Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing mobile call authentication. For instance, a token indicative of a call request can be received from a calling party. The token can include a called party number and a time of the request. A subscriber database can be accessed to determine identifying information associated with the calling party based at least in part on the token. The token can be authenticated based at least in part on the identifying information and using one or more predefined authentication protocols. The token can be stored in a call session registry storing data indicative of a plurality of active telephone call events. A verification request for the call request can be received from the called party. The call request can be verified based at least in part on the token. The called party can be notified that the call request has been verified.

Caller ID spoofing and robocalling are among the leading consumer complaints in the telephony space. These practices negatively impact the consumer experience, and thus are disliked by enterprises and individuals alike. These practices result in an unwillingness by consumers to answer incoming call requests, and are thus affecting the ability of enterprises or organizations to interact with their customers over the phone. Regulators and legislators have begun to implement call authentication techniques, such as STIR/SHAKEN (S/S), to address this problem. S/S allows telephone service providers to use digital certificates, based on common public key cryptography techniques, to ensure the calling number of a telephone call is secure.
But S/S, and other similar authentication techniques, have limitations or drawbacks. For instance, S/S does not allow for enterprises or other calling parties to sign or authenticate outgoing calls themselves, relying on the telephone service providers to perform the authentication. Further, S/S requires end-to-end IP infrastructure for authenticating calls, whereas conventional call paths between calling and called parties may use non-IP infrastructure types at least in part. Thus, solutions for more effective call authentication are needed.

End-to-end management of authenticated communications


The object is providing an energy storage device that can be attached to the frame of the bicycle without the need for using tools. This device is, on the one hand, not in the way while the rider is operating the bicycle, and on the other hand, a suitable solution for easy retrofitting action of conventional bicycles. The energy storage device includes a housing that has disposed therein at least one electrical connection is available on the housing that is accessible from the outside. This connection serves, on the one hand, for connecting an electrical consumer, particularly an electrical drive, to the electrical energy storage element; on the other hand, this connection can preferably also serve for recharging the electrical energy storage element. The at least one electrical energy storage element is preferably a rechargeable accumulator.

The invention relates to an energy storage device for attachment to a bicycle frame. The energy storage device serves, in particular, for supplying electrical energy to an electrical drive or auxiliary drive of a bicycle. To this end, the energy storage device includes rechargeable electrical energy storage elements for providing electrical energy.
An energy storage device is known, for example, from DE 20 2010 010 522 U1. For purposes of attaching the same to the bicycle frame, the energy storage device includes a housing that has a protruding link. The link is placed into an allocated groove-like depression in a frame pipe of the vehicle frame. While it is possible to achieve easy supporting action for the housing, which includes one or several electrical energy storage elements, on the bicycle frame in this manner, it is necessary, however, for the bicycle to have a correspondingly adapted shape. The arrangement of the electrical energy storage elements is therefore only suitable for use on specially designed bicycle frames. Retrofitting conventional bicycles with an electrical auxiliary drive and an energy storage device is not possible with this approach.
DE 20 2011 001 232 U1 proposes attaching the housing of the apparatus of the electrical energy storage device. The retaining means includes two attachment clamps that grip around a pipe of the bicycle frame. The housing of the energy storage device can be mounted to the retaining means that is fastened to the bicycle frame by means of the attachment clamps.
Further, DE 20 2009 011 118 U1 also discloses an energy storage device for attachment to a bicycle frame. The energy storage device has a triangular-like housing shape, whereby it can be disposed in the triangle that is formed by the frame of the bicycle frame. In the upper part thereof, the housing has a cylindrical opening that accommodates, when it is in the mounted state, the upper frame pipe of the frame triangle. The housing is designed in two parts, and wherein the cylindrical opening is open at one location over the total axial length thereof in the manner of a slot. For purposes of assembly, said slot can be expanded against the elastic force of the housing and placed over the upper bar of the frame. After the placement on the upper bar of the frame, the two housing sections once again yield elastically toward each other, whereby the slotted cylindrical opening is clamped in place to the upper frame pipe. A storage battery and/or a control unit is/are then disposed in the frame triangle between the frame pipes.
This configuration suffers from the disadvantage in that it engages in the space between the frame pipes and frame triangle of the bicycle frame. Indeed, that location often accommodates retaining means for drinking bottles, spring-damper elements on shock-mounted bicycles, or the like. In this case, it would be necessary to disassemble these units first, prior to being able to attach the energy storage device according to DE 20 2009 011 118 U1 to the bicycle frame.

Energy storage device to be mounted on a bicycle frame


The illustrative embodiments described herein provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product controlling a capture of data. In one embodiment, the process identifies a location from locale identifier data to form an identified location in response to receiving the locale identifier data. The locale identifier data is associated with a location of the digital life recorder. In addition, the identified location is associated with a set of usage policies. The process then determines whether the set of usage policies restricts the capture of data by the digital life recorder at the identified location or whether the set of usage policies restricts playback of the data by a playback system. Thereafter, the process disables a set of sensors while the digital life recorder is in the presence of the locale identifier in response to determining that the set of usage policies restricts the capture of data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an improved data processing system and in particular to a method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a digital life recorder. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for implementing a locale identifier and an associated locale identifier sensor for controlling a capture of data by sensing components of a digital life recorder.
2. Description of the Related Art
Advancements in technology have drastically changed the way people do things. Gone are the days of printed encyclopedias. These paper based resources have been replaced by a plethora of information readily available on the World Wide Web. Instead of taking a roll of film to a photo shop to be developed, digital images are stored on computers, laptops, and even in digital photo frames. Additionally, because taking a digital picture does not cost anything, more digital photos are taken than was previously taken by conventional means. The photos represent memories of special or even obscure events. However, searching for a particular photo out of the hundreds or thousands of images stored on a computer is a difficult task. In addition, numerous events in our daily lives are never captured on film. Furthermore, photos do not capture the spoken words, feelings, or environmental factors associated with everyday activities.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a mechanism for dynamically capturing, storing, and presenting data associated with all aspects of daily activities in an efficient manner.

Identifying a locale for controlling capture of data by a digital life recorder based on location

International Business Machines Corporation


A transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, a first plurality of gears, a second plurality of gears, and a series of engagement elements operable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. A controller is further provided to selectively toggle the series of engagement elements between the engaged position and the disengaged position to selectively couple one of the first plurality of gears or one of the second plurality of gears to the input shaft and the output shaft. The series of engagement elements sequentially couples the first plurality of gears to the input shaft and the output shaft during operation of the transmission and selectively couples one of the first plurality of gears or the second plurality of gears to the input shaft and the output shaft during a downshift operation of the transmission.

Generally conventional automatic transmissions include a torque converter to transfer engine torque from an engine to an input of the transmission, planetary gearsets that provide various gear ratios of torque and thus various drive speeds, and fluid pressure-operated, multi-plate drive or brake clutches and/or brake bands that are connected to the individual elements of the planetary gearsets in order to perform gear shifts between the various gear ratios.
In addition, conventional automatic transmissions include one-way clutches that cooperate with the multi-plate clutches to optimize power shifts and a transmission controller for selectively applying and releasing elements to shift the gears. For example, the controller chooses the proper gear depending on system conditions such as the shift-program selected by the driver (i.e., Drive, Reverse, Neutral, etc.), the accelerator position, the engine condition, and the vehicle speed.
As an accelerator is further depressed, and the vehicle increases speed, the controller disengages and engages appropriate clutches to sequentially shift up through each of the gears until the highest (e.g., fifth) gear is engaged. Once a gear is engaged, further depression of the accelerator will cause the controller to operate a downshift of the transmission such that a lower gear is chosen. In so doing, the controller will shift down through the gears sequentially. In other words, the transmission will run through each of the next successively lower gears prior to reaching the lowest desired gear.
Thus, conventional transmissions suffer from the disadvantage of requiring sequential movement through each of the gears in the transmission. Furthermore, conventional transmissions suffer from the disadvantage of limiting gear choices to only those gears in the sequential chain.
Therefore, a transmission having both a sequential gear set and an alternate gear set capable of providing additional gear ratios is desirable in the industry. Furthermore, a transmission having a controller capable of shifting between the sequential gear set and the additional gear set, to provide the transmission and vehicle with the optimum gear selection, is also desirable.

Transmission system gear shift selection and control


The present invention comprises a safety mechanism (2, 3, 3a, 3b), which is related to and/or integrally formed with a safety coupling (1), wherein the safety coupling, with a related safety mechanism (3a) actuatable toward and into an initial active retaining position or toward and into a final inactive releasing position, is adapted, upon rotary motion, to allow for the transmission of torque between a first, driving coupling member (10) and a second, driven coupling member (20) and wherein said actuatable safety mechanism is adapted to be actuatable in a displacement from an initial active position, via a number of intermediate positions, to a final inactive position. The invention provides for the existence of a guided safety mechanism allocated to the safety coupling with means (40, 45), adapted, during a final operating cycle of the safety coupling, to allow the safety mechanism to be displaced in a direction toward and into the initial active position, and from there to again allow a limiting relative movement between the first and the second coupling members, during each subsequent operative cycle.

The methods, arrangements and structures related to the above technical area and with a function and a character which meets the set requirements are previously known in various embodiments.
As an example of the background art and the technical area to which the invention pertains, one safety arrangement may be mentioned, being related to or integrally formed with a safety coupling, and coordinating with a safety mechanism, as disclosed in DE 40 28 158.
The safety coupling is actuatable by an adapted safety arrangement toward and into an initial active (retaining) position, or toward and into an inactive (releasing) position, with a connection to the above-described "on"/"off" function.
These torque transmission coupling units are adapted to, via rotary motion, allow for the transmission of (high) torque between a first, driving coupling member and a second, driven coupling member.
Said safety arrangement is adapted to, when a preselected torque and a relative motion caused by this high torque between the first and second coupling members are exceeded, be actuated, via a safety mechanism, in a displacement from its initial active position to its final inactive position, said safety arrangement being adapted to permit a limited relative movement between the first and the second coupling members corresponding to a selected maximized arcuate distance between its initial active position and its final inactive position, the safety arrangement being adapted to mechanically permit the coupling unit to be actuated to its inactive position by momentarily evacuating a cavity, filled with a medium under high pressure, of its contents (aqueous emulsion, oil).
It should be noted that a relative movement caused between the two coupling members over a friction surface located between the two coupling members can produce very high friction-related effects related to the prevailing frictional force and the length and width of the arcuate distance utilized for this purpose.
The known safety coupling, with its allocated safety mechanism, is constructed such that a limited relative movement between the coupling members, caused primarily by short-term torque peaks exceeding a predetermined maximized torque value, will be progressively utilized and added to each and every successive work cycle, until the chosen maximum arcuate distance is fully utilized and the final inactive position of the arrangement can be achieved with an extremely small final relative movement, less than the maximum arcuate distance, during one operating cycle.
The known safety coupling offers no visual inspection of, or easily ascertainable way of determining, the relative movement achieved between the coupling members at the start of each operating cycle.
When a safety coupling of the relevant kind has been triggered and assumed its final inactive (release) position, extensive measures are required to permit the safety coupling to re-activate, such that once a coupling unit has been triggered, such as in the form of a cut and opened valve assembly, a valve assembly must be replaced and a cavity in the safety coupling must be re-pressurized with an aqueous emulsion or oil via a replacement valve assembly.
These measures have proven to be extremely burdensome, especially in a situation where the safety coupling thus triggered, related to a drilling station, is located in an inaccessible place and position, such as high above a ground plane.
Therefore there is a need to develop improved safety couplings which solve the above problems.


A shoe for supporting an abrasive tape having an abrasive face and an opposed back face, wherein the shoe comprises a support surface including a frictional engagement material for frictionally engaging the back face of the abrasive tape. The frictional engagement material comprises a plurality of individual frictional engagement areas on a flexible substrate, each frictional engagement area having a plurality of abrasive particles. In an exemplary embodiment, the frictional engagement material comprises diamond abrasive particles retained in a nickel matrix supported on a flexible mesh substrate. The support surface of the shoe may be curvilinear, arcuate, convex, or concave.

It is common to use abrasives to abrade specified amounts of material from the outer surface of a workpiece to provide a desired workpiece shape and surface finish. In the automotive field, for example, lobes or thrustwalls of camshafts and crankshafts for internal combustion engines must meet exacting standards for geometry and surface finish. If a camshaft or a crankshaft is improperly sized or finished, undesired wear patterns may result.
One manner of finishing the outer peripheral surface of a workpiece, such as a thrustwall, is to provide a shoe having a smooth pressure face against which an abrasive sheet or tape is placed. In some cases, the shoe is provided with conventional honing shoe inserts, where the pressure face of the shoe includes the smooth surface of the honing shoe inserts. The workpiece, the shoe, or both, are moved so that the abrasive face of the tape is brought in contact with the surface of the workpiece. The workpiece is then rotated with respect to the shoe to abrade the workpiece surface. The abrasive tape may be, for example, a coated abrasive, a lapping abrasive, or a nonwoven abrasive. Examples of camshaft and crankshaft microfinishing are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,444 (Judge et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,191 (Judge et al.).
After a certain amount of use, the portion of the abrasive sheet or tape contacting the workpiece will begin to degrade or wear out, which can cause irregular finishing of the workpiece. To continue abrading workpieces, it is therefore common to advance the abrasive tape periodically to provide a new abrasive surface to the workpiece. Advancing the abrasive tape in this manner is referred to as "indexing" the abrasive tape. To allow for ease in indexing the abrasive, the abrasive tape or sheet typically is not permanently fixed or adhered to the pressure face.
Although the abrasive tape is typically releasable from the pressure face to allow indexing, it is important to maintain the abrasive tape in position with respect to the pressure face during the abrading process. If the abrasive tape slips, it may not be properly positioned over the pressure face, which may cause the abrasive tape to tear or break. In automated abrading processes, a dislocation of or break in the tape may damage multiple workpieces before the dislocation or break is detected. In addition, if an abrasive tape breaks the manufacturing operation must shut down. Moreover, if the abrasive tape slips such that it becomes significantly displaced with respect to the pressure face, portions of the pressure face may be exposed to the workpiece during abrasion. In this situation, the workpiece may contact the pressure face rather than the abrasive tape during the abrading process, which may cause improper finishing of the workpiece, and may damage both the workpiece and the pressure face.
While there are various ways of reducing slippage of abrasive tape with respect to the pressure face in finishing operations, additional improvements in the releasable engagement between the abrasive tape and shoe are always desired.

Backup shoe for microfinishing and methods


An image forming apparatus includes a main body casing, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge and an intermediate transfer belt. The drum cartridge is removably insertable into to the main body casing in a first direction. The developing cartridge is removably insertable into the main body casing in the first direction. The drum cartridge includes a first handle. The first handle has a first recess having a first hollow. The developing cartridge includes a second handle. The second handle has a second recess having a second hollow.

Some known image forming apparatus is configured such that a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge are each insertable into and removable from a main body casing of the image forming apparatus in a first direction extending parallel to an axial direction of a photosensitive drum. Such a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge are insertable into and removable from the main body casing, respectively. The drum cartridge and the developing cartridge each include a protrusion at one of side surfaces thereof in the first direction. Each protrusion may be held by a user. A user may pull the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge individually by holding the respective protrusions with fingers.


The present invention provides an implantable graft that includes an elongate graft tube having opposing ends defining an attachment site for attaching the graft to a stent. The graft further includes a reinforcement member attached adjacent to at least one of the ends of the graft for establishing a reinforced attachment site for the graft, thereby preventing elongation of a suture hole in the material. Furthermore, the present invention provides a graft wherein at least one end of the graft is folded over itself and glued or sutured to itself and/or the stent, thereby forming a reinforcement thereto.

Implantable prostheses are commonly used in medical applications. One of the more common prosthetic structures is a tubular prosthesis which may be used as a vascular graft to replace or repair or otherwise correct a damaged or diseased blood vessel. To maximize the effectiveness of such a prosthesis, it should be designed with characteristics which closely resemble that of the natural body lumen which it is repairing or replacing.
One form of a conventional tubular prosthesis specifically used for vascular grafts includes a textile tubular structure formed by weaving, knitting, braiding or any non-woven textile technique processing synthetic fibers into a tubular configuration. Tubular textile structures have the advantage of being naturally porous, which allows desired tissue ingrowth and assimilation into the body. This porosity, which allows for ingrowth of surrounding tissue, must be balanced with fluid tightness to minimize leakage during the initial implantation stage.
Grafts are typically flexible to provide compliance within a bodily lumen or within the bodily system. Such flexibility may result from the stretching of the textile yarns forming the graft. Such stretching, however, may effect the securement of the graft to the bodily lumen, which is typically secured by the use of sutures. In other words, the graft flexibility may create undesirable stresses at the suture locations of the implanted graft.
It is also well known to form a prosthesis, especially a tubular graft, from polymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). A tubular graft may be formed by stretching and expanding PTFE into a structure referred to as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). Tubes formed of ePTFE exhibit certain beneficial properties as compared with textile prostheses. The expanded PTFE tube has a unique structure defined by nodes interconnected by fibrils. The node and fibril structure defines micropores, which facilitate a desired degree of tissue ingrowth while remaining substantially fluid-tight. Tubes of ePTFE may be formed to be exceptionally thin and yet exhibit the requisite strength necessary to serve in the repair or replacement of a body lumen. The thinness of the ePTFE tube facilitates ease of implantation and deployment with minimal adverse impact on the body.
While exhibiting certain superior attributes, ePTFE tubes are not without certain disadvantages. Grafts formed of ePTFE tend to be relatively non-compliant as compared with textile grafts and natural vessels. Further, while exhibiting a high degree of tensile strength, ePTFE grafts are susceptible to tearing. Moreover, suture hole bleeding is a problem associated with conventional ePTFE grafts. Thus, the ePTFE grafts lack many of the advantageous properties of certain textile grafts.
It is also known to use vascular grafts in conjunction with support structures. Such support structures typically come in the form of stents, which are formed of metal or polymeric materials generally formed in a tubular structure and are used to hold a vein or artery open. Stents are well known in the art and may be self-expanding or radially expandable by balloon expansion. Examples of stent/graft configurations known in the art can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,700,285; 5,749,880; and 5,123,917, each of which are herein incorporated by reference. It is advantageous to use stent/graft configurations because the stent provides and ensures the patency of the prosthesis, while the vascular graft provides biocompatible properties in a vessel more suitable for blood to flow.
While using a vascular graft in conjunction with support structures offers certain benefits, it is also known that support structures such as a stent can result in axial elongation and radial shrinkage of the graft material due to the stresses applied to the graft material by the support structure during the contraction and expansion of the support structure. Such stent/graft designs consist of a stent and covering. In certain situations, the covering may be attached by stitching or suturing the covering to the stent wires. In such embodiments, one of the primary failure modes of stent grafts is the loss of covering integrity at suture attachment sites. At this attachment site the textile or other material is stressed either during loading or over time by the pulsate blood flow and changing aneurysm morphology. The stresses over time cause the suture or stitching material to elongate the suture hole in the covering. Depending on the strength of the base material the holes may elongate to a point whereby the device may lose integrity.
It is apparent that conventional textile prostheses as well as ePTFE prostheses have acknowledged advantages and disadvantages. Neither of the conventional prosthetic materials exhibits fully all of the benefits desirable for use as a vascular prosthesis.
It is therefore desirable to provide an implantable material and structure, preferably in the form of a tubular vascular prosthesis, which achieves many of the above-stated benefits without the resultant disadvantages associated therewith.

Implantable prosthesis having reinforced attachment sites


A method and system of image modulation detection of an aircraft or missile exhaust plume or explosives by time sequence differentiation is provided. The method comprises the steps of forming two sequential images of the field of view in which an exhaust plume to be detected is located, and forming a differential image from the sequential images showing components of the aircraft's exhaust plume that are modulating at a rate greater than the frame rate of the detection system. The detection system permits a selection of frame rates so that unwanted (non-modulating) items in the field of view may be eliminated from detection by the threat warning system. The nonmodulating components such as the sky, hills, and even the missile body are eliminated from the differential image. Only the plume remains and only the plume is detected. Each image is formed by a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel images a portion of the field of view. The value of each pixel in one sequential image is subtracted from the value of the corresponding pixel in the other sequential image to produce a value for a resultant pixel. The differential image is formed by imaging the resultant pixels that have a non-zero value, wherein the differential image shows components of the aircraft's or missile's exhaust plume that are modulating at a rate greater than the frame rate of the detection system. If false targets are detected by the system, the frame rate may be increased to decrease the time period between the formation of the first and second sequential images thereby eliminating targets having a lower modulation frequency.

It has been determined that "anti-aircraft counter missile technologies" are not deployed in 70% of the cases where aircraft are explosively destroyed by anti-aircraft missiles. Most military jets that are downed by an enemy are destroyed by missiles. Typically, missiles encountered by a military fighter pilot are either radar or infrared guided missiles. If the aircraft pilot detects the missiles being fired at him, he can take countermeasures such as making tight maneuvers, or ejecting flares and metal chaff to confuse either heat or radar guided missiles.
The countermeasures require that a pilot be able to detect a missile before it becomes too close for any countermeasures to be taken. Once the missile is launched, the pilot has only about one second to detect it, and another two seconds to start the countermeasures. Current systems do not provide adequate and timely detection of the launching of a missile.
Modern aircraft are vulnerable to missiles because of active and passive missile guidance techniques. A missile can passively lock onto an aircraft plume, hot metal parts and/or aircraft emissions such as radar and radio. Actively, the missile can be guided to the airplane by its own radar, the aircraft's radar, or laser guidance system.
The aircraft is not usually warned of an oncoming missile because radar warning techniques will give away the position of the aircraft. Present infrared techniques are useless because of the extremely high number of heat sources in the battle field, each of which looks like a missile to existing infrared systems. There may be other aircraft in the area, including friendly aircraft which may produce heat. Ground fire could also cause a false alarm. Even if detected, the pilot must learn of the fired missile early enough to begin his countermeasures.
Present video, infrared, and other detection methods see so much scene detail that it is difficult to differentiate missile launches from the rest of the background scene. This detection problem exists not only for military jets, but also for defensive systems on land targets.

Plume or combustion detection by time sequence differentiation of images over a selected time interval


An example airbag assembly includes an airbag having an airbag opening and a duct adjacent the airbag opening. A tether is configured to move the duct between a first position and a second position. The duct communicates a first flow from the duct through the airbag opening in the first position. The duct communicates a second flow from the duct through the airbag opening in the second position. The first flow is greater than the second flow.

This invention relates to influencing airbag inflation using a duct.
Known airbag systems protect vehicle occupants by absorbing forces generated during collisions, for example. Many airbag systems are used in conjunction with other vehicle safety systems, such as seatbelts. Safety systems protect occupants located in various positions within the vehicle.
In particular, airbag designs within some safety systems protect both "in-position" occupants and "out-of-position" occupants. Typically, during a collision, an "in-position" occupant directly strikes a contact face portion of the airbag, whereas an "out-of-position" occupant does not directly strike the contact face. Balancing protection of "in-position" occupants with protect of "out-of-position" occupants is often challenging. Through the contact face, the airbag absorbs forces from the occupant that are generated during the collision.
Generally, it is desirable to provide a softer airbag during the initial stages of airbag deployment. It is also often desirable to provide a harder airbag when the airbag is fully deployed and when the occupant is an "in-position" occupant. As known, occupants may move between the "out-of-position" occupant position and the "in-position" occupant position. Many airbags include vents for changing the softness or the hardness of the airbag as the airbag deploys, but the occupant position does not affect airflow through the vents.


Techniques are provided for generating pre-pulse pain inhibition (PPI) pulses and subsequent main cardioversion shocks. The PPI pulses are relatively low-voltage pulses each having a chevron-shaped waveform. The main shocks are relatively high-voltage shocks each having a plateau-shaped waveform. By employing plateau-shaped waveforms for the main shocks, a greater cardiac membrane response can be achieved at an equivalent peak voltage as compared to conventional shock waveforms. Peak voltage is a significant contributor to pain caused by cardioversion shocks. Hence, by using the plateau-shaped waveform, pain reduction can be achieved without loss of shock effectiveness. Moreover, by employing chevron-shaped PPI pulses in combination with plateau-shaped main shocks, a relatively simple shocking circuit having a single high-voltage shocking capacitor may be used, thus eliminating the need for both low-voltage PPI capacitors and higher voltage main shock capacitors. The shocking circuit includes a low-pass resistive-capacitive filter.

Atrial fibrillation ("AF") is a cardiac arrhythmia wherein the atria beat chaotically, thereby providing generally poor conduction of blood into the ventricles of the heart and hence reducing the flow of blood throughout the body. AF has been shown to lead to long-term health problems such as increased risk of thrombolytic stroke. AF can also cause reduced cardiac efficiency, irregular ventricular rhythm and unpleasant symptoms such as palpitations and shortness of breath. In some cases, AF can trigger ventricular fibrillation (VF) wherein the ventricles of the heart beat chaotically thereby providing little or no blood flow to the brain and other organs. VF, if not terminated, is usually fatal.
Hence, it is highly desirable to terminate AF should it arise and revert the atria to a normal rhythm. The current, most common therapy for atrial fibrillation is the administration of anti-arrhythmic drugs that control atrial and ventricular rates during AF. However, these drugs can actually be proarrhythmic, causing the arrhythmia to worsen. At best, anti-arrhythmic drugs appear to provide short-term therapy. Another technique for terminating AF is to administer an electrical cardioversion shock to the atria of the heart. The cardioversion shock, if successful, terminates the chaotic pulsing of the atria and causes the atria to resume a normal beating pattern. Patients prone to AF may have an ICD implanted therein capable of detecting AF and automatically administering one or more cardioversion shocks to terminate AF. Typically, about two joules of energy is administered within each cardioversion shock at an initial voltage of between 100 to 500 volts (V). The duration of the pulse is usually between 5–15 milliseconds (ms) and is a descending voltage capacitive discharge waveform. State of the art ICDs are also capable of detecting a wide variety of other heart arrhythmias, such as VF, and for administering appropriate therapy as well. For VF, the ICD administers a much stronger cardioversion shock (referred to as a defibrillation shock) directly to the ventricles of the heart. The defibrillation shock typically has at least ten to twelve joules of electrical energy. Note that, herein, "cardioversion" generally refers to the delivery of any electrical shock intended to synchronize action potentials of myocardial cells within the heart to terminate arrhythmias. Defibrillation, herein, refers to a type of cardioversion specifically intended to terminate fibrillation.
Although atrial cardioversion shocks have been found to be effective for terminating AF within many patients, the shocks can be quite painful. One reason is that the patient is typically conscious and alert at the time the shock is administered. In contrast, the much stronger ventricular defibrillation shocks for terminating VF are typically not administered until the patient has lost consciousness and hence the patient may feel only residual chest pain upon being revived. Because AF is not usually immediately life-threatening, painful cardioversion shocks for its treatment are often perceived by patients as being worse than the condition itself and therefore not tolerated. Indeed, anxiety arising from the fear of receiving a painful cardioversion shock may be sufficient to raise the heart rate sufficiently to trigger the shock. As some patients have hundreds of AF episodes per year, techniques for reducing the pain associated with cardioversion shocks are highly desirable. It is also desirable to reduce pain associated with ventricular defibrillation shocks. Although patients receiving ventricular defibrillation shocks are usually unconscious when the shock is delivered, in some cases, such shocks are erroneously delivered while the patient is conscious due to false-positive VF detection, resulting in considerable patient pain.
One method for reducing pain arising from cardioversion shocks involves altering the stimulation waveform of the shock to, for example, reduce or smooth initial voltage peaks. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,236, to Mouchawar et al., entitled "System for Delivering Low Pain Therapeutic Electrical Waveforms to the Heart" and U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,633, also to Mouchawar et al., entitled "System for Delivering Rounded Low Pain Therapeutic Electrical Waveforms to the Heart." Shock smoothing is illustrated by way of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional cardioversion shock waveform 1 (shown in V) along with a resulting cardiac membrane response 2. Herein, the cardiac membrane response is shown in arbitrary response units for the purposes of comparison. The shock waveform is biphasic, with an initial peak voltage of 100 V. The peak of the resulting cardiac membrane response is at about 50 response units. Peak voltage is typically regarded as the primary determinant of shock pain; whereas the peak cardiac membrane response is typically regarded as the primary indicator of shock effectiveness. Hence, with the conventional shock waveform of FIG. 1, the effectiveness of the shock is only about 50 cardiac response units; the resulting pain is associated with 100 V. FIG. 2, in contrast, illustrates a smoothed cardioversion waveform 3 along with a resulting cardiac membrane response 4, shown in the same arbitrary response units of FIG. 1 for comparison purposes. The shock waveform of FIG. 2 is smoothed so as to reduce peak voltage to about 70 V. The peak of the resulting cardiac membrane response is still about 45 response units. Hence, with the smoothed shock waveform of FIG. 2, the cardioversion shock is almost as effective as with the non-smoothed waveform of FIG. 1; whereas the resulting pain is significantly lower, i.e. the resulting pain is associated with a peak voltage of only about 70 V rather than with a peak voltage of 100 V. One way to generate the smoothed waveform of FIG. 2 is to start with a higher initial capacitor voltage (about 160 V) than the non-smoothed waveform of FIG. 1 and then use resistive loss to lower the voltage as needed. The capacitor voltage is shown by way of phantom line 5, which decreases exponentially. The capacitor voltage at each point in time must be at least as great as the output pulse being generated at that same point in time. During times when the capacitor voltage is greater than the corresponding output shock voltage, the additional energy is dissipated as heat. Thus, pain reduction is achieved at the expense of consuming somewhat greater energy per shock. Note also that the graphs of FIGS. 1 and 2, and all other graphs provided herein, include stylized representations of the parameters being illustrated. This is done so as to more clearly illustrate pertinent features of those parameters. The graphs should not be construed as illustrating actual clinically-detected parameters.
Thus, smoothed waveforms of the type shown in FIG. 2 can be effective in reducing the resulting pain. It would be desirable, however, to achieve an even greater amount of pain reduction without reducing shock effectiveness. It is to that end that certain aspects of the invention are directed. Moreover, it would also be desirable to provide a relatively simple circuit capable of generating improved shock waveforms and other aspects of the invention are directed to that end.
Another method for reducing pain arising from cardioversion shocks is to deliver a pre-pulse pain inhibition (PPI) pulse prior to the main shock. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,091,989 to Swerdlow et al., entitled "Method and Apparatus for Reduction of Pain from Electric Shock Therapies." With PPI techniques, a relatively weak stimulus (the PPI pulse) is applied to the patient shortly before a main cardioversion shock. The human pain perception system responds to the weak stimulus in such manner that the pain associated with the subsequent main cardioversion shock is reduced or otherwise inhibited. PPI techniques typically employ either a single relatively long, low-voltage PPI pulse or a single relatively short, high-voltage PPI pulse. The long, low-voltage PPI pulse is usually delivered at about 12–20 V. The shorter, high-voltage PPI pulse is usually delivered at the voltage of the subsequent main cardioversion shock. Each has its respective advantages and disadvantages.
Conventional low-voltage and high-voltage PPI pulses are illustrated by way of the timing diagrams of FIG. 3, which show a low-voltage PPI pulse 6 followed by a high-voltage main cardioversion shock 7 and which also show a much shorter high-voltage PPI pulse 8 followed also by a main shock 9. All waveforms of FIG. 3 are monophasic, though biphasic waveforms may instead be employed. None of the waveforms has been smoothed. The exemplary low-voltage PPI pulse and its subsequent main shock are of substantially equal duration (typically about 1–10 ms) but the PPI pulse has an initial peak voltage of only about 20 V whereas the main shock has an initial peak voltage of about 100 V. The exemplary high-voltage PPI pulse is much shorter than its subsequent main shock (e.g., as short as 0.1 ms as opposed to 1–10 ms) but is of equal voltage (again about 100 V). In each case, the PPI pulse is provided to reduce the pain perceived by the patient during the subsequent main cardioversion shock. The time scale of FIG. 3 is arbitrary but, typically, PPI pulses are delivered 30–500 ms prior to the main cardioversion shock.
A significant advantage of generating a short, high-voltage PPI pulse at the same voltage as the main shock is that only a single shocking capacitor is required, precharged to the main shock voltage. To instead deliver a PPI pulse at a low-voltage followed by a main shock at a much higher voltage, two shocking capacitors are usually required—one precharged to the low-voltage and the other precharged to the high-voltage. However, high-voltage PPI pulses can be painful in and of themselves thus reducing their effectiveness in overall pain reduction. Hence, low-voltage PPI pulses are typically preferred despite the need for an extra shocking capacitor. In this regard, note that capacitors used for generating conventional pacing pulses ordinarily cannot be employed to also generate low-voltage PPI pulses, which typically require a somewhat higher voltage than the pacing pulses.
One technique for delivering high-voltage PPI pulses that are not painful in and of themselves is to utilize extremely short duration "sliver" pulses, which are typically only about 25–50 microseconds (μs) in duration. The sliver pulses are nevertheless sufficient to provide pain inhibition. Preferably, the high-voltage PPI sliver pulses are delivered between electrodes implanted within the heart, such as between a right ventricular (RV) coil and a superior vena cava (SVC) coil, so that high-voltage can be used without risk of significant pain arising from the PPI pulse itself. In particular, pain is reduced by generating the PPI pulse away from the device can or housing. Pulses instead generated using the device can as a return electrode may stimulate sensitive skin nerves and sensitive alpha motor neurons in the pectorals. The subsequent main cardioversion shock is preferably delivered using widely spaced electrodes, such as between the SVC coil and the housing of the implanted device, to ensure maximum likelihood of success. Sliver pulses are discussed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/428,222 of Kroll et al., entitled "System and Method for Generating Pain Inhibition Pulses Using an Implantable Cardiac Stimulation Device," filed Apr. 30, 2003, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Although the techniques of Kroll et al. are very effective, there is room for still further improvement. In particular, it would be desirable to provide an improved PPI sliver pulse waveform that can be safely delivered using the device can as a return electrode without risk of adversely stimulating sensitive skin nerves and sensitive alpha motor neurons in the pectorals. To this end, it would be desirable to provide a low-voltage PPI sliver pulse that can be generated without requiring an extra shocking capacitor and other aspects of the invention are directed to that end. Moreover, it would be especially desirable to provide a single, relatively simple circuit using a single shocking capacitor that is capable of generating both an improved low-voltage PPI pulse and an improved high-voltage smoothed shock and still other aspects of the invention are directed to that end.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for reducing pain associated with cardioversion shocks generated by implantable cardiac stimulation devices


A method of combining LEDs in a packaging unit includes determining a color locus of a multiplicity of LEDs, classifying the LEDs into a plurality of different color locus ranges, each LED classified into a color locus range comprising the determined color locus of the respective LED, arranging the LEDs in the packaging unit such that the packaging unit contains a plurality of successive sequences respectively of a plurality of LEDs, wherein each sequence respectively has exactly one LED from each of the color locus ranges, and the LEDs of the different color locus ranges are respectively arranged in the same order within the sequences.

Owing to their high efficiency, LEDs are being used increasingly in LED lamps for general lighting or in automobile headlamps. It is then often the case that a plurality of LED lamps are operated next to one another, in which case the LED lamps may respectively contain a plurality of LEDs.
So that different LED lamps arranged next to one another offer a homogeneously colored appearance, it is desirable for the radiation emitted by the different LED lamps respectively to have the same color locus. In the manufacture of LEDs, however, it cannot be ruled out that minor color differences of the individual LEDs may occur, particularly in the case of LEDs from different production batches. For this reason, LEDs are often grouped by the LED manufacturer before delivery (so-called "binning"), a group of LEDs (the so-called "bin") being distinguished, for example, in that all LEDs of this group have the same color locus. If, in the production of LED lamps, only LEDs of a single group are used, this ensures that all lamps equipped with these LEDs have the same color locus. In this case, however, it is necessary that the customer of the LED manufacturer, who further processes the individual LEDs to form LED lamps, respectively only uses LEDs from the same LED group so that all lamps of different manufacturing batches have the same color locus. Alternatively, it would also be conceivable for a lamp manufacturer deliberately to select a plurality of LEDs from different LED groups with a different color locus to equip an LED lamp such that the lamp containing a plurality of LEDs overall has the desired target color locus. This would have the advantage that the lamp manufacturer could use LEDs from groups with a different color locus, but on the other hand leads to increased production outlay since LEDs from different packaging units would have to be used to equip an individual LED lamp.
On this basis, it could thus be helpful to provide a method for combining LEDs in a packaging unit by which LED components having a plurality of LEDs from the packaging unit and/or from different packaging units can have the least possible differences in terms of color locus.

Method for combining LEDS in a packaging unit and packaging unit having a multiplicity of LEDS


The present invention relates to a high strength material and a high strength molded article including 65 to 100 wt. % of cellulose microfibrils; and products comprising these. The material, which is lightweight and has a very high strength, can be used for various purposes and can be produced by recycling wastepaper, used cloth and the like. Furthermore, by appropriately selecting the type and/or amount of binder, the material comprising microfibrils as a main component can be decomposed by microbes or the like after being dumped as waste, and is thus friendly to the global environment.

For a long time, molded articles have been produced by adding wood flour or pulp to a thermosetting resin. Recently, however, there has been growing concern over plastics and like waste problems, and decomposable plastics and biodegradable plastics have been developed. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1990-127486 discloses a biodegradable water-resistant coating comprising microfibrillated fibers and chitosan.
Strength is also required for various uses. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1996-193168 discloses a biodegradable polymer composition, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1997-509694 discloses a microfibril cellose reinforced polymer.
However, materials with sufficiently high strength have not yet been obtained.
An object of the invention is to provide a high strength material produced using cellulose microfibrils.

High strength material using cellulose microfibrils

Chudo Ji Awata-cho, Shinogoyo-Ku, Kyoto-Shi, Kyoto

Kansai Technology Licensing Organization Co, Ltd.


A culture device for cellular media including a biomedia growth chamber defining a closed environment and an electronically controllable jetting device in communication with a source of material supporting biological function. The jetting device emits the material into the biomedia growth chamber.

Various devices and methodologies have been suggested for the controlled culture of cells and cell lines. Such devices can facilitate controlled delivery of supportive materials, toxins, other challenge materials and the like. However, these devices each possess attributes which are subject to improvement and enhancement. Typical culture devices require the culture and maintenance of several thousand cells at minimum. It can be appreciated that an environment having several thousand or more cells can make it difficult to study or observe reactions and functions on an individual cellular or subcellular level. Thus, the need to provide cell culture devices which can sustain cell populations between 1 and approximately 10,000 is largely unmet.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A multifocal contact lens has a substantially spherical lens body that has a substantially convex outer surface, a substantially concave inner surface, and an optical central point, with a horizontal and a vertical axis that intersect in the optical central point. These axes are horizontal and vertical in the sense that the lens being worn on a human eye is in a usually upright position. The lens has a centrally arranged optical zone, a lens outer region, and an rim region, and at least two thickened regions arranged on the outer lens region, between the optical zone and the rim region and laterally of the vertical mid-axis, for setting a given orientation of the contact lens relative to the human eye. A prescribed near vision value, at least in a lower visual region, and a prescribed far vision value in an upper visual region are distributed on the surface of the lens body. The transition between the visual regions is smoothed, and each of the visual regions is individually corrected, at least for spherical aberration, independently of the other visual region.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a multifocal contact lens with a substantially spherical lens body, and more particularly to a lens body that has a substantially convex outer surface, a substantially concave inner surface, and an optical central point, with a horizontal and a vertical axis that intersect in the optical central point. These axes are horizontal and vertical in the sense that the lens being worn on a human eye is usually in an upright position. The lens has a centrally arranged optical zone, a lens outer region, and a rim region, and at least two thickened regions arranged outside the optical zone on the lens outer region between the optical zone and the rim region and laterally of the vertical mid-axis, for setting a given orientation of the contact lens relative to the human eye.
2. Discussion of Relevant Art
Contact lenses with position stabilization of the lens on the human eye serve, e.g., to correct dependent visual errors of the eye (e.g., astigmatism). The stabilization of the axial position of the contact lens serves to prevent rotational movement of the contact lens on the eye, and to ensure the orientation of the contact lens, even after a blink of the eyelid. Different stabilization principles are known in order to attain a position stabilization of a contact lens on an eye.
The different position stabilizations are in particular described in European Patent EP 0 452 549. The dynamic stabilization of contact lenses described there is particularly suitable for multifocal contact lenses. In multifocal contact lenses, a distinction is drawn between contact lenses with and without position stabilization. If it is desired to associate a far vision region and a near vision region definitively with different regions of the optical zone, this is possible in particular in the case of contact lenses with a position stabilization.
Advantageous embodiments of the optical zone are known, for example from U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,723 and U.S Pat. No. 4,693,572. The disadvantage of the optical zone described in these patents are severe thickness changes result at the lateral rims of the contact lens, and can lead to irritation of the upper eyelid. The stabilization principle used in U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,723 and U.S Pat. No. 4,693,572 is particularly disadvantageous.


A nipple-type drinker for fowl and small animals with a self-contained valve assembly that can be inserted in and removed from the drinker as a single unit is disclosed. The drinker includes a valve chamber with a metering pin, valve member, and valve seat therein. The valve seat is a metal, annular member that is press-fit into the valve chamber. When the seat is positioned in the chamber it prevents the metering pin and valve member from falling out. Thus, a self-contained valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly is telescopically mated with a housing as a single unit. The housing includes a trigger pin and-an outlet for fluid. The housing further includes a stop that works in conjunction with a lip in the valve chamber to align the valve seat when the drinker is assembled.

The present invention relates generally to watering systems for poultry and small animals, and more particularly, to an improved nipple drinker for such a watering system.
Over the years numerous nipple drinker watering systems have been attempted. Some of the most widely used nipple drinker watering systems are currently manufactured by Ziggity Systems, Inc. of Middlebury, Ind. These watering systems involve the use of several branching water supply lines extending the length of a poultry house interior. Numerous nipple drinkers are attached to the water supply lines so that the poultry may obtain water by pecking at the nipple.
Several types of nipple drinkers have been produced. One such drinker is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,345, issued to the present inventor. The '345 drinker includes a valve chamber divided into upper and lower sections. The lower section includes a valve seat, which supports a trigger pin, and a spherical valve member for controlling fluid flow from the top portion of the chamber to the outlet. Commercial embodiments often utilize a rubberized material for the valve seat. The '345 drinker has been found to perform exceptionally well under most conditions. However, it has certain limitations when exposed to harsh environments for an extended period of time. Such environments may be found where large amounts of chemicals and impurities are found or used in the water supply. Similarly, over-medication of the water supply by the producer may present an unfavorable environment. Under such conditions for an extended period of time, the rubberized valve seat may begin to deteriorate and/or lose flexibility. When this happens, the valve member may not make a tight seal, and water may leak out of the drinker, thereby wetting the manure pits and nesting material found in poultry houses. This wetting increases the opportunity for bacteria and disease in the poultry house.
Accordingly, nipple drinkers have been manufactured with metal seats. One such drinker is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,724. In this drinker, the valve seat consists of a relatively thick, machined metal insert. It has been found that such metal seats are also subject to deterioration in the presence of certain chemicals. Furthermore, the large amount of material used for the seat and the cost of machining significantly increase the cost of the drinker.
Other metal seats include simple washers, such as the one shown in U.K. Patent No. 1,2.88,134. It has been found advantageous to coin such seats so as to provide a better seal. However, it has also been found that coining such washer seats can sometimes cause the seat to warp or otherwise deform, thereby degrading the quality of the seal.
Accordingly, it is sometimes necessary to replace the valve seat, whether it is made of rubber or metal. The valve seat in the '345 device is readily replaceable by disassembling the drinker, prying the seat out of the lower section of the valve chamber, and inserting a replacement seat. With regard to the '724 device, the seat is not intended to be replaceable, and therefore, the entire drinker is replaced when the seat fails. Furthermore, if any of the above-mentioned drinkers is disassembled for cleaning or other reasons, the ball or other valve means and metering pin are free to fall out of the chamber when the top and bottom portions are separated. If this happens, the parts may be lost in the straw or nesting material normally found in poultry houses.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved nipple drinker for watering fowl and small animals.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved valve seat for a nipple drinker that has greater wear resistance and requires less material and less expense to make than previously known seats.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved assembly for a nipple drinker that allows for easier assembly and disassembly of the drinker.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved assembly for a nipple drinker in which the valve seat may be more easily replaced.
These and other objects of the present invention are attained by the provision of a nipple drinker with a self-contained valve assembly that can be inserted in and removed from the drinker as a single unit. The drinker has a valve chamber and a housing unit. The valve chamber comprises a cylindrical member with an inlet for fluid at one end and an opening at the other. A metering pin is inserted through the opening so that it projects out of the fluid inlet. A ball is then inserted through the opening in the valve chamber and is secured therein by press-fitting an annular seat in the opening of the valve chamber. Thus, the valve chamber, metering pin, ball, and valve seat form a self-contained valve assembly. The housing has an outlet for water at one end and an opening at the opposite end. The lower portion of the housing contains a seat on which the head of a valve actuating member rests. After the valve actuating member is inserted in the housing, the valve chamber unit is telescopically fitted into the opening at one end of the housing. A raised lip in the valve chamber and a stop in the housing unit provide proper alignment for the valve seat. As assembled, a portion of the ball extends below the valve seat and is located near the head of the valve actuating member.
Other objects and novel features of the present invention will become evident to those who are skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.


The present invention relates to a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry method and, specifically, a mass spectrometry method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: acquiring a mass spectrum of an analyte by performing matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization of the analyte, wherein a detection spectrum, which is the mass spectrum of the analyte, is acquired using each of two or more matrixes different from one another; and removing, from each detection spectrum, a peak of a corresponding matrix to obtain a matrix-removed spectrum, and then acquiring a corrected mass spectrum of the analyte on the basis of a matrix-removed spectrum for each of different matrixes.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) is known as an ionization method used in mass spectrometry. The MALDI method ionizes an analyte sample without decomposing molecules of the analyte by irradiating the sample with laser light for a short time and instantaneously vaporizing the sample.
In the MALDI mass spectrometry, a sample is prepared by mixing an analyte solution with a matrix solution, applying the mixture on a sample plate, and removing a solvent by vaporization. When the sample is irradiated with laser light, a matrix absorbs energy of the laser light and part of the matrix is rapidly heated and vaporized (desorbed) together with the analyte so as to be ionized. Thereafter, movement of charged ions in an electromagnetic field is measured to measure a molecular weight of the analyte.
With the MALDI mass spectrometry method, a molecular weight can be accurately measured because the analyte is not fragmented, the analyte at the level of a few femto moles may be detected due to good detection sensitivity, a mass spectrum is simple and easily analyzed due to a single charge, rather than multiple charges, a sample is simply prepared because the analyte and a matrix are mixed, dispensed to a sample plate, and dried to be analyzed, an analysis time is substantially short so as to be within one minute, enabling rapid analysis (high speed mass analysis), the sample is less affected by a contamination such as a buffer solution or salt, and cost for using and maintaining a device is low.
The MALDI mass spectrometry has been used particularly for ionizing high molecular weight compounds, but due to the above-described advantages, recently, demand for utilizing the MALDI mass spectrometry for low molecular weight compounds has been increased. However, in general, a substance used as a matrix in the MALDI mass spectrometry has a molecular weight of about a few hundred daltons (Da). Thus, when the MALDI mass spectrometry is performed using a matrices, ion peaks attributable to the matrix are remarkably observed in a low mass (m/z) region in a mass spectrum. In a case where the analyte is a high molecular weight compound, the presence of the matrix peaks at the low mass region is not problematic, but in a case where a molecular weight of an analyte is reduced, peaks originating from a low molecular compound aimed on the mass spectrum and peaks attributable to the matrix coexist to be very close to each other or may overlap each other, causing limitations in analyzing the analyte having a low molecular weight.
In order to overcome such limitations, research was conducted to replace an organic matrix with an inorganic matrix as in Japanese Patent Registration No. 4918662 and research was conducted to develop a new matrix as in International Patent No. WO2013/008723. However, in the case of the inorganic matrix, the ionization ratio is significantly lower than that of the organic matrix, and although a new matrix is developed, disturbance peaks attributable to the matrix may still exist, causing technical limitations in accurately and sensitively analyzing various low molecular compounds.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry method


A camera includes a mode setting unit which sets an operation mode of the camera to a normal mode or an illumination apparatus control mode. A display unit selectively displays an image and information. A setting unit sets and changes operating conditions of an illumination apparatus. A communication unit instructs the operating conditions to the illumination apparatus. A control unit controls the mode setting unit to set the operation mode to the illumination apparatus control mode, and changes a display form of the display unit, when predetermined conditions are satisfied. The predetermined conditions include any one of the followings (1) the communication unit is attached to the camera, (2) the communication unit set to an illumination apparatus control mode is attached to the camera, and (3) the communication unit which is incorporated in the camera is set to an illumination apparatus control mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera to take a photograph by using a remote illumination apparatus, a camera controlling method, and a recording medium storing a camera controlling program.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a known wireless flash system, in which a flash unit as auxiliary illumination for an imaging unit is controlled by wireless communication, such as an optical signal communication control, from another flash unit located at a remote place from the flash unit. In photo-shooting by using such a wireless flash system, lighting of a subject is freely preformed. Further, recently, a digital camera has been widely used as a photographic apparatus, and the result of lighting can be confirmed without developing a film. Therefore, a wireless flash system has been used more and more.
As a technique to easily use the control of the above wireless flash system on a LCD panel of a camera, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2000-89308 is known. In the technique disclosed by Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2000-89308, a wireless flash unit is controlled by a flash unit incorporated in a digital camera, and setting of a wireless flash unit can be done on a LCD panel of a camera.

Camera, camera controlling method, and recording medium storing camera controlling program


A non-invasive blood pressure monitor has a blood pressure cuff and a wireless blood pressure determination unit. The wireless blood pressure determination unit automatically determines the fastest method for measuring blood pressure of a patient based on an initial blood pressure measurement made while inflating the cuff.

The present disclosure generally relates to methods and systems for non-invasively measuring blood pressure. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an automated non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitor that automatically determines an optimal method for measuring blood pressure.
Automated blood pressure monitoring has rapidly become an accepted and central aspect of human health care. Such monitors are now a conventional part of patient monitoring, especially in emergency rooms, intensive and critical care units, and in the operating room. Traditionally, NIBP monitoring devices have been connected to sensors through cables and/or tubing. However, such cables and or tubing can be problematic because they inhibit patient movement and create obstacles to clinicians engaged in patient care. Thus, there has been a push towards wireless patient monitoring. However, the design of wireless monitoring devices presents challenges.

Adaptive noninvasive blood pressure monitoring system and method


In an electronic apparatus with a printer, there is disclosed a technique such that a printing is performed at a printing speed according to a key operation of the user and, when the user wants to rapidly see the printing result such as an arithmetic operation result or the like irrespective of the key operation, it can be printed at a high speed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electronic apparatus with a printer such as an electronic portable calculator.
2. Related Background Art
As an example of conventional electronic apparatuses with printers, an electronic portable calculator (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "calculator") will now be described hereinbelow. The calculator has a printer of a predetermined printing speed according to the type of apparatus. The printer prints in accordance with a key operation, particularly, an operation of a function key such as addition "+", subtraction "-", multiplication ".times.", division ".div.", sign of equality "=", or the like. For example, a full-scale office calculator that is used in a bank, company, office, or the like is equipped with a relatively high speed printer having a printing speed of3.8 l/sec or 5 l/sec. On the other hand, a portable calculator is equipped with a relatively low speed printer having a printing speed of 2 l/sec or 3 l/sec. Therefore, the user who desires a high speed printing process as in bank business affairs generally purchases a calculator with a high speed printer having a printing speed such as 5 l/sec. The general user who does not need a high speed printing process ordinarily purchases a calculator with a low speed printer having a printing speed such as 2 l/sec.
Conventional apparatuses equipped with printers have the following problems because the printer have different printing speeds.
Generally, there is a proportional relation between the printing speed of the printer and the noises generated upon printing. As the printing speed rises, the noises generated upon printing increase.
There is likewise a proportional relation between the printing speed and the electric power consumption. As the printing speed rises, the electric power consumption increases.
Therefore, when different printing speeds are installed on a calculator, and the printing speed is fixed to a predetermined speed as mentioned above, even when a user slowly operates a key, the printer always prints at a high speed. Such is the case for full-scale office calculators used in a bank, company, office, or the like. There are consequently problems such that the noises which are generated upon printing are large and the electric power consumption also increases. On the other hand, in case of the portable calculator, when the user becomes experienced in the key operation and the key operating speed rises, there is a problem such that the low speed printer cannot keep up with the key operation of the user.
To solve such problems, apparatuses such that the printing speed (printing mode) is changed in accordance with the key operating speed of the user have already been proposed. For instance, there are an apparatus such that the printing speed is changed in accordance with an input speed of a key (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 5-181805), an apparatus such that the printing speed is changed in accordance with an amount of key buffer (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 5-342165), and an apparatus such that the printing speed is changed in accordance with an amount of key buffer during the printing process (Japanese Patent Application No. 5-139992, which corresponds to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-332863). According to those apparatuses, the printing speed is raised when it is necessary to print at a high speed.
However, in the above conventional electronic apparatuses with printers, fundamentally, the printing speed is set to a high speed for a high speed key operation and to a low speed for a low speed key operation. Therefore, there is a problem such that in case of a slow key operation, although a fast key operation cannot be performed, the user wants to quickly see the print result (for example, in case of the printing of the result of a calculation), the printing speed is not necessarily high enough.

Canon Electronic Business Machines (H.K.) Co., Ltd.


An object of the present invention is to control crack propagation, either by predicting shaft dovetail crack propagation with high accuracy, or by determining operation conditions under which the crack does not extend. The crack propagation prediction system includes an operation processing unit, an interface unit, and a memory unit. The operation processing unit includes a stress calculation unit that calculates the mean stress generated in the shaft dovetail, a factor range calculation unit that calculates the stress intensity factor range for the crack in the shaft dovetail, and a crack propagation amount calculation unit that calculates an amount of the shaft dovetail crack propagation for an arbitrary time period, from the obtained mean stress and the stress intensity factor range, an operation pattern, an operation time, and data on the crack. The stress calculation unit includes as individual calculation units that calculate separately different types of mean stress, a contact surface pressure stress calculation unit, a thermal stress calculation unit, and a residual stress calculation unit, as well as a mean stress calculation unit that sums these mean stresses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to technology for predicting crack propagation in the rotors of generators used in energy plant, determining the operation conditions, and controlling operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the rotors of generators used in energy plant, slots are cut in the axial direction, and coils are inserted into the slots. To prevent the coils from being forced out by centrifugal force, dovetails are provided in the outer periphery of the shaft, into which wedges are inserted.
In generator rotors having this type of fitted structure, as a result of centrifugal forces during operation the wedges are forced against the dovetails of the shaft, and at the same time the rotor is subject to repeated bending due to its self-weight. At the ends of the areas of contact between the shaft dovetails and wedges repeated minute relative slippage, or the phenomenon known as fretting, occurs. If damage due to fretting is severe, it can lead to fatigue, so methods have been proposed to prevent the occurrence of fretting fatigue cracking where the wedges contact the shaft of the generator.
For example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. H4-29304 stress relieving grooves are provided in the contact areas of the shaft corresponding to the joints with the wedges to reduce the contact line stresses in the contact end areas. Also, in for example Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H6-197485, by reducing the hardness at the end portions and changing the shape of the wedges, the surface pressure concentration in the contact end areas is relieved. By these measures, if the stresses are reduced in the cover end portions, the potential for occurrence of fretting fatigue cracking can be reduced.
On the other hand, the measures taken are not sufficient, so there have been cases where the occurrence of cracking has been discovered by inspection in the contact area between the shaft dovetail and the wedges. In rotating machinery, fatigue cracks do not remain stationary, but rapidly extend due to the high cycle fatigue accompanying rotation. Therefore the defect in the rotating body is chipped and removed as a rule, regardless of the position of occurrence, shape, or dimension.
For fretting fatigue cracks in the shaft dovetails of generator rotors also, defects discovered during periodic inspection are chipped and removed, similar to other rotating bodies. However, the cracks discovered during periodic maintenance are mostly short cracks near the surface. Also cases where this cracking has ultimately led to the failure of the rotor are rare. Therefore, it is considered that the cracks do not necessarily quickly extend.
In the phenomenon of fretting fatigue cracking of shaft dovetails, high contact line stresses caused by friction forces are concentrated in a very narrow part of the contact end surface. Proceeding to the interior of the surface the stresses rapidly reduce. Also, the mean stress that is acting is compressive, due to the high contact surface pressure, so it is known that the cracks can easily remain stationary.
Also, the mechanism of occurrence of fretting fatigue in shaft dovetails is understood to be as follows, Repeated relative slippage with the wedges is caused by bending of the rotor due to the self-weight of the rotor. This causes repeated friction forces to be generated, which generates a repeated stress amplitude in the surface layer. In the case of this generation mechanism, if the same type of machinery is properly assembled, there should be no difference in the value of repeated stress amplitude caused by friction or the value of shaft dovetail compressive mean stress due to the surface pressure of the wedge pressing against the shaft.
However, the size of cracks actually discovered in the shaft dovetails of generator rotors varies. Even in the same type of machine the same crack size is not necessarily found, so the mechanism of generation of fretting fatigue described above is not sufficient to explain the actually observed phenomena.
Therefore, as it is not possible to quantitatively explain the mechanism of fretting fatigue cracking in shaft dovetails at present, it is not possible to determine whether a fretting fatigue crack in the shaft dovetail of a generator rotor is stationary or not. Therefore, defects that are discovered are chipped and removed. It is also possible to make a design change that changes the mechanical state of the contact area. However, for this it is necessary to temporarily remove the wedge from the dovetail, so there are more operations than chipping and removing the crack.

Predicting crack propagation in the shaft dovetail of a generator rotor


Sharing a hosted device in a computer network that includes at least one hosted device and a plurality of hosts, including: registering a hosted device with a router, wherein the hosted device is hosted by a host; assigning, by the router, a network-wide identifier to the hosted device; and mapping, by the router, the network-wide identifier for the hosted device to an identifier for the host.

Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically, methods, apparatus, and products for sharing a hosted device in a computer network.
Description Of Related Art
The development of the EDVAC computer system of 1948 is often cited as the beginning of the computer era. Since that time, computer systems have evolved into extremely complicated devices. Today's computers are much more sophisticated than early systems such as the EDVAC. Computer systems typically include a combination of hardware and software components, application programs, operating systems, processors, buses, memory, input/output devices, and so on. As advances in semiconductor processing and computer architecture push the performance of the computer higher and higher, more sophisticated computer software has evolved to take advantage of the higher performance of the hardware, resulting in computer systems today that are much more powerful than just a few years ago.
In modern computing systems, computing devices are connected to each other via computer networks. Computing devices in such computer networks are frequently coupled to special purpose peripheral devices such as printers, scanners, and so on. Because the computing devices that host these special purpose peripheral devices are connected to other computing devices in a computer network, it is beneficial to share the special purpose peripheral devices amongst the computing devices in the computer network.
Sharing these special purpose peripheral devices amongst the computing devices in the computer network is typically carried out by mapping, in one computing device, a path (e.g., //computing device/peripheral) to a special purpose peripheral device that includes an identifier of the computing device that hosts the special purpose peripheral device. In the event that the computing device that hosts the special purpose peripheral device fails, the special purpose peripheral device may be moved and hosted by another computing device in the computer network. Moving the special purpose peripheral device, however, has the unfortunate consequence of necessitating that all other computing devices in the computer network re-map a new path to the special purpose peripheral device—a new path (e.g., //new computing device/peripheral) that includes an identifier of the computing device that now hosts the special purpose peripheral device.


The present application provides a method and an apparatus for avoiding interruptions in an on-going service. A LAN bridge intercepts a trusted port connected to a first routing bridge; determines whether the first routing bridge is forwarding or has a permission to forward data flow from a C-VLAN according to a result of the interception; and if the first routing bridge is not forwarding or no longer has the permission to forward the data flow from the C-VLAN, broadcasts the data flow from the C-VLAN to a second routing bridge so that the second routing bridge forwards the data flow from the C-VLAN. With the method provided in the embodiments of the present application, a forwarding path can be rapidly switched when a designated routing bridge is faulty and cannot carry out a traffic forwarding function or an appointed forwarder of a customer VLAN is changed.

In a "transparent interconnection of lots of links" (TRILL) network, a customer accessing the TRILL network in a dual-homing manner through a local area network (LAN) bridge may encounter the following scenario: When a customer packet is broadcast on the LAN bridge, two copies of the packet may enter the TRILL network, which may cause a traffic loop. In order to avoid this problem, the TRILL protocol specifies that a Hello packet may be sent mutually between two routing bridges (RB), such as RB1 and RB2, for negotiating a designated routing bridge (DRB). In the DRB obtained through the negotiation, one of the two RBs may be appointed as an appointed forwarder (AF) of a customer virtual local area network (VLAN) for forwarding the traffic. The meaning of the AF lies in that: If a RB is not an AF of a certain customer VLAN, the RB is prohibited from forwarding the traffic of the customer VLAN.
The designation of the AF may change over the time. For example, it is assumed that a TRILL network has two routing bridges RB1 and RB2, and the RB1 is appointed as an AF of a customer VLAN. This means when the traffic of the customer VLAN (C-VLAN) reaches the RB1, it is forwarded by the RB1; while when same traffic reaches the RB2, it is discarded by the RB2.Then, the RB1 is changed to be a non-AF of the customer VLAN and the RB2 becomes an AF. After the change, when the traffic from the customer VLAN reaches the RB2, it is forwarded by the RB2, while when the same traffic reaches the RB1, it is discarded by the RB1.
However, a LAN bridge cannot perceive a change of the AF attribute of a customer VLAN RB in a TRILL network. For example, in the foregoing assumed scenario, the RB1 has been changed from the AF to the non-AF, but the LAN bridge may still send a packet of the customer VLAN to the RB1. Since, at this time, the RB1 is no longer the AF of the customer VLAN, the packet is discarded by the RB1. If the traffic of the customer VLAN reaches a TRILL network through a layer 2 unicast at the LAN bridge, a service may be interrupted at this time.
In order to solve problems of customer traffic switch and service interruption caused by AF attribute change of an RB in a TRILL network, in the prior art, a method is proposed for recovering a service through a media access control (MAC) address aging mechanism of an LAN bridge. However, the default time of MAC address aging is 10 minutes. Therefore, the method provided in the prior art may result in a longer service interruption time, which greatly affects the reliability of a customer unicast service and user experience.

Method and apparatus for recovering service


A dye donor cartridge and method for use in a printer. The cartridge comprises a dye donor ribbon formed into a roll. The dye donor ribbon has an end portion. A shield is attached to the end portion of the dye donor ribbon and surrounds the dye donor ribbon as the dye donor ribbon forms the roll. In this manner, the shield shields the dye donor ribbon from damage during handling of the ribbon roll. The dye donor ribbon roll including its shield is mountable on a supply spool, so that the dye donor ribbon unrolls from about the supply spool as the supply spool rotates. The shield preferably has a plurality of sprocket holes for engaging the sprockets of a take-up spool, so that the dye donor ribbon is precisely taken-up onto the take-up spool without "jamming" as the take-up spool rotates. An alternative embodiment of the invention comprises an encasement surrounding the shield as the shield surrounds the dye donor ribbon for enhancing protection of the dye donor ribbon roll during handling. The encasement has a slit for passage of the shield and the dye donor ribbon therethrough. Moreover, the encasement includes an integrally attached lip of predetermined shape and extending along the slit for separating the shield from the roll of dye donor ribbon and for guiding the shield through the slit.

The present invention generally relates to printer cartridge apparatus and methods and more particularly relates to a dye donor ribbon cartridge and method for use in a printer, such that the dye donor ribbon is free of damage caused by handling and so that the dye donor ribbon does not "jam" in the printer.
In a typical thermal resistive printer, a dye donor ribbon containing a repeating series of frames of different color heat transferable dyes (e.g., yellow, cyan and magenta colors) is spooled on a dye donor supply spool. The dye donor ribbon, which is typically formed from a thin and flexible dye carrying substrate, is fed from the supply spool and rewound onto a take-up spool. The donor ribbon moves through a nip defined between a thermal resistive print head and a dye-absorbing dye receiver. The dye receiver is in turn supported by a platen disposed adjacent the print head.
That is, at the beginning of a printing cycle, the print head is lifted away from the platen roller to allow the dye receiver to be transported to and placed upon the platen. The dye receiver transport system may be a set of capstan rollers. The print head engages the dye ribbon and presses the dye ribbon against the dye receiver to form a dye ribbon/dye receiver media sandwich. In this regard, the receiver may be cut sheets of coated paper or transparency and the print head may comprise, for example, a plurality of thermal resistive heating elements. When predetermined ones of the heating elements are energized, the heating elements are heated. In the presence of such heat and pressure, dye from the dye ribbon transfers to the dye receiver. Density of the dye printed on the receiver is a function of the heat energy delivered from the heating elements to the dye ribbon. Such printers offer the advantage of "continuous tone" dye density transfer by varying the heat energy applied to the heating elements, thereby yielding a plurality of variable dye density image pixels onto the receiver.
However, in such printers, only the supply spool without the dye donor cartridge is available to the user of the printer. In such printers, the user mounts the supply spool onto the printer and hand-winds the leading portion of the dye donor ribbon on the take-up spool. Such printers has several disadvantages. For example, the print head could be damaged if the user touches the dye donor ribbon and deposits microscopic skin fragments onto the ribbon. In addition, because the user manually winds the ribbon onto the take-up spool, there is an increased chance that the user may deposit dirt and grease on the ribbon which in turn might damage the print head. Moreover, if the user should touch the ribbon and embed fingerprints on the ribbon, the fingerprints will be visible on the printed image, a highly undesirable result.
In addition, it is desirable to feed the donor ribbon from the supply spool to the take-up spool along a path precisely leading from the supply spool to the take-up spool so that the donor ribbon precisely aligns with the take-up spool without skew or significant wrinkling. Precisely aligning the donor ribbon with the take-up spool allows the take-up spool to take-up the donor ribbon without "jamming" on the take-up spool. Such jamming is undesirable because when the donor ribbon jams on the take-up spool, operation of the printer must be stopped and the jammed donor ribbon cleared before printing can continue.
A ribbon cassette accommodating an inked ribbon is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,587 titled "Ribbon Cassette And Video Printer For Use Therewith" issued Dec. 17, 1996 in the name of Takashi Koike, et al. According to this patent, a cassette has a take-up spool and a supply spool spaced apart from each other. A length of inked ribbon has opposite ends engaged with the supply spool and the take-up spool. However, this patent does not appear to disclose a dye donor ribbon cartridge and method for use in a printer, such that the dye donor ribbon is free of damage caused by handling and so that the dye donor ribbon does not "jam" in the printer.
Therefore, there has been a long-felt need to provide a dye donor ribbon cartridge and method for use in a printer, such that the dye donor ribbon is free of damage caused by handling and so that the dye donor ribbon does not "jam" in the printer.

Dye donor ribbon cartridge having a shield and method for use in a printer


A system and method for a semiconductor device are provided. An embodiment comprises a dielectric layer, a hard mask layer over the dielectric layer, and a capping layer over the hard mask layer. A multi-patterning process is performed to form an interconnect using the capping layer as a mask to form an opening for the interconnect.

Generally, active devices and passive devices are formed on and in a semiconductor substrate. Once formed, these active devices and passive devices may be connected to each other and to external devices using a series of conductive and insulative layers. These layers may help to interconnect the various active devices and passive devices as well as provide an electrical connection to external devices through, for example, a contact pad.
To form these interconnections within these layers, a series of photolithographic, etching, deposition, and planarization techniques may be employed. However, the use of such techniques has become more complicated as the size of active and passive devices have been reduced, causing a reduction in the size of the interconnects to be desired as well. As such, improvements in the formation and structure of the interconnects is desired in order to make the overall devices smaller, cheaper, and more efficient with fewer defects or problems.
Corresponding numerals and symbols in the different figures generally refer to corresponding parts unless otherwise indicated. The figures are drawn to clearly illustrate the relevant aspects of the embodiments and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A semiconductor device includes a first wiring layer, a second wiring layer and an insulating layer provided between the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer. A capacitor has a first electrode formed on the first wiring layer and a second electrode formed on the second wiring layer in such a manner that the second electrode overlaps with the first electrode. To the first electrode, two connection wirings are connected and, to the second electrode, two connection wirings are connected. The two connection wirings are connected to each other with low DC impedance substantially only through the first electrode. Similarly, the two connection wirings are connected to each other with low DC impedance substantially only through the second electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and, in particular, relates to a technique for detecting a defect of a capacitor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A semiconductor device is constructed by forming circuit elements such as a transistor, resistor or capacitor on a semiconductor substrate made of silicon or gallium arsenide and connecting the respective circuit elements through wirings. To easily inspect such semiconductor devices, it is general to use a DC (direct current) test, in which DC voltage and electric current is applied to a predetermined point of an integrated circuit formed on a semiconductor device and resulting electrical characteristics is measured to subsequently check go or no-go and to measure circuit characteristics.
Here is a case where a capacitor is formed on a semiconductor integrated circuit. The capacitor is essentially open (impedance is infinite) to a DC signal component. Accordingly, in performing a DC test, it would appear that the capacitor does not exist against the DC signal component. Accordingly, the DC test has a problem that an unexpected open state (that is, high-frequency open failure) due to a disconnection or manufacturing defect of a capacitor or wiring connected to the capacitor is difficult to detect.

Semiconductor device and method of designing the same


Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided herein in connection with IoT-enabled solar PV health monitoring and advising related thereto. A computer-implemented method includes obtaining current-voltage samples corresponding to solar photovoltaic modules by triggering switch circuitry between (i) an inverter attributed to the solar photovoltaic modules and (ii) a current-voltage tracer; detecting one or more anomalies in the obtained current-voltage samples by applying machine learning techniques to the obtained current-voltage samples; automatically performing a root cause analysis on the detected anomalies by (i) converting the obtained current-voltage samples to sequential data, (ii) applying a sequence classifier to the sequential data, and (iii) identifying a pre-determined anomaly class comparable to the sequential data based on the application of the sequence classifier; and automatically generating and outputting a suggestion for remedial action based on the identified pre-determined anomaly class.

Soiling, shading, shadowing, panel cracks, etc. represent significant problems for solar farms due to blocking and/or covering of portions of PV panels within the farms. Further, other non-shading/soiling factors such as leaky capacitor, blown fuse, inverter failure, etc. could also significantly reduce the power output. However, conventional PV panel maintenance approaches fail to identify and characterize the particular reason(s) for PV panel under-performance in a timely and consistent manner. Such a task is important to PV panel and/or solar farm management because different types of shading or soiling require different types of cleaning mechanisms, and different types of hardware issues require different resolution mechanisms as well.
Conventional solar farm maintenance techniques generally involve human technicians physically inspecting PV panels to determine the potential requirements of resources and remedial actions. Such techniques, however, are time-consuming and highly expensive.

Internet of things-enabled solar photovoltaic health monitoring and advising related thereto