Video data of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K), stored in a DRAM, are transferred to an SRAM via a DMAC. The video data of yellow stored in the SRAM is transferred to a color printer engine by a DMAC for yellow. The video data of magenta stored in the SRAM is transferred to the color printer engine by a DMAC for magenta. The video data of cyan stored in the SRAM is transferred to the color printer engine by a DMAC for cyan. The video data of black stored in the SRAM is transferred to the color printer engine by a DMAC for black.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a video data transfer apparatus, and, more particularly, to a video data transfer apparatus suitable for transferring video data to a printer engine from a frame memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
One conventional tandem type color printer is equipped with four independent video transfer circuits respectively associated with video data of yellow, magenta, cyan and black. In this printer, the individual video transfer circuits transfer video data to a printer engine from a frame memory.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the schematic structure of a video transfer section of the conventional tandem type color printer. In the structure illustrated in FIG. 13, one frame of video data of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K) are stored in a DRAM 101. The yellow video data is transferred to a color printer engine 106 by a DMAC (Dynamic Memory Access Controller) 102 for yellow (hereinafter called Y-DMAC 102). The magenta video data is transferred to the color printer engine 106 by a DMAC 103 for magenta (hereinafter called M-DMAC 103). The cyan video data is transferred to the color printer engine 106 by a DMAC 104 for cyan (hereinafter called C-DMAC 104). The black video data is transferred to the color printer engine 106 by a DMAC 105 for black (hereinafter called K-DMAC 105).
In a case of implementing fast video data transfer to permit a tandem type color printer having this structure and a resolution of, for example, 300 dpi to operate in burst mode (the operation mode to output four consecutive addresses in a single access), each of the Y-DMAC 102, the M-DMAC 103, the C-DMAC 104 and the K-DMAC 105 requires a data capacity of 32-bit latchxc3x974 (quantity)xc3x972 (lines).
If this scheme is applied to a high-resolution tandem type color printer with a resolution of, for example, 600 dpi, each of the Y-DMAC 102, the M-DMAC 103, the C-DMAC 104 and the K-DMAC 105 requires a data capacity of 64-bit latchxc3x974 (quantity)xc3x972 (lines). Therefore, the total capacity of the whole DMACs is 64-bit latchxc3x974 (quantity)xc3x972 (lines)xc3x974 (colors) or 2048 bits.
The conventional tandem type color printer, as apparent from the above, requires that the capacity of each of the Y-DMAC 102, the M-DMAC 103, the C-DMAC 104 and the K-DMAC 105 should be increased in order to transfer video data fast to the color printer engine 106 from the DRAM 101 or adapt this printer to a high-resolution printer. This suffers an increase in the circuit scale.
If video data stored in the DRAM 101 has been compressed in advance, an expander or a decompressor should be provided at the previous stage of each of the Y-DMAC 102, the M-DMAC 103, the C-DMAC 104 and the K-DMAC 105. In this case, the circuit scale becomes larger.
A variation in the operation speeds of the Y-DMAC 102, the M-DMAC 103, the C-DMAC 104 and the K-DMAC 105, if any, results in an overrun error in which before the slowest one of the four DMACs completes the necessary operation, the other DMACs start the next operations.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a video data transfer apparatus capable of transferring video data fast while suppressing an increase in the circuit scale.
To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of this invention, there is provided a video data transfer apparatus comprising:
a frame memory where plural pieces of video data representing images of different colors;
a video buffer for storing every predetermined amount of video data supplied thereto;
read control means for accessing the video buffer to read video data stored in the frame memory and representing images of individual colors, color by color, and supplying the read video data to the video buffer; and
a plurality of video transfer means for accessing the video buffer and transferring those of the video data stored in the video buffer which represent images of different colors to a printer engine.
This structure can allow a plurality of video transfer means to share a single video buffer and make it unnecessary to provide a video buffer for each video transfer means. The use of a fast-readable video buffer therefore accomplishes fast transfer of video data to the printer engine while suppressing an increase in the circuit scale. If the frame memory is constituted by a DRAM, the use of, for example, an SRAM for the video buffer implements fast reading of video data.
According to a second aspect of this invention, there is provided a video data transfer apparatus for sequentially transferring each piece of video data representing each color component of an image having a plurality of colors to a printer engine for sequentially generating a transfer request for the each piece of video data and sequentially acquiring the each piece of video data supplied thereto, which apparatus comprises:
a frame memory for storing the each piece of video data representing the each color component;
a video buffer for storing every predetermined amount of video data supplied thereto;
video transfer means for accessing the video buffer and transferring the video data stored in the video buffer to the printer engine in a supply order of the video data to the video buffer, in response to the transfer request generated by the printer engine; and
read control means for sequentially reading the video data, stored in the frame memory and representing images of individual colors, color by color, and accessing the video buffer to sequentially supply the read video data to the video buffer.
This structure can allow a plurality of video transfer means to share a single video buffer and make it unnecessary to provide a video buffer for each video transfer means. The use of a fast-readable video buffer therefore permits video data to be sequentially transferred fast to the printer engine while suppressing an increase in the circuit scale.
According to a third aspect of this invention, there is provided a video data transfer apparatus for transferring video data representing an image to a printer engine from a frame memory having an area for storing the video data, which apparatus comprises:
read address generation means for generating a read address for designating that of areas in the frame memory from which the video data is to be read out;
a video buffer having an area for storing a predetermined amount of video data;
write counter means for generating a write address for designating that of areas in the video buffer in which the video data is to be written;
write control means for, when generating an access request to the video buffer and access permission is granted, reading video data from the area in the frame memory indicated by the read address and writing the read video data in the area in the video buffer indicated by the write address;
read control means for, when generating an access request to the video buffer and access permission is granted, reading the video data from the video buffer;
read end signal generation means for generating a read end signal in response to reading of the predetermined amount of video data from the video buffer by the read control mans;
transfer means for transferring the video data read by the read control means to the printer engine;
write instruction means for generating an instruction to write next video data in the video buffer with respect to the write control means based on the read end signal; and
access control means for granting access permission to one of the write control means and the read control means which have generated the access requests to the video buffer,
the write control means having means generating the access request to the video buffer in response to the instruction generated by the write instruction means.
This structure can permit a plurality of read control means to share a single video buffer, thus making it possible to reduce the circuit scale needed to transfer data to the printer engine.
Even in a case where the access control means controls a plurality of accesses to the video buffer so as for a plurality of read control means to share a single video buffer, access collision to the video buffer can be prevented. This can ensure proper data transfer to the printer engine.
The time for reading video data from the frame memory is shortened by providing read address generation means for generating a read address for designating that of areas in the frame memory from which the video data is to be read out, and write counter means for generating a write address for designating that of areas in the video buffer in which the video data is to be written, and by transferring the video data, stored in the frame memory, directly to the video buffer. Therefore, the video data stored in the frame memory is transferred fast to the printer engine.
Further, the video data stored in the frame memory is sequentially supplied to the video buffer by generating a read end signal upon completion of the reading of the video buffer from the video buffer and by writing next video data in the video buffer based on this read end signal. This allows fast data transfer to the printer engine without delay.
According to one modification, the video data transfer apparatus may further comprise access control means for permitting the read control means and each of the video transfer means to access the video buffer based on an access requests generated by the read control means and each video transfer means; and
wherein the read control means and each of the video transfer means may have means for gaining access to the video buffer when the access requests are generated and access to the video buffer is permitted.
With this structure, even in a case where the read control means and a plurality of video transfer means individually access the video buffer, collision of access to the video buffer by the read control means and access to the video buffer by the video transfer means can be avoided. This can ensure proper data transfer when a single video buffer is shared by a plurality of video transfer means.
According to another modification, the video data transfer apparatus may further comprise:
read address generation means for generating a read address for designating that of areas in the frame memory from which the video data is to be read out, and
write counter means for generating a write address for designating that of areas in the video buffer in which the video data is to be written,
the read control means may have means for reading that of the video data stored in the frame memory which is stored at the area indicated by the read address, and
the video buffer may have means for storing video data supplied thereto in the area indicated by the write address. This structure shortens the time for reading video data from the frame memory. It is thus possible to transfer video data, stored in the frame memory, fast to the printer engine.
According to a further modification of the video data transfer apparatus, each of the video transfer means may have transfer end signal generation means for generating a transfer end signal in response to the predetermined amount of video data having been transferred from the video buffer; and
the video buffer may have means for storing video data supplied thereto based on the transfer end signal.
With this structure, the video data stored in the frame memory is sequentially supplied to the video buffer, thus ensuring fast data transfer to the printer engine without delay.
According to a still further modification of the video data transfer apparatus, the video buffer may comprise:
means for securing areas for storing plural pieces of video data representing images of the same colors; and
means for storing video data, supplied thereto, in an area other than those areas where video data whose transfer by the video transfer means has not been completed yet.
Therefore, data transfer to the printer engine can be implemented without delay by, during transfer of video data, writing video data of the same color as the video data being transferred.
According to a yet still further modification of the video data transfer apparatus, the read control means may have write detection means for detecting the video data having been supplied to the video buffer and generating a write end signal; and
each of the video transfer means may have means for accessing the video buffer in response to the write end signal.
This structure executes data transfer to the printer engine immediately after data writing in the video buffer, so that data transfer to the printer engine is carried out without delay and an overrun error is avoided.
According to a still further modification, the video data transfer apparatus may further comprise means for supplying a signal instructing a transfer start to the printer engine; and
when receiving the signal instructing the transfer start, the printer engine may start an operation for generating a transfer request in response to the signal.
According to a fourth aspect of this invention, there is provided a video data transfer method which comprises:
a frame storage step of storing plural pieces of video data representing images of different colors;
a buffer step of storing every predetermined amount of video data supplied;
a read control step of accessing the buffer step to read video data, stored by the frame storage step and representing images of individual colors, color by color, and supplying the read video data to the video buffer; and
a plurality of video transfer steps of accessing the buffer step and transferring those of the video data stored by the buffer step which represent images of different colors to a printer engine.
This structure can allow a plurality of video transfer means to share a single video buffer and make it unnecessary to provide a video buffer for each video transfer means. The use of a fast-readable video buffer therefore accomplishes fast transfer of video data to the printer engine while suppressing an increase in the circuit scale.
According to a fifth aspect of this invention, there is provided a video data transfer method of sequentially transferring each piece of video data representing each color component of an image having a plurality of colors to a printer engine for sequentially generating a transfer request for the each piece of video data and sequentially acquiring the each piece of video data supplied thereto, which method comprises:
a frame storage step of storing the each piece of video data representing the each color component;
a buffer step of storing every predetermined amount of video data supplied;
a video transfer step of accessing the buffer step and transferring the video data stored by the buffer step to the printer engine in a supply order of the video data to the buffer step, in response to the transfer request generated by the printer engine; and
a read control step of sequentially reading the video data, stored by the frame storage step and representing images of individual colors, color by color, and accessing the buffer step to sequentially supply the read video data to the buffer step.
This structure can allow a plurality of video transfer steps to share a single video buffer and make it unnecessary to provide a video buffer for each video transfer step. The use of a fast-readable video buffer therefore permits video data to be sequentially transferred fast to the printer engine while suppressing an increase in the circuit scale.
According to a sixth aspect of this invention, there is provided a video data transfer method of transferring video data representing an image to a printer engine from a frame storage step having an area for storing the video data, which method comprises:
a read address generation step of generating a read address for designating that of areas in the frame storage step from which the video data is to be read out;
a buffer step having an area for storing a predetermined amount of video data;
a write counter step of generating a write address for designating that of areas in the buffer step in which the video data is to be written;
a write control step of, when generating an access request to the buffer step and access permission is granted, reading video data from the area in the frame storage step indicated by the read address and writing the read video data in the area in the buffer step indicated by the write address;
a read control step of, when generating an access request to the buffer step and access permission is granted, reading the video data from the buffer step;
a read end signal generation step of generating a read end signal in response to reading of the predetermined amount of video data in the buffer step by the read control step;
a transfer step of transferring the video data read by the read control step to the printer engine;
a write instruction step of generating an instruction to write next video data in the buffer step with respect to the write control step based on the read end signal; and
an access control step of granting access permission to one of the write control step and the read control step which have generated the access requests to the buffer step,
the write control step having a step of generating the access request to the buffer step in response to the instruction generated by the write instruction step.
This structure can permit a plurality of read control means to share a single video buffer, thus making it possible to reduce the circuit scale needed to transfer data to the printer engine.
Even in a case where the access control means controls a plurality of accesses to the video buffer so as for a plurality of read control means to share a single video buffer, access collision to the video buffer can be prevented. This can ensure proper data transfer to the printer engine.
The time for reading video data from the frame memory is shortened by providing read address generation means for generating a read address for designating that of areas in the frame memory from which the video data is to be read out, and write counter means for generating a write address for designating that of areas in the video buffer in which the video data is to be written, and by transferring the video data, stored in the frame memory, directly to the video buffer. Therefore, the video data stored in the frame memory is transferred fast to the printer engine.
Further, the video data stored in the frame memory is sequentially supplied to the video buffer by generating a read end signal upon completion of the reading of the video buffer from the video buffer and by writing next video data in the video buffer based on this read end signal. This allows fast data transfer to the printer engine without delay.

Casio Electronics Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


A semiconductor device includes a pillar-shaped silicon layer including a first diffusion layer, a channel region, and a second diffusion layer formed in that order from the silicon substrate side, floating gates respectively disposed in two symmetrical directions so as to sandwich the pillar-shaped silicon layer, and a control gate line disposed in two symmetrical directions other than the two directions so as to sandwich the pillar-shaped silicon layer. A tunnel insulating film is formed between the pillar-shaped silicon layer and each of the floating gates. The control gate line is disposed so as to surround the floating gates and the pillar-shaped silicon layer with an inter-polysilicon insulating film interposed therebetween.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method for producing the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been proposed a flash memory that includes a memory cell including a floating gate and a control gate formed on a side wall of a pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, which is formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, so as to surround the pillar-shaped semiconductor layer. In this flash memory, the capacitance between the floating gate and the control gate can be increased with a small area occupied on the substrate, and the flash memory has high writing and erasing efficiencies (e.g., refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 8-148587).
In such a structure in which the floating gate surrounds the pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, the control gate surrounds the floating gate. Therefore, the width of control gate lines increases and the distance between the control gate lines decreases when a memory cell array is formed, which increases the capacitance between the control gate lines. On the other hand, if the distance between the control gate lines is increased, the degree of integration decreases.
In order to increase the capacitance between the floating gate and the control gate, there has been proposed a tri-control gate surrounding gate transistor (TCG-SGT) flash memory cell (e.g., refer to Takuya Ohba, Hiroki Nakamura, Hiroshi Sakuraba, Fujio Masuoka, "A novel tri-control gate surrounding gate transistor (TCG-SGT) nonvolatile memory cell for flash memory", Solid-State Electronics, Vol. 50, No. 6, pp. 924-928, June 2006).
The TCG-SGT flash memory cell has a structure in which the control gate covers not only side surfaces but also an upper surface and a lower surface of the floating gate. Therefore, the capacitance between the floating gate and the control gate can be increased, whereby writing and erasing are easily conducted. However, such a structure in which the control gate covers the upper surface and lower surface of the floating gate is not easily produced.
In order to decrease the parasitic capacitance between a gate line and a substrate, a first insulating film is used in known MOS transistors. For example, in a FinFET (e.g., refer to High performance 22/20 nm FinFET CMOS devices with advanced high-K/metal gate scheme, IEDM2010, CC. Wu, et. al, 27.1.1-27.1.4.), a first insulating film formed around a fin-shaped semiconductor layer is etched back to expose the fin-shaped semiconductor layer, whereby the parasitic capacitance between the gate line and the substrate is decreased.
In order to decrease the parasitic capacitance between the gate line and the substrate, it is also effective in SGT (surrounding gate transistor) flash memory cells to use such a first insulating film. However, in SGT flash memory cells, some improvement for forming the pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, in addition to the fin-shaped semiconductor layer, is required.

Semiconductor device and method for producing the same

Unisantis Electronics Singapore Ptd. Ltd.


A method for casting metering holes connecting the inner and outer surfaces of hollow investment cast objects, such as hollow air cooled gas turbine airfoils. The method incorporates mini cores having metering hole pins which extend further into the inner cavity than the surface of the cavity, so that the ends of the holes can be exposed by a subsequent machining operation. The method also includes forming a wax pattern which avoids contact between the wax and the metering hole pins so that the pins are not broken by the wax during the heatup portion of the wax removal step after formation of the ceramic casting mold.

Investment casting is a well-known technique for producing articles having, among other features, internal cavities. The cavities may be necessary for weight reduction, containment capacity or flow-through capability. The investment casting process has been found to be very useful for fabrication of complex metal castings, especially those having hollow internal cavities. By properly supporting patterns made of an easily removable substance, such as wax, very complex internal configurations can be produced.
Gas turbine engines utilize hollow components, primarily for weight reduction and for cooling capability. Cooling is achieved by flowing bleed air through some of the components, particularly airfoils such as blades and vanes in the turbine section, where the highest operating temperatures are encountered, and where the efficiency of the engine is most limited by the capability of the materials to withstand the effects of high temperatures. By appropriate cooling, the operating temperatures can be raised to levels which would otherwise destroy, or severely shorten the lifetime of, uncooled components. A typical air cooled vane is shown in FIG. 1.
In addition to flowthrough cooling, air is frequently bled from the internal cavity through the airfoil walls so that it flows over the outer surface of the airfoil to provide film cooling. Common methods of forming the air outlets through the airfoil walls include electron beam and laser drilling, and electrical discharge machining (EDM). While these techniques have been successfully employed for many years, the cooling passages are essentially restricted to a line-of-sight configuration. They also require extra manufacturing steps, involving time-consuming and labor intensive processes, and are thus very expensive.
Techniques have been developed whereby ceramic mini cores are embedded in the wax patterns so that, when the wax patterns are removed after formation of the ceramic mold around the wax pattern, the mini cores remain as part of the mold and define the pathways through the airfoil component by which the cooling air flows from the inner cavity of the airfoil to its outer surfaces.
To achieve the proper cooling of the airfoil without diverting excessive incoming air, which would adversely affect the efficiency of engine operation, very close tolerance metering holes are required to control the amount of air flowing through the cooling passages.
Initial attempts at casting the metering holes, using extensions of the mini core which form the metering holes, hereinafter called metering hole pins, resulted in excessive breakage of the metering hole pins, which seemed to occur during the wax removal portion of the mold fabrication process. These difficulties encountered with casting in of the metering holes initially dictated that the metering holes be formed after the casting process, generally by an EDM technique. Again the extra manufacturing steps required are time consuming and expensive.
Thus it is necessary to have a method of casting in the metering holes so that a simple machining operation opens the holes to air flow. It is further necessary to have a method which permits formation of the investment casting mold without damaging the metering hole pins.

Method for producing hollow investment castings


A computer system for seeding a formulation engine receives spectrometric data from a target coating. The computer system processes the spectrometric data through a probabilistic colorant analysis. The probabilistic colorant analysis generates a set of colorants. Each colorant within the set of colorants is associated with a calculated probability that the associated colorant is present within the target coating. Additionally, the computer system adds at least a portion of the colorants within the set of colorants to a formulation engine. The portion of the colorants is added to the formulation engine in order of decreasing probability. Further, the computer system generates, from an output of the formulation engine, a coating formulation that is calculated to match the target coating within a predetermined qualitative threshold.

Modern coatings provide several important functions in industry and society. Coatings can protect a coated material from corrosion, such as rust. Coatings can also provide an aesthetic function by providing a particular color and/or texture to an object. For example, most automobiles are coated using paints and various other coatings in order to protect the metal body of the automobile from the elements and also to provide aesthetic visual effects.
In view of the wide-ranging uses for different coatings, it is often necessary to identify a target coating composition. For instance, it might be necessary to identify a target coating on an automobile that has been in an accident. If the target coating is not properly identified, any resulting repair to the automobile's coating will not match the original coating. As used herein, a target coating comprises any coating of interest that has been applied to any physical object.
Automotive coatings provide a particularly challenging set of coating parameters to match. In addition to complex colorants, such as pigments, dyes, and inks, a conventional automotive coating may comprise effect pigments such as effect pigments that provide texture to the coating. For instance, an automotive coating may comprise an effect pigment such as aluminum flakes of a particular color. The aluminum flakes may provide a texture that appears to sparkle. A proper identification of such a coating composition may require the correct identification of the presence of aluminum flakes and a proper identification of the color of the aluminum flakes.
In order to properly match a target coating, manufacturers desire to determine the components, or colorants, within the target coating. If the same colorants or appropriate offsets as those in the target coating are utilized, a formulation or search process may arrive at an apparent optimum solution as to the formulation of the target coating. On the other hand, excluding those colorants, either deliberately or inadvertently, from availability will result in a less than optimal color match.
Thus, there is a need for coating identification methods and systems that are faster, more accurate, and more flexible than the conventional systems that are currently available.

Formulation systems and methods employing target coating data results


A vehicle-body front structure includes a tower portion comprising a pole portion which extends substantially vertically and a tower top portion which is positioned at an upper portion of the pole portion and projects from the pole portion longitudinally along a front side frame, constituting attachment portions of an upper arm of a front-wheel suspension. A stabilizer-support pedestal for supporting a stabilizer is provided to be connected to the pole portion and the tower top portion. Thus, the pole portion of the sub frame can be properly reinforced by using the stabilizer-support pedestal, so that the rigidity of the upper portion of the pole portion can be properly increased.

The present invention relates to a vehicle-body front structure, and specifically relates to a vehicle-body front structure which comprises front side fames extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction at right and left sides of an engine room, projecting forward from a vehicle-compartment portion, a sub frame provided at a bottom portion of the engine room, and a stabilizer. Herein, the above-described sub frame comprises a body portion which is comprised of right-and-left side portions constituting attachment portions of lower arms of a front-wheel suspension and a front side portion interconnecting the right-and-left side portions in a vehicle width direction, and a pair of tower portions provided to stand substantially vertically at right and left sides of the body portion and fastened to respective lower face portions of the front side frames at respective upper end portions thereof. The above-described stabilizer is provided forward of the above-described tower portions.
It is generally necessary that a front-wheel suspension comprises a stabilized having a torsional rigidity operative to restrain a vehicle from rolling improperly greatly when vehicle's one-side (right-side or left-side) wheels go up (bump) or go down (rebound). Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-50993 discloses a structure which comprises front side fames extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction at right and left sides of an engine room, projecting forward from a vehicle-compartment portion, a sub frame provided at a bottom portion of the engine room, and a stabilizer, wherein the above-described sub frame comprises a body portion which is comprised of right-and-left side portions constituting attachment portions of lower arms of a front-wheel suspension and a front side portion interconnecting the right-and-left side portions in a vehicle width direction, and a pair of tower portions provided to stand substantially vertically at right and left sides of the body portion and fastened to respective lower face portions of the front side frames at respective upper end portions thereof, and the above-described stabilizer is provided forward of the tower portions.
The above-described tower portion comprises a pole portion which extends vertically and a tower top portion which is positioned at an upper portion of the pole portion and constitutes an attachment portion of an upper arm of the front-wheel suspension. Herein, in the conventional structure disclosed in the above-described patent document, a pedestal for supporting the stabilizer is attached to the tower top portion only, the stabilizer-support pedestal has a pedestal face which slants forward and downward so as to face obliquely downward, and the stabilizer is supported at this pedestal face.
In the conventional structure disclosed in the above-described patent document, however, since the stabilizer-support pedestal is attached to the tower top portion only, there is a problem in that the above-described pole portion may not be reinforced properly with the stabilizer-support pedestal.


Computer software for and a method of determining location of a target image within a two-dimensional input image by employing a three-dimensional reference image comprising determining object edge points in the input image; given estimated seeker line-of-sight orientation and range data, computing a two-dimensional reference image from the three-dimensional reference image; applying a weighted-direction-cross-product Hough Transform to the object edge points and points of the two-dimensional reference image; classifying the input image as containing a target image or not; if the image contains a target image, identifying a location of the target image within the two-dimensional input image; computing confidence measure as to the selected location of the target image; and in the case of sequential decision, also performing confidence accumulation through multi-frames or multi-looks.

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates to the field of infrared (IR) image correlation and scene identification.
2. Description of Related Art
Correlation of a target scene with a matching target scene model is typically handled by using the following methods: (1) a conventional correlation technique, e.g., the standard Hough correlation algorithm, which leads to performance degradation while engaging clutter-rich and high-ambiguity target scenes; (2) the use of two-dimensional (2-D) reference models, which limits the selection of ingress angles for missile terminal trajectory and also causes large impact miss distance due to deviations from the pre-planned nominal trajectory; (3) the use of single-frame confidence, not confidence accumulation through multi-frames, resulting in confidence fluctuation from frame to frame and unreliable system performance; (4) some clutter-rejection algorithms using edge-point connectivity only, reducing the effectiveness in removing clutter-induced edges; and (5) discrete changes of model footprints, introducing the serious problems of high degree of ambiguity and high rate of false correlation. Overall, such algorithms have lower than desirable accuracy, are subject to high false-alarm rates, and have very limited success in dealing with robustness.

Automatic scene correlation and identification


A multispecific reagent has at least one first binding site for a cell surface receptor which requires multimeric ligand binding to be stimulated. The reagent possesses a second binding site for a target antigen which is expressed on the same cell as the cell surface receptor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is concerned, in a general manner, with stimulating cells and in particular with selectively activating receptors on the cell surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known that extracellular signals are transmitted through the plasma membrane by way of receptor proteins which are able to convert the extracellular binding of ligands into an intracellular biochemical event. In this way, cell surface receptors activate intracellular signal pathways which lead to different sites in the cell and induce particular events at these sites.
All cell surface receptors are transmembrane proteins or protein complexes which establish a connection between the inside and the outside of the cell. Many receptors undergo a defined change in the protein conformation when their respective ligand is bound. In the case of some receptor types, this change in conformation leads to an ion channel being opened while, in the case of other receptors, the change in conformation leads to the cytoplasmic region of the receptor being affected in such a way that it can associate with intracellular signal proteins and signal enzymes and activate these proteins and enzymes.
A crucial effect of ligands being bound to receptors is frequently that of multimerizing or crosslinking the receptor and thereby activating the intracellular signal cascade. Such a crosslinking of surface receptors can either be effected by the physiological ligands of the receptors or, for example, be effected in vitro using appropriate crosslinking antibodies.
For example, it has been demonstrated, in the case of lymphocytes, that, while it is not possible to stimulate specific antigen receptors as a result of binding F(ab′) fragments, which possess only one binding site, the receptors form clusters, and the cells are activated, as the result of binding (Fab′)2 antibody fragments, i.e. fragments possessing two binding sites. However, a stronger reaction is achieved if lymphocytes are stimulated by intact antibodies which are bound to cells which carry receptors for the immunoglobulin Fc moiety. In other words, activation takes place when receptors are efficiently crosslinked by being bound to many identical antibody molecules which are provided by other cells which possess Fc receptors for the constant regions of the intact antibodies. The receptors are efficiently crosslinked by the antibodies which are immobilized in this way.
In vitro, such a crosslinking can, on the one hand, be achieved by the constant regions of antibodies which are bound to the receptors being crosslinked by way of protein A or by way of other antibodies which bind specifically to the constant regions of the antibodies which are bound to the receptors.
For example, it is known that the members of the TNF (tumor necrosis factor) family act as trimers and that the ligand induced trimerization of their receptors is the critical event in initiating signal transmission.
Dhein et al., INDUCTION OF APOPTOSIS BY MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY ANTI-APO-1 CLASS SWITCH VARIANTS IS DEPENDENT ON CROSS-LINKING OF APO-1 CELL SURFACE ANTIGENS", the Journal of Immunology, volume 149, 1992, pages 3166-3173 report that efficient crosslinking of the APO-1 cell surface antigen leads to the induction of apoptosis. They show that, while apoptosis is induced in SKW6.4 cells when anti-APO-1 F(ab′)2 fragments which are crosslinked by way of a sheep anti-mouse antibody bind to the APO-1 receptor, the binding of the F(ab′)2 fragments on their own is insufficient to achieve this. The authors conclude from these results that the bivalency of the antibody, which thus possesses two binding sites for the APO-1 cell surface antigen, is insufficient for inducing apoptosis and that, on the contrary, efficient crosslinking of the APO-1 cell surface antigen is necessary in order to achieve this.
The sequence of the APO-1 antigen, and a monoclonal antibody directed against the APO-1 antigen are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,434. This patent specification mentions that the anti-APO-1 antibodies can be used for treating tumors which the APO-1 antigen, with it furthermore being possible to induce apoptosis in different types of cells.
However, it is known that many cells in the body carry the APO 1 cell surface antigen, which means that administering an anti-APO-1 antibody to a tumor patient would lead not only to an attack on the tumor cells but also, in addition to this, to an attack on other, healthy and perhaps even essential cells which also carry the APO-1 surface antigen.
Against this background, the use of the known anti-APO-1 antibodies for treating tumor patients, for example, is only suitable under certain circumstances.
The TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) receptors R1 and R2 represent another type of death receptor which is activated by crosslinking; see Griffith et al., "Functional Analysis of TRAIL Receptors using Monoclonal Antibodies", The Journal of Immunology, volume 162, 1999, pages 2597-2605. The authors report that, while all the anti-TRAIL-R2 antibodies, and two of the anti-TRAIL-R1 antibodies, were unable to induce any lysis, or only able to induce minimal lysis, of TRAIL-sensitive melanoma cells when they were added to the cells in solution, these antibodies exhibited an increase in their lytic ability when they were immobilized on a culture plate such that they were able to ensure that the TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 death receptors were crosslinked.
Antibodies against the death receptors TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 also act nonspecifically on TRAIL-sensitive cells, which means that they are only of slight therapeutic value.
In addition to this, it is known that what are termed bispecific antibodies, i.e. antibodies which possess a specificity for a tumor-associated antigen and a specificity for a surface antigen on defensive cells of the immune system, such as macrophages, T-lymphocytes or natural killer cells, which cells are activated by way of this binding, can be employed in cancer immunotherapy for directing the activity of the defensive cells toward the particular target cells.
In a general manner, bispecific antibodies are antibodies which are able to bind two different epitopes and are monovalent for each epitope. They are prepared by oxidizing monovalent F(ab′) fragments to give an F(ab′)2 fragment, by fusing two hybridoma cell lines to give hybrid hybridoma or quadroma cells, or recombinantly.
Jung et al., "Target cell-induced T cell activation with bi- and trispecific antibody fragments", Eur. J. Immunol., volume 21, 1991, pages 2431-2435 describe the preparation of bispecific F(ab) hybrid fragments which are monovalent for each antigen. The reader is referred to this publication for further references to the preparation of bispecific antibodies.
The authors demonstrate that bispecific antibodies or fragments can be used to effect a target cell induced activation of T cells, by the antibodies on the one hand binding to the target antigen on the target cell and, on the other hand, binding to the CD3 and/or CD28 receptor on the T cell.
Segal et al., "Bispecific antibodies in cancer therapy", Current Opinion in Immunology, volume 11, 1999, pages 558-562 also describe the use of bispecific antibodies for directing an effector cell to a target cell which it would not otherwise recognize. For this purpose, the bispecific antibodies bind to a surface molecule on the target cell and to a surface receptor on the effector cell.
Roosnek et al., "T cell activation by a bispecific anti-CD3/anti-major histocompatibility complex class I antibody", Eur. J. Immunol., volume 20, 1990, pages 1393-1396 showed that a bispecific antibody which possessed specificity both for MHC and for CD3, both of which were expressed on T cells, was able to induce efficient proliferation of T cells whereas a mixture of the two original antibodies was unable to do this. The authors hypothesize that this synergistic effect is due to the anchoring of the T cell receptor/CD3 complex in the membrane being disturbed. In this connection, they make the assumption that the T cell receptor is unable to distinguish whether it is anchored to an antigen-presenting cell (APC) or to surface molecules within its own membrane. They therefore speculate that the T cell receptor/CD3 complex, which in vivo is triggered by antigens on another cell, reacts to changes in its mobility within the membrane.
However, the mechanism of this T cell receptor activation, which is restricted to certain T cell subpopulations, has remained unclear. The prior art has thus far assumed that this is a T cell receptor-specific effect which is probably due to the fact that, in addition to the T cell receptor, a coreceptor such as CD4 or CD8 is stimulated, with this coreceptor also generating a signal on stimulation, see Emmrich et al., Eur. J. Immunol., 18, 645 (1988).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multispecific reagent for selectively stimulating cell surface receptors


A tandem rear axle assembly for vehicles including trucks comprises an interaxle differential and a differential lockout mechanism which includes a friction clutch or clutch pack comprising a multiplicity of parallel annular clutch disks arranged in interleaved first and second sets. The clutch pack may be concentric with an input shaft which transmits torque from a vehicle drive shaft to the interaxle differential. The first set of clutch disks may rotate with the input shaft. The second set of clutch disks is in driving engagement with an output gear of the interaxle differential, which drives a pinion shaft to transmit torque to a forward rear axle of the vehicle. The clutch is disengaged under normal driving conditions. The rear axle assembly further includes a clutch actuator assembly comprising first and second sensors for sensing the respective rotational speeds of the rearward rear axle and the forward rear axle, and a computer-control circuit which generates an output signal when the difference exceeds a predetermined maximum. The output signal actuates, for example, by means of air pressure, a piston which compresses the clutch pack so as to engage the clutch and thereby lock out the interaxle differential. When the interaxle differential is locked out, the forward rear axle and the rearward rear axle are driven at the same rotational speed. The clutch may be manually actuated if desired. In either case, smoother and more efficient automatic operation results from use of a friction disk-type clutch or clutch pack.

Tandem rear axle assemblies having a forward rear axle and a rearward rear axle in proximity with each other are well known. Such tandem axle assemblies are widely used on trucks and other over-the-road motor vehicles, such as busses, which have a high vehicle weight and a high load carrying capacity. In such assemblies, both rear axles may be power driven.
An interaxle differential is commonly employed to divide power between drivetrains for the respective rear axles. An interaxle differential typically includes a single input shaft, which may be in direct drive relationship with a vehicle drive shaft, and gearing which includes a pair of output gears for delivering torque to the respective axle drivetrains. One output gear typically drives a shaft which drives the rearward rear axle for example, while the other output gear typically drives a pinion shaft which in turn drives the forward rear axle. Under normal operating conditions, i.e., when the wheels mounted on both rear axles have good traction, it is desirable for the interaxle differential to be able to function as a differential, so that the rotational speed of the output shafts may vary relative to one another. Under adverse conditions, however, such as a slippery road surface of ice, snow, or mud, when one of the rear axles may lose traction while the other rear axle has good traction, it is desirable to lock out the interaxle differential so that the pinion shaft and the input shaft rotate at a fixed speed ratio and commonly at the same speed. Where wheel slip occurs, torque from the vehicle drive shaft may thereby be transferred to a non-slipping axle for improved vehicle traction.
Various mechanisms, both manual and automatic, for locking out the interaxle differential are known. Earlier tandem rear axle assemblies relied on manual controls for this purpose. More recently, automatic differential lockout mechanisms have come into use. Such automatic mechanisms commonly include a toothed clutch or dog clutch having two relatively axially slidable members which can be brought into or out of engagement with each other, and a clutch actuator assembly including one or more sensors for sensing differential rotation between axles and for actuating the clutch to thereby lock out the interaxle differential. One such condition is a difference in rotational speeds of the two rear axles, which may occur, for example, when one axle is spinning (on snow or ice, for example) while the other axle has traction.
One problem with tandem rear axle assemblies which include a toothed clutch as described above is that they are not smooth in operation, whether the clutch is manually or automatically actuated. Additionally, known differential lockout mechanisms have not provided smooth automatic control to give precise traction control.


A controller operates in different operating modes to control movement of a distal tip of a medical instrument when inserting and retracting the medical instrument through linked body passages. When inserting the medical instrument, the controller normally operates in an automatic navigation mode unless manually overridden to operate in a manual mode. When retracting the medical instrument, the controller normally operates in a zero-force mode to allow the distal tip to freely move so that it may comply with the shape of the passages as the medical instrument is being retracted through the linked body unless manually overridden to operate in a manual mode.

One type of medical instrument that is steered through body passages is an endoscope. Endoscopes allow physicians to capture images of and diagnose problems with internal body organs by inserting the device either through a natural orifice or a surgeon created opening and guiding it to a target site within a patient. In some cases, it may also be used to perform medical procedures on the internal body organs. It may be steerable so that its distal tip is controllably oriented for navigation purposes. An image capturing device such as a stereoscopic or monoscopic camera may be provided at its distal tip so that images captured by the camera from that perspective may be viewed on a display screen by the surgeon. To perform various medical procedures at the target site, surgical tools, such as those used for cutting, grasping, cauterizing, etc., may extend out of the endoscope's distal tip.
Specialized endoscopes may be named for where they are generally intended to look. Examples include: cystoscopes for looking in the bladder, nephroscopes for looking in the kidney, bronchoscopes for looking in bronchi of the lung, laryngoscopes for looking in the larynx, otoscopes for looking in the ear, arthroscopes for looking at joints, laparoscopes for looking inside the abdomen, and gastrointestinal endoscopes. In order to look at their intended organs, endoscopes may move through linked body passages in the body to a target area.
Another type of medical instrument that is steerable through body passages is a catheter. Catheters are long slender flexible tubes that are inserted into a natural bodily cavity or passage for introducing or withdrawing fluid. Its uses include the drainage of urine from the bladder through the urethra or insertion through a blood vessel into the heart for diagnostic purposes. Catheters may also be inserted in a passage to keep the passage open.
Still other types of medical instruments that are steerable through body passages are surgical and diagnostic tools. Examples include such common medical implements as forceps for taking tissue samples and electrodes used for cauterization of tissue.
Body passages through which such medical instruments are steered may be circuitous and have varying widths along their lengths. Further, they may be multi-branched and narrow so that navigation to target areas in the body is difficult. Also, the passage may comprise sensitive tissue that is easily harmed by excessive physical contact with the medical instrument. As an example of linked body passages, U.S. Pat. No. 7,901,348 B2 describes visual-assisted guidance of an ultra-thin flexible endoscope to a predetermined region of interest within the bronchial tree of a lung during a bronchoscopy procedure. As other examples of linked body passages, U.S. 2005/0182319 A1 describes image guided surgery techniques applicable to the blood circulatory system as well as the air circulatory system of the lung, the digestive system, and the urinary system.
When an operator is inserting a medical instrument through linked body passages to a target area in an anatomical structure of a patient, it may be desirable to assist the operator in navigating the medical instrument to the target area. In retracting the medical instrument back out of the linked body passages, care must be taken to avoid harming the passage walls by excessive physical contact with the medical instrument. Safety for the patient is a primary concern at all times while controlling movement of the medical instrument in the patient.

Medical system with multiple operating modes for steering a medical instrument through linked body passages


The present invention is directed to a light housing installed in close proximity to a light source. The light housing has a shield and an attachment arm for securing the shield. The attachment arm allows the shield to be removably attached in close proximity to the light source. The housing optionally has an aperture allowing the housing to be installed over and/or around the light source. The housing at least partially blocks light emanating from a light source, such as an in-ground staked floodlight, and keeps the light from shining directly into the eyes of a person observing the light source. The housing also hides the unsightly components of a light source.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a light housing, and in particular, to a light housing installed in close proximity to a light source for reducing the visible glare associated with conventional lighting and for preventing the mechanical components of a light source from being noticed by an observer.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are many different types of ground-level outdoor lighting fixtures in use today. Well known ground-level outdoor lighting fixtures include, for example, floodlights and low voltage lights.
In the landscaping industry, decorative low voltage lights are commonly designed with stakes for inserting into the ground. These low voltage lights typically contain light bulbs of low-wattage and are thus, not designed to provide high intensity illumination. Instead, low voltage lights are most often staked out along patios and driveways to decoratively illuminate the desired path.
High intensity floodlights are also well known and, unlike low voltage lighting, are commonly used to brightly illuminate a large open area. Floodlights have been traditionally designed for mounting at a height, such as to a wall, roof corner, or privacy fence, to light up a patio, pool, or yard. Unlike low voltage lighting, floodlights have not been typically used for decorative lighting. Recently, however, it has been recognized that there are advantages associated with brightly illuminating large natural features, such as trees, shrubs, and decorative ponds and waterfalls. As a result, floodlights have now been specifically designed for staking into the ground to act as a touch of nighttime landscaping decoration or to highlight certain targets.
Unfortunately, when these high intensity ground-level floodlights are aimed at the target to be illuminated, many problems can arise.
One potential problem with high intensity ground-level floodlights is excessive glare. Glare is often present when a person looks directly toward the source of the light. Glare can be from direct or indirect routes and can result in unwanted visual discomfort caused by excessive brightness.
Excessive spill light is also a problem for high intensity ground-level floodlights. Spill light is the light that illuminates surfaces beyond the area intended to be illuminated. A potentially more harmful form of spill lighting is light trespass. Light trespass is light emitted by a lighting installation that falls outside the boundaries of the property on which the light installation is sited. Light trespass is particularly important to prevent given the increasing recognition that allowing a high intensity floodlight to shine on your neighbor's window or yard is a nuisance and in some areas considered a violation of light trespass ordinances.
Yet another problem is that observing the visible floodlight fixture itself can detract from the overall ambience of the illuminated target. For example, a decorative pond or waterfall can create a natural and relaxing feeling for an observer. If the decorative pond or waterfall is illuminated, then being able to see the floodlight itself can detract from the pleasing effect of the natural setting. Similarly, outdoor Christmas decorations are sometimes illuminated with a ground-level floodlight. If an observer notices the floodlight components, it can detract from the overall Christmas scene.
While ground-level floodlights with light shields directly attached to the floodlight itself have been used, they are costly and also incompatible with staked ground-level floodlights that do not have attached light shielding. Moreover, having a ground-level floodlight with a preattached light shield eliminates the option of easily removing the light shield should the user so desire. Most floodlights with preattached shields also suffer from the problem of an observer noticing the floodlight components instead of having them blend into the natural setting.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,522,230 to Komulaine discloses a light fixture having an open front structure having pairs of diverging walls and a conventional socket for mounting an incandescent lamp. The lamp is inserted through the apertures in the back of the light fixture and is secured by a nut and clamps. The lamp has a top to the housing. The light fixture of this patent is capable of being folded substantially flat and the light removed. Komulaine does not teach a housing that is completely detached and removable from the light source. Also, Komulaine does not disclose the use of stakes to insert the light fixture into the ground.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 166,177 to Sherbinin discloses a television lamp ornamental design. The Sherbinin lamp does not disclose a housing with a top and an opening. The Sherbinin lamp also fails to disclose at least one stake for removably inserting it into the ground.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,100 to Hudimac discloses a light director having an elongated, opaque open-ended shield that slips over the light bulb. Hudimac also discloses that a plurality of flat, spaced apart slats extend across one open end and function to cause the light to exit in parallel beams. The light housing is disclosed as a rectangular box. However, Hudimac does not disclose the use of stakes to secure the light fixture. Also, Hudimac does not disclose an arch-shaped opening in the housing allowing the housing to be installed over the light source.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,727 to Ponds, et al. (Ponds) discloses a lighting fixture including a housing for accommodating an elongated lamp bulb parallel to the window opening. The elongated lamb bulb is attached to the light fixture through either one or two connections, depending on the type of bulb used. Thus, Ponds does not disclose a removable light housing completely detached and removable from the light source. Ponds does not disclose the use of a stake to insert and secure the light fixture to the ground.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 311,697 to Poot discloses a reflector for lamps. As shown in the figures, the reflector has an arch-shaped slot to fit around the light source in the base of the reflector. Also, all sides of the reflector are straight. However, Poot does not disclose an arch-shaped opening in the housing, opposed to the base of the housing, enabling it to fit over the light source. Also, Poot does not disclose a curved housing or the use of a stake to insert the light fixture into the ground.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,987 to Ellson, et al. (Ellson) discloses a light fixture with a bulb/lens assembly having a transparent lens with a cylindrical wall mounted atop a post. This patent is directed toward vertical or "downlighting" type of light fixtures. However, Ellson does not disclose a light fixture that is removable and detached from the light source. Also, the light fixture in Ellson completely encompasses the bulb and directs the light downward, as opposed to only covering about half the bulb as to direct the light whichever direction the light fixture is pointed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,180 to Lee discloses a temple light mounted on a stake with a bulb receiver integrally formed on the upper side of the bottom of the lens. The light fixture is cylindrical and encompasses the bulb completely. However, Lee does not teach a light fixture that is removable and detached from the light source. Also, the light fixture in Lee completely encompasses the bulb and directs the light downward. Lee does not teach a light housing that rests in close proximity to the light source and can shield the light from an observer looking from behind the light source.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,574 to Haddad discloses an adjustable flood light fixture suitable for outdoor use, which can prevent unwanted glare through the use of a truncated cone shroud, which can be rotated 360°. Haddad does not disclose a stake for removably inserting a housing into the ground. Thus, Haddad attaches the housing directly to the light source.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,829 to Lin, et al. (Lin) discloses a floodlight assembly that holds multiple light sources and is capable of independently adjusting the direction of each light source. Lin also discloses one stake for removably inserting the assembly into the ground. However, Lin does not disclose a housing for shielding the light sources.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 394,728 to Alexander discloses a curved lampshade with sticks. The drawings disclose that the lampshade curves around the light source, but there is not an enclosed top covering the light source. Also, the lampshade is secured by stakes protruding down from the bottom of the lampshade. However, Alexander does not disclose an arch-shaped opening in the housing allowing the housing to be installed over the light source. Also, Alexander does not disclose that the lampshade has a top.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 400,289 to Wardenburg, et al. (Wardenburg) discloses a reflector for horticultural lighting. From the drawings, it can be seen that the reflector has a slot in the base wherein the light is inserted through the base. Also, the backside of the reflector is straight. However, Wardenburg does not disclose a curved shield or an arch-shaped opening in the housing allowing the housing to be installed over the light source. Also, Wardenburg does not disclose the use of a stake to secure the light fixture.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,709 to Panagiotou discloses a combination light assembly including a housing having a rear wall, which curves rearwardly from an upper straight edge and downwardly to a lower straight edge. The assembly also includes a light source, which is longitudinally mounted within a casing that is attachable to the housing. The light emitted from the light source passes through a lower opening in the housing and is reflected out of the housing for indirect illumination. However, Panagiotou does not disclose an arch-shaped opening in the shield allowing the housing to be installed over the light source. Also, Panagiotou does not disclose the use of a stake to secure the light fixture.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 463,061 to Ludwig discloses a lighting apparatus that, from the drawings, is angled at about a forty-five (45) degrees from vertical with a curved top. Thus, the curved nature of the design will direct light downward. The lighting apparatus is positioned with two downward poles. However, Ludwig does not disclose an arch-shaped opening in the shield allowing the housing to be installed over the light source. The apparatus disclosed by Ludwig is curved in a downward direction as opposed to being curved from side to side.
Therefore, what has been missing is a way to shield a ground-level floodlight or similar light source from an observer's line of sight without using a preattached light shield. What has also been missing is a way to enhance existing ground-level floodlights with a light shield that is both economical and visually pleasing, yet remains technologically uncomplicated.


Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for planning replenishment of products in a distribution system. A first key figure associated to a first product and a second key figure associated to a second product are collected, the first product and the second product being distributed by the distribution system. The first key figure and the second key figure are aggregated into an aggregate. The aggregate is used to replenish the first product and the second product.

This application relates to planning replenishment of products in a distribution system.
As products are distributed to retailers and consumers through a distribution system, products are replenished in anticipation of future demands by retailers and consumers. Typically the distribution system monitors consumer and retailer product demand by tracking inventory of individual products and planning to anticipate future inventory issues. By transmitting inventory information from retailers to manufacturers, the number of individual products needed to satisfy projected consumer demand can be determined and products can be sent for replenishing the retailer inventory. By monitoring the demand for each of the individual products, the distribution system can use each product demand to determine the production of each product needed to replenish the retailer inventory.

Method and process for planning replenishment of products in a distribution system


Systems, methods and instrumentalities are described herein for automating a medical environment. The automation may be realized using one or more sensing devices and at least one processing device. The sensing devices may be configured to capture images of the medical environment and provide the images to the processing device. The processing device may determine characteristics of the medical environment based on the images and automate one or more aspects of the operations in the medical environment. These characteristics may include, e.g., people and/or objects present in the images and respective locations of the people and/or objects in the medical environment. The operations that may be automated may include, e.g., maneuvering and/or positioning a medical device based on the location of a patient, determining and/or adjusting the parameters of a medical device, managing a workflow, providing instructions and/or alerts to a patient or a physician, etc.

Medical procedures are complicated operations requiring a high level of concentration, precision, and coordination. Presently, most of the operations taking place in a medical environment are carried out manually. For instance, during surgery, medical staff not only have to focus on executing protocols and observing conditions of the patient, they must also attend to tools and equipment (e.g., lighting, X-ray scanner, etc.) and be generally cognizant of the operating environment to ensure that the tools and equipment are within reach when needed and the movement of one tool or device does not interfere with the ongoing procedure or collide with other tools or devices in the environment. Furthermore, a patient's physical characteristics, positions, and/or movements during a procedure may require continuously adjustments of the parameters, configurations and/or settings of medical devices (e.g., such as an X-ray scanner) so that they may adapt to the specific conditions of the patient. Performing these tasks manually not only impose additional burdens on the medical staff, the manual work also lacks accuracy and consistency and is difficult to monitor or verify. Accordingly, it is highly desirable to automate aspects of the operations in a medical environment to relieve the burden on medical professionals as well as to enhance the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of the operations.

SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING INTELLIGENCE CO., LTD.


A tubular cold shrinkable material can include an elastomeric composition including a fluoroelastomer composition, where the elastomeric composition is substantially free of an epichlorohydrin composition. The tubular cold shrinkable material can further include a filler material including a reinforcement-grade carbon black. The tubular cold shrinkable material can further include a peroxide curative.

Cold shrinkable articles are used in a variety of different applications such as, for example, splicing together lengths of wire or cable and protecting, sealing, and/or insulating substrates from adverse environmental conditions. Examples of industries that use cold shrinkable articles include the automobile, aerospace, power, telecommunication, chemical, and defense industries.
It is known to form cold shrinkable articles from elastomeric compositions that include an elastomer to facilitate expansion and contraction of the article. Examples of known elastomers employed in cold shrinkable articles include EPDM rubber or silicone rubber. A problem in the art has been producing compositions that maintain desirable elongation-at-break and desirable permanent set properties in high temperature conditions.

Cold shrinkable article including a fluoroelastomer composition


An adjustable platform assembly attaches to a tree to provide a hunting dog perch or a seat for a hunter. The assembly includes a tree hugging subassembly having first and second padded tree engaging members connected together by a hinge, and strap fasteners connected to outer side edges of the tree engaging members for securing the assembly to a tree. A first frame member is attached to the tree hugging subassembly and is pivotally adjustable about a first axis that extends generally perpendicular to the tree and perpendicular to a first plane. A second frame member is attached to the first frame member and is adjustable about a second axis that extends generally parallel with the first plane. A platform attached to the second frame member can be adjusted to a desired horizontal orientation by adjusting the first and second frame members about the first and second axes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to portable seats for attaching to trees and, in particular, to an adjustable platform that can be attached to a tree for use as a hunter's seat or an elevated perch for a hunting dog.
2. Description of the Related Art
Platform assemblies for attaching to trees are known in the prior art. For example, hunting stands are commonly used to provide a comfortable seat for a hunter while observing wildlife. Such hunting stands and tree seats are typically attached to a tree trunk or tree branch using a strap or other suitable structure that surrounds the tree.
However, most tree stands and tree seats require a straight, vertical tree to provide a level seat. If a tree is slanted away from true vertical, the attached seat will also have that same slanted orientation.
A variety of tree stands and tree seats have been developed to accommodate trees that are leaning away from true vertical. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,582,168, 6,102,158, 6,196,354, 6,571,916, and 8,230,972 disclose various tree seats and tree stands that are adjustable to accommodate slanted trees.
There is a need in the industry for an improved platform assembly for attaching to non-vertical, slanted trees.

Adjustable platform assembly for attaching to tree


Two bias circuits which supply a current to a selected memory cell and a reference memory cell have the same circuit constitution. Each bias circuit includes a first active element between a power supply node and a junction node, where a current is controlled to prevent a voltage level at the junction node from fluctuating, a second active element between the power supply node and an output node, where a current is controlled such that a voltage level at the output node is changed in direction opposite to a voltage level at the junction node in other bias circuit, a third active element and a fourth active element between the junction node and a current supply node and between the output node and the current supply node, respectively, where a bias voltage is adjusted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and, more particularly, it relates to readout technique in which a current flowing in a memory cell of a semiconductor memory device is detected and its storage state is determined at high speed.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are various kinds of methods of reading out a storage state of a memory cell in a semiconductor memory device. A description will be made with reference to a flash memory which is one of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device. The flash memory comprises a memory transistor in a memory cell having a floating gate structure, in which information is stored according to an amount of charges (electrons) input to the floating gate of the memory cell. More specifically, in a state where there are many electrons in the floating gate, an inversion layer is not likely to be formed in a channel region, so that a threshold voltage of the memory cell becomes high (defined as a programming state). Meanwhile, in a state where the electrons are discharged from the floating gate, the inversion layer is likely to be formed in the channel region, so that the threshold voltage of the memory cell becomes low (defined as an erasing state). In order to determine whether the state of the selected memory cell is in the programming state or the erasing state at high speed, a reference memory cell having a middle threshold voltage between the programming state and the erasing state is input to a differential input type of sense amplifier circuit.
FIG. 8 shows a basic circuit constitution of a readout circuit in such memory cell (referred to as a conventional example 1 occasionally). The readout circuit shown in FIG. 8 comprises a bias voltage applying circuit 102 in which a predetermined bias voltage is applied to a memory cell 100 selected from memory cells as an object to be read and a reference memory cell 101 to supply a memory cell current flowing in the selected memory cell 100 and the reference memory cell 101 depending on their storage states. The bias voltage applying circuit 102 comprises a load circuit 103, and a bias adjustment circuit 104 which adjusts a bias voltage applied to the selected memory cell 100 and the reference memory cell 101. Therefore, the bias voltage is applied from a predetermined internal power supply voltage to bit lines Bmain and Bref of the selected memory cell 100 and the reference memory cell 101, respectively, through the load circuit 103 and the bias adjustment circuit 104, and reaches the selected memory cell 100 and the reference memory cell 101.
The bias voltage applying circuit 102 converts a memory cell current Imain according to the storage state of the selected memory cell 100 to a voltage level at a first output node Nout1, and converts a reference cell current Iref according to the storage state of the reference memory cell 101 to a voltage level at a second output node Nout2. A voltage difference between both output nodes is detected to determine the storage state of the selected memory cell 100 by a differential amplification type of sense amplifier 105 in a next stage. Therefore, in order to implement high-speed readout, it is necessary to provide a voltage difference across both output nodes sufficiently.
Although the load circuit 103 comprises a transistor in general as shown in the figure, it may be a resistive element instead of the transistor. However, in view of the above circumstances, as shown in the conventional example 1 in FIG. 8, a current-mirror type of load circuit 103 in which a relatively high gain can be provided in a simple structure is used in many cases in general. According to the conventional example 1, it comprises a P-channel MOSFET (referred to as a PMOS hereinafter).
However, as the memory capacity is increased, the number of memory cells to be connected to the bias voltage applying circuit 102 is increased, and electric capacity to be driven by the bias voltage applying circuit 102 tends to be increased. In addition, in view of demands for a readout operation at low voltage, it is necessary to implement the readout operation which is highly tolerant for noise at high speed. As measures for the above issue, it is proposed and implemented that the memory cell array is so constituted that the parasitic capacity of the bit line Bmain of the selected memory cell 100 may be equal to that of the bit line Bref of the reference memory cell 101, and the loads in both current paths are equalized, so that transient response characteristics in the readout operation is equalized.
More specifically, there is a method of speeding up the readout operation, in which the parasitic capacity connected to each input of the sense amplifier is equalized by connecting a bit line of the memory array block adjacent to a memory array block containing the selected memory cell to a bit line of the reference memory cell (for example, refer to JP-A 2003-77282, and D. Elmhurst et. al., "A 1.8V 128 Mb 125 MHz Multi-level Cell Flash Memory with Flexible Read While Write" ISSCC Digest of Technical Papers, pp. 286–287, February, 2003).
In the case of the constitution in which the parasitic capacity is equalized between the bit lines, one of the bit lines is connected to the selected memory cell and the other is connected to the reference memory cell, depending on an address of the selected memory cell (position in the memory array). When the current-mirror type of load circuit shown in FIG. 8 is used as the load circuit of the bias voltage applying circuit, since the constitution is not symmetric, it is designed such that readout performance is prevented from being lowered by the asymmetric characteristics. For example, according to a bias voltage applying circuit disclosed in JP-A 2003-77282 (referred to as the conventional example 2 occasionally hereinafter), as shown in FIG. 9, there is proposed a constitution in which selection transistors 200 are provided to control on/off of the selection transistor depending on an address of the selected memory cell, and the bit line of the selected memory cell is statically connected to one side of the asymmetric load circuit. In addition, according to a bias voltage applying circuit (referred to as the conventional example 3 occasionally hereinafter) disclosed in D. Elmhurst et. al., "A 1.8V 128 Mb 125 MHz Multi-level Cell Flash Memory with Flexible Read While Write" ISSCC Digest of Technical Papers, pp. 286–287, February, 2003, as shown in FIG. 10, there is proposed a constitution in which switch transistors 300 to switch the direction of the current mirror are provided, and one of the switch transistors 300 is turned on according to an address of a selected memory cell to connect a bit line of the selected memory cell to one side of the asymmetric load circuit statically.
However, according to the bias voltage applying circuit of the conventional example 2 shown in FIG. 9, since it is necessary to provide one additional selection transistor 200 to switch the right and left bit lines, an additional resistance component is added to a memory cell current path. As a result, CR (capacity resistance product) of the bit line is increased and the transient characteristics deteriorates, which could hinder the high-speed readout.
Furthermore, according to the bias voltage applying circuit in the conventional example 3 shown in FIG. 10, since the Vds (voltage between a drain and a source) of the PMOS switch transistor 300 becomes almost 0 V, its on resistance is increased and it takes time for a gate potential of the PMOS in the load circuit 103 to reach the same level as that of a drain potential. Therefore, the current mirror operation is not correctly performed for the above period, which could hinder the high-speed readout.
In addition, since the load circuit 103 is asymmetric in the bias voltage applying circuit in either the conventional example 2 or 3, the load capacity at an input node of the next-stage sense amplifier is varied, which could hinder the high-speed readout because of the difference in transient response characteristics.

Bias voltage applying circuit and semiconductor memory device


A hydrochloride salt of an Apo B secretion/MTP inhibitor, methods of making the salt, methods of using the salt and pharmaceutical compositions containing the salt are disclosed.

This invention relates to compounds which are inhibitors of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) and/or apolipoprotein B (Apo B) secretion and which are, accordingly, useful for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and its clinical sequelae, for lowering serum lipids, and in the prevention and treatment of related diseases. More particularly, this invention relates to an Apo B secretion/MTP inhibitor hydrochloride salt, pharmaceutical compositions comprising this salt, a process for preparing this salt and to methods of treating atherosclerosis, obesity, and related diseases and/or conditions with the salt.
Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein catalyzes the transport of triglyceride, cholesteryl ester, and phospholipids and has been implicated as a putative mediator in the assembly of Apo B-containing lipoproteins, biomolecules which contribute to the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. Specifically, the subcellular (lumen of the microsomal fraction) and tissue distribution (liver and intestine) of MTP have led to speculation that it plays a role in the assembly of plasma lipoproteins, as these are the sites of plasma lipoprotein assembly. The ability of MTP to catalyze the transport of triglyceride between membranes is consistent with this speculation, and suggests that MTP may catalyze the transport of triglyceride from its site of synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane to nascent lipoprotein particles within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum.
Compounds which inhibit MTP and/or otherwise inhibit Apo B secretion are accordingly useful in the treatment of atherosclerosis and other conditions related thereto. Such compounds are also useful in the treatment of other diseases or conditions in which, by inhibiting MTP and/or Apo B secretion, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels may be reduced. Such conditions may include, for example, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, pancreatitis, and obesity; and hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperlipidemia associated with pancreatitis, obesity, and diabetes. For a detailed discussion, see for example, Wetterau et al., Science, 258, 999-1001, (1992), Wetterau et al., Biochem. Biophys. Acta., 875, 610-617 (1986), European patent application publication No. 0 584 446 A2, and European patent application publication No. 0 643 057 A1 the latter of which discloses certain compounds of the generic formulae ##STR1## which have utility as inhibitors of MTP.
Also, commonly assigned PCT publication WO 96/40640 (published Dec. 19, 1996) discloses certain MTP inhibitors having the generic structure ##STR2##
Thus, although there are a variety of atherosclerosis therapies, there is a continuing need and a continuing search in this field of art for alternative therapies.

Apo B-secretion/MTP inhibitor hydrochloride salt


A brush for hair styling includes a handle portion and a head portion. The head portion extends from the handle portion. The head portion defines a longitudinally extending channel and a plurality of openings. A first row of substantially rigid teeth are longitudinally disposed along the head portion. A second row of substantially rigid teeth are longitudinally disposed along the head portion. The second row of substantially rigid teeth radially extend in an opposite direction to the first row of substantially rigid teeth. A bristled element is disposed within the channel and includes a plurality of flexible brush bristles extending through the openings in the head portion. The first and second rows of substantially rigid teeth radially extend substantially beyond the plurality of flexible brush bristles.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally pertains to hair styling. More particular, the present invention pertains to a brush for styling hair. More specifically, but without restriction to the particular embodiment and/or use which is shown and described for purposes of illustration, the present invention relates to a brush for styling hair which incorporates a pair of rows of teeth extending in opposing directions.
2. Discussion
Hair styling is an art which frequently requires various implements and environmental conditions to produce desired results. The implements assume many configurations, such as combs, brushes, curlers, and others. Frequently, in order to increase the effectiveness of such implements, it is necessary to utilize the implements in combination with heat from a source such as a blow dryer. Known implements for styling hair have proven to be successful for certain desired results. However, there remains a need in the art to provide a hair styling brush which may be used along with a blow dryer, for example, to create more lift and volume for the hair. Additionally, a need remains in the art for an improved brush design which can be effectively used with hair of various lengths.


An apparatus is disclosed for cutting and cauterizing of tissue. The apparatus comprises a cutting edge of a blade. The apparatus further comprises a conduit having a catalyst located near the conduit outlet, and the conduit is for delivering a combustible mixture of gases. The gases react in the presence of the catalyst and generate heat. The heat generated cauterizes blood vessels when applied to the cut tissue.

Surgical operations often involve the cutting of a patient's tissue. Usually, the tissue is cut with a scalpel, a sharp edged cutting instrument. However, the cutting of a patient's tissue is also usually accompanied by an undesired flow of blood from small blood vessels within the tissue. Reducing, or eliminating this blood flow is advantageous to the patient by reducing blood loss and to the surgeon by removing or reducing an obstruction to the surgeon's view of the incised tissue.
Scalpels making use of lasers for heat sources can be used to heat and irradiate the incised tissue. Light of an appropriate wavelength is absorbed by the tissue, and the optical energy is converted to thermal energy to cauterize the tissue. Cutting instruments of this type are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,383,179; 5,571,098; 5,366,456; and 4,627,435. These devices can use the laser to incise the tissue as well as cauterize, or use an optically transparent material for the cutting instrument coupled with a bundle of optical fibers for directing the laser to the area of interest.
Another method of providing cauterizing heat with a scalpel is the use of ultrasonics. U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,299 describes such a device wherein the scalpel blade is vibrated at a rate around 55,000 cycles per second. The vibration generates ultrasound waves for heating the tissue, however, there is only limited cauterizing ability.
Control of blood loss can be achieved by cauterizing the small blood vessels in the tissue at the time the tissue is cut. Cauterization of the blood vessels is achieved by applying heat at the vessels. It is advantageous to apply the heat at the time the tissue is cut and at the tissue without exposing the tissue to radiation.