An exercise device and system are provided. The exercise device and system are especially suitable for use with sub-maximal to maximal concentric, isometric and eccentric exercises. The exercise device has a back-plate unit, an extended bar and a foot-brace unit. A first and second strap, each having a hand loop, may be grasped by the hands and may be attached to the extended bar and may be connected to the foot-brace unit. An optional scale may be secured to the foot-brace.

An exercise device and system are provided. The exercise device and system are especially suitable for use with sub-maximal to maximal concentric, isometric and eccentric exercises. The exercise device has a back-plate unit, an extended bar and a foot-brace unit. A first and second strap, each having a hand loop, may be grasped by the hands and may be attached to the extended bar and may be connected to the foot-brace unit. An optional scale may be secured to the foot-brace unit to determine the exerted force applied by a user.
Exercise devices are common. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,901,775 to Sykes discloses an isometric/isotonic neck exercise device designed to attach around a persons head, at the forehead level as would a typical headband be worn. Attached to this band as an integral component of this device to provide the medium by which the device can perform the function for which it is designed, is a nylon strap that includes two alloy "D" configuration rings for accessory attachment continuity. Once the device is secured in place on the user, accessory resistance band/s anchored from a fixed point at one end, are attached to this device with the other end of the resistance band/s to then provide a multitude of exercises that focus on all muscle groups and tendons in the neck, mid and upper spine to specifically and dramatically improve mobility and motion, for strength, fitness and rehabilitation purposes at levels which have not previously been obtained.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 8,123,661 to Beyzavi-Armani discloses a portable isometric exercise device with resistance generated by a spring force including an electronic light or sound indicator to signal that a constant force level is being maintained. When a force is applied to the spring and a desired level of resistance is achieved, a continuous signal will be generated to advise the user that the isometric force exercise is being maintained. If the force is reduced, the signal will terminate to advise the user that the user has not maintained the required level of resistance.
Still further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,616,579 to Reinbold discloses an isometric exercise having the steps of sensing an applied force, providing a signal representing the applied force, receiving the signal and comparing the applied force to a preselected force, and providing the result of the comparison to a user in real time. The result of the comparison may be provided in an alphanumeric or other visible display, or by auditory means. The time that force is applied may be compared to a preselected time period, and a message provided to a user to rest when the preselected time period has been reached. The number of repetitions of the application of force during a session may be compared to a preselected number of repetitions, and an indication of session completion provided to a user when the number of completed repetitions equals the preselected number. A device for use in isometric exercise includes a device for sensing an applied force and providing an output signal representing the applied force, electronics for receiving the signal and comparing the applied force to a preselected force, and providing the result of the comparison to a user.
However, these patents fail to describe an exercise device and system which are easy to use and efficient as provided for in the present device and system. Further, the prior art fails to provide an exercise device and system which transfers sub-maximal to maximal concentric, isometric and eccentric loads as accomplished by the present device.


An antenna system comprising a plurality of antennas designed and oriented to provide one or more of radiation pattern, signal polarization and spatial diversity. The various diversity operational characteristics are achieved by using similar antennas physically oriented to provide the diversity attributes or by using dissimilar antennas, that is, antennas having different radiation pattern and/or signal polarization characteristics.

It is generally known that antenna performance is dependent on the antenna size, shape and the material composition of certain antenna elements, as well as the relationship between the wavelength of the received/transmitted signal and certain antenna physical parameters (that is, length for a linear antenna and diameter for a loop antenna). These relationships and physical parameters determine several performance characteristics, including: input impedance, gain, directivity, polarization and radiation pattern. Generally, for an operable antenna, the minimum effective electrical length (which according to certain antenna structures, for example antennas incorporating slow wave structures, may not be equivalent to the antenna physical length) must be on the order of a quarter wavelength or a multiple thereof of the operating frequency. A quarter-wave antenna limits the energy dissipated in resistive losses and maximizes the energy transmitted. Quarter and half wavelength antennas are the most commonly used.
The radiation pattern of the half-wavelength dipole antenna is the familiar omnidirectional donut shape with most of the energy radiated uniformly in the azimuth direction and little radiation in the elevation direction. Frequency bands of interest for certain communications devices are 1710 to 1990 MHz and 2110 to 2200 MHz. A half-wavelength dipole antenna is approximately 3.11 inches long at 1900 MHz, 3.45 inches long at 1710 MHz, and 2.68 inches long at 2200 MHz. The typical antenna gain is about 2.15 dBi.
The quarter-wavelength monopole antenna placed above a ground plane is derived from a half-wavelength dipole. The physical antenna length is a quarter-wavelength, but when placed above a ground plane the antenna performance resembles that of a half-wavelength dipole. Thus, the radiation pattern for a quarter-wavelength monopole antenna above a ground plane is similar to the half-wavelength dipole pattern, with a typical gain of approximately 2 dBi.
Printed or microstrip antennas are constructed using the principles of printed circuit board techniques, where one or more of the metallization layers or interconnecting vias serve as the radiating element(s). These antennas are popular because of their low profile, ease of manufacture and low fabrication cost. One such antenna is the patch antenna, comprising a ground plane below a dielectric substrate, with the radiating element overlying the substrate top surface. The patch antenna provides directional hemispherical coverage with a gain of approximately 3 dBi.
The burgeoning growth of wireless communications devices and systems has created a need for physically smaller, less obtrusive and more efficient antennas that are capable of wide bandwidth and/or multiple frequency operation. As the size of physical enclosures for pagers, cellular telephones and wireless Internet access devices shrink, manufacturers continue to demand improved performance, multiple operational modes and smaller sizes for today's antennas.
Smaller packaging envelopes do not provide sufficient space for the conventional quarter and half wavelength antenna elements. Also, as is known to those skilled in the art, there is a direct relationship between antenna gain and antenna physical size. Increased gain requires a physically larger antenna, while users continue to demand physically smaller antennas with increased gain.
With the expansive deployment of computer resources, it has become advantageous to connect computers to allow collaborative sharing of information. Conventionally, the connection is in the form of wired computer or data networks (generally referred to as local area networks or LAN's) operating under various standard protocols, such as the Ethernet protocol. Users connected to the network can exchange data with other network users, irrespective of the physical distance between, the users. These networks, which have become ubiquitous among computer users, operate at fairly high speeds, up to about 1 Gbps, using relatively inexpensive hardware. However, LANs are limited to the physical, hard-wired infrastructure of the structure in which the users are located.
During recent years, the market for wireless communications of all types has enjoyed tremendous growth. Wireless technology allows people to exchange information using pagers, cellular telephones, and other wireless communication products. With the steady expansion of wireless communications, wireless concepts are now being applied to data networks, relieving the user of the need for a wired connection between the computer and the network.
The major motivation and benefit from wireless LANs is the user's increased mobility. Untethered from conventional network connections, network users can access the LAN from wireless network access points strategically located within a structure or on a campus. Depending on the antenna gain, available signal power, noise and interference, wireless local area networks can operate over a range of several hundred feet to a few thousand feet. Frequently it is more economical to install a wireless LAN than to install a wired network in an existing structure. Wireless LANs offer the connectivity and the convenience of wired LANs without the need for expensive wiring or rewiring.
The Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard for wireless LANs (IEEE 802.11) sets forth two different wireless network configurations: ad-hoc and infrastructure. In the ad-hoc network, computers are brought together to form a network "on the fly." There is no structure to the network and there are no fixed network points. Typically, every node is able to communicate with every other node. The infrastructure wireless network uses fixed wireless network access points with which mobile nodes can communicate. These wireless network access points are typically bridged to landlines to allow users to access other networks and sites not on the wireless network.
The IEEE 802.11 standard governs both the physical (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) layers of the network. The PHY layer, which handles the transmission of data between nodes, can use either direct sequence spread spectrum, frequency-hopping spread spectrum, or infrared (IR) pulse position modulation. IEEE 802.11 makes provisions for data rates of either 1 Mbps or 2 Mbps, and calls for operation in the 2.4-2.4835 GHz frequency band (which is an unlicensed band for industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) applications) and 300-428,000 GHz for IR transmission.
The MAC layer comprises a set of protocols that maintain order among the users accessing the network. The 802.11 standard specifies a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) protocol. In this protocol, when a node receives a packet for transmission over the network, it first listens to ensure no other node is transmitting. If the channel is clear, the node transmits the packet. Otherwise, the node chooses a random "backoff factor" that determines the amount of time the node must wait until it is allowed to retry the transmission.
Several extensions of the IEEE 802.11 standard have been developed. The first, referred to as 802.11a, provides a data rate of up to 54 Mbps in the 5 GHz frequency band. The 802.11a standard requires an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing encoding scheme, rather than the frequency hopping and direct sequence spread schemes of 802.11. The 802.11b standard (also referred to as 802.11 high rate or Wi-Fi) provides a 11 Mbps transmission data rate, with a fallback to data rates of 5.5, 2 and 1 Mbps. The 802.11b scheme uses the 2.4 GHz frequency band, using direct sequence spread spectrum signaling. Thus 802.11b provides wireless functionality comparable to the Ethernet protocol. The newest standard, 802.11g provides for a data rate of 20+ Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band. A primarily European wireless networking standard similar to the 802.11 standards, referred to as HyperLAN2, operates at 5.8 MHz.
Today, devices implementing either the 802.11a or 802.11b standard are available. The higher data rate of 802.11a devices can support bandwidth hungry applications, but the higher operating frequency limits the radio range of the transmitting and receiving units. Typically, 802.11a compliant radios can deliver 54 Mbps at distances of about 60 feet, which is far less than the 300 feet radio range over which the 802.11b systems can operate, albeit at lower data rates. Thus 802.11a installations require a larger number of media access points from which users link into the network.
Recognizing the transient nature of a wireless signal link due to movement of the communicating devices relative to each other (typically, the base station antenna is permanently mounted while the portable device with its attendant antenna is movable relative to the base station antenna), and the time varying properties of noise that can affect system performance, various schemes have been proposed to ensure that signals are received over the link with a sufficient ratio of bit energy to noise spectral density to allow recovery of the data. Antenna spatial diversity is one such scheme, employing two antennas at the transmitting and/or receiving device, with selection of the operative antenna based on one or more monitored signal quality metrics. Thus, for example, the antenna providing the largest signal power or signal-to-noise ratio can be selected as the operative antenna. The primary objective of an antenna diversity system is to reduce signal fading caused by multipath signals that can coherently cancel at the antenna, thereby reducing the received signal quality and making signal decoding more difficult and prone to error. For example, as a portable unit employing a single antenna is moved or as the signal path changes dynamically in length and/or angle due to motion of the scattering or reflecting surfaces relative to the portable unit, the multipath signals received at the antenna can destructively interfere. (The signals can also constructively interfere.) In addition, the transmission medium itself (the atmosphere) can produce variations that are manifest as fades at a receiver employing only a single antenna.
In the prior art spatial diversity system the maximum allowable distance between the antennas is dependent on the available space. For example, if the antennas and associated receiving and transmitting circuitry are assembled onto a PCMCIA card for insertion into a laptop computer, then the separation will be on the order of a few inches. If the antennas are mounted for use with a desktop computer the spatial separation can be on the order of several inches or a few feet. Although these dimensions can be on the order of a fraction of a wavelength at current wireless frequencies, the use of spatially diverse antennas can still achieve improved performance.
The signals received at two spatially diverse antennas differ in phase and amplitude due to the distance between the antennas. The two received signals can be summed to produce a stronger received signal, or a selection process can determine, based on one or more predetermined received signal metrics, which of the two antenna signals should provide the input to the receiver circuitry (or which of the two antennas should transmit the signal). Monopole antennas above a ground plane or dipole antennas are conventionally used in these spatial antenna diversity applications.
If a multipoint reception system is used (often called a multi-branch reception system in the art), and the signals are uncorrelated at each branch (for instance, by using separate diverse locations for the antenna reception points as discussed above) the signal fading problem can be reduced. This fade reduction results from the statistical independence of the signal branches, so that as one branch fades, the probability that the other branch is also fading is small.
Polarization diversity is achieved using two linearly polarized antennas mounted orthogonally. Thus the diversity scheme relies upon the independent polarization of two or more reception branches to achieve a reduction in signal fading. The statistical independence of the branches is due to the changes in electromagnetic wave polarization as the waves are scattered and reflected along different propagation paths to the receiving antenna.

Multiple antenna diversity for wireless LAN applications


A method for manufacturing an organic electronic device including a stack of layers including a release layer, the stack having a lateral structure on a substrate, at least one of the layers being an organic material layer. A method includes with the step of providing a stamp with at least one protrusion of the surface area corresponding to the lateral structure. The stack of layers is deposited with a first face on the surface area of the protrusion of the stamp. A second face of the stack that is opposite to the first face is brought into adhesive contact with the substrate. The stamp is released from the stack.

Organic electronic devices usually comprise laterally structured or patterned active layers. One example for such an electronic device is a full-colour display device comprising a number of pixels, each pixel being subdivided into three colour sub-pixels comprising different organic layers and generating either red or green or blue light each.
Since photolithographic methods used in the production of other electronic devices are generally not applicable to organic layers, a widely used method for patterning an organic layer is the use of a shadow mask. For each colour, a respective OLED stack of organic material layers is vacuum-deposited through a dedicated shadow mask. Problems of this technique are the resolution and size of the shadow mask as well as its thermal expansion and a relatively long processing time resulting from the method. Therefore, the shadow mask method is considered as being not applicable for mass production of large-scale organic electroluminescence displays.
Means of improving the accuracy of patterns and overlay are self-alignment which are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,242 (Biebuyck et al., "Stamp for a lithographic process") and in US 2001/0013294 (B. Michel et al., "Stamp device for printing a pattern on a surface of a substrate"). Means of improving the pattern stability against collapse under load are discussed in the papers: "Siloxane Polymers for High-Resolution, High-Accuracy Soft Lithography" (H. Schmid and B. Michel, Macromolecules 33, 3042-3049 (2000)), "Printing Meets Lithography: Soft Approaches to High-Resolution Patterning" (B. Michel et al., IBM J. Res. Develop. 45(5), 697-720 (2001)) and "Conformal contact and pattern stability of stamps used for soft lithography" (A. Bietsch and B. Michel, J. Appl. Phys. 88(7), 4310 (2000)).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

International Business Machines Corporation


An ablation instrument including a body and an ablating member is provided. The body includes a distal end and a surface with the ablating member coupled toward the distal end of the body. The ablating member includes a lesion wire extending through and along a portion of the surface of the body for creating lesions in a target tissue while the body serves to isolate surrounding tissue from the target tissue. A method of ablating a target area is also provided.

Current surgical procedures utilizing catheters are generally extremely disruptive and may cause a great deal of damage to healthy tissue. Quite typically, the desired target area is very small, or relatively small, while the ablation end or edge of the catheter is much larger, causing unneeded damage. In recent years, development of products has been directed with an emphasis on minimizing the traumatic nature of traditional surgical procedures.
Various types of ablation instruments exist in the prior art, including mechanical, electrical, thermal, radio frequency. Conventionally, the various types of ablation instruments have specified uses and/or specialties allowing various methods/procedures to be used with the various types of ablation instruments.
These conventional instruments use catheter-based heat sources for the intended purpose of inducing thrombosis and controlling hemorrhaging within certain body lumens. Detailed examples of local energy delivery devices and related procedures such as those of the types described above are disclosed in the following references: U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,962; U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,258; U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,311; U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,620; U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,933; U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,694; U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,540; U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,430; U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,321; U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,380; U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,730; U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,672; U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,720; U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,528; U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,205; U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,368; U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,736; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,618, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference.
Other conventional devices and methods electrically couple fluid to an ablation element during local energy delivery for treatment of abnormal tissues. Some such devices couple the fluid to the ablation element for the primary purpose of controlling the temperature of the element during the energy delivery. Other such devices couple the fluid more directly to the tissue-device interface either as another temperature control mechanism as a carrier or medium for the localized energy delivery. Examples of ablation devices which use fluid to assist in electrically coupling electrodes to tissue are disclosed in the following references: U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,554; U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,811; U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,730; U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,161; U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,672; U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,241; U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,788; U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,278; U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,267; U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,927; U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,403; U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,846; PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO 97/32525; and PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO 98/02201, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference.
Other examples of conventional mechanical devices use a probe as a surgical device in order to allow the physician to directly apply an electrode to tissue. Detailed examples of surgical probes are disclosed in the following references: U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,638; U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,979; U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,096; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,920, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference.
While U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,190 discloses a rotating mechanical, or rotational ablation device wherein one or more diamond plated burrs are attached to a driveshaft, which rotates at high speed driven by an advancer/turbine assembly, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference. The driveshaft is provided with a quick connection/disconnection feature allowing for removal of the burr/driveshaft assembly portion of the device from the advancer turbine assembly portion of the device.
As well, other medical devices are known for removing abnormal deposits from corporal channels. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,134, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,509 describe a rotating mechanical system for removing plaque from an artery, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference. U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,134 discloses the use of an ellipsoidal cutting head, or burr, coated with abrasive material such as tiny diamond chips. The cutting head rotates at such a tip velocity that the cutting head generates microscopic particles (on the order of 5 microns or less) and leaves behind a tissue base having a smooth appearance on the surface of the wall of the vessel from which an abnormal deposit has been removed.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,670 discloses an ablation device that includes a releasably joinable drive and catheter assemblies, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference. The drive assembly includes a tachometer assembly and a regulator for monitoring and controlling ablating burr speed. Various embodiments disclose an ablating burr that is operatively connected to a catheter tube by drive gears or releasable threads. A radiopaque member is included on the distal end of the catheter tube rendering it visible to an observer.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,769 discloses an ablation device assembly which is adapted to form a conduction block along a length of tissue between two predetermined locations along the left atrial wall, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference. The assembly comprises an ablation element on an elongated ablation member that is coupled to each of two delivery members allowing the delivery members to controllably position and secure the ablation element along the length of tissue between the predetermined locations. A linear lesion in the tissue between the predetermined locations is then formed by actuation of the ablation element. Also, the ablation member may slideably engage one or two delivery members such that an adjustable length of the ablation element along the ablation member may be extended externally from the engaged delivery member and along a length of tissue.
Further, surgical procedures also utilize electromagnetic ablation devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,958,062 discloses a multiple antenna ablation apparatus including an electromagnetic energy source, a trocar including a distal end, and a hollow lumen extending along a longitudinal axis of the trocar, and a multiple antenna ablation device with three or more antennas, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference. The antennas are initially positioned in the trocar lumen as the trocar is introduced through tissue. At a selected tissue site the antennas are deployable from the trocar lumen in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis. Each of the deployed antennas has an electromagnetic energy delivery surface of sufficient size to, (i) create a volumetric ablation between the deployed antennas, and (ii) the volumetric ablation is achieved without impeding out any of the deployed antennas when 5 to 200 watts of electromagnetic energy is delivered from the electromagnetic energy source to the multiple antenna ablation device. The multiple antenna ablation device is connected to the electromagnetic energy source by a cable.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,705 discloses an radio frequency (RF) ablation apparatus that has a delivery catheter with a delivery catheter lumen and a delivery catheter distal end, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference. A first RF electrode is positioned in the delivery catheter lumen. The first RF electrode has a distal end, RF conductive surface, and a lumen. A second RF electrode has a distal end. The second RF electrode is at least partially positioned in the lumen of the first catheter, with its distal end positioned at the exterior of the first RF electrode distal end. An RF power source is coupled to the first and second RF electrodes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,020 discloses an RF ablation device that has a delivery catheter with distal and proximal ends, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference. A handle is attached to the proximal end of the delivery catheter. The delivery catheter has an electrode deployment system whereby the electrode includes a retractable tip section comprising a deployable electrode with portion of one side having a sharp edge.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,815 discloses an apparatus and method for use in performing ablation of organs and other tissues includes a radio frequency generator which provides a radio frequency signal to ablation electrodes, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference. The power level of the radio frequency signal is determined based on the subject area of ablation. The radio frequency signal is coupled with the ablation electrodes through a transformation circuit. The transformation circuit includes a high impedance transformation circuit and a low impedance transformation circuit. The high or low impedance transformation circuit is selected based on the impedance of the ablation electrodes in contact with the subject tissue. Measurements of vacuum level, impedance level, resistance level, and time are monitored during an ablation procedure. Values outside of established parameters operate to stop the ablation procedure.
Further descriptions of RF ablation electrode designs conventionally known are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,229; U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,385; and WO 96/10961. the contents of which are incorporated by this reference. Still further, other conventional energy emitting ablation elements are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,649 (microwave ablation); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,157 (laser ablation), the contents of which are incorporated by this reference.
Conventional concern in perform surgical procedures includes ensuring that the ablation procedure is complete and not overdone. Complete ablation procedure includes extending ablation through the thickness of the tissue to be ablated before the application of ablation energy is stopped. U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,883 refers to this cut/ablation depth/completion as "transmural" ablation, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference. Conventional methods for detecting transmural ablation include monitoring a desired drop in electrical impedance at the electrode site as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,721, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference. Other indicators are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,671 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,684.
A factor in lesion size is tissue temperature. Accordingly, a thermistor or thermal sensor is commonly used to monitor the probe temperature in an effort to monitor the eventual lesion size. RF lesion heat is generated within the tissue; the temperature monitored will be the resultant heating of an electrode or probe by the lesion. A temperature gradient may extend from the lesion to the probe tip, so that the probe tip is slightly cooler than the tissue immediately surrounding it, but substantially hotter than the periphery of the lesion because of the rapid attenuation of heating effect with distance within the lesion.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,883 discloses a system and method for creating lesions and assessing their completeness or transmurality by monitoring the impedance of the tissue being ablated, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference. The system monitors for an impedance measurement that is stable at a predetermined level for a certain time, rather than attempting to detect a desired drop or a desired or increased impedance.
In these conventional devices, current spreads out radially from the electrode tip, so that current density is greatest next to the tip, and decreases progressively at distances from it. The frictional heat produced from ionic agitation is proportional to current, i.e., ionic density. Therefore, the heating effect is greatest next to the electrode and decreases further from it.
However, difficulties still exist in surgical or other procedures requiring application of ablation to a target area. In RF lesion ablation, a high frequency alternating current flows from the electrode into the tissue. Tissue heat generated is produced by the flow of current through the electrical resistance offered by the tissue. The greater this resistance, the greater the heat generated.
Accordingly, a need exists for an ablation instrument that can provide greater access and precision to the target area while providing a partial isolation of the target area.

Ablation instruments and related methods


A method and apparatus for DTMF detection and voice mixing in the code-excited linear prediction (CELP) parameter space, without fully decoding and reconstructing the speech signal. The apparatus includes a Dual Tone Multiplexed Frequency (DTMF) signal detection module and a multi-input mixing module. The DTMF signal detection module detects DTMF signals by computing characteristic features from the input CELP parameters and comparing them with known features of DTMF signals. The multi-input mixing module mixes multiple sets of input CELP parameters, that represent multiple voice signals, into a single set of CELP parameters. The mixing computation is performed by analyzing each set of input CELP parameters, determining the order of importance of the input sets, selecting a strategy for mixing the CELP parameters, and outputting the mixed CELP parameters. The method includes inputting one or more sets of CELP parameters and external commands, detecting DTMF tones, mixing multiple sets of CELP parameters and outputting the DTMF signal, if detected, and the mixed CELP parameters.

The present invention relates generally to processing telecommunication signals. More particularly, the invention provides a method and apparatus for performing DTMF (i.e., Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency) detection and voice mixing in the CELP (i.e., Code Excited Linear Prediction) domain. Specifically, it relates to a method and apparatus for detecting the presence of DTMF tones in a compressed signal from the CELP parameters, and also for mixing multiple input compressed voice signals, represented by multiple sets of CELP parameters, into a single set of CELP parameters. Merely by way of example, the invention has been applied to voice transcoding, but it would be recognized that the invention may has a much broader range of applicability.
Telecommunications techniques have developed over the years. Recently, there have been a variety of digital voice coders developed to meet certain bandwidth demands of different packet-networks and mobile communication systems. Digital voice coders provide compression of a digitized voice signal as well as reverse transformation functions. Rapid growth in diversity of networks and wireless communication systems generally requires that speech signals be converted between different compression formats. A conventional method for such conversion is to place two voice coders in tandem to serve a single connection. In such a case, the first compressed speech signal is decoded to a digitized signal through the first voice decoder, and the resulting digitized signal is re-encoded to a second compressed speech signal through the second voice encoder. Two voice coders in tandem are commonly referred to as a "tandem coding" approach. The tandem coding approach is to fully decode the compressed signal back to a digitized signal, such as Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) representation, and then re-encode the signal. This often requires a large amount of processing and incurs increased delays. More efficient approaches include technologies called smart transcoding, among others.
In addition to the requirements of voice transcoding among current diverse networks and wireless communication systems, it is also required to provide functionality for advanced feature processing. A specific example of can advanced feature is Dual Tone Multiplexed Frequency (DTMF) signal detection. DTMF signaling is widely used in telephone dialing, voice mail, electronic banking systems, even with Internet Protocol (IP) phones to key in an IP address. In telecommunications speech codecs, the in-band DTMF signals are encoded to a compressed bitstream. Conventional DTMF signal detection is performed in the speech signal space. As merely an example, the Goertzel algorithm with a two-pole Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) type filter is widely used to extract the necessary spectral information from an input digitized signal and to form the basis of DTMF detection.
When DTMF signal detection is required in voice transcoding, a tandem approach is commonly used. In this case, the input compressed speech signal has to be decoded back to the speech domain for DTMF signal detection, and then re-encoded to a compressed format. Since the processing in smart voice transcoding is performed in the CELP parameter space, known DTMF detection methods are often not suitable. Furthermore, known smart voice transcoding methods do not include DTMF signal detection functionality and are therefore limited.
Another specific example of an advanced feature for voice transcoding is the ability to handle multiple input signals. If the input signals are multiple speech signals; the voice mixer simply mixes the speech signals and outputs the mixed speech signal. However, in a packet network or a wireless communication system, the input signals are multiple compressed signals. Furthermore, with the current diversity of packet networks and wireless communication systems, the input signals may be in various compression formats. The conventional voice mixing solution performs mixing of the input packets by decoding the input packets into speech signals, mixing the speech signals, and re-encoding the mixed speech signals into output packets. This requires significant computational complexity to decode and re-encode each input compressed signal.
In an attempt to improve the voice quality produced by voice mixing for packet networks, certain "smart" conference bridging methods have been proposed. Although such method can provide side information and can improve the quality of mixed voice signals, it still uses a tandem approach that involves decoding, mixing in the speech space and re-encoding. This approach is often not suitable for a voice transcoder that operates in the CELP parameter space without going to the speech space.
From the above, it is seen that techniques for improved processing of telecommunication signals are highly desired.

Method and apparatus for DTMF detection and voice mixing in the CELP parameter domain


A coupling between the handle (2) and the machine housing (1) of a hand power tool having the greatest possible vibration damping is produced by the fact that the handle (2) is coupled with the machine housing (1) via two or more parallel levers (4, 5) situated nearly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (3) of the hand power tool, whereby the levers (4, 5) are hinge-mounted on the machine housing (1) on the one hand and on the handle (2) on the other hand.

The present invention concerns a hand power tool with vibration-damped handle that is coupled with the machine housing using damping means.
In the case of hand power tools having a striking drive in particular, e.g., drilling hammers, chipping hammers, and the like, extremely strong vibrations are produced in the machine that are transferred to the handle of the machine and are not only uncomfortable for the operator, but they can be harmful as well. Measures are made known in DE 195 03 526 A1 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,456, for example, for damping the handle of a hand power tool against vibrations. These measures are based on the fact, for example, that the handle is joined at one end with the machine housing via a damping spring or a spring system, and that the handle is joined on the opposite end with the machine housing by means of a pivot joint. It is also proposed in DE 195 03 526 A1 that the handle is joined at both ends with the machine housing via a vibration-damping material, e.g., thermoplastic elastomer plastic. It has also been common so far to join the handle with the machine housing at two points. Even when one or two coupling points are equipped with damping means, a relatively high amount of vibrations is still transferred from the machine housing to the handle.
The use of one or more active, electrically controllable damping elements to dampen vibrations between the handle and the machine housing that counteract the vibrations of the machine housing is made known in WO 98/21014.
The invention is based on the object of providing a hand power tool having a handle of the type originally described that is joined to the machine housing of the hand power tool in a fashion that provides the greatest possible vibration damping.

Hand tool machine comprising a vibration-dampened handle


Apparatus and methods for characterizing the physical state of a barrier installed in a borehole traversing a formation including locating an ultrasonic tool with a plurality of spaced receivers and a transmitter at a location in the borehole, activating the ultrasonic tool to form ultrasonic waveforms, wherein the spaced receivers record the ultrasonic waveforms, aligning the transmitter and the spaced receivers, wherein the ultrasonic waveforms comprise propagated Lamb modes, processing the ultrasonic waveforms to obtain a first amplitude dispersion plot of attenuation as a function of frequency and first phase dispersion plot of phase velocity as a function of frequency, processing attenuation dispersions to identify discontinuities, and relating the discontinuities to barrier wavespeeds.

Acoustic evaluation of well cement integrity is important to determine if cement or an equivalent sealing material has been placed in the annulus between casing and formation and if it provides hydraulic zonal isolation between formation strata traversed by the drilled well. Failed zonal isolation can lead to significant consequences on the environment as well as on the economic viability of well production.

Cement acoustic properties from ultrasonic signal amplitude dispersions in cased wells


A fuel cell system includes a cell stack, a temperature sensor which detects a temperature of the cell stack, an outside air temperature sensor which detects an outside air temperature, and a CPU which controls a process in the fuel cell system. When the temperature of the cell stack is lower than a predetermined temperature, the fuel cell system performs a temperature raising operation of the cell stack by making the concentration of aqueous methanol solution in an aqueous solution tank higher than in a normal operation and by making an output of an aqueous solution pump greater than in the normal operation. The CPU sets a run time for the temperature raising operation based on a detection result from the outside air temperature sensor, a detection result from the temperature sensor, and a run time setting table which is stored in a memory. The fuel cell system is capable of raising a temperature of the fuel cell quickly and stably to the predetermined temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel cell system, and more specifically, to a fuel cell system which performs a temperature raising operation which increases the temperature of the fuel cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, in fuel cell systems, it is a known fact that as the fuel cell attains a predetermined temperature, the system shifts to a normal operation where constant power generation is possible. There has been a constant demand that the system should be able to shift to normal operation quickly, and there have been a number of proposals for a fuel cell system which performs a temperature raising operation which is aimed at a quick increase in the temperature of the fuel cell. For example, there are a fuel cell system which uses a heater to perform a temperature raising operation, and a fuel cell system which performs a temperature raising operation by decreasing the amount of the aqueous fuel solution circulating in the system. As another example, JP-A 61-269865 discloses a fuel cell system which performs a temperature raising operation by increasing the concentration of the aqueous fuel solution to a value higher than a value for normal operation. Also, JP-A 2006-286239 discloses a fuel cell system which makes an adjustment on the concentration of aqueous fuel solution and on the voltage of the fuel cell based on a difference between the temperature of the fuel cell and a target temperature, thereby achieving a stable power supply to electric appliances while performing a temperature raising operation.
In all of these techniques, the temperature raising operation is stopped once the temperature of the fuel cell has become not lower than a predetermined temperature. The fuel cell's cooling capability is influenced by the outside air temperature (ambient temperature), so if the outside air temperature is high, the temperature of the fuel cell continues to increase after the temperature raising operation has been stopped, and the temperature of the fuel cell becomes too high as compared to a predetermined target temperature. This poses a problem of accelerated deterioration of the fuel cell. In particular, fuel cell systems which use liquid fuel are apt to accelerated deterioration of the fuel cell since their thermal capacity is higher than those fuel cell systems which use gaseous fuel. In other words, once the temperature of the fuel cell systems becomes excessive, it will not decrease quickly.


In a screen printer for printing paste to the substrate through a pattern hole by abutting a mask plate on the substrate, the end face of a side end portion of the substrate is nipped and held from its both sides by a clamper. A warp correcting portion mounting a warp-correcting member constructed by a plate-shaped resilient metal is arranged in the clamper. When the substrate held to a substrate holding portion of a Z-axis table is clamped, a free end portion of the warp correcting member is abutted on the upper face side of the side end portion of the substrate, and the warp deformation of the substrate is corrected by pressing the free end portion downward. Thus, the warp deformation of the substrate is corrected by a simple and cheap mechanism, and the clamp state can be reliably held.

The present invention relates to a screen printer for printing paste such as cream solder, electrically conductive paste, etc. to a substrate.
In a mounting process of an electronic part, screen printing is used as a method for printing paste such as cream solder, electrically conductive paste, etc. onto the substrate. In this method, a mask plate having a pattern hole arranged in accordance with a printing object part is abutted on the substrate and a squeegee is slid by supplying the paste onto the mask plate so that the paste is printed onto the substrate through the pattern hole.
In the screen printing, it is necessary to closely attach the substrate to the mask plate, and correctly hold the position of the substrate so as not to cause a horizontal position shift. Therefore, a lower receiving portion abutted on the lower face of the substrate and supporting the substrate, and a clamp mechanism for nipping a side end portion of the substrate from both sides thereof and holding the position of the substrate are arranged in a substrate holding portion for holding the substrate.
There are many cases in which the carried-in substrate is generally flexed, warped and deformed in the thickness direction. Therefore, a screen printer in which a mechanism for correcting the flexure by pressing the substrate held to the substrate holding portion from the upper side is arranged in a place except for a printing position is known for the purpose of correcting the warp of the substrate in the clamping in the substrate holding portion (e.g., see Japanese Patent Publication 2001-38876).
However, in the above conventional screen printer, an equipment occupying area and equipment cost are increased by separately arranging the mechanism for correcting the flexure, and disadvantages of clamp dislocation explained below are easily caused. Namely, in the above screen printer, it is necessary to move the substrate holding position until the printing position after the substrate is clamped. However, in the case of the substrate of a kind tending to be strongly warped, the disadvantage that the substrate is dislocated from the clamp state during this movement is caused. Thus, in the conventional screen printer, a problem exists in that it is difficult to reliably hold the clamp state by correcting the warp deformation of the substrate by a simple and cheap mechanism.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A system for contextualizing machine indeterminable information based on machine determinable information may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store an electronic document image which may include information determinable by a machine and information indeterminable by a machine. The processor may be operative to receive, via the interface, the electronic document image. The processor may determine the machine determinable information of the electronic document image and may identify the machine indeterminable information of the electronic document image. The processor may contextualize the machine indeterminable information based on the machine determinable information. The processor may present the contextualized machine indeterminable information to the user to facilitate interpretation thereof. In response thereto, the processor may receive, via the interface, data representative of a user determination associated with the machine indeterminable information.

Although many transactions formerly performed using physical documents are now performed online or otherwise electronically, there still remain many transactions which are mainly performed using physical documents, particularly in the banking, healthcare and financial industries. For example, any transaction requiring an actual signature of a person may typically be performed via the exchange of physical documents bearing the requisite signature. These transactions may be performed using forms, upon which a person may provide information, make one or more selections and/or provide a signature. The forms may then be sent to a receiving organization which handles, collates and otherwise processes the forms. The forms may be sent to the receiving organization physically, such as via standard mail, or the forms may be sent to the receiving organization electronically, such as via email, facsimile, or any other form of electronic communication. The receiving organization may be provided or contracted by one or more entities, such as one or more banks, healthcare service firms, financial service firms, or generally any organization which receives or otherwise processes physical forms or other physical documents. Upon receiving the forms, the organization may review each form to determine that the form was filled out correctly and contains any required handwritten information. The organization may extract the handwritten information from the form, or otherwise validate the form, and may classify the form for further processing based on the context of the form. Since the number of forms received by the receiving organization can number well into the hundreds of thousands, the receiving organization may desire an efficient and accurate mechanism for extracting information from the forms, classifying the forms and routing the forms to appropriate destinations for handling.

Contextualization of machine indeterminable information based on machine determinable information


A method for operating a steering system of a vehicle, wherein an actuator is provided for generating a moment at a steering handle of the vehicle, wherein the following steps are carried out: generating the moment up to a maximum moment if the maximum moment is enabled, and up to a lower limited moment if the maximum moment is limited, identifying a vehicle situation of the vehicle, enabling the maximum moment if the vehicle situation is identified as being a boarding and/or deboarding situation in order to brace the steering handle, and limiting the maximum moment if the vehicle situation is identified as being driving operation of the vehicle.

This background section is provided for the purpose of generally describing the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventor(s), to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
It is known from the prior art to use an additional actuator in steering systems of vehicles that applies a restoring moment to a steering wheel. This can also be referred to as a force-feedback steering wheel. In this way, driving comfort is increased, in particular in steer-by-wire steering systems. In steer-by-wire steering systems, the steering command is transmitted electrically. Accordingly, a mechanical coupling may not be provided between the steering wheel and the steering gear. This therefore creates high safety requirements for the functions of a steering system of this kind.
It can be technically complex to implement these higher safety requirements for the actuator and/or the force-feedback steering wheel. In particular, it may be necessary to prevent excessively high moments during driving operation that could lead to dangerous operating situations.
Generic methods and/or systems are known from DE 101 59 330 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,176 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 9,037,352 B2.


The present invention discloses an electronic smoking device, comprising a power supply, a controller and a heater, wherein the heater is a cylindrical shape having in the middle a heating chamber into which a cigarette is inserted, and the heater comprises at least one heating unit comprising an electronic switch and an annular electric heating element; and the electric heating element is connected to the power supply by the electronic switch, and a control terminal of the electronic switch is connected to a control signal output terminal of the controller. In the present invention, tobacco in a cigarette is heated by an electric heater so that a smoker can just smoke nicotine produced by heating the tobacco. The electric heater will not produce naked flame and therefore the heated tobacco will not produce tar and carbon monoxide, so that the harm of the tobacco to the smoker can be reduced.

Smoke of tobacco contains at least three chemical substances: tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide. Tar is a mixture of several substances and will be condensed into a viscous carcinogen in the lung. The boiling point of nicotine is 247° C., and nicotine is an addictive drug which is absorbed by the lung and mainly acts on the nervous system. Carbon monoxide is produced by incomplete combustion of tobacco, can reduce the ability of erythrocytes to transport oxygen to the whole body and is of great harm to the human body.
During smoking, except for the outer part of the cigarette, other parts are basically combusted in the case of insufficient oxygen and most of carcinogens such as tar are produced at 500° C. to 900° C. Tar and carbon monoxide which are produced during smoking enter the respiratory tract of smokers following the smoke flow and thus cause harm to the smokers.

Electric heater based electronic smoking device


A fuel filter device includes a bag-shaped filter member and is adapted to be attached to communicate an inner space of the filter member with a fuel suction opening in a fuel tank. The filter member is configured in a multilayer structure. At least one layer of the filter member is configured to serve as an inhibition layer having a structure to prevent water in a fuel tank form coming into the inner space of the filter member by a pressure applied to the filter member when the water is frozen.

As a device attached to a fuel suction opening disposed in a fuel tank for, e.g. an automobile and a motorcycle to filter fuel sucked through the suction opening by a fuel pump, there has been known a filter device which includes a bag-shaped member formed of a filter material (see JP-A-2000-246026). In such a type of filter device, it is necessary to sufficiently separate water from oil. Even if it is possible to reliably separate water from oil in a normal situation, it is likely that the pressure generated by the volume expansion of frozen water in water freeze presses water into a filter in, e.g. cold climates, with the result that the water is frozen in the filter. Even if water is frozen as stated above, it has been desired to prevent water from coming into the filter device.


In a vacuum cleaner, by including a casing having a certain internal space; a suction force generating unit installed in the casing to generate a suction force and discharge sucked air; a head unit combined with the casing to suck impurities on the bottom with air by a suction force of the suction force generating unit or discharge air sucked from the outside; a filter unit for filtering off impurities in air sucked through the head unit or ambient air received from the outside; a flow channel switch connected with the head unit, the filter unit and the suction force generating unit so as to selectively switch a flow channel in order to guide air including impurities sucked through the head unit by the suction force of the suction force generating unit or make ambient air introduced in the flow channel switch flow to the head unit; and plural pipes for providing passages of air flowing in the head unit, the filter unit, the suction force generating unit and the flow channel switch, it is possible to perform not only a function for suctioning those on the surface to be cleaned but also a function for blowing dirt or debris lay on curtains or window frames.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and in particular to a vacuum cleaner used for blowing dirt or debris on curtains or window frames as well as for suctioning those on the surface to be cleaned.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a vacuum cleaner is an electric home appliance for cleaning an indoor space of a house or a building or a car. It is possible to remove impurities such as dust by using a vacuum suction force of the vacuum cleaner.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the conventional vacuum cleaner, and FIG. 2 is a plane view illustrating a main body of the conventional vacuum cleaner.
As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vacuum cleaner includes a main body 1 having a suction fan for generating a suction force; a flexible hose 2 connected to the front of the main body 1 to guide impurities sucked from a surface to be cleaned; a handle 3 combined with an end of the flexible hose 2 so as to have a selection mode for selecting a cleaning mode by a user; an extended pipe 4 extended-combined with the other end of the handle 3; and a head unit 5 combined with the end of the extended pipe 4 in order to suck impurities from a surface to be cleaned.
The main body 1 of the vacuum cleaner includes a casing 1a for forming an external shape and an internal space; a suction force generating unit 1b having a suction fan installed at a side of the casing 1a and a motor; a filter unit 1c installed at the other side of the casing 1a so as to have a filter; a suction pipe 1d for connecting the flexible hose 2 to a side of the filter unit 1c and guiding impurities sucked into the flexible hose 2 into the filter unit 1c; a guide pipe 1e for connecting the filter unit 1c with the suction force generating unit 1b and guiding air passed the filter unit 1c into the suction force generating unit 1b; and a discharge pipe 1f connected to the suction force generating unit 1b to discharge air passed the filter unit 1c to the outside.
The operation of the conventional vacuum cleaner will be described.
First, when a user applies power to the vacuum cleaner and selects a cleaning mode with the selection mode on the handle 3, a suction force is generated by the suction force generating unit 1b, and accordingly the user performs cleaning by holding the handle 3 and moving the head unit 5 back-force and left-right. Herein, impurities on the bottom surface are sucked through a nozzle (not shown) of the head unit 5, pass the extended pipe 4 and flexible hose 2 and are filtered by the filter unit 1c connected to the suction pipe 1d. The filtered air passes the guide pipe 1e and the suction force generating unit 1b and is discharged to the outside through a discharge hole D formed at a side of the discharge pipe 1f and the casing 1a.
Because the conventional vacuum cleaner has a function only for sucking impurities on the bottom surface by using a suction force, the conventional vacuum cleaner cannot shake the dust off a window frame and brushing up the dust on a fabric such as a curtain or it is difficult for the conventional vacuum cleaner to remove the dust because a fabric is stuck on the head unit of the vacuum cleaner.

Vacuum cleaner with flow channel switch for blowing and sucking air


A multiple printing apparatus is capable of performing multiple printing, e.g. multi-stage printing, multi-color printing at extremely high speed by one sequence of feed in one direction. The multiple printing apparatus comprises a plurality of printing heads arranged in series along a direction of motion a printing object in relative movement between said printing heads and said printing object, and control means for selectively controlling each of the printing heads between operative position and inoperative position independently of the other printing heads.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a multiple printing apparatus. More specifically, the invention relates to a multiple printing apparatus which can perform overlapping printing.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has been widely spread in manufacturing plants and so forth to attach labels with printed bar code or so forth on parts for mechanical or visual identification. Nowadays, there are needs for coloring of the labels for easier identification. Also, there is a trend to develop mechanical color recognition apparatus to increase density of label information.
However, in order to cope with such coloring of the labels, it becomes necessary to separate ink ribbons as printing mediums into respective colors and to control shifting of these ink ribbons so as to register the label as a printing object at a desired color position for printing. This inevitably makes a shift control mechanism complicate. Also, when a multi-color printing or color overlapping is required, it becomes necessary to perform printing with reciprocally shifting the printing object to make the shift control mechanism further complicate and to require long period for printing.
It may be a solution for such problem to arrange printing apparatuses in multi-stage for printing different colors in different printing apparatuses. However, in such case, cost for facility becomes significantly high and the length of line of the printing apparatus becomes too long.


An image compression device includes a transformation part for subjecting image data to frequency decomposition and for determining transformation coefficients, a coefficient adjustment part for altering the transformation coefficients according to imaging conditions for obtaining the image data, and an encoding part for encoding the altered transformation coefficients.

1. Field of The Invention
The present invention relates to an image compression device, and more particularly, to an image compression device that subjects image data to image compression.
The present invention also relates to an image compression method, and more particularly, to an image compression method that subjects image data to image compression.
The present invention also relates to an electronic camera, and more particularly, to an electronic camera in which an image compression device is mounted.
The present invention also relates to a computer-readable medium for image compression, and more particularly, to a computer-readable medium for image compression that may be used to cause a computer to function as an image compression device.
The present invention also relates to a computer system, and more particularly, to a computer system for compressing image data.
2. Discussion of The Related Art
Currently, a JPEG2000 compressed image file is produced by an encoding procedure, wherein an input image is subjected to color coordinate transformation and then the input image is divided into a plurality of rectangular areas (tile images) as necessary, and each of the tile images undergoes encoding processing. During the encoding process, the tile images undergo wavelet transformation, quantization, bit modeling, region of interest (ROI) encoding, and arithmetical encoding, thereby generating encoded data.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a decomposition of image data into sub-bands by repetitive wavelet transformation. During wavelet transformation, the tile images are subjected to a discrete wavelet transformation in vertical and horizontal directions, such that the tile images are decomposed by frequency into a plurality of sub-bands (1LL, 1LH 1HL, and 1HH). Among these sub-bands, 1LL, which contains a direct current component, is subjected to a further discrete wavelet transformation, and is decomposed by frequency into a plurality of further sub-bands (2LL, 2LH, 2HL, 2HH).
During quantization, the wavelet transformation coefficients are quantized to a quantization step width that is determined for each sub-band. Moreover, during a lossy/lossless unified processing, the quantization step is set as a "1." During lossy compression, lower N bit planes are discarded during a subsequent discarding process. The discarding process is equivalent to a quantization step of "Nth power of 2."
Following the quantization step, the wavelet transformation coefficients are divided into encoding blocks of a fixed size such as 64 ×64, for example, within each of the sub-bands. The transformation coefficients within each encoding block are divided into sign bits and absolute values; then the absolute values are distributed among a natural binary number of bit planes. The bit planes thus constructed are encoded via three types of encoding passes such as significance pass, refinement pass and cleanup pass, for example, in order from the upper bit planes. Furthermore, the sign bits are encoded immediately after the uppermost bits of the corresponding absolute values appear in the bit plane.
The ROI encoding is a function that increases the decoded image quality of selected regions on the tile images by preferentially assigning amounts of information to the selected regions. In other words, the quantized transformation coefficients positioned in selected regions are shifted upward by S bits. As a result, the selected regions are shifted to higher bit planes, and are preferentially encoded over any bits in the non-selected regions. Furthermore, in the case of a max shift method, the bit shift number S is set at a value that is greater than the number of places of the uppermost bits of the non-selected regions. As a result, the non-zero transformation coefficients of the selected regions are always values that are equal to or greater than "2 to the power of S." Accordingly, at the time of decoding, the transformation coefficients of the selected regions can easily be restored by selectively shifting downward any quantized values that are equal to or greater than "2 to the power of S."
During arithmetical encoding, the encoded data is further subjected to arithmetical encoding by an MQ coder.
After the encoding process is completed, a bit stream is formed by arranging the encoded data of respective tile images in a specified order, such as SNR progressive, for example.
In general, in the case of image data, the space frequency distribution and amount of noise vary sharply according to settings of an electronic camera during imaging and to differences in the imaging environment. However, in conventional image compression processing, the same image compression processing is performed for all data even in the case of image data obtained under different imaging conditions. As a result, in the case of image data that is acquired under imaging conditions that differ from ordinary conditions, it is difficult to distribute effective information among the transformation coefficients of the respective sub-bands in accordance with amounts of noise that differ from the ordinary amounts of noise, so that the image deterioration that accompanies image compression processing tends to increase. Furthermore, image data that is acquired under imaging conditions that differ from ordinary conditions tends to suffer from problems in terms of image quality such as noise, for example, that is inherently conspicuous.

Image compression device, image compression method, electronic camera, computer-readable medium for image compression, and computer system for compressing image data


The invention provides TrkB agonist antibodies or antigen-binding fragments that specifically enhance TrkB signaling activities. The invention also provides therapeutic methods of using such antibodies for promoting survival and regeneration of retinal ganglion cells, and for treating or preventing subjects suffering from or at risk of developing various neurodegenerative conditions such as glaucoma.

The Trk family of receptors are important in physiological and disease processes in both neuronal and non-neuronal tissues. Amongst these receptor kinases, TrkB plays a key role in signaling for brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT3) and neurotrophin-4 (NT4), which are indispensable for the differentiation, survival and function of neurons in both the peripheral and central nervous systems. Binding of a neurotrophin to a Trk receptor extracellular domain initiates a signal transduction pathway, which leads to dimerization and autophosphorylation of the receptor. Autophosphorylation of TrkB leads to activation of signaling pathways including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phospholipase C-γ and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3-K).
Both BDNF and TrkB have been shown to play critical roles in the survival of retinal ganglion cells in the retina. It has been suggested that aberrant TrkB signaling and its compromise contribute to the development of various neuropathies and degenerative conditions such as glaucoma. Glaucoma is the second most common eye disease leading to blindness, affects >60M people worldwide with a US prevalence of approximately 2.3M diagnosed cases. Primarily a "plumbing" problem that leads to elevated intra-ocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma results in damage to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons that convey all visual stimuli to the brain. While numerous drugs and devices are approved to lower TOP, as yet no drugs have been developed that prevents, slows or reverses RGC or other retinal neuronal cell atrophy and loss that would stave off blindness that eventually occurs in >10% of glaucoma patients. The ability to specifically modulate TrkB signaling can be critical in various pathological scenarios associated with this pathway.
There is a strong need in the art for means for promoting TrkB and BDNF signaling activities in the treatment of various retinal diseases and disorders, especially neuropathies including glaucoma. For example, current glaucoma treatment options reduce TOP but do not reverse RGC degeneration. The instant invention is directed to addressing these and other needs.

TrkB agonist antibodies and methods for treating an ocular degenerative disorder characterized by degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs)


A bias circuit for a bipolar transistor includes a constant voltage source connected to a base electrode of the bipolar transistor; and a resistor connected in series between the constant voltage source and the base electrode of the bipolar transistor. By selecting an appropriate resistance for this resistor, the bias point moves due to a change in the voltage drop across the resistor. The change occurs because the base current flowing through the resistor changes, whereby the operating class of the transistor changes, resulting in a high efficiency at a desired output power.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit structure of a portable telephone in general use. In FIG. 14, reference numeral 101 designates an antenna, numeral 102 designates a duplexer (hereinafter referred to as a DUP), numeral 103 designates a low noise amplifier (hereinafter referred to as an LNA) for amplifying an input signal, and numeral 104 designates a demodulator for demodulating the signal amplified by the LNA 103. Reference numeral 105 designates a frequency synthesizer, numeral 106 designates an analog-to-digital converter (hereinafter referred to as an ADC) for converting an analog signal output from the demodulator 104 into a digital signal, and numeral 107 designates a temperature compensated crystal oscillator (hereinafter referred to as a TCXO). Reference numeral 108 designates a signal processor, numeral 109 designates a digital signal processor (hereinafter referred to as a DSP), numeral 110 designates an ADC for converting an analog signal from a microphone 111 into a digital signal and outputting the digital signal to the DSP 109, numeral 112 designates a digital-to-analog converter (hereinafter referred to as a DAC) for converting a digital signal output from the DSP 109 into an analog signal and outputting the analog signal to a speaker 113, numeral 114 designates a controller, numeral 115 designates a display, such as a liquid crystal display, numeral 116 designates a console provided with input buttons, such as numeric keys, and numeral 117 designates a memory. Reference numeral 118 designates a DAC for converting a digital signal output from the signal processor into an analog signal, numeral 119 designates an orthogonal modulator for orthogonally modulating a signal output from the DAC 118, and numeral 120 designates an amplifier for amplifying a signal output from the orthogonal modulator 119.
In the transmitter side amplifier 120 (high power amplifier) in the portable telephone thus constructed, a bipolar transistor is usually used as an amplifier element to amplify a microwave signal output from the orthogonal modulator 119 with high efficiency. Besides, bipolar transistors are used as amplifier elements in a high power amplifier for transmission from a base station and in a high power amplifier mounted on a communication satellite.
There are only two operating modes of a bipolar transistor, i.e., a base voltage (V.sub.B) constant operating mode and a base current (I.sub.B) constant operating mode. These modes have their respective merits and demerits.
FIG. 15 shows measurement results of I/O characteristics of an HBT (Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor) with a single emitter having a size of 2.times.20 .mu.m.sup.2. The bias conditions are V.sub.CE =8 V and I.sub.B =1.75 mA, that is, V.sub.CE and I.sub.B are constant. The measuring frequency is 18 GHz. Here, "constant" means that the time average of V.sub.CE (I.sub.) is constant.
As shown in FIG. 15, when P.sub.in is higher than 11 dBm, the base voltage (V.sub.BE) decreases. In FIG. 15, V.sub.BE is the time average of the base voltage V.sub.BE.
In FIG. 15, when P.sub.in is 14 dBm, providing the highest efficiency, V.sub.BE is already as low as 1.062 V. Since the ON voltage of the HBT is about 1.30 V, the change of V.sub.BE with the passage of time is as shown in FIG. 16(a). Since the collector current (I.sub.CE) does not flow at a voltage lower than the ON voltage, the change of I.sub.CE with the passage of time is as shown in FIG. 16(b). That is, I.sub.CE flows like a pulse only when V.sub.BE exceeds the ON voltage (about 1.30 V). Therefore, class "C" operation of the transistor is realized, resulting in a high efficiency operation of the transistor. When P.sub.in =-4 dBm, V.sub.BE =1.318 V and I.sub.CE =11.65 mA. Therefore, when the input amplitude is small, the transistor performs in class "A" operation. With an increase in the input amplitude, the operation class changes automatically from "B" (P.sub.in =12 dBm) to "C" (P.sub.in .gtoreq.13 dBm).
A description is given of the reason why the bias point changes from "A" at the initial setting, through "B" to "C". In the example mentioned above, the measuring conditions are V.sub.CE =8 V (constant) and I.sub.B =1.75 mA (constant). Here, "constant" means that the time average of V.sub.CE (I.sub.B) is constant. However, since it is unthinkable that V.sub.CE vary with the input amplitude, the bias point cannot get move off the line of V.sub.CE =8 V. In addition, "I.sub.B is constant" means ##EQU1##
FIG. 17 shows load curves on the assumption that the bias point Q does not move with an increase in the input amplitude. Hereinafter, an investigation is made into a case where the input amplitude is small (P.sub.in1), and a case where the input amplitude is large, and the output current amplitude is already restricted by the x axis (I.sub.CE =0 mA) on the high V.sub.CE side and moves along the x axis (P.sub.in2 ). FIGS. 18(a) and 18(b) show changes of I.sub.B and I.sub.CE with the passage of time, respectively, in the case of P.sub.in1. FIGS. 19(a) and 19(b) show changes of I.sub.B and I.sub.CE with the passage of time, respectively, in the case of P.sub.in2.
The fact that the bias point Q does not move means that the center of the amplitude of I.sub.B is on I.sub.B =1.75 mA. In order to satisfy formula (1), hatched regions A and B in FIG. 18(a) must have the relationship of A=B, and hatched regions A' and B' in FIG. 19(a) must have the relationship of A'=B'. In FIG. 18(a), A=B is realized because I.sub.B does not become 0. However, in FIG. 19(a) where the input amplitude is large, since I.sub.B cannot take a negative value, A'<B' results, so that formula (1) is not satisfied. So, in order to increase the input amplitude with formula (1) being satisfied, the bias point Q moves downward along the line of V.sub.CE =8 V. FIG. 20 shows load curves in the case where the bias point Q moves downward. As shown in FIG. 20, with an increase in the input amplitude (P.sub.in1 .fwdarw.P.sub.in2 .fwdarw.P.sub.in3), the bias point moves downward (Q.sub.1 .fwdarw.Q.sub.2 .fwdarw.Q.sub.3) to satisfy formula (1). FIGS. 21(a) and 21(b), 21(c) and 21(d), and 21(e) and 21(f), respectively show changes of I.sub.B and I.sub.CE with time at the input levels P.sub.in1, P.sub.in2, and P.sub.in3, respectively. In order to satisfy formula (1), the area of the hatched region in the figure must always be constant (I.sub.B (=1.75 mA).times..DELTA.t). In order to make the area constant, an increment in the area due to the increase in the amplitude is canceled, whereby the center value of the amplitude is lowered. In other words, the bias point Q moves downward. As shown in FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b), under a condition where the efficiency attains the maximum value, since V.sub.BE (=1.06 V) is lower than the ON voltage, it is thinkable that the transistor is in the state of P.sub.in3, so that the class "C" operation of the transistor is realized, resulting in a high-efficiency operation of the transistor. This result is attributed to the fact that the theoretical efficiency attained in the class "C" operation of the bipolar transistor is 100% whereas the theoretical efficiency attained in the class "AB" operation is about 70% at best.
As described above, when a bipolar transistor is operated by a bias circuit with constant I.sub.B since V.sub.B drops, the bias point, i.e., the operating class, changes (for example, "AB".fwdarw."B".fwdarw."C"), whereby a high efficiency is achieved while maintaining a linear of gain.
However, the reduction of V.sub.B with the increase in P.sub.in causes a disadvantage that P.sub.out does not increase. For example, when a bipolar transistor used as an amplifier in a portable telephone is operated by a bias circuit with constant I.sub.B, an output power needed when the telephone is used in a place distant from the base station is not sufficiently obtained. In order to increase P.sub.out (I.sub.C) in the I.sub.B constant operating mode, I.sub.B must be increased. However, since to increase I.sub.B is to increase the initial bias current (I.sub.idle) in the state with no input signal (P.sub.in), the efficiency decreases in the region where P.sub.in is low. In addition, when I.sub.idle is high, the power consumption increases and the junction temperature increases.
On the other hand, in the V.sub.B constant operating mode, since I.sub.B and I.sub.C (collector current) increase with an increase in the RF input (P.sub.in), the RF output (P.sub.out) increases, whereby a P.sub.out higher than a certain value is secured even though the initial bias current (I.sub.idle) is lowered. However, since V.sub.B is constant, the bias point, i.e., the operating class, is fixed. As a result, a high efficiency cannot be realized while maintaining linearity of gain.
As described above, in the conventional bias circuit for operating a bipolar transistor, the bipolar transistor is operated with a constant base voltage or a constant base current. However, in a bias circuit with a constant base voltage, a high efficiency cannot be realized while maintaining linearity of gain. On the other hand, in the bias circuit with a constant base current, a sufficient output power cannot be obtained when the input amplitude is large.


An abrasive waterjet system in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology includes a cutting head, a catcher downstream from the cutting head, and a conveyance configured to carry slurry including abrasive material and liquid collected from the catcher toward the cutting head. The cutting head includes a jet-forming orifice and a mixing chamber downstream from the jet-forming orifice. The cutting head also includes a slurry inlet through which the mixing chamber receives slurry including abrasive material and liquid collected from the catcher. The abrasive waterjet system can be configured for substantially closed-loop recycling of wet abrasive material. This can be useful, for example, to increase abrasive material utilization efficiency and to decrease abrasive material disposal costs. These and/or other benefits may be realized both in the context of low pressure abrasive waterjet systems and in the context of high pressure abrasive waterjet systems.

Abrasive waterjet systems are used in precision cutting, shaping, carving, reaming, and other material processing applications. During operation of an abrasive waterjet system, a cutting head directs a high-velocity jet of liquid carrying particles of abrasive material toward a workpiece to rapidly erode portions of the workpiece. Abrasive waterjet processing has significant advantages over other material processing technologies (e.g., grinding, plasma-cutting, etc.). For example, abrasive waterjet systems tend produce relatively fine and clean cuts without heat-affected zones around the cuts. Abrasive waterjet systems also tend to be highly versatile with respect to the material type of the workpiece. The range of materials that can be processed using abrasive waterjet systems includes very soft materials (e.g., rubber, foam, leather, and paper) as well as very hard materials (e.g., stone, ceramic, and hardened metal). Furthermore, in many cases, abrasive waterjet systems are capable of executing demanding material processing operations while generating little or no dust, smoke, or other potentially toxic airborne byproducts.
Conventionally, abrasive material is passed through a cutting head of an abrasive waterjet system only one time and then discarded. This practice is wasteful because some abrasive material is still usable after one pass through a cutting head. For example, some abrasive material incorporated into a jet may be carried by a portion of the jet that does not contact a workpiece being processed. Wasting abrasive material is especially problematic when the abrasive material is used to process workpieces containing hazardous material (e.g., lead, beryllium copper, etc.). In these cases, disposal costs may approach or exceed material costs. Accordingly, there is a need for innovation in the field of abrasive material utilization in abrasive waterjet processing, such as to reduce or eliminate waste of abrasive material and/or to reduce or eliminate unduly high disposal costs.

Recirculation of wet abrasive material in abrasive waterjet systems and related technology


Techniques are provided for a coordinated microservice system including a coordinator and multiple services, which interact with each other. Each of the services can have multiple execution instances, which run independently of each other. In operation, the current status of each instance is evaluated against one or more rules to determine whether the current status changes the topography of the services and updating the topography based on the changes. An execution plan is created for executing a command based on one or more predefined rules and the updated topography, where the execution plan includes one or more steps for executing the command on each instance of the service. The execution plan is executed on each instance of the service in accordance with the one or more predefined rules.

In a distributed computing environment, various services can be deployed across multiple computing platforms to perform specialized operations. In some situations, one or more primary services rely on secondary or tertiary services to perform certain operations. For example, a primary service can include a front-end application that relies on a secondary service for accessing a back-end database. When many such primary services simultaneously access the secondary (or tertiary) service, the secondary (or tertiary) service can become overwhelmed with requests, leading to degraded performance for some or all of the primary services.

Dynamically coordinated service maintenance operations and adaptive service polling for microservices


An intact core sample from a soil area, such as a golf green or a ball field, is embedded in molded plastic. The core sample first is obtained, and then adhesively bonded together prior to molding it in clear plastic to preserve the soil core sample in an intact and durable fashion for subsequent visual examination of the composition of the soil core sample.

In the development and maintenance of turf grass areas, such as golf greens or baseball and football fields, the composition of the underlying soil plays a significant part in the health and characteristics of the turf grass. In the original development of grass areas and in the subsequent monitoring of such areas for maintenance purposes, soil core samples are taken for analysis by experts to determine the proper nutrients to be used, watering amounts and intervals, as well as possible replacement or modification of particular areas, depending upon the characteristics of the soil core sample. It also is desirable, over the life of a golf green or a ball field, periodically to obtain samples from the same area of the field to determine how the soil composition changes over time to determine whether or not soil replacement or particular soil enhancement steps should be taken.
An early patent directed to the obtaining of soil core samples is the Melberg U.S. Pat. No. 1,109,446. This patent discloses a cutting tool which is pressed into the soil, and which includes an outer metal cutting core with an interior sample glass receiving tube in it. The core sample is pressed upwardly into the glass tube; and after the sample has been withdrawn, a cork or sealing device is placed in the upper open end of the glass tube. The entire unit then is inverted; and the glass tube is removed from the outer cutting tube. The other end of the glass tube then is closed; and the soil core sample may be stored and viewed at a subsequent time. It should be noted that there is nothing in the device or method of Melberg which stabilizes the position of the various components of the soil sample within the tube.
The Vollweiler U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,336 is directed to a combination soil auger and soil core sampler, which in many aspects is similar to that of the Melberg patent. In Vollweiler, the interior cylindrical soil-retaining insert is disclosed as being made of a variety of materials, including thermoplastic materials and stainless steel. Obviously, if materials which are not transparent are employed, it is necessary to remove the soil sample from the sample retaining insert in order to examine it. In all other respects, the disclosure of the Vollweiler patent is similar to that of Melberg.
The Bush U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,857 is directed to a method for mounting or stabilizing relatively unstable core samples from an oil drilling bore hole. The sample is obtained in a conventional manner by the drilling apparatus. The sample then is inserted into a length of heat shrinkable tubing. End plugs are inserted at each end of the sample; and the tubing is heated to cause it to shrink onto and to conform to the outer circumferential surface of the core sample. The tubing is cut off at the opposite ends of the core sample (which have had plugs inserted into them previously), and the entire assembly then is frozen prior to cutting off or squaring the ends and mounting the sample for subsequent viewing.
The Hensel U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,099 also is directed to a method for preserving a core sample from an oil well core. In the Hensel device, the core sample is encased, during the coring operation, into a rubber sleeve. Subsequently, the rubber sleeve is frozen. The sleeve then is placed in an elongated horizontal form and is cast around the greater portion of its circumference. An exposed portion of the rubber sleeve then may be cut away to expose the core for subsequent viewing and testing. The device and method of this patent is fairly complex; and it is not a simple hand operated method and apparatus.
The Clements U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,484 is directed to a hand operated soil extraction tool which has a pivoting door extending substantially along the length of it; so that a withdrawn sample can be directly viewed in the tool after the sample has been removed.
The Manchak U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,790 is an oil core device which freezes the core in place prior to its removal from the ground. Once again, this is a complex system and method for obtaining an intact core sample.
Two additional United States patents directed to oil drilling apparatus for obtaining samples from deep within the earth are Collee U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,360,047 and 5,560,438. These patents are based on the same disclosure, and disclose a technique for encasing a core sample as it is being obtained. This is done by inserting a gel material into the core sample; and the gel material is designed to solidify at temperatures slightly lower than those expected down-hole. As the core sample is withdrawn, the gel-like material solidifies to encapsulate the core to maintain its integrity during withdrawal and during subsequent transportation.
It is desirable to provide an apparatus and method for obtaining and preserving core samples which maintains the integrity of the sample in a simple and efficient manner, and which preserves the sample for subsequent visual observation over an indefinite period of time.

Stabilized soil core samples and method for preparing same


A significantly thinner boron carbide overcoat layer is provided for a magnetic disk which has the same durability as thicker prior art overcoat layers for protecting an underlying magnetic layer. By employing adhesion layers selected from the group consisting of Ge, Ru, WTiSi, WTi, Si, and Y between the magnetic layer and the overcoat layer, the durability of the overcoat layer is significantly increased over a single overcoat layer of B4C. Certain process steps in the making of the B4C overcoat layer still further enhance the durability of the B4C overcoat layer by maintaining the disk or substrate specimen at a floating potential in a plasma chamber and employing low levels of argon pressure and sputtering wattage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a overcoat layer for a magnetic disk and more particularly to a very thin boron carbide overcoat layer which reduces spacing loss.
2. Description of the Related Art
A magnetic disk comprises a substrate, a magnetic layer on top of the substrate and an overcoat layer on top of the magnetic layer. The substrate provides support for the magnetic layer which can be magnetized with signal format and the overcoat layer protects the magnetic layer from wear due to contact with a slider. High density magnetic disk drives require that a magnetic head be positioned as close as possible to the magnetic layer of the disk. A typical drive has a density of about 1 gigabit per square inch (Gb/in.sup.2) of disk area. A goal, which has been set by the National Storage Institute Consortium (NSIC), is to develop a 10 Gb/in.sup.2 drive by the end of the 20th century. This means that bits must be written closer together in circular tracks on the disk, which is referred to as linear density, and the width of the circular tracks must be narrower, which is referred to as track density. The product of linear density and track density is referred to as areal density. As areal density is increased signal strength is decreased. As signal strength is decreased the magnetic head must be positioned closer to the magnetic layer of the disk in order to write and read weak signals with acceptable resolution. Two factors, which will be discussed hereinafter, impact on how close the magnetic head can be positioned to the magnetic layer of the disk, namely: (1) the flying height of the magnetic head above the disk and (2) the thickness of the overcoat layer on top of the magnetic layer of the disk.
The magnetic head is mounted on a slider which is supported by a suspension above a rotating disk. The suspension provides a slightly downward force which is counteracted by moving air which is generated by the rotating disk. The moving air provides an air bearing which supports the slider and magnetic head at a flying height slightly above the rotating disk. Considerable research is being undertaken to reduce the flying height in order to position the magnetic head as close as possible to the magnetic layer of the disk. The bulk of this research involves the configuration of the bottom surface of the slider which faces the disk, the bottom surface being referred to as an air bearing surface (ABS).
As stated hereinabove, the overcoat layer protects the magnetic layer from wear and damage caused by contact with the slider. When the disk starts rotating and stops rotating the slider takes off and lands on the disk. This is referred to as contact start and stop (CSS). In order to have acceptable durability the overcoat layer must withstand several hundred thousand contact starts and stops without noticeable wear. Unfortunately, the overcoat layer adds additional space between the magnetic head and the magnetic layer of the disk. The thickness of the overcoat layer adds to what is referred to as spacing loss. The typical overcoat layer is made from hydrogenated carbon. The thickness of this layer is 150 .ANG. or more in order to be acceptably durable. There is a strong felt need to reduce this thickness in order to position the magnetic head closer to the magnetic layer of the disk.
Boron carbide has been recognized for its superb low coefficient of friction and wear capabilities. See "Dry Friction and Wear of Chemically Vapour Deposited Boron Carbide Coatings" by Rey, Kapsa and Male in "Surface and Coatings Technology, 36 (1988) 375 and "Tribochemical interactions of boron carbides against steel" by Gogotsi, Koval'chenko and Kossko in "Wear", 154 (1992) 122-140. The first article investigated 30 micron thick boron carbide layers and the second article reported on a 10 micron thick boron carbide layer for automobile engine components. U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,850 suggests chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of 200-300 .ANG. of carbon and selected elements in specific ratios to form a protective layer for a magnetic disk. The patent also refers to various adhesion layers between the magnetic layer and the protective layer of the disk. U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,844 refers to 50-2000 .ANG. thick boron carbide protective layers for (1) magnetic disks where the carbon constituent increases from the underlaying magnetic layer toward the surface of the disk or (2) where the boron carbide layers are laminated with carbon layers. The patent did not provide any examples of protective layers less than 200 .ANG..

Magnetic disk with boron carbide overcoat layer

International Business Machines Corporation