The present invention relates to the field of immunology, molecular biology and therapeutics. In particular, the invention relates to novel artificial feeder cells for activation and expansion of natural killer (NK) cells. The artificial feeder cell expresses endogenous ligands (HLA C1, C2, 5 and Bw4 type) for killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs), non-KIR binding Bw6 ligand, endogenous HLA-E-ligand for inhibitory NKG2A receptor, and comprises at least one stimulatory cytokine either membrane bound or secreted or at least one co-stimulatory ligand where those ligands and cytokines each specifically bind to a cognate receptor on a NK cell of interest, thereby mediating expansion of the NK cell. The invention can be used as an “off the 10 shelf” artificial feeder cell that can be readily designed to expand a NK cell or a NK subset of interest and also specifically expand NK cells modified with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). By genetically introducing or knockdown of candidate genes, the artificial feeder cell of the invention can be used to identify the stimulatory, co-stimulatory, and any other factors that mediate growth, expansion and cytotoxicity of a NK cell. Thus, the present invention provides 15 powerful tools for development of novel therapeutics where activation and expansion of the NK cell and of the CAR-NK cell can provide a benefit.

Natural killer (NK) cells develop from CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors, are characterized by CD56+CD3− surface expression and comprise about 5-15% of circulating lymphocytes. They belong to the innate immune system and stand at the first defense line against viruses and transformed cells. NK cells use an array of germline-encoded activating and inhibitory receptors which are epigenetically regulated in a stochastic, variegated pattern, resulting in an overlapping diversity of NK cell subsets [1, 2]. With their receptors NK cells sense virus-infected cells or malignant cells displaying altered surface expression of activating and inhibitory NK cell ligands. They exert potent cytotoxic responses to cellular targets and thus are candidate effector cells for immunotherapy of cancer and of viral infections. NK cells receiving appropriate activating signals expand, release cytokines such as interferon (IFN)-γ, and kill target cells via the perforin-granzyme pathway or via death-receptor ligands [3, 4]. Tolerance of NK cells for self is mainly achieved by inhibitory killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) and CD94/NKG2A-receptors on NK cells for HLA class I molecules on somatic cells [3]. Interactions of those inhibitory receptors with HLA class I molecules on autologous normal cells induce dominant negative signals which override activating signals and therefore prevent cytotoxic activity as defined by the "missing-self" hypothesis [5, 6]. The inhibitory heterodimer CD94/NKG2A binds to non-classical HLA-E presenting an HLA class I leader peptide [7, 8]. Thereby CD94/NKG2A indirectly senses the presence of HLA class I on cells. The genes encoding the inhibitory KIR receptors are inherited as haplotypes, and are most variable in terms of both gene content and sequence polymorphism [9, 10]. For the dominant inhibitory KIRs their cognate ligands have been identified: KIR2DL2/3 and KIR2DL1 recognize C1 and C2 ligands from the HLA-C locus, respectively [11-13]. Weaker ligands include the Bw4 motif of HLA-B alleles and some HLA-molecules which are recognized by KIR3DL1 and certain HLA-A3 and HLA-A11 alleles which bind to KIR3DL2 [14-16]. So far no KIR has been detected in humans which binds the Bw6 motif of HLA-B alleles, so the Bw6 motif defines "non-KIR binding" alleles. Another inhibitory receptor, the immunoglobulin-like transcript 2 (ILT2) expressed on NK cell subsets, also designated leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor subfamily B member 1 (LIRLB1) or CD85j binds to a broad range of HLA class I molecules [17]. All inhibitory NK cell receptors in humans contain at least one intracellular immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM), which recruits and activates SHP-1- and SHIP-1 phosphatases associated with inhibitory NK cell signaling [3].
Human peripheral NK cells are generally divided in tow subsets based on relative CD56 surface expression. CD56bright cells only account for a minority of peripheral blood NK cells (˜10%) and develop from hematopoietic stem cells [18]. Experimental evidence supports the notion that CD56dim NK cells, which accounts for approximately for 90% of peripheral blood NK cells, develop from CD56bright cells [19, 20]. During this development, CD56dim NK cells lose expression of NKG2A inhibitory receptor and acquire the expression of at least one KIR. Terminally differentiated CD56dim NK cells are furthermore characterized by the CD57 surface marker. Notably, this maturation process from CD56bright to CD56dim NK cells is unidirectional [19]. The CD56bright NK cell subset differs from the CD56dim subset by a higher proliferative potential [19] which is an important issue when considering methods for expansion of NK cells or NK cell subsets. Whereas transplanted CD56bright/NKG2A+ NK cells cannot elicit alloreactivity, transplanted CD56dim NK cells with a single KIR or more can exhibit alloreactivity when sensing absence of the cognate recipient HLA class I ligand(s) (cognate KIR-ligand(s)).
In particular, in human stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and adoptive NK cell therapy for treatment of leukemia, alloreactive donor cells are employed for achieving a graft versus leukemia effect. However, the beneficial clinical effect of NK-cell alloreactivity has not been uniformly demonstrated, likely reflecting differences in conditioning regimens, graft product and post-transplant immune suppression [21-23].
In the past immunotherapy with NK cells has often been limited by the inability to obtain sufficient numbers of pure NK cell populations for cancer treatment. To date, NK cell expansion can be greatly enhanced by feeder cells derived from tumor cell lines or PBMCs. Therefore, co-culture systems of irradiated feeder cells and NK cells in media containing IL-2, IL-15 and IL-21 have been developed to generate large numbers of NK cells. Commonly used feeder cell lines are Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-transformed 721.221, EBV-transformed B cells (EBV-LCLs), EBV-/bcr-ab/-transformed RPM18866 and bcr-ab/-transformed K562 [24-27]. Stimulation with NK-sensitive K562 cells, which lacks protective HLA class I expression, is known to augment NK cell proliferation to IL-2, IL-15, and IL-21 in combination [26, 28]. In a further development K562 cells were genetically modified to express 4-1 BBL (CD137L) plus membrane-bound IL-15 or loading endogenous IL15Rα on K562 cells with recombinant human (rh)IL-15 to provide juxtacrine signaling to NK cells. 4-1 BBL and IL-15 signaling acts synergistically with exogenously added rhIL-2 to augment K562-specific NK stimulatory capacity, resulting in strong expansion of peripheral blood NK cells without concomitant growth of T lymphocytes [29, 30].
A method for large-scale clinical grade expansion of NK cells based on irradiated K562-mIL15-4-1 BBL and rhIL-15-loaded K562-4-1 BBL feeder cells is used in clinical studies and represents the state of the art for expanding NK cells to large numbers for immunotherapy of cancer [31, 32]. However, NK cell expansion technology using these artificial feeder cells and of similar so far described K562-derivatives modified with for instance membrane-bound MIC-A plus 4-1-BBL [33] or membrane-bound IL-21 plus 4-1 BBL [34], comes along with the probability of unwanted off-target effect, which limits its clinical use. So far all K562-derived artificial feeder cells are lethally irradiated prior use, which induces stress-induced NK cell ligands (induced self) such as MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence A/B (MIC-A/B) or UL-16 binding proteins (ULBPs) which bind to the activating NK cell receptor NKG2D [35, 36]. Furthermore these K562 feeder cells lacks protective HLA-class I expression and consequently expansion of co-cultivated NK cells is pre-dominantly achieved by "missing self" [35] in combination with "induced self" [36] recognition and hyper-activation through IL-15/4-1 BBL or mIL-21/4-1 BBL with concomitant exogenous delivery of rhIL-2. When transplanted, such expanded NK cells have a higher intrinsic capacity to cause an unwanted "Graft versus Host Disease" (GvHD) as observed in matched unrelated donor and matched sibling donor recipients receiving IL-15/4-1 BBL-activated NK cells or recipients receiving mIL-21/4-1 BBL-activated allogeneic NK cells [31, 37]. The development of a HLA-class I-positive feeder cell line, which limits "missing self" and "induced self"-driven expansion and restrains the development of hyperactive NK cells might be advantageous and has not been pursuit so far.
Furthermore, for continuous expansion of NK cells with K562-derived artificial feeder cells it is mandatory to consecutively add fresh rhIL-2 or rhIL-15 or to consecutively add fresh rhIL-2 in combinatorial use with rhIL-15, rhIL-21 and rhIL-18, respectively, to the cell culture medium. A feeder cell line further genetically engineered to secrete moderate amounts of interleukin allowing the fully independent proliferation of NK cells would save costs, would be advantageous for preclinical research as well as for clinical use and has not been described thus far.
A further promising approach to fight cancer cells is based on a subset of highly differentiated CD56dim NK cells, usually termed "adaptive" or "memory-like" NK cells. Such NK cells are characterized by acquisition of the activating NKG2C receptor and CD57, are devoid of NKG2A inhibitory receptor and display strong expression of unique KIR repertoires [19, 38]. It is well known that inhibitory NKG2A binds with higher affinity to HLA-E presenting nonameric peptides derived from classical HLA molecules than the activating NKG2C [39]. Increasing frequencies of NKG2C cells occurs naturally in vivo in response to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection and higher frequencies of NKG2C+ NK cells are frequently observed in HCMV-seropositive donors [40, 41]. During infection HCMV downregulates classical HLA-expression of infected cells and therefore evades recognition by T-cells. To evade missing self-recognition and destruction by NK cells, HCMV upregulates classical HLA-homologues [42] and stabilizes HLA-E surface expression levels through loading of HLA-E with nonamer peptides derived from the signal sequence from the viral UL40 protein which are identical to nonamer peptides derived from signal sequences of HLA class I molecules and non-classical HLA-G [41, 43, 44]. Consequently, when confronted with HCMV-infected cells, cytotoxicity of CD94/NKG2A-positive NK cells is dampened whereas CD94/NKG2C-positive NK cells can react against HCMV-infected cells.
Recent efforts disclosed in WO2014037422 focused on expansion of NKG2C+/CD57+-positive NK cells originating from relatively less-differentiated KIR-positive NKG2C+/CD57− NK cells using 722.221-derived feeder cells genetically modified with an artificial HLA-A2-signal-peptide-HLA-E (AEH), which serves as ligand for NKG2A and C. By implementing single expression of HLA C1, C2 and Bw4 in the 722.221-AEH feeder cell line, a skewing of NKG2C+NK cells from peripheral blood to alloreactive single KIR-positive NK cell products for cancer therapy was demonstrated. More specifically, WO2014037422 disclose that skewing of the NK cell population to differentiated single inhibitory KIR-positive NK cells with simultaneous expression of NKG2C+/CD57+, which showed an enhanced alloreactivity towards target cells lacking the cognate self KIR-ligand. So far, this method represents the state of the art for producing NKG2C+ NK cells. A major unresolved problem of this method for selective expansion of NKG2C+ NK cells is disclosed in an accompanying publication to WO2014037422 and relates to the low expansion rate of in the mean of 2.4-fold. Therefore, said method is not sufficient to enable production of clinical relevant cell numbers for adoptive cell therapy [45]. Furthermore, said method for the selective expansion of NKG2C+ NK cells still relies on exogenously given recombinant human cytokines. A feeder cell line enabling an autonomous and efficient selective expansion to produce a highly pure NKG2C+ NK cell product and devoid of NKG2A expression would be advantageous for preclinical research as well as for clinical use and has not been described thus far.
Another hurdle when considering NKG2C+ NK cells for adoptive cellular therapy relates to the often low frequency of NKG2C+ NK cells in donors which is accompanied by the inability to expand those cells to meaningful numbers and purity [46]. Therefore, a method, which enables selective and efficient expansion of NKG2C+ NK cells from donors lacking pre-existing expansions, more specifically having NKG2C+ NK cell frequencies below 15%, is needed. Accomplishing this objective will improve adoptive cell therapy with NKG2C+ NK cells in the autologous as well as in the allogeneic setting.
Conceptually, for production of clinical relevant numbers of NKG2C NK cells, it is essential to use a cell subset with high proliferative capacity, namely CD56bright NK cells that represent 5-10% of peripheral blood NK cells instead of differentiated KIR+/NKG2C+/CD57+ or less differentiated KIR+/NKG2C+/CD57− NK cells having less proliferative capacity. A method which promotes expansion of CD56bright NK cells and at the same time enables CD56bright NK cells to differentiate into NKG2C+ NK cell subsets has not been described so far and is highly desired.
Another promising immunotherapeutic approach, which utilizes NK cells, is based on chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). CARs redirect immune effector cells towards surface exposed tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) [47]. They are usually designed by fusing the TAA-specific variable domains of an antibody to intracellular signaling domains of immunoreceptors and co-stimulatory molecules (i.e. CD34, CD28, 4-1 BB) [47]. The genetic engineering of T cells with CARs (CAR-T cells) has been demonstrated to confer a high-affinity specific recognition of TAAs in an human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I-independent fashion and can result in efficient tumor cell death and tumor regression in cancer patients [47, 48].
CAR-modified NK cells (CAR-NK cells) may have several advantages when compared to CAR-T cells. They are short-lived effector cells, which in contrast to CAR-T cells would not need "suicide genes" to prevent long lasting "on-target off tissue" effects [4, 49]. In comparison to T cells the cytokine-production profile of NK cells mainly consists of IFN-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and is devoid of IL-2 [50-52]. In particular IL-2 amplifies deleterious off-target side effects such as cytokine release syndrome [53-55] and brain edema [56, 57], which occurred with CAR-T cells encountering high numbers of TAA-positive targets or unforeseen target gene expression on healthy tissue. In this regard, normal tissues displaying moderate TAA levels might have sufficient amounts of protective HLA class I molecules, which limit cytotoxic activity of CAR-NK cells.
To date, retro- and lentiviral transductions are currently the most utilized method to genetically modify NK cells and represent the state of the art for manufacturing CAR-NK cells with stable expression of the transgene. Further protocols to genetically modify NK cells include trogocytosis and electroporation of mRNA [58, 59]. However, both methods only provide transient expression of the CAR which limits effectiveness in vivo [58, 59]. So far, due to the intrinsic resistance of NK cells, their transduction with retroviral and lentiviral vectors has been a major challenge [60]. Furthermore, although CAR-NK cells maintain their effector function, their expansion to clinical applicable numbers remained a major hurdle and has not been solved so far. Therefore, a method for selective expansion of CAR-NK cells after genetic manipulation is highly needed and would represent a substantial step towards the clinical use of CAR-NK cells.

Artificial HLA-positive feeder cell lines for NK cells and uses thereof


A plasma display apparatus may be provided that reduces a noise generating in a waveform applied to a scan electrode or a sustain electrode and that stabilizes address discharge by improving applying time point of a waveform applied in an address period, so that driving stability of a panel may increase. The plasma display apparatus may include a plasma display panel in which a plurality of scan electrodes and a plurality of address electrodes intersecting the scan electrodes are formed, and a data driver dividing the address electrode into a plurality of electrode groups, corresponding to a scan waveform applied to the scan electrode, and the data driver applying an address waveform to one address electrode group, and the address waveform having an applying time point that is different from an applying time point of the scan waveform.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus, and more particularly, to a plasma display apparatus which reduces a noise generating in a waveform applied to a scan electrode or a sustain electrode and stabilizes address discharge by improving applying time point of a waveform applied in an address period, so that driving stability of a panel increases and a driving method thereof.
2. Description of the Background Art
In general, a plasma display apparatus comprises a plasma display panel in which barrier ribs formed between a front panel and a rear panel form a unit cell. Main discharge gas such as Neon (Ne), Helium (He), or mixed gas (Ne+He) of Neon and Helium and inert gas containing a small amount of Xenon fill each cell. When discharge is performed by a high frequency voltage, the inert gas generates vacuum ultraviolet rays and allows a phosphor formed between the barrier ribs to emit light, and thus an image is embodied. Such a plasma display apparatus is made to be thin and light, so that it has been in the spotlight as a next generation display device.
FIG. 1 illustrates a structure of a general plasma display panel.
As shown in FIG. 1, in a plasma display panel, a front substrate 100 in which a scan electrode 102, a sustain electrode 103, an upper dielectric layer 104, a protective layer 105 are formed in a front glass 101 that is a display surface in which an image is displayed and a rear substrate 110 in which a barrier rib 112, an address electrode 113, a phosphor 114, a lower dielectric layer 115 are formed in a rear glass 111 forming a rear surface are coupled to each other.
FIG. 2 illustrates a method of embodying an image gray level of a conventional plasma display apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 2, a conventional method of expressing an image gray level of a plasma display apparatus divides one frame into several subfields having the different number of light emitting. Each subfield is again sub-divided into a reset period (RPD) for initializing all cells, an address period (APD) for selecting a cell to be discharged, and a sustain period (SPD) for embodying a gray level depending on the number of discharge.
The sustain period increases in the ratio of 2n (n=0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) in each subfield. The sustain period changes in each subfield and thus a gray level of an image can be expressed by adjusting a sustain period of each subfield, that is, the number of sustain discharge.
FIG. 3 illustrates a driving waveform of the conventional plasma display apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 3, the conventional plasma display apparatus is divided into a reset period, an address period, a sustain period, and an erasing period for erasing wall charges within the discharged cell and driven.
Referring to FIG. 3, in a driving waveform of the conventional plasma display apparatus, all address waveforms applied to the address electrode in the address period and a scan waveform applied to the scan electrode are applied at the same time. If the address waveforms and the scan waveform are applied to the address electrodes (X1 to Xn) and the scan electrode (Y), respectively, at the same time point, a noise is generated in the waveform applied to the scan electrode and the waveform applied to the sustain electrode.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Plasma display apparatus and driving method thereof


Ternary CAM cells are provided. The ternary CAM cell includes a pair of half cells. Each of the half cells includes an isolation layer formed at a predetermined region of a semiconductor substrate to define a match cell active region. A search gate electrode and a node gate electrode are placed to cross over the match cell active region. A match line is electrically connected to the match cell active region, which is adjacent to the node gate electrode and is located opposite the search gate electrode. An SRAM cell is provided at the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the match cell active region. The node gate electrode is electrically connected to one of a pair of storage nodes of the SRAM cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices and, more particularly, to ternary content addressable memory (CAM) cells.
2. Description of the Related Art
Random access memory (RAM) devices merely have functions to store and read out data. However, there have recently been many demands on semiconductor devices such as CAM devices having a function to compare the data stored in the RAM device with an external signal (search signal) as well as a function of the RAM device. A unit cell of the CAM includes at least one storage cell and a match cell. The storage cell corresponds to a typical memory cell such as an SRAM cell. Also, the match cell compares the data stored in the storage cell with the search signal and outputs an electrical signal that corresponds to the comparison result.
The CAM can be classified into a binary CAM and a ternary CAM. The binary CAM discriminates whether the data stored in the storage cell coincides with a search signal (hereinafter, referred to as "search data") or not. That is, the binary CAM has a function of which determines only two cases.
Examples of the binary CAM are taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,646,271, 4,780,845, 5,490,102 and 5,495,382.
In the meantime, the ternary CAM typically includes two storage cells and a single match cell. The ternary CAM exhibits three kinds of output states according to the combination of the data stored in the pair of storage cells. That is, the ternary CAM may have a "don't care" state in addition to a match state and a non-match state. The ternary CAM is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,590, entitled "Apparatus for storing 'DON'T CARE' in a content addressable memory cell", the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIG. 1 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the ternary CAM cell disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,590.
Referring to FIG. 1, the ternary CAM cell includes first and second storage cells 301 and 302, and a single match cell 102. Further, the ternary CAM cell includes two sets of bit lines /BL1, BL1, BL2, and /BL2. The first set of the bit lines /BL1 and BL1 are connected to the first storage cell 301 through access transistors 303 and 304 respectively, and the second set of the bit lines BL2, /BL2 are connected to the second storage cell 302 through access transistors 305 and 306 respectively. Gate electrodes of the access transistors 303, 304, 305 and 306 are connected to a word line.
The match cell 102 is composed of first to fourth transistors 102a, 102b, 102c and 102d. The first and second transistors 102a and 102b are serially connected, and the third and fourth transistors 102c and 102d are also serially connected. Drain regions of the first and third transistors 102a and 102c are connected to a match line MV, and source regions of the second and fourth transistors 102b and 102d are grounded. Further, gate electrodes of the first and third transistors 102a and 102c are connected to first and second search lines /ML, ML respectively, and gate electrodes of the second and fourth transistors 102b and 102d are connected to a data storage node al of the first storage cell 301 and a data storage node a2 of the second storage cell 302 respectively. The match line MV is generally pre-charged in a standby mode, thereby having a logic "1" state.
In this circuit, if data corresponding to a logic "0" is stored in the storage node al and a signal corresponding to a logic "1" is applied to the search line /ML, the voltage level of the match line MV may be unstable. This is because the drain region of the second transistor 102b (that is, the source region of the first transistor 102a) floats.
Embodiments of the invention address these and other limitations of the prior art.


Provided are a method, system, and program for initiating and using information used for a host, control unit, and logical device connections receiving a request to create a host port to control unit port connection. In a volume group data structure, a volume group entry is defined having a plurality of pointers for the host port and control unit port pair. At least one device address is added to the volume group that is accessible to the host port and control unit port connection by initializing at least one pointer in the volume group entry to address at least one device data structure. For each of the at least one device addresses, indication is made in the at least one device data structure addressed by the at least one pointer in the volume group entry that the device address is accessible to the host port and control unit port connection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method, system, and program for initiating and using information used for host, control unit, and logical device connections.
2. Description of the Related Art
In certain computing environments, multiple host systems may communicate with one or more control units, such as an IBM Enterprise Storage Server (ESS)®, for data in a storage device managed by the ESS receiving the request. The control unit manages access to storage devices, such as interconnected hard disk drives through one or more logical paths. (IBM and ESS are registered trademarks of IBM). The interconnected drives may be configured as a Direct Access Storage Device (DASD), Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID), Just a Bunch of Disks (JBOD), etc. The control unit may configure logical volumes that define regions of storage space in the storage devices the control unit manages.
The control unit or an adaptor in the control unit may maintain volume group information, where each volume group associates one or more logical volumes with either one or more hosts, or one or more host ports. The volume group information may comprise a bitmap, where there is a bitmap value for each logical volume available through the control unit indicating whether the logical volume is available for a particular host and port connection. In current systems, the control unit may initialize bitmaps for every possible host and port connection to indicate the accessibility of all logical volumes to that host and port connection. The number of bitmaps that may be allocated comprises the number of host ports times the number of control unit ports through which the hosts connect times the number of bits needed to represent all logical volumes, e.g., LUNs, available through the control unit. As the number of logical volumes, ports, and supported host connections on a control unit increases, the amount of memory needed to be allocated for the volume group information increases substantially.
Further, the control unit or adaptor may maintain for each logical volume, e.g., Logical Unit Number (LUN), persistent reservation information. The persistent reservation information is information for a host port, control unit port, and logical volume that is used to manage which hosts are allowed to join or modify the reservation. On a control unit that supports a large number of logical volumes that are accessible through Input/Output (I/O) ports on the control unit, the potential number of relationships requiring persistent reservation information is the number of ports times the number of logical volumes times the number of host ports. Each persistent reservation data entry may require from 20 to 256 bytes. In current systems, the control unit reserves space for each possible entry of persistent reservation information. The control unit may also reserve space in memory. As the number of supported logical volumes, host ports, an control unit ports increases, the amount of memory required to be reserved for persistent reservation information increases substantially.

Initiating and using information used for a host, control unit, and logical device connections

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to a scanner for reading coded symbologies. The invention uses a coherent, visible light source for illuminating the coded symbol during a scan and a detecting means for collecting the reflected light energy from the coded symbol. The invention also employs an invisible light source illuminating the coded symbol during the scan and a one-dimensional position-sensitive detector whose field of view receives images of the illuminating beam. The position-sensitive detector outputs a current which is processed to detect the presence and compute the distance of an object being scanned. Both the visible and invisible light sources from the scanner travel along a shared, coaxial path to and from the object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for reading coded symbologies on an object while determining the distance from the apparatus to the object. More particularly, it relates to a scanning device that determines the distance from the scanner to the object to allow for the focusing of the scanning beam such that high resolution, reflected light can be obtained from the object surface. Most particularly, the invention is directed to an automatic scanning system which accurately determines the distance and subsequently focuses the scanning beam onto an object for accurately reading coded symbologies.
2. Description of the Prior Art
To reduce costs and increase the volume of packages handled, the shipping industry has embraced automated package handling. This has been accomplished through package identification by coded symbologies placed on the packages and sorting performed by automated equipment using scanners that have the capability of reading the label and then routing the packages.
A scanner used in this application must be capable of reading different coded symbologies at varying distances due to different object sizes. One limiting factor in reading coded symbologies is the size of the laser spot at the label distance. Depending upon where the scanner has been prefocused, the laser spot will be larger in front of and behind the prefocused distance. The usable range where the laser spot size is acceptable is commonly referred to as the depth of field.
In an effort to increase the depth of field of a scanning system, various methods have been tried. Some methods rely upon several laser scanners prefocused for different object heights thereby having a large aggregate depth of field. Others rely upon folded light paths to increase a len's focal length or special angular solutions for the optics. Other external methods include light curtains and photoeyes to determine the height of an object which must then be input into the scanning system to electromechanically focus a lens element of the scanning beam.
In order to increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of a scanning system, it is desirable to have a low cost, lightweight compact means for providing a distance measurement internal to a scanning system to allow for the precise focusing of the scanning beam.

Laser scanner with integral distance measurement system


System configuration data required for use by various interfaces (102) can be obtained either directly via a data link (104) that couples the interfaces to other systems (109 or 111), or by a down link from a system data manager (106) configured as part of the interfaces' system (100).

Communication systems are growing increasingly larger and more sophisticated. This growth includes a significant increase in the number of audio sources and destinations supported by a single communication system. Devices within the system that control or define such audio paths require access to a significant amount of system configuration data in order to facilitate timely, accurate, and efficient coupling of sources to destinations. To date this need has been readily accommodated by providing all such devices with a memory that includes all system configuration data for the system.
Now, however, as overall systems grow yet more complex and capable, a plurality of communication systems as characterized above may be combined as described in U.S. patent Ser. No. 07/509,915, entitled "A Communication System Network" and filed on Apr. 16, 1990, the contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference. By combining such systems, the number of audio sources and destinations significantly increases. This increase thereby further increases the problem of ensuring that devices within a particular system that require such information have ready access to the appropriate system configuration data.
One solution might be to follow the prior art approach, and simply provide each such device with a larger memory capable of retaining system configuration data for each system within the network. There are at least two problems with this approach. First, the provision of additional memory represents a significant cost, and raises other related difficulties as well. Second, intersystem data throughput would be significantly impacted if every device were free to independently communicate with all other devices at all times in order to assure that its stored system configuration data was current and complete.
Accordingly, a need exists for a method and apparatus that will substantially ensure that adequate system configuration data is provided to devices that require it, without presenting excess requirements for memory and without presenting an undue burden to data throughput capabilities.

Communication system configuration data management


Alignment of clusters to pages is provided in a non-volatile memory system that receives data from a host in clusters and writes data to a memory array in units of a page. Alignment is implemented within each block using offsets in logical-to-physical mapping of data. Different blocks may have different offsets. When a host sends data with different cluster boundary locations, the data may be written with different offsets so that data maintains alignment.

This invention relates generally to the operation of non-volatile memory systems, and, more specifically, to the handling of data within such memory systems.
There are many commercially successful non-volatile memory products being used today, particularly in the form of small form factor cards, which employ an array of flash EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) cells formed on one or more integrated circuit chips. A memory controller, usually but not necessarily on a separate integrated circuit chip, interfaces with a host to which the card is removably connected and controls operation of the memory array within the card. Such a controller typically includes a microprocessor, some non-volatile read-only-memory (ROM), a volatile random-access-memory (RAM) and one or more special circuits such as one that calculates an error-correction-code (ECC) from data as they pass through the controller during the programming and reading of data. Some of the commercially available cards are CompactFlash™ (CF) cards, MultiMedia cards (MMC), Secure Digital (SD) cards, personnel tags (P-Tag) and Memory Stick cards. Hosts include personal computers, notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), various data communication devices, digital cameras, cellular telephones, portable audio players, automobile sound systems, and similar types of equipment. In some systems, a removable card does not include a controller and the host controls operation of the memory array in the card. Examples of this type of memory system include Smart Media cards and xD cards. Thus, control of the memory array may be achieved by software on a controller in the card or by control software in the host. Besides the memory card implementation, this type of memory can alternatively be embedded into various types of host systems. In both removable and embedded applications, host data may be stored in the memory array according to a storage scheme implemented by memory control software.
Two general memory cell array architectures have found commercial application, NOR and NAND. In a typical NOR array, memory cells are connected between adjacent bit line source and drain diffusions that extend in a column direction with control gates connected to word lines extending along rows of cells. A memory cell includes at least one storage element positioned over at least a portion of the cell channel region between the source and drain. A programmed level of charge on the storage elements thus controls an operating characteristic of the cells, which can then be read by applying appropriate voltages to the addressed memory cells. Examples of such cells, their uses in memory systems and methods of manufacturing them are given in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,070,032, 5,095,344, 5,313,421, 5,315,541, 5,343,063, 5,661,053 and 6,222,762.
The NAND array utilizes series strings of more than two memory cells, such as 16 or 32, connected along with one or more select transistors between individual bit lines and a reference potential to form columns of cells. Word lines extend across cells within a large number of these columns. An individual cell within a column is read and verified during programming by causing the remaining cells in the string to be turned on hard so that the current flowing through a string is dependent upon the level of charge stored in the addressed cell. Examples of NAND architecture arrays and their operation as part of a memory system are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,570,315, 5,774,397, 6,046,935, and 6,522,580.
The charge storage elements of current flash EEPROM arrays, as discussed in the foregoing referenced patents, are most commonly electrically conductive floating gates, typically formed from conductively doped polysilicon material. An alternate type of memory cell useful in flash EEPROM systems utilizes a non-conductive dielectric material in place of the conductive floating gate to store charge in a non-volatile manner. A triple layer dielectric formed of silicon oxide, silicon nitride and silicon oxide (ONO) is sandwiched between a conductive control gate and a surface of a semi-conductive substrate above the memory cell channel. The cell is programmed by injecting electrons from the cell channel into the nitride, where they are trapped and stored in a limited region, and erased by injecting hot holes into the nitride. Several specific cell structures and arrays employing dielectric storage elements are described in United States patent application publication no. 2003/0109093 of Harari et al.
Individual flash EEPROM cells store an amount of charge in a charge storage element or unit that is representative of one or more bits of data. The charge level of a storage element controls the threshold voltage (commonly referenced as VT) of its memory cell, which is used as a basis of reading the storage state of the cell. A threshold voltage window is commonly divided into a number of ranges, one for each of the two or more storage states of the memory cell. These ranges are separated by guardbands that include a nominal sensing level that allows determining the storage states of the individual cells. These storage levels do shift as a result of charge disturbing programming, reading or erasing operations performed in neighboring or other related memory cells, pages or blocks. Error correcting codes (ECCs) are therefore typically calculated by the controller and stored along with the host data being programmed and used during reading to verify the data and perform some level of data correction if necessary. Also, shifting charge levels can be restored back to the centers of their state ranges from time-to-time, by copying data to a new location where the data is rewritten with charge levels adjusted to be centered in their allowed ranges. This may be done before disturbing operations cause charge levels to shift completely out of their defined ranges and thus cause erroneous data to be read. This process, termed data refresh or scrub, is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,532,962 and 5,909,449.
As in most integrated circuit applications, the pressure to shrink the silicon substrate area required to implement some integrated circuit function also exists with flash EEPROM memory cell arrays. It is continually desired to increase the amount of digital data that can be stored in a given area of a silicon substrate, in order to increase the storage capacity of a given size memory card and other types of packages, or to both increase capacity and decrease size. One way to increase the storage density of data is to store more than one bit of data per memory cell and/or per storage unit or element. This is accomplished by dividing a window of a storage element charge level voltage range into more than two states. The use of four such states allows each cell to store two bits of data, eight states stores three bits of data per storage element, and so on. Multiple state flash EEPROM structures using floating gates and their operation are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,043,940 and 5,172,338, and for structures using dielectric floating gates in aforementioned United States patent application publication no. 2003/0109093. Selected portions of a multi-state memory cell array may also be operated in two states (binary) for various reasons, in a manner described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,930,167 and 6,456,528.
Memory cells of a typical flash EEPROM array are divided into discrete blocks of cells that are erased together. That is, the erase block is the erase unit, a minimum number of cells that are simultaneously erasable. Each erase block typically stores one or more pages of data, the page being the minimum unit of programming and reading, although more than one page may be programmed or read in parallel in different sub-arrays or planes. Each page typically stores one or more sectors of data, the size of the sector being defined by the host system. An example sector includes 512 bytes of user data, following a standard established with magnetic disk drives, plus some number of bytes of overhead information about the user data and/or the erase block in which they are stored. Such memories are typically configured with 16, 32 or more pages within each erase block, and each page stores one or just a few host sectors of data.
In order to increase the degree of parallelism during programming user data into the memory array and read user data from it, the array is typically divided into sub-arrays, commonly referred to as planes, which contain their own data registers and other circuits to allow parallel operation such that sectors of data may be programmed to or read from each of several or all the planes simultaneously. An array on a single integrated circuit may be physically divided into planes, or each plane may be formed from a separate one or more integrated circuit chips. Examples of such a memory implementation are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,798,968 and 5,890,192.
In some memory systems, the physical memory cells are also grouped into two or more zones. A zone may be any partitioned subset of the physical memory or memory system into which a specified range of logical block addresses is mapped. For example, a memory system capable of storing 64 Megabytes of data may be partitioned into four zones that store 16 Megabytes of data per zone. The range of logical block addresses is then also divided into four groups, one group being assigned to the erase blocks of each of the four zones. Logical block addresses are constrained, in a typical implementation, such that the data of each are never written outside of a single physical zone into which the logical block addresses are mapped. In a memory cell array divided into planes (sub-arrays), which each have their own addressing, programming and reading circuits, each zone preferably includes erase blocks from multiple planes, typically the same number of erase blocks from each of the planes. Zones are primarily used to simplify address management such as logical to physical translation, resulting in smaller translation tables, less RAM memory needed to hold these tables, and faster access times to address the currently active region of memory, but because of their restrictive nature can result in less than optimum wear leveling.
To further efficiently manage the memory, erase blocks may be linked together to form virtual blocks or metablocks. That is, each metablock is defined to include one erase block from each plane. Use of the metablock is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,424, which patent, along with all other patents and patent applications cited in this application, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The metablock is identified by a host logical block address as a destination for programming and reading data. Similarly, all erase blocks of a metablock are erased together. The controller in a memory system operated with such large blocks and/or metablocks performs a number of functions including the translation between logical block addresses (LBAs) received from a host, and physical block numbers (PBNs) within the memory cell array. Individual pages within the blocks are typically identified by offsets within the block address. Address translation often involves use of intermediate terms of a logical block number (LBN) and logical page.
Where a memory is connected to a host, certain inefficiencies may arise as a result of different data structures used by the memory system and host. Host systems typically manage data as clusters, where a cluster contains a fixed number of sectors. Typically, a cluster contains between 4 and 64 sectors of data, although other numbers of sectors are also possible. A host typically maintains a File Allocation Table (FAT) that records the allocation of data for a particular file on a cluster-by-cluster basis. Memory systems such as those of removable memory cards generally do not use clusters as a unit of data. In one example, a cluster of data is sent by a host to a memory card and the memory card returns a signal when the cluster of data is stored in the non-volatile memory. Then, the host sends the next cluster of data. There is generally no alignment between clusters and the pages used to store those clusters. This may mean that programming of a single cluster of data may require two write operations because the cluster extends into two pages of the memory, even though the cluster is capable of being written in a single page. This adds to the time needed to program data to the memory.
One possible solution to this problem, where a cluster extends from a first to a second page, is to save the portion of the cluster that is to be saved in the second page in a volatile memory such as a Random Access Memory (RAM) and return a signal to the host indicating that the cluster has been written. When the next cluster is received, the data in RAM may be copied and written with a portion of the new cluster to the second page as part of a full-page write. The remainder of the next cluster is stored in RAM as before. However, according to some standards, storage of data in RAM in this way is not permitted because of the risk of losing such data in the event of a loss of power to the memory.
Another solution is to implement an offset so that the physical-to-logical mapping of sectors is changed by a constant value to align cluster boundaries with page boundaries. However, if the host system changes the locations of the cluster boundaries, for example, for test purposes, then the data will be misaligned and alignment would require moving all the data stored in the memory. The formatting process is normally done without taking into account the previous format parameters, like number of FAT copies and cluster size. There is no direct control over the final offset between clusters and memory pages during formatting. As the result, the offset may differ after formatting. Thus, this technique has some drawbacks.
Therefore, there is a need for a method of aligning host units of data (such as clusters) to pages of a memory array so that the boundaries of the host units of data are aligned with page boundaries. There is also a need for a method that does this in a manner that safeguards host data from being lost if power is removed. There is also a need for a method that does this in a manner that is flexible and allows for changes in cluster boundary locations in data sent by a host.

Cluster auto-alignment for storing addressable data packets in a non-volatile memory array


Embodiments of the disclosure are related to enforcing a policy on a computing device, or a companion device, based upon its proximity to another computing device, or an anchor device. In one example, the anchor device and companion device can report their location with respect to one another to a policy server. The policy server can determine whether the anchor device and proximity device are in proximity to one another as well as determine whether a policy should be applied to the companion device based upon whether it is in proximity to the anchor device.

Computing devices, such as smartphones, laptop computers, etc., can be equipped with various functionalities and capabilities. For example, applications can be installed upon a computing device, such as a game application, enterprise application, or other type of software application. Computing devices may also be equipped with one or more network interfaces that facilitate communication with other computing devices via a network.


A goal management system receives input of a qualitative first goal related to a body of a user (step S111), identifies a quantitative second goal related to the body of the user from the first goal thus received (step S112 to step S117), and presents the second goal thus identified (step S118). The first goal is converted into the quantitative goal for at least one of a plurality of feature amounts related to the body, thereby identifying the second goal including at least one goal obtained by such conversion. The first goal is converted into the quantitative goal for each feature amount corresponding to a meaning obtained by linguistic analysis. When there are a plurality of meanings obtained by linguistic analysis of the first goal, the first goal is converted into the quantitative goal for each feature amount on the basis of a range of each feature amount per meaning. This makes it possible to indicate a quantitative goal related to the body without receiving input of a goal that is a quantitative numerical value related to the body.

In the related art, there are systems configured to manage a goal related to a body of a user. In such a system, a quantitative numerical value input by the user is used as the goal (refer to, for example, FIG. 4 and the like of JP 2008-262504 A (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 1")).

Goal management system and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing goal management program


The invention relates to an exhaust gas after-treatment device and a method, having a storage container and a buffer reservoir, both of which can be heated. In this manner it is possible to significantly reduce the energy requirement for providing gaseous ammonia for an exhaust gas after-treatment device of an internal combustion engine.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an exhaust gas after-treatment device and a method for exhaust gas after-treatment.
Description of the Prior Art
The nitrogen oxide or NOx emissions limit values, which are becoming evermore stringent for diesel- or lean-engine-operated vehicles, require exhaust gas posttreatment that reduces the nitrogen oxides, beyond a certain vehicle weight. A very effective exhaust gas posttreatment known from the prior art is known as the selective catalytic reaction (SCR). In it, a reducing agent, namely ammonia, is injected as needed into the exhaust gas posttreatment device of the internal combustion engine and reacts in a special catalytic converter together with the nitrogen oxides of the exhaust gases to form the harmless compounds of nitrogen and water. One example of this kind of SCR exhaust posttreatment with gaseous reducing agent is known from International Patent Disclosure WO 99/012105.
In the exhaust gas posttreatment device known from the prior art, an ammonia storage substance, or a mixture of various ammonia storage substances, is present in the storage container, and from these substances, ammonia is released by thermal desorption or thermolysis, or in other words by the effect of temperature. Suitable storage substances can for instance be salts, in particular chlorides or sulfates or one or more alkaline earth elements, such as MgCl2 or CaCl2 and/or one or more 3d side group elements, such as manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, and/or zinc.
Organic absorbers and ammonium salts, such as ammonium carbamate, are also suitable ammonia storage substances that can be used in the exhaust gas posttreatment device of the invention and the method of the invention. It is definitive for all these substances that the decomposition process is completely reversible. This means nothing else than that after the reservoir has cooled down to the initial temperature level, the initial substances are present again in unchanged form.
In order for the driver of a vehicle equipped with this kind of exhaust gas posttreatment device not to have to refill the storage container himself, the storage capacity of the storage container is designed such that it does not need to be refilled except during scheduled maintenance, such as an inspection.
In practice, a storage volume of approximately 10 liters has proved suitable. A reservoir with a volume has a not inconsiderable thermal capacity.
Since, because of thermal conduction inside the storage container, a virtually constant temperature prevails in the entire storage container, every time the engine is started the storage container, which has meanwhile cooled down, must be reheated again to the operating temperature of 60° C. or 70° C., for example. The resultant energy consumption leads to an increase in fuel consumption of the engine.

Exhaust gas posttreatment device for an internal combustion engine


A device is disclosed for selectively improving and/or permanently ensuring the permeability for ocular aqueous humour through the trabecular formations into Schlemm""s canal. A small tubular element is provided, whose wall material encloses a hollow duct that presents an open configuration on both ends along the longitudinal extension of the hollow duct, so that the size and the shape of the small tubular element correspond approximately to the internal contour of Schlemm""s canal, and the wall material as well as the wall thickness are so selected that upon introduction into Schlemm""s canal the small tubular element keeps the canal open and dilates adjacent trabecular formations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for selectively improving and/or permanently ensuring the permeability for ocular aqueous humour through the trabecular formations into Schlemm""s canal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In cases where the aqueous humour cannot escape from the intra-ocular cavity sufficiently the intra-ocular pressure increases, which intensifies the risk of formation of glaucoma. The glaucoma is a particular form of optic nerve atrophy that is predominantly induced by an intra-ocular pressure too high for a healthy functioning of the nerve.
As a consequence, the reduction of the intra-ocular pressure at least to values within the limits of statistical normal (statistical WLN) is the primary aim of any therapeutic approaches in glaucoma treatment.
The reduction of the ocular pressure can be achieved by a number of medicaments, by laser methods in so-called argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) or by surgical procedures in a fairly narrow sense. Disadvantages entailed by a therapy based on medication are an only restricted pressure reduction potential, undesirable side effects and, above all, the necessity of life-long application several times a day, which involves naturally problems of reliable application (compliance).
Disadvantages entailed by argon laser trabeculoplasty are their reduced pressure reduction potential and their only transient efficacy as the effect is reduced in the course of time.
Among the surgical procedures the so-called firstling techniques are the operative standard today. Among their numerous disadvantages, the substantial potential of post-operative complications should be particularly emphasized, apart from the accelerated formation of a cataractous lens, the unpredictability of the effect that may range from excessive reduction of the pressure up to a rapid cicatrizationg with an entire loss of the pressure-reducing effect.
This entirely unsatisfactory balance of success and the insufficient predictability of the success of this standard procedure has resulted in a great number of other surgical approaches among which the trabeculotomy and the deep sclerotomy should be mentioned particularly, which are both surgical techniques permitting a facilitated outflow of the aqueous humour by the provision of physiologic excretory or drain ducts. These techniques, too, involve, however, the particular disadvantage that their effect may be lost again, either partly or entirely, as a result of wound healing processes.
The following explanations are intended to facilitate the understanding of the glaucoma problems:
The space between the crystalline lens and the posterior cornea surface, which is subdivided by the iris into the posterior and the anterior chambers of the eye, is filled with aqueous humour. The aqueous humour is permanently produced by the ciliary body, the corpus ciliare, of the eye and is discharged into the posterior chamber of the eye. The aqueous humour then flows from there through the pupil into the anterior chamber of the eye, where it is subjected to a heat flow, and arrives from there into the iridocorneal angle through the meshwork of the corneoscleral trabecular formations into Schlemm""s canal, also referred to as the venous sinus of the sciera. The aqueous humour finally flows from there through excretory ducts into the venous system of the eye surface.
The secretion and outflow of the aqueous humour in a homeostatic balance serves the purpose of maintaining an intra-ocular pressure at a constant level within narrow limits, which must, however, be sufficiently high in order to retain the dimensional stability of the eye, and low enough in order to avoid any obstruction of the nutrition of the optic nerves. Values within the range from 10 mm Hg to 20 mm Hg are roughly considered as standard range for the intra-ocular pressure. There is, however, no clear distinction between normal values and increased pathological values: the transition is fluid, with an ever-increasing probability of a glaucoma disease as the levels of the intra-ocular pressure are rising.
A pathological increase of the intra-ocular pressure may fundamentally be caused by both excessive secretion of aqueous humour and insufficient outflow. For the purposes of the present description only the increase of the outflow obstruction in the juxta-canalicular trabecular formations will be discussed here, which constitutes the basis of the so-called primary chronic glaucoma simplex, which obstruction is quoted in the scientific literature as accounting for 85 to 90% approximately of all of these glaucoma constellations.
The chronic glaucoma simplex accounts, in its turn, for more than three quarters of all glaucoma cases. The causes of this increase of resistance in the juxta-canalicular trabecular formations are, in the last analysis, not clarified in all details. Genetic factors, the deposition of substances on the meshwork with a restriction of the mesh aperture and hence an increase of the resistance, as well as a mechanical collapse of the meshwork are aspects deemed to be established facts.
The principle of trabeculotomy as applied nowadays is as follows: Starting out from the trabeculotomy technique known per se, Schlemm""s canal is located and opened from outside. Then a metal probe is introduced into the canal and pivoted into the anterior chamber. Such an operation actually tears the trabecular formations in their entirety, however, so that an open communication is established between the anterior chamber of the eye with the aqueous humour circulating therein and Schlemm""s canal.
The anatomic structure of the trabecular formations, where the increased outflow obstruction is located, is, however, actually destroyed by the aforedescribed approach. Even though this surgical method initially furnished only hardly convincing results it gained importance substantially throughout the past few years due to refined techniques. There is no other method, for instance, by which the pressure-reducing success produced by this approach has been achieved under certain conditions. It involves, however, the inherent problem that the two ends of the opened distance may close again so that only the actually torn-up passage, rather than the entire canal range, is available for outflow.
To this adds the aspect that the torn-up trabecular formations may conglutinate again in certain cases as the two torn-up parts of the trabecular formations are closing, so to speak in the manner of the wings of a door. Such resealing is promoted by reflux bleeding from the venous system communicating with Schlemm""s canal.
The European Patent EP 0 550 791 Al, for instance, discloses a surgical instrument specifically configured for the selective injection of a highly viscous medium into the trabecular formations. This instrument is, in particular, a surgical probe that is introduced into Schlemm""s canal during the operation and subsequently removed completely from this canal after the treatment.
The probe with its arcuate configuration presents openings on the internal side of the arc, through which the highly viscous medium is injected into the trabecular formations. To this end the curved probe is connected to an injection introduced into Schlemm""s canal. A detailed representation of this mode of operation of the injection procedure is apparent from FIG. 2.
The known device constitutes a surgical instrument for performing a surgical procedure on the eye for local dilation of the trabecular formations by selective injection into this system in an approach to improve its permeability to the aqueous humour.
A comparatively small opening in the trabecular formations would, in principle, be sufficient to permit the desired effect of intra-ocular pressure control if it could be ensured that the opening will not be closed again so that the aqueous humour will gain access through this gap, even though this gap is admittedly small, to Schlemm""s canal in its entirety and hence to the natural outflow system. After a treatment of the trabecular formations with the techniques so far known it is not possible, however, to prevent artificial perforations or dilations in the trabecular formations from being closed again by natural deposits, so that the principal cause of glaucoma occurrence does not seem to be eliminated on a long-term basis.
The present invention is based on the problem of finding a solution to the aforedescribed problems in the performance of surgical operations for glaucoma treatment and specifically for the restoration of a purposeful control of the intra-ocular pressure to the effect that re-sealing of passage ducts established in the trabecular formations should be avoided entirely. In particular, the traumatic irritations of the tissue within the trabecular formations should be reduced, which would also improve the wound-healing process. Eventually, the inventive provisions should contribute to a fundamental increase of the permeability even without any lesion in the trabecular formations.
In accordance with the present invention, a device for selectively improving and/or permanently ensuring the permeability for ocular aqueous humour through the trabecular formations into Schlemm""s canal is configured in such a way that a small tubular element is provided, whose wall material encloses a hollow duct which presents an open configuration on both ends along the longitudinal extension of the hollow duct, that the size and the shape of the small tubular element correspond approximately to the internal contour of Schlemm""s canal, and that the wall material as well as the wall thickness are so selected that upon introduction into Schlemm""s canal the small tubular element will slightly deform, preferably dilate, i.e. expand, this canal as well as the adjacent trabecular formations.
The present invention is based on a small tube, a so-called stent, being introduced into Schlemm""s canal. This stent serves the purpose of spreading the trabecular formations on an internal side and hence reducing the outflow obstruction. The stent is manufactured of a material compatible with the body tissue and stays insides Schlemm""s canal even after the operation in order to dilate the latter permanently.
When this reduction of the outflow obstruction is not sufficient, the stent additionally permits the opening or removal of the trabecular formations on its permeable side facing the trabecular formations, while it preventing the opening in the trabecular formations from re-sealing and Schlemm""s canal from conglutinating.
The aqueous humour is hence given unobstructed access to the entire circumference of Schlemm""s canal and its excretory ducts. In order to satisfy these demands it is necessary to manufacture the small tube or stent from an appropriate material having an external shape that corresponds largely to the internal shape of Schlemm""s canal or that shapes this canal anew. Moreover, the small tube presents a hollow duct inside which leaves just enough wall thickness for reliably preventing the stent from collapsing.
The small tube may fundamentally have any length; it is expedient that the length of the small tube corresponds to not less than 30xc2x0 and not more than 90xc2x0 of the radian measure of Schlemm""s canal having a circular extension. Other lengths and their sensible application are, however, conceivable in principle.
The small tube preferably presents a curvature corresponding to the curvature of Schlemm""s canal in the eye under operation. The small tube must hence be manufactured either in an individualized manner or in a standardized form.
The small tube is permeable to liquids at least on the concave side of the curvature while stretching the tissue and keeping the canal open. This is the side that faces the trabecular formations and the anterior chamber of the eye directly in the implanted state. The small tube presents preferably openings in the wall material on this side, but the small tube may also be made of a wall material that is inherently permeable. As an example, braided materials with finite wide or small mesh apertures for the passage of the aqueous humour are appropriate for this purpose. Braided materials are suitable, for instance, which are, on the one hand, permeable to water and present, on the other hand, the stiffness and resistance required for the aforementioned dilations.
Moreover, the small tube is open on its both ends. All the opening edges are extremely finely polished and rounded off. The used material must have a rigidity sufficient to prevent the canal from collapsing, and it must be entirely tolerable for the tissue in order to prevent wound-healing processes. An exemplary embodiment could be made of titanium, implant-quality steel electroplated with gold, or other materials.
A preferred improvement of the stent is provided with at least one additional smaller opening, preferably two openings, on the stent side turned away from the trabecular formations, in addition to at least one opening facing the trabecular formations and serving both as aperture for the outflow of aqueous humour and as passage opening for a micro-surgical instrument which can be longitudinally introduced into the stent and having a distal end that may be laterally guided through the passage opening inside the stent for projecting into the trabecular formations in order to create there mechanically minute ruptures in the trabecular formations. The openings, which present a smaller diameter and smaller dimensions than the outflow opening, are mainly intended to facilitate the maneuverability of the stent during its introduction into Schlemm""s canal. To this end two openings are provided in the stent side by side and in direct opposition to the outflow opening. A retaining wire can be guided through the small openings from the rear side of the stent, with a loop forming inside the stent between the small openings. Both loose ends of the retaining wire project through the openings and towards the rear side of the stent, and may be seized by a holding and actuating instrument. The stent is seized with the holding and actuating instrument in such a way that the stent will be reliably and fixedly connected to it. In this manner it is now easily possible to introduce the stent through an appropriate opening into Schlemm""s canal.
After the placement of the stent in Schlemm""s canal the wire can be detached from the holding and actuating instrument and removed completely from the stent merely by threading out the wire by a loose end through the two small openings. The retaining wire introduced into the stent is provided, however, not only for a retaining function but also for an improved perforation or local severing of the trabecular formations as such. To this end the retaining wire is slightly released from its fixed connection with the holding and actuating instrument so that the wire loop, which is formed inside the stent between the two small openings, may be pushed into the interior of the trabecular formations opposite the outflow opening, in order to severe the tissue there locally. Whenever it will not or only insufficiently be possible to severe the tissue by means of the wire only it is possible to apply to the wire a suitable HF AC voltage, using an appropriate power supply, in order to achieve a desired increase of the permeability for the aqueous humour by way of severance of the tissue by coagulation.
This technique of mechanical local severance of the trabecular formations by means of a wire loop is particularly expedient for the reason that the configuration of the wire loop results in an inherent stability which cannot be achieved with a loose wire end possibly employed for similar purposes. Moreover, the reliability and safety of the operation is substantially increased by this provision.
In another alternative configuration, the stent is provided with only one smaller additional opening that is centered relative to the outflow opening. For handling the stent in its turn is wrapped with a wire loop, preferably in the area of its outflow opening, with the two loose wire ends being held by a holding and actuating instrument for controlled rough placement of the stent in Schlemm""s canal. For precise centering of the stent inside Schlemm""s canal a centering mandrel is provided that can be introduced into the smaller opening and hence serves for fine adjustment.
When the stent has been centered inside Schlemm""s canal, the wire loop may be loosened and may additionally be used as cutting tool for severing, at least partly, the trabecular formations bearing against the stent. It is also possible to apply an HF voltage to the wire, which will contribute to an improved severance of the tissue in the trabecular formations.

Device for improving in a targeted manner and/or permanently ensuring the ability of the aqueous humor to pass through the trabecular meshwork


An adapter for coupling an all terrain attachment to a folding wheelchair. A crossbar includes a clamp at each end thereof for coupling between the side frames of the folding wheelchair. An extension bar is coupled at one end to the crossbar and at the other end to the all terrain attachment.

A wheelchair with two large diameter wheels in the back and two small diameter wheels in the front and a short wheelbase in-between the large and small wheels makes for a very good performer when indoors on smooth surfaces. The short wheelbase allows the wheelchair to be maneuvered between obstacles and the smooth surfaces allow the small front wheels to roll easily. The small front wheels also allow the wheelchair user to get closer to obstacles and not be limited by the front wheels sticking out and interfering with obstacles. These traits that make indoor use of a wheelchair good are the same traits that make for difficulties when the wheelchair is used outdoors. The short wheelbase makes the wheelchair unstable when rough ground is attempted and the same small wheels that stay out of the way and roll so nice indoors on smooth floors often get hung up on small bumps and the drag can often upset the wheelchair user and bring them to an abrupt halt and in the worst case throw the user out of their chair.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,735,847 and 8,152,192, both of which are incorporated by reference herein, describe an all terrain attachment, marketed as the FreeWheel® wheelchair attachment (see www.gofreewheel.com), that solves these issues for many wheelchairs by effectively lengthening the wheelbase to provide more stability and also taking the small front wheels out of the picture by raising them off the ground and replacing them with a larger diameter wheel further out front. The FreeWheel attachment can be quickly and easily installed onto an existing wheelchair thereby allowing the user to experience better performance in terms of ease of rolling over rough terrain due to less resistance, and also to feel more secure in such environments due to the longer wheelbase.
However, since the existing FreeWheel attachment was designed to couple to the footrest of a rigid-frame wheelchair, it does not work with a folding wheelchair. A rigid-frame wheelchair typically includes a solid footrest construction, and the chair can be disassembled and stored when not in use. A folding wheelchair, however, typically has a pair of folding, detachable two-piece footrests, and thus no place to attach the FreeWheel attachment. Thus, there is a need for a way to support the use of an all terrain attachment on a folding wheelchair.

All terrain adapter for folding wheelchair


A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip which has a top surface, a conductive member which includes a first portion which is located on the electrode pad and a second portion which is extended from the first portion, and a sealing resin which seals the top surface of the semiconductor chip and the conductive member. A top surface of the second portion is exposed from the sealing resin and a part of the top surface of the second portion is concaved from a surface of the sealing resin. An external electrode is formed on the top surface of the second portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a semiconductor device is used in a portable device, downsizing of the semiconductor device is needed. A package called a Chip Size Package (hereinafter, called CSP) has therefore been developed. The CSP is similar in size to a semiconductor chip. A type of CSP is called a wafer level chip size package (Wafer Level Chip Size Package: WCSP) or wafer level chip scale package (Wafer Level Chip Scale Package: WCSP).
A structure of an external terminal which is used in WCSP is described in reference 1: Japanese Patent No. 3217046, and reference 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-170427.
In the conventional WCSP, a top surface of a post electrode is coplanar with a surface of a sealing resin, and an external terminal is formed on the top surface of the post electrode. Accordingly, the external terminal is connected to the post electrode with a small area, and reliability of the connection might be reduced.

Semiconductor device with recessed post electrode


A stabilization system or gimbal having a mounting arrangement (3) for a camera providing for rotation about pan, roll, and tilt axes (210, 230, 220) where tilt and roll axis (220, 230) position can be independently adjusted is described. The arrangement can be configured so that when adjusting the stabilization frame relative to the roll axis, adjustment of the camera COG relative to the tilt axis is inhibited. The system can further be arranged such that when adjusting the roll axis, adjustment relative to the tilt axis is inhibited. Similarly, when adjusting the pan axis, adjustment to the tilt or roll axes may be inhibited.

This invention relates generally to camera stabilization systems and more particularly to an improved lightweight hand-held or vehicle-mounted camera stabilization system, for use in photographic or video-related applications.
In many applications, including film production and consumer industries, high quality, lightweight and highly portable photographic or video equipment is now available to a wide range of users. Increases in the quality of the images produced by the equipment can accentuate the effects of any vibration or sudden movement applied to the camera through its mounting systems or through the hands of a user, and so various image stabilization technologies are available to combat these effects. These are especially important when the photographic or video equipment, referred to hereinafter as a camera, which may be a video or stills camera, is used in a moving situation, such as on a boat, airborne vehicle or terrestrial vehicle, since the motion of the mounting system can be unpredictable and can include sudden movements or vibrations translated to it by mounting mechanisms, or by a user. Image stabilization technology can help with the acquisition of high quality stable images, which are substantially free from artifacts resulting from vibrations or sudden movements which occur in a broad range of environmental or action situations. In the past, mechanical stabilizers, lens stabilizers, and electronic image stabilization technologies integrated into cameras themselves have been proposed.
A type of technology that is becoming increasingly prevalent is that of gyro-sensor stabilization. Stabilizing gimbal systems used in this area of technology incorporate 3-axis gyro-sensors to measure tilt, pan, and roll movements and counteract those movements using motors attached to a respective axis.

Hand-held or vehicle mounted camera stabilization system


A method, an apparatus, a system, and a computer program product is presented for virtualizing trusted platform modules within a data processing system. A virtual trusted platform module along with a virtual endorsement key is created within a physical trusted platform module within the data processing system using a platform signing key of the physical trusted platform module, thereby providing a transitive trust relationship between the virtual trusted platform module and the core root of trust for the trusted platform. The virtual trusted platform module can be uniquely associated with a partition in a partitionable runtime environment within the data processing system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved data processing system and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for data storage protection using cryptography.
2. Description of Related Art
Most data processing systems contain sensitive data and sensitive operations that need to be protected. For example, the integrity of configuration information needs to be protected from illegitimate modification, while other information, such as a password file, needs to be protected from illegitimate disclosure. As another example, a data processing system needs to be able to reliably identify itself to other data processing systems.
An operator of a given data processing system may employ many different types of security mechanisms to protect the data processing system. For example, the operating system on the data processing system may provide various software mechanisms to protect sensitive data, such as various authentication and authorization schemes, while certain hardware devices and software applications may rely upon hardware mechanisms to protect sensitive data, such as hardware security tokens and biometric sensor devices.
The integrity of a data processing system's data and its operations, however, centers around the issue of trust. A data processing system's data and operations can be verified or accepted by another entity if that entity has some manner for establishing trust with the data processing system with respect to particular data items or particular operations.
Hence, the ability to protect a data processing system is limited by the manner in which trust is created or rooted within the data processing system. To address the issues of protecting data processing systems, a consortium of companies has formed the Trusted Computing Group (TCG) to develop and to promulgate open standards and specifications for trusted computing. According to the specifications of the Trusted Computing Group, trust within a given data processing system or trust between a data processing system and another entity is based on the existence of a hardware component within the data processing system that has been termed the trusted platform module (TPM).
A trusted platform module has been generally described in a platform-independent manner, but platform-specific descriptions have been created for certain classes of systems, such as personal computers (PC's). Existing hardware for trusted computing has focused on implementations for a single trusted platform module for a single system. This situation is sufficient for simple servers and PC's, which tend to be relatively low-performance computers that meet the needs of stand-along computational environments or client-side processing environments.
The resources of high-performance servers, though, are typically divided among the needs of concurrently executing applications. Many servers support a partitionable environment that leverages the strong isolation of execution environments under the supervision of a hypervisor. It would be desirable to be able to certify a partitionable environment as being part of a trusted platform, but it would be impractical to provide a single trusted platform module for every possible partition within a partitionable environment.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a mechanism for sharing the capabilities of a single trusted platform module and allowing it to function on a one-to-one basis with each partition within a data processing system.

Method and system for virtualization of trusted platform modules


An adhesive coated label includes indicia disposed on a facestock and layers of tactile coating selectively applied to discrete areas of the facestock to create distinct raised portions on the label. The tactile coating may be applied to correspond to the location of the indicia, wherein the raised portions overlie the indicia. A separate layer of primer may be applied to the facestock to cover substantially an entire side of the facestock. A plurality of such labels may be provided on a web of release liner which has been formed into a roll. The label may be applied to a container and the raised portions of the label provide tactile feel which enhances the aesthetic qualities of the label and container.

Printed labels are widely used on containers to identify the particular products, manufacturers, and brand names associated with the products in those containers. Conventional labels for containers include labels made from thin films wherein the thin film is clear and gives the appearance of having the graphics screen-printed directly onto the container. Thin film labels and other conventional labels generally have a viewable surface (i.e., facing outward from the container) which is flat and provides barely perceptible, if any, variation in the texture of the viewable surface. In some instances however, it may be desired to provide a label which has a tactile feel that enhances the aesthetic quality or appearance of the label. In this regard, the tactile feel of the label could provide a gripping surface for the product or may be used to enhance perception of quality of the container which, in turn, may inhere to the benefit of the contents of the container.
One possible way of providing a tactile feel to a label is to provide additional layers of ink to the label, such that printed indicia are perceptibly raised with respect to the surrounding areas. Inks, however, are generally expensive, compared to other components of the label. Accordingly, providing successive layers of ink, especially by processing a label through successive stages of equipment to obtain the multiple layers, may increase the cost of providing tactile feel to a point which is prohibitive.
There is thus a need for an adhesive coated label which provides a tactile feel and which overcomes various drawbacks of the prior art, such as those described above.

Adhesive coated label having tactile feel


A method of transmitting or retransmitting a packet in a communication system. The method includes determining a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) to reduce the packet error rate (PER) for transmission, where the MCS is an aggregate of M redundant packet transmissions as a function of at least one of determined past channel conditions and/or allocated resources, determinable current channel conditions and/or allocated resources, future statistical channel conditions and/or allocated resources, and/or a cost function; and transmitting the packets in the communication system according to the MCS.

Voice communication has been the dominant application in wireless networks. Cellular standards, such as Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) and IS-95 were originally intended for voice traffic only. With the recent growth of the Internet, voice and high-speed data are now offered over wireless networks. One issue has been improving the physical layer efficiency of packet data services.
Third generation wide-area wireless networks include the introduction of packet data services over a CDMA network, in particular, the introduction of fast rate adaptation and smart scheduling over CDMA downlinks. More recently, incremental redundancy protocols have been proposed with a view towards gaining "time diversity" for short transmissions. One such protocol, which works well with the channel changes and smart scheduling, is the Adaptive Asynchronous Incremental Redundancy (A2IR) protocol. Versions of this protocol were recently adopted as part of the 1xEVDV as well as high-speed downlink packet access ("HSDPA") standards.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of a prior art wireless communication system. As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless access network typically includes an access terminal (AT) 130, a communication transmission device such as a Base Station Transmission System (BTS) 120, and a communication system control device, such as a Base Station Controller (BSC) 110. The BSC 110 receives data from a core network and passes the data to the BTS 120 so that the BTS 120 can transmit the data to the AT 130 over a wireless link 125. Data is communicated in the reverse direction as well and passed from the AT 130 to the core network. The connection between the BTS 120 and BSC 110 is typically through a Ti link 115. A cluster of BTS units may be connected to a router, which in turn is connected to the controller via a T3 link.
A key to efficient delivery of the data packets transmitted from the BTS 120 to the AT 130, has become how efficient the transmission/re-transmission of data is scheduled and transmitted, given the redundant nature of a protocol, such as A2IR. It should be understood that FIG. 1 is merely exemplary of the networks which may host such transmission/retransmission.
As an introduction to MCS, the concept of a hybrid automatic repeat request (ARQ) protocol is helpful. Considering the forward link of a wireless network, e.g. wireless link 125, and given an information block and some knowledge of the channel conditions, the network may proceed to choose a code rate and modulation, then transmit packets of data accordingly. AT 130, upon reception of the packet, conducts a cyclic redundancy check (after demodulation and decoding) in order to determine the efficiency of the transmission.
In second generation, and early versions of third generation data systems, if the CRC check did not pass, the packet would be deemed in error and it is left to the link layer ARQ, (e.g., the radio link protocol (RLP) and network layer ARQ protocols, such as the transmission control protocol (TCP)) to recover from the errors. In other words, complete re-transmission of physical layer packets was the only way to recover from link errors. However, hybrid ARQ (HARQ) protocols, which work on the physical layer, allow for the reuse of symbols/coded bits that were deemed erroneous, via "soft combining" of frames, with a view towards better utilization of physical layer resources.
For reuse, if after one transmission from BTS 120, an error is detected, the receiver does not discard the bits but instead retains them with the hope of combining them with future transmissions. Each transmission on its own may be erroneous, but the ensemble of transmissions may allow the frame to recover from link errors. Two conventional classes of hybrid ARQ protocols include chase combining (CC) and incremental redundancy (IR). The former protocol allows for combining of modulation symbols, whereas the latter involves the combining after demodulation but prior to decoding.
Referring to A2IR, "adaptive" refers to the channel sensitive nature of the protocol where the modulation and channel coding scheme (MCS) is varied between retransmissions. "Asynchronous" refers to the time asynchrony that is allowed between successive transmissions (in order to work with the underlying scheduling algorithm). This leads to challenges of designing "smart scheduling" algorithms as well as "rate (or modulation and coding scheme (MCS)) selection."
Two constraints imposed by conventional HARQ protocols operating with other upper layer protocols on physical layer resource allocation are the residual packet error rate (PER) constraint and the maximum number of re-transmissions constraint. In order to ensure that individual user "packet call" delays are kept within limits, a reasonably low error rate should be presented to upper layers. In the interest of controlling average packet call delay, the number of physical layer (HARQ) re-transmissions permitted for a single packet cannot be unbounded. The notion of residual PER makes sense only with a finite number of HARQ re-transmissions. In practical systems the number of such re-transmissions is quite limited (e.g. 4).

Method of transmitting or retransmitting packets in a communication system