The present invention discloses a device for fastening an integration rod to an inner wall of a housing in a projection optical system and for adjusting a horizontal position and a vertical position of the integration rod corresponding to the inner wall. The fastening/adjusting device includes a frame, a sheath, a first spring, a second spring, a first adjustable screw, and a second adjustable screw. The integration rod is disposed in the sheath, and the sheath is disposed between the frame and the inner wall. The first adjustable screw pushes forward the integration rod, so that the first spring is compressed. The second adjustable screw pushes forward the sheath, so that the second spring is compressed. Therefore, the horizontal and vertical position of the integration rod corresponding to the inner wall can be respectively adjusted by adjusting the first and second adjustable screw.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an integration rod of a projection optical system, and more particular to a device for fastening/adjusting the position of the integration rod when the integration rod is oblique.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, the projection optical system comprises an integration rod to homogenize the light passing through it. Afterward, the light being homogenized is shone on a light valve after passing through the integration rod, so that the brightness of the image projected on a display screen is uniform. Once the integration rod becomes oblique during the process of manufacture or assembly, the light cannot fully pass through the integration rod. Accordingly, the light that cannot pass through the integration rod is lost, such that the brightness of the projected image decreases. Therefore, the position of the integration rod should be adjusted after being assembled.
Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a projection optical system 10, an integration rod 12, and a fastening/adjusting device 14 of the prior art. The device 14 is used for fastening the integration rod 12 onto an inner wall 16 of a housing 11 of the projection optical system 10. The device 14 is also used for adjusting a horizontal position and a vertical position of the integration rod 12 relative to the inner wall 16 of the projection optical system 10. The device 14 comprises a plate spring 15 and two adjusting screws 14a and 14b. The plate spring 15 is monolithically formed with the device 14, and a top surface and a side surface of the plate spring have a metal spring piece 15a and 15b respectively. The adjusting screw 14a corresponding to the metal spring piece 15a is used for adjusting the vertical position of the integration rod 12. The adjusting screw 14b corresponding to the metal spring piece 15b is used for adjusting the horizontal position of the integration rod 12.
As shown in FIG. 1, because the two adjusting screws 14a and 14b both directly adjust the integration rod 12, one of the adjusting screws influences the other when adjusting the integration rod 12. After the device 14 has been used for a span of time, the outer frame of the integration rod 12 is damaged. When one of the two adjusting screws 14a and 14b sinks into the outer frame of the integration rod 12 and cannot adjust the position of the integration rod 12, the other one is influenced and no longer able to adjust the position of the integration rod 12. Moreover, the device 14 of the prior art utilizes the metal spring pieces 15a and 15b to adjust and restore the position of the projection optical system 12. In general, the restoring force of the metal spring piece is not strong and is often not enough for practical use. Furthermore, the outer frame of the integration rod 12 of the prior art directly contacts the inner wall 16 of the housing 11. When the position of the integration rod 12 is adjusted, there is friction between the integration rod 12 and the inner wall 16, and consequently the adjusted direction is oblique.
Therefore, the present invention provides a device for fastening/adjusting the position of an integration rod of a projection optical system to solve the above problems.

Device for fastening and adjusting position of integration rod of projection optical system


The invention provides a novel class of xanthene dyes, some of which are functionalized to allow their coupling to conjugation partners of interest, e.g. biomolecules, drugs, toxins and the like. Also provided are conjugates of the dyes, methods of preparing and using the dyes and their conjugates and kits including the dyes and their conjugates.

There is a continuous and expanding need for rapid, highly specific methods of detecting and quantifying chemical, biochemical and biological substances as analytes in research and diagnostic mixtures. Of particular value are methods for measuring small quantities of nucleic acids, peptides, saccharides, pharmaceuticals, metabolites, microorganisms and other materials of diagnostic value. Examples of such materials include narcotics and poisons, drugs administered for therapeutic purposes, hormones, pathogenic microorganisms and viruses, peptides, e.g., antibodies and enzymes, and nucleic acids, particularly those implicated in disease states.
The presence of a particular analyte can often be determined by binding methods that exploit the high degree of specificity that characterizes many biochemical and biological systems. Frequently used methods are based on, for example, antigen-antibody systems, nucleic acid hybridization techniques and protein-ligand systems. In these methods, the existence of a complex of diagnostic value is typically indicated by the presence or absence of an observable "label" which is attached to one or more of the interacting materials. The specific labeling method chosen often dictates the usefulness and versatility of a particular system for detecting an analyte of interest. Preferred labels are inexpensive, safe, and capable of being attached efficiently to a wide variety of chemical, biochemical, and biological materials without significantly altering the important binding characteristics of those materials. The label should give a highly characteristic signal, and should be rarely, and preferably never, found in nature. The label should be stable and detectable in aqueous systems over periods of time ranging up to months. Detection of the label is preferably rapid, sensitive, and reproducible without the need for expensive, specialized facilities or the need for special precautions to protect personnel. Quantification of the label is preferably relatively independent of variables such as temperature and the composition of the mixture to be assayed.
A wide variety of labels have been developed, each with particular advantages and disadvantages. For example, radioactive labels are quite versatile, and can be detected at very low concentrations, such labels are, however, expensive, hazardous, and their use requires sophisticated equipment and trained personnel. Thus, there is wide interest in non-radioactive labels, particularly in labels that are observable by spectrophotometric, spin resonance and luminescence techniques, and reactive materials, such as enzymes that produce such molecules.
Labels that are detectable using fluorescence spectroscopy are of particular interest, because of the large number of such labels that are known in the art. Moreover, as discussed below, the literature is replete with syntheses of fluorescent labels that are derivatized to allow their attachment to other molecules and many such fluorescent labels are commercially available.
In addition to being directly detected, many fluorescent labels operate to quench the fluorescence of an adjacent second fluorescent label. Because of its dependence on the distance and the magnitude of the interaction between the quencher and the fluorophore, the quenching of a fluorescent species provides a sensitive probe of molecular conformation and binding, as well as or other interactions. An excellent example of the use of fluorescent reporter quencher pairs is found in the detection and analysis of nucleic acids.
Fluorescent nucleic acid probes are important tools for genetic analysis, in both genomic research and development, and in clinical medicine. As information from the Human Genome Project accumulates, the level of genetic interrogation mediated by fluorescent probes will expand enormously. One particularly useful class of fluorescent probes includes self-quenching probes, also known as fluorescence energy transfer probes, or FET probes. The design of different probes using this motif may vary in detail. In an exemplary FET probe, both a fluorophore and a quencher are tethered to a nucleic acid. The probe is configured such that the fluorophore is proximate to the quencher and the probe produces a signal only as a result of its hybridization to an intended target. Despite the limited availability of FET probes, techniques incorporating their use are rapidly displacing alternative methods.
Probes containing a fluorophore-quencher pair have been developed for nucleic acid hybridization assays where the probe forms a hairpin structure, i.e., where the probe hybridizes to itself to form a loop such that the quencher molecule is brought into proximity with the reporter molecule in the absence of a complementary nucleic acid sequence to prevent the formation of the hairpin structure (see, for example, WO 90/03446; European Patent Application No. 0 601 889 A2). When a complementary target sequence is present, hybridization of the probe to the complementary target sequence disrupts the hairpin structure and causes the probe to adopt a conformation where the quencher molecule is no longer close enough to the reporter molecule to quench the reporter molecule. As a result, the probes provide an increased fluorescence signal when hybridized to a target sequence than when they are unhybridized.
Assays have also been developed for detecting a selected nucleic acid sequence and for identifying the presence of a hairpin structure using two separate probes, one containing a reporter molecule and the other a quencher molecule (see, Meringue, et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 22: 920-928 (1994)). In these assays, the fluorescence signal of the reporter molecule decreases when hybridized to the target sequence due to the quencher molecule being brought into proximity with the reporter molecule.
One particularly important application for probes including a reporter—quencher molecule pair is their use in nucleic acid amplification reactions, such as polymerase chain reactions (PCR), to detect the presence and amplification of a target nucleic acid sequence. In general, nucleic acid amplification techniques have opened broad new approaches to genetic testing and DNA analysis (see, for example, Arnheim et al. Ann. Rev. Biochem., 61: 131-156 (1992)). PCR, in particular, has become a research tool of major importance with applications in, for example, cloning, analysis of genetic expression, DNA sequencing, genetic mapping and drug discovery (see, Arnheim et al., supra; Gilliland et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 87: 2725-2729 (1990); Bevan et al., PCR Methods and Applications, 1: 222-228 (1992); Green et al., PCR Methods and Applications, 1: 77-90 (1991); Blackwell et al., Science, 250: 1104-1110 (1990)).
Commonly used methods for detecting nucleic acid amplification products require that the amplified product be separated from unreacted primers. This is typically achieved either through the use of gel electrophoresis, which separates the amplification product from the primers on the basis of a size differential, or through the immobilization of the product, allowing free primer to be washed away. However, a number of methods for monitoring the amplification process without prior separation of primer have been described; all of them are based on FET, and none of them detect the amplified product directly. Instead, the methods detect some event related to amplification. For that reason, they are accompanied by problems of high background, and are not quantitative, as discussed below.
One method, described in Wang et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,853; and Anal. Chem., 67: 1197-1203 (1995)), uses an energy transfer system in which energy transfer occurs between two fluorophores on the probe. In this method, detection of the amplified molecule takes place in the amplification reaction vessel, without the need for a separation step.
A second method for detecting an amplification product without prior separation of primer and product is the 5′-nuclease PCR assay (also referred to as the TaqMan™ assay) (Holland et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88: 7276-7280 (1991); Lee et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 21: 3761-3766 (1993)). This assay detects the accumulation of a specific PCR product by hybridization and cleavage of a doubly labeled fluorogenic probe (the "TaqMan" probe) during the amplification reaction. The fluorogenic probe consists of a nucleic acid labeled with both a fluorescent reporter dye and a quencher dye. During PCR, this probe is cleaved by the 5′-exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase if, and only if, it hybridizes to the segment being amplified. Cleavage of the probe generates an increase in the fluorescence intensity of the reporter dye.
Yet another method of detecting amplification products that relies on the use of energy transfer is the "beacon probe" method described by Tyagi et al. (Nature Biotech., 14: 303-309 (1996)) which is also the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,728 to Lizardi et al. This method employs nucleic acid hybridization probes that can form hairpin structures. On one end of the hybridization probe (either the 5′- or 3′-end) there is a donor fluorophore, and on the other end, an acceptor moiety. In this method, the acceptor moiety is a quencher, absorbing energy from the donor. Thus when the beacon is in the open conformation, the fluorescence of the donor fluorophore is detectable, whereas when the beacon is in hairpin (closed) conformation, the fluorescence of the donor fluorophore is quenched. When employed in PCR, the molecular beacon probe, which hybridizes to one of the strands of the PCR product, is in "open conformation," and fluorescence is detected, while those that remain unhybridized will not fluoresce. As a result, the amount of fluorescence will increase as the amount of PCR product increases, and thus can be used as a measure of the progress of the PCR.
The probes discussed above are most generally configured such that the quencher and fluorophore are on the 3′- and 5′-ends of the probe (Lyamichev et al., Science, 260:778-783 (1993)). This spacing of the fluorophore and quencher may impede fluorescent energy transfer: fluorescence energy transfer decreases as the inverse sixth power of the distance between the fluorophore and quencher. Thus, if the quencher is not close enough to the reporter to achieve efficient quenching the background emissions from the probe can be quite high.
For the xanthene dye to be useful as a label it must posses a chemical functional group the will permit it to bind to, or react with, a substrate of interest. The incorporation of such reactive chemical functionality into xanthene dyes usually requires additional synthetic steps and/or difficult to implement purification methods. In particular, separation of structural isomers of fluoresceins and rhodamines, which are the most commonly used xanthene labeling reagents for biological and medical applications, is tedious and is to be avoided if possible.
The core chemical structure of many fluorescein and rhodamine dyes includes a carboxylic acid group in the ortho position of the benzene ring attached to the xanthene residue; some others posses a sulfonic acid group at this site. The carboxylic acid group has not been widely utilized as a site for conjugation of the dye to substrates due to its low reactivity and due to side reactions that render the dye non-fluorescent. Although the carboxylic acid can be activated and reacted with alcohols to form esters or with amines to form amides, the ester linkage is of insufficient stability to be useful when preparing compounds that are stably labeled with a fluorophore.
The amide linkage is stable to hydrolysis but while some amides prepared from the activated carboxylic acid and primary amines are reported to be colored (Mayer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,675) others are reported to undergo a spirolactamization reaction in which the dye loses its color and is rendered non-fluorescent (Adamczyk et al., Synthetic Commun. 31: 2681-2690 (2001); and Cincotta et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,955)). In contrast, secondary amines react with the activated carboxylic acid to create an amide link that cannot undergo spirolactamization, providing a xanthene dye that retains its color and fluorescence (Gao et al., WO 02/055512). Menchen et al. disclose xanthene dyes in which the ortho carboxyl moiety is activated and coupled to another species. Other amide derivatized xanthene dyes are disclosed in Haugland et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,399,392; and Mayer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,059.
Xanthene dyes that posses a sulfonic acid group in the ortho position can be activated and reacted with alcohols and with amines in a manner similar to xanthene dyes with ortho carboxylic acid groups to yield sulfonate esters and sulfonamides, respectively. The sulfonate esters are not stable under aqueous conditions and are of little use as linker functionality for preparing oligonucleotides. The sulfonamides are stable and have been used to prepare reactive xanthene dyes such as succinimidyl esters, maleimides and phosphoramidites.
None of the above-described references discloses or suggests the modification of the fluorophore nucleus with a versatile amide-linked moiety that allows for the facile variation of the composition, length and degree of branching of the linker. Furthermore, none of the references suggest a linker that provides a locus for attaching the fluorophore to a solid support, nor do the references describe a branched linker moiety that tethers both a phosphoramidite and a dimethoxytrityl ether to a single endocyclic nitrogen atom.
Attaching quenchers or fluorophores to sites other than the readily accessible 5′-OH group generally requires the synthesis of fluorescent labels that are of use to attach the fluorophore to a single reactive residue of a carrier molecule or a selected reactive functional group on that residue; reacting the same fluorophore with a different functional group of the carrier generally requires a new modification of the fluorescent core. Similarly, modifying the structure or composition of the linker arm requires a modification to the fluorophore nucleus. Thus, a xanthene label that provides a versatile entry point for an array of synthetic modifications would represent a significant advance in the art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A semiconductor device including: a first gate insulating film which is pattern-formed on an N type well region within a P type semiconductor substrate; a second gate insulating film which is formed on the semiconductor substrate except for this first gate insulating film; a gate electrode, which is formed in such a manner that this gate electrode is bridged over the first gate insulating film and the second gate insulating film; a P type body region which is formed in such a manner that this P type body region is located adjacent to the gate electrode; an N type source region and a channel region, which are formed within this P type body region; and an N type drain region which is formed at a position separated from the P type body region.

The present invention is related to a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an LD (Lateral Double Diffused) MOS (Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) transistor technique functioning as a high voltage element which is utilized as, for instance, a liquid crystal driving IC.
In this case, an LDMOS transistor structure implies such a transistor structure that impurities having different conductive types are diffused with respect to a region formed on the side of a surface of a semiconductor substrate so as to form new regions, and a difference between diffusions of these regions along a lateral direction is utilized as an effective channel length. Since a short channel is formed, the resulting transistor structure may constitute such an element suitably having a lower ON-resistance value.
FIG. 9 is a sectional diagram for explaining a conventional LDMOS transistor, as one example thereof, for representing an N-channel type LDMOS transistor structure. It should be noted that while a description as to a P-channel type LDMOS transistor structure is omitted, as is well known in this field, this P-channel type LDMOS transistor owns a similar structure of the N-channel type LDMOS transistor except for the conductive type thereof.
In FIG. 9, reference numeral 51 shows one conductive type semiconductor substrate, for example, a P type semiconductor substrate (P-Sub), and reference numeral 52 represents an N type well region. In this N type well region (N well) 52, a P type body region (PB) 53 is formed, whereas an N type (N+) region 54 is formed in the above-explained N type well region 53, and another N type (N+) region 55 is formed in the N type well region 52. Also, a gate electrode 58 is formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate in such a manner that this gate electrode 58 is bridged between a first gate insulating film 56 and a second gate insulating film 57, the film thickness of which is thinner than that of the first gate insulating film 56. A channel region 59 is formed in a surface region of the P type body region 53 located just under this gate electrode 58.
Then, the above-explained N+ type region 54 is used as a source region, the N+ type region 55 is used as a drain region, and the N type well region 52 is used as a drift region. Also, reference numeral 60 shows a device separation film, symbol "S" denotes a source electrode, symbol "G" indicates a gate electrode, and symbol "D" represents a drain electrode. Reference numeral 61 shows a P type (P+) region which is employed so as to secure a potential of the P type body region 53. Also, reference numeral 62 shows an interlayer insulating film.
In the above-explained LDMOS transistor, since the N type well region 52 is formed in the diffusion manner, concentration at the surface of the N type well region 52 is increased, so that a current can easily flow on the surface of the N type well region 52, and also, this LDMOS transistor can be operated under high voltages, namely can have a high-voltage-withstanding characteristic.
In the above-described LDMOS transistor, the simulation result could reveal such a fact that local current crowding (namely, region "A" shown in FIG. 9) may occur between an edge portion of the P type body region 53 and an edge portion of the first gate insulating film 56, and thus, a current can very hardly flow between the source of this LDMOS transistor and the drain thereof.
As a consequence, in particular, when the drain voltage is low, there is a lack of drive capability of the LDMOS transistor, so that this LDMOS transistor can be hardly turned ON.
The occurrence cause of this local current crowding is given by such a fact that equipotential lines are crowded in such a space which is surrounded by an edge portion (wall) of the above-explained first gate insulating film 56 and an edge portion (wall) of the P type body region 53. More precisely speaking, while the equipotential lines may be distributed by widening the space which is surrounded by the edge portion (wall) of the first gate insulating film 56 and the edge portion (wall) of the P type body region 53, this measure may disturb, or impede that the LDMOS transistor is manufactured in very fine manners.

Manufacturing method for a semiconductor device with reduced local current


A liquid toner imaging system having at least one metal product, having a coating on at least a portion thereof, the coating having a thickness of between about 0.1 and about 2 microns thereon, said coating comprising an anionic fluorosurfactant, said coating being in contact with liquid toner therein.

Coating of parts of a liquid toner imaging system in order to avoid agglomerations of toner particles, colloquially known as "sludge", is well known. In general, such coatings comprise silicone or fluorosilicone materials. Surfaces normally treated include surfaces to which the toner would normally plate due to an electric field, metal surfaces on which the toner sits for extended periods of time or in regions in which the toner is subjected to other types of stress.
In WO 90/05941, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, coating of surfaces onto which toner particles would plate, due to an electric field, is described. The coatings described include fluorosilicones and ZONYL a brand name for a series of Dupont fluorosurfactants. The ZONYL material is described (incorrectly) as a fluorosilicone. With respect to the use of ZONYL as a coating the reference states "Alternatively, coating the developer electrode with fluorosilicone surfactants such as ZONYL (DuPont) has been effective in inhibiting plating out of toner particles, but this expedient inhibits plating-out of toner particles for only a limited period of time."

Coating especially for liquid toner imaging system components

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


When a call-up is generated, an data type identifying unit of a CPU identifies the type of data type information which is appended as a header to received data as one of sound data, text data, and image and sound data, and displays the type on a display unit comprising a monitor. When the type is sound data or text data, an application for executing a corresponding telephone function or data communication function is activated via the user line connection. When the type is image and sound data, an application for executing a corresponding visual telephone function is activated after line connection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal, which has a telephone function, a data communication function, and a visual telephone function. The present invention also relates to a visual telephone system using the mobile communication terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Good operability is required in realizing a visual telephone system comprising a visual telephone function appended to a mobile communication terminal having a telephone function and a data communication function using a communication unit which is capable of high-speed data transmission, such as PDC (Personal Digital Cellular), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) and PHS (Personal Handy-phone System), in addition to WCDMA (Wide band CDMA), CDMA 2000, and the like, which are being developed as next-generation technology.
The reason for this is that, for example, when a telephone call has been received, the person receiving the call moves his ear and mouth near to the mobile communication terminal and speaks. In the case of a visual telephone call, he speaks while watching the face of the caller which is displayed on a display at a fixed distance from his own ear and mouth.
However, when a visual telephone function has been appended to the mobile communication terminal as mentioned above, it is not possible to know which type of call has been received. This makes it difficult to smoothly receive telephone calls and visual telephone calls.
In order to receive calls smoothly, the user needs to know in advance which type of call is being received. After confirming the type of the received call, the user must activate functions for that mode.

Videophone system using cellular telephone terminal


A system (10) for facilitating the processing of travel related expenses includes a database (40) which stores a traveler profile (50), a customer profile (52), and a traveler category rule set (56). A controller (36), connected to the database (40), receives travel itinerary information for a traveler associated with a customer (12). The controller (40) determines a specified amount of funds to be allocated to the traveler and transfers the specified amount of funds from an account of the customer (12). In addition, the controller (40) provides at least a portion of the transferred funds to the traveler, for example, through an automatic teller machine network (20). The controller (40) receives a record, for example, via an electronic data interchange interface (24), of any transactions in which the traveler spends the portion of transferred funds, thereby facilitating the processing of travel related expenses.

Many people who travel do not ultimately pay for their travel related expenses. For example, the expenses of a person traveling for work-related matters are often paid by the person's employer. Likewise, the expenses of a lecturer who travels from one city to another are often paid by a sponsoring organization or group in each city. Ordinarily, in order for these travelers to be reimbursed for all of their expenses, they are required to obtain and keep paper receipts, which must be submitted to the ultimate payer. In many cases, if a traveler lost or, alternately, did not obtain a paper receipt for a particular expense, the payer would not reimburse for the expense.
Furthermore, in addition to submitting the receipts, a traveler was often required to fill out a detailed expense report. Before reimbursing the traveler, the ultimate payer would review the receipts and detailed expense report to ensure that all expenses were legitimate and/or fell within appropriate guidelines, such as, a maximum dollar amount for dinner. After reimbursing the traveler, the ultimate payer was then required to maintain a record of the receipts for tax purposes. Consequently, the prior method of processing travel-related expenses was extremely burdensome, time-consuming, and inefficient.

Automated processing of travel related expenses


According to the present invention, there is provided an anti-solid tumor agent comprising a cembrane-type compound represented by the general formula (I) or (II): ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrogen atom or an acyl group, as an effective ingredient.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of treating solid tumors in a mammal using pharmaceutical compositions described hereinbelow, the solid tumors treated being those which are sensitive to treatment with the compositions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many recent studies have been showing that various external and internal environmental substances may cause carcinogenesis.
By way of illustration, in the so-called two-stage model of carcinogenesis of mouse skin cancer, which has been well known as a representative of mouse cancers, the carcinogenic process may be described as follows: in the first stage, upon administration of a small amount of dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) insufficient to cause carcinogenesis, normal cells are converted into latent tumoral ones which are in an initiated state, this stage being referred to as carcinogenic initiation; and, in the second stage, the latent cancerous cells in the initiated state are altered from benign tumor to malignant tumor by the action of a substance capable of promoting the carcinogenesis, for example, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA); thus, carcinogenesis is performed.
Recently, both studies on causative substances promoting carcinogenesis by such carcinogenic processes and biochemical studies on carcinogenic processes have notably been advanced. These studies can be applied to inhibition of carcinogenesis, and inhibition and/or prophylactic prevention of progression and growth of cancer. Refer to, for instance, "Cellular Interactions by Environmental Tumor Promoters", edited by Hirota Fujiki et al., Japan Scientific Societies Press (1984).
Such two-stage carcinogenesis has been reported on mouse breast cancer promoted by mouse epidermal growth factor (EGF): Takami Oka, Nippon Yaku-gakkai (Japan Pharmacy Association), the 106th annual meeting, collection of summaries of lectures, page 283 (1986). Such processes may also be observed in rats. In addition, it has also been reported that rat solid cancers found in organs other than skin, for example, liver, bladder, large intestine, stomach or duodenum, will be produced by the two-stage processes.
Further, epidemiologic data have shown that such a solid tumor as human lung, large intestine, esophagus, nasopharynx or uterus cancer is produced by multi-stage cancinogenesis: Hiroshi Yamazaki, Taisha (Metabolism), Vol. 17, Extra Edition, "Gan (Cancer) '80", pp. 21-32 (1980). The known tumor promoters (promoters of carcinogenesis) of these cancers are, respectively, smoking, bile acid, phorbol ester, nickel, and coupled estrogen.
In addition, changes in incidences of cancer by settlement may be considered to depend on respective environmental factors: for instance, in Japanese Isseis who have emigrated to the United States, the incidence of large intestine cancer increases and the mortality from prostata cancer differs. These differences suggest that human cancers are formed by multi-stage carcinogenesis.
It has been known that among various biochemical reactions caused by carcinogenesis-promoting substances, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity increases temporarily: Masami Suganuma, Toxicology Forum, Vol. 7, No. 6, page 616 (1984). Researches after other tumor promoting substances using such ODC activity as an index have led to discovery of new many tumor promoters.
Consequently, it has been proved that like TPA, teleocidin and aplysiatoxin are also potent tumor promoters of mouse skin cancer: Hirota Fujiki, Taisha (Metabolism), Vol. 18, Extra Edition, "Gan (Cancer) '81" (1981); and ibid., Vol. 22, "Gan (Cancer) '81" (1985).
Anti-tumor promoters (Anti-promoters of carcinogenesis) capable of inhibiting such two-stage carcinogenesis as aforementioned may be promising as substances for inhibiting the carcinogenic processes for the purpose of prophylactic inhibition of canceration, prevention of malignant alteration, prophylactic prevention of recurrence and cure of cancer. Many substances have been known as such anti-tumor promoters.
Among retinoids, for example, many low toxic substances have been searched, and it has been known that anti-carcinogenesis promoters represented by 13-cis-retinoic acid may prophylactically prevent carcinogenesis at the same level of activity as the tumor promoters.
On the other hand, it is also possible that anti-carcinogenic promoters present as living environmental factors, such as quercetine, which is one of flavonoids, tannin contained in tea, and pentagalloylglucose, may prophylactically prevent carcinogenesis. Probably, lower toxic substances having such anti-carcinogenic promoter activity will be utilized as new cancer-inhibiting agents in the future from the viewpoint of the prevention and/or inhibition of carcinogenesis.


A sealing member, a component including a sealing member, and a method of sealing a hole are disclosed. In an embodiment, the sealing member includes a plug member for occluding a hole in a wall of a passageway. The plug member includes at least one cooling feature disposed on a distal end of the plug member exposed to the passageway.

The disclosure relates generally to hot gas path components having cooling passageways cast therein, for use in turbomachines such as gas turbines. More particularly, the disclosure relates to an active sealing member for sealing cast-in holes in the cooling passageway walls.
Components in turbomachines such as gas turbines typically operate in high temperature environments. In order to efficiently cool the components, which may for example include nozzles, shrouds, and buckets, cooling passageways may be cast into the body of the components during fabrication. These cooling passageways allow a fluid to circulate through the cooling passageways, carrying energy in the form of heat away from the component.
The casting process for fabricating such components may result in the formation of components having holes in the walls of the cooling passageways. These holes may be sealed by, e.g., welding, brazing, threading, or other means, such as inserting a plug into or over the hole.
In embodiments in which the cooling passageways include features or geometries on an interior of the cooling passageway to increase heat transfer effectiveness and promote cooling, the plugged area of the cooling passageway wall typically lacks such cooling features. The plugged hole thus becomes a dead zone in the cooling circuit, and/or may interfere with the desired flow pattern for maximum cooling.


A new kind of pixel is formed of two floating diffusions of different sizes and different conductivity type. The two floating diffusions have different image characteristics, and hence form a knee-shaped slope.

Active pixel sensors are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,215. Higher charge and efficiency from these devices is desirable. In addition, different parameters and operations can benefit from different kinds of samples. For example, a short sampling period can provide the highest amount of dynamic range, while a longer sampling period can provide better resolution. Fossum and Yadid-Pecht have described one such system and "Wide Intrascene Dynamic Range CMOS APS Using Dual Sampling, IEEE Transactions On Electronic Devices, volume 44 page 1721-1723, October 1997. In that system, two signals are obtained using two different integration intervals.

Multi junction APS with dual simultaneous integration


A firearm with manually operated bolt release includes a receiver defining a longitudinally-extending cavity, a barrel, and a bolt slideably mounted in the receiver for reciprocating axial movement between a forward closed breech position in battery with the barrel and a rearward open breech position. A recoil spring biases the bolt forward towards the closed breech position. A manually actuated bolt release is pivotably mounted in the firearm and movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The bolt release includes a locking portion configured to selectively engage a locking recess formed on the bolt for holding the bolt in the open breech position, and disengage the locking recess for releasing the bolt to reclose the breech. In one embodiment, the bolt may be automatically disengaged from the bolt release by retracting the bolt a second time.

The present invention generally relates to firearms, and more particularly to a bolt release mechanism for firearms such as rifles.
In magazine-fed semi-automatic rifles, it is often desirable to manually open the breech by retracting the bolt rearward, and then lock the bolt in the rearward position for various reasons. For example, one such reason is to allow visual inspection of the chamber to ensure that a round of ammunition does not remain when placing the firearm in a safe condition in preparation for maintenance or repair of the firearm. Another reason is to allow a round to be manually chambered if the magazine is empty. The bolt release of the firearm acts as a lock which selectably holds the bolt rearward until manually released by the user through some additional action.
Some aftermarket or modified bolt release mechanisms may be susceptible to unintentionally releasing the bolt forward if the firearm is accidentally bumped or jarred. Such designs do to positively lock the bolt reward. On the other hand, some bolt releases may require the user to move the bolt release twice—once when locking the bolt rearward initially, and another to then release the bolt to reclose the breech.
Improvements in bolt releases are desired.


A method for playing back a program which includes one or more interactive applications. A program which is stored, either in the form of a data stream or as a set of files is played back from a storage device. When playback is started, applications which are detected are launched. Applications are detected in the playback of pushed content when they become available in the playback stream. Applications are detected in the playback of pulled content by comparing the validity ranges of the applications to a current playback index. When special playback modes are used, signals which affect the lifecycle of an application are detected and corresponding signals are generated to maintain the proper state of the application. During these special playback modes, these various notification signals may be conveyed to applications which are configured to operate during these modes. Applications which are not configured to operate during these special playback modes may be terminated when the special modes are initiated and restarted when the special modes end.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to broadcast television systems and more particularly to a system and method for playing back programs which have been stored on the storage device of an interactive television system receiver, wherein the programs contain one or more interactive applications.
2. Description of Related Art
Interactive television systems provide a means to deliver interactive content as well as ordinary television audio and video to a large number of subscribers. Programs broadcast by these systems may incorporate television audio and video, still images, text, interactive graphics and applications, and many other components. The interactive content of the interactive television signal may therefore include application code, data associated with the audio and video, control signals, raw data and many other types of information.
Interactive content such as application code or information relating to television programs is usually broadcast in a repeating format. In other words, each piece of information is broadcast a first time, then each is transmitted a second time, and so on. The cycle is repeated so that each piece of interactive data is transmitted, for example, every ten seconds. The pieces of information which are broadcast in this manner form what is referred to as a "carousel." The sequence of information that makes up the carousel can be prepared in advance, or it can be determined "on the fly."
Broadcast systems (e.g., interactive television systems) transmit information in a carousel format in order to allow receivers in the system to selectively obtain particular pieces of information in the carousel without requiring a return path from the receivers to the server. If a particular receiver needs a particular piece of information, it can simply wait until next time that piece of information is broadcast to obtain the information. If the information were not cyclically broadcast, the receiver would have to transmit a request for the information to the server, thus requiring a return path. Other receivers in the system can operate in the same manner, each receiver waiting for the information it needs, and then using only that information. By employing carousels to broadcast information, the system eliminates the need to connect each of the receivers with the server and further eliminates the need for the server to process individual requests for information. Generally, a broadcast signal may include a number of programs which in turn may include a number of audio/video streams and/or data streams. Data streams may be used to carry data such as interactive application data, subtitle information, or other data.
The pieces of information, or data objects, in a carousel are often intended to be combined to form a single program. This program may also contain streaming data such as audio or video. For example, an interactive television game show may combine television audio and video with interactive content such as application code which allows users to answer questions. Another example would be a news program which combines audio and video with application code that inserts current stock prices in a banner at the bottom of the screen. It is to be understood that the term "program" as used herein refers to any broadcast material including television shows, sporting events, news programs, movies, or any other type of broadcast material, or segment of the show, event, program, movie, or other material. The program may include only audio, video, data, or any combination thereof. The program may be only a portion of a television show or broadcast (e.g., without commercials, or missing a portion of the beginning or end) or may be more than one show, or include commercials, for example.
Program content received in a broadcast system is normally intended to be consumed immediately. It is nevertheless possible to record this content for later playback. The broadcast information can be recorded "as is" (i.e., as the stream of data transmitted to the receiver,) or it may be recorded as a set of files that can be accessed randomly instead of sequentially. If the information is recorded as a data stream, the data may be referred to as "pushed" data since the receiver must play the information back as a data stream—it cannot retrieve particular data objects out of order. Data objects which are recorded as a set of files can be individually retrieved, and may therefore be referred to as "pulled" data.
Regardless of whether an interactive program is stored as pushed content or pulled content, there may be difficulties in playing back the recorded program, since it was originally intended for immediate consumption. Although it may be a relatively simple matter to play back the entire program from start to finish, just as it was originally provided to a user, the user may wish to use a special mode, such as pausing, fast-forwarding, reversing, or jumping to particular points in the program when it is replayed. Because the program may include different interactive applications which are in various states throughout the program, it is necessary to maintain the proper states for these applications, even when parts of the program are skipped in special playback modes. Further, the applications may interact with other data objects, so in a special playback mode it may be necessary to generate signals that would not otherwise be generated.


Lower, arced decurling guide (1) is pivoted on pin (3) and biased upward by spring (7). Upper stop (11) prevents the lower guide from moving closer to upper decurling roller (15). Paper (9) is guided between these upper and lower guides and the lower guide is moved outward in proportion to the rigidity of the paper being decurled. This automatic adjustment provides good decurling for all papers within a broad range of rigidity.

Paper takes on a semi-permanent set or curl by being bent, especially under heat. Other factors, such as printing on one side of paper, may also cause curl. Electrophotographic imaging typically involves bonding toner to paper using heat as a final step in imaging, which results in significant curling. Where the paper is to be conveyed further, such as for duplex printing on the opposite side to the first printing, decurling typically is employed to assure that the paper will feed reliably during the second printing operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,984 to Coombs teaches a decurler of the general kind in which this invention is employed. That patent employs a stationary guide in the form of in an arc spaced from and partially surrounding a rotating roller. The paper is fed between the guide and the roller, where it is bent around roughly 120 degrees of the roller. The roller is rotated in a direction which assists in paper feeding, but the contact with the roller is light because the space between the guide and the roller is more than the thickness of the paper.
Japanese patent 60-97162 to T. Hashimoto, issued May 30, 1985, discloses a flat guide spaced from pinch rollers for decurling.
The decurler of the foregoing patent 5,066,984 does not provide satisfactory results for papers of different rigidity. Configurations of the arc guide and the spaced roller may be satisfactory for one paper but produce under decurling or over decurling (curling in the direction opposite from the original curling) for other papers. This invention employs self-adjustment of the guide to achieve consistent and highly satisfactory results for papers within a wide range of rigidity.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,531,619 to Gonia discloses a decurler in which decurling is by directing paper around a spring-mounted roller for which the pressure is mechanically adjusted to vary the degree of flexing. This adjustment is done by adjusting screws and is not automatic.


A mobile terminal including a memory; a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly connect with at least one other terminal; a camera configured to capture an image; a display unit; an audio output module configured to output an audio file; a microphone configured to obtain sound information; and a controller. The controller is configured to capture an image using the camera, search for an audio file corresponding to sound information obtained through the microphone when capturing the image using the camera, set information related to the searched audio file as an audio file corresponding to the captured image, and output the searched audio file to the audio output module when displaying the captured image on the display unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and, more particularly, to a mobile terminal, which provides a diary function or can perform various functions using information obtained when capturing an image using a camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a mobile terminal is a mobile device configured to be portable and equipped with one or more of a voice and video call function, an information input/output function, and a data storage function.
Recently, as the functions of the mobile terminal are diversified with the diffusion of smart devices, such as smart phones, the mobile terminal is equipped with complicated functions, such as the photographing of photos or moving images, the playing of music or moving image files, gaming, and the reception of broadcasting, and is evolved into a complex multimedia player.

Mobile terminal generating a user diary based on extracted information


A test device comprises a base and a first fixture coupled to the base. The first fixture holds a first portion of an electronic device mounted in the test device. The test device includes a second fixture rotatably coupled to the base and a lever coupled to the second fixture. The second fixture holds a second portion of the electronic device mounted in the test device. The test device also includes an actuator that forcibly moves the lever to rotate the second fixture and apply a torsion stress on the electronic device mounted in the test device. The test device may be used to test the functionality of electronic devices, such as small form-factor disc drives, while under torsion stresses.

Many portable consumer devices, such as notebook computers, cell phones, digital music players, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and the like may include a small form factor disc drive for data storage. For example, one currently available small form factor disc drive with a five gigabyte (Gb) capacity has a profile smaller than a credit card with a thickness of less than a quarter inch.
Small form factor disc drives are more susceptible to external shocks and other forces than the larger disc drives commonly designed for use in desktop computers. Portable electronic devices tend to experience significant shocks and forces through normal everyday use. For example, a user may accidentally drop a portable electronic device or a user may place a portable electronic device in a back pants pocket and sit on it. If a disc drive inside the portable electronic device breaks as a result of such external socks and forces, the portable electronic device itself will likely be unusable. For these and other reasons, small form factor disc drives should be robust enough to withstand the external shocks and forces associated with portable electronic devices.


A color filter for liquid crystal displays, has a red colored layer wherein a first red pigment where a 40%-transmittance wavelength at a short-wave end of a transmitted spectrum (short-wave 40%-transmittance wavelength) is in a range of 550 to 600 NM and a second red pigment where the short-wave 40%-transmittance wavelength is within 40 NM from the range of the first red pigment are mixed so that transmittance in a wavelength region of 450 to 500 NM is substantially 0%.

An LCD is a sort of optical shutter, and the optical shutter is created for each pixel. Light is controlled by the opening and closing of the optical shutter, whereby an image is displayed. If a color film through which visible light is transmitted is applied to each pixel, that color will be displayed when the shutter is open. If, as a color film, the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) which are the primaries of an additive color process are controlled as a single block, color display will become possible.
In the color filter for an LCD, usually R, G, and B pixels are regularly arrayed and the respective pixels are fringed with black matrixes. Each pixel can be made by various processes, such as a dyeing process of dyeing a pattern formed by photolithography, a printing process of printing a pattern directly on a transparent plate, an elecrodeposition process of providing a transparent electrode pattern on the surface of a transparent substrate and depositing coloring matter on the surface of the pattern together with vehicle, or a pigment dispersing process of forming a photo polymeric composition contained with a pigment into a pattern with photolithography.
Liquid crystal displays require light-resisting property and heat-resisting property from the viewpoint of stability and lifetime and, on the other hand, there is a demand for a color filter with high contrast and transparency from the viewpoint of power saving and display quality. The coloring matter of a color filter is gradually shifted from dyes to pigments in view of light-resisting property and heat-resisting property, and although a pigment has presently been used, the pigment is composed of particles, so the contrast and transparency that are obtained by light scattering are insufficient. Therefore, an attempt to solve the problem by reducing a particle diameter has been made and contrast has reached a nearly satisfactory level with a particle diameter of 0.1 to 0.05 micron.
For the transparency of a color filter, the matching between the emitted wavelength of a light source and the transmitted wavelength of a color filter is also important, apart from the particle diameter of a pigment. As a light source for liquid crystal displays, a cold-cathode tube called a 3-wavelength tube is usually used, and for example, the emitted wavelength of red is 610 nm.
Since Simple primary color a spectral characteristic desirable for such a color filter and it is known to obtain a desired spectral characteristic by mixing pigments. In particular this problem exists for the red pigment of a color filter.
As a red pigment, C. I. Pigment Red #177 and "primary yellow" (C. I. Pigment Yellow #139) are employed in. The spectral characteristics of those pigments are shown in FIG. 1. (C.I. refers to the Color Index published by The Society of Dyers and Colourist and the American Association of Texitle Chemists and Colorists).
As is evident in FIG. 1, C. I. Pigment Red #177 (indicated by (1) in FIG. 1), as it is, cannot be applied to a color filter because it has high transmittance near 380 to 530 nm and will degrade color purity (color closing to mulex as blue component mixes in red). Hence, primary yellow (C. I. Pigment Yellow #139 (indicated by (2) in FIG. 1)) where transmittance is relatively low in a wavelength region near 380 to 480 nm is mixed as a complementary color in order to enhance color purity. However, in this method the matching with a light source is insufficient and the mixed color will become dark red.
Also, for C. I. Pigment Red #244 (indicated by (3) in FIG. 1), the transmittance is higher with a wavelength of 610 nm but the y value of a chromaticity value is greater than a target value, and it is so-called red tinged strongly with yellow and is out of a usable range.
Hence it is desired to have a photo polymeric composition which can provide a color filter with an improved transmittance or transparency of a red region and an improved color purity.

Color filter for liquid crystal displays

International Business Machines Corporation


An ether compound is continuously produced by a process in which (1) a C.sub.1-3 lower alcohol is reacted with a C.sub.3-6 hydrocarbon mixture comprising, as the major component thereof, an unsaturated C.sub.4-5 hydrocarbon compound; (2) the resultant mixture comprising the ether compound, a non-reacted lower alcohol and a non-reacted hydrocarbon mixture is distilled to provide a bottom liquid fraction comprising the ether compound and a top vapor fraction comprising the non-reacted lower alcohol and hydrocarbon mixture; (3) the bottom liquid fraction is collected (4) the top vapor fraction discharged through a top outlet of the distillation column and liquefied is fed to a separating membrane module whereby the liquefied top fraction is brought into contact with one side face of an aromatic polyimide asymmetric separating membrane having a separation factor, of 200 or more, while exposing the opposite side face of the membrane to a reduced pressure so as to allow the lower alcohol fraction to selectively permeate, through the membrane; and (5) the permeated lower alcohol fraction is cooled and returned to the reaction step.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing an ether compound. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for producing an ether compound, for example, methyl-tert-butyl ether, by reacting a lower alcohol, for example, methyl alcohol, with a hydrocarbon mixture comprising, as the major component thereof, an unsaturated hydrocarbon compound, for example, isobutylene; subjecting the resultant reaction product mixture comprising the resultant ether compound and non-reacted portions of the lower alcohol and hydrocarbon mixture to a distillation to provide a distillation vapor fraction comprising the non-reacted lower alcohol and hydrocarbon mixture and a liquid fraction comprising the resultant ether compound that is collected from the distillation step; selectively recovering the non-reacted lower alcohol from the distillation vapor fraction by using a specific aromatic polyimide asymmetric separating membrane; and returning the recovered non-reacted lower alcohol to the reaction step.
Namely, in the process of the present invention, the reaction product mixture obtained from the reaction step is subjected to a distillation procedure in a distillation column, for example, a multi-pass distillation column to provide a distillation vapor fraction comprising the non-reacted lower alcohol and hydrocarbon mixture, which is collected through a top outlet of the distillation column and a liquid fraction comprising the resultant ether compound, which is recovered through a bottom outlet of the distillation column. The collected distillation vapor fraction is subjected to a pervaporation procedure in which a specific asymmetric separating membrane is employed and the non-reacted lower alcohol is selectively recovered with a high degree of purity and high efficiency by permeating through the separating membrane. The recovered vapor fraction comprising, as the major component thereof, the non-reacted lower alcohol is liquefied by cooling and then returned to the reaction step, to recyclically use the lower alcohol.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known that an ether compound, for example, methyl-tert-butyl-ether, is produced by reacting a C.sub.4 petroleum fraction (hydrocarbon mixture) containing an unsaturated hydrocarbon compound, for example, isobutylene, with an excess amount of a lower alcohol, for example, methyl alcohol, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,302,298, 4,447,653, 4,544,776, 4,605,787 and 4,774,365.
In this conventional process, the resultant reaction product mixture comprises the resultant reaction product, namely an ether compound, a non-reacted portion of the lower alcohol and a non-reacted portion of the unsaturated hydrocarbon compound.
A conventional process for recovering and refining the resultant ether compound and the non-reacted reactant compounds comprises a complicated combination of one or more distillation steps and one or more extraction steps. For example, the conventional process is carried out by employing a reaction column in which the lower alcohol is reacted with the hydrocarbon mixture, a distillation column in which non-reacted compounds are separated from each other and recovered, a water-washing column in which the distillation vapor fraction generated in the distillation column comprising the non-reacted lower alcohol is washed with water to extract the non-reacted lower alcohol in water, and a dehydration column in which the non-reacted lower alcohol is recovered by removing water from the lower alcohol-containing water extract.
The reaction of the lower alcohol with the unsaturated hydrocarbon compound is carried out in accordance with an equilibrium reaction theory, and therefore, the lower alcohol must be employed in an excessive amount to enhance the conversion of the unsaturated hydrocarbon compound. Therefore, after completion of the reaction, a large amount of non-reacted lower alcohol remains in the reaction product mixture. This non-reacted lower alcohol must be recovered from the resultant reaction product mixture.
When the recovery of the non-reacted lower alcohol is carried out by a conventional distillation procedure, an excessively large load needs to be applied to the recovery process and therefore the recovering (refining) apparatus becomes large and a large amount of energy for carrying out the recovering (refining) process is consumed.
AICHE Symposium Series, 85 (272), 82 (1989) discloses a process for producing methyl-tert-butylether, in which methyl alcohol is reacted with isobutylene to produce methyl-tert-butylether (MTBE); the resultant reaction product mixture is subjected to a pervaporation procedure using a separating membrane made of a cellulose acetate so as to recover a vapor fraction permeated through the separating membrane and comprising non-reacted portion of methyl alcohol, and a liquid fraction not permeated through the separating membrane; the permeated vapor fraction is returned to the reaction. step; the non-permeated liquid fraction is fed to a distillation-extraction process so as to separate the non-reacted isobutylene portion from the reaction product.
In the above-mentioned process, the cellulose acetate separating membrane exhibits a relatively low separation factor (CH.sub.3 OH/MTBE) of 5 to 20 and a relatively low separation factor (CH.sub.3 OH/C.sub.4 -fraction) of 1 to 3. Accordingly, it is difficult to recover the non-reacted methyl alcohol with a high degree of purity. Also, the non-permeated liquid fraction collected in a feed side of the separating membrane contains a certain amount of non-reacted methyl alcohol together with the resultant MTBE and the non-reacted isobutylene. Accordingly, it is difficult to recover the non-reacted methyl alcohol with high efficiency, unless the non-permeated liquid fraction is subjected to a distillation process, water-washing and dehydrating procedures similar to those of the above-mentioned conventional process.
Accordingly, the above-mentioned conventional processes are not satisfactory for practical use.


Network access point management includes: connecting to a network access point with a first controller device implemented by at least one processor; transmitting an updated configuration for the network access point from the first controller device to the network access point; transmitting a new value for a configuration version value stored by the network access point to the network access point; and transmitting the new value for the configuration version value stored by the network access point from the first controller device to each controller device in a group of controller devices to which the first controller device belongs.

To provide access to a wireless network throughout a large area, such as a large building, organizations typically rely on the use of access points. Access points may be distributed throughout the area for which wireless network access is desired such that a client device within the area will generally be within range of one or more of the access points. Each access point provides a wireless interface to a wired network.
Like many network devices, a typical access point device has a number of configurable settings. The state of each setting affects the way the access point functions and/or how client entities or other network devices interface with the access point. For example, one setting of an access point may specify the channel on which the access point will communicate with client devices. Other settings may specify the type of encryption to be used in communicating with client devices, an encryption key to be used, and a Service Set Identifier (SSID) that identifies the network to which the access point provides access.
One of the benefits associated with the use of access points in an area is the ability of a client device to seamlessly transition between access points as the client device is moved to different locations within the area. However, to enable these seamless transitions between access points, it is generally desirable that the access points within the area be configured with the same settings.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements.


A freely hanging drape sensor distinguishing between weak and strong activation of the sensor includes a piezoresistive cellular material and standoff layer for providing an analog signal correlated with the strength of an activating force, as well as an on-off function. The drape sensor can be used in conjunction with moving objects, such as electrically operated doors to provide safety door edges. Alternatively, the drape sensor can be used as freely hanging curtains to detect objects moving into contact therewith.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pressure actuated sensor which serves as a switching device, for example, for activating and/or shutting down of equipment or machinery.
2. Background of the Art
Pressure actuated switches are known in the art. Such switches are used for example as safety mats, sensitive door edges, and the like. Typically, such switches include two spaced apart conductors. When pressure is applied the conductors contact each other, thereby closing an electrical circuit. This switching action can be used to activate or, alternatively, deactivate machinery. For example, on mechanically operated doors, the doors commonly include a sensitive edge switch. Should the edge switch make contact with an object in its path (e.g. a person) while the door is closing the edge switch will send a signal to a control unit to reverse or stop the movement of the door. Such edge switches may commonly be found on garage doors, train doors, and the like.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,079 to Miller discloses a sensing edge causing a closing door to open by actuating a device upon force being applied to the sensing edge. The sensing edge includes a first sheet of resiliently compressible material, a first sheet of electrically conductive material, a layer of non-conductive material, a second sheet of electrically conductive material, a second sheet of resiliently compressible material and an elongate inner core arranged in the recited order. The inner core has a predetermined elastic compressibility which is selected in accordance with the desired sensitivity of the sensing edge, such that the sensitivity of the sensing edge directly corresponds to the elastic compressibility of the inner core. The first and second sheets of flexible, electrically conductive material are spaced apart by the layer of non-conductive material and present opposed portions to each other through an opening in the layer of non-conductive material whereby upon the application of force to the sheath, the inner core compresses until its elastic compressibility is less than the elastic compressibility of said first and second layers of resiliently compressible material and said layer of non-conductive material, whereupon a portion of the first sheet of flexible, electrically conductive material deflects into the opening in the second layer of non-conductive material and into contact with a portion of the second sheet of flexible, electrically conductive material to thereby actuate the device.
Other edge switches are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,027,552; 5,023,411; 4,920,241; 4,908,483; 4,785,143; 4,349,710; 4,273,974; 4,051,336; and 3,315,050.
While prior known edge switches are useful for detecting the presence of an object in the path of a moving door, being fully on or completely off they do not discriminate between the signals resulting from contact of the edge switch with large objects, and spurious signals resulting from, for example, disparities in the interfacing surfaces of the switch caused by uneven extrusion.


Systems are provided for managing and coordinating STT/TTS systems and the communications between these systems when they are connected in online meetings and for mitigating connectivity issues that may arise during the online meetings to provide a seamless and reliable meeting experience with either live captions and/or rendered audio. Initially, online meeting communications are transmitted over a lossy connectionless type protocol/channel. Then, in response to detected connectivity problems with one or more systems involved in the online meeting, which can cause jitter or packet loss, for example, an instruction is dynamically generated and processed for causing one or more of the connected systems to transmit and/or process the online meeting content with a more reliable connection/protocol, such as a connection-oriented protocol. Codecs at the systems are used, when needed to convert speech to text with related speech attribute information and to convert text to speech.

Computers and computing systems affect nearly every aspect of modern living. For instance, computers are generally involved in work, recreation, healthcare, transportation, entertainment, household management, etc.
Computers are configured with hardware and software interfaces to facilitate direct user interaction. These interfaces include, but are not limited to, keyboards, mouse devices, touchpads, touch screens, cameras and microphones, which can receive and process user input, including speech and other audio input. Output interfaces include, but are not limited to, display devices, speakers and the like, which can process and render output, including text and audio speech output.
Software interfaces can also be utilized to process and render various user input and output. Examples of software user interfaces include graphical user interfaces, text command line-based user interface, function key or hot key user interfaces, and so forth.
The functionality and utility of a computing system can often be enhanced by interconnecting the computing system with other computing systems via network connections. Network connections may include, but are not limited to, connections via wired or wireless Ethernet, cellular connections, or even computer to computer connections through serial, parallel, USB, or other connections. These connections allow a computing system to access services at other computing systems and to quickly and efficiently receive application data from other computing systems.
The interconnection of computing systems has facilitated distributed computing systems, such as so-called "cloud" computing systems. In this description, "cloud computing" may be systems or resources for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, services, etc.) that can be provisioned and released with reduced management effort or service provider interaction.
A cloud model can be composed of various characteristics (e.g., on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, measured service, etc.), service models (e.g., Software as a Service ("SaaS"), Platform as a Service ("PaaS"), Infrastructure as a Service ("IaaS"), and deployment models (e.g., private cloud, community cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud, etc.).
Some existing applications, such as Microsoft's Teams Application, facilitates the collaboration of different users through an online platform that connects the computing devices of online meeting participants through various types of network connections, including distributed network connections which may include the cloud. Online meeting content that is transmitted during an online meeting may include audio, video and text data that is encoded into data packets that are transmitted between online participant computing systems as electronic communications through the network connections.
In some instances, the communications between the computing systems of online meeting participants are routed through a server on one or more network channels that are configured to use different protocols. For instance, some electronic communications used for video and audio content are often transmitted via UDP (User Datagram protocol). UDP is protocol that is generally viewed as a lossy and connectionless type protocol. Other electronic communications, such as text, are generally transmitted over a connection-based protocol, such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), which is generally viewed as a less lossy protocol than the UDP protocol.
UDP is generally desired over TCP for audio and video since it is faster than TPC. In particular, the transmission rate for audio over UDP (e.g., about 10-60 Kbit/s) is an order of magnitude faster than text transmissions over TCP (e.g., about 0.1 Kbit/s). On the other hand, TCP is sometimes desired over UDP, particularly for text, because it is generally more reliable than UDP. For instance, the TCP protocol ensures that its data packets are both received and properly ordered by the receiving device(s). In contrast, the UDP protocol does not. A system transmitting packets over the UDP protocol does not track whether their transmitted data packets are ultimately received by a recipient device, nor the order in which they are received or presented at the recipient device.
When there are connectivity problems, such as variations in available bandwidth, signal interruptions or other problems that negatively affect delivery of the transmitted packets, the presentation of the incoming media will experience 'jitter' or a choppy presentation of the data at the recipient/rendering device(s). A choppy presentation refers to the rendering of data that omits or skips portions of the data due to a 'lossy' connection. 'Jitter' refers to the presentation of the data packets out of order. It will be appreciated that jitter and lossy connectivity issues can have a very negative impact with online meetings by causing some of the words in the online content to be omitted or rendered inaudibly and/or out of order.
For at least these reasons, existing systems that facilitate online meetings currently face challenges associated with providing reliable communications between meeting participants when the connected user systems are subjected to challenging network conditions such as poor connectivity. Furthermore, even when systems are configured to use captioning with their online meetings, these existing systems may still experience degraded communications in real-time meeting experiences when the participants cannot hear each other properly due to connectivity issues that affect the audio transmissions. Accordingly, there is an ongoing need and desire to improve the reliability of transmitting online meeting content during online meetings that are subject to challenging network conditions, even for systems that are capable of using captioning.
Some known systems enable a server to independently detect network connectivity problems in a video/audio session between parties and enable the server to transcribe received audio into text to be sent to the intended recipients. However, such systems do not address or resolve problems in getting the audio communications to the server in the first instance, such that the audio may already be corrupted or lossy before it is received at the server, such that the errors in the audio are persistent in the transcription.
Other known systems enable end nodes to independently determine whether a change should be made in its communication settings (to transcribe audio into text, for instance) to help facilitate more reliable communications that are sent to the server and routed to another end user system. Such systems, however, are unable to determine whether changes should be made based on conditions experienced at the other remote systems and are unable to manage the configurations of other end nodes that may be experiencing trouble receiving/processing the data being sent.
Accordingly, there still continues to be an ongoing need and desire for improved systems and techniques for managing network communications and for providing centralized mitigation controls for such communications.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

Caption assisted calling to maintain connection in challenging network conditions


A system and method for reduced forwarding information storage includes extracting an organizationally unique identifier (OUI) and a MAC part from a MAC address, determining whether information associated with the OUI is stored in an OUI table, determining an OUI index based on the information associated with the OUI and the OUI table when the OUI is stored in the OUI table, generating the OUI index based on the information associated with the OUI when the OUI is not stored in the OUI table, forming a forwarding information table entry including information associated with the OUI index and information associated with the MAC part, and inserting the forwarding information table entry into a forwarding information table.

The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to reduced forwarding information storage.
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system (IHS). An IHS generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, IHSs may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in IHSs allow for IHSs to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, IHSs may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Additionally, some embodiments of information handling systems include non-transient, tangible machine-readable media that include executable code that when run by one or more processors, may cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of methods described herein. Some common forms of machine readable media include, for example, floppy disk, flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, RAM, PROM, EPROM, FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, and/or any other medium from which a processor or computer is adapted to read.
Computer networks form the interconnection fabric that enables reliable and rapid communications between computer systems and data processors that are in both close proximity to each other and at distant locations. These networks create a vast spider web of intranets and internets for handling all types of communication and information. Making all of this possible is a vast array of network switching products that make forwarding decisions in order to deliver packets of information from a source system or first network node to a destination system or second network node. Due to the size, complexity, and dynamic nature of these networks, sophisticated network switching products are often required to continuously make forwarding decisions and to update forwarding information, such as media access control (MAC) addresses and/or IP addresses, as network configurations change.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide improved network switching products that can store forwarding information efficiently.

System and method for reduced forwarding information storage


Image sensors are provided including a substrate defining a plurality of pixel regions, the substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface of the substrate is configured to receive light incident thereon and the substrate defines a deep trench extending from the second surface of the substrate toward the first surface substrate and separating the plurality of pixel regions from each other. In each of the plurality of pixel regions of the substrate, a photoelectric conversion region is provided. A gate electrode is provided on the photoelectric conversion region and a negative fixed charge layer covering the second surface of the substrate and at least a portion of a sidewall of the deep trench is also provided. The image sensors further include a shallow device isolation layer on the first surface of the substrate. The shallow device isolation layer defines an active region in each of the pixel regions and the negative fixed charge layer contacts the shallow device isolation layer.

Image sensors are semiconductor devices capable of converting electric signals into optical images. Image sensors may be classified into various types, including charge coupled device (CCD) type and complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) type. A CMOS type image sensor, i.e., referred to as CIS, may include pixels arranged in two dimensions. Each of the pixels may include a photodiode (PD), which converts incident light into an electric signal.
As semiconductor devices become more highly integrated, image sensors may likewise become highly integrated. Accordingly, the corresponding pixels may be scaled down, such that cross talk may frequently occur between pixels.

Methods of fabricating image sensors having deep trenches including negative charge material


System and method for delegating to a local appliance some or all tasks traditionally performed by a central service endpoint in responding to a request from an end-consumer for content, an application, or a service. The local appliance is typically a computer server with associated local storage. Local appliances capable of providing the requested content, application or service, and also handling any security protocols or similar specialized requirements, are identified and selected to service the end-consumer's request, while the central service point retains overall management of the process and can, if appropriate, resume handling of the request in a manner that is substantially seamless to the end-consumer. Other capable local appliances can also be identified, based on network performance criteria, and re-delegation can occur to support movement of mobile devices or other network conditions.

On-demand Internet delivery of applications, services and digital content allows consumers the ability to experience technology without the need to maintain and carry fully capable and therefore expensive devices on their person at all times. However, consumption of these applications and services over the Internet can lead to degraded performance due to insufficient bandwidth and/or perceivable latency between the consumer interaction—e.g., a request for content, or an application—and the eventual software processing that causes that request to be displayed on the user's computer screen. These two limitations, when unmitigated, can negatively impact a consumer's experience to the point where these applications and services are not viable.
Presently, Internet-delivered applications and services are typically connected point-to-point: a consumer device will connect, through the internet, to a remote service endpoint and data will be exchanged directly between these two locations via the Internet. The closer these two parties are to one another, the lower the latency will be and the more responsive the consumer experience will appear. While proximity does not necessarily ensure high bandwidth capacity, it is usually associated with higher capacity links and it removes or minimizes the negative effects of adverse conditions on the individual networks which may transport the data. For example, a consumer home network may have a 100 megabit or 1 gigabit capacity. However their cable broadband connection may only have a 25 megabit capacity, and further may suffer congestion due to a larger pool of consumers sharing the network. To the consumer, this appears as a poorly-performing 25 megabit connection for any content, application or service not on their home network. Therefore, it is desirable from a consumer's perspective to have local application and service endpoints.
Conversely, maintaining service endpoints local to end consumers is not desirable from a commercial entity's perspective as it requires more deployed service endpoints and more expensive local hosting arrangements. Industry demands for cost-reduction have forced a consolidation of service endpoints into more efficient server co-location facilities where processing power and network connectivity can be aggregated. These colocation facilities are rarely, if ever, directly attached to end-consumer local networks.
Furthermore, as consumer devices become increasingly mobile, a given end-consumer's local network can change during the course of even a simple interaction between the end-consumer and an Internet-delivered application. This presents further complication to deploying a service endpoint at or near the local edge of an end-consumer's network: if a service endpoint is deployed too proximate to an end-consumer, it is at risk of becoming less desirable than a centralized service endpoint if the end-consumer migrates to a different local network.
As a result, there is a great need for a system which can allow for cost-effective centralization of service endpoints, while also providing the localized performance of a service endpoint deployed proximate to the end-consumers' local network while still being tolerant of changing network conditions including but not limited to device mobility.

Delegated services platform system and method


The disclosure provides methods for the determination of the enantiomeric excess of chiral compounds. The methods involve doping a chiral analyte into an achiral liquid crystal host to form a chiral dopant/host liquid crystal mixture. An electro-optic signature of the mixture is then determined and is used to calculate the enantiomeric excess of the chiral analyte. The disclosure also provides systems for performing the disclosed methods of determining enantiomeric excess.

Measurement of enantiomeric excess (ee) of chiral organic compounds is an important analytical problem. For example, enantiomerically pure (or highly enriched) organic compounds are important for many applications, including medicinal chemistry and organic materials chemistry. See Stinson, S.C. "Chiral Drugs," Chemical and Engineering News 78: 55-78 (200) and Topics in Stereochemistry, Materials-Chirality, Green et al, Eds.; Wiley, 2003; Vol. 24. In these broad classes of applications the quantitative determination of ee is important. Also, sensitive detection of net chirality in materials of low ee may be important in, e.g. detection of enantioenrichment in samples of extraterrestrial organic compounds.
One particularly important current application of the measurement of ee involves combinatorial asymmetric catalyst development. In this application, a library of chiral catalysts is typically applied to an achiral or racemic substrate, producing a library of enantiomerically enriched products. In order to screen the catalyst library for promising leads, the ee of each member of the product library must be determined. Typically, this is accomplished using chromatography on a chiral stationary phase. See Mikes et al, Journal of Chromatography 122 205-221 (1976); Lochmuller et al, Journal of Chromatography 150: 511-514(1978); Pirkle et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 103: 3964-3966(1981); Mikes et al, Journal of the Chemical Society-Chemical Communications, 99-100 (1976). However, the chromatographic method is relatively slow, and intrinsically serial in nature, making the determination of ee for a large number samples problematical. While a considerable effort is currently underway in the research community aimed at development of methods for high-throughput measurement of ee, the field of combinatorial asymmetric catalyst development is being seriously hindered due to lack of a method for measurement of ee in tens of thousands of samples in a timely manner. See Reetz et al Chirality 2000, 12, 479-482; Reetz et al, Angew. Chem.-Int. Edit. 2001, 40, 284-310; Shen. et al, Isr. J. Chem. 2001, 41, 313-316; Wahler et al, Current Opinion in Biotechnology 2001, 12, 535-544; Millot et al, Organic Process Research & Development 2002, 6, 463-470; Reetz et al. Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis 2002, 344, 1008-1016; Reetz et al. Chemical Communications 2002, 1428-1429; Schrader et al, Canadian Journal of Chemistry-Revue Canadienne De Chimie 2002, 80, 626-632; Tielmann et al, Chem.-Eur. J. 2003, 9, 3882-3887; Stambuli et al, Current Opinion in Chemical Biology 2003, 7, 420-426; Agarkov et al, Organic Letters 2003, 5, 2091-2094; Traverse & Snapper, Drug Discov. Today 2002, 7, 1002-1012; Miller, Accounts Chem. Res. 2004, 37, 601-610; and Zhu & Anslyn, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 3676-3677.

Methods and apparatus for detection of molecular chirality

The Regents of the University of Colorado


A fluid dispensing assembly is adapted to dispense fluid from a container. The fluid dispensing assembly includes a manifold configured for receiving the container, a piercing member slidably coupled with the manifold, and a nozzle configured to be attached with the manifold, and to engage the piercing member and move the piercing member into piercing engagement with the container.

Dispensing systems are commonly used for dispensing one or more fluids from containers. A well known example of such a dispensing system is a caulking gun that is used to dispense caulk from a caulk container having a generally rigid and tubular body. Other types of containers also exist, and are used with appropriate dispensing systems. For example, a so-called "sausage pack" container is a flexible and collapsible fluid container which somewhat resembles a sausage having a skin surrounding its internal contents. This type of collapsible container is typically generally cylinder shaped, and includes a fluid enclosed by a flexible membrane. Collapsible containers can be used to contain adhesives, for example. Once all of the fluid has been extracted from a collapsible container, its membrane can be collapsed to occupy a much smaller volume than when it was full, thereby making it a desirable packaging option. Collapsible containers are generally sealed until they are ready to be used, at which point it is necessary to puncture the membrane. Puncturing the membrane of a collapsible container has been addressed in several ways.
In one known arrangement, a knife is used to cut off an end of a collapsible container, so that its membrane is broken and its interior fluid contents can be accessed. The collapsible container is then inserted into a dispenser, and the fluid in the collapsible container can be dispensed by the dispenser. In another similar arrangement, a screwdriver is used to puncture or pierce an end of a collapsible container before it is inserted into a dispenser. These arrangements, however, require tools (knife or screwdriver) in addition to the components of the dispenser and the collapsible container.
In other arrangements, a piercing device is provided in a cartridge that holds a collapsible container. The piercing device pierces the collapsible container when pressure is applied to the collapsible container. However, unintentional application of pressure to the collapsible container can cause the collapsible container to be pierced when a user does not intend it, and this is undesirable.
In even other arrangements, the membrane of a collapsible container is pre-weakened in an area to make that area easier to pierce. However, a pre-weakened area provides a similar concern of unintentional piercing.
In even other arrangements, a piercing device pierces a collapsible container, with the piercing action that occurs in a direction generally perpendicular to a major length axis of the collapsible container. In one example, the piercing device is attached to the mixing elements of a nozzle that is attached to a collapsible container. The nozzle is rotated with respect to the collapsible container, causing the piercing device to rotate and pierce the collapsible container. However, unintentional rotation of the nozzle may cause the collapsible container to be pierced when a user does not intend it. In another example, the piercing device is positioned in a housing that receives the collapsible container. The piercing device is attached to an actuating rod that extends outside of the housing and a user engages the actuating rod to move the piercing device and pierce the collapsible container. However, unintentional movement of the actuating rod may cause the collapsible container to be pierced when a user does not intend it.
Other types of containers are also known that have a pierceable component that must be pierced before fluid can be dispensed from the container. For example, syringe-type containers are known that have a generally solid syringe body and an outlet covered by a pierceable seal member, such as foil. The seal must be pierced before fluid in the syringe can be dispensed from the syringe. In a known arrangement, a piercing device is provided in a cartridge that holds such a syringe. The piercing device pierces the seal of the syringe when pressure is applied to the syringe. However, unintentional application of pressure to the syringe may cause the seal to be pierced when a user does not intend it.
There is a need, therefore, for devices relating to dispensing fluids from containers that address one or more of the drawbacks discussed above.

Fluid dispensing assemblies and methods of dispensing fluids from containers


Techniques are described for using a decentralized group of authentication server nodes to prevent singular dependence upon any given online platform for authenticating avatars. For each epoch duration of time, a consensus protocol operating on a blockchain is used to elect an authentication server node. The elected node can then act as an authentication server on behalf of the online platform for that fixed epoch duration of time. Within this epoch of time, a client device (e.g., used by a user to access an online platform) performs a periodic heartbeat authentication with the elected authentication server node using an efficient authentication protocol that relies on a keyed-hashing mechanism. A client device can use the described system and authentication methods concurrently with multiple different online platforms (e.g., separate metaverses or other virtual worlds).

There is a growing interest in metaverses and other virtual world-related platforms. Broadly, these technologies enable the creation of alternative digital universes in which users can participate. Many of these metaverses and other digital universes enable users to create an avatar representing the user (e.g., a graphical image, or a three-dimensional model, etc.) while the user engages with the digital universe and with other users.

Decentralized avatar authentication in online platforms