An inkjet recording ink is composed of an encapsulated water-insoluble colorant encapsulated with a high-molecular dispersant, a water-soluble organic solvent, and water. The water-insoluble colorant is at least one colorant selected from the group consisting of C.I. Solvent Yellow 21, 42, 79, 82, 83:1, 88 and 151, at least one colorant selected from the group consisting of C.I. Solvent Red 8, 49, 83:1, 91, 127 and 218, at least one colorant selected from the group consisting of C.I. Solvent Black 3, 27, 29 and 45, or at least one colorant selected from the group consisting of C.I. Solvent Blue 25, 38, 44, 67 and 70. The high-molecular dispersant is a block copolymer comprising at least one hydrophobic block and at least one hydrophilic block, which have been obtained by polymerizing vinyl ethers as monomers, respectively. The inkjet recording ink can stably record images of high fastness and excellent quality over a long period even under severe environmental conditions.

As colorants for printing inks, water-insoluble colorants excellent in fastness such as waterproofness and light fastness, for example, pigments have been used widely to date. To use a water-insoluble colorant as a colorant for a water-based ink, it is required to stably disperse the water-insoluble colorant in an aqueous medium. Water-based inks of the colorant dispersion type are hence used, each of which contains a water-insoluble colorant evenly dispersed in an aqueous medium by the addition of a dispersant such as a high-molecular compound or surfactant.
In recent years, water-based inks of such colorant dispersion type have also finding utility in inkjet recording from the standpoint of image fastness. In inkjet recording, it is attempted to provide colorant dispersion particles, which are dispersed in an ink, with agglomerating property and water-insolubility so that the ink would be able to exhibit improved fixing property and waterproofness on paper. The provision of such properties to the colorant dispersion particles, however, leads to a reduction in the dispersion stability of the colorant dispersion particles in the ink, thereby developing potential problems such that the colorant dispersion particles may agglomerate and settle during storage of the ink, the resulting images tend to exhibit uneven print density, and due to drying of the ink, clogging tend to occur at nozzle tips of an inkjet recording system to result in reduced ejection stability.
In an attempt to solve the above-described problems, an ink—which contains a block copolymer formed of at least one hydrophobic segment and at least one hydrophilic segment and also, an oil-soluble dye—is proposed in JP 2002-97395 A. This ink has stability as a dispersion, but as an ink for use in an inkjet recording system, its ejection stability is still too low to reach a practicable level.
With the foregoing problems in view, the present invention, therefore, has as objects thereof the provision of an ink capable of stably recording images of high fastness and excellent quality over a long period even under severe environmental conditions and also the provision of an inkjet recording method, ink cartridge and inkjet recording system all of which make it possible to record images of superb fastness and quality.

Inkjet recording ink, inkjet recording method, ink cartridge, and inkjet recording system


A casting apparatus includes an upper frame, a lower frame, an opening/closing mechanism, a first main link member, a first sub-link member, a drive unit, a base frame and a retracting mechanism. The first main link member is provided with a first rotating shaft at a central part thereof. The first sub-link member is disposed in parallel with the first main link member. The first sub-link member is provided with a first bearing at a central part thereof. The drive unit is connected to the first rotating shaft and causes the first main link member to rotate around the first rotating shaft. The base frame includes a second rotating shaft. The second rotating shaft rotatably supports the first sub-link member via the first bearing with the first bearing placed thereon. The retracting mechanism causes the second rotating shaft to retract.

Patent Literature 1 discloses a gravity type tilting die casting apparatus. This apparatus is provided with an upper frame, a lower frame, an opening/closing mechanism, a first main link member, a first sub-link member and a drive unit. An upper mold is attached to the upper frame. A lower mold is attached to the lower frame. The opening/closing mechanism opens or closes the upper mold and the lower mold by moving either the upper mold or the lower mold up and down. A top end part of the first main link member is rotatably connected to the upper frame, a bottom end part of the first main link member is rotatably connected to the lower frame, and the first main link member is provided with a rotating shaft at a central part thereof. The first sub-link member is disposed in parallel with the first main link member, a top end part of the first sub-link member is rotatably connected to the upper frame, and a bottom end part of the first sub-link member is rotatably connected to the lower frame and is provided with a rotating shaft at a central part thereof. The drive unit is connected to the rotating shaft of the first main link member and rotates the first main link member around the rotating shaft. The upper frame, the lower frame, the first main link member and the first sub-link member constitute a first parallel link mechanism. The upper mold and the lower mold are tilted by rotating the first main link member while the molds are closed.


A fermention process is monitored by detecting ultrasound backscattered from the cells as a function of time. A transducer 46 is placed in a fermentor 30 and transmits ultrasound towards a reflecting surface 50. The transducer receives that portion of the ultrasound which reflects from the reflecting surface 50, as well as that portion of the ultrasound which backscatters from cells 34 between the transducer 46 and the reflecting surface 50. Signals from the transducer are conditioned and subsequently processed to provide output to a controller regarding the status of the fermentation process in real time. The backscattering measurements can be used to determine a growth phase transition, such as the transition between the logarithmic growth phase of the cells and their stationary phase.

Suspensions or slurries having moderate and high particle concentrations are found in a variety of industries such as chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing and waste remediation. As the characteristics of the suspensions have considerable influence on production costs, product quality and yield, there is a continual need to rapidly, cost-effectively, and non-invasively characterize these suspensions in real time. The present invention is generally directed to addressing this need.
In particular, a variety of industrial processes rely on the biological functioning of cells. For example, industrial scale fermentation processes are encountered in various pharmaceutical and chemical industries, and typically involve fungi, bacteria, or mammalian cells that biologically convert raw materials (nutrient broth) into a desired product. Examples are ethanol fermentation using yeast, human insulin production using bacteria or yeast, and human Factor VIII using mammalian cells. While the individual cells are typically tailored to produce a specific product under controlled conditions, there is a need to know the fermentation conditions, such as the number of cells per volume, their size and size distribution, and the fraction of cells that are alive (i.e. cell viability) in order to ensure accurate control and reproducibility. Past efforts at monitoring the cells during industrial fermentation has required physical extraction of samples from the fermentor and off-line processing, such as optical density (absorption) measurements. Not only is the withdrawal of a sample from a fermentor time consuming and potentially disruptive, but optical density measurements are generally only effective over a narrow region of cell concentration. Therefore, additional sample preparation, such as dilution, is often required to achieve proper characterization, increasing the potential for error, cost, and complexity of process monitoring. Accordingly, improvements are needed, and in one or more embodiments, the present invention addresses these and other concerns.

Process monitoring and particle characterization with ultrasonic backscattering


The disclosed subject matter relates to an architecture that can detect a potential fault condition in a wireless communication network. In particular, the architecture can reference handover transaction failures in order to identify issues, e.g., before such issues escalate to more severe fault situations. In addition, the architecture can dynamically query a set of devices or components potentially responsible for the handover failure and/or take appropriate actions aimed at remedying the issue in an expeditious manner.

Conventional wireless networks typically provide for handover operations or transactions in which a mobile device switches from a first channel to a second channel. Handover transactions can occur for a variety of reasons, some of the more common of which are to enable the mobile device to maintain a call or data session even when traveling in and out of the effective ranges of cells or nodeBs; to enable interoperability of disparate network technologies; to allow more efficient sharing of network resources; to avoid interference, or to better suit behavior such as high travel speed or to enable required or desired features or services.
Regardless of the purpose or nature of the handover transaction, in some cases, handover transactions end in a failure for one reason or another. In many types of modern communication networks, such as, e.g., a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), a network fault can affect end-to-end signaling, such as control or user data flows, including handover transactions. Accordingly, conventional communications networks do not adequately leverage information that can be discovered from handover transactions.

Employing handover failures for network fault prediction or remedy


A system for facilitating transport of a computer and monitor as a unit is disclosed, and comprises a computer case having an exterior, a support located on the computer case for supporting the monitor on the computer case, and a binder for removably binding the monitor to the computer case when the monitor is positioned on the support. The system may also include a handle located on the exterior of the computer case for being gripped by a hand of a user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to combinations of computers and display monitors, and more particularly pertains to a new system for facilitating transport of a desktop/tower computer case and a display monitor in a relatively easy and convenient manner that protects the screen of the monitor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The increasing availability and decreasing cost of monitors with a significantly reduced cabinet depth (typically referred to as "flat panel" monitors) has led to a corresponding increase in the popularity of such monitors. Flat panel monitors typically employ Liquid Crystal Diode (LCD) screens (although other technologies are also employed for the screen), and the LCD screens are relatively much thinner in cabinet depth than previous monitors based upon cathode-ray tube (CRT) screens. The thinner cabinet depth permits the use of the monitors in ways that were not generally possible with the heavier and bulkier CRT screens.
The relatively smaller size of the flat panel monitors has caused some users of computers, especially highly specialized computers, to desire to transport their computer and monitor between different sites for purposes such as computer gaming tournaments. Although the LCD screens permit the flat panel monitors to be relatively less heavy and bulky than their CRT-based counterparts, it is still difficult to consider the flat panel monitors as "portable", especially those flat panel monitors that employ relatively large base portions designed to sit on a desktop and support the screen portions of the monitors. Also, the combination of the computer case and the monitor is not easily toted as a unit since the computer case (typically a tower case) has a boxy and smooth exterior and the flat panel monitor has a more variegated and awkward shape. These factors, as well as the fragility of the LCD screen of the flat panel monitor, has discouraged the transport of the monitor with a tower or desktop computer case.
It is therefore believed that there exists a need in the art for a system that facilitates the transporting of a monitor with a desktop or tower computer case in a more convenient and secure manner than has heretofore been known.

System for facilitating transport of a desktop/tower computer case and display monitor


A vehicular headlamp used for a vehicle, includes an infrared light source for generating red light and infrared light, a visible light source for generating visible light whose wavelength is different from that of the red light, an optical system for emitting the red light and visible light towards a substantially same emission area in front of the vehicle and a lighting circuit for turning on the infrared light and visible light sources with the strength in order that the chromaticity in the emission area based on the red light and visible light can correspond to white light within a predetermined range in chromaticity coordinates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicular headlamp. More particularly, the present invention relates to a vehicular headlamp used for a vehicle.
2. Related Art
Recently, the detection of obstacles in front of a vehicle such as an automobile or at the shoulder of the road by emitting infrared light has been discussed. In this case, by an infrared ray projector mounted on the vehicle emits the infrared light. In addition, a vehicular lamp including but not limited to, for example, a regular headlamp, a fog lamp and a cornering lamp of automobiles, motorcycles, trains and the like, a having a function of the infrared ray projector has been known as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 6-10880. In the light source of this vehicular lamp, a suitable number of infrared light LEDs are being mixed in addition to a visible light LED for emitting the light of a lamp light color.
The light source emitting the infrared light, however, might further emit red light besides the infrared light. In this case, the infrared ray projector may also emit the red light accompanying the emission of the infrared light.
Here, since the color of the red light is used as the lamp light color of, e.g. a brake lamp of a vehicle, the improper emission of the red light might be undesirable. Consequently, the infrared light might not be emitted properly in the prior art.


A remote controller, a remote controller information providing system, and a method for operating the same are disclosed, whereby controller information for various electronic apparatuses are upgraded just by downloading simple remote controller information regardless of an electronic apparatus, kinds, manufacture companies, model names, and availability in the market. The system includes a data base for storing remote controller information to various manufacture companies, kinds, and models; and a server for operating an Internet site which obtains remote controller information provided from manufacture companies of each electronic apparatus, stores them in a data base, and provides remote controller information according to a user's request. Multiple electronic apparatuses are controlled with one remote controller. Products which will become available later is controllable by simply downloading data. No temporal and economical inconvenience exist for a user to maintain a number of remote controllers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a union remote controller, and more particularly, to a union remote controller and a union remote controller information providing system and a method for using the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, a remote controller is an apparatus which converts an operator's commands into. an infrared ray signal of a predetermined code form and transmits the signal, so that an infrared ray receiving terminal of a corresponding electronic apparatus receives and controls the infrared ray signal. At this time, electronic apparatuses have different code systems according to manufacture companies and product models, etc. Also, the electronic apparatuses have different codes according to their function even in case of the same product. Accordingly, electronic apparatuses require different remote controllers according to manufacture companies and product models.
TABLE 1CodeManufacture companiesNECSamsung/LG/Daewoo . . . domestic companies andTOSHIBARC5Each company in EuropeZENITHZENITHMITSUBISHMITSUBISH. . .. . .
At this time, as shown in Table 1, it can be known that each of manufacture companies uses a different code system.
TABLE 2Head PulseCustom CodeCustom codeData codeData Code
TABLE 3Contents of KeyCode (HEX)Contents of KeyCode (HEX)Power08Channel−01TV/Video0BVolume+02Multimedia98Volume−03Menu43Enter44Channel+00APC4D
As an example, the NEC code is constructed as shown in Table 2, and more particularly, a detailed remote controller code of the LG TV is constructed as a HEXA code as shown in Table 3.
Accordingly, the codes divided by manufacture companies and functions are converted into infrared rays through a transmitting means in a remote controller, that is, a light emitting diode (LED) when an operator presses a corresponding button of a remote controller, and then input to an infrared ray receiving terminal of a corresponding an electronic apparatus.
Subsequently, the infrared signal received in the infrared ray receiving terminal is decoded, and a microprocessor recognizes corresponding operation commands and controls a relevant structure, thereby performing an operation commanded by an operator.
However, since code systems are different from one another according to manufacture companies and models, separate remote controllers are provided to the corresponding products. In case of a general family, not a certain product but various electronic apparatuses from different manufacture companies are used. Also, at least three remote controllers are used because models and functions may be different from one another even in case of the same manufacture company.
To use multiple remote controllers correspondingly to products troubles a user, and it is also difficult to maintain the multiple remote controllers. Recently, even though union remote controllers for controlling some electronic products by unifying them are on the market, the union remote controllers have limited controlling scopes, thereby causing a problem in that they do not actively cope with codes which will be changed later.

Union remote controller, union remote controller information providing system and method for using the same


An assembly for cleaning a smelt spout includes a cleaning head, a drive rod connected with the cleaning head, and a pneumatic or other drive connected to selectively extend or retract the drive rod. The drive rod may be connected with the cleaning head by a pivotal connection. The cleaning head may be bifurcated. The cleaning head may include a leading edge configured to engage and clean a spout opening from which smelt from a chemical reduction furnace flows to the spout. The assembly may further include a pivot point and, as the drive selectively extends the drive rod, torque about the pivot point produced by the cleaning head and an extending portion of the drive rod rotates the cleaning head downward to engage a smelt spout.

Conversion of wood into wood pulp is typically done using the Kraft process. Wood chips are cooked in a mixture containing water, sodium hydroxide, and sodium sulfide. This mixture, commonly referred to as white liquor, assists with separating the cellulose fibers (wood pulp) from the lignin holding the fibers together. The separated cellulose fiber are then removed, leaving behind a waste product, typically referred to as black liquor.
Reclamation and reuse of the cooking chemicals from the black liquor is desirable to control costs associated with the paper-making process. During the recovery process, the black liquor is concentrated into a solution containing approximately 65 to 80 percent solids. The concentrated solution is sprayed into the internal volume of a chemical reduction furnace, also sometimes referred to as a recovery boiler. In the chemical reduction furnace, organic materials in the black liquor are combusted by various processes such as evaporation, gasification, pyrolysis, oxidation, and reduction, which reduce the black liquor into a molten smelt of spent cooking chemicals. The molten smelt exits the chemical reduction furnace through a boiler outlet port and flows along a smelt spout to a collection tank.
Boiler outlet ports and smelt spouts are designed to drain the molten smelt from the internal volume of the furnace at a desired rate that maintains a safe smelt level within the furnace and furnace efficiency. Typically, the molten smelt exits the boiler at a temperature of approximately 1000 degrees Celsius and, upon contact with ambient air, extremities of the smelt flow may cool enough to become hardened. Such hardening can result in deposits and/or a hardened crust on top of the molten smelt in the outlet opening and/or smelt spout. Hardened smelt is undesirable. It may obstruct the flow of the molten smelt, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the outlet port and smelt spout, and result in an undesirably high smelt level within the furnace. Further, a reduced smelt flow may cause the molten smelt to remain in the smelt spout longer, thereby increasing the time that the smelt is subject to ambient temperatures and increasing the likelihood that additional hardened deposits form.
High smelt levels within the furnace are undesirable, as they can lead to or otherwise cause operational concerns and/or difficulties. For example, a high smelt level may cause inefficient and unpredictable furnace operations, such as a decrease in the amount of chemicals that can be recovered, a decrease in the process steam outputted from the boiler tubes of the furnace, and increased emission of noxious gases such as carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. Further, hardened blockages and/or inhibited flow may cause the molten smelt to splash out of the spout, causing undesirable operating conditions and/or localized damage. In extreme blockage conditions, smelt could build up to dangerous levels within the furnace resulting in corrosion, fires, decreased operability, boiler failure, and/or smelt spills.
Hardened deposits are generally dislodged manually from the outlet port and the spout at regular intervals. Typically, in a process referred to as "rodding", workers hold a long rod with a tool attached to the distal end that scrapes hardened deposits from the spout and/or outlet port. Manual rodding is a physically demanding task susceptible to inefficient or improper cleanings. Smelt spouts are typically cooled by water circulating in a water jacket surrounding the spout. Improper rodding carries a risk of rupturing the water jacket, which may result in an explosive or otherwise undesirable condition.
Certain improvements are disclosed herein.


Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, establishing a first connection with a first network via a first link, establishing a second connection with a second network via a second link subsequent to the establishing of the first connection, obtaining a first threshold value associated with a quality of the second link, measuring a value for a parameter associated with the second link, resulting in a measured value, comparing the measured value to the first threshold value, determining, based on the comparing, that the measured value is less than the first threshold value, and transmitting, based on the determining, a message that signifies that the measured value is less than the first threshold value. Other embodiments are disclosed.

As the world increasingly becomes connected via vast communication networks and via various communication devices, additional opportunities are created/generated to provision data to such devices. A communication device may be able to connect to two networks at once (hereinafter referred to as a state or condition of dual connectivity). The use of dual connectivity may enhance the amount of data that may be provided from, e.g., network infrastructure to the communication device over time (e.g., may enhance the effective throughput), which can facilitate an execution of high-quality, data-rich applications (e.g., streaming video) at the communication device.
Due to various factors/conditions (such as, for example: mobility of a communication device, limited signal transmission power, interference, noise, etc.), the quality of a communication link associated with a given network connection may be subject to degradation. In some instances, a given communication link may be at least temporarily lost/released/discarded. In such a scenario, data that might have otherwise been conveyed to the communication device via the given link may be conveyed to the communication device via another link. Thereafter, it is possible that the factors/conditions may change, such that the communication device may reestablish the given link; data transfer over the given link may then be restored.
As the foregoing example demonstrates, the communication device may experience oscillations or bursts in terms of whether the communication device is engaged in dual connectivity (e.g., whether multiple links are available to transfer data). Such oscillations may result in (rapid) fluctuations in terms of the provisioning of data to the communication device, which may imply high delay fluctuations and jitter, which in turn can deteriorate the quality of service (QoS) and the quality of experience (QoE).

Apparatuses and methods for managing and regulating traffic in networks


According to one embodiment, a head gimbal assembly of a disk drive includes an arm and a suspension extending from the arm, a head supported by the suspension, and a flexure on the arm and the suspension. One end portion of the flexure is electrically connected to the head, and the other end portion thereof includes a terminal area. The flexure includes a base insulating layer, a conductor pattern formed on the base insulating layer and having a plurality of connection terminals, and a cover insulating layer formed on the base insulating layer so as to cover the conductor pattern. The connection terminals are exposed to the inside of an opening in the base and cover insulating layers with a protective insulating layer and a thin metal plate overlaid on one surface of each of the connection terminals.

1. Field
One embodiment of this invention relates to a head gimbal assembly used in a disk drive comprising a disk as a recording medium and the disk drive provided with the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, disk drives, such as magnetic disk drives, optical disc drives, etc., have been widely used as external recording devices of computers or image recording apparatuses.
A disk drive, e.g., a magnetic disk drive, generally comprises a magnetic disk, spindle motor, head actuator, voice coil motor (VCM), circuit board unit, etc. The spindle motor supports and rotates the disk in a case. The head actuator supports a magnetic head. The VCM drives the head actuator.
The head actuator comprises a bearing and arms laminated to and extending from the bearing. The magnetic head is mounted on each arm by means of a suspension.
The circuit board unit integrally comprises a base portion, on which a head IC, connectors, etc., are mounted, and a main flexible printed circuit board (main FPC) extending from the base portion to the vicinity of the bearing. An extended end portion of the main FPC forms a plurality of terminal areas, and a plurality of connection pads are arranged on each terminal area. The terminal areas are attached to the bearing of the head actuator by screws.
A flexure comprising a conductor pattern and terminals is attached to the suspension and each arm of the head actuator. One end of the flexure is connected to the magnetic head, and the other end to its corresponding terminal area of the main FPC. Thus, the head is electrically connected to the circuit board unit through the flexure and main FPC.
Terminal portions at the terminal area of the flexure are known to be formed as flying leads, the obverse and reverse surfaces of which are exposed through insulating layers (e.g., Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publications Nos. 2006-49751, and 2008198738), in order to reduce the installation space for the flexure to meet the recent trend toward smaller and thinner magnetic disk drives. The exposed terminal portions are soldered to the connection pads of the main FPC. In order to strengthen the terminal portions to prevent their breaking, tin-alloy layers or lining portions are provided on the upper surface and two opposite side surfaces of each terminal portion.
Electrostatic breakdown of magnetic heads is a major problem in quality of the magnetic disk drives constructed in this manner. In soldering each terminal portion or flying lead to the terminal area of the main FPC or repairing them, for example, a soldering iron is applied to a conductor layer of the terminal portion to melt it. If this is done, however, static electricity may be produced and cause electrostatic breakdown.

Head gimbal assembly and disk drive provided with the same


Metal sparkles having one or more colors dispersed throughout a translucent resin at a concentration which eliminates the appearance of scratches and scuff marks on the resin surface. A pigment may be used in the translucent resin to yield a variety of decorative colors to create matching containers and utensils. The metal sparkle concentration in the translucent resin contains on an average 11/2%-3% metal sparkles by weight and 0.25%-1% color by weight. The sparkle concentration may be used at a letdown ratio of 4% resulting in a composition having an average of 0.06%-0.12% sparkles by weight and 0.01%-0.04% color by weight. The sparkles are random cuts of multi-colored aluminum having an average size of 1/64" (0.015) and are manufactured from the thinnest standard sheets of aluminum which are polished to a mirror-like surface of brilliant reflectivity. The colors used for the metal sparkles come with a wide variety of coatings of transparent epoxy, nitrocellulose, and vinyl lacquers with a practically limitless range of color combinations. These metal sparkles are provided in the pigment used to color the translucent resin material.

Manufacturers of disposable products such as cups, plates and utensils are continuously seeking ways to improve the quality of their products to enhance consumer satisfaction. In achieving this goal, however, the manufacturers endeavor to simplify the manufacturing process to reduce overall costs. To remain competitive in the marketplace, manufacturers must be creative and ambitious to make a product that appeals to a broad spectrum of consumers.
In the past, disposable products such as cups and plates were mainly manufactured from paper which provided a low cost product that was not only disposable but recyclable. The disadvantages of using a paper product however, arise when they are used to hold liquid substances. For example, if one used a paper cup to hold six ounces of water, the paper would eventually soften and become unstable. Consequently, this design proved not to be desirable by those who needed a more sturdy and durable product. To overcome the deficiencies of plain paper, manufacturers began to use wax laminated onto paper to decrease the permeability of the disposable paper product. This process, however, does not overcome the durability problem associated with paper products. Consumers could very easily deform paper cups, thus, rendering them unusable and consequently, undesirable to consumers.
Manufacturers of disposable products realized the advantages of plastics which can be molded into virtually any shape such as disposable containers and utensils. Containers and utensils manufactured from plastic can be formed to give the appearance of glass which is desirable to consumers. In order to obtain the image of glass, the plastic must be made from a translucent material to allow the passage of light. A pigment may be added to yield a variety of decorative colors. Plastic containers and utensils currently on the market which comprise the translucent characteristics discussed above suffer from being easily scratched due to the softness of the plastic material used. These scratches become visible to the naked eye and detract from the appearance of the product. Consequently, the product loses its decorative appeal and consumer satisfaction declines.
In view of the existing disposable containers and utensils available on the market today, as discussed above, the inventor has recognized the need for a disposable plastic product that provides the decorative appeal of glass, however, does not visibly show scratches or scuff marks on its surface. Moreover, the inventor recognizes that to stay competitive in the marketplace, a process which uses existing tooling and manufacturing materials should be implemented to make the disposable plastic product cost effective.

Resin composition having special colors and decoration added thereto


An electronic device (100) includes at least L keys (114) and a processor (506) having at least M inputs (600). Upon actuation, each one of the at least L keys (114) toggles a unique combination of N inputs of the at least M inputs (600), where each unique combination is taken from all possible combinations thereof. The at least M inputs (600) are read by the processor (506) and compared to a plurality of predetermined key patterns (806). Upon a match between the at least M inputs (600) and one of the plurality of predetermined key patterns (806), a key actuation is detected and a predetermined function may be processed in response thereto. The processor (506) may ignore simultaneous key actuations where combinations of inputs greater than N are toggled.

An electronic device typically includes a keypad having a plurality of keys used for operating the electronic device. A processor of the electronic device typically detects user actuations of these keys and processes them accordingly. Since the processor has only a limited amount of inputs which can be used for such tasks, the inputs to the processor are deemed valuable. Therefore, it is advantageous to minimize the number of inputs required from a processor to detect key actuations.
Scanning methods have been commonly used for detecting key actuations and have somewhat reduced the number of inputs needed therefor. However, such methods typically employ a periodic toggling of an output of the processor, thereby undesirably introducing noise to electronic circuitry of the electronic device. Such noise can be particularly disadvantageous in an electronic device which performs radio frequency (RF) communications. In addition, scanning methods employ an algorithm for detection which is somewhat more complex than conventional detection methods. Therefore, it would be advantageous to employ a method which is simple and which does not require a periodically toggling of a processor's output.
Other conventional methods have reduced the number of inputs needed for detecting key actuations without generating the noise as described above. One such method is a matrix-type method, where each key toggles a unique row and column input to a processor. For example, if seven inputs of a processor are utilized, where four of the inputs are designated as row inputs and three of the inputs are designated as column inputs, twelve keys may be uniquely distinguished and detected (4.times.3=12). This method, however, has not fully maximized the number of keys which can be uniquely detected given a number of processor inputs.
Finally, it is advantageous for an electronic device to be able to distinguish and detect simultaneous key actuations in order to process them as necessary.

Method of and apparatus for detecting key actuations


An apparatus and method of processing object data (e.g., a scene having one or more objects) logically divide the object space into a plurality of contiguous (or noncontiguous) portions. At least two portions each have object data for such object(s). The apparatus and method also determine a positional priority of the at least two portions of the object space for a given viewpoint. Next, the apparatus and method merge rendered object data after at least some of the object data is rendered. This merging is based upon the positional priority of the at least two portions.

Many computer systems have a specialized graphics processing system for producing vivid graphical images. At the core of these subsystems typically is a graphics processor that processes graphical data in a highly streamlined manner. In simplified terms, the graphics processor converts substantially unprocessed graphical data into a format that can be displayed on a conventional display device (e.g., a cathode ray tube display or a liquid crystal display).
To improve the efficiency and speed of the rendering process, many currently available graphics processing systems distribute scene rendering tasks among multiple rendering devices. Among the other ways, some systems distribute the specific objects in a scene to different devices. For example, when rendering a scene having buildings and cars, such systems may have a first device render the buildings, and a second device render the cars. After completing their respective tasks, both devices forward their rendered objects to a compositor, which combines the received image data (i.e., rendered object data) into a single scene.
To combine the specific images, however, the compositor must compare depth data for each received object. In particular, continuing with the above example, if some of the rendered object data of a building and car intersect the same pixel, then the compositor must analyze the depth data for both of those objects to determine which one is in the foreground. One problem with this process, however, is that depth data for all rendered objects must be transmitted and/or processed. In addition to requiring many depth computations, this excess of data can create a bottleneck in the system, thus further increasing processing time. Many graphical applications, however, such as a real-time display applications, cannot tolerate such inefficiencies.

Compositing images using logically divided object space


A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine-driven vehicle equipped with a power supply unit having an AC generator driven by an internal combustion engine, and a power converter which converts an output voltage from the AC generator into an AC voltage of a certain frequency, which comprises a leakage detection means which detects an occurrence of electric leakage in the power supply unit, a leakage occurrence position identification means which identifies a leakage occurrence position, and an electric shock preventing control means which performs control for preventing electric shock on at least one of the internal combustion engine and the power converter, while allowing a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine to increase to a speed at which travel of the vehicle is enabled, when the occurrence of electric leakage is detected.

Many of internal combustion engine-driven vehicles, such as all terrain vehicles (ATVs, so-called buggies), tractors and recreational vehicles, provided in recent year as vehicles mainly for traveling over rough ground are equipped with a power supply unit used as a power supply for enabling a power tool, a home electric appliance or the like to be used outdoors. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-84932 discloses a vehicle equipped with such a power supply unit.
A power supply unit provided in the above-described kind of vehicle, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-40876, has an AC generator driven by an internal combustion engine for driving the vehicle, and a power converter, which converts an AC output from the AC generator changing in frequency and voltage value with the change in rotational speed of the internal combustion engine into an AC output of 100 V or 200 V having a certain commercial frequency (50 or 60 Hz). As the power converter, an inverter unit having a converter for converting the AC output from the AC generator into a DC output and an inverter for converting the DC output from the converter into an AC output of a commercial frequency is ordinarily used.
An internal combustion engine-driven vehicle such as an ATV may travel over puddles or a marshland, and there is a possibility of electric leakage (short-circuit) between the power supply unit and the vehicle body, for example, when a certain portion of the vehicle is submerged in water or wetted. The power supply unit mounted in the vehicle has a wiring to which a high voltage of AC 100 V or 200 V for example is applied. Therefore, there is a risk of electric shock to a person who is touching the vehicle body when the power supply unit is operated in the state where electricity is leaking between the power supply unit and the vehicle body.
Therefore, in this kind of vehicle, it is desirable to provide a device for detecting electric leakage from the power supply unit in order to enable taking measures for prevention of electric shock when electric leakage is detected.
In an internal combustion engine-driven vehicle equipped with a power supply unit, the engine may be stopped for prevention of electric shock when electric leakage from the power supply unit is detected. If the engine is stopped without exception when electric leakage occurs, the vehicle cannot run at the time of occurrence of electric leakage. This means failure to perform the essential function of the vehicle.
However, with an internal combustion engine-driven vehicle such as an ATV or a recreational vehicle frequently driven for traveling over rough ground or mountains in particular, there is a risk of a mishap if the vehicle cannot run. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid as much as possible the occurrence of a condition in which the internal combustion engine cannot be operated.

Control apparatus for internal combustion engine-driven vehicle having power supply unit


A system and method for measuring and monitoring wireless network performance in campus and indoor environments provides for embedding measured network and signal properties at one or more locations within a facility into a site specific computer model which represents the facility. The computer representation is preferably three dimensional. The system and method allows for automatic, periodic, or location specific taking of measurements, and automatic or periodic embedding of measured data. The system and method allows real time or non-real time measurement and storing of performance data, and the invention is useful for test, measurement, verification, and in-situ or remote monitoring for on-going validation and maintenance of wireless networks.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to an indoor mobile wireless communication data measurement system and more particularly to an indoor signal property measuring device that utilizes a mobile personal computer connected to a receiver for measuring location specific wireless communication system signal properties and data network throughput properties within a facility and embedding the measured properties at the measurement location within a three-dimensional drawing of the facility stored in the computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years the use of wireless communication technology, such as cellular phone networks, has greatly increased. Moreover, it has become common to implement wireless communication systems within buildings or large facilities comprising several buildings. Examples of typical wireless communication systems are local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), or cellular phone networks such as PBX, or local loops. Due to the increasingly diverse applications of wireless communication systems, system designs have become increasingly complicated and difficult to implement.
Common to all wireless communication system designs, regardless of technology, size or scale, is the need for measurement data at some point in the design process. Whether in the initial design stage or the final verification stage, no wireless communication system is implemented without the input of measurement data. However, measurement acquisition in in-building environments is much more tedious and time consuming than in the macrocellular environment where measurement acquisition is carried out using Global Positioning System data to determine the location of the measurement being taken. Global Positioning System (GPS) data, which so many RF engineers have come to rely upon for outdoor measurement acquisition, is not an option for microcell environments. Therefore, recording real-time measurement data within a building becomes a laborious, time-consuming task involving scratched notes and blueprints and manual data entry which are both expensive and ineffectual in many respects.
In addition to measuring RF signal properties from emitted base transceivers there is also a need to measure data throughput time in computer data networks. Throughput time is the time required to transfer a record or file of known size from one computer to another. In order to standardize the measurement of data throughput time for comparison or verification purposes, files of a set size (e.g. 100K) are used and transferred in packet sizes such as 512 bytes. Similar to RF signal attenuation, data throughput time is also a function of transmission distance and signal obstruction (e.g. walls, doors, partitions), as well as multipath propagation and the specific radio modem design.
Various signal property measurement acquisition tools and systems have been developed to aid in the design of wireless communication systems such as PenCat™, Walkabout PCS™ and TEMS Light.
LCC International Inc. offers the PenCat™ as a pen-based collection and analysis tool for wireless communication design that runs on a small hand-held tablet computer. The PenCat™ system enables a user to roam about a building, take signal property measurement data at a location in the building using a receiver linked to the tablet computer, and link the measured data to that building location on a computer map representing the building by tapping the appropriate portion of the map on the computer screen with a stylus pen. The building map can be entered into the PenCat™ system by either scanning blueprints, sketching the building within the application, or importing from another source.
Safco Technologies, Inc. offers the Walkabout PCS™ system as a portable survey coverage system for use in indoor or outdoor wireless communication system design. Similar to PenCat™, the Walkabout PCS™ system utilizes a hand-held computer linked to a receiver for measuring signal properties at a given location and linking the measured property data to that location represented on a stored computer map.
Ericsson Radio Quality Information Systems offers the TEMS Light system as a verification tool for wireless communication indoor coverage. The TEMS Light system utilizes a Windows-based graphical interface on a mobile computer linked to a receiver to allow a user to view a stored building map, make location specific data measurements, and link the measured data to the represented location on the stored computer map.
In addition to the above-discussed wireless communication systems verification tools, various wireless communication system prediction tools have also been devised such as Wireless Valley Communications Incorporated's Predictor™ and Ericsson Radio Quality Information Systems' TEMS. Predictor™ allows a wireless communication system designer to predict the coverage area of a particular wireless system in a building or across multiple buildings. Predictor™ creates a computer simulation using a computer stored building or facility database and a defined transceiver location and type within the database. Based on the building configuration and building material properties defined in the database a prediction of the coverage area of the wireless system is extrapolated by site-specific propagation whereby rays drawn between the transmitter and receiver and three-dimensional building information are used for prediction computations. The TEMS system predicts indoor coverage of a wireless system based on a stored building map and input base transceiver locations and types using statistical radio coverage models.
While the above-mentioned design and verification tools have aided wireless system designers in creating indoor wireless communication systems using building drawings and linking data measurements to building drawings, none of the devices, except Predictor™, incorporate three-dimensional building drawings to enhance the design process. Further, the above-mentioned devices and systems lack the ability to track a roving user within the building while the user is taking measurement data. Even further, none of the above-mentioned devices contemplates measuring data throughput properties for a computer data network at various locations within a facility. These capabilities may be required for installation and management of wireless devices for global network access.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for measuring and monitoring wireless network performance in campus and indoor environments


Technologies, systems and methods for code path analysis of an executable including: generating call graphs and control flow graphs of selected functions in the executable, and instrumenting the selected functions to provide for logging of path trace information for the selected functions upon execution of the instrumented executable, the path trace information usable for efficient system crash analysis and debugging. A stack trace from a crash dump may be utilized in the selection of the functions to analyze.

Given today's highly configurable and customizable computing environments, and highly complex software, system crashes can occur for nearly an infinite set of reasons. Crash dumps are often available that include a stack trace leading up to the failure. Such crash dumps may aid in determining the cause of a crash, but often do not include critical information regarding the reason for the failure. The lack of such critical information can significantly complicate the debugging process, making the identification and correction of failure-causing errors time consuming and expensive.

System crash analysis using path tracing technologies


The present invention provides an integrase inhibitor. The inventors have found the following compound of formula (I) possessing an integrase inhibitory activity.

Among viruses, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a kind of retrovirus, is known to cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The therapeutic agent for AIDS is mainly selected from the group of reverse transcriptase inhibitors (e.g., AZT, 3TC) and protease inhibitors (e.g., Indinavir), but they are proved to be accompanied by side effects such as nephropathy and the emergence of resistant viruses. Thus, the development of anti-HIV agents having the other mechanism of action has been desired.
On the other hand, a combination therapy is reported to be effective in the treatment for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome because of the frequent emergence of the resistant mutant in Balzarini, J. et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1996, 93, p. 13152-13157. Reverse transcriptase inhibitors and protease inhibitors are clinically used as an anti-HIV agent, however, agents having the same mechanism of action often show the cross-resistance or only an additional activity. Therefore, anti-HIV agents having the other mechanism of action are desired.
Examples of the integrase inhibitor include 1,3-dioxobutanoic acids and 1,3-propanediones described in WO99/50245, WO99/62520, WO99/62897, WO99/62513, WO00/39086 and WO01/00578. Anther integrase inhibitor is acrylic acid derivative described in WO01/17968. The other recently reported types are aza- or polyazanaphthalenylcarboamide derivative described in WO2002/30426, WO2002/30930, WO2002/30931 and WO2002/36734.
A compound having a similar structure to the present invention compound is N-substituted-3-carboamide-4-hydroxy-5-oxo-3-pyrroline derivative with an anti-inflammatory effect described in Eur. J. Med. Chemical-Chim. Ther. (1979), 14 (2), 189-190. Pharmazie (1997), 52 (4), 276-278 discloses 1-methyl-4-arylcarbamido-2,3-dioxopyrrolidine derivative as an intermediate. WO92/06954 discloses pyrolizinedione derivative with an inhibitory effect on aldose reductase. J. Med. Chemical (1976), 19 (1), 172-173 discloses N-substituted-4,5-dioxopyrrolidine-3-carboxyanilide derivative with anti-inflammatory effect. Journal of Physical Chemistry A (2002), 106 (11), 2497-2504 discloses pyrimidine derivative without mentioning any pharmaceutical use.
T'ai-wan K'o Hsueh (1997), 31 (3-4), 130-135 discloses 3-hydroxy-7-(phenylmethoxy)-2-(2-quinolinyl)-4H-1-benzopyrane-4-one. Examples of a compound having a structure of "4H-1-benzopyrane-4-one" include flavonoid derivative with anti-HIV activity described in {circle around (1)} J. Nat. Prod. (2001), 64 (4), 546-548, {circle around (2)} Anticancer Res. (2000), 20 (4), 2525-2536, {circle around (3)} WO98/11889, {circle around (4)} Pharmazie (1998), 53 (8), 512-517, though the action of mechanism is not mentioned therein.

Abstract: (wherein, RC and RD taken together with the neighboring carbon atoms form a ring which may be a condensed ring, Y is hydroxyl, mercapto or amino; Z is O, S or NH; RA is a group shown by

Abstract: (wherein, C ring is N-containing aromatic heterocycle) or the like).


An analog output buffer circuit for a flat panel display is provided for improving an output signal distortion. The circuit includes a transistor, a current source, an input capacitor, an upper switch, a lower switch, a first switch, a second switch and a third switch. In which, the transistor and the current source are electrically connected in series between a first power supply and a second power supply. The current source provides a compensatory current for the transistor when a leakage current occurs. The upper switch and the first switch are turned on during the first period, and the lower switch and the second switch are turn on during the second period, in which the second period is after the first period. Those switches eliminate the drawback of different voltage levels between the input signal and the output signal obtained from the output buffer circuit inputted by the input signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an analog output buffer circuit, and particularly to an analog output buffer circuit for a flat panel display.
2. Description of Related Art
Because of being able to integrate a driving circuit and a control circuit to a display panel, low temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) process is widely used in LCD devices. However, comparing to single crystal silicon, a typical LTPS still has some problems to overcome, e.g., low carrier mobility, high cut-off voltage, uneven electrical property of thin film transistors (TFTs) and less stable process, all of which may cause difficulties of circuit integration and circuit design.
Moreover, according to an LTPS LCD panel, the impedance at the signal side is different from that of the panel side. Therefore, direct input of the signals from the signal side to the panel side is likely to cause a signal distortion and an incorrect gray scale in display. Accordingly, an analog output buffer circuit is usually employed between the signal side and the panel side for driving the load of the panel side. The output buffer circuit must display the entire signal inputted by the signal side, and at the same time isolates the signal side and the load of the panel side, thus avoiding the signal distortion of the signal side because of the load variation at the panel side.
Improperly designed output buffer circuits or uneven electrical property of poly-silicon TFTs cause the distortion of the signals outputted from the output buffer circuits. In other words, buffered signals which are different from the original signals transmitted from the signal side will lead to a poor display quality. Therefore, what is needed is to provide an analog output buffer circuit for driving an LTPS display, which can overcome the disadvantage of analog output buffer circuit without stable quality in LTPS manufacturing process.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional analog output buffer circuit for a display panel is illustrated. According to FIG. 1, the analog output buffer circuit includes a N-type poly-silicon transistor N10 and a P-type poly-silicon transistor P10 connected in series between a voltage source VDD and a voltage source VSS. An input node IN is electrically connected to a gate of the TFT N10 and a gate of the transistor P10. An output load capacitor CL is electrically connected between an output node OUT and the ground voltage GND. The output node OUT is also electrically connected to a common node of the transistor N10 and the transistor P10. Herein, the capacitance of the output load capacitor CL is the total capacitance of the pixels electrically connected to the output node OUT on the panel.
In operation, an input signal Vin is inputted from an input node IN, and an output signal Vout is outputted from the output node OUT. The input signal Vin and the output signal Vout are illustrated in FIG. 2. It can be known from FIG. 2 that when the input voltage rises from 0 V to 6 V, the output voltage apparently can not rise to 6 V. That means the output signal obtained from the output buffer circuit inputted by the input signal does not have a voltage level same as that of the input signal.
FIG. 3 illustrates another conventional analog output buffer circuit for a display. The major difference between the circuit shown as FIG. 3 and the circuit shown as FIG. 1 is that the circuit shown as FIG. 3 employs an input capacitor C30 and switches S31, S32 and S33 to eliminate the drawback of different voltage levels between the input and the output signals in the circuit shown as FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 3, as the switches S31 and S33 being turned on, a voltage difference is stored in the input capacitor C30, then the switches S31 and S33 are turned off and the switch S32 is turned on, then the input signal Vin has a voltage difference added at the input capacitor C30, thus the original input signal level is promoted thereby.
However, the transistor N10 is not ideal as a switch, especially when it is turned off. In other words, even the output signal Vout has a promoted voltage level to have the transistor N10 turned off, a leaking current may still flow through and continue charging the output load capacitor CL and therefore make the voltage level of the output signal Vout higher than the voltage level of the input signal Vin. The input signal Vin and the output signal Vout of a circuit shown as FIG. 3 are illustrated in FIG. 4. It can be known from FIG. 3 that a voltage level of the output signal apparently rises with time up to a level over the voltage level of the input signal, which causes an output signal Vout distortion.

Analog output buffer circuit for flat panel display


An article of footwear, such as a snowboard boot liner, made of deformable material has a rear tensioning system for reducing the volume of the footwear in the heel region. The footwear has a front tensioning system, such as a front lace, for closing an opening in the front of the footwear. A channeling element is positioned over the heel and a control element is secured to the footwear a distance away from the channeling element, for example, over the ankle or instep. A draw, such as a rear lace, winds through both the channeling element and the control element. Tightening the draw urges the control element toward the channeling element thereby reducing the volume of the footwear in the heel region. The draw may be tightened and locked independently or may have an eyelet through which a loop of the front lace may pass in order to transfer tensile forces from the front lace to the draw and maintain tension in the draw. Guides made of tubes or other structures position the eyelet proximate the top of the boot where the front lace is subject to the greatest tensile forces.

Snowboarding is a popular winter sport in which a snowboarder stands atop a snowboard and maneuvers the board over the snow, propelled by gravity. The snowboarder wears boots that are removably attached to the board, with the snowboarder's feet angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the board. Often the rider's feet are substantially perpendicular to the board axis. The snowboard is controlled by weight transfer and foot movement, both lateral and longitudinal.
A primary skill that must be mastered in snowboarding is carving a path through the snow, rather than simply sliding or skidding over the top of the snow. The ability to carve provides the snowboarder with the most control of the direction and speed of the snowboard. In its simplest execution, a snowboarder carves a path through the snow by shifting his or her weight forward or backward, causing the snowboard to tilt or rotate about its longitudinal axis toward and away from its back side edge. As used herein, front side refers to the side or direction to which the snowboarder's toes are closest (toe side) and back side refers to the opposite side or direction (back side).
In order for a user to most effectively control the snowboard, the user's foot must be firmly gripped by the snowboard boot. It is particularly important that the user's heel be held firmly against shifting when, for example, leaning forward to carve a toe-side turn. Furthermore, snowboard boots typically have a stiff outer shell surrounding a softer inner liner. As the liner breaks down with continued use, it loses its effective grip of the heel and ankle. Furthermore, different users have differently shaped feet, making it difficult to make a boot that will ideally fit a wide range of users. Heel width and shape, for example, vary widely among riders.
Various boot designs attempt to solve these problems. Some ski boot designs involve pulley systems that leverage against the rigid plastic shell of the ski boots to drive the heel of a user against the ski boot. Snowboard boot designs that have attempted to solve this problem have applied tension to the liner at the front of the boot to decrease the circumference of the boot in the entire ankle and heel region. However, other snowboard and ski boots do not provide any means to conform the actual heel and ankle area of the boot to the heel and ankle of a user. Particularly, they do not provide any dynamic shaping or gripping at the sides of the heel.
Thus, it would be an advancement in the art to provide a snowboard boot that can dynamically control the volume of the heel of the boot in order to conform it to the heel of different users. It would be a further advancement in the art to provide a system that ensures that the heel area grips the heel of a user even as the liner breaks down from continued use.

Boot liner with ankle and heel volume control


A fiber placement tool comprising a plurality of tool segments, each tool segment having an outer surface defining a predetermined profile, each tool segment being removably mounted on at least one elongate shaft.

Fibre placement is a method of manufacturing components from composite fibres, such as carbon composite fibre, that involves repeatedly laying down lengths of the composite fibre onto the outer surface of a tool, referred to herein as a placement tool. The outer surface of the placement tool defines the shape and configuration of at least one surface of the component to be formed. The remaining shape and configuration of the composite fibre component is dictated by the subsequent placement of further layers of composite fibre. Common uses of the fibre placement manufacturing method is in the production of composite fibre components within the aerospace industry. For example, this technique is used in the production of long, thin sections of composite fibre such as leading edge spars for helicopter rotor blades or propeller blades. Equally, this technique is also used in the manufacturer of fuselage sections for commercial passenger aircraft.
During this manufacturing process, the fibre placement tools are mounted within a fibre placement machine that as well as being arranged to lay down repeated strips of composite fibre, is also arranged to rotate and otherwise move the fibre placement tool to allow the fibres to be laid down in the desired precise geometry. The current practice for relatively long and thin components, such as rotor blade spars, is to form the fibre placement tool from one or more commonly used engineering metals. The mass of these metallic placement tools can make them difficult to control when being rotated by the fibre placement machine, thus limiting both the length and total mass of the composite fibre component being produced. The existing metallic placement tools can also deflect under the pressure of the fibre placement head of the placement machine and also the rotational forces generated, due to their relative lack of stiffness, thus resulting in the programming of the fibre placement machine having to take this deflection into consideration for the manufacture of the component within the specified dimensions and tolerances. The relative lack of stiffness of the current metallic placement tools also limits the length of single component that can be manufactured using the placement tools, which is an increasing disadvantage as the range and size and composite fibres increases in modern aircraft.
Additionally, the existing metallic placement tools tend to be manufactured as one piece tools. This means that should the design of the corresponding component be changed, for example during the overall design and development phase of the associated structure, a completely new placement tool is required. Similarly, in the event of the placement tool being damaged, which can happen from time to time during the fibre placement process, the entire placement tool must generally be replaced.
It is therefore an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a fibre placement tool that allows a greater degree of flexibility in the manufacturer of composite fibre components than provided by the existing metallic placement tools.


A data processing system is provided that includes a processor having associated memory, the processor being configured to execute instructions using portions of the memory to cause the processor to, at classification time, receive an input image frame from an image source. The input image frame includes an articulated object and a target object. The processor is further caused to process the input image frame using a trained neural network configured to, for each input cell of a plurality of input cells in the input image frame predict a three-dimensional articulated object pose of the articulated object and a three-dimensional target object pose of the target object relative to the input cell. The processor is further caused to output the three-dimensional articulated object pose and the three-dimensional target object pose from the neural network.

Neural networks can be trained to estimate poses for hands or objects that are identified in images. Typically, these images include both color and depth data that are captured by a camera system including multiple visual light cameras and depth cameras. However, these multi-camera systems are expensive and power consuming, and produce data that is time consuming to process.

Predicting three-dimensional articulated and target object pose


A polypeptide having immunological activity for use as a diagnostic reagent for the HIV. The polypeptide comprises a substantial portion of each of more than one of the constituent proteins coded for by the HIV-pol gene, namely the amino acid sequences of the reverse transcriptase, RNase H and integrase enzymes coded for by the HIV-pol gene and the amino acid sequences of part of the protease enzyme coded for by the HIV-pol gene, but omitting the active site responsible for proteolytic activity.

Diagnostic kits for use in screening individuals for infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection frequently include reagents comprising HIV antigens which are used to detect antibodies using known immunological techniques including ELISA, Western Blot, latex agglutination and immuno-luminescent and immuno-fluorescent techniques.
The effectiveness of such techniques however depends upon selection of suitable immunological reagents and one particular difficulty which arises is that particular reagents are often specific to individual strains or groups of strains of HIV. Thus, for example, known diagnostic reagents based upon HIV-1 may fail to detect antibodies resulting from an infection of a patient with HIV-2.
Similarly, in the production of vaccines designed to protect individuals against HIV infection, the use of antigens derived from one particular strain of HIV may fail to provide adeguate protection against infection with other strains.
Synthesis and cleavage of the HIV-I pol precursor polyprotein is disclosed in "Processing Protease and Reverse Transcriptase from Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type I Polyprotein in Escherichia coli" by Jan Mous et. al., Journal of Virology, Apr. 1988, p. 1433-1436. The process disclosed in this reference results in the formation of a 92 kDa polypeptide consisting of protease (18 kDa), reverse transcriptase (64 kDa) and an amino-terminal portion of endonuclease (integrase) (10 kDa). The polyprotein is thus lacking the intact endonuclease sequence (25 kDa), and thus lacks substantial antigenic epitopes representing the endonuclease (integrase). Thus, the protein is unlikely to be suited for the preparation of diagnostic tests and vaccines for HIV-I.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome such problems.

Modified HIV-pol polypeptide having immunological activity for use as diagnostic reagent


An optic position sensor provides a data encoding method which improves the resolution capability of the sensing system. The data pattern of the sensor comprises a series of data signals having a start bit, digital data bits, an analog bit region (12) and a stop bit. The digital data bits may be a Manchester Encoded, Gray Coded data signal pattern. The analog data bit region (12) comprises a vernier track (10) which will produce a signal peak that moves linearly with position. The detection of the position of the vernier track (10) or bit relative to its range or region (12) provides a measurement of the percent of travel that has occurred within and between the discernible resolution of the digital data bits of the data signal, to provide resolution capability of approximately one part in sixteen thousand.

Optical position sensors have been disclosed in previous patents, including Kinney et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,726; Arnett U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,910; Kinney et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,105; and Halliday U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,978. These prior patents provide methods and devices for the encoding and decoding of binary modulated light spectrum in order to recover encoded intelligence. Halliday U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,978 discloses a method of detecting and decoding a received Manchester Encoded, Gray Coded data word signal, and is incorporated by reference herein. The object of the present invention is to provide an improved high resolution capability for optic position sensors. The enhanced resolution capability of the position sensor is provided by analog tracks on a mask which effects a much finer measurement than that previously accomplished by a digital data bit pattern. It is the object of the present invention to provide an optic position sensor that utilizes a digital data bit pattern or word signal providing the capability of measuring or determining with high resolution the percentage or amount of travel sensed by the sensor.

Increased accuracy and resolution for optic position sensors


A plumbing screen is provided having an annular seal that is adapted to fittingly conform to the internal surface of a toilet drain. The annular seal circumscribes a central screen that provides free fluid communication down the toilet drain but provides physical impingement for obstructions. At least one contact switch is located in the outer seal wall and controls an annunciator module that will provide an audible alarm upon removing the contact between the switch and the toilet sidewall. This audible alarm will indicate tampering with or removal of the screen.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to plumbing systems and, more particularly, to a device particularly adapted to discourage disposal of undesired items through toilet drains
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known in the art, there are many systems that have been developed for preventing the disposal of contraband down toilet drains. The systems available in the prior art generally fall into two broad categories: electronic controls systems that provide integrated systems for controlling drainage via allowing or preventing activation of the feed components (toilets, sinks, etc.); and, static hooks or grappling devices strategically placed within the plumbing systems designed to capture contraband or undesired objects before they can cause blockages, backups, or obstructions that can cause larger problem.
A general search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were found that exemplify solutions that can be exemplary of these categories.
Of the electronic control types of systems, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,985,944 and 5,771,501, issued in the name of Shaw, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,233, issued in the name of Shaw et al., all show electronic control systems that provide operational interlocks controlled by a central control unit. The '944 reference further elucidates additional safety delays incorporated into the control system to coordinate with multiple toilets to prevent a large number of simultaneous flushes that would otherwise cause a surge that could overwhelm the entire system. In the '501 and '233 references, a more complex design is taught that would appear to require a tremendous amount of integration or having such a system designed within a new construction facility in order to be implemented. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,443, issued in the name of Bush, describes a plumbing control system that incorporates a controller having a use setpoint for each valve actuator that tracks excess usage and disallows activation if the setpoint is exceeded.
Of the static hook/grappling designs, U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,330, issued in the name of Piskula, discloses a fishhook mounted to a removable plug and inserted into the plumbing. By removing the plug, a user can retrieve the hook and any snagged or attached articles thereto. Further, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,027,447 and 6,880,178, both issued in the name of Pino, both disclose a retractable hook or grapple that are installed strategically in the pluming piping system in order to interact with contraband inserted into the system. The '178 reference further shows a spring loaded system that can indicate an obstruction visually without opening the piping to inspect.
Consequently, a need has been felt for providing an apparatus and method of providing contraband screening for toilets that does not required specially design, specifically installed or retrofitting to the toilets or plumbing of the facility.


The invention is directed to a fuel cell comprising an anode and a cathode immersed in an electrolyte in the presence of a reductant and oxidant, wherein the distinguishing feature is that all of the elements of the fuel cell communicate freely with each other and there is no membrane or other separator between the anode and the cathode.

There is much interest in renewable power generation, particularly fuel cells. A fuel cell is an energy conversion device that invariably comprises two electrodes, i.e., a cathode and an anode, upon which electrochemical reactions occur to enable the transformation of stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Fuel (e.g., hydrogen, methanol) is oxidized at the anode to release electrons that are then routed through an external circuit, while protons are transported through a proton exchange membrane to the cathode. The circuit is completed inside the fuel cell when the electrons are received back again from the external circuit at the cathode, where they combine with protons and oxygen atoms in a reduction reaction to produce water. The output of the fuel cell then is electrical energy and heat, produced by the production of water from protons and oxygen.
Typically, catalysts are incorporated into the anode and cathode electrodes to facilitate fuel oxidation and oxygen reduction. Current preferred catalysts for fuel cells are particulate noble metals; however, these metals are expensive, inherently inefficient, non-renewable and not easily characterized. For these reasons, substitution of noble metals with homogeneous redox catalysts is a desirable goal; but, low current densities (which result in inadequate power and/or volume) have made this approach uneconomical with previously disclosed systems.
Use of enzymatic catalysts permit the incorporation of the redox catalyst into fluidic microdomains and thereby makes higher current densities possible due to: 1.) locally high concentrations of catalyst (since the catalyst is not confined to one monolayer density); 2.) high electron diffusion coefficients; and, 3.) opportunities for convective transport. Addtionally a redox catalyst that is enzymatic can easily use bio-available energy sources such as glucose.
The redox enzyme in an enzymatic biofuel cell participates in an electron transfer chain at the anode by oxidizing the fuel. However, redox enzymes are incapable of direct contact with the electrode since their redox centers are insulated from the conductive support by their protein matrices (Katz et al., "Biochemical fuel cells", In Handbook of Fuel Cells—Fundamentals, Technology and Applications, 1, Ch. 21 (2003)). In order to bring these enzymes into contact with the electrode and to improve the electron transfer rate, an initially oxidized electron transport redox mediator is used to reoxidize the enzyme. The electrons are then transferred to the anode and the electron transport mediator is once again oxidized. A similar process occurs at the cathode.
Numerous examples of enzymatic biofuel cells are described in the literature for use in sensor applications where it is desirable to use electrodes in vivo at low power. However, immobilization of the redox catalyst and/or electron transport mediator and restricted access of the electrochemical reagents to the redox catalyst immobilized inside the electrode limit the current densities that can be obtained, limiting the commercial practicablity of these biofuel cells. Additionally, the majority of these systems require the presence of a membrane or other barrier, separating the anode and cathode, which compartmentalizes the reductant and oxidant. Such membranes add cost to the fuel cell and limit miniaturization.
In co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/932,371 published as US Patent Publication US 2005-0074663, the Applicants teach that the low current densities of a biofuel cell may be overcome by constructing a fuel cell comprising an electrode consisting of a microporous current collector that incorporates a multitude of domains, wherein each domain contains a soluble redox catalyst. Neither the catalyst nor the electron transport mediator are immobilized in any fashion within the domain but are instead in fluid association with one another The fluid association of these elements of the electrode is unique and responsible for a more efficient system than heretofore described. In spite of the advance in the art provided by this system, preferred electrodes of this type still require a membrane or presence of a membrane or other barrier to separate the anode and cathode.
It is well accepted in the art of fuel cell design and manufacture that a membrane or other barrier is required to physically separate the anode and cathode. As such, a tremendous volume of literature exists that describe preferred materials for proton exchange and details of each material's proton transport and conductivity, etc. Recent work by Mano, N. et al. (J Am Chem Soc. Nov. 6, 2003 ; 124(44):12962-12963; Chem Commun (Camb). Feb. 21, 2003; (4):518-519; J Am Chem Soc. May 28, 2003 ; 125(21):6588-94; Proceedings, Electrochemical Society 2003, 2002-25 (Micropower and Micro-devices): 176-182; and WO 03/106966 A-2; see also, Heller, A. "Miniature Biofuel Cells" (Review) Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2004, 6:209-216) has suggested that modifying the conformation of the fuel cell elements may mitigate the need for a membrane per se. Specifically, this group describes miniature membrane-less biofuel cells, that operate at up to 0.78 V under physiological conditions. The anodic electrocatalyst was comprised of a glucose oxidase and an anode redox polymer mixture, crosslinked onto the surface of a carbon fiber in the form of a swollen hydrogel; likewise, the cathodic electrocatalyst was created by a hydrogel of bilirubin oxidase and a cathode redox copolymer crosslinked onto the surface of a second carbon fiber. Although no membrane is used in this system per se, immobilization of the cathode and anode in the hydrogel effectively produced a barrier, separating these elements of the cell.
The work of S. Topcagic and S. Minteer (Abstracts of Papers, 227th ACS National Meeting, Anaheim, Calif., Mar. 28-Apr. 1, 2004; American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.) teach a membraneless ethanol/oxygen biofuel cell. Specifically, these authors have utilized enzymes at the cathode and anode. However, the enzymes are immobilized and may not be freely accessible to the fuel.
A need exists therefore for the development of a membrane-free biological fuel cell having redox catalyst- or enzymatic redox catalyst-based electrodes that are capable of generating useful current densities.
Applicants have solved the stated problem by the design of a fuel cell electrode that comprises the redox catalyst and substrate in fluid association with each other within a microdomain of the electrode; and when these electrodes are used in a fuel cell, no membrane is required for the separation of the anode and the cathode and requisite components.


Each chip in a three-dimensional circuit includes a pair of connections, a test signal generation circuit, and a test result judgment circuit. The connections are electrically connected with an adjacent chip. The test signal generation circuit outputs a test signal to one of the connections. The test result judgment circuit receives a signal from the other of the connections and, from the state of the signal, detects the conducting state of the transmission path for the signal. Before layering the chips, a conductor connects the connections to form a series connection, and the conducting state of each connection is detected from the conducting state of the series connection. After layering the chips, the test signal generation circuit in one chip outputs a test signal, and the test result judgment circuit in another chip receives the test signal, and thus the conducting state of the connections between the chips is tested.

The demand exists for further improvement in the degree of integration of semiconductor integrated circuits. However, reducing the size of semiconductors has almost reached a limit. Therefore, technology for layering a plurality of chips, i.e. three-dimensional layering technology, is being developed.
Three-dimensional layering technology mainly uses a TSV (Through Silicon Via) as wiring and a terminal to connect chips, i.e. as a connection between chips. A TSV is formed by etching a through-hole in a silicon substrate and filling the hole with conductive material such as copper. Typically, the diameter of a TSV is between several μm and several dozen μm, whereas the depth of a TSV is several hundred μm. Forming a large number of TSVs on a chip raises the density of the TSVs, making TSVs with a high aspect ratio (height/diameter) necessary. As the aspect ratio increases, it becomes more difficult to fill the TSV, and the occurrence of cavities referred to as "voids" becomes more common. A void degrades the conducting state of a TSV, hampering inter-chip connection through the TSV. Furthermore, since TSVs are a fine structure, it is difficult to accurately align TSVs when layering two chips. Accordingly, in order to confirm a proper connection through a TSV between layered chips, three-dimensional layering technology also requires technology for testing both the conducting state of a TSV itself and the TSV-chip conducting state. Additionally, to maintain a high yield of integrated circuits manufactured using three-dimensional layering technology (hereinafter referred to as "three-dimensional integrated circuits"), it is necessary to test the circuits implemented on each chip before layering a plurality of chips. Therefore, in order to improve the yield upon manufacturing three-dimensional integrated circuits, it is effective to perform a test on each chip before layering a plurality of chips (Pre-Bonding Test). After layering a plurality of chips, a test is performed on the plurality of layered chips (Post-Bonding Test), and at this point it is effective to perform both a test on each chip as well as a test on the TSVs connecting chips. As compared to tests for a single layer integrated circuit, tests for three-dimensional integrated circuits are therefore complex. As a result, in order to reduce the cost of manufacturing three-dimensional integrated circuits, it is necessary to improve the efficiency of these two types of tests and to reduce the number of steps involved.
DFT (Design for Testability) is a known technology for improving the efficiency of tests performed when manufacturing integrated circuits. DFT is technology that aims to make a test for an integrated circuit easy by incorporating a circuit necessary to perform the test into the integrated circuit in the design phase. The technology disclosed in Non-Patent Literature 1 is an example of DFT that targets three-dimensional integrated circuits. This technology is an extension of the standard DFT in IEEE 1149.1/4/6 to three-dimensional integrated circuits. Specifically, a test circuit, such as a TAM (Test Access Mechanism), a scan chain, a TDC (Test Data Compression), or a BIST (Built-In Self-Test), for testing circuits implemented on a chip is incorporated into each chip. A dedicated testing pad is also provided in each chip for accessing to the test circuit from an external source. Each chip is also provided with a dedicated terminal for receiving a test signal from another chip which lies below the level of the chip, and with a switch for selectively connecting the test circuit either the dedicated terminal or the dedicated testing pad. When several tests are performed on each chip before a plurality of chips is layered, the switch in each chip connects the test circuit with the dedicated testing pad. As a result, the external test signal is sent through the dedicated testing pad to the test circuit of each chip. On the other hand, when tests are performed on the layered chips after a plurality of chips is layered, the switch connects the test circuit in each chip to the dedicated terminal. As a result, a test signal is sent from the bottom substrate through the dedicated terminal between chips to the test circuit of each chip.
The three-dimensional integrated circuit disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is also known. In this three-dimensional integrated circuit, each chip is provided with a mounting terminal and a testing terminal. Each terminal is a TSV. The mounting terminal is connected to a circuit implemented on the chip. The testing terminal is separated from a circuit implemented on the chip. Upon layering a plurality of chips, the testing terminals of the chips form a transmission path for a testing signal. When a new chip is further layered on top of this group of chips, the mounting terminal of the new chip is connected to the testing terminals of the group of chips, and a test signal is sent to the new chip through the testing terminals. In this way, the circuits implemented on the new chip and the mounting terminal can be tested. If the test results indicate no defects in the circuits and the mounting terminal, the mounting terminal of the new chip is reconnected to the mounting terminals of the group of chips. It is thus possible to layer only chips without any defects.
Patent Literature 2 discloses the following integrated circuit. Two chips in the integrated circuit are connected to each other through a plurality of connection terminals by wire bonding. A test output control circuit is implemented on one of the chips, and an expected value judgment circuit is implemented on the other chip. The test output control circuit outputs test data to the plurality of connection terminals. The test data is set so that the logical level is flipped between two adjacent connection terminals. The expected value judgment circuit receives the test data from the plurality of connection terminals and judges whether each piece of received test data matches the test data output by the test output control circuit. The judgment results indicate not only whether any of the connection terminals is disconnected, but also whether any pair of adjacent connection terminals has short-circuited.

Three-dimensional integrated circuit and testing method for the same

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A charged-particle beam drawing method includes: storing a plurality of time interval patterns defining time intervals for performing a diagnosis of a drift amount of charged-particle beam; drawing a predetermined drawing pattern on a sample by irradiating the beam on the sample; receiving first event information including occurrence of event and type of event; acquiring region information specifying a region being drawn by the beam; selecting a specific time interval pattern from the plurality of time interval patterns based on the type of the event of the first event information and the region information; diagnosing the drift amount of the beam based on the specific time interval pattern, until second event information is received, the second event information includes occurrence of event and type of event; and drawing a predetermined drawing pattern on the sample while performing a drift correction of the charged-particle beam, based on the diagnosing.

In order to form a desired circuit pattern on a semiconductor device, a lithography technique is used. The lithography technique transfers a pattern using an original pattern, called a mask (reticle). In order to manufacture a high-precision reticle, an electron beam drawing technique having excellent resolution is used.
As one method of an electron beam drawing apparatus which performs an electron beam drawing on a mask, there is a variable-shaped method. In the variable-shaped method, for example, a pattern is drawn on a sample placed on a movable stage by electron beam which is formed by passing through openings of first and second formation apertures and deflection-controlled by a polarizer. One-time irradiation of electron beam is referred to as shot.
During drawing onto the mask or during waiting for drawing, adrift (or beam drift) may occur. That is, an electron beam irradiation position may be deviated from a desired position. For example, when electron beam is irradiated on the mask, reflected electrons are generated. The generated reflected electrons collide against an optical system or a detector within the electron beam drawing apparatus. Therefore, a charge-up is generated and a undesired electric field is generated accordingly. In this case, the trajectory of the electron beam irradiated with deflection toward the mask is changed. As such, the charge-up is one cause of the electron beam drift.
If a drift amount of the electron beam exceeds an allowable range, pattern drawing accuracy is degraded. Therefore, a drift diagnosis for monitoring the drift amount of the electron beam during drawing is performed. As a result of the drift diagnosis, a drift correction is performed to correct the drift according to the obtained drift amount.
JP-A 2010-192666 discloses an electron beam drawing method which changes a time interval of drift correction according to an amount of change in an area density of a region to draw on.

Charged-particle beam drawing method, computer-readable recording media, and charged-particle beam drawing apparatus


Presented herein are methods and compositions for multiplexed single cell gene expression analysis. Some methods and compositions include the use of droplets and/or beads bearing unique barcodes such as unique molecular barcodes (UMI).

The determination of the mRNA content of a cell or tissue (i.e. "gene expression profiling") provides a method for the functional analysis of normal and diseased tissues and organs. Gene expression profiling is usually performed by isolating mRNA from tissue samples and subjecting this mRNA to microarray hybridization. However, such methods only allow previously known genes to be analyzed, and cannot be used to analyze alternative splicing, promoters and polyadenylation signals. Additionally, microarrays have two major shortcomings: they are linked to known genes, and they have limited sensitivity and dynamic range.
Direct sequencing of all, or parts, of the mRNA content of a tissue is being increasingly used. However, current methods of analyzing the mRNA content of cells by direct sequencing rely on analyzing bulk mRNA obtained from tissue samples typically containing millions of cells. This means that much of the functional information present in single cells is lost or blurred when gene expression is analyzed in bulk mRNA. In addition, dynamic processes, such as the cell cycle, cannot be observed in population averages. Similarly, distinct cell types in a complex tissue (e.g. the brain) can only be studied if cells are analyzed individually.
There are often no suitable cell-surface markers to use in isolating single cells for study, and even when there are, a small number of single cells are not sufficient to capture the range of natural variation in gene expression. What is needed is a method of preparing cDNA libraries which can be used to analyze gene expression in a plurality of single cells.

Nucleic acid sequence analysis from single cells


A footprint location system installed on footwear is disclosed. A user simply has to wear the shoes to track his/her locations without any setup or calibration efforts. The footprint location system measures and tracks the displacement vectors along a trail of footprints. The position of a user can be determined by summing up the current and all previous displacement vectors. In addition to being infrastructure-free, the footprint location method does not have problems found in existing indoor location systems, such as obstacles, multi-path effects, signal noises, signal interferences, and dead spots.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a footprint location system, and more particularly to a footprint location system that can determine a user's position by summing up all displacement vectors
2. The Prior Arts
Conventional indoor location systems usually need expensive infrastructure and maintenance to determine a user's position precisely. That might be the reason that the conventional indoor location systems have been seldom used in commercial applications ranging from family to enterprise.
A conventional indoor location system usually sets up sensing devices in particular positions to detect a user's position. In order to enhance accuracy, the conventional indoor location system needs to increase numbers of sensing devices, such as infrared, WiFi and weight detectors, and therefore largely increases the expense of equipments, installing, operating and maintenance of the system.


A pair of pants and replacement panels for use with the pants where a pant leg having a generally tubular configuration extends from a trunk portion of the pants, the pant leg defining a gap extending from an above-the-knee area of the pant leg to a terminal end of the pant leg, the gap originates from a position above a half-way position of the pant leg where the half-way position is measured along an inseam of the pant leg to be halfway from the terminal end of the pant leg to a crotch of the pant leg. Each leg of the pants may define a gap and each leg may be configured to have a panel connected to the leg to cover the gap.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pants and removable and replaceable panels or patches for clothing items and more particularly to detachable knee patches or covers for snow pants.
2. Background Information
There have been many knee patch devices developed over the years. Some examples may be found in various patents, such as devices found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,622,697, 2,568,083, 6,347,405, 7,296,301, and 7,216,370. While these and other devices or systems may have useful features, there is room for improvement.

Pants, replaceable knee panels, and pants having the same