The present invention provides pyrazole compounds which are useful as nitrification inhibitors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the use of pyrazole derivatives of the formula I ##STR1## or their acid addition salts as nitrification inhibitors, where the radicals R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 have the following meanings:
R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are halogen, nitro, hydrogen, C.sub.1 - to C.sub.20 -alkyl, C.sub.3 - to C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.5 - to C.sub.20 -aryl or alkylaryl, it being possible for these 4 radicals to be monosubstituted or disubstituted by halogen and/or hydroxyl PA1 R.sup.4 is either PA1 R.sup.7 is a carboxyl radical or a carboxy-(C.sub.1 - to C.sub.3 -alkyl) radical or a functional derivative of these groups or PA1 R.sup.10 is hydrogen or a poly-(C.sub.2 - to C.sub.4 -alkylene oxide) radical whose terminal hydroxyl group can be etherified by an aliphatic C.sub.1 - to C.sub.10 -alkohol or esterified by a C.sub.1 - to C.sub.10 -carboxylic acid. PA1 excessively low activity based on the application rate; PA1 excessively low stability against hydrolysis, whereby the duration of action in the soil and the stability on storage is reduced. This relates especially to pyrazole derivatives such as N-glyoxylpyrazoles and N-hydroxymethylpyrazoles, and mineral acid salts of pyrazoles; PA1 excessively high toxicity or ecotoxicity; PA1 only accessible by complicated preparation processes (eg. N-hydroxypyrazoles); PA1 excessively low absorption of the compounds in the soil, whereby they are rapidly leached; PA1 excessively high volatility. This results in the compounds being easily given off from the soil into the atmosphere unless the compounds are introduced into the soil using technically complicated processes (eg. by probe). PA1 R.sup.2 is halogen and PA1 R.sup.4 is a radical having the formula II, the substituents R.sup.5, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 having the meanings indicated for the-formula I, PA1 R.sup.2 is halogen PA1 R.sup.1 l is hydrogen, C.sub.1 - to C.sub.20 -alkyl, C.sub.3 - to C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl or C.sub.1 - to C.sub.10 -acyl PA1 R.sup.12 is hydrogen or methyl PA1 x is 1 to 10 PA1 a) R.sup.4a radicals having the formula II ##STR7## where R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are hydrogen, C.sub.1 - to C.sub.20 -alkyl which can be monosubstituted or disubstituted by halogen and/or hydroxyl, a carboxyl group, a carboxymethyl group or a functional derivative of the two last-mentioned groups, and PA1 b) R4b radicals having the formula III ##STR8## where R.sup.8 and R.sup.9 are C.sub.1 - to C.sub.20 -alkyl, C.sub.3 - to C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.5 - to C.sub.20 -aryl or alkylaryl, it being possible for these 4 radicals to be monosubstituted or disubstituted by halogen and PA1 R.sup.10 is hydrogen or a poly-(C.sub.2 - to C.sub.4 -alkylene oxide) radical whose terminal hydroxyl group can be etherified by an aliphatic C.sub.1 - to C.sub.10 -alkohol or esterified by a C.sub.1 - to C.sub.10 -carboxylic acid. PA1 unsubstituted alkyl radicals, in particular C.sub.1 - to C.sub.6 -alkyl radicals such as methyl, ethyl and propyl and also hydrogen. In addition, carboxymethyl groups or functional groups of the carboxymethyl groups are especially suitable. PA1 R.sup.5 -hydrogen PA1 R.sup.6 -hydrogen, methyl, a carboxyl group, a carboxymethyl group or a functional derivative of the two last-mentioned groups PA1 R.sup.7 -a carboxymethyl group, a 1-carboxyethyl group or functional derivatives of these groups. PA1 R.sup.5 hydrogen, R.sup.6 carboxyl, R.sup.7 carboxymethyl PA1 R.sup.5 hydrogen, R.sup.6 hydrogen, R.sup.7 carboxymethyl PA1 R.sup.5 hydrogen, R.sup.6 hydrogen, R.sup.7 1-carboxyethyl PA1 R.sup.12 is hydrogen or methyl PA1 x is 1 to 10, preferably 2 to 6. PA1 R.sup.x has the same meanings as R.sup.1 PA1 R.sup.y has the same meanings as R.sup.2 PA1 R.sup.z has the same meanings as R.sup.3 PA1 R.sup.x has the same meanings as R.sup.3 PA1 R.sup.y has the same meanings as R.sup.2 PA1 R.sup.z has the same meanings as R.sup.1 PA1 the radical R.sup.14 is a carboxyl group or a functional derivative of a carboxyl group and PA1 the radical R.sup.15 is hydrogen or methyl.
a) a radical R.sup.4a having the formula II ##STR2## where R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are hydrogen, C.sub.1 - to C.sub.20 -alkyl which can be monosubstituted or disubstituted by halogen and/or hydroxyl, a carboxyl group, a carboxymethyl group or a functional derivative of the two last-mentioned groups, and PA2 b) a radical R.sup.4b having the formula III ##STR3## where R.sup.8 and R.sup.9 are hydrogen, C.sub.1 - to C.sub.20 -alkyl, C.sub.3 - to C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.5 - to C.sub.20 -aryl or alkylaryl, it being possible for these 4 radicals to be monosubstituted or disubstituted by halogen and PA2 R.sup.7 is a carboxyl radical or a carboxy-(C.sub.1 - to C.sub.3 -alkyl) radical or a functional derivative of these radicals or
The invention furthermore relates to novel pyrazole derivatives which are suitable for this intended use, processes for their preparation and fertilizer mixtures which contain such pyrazole. derivatives.
2. Description of the Background
In order to make available to plants the nitrogen needed by them, they are fertilized, as is known, with ammonium compounds. Ammonium compounds, however, are microbially converted to nitrate in the soil in a relatively short time (nitrification).
Because nitrate is leached from the soil more easily than ammonium and the leached portion is no longer available for plant nutrition, however, rapid nitrification is undesirable. In order that the fertilizer is utilized better, it was therefore proposed to add nitrification inhibitors to the soil.
EP-A 474 037 discloses 3-methylpyrazole derivatives in which one nitrogen atom of the pyrazole ring carries a methyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl radical. It is proposed to use these compounds as intermediates for the preparation of pharmaceutical products or crop protection agents.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,690 discloses the employment of various pyrazole derivatives for the inhibition of nitrification. In the pyrazole derivatives proposed, the nitrogen atoms in the pyrazole ring do not carry any substituents or one of the nitrogen atoms carries a saturated or unsaturated C.sub.1 - to C.sub.3 -hydrocarbon radical. One or more carbon atoms in the pyrazole ring can be substituted by hydrocarbon radicals which may carry halogens as substituents. Examples of these are 3-methylpyrazoles such as 4-chloro-3-methylpyrazole.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,946 also describes the use of pyrazole derivatives as nitrification inhibitors. In these derivatives, the nitrogen atoms in the pyrazole ring are unsubstituted, and several of the ring carbon atoms are substituted by halogen or methyl.
DE-A 3 704 359 relates to compositions which inhibit nitrification. As active compound, they contain pyrazole derivatives which, on one nitrogen atom of the pyrazole ring, carry a radical of the formula ##STR4##
where R' is a substituted or unsubstituted organic radical or a hydroxyl radical.
Further nitrification inhibitors are disclosed in EP-A 0 160 804. They are pyrazole derivatives in which a nitrogen atom in the pyrazole ring carries a substituted oxycarbonyl, sulfinyl or sulfonyl radical.
DE-A 4 018 395 mentions derivatives of 1-cyano-3-methylpyrazole and its acid addition products or coordination compounds as nitrification inhibitors.
SU-A 1 470 737 discloses N-hydroxymethyl derivatives of pyrazole.
These active compounds are still not entirely satisfactory as nitrification inhibitors as they have one or more of the following disadvantages:

Use of low-volatility pyrazole derivatives having hydrophilic groups as nitrification inhibitors


The present disclosure is directed to a system for, and method operating latency measurement including an event generation device that generates an initial event used to measure system latency. A component test system receives the event and in response outputs a test component output signal and a zero-latency indicator. An electronics system including a multifunction display unit receives the test component output signal and displays a visible element on the multifunction display unit. A camera generates a series of recorded images, where each recorded image contains an image of the zero-latency indicator and an image of the visible element. A processor then determines the system latency by determining a time difference in the series of recorded images between a representation of an occurrence of the event in the image of the zero-latency indicator and a representation of the occurrence of the event in the image of the visible element.

Many graphical operator display systems have critical timeline/latency requirements in the field of avionics and vehicle system control. However, system latency measurements in response to meeting respective latency requirements are often difficult to verify and frequently involve internal trigger signals that only generally approximate end-to-end latency. Manual timing measurements of latency on an oscilloscope are prone to error and are awkward in obtaining statistical distributions of system latency.
Typically there is no method to measure end-to-end system latency on a variety of systems without perturbing the actual system operation. In addition, when these measurements were possible, they often required significant manual operations that are prone to error. Difficulties in measuring system latencies are caused by the limited ability to take large numbers of sequential timing measurements to form statistical distributions, the automated processing of sequential timing measurement to eliminate manual measurement error, the challenge to provide a non-evasive end-to-end measurement, and the relative inflexibility to measure a variety of avionic and vehicular components within electronics systems. It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure herein is presented.


Systems, methods, and storage media for processing digital video are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: receive digital video data at one or more digital video inputs; identify each of the plurality of video frames as one of a keyframe and an intermediate frame; use one or more first sets of software instructions to send at least one of the keyframes and the intermediate frames to one or more processing scripts; use the one or more processing scripts to implement an asynchronous batch processing system on at least one of the keyframes and the intermediate frames by applying one or more second sets of software instructions; and receive an output from the one or more second sets of software instructions.

The availability and use of digital video has dramatically increased in recent years, and, as a result, there has been an increasing demand for the analyzing and providing of information related to the contents of such videos. However, current digital video processing systems are limited in their ability to smoothly integrate complex machine learning inference systems, such as neural networks, into their video analysis functionalities without producing significant processing and communication overheads.


A eye fundus examining apparatus includes a first optical system for projecting measurement light onto the fundus of an eye, a deflecting member provided in the first optical system for deflecting the measurement light, a light receiving element for receiving the reflected light of the measurement light from the fundus of the eye, a predetermined parameter of a target on the fundus of the eye being measured from the light reception information of the light receiving element, a second optical system for projecting a tracking light beam to an area including the target on the fundus of the eye, an image pickup element for receiving the image of the target illuminated by the tracking light beam, and a control system for driving the deflecting member and directing the measurement light onto the target so that the distance of deviation from the illuminated point by the measurement light under an ideal condition on the fundus of the eye to the target image received on the image pickup element may become a set value, the set value being suitably resettable.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an eye fundus examining apparatus, for example, used to measure the shape of a blood vessel and a blood stream in the fundus portion of an eye.
2. Related Background Art
(1) An eye fundus blood stream meter is an apparatus that irradiates a blood vessel to be measured in the fundus of an eye to be examined with a laser beam, receives the scattered, reflected light thereof with a photodetector, detects the interference signal of a Doppler-shifted component, which is scattered reflected light from the blood vessel and scattered reflected light from a stationary blood vessel wall, frequency-analyzes this data and finds the velocity of the blood stream, the velocity of the blood stream (maximum velocity Vmax) being found from the following equation: EQU Vmax={.lambda./(n.multidot..alpha.)}.multidot..vertline..vertline..DELTA.fm ax1.vertline.-.vertline..DELTA.max2.vertline..vertline./cos.beta.(1)
where Afmax1 and Afmax2 are the maximum shifts of frequencies calculated from received light signals received by two light receiving devices, .lambda. is the wavelength of the laser, n is the refractive index of the measured region, .alpha. is the angle formed by two light receiving optical axes in the eye, and .beta. is the angle formed by a plane formed by the two light receiving optical axes in the eye and the velocity vector of the blood stream.
By effecting the measurement from two directions, the contribution in the direction of incidence of measurement light is offset, and the blood stream in any region on the fundus of the eye can be measured. Also, by making coincident the angle .beta. formed by the line of intersection between the plane formed by the two light receiving optical axes and the fundus of the eye and the velocity vector of the blood stream, .beta.=0.degree. is established and the true maximum blood stream velocity can be measured.
In this eye fundus blood stream meter utilizing a laser beam to measure the shape of the blood vessel and the velocity of the blood stream in a particular region of the blood vessel in the fundus portion of the eye, it is necessary for the measurement light beam to be accurately applied to the region to be measured within the measuring process time, but actually there is the fine movement or the like of the fixation of the eye to be examined and therefore, it is difficult to continue to apply the measurement light beam accurately to the region to be measured. Accordingly, apparatuses having tracking means for moving the applied position of the measurement light beam on the region to be measured at in real time corresponding to the fine movement of the fixation are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-503733 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-155299.
These apparatuses adopt a system in which tracking light from an illuminating light source in a tracking optical system and measurement light are applied to the fundus of an eye via a pupil-conjugate mirror lying at a position conjugate with the pupil, and the design of the apparatus is such that the spot of the measurement light is applied to a conjugate point on the fundus of the eye at a tracking reference position on a tracking sensor. A blood vessel is illuminated by the tracking light and is enlarged and projected onto a tracking sensor, and the pupil-conjugate mirror is moved so that the image of this blood vessel comes to the tracking reference position, whereby the measurement light always continues to irradiate a predetermined blood vessel.
(2) Also, when effecting measurement by the eye fundus blood stream meter, if the relative position of the optical system of the apparatus and a portion to be measured is changed by the fine movement or the like of the fixation of the eye to be examined, accurate measurement will become difficult and therefore, an apparatus which applies a light beam from a light source for tracking to a blood vessel to be measured, picks up the image of the blood vessel by a CCD camera, and scans the light beam from the light source for tracking so that the image of the blood vessel may be stabilized at a fixed position on the CCD camera, to thereby effect tracking, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-288133. In this apparatus, the reflected scattered light from the portion to be examined is very slight and therefore, light luminance is required of the light source for tracking and green light is suitable from the spectral absorbing characteristic of the fundus of the eye and a blood corpuscle and thus, an He-Ne laser source is used as the light source for tracking.
(a) In the above-described example (1) of the conventional art, however, there will be no problem if the point conjugate with the tracking reference position on the pupil-conjugate mirror and the measurement light spot are coincident with each other, but if the point conjugate with the tracking reference position on the pupil-conjugate mirror and the measurement light spot do not coincide with each other in terms of the structure of the apparatus and the principle of measurement, for example, for the reason when measurement beams are applied at a plurality of different angles, the positions of incidence of the tracking light and the measurement light differ from each other at the cornea position of the eye to be examined and thus, the center of the tracking light on the blood vessel and the measurement light do not coincide with each other. Also, when there is great corneal astigmatism or the like, a deviation occurs between the center of the tracking light on the blood vessel and the measurement light, and there arises the problem that accurate measurement cannot be accomplished in spite of the operating of the tracking system.
(b) Also, in the above-described example (2) of the conventional art, the quantity of scattered reflected light of the light beam from the light source for tracking near the blood vessel to be measured differs greatly depending on the state of the fundus of the eye to be examined or the region to be measured, and the quantity of light necessary to obtain the best image of the blood vessel also becomes different, for example, depending on the thickness of the blood vessel of the eye to be examined. In such a case, the contrast of the image of the blood vessel becomes low and tracking accuracy is reduced and the accuracy of the measurement of the blood stream velocity is also reduced.


A contact lens cleaning solution containing an enzyme having proteolytic activity and a surfactant, and optionally also a chelating agent and urea, and a method of cleaning contact lenses utilizing this solution are described. The solution and method effectively remove deposits of proteinaceous material, mucins, lipids and calcium located either on or beneath the surface of the lens.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the removal of organic and inorganic deposits from contact lenses, particularly soft contact lenses. More specifically, this invention relates to an aqueous solution for removing contact lens deposits made up of materials such as proteins, mucins, lipids and calcium, and to a method of cleaning contact lenses using this solution.
2. Description of Related Art
The solution and method of the present invention have been found to be particularly effective in removing unwanted deposits from soft contact lenses. Although this invention is not directly related to the manufacture of soft contact lenses, it should be noted that various materials and methods have been described in the prior art for use in the manufacture of these lenses. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,976,576 and 3,503,393 describe the use of hydrophilic or partially hydrophilic plastic materials commonly known as polymeric hydrogels for the manufacture of soft contact lenses. Specifically, these two patents relate to the manufacture of three dimensional polymeric hydrogels from poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) in aqueous media. These lenses have a cross-linked polymeric hydrogel structure and the appearance of an elastic, soft and transparent hydrogel. Various other materials may also be utilized for the manufacture of soft contact lenses, such as silicones or other optically suitable flexible polymers.
One of the problems connected with the use of soft contact lenses is the formation of unwanted deposits made up of organic and/or inorganic materials on the lenses when the lenses are worn on the human eye. This problem is especially troublesome when the lenses are worn for extended periods. These deposits normally comprise proteinaceous material, mucins, lipids and calcium. The deposits may be located both on the surface and below the surface of the lens, and may be strongly bound to the polymeric hydrogel. The presence of these deposits on the surface and beneath the surface of the lens can cause considerable discomfort and other symptomology to the wearer of the lens.
The above-described deposits can be quite difficult to remove from the lens due to the presence of deposits beneath the surface of the lens and the strong bond between the deposits and the polymeric hydrogel of the lens. The deposits present on the surface of the lens are more readily removed than are the deposits beneath the surface of the lens. U.S. Pat. No. 4,311,618 describes the use of chemical cleaners to remove cross-linked (denatured) proteins from lens surfaces. Various enzymatic preparations for removing contact lens surface deposits are also available. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,910,296 describes the use of proteolytic enzymes such as papain for the removal of proteinaceous material from the lens surface, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,096,870 describes the use of pancreatin for the removal of surface deposits consisting of proteinaceous material, mucins and lipids; pancreatin is an enzyme complex having proteolytic, lipolytic and amylolytic activity. However, deposits beneath the surface of the lens are generally difficult to remove by means of enzyme treatment alone. Furthermore, the sub-surface deposits are generally difficult to remove mechanically, such as by rubbing the lens. Thus, it is apparent based on the foregoing description that there is a need for a preparation which is capable of removing both surface and sub-surface deposits from soft contact lenses.
Applicant has discovered that sub-surface deposits can be effectively removed by means of chemical treatment. More specifically, applicant has discovered that these deposits can be effectively removed by soaking the lens in an aqueous solution containing a mixture which includes a surfactant, a calcium chelating agent and a source of hydrated protons, and optionally also urea; this discovery is described in detail in applicant's copending application entitled "Solution and Method for Removing Protein, Lipid, and Calcium Deposits from Contact Lenses", which application was filed concurrently with the present application (now U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,195). The lens cleaning solution of the present invention differs from the solution described in the above-cited copending application in that, inter alia, the former solution comprises a combination of chemical and enzymatic cleaning components.

Use of nonionic surfactant to enhance the cleaning effect of pancreatin on contact lenses


Certain embodiments may generally relate to a marine clutch apparatus for retrieving lines from the seafloor. The marine clutch apparatus may include a first base sled and a second base sled disposed adjacent to each other. The marine clutch apparatus may also include a first side panel and a second side panel, a connection rod disposed between the first base sled and the second base sled, and a grabber head disposed between the first base sled and the second base sled.

Generally, fishermen may implement various means to catch fish and/or other forms of sea life. As one method, fishermen may deploy traps onto the seafloor. To ensure convenient retrieval, the traps from the seafloor may often be connected to each other via a line. After settling on the seafloor, and when it is desired to retrieve the traps, fishermen have used clutches. The conventional clutches used by fishermen are often very heavy, made of cast iron, and have multiple hooks displaced around the clutch. Thus, when the clutch is deployed, it may cause irreversible damage to the seafloor as it is being dragged along the seafloor. Such damage may include for example, damage to coral reef beds, seagrass meadows, and seaweeds. Moreover, such retrieval methods destroy or damage the very seafloor habitats and ecosystems where fishes and many other marine life reside.
There is a need, therefore, for an improved clutch apparatus that when deployed, is environmentally friendly, capable of minimizing damage to the seafloor, moves smoothly and efficiently over the seafloor, and is capable of easily grabbing lines and/or ropes over various types of terrain.


A multilevel online tournament is provided. The first tournament round has a single bracket and each subsequent tournament round has a winners bracket and a losers bracket corresponding to a bracket in the previous tournament round. The tournament format allows players to match-up against any other player located within the same bracket. The online tournament format also allows participants to start playing match in a round of the tournament prior to the official start of that round. Thus, players are able to more quickly advance through the tournament and spend less time waiting for a suitable opponent. The tournament format also allows for players to request available tournament byes and to automatically progress when they are unable to connect with other players due to quality of service issues.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to games. More precisely, the present invention relates to systems and methods for conducting online tournaments for video games.
2. Description of Related Art
The concept of online gaming has evolved from mere concept to reality. Originally, implementations of online games were rudimentary at best. Two players located in remote locations would give each other their respective IP addresses and link up directly to play a game online. As available bandwidth increased and games became better suited for online play, online forums were created to help players find each other. These forums provided players the ability to find opponents that they otherwise would not have been easily able to find, allowing the competitive sphere to broaden substantially. Shortly thereafter, online gamers realized that it would be more enjoyable if some degree of organization were brought to finding and choosing opponents. As a result, online tournaments were born.
Early online tournaments were single elimination tournaments in which predefined pairings of opponents were matched against each other. The winner would advance to a next tournament round and the loser would be removed from the competition. In the single elimination format, winners continued playing against each other until a single player remained unbeaten in the tournament. That remaining player was crowned the tournament champion.
Nevertheless, single elimination tournaments had several shortcomings that hindered the experience of online tournament play. For example, in the single elimination format, match-ups were predetermined, and as winners advanced to the next round, they would be forced to wait for their opponent to finish a corresponding match.
Thus, a player might sit idly for a lengthy period of time before playing his next round match. If the player became inpatient, he would often choose to drop out of the tournament rather than wait for an opponent to become available. Moreover, if a player was forced to wait before playing each round in a large tournament, the tournament would take hours and hours to complete with the player spending the majority of that time waiting rather than playing. Either scenario negatively affects user satisfaction levels.
Another shortcoming found in single elimination tournaments was the disparity in the number of matches played by competitors. Because each match eliminated one of the two match participants from the tournament, half of all tournament participants played only a single match. The top participants, in contrast, would advance deep into the brackets playing several matches. The lesser players would have the opportunity to play only a single match in which they could hone their skills. Thus, the better players were able to practice more, resulting in a scenario where the better players improved and the lesser players stagnated.
In order to alleviate some of these shortcomings, online tournaments began using a format known as the "Swiss Round Robin" format (sometimes called the "Swiss Ladder" format, or simply the "Swiss format"). This format, developed initially to help run chess tournament play, attempted to address the problem of disparities among players in terms of the number of matches played. In the Swiss tournament format, all players were seeded and played a first round match. The winner of each first round match was placed in a second round winners bracket and each of the losers was placed in the second round losers bracket. Once all of the matches in the first round had been completed, the winners bracket was re-seeded and the losers bracket was re-seeded, and the second round of play began.
Upon completion of the second round, the winners in each bracket were divided from the losers, resulting in a total of four brackets. The competitors in each bracket were again re-seeded and the third round commenced. The process continued until only a single undefeated player remained in the tournament. Although the Swiss tournament format allowed less skilled players to continue playing matches in spite of several losses, it did not provide a solution to the problem of waiting for all matches of a round to finish prior to commencement of the next tournament round.
A number of other problems have been encountered in conducting online tournaments. For example, current methods of conducting online tournaments are ill-equipped to handle uneven numbers of competitors. This situation arises when competitors drop out of tournaments, causing the brackets to become uneven. Moreover, online tournaments have historically suffered from network address translation (NAT) and quality of service (QoS) issues that prevent certain players from being able to connect effectively to play against each other.
In view of these and other shortcomings in the prior art, what is needed is an online tournament system and method that reduce the waiting time between matches for players and allow players to continue playing after a loss. What is further needed is an online tournament that effectively handles NAT/QoS issues that adversely affect the ability of players to connect with each other for a match.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention relates to resourcing of staff for performing tasks at an event. The present invention also relates to providing of a logistics requirement list for the staff. A method is provided whereby a electronic message is forwarded to a candidate by a resource management system 410, informing the candidate that their application has been accepted, providing the candidate with a staff identification and requesting the candidate to register. To register, the candidate connects to a first Internet Web site 451, from which the candidate receives information and instruction to connect with a second web site 452. The candidate gains access to the second web site 452 by use of the staff identification. The candidate then provides the requested information to complete registration.

Ever more businesses and processes are moving into a project-orientated environment. A project or event needs staff, and logistics allocated to those staff for the project to be successful. For example, for an engineering project in a remote location, a certain number of staff, each with very specific skills must be recruited for the project. The staff may be recruited from a pool of available project staff, or alternatively from the wider employment market.
Each staff member also requires certain resources or logistics to perform the task at hand more efficiently. For example, in the remote location, each staff member would require some level of accommodation. Transport between the accommodation and the project site must also be provided, whereas certain members of staff may require transport as part of their function. Other logistics also include communication, clothing, meals and so forth.
Typically, each of the groups responsible for planning the event would compile a list containing their staffing and logistics requirements. These lists would typically be held in various spreadsheets or small database systems, and such information is filtered to other groups in an adhoc manner and typically in differing formats. Such a localised staffing process causes a lack of overall co-ordination, with no direct process to ensure that all requirements were met.
Typically, each group would pass their staffing requirements to a Company or organisation's Human Resources department for recruitment of the required staff and their logistics requirements to a logistics department. In terms of recruitment, typically advertisements are placed by the Human Resources department, inviting appropriately skilled candidates to apply. The Logistics department starts independently to draw up a logistics requirement list for the project. This causes a lot of wastage as the logistics requirement list is typically drawn up for the worst case scenario.
There is therefore a requirement for more automated and coordinated resourcing of staff for performing tasks at an event, as well as an improved method of determining the logistics needs for the event.

International Business Machines Corporation


Provided is a turbo compressor for compressing a gas such as air and supplying the compressed gas to outside, the turbo compressor including a compression gas inlet for sucking the gas, a first impeller, a second impeller, a compression gas outlet for discharging to outside, a compression unit including compression gas channels connected from the compression gas inlet to the compression gas outlet, a motor to rotate the first and second impellers, and including a rotary shaft, a housing including a motor accommodation space, and an intercooler including air-cooling channels provided on the compression gas channels located between the first and second impellers, wherein the air-cooling channels penetrate through and are hidden in the housing. According to the present invention, the turbo compressor's size may be reduced by integration of the intercooler and the housing, and damage of the intercooler due to external impact may be prevented.

A turbo compressor or turbo blower is a centrifugal pump for sucking and compressing external air or gas and then providing the compressed air or gas to outside by rotating an impeller at a high speed, and is commonly used for powder transfer or for aeration at sewage treatment plants and is also currently used for industrial processes and for vehicles.
To produce a high-pressure compressed gas, a single-stage compression scheme using a single impeller and a multi-stage compression scheme using two or more impellers connected in series are usable.
When a single-stage compression scheme is used, an available maximum pressure of a compressed gas is about 3 to 4 bars, and a smaller compressor achieves a lower maximum pressure of a compressed gas. Furthermore, since a very high rotation speed is required due to a design factor such as a specific speed, the speeds of a motor and inverter for rotating the impeller also need to be increased. In addition, loss due to windage loss is rapidly increased on the surface of bearings or a rotor and thus a reduction in overall energy efficiency is unavoidable.
To solve the above-described problems, a two-stage compression scheme for compressing a gas in two stages by connecting two impellers in series may be used. In this case, although an available maximum pressure of the compressed gas is increased, since the temperature of the compressed gas is increased due to "adiabatic compression" and thus efficiency of the second-stage impeller is reduced, to solve this problem, a cooling device such as an intercooler is mounted between the first-stage impeller and the second-stage impeller for "isothermal compression". When the multi-stage compression scheme is used as described above, since a compression ratio of each impeller is reduced and a rotation speed due to a specific speed is also reduced, various technical problems of the single-stage compression scheme may be solved.
An example of a known two-stage turbo compressor is disclosed in KR 10-2001-0010014. This turbo compressor includes an intercooler that is a heat exchange device for cooling high-temperature compressed air to about 40° C. or below.
However, as illustrated in FIG. 2 of KR 10-2001-0010014, the known intercooler is separately provided outside a housing surrounding a first impeller and a second impeller, to increase cooling efficiency, and is generally produced as a quite large-sized cooling device to increase cooling efficiency.
Therefore, the known two-stage turbo compressor requires a high production cost, requires a large installation space due to a large product size, and thus is usable for a limited purpose.


A method for automatically calculating optimum routes in a traffic-route network is provided, taking into consideration at least one set, fixed route section, where the traffic-route network is described by segments for traffic-route sections, weighted with a resistance, and nodes for the intersection points of traffic-route sections, and the route to be calculated runs from a starting segment to a destination segment, and where, for purposes of optimization, the segments from the destination segment to the starting segment are evaluated with respect to the best resistance. The route is optimized, in each instance, from a starting segment up to the fixed route sections, at the fixed route sections, and from the fixed route section up to a destination segment.

In a conventional navigation system, routes in a traffic-route network are determined between set starting and destination points using optimization.
For mathematical processing, a traffic-route network is represented as a graph having segments k for road sections and nodes p for traffic junctions. The segments represent the roads, and the nodes represent the interconnection points of the road network. Since the traffic flow is directional in the real road network, a segment is described as a directional vector.
The segments are assigned section resistances. The section resistance represents a parameter for the effort in traveling from one node in the traffic-route network to another node. In the simplest case, the segment length can be directly used as the section resistance. As an alternative, the travel time on a segment can also be regarded as its section resistance, assuming a particular traffic speed (slow, medium, fast). However, optimization methods are also known, in which travel time, length, and other variables are linked each other, in order to calculate the section resistance of a segment in a graph.
It is known in the art that the nodes can each be assigned a maneuvering resistance.
An optimum route from a starting point on a starting segment to a destination point on a destination segment is determined by conventional, best-way route calculation algorithms such a that the sum of all the section resistances assigned to the segments of the optimum route is minimized.
A standard algorithm for route optimization is described in Ford, Moore and explained in detail in the following.
The best-way route optimization algorithm is reverse iterating, with all of the segments in the graph of the traffic-route network between the starting segment and the destination segment being visited and evaluated for the most favorable resistance to the destination segment. Starting out from a destination segment, the route most favorable in terms of resistance to the segments, which are specified in a list and optimized in the previous iteration step, is visited here in each iteration step. As a result, the method supplies the optimum route from each segment in the graph to the destination segment. The calculation results are stored in a route table in which the resistance up to the destination segment and the subsequent successor segment in the destination direction is specified for each segment in the graph of the traffic-route network. The resistance of each segment is set to "infinite" and the successor segment is set to "undefined" as initialization values. In each instance, a resistance and a successor segment in the direction of the corresponding segment is stored for each segment, as well as a resistance and a successor segment in the direction opposite to the resistance.
Prior to the start of the iterative optimization, the destination segment is initialized to have a resistance of zero in the route table. In addition, the destination edge is entered into a final list for segments that are already optimized. A further optimization list is needed for storing the segments to be checked in the next optimization steps. This optimization list is empty at the start of the method.
The optimization method is begun after the initialization, all of the segments specified in the final list being considered imaginary, actual positions of a vehicle. All of the incoming segments interconnected with this actual segment are subjected to an optimization test. For the optimization, it is assumed that the vehicle is situated on one of the incoming segments, with the direction of travel towards the actual segment. As an optimization condition, it is then checked if the resistance of the old, available route of the incoming segment is worse than the resistance for the new route of the incoming segment, using the actual segment. If the route through the actual segment turns out to be more optimal, the optimization is accomplished by entering the corresponding, optimum resistances and successor segments for the respective incoming segments.
The condition for optimizing the resistances may be mathematically represented as follows:RRT, actual segment+Rsegment, incoming segment<RRT-old, INCOMING segment,where RRT, actual segment is the resistance from the route table, of the considered, actual segment to the destination;
Rsegment, incoming segment is the segment resistance of an incoming segment interconnected with the actual segment, and
RRT-old, INCOMING segment is the resistance from the route table, of the incoming segment interconnected with the actual segment, to the destination.
Optimization takes place when the above-mentioned inequality condition is satisfied, i.e., the new resistance of the incoming segment is less than the old resistance of the incoming segment. The resistance of the incoming segment is replaced in the route table with the new, lesser value. The actual segment is entered in as the successor segment, and the optimized, incoming segment is introduced into the final list.
If all of the segments from the optimization list have been processed, as described, then the optimization list and the final list are interchanged. The basis for the next optimizations are the segments optimized here in the last step. The method is terminated when the final list is found to be empty, i.e., when there are no more segments optimized in the previous run.
In conventional navigation systems, a route to be optimized may be influenced by the user, for example, by                choosing different optimization criteria, such as a short route, fast route, or avoidance of expressways, etc.;        controlling road sections manually, or by way of traffic telematics, the road sections then being able to be driven around or favored during the calculation of the optimum route; and        defining one or more intermediate destinations, which are then approached in order, in order to finally lead to a destination.
Besides defining intermediate destinations, the user has, however, no possibility of presetting a particular section of his route, which necessarily becomes a part of the route between the starting segment and the destination segment. Thus, there is the need, for example, to stipulate a route along tourist streets as a fixed route section, for, in different regions, certain streets are identified as tourist streets, which run along predetermined objects or have other special features. Thus, a wine trail, china street, or avenue, as well as a romantic street, are known, for example, in Germany.
In addition, there is a need to establish external definitions of routes. This is useful, for example, when the user should use particular roads on his way to the destination.
However, the stipulation of a fixed route section to be used should not be completely obligating. In the event of a deviation from the fixed route section, the route calculation unit should lead the driver back to the fixed route section, taking the local conditions into consideration, but it should not lead the driver back by compelling him to turn around (compulsory turning-around).
Conventional navigation systems do not allow route sections to be fixed in advance.
The "TravelPilot DX-N" navigation system allows a user to define a tour, in that the fixed route section is described by intermediate destinations. However, the conventional route-optimization algorithms do not ensure that the fixed route section is universally used. In addition, the route from the current vehicle position to the destination is not calculated in this navigation system.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for automatically calculating optimum routes in a traffic-route network, in view of at least one set, fixed route section, where the calculated, optimized route leads through as large a part of the fixed route section as possible and the individual route sections are optimal.

Method for the automatic calculation of optimum routes


The present invention relates to nucleic acids isolated from Tetrahymena which code for a ciliate-specific triterpenoid cyclase. The inventive nucleotide sequences and the polypeptide sequences derived therefrom demonstrate a surprisingly minimal sequence identity to known isoprenoid cyclases. The invention also relates to the use of nucleic acids for the regulation of triterpenoid cyclase expression in a host organism, as well as the targeted knockout or repriming of the triterpenoid cyclase gene. As a result of the altered expression of the triterpenoid cyclase, it is possible to modify and enrich the levels of multiple unsaturated fatty acids in the host organism.

The inventive triterpenoid cyclase catalyzes the formation of tetrahymanol from squalene by a direct cyclization of squalene (Capsi et al. (1968) J. AM. CHEM. SOC. 90:3563–3564; Abe et al. (1993) CHEM. REV. 93:2189–2206). The triterpenoid cyclase also recognizes oxidosqualene as a substrate (Abe & Rohmer (1994) J. CHEM. SOC. PERKIN TRANS. 1: 783–791). In addition to pentacyclic triterpenoids, the squalene tetrahymanol cyclase also catalyzes the formation of tetracyclic triterpenoids (Abe & Rohmer (1991) J. CHEM. SOC. CHEM. COMMUN. 902–903). Tetrahymanol (or gammaceran-3-ol), which is derived from isoprene, is a member of the isoprenoid class. Isoprenoids play an important role as phytohormones and carotenoids, and as components of chlorophyll, ubiquinone, plant resins, oils, and latex. As steroid hormones, isoprenoids effect important functions in animals. The formation of tetrahymanol can be reprimed in Tetrahymena by adding sterols, such as cholesterol (Conner et al. (1968) J. PROTOZOOL. 15:600–605; Conner et al. (1969) J. BIOL. CHEM. 244:2325–2333).
Isoprenoids are also important components of bacterial and eukaryotic membranes. Similar to hopanoids and sterols (such as cholesterol), pentacyclic triterpenoid has tetrahymanol membrane-stabilizing properties (Conner et al. (1968; 1969); Poralla et al. (1980) FEBS LETT. 113:107–110). By restricting the fluidity of the lipid acid residues of membrane lipids, a condensed (membrane-solidifying) effect is achieved above the phase transition temperature; while below the phase transition temperature, the fluidity of the membrane is increased, thus preventing the optimal close packing of fatty acid residues. In addition, the membrane fluidity depends on the fatty acid composition of the membrane lipids. The fluidity of membranes increases in proportion to the levels of unsaturated fatty acids. With temperature changes, organisms are able to regulate the fluidity of their membranes, for example, via the fatty acid composition. Below the phase transition temperature, isoprenoids and unsaturated fatty acids increase the membrane fluidity via a synergistic effect. The inhibition of the synthesis of the cyclic triterpenoids alters membrane stability. This reduced membrane fluidity can be compensated by an increased proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the membrane, i.e., the content of PUFAs can be increased by inhibition of the triterpenoid cyclase.
The targeted modification of the composition of the fatty acid spectrum by means of gene technology for the commercial production of special fatty acids or oils is described in Napier et al. (CURR. OPIN. PLANT BIOL. (1999) 2:123–127); Murphy & Piffanelli (SOC. EXP. BIOL. SEMIN. (1998) Ser. 57 (PLANT LIPID BIOSYNTHESIS) 95–130); and FACCIOTTI & KNAUF (In: ADV. PHOTOSYNTH. 6: LIPIDS IN PHOTOSYNTHESIS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND GENETICS. Siegenthaler & Murata (eds.) Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands. (1998) 225–248). Thus, the modification of fatty acid composition can be regulated by altering the genes that code for enzymes which directly participate in the fatty acid synthesis, such as desaturases. However, it has been reported that the level of PUFAs in transgenetic organisms was relatively low (Knutzon & Knauf (1998) SOC. EXP. BIOL. SEMIN. SER. 67:287–304).
The knockout or repriming of the gene that codes for triterpenoid cyclase and the resulting deficiency of tetrahymanol may influence membrane fatty acid composition. However, the modified membrane fluidity can be balanced by the production of unsaturated fatty acids.
Although the triterpenoid cyclase protein from Tetrahymena is known and has been purified (Saar et al. (1991) BIOCHEM. BIOPHYS. ACTA, 1075:93–101), it had not been possible to clone the gene for triterpenoid cyclase from Tetrahymena (dissertation of Michal Perzl (1996) at the Faculty of Biology of Eberhard Karls University Tübingen). In previous studies, the gene sequence of triterpenoid cyclase could not be determined by sequencing the purified protein, PCR with degenerative primers, or hybridization with heterologous probes.
The present invention relates to nucleic acids isolated from Tetrahymena which code for a ciliate-specific triterpenoid cyclase. The inventive nucleotide sequences and the polypeptide sequences derived therefrom demonstrate a surprisingly minimal sequence identity to known isoprenoid cyclases. The invention also relates to the use of nucleic acids for the regulation of triterpenoid cyclase expression in a host organism, as well as the targeted knockout or repriming of the triterpenoid cyclase gene. As a result of the altered expression of the triterpenoid cyclase, it is possible to modify and enrich the levels of multiple unsaturated fatty acids in the host organism.

Nutrinova Nutrition Specialities & Food Ingredients GmbH


A mesh device for receiving and processing a private beacon message, which can be represented by one or more Bluetooth Low Energy mesh packets. Upon receiving the private beacon message, the mesh device decrypts a first portion of the private beacon by using a first encryption key corresponding to a first subnet, wherein the first portion comprises an initialization vector (IV), in the form of an index or other indicator. The decrypting using the first encryption key results in a first decrypted value for the IV index. The mesh device then determines whether the first decrypted value for the IV index is valid or invalid. If the mesh device determines the first decrypted value to be valid, the mesh device proceeds with authenticating the data contained in the private beacon message.

Wireless communication devices, and their usage, have become more common over time. There are various reasons for this. Advances in electronic technology have reduced the cost of the increasingly complex devices. Advances in electronic technology have also resulted in smaller and more powerful wireless communication devices, and consequently more useful devices. For example, there currently exists a variety of wireless communication devices such as portable wireless terminals (e.g., smartphones), personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop computers, tablet computers, and other electronic devices that are small, lightweight, and can be easily carried by users. The reductions in cost and size, and concomitant increase in consumer demand, have proliferated the use of wireless communication devices, making them ubiquitous in everyday life.
As the usage of wireless communication devices has expanded, so has the demand for new and improved features in said devices. More specifically, users demand wireless communication devices that perform new functions and that perform functions faster, more efficiently, and more reliably.
A wireless communication device utilizes one or more wireless communication technologies in order to telecommunicate with other devices and systems. For example, a wireless communication device might communicate using Bluetooth technology or another wireless technology or technologies, such as a cellular or WiFi technology, and in various combinations of one or more technologies. In some cases, a wireless communication device might be a node in a mesh network, which provides a way to route data more efficiently than in other types of networks.
A mesh network can be provisioned with beacons, which are hardware transmitters that broadcast their identifier to nearby portable electronic devices. The term "beacon" can also refer to the message in which the identifier is broadcast. Beacon technology enables wireless communication devices to perform actions when in close proximity to a beacon. For example, the beacons within an overall mesh network, such as that of a building, can be assigned to different subnets, which in turn can be assigned to respective rooms or other areas within the building.
Private beacons in a mesh network improve the privacy of the user, in part by using a network key, such as an encryption key or a privacy key. The network keys can be provisioned on a subnet-by-subnet basis within the mesh network. In a private beacon message that is broadcast, at least some of the data is encrypted and appears random to an eavesdropper who lacks knowledge of the network key.

System and method for processing of private beacons in a mesh network


A foot and ankle support including a boot element of which first and second parts are shaped and positioned to embrace respectively parts of a user's leg above, and foot in front of, the ankle. Two straps are fastened by a first fastening to the first part at a position above and not behind the position in the boot element at which the ankle will be located. The straps are adapted to cross in front of the ankle and encircle the foot. The support may also include a stiff shell including first and second upright members joined by an integral third member. The first and second members are shaped and dimensioned to fit over malleoli of a foot and to extend part way up opposite sides of a leg.

This invention relates to foot and ankle supports for human use.
Known supports of this general type are typically used to reduce the likelihood of injury to the foot and/or ankle or subtalar joint in conditions of high physical stress thereto. In addition or alternatively such supports are used to limit the local deformation of a foot or ankle which has already been injured, as a means of assisting healing processes.
It has been found that many of the known supports fail to achieve satisfactory results or impose unwanted constraints on desired movements of the foot or ankle. For example, if support straps are fastened to the support behind the ankle/subtalar joint axis, plantar flexion of the foot causes the straps to lose tension and therefore control of the foot and/or ankle or subtalar joints is reduced.


Electrical mounting boards and methods for their fabrication and use are disclosed herein. In particular, such mounting boards embodiments utilize hybrid ground lines interconnected through a substrate core to form multilayer ground grids. Such hybrid ground lines include groups of substantially parallel ground lines configured such that the groups of ground lines are positioned in transverse arrangement with other groups of ground lines formed on the same level. Such implementations have many uses, including, but not limited to, the ability to more efficiently route signal lines and connect electrical components on a circuit board.

In conventional circuit mounting boards (e.g., printed circuit boards (PCB's)) a ground plane is formed on one or more layers of the board. Such ground planes can be formed on the top or bottom surfaces of boards (especially using basic two layer boards). Also, such ground planes can be formed on interior layers of multi-layer (three or more layers) boards. Such ground planes are satisfactory for certain purposes, but they impose certain significant design limitations. For example, they prohibit the formation of signal traces on the layer containing the ground plane. On a two-layer board this can be a particularly cumbersome design limitation because it effectively prevents circuit structures and electronic components from being formed on or attached to the ground plane layer. This cuts the available board space for such circuitry and components in half.
One conventional approach to solving this problem involves replacing portions of a single layer ground plane with two-layer ground grid. FIGS. 1(a)-1(d) illustrate aspects of this approach. FIG. 1(a) is a side view of a typical two-layer circuit board 100 incorporating a conventional ground grid. The board 100 includes a top surface 101T and a bottom surface 101B separated by a substrate core portion 110. The top and bottom surfaces (101T, 101B) each have a pattern of ground traces formed thereon that are electrically connected by vias passing through the core 110 to form a ground grid. FIG. 1(b) depicts a top plan view of the top surface 101T of the board 100 shown in FIG. 1(a). It is to be emphasized that the depicted illustration depicts an exaggerated implementation of a conventional ground grid. Commonly, such ground grids are implemented on only small portions of a circuit board. Returning to FIG. 1(b), a pattern of ground traces 102 is formed on the surface 101T. The ground traces 102 are configured in a substantially parallel arrangement so that all the ground traces 102 are parallel to one another. Such a configuration can be referred to as a "Y"-axis board configuration. Vias 103 are formed in the surface 101T to penetrate through the core 110 and which are filled with an electrically conductive material (e.g., copper) to effect electrical connection with another set of ground traces formed on the bottom surface 101B of the board 100.
FIG. 1(c) depicts a bottom plan view of the bottom surface 101B of the board 100 shown in FIG. 1(a). A pattern of ground traces 104 (depicted by the alternating dotted dashed lines) is formed on the surface 101B. The inventors point out that said alternating dotted dashed lines are intended to represent unbroken electrical paths (being specifically intended to differentiate from the straight (unbroken) lines 102 of FIG. 1(b)). The ground traces 104 of the bottom surface 101B are configured in a substantially parallel arrangement with all of the ground traces 104 of the bottom surface 101B. Such a configuration can be referred to as an "X"-axis board configuration. The vias 103 have openings in the surface 101B to facilitate electrical connection with the ground traces 103 of the top surface 101T of the board 100. The connection of the top ground traces 102 with the bottom ground traces 104 forms a unified ground grid that leaves room on both the top and bottom surfaces for the formation of signal traces and electronic component attachment contacts.
Importantly for the conventional approach disclosed in the foregoing Figures is the orientation of the top ground traces 103 with the bottom ground traces 104. These conventional approaches are limited to all ground traces (e.g., 102, 104) being parallel to all of the other ground traces on the same level. Additionally, the top and bottom ground traces are configured so that they are perpendicular to one another. Reference is made to the figurative illustration FIG. 1(d) which schematically depicts a conventional ground grid arrangement. FIG. 1(d) is a representation intended to capture the relationship between the ground traces 102 of the top layer and the ground traces 104 (depicted by dotted and dashed lines) of the bottom layer connected through the vias 103. The interconnection of the top ground traces 102 and the bottom ground traces 104 at the vias (tie points) 103 form a plurality of generally square ground structures 105 that are used to provide electrical ground return paths, devices, and components as needed.
One significant drawback to the configuration depicted in FIG. 1 is that when all ground traces on a level are formed parallel to each other they impose significant restrictions on the configuration of any signal traces formed on the same level. This is especially troublesome on two-level boards which cannot rely on the use of levels without ground grids to circumvent the restrictions imposed by the ground grids. The same problem also exists on multi-level boards having three or more layers, but under certain circumstances the difficulties can be more easily alleviated.
FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) can be used to illustrate one example of the problem. FIG. 2(a) schematically illustrates a circuit board configuration 200 formed on a level of a circuit board. An "X" configured pattern of ground lines 201 is depicted on a level of the board. Also, a set of contacts 202 (perhaps associated with a specific device or components) is formed on the same level of the board. As can be seen, the placement of the ground lines 201 significantly impedes the formation of signal traces to and from the contacts 202. For example, signal traces cannot be formed extending in the "y" axis direction because they would cross the "X"-axis oriented ground lines 201. Additionally, signal traces cannot easily be formed extending in the "x"-axis direction because they would cross over other contacts 202. In comparison, FIG. 2(b) presents a contrasting orientation. FIG. 2(b) shows the orientation of the same set of contacts 202 but the ground lines 203 are configured in a "Y"-axis oriented configuration. Such an arrangement easily permits the formation of signal traces (which extend in the "y"-axis direction) which can be electrically connected to the set of contacts 202. In some cases, the designer can simply reorient the contacts to accommodate the ground grid. However, in many cases, a designer cannot simply reorient the contacts to accommodate the ground grid. Designers are frequently constrained by space, design, electrical, as well as many other considerations that prevent signal traces from being routed in a manner that most ideally suits the orientation of the ground grid.
In such cases, it would be advantageous to create a ground grid that can accommodate a wider range of signal trace design configurations. Thus, there is a need for ground grid embodiments that can accommodate a wider range of signal trace configurations as well as a wider range of electronic component orientations while still achieving a reasonable level grounding in a electronic mounting board.

Hybrid ground grid for printed circuit board


For use with a power converter having a current sensor that senses an output current of the converter and generates a proportional voltage and a controller having an overvoltage protection circuit associated therewith. The overvoltage protection circuit includes a voltage sense input coupled to an output of the converter and a first reference voltage input, an integrated protection circuit, method of providing current-limiting and short-circuit protection and power converter employing the same. In one embodiment, the integrated protection circuit includes an operation amplifier circuit, coupled between the current sensor and the controller, that generates a voltage signal and causes the controller to limit a current supplied by the converter to the output when the proportional voltage exceeds a second reference voltage. The integrated protection circuit also includes a conductive path, coupled between the operational amplifier circuit and the overvoltage protection circuit, that provides a path to apply the voltage signal to the voltage sense input when the proportional voltage exceeds the second reference voltage. The overvoltage protection circuit causes the controller to disable the converter when a voltage sensed at the voltage sense input exceeds a first reference voltage by a specified value. The integrated protection circuit thereby provides current-limiting and short-circuit protection for the converter.

During normal operation, various conditions may cause a power supply to experience dangerously increased output voltages and currents. In such a dangerous situation, the overload can severely damage or destroy electronic components or even the entire power supply. In response, most switching and linear power supplies possess output safeguards to protect power supplies from voltage and current overloads. Basically, external electronic circuits must sense the output of the power supply and react accordingly. In cases of above normal currents, circuits must limit the output current to a certain acceptable level or shut down the power supply in case of short circuit or heavy overload. Further, circuits monitor the output voltage and disable the power supply when necessary.
For those independent functions, current limiting (light overload as part of normal operation) and short-circuit (heavy overload) protection, multiple functional circuits are needed. Usually, current limiting is performed with operational amplifiers to maintain maximum output current (i.e., a first current threshold). A current limiting circuit is usually coupled to the power supply and merges into the output voltage feedback control loop. Once the output current rises above the first current threshold, the circuit lowers the output current by lowering the output voltage through a controller circuit.
If, for any reason, output current of the power supply goes high enough to damage the supply, prudence stipulates automatic power supply shut-down. Such a shut-down function engages when the output current rises above a previously set maximum overload current (i.e., a second current threshold). Upon sensing the unacceptable rise in the output current by a comparator, the independent shut-down circuit disables the power supply.
Additionally, overvoltage protection is employed for the power supply output to prevent the destruction of the supplied equipment do to malfunction of the power supply itself. As an independent function, the overvoltage protection requires a separate protection circuit. This protection is usually accomplished by a comparator set to trigger at a slightly higher than nominal output voltage (i.e., 15%-20% higher than the nominal output voltage). In cases of over-voltage, power supply is either shut-down and allowed to restart in a "hiccup" mode, or is latched until the input power is turned off and turn-on again, depending on the particular application.
Discrete or integrated controllers of linear or switching power supplies, usually implement some of the aforementioned protection features. In common switching power supplies, a feedback controller integrated circuit contains an internal overvoltage protection comparator, set to 115%-120% of the nominal output voltage. Therefore, when the internal overvoltage protection circuit senses overvoltage, the comparator will shut-down the power supply and restart it in a "hiccup" mode. Therefore, for the overvoltage protection, output current limiting and short-circuit current protection, multiple functional independent circuits must be added externally to the power supply.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is circuit that functions to limit a power supply output current or shut down the power supply under short-circuit conditions.

Integrated protection circuit, method of providing current-limiting and short-circuit protection and converter employing the same


A broadcast receiving system includes a broadcast receiving part for receiving a broadcast in which additional information that corresponds to an object appearing in broadcast contents and that contains keyword information for specifying the object is broadcasted simultaneously with the broadcast contents; a recognition vocabulary generating section for generating a recognition vocabulary set in a manner corresponding to the additional information by using a synonym dictionary; a speech recognition section for performing the speech recognition of a voice uttered by a viewing person, and for thereby specifying keyword information corresponding to a recognition vocabulary set when a word recognized as the speech recognition result is contained in the recognition vocabulary set; and a displaying section for displaying additional information corresponding to the specified keyword information.

When watching a program or a commercial broadcasted by conventional television broadcasting, a viewing person sometime desires to acquire an object such as an article appearing in the program or the commercial and music performed in the program or the commercial.
In this case, the viewing person first connects a PC (personal computer) to the Internet, then retrieves on the Internet the information of such an object, and thereby acquires the information of the target object.
Then, on the basis of the acquired information, the viewing person contacts with or goes to a vendor who sells the object, and thereby purchases the object. Conventionally, a viewing person had purchased an object appearing in a program or a commercial, in such a manner.
Nevertheless, in order to acquire an object appearing in a broadcasted program or a broadcasted commercial, the viewing person need access the Internet through a PC completely independently of the reception of the broadcast, and then need download the information of the object via the Internet. Further, on the basis of the downloaded information, an order for the object need be placed by telephone or the like. This is inconvenient.
That is, conventional broadcasting has a problem that an object appearing in a broadcasted program or a broadcasted commercial cannot be obtained easily, but that certain time and effort are necessary, and hence it is inconvenient.
Thus, in order to resolve the above-mentioned problem, in a previous application of the present inventor (Japanese patent application No. 2001-258564), the present inventor has proposed a shopping assistance system employing two-way broadcasting that allows an object appearing in a broadcasted program or a broadcasted commercial to be acquired easily without much time and effort. The entire disclosure of the reference of Japanese patent application No. 2001-258564 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The shopping assistance system employing two-way broadcasting proposed by the present inventor is described below.
FIG. 37 is a block diagram showing the conceptual configuration of the shopping assistance system employing two-way broadcasting in the previous application of the present inventor. FIG. 38 is a flow chart showing the operation of the shopping assistance system employing two-way broadcasting (simply referred to as a shopping assistance system, hereafter) FIG. 39 is a functional block diagram showing the detail of a part of FIG. 37.
In FIG. 37, the shopping assistance system comprises a broadcasting station 10, a vendor 20, and a home 30. A TV/STB 310 and a remote controller 320 are installed in the home 30.
The broadcasting station 10 is a broadcasting station which broadcasts a program together with program additional information. The vendor 20 is a vendor who sells an article appearing in a program. The home 30 is a home where the broadcast is received.
The TV/STB 310 is a two-way broadcasting receiver composed of a television receiver or an STB (Set Top Box) serving as a two-way broadcasting receiver.
The remote controller 320 is part of operating the TV/STB 310, and is provided with a microphone 321.
The TV/STB 310 is provided with a recognition vocabulary storing section 311, a speech recognition section 312, and the like. That is, as shown in FIG. 39, the TV/STB 310 comprises a broadcast receiving section 313, a recognition vocabulary generating section 314, the recognition vocabulary storing section 311, the speech recognition section 312, a time expression dictionary 316, a stored time controlling section 315, an additional information storing section 317, a displaying section 318, and a transmitting section 319.
The broadcast receiving section 313 is part of receiving broadcasting radio waves. The recognition vocabulary generating section 314 is part of generating a recognition vocabulary serving as an object of speech recognition, from the program additional information received by the broadcast receiving section 313. The recognition vocabulary storing section 311 is part of storing the generated recognition vocabulary. The time expression dictionary 316 is a dictionary of retaining expressions concerning time such as "now" and "a while ago", as a recognition vocabulary. The speech recognition section 312 is part of performing speech recognition by using as a recognition vocabulary dictionary the recognition vocabulary storing section 311 and the time expression dictionary 316. The stored time controlling section 315 is part of learning the relation between each time expression vocabulary and an actual time width or the number of scenes on the basis of the relation between a recognized time expression vocabulary and an information selection input performed by a viewing person, and of thereby controlling the speech recognition section 312 and the recognition vocabulary storing section 311. The additional information storing section 317 is part of storing additional information corresponding to a within-the-program article or the like specified by speech recognition. The displaying section 318 is part of displaying the additional information. The transmitting section 319 is part of transmitting to the broadcasting station an input result such as the selection of additional information performed by a viewing person.
Next, the operation of such a shopping assistance system is described below.
FIG. 38 shows the operation of the shopping assistance system and its service. The following description is given with reference to FIG. 38.
First, during the watching of a program, a viewing person pays attention to an article or the like appearing in the program, and then utters words notifying that attention is paid to a specific article. Then, the microphone 321 receives the utterance, and then outputs a signal to the speech recognition section 312.
The speech recognition section 312 performs speech recognition on the utterance signal inputted through the microphone 321. On the basis of the speech recognition result, the speech recognition section 312 judges the article or the like of the viewing person's attention, then specifies corresponding program additional information, and then accumulates the information into the additional information storing section 317 (step 331).
Detailed description is given below for the case that a drama is watched. For example, during the watching of the drama, the viewing person paid attention to a suit worn by a character. However, the character who wears the suit has exited the screen. In this case, the viewing person utters "the red jacket a while ago is good" or the like.
The voice uttered by the viewing person is inputted through the microphone 321. With reference to the time expression dictionary 316 and the recognition vocabulary storing section 311, the speech recognition section 312 recognizes the inputted voice, and then extracts corresponding additional information from the broadcasted program additional information.
The recognition vocabulary stored in the recognition vocabulary storing section 311 is generated by the recognition vocabulary generating section 314 by successively accumulating each vocabulary indicating an article, music, or the like provided with additional information obtained from the received program additional information. That is, the program additional information contains also keyword information of specifying an article or music to which program additional information has been made to correspond at the broadcasting station. The recognition vocabulary generating section 314 generates the recognition vocabulary from this keyword information. Then, the speech recognition section 312 performs the speech recognition of a viewing person's uttered voice such as "the red jacket a while ago is good", and thereby extracts a recognition vocabulary from the viewing person's uttered voice. For example, in the case of the uttered voice "the red jacket a while ago is good", a recognition vocabulary of "red" and "jacket" is extracted. Then, program additional information is selected that has the largest number of keyword information pieces corresponding to the extracted recognition vocabulary. Then, the selected program additional information is stored into the additional information storing section 317. That is, when certain program additional information contains both of the keyword information corresponding to the recognition vocabulary "red" and the keyword information corresponding to the recognition vocabulary "jacket", this program additional information is stored into the additional information storing section 317. As such, the speech recognition section 312 can specify program additional information by means of selection.
The description has been given for the case that the speech recognition section 312 selects program additional information having the largest number of keyword information pieces corresponding to the recognition vocabulary extracted from the viewing person's uttered voice. However, the invention is not limited to this. The speech recognition section 312 may select, for example, five pieces of program additional information in the descending order of the number of keyword information pieces corresponding to the recognition vocabulary extracted from the viewing person's uttered voice. Then, the selected program additional information may be stored into the additional information storing section 317. As such, the speech recognition section 312 may narrow down the program additional information, instead of specifying the information.
The stored time controlling section 315 performs control such that the generated recognition vocabulary should be retained during a time corresponding to a time range or the number of scenes having been set in advance or alternatively to a time range or the number of scenes that is the largest in the time expressions learned on the basis of the previous utterance of the viewing person and the subsequent input. The learning in the stored time controlling section 315 is described later. For example, in the case of the uttered voice "the red jacket a while ago is good", in response to the control of the stored time controlling section 315, the speech recognition section 312 extracts a time expression vocabulary "a while ago" indicating a past. Then, with reference to the time expression dictionary 316, the speech recognition section 312 performs the above-mentioned specifying or narrowing down on the program additional information broadcasted within the time range or the number of scenes corresponding to "a while ago".
After the drama ends (step 332), the displaying section 318 displays the additional information corresponding to the article which has appeared in the drama and has been specified by speech recognition (step 333).
The additional information contains information on the dimensions, the weight, the quality of the material, the color variation, the prices of the size variation, the manufacturer, the vendor, the vendor's contact address, and the like. The viewing person checks and examines the information. Then, when purchasing, the viewing person selects additional information and thereby inputs purchase information by using inputting part such as the remote controller 320, a pointing device, and speech recognition.
The transmitting section 319 transmits to the broadcasting station the purchase information together with an identification number or the like of the corresponding additional information (step 334).
As described above, on the basis of the relation between a recognized time expression vocabulary and an information selection input performed by a viewing person, the stored time controlling section 315 learns the relation between each time expression vocabulary and an actual time width or the number of scenes. This process of learning is described below in detail. The stored time controlling section 315 retains information of establishing the correspondence of each recognition vocabulary which is a time expression stored in the time expression dictionary 316, to an actual time width or the number of scenes. For example, the stored time controlling section 315 establishes the correspondence of a recognition vocabulary "a while ago" to a time width ranging from 20 seconds before to 5 minutes before relative to the present, and the correspondence of a recognition vocabulary "now" to a time width ranging from the present to 30 seconds before the present.
Thus, as described above, when a recognition vocabulary indicating the time expression "a while ago" is received from the speech recognition section 312, the stored time controlling section 315 performs the control such that the specifying and the narrowing down should be performed on the program additional information received within the time width ranging from 20 seconds before to 5 minutes before relative to the present. In response to this control, the speech recognition section 312 performs the control such that the specifying and the narrowing down should be performed on the program additional information received within the time width ranging from 20 seconds before to 5 minutes before relative to the present. Then, the specified or narrowed down program additional information is stored into the additional information storing section 317. That is, the stored time controlling section 315 performs the control such that the recognition vocabulary generated within this time width should be retained.
Meanwhile, when the stored time controlling section 315 receives a recognition vocabulary indicating a time expression "a while ago", and when the time width ranging from 20 seconds before to 5 minutes before relative to the present is made to correspond to the time expression as described above, the program additional information displayed on the displaying section 318 could have a time width different from the intention of the viewing person. In this case, the viewing person utters "redo", "display preceding information", "display subsequent information", or the like to the microphone 321.
Then, the speech recognition section 312 performs speech recognition on the utterance of the viewing person, and then notifies the speech recognition result to the stored time controlling section 315. In the speech recognition of an utterance "display preceding information", the speech recognition section 312 extracts "display", "preceding", and "information" as a recognition vocabulary, and then notifies the result to the stored time controlling section 315.
On receiving a recognition vocabulary of "display", "preceding", and "information" from the speech recognition section 312, the stored time controlling section 315 revises the information on the time width made to correspond to the recognition vocabulary indicating the time expression "a while ago". That is, revision is performed such that the recognition vocabulary "a while ago" should correspond to a time width ranging from 40 seconds before to 5 minutes and 40 seconds before relative to the present. Then, the stored time controlling section 315 controls the speech recognition section 312 such that the speech recognition section 312 should specify or narrow down the program additional information again with respect to the program additional information received between 40 seconds before and 5 minutes and 40 seconds before relative to the present. In response to the control of the stored time controlling section 315, the speech recognition section 312 specifies or narrows down the program additional information again, and then stores the specified or narrowed down program additional information into the additional information storing section 317. Then, the displaying section 318 displays the program additional information stored in the additional information storing section 317. Then, if the desired article is included in the displayed program additional information, the viewing person selects the program additional information, and thereby inputs purchase information.
When this procedure is repeated many times, the stored time controlling section 315 can incorporate the intention of the viewing person into the recognition vocabulary for time expressions, or establish appropriate time width correspondence. As such, the learning is performed in the stored time controlling section 315.
As described above, according to the shopping assistance system and the service, with respect to an article, music, or the like which appears in a program and in which a viewing person becomes interested, the information can be obtained and then the article or the like can be purchased in a manner that the watching of the program itself is not interrupted by the work of making a memorandum or the like, merely by means of natural utterance performed in parallel to the watching of the program.
The use of the shopping assistance system proposed by the present inventor realizes such an outstanding effect.
Nevertheless, in the shopping assistance system in the previous application of the present inventor, additional information is specified by judging the degree of agreement between the word obtained by speech recognition and the keyword corresponding to the keyword information contained in the additional information. Thus, it is desired that the specifying of the additional information should be performed more flexibly and appropriately than in this method. That is, an issue is present that an object appearing in a broadcasted program or a broadcasted commercial should be acquired more easily with less time and effort.
Further, it is desired that the additional information should be specified in a manner more suitable for the expression uttered by a viewing person. That is, an issue is present that an object appearing in a broadcasted program or a broadcasted commercial should be acquired easily without much time and effort in a manner suitable for the expression uttered by a viewing person.
Further, an issue is present that the additional information should be specified in a manner more suitable for the interest of a viewing person. That is, an issue is present that an object appearing in a broadcasted program or a broadcasted commercial should be acquired easily without much time and effort in a manner suitable for the interest of a viewing person.

Broadcast receiving method, broadcast receiving system, recording medium, and program


A display device includes a data modulator for analyzing a gray level of input data, modulating the input data in accordance with the analyzation result, and inserting one of black data and white data along with the modulated data, and a driver for supplying modulation data from the data modulator and the one of black data and white data to a display panel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display, and more particularly to a display device and a driving method thereof. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for minimizing motion blurring and brightness deterioration in a display of motion pictures.
2. Description of the Related Art
In signal holding type display devices, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) device or an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a blurring phenomenon occurs on display screen when a motion picture is displayed. FIG. 1 is a diagram representing light emission characteristics of a cathode ray tube, FIG. 2 is a diagram representing light emission characteristics of a liquid crystal display device. The blurring phenomenon will be explained in conjunction with FIG. 1 that shows characteristics of a cathode ray tube (CRT), which is a signal impulse device and FIG. 2 that shows characteristics of an LCD device, which is a signal hold device.
As shown in FIG. 1, the CRT is a signal impulse type display device which displays data by making a phosphorus emit light for a very short time in an early stage of one field period such that most of the one frame period is a pause interval. Accordingly, a perceived image of an observer in a motion picture is clearly displayed in the CRT. In comparison, the liquid crystal display device, as shown in FIG. 2, data is supplied to a liquid crystal cell during a scanning period when a scan high voltage Vgh is supplied and then the data is maintained in the liquid crystal cell during a non-scanning period, which is most of one frame period. Thus, an incorrect perceived image of the displayed motion picture occurs because of the maintenance characteristic of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal display device. The incorrect perceived image results is due to an integration effect of the displayed motion picture image that temporarily lasts in observer's eyes after a movement. Accordingly, even though the response speed of the liquid crystal display device is fast, an observer sees a blurred screen because of discordance between the movement detected by the eye and the static image of each frame.
FIG. 3 is a diagram representing the related art method of improving motion blurring by insertion of black data. To reduce the appearance of motion blurring in the liquid crystal display device of the related art, a method of reducing the holding time by inserting black data in a frame period has been used, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, a method of reducing the holding time by inserting black data has characteristics similar to those of the CRT.
FIG. 4 is a diagram representing a data alignment of a normal state without inserting black data, and FIG. 5 is a diagram representing a data alignment where black data are inserted into the whole gray level area. As shown in FIG. 4, frame data is supplied to a liquid cell throughout one frame. The related art method of improving motion reduces the holding time D1˜D5 of frame data within each frame and inserts black data B1˜B5, as shown in FIG. 5, thereby driving a liquid crystal display device by a pseudo-impulse scheme to reduce the motion blurring phenomenon. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3, the gray level of the input data is provided for about 60% of each frame and the inserted black level is expressed for about 40% of each frame.
FIG. 6 is a graph of a display brightness using the normal state supplying method and the display brightness using the black data insertion supplying method. The motion blurring problem can be solved to a certain extent by the pseudo-impulse method shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. However, the data holding time D1˜D5 of each frame is reduced while the black data are inserted such that the brightness BDI of the display is decreased, as shown in FIG. 6.


An adhesive electrode for the registration of electric and electrobiological signals and/or for stimulating a patient includes a patient contact portion and a transmission portion. The patient contact portion includes a layer of adhesive electrolyte material in contact with the patient's skin, a layer of conductive material, and a layer of insulating material. The transmission portion is also connected to the conductive layer. The layer of conductive material includes at least partially a layer of magnetic material, the transmission portion being removably secured to the layer of magnetic material.

Adhesive electrodes are known in the prior art and are mostly used for detecting adhesive electrobiological tracings in patients.
These are electrodes used to attach to the patient's skin and consequently have the characteristic of being "mono-patient".
Such electrodes have three layers, particularly a first adhesive electrolytic layer which performs the function of securing to the patient's skin and the function of transmitting the signal detected from the patient's body to a second layer of conductive material, covered by a third layer of insulating material, to prevent an operator from coming into contact with the layer of conductive material.
The layer of conductive material must be electrically connected to a transmission portion of the detected signal, such as for example a conducting wire, which allows the signal transmission to an external processing unit.
There are various types of adhesive electrodes, which differ in shapes, dimensions, receptive areas, adhesive areas, etc.
The weakness of such electrodes, as well as their discriminating characteristic, is the connection of the transmission portion with the patient contact portion.
Currently there are three main systems used to make the electric connection between the transmission portion and the patient contact portion.
The most used is the "button" system, which uses two metal portions, which are crimped so as to enclose therebetween the conductive layer and the insulating layer.
The outermost portion is made in a very similar way to the automatic buttons and cooperates with a transmission portion which has a connector complementary to such outermost portion.
Such solution fundamentally has a production disadvantage in that, after making the three layers, an intermediate station is required to provide for the crimping of the two portions.
Furthermore, such solution also has an operational disadvantage in that, once the detection portion is positioned on the patient's body, a pressure action on the patient's skin needs to be carried out, risking to cause trauma to the patient's skin due to the so-called "skin breakdown".
An alternative system to the one described provides for a patient contact portion with a connection point to which connect a transmission portion which has a clip-shaped head, such as the known crocodile clips, whose ends are secured to the connection point.
Producing such electrode is certainly faster, however it requires a correct manual positioning by the operator.
The clip connector is particularly uncomfortable and cumbersome while performing the common diagnostic operations, also causing movements due to its weight.
Furthermore, connecting the crocodile clip cannot allow, by its own design, a secure and stable connection.
This results in an inaccurate examination.
Furthermore, such electrode has a portion of the layer of conductive material which is uncovered and which can come into contact with the patient's skin.
As a further alternative, in the background art there are electrodes which provide for connecting a conducting wire between the layer of conductive material and the insulating layer.
It is evident that such an electrode ensures high examination accuracy, but requires high production costs and times.
There is therefore a need, which is unmet by the systems known in the background art, to make an adhesive electrode for the registration of electric and electrobiological signals, which presents a connection system ensuring excellent reliability and accuracy, maintaining particularly limited production costs.

Adhesive electrode for the registration of electric signals