Provided herein are a parallel passage contractors, which may be useful in pressure swing adsorption (PSA), pressure and temperature swing adsorption (PTSA), or vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) systems, having one or more self-supported adsorbent sheets arranged in multiple, overlapping layers mechanically spaced to allow gas flow. Also provided are systems utilizing such parallel passage contactors and methods for preparing the contactors.

Self-supporting adsorbent materials comprising adsorbent particles and a binder are used in a wide variety of applications. Some applications however, such as pressure swing adsorption, are very demanding and currently available adsorbent materials lack sufficient strength and durability without high binder content. Pressure swing adsorption adsorbents are typically packed beds of adsorbent granules with different shapes that have many shortcomings. These adsorbent materials physically degrade from the damaging effects of pressure swing cycles. In addition, because of the high pressure drop through beds of granules, the flow rate must be kept low to minimize lifting of the granules from the packed beds. This high pressure drop also limits the allowable height of the adsorbent bed, which limits the time between pressure swing cycles, thereby reducing efficiency of the system. Replacement of damaged adsorbent beds requires the system to be shut down further increasing in use costs. Finally, the beads distribution may not be uniform resulting in low and high flow areas across the surface of the packed bed, which results in systems that must be larger than desired to account for large performance variations.
There exists a need for an adsorbent material and adsorbent pack that has high strength and durability, as well as high adsorbent particle concentration and high gas adsorption rate. In particular, there exists a need for an adsorbent material and adsorbent pack that is suitable for pressure swing adsorption applications, having high durability and high gas adsorption properties.

Durable adsorbent material and adsorbent packs and method of making same


In a stud and socket combination for studded footwear, a moulded plastics socket (1) provides a threaded axial hole (5) bounded by an inner ring (9). A co-axial outer ring (10) is radially separated from the inner ring to leave an annular space (11). A plastics stud moulding (19) comprises an externally threaded sleeve (21) which can be screwed into the socket hole and a co-axial ring (26) which is spaced radially outwards from the sleeve to slide over the inner socket ring (9) and enter the annular space (11) when the stud and socket are assembled. Four part-cylindrical webs (29) project axially from the ring (26) into the space (11) and provide four axially-extending locking ribs (28) at 90.degree. intervals which project radially outwards from the ring. On the inner surface of the outer ring (10) of the socket are formed four corresponding formations providing recesses (15) to receive the ribs (28). Each recess is bordered on one side by a lead-in ramp (16) and on the other side by a stop block (17). When the stud is screwed into the socket the projections ride over the ramps in turn, offering increasing resistance to rotation successively, until finally the projections engage the stop blocks (17) to prevent further rotation.

This invention relates to footwear of the kind adapted to have ground-engaging studs releasably attached to it. Footwear of that kind is often worn by people pursuing sports or games. The studs are generally intended to improve the grip of the footwear on the ground, and they may be of a wide variety of shapes. They may, for example be relatively blunt, with flat or rounded ends or more sharp, like spikes. For convenience of description, however, they will hereinafter be referred to generically as studs.
Detachable and replaceable studs are usually provided with spigots which are formed with external screw-threads. Each spigot can be screwed into a socket, in the underside of an article of footwear, formed with an internal screw-thread of complementary form.
Studs and sockets of those kinds are described and illustrated in the specifications of British patents Nos. 1 564 903, 2 028 102, 2 163 037, 2 115 683, 2 191 079 and British patent application No. 8805473 (publication No. 2 202 916A).
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of stud and socket.
From a first aspect the present invention consists in a combination of a stud and a socket for studded footwear in which the socket is formed with an internal screw-thread for receiving an externally screw-threaded spigot on the stud and in which the stud and socket have radially facing locking formations operative to come into mutual engagement when the spigot has been screwed into the socket to a predetermined axial position so as to impede the spigot from being screwed any further into the socket and to afford resistance to unscrewing, the stud and socket being fully assembled when the spigot is in said predetermined axial position, the arrangement being such that the stud can be unscrewed from the fully assembled position when a predetermined torque is applied to the spigot, at least one of the locking formations yielding resiliently to permit that unscrewing to occur.
The screw-threads on the stud and socket may comprise buttress threads. The screw-threads may be single-start threads but are preferably multi-start threads, a two-start thread being particularly preferred. The arrangement is preferably such, when a multi-start thread is employed, that the stud can be screwed into a fully assembled position whichever one of the thread starts on the stud comes into engagement with any selected one of the thread starts in the socket. The screw-threads on the stud and socket, whether single-start or multi-start, are preferably such that from an initial position, in which the threads are about to overlap each other, to the fully installed position (or to a fully installed position) the stud is rotated relatively to the socket through a total angle which is no more than one and a half full turns (540.degree.) and no less than three quarters of a full turn (270.degree.); the total angle is preferably no more than one and a quarter full turns (450.degree.) and is most preferably about a full turn (360.degree.).
Relative to the screw axis, the locking formations preferably comprise an outer locking formation on the socket and a complementary inner locking formation on the stud. In a preferred construction, the inner locking formation faces radially outwards from a ring constituting part of the stud and spaced radially outwards from the spigot, and the outer locking formation faces radially inwards from an outer ring constituting part of the socket and spaced radially outwards from an inner ring of the socket bounding its internal screw thread; in assembling the stud and socket the stud ring becomes inserted into an annular space between the inner and outer rings of the socket. The outer locking formation may be so constituted as to be situated at a single location or may be so constituted as to be situated at two or more spaced locations. Similarly the inner locking formation may be so constituted as to be situated at a single location or may be so constituted as to be situated at two or more spaced locations.
Preferably one of said inner and outer locking formations comprises at least one projection while the other of said locking formations provides at least one recess (for receiving the projection, or an associated one of the projections) and stop means operative to engage the projection immediately beyond the recess so as to prevent the spigot being screwed any further into the socket. Preferably it is the inner locking formation, on the stud, which consists of or includes the projection or projections.
From a second aspect the present invention consists in a stud for use in a combination in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.
From a third aspect the present invention consists in a socket for use in a combination in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.
From a fourth aspect the present invention consists in an article of footwear incorporating at least one socket in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention.
An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings.


The subject of the invention is a method for the synthesis of (meth)acrylic esters by transesterification in the presence of a catalyst corresponding to the formula [(R′O)3Ti]xR″ in which R′ is a linear or branched alkyl radical having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms which may contain heteroatoms or R′ is a phenyl radical, R′ is a polyfunctional radical, originating from a polyol R′(OH)x comprising x alcohol functional groups and x is an integer ranging from 2 to 6. The method according to the invention is particularly well suited to the synthesis of dialkylaminoalkyl (meth)acrylates from methyl (meth)acrylate and a dialkylaminoalcohol.

A method commonly used for producing (meth)acrylic esters is transesterification. It is known practice, for example according to documents GB 960 005, EP 298 867, EP 619 309 or EP 960 877, to prepare the (meth)acrylic esters of formula (I):

in which R is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and it being possible for R1 to be a linear or branched alkyl radical, or a cyclic aliphatic, aryl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl radical, which may contain heteroatoms, according to a method of transesterification by reacting an alkyl (meth)acrylate of formula (II):

in which R has the abovementioned meaning and it being possible for R2 to be a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms,
with an alcohol of formula (III):R1—OH
in which R1 has the abovementioned meaning.
During the synthesis, light alcohol R2—OH is generated and is eliminated in the form of an azeotrope with the light alkyl (meth)acrylate (II).
The synthesis of (meth)acrylic esters by transesterification is generally carried out in the presence of a catalyst. The choice of the catalyst depends on various criteria, in particular on the nature of the alkyl (meth)acrylate (II) used, but also on the nature of the alcohol (III) used to prepare the (meth)acrylic ester. In addition to the criteria of efficiency and selectivity, other factors may be involved, such as commercial availability, cost or toxicity of the catalyst.
As examples of catalysts described in the literature for catalyzing the preparation of (meth)acrylic esters by transesterification, mention may in particular be made of:                Acid catalysts, such as methanesulfonic acid or para-toluenesulfonic acid: these catalysts have the drawback of being relatively nonselective and corrosive.        Basic catalysts, such as alkali metal salts or alkaline-earth metal salts: these catalysts are active but prove to be relatively nonselective.        Chelates of titanium, zirconium, iron, zinc or calcium with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, such as Ti, Zr, Fr, Zn or Ca acetylacetonates: these compounds are active and selective, but generate acetylacetone and are sensitive to the presence of 1,2- or 1,3-diols. In addition, they rapidly lose their activity and as a result are not recyclable.        Tin derivatives, such as dialkyl tin oxides, dialkyl tin dialkoxides and dialkyl tin diesters, in particular di-n-butyltin oxide (DBTO and homologs thereof), are generally active and selective. However, with these catalysts, there is the problem of their elimination in the distillation residues owing to the toxicity of tin.        Titanium alkoxides, such as tetraalkyl (ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, etc.) titanates, or alternatively dimethylaminoethyl titanate or titanium phenolate: they are catalysts that are generally active and selective, but sensitive to water.        Enzymes of which the use is described in patent JP 04 079889.
Titanium alkoxides have been found to be active and selective catalysts and the use thereof is recommended in particular in methods for the synthesis of dialkylaminoalkyl (meth)acrylates.
Mention may be made of European patent EP 298 867, which describes in particular the preparation of N,N-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate (DMAEA) in the presence of tetraethyl titanate according to a method of transesterification by reacting ethyl acrylate with dimethylaminoethanol.
In patent EP 960 877, the dialkylaminoalkyl (meth)acrylates are obtained in the presence of a transesterification catalyst chosen from tetrabutyl, tetraethyl and tetra-(2-ethylhexyl) titanates, using methyl or ethyl (meth)acrylate with an amino alcohol. In order to obtain a product of high purity, it is, however, necessary to first carry out tailing, i.e. elimination of the catalyst and of the heavy products, followed by topping and a final rectification of the crude reaction mixture.
When it is a question of producing a dialkylaminoalkyl (meth)acrylate, such as DMAEA, by transesterification starting from methyl (meth)acrylate, it is difficult to envision using a titanium alkoxide such as tetraethyl titanate, because of the gradual appearance of a white precipitate which is completely insoluble in the reaction medium, which proves to be tetramethyl titanate. This is because, in the presence of the methanol generated during the transesterification, there is an exchange of ligands with the titanate used, and formation of methyl titanates, of which tetramethyl titanate, which is insoluble, is the ultimate end point. In addition to the phenomenon of deactivation of the catalyst and, consequently, slowing down of the reaction kinetics, clogging of the reactor and of the ancillary equipment thereof also occurs, which is unacceptable on the industrial scale.
In the article POLYMER, vol. 39, no. 24, (1998), pages 6109-6114, Deleuze H. et al., describe the transesterification of methyl acrylate with 2-ethyl-hexanol in the presence of a supported catalyst which is in the form of polymer beads onto which titanate functions are grafted, the advantage being that of being able to easily separate the catalyst from the reaction medium by filtration.
The article by N. Lewis et al., in SYNLETT, No. Spec. ISS, 1999, pages 957-959, describes the transesterification of methyl methacrylate with bromoundecanol in the presence of a catalyst constituted of a titanate grafted onto a polystyrene support, which can be readily separated from the reaction medium by simple filtration.

Method for the synthesis of (meth)acrylic esters catalysed by a polyol titanate


A system to provide end users with recommendations on improving the quality of the incident management process is provided. A computer device identifies a set of historical incident reports, wherein the historical incident reports identify: (i) incident tickets, (ii) one or more skills associated with personnel assigned to the incident tickets, and (iii) whether the incident tickets were resolved within threshold periods of time to resolve. The computing device trains a machine learning model to predict sets of skills associated with resolving incident tickets within the threshold periods of time to resolve based, at least in part, on the identified set of historical incident reports. The computing device assigns a set of personnel to the new incident ticket based, at least in part, on the predicted set of skills associated with resolving the new incident ticket within the threshold period of time to resolve.

The present invention relates generally to the field of incident response, and more particularly to the use of machine learning in the field of incident response.
Generally, incident management includes receiving an identified issue from an end user, a device, or through a monitoring system, and assigning each received incident a level of severity that correlates with an expected resolution time.

Identification of incident required resolution time


A wireless transceiver includes a mechanical key, a resin case having a hollow space that accepts the mechanical key and a reinforcement for reinforcing the resin case. The hollow space in the resin case is defined by a combination of a thin wall and a thick wall, and the resin case has the reinforcements made from a thin metal plate in the hollow space at two positions spaced by a predetermined length along a longitudinal direction of the mechanical key being accepted therein. Each of the reinforcements bridges the thin wall and the thick wall that is adjacent to the thin wall.

Conventionally, a wireless transceiver for use in a portable device of Smart Key system (registered trademark) is carried by a user, and communicates with a station disposed on a vehicle when the user enters into the vehicle. The transceiver in the portable device of the Smart Key system allows the user to unlock a door of the vehicle, to start an engine or to perform other operation when the transceiver is carried by the user.
The transceiver includes a circuit board for mounting circuit parts and a battery as a power source in a resin case. The transceiver also includes a mechanical key stored therein for use in an emergency such as battery rundown, breakdown on the transceiver, or the like. The mechanical key is accepted in a hollow space in the resin case. In case of an emergency, the user pulls out the mechanical key from the hollow space of the resin case, and uses the key for unlocking the door or for other purposes.
However, the transceiver uses a more complicated and sophisticated system that tends to use an increased number of parts, while a volume of the transceiver body is required to be much more smaller in order to be conveniently carried by the user. That is, the transceiver in a thin card shape is particularly preferred.
In this case, dimension of the mechanical key is approximately 2 mm in thickness, and this allows the resin case on both sides of the key (i.e., the portion around the hollow space) only to be in a thickness of 0.5 mm when a total thickness of the transceiver is 3 mm. Therefore, physical strength of the transceiver at the hollow space portion becomes not necessarily sufficient.
That is, the transceiver may be broken in case of falling from a certain height because of the insufficient strength of the hollow space portion for an impact caused by the weight of the mechanical key (approximately 5 gram).
This kind of problem is commonly found in the transceiver for use in other type of keys, such as a key for opening/closing an office door, a key for operating a testing device or the like beside the transceiver for the Smart Key system.

Wireless transceiver and method for producing the same


Compounds are prepared which have at least one aromatic cyanate group and at least one organosiloxane moiety per molecule. These compounds when cured possess excellent thermal stability, moisture resistance properties and a low dielectric constant.

Aromatic cyanate-containing compounds are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,748,270; 4,751,323; 4,754,213; 4,608,434; 4,070,416; 4,097,455; and 3,562,214. These thermally reactive esters can undergo crosslinking via trimerization in the presence of catalysts and the cured (thermoset) resins have useful properties, such as high glass transition temperatures; low dielectric constants: and thermal stability. While the resultant products possess good properties, it is always desirable to have available products with improved properties. It would therefore be desirable to have cured products which possess an improvement in one or more of the desirable properties such as, for example, thermal stability, moisture resistance, electrical properties, low stress and the like. U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,454 issued Jan. 10, 1989 discloses a bifunctional cyanate-oxazolinyl-group containing siloxanes reaction product from cyanate ester and epoxy-siloxane.


A reproduction-receiver part is provided for use in a headset system, wherein parts are provided for wireless reception of audio signals from a mobile radio telephone network and a loudspeaker for acoustic reproduction of the signals.

The present invention relates to a radio headset system as well as to handshake procedure associated therewith.
Radio headset systems are commonly known as radio headsets or headsets. They allow a conversation to be held with a communicating party whereby the hands of the user are free for other activities. Radio headsets are a simple version of handsfree devices.
Radio headset systems generally are either wired or connected wirelessly to a communication terminal. The terminal can be a fixed network telephone, a mobile phone in accordance with the GSM standard or one of the future standards, as well as a cordless telephone.
An object of the present invention is to improve the handling of radio headset systems.


This invention relates to an information processing apparatus which assists diagnosis based on a tissue sample image obtained by staining and capturing a tissue. The information processing apparatus receives and analyzes lower magnification image data among a plurality of image data obtained at different magnifications for an area image selected in the tissue sample image. Based on the analysis result, the information processing apparatus determines whether analysis based on higher magnification image data is necessary. When analysis based on the higher magnification image data is necessary, the information processing apparatus notifies a request of transmitting the higher magnification image data for the area image, receives and analyzes the higher magnification image data transmitted in response to the transmission request, and transmits the analysis result. This arrangement can quickly provide high-accuracy diagnosis assistance for a tissue sample image from a pathologist regardless of the restriction of the transmission capacity.

In a technique for assisting diagnosis based on the tissue sample image of a tissue, for example, a cancer cell region is selected from a tissue sample image to analyze features such as the number of cancer cells and provide them to a pathologist. For example, patent literature 1 discloses a diagnosis assistance system which transmits a medical image from a medical image forming system 12 to a specialist in a remote observation station 26, and receives assistance of a diagnosis by him.

Information processing apparatus, method, and storage medium for assisting with a diagnosis based on a tissue sample


A stitch structure capable of effectively preventing the occurrence of raveling peculiar to double chain stitches irrespective of sewing conditions is provided by the stitch structure of double chain stitches including a plural number of needle threads forming rows of thread loops at the rear face of a cloth and one looper thread entwined with the rows of thread loops at the rear face of the cloth;                wherein the looper thread is cut at one side of the positions at which it is entwined in the mode of interlacing with the preceding loops preceding to the final loops at the respective sewing termination ends of the respective rows of thread loops.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stitch structure of double chain stitches formed in sewing products using a sewing machine, and specifically relates to a stitch structure for preventing raveling stitches caused at the end portion of stitching.
2. Description of Related Arts
Stitch structures with various modes are put into practical use so as to be suitable for types and parts of sewing products especially in the sewing using a sewing machine for industrial use. As one of these stitch structures, there is a stitch structure of double chain stitches that is represented by a D code in the Japanese Industrial Standards and further, there is also a stitch structure of flat seam stitches that is represented by the F code of the Japanese Industrial Standards and added with covered stitches with an upper cover thread to the double chain stitches.
FIG. 1 is the illustration diagram of the stitch structure of double chain stitches which indicates stitches, which appear on both faces of a cloth. As shown in the drawing, the stitches of the double chain stitches are arranged mutually in parallel on the surface 10 of the cloth 1 and composed of a plural number of needle threads 2 and 2—(3 threads in the diagram) which penetrate the cloth 1 with a pitch corresponding to a feed quantity and one looper thread 3 entwined with these needle threads 2 and 2—at the rear face 11 of the cloth 1. Further, an outline arrow mark in the diagram shows the feed direction of the cloth 1.
The needle threads 2 and 2—form respectively loops at the penetration positions at the rear face 11 of the cloth 1 and these loops form rows of thread loops 20 and 20—that are arranged to the feed direction of the cloth 1. The looper thread 3 is unreeled along the rear face 11 of the cloth 1 in a direction nearly orthogonal to the fore-mentioned feed direction and entwined with the rows of thread loops 20 and 20—to form the stitches of the double chain stitches as illustrated.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which the needle threads are entwined with the looper thread at the rear face of the cloth. The present diagram shows the stitch structure of double chain stitches with two needles. The looper thread 3 is entwined with respective loops of the rows of thread loops 20 and 20 which the two needle threads 2 and 2 form respectively by interlooping and interlacing as illustrated in the drawing and these needle threads 2 and 2 and the looper thread 3 are collectively cut at the sewing end portion to form the stitches. However, in the stitches, since the terminal cutting portion 3a of the looper thread 3 is situated at one side of the positions at which the looper thread 3 is entwined with the final loops 2a and 2a of the rows of thread loops 20 and 20 in the mode of the interlooping, the looper thread 3 is slipped off from the final loops 2a and 2a of the rows of thread loops 20 and 20 when the terminal portion 3a of the cutting portion is pulled as shown in FIG. 2 by an arrow, and there is a problem that the slipping-off is transferred to the loop of the sewing start side (the upper side of the drawing) of the rows of thread loops 20 and 20 one after another and the stitches are raveled;
Methods of preventing raveling stitches have been conventionally proposed variously. As one of those methods, there is a method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2879399 by the applicant of the present invention. It is a method by which when a looper for reeling out a looper thread is situated nearby a proceeding end just before the termination of sewing, the looper thread is retained at the rear side of the looper and the needle threads and the looper thread are cut after carrying out one stroke of sewing motion in this state.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the stitch structure obtained by the method. According to the method, the looper thread 3 retained just before the termination of sewing is cut at a position at which it is pulled out from the loop 2a of one side (at the right side of the drawing and at the left side viewed from the front of a sewing machine) of the positions at which it is entwined with the final loops 2a and 2a of the rows of thread loops 20 and 20 in the mode of the interlacing, so that the stitch shown in the drawing is obtained. In this case, even if the terminal cutting portion 3a of the looper thread 3 is pulled as shown by an arrow in the drawing, the looper thread 3 is not slipped off from the final loops 2a and 2a of the rows of thread loops 20 and 20 entwined in the mode of the interlacing and the raveling stitches can be surely prevented at the stage they start.
Further, the prevention of raveling by the stitch structure shown in FIG. 3 is realized on the assumption that a state in which the looper thread 3 is entwined with the final loops 2a and 2a of the rows of thread loops 20 and 20 in the mode of the interlacing. However, since slack is liable to occur in the final loops 2a and 2a formed at the portion of termination of sewing, there is a fear that the looper thread 3 entwined with these loops 2a and 2a are slipped out to the direction of external force when the external force is applied to a direction shown by an outline arrow in FIG. 3. Since the stitches after the occurrence of slipping is the same as the stitches shown in FIG. 2, the extension of the raveling to the sewing start side cannot be stopped.
Hereat, the strength of the tension of the needle threads 2 and 2 forming the rows of thread loops 20 and 20 is selected in accordance with the coordination with the cloth 1. For example, when soft cloth or thin cloth is sewed, the tension of the needle threads 2 and 2 is often weakened for improving the quality of sewing products. Further, the kind of the needle threads 2 and 2 forming the rows of thread loops 20 and 20 is also selected in accordance with the sewing products and for example, smooth needle threads 2 and 2 are often used in sewing products thinking a great deal of the feel on the skin of a user. The fore-mentioned slack of the final loops 2a and 2a occurs easily when sewing is carried out under weak tension using the smooth needle threads 2 and 2.


The present disclosure provides a system for femtosecond ophthalmic surgery in which a measuring device and a camera generate data that is processed and used to create an enhanced pictorial representation based on the actual positions of the suction ring and the eye. The pictorial representation may include a graphic relating to ophthalmic surgery, such as for a flap or an incision. The disclosure further provides a method for docking a suction ring in femtosecond laser ophthalmic surgery, which includes observing and generating data relating to the position of the suction ring, generating data relating to a pictorial representation of the suction ring and the eye, processing the data relating to the observed position and the pictorial representation to generate an enhanced pictorial representation, and presenting it during surgery. The pictorial representation may include a graphic relating to ophthalmic surgery, such as for a flap or an incision.

In ophthalmology, ophthalmic surgery is performed on the eye and accessory visual structures to save and improve the vision of tens of thousands of patients every year. However, given the sensitivity of vision to even small changes in the eye and the minute and delicate nature of many eye structures, ophthalmic surgery is difficult to perform and the reduction of even minor or uncommon surgical errors or modest improvements in accuracy of surgical techniques can make a tremendous difference in the patient's vision after the surgery.
One type of ophthalmic surgery, refractive eye surgery, is used to correct a variety of vision problems. One common such refractive surgery is known as LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) and is used to correct myopia and hyperopia, astigmatism, or more complex refractive errors. Other ophthalmic surgeries may correct corneal defects or other problems. For instance, phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) may be used to remove diseased corneal tissue or corneal irregularities either alone or in combination with LASIK. Another common ophthalmic surgery is the removal of cataracts.
During LASIK, PTK, cataract surgery, and other ophthalmic surgeries, corrective procedures are commonly performed on interior parts of the eye, such as the corneal stroma or the lens, rather than on the eye surface. This practice tends to improve surgical outcomes by allowing the corrective procedure to be targeted to the most effective part of the eye, by keeping the outer, protective parts of the cornea largely intact, and for other reasons.
The interior part of the eye may be accessed in a variety of manners, but frequently access involves cutting a flap in the cornea or otherwise cutting the cornea. Corneal cutting is often performed by a femtosecond laser that creates focused ultrashort pulses, eliminating collateral damage of surrounding tissues associated with slower lasers and complications associated with mechanical cutting instruments, such as blades. Femtosecond lasers can therefore be used to dissect tissue on a microscopic level.
Femtosecond laser ophthalmic surgery typically includes docking, imaging, analysis, and laser treatment.
During docking, a patient's eye is docked to a suction cone in order to provide pressure to flatten the patient's cornea (known as applanation) and hold it in position for the laser treatment. A curved suction cone, which does not flatten the cornea, may also be used for the docking process. Docking is a sensitive process, and proper placement of the suction cone is important for successful femtosecond laser ophthalmic surgery. However, correct placement of the suction cone is currently typically guided through visual inspection by the user, relying on experience and perception.

Systems and methods for femtosecond laser ophthalmic surgery docking


An exemplary semiconductor device includes a clock generator circuit configured to generate a clock signal, and a duty cycle adjustment circuit configured to receive the clock signal. The duty cycle adjustment circuit includes an adjuster circuit configured to receive a back-bias voltage and to adjust a duty cycle of the clock signal based on the back-bias voltage to provide an output clock signal.

High data reliability, high speed of memory access, low power, and reduced chip size are features that are demanded from semiconductor memory. As clock speeds increase, timing margins become tighter to accommodate the increased speeds and reliably interface with external devices. Within a semiconductor device, process, voltage, or temperature (PVT) variation may cause variation in operational characteristics of circuit components, which may affect rise and fall times of signal transitions. With the smaller timing margins, even small timing variations can negatively impact reliability of the semiconductor memory. Conventional circuitry for adjusting clock signal duty cycles may be insufficient to compensate for PVT-induced variation.

Apparatuses and methods to perform duty cycle adjustment with back-bias voltage


The present invention relates to a novel member of the hematopoietin receptor family, herein referred to as Hu-B1.219. In particular, the invention relates to nucleotide sequences and expression vectors encoding Hu-B1.219 gene product. Genetically engineered host cells that express the Hu-B1.219 coding sequence may be used to evaluate and screen for ligands or drugs involved in Hu-B1.219 interaction and regulation. Since Hu-B1.219 expression has been detected in certain human fetal tissues and cancer cells, molecular probes designed from its nucleotide sequence may be useful for prenatal testing and cancer diagnosis.

A variety of diseases, including malignancy and immunodeficiency, are related to malfunction within the lympho-hematopoietic system. Some of these conditions could be alleviated and/or cured by repopulating the hematopoietic system with progenitor cells, which when triggered to differentiate would overcome the patient's deficiency. Therefore, the ability to initiate and regulate hematopoiesis is of great importance (McCune et al., 1988, Science 241:1632).
The process of blood cell formation, by which a small number of self-renewing stem cells give rise to lineage specific progenitor cells that subsequently undergo proliferation and differentiation to produce the mature circulating blood cells has been shown to be at least in part regulated by specific hormones. These hormones are collectively known as hematopoietic growth factors or cytokines (Metcalf, 1985, Science 229:16; Dexter, 1987, J. Cell Sci. 88:1; Golde and Gasson, 1988, Scientific American, July:62; Tabbara and Robinson, 1991, Anti-Cancer Res. 11:81; Ogawa, 1989, Environ. Health Presp. 80:199; Dexter, 1989, Br. Med. Bull. 45:337).
With the advent of recombinant DNA technology, the genes encoding a number of these molecules have now been molecularly cloned and expressed in recombinant form (Souza et al., 1986, Science 232:61; Gough et al., 1984, Nature 309:763; Yokota et al., 1984, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81:1070; Kawasaki et al., 1985, Science 230:291). These cytokines have been studied in their structure, biology and even therapeutic potential. Some of the most well characterized factors include erythropoietin (EPO), stem cell factor (SCF), granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), and the interleukins (IL-1 to IL-14).
These factors act on different cell types at different stages during blood cell development, and their potential uses in medicine are far-reaching which include blood transfusions, bone marrow transplantation, correcting immunosuppressive disorders, cancer therapy, wound healing, and activation of the immune response. (Golde and Gasson, 1988, Scientific American, July:62).
Apart from inducing proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells, such cytokines have also been shown to activate a number of functions of mature blood cells (Stanley et al., 1976, J. Exp. Med. 143:631; Schrader et al., 1981, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78:323; Moore et al., 1980, J. Immunol. 125:1302; Kurland et al., 1979, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 76:2326; Handman and Burgess, 1979, J. Immunol. 122:1134; Vadas et al., 1983, Blood 61:1232; Vadas et al., 1983, J. Immunol. 130:795), including influencing the migration of mature hematopoietic cells (Weibart et al., 1986, J. Immunol. 137:3584).
Cytokines exert their effects on target cells by binding to specific cell surface receptors. A number of cytokine receptors have been identified and the genes encoding them molecularly cloned. Several cytokine receptors have recently been classified into a hematopoietin receptor (HR) superfamily. The grouping of these receptors was based on the conservation of key amino acid motifs in the extracellular domains (Bazan, 1990, Immunology Today 11:350) (FIG. 1). The HR family is defined by three conserved motifs in the extracellular domain of these receptors. The first is a Trp-Ser-X-Trp-Ser (WSXWS box) motif (SEQ ID NO:1) which is highly conserved and located amino-terminal to the transmembrane domain. Most members of the HR family contain this motif. The second consists of four conserved cysteine residues located in the amino-terminal half of the extracellular region. The third is a conserved fibronectin Type III (FN III) domain which is located between the WSXWS box and the cysteines. The members of the HR family include receptors for ligands such as erythropoietin (EPO), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) (Fukunaga, 1990, Cell 61:341), granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, and IL-2 (.beta.-subunit) (Cosman, 1990, TIBS 15:265).
Ligands for the HR are critically involved in the maturation and differentiation of blood cells. For example, IL-3 promotes the proliferation of early multilineage pluripotent stem cells, and synergizes with EPO to produce red cells. IL-6 and IL-3 synergize to induce proliferation of early hematopoietic precursors. GM-CSF has been shown to induce the proliferation of granulocytes as well as increase macrophage function. IL-7 is a bone marrow-derived cytokine that plays a role in producing immature T and B lymphocytes. IL-4 induces proliferation of antigen-primed B cells and antigen-specific T cells. Thus, members of this receptor superfamily are involved in the regulation of the hematopoietic system.

Antibodies specific for Hu-B1.219, a novel hematopoietin receptor


A pulse tube cryocooler (PTC) includes an etched glass substrate bonded to a glass plate and defining one or multiple stages or layers. The PTC includes a plurality of channels etched into a surface of the substrate to define a heat exchanger, a pulse tube, a cold heat exchanger or cold head, a regenerator and an aftercooler. The bonded substrate and plate encloses the plurality of channels to form capillaries operable for conducting and distributing fluid. The pulse tube is disposed between the cold head and the heat exchanger and the regenerator is disposed between the cold head and the aftercooler. The heat exchanger is connected to a valve or inertance tube which, in turn, is connectable to a buffer tank or reservoir that contains fluid. The aftercooler is connectable to an external compressor operable for oscillating movement, which increases and decreases pressure and temperature within the PTC.

Small cryogenic cooling systems are employed in various demanding applications including military and civilian active and remote sensing, superconducting, and general electronics cooling. Such applications often demand efficient, reliable, and cost-effective cooling systems that can achieve extremely cold temperatures below 80 degrees Kelvin.
Efficient cryogenic cooling systems are particularly important in sensing applications involving high-sensitivity infrared focal plane arrays of electromagnetic energy detectors (FPA's). Generally, an FPA may detect electromagnetic energy radiated or reflected from a scene and convert the detected electromagnetic energy into electrical signals corresponding to an image of the scene. To optimize FPA imaging performance, any FPA detector nonuniformities, such as differences in individual detector offsets, gains, or frequency responses, are corrected. Any spatial or temporal variations in temperature across the FPA may cause prohibitive FPA nonuniformities.
FPA's are often employed in avionics applications, particularly missile targeting and satellite applications, where weight, size, and spatial and temporal uniformity of cryogenic cooling systems are important design considerations. An FPA should operate at stable cryogenic temperatures for maximum performance and sensitivity.
Generally, two types of cryocooling systems exist and have been incorporated into FPA's, recuperative cryocoolers and regenerative cryocoolers. In recuperative cryocoolers, a cooling fluid is cycled in a continuous flow. Typical recuperative flow cycles are Brayton or Joule-Thomson processes. Disadvantageously, the cooling fluid typically requires a heavy and bulky FPA cooling interface and heat exchanger, which is attached to the FPA mounting assembly. Consequently, the FPA assembly requires additional mechanical support to secure the interface, heat exchanger, and cooling fluid. The bulky components and additional support hardware oftentimes requires additional cooling, which increases demands placed on the cooling system. In some instances, the bulky support structure, conventionally thought to improve temperature stability, actually reduces system cooling efficiency. Furthermore, the additional bulky mechanical FPA support hardware may cause alignment problems with an on board optical or infrared system during installation and operation, thereby increasing installation and operating costs.
In contrast to recuperative cryocoolers, regenerative cryocoolers have increasingly been employed. Typical regenerative cryocoolers include the Stirling, Gifford-McMahon and pulse tube types, all of which provide cooling through oscillating pressures and masses flows (e.g., the alternating compression and expansion of a working fluid), with a consequent reduction of its temperature. Conventional Stirling and Gifford-McMahon regenerative cryocoolers use displacers to move a working fluid (usually helium or another ideal gas) through their respective regenerators. The noise and vibration induced by the displacer creates problems, and the wear of the seals on the displacer requires periodic maintenance and replacement. Further, the displacer undesirably contributes to axial heat conduction and shuttles heat loss.
Therefore, it may be desirable for cryocooler devices to generate less vibration and less acoustic noise. It may also be desirable to decrease the number of moving parts used in cryocooler devices and to significantly increase the required maintenance intervals and reliability. Pulse tube cryocoolers are a known alternative to the Stirling and Gifford-McMahon cryocooler types; differing from them by the elimination of the mechanical displacer.
A pulse tube is essentially an adiabatic space wherein the temperature of the working fluid is stratified, such that one end of the tube is warmer than the other. A pulse tube cryocooler typically includes a regenerator comprised of a metallic alloy mesh, balls, granules, or shots and a pulse tube, the regenerator and pulse being connected via a cold heat exchanger. Conventional pulse tube cryocoolers operate by cyclically compressing and expanding a working fluid in conjunction with its movement through heat exchangers. Heat is removed from the system upon the expansion of the working fluid in the gas phase. Pulse tube cryocoolers can be divided into two types based on their drivers. The first type is usually referred to as "Stirling-type", because this type employs a linear compressor with a piston or a plunger to linearly move the working gas, just as conventional Stirling cryocoolers usually do. In these Stirling-type pulse tube cryocoolers, the frequency of the compressors is identical with the oscillation frequency of the working fluid in the tube. Stirling pulse tube cryocoolers are usually operated at frequencies above 30 Hz.
At temperatures below 10 K, pulse tube cryocoolers typically work with frequencies as low as 1 to 2 Hz. For avionic applications pulse tube cryocoolers typically operate at 35K and have been used as low as 4.5K with cooling usually less than 0.1 W. In order to keep the volume of the compressor small, it is advantageous to decouple the compressor from the pulse tube such that both systems can be optimized independently of each other. The compressor can then be operated at a higher frequency of e.g. 50 Hz to provide a constant high and low pressure region. The compressor then utilizes a valve system that alternately connects the hot side of the regenerator with low and high pressure. The frequency of valve switching can be adjusted to the desired operation frequency of the pulse tube cryocooler and can be chosen to be much smaller than the frequency of the compressor. Since this valve switching is similar to the construction of the above mentioned Gifford-McMahon-refrigerater (G-M-refrigerator), pulse tube cryocoolers with such valve compressors are usually called G-M-pulse tube cryocoolers.
Stirling-type pulse tube cryocoolers, which mainly aim at miniaturization, reliability, long life and high efficiency, are gradually replacing Stirling cryocoolers, especially in military and space fields (such as infrared sensors for missile guidance, satellite based surveillance, atmospheric studies of ozone hole and greenhouse effects). However, it remains desirable to provide improved cryocoolers of this type which decrease the overall cost of manufacture without sacrificing the reliability, life and efficiency of the system.

System, apparatus and method for pulse tube cryocooler


There is described a cache memory system including a first cache memory and a second cache memory. A first port is arranged to receive a request for a first item and determine whether the first item is in the first cache memory. A second port is arranged to receive a request for a second item and determine whether the second item is in the second cache memory. The system is arranged such that if the second item is determined not to be in the second cache memory, a request for the second item is sent to the first port. There is also described a method of accessing multiple items from a memory which has associated with it a first cache memory having a first port and a second cache memory having a second port.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cache memory system and a method of accessing multiple items from a memory, particularly a memory which has cache memories associated with it.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
It is known in the art to provide a cache memory as a level of memory hierarchy between a central processing unit CPU or other main processor or memory master, and a main memory (or other memory-mapped device). A cache memory duplicates commonly-used locations in a main memory for the purpose of speeding up accesses to these locations. In general it stores the most recently used instructions or data from the larger but slower main memory. This means that when the CPU wishes to access data or instructions, the access request can be made to the cache instead of to the main memory. This takes far less time than an access to a main memory, thus the CPU can read or write data more quickly and consequently runs more efficiently than if a cache memory were not used. The cache also updates the main memory with the duplicated locations when required, explicitly or implicitly.
Since computer programs frequently use a subset of instructions or data repeatedly, the cache is a cost effective method of enhancing the memory system in a "statistical" method, without having to resort to the expense of making all of the memory system faster.
The cache is usually smaller than the main memory, which means that it cannot provide a duplicate of every location. Therefore, when an access request in the form of an address is made to the cache, it needs to determine if that particular location currently being requested is one of those duplicated locally or whether it needs to be fetched from the main memory, i.e. it performs a "tag compare" to see if that item is present in the cache. If the location is already stored in the cache, the access is termed a "hit" and if it is not it is termed a "miss". The determining of whether an access is a hit or a miss takes an amount of time, thit. This time is normally the main factor in the amount of time that the cache takes to return a frequently used location and since speed is the purpose of such operations, this is designed to be as short as possible.
If the item is present ("hit") it is returned quickly to the requesting CPU or the like. If however the item is not found ("miss") then it is fetched from the main memory and may be stored into the cache.
As a result of processor performance requirements it is now not uncommon for processors (or the like) to execute more than one operation per cycle and as a result, it is often the case that more than one item is required to be read from main memory during a clock cycle. Consequently multiple accesses need to be made to the cache memory during one clock cycle in order to supply data and/or instructions at the rate required by the program that the processor is running. Clearly this is not possible if a single cache memory with a single port is used.
One known solution is for a cache memory to have multiple ports to the same data. Thus, each time an item is required, it can be looked for simultaneously at each port. The provision of multiple ports also allows several items to be looked for simultaneously in the cache memory. One problem with this solution is that significantly more memory space is required than in the multiple-cache system, leading to greater manufacturing expense and operating power.
Another known solution is to use multiple cache memories, each with their own port. This does allow large quantities of data and/or instructions to be accessed at the same time. However, one problem with such a system is that it is necessary to know from which cache memory to access particular items. This is achieved in the coding of the program being run, which means that the coding is far more complicated than it would otherwise be. Furthermore, the coding necessarily needs to be system-specific because the extra code to deal with the access requirements needs to be based on the structure of the cache memory system being accessed. Another problem is that of aliasing i.e. the same item appearing in more than one cache memory. The aliasing problem is of concern when it comes to writing back to the main memory and is complicated to solve since the cache memories are distinct from one another.
It would therefore be desirable to provide means for allowing multiple accesses to a cache which minimizes special coding requirements and is not system-specific. It would further be desirable to achieve such a system without significantly increasing cache memory size and which would also deal with aliasing.

Cache memory system with multiple ports cache memories capable of receiving tagged and untagged requests


A method for distributing information in a network environment is provided that includes receiving a communication flow and executing a routing decision for the communication flow that directs the communication flow to a selected one of a plurality of servers. The routing decision is based on a selected one or more user-specified parameters and on one or more data segments that reflect feedback associated with one or more of the servers. The feedback indicates one or more conditions associated with one or more of the servers.

Network communications have become increasingly important in today's society. One aspect associated with communications relates to information distribution. In certain scenarios, bursts of information or sudden peaks in call or session volume may overwhelm network nodes or information gateways. In addition, heavy traffic may inhibit system performance by restricting communication flows and eliminating the ability to provide enhanced services to selected end users, subscribers, or components. Moreover, the ineffective distribution of data not only results in certain elements being overwhelmed, but may further provide an environment in which network resources may be underutilized or remain stagnant as other inferior components or devices are flooded with information that is unable to be processed. Accordingly, the ability to provide an information distribution architecture that efficiently manages data provides a significant challenge to network operators and system designers in the communications industry.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for distributing information in a network environment


A thread cutter for pipe ends has a tool head rotating coaxially with respect to a fixedly clamped pipe end and provided at tool holders in the form of radial sliders. Actuators which are parallel to the rotation axis are mounted on a frame shiftable with respect to the head for synchronously radially displacing the sliders and gears mesh with racks of neighboring sliders. The gears are formed with an integrated centrifugal force balancing system.

For the cutting of screw threads on the ends of pipes, a threading machine can be used which has a tool head into which the pipe can be inserted or which can be moved over the pipe end when the latter is in position. That tool head can carry a number of thread-cutting tools which can be shifted radially relative to the pipe on the tool holders forming radial slides. The tool holders and tools are generally uniformly spaced angularly about the axis of the tool heat and the pipe, i.e. the tool head and the pipe can be coaxial.
Appropriate actuating or displacement means can be provided on the tool head to shift the slides. Coaxial with the tool head or disposed along a common axis therewith can be a frame located on the side of the tool head turned toward the opposite end of the pipe from that being threaded and which can be coupled by the actuators on the tool head to the sliders or tool holders to insure a synchronous displacement of the sliders. The actuators can be, for example, rods or bars connected at one end to the frame and formed at their ends within the tool head with inclined teeth which actuate the rack and pinion systems which drive and couple the frame and rods to the sliders and hence the cutting tools.
An apparatus of this type has been described and illustrated in German patent document DE 44 38 818 A1.
The pipe thread is, as a rule, cut in a single pass of the tool head over the pipe end and the movement of the cutting tools and the head is generally controlled by a numerical control system. The machine is so configured that especially narrow or tight thread tolerances can be achieved. It is especially significant with such machines that the tool head itself is rotatable while the pipe is held stationary. In practice, as soon as the pipe is positioned at a particular location within the machine, the thread cutting advance of the tool head is effected.
The cutting tools, as has been noted, are uniformly angularly spaced on the cutting head and, while the number of cutting tools is optional, in the most common case six tools are provided, three of which are spaced angularly at 120° intervals while the other three, also spaced at 120° intervals are offset from the first, the two sets of tools being synchronized to move oppositely. This can be achieved by a central gear which meshes with the racks of the sliders formed by the tool holders.
At high rotary speeds of the tool head, which can reach 1000 rpm, the centrifugal force at the movable masses or components is very high and acts counter to the forces which must radially advance the cutting tools, thereby complicating the exact positioning of the tools. The gears which mesh with the racks of the sliders are configured as spur gears and serve in part to balance the centrifugal forces. A complete centrifugal force compensation, however, is achieved with this earlier system only when the sliders are in their central positions, i.e. in an intermediate position between extreme radial positions.
In order to provide a compensation for the centrifugal force when the sliders because of radial adjustment no longer are all at exactly the same radial spacing from the rotation axis and thus such that the centrifugal force does not act equally upon all of the sliders and cannot be balanced by identical positioning of the sliders, an additional centrifugal force balance system has been disclosed in the German Patent Document DE 101 33 856 A1. This compensating system is comprised of lobar balancing weights with toothed segments meshing with a gear that in turn meshes with the rack of a first slider. With the lobar balancing weight, however, the counter moment can be applied only through a relatively small swing. Larger differential centrifugal forces at the other sliders which do not have a balancing weight meshing with then through the intermediary of a respective gear can only be compensated through the counter moment at the first slider and at the central gear between the two sliders. In short, the centrifugal force compensation in this system has proved to be inadequate in spite of the additional provision of a balancing weight as described.

Apparatus for machining pipe ends, especially for cutting connecting threads


A system for supplying current to a load is disclosed. One embodiment provides a switching converter for providing a load current to the load. The switching regulator includes a switching circuit. A current control unit generates a modulated current control signal representing a desired load current. The switching circuit is driven dependent on the modulated current control signal. A logic circuit receives a pulse-width-modulated control signal representing a desired dimming ratio and is configured to generate a gate signal for driving the switching circuit dependent on the current control signal during a duty cycle of the pulse-width-modulated control signal. The logic circuit is configured to activate the switching converter, independent on the state of the current control signal, at the beginning of the duty cycle of the pulse-width-modulated control signal.

This disclosure relates to power supply systems, and in one or more embodiments, to light-emitting diode (LED) dimming control circuitry and methodology that allows a LED driver to increase the maximum pulse-width modulation (PWM) dimming ratio and avoid LED flicker.
Dimming control for light-emitting diodes (LEDs) may be utilised to provide control of LED brightness without changing LED colour. Thereby, a LED current may be pulse-width modulated with a controllable duty cycle to set a desired level of radiant power (i.e., radiant flux) of the LED. A pulse-width modulated (PWM) control signal with a pre-defined period TPWM (cycle time) assumes a high level during an on-time (pulse-width) TON=DPWM·TPWM and a low level during an off-time TOFF=(1−DPWM)·TPWM (or vice versa if using inverted logic levels). The ratio DPWM=TON/TPWM between the on-time TON and the period TPWM is called duty cycle which is a number between 0 and 1 (often expressed as percentage between 0 and 100 percent). A maximum LED current iMAX that defines the maximum "brightness" (precisely the maximum radiant power) of the LED is "chopped" (i.e., alternately switched on and off) according to the PWM control signal. The average LED current iAVG results in iAVG=DPWM·iMAX. Thus the brightness of the LED can be varied, i.e., the LED can be dimmed by adjusting the duty cycle of the PWM control signal.
In practice commonly used current sources for driving the LED are switching converters with output current control since switching converters provide a comparable high degree of efficiency in terms of power losses.
However, when using switching converters the ratio TON/TPWM (duty cycle) can not be reduced down to arbitrarily low values, i.e., the lower bound for the duty cycle is DPWM,min=TON,min/TPWM, whereby the minimum on-time TON,min depends on the clock frequency (switching frequency fCLK) of the switching converter.
For applications that require a brightness control over a large range and down to very low brightness levels the minimum duty cycle has to be made low which requires the LED driver (i.e., the controllable current source, often switching converters with current control) to be capable of responding to a very low duty cycle PWM control signal. However, a random delay can be observed between a rising edge of the PWM control signal (or a falling edge if using inverted logic levels) and a corresponding edge of the actual LED current. This random delay may be due to a random phase relation between the PWM control signal and the clock signal of the switching converter. At very low duty cycles the duration of the random delay may be a significant fraction of the on-time of the PWM control signal which may result in a flickering of the LED that is visible to the human eye. Furthermore, in cases of a rather long duration of the random delay the "remaining" on-time may be too short for the actual LED current to reach its maximum value iMAX which also results in flicker effects and variations in colour.
In practice the minimum on time TON,min has to be eight to ten times the period (cycle time fCLK−1) of the clock signal of the switching converter. However, for certain applications where a large range of brightness control is required it would be desirable to achieve very lower duty cycles in order to allow for brightness control down to very low brightness levels. There is a need for a novel dimming control technique allowing for a very large range of brightness control without illustrating flicker effects.


A semiconductor device includes a one-time programmable (OTP) memory cell includes a first MOS transistor having a gate coupled to a bit line, a first switching device, coupled to one side of a source/drain of the first MOS transistor, configured to provide a current path for a current supplied to the gate of the first MOS transistor, and a second switching device configured to provide a bias voltage at the other side of the source/drain of the first MOS transistor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a semiconductor memory device including one-time programmable (OTP) memory cells.
2. Description of the Related Art
A semiconductor memory device is a storage which stores data and reads the data when the data is needed. The semiconductor memory device is generally divided into two categories: a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM). The ROM is a nonvolatile memory which can retain data even if power is off. The ROM includes a programmable read only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a flash memory device, etc. The RAM is a volatile memory which cannot retain data when a power is off. The RAM includes a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), etc. Aside from these memory devices, an innovative semiconductor memory device using nonvolatile materials instead of capacitors used in a DRAM has been developed. The innovative semiconductor memory device includes a ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) using ferroelectric capacitors, or a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) using a tunneling magneto-resistive (TMR) layer.
One time programmable (OTP) cells can store data only once, like the Programmable ROM.
A memory block including OTP memory cells is typically used for either storing trimming information of an integrated circuit, security identification information, chip identification information, calibration data, or storing main memory block redundancy information. As systems including integrated circuits become more technologically sophisticated and/or operationally complex, a memory block including OTP memory cells requires a higher operation speed.

Semiconductor device with OTP memory cell


An electronic device includes a receiving bracket and two electronic modules. The receiving bracket includes a partition plate to divide the receiving bracket into a first receiving space and a second receiving space. Each of the first receiving space and second receiving space includes an outlet located at an end of the receiving bracket. The partition plate defines a through slot. A stop plate is pivotably connected to an end of the through slot near the outlets. Two resilient tabs are formed on opposite sides of the stop plate, and respectively face the first receiving space and second receiving space. The electronic modules are received in the first receiving space and second receiving space, and deform the resilient tabs.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an electronic device with rotatable stop plates.
2. Description of Related Art
In an electronic device, two power supply units may be mounted in a chassis of the electronic device from up and down. If one of the power supply units is taken away, airflow from system fans will flow out of the chassis from the space once occupied by the power supply unit taken away. The other power supply unit in the chassis obtains less airflow, thereby the heat dissipation of the other power supply unit is less than optimal.

Electronic device with rotatable stop plate


An apparatus for measuring a gap between a first mating surface of a first component and a second mating surface of a second component has a substrate. A plurality of capacitive sensors is coupled to the substrate. A controller is coupled to the plurality of capacitive sensors. The controller is used to select each individual capacitive sensor to measure the gap between the first mating surface of the first component and the second mating surface of the second component.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a measurement device and, more specifically, to a device and method to measure a gap between two members of a mechanical structure to enable manufacture of a shim for insertion between the two structural members.
2. Background of the Invention
Many mechanical structures are manufactured by forming component parts of the structure followed by an assembly of the parts to produce the structure. During the assembly process, it may be necessary to introduce a shim between the interfacing surfaces of the component parts. A shim is a thin slip or wedge of metal, wood, etc., for placing into crevices, as between machine parts to compensate for wear or to achieve a certain alignment of the parts.
Presently, when the component parts are moved into their final positions, the gaps between the parts are measured using either feeler gauges or capacitive gap measuring instrumentation. The measurement data is sent to a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine tool which manufactures the shims. The manufactured shims are then installed, and final "pull-up" tolerances are checked before the mating components are finally fastened together.
The present method becomes impractical when applied to composite aircraft. This is especially true for composite aircraft having any of the following characteristics: a large quantity of shims need to be produced; the shims have a large surface area; shim materials are difficult to machine such as composites, titanium, and the like; denser data collection requirements such as tighter pull-up tolerances, mating surfaces are not necessarily planar, unknown level of allowable surface distortion, and the like; and measurement access is difficult for the mechanic to access.
The above requirements make the manual measurement of gap data impractical. The fact that the measurement must take place after the components are in place means that even with CNC machines installed on the final integration floor, there will be at least four hours "dead time" during final integration.
Furthermore, in present devices and methods, only one sensor is used. This sensor is manually positioned and individual data points are collected. This becomes impractical when a large number of points must be collected, due to the manual labor required as well as the difficulty in accurately positioning the sensor.
Clearly, there is large benefit in improving gap measurement and accuracy. There is an even greater benefit in allowing the measurement to take place before final systems integration takes place. This would allow the appropriate shims to be manufactured in advance. This would eliminate the "dead time" and "Just-In-Time" shim manufacturing requirements. It would also reduce process flow and allow shim manufacturing operations to be moved to a remote site.
Therefore, a need exists for a system and method that overcomes the problems associated with the prior art.

Device and method for measuring a gap between members of a structure for manufacture of a shim


A system and method are provided for automatic camera health monitoring, such as for a camera in a video surveillance system. The system preferably provides substantially continuous monitoring and detection of camera malfunction, due to either external or internal conditions. Camera malfunction is detected when a computed camera health measurement exceeds a malfunction threshold. The camera health measurement is computed based on a comparison of a current camera health record to a plurality of stored camera health records obtained in a learning mode, which characterize known states of normal camera operation. Aside from monitoring camera health, methods of the present invention can also be used to detect an object being added to or removed from a scene, or to detect a change in lighting in a scene, possibly caused by a defective light fixture.

Administrators of a large video surveillance system can have many thousands of cameras that are continuously recording. While much of this video is never viewed, some of it is very important to the administrator since it can hold evidence of an important event. When an event does occur, the administrator expects the video to be available from the camera(s) that observe the location of the event, in terms of field of view (FOV).
A problem that can occur is that the camera may not catch the intended event for a variety of camera malfunction conditions, either due to external or internal conditions. Externally caused camera malfunction conditions include: the camera may have been knocked from its original position and is no longer recording video of the field of view of the event; or the camera's field of view may have been obstructed, either intentionally through tampering (e.g. camera lens has been spray painted or covered up) or by accident (e.g. an object has been placed in front of the camera, blocking its view). Internally caused camera malfunction conditions result in a degraded image that is not useful evidence of the event, and can include: malfunctioning to the point where no signal is available (sync loss); focus being improperly adjusted, resulting in lack of details; camera iris setting being improperly adjusted, resulting in a white washed image; camera color being inaccurate, resulting in wrongly colored scene; camera signal being very noisy (e.g. due to 60 Hz noise or bad grounding of camera), resulting in loss of information from the scene due to noise; and camera signal level being too low, resulting in an image with lack of contrast.
For administrators of small video surveillance systems, it is possible to manually verify camera operation to determine whether a camera is malfunctioning. An administrator can periodically (e.g. on a weekly basis) verify each camera in the system to ensure that it is properly positioned and operating properly. For administrators of a large network of digital video recorders, this method is usually not feasible since it is too time consuming. The administrator generally assumes that all cameras are operating properly, and only learns of issues when it is too late, e.g. an event occurred and the video was not available. While care is taken when cameras are installed to ensure that they are pointing at the proper area of interest and operating properly, this is not often verified after installation. This is due to the often very large number of cameras, and the time it would take to periodically verify their proper operation manually.
Automated solutions to try to address this problem have been suggested, but they are generally specific to detecting a given camera problem. For example, an automated method exists to detect a camera lens that has been spray painted, or to perform "black screen" detection for obstruction detection, but such methods do not detect any other types of failures or malfunctions. Another known approach can detect changes in the field of view of a camera with respect to more than one measured parameter, but only does so with respect to a single set of reference parameters.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide an improved system and/or method to monitor the operation of cameras in a video surveillance system to detect a camera malfunction.

System and method for automatic camera health monitoring


A method and composition for the restoration and maintenance of gingival and periodontal health are provided. The composition includes a potassium as an essential ingredient, which acts as an anti-bacterial agent. In some embodiments, the compositions include an osmotic agent other than potassium.

1. Technical Field
The present application is directed to a composition and method for preventing the formation of plaque and, in particular, to a composition that includes potassium as an antibacterial or an osmotic agent.
2. Related Art
Dental plaque consists of bacterial deposits firmly adhered to teeth. Plaque is neither food or food residue, nor is it just some form of bacteria from the mouth. It is a complex metabolically interconnected, highly organized bacterial system. It consists of dense masses of a large variety of microorganisms embedded in an intermicrobial matrix. In sufficient concentration and with metabolic development, it may disturb the balance of the host-parasite relationship and thereby cause problems such as caries, gingival disease, periodontal disease, and the like. The total counts of microorganisms in dental plaque from the gingival sulcus area have shown the presence of 108 microorganisms/milligram. The intermicrobial matrix is present in only small amounts compared to the large number of microorganisms present. The gingival region of a person with periodontal disease may harbor 200 mgs. of plaque microbiota. This provides an astronomical number of microorganisms that are in contact with gingival tissues. With metabolic development, it can disturb the balance of the host-parasite relationship and thereby cause dental caries, periodontal disease, and mouth odor.
Dental calculus is dental plaque that has undergone mineralization. Bacterial plaque, and calculus continue to form alternatively in layers. Certain oral bacteria are shown to stick to tooth surfaces and to each other by means of extracellular polysaccharides. Both glycans (dextran polysaccharides) and fructans (levans) are synthesized extracellularly by certain bacteria, using sucrose as a substrate. These polysaccharides play an important role in plaque dynamics.
Chronic marginal gingivitis is the most common gingival disease. It is seen in response to the putative bacteria (Acetometacomitans, Gingivales, Bacteroides and others) that are attached to tooth surfaces. The disease may remain stationary for an indefinite period of time, or it may go on to infect and injure the deeper periodontal structures. Gingival disease may be conditioned by systemic factors such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, pregnancy, puberty, vitamin C deficiency, and it may respond to pathologic agents by gingival enlargement.
Periodontal disease is a destructive inflammatory condition initiated by bacterial plaque accumulation in the gingivo-dental anatomy. "Gingivo-dental anatomy," as used herein, means the gums and teeth of a subject. It is initially confined to the gingivae, and as it progresses in severity it spreads to involve the deeper periodontal tissues. Inflammation is present in all forms of gingival disease because bacterial plaque, which causes the inflammation, along with local irritational factors that favor plaque accumulation, are present within the gingival enlargement. Plaque induced inflammation gives rise to degenerative, necrotic, and proliferative gingival changes. Atrophy, hyperplasia, and neoplasm can occur in the gingivii.
Pathologic changes accompanying gingivitis are associated with the presence of oral micro-organisms in the gingival sulcus. These organisms synthesize harmful emissions that are capable of causing cellular damage to epithelial and connective tissue cells, collagen, proteoglycans, and glycocalyx (cellular glycoprotein and polysaccharide coat). Widening of the intercellular spaces between junctional epithelial cells in early gingivitis creates a pathway for injurious emissions released by the bacteria to access the connective tissue and penetrate it to sufficiently spread the disease to the deeper tissues.
The first stage of gingival inflammation is vascular dilatation of capillaries which brings forth increased blood flow. Next, gingival erythema may appear due to proliferation of capillary loops between rete pegs. Newly experienced bleeding with probing is an early sign of gingivitis.
In the second stage of chronic gingivitis blood vessels became engorged, and congested, with slow venous return making blood flow sluggish. This results in localized pooling of blood and gingival anoxemia which imparts a bluish hue upon the reddened gingivae. Extravasation of the red blood cells into the connective tissues along with hemoglobin breakdown into the various pigments of bilirubin and hematoidin also deepens the color of chronically inflamed gingivae. Chronic inflammatory gingivae alters the epithelial/connective tissue relationship, pocketing ensues, and color changes are clinically observed. The epithelium proliferates, and rete pegs lengthen downward into the connective tissue. At the same time, the increasing gingival mass of the inflamed connective tissues presses against the overlying epithelium causing it to thin. The engorged blood vessels of the connective tissue extend into the surface epithelium cells, accentuating redness.
With chronic gingivitis and chronic destructive periodontal disease, tissue destruction and tissue repair occur simultaneously. The nature and vitality of the bacteria and the presence or absence of local irritants as related to the strength of one's immune system determine the course of the disease. Persistent local irritants injure the gingivae, prolong inflammation, and cause vascular permeability and exudation. New epithelial and connective tissue cells, collagen fibers, proteoglycans, and blood vessels form even as destructive breakdown affects the gingival color, contour, consistency, size, and surface texture. When increased vascularity, exudation, and tissue degeneration predominate there are marked color changes. On occasion Fibrosis is the main feature with chronic inflammation. In this circumstance the gingivae will have a more normal color.
The putative bacteria that cause periodontal disease are contained in the plaque on the teeth facing the gingival sulci. Their emissions penetrate the periodontal pockets, gingivae, and connective tissues. In addition to direct initiation of the inflammatory response by microbial irritants, periodontal inflammation may be produced indirectly by immunopathologic processes set in action by penetration of microbial antigens into the tissues.
If the periodontal tissue destructive factors are able to outpace the rate of tissue repair, then inflammation exacerbates along with permeability and penetration of the bacterial toxic emissions. The production of new epithelial and connective tissue cells, collagen, proteglycans, along with new blood vessel formation are unable to keep pace with tissue destruction and degeneration of the periodontium. Damage to epithelial and connective tissue cells, collagen, proteoglycans, cellular glycoprotein and polysaccharide coat will ensue, and the disease spreads to the deeper tissues leading to ever more deterioration.
The patent literature is replete with examples of attempts to address problems resulting from plaque and calculus formation. One attempt is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,649 to Lynch dated Apr. 29, 1986, which discloses that various compositions containing monoalkyl and dialkyl ethers of dianhydrohexitols as an essential ingredient are effective in the treatment of oral surfaces and cavities to reduce irritation and plaque accumulation caused by the action of S. Mutans. The compositions of Lynch require 5–95%, by weight, of the dianhydrohexitols. Lynch discloses that the population of S. mutans is drastically reduced in the environment of the dianhydrohexitol derivatives.
Recently, the presence of gum disease amplified by its inflammatory response has been linked to coronary thrombosis. The inflammatory response and the associated high C-reactive protein (CRP) levels released by the liver in human serum provides reason to suspect a higher occurrence of CAD (cardiac arterial disease) among people with periodontal disease when compared with those free-of periodontal disease. Some data confirms that patients suffering from CAD are more likely to have periodontal disease than a comparable population without periodontal disease. Thus, prevention and treatment of periodontal disease may well become a strategy for prevention among patients with risk of coronary artery disease or as a means of secondary prevention for those surviving an acute myocardial infection (AMI).
Inflammation is becoming increasingly recognized for its important role among patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes. High CRP (HsCRP) blood levels and an increasing WBC (white blood count) appear to be a significant predictor of death in myocardial infarctions.
In the opinion of some researchers, infection and inflammation also contributes to atherosclerotic disease.

Therapeutic compositions and methods of use thereof


The present invention relates to a homing head mounted on a flying body, and intended to guide the flying body towards a target. According to the invention, the homing head includes a target detection system (SD1) comprising a system (SI1) for identifying luminous flashes originating from the target, and a target locating system (SL1), which includes a photosensitive detector (D1) mounted fixedly on the flying body and comprising a matrix of photosensitive sensors, and a means of focussing (6) which projects onto said matrix of the photosensitive detector (D1) the image of the scene situated fore of the flying body.

The present invention relates to a homing head mounted on a flying body, and intended to determine orders for guiding said flying body towards a target.
The present invention applies more precisely to a homing head of the type comprising in particular:
a target detection system; PA1 a source of inertial information; and PA1 a central unit for processing information determining said guidance orders. PA1 it is complex to implement; PA1 it is necessary to determine, extremely accurately, the position of said platform relative to a reference frame of the flying body; and PA1 it is very expensive to produce. PA1 a system for identifying luminous flashes originating from the target; and PA1 a target locating system, which includes: PA1 said system for identifying luminous flashes also comprises said photosensitive detector; and PA1 said photosensitive detector includes photosensitive sensors respectively fitted with photosensitive diodes capable of transforming the luminous energy received into an electrical signal. PA1 on the one hand, strengthens the electrical signals exhibiting a fast rise time and corresponding to a luminous flash received by the photosensitive diode; and PA1 on the other hand, attenuates the electrical signals exhibiting slow time variation and corresponding to illuminations which vary only slightly in intensity, of said photosensitive diode. PA1 each of said photosensitive sensors includes a means of binarization making it possible to determine a binary state of said photosensitive sensor, as a function of the signal formed by said means of processing electrical signals; and PA1 each of said photosensitive sensors includes a means of storage allowing said binary state to be recorded. PA1 determines the intensity of the signal generated by the means of processing of each of the photosensitive sensors having detected a luminous flash; PA1 determines the position of each of said photosensitive sensors having detected a luminous flash; and PA1 calculates, from the intensities and positions thus determined, the corresponding barycenter which represents the sought-after location.
It is known that, in order to guide a flying body, for example from an aircraft, a helicopter or a land station, towards a target, by means of such a homing head, it is usual to point a laser illuminator, for example a laser designator, which emits luminous flashes corresponding to short luminous pulses time-coded at specified frequency or frequencies, at said target so as to illuminate it. The homing head detects the luminous flashes which are reflected by the target and it determines their direction of reflection which corresponds to the direction of the target, which then makes it possible to calculate the orders for guiding said flying body.
In a known manner, in order to carry out detection and location of a target thus illuminated, the homing head uses a reduced-field sensor which is mounted on a platform for orienting and stabilizing the line of sight of said sensor.
Such a usual solution has a number of drawbacks, in particular:

Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle


A method and computing device that provides a tunable RF filter for a two-way communication system. The method receives a downstream video signal, and filters the downstream video signal into at least one downstream bandwidth band, each downstream bandwidth band related to desired upstream/downstream bandwidth splits. The method performs an energy detection on each downstream bandwidth band, and determines a lowest frequency of said at least one downstream bandwidth band that contains downstream video content. The method sets a diplex filter upstream/downstream frequency cutoff to a maximum upstream bandwidth that does not conflict with the lowest frequency of said at least one downstream bandwidth band that contains downstream video content.

A hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network is a broadband network that combines optical fiber and coaxial cable. The HFC network typically provides two-way communication between a cable operator's headend facility and a subscriber's location. The headend facility collects and processes communication signals, and distributes the signals to the subscriber's location using a downstream communication path. A set-top box or cable modem at the subscriber's location receives the communication signals on the downstream communication path, and transmits other communication signals to the headend facility using an upstream communication path.
The upstream communication signals allow the cable operators to offer advanced communication services to the subscribers. These advanced communication services include pay-per-view programming, video-on-demand services, telephony, interactive digital networks, and computer data services. The transmission of the upstream communication signals are in a frequency band that is either higher or lower than the downstream communication signals to avoid interference between the upstream and downstream communication signals. As these advanced communication services become more popular, the need for additional bandwidth on the upstream communication path is increasing.
The only way the cable operator can increase the bandwidth on the upstream communication path today is to send a technician to an amplifier site on the HFC line, or telephone pole, and replace the analog filter sub-assemblies in the amplifier. The cable operator needs a way to build an HFC plant today that will allow them to upgrade the bandwidth of the upstream channels in the future without the need to send a technician to replace previously installed equipment.
There is a need for a method of detecting the allocation of the downstream communication path to determine the correct bandwidth of the upstream communication path. The presently disclosed invention satisfies this demand.

Tunable RF return path filter with automatic channel plan detection


An improved electronic ballast for a florescent lamp includes rectifying/filtering circuity coupled to an A.C. power source, high frequency switching circuitry, starting circuitry connected to the output terminal of the high frequency switching circuitry, and both starting current restraint circuitry connected to the output terminal of the rectifying/filtering circuitry and protection circuitry coupled to the starting circuitry. The starting current restraint circuitry includes a thermistor with a negative temperature coefficient which causes current flows through the filaments of the lamp to gradually increase during activation of the lamp tube so as to modify the heating of the filaments, lengthening the opertional life of the lamp. If a lamp starting failure occurs, a coupling winding in the protection circuitry couples excess voltage to charge a capacitor, which in turn triggers a diac that activates a silicon controlled rectifier to forward bias a diode which brings the transistor gate voltage to ground to stop oscillation of the transistor and prevent continuous high voltage from appearing at both ends of the lamp tube so as to protect the circuit thereof.

The present invention relates to an improved electronic ballast particularly adapted for use in a fluorescent lamp which is intended to lengthen the operation life of the fluorescent lamp tube and to prevent users from electric shock and also guard the fluorescent lamp and the electronic ballast from damage.
At present, most fluorescent lamps use conventional core ballasts; but several new electronic ballast have been developed which save electricity and can operate without a starter, and work with little interference, and are small in size and light in weight. As a result of the above cited advantages, these novel ballasts are taking the place of conventional ones rapidly. FIG. 1 shows a commercially successful recent electronic ballast. It works rather like a half-bridge converter; the household low frequency AC voltage (60 HZ) is transformed into a stable DC voltage by means of rectifying /filtering circuitry 10A . The converted DC voltage is input to high frequency switching circuitry 20A . After the high frequency switching circuitry 20A is actuated by charging circuitry 30A, i.e., on the charging capacitor being charged by a charging circuitry 30A to such an extent that the DIAC 32A is actuated, a conversion transistor Q1 of the high frequency switching circuitry 20A is first activated to work, and then the driving transformers L1, L2, L3 mounted onto the same core are mutually induced to render the conversion transistors Q1, Q2 to be quickly actuated in turn, i.e. only one of the transistors is turned on at a time, with the other off.
As a result of the high speed interchanged activation of the transistors Q1, Q2, the current in the inductor L4 is directed from left to right on the activation of the transistor Q1 and is directed from right to left on the activation of the transistor Q2. Therefore, the inductor L4 and the lamp tube 40A, received an alternating current. Since the interchanged activation of the transistors Q1, Q2, is rather speedy, the current in the inductor L4 and the lamp tube can be treated as a high frequency alternating current. In other words, when the high frequency switching circuitry 20A has been triggered to act, it can oscillate to output a high frequency alternating current to the lamp tube 40A. The inductor L4, acting as a current ballast, can limit an excessive current from flowing through the lamp tube 40A so as to prevent the lamp tube 40A from being burned by an excessive current. As a result of the supply of this high frequency alternate current, the inductor L4 and a capacitor C1 begin to resonate so as to generate a high resonant voltage at both ends of the lamp tube 40A, causing each filament 41A to be quickly heated with electrons emitted therefrom to activiate the inert gas in the lamp tube to illuminate the lamp. After the lamp tube 40A is actuated, the impedance thereof drops and the current therein is increased so that most of the current will not flow through the capacitor C1, ending up with the inductor L4 and the capacitor C2 resonating. The capacitance of the capacitor C2 is far larger than that of the capacitor C1, and thus the natural resonance frequency is shifted to the lower frequency region. This shift in natural resonance frequency changes the operational Q point of the circuit. As a result, the circuit is not in its optimal resonating state as it is in the starting stage. Therefore, the output voltage and wattage generated by the circuit is substantially lowered after the actuation of the lamp. From then till the cut-off of the electrical power, the lamp tube 40A can be illuminated by way of a steady output voltage and current.
The above cited prior art electronic ballast is characterized in that it is small in size, light in weight, fast to start the lamp, saves in electricity and works without a starter, and the operation frequency is above 25 KHZ so as to produce no flickering; however, there are some disadvantages in practical operation that are as follows:
1. An instantly generated inrush current is applied to the filaments of the lamp tube on the starting of each lamp; as a result the on/off operation on the lamp tube is so frequent that the oxidized substance on the filaments will be dissipated as a result of the high temperature caused by the instant large inrush current after a relatively short period of time, and the filaments are apt to burn out; this will shorten the operation life of the lamp tube greatly.
2. If the lamp tube can not be ignited in a specific time or can not be lighted up at all, the prior art ballast will be constantly subject to a resonating state with continuous high voltages generated at both ends of the lamp tube, causing the lamp tube to be subject to continuous, rather than instant, high voltages resulting in damage to the ballast circuits.
3. As stated in point 2, the abnormal continuous high voltages and power will have a damaging effect on the circuits of the ballast, especially on the conversion transistors which can be easily burned out.
The present inventor has noticed the above cited disadvantages of the hereinbefore described circuit and worked out an improved one which can work better and safer.

Ballast having starting current restraint circuitry for preventing a large in-rush current and protection circuitry for preventing damage due to a start-up failure