An aircraft drive wheel drive system is provided with a torque coupling clutch assembly that transfers torque to a roller traction drive system actuating a non-engine drive means to drive an aircraft landing gear wheel and move the aircraft autonomously in a desired ground direction and at a desired ground speed. The wheel drive system and clutch assembly are mounted completely within the wheel where the clutch assembly is selectively engaged to control torque transmission to the drive system, which selectively transfers actuating torque to the non-engine drive means. A preferred selectable one way clutch is adapted to controllably transfer torque to the wheel drive system and has both failsafe overrunning and selective engagement capability in one or both rotational directions so that torque required to drive the aircraft wheel and move the aircraft at a desired ground speed and direction is transferred only when required by aircraft operating conditions.

As air travel has increased over the past decades, airport facilities have become more crowded and congested. Minimizing the time between the arrival of an aircraft and its departure to maintain an airline's flight schedule, and also to make a gate or parking location available without delay to an incoming aircraft, has become a high priority in the management of airport ground operations. The safe and efficient ground movement of a large number of aircraft simultaneously into and out of ramp and gate areas has become increasingly important. As airline fuel costs and safety concerns and regulations have increased, the airline industry is beginning to acknowledge that continuing to use an aircraft's main engines to move aircraft during ground operations is no longer the best option. The delays, costs, and other challenges to timely and efficient aircraft pushback from airport terminals associated with the use of tugs and tow vehicles makes this type of aircraft ground movement an unattractive alternative to the use of an aircraft's main engines to move an aircraft on the ground. Restricted use of an aircraft's engines on low power during arrival at or departure from a gate is an additional, although problematic, option. Not only does such engine use consume fuel, it is also burns fuel inefficiently and produces engine exhaust that contains microparticles and other products of incomplete combustion. Operating aircraft engines, moreover, are noisy, and the associated safety hazards of jet blast and engine ingestion in congested gate and ramp areas are significant concerns that cannot be overlooked.
The use of a drive means, such as a motor structure, integrally mounted with a wheel to rotate the wheel of an aircraft has been proposed. Such a structure should ideally operate to replace use of an aircraft's main engines or an external tow vehicle to move an aircraft independently and efficiently on the ground during taxi. U.S. Pat. No. 2,430,163 to Dever; U.S. Pat. No. 3,977,631 to Jenny; U.S. Pat. No. 7,226,018 to Sullivan; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,445,178 to McCoskey et al, for example, describe various drive means concepts and motors intended to drive aircraft during ground operations. None of the foregoing patents, however, suggests a drive mechanism selectively activated by a clutch to transfer torque and actuate a drive system that actuates a drive means only as required during taxi to move an aircraft independently and efficiently on the ground.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,469,858 to Edelson; U.S. Pat. No. 7,891,609 to Cox; U.S. Pat. No. 7,975,960 to Cox; U.S. Pat. No. 8,109,463 to Cox et al; and British Patent No. 2457144, owned in common with the present invention, describe aircraft drive systems that use electric drive motors to power aircraft wheels and move an aircraft on the ground without reliance on aircraft main engines or external vehicles. While the drive means described in these patents and applications can effectively move an aircraft autonomously during ground operations, it is not suggested that the drive means could be driven or actuated by selective clutch activation of a drive system to selectively transfer torque to actuate an electric motor or any other drive means. None of the foregoing art, moreover, recognizes the significant improvements in drive means operating efficiency possible when gearing systems are replaced by clutch-controlled selective activation of a roller traction or other drive system to transfer torque and actuate drive means that move aircraft autonomously during ground operations.
The drive means currently proposed to drive aircraft on the ground typically rely on gearing systems that operate with the drive means to drive an aircraft wheel and, thus, the aircraft. Traction drives, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,838 to Anderson, available from Nastec, Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio, which relies on ball bearings, can be used to replace gears in some contexts. Adapting roller or traction drive systems to replace gearing and/or gear systems in an aircraft drive wheel to actuate drive means that independently drive an aircraft drive wheel has not been suggested, nor has the use of a selectively activatable clutch assembly to selectively transfer torque to activate such roller traction drive or other drive systems been mentioned.
Many types of vehicle clutch assemblies are well known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,075,623 to Lund; U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,767 to Soderquist; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,661,329 to Cali et al, for example, describe clutch assemblies incorporating sprag or pawl elements that may transmit torque between races or rotatable elements depending, in part, on their relative directions of rotation. One way vehicle clutches designed to lock in one direction and allow free rotation in the opposite direction are also available, as are improved selectable one way clutch designs, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,044 to Burgman et al; U.S. Pat. No. 7,980,371 to Joki; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,042,670 to Bartos et al. Various other selectable clutch designs that provide controllable overrunning and coupling functions in automotive automatic transmissions, are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,079,453 to Kimes and in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. US2010/0252384 to Eisengruber; US2011/0233026 to Pawley; and US2013/0277164 to Prout et al. It is not suggested that any of the foregoing clutch designs may be adapted to activate a roller traction or other drive system to selectively and automatically transfer torque to actuate drive means as required during operation of a drive system to drive an aircraft landing gear wheel to move the aircraft during taxi. Neither the foregoing clutch designs nor other commonly available clutch designs, moreover, are sufficiently robust to function effectively and reliably in an aircraft drive wheel drive system to engage a drive system to transfer torque as required to actuate a drive means and drive an aircraft autonomously during ground operations. Moreover, these systems do not provide the kind of failsafe capability that ensures that the clutch will never be engageable during flight, landing, takeoff, or during any other aircraft operating condition when operation of the drive wheel drive system would be unsafe.
A need exists, therefore, for a clutch assembly with the advantages of a selectable one-way clutch that is specifically designed as an integral component of an aircraft drive wheel drive system to automatically and selectively engage an aircraft drive wheel drive system and selectively transfer torque to actuate a highly efficient drive system-actuated non-engine drive means to drive an aircraft drive wheel and move the aircraft autonomously on the ground that also provides a failsafe capability ensuring that the clutch assembly will never be engageable to activate the drive system when aircraft operating conditions indicate that drive system operation is unsafe.

Aircraft drive wheel drive system with torque coupling clutch assembly


An image processing device includes: an image receiving part configured to receive an image of a target workpiece on a surface of a conveying path captured by means of the imaging unit; a position acquiring part configured to acquire a position of the target workpiece in the captured image; a tilt acquiring part configured to acquire, by using the position of the target workpiece in the captured image acquired by means of the position acquiring part, a tilt angle of an imaging plane of the imaging unit relative to the surface of conveying path; and an outputting part configured to output assistant information used for assisting in the adjustment of the posture of the imaging unit by using the acquired tilt angle.

In the field of Factory Automation (FA) and the like, a visual sensor is used for optically detecting a defect generated in a semi-finished product in the middle of production or in a product before shipment, and/or for optically measuring the size of the defect.
When the detection or the measurement is performed with the visual sensor, it is necessary to properly capture an image of a workpiece. The workpiece is inspected and measured by performing various steps of image processing to an input image obtained by the imaging.
When the visual sensor is used on a production site, it is necessary to properly set an imaging unit, such as a camera, which is included in the visual sensor. The setting of an imaging unit includes, for example, the setting of a view angle of the imaging unit.
A visual field of the imaging unit is determined by an installation posture, such as an angle of the imaging unit. At the production site, when the position of the imaging unit is shifted from the installed position to shift the visual field from a predetermined range, the workpiece no longer fits in the visual field, so it becomes difficult or impossible to perform the inspection and the measurement using the image. Accordingly, in order to return the imaging unit to its original posture, generally the operator checks the image on a monitor, and manually adjusts the installed posture by trial and error until the image of the workpiece is captured in a predetermined position of the visual field.
For example, Patent Document 1(Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-3394) proposes a camera posture adjustment method in order to support the adjustment of the installed posture of the imaging unit. According to the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, tilt information indicating the tilt of the imaging surface of the camera is displayed in order to facilitate the adjustment. In Patent Document 1, the camera is installed on a copy stand (a copy board) so as to be parallel to an original board.

Image processing device and image processing program


An apparatus and method have been developed to exploit the desirable material and process characteristics provided by a low powered laser material deposition system, while overcoming the low material deposition rate imposed by the same process. One application of particular importance for this invention is direct fabrication of functional, solid objects from a CAD solid model. This apparatus uses a software interpreter to electronically slice the CAD model into thin horizontal layers that are subsequently used to drive the deposition apparatus. This apparatus uses a single laser beam to outline the features of the solid object and then uses a series of equally spaced laser beams to quickly fill in the featureless regions. Using the lower powered laser provides the ability to create a part that is very accurate, with material properties that meet or exceed that of a conventionally processed and annealed specimen of similar composition. At the same time, using the multiple laser beams to fill in the featureless areas allows the fabrication process time to be significantly reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the use of multiple beams and nozzles in direct material deposition (DMD) processes in order to increase the deposition rate without compromising material properties or dimensional accuracy.
2. Description of Related Art
Direct material deposition processes allow complex components to be efficiently fabricated in small lot sizes to meet the stringent requirements of the rapidly changing manufacturing environment. This process produces three-dimensional parts directly from a computer aided design (CAD) solid model. U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,756 teaches that complex, net-shaped objects can be built by sequential layer deposition of feedstock material in powder or wire form, whereby the material is directed into a focused laser beam, melted, and deposited onto a deposition substrate to generate solid objects of varying three-dimensional complexity in a layer-wise manner. Other prior art using this method includes "Using the Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS.TM.) Process to Produce Complex Components from a CAD Solid Model" by D. M. Keicher et al. in SPIE Conference, San Jose, Calif., January 1997. This method of direct material fabrication uses a single nozzle or powder delivery system that introduces a converging stream of powdered material into the laser beam at or near the beam's minimum diameter (i.e. focus or focal plane). The stream is at an angle off-normal to a deposition surface whereby uniform geometries of three-dimensional objects can be produced by providing computer controlled motion of the deposition surface relative to the laser beam. Experience has shown, however, that this nozzle design does not provide uniform flow independent of the translation direction. In addition, to achieve goal material properties, the deposition rate is sufficiently low, such that fabrication times required for even intermediate volume objects (100 cubic inches) are prohibitive.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,548 discloses a laser plasma spraying nozzle and method that permits high deposition rates and efficiencies of finely divided particles of a wide range of feed materials. This system uses powdered materials that are carried to the interaction regions via a carrier gas and lasers to melt these particles. However, this system relies solely on the use of a plasma to melt the particles before they are ever introduced to the deposition region. In fact, the carrier gas is often a mixture which promotes ionization, and, as such, the formation of a plasma. The plasma serves to melt the powder particles before they ever come into contact with the deposition substrate. In addition, the beam is diverging such that when it does impact the deposition substrate, the beam irradiance is sufficiently low so that no melting of the deposition substrate occurs. A great distance between the focal point of the laser and the central portion of the plasma is maintained to prevent the substrate from melting. This distance, ranging from 1-6 inches, is a characteristic of this apparatus. The materials are deposited in either a liquid or gaseous state. This design provides a unique method for coating parts; however, it has never been intended for fabrication of multilayered parts. Due to the diverging nature of the powder material, this plasma technique fails to provide the, feature definition necessary for fabricating complex, net-shaped objects.
Another nozzle design is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,299. This nozzle design requires the powder to be delivered from an annular source that is coaxial with a single laser beam. This design provides a uniform feed of powder to the cladding region, a laser used as an energy source to melt the powder that is to be deposited, and a powder distribution system. However, this system requires that the powder distribution system be contained within the nozzle assembly.
The nozzle design of the '299 patent is very specific to the laser cladding application. The term laser cladding is used specifically to imply surface modification and not the direct fabrication method. More importantly, the design relies on having an annular powder distribution channel to deliver the powder to the deposition region. The annular powder distribution region provides powder to the focused laser beam from all directions and does not concentrate the powder for a tightly focused powder stream. For a single laser beam that is coaxial to the powder flow, this nozzle should work well to provide a uniform layer, however, there is concern that the powder distribution at the deposition surface is greatest at the center of the deposition region, causing it to diminish radially away from the center of the deposition spot. With this change in powder volume uniformity, the inclusion of multiple beams will certainly result in varying line size for parallel deposited lines.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,756 also covers the direct metal deposition (DMD) process. This technique uses both wires and powders as filler material. It also uses a single laser beam to deposit the various materials. This patent teaches that the volume of the feedstock material must be less than that of the melted substrate material. However, this reduces the rate of deposition and increases the time to produce parts. The requirement to limit the volume of the feedstock material to be less than that of the melted substrate material was driven by the desire to remove impurities and obtain epitaxial growth. Instead of removing impurities by continuously remelting the previously deposited materials, impurities can be efficiently eliminated by performing the deposition in a controlled atmosphere environment, such as a glove box. Furthermore, expitaxial growth is not desired in most three-dimensional parts, since it may result in anisotropic material characteristics. For most general applications, uniform material properties are desired that do not limit the feedstock volume to be less than that of the deposition substrate melted region.
The above single laser nozzle's side design lacks the ability to increase the deposition rate of powder without sacrificing vital process conditions, including reduced residual stress, enhanced material properties, process time, and good dimensional repeatability, as well as feature definition. Also, this nozzle design does not provide uniform flow independent of the translation direction. Therefore, such nozzle designs are not suitable for mass 3-D net-shape production.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,227 contains similarities to the present invention, such as the use of a positioning system to direct the location of deposition, and the use of a laser to deposit the feedstock material. However, the '227 patent only uses a single laser beam for the deposition process, which uses wire as the feedstock material. This patent also claims that the laser causes the feedstock material to bond to the previously deposited layer without substantially altering the cross-section of the newly deposited material. Such a continuous form of material would appear to be prone to substantial problems of warpage and distortion of the deposited layers due to an incomplete melting of the feedstock material. For the powder deposition processes, the feedstock material is completely consumed within the 3-D net shape, with the powder's cross-section being substantially altered.
Accordingly, there exists a need for improved material deposition nozzles for the laser assisted deposition process.

Multiple beams and nozzles to increase deposition rate


A time information obtaining device and a radio-controlled timepiece are shown. According to one implementation, the time information obtaining device includes the following. A code identifying section identifies each code of a code string in a radio wave. A first portion parity calculating section calculates a portion parity where a parity bit of a variable code is subtracted from a parity code showing a parity bit for a code string portion. A first portion parity deciding section decides a portion parity based on a calculated number of portion parities. A second portion parity deciding section obtains a portion parity from an invariable code other than the variable code. A parity confirming section confirms a match between the portion parities decided by the first portion parity deciding section and the second portion parity deciding section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a time information obtaining device and a radio-controlled timepiece including the above time information obtaining device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is an electronic timepiece (radio-controlled timepiece) which includes a function to receive a standard radio wave which is a radio wave in a long wavelength band to transmit time information and which deciphers the time data to calibrate the present time. In such radio-controlled timepiece, the radio wave is received and the time is calibrated automatically at a predetermined cycle (for example, once a day). Therefore, it is possible to maintain the accurate time display without the user manually calibrating the time.
As the standard radio wave, in addition to JJY (40 kHz, 60 kHz) transmitted in Japan, WWVB (60 kHz) of the United States, MSF (60 kHz) of the United Kingdom, DCF77 (77.5 kHz) of Germany and the like are used. In such standard radio wave, the signal showing the time information is amplitude modulated, and the signal is output each minute at a cycle (frame) of 60 seconds. The signal showing the time information is composed of a plurality of codes arranged according to a predetermined format determined for each standard radio wave transmitting station. The signals showing the codes are output one for each second synchronized with the timing of the beginning of each second. In the radio-controlled timepiece, after the signal is demodulated from the received standard radio wave, the signal is decoded according to the format of the standard radio wave to obtain information of the date and time.
The radio wave in the long wavelength band is transmitted long distances. Therefore, it is possible to receive the standard radio wave throughout a wide range. However, when noise is generated in various places, the noise overlaps with the standard radio wave and is received with the standard radio wave. Moreover, the radio wave attenuates inside a building made of a steel frame or reinforced concrete. Therefore, various techniques are employed to enhance lack of reception intensity and to remove influence of noise so as to obtain time data accurately and securely.
As one of such techniques, typically, the radio-controlled timepiece performs processing to obtain a plurality of pieces of time information from the code string of the plurality of frames and to confirm the consistency among the obtained pieces of time information. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-304973 discloses a technique which divides each frame into blocks showing year, date, day of week, hour, and minute according to a code array format of the transmitting station, and confirms consistency among the plurality of frames of the obtained pieces of time information for each block. For the block in which the frames are not consistent, the standard radio wave is received and the consistency of the time information is confirmed repeatedly until consistency is confirmed.
Alternatively, standard radio waves such as JJY, MSF, and DCF77 include parity data in the time information, and the consistency between the deciphered time data and the parity data can be confirmed.
However, when there is relatively a lot of noise or the radio wave reception intensity is not strong enough, a misidentified code may be mixed in the code string of the frame, and it is not possible to obtain accurate time information for a plurality of frames. In view of the above, the inventors of the present invention developed a method to decide the plausible code by majority of the codes in the same position of the code string determined and obtained for a plurality of frames. However, when the above method is used, since the value of the code regarding one minute unit digit data and the code regarding the parity data including the above code changes for each frame, the code cannot be decided by the majority. Therefore, it is not possible to confirm the accuracy of the time information by consistency of the parity value.
The present invention is a time information obtaining device and a radio-controlled timepiece which can confirm accuracy of time information more easily and more effectively.

Time information obtaining device and radio-controlled timepiece


A system, method and program product for processing software development kits (SDKs). A system is provided that includes a container creation system that wraps an inputted SDK in a penalty container to create a wrapped SDK, wherein the wrapped SDK includes re-instrumented code that redirects application programming interface (API) calls between the SDK and an associated App and operating system through a wrapper in order to monitor runtime behavior; wherein the container creation system instantiates a policy module that is configurable by an SDK provider and App developer to implement a mutual policy configuration for the penalty container; and wherein the penalty container includes a penalty manager notifies the SDK provider and App developer of SDK violations of the mutual policy configuration.

The use of software developer kits (SDKs) by developers of mobile applications (Apps) remains an effective mechanism for providing a rapid development process. Rather than recreate some specialized functionality, App developers can simply obtain and incorporate an SDK from a third party for integration into an App they are developing. SDKs may for example provide an advertising platform, user analytics, push notifications, content management, etc.
Because mobile Apps must adhere to security principles such as Mobile Inter Process Communications (IPC), e.g., an App cannot control the behavior of other Apps. However, because an SDK must be packaged as part of an App, the SDK may have significant control over various operations associated with the App. One problem that arises in this context is that when runtime errors or performance degradation occur, it is generally not evident if the App itself is responsible or the SDK is responsible.
The impact of such SDK problems to App developers may be significant. For instance, users who come across errors might write a negative comment about the App, stop using the App, or find a more reliable App, even though the fault belongs to the SDK and not the App developer.
Furthermore, for many SDKs, developers are required to pay licensing fees that can be costly. As such, App developers tend to favor well-known SDKs that are considered trustworthy and bug free. Consequently, newer SDKs have difficulty in earning trust within the App developer community, as App developers are unwilling to consider using untrusted SDKs that might introduce runtime issues into their App.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Assessing penalties for SDKs that violate policies in mobile apps

International Business Machines Corporation


In an example, the system has a mechanical isolator comprising an elastic material configured to separate the panel rail from the torque tube cause destructive interference with a natural resonant frequency of the system without the mechanical isolator to reduce a mechanical vibration of the system.

The present application relates generally to a tracking system for solar panels. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide a mass damper assembly for a plurality of solar modules configured for a tracking system. In a specific embodiment, the mass damper assembly according to the present invention is for selectively tuning a tracking system, among other aspects. There are other embodiments as well.
As the population of the world increases, industrial expansion has led to an equally large consumption of energy. Energy often comes from fossil fuels, including coal and oil, hydroelectric plants, nuclear sources, and others. As an example, the International Energy Agency projects further increases in oil consumption, with developing nations such as China and India accounting for most of the increase. Almost every element of our daily lives depends, in part, on oil, which is becoming increasingly scarce. As time further progresses, an era of "cheap" and plentiful oil is coming to an end. Accordingly, other and alternative sources of energy have been developed.
Concurrent with oil, we have also relied upon other very useful sources of energy such as hydroelectric, nuclear, and the like to provide our electricity needs. As an example, most of our conventional electricity requirements for home and business use come from turbines run on coal or other forms of fossil fuel, nuclear power generation plants, and hydroelectric plants, as well as other forms of renewable energy. Often times, home and business use of electrical power has been stable and widespread.
Most importantly, much if not all of the useful energy found on the Earth comes from our sun. Generally all common plant life on the Earth achieves life using photosynthesis processes from sun light. Fossil fuels such as oil were also developed from biological materials derived from energy associated with the sun. For human beings including "sun worshipers," sunlight has been essential. For life on the planet Earth, the sun has been our most important energy source and fuel for modern day solar energy.
Solar energy possesses many characteristics that are very desirable! Solar energy is renewable, clean, abundant, and often widespread. Certain technologies have been developed to capture solar energy, concentrate it, store it, and convert it into other useful forms of energy.
Solar panels have been developed to convert sunlight into energy. As an example, solar thermal panels often convert electromagnetic radiation from the sun into thermal energy for heating homes, running certain industrial processes, or driving high grade turbines to generate electricity. As another example, solar photovoltaic panels convert sunlight directly into electricity for a variety of applications. Solar panels are generally composed of an array of solar cells, which are interconnected to each other. The cells are often arranged in series and/or parallel groups of cells in series. Accordingly, solar panels have great potential to benefit our nation, security, and human users. They can even diversify our energy requirements and reduce the world's dependence on oil and other potentially detrimental sources of energy.
Although solar panels have been used successfully for certain applications, there are still limitations. Often, solar panels are unable to convert energy at their full potential due to the fact that the sun is often at an angle that is not optimum for the solar cells to receive solar energy. In the past, various types of conventional solar tracking mechanisms have been developed. Unfortunately, conventional solar tracking techniques are often inadequate. These and other limitations are described throughout the present specification, and may be described in more detail below.
From the above, it is seen that techniques for improving solar systems are highly desirable.


Techniques for improving a power supply accuracy of a precision data converter system, such as analog-to-digital converter circuits (ADCs) and digital-to-analog converter circuits (DACs). Improving the power supply accuracy can enable a reference voltage to be as large as possible, thereby increasing the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR). The techniques can also simplify power supply sequencing requirements for the data converter system.

Electronic systems can include components that rely on a regulated power source. Voltage regulators can be used to provide a circuit supply rail having the regulated voltage by converting available unregulated power to power at specified voltage levels. The purpose of the voltage regulator is to provide a substantially constant output voltage to a load from an input voltage source that may be poorly-specified or fluctuating. Linear regulators can provide both high power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) and low output noise performance. These regulators are widely used to power up noise sensitive rails, such as, but not limited to, power rails for analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and radio frequency (RF) circuits.

Data converter system with improved power supply accuracy and sequencing

Analog Devices International Unlimited Company


Formulations are described that are viscous and will benefit from needle-free delivery at high driving pressures. Conventional delivery of these viscous formulations by hypodermic syringes is inconvenient as well as painful. Formulations include those which have a viscosity of about 5 cS or more at about 20° C. and which can have 0.5 ml or more administered by a needle-free injector in about 0.1 second±0.02 seconds.

Modern drug development has shown that the market for injectable drugs is growing, since the majority of these molecules are too large and fragile to be delivered by other methods such as orally. However, it is difficult to formulate many of these molecules into stable solutions that are sufficiently concentrated to inject an efficacious amount in a reasonable sized dose (<1 ml). As a result, the formulation may be quite viscous, often up to 10,000 times thicker than water i.e. 10,000 cS (centistokes) or higher. Also, the advent of controlled release strategies has opened new areas for development and delivery of formulations. For parenteral applications, the viscosity of enhanced formulations has been an issue with several controlled release formulations. Liquids with viscosities significantly higher than water become increasingly difficult, if not impractical, to inject as viscosity increases using a conventional needle and syringe.
Viscous formulations containing polymers, for example, are employed for the controlled release of drugs after Intra-venous (IV) subcutaneous (SC), intra-dermal (ID) or intramuscular (IM) injection. These formulations are notoriously difficult to inject, requiring a large force to be delivered by the hand of the care-giver, and often quite painful for the patient. The force required for injection is associated with viscous drag of the formulation while traversing the length of the needle. Consequently, large bore needles are employed (creating even greater levels of pain), but still the injection time can be in the order of minutes or more.
The ability to inject a drug incorporated into a polymer to a localized site and have the polymer form a semi-solid drug depot has a number of advantages. Among these advantages is ease of application localized delivery, prolonged drug delivery, and better compliance with prescribed therapy due to less frequent dosing. The better compliance is very important for delivery of psychiatric drugs, wherein the disease state can make compliance difficult or impossible, and a depot can allow for infrequent, e.g. monthly, dosing in a clinical setting. For these reasons a large number of in situ setting polymeric delivery systems have been developed and investigated for use in delivering a wide variety of drugs.
Currently, there are few synthetic or natural polymeric materials which can be used for the controlled delivery of drugs, including peptide and protein drugs, because of the strict regulatory compliance requirements, such as biocompatibility, clearly defined degradation pathway, and safety of the degradation products. The most widely investigated and advanced biodegradable polymers in regard to available toxicological and clinical data are the aliphatic poly(.alpha.-hydroxy acids), such as poly(D,L- or L-lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) and their copolymers (PLGA). These polymers are commercially available and are presently being used in medical products, for example as bioresorbable sutures. An FDA-approved system for controlled release of leuprolide acetate, the Lupron Depot™, is also based on PLGA copolymers. The Lupron Depot. consists of injectable microspheres, which release leuprolide acetate over a prolonged period (e.g., about days) for the treatment of prostate cancer.
A. S. Sawhney and J. A. Hubbell, J. Biomed. Mat. Res., 24, 1197-1411 (1990), synthesized terpolymers of D,L-lactide, glycolide and c-caprolactone which degrade rapidly in vitro. The hydrophilicity of the material was increased by copolymerization with a poloxamer surfactant (Pluronic F-68). This poloxamer is a block copolymer comprising about 80% by weight of a relatively hydrophobic poly(oxypropylene) block and 20% by weight of a hydrophilic poly(oxyethylene) block. Copolymerization with the poloxamer resulted in a stronger and partly crystalline material which was mechanically stable at physiological temperatures (e.g. 37.degree. C.) in water.
One system, which can be fabricated in aqueous solution, is a class of block copolymers referenced above and marketed under the Pluronic™. tradename. These copolymers are composed of two different polymer blocks, i.e. hydrophilic poly(oxyethylene) blocks and hydrophobic poly(oxypropylene) blocks to make up a triblock of poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene)-poly(oxyethylene). The triblock copolymers absorb water to form gels which exhibit reverse thermal gelation behavior.
Churchill et al, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,526,938 and 4,745,160 show copolymers that are either self-dispersible or can be made self-dispersible in aqueous solutions. These copolymers are ABA triblock or AB block copolymers composed of hydrophobic A-blocks, such as polylactide (PLA) or poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), and hydrophilic B-blocks, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polyvinyl pyrrolidone.
Dunn et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,519, disclose the composition of a liquid formulation of a thermoplastic polymer and a pharmaceutically acceptable organic solvent (trade name Atrigel). The composition is administered as a liquid to an implant site, whereupon the solvent diffuses or dissipates into the surrounding aqueous tissue fluids. The thermoplastic polymer is not soluble in these aqueous fluids so that it coagulates or solidifies to form a microporous solid or gelatinous matrix. The composition is a liquid formulation of a thermoset prepolymer or copolymer, preferably an acrylic ester-terminated biodegradable prepolymer, which is capable of cross-linking in situ to form a polymeric or copolymeric solid or gelatinous matrix.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,949, Rathi et al. disclose A water soluble biodegradable ABA- or BAB-type triblock polymer is disclosed that is made up of a major amount of a hydrophobic polymer made of a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer or poly(lactide) polymer as the A-blocks and a minor amount of a hydrophilic polyethylene glycol polymer B-block, that possesses reverse thermal gelation properties.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,948 describes a composition comprised of a product including a biologically active agent encapsulated in a matrix comprising a polyetherester copolymer, such as a polyethylene glycol terephthalate/polybutylene terephthalate copolymer. The polyetherester copolymer protects the biologically active agent (including proteins, peptides, and small drug molecules) from degradation or denaturation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,058 describes a delivery system in situ which uses sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB). Sucrose acetate isobutyrate is a highly lipophilic sugar derivative, which is currently used as stabiliser and emulsifying agent to human diets in the Food Industry. This technology, called SABER™, was patented by Tipton and Richard (Southern Biosystems, Inc.) in 1995. The high viscosity of the liquid sucrose acetate isobutyrate carrier is lowered by the addition of a water soluble or miscible solvent such as ethanol or dimethylsulfoxide. After addition of the drug, the composition is injected and forms a highly viscous implant in situ, which releases the drug over time.
EP 1184032 describes a method for producing hydrogels, based on crystallization of dextran or derivatives thereof. These hydrogels find use in pharmaceutical, medical and biotechnological applications, e.g. as controlled release systems for the delivery of active ingredients in in vivo and in vitro applications. The hydrogels according to the present invention are priced by crystallization from an aqueous solution that is essentially free of organic solvents or crystallization enhancers.
EP0842657 describes a two phase controlled release system containing dextran and polyethylene glycol. EP0941068 describes a two phase dextran containing controlled release system for proteins.
Many of these and other controlled release formulations are limited by their elevated viscosity, which leads to many delivery difficulties, such as high required hand strength, long delivery times, and pain and fear associated with the large bore needle. Thus, there is a need to deliver these compounds in a rapid, automated fashion without a needle.
Needle-free injectors are available using many different types of energy, and the energy may be supplied by the user, for example where a spring is manually compressed and latched to temporarily store the energy until it is required to "fire" the injector. Alternatively, the injector may be supplied having the energy already stored—for instance by means of a precompressed spring (mechanical or gas), or pyrotechnic charge.
Some injectors are intended for disposal after a single use, whereas others have a re-loadable energy storage means and a disposable medicament cartridge, and there are many combinations to suit particular applications and markets. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the term "actuator" will be used to describe the energy storage and release mechanism, whether or not it is combined with the medicament cartridge. In all cases, it is necessary to arrange for sufficient force at the end of the piston stroke to deliver the entire medicament at the required pressure.
EP 0 063 341 and EP 0 063 342 disclose a needle-free injector which includes a piston pump for expelling the liquid to be injected, which is driven by a motor by means of a pressure agent. The liquid container is mounted laterally to the piston pump. The amount of liquid required for an injection is sucked into the pump chamber by way of an inlet passage and a flap check valve when the piston is retracted. As soon as the piston is moved in the direction of the nozzle body the liquid is urged through the outlet passage to the nozzle and expelled. The piston of the piston pump is a solid round piston.
EP 0 133 471 describes a needle-free vaccination unit which is operated with carbon dioxide under pressure, from a siphon cartridge by way of a special valve.
EP 0 347 190 discloses a vacuum compressed gas injector in which the depth of penetration of the injected drug can be adjusted by means of the gas pressure and the volume of the drug can be adjusted by way of the piston stroke.
EP 0 427 457 discloses a needle-free hypodermic syringe which is operated by means of compressed gas by way of a two-stage valve. The injection agent is disposed in an ampoule which is fitted into a protective casing secured to the injector housing. The ampoule is fitted on to the end of the piston rod. Disposed at the other end of the ampoule is the nozzle whose diameter decreases towards the end of the ampoule.
WO 89/08469 discloses a needle-free injector for one-off use. WO 92/08508 sets forth a needle-free injector which is designed for three injections. The ampoule containing the drug is screwed into one end of the drive unit, with the piston rod being fitted into the open end of the ampoule. At its one end, the ampoule contains the nozzle through which the drug is expelled. A displaceable closure plug is provided approximately at the center of the length of the ampoule. The dose to be injected can be adjusted by changing the depth of the ampoule. The piston rod which projects from the drive unit after actuation of the injector is pushed back by hand. Both units are operated with compressed gas.
WO 93/03779 discloses a needle-free injector with a two-part housing and a liquid container which is fitted laterally to the unit. The drive spring for the piston is stressed by means of a drive motor. The spring is released as soon as the two parts of the housing are displaced relative to each other by pressing the nozzle against the injection location. Respective valves are provided in the intake passage for the liquid and in the outlet of the metering chamber.
WO 95/03844 discloses a further needle-free injector. It includes a liquid-filled cartridge which at one end includes a nozzle through which the liquid is expelled. At the other end the cartridge is closed by a cap-type piston which can be pushed into the cartridge. A piston which is loaded by a pre-stressed spring, after release of the spring, displaces the cap-type piston into the cartridge by a predetermined distance, with the amount of liquid to be injected being expelled in that case. The spring is triggered as soon as the nozzle is pressed sufficiently firmly against the injection location. This injector is intended for one-off or repeated use. The cartridge is arranged in front of the spring-loaded piston and is a fixed component of the injector. The position of the piston of the injector which is intended for a plurality of uses is displaced after each use by a distance in a direction towards the nozzle. The piston and the drive spring cannot be reset. The pre stressing of the spring is initially sufficiently great to expel the entire amount of liquid in the cartridge all at once. The spring can only be stressed again if the injector is dismantled and the drive portion of the injector assembled with a fresh, completely filled cartridge.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,086 describes a needle-free injector, combining an actuator and a medicament cartridge. The cartridge is pre-filled with a liquid to be injected in a subject, and having a liquid outlet and a free piston in contact with the liquid, the actuator comprising an impact member urged by a spring and temporarily restrained by a latch means, the impact member being movable in a first direction under the force of the spring to first strike the free piston and then to continue to move the piston in the first direction to expel a dose of liquid through the liquid outlet, the spring providing a built-in energy store and being adapted to move from a higher energy state to a lower energy state, but not vice versa. The actuator may comprise trigger means to operate the said latch, and thus initiate the injection, only when a predetermined contact force is achieved between the liquid outlet of the said cartridge and the subject. Further examples and improvements to this needle-free injector are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,620,135, 6,554,818, 6,415,631, 6,409,032, 6,280,410, 6,258,059, 6,251,091, 6,216,493, 6,179,583, 6,174,304, 6,149,625, 6,135,979, 5,957,886, 5,891,086, and 5,480,381, incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,859,996, Mizzy, discloses a controlled leak method to ensure that the injector orifice is placed correctly at the required pressure on the subject's skin at the correct normal to the skin attitude. When placement conditions are met, controlled leak is sealed off by contact pressure on the subject's skin, the pressure within the injector control circuit rises until a pressure sensitive pilot valve opens to admit high pressure gas to drive the piston and inject the medicament.
WO Patent 82/02835. Cohen and Ep-A-347190, Finger, discloses a method to improve the seal between the orifice and the skin and prevent relative movement between each. This method is to employ a vacuum device to suck the epidermis directly and firmly onto the discharge orifice. The discharge orifice is positioned normal to the skin surface in order to suck the epidermis into the orifice. This method for injection of the medicament into the skin and the injector mechanism are different and do not apply to the present invention because of its unique ampule design.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,859,996, Mizzy, discloses a pressure sensitive sleeve on the injector which is placed on the subject, whereby operation of the injector is prevented from operating until the correct contact pressure between orifice and the skin is achieved. The basic aim is to stretch the epidermis over the discharge orifice and apply the pressurized medicament at a rate which is higher than the epidermis will deform away from the orifice.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,381, T. Weston, discloses a means of pressuring the medicament at a sufficiently high rate to pierce the epidermis before it has time to deform away from the orifice. In addition, the device directly senses that the pressure of the discharge orifice on the subject's epidermis is at a predetermined value to permit operation of the injector. The device is based on a cam and cam follower mechanism for mechanical sequencing, and contains a chamber provided with a liquid outlet for expelling the liquid, and an impact member, to dispell the liquid.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,086, T. Weston, describes a needle-free injector that contains a chamber that is pre-filled with a pressurized gas which exerts a constant force on an impact member in order to strike components of a cartridge and expulse a dose of medicament. This device contains an adjustment knob which sets the dose and the impact gap, and uses direct contact pressure sensing to initiate the injection.
A number of biologically-active agents in viscous formulations would benefit from being delivered using the needle-free injector. This group could consist of (but not limited to) anti-inflammatory agents, antibacterial agents, antiparasitic agents, antifungal agents, antiviral agents, anti-neoplastic agents, analgesic agents, anesthetics, vaccines, central nervous system agents, growth factors, hormones, antihistamines, osteoinductive agents, cardiovascular agents, anti-ulcer agents, bronchodilators, vasodilators, birth control agents and fertility enhancing agents, interferon alpha, growth hormone, osteoporosis drugs including PTH and PTH analogs and fragments, obesity drugs, psychiatric drugs, anti-diabetes, female infertility, AIDS, treatment of growth retardation in children, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, migraine headaches, and allergic reactions.

Viscous formulations and their use in needle-free injection


An image sensor has a plurality of pixels arrayed to form a plurality of columns. The sensor includes a plurality of readout circuits which generate pixel signals based on signals supplied from the pixels of respective columns, a plurality of output channels, a plurality of column selecting switches, and a control circuit which controls the plurality of column selecting switches. The control circuit controls the plurality of column selecting switches so as to output the pixel signals of target readout pixels to output channels selected based on a selection rule in the spatial order of the pixels in the full pixel readout mode. The control circuit controls the plurality of column selecting switches so as to output the thinned-out pixel signals of target readout areas to output channels selected based on the same rule as the selection rule in the spatial order of the areas in the thinning readout mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image sensor and, more particularly, to an image sensor having a plurality of output channels.
2. Description of the Related Art
These days, image sensors for digital cameras make remarkable progress and are rapidly gaining a larger number of pixels for higher resolution of still images. Along with this, it is an urgent issue to increase the pixel signal readout speed in order to ensure sequential shooting performance necessary for a camera. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-286933 discloses a CCD image sensor which parallely reads out pixel signals through a plurality of column shift registers to increase the readout speed.
A digital camera can capture still images, and even moving images. The digital camera generally uses one image sensor to capture both still and moving images. The image sensor requires high resolution for still images, and requires a high frame rate for moving images while decreasing the resolution to match a general moving image standard. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-130382 discloses an image sensor which adds pixel signals to decrease the resolution and increase the frame rate.
The CCD image sensor disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-286933 parallely reads out pixel signals through a plurality of output column shift registers. Thus, the apparent signal readout speed is higher than in readout through a single output column shift register. However, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-286933 does not describe any idea of increasing the frame rate used in capturing a moving image from that used in capturing a still image.
The image sensor disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-130382 adds pixel signals by merging charges on a horizontal output line. However, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-130382 does not describe any concept of parallely outputting sums through a plurality of channels.
That is, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2005-286933 and 2005-130382 do not have any idea of increasing the frame rate by parallely reading out low-resolution pixel signals through a plurality of channels in capturing a moving image.
Low-resolution pixel signals may be parallely read out through a plurality of channels by simply assigning them to the plurality of channels. However, this puts a load on the process of a processing circuit which processes the pixel signals. For example, to execute a process common to that in full pixel readout, the processing circuit must rearrange the order of received low-resolution pixel signals.


A gear-reducing, torque-multiplying gear drive assembly includes a stationary outer case housing an internal rotary carrier having an output shaft fixed thereto which is journaled by the case for rotation of the carrier and shaft relative to the case. A pair of electric motors are mounted on the carrier and drive a pair of associated planet gears which are enmeshed with a fixed sun gear. Operating the motors rotates the planet gears causing the carrier and the output stub shafts fixed thereto to rotate about a common axis of the stub shafts.

Various gearing arrangements have been proposed that increase the output torque of the driven component of a system in relation to the input torque by control of the input-to-output gear ratio.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,122,330; 3,156,136; and 4,321,842 disclose rotary drive gear systems in which an internal rotary carrier is arranged with a stationary case and carries a driven gear set that interacts with a stationary sun gear to rotate the carrier and an output shaft with increased torque. In one embodiment of the '842 patent, the carrier mounts an electric motor having a drive shaft on which two cog wheels are mounted that are coupled by endless belts to a pair of sun cogs, one of which is fixed to the external case and the other which is fixed to an output shaft journaling the carrier.
It is an object of the present invention to provide such an electric driven rotary gearing arrangement but of a much simpler design involving fewer parts and improved versatility.

Gear system with electric motor driving planet gear about fixed sun gear to impart rotation to carrier


In the healthcare field there are specific wounds generally referred to as xe2x80x9cpressure ulcersxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cdecubitus ulcersxe2x80x9d. These wounds are generally caused by: direct constant pressure to body tissues; internal disease or disorders which surfaces on the skin; urine or fecal material constantly in contact with skin causing breakdown; lack of proper nutrition; or, a combination of all these factors. These wounds occur mostly on xe2x80x9cbed-ridden patientsxe2x80x9d whose debilitation is such that they cannot react to their body""s neurological signals for them to adjust their position. Most of these patients are prone and lay on standard mattresses.

This invention relates to the problem of xe2x80x9cpressure ulcersxe2x80x9d of the heel area. This invention relates to foot positioners and more particularly to a practical, effective method of positioning feet to help prevent skin and heel breakdown which leads to the formation of pressure ulcers on the heel.
In the past, foot positioners have consisted of such items as standard pillows, air filled boots, xe2x80x9cbean-bagxe2x80x9d cushions, and foam cradles. The problems with these xe2x80x9cmanufactured productsxe2x80x9d include; difficulty in determining for which foot the positioner is indicated; quick visual assessment of skin on the foot (due to the foot being xe2x80x9cwrapped inxe2x80x9d the positioner); heat build up causing odor and discomfort; maintaining proper heel positioning; consequence of straps being too tight (causing breakdown) or too loose (non-functional); and,choosing the correct size. Pillows have their own set of problems in that they are not clearly defined as a xe2x80x9cfootxe2x80x9d product; they do not stay in position; they can be too high, possibly causing a hyper-extended knee; they can be too low, accomplishing nothing.
An appropriate positioner should be cool, comfortable, and well accepted by the patient. It should provide the healthcare personnel immediate visual assessment of the patient""s foot position and skin condition. It should be uniform in it"" size so that there is no guessing on the part of the healthcare personnel as to sizing, it should be a xe2x80x9cone size fits allxe2x80x9d. It should be non-incapsulating to help prevent heat build up or pressure from straps. It should be a low profile positioner to help prevent hyper-extention of the knee.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel foot positioner for helping to protect patient""s heels from breakdown.
Another object of the present invention is to make this positioner easily identifiable by healthcare staff as to its purpose; to provide immediate visual assement of the foot position and skin condition; to be uniform in its"" size so that xe2x80x9cone size fits allxe2x80x9d; to be a low profile so as to help prevent hyper-extention of the knee; to allow the foot to be free, unencumbered by straps or encapsulating material;
A foot positioner, designed to assist in appropriate positioning of a patient whose heels have been identified as having the potential for skin breakdown, is placed under the ankle/heel area of the feet with the feet slightly beyond the body of the positioner. The product positions the patient in such a manner as to help prevent heels from maintaining pressure with the mattress. The positioner is passive in that it is strategically placed by a nurse (or other healthcare professional) so as to best benefit the patient. It will provide immediate visual assessment of the feet; it will be cool (that is, there will be no heat build up due to an incapsulating effect); it will be free of straps; it will be easily recognizable by the healthcare staff as intended for heel positioning.

Abstract: These xe2x80x9cpressure ulcersxe2x80x9d can occur in any area of the body but are predominantly found in the shoulders, coccyx, hip, legs, and heels. Actually, any xe2x80x9cbony-prominencexe2x80x9d is a candidate for breakdown if pressure is allowed to be against it constantly.

Abstract: There have been many attempts to xe2x80x9ccurexe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ctreatxe2x80x9d these xe2x80x9cpressure ulcersxe2x80x9d. There are nursing attempts to turn the patient every two hours to prevent these wounds from occuring. There have been products produced to give xe2x80x9cfloatationxe2x80x9d to these patients to help relieve pressure. These products range from low air loss active floatation beds to static air mattresses to foam (trapped air) overlays to body positioners.


Provided is a mobile terminal that includes a touch screen formed to enable a touch input, and a controller configured to generate a plurality of screen regions dividing the touch screen in which the touch screen is divided into a plurality of screen regions, and determine whether or not to display an icon in a first screen region based on whether or not the execution screen of a preset application is displayed in a second screen region among the plurality of screen regions, wherein the icon is an icon corresponding to a function of controlling the execution screen of the preset application displayed in the second screen region based on the execution screen of an application displayed in the first screen region.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal capable of dividing a screen and a control method thereof.
2. Background
Terminals can be classified into two types, such as a mobile or portable terminal and a stationary terminal based on its mobility. Furthermore, the mobile terminal can be further classified into two types, such as a handheld terminal and a vehicle mount terminal based on whether or not it can be directly carried by a user.
As it becomes multifunctional, for example, such a terminal is allowed to capture still images or moving images, play music or video files, play games, receive broadcast and the like, so as to be implemented as an integrated multimedia player. Moreover, the improvement of structural or software elements of the terminal may be taken into consideration to support and enhance the functions of the terminal.
Owing to the enhancement, mobile terminals having a multi-tasking function that simultaneously performs a plurality of applications have been produced in a large quantity. Accordingly, the interest on a screen division method of a mobile terminal capable of simultaneously displaying the execution screens of a plurality of applications running on multitasking has been increased. However, when it is desired to capture only screen information displayed in a first screen region in a split screen state, there has been inconvenience that the user captures the entire region of the screen information and then has to edit a portion corresponding to the first screen region.
The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

Mobile terminal and control method thereof


Dihydronepetalactone, a minor natural constituent of the essential oil of catmints (Nepeta spp.) such as Nepeta cataria, has been identified as an effective insect repellent compound. Synthesis of dihydronepetalactone may be achieved by hydrogenation of nepetalactone, the major constituent of catmint essential oils. This compound, which also has fragrance properties, may be used commercially for its insect repellent properties.

Repellent substances generally cause insects to be driven away from, or to reject, otherwise insect-acceptable food sources or habitats. Most known repellents are only mildly toxic. A few of the known repellents, in fact, are not active poisons at all but rather prevent damage to plants/animals or articles of manufacture by making insect food sources or living conditions unattractive or offensive. Most current commercial insect repellents contain the synthetic chemical N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) as their primary active ingredient. For instance, repellents sold under the major commercial brand names such as Off!®, Deep Woods Off!®, and Cutter® are all DEET based products and comprise 85% of insect repellent sales (Consumer Reports Buying Guide, 1994 Special Year-End Issue). Further, Consumer Reports tests indicated that products with the highest concentration of DEET lasted the longest against mosquitoes. Despite being an effective repellent, however, this compound has certain drawbacks. Specifically, it possesses an unpleasant odor and imparts a greasy feel to the skin. Although it has recently been re-registered for use in the US by the EPA, concerns have been raised as to its safety, particularly when applied to children (Briassoulis, G.; Narlioglou, M.; Hatzis, T. (2001) Human & Experimental Toxicology 20(1), 8-14). Studies have demonstrated that high concentrations of DEET may give rise to allergic or toxic reactions in some individuals. Other disadvantages associated with DEET include: 1) it is a synthetic chemical having a limited spectrum of activity; 2) DEET is a powerful plasticizer and will dissolve or mar many plastics and painted surfaces; and 3) DEET plasticizes the inert ingredients typically used in topical formulations in order to lengthen the time of effectiveness. This leads to DEET formulations with low user acceptability.
As a result of the above limitations, DEET-free products with repellent activity are finding favor with consumers, and demand for compositions containing natural products (versus synthetic chemicals such as DEET) is increasing. These DEET-free repellent compounds require a combination of excellent repellency, high residual activity and relatively little or no toxicity to humans (or pets) and the environment. In response to these consumer demands, there is an on-going need to develop new repellent compounds which can be obtained from, or synthesized from, natural plant materials and which are pleasant to use.
Many plant species produce essential oils (aromatic oils) which are used as natural sources of insect repellent and fragrant chemicals [Hay, R. K. M., Svoboda, K. P., Botany, in 'Volatile Oil Crops: their biology, chemistry and production'. Hay, R. K. M., Waterman, P. G. (eds.). Longman Group UK Limited (1993)]. Citronella oil, known for its general repellence towards insects, is obtained from the graminaceous plants Cymbopogon winterianus and C. nardus. Examples of plants used as sources of fragrant chemicals include Melissa officinalis (Melissa), Perilla frutescens (Perilla), Posostemon cablin (Patchouli) and various Lavandula spp. (Lavender). All of these examples of plants yielding oil of value to the fragrance industry are members of the Labiatae (Lamiaceae) family. Plants of the genus Nepeta (catmints) are also members of this family, and produce an essential oil which is a minor item of commerce. This oil is very rich in a class of monoterpenoid compounds known as iridoids [Inouye, H. Iridoids. Methods in Plant Biochemistry 7:99-143 (1991)], more specifically the methylcyclopentanoid nepetalactones [Clark, L. J. et al. The Plant Journal, 11:1387-1393 (1997)] and derivatives.
Iridoid monoterpenoids have long been known to be effective repellents to a variety of insect species (Eisner, T. Science 146:1318-1320 (1964); Eisner, T. Science 148:966-968 (1965); Peterson, C. and J. Coats, Pesticide Outlook 12:154-158 (2001); and Peterson, C. et al. Abstracts of Papers American Chemical Society, (2001) 222 (1-2): AGRO73). U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,346 discloses insect repellants with compositions containing bicyclic iridoid lactones (e.g., iridomyrmecin). Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,896 discloses use of these bicyclic iridoid lactone compositions in potentiated insect repellent mixtures with DEET.
Formal studies concerning the repellency of dihydronepetalactones, a class of iridoid monoterpenoids derived from nepetalactones (shown in FIG. 1), have been much less conclusive and have failed to teach or imply that these compounds exert a repellent effect on the common insect pests of human society. For example, a study of the composition of the secretion from anal glands of the ant Iridomyrmex nitidus showed that isodihydronepetalactone was present in appreciable amounts, together with isoiridomyrmecin (Cavill, G. W. K., and D. V. Clark. J. Insect Physiol. 13:131-135 (1967)). Although isoiridomyrmecin was known at the time to possess good 'knockdown' insecticidal activity, no evidence was provided in support of a similar activity for isodihydronepetalactone, and no investigation of this compound's repellent effect (as distinct from insecticidal activity) was made.
In a later publication by Cavill, G. W. K., et al. (Tetrahedron 38:1931-1938 (1982)), the presence of dihydronepetalactones in the defensive secretion of an ant was again reported, but the authors concluded that the compound iridodial (and not a dihydronepetalactone) was the basic repellent constituent.

Most recently, Jefson, M., et al. (J. Chemical Ecology 9:159-180 (1983)) described the repellent effect of dihydronepetalactone. Initial repellency caused by the undiluted compound was measured with respect to the ant species Monomorium destructor during feeding. After 25 seconds of exposure to the pure dihydronepetalactone, approximately 50-60% of the ants ceased to feed. However, further analyses of the repellency over a longer time course were not presented, nor were analyses with anything other than the pure undiluted compound. Repellency observed over such short periods of time (seconds) with concentrated chemicals is insufficient to allow prediction of efficacy in practical applications such as in topical insect repellents.
There is consequently a continuing need for a biologically-based compound having improved insect repellent properties (with respect to DEET) and which is substantially non-toxic or only mildly toxic to humans. Preferred repellents will have activity against a wide variety of insects, including biting insects, wood-boring insects, noxious insects, household pests, and the like. Applicants have found that dihydronepetalactones perform well as a new class of effective insect repellent compounds without the disadvantageous properties characteristic of prior-art compositions.


A new and distinct cultivar of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum hybrid) plant named ‘C04-051’, characterized by its Upright to semi-upright plant growth habit and strong plant growth vigor, low chilling requirement, large fruit size, good fruit flavor, firm fruit suited to handling and low scarring on the fruit. This combination results in higher quality fruit with a later availability than other varieties.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety of Vaccinium corymbosum hybrid (blueberry), which has been given the variety denomination of 'C04-051'. The new variety 'C04-051' shows distinctive traits such as strong growth vigor, good acidity and sweetness balance in the fruit, low scarring strong fruit firmness, low chilling requirement. The new variety 'C04-051' is intended for use as fresh fruit for shipping, customer pick and processing markets and as a home garden plant.
The new blueberry cultivar is a selection resulting from seedlings produced in a controlled breeding programme of Vaccinium varieties in Florida, USA in 2002 from a cross of the blueberry variety known as 'FL02-043' (seed parent) (unpatented) and the blueberry variety known as 'FL89-119' (pollen parent) (unpatented). The seed from the cross was sown and grown in Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia. The new cultivar was discovered and selected in 2004 as a single plant within a population of seedlings resulted from the controlled cross, in an experimental block in the field at Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia, and has since been named 'C04-051'. Selection criteria were a combination of strong growth vigor, low chilling requirement, good fruit flavor and low scarring on the fruit. The new variety was subsequently evaluated for a number of years at the commercial farm at Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia.
Asexual reproduction of the new variety 'C04-051' by softwood cutting propagation since 2004 at Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation, with the clones phenotypically identical to the original plant.
The seed parent 'FL02-043' is characterized by an upright growth habit and late timing ripening of fruit. The pollen parent 'FL89-119' is characterized by medium plant growth vigor, early timing of ripening of fruit and semi-upright growth habit. The new variety 'C04-051' differs from the female parent 'FL02-043' and the male parent 'FL89-119' in that 'C04-051' has a mid-season cropping timing. The new variety 'C04-051' has a plant growth habit that is intermediate between the female parent's upright and the male parent's semi-upright growth habit. The new variety 'C04-051' also differs from the male parent in that 'C04-051' has stronger plant vigor.


The embodiments of the invention provide a method, etc. for a pre-epitaxial disposable spacer integration scheme with very low temperature selective epitaxy for enhanced device performance. More specifically, one method begins by forming a first gate and a second gate on a substrate. Next, an oxide layer is formed on the first and second gates; and, a nitride layer is formed on the oxide layer. Portions of the nitride layer proximate the first gate, portions of the oxide layer proximate the first gate, and portions of the substrate proximate the first gate are removed so as to form source and drain recesses proximate the first gate. Following this, the method removes remaining portions of the nitride layer, including exposing remaining portions of the oxide layer. The removal of the remaining portions of the nitride layer only exposes the remaining portions of the oxide layer and the source and drain recesses.

1. Field of the Invention
The embodiments of the invention provide a method, etc. for a pre-epitaxial disposable spacer integration scheme with very low temperature selective epitaxy for enhanced device performance.
2. Description of the Related Art
For each successive microelectronics generation, the performance targets become harder to meet. One method for improving the device performance is so-called "Strained Silicon" where the channel region of the device is stressed by using selective epitaxy to regrow a straining material in the recessed source/drain region of the device. Two challenges are increasing the amount of strain in the channel by (for example) changing the composition of the epitaxial film and/or increasing the amount of activated dopant in the epitaxial film.

Pre-epitaxial disposable spacer integration scheme with very low temperature selective epitaxy for enhanced device performance


In a tunnel magnetoresistance effect element comprising a tunnel multilayered film having a tunnel barrier layer, a ferromagnetic free layer and a ferromagnetic pinned layer such that the tunnel barrier layer is held between the ferromagnetic free layer and the ferromagnetic pinned layer, three indexes representing a surface roughness state of the tunnel barrier layer are set such that Raxe2x89xa61 nm, Rmaxxe2x89xa610 nm and Rrmsxe2x89xa61.2 nm, wherein Ra is one of the three indexes and representing the center line average roughness, Rmax is one of the three indexes and representing the maximum height, and Rrms is one of the three indexes and representing the standard deviation roughness. Thus, the tunnel magnetoresistance effect element exhibits improved characteristics, particularly, a large head output.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tunnel magnetoresistance effect element. The ferromagnetic tunnel magnetoresistance effect element is, among magnetoresistance effect films for reading the magnetic field intensity of a magnetic recording medium or the like as a signal, an element which is capable of reading a small magnetic field change as a greater electrical resistance change signal. The ferromagnetic tunnel magnetoresistance effect element is mainly incorporated in, for example, a hard disk drive.
2. Description of the Related Art
Following the high densification of hard disks (HD), highly sensitive magnetic heads with high outputs have been demanded. In response to these demands, attention has been paid to a ferromagnetic tunnel magnetoresistance effect element having a multilayered structure composed of ferromagnetic layer/tunnel barrier layer/ferromagnetic layer, which utilizes a ferromagnetic tunnel magnetoresistance effect.
The ferromagnetic tunnel magnetoresistance effect is a phenomenon that when a current is applied in a laminate direction between a pair of ferromagnetic layers which sandwich a tunnel barrier layer, a tunnel current flowing in the tunnel barrier layer changes depending on a relative angle of magnetization between both ferromagnetic layers.
In this case, the tunnel barrier layer is a thin insulation film which allows electrons to pass therethrough while keeping spins of the electrons due to the tunnel magnetoresistance effect. Generally, the tunnel barrier layer is obtained by oxidizing a thin metal, such as Al, layer of about 10 xc3x85 in thickness.
When the relative angle of magnetization between both ferromagnetic layers which sandwich the tunnel barrier layer therebetween is decreased, the tunneling probability is increased and, therefore, the resistance to current flowing therebetween is decreased. In contrast, when the relative angle of magnetization between both ferromagnetic layers is large, the tunneling probability is lowered, thus, the resistance to current flowing therebetween is increased.
When applying the TMR element to a HDD head, it is essential to lower the electrical resistance of the element. The reason is as follows: Specifically, the resistance of a TMR element is basically expressed by the following equation (1).
R"sgr"=C"sgr" exp(2xcexad)xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
xcexa=(2mxcfx86/h2)xc2xd
wherein d represents a thickness of a barrier layer, xcfx86 represents a magnitude of a barrier potential measured from the Fermi level, and C"sgr" represents an amount determined by an electron state of an insulation layer and magnetic layers, and may be considered to be an amount which is approximately proportional to the product of the Fermi levels of the two magnetic layers.
According to the forgoing equation (1), it is understood that lowering of the resistance of the element can be achieved by reducing the thickness d of the barrier layer. By reducing the resistance of the element, a larger current is allowed to supply, thus, a greater output can be achieved. In addition, in order to eliminate Electro-Static Discharges, it is desirable to lower the resistance of the element.
However, when decreasing the thickness d of the barrier layer, it is expected that the surface condition of the barrier layer should be highly smoother. When the surface is not smooth enough while the thickness of the barrier layer is thin, pinholes are apt to occur in a portion of the barrier layer, and a leakage current may occur through the pinholes. When the leakage current occurs, the greater output can not be achieved. Further, an output may not be obtained when an amount of leakage current is too large.
Under the foregoing circumstances, a feasibility study for realizing a tunnel magnetoresistance effect element including a head configuration has not been sufficiently achieved, though such a feasibility study is in the initial stage. Particularly, a standard specification for surface roughness of a tunnel barrier layer to significantly improve a head output has not been proposed.
The present invention has been made under these circumstances and has an object to provide a standard specification for a tunnel barrier layer to obtain improved characteristics of a tunnel magnetoresistance effect element, particularly to achieve a high head output.
For solving the foregoing problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tunnel magnetoresistance effect element comprising a tunnel multilayered film having a tunnel barrier layer, a ferromagnetic free layer and a ferromagnetic pinned layer such that the tunnel barrier layer is held between the ferromagnetic free layer and the ferromagnetic pinned layer, wherein three indexes representing a surface roughness state of the tunnel barrier layer are set such that Raxe2x89xa61 nm, Rmaxxe2x89xa610 nm and Rrmsxe2x89xa61.2 nm, wherein Ra is one of the three indexes and representing the center line average roughness, Rmax is one of the three indexes and representing the maximum height, and Rrms is one of the three indexes and representing the standard deviation roughness.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnet-resistive tunnel junction head comprising a tunnel magnetoresistance effect element which includes a tunnel multilayered film having a tunnel barrier layer, a ferromagnetic free layer and a ferromagnetic pinned layer such that the tunnel barrier layer is held between the ferromagnetic free layer and the ferromagnetic pinned layer, wherein three indexes representing a surface roughness state of the tunnel barrier layer are set such that Raxe2x89xa61 nm, Rmaxxe2x89xa610 nm and Rrmsxe2x89xa61.2 nm, wherein Ra is one of the three indexes and representing the center line average roughness, Rmax is one of the three indexes and representing the maximum height, and Rrms is one of the three indexes and representing the standard deviation roughness.
It is preferable that the center line average roughness Ra is set to be in the range of 0.001 nm to 1 nm, the maximum height Rmax is set to be in the range of 0.01 nm to 10 nm, and the standard deviation roughness Rrms is set to be in the range of 0.001 nm to 1.2 nm.
It is preferable that the tunnel magnetoresistance effect element comprises the ferromagnetic free layer, the tunnel barrier layer, the ferromagnetic pinned layer and a pinning layer for pinning magnetization of the ferromagnetic pinned layer, which are stacked, in the order named, on an under layer formed on a substrate.
It is preferable that the tunnel magnetoresistance effect element comprises a pinning layer for pinning magnetization of the ferromagnetic pinned layer, the ferromagnetic pinned layer, the tunnel barrier layer and the ferromagnetic free layer, which are stacked, in the order named, on an under layer formed on a substrate.
It is preferable that the surface of one of the layers which have been formed before forming the tunnel barrier layer is smoothed by a gas cluster ion beam method.
It is preferable that before forming the tunnel barrier layer, the surface of an under layer is smoothed by a gas cluster ion beam method.
It is preferable that a bias magnetic field is applied to the ferromagnetic free layer in a longitudinal direction thereof by biasing means provided at both ends of the ferromagnetic free layer in the longitudinal direction thereof.
It is preferable that the ferromagnetic free layer is a synthetic ferrimagnet.
It is preferable that the ferromagnetic pinned layer is a synthetic ferrimagnet.
It is preferable that the tunnel multilayered film is electrically connected to a pair of electrodes which are oppositely positioned to sandwich the tunnel multilayered film therebetween.
It is preferable that a pair of shield layers are oppositely positioned to sandwich the pair of electrodes therebetween.


A server may receive a query from a query device. The query may include an identifier that identifies a user device, information regarding a geographic radius, and information regarding a geographic position. The server may determine a first proximity area based on the geographic radius and the geographic position indicated by the query. The server may determine a second proximity area that represents an area in which the user device may be included. The server may determine a value that indicates a likelihood that the first proximity area is within the second proximity area. The server may provide information to the query device indicating the value.

Users sometimes use user devices to share geographic location information of a user device with other user devices or querying devices in order to receive information associated with the geographic location. Sharing excessive location information may pose privacy risks to a user, associated with a user device, while sharing insufficient location information may prevent the user from receiving information associated with the geographic location.


A multiple channel selector valve includes a stator and a rotor that is rotatable with respect to the stator. The rotor face includes first and second fluid flow paths for transferring fluids to selected sets of passages in the stator. The fluid flow paths in the rotor face are specifically configured to accommodate high fluid flow rate regimes while reducing flow restriction.

Selector valves have been widely implemented for various fluidics applications to selectively direct fluid among a plurality of flow paths. An example application is in multiple column liquid chromatography, wherein the fluid flow may be selectively directed to and among a plurality of separation columns to effect the desired overall chromatographic separation.
An example selector valve that may be used in chromatographic applications is described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,739,383, which is assigned to the present assignee, and is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. While the valve described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,739,383 has proven to be effective, certain high flow rate applications (e.g. 200 ml/min) utilizing the valve generates a backpressure that can cause issues with instruments and fittings elsewhere in the system.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multiple-channel selector valve that can accommodate high fluid flow rate regimes, such as in preparative scale liquid chromatography, while maintaining backpressure values below target thresholds. In some embodiments, the target backpressure threshold is 5 bar (72.5 psi) at the fluid flow rate of 200 ml/min.


An image input/output apparatus for inputting images written on a plate and for outputting images on the plate. The image input/output apparatus is movable on the plate, and has a size independent from the size of the plate. The apparatus comprises a mobile assembly movable on the plate, an image pick-up device mounted on the mobile assembly, for picking up images written on the plate, wherein the image pick-up device picking up the images on the plate while the mobile assembly is moving on the plate; and printing device, mounted on the mobile assembly, for printing, in accordance with given image data, images on the plate.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image input/output apparatus for inputting images such as characters or figures written on a plate such as a paper and for transmitting the input data to a computer and so forth, or for printing images on the plate in response to character/figure data given by the computer and so forth.
(2) Description of the Related Art
In a conventional image input apparatus, which is called an image scanner, a frame having a certain size as large as at least the size of a paper from which the image is to be read is provided. Along the frame, a line sensor is moved on the paper to pick up the image such as characters or figures.
In a conventional image output apparatus, which is called a plotter or a printer, also, a frame having a certain size as large as at least the size of a paper on which the image is to be written is provided. The paper shuld be placed on a plate having a certain size. Along the frame, a printing tool such as a pen or a printing head is moved in the upper, lower, right, or left direction to draw the characters of figures.
Therefore, in the conventional image input or output apparatus, the paper on which the images are to be written or from which the images are to be read must have a size smaller than that of the frame for holding the line sensor or the printing head. In other words, the maximum area of a paper on which the images can be written or from which the images are read is limited mainly by the size of the frame of the apparatus. This is very inconvenient for a user because if he wants to write or read images on or from a paper having a large size larger that the size of the frame of the apparatus, he must change the apparatus to another apparatus having a longer frame.
In addition, since the size of the conventional image input apparatus or the conventional image output apparatus is mainly determined by the size of the frame, the conventional image input apparatus or the conventional image output apparatus must have a large size larger that the maximum size of a paper from which the image is to be read or on which the image is to be written. Therefore, if the conventional image input or output apparatus is placed on a desk, the apparatus occupy a considerable area on the desk because of the large size of the frame. This is also inconvenient for a user because it is difficult to put another document and so forth on the desk since the main part of the desk is occupied by the apparatus.
Further, because of the large size of the conventional input or output apparatus, its cost is high.
Still further, conventionally, the image input apparatus and the image output apparatus are separated.

Mobile size independent image input/output apparatus and plate


A method of predicting weather-exacerbated threats, said method comprising inputting localized weather measurement data into a weather threat prediction system; predicting future localized weather conditions based on said localized weather measurement data combined with modeling from National Weather Service Data; inputting natural environment and infrastructure data into said weather threat prediction system; correlating said infrastructure data with said predicted future localized weather conditions; and determining a threat level index over a region, a threat level indicating an area having a certain probabilistic likelihood of being harmed by said future weather conditions.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for providing decision support predictive indicators that will create real-time probability impact information for decision makers and logistical managers when allocating resources and man power responsive to infrastructure repair, emergency events and/or natural resource issues, and more particularly to the impact of weather events on infrastructure, natural resources and/or environmental conditions.
2. Background of Art
Emergency Response Management are often the task of government agencies, utilities and businesses who are charged with responding in many crisis situations. The Federal Government utilizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to respond to major catastrophes, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, nuclear accidents, tornadoes, wildfires and the like. On a more local level, utility companies tasked with providing essential services to consumers (power, water, gas, sewage) have created internal Emergency Management departments with the goal of responding quickly to outages often caused by weather events. In private industry, businesses which handle chemicals and other possibly harmful materials generally have created similar internal Emergency Management departments which deal with chemical spills and leaks and other environmental hazards.
However, often times such emergencies are created and/or exacerbated by weather conditions. Certainly, hurricanes and tornadoes are, in and of themselves, weather conditions which may cause tremendous destruction. Wildfires, chemicals released by leaks or spills, and radioactive waste released in nuclear accidents are all subject to be worsened by wind. Downed power lines are caused by high winds and flying/falling debris, such as tree limbs, or by ice storms. Floods are generally caused by high rainfall amounts. Thus, the weather conditions during these accidents and disasters are responsible for much of the associated danger and service outages.
Weather prediction should be an integral part of Emergency Response Management—knowing the present and future weather conditions can help Emergency Response Management to send resources not only to locations that are in need. However, current predictive techniques for weather patterns are generally performed on a national, or multi-state regional scale. This large scale weather prediction is largely insufficient for predicting the location of specific weather conditions with enough precision to ultimately assist Emergency Response Management personnel. Prior art weather monitoring stations are generally spaced 100-200 miles apart due to their expense and complexity. The wide spacing and skyward focus of these monitoring stations largely prevents them from monitoring ground conditions, and provides weather data accurate enough only to predict general weather patterns.
Many kinds of threats that the utility industry, natural resource managers, emergency responders and government agencies face are created and/or exacerbated by weather conditions. In particular threats created by high winds, icing, and lightning strikes are among the most difficult to predict and assess, because of their highly time-dependent geospatial distribution. The threat posed by the dispersion of chemicals released by leaks or spills, and radioactive waste released in nuclear accidents is also difficult to predict and assess, because of the highly time and space dependent weather conditions. Floods are generally caused by high rainfall amounts. Thus, the highly variable spatial and temporal variability of weather conditions play a crucial role in how the utility industry and government agencies respond.
The utility industry knows that weather plays in the long-term management of resources and has used long-term weather forecasts to plan the distribution of resources. However, the use of high spatial and temporal resolution short-term forecasts pin-pointed at specific regions has not been explored by either the utility industry or the government agencies charged with responding to natural or man-made disasters. Current weather numerical weather forecasts are generally performed on a national, or multi-state regional scale. This large-scale weather prediction is largely insufficient for predicting with enough precision the location and severity of weather conditions to provide actionable intelligence to the utility industry or emergency responders. Again, as noted above, prior art weather monitoring stations are generally spaced 100-200 miles apart due to their expense and complexity. The wide spacing of these monitoring stations largely prevents them from providing weather data at the local or neighborhood level, which is crucial for the utility industry and emergency responders.
The national or multi-state regional forecasts are insufficient for more localized weather prediction needed during an emergency. Detailed information about the character of the wind field over a neighborhood could be the difference between whether a school can be evacuated in time to avoid a poisonous chemical cloud, or whether it would be better for students to remain inside. Further, a difference of just a few degrees in temperature or a few miles per hour of wind speed over a distance of less than a mile could be the difference between a few power lines being downed versus hundreds of thousands of people in a heavily populated area being without power.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide for a system and method that monitors environmental conditions at locations spaced closer together than prior art monitoring stations. Thus, the greater number of monitoring stations in a smaller area provide for a higher resolution of weather data, allowing for a more precise and accurate forecast of conditions including weather data closer to the ground. When such weather data is correlated with relatively static infrastructure data, the present invention allows for a threat level index to be created which indicates the localities which are most likely to be threatened by the exacerbation of an event by the weather. Emergency Response Management may then use the threat level index to determine where and when to martial personnel.

Apparatus and method for providing environmental predictive indicators to emergency response managers


A method and an apparatus for wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) fast connection are provided. The method includes the following. After a terminal device detects Wi-Fi is turned on by a user, a Wi-Fi driver is loaded and wpa_supplicant is started as a support library of Wi-Fi protected access (WPA). After determining that the wpa_supplicant is started, the terminal device sends a scanning command and performs a scanning operation, and performs, in parallel with sending the scanning command and performing the scanning operation, operations of loading pre-stored access points, setting all the pre-stored access points to be connectable, updating a current connection state, turning on Wi-Fi peer-to-peer, and setting parameters of the Wi-Fi peer-to-peer. After setting the parameters of the Wi-Fi peer-to-peer, the terminal device connects to a first access point according to the scanning result of the scanning operation.

Terminal devices in the communication field, such as mobile phones and tablet computers, are commonly used by users. The terminal devices with their own operating systems are also called smart terminals or smart phones. The "smart phone" is a collective term for the mobile phone with better computing power and better functions than the conventional mobile phone.
The smart phone has two ways to access the Internet. One way is to access the Internet through a mobile communication network, such as a third generation (3G) network, a fourth generation (4G) network, and the like. The other way is to access the Internet through a local area network, most commonly using a Wi-Fi technology. However, currently it may take a long time to connect to Wi-Fi, which affects the user experience.

Method and apparatus for wireless fidelity fast connection

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.