The invention determines the population size and population overlap in data containing records on the unique entities without unique identifiers for the unique entities and having at least one common type of information with a known distribution of finite expectation by decomposing probabilistic calculations. The computer determines population overlap of unique entities between the data sets by subtracting a probabilistic incremental number of unique entities needed for a larger total number of values of the information with the known distribution from the data sets. The invention can also maintain the security of private data by allowing a remote computer where the original data is stored to download diagnostic and aggregation procedures from another computer over a network. The remote computer performs the functions on the data and forwards the results to the estimate processor computer over the network. The estimate processor determines population size and overlap from aggregate results and forwards this information back to the remote computer over the network. The invention also determines the overlap of three or more data sets by concatenating all combinations of the data sets and determining estimates for all subsets of the combinations of the data sets. The operations involve the cancellation of equivalent terms that have opposite signs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for determining population size and overlap within information sources. More specifically, the present invention relates to a statistical technique for measuring population overlap in plural data sets without reliance on unique identifiers, and provides an alternative and superior method for determining population size using a technique that allows the holder of the information to summarize the features of the information, forward the summary to a processor which determines the overlap thereby enhancing the privacy of the original information.
2. Description of the Related Art
Government and private industry need to know the number of people who are involved in more than one institution, program, group, or activity, either concurrently or in sequence for purposes of management, monitoring, and evaluation.
The measurement of population overlap has been hampered by both the complexity of the social institutions and the lack of unique personal identifiers across existing data sets. Until now, the determination of the number of individuals shared across sub-populations has relied on one or more of three approaches to the problem: (1) the construction of detailed case registries (single data sets); (2) implementation of a true unique id system (e.g. National ID card) across multiple data sets; and (3) case by case matching of records from multiple data sets that describe the members and/or activities of various organizations and service sectors.
Traditionally, the problem of data set overlap has been most commonly approached by the development of case registries. The Gulf War Registry, designed to allow medical researchers to determine the prevalence and distribution of Gulf War Syndrome is one current example. The National Breast Cancer Registry is another. In the 1960s, a number of states established psychiatric case registries in order to determine the prevalence and distribution of mental illness. In every case the problem was the same. Existing fragmented information systems could not support the critical epidemiological functions of determining the relationship among existing data sets. There are three important shortcomings to this approach. First, the creation of case registries is a very expensive undertaking. Second, the completeness of a registry is always in question, especially when participation is voluntary. The incompleteness of the Gulf War Registry is notorious. Finally, because they necessarily include personal identifiers, the creation of case registries raises important issues about personal privacy and confidentiality of personal records.
The implementation of universal true unique personal identifier systems provides a second solution to the problem of determining the number of people involved in different subpopulations. While the implementation of such identification systems has been successfully accomplished for specific organizations (e.g. individual hospitals, correctional facilities, and insurance companies), these identification systems do not constitute the kind of universal identification systems that allow for analysis of membership overlap. In the United States, the social security number comes close to providing a universal identification system, but concerns about personal privacy severely limit the availability of these identifiers in settings not directly related to the social security system.
Case by case matching of records from multiple data sets based on the names of people or other identifiers that may be shared by more than one data set is a third approach to the problem. Case by case database integration on a patient specific basis has been utilized in a number of fields. From a practical point of view, this approach is has two major shortcomings. First, it is tedious, time consuming, and expensive. Second, it includes an unquantifiable degree of error. This approach also depends on personal identifiers, so concerns about privacy and confidentiality are likely to limit its utilization.
The problem of measuring the overlap between populations where no unique person identifier exists is related to the problem of measuring population size (the number of distinct individuals) without a unique person identifier. The problem of estimating population size may, in fact, be seen as a constituent part of the larger problem of estimating population overlap. In the past, the measurement of the number of people represented in a single data set that does not include a unique person identifier has relied on either of two statistical approaches. One statistical approach applies the capture-recapture sampling technique to the problem. This approach is illustrated by Abeni et al., "Capture-Recapture to Estimate the Size of the Population with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection," Epidemiology, Volume 5 Number 4, July 1994 (pp. 410–414). The other statistical technique is based on a classical occupancy theory, as discussed by Feller, "An Introduction to Probability Theory and Its Applications," Volume 1, Second Edition, 1957. The classical occupancy theory is described on pages 210–211 and 224 of Feller's text. One implementation of the classical occupancy theory has been provided by Larsen, "Estimation of the Number of People in a Register from the Number of Birthdates," Statistics in Medicine, Volume 13, 1994 (pp. 177–183). The present invention uses a fundamentally different, and far superior, implementation of the classical occupancy theory.
The capture-recapture technique is, in essence, case by case matching of small samples of larger populations. It avoids the cost associated with complete case-by-case matching, but still raises issues of personal privacy and confidentiality because it relies on personal identifiers for a subset of the population. Capture-recapture was originally developed by ecologists to estimate the size of wildlife populations. In the simplest setting, a sample of wildlife is captured, tagged, and released. At a later time, a second sample is drawn and overlap with the first sample is determined. The sizes of the two samples and their overlap are used to statistically determine the size of the total population and the confidence interval associated with the estimate. In applications to human populations, capture-recapture draws samples from lists of members of subpopulations. Personal identifiers are used to measure overlap of the samples and statistical computations are used to determine the size of the overall population. The greatest shortcoming of the capture-recapture approach is the large confidence intervals associated with the measure. It is not unusual to find confidence intervals of 50% of the population parameter as illustrated by Abeni et al.
A statistical procedure that addresses the problem of estimating the size of a population without a unique personal identifier has been provided by Larsen's maximum likelihood estimate of the solution to the classical occupancy problem. Larsen applied his solution to the estimation of the number of people represented in an anonymous Chlamydia registry in one county in Denmark. His solution provides less precise estimates and contains greater error than the solution provided by the present invention. In addition, his solution does not address the population overlap problem.
In recent years, the proliferation of electronic data bases in conjunction with dramatic advances in data processing technology have led to increasing concern about threats to personal privacy and, more specifically, about the confidentiality of medical records. (See Secretary's Advisory Committee on Automated Personal Data Systems. Records, Computers, and Rights of Citizens: Report of the Advisory Committee on Automated Personal Data Systems, US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Washington D.C. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1973; Hendricks E, Hayden T, Novik J D. Your Right to Privacy: A Basic Guide to Legal Rights in an Information Society. Carbondale, Ill: Southern Illinois University Press, 1990; and Donaldson M S, Lohr K N. Health Data in the Information Age: Use Disclosure and Privacy. Institute of Medicine. Washington D.C.: National Academy Press; 1994. p 51.)
In 1996, the United States Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (PL 104–191) that requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promulgate federal regulations that protect the privacy of health information if congress had not enacted legislation in this area by August of 1999. In December 2000, Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information; Final Rule (45 CFR 164) were promulgated. (See Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information; Final Rule (45 CFR 164) were promulgated. UPDATE § 164.514 Other requirements relating to uses and disclosures of protected health information.) In this rule, section § 164.514 notes "Other requirements relating to uses and disclosures of protected health information" includes the requirement that: "(2)(i) The following identifiers of the individual or of relatives, employers, or household members of the individual, are removed: . . . (C) All elements of dates (except year) for dates directly related to an individual, including birth date . . . ".
The current debate regarding medical records privacy involves a classic confrontation of public and private goods. (See Pandiani J A, Banks S M, Schacht L M. Personal Privacy vs. Public Accountability: A Technological Solution to an Ethical Dilemma. Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research. 1998 November;25(4):456–63.) Personal privacy is an important value in contemporary American society. Legislation in support of personal privacy and the confidentiality of medical records would be likely to receive widespread support if it did not have the potential to undermine another set of important national values. These values favor rational administration of public programs and the right of people to be able to make informed choices regarding their health care.
The Institute for Medicine offers a broad definition of personally identifiable information when it includes: " . . . items of information (e.g. the fact of a physician visit on a given day) that will allow identification of an individual when combined with other facts (e.g. zip code, date of birth, and gender)." (See Hendricks E, Hayden T, Novik J D. Your Right to Privacy: A Basic Guide to Legal Rights in an Information Society. Carbondale, Ill.: Southern Illinois University Press, 1990.)
The Public Health Service endorsed an even stricter definition of personally identifiable information when it promulgated guidelines that prohibited the release of data tapes that contain: " . . . any detailed information about the subject that could facilitate identification . . . (e.g., exact date of the subject's birth)." (See National Center for Health Statistics. NCHS Staff Manual on Confidentiality. Hyattsville Md.: Department of Health and Human Services; 1984.)
What is needed is an approach to determining overlap that enhances protection of the privacy of the original information.
Government and private industry also need to know the unduplicated number of individuals shared by more than two data sets. For instance, government agencies want to know if people served by both substance abuse and mental health agencies have better outcomes than people served by either alone. Relevant outcomes include levels of criminal justice involvement, employment, hospitalization, and mortality. Many government agencies and consumer advocates want to know about the degree of integration among multiple agencies, especially with regard to child serving agencies. Such measures address efficiency concern as well as concerns about he adequacy of care. (See Stroul, B. A. & Friedman, R. M. (1986). A system of care for children and youth with severe emotional disturbances. (rev. ed.). Washington D.C.: Georgetown University Child Development Center, CASSP Technical Assistance Center; and Pandiani, J. A., Banks, S. M., & Schacht, L. S.: (1999) Caseload Segregation/Integration: A Measure of Shared Responsibility for Children and Adolescents, Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders 7(2)66–71.)
The difficulty of measuring the overlap between data sets tends to increase with the number of data sets involved. This is because multiple data sets are less likely to share person identifiers, state and federal regulations are more likely to limit access to one or more of the data sets because of privacy concerns.
What is needed is an approach that will allow the size and overlap in three or more data sets to be determined.

Apparatus and method for probabilistic population size and overlap determination, remote processing of private data and probabilistic population size and overlap determination for three or more data sets


A filling plant for filling bags with hazardous bulk or fluid media is designed to ensure that the medium to be filled is proportioned and packaged under clean room conditions in a bag filling plant at the outlet of a production plant for the hazardous medium. The outlet opening of the production plant communicates with a hermetically sealable container into which the hazardous medium can pass and in which the filling plant and a bag to be filled are disposed.

In known filling plants of this type highly active pulverulent or fluid media are refilled or repackaged, especially in the pharmacological and chemical processing industry, in a "clean room", that is to say in a hermetically sealed room.
Such media are prepared for example in screw mixers, filter arrangements, agitator vats and the like and are then filled into bags under hermetically sealed conditions, that is to say in a clean room in order to protect the personnel carrying out the filling operations from exposure to the hazardous media. Even so the operating personnel of the filling plant may need to wear protective suits in order to avoid contact with the hazardous media.
According to such known practice, the clean room must also be provided with appropriate external ventilation in the same way that the "space suits" of the operating personnel must be provided with appropriate breathing helmets and external ventilation.


A photoacid generator P+ A− comprises (a) an antenna group P+ comprising atoms with high EUV photoabsorption cross-sections according to FIG. 1 and A− anions; or (b) an antenna group P+ and A− comprising anions with low photoabsorption cross-sections for EUV; or (c) an antenna group P+, comprising atoms with high EUV photoabsorption cross-sections according to FIG. 1 and A− comprising anions with low photoabsorption cross-sections for EUV. Novel compounds comprise DTFPIO PFBuS, and DTBPIO CN5.

The dependency of the resolution of optical lithography on the wavelength and the numerical aperture has continuously been reflected by the further development of corresponding exposure tools. Due to its significantly shorter wavelength, EUV lithography at 13.5 nm (92 eV) is therefore a promising technology for the next generation lithography. It has been demonstrated that chemically amplified resists (CAR) can achieve a resolution of 25 nm half-pitch line:space features with interferometric EUV lithography (J. W. Thackeray, et al., Proc. SPIE 6517, 651719 (2007)). However, source power and resist performances are far from the set targets, thus leading to very slow photospeed. For example, the targeted source power for EUV manufacturing tools is 180 W delivered to the illuminator optics, while currently used sources struggle to reach even intensities as low as 10 W at intermediate focus. Similar to the tool, EUV resists also need significant improvements to reach the targeted performance. For example, the targeted dose for a resolution of 32 nm is 10 mJ/cm2 and the line width roughness is 1.7 nm. Currently investigated resist systems are far from these values. Due to the present issues with EUV source power, resist sensitivity comprises one of the main areas where improvement is required.
In chemically amplified resists (H. Ito, Adv. Polym, Sci. 2005, 172, 37; G. Wallraff, W. Hinsberg, Chem. Rev. 1999, 99, 1801), PAGs (J. Crivello, J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polym. Chem. 1999, 37, 4241; H. Ito, C. G. Wilson, Polym. Eng. Sci. 23, 1012 (1983)) play a key role in imaging. In conventional optical lithography, CAR formulations contain a nearly transparent polymer matrix, a PAG and additional compounds, such as base quenchers, in smaller quantities. PAGs are non-acidic molecules that absorb photons and subsequently form acid via a photochemical decomposition. Acid is only formed in illuminated regions of the resists and only in these regions, the resist polymer becomes soluble (usually after baking) in basic developers.
Traditional, commercially available PAGs are for example triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate (1; "TPS PFBuS") or bis(4-tert-butyl-phenyl) iodonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate (2; "DTBPIO PFBuS") having the following structure:

Some less commonly used, commercially available PAGs have less fluorine in the anion, such as TPS camphorsulfonate (3). However, the corresponding acid, camphorsulfonic acid, is not as strong as nonafluorobutanesulfonic acid. Moreover, the cation is still not very absorbing at 13.5 nm.
Li et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,235,342, col. 14, line 23 to col. 15, line 2 disclose other typical PAGs used in the related art.
While the absorption of photons whose energy ranges from deep ultraviolet (˜150 nm) to near infrared (˜850 nm) by organic molecules, thus by PAGs, depends on the existence of certain chemical bonds, the absorption of EUV light is characterized by photoabsorption cross-sections that depend on the atomic composition of the compound which varies by atom (FIG. 1).
It is known that EUV photons are also absorbed by the resist polymers and other components and not just by the PAG. (P. Dentinger, et al., Proc. SPIE 3997, 588 (2000)). Under EUV irradiation, acid therefore may be generated by secondary processes as well and not only by direct hits of the PAG by the photons. (T. Kozawa, et al., Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 31, 4301 (1992)) However, literature reports also indicate a strong PAG structure dependence on the acid generation efficiency in EUV light. (C. M. Szmanda, et al., J. Vac. Sci. Technol, B 17(6), 3356 (1999); T. Watanabe, et al., Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 44, 5866 (2005))
Ionic PAGs have the general structure P+ A−, where P+ decomposes into protons (H+) upon irradiation with photons, while A− remains unchanged and forms the acid H+ A−. In an efficient PAG, P+ therefore strongly absorbs the photons of interest, while A− does not. In contrast, if A− absorbs too many photons, the acid generation efficiency may decrease because this decreases the amount of photons that could otherwise reach P+, or because A− may decompose as a consequence of photon absorption and therefore weakens the generated acid.
Commercially available PAGs, such as compounds 1, 2 and 3, commonly used in polymer formulations for optical lithography and presently used in EUV lithography, do not have an EUV-optimized atomic composition. For example, in the commonly used PAG triphenylsulfonium perfluorobutanesulfonate (1, TPS PFBUS), where P+ comprises the triphenylsulfonium cation and A− comprises the perfluorobutanesulfonate anion, the EUV photoabsorption cross-section of P+ is one order of magnitude lower than that of A− (FIG. 2). In the case of bis(t-butylphenyl)iodonium perfluorobutanesulfonate (2; DTBPIO PFBuS), the photoabsorption cross-section of P+ is still almost one order of magnitude lower than that of A−, though P+ contains the highly EUV-absorbing iodine atom. To overcompensate lack of optimum EUV sensitivity, resist formulations with much higher PAG loadings than typical for photolithographic applications are used. This can lead to increased line edge roughness and high resist outgassing.

Photoacid generators for extreme ultraviolet lithography

Internatinal Business Machines Corporation


An incontinence article having a back guard is provided. In particular, the present invention provides an incontinence article in which a back guard extends from a rear portion of the article to a middle back area of a user. The back guard article preferably includes an absorbent material and optional elastic.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to an incontinence article having a back guard for protecting the back and clothing of a user. More particular, the present invention relates to an incontinence article for children or adults in which a back guard extends from a rear portion of the article to the middle back torso area of the user.
2. Background Art
The use of disposable incontinence articles is gaining widespread use in the care of both children and adults. A typical incontinence article (e.g., a diaper) is a multilayered composite structure that includes a liquid permeable body-side layer, a liquid impermeable outer cover, and an absorbent material positioned between the outer cover and the body-side liner.
Children's diapers are generally flat garments intended to be fit around a child while lying down. Adult incontinence articles are usually constructed with multiple layers similar to a child's diaper, but are often made thinner and narrower for improved discreteness. Moreover, many adult incontinence articles are constructed to be slipped on by a user similar to a pair of shorts
However, a problem unrecognized by existing incontinence articles is that, when worn, waste products often leak to the back torso area of the user. This is generally caused, for example, when the user shifts between a seated position and a standing position, or between a seated position and a lying position. In addition, due to new guidelines set forth by the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Alliance and the American Academy of Pediatrics, children are increasingly being placed on their backs' to sleep, which causes leakage. When waste products leak, the user's back often becomes soiled and his/her clothing becomes ruined.
Heretofore, attempts have been made to reduce leaking in incontinence articles by improving the absorbent material and/or improving the fit of the article to the user (e.g., by providing additional or improved elastic systems). However, none of these systems truly prevent waste from leaking to the back of the user. One such example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,858,012 to Yamaki et al., herein incorporated by reference. Yamaki et al. provide a short band of elastic extending from a rear portion of a diaper. However, due to the lack of absorbent material around the band of elastic, as well as the short length thereof, the user's back and clothes are still at risk.
In view of the forgoing, there exists a need for an incontinence article having back guard that extends from a rear portion of the article to the middle back area of the user. This prevents leakage of waste products from the article to the back of the user.

Incontinence article having a back guard


A display device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a first insulation substrate; a pixel electrode disposed on the first insulation substrate; a first alignment layer disposed on the pixel electrode; a second insulation substrate facing the first insulation substrate; a common electrode disposed on the second insulation substrate; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second insulation substrates. The liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules and nanoparticles, and the nanoparticles are disposed adjacent to the common electrode.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relate to a display device.
Description of the Related Art
As one of the most widely used flat panel displays at present, a liquid crystal display (LCD) includes two display panels on which field generating electrodes such as a pixel electrode and a common electrode are formed, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the two display panels.
The LCD displays an image by generating an electric field on a liquid crystal layer by applying a voltage to the field generating electrodes, determining alignment directions of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer using the generated field, and controlling polarization of incident light.
Among the LCDs, a vertically aligned mode LCD, in which liquid crystal molecules are aligned so that their long axes are perpendicular to the upper and lower panels while no electric field is applied, has been in the limelight because its contrast ratio is high and a wide reference viewing angle is easily implemented.
In such a vertical alignment mode LCD, a plurality of domains in which alignment directions of liquid crystals are different may be formed in one pixel to implement a wide viewing angle.
As a means of forming the plurality of domains as such, there is a method of forming cutouts such as slits and the like in the field generating electrodes.
Using the method, the liquid crystals are rearranged by a fringe field generated between edges of the cutouts and the field generating electrodes facing the edges thereof, thereby forming the plurality of domains.
Recently, an initial alignment method in which the liquid crystals have pretilts in the absence of an electric field has been proposed to improve a response speed of the liquid crystals as well as to implement a wide viewing angle.
An alignment layer having various alignment directions may be used to allow the liquid crystals to have the pretilts in various directions, or an alignment aid for allowing the liquid crystals to be pretilted in the liquid crystal layer is added and an electric field is then applied to the liquid crystal layer such that the alignment aid is hardened.
The alignment aid hardened due to heat or light such as ultraviolet rays and the like may allow the liquid crystals to be pretilted in a predetermined direction.
In this case, the voltage is applied to each of the electric field generating electrodes to generate the electric field in the liquid crystal layer.
However, when the LCD including the pretilts is applied to a curved display device, texture due to misalignment occurs, thereby causing transmittance to be decreased.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Samsung-ro, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-Do


A hollow molded article is produced by supplying a molten resin between a pair of a fixed mold and a movable mold before the fixed mold and the movable mold are closed, inserting at least one gas-supplying pin which is provided on a surface of the fixed mold to form a hollow part in a part of the resin and supplying pressurized gas through said gas-supplying pin before the mold closing is finished, closing the movable mold to fill the resin in a cavity formed by the molds, slightly opening the molds while pressurizing a gas in the resin to expand the hollow part and opening the movable mold to remove a hollow molded article from the molds.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing a hollow molded article, preferably a multilayer hollow molded article, which is widely used as a back and a seat of a chair, a cold box and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A widely used method for producing a hollow resin article is a blow molding method which includes pressurizing air in a parison in a molten state contained in a female mold to expand the parison in conformity with a shape of an inner wall of a mold cavity. Though this method is advantageous in the absence of a male mold, it is impossible to form a non-uniform wall thickness of the parison. Then, this method is suitable for the production of an article having a symmetric cross section such as a bottle, but not for a profile article having an incomplete symmetric cross section. In addition, the molded article has a flaw, namely a parting line at a part corresponding to a parting plane of the female mold and sometimes burrs are formed at the flaw.
To produce a profile article such as a back of a chair, hollow molding has been developed by modifying injection molding.
For example, in one method, a high pressure gas is pressurized in a molten state resin through a hole bored in a wall of a mold to form a gas passage, namely a hollow part in the resin. However, this method has various disadvantages that a large pressurizing mark having a size of about 3 mm is formed in the produced article, that color irregularity appears between a surface of a gas penetrated part and a surface of a gas non-penetrated part, that since the gas passage is deviated, the hollow part is also deviated in the article, that is, a wall thickness of the article becomes uneven, that a diameter of the hollow part is not uniform, that a resin bank is formed in the article, and that if the injection pressure is too high, bubbles are formed in the wall of the article.
There is a method in which a high pressure gas is pressurized in a molten resin which is supplied from a cylinder nozzle through a gas-injection inlet provided in the nozzle. Since only a position for gas injection is different from the above method, this method has substantially the same disadvantages.

Gas-assisted injection molding process for producing hollow molded article


A breathing apparatus having a main body with a generally cylindrical inner cavity. The main body has a main aperture for the user to breath into and at least two sets of outer openings. An inner cylinder is coaxially disposed within the inner cavity of the main body and is adapted to move relative to the main body. The inner cylinder has an open end adjacent the main aperture, and at least two sets of inner openings selectively matable with the openings in the main body upon movement of the inner cylinder with respect to the main body. By selecting the appropriate alignment of openings, either resistive, percussive, or pulsing breathing exercises can be performed.

The present invention relates to a portable respiratory exercise apparatus providing resistance and intra-trachea bronchial percussion on inspiration and expiration to increase pulmonary efficiency, while improving cilial movement which assists mobilization of intra-bronchial mucous or secretions within the lungs.
Research has shown that by practicing deep abdominal breathing, abdominal muscle pressure and temperature are raised, digestion and absorption of foods are improved and pulmonary efficiency is increased. In addition, taking deep breaths while performing little physical movement causes a superfluous amount of oxygen to be made available. Because the large muscular tissue is not consuming the oxygen an increased oxygen supply is made available for many other body systems, such as the brain and the heart.
Forcible and prolonged inspiration and expiration causes a greater expansion and collapse of the air vesicles (alveoli), especially those deep in the lung tissue. By providing resistance to inspiration and expiration, pulmonary muscles are strengthened and developed, thereby allowing a freer and greater exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Persons suffering from lung ailments, healthy persons, and athletes can all improve their pulmonary efficiency through forcible and prolonged inspiration and expiration against resistance.
Some people are able to take only shallow breaths because they are suffering from lung ailments such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or other ailments which reduce the oxygen/CO2 exchange. Frequently, patients recovering from abdominal surgery experience pain during deep breathing and may therefore restrict their own breathing to shallow breaths. In both of the above situations, recovery is slowed because the patients suffer from reduced exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the tissue. Further, the patients are at risk of developing atelectasis because their lungs are not being fully expanded. Atelectasis is a partial collapse of the lungs, possibly leading to necrosis of the lung alveoli. This exacerbates any ailments from which the patient may be suffering by causing poor oxygen exchange in the lungs and possibly resulting in pneumonia.
Patients with emphysema further suffer from mucous blockages in the lungs. Cilia, tiny hairlike structures in the lungs, become flattened down and clogged by mucous. Vibration of the air during inspiration or expiration can cause vibration of the lungs, lung passages (bronchi), and cilia of the patient. This vibration sometimes provides relief to the patient by bringing the cilia to an upright position and mobilizing the mucous, facilitating the expectoration thereof.
Known respiratory exercisers utilize a ball inside a large tube. A user exhales or inhales through a smaller attached tube, causing the ball to rise proportionally to the rate of airflow. However, these known respiratory exercisers only provide resistance to inspiration or expiration, but not both. Further, the large tube must be maintained in a vertical position in order for the respiratory exerciser to operate correctly. This is inconvenient for persons suffering from lung ailments who may be confined to bed and for athletes who wish to restrict respiratory volume flow during exercise. Still further, this respiratory exerciser does not provide a percussive effect on the user; i.e., a vibration of the air on inspiration or expiration.
Another known respiratory exerciser provides a mask which allows air to be inhaled freely and provides resistance against the expiration of air. The masks do not provide resistance to inspiration and do not provide vibration. Further, the masks are too large to be conveniently portable.
Another respiratory exerciser provides a vibration effect upon expiration. A patient exhales into a tube connected to a conical element loosely supporting a ball. When a patient exhales through the tube, the ball is displaced from the conical element causing an oscillatory movement of the ball, thereby generating a variable pressure opposing the expiration. There are several disadvantages to this device. It does not provide vibration of air during inspiration. It is inconvenient for some patients because it must be maintained at a horizontal position during use. Further, the device provides only varying oscillations in air pressure, rather than a sharp percussion of the air by rapid bursts of air pressure from complete opening and closure of the air passages.
Another respiratory exerciser provides a vibration effect upon either inspiration or expiration by using a pair of adjacent air passageways each containing a reed. Each passageway contains a valve utilizing a coil spring to allow either inspiration or expiration. The compression of each spring can be adjusted to vary the resistance to inspiration and expiration independently. As the patient inhales through one passageway and exhales through the other, air flowing past each reed causes each reed to rapidly vibrate, causing a vibration effect on the lungs of the patient. However, adjustment of the coil spring compression during inspiration and expiration is not convenient. Further, vibration of the air is not as effective as would be a sharp percussion of the air by rapid, complete opening and closure of the air passages.
The present invention provides a respiratory exercise apparatus which is portable, non-positional, and provides percussion and resistance during inspiration and expiration and pulsing during expiration. The user can select whether to exercise through resistance, percussion, or pulsing. The breathing apparatus has a main body and a movable inner member, which in the preferred embodiment is an inner cylinder. Preferably, both the main body and the inner cylinder have holes and slots for resistance, pulse, and percussion exercises. By rotating the inner cylinder and locking it in place, the desired method of exercise can be selected and performed.
Resistance exercises can be performed by aligning holes in the main body and the inner cylinder. Alignment and locking are accomplished through use of grooves and a locking pin, screw, boss, etc. In the preferred embodiment, the inner cylinder has a plurality of grooves with the grooves being preferably oblong and adapted to receive the locking pin to restrict movement. The oblong grooves allow limited reciprocal movement of the inner cylinder with respect to the main body and prevent rotational movement. This restricted movement allows mating holes to move with respect to one another and automatically vary the resistance as a user inhales and exhales. Alternatively, the inner cylinder can be manually reciprocated to vary the resistance or held in place to maintain a predetermined resistance. In the preferred embodiment, there are several paired holes of varied diameter to give varied resistance. These holes are selected by rotating the inner cylinder, aligning a desired set of holes and locking the inner cylinder in place. In the preferred embodiment, there is a flange that has indicator holes that facilitate easy alignment.
A further resistance exercise can be performed by holding the breathing apparatus generally vertically with the inner cylinder pointing up and exhaling. This will raise the inner cylinder. When the lungs are empty, the inner cylinder automatically drops back into the main body. The user then tries to raise the inner cylinder again by exhaling any remaining air in the lungs. The device is then held with the inner cylinder down, which causes the inner cylinder to automatically drop down. The user then inhales to pull the inner cylinder back into the main body until the lungs are full, which then causes the inner cylinder to drop back down. The exercise is completed by further inhaling to try to raise the inner cylinder.
Percussion exercises can be performed by locking the locking member in a second set of grooves which will align slots in the main body and the inner cylinder. In the preferred embodiment, this groove is formed about the circumference of the inner cylinder to allow limited rotational movement of the inner cylinder with respect to the main body. The user can percuss the lungs by rapidly rotating the inner cylinder while the user inhales and exhales into the main body. Rotation of the inner cylinder moves the slots in the inner cylinder and main body with respect to one another allowing quick bursts of air to enter and exit the users lungs. This provides a strong percussion effect which expands the air vesicles deep in the lungs and loosens mucous blockages in the lungs. Because the present invention provides rapid intermittent complete closure of the airflow in and out of the user""s lungs during percussion, a more effective percussion effect is obtained than by merely vibrating the air pressure.
Pulse exercises are performed by aligning the locking device with a longitudinally extending groove. This allows the inner cylinder to reciprocate sufficiently to expose the inner slots. To perform the exercise, the device is held upright, and the user exhales, which causes the inner cylinder to raise, expose the slots, and drop repeatedly. In the preferred embodiment, the inner cylinder is weighted to facilitate the reciprocating action.
In the disclosed embodiments, the respiratory exercise apparatus includes a generally cylindrical main body having at least one main aperture. Although disclosed as cylindrical, in some embodiments, the main body can be non-cylindrical. An inner cylinder is disposed within the main body and can rotate and reciprocate within the main body.
It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill that other embodiments could be used to obtain similar results and objectives and still be within the scope of the invention. With reference to the following Brief Description of the Drawings and disclosure, the invention will be described.

Portable personal breathing apparatus and method for exercising the lungs


An evaluation method for a test semiconductor device having at least two wiring patterns disposed in parallel, wherein: at least one wiring pattern is grounded; a pulse voltage is applied between the grounded wiring pattern and an adjacent wiring pattern; a time required for the pulse to reciprocate along the wiring patterns and a value of a voltage including a reflected voltage between the wiring patterns are measured to judge a presence/absence of a wiring breakage or a wiring short circuit and to locate a wiring breakage point or a wiring short circuit point.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an evaluation method for a test semiconductor device, and more particularly to a method of evaluating the quality of wiring formed on a test semiconductor device.
b) Description of the Related Art
Evaluation of a test semiconductor device (hereinafter called a test element group (TEG)) is performed, for example, when manufacture processes of a semiconductor device is developed or when new circuit design is made. For evaluation, a test wiring pattern (TEG pattern) is formed on a semiconductor device and thereafter the TEG pattern is inspected whether there is an open or short circuit point.
FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate an evaluation method for TEG according to a conventional technique.
FIG. 16A shows TEG whose wiring is tested as to whether there is any breakage. Electrodes 91 and 91' are connected between opposite ends of a predetermined wiring pattern 92. A voltage is applied across the electrodes 91 and 91'. If current flows, it can be judged that the wiring pattern 92 has no open circuit, whereas if current does not flow, it can be judged that the wiring pattern 92 has an open circuit. In this manner, any breakage of the wiring pattern can be checked.
FIG. 16B shows TEG whose wiring is tested as to whether there is any short circuit. An electrode 95 is connected to a predetermined comb-shaped wiring pattern 96. Another electrode 95' is connected to a predetermined comb-shaped wiring pattern 96'. The wiring patterns 96 and 96' are disposed interdigitally facing each other without mutual contact and are electrically insulated.
A voltage is applied across the electrodes 95 and 95'. If current does not flow, it can be judged that the wiring patterns 96 and 96' are not short circuited, whereas if current flows, it can be judged that the wiring patterns 96 and 96' are short circuited. In this manner, any short circuit between the wiring patterns 96 and 96' can be checked.
It is possible to check whether there is any short or open circuit point in the wiring pattern by using TEGs shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B. However, although it is possible to know that there is a short or open circuit, the position of a short circuit point or an open circuit point of the wiring cannot be located.

Evaluation of the quality of wiring formed in a test semiconductor device


A variable gain amplifier (203: VGA) for amplifying an amplitude of a signal extracted by a pickup (202), an A/D converter (204) for converting the amplified signal into digital, and an amplitude detecting circuit (206) for detecting amplitude information from the digital information, are provided. A gain control circuit (205) for calculating a control value for the VGA (203) is calculated from the detected amplitude information, and an envelope generating circuit (207) for executing an operation of absorbing transfer characteristics of the VGA (203) from the control value for the VGA (203) and the amplitude information, are provided to generate an envelope extracted by the pickup (202). When the characteristics of the VGA (203) vary, a degree of the variation is calculated from the amplitude information of the signal extracted by the pickup (202) and amplitude information obtained by fixing the control value for the VGA (203), and characteristic correction is executed.

At present, the market of optical disc apparatuses is growing, and there is a demand for a high-stability and high-quality reproduced signal in the optical disc apparatus. When information is extracted from an optical disc medium, the amplitude of a signal extracted by a pickup is altered if there is a defect in the optical disc medium, or dust, a fingerprint or the like is attached on the optical disc medium. The amplitude of a signal extracted by a pickup is also altered due to a stress on an optical disc apparatus (e.g., defocusing, tilt, etc.), or a variation in reflectance, modulation factor or the like of an optical disc medium itself.
Therefore, conventionally, a VGA (Variable Gain Amplifier) is provided before binary data is generated, so as to cause an amplitude value to be constant to stably generate binary data, thereby providing high-quality reproduced information. Also, it is necessary to detect an envelope of a signal extracted from a pickup so as to use the envelope for pickup focus position learning, medium record/unrecord determination, or the like. However, since the envelope of a signal extracted by a pickup cannot be reproduced from a signal whose amplitude has been caused to be constant after the VGA, conventional optical disc apparatuses detect an envelope from a signal before the VGA (see Patent Document 1).
It is contemplated that an ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) is added after the VGA so as to exploit a digital signal processing technique, such as PRML (Partial Response Maximum Likelihood) or the like, and thereby further improve the accuracy of binary data. Further, as a miniaturization process progresses, the circuit scale of an analog portion tends to be dominant as compared to the circuit scale of a digital portion. Therefore, a digital circuit configuration leads to a reduction in cost.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2001-243714


The invention relates to locking devices preventing the unauthorized use of firearms. The invention provides a block, shaped partly as a normal magazine or a magazine or other shaped member which can be inserted into a firearm to block the magazine housing thereof or the barrel and which can be removed therefrom only by transmitting relevant biometric data to said block, said data corresponding with biometric data digitally stored in the block memory.

The present invention relates to locking devices preventing the unauthorized use of firearms. More particularly, the invention provides a block, shaped partly as a normal magazine or a magazine or other shaped member which can be inserted into a firearm to block the magazine housing thereof or the barrel and which can be removed therefrom only by transmitting relevant biometric data to said block, said data corresponding with biometric data digitally stored in the block memory.
Little need be said about the desirability of preventing the use of handguns and rifles by children and by persons unauthorized to use the weapon. Handguns and rifles are often stolen by criminals, while mentally-unstable persons, and children, also find weapons of interest. Many lives could be saved if only the user or other authorized person were able to load and fire such weapons.
In the prior art it is seen that this can be achieved by locking the firearm to a fixed rack, or by fitting a lock to the trigger (U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,179 and WO026848), or by locking the safety switch (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,946,840 and 5,461,812), or by blocking the firing mechanism (U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,538 B1, US Patent 2002,0174585A1 and 2004/0035286A1), or by blocking the ejector and loading port (US Patent no. 2004/0035042) or by blocking the barrel of the firearm (Swedish patent no. SE505705, and UK patent applications GB2316473A and GB2375588A).
The present invention refers primarily to a class of device blocking the magazine housing to prevent loading of the weapon by unauthorized persons or similar devices. It will however be realized that all such systems also require means for preventing the loading of a single cartridge through an aperture provided for this purpose at the top or side of the firearm.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,729 Von Muller discloses a key-operated safety magazine which is locked to the magazine housing. In some or all embodiments it is necessary to drill a hole in the pistol or rifle before inserting the safety magazine. Aside from the inconvenience of doing so by means of a special drilling jig seen in FIG. 6, the hole will cancel the manufacturers guarantee for the firearm.

Firearm security block and firearm fitted therewith


Anion-binding polymers are described. The anion-binding polymers in some cases are low swelling anion-binding polymers. In some cases, the anion-binding polymers have a pore volume distribution such that a fraction of the polymer is not available for non-interacting solutes above a certain percentage of the MW of the target ion for the polymer. In some cases, the anion-binding polymers are characterized by low ion-binding interference, where the interference is measured in, for example, a gastrointestinal simulant, relative to non-interfering buffer. Pharmaceutical composition, methods of use, and kits are also described.

Ion selective sorbents have been used in human therapy to correct disorders in electrolyte balance, in conditions such as hyperphosphatemia, hyperoxaluria, hypercalcemia, and hyperkalemia. Hyperphosphatemia occurs in patients with renal failure, whose kidneys no longer excrete enough phosphate ions to compensate exogenous phosphate uptake in the diet. This condition leads to high serum phosphate concentration and high calcium× phosphate product. Although the etiology is not fully demonstrated, high calcium× phosphate product has been held responsible for soft tissue calcification and cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is the cause of death in almost half of all dialysis patients.
Aluminum, calcium, and, more recently, lanthanum salts have been prescribed to control phosphate ion absorption in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and restore systemic phosphate levels back to normal. However these salts liberate soluble aluminum and calcium cations in the GI tract, which are then partially absorbed into the blood stream. Aluminum absorption can cause serious side effects such as aluminum bone disease and dementia; high calcium uptake leads to hypercalcemia and puts patients at risk for coronary calcification.
Metal-free phosphate binders such as strong base ion-exchanger materials, Dowex and Cholestyramine resins, have been suggested for use as phosphate binders. However, their low capacity of binding requires high dosage that is not well tolerated by patients.
Amine functional polymers have been described as phosphate or oxalate binders. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,985,938; 5,980,881; 6,180,094; 6,423,754; and PCT publication WO 95/05184. Renagel, a crosslinked polyallylamine resin, is a phosphate sequestering material introduced in the market as a metal-free phosphate binder. In vitro phosphate binding of Renagel is approximately 6 mmol/gm in water and 2.5 mmol/gm when measured in 100 mM sodium chloride and 20 mM phosphate at neutral pH. The recommended dosage for the targeted patient population is typically between 5 gms/day to 15 gms/day to keep the phosphate concentration below 6 mg/dL. Published phase I clinical trials on Renagel, performed on healthy volunteers, indicate that 15 gms of Renagel decrease the phosphate urinary excretion from a baseline of 25 mmole to 17 mmole, the difference being excreted in the feces as free and polymer-bound phosphate. From these data, the in vivo capacity range can be established at 0.5-1 mmol/gm, which is much less than the in vitro capacity of 6 mmol/gr measured in saline. Considering only the in vitro binding capacity of Renagel measured in saline, a dosage of 15 gm of phosphate binder would bind more than the entire phosphorus content of the average American diet, i.e. 37 mmol/day. The discrepancy between the in vitro binding capacity and the documented low in vivo binding capacity has a negative impact on the therapeutic benefit of the drug since more resin is needed to bring the serum phosphate to a safe range.
This loss of capacity of ion-exchange resins is not limited to Renagel when used in the complex environment of the GI tract environment. Although generally safe from a toxicological perspective, the large dose and inconvenience associated with taking multigram amounts of resin argues for the need to improve resin capacity. As an example, even in reported safety studies of the Renagel binder, patients have noted gastrointestinal discomfort at doses as low as 1.2-2.0 gm/day for an 8 week treatment period. Patients receiving 5.4 gm of Renagel/day were discontinued from treatment due to adverse events such as GI discomfort in 8.9% of the cases (Slatapolsky, et al Kidney Int. 55:299-307, 1999; Chertow, et al Nephrol Dial Transplant 14:2907-2914, 1999). Thus, an improvement in in vivo binding capacity that translates to lower, better tolerated dosing would be a welcome improvement in resin-based therapies.
As a result of these considerations there is still a great need for safe, high-capacity binders that selectively remove ions from the body with a lower drug dosage and a better patient compliance profile.
Patient compliance is recognized today as one of the main limiting factors for patients to comply with the K/DOQI recommendations: dose escalation implies that patients have to take ten 800 mg pills per day and beyond. Renagel pills take the form of swallowable tablets and are administered with a minimum of fluid, adding to the burden of ESRD patients who are under fluid restriction. More easy-to-take pharmaceutical formulation would be desirable: in particular chewable tablets are becoming more popular amongst the geriatric and pediatric population and in treatments requiring a large pill burden: chewable tablets allows greater strength pills and ultimately reduces the number of tablets per meal. Because the active contained in a chewable tablet is first dispersed under the effects of mastication and saliva before being swallowed, the requirements on both the shape and weight of the tablet are much less severe than those imposed on swallowable tablets: However, until now it was not possible to formulate a hydrogel such as Renagel in a chewable tablet because of the high swelling characteristics of that polymer: Renagel usually swells very rapidly up to about 10 times its weight in an isotonic solution. This has two much undesired consequences: firstly, while in the mouth the polymer will swell and give a very unpleasant feel (dry mouth, sensation of choking); secondly, even if patient overcomes the sensory in mouth, the administration of a swollen gel in the esophagus can be hazardous. Besides, it is also well known that highly swellable gels, when administered in the multi grams range, provoke side effects such as bloating, constipation or diarrhea.


An active memory system includes a computer and an active memory device including layers of memory forming a three-dimensional memory device and individual columns of chips forming vaults in communication with a processing element and logic. The processing element is configured to communicate to the chips and other processing elements. The active memory system also includes a compiler configured to implement a method. The method includes dividing a power budget for the active memory device into a discrete number of power tokens, each of the power tokens having an equal value of units of power. The method also includes determining a power requirement for executing a code segment on the processing element of the active memory device based on characteristics of the processing element and the code segment. The method further includes allocating, to the processing element at runtime, one or more power tokens to satisfy the power requirement.

The present invention relates generally to computer system management, and more particularly, to power-constrained compiler code generation and scheduling in a heterogeneous processing system.
In a heterogeneous processing system, power and performance characteristics differ among the varying types of processors. For example, one or more processors may have higher memory bandwidth than others, and some processors may have higher processing speed capabilities than others. Likewise, some types of tasks that are scheduled on the processing system require different memory bandwidth and processing speeds than other types of tasks. Thus, optimizing code for implementation on heterogeneous processors to conserve power can present challenges due to the different characteristics of the processors.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Power-constrained compiler code generation and scheduling of work in a heterogeneous processing system

International Business Machines Corporation


A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate user interaction with, such as modification of, respective audio objects. An example method may include causing a multimedia file to be presented that includes at least two images. The images are configured to provide animation associated with respective audio objects and representative of a direction of the respective audio objects. The method may also include receiving user input in relation to an animation associated with an audio object or the direction of the audio object represented by an animation. The method may further include causing replay of the audio object for which the user input was received to be modified.

A multimedia file may include one or more images and one or more audio objects. The audio objects may originate with different sources, such as different people engaged in a conversation. As such, the audio objects may be distinguished from one another based upon various audio parameters including, for example, the direction from which an audio object originates.
The discrimination between audio objects has become more practical as audio recording devices have been implemented that include multiple microphones. For example, mobile terminals, such as smartphones, now frequently have multiple microphones. The increased number of microphones facilitates improved voice call quality including improved hands-free voice quality and provides for more advanced video recording audio options. In this regard, the capture of audio signals by an audio recording device, such as a mobile terminal, having multiple microphones permits the audio objects to be separated based upon their respective directions. As such, audio tracks may be constructed that include some, but not all, of the audio objects, thereby permitting undesired audio objects, such as the audio objects that principally include noise, to be removed.
Notwithstanding the increased capability of audio recording devices or audio processing devices to distinguish audio objects, it may be difficult for a user to determine the number of audio objects that have been identified and to further determine the characteristics of those audio objects, such as the direction from which an audio objects originates, as there is not an intuitive manner in which to provide this information regarding distinct audio objects to the user. User interfaces do exist that provide a mixing console or otherwise include one or more sliders to permit a user to modify respective audio objects. However, these user interfaces are not generally intuitive for most users and, instead, generally require an audio professional or a user of comparable experience to operate the mixing console properly or require the investment of substantial time to learn how to operate the mixing console to provide the desired output.

Method and apparatus for an interactive user interface


A lid opening/closing mechanism switches a lid between a closed position closing an opening portion of a box-like base body, and an open position opening the opening portion. A distinct point is to include an arm allowing a tip side to turn to a front of the base body as a support point on a base end side pivotally supported at the base body by a first axis support portion, and connected to the lid turnably by a second axis support portion. The lid is turned in an opening direction or a closing direction in association with a turn of the arm.

For example, a storage device provided inside a vehicle interior is subjected to many restrictions of an opening/closing trajectory of the lid in relation to a panel shape near a placement portion, another member, articles, and the like so as to be required to turn the lid while approaching a base body as close as possible, or to turn the lid by controlling an amount of the lid projecting from the base body. As for a countermeasure, there are Patent Documents 1 and 2 in which the present applicant has previously developed.
FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are a mechanism of the Patent Document 1, wherein FIG. 9(a) shows a closed position of the lid, and FIG. 9(b) shows an open position of the lid. The reference numeral 2 represents a base body, and the reference numeral 3 represents a lid (a door). The lid 3 includes a support arm 32, a gear portion 32a provided in the arm 32, and a slide portion which is not shown in the figures and provided approximately in the center of an arc of the gear portion 32a. The base body 2 includes a first rack portion 11 engaging with the gear portion 32a provided approximately in parallel to each other, a guide groove 13 engaging with the aforementioned slide portion, and the like. In the aforementioned mechanism, opening and closing of the lid 3 have a trajectory accompanied by turning and moving motions of the lid 3 by a movement accompanied by an engagement of the gear portion 32a relative to the first rack portion 11 (an engagement of a gear, which is not shown in the figures, relative to a second rack portion 12), and an engagement of the slide portion relative to the guide groove 13. Also, in the mechanism, there are included a slider 4 slidably assembled relative to the base body 2, and connected to the lid 3; an urging device 5 urging the slider 4; and an engaging/disengaging mechanism portion locking the lid 3 in the closed position. The lid 3 is switched from the open position to the closed position against an urging force of the urging device 5 so as to be locked in the closed position thereof by the engaging/disengaging mechanism portion.
FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) are a mechanism of the Patent Document 2, wherein FIG. 10(a) shows a closed position of the lid, and FIG. 10(b) shows an open position of the lid. The reference alphabet S or Sa represents a base body (a main body), the reference alphabet M or Ma represents a lid (a lid). In the mechanism, there are provided a base arm 1 assembled to the lid M with a first pivot support portion A, and assembled to a fixation body S with a second pivot support portion B; a control arm 2 assembled to the lid M with a third pivot support portion C, and including a slide portion 2b guided by a cam portion 4 provided in the fixation body S; and a support body 3 turnably provided in the fixation body S with a fourth pivot support portion D. The control arm 2 is assembled movably relative to the support body 3. The cam portion 4 includes a first portion 4a, and a second portion 4e which is continuous with the first portion 4a, and when the slide portion 2b of the control arm 2 is in the second portion 4e of the cam portion 4, the lid M is turned around the first pivot support portion A while changing distances of the third pivot support portion C and the fourth pivot support portion D. In short, opening and closing of the lid M are moved by a performance by four-joint links up to a predetermined forward-movement position, and after the lid M has reached the predetermined forward-movement position, a rotation motion around one axis is carried out. Also, in the mechanism, there are included a first urging device 5 providing a turning force around the second pivot support portion B to the base arm 1; an engaging/disengaging mechanism portion (comprising a latched portion and a latching portion operated by a button) which is not shown in the figures and locking the lid 3 in the closed position; and the like. The lid 3 is switched from the open position to the closed position against an urging force of the first urging device 5 so as to be locked in the closed position thereof by the engaging/disengaging mechanism portion.

Lid opening/closing mechanism and storage device


An apparatus for detecting base-register usage conflicts in computer code includes a parsing module configured to parse source code, an identification module configured to identify statements in the source code that reference a base register for address resolution according to base-displacement form, and a determination module configured to determine whether a base register referenced by one statement matches the base register referenced by another. If two statements do reference the same register, an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention may notify a user such that corrective action may be taken.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to assembly language and more particularly to apparatus and methods for detecting conflicts between assembly language statements that specify the same base register for address resolution.
2. Description of the Related Art
Unlike many programming languages, assembly language is not a single language, but typically refers to a group of languages. This is because most processor families usually have a unique instruction set and thus their own assembly language.
Unlike higher-level languages, data and program structures written in assembly language are normally implemented directly on the underlying hardware. As a result, there is often a one-to-one correspondence between symbolic instructions and executable machine codes in many assembly languages. Nevertheless, assembly languages may also include directives to the assembler, directives to the linker, directives for organizing data space, and macros, which may translate into more than one machine instruction, or alternatively, not translate into any machine instruction at all.
Notwithstanding the obvious improvement in readability, assembly languages provide a number of significant advantages over machine code. For example, assemblers often perform bookkeeping and other tasks for the programmer. One important advantage of assemblers is their use of symbolic names to represent memory locations for data and machine instructions. This frees a programmer from the laborious task of computing and re-computing memory locations whenever a program is altered.
High Level Assembler ("HLASM") is IBM's assembler programming language and the assembler itself for the IBM z/OS, z/OS.e, OS/390, VM/ESA, z/VM, VSE/ESA, and z/VSE operating systems. Mainframes or other computers running these operating systems use an addressing scheme referred to as "base-displacement" addressing to compute the effective addresses of instruction operands of a program loaded into memory. In this scheme, effective addresses are computed by adding a "displacement" to a "base address." The base address is generally the address where the program is loaded into memory, although other addresses may serve as the base address. The displacement is the distance between the base address and the memory location where a particular instruction operand is found. Because locations inside the program relative to the program's base address do not change once a program is converted to machine code, displacements are fixed.
When a program is loaded into memory, the mainframe loads the base address of the program into one of its general purpose registers. When this occurs, the register is used as a "base register." At assembly time, a relative displacement is calculated for each operand, as is the base register number. The content of the base register is set at execution time, depending on the location in memory where the program is loaded.
As was previously mentioned, displacements of operands relative to the program's base address are generally fixed. However, if a programmer wishes to modify a program by inserting a statement, such as an instruction or directive, into the program source code, displacements of operands after the inserted statement are shifted relative to the program's base address in accordance to the size of the inserted statement. If the displacements are coded explicitly (i.e. using a numeric value to represent the displacement), this can be problematic since each displacement after the inserted statement needs to be recalculated relative to the program's base address.
To resolve this problem, HLASM allows a programmer to encode addresses implicitly with the USING statement. That is, addresses are represented symbolically by a label rather than by their explicit base-displacement form. When the assembler translates the program source code (written in assembly language) into object code (i.e., machine code), the assembler automatically calculates the displacement for each label and inserts these displacements into the object code. Thus, the assembler eliminates the need to recalculate new displacement values every time the program source code is modified.
In some situations, significant errors may occur if effective addresses are computed using the wrong base address. For example, such a situation may occur if two sections of program code that should operate with different base addresses use the same base register to calculate effective addresses, since a base register can only point to one base address at a time. If the base address is incorrect, the address of each operand within the program will also be incorrect.
In cases where an assembler fails to detect a conflict between two program sections that use the same base register from which to calculate effective addresses, the results can be catastrophic. Data may be read from or written to wrong locations in memory. Data may be permanently lost, overwritten, or corrupted. If this problem continues undetected, immense and potentially irreparable damage may occur.
Accordingly, what are needed are apparatus and methods for detecting conflicts in a program's source code or object code caused by two program sections using the same base register to compute effective addresses. What are also needed are apparatus and methods to notify a user or correct the conflict when detected. Further needed are specific apparatus and methods for detecting base-register conflicts for the instruction set provided for IBM's HLASM.
The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available apparatus, systems, and methods. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide apparatus, systems, and methods for detecting base-register usage conflicts in computer code that overcome many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art.

Apparatus and method for detecting base-register usage conflicts in computer code


A transmission wheel assembled of at least two segments (1) on a shaft (12), the inner arc surface (3) of which and the shaft (12) have essentially the same radius (R), and which segments' (1) outer surfaces (9) have profiled surfaces that transmit the power of the transmission wheel. Between the segments' (1) welded-together end faces (4) there are gaps on those sections of the end faces (4) that are not welded, which creates a press fit between the shaft (12) and the inner arc surface (3) of the transmission wheel. The weld connecting the transmission wheel segments' (1) end faces (4) may be incomplete, meaning that it does not reach the shaft (12).

The present invention applies to transmission wheels and the mounting of transmission wheels on a shaft.
It is often necessary to add a transmission wheel to a shaft during a new installation or the replacement of a worn transmission wheel. In such cases, it is not always possible to mount the transmission wheel in one piece, but instead, it must be divided into two or more segments that are attached together and around the shaft. The split in two structure is known from, for example, publications DE102008046167 and EP0684397, in which, for example, a precision-manufactured transmission wheel is divided by breaking it into two precise, matching parts and joined on the shaft with a press fit. DE102008046167 presents a solution where the halves of a transmission wheel are axially joined with a press fit and, if needed, can be finished by welding the break surfaces together. EP0684397 presents how the halves of a transmission wheel are first re-joined in a spot with a smaller diameter, for example by beam welding at the side, and then mounted on a shaft by means of temperature difference.
EP561478 presents how plastic halves of a transmission wheel, which may have shoulders for aligning the segments, are joined together with a screw joint. The publication mentions that the joining can also be done by means of bonding or welding, but it does not specify the welding method. Plastic pieces with facing surfaces can generally be welded, for example, through ultrasonic welding. Power transmission from the shaft to the transmission wheel is realized by means of a key.

Transmission wheel and a method for its mounting


A method and apparatus for filtering particulates from a turbid liquid is provided. The apparatus is preferably used to filter particulates from water used to flush a pipeline after a cleaning operation, after hydrostatic testing or during product displacement at a high flow rate. The apparatus includes an inlet valve for receiving the turbid liquid from a liquid source connected to a gas buster for discharging the turbid liquid and air into a break tank located beneath the gas buster. A self-cleaning portable liquid filter having an inlet is connected to an outlet of the break tank and includes a screen filter for receiving the turbid liquid from the break tank. Particulates from the turbid water are accumulated on an internal surface of the screen filter and clean water is discharged from the filter through a discharge port. A flush mechanism is provided to rinse the accumulated particulate cake from the surface of the screen filter upon actuation of an automatic rinse cycle. A sludge tank is located below the filter and flush mechanism for capturing a flush liquid and the particulates. A centrifugal pump driven flush line having a first end connected to the sludge tank and a second end connected to the break tank is provided for recirculating the flush liquid and accumulated particulates from the sludge tank to the break tank to be re-filtered. The turbid liquid is received from the pipeline through the inlet valve and discharged through the gas buster into the break tank. Where a plurality of break tanks are provided, the fluid levels are equalized. The turbid liquid is then pumped from the break tank to the self-cleaning portable liquid filter and a clean liquid is discharged from the outlet thereof An automatic rinse cycle is engaged upon actuation of a signal triggered by sensing of a predetermined pressure differential across an inlet and an outlet of the screen filter.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for filtering particulates from a liquid at a high flow rate, and more particularly to an apparatus for filtering particulates from water exiting an oil or gas pipeline during a chemical pipeline cleaning operation, dewatering after hydrostatic testing, product displacement or the like.
In the oil and gas pipeline industry, there is occasionally a need to clean and inspect the numerous pipelines in use for transporting petroleum products. There is also a need to perform hydrostatic testing on the pipeline or to displace a product in the pipeline to properly maintain the pipeline. Water is normally used to flush the pipeline after these types of operations have been performed. Gas, oil, chemical cleaner residue and other particulate matter may accumulate in the pipeline and are carried in the flush water. This creates a problem with disposal of the flush water upon completion of the operation. The water is of such a high turbidity that it cannot be introduced directly into a nearby body of water. Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus for processing a high volume of water and filtering these particulates from the water so that it can be reintroduced directly into the surrounding environment.

Apparatus and method for high volume pipeline water filtration


A pruning sealant composition comprising lanolin and a drying agent effective for forming a film upon an exposed surface of the pruning sealant composition. An optional high temperature viscosity modifier may be included in the sealer composition. Also disclosed is a method of making the pruning sealant composition and a method of sealing a pruning site with the pruning sealant composition.

When a limb or twig of a plant is cut, the plant is injured. The injured plant immediately begins a process of damage containment and repair of the injury. This process includes a collapse of the damaged cells at the cut surface in an effort to reduce "bleeding." Bleeding results in a loss of plant fluids as drying of the exposed surface commences. Drying is not confined to the surface layer of cells at the cut. Often, cells as deep as half an inch within the plant experience fluid loss and drying. A reduction in such drying is generally believed to be beneficial to the healing process by allowing the plant to maintain higher moisture levels at the wound site and prevent such cells from dying. Such cells can then continue to grow and form callus tissue over the surface of the wound.
Various compounds and mixtures have been used on tree and shrub wounds to prevent drying and promote healing. Most are based on paint, shellac or asphalt-derived compounds. These compounds have generally been found to actually retard the healing process.
Lanolin has been recognized for many years as an effective pruning sealant. Lanolin is generally believed to promote healing by preventing drying and die-back, thereby allowing callus to form promptly at the wound edges. However, the viscosity of lanolin at temperatures in excess of about 70.degree. F. is so high that the lanolin tends to drip from a pruning site without forming a protective coating.
An extensive study of wound closure on trees was performed by McQuilkin in the 1940s, with the results published in the Journal of Forestry in 1950. Various sealing compositions were tested, including lanolin blended with rosin and/or pine gum. While found to be effective as a pruning sealant, lanolin blended with rosin and/or pine gum is a tacky mass which is difficult to manufacture, handle and apply. The blend also tends to remain tacky for days after application, with the tacky mass attracting and trapping a variety of insects at the application site.
Thus, there is an unmet need for a plant pruning sealant composition which is easy to apply and effective at typical environmental temperatures ranging from 40.degree. to 120.degree. F. for both reducing drying and die-back at a pruning site and preventing insects from accessing the pruning site.

Pruning sealant composition and methods of making and using


An actuator for a power transmitting friction clutch having a rotatable power input, a backplate rotatable with the power input, a pressure plate between the power input and the backplate, and an output connected friction cushion between the pressure plate and the power input. The actuator includes a diaphragm having an outer annulus defining a negative Belleville spring, and a plurality of radial control fingers extending inwardly from the outer annulus, the outer annulus having an outer periphery engageable with the pressure plate and an inner fulcrum edge. A positive spring unit is arranged in series with the negative Belleville spring between the inner fulcrum edge and the backplate. The diaphragm and the positive spring unit are supported in radial alignment on the backplate in a manner to provide unobstructed movement of the inner fulcrum edge of the diaphragm to load and unload the positive spring unit during actuation of the clutch.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to clutch actuating systems, and, more particularly, to actuating systems for automotive clutches in which a largely conventional diaphragm spring is combined with a positive spring device to reduce control force needed for clutch actuation to a predictable, relatively small, and essentially constant force value.
2. Description of the Related Art
In pending U.S. applications Ser. No. 08/746,887, Ser. No. 08/791,524, and Ser. No. 08/888,832, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference, control force actuating systems are disclosed in which a negative Belleville spring is arranged in series with a positive spring unit such that as force application energy is released from the negative Belleville spring, that energy is transferred between load and reaction members by the positive spring. The force/deflection characteristics of the negative Belleville spring and positive spring unit are related so that the difference in energy stored in the respective springs throughout a range of force application, remains substantially the same. As a result, the control force required to operate the actuating system is related to the stored energy difference and can be kept very small. The relatively small control force required for such actuating systems represents a significant step toward automated actuation of an automotive clutch, for example, by using state-of-the-art electromechanical transducers exemplified by an electromagnetic solenoid.
The diaphragm spring conventionally used in modern automotive clutches is typically configured with a continuous outer annulus defining a Belleville spring and joining with inwardly directed radial fingers to which an axial control force is applied. A diaphragm fulcrum is provided at the juncture between the inner edge of the outer annulus and the outer edges of the fingers. Also, a circular array of holes in the region of the fulcrum are used to support the diaphragm from the backplate or cover plate of the clutch on axial fulcrum rivets or pins. Fulcrum rings prevent movement of the diaphragm fulcrum axially on the pins while allowing the required amount of movement at the outer periphery of the annulus and at the inner ends of the control fingers. Such diaphragm springs enable high loads to be generated through small displacements and contribute to compactness and high torque transmitting capabilities.


A process that combines tubular body pressure induced shaping at elevated temperatures with a controlled rapid quenching operation using a gaseous quenching medium in a common unit. The achievable cooling rate permits the in-die shaping and quenching of tubular structural components of martensitic steels without requiring the use of a separate discrete quenching.

Tubular structural components for use in applications such as automotive production, aircraft manufacture and the like are generally known. Currently, such tubular structural components are often shaped using a hydroforming process operated at room temperature. Such hydroforming processes have found particular application in the fabrication of structural components made from lightweight alloys and mild steels. Shaping of advanced high strength steels (AHSS) such as martensitic steels has typically utilized an initial thermal forming process followed by separate quenching by a liquid phase quench solution and annealing treatments applied to achieve the desired martensitic steel microstructure. Although the use of such discrete thermal forming and quench treatments has been used successfully, such practices are relatively complex and may require substantial skill to avoid variation and distortion in the final product.

Method for in-die shaping and quenching of martensitic tubular body


A reminder device can be attached to the bottom of a medicine container that has a cap. The reminder device has an indicator rotatably mounted on a base in order to rotate and indicate a scheduled event. The base adhesively or frictionally engages the bottom of the container opposite the cap. The base may have an opening for engaging the bottom of the medicine container. Along some transverse plane within the opening, the opening may be shaped to engage the container along most of its periphery. A user can adjust the indicator on the base to indicate a scheduled event when medicine is ingested.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to indicating devices and methods, and in particular, to placing reminders on medicine containers.
2. Description of Related Art
People have difficulty remembering when to administer or self-administer a medicine. People often forget whether they have taken the day's daily dosage, especially if the dose is not taken at a regular time of day. Similar difficulties arise when doses must be taken several times a day on a predetermined schedule. These difficulties are greatly increased when several different medications must be taken on different schedules. Then one must remember not only the scheduled times, but which one of several medications must be taken at each time.
A very common approach to solving this scheduling problem is incorporating a mechanical scheduling device into a medicine container. One of the drawbacks of the known devices is their tendency to make the medicine container top-heavy and thus unstable. Another disadvantage is the tendency to inadvertently change the setting of the indicating device when handling or opening the medicine container.
Moreover, these known devices have been incorporated in or near a child-proof cap where relatively high forces must be applied by hand. Accordingly, these scheduling devices can be damaged by the high forces associated with opening a child-proof cap. These devices also tend to interfere with or obstruct the normal operation of the child-proof cap. This interference is especially problematical for persons with poor hand strength or coordination and therefore may have difficulty opening a medicine container, with or without a child-proof cap, if the scheduling device provides any kind of obstruction or interference.
In FIGS. 1–2 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,912 a disk with a window is connected by its axle to a cap. Rotating the disk exposes markings on the cap to indicate the time of the last or next dose. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3–4 a sleeve has a window that exposes time markings on the side of cap for the same purpose.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,713 a cover can rotate about a stub to expose markings on an underlying cap. In FIGS. 4–6, a shell can rotate around a cap so that a window can expose markings on the cap.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,129 an outer housing connects through a ratchet mechanism to a threaded cap. The housing can be rotated clockwise to tighten the cap. Overtightening will cause the ratchet mechanism to slip so that a window will move relative to the markings on the cap and thereby display updated reminders regarding the medication in the container.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,224 a ring with time markings can be rotated about the neck of a medicine container to align with a pointer to indicate the last time a medicine was taken. See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,438.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,180 a wire loop acting as a pointer is wrapped around the neck of a medicine container to point to time markings on a band encircling the container. Also a cap is marked with days of the week and is covered by a shell having an opening. Rotation of the shell can expose the week markings.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,163 a collar with time markings fits around a medicine container marked with an arrow. The collar can be rotated to indicate when a dose was last taken.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,804 a disk is rotatably mounted in a recess atop a cap for a medicine container. The disk has two pointers at a fixed spacing for indicating the time of the last and the next dose.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,541 a ring is rotatably mounted on a central hub atop a cap for a medicine container. Again, the ring has two pointers at a fixed spacing for indicating the time of the last and the next dose.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,370 an indicator disk rotatably mounted in a central hole in a cap for a medicine bottle can point to markings on the cap to indicate the time for the next dose.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,117 a simple arrow rotatably mounted on a cap for a medicine container can be rotated to point to markings on the cap to indicate the time for the next dose.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,759 the inner threaded cap has a hub molded with a pointer. An outer shell is mounted on the hub to form a child-proof cap. If no pressure is applied the outer shell can be rotated counterclockwise to align arrow with a marking on the shell indicating the time to take the next dose.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,179 an upper pointing disk has a barrel that fits in a cavity in a threaded cap. The pointing disk can be rotated to point to markings on the underlying threaded cap to indicate either the time of the last or next dose. The pointing disk may either have an opening to expose one of the markings on the underlying cap or be transparent so that an arrow on the disk can be aligned with the visible markings on the underlying cap.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,300 a cap has an opening that can align with one of the four openings shown in the housing of FIG. 7 to allow dispensing of a pill. In some designs a ratchet allows the cap to be rotated in only one direction, so that the user first sees one of the messages marked on the housing before clearing a dispensing opening. One embodiment has a dispensing opening facing from the top and another embodiment has a dispensing opening facing to the side.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,032 a slide can be moved circumferentially to indicate the number of pills per dose.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,467 a ring or disk has seven raised elements that can fit into seven openings in a cap for a medicine bottle container. When the cap is removed the underlying raised elements can be rotated to place one of the raised elements through a specific hole in the cap that is marked with an arrow to indicate the next day when a dose is due.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,548 a cover has a window that exposes one of the markings on indicator wheel. The device has a ratchet mechanism that allows the indicator wheel to advance relative to window every time the device is removed from a medicine container. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,299,701; 4,011,829; 4,749,093; 4,782,966; 4,489,834; 5,678,712.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved technique for reminding people of when to take medication from one or more medicine containers.

Device and method for indicating scheduled doses


An apparatus is provided for destroying or disabling an information or data storage device comprising a first layer and a second layer bonded together. A mechanical device or energy form is inserted into the information or data storage device to cause the first and second layers to separate from each other.

One important aspect of our society is the continuing development of technology to store and/or transmit digital information or data. With particular regard to storage technology, it is important that the storage devices or apparatuses be capable of either deleting information stored or of being disabled or destroyed so that information or data cannot be used by others or in unintended ways. For example, for a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), there are known devices for destroying the information-bearing layer of a CD-ROM. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,954,569, 6,039,637, and 6,334,582.
A digital vertical disc ("DVD ") is a relatively new optical medium, which holds from about seven (4.7 GB) to twenty-eight (17.1 GB) times the information or data that a CD-ROM can hold. The DVD is a high capacity CD-size disc for video, multimedia, games, and audio applications, usually, but not always, in an 8 or 12 cm diameter format. While a CD-ROM disc has the information layer on the surface of a polycarbonate substrate, the information layer of some types of DVD's is contained inside two layers of polycarbonate, which have been bonded together. There are also two types of erasable DVD discs called DVD-RW, which stands for DVD Re-Write, and DVD RAM which stands for DVD Random Access Memory. All of these DVD media types, except DVD-RW, have the information containing layer inside two pieces of polycarbonate. The objective of this invention is to access the information containing layer of DVD media which has the information content of the media inside two or more protective layers for the purposes of rendering the information content unusable. There is a need for a simple and efficient way to disable the information layer on a DVD, and after the DVD is disabled, to be able to ascertain that the information can no longer be used.