A system and methods are presented for the generation of hybridized efficient genetic algorithms (EGAS) applied to bi-objective optimization problems. Applications are made to engineering systems involving collective behaviors, including network computing, robotics and evolvable hardware.

The invention deals with development of novel, efficient genetic algorithms in order to solve bi-objective optimization problems (BOOPs). Multi-objective optimization problems (MOOPs) are deconstructed into multiple BOOPs, which are further deconstructed into multiple single-objective optimization problems (SOOPs).
Genetic algorithms are in a class of computational metaheuristics that solve optimization problems. By decomposing MOOPs, which appear in various engineering and computational domains, into BOOPs, complex combinatorial optimization problems become solvable.
Several classes of metaheuristics have been used to solve optimization problems. These include local search metaheuristics (tabu search, scatter search and adaptive memory programming), global search metaheuristics (Monte Carlo and simulated annealing), swarm intelligence metaheuristics for local and neighborhood search (ant colony optimization, particle swarm optimization and stochastic diffusion search) and artificial immune systems metaheuristics. In general, these metaheuristic models involve learning processes made possible by the combination of memory and evolution. The metaheuristics are shortcuts for finding rapid solutions to optimization problems.
The local search metaheuristics develop an initial solution by relying on a short-term memory (although adaptive memory programming uses long-term memory), limited search constraints and a constant updating of the memory catalogue of objects that are learned in the heuristic process. Global search metaheuristics are generalized stochastic random processes for solving optimization problems. Swarm intelligence metaheuristics utilize collective memory and reinforcement learning from multiple agents to create a model for solving optimization problems.
Local Search Models
Developed by Glover, the tabu search (TS), scatter search (SS) and adaptive memory programming (AMP) models use similar search strategies to access a memory, reprogram the memory with new information obtained in the search process and guide the search process by accessing a catalogue created by the memory updating process. The combination of memory and evolutionary progression create a learning process.
Tabu Search
The TS metaheuristic uses a local or neighborhood search process to interactively move from one solution to a modified solution until a specific constraint has been satisfied. As the search progresses, information is excluded that guides the process to search space that is increasingly probable to achieve success in solving a problem. TS uses short-term memory structures in order to access a tabu list that contains solutions to problems that have been visited in the recent past. Solutions from the tabu list are excluded from the new search. Further, the tabu list can be overridden by using "aspiration criteria" so as to allow better solutions than are currently available.
TS methods use "inhibition" to exclude criteria and continuously filter the search space. The memory elements of the tabu process are updated from the past search results so as to limit the forward search space to non-redundant locations. This model increases efficiency in local or neighborhood search as it creates a pattern of development. This is a form of subtractive or exclusionary analysis that filters search space that has already been determined not to contain the desired solution.
A simple analogy to TS would be the search and rescue of a hiker or swimmer. In a static environment, the search party will cover a terrain and not return there because doing so would be redundant and inefficient. In order to keep track of the terrain they covered, the search party keeps a checklist of specific spaces and marks off the spaces after they have been searched. This process narrows the search over time, increases the likelihood of finding the hiker or swimmer and conserves scarce resources.
The exclusionary model of TS has limits. First, there are limits to the development of the initial catalogue based on an arbitrary local search. That is, the initial construction of a catalogue accessed in updatable memory is arbitrary. Second, since this initial position is arbitrary, the pattern of search is random as well, a further inefficiency. Third, the memory process is limited to the past, which is conditioned upon the arbitrary and random evidence obtained in the search process at a particular time. Fourth, the TS model is limited by the timing of the updating process. This limitation represents an arbitrary cross-section of time, which constrains the process to a static search space. Specifically, TS is not effective in an evolving environment with changing conditions unless the catalogue is continuously updated to reflect the reinvestigation of space that was subsequently covered under specific conditions.
Scatter Search
The SS method is an evolutionary approach that joins solutions based on a "generalized path" between two previous initial solutions. A reference set of two points in a search space is connected to create a new solution. The chief way to create the initial solutions is to combine linear points representing two solutions. The initial reference set then evolves in such a way that the new solutions are incorporated into the updated reference set for locating future solutions and so on.
SS uses several components in an evolutionary process: (a) Diversification generation method, (b) improvement method, (c) reference set update method, (d) subset generation method and (e) solution combination method. After the SS method generates a starting set of solution vectors, it then creates new points from linear combinations of subsets of current reference points. Finally, it extracts a collection of the best points from the previous phase as starting points for new applications of the heuristic process of the later phase.
There are limitations to the SS metaheuristic model. First, SS merely seeks averages of arbitrary initial search space. Second, the local arbitrary averaging is generalized and reinforced. This model is inefficient unless it can be continuously optimized by updating its reference set. Next, there are limits to the timing of the updating of the catalogue. Finally, this model is particularly limited in environments that are evolving in which it is required to revisit previously searched space.
The AMP model of a generalized search approach overcomes some of the limits of TS and SS. AMP utilizes a longer term memory and a neighborhood search space. Still, AMP suffers from some of the limits of the local search metaheuristics. Additional local search models, including GRASP, suffer from the same constraints of local search space optimization methods.
Swarm Intelligence Metaheuristics
Ant colony optimization (ACO) techniques, particle swarm optimization (PSO) and stochastic diffusion search (SDS) models use neighborhood search approaches to solve optimization problems. The biologically-inspired model of swarm intelligence uses the collective behavior of cooperating insects.
Ant Colony Optimization
Developed by Dorigo, following the work of Wilson, ACO techniques rely on ant collective behaviors for inspiration to develop a cooperating model of solving optimization problems. For example, ants use pheromones, a chemical substance that is emitted and detected, to guide behaviors. Computational emulation of this type of process in ant collective behaviors allows a limited intelligence to emerge that solves optimization problems. Reinforcement learning occurs via use of the pheromone deposition strategy, which emulates an externally accessible memory system. The pheromone system is self-reinforcing in the sense that it increases with more use and decreases with less use. The ACO process is adaptive to environmental change but relies on the combined efforts of multiple agents that interact in a local or neighborhood space.
One particular use of the ACO is development of work-arounds for bottlenecks. In the case of actual ant colony operation, if a piece of food is obstructed, ants will find a way around the obstruction and reinforce this pathway.
ACO has limits. It is limited to locally obtained information. Specifically, the most recent data are reinforced, rather than the correct data. The initial set of data is arbitrary and risks running the ant agents into blind, and inefficient, alleys that squander scarce resources. In effect, the ACO translates a quantity of inputs into intensity; however, if the source of the initial, random quantity is inefficient, the whole system will be inefficient. The system lacks a way to minimize its losses. Ultimately, this model will find solutions to optimization problems under constraints, but its learning model is solipsistic and circular.
Particle Swarm Optimization
The logic of swarm behaviors is to avoid neighbors while also following a leader, even as the leadership role changes at key thresholds. Within this changed leadership, the initiation process is asymmetric. Like ACO, the PSO metaheuristic uses local and neighborhood search techniques which rely on the interactive behaviors of neighboring agents. In the case of PSO, the model uses a universal access memory because any agent can access the behavior of other agents in the swarm configuration at a specific time.
One of the key objectives of PSO is identification of the conditions that allow a leader to change in the swarm. The asymmetric effects of PSO behaviors provide a random search process. The memory register of the swarm is generalized as the system accesses information from the behaviors of all of the collective's membership. However, the positioning of particular members is restricted to specific actions relative to the positions of other agents in the swarm.
Stochastic Diffusion Search
SDS blends aspects of ACO and PSO by allowing one-to-one direct communication between agents. In SDS, a sub-group of agents in the general collective test and optimize initial solutions which behave as hypotheses for future potential actions. Agents perform a preliminary evaluation and generate a candidate solution to a search problem. However, agents share information about these hypotheses, which illustrates how the diffusion model operates directly (one-to-one) between agents. High quality solutions can be generated from groups of interacting agents by using the hypotheses.
Like the PSO, SDS is limited to local and neighborhood search because the agents need to communicate with each other directly. Again, the initial hypothesis is arbitrary and may misdirect the group, thus providing an inefficient start of a search process. As feedback is provided to update the hypotheses, the system learns, but the learning occurs only within the context of specifically interacting agents in real time. If the environment changes, the earlier hypotheses become obsolete.
General Metaheuristics
Global search heuristics include Monte Carlo and simulated annealing models. These models generally breed randomized variations within a defined range to create a model to solve optimization problems.
An additional category of metaheuristics uses the human immune system as guidance to create an artificial immune system (AIS). AISs are computationally emulated learning models that imitate the operation of the immune system's humoral and adaptive subsystems in order to develop a defense against a new pathogen and then, once learned, to pass on the new immunity to a new generation for rapid defense against a known pathogen.
Glover also developed a surrogate constraint method for solving a class of optimization problems.
Genetic Algorithms
Holland developed a way to emulate the process of evolution in order to solve optimization problems. Genetic algorithms (GAs) create numerous generations by emulating sexual reproduction and random mutations in order to create later generations that are fit enough to match an environment and thus present adequate solutions to complex problems.
By emulating the genetic model in nature, GAs perform specific functions that allow organisms to better fit their environment and thereby gain a competitive advantage to survive. The most fit organism reinforces its competitive advantage and passes on its genes to future generations.
A problem with traditional GA is that its evolution relies only on random crossover and random mutation. In some cases, many thousands of generations of evolution are necessary in order to identify a solution, which is time consuming and inefficient. While the evolutionary process of the GA develops in order to solve problems of matching fitness of a strong group with an environment, as the environment itself evolves, the evolutionary process must continue to develop. Identifying co-evolutionary processes at worst is arbitrary and at best develops a solipsistic equilibrium in a static environment. Finally, because the environment changes in unpredictable ways, and because the GA development process is past-solution based, it is unable to offer predictions of future possible optimal fitness of the environment. This makes GA ineffective for solving problems in crisis periods of rapid or volatile environmental change.
Unlike the local search or swarm intelligence models, GA lacks a "memory" and must be constantly compared at each new generation to the fitness of the environment. In this sense, the environmental feedback is instantaneous.
These GA limitations are overcome by combining them with other metaheuristics techniques to create hybrid metaheuristics. By combining elements of positive-inclusive metaheuristics (ACO, PSO and SDS) with negative-exclusionary metaheuristics (TS, SS and AMP), the present hybrid GA metaheuristic is able to develop learning capabilities and to successfully solve problems. Such a hybrid GA model will reject unsuccessful solution attempts, re-focus on and accelerate successful solution attempts and develop positive reinforcement based on initial success.
The present system provides a range of new methods for improving GA and for creating novel hybrid metaheuristics using GA. By removing some of the GA constraints of (a) randomness, (b) ever-present environmental fitness criteria and (c) memory, the present system provides a radical alternative that is able to develop a learning heuristic that efficiently solves bi-objective optimization problems. Learning is seen as a byproduct of the combination of several key elements, including memory and evolution, in a hybrid GA metaheuristic. The adaptation made possible by the application of learning solves complex optimization problems.
Bi-Objective Optimization Problems
Solving optimization problems involves finding the best results within specific constraints. Many engineering optimization problems are very complex and involve the need to solve problems with multiple constraints. In order to build a successful car, for instance, a manufacturer needs a design that is stylish but also fuel efficient, safe and economically priced. These multiple constraints provide substantial engineering challenges.
In order to increase the chances of success in finding solutions, multi-objective optimization problems (MOOPs) are broken down into their simplest elements. The simplest combinatorial optimization problems are bi-objective optimization problems (BOOPs) that balance two constraints. Single objective optimization problems (SOOPs) do not capture the "compromise" between key constraints necessary to solve BOOPs. BOOPs are the significant unit in optimization problems, upon which MOOPs are built. Multiple variables and constraints can be deconstructed to the most elemental BOOP in order to assess sets of solution space options.
A major challenge in solving BOOPs by using metaheuristic techniques is to identify ways to obtain global information in a local search environment. Since BOOPs are the simplest type of combinatorial optimization problem, the issue of moving from one to two opposing goals involves balancing objectives. Metaheuristic techniques have been valuable in solving different classes of optimization problems because of the ability of the learning mechanism, via the use of memory and evolution, to delimit specific constraints over time in order to identify the best options from among a set of solution candidates.
An example of a SOOP is finding the shortest path. This minimization optimization search space involves finding solutions within a field of options with limited constraints. When an additional set of constraints is introduced, as in the case of BOOPs, the conflict arises in which a single option is impossible; rather, the solution space involves locating multiple optimization options, or a family of solutions. The best-available solution involves selecting specific combinations of solutions within limited constraints. These sets of possible solutions refer to probable combinations that represent a compromise between extreme SOOP constraints.
While the minimization search problem epitomizes the SOOP, the allocation problem epitomizes the BOOP. The aim is to find the fewest resources necessary to satisfy a set of constraints. An example of the allocation problem involves scheduling, in which priorities are made over at least two points of time. The traveling salesman problem (TSP) represents a sort of BOOP. The greatest benefit of solving BOOPs is that they define the resources needed to most efficiently proceed with a particular set of goals.
In communications systems, for example, BOOPs are applied to bandwidth resource constraints, load balancing, path optimization and goal prioritization problems. In general, in computer systems, the simplest or earliest problem is solved, then the more complete problem is solved. The BOOP is a central element of optimization problems that leads to different levels of solutions for more complex optimization problems.
GAs maintain a pool of solutions, rather than a single solution. By mimicking biological evolution, the GA finds superior sets of solutions over time. The solution options are randomly combined or mutated to alter the composition of the pool of solutions. Inferior solutions, as measured by the real-time environmental fitness criterion, are discarded.
GAs as presently conceived, however, are limited in their ability to solve BOOPs efficiently. Precisely because they rely on random combinations and mutations and are compared with a present environmental fitness criterion, they provide narrow and somewhat inefficient solution options. Ironically, they lack an evolutionary character that accommodates the evolving solutions needed within a changing environment. Since they are restricted to past-oriented generations, they do not build new solutions to evolving problems. Since they lack memory capacities, they also lack the learning functions of other metaheuristics. Consequently, there is a tendency to repeat past solutions, which fail to solve new problems in a time-sensitive way.
What is needed to solve BOOPs in a complex evolving environment is a hybrid of GA and other metaheuristics techniques. The hybrid GA metaheuristic technique disclosed in the present invention is efficient, on-demand and flexible. In the short-run, it provides adequate solutions to BOOPs that allow more solutions to be offered to more complex combinatorial optimization problems. Overall, the present invention develops a system in which global information is made available to local search behaviors in order to increase efficiency of combinatorial optimization problem solving procedures.
In order to develop an effective and efficient GA metaheuristic, the critical functions of crossover and mutation need to be reexamined and refined. The present system offers methods to perform these functions.
There is a range of information technology, computer science and engineering systems to which the present system applies. The present system solves optimization problems involving computing, communications and robotics.

System for hybridized efficient genetic algorithms to solve bi-objective optimization problems with application to network computing


It is an object of the invention to provide an improved illumination apparatus for the comfortable illumination of a region monitored by a night vision instrument.

The invention relates to an illumination apparatus having an illumination device, the illumination device comprising at least one LED and the illumination device being formed in order to emit mixed light with light components in the visible range, and having an optical filter device for filtering the mixed light emitted by the illumination device, the optical filter device being formed in order to block light with a wavelength of more than 610 nm. The invention also relates to a use of the illumination apparatus, to a method for dazzle-free illumination with the illumination apparatus and to an arrangement comprising the illumination apparatus.

Illumination apparatus, use of the illumination apparatus, method for dazzle-free illumination and arrangement comprising the illumination apparatus

Abstract: To this end, an illumination apparatus 1 having an illumination device 8 is provided, the illumination device 8 comprising at least one LED 9a,b,c and the illumination device 8 being formed in order to emit mixed light with light components in the visible range, and having an optical filter device 10 for filtering the mixed light emitted by the illumination device 8, the optical filter device 10 being formed in order to block light with a cutoff wavelength of more than 610 nm, wherein the illumination device 8 comprises a white LED 9a, a green LED 9b and a red LED 9c, which together produce the mixed light.


A method for determining the presence of a first gas in a second gas uses a gas sensor made up of at least two pairs of electrodes, each pair of electrodes having different spacing between the electrodes. The electrodes of the gas sensor have surfaces that are reactive to the gases under investigation. The gas sensor is exposed to the gases, and the electrical resistances between the pairs of electrodes are measured over a period of time. `The results are compared with a calibration curve to determine if the first gas is present in the second, and to determine of the sensor is malfunctioning.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to methods for detecting at least one gaseous medium in the presence of at least one other gaseous medium, and to gas sensors suitable for use in such methods.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
It is well known that the electrical conductivities of metal oxide semiconducting materials are sensitive to the presence of various gases or vapors and can be used in sensors to detect their presence. See for example the documents GB-A-2 149 120; GB-A-2 149 121; GB-A-2 149 122; GB-A-2 149 123; GB-A-2 166 244 and GB-A-2 218 523, and papers "The Tin Oxide Gas Sensor and its applications", J. Watson, Sensors and Actuators 54(1984) 29-42; "The Detection and Measurement of CO using ZnO Single Crystals", B. Bott et al., Sensors and Actuators 5(1984) 65-73; "The Role of Catalysis in Solid State Gas Sensors", S. J. Gentry et al, Sensors and Actuators 10(1986) 141-163; "Selectivity in Actuators 12(1987) 425-440; and "Electrical Conduction in Solid State Gas Sensors", J. W. Gardner, Sensors and Actuators 18(1989) 373-387.
All such gas sensors rely on the gaseous medium under observation impinging on a surface of a body of the semiconducting metal oxide material and then undergoing some reaction with it which affects the conductance of the semiconducting metal oxide material, which is detected by means of at least one pair of electrodes which are formed upon the body of semiconducting metal oxide material. Hence their performance can be affected by the presence of substances, gaseous or otherwise (other than the materials to be detected), that affect the surface chemistry of the body of semiconducting metal oxide material. It is important to be able to detect when such spurious effects are occurring.


Solutions for perioperative intraocular application by continuous irrigation during ophthalmologic procedures are provided. These solutions include multiple agents that act to inhibit inflammation, inhibit pain, effect mydriasis (dilation of the pupil), and/or decrease intraocular pressure, wherein the multiple agents are selected to target multiple molecular targets to achieve multiple differing physiologic functions, and are included in dilute concentrations in a balanced salt solution carrier.

Ophthalmologic surgery typically requires the use of a physiologic irrigation solution to protect and maintain the physiological integrity of intraocular tissues. Examples of ophthalmologic surgical procedures usually requiring irrigation solutions are cataract operations, corneal transplant operations, vitreoretinal operations and trabeculectomy operations for glaucoma.
Solutions that have been used in ophthalmologic surgical irrigation include normal saline, lactated Ringer's solution and Hartmann's lactated Ringer's solution, but these are not optimal due to potential unfavorable corneal and endothelial effects. Other aqueous solutions that include agents such as electrolytes, buffering agents for pH adjustment, glutathione and/or energy sources such as dextrose, better protect the tissues of the eye, but do not address other physiologic processes associated with surgery. One commonly used solution for ophthalmologic irrigation is a two part buffered electrolyte and glutathione solution disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,022 to Garabedian et al., the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference. The two parts of this solution are mixed just prior to administration to ensure stability. These solutions are formulated with a goal of maintaining the health of ocular tissues during surgery.
Modifications of conventional aqueous irrigation solutions by the addition of therapeutic agents have been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,523,316 to Gan et al. discloses the addition of one or more agents for controlling intraocular pressure to irrigation solutions. Specific examples of agents for controlling intraocular pressure disclosed in the Gan et al patent, all disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, are beta-blockers (i.e., beta adrenergic receptor antagonists) and alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists. Reference is also made to muscarinic agonists, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, angiostatic steroids and prostaglandins as classes of drugs that control intraocular pressure. Only agents intended for the control of intraocular pressure are envisioned.
Another example of a modified solution is disclosed in International PCT Application WO 94/08602 in the name of inventors Gan et al., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application discloses the inclusion of a mydriatic agent, such as epinephrine, in ocular irrigation solutions. Still another example is provided by International PCT Application WO 95/16435 in the name of inventors Cagle et al., which discloses the inclusion of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in an ophthalmologic irrigation solution.
A topical ophthalmologic solution is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,446 to Thomas that includes histidine, and which may include at least one other active agent such as an anti-glaucoma agent, such as timolol or phenylephrine, a steroid or an NSAID. This reference teaches application of the composition to limit the inflammation associated with ophthalmic procedures. The solution is administered by a dropper into the cul-de-sac of the eye.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,893 to Yanni includes compositions including a wound healing agent, such as a steroid or a growth factor, and/or a pain mediator, such as an NSAID, a bradykinin antagonist, or a neurokinin-1 antagonist. The compositions are intended for the treatment and prevention of corneal haze associated with laser irradiation and photoablation.
Although many topically applied agents are available or have been proposed to treat ocular inflammation, produce mydriasis (typically necessary to perform many types of ophthalmologic surgery), or to control intraocular pressure, no previous attempt has been made to combine these agents for use in a perioperative ocular irrigation solution that is delivered in such a way so as to provide a constant, controlled delivery of multiple therapeutic agents, that act on multiple molecular targets to address multiple physiologic functions, to the tissues of the eye throughout a procedure.
Various methods of ocular drug delivery are conventionally employed, each of which has limitations. These limitations may include corneal and conjunctival toxicity, tissue injury, globe perforation, optic nerve trauma, central retinal artery and/or vein occlusion, direct retinal drug toxicity, and systemic side effects. For example, topical medications applied drop-wise are frequently impeded in reaching a targeted ocular site due to the eye's natural protective surface. In many situations, a rather small percentage of the medication applied to the surface of the eye will actually reach the desired therapeutic site of action.
One difficulty in ocular drug delivery during surgical procedures is to achieve the desired therapeutic concentration levels with the proper temporal control. The most desired pharmacokinetic effect is to be able to rapidly achieve a therapeutic concentration range and subsequently maintain the drug concentration at a constant level. This is not achieved by conventional methods of ocular drug delivery. The challenge of achieving similar pharmacokinetic profiles is substantially compounded when it is desirable to simultaneously deliver more than one drug. A unique group of factors affect the ability of a drug to penetrate the corneal epithelia, including the size of the molecule, its chemical structure and its solubility characteristics.
To achieve sufficient concentration of drug delivered to the back of the eye, drugs are frequently administered systemically at very high doses. These levels are necessary to overcome the blood-retina barrier that protects the back of the eye from selected drug molecules coming from the blood stream. For surgical procedures, injectable drug solutions are sometimes injected directly into the back of the eye. Subconjuctival and peribulbar periocular injections are used when higher local concentrations are needed and when drugs with poor penetration characteristics need to be delivered. Intracameral injections directly into the anterior chamber are used in cataract surgery. While intracameral injection provides a prompt method of achieving a concentration, it can be associated with corneal toxicity. However, this method suffers from the fact that these drugs are quickly removed by the eye's natural circulatory process. Thus, injectable solutions rapidly lose their therapeutic benefit, often necessitating frequent, large dose injections that can carry toxicity risks. Sustained release formulations, such as viscoelastic gels containing microcapsules, may be injected intraocularly for a longer duration of action. However, there may be some delay in reaching a local therapeutic concentration of drug. Hence, there exists a need for controlled methods of ocular delivery during ophthalmologic procedures.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Ophthalmologic irrigation solutions and method


A method implemented in a computer system includes training a network, which is obtained by unfolding an iterative algorithm for demodulation or demodulation and decoding, using a machine learning technique with a loss function that takes into account non-Gaussianity of a log-likelihood ratio (LLR) distribution calculated from an output of the network. The method further includes producing a first set of learned parameters of that iterative algorithm.

Belief Propagation (BP) algorithms can be used for signal detection (e.g., demodulation and decoding). For example, BP algorithms may be used for signal detection in Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) receivers.
Signal processing using a BP algorithm can be optimized using machine learning (or deep learning). This method unfolds the iterations of the BP algorithm into a layer-wise structure, similar to a neural network, and introduces a large number of trainable parameters. Such a method is called deep unfolding. Non Patent Literature 1 and 2 propose techniques to tune a number of parameters of a BP algorithm for large-scale (or massive) MIMO detection by machine learning, thereby improving the convergence characteristics of the BP algorithm. Meanwhile, Non-patent document 3 proposes a method to remove inter-mode interference in OAM multiplex transmission systems using Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) by using an iterative demodulation algorithm called Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM) and adjusting the parameters of the algorithm by machine learning.

Receiver apparatus, and method for producing parameters for demodulation


There is provided a lithium ion secondary battery having excellent cycle characteristics at a high temperature and comprising lithium nickel composite oxides, in which the Ni content is high, in a positive electrode. The present invention relates to a lithium ion secondary battery having a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte solution, wherein the positive electrode comprises a lithium nickel complex oxide denoted by the general formula, LiNixCoyMnzO2, wherein x, y, and z are respectively 0.75≤x≤0.85, 0.05≤y≤0.15, and 0.10≤z≤0.20.

Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries such as lithium ion secondary batteries are being widely put to practical use as batteries for notebook computers, cellular phones and the like because of their advantages of high energy density, excellent long-term reliability and the like. In recent years, since high-performance of electronic devices and the use of electronic devices for electric cars and the like are advancing, it is desired to further improve buttery properties such as capacity, energy density, lifespan, safety and the like.
It is desirable to use a material having higher discharge capacity in a positive electrode active material in order to increase energy density and capacity of a battery. In recent years, lithium nickel composite oxides wherein a part of nickel acid lithium (LiNiO2) is replaced by another metal element are widely used as the high capacity compound. Among them, the compounds, in which the Ni content is high, have high capacity and are particularly preferable. A battery using lithium nickel composite oxides, in which the Ni content is high, in the positive electrode active material has higher initial discharge capacity than conventional batteries but it has a problem that the discharge capacity reduces while charge and discharge are repeated. For this reason, a positive electrode material of the lithium nickel composite oxide having excellent cycle characteristics is being studied.
Patent Literature 1 discloses that the battery capacity drop by repeating charge/discharge cycles can be suppressed by replacing a part of Ni site of LiNiO2 having layered rock salt structure with Co and optionally one or more atom of Al, Fe, Mn and B to stabilize the crystal structure, and additionally using a water soluble polymer as a binder for carbon materials as a negative electrode active material to suppress swelling the binder itself with electrolyte solution.


The present invention relates to a modified CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) which is prepared by coupling a consecutive sequence of deoxyribothymine (dT) to the 3′-terminus of CpG ODN having immunoregularory function, thereby improving immunoactivity of splenocytes, macrophages and peripheral mononuclear cells, and therefore, can be effectively used as a vaccine adjuvant for preventing and treating hepatitis B or an anti-cancer agent. Since the phosphorothioate CpG ODN having the consecutive sequence of dT at its 3′-terminus shows high activity inducing Th-1 immune response and does not elicit in vivo toxicity with guaranteeing its safety, it can be effectively used as a vaccine adjuvant.

Vertebrate animals can suppress expression of CpG dinucleotide in their genomic DNA sequence or have a cytosine residue of the expressed CpG dinucleotide methylated (Krieg, Ann. Rev. Immunol., 2002, 20, 709; McClelland & Ivarie, Nucleic Acids Res. 1982, 23, 78). Meanwhile, a microbial CpG dinucleotide is expressed at a normal rate and not methylated, and therefore it enables to detect microbial infection in vertebrates using the difference in the levels of the expressed CpG dinucleotide between vertebrate animals and microorganisms.
A microbial genomic DNA is recognized by dendritic cells or B cells expressing the TLR9 via toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), a pattern recognition receptor, and eventually activates an innate immune system of a host cell. The innate immune system is endowed with a mechanism for removing cancer cells as well as a self defense mechanism against microbial or parasitic infections, and thus it is expected to develop a carcinostatic immunological adjuvant capable of inducing anti-cancer activity of an immune system by properly modifying the CpG ODN.
Studies for activating immune system using the CpG ODN have been actively progressed for the past few decades. The CpG ODN contains at least four bases at both 5′- and 3′-termini with reference to the CpG dinucleotide as the center, and immunoactivity of the CpG ODN is characterized by the base sequence. The CpG ODN is subdivided into two groups, K type and D type. K type ODN stimulates myeloid lineage cells and B cells thus resulting in their proliferation or secretion of immunoglobulin M or IL-6 (Klinman et al., Microbes Infect., 2002, 897-901). On the other hand, D type ODN activates monocytes to be differentiated into dendritic cells or stimulates natural killer cells to secrete IL-6 (Klinman et al., Eur. J. Immunol., 2002, 32, 2617-22; Gursel et al., J. Leukoc. Biol., 71, 813-20, 2002). Further, the D type ODN activates B220+ dendritic cells to produce IFN-α while TLR9+ B220+ dendritic cells release IL-12 in response to D type ODN. These results suggest that there might be several pathways to improve immune activity of the CpG ODN by stimulating specific immunocytes (Hemmi et al., J. Immunol., 2003, 170, 3059-3064; Kerkman et al., J. Immunol., 2003, 170, 4465-4474).
Various types of CpG ODNs have been designed to redirect the pathologic condition such as infection, autoimmune disease and cancer. Of these, the strategy toward the development of immunotherapeutic CpG ODN against cancer can rely upon effector cells mainly stimulated by CpG ODN. To augment cell-mediated immunity using CpG ODN, the following two methods are commonly exploited.
The first method is to augment a local or systemic immunity via an activation of naive or professional dendritic cells. Cancer cells down-regulate their antigen presentation capabilities to escape an immune surveillance system of a host cell, thereby enabling to survive in the host cell taking advantage of the fact that host cytotoxic T cells are unable to recognize them. To solve this problem, there has been developed a method that immunizes a host with a strong immunogenic peptide in a cancer antigen together with the CpG ODN as an immune adjuvant. By this method, the dendritic cells with high antigen presentation activity can uptake the peptide of cancer antigen and when activated by the CpG ODN, leading to activating cytotoxic T cells. The activated cytotoxic T cells can then effectively eliminate the cancer cells. It has been reported that this method can kill RMA from a mouse (Stern et al., J. Immunol., 2002, 168, 6099-6105). IFN-γ plays an important role in these immune responses. Although this is not done through activation of dendritic cells, it still enables to activate anti-cancer immunity same as in the mechanism of dendritic cells by rendering CpG ODN 2006 to directly work on B cells as well as to increase the expression of a costimulator which can induce an interaction between B and T cells (Jahrsdorfer et al., J. Leukoc. Biol., 2001, 69, 81-88).
The other method is to augment innate immunity via activation of natural killer cells. It is possible to activate cytotoxic T cells by activating dendritic cells by introducing a cancer antigen from the outside, but it is essential to present the cancer antigen on the surface of MHC class I molecule for eliciting cytotoxicity from cytotoxic T cells. However, in many cases the level of presenting caner antigens on the surface of cancer cells is too low to elicit cytotoxicity from cytotoxic T cells, and therefore the method for removing cancer cells by activating the dendritic cells often becomes ineffective. To overcome this limitation, it has been suggested to activate natural killer cells which exert cytotoxicity regardless of cancer antigen presentation on the surface of a cancer cell. Further, the activated natural killer cells activate monocytes or macrophages, leading to activation of antigen-independent anti-cancer immune system. It has been reported that CpG ODN 1584 administration in vivo blocks the metastasis of NK sensitive B16.F1 melanoma whereas CpG ODN 1826 injection effectively rejects NK resistant EL4 lymphoma in an in vivo_mouse tumor model using the above method (Ballas et al., J. Immunol., 2001, 167, 4878-4886). Further, when ODN 1826 was directly injected into a tumorigenic lesion after induction of C26 colon carcinoma mass in BALB/C mice, the size of the tumor was markedly decreased. This data shows that peritumoral CpG ODN monotherapy elicits a strong CD8 T cell response and innate effector mechanisms that seem to act in concert to overcome unresponsiveness of the immune system toward a growing tumor. (Heckelsmiller et al., J. Immunol., 2002, 169, 3892-3899). In contrast, it is difficult to eliminate the murine 38C13 B cell lymphoma in vivo by means of CpG ODN monotherapy. However, if a monoclonal antibody specific to 38C13 lymphoma antigen is treated with the CpG ODN, the activated natural killer cell is capable of efficiently removing 38C13 lymphoma by exerting antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (Woodridge et al., Blood, 1997, 89, 2994-2998).
Meanwhile, humoral immunity against cancer can be induced by using an antigen or an equivalent thereof together with the CpG ODN as an immunostimulant. Trastuzumab and rituximab have been known as commercial monoclonal antibodies specific to HER-2 protein over-expressing cancer cell and non-Hodgkins B cell lymphoma, respectively. Recently, the combination therapy with the CpG ODN plus tumor antigen specific antibody demonstrated the potent tumor rejection preclinically and is now entering into clinical trials. (Jahrsdorfer et al., Sem. Oncol., 2003, 30, 476-482).
The CpG ODN has strong innate immunoactivity due to the nucleotide sequences containing CpG dinucleotides present at 5′- and 3′-termini. However, since the CpG ODN itself is of a wild-type structure having no difference from a structure of in vivo DNA molecule, it does not show any cytotoxicity. However, there is a disadvantage in the CpG ODN that it is easily degraded in vivo due to its wild-type structure, consequently leading to reducing half-life of immunoactivity. Although it is possible to increase a daily dosage of CpG ODN to overcome this drawback, it is not economical. It has been reported that when a phosphodiester bond known as a backbone of DNA molecule is changed into a phosphorothioate bond during the synthesis of CpG ODN, immunoactivity of the CpG ODN is amplified about 10 to 100-folds (Sester et al., J. Immunol., 2000, 165, 4165-4173). However, this method has the problems of bringing about cytotoxic effects to immune cells as well as changes in immunoactivity of the CpG due to a modification in backbone. Therefore, it is unclear whether this method would be optimal to structural modification of CpG ODNs.
The CpG ODN shows species-specificity and there has been no report that the CpG ODN shows a high immunoactivity in humans comparable to that it has shown in experimental animals. Further, since the action mechanism of CpG ODN is still unknown, it is hard to develop potent immunotherapeutic CpG ODN to target human immune cells. Consequently, there is very rare CpG ODN for a clinical trial. These limitations necessitate the development of CpG ODN either with superior immune-stimulating activity or lower side effects comparing to the existent CpG ODN.
The present inventors devised the simple method to solve the above problems. That is, a modified CpG ODN was prepared by coupling a consecutive sequence of deoxyribothymine (dT) to the 3′-terminus of CpG ODN, thus improving immunoactivity of splenocytes, macrophages and peripheral mononuclear cells, and therefore, can be effectively used as a vaccine adjuvant for preventing and treating hepatitis B or an anti-cancer agent.

Modified CpG oligodeoxynucleotide with improved immunoregulatory function


The invention provides compositions and methods that permit a hybrid nucleic acid molecule to enter a cell and when specifically activated within the cell, the molecule anneals to endogenous cellular RNA and permits the isolation of the RNA.

Single cells are the building blocks upon which complex tissue and systems are developed. It is believed that a detailed molecular fingerprint of individual cells in the context of the other cells within the system would provide a blueprint for manipulation of the system in an effort to produce predictable outcomes. For example assessment of individual hippocampal neurons in context of the various interacting cells from normal and Alzheimer's brain promises to highlight systemic constraints and influences on cell functioning in the disease state.
It has been possible to isolate and analyze the mRNA complement from individual cells for several years, in particular with regard to dispersed cells in culture. This information is intriguing but lacks the "systemic" regulation component associated with the cell being in intact live tissue. The isolation of single cells from in vivo is compromised by the complex structure of intact tissues with many types of cells tightly intermingled with one another. A number of techniques, including in situ transcription, automated fluorescent cell sorting (FACS-array) and laser capture microdissection (LCM), have to date attempted to generate gene expression information from single cells or populations of cell in situ. However, their use is limited the investigation of RNA in vivo in combination with other in vivo techniques, such as live-imaging or electrophysiology, a combination that would provide reforming and novel insights into in vivo functioning.
There is a need in the art for a method to quantify gene expression in individual live cells from an intact functioning tissue or organism. The present invention satisfies this need.

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania


A hydrodynamic device for removing sediment and other materials from storm water runoff is provided. An exemplary embodiment of this device includes: a first substantially cylindrical chamber a second substantially cylindrical chamber concentrically disposed within the upper portion of the first chamber, a first baffle concentrically disposed within the second chamber, and a second baffle disposed within the lower portion of the first chamber. A water inlet is attached to or formed integrally with the second chamber; a water outlet is attached to or formed integrally with the first chamber; and an optional bypass outlet is attached to or formed integrally with the first chamber.

This invention relates in general to water treatment devices, and in particular to a hydrodynamic separator for removing pollutants from storm water runoff.
Storm water runoff from the roofs of buildings, bridges, highways, parking lots, and other urban areas often contains pollutants such as heavy metals, oil, grease, and a variety of suspended solids including sediment, sand, gravel, and the like. When such pollutants enter a receiving body of water such as a river, stream, lake, or pond, numerous adverse environmental effects are likely. Thus, it is desirable to remove as many of these pollutants as possible before the pollutants enter a receiving body of water.
While various systems for treating runoff are known, these devices are often inappropriately sized, complex, expensive, difficult to configure and, maintain, experience high water head loss, require power, and/or may not adequately remove both solid and floatable pollutants prior to discharging into a receiving body of water. Thus, there is a need for a space saving, efficient, easy to manufacture storm water treatment device that may be easily installed and maintained, and that requires little or no electrical power for its operation.


A process for the treatment of a light naphtha feedstock that comprises normal paraffins and iso-paraffins may include separating the feedstock into a first iso-paraffin stream and a normal paraffin stream. The separating may be performed with 5A molecular sieves, a pressure of about 1-3 bars, and a temperature of 100-260° C. A product stream may be provided by subjecting the normal paraffin stream to at least one of steam cracking, isomerizing, and aromatizing.

Light naphtha, which is generally defined as a C5-C6 hydrocarbon feedstock, originates from routine refinery processes. Light naphtha is generally used as a feed for steam crackers for light olefin production, and as a blending stock for gasoline production. However, light naphtha is generally an undesirable gasoline blending component because of its low octane number and high vapor pressure. Thus, the transformation of light naphtha into value-added gasoline blending components is an ongoing challenge.
The transformation of light naphtha is rendered difficult by the inert nature of carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds, which require elevated temperatures for processing, providing unfavorable thermodynamics, low selectivity and yields, and high cost. As refiners process lighter feeds, such as shale oil and condensates, the generation of light naphtha is increasing. Targets include the production of isoalkanes, olefins, and/or aromatics from light naphtha. These components generally provide a higher octane number and, thus, are more useful additives for gasoline compositions
To date, options for processing light naphtha have been limited. Typical processes are depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B, which directly subject a light naphtha feedstock 10 to either steam cracking 110 (FIG. 1A) or isomerization 120 (FIG. 1B). The steam cracking 110 generates a cracked product stream 12 that mainly comprises C2-4 olefins and methane, with smaller quantities of other products. The isomerization 120, in contrast, results in an isomerized product stream 14 that consists essentially of iso-paraffins (or "isomerate"), resulting in an increase in the research octane number (RON).

Integrated processes to produce gasoline blending components from light naphtha


A boat support stands. A pair of aligned and mutually opposed beds is pivotally mounted by risers atop a base plate. A cable and spring urge the beds to move together.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of supports and more specifically, supports for holding and storing a boat.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of lifts and supports exist for holding and storing a boat. For example, a typical lift includes a pair of longitudinally extending members upon which the boat nay be floated onto with the members then being liftable to position the boat above the water. For long term storage, boats may be lifted with a crane or other device and then set upon a permanently positioned storage stand. Some stands have immovable members to receive the hull of the boat; however, such stands are less desirable since the configuration or shape of each boat hull is different between boat manufacturers. Thus, the elongated members that support the boat upon the stand are movably mounted to conform and nestingly receive and hold the boat.
An example of a boat support stand is shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,447 that has a pair of mutually opposed and pivotally mounted beds. When the boat is set upon one of the beds, the remaining bed will be forced downwardly through a cam and slot combination that connects the inner opposed ends of the two aligned beds thereby conforming the bed to the shape of the boat hull. Large springs return each bed to the horizontal position when the boat is removed thereby horizontally aligning the beds to receive the next boat placed on the stand.
Marinas and other boat storage facilities require a large number of boat storage stands since a separate stand must be used and reserved for each boat As a result, it is desirable to provide a relatively low cost but well constructed boat stand that does not require maintenance such as might be required from inner-connecting and sliding components. Disclosed herein is such a boat storage stand. Our boat store stand includes a single mechanism that not only forces one bed to the downward position when the remaining bed is forced downwardly by the boat hull but also urges both beds to the horizontal position once the boat is removed therefrom.


A method for aligning a disk with an imprinting surface is described. In one embodiment, the method includes passively aligning an imprinting surface with the disk and imprinting the disk with the imprinting surface. A first air-bearing mandrel freely guides a first centerline of the disk into coincident alignment with a second centerline of the imprinting surface.

A disk drive system typically consists of one or more magnetic recording disks and control mechanisms for storing data within approximately circular tracks on a disk. A disk is composed of a substrate and one or more layers deposited on the substrate. In most systems, an aluminum substrate is used. However, alternative substrate materials such as glass have various performance benefits such that it may be desirable to use a glass substrate.
To produce a disk substrate from a blank sheet of metal-based material such as aluminum or aluminum magnesium, the sheet may be stamped to generate a disk substrate having an inner diameter (ID) and an outer diameter (OD). After stamping the ID and OD, the disk-shaped substrate may be heat treated to remove stresses and then polished. The disk may then be coated with a polymer overcoat.
The trend in the design of magnetic hard disk drives is to increase the recording density of a disk drive system. Recording density is a measure of the amount of data that may be stored in a given area of disk. One method for increasing recording densities is to pattern the surface of the disk to form discrete tracks, referred to as discrete track recording (DTR). DTR disks typically have a series of concentric raised zones (a.k.a., lands, elevations, etc.) storing data and recessed zones (a.k.a., troughs, valleys, grooves, etc.) that may store servo information. The recessed zones separate the raised zones to inhibit or prevent the unintended storage of data in the raised zones.
One method of producing DTR magnetic recoding disks is through the use of a pre-embossed rigid forming tool (a.k.a., stamper, embosser, etc.). An inverse of the surface pattern is generated on the stamper, which is directly imprinted on the surface(s) of a disk substrate. Thin film magnetic recording layers are then sputtered over the patterned surface of the substrate to produce the DTR media having a continuous magnetic layer extending over both the raised zones and the recessed zones. To imprint tracks on a data storage disk substrate, an imprinting template may be attached to a flexible support, whose curvature can be altered by applying hydrostatic pressure. By suitably varying the pressure, the imprinting surface can be brought into contact with the disk substrate.
An imprinted disk may not be viable if the imprinting surface is not concentrically aligned with the disk substrate. Imprinted tracks that have excessive offset from a centerline of the disk substrate may not operate properly when read by a disk drive head. This requirement is particularly important in disks used in hard disk drives in which tracks may need to be imprinted on both sides. As such, imprinting a disk requires an alignment step, in which a centerline of the disk is aligned with a centerline of the imprinting surface, before the disk substrate is actually imprinted.
Current alignment methods typically require the use of high precision actuators or robotics. For example, the high precision actuators would first determine a centerline for the disk substrate and align it with a centerline of the imprinting surface. The use of such high precision actuators and robotics are expensive, with high maintenance costs, inconsistent accuracy and reliability, and slow cycle times. The high precision actuators and robotics are also significant pieces of machinery, requiring large amounts of floor space.

Disk alignment apparatus and method for patterned media production


When a power supply switch is fed with power from a DC power supply and closed, a power supply unit starts power feeding to an opening and closing command generation unit and continues the power feeding by a self-hold command signal from the opening and closing command generation unit. A reverse connection protective element is a field-effect transistor connected in series to the power supply switch and driven to conduct current in an energization direction of an internal parasitic diode when the power supply is connected in proper polarity. Even when a supply fault abnormality is occurring due to fault contact between a positive-side wire of an in-vehicle electrical load connected to the reverse connection protective element and a positive-electrode wire of the DC power supply, the self-hold command signal is cancelled by determining that the power supply switch is opened while the reverse connection protective element is opened.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an in-vehicle electronic control unit that starts an operation when a manual power supply switch, which, for example, an ignition switch, is closed, and more particularly, to improvements of a power feeding control method in power feeding control circuitry in which a power supply switch forms a power feeding circuit for a part of in-vehicle electrical loads.
2. Description of the Background Art
In order to prevent a load current from flowing when a power supply is connected in reversed polarity by error, a technique put in wide practical use is to connect a reverse connection protective diode in series to an electrical load which is fed with power from a DC power supply. A voltage drop and a temperature rise caused by a reverse connection protective element during a normal operation are suppressed by employing a field-effect transistor as the reverse connection protective element in a broad range of applications.
The field-effect transistor referred to herein can be either a P-channel type or an N-channel type. In either case, when the power supply is in proper polarity, the field-effect transistor is driven to close so that a current flows in a direction same as an energization direction of an internal parasitic diode.
For example, according to FIG. 1 of Patent Literature 1 specified below under the title of "protective apparatus of electronic device", a protective apparatus 1 of an electronic device operating on a DC power supply is provided with a P-channel FET 3 for protection against reverse connection of the power supply. A drain of the P-channel FET 3 is connected to a power-supply terminal 2 on a positive electrode side, a source is connected to a power-supply input terminal of an electronic device 4, and a gate is connected to a grounding line.
By switching the P-channel FET 3 to an OFF state when the power supply is connected in reversed polarity and by making the ground common between a circuit 4a of the electronic device 4 and the power supply, a configuration that not only protects the circuit when the power supply is connected in reversed polarity, but is also resistant to noise can be achieved.
Regarding the terminals 2 and 2′ receiving a supply of power from the unillustrated DC power supply in the protective apparatus 1, the terminal 2 is a power-supply terminal on the positive electrode side and the terminal 2′ is an earth (or GND (ground)) terminal. For example, in the case of a device for vehicle, a voltage from the battery is supplied to the device when an unillustrated ignition switch is switched ON.
According to FIG. 4 of Patent Literature 2 specified below under the title of "power supply reverse connection protective circuit", an ECU 45 operating on power of a battery 3 is configured as follows. That is, an N-channel FET 21 is provided on a power supply wire 15 linking a power supply terminal 5 connected to a plus terminal of the battery 3 and a control circuit 13 to be fed with power in such a manner that an anode of its parasitic diode D1 is on the side of the power supply terminal 5. Further, an N-channel FET 22 is provided downstream of the FET 21 in such a manner that a cathode of its parasitic diode D2 is on the side of the FET 21. When an ignition key switch 9 is switched ON while the battery 3 is connected in proper polarity, the FETs 21 and 22 are switched ON by charge pump circuits 43 and 47, respectively, to which operating power is supplied from the drain side of the FET 21. Power of the battery 3 is thus supplied to the control circuit 13. Also, when the battery 3 is connected in reversed polarity, the FETs 21 and 22 are switched OFF. A reverse current is thus prevented by the parasitic diode D1.
The control circuit 13 starts an operation upon receipt of power from the battery 3 when the FET 22 is switched ON. Once the control circuit 13 starts an operation, the control circuit 13 outputs a drive signal Sd to keep the FETs 21 and 22 switched ON even when the ignition key switch 9 is switched OFF. Although it is not shown in the drawing, the control circuit 13 monitors a voltage at a signal input terminal 11 to detect ON and OFF states of the ignition key switch 9. The control circuit 13 detects that the ignition key switch 9 is switched OFF on the basis of a voltage at the signal input terminal 11. Further, when the conditions to stop the operation are satisfied later by finishing pre-processing to stop the operation, such as data saving, the control circuit 13 stops outputting the drive signal Sd.

In-vehicle electronic control unit and power feeding control method of the same


A printing apparatus, a feeding apparatus, and a feeding control method supply an object accurately to a target position by servo control even though the load abruptly changes. In this printing apparatus, the conveyance position and conveyance speed of a printing medium are detected by using an encoder. The conveyance target position of the printing medium is generated at a predetermined period, and corrected. A PWM signal is generated on the basis of the generated or corrected conveyance target position, and the conveyance position and conveyance speed of the printing medium which are detected and fed back. A DC motor is servo-controlled by the PWM signal. At this time, the generated or corrected conveyance target position is compared with the detected conveyance position of the printing medium. Control is made to perform correction in accordance with the comparison result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, feeding apparatus, and feeding control method. Particularly, the present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a feeding control method which supply a printing medium such as a printing paper sheet and print on the printing medium by causing a printhead to discharge ink.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many of recent printing apparatuses employ a DC motor serving as a driving source and servo control that allows high-speed driving and accurate position control by feeding back position detection information obtained by an encoder.
Especially, control using a DC motor enables high-speed rotation without step out, unlike control using a pulse motor. Motor position information can be detected accurately by using an encoder signal. Since the detection information is fed back to the motor control rule, accurate speed control and positioning with respect to a target position can be performed.
For example, Japanese Patent No. 3352612 discloses such a technique.
In this prior art, a target position that progressively increases to a final target position is generated in every servo period. However, if the load on the mechanism of a printing apparatus largely varies during servo control, the speed also largely varies.
FIG. 10 is a graph showing an example of time variations in the target position and detected position.
As shown in FIG. 10, a target position that increases by ΔP in every servo period (ΔT) is given. When the load on the mechanism of the printing apparatus increases at time T=T1, the PWM output signal of servo control continuously takes an upper limit value (PWM_MAX). In this case, the detected position (actual position) is unable to track the target position and greatly deviates from the target position. The load is eliminated at time T=T2. Then, the detected speed becomes much higher than the target speed to recover the position deviation. When the detected speed is high, deceleration is started by servo control to ensure a speed close to the target speed.
FIG. 11 is a graph showing comparison between a target position profile and a detected position profile and comparison between a target speed profile and a detected speed profile. Times T=T1 and T=T2 indicate the time when the load on the mechanism starts increasing and the time when the heavy load is eliminated, respectively, as in FIG. 10.
As shown in FIG. 11, at time T=T2, the heavy load is eliminated, and the detected speed increases to recover the delay in position detection. Even when deceleration starts abruptly, the correct final target position cannot be obtained.

Printing apparatus, feeding apparatus, and feeding control method


A position control system for a substrate support of a lithographic apparatus includes a position measurement system configured to determine a position of a sensor or sensor target on the substrate support, a controller configured to provide a control signal based on a desired position of a target portion of the substrate and the determined position, and one or more actuators configured to act on the substrate support. The position control system includes a stiffness compensation model of the substrate support, the stiffness compensation model including a relation between a difference in a change in position of the target portion and a change in position of the sensor or sensor target as a result of a force exerted on the substrate support. The position control system is configured to substantially correct at least during projection of a patterned radiation beam on the target portion, the position of the target portion using the stiffness compensation model.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lithographic apparatus and a method for manufacturing a device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A lithographic apparatus is a machine that applies a desired pattern onto a substrate, usually onto a target portion of the substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In such a case, a patterning device, which is alternatively referred to as a mask or a reticle, may be used to generate a circuit pattern to be formed on an individual layer of the IC. This pattern can be transferred onto a target portion (e.g. including part of, one, or several dies) on a substrate (e.g. a silicon wafer). Transfer of the pattern is typically via imaging onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) provided on the substrate. In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively patterned. Conventional lithographic apparatus include so-called steppers, in which each target portion is irradiated by exposing an entire pattern onto the target portion at once, and so-called scanners, in which each target portion is irradiated by scanning the pattern through a radiation beam in a given direction (the "scanning"-direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate parallel or anti-parallel to this direction. It is also possible to transfer the pattern from the patterning device to the substrate by imprinting the pattern onto the substrate.
The known lithographic apparatus includes a position control system to control the position of the substrate support. This position control system includes a position measurement system which is configured to measure a number of sensor or sensor target positions of the substrate support.
During use of the lithographic apparatus forces will be exerted on the substrate support. For instance, during the exposure phase, i.e. during projection of the patterned beam on a target portion of the substrate level, level actuations may be performed to position the upper surface of the substrate in a correct orientation with respect to the lens column or projection system. As the stiffness of the substrate support is limited, the level actuations may cause temporary deformations of the substrate support. Such deformations may lead to focus errors and/or offset in overlay.
A known embodiment of the lithographic apparatus includes a liquid confinement system which provides a liquid between the substrate and a final element of the projection system to obtain more suitable breaking indices between these elements in order to improve the product quality. Such liquid confinement system or the liquid itself may also during the exposure phase exert forces on the substrate and therewith on the substrate support. These external forces exerted by the liquid confinement system may also result to temporary deformations in the substrate support and can therefore result in focus errors and/or offset in overlay.
To reduce the risk on deformations of the substrate table and as a consequence focus errors or overlay offset, it has been proposed to increase the stiffness of the substrate support. However, the increasing demand on accuracy and speed of the positioning of the substrate support, the possibilities to increase the stiffness of the substrate support without encountering further problems, for instance with respect to weight may have come to their limits.

Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method


A series of plated through hole (PTH) vias are interconnected by traces that alternate between a top surface and a bottom surface of a dielectric board. The PTH vias in the series can be positioned to create a collinear inductive filter, a coil-type inductive filter, or a transformer. Multiple, electrically isolated series of interconnected PTH vias can be used as a multi-phase inductive filter in one embodiment. In another embodiment, multiple series of interconnected PTH vias are electrically connected by a linking portion of conductive material, resulting in a low-resistance inductive filter. Ferromagnetic material patterns can be embedded in the dielectric board to enhance the inductive characteristics of the interconnected via structures. In one embodiment, a closed-end pattern is provided with two series of interconnected vias coiling around the pattern, resulting in an embedded transformer structure. A method of producing an interconnected series of PTH vias includes providing a dielectric board having a series of holes. In some embodiments, the board includes an embedded ferromagnetic material pattern. The holes and the top and bottom surface of the dielectric board have a conductive material thereupon. Portions of the conductive material are selectively removed, resulting in the embedded inductive filter and/or transformer structure.

A requirement of most electronic systems is a regulated source of direct current (DC) voltage. Whether the DC power originates with a battery or has been converted from alternating current (AC) power, a voltage regulator circuit is usually required to provide a steady DC voltage.
FIG. 1 illustrates a simple power supply circuit 100 that includes a voltage regulator. In power supply circuit 100, the voltage provided by AC voltage source 110 is increased or decreased by transformer 112 to a voltage having a magnitude that is required by the load. The transformed voltage passes through rectifier 114, which is a set of diodes in FIG. 1. The voltage is then filtered by capacitive filter 116. The resulting voltage is regulated by voltage regulator 118, which can be a discrete component circuit or an integrated circuit voltage regulator. Either way, the output voltage is filtered through inductive filter 120. The filtered voltage is then supplied to load 122, which could be, for example, an integrated circuit such as a microprocessor.
To supply voltage to an integrated circuit, transformer 112, rectifier 114, capacitive filter 116, and voltage regulator 118 are typically consolidated into a voltage regulator module (VRM), which is a discrete component that is mounted on a printed circuit (PC) board. Inductive filter 120 typically is a separate component, due to the relatively large size of the inductor.
FIG. 2 illustrates a VRM 202 and an inductive filter 204 located on a PC board 206 of a computer system in accordance with the prior art. To supply power to an integrated circuit, electrical current first travels from the VRM 202 through the inductive filter 204. The current then travels through traces (not shown) in PC board 206, and up through socket 208 to pins 210 of an integrated circuit (IC) package 212 The current continues along traces (not shown) in IC package 212 to connections 214. Connections 214 make electrical contact with pads (not shown) on the integrated circuit 216.
The scale and/or location of pins 210 on an IC package 212 may be different from the scale and/or location of pin holes on the socket 208. Thus, in some systems, an interposer (not shown) exists between the IC package 212 and the socket 208. The interposer essentially is a small printed circuit board that provides a dimensional interface between the IC package pins 210 and the pin holes of the socket 208. When an interposer is present, the supplied current must also travel through the interposer to reach the integrated circuit.
A voltage drop occurs between VRM 202 and integrated circuit 216, due to losses along the path between VRM 202 and integrated circuit 216. All other things being equal, the farther the distance between VRM 202 and integrated circuit 216, the larger the voltage drop. At relatively low voltages, this voltage drop is a tolerable effect that is compensated for by providing a VRM that supplies a higher voltage than is actually needed by the integrated circuit. A negative side effect of this strategy, however, is that the VRM may need to be larger than necessary, and power is inefficiently consumed.
Technological advancements in integrated circuit technologies are driving frequency requirements higher, and driving voltages and voltage margins lower. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the inefficient power consumption caused by the voltage drop between the VRM and the integrated circuit. This reduction in voltage drop can be achieved by moving the VRM and inductive filter as close as possible to the integrated circuit. However, the proximity of the VRM and inductive filter to the integrated circuit is limited by the fact that the VRM and inductive filter must be located on the PC board in prior art systems.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a circuit configuration enabling a VRM and inductive filter to be placed closer to the integrated circuit than is possible in prior art systems.

Inductive filters and methods of fabrication thereof


The present invention discloses a control method for cross-domain call and connection of ASON. Firstly, a multi-layer network structure is constructed; a network element in parent domain corresponds to a child domain and can communicate with the network elements in the child domain; after the input NCCdi of the bottom-layer domain Ddi receives a cross-domain call processing request from the CCCc1 at the calling side, it sends the request up to the input NCCfi of the parent domain Dft; the NCCfi transmits a call coordination to the output NCCfo, and NCCfo sends a call indication to the CCCc2 at the called side through the output NCCdo corresponding to the child domain Ddo; NCCdo transfers a call confirmed to NCCfi via NCCfo, and NCCfi transmits a connection processing request to CCfi; CCfi triggers a local connection processing, and when the parent domain CCf performs SNC processing during this process, it needs to implement the sub-connection processing of the corresponding child domain and return the SNC Confirmed; CCfi returns the Connection Confirmed to NCCfi, and then to CCCc1 via NCCdi. The present invention solves the control problem that the present standards and techniques can not realize the cross-domain call and connection of ASON.

Optical networks, such as OTN (Optical Transmission Network), WDM (Wavelength-Division Multiplexing), SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) or SONET (Synchronous Optical Network), have been widely applied in telecommunication field.
ASON (Automatic Switched Optical Network) is a research hotspot in optical network field in recent years. The definition of ASON provided by ITU-TG8080 protocol implements the function of ASON by setting a specific control plane (CP). The implementation framework of distributed call and connection in ASON is specified in ITU-TG.7713 to offer an implementing criterion for automatic establishment, modification and deletion of call and connection.
A series of standards such as ITU-TG8080 set forth the concept of domain. Generally, equipments from different manufacturers construct different ASONs, namely different domains. The domains interconnect with each other via exterior network interface (called E-NNI in ITU-T standards). The users connect with these domains via the user network interface (called UNI in ITU-T standards). From the logic viewpoint, each ASON device is equipped with control members having different functions, including connection controller responsible for the control of connection and call controller responsible for the implementation of call, wherein, the call controller includes the call controller of the device at the calling side or at the called side (called CCC in ITU-T) and the call controller at the network side of ASON (called NCC in ITU-T standards).
As shown in FIG. 1, there are four interconnected ASON domains (Domain 1˜4), the network elements on the boundary of the domains are responsible for the call, i.e. implementing NCC. All network elements in the domain (including those on boundary) are responsible for connection establishment, i.e. implementing CC. For brief description, CC responsible for the connection processing will be illustrated according to the need of description in the following demonstration.
Following the gradual commercialization of ASON in recent years, the need for interconnection of different ASONs is more and more urgent. However, ITU-T and other standard organizations have not developed relative interconnection standard to complete the cross-domain call and connection establishment. As shown by the dashed line in the accompanying FIG. 1, there is no relative standards and techniques to solve the problem of how to implement the call and connection between the user equipment to which CCC1a belongs and the user equipment to which CCC4b belongs via their own respective ASON domain.

Control method for the cross-domain call and the connection of ASON


The present disclosure relates to a balanced armature receiver diaphragm including a paddle (202) flexibly coupled to a frame (204) and spaced apart therefrom by a gap (206). The paddle comprises a material having a specific modulus kg/m3) in at least one direction and density selected to increase stiffness and reduce mass. In one implementation, at least the paddle includes a carbon fiber material. The resulting paddle has improved acoustic performance including improved frequency response and less resonance in the audio band, among other benefits.

Balanced armature receivers (also referred to herein as "receivers") capable of producing an acoustic output signal in response to an electrical input signal are known generally. Receivers typically include a coil disposed about an armature at least a portion of which is movable between permanent magnets retained by a yoke in response to an electrical input signal applied to the coil. These and other components are typically disposed within a housing. The movable portion of the armature is linked to a movable portion of a diaphragm that separates the housing into front and back volumes. Movement of the diaphragm creates an acoustic output signal at an output port of the housing. Such receivers are commonly used in hearing aids, wired and wireless earphones, some of which are known as True Wireless Stereo (TWS) devices, among others. Consumers increasingly expect hearing devices to faithfully reproduce source audio. However current receiver diaphragms are susceptible to bending and resonances that can reduce output and provide less than optimal acoustic performance.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity. It will be appreciated further that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

Balanced armature receiver and diaphragms therefor


There is disclosed a radio calling method of a portable radiophone comprising the steps of checking the power supply to determine whether the voltage of the power supply is below the level necessary to transmit signals, beeping and displaying "Only Receive" on the LCD when the voltage is below the level, connecting the power supply to the receiver, setting a given parameter "N" to I, analyzing a received paging signal to determine whether the calling number is an identified number, beeping and displaying "N Called" on the LCD if the calling number proves the identified number, making an increment of "N", checking whether the power supply has been restored, returning the procedure to the step of analyzing a received paging signal if the power supply is not restored or the calling number does not prove the identified number, and clearing the value of the parameter "N" when the power supply is restored.

The present invention concerns a method of using a portable radiophone as a radio calling device by employing the receiving function thereof, particularly when the battery for operating the radiophone is too depleted to transmit signals.
Generally, if the battery for operating the portable radiophone is too depleted to transmit signals, the radiophone indicates that the battery should be replaced. If the battery is not replaced, the radiophone can not transmit and thus becomes completely useless.

Radio calling method of a portable radio phone providing power conservation functions


Systems and methods for managing input and output error of a machine learning (ML) model in a database system are presented herein. A set of test queries is executed on a first version of a database system to generate first test data, wherein the first version of the system comprises a ML model to generate an output corresponding to a function of the database system. An error model is trained based on the first test data and second test data generated based on a previous version of the system. The error model determines an error associated with the ML model between the first and previous versions of the system. The first version of the system is deployed with the error model, which corrects an output or an input of the ML model until sufficient data has been produced by the error model to retrain the ML model.

Databases are widely used for data storage and access in computing applications. Databases may include one or more tables that include or reference data that can be read, modified, or deleted using queries. Databases can store small or extremely large sets of data within tables. A database system comprising a database (e.g., storage resources) may also comprise computing resources that allow the stored data to be queried by various users in an organization or even be used to service public users, such as via a website or an application program interface (API). Both computing and storage resources, as well as their underlying architecture, can play a large role in achieving desirable database performance.
Database systems are increasingly integrating ML models to perform functions such as e.g., query optimization, where the database system finds the best physical execution path for a query. Various approaches to the use of ML in database systems exist, including reinforcement learning, deep learning, dimensional reduction, and topic modeling, among others.

Handling system-characteristics drift in machine learning applications


Transistors fabricated on SSOI (Strained Silicon On Insulator) substrate, which comprises a strained silicon layer disposed directly on an insulator layer, have enhanced device performance due to the strain-induced band modification of the strained silicon device channel and the limited silicon volume because of the insulator layer. The present invention discloses SSOI substrate fabrication processes comprising various novel approaches. One is the use of a thin relaxed SiGe layer as the strain-induced seed layer to facilitate integration and reduce processing cost. Another is the formation of split implant microcracks deep in the silicon substrate to reduce the number of threading dislocations reaching the strained silicon layer. And lastly is a two step annealing/thinning process for the strained silicon/SiGe multilayer film transfer without blister or flaking formation.

Transistors fabricated on Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) substrates have significant advantages, such as higher speed, lower power and higher density, over transistors fabricated on bulk silicon wafer substrates. A SOI substrate typically consists of a thin surface layer of single crystal silicon formed on an insulator layer formed on a bulk silicon wafer. The thin surface silicon layer becomes the silicon channel of the transistor, and the insulator layer, usually silicon dioxide, is commonly referred to as the "buried oxide", or BOX.
SOI wafers improve the transistor performance by reducing the operating silicon volume and by isolating the transistors. The thin surface silicon layer limits the volume of silicon which needs to be charged to switch the transistor on and off, and therefore reduces parasitic capacitance of the transistor, and increases the switching speed. The insulator layer isolates the transistor from its neighbors, and therefore reduces the leakage current and allows the transistor to operate at lower supply voltages, thus the transistors may be smaller and more densely packed.
SOI substrates are typically fabricated by oxygen implantation into a single crystal silicon wafer. Recently, a SOI wafer bonding method was introduced in which a wafer having a single crystal silicon surface was tightly joined with a wafer having an insulator surface. The composite substrate is then polished, or etched, until a single crystal silicon thin film remains on the insulating film.
The SOI wafer bonding method provides a new class of SOI substrates, called SSOI (Strained Silicon-On-Insulator) substrates, where the single crystal silicon layer disposed on the insulator substrate is under strain. Transistor devices fabricated on a strained single crystal silicon substrate have been experimentally demonstrated to have enhanced device performance compared to devices fabricated on unstrained silicon substrates. The potential performance improvements are due to the electron and hole mobility enhancements as a result of the introduction of strain-induced band modification of the device channel, resulting in increased device drive current and transconductance, high circuit speed, low operation voltage and low power consumption.
The strained silicon layer is the result of stress imposed on a silicon layer deposited on a seed layer, whose lattice constant is different from that of silicon. For larger/smaller seed layer lattice constants, the silicon layer attempts to extend/contract itself to match the seed layer lattice constant, and experiences biaxial tensile/compressive stress, forming a tensile/compressive strained silicon layer. For example, the lattice constant of germanium is about 4.2 percent greater than that of silicon, and the lattice constant of a silicon-germanium alloy is linear with respect to its germanium concentration. As a result, the lattice constant of a SiGe alloy containing 50% germanium is about 1.02 times greater than the lattice constant of silicon. By depositing an epitaxial silicon layer on a relaxed silicon germanium (SiGe) layer, the epitaxial silicon layer is under tensile strain, and becomes a single crystal strained silicon layer, suitable for transistor device strained channel.
Similar to the SOI bonding technique, the fabrication of SSOI substrate in general comprises the following steps:    1. Preparation of thin strained silicon layer on a silicon substrate by depositing a strain-induced seed layer such as SiGe, followed by a strained silicon layer;    2. splitting ion implantation, usually some form of hydrogen, into the silicon substrate below the strained silicon layer to generate a region of subsurface microcracks;    3. substrate bonding of the silicon substrate to an insulator substrate to create a composite substrate;    4. thermal annealing to grow the subsurface microcracks, which separate the strained silicon layer portion along the hydrogen implantation region from the silicon substrate; and    5. surface polishing of the SSOI substrate to achieve a strained silicon layer smooth surface on the insulator substrate.
A major drawback of prior art SSOI processes is the potential damage to the strained silicon layer because of the proximity of the cleave plane to the strained silicon layer.
The hydrogen splitting implantation dose of about 4×1016 should generate sufficient defects and dislocations in the silicon substrate. Although these defects and dislocations are generally located in the silicon substrate, some defects and dislocations may propagate into the strained silicon layer. For plasma immersion ion implantation process, which is an alternative for low cost hydrogen implantation, the damage zone is much broader and thus the strained silicon is more affected. The extension of defects and dislocations may extend into the matrix material, reaching the strained silicon layer in the absence of any interface or boundary.
Also, in the prior art methods to produce a strained silicon layer, conventional practice has been to grow a uniform, or graded, SiGe layer to a few microns to generate sufficient stress wherein misfit dislocations start to form through the SiGe layer to relieve the stress and relax the SiGe layer. However, there are several disadvantages to the growth of a thick SiGe layer. First, with a few micrometer thick SiGe layer, integration is not easy and is not cost effective. Second, the high defect density in a thick SiGe layer, about to 104 cm−2 to 107 cm−2, may significantly affect the device performance. More importantly, the thickness of this SiGe layer cannot be easily reduced because of the need for a high degree of relaxation for strained silicon applications.
Other disadvantage is the high stress involved in prior art SSOI fabrication processes, including the requirement of a long, low-temperature anneal to enhance the bonding strength, high temperature anneal for splitting the silicon layer, and local non-uniform heating. The formation of blisters and craters, due to high stress relief, in the surface of a silicon wafer implanted with hydrogen ions after annealing is well-known and remains one of the major issues in SSOI fabrication processes. One of the methods to prevent stress built up is to pattern the strained silicon layer, for example, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,767,802, granted Jul. 27, 2004, to Maa et al., for Methods of making relaxed silicon-germanium on insulator via layer transfer, and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0070115 of Maa et al., published Mar. 31, 2005, for Method of making relaxed silicon-germanium on insulator via layer transfer with stress reduction, which are owned by the owner of this Application, and which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Strained silicon on insulator from film transfer and relaxation by hydrogen implantation


The methods and devices according to the invention supplement messages, which are to be exchanged between systems based on different protocol versions and which are provided with an information element of a second type, with an information element of a first type, and vice versa. As a result, greater design freedom in the development of subsequent compatible protocol versions, as well as subsequent non-compatible protocol versions, is obtained. Further, systems based on non-compatible protocol versions can even communicate directly with any type of receiving system. Furthermore, in this arrangement the drawback of needing to know, in advance, the protocol version on which the receiving system is based, does not apply.

The invention relates to a method for exchanging, between systems, a message which comprises at least one information element.
Such a method is generally known. During a certain transition time, one system (such as, for example, a telephone set) is based, for example, on a first (lower, old-fashioned) protocol version, and another system (such as, for example, a telephone exchange) is based, for example, on a second (higher, modern) protocol version. If all the protocol procedures of the first (lower) protocol version are incorporated in the second (higher) protocol version, a message which is based on the first (lower) protocol version and comprises an information element of a first type, is, as a result, handled in an identical manner by both systems, while a message which is based on the second (higher) protocol version and comprises an information element of a second type, in contrast is ignored by a system based on the first (lower) protocol version and is handled by a system based on the second (higher) protocol version.
This known method has the drawback, inter alia, that as a result of this method to be applied, the development of subsequent protocol versions can take place only with limited design freedom, since a message based on a lower protocol version should be handled in an identical manner by systems based on lower and higher protocol versions. Moreover, according to the known method, messages based on a higher protocol version are exchanged which have no significance whatsoever to a system based on a lower protocol version. Further, a system based on said subsequent protocol version has fewer options at its disposal than a system which would have been developed with complete design freedom, since a message to be dispatched from a system based on said subsequent protocol version to a system based on a lower protocol version should be based on the lower protocol version to permit communication between the two systems.

Methods and apparatus for exchanging messages between systems having partially incompatible communication


Technologies are described herein for cueing a pilot to flight deck controls based on steps in an electronic checklist (ECL). In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for cueing flight deck controls based on steps in an ECL includes displaying the ECL on an aircraft display that includes one or more steps involving controls on the flight deck. A step from the ECL is highlighted on the aircraft display and an indication indicating that the step has been completed is received. Upon receiving the indication, a next step in the ECL is highlighted. In various embodiments, flight deck visual indicators associated with the controls may be activated corresponding to steps in the ECL.

In modern aircraft, pilots may utilize an electronic checklist (ECL) that is displayed on a multi-function display (MFD). Many control actions required by the ECL have to be performed by the pilot using controls throughout the flight deck. Although the ECL mentions the control by name, the pilot needs to physically engage the control to perform the step listed in the ECL.
Currently, for the pilot to perform the step listed in the ECL, the pilot needs to read the name of the control on the ECL, find the control on the flight deck, and move the particular control to the required position. However, it is possible that, due to human error, the pilot selects the wrong control on the flight deck, and/or moves the control to the wrong position. These errors may lead to failing to solve the existing aircraft problem, and/or causing a new problem.
It is with respect to these considerations and others that the disclosure made herein is presented.