A selector has both a function for creating a header of a sequence layer and a header of a picture layer corresponding to reproduced data of a system area and a function for outputting one of an input stream and a stream of which a created header has been added to the header of the input stream as an output stream. When the mode is not high speed reproducing mode, the selector outputs the header contained in the input stream as a header of the output stream. When the mode is high speed reproducing mode, a header (the header of the sequence layer and the header of the picture layer) is created corresponding to data reproduced from the system area. The selector outputs an output stream of which the created header has been added to the input stream.

As exemplified with a digital VTR (Video Tape Recorder), a data recording and reproducing apparatus that records a digital video signal and a digital audio signal to a record medium and reproduces them therefrom is known. Since the data capacity of a digital video signal is huge, conventionally, it is compression-encoded corresponding to a predetermined method and then the encoded data is recorded to a record medium. In recent years, MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group phase 2) is known as a compression-encoding standard.
In picture compression technologies such as the above-mentioned MPEG2, the data compression ratio is improved using variable length code. Thus, depending on the complexity of a picture that is compressed, the amount of compressed code per screen (for example, per frame or per field) fluctuates.
On the other hand, in a recording apparatus that records a video signal to a record medium such as a magnetic tape or a disc record medium, particularly, in a VTR, a predetermined unit such as one frame or one field is used as a unit of a fixed length. In other words, the amount of code per frame or field is limited to a predetermined value or less and recorded to a fixed capacity area of a storage medium.
The reason why the fixed length format is used for a VTR is in that since each record area on a magnetic tape as a record medium is composed of one frame, record data for one frame should be just placed in each record area. In addition, since the record medium is used corresponding to record time, the total amount of record data on the record medium and the remaining amount thereof can be accurately obtained. As another advantage, a program start position detecting process can be easily performed in a high speed searching operation. In addition, from a view point of controlling of a record medium, if the record medium is a magnetic tape, when data is recorded in the fixed length format, since the magnetic tape that is dynamically driven can be traveled at a constant speed, the magnetic tape can be stably controlled. Likewise, these advantages can apply to disc shaped record mediums.
The variable length code encoding format and the fixed length format have such contrary characteristics. In recent years, a recording apparatus that inputs a video signal as a non-compressed base band signal, compression-encodes the signal with variable length code corresponding to MPEG2 or JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), and records the encoded signal to a record medium is known. In addition, a recording and reproducing apparatus that directly inputs and outputs a stream that has been compression-encoded with variable length code and records and reproduces the stream has been also proposed. In the following description, it is assumed that the compression encoding format for a digital video signal is MPEG2.
Next, the structure of an MPEG2 data stream will be described in brief. MPEG2 is a combination of a motion compensation predictive encoding and a compression encoding using DCT. MPEG2 data is hierarchically structured. The MPEG2 data is composed of a block layer as the lowest layer, a macro block layer, a slice layer, a picture layer, a GOP (Group Of Picture) layer, and a sequence layer as the highest layer.
The block layer is composed of DCT blocks each of which is a data unit for DCT. The macro block layer is composed of a plurality of DCT blocks. The slice layer is composed of a header portion and at least one macro block. The picture layer is composed of a header portion and at least one slice. One picture corresponds to one screen. The GOP layer is composed of a header portion, an I picture (Intra-coded picture), a P picture (Predictive-coded picture), and a B picture (Bidirectionally predictive-coded picture).
The I picture uses information of only a picture that is encoded. Thus, the I picture can be decoded as it is. The P picture uses an I picture or a P picture that has been decoded before the current P picture is decoded. The difference between the current P picture and the motion compensated predictive picture is encoded or the current P picture is encoded without the difference. One of them is selected for each macro block depending on which is more effective. The B picture uses (1) an I picture or a P picture that has been decoded before the current B picture is decoded, (2) an I picture or a P picture that has been decoded before the current B picture is decoded, or (3) an interpolated picture of (1) and (2). The difference between the current B picture and each of the three types of the motion compensated predictive pictures is encoded or the current B picture is encoded without the difference. One of them is selected for each macro block depending on which is the most effective.
Thus, as types of macro blocks, there are an intra-frame encoded macro block, a forward inter-frame predictive macro block of which a future macro block is predicted with a past macro block, a backward interframe predictive macro block of which a past macro block is predicted with a future macro block, and a bidirectional macro block that is predicted in both the forward and backward directions. All macro blocks in an I picture are all intra-frame macro blocks. A P picture contains an intra-frame macro block and a forward inter-frame predictive macro block. A B picture contains all the four types of macro blocks.
A macro block is a set of a plurality of DCT blocks and formed by dividing one screen (picture) into a lattice of 16 pixels×16 lines. A slice is formed by connecting macro blocks for example in the horizontal direction. The number of macro blocks per one screen depends on the size thereof.
In the MPEG format, one slice is one variable length code sequence. The variable length code sequence is a sequence of which the boundary of data cannot be detected unless variable length code is correctly decoded. When an MPEG stream is decoded, the header portion of a slice is detected so as to obtain the start point and the end point of variable length code.
In MPEG, conventionally, one slice is composed of one stripe (16 lines). The variable length encoding starts at the left edge of the screen and ends at the right edge of the screen. Thus, when a VTR has recorded an MPEG elementary stream, if it is reproduced at high speed, the VTR mainly reproduces the left edge of the screen. Thus, the screen cannot be equally updated. In addition, since the position on the tape cannot be predicted, if a tape pattern is traced at predetermined intervals, the screen cannot be equally updated. Moreover, if at least one error takes place, it adversely affects until the right edge of the screen. Thus, until the next slice header is detected, the error continues. Thus, when one slice is preferably composed of one macro block, such an inconvenience can be solved.
On the other hand, a video signal is recorded on a magnetic tape in helical track format of which tracks are diagonally formed with a rotating head. On one track, sync blocks, each of which is the minimum record unit, are grouped for each data type as sectors. In addition, data for one frame is recorded as a plurality of tracks.
In MPEG, to allow data to be accessed at random, a GOP (Group Of Picture) structure as a group of a plurality of pictures is defined. The provisions with respect to GOP in MPEG state that firstly the first picture of a GOP as a stream is an I picture and that secondly the last picture of a GOP in the order of original pictures is an I picture or a P picture. In addition, as a GOP, a structure of which a prediction using the last I picture or P picture of an earlier GOP is required is permitted. A GOP that can be decoded without need to use a picture of an earlier GOP is referred to as closed GOP.
In a digital VTR, an editing process is normally performed. The editing process is preferably performed in as small data unit as possible. When an MPEG2 stream has been recorded, one GOP may be used as an edit unit. In the structure of a closed GOP of which a GOP can be decoded without need to use an earlier GOP or a later GOP, an editing process can be performed for each GOP. However, when a GOP is composed of for example 15 frames, the editing unit is too large. Thus, it is preferred to perform an editing process in the accuracy of frame (picture).
However, when an MPEG stream contains a predictive picture that requires an earlier picture or both an earlier picture and a later picture for decoding the predictive picture, it becomes impossible to perform the editing process for each frame. Thus, preferably, all pictures are encoded with intra-frame code and one GOP is composed of one intra-picture. Such a stream satisfies the encoding syntax of MPEG2.
In addition, at the beginning of each of the sequence layer, the GOP layer, the picture layer, the slice layer, and the macro block layer, identification code composed of a predetermined bit pattern is placed. The identification code is followed by a header portion that contains encoding parameters of each layer. An MPEG decoder that performs an MPEG2-decoding process extracts identification code by a pattern-matching operation, determines the hierarchical level, and decodes the MPEG stream corresponding to the parameter information contained in the header portion. The header of each layer lower than the picture layer is information necessary for each frame. Thus, the header should be added to each frame. In contrast, the header of the sequence layer should be added to each sequence or each GOP. In other words, it is not necessary to add the header of the sequence layer to each frame.
Information contained in the header of the sequence layer is number of pixels, bit rate, profile, level, color difference format, progressive sequence, and so forth. These information is normally the same in all the sequence when it is assumed that one video tape is one sequence. According to the encoding syntax of MPEG, the header of the sequence layer can be added at the beginning of the video tape. In addition, according to the encoding syntax of MPEG, a quantizing matrix may be present in the header of other than the sequence layer (namely, the header of the sequence layer or the header of the picture layer). According to the encoding syntax of MPEG, the quantizing matrix can be added or omitted.
As information contained in the header of the picture layer, the accuracy of DC (Direct Current) coefficient of an intra macro block is set; the frame structure, field structure, and display field are designated; the quantizing scale is selected; the VLC type is selected; the zigzag/alternate scanning is selected; and the chroma format and so forth are designated. To allow an input picture to be effectively encoded corresponding to the characteristic thereof, the header of the sequence layer and the header of the picture layer can be changed for each frame.
In a digital VTR, an MPEG stream is recorded on a magnetic tape with a rotating head. Diagonal tracks are successively formed on the magnetic tape. In the normal reproducing operation whose tape speed is the same as the recording operation, since all recorded data can be reproduced, even if the header information is changed for each frame, no problem takes place. However, in the high speed reproducing operation whose tape speed is higher than the recording operation (for example, twice or higher), since data of the tape is fragmentarily reproduced, if information of the header is changed for each frame, a problem takes place.
FIG. 26 conceptually shows reproduced data in the high speed reproducing operation. Data of each of frame 1, frame 2, frame 3, . . . and so forth is composed of a header and picture data. There are a sequence header, a GOP header, and a picture header. The picture header is always added to each frame. In the high speed reproducing operation, data shaded in the drawing is fragmentarily reproduced from each frame. The obtained data reproduces a picture of one frame.
As was described above, to allow an input picture to be effectively encoded corresponding to the characteristic thereof, the header of the sequence layer and the header of the picture layer can be changed for each frame. Thus, if the header of frame 1 is different from the header of picture data of another frame, frame 1 cannot be correctly decoded.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus, a recording method, a reproducing apparatus, and a reproducing method that allow compression-encoded data fragmentarily reproduced in the high speed reproducing operation to be decoded to a picture.

Recording apparatus and method, and reproducing apparatus and method


A power tong or back-up tong has a jaw assembly that is advanced into engagement with a pipe through a cam follower that contacts the camming surface on the inside circumference of a ring gear, the cam follower being in the form of a series of roller elements arranged as a circulating bearing. In a preferred form, the roller elements are cylindrical roller bearings and the jaw assembly is mounted for sliding advancement towards the pipe to be engaged. In an alternate variant the cam follower includes an indexing guide that maintains the cylindrical roller bearings in proper alignment.

In the oil industry power tongs are used to either grasp and hold pipe, tubing and casing while threaded joints are being made up or broken, or to rotate pipe, tubing and casing in order to make up or break such joints and to effect drilling. In the past, power tongs have been provided with at least one jaw mounted in a displaceable jaw assembly that may be shifted in order to bring the jaw into bearing engagement against pipe. Jaw systems of this design are typically constrained by upper and lower cage plates to which the jaw assembly is connected.
Typically, one or more jaws are caused to advance inwardly by rotating an outer encircling camming surface about the jaw assembly with the pipe located at the center of rotation. This camming surface is typically formed on the inside of a C-shaped ring gear. Camming rollers on the jaw assembly act as a cam follower bearing against this camming surface, and causing the jaw assembly to advance inwardly in response to the inward urging developed by the cam surface as it rotates past the camming rollers. The jaws in many typical designs pivot about a pivot axis that is fixed in relationship to the cage plates, the path followed by the jaws as they are displaced inwardly being arcuate. In other jaw designs the jaws advance radially towards the center of the tong in a sliding action.
Once the jaws have contacted the pipe, a very high level of radial force be applied to the pipe in order to ensure a non-slipping, frictional engagement persists while torque is applied to the pipe. High torque forces are required in order to ensure that the joints in the drill pipe are properly made up, and to turn the bit mounted at the bottom of the drill pipe string where the boring of the earth is occurring.
In order to torque pipe with minimal damage to the pipe surfaces very high radial forces are required when the jaws are equipped with smooth pipe-engagement surfaces. Smooth-faced gripping jaws are particularly employed with casing and tubing that are made of exotic alloys to reduce corrosion. Such high radial forces are achieved by providing a camming surface with a very gradual inwardly-directed slope along which the camming roller is required to advance. Consequently, in order to maximize the radial forces that can be applied to the pipe, it is important that the camming roller should be able to advance along the camming surface with a minimum level of frictional resistance.
An example of a prior art patent addressing this issue is U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,605 to Buck for "Low Friction Power Tong Jaw Assembly". In this patent it is proposed to provide a friction reducing surface between a jaw roller and the surface of a roller retaining means that secures the jaw roller to an aperture in the body of the jaw assembly. Examples given include pin, ball or sleeve bearings used to support the jaw roller. However, in every case depicted, only a single roller is in contact with the camming surface. Contact occurs along a single line contact that is limited to the length of a single roller.
It would be advantageous to provide a power tong wherein the frictional resistance encountered between the jaw holder and the camming surface is reduced to a low-level. The present invention addresses that objective.
The invention in its general form will first be described, and then its implementation in terms of specific embodiments will be detailed with reference to the drawings following hereafter. These embodiments are intended to demonstrate the principle of the invention, and the manner of its implementation. The invention in its broadest and more specific forms will then be further described, and defined, in each of the individual claims which conclude this Specification.

Cam follower for power tongs and other uses


An inkjet printer system includes a porous printing table and thereunder a vacuum chamber that may be divided into sub-vacuum chambers by a movable vacuum divider and a brush attached to prevent contamination and vacuum leakages in the vacuum chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inkjet printing system which comprises a vacuum chamber underneath a printing table that creates multiple vacuum zones on the top of the printing table by a movable vacuum divider.
2. Description of the Related Art
To create multiple variable vacuum zones on the top of a printing table to hold several pieces of substrate, several methods and systems are known in the state of the art.
An example of such a system for either typewriters or printers is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,249 (CREATIVE ASSOCIATES LIMITED PA) wherein the vacuum chamber is sectored so that the reduced air pressure is applied only in the region which communicates with the paper to be printed by consecutive sectoring walls, as movable vacuum dividers, which are slidable in the vacuum chamber.
Another example of such a system for an image printing device such as an inkjet printer is disclosed in US 2010/0213666 (XEROX CORPORATION) wherein a vacuum chamber is located underneath a porous conveying belt that that varies the vacuum zones in size and position on the porous conveying belt and wherein a movable wall, as movable vacuum divider, is disclosed to adjust the vacuum zones based on the width of the substrate.
DE 102010049258 (WEMHOENER SURFACE GMBH) discloses also a system for a digital printer wherein a vacuum chamber is used with movable partitions that can be adjusted according the width of workpieces that need to be printed by movable vacuum dividers.
In a production environment while using an inkjet printing system, that is capable of creating vacuum zones, contaminations such as paper dust, substrate fibers, ink, ink residues and/or ink debris such as cured ink, contaminate the inner surface of the air channels in the porous printing table and the inner surface of the set of apertures in the bottom surface of the porous printing table, the inner surface of the vacuum chamber and thus also a movable vacuum divider inside the vacuum chamber. These contaminations need to be cleanable in the vacuum chamber itself without creating vacuum leakages else uncontrolled movement of the movable vacuum divider may occur due to obstacles of the contaminations.
It is besides not uncommon that while changing the inkjet printheads in the inkjet printing systems results in a loss of ink on the printing table or that an inkjet printhead is blocked and results in an overfill and a loss of ink on the printing table.
An approach to eliminate this problem is by periodically removing the printing table from the vacuum chamber and if necessary the wrapped conveying belt around the printing table. However this approach results in a significant downtime for the print system, as printing must be halted in order to remove the printing table from the inkjet print device.
An example of a cleaning system in a printing table is disclosed at US 2010/0271425 (XEROX CORPORATION) wherein the vacuum chamber may be configured a vacuum pressure and vacuum exhaust to clean clogged holes in the conveying belt.
There is still a need to provide an inkjet printing system that avoids contamination such as paper dust, substrate fibers, ink, ink residues and/or ink debris such as cured ink in the vacuum chamber to prevent the bad working of a movable vacuum detector in the vacuum chamber and to prevent vacuum leakages.


A method and apparatus for decoding compressed video. The method includes reading a stream of compressed video into a memory. The video includes multiple pictures, with each picture having one or more independent elements. Thereafter, assigning, via a first processor of a group of processors sharing the memory, at least one independent element per processor to be decoded by the processors in parallel; and decoding the independent elements of the video stream in parallel.

Recent advances in computer technology have placed video applications within the reach of more common applications. For example, high Definition Television, Broadcast satellite Service, Cable TV distribution on optical networks, Electron Cinema, Interactive Storage Media, Multimedia Mailing, Networked Data base Services, corporate Internet training and conferencing, Remote Video Surveillance and others are now becoming practical video applications.
The large amounts of data needed to make video available in all these cases has lead to the adoption of Moving Picture Experts Group 1 (MPEG) and MPEG-2 standards for motion video compression and decompression. These standards significantly reduce bandwidth and storage space requirements. As a result, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 are used in many video applications and are continuing to become more popular.
However, one feature limiting widespread use of the MPEG standard is it computational complexity. Video encoding and decoding under MPEG is expensive, often too costly for single processors to achieve real-time performance in software for displays of acceptable resolution and size. The computational demands grow as users desire higher quality video.
Encoding is more expensive than decoding, but can typically be done offline and, therefore, may not need to be done in real-time. Decoding, however, typically requires real-time performance.

Method and apparatus for video decoding on a multiprocessor system


Contact-indicating devices including an elongate contacting member, and a housing configured to enclose a portion of the contacting member, the housing further enclosing a translation sensor configured to detect an inward longitudinal translation of the contacting member, and a rotation sensor configured to detect a pivoting of the contacting member in a first direction. The disclosed devices further include at least one indicating element, where the indicating element is configured to differentiate between the detected longitudinal translation of the contacting member and the detected pivoting of the contacting member in the first direction.

Tactical training, such as may be carried out by martial artists, law enforcement personnel, and military personnel, often includes training in hand-to-hand combat techniques, including knife fighting. In order to practice such techniques safely, non-edged practice knives are often used in place of an actual edged weapon. Such practice knives may be made of wood, rubber, or aluminum, among other materials.
Such training is more effective when the instructor and student can immediately observe when a successful contact is made during sparring. One way to provide feedback involves the use of marking devices that leave a mark or stain when touching a target. However, these marking devices often mark undesired surfaces, such as practice mats, hands, and the user's clothing. The marking devices may also need to be refilled, or have their colored coating periodically reapplied. Further, when not in use, a sheath or cover is required in order to prevent additional undesired marks from being made.
Such marking devices also fail to convey any information to the users other than an indication that contact has been made, providing little feedback as to a user's technique. What is needed is a training aid that can differentiate between contacts made using a tip of the practice blade and contacts made using an edge of the practice blade. In this way, an instructor or student can be provided with immediate feedback relating to the user's technique, so that the quality of the instruction is improved.


The present invention refers to compounds of formula I or II endowed with DDX3 inhibitory activity, relative pharmaceutical compositions and their use as antihyperproliferative agents. (I) or (II).

The cellular ATPase/RNA helicase X-linked DEAD-box polypeptide 3 (DDX3) is a human protein involved in several biological functions such as RNA metabolism (transcription, splicing, mRNA nuclear-cytoplasmatic export, translation), ribosome biogenesis, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, Wnt-β-catenin signaling and anti-viral innate immune signaling pathways. On this bases, DDX3 could be an interesting target for the development of new drugs against viruses and neoplastic diseases.
The role of DDX3 in antiviral therapy has been extensively studied in the last years, in particular its implication in anti-HIV and anti-HCV infections. The first small molecule designed to inhibit the ATPase activity of DDX3 (FE15, Ki=5.4 μM) has been identified by Maga et al. in 2008. Interestingly, FE15 inhibited the replication of HIV-1 (IIIB) in MT4-cells with an EC50 of 86.7 μm, without showing cytotoxicity (CC50>200 μM in MOLT-4 T-lymphocytic). In the same year, Yedavalli et al. identified the ring expanded nucleosides REN as DDX3 ligands by means of a biological screening on a library of known NTPase/helicase inhibitors. REN derivatives were able to inhibit the ATP dependent activity of DDX3 and suppressed HIV-1 replication in T cells and monocyte-derived macrophages. In 2011, a protocol of hit optimization on FE15, led to the identification of a second-generation DDX3 inhibitors endowed with an improved activity profile (as an example FE109 showing a Ki of 0.2 μm). Furthermore, additional inhibitors were identified with a triazine scaffold, with the best one, FE87, which showed a Ki of 0.1 μm on DDX3, an EC50 value of 2.0 μm in the inhibition of viral load of peripheral blood mononucleated cells (PBMCs) infected with HIV and a cytotoxicity of 20 μM in HeLa cells (Selectivity Index=10). However, even if some degree of selectivity has been found in in vitro experiments, the major drawbacks of such ATP-mimetics could be represented by a low selectivity in vivo Schutz et al., recently proposed a general mechanism for the opening of the RNA binding site. This observation, coupled with the presence of a conserved residue essential for the helicase activity, suggested that an inhibitor able to target this site could lock the DDX3 helicase in a catalytically inactive conformation. On this basis, the first inhibitors of HIV-1 replication specifically designed to target the DDX3 RNA binding site have been discovered in 2012. Among them, EI01D showed the best activity value being endowed with an EC50 of 10 μM in the inhibition of viral load of PBMCs infected with HIV. In 2015 Fazi et al. developed a model of hDDX3 in its closed conformation, which binds the viral RNA. Through a structure-based virtual screening protocol authors identified compound 14, endowed of an IC50 of 0.36 μM.
In 2015, Venu and co-workers discovered a new REN analogue named RK-33 as anticancer therapeutic agent (active against prostate cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer). Several RK-33 analogues endowed of multiple anticancer activities have been reported. Simultaneously Botlagunta et al. demonstrated that Ketorolac salt is able to inhibit DDX3 activity and studied this compound in a preclinical oral cancer model.
The DDX3 Family of RNA Helicases
DEAD-box helicases are involved in all aspects of RNA metabolism. Their role is thought to be the unwinding of RNA, i.e. the removal of secondary structure motifs, the unwinding of short RNA-RNA interactions and also the removal of RNA-bound proteins (Yang et al., 2006), DDX3 is an ATPase/RNA helicase containing all nine conserved motifs that characterize the members of the RNA helicase superfamily, including the eponymous Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp (D-E-A-D) motif, within a structurally conserved core element forming two RecA-like domains. The conserved helicase motifs are involved in ATP binding, ATPase activity, RNA substrate binding and unwinding (Linder et al., 2004). The crystal structure of DDX3 shows that these conserved motifs are found in two subdomains connected via a short flexible linker. DDX3 contains a nuclear export signal (NES) at its N-terminus. The amino-terminal domain 1 contains the ATP binding Motifs Q, I (Walker A) and II (Walker B), and the RNA-binding Motifs Ia, Ib and the Motif III. The RNA-binding Motifs IV, V and Motif VI, which may coordinate ATPase and unwinding activities, are found in the carboxyl-terminal domain 2.
Cellular Roles of DDX3
DDX3 is involved in different cellular metabolic pathways. Recent evidence suggests that DDX3 is involved in mRNA nuclear export in association with two other shuttle proteins CRM1 and TAP. The proposed mechanism is that DDX3 binds either mRNAs and TAP in the nucleus and subsequently helps to facilitate mRNPs export to the cytoplasm. The interaction with CRM1 seems to be important only for the export of unspliced or incompletely spliced RNAs of HIV (Kohler A, et al., 2007). DDX3 interacts with translation initiation factors eIF4E, eIF4A, eIF4G, PABP and eIF3. Recently Marsden and coworkers, demonstrated a role for DDX3 in enhancing translation of a specific subset of cellular and viral mRNAs carrying specific structural features within their 5′-UTRs.
These RNA structures must be located immediately adjacent to the cap structure to be unwound by DDX3 in order to prepare the mRNA for ribosome binding.
DDX3 and Transcription Regulation
DDX3 downregulates E-Cadherin (Botlagunta et al., 2008) and stimulates interferon (IFN) and p21 expression by interacting with their respective promoters (Schroder et al., 2008). The DDX3 effect on IFN promoter is independent of its ATPase activity or unwinding function, while the ATPase function is required for p21 promoter stimulation.
Cellular Proliferation
DDX3 possesses multiple cellular activities, it seems to be involved in cell cycle progression, apoptosis, hypoxia. Several publications highlight the potential role of DDX3 as oncogene and onco-suppressor, unfortunately, its exact role is actually unknown.
Knockdown of DDX3, along with overexpression of the oncogene v-Ras, led to premature S-phase entry and enhanced the cellular transformation phenotype of murine fibroblast NIH3T3 cells (Chang et al., 2006). Botlagunta and coworkers found that elevated DDX3 levels are correlated with a more aggressive phenotype of breast cancer cell lines. As investigated by Xie and co-workers, DDX3 is overexpressed in multiple breast cancer cell lines and its expression levels are directly correlated to cellular aggressiveness. In addition Bol et al. found that knockdown of DDX3 by shDDX3 caused cell cycle alterations, and resulted in a G1 phase arrest.
A recent study of Chenn et al. elucidate the role of DDX3 in Wnt-type tumours such as medulloblastoma. In detail they found that small interfering RNA-mediated DDX3 knockdown in various cell lines increased cell-cell adhesion but decreased cell-extracellular matrix adhesion. Moreover, DDX3 depletion suppressed cell motility and impaired directional migration in the wound-healing assay. DDX3 knockdown reduced the levels of both Rac1 and β-catenin proteins, and consequentially downregulated the expression of several β-catenin target genes. In addition Sun and co-workers demonstrated that DDX3 may aid cancer progression by promoting increased levels of the transcription factor Snail that causes the progression of several cancers including Glioblastoma and Prostate cancer.
DDX3 is also involved in the progression of Ewing sarcoma, as demonstrated by Wilky et al. They found high expression of DDX3 in numerous human sarcoma subtypes, and knockdown of DDX3 inhibited oncogenic activity in Ewing sarcoma cells.
The role of DDX3 in lung cancer and colorectal cancer was explored by Bol et al. that analysed DDX3 expression and found that the small molecule RK-33 active in preclinical in vivo studies.
The role of DDX3 in HCC is still under debate. DDX3 expression was found to be downregulated in HCC cells derived from hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients (Chao, et al., 2006). On the contrary, Huang found elevated DDX3 mRNA levels in the majority (64%) of a representative set of HCC samples. Thus, whether DDX3 acts as an oncogene or a tumour suppressor is still debated. RNAi-mediated inhibition of DDX3 expression in HEK293 and PBMC cells, consistently failed to reveal any deleterious effect on cell proliferation or viability. These results suggest that DDX3 functions in cell proliferation are either not essential, or they take place only in the context of altered cell metabolism, such as tumour transformation or viral infections.
Wnt/β Catenin Signaling
Wnt signaling pathways are involved for its role in carcinogenesis and embryonic development. The canonical Wnt pathway is responsible for accumulation of β catenin in the cytoplasm and its consequent translocation into the nucleus where the protein acts as a transcriptional coactivator. In 2013 Cruciat et al. found that DDX3-CK1ε binding stimulates CK1ε phosphorylation with consequent activation of β-catenin. A recent paper (Chen et al. 2014) investigates the role of DDX3 in the regulatory axis Rac1-Wnt/β catenin. Up regulation of Rac-1 mRNA translation by DDX3 increase β-catenin signaling and causes cytoskeleton remodelling.
Hypoxia
Hypoxia is a feature of many different tumours and recovered a central role in cancer progression and in the resistance to the therapy. The angiogenesis represents an adaptive mechanism to the low oxygen concentration and it is induced by the transcription factor HIF-1. In 2011 Botlagunta et al. reported that DDX3 is an hypoxia inducible gene, in facts HIF-1α binds the DDX3 promoter and enhances DDX3 expression. In 2013 Bol and coworkers observed the correlation of DDX3 expression and proteins related to HIF-1α.
Cell Cycle Regulation
DDX3 is involved in the cell cycle progression. Fukumura and coworkers reported that the transition from G1 to S-phase is blocked in DDX3 knockdown cells. This effect is due to the translation of cyclin E1 mRNA translation as previously observed by Lai et al.
Different results were reported by Chao et al. in 2006, in facts DDX3 inhibits cyclin D1 and causes cell cycle arrest. Moreover DDX3 seems to be involved in the p53-p21 regulation, responsible to reduce cell cycle progression (Lee et al.).
Apoptosis
DDX3 is also able to inhibit apoptotic signaling. Sun et al. reported that DDX3 acts as antiapoptotic protein through the formation of a complex with the death receptors GSK3 and cIAP-1. In contrast Chang and coworkers reported that loss of DDX3 enhance cell proliferation and reduced apoptosis, as well as p53 inactivation of DDX3 led to tumour malignancy via MDM2/Slug/E-cadherin pathway (Wu et al. 2014).

Use of DDX3 inhibitors as antiproliferative agents

AZIENDA OSPEDALIERA UNIVERSITARIA SENESE


A class of transportation vehicles for carrying an individual over ground having a surface that may be irregular. This embodiment has a motorized drive, mounted to the ground-contacting module that causes operation of the vehicle in an operating position that is unstable with respect to tipping when the motorized drive arrangement is not powered.

A wide range of vehicles and methods are known for transporting human subjects. Typically, such vehicles rely upon static stability, being designed so as to be stable under all foreseen conditions of placement of their ground-contacting members. Thus, for example, the gravity vector acting on the center of gravity of an automobile passes between the points of ground contact of the automobile's wheels, the suspension keeping all wheels on the ground at all times, and the automobile is thus stable. Another example of a statically stable vehicle is the stair-climbing vehicle described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,548 (Decelles et al.).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


One embodiment is a method for suppressing background inaccuracies in binary to grayscale image conversion. A binary image is converted to a grayscale image using a neighbor map. An image enhancement function is applied to the grayscale image to suppress background inaccuracies in the grayscale image. Another embodiment is method for converting a binary pixel of a binary image to a grayscale pixel of a grayscale image and suppressing noise in the grayscale image using selective filtering of the binary image. Another embodiment is a method for converting a binary image to a first grayscale image and suppressing noise in the first grayscale image to produce a noise suppressed grayscale image using selective filtering of the first grayscale image.

1. Technical Field
The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to methods and systems for background suppression and noise suppression in binary to grayscale image conversion. More specifically, background inaccuracies produced in binary to grayscale image conversion are suppressed using an image enhancement function or tone reproduction curve, and noise created in transition areas during binary to grayscale image conversion is suppressed using a filter.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, a typical black and white image on photographic film, for example, includes various gray levels of light. That is, different amounts of light are reflected from various spots of the image on the film, providing what is known as a continuous tone photographic image. It is conventionally known how to digitize the grayscale continuous tone photographic image. More specifically, each pixel or spot of the photographic image is assigned a number representing the amount of light or gray level of that particular spot. Typically, an eight-bit word is used, giving 256 different digitized gray levels of light. The digitized image is known as a continuous tone, or continuous tone, digital image. Further, it is possible to go back and forth between the analog and digital images and maintain a reasonable reproduction of the image.
It is also conventionally known to provide an image on a recording medium, for example, a paper sheet, rather than on photographic film. For example, a modulated laser can be used to scan a xerographic drum to give a series of black and white spots. The spots are formed by turning the laser on and off. The image on the drum is then developed and transferred to a copy sheet. This process of developing black and white spots provides a binary image, but does not generate a continuous tone image.
It is possible, however, to create the impression of a continuous tone image by using halftoning. The halftone process uses a mathematically stored screen pattern or array, for example, which is an almost-sinusoidal two-dimensional pattern. The process converts the original or continuous tone image into an image of black and white spots that "appears" to be a continuous tone image. This process is generally accomplished by systematically comparing each pixel's continuous tone value with the value of the screen. If the continuous tone value of the pixel is less dense than the screen value, then a white spot is produced. On the other hand, if the pixel value is more dense than the screen value, a black spot is produced. It should be understood that the pixel values are the 8-bit grayscale values for each pixel of the original image.
In effect, this procedure converts a grayscale image into black and white spots, but gives the impression of multiple gray levels by producing more white spots for a less-dense area and more black spots for a denser area. Although a true continuous tone image is not produced by this procedure, the procedure has two advantages. One advantage is that each spot of the image is described with one bit, rather than the eight-bit word used for each gray level pixel in the original continuous tone picture. This allows the halftone image to be stored with approximately ⅛ of the storage of the original continuous tone image. Another advantage is that, in fact, a halftone image can be printed on paper. In other words, the conversion takes each eight-bit pixel value representing a grayscale value, compares the pixel value to a screen value and provides either a zero (0) or a one (1) to modulate the laser. This image can then be printed on a recording medium such as paper.
The use of a tone reproduction curve (TRC) is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,502 (hereinafter "the '502 patent'"), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. A TRC is defined as a function that describes the relationship of the input to the output within a system for the purposes of image enhancement. This function is then applied to the full input image.
Currently known techniques to convert binary images to continuous tone images are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,159 (hereinafter "the '159 patent'"), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. These techniques include using a look up table (LUT) to convert one bit values in a neighbor of image pixels into grayscale values and using a spatial filter to approximate the original grayscale values.

Methods for background and noise suppression in binary to grayscale image conversion


A semiconductor system includes a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device. The first semiconductor device outputs command/address signals, data and a test mode signal. The first semiconductor device receives output data from the second semiconductor device. The second semiconductor device buffers the data inputted through a first pad to write the buffered data according to a combination of the command/address signals or inversely buffers the data to write the inversely buffered data if a control signal enabled in response to the test mode signal inputted through a second pad is inputted through a third pad.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the invention relate to semiconductor devices executing a test operation by repeatedly writing and reading data and semiconductor systems including the same.
2. Related Art
Semiconductor devices may be designed and fabricated to include a test mode function for evaluating the operation thereof. That is, various parameters of the semiconductor devices may be measured in a test mode at a wafer level or at a package level and the tested semiconductor devices may be sorted into good chips or failed chips according to the test results.
More specifically, each of the semiconductor devices may execute a read operation or a write operation to output or receive a plurality of data. The read operation may be executed to output data stored in memory cells through pads connected to input/output (I/O) lines. The write operation may be executed to store data received through the pads into the memory cells. That is, the data may be transmitted through the pads of the semiconductor device so that the semiconductor device communicates with an external device.
In order to test or evaluate the semiconductor device, the semiconductor device may execute the read operation or the write operation to output the data stored therein or to receive external data and may sense logic levels of the data to discriminate whether internal circuits of the semiconductor device normally operate or not.
Meanwhile, if the number of data bits whose phases are changed when the data are transmitted in the semiconductor device increases, a simultaneous switching noise (SSN) phenomenon and an inter-symbol interface (ISI) phenomenon may occur more frequently. Thus, a data bus inversion (DBI) scheme has been used to suppress the SSN phenomenon and the ISI phenomenon. If data outputted from an external device are transmitted to the semiconductor device using the DBI scheme, the data have to be transmitted together with a DBI signal including information on whether the data are inverted.

Semiconductor devices and semiconductor systems including the same


A projection part 33 is formed on an end face 32 of a first turnable member 3. A short recess 43 and a long recess 44 are formed in an end face 43 of a second turnable member 4. The short recess 43 is provided at both end parts thereof with lock faces 43a, 43b which are abutted with both end parts of the projection part 33 to prohibit the first and second turnable members 3, 4 from making a relative turn with force of a predetermined magnitude. The long recess 44 is provided at one end part thereof with an inclination surface 44a which is abutted with one end part of the projection part 33 to turn bias the first turnable member in one direction with respect to the second turnable member and at the other end part with an inclination surface 44b which is abutted with the other end part of the projection part 33 to turn bias the first turnable member in the other direction with respect to the second turnable member. The inclination surfaces 44a, 44b are symmetrically arranged with respect to a line passing through a center between the lock faces 43a, 43b and orthogonal to an axis of the second turnable member 4.

In general, a hinge device of this type, as described in the under-listed Patent Document 1, includes a first and a second turnable members turnably connected to each other about a turning axis, and a biasing means for biasing one of the first and second turnable members toward the other. A pair of projection parts are formed on a confronting surface with the second turnable member of the first turnable member such that they are 180 degrees away from each other in a peripheral direction. A pair of engagement recesses are formed in a confronting surface with the first turnable member of the second turnable member such that they are 180 degrees away from each other in a peripheral direction. A first cam face is formed on one side part of each engagement recess in the peripheral direction of the second turnable member and a second cam face is formed on the other side part of each engagement recess in the peripheral direction of the second turnable member. The first cam surfaces of the pair of engagement recesses are arranged 180 degrees away from each other in the peripheral direction, and the second cam faces are also arranged 180 degrees away from each other in the peripheral direction. The first cam face and the second cam face formed on the same engagement recess are arranged a predetermined angle (for example, 20 degrees) away from each other in the peripheral direction. When the pair of projection parts are brought into abutment with the first cam faces respectively, biasing force of the biasing means is converted to a turn biasing force for turning the first turnable member in one direction with respect to the second turnable member. When the pair of projection parts are brought into abutment with the second cam faces respectively, biasing force of the biasing means is converted to a turn biasing force for turning the first turnable member in the other direction with respect to the second turnable member.
In the above hinge device, since the pair of projections, two first cam faces and two second cam faces are arranged 180 degrees away from each other and the first and second cam faces are arranged a predetermined angle (for example, 20 degrees) away from each other, they may be assembled such that when the first and second turnable members are turned to predetermined positions, the pair of projections are brought into abutment with the first cam faces respectively. They may also be assembled such that the pair of projections are brought into abutment with the second cam faces respectively. If the former device is referred to as a right-hand service hinge device, the latter device can be referred to as a left-hand service hinge device.
In case a hinge device having the above-mentioned construction is used, for example, in a foldable portable telephone set as one of portable equipments, two hinge devices having difference hand services are used as one set. One of the two hinge devices turnably connects one side parts in a direction of a turning axis of adjacent end parts of a transmission section and a reception section of a portable telephone set which are one and the other of a portable equipment to each other, and the other hinge device turnably connects the other side parts of the transmission section and the reception section. The first turnable member of each hinge device is non-turnably connected to a transmission section of the portable telephone set and the second turnable member is non-turnably connected to the reception section. Owing to this arrangement, the reception section is turnably connected to the transmission section through the hinge device. The turning range of the reception section is set between a folding position where the reception section is abutted with a front surface of the transmission section and a talking position where the reception section is turned from the folding position by a predetermined angle and abutted with a predetermined part of the transmission section.
When the reception section is turned to the folding position, the pair of projection parts of the right-hand service hinge device are brought into abutment with the first cam faces respectively and the pair of projections of the left-hand service hinge device are brought into abutment with the second cam faces respectively. In that condition, the biasing force of the biasing means of each of the left-hand and right-hand service hinge devices is converted to a turn biasing force for turning the reception section in a direction (one direction) toward the folding position from the talking position. This turn biasing force keeps the reception section in the folding position where the reception section is in abutment with the front surface of the transmission section. When the reception section is turned to the talking position, the pair of projection parts of the right-hand service hinge device are brought into abutment with the second cam faces respectively and the pair of projection parts of the left-hand service hinge device are brought into abutment with the first cam faces respectively. In that condition, the biasing force of the biasing means of each of the left-hand and right-hand service devices is converted to a turn biasing force for turning the reception section in a direction (the other direction) toward the talking position from the folding position. This turn biasing force keeps the reception section in the talking position where the reception section is in abutment with a predetermined position of the transmission section.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-152728


A method for manufacturing a photomask based on design data includes the steps of forming a figure element group including a figure element in a layout pattern on the photomask and a figure element affecting the figure element due to the optical proximity effect, adding identical identification data to a data group indicating an identical figure element group, estimating an influence of the optical proximity effect on the figure element group, generating correction data indicating a corrected figure element in which the influence of the optical proximity effect is compensated for at the time of exposure, creating figure data by associating data having the identical identification data with correction data having the identical identification data, and forming a mask pattern on the photomask using figure data. Thus, the computation time for correction of the layout can be reduced, thereby reducing the production time of the photomask.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a photomask, suitable for reducing the production time, and to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device using the photomask. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a photomask in which data for forming a pattern on the photomask can be created in a short time, and to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device using the photomask.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the recent reduction in size of semiconductor devices, there has been a demand for miniaturization of resist patterns formed by photolithography for manufacturing semiconductor devices. When light is applied to a photomask and the resist is exposed with light, a pattern on the photomask is transferred to form a resist pattern. If the pattern size of the resist pattern is close to the wavelength of light used for formation of the resist pattern because miniaturization of resist pattern has advanced, the pattern on the photomask is deformed, while transferred, due to the optical proximity effect.
In order to prevent deformation of the resist pattern, the deformation of the resist pattern due to the optical proximity effect is predicted by simulation, etc., to correct the original pattern on the photomask.
However, such simulation, when performed using a computer, requires much time for computation because of the high pattern density on the photomask. There are many approaches for reducing the computation time to rapidly correct the pattern on the photomask, and one of them is proposed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-13669.
In the approach proposed in this publication, regions for correction are provided with respect to an object for correction in the input layout, and pattern-matching regions that are a certain amount larger than the regions for correction are also provided so as to surround the regions for correction. Then, the pattern layout in each of the pattern-matching regions is extracted. Then, the grid in this pattern-matching region is converted into a larger grid than the original grid. Thereafter, pattern matching is performed on a pattern region. As a result of pattern matching, for example, three kinds into which the pattern-matching regions that are classified using the original grid are reduced to two kinds after conversion of the grid.
After pattern matching is performed on all regions for correction, the classified pattern-matching regions are corrected. The corrected pattern-matching regions are reflected in the entirety of the input layout, and the corrected layout is thus obtained.
Therefore, conversion of the grid can reduce the number of kinds of pattern-matching regions. Thus, the computation time for correcting the pattern-matching regions can also be reduced. Moreover, a correction result of a pattern computed for one pattern-matching region can also be used for the same kind of other pattern-matching regions, thus reducing the computation time required for reflecting the corrected pattern-matching regions in the entirety of the input layout.


A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells connected to a plurality of word lines; a peripheral circuit suitable for applying a program pulse to at least one of the word lines, performing a program verification operation to the plurality of memory cells by using a first program verification voltage; and a control logic suitable for controlling the peripheral circuit to repeat the applying of the program pulse and the performing the program verification operation until program verification passes by increasing a level of the program pulse by an amount of a step voltage at each repetition, wherein a size of the step voltage decreases at each repetition.

Field of Invention
Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an electronic device, and more particularly, to a semiconductor memory device and an operating method thereof.
Description of Related Art
Semiconductor memory devices are memory devices realized using a semiconductor such as silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), gallium arsenide (GaAs), Indium phosphide (InP), or the like. Semiconductor memory devices are classified into volatile memory devices and nonvolatile memory devices.
Volatile memory devices generally lose stored data rather rapidly when power is turned off. Representative examples of volatile memory devices include static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), etc. Nonvolatile memory devices retain data stored therein even when power is turned off. Representative examples of nonvolatile memory devices include read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, phase-change random access memory (PRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), resistive RAM (RRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FRAM), etc. Flash memory is typically classified into NOR type and NAND type memory.

Semiconductor memory device and operating method thereof


Determining brain lesions by quantified electroencephalography is effected by obtaining absolute power data in a primary frequency domain for a brain region. Power data in the primary frequency domain in relation to power in a secondary frequency domain is determined. The two sets of data are related to obtain a value representative of the electrical output in the brain region. The representative value is compared to a selected base value and quantified departures are mapped topographically. This map is used to identify and assess lesions associated with disorders and afflictions including dementia and demyelinating diseases. Mapping is used to determine activation during tasks such as motor and memory tasks, cognitive processing or other conditions, and also to assess the level of perfusion of the brain.

Diagnosing disorders and afflictions in the human brain with non-invasive procedures is important medically and scientifically. Determining activation during tasks, cognitive processing, or in other conditions as evidenced by brain activity and through non-invasive procedures is also most valuable. Assessing, non-invasively, when the brain is experiencing normal activity provides additional valuable data.
This invention relates to determining the nature of brain lesions using quantitative electrophysiology. In particular, the invention relates to analyzing electroencephalographic information in a manner to permit assessment of the nature of brain lesions. The invention is further directed to give a characterization of afflictions such as dementia, being selective for multi-infarct dementia or Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease and demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
The invention is also directed to determining activation tasks by using quantitative electrophysiology, particularly the activation of specific brain regions rendered in mental processing such as motor and memory activity, cognitive processing or other conditions.
Brain imaging used by physicians in clinical practice includes structural imaging and functional imaging. Structural imaging is effected by computed axial tomography (CAT) scanning or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning. Functional imaging is effected by positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or electroencephalography (EEG).
Structural imaging is performed for determining the location of a brain tumor or other kind of gross structural alteration of the brain. Functional imaging tests are performed to determine functional alteration in the brain where there may not be significant structural alteration. These broad categories of tests are complementary. A physician evaluating a neurological or psychiatric illness could perform a test from both categories to assess and/or diagnose a patient's condition. The present invention particularly concerns functional imaging.
PET scanning measures brain metabolism and can identify areas that are hypoactive. SPECT scanning measures cerebral blood flow, which is an indirect measure of metabolism and therefore brain function. Both of these technologies yield useful physiological information For example, Alzheimer's disease presents with hypometabolism or hypoperfusion of the parietal lobes bilaterally and multi-infarct dementia presents with multiple foci of hypometabolism and hypoperfusion. PET and SPECT scanning are expensive, requiring investments of millions of dollars initially. Also required are many hours of technician time per test and the production and injection of radionuclides into a patient.
EEG brain mapping is relatively less expensive and can be performed without the need for radionuclides. Technician time for performing the scan also is less costly. A disadvantage of EEG mapping, however, is that it has not been possible to analyze the information obtained by the electroencephalogram to diagnose and assess effectively different conditions of the brain, and thus diseases and disorders of the brain.
Information which is obtainable from an EEG includes conventional EEG data representative of electrical activity in different brain regions. When this data is digitized and processed as in quantitative EEG ("qEEG"), it is possible to obtain topographical brain mapping of electrical activity in different brain regions. From a qEEG unit, it is also possible to obtain measurements of absolute power and relative power, and evoked potentials. Quantitative EEG techniques represent an advance over traditional EEG methods because they permit the detection of trends which are difficult or impossible to discern by direct visual inspection of the EEG voltage tracings. Previous efforts to generate images depicting quantitative EEG data have had limited clinical applicability because they have not been shown convincingly to be associated with specific clinical syndromes or diagnoses; for example, the presence of a qEEG brain map of regions with large amounts of power in the delta band may reflect an electrophysiologic encephalopathy from many diseases, without distinguishing between them.
A shortfall of all these EEG and qEEG data and information which are analyzed independently is the inability to provide information regarding brain physiology that is substantially equivalent to information from PET or SPECT scans.

Method and apparatus for determining brain activity including the nature of brain lesions by electroencephalography

The Regents of the University of California


An antireflective member with stability and a low reflectance at low cost may be provided by performing an antireflective treatment to a substrate in a molding process of the substrate. A roughened surface with a continuous pattern in a fine pyramidal shape is formed on a surface of a transparent substrate, the roughened surface is a diffraction surface with zeroth-order diffraction to visible light, and the pattern of the roughened surface is transferred from a mold at a transfer rate of not less than 70%.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an antireflective member used in various optical devices such as a spectroscopic analysis, optical electronics, optical communications and lighting equipment and suitably used to prevent light having wavelengths in the visible range from reflecting.
2. Description of Prior Art
Conventional optical elements using transparent substrates such as glasses and plastics are subjected to a surface treatment, for example an antireflective film provided on a light incident surface of the substrate, in order to reduce the amount of light reflected from the surface. A multilayered film with thin dielectric films deposited is well known as the antireflective film for light of wavelengths in the visible range. Such a multilayered film is formed by growing thin films of metal oxides etc. on a surface of a transparent substrate by means of a vacuum evaporation method or the like.
Another technique of the surface treatment to prevent reflection is to roughen the surface of the optical element finely and densely. When light passes through the surface of the optical element on which roughness is regularly provided, generally light diffraction occurs, thereby significantly reducing straight component of the transmitted light. However, roughness whose pitch is shorter than a wavelength of light transmitting therethrough may not cause the light diffraction. If the roughness is made, for example, in a rectangular shape as described later, excellent antireflective effect can be obtained for light having a single wavelength corresponding to the pitch, depth or the like of the roughness.
If the roughness is in the shape of peak and valley rather than rectangular, in other words, if the roughness takes the shape of a pyramid in a manner which continually changes a ratio between a volume of the optical element member side and a volume of the air side, an excellent antireflective effect can be obtained for even light having a wide wavelength range.
An example of a method to form such a roughness is cited in JP 88001/1993A. In the disclosure, an alcohol solution of ethyl silicate blended with particles of silicon oxide or aluminum oxide is coated over a surface of the required optical element. A film with roughness can be obtained after removing the particles.
JP 96902/1987A discloses another method. A surface of a molding tool is worked with the dense sawtooth shapes (also included are sawtooth shapes with rounded edge) at the prescribed depth from the depth of ⅓ wavelength of visible rays up to 1/50 and the plastic is molded by using the finished molding tool.
In the above method to form the antireflective film consisting of the dielectric thin films on the surface of the optical element, however, it is difficult to obtain the antireflective effect for light having a wavelength range if the antireflective film is made with a few dielectric thin films. Many dielectric thin films are needed to obtain the antireflective effect for light in a wide wavelength range. Also more dielectric thin films must be deposited to prevent reflectance from changing depending on an incident angle of light. Hence ten to twenty or more layers of the dielectric thin film are needed to satisfy required performance.
A vacuum evaporation method to form the dielectric thin films causes variation of thickness of the films, resulting in instability of performance. In addition, after molding a substrate to be an optical element in one process, the method needs another process to form the dielectric thin film on the surface of the substrate, thereby reducing yields and increasing costs.
Basically antireflective films cancel out reflective light through the use of interference of light. Due to this, a refraction index of materials and a thickness of each dielectric thin film need to be controlled with high accuracy in the process of producing the dielectric thin film, thereby increasing costs with an increase in number of the dielectric thin film to be deposited. In addition, the increase in number of the dielectric thin film causes warps or the like in the substrate of the optical element, thereby reducing yields.
Spectral characteristics of thin films are influenced by properties of materials of the thin films, especially by a refraction index. The refraction index varies according to conditions of the film formation. Besides, limitations in materials of the film make it difficult to obtain ideal spectral characteristics.
On the other hand, an optical substrate with protrusions in a pyramidal shape thereon would be effective. In order to obtain the antireflective effect for light having a wider wavelength range, it is preferable that an aspect ratio, which is a ratio of height to pitch P of the protrusions, is large. In a structure disclosed in JP 88001/1993A, however, it is difficult in principle to form pyramidal shapes with the aspect ratio of not less than one.
Also in a structure disclosed in JP 96902/1987A, there is a possibility that incident light is reflected diffusely because of irregular shapes of the protrusions, resulting in low efficiency.
JP 272505/2001A proposes a method for forming spindle shapes on a surface of an optical element to solve the above problems. A metallic mask is formed on the optical element in a dot array and the optical element is subjected to reactive ion etching. At this time, the optical element is etched until the metallic mask vanishes after the gradual reduction of the diameter of the mask.
Although a surface treatment method of which the spindle shape with a large aspect ratio is formed on the optical element is proposed in JP 272505/2001A, the process, forming the metallic mask of chromium (Cr), aluminum (Al) or the like on the optical element and subjecting the optical element to reactive ion etching until the metallic mask vanishes, becomes complicated with increase in cost.
The present invention has an object to provide an antireflective member with stability and a low reflectance at low cost by performing an antireflective treatment to the substrate in the molding process of the substrate.

Antireflective member and electronic equipment using same


A video frame processing method, which comprises: (a) capturing at least two video frames via a multi-view camera system comprising a plurality of cameras; (b) recording timestamps for each the video frame; (c) determining a major camera and a first sub camera out of the multi-view camera system, based on the timestamps, wherein the major camera captures a major video sequence comprising at least one major video frame, the first sub camera captures a video sequence of first view comprising at least one video frame of first view; (d) generating a first reference video frame of first view according to one first reference major video frame of the major video frames, which is at a reference timestamp corresponding to the first reference video frame of first view, and according to at least one the video frame of first view surrounding the reference timestamp; and (e) generating a multi-view video sequence comprising a first multi-view video frame, wherein the first multi-view video frame is generated based on the first reference video frame of first view and the first reference major video frame.

Conventionally, a camera captures a video frame via a camera parameter. The camera parameter can have, for example, a video frame capturing parameter such as an exposure time. Alternatively, the camera parameter can have other parameters, such as a video frame rate. Exposure time (or named shutter speed) is the effective length of time a camera's shutter is open. Exposure time along with the aperture of the lens (also called f-number) determines the amount of light that reaches the film or an image sensor inside the camera. Long exposure time will cause image blur easily. On the contrary, short exposure time will cause image dark or noise easily. The aperture or camera sensor is always small in a camera phone (or a smartphone). When image resolution increases, the amount of light of each pixel will decrease. Therefore, it is hard to set a balanced camera parameter to generate a fine video frame.
A stereo camera is a type of camera with two or more cameras (or named a multi-view stereo camera) with a separate image sensor for each camera. A stereo camera is always used to generate a multi-view video frame (ex. a 3D video frame) based on the video frames generated from different cameras. Different cameras of the stereo camera may apply different camera parameters.
However, the spec of the multi-view video frame output may base on a lower camera parameter that can be covered by a higher camera parameter. For example, spec of the multi-view video frame output may base on the lower frame rate. That is, if a left camera has a frame rate of 60 fps and a right camera has a frame rate of 30 fps, the frame rate of the multi-view video frame output is 30 fps. Additionally, the spec of the multi-view video frame output may base on the lower image resolution. For example, if a left camera has an image resolution of 8 M and a right camera has an image resolution of 2 M, the image resolution of the multi-view video frame output is 2 M.


A substrate for mounting electronic element includes: a first substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a second substrate including a third surface and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface; and heat dissipation bodies each including a fifth surface and a sixth surface opposite to the fifth surface. The first substrate includes at least one mounting portion for at least one electronic element at the first surface. Heat conduction of the heat dissipation bodies in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the at least one mounting portion and perpendicular to a direction along opposite sides of the second substrate is greater than heat conduction of the heat dissipation bodies in the longitudinal direction of the at least one mounting portion and in the direction along opposite sides of the second substrate in a transparent plan view of the substrate.

A substrate for mounting electronic element of the related art includes an insulating substrate including a first surface, a second surface, and side surfaces, an electronic element mounting portion and a wiring layer which are disposed on the first surface of the insulating substrate. After mounting electronic element on the electronic element mounting portion, the substrate for mounting electronic element is mounted in a package for mounting electronic element to obtain an electronic device (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 2013-175508).

Substrate for mounting electronic element, electronic device, and electronic module


An improved bicycle lock having multiple cable loops attachable to a single locking mechanism and a method for securing multiple portions of a bicycle to a fixed structure is disclosed. The bicycle lock includes a lock body that has multiple latching mechanisms for receiving a corresponding set of cable loops, with each cable loop having a locking pin for independently securing the loop to one of the latching mechanisms on the lock body. The lock body includes a single locking mechanism which is used for activating and deactivating all of the latching mechanisms on the lock body, and thereby releasing or locking all of the cable loops simultaneously. The lock further includes a bracket for storing the lock when not in use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to locks and more specifically to locks finding particular but not exclusive utility for bicycles. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an improved cable lock and bracket for securing a cable lock to a bicycle both for storage and to secure the bicycle to a fixed object.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Bicycle locks include two primary types of locks. The first is a U-bolt type lock of the kind manufactured by Kryptonite Locks. The U-bolt type lock is essentially comprised of large, solid U-shaped bolt, which is typically made of hardened steel, and a padlock that attaches to the ends of the U-bolt. The lock is carried on the bicycle in a holder or bracket.
A second common type of bicycle lock is a cable lock. The cable is usually composed of twisted strands of steel wire. The cable wire is commonly encased in a plastic or rubber cover. The cable is normally coiled for convenience of storage. One end of the cable is permanently fixed to a lock body or casing. The second end of the cable includes a locking pin or bolt-like tip, which may be attached into and removed from the lock body when the locking mechanism is activated or deactivated. The locking mechanism typically includes a key operated lock, although some cable lock devices utilize a combination lock.
Various brackets exist in the bicycle market for both types of locks. These brackets are conventionally attached to the bicycle frame by a bolt.
The above-described conventional locks are normally capable of securing only one portion of the bicycle to a fixed structure. For example, the conventional U-bolt type lock is normally used to secure one of the bars or stays of the frame, such as the seat stay, to a light post or other fixed structure. The principal component of the lock, namely, the U-bolt, is simply not big enough to secure other components of the bicycle, such as the front wheel. Similarly, a conventional cable lock is also normally used to secure the frame, and perhaps one of the wheels, typically the rear wheel. The cable on a conventional cable lock is normally not long enough to secure the frame and both wheels, and even if it were, such a long cable would add weight and be unduly cumbersome to store when not in use.
Modern bicycles are often provided with quick-release mechanisms for the wheels and other portions of the bicycle, such as the seat. If only one portion of the bicycle is secured with a conventional U-bolt or conventional cable lock, the other portions of the bicycle remain exposed to theft. Accordingly, an improved and convenient apparatus and method for securing multiple portions of a bicycle to a fixed structure is desired.


A method for detecting a plurality of available sound output devices when audio data is played back, and for detecting user position information and user direction information is provided. The method includes generating a plurality of pieces of sound information from the audio data, based on at least one of the detected user position information and the user direction information, and distributing each of the plurality of pieces of sound information to a corresponding sound output device from among the plurality of sound output devices.

It has become common for users to purchase and use one or more portable terminals, and the number of households in which each family member owns a portable terminal is increasing and thus, it is becoming universal for a household to use a plurality of terminals. In addition, a home-theater system formed of several speakers in a house that plays back 5.1 channel sound for advancing user's experience is also common consumer behavior.
There have been constant advancement in technologies that maximize realism while a user watches movies or listens to music through multiple channels. For example, a technology that outputs sounds using a source that are recorded for multiple channels, such as dolby digital or a DTS format, or processes, through a processor, a source provided based on an existing recording scheme, and divides the source for outputting through multiple channels, may be representatively used. The multi-channel operation requires multiple speakers disposed according to a corresponding digital processing scheme, and thus, the positions of the speakers are generally stationary.
Therefore, a need exists for a method and an apparatus for operating multiple channels by utilizing position information or direction information of a user.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

Method and apparatus for operating multiple speakers using position information


Apparatus and a method for communicating media over a network including encoding the media into a server database at a server, downloading from the server database to a client database generally only those portions of the media which are necessary to satisfy user requests and in response to a user request for a given item of media, determining whether the media is present in the client database, and if not, automatically downloading those portions of the media which are necessary to supply the user with the given item of media from the server database.

Various techniques are known for providing on-line access of interactive media over the Internet.
The following U.S. Patents have been found in a U.S. Patent Search and are believed to be generally relevant to the field of the invention:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,867 January 1990 Foster et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,188 June 1992 McCalley et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,873 June 1992 Golin PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,092 March 1993 Wilson et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,420 June 1993 Hoarty et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,199 August 1993 Thompson. Jr. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,209 October 1993 Jurkevich et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,248 November 1993 Moulios et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,819 January 1994 Glick et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,423 June 1994 Lewis PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,276 September 1994 Doll, Jr. et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,482 November 1994 Victor et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,572 May 1995 Dolin, Jr. et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,801 May 1995 Dockter et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,658 August 1995 Fitzpatrick et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,167 January 1995 Dinallo et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,576 February 1996 Ritchey PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,940 April 1996 Rossmere et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,435 May 1996 Anderson PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,221 September 1996 Reimer et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,222 September 1996 Milne et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,538 September 1996 Retter et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,791 October 1996 Mendelson et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,001 October 1996 Lewis PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,180 November 1996 Reed PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,258 November 1996 Cruz et al. PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,783 December 1996 Ohashi
When using, various media such as video, audio, text and images, a user generally retrieves the media from a storage device or "server" connected via a network to many client computers. The server downloads the media to the network and transmits it to the client computer at the user's request.
There are two basic limitations involved in such data retrieval: delay between the time that a user requests the data and the time when the server downloads it to the network, and bandwidth limitations on data throughput and rate of data transmission.
One example of such a server-client network is a network connecting Internet servers and users' personal computers. Such networks are installed in order to facilitate convenient data transmission between users and data distribution from the server to the users' computers.
Known network applications involve streaming data from a server to a client computer (hereinafter also referred to as "client"). "Streaming" refers to serial or parallel transmission of digital data between two computers, by transmitting sequences of bit packets. For example, installation executables on a network server stream files to a client computer performing the installation. Servers with large amounts of memory are used to archive digital movies, which are streamed to a client computer for viewing upon demand. Digital video is broadcast from cable stations to subscribers using streaming. Internet browsers, such as Netscape and Microsoft Explorer, are used to stream data from a server on the web to a client.
Internet web sites can contain enormous databases, such as phone directories for all of the cities in the U.S., photographs from art galleries and museums around the world, voluminous encyclopedias, and even copies of all patents ever issued by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Users of the Internet can search these databases and then request the server to download specific information. This request initiates a streaming event.

Method and system for providing on-line interactivity over a server-client network


An apparatus for controlling an active cycle of semiconductor memory that supports a synchronous mode and an asynchronous mode is provided. The apparatus includes an operational mode control unit that determines the operational mode of the semiconductor memory on the basis of a clock signal for a predetermined time and outputs an operational mode determination signal, and an active control unit that controls the output of an active signal for executing an active cycle of the corresponding operational mode on the basis of the operational mode determination signal.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to semiconductor memory apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling an active cycle of semiconductor memory apparatus.
2. Related Art
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an apparatus for controlling an active cycle of semiconductor memory apparatus, particularly, a synchronous semiconductor memory apparatus supporting an asynchronous mode, according to the related art.
The apparatus includes a first pulse generating unit 11 to which a chip selection signal CS is input, a first transistor M1 that has a source connected to a power supply terminal and a gate connected to an output terminal of the first pulse generating unit 11, a first inverter IV1 that includes second and third transistors M2 and M3 having gates to which a clock signal CLK is input and is connected between the first transistor M1 and a ground terminal, a first latch 12 that is connected to an output terminal of the first inverter IV1, a second inverter IV2 that is connected to an output terminal of the first latch 12, a second pulse generating unit 13 that is connected to an output terminal of the second inverter IV2, a first NAND gate ND1 to which the clock signal CLK and an active address ADV are input, a third pulse generating unit 14 to which the output of the first NAND gate ND1 is input, a fourth pulse generating unit 15 to which a normal active signal N_ACT is input, a fourth transistor M4 that has a gate to which the output of the second pulse generating unit 13 is input and a source connected to the ground terminal, a fifth transistor M5 that has a gate to which the output of the third pulse generating unit 14 is input, a source connected to the ground terminal, and a drain connected to the drain of the fourth transistor M4, a third inverter IV3 that includes two transistors having gates to which the output of the fourth pulse generating unit 15 is input and is connected to the power supply terminal and the drain of the fourth transistor M4, a second latch 16 that is connected to an output terminal of the third inverter IV3, a fourth inverter IV4 to which a pre-charge signal PCG is input, an eighth transistor M8 that has a source connected to the power supply terminal and a gate to which the output of the fourth inverter IV4 is input, a ninth transistor M9 that has a drain connected to the eighth transistor M8, a gate to which a delayed normal active signal N_ACTd is input, and a source connected to the ground terminal, a third latch 17 that is connected to a connection node of the eighth transistor M8 and the ninth transistor M9, a fifth inverter IV5 that is connected to an output terminal of the third latch 17, a second NAND gate ND2 to which the output of the fifth inverter IV5 and the output of the second latch 16 are input, a sixth inverter IV6 to which the output of the second NAND gate ND2 is input, and a delay element 18 that receives the output of the sixth inverter IV6 and outputs a row active signal R_ACT and the delayed normal active signal N_ACTd.
When high-level signals are input, the first and fourth pulse generating units 11 and 15 generate low pulses. When a high-level signal is input, the second pulse generating unit 13 generates a high pulse. When a low-level signal is input, the third pulse generating unit 14 generates a high pulse.
The first to third latches 12, 16, and 17 each include two inverters that invert input signals, output the inverted signals, and feed back the output signal to the input terminals thereof.
Next, the operation of the apparatus for controlling an active cycle of a semiconductor memory apparatus according to the related art will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
When the chip selection signal CS is enabled, that is, turns to a high level, as shown in FIG. 2, the first pulse generating unit 11 generates a low pulse to cause the first transistor M1 to be turned on.
When the clock signal CLK is at the low level, as shown in FIG. 2, a high-level signal is output from the first inverter IV1, and the operational mode determination signal MIX_CON is enabled, that is, turns to a high level through the first latch 12 and the second inverter IV2.
The semiconductor memory apparatus according to the related art supports an asynchronous mode. Therefore, once the chip selection signal CS is enabled, the operational mode determination signal MIX_CON is enabled, that is, turns to a high level to execute the asynchronous mode regardless of the input of the clock signal CLK.
The enabled operational mode determination signal MIX_CON causes a ready signal READY to be enabled, that is, to turn to a high level, as shown in FIG. 2.
Since the operational mode determination signal MIX_CON is at the high level, the second pulse generating unit 13 generates a high pulse, which causes the fourth transistor M4 to be turned on. At that time, since the normal active signal N_ACT is disabled, that is, the normal active signal N_ACT is at a low level, the fourth pulse generating unit 15 outputs a high-level signal, and thus the third inverter IV3 outputs a low-level signal, which causes the ready signal READY from the second latch 16 to be enabled, that is, to turn to a high level.
The enabled ready signal READY causes the normal active signal N_ACT to be enabled, that is, to change to a high level, and thus the row active signal R_ACT and the delayed normal active signal N_ACTd are enabled, as shown in FIG. 2.
Since the ready signal READY is at the high level and PA output from the fifth inverter IV5 is also at the high level, the normal active signal N_ACT is enabled, that is, turns to a high level through the second NAND gate ND2 and the sixth inverter IV6, and the row active signal R_ACT and the delayed normal active signal N_ACTd are enabled through the delay element 18. At that time, PA turns to a high level by the pre-charge signal PCG and turns to a low level by the delayed normal active signal N_ACTd. PA is kept at the high level until an active operation is performed, as shown in FIG. 2.
When the normal active signal N_ACT is enabled, that is, turns to a high level, the ready signal READY is disabled, that is, turns to a low level, as shown in FIG. 2.
Since the normal active signal N_ACT is at the high level, the fourth pulse generating unit 15 outputs a low pulse, and thus the ready signal READY is disabled, that is, turns to a low level through the third inverter IV3 and the second latch 16.
Meanwhile, when the clock signal CLK is input, the operational mode determination signal MIX_CON is disabled, that is, turns to a low level, and a synchronous active signal CLK_ACT is enabled, that is, turns to a high level, as shown in FIG. 2.
When the clock signal CLK is toggled from the low level to the high level, the first inverter IV1 outputs a low-level signal, and the operational mode determination signal MIX_CON turns to a low level through the first latch 12 and the second inverter IV2. In addition, when the effective address ADV is enabled, that is, changes to a high level, the first NAND gate ND1 outputs a low-level signal, and the synchronous active signal CLK_ACT is enabled, that is, turns to a high level through the third pulse generating unit 14.
When the synchronous active signal CLK_ACT is enabled, that is, turns to the high level, the ready signal READY is enabled, that is, turns to a high level, and thus the pre-charge signal PCG is enabled, that is, turns to a high level for executing pre-charging, which causes PA to turn to a high level.
When the pre-charge signal PCG turns to the high level, the eighth transistor M8 is turned on, which causes PA to turn to the high level through the third latch 17 and the fifth inverter IV5.
When the ready signal READY and PA are enabled, that is, turn to the high level, the normal active signal N_ACT is enabled, that is, turns to a high level, as shown in FIG. 2.
When the normal active signal N_ACT is enabled, that is, turns to the high level, the ready signal READY is disabled, that is, turns to a low level, and the delayed normal active signal N_ACTd and the row active signal R_ACT are enabled, that is, turn to a high level, as shown in FIG. 2.
As described above, in the semiconductor memory apparatus according to the related art, two active cycles, that is, an active cycle in which the semiconductor memory apparatus is operated in the asynchronous mode at the beginning and an active cycle in which the semiconductor memory is operated in the synchronous mode in response to an input clock, are executed.
Therefore, the semiconductor memory apparatus according to the related art has a problem in that two active cycles are executed in the synchronous mode, resulting in a low operational speed and high current consumption.

Apparatus and method for controlling active cycle of semiconductor memory apparatus


A plug removal device for removing a plug from an access port located below a deck includes retracting means and a framework supporting the retracting means at an elevated position with respect to the deck. The framework is rigid and has a central axis. The retracting means produces a retracting force along a retracting axis. In response to the retracting means producing the retracting force, the framework moves along the deck to align the retracting axis with the central axis.

Jet boats use jet-pump engines which draw in water through an intake and expel the water at very high speeds and pressures through a nozzle at the stern of the boat. Effective and efficient performance of the jet-pump engine depends on the continuous and unrestricted provision of water into the intake. Sea grass, floating garbage, and other debris can become lodged in the intake or actually enter the jet-pump engine and impair the performance of the jet-pump engine or render the engine completely inoperable. When that happens, the debris must be cleaned out.
Jet-pump engines typically have a debris cleanout access which allows jet boat operator to access and clean the intake. The debris cleanout access is generally disposed over the intake on a swim deck of the jet boat allowing easy access, and the debris cleanout access is capped with a plug. The plug is usually secured in the debris cleanout access in a press-fit engagement, and when routine maintenance procedures are followed, the plug can be easily removed by retracting it from the access with a moderate amount of force. Sometimes, a light tap with a mallet is required to first loosen the plug before retracting it.
Unfortunately, a number of factors can cause the plug to become stuck in the debris cleanout access. Many boat operators fail to follow routine maintenance procedures and instead allow long periods of neglect to pass before the plug is removed, by which point, removal is made very difficult. Further, when a jet boat is used in salt water, corrosion, mineral deposit accumulation, and barnacle growth can seal the plug into the debris cleanout access, making removal of the plug very difficult.
When the plug is stuck in the debris cleanout access, jet boat operators will try many different tools and methods to loosen the plug. Many of these methods are damaging to the plug or to the swim deck surrounding the plug. For instance, a jet boat operator will often attach a rope between a piece of lumber or pole and the plug, stand over the plug, and pull straight up. If the plug does come loose, the operator can hit himself with the lumber or pole, or fall off the swim platform. Other times, the operator may place a lever, such as a piece of lumber or a pole, between the swim deck and a handle of the plug and attempt to "lift" the plug out of the debris cleanout access. This imparts a tremendous amount of localized force on the swim deck, which can cause the swim deck to crack. Further, while this places a large amount of vertical force on the plug, it also places a good amount of lateral force on the plug, which can damage the plug or the engagement between the plug and the debris cleanout access, reducing future fits between the plug and the debris cleanout access. Occasionally, the plug is so damaged that it has to be replaced completely, and the plugs cost several hundred dollars. Bodily injury, of course, is always a risk, too; the operator can strain his or her back or be hit by the tool used to extract the plug. Thus, there exists a need for an improved device and method which simply and easily removes the debris cleanout access plug without causing damage to the swim deck, the debris cleanout access, or other parts of the jet boat.

Self-aligning plug removal device and method therefor