooling apparatus should not only continue operation while tolerating partial failure, but also determine when the apparatus is no longer capable of adequate performance and initiate an orderly shut down prior to compromise of the host system.

System packaging for high performance computer applications

International Business Machines Corporation


An improved ball valve for lethal gas or fluid service is disclosed having a novel triple redundant stem to bonnet seal design. A ceramic seal ring forms the primary stem to bonnet seal. The ceramic seal ring has a first seal surface lapped for sealing engagement with a corresponding lapped surface on the stem and a second seal surface lapped for sealing engagement with a corresponding lapped surface on the bonnet. The ceramic seal ring first seal surface lapped for sealing engagement with a corresponding lapped surface on said stem and the corresponding lapped surface on the stem may be frustoconically or spherically shaped. An elastomeric seal and a compression type seal between the stem and bonnet act as redundant seals. A preloading means to maintain the ceramic seal ring and lapped sealing surfaces on the bonnet and stem in sealing engagement is shown.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved ball valve used in lethal gas or fluid service. Valves of this type are used in handling toxic gases such as phosgene used in the petrochemical industry.
Phosgene and similar toxic gases used in industrial applications must be handled with extreme caution as a concentration of as little as 50 parts per million can cause death in a matter of minutes. Typical valves used in this type of service include a body with a through bore with a ball positioned in the valve body bore. The ball has a through bore and controls fluid flow between the inlet connection and the outlet connection of the finished valve. A pair of seal elements commonly referred to as "seats" are located on each side of the ball and form a seal between the ball and valve body. Each seat has a spherical surface to seal against the ball's spherical outer surface. The seats in turn seal against the valve body with elastomeric seal elements or by grinding a sufficiently fine finish on the seat and corresponding valve body surface to effect a seal. Usually some type of preloading means such as a spring or belleville washer is used to initially preload the seal between the ball and the seats.
The opening and closing of the valve are controlled by a stem that engages a slot machined in the ball. The stem extends through a port machined in the valve body that is generally perpendicular to the valve bore. This port is sealed by a sleeve referred to as a "bonnet" that typically is bolted to the valve body. The stem is rotatable within the bonnet to open and close the valve. The annular space between the stern and bonnet is usually sealed with an elastomeric or advanced polymer plastic material. This seal element must be impervious to the lethal gas or fluid being handled while having sufficient elasticity to reliably seal between the stem and bonnet. Typical valves to date have relied upon a pair of seal elements with a monitoring port above the first seal element to detect when this seal element has deteriorated to the point where it no longer can seal between the stem and bonnet and contain the lethal gas or fluid. It is the type of valve that must reliably seal these legal gases or fluids to which the present invention is directed.
Additionally, the typical valve available to date has offered only advanced polymer plastic material seals, referred to as "polymerics" in the industry, for this critical stem to bonnet seal. When a seal begins leaking and the valve then becomes unreliable and unsafe, the solution has been to stop production while a new valve is installed. This results in lost production and a concomitant loss of revenue. The improved ball valve for use in lethal gas or fluid service of the current invention offers a substantial improvement by offering a reliable valve with a ceramic primary seal and redundant seals to ensure long service.
2. Description of Related Art
No valve offering the features of the improved ball valve of the present invention has been found.

Ball valve for lethal gas or fluid service


A plurality of display areas 110A-110I change and display a plurality of predetermined types of symbols in sequence, and a control section performs display control for causing each of the display areas to make a transition from display in a symbol stop condition to that in a dynamic condition in which the symbols change dynamically and further to make a transition from the display in the dynamic condition to that in the stop condition. An active gaming area determination section determines at least one display area used as an active gaming area among the plurality of display areas. A determination section determines whether or not a combination of the symbols displayed in each of the display areas selected by the active gaming area determination section is a predetermined combination when the display in the dynamic condition produced in the display areas determined by the active gaming area determination section becomes the display in the stop condition. A win processing section executes a predetermined game win process when the determination section determines that the combination of the symbols is the predetermined combination.

With a conventional gaming machine for combining symbols, as described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. Sho 54-130590, a player inputs game play media such as pachinko (Japanese pinball) balls, medals, or coins to a slot, then rotates three drums on which symbols are displayed and presses stop switch buttons in order to stop the drum rotation. A predetermined number of game play media are paid out to the player for winning game play from the gaming machine in response to the symbol combination after the drums stop.
Another symbol combination gaming machine is provided with a CRT in place of rotating drums for displaying nine symbols in total on three columns.times.three rows on the CRT.
The conventional symbol combination gaming machine displays only one gaming face on which nine symbols are displayed; it is not very enjoyable and lacks power and amusement.
Gaming houses want to reduce the installation space of each symbol combination gaming machine for installing as many symbol combination gaming machines as possible, so that a large number of players can be gathered to thus increase profits. However, with the symbol combination gaming machines in the related art, the drum size is limited by the dimensions and the number of symbols displayed on each drum, and thus there are limitations to reducing the depth dimension.

Gaming machine with multiple independent display gaming areas


The disclosure provides a method to form sustained release drug-containing microparticles with a biodegradable polymer. The method involves forming a polymer-drug-organic solvent phase, and dispersing the polymer-drug-organic solvent phase in an aqueous suspension of an inorganic gel, which may be hydroxyapatite. The hydroxyapatite appears to coat the polymer-drug-solvent droplets to prevent them coalescing. The solvent then evaporates with stirring of the dispersion, at which time the droplets solidify to drug-containing microparticles. The inorganic gel allows suitably small microparticles to form without use of an organic emulsifier.

A variety of dosage forms have been used for drugs that require long-term administration. To reduce the number of doses that need to be given, and to provide a stable level of the drug in the body, these drugs are preferably given in a sustained-release formulation. One type of sustained-release drug formulation that has been used is biodegradable microspheres containing drug trapped inside the microsphere. One such product is LUPRON Depot, which is biodegradable microspheres containing leutinizing hormone-releasing hormone (leuprolide or LHRH). Leuprolide is used for the treatment of hormone-dependent cancers, particularly prostate cancer, and precocious puberty.
Microparticles are particles with a diameter of approximately 1 to 1000 microns. For injection purposes, microparticles smaller than 125 microns are preferred. Microparticles of this size can be injected with a standard hypodermic needle, instead of surgically implanted. One type of microparticle is composed of a network of a biodegradable polymer that entraps a drug. As the polymer biodegrades in the body, the drug is released. The most commonly used biodegrabable polymers are polylactic acid and a copolymer of lactic acid and glycolic acid.
The most widely used methods to prepare biodegrabable microparticles are phase separation, spray drying, and solvent evaporation. Phase separation, also known as coacervation, uses a decrease of the polymer solubility by the addition of a non-solvent. In a typical procedure, biodegradable polymer is dissolved in an organic solvent (e.g., dichloromethane). Lipophilic drugs are dissolved in the polymer solution. Hydrophilic drugs are dissolved in water and then dispersed in the polymer solution (water in oil (w/o) emulsion) or dispersed as a solid powder. A non-solvent (typically silicon oil) is gradually added. Two phases form: a polymer-rich silicon oil phase and a polymer-depleted liquid organic solvent phase. As the organic solvent is extracted or evaporates, polymer microparticles with entrapped drug solidify in the silicon oil phase. The coacervate (silicon oil) adsorbs to the polymer microparticles.
In spray drying, the biodegradable polymer is dissolved in volatile organic solvent, such as dichloromethane. The drug is dissolved or dispersed in the polymer solution. The solution or dispersion is sprayed in heated air. The solvent evaporates, resulting in the formation of solid microparticles.
Solvent evaporation is the most commonly used method of preparing microparticles. In this method a drug-containing organic polymer solution is emulsified into a dispersion medium that is typically aqueous but may be oil. The methods can be further classified into oil in water (o/w), water in oil in water (w/o/w), and oil in oil (o/o) emulsion methods.
In an o/w method, drug and polymer are dissolved in an organic solvent, such as dichloromethane or a methanol/dichloromethane mixture. The drug-polymer-organic solvent solution is dispersed in an aqueous phase. An emulsifier, typically poly(vinyl alcohol), is included in the aqueous phase to help form small organic solvent droplets in the aqueous phase. The organic solvent evaporates with stirring, and with the evaporation, the droplets solidify into polymer microparticles with entrapped drug.
In a w/o/w double emulsion, an aqueous drug solution is prepared and dispersed into a solution of the polymer in an organic solvent to form a water-in-oil emulsion containing the drug and polymer. The w/o polymer-drug emulsion is then emulsified into an aqueous phase to form a w/o/w emulsion. With stirring, the organic solvent evaporates, allowing the polymer-drug droplets in the emulsion to solidify into microparticles.
In an o/o emulsion method, drug and polymer are dissolved in a water-miscible solvent (e.g., acetonitrile). That solution is emulsified into an oily phase in the presence of an emulsifier such as SPAN 80 to form an oil-in-oil emulsion. The organic solvent is extracted by the oil and microparticles can be harvested by filtration.
Prior art methods of forming biodegradable polymer drug-containing microparticles have some disadvantages. Emulsifier or oil can adhere to the microparticles and contaminate them. Some methods are difficult to scale up.
New methods of forming biodegradable drug-containing microparticles are needed.

Preparation method for biodegradable micro-particles containing drugs

The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas


An optical coupler 13 comprises a monolithic block of transparent optical material with a pair of opposite sides configured so that an optical signal can be transmitted between a first device 12 and a second device 14 with internal reflections within the coupler 13. Because the optical coupler 13 is monolithic, thermal expansions and contractions in response to extreme fluctuations are uniformly distributed throughout the coupler 13 and therefore do not significantly distort the optical signal.

A typical optical coupler comprises several separate lens and mirror elements, which are mounted in specified locations on a structure called an optical table, and which have configurations and orientations with respect to each other that are precisely specified so that an optical signal entering the optical coupler from a source can be transmitted therethrough to a receiving device without significant distortion.
In an application in which a typical optical coupler is subjected to extreme temperature fluctuations (e.g., an extraterrestrial space application), thermal expansions and contractions of the optical table--and of the separate lens and mirror elements mounted thereon--can occur due to the temperature fluctuations. Such thermal expansions and contractions tend to produce changes in focal positions of the lens and mirror elements, and thereby to introduce significant distortions into optical signals being transmitted through the optical coupler. Such changes in the focal positions of the lens and mirror elements adversely affect the efficiency with which optical signals can be transmitted through optical coupler.
A need has been perceived in the prior art for an optical coupler that is substantially unaffected by extreme temperature fluctuations.


A micro-tracking device for tracing action track of animals is disclosed. The micro-tracking device has a weight between 1 and 10 grams and is fastened on any animal's any position (especially a flight animal's concave ring portion between its body and tail), for capturing action track information (for example, a current height value and a speed value of about flight animal, current position and time information about the flight animal) of the animal using GPS and controlling action statuses of the animal effectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a micro-tracking device for tracing action track of animals and a method for using the same, and particularly relates to a micro-tracking device that has a weight of between 1 and 10 grams and is fastened on any animal's any position (especially a flight animal's concave ring portion between its body and tail), for capturing information regarding the animal's movements using GPS.
2. Description of the Related Art
In ancient times, people delivered letters using doves (or homing pigeons). The main reason for this was that these birds have the natural ability to recognize and find their way back home. Although we now live in the telecommunication age, these birds are still generally used and reared because they symbolize peace and their natural ability to recognize and find their way back home. For example, peace doves are often used in national celebrations, and racing pigeons are often involved in races for honor and awards.
Every dove for racing needs to be trained for a long time to achieve excellence in competitions. Therefore, breeders give doves flight training everyday for physical exercise. For example, flying around dovecots or certain places.
Sometimes racing doves take a rest in the middle of a race when breeders cannot see them and this affects the effect of training. So the method of training the birds usually involves waving red flags to keep the birds flying. But it is not easy to control the flight path around certain terrains, let alone the gaining of flight orbit and reference (height, speed etc.,) is even harder.

Micro-tracking device for tracing action track of animals and method for using the same


The loss of photogenerated electrons to surface electron-hole recombination sites is minimized by utilizing a first p-type surface region to form a depletion region that functions as a first barrier that repels photogenerated electrons from the surface recombination sites, and a second p-type surface region that provides a substantial change in the dopant concentration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to photodiodes and, more particularly, to a photodiode that reduces the effects of the surface electron-hole recombination sites.
2. Description of the Related Art
A p-type material is a semiconductor material, such as single-crystal silicon, that includes impurity "acceptor" atoms (atoms that are missing one electron in their outer shell). All of the column IIIA elements (group 13) (Boron, Aluminum, Gallium, Indium, and Thalium) have one missing electron in the outer shell and are acceptor atoms.
FIG. 1 shows a graph that illustrates the dopant profiles of the column IIIA elements in silicon when implanted at the same dose at the same energy for the same amount of time. As shown in FIG. 1, as the size of the atom increases, the depth of the implant decreases. As a result, the element boron, which is the smallest atom, has the deepest implant.
FIG. 2 shows a graph that illustrates the dopant profiles of each of the implanted column IIIA elements when thermally cycled in a neutral ambient for the same amount of time. As shown in FIG. 2, after thermal cycling, the smallest atom, boron, diffuses the most, while the largest atom, thalium, diffuses the least, essentially none at all.
As further shown in FIG. 2, the element indium also diffuses very little due to the large size of the atom. Indium is not commonly used in semiconductor fabrication because indium has a maximum dopant concentration of approximately 5×1017 to 1×1018 atoms/cm3, which is an LDD dopant concentration. This is due to the solid solubility and the tendency of indium to precipitate out.
A photodiode is a semiconductor device that is commonly formed by combining a p-type material with an n-type material. When exposed to electromagnetic radiation, such as visible light, a photodiode generates a number of electron-hole pairs at different depths within the device depending upon the depth at which the electromagnetic radiation was absorbed by the device.
Black and white photodiodes are photodiodes that can collect photons over all or substantially all of the visible spectrum, which includes many colors, and therefore generate electron-hole pairs over a large vertical range within the photodiode. On the other hand, color photodiodes, such as blue, green, and red photodiodes, are photodiodes that collect photons over a much narrower range of wavelengths, and therefore generate electron-hole pairs over a much smaller vertical range within the photodiode.
Black and white photodiodes can be used as color photodiodes by placing a color filter, such as a blue, green, or red filter, over the black and white photodiode. Thus, although a black and white photodiode is capable of capturing a wider range of the visible light spectrum, the color filter limits the photodiode to collecting only a single color.
FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional diagram that illustrates a prior-art blue photodiode 300. As shown in FIG. 3, blue photodiode 300 includes a first p-type (boron) region 310, such as a substrate, a second n-type region 312, such as an epitaxial layer or well, that overlies and contacts p-type region 310, and a depletion region 314 that is formed across the pn junction between p-type region 310 and n-type region 312.
Photodiode 300 can be formed with a blue filter and a large depletion region 314 that collects blue light, or can be formed without a blue filter and with a small depletion region 314 that collects substantially only blue light. Further, photodiode 300 includes an isolation region 316, such as oxide, that is formed on n-type region 312.
In operation, blue photodiode 300 is first reset by placing a reset voltage on n-type region 312 that reverse biases the pn junction. The reverse-biased voltage, which sets up an electric field across the junction, increases the width of depletion region 314 so that the blue portion of the electromagnetic spectrum can be absorbed in depletion region 314.
Once photodiode 300 is reset, photodiode 300 is then exposed to a source of electromagnetic radiation for an integration period. When photodiode 300 is struck by electromagnetic radiation during the integration period, the radiation penetrates into the semiconductor material down to an absorption depth that depends on the wavelength of the radiation.
For example, blue light has an absorption depth of approximately 0.7 microns, while red light has an absorption depth of approximately 1.2 microns (measured down from the top surface of n-type region 312 when n-type region 312 is formed as an epitaxial region, or measured down from the top surface of p-type region 310 when n-type region 312 is an implanted region in region 310).
Blue wavelengths of light are absorbed in depletion region 314 which, in response, generates a number of electron-hole pairs in depletion region 314. The electric field set up across the reverse-biased pn junction attracts the electrons that are formed in depletion region 314 (along with the electrons that are formed in p-type region 310 within a diffusion length of depletion region 314) to n-type region 312 where each additional electron reduces the magnitude of the reset voltage that was placed on n-type region 312.
Thus, at the end of the integration period, the total number of electrons collected by n-type region 312 has reduced the reset voltage to an integrated voltage. As a result, the total number of electrons collected by n-type region 312 during the integration period, which is a measure of the intensity of the blue electromagnetic radiation, can be determined by subtracting the integrated voltage from the reset voltage.
One problem with photodiode 300 is that photodiode 300 has a large number of electron-hole recombination sites that are located at the boundary between n-type region 312 and isolation layer 316. The surface electron-hole recombination sites, in turn, consume a number of the photo-generated electrons.
The lost electrons reduce the total number of collected electrons which erroneously increases the magnitude of the integrated voltage. As a result, the surface electron-hole recombination sites of photodiode 300 reduce the intensity of the blue signal that is calculated by subtracting the integrated voltage from the reset voltage.
Thus, there is a need for a photodiode that reduces the effects of the surface electron-hole recombination sites.

Method of forming a photodiode that reduces the effects of surface recombination sites


The present application discloses a method, apparatus, device and medium for estimating performance parameters of a battery. The method for estimating performance parameters of a battery includes: generating a first curve segment to be calibrated during a process of adjusting a battery capacity in a first capacity interval with a first capacity value as an endpoint value; determining, in a preset reference curve, a first target curve segment that matches the first curve segment to be calibrated; determining a SOC interval corresponding to the first target curve segment as a SOC interval of the first curve segment to be calibrated; and estimating the performance parameters of the battery based on the SOC interval of the first curve segment to be calibrated, the performance parameters include a current SOC and/or a current battery capacity.

With the development of new energy, the new energy has been adopted as power in more and more fields. Due to the advantages of high energy density, recyclable charging, safety and environmental protection and the like, batteries are widely used in the fields of new energy vehicles, consumer electronics, energy storage systems and the like.
In order to be able to use a battery more effectively, reasonably and safely, it is necessary to accurately calculate performance parameters of the battery during the use of the battery. Therefore, a solution that can accurately calculate the performance parameters of the battery is needed.

Method, apparatus, device and medium for estimating performance parameters of a battery

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited


A transfer clock converter for digital data of the present invention is a circuit for converting digital data synchronized with a first transfer clock into digital data synchronized with a second transfer clock and outputting the digital data, and includes a plurality of latching elements and a comparator-selector circuit. The comparator-selector circuit compares the output data from predetermined latching elements, selects output data to be output according to the result of the comparison, and outputs the selected output data. With this structure, it is possible to always output correct digital data without using a PLL circuit or the like, thereby significantly improving the reliability.

When a plurality of monitor cameras are used by switching, the use of a zero crossing point of a commercial power supply is a known method of synchronizing video signals of the cameras. In this case, since the clocks in the system are synchronized based on the zero crossing point of the commercial power supply, when the frequency of the commercial power supply changes, the clocks in the system also change. Therefore, when color modulation is performed based on the changed clocks in the system, the frequency of a subcarrier also changes.
According to the C.C.I.R Report (C.C.I.R [1970-1974] Report XIII/624, CHARACTERISTICS OF TELEVISION SYSTEMS), the frequency of subcarrier for performing color modulation by, for example, the NTSC system is 3579535 Hz to 3579555 Hz. Since very high precision is required, in practice, it is difficult to perform a color modulation by using the clocks in the system as they are.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, it is necessary to convert a transfer clock for digital data (i.e., convert the clock from CLKA into CLKB) using, for example, a circuit shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, DFFA represents a D-type flip-flop that receives input digital data DATA in synchronization with a rise of a clock CLKA, and outputs the digital data. DFFB is a D-type flip-flop that receives the output digital data D<1:0> from the D-type flip-flop DFFA in synchronization with a clock CLKB that is different from the clock CLKA, and outputs digital data OUT. Each of the D-type flip-flops DFFA and DFFB is arranged by a circuit like the one shown in, for example, FIG. 10.
Note that, in the circuit shown in FIG. 3, it is necessary to satisfy conditions: (a) the clock CLKA and clock CLKB are synchronized with each other, and a predetermined delay is introduced between the output of the D-type flip-flop DFFA in the front stage and the input of the D-type flip-flop DFFB in the back stage; or (b), when such a delay is not introduced, the clock CLKA and clock CLKB are synchronized with each other, and a predetermined phase difference is present between these clocks.
In (b), for example, if these clocks are not synchronized with each other, there is a possibility that the clocks CLKA and CLKB rise at substantially the same time. For instance, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 4, when the clocks CLKA and CLKB rise at substantially the same time, and when the hold time and the setup time required by the D-type flip flop (latching element) are not ensured sufficiently, it is not certain what data is outputted as an output OUT from the D-type flip-flop DFFB shown in FIG. 3 in a period indicated by hatching in FIG. 4.
The hold time is a period after the edge of the clock, in which data needs to be retained by the latching element. The setup time means a period before the edge of the clock, in which the data needs to be kept by the latching element.
In a prior art (first prior art), in order to solve a problem associated with the substantially simultaneous rise of the clocks CLKA and CLKB, a PLL (phase locked loop) circuit shown in FIG. 7 is used for the control of the phases of the former and latter clocks. As shown in FIG. 7, the PLL circuit includes clock generators 21 and 22, frequency dividers 23 and 24, and a phase comparator 25. The clock generators 21 and 22 generate the clocks CLKA and CLKB, respectively. The frequency dividers 23 and 24 divides the clocks CLKA and CLKB into clocks CLKA2 and CLKB2 (CLKA2=CLKB2), respectively. The phase comparator 24 compares the phases of the clock CLKA2 (reference clock) and the clock CLKB2, and feeds an error output, that varies according to the phase difference, back to the clock generator 22. Such a circuit structure allows the clocks CLKA and CLKB to be synchronized with each other. In the case of (b), the control is carried out so that these clocks are synchronized with each other and a predetermined phase difference is present between the clocks.
In addition, as other prior art (second prior art), Japanese Laid-open Patent Application "Tokukaihei No. 1-261908" is known. This publication discloses a circuit that (1) divides by 1/N a clock of the latching element in the back stage, samples the resultant clock in accordance with a clock of the latching element in the front stage, (2) produces N-phase clocks whose phases differ from each other in accordance with the clock of the latching element in the back stage which has been divided by 1/N and sampled by the clock of the latching element in the front stage, (3) generates N rows of data whose data change points differ from each other by sampling rows of data in accordance with the N-phase clocks, and (4) selects and outputs N rows of data using a time window produced based on the clock of the latching element in the back stage.
According to the second prior art, when converting a row of data having the frequency of the clock of the latching element in the front stage into the frequency of the clock of the latching element in the back stage, the frequency is divided by 1/N so that the converted clock satisfies the sampling theorem. The clock whose frequency has been divided by 1/N is sampled in accordance with the clock before converted. The conversion of clock is carried out using the clock of the latching element in the back stage which was divided by 1/N. As described above, since the conversion of the clock is performed using the clock which was sampled by the clock before converted, the change point of data is not sampled. Thus, N rows of data with different change points are generated according to the clock of the latching element in the back stage, which was divided by 1/N. These rows of data are selected by a time window produced based on the clock of the latching element in the back stage. By selecting these rows of data using the time window, the change point of data is not sampled in performing the final conversion of clock.
However, the above-mentioned prior arts suffer from the following drawbacks. First, in the structure of the first prior art, the phases of both of the clocks are synchronized with each other using a PLL circuit. However, even when the PLL circuit is used, in FIG. 7, since the frequency of the clock CLKB is changed, the precision is improved as compared to the structure using the clock of the system. However, it is still impossible to avoid the change of frequency. Moreover, since both of a digital circuit and an analog circuit are used, the cost, chip area, and the restrictions relating to design increase.
Furthermore, in the second prior art disclosed in the above-mentioned publication "Tokukaihei No. 1-261908", when the frequency f.sub.1 of the clock CK1 and the frequency f.sub.2 of the clock CK2 shown as examples in FIG. 11 satisfy the relationship, for example, f.sub.2 =2.times.f.sub.1, the cycle of the clock (1/2) CK2 and the cycle of the clock CK1 are identical. In this case, whenever the clock CK1 rises in the D-type flip flop 5 shown in FIG. 11a a latching mistake may occur depending on the timing of the rise of the clock CK1 and the clock (1/2)CK2, causing an incorrect operation. Additionally, when N in f.sub.2 =N.times.f.sub.1 is a positive even integral or a number near the integral number, since the state continues in which the clock CK1 and the clock (1/2)CK2 rise at substantially the same time, a latching mistake may occur like the above.

Transfer clock converter for digital data