A method for removing the lacquer and aluminum coatings from the polycarbonate substrate of scrap compact discs so as to reclaim the polycarbonate includes the steps of immersing the discs in a an alkaline solution, heating the solution to a predetermined temperature and mechanically agitating the immersed discs by applying ultrasonic energy to the solution at a sufficient energy density and for a sufficient time to dissolve the lacquer and the aluminum into the solution. The solution containing the dissolved lacquer and aluminum is decanted from the stripped polycarbonate discs, the discs are washed with water to remove remanent alkaline solution, and then dried.

This invention relates to the treatment of compact discs to remove the coatings normally applied to its polycarbonate substrate during manufacturing, and more particularly has to do with a method for the removal of such coatings in order to reclaim the polycarbonate.
As is well known, the compact disc is becoming an increasingly popular medium for the replication of audio programs. As currently manufactured, the compact disc comprises a thin circular polycarbonate substrate approximately 43/4 inches in diameter and having a central aperture adapted to be received on the centering mechanism of a disc player. Usually, the disc incorporates digitally encoded information on one surface thereof which is adapted to be laser-read by the disc player. The information-bearing surface of the substrate is coated with a thin film of aluminum which, in turn, is covered with a protective lacquer coating, of which two types are currently in common use. One is a cellulose nitrate based material in a suitable solvent such as toluene (so-called solvent based lacquer), and the other is an ultra-violet cured acrylic based material. Information regarding the programs recorded on the disc is printed in ink on the lacquer coating.
In the course of manufacture and distribution of such compact discs, many are scrapped as production rejects, or as a consequence of returns and inventory obsolescence, which presents a serious problem of disposal. Currently, they are either sold for scrap polycarbonate at a price which is very low (currently about $.01 per pound) because of contamination by the coatings or, if not salable at any price, discarded in a landfill. If the coatings are removed, the polycarbonate is more salable in that it can be re-used for the fabrication of compact discs or other parts and fetches a reasonable price, currently $.24 per pound, which at the same time, eliminates the need to landfill the scrapped discs.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a process for removing the coatings from the polycarbonate substrate of compact discs so as to reclaim the polycarbonate.
Another object of the invention is to provide a process for treating compact discs to remove the coatings from its polycarbonate substrate that will free the protective lacquer coating regardless of its type.

Method for removing coatings from compact discs


Polling methods for use in a communication system, such as a fixed wireless communication system, are described. The fixed wireless communication system includes at least one wireless base unit and a plurality of fixed-location wireless transceiver units, where each transceiver unit is, for example, located at a home residence and coupled to a personal computer (PC). In one particular polling method, a wireless transceiver unit detects a failure of a primary energy source, switches to a battery backup for power, and sends a message to the wireless base unit indicating such failure. The message initiates the wireless base unit to poll the wireless transceiver unit on a periodic basis for status information. During the failure, a data traffic channel established between the units is torn down to conserve power at the wireless transceiver unit. Once the primary energy source is restored, the data traffic channel is brought back up and the periodic polling is terminated. Similar methods are applied in connection with the detection of a communication failure over the data traffic channel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to wireless communication systems, such as "fixed wireless systems," utilizing polling techniques.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a "fixed wireless system," a wireless base unit provides for communication of telephone and high-speed data (e.g., Internet data) to each one of a number of subscribers equipped with a wireless transceiver unit at a fixed location, for example, a home residence. The transceiver units are electrically powered at the home residence, and have control and traffic channels available for communication with the wireless base unit. Any problems, such as power or communication failures, for some or all of a large number (e.g., 1000's) of wireless transceiver units served by a wireless base unit need to be handled in an appropriate and efficient manner. In addition, bandwidth is limited and needs to be efficiently utilized. Thus, there is an existing need to efficiently obtain information about and from transceiver units in such systems.

Polling methods for use in a wireless communication system


The invention relates to detecting a composition of a sample or contamination in liquids by detecting corresponding changes in their thermal properties. In a disclosed arrangement, an apparatus is provided comprising a first probe element configured to provide a first surface in direct contact with the sample and a second surface that is not in direct contact with the sample. A measurement system measures a rate of heat transfer through the first surface. A processing unit analyses the measured rate of heat transfer in order to detect a heat transfer characteristic of the sample that is indicative of a composition of the sample.

Liquids such as lubricating and cooling oils, hydraulic fluid and fuel are regularly required to be replaced/filtered as they degrade or become contaminated, in order to avoid unnecessary damage to machines that rely on the liquids. Degradation can occur via oxidation due to exposure to high temperature, the addition of debris (metallic or non-metallic) or another fluid and/or aging of the fluid.
Continuous oil condition monitoring of machinery and lubricant testing is fast becoming the established method of predicting and avoiding impending machinery breakdown. Oil monitoring can in principle be performed off-line, online and in-line. In off-line monitoring a sample of the liquid may be taken and sent to a laboratory for analysis. Sophisticated analyses can be performing off-line but there is an inevitable delay in obtaining the results; they are not available in "real time". In an online monitoring system samples may be taken from the oil system and analysed immediately in a device forming part of the machinery being monitoring. The flow rate can be affected by the sampling process if the sample size is relatively large but such systems can provide real time monitoring. In-line monitoring can be difficult to implement and can influence the system, but again offers real time monitoring.
Real time sensors that operate based on monitoring the dielectric constant of a liquid are known. The dielectric constant is a measure of the ability of a fluid to resist an electrical field. These sensors work well in detecting water contamination as oil and water have very different dielectric values. However, a major drawback is that they are temperature dependant. Other known sensors operate based on various optical techniques, such as infrared spectrometry or particle sizing. Inductive coil magnetometry systems have also been deployed where ferrous and non-ferrous particles are identified and quantified. This approach is advantageous in that it makes it possible to track the progress of debris contamination. In-line X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is being developed for use in sensors. Capacitive sensors have also been developed where water saturation can be detected.
Detection of the composition of samples which are not liquids can require expensive, time-consuming and/or destructive analysis techniques. For example, X-rays can be used to analyse the internal structure of objects. However, X-ray equipment can be expensive and bulky. Objects can be broken up to see the internal structure but this may involve irreversible damage to the object. Objects having a complex chemical structure may be broken up and chemical analysis techniques may be used to determine the chemical composition. However, the breaking up may damage the object and the chemical analyses may take considerable time and expensive to perform.
It is desirable to provide an alternative, improved and/or simpler way of detecting a composition of a sample and/or of monitoring liquid quality in real time.

Detecting composition of a sample based on thermal properties


An input circuit including a first circuit, a second circuit, and a third circuit. The first circuit is configured to receive a first signal and a second signal and to sample the first signal via the second signal and provide signal samples of the first signal. The second circuit is configured to receive a third signal and the signal samples and to update a second circuit output signal via the third signal and provide the updated second circuit output signal. The third circuit is configured to receive a clock signal and the second signal and to provide the third signal. The third circuit is also configured to synchronize edges in the third signal to edges in the second signal and edges in the clock signal.

Typically, a computer system includes a number of integrated circuit chips that communicate with one another to perform system applications. Chip speeds continue to increase and the amount of data communicated between chips continues to increase to meet the demands of system applications. As the volume of digital data communicated between chips increases, higher bandwidth communication links are needed to prevent data communication bottlenecks between chips.
Often, a computer system includes a controller, such as a micro-processor, and one or more memory chips, such as random access memory (RAM) chips. The RAM chips can be any suitable type of RAM, such as dynamic RAM (DRAM), double data rate synchronous DRAM (DDR-SDRAM), graphics DDR-SDRAM (GDDR-SDRAM), and pseudo static RAM (PSRAM). The controller and RAM communicate data with one another to perform system applications.
Typically, data is received at an integrated circuit, such as a RAM, and sampled via a strobe signal that is also received at the integrated circuit. Multiple data signals can be sampled in parallel via one strobe signal to provide multiple strobe signal rising edge data bits and multiple strobe signal falling edge data bits. The sampled data bits are clocked into the integrated circuit via a clock signal.
As chip speeds increase, the amount of data communicated between chips increases to meet the demands of system applications. Higher bandwidth communication links can be built by communicating more data signals in parallel and/or increasing input/output (I/O) data bit and strobe signal speeds. However, using one strobe signal to sample an increased number of data signals in parallel can increase the skew of the strobe signal and the sampled data bits, which can contribute to setup and hold window shifts during sampling of the data signals and clocking the sampled data bits into the integrated circuit. Also, increasing data bit and strobe signal speeds exacerbates the strobe signal and sampled data bit skew problem related to clocking the sampled data bits into the integrated circuit via the clock signal.
For these and other reasons there is a need for the present invention.

Input circuit having updated output signal synchronized to clock signal


In a multi-channel acoustic apparatus with a DVD reproduction function, comprising a DVD reproduction control unit for controlling the reproduction of a DVD, and a system control unit for controlling the overall acoustic apparatus and controlling the reproduction of another input source other than the DVD, the DVD reproduction control unit comprising the function of controlling a first Dolby Pro Logic decoder which can be used at the time of reproducing the DVD, and the system control unit comprising the function of controlling a second Dolby Pro Logic decoder which can be used at the time of reproducing the input source other than the DVD, there are provided means for adjusting a surround delay time period on the basis of a user operation, and means for transmitting to the system control unit the adjusted surround delay time period.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-channel acoustic apparatus with a DVD reproduction function. "Dolby" and "Pro Logic" used in the specification are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
2. Description of the Prior Art
[1] In a multi-channel audio system, a surround delay adjustment and a level adjustment between speakers are performed in order to suitably reproduce a sound source. In the case of Dolby digital, a surround delay time period is adjusted such that a sound from a surround speaker and a sound from a front speaker simultaneously reach a listener. In Dolby Pro Logic in which separation between channels is not superior to that in the Dolby digital, a surround delay time period is adjusted such that a sound from a surround speaker reaches a listener immediately after a sound from a front speaker by a little longer (approximately 15 ms) delay.
In the same environment, there is thus a predetermined relationship in surround delay time period between the Dolby digital and the Dolby Pro Logic. If the surround delay time period is adjusted in one decode mode, therefore, the most suitable surround delay time period can be also set with respect to the other decode mode.
Developed as the multi-channel acoustic apparatus is one comprising a DVD reproduction control unit for controlling the reproduction of a DVD and a system control unit for controlling the overall apparatus and controlling the reproduction of another input source other than the DVD, and capable of changing the setting of a surround delay time period in each of both the control units.
In this type of multi-channel acoustic apparatus, when the surround delay time period in the Dolby digital or the Dolby Pro Logic is adjusted by the DVD reproduction control unit, the surround delay time period is controlled by the DVD reproduction control unit at the time of reproducing the DVD. Accordingly, the surround delay time period adjusted by the DVD reproduction control unit is reflected. In a case where the input source other than the DVD is reproduced and a case where the Dolby Pro Logic is decoded by the system control unit during the reproduction of the DVD, however, the surround delay time period adjusted by the DVD reproduction control unit is not reflected.
An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-channel acoustic apparatus with a DVD reproduction function, in which in a case where a surround delay time period is adjusted by a DVD reproduction control unit, the adjusted surround delay time period is automatically reflected in a Dolby Pro Logic decoder controlled by a system control unit.
[2] A multi-channel acoustic apparatus with a DVD reproduction function comprising a DVD reproduction unit and a built-in amplifier comprises the function of outputting a test tone (a noise) to each of channels and adjusting for each of the channels the output level of the channel such that a user can adjust an output level between speakers (channel balance adjustment). In a system capable of decoding a Dolby digital program source, a test tone is outputted to five channels, i.e., a left front channel, a center channel, a right front channel, a right surround channel, and a left surround channel at the time of adjusting an output level between the speakers, and the test tone is outputted from the corresponding speaker after being circulated for each of the channels.
Developed as the multi-channel acoustic apparatus with the DVD reproduction function is one comprising a DVD reproduction unit comprising a DVD reproduction control unit, and a system control unit for controlling the overall acoustic apparatus and controlling the reproduction of another input source other than a DVD.
In this type of multi-channel acoustic apparatus, when an attempt to perform channel balance adjustment processing only by the system control unit is made, a method of displaying a channel, whose output level is being adjusted, to which a test tone is outputted from a speaker and the output level of the channel is restricted on a display unit such as an FL (Fluorescent) or an LED (Light Emitting Diode) controlled by the system control unit, and a device capable of outputting a noise to each of channels, for example, a Dolby Pro Logic decode IC controlled by the system control unit is required in addition to a device for reproducing a DVD.
An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-channel acoustic apparatus with a DVD reproduction function capable of on-screen displaying a channel whose output level is being adjusted, information representing the channel, and the output level of the channel at the time of adjusting channel balance and making it easy to adjust the channel balance.

Multi-channel acoustic apparatus with DVD reproduction function


A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit package system which includes providing a substrate and attaching a first device to the substrate. Attaching a shield to the substrate. Processing the shield to form apertures and configuring the shield to block electromagnetic energy that passes through the apertures.

It is now possible to put on a single piece of semiconductor, millions of devices running at clock frequency values expressed in hundreds of megahertz or even gigahertz for some electronic components. These devices, such as resistors, capacitors, transistors, and integrated circuits are what power many of today's consumer electronics, such as cellphones, video cameras, portable music players, computers, etc. Unfortunately, many of these devices emit or are susceptible to undesirable energy disturbances, such as electromagnetic (EM) and radio frequency (RF) interference. For example, a device that emits electromagnetic or radio frequency signals may adversely impact neighboring electronic components and devices. Consequently, the electronics industry has sought solutions for shielding these electronic components and devices from emitting or receiving disruptive energy signals.
Several methods are available for protecting and shielding one or more electronic components from EM and RF interference. One method of protecting an electronic component from emitting such emissions is to provide a shield, which serves to shield an area of the printed circuit board(s), or a volume associated therewith. The shield functions by either containing EM energy, e.g., radiated RF signals, within a shielded volume or area or the electromagnetic energy is excluded by the shield structure from the shielded volume or area.
Such shielding is extensively used in television receivers, direct satellite broadcast receivers, radio receivers such as FM and short-wave, or portions of audio systems, wherein low signal level circuitry is amenable to being effected by stray electromagnetic fields emanating from alternating current (AC) power sources.
A printed circuit board (PCB) is a common electronic substrate to which a shield can be applied since PCBs enjoy widespread use in a number of electronic applications. The term "printed circuit board" generally refers to circuit boards having electrical conductors disposed on one or more side of a substrate (e.g., a dielectric substrate). Often a PCB will have openings or via formed through the substrate to receive electrical leads of an electronic component that is mounted on one side of the PCB. The electrical leads extend through the openings to contact pads disposed on the other side of the PCB. The leads are typically soldered to the contact pads.
There are several techniques for mounting the shield to the PCB. One technique is to directly solder the shield to a ground plane of a PCB that is proximate to EM and RF emitting components. Another technique involves the use of shield clips coupled to the ground plane of a PCB to which a shield is permanently attached. Another technique involves the use of removable shields attached to shield clips coupled to the ground plane of the PCB.
For the most part, the shields totally encompass the semiconductor components and this presents a problem when both the semiconductor components and the shields are to be embedded in an encapsulant to form a protective package system. In order to have free entry of the encapsulant, however, there must be openings in the shields, but openings in the shields provide escape paths for EM and RF interference.
Thus, a need still remains for an integrated circuit package system that prevents transmission of disruptive electromagnetic energy, but yet still allows for easy encapsulation of a semiconductor component located within a shield. In view of the ever-increasing need to save costs and improve efficiencies, it is more and more critical that answers be found to these problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Integrated circuit package system including shield


A training machine for strength training and rehabilitation includes: a machine frame, a weight carrying frame, a weight package carried by the weight carrying frame, pull or press elements which are turnably provided on the machine frame and which are arranged to be moved backwards and forwards while a selected pre-determined number of weights in the weight package is arranged to be turned about a first axis, alternatively, by connection elements connected to the pull or press elements, and drive members to lift weights by a first force and to lower the weights by a second force, the first force being less than the second force, the weight carrying frame being turnable on the machine frame about a substantially horizontal second axis and the first and second axes being substantially perpendicular to each other.

Such a training machine is previously known by WO 2006/041821. This machine has innumerable parts and is therefore very complicated to as well its construction as its function.
At many already known training machines for anaerobic training the user exercises intended muscles of the body by performing pre-determined movements so that a weight package of a weight stack is lifted or lowered. At efficient training with single-joint movements, as by means of a biceps curl machine or a leg extension machine, as well as with multiple-joint movements, as by means of a rowing machine, a bench press machine or a leg press machine, it is important that the user of the machine can perform a number of positive and negative working cycles intended for the personal capacity of the training person. The positive work means that weights are being lifted and the negative work means that weights are being lowered.
When a person lowers and lifts the same number of weights of a weight package, no consideration is taken to the fact that the negative, i.e., lowering, force of the person is greater than the positive, i.e., lifting, force of the person. Therefore, the effect of the training machine is limited. At training with conventional training machines the number of weights must be selected with regard to the weaker, lifting strength of the training person. The same number of weights is thereafter lowered at the negative part of the movement. Hence, this number of weights is not on a level with the negative strength.
A training machine which takes into consideration the different forces of the training person is known from WO 2007/037755 in which the load is decreased when initiating the positive movement and is increased automatically to its original value at the top of the positive movement just when the user starts the negative movement. Another similar training machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,189 in which the user can chose when the weights are to be tilted. However, at these machines the whole weight rack is tilted which means that the machine must use much space when performing this movement.

Training machine for strength training and rehabilitation


A method and apparatus for playing keno on multiple cards with a two-draw cycle where hits from a first draw are replicated from a primary card to at least one secondary card while misses from a first draw are not replicated from the primary card to the at least one secondary card. An independent second draw for each card completes the game cycle resulting in different game outcomes based off the same first draw cycle. The player is awarded where appropriate for each game outcome on each of the cards played.

The invention relates generally to keno games in live form or as played on an electronic gaming device. In electronic form, keno games are deployed on electronic gaming machines ("EGMs") for use in gaming establishments that are adapted to offer a variety of game types including slot games, video poker games, and other types of wagering games that are commonly deployed at a casino, the bar area of a restaurant, a convenience store or other location where EGMs are in operation for use by players. In particular, the keno game of the present invention permits a player to play multiple keno cards (or tickets) where the player replicates number selections from a primary or first game card into one or more secondary or later game cards. Any numbers selected in a first draw cycle that match those selected by the player are replicated on each of the secondary cards prior to a second draw cycle taking place.
Keno is a standard wagering game where a pool of numbers (usually 80) is used. In live keno, each number in the pool of numbers is represented on a ball in a set of balls which are placed in an enclosure and then selected at random one at time. Once a ball is drawn from the pool it is removed until the end of the game. The selected balls form a set of winning numbers.
There are typically 20 balls drawn from the full set of 80 balls. Players wager on the balls to be chosen by marking the numbers or "spots" on a keno card or ticket. The keno tickets are usually preprinted with a 10×8 matrix of numbered spots from 1 to 80. The player may mark any number of spots up to 20 with the probability of hitting the selected numbers decreasing as the number of selections increases all the way up to the maximum. The player turns in his card to a keno station where he receives a receipt showing the numbers selected and the amount of the wager. After all players submit their wager, the balls are drawn one by one and the players watch the drawing to determine how many "hits" they get from their particular group of selected spots. Once all 20 numbers are drawn, the player is paid on his wager based on an established paytable for the total correct spots selected. Each casino may offer different paytables for the drawing as well as specialty keno bets that may be based on the order of the selected numbers, the pattern of the selections on the card or any number of other variants. Many casinos also pay where a player selects 20 spots and none of the spots are registered as hits. In a live version of the game, any number of players may place a wager and participate in the game. There may be no winners or there may be multiple winners, each being paid according to the established paytable. The term "catch" is used to describe a winning ticket with the total number of hits on that ticket.
Keno paytables are based on the probabilities of a particular number of hits for a game which varies depending on the number of spots initially marked by the player. For example, in a 20 ball draw with 20 spots marked by the player, the number of hits to the odds of successfully catching the number of hits is as follows:
HitsOdds01 in 843.380 (0.11857057%)11 in 86.446 (1.15678605%)21 in 20.115 (4.97142576%)31 in 8.009 (12.48637168%)41 in 4.877 (20.50318987%)51 in 4.267 (23.32607380%)61 in 5.258 (19.01745147%)71 in 6.826 (11.32954556%)81 in 20.055 (4.98618021%)91 in 61.420 (1.62814048%)101 in 253.801 (0.39401000%)111 in 1,423.822 (0.07023351%)121 in 10,968.701 (0.00911685%)131 in 118,084.920 (0.00064685%)141 in 1,821,881.628 (0.00005489%)151 in 41,751,453.986 (0.00000240%)161 in 1,496,372,110.872 (0.00000007%)171 in 90,624,035,964.712181 in 10,512,388,171,906.553191 in 2,946,096,785,176,811.500201 in 3,535,316,142,212,173,800.000
As can be seen in this table1, the probability of hitting 5 of 20 is the highest among the 20 possible numbers available. Typical casino paytables reflect this fact paying a small amount for a low number of hits with escalating payouts for greater numbers of hits. Despite the fact that it is difficult to get "0" or "1" hits, most casino paytables start payouts at a certain number of hits and escalate the payout for a greater number of hits. For example, if five spots are marked, the player will be paid an increasing amount for each of 3, 4 or 5 hits, but not for 0, 1 or 2 hits. Marking ten spots may only pay an award for 5 or more hits. Any card with four or less pays nothing. 1Wikipedia—http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keno
In an electronic version of keno, a single player plays against an EGM. Play on the EGMs typically requires the player to place a wager on the outcome of a random selection of spots on a card where the card is represented as a video image on the display of the EGM. An example of a prior art keno game on a video screen 105 is shown in FIG. 1A. A game card 10 with spots numbered 1-80 is shown in a 10×8 matrix. The player chooses his spots using the touchscreen controls on the EGM display. The games are programmed with a random number generator ("RNG"; see FIG. 3) to randomly generate outcomes and compare those outcomes to a predefined set of possible winning combinations and paytable amounts. The player is awarded for a winning outcome and receives no award for a losing outcome.
In a keno game shown in the example of FIG. 1A, a player may mark up to 15 spots by touching the numbered places or spots on the screen. To unmark a spot that has been mistakenly selected, the player need only touch the marked spot again. Marked spots are highlighted as shown in FIG. 1B which shows game card 10 after the player has completed the spot selection process. It is possible for a player to make a "quick pick" for his any number of spot selections by using the "quick pick" buttons 35 in which case the EGM will automatically pick the selected number of random spots from the 80 shown.
As spots are marked, table 15 is updated to reflect the appropriate paytable for the number of picks selected. In the example game shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the player picks 15 numbers and has the opportunity to win a prize ranging from $2 for picking 6 correct numbers up to $1 million for picking 15 correct numbers. Once all 15 spots have been selected by the player, the spots are locked in and the EGM begins the process of selecting the winning numbers.
FIG. 1C is a screenshot of display 105 after completion of the game where 20 balls are shown below matrix 10 representing the winning numbers. As each number is picked, a ball with that number enters screen 105 on the right side and rolls across to the left until it stops next to any previously selected balls. For each number selected that matches a player selection, a hit is recorded on game card 10 by showing a highlighted circle around the number. Numbers selected that do not match a player selection are shown with an "X" on card 10. At the bottom of screen 105, a number of meters and game play buttons appear in an information bar 17 including a balance meter 25, a wager amount 30 that can be increased or decreased using arrows 30u and 30d, a quick pick selector area 35 which lets any number of quick picks numbers be selected from 1 to 15, a clear button 40 for clearing a card where the player wants to reselect numbers, a repeat button 45 which lets the player repeat number selections from a previous game, a play button 50, an auto-play button 55 which lets the player play multiple games without manually selecting until the balance is used up, and a win meter 60 for showing the winning amount for a game card after play of a game has been completed.
There are different variations of keno that are available on an EGM. In Nevada, keno games always have a minimum draw of 20 numbers and the number of player selected picks is usually limited to a maximum of 10. There are also many variations in how the game is played. For example, there is a game known as Four Card keno in which the player plays four cards simultaneously in the same game. The player may select a different set of spots for each of the four cards. After the wager is placed, a 20 number draw is made and applied to each of the four cards. Each of the four cards is then evaluated to determine if it is a winner based on the number of spots hit (or caught) on each card. If so, the player is paid an award. By playing four cards in the same game, the player has an increased likelihood of having at least one winning card during each 20 number draw, and possibly up to four winning cards on a single 20 number draw.
Other keno variants are also known such as a "way" ticket. Using a way ticket, a player may play multiple spots on multiple cards with predefined groupings of winning numbers. For example, a seven way ticket may be used across three groupings (e.g. Group I, Group II and Group III) of spots of three spots each. The player places seven wagers and is eligible to paid winnings if the any of the groupings are winners: (1) all three spots in Group I; (2) all three spots in Group II; (3) all three spots in Group III; (4) six spots including Group I and Group II; (5) six spots including Group I and Group III; (6) six spots including Group II and Group III; and (7) nine spots including Group I, Group II and Group III. There are multiple variations of way ticket games and any particular way ticket design is at the discretion of the designer.
Historically, the variations of game play for keno has been appealing to players even though there are typically more losing cards than winning cards. As with all wagering games, the game designers and operators of keno games are always striving to find appealing features and game functionality that will generate player excitement and increase, or at least maintain the interest of the player. This is particularly important for a player who has a group of numbers that he believes is lucky or that is due for a hit.
The present invention defines a method of game play and an apparatus that provides more excitement and maintains the interest of the player in the play of keno games. It does so by offering an opportunity to replicate hits from one keno card to one or more additional keno cards wagered on by the player. Like other keno games played in a live format or on an EGM, the player places an initial wager to play. The player selects a set of numbers to play. A random number generator ("RNG") generates a series of outcomes for a particular game that corresponds to a set of selected winning numbers for that game. The player selected numbers are then compared to the selected winning numbers for each marked on a play card. In the event the marked numbers match enough of the selected winning numbers to produce a winning card, the player is awarded a prize in accordance with the paytable. The present invention makes the game more fun and exciting by replicating one or more hits from a primary or first card available for play onto one or more secondary or later cards. The player's probability of a win on the later cards increases because one or more hits are automatically preset on the later cards. This generates more excitement for the player during game play.

Keno game method and apparatus with multiple card hit replication


This invention relates to a portable electronic apparatus capable of performing infrared communication through an infrared emitting/receiving unit including an infrared emitting/receiving element. In this apparatus, the infrared emitting/receiving unit is movably mounted on a main body of the portable electronic apparatus so as to externally change a direction of the infrared emitting/receiving unit. According to the portable electronic apparatus of this invention, the direction of the infrared emitting/receiving unit can be changed over two outer surfaces of the portable electronic apparatus main body, or can slide on at least one outer surface of the portable electronic apparatus main body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable electronic apparatus and, more particularly, to a portable electronic apparatus with an infrared communication function.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, portable electronic apparatuses 21a and 21b such as portable information terminals and notebook type personal computers respectively comprise infrared emitting/receiving element sections 22a and 22b in the apparatus main bodies, as shown in FIG. 1. The portable electronic apparatuses 21a and 21b can perform communication (infrared communication) using infrared IR therebetween through the infrared emitting/receiving element sections 22a and 22b.
In a conventional portable electronic apparatus with an infrared communication function, an infrared emitting/receiving element section is fixed to the electronic apparatus main body. To perform infrared communication between portable electronic apparatuses, the infrared emitting/receiving element sections of the portable electronic apparatuses must face each other.
When, therefore, the direction or position of the portable electronic apparatus is not easily changed, e.g., when users who try to perform infrared communication therebetween in a conference do not sit facing each other, or when information is to be simultaneously transmitted to users, the infrared emitting/receiving element section of a given electronic apparatus must face the infrared emitting/receiving element section of a communication partner's electronic apparatus, resulting in an inconvenient operability.
On the other hand, a remote controller capable of changing the angle of its infrared emitting element in an air conditioner installed in a large room of, e.g., a building is disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-134997.
The structure of this remote controller will be briefly described with reference to a longitudinal sectional view in FIG. 2. A light emitting device 8 of the remote controller comprises an arcuated outer covering portion 7 consisting of an infrared transmitting resin, and a grooved, arcuated guide portion 10. The light emitting device 8 of the remote controller is mounted on a wall 1 through an attachment surface 4.
An infrared emitting element 12 is conductively mounted on a sub-printed board 11. A coupling portion 6 engaged with one end side of a substantially L-shaped hook portion 5 integrally formed with a vertically slidable knob portion 13 is arranged on one end of the sub-printed board 11. The distal end of a support piece 3 extending perpendicularly from the other end side of the hook portion 5 holds the sub-printed board 11.
When, therefore, the knob portion 13 is manually operated in a space portion 2 before mounting, the infrared emitting element 12 is vertically slid. The remote controller can be mounted on the wall after the direction of the infrared emitting element 12 is adjusted to the direction of the air conditioner in advance.
In a wall-mounted remote controller having such a slidable infrared emitting element, the direction of the infrared emitting element 12 can be adjusted to the fixed air conditioner before mounting even if the knob portion 13 is arranged inside.
In a portable electronic apparatus, however, the direction of an infrared emitting element must be freely changeable because the position or direction of a communication partner's electronic apparatus is not always the same.
For this reason, the structure of an infrared emitting element capable of changing its direction only before mounting is not suitable for a portable electronic apparatus.

Portable electronic apparatus with infrared communication function


A method for operation of a broadband access network of a telecommunications network includes: in a first step, a first access functionality primarily associated with a first central office point of delivery is also connected to a second central office point of delivery, and a second access functionality primarily associated with the second central office point of delivery is also connected to the first central office point of delivery; and in a second step, the cluster controller and both a first control functionality or control plane of the first central office point of delivery and a second control functionality or control plane of the second central office point of delivery control whether the first and second access functionalities are served by the first central office point of delivery or second central office point of delivery.

The exchange of packetized information in broadband communication systems or telecommunications networks, both in fixed-line as in wireless communication systems (or fixed-line communication networks and mobile communication networks) has already grown dramatically and probably will also grow in the future due to the rapid spread of different data services in such communication networks.
In conventionally known architectures involving a plurality of central office points of delivery, such a plurality of central office points of delivery are designed for working self-contained. That means that each central office point of delivery is processed as one stand-alone entity or stand-alone central office point of delivery. This creates drawbacks regarding maintenance of central office points of delivery, regarding load-sharing, resiliency as well as providing services and/or service orchestration.

Operation of a broadband access network of a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of central office points of delivery


A method for treating multiple myeloma in a subject by administering 17-allylamino-17-demethoxy-geldanamycin or 17-amino geldanamycin, or a prodrug of either 17-AAG or 17-AG, to the subject.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of treating multiple myeloma using 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin or 17-aminogeldanamycin, or a prodrug of either.
2. Description of Related Art
Multiple myeloma ("MM", also known as myeloma or plasma cell myeloma) is an incurable but treatable cancer of the plasma cell. Plasma cells are an important part of the immune system, producing immunoglobulins (antibodies) that help fight infection and disease. MM is characterized by excessive numbers of abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow ("BM") and overproduction of intact monoclonal immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgD, or IgE; "M-proteins") or Bence-Jones protein (free monoclonal light chains). Hypercalcemia, anemia, renal damage, increased susceptibility to bacterial infection, and impaired production of normal immunoglobulin are common clinical manifestations of MM. MM is often also characterized by diffuse osteoporosis, usually in the pelvis, spine, ribs, and skull.
Therapies for MM include chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation, and salvage therapy. Chemotherapies include treatment with Thalomid® (thalidomide), Velcade® (Bortezomib), Aredia® (pamidronate), steroids, and Zometa® (zoledronic acid). However many chemotherapy drugs are toxic to actively dividing non-cancerous cells, such as cells of the BM, the lining of the stomach and intestines, and the hair follicles. Therefore, chemotherapy may result in a decrease in blood cell counts, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of hair.
Conventional chemotherapy, or standard-dose chemotherapy, is typically the primary or initial treatment for patients with MM. Patients also may receive receive chemotherapy in preparation for high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. Induction therapy (conventional chemotherapy prior to a stem cell transplant) can be used to reduce the tumor burden prior to transplant. Certain chemotherapy drugs are more suitable for induction therapy than others, because they are less toxic to BM cells and result in a greater yield of stem cells from the BM. Examples of chemotherapy drugs suitable for induction therapy include dexamethasone, thalidomide/dexamethasone, VAD (vincristine, Adriamycin® (doxorubicin), and dexamethasone in combination), and DVd (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil®, Caelyx®), vincristine, and reduced schedule dexamethasone in combination).
The standard treatment for MM is melphalan in combination with prednisone (a corticosteroid drug), achieving a response rate of 50%. Unfortunately, melphalan is an alkylating agent and is less suitable for induction therapy. Corticosteroids (especially dexa-methasome) are sometimes used alone as MM therapy, especially in older patients and those who cannot tolerate chemotherapy. Dexamethasone is also used as a form of induction therapy, alone or in combination with other agents. VAD is the most commonly used induction therapy, but DVd has recently been shown to be effective as induction therapy. Bortezomib has been approved recently for the treatment of MM, but it is very toxic. However, none of the existing therapies offer a significant potential for a cure.
17-Allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin ("17-AAG", also sometimes referred to as 17-allylaminogeldanamycin) is a semi-synthetic analog of the naturally occurring compound geldanamycin (Sasaki et al., 1981). Geldanamycin is obtainable by culturing a producing organism, such as Streptomyces hygroscopicus var. geldanus NRRL 3602. Another biologically active geldanamycin derivative is 17-aminogeldanamycin ("17-AG"), which is produced in the human body by metabolism of 17-AAG. 17-AG can also be made from geldanamycin (Sasaki et al. 1979). While geldanamycin and its analogs have been studied intensively as anti-cancer agents in the 1990s (e.g., Sasaki et al., 1981; Schnur, 1995; Schnur et al., 1999), none of them has been approved for anti-cancer use.

17-AAG and geldanamycin are believed to act by binding to and inhibiting the activity of heat shock protein-90 ("Hsp90") (Schulte and Neckers, 1998). Hsp90 acts as a chaperone for the normal processing of many cellular proteins ("client proteins") and is found in all mammalian cells. Stress (hypoxia, heat, etc.) induces a several-fold increase in its expression. There exist other stress induced proteins, such as heat shock protein-70 ("Hsp70"), which also play a role in cellular response to and recovery from stress.
In cancer cells, Hsp90 inhibition leads to disruption of the interaction between Hsp90 and its client proteins, such as erbB2, steroid receptors, raf-1, cdk4, and Akt. For example, exposure to 17-AAG results in depletion of erbB2 and destabilization of Raf-1 and mutant p53 in SKBr3 breast cancer cells (Schulte and Neckers, 1998), depletion of steroid receptors in breast cancer cells (Bagatell et al., 2001), depletion of Hsp90 and down-regulation of Raf-1 and erbB2 in MEXF 276 L melanoma cells (Burger et al., 2004), depletion of Raf-1, c-Akt, and Erk1/2 in colon adenocarcinoma cells (Hostein et al., 2001), down-regulation of intracellular Bcr-Ab1 and c-Raf proteins and reduction of Akt kinase activity in leukemia cells (Nimmanapalli et al., 2001), degradation of cdk4, cdk6, and cyclin E in lung cancer cells with wild-type Rb (Jiang and Shapiro, 2002), and depletion of erbB 1 (EGFR) and erbB2 (p185) levels in NSCLC cells (Nguyen et al., 2000).
Because of the activity of 17-AAG relative to Hsp90 and other proteins involved in oncogenesis and metastasis of cancer cells, a number of clinical investigators have evaluated its effectiveness as an anti-cancer agent in human clinical trials. From these various trials, the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) of the National Cancer Institute recommended these Phase 2 dose/schedule regimens for further study: 220 mg/m2 (mg per square meter of body surface area of the patient or subject) administered twice weekly for 2 out of 3 weeks, 450 mg/m2 administered once a week continuously or with a rest or break, and 300 mg/m2 once a week for 3 weeks out of 4 weeks. Results of various clinical trials—almost exclusively with patients having solid tumors—with 17-AAG generally showed limited clinical activity and are summarized below:    (a) A Phase 1 trial in adult patients with solid tumors was conducted in which patients received 17-AAG daily for 5 days every 3 weeks. The starting dose was 10 mg/m2 and was escalated to 56 mg/m2, with a maximum tolerated dose ("MTD") and recommended Phase 2 dose defined as 40 mg/m2. The protocol was amended to exclude patients with significant pre-existing liver disease, after which patients were treated at doses up to 110 mg/m2 on the same schedule. No objective tumor responses were observed. Due to dose limiting reversible hepatotoxicity, the protocol was further amended to dose patients on a twice weekly schedule every other week starting at a dose of 40 mg/m2 per day. At daily doses of 40 and 56 mg/m2 for 5 days, the peak plasma concentrations were 1,860±660 and 3,170±1,310 nM, respectively. For patients treated at 56 mg/m2 average AUC values for 17-AAG and 17-AG were 6,708 and 5,558 nM*h, respectively, and average t1/2 3.8 and 8.6 hours, respectively. Clearances of 17-AAG and 17-AG were 19.9 and 30.8 L/h/m2, respectively, and Vz values were 93 and 203 L/m2, respectively (Grem et al., 2005).    (b) In a second Phase 1 trial, patients with advanced solid tumors received 17-AAG on a daily×5 schedule at a starting dose of 5 mg/m2. At the 80 mg/m2, dose limiting toxicities (hepatitis, abdominal pain, nausea, dyspnea) were observed but dose escalations nevertheless were continued until the dose reached 157 mg/m2/day. Further dose schedule modifications were implemented to allow twice weekly dosing. At the 80 mg/m2 dose level, the t1/2 was 1.5 hours and the plasma Cmax was 2,700 nM. Similarly, for 17-AG the t1/2 was 1.75 hours and the Cmax was 607 nM. Plasma concentrations exceeded those needed to achieve cell kill (10-500 nM) in in vitro and in vivo xenograft models (Munster et al., 2001).    (c) A Phase 1 trial of 17-AAG was conducted in which patients with advanced solid tumors were treated weekly for 3 out of every 4 weeks at a starting dose of 10 mg/m2, with a recommended Phase 2 dose of 295 mg/m2. Dose escalations reached a dose of 395 mg/m2, at which nausea and vomiting secondary to pancreatitis and grade 3 fatigue were observed. The dosing schedule was amended to allow dosing twice weekly for 3 out of every 4 weeks and twice weekly for 2 out of every 3 weeks. A population pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis was performed on data obtained from this trial. The Vd (volume of distribution) for 17-AAG was 24.2 L for the central compartment and 89.6 L for the peripheral compartment. Clearance values were 26.7 L/h and 21.3 L/h for 17-AAG and 17-AG, respectively. Metabolic clearance indicated that 46.4% of 17-AAG was metabolized to 17-AG. No objective tumor responses have been observed in this trial to date. (Chen et al., 2005).    (d) Another Phase 1 trial in patients with solid tumors and lymphomas was conducted using a weekly dosing for 3 weeks out of a 4 week cycle. The starting dose was 15 mg/m2. Dose escalation reached 112 mg/m2 without significant toxicity and were continued with an objective of reaching a dose range of "biological" activity. The MTD for weekly 17-AAG was reached at 308 mg/m2. No objective tumor responses have been observed to date in this trial, and the levels of Hsp90 client proteins measured were unchanged during therapy. No correlation between chaperone or client protein levels and 17-AAG or 17-AG PK was seen. There was also no correlation between the 17-AAG PK and its clinical toxicity (Goetz et al., 2005).    (e) Another Phase 1 trial was conducted using a once weekly administration schedule, including 11 patients with metastatic melanoma. The starting dose was 10 mg/m2, and dose limiting toxicity was observed at 450 mg/m2/week (grade ¾ elevation of AST). At higher doses (16-450 mg/m2/week) the 17-AAG formulation employed contained 10-40 mL dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) in a single infusion, which likely contributed to the gastrointestinal toxicity that was observed in the trial. Among the patients treated at 320-450 mg/m2, two showed radiologically documented long term stable disease. No complete or partial responses were recorded. At the highest dose level (450 mg/m2) the plasma 17-AAG concentrations exceeded 10 μM and remained above 120 nM for periods in excess of 24 hours. At the highest dose level of 450 mg/m2, the mean volume of distribution was 142.6 L, mean clearance was 32.2 L/h, and the mean peak plasma level was 8,998 μg/L. There was a linear correlation between dose and area under the curve (AUC) for the dose levels studied. Pharmacodynamic (PD) parameters were also measured and induction of the co-chaperone protein Hsp70 was observed in 8 of 9 patients treated at 320-450 mg/m2/week. Depletion of client proteins was also observed in tumor biopsies: CDK4 in 8 out of 9 patients and Raf-1 depletion in 4 out of 6 patients at 24 hours. These data indicated that Hsp90 in tumors is inhibited for between 1 and 5 days. (Banerji et al., 2005).
The in vivo anti-MM activity of 17-AAG has been studied using a model of diffuse GFP positive MM lesions in SCID/NOD mice (Mitsiades et al., 2006). Survival analysis showed that treatment significantly prolonged median overall survival, but non-clinical data are frequently not predictive of clinical activity. As discussed above, this has particularly been the case for 17-AAG in solid tumors, where the promise of pre-clinical data has not been borne out in Phase 1 clinical trials.
Thus, despite intensive efforts to develop 17-AAG as an anti-cancer agent, no regulatory agency has approved it for the treatment of any cancer. There remains a need for methods of dosing and administering 17-AAG and prodrugs of 17-AAG (and its metabolic counterpart 17-AG) so that its potential therapeutic benefits can be realized. The present invention provides such methods that are efficacious in the treatment of MM using 17-AAG.
A list references cited herein is provided at the end of this specification. All documents cited herein are incorporated herein by reference as if each such publication or document were specifically and individually incorporated herein by reference.

Method of treating multiple myeloma using 17-AAG or 17-AG or a prodrug of either


In an apparatus for picking up flat folded tubular blanks from a magazine and for moving the blanks to an erecting station, a horizontal transmission shaft transmits a rotational movement about a first articulation axis to a functional arm hinged with one side to a terminal portion of the transmission shaft. Another side of the functional arm is hinged to an arrangement control mechanism for controlling arrangement of the functional arm about a second articulation axis. The functional arm is also operated into rotation about the first articulation axis between a position in alignment with the functional arm, and a square position arranged at 90 degrees with respect to the functional arm, and vice versa. A pick up arm is connected to arrangement control mechanism and carries suction cups for picking up a flat folded tubular blank through the open bottom of the magazine. The arrangement control mechanism is moved with respect to the second articulation axis for operating the apparatus, beside the operation of the functional arm affected by the transmission shaft, between a picking up station and an erection station for erecting the tubular blank, and vice-versa.

The present invention relates to boxing machines, aimed particularly at picking up flat folded tubular blanks from a magazine, at erecting them with the axis oriented vertically and at filling them along the same direction, with articles of various kinds, such as bottles.
Especially, the invention relates to an apparatus, being an integral part of a boxing machine, and a related method for picking up flat folded tubular blanks from an open and inclined bottom of a magazine and for their transfer to an erecting station.

Method and an apparatus for picking up flat folded tubular blanks from a magazine and for moving them to an erecting station


A method and apparatus are provided for performing natural language translation in a finite domain, e.g., where the finite domain describes a specific subject area or field of use. In one embodiment, a method for translating user input relating to a finite domain includes receiving user input in a source language and translating the user input into a target language in accordance with the finite domain. In some embodiments, the resultant output is substantially grammatically correct and/or sociolinguistically appropriate.

Many situations exist in which the inability to bridge a language barrier can have drastic consequences. For example, medical professionals may need to communicate information regarding health or treatment to patients who speak different languages. If a patient cannot understand the information being communicated, he or she may miss or misunderstand critical information regarding, for example, a regimen for taking prescription drugs. Failure to adhere to the proper regimen can result in further health problems, contagion or even death in some cases.
Because trained human interpreters are not always available to assist in such communications, some such situations may rely on the assistance of an automatic language translation device. However, the capabilities of typical automatic language translation devices are still quite technologically limited and thus may still result in miscommunications. There is therefore still a danger in using such devices to assist in the communication of critical information.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for semantically and grammatically correct natural language translation in a finite domain.

Method and apparatus for natural language translation in a finite domain


A driver capable of achieving favorable workmanship at the time of driving of a fastener into a workpiece to be driven is provided. In a driver having a striking unit; a first bias unit causing the striking unit to strike a fastener; a first operational unit and a second operational unit, and a control unit moving the striking unit in a first direction, the control unit can select a first driving mode, a second driving mode and a limitation mode, the first driving mode moving the striking unit in the first direction so that the fastener is struck when the first operational unit is operated after the second operational unit is pressed against the workpiece to be driven, the second driving mode moving the striking unit in the first direction so that the fastener is struck when the control unit detects the operation of the first operational unit and the pressing of the second operational unit against the workpiece to be driven, and the limitation mode limiting the second driving mode on the basis of a movement state of the striking unit.

Conventionally, a driver that moves a striking unit to cause the striking unit to strike a fastener has been known, and such a driver is described in a Patent Document 1. The driver that is described in the Patent Document 1 has a housing, the striking unit, a motor, a spring, a compression release mechanism and a magazine. The motor is housed in the housing, and the striking unit has a plunger and a blade fixed to the plunger. The plunger can reciprocate inside the housing. The spring biases the plunger in a direction of the striking of the fastener. The housing has a handle and a battery retainer unit. A controller is arranged inside the housing. A trigger is arranged in the handle. When the trigger is operated, a trigger switch is turned ON. A battery is attached/detached to/from the battery retainer unit. A nose is arranged in the housing, and the fastener inside the magazine is fed to the nose. A push lever is arranged in the nose. When the push lever is pressed against a "workpiece to be driven", a push switch is turned ON. The battery, the trigger switch, the push switch and the motor are connected to the controller.
When an operator presses the push lever against the workpiece to be driven while operating the trigger at the time of stop of the striking unit at an idle position, power is supplied from the battery to the motor, so that the motor rotates. The compression release mechanism engages with the striking unit, and the striking unit is moved toward a top dead point by a torque of the motor. By the movement of the striking unit, the spring is compressed. When the striking unit arrives at the top dead point, the compression release mechanism is released from the striking unit, and the striking unit is moved toward a bottom dead point by a force of the spring. By the movement of the striking unit, the fastener is struck by an end of the blade, and the fastener is driven into the workpiece to be driven. After the blade strikes the fastener, the compression release mechanism is engaged with the striking unit by the rotation of the motor, and the striking unit arrives at the idle position, and then, the motor stops. The Patent Document 1 discloses that the operator performs a continuous-shot driving operation as one example of the driving operation by pressing the push lever against the workpiece to be driven while pulling the trigger.


An arrangement for measuring the diffuse reflection of samples and a method for internal recalibration of the measuring head. The spectrometric measuring head with a device for recalibration comprises a housing which is provided with a window and which contains an illumination source, a spectrometer arrangement and at least two standards for internal recalibration. The two standards can be swiveled into the beam path of the measuring head selectively so that the measurement light emitted by the illumination source can be used in its entirety for recalibration. A processor for acquiring and processing measured values and an interface to a bus system are arranged in the housing. Accordingly, relatively time-consuming calibration of the measuring head at the place of use is required only before putting into operation or at longer time intervals. By the internal recalibrations, it is possible to prevent changes in the measured values in long-term operation.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an arrangement for measuring the diffuse reflection of samples, particularly in process measurement technique, and to a method for the internal recalibration of the measuring head.
b) Description of the Related Art
Numerous solutions using spectrometric arrangements for process monitoring are known from the prior art. While no problems arise from measurements under laboratory conditions when standardized conditions are maintained, measurement tasks in process monitoring are subject to special requirements.
Measuring heads for the measurement of diffuse reflections require the two standards, black and white, as measuring means for calibration. The measurement scale is calibrated at the start of the measurement by means of these two standards. The samples to be measured subsequently fall between the two limiting values. Any changes in the measurement conditions can lead to erroneous results.
For example, such changes may result from deposits on the light source due to aging so that the intensity and color temperature of the light can change. Further, thermal influences on the detection system are also possible. These can lead to variations in sensitivity and in the dark signal and can accordingly falsify the measurement results. To prevent this, it is necessary to recalibrate at regular time intervals with the above-mentioned two standards.
As a rule, the measurement sample must be removed from the sample plane and replaced by the two calibrating standards. In process measurement technology this process is not only disruptive and time-consuming but, in some cases, cannot even be implemented. Another possibility consists in positioning the measuring head exactly over the calibrating sample at a location other than the sample measurement location.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,501 A describes a device for measuring the reflectivity of a sample whose measured values are preferably fed to a spectrometer. The measurement device comprises a housing enclosing a measuring head for measuring the light reflected by the object, an opto-electric converter for converting the measured light into electrical signals, a computer unit for processing the electrical signals and for controlling the device, a display unit for displaying the measured values, and an operating unit. When the measurement process is initiated, the measuring head is displaced by a motor from its rest position in the housing to the measurement position outside the housing, and the measurement is carried out. The measuring head then moves to the rest position in the housing again. Reference patterns for calibrating the measuring head are arranged inside the housing. For this purpose, the measuring head is positioned over the respective reference pattern and the corresponding measurement is initiated. It is possible to calibrate based on the reference values stored in the computer unit. Other color standards can be used in addition to a white standard as reference patterns for checking the spectral calibration. Further, the arrangement has a filter wheel which can be displaced together with the measuring head to spectrally influence either the light of the measurement light source or the light reflected by the object. For this purpose, the filters of the filter wheel are positioned in the respective beam path. This solution is disadvantageous in that the calibration takes place in the housing rather than directly at the measurement location. The results of the calibrations can be transferred from the interior of the housing to the external measurement location only with difficulty due to the correspondingly different conditions. Further, the entire measuring head must be exactly positioned on the calibration standard and on the measurement sample by motor in this solution.
A method and a corresponding arrangement for automatic calibration of a color detection system is described in EP 0 010 940 A1. The solution is used to monitor the color of a product and/or use it as a criterion for sorting. The principal areas of application are, for example, monitoring fried potato chips or sorting fruits or vegetables. For this purpose, the products are illuminated by light of a defined wavelength, and the light reflected by the products is evaluated. The solution describes an automatic calibration method for compensating for the influence of fluctuations in color temperature of the light source or random changes in the measurement process. To calibrate the arrangement, a disk with a known color pattern is swiveled in front of the measuring head and the intensity of the reflected light is measured. The measured light signal is compared to a known standard signal so that changes can be determined. This solution is disadvantageous in that it lacks the universality that is only ensured by the spectral information. The color patterns used for calibration are specific to the application.
Patent Application DE 10 2004 021 448.4, which has not yet been published, describes a spectrometric reflection measuring head with internal recalibration in which at least two standards, preferably a black standard and a white standard, are additionally provided in the housing of the measuring head for internal recalibration and can be swiveled selectively into the beam path of the reflection measuring head. After the measurement data of the two standards is acquired by the spectrometer, the recalibration of the reflection measuring head is carried out by the spectrometer by means of the controlling and evaluating unit. In addition, at least two external standards can be provided for calibrating the reflection measuring head before putting the measuring arrangement into operation or at determined time intervals.

Spectrometric measuring probe and method for recalibrating the same


A process for improving the dyeability of fabrics or fibers comprising polyhydroxylzed polymers by the use of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a compound of the formula; ##STR1## and mixtures thereof, wherein R, R', R" and R"' are lower alkyl radicals having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and X is selected from the group consisting of sulfate, sulfonate and halide. The process requires that a dry cauticized fabric be treated with a dilute solution of a lower alkyl ammonium salt so that the fabric contains less than about 50% by weight of water prior to curing.

In the dyeing of cellulosic textile materials and/or the printing thereof, it has been recognized that it is necessary to utilize various reactive compounds of an electropositive character to improve the fixing of the dyestuff on the fabric. Dyestuffs are employed of different characteristics for different textile material and, in general, some fabric are less susceptible to dyeing with certain dyestuffs. Consequently, it has been recognized that there are certain additives which can be used to treat the fabric beforehand and/or simultaneously with the dyestuff to improve dye takeup and the fixing of the dyestuff to the fabric.
It is known to use an epoxy ammonium compound having the following formula: ##STR2## wherein R, R', and R" are alkyl radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms R"' is an alkylene radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, while X-- is an anionic group such as the sulfate group, the sulfonate group or a halide group. The halides which may be used are fluoride, chloride, bromide or iodide.
The additive may be utilized in two distinct processes. The epoxy compound may be applied to the textile material within the dyeing bath or the printing pastes, i.e. in the presence of the dyestuff which is to be taken up by the textile material. Also, the fabric prior to carrying out the dyeing process can be treated with the epoxy compound.
It is known to fix the additive to cellulosic materials in the presence of an alkaline substance whose concentration increases inversely with the treatment temperature. In other words, higher concentrations of the alkaline substance are necessary with lower temperatures, and higher temperatures are required when lower concentrations of the alkaline substance are used. Generally, the alkaline substance is a strong base, preferably caustic soda, and extremely high concentrations are applied by the prior art to ensure fixation at low temperatures.
However, treatments at elevated temperatures have become preferable to lowertemperature treatments utilized in the prior art because of faster processing and higher yields obtainable in industrial equipment.
It is known that treatment of the textile material at high temperature, after it has been impregnated with the epoxypropylammonium salt, gives rise invariably to a strong yellowing thereof. The yellowing may not be removed in the course of the usual subsequent treatments.
Such yellowing constitutes a considerable handicap to the use of the epoxypropylammonium salts at high temperatures.
The yellowing modifies or dulls the desired color and makes it impossible to obtain a white background in the printing of fabrics.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,685,953 to Cuvelier et al discloses a process of treating a hydrolyzed polymer such as cellulose with an epoxypropylammonium salt of the invention or the corresponding chlorohydrin and then drying at a high temperature. However, the process results in low yields.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,853,460 to Balland relates to the use of alkylsulfosuccinates and alkylsulfosuccinamates with epoxypropylammonium salts to prevent hydrolysis of the compound to the dihydroxy compound.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,072,464 to Balland relates to the use of boric acid with an epoxypropylammonium salt to improve dye penetration of a cellulosic fabric and to decrease yellowing. The fabric is then heat treated at an elevated temperature.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,035,145 relates to the use of N-(2,3-epoxyalkyl) ammonium salts such as N-methyl-N-(2,3-epoxypropyl)-morpholinium chloride in the presence of alkaline compounds to improve the dyeability of cellulosic textiles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,125 to Patton et al discloses the use of an epoxypropyl ammonium salt or the corresponding chlorohydrin to improve the bleaching process of cellulosic fabrics.
It is understood that the term "polyhydroxylized polymer" as used herein relates to natural and synthetic polymers containing free hydroxyl groups which include cotton, flax, linen, rayon, polyvinyl alcohol, and the like.
The term "fabric" as used herein refers to fibers, yarns, tows, mats, battings, cloth, and the like which comprise the polyhydroxylized polymer alone or in blends with other natural or synthetic fibers such as wool, polyester, nylon, etc.

Process for improving the dyeability of fabrics and fibers


An aluminium-zinc-hot-dipped and colour-coated steel plate having yield strength of ≥500 MPa and a high elongation and a manufacturing method thereof, with the chemical components in mass percentage of a substrate of the steel plate being: 0.07-0.15% of C, 0.02-0.5% of Si, 1.3-1.8% of Mn, N≤0.004%, S≤0.01%, Ti≤0.15%, Nb≤0.050%, and the balance being Fe and other inevitable impurities, and meanwhile satisfying the conditions of: (C+Mn/6)≥0.3%; Mn/S≥150; Nb satisfying 0.01%≤(Nb-0.22C-1.1N)≤0.05% where no Ti is contained; Ti satisfying 0.5≤Ti/C≤1.5 where no Nb is contained; and 0.04%≤(Ti+Nb)≤0.2% where Ti and Nb are added in combination. The steel plate has a tensile strength of ≥550 MPa, an elongation after fracture of ≥15%, a good strength and toughness and an excellent corrosion resistance.

Colour-coated plates in China are mainly used in the construction field, in which profiled housing wall sheets require a high strength, a good toughness and an excellent corrosion resistance. Many Chinese users (especially users in the construction industry) need colour-coated plates for structural use to, without loss of elongation, improve the strength of a structural member and reduce the weight, achieving a high strength, a reduced thickness and a reduced cost.
Among aluminium-zinc-hot-dipped steel plates produced in China at present, products having a higher yield strength and higher tensile strength all have a low elongation due to the limitation of process conditions, and in cases where the plasticity requirements are higher, these may not satisfy the requirements, which greatly limits the application and promotion of aluminium-zinc-hot-dipped steel plates.
For example, Chinese patent CN 102363857 B discloses a method for producing a 550 MPa-yield strength colour-coated plate for structural use, wherein Ti and Nb involved in the plate are at most 0.005% and 0.0045%, respectively, the yield strength RP0.2 of the plate reaches 550-600 MPa, the tensile strength Rm is 560-610 MPa, and the elongation after fracture A80 mm is ≥6%. The strengthening method for the plate mainly relates to retaining most of banded structures, which have not been recrystallized, by means of low-temperature annealing to increase the strength, resulting in the elongation after fracture being merely 6% and poorer plasticity.
Chinese patent CN 100529141 C discloses a full-hard aluminium-zinc-dipped steel plate and a production method for the full-hard aluminium-zinc-dipped steel plate, wherein the steel plate provided by the method has a yield strength reaching 600 MPa or higher, an elongation at fracture of ≤7% and a total content of Ti and Nb of 0.015-0.100%, and the annealing temperature is controlled at 630-710° C. to obtain the full-hard steel plate; however, the plasticity of the full-hard steel plate cannot meet the processing requirements for formability. The requirements of a yield strength of ≥500 MPa, a tensile strength of ≥550 MPa and an elongation after fracture of ≥15% cannot be met.
Chinese patent CN 200710093976.8 discloses an aluminium-zinc-hot-dipped steel plate for deep drawing and a production method for the aluminium-zinc-hot-dipped steel plate, wherein an IF steel substrate is used to produce the aluminium-zinc-hot-dipped product, and the substrate has ≤0.01% of a component C, which indicates that the steel is an ultra-low carbon steel, a yield strength of 140-220 MPa, a tensile strength reaching 260-350 MPa and an elongation of greater than 30%; however, the product cannot meet the requirements of a yield strength of ≥500 MPa and a tensile strength of ≥550 MPa.
Chinese patent CN 103911551 A discloses an aluminium-zinc-hot-dipped steel plate and a preparation method for the aluminium-zinc-hot-dipped steel plate, and products with a yield strength of 250-310 MPa, a tensile strength of 300-380 MPa and an elongation of ≥30% can be prepared, wherein the soaking time of the process for the steel plate is 40-120 s, which soaking time is too long, leading to grain coarsening, and the strength grade of the steel plate is low.
At present, there is a great demand for aluminium-zinc-dipped and colour-coated products in the fields such as the steel structure construction industry with the requirements of a high wind uplift resistance, a high corrosion resistance, a high strength and a high elongation. However, high-strength low-alloy aluminium-zinc-hot-dipped and colour-coated products with a yield strength of ≥500 MPa, a tensile strength of ≥550 MPa and an elongation of ≥15% are all blank all over the world.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

500 MPA yield strength-graded, high-stretchability hot-dip aluminum-zinc and color-coated steel plate and manufacturing method therefore


The invention relates to a method and to apparatus determining the exact position of a target relative to a reference of known co-ordinates. The apparatus comprises a source of radiation for forming an image of a target, which image is received by a receiver device situated beyond the target. A mask-forming device is interposed between the receiver device and the source of radiation, the mask-forming device including at least one localization means of known position relative to a reference point and suitable for forming an image in said image-forming radiation, means are also provided for displacing the radiation source in three dimensions, at least between two different angular positions, thereby displacing the co-ordinates of two different images of the target obtained from the two different angular positions of the source. The invention makes it possible to determine the exact position of a target with a very high degree of precision using a method which is simple and which limits the radiation dose. The target may be a cell or a stone or a bone to be treated.

Various methods and apparatuses are already known for determining the exact position of a target by using a source of radiation emitting radiation which can be received by a receiver device, the said source and said receiver device being disposed on opposite sides of said target (see EP-A-0 242 565 or EP-A-0 260 550).
In prior apparatuses, the source of radiation is exclusively a source of X-rays, thereby tending to subject a patient to considerable doses of X-ray irradiation, which is not desirable.
Further, prior methods and apparatuses require the X-ray source and the radiation receiver device to be fully integrated with equipment for treating the target, which means that radiation sources that may already exist in treatment centers are unsuitable, thereby considerably increasing the cost of such apparatuses.
Another major drawback of prior methods and apparatuses lies in the fact that they require the initial position of the source to be known, which is why they need to be fully integrated in the target treatment equipment.
Thus a main object of the present invention is to solve the novel technical problem consisting in determining the exact position of a target independently of a priori knowledge of the position in three dimensions of the source of radiation.
Another main object of the present invention is to solve the novel technical problem consisting in providing a method and an apparatus for determining the exact position of a target without a priori knowledge of the distance and/or angular position in three dimensions of the source of radiation relative to said target, the apparatus being simple in design and cheap.
Another object of the present invention is to solve the novel technical problem consisting in providing a method and apparatus for determining the exact position of a target independently of a priori knowledge of the position in three dimensions of the source of radiation making use of a source of radiation which is independent of the target treatment equipment, which is particularly advantageous for therapeutic treatment of targets that may be constituted, for example, by cells, lithiases or concretions, or bones to be treated. The invention also makes it possible to use sources of radiation that are available in treatment centers for other purposes.
Another object of the present invention is to solve the novel technical problems specified above with a minimum of manipulation, in particular using a minimum number of steps or taking a minimum number of pictures with the localization apparatus, thus limiting the dose of exposure to the radiation emitted by the localization apparatus, which is particularly important when the localization apparatus emits X-rays.
Another object of the present invention is to solve the novel technical problem consisting in determining the exact position of a target without having to displace the patient.
For the first time, the present invention makes it possible to solve the technical problems specified above simultaneously, particularly simply, cheaply, and in a manner
that is usable on an industrial scale.

Method and apparatus for determining the position of a target relative to a reference of known co-ordinates and without a priori knowledge of the position of a source of radiation


In an embodiment, the disclosed technologies include identifying a content item of a first digital data source as a candidate for linking with a target entity of a second digital data source by matching a candidate entity mentioned in the content item to the target entity in accordance with semantic similarity data computed between the candidate entity and the target entity; inputting at least one feature of the content item and at least one feature of the target entity to a set of digital models that analyze the at least one feature of the content item and the at least one feature of the target entity and determine and output qualitative data; based on the qualitative data, determining link risk data; based on the link risk data and the semantic similarity data, and determining whether to generate a link between the content item and the target entity.

In computer systems, entity resolution may refer to an automated process by which a computer determines whether the identity of an entity mentioned in the text of one data source matches the identity of an entity mentioned in the text of another data source. Entity resolution has been performed using natural language processing techniques that extract entities from data sources and determine whether they match. The data sources containing entities to be matched can be heterogenous; for example, a document and a search query, or homogenous; for example, two different documents. Entities are typically indicated by text descriptors, such as nouns alone or in combination with other parts of speech; for example, "autonomous vehicle" or "software developer."
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.


A system of elements capable of transferring thermal energy from outside to inside a building or vice versa, has abutting waterproof trays (a) enclosing tubes (d) at their junction. Correspondingly long slotted profiles (b) enclosing the joints and held captive by them may be rotated to allow the insertion of rigid elements (c) sequentially so that adjacent pairs of profiles (b) are restrained from further rotational movement and provide a planar surface. Rigid elements (c) of sufficient density may provide a flat roof which is self-ballasting against wind uplift without penetrative fixings to the sub-surface.

Batten-roll and batten-cap metal roofing with lap-joints have been around for centuries. Similarly, patent glazing incorporating metal and glass has been used very successfully on buildings for many years but unjointed examples are restricted by the length of the glass panes. In contrast, standing seem continuous tray roofing is comparatively new. It is becoming increasingly common, however, because of its secret clip-fixing which does not penetrate the external coverings. The slope necessary to drain these designs has been reduced to a few degrees but there are a few examples of this technology which are true pedestrian areas. In order to ensure water tightness it has hitherto been necessary to incorporate continuous impervious membranes in roofs with shallow falls. This usually precludes the design from being vapor permeable without special detailing for this, and thermal expansion. Such membranes are usually materials which do not conduct thermal energy efficiently and are consequently poor candidates for collecting solar energy.


A monitoring device may include logic to receive arterial blood pressure data associated with a patient and receive tissue hemoglobin data associated with the patient. The logic may also calculate a linear correlation between the arterial blood pressure data and the tissue hemoglobin data. The correlation may be used to assess vascular reactivity.

Cerebral pressure autoregulation is typically defined as the maintenance of a constant cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the face of changing cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). In healthy individuals, this process protects the brain during transient changes in arterial blood pressure (ABP). However, various medical traumas, such as traumatic brain injuries, strokes, cardiopulmonary bypass, etc., may impair cerebral pressure autoregulation. Impairment of autoregulation narrows the range of blood pressures at which flow is matched to metabolic needs.
The brain's primary mechanism to maintain constant or nearly constant CBF is by varying the resistance associated with blood vessels supplying blood to the brain. For example, the brain may control the diameters of these blood vessels to allow the blood vessels to supply more or less blood to the brain, depending on the metabolic need. Therefore, vascular reactivity is an important component by which constant blood flow to the brain is maintained.
One current medical diagnostic method to measure or assess cerebral vascular reactivity generates a pressure reactivity index that uses intracranial pressure as a surrogate of intracranial blood volume, and detects passivity of blood volume to arterial blood pressure, which is used to indicate loss of vascular reactivity. Such methods, however, require complex monitoring devices, such as transcranial probes, that are cumbersome and difficult to maintain in the proper position on a patient to obtain accurate data, or intracranial probes that must be inserted into the skull of a patient. As a result, such methods may be ill-suited for use with many types of patients, such as patients in critical condition, pediatric patients, geriatric patients, etc.


Embodiments of a system for food quality image classification are disclosed for classifying food items as either damaged or not damaged, and if damaged, the type of damage. Damage classification may be performed in multiple stages, for example, RGB data may be used in a first classification, and HSV data may be used in a second classification, such as whether damage is from bruising or decay. Blurring may improve determination accuracy, and an ongoing feedback and training loop may improve accuracy results over time.

Food classification is a time-consuming, labor-intensive task, using hundreds of quality inspectors at various grocery distribution centers (GDCs). Manually-classified images are often identified as No Damage, Damage Bruised, and Damage Decayed. The inspectors are highly skilled in performing the classification tasks, however manual classification of fruits and vegetables is time consuming, and subjectivity may lead to inconsistencies—not only among different inspectors, but also by a single inspector at different times.


The arrangement in connection with a lighting fixture, and a lighting fixture, the arrangement comprising a first light source which is arranged in connection with the lighting fixture structure. The arrangement further comprises one or more second light sources and an optic guide, which comprises a first end, a second end and a guide portion between them; is arranged to transmit light over the guide portion between the first end and the second end; and is arranged in connection with a lighting fixture to provide dimmer lighting compared with the lighting provided with the first source, whereby one or more second light sources is/are arranged in connection with one end or both ends of the optic guide and to function as the light source of the optic guide.

The present invention relates to an arrangement in connection with a lighting fixture, the arrangement comprising a first light source arranged in connection with the lighting fixture structure.
In several objects of use of lighting fixtures, adaptability is required of the lighting according to the particular lighting needs and possibly changing conditions. This is the case for instance in public transport vehicles, such as buses, trains and trams, where the level of lighting is adjusted in accordance with generally changing conditions and to make passengers feel more comfortable.
Also inside buildings it is often recommendable to be able to dim the lighting without darkening the particular space completely. Such is the case for example in various serviced flats and the like, where there must always be some kind of lighting in the corridors.
In public transport vehicles, the lighting in the passenger cabin is adjusted for instance in such a way that when the external lighting decreases, the level of lighting in the passenger cabin is lowered, so that the contrast between the lighting conditions outside the vehicle and inside it would not disturb passengers. Dimmed lighting also creates better conditions for sleeping in the passenger cabin. During dimmed lighting, it is typically possible for the passengers to use personal reading lamps, if desired.
Decreasing the lighting is also applied when a vehicle is transported without passengers. In such a case, it is unnecessary to maintain full lighting in the passenger cabin, but for the sake of the driver's safety and the passengers' comfort, there is a reason to maintain some lighting in the passenger cabin.
Presently, decreasing the lighting is implemented in vehicle passenger cabins by using lamps that can be dimmed. A dimming function becomes possible for instance by using fluorescent lamps, the actuator of which is an electronic ballast. Using such a ballast allows the lighting provided with a fluorescent lamp to be dimmed steplessly up to a certain level. However, the minimum lighting provided with fluorescent lamps is in the order of 2 to 5% of the ordinary lighting level of the lamp, this minimum level being often too strong to be comfortable, in particular during dark times. Further, the overall efficiency of fluorescent lighting is significantly reduced because of dimming, whereby, however, the energy consumption for example at a lighting level of 5% is as much as 30% of the ordinary level due to the additional equipment and heater circuits required for the burning of a fluorescent lamp.
Another option to decrease lighting in passenger cabins is to use only a part of the passenger cabin lamps. Partial use of lamps causes, however, uneven distribution of light, there being apparent differences in lighting in different parts of the passenger cabin. Further, partial use of lamps consumes the lamps used for lighting unevenly and causes thus additional maintenance costs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,658 discloses a fiber-optic lighting system for aircrafts. In the system of the publication, fiber-optic cables are used alone for lighting an aircraft cabin. Light is supplied to the fibers by using a high-intensity lamp, and the lighting provided by the fibers is used as the general lighting of the aircraft.

Arrangement in connection with a lighting fixture, and a lighting fixture


A socket with a night light function includes a housing, a connecting unit and a light emitting unit. The housing includes a base, a transmitting light member and a cover. The transmitting light member is sandwiched between the base and the cover. The connecting unit is disposed in the housing and is electrically connected to a plug. The light emitting unit includes a light emitting element disposed in the base, a photosensitive switch, a touch switch and a controller. The light emitting element, the photosensitive switch and the touch switch are all in signal connection with the controller. The photosensitive switch collaborates with the touch switch to control the operation of the light emitting element; the light intensity around the socket is increased by means of the light emitting element and the transmitting light member. The socket is convenient to use and has multiple functions.

Power sockets are indispensable in daily life and offices, and various wires can be plugged into the power sockets to be connected to other circuits. The wires are connected or disconnected with copper elements to close or open these circuits.
At present, the sockets have single function, thus being unable to meet user requirements and inconvenient to use.


One of the methods includes positioning the physiological data acquirer on the body of a mammal with the electrodes exposed to the body; activating a data acquisition mode of operation of the physiological data acquirer and acquiring physiological data from the user when in said data acquisition mode. Another one of the methods includes extracting the acquired data using a data extraction device.

Moreover, in ECG data acquisition devices, signal quality will be impacted by various sources of undesired signals, later referenced as noise. The most common categorization for these sources of noise are: external electrical noise, physiological noise and baseline noise originating from the electrode to skin interface. For example, long signal leads can induce external electrical noise through cable connections to the patient. Also, body movements, generating muscular activity localized in the vicinity of the ECG electrodes is the most common source of physiological noise. Muscular contractions produces electrical potentials (EMG—electromyography signals) that are additive to the ones created by the heart. Since the frequency content of EMG is comparable to the frequency content of ECG, conventional signal processing techniques will not be efficient at removing EMG noise to improve ECG signal quality.
Accordingly, there always remains room for improvement.

Wearable physiological data acquirer and methods of using same