A bulkhead for dividing passenger seating classes, and a passenger seating arrangement including a bulkhead, the bulkhead configured for attachment to the back of a first row of premium class passenger seats, wherein a backside of the bulkhead is fitted with amenities that serve an aft positioned second row of economy class seats, wherein the first row of seats includes a lesser number of seats than the second row of seats.

The present invention relates generally to bulkheads for dividing passenger seating classes, and more particularly, to a bulkhead integrated into the rear of a pair of premium class seats that is fitted with tray tables, video hardware and other amenities that serve an aft positioned row of economy class seats.
Aircraft cabins are typically divided into premium class seating at the forward end of the cabin and economy class seating in the middle and rear end of the cabin. Classes are typically divided at the seats by a bulkhead extending from floor to ceiling, and in the aisle by a curtain. Premium class seating typically includes larger, more comfortable seats, a less dense seating arrangement and personal amenities commensurate with the level of luxury of the seats. Economy class seating typically includes smaller seats, a more dense seating arrangement and often shared amenities.
Due to seat size and seating density differences between classes, it is common for rows in economy classes to include a greater number of seats than equal length rows in premium classes. For example, economy class rows may include three seats, while an equal length row in a premium class may include only two seats. When all rows of seats within the same class include the same number of seats, it is possible to locate each seat's amenities, such as a tray table, video hardware, storage pocket, etc., on the back of the seat in the row immediately forward. In the first row of economy seats, however, there is no immediate forward row of like number of seats, and thus first row seats require different amenity configurations and alternative mounting locations, which increase cost and complexity.
One solution for mounting front row economy class seat amenities involves utilizing the dedicated floor to ceiling bulkhead that divides the premium and economy classes. This solution is disadvantageous not only because it requires a dedicated bulkhead which consumes valuable floor space, but also requires custom amenity configurations for attaching to the bulkhead and servicing the first row.
Accordingly, to eliminate the need for a dedicated bulkhead and to simplify the seating arrangement within the cabin, what is needed is another way to divide the seating classes that can accommodate the transition between rows of different numbers of seats as well as accommodate the amenities for the first row in economy classes.


The fabrication of integrated circuits entails the repeated application of many basic processing steps, for instance, planarization—the process of making a surface flat, or planar. One specific technique for making surfaces flat is chemical-mechanical planarization, which typically entails applying slurry onto a surface of an integrated circuit and polishing the surface with a rotating polishing head. The head includes several holes, known as slurry dispensers, through which slurry is applied to the surface. After completion of a polishing operation, gas is forced through the slurry dispensers to separate the surface from the rotating head. Unfortunately, the gas dries slurry remaining on the surface, causing slurry particles to stick to the polished surface, which ultimately cause defects in integrated circuits. Accordingly, the inventor devised a new method of polishing that applies a polishing head to a surface, dispenses slurry through a slurry dispenser in the polishing head onto the surface, polishes the surface, and then dispenses a substantially particulate-free liquid through the slurry dispenser to facilitate separation of the polishing head and the surface and thereby avoid drying slurry on the surface.

Integrated circuits, the key components in thousands of electronic and computer products, are interconnected networks of electrical components fabricated on a common foundation, or substrate. Fabricators typically build the circuits layer by layer, using techniques, such as doping, masking, and etching, to form thousands and even millions of microscopic resistors, transistors, and other electrical components on a silicon substrate, known as a wafer. The components are then wired, or interconnected, together to define a specific electric circuit, such as a computer memory.
One important concern during fabrication is flatness, or planarity, of various layers of the integrated circuit. For example, planarity significantly affects the accuracy of a photo-imaging process, known as photomasking or photolithography, which entails focusing light on light-sensitive materials to define specific patterns or structures in a layer of an integrated circuit. In this process, the presence of hills and valleys in a layer means that various regions of the layer will be in or out of focus and that certain resulting structural features in the layer will be smaller or larger than intended. Moreover, hills and valleys can reflect light undesirably onto other regions of a layer and add undesirable features, such as notches, to desired features. These problems can be largely avoided if the layer is sufficiently planar.
One process for making surfaces flat or planar is known as chemical-mechanical planarization or polishing. Chemical-mechanical planarization, often called CMP for short, typically entails applying a fluid containing abrasive particles to a surface of an integrated circuit, and polishing the surface with a rotating polishing head. (In some instances, both the surface and the polishing head rotate.) The mixture of the fluid and abrasive particles is known as a slurry. The polishing head typically includes several holes, known as slurry dispensers, which dispense the slurry onto the surface during polishing. After polishing, a gas, such as air or nitrogen, is forced through the slurry dispensers to facilitate separation of the polished surface from the polishing head.
One problem that the inventor recognized with this planarization method is that forcing air or nitrogen through slurry dispensers immediately after polishing occasionally dries slurry on the polished surface, causing particles in the slurry to stick to the polished surface. Although the polished surface is sometimes rinsed following the polishing process, some of the particles remain on the polished surface as defects. Accordingly, there is a need for a chemical-mechanical planarization technique that reduces the chance of these defects.

System and method for reducing surface defects in integrated circuits


Embodiments are directed to using object serialization to communicate references to shim objects and to managing memory on worker processes of a distributed software application. In one scenario, a computer system instantiates shim objects on one or more ranks of a distributed application. The shim objects are configured to store a reference to an instance of a native partitioned array, where the reference includes a unique identifier for the native partitioned array instance. The computer system then serializes the shim objects for communication of the stored references from the master rank of the distributed application to various other worker ranks of the distributed application. Then, upon serializing the shim objects, the computer system communicates the shim object's stored references to the other worker ranks of the distributed application.

Computers have become highly integrated in the workforce, in the home, in mobile devices, and many other places. Computers can process massive amounts of information quickly and efficiently. Software applications designed to run on computer systems allow users to perform a wide variety of functions including business applications, schoolwork, entertainment and more. Software applications are often designed to perform specific tasks, such as word processor applications for drafting documents, or email programs for sending, receiving and organizing email.
In some cases, software applications may be distributed over multiple different computer systems. Such applications are referred to as "distributed applications". These applications may be divided into different portions, and each portion may be executed in parallel with the other portions. Similarly, applications may be configured to process data arrays. These arrays may be distributed arrays which are distributed over multiple different databases. Performing operations on these distributed arrays, however, is neither straightforward nor automatic.

Partitioned array objects in a distributed runtime


A substantially transparent liquid cleanser includes water, a fatty acid surfactant, and from about 0.1 weight percent to about 6 weight percent behenamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride. This cleanser provides a luxurious lather that cleanses, conditions, and can function as a shaving foam.

Body washes are growing in popularity as personal cleansers. These body washes are liquid cleansing compositions that can be used in the shower or bath instead of soap bar products. A body wash liquid can be applied directly to the skin, or can be applied to a washcloth, sponge or other carrier. Typically, these body wash cleansers provide a very weak and short-lived lather. Many consumers find such products inadequate, and that such cleansers do not leave their skin feeling sufficiently clean. Accordingly, a demand exists for a body wash that has a thick and long-lasting lather.
In addition, body cleansers with a fatty acid backbone do not typically appear clear due to their intrinsic chemistry. However, transparent products provide a unique appearance that is preferred by many consumers, since they can appear cleaner, more pure, and aesthetically more interesting than opaque cleansers Heretofore, a need has existed for a transparent body wash. The transparency of the cleansers of the present invention is due to their unique blend of fatty acids and neutralization.
The present inventors developed and marketed over a year ago a unique transparent body wash that is suitable as a cleanser and shaving foam. This body wash included: water, glycerin, sodium chloride (a viscosity increasing agent), tetrasodium EDTA, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol 300-NF, fatty acids, potassium hydroxide (a pH adjuster), sodium lauroamphoacetate, glycol distearate, preservatives, color and fragrance.
It has now surprisingly been discovered that body wash compositions of that type can be improved aesthetically by the addition of a behenamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride/PG/AQ, which acts as a skin conditioner and viscosity increasing agent. The resulting body wash has a superior feel and texture before and after lathering. The lather produced is a luxurious foam. Moreover, skin is left in an improved state--softer and less dry--after cleansing.


The present trolley is suitable for accommodating and conveying containers and apparatus for the commercial cleaning and disinfecting of floors and other surfaces, and as a collector for valuable substances and for other tasks involved in the commercial cleaning of buildings. The trolley has a base plate and substantially vertically aligned uprights. The base plate comprises at least one downwardly projecting shaft which is suitable for accommodating the uprights, and is additionally connected by struts to the underside of the base plate. The danger of breakage at the points where the uprights are secured to the base plate is considerably reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a transport trolley suitable for accommodating and transporting containers and utensils for the institutional cleaning and disinfection of floors and other surfaces, as a useful-material collector and for other tasks in the institutional cleaning of buildings, comprising a chassis also known as the baseplate and substantially vertical uprights.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Known transport trolleys are used as disinfection or waste-disposal trolleys or as useful-material collectors. They are also used in the institutional cleaning of buildings as so-called cleaning or equipment trolleys for carrying buckets for the cleaning liquid and the dirty water, floor mops, rubbish sacks and other utensils. The term "transport trolley" is used in the present specification for all these and similar trolleys.
Known transport trolleys offer more or less large useful surfaces for carrying cleaning utensils. They are particularly suitable for accommodating buckets, for example for cleaning liquids and dirty water, and relatively small cleaning utensils. However, the surface area of the base plate is generally not sufficient. Accordingly, uprights are mounted on the base plate, inter alia to carry transport trays, as known for example from DE 39 37 189 A1.
However, problems are involved in fixing the uprights to the chassis. In the prior art, the uprights are welded to the base plate or are joined thereto by a screw which is guided through the chassis and screwed into a nut let into the end of the upright. In use, however, such powerful lever forces act on the upright/chassis joint that the end of the upright often breaks.

Transport trolley with a chassis and uprights


A varnish composition suitable for producing a liquid crystal aligning film having a thickness of several tens to one hundred nanometers having 1 to 10% by weight of polyamic acid or soluble polyimide, and 90 to 99% by weight of a solvent which comprises 5 to 80% by weight of at least one compound selected from a group of solvent components A and 20 to 95% by weight of at least one compound selected from a group consisting of component B and component C where the group of solvent components A consists of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and dimethylimidazolidinone and the component B is alkyl lactate, and the component C is EQU R.sub.1-O(C.sub.3H.sub.6 O).sub.nH (I). where n is 1 or 2, R.sub.1 is an alkyl group having 4 carbon atoms when n is 1, and R.sub.1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms when n is 2, is disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to new varnish compositions containing polyamic acid or soluble polyimide useful for a film which controls alignment of liquid crystals, a liquid crystal color filter or its protecting film, more specifically, it relates to varnish compositions improving coating properties, coating uniformity, aging, toxicity, flammability or the like.


A roller skate in accordance with this invention utilizes at least two angularly mounted wheels disposed generally in an in-line relationship. This skate comprises a mounting plate having a pair of oppositely disposed surfaces, with one of such surfaces being adapted to be fastened to the sole of a boot or shoe. At least one wheel mounting bracket is affixed along the longitudinal axis of the other surface of the mounting plate, for supporting the axles upon which the wheels of the skate are rotatably mounted, with the treads of the wheels disposed in alignment. The angular disposition of the wheels enables the user of my skate to achieve improved roll, and better traction during a turn and in a power stroke.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to in-line or tandem roller skates, and more particularly to a skate utilizing angularly mounted wheels whose ground contacting surfaces are in an in-line relationship, with the angular mounting of the wheels enabling the user to achieve improved traction during a turn.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many generations of children and adults alike have enjoyed the pleasures of roller skating, and originally, the roller skates they used were of the so-called "quad" type, with each skate having a pair of wheels in the front, and a pair of wheels in the back.
For reasons of increased speed and maneuverability, many skaters have stopped using quad skates, and have gone over to what are called linear skates, involving a design wherein the wheels of each skate are disposed along a straight line. Linear or in-line skates have at least three wheels, but may utilize four, five or possibly more wheels, for as a generality, the larger the number of wheels, the smoother the ride.
Conventional in-line or linear roller skates normally utilize two or more wheels positioned to rotate within a common vertical plane, and while operating as roller skates, have much of the feel and behavior associated with ice skates. Substantially the same bodily movements are required to operate both ice skates and in-line roller skates, and such roller skates have become increasingly popular with ice skaters as a desirable training tool for off season and on-street use. In recent years, in-line roller skates have been capturing an increasing share of the recreational skate market and in time may parallel jogging as a healthy and pleasurable adult sport.
Tandem or in-line skates are well known and appear at least as early as 1876 in U.S. Pat. No. 7,345 of C. W. Saladee, which disclosed a two-wheel in-line model featuring a somewhat complex, spring loaded carriage supporting laterally pivoting rollers for improved maneuverability and even distribution of skater weight. Unfortunately, this early device was heavy, noisy and quite complicated to manufacture and assemble.
In 1946, U.S. Pat. No. 2,412,290 to O. G. Rieske disclosed a heavy metal framed, three-wheel, in-line skate for indoor use which featured an endless, rubberized belt so as to avoid damage to wooden floors. The belt rotated on three pulley-like wheels wherein the intermediate wheel was vertically adjustable to produce a rocking action in a forward or rearward direction which made it easier to steer and maneuver the skate. Vertical adjustment of the intermediate wheel was achieved by a clamping bolt and a system of interlocking teeth and allowed a range of vertical adjustment.
In 1966, G. K. Ware in U.S. Pat. No. 3,287,023 disclosed an in-line skate with thin, rounded wheels which endeavored to simulate the performance of ice skates. The Ware skate utilized a fairly heavy metal frame having front and rear frame members with longitudinally extending and overlapping sections. Three sections had a multiplicity of horizontally arranged axle apertures which permitted positioning of wheel axles in a variety of different locations and provided continuous adjustability of the frame to accommodate a wide variety of boot sizes. The Ware frame also included the positioning of apertures at several elevations at the front and rear of the skate so that the forward and rear wheels could be a higher level than the two inter-mediate wheels. The Ware frame and variations of it are still in use on currently available in-line roller skates and has been the best all around frame available for such skates.
The Ware skate utilized a wheel formed of tough, firm but slightly soft and resilient rubber and having a central hub into which individual ball bearings were received and in which they were retained by a pair of cone elements which extended laterally from the wheel, so as to prevent contact between wheel and frame during cornering of the skate. A toe brake was utilized at the front end of the skate for stopping the skate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,385 to Scott B. Olson disclosed a hybrid skate combining the desirable features of both ice and roller skates and featured a mounting system which could carry either the traditional ice skating blade or a series of in-line wheels.
Other tandem roller skates with various wheel structures and configurations are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,880,441 to Silver; U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,203 to Kukulowicz; U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,252 to Carlson; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,158 to Liberkowski. A number of distinct wheel structures have been developed for use with tandem skates, conventional roller skates and other roller devices, some of which are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 189,783, 2,670,242, 4,054,335 and 4,114,952.
Length has been the principal limitation on the number of wheels that can be utilized on a linear skate, for the use of too many conventionally mounted wheels means that at least one of such wheels must protrude an undesirable distance in front of the toe portion and behind the heel portion of the skater's boot.
It was in an effort to provide a design permitting an increased number of wheels on a linear skate as well as better traction and maneuverability that the present invention was evolved.


Management of the storage of media assets as between one of a plurality of content selection device (121-123) and a network storage facility (24) occurs in accordance with a user-assigned earliest viewing time assigned to the assets. To provide a user with the highest quality viewing experience, the network storage facility will down load to the requesting content selection device the requested media asset in advance of its earliest desired viewing time. To the extent that the content selection device lacks available storage capacity, then the content selection device will upload one or more media assets based on the earliest desired viewing time to off-load assets desired for viewing at a time later than the requested content.

Today, users can acquire media assets, such as movies, music, or videos, from a variety of content providers including, but not limited to a service such as ITunes or Amazon. Typically, a user will first select a desired media asset, say a movie, and thereafter make appropriate arrangements for payment. After receiving payment, the content provider will download the selected media asset to the user's computer or other media selection device, such as a set-top box or the like for consumption. Users who subscribe to media assets in the form of television content from a cable television provider often have the opportunity to download media assets to their set-top box or external asset storage device (e.g., digital video recorder) for subsequent viewing at a later time.
Regardless of how and where a user obtains media assets, finite limits exist on locally available storage capacity regardless of the type of storage device (set-top box, computer, personal video recorder, etc.) To obtain additionally storage capacity for media assets, a user has several options. First, a user could simply delete one or more previously stored media assets to free up additional storage space. However, some users do not want delete anything, eventually leading to a lack of storage capacity as the user acquires more media assets (
To obtain additional capacity, a user could take advantage of remote storage for media assets as currently offered by different providers who typically maintain large groups of server, typically referred to as "server farms." A user desirous of acquiring such remote storage would make arrangements with such a service provider to rent a set amount of space (5 GB, 10 GB, 15 GB, etc.) for storing new media assets. A user seeking to acquire a new media asset could simply direct the provider of that asset to send it to the user's remote storage site, such as by providing the associated Uniform Resource Locator (URL) associated with the remote storage site. Alternatively, the user could transfer media assets currently stored on a local storage device (e.g., a set top box) to the remote storage facility so that the set-top box can now store newly acquired media assets. The storage of media assets among local and remote sites can present difficulties. Typically, a user will enjoy a better viewing experience upon playback of locally stored media as compared to the playback of media assets streamed to the user's content selection device using programs like Flash, RealPlayer, or Windows Media Player.
There currently exist techniques for managing the transfer of media assets between remote and local storage devices. Most techniques rely on criterion such as viewing frequency so that more popular media assets remain locally stored whereas less frequently viewed media assets get stored remotely. Unfortunately, such techniques do not always insure that a media asset selected for subsequent viewing will reside in the local storage device at the earliest desired time of viewing.
Thus a need exists for an improved technique for managing content storage.

Method and apparatus for acquiring storage for media assets


A packet transmission system enabling VLAN packet forwarding of the MAC layer at the RPR layer. An address translation table associates with a VLAN identifier a MAC address and a flag showing validity of the VLAN identifier. A flag set valid means that an own node belongs to a VLAN domain with the VLAN identifier. In a case where a received packet is a VLAN packet, a first node searches the address translation table based on the VLAN identifier for a MAC address, creates an RPR packet with the MAC address stored as an RPR destination address, and transmits the RPR packet to an RPR network. A second node searches the address translation table based on the MAC address stored in the RPR packet, and if a corresponding flag is a valid flag, regards the packet as being addressed to a VLAN to which the own node belongs, and transmits the packet to the VLAN after deleting the RPR header therefrom.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a packet transmission apparatus, a packet forwarding method, and a packet transmission system. More particularly, this invention relates to a packet transmission apparatus, a packet forwarding method, and a packet transmission system, which transmits packets with a Resilient Packet Ring (RPR) network as a backbone, the RPR supporting bandwidth sharing on a ring.
(2) Description of the Related Art
As a communication backbone for wide-area networks enabling long-distance transmission, Synchronous Optical NETwork/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SONET/SDH)-based ring networks are mainly used. In recent years, however, a technology called an RPR has been a focus of attention as an alternative of SONET/SDH.
The RPR is a new Media Access Control (MAC) transmission technology being standardized by the IEEE802.17 working group, and realizes a high-reliable dual packet ring network that enables swift switching independent of layer 1 (an existing technology is employed for the layer 1). In addition, with spatial reuse that allows bandwidth sharing among separated desired zones, the RPR can increase ring bandwidth availability.
The RPR technology enables transmitting IEEE802.17 MAC frames (RPR frames) to a ring network by using a physical layer of layer 1 including a transmission rate system for SONET Optical Carrier (OC)-n or SDH synchronous Transport Module (STM)-n, or 10 GbE (enables RPR over SONET/SDH, RPR over GBE, etc.).
The IEEE802.17 does not provide a specification for processing Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) protocols at the RPR layer. Therefore, an RPR node cannot process such VLAN protocols at the RPR layer but has to process an incoming VLAN packet at the MAC layer that is higher than the RPR layer.
In a case where an RPR is used as a relay network of a VLAN using a VLAN protocol, each RPR node receives all packets going around the ring and always passes the all packets from the RPR layer to the MAC layer to check the VLAN identifiers (VLAN IDs) of the packets.
Then the RPR node determines whether each packet has the VLAN ID of a VLAN to which the own node belongs, in order to determine whether to receive or destroy the VLAN packet. That is, each node should check all packets from the ring at the MAC layer to see whether to take in and process the packets. In order to check the all packets without fail, the MAC layer should have capability of processing packets within the RPR bandwidth.
As a conventional VLAN technique, there has been proposed a technique of realizing group communication by transmitting a frame having set therein an own group address and a transmission destination terminal identifier (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-143178 (paragraphs [0012]-[0014], FIG. 1)).
FIG. 21 shows a configuration of an RPR VLAN where an RPR is used as a VLAN relay network. The RPR VLAN 100 comprises five RPR nodes N1 to N5 and terminals t1 to t10.
The node N1 is connected to the terminals t1 and t2, the node N2 to the terminals t3 and t4, the node N3 to the terminals t5 and t6, the node N4 to the terminals t7 and t8, and the node N5 to the terminals t9 and t10.
In addition, on the network, there are tree VLANs 1, 2, and 3. Out of the RPR nodes N1 to N5, the nodes N1, N2 and N3 belong to the VLAN 1, the nodes N3, N4, and N5 belong to the VLAN 2, and the nodes N1, N2, N4 and N4 belong to the VLAN 3.
These combinations are determined depending on which VLANs the terminals connected to own nodes belong to.
Now, the VLAN 1 will be described by way of example. It is assumed that the terminal t1, which belongs to the VLAN 1 and is connected to the node N1, transmits a packet with VLAN ID=1, and the node N1 receives and transmits this packet with VLAN ID=1 to the RPR ring. The node N1 converts the VLAN packet with the VLAN ID of the VLAN 1 into an RPR packet and transmits this RPR packet clockwise (to the east side). At this time the node N1 stores an own MAC address as a transmission source address in the RPR packet. It should be noted that the RPR packet may be transmitted counterclockwise (to the west side).
The RPR packet transmitted to the ring is received by the node N2. Since a VLAN ID cannot be identified at the RPR layer in IEEE802.17 RPR technology, the node N2 processes the RPR packet at the MAC layer, and also forwards the RPR packet to the node N3 in the east direction.
The node N2 first checks the VLAN ID at the MAC layer, and if the own node belongs to a VLAN identified by the VLAN ID, takes in the packet, and forwards the packet to terminals based on MAC learning of the MAC layer. On the other hand, the node N3 receiving the RPR packet from the node N2 operates in the same manner as the node N2.
Each of the nodes N4 and N5 receives the RPR packet on the ring similarly. The node N4, N5 takes the packet into the own node and checks the VLAN ID of the packet at the MAC layer. Since the nodes N4 and N5 do not belong to the VLAN 1, the node N4, N5 destroys the packet with VLAN ID=1 at the MAC layer.
Simultaneously, the node N4, N5 transmits the RPR packet to the east side. After going around the ring, the RPR packet transmitted from the node N1 returns to the node N1. Since the node N1 recognizes that the RPR packet has the own node address as the transmission source address and therefore the RPR packet was originally transmitted by the own node, the node N1 does not transmit the packet to the ring but destroys the RPR packet, thereby preventing the RPR packet from circulating the ring again.
As described above, in the IEEE802.17 RPR technology, the VLAN ID of a VLAN cannot be identified at the RPR layer, so that each RPR node necessarily passes an incoming packet from the RPR layer to the MAC layer in order to check the VLAN ID of the VLAN packet.
Therefore, such a conventional RPR technology, in a case of a ring bandwidth of 10 Gbps, the MAC layer of an RPR node requires packet processing capability for 10 Gbps, which is equal to the ring bandwidth, even if packets to be processed in a relevant VLAN are less than 1 Gbps, which increases processing loads on the MAC layer and also increases cost due to over specification.
Further, a VLAN packet necessarily goes around the ring and is removed from the ring by a transmission source RPR node, which causes the packet to pass through unnecessary nodes, resulting in wasting ring bandwidth.
In the above example, since only the RPR nodes N1, N2 and N3 belong to the VLAN 1, the packet with VLAN ID=1 transmitted from the node N1 to the east side may not be forwarded to the nodes N4 and N5. That is to say, from an east side point of view, the packet unnecessarily goes through zones between the nodes N3 and N4, between the nodes N4 and N5 and between the nodes N5 and N1. This wastes the ring bandwidth.

Packet transmission apparatus, packet forwarding method and packet transmission system


A switching node in a label multiplexing type switching network includes a switch for selectively coupling input logical communications paths and output logical communications paths with each other, m permanent logical communications paths being included in the input logical communications paths where m is an integer larger than or equal to 1, n permanent logical communications paths being included in the output logical communications paths where n is an integer larger than or equal to 1. The switch node includes a call control unit for receiving connection-oriented type information through any of the input logical communications paths and for controlling the switch so that the connection-oriented type information are selectively transferred to the output logical communications paths via the switch on the basis of routing address information related to the connection-oriented type information. The switch node comprises a routing unit for receiving connectionless type information through any of the m logical communications paths and for controlling the switch so that the connectionless type information are selectively transferred to the n permanent logical communications paths via the switch on the basis of routing address information related to the connectionless type information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to label multiplexing type switching networks, such as an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) switching network and a frame relay switching network. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a switching node capable of forming integrated communications systems in the label multiplexing type switching networks.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, there has been considerable activity in the development of label multiplexing type switching networks capable of equally handling a variety of data, such as audio data, dynamic image data and high-speed data. Examples of these label multiplexing type networks are ATM switching networks and frame relay switching networks. In these switching networks, label type (packet type) data is multiplexed with information to be transferred through a user-network interface (UNI) or a network-node interface (NNI). An identifier for communication identification is added to a header of each packet. As is well known, the user-network interface couples terminal equipment (TE) and switching nodes with each other, and the network-node interface couples the switching nodes with each other.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional label multiplexing type network. In order to efficiently transfer information, a plurality of virtual channels (VC; also called virtual circuits) are defined on a single physical line (UNI or NNI). In this manner, multiplexed transmission is realized.
A predetermined virtual channel VC (which is depicted by a thick solid line in FIG. 1) is a permanent virtual channel (PVC) for signaling. The permanent virtual channel is also called a permanent virtual circuit. In the network, in advance of actual call communications, call control information is exchanged between the terminal equipment and the switching nodes or between the switching nodes, using the signaling channel. A call control processor in each switching node executes a call control process based on the call control information. By this call control process, a logical communications path having a fixed route is established between the terminals TE, and hence messages can be transferred between them. Thereafter, a label exchange switch in each of the switching nodes makes a connection between the virtual channels on the UNI or NNI. In this state, terminal-to-terminal communications can be performed. After the end of the communications, the call control processor in each of the switching nodes releases the logical communications path being used.
Communications services having a call control process as described above are called connection-oriented type (CO type) communications services, and a basic communications protocol in the label multiplexing type network, such as ATM networks and frame relay networks.
In integrated services networks as described above, there is an increasing demand for communications services other than normal communications services. In such additional or secondary communications services, it is required that information be transferred at high speed (or in real time) in a single message format. Examples of these secondary communications services are telemetering that gathers information from remote terminals, a computer network system connected between local area networks, and a transaction process in which an updating process of a database is executed, such as a seat reservation system or a banking system.
If the above-mentioned secondary communications services are provided by means of the label multiplexing type switching network, the following first and second method would be possible. The first method is such that the secondary communications services are provided as the connection-oriented type communications services. That is, call setup and call releasing processes are carried out for each single message which generates the communications request. The second method is to provide a permanent virtual channel PVC for each terminal TE which may utilize single-message communications. Each single-message is transferred through the above permanent virtual channel PVC.
However, the first and second methods have the following respective disadvantages. It is required that the call connection process should be performed at high speed in view of the performance of the communications services for telemetering and the transaction process. However, the first method must execute the call setup process and the call releasing process for each single-message. These processes are a large load of the call control process, and considerably degrades the ability of the call control process.
The second method does not need to execute the call setup process and the call releasing process for each single-message. However, the permanent virtual channel PVC is always occupied by the specific terminal equipment, and the resources of the network (channel resources) cannot be efficiently utilized.
A description will now be given of the disadvantages of the switching networks themselves based on the connection-oriented communications services, separately from the above-mentioned disadvantages encountered when the secondary communications services, such as the telemetering process and the transaction process, are provided by the label multiplexing networks.
In the general switching networks capable of providing the connection-oriented communications services, the call control process is carried out in such a manner that when a correction-oriented call is accepted, the terminal equipment is given a maximum band available at this time in order to ensure the quality of communications even if heavy traffic comes from the terminal equipment. However, as shown by hatched areas in (a) of FIG. 2, a large idle band will occur for each virtual call VC. Hence, the band cannot be efficiently utilized.
On the other hand, in the recently developed label multiplexing type switching networks based on the connection-oriented communications services, the information transfer route is fixed during communications. Thus, it is easy to identify the traffic performance of each virtual call in communications and hence to realize quantitative traffic control of the whole network. In addition, communication information can be placed in an idle time slot per cell (frame or packet), and hence any idle time in traffic in each of the virtual calls VC in each link (interface) can be efficiently used. Hence, it becomes possible to realize statistically efficient multiplexing of a plurality of virtual calls.
However, in general, the above statistically effective multiplexing will be expected only when calls having similar traffic characteristics are multiplexed in a large number of channels. Particularly, if traffic having a characteristic similar to that of a burst occurs, other traffic will greatly be affected. As a result, a large delay in transmission of information takes place, and the cell loss probability will increase. With the above in mind, the label multiplexing network is forced to handle a regulated number of virtual calls. Hence, as shown in (b) of FIG. 2, an idle band depicted by a hatched area will be generated in each link (interface), and the resources of the network cannot be efficiently utilized.
As described above, the conventional label multiplexing networks providing the connection-oriented communications services cannot effectively provide the secondary communications services, such as the telemetering and the transaction processing. On the other hand, the resources of the network cannot be effectively utilized if the label multiplexing type networks are designed to provide only the connection-oriented communications services.

Switching node in label multiplexing type switching network


During a communication, a channel is shared by several transmitting/receiving stations comprising a single master station and one or more slave stations. A station becomes a master station by transmitting traffic information on the channel. After the master station has stopped transmitting traffic information without the communication being concluded, it continues to transmit signaling information authorizing each slave station in turn to transmit traffic information on the channel. This transmission of signaling information continues for as long as the communication lasts, until one of the slave stations becomes the master station in turn by beginning to transmit traffic information on the channel or until the same station begins to transmit traffic information again, hereby remaining the master station.

Most professional mobile radiocommunications systems use the principle of "trunking", that is to say the network possesses an infrastructure which manages the use of the radio resources, throughout the duration of the communications. The network allocates the resources to the communications and controls the access of the terminals to the air interface.
Systems without "trunking" also exist, in which mobile terminals can communicate in direct mode or in relayed mode, that is to say by way of repeaters. In general, the voice communications are of the walkie-talkie type, with channel access on an alternate turns basis. The terminal listens to the frequency of the channel so as to determine whether it has the right to transmit when the user actuates a PTT ("push-to-talk") button with which the terminal is provided. The right to transmit is granted if the channel is free or busy with a communication over which the terminal has priority.
In this latter type of system, the call with off-hook services (FOACSU: "full off-air call set-up") of telephone type are not supported. Specifically, in the absence of a base station or repeater managing the connection and access to the radio channel, a communication can be interrupted by an external user, during a silence on the channel due to the halting of voice transmission.
An aim of the present invention is to propose a way of supporting the services of call with off-hook type in radiocommunications systems without "trunking".

Method for controlling a communications channel shared by several stations


An optical pickup apparatus comprises a photo detector that receives light reflected from a medium; and a housing that is mounted with the photo detector. The photo detector is fixed to the housing with the use of an adhesive to mount the photo detector on the housing. The housing is provided with a displacement preventer that prevents displacement of the photo detector or the adhesive relative to the housing. The displacement preventer has fixing portions that extend along a plurality of directions. The photo detector is mounted on the housing by applying the adhesive to the displacement preventer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical pickup apparatus mounted on, for example, an optical disk apparatus and capable of reading information of a medium such as an optical disk.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one implementation of a conventional optical pickup apparatus.
A photodetector 510 is mounted on a housing 550. The housing means a box that can house a thing, such as a box-shaped object that houses components, or an object similar to a box.
The photodetector 510 is a photo detector 510 that receives a portion of reflected light from an optical disk (not shown) to generate a light reception current proportional to the light reception amount. The light reception current is a detected signal. The photodetector 510 is adapted to receive light, convert the light signal to an electric signal, and output a signal to make a servo mechanism (not shown) of a lens holder (not shown) of the optical pickup apparatus 501 operate. The servo or servo mechanism means a mechanism that measures a state of an object to be controlled and compares the measurement with a reference value to correct the error automatically. The photodetector (Photo Detector) is abbreviated to "PD". The photo detector 510 is connected to a flexible circuit body 505. The photo detector 510 is fixed to a plate 520.
Description will be made of a process where the photo detector 510 is mounted on the housing 550. First, a light path position adjustment is performed for the photo detector 510. The X-axis of the photo detector 510, the Y-axis of the photo detector 510, and the Z-axis of the photo detector 510 are adjusted relative to an optical path (not shown) formed in the housing 550. After the attachment position of the photo detector 510 to the housing 550 is adjusted, a fixing adhesive (not shown) is applied to between the plate 520 mounted with the photo detector 510 and the housing 550 to form a bridge. Grooves 581 are made in fixing portions 580A, 580B of the housing 550 to allow the cured adhesive to exert an anchor effect for improving the adherence of the plate 520 with the photo detector 510 to the housing 550.
The conventional optical pickup apparatus 501 shown in FIG. 4 is similar to a photo detector attachment apparatus of an optical head, which alleviates instability factors in position accuracy of the photo detector, for example.
Such a conventional apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-251776 (page 3, FIGS. 1 and 2), for example.
However, in the conventional optical pickup apparatus 501 shown in FIG. 4, since the grooves 581 extend along only one direction, i.e., the X-direction, a displacement may occur at the fixing portions 580A, 580B in the case of the optical pickup apparatus 501 being used under severe usage/environments where vibrations are frequently applied, for example. If a displacement occurs at the fixing portions 580A, 580B, light is not incident on the photo detector 510 accurately. As a result, there is concern about the occurrence of the problem that the optical pickup apparatus 501 does not operate normally.


An image projection lighting device including a base housing, a yoke, a lamp housing, and a video projector located inside the lamp housing, is disclosed. The video projector includes a video projector housing. The video projector housing can be moved into a first position and a second position in relation to the lamp housing. The first position is a video projector operating position in which the video projector cannot be serviced. The video projector can be serviced in the second position. A projector lamp cannot be accessed in the first position but can be accessed in the second position.

Lighting systems in the prior art are typically formed by interconnecting, via a communications system, a plurality of lighting fixtures and providing for operator control of the plurality of lighting fixtures from a central controller. Such lighting systems may contain multiparameter light fixtures, which illustratively are light fixtures having two or more individually remotely adjustable parameters such as focus, color, image, position, or other light characteristics. Multiparameter light fixtures are widely used in the lighting industry because they facilitate significant reductions in overall lighting system size and permit dynamic changes to the final lighting effect. Applications and events in which multiparameter light fixtures are used to great advantage include showrooms, television lighting, stage lighting, architectural lighting, live concerts, and theme parks. Illustrative multi-parameter light devices are described in the product brochure entitled "The High End Systems Product Line 2001" and are available from High End Systems, Inc. of Austin, Tex. A variety of different types of multiparameter light fixtures are available. One type of advanced multiparameter light fixture is an image projection lighting device ("IPLD").
In the prior art, the "DL2" (trademarked) image projection lighting device has a lamp housing and a projector housing including a projector device. The lamp housing has a back door which can be taken off to access the projector device. The projector device has a back door which can be opened to access a projector lamp. The projector lamp can then be taken out and replaced. However, the projector device used with the DL2 is being discontinued and a different projector device named the "LX650" trademarked or a version of the LX650 will in the future be used with an image projection lighting system. An unmodified version of the LX650 has a filter door which must be opened before a lamp door screw can be accessed. The lamp door screw can then be unfastened and then the lamp door can be opened to take out the projector lamp. However, if the LX650 is placed into a lamp housing similar to the DL2, the entire or nearly the entire LX650 has to be taken out of the lamp housing in order to open the filter door. In the unmodified version of the LX650, after the filter door has been opened, only then can the lamp door be opened to allow access, removal, and replacement of a projector lamp.
In their common application, IPLDs are used to project their images upon a stage or other projection surface. The control of the various parameters of the IPLDs is affected by an operator using a central controller. In a given application, a plurality of IPLDs are used to illuminate the projection surface, with each IPLD having many parameters that may be adjusted by a central controller to create a scene.
IPLDs used in an entertainment lighting system can produce many colorful images upon the stage or projection surface. IPLDs may project images onto the projection surface such as still images, video images and graphic images. The term "content" is a general term that refers to various types of creative works, including image-type works and audio works. Content is typically comprised of still images, video images or loops and computer graphical images.

Lamp changing system for an image projection lighting device


A technique for measuring and characterizing the motion of an internal organ is provided. The technique includes using two or more motion-sensitive sensors, disposed on a patient in a region of interest proximate to the internal organ, which acquire motion data along the surface of the patient. The motion data may then be processed and displayed to depict or characterize the mechanical motion undergone by the internal organ. The mechanical motion may be displayed as an image or video. In addition, the mechanical motion data may be combined with other measured data, such as electrical or acoustic data, or with images acquired by other imaging modalities to generate a composite image.

The present technique relates generally to the measurement of mechanical organ motion internal to a subject. More specifically, the present technique relates to measuring internal organ movement via an array of external sensors, such as accelerometers, disposed along the body surface of a subject.
In the medical fields, it is often desirable to measure and characterize the motion of internal organs, such as the heart or lungs, for diagnosis, for processing or interpreting medical imaging data, or for other purposes. In particular, such motion may be indicative of cardiac or respiratory abnormalities that may not be evident from other techniques. Such motion, however, is obviously not directly observable absent an invasive procedure, i.e., surgery, which may be otherwise unnecessary.
As a result, various indicators which can be measured non-invasively may be used as surrogates for the motion of the underlying organ. For example, electrocardiography may be used to measure depolarization of the cardiac muscle tissue, which can then be used to estimate the timing of the contraction phases of the cardiac cycle. In particular, during each phase, different cardiac cells are depolarizing and, presumably, undergoing the subsequent mechanical event of contraction. However, motion aberrations or abnormalities in which the mechanical event of contraction is disassociated from the electrical event of depolarization, due to tissue defect, ionic imbalance, or whatever, may lead to motion defects or abnormalities that are undetected based upon the electrical event depolarization. In such instances, the actual motion of the heart may not be predictable or discernible based on an electrocardiogram, leaving the abnormality undetected and uncorrected.
One alternative is to attempt to measure the underlying motion of the organ of interest using sufficiently sensitive motion sensors, such as, accelerometers, in contact with the surface of the patient. However, because the motion of the organ underlying the surface occurs in three spatial dimensions, a single point measurement from such a sensor is insufficient to accurately represent the full motion of the organ. In particular, a single measurement provides insufficient information to resolve all three spatial dimensions of the internal organ at a moment in time. Therefore, a need exists for a technique allowing the accurate determination of the actual motion of an internal organ in a non-invasive manner.

Tempero-spatial physiological signal detection method and apparatus


A method for directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers (BCPs) uses a BCP blend with a small portion of functional homopolymers, called “inks”, before deposition and annealing of the BCP. A substrate has a patterned sublayer formed on it. The BCP blend is deposited on the patterned sublayer and annealed. The BCP blend is guided by the sublayer pattern. The inks selectively distribute into blocks, and part of the inks graft on the substrate underneath the blocks. The BCP blend layer is rinsed away, leaving the grafted inks. The grafted inks form a chemical contrast pattern that has the same geometry with the BCP bulk morphology. This process is repeated, which results in the grafted inks forming a thicker and denser chemical contrast pattern. This chemical contrast pattern of grafted inks is used for the DSA of a BCP that self-assembles as lamellae perpendicular to the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers (BCPs), and more particularly to the DSA of BCPs to make an etch mask for pattern transfer into a substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers (BCPs) has been proposed for generating patterns in semiconductor manufacturing, for example, for patterning parallel generally straight lines in MPU, DRAM and NAND flash devices, and more recently for patterning parallel line arrays for FinFET devices. DSA of BCPs can also be used for making imprint templates, which have application in making patterned-media magnetic recording disks and semiconductor devices. DSA of BCPs by use of a patterned sublayer for the BCP film is well-known. After the BCP components self-assemble on the patterned sublayer, one of the components is selectively removed, leaving the other component with the desired pattern, which can be used as an etch mask to transfer the pattern into an underlying substrate. The etched substrate can be used as an imprint template.
With the prior art method of DSA of BCP thin films, the quality of the self-assembled pattern depends upon a number of factors, including film thickness, the acceptable defect density, the density multiplication factor, the chemistry of the patterned sublayer and individual stripe width of the patterned sublayer. The design of a process to have a large process window for one parameter usually implies that the process window for the other parameters gets reduced or compromised. For example, thicker BCP films are desirable for pattern transfer into the template; however, a thicker film results in higher defect densities or in a lower tolerance for a high density multiplication factor. Conversely, if a higher density multiplication factor is desired, or if more tolerance is needed for the width of the stripes, the film thickness needs to be reduced considerably to avoid a large defect density.
What is needed is an improved method for DSA of BCPs that allows for a large process window.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for directed self-assembly (DSA) of a block copolymer (BCP) using a blend of a BCP with functional homopolymers


A semiconductor substrate is provided. The substrate includes a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the first surface includes a marking in a centroid region of the first surface. The marking indicates a location of a center point on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate or identification data unique to the substrate. A system, methods of transporting and marking, and a device for reading the substrate markings are also provided.

Semiconductor wafers have typically been marked with unique identification codes along the water periphery. As critical dimensions continue to shrink and the edge exclusion zone takes on more importance, the marking of the wafer is being reevaluated. As processes are changing and customization to certain wafers is being explored, the information captured through the markings on the wafer is important.
Accordingly, it would be beneficial to maintain the availability of the information provided by the wafer marking but capture the information in a manner that would enhance throughput, reduce handling, improve readability, minimize misreads and be able to withstand the harsh processing conditions experienced by the wafer.


A plasma chamber for activating a process gas, including at least four legs forming a toroidal plasma channel, each leg having a cross-sectional area, and an outlet formed on one leg, the outlet having a greater cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the other legs. The plasma chamber further includes an inlet for receiving the process gas and a plenum for introducing the process gas over a broad area of the leg opposing the outlet to reduce localized high plasma impedance and gas flow instability, wherein the leg opposing the outlet defines a plurality of holes for providing a helical gas rotation in the plasma channel.

Plasma discharges can be used to excite gases to produce activated gases containing ions, free radicals, atoms and molecules. Activated gases are used for numerous industrial and scientific applications including processing solid materials such as semiconductor wafers, powders, and other gases. The parameters of the plasma and the conditions of the exposure of the plasma to the material being processed vary widely depending on the application.
For example, some applications require the use of ions with low kinetic energy (i.e. a few electron volts) because the material being processed is sensitive to damage. Other applications, such as anisotropic etching or planarized dielectric deposition, require the use of ions with high kinetic energy. Still other applications, such as reactive ion beam etching, require precise control of the ion energy.
Some applications require direct exposure of the material being processed to a high density plasma. One such application is generating ion-activated chemical reactions. Other such applications include etching of and depositing material into high aspect ratio structures. Other applications require neutral activated gases containing atoms and activated molecules while the material being processed is shielded from the plasma because the material is sensitive to damage caused by ions or because the process has high selectivity requirements.
Various plasma sources can generate plasmas in numerous ways including DC discharge, radio frequency (RF) discharge, and microwave discharge. DC discharges are achieved by applying a potential between two electrodes in a gas. RF discharges are achieved either by electrostatically or inductively coupling energy from a power supply into a plasma. Parallel plates are typically used for electrostatically coupling energy into a plasma. Induction coils are typically used for inducing current into the plasma. Microwave discharges are achieved by directly coupling microwave energy through a microwave passing window into a discharge chamber containing a gas. Microwave discharges can be used to support a wide range of discharge conditions, including highly ionized electron cyclotron resonant (ECR) plasmas.
Compared with microwave or other types of RF plasma sources, a toroidal plasma source has advantages in low electric field, low plasma chamber erosion, compactness, and cost effectiveness. The toroidal plasma source operates with a low electric field and inherently eliminates current-terminating electrodes and the associated cathode potential drop. The lower plasma chamber erosion allows toroidal plasma sources to operate at higher power densities than other types of plasma sources. In addition, the use of high permeability magnetic cores couples electromagnetic energy to plasma efficiently, allowing the toroidal plasma source to operate at relatively low RF frequencies while lowering power supply costs. Toroidal plasma sources have been used to produce chemically reactive atomic gases including fluorine, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, etc. for processing semiconductor wafers, flat panel displays, and various materials.

Toroidal plasma chamber for high gas flow rate process


A fuel injector which uses interchangeable subassemblies to allow the fuel injector to be converted from open to closed nozzle options without affecting engine installation, and without altering the timing or metering principles. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fuel injector is comprised of two subassemblies, a first subassembly of which is a timing or control subassembly that is used in both the closed and open nozzle options, and which forms the top portion of the fuel injector. The second subassembly is a nozzle assembly and is form in two versions, an open nozzle version and a closed nozzle version, either of which can be used with the timing assembly. In a preferred form of the timing subassembly, a pressure-responsive valve for opening a timing chamber draining passage is provided within the upper plunger.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fuel injectors and in particular to unit fuel injectors for cyclically injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine in variable amounts and with varying timing.
2. Description of Related Art
Unit fuel injectors generally fall into two categories. That is, there are open nozzle injectors of the type represented by Perr U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,247 and there are closed nozzle injectors of the type represented by U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,901. Open and closed nozzle injectors have different injection characteristics, and neither type can be said to be better than the other for all possible engine applications. Thus, it can be necessary for an engine or motor vehicle manufacturer to keep both types of fuel injection systems available for installation on any given engine depending solely on the particular application for which the engine will be used.
However, to develop and produce two separate fuel injection systems, knowing only one will be used, not only increases the initial investment which must be made, but also increases later piece prices, inventory and service costs. These cost factors offset any benefits that might be associated with the fact that an injector which is specifically designed to be only a closed nozzle injector or only an open nozzle injector might be able to achieve a more optimized design than a multipurpose one, e.g., a design that might be smaller, simpler, etc.
In above noted U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,403, it was first disclosed how it could be possible to construct a unit fuel injector on a modular basis so that an upper control subassembly could be interchangeably used with either an open nozzle type or closed nozzle type injector nozzle subassembly. More specifically, this capability is attained by locating the timing chamber relief valve structure wholly in the upper part of the injector above the lower, injection plunger. However, in that case, conventional injector nozzle structure was merely adapted for use with the control subassembly, as opposed to the injector, as a whole, being designed for the specific purpose of providing a unit fuel injector system having interchangeable open and closed nozzle type injector nozzle subassemblies. Thus, the design of this earlier application does not allow the fuel injector to be converted from open to closed nozzle options without affecting engine installation, and without having to accept any performance or cost compromises relative to a fuel injector which is specifically designed to be only either a closed nozzle injector or an open nozzle injector.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,403 also dealt with the inability of prior relief valves, such as that in the above-mentioned Perr patent, as well as that in Warlick et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,472, to alter the opening stroke of the relief valve in order to control more precisely the draining of timing fluid from the timing chamber. More specifically, the parent application provides a timing chamber relief structure which enables the opening stroke of the relief valve to be adjusted so that the timing chamber draining rate can be precisely controlled independently of spring pressure. However, not taken into consideration was the fact that, on the one hand, insufficient spring pressure can lead to chattering of the valve element while, on the other hand, high valve spring loading of the valve element can lead to excessive "droop" values (i.e., the difference between the injection pressures produced by the relief valve under low speed engine operating conditions and the injection pressures produced by the relief valve under high speed engine operating conditions), meaning that either excessive high speed or insufficient low speed pressures result.

Unit injector with interchangeable subassembly for converting from open nozzle to closed nozzle operation


A method and apparatus for digital image processing are provided for controlling chrominance channel overshoot in response to FIR or other enhancement processing. The chrominance values defining the enhanced digital image data for each pixel are compared to corresponding local minimum and maximum chrominance values of the non-enhanced image obtained from the neighborhood of the subject pixel. If an enhanced chrominance value for a subject pixel falls outside the corresponding local minimum/local maximum chrominance range by an overshoot amount, the enhanced chrominance value is adjusted to reduce the overshoot amount. The overshoot amount is adjusted according to a pre-programmed overshoot reduction parameter.

The present invention relates to the digital image processing arts. In particular, it relates to enhancement of digital image data, and a method and apparatus for controlling overshoot in the chrominance channel when edge enhancement operations are performed. Thus, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for reducing color fringing due to edge enhancement operations without compromising resulting edge sharpness.
A main advantage of digital image reproduction relative to traditional light-lens image reproduction resides in the ability to process the digital image data so as to enhance the appearance of the final output image. For example, digital filtering is often performed to sharpen edges and fine lines for purposes of making an output image more visually appealing. When reducing or scaling-down an image, pre-filtering is often performed prior to sub-sampling for purposes of anti-aliasing. Due to limitations of the filtering algorithm, this filtering operation can blur an image. Also, in color image reproduction, it is a common practice to sub-sample the chrominance information to reduce the number of bits necessary to represent an image. This, too, can result in blurred edges. In either case and others, edge enhancement of the filtered image can be performed to sharpen the final output image.
One drawback associated with conventional edge enhancement operations is that the chrominance information can be altered significantly from its original value so that the color of the final output image is altered compared to the original image. This xe2x80x9ccolor fringingxe2x80x9d is, obviously, undesirable and must be controlled in order to provide an aesthetically pleasing final image. Heretofore, no effective method and apparatus have been provided for controlling chrominance channel overshoot due to image enhancement operations without compromising edge sharpness.
In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved method and apparatus are provided for chrominance channel overshoot control in image enhancement operations.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a method of digital image processing comprises receiving input digital image data defining a plurality of pixels of an input color digital image, the input digital image data including at least a first input chrominance value for each of the pixels of the input image. For each of the pixels of the input digital image, the input digital image data defining the pixel is enhanced based upon the input digital image data defining neighborhood pixels in a spatial neighborhood established about the pixel to obtain enhanced digital image data defining the pixel, the enhanced digital image data including at least a first enhanced chrominance value. For each of the pixels of the input digital image, an overshoot control operation is performed on the enhanced digital image data defining the pixel, the overshoot control operation including:
determining first local maximum and first local minimum first input chrominance values in a neighborhood about the pixel;
comparing the first enhanced chrominance value to the first local maximum and first local minimum chrominance values to determine if the first enhanced pixel chrominance value is one of: (i) above the first local maximum chrominance value by a first overshoot amount; and, (ii) below the first local minimum chrominance value by a first overshoot amount;
if the first enhanced chrominance value of the pixel is above the first local maximum chrominance value, reducing the first enhanced chrominance value to reduce the first overshoot amount; and,
if the first enhanced chrominance value of the pixel is below the first local minimum chrominance value, increasing the first enhanced chrominance value to reduce the first overshoot amount.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of enhancing a color digital image includes, for each of a plurality of pixels defining the color digital image, modifying a first chrominance value of a pixel in response to an enhancement filtering operation to obtain a modified first chrominance value for the pixel. Within a neighborhood of pixels spatially near the pixel, identifying a local minimum and a local maximum first chrominance value of the pixels within the neighborhood. The modified first chrominance value is compared to at least one of the local minimum and local maximum first chrominance values and, if the modified first chrominance value is greater than the local maximum first chrominance value, the modified first chrominance value of the pixel is reduced by a select percentage of the amount by which the modified first chrominance value exceeds the local maximum first chrominance value. If the modified first chrominance value is less than the local minimum first chrominance value, the modified first chrominance value of the pixel is increased by a select percentage of the amount by which the modified first chrominance value is less than said local minimum first chrominance value.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a digital image processing apparatus includes means for receiving input digital image data defining a plurality of pixels of an input color digital image, the input digital image data including an input chrominance value for each of the pixels of the input image. The apparatus also includes means for enhancing the input digital image data defining each of the pixels based upon the input digital image data defining neighborhood pixels in a spatial neighborhood established about each of the pixels to obtain enhanced digital image data defining each of the pixels, the enhanced digital image data including an enhanced chrominance value. A means is provided for performing an overshoot control operation on the enhanced digital image data defining each of the pixels, and includes:
means for determining a local maximum and a local minimum input chrominance value in a neighborhood about a select pixel;
means for comparing the enhanced chrominance value to the local maximum and local minimum chrominance values to determine if the enhanced pixel chrominance value is one of: (i) above the local maximum chrominance value by an overshoot amount; and, (ii) below the local minimum chrominance value by an overshoot amount;
means for reducing the enhanced chrominance value to reduce the overshoot amount if the enhanced chrominance value of the select pixel is above the local maximum chrominance value; and,
means for increasing the enhanced chrominance value to reduce the overshoot amount if the enhanced chrominance value of the select pixel is below the local minimum chrominance value.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling chrominance channel overshoot includes receiving a plurality of pixels of digital image data, each pixel defined in terms of an original luminance value and first and second original chrominance values. The digital image data are enhanced to convert each pixel of the image into an enhanced pixel defined in terms of an enhanced luminance value and first and second enhanced chrominance values. Local minimum and local maximum first original chrominance values associated with each enhanced pixel in a select neighborhood about each of the enhanced pixels are determined. Local minimum and local maximum second chrominance values associated with each enhanced pixel in a select neighborhood about each of the enhanced pixels are determined. For each enhanced pixel, the first and second enhanced chrominance values associated with the enhanced pixel are compared to the local maximum and local minimum first and second original chrominance values, respectively, to determine: (i) if the first enhanced chrominance value overshoots one of the local maximum and local minimum first original chrominance values by a first overshoot amount; or (ii) if the second enhanced chrominance value overshoots one of the local maximum and local minimum second original chrominance values by a second overshoot amount. For each enhanced pixel, if the first enhanced chrominance value overshoots one of the local maximum and local minimum first original chrominance values, the first enhanced chrominance value is adjusted to reduce the first overshoot amount. Likewise, for each enhanced pixel, if the second enhanced chrominance value overshoots one of the local maximum and local minimum second original chrominance values, the second enhanced chrominance value is adjusted to reduce the second overshoot amount.
One advantage of the present invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for chrominance channel overshoot control during digital image processing enhancement operations.
Another advantage of the present invention resides in the provision of a method and apparatus for controlling chrominance channel overshoot resulting from edge enhancement processing wherein color fringing is reduced without compromising edge sharpness.
A further advantage of the present invention is found in the provision of a method and apparatus for reducing chrominance channel overshoot using original min/max chrominance values from pixels in the neighborhood surrounding a pixel being processed.
Still other benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill of the art to which the invention pertains upon reading and understanding the present specification.

Crominance channel overshoot control in image enhancement


The push button switch provided includes a housing, a key cap, an elastic actuator, and a membrane switch layer. The housing has a key top guide integral with the housing, and two slots are provided at the vicinity of the key top guide. The key top has a cap and two deformable hooks. The cap has a bottom surface, and a plunger is provided and extends from the bottom surface. The two deformable hooks are provided and extend from an edge of the cap. Each deformable hook corresponds to one of the slots and is disposed within the corresponding slot. The plunger is slidably disposed within the key top guide, which allows a reciprocal movement of the key top with respect to the housing. The actuator has an elastic dome and a deformable sheet membrane integral with the elastic dome. The elastic dome supports the plunger and deforms responsive to the reciprocal movement of the key top. The membrane switch layer is disposed underneath the actuator. The deformable hook includes a hook portion, and a leg is provided and extends from the hook portion. As the key top moves downward under an external force, the leg first impacts against the deformable membrane to prevent the bottom surface of the key top from colliding against a bottom surface of the key top guide.

In the common push button switch used in keyboard device, the rubber dome is used as the actuator. The rubber dome touches against a corresponding switch on the membrane circuit, and actuates the On/Off action of the switch.
To provide a feeling of comfort to the user while the push button switch is depressed, and to prevent a large noise made when the key top touches the top surface of the key top, guide the conventional approaches, using the rubber dome as the actuator, in general, are such that the key top does not impact the top surface of the guide with the rubber dome directly being used to support the key top, as the key top is depressed to its lowest position. However, as the push button switch of this design has been operated over a long time, due to the fact that the rubber dome is overly deformed each time the key top is depressed, as shown in FIG. 6, the rubber dome is easily damaged, shortens the life cycle of the keyboard.


A hair brush useful for temporarily straightening curly or wavy hair is provided having first and second brush heads hinged to one another at their handles. The first and second brush heads are biased away from one another so that the hair brush is normally in an open position. The hair brush is used by grasping the handles and squeezing the heads together to grip a portion of a person's hair. The brush is moved through the hair to hold the hair straight so that it can be blow dried.

Various methods for temporarily straightening curly or wavy hair are well known. One method often employed by professional hair stylists includes the use of a brush to slowly pull wet hair straight while blow drying the hair straight. Typically a hair stylist will do this by first grasping a portion of the customer's hair near the scalp with a typical hair styling brush and slowly pulling the hair through the brush while simultaneously blow drying the hair. The hair is grasped by first placing the brush's bristles in the hair and then giving the brush a slight twist in order to secure the hair within the bristles. The process is repeated over various portions of the customer's hair until the desired straightening effect has been achieved.
Such a technique has certain drawbacks. First, while a professional hair stylist's technique of grasping a customer's hair with a simple twist of a styling brush can look effortless, in practice it is a fairly difficult skill for a typical person to master. Often the person trying to grasp another's hair by such a technique will grasp the hair too securely in the brush and pull the hair unnecessarily. Furthermore, while the technique is difficult to master on another's hair, it can be almost impossible to do on one's own hair. Even a professional hair stylist can have difficulty using this technique to straighten his or her own hair.
Another drawback to such a technique is that a portion of the hair must remain grasped by the twisted hair brush for the method to be effective. Consequently, the inch or two of hair most distal from the scalp can be difficult to straighten by this technique.


An endoscope and endoscope shaft having an adaptor that where the internal diameter of the adaptor increases along its longitudinal direction from the proximal end of the adaptor to the distal end of the adaptor. The adaptor guides an instrument through the working channel of the endoscope and prevents bumps from forming in the working channel of the endoscope shaft.

Endoscopes having shafts that include working channels are known in the art. However, prior art endoscope shafts suffer from various deficiencies when passing an instrument, such as a forceps, through the working channel of an endoscope shaft. Such problems are exacerbated when the endoscope shaft is flexible and/or bendable.
Problems in prior art endoscopes include the working channel running over the edge of a push-pull wire bushing, which creates a bump in the working channel. A bump in the working channel may block instruments that are passed through the working channel. When this occurs, it is possible to feel an obstacle inside the working channel, which is disadvantageous. Furthermore, if instruments move over the bump several times, the instruments may wear a hole inside the wall of the working channel. This may cause the wall of the working channel to leak and may cause the endoscope to cease to be operational.
In prior art endoscopes, there are usually two or four wires in the endoscope and therefore there is typically more than one bushing within the endoscope, as the bushing typically includes at least one wire. Thus, there are multiple points where the working channel runs over a wire bushing and where the wire bushing presses against the channel. Thus, there are multiple points where a bump may be created in the working channel that can block instruments in prior art endoscopes.
Another disadvantage of the prior art includes having a complicated distal tip assembly procedure that is due to the limited space inside the endoscope shaft.
Thus, it is desirable to provide an endoscope and endoscope shaft assembly that solves the above mentioned problems in the prior art. The pending application is set to overcome these aforementioned disadvantages.


A walking carriage or ambulatory aid having a frame that supports front wheels and a collapsing rear support for rear wheels. A seat supported to the push rods of the frame has a grip at its rear. The seat is connected with the support for the rear wheels so that when the rear of the seat is lifted, the rear wheels are pivoted toward the front wheels to collapse the carriage. A tray is pivoted to the frame between a first pivot position above the seat and a second position below the seat and over an article carrier supported on the frame.

A walking carriage, also known as a "rollator", is used both outdoors and indoors as ambulatory aid by people such as an the elderly who have difficulty walking. Existing rollators are often provided with a seat on which the user can rest from time to time and braking means for braking and with locking these brakes when standing still. In addition, known rollators are usually provided with collapsing means for folding up the rollator, for instance into the trunk of an automobile. When such a rollator is not in use it can also be placed in collapsed state at a location in a home where it occupies as little space as possible. The known rollator usually has the drawback that collapsing thereof is awkward, for instance because the rollator falls over during folding, whereby the user can also lose his balance and be injured if he falls.
Such a known rollator is described for instance in the German Gebrauchsmuster G 90 05 744.9. This known walking carriage comprises:
a frame having one or more push bars for pushing along the walking carriage; PA1 a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels for causing travel of the walking carriage when it is pushed along, which wheels are arranged rotatably and/or pivotally on downward extending tubes of the frame; PA1 collapsing means for collapsing or folding up the frame between a first position of use wherein the front and rear wheels are situated at relatively large mutual distance and wherein the walking carriage can be pushed along and a second collapsed position wherein the front and rear wheels are situated relatively closely to each other; and PA1 a seat part which is arranged pivotally on the frame and which in said position of use extends in substantially lying position at a level lower than the outer ends of the push bars.
The height of this known walking carriage can be easily adapted to the height of the user.
This known walking carriage has the drawback however that for collapsing thereof the user must lean forward or bend over, which may represent a problem for many users.


To simplify the connection protocols of an optical communication network using wavelength division multiplexing and to increase the throughput of the network, each node sends messages on a specific wavelength and associates destination labels with them. A network controller receives the messages and the labels and forwards the messages on the receive wavelength of their destination node(s). Applications include local area networks.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is in the field of data communications using optical links to convey wavelength multiplexed signals. It is more particularly concerned with a network architecture particularly suitable for limited geographical areas, such as local area networks. The invention also concerns a switching matrix that can be used in a controller suitable for a network of this kind.
An object of the invention is to design a network capable of supporting uniform or sporadic traffic and bit rates up to a few Gigabits per second and that does not require a complex call set-up protocol.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A network comprises a plurality of stations able to send and to receive messages to and from other stations of the network. Data is exchanged by means of a communication link to which communication nodes associated with the stations are connected. In the case of optical links using optical fibers, for example, their wide bandwidth is exploited to use wavelength multiplexing. Each station or node of the network can be assigned a particular wavelength to convey messages addressed to that node, for example. Each node connected to the optical link sends a message to a destination node by modulating an optical wave having a wavelength associated with the destination node. Each node can receive a message by detecting its associated wavelength.
This solution has various drawbacks, however. Firstly, each node must be able to send each of the wavelengths of the other nodes of the network. It is also necessary to solve problems of collision, i.e. situations in which there is a risk of more than one node sending messages to the same destination. One way to solve this problem is to provide an additional wavelength carrying a synchronization signal and an indication of the occupancy of each wavelength, for example. Each node must then use an access protocol that allows for the occupancy of the destination wavelength. This makes protocol management more complex and limits the throughput of the network.
An object of the invention is to solve the problems raised by the above solution.

Wavelength division multiplexing optical communication network


A rotatable entertainment device includes a mobile arm rotatably coupled to the entertainment device, and a motion translation device coupled to the entertainment device and the mobile arm to convert an oscillatory motion of the entertainment device into a rotational motion of the mobile arm. The entertainment device is mountable to an oscillating device (e.g., a swing) that conveys the oscillatory motion from the oscillating device to the entertainment device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to toy entertainment devices, in particular, mobile toy devices that mount to a swing or other oscillating children's product.
2. Description of the Related Art
Children are interested in products that include movable mechanisms, such as rotatable mobile entertainment devices. In particular, rotatable mobiles are useful to keep a child occupied when the child is situated in a crib, bouncer, swing, or other similar child receiving device.
Many devices exist that may be mounted to an infant or child's swing, bouncer or other device to entertain the child. Such devices may further include rotatable elements to enhance the child's enjoyment when using the device. The rotatable elements typically require direct interaction by the child or an adult, such as rotation of the elements by hand or utilizing a wind-up mechanism. Alternatively, activation of the rotatable elements can be controlled electronically (e.g., via batteries) and a motor.
It would be desirable to provide a mobile or other rotatable entertainment device for a children's product that could rotate without the requirement of direct user or electronic interaction. In particular, it would be desirable to control rotary motion of the entertainment device in response to an oscillating motion of a children's product, such as a swing or a bouncer. Such indirect rotary motion would further enhance the entertainment value of the entertainment device for the child, as the rotation would appear to be magical and independent of any action performed by the child or parent.
Thus, there exists a need for providing a rotatable entertainment device that is mountable to a swing or other oscillating children's product, where the entertainment device is capable of rotating in response to oscillating movements of the children's product rather than by direct interaction by the user or other conventional electrical or mechanical drive mechanisms.


A heating cable guide strip for retaining and guiding a resistance heating cable in a serpentine path on a sub-floor adapted to receive a cementitious material to form a radiant heated floor is described. The method of use is also described. The heating cable guide strip is molded of plastics material and defines an elongated flat base having a plurality of spaced-apart wire retaining guide members. The retaining guide members have at least a curved section for guiding the heating cable along a curved path about one or more of the guide members. The guide members further have a flexible cable retention flange to permit the positioning and retention of the cable captive between opposed ones of the retaining guide members. The heating cable guide strip is attached to the sub-floor by glue, nails or screws.

Electric radiant floor heating systems are known and a typical one of these systems is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,332 issued on Nov. 7, 1989 to Infloor Inc. These systems comprise a plurality of cable retaining strips which are secured to a sub-floor surface whereby to support a resistance heating cable along a serpentine path and spaced above the top surface of the sub-floor. Once the cable is installed, a cementitious slurry is then poured over the sub-floor whereby to embed the resistance heating cable into the cement layer. Resistance heating cables are today covered with a suitable insulation material whereby to protect the resistive wire and therefore the cable can lie on the top surface of the sub-floor.
There are several disadvantages with known systems and a main one is the time required to install the cable. The cable needs to be properly disposed along a predetermined serpentine arrangement over the sub-floor and properly anchored to prevent displacement and damage thereof when the cementitious product is poured thereover. The cementitious slurries may shrink and crack during its curing cycle and thus tends to disrupt the heating cable which could cause a rupture thereof rendering the system ineffective. Some known systems utilize anchoring metal strips which pinch the heating cable and any shifting of the cable during curing of the slurry can cause a cable rupture at its anchor point with the support members.
There is therefore a need to provide a system which utilizes cable guide strips for retaining and guiding the heating cable along a serpentine path and which is inexpensive, easy to install and secure the cable thereto, flexible, and reliable and which permits the installation to be effected very quickly thereby reducing the labour cost.

Heating cable guide strip for electric radiant floor heating and method of use