A knit fabric having a modified knit structure comprising a first layer of jersey knit fabric and a second layer of jersey knit fabric, wherein the first and second layers of jersey knit fabric are joined to each other by a third layer of tuck stitches, and wherein the first and second jersey stitch layers include at least one continuous strand of bare rubber and a plurality of continuous strands selected from the group consisting of continuous strands of bare rubber and continuous strands of non-elastic yarn, and the third layer of tuck stitches are made of continuous strands of non-elastic yarn, knit together into the fabric so as to hold the first and second jersey stitch layers together.

The development of specialized performance fabrics has transformed the textile industry. The particular properties possessed by performance fabrics are often critical to the market success of the products in which the fabrics are incorporated. For example, in athletic wear, it is highly desirable for a single fabric to be light weight, breathable, and even water resistant. Alternatively, in an upholstered furniture application, durability, tactile comfort and aesthetics may be of primary importance. For textile applications such as incorporation into outdoor furniture, desirable fabrics are often resistant to UV light/radiation, water, and antimicrobial growth properties, such as bacterial growth and mold growth inhibition properties, and also provide some stretch for comfort and rigidity for durability.
Achieving any particular combination of desirable characteristics in a single performance fabric is the focus of much research and development in the textile industry. The development of synthetic and natural yarns have provided the industry with the ability to achieve many new fabrics with combinations of properties desirable for the apparel, athletic, and furnishings industries. Although the selection of yarns, both synthetic and natural, is seemingly infinite, each new yarn often presents its own limitations, which can add to the difficulty of making the desired fabric when it comes to using the new yarn in the commercial knitting or weaving processes. For that reason, selecting the proper yarn or yarns and developing the proper weaving process or knitting methods to achieve the desired complex combination of properties in a single fabric continues to be challenging.

Modified jersey knit fabric and methods of making the same


Techniques are disclosed for deep neural network (DNN) based interactive image matting. A methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes generating, by the DNN, an alpha matte associated with an image, based on user-specified foreground region locations in the image. The method further includes applying a first DNN subnetwork to the image, the first subnetwork trained to generate a binary mask based on the user input, the binary mask designating pixels of the image as background or foreground. The method further includes applying a second DNN subnetwork to the generated binary mask, the second subnetwork trained to generate a trimap based on the user input, the trimap designating pixels of the image as background, foreground, or uncertain status. The method further includes applying a third DNN subnetwork to the generated trimap, the third subnetwork trained to generate the alpha matte based on the user input.

Selection and masking of an object in an image, a process that is also referred to as image matting, is a common and important task in many photographic workflows. For instance, it is often desirable to be able to select and extract a person or object from the foreground of an image and then place that selection against a new background and/or perform other image processing tasks on the selection. Unfortunately, existing photo manipulation tools are tedious to use and require significant skill to select objects from images, and yet these tools can still produce inaccurate or otherwise unsatisfactory results. This is particularly true when the background image is complex and the borders of the selected objects include fine details like hair or fur, which can be a common occurrence since many photos have people and animals as their subjects.

Interactive image matting using neural networks


A transfer belt unit which is mounted in an image forming device. The transfer belt unit contains a positioning member; a handle, and a guiding member. The positioning member positions the transfer belt unit with respect to the image forming device in a state where the transfer belt unit is inserted into a guide unit. The handle is placed on the rear side of the positioning member in a direction of inserting the transfer belt unit into the guide unit. The guiding member holds the transfer belt unit when the transfer belt unit is inserted into the guide unit by abutting on a guide surface of the guide unit together with the positioning member before the handle is inserted into the guide unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transfer belt unit mounted in an image forming device. In particular, the present invention relates to a mounting technique in which the transfer belt unit is inserted almost horizontally into and mounted in the image forming device.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for describing mounting of a conventional transfer belt unit in an image forming device. A transfer belt unit 200 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped form, and a handle 35 (45) is placed on both of side surfaces near the center of the transfer belt unit where the weight of the transfer belt unit is balanced. When the transfer belt unit 200 is mounted in the image forming device, the transfer belt unit is inserted from the front surface of insertion of the transfer belt unit 200 to a unit inserting port 5 of the image forming device in a direction shown by an arrow DN. After the transfer belt unit 200 is moved to a normal position, the transfer belt unit is positioned (normally, fixed by being pressed down) at an operating position and is put into operation.
In the case described above, guide rails 60 and 70 having a cross-sectional surface of "U-shape" which extends from the unit inserting port 5 to inside are placed in the image forming device. The openings of the "U-shape" of the guide rails 60 and 70 are placed so that these openings face each other. On both of side surfaces of the transfer belt unit 200 near the front surface of the inserting direction and the rear surface of the inserting direction, positioning axes 31 and 41 and positioning axes 32 and 42 are placed, respectively. Therefore, insertion of the transfer belt unit 200 is carried out by putting the positioning axes 31, 32, 41, and 42 through the guide rails 60 and 70.
As described above, in the conventional transfer belt unit, when insertion and positioning of the transfer belt unit 200 are carried out, the transfer belt unit may fall out from the unit insertion port if the operator stops holding the transfer belt unit and releases the transfer belt unit from his or her hand in the insertion state as shown in FIG. 5, since there is nothing that holds the transfer belt unit near the rear surface in the inserting direction of the transfer belt unit and an orientation of the transfer belt unit is rotated to the direction of the arrow DF with the positioning axis 31 (41) as a rotational axis. For this reason, there has been a problem in an aspect of operability that the operator has to insert the transfer belt unit by taking into consideration an attitude of the transfer belt unit when the operator mounts the transfer belt unit in the image forming device.

Transfer belt unit and method for holding the same


A method for providing a single user multiple presence implementation may include providing access for a user identified by a user account to a virtual environment hosted by a computer. The method may further include generating multiple avatars for the user account to concurrently coexist and be operative within the virtual environment. The method may further include controlling the multiple avatars at least partly in response to input from the user. The method may further include communicating virtual environment data regarding more than one of the multiple avatars to at least one client operated by the user. An apparatus for performing the method may include a processor coupled to a memory holding encoded instructions for performing operations of the method on a computer configured as a network entity.

1. Field
This application relates to methods and systems for online multi-user virtual reality games, including social networking sites using a virtual reality environment, multi-user sandbox games, and similar applications.
2. Description of Related Art
Virtual environments, such as those operated on the Utherverse™ or Second Life, attempt to model the virtual environment after that of the real world. Just like in the physical world, a single person is represented by a single representative element, such as an avatar. While representation of a single person by a single avatar is desirable for most end-user interaction with a virtual environment, such a limitation prevents recognition of efficiencies that are only possible within a virtual environment.

Single user multiple presence in multi-user game


A memory controller includes a security key and parameter storage unit and a security engine. The security key and parameter storage unit stores at least one security key and at least one parameter that are used during encryption or decryption. The security engine receives encrypted data stored in an external boot memory, decrypts the received encrypted data by using the security key and the parameter, and outputs the decrypted data to a central processing unit (CPU), in a security operation mode.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a memory controller and a memory device, and more particularly, to a memory controller providing high security performance and a memory device including the memory controller.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Security and protection of stored data in a memory device are of great importance. For example, it is desirable to prevent unauthorized people from accessing, leaking, or falsifying stored data. Boot data used to execute a program may be stored in an external memory. A central processing unit (CPU) may read the boot data from the external memory by using a memory controller and execute a program corresponding to the stored boot data. However, if the boot data is falsified before it is used, the security of a system can be compromised.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional memory device 100 that includes a security function. Referring to FIG. 1, the memory device 100 includes a CPU 120, a memory controller 110, and an external memory 130. The external memory 130 stores a boot code. The external memory 130 is disposed separately from the CPU 120 and the memory controller 110.
The CPU 120 makes a request to the memory controller 110 for the boot code stored in the external memory 130. The CPU 120 boots a specific processor or program by using the boot code received in response to the request. The external memory 130 includes a data storage unit 132 and an encryption unit 134. The data storage unit 132 stores the above-described boot code. Data stored in the data storage unit 132 is not encrypted. The encryption unit 134 encrypts the boot code stored in the data storage unit 132.
When the CPU 120 requests the boot code, the external memory 130 outputs the encrypted boot code to the memory controller 110. An internal ROM 112 of the memory controller 110 decrypts the encrypted boot code output by the external memory 130 and outputs the decrypted boot code to an external RAM 140.
The internal ROM 112 checks whether encrypted boot data or an encrypted boot code has been falsified. The internal ROM 112 stores its own encryption values (hereinafter, referred to as "self-stored encryption values"). When the internal ROM 112 receives encrypted data from the external memory 130, it searches for a self-stored encryption value corresponding to the received encrypted data. When the internal ROM 112 finds the self-stored encryption value, it compares the encrypted value received from the external memory 130 with the found self-stored encryption value.
If the encrypted value received from the external memory 130 is identical to the found self-stored encryption value, the internal ROM 112 determines that the boot data or boot code stored in the data storage unit 132 of the external memory 130 is authentic. However, if the encrypted value received from the external memory 130 is not identical to the found self-stored encryption value, the internal ROM 112 determines that the boot data or boot code stored in the data storage unit 132 of the external memory 130 has been falsified. The internal ROM 112 only determines whether the boot data or boot code stored in the data storage unit 132 of the external memory 130 has been falsified, and does not encrypt the data stored in the data storage unit 132.
After the internal ROM 112 determines that the boot data or boot code stored in the data storage unit 132 is authentic, the CPU 120 initiates a booting operation by using the boot code stored in the external memory 130. The CPU 120 decrypts the encrypted boot data or boot code received from the external memory 130. Then, the CPU 120 transmits the decrypted boot code to an external RAM 140. The CPU 120 randomly accesses the external RAM 140 and reads decrypted data or a program code from the external RAM 140. The CPU 120 performs a specific program by using the read-out data.
Data output by the external RAM 140 is decrypted data, and thus unencrypted data is directly output. Accordingly, ill-intentioned users may extract data from the external RAM 140 and falsify the extracted data. The ill-intentioned users denote people who try to maliciously falsify boot data or a boot code, namely, users who are not allowed to access data.
The external memory 130 is exposed to the outside, and stores unencrypted user data or program codes in the data storage unit 132. Thus, ill-intentioned users may easily access the externally-exposed external memory 130 and falsify the user data or program codes stored in the external memory 130.
When boot data or a boot code needs to be changed due to a change of a processor, encryption values stored in the internal ROM 112 need to be changed. Thus, when a processor change occurs, the internal ROM 112 needs to be replaced.
Thus, there is a need for a memory device that can adaptively protect boot data or a boot code that does not require replacement of an internal ROM.

Memory controller and memory device including the memory controller


A computer calculates bit patterns of syndromes for all candidate bit patterns of reception words that are input in ECC-EOR circuits of a logic circuit. The bit patterns of the syndromes are stored as possible bit patterns. Request bit patterns are propagated when an error occurs, and are allocated to the syndromes. Implication processing is performed, and the request bit patterns are compared with the possible bit patterns.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology for generating a test pattern to detect an error in a logic circuit.
2) Description of the Related Art
Test patterns are used to detect errors in logic circuits. Such test patterns can be generated automatically by using a tool called Automatic Test Pattern Generation (hereinafter, "ATPG"), if the structure of the logic circuit is given.
However, it takes a very long time for the ATPG to generate the test pattern if the circuit is large scale. A method to solve this problem is disclosed in Japanese Patent-Application Laid-Open Publication No. H5-5774. With this method, a test pattern is easily generated by cutting out only the relevant section of the circuit, and then simplifying the cut out section.
There are also other approaches, such as a method of generating a test pattern by static learning/dynamic learning, or learning based on observability/controllability. The static learning/dynamic learning method performs implication processing, so that an arbitrary net-a (input value) determines a logic value for a net-b (output value) in the circuit, and a computer learns the relationship between net-a and net-b. Hence, the number of combinations of logic values can be reduced.
In a complex circuit, a contradiction is often found during the implication processing. The observability/controllability-based learning method performs implication processing from a section where such a contradiction is easily observable or from a complex section, so as to determine at an early stage whether the test pattern can be generated.
However, the known methods are inefficient or inapplicable when generating a test pattern for an error correcting circuit (hereinafter, "ECC"), which is typically used in a Random Access Memory (hereinafter, "RAM"), or a latch circuit, etc.
Specifically, the ECC includes a plurality of Exclusive OR (hereinafter, "EOR") circuits that share a common input value. Therefore, it cannot be determined whether a request value of the EOR circuits generated in the implication processing, contradicts with output values corresponding to a certain input value of the EOR circuits.
FIG. 14 is an example of the ECC. The ECC includes a syndrome computing section 1 and a corrected-data computing section 2. The syndrome computing section 1 includes EOR circuits 3a to 3c and calculates a syndrome s from a reception word y. The corrected-data computing section 2 uses all of the bit components of the-syndrome s, to calculate a corrected data word m.
The syndrome s is obtained from the following equation:S=H·yt(mod 2)where y is a reception word vector that is input to the syndrome computing section 1, H is an inspection matrix of the syndrome computing section 1, yt is a transposed vector of vector y, and mod 2 is a remainder operator having a modulus of 2.
For example, a test pattern to detect an error in a signal line in the corrected-data computing section 2 is generated as follows. When the error propagates, a request value sr is generated. Then, the logic value corresponding to the reception word y, is searched for the request value Sr.
However, the reception word y is partially shared by the EOR circuits 3a to 3c. Therefore, the EOR circuits 3a to 3c cannot independently determine an output value. Moreover, the EOR circuits 3a to 3c cannot determine an output value unless all input values are determined. Thus, a contradiction cannot be immediately detected between an output value (syndrome) sy calculated from the input value of the reception word y, and the request value sr.
Specifically, in the test-pattern generation processing, a logic value is determined for an-arbitrary net in an EOR circuit, into which a reception word y of n bits is input. Here, it is required to determine an input value of n−i bits (i ranges from 1 to n−1, according to the configuration of the inspection matrix H). Otherwise, a contradiction between the request value sr and the output value sy cannot be detected surely.
When a contradiction is detected by the implication processing for the reception word y, the implication processing is continued by performing backtrack. However, if the request value sr contradicts with the output value sy in the first place, the search needs to be executed 2n−1 times until the contradiction is detected. Consequently, the processing takes a very long time if the number of bits n is large.
In the static/dynamic learning method, the output value from the EOR circuit cannot be determined unless all of the input values are determined. Therefore, even if a certain bit value of the reception word y is set as a bit value of net-a, net-b does not exist. Accordingly, there are no relationships for the computer to learn, until all input values are determined.
As to the observability/controllability-based learning method, the order of the implication processing can be changed. However, it is meaningless to change the order because the output value cannot be determined unless all input values are determined.
It is therefore imperative to achieve an efficient method of generating a test pattern to detect an error in a logic circuit such as the ECC that includes an EOR circuit.

Apparatus and method for bit pattern learning and computer product


The present invention relates to a computer chip having integrated thereon a CPU, and a cache system being interconnected, and at least one synchronization unit. The chip is setable in one of at least two different running modes, a first one thereof being a DUT mode, and a second one thereof being a MONITOR mode. The MONITOR mode is complementary to the DUT mode. The chip additionally comprises a debug bus connectable to another identical chip for communicating signals enabling the chip and said another chip to run in parallel while said chips being in complementary modes. Said signals comprises synchronization signals generated by said synchronization unit. The present invention further relates to a computer apparatus, and a debugging system both employing at least one such chip.

This application claims the benefit of priority to Swedish Application No. 9801678-5 filed May 13, 1998, entitled Computer Chip And Apparatus With Enhanced Debug Capability.
1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to a computer chip and a computer apparatus, and more specifically to a computer chip and apparatus fully adapted to program debugging. It also relates to debugging system.
2. Technical Background
In developing new computer programs an important step is to debug the program in order to correct programming errors. Program debugging is performed by executing the program on a computer and monitoring different signals being communicated externally between the computer and peripherals as well as internally between different circuits of the computer. Such circuits are, for example, Central Processing Unit (CPU), Direct Memory Access (DMA) unit, main memory, and input/output (I/O) interface circuit. To be able to debug the program while the computer is running, conventionally for example a logic analyzer is connected by means of probes to the circuit board on which the computer circuits are mounted.
In order to speed up memory accesses, typically, a computer is provided with a cache memory. This memory is used, mainly by the CPU, as a fast, i.e. which has short access times, temporary memory, which holds only the most frequently and most recently used main memory addresses and data. A major part of all CPU main memory accesses are handled by merely the cache memory, and only a minor part incorporates the main memory by means of data exchange between the main memory and the cache memory. Thus, the communication between the CPU and the cache memory is central in the program execution and, therefore, is desirable to debug.
However, in modem computer construction there is an aim to integrate as many of the computer circuits as possible on a single chip. Typically, among others, both the CPU and the cache memory are integrated on the same chip, while the main memory is external to the chip though normally mounted on the same circuit board. The main memory normally is constructed from several interconnected chips. Due to the one chip integration it is not possible to monitor the communication between the CPU and the cache memory while debugging, but only between the CPU and the main memory.
Some different solutions to this problem have been tried. One prior art solution is to turn off the cache memory during the debugging operation. Thereby all memory accesses are made to the main memory and are able to be monitored. However, this means that one looses the possibility to monitor the program in true circumstances, and above all the execution rate is decreased. There are several types of erroneous behaviors that will not show under such circumstances. The cache handling is a crucial part of the operation of the program.
Another prior art solution is to manufacture a so called bondout chip, which is a special version of an ordinary chip, the special version chip having extra pins connected to internal buses of the chip. This is an expensive solution, since it requires manufacturing of a special chip parallel to the ordinary chip. Further, it causes the clock frequency to be decreased due to, among others, the extended leads. Thereby, a real-time debugging is not performed, which makes it possible for certain bugs causing errors in real-time execution to remain undetected.
Yet another prior art solution is to arrange certain registers providing for debug support. These registers, often referred to as breakpoint registers, permit the use of software breakpoints at predetermined points of the program execution. At the breakpoints current address and data information is loaded into the breakpoint registers to be read out by the monitoring system. This solution makes it possible to detect that the program execution has arrived safely at the breakpoints. However, a major drawback is that the debugging is not effected in real-time. Additionally, what happens between the breakpoints is not monitored.
Therefore there is a need for a new computer apparatus providing for monitoring also the communication between the CPU and the cache memory, the CPU and the cache memory being integrated on the same chip, while the computer is running at full clock rate.
An object of the present invention is to provide for monitoring the program execution to a greater extent than is possible in the prior art, while running the CPU at full clock rate, i.e. performing real-time debugging, and without providing a special version chip for debugging purposes.
In accordance with the invention, the object is achieved by a computer chip having integrated thereon a CPU and a cache system being interconnected, and at least one synchronization unit, said chip being setable in either one of at least two different running modes, a first one thereof being a device under test (DUT) mode, and a second one thereof being a MONITOR mode. The monitor mode is complementary to the DUT mode. The chip further comprises a debug bus connectable to another identical chip for communicating signals enabling the chip and said another chip to run in parallel while said chips are set in complementary modes. The signals comprise synchronization signals generated by said synchronization unit.
The computer chip, in this way being prepared for a debugging operation eliminates the excessive costs of producing a special version chip for debugging purposes. The debug bus and the synchronization circuit in combination provides for an efficient exchange of a small set of essential signals to another identical chip, which is set in MONITOR mode, i.e. debugging mode. The different modes are prepared for. Thus, a full rate debugging obtaining full information about the program execution is reachable.


Accuracy of a three-dimensional imaging system is improved through the use of model-based calibration and lookup tables to resolve distance according to, e.g., x-displacement, y-displacement, or image disparity data. In an embodiment, the lookup table(s) stores localized parameterization data used to calculate calibrated results.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to three-dimensional scanning, and more particularly to techniques for addressing artifacts in derivations of three-dimensional data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Acquisition of data for three-dimensional imaging generally includes artifacts related to, for example, the imaging subject, ambient conditions, and inherent properties of the optical and electronic systems used for data acquisition.
General calibration techniques may employ direct measurement of known targets to characterize these errors, as well as mathematical modeling of non-ideal aspects of an imaging system. As a significant disadvantage, modeling techniques can present difficult characterization challenges and may fail to capture actual sources of imaging artifacts. Conversely, brute force calibration may be time consuming, and typically requires a specialized, sensitive hardware platform. Brute calibration also results in very large calibration files, particularly for the multi-dimensional data sets used in three-dimensional imaging. The selection among these existing alternatives will generally depend on the characteristics of the system being calibrated, and usually forces some degree of compromise on a designer. In multi-aperture devices and other systems having more than one optical channel, the selection of an appropriate calibration regime may become more difficult because each channel may present different characteristics affecting calibration.
There remains a need for improved calibration techniques suitable for use with optical devices having more than one optical channel, such as multi-aperture imaging systems.

Artifact mitigation in three-dimensional imaging


The invention provides crystalline forms of a polypeptide corresponding to the catalytic domain of Aurora kinase. The active site ATP binding pocket is defined by its amino acid residues and their atomic coordinates. This structure may be used to select or design chemical modulators of Aurora kinase, particularly Aurora inhibitors. These modulators may be used to treat diseases of cell proliferation, e.g. cancer.

Proteins such as enzymes involved in physiological and pathological processes are important targets in the development of pharmaceutical compounds and treatments. Knowledge of the three dimensional (tertiary) structure of proteins allows the rational design of mimics or modulators of such proteins. By searching structural databases using structural parameters derived from the protein of interest, it is possible to select molecular structures that may mimic or interact with these parameters. It is then possible to synthesise the selected molecular structure and test its activity. Alternatively, the structural parameters derived from the protein of interest may be used to design and synthesise a mimic or modulator with the desired activity. Such mimics or modulators may be useful as therapeutic agents for treating certain diseases. For example, WO98/07835 discloses crystal structures of a protein tyrosine kinase optionally complexed with one or more compounds. The atomic coordinates of the enzyme structures and any of the bound compounds are used to determine the three-dimensional structures of kinases with unknown structure and to identify modulators of kinase functions. As another example, WO99/01476 discloses the crystal structures of anti-Factor IX Fab fragments (antibodies) and their use to identify and design new anticoagulant agents.
Knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of a protein is essential for the rational design of mimics or modulators of that protein. Lack of structural knowledge is a barrier to the development of new mimics or modulators that may have extremely useful pharmaceutical properties.
In Eukaryotes, the cell cycle is largely controlled by an ordered cascade of protein phosphorylation. Several families of protein kinases that play critical roles in this cascade have now been identified. The activity of many of these kinases is increased in human tumours when compared to normal tissue. This can occur by either increased levels of expression of the protein (as a result of gene amplification for example), or by changes in expression of co-activators or inhibitory proteins.
The first identified, and most widely studied of these cell cycle regulators have been the cyclin-dependent kinases (or CDKs). Activity of specific CDKs at specific times is essential for both initiation and coordinated progress through the cell cycle. For example, the CDK4 protein appears to control entry into the cell cycle (the G0-G1-S transition) by phosphorylating the retinoblastoma gene product pRb. This stimulates the release of the transcription factor E2F from pRb, which then acts to increase the transcription of genes necessary for entry into S phase. The catalytic activity of CDK4 is stimulated by binding to a partner protein, Cyclin D1. One of the first demonstrations of a direct link between cancer and the cell cycle was made with the observation that the Cyclin D1 gene was amplified and cyclin D1 protein levels increased (and hence the activity of CDK4 increased) in many human tumours (Reviewed in Sherr, 1996, Science 274: 1672–1677; Pines, 1995, Seminars in Cancer Biology 6: 63–72). Other studies have shown that negative regulators of CDK function are frequently down-regulated or deleted in human tumours, again leading to inappropriate activation of these kinases (Loda et al., 1997, Nature Medicine 3(2): 231–234; Gemma et al., 1996, International Journal of Cancer 68(5): 605–11; Elledge et al. 1996, Trends in Cell Biology 6; 388–392).
More recently, protein kinases that are structurally distinct from the CDK family have been identified which play critical roles in regulating the cell cycle and which also appear to be important in oncogenesis. These include the newly-identified human homologues of the Drosophila Aurora and S. cerevisiae Ipl1 proteins. Drosophila Aurora and S. cerevisiae Ipl1, which are highly homologous at the amino acid sequence level, encode serine/threonine protein kinases. Both Aurora and Ipl1 are known to be involved in controlling the transition from the G2 phase of the cell cycle through mitosis, centrosome function, formation of a mitotic spindle and proper chromosome separation/segregation into daughter cells. The three human homologues of these genes, termed Aurora A, B and C, encode cell cycle regulated protein kinases. These show a peak of expression and kinase activity at the G2/M boundary (Aurora A, C) and in mitosis and cytokinesis (Aurora B). Several observations implicate the involvement of human Aurora proteins, in particular Aurora A in cancer. The Aurora A gene maps to chromosome 20q13, a region that is frequently amplified in human tumours including both breast and colon tumours. Aurora A may be the major target gene of this amplicon, since Aurora A DNA is amplified and Aurora A mRNA over expressed in greater than 50% of primary human colorectal cancers. In these tumours Aurora A protein levels appear greatly elevated compared to adjacent normal tissue. In addition, transfection of rodent fibroblasts with human Aurora A leads to transformation, conferring the ability to grow in soft agar and form tumours in nude mice (Bischoff et al., 1998, The EMBO Journal. 117(11): 3052–3065). Other work has shown that artificial over expression of Aurora A leads to an increase in centrosome number and an increase in aneuploidy (Zhou et al., 1998, Nature Genetics. 20(2): 189–93).
Importantly, it has also been demonstrated that abrogation of Aurora A expression and function by antisense oligonucleotide treatment of human tumour cell lines (Bischoff and Ploughman, 1999, Trends in Cell Biology, 9(11): 454–459 or by a small molecule inhibitor of Aurora A kinase activity (Keen et al. 2001, poster #2455, American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting, New Orleans USA) leads to defects in mitosis, cell cycle arrest and exerts an antiproliferative effect in these tumour cell lines. This indicates that inhibition of the function of Aurora A will have an antiproliferative effect that may be useful in the treatment of human tumours and other hyperproliferative diseases.
In order to design inhibitors of Aurora A kinase, it is necessary to know the three-dimensional structure of Aurora A kinase, in complex with various lead compounds. To date, the three-dimensional structure of Aurora A kinase has not been available. Further, it has not been possible to obtain crystals of any part of Aurora of sufficient quality to allow determination of the structure of the kinase domain including the site of inhibition.

Crystal structure of aurora a kinase and uses thereof


A nozzle element covering open channels through the use of a removable cover forming thus nozzles for a windshield washer system. A preferably flat seal elastically covers several apertures. Advantageous embodiments concern the division of the nozzle unit and the allocation of the seal to the channels ending at the apertures.

DE-OS 39 07 980 discloses a windscreen washer system with a spraying device comprising several nozzles made of elastic material. Because the direction of the jet coming from the nozzle elements should be adjustable, they are contained in movable nozzle units arranged in a common nozzle housing. The movability of the nozzle elements requires a relatively complicated structure of the nozzle housing.
DE-OS 35 03 496 discloses a nozzle housing with a nozzle that is achieved by a simple bore through the wall of the nozzle housing, the bore being then connected to a central channel. The execution of the bores requires a considerable expenditure e of time and work. Furthermore, the bores must have a certain diameter and it is difficult to clean them when they are clogged.
DE-OS 18 00 013 discloses a nozzle housing made of elastic material so that the nozzle can expand under the pressure of the cleaning liquid to eject dirt particles. The function of this nozzle housing is similar to that described in DE-OS 30 07 980, but is applicable for a single nozzle.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,068 the nozzles for a spraying device are formed by inserting a cover-type nozzle element into the nozzle housing which represents the completing part of the channel walls being provided as open channels on the surface of the nozzle housing. The advantage of this configuration is in particular, that the channels can be executed in a comparatively simple manner and that it is possible to clean the outlets of the nozzles without difficulty by simply removing the nozzle element for a short time. A disadvantage of the nozzle housing known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,068 is that the nozzles have a fixed diameter and that it is not possible to clean them when the nozzle element is fastened in the nozzle housing in order to prevent an inadvertent removal.
Aim of the present invention is to create a nozzle by simple means the aperture of which depends on the pressure of the sprayed cleaning liquid. The particular advantage of such nozzles is that they are self-cleaning since the obstructing particles can be ejected through the opening nozzle due to the increasing pressure of the obstructing particles. Furthermore, such nozzles can be configured in such a way that they are closed in normal conditions so that the antifreeze cannot evaporate and any ice formations which form thereon are blown off under the pressure of the cleaning liquid by means of the movable nozzle element.
The present invention consists of a part of the nozzle being formed by the housing itself, while the movable part of the nozzle is formed by a section of the elastic member deforming under the pressure of the cleaning liquid. Thus it is possible to form one or even several nozzles only by means of a single elastic member, preferably an elastic seal, which abuts on a surface, particularly the edge of the aperture of the nozzle housing, and opens the way for the liquid by deforming under the pressure of the cleaning liquid.
With this embodiment of the present invention, the same effect as described in DE-OS 39 07 980 with regard to the duckbill-type nozzle elements is achieved by simple means. If a major surface shall be moistened with liquid for the washing procedure it is known to arrange several nozzles at a certain distance from each other on the nozzle housing (see, for example, DE-OS 39 07 980).
Thus, a single elastic member, preferably in a flat seal, forms a part of all side walls of all desired nozzles. According to the present invention, several nozzles can therefore be formed by means of a single seal which results in a relatively simple and cheap construction of a multiple nozzle unit.
The single nozzles can be distributed circularly on the circumference of a nozzle element. A particularly simple construction is achieved by the present invention due to the cylindrical shape, the nozzle elements can be arranged on the divided circumferential surface of the body.
In a preferred embodiment the parts of the nozzle housing are coupled together, consisting of retaining member and cover, simply by screw-type or lock-type engagement.
A further simplification can be achieved by providing the cover with a fitting for the fastening of a hose pipe which delivers the cleaning liquid.
Since the windshield to be washed should be moistened especially in the area of the wipers, it is recommended, as already known, to fasten the nozzle housing on the wiper arm. The two locking arms of the clip can embrace directly the wiper arm, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,068. As additional safety device a web can be used in order to prevent the housing from sliding from the wiper arm, which therefore serves at the same time as additional safety device for the snap-in connection. Even this web can be fastened in a snap-in connection with the locking arms of the housing. The web itself can be formed in one piece, yet flexible, on one of the locking arms. It is also possible to fasten the nozzle housing on the motor hood.
As already mentioned, single areas of the seal can be assigned to single nozzles of a multiple nozzle. The areas of the seal not directly forming a part of the nozzle are retained by projections of the nozzle housing in such a way that the are preloaded preferably in the closing direction of the nozzle. In a preferred embodiment, the nozzle housing is provided with recesses adjacent to the apertures. This feature allows the aperture of the nozzle to be opened sufficiently despite the compressed seal. According to this, space is left with regard to the area of the housing positioned near the nozzle aperture, so that the elastic element can freely move in order to open the nozzle diameter.
In another preferable embodiment, the nozzle unit is provided with a central channel, preferably connected with the fitting, from which single channels extend leading to the respective nozzle. Preferably, the channels extend essentially perpendicular to the outer surface. According to another aspect of the present invention the web and/or the cover includes projections with mating abutment areas for clamping the retaining member formed as seal and thus provide for the preload necessary to close the apertures in case of unpressurized washing liquid.
A particularly simple manner of fastening the cover on the retaining member is accomplished by including snap-in projections in the bars of the cover.
An increase of the stability of the nozzle unit is described in the present invention. The connection of the two elements of the nozzle unit can be achieved in a simple way. In preferred configurations the seal which is common to all nozzles is positioned flatly in the plane of the nozzles. Another possibility, described in the favorable development of the present invention and consists in positioning the seal at a certain angle with regard to the channels leading to the nozzle apertures, preferably around the circumferential surface of the cylindrical housing.
In another favorable embodiment, the seal is structured in such a way that it extends, in its border area, at a certain angle to the central area of the sealing surface. In this case, the areas of the seal being under self-preload can serve for closing the nozzle apertures.

Multiple nozzle with one-piece seal for windshield washer systems


An apparatus comprising a memory and a controller. The memory may be configured to process a plurality of read/write operations. The memory comprises a plurality of memory units each having a size less than a total size of the memory. The controller may be configured to perform error correction code decoding on the memory units. The controller may be configured to generate a plurality of original log likelihood ratios each comprising a real value. The controller may be configured to convert each of the original log likelihood ratios to a converted log likelihood ratio comprising a fixed point value. The conversion comprises (a) scaling down a magnitude of each of the original log likelihood ratios, and (b) rounding each of the original log likelihood ratios having a scaled down magnitude to the fixed point value.

Due to aggressive process scaling, the raw bit error rate (BER) of NAND flash is becoming poorer and poorer. To maintain the same level of reliability, solid state drive (SSD) controllers are adopting error correction codes with soft decoding capability. For example, low density parity check (LDPC) codes have soft decoding capability. Error correction codes with soft decoding capability are more powerful in correcting errors but they use a soft input to the decoder. The soft input is in the form of a log likelihood ratio (LLR). Since conventional flash devices do not provide soft decision outputs, SSD controllers have to generate them using either hardware or software. LLR values are real values ranging from −Inf to +Inf. Once LLRs are generated, there is a practical problem of converting LLRs to fixed point numbers before decoding.
It would be desirable to implement fixed point conversion of LLR values based on correlation in a SSD controller and/or drive.

Fixed point conversion of LLR values based on correlation


The subject matter of the present invention is a process for grinding waxes, in particular paraffin waxes using a polyol as a grinding aid in a jet mill, in particular a fluidized bed counter-jet mill, wax powder thus produced containing the grinding aid and the use of the polyols as a grinding aid for waxes.

It is known to grind waxes to powder using mills of various designs. It should be noted that as small amount of energy as possible is introduced into the grinding material in order to prevent incipient melting and therefore blocking or adhesion of the grinding material within the grinding chamber or of the product particles to one another. Furthermore, the selection of type of mill also depends on the desired fineness of the grinding material. The coarser the particle size, the more variable the selection is of possible mill machine designs. Waxes that have correspondingly high melting points can be ground at room temperature. If the wax being pulverized does not tolerate the energy input caused by the grinding process without sticking or even melting, the grinding temperature must then be lowered by cooling the mill, the gas transport stream and/or the grinding material from the outside, if necessary also the recycle stream, in order to achieve the desired grinding results.

Process for grinding waxes using grinding aids in a jet mill, use of polyols as a grinding aid and wax powder comprising polyols


The disclosed method consists of: the cutting up, after sampling, of the speech signal into frames of a determined duration; the carrying out a first self-adaptive filtering of the sampled signal (Sn) obtained in each frame to limit the influence of the first formant; the carrying out a second filtering to keep only a minimum of harmonics of the fundamental frequency; and the comparing of the signal obtained with two adaptive thresholds SfMin(n) and SfMax(n), respectively positive and negative and changing as a function of time according to a predetermined relationship so as to choose only the signal portions that are respectively above or below the two thresholds. It then consists of: the computation, on a predetermined number of fundamental frequencies or pitches M possible, of the self-correlation of the signal obtained at the end of the previous processing operation from a determined sampling instant No; the choosing, as candidate pitch M or fundamental frequency values, those that are equal in number to a predetermined number n corresponding to maxima of self-correlation; and the entering of the corresponding values of the self-correlation in a table of scores updated at each new self-correlation so as to choose, as a pitch value, only the value that corresponds to a maximum score.

The present invention relates to a method for evaluating the pitch and voicing of the speech signal in vocoders with very low bit rates.
In known vocoders with low bit rates, the speech signal is cut up into 20 ms and 30 ms frames so that the periodicity or pitch of the speed signal can be determined within these frames. However, during the transitions, this period is not stable and errors occur in the estimation of the pitch and, consequently, in the estimation of the voicing in these parts. Besides, if the speech signal is highly noise-affected by the ambient noise, the evaluation of the pitch is then highly disturbed or even erroneous.

Method to evaluate the pitch and voicing of the speech signal in vocoders with very slow bit rates


A system for releasing an article such as a munition or store from an aircraft employs a sway brace or cradle built into the structure of a bomb rack from lateral or pitching motion before it is released. A claw mechanism is driven out of the sway braces into the article to hold the article in place on the sway braces. The claws retain the article in the sway braces until the article is no longer influenced by the sway braces.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a system for releasing an article such as a munition or store from an aircraft and more particularly to such a system in which the release system includes a sway brace with claws therein top control the movement of the store or munition when it is released.
2. Description of the Related Art
Prior air bomb racks often use extending pistons to force a munition or store from the weapons bay of an aircraft. Most prior art designs use a sway brace or cradle built into the structure of the rack to restrain the munition or store from lateral or pitching motion. On ejection, the pistons force the store or munition away from the aircraft, but the sway braces remain on the rack, Thus, there is no restriction on the yaw, pitch, or roll motion of the store or munition during ejection. This is in view of the fact that the item being ejected is still subject to aerodynamic forces while the ejection process is being carried out and is no longer being controlled by the sway braces. Certain prior art sway braces control systems have been developed which include the constraining sway brace on the piston assembly. This extends the yaw and pitch constraint until the article being deployed has left the influence of the pistons. Such a system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,323 issued on May 18, 1999 to Jakubowski, Jr., et al. While this prior art device is an improvement, it still does not assure the contact of the released article with the sway brace.

Store and munitions release system having deployable swaybrace claw


By way of example, the technology disclosed by this document receives image data; extracts a depth image and a color image from the image data; creates a mask image by segmenting the depth image; determines a first likelihood score from the depth image and the mask image using a layered classifier; determines a second likelihood score from the color image and the mask image using a deep convolutional neural network; and determines a class of at least a portion of the image data based on the first likelihood score and the second likelihood score. Further, the technology can pre-filter the mask image using the layered classifier and then use the pre-filtered mask image and the color image to calculate a second likelihood score using the deep convolutional neural network to speed up processing.

The present disclosure relates to object recognition using layer-based object detection with deep convolutional neural networks.
Today many computer systems and machines rely on person recognition techniques for various different applications. In some example applications, machines and computer systems need to know if there is a human present (or which human is present) at a particular location in order to turn on/off or activate a particular program. Person detection in particular is often a fundamental skill in human robot interaction. In general, a robot needs to know where the person is in order to interact with them.
While some progress has been made at detecting people in public places (e.g., see P. F. Felzenszwalb, R. B. Girshick, D. McAllester and D. Ramanan, "Object Detection with Discriminatively Trained Part Based Models," IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, vol. 32, no. 9, pp. 1627-1645, 2010; and T. Linder and Arras K. O., "People Detection, Tracking and Visualization using ROS on a Mobile Service Robot," in Robot Operating System (ROS): The Complete Reference, Springer, 2016), in other domains, such as a home environment, the challenges are particularly difficult.
One solution that has been developed to improve object recognition is to use a layer-based classification/object detection system to differentiate between classes of objects. The layer-based classification uses a segmented depth image to differentiate between two or more classes of people. However, one common error that is present in the layer-based classification using depth images, especially in a moving object detection system (such as a robot) when the system approaches a square object at an off angle (e.g. 45 degrees), then that object will appear curved in the depth image, making it difficult to distinguish from people. In moving object detection systems, a false positive classification that happens when a robot approaches an object at an unusual angle can result in a robot becoming stuck.
Another solution that has been developed to improve object recognition is to use a deep convolutional neural network to classify objects and/or images. The use of deep convolutional neural networks to classify objects and/or images is a relatively recent phenomenon. Although the algorithm itself is many decades old, there has been significant recent work in optimizing these algorithms for large data sets and improving their speed and precision. Most notably, work published by Krizhevsky, Sutskever and Hinton at the University of Toronto detailed a specific network architecture, referred to as "AlexNet," that performed well on the large object recognition challenge, ImageNet. See A. Krizhevsky, I. Sutskever and G. Hinton, "ImageNet Classification with Deep Convolutional Neural Networks," in Neural Information Processing (NIPS), Lake Tahoe, Nev., USA, 2012.
The deep convolutional neural network often utilizes RGB images to classify objects and/or images. While recent improvements to the deep convolutional neural network have shown success at large object image recognition as well as increasing the size of the training set and tolerance of noise, the deep convolutional neural network suffers from a significant weakness. The deep convolutional neural network is overly reliant on single sending modality (e.g. RGB image data). Not only is segmenting in RGB much more difficult and computationally expensive, but the classifier itself emphasizes learning a decision boundary based on edges and textures, features that may not be the only, or even the best, choice depending on the sensing modality and the object being recognized.
In addition, AlexNet, however, does not solve the segmentation problem—when restricted to color images, other algorithms like graph cuts were used to extract object-bounding boxes and then classified. See R. Girshick, J. Donahue, T. Darrell and J. Malik, "Rich feature hierarchies for accurate object detection and semantic segmentation," in Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, Columbus, Ohio, 2014. Alternatively, there has been a notable effort to move beyond the single modality limitations by incorporating depth. See C. Couprie, C. Farabet, L. Najman and Y. LeCun, "Convolutional Nets and Watershed Cuts for Real-Time Semantic Labeling of RGBD Videos," Journal of Machine Learning Research, vol. 15 (October), pp. 3489-3511, 2014.
Couprie et al exponentially reduce the number of bounding boxes to evaluate by applying watershed cuts to depth images for image segmentation prior to RGB classification. Gupta et al go step further by including the depth data in the segmentation and classification step. See S. Gupta, R. Girshick, P. Arbeláez and J. Malik, "Learning Rich Features from RGB-D Images for Object Detection and Segmentation," in European Conference on Computer Vision, Zurich, Switzerland, 2014. Their work, however, requires knowledge of the camera orientation in order to estimate both height above ground and angle with gravity for every pixel in the image for use with AlexNet.
Within the domain of person detection there is also multimodal fusion work focused on improving specific classifiers using a combination of RGB and depth information. People can be detected in depth data alone, as demonstrated by previous work in layered person detection and contour estimation, as well as and they can be detected in monocular camera data, either color or grayscale images. See E. Martinson, "Detecting Occluded People for Robotic Guidance," in Robots and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN), Edinburgh, UK, 2014; L. Spinello, K. Arras, R. Triebel and R. Siewart, "A Layered Approach to People Detection in 3D Range Data," in Proc. of the AAAI Conf. on Artificial Intelligence: Physically Grounded AI Track, Atlanta, Ga., 2010; and N. Kirchner, A. Alempijevic, A. Virgona, X. Dai, P. Ploger and R. Venkat, "A Robust People Detection. Tracking and Counting System," in Australian Conf. on Robotics and Automation, Melbourne, Australia, 2014.
But the advantage of using the two modalities is that the failure points for depth-based recognition are not the same as the failure points for color based recognition. Given a registered color and depth image, a number of systems have been developed to take advantage of the fusion of these two modalities.
The method described by Spinello and Arras (Univ. of Freiburg) fuses these two modalities by applying similar classifiers in each domain. See L. Spinello and K. Arras, "People Detection in RGB-D Data," in Int. Conf. on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), San Francisco, USA, 2011. The depth image is used to first identify regions of interest based on groups of neighboring pixels. Then the histogram of oriented gradients, originally developed for object recognition in RGB images, and widely used in color based person detection, is calculated for regions of interest in the color image. A second, related algorithm, the histogram of oriented depths, is then applied to the depth image objects, and the resulting combined vector is classified using a support vector machine. More recent work from Freiburg (see above) integrates other publically available detectors including one included with the point cloud library. See M. Munaro, F. Basso, E. Menegatti., "Tracking people within groups with RGB-D data," in International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) 2012, Villamoura, Portugal, 2012.
Another related RGB-D classification system was published by the University of Michigan, whereby additional modalities such as motion cues, skin color, and detected faces are also added to a combined classification system. See W. Choi, C. Pantofaru, S. Savarese, "Detecting and Tracking People using an RGB-D Camera via Multiple Detector Fusion," in Workshop on Challenges and Opportunities in Robot Perception (in conjunction with ICCV-11), 2011. Although both of these methods make use of classifiers from both the RGB and depth domain, neither one takes advantage of the precision increase a convolutional neural network can enable. Where the first method uses two very similar classifiers (HOG vs HOD) to handle the cross-domain fusion, the system is learning the same decision boundary and will fail when that decision boundary is difficult to identify. The second method, by contrast, employs a variety of different detectors across different domains. However, the majority (e.g. motion cues, skin color, and face detection) are very weak classifiers in the general detection problem, as opposed to convolutional neural networks.
Therefore, a solution is needed that both reduces errors in classifying depth images, without the increased process time and computational difficulty of the convolutional neural network.

Augmenting layer-based object detection with deep convolutional neural networks


A laser bar structure is mounted on a submount which includes first and second side surfaces. The first side surface has an electrically-conducting elongated mesa adjacent to the rear surface defining a placement space for a laser bar. A conducting foil connects the laser bar to the mesa. A plurality of such submounts are stacked such that the rise of the mesas provide room for the lasers and the connections to them. Each submount has a through conduit which align when stacked to form a coolant manifold. The rear surface of the stack is mounted on a microchannel cooler. A single array or a plurality of arrays are assembled electrically in series between heat conducting end blocks with fittings for connection to a coolant supply.

Semiconductor diode laser arrays are well known in the art. Such arrays operate to deliver high power pulses in a relatively narrow frequency range, preferably at a single frequency. The maximum power output of such arrays is limited by the heat generated by the lasers. Thus, the heat dissapation arrangement for the arrays is very important for the performance of the array. Further, the uniformity of the temperature to which the array is cooled also is particularly important because differences in temperature over the array results in an undesirable spread in the frequency range over which the output of the array is provided.
Commercially available diode lasers are mounted on heat sinks and are cooled by a fluid coolant to carry off the heat produced during operation. The cooling arrangements are expensive and cumbersome. When the lasers are stacked to form an array, the size of the array is, to a large extent, determined by the heat dissapating arrangement. It is desirable to reduce the size of that arrangement to reduce the area over which the output of the stack is delivered.
It is clear that the geometry of the individual laser structures, the manner in which the lasers are stacked, and the heat dissapating arrangements are all important to achieving high array performance.


Biopolymers that may be used in optical applications are provided. Suitable biopolymers include polylactic acid and polylactic acid blends. The polylactic acid may be used with a photocatalyst such as titonium dioxide in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the polylactic acid may incorporate decorative fused recycled particles. Generally, the biopolymer may be used in applications where optical characteristics and/or fire performance are desired.

Photocatalytic Reactions
In chemistry, photocatalysis is the acceleration of a photoreaction in the presence of a catalyst. In catalysed photolysis, light is absorbed by an adsorbed substrate. In photogenerated catalysis, the photocatalytic activity (PCA) depends on the ability of the catalyst to create electron-hole pairs, which generate free radicals (hydroxyl radicals: .OH) able to undergo secondary reactions. Its comprehension has been made possible ever since the discovery of water electrolysis by means of the titanium dioxide (TiO2). Commercial application of the process is called Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP). There are several methods of achieving AOP's, that can but do not necessarily involve TiO2 or even the use of UV light. Generally the defining factor is the production and use of the hydroxyl radical
A principle of photocatalytic reaction is to accelerate the nature's cleaning and purifying process using light as energy. Discovered in 1960's, Dr. Fujishima of Japan found titanium metal, after irradiation by light, could break water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen gas. By restructuring titanium dioxide particles in nano-scale, a number of new physical and chemical properties were discovered. One of these properties was photocatalytic oxidation which accelerated the formation of hydroxyl radical, one of the strongest oxidizing agents created by nature. Using energy found in the UV light, photocatalyst titanium dioxide can breakdown numerous organic substances such as oil grime and hydrocarbons from car exhaust and industrial smog, volatile organic compounds found in various building materials and furniture, organic growth such as fungus and mildew. Titanium dioxide coatings thus may be useful for oxidation. In addition to its photocatalytic oxidation effect, a titanium dioxide coating exhibits a hydrophilic property (or high water-affinity). More specifically, the titanium dioxide coating attracts water moist in the air to form an invisible film of water. This thin film of water allows the substrate to be anti-static so the coated surface may be easily cleaned by rinse of water. Titanium dioxide thus has been incorporated into commodity products such as paint, cosmetics, sun blocks, and etc. Numerous applications have been developed from utilizing photocatalytic reaction.
When photocatalyst titanium dioxide (TiO2) absorbs ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or an illuminated light source (e.g., fluorescent lamps), it produces pairs of electrons and holes. The electron of the valence band of titanium dioxide becomes excited when illuminated by light. The excess energy of this excited electron promotes the electron to the conduction band of titanium dioxide therefore creating the negative-electron (e−) and positive-hole (h+) pair. This stage is referred as the "photo-excitation" state. The energy difference between the valence band and the conduction band is known as the "Band Gap." Wavelength of the light necessary for photo-excitation is: 1240 (Planck's constant, h)/3.2 ev (band gap energy)=388 nm.
The positive-hole of titanium dioxide breaks apart the water molecule to form hydrogen gas and hydroxyl radical. The negative-electron reacts with oxygen molecule to form super oxide anion. This cycle continues when light is available
Photocatalytic oxidation is achieved when UV light rays are combined with a TiO2 coated filter. This process creates hydroxyl radicals and super-oxide ions, which are highly reactive electrons.
These highly reactive electrons aggressively combine with other elements in the air, such as bacteria and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), harmful pollutants such as formaldehyde, ammonia and many other common contaminants released by building materials and household cleaners generally found in the home. Effective oxidation of the pollutants breaks down into harmless carbon dioxide and water molecules, drastically improving the air quality.
TiO2 as a Photocatalyst
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a potent photocatalyst that can break down almost any organic compound when exposed to sunlight. Titanium dioxide is a well-known photocatalyst for water and air treatment as well as for catalytic production of gases. The general scheme for the photocatalytic destruction of organics begins with its excitation by suprabandgap photons, and continues through redox reactions where OH radicals, formed on the photocatalyst surface, play a major role. Titanium dioxide is non-toxic.
TiO2 has been used in the development of a wide range of environmentally beneficial products, including self-cleaning fabrics, auto body finishes, and ceramic tiles. Other experiments with TiO2 involve removing the ripening hormone ethylene from areas where perishable fruits, vegetables, and cut flowers are stored; stripping organic pollutants such as trichloroethylene and methyl-tert-butyl ether from water; and degrading toxins produced by blue-green algae.
Mechanism of Photocatalytic Chemistry of TiO2 Nanotechnology
Biopolymers
With growing environmental concerns over petrochemical products and environmentally harmful practices, new environmentally friendly polymers are being developed as a replacement for petrochemical based plastics. Materials such as PLA (polylactic acid) such as produced by Natureworks (Cargill) are derived from natural and rapidly renewable resources of corn. To date the vast majority of interest and commercialization is the application of PLA has been for disposable packaging and other disposable products. Although thought of as a disposable plastic, PLA has many abilities and functions that can further expand the usage of this environmentally friendly biobased technology.
Polylactic acid is not derived from petrochemical materials, but from the conversion of starch or cellulosic materials such as corn, wheat, sugar cane, and the starch sources into dextrose then into a lactic acid. The lactic acid is then polymerized into a range of polymer products. Because PLA is not petrochemical based, it has functional and processing abilities outside that of petrochemicals.
Plastics, such as acrylic, polystyrene, PE, PP and most all petrochemical plastics, typically block UV. Currently fused quartz mineral is used for UV transparent applications, but is both difficult and expensive to shape or form into shapes. Further, quartz mineral can not be easily softened to fuse nanominerals onto its surface. Currently few materials are UV transparent and most are expensive or classified as a hazardous material. Materials such as quartz or sapphire have been used in some industries providing a high degree of UV stability. These material have limitations in cost and fabrication among others.
Other engineered polymers such as fluropolymers have been used in UV transparent applications, but are hindered by cost and health considerations. Law suits have been won suing company's based on fluropolymer emissions and pollution.
PLA is a thermoplastic polyester derived from field corn of 2-hydroxy lactate (lactic acid) or lactide. The formula of the subunit is: —[O—CH(CH3)-CO]— The alpha-carbon of the monomer is optically active (L-configuration). The polylactic acid-based polymer is typically selected from the group consisting of D-polylactic acid, L-polylactic acid, D,L-polylactic acid, meso-polylactic acid, and any combination of D-polylactic acid, L-polylactic acid, D,L-polylactic acid and meso-polylactic acid. Some, a polylactic acid-based materials include predominantly PLLA (poly-L-Lactic acid). The number average molecular weight may be about 140,000, although a workable range for the polymer is between about 15,000 and about 300,000. In one embodiment, the PLA is L9000™ (Biomer, Germany), apolylactic acid)
Polylactic acid has a relatively high specific gravity as compared to common plastics with a specific gravity closer to engineered plastics such as polycarbonate. Although similar in specific gravity to polycarbonate used in various functional arid optical products, PLA has a much lower refractive index. In addition due to the unique molecular structure and materials, PLA is virtually transparent in UV wavelength spectrum as compared to polycarbonate and common plastics that have very high UV absorption rates. From this PLA does not have visible or UV degradation or yellowing as found in common plastics. UV transparency and a low refractive index can have a myriad of applications.
UV Resistance and UV Transparency
It has been discovered the PLA has very good UV resistance in regards to UV degradation. Various tests have been performed showing that PLA does not yellow when exposed to exterior light. In addition, tests based on UV-visible photospectrometers show that PLA is transparent to UV A, UV B, and in most of the UV C ranges. This shows that the material allows substantially full transmission of UV waves.
Other materials such as polycarbonate have high degrees of clarity in the visible light spectrum but have high degrees of UV absorption. Most polymers are carefully measured for their UV absorption due to the fact that the absorption of UV has a significant relationship to UV degradation of the polymer. Polymers vary greatly in their resistance to weathering. For example, such as polymethylathacrylate (PMMA) and polytetrafluosoethylene (PTFE) are transparent to UV radiation and hence not susceptible to photodegradation. Materials such as PTFE and PMMA are considered "UV Transparent" materials
According to data obtained, the following show a specific wavelength wherein the material starts to absorb UV-visible wavelengths:
PET420 nmPolycarbonate330 nmPLA240 nm
UV or ultra violet radiation is a shorter wavelength than visible light spectra. The following represents the areas of various UV energy classifications:
UV ALong wave (black light)315 to 400 nmUV BUB Medium wave280 to 315 nmUV CShort wave (germicidal)100 to 280
PLA starts absorption at a much shorter UV wavelength and in addition the amount of absorption is lower than that of a high quality PET.
PLA also has a high surface energy. PLA has a similar range of refractive index as fluoropolymers, but with much higher surface energy.
Polylactic acid has a specific gravity typically around the 1.25 range and can produced in a transparent form. Common plastics for optical and other functional applications such as polycarbonate have specific gravities of typically 1.2 to 1.22 but are UV opaque.
Optical properties such as refractive index, UV absorption/transmission and UV resistance are important issues related to optical applications.
Refractive Index
The refractive index or index of refraction is a ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum relative to that speed through a given medium (this quantity does not refer to an angle of refraction, which can be derived from the refractive index using Snell's Law). As light passes from one medium to another, for example from air to water, the result is a bending of light rays at an angle. This physical property occurs because there is a change in the velocity of light going from one medium into another. Refractive index also describes the quantity that light is bent as it passes through a single substance. This involves calculating the angle at which light enters the medium and comparing that with the angle at which the light leaves the medium.
Another view rates each substance with its own refractive index. This is because the velocity of light through the substance is compared as a ratio to the velocity of light in a vacuum. The velocity at which light travels in a vacuum is a physical constant, and the fastest speed at which energy or information can travel. However, light travels slower through any given material, or medium, that is not a vacuum. This is actually a delay from when light enters the material to when it leaves; i.e., when some is absorbed, and another part transmitted. The following shows various refractive indices of plastics:
Specific GravityRefractive IndexPolycarbonate 1.2-1.221.58Polylactic Acid 1.24-1.251.46 note: Range with blending(1.4 to 1.55)
The difference of refractive index between PLA and conventional petrochemical polymers also provides other potential functional features including electrical dielectric strength. The dielectric constant (which is often dependent on wavelength) is the square of the (complex) refractive index in a non-magnetic medium (one with a relative permeability of unity). The refractive index is used for optics in Fresnel equations and Snell's law; while the dielectric constant is used in Maxwell's equations and electronics. The dielectric constant of PLA is lower than conventional petrochemical plastics and has various applications in electrical components and systems.
Fluoropolymers have been investigated for a wide range of optical applications because of their possible optical clarity and because their refractive indices are generally much lower than competing materials such as PMMA and PC. The refractive index for most fluoropolymers is in the region of 1.30 to 1.45 compared with the refractive index for more traditional transparent polymers such as PMMA and PC where it is in the region of 1.5 to 1.6 (or higher). This makes the fluoropolymers suitable for optical technology products such as waveguides, optical filters, fiber gratings and a wide range of optical devices. Specialist ultra-transparent fluoropolymers are also being developed for these applications and for use in rapidly developing CMOS lithography technologies essential for the production of semiconductor devices. The optical clarity and other performance properties of fluoropolymers are opening new markets and opportunities.
The usage of dissimilar materials with various refractive indexes are used for a wide range of applications for antireflective coatings, LCD flat panel screen assemblies, general optical lensing and other similar applications. A lower or different refractive index of PLA in combination with a convention higher refractive index can have unique applications and provide a tool for design of new optical based systems.
Luminous Transmittance
Luminous transmittance for various materials is provided below.
Optical glass99.9PMMA92PC89SAN88PS88ABS79PVC76
Encapsulants for Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
Typical encapsulants for LEDs are organic polymeric materials. Encapsulant lifetime is a significant hurdle holding back improved performance of high brightness LEDs (HB LEDs). Conventional LEDs are encapsulated in epoxy resins that, when is use, tend to yellow over time thereby reducing the LED brightness and changing the color rendering index of the light emitted from the light emitting device. This is particularly important for white LEDs. The yellowing of the epoxy is believed to result from decomposition induced by the high operating temperatures of the LED and/or absorption of UV-blue light emitted by the LED.
Another problem that can occur when using conventional epoxy resins is stress-induced breakage of the wire bond on repeated thermal cycling. High brightness LEDs can have heat loads on the order of 100 Watts per square centimeter. Since the coefficients of thermal expansion of epoxy resins typically used as encapsulants are significantly larger than those of the semiconductor layers and the moduli of the epoxies can be high, the embedded wire bond can be stressed to the point of failure on repeated heating and cooling cycles. Thus, there is a need for new photochemically stable and thermally stable encapsulants for LEDs that reduce the stress on the wire bond over many temperature cycles.
With growing research in the area of UV LED, there continues to be a need to improve efficiencies, provide unique UV lensing and optical effects, remove hazardous materials, improve adhesion of encapsulant materials and provide lower cost alternative for LED encapsulant materials.
Currently silicone is a preferred petrochemical polymer used for encapsulating of LED or used within LED lensing due to its refractive index, low UV absorption and other physical and optical properties. Silicone has draw backs with low adhesion properties, petrochemical based, expensive (in optical quality), etc.
Scattering efficiencies is the ratio of photons emitted from the LED lamp to the number of photons emitted from the semiconductor, ship. This accounts for scattering losses in the encapsulant of the lamp.
Encapsulants Based on Silicone
Advantages:
Thermal stability −115 to +260 C
Low Modulus
Low shrinkage
Low moisture absorption
Low ionic content
Low outgassing
Dielectric Strength
Optical clarity—95% transmission at 400 Nm
Refractive index 1.38 to 1.61.
Challenges:
Adhesion to substrate
UV effects on yellowing
Power effect on yellowing.
A key aspect of good high brightness LED packaging design is the physical and optical characteristics of the material used to bond and hold adjacent components together when used as encapsulants, phosphor coatings and lenses. Silicone based materials offer many such advantages.
Silicone Characteristics—Optical:
Optical transmission in the UV-visible region99% @ 400-800 nMHigh clarity95%Refractive index1.38 to 1.58Transmission: Silicones have less than 1% absorption in the UV visible wavelength with very little scattering loss.Note:that certain silicones grades are more prone than others to degradation after prolonged UV exposure which is observed as a characteristic yellowing of the material.
Lighting Lenses
The drop ceiling commercial lighting industry uses metal housings with flourescent tubes to provide indoor lighting. Typically an acrylic or polystyrene sheet lens or diffuser is inserted below the fluorescent tubes to disperse the light in the room and also to protect people if the tubes break.
Currently polystyrene is listed as a probable carcinogen by the US Government as a potential cancer causing agent. Both polystyrene and acrylics are petrochemically derived and are fire accelerators. They have a low limited oxygen index and burn in normal atmospheric oxygen levels. In addition they both have a high smoke index, high heat density and produce toxic smoke during combustion.
Fire safety is of key interest in the interior furnishing area for public occupancy buildings. Current lighting lenses and diffusers are produced from petrochemical based acrylic or polystyrene which has many negative issues related to fire. Acrylics and polystyrene burns vigorously and generates heat rapidly when involved in fire.
Fire safety issues and codes relates to the following issues:
Combustion (limited oxygen index)
Flame Propagation
Ignition Characteristics
Smoke Generation
Heat Generation
Light Diffusing Panels
With growing environmental concerns and demand for more "greener" products, there is an increased demand for materials that are derived from rapidly renewable or recycled resources and replaces hazardous and non-renewable petrochemical products. In addition, there is market demand for a low cost process that can process a wide range of recycled plastics and convert them into highly aesthetic durable goods thus removing this material from landfills.
Certain plastic waste such as compact discs from industrial scrap or postconsumer sources are difficult and expensive to recycle due to the metallization layer of the backside of the CD and the colored ink printing on the front. Other recycled material like polylactic acid biopolymers from the production of water bottles are found in high volumes. In the production of these water bottles, trimming scrap is produced during bottle production and cannot be recycled back into bottles. Other mixed semitransparent plastic waste is also problematic for recycled especially when there is mixed colors with the clear or semitransparent plastic and are virtually impossible to sort.
There is a growing demand in architectural designs to create light transmittance diffusing privacy panels that can allow light to pass, but provide sufficient optical diffusion for privacy. Current technology use transparent sheet plastic with optional inclusions that are melted together to form these panels. This process is slow and expensive. The resulting panels are expensive and aesthetic inclusions are highly labor intensive insofar as they are hand laid up between the sheets prior to pressing processes.
The usage of recycled plastic for simple compression molding into sheets or screw extrusion into sheet is known. Generally, the materials are mixed or blended and fully melted into a homogenous material.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,593,625 and 5,635,123 (Riebel) discloses a biocomposite board formed from waste newsprint in combination with a water based soybean resin designed with similar characteristics of a composite wood panel. This composite board requires finishing as hardwoods and is not water proof. This art was designed as a replacement for hardwood based on water based proteinous resin integrated with cellulose.
Filled composite materials are known that are based on thermoplastic polymers and wood or agricultural fiber compounds with various additives, which are manufactured using high volume processes such as injection molding or extrusion. These materials are typically done as homogenous composites designed for structural applications such as decking, windows, fencing, siding and other exterior applications. The art includes thermosetting compounds containing cellulosic fiber as a filler. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,367,917 describes a thermosetting melamine resin molding composition containing fibrous filler such as cellulose from about 25% to 42% by weight. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,407,154 and 3,407,154 describe thermosetting urea-formaldehyde resin molding composition comprising of fusible reactive urea resin and pure cellulosic fibers. This art is based on homogenous composite materials designed for structural applications.
Numerous patents issued in the 1990s concern composite materials comprising polyethylene (high- or low-density, HDPE and LDPE, respectively) and cellulose fibers. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,082,605, 5,088,910 and 5,096,046 disclose a composite made of 40% to 60% of plastic (LDPE, or a combination of 60% LDPE and 40% HDPE, or having 10-15% of polypropylene of the total amount of plastic) and about 60% to 40% of wood fiber. U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,722 describes a composite material 20% to 80% of which a cellulosic material (ground wood, sawdust, wood flour, rice hulls, etc.) and polyethylene.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,602 discloses a composite comprising polypropylene, polyethylene, or their combination along with lignocellulosic particles (50% to 70% by weight) and a polyurethane coupling agent (15 to 3% by weight of the mixture). U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,472 discloses a composite having approximately 26% HDPE and 65% wood flour, extruded in the presence of zinc stearate (2%) as a lubricant along with phenolic resin and polyurethane as minor additives and cross-linking agents (4% and 1.3%, respectively).
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,827,462, 5,866,264, 6,011,091 and 6,117,924 describe extruded thermoplastic composites comprising 20% to 40% HDPE or polyvinyl chloride, and 50% to 70% of wood flour, along with 0.5%-2% of lubricants (zinc stearate or calcium stearate) and other minor additives. The foregoing four patents contain an example of the composite (Recipe A and B) showing HDPE and PVC at 26% by weight, wood flour at 66%, and the above-indicated amount of lubricants and other minor additives.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,480 discloses a thermoplastic composite of polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyls or other extrudable plastics, cellulosic fiber such as saw dust, wood flour, ground rice hulls, etc., fillers and lubricants. The patentees describe the extrusion occurring through a die at a temperature below the melting point of the polymer, so that the deformation of the polymer takes place in the solid phase, making the product biaxially oriented.
Canadian Patent No. 2,278,688 discloses a thermoplastic composite material 50% to 60% of which is polyethylene or polypropylene, 10% to 30% of which is wood powder, and 10% to 35% of which is a silicate (mica).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,105 describes a thermoplastic composition comprising sheared poly-coated paper (50% to 70% by weight) and polyethylene (30% to 50%). An example provided in the patent describes making an 80 g batch of a compression molded composite comprising HDPE (39%), a poly-coated paper (scrap milk jugs, 59%) and a coupling agent (Polybond 3009, 2%).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,973,035 by the same authors describes a similar thermoplastic composition comprising sheared paper (50% to 70% by weight) and polyethylene (30% to 50%). An example provided in this patent describes production of an 80 g batch of a compression-molded composite comprising HDPE (39%), sheared scrap newspapers or magazines (59%), and a coupling agent (Fusabond 100D, 2%).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,207,729 describes a similar thermoplastic composition comprising shredded and sheared cellulosic materials (33%-59% by weight) such as old newspapers, magazines, kenaf, kraftboard, etc., HDPE (33% to 50%), calcium carbonate (11% to 17%), and a coupling agent (Fusabond 100D, 2%).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,996 teaches that high levels of granulated papermill sludge (up to 70%-75%) can be mixed with synthetic plastics for extrusion or injection molding of a homogenous composite having high strength, high impact resistance, and low flammability for decking products. This art is designed as a homogenous structural material commercially used in extrusion of composite decking.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0241759 discloses a decorative laminate structure having at least two sheets of polycarbonate and at least one decorative image layer there-between two sheets of polycarbonate, and a method of making the decorative laminate structure. Through heat and pressure the sheet layers and the decorative image layer are bonded together resulting in a decorative laminate structure of this invention. This product is intended for use primarily to produce decorative articles which include counter tops, table tops, cabinet doors, game boards, toys, panels for shower stalls, hot tubs, markerboards, indoor and outdoor signs, seamless vanity tops including sink, soap dish, back splash, flooring and others
U.S. Pat. No. 7,615,275 discloses a decorative architectural panel that can be formed using multiple image layers to create one or more three-dimensional effects in a final product. In particular, a reference image layer comprises an extruded sheet having an artistically-designed reference image formed thereon. A next image layer comprises an extruded sheet having a differently sized iteration of the artistically designed reference image. A manufacturer can place the next image layer over the reference image layer, and set the combined image layers such that the final product shows the artistically-designed image in three-dimensions. Additional image layers, such as a color layer, or a layer having embedded objects, can be combined with the stratified product for additional artistic effects. This patent is based on extruded sheet plastics that are laminated together to form a transparent panel with various inclusion pressed in between the transparent sheets. This art teaches that the sheets are fully melted.
Numerous patents have been filed using polylactic acid bioplastics for film and blow molding applications using extrusion processing including U.S. Pat. No. 7,297,394 disclosures using a biodegradable polymer blend for laminating coatings, wraps and other packaging materials. The films are designed for packaging applications wherein the PLA is heated to its crystalline processing temperature and above its melt temperature of 390 degrees F. to obtain optimal clarity.
Decorative solid surfacing materials have been used over the past decade for a myriad of applications including worksurfaces, countertops, architectural components, plaques, tiles, and wall systems all based on various form of hazardous petrochemically derived materials. Materials such as Corian, Avonite and other solid surface materials use forms of acrylic or polyesters in a liquid form with hazardous catalysts wherein decorative chunks of the same material is "floated" within the polymer matrix. These non-environmental materials do not fully have the aesthetics of natural granite due to the fact that particles are uniformly blended within the liquid polymer matrix. The uniformity of floating particles yields a man made and ordered aesthetic appearance.
Other materials have been developed using virgin or blends of recycled clear plastic wherein various inclusion are placed between sheets of these plastics and melted together to form decorative panels. These processes and products are very expensive typically selling for over $20 per square foot and typically are not 100% recycled materials. These materials are limited to long cycles to fully melt and cool the sheet materials into a homogenous sheet form. In addition these layered sheet are homogenous in optical properties.
Generally, the above discussed art is based on the melting of a liquid polymer in forms of virgin, recycled or biobased where the material is mixed and processed above its Tm melting point and to provide a well mixed homogenous material. This art is further based on mixing extrusion processes that requires the melting of the polymer portion to even flow through the machine.
Biolaminates
Biopolymer based biolaminates are environmentally friendly and petrochemical free and also have functional features including UV transparency and high degree of resistance to UV degradation. The highly polar nature of biopolymers provides a high degree of ability to load various levels of fillers or functional materials such as photocatalytic particles or nanoparticle or blends thereof. The UV transparency and resistance of UV degradation provides unique properties for photocatalytics in regards to having photocatalytic in thicker coatings that better accept UV wavelengths based on photocatalytic functionality.
Most current art that teaches about photocatalytics in combination with a binder used as coating state that only very thin layer of coating can be used because of the UV absorption of petrochemical based binders. The same limitation is considered present for petrochemical films wherein the photocatalytic can only be a very thin micro layer on the surface, for example see U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0165702.

Biooptical and biofunctional properties, applications and methods of polylactic acid films


A method and system for emulating a network bandwidth condition includes maintaining a queue for holding packets that are received, maintaining a virtual time that is updated whenever a packet timer is scheduled, and, for a selected packet waiting in the queue, calculating a timer expiration time based on the virtual time. A bandwidth emulation module is controlled by an emulator link that comprises a virtual network link to which a first computer is connected. One or more computers may be linked to the first computer.

Links across interconnected networks vary substantially with respect to such factors as bandwidth, packet latency, and error and loss rates. Before network protocols and distributed applications are deployed in a real network, it is critical that they be thoroughly tested under various realistic network conditions, to ensure correctness and to verify performance characteristics. Testing in an isolated real network is generally impractical. Therefore, testing typically involves simulation and emulation.
Network simulators generally attempt to provide a rich set of protocol modules and configuration tools suitable for conducting customized simulation experiments. However, network simulation suffers from a number of limitations. Simulators rely principally on models of both the physical network infrastructure and networking protocols. Models by definition only approximate the real conditions being tested, and in complex situations it is often impossible to develop accurate models for purposes of simulation. The functionalities provided by simulation modules are merely logical operations; thus, an implementation in a simulator must be modified before it can be deployed within a target network. Network simulators consume significant resources when the network being simulated is sufficiently large, and they do not provide a view of the network end user's experience.
By contrast, network emulators permit applications and protocols to be tested in real time, on real machines, such as locally-linked computers, using real implementations of network protocols. An emulator includes a supplementary means for imposing synthetic delays and faults on the real network traffic. In effect, the emulator comprises a virtual network with respect to the host machine or machines on which the network applications being tested are running. For a network emulator to be useful, however, it is necessary that it include techniques for emulating various network conditions realistically and accurately.

Method and system for network emulation using bandwidth emulation techniques