A football helmet is disclosed that includes a shell constructed of fiber reinforced epoxy resin, a liner made from expanded polypropylene, an impact absorbing layer situated between the liner and the shell, and a face guard. The impact absorbing layer is constructed from either expanded polypropylene or a viscoelastic polymer encased in a suitable thin yet resilient and elastic membrane. An optional impact absorbing band is also shown disposed around the inner periphery of the liner and encircling the player's head. The impact absorbing band serves to reduce impact forces occurring from side helmet impact with objects or players.

Helmets have long been worn in the sport of football to protect a player's head from injury resulting from impact with other players, ground impact, or impact with objects on or off the field. Recent prior art helmets typically include an outer shell made from durable plastic materials, a liner made from a shock absorbing material, a face guard and a chin strap which also functions in some designs as a chin protector. Helmet liners have taken several forms over the years, including encased foam padding, fluid filled jackets or pockets, air inflated bags lining the inner surface of the helmet and other design approaches.
Some recent patents directed to football helmets, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,240,376, 6,934,971 and 7,036,151, all to Ide et al., have focused more on jaw protection, ear protection and improved face guard features without any notable changes in the shock absorbing liner designs. In general though, the overall configuration, design and shape of a football helmet has remained relatively unchanged over an extended period of time.
It is well recognized that no helmet can completely prevent injuries to persons playing the sport of football. The very nature of football is quite physical with much emphasis placed on strength and speed of the players. As players have increased their strength and speed, corresponding improvements in safety equipment, specifically helmets, has not taken place. Shock attenuation and impact force absorption are of foremost importance in the design of a football helmet.
Serious concerns have been raised in recent years regarding concussion injuries suffered by athletes while playing football and the long term affect such brain injuries have on the mental and physical health of those suffering such injuries. Some commentators suggest there may be significant consequences for continuing to play football before recovery from a concussion injury has taken place. Later life cognitive difficulties suffered by former football players are now being associated with concussion injuries received while playing football. Recently, researchers found the players were three times more likely to die from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or Lou Gehrig's disease than the general population.
Given the recent media coverage of high profile football players who received concussion injuries while playing football and have later in life suffered from maladies and diseases of the brain resulting in abnormal life experiences and behavior, it is abundantly clear that more attention and effort should be directed to protecting players from such injuries.
In view of elevated attention concussion injuries are receiving in the media in relation to football, and in particular the long term negative impact on lives, any new developments in football helmet designs that improve the impact absorption or impact attenuation characteristics of a football helmet and lessen the forces impacting the head of a player are urgently needed.

Football helmet having improved impact absorption


Systems and methods are provided for receiving and encoding 3D video. The receiving method comprises: accepting a bitstream with a current video frame encoded with two interlaced fields, in a MPEG2, MPEG4, or H.264 standard; decoding a current frame top field; decoding a current frame bottom field; and, presenting the decoded top and bottom fields as a 3D frame image. In some aspects, the method presents the decoded top and bottom fields as a stereo-view image. In other aspects, the method accepts 2D selection commands in response to a trigger such as receiving a supplemental enhancement information (SEI) message, an analysis of display capabilities, manual selection, or receiver system configuration. Then, only one of the current frame interlaced fields is decoded, and a 2D frame image is presented.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to video compression and, more particularly, to a system and method of encoding/decoding compressed video for three-dimensional and stereo viewing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional video compression techniques typically handle three-dimensional (3D), or stereo-view video, in units of a frame. The most straightforward method is to code two views separately, as independent video sequences. This straightforward method, however, suffers from poor coding efficiency. It also has higher complexity because it needs to encode/decoder, multiplex/demultiplex, and synchronize two bitstreams. To reduce the complexity of bitstream handling, synchronized frames from each view can also be grouped together to form a composite frame, and then coded into one single bitstream. This composite-frame method still suffers from poor coding efficiency. It also loses a view-scalable functionality, i.e., decoder can choose to decode and display only one view.
Alternately, as noted in U.S. patent application 20020009137, one view can be coded into a base layer bitstream, and the other view into an enhancement layer. This layer approach not only has a better coding efficiency, but it also preserves the view-scalable functionality. However, this method still has higher complexity due to its needs to handle multiple bitstreams (base-layer and enhanced-layer bitstreams).
It would be advantageous if compressed 3D video could be communicated with greater efficiency.
It would be advantageous if only one view of a compressed 3D or stereo-view could be decoded to permit viewing on legacy 2D displays.

System and method for three-dimensional video coding


An array structure includes a plurality of containers arranged in a predetermined pattern. Each container of the plurality of containers has a maximum outer dimension that is less than about 1 cm, and each container of the plurality of containers has a substantially predetermined porosity.

1. Field of Invention
The field of the currently claimed embodiments of this invention relates to array structures, and more particularly to array structures of containers that have predetermined porosity.
2. Discussion of Related Art
It is a well-established practice in drug discovery, microbiology, tissue engineering and biotechnology to culture cells within microwell arrays (Charnley, M., Textor, M., Khademhosseini, A. & Lutolf, M. P. Integration Column: Microwell Arrays for Mammalian Cell Culture. Meg. Biol. 1, 625-634 (2009); Ma, B., Zhang, G., Qin, J. & Lin, B. Characterization of Drug Metabolites and Cytotoxicity Assay Simultaneously Using an Integrated Microfluidic Device. Lab Chip. 9, 232-239 (2009); Holmes, D. & Gawad, S. The Application of Microfluidics in Biology. Meth. Mol. Bio. 583, 55-80 (2010); Kim, L., Toh, Y. C, Voldman, J. & Yu, H. A Practical Guide to Microfluidic Perfusion Culture of Adherent Mammalian Cells. Lab Chip. 7, 681-694 (2007)). However, conventional microwell arrays do not accurately mimic the in situ cellular microenvironment due to a lack of three-dimensional (3D) cues from the external media thus generating physiologically compromised cells (Dutta, R. C. & Dutta, A. K. Cell-interactive 3D-scaffold; Advances and Applications. Biotech. Adv. 27, 334-339 (2009)). For example, due to limited access to the surrounding medium from only one opening (a single 2D interface) in traditional microwell arrays, hypoxic conditions resulting in decreased cell or tissue function have been reported (Rappaport, C. Review—Progress in Concept and Practice of Growing Anchorage-Dependent Mammalian Cells in Three Dimensions. In Vitro Cell Dev. Biol. 39, 187-192 (2003); Metzen, E. M., Wolff, J., Fandrey, J. & Jelkman, J. Pericellular pO2 and O2 Consumption in Monolayers. Respir. Phsyiol. 100, 101-110 (1991); Malda, J., Klein, T. J. & Upton, Z. The Role of Hypoxia in the In Vitro Engineering of Tissues. Tissue Eng. 13, 2153-2162 (2007)).
In numerous lab-on-a-chip applications where a small device size is desirable while retaining high perfusion with the surrounding medium, there is a need to transition to the third dimension. For example, to increase diffusion of media in cell culture devices, researchers have developed microfabricated chemostats with porous side walls, see A. Groisman, et al., Nat. Methods 2:685-689 (2005), partitioned microfluidic channels, see A. P. Wong, et al., Biomaterials 29:1853-1861 (2008), and microgel-based building blocks. See Y. Du, et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 105:9522-9527 (2008). As compared to gel-based systems where porosity is a consequence of crosslinking and can have considerable spatial variability, lithographic patterning of pores offers the possibility for high precision and reproducibility. See T. A. Desai, et al., Biotechnol. Bioeng. 57:118-120 (1998). Although lithographic approaches have been successfully applied to microfabricated containers, in most cases, however, they feature porosity in inherently two-dimensional (2D) geometries, which allow diffusion only from the top and bottom faces. See J. Kwon, et al., J. Vac. Sci. Technol., B, 27:2795-2800 (2009); S. L. Tao, et al., Nat. Protocols 1:3153-3158 (2007). There thus remains a need for improved sub-centimeter array structures that have selectable porosities.


A method includes displaying a plurality of group-based communication channels in an interface associated with a first user of a group-communication platform; receiving a request from the first user to share a selected set of the group-based communication channels with at least a second user of the group-based communication platform; displaying to at least the second user an indication of at least one group-based communication channel of the selected set of group-based communication channels and an affordance to add the at least one group-based communication channel of the selected set of group-based communication channels; in response to receiving an actuation of the affordance by the second user, adding the at least one group-based communication channel to an interface associated with the second user; and updating display of the interface associated with the second user to include the at least one group-based communication channel.

Communication platforms facilitate sharing of content between users. Some communication platforms enable users to join message groups in which messages posted to a particular message group are accessible to all of the users of that group. Message groups may be organized around particular topics or common characteristics of users. Some communication platforms may enable users to search for message groups to join. Alternatively or additionally, users may learn of useful or relevant message groups to join through word of mouth, such as from users that have been on the platform longer. Often, a user may be unaware of message groups that may be particularly relevant or useful to the user, particularly when the user is new on the platform.

Systems and methods for sharing channels in a group-based communication platform


To aim to reduce ripple current flowing through a capacitor in a power converter apparatus including a converter, the capacitor and an inverter. A current sensor 6 is connected between a capacitor 5 and an inverter circuit 7 for detecting current Iinv flowing from the capacitor 5 to the inverter circuit 7. A frequency detecting subunit 11 performs fast Fourier transform on a waveform of the current Iinv to detect a frequency of a frequency component having the largest amplitude. Also, the frequency detecting subunit 12 detects a zero-cross point of the frequency component having the largest amplitude. Then a carrier signal control subunit 13 performs control such that a frequency and a rise time of a PWM carrier signal for driving the converter circuit 4 match the frequency and the zero-cross point that have been detected by the frequency detecting subunit 11 and the phase detecting subunit 12.

An electric power converting apparatus is composed of a converter, a capacitor and an inverter, and supplies electric power to a load such as a motor.
The converter is connected to a power source, and transforms power voltage. When the power source is a system power supply, an AC-DC converter is used. When the power source is a high voltage battery, a DC-DC converter is used. The inverter converts direct current to alternating current, and supplies electric power to a load. The capacitor is connected between the converter and the inverter, and smoothes voltage to be input into the inverter. Generally, an electrolytic capacitor that is suitable for downsizing and cost reductions is used as the capacitor.
In the electric power converting apparatus, direct current flowing from the converter to the capacitor and direct current flowing from the capacitor to the inverter influence each other and accordingly current flowing through the capacitor (hereinafter, referred to as "ripple current") grows large. When the ripple current is large, the life of the electrolytic capacitor is decreased due to heat generation by an equivalent series resistance. Therefore, the heat generation is reduced by increasing capacity of the capacitor, and this unfortunately impedes downsizing of the electric power converting apparatus.
Patent Literature 1 discloses an invention for detecting ripple current flowing through a capacitor using a resistance connected in series to the capacitor, and reducing an average value of ripple current. However, though the technology disclosed in the Patent Literature 1 is capable of reducing the ripple current on average, reduction of pulsing charging/discharging current is not considered.
In view of this, Patent Literature 2 discloses an invention for reducing pulsing charging/discharging current flowing through a capacitor by setting a frequency of a carrier signal for driving a converter to be twice as high as a frequency of a carrier signal for driving an inverter.

Electric power converting apparatus and induction heating apparatus

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


The present invention relates to a method and a device for metering liquids, wherein the volume of a droplet of a sample liquid is determined by means of optical measuring. The liquid to be metered is brought into contact with a transfer element so that a droplet adheres to the transfer element. The transfer element and the liquid adhering thereto are illuminated from one or several directions and the resulting images are displayed on an optical sensor. The liquid volume is determined on the basis of these images. Metering is accomplished by transferring the liquid volume adhering to the transfer element into an analysis vessel.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a method and a device for metering liquids, wherein the volume of a droplet of a sample liquid is determined by means of optical measurement.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
The invention lies in the field of metering liquids for chemical and clinical analyzers. Accordingly, an expert in this field is a physicist or a physical chemist who is familiar with methods of metering liquids which are currently known in the prior art and also with optical devices.
In prior art there exist methods where liquids are dispensed by high-precision pistons, so-called diluters. Liquid volumes that are within the range of a few microliters can be metered with so-called micropipettes. Another method of metering liquids in the microliter range is described in German Patent Application P 4243247.2. In this method, the liquid level in a capillary tube is detected by means of an electro-optical element and varying liquid levels in the capillary tube are converted into metered volumes. This method addresses the optical detection of the liquid meniscus to ensure sufficiently exact metering.
3. Summary of the Invention:
It is, hence, a drawback of the methods known in prior art that only liquid amounts greater than approx. 1 .mu.l can be metered. Moreover, the instrument parts which contact the liquid are relatively complex and expensive, a fact which calls for multiple usage rather than disposable units.
It was, hence, an object of the invention to provide a method and a device for metering liquids, which also allows the reliable and precise metering of liquid volumes that are smaller than 1 .mu.l. Another object of the invention was to eliminate contamination of the metering device.
The method of the invention for metering liquids comprises the following steps:
a) a contact step where the transfer element is brought into contact with the liquid such that a droplet of the liquid adheres to the transfer element, PA1 b) an imaging step where the droplet and at least a part of the transfer element are illuminated and where an optical system produces at least one picture of the droplet and of a part of the transfer element on an optical sensor, PA1 c) an optical measuring step where contours of the droplet are determined based on the at least one picture produced on the optical sensor and where the volume of the droplet is calculated from the so determined contours, PA1 d) a transfer step where the droplet adhering to the transfer element is transferred into an analysis vessel. PA1 a) a transfer element with at least one droplet of liquid to which the at least one droplet of a liquid adheres due to adhesive and/or gravitational forces, PA1 b) an illumination unit which has at least one light source and which can have an arrangement of lenses, mirrors, and diaphragms, PA1 c) an adjusting device to position the transfer element and allowing movement of the transfer element in at least one spatial direction within the light path of the illumination unit, PA1 d) a detection device to detect light after this light has passed the transfer element and which can also have an arrangement of lenses, mirrors, and diaphragms, PA1 e) an evaluation device to determine the contours of at least one droplet of liquid with the aid of signals from the detection unit and then calculates the volume of a droplet of liquid, PA1 f) a transfer device to transfer the element with at least one droplet of liquid into an analysis vessel.
Moreover, the invention relates to a system for metering liquids including a unit for illuminating elements, an adjusting device, a detection device, an evaluation device and a transfer device where the volume of a droplet of the liquid is optically determined.
The method of the invention addresses the metering of very minute amounts of liquid ranging from a few nanoliters up to microliters. Metering as understood in this invention is not the release of a predetermined amount of liquid into an analysis vessel, but rather the addition of an amount of liquid which can essentially not be predetermined, but can be determined with great accuracy before it is transferred into the analysis vessel. This does usually not restrict the possibilities of analyzing liquids. With respect to the available amount of sample, known analysis methods are relatively flexible. However, the accuracy of the analysis directly relates to the accuracy at which the metered amount of sample can be determined.
In the method of the invention, liquid to be metered is brought into contact with a transfer element. This can be done, for example, by immersing the transfer element into the liquid to be metered and then taking it out again. The liquid adhering to the transfer element is the sample volume to be added into the analysis vessel. The liquid could, however, also be directly added onto the transfer element to which it then adheres due to adhesive and/or gravitational forces.
Depending on these different possibilities of bringing liquid into contact with the transfer element, the latter can assume numerous shapes and sizes. The transfer element can, for example, have the form of a rod which is immersed into the liquid to be metered with liquid in the form of a droplet then adhering to its front side. The amounts of liquid to be metered can be changed by varying the form of the front part of the transfer element. Further, the amount of adhering liquid depends upon the surface properties of the transfer element as well as the properties of the liquid, e.g. its viscosity. In a preferred embodiment, the rod-like transfer element is a fiber. Possible materials include glass, plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylmetacrylate, polyethylenetherephthalate, and metals and alloys. The transfer element which is particularly suitable in accordance with the invention is obtained when the circumferential surface of the rod-like body exerts only minor adhesive forces onto the liquid to be metered, whereas the front surface should exhibit good adsorptive properties. With such an embodiment given, the droplet adhering to the front surface of the transfer element does not adhere to the walls of the transfer element which would render the determination of the volume more complicated. Transfer elements in accordance with the invention which have the form of a small rod can be obtained by reducing the size of longer fibers by means of cutting, melting or in any other way. It is particularly preferred to provide the transfer element with the coating as described, for example, by the Fraunhofer Institute (Material Science Monographs, 67, page 203 et seq., 1991), for example. If the material used for the transfer element is one that exhibits strong adsorptive forces with respect to the sample liquid, the outside of the transfer element can be coated with a liquid-repellent film. If such a fiber-like transfer element is separated, the cut edge thereof has a surface with good adsorptive capacities (usually hydrophilic), whereas the circumferential surface exhibits minor adsorptive forces (usually hydrophobic).
In another preferred embodiment, the transfer element has a planar surface element which appears larger than the droplet of liquid to be metered. In accordance with the invention, it is possible to use foils made of plastics, glass, or metal. Advantageously, the materials used include those that are at least partly transparent to light. It is also advantageous that the surface of the transfer element be liquid-repellent to support the formation of spherical droplet and to avoid bleeding of the liquid on the surface.
Physically, hydrophobic surface material can be recognized in that aqueous droplets of liquid form a great wetting angle thereon. Plastics that are suitable for this application include polyvinylidene fluoride (Teflon), polyethylene, polypropylene, and polymethylmetacrylate. Surfaces with minor hydrophobic properties can be impregnated by coating with organosilanes, for example.
In accordance with the invention, the volume of liquid adhering to the transfer element is determined by optically measuring the contours of the adsorbed liquid. It is preferred to first measure the contours of the transfer element without any liquid, and to then include in the calculation the volume of the transfer element covered by the liquid.
In order to carry out the optical measurement, the transfer element is illuminated and after passing the transfer element, the beam of light is directed onto an optical sensor. As the sample volumes used in accordance with the invention and, hence, the droplets of liquid are within the range of millimeters and below, the illumination is subject to heavy diffraction. In order to determine the volume, the contours of the droplet must be determined with great accuracy which requires that the diffraction be included in the determination of the contours.
FIG. 1 shows how light is diffracted at an edge. From the brightness function h(x) it can be recognized that the physical edge (site x'.sub.1) is at approximately 25% of the brightness for the great values of x (reference brightness). The physical edge can, therefore, be determined by first determining the reference brightness, i.e. the maximum brightness possible, and, thereon, the site where the brightness corresponds to 25% of the reference brightness. In the practice, however, it is more advantageous to calibrate the determination of the physical edge. To achieve this, a body with known and exactly defined contours is placed into the beam of light. The percentage of brightness at the edge can be determined for a given measurement arrangement by measuring the brightness function. Any change to the measurement arrangement (strength of illumination, direction of beams) usually requires recalibration. When bodies with unknown contours are measured, the brightness function at the physical edge is determined and evaluated based upon the previous calibration. In a simple threshold process, the one point of the curve, which according to its percentage of brightness based upon the reference brightness corresponds to the edge, is associated with the edge of the object.
In a more complex evaluation procedure, a larger part of the brightness curve is included in the calculation, ranging, for example, from x'.sub.1 -F up to x'.sub.1 +5F. The measured part of the function is approximated in a spline function. The coefficient of the spline function is determined in a comparison with the physical model of the brightness function of the points x'.sub.1, i.e. the physical edge.
In order to determine the volume of droplet, the brightness function must be determined at numerous different points of the droplet. Once the contours of the droplet and those of the contiguous transfer element have been determined, the volume of the droplet can be calculated. This can be done, for example, based upon the model of a round or elliptic droplet. In a very simple model, it can be assumed that the droplet adhering to the transfer element has the form of a spherical segment. In this case, the determined contours of the droplet allow conclusions with respect to the curvature of the surface of the sphere and, hence, its radius. The volume of the droplet can then be mathematically concluded from the volume of the corresponding spherical segment. In similar simple models, the droplet adhering to the transfer element is considered to be a segment of an ellipsoid. With complicated computerized methods, the surface of the droplet is first scanned and, based upon the reference points, the contour is determined in an interpolation function. The actual determination of the volume can then be carried out by filling the space below the contour of the droplet with polyhedrons.
With the latter method, it is also possible to account for irregularities on the surface of the transfer element which contacts the droplet.
In addition to these mathematically complex procedures, it is also possible to provide technical solutions for the determination of the volume by bringing known volumes onto the transfer elements and determining the resulting contours. These measurements can be used to establish calibration curves to determine unknown volumes.
Following the determination of the volume, the transfer element with the sample droplet is as soon as possible transferred into an analysis vessel or otherwise analyzed. Generally, the time interval between contacting transfer element and sample and the beginning of the analysis should be kept as short as possible to avoid evaporation of the liquid. For a correct analysis, only the time between contact of transfer element and sample and the determination of the volume is essential, as all subsequent concentration calculations are based on the volume measured. Evaporation after the determination of the volume is in most cases irrelevant with respect to the concentration calculation as the parameters that are relevant for the clinical analysis have a high vapor pressure. The amount of analyte present in the sample droplet, hence, remains constant.
Experience has shown that for sample volumes between 400 nl and 1 .mu.l, measurement is possible within 3 to 5 seconds after collecting the sample in order to keep the error rate in the determination of the concentration due to evaporation smaller than 3%. When all ambient conditions are known, especially air pressure, temperature, and humidity, the amount evaporating over a given time can either be empirically determined or be calculated. A description of a calculation of the evaporation of small droplets can be found in Peiss, C. N. J. Appl. Phys. 65(12)15. The empirically or mathematically determined amount of evaporated substance is used to correct the droplet volume determined in accordance with the invention to increase the accuracy of the analysis.
Another possibility of increasing the accuracy of the metering is to reduce the evaporation of the sample droplet. This can be accomplished by reducing the ambient temperature and, especially, by increasing the ambient humidity.
The invention further comprises a system for metering liquids having the following elements.
A system of the invention has an illumination unit to illuminate the transfer element and the droplet of liquid adhering thereto. Possible sources of light are conventional lamps, e.g. incandescent lamps or halogen lamps. In a preferred manner, these lamps are operated such that a constant degree of brightness is maintained. In an advantageous embodiment, a bundle of parallel beams is generated from the light of the light source via a lens system. This bundle of beams is used to illuminate the transfer element together with the droplets adhering thereto. With a second lens system, an image of the droplet and the adjacent transfer element is produced on a sensor. A reproducible and, therefore, particularly advantageous arrangement is obtained if the droplet of liquid is in the focus of the lens system which produces its image. This can be accomplished with the aid of an adjusting device.
The image of the droplet is projected on an optical sensor which allows a one-dimensional, preferably two-dimensional evaluation of the brightness. Suitable means are so-called vidikons or semi-conductor image sensors. Preferably, so-called CCD arrays (charged coupled devices) are used as these are commercially available at relative low prices and ensure a high resolution of the image.
Each sensor is connected to a computer system which generates a one- or two-dimensional picture from the signals of the element of the sensors.
With the currently described method it is possible to obtain one- or two-dimensional projections of the droplet. To determine the volume, however, it is necessary to have a spatial structure of the droplet. The adjacent transfer element is, therefore, used to illuminate the droplet from several spatial directions. This can be achieved by splitting the light of the source by means of a beam splitter (e.g. prism), then redirecting it via mirror systems and directing it onto the droplet from different spatial directions. In a rod-like transfer element, the droplet is preferably illuminated in two or three directions perpendicular to the axis of the transfer element. For a droplet which is located on a flat transfer element, the preferred illumination runs parallel and perpendicular to the surface of the transfer elements.
Once the light beams have passed the droplet, they can be directly guided onto several sensors or, preferably, combined via mirror systems and directed onto one single sensor. When one single sensor is used, it is preferred to successively activate the individual light beams and to deactivate the remaining light beams, respectively.


A modified media key used to decrypt protected media content stored on an optical disc, such as an HD-DVD or Blu-ray disc, is created through application of a transformation using a constant value which is programmatically generated by procedural code that runs on a player. The transformation is obfuscated through application of a random value to the constant value through a logical XOR operation. The programmatically-generated constant, called Soft Key Conversion Data (“SKCD”) is used by a security layer to derive the modified media key, called a Soft Media Key. At the player, a conventionally calculated media key is used to decrypt the first title, while the Soft Media Key is used to decrypt subsequent titles. Optionally, the SKCD may be updated one or more times so that the Soft Media Key is repeatedly transformed and respectively applied, for example, on a title-by-title basis, or to groups of subsequent titles.

The Advanced Access Content System ("AACS") is a specification for protecting prerecorded and recordable media content stored on the next generation of optical media used for DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), including HD DVD™ and Blu-ray™. Such optical media are typically configured for consumer use with PCs (personal computers) and other consumer electronic devices that include high-definition media players. The AACS specification is maintained by AACS Licensing Administrator, LLC ("AACSLA").
AACS provides several mechanisms to manage usage of stored media content which may include movies, games, television programming, and the like. Digital copying is securely prevented by the encoding of the content with a 128 bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) key-code. HD DVD and Blu-ray players use their own device key, from which they are able to calculate the correct AES key-code called a Media Key, for each disc through use of a Media Key Block ("MKB"), and typically Key Conversion Data ("KCD"), that are stored on the data-carrier (e.g., an optical disc). Use of the MKB enables AACS to implement a key revocation model by which device keys on specific players that have been compromised, for example through circumvention of the content protection, can be revoked.
In addition, the copy-protection methodology used by AACS supports some Digital Rights Management ("DRM") functionality to provide users with the freedom to consume disc contents legally on other devices such as media-servers or portable equipment. The number and type of devices and the timeframe, in which they can be used, can be defined in the AACS system by the owner of the contents during the media authoring process.
While AACS is performing satisfactorily in many applications, some vulnerability to attack is believed to exist which could compromise the integrity of the protection for the media content. For example, if the base line content protection under AACS is broken, HD DVD and Blu-ray discs can be decrypted without authorization. Once attackers understand the process and secrets behind the AACS content protection methodology, they can write a program that automates the process to allow illegal decryption by users that have minimal technical skill.
As a result of such vulnerability, content providers have expressed interest in a form of content protection that can be applied on a per-title basis, which varies from title-to-title on a DVD disc in order to make it at least somewhat more difficult for an attacker to create an automated program for illegal decryption of the recorded content.
This Background is provided to introduce a brief context for the Summary and Detailed Description that follow. This Background is not intended to be an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter nor be viewed as limiting the claimed subject matter to implementations that solve any or all of the disadvantages or problems presented above.

Media key-transformation obfuscation in advanced access content system


A chip includes a processing device to perform cryptographic operations by secret data; a memory to store a first plurality of information portions that correspond to a first breakdown of the data and from which the secret data are reconstructible by combination of the first plurality of information portions; a random number generator to provide random values; and a conversion device to ascertain second breakdowns of the data into a second plurality of information portions, from which the secret data are reconstructible and to control the memory for an ascertained second breakdown to store the present second plurality of information portions. The conversion device is further configured to ascertain the second breakdowns based on the random values and/or to determine the interval of time between the ascertaining and storing of a second breakdown and the ascertaining and storing of the subsequent second breakdown based on the random values.

Electronic devices need to be protected against attacks in a large number of applications. Typical examples are security ICs, hardware roots of trust (e.g. trusted platform module), chip cards for processing and storing secret data (e.g. keys or passwords) or data that are supposed to be protected against manipulation (e.g. credit on a prepaid card) or controllers, for example in a vehicle, whose correct operation is important for the safety of a user. A possible point of attack in an electronic device is its memory, reading or manipulation of which allows an attacker to find out secret data. Therefore, efficient mechanisms for protecting electronic memories are desirable.

Chip and method for securely storing secret data


The impact of lipoxin A4 (LXA4) and aspirin-triggered-lipoxins (ATL) was investigated in tumor necrosis factor (TNFα)-initiated neutrophil (PMN) responses in vitro and in vivo using metabolically stable LX analogs. At concentrations as low as 1–10 nM, the LXA4 and ATL analogs each inhibited TNFα-stimulated superoxide anion generation and IL-1β release by human PMN.

Lipid and protein mediators of inflammation such as cytokines and chemokines have a profound impact on the formation and actions of each other (Serhan, C. N., J. Z. Haeggström, and C. C. Leslie. 1996. Lipid mediator networks in cell signaling: update and impact of cytokines. FASEB J. 10:1147–1158). In particular, the cytokines TNFα and IL-1β play major roles in inflammation, septic shock and tissue injury. PMN perform a range of well-appreciated specialized functions, including chemotaxis, generation of reactive oxygen species and biosynthesis of potent lipid mediators (Weiss, S. J. 1989. Tissue destruction by neutrophils. N. Engl. J. Med. 320:365–376). In this regard, TNFα stimulates PMN to transcribe and release cytokines such as IL-1β, enhances leukotriene biosynthesis, and up-regulates adhesion molecules (Marucha, P. T., R. A. Zeff, and D. L. Kreutzer. 1991. Cytokine-induced IL-1β gene expression in the human polymorphonuclear leukocyte: transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation by tumor necrosis factor and IL-1. J. Immunol. 147:2603–2608). Since PMN represent approximately 70% of the peripheral blood leukocytes and are in many instances the initial cell type recruited to interstitial sites, they are now considered a significant source of "proinflammatory" cytokines including TNFα and IL-1β. These as well as other PMN-derived cytokines and chemokines can, in turn, affect the course of inflammatory and immune responses (Lloyd, A. R., and J. J. Oppenheim. 1992. Poly's lament: the neglected role of the polymorphonuclear neutrophil in the afferent limb of the immune response. Immunology Today 13:169–172). In certain clinical settings, including respiratory distress syndrome, myocardial reperfusion injury, gout and rheumatoid arthritis, PMN contribute to ongoing damage of host tissues (Weiss, S. J. 1989. Tissue destruction by neutrophils. N. Engl. J. Med. 320:365–376; Hachicha, M., P. H. Naccache, and S. R. McColl. 1995. Inflammatory microcrystals differentially regulate the secretion of macrophage inflammatory protein-1 and interleukin-8 by human neutrophils: A possible mechanism of neutrophil recruitment to sites of inflammation in synovitis. J. Exp. Med. 182:2019–2025; Hansen, P. R. 1995. Role of neutrophils in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Circulation 91:1872–1885). Thus, it is of interest to understand the complex relationships between lipid mediators and TNFα-evoked PMN responses in order to gain insight for new approaches in controlling these events.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Inhibition of TNF-α-initiated neutrophil response


Optoelectronic devices are provided. In one embodiment, a device may include a first conductivity type cladding layer including a first barrier layer, an active layer formed on the first conductivity-type cladding layer, the active layer including a well layer made of a nitride semiconductor, and a second conductivity-type cladding layer formed on the active layer and including a second barrier layer. The active layer is positioned between and adjacent to the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer.

In recent years, optoelectronic devices, such as photovoltaic cells, light emitting diodes, and laser diodes, have generated a great deal of interest as an alternative source of energy, an illuminating element for display, or as a display element itself. The emissive characteristics of light emitting devices, for example, are known to be based on the mechanism of recombination, by which electrical energy is converted into photon energy. It is the recombination efficiency in the active (or quantum well) layer of the light emitting device that determines the internal quantum efficiency of the device.
Recent studies are being focused on light emitting devices having a nitride semiconductor such as indium gallium nitride (InGaN) in the active layer, which is found to exhibit full solar spectrum capability. In addition, Group III-V nitride based radiation resistant photovoltaic cells are being examined. However, the nitride material in the active layer tends to cause strong piezo effects on the electric field due to the difference in lattice constants between the active layer and the cladding (or barrier) layers. The piezo electric field, in turn, causes the wave functions of the electrons and holes in the active layer to separate from each other and decrease the recombination rate of the electrons and holes drastically, thereby degrading the adsorption coefficient and the efficiency of the device.

University of Seoul Industry Cooperation Foundation


Techniques are disclosed relating to geophysical surveying. In some embodiments, a marine survey vessel tows multiple sensor streamers in addition to vibratory sources deployed relative to the sensor streamers. In some embodiments, the vessel tows vibratory sources emitting energy within different frequency bands in different deployment zones. In some embodiments, one or more sources are driven with different sweep functions, different activation patterns, and/or different sweep lengths. Various disclosed techniques for manufacturing a geophysical data product may potentially simplify equipment used for towing sources, reduce survey complexity without reducing resolution, increase resolution without increasing survey complexity, improve energy content recovered from deep reflections, and/or reduce the environmental impact of emitting seismic energy.

Geophysical surveys are often used for oil and gas exploration in geophysical formations, which may be located below marine environments. Seismic geophysical surveys, for example, are based on the use of acoustic waves. In marine seismic surveys, a survey vessel may tow an acoustic source (e.g., an air gun or a marine vibrator) and a plurality of streamers along which a number of acoustic sensors (e.g., hydrophones and/or geophones) are located. Acoustic waves generated by the source may then be transmitted into the earth's crust and then reflected back and captured at the geophysical sensors. Data collected during a marine geophysical survey may be analyzed to locate hydrocarbon-bearing geological structures, and thus determine where deposits of oil and natural gas may be located.
This specification includes references to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment." The appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner consistent with this disclosure.
Various units, circuits, or other components may be described or claimed as "configured to" perform a task or tasks. In such contexts, "configured to" is used to connote structure by indicating that the units/circuits/components include structure (e.g., circuitry) that performs the task or tasks during operation. As such, the unit/circuit/component can be said to be configured to perform the task even when the specified unit/circuit/component is not currently operational (e.g., is not on). The units/circuits/components used with the "configured to" language include hardware—for example, circuits, memory storing program instructions executable to implement the operation, etc.
Reciting that a unit/circuit/component is "configured to" perform one or more tasks is expressly intended not to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) for that unit/circuit/component. Accordingly, none of the claims in this application as filed are intended to be interpreted as having means-plus-function elements. Should Applicant wish to invoke Section 112(f) during prosecution, it will recite claim elements using the "means for" [performing a function] construct.
It is to be understood the present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary devices or methods described, which may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing exemplary embodiments, and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include singular and plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Furthermore, the words "can" and "may" are used throughout this application in a permissive sense (i.e., having the potential to, being able to), not in a mandatory sense (i.e., must). The term "include," "comprising," and derivations thereof, mean "including, but not limited to." The term "coupled" means directly or indirectly connected.
As used herein, the term "based on" is used to describe one or more factors that affect a determination. This term does not foreclose the possibility that additional factors may affect the determination. That is, a determination may be solely based on specified factors or based on the specified factors as well as other, unspecified factors. Consider the phrase "determine A based on B." This phrase specifies that B is a factor used to determine A or that affects the determination of A. This phrase does not foreclose that the determination of A may also be based on some other factor, such as C. This phrase is also intended to cover an embodiment in which A is determined based solely on B. As used herein, the phrase "based on" is synonymous with the phrase "based at least in part on."

Spatial distribution of marine vibratory sources


An apparatus for reproducing address data recorded on a disk record medium with an information signal which is recorded on the same by forming pit portions in response to the information signal included a pickup for optically reproducing the recorded data and signals is provided. Also the apparatus includes a circuit for generating a sampling pulse from the recorded data and signals so that the sampling pulse occurs substantially beginning position of a mirror portion beginning the pit portions, a circuit for sampling and holding the recorded data and signals by the sampling pulse, and a circuit for decoding an output signal of the sampling and holding means so as to generate the address data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a playback apparatus suitable for reproducing address data from a disk record medium, in particular, from a recordable optical disk.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Some optical disks having wobbled grooves are known. The grooves are wobbled with a particular signal, for example, a carrier signal of 22.05 KHz. They are used to perform CLV control. Moreover, a particular optical disk where the carrier signal is frequency-modulated with absolute time data, which is so-called ATIP (Absolute Time In Pre-groove) so as to form the above mentioned grooves in accordance with the FM signal, has been proposed. In this optical disk, absolute time data from the start track to the last track which is represented with ATIP is used as address information. By accurately reading ATIP, a particular position can be located on a recordable optical disk. ATIP is included in a push-pull signal which is formed with reflected light from the optical disk and ATIP is read by decoding the push-pull signal.
When a signal obtained from an optical disk through a pickup is detected and reproduced, if a push-pull signal is formed in accordance with reflected light of a pit portion, a signal component being recorded leaks in the push-pull signal. Thus, the C/N of the push-pull signal deteriorates and thereby getting into difficulty for reproducing ATIP.
For example, in the case of a CD-WO on which an EFM signal is recorded, the spectrum of the ATIP signal is centered at a frequency of 22.05 KHz.+-.1 KHz. On the other hand, the EFM signal being reproduced is a pulse train with a frequency ranging from 200 to 720 KHz. The low band component of the EFM signal is also present in the band of the ATIP signal, thereby deteriorating the C/N.
In addition, as described earlier, since a particular position is located on the recordable optical disk in accordance with ATIP, when it is difficult to reproduce ATIP, a particular position cannot be located. Consequently, data cannot be recorded on the recordable optical disk. In addition, designated data cannot be recorded additionally in a designated position. Thus far, the measures against this problem has been required.

Apparatus from reproducing address data on a disk


The present technology discloses methods and systems for receiving a security profile request from an integrity verifier, the request including a nonce; requesting, from a trusted platform module, a new nonce, wherein the new nonce is generated at least in part by the nonce and a current timestamp from a clock in the trusted platform module; receiving, from the trusted platform module, the new nonce; requesting, from a cryptoprocessor, a set of platform configuration registers; receiving, from the cryptoprocessor, the set of platform configuration registers; and sending a response to the integrity verifier, the response including the new nonce and the set of platform configuration registers to verify a security status of the trusted platform module and the cryptoprocessor.

Devices in today's networks require validation to ensure that they have not been compromised by a networking adversary. One common tool used to ensure up-to-date device measurements when validating device integrity involves preventing "replay attacks," wherein out-of-date device measurements are sent by an adversary masquerading as up-to-date device measurements. However, not all device cryptoprocessors possess an internal clock, whose timestamps are crucial for preventing replay attacks.

Real-time attestation of cryptoprocessors lacking timers and counters


An arrangement for counting liquid scintillation samples on a sample plate in a liquid scintillation counter having at least one photomultiplier tube. The sample plate contains a plurality of open-bottomed wells sealed with at least one filtration membrane impregnated with a solid meltable scintillator. The arrangement includes a sample plate holder for holding and transporting the sample plate in the liquid scintillation counter. The holder includes a device to hold sample plates of different sizes and a device to enable transportation of the sample plate in the liquid scintillation counter.

Liquid scintillation counters are mainly used for measuring low energy beta radiation emitting samples, which are of, for example, biological or medical interest.
The range of the low energy beta particles in the sample is generally few tens of micrometers at the most. As a consequence, the sample to be measured has to be placed in direct contact with the scintillation medium, which comprises a solvent or solvents and a solute or solutes present in the solutions in a small percentage by weight of the solutions. In this interaction process most of the kinetic energy of the interacted beta particle is absorbed by the solvent and then transferred to the solute which emits scintillation photons, whose amount is proportional to the energy of the interacted beta particle. These scintillation photons are detected usually by two photomultiplier tubes operating in coincidence that produce electric pulses. The heights of the pulses are proportional to the amount of emitted scintillation photons and thus proportional to the energy of the interacted beta particle.
Traditional liquid scintillation counters are designed to count samples--one at a time--deposited with scintillation liquid into sample vials. The volume of the sample vial is typically 6 or 20 ml. The sample vials are deposited into vial racks, which have separate compartments for individual sample vials. The sample racks are placed on the conveyor of the automatic sample changer system of the counter.
Because the above mentioned liquid scintillation counter is designed to count vials, whose volume is up to 20 ml, serious difficulties are encountered, when the sample volume is only few hundred microliters or less. Typically, these samples are prepared in minivials which are then inserted into normal vials. In addition, the handling of separate sample vials is very time consuming and includes potential risks of mis-identification. The sample changing mechanism of such an instrument is also rather complicated, because the vial must be removed from the sample rack and must be positioned into a light tight radiation detection chamber, and after counting it must be returned to the same position in the sample rack.
A novel liquid scintillation counter, which counts samples directly from multi-well sample plates is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,853 (Lehtinen et al), which apparatus counts liquid scintillation or corresponding samples directly from sample plates which comprise several separate sample wells or vials. The apparatus has one or several detectors in order to count one or several samples at a time. The sample plate is placed in the counting position or a position prior to counting manually or automatically on a rigid plate holder made of photon attenuating material having holes for the wells of the sample plate. As a consequence, an optically isolated compartment is formed around each sample well of the sample plate. The walls of the holes are reflecting or scattering in order to guide the photons from the liquid scintillation sample to the detectors, which are built of two photomultiplier tubes operating in coincidence and situated on the opposite sides of the holes of the plate holder. The wells of the sample plate can be closed by an adhesive transparent tape. The apparatus can be used also for counting gamma radiation emitting samples if the holes of the sample plate are surrounded by gamma radiation sensitive detectors. A detailed construction of this kind of liquid scintillation counter is shown in International Patent Application no. PCT/FI90/00124 (Sonne et al.). Another novel scintillation counting system for in-situ measurement of radioactive samples in a multiple-well plate is presented in European Patent Publication Number 0425767Al (VanCauter et al.). This apparatus is provided with multiple photomultiplier tubes positioned adjacent to the sample wells containing the scintillator for simultaneously measuring the radioactivity of multiple samples with only a single photomultiplier tube sensing the scintillations from each well and converting the sensed scintillations into corresponding electrical pulses. The electrical pulses from each photomultiplier tube are processed to descriminate between pulses attributable to sample events within the wells and pulses attributable to non-sample events such as photomultiplier tube noise. The discrimination is effected by determining whether a selected number of electrical pulses occurs with a prescribed time interval, the occurrence of the selected number of pulses within the prescribed time interval signifying a sample event. Only the electrical pulses attributable to sample events are supplied to a pulse analyzer.
In International Patent Application No. PCT/FI89/00219 (Oikari and Yrjonen) a method is shown for performing liquid scintillation counting by a liquid scintillation counter that measures samples on a measurement support, such as a filter plate or like, which has the sample associated therein. According to the method the detection material, such as scintillator, is added to the measurement support before the measurement. The method according to the invention is characterized by adding detection material, such as scintillator, in melted form into the measurement support and performing the measurement after the detection material has solidified. In this present application this kind of detection material is called a meltable solid scintillator.
A commercial product of a 96-well test plate which is provided with open-bottomed wells individually covered with filtration membranes is manufactured by PALL Ltd., UK. In present patent application this kind of plate is called a multi-well filtration plate.

Arrangement for counting liquid scintillation samples on multi-well filtration plates


Embodiments of the invention relate generally to software, data storage, and virtualized computing and processing resources. More specifically, systems and apparatuses are described for aggregating nodes to form an aggregated virtual storage for a virtualized desktop environment. In one embodiment, a virtual storage system includes servers including processors and memories, and an aggregated virtual storage including the memories, each of the memories being associated with a corresponding server. Also included is a storage aggregator processor coupled to a memory including executable instructions to generate a data structure for storage in each memory in an associated server in the servers, each of the data structures being configured to store a reference to duplicative data stored in a first number of servers in the servers. The duplicative data provides redundancy when a second number of servers, or fewer, in the servers are inaccessible.

Virtualization is a technology that provides a software-based abstraction to a physical, hardware-based computer. In conventional solutions, an abstraction layer decouples physical hardware components (e.g., central processing unit ("CPU"), memory, disk drives, storage) from an operating system and allows numerous instances to be run side-by-side as virtual machines ("VMs") in isolation of each other. In conventional solutions, an operating system within a virtual machine has visibility into and can perform data transactions with a complete, consistent, and normalized set of hardware regardless of the actual individual physical hardware components underneath the software-based abstraction.
Virtual machines, in conventional solutions, are encapsulated as files (also referred to as images) making it possible to save, replay, edit and copy a virtual machine in a manner similar to that of handling a file on a file-system. This capability provides improved manageability, increased flexibility, and rapid administration relative to using physical machines to replace those that are abstracted.
However, virtual machines and conventional data storage implementations for the virtual machines suffer from significant shortcomings as VM files tend to be large in size and consume large amounts of disk space. Further, traditional data storage implementations typically include Storage Area Networks ("SANs"), Network Attached Storage ("NAS"), and the like. While functional, drawbacks to these storage technologies include optimizations for read accesses, while typically being ill-suited for write-intensive applications and operations. These traditional data storage require hardware and computing resources for implementing SAN-based or NAS-based storage, in addition to the computing resources and/or physical hardware components that provide the functionalities of the VMs.
Thus, what is needed is a solution for improving data storage for a virtualized desktop environment without the limitations of conventional techniques.

Systems and apparatuses for aggregating nodes to form an aggregated virtual storage for a virtualized desktop environment


A motor starts its rotation, and a clutch is operated to drive both of a first driving force transmission system for color printing, including drum gears, and a second driving force transmission system for monochrome printing, including a drum gear. The clutch is disengaged to stop the first system when a first sensor detects a mark on one photosensitive drum of the first system at the same time that a second sensor detects a mark on one drum driving gear of the first system. Next, when a third sensor detects a mark on another photosensitive drum of the second system at the same time that a fourth sensor detects a mark on another drum driving gear of the second system, the clutch is reengaged. Consequently, positionings of all the photosensitive body drums (drum gears) for color printing to the photosensitive drum (drum gear) for monochrome printing are performed without causing positional differences by inertia at the time of stop.

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copier and an image forming unit, and more particularly relates to a color image forming apparatus and an image forming unit in which a plurality of multistage type driven sections including image carriers are arranged, and in which when the driving power is transmitted from the driving source to the driven sections through a train of gears, the phase adjustment is correctly controlled corresponding to the eccentricity of the gears.
As an example of various types of image forming apparatuses such as a printer or a copier, an electro photographic type image forming apparatus has widely been known. In such an image forming apparatus, a latent image is formed on a photosensitive member as an image carrier by photo write-in, and the latent image is changed to a toner image (development), and the developed toner image is transferred and fixed onto a sheet.
In this type of image forming apparatuses, recently, there has been the request of image formation in full color, and further, it has widely come into practice.
Such color image forming apparatuses can be divided into two major categories: the single drum type and the multistage drum type (tandem type). In the single drum type, for 1 page of sheet, in order to transfer one over the other a total of four types of toners: the respective color toners of M (magenta: red dye) toner, C (cyanogen: greenish blue) toner, and Y (yellow: yellow color) as the three primary colors of the subtractive color mixture; and K (black: black color) toner used for printing letters or the like only, the printing (image formation) processing is separately performed for each toner. Therefore, the printing process is repeated four times for 1 page of sheet, and accordingly, the printing processing requires a long time.
On the other hand, since in the tandem type, four types of toners are transferred on a sheet in order, one over the other in 1 process, the tandem type has a speed of approximately four times the processing speed of the single drum type. Therefore, recently, color image forming apparatuses with the structure of the tandem type have been used in plenty.
In such an image forming apparatus, there are a lot of sections to be driven to rotate, and to these sections to be driven to rotate, the driving force is transmitted from a motor through a driving force transmission system composed of a train of gears. Here, as a part especially requiring accuracy in rotation, there is an image carrier drum.
However, if a driving force transmission system composed of a train of gears is used for driving to rotate each driven sections represented by these drums as mentioned above, the rotational irregularity because of the eccentricity of each gear occurs in the drums. The rotational irregularity like this is not a special problem in a monochrome printer using only one color of black toner, but in a color image forming apparatus (color printer) performing printing by applying one over the other 3 colors or four colors of color toners, a difference occurs in the position of the dots (toner image elements) applied one over the other on a sheet, if there is a rotational irregularity in the drums. Usually, the printing is performed by a density of dots of approximately nine pieces in 1 mm, and for example, even if there is a positional difference of 1/2 dot in the colors applied one over the other, a stripe pattern called moire occurs on the image surface, so that the quality of the image formed on the surface of a sheet may be extremely lowered.
However, since in any members, there is a limit in the manufacturing accuracy thereof, a plurality of driving gears corresponding to a plurality of three or four drums in a color printer or the like, are invariably accompanied by mechanically produced errors in shape or dimension. Accordingly, it cannot be avoided that a rotational irregularity occurs on the basis of errors in the drums driven thereby.
There are image forming apparatuses well known in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 61-156162 and Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 9-179372, wherein considering the above-mentioned facts, that is, accepting the inevitable rotational irregularity, the image formation is performed while synchronizing the mutual relative image transfer positions in the image transfer sections of these plurality of drums at all times, and therefore, the gears of the same order (the same position) of the driving force transmission systems are molded by the same die to be used, in order to cancel the positional differences of the images applied one over the other.
In the image forming apparatus disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 61-156162, first, marks are given to the specified positions of the gears molded by the same mould or die, and from the marks, the gear ratio of a train of gears, and the clearance between the respective drums, the position where each drum is synchronized in the rotational phase at each image transfer position, is calculated, and on the basis of that, each drum gear is arranged. Consequently, the same rotational irregularity occurs in each drum in synchronism with the mutually corresponding image transfer position, but it is arranged that the transfer for each color is performed at the same position on the sheet, since the fluctuation of the moving speed of the peripheral surface relative to the image transfer position of each drum is each synchronized.
However, in the image formation, there are not only a demand for the multicolor printing, but also a demand for performing of one color printing of black, which is rather larger than the former. Accordingly, in the image forming apparatuses, there are a lot of apparatuses in which the mode can be shifted between a full color mode to perform the multicolor printing and a monochrome mode to perform one color (black) printing. In this case, usually, it is general that avoiding a method accompanied with a technical difficulty, and for easiness of achievement, even in the case of the monochrome mode, only the photo write-in driving to the photosensitive drum corresponding to the color system, is stopped, and the mechanical rotational driving is left to operate. Accordingly, the above-mentioned relative positions of the driving gears set by once performing the position fitting, do not get out of order.
However, if the mechanical driving of the color system is performed and the photosensitive drum of the color system is rotated even in printing of black only like this, since an initializing charged roller, a development roller, a cleaning blade and the like slidingly touch the photosensitive drum at all times, the members of the color system are exhausted by this sliding touch. Consequently, such a problem that though actually the color printing is not so much performed, the life of members is exhausted, occurs. The problem is solved tentatively if it is arranged that when the mode is shifted from the full color mode to the monochrome mode, both write-in driving and rotational driving are together stopped in the color system and only the black system is driven. However, if this is arranged, not only a large technical difficulty occurs in the change of the mechanical driving system, but also the following problem is derived: even if the mutually corresponding image transfer positions of the respective photosensitive drums are adjusted with efforts as mentioned above, the setting of the relative position does not coincide between the drum driving gear for black which is driven and the drum driving gear for the color which is stopped during that time, after the printing in the monochrome mode has finished.
Therefore, in the latter of Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 9-179372, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in addition to the arrangement in the former of Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 61-156162, a sensor is arranged to detect a mark of the gear. Then, two systems of driving force transmission systems which should be inevitably separated into the color and the monochrome, are separately driven, and when each sensor detects the mark, the driving force transmission system is stopped to perform positioning, so that the mutual position fitting of the two systems of driving force transmission systems may be performed, and consequently, it is arranged that when a color printing is performed next time, the synchronization of the two systems of driving force transmission systems can be achieved if these are together driven.
In the above-mentioned method of position fitting, the positioning of either of the two systems of driving force transmission systems is performed (by detecting a mark with a sensor) to stop the driving force transmission system, and next, the positioning of the other driving force transmission system is performed (similarly by detecting a mark with a sensor) to stop the driving force transmission system. By the way, generally, in the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, the sections requiring the largest torque as the mechanical torque are the drum in charge of the transfer section and the development section connected to that to be driven. For example, in a case where these are driven by a single motor together with other driven sections, 90% of the loads applied to the motor are produced in the development section and the transfer section. However, between the two systems of driving force transmission systems, the driving system joining the color printing is composed of 3 pieces of drums and the torque thereof is extremely large, but the driving force transmission system of the monochrome printing is composed of one piece of drum and the torque thereof is comparatively small. Then, in order to drive all of these at the same time, that is, in order to make it possible to correspond to the largest torque supposed to be necessary in the full color printing, a motor with a rated value to obtain a sufficient torque is used as the driving source.
The inertia (inertia, force of habit) of a motor producing a large torque like this is large corresponding to the magnitude of the produced torque. Therefore, as mentioned above, when the driving force transmission system with one piece of drum for the monochrome printing which is a driving force transmission system on one side, is driven and is stopped by a stop signal, it cannot immediately respond to the stop signal to stop instantaneously, and it stops after a somewhat long time has been elapsed, because of the above-mentioned large inertia.
Accordingly, as for the actual stop positions when the two systems of driving force transmission systems are separately driven and stopped, one position is a little ahead of the planned reference position, and the other is a little behind, so that a difference occurs between the respective positions. Therefore, such a problem that even if it is intended to perform synchronization for position fitting, actually, the two systems of driving force transmission systems mutually cause the positional difference, has been left.
By the way, the irregularity of rotational characteristics requiring the phase adjusting occurs not only in the train of gears of the driving system, but also in the photosensitive drum and the drum gear. In this case, if the photosensitive drum and the drum gear are made with an extremely high accuracy, the difference of the rotational phase does not occur, and therefore, it is only necessary to carry out the synchronization of the drum driving gears of the two systems of driving force transmission systems, as mentioned above. However, recently, it is common that the main section of the image forming members including the photosensitive drum, is unitized and is arranged in the housing of the image forming device in such a manner that attachment and removal are free. Accordingly, in order to make the photosensitive drum and the drum gear with a high accuracy, such a problem that the manufacturing cost of the unit rises considerably, is derived. For the problem, in the Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 61-156162, a phase control means including such unitizing of the image forming members is not provided.

Image forming apparatus and image forming unit with an improved phase adjustment means

Casio Electronics Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


A map editing device capable of easily supplementing insufficient information and easily re-measuring an object that has changed. An image, a perspective projection map, a projection center and a projection angle are displayed in superposition. When a user manually changes the projection center and the projection angle, a perspective projection map after this change is generated and displayed. When a perspective projection map capable of obtaining insufficient information is determined, an imaging condition capable of obtaining the insufficient information can be determined based on the projection center and the projection angle at that time. The insufficient information can be easily supplemented if the arrangement is so made as to acquire images conforming with the imaging condition. The condition necessary for re-measurement can be determined.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a map editing device, more particularly, to a map editing apparatus which assists to update a three-dimensional digital map of an area by utilizing images obtained by imaging the area.
2. Description of the Related Art
JP-A-60-95474 discloses a prior art technology entitled "GENERATION METHOD OF PREMISE MANAGEMENT DIAGRAM" which collates an aerial photograph of an area with a map (two-dimensional map) of the area and detects object shapes not coincident between them.
JP-A-3-196372 discloses a technology entitled "POSITIONING APPARATUS OF IMAGES" which effects coordinates transformation for a two-dimensional numerical value map comprising (X, Y) coordinate lines to generate a perspective projection map, and collates the map with images.
JP-A-5-181411 discloses a technology entitled "MAP INFORMATION COLLATION/UPDATING METHOD" which effects coordinates transformation for a three-dimensional numerical value map comprising (X, Y, Z) coordinate lines to generate a perspective projection map, collates this map with an aerial photograph and updates map information by information regarding objects in the aerial photograph images when collation of the objects in the perspective projection map with the objects in the aerial photograph images proves successful.
According to the prior art technology described in JP-A-60-95474 described above, the aerial photograph and the map are superposed and collated with each other. However, the aerial photograph is based on the perspective projection whereas the map is based on the orthographic projection, and deviation resulting from these projection methods is unavoidable, and detection accuracy is low. Further, because the two-dimensional map does not have information of the object's altitude, there remains the problem that the virtual change of the object cannot be detected.
The prior art technology of JP-A-3-196372 involves the problem that because the two-dimensional digital map comprising the (X, Y) coordinate lines does not have information regarding the object's altitude, the technology cannot detect the virtual change of the object.
Though the technology described in JP-A-5-181411 can detect the change of the objects inclusive of the virtual change, there remains the problem that the map information can be updated only by a manual operation if collation between the object in the perspective projection map and the object in the aerial photograph image proves unsuccessful. (When a building is lost or is built afresh, for example, the map information cannot be updated automatically).
All these prior art technologies do not at all consider means for supplementing insufficient information, means for making it easy to re-measure an object that has changed, means for making it easy to determine an area in which a lot of changes of objects have occurred, and so forth.

Map editing device for assisting updating of a three-dimensional digital map


Steps or grooves are formed in a surface of a semiconductor substrate of a semiconductor device having a plurality of semiconductor elements, and an isolation layer is formed on regions that include the steps or side walls of the grooves.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having an isolation layer that physically and electrically isolates semiconductor elements such as transistors, resistors and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such isolation layers have heretofore been formed to have a flat configuration on flat regions. As shown in FIG. 6, for instance, isolation layer regions 63 and impurity diffusion layer regions 64 are formed in the same plane of the surface of the semiconductor substrate 61, each isolation layer region 63 having a predetermined distance and area. Inversion protection layer regions 62 may be formed beneath isolation layer regions 63. A semiconductor circuit component is formed in each region 64.
Microminiaturization and high-density integration of a semiconductor device have been difficult because the isolation regions require the predetermined distance and area.

Semiconductor device having an isolation layer region on the side wall of a groove


A high-speed transmission cable conductor includes a core material includes mainly copper, and a surface treated layer formed around a surface of the core material. The surface treated layer includes an amorphous layer including a metal element having a higher affinity for oxygen than the copper, and oxygen.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a high-speed transmission cable conductor using a core material made of copper or a copper alloy, and a producing method therefor, and a high-speed transmission cable.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic devices such as servers, routers, storages, etc. handle high-speed digital signals with a transmission speed of several Gbps or higher. The electronic devices of this kind require interfaces for lessening signal waveform degradation and having excellent high-frequency transmission properties, in signal transmissions between devices, between chassis in devices, between substrates in devices, and the like. One of the interfaces is a high-speed transmission cable.
This high-speed transmission cable generally uses a coaxial cable. The coaxial cable comprises a core wire (also called inner conductor or center conductor), an insulator which covers a circumference of the core wire, an outer conductor which covers a circumference of the insulator, and a jacket (also called sheath) which covers a circumference of the outer conductor.
The core wire is connected with a signal line of the electronic devices, while the outer conductor is connected with ground of the electronic devices, so that a signal is transmitted in the core wire. In the case where a plated wire, in which a material having high resistance is arranged as its surface layer, is used in the coaxial cable, when the frequency of the signal to be transmitted is high (i.e., the transmission rate is high), transmission loss is significant due to a skin effect caused in the core wire. This tendency manifests more prominently in accordance with the increase in cable length. As a result, long-distance signal transmission causes the rounding of the originally rectangular digital signal waveform. The transmitted signal degrades and cannot properly be transmitted.
In the case where a tin-plated copper wire to be used in a general cable is used in the high-speed transmission cable, due to the Sn having a significantly low electrical conductivity of 15% IACS plated as the conductor surface layer around the annealed copper having an electrical conductivity of 100% IACS, the skin effect increases the attenuation of the transmitted signal caused by the resistance of the conductor in a high frequency region.
Therefore, a conductor formed with Ag plating having high electrical conductivity around its surface has been selected as the conductor for the high-speed transmission cable for use in a high frequency region (see, e.g. JP-A-2006-307277 and JP-A-2008-293894).
In the high-speed transmission cable conductor disclosed in JP-A-2006-307277, in order to reduce the occurrence of wire breaking, a wire rod made of copper or a copper alloy has been formed with a Ag plating layer therearound which is harder than that wire rod. In the high-speed transmission cable conductor disclosed in JP-A-2008-293894, in order to increase its bending resistance than a bending resistance of pure copper, a coating layer comprising Ag or Ag alloy has been formed around a circumference of a core material made of pure copper or a copper alloy.

High-speed transmission cable conductor, and producing method thereof, and high-speed transmission cable


A fuse structure and a method of blowing the same are provided. The fuse structure includes a conductive line on a substrate, first and second vias on the conductive line that are spaced apart from each other, a cathode electrode line that is electrically connected to the first via, an anode electrode line that is electrically connected to the second via, and a dummy pattern that is adjacent at least one of the cathode and anode electrode lines and electrically isolated from the conductive line.

This disclosure relates to semiconductor devices that include a fuse and, more particularly, to semiconductor devices that include an electrical fuse.
Semiconductor memory devices (chips) that are formed on a semiconductor substrate are electrically tested prior to assembly. As a result of this testing, the semiconductor chips are classified as being either defective or non-defective. When a chip is classified as being defective because it has at least one defective cell, the defective cell(s) may be replaced with redundant cells using a repair process. In order to repair a defective cell, predetermined fuses are blown, i.e., programmed, such that the redundant cell has the address of the defective cell. By applying a voltage to both ends of a fuse that is used in the repair process, a resistance across the fuse may be sensed to determine whether the fuse has been blown. The fuses that may be used in such repair processes include laser fuses that are blown using a laser and electrical fuses that are blown by applying a voltage across the fuse.

Fuse structure and method of blowing the same


Provided is a gasoline product containing a combustion improver, and a method for preparing the gasoline product. The combustion improver is added to gasoline to reduce an octane number and thus an ignition point of the gasoline, so that the gasoline product can be used in a compression ignition internal combustion engine. The combustion improver-containing gasoline product is a low-octane number gasoline, and is capable of being ignited through compression by an internal combustion engine having a compression ratio in the range from 12 to 22.

Gasoline, substantially with petroleum as a raw material, is generally a mixture of various hydrocarbons having 5 to 11 carbon atoms.
A high octane number is desired for an ordinary gasoline product, so that an internal combustion engine using the gasoline product can have a relatively high compression ratio and an improved efficiency. Existing gasoline production technologies largely seek to increase the octane number of gasoline at low costs. A most commonly used procedure is to reform the gasoline, or to add an antiknock agent into the gasoline product.
Recently, a low-octane gasoline product has been formulated with hydrocarbon raw materials of low-octane numbers, which can be used in a compression ignition low-octane gasoline engine to achieve the technical objective of significantly improving the efficiency of the gasoline engine.

Gasoline product containing combustion improver and manufacturing method therefor

ZHOU (BEIJING) AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A corrosion preventive material contains zinc and is applied to the surface of a metal product for preventing corrosion of the product. The material consists essentially of a base material of synthetic resin and 65% or more zinc powder by weight dispersed in the base material, the zinc powder containing 25% or more zinc powder by weight having a grain diameter of or above 150 .mu.m. Alternatively, the corrosion preventive material consists essentially of a base material of synthetic resin and 45% or more zinc powder by weight dispersed in the base material, the zinc powder containing 90% or more zinc powder by weight having a grain diameter of or above 150 .mu.m. A method of corrosion prevention includes the steps of bonding a first metal product to a second metal product with an adhesive corrosion preventive material consisting essentially of a mixture of metal powder for sacrificial corrosion prevention which is baser in a galvanic series than the first metal product and an adhesive resin, and applying an electrodeposition coating to surfaces of the first metal product and the adhesive corrosion preventive material subsequently to the bonding step.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of corrosion prevention applied to surfaces of metals for the purpose of preventing corrosion thereof and a corrosion preventive material suitable for use in the method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Metal products and structures are sometimes used or located under severe environmental conditions or sometimes require a long period of life. These metal products and structures include automobiles, offshore structures, bridges, pipe lines and the like. These metal products and structures have problems of deterioration in the strength and appearance due to corrosion of metals. The prior art has provided various methods of corrosion prevention for the metal products and structures. Painting is one of the most widespread methods and is applied for preventing corrosion in parts of complicated configurations used in automobiles or the like. For example, an automobile door comprises two metal panels, that is, an outer panel and an inner panel. These metal panels are bonded or otherwise, joined together into a hemming structure wherein the outer panel is hemmed or folded back in the vicinity of one end thereof and one end of the inner panel is held in a hemming portion between the outer panel and the folded portion thereof. The hemming portion of the automobile door requires a high level of corrosion resistance. Publication No.6-305329 (1994) of an unexamined Japanese patent application proposes a corrosion proof structure by painting. However, the disclosed structure is insufficient in the effect of corrosion prevention for an adhesive agent, admitting of further improvement in the corrosion proofness.
Another method utilizes sacrificial corrosion prevention and has been put to practical use. For the corrosion prevention of steel products, for example, a corrosion preventive material has been provided wherein a powdered metal which is baser in the galvanic series than iron, such as zinc, is dispersed into a resin. Publication No.2-294370 (1990) of an unexamined Japanese patent application discloses such a corrosion preventive material. As disclosed in the publication, zinc grains whose grain diameters range between 70 to 150 .mu.m are mixed with an adhesive, solvent or filling material in a predetermined mixing ratio. The mixture is brought into contact with a steel product to be protected from corrosion so that zinc is preferentially corroded, thereby preventing corrosion of the steel product.
However, the above-described corrosion preventive material cannot obtain a sufficient effect of corrosion prevention. Furthermore, since the concentration of zinc contained in the material needs to be high, the cost of the material is increased.

Method of corrosion prevention and corrosion preventive material suitable for use therein


A unified framework detects and classifies people interactions in unconstrained user generated images. Previous approaches directly map people/face locations in two-dimensional image space into features for classification. Among other things, the disclosed framework estimates a camera viewpoint and people positions in 3D space and then extracts spatial configuration features from explicit three-dimensional people positions.

A significant number of images and videos uploaded to the Internet, such as YouTube videos or Flickr images, contain scenes of people interacting with people. However, currently there is no automatic method to classify/search these images based on different social interactions and activities. Thus, digital apps cannot automatically sort out or arrange photos in a digital photocollections based on social activities/interactions. In addition, image search engines photos can't search for images with various social activities unless the someone manually provides text tags with the images.

3D visual proxemics: recognizing human interactions in 3D from a single image


A method for orienting reflectors of a communications system in a zone, wherein the communications system includes an antenna and the reflectors. The antenna is operable in one or more frequencies in a frequency range from 0.1 THz to 10.0 THz, with each of the reflectors being spaced apart from each other and the antenna. The method includes the steps of digitally predicting a future motor vehicle density distribution in the zone based on obtained past motor vehicle density distributions in the zone; digitally computing an orientation of each reflector such that the estimated power reception of electromagnetic waves radiated by the antenna is globally maximized for each motor vehicle of the future motor vehicle density distribution; and orienting each reflector according to the digitally computed orientation.

Wireless communications have evolved very rapidly in the last few decades due to the increase in data demand due to new services based on the Internet. As a result, over the last few years new cellular communications networks have been developed and globally deployed so as to cope with the amount of data downloaded and uploaded by the users. When the so-called 4G cellular networks (i.e. Long Term Evolution) had been first developed, 5G cellular networks were already envisioned in order to keep up with the increase in data demand.
Short-range communications are to provide high data rates owing to the wide available bandwidths in the spectrum thereof, and thus they are to provide different 5G cellular networks with cells having different sizes, mainly ranging from pico to macro. A portion of the spectrum to be used for said short-range communications is the terahertz range ranging from 0.1 THz up to 10.0 THz, commonly referred to as the terahertz gap. Electromagnetic waves with frequencies within this range feature large propagation losses; as it is known, the higher the frequency the larger the propagation losses in free-space as defined in the Friis transmission formula. Therefore, such electromagnetic waves propagate at most few hundreds of meters before the received power becomes so low that a commercial receiver cannot demodulate the data in them.
In addition to the propagation losses, in most cases electromagnetic waves in the Terahertz gap may only be properly detected by a receiving antenna when there is line-of-sight between the transmitting and the receiving antennas. These two phenomena considerably impact the performance of terahertz wireless communications systems. Therefore, in order to have a good terahertz radio link in presence of obstacles that may block line-of-sight, more lines-of-sight need be provided by adding further transmitters (resulting in additional electric power consumption) or reflectors that produce additional lines-of-sight when correctly oriented.
The need for large data transmissions is common among users, but also among motor vehicles, because users are inside using electronic devices and because new developments in motor vehicles such as driving assistances and autonomous driving may require data. In the case of motor vehicles, due to the size thereof other motor vehicles tend to block line-of-sight of transmitters operating at terahertz frequencies. And in addition to the size, since motor vehicles move at low and high speeds, their dynamics further difficult avoiding line-of-sight blockings.
There is an interest in providing a method for orienting reflectors of a terahertz communications system for wireless communications with motor vehicles such that the reflectors enable transmission and reception of electromagnetic waves even if no direct line-of-sight between transmitter (e.g. a static transmitting antenna, an antenna of a motor vehicle) and receiver (e.g. an antenna of a motor vehicle, a static receiving antenna) exists. There is also an interest in providing such a terahertz communications system where the system has the capability of orienting reflectors.

Method for orienting reflectors of a terahertz communications system

FUNDACION CENTRO DE TECNOLOGIAS DE INTERACCION VISUAL Y COMUNICACIONES VICOMTECH


A process for the telomerization of butadiene comprises reacting 1,3-butadiene and an alkanol, in the presence of a catalyst promoter and an alkoxydimerization catalyst comprising a Group VIII transition metal and a triarylphosphine ligand, which includes one phenyl that is mono-ortho-alkoxy substituted and at least one other phenyl including at least one substituent that withdraws electrons from the phosphorus atom. The product includes an alkoxy-substituted octadiene, which may then be used to produce 1-octene. The catalyst shows improved stability, activity and selectivity toward the alkoxy-substituted octadiene.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for the telomerization of conjugated dienes. More particularly, it relates to a process wherein 1,3-butadiene is alkoxydimerized in the presence of a catalyst containing a noble metal and a triarylphosphine ligand that contains only one ortho-alkoxy group and also contains at least one electron-withdrawing group, which shows desirable stability and selectivity toward the 1-alkoxy octadiene product.
2. Background of the Art
A highly useful chemical for a variety of purposes, 1-octene is produced in various locations throughout the world. It is used, in particular, as a co-monomer in production of polyethylene, and as a starting material to produce linear aldehyde, via an oxo synthesis (hydroformylation), which is in turn used to produce the plasticizer nonanoic acid. The 1-octene may be produced by, for example, the oligomerization of ethylene or by a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, but an increasingly valuable method is via the telomerization of butadiene. This telomerization reaction involves the oligomerization, and particularly the dimerization, of butadiene with the concomitant addition of a nucleophilic agent. Examples of such agents include compounds containing one or more active hydrogen atoms, such as water, alcohols and amines. The nucleophile is introduced primarily at the terminal position of the oligomer, and especially of the dimer, of the butadiene.
Telomerization reactions catalyzed by Group VIII transition metal catalysts are described extensively in the prior art. Historically, attention was focused primarily on optimization of conversion and selectivity of the telomerization reaction under batch conditions, but eventually focus changed to more easily enable continuous production methods. A focus on catalyst selection led, for economic reasons, to the evolution of processes enabling catalyst reuse. Such often required techniques to separate the catalyst from the product mixture, by means including, for example, distillation, precipitation and/or extraction. Care was required to avoid catalyst decomposition or metallization, which could then require an additional catalyst regeneration step.
Despite the many processes and catalysts that have been identified, such processes continue to produce a variety of products, and selectivity particularly to the product required for production of 1-octene i.e., 1-methoxy-2,7-octadiene (OD-1-R), is generally less than desirable. Accordingly, processes that enhance selectivity to OD-1-R, and that reduce problems such as catalyst instability, continue to be sought.

Process for telomerization of butadiene using a mono-orthoalkoxy substituted catalyst