A V-type engine for a vehicle is provided with front and rear banks including intake and exhaust valves exposed to a combustion chamber, a valve operating device for operating the engine valves, a valve stop mechanism for stopping the operation of the engine valves according to an operational condition of the vehicle, and an actuator for driving a throttle valve. A valve stop mechanism is provided in either the front bank or the rear bank. An actuator provided in one of the front bank and the rear bank excluding the valve stop mechanism is lower in height than the actuator provided in the other of the front bank. By reducing the height of one of the front bank or the rear bank, an adequate capacity of an air cleaner and a fuel tank can be ensured

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a V-type engine for a vehicle, particularly for a motorcycle including a valve stop mechanism for stopping the operation of engine valves and an electric actuator for driving a throttle valve.
2. Description of Background Art
Conventionally known is a motorcycle including a V-type engine having a front bank and a rear bank, wherein each bank is provided with a DOHC type valve operating device and a valve stop mechanism (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-180812, for example). Further, a plurality of actuators (electric motors) for driving throttle valves for the front bank and the rear bank are provided in a V-shaped space defined between the front bank and the rear bank in such a manner that all the actuators are set at the same height (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 4-203431, for example).
In the V-type engine having the valve stop mechanism in each bank as mentioned above, the cylinder head in each bank tends to become large in size because of the presence of the valve stop mechanism. Accordingly, the vertical size of the engine is increased by the large-sized cylinder head and a cylinder head cover connected to the upper end of this cylinder head. In the case that such a V-type engine having the valve stop mechanism in each bank includes a plurality of actuators for driving throttle valves for the front bank and the rear bank, wherein these actuators are provided in a V-shaped space defined between the front bank and the rear bank in such a manner that all the actuators are set at the same height as mentioned above, the vertical size of the engine may be further increased. As a result, an air cleaner and a fuel tank both provided above the engine are increased in height in order to ensure the capacity, causing an increase in vertical size of the vehicle.


A photodetector based on buried junctions includes a semiconductor structure with two successive p-n junctions, buried at increasing depths, assembled in pairs in opposition, and defining at least three layers. One of the layers is adjacent to a photosensitive portion of the surface of the photodetector. A reverse bias is applied to the junctions, and the values of at least two internal currents passing through such junctions is detected. The internal currents are generated by received light, with each of the junctions corresponding to a particular wavelength of the received light.

1. Field of the invention
This invention relates to optical detection and relates to a photodetector based on buried junctions and its method of manufacture, an optical sensor, systems for color imaging, artificial vision, color measurement and spectral measurement and a method of spectral measurement.
It has applications particularly in the field of color imaging, for video cameras producing color images. These cameras can be intended for the public at large, such as video cameras or visual conference cameras or for professional use, such as, for example, those used for audio-visual production or for medical imaging.
The invention also has applications in the field of artificial vision, notably for artificial retinas for the detection of colors.
A third field of application of the invention is concerned with the measurement of colors, for systems such as, for example, scanners or devices for matching colors for color printing.
The fourth field of application, spectral measurement, relates to the measurement of the absorption, emission or reflection spectrum of a solution, a solid or a colored gas or of a smoke, as well as the measurement of the spectral composition of light which is a determinant for the measurement of properties of a physical, chemical or biological phenomenon. Hence this field of application covers colorimetry which consists of determining the principal or dominant wavelength of light from an object or a colored substance in such a way as to obtain its summary color. Colorimetry can be notably used in the chemical field (measurement of absorbance, pH measurement of a substance, or the indirect measurement through injection of a coloring agent), in the biomedical field (biological or biochemical) and in the environmental field (gas measurement, pollution detection, measurement of concentration of elements in a solution). This field of application also covers spectrocolorimetry consisting of determining a color spectrum by spectral dispersion.
By "photodetector" one understands a device that responds to the presence of optical radiation producing an electromotive force or a variation in electrical resistance which is independent of the spatial distribution of the optical radiation. By "optical sensor" one understands, more generally an input device for a measurement, detection, analysis, recording, reproduction or transmission chain, that is sensitive to optical radiation due to the use of a photoelectric effect. An optical sensor can therefore include a plurality of photodetectors.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to use optical luminous intensity detectors, such as photodiodes and phototransistors. These components give an electrical signal which is a function of the intensity of incident light, but do not supply any information concerning the spectral composition of this light.
So as to detect three chromatic components corresponding to the color of an object or of light, a system with three CCD sensors has been suggested. The three sensors are each fitted with an optical filter arranged in front of the sensor assembly. The three filters are generally associated with the three complementary colors, blue, green and red.
This system however has the disadvantage of requiring expensive, specific and precise optics.
Furthermore, since each sensor includes an array of photodetectors, three photodetectors belonging respectively to the three sensors are set to work for each pixel of a color image. This optical acquisition system therefore occupies a photodetector surface area three times that of an acquisition system without color whilst at the same time the precision of the measurements of the distance between pixels is reduced.
An optical acquisition system for color images is also known that includes a single CCD sensor. The sensor comprises a plurality of photodetectors, on which optical filters are directly deposited. Generally, blue, green and red optical filters are alternated in an array of photodetectors.
A disadvantage of this optical system is that it necessitates recourse to specific technology for the deposition of the optical filters. Furthermore, this second system has the same disadvantages as the first in relation to the surface area necessary for each pixel and the precision of the measurements of distance between pixels. Finally the array of photodetectors has a paving that lacks geometrical symmetry.
In relation to spectral measurement, a dispersive unit or a set of optical filters, arranged in front of a single detector or a linear detector array is generally used.
The system with a single detector has the disadvantages of requiring mechanical displacement means, difficult to produce or expensive and not allowing measurements to be made in real time.
As for the system with a linear array of detectors, it has the disadvantage of providing a measurement accuracy that depends on the precision of the positioning of the linear array and of the calibration of the system.
Furthermore, the two systems have the common disadvantages of producing spectral measurements which are greatly dependent on the dispersive unit, and very sensitive to the operating conditions of the apparatus, notably through fluctuations of the spectrum and of the intensity of the light source.
A method and a system for determining the wavelength of light incident on a photosensitive semiconductor structure has been proposed in the patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,851.
A disadvantage of the system disclosed is that the measured wavelength is prone to variations in relation to measurement voltages. Furthermore, this system makes it necessary to develop a structure with a high doping level.

Photodetector based on buried junctions and a corresponding method of manufacture


An aqueous ink to be used in an ink jet recording method that an ink is ejected from a recording head by the action of thermal energy, wherein the ink contains a pigment, a polymer and a water-soluble organic solvent, the hydrophilicity δm of the pigment falls within a range of from 21.5 or more to 23.5 or less, and the content (mass %) of the water-soluble organic solvent is from 5.0 mass % or more to 17.5 mass % or less with respect to the whole mass of the aqueous ink.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an aqueous ink (hereinafter referred to as "ink") containing a pigment dispersed with a polymer, and to an ink jet recording method, an ink cartridge, a recording unit and an ink jet recording apparatus using the ink.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has been well known to use an ink (pigment ink) containing a pigment as a coloring material in order to improve the light fastness, gas fastness and water fastness of an image obtained by an ink jet recording method. It has been recently proposed to select a pigment capable of improving light fastness and gas resistance and use the pigment in an ink because the kind of a pigment used affects the light fastness and gas fastness of an image obtained with the ink (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-217765.
However, a pigment ink involves a problem that the pigment ink is liable to cause clogging at an orifice and in an ink flow path attending on evaporation of water from an ejection opening compared with an ink (dye ink) containing a dye. In order to solve such a problem, many proposals have been made in which the kind of a water-soluble organic solvent used in an ink is considered, or the properties of a pigment or a polymer (dispersant) for dispersing the pigment are defined (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. H09-194780 and 2003-147243).
The present inventors carried out the following investigation for providing an ink excellent in reliability (storage stability and ejection stability) and moreover in image quality (fixability and highlighter resistance). More specifically, a plurality of inks respectively containing polymer dispersion pigments (pigments in a state dispersed by a polymer) different from each other in surface treatment of the pigments was prepared. These inks were separately ejected by means of an ink jet recording apparatus to evaluate them as to reliability. Incidentally, a thermal type ink jet recording apparatus that an ink is ejected by the action of thermal energy was used in the investigation. As a result, it was found that a part of the inks evaluated could not achieve good ejection characteristics (frequency responsiveness, and stable ejection volume and ejection velocity). In particular, this tendency was marked in inks containing a polymer dispersion pigment obtained by dispersing a pigment, whose hydrophilicity δm falls within a range of from 21.5 or more to 23.5 or less, as will be described below.
In addition, the present inventors confirmed that the cause for the variation of the ejection characteristics is attributable to a new phenomenon, which will be described subsequently, and not to clogging at an ejection opening (orifice) known in the prior art. More specifically, it was found that when an ink is continuously ejected from a recording head, deposit adheres to the interior of an ink flow path and the vicinity of an ejection opening to close the ink flow path, and so this may cause the case where sufficient ejection characteristics can not be achieved.

Aqueous ink, ink-jet recording method, ink cartridge, recording unit and ink jet recording apparatus


A thermoelectric cooling device comprises a liquid heat exchanger, at least two air heat exchangers, and at least two thermoelectric modules. The liquid heat exchanger includes a liquid circulation path through which liquid coolant flows to exchange heat with the liquid heat exchanger. Air flows over each of the air heat exchangers to exchange heat with the respective air heat exchanger. A first thermoelectric module is thermally coupled on a first side with a first side of the liquid heat exchanger and on a second side with a first air heat exchanger to transfer heat between the air heat exchanger and the liquid heat exchanger. A second thermoelectric module is thermally coupled on a first side with a second side of the liquid heat exchanger and on a second side with the second air heat exchanger to transfer heat between the air heat exchanger and the liquid heat exchanger.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to thermoelectric cooling devices, and more specifically to compact thermoelectric cooling devices for use with aircraft galley equipment.
Thermoelectric devices (TEDs) are used to cool the contents of food and beverage chiller compartments in aircraft galleys. The TEDs, also known as Peltier devices, are solid-state heat pumps that utilize the Peltier effect to move heat from one side of the devices to the other side. Multiple TEDs are sometimes used in parallel to cool the contents of the compartments. In these applications, there is typically a higher weight and size as well as a lower overall efficiency in heat transfer due to the use of the multiple TEDs. In addition, the multiple TEDs typically have different temperatures on their respective cold and/or hot sides from one another, creating an undesired temperature gradient across a single side of the multiple TEDs in parallel.

Thermoelectric cooling device including a liquid heat exchanger disposed between air heat exchangers


A method at a computing device, the method including detecting, at the computing device, a trigger that authentication is pending for an application or service; indicating a state of a credential vault via a user interface of the computing device; and when the credential vault is in a locked state, activating an authentication mechanism for the credential vault without changing focus on the user interface for the application or service.

In order to access functionality within an application or service, a user will often be required to provide authentication credentials. For example, the application or service may require a username and password to be provided prior to allowing access to such application or service.
Users typically have many applications or services that they access, and each may require one or more authentication credentials. For example, a user may access online banking and require a first authentication credential, an application storefront which may require a second authentication credential, social media sites which may require further authentication credentials, among others.
In some cases, a user will reuse the same password or other authentication credential between these sites in order to allow the user to remember such credentials. However, this creates security issues and compromises the user's data if one of such applications or services is breached.
In order to overcome this, or for other reasons, users may store credentials in a credential vault. As used herein, a credential vault can comprise any digital vault that is used to store information for access to an application or a service. For example, the credential vault may store a user name and password for each application or service.
The credential vault itself is typically encrypted and requires a decryption key to access the contents stored therein. The decryption key may comprise a password, personal identification number (PIN), graphical authentication, gesture, biometric data, voice data, or may comprise data that is received from a sensor on a device, or any combination of any of the foregoing. In other cases, a card read by a card reader connected to the device may be used. Other types of sensors could also be used.

Method and apparatus for accessing authentication credentials within a credential vault


A clutch or brake unit is described with an automatic wear adjustment mechanism.. Clutches and brakes operate by the engagement of friction members (4,6) which experience wear in use requiring a larger stroke of the unit to effect engagement. This results in delayed clutch or brake operation which can be a serious disadvantage where prompt action is required. Conventionally this wear has been compensated by replacement of the worn friction members or by manual adjustment of them resulting in temporary disablement of the unit and requiring service personnel time.. In the inventive unit, friction members (4,6) are mounted between pressure members (10,2) and an actuator (12) operates against a backing member (15) to effect clutch or brake actuation and de-activation by movement of the friction members towards and away from each other, and the position of at least one of the pressure members is adjusted automatically in response to wear of the friction members. Sprags, ratchet mechanisms, screw threads and tension springs are alternatively described for adjusting this position and the wear can be sensed by a proximity switch or microswitch. Pneumatic and hydraulic mechanisms are also described.

Typical of the brake or clutch units with which the invention is concerned are units in which engagement is effected between one or more metal brake discs and one or more discs of friction material of a disc pack, by axial movement, to effect a braking action between members carrying the respective discs, or to couple them rotationally together. In such units, the or each disc of frictional material in particular experiences considerable wear and the axial movement needed to effect braking or clutch engagement correspondingly increases progressively, as the wear increases. Brake or clutch operation is consequently delayed and this can be a serious disadvantage where prompt application is required. Such wear can be accommodated by replacement of the friction discs, or by manual adjustment of the components of the unit. In either event, the time of service personnel is employed and the unit is out of use for a substantial period.
The present invention accordingly has as an object the provision of a brake or clutch unit in which disc pack wear is compensated for automatically, that is, in response to its occurrence.

Brake or clutch unit wear adjustment means


A dual clutch transmission with two clutches, two relative coaxial input shafts, two relative coaxial countershafts, two drive constants (gear trains, as well as one concentric transmission output shaft to the two drive shafts. Such a transmission structure is to be further embodied in such a way that through minor variations of gear mechanisms based on a construction module concept, seven-speed and eight-speed dual clutch transmissions with different direct gears, a different number of overdrive gears as well as different overall gear ratios can be manufactured. In accordance with a generic dual clutch transmission, the two countershafts by way of a coupling device can be rotationally connected with each other, and that on the countershaft embodied as hollow shaft, an idler gear is rotationally mounted, which meshes with a fixed gear on the transmission output shaft.

Dual clutch transmissions of this kind are known, for example, from prior publications EP 1 141 580 B1, EP 1 342 934 A2, EP 1 342 935 A2, EP 0 061 845 A2 and DE 43 30 170 A1. Such an automatic transmission has two axial parallel clutch arrangements actuated by a motor shaft, wherein the first clutch on the input side is fitted to a centrical transmission input shaft and the second clutch, next to the gear trains of the transmission, is respectively attached to a coaxial hollow shaft facing the transmission shaft. The transmission input shaft and the hollow shaft are each fitted with fixed gears which engage through respectively related gears on two countershafts of the transmission. In this respect, such automatic transmissions have two so-called drive constants, i.e., gear assemblies that are driven directly by both clutches. One of the two countershafts is embodied as a hollow shaft and is rotationally mounted on the other countershaft. For the purpose of implementing six forward gears and one reverse gear, idler and fixed gears are arranged on both countershafts, which engage with idler and/or fixed gears on a transmission drive shaft which, in turn, is concentrically aligned with both transmissions input shafts.
The particularly known six-gear dual clutch transmission from DE 43 30 170 A1 is additionally characterized in that the gears of the drive constants are embodied as a fixed gear on one input shaft and as an idler gear on the other input shaft. It is further known from this publication that a rotationally rigid connection between the radial inner transmission input shaft and the transmission output shaft has to be created in order to implement a forward gear. Furthermore, it is provided that the countershaft, embodied as a hollow shaft, holds an additional fixed gear which meshes with an idler gear rotationally mounted on the transmission output shaft. This idler gear is connectable with the transmission drive shaft by way of a gear shift sleeve.
Finally, it can be derived from DE 43 30 170 A1 that the state of the art transmission design for the purpose of improving driving comfort aims to provide as many choices as possible in the speed reduction ratio for the individual forward gears of the transmission. In this case, the value of the so-called ratio range is of interest which takes place through the quotient of the speed reduction ratio between a higher and a neighboring lower gear. The ratio range is generally between 1.0 and 2.0. In order to attain high driving comfort, the aim is to set the ratio range digressively from the lowest to the highest gear so that the speed reduction range change becomes less and less from the lowest to the highest gear from one gear relative to the other.
Furthermore, it is in the interest of the vehicle manufacturer to optimally transmit the input power of the prime mover of a vehicle at the lowest possible consumption in every driving mode to all drive gears. This requires that the speed reduction ratio values of the individual gears be spaced apart as far as possible so that there is a wide so-called overall gear ratio. Particularly in vehicle drive trains with a diesel-internal combustion engine, a comparably high overall gear ratio is desirable, which should show a value in excess of 6.0. An overall gear ratio value of 6.0, therefore, means that the speed reduction ratio in the first transmission gear is six times higher than the speed reduction ratio in the highest transmission gear.
On the other hand, there is a need for multi-step automatic transmissions, for example, in sports cars with 4-stroke-engines with a comparable low overall gear ratio, which can certainly have a value of below 5.0. Based on the prior art, this requires a substantially different automatic transmission design which means that a transmission manufacturer must provide additional means of production, as well as maintain a high level of inventory for spare part demands.
Against this background, it is the object of the present invention to provide a dual clutch transmission with more than six forward gears which can be manufactured, through minimal variations of the transmission component, with different speed reduction ratios, overall gear ratios, direct gears and overdrive gears.
The object is achieved with the characteristics of the main claim. Advantageous developments and embodiments of the invention can be derived from the dependent claims.


A hybrid compression scheme in which one or more compression schemes are applied to a scanned document depending on its content. Based on the scanned document data itself and edge-map version thereof, a color test is performed to determine if the document is text or a drawing. If only a few colors are detected, the entire document is compressed by a photo compression technique at full resolution. If more than a few colors are present, the document is most likely a mixed mode document, in which case the entire document undergoes segmentation, a process in which text and drawing regions are separated from the background. The mask of the text and/or drawing regions are coded by a bi-level compression technique, whereas background is down-sampled, if necessary, and then compressed by a photo compression technique. A wrapper module is used to wrap the compressed stream(s) into a single file for easy browsing or transmitting.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to compression of digital data, and more particularly to a compression scheme that applies different compression techniques to different content (text, photo, graphics, etc.) in a digital representation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Uncompressed digital documents can be quite large in size. An image-containing letter-size page scanned at 300 dots per inch (dpi) requires 25,245 KB (2550 pixels×3300 pixels×3 bytes/pixel) of storage. To store or transmit such data in the uncompressed state is simply too costly in terms of time and memory requirements. Thus, applications and devices which store or transmit high quality digitized color images typically do so in a compressed format, using one of the currently available compression techniques. Depending on the capacity of the storage medium or the bandwidth constraints of the transmission system, the compression ratio may need to be quite high. An acceptable size for sending a scanned page via email would be around 200 KB. That requires a compression ratio of approximately 100.
Given such a compression ratio constraint, the task is to meet that constraint while still maintaining a certain level of image quality. This can be difficult, since compression ratio and image quality are inversely related. Mixed mode documents (e.g., documents having different types of content: photo, text, graphics, etc.) provide an additional challenge. A particular compression technique may work well on one type of content, e.g., a photo, but not so well on another type, e.g., text. Even different settings of the same technique may provide good results on some content and poor results on other content.
FIGS. 1-3 illustrate the problems. FIG. 1 shows an image scanned at 300 dpi with a file size of about 3,612 KB. FIG. 2 shows the same image at 300 dpi but compressed by JPEG. The image shown in FIG. 3 is again the same image but down-sampled to 150 dpi and compressed by Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG). The images in FIGS. 2 and 3 have similar file sizes, i.e., about 34.95 KB and 34.77 KB respectively, but provide different results on different content. The color spectrum in the image of FIG. 2 is very blocky, but the text on the right is quite sharp. The image of FIG. 3, on the other hand, exhibits a smooth color spectrum, but the quality of its text suffers.
What is needed is an effective compression algorithm that, when applied to mixed mode documents, achieves high compression ratios while maintaining smooth image quality and sharp text and drawings.

Segmentation-based hybrid compression scheme for scanned documents


Method and system of supporting abbreviated dialing. The method and system may be used in conjunction with calls between affiliated phones if at least a portion of the signals associated therewith are transmitted over a non-affiliated network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and systems of supporting abbreviated dialing between affiliated phones wherein at least one of the phones is associated with a non-affiliated network.
2. Background Art
With the availability of new technology, customers may be looking for ways to migrate some of their Centrex lines over to VoIP platforms. One problem which arises as phones are moved over to VoIP platforms is the loss of Centrex services between the migrated and non-migrated phones. Accordingly, a need exists to allow Centrex customers who have moved some of their lines over to the VoIP platform to retain Centrex functionality on those lines, such as to support abbreviated dialing between the lines.

Method and system of supporting abbreviated dialing between affiliated phones wherein at least one phone is associated with a non-affiliated network


A system, method, and software for controlling regeneration and desulfurization of a NOx adsorber is disclosed. An electronic control unit is connected with an engine for selectively controlling operation of the engine between a rich operating mode and a lean operating mode. A NOx adsorber is in fluid communication with a flow of exhaust from the engine. A NOx adsorber manager module is executable by the electronic control unit to determine the need to operate in a de-NOx mode or a de-SOx mode. If the NOx adsorber manager module determines a need exists to operate in the de-NOx mode and the de-SOx mode at the same time, the NOx adsorber manager module executes the de-SOx mode.

The present invention relates generally to exhaust treatment for an internal combustion engine and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a method, system, and software utilized to perform desulfurization ("de-SOx") to a NOx adsorber during a de-SOx mode or to perform NOx regeneration ("de-NOx") to the NOx adsorber during a de-NOx mode.
The Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") is working aggressively to reduce pollution from new, heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses by requiring them to meet tougher emission standards that will make new heavy-duty vehicles up to 95% cleaner than older vehicles. Emission filters in the exhaust gas systems of internal combustion engines are used to remove unburned soot particles from the exhaust gas and to convert harmful pollutants such as hydrocarbons ("HC"), carbon monoxide ("CO"), oxides of nitrogen ("NOx"), and oxides of sulfur ("SOx") into harmless gases.
Exhaust gas is passed through a catalytic converter that is typically located between the engine and the muffler. In operation, the exhaust gases pass over one or more large surface areas that may be coated with a particular type of catalyst. A catalyst is a material that causes a chemical reaction to proceed at a usually faster rate without becoming part of the reaction process. The catalyst is not changed during the reaction process but rather converts the harmful pollutants into substances or gases that are not harmful to the environment.
NOx storage catalyst units are used to purify exhaust gases of combustion engines. These NOx storage catalyst units, in addition to storing or trapping NOx, also trap and store unwanted SOx in the form of sulfates. The adsorption of SOx in the converter reduces the storage capacity of the adsorber and the catalytically active surface area of the catalyst. As such, NOx storage catalyst units must be regenerated to remove both NOx and SOx. The process of regenerating a NOx storage catalyst unit varies depending on whether operating in a de-NOx mode (in which NOx is converted and removed from the unit) or a de-SOx mode (in which the unit is ran through a de-SOx process). Accordingly, there is a need for methods and systems for controlling an engine to place a NOx adsorber through a de-NOx and de-SOx process.

System for controlling absorber regeneration


The present invention provides an information processing apparatus, a program and a system in which a user sets data about electric power conditions in the information processing apparatus so as to reduce electric power consumption of the input/output device when the user is not in front of the input/output device. The information processing system comprises the information processing apparatus 101 comprising a storage section 106 for storing the data about the electric power conditions of the input/output device, and the input/output device 110, wherein the information processing apparatus comprises an input/output control section 104, 105 for giving and receiving information to/from the input/output device, and the input/output control section gives instructions about electric power conditions to the input/output device, regardless of whether or not input data from the input/output device or output data to said input/output device is transferred and the input/output device controls the electric power conditions based on the instructions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a program product executable by a computer and an information processing system, and in particular, it relates to a system and a method for reducing electrical power consumption of a monitor device that is connected to a computer terminal according to a time setting in the computer terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional information processing apparatuses such as computer terminals are increasingly used in a configuration wherein the computer terminals are activated automatically at a time specified by users to perform operations such as e-mail receipt, virus check, TV recording and the like. In such configuration, input/output devices such as monitor devices connected to the computer terminals are powered on at the same time when the computer terminals are activated (see patent documents 1, 2 and 3)
[Patent Document 1]
    Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-041397[Patent Document 2]    Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 11-053066[Patent Document 3]    Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 10-190855).
In the prior arts described above, there is a problem in that electric power may be consumed uselessly because the input/output devices such as the monitor devices may be powered on even when the users are not in front of the input/output devices. Though the monitor devices typically determine whether or not to enter into power saving mode depending on the presence or absence of a video signal (a synchronization signal), in some operating conditions in which the computer terminals cannot turn off the video signal, the monitor devices cannot enter into the power saving mode and the electric power is wasted continuously even during an unattended operation. Furthermore, if the computer terminals are configured by the users to be activated automatically while the users are sleeping, e.g. at midnight, there is another problem in that the users' sleep may be disturbed due to the brightness of the monitor devices and the sound from speakers.

Information processing apparatus, program product and information processing system


A method of processing digital angiographic images which enables automatic detection of stenoses includes a tracking step for the identification of pixels or points situated on the central lines of vessels, and a step for the detection of stenoses by measurement of the intensity of pixels along the central lines of the vessels. The stenoses detection step includes a sub-step for deciding whether a pixel zone is a potential stenosis zone when the intensity of its pixels exhibits a local variation so as to assume an intermediate value between the intensity of the pixels to both sides of this zone and the intensity of the pixels of the image background, a sub-step for defining an icon around potential stenosis zones, and a sub-step for the extraction of the pixels of edges of the vessel segments in the icons.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for the processing of digital angiographic images which enables automatic detection of stenoses and comprises at least a step for the identification of pixels or points situated on the central lines of vessels, which step is referred to as a tracking step. The invention is used, for example in digital imaging systems in order to facilitate the detection of anomalies, such as stenoses, on the basis of arteriograms of a human or animal body.
2. Description of the Related Art
Arteriograms are special images for the visualization of blood vessels. Various types of arteriograms can be formed: coronary arteriograms for the imaging of arteries for the muscular tissue of the heart, or myocardium, which arteries together form the coronary tree; peripheral arteriograms for visualization of the feeding of the lower and upper members; cerebral arteriograms. By way of example, coronary arteriograms will be concerned hereinafter. Stenoses are local strictures which are caused by partial or total obstruction occurring in the arteries. In the coronary tree, stenoses seriously hamper the feeding of the myocardium and must be detected by a radiologist on the basis of arteriograms.
The introduction in recent years of digital radiography, combining the use of an X-ray detector providing a real-time image and the digitization of the images, constitutes a major advance in the field of imaging in comparison with conventional radiography. It actually gives access to numerous possibilities offered by the digital image processing techniques.
Other methods of forming angiographic images are also known, for example the methods utilizing magnetic resonance.
The invention, however, depends neither on the method whereby the digital image has been obtained nor on the nature of the objects reproduced therein, but relates exclusively to the processing of the digital image in order to determine the central points and the edge points of the objects represented, provided that these objects constitute sufficiently uniform, contrasting masses on a sufficiently uniform background.
A method for the automated identification of the contours of vessels in coronary arteriograms is known from the publication "Automated Identification of Vessel Contours in Coronary Arteriograms by an adaptive Tracking Algorithm", by Ying Sun, published in IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging, Vol. 8, No. 1, March 1989. The cited document describes an algorithm which is referred to as "tracking" of the central line of the vessels in order to identify the contours of these vessels in the digitized arteriograms. The algorithm essentially comprises three steps:
1) The identification of points situated on the central line of a vessel. Each point of the central line has three attributes: its position, the direction of a vector parallel to the direction of the vessel segment whereto the point belongs, and the half-width of the vessel at this point. Given a starting point P.sub.k on the central line of the vessel, the algorithm calculates a point P.sub.k+d at a given distance d in the direction of the attribute vector of the starting point P.sub.k. Subsequently, convolution filtering is performed by means of a rectangular filter having a principal orientation perpendicular to said vector, i.e. parallel to the scanning direction at the starting point P.sub.k. PA1 2) The identification of edges of the vessel: the edges of the vessel which correspond to the new point P'.sub.k+d are identified as the position of the points of inflection on a transverse density profile, i.e. perpendicularly to an attribute vector of the point P'.sub.k+d resulting from an updating operation. The half-width of the vessel is thus updated, after which the new point P'.sub.k+d of the central line searched is finally identified. PA1 3) Spatial averaging: this "tracking" operation produces a description of the vessel with N inputs. Each input is characterized by a triplet: position of a point on the central line of the vessel; direction of a vector parallel to the central line in a segment of length d, chosen as a function of the curvature of the vessel; half-width of the vessel at this point.
This filtering operation enables identification of a given point P'.sub.k+d, which is determined by performing the convolution between the density profile along the scanning line passing through the point P.sub.k+d and an ideal density profile of rectangular shape. The convolution results in a vector for which the maximum value is searched, which maximum value relates to a pixel which corresponds to the maximum of the density profile and enables the updating of the new point P'.sub.k+d.
The process is repeated for all points situated on the scanning lines perpendicular to the first attribute vector of the starting point P.sub.k : from k+1 to k+d. This directional vector is maintained so as to be the same for the entire distance d.
In the case of a bifurcation, the process selects the branch of the vessel having the highest density, so that the updated density profile does not exhibit a double peak.
A first technical problem encountered in the processing of arteriograms is the detection of all pathological conditions and the elimination of false alarms.
The pathological conditions to be detected concern not only the stenoses appearing in the form of a local stricture in a vessel which thus simply exhibits a local minimum of the width. The pathological conditions also concern a type of stricture which is referred to as a "step" which appears, in a vessel having a substantially uniform first width, as an abrupt transition to a second width which is smaller than the first width. This type of "step" may signify that a vessel is concerned which referred to as a principal vessel of a first width which branches into two vessels, one of which has a second width and is still visible in the prolongation of the principal vessel, whereas the other vessel is completely occluded as from the point where it is branched from the principal vessel and has disappeared, i.e. become completely invisible in the arteriogram.
The single means of detecting such a completely occluded and hence invisible vessel is to detect the "stepped" stricture in the principal vessel.
The latter pathological condition cannot be recognized by the algorithm described in the cited state of the art. Thus, the known method is not capable of distinguishing the case where a "step" occurs due to the fact that after branching one of the two secondary vessels has completely disappeared, being a serious pathological case, from the non-pathological case where a natural bend occurs in the vessel. As the characteristic "step" shape is the only alarm enabling a radiologist to uncover the occluded vessels, this type of algorithm does not enable the radiologist to detect these pathological conditions which are large in number as well as serious in respect of the condition of the patient.
A second technical problem encountered resides in the implementation of medical imaging systems provided with means for the fully automatic detection of the pathological conditions described above, i.e. the first condition involving local strictures of vessels, and the second condition involving "stepped" strictures. Fully automatic detection is to be understood to mean that the detection of the pathological conditions must be carried out without assistance from an operator.
The formation of angiograms assumes that a patient, usually awake, is injected, for example with a contrast medium by means of a catheter via the femoral artery; subsequently, an operator makes a number of exposures of the coronary tree in the form of a sequence of video images, for example at a rate of 30 images per second. Such a sequence enables the display of several cardiac cycles. The stenoses or strictures described above are the principal anomalies to be detected. However, such detection may be hampered by an unfavorable orientation of the vessels or the course of a background vessel behind a vessel situated in the foreground. Therefore, it is necessary to utilize different projection angles and also to attempt detection of the stenoses in all images of the video sequence for which the concentration of the contrast medium is sufficiently strong to ensure good visibility of the vessels.
Thus, there are many of these images and the radiologist makes his diagnosis while studying these images as they slowly pass by. Thus, there appears to be a need to detect, in advance and automatically, the pathological conditions mentioned above. Psychologically speaking, the radiologist tends to have his attention drawn to the most flagrant pathological conditions, and to ignore given situations which are less visible but which may be more disturbing or serious, from a clinical point of view, for the care of the patient. The radiologist may also let given pathological conditions pass because they appear only in a single image, or in only a few images of the sequence.
Therefore, it is important that the radiologist has available a system for revealing pathological conditions so that his attention is drawn to image areas, or the areas of the single or a few images of the sequence which contain actually the most interesting information which is indispensable for examination. Attention could thus be drawn to the a priori less likely areas nevertheless containing pathological conditions; moreover, his attention could be drawn away from the focusing on a few stenoses which are evident but without major importance from a point of view of further medical treatment.
Such full automation of the detection of the pathological conditions is not achieved by means of the algorithm known from the cited document.

Digital image processing method for automatic detection of stenoses


The invention relates to the use of a single solvent extraction reagent which greatly simplifies the recovery of platinum, palladium and gold from base metal-containing solutions. The recovery of platinum, palladium and gold from acidic feed solutions which contain chloride ion is accomplished by first using a substituted 8-hydroxyquinoline reagent or a derivative thereof for extraction wherein a chelate is formed between the reagent and the precious metals. The chelated product is sufficiently stable to allow any base metals or complexes thereof to be scrubbed from the organic phase. The precious metal values are then recovered from the reagent by stripping with acidified thiourea solution.

In recent years, a growing demand for precious metals in high-technology applications and the increasing cost of precious metals has made the practice of recovering and refining these metals very important. To meet these demands, industry is turning to new sources of precious metals such as complex sulfide ores, and recycling precious metals from catalysts and electronic scrap.
Using traditional smelting techniques to treat these materials is not always effective due to their refractory nature and low precious metal content. Leaching with acidic chloride solutions containing an oxidizing agent is effective in removing the precious metals and has the added advantage of preserving valuable substrates for recycling. The recovery and subsequent separation of precious metals from the chloride feed liquors constitutes a difficult refining problem.
The recovery and subsequent separation of precious metals from these chloride feed liquors constitutes a difficult refining problem. These liquors generally contain low levels of precious metals (ppm levels) and high levels (on the order of grams per liter) of base metals such as iron, copper, zinc, tin, and nickel. Moreover, the volumes of solutions generated are large compared to the volume of highly concentrated solutions generated from typical precious metal refining. Classical precipitation techniques are inefficient when applied to such solutions and they are being replaced by modern separation methods. Among the latter, solvent extraction (SX) processes are being considered for the separation and extraction of precious metals by industrial companies.
Solvent extraction is sometimes referred to as liquid ion exchange extraction and it is being utilized as a promising new method in extraction and separation science. Briefly, this process is basically described by two steps. In the first, the extraction step, dilute aqueous feed solution which contains the metal ion to be recovered is mixed with an immiscible hydrocarbon diluent or carrier containing an ion exchanger or ligand dissolved therein, and the resulting metal complex migrates to the organic phase. In the second, the stripping step, the separated "loaded" organic phase is mixed with an aqueous solution of a stripping agent (e.g., sulfuric acid) and the procedure is reversed, the metal ion passing back to the new aqueous phase. As a consequence, the dilute feed solution is converted into a highly concentrated solution, from which the metal values are more readily recovered, e.g., by electrolysis. The barren organic phase is then essentially recycled through the system.
The current SX technology as it is applied to precious metals refining calls for Au, Pt, and Pd to be extracted by separate solvents or other techniques. Gold, for example, is removed first by SO.sub.2 reduction to the metal or extraction using ketones (MIBK) or esters (DBC). Palladium is then extracted using alkyl sulfides or oximes and platinum is removed using tributyl phosphate (TBP).
Despite the relatively good performance of SX processes in precious metal refining, there are some serious complications which need to be solved if SX is to be successful in separating gold, platinum and palladium from base metal rich liquors. The major drawbacks
Despite the relatively good performance of SX processes in precious metal refining, there are some serious complications which need to be solved if SX is to be successful in separating gold, platinum and palladium from base metal rich liquors. The major drawbacks to reagents used in precious metal refining operations are kinetics and selectivity. The extraction of palladium by sulfides or oximes suffers from slow kinetics. This is not an economic burden when the treated volumes are small. However, when large volumes of dilute solutions are treated the large inventory of reagent required for prolonged contact times becomes uneconomic. TBP extraction for platinum suffers from poor selectivity to other base metal chlorides and also requires high acidities to work well. The cost in acidifying large volumes of solution make this approach uneconomic.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,145 teaches a new technique for separation of gold, platinum and palladium based on using alkylated derivatives of 8-hydroxyquinoline. In this process the precious metals are extracted from acid chloride solutions using an alkylated 8-hydroxyquinoline such as Kelex 100. The metals are then separated using differential stripping. Platinum is stripped using water, gold is recovered by hydrolytic stripping or hydrogen reduction, and palladium is recovered using hydrogen reduction or acidic stripping. This prior art does not address the effect of base metal extraction on the differential stripping techniques employed. Iron and copper will extract with the precious metals and contaminate the water wash and hydrogen reduction steps.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,290 teaches the extraction and purification of platinum and palladium from base metal chlorides using alkylated 8-hydroxyquinoline. This process utilizes pH controlled scrubbing to remove acid and base metal chlorides. Platinum is recovered by a pH controlled wash and palladium is recovered by 8N HCl stripping. This prior art doe not consider gold extraction and stripping or how gold behaves during the base metal wash stages.
The prior art is not well suited to extraction of gold, platinum, and palladium present in small amounts from base metal chlorides present in large amounts. Current precious metal refining utilizes a separate reagent for each precious metal while processes using only one reagent rely on selective stripping of the precious metals. Multiple reagents and selective stripping add unnecessary complication and expense to the removal of trace amounts of precious metals.
In view of the deficiencies of the current available reagents used to extract precious metals, a more efficient and economical means must be developed. One of the objects of the present invention is to employ a single reagent to extract and a single strip stage to concentrate the precious metals after the base metals have been removed by scrubbing. This will greatly enhance the efficiency and ease of processing low grade precious metal-containing chloride solutions.

Solvent extraction of precious metals with hydroxyquinoline and stripping with acidified thiourea


A network of spine switches and leaf switches is disclosed wherein the spine switches and leaf switches are coupled using a simplified interconnect made up of multiple signal carrying media (SCM's). In the simplified interconnect, “virtual” links are used rather than physical links to couple the leaf switches to the spine switches. The virtual links are implemented using wavelength division multiplexing. By implementing virtual links, the network achieves the same connectivity as that provided by a Clos network without the complex interconnect that is typically required in a Clos network.

Many of today's multi-stage switching networks implement the well-known Clos switching architecture. An example of a Clos network is shown in FIG. 1, wherein the network 100 comprises a plurality of leaf switches 102 and a plurality of spine switches S1-S16. The ports of the leaf switches and the ports of the spine switches are interconnected by a spreader network 104 (also referred to as an interconnect). In the sample network shown in FIG. 1, each leaf switch 102 has sixteen inner ports (ports that are coupled to the spine switches) and sixteen outer ports (ports that can be coupled to external components, such as external computing nodes). Each leaf switch 102 may be implemented as a single switch, or, as shown in FIG. 1, may be implemented using a plurality of interconnected smaller switches (in the example shown, each leaf switch 102 is implemented with eight interconnected 8-port switches). In each leaf switch 102, information may be switched from any port of that leaf switch to any other port of that leaf switch. Similarly, in each spine switch S1-S16, information may be switched from any port of that spine switch to any other port of that spine switch.
Each inner port of a leaf switch 102 is coupled to a separate one of the spine switches S1-S16, as shown. With each leaf switch 102 having sixteen inner ports, and with sixteen spine switches S1-S16, there is a one-to-one relationship between an inner port of a leaf switch 102 and a spine switch. Likewise, each spine switch has eight ports. Each of these ports is coupled to a separate one of the leaf switches 102. With each spine switch having eight ports, and with eight leaf switches 102, there is a one-to-one relationship between a port of a spine switch and a leaf switch 102. Interconnected in this way, each leaf switch 102 may switch information to any one of the spine switches S1-S16. Likewise, each spine switch S1-S16 may switch information to any one of the leaf switches 102.
One of the advantages of a Clos network is that it has the desirable property of supporting full cross sectional bandwidth between all of the interconnected ports. This property ensures that there is sufficient capacity in the network to handle the traffic between all hosts regardless of the traffic pattern. One of the drawbacks of a Clos network, however, is that the complexity of the interconnect 104 can grow very rapidly. Even with the relatively small network shown in FIG. 1, one hundred twenty eight physical links are already required between the inner ports of the leaf switches 102 and the spine switches S1-S16. With a larger network having more switches and ports, the interconnect complexity would grow many fold. In fact, the complexity of the interconnect 104 would grow exponentially with the increase in switches and ports. That being the case, the cost of the interconnect 104 can quickly become a significant portion of the cost of the overall network. In addition, the increased complexity can make the interconnect 104 extremely difficult and costly to implement and manage. In light of these shortcomings, a need exists for an interconnect infrastructure that provides the same connectivity as that provided by the Clos interconnect but yet is simpler in structure and implementation.

Simplified switching interconnect using wavelength division multiplexing


A continuous observation apparatus of magnetic flux distribution in which a long sample containing a superconducting material or magnetic material is transferred to an observation position and magnetic flux is observed sequentially at each of certain areas along a longitudinal direction of the sample is provided. A method of continuously observing magnetic flux by which a long sample containing a superconducting material or magnetic material is transferred to an observation position and magnetic flux is observed sequentially at each of certain areas along a longitudinal direction of the sample is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a continuous observation apparatus and method of magnetic flux distribution. More particularly, the invention relates to a continuous observation apparatus and method of magnetic flux distribution such as that for a non-destructive characterization on defects of long superconducting wires and tapes used in power cables, magnets and apparatuses such as motors and generators or that for assessing critical current density or long magnetic tapes.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-258291, filed Sep. 6, 2005, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Where there are defects such as micro cracks or existence of secondary phases and etc. inside a superconducting material, it is conventionally known that a weak coupling region will allow an external magnetic flux to penetrate into the superconducting material, resulting in deteriorated performance of superconductivity. Therefore, it has been strongly demanded to provide a characterization method for detecting whether magnetic properties of the superconducting material are abnormal or not in a non-destructive manner.
Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. H03-267782 has disclosed an apparatus for magnetically detecting inner weak coupling regions of a superconducting material in which a magnetic thin film having a striped magnetic domain structure, in which the direction of spontaneous magnetization is perpendicular to the film surface, is firmly attached to the surface of a superconducting material, the polarized angle of incident light is rotated by the interaction between light and magnetization, and magneto-optical effects are utilized to determine the magnetic flux density distribution based on the width of a magnetic domain pattern observed on the surface of the superconducting material.
Furtner et al. (Reel-to-reel critical current measurement of coated conductors, Superconductor Science and Technology, Vol. 17, pp. S281-S284, 2004, United Kingdom) has described an apparatus in which a long superconducting wire of 10 mm in width and 20 cm to 20 m in length is extended between two reels, an intermediate portion is submerged together with a Hall sensor devices array into a liquid nitrogen vessel to cool, and the superconducting wire is continuously transferred between the reels at a speed of 10 mm/second to scan the surface of the superconducting wire in a non-contact manner, thereby measuring the critical current distribution in the magnetic field from the Hall sensor devices array.
However, the above-described conventional magnetic flux observing apparatus has the following problems.
In the technique disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. H03-267782, since measurement is made by placing a magnetic thin film-on the surface of a superconducting material, a non-destructive characterization may be performed but no procedure is provided for making an efficient measurement of long samples. The technique has another problem in that because the indicator film of magneto-optical imaging with perpendicular to film surface has magnetic domain patterns, a complicated image processing for calculating the width of a magnetic domain is required in effecting conversion to the magnetic flux density distribution and a longer time is required in making one measurement resulting in failure of carrying out an efficient continuous and speedy measurement of long samples.
Further, another problem is that the measurement resolution will depend on the spacing width of a magnetic domain due to the use of a perpendicular magnetic film. For example, in high-Tc superconducting wires, the resolution will vary in the range from 10 μm to several millimeters. Here, spatial resolution will reduce with increasing external magnetic field. Because the spacing width of magnetic domain increases in higher magnetic field, it is difficult to detect a small size defect, that is to say weak coupling regions, which are smaller than several millimeters.
In the technique of Furtner et al., since a sample is subjected to scanning with a Hall sensor devices array, a continuous non-destructive test may be performed. However, the measurement resolution depends on the arrayed spacing of Hall sensor devices, thereby resulting in the order of several millimeters.
Further, if the same technique described in the above paper reported by Furtner et al. is used to observe magneto-optical images, the apparatus is placed inside a liquid nitrogen vessel to observe light through the liquid nitrogen, thereby making it difficult to obtain clear images and make a highly accurate observation, and therein exists another problem to be solved.
The present invention has been made in view of the above described problems, an object of which is to provide a continuous observation apparatus and method of magnetic flux distribution capable of observing an efficient and continuous measurement of the magnetic flux density distribution in the longitudinal direction at a fixed temperature, even when a sample is made of long superconducting materials.
As for the magnetic tapes, for example magnetic recording tapes such as a main medium in a flight recorder, there is no method to detect the two dimensional information from the magnetic tapes with non-destructive way.

Continuous observation apparatus and method of magnetic flux distribution

International Superconductivity Technology Center,the Juridical foundation


A three-dimensional (3D) memory device having polysilicon diode isolation elements for chalcogenide memory cells and method for fabricating the same are described. The memory device includes a plurality of stacked memory cells to form a three-dimensional (3D) memory array. The memory device also includes a polysilicon diode isolation element to select a chalcogenide memory cell. The memory device is fabricated by forming a plurality of chalcogenide memory cells on a base insulator. The memory device is also fabricated by forming a polysilicon diode isolation element to select a chalcogenide memory cell.

The present invention relates generally to semiconductor memory devices and methods for fabricating the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a three-dimensional (3D) memory device having polysilicon diode isolation elements for chalcogenide memory cells and method for fabricating the same.
Prior art memory devices use two-dimensional (2D) memory cell arrays, which are formed on a top surface of a silicon substrate. The memory cells. are matrixed in a 2D array in the X-Y plane and thus addressed by X and Y address lines. The prior art memory devices also include isolation elements to select the memory cells. The isolation elements are generally made of metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors.
A disadvantage with the prior art memory devices is that they are limited to the X-Y plane thus limiting memory density for such devices. That is, the MOS transistor isolation elements require physical use of the top surface of the silicon substrate to select a memory cell which limits memory cell arrays being formed in the X-Y plane on the silicon substrate.

Three-dimensional (3D) programmable device


A method and apparatus for determining turbine rotor stresses in real time enables increased operation efficiency and more accurate stress determinations. The system calculates rotor bore and surface temperatures based on the time response of the rotor. The rotor surface temperature is measured using a sensor such as a thermocouple, and the measured rotor surface temperature is used to calculate rotor bore temperature and rotor average temperature based on time constants determined as a function of rotor geometry and material. The rotor surface thermal stress and the rotor bore thermal stress can be determined based on the measured and calculated temperatures.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary standard control configuration for a turbine control system. At the core of the control are three identical control processors, labelled <R>, <S> and <T>, providing triple redundant controls. All critical control algorithms, turbine sequencing, and primary protective functions are handled by these processors. The processors also gather data and generate alarms.
The three control processors accept input from various arrangements of redundant turbine and generator sensors. Data from some sensors is brought into all three control processors, and some data is divided among the control processors. The divided data can be exchanged on the voter link so that each control processor knows all sensor data. Voted sensor values are computed by each of the control processors, producing values that are used in control and sequencing algorithms for required control actions.
Stress calculations have been used in turbine monitoring and control applications. Conventionally, stress algorithms were very complex, requiring programming in separate software. This software was not easily changeable nor viewable. Moreover, a large array of constants of high resolution were required. Still further, due to the size and complexity of the previous stress algorithms, implementation required a special PROM set, which was configured separately from the three processor triple redundant controls, thereby incurring a significant additional cost. Furthermore, in the conventional systems, manual starting and loading instructions were determined based on stress calculations made remote from the turbine. Consequently, due to the inability to monitor the rotor surface metal stresses as they occur, the manual starting and loading instructions included very conservative ramp rates and hold times, thus wasting start-up time in operation. Additionally, conventional algorithms ran only about once every minute, which lead to a response time that is too slow for rapid steam and metal temperature changes as with combined cycle applications.
Rotor surface metal stress is proportional to the difference between surface metal temperature and average rotor temperature, and rotor bore (center) metal stress is proportional to the difference between average rotor and rotor bore temperatures. Conventionally, however, it has been difficult to rapidly determine accurate time lagged rotor bore temperatures and rotor average temperatures necessary for accurate and rapid thermal stress calculations.

Method and apparatus for determining turbine stress


A knife holder assembly for a rotary cutting machine includes a holder with a top portion and side portion each including an opening, and an adjusting member with a body portion and an extender. The extender is adapted to extend through the side portion opening and has a backing portion at its end. The body portion has an indention with a tapered sidewall for allowing a fastener to be inserted through the top portion opening and contact the tapered sidewall thereby moving the adjusting member in a direction away from the side portion to clamp an inserted knife between the backing portion and the side portion.

The invention relates generally to rotary cutters for cutting web or sheet material, and more particularly to a knife holder apparatus which may be attached to a knife cylinder and employed with an associated anvil cylinder to transversely cut or score a moving web or sheet.
It is conventional practice to use a rotary cutter to transversely cut web material received from a printing press. In general, rotary cutters have an anvil cylinder and a knife cylinder which are rotatable in timed relation. One or more knife holders, which hold the cutting knives are attached to the knife cylinder. The knife and anvil cylinders normally rotate at the same speed and the moving paper or web material is transversely cut or scored as the cutting knife moves into and out of engagement with the anvil surface. The cutting knives may be spaced apart to create the desired cut.
In the conventional rotary cutter, knife replacement is a time-consuming operation. Reducing this replacement operation has become even more important with the increased use of recycled paper and its negative effect on the life of the cutting knife. To reduce down time due to blade replacement, unitary epoxy knife holder and blade assemblies 112, for example, as shown in FIG. 14 have been employed. Replacement of a worn cutting knife, however, requires that the entire assembly be removed from the knife cylinder, which requires stripping away the cushioning and rubber material which is placed over the knife cylinder and portions of the holder. The installer must then realign and remount the replacement holder on the knife cylinder. This problem is partially avoided by use of a knife holder assembly as shown in FIG. 15. This knife holder assembly includes a metal holder 116 and a backing member 110, which locks a cutting rule 114 to the holder 116 with holding screws 118. Although this knife holder assembly does not require the complete removal of the holder 116 from the knife cylinder, it does require some of the cushioning material to be stripped back because the release screws 118 are located on the side of the holder. This requires the person changing the cutting rule 114 to loosen the holding screws 118 from the side of the holder, which is both awkward and time consuming.
It would be desirable to have a knife holder assembly that would allow the user to quickly and efficiently remove the worn cutting knife and replace it without removing the holder from the knife cylinder. It would further be desirable to provide a knife holder assembly that would aid in relieving some of the wear on the knife blade.

Knife assembly for rotary cutting system


Methods and apparatus for processing using a remote plasma source are disclosed. The apparatus includes an outer chamber enclosing a substrate support, a remote plasma source, and a showerhead. A substrate heater can be mounted in the substrate support. A transport system moves the substrate support and is capable of positioning the substrate. The plasma system may be used to generate activated species. The activated species can be used to treat the surfaces of low-k and/or ultra low-k dielectric materials to facilitate improved deposition of diffusion barrier materials.

Plasmas are widely used for a variety of treatment and layer deposition tasks in semiconductor fabrication and other thin film applications. These applications include subtractive processes such as wafer precleaning, contaminant removal, native oxide removal, photoresist removal, plasma etching, as well as treatment processes such as oxidation, nitridation, or hydridation of a layer both during and after formation. "Remote" plasma sources are frequently used, where the plasma is located at some distance from the surface to be treated or substrate on which a layer is being formed. The distance allows some filtering of the charged particles in the plasma. For example, the density of electrons and ions can be adjusted or removed from the generated plasma.
Logic devices are increasingly using low-k dielectric materials as the inter-metal dielectric layer in advanced circuits. The low-k dielectric materials may include materials that have a dielectric constant of less than 3.9. Logic devices typically use copper as the conductor for the interconnections between circuits and/or circuit elements. Copper is a fast diffuser and requires the use of a barrier material to retard the diffusion of the copper through the dielectric materials. The diffusion barrier materials are typically deposited using techniques such as physical vapor deposition (PVD), and more recently, atomic layer deposition (ALD) has become attractive due to its ability to deposit materials in small space dimensions. The interaction of the deposition precursors is sensitive to the chemical species present at the surface of the dielectric material. In some cases, the interaction of the deposition precursors and the surface of the dielectric material is weak. This may lead to reduced deposition during the initial cycles of the ALD process. Further, the interactions may vary over time, leading to inconsistent results and poor control in a manufacturing environment.
What is needed is a system and methods that enable the repeatable and controllable deposition of thin films used in the manufacture of microelectronic devices, such as the use of direct or remote plasmas to condition the surface of dielectric materials present on semiconductor surfaces prior to further processing.

Plasma treatment of low-K surface to improve barrier deposition


A change-over apparatus for cooling a gas passage is provided with a cooling chamber and a gas cooling and circulating system. The apparatus is further provided with a stationary partition plate and a slidable shield plate. The stationary partition plate has a suction opening and a discharge opening which are independently communicated respectively with a suction port and a discharge port, and the slidable shield plate has a shield part for partially shielding the suction opening and the discharge opening, whereby it is possible to alternately change over the direction of the gas passing through the cooling chamber.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a change-over apparatus for changing over cooling gas passages in a vacuum heat treating furnace.
2. Description of the Related Art
A vacuum heat treating furnace is the one in which inert gas or the like is refilled after depressurization of the inside thereof, in order to heat-treat an article to be treated. Since the vacuum heat treating furnace may completely remove moisture or the like sticking to the interior of the furnace and to the treated article after heating, by depressurizing again the furnace after evaporation of the moisture or the like, and by refilling the inert gas or the like thereinto, there may be exhibited such an merit that heat-treatment may be made without coloring by moisture (it is referred to as the "bright heat-treatment").
A gas-cooled vacuum heat treating furnace can exhibit several advantages as set forth in the following. Namely, (1) bright heat treatment can be achieved; (2) no occurrence of decarbonization and carburization; (3) occurrence of less deformation; and (4) an acquirement of a satisfactory working environment. However, early gas cooled vacuum heat treating furnaces were of depressurized cooling type, and accordingly, they offered such a disadvantage that its cooling rate cannot be sufficiently high. Thus, there has been materialized rapid circulating gas cooling type furnaces in order to aim at increasing the cooling rate.
Referring to FIG. 1, which is a view illustrating a configuration of a rapid circulating gas cooling type furnace disclosed in non-patent publication 1, i.e., "Vacuum Heat Treatment for Metals (2)" written by Katsuhiro Yamazaki, Heat Treatment Vol. 30-2, April, 1990. In the figure, there are shown a heat-insulator 50, a heater 51, an effective working zone 52, a furnace body 53 with a water cooling jacket, a heat-exchanger 54, a turbofan 55, a fan motor 56, a cooling door 57, a hearth 58, a gas distributor 59, and a damper 60 for changing over cooling gas passages.
Further, patent publication 1, i.e., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H5-230528 discloses a method of promoting gas circulation and cooling in a vacuum furnace, as shown in FIG. 2, which comprises a heating chamber 66 provided in a gas tight vacuum container 61 and surrounded by a heat insulation wall 67, an article 64 to be heated being heated in a vacuum atmosphere by a heater 72 disposed in the heating chamber, and a cooler 62 and a fan 63 provided in the gas-tight vacuum container 61, for cooling unoxidizable gas through the cooler 62 and circulating the unoxidizable gas in the heating chamber 66 by the fan 63 through openings 68, 69 formed in the surface of the insulation wall 67 in order to forcibly cool the article 64 to be heated with the circulation gas, wherein a heat-resistant cylindrical hood 65 flared at least its one end is arranged so as to surround the article 64 arranged in the heating chamber 66, while keeping an appropriate distance therebetween, and so as to permit its both ends to be opposed respectively to the openings 68, 69 to thereby urge the unoxidizable gas to circulate in the heating chamber 66. It is noted that in this drawing figure, a damper 70 is provided for changing over cooling gas passages.
As stated above, in the case of adopting a high speed circulation gas cooling type in order to have the benefit of several advantages exhibited by a gas cooling type vacuum heat treating furnace and to enhance the cooling rate, it is extremely important to change over gas passages from the viewpoint of equalizing cooling rates of articles to be treated during cooling thereof.
Thus, in the furnace of high speed circulation gas cooling type as disclosed in the above-mentioned documents, there have been usually employed upper and lower damper units as a mechanism for changing over between upward and downward gas passages. However, in the case of the change-over mechanism employing the upward and downward gas passage, there have been arising problems as indicated below:
(1) Since the damper unit causes large variation in load depending upon its open and close positions, due to a wind pressure of gas which passes through these positions at a high speed, and accordingly, it is difficult to smoothly actuate such a damper unit under affection by the wind pressure in the case of a high pressure gas;
(2) Since the damper unit has such a configuration that an angle from its opening position to its closing position is not in proportion to its opening area, balancing between opening areas is difficult to obtain at the stage of changing over of a plurality of upper and lower drives so that a difference occurs between opening areas of a suction port and a discharge port, or the difference becomes large, and accordingly, the volume of cooling gas varies, resulting in making it difficult to stabilize gas cooling;
(3) Since there exist a plurality of upper and lower dampers, a plurality of drives is necessarily required, and accordingly, the structure of the mechanism becomes complicated; and
(4) Since the opening areas are delimited by the upper and lower dampers, the opening areas are smaller in comparison with the inner surface of the body of the furnace.

Change-over apparatus for cooling gas passages in vacuum heat treating furnace


Temperature of an airflow for an inflatable thermal device is measured near where the temperature is delivered to the device through an air hose by a method that simulates the frictional airflow resistance of the device. According to the method, an airflow resistor is receivable on that end of an hose that connects to an inflatable thermal device. The airflow resistor has a defined airflow resistance that corresponds to the airflow resistance of the inflatable thermal device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns the simulation of an inflatable thermal blanket for testing an air source used to provide thermally-controlled, pressurized air to the blanket. More particularly, the invention concerns an inflatable thermal blanket simulator that includes an airflow resistor. When fitted over the end of an air hose, the simulator presents the apparent airflow resistance of an inflatable thermal blanket to an air source that is coupled to the other end of the air hose.
2. Description of the Related Art
Inflatable thermal blankets that operate by convecting temperature-controlled air are well-established clinical tools that are used, for example, to treat hypothermia. Such blankets have been produced and sold by AUGUSTINE MEDICAL, INC., the assignee of this application, and are gaining a gathering acceptance as evidenced by increases in sales every year since their introduction in 1989 by the assignee. These blankets are described in detail in, for example. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,572,188; 5,300,101; 5,300,102; 5,324,320; and 5,405,371, among others. All of these patents are assigned to AUGUSTINE MEDICAL, INC., and are incorporated into this application by this reference.
Air sources for inflatable thermal blankets are well known. One is described, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/525,407, filed Sep. 8, 1995, and assigned to AUGUSTINE MEDICAL, INC., the assignee of this patent application. Typical air sources are represented, for example, by the Bair Hugger.RTM. Model 500/OR and Model 505 products, both available from AUGUSTINE MEDICAL, INC., the assignee of this application.
Commercially available air sources used to provide temperature-controlled, pressurized air to inflatable thermal blankets include a heater or cooler and a blower unit which operate to provide a steady stream of temperature-conditioned air at a given flow rate. The temperature-conditioned air is ducted from the air source to an inflatable thermal blanket which disperses the temperature-controlled air around a patient in order to raise or lower the core body temperature of the patient. The temperature of the air which reaches the inflatable thermal blanket is a function of several factors including, but not limited to: 1.) the heating or cooling capacity of the temperature-conditioning unit; 2.) the blower capacity; 3.) the length and thermal conductivity of the duct (typically, an air hose) between the air source and the inflatable thermal blanket; and, 4.) the airflow resistance of the inflatable thermal blanket.
The thermal characteristic of an airflow leaving an air source is generally controlled by continuously sensing the temperature of the airflow and adjusting power provided to the heating or cooling unit to maintain the temperature at a constant setting. The temperature of the airflow at the end of the air hose that couples to the inflatable thermal blanket (the "distal end" of the air hose), however, depends greatly on the time that the air remains within the air hose between the air source and the inflatable thermal blanket. This time is generally referred to as "residence" time. The most important variable that affects residence time is the airflow resistance imposed by the inflatable thermal blanket.
As is known, various inflatable thermal blanket configurations are available, each configuration designed to accomplish a particular clinical or therapeutic purpose, and each presenting its own airflow resistance, which is likely to be different than the airflow resistance presented by a different, or no, inflatable thermal blanket.
None of the currently available air sources are designed to sense either the external resistance to which they are attached or the temperature at the distal end of an air hose. Therefore, calibration and verification of the airflow temperature available at the distal end of the air hose, which is the airflow provided to the inflatable thermal blanket, should be performed with the air source operating into the same resistive load as that which is presented by one or more typical inflatable thermal blankets Calibration or verification could, of course, be performed by connecting an inflatable thermal blanket at the distal end of the air hose and inserting a temperature measuring device into the airflow; however, this method requires a large space, the sacrifice of an inflatable thermal blanket, and the use of external equipment. This method also suffers from the inability to control uniformly "fin effect" losses which occur through the temperature measuring device.
Accordingly, a need exists for provision of means useful for measurement of the temperature of an airflow delivered to an inflatable thermal blanket. Preferably such a means should present a test condition approximating the actual airflow resistance of an inflatable thermal blanket.

Method for measuring temperature of an airflow for an inflatable thermal device


A glowstick includes a lighting module, the lighting module including a light source having a primary direction of emission. The glowstick further includes a polymer rod, the polymer rod interfaced with the lighting module, the polymer rod having a length, a depth, and a width, wherein the length is greater than the depth and the length is greater than the width, the polymer rod proximate to the light source such that the primary direction of emission of the light source is aligned with the length of the polymer rod.

Visibility is an important safety concern in many scenarios. Ordinarily it is not desirable to have a concentrated light source, since such light sources may be blinding in low light conditions. A single point source of light may not be large enough to be noticeable to parties at a lower level, so it is desirable to have a light defusing mechanism, in order to light a larger area at a lower light level.

Systems and methods for an efficient, rechargeable glowstick


Disclosed are compounds that exhibit high transport across the intestinal wall of an animal. The compounds may optionally be linked to drugs that are poorly absorbed or poorly transported across the intestinal wall after oral administration to provide for enhanced therapeutic, and optionally prolonged therapeutic, systemic blood concentrations of the drugs upon oral administration of the drug-compound conjugate. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing and methods of using such compounds.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to compounds that provide for the enhanced and prolonged systemic blood concentrations of drugs that are incompletely translocated across the intestinal wall after oral delivery to animals. This invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions containing and methods using such compounds.
2. State of the Art
Incomplete or poor oral bioavailability of both existing and developmental stage therapeutic and/or prophylactic compounds represents a major impediment to effective pharmaceutical drug development. Though multiple factors influence the bioavailability of drugs (including solubility, dissolution rate, first-pass metabolism, p-glycoprotein and related efflux mechanisms, etc), low intestinal cell permeability is a particularly significant reason for the poor systemic absorption of many compounds.
Compound uptake from the gut is significantly curtailed by the network of tight junctions formed by the intestinal epithelial cell layer, and the majority of drugs that are orally absorbed traverse this epithelial barrier by passive diffusion across the apical and basolateral membranes of these cells.
The physicochemical features of a molecule that favor its passive uptake from the intestinal lumen into the systemic circulation include low molecular weight (e.g. <500 Da), adequate solubility, and a balance of hydrophobic and hydrophilic character (logP generally 1.5-4.0) (Navia and Chaturvedi, 1996). Polar or hydrophilic compounds are typically poorly absorbed through an animal's intestine as there is a substantial energetic penalty for passage of such compounds across the lipid bilayers that constitute cellular membranes. Many nutrients that result from the digestion of ingested foodstuffs in animals, such as amino acids, di- and tripeptides, monosaccharides, nucleosides and water-soluble vitamins, are polar compounds whose uptake is essential to the viability of the animal. For these substances there exist specific mechanisms for active transport of the solute molecules across the apical membrane of the intestinal epithelia. This transport is frequently energized by co-transport of ions down a concentration gradient. Solute transporter proteins are generally single sub-unit, multi-transmembrane spanning polypeptides, and upon binding of their substrates are believed to undergo conformational changes which result in movement of the substrate(s) across the membrane.
Over the past 10-15 years, it has been found that a number of orally administered drugs are recognized as substrates by some of these transporter proteins, and that this active transport may largely account for the oral absorption of these molecules (Tsuji and Tamai, 1996). While in most instances the transporter substrate properties of these drugs were unanticipated discoveries made through retrospective analysis, it has been appreciated that, in principle, one might achieve good intestinal permeability for a drug by designing in recognition and uptake by a nutrient transport system.
Incomplete bioavailability of drugs that, nevertheless, are orally delivered necessitates the administration of a larger dose of such drug to compensate for that amount of drug not delivered to the systemic blood circulation. Such larger doses of the drug, however, may result in greater variability in drug exposure, more frequent occurrence of side effects, decrease in patient compliance, or alternatively, require use of parenteral delivery routes.
One attractive pathway that might be exploitable for oral delivery of such drugs is the intestinal bile acid transport system (Swaan et al, 1996). Bile acids are hydroxylated steroids that play a key role in digestion and absorption of fat and lipophilic vitamins. After synthesis in the liver, they are secreted into bile and excreted by the gall bladder into the intestinal lumen where they emulsify and help solubilize lipophilic substances. Bile acids are conserved in the body by active uptake from the terminal ileum via the sodium-dependent transporter IBAT (or ASBT) and subsequent hepatic extraction by the transporter NTCP located in the sinusoidal membrane of hepatocytes. This efficient mechanism to preserve the bile acid pool is termed the enterohepatic circulation (see FIG. 1). In man, the total bile acid pool (3-5 g) recirculates 6-10 times per day giving rise to a daily uptake of approximately 20-30 g of bile acids.
The high transport capacity of the bile acid pathway has been a key reason for interest in this system for drug delivery purposes. Several papers have postulated that chemical conjugates of bile acids with drugs could be used to provide liver site-directed delivery of a drug to bring about high therapeutic concentrations in the diseased liver with minimization of general toxic reactions elsewhere in the body; and gallbladder-site delivery systems of cholecystographic agents and cholesterol gallstone dissolution accelerators" (Ho, 1987). Several groups have explored these concepts in some detail, using the C-24 carboxylic acid, C-3, C-7, and C-12 hydroxyl groups of cholic acid (and other bile acids) as handles for chemically conjugating drugs or drug surrogates. (Kramer, et al., 1992, Kim, et al., 1993).
The most rigorous drug targeting studies using the bile acid transport pathway to date relate to work with bile acid conjugates of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (Kramer et al, 1994b; Petzinger et al, 1995; Kramer and Wess, 1995; Kramer et al, 1997b). Coupling of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor HR 780 via an amide linkage to the C-3 position of cholate, taurocholate and glycocholate afforded substrates for both the ileal and liver bile acid transporter proteins (FIG. 2). Upon oral dosing of rats, the cholate conjugate S 3554 led to specific inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase in the liver, and in contrast to the parent compound HR 780, gave significantly reduced inhibition of the enzyme in extra-hepatic organs. Companion studies that looked at the tissue distribution of radiolabeled drugs two hours after i.v., administration through the mesenteric vein of rats also showed dramatically lower systemic levels for the bile acid conjugate relative to the parent. Because inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase requires the presence of the free carboxylic acid moiety in HR 780 this data was taken to indicate that S 3554 served as a prodrug of HR 780, undergoing hydrolysis (and other uncharacterized metabolism) in the rat liver. Interestingly, uptake of S 3554 by liver did not appear to depend on the liver bile acid transporter NTCP (which prefers taurocholate conjugates), but may instead have involved another multispecific organic anion transport system on the sinusoidal hepatocyte membrane.
Syntheses of substituted steroids are well known in the art. By way of example, hetercyclic derivatives of 3,7,12-triketo-cholanic acid, including diaminopyriidine, diamino-, and diketopteridine derivatives, in which the heterorings are fused to both the A and B rings of steroidic compounds in positions 2, 3 and 6, 7 or 3, 4 and 6, 7, are known. (Bellini et al, 1969; Bellini et al; Rocchi et al). In addition, heterosteroids containing a dihydroethisterone skeleton have been prepared and have been shown to displace substance P in receptor binding assays. (Venepalli et al, 1992).
In summary, while the concept of harnessing the intestinal bile acid uptake pathway to enhance the absorption of poorly absorbed drugs is well appreciated, the existing art has merely demonstrated that bile acid-drug conjugates may be effectively trafficked to the liver and generally excreted into the bile, either unchanged or as some type of metabolite. The art gives no guidance as to how one prepares a composition that exploits the bile acid transport pathway and simultaneously provides therapeutically meaningful levels of a drug substance outside of the enterohepatic circulation. The art further gives no guidance as to bile acid derivatives that can be used in such a composition.

Bile-acid derived compounds for enhancing oral absorption and systemic bioavailability of drugs


Techniques for identifying service paths for satisfying a service demand in a data communication network are disclosed. Aspects include identifying a plurality of vertices in a communications route cycle, the communications route cycle alternating through the plurality of vertices and a plurality of edges in a sequence; identifying a plurality of internal paths in the communications route cycle, each of the plurality of internal paths is disjoint to the plurality of edges; identifying a first internal path and a second internal path among the plurality of internal paths as a crossing pair of internal paths; detecting a failure of at least two edges among the plurality of edges; and identifying, based on the communications route cycle and the identified crossing pair of internal paths, a service path that satisfies the service demand in response to detecting the failure of the at least two edges.

A data communication network infrastructure, such as the Internet, can be composed of a large number of network nodes that are connected among one another. Network nodes refer to network components (e.g., clients, servers, microservices, virtual machines, serverless code instances, IoT devices, etc.) that communicate with one another according to predetermined protocols by means of wired or wireless communication links. The data communication network provides services to users according to requirements of the services, such as quality of service commitments.
In a data communication network, different types of service demands with different levels of link failure protection are provided. For example, a type of service demand may require two disjoint paths available from a source node to a destination node of the service demand, and for any failure of a pair of edges on the disjoint paths, there must be another path from the source node to the destination node of the service demand that does not pass through the failed edges. Another type of service demand may require a restoration path available in case of any failure of two edges on a communication route cycle. It is desirable to select service paths in the data communication network such that different types of service demands can be satisfied. Further, when a network link failure occurs, there is a need to quickly identify a service path that satisfies the service demand and does not go through the failed link. In addition, it is desired that a minimal number of service paths is used to satisfy the service demands in the data communication network so as to reduce the cost of operating the network.

Satisfying service demands in data communication networks