A gray scaled data generation device which generates characters and figures of a size which is a fixed number of pixels as gray scaled data, based on outline data which includes outline information which expresses outlines of strokes included in characters and figures and stroke information which shows positions of horizontal and vertical strokes, wherein the gray scaled data generation device has optimizing means for optimizing a position of a stroke, said position being in a coordinate system in which the position is expressed in terms of fine pixels given by dividing every pixel of said size in both a horizontal and a vertical direction, by moving a position of every stroke expressed in the stroke information to a position which satisfies certain criteria related to distances from a border of each pixel; outline generation means for generating outlines in said coordinate system from the outline information, for each stroke which has had its position optimized; and gray scaled data generation means for generating gray scaled data for each pixel unit based on the generated outlines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gray scaled data generation device for generating gray scaled data from outline data, such as characters and graphics.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has become increasingly important in recent years to provide information processing devices, such as personal computers, electric notebooks, portable information apparatuses, and game consoles, with a character display function for setting character size, typeface, character decoration and the like.
In general, computer displays have lower resolutions than printers This difference in resolution means that binary data of black and white cannot be shown on a display at the same high quality as is possible with a printed output. When using a display, this results in the outlines of characters and images being jagged and an inability to display very precise images on such display equipment. Here, on display equipment which is capable of displaying black, white and intermediate tones (shades of gray), the detrimental effects of low resolution can be somewhat compensated by using black, white and gray pixels, resulting in an improvement in image quality. Such gray scaled data represented by black, white or intermediate tones can be generated using a common technique known in the field of computer graphics as antialiasing.
Conventional methods generate gray scaled data by first generating a black and white binary image from outline information which includes the outline data for characters and images, said image which corresponds to a number of pixels for a desired size here being enlarged in the horizontal and vertical planes by a integer multiplier. The shade of each pixel is then set according to the number of black subpixels included in a given unit area of the generated binary image (one pixel multiplied by an integer).
FIG. 3 is a function block diagram showing the construction of a conventional gray scaled date generation device. It is composed of outline information expansion/reduction unit 201 and gray scaled data generation unit 202. Gray scaled data generation unit 202 is further made up of binary data generation unit 301 and gradation value calculation unit 302.
The following is an explanation with reference to FIGS. 3 through 11A-11C of the operation of the conventional gray scaled data generation method and device constituted as described above.
FIGS. 4 and 5A and 5B are examples of outline information and stroke position information included in outline data of a character and image. In this example, the Chinese character "" "SAN" meaning "three" is expressed by a set of lines in a 1,000 by 1,000 coordinate system (which is hereinafter referred to as 1,000 mesh). In this example, the outline information is composed of three outlines and is expressed by the coordinated of the corner points of each outline. By joining the point indicated by these coordinates, the outlines for each line constituting the character can be displayed In this example, the last coordinate point is automatically joined with the starting coordinate point. It should be noted here that such Chinese characters often feature secondary curved lines and tertiary curved lines in addition to straight lines.
The position information of the three horizontal strokes (called "horizontal stems" in the case of a character) is stored as stroke position information. In this example, a pair of Y coordinate values of a lower line and an upper line of a horizontal stroke is stored. The width of a horizontal stroke can be obtained by subtracting the Y coordinate value of the lower line from that of the upper line. In this example, the width of each horizontal stroke is 100. It is possible here for information to be stored in other ways, such as storing a Y coordinate value of the lower line and stroke width as horizontal stroke information, and adding them to the outline information as attributes of coordinates. If vertical strokes exist, vertical stroke information is stored in the same way. This stroke position information is generally referred to as hint information, which is used to keep the width of the stroke consistent after expansion/reduction.
The following is an explanation of the generation of gray scaled data composed of 10 by 10 pixels for one character (10 by 10 making a total of 100 pixels) using the outline data.
Outline information expansion/reduction unit 201 expands/reduces outline data, enlarging the number of pixels of the desired size in the horizontal and vertical planes by a integer multiplier. In this example, the desired size is 10 by 10 pixels, If the multiplier rate is set to 8 in each axes, outline information of the outline data of 1,000 mesh is reduced to that of 80 (10*8) mesh. It should be clear here that other multipliers may be used.
The reason integer multiplication is used is explained as follows. When the desired size is 10 by 10 pixels, outline information of the outline data of 1,000 mesh is reduced to 10 mesh. However, in order to generate gray scaled data, a gradation value of each pixel has to be decided. Accordingly, each pixel is divided and the proportion of the black component part of the pixel is obtained, with the gradation level then being decided according to this proportion. As one example, if each side of a pixel is divided by eight, one pixel can be divided into 64 small pixels. Here, the mesh which divides one pixel is referred to as a "submesh", a divided small pixel in referred to as a "subpixel", a border between pixels is referred to as a "pixel border", a border between subpixels is referred to as a "subpixel border", a point of intersection of subpixel borders is referred to as a "grid" (the four corners of each pixel), and a point of intersection of subpixel borders is referred to as a "subgrid" (the four corners of each subpixel). In FIG. 6, pixels are shown divided into subpixels with thick lines representing pixel borders and thin lines representing subpixel borders. In this example, one side of a pixel is divided into 8, so that each pixel is divided into 64 subpixels. Expanding/reducing outline data by subdividing pixels in a character of the desired size by 8 in both axes corresponds to transforming the outline date into a coordinate system represented by submeshes (subpixels). In this example, 1,000 mesh data is reduced to 80 submesh (10 mesh) data.
FIG. 7 shows outline information of outline data reduced to 80 submesh. If a simple reduction is carried out, the width of the three horizontal strokes in the character "" "SAN" may not be equal due to quantization error. However in this example, stroke width is kept equal due to the execution of what is called "hint processing", which uses stroke position information to keep the stroke width consistent In this example, the width of the three strokes are all 100 in 1,000 mesh, before reduction to eight in the 80 subminsh (eight subpixel width) which is determined by 100*80/1000=8. It should be noted here that hint processing is widely used to improve quality when binary data is generated from an outline font. Without hint processing, stroke width becomes inconsistent, thereby spoiling the appearance of the displayed character.
Binary data generation unit 301 generates binary image data from the outline information of the outline data which is expanded/reduced by outline information expansion/reduction unit 201. FIG. 8 shows binary data of 80 by 80 subpixels generated from outline information of the reduced outline data in FIG. 7.
Gradation value calculation unit 302 generates gray scaled image data, calculating gradation value of each pixel from the binary data generated by binary data generation unit 301. If one pixel is divided by eight in each axis, one pixel of the final gray scaled image data is represented by 64 subpixels. Gradation value calculation unit 302 calculates a gradation value for one pixel of the final gray scaled image data based on the number out of the 64 subpixels which are black, using this as the final gradation value of that pixel. In case of generating gray scaled image data of eight shades, a gradation value is calculated by dividing the number of black subpixels in one pixel by eight, corresponding to gradation values from 0-7 (if the number of black subpixel is 64, gradation value is still set at 7). Gradation value 0 represents white, gradation values 1-6 represent middle tones (the greater the value, the darker the shade), and gradation value 7 represents black. FIG. 9 shows gray scaled image data generated by binary data of 80 by 80 subpixels in FIG. 8.
In the conventional art, even if there is consistency in width of horizontal/vertical strokes in outline information of the outline data after expansion/reduction, their appearance on display differs depending on the position of the strokes, which can spoil the appearance of the character.
In FIGS. 7 and 8, the three horizontal strokes are of equal width at 8 subpixels. However, the positions of the three horizontal strokes inside pixels ore different from each other. In FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C an enlargement of how three horizontal strokes are positioned is shown, with left portion representing the top stroke (horizontal stroke 3), the middle portion representing the middle stroke (horizontal stroke 2); and the right portion representing the bottom stroke (horizontal stroke 1) The upper line of the top stroke is on the seventh subpixel border from the top (so that the stroke only fills 1/8 of the pixel), the upper line of the middle stroke is on the fourth subpixel border from the top (so that the stroke fills half the pixel); and the upper line of the bottom stroke falls exactly on the pixel border (so that the stroke fills the pixel). FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C are grey scaled data corresponding to the three strokes in FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C.
In the right portion, horizontal stroke 1 is too clearly drawn and so looks thin on display. Since there are no middle tones, the presence of other strokes such as curved lines or slanting lines will result in inconsistency between the thickness of lines. In the middle portion, horizontal stroke 2 looks too faint and wide on display, as if blurred. As shown in this figure, strokes positioned differently on the submeshes end up being displayed using different gradation tones. Therefore the three strokes look different in the gray scaled data in FIG. 9 resulting in inconsistent stroke width on a low-resolution display or liquid crystal panel. When there are two strokes of different widths in the data, there have even been cases with conventional techniques whereby the stroke which should look thicker looks thinner than the other on the display. If hint processing is not carried out to keep stroke width consistent, there can be further deterioration in the shape of the character on the display.
This example has focused on binary data in which one pixel is divided into 64 subpixels (8 by 8submesh). It is also possible for the pixel to be divided into 256 subpixels (16 by 16 submesh) so that more accurate grey scaled data can be generated. However, this does not solve the above mentioned problems.

Gray scaled data generating device which balances width and shade of strokes by repositioning their center line to a predetermined distance from pixel border


A voltage-dividing resistor enables a multi-step voltage division. The voltage-dividing resistor includes a polysilicon layer formed on a semiconductor substrate; a metal layer formed on a partial area of the polysilicon layer; an insulating interlayer covering the polysilicon layer and the metal layer; a first electrode for applying a first reference voltage to one end of the polysilicon layer; a second electrode for applying a second reference voltage to the other end of the polysilicon layer; a plurality of third electrodes provided between the first and second electrodes to contact the metal layer; and a plurality of fourth electrodes provided between the first and second electrodes to contact the polysilicon layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a voltage-dividing resistor in a semiconductor device. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for implementing voltage drops of various sizes using a plurality of resistors of differing size.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a voltage-dividing resistor according to a related art consists of a semiconductor substrate 100, an oxide layer 110 formed on the semiconductor substrate 100, a polysilicon layer 140 formed on the oxide layer 110 to have internal resistance, an insulating layer 130 covering the polysilicon layer 140, an electrode 160 receiving a first reference voltage, an electrode 170 receiving a second reference voltage, and a plurality of electrodes 181, 183, 185, and 187.
The first reference voltage, e.g., a ground potential, is applied to the electrode 160. The second reference voltage, e.g., a voltage level Vdd, is applied to the electrode 170. Hence, the ground potential is applied to one end of the polysilicon layer 140 contacting the electrode 160 via a contact hole, and the voltage level Vdd is applied to the other end of the polysilicon layer 140 contacting the electrode 170 via a contact hole. A voltage drop amounting to the voltage level Vdd is generated by the internal resistance of the polysilicon. Moreover, a tungsten silicide layer 150 can be formed on the polysilicon layer 140 contacting the electrodes 160 and 170 via the respective contact holes to reduce contact resistance.
The electrodes 181, 183, 185, and 187 are arranged between the electrodes 160 and 170 to leave an equal distance d between adjacent electrodes, to thereby divide the voltage level Vdd for each equal distance by a correspondingly equal division of the inner resistance of the polysilicon layer 140. In particular, the electrode 181 outputs a voltage of 1/5 Vdd, the electrode 183 outputs a voltage of 2/5 Vdd, the electrode 185 outputs a voltage of 3/5 Vdd, and the electrode 187 outputs a voltage of 4/5 Vdd.
In the above-configured voltage-dividing resistor, as the electrodes 181, 183, 185, and 187 are arranged equidistantly, the internal resistance of the polysilicon layer is equally divided with the equal distance, so that a voltage drop of the corresponding value can be realized and implemented in a circuit. Therefore, the related art voltage-dividing resistor enables the voltage drop of predetermined steps only and cannot be adaptively applied.

Voltage-dividing resistor and semiconductor device having the same


A mobile power bank includes at least two cuboid modules including a control module and a battery module. The battery module includes a first telescopic element disposed on a first side, a first hole corresponding to the first telescopic element, a second telescopic element disposed on a sixth side, and second holes. The control module includes a first telescopic element disposed on a first side, a first hole corresponding to the first telescopic element and disposed on a second side, a power function element disposed on a sixth side, and second holes. The first telescopic element is electrically connected to the first hole in a pluggable manner. The second telescopic element is electrically connected to the second hole in a pluggable manner. The control module manages charging and discharging of the battery module accessed to the control module.

Mobile power bank is a portable charger that combines power supply and charging, and can charge the electronic devices used in everyday life anytime and anywhere. With the development of science and technology, the number of electronic devices is continuously increasing, and the amount of electricity required is increasing. The capacity and the endurance capability of mobile power bank become the most concerned issues for consumers.
In the related art, when mobile power banks are designed and manufactured, mobile power banks which are portable and have a small volume and a small capacity are generally provided for charging small electronic devices, and mobile power banks with large volume and large capacity are generally provided for charging large electronic devices. The mobile power bank has a targeted application scenario and lacks wide adaptation to different electronic devices. Electronic devices having multiple interfaces need to be equipped with different mobile power banks, which are inconvenient to use. For a single mobile power bank, after the charging and discharging performance falls below the usage index, it is necessary to buy a new mobile power bank, the battery cannot be replaced, which cause waste and pollute the environment.


Modified neurotoxin comprising neurotoxin including structural modification, wherein the structural modification alters the biological persistence, preferably the biological half-life, of the modified neurotoxin relative to an identical neurotoxin without the structural modification. The structural modification includes addition or deletion of a leucine-based motif or parts thereof. In one embodiment, methods of making the modified neurotoxin include using recombinant techniques. In another embodiment, methods of using the modified neurotoxin to treat biological disorders include treating autonomic disorders, neuromuscular disorders or pains.

The present invention relates to modified neurotoxins, particularly modified Clostridial neurotoxins, and use thereof to treat various disorders, including neuromuscular disorders, autonomic nervous system disorders and pain.
The clinical use of botulinum toxin serotype A (herein after "BoNT/A"), a serotype of Clostridial neurotoxin, represents one of the most dramatic role reversals in modern medicine: a potent biologic toxin transformed into a therapeutic agent. BoNT/A has become a versatile tool in the treatment of a wide variety of disorders and conditions characterized by muscle hyperactivity, autonomic nervous system hyperactivity and/or pain.
Botulinum Toxin
The anaerobic, gram positive bacterium Clostridium botulinum produces a potent polypeptide neurotoxin, botulinum toxin, which causes a neuroparalytic illness in humans and animals referred to as botulism. The spores of Clostridium botulinum are found in soil and can grow in improperly sterilized and sealed food containers of home based canneries, which are the cause of many of the cases of botulism. The effects of botulism typically appear 18 to 36 hours after eating the foodstuffs infected with a Clostridium botulinum culture or spores. The botulinum toxin can apparently pass unattenuated through the lining of the gut and attack peripheral motor neurons. Symptoms of botulinum toxin intoxication can progress from difficulty walking, swallowing, and speaking to paralysis of the respiratory muscles and death.
BoNT/A is the most lethal natural biological agent known to man. About 50 picograms of botulinum toxin (purified neurotoxin complex) serotype A is a LD50 in mice. One unit (U) of botulinum toxin is defined as the LD50 upon intraperitoneal injection into female Swiss Webster mice weighing 18-20 grams each. Seven immunologically distinct botulinum neurotoxins have been characterized, these being respectively botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A, B, C1, D, E, F and G each of which is distinguished by neutralization with serotype-specific antibodies. The different serotypes of botulinum toxin vary in the animal species that they affect and in the severity and duration of the paralysis they evoke. For example, it has been determined that BoNt/A is 500 times more potent, as measured by the rate of paralysis produced in the rat, than is botulinum toxin serotype B (BoNT/B). Additionally, BoNt/B has been determined to be non-toxic in primates at a dose of 480 U/kg which is about 12 times the primate LD50 for BoNt/A. Botulinum toxin apparently binds with high affinity to cholinergic motor neurons, is translocated into the neuron and blocks the release of acetylcholine.
Botulinum toxins have been used in clinical settings for the treatment of neuromuscular disorders characterized by hyperactive skeletal muscles. BoNt/A has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of blepharospasm, strabismus and hemifacial spasm. Non-serotype A botulinum toxin serotypes apparently have a lower potency and/or a shorter duration of activity as compared to BoNt/A. Clinical effects of peripheral intramuscular BoNt/A are usually seen within one week of injection. The typical duration of symptomatic relief from a single intramuscular injection of BoNt/A averages about three months.
Although all the botulinum toxins serotypes apparently inhibit release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, they do so by affecting different neurosecretory proteins and/or cleaving these proteins at different sites. For example, botulinum serotypes A and E both cleave the 25 kiloDalton (kD) synaptosomal associated protein (SNAP-25), but they target different amino acid sequences within this protein. BoNT/B, D, F and G act on vesicle-associated protein (VAMP, also called synaptobrevin), with each serotype cleaving the protein at a different site. Finally, botulinum toxin serotype C1 (BoNT/C1) has been shown to cleave both syntaxin and SNAP-25. These differences in mechanism of action may affect the relative potency and/or duration of action of the various botulinum toxin serotypes.
Regardless of serotype, the molecular mechanism of toxin intoxication appears to be similar and to involve at least three steps or stages. In the first step of the process, the toxin binds to the presynaptic membrane of the target neuron through a specific interaction between the H chain and a cell surface receptor; the receptor is thought to be different for each serotype of botulinum toxin and for tetanus toxin. The carboxyl end segment of the H chain, Hc, appears to be important for targeting of the toxin to the cell surface.
In the second step, the toxin crosses the plasma membrane of the poisoned cell. The toxin is first engulfed by the cell through receptor-mediated endocytosis, and an endosome containing the toxin is formed. The toxin then escapes the endosome into the cytoplasm of the cell. This last step is thought to be mediated by the amino end segment of the H chain, HN, which triggers a conformational change of the toxin in response to a pH of about 5.5 or lower. Endosomes are known to possess a proton pump which decreases intra endosomal pH. The conformational shift exposes hydrophobic residues in the toxin, which permits the toxin to embed itself in the endosomal membrane. The toxin then translocates through the endosomal membrane into the cytosol.
The last step of the mechanism of botulinum toxin activity appears to involve reduction of the disulfide bond joining the H and L chain. The entire toxic activity of botulinum and tetanus toxins is contained in the L chain of the holotoxin; the L chain is a zinc (Zn++) endopeptidase which selectively cleaves proteins essential for recognition and docking of neurotransmitter-containing vesicles with the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane, and fusion of the vesicles with the plasma membrane. Tetanus neurotoxin, botulinum toxin/B/D,/F, and/G cause degradation of synaptobrevin (also called vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP)), a synaptosomal membrane protein. Most of the VAMP present at the cytosolic surface of the synaptic vesicle is removed as a result of any one of these cleavage events. Each toxin specifically cleaves a different bond.
The molecular weight of the botulinum toxin protein molecule, for all seven of the known botulinum toxin serotypes, is about 150 kD. Interestingly, the botulinum toxins are released by Clostridial bacterium as complexes comprising the 150 kD botulinum toxin protein molecule along with associated non-toxin proteins. Thus, the BoNt/A complex can be produced by Clostridial bacterium as 900 kD, 500 kD and 300 kD forms. BoNT/B and C1 are apparently produced as only a 500 kD complex. BoNT/D is produced as both 300 kD and 500 kD complexes. Finally, BoNT/E and F are produced as only approximately 300 kD complexes. The complexes (i.e. molecular weight greater than about 150 kD) are believed to contain a non-toxin hemaglutinin protein and a non-toxin and non-toxic nonhemaglutinin protein. These two non-toxin proteins (which along with the botulinum toxin molecule comprise the relevant neurotoxin complex) may act to provide stability against denaturation to the botulinum toxin molecule and protection against digestive acids when toxin is ingested. Additionally, it is possible that the larger (greater than about 150 kD molecular weight) botulinum toxin complexes may result in a slower rate of diffusion of the botulinum toxin away from a site of intramuscular injection of a botulinum toxin complex.
In vitro studies have indicated that botulinum toxin inhibits potassium cation induced release of both acetylcholine and norepinephrine from primary cell cultures of brainstem tissue. Additionally, it has been reported that botulinum toxin inhibits the evoked release of both glycine and glutamate in primary cultures of spinal cord neurons and that in brain synaptosome preparations botulinum toxin inhibits the release of each of the neurotransmitters acetylcholine, dopamine, norepinephrine, CGRP and glutamate.
BoNt/A can be obtained by establishing and growing cultures of Clostridium botulinum in a fermenter and then harvesting and purifying the fermented mixture in accordance with known procedures. All the botulinum toxin serotypes are initially synthesized as inactive single chain proteins which must be cleaved or nicked by proteases to become neuroactive. The bacterial strains that make botulinum toxin serotypes A and G possess endogenous proteases and serotypes A and G can therefore be recovered from bacterial cultures in predominantly their active form. In contrast, botulinum toxin serotypes C1, D and E are synthesized by nonproteolytic strains and are therefore typically unactivated when recovered from culture. Serotypes B and F are produced by both proteolytic and nonproteolytic strains and therefore can be recovered in either the active or inactive form. However, even the proteolytic strains that produce, for example, the BoNt/B serotype only cleave a portion of the toxin produced. The exact proportion of nicked to unnicked molecules depends on the length of incubation and the temperature of the culture. Therefore, a certain percentage of any preparation of, for example, the BoNt/B toxin is likely to be inactive, possibly accounting for the known significantly lower potency of BoNt/B as compared to BoNt/A. The presence of inactive botulinum toxin molecules in a clinical preparation will contribute to the overall protein load of the preparation, which has been linked to increased antigenicity, without contributing to its clinical efficacy. Additionally, it is known that BoNt/B has, upon intramuscular injection, a shorter duration of activity and is also less potent than BoNt/A at the same dose level.
It has been reported that BoNt/A has been used in clinical settings as follows:                (1) about 75-125 units of BOTOX®1 per intramuscular injection (multiple muscles) to treat cervical dystonia;        (2) 5-10 units of BOTOX® per intramuscular injection to treat glabellar lines (brow furrows) (5 units injected intramuscularly into the procerus muscle and 10 units injected intramuscularly into each corrugator supercilii muscle);        (3) about 30-80 units of BOTOX® to treat constipation by intrasphincter injection of the puborectalis muscle;        (4) about 1-5 units per muscle of intramuscularly injected BOTOX® to treat blepharospasm by injecting the lateral pre-tarsal orbicularis oculi muscle of the upper lid and the lateral pre-tarsal orbicularis oculi of the lower lid.        (5) to treat strabismus, extraocular muscles have been injected intramuscularly with between about 1-5 units of BOTOX®, the amount injected varying based upon both the size of the muscle to be injected and the extent of muscle paralysis desired (i.e. amount of diopter correction desired).        (6) to treat upper limb spasticity following stroke by intramuscular injections of BOTOX® into five different upper limb flexor muscles, as follows:
(a) flexor digitorum profundus: 7.5 U to 30 U
(b) flexor digitorum sublimus: 7.5 U to 30 U
(c) flexor carpi ulnaris: 10 U to 40 U
(d) flexor carpi radialis: 15 U to 60 U
(e) biceps brachii: 50 U to 200 U. Each of the five indicated muscles has been injected at the same treatment session, so that the patient receives from 90 U to 360 U of upper limb flexor muscle BOTOX® by intramuscular injection at each treatment session.
The success of BoNt/A to treat a variety of clinical conditions has led to interest in other botulinum toxin serotypes. A study of two commercially available BoNT/A preparations (BOTOX® and Dysport®) and preparations of BoNT/B and F (both obtained from Wako Chemicals, Japan) has been carried out to determine local muscle weakening efficacy, safety and antigenic potential. Botulinum toxin preparations were injected into the head of the right gastrocnemius muscle (0.5 to 200.0 units/kg) and muscle weakness was assessed using the mouse digit abduction scoring assay (DAS). ED50 values were calculated from dose response curves. Additional mice were given intramuscular injections to determine LD50 doses. The therapeutic index was calculated as LD50/ED50. Separate groups of mice received hind limb injections of BOTOX® (5.0 to 10.0 units/kg) or BoNt/B (50.0 to 400.0 units/kg), and were tested for muscle weakness and increased water consumption, the later being a putative model for dry mouth. Antigenic potential was assessed by monthly intramuscular injections in rabbits (1.5 or 6.5 ng/kg for BoNt/B or 0.15 ng/kg for BOTOX®). Peak muscle weakness and duration were dose related for all serotypes. DAS ED50 values (units/kg) were as follows: BOTOX®: 6.7, Dysport®: 24.7, BONt/B: 27.0 to 244.0, BoNT/F: 4.3. BOTOX® had a longer duration of action than BoNt/B or BoNt/F. Therapeutic index values were as follows: BOTOX®: 10.5, Dysport®: 6.3, BoNt/B: 3.2. Water consumption was greater in mice injected with BoNt/B than with BOTOX®, although BoNt/B was less effective at weakening muscles. After four months of injections 2 of 4 (where treated with 1.5 ng/kg) and 4 of 4 (where treated with 6.5 ng/kg) rabbits developed antibodies against BoNt/B. In a separate study, 0 of 9 BOTOX® treated rabbits demonstrated antibodies against BONt/A. DAS results indicate relative peak potencies of BoNt/A being equal to BoNt/F, and BoNt/F being greater than BoNt/B. With regard to duration of effect, BoNt/A was greater than BoNt/B, and BoNt/B duration of effect was greater than BoNt/F. As shown by the therapeutic index values, the two commercial preparations of BoNt/A (BOTOX® and Dysport®) are different. The increased water consumption behavior observed following hind limb injection of BoNt/B indicates that clinically significant amounts of this serotype entered the murine systemic circulation. The results also indicate that in order to achieve efficacy comparable to BoNt/A, it is necessary to increase doses of the other serotypes examined. Increased dosage can comprise safety. Furthermore, in rabbits, serotype B was more antigenic than was BOTOX®, possibly because of the higher protein load injected to achieve an effective dose of BoNt/B.
The tetanus neurotoxin acts mainly in the central nervous system, while botulinum neurotoxin acts at the neuromuscular junction; both act by inhibiting acetylcholine release from the axon of the affected neuron into the synapse, resulting in paralysis. The effect of intoxication on the affected neuron is long-lasting and until recently has been thought to be irreversible. The tetanus neurotoxin is known to exist in one immunologically distinct serotype.
Acetylcholine
Typically only a single type of small molecule neurotransmifter is released by each type of neuron in the mammalian nervous system. The neurotransmitter acetylcholine is secreted by neurons in many areas of the brain, but specifically by the large pyramidal cells of the motor cortex, by several different neurons in the basal ganglia, by the motor neurons that innervate the skeletal muscles, by the preganglionic neurons of the autonomic nervous system (both sympathetic and parasympathetic), by the postganglionic neurons of the parasympathetic nervous system, and by some of the postganglionic neurons of the sympathetic nervous system. Essentially, only the postganglionic sympathetic nerve fibers to the sweat glands, the piloerector muscles and a few blood vessels are cholinergic and most of the postganglionic neurons of the sympathetic nervous system secret the neurotransmitter norepinephine. In most instances acetylcholine has an excitatory effect. However, acetylcholine is known to have inhibitory effects at some of the peripheral parasympathetic nerve endings, such as inhibition of the heart by the vagal nerve.
The efferent signals of the autonomic nervous system are transmitted to the body through either the sympathetic nervous system or the parasympathetic nervous system. The preganglionic neurons of the sympathetic nervous system extend from preganglionic sympathetic neuron cell bodies located in the intermediolateral horn of the spinal cord. The preganglionic sympathetic nerve fibers, extending from the cell body, synapse with postganglionic neurons located in either a paravertebral sympathetic ganglion or in a prevertebral ganglion. Since, the preganglionic neurons of both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system are cholinergic, application of acetylcholine to the ganglia will excite both sympathetic and parasympathetic postganglionic neurons.
Acetylcholine activates two types of receptors, muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. The muscarinic receptors are found in all effector cells stimulated by the postganglionic neurons of the parasympathetic nervous system, as well as in those stimulated by the postganglionic cholinergic neurons of the sympathetic nervous system. The nicotinic receptors are found in the synapses between the preganglionic and postganglionic neurons of both the sympathetic and parasympathetic. The nicotinic receptors are also present in many membranes of skeletal muscle fibers at the neuromuscular junction.
Acetylcholine is released from cholinergic neurons when small, clear, intracellular vesicles fuse with the presynaptic neuronal cell membrane. A wide variety of non-neuronal secretory cells, such as, adrenal medulla (as well as the PC12 cell line) and pancreatic islet cells release catecholamines and insulin, respectively, from large dense-core vesicles. The PC12 cell line is a clone of rat pheochromocytoma cells extensively used as a tissue culture model for studies of sympathoadrenal development. Botulinum toxin inhibits the release of both types of compounds from both types of cells in vitro, permeabilized (as by electroporation) or by direct injection of the toxin into the denervated cell. Botulinum toxin is also known to block release of the neurotransmitter glutamate from cortical synaptosomes cell cultures.
Sanders et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,605 disclose that BoNT/A can be used to treat autonomic nervous system disorders, for example rhinorrhea, otitis media, excessive salivation, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), excessive stomach acid secretion, spastic colitis and excessive sweating.
Furthermore, Binder U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,468 discloses that BoNT/A can be used to treat migraine headache pain that is associated with muscle spasm, vascular disturbances, neuralgia and neuropathy. Additionally, our laboratory data obtained from experiments with rats show that pain, particularly inflammation pain, may be reduced with an injection of botulinum serotype A, either spinally or peripherally.
One of the reasons that BoNT/A has been selected over the other serotypes, for example serotypes B, C1, D, E, F, and G, for clinical use is that BoNT/A has a substantially longer lasting therapeutic effect. In other words, the inhibitory effect of BoNT/A is more persistent. Therefore, the other serotypes of botulinum toxins could potentially be effectively used in a clinical environment if their biological persistence could be enhanced. For example, parotid sialocele is a condition where the patient suffers from excessive salivation. Sanders et al. disclose in their patent that serotype D may be very effective in reducing excessive salivation. However, the biological persistence of serotype D botulinum toxin is relatively short and thus may not be practical for clinical use. If the biological persistence of serotype D may be enhanced, it may effectively be used in a clinical environment to treat, for example, parotid sialocele.
Another reason that BoNT/A has been a preferred neurotoxin for clinical use is, as discussed above, its superb ability to immobilize muscles through flaccid paralysis. For example, BoNT/A is preferentially used to immobilize muscles and prevent limb movements after a tendon surgery to facilitate recovery. However, for some minor tendon surgeries, the healing time is relatively short. It would be beneficial to have a BoNT/A without the prolonged persistence for use in such circumstances so that the patient can regain mobility at about the same time they recover from the surgery.
There is a need to have modified neurotoxins that are non serotype A botulinum toxins with enhanced biological persistence and modified neurotoxins that are BoNT/A with reduced biological persistence and methods for preparing such toxins.

Leucine-based motif and Clostridial neurotoxins


A method and device for monitoring and/or controlling a load on a slender, tensioned elongated element extending from a subsea wellhead element to a surface vessel. The tensioned elongated element is arranged so as to be displaced in its longitudinal direction into or out of the subsea wellhead element via an entry at a top end of the latter. The structural behaviour of the wellhead element is measured. The bending moment and/or declination of the tensioned elongated element is estimated in a bottom region adjacent to and/or at the entry upon the basis of the measurement of the structural behaviour of the wellhead element.

Running coiled tubing in open sea without using a marine riser or a workover riser imposes requirements on the operation of the vessel and the coiled tubing. Because of the limited mechanical strength of the coiled tubing and the subsea stack including the lubricator pipe it is imperative that the equipment be operated within certain predefined limits related to the structural capacities of the equipment. This implies that the following quantities need be controlled or monitored either directly or indirectly:
Top tension of CT (Coiled Tubing)
Declination of the CT when leaving the top injector at the vessel
Bending of the CT when entering the lubricator
Tension of CT when entering the lubricator
The means for keeping control of these quantities are the positioning of the vessel and the applied top tension in the coiled tubing. Three out of these four parameters are readily obtainable through direct measurements: top tension and declination at top injector; and indirect measurements: tension of CT at lubricator, derivable from the top tension and the apparent weight of CT.
Maintaining the structural integrity of the coiled tubing and the subsea stack is essential. The critical loads with respect to structural integrity are related to the entry of the coiled tubing into the lubricator, which will be close to vertical.
When the coiled tubing enters the lubricator it is locally restricted from freely changing shape as a response to the external loading. That is, the coiled tubing must satisfy the boundary conditions given by the entry into the lubricator pipe. Any deviation between the direction of the coiled tubing and the direction of the lubricator pipe will therefore introduce lateral forces between the coiled tubing and the lubricator pipe.
These lateral forces will locally induce bending moments in the coiled tubing. To avoid collapse caused by overbending of the coiled tubing and/or the lubricator pipe these loads must be controlled.
Positioning the vessel such that there is no local bending of the coiled tubing where it enters the lubricator pipe implies that the axial force in the coiled tubing is directed along the lubricator pipe.
Consequently there will be no lateral force acting on the lubricator pipe for this configuration of the coiled tubing. The vessel position that results in this coiled tubing configuration is the optimal one with respect to integrity of the coiled tubing and the subsea stack during operation.
Therefore, it is of importance to know the bending moment and declination of the coiled tubing as it enters the lubricator pipe. However, because the coiled tubing most of the time during operation is either being inserted into the well or being retracted, it is considered impractical to measure the declination or bending moment at lubricator entry directly on the coiled tubing itself.

Method and a device for monitoring an/or controlling a load on a tensioned elongated element


An aligning and clipping apparatus for slot-in CD/DVD players/ROM to load different size discs is provided, including a base, a tray, at least two moveable clipping elements, at least two ejection elements, and an auxiliary clipping element. Two clipping elements are installed at the front end of the tray for loading and clipping the disc. The auxiliary clipping element is on the top of the base for improving the stability of the clipping. The ejection elements are at the two sides of the rear end of the tray for ejecting the clipping of the disc so that the disc is in the position for data reading and writing. To achieve the function for clipping different size discs, the moveable clipping elements are placed at a specific angle and a specific curvature. Therefore, the different size discs can be clipped and held.

Conventional slot-in CD/DVD players/ROM have convenient loading and ejection devices; therefore, they are popular and a variety of products incorporating slot-in CD/DVD players/ROM are developed, such as CD/DVD players/ROM for vehicles and notebook PC.
However, conventional slot-in CD/DVD players/ROM are usually designed for 12 cm Disc, and are not suitable for the relative newcomer, 8 cm Disc. For most of all tray-type player/ROM, it only supports 8 cm disc on horizontal-position. Tray-type will fail for 8 cm disc on vertical-position.
Although there are CD/DVD players/ROM that can load both 12 cm and 8 cm Disc, these CD/DVD players/ROM usually have complex mechanical design and an expensive price-tag. Therefore, these CD/DVD players/ROM are not widely accepted in the end-user market.

Apparatus for aligning and clipping different size compact discs for disc device


Electrical sensing/stimulation apparatuses for positioning at least one electrode within body tissue are provided. An electrical sensing/stimulation apparatus may comprise an elongate lead body having at least one internal lumen, at least one sensing/stimulation electrode, a deployable/retractable displacement member that moves or biases at least one electrode towards a prescribed direction by the user, a tissue attachment mechanism for affixing the distal segment of the device to body tissue, and an atraumatic distal lead body termination. In a retracted configuration, the attachment mechanism is positioned substantially within the distal segment of the lead body, and in the deployed configuration, the attachment mechanism extends from the axis of the lead body to engage body tissue.

Field of the Disclosure.
The present disclosure relates generally to the sensing/stimulation electrode devices and methods for their use, and more specifically to novel devices and methods for more safe and reliable positioning of a sensing/stimulation electrode within body tissue.
Bradycardia (reduced heart rate) is a common condition affecting millions of patients annually. Although many such patients require implantation of permanent pacemaker devices to help regulate heart rate, other patients experience bradycardia with reversible causes that do not require permanent pacemaker implantation and may instead receive temporary bradycardia support, such as over a period of less than one week. A common treatment for temporary bradycardia support involves a system including transvenous electrode pacing leads that are inserted directly into the right ventricle of the heart to stimulate and regulate cardiac function. However, the conventional versions of these systems have several drawbacks.
Thus, there are needs in the electrode stimulation device field for new and useful devices and methods for positioning an electrode in tissue.

Device and method for positioning an electrode in a body cavity


Methods and apparatus are provided for a customization control system for a vehicle having a cabin. The apparatus can include a source of vehicle location data, and a door coupled to the cabin and including a window movable relative to the door between a first, closed position and a second, opened position. The apparatus can also include a customization module that, based on the vehicle location data, outputs setting data for the vehicle that includes a movement for the window relative to the door.

Many modern vehicles employ numerous features that improve driver convenience during the operation of the vehicle. In addition, many modern vehicles include systems that enable a determination of a current location of the vehicle. In certain instances, based on the location of the vehicle, it may be desirable to change the operation of one or more of the driver convenience features based on the current location of the vehicle. For example, it may be desirable to automatically move a window of the vehicle from a closed position to an opened position when the vehicle is at a drive through for driver convenience, or to automatically unlock only a single door when the vehicle is parked at a particular location for driver safety.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide systems and methods that enable a driver of the vehicle to change the operation of one or more driver convenience features based on the current location of the vehicle. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Systems and methods for location based customization


One semiconductor device includes first to third gate electrodes arranged inside a first active region and embedded in first to third trenches extending in a first direction, a first semiconductor pillar positioned between the first and second trenches, a second semiconductor pillar positioned between the second and third trenches, a first vertical transistor having the first and second gate electrodes as the double gate electrodes therefor, and a second vertical transistor having the second and third gate electrodes as the double gate electrodes therefor. The second gate electrode is shared by the first vertical transistor and the second vertical transistor.

Vertical transistors are conventionally used as semiconductor devices which are able to be miniaturized. In a vertical transistor, a gate insulating film and a gate electrode are provided on the side surface of a semiconductor pillar extending perpendicularly from the main surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a source and drain are provided above and below the pillar.
A vertical transistor makes it possible to achieve a fully depleted semiconductor device by narrowing the pillar diameter to a certain extent. In a fully depleted semiconductor device, the S coefficient is small and variations in the threshold voltage Vt can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to achieve a low-voltage/high-performance semiconductor device. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the area occupied because of a two-dimensional structure, and this is also very advantageous for making the device more compact.
Patent Document 1 (JP 2012-89772 A) describes a semiconductor device employing a vertical transistor. In that semiconductor device, a dummy pillar is provided in the vicinity of a semiconductor pillar, and a gate electrode is provided continuously on the side surfaces of the semiconductor pillar and the dummy pillar. Furthermore, a gate contact is formed on the gate electrode on the side surface of the dummy pillar.

Semiconductor device and production method therefor


Method and arrangement in a source radio network node for reducing the amount of user equipment related data forwarded to a target radio network node, when performing a handover of a user equipment. The method comprises determining that the user equipment is to perform a handover from the source radio network node to the target radio network node, increasing the polling frequency of polls sent to the user equipment, transmitting a poll to the user equipment, receiving a status message from the user equipment, as a response to the transmitted poll, dropping the data which, according to the received status message have been acknowledged by the user equipment, and forwarding the data which have not been acknowledged by the user equipment according to the received status message, to the target radio network node.

Functionality to handle user mobility is a fundamental component in wireless communication systems such as cellular networks. From a service quality perspective, such functionality must ensure that service continuity is maintained as user equipments move from one cell to another during an active session, and that each new session is established in a sufficiently good radio environment. From a spectral efficiency perspective, such functionality should ensure that an active user is always served by the most appropriate base station or base stations, which typically may be the closest base station or base stations, and/or the base station or base stations that provide the best radio propagation conditions, at a particular moment.
The 3rd Generation Partnership Program (3GPP) is currently standardizing a new radio access system called the Long Term evolution (LTE) of 3G. Just as some preceding systems, this system will include radio protocols intended to minimize the loss of data over the radio link. The protocol stack includes mechanisms to ensure lossless handover (HO) functionality, and to be specific, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) and the Radio Link Control (RLC) protocols are used for this purpose.
To enable lossless handover functionality, the Radio Bearer (RB) is configured to use the RLC protocol in Acknowledged Mode (AM), and the corresponding PDCP mode for Data RBs (DRB). Each PDCP Protocol Data Unit (PDU) is given to RLC for transmission. The RLC AM functions so that each RLC PDU sent out must be acknowledged (ACKed) by the receiver side to the transmitter side. Acknowledgements (ACKs) are sent upon a POLL request from the transmitter i.e. the serving radio node, and upon T_reOrdering timer expiry at the receiver side, in case the T_Status_Prohibit timer is not running. If the T_Status_Prohibit is running, the RLC STATUS is sent upon the expiry of the timer. The RLC entity receives/delivers RLC Service Data Units (SDU) from/to upper layer and sends/receives RLC PDUs to/from its peer RLC entity via lower layers. One RLC PDU can contain a various number of PDCP PDUs, or segments thereof, according to the instantaneous link bitrate. Upon reception of an ACK for a whole RLC SDU, the RLC protocol must indicate the successful delivery of the higher layer PDU to the higher layer, i.e., to the PDCP transmitter. To ensure a lossless handover, the PDCP transmitter should not discard SDUs from it's buffer before it has received the indication of successful delivery from the RLC transmitter.
Below the RLC layer, a Hybrid ARQ (HARQ) protocol at the MAC level is responsible for the transmission and retransmission of the packets. The HARQ is usually configured so that there is a high probability of the data transmitted from the source radio network node such as e.g. a source eNB, to be successfully received by the User Equipment (UE) without involving retransmissions.
The source radio network node is the node which at the moment is serving the user equipment. The target radio network node, or target eNB, is the node into which the handover is to be performed as the user equipment is moving into the geographical area covered by that radio network node.
During the handover, all the PDCP SDUs that have not been acknowledged by the lower layer are forwarded to the target radio network node from the source radio network node.
The source radio network node may start the data forwarding after it receives handover request acknowledgement from the target radio network node. The user equipment moves to the target radio network node after receiving the handover command from the source radio network node. When in the target cell, the user equipment sends handover confirmation message to the target radio network node. At this stage, the user equipment may also transmit a PDCP Status report if so configured. After reception of the PDCP Status report, the target radio network node may discard the PDCP SDUs that have already been received by the user equipment in the source cell. If the user equipment is not configured to transmit the PDCP Status report to the target radio network node, the target radio network node will transmit all the forwarded SDUs.
A problem with the existing data forwarding mechanism is that the source radio network node is unaware of the latest information of what data the user equipment has received and what it has not received.
During the handover, all the unacknowledged PDCP SDUs are forwarded to the target radio network node by the source radio network node via X2 interface. Many PDCP SDUs that are forwarded to the target radio network node have already been successfully received at the user equipment, and are either dropped at the target radio network node or at the user equipment. Thus, the problem is the inefficient data forwarding mechanism between the source radio network node and target radio network node, which unnecessarily increases the load on the data link X2 connecting the source radio network node and target radio network node.
Since the RLC ACK procedure depends on the POLL and T_reOrdering settings, it could be that many of those SDUs have already been successfully delivered to the user equipment, and would not need to be forwarded to the target radio network node.
A first proposed solution is that the source radio network node polls the user equipment once just after receiving the MEASUREMENT_REPORT from the user equipment. Another proposed solution is to send the RLC status report along with the MEASUREMENT_REPORT in the uplink. The latter solution however requires changes in the 3GPP LTE Release specification 36.331 and 36.322.
Another solution is to send a PDCP Status instead of RLC STATUS message to the source radio network node before the user equipment detaches from the source. This solution requires changes to the 3GPP LTE Release specification 36.331 and 36.323, and has so far not been accepted to be part of the specification.

Handover method for reducing the amount of data forwarded to a target node


An apparatus includes a preprocessing network and a quantized neural network. The preprocessing network may be configured to (a) receive an input, (b) perform a transform operation on the input, and (c) generate an intermediate result in response to the transform operation. The quantized neural network may be configured to (a) receive the intermediate result, (b) perform a plurality of weighted operations on the intermediate result, and (c) generate an output in response to the weighted operations. The quantized neural network is generally adapted to a hardware constraint of an edge device. The weighted operations generally have a quantization loss corresponding to the hardware constraint. The transform operation performed by the preprocessing network is generally configured to provide compensation for the quantization loss.

A neural network, more properly referred to as an "artificial" neural network (ANN), is a computing system made up of a number of simple, highly interconnected processing elements, which process information by respective dynamic state responses to external inputs. Neural networks are processing devices (algorithms or actual hardware) that are loosely modeled after the neuronal structure of a brain, but on much smaller scales. A large neural network can have hundreds or thousands of processing units.
Neural networks are typically organized in layers. The layers can comprise a number of interconnected nodes that perform an operation or activation function. Input data is presented to an input layer of the network, which communicates to one or more internal (or hidden) layers where the actual processing is performed via an arrangement of weighted connections. The process of determining the weights for the weighted connections of the neural network is typically referred to as training. The hidden layers connect to an output layer where the result of a prediction model implemented by the neural network is presented. Application of neural networks can require large amounts of memory and computations.
Neural networks typically are trained in floating point (FP(32)) precision. Edge devices typically work at lower precision to save on bandwidth and computation cost. Lower precision can be represented in both floating point and fixed point formats. Fixed point format is the preferred format for most edge devices as fixed point formats offer more computational savings. Converting floating point data to fixed point data, generally referred to as quantization, is a lossy process. When a neural network is ported to an edge device, the inference accuracy of the neural network may be lower than the original floating point format model due to quantization.
On most hardware architectures, the fixed point data format of each layer in the neural network can be set individually. This flexibility allows determining the data format of each layer by running inference on a representative dataset. Statistics like min, max, and variance are recorded, and the statistics are used to pick the data format of each layer. This process is called post training quantization. Post training quantization tries to minimize the reduction in accuracy due to quantization. However, the accuracy of the network generated utilizing post training quantization might still be lower than the original accuracy as no new information is added to the neural network. The amount of quantization loss depends on the complexity of the neural network and the size of the representative dataset. From a perspective of an end user, the effort required in porting the neural network to the edge device is minimal with post training quantization.
Another technique to minimize the reduction in accuracy due to quantization is called quantization aware training. Quantization aware training ensures that the forward pass matches precision for both training and inference. Quantization aware training models the effect of quantization loss into the neural network and can result in a better accuracy on edge devices. However, because each hardware architecture is different, the end user might have to train the network multiple times to get good results on different architectures. Thus, the quality of the neural network on an edge device is dependent on the effort involved. Post training quantization is straight-forward but can lead to sub-optimal results. Quantization aware training can yield good results but the training might have to be done differently for each architecture.
It would be desirable to implement a method and/or apparatus for modeling quantization loss using a preprocessing network that simulates hardware behavior.

Modeling quantization loss using a preprocessing network that simulates hardware behavior


An alarming device including: a power module, a trigger module, a heat module, a noise module, and a visual module. The trigger module is configured to detect an emergency and trigger an event. The heat module is functionally in communication with the power module and the trigger module and configured to project heat when triggered by the trigger module. The noise module is functionally in communication with the power module and the trigger module and configured to project sound when triggered by the trigger module. The visual module is functionally in communication with the power module and the trigger module and configured to project light when triggered by the trigger module.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to alarming devices and, more particularly, to alarming devices that alert through stimulating multiple human senses.
2. Description of the Related Art
Alarming devices protect people from a variety of dangers. Examples of common household alarming devices include smoke detectors, carbon-monoxide detectors and burglar alarms. In addition to warning of danger, alarming devices are also used to alert people of events. For example, a ringing telephone alerts of an incoming telephone call. Similarly, a doorbell alerts that a person at the door.
Often alarming devices produce an auditory signal as a means to alert, but for the deaf and hard of hearing, auditory alarming devices do not suffice. Similar problems arise for the blind with alarming devices that produce light as a means to alert. Some improvements have been made in the field. Examples of references related to the present invention are described below, and the supported teachings of each reference are incorporated by reference herein:
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0008153 to Albert discloses a way home safety and security are provided using a bedside unit to monitor an audible personal security pendant and to send notification signals to the appropriate communication site. Improved reliability is achieved by comparing a stored signal signature to the real time digital pattern representing sounds received using digital acoustic signature recognition technology.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,714 to Fray discloses an alarm system, comprising a smoke detector, a smoke detector output relay, a recording switch, a microphone, a digital recording and a play back device, a timer/pulse generator, a pulse counter, a number of speakers, an amplifier and an alarm tone generator, and the method of operation of the alarm system are presented. The smoke detector output relay activates a printed circuit that is powered off the smoke detector at two different points. The recording switch, when activated, allows a voice message to be recorded through the microphone on a digital recording and play back device. The timer/pulse generator starts when activated by the smoke detector output relay. The timer/pulse generator then sends timed pulses to the pulse counter that controls output of the digital recording and play back device, i.e. a verbal message, and of the alarm tone generator. The controlled output of the digital recording and play back device and of the alarm tone generator is then sent to the amplifier. Then, the output of the amplifier is sent to the number of speakers which send messages and tones, alerting by standing individuals of presence of fire or smoke. The messages and tones may be repeated until the alarm system is reset.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,759 to Sulkoski, et al. discloses an apparatus to alert a deaf person made up of an alarm device such as a smoke detector adapted to vibrate when actuated by smoke and a transmitter having a vibration sensor connected to the transmitter. The vibration sensor is supported in engagement with the smoke detector and adapted to sense the vibrations of the smoke detector and to transmit a signal to a remotely located receiver. The receiver has a vibrating reed with a tacticle member on its end for engaging a person to alert him when the receiver causes the reed to be vibrated.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,805 to Curl, et al. discloses a smoke detector of the designed to warn hearing impaired persons of fire or smoke. A small, attractive, and inexpensive wall or ceiling mounted unit houses a dual chamber ionization detector, piezoelectric alarm horn, and a high intensity xenon strobe unit producing approximately 130 candela. In one embodiment, it is powered only from standard 120 volt AC power, although an internal battery standby version and low voltage D.C. version are alternative embodiments. The unit is furnished with a surface mount housing. It can easily be moved from room to room as required and it is intended to be easily hung on the wall about a foot from the ceiling.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,833 to Smith discloses an improved actuator device which comprises a combination of activators, switches, indicator lights and power outlets for providing an alarm to those persons of impaired hearing. The device comprises a housing which has electrical power supplied thereto and switches for transmitting the received electrical power therefrom. An indicator circuit is provided to signal the activation capability of the device. Associated with the device is a pneumatic pressure switch which is activated when increased pneumatic pressure is applied to the switch, pressure being applied through a squeeze bulb and tubular conduit connecting the squeeze bulb to the switch. Other indicators and sensor switches can be associated with the device to alert one of impaired hearing to multiple dangerous situations or events.
The inventions heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages which include: not adequately alerting sensory impaired people, not adequately directing the person to safety and not adequately directing emergency personnel to the person.
What is needed is an alarming device that solves one or more of the problems described herein and/or one or more problems that may come to the attention of one skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with this specification.


Thermal-dye-transfer labels, and pre-label media from which they are made, comprising an extruded pragmatic polymer film comprising a microvoided layer, a continuous phase of which comprises a polylactic-acid-based material wherein the microvoids are formed by employing relatively smaller size void initiators, including, for example, various inorganic particles such as titanium dioxide. A method of making sheets for such media is also disclosed involving an extrusion process. High-quality pressure-sensitive labels for application to packages are obtainable by the present invention.

Pressure-sensitive labels are applied to packages to build brand awareness, show the contents of the package, convey a quality message regarding the contents of a package, and supply consumer information such as directions on product use, or an ingredient listing of the contents. Printing on the pressure-sensitive label is typically done using gravure printing or flexography. There is a continuing need to improve the visual appeal of labels to increase shelf awareness of products. Prior-art printed labels have attempted to provide improved visual information on labels by utilizing multiple print stations in a printing press to achieve "photographic quality." While nine color presses do provide a good image, thermal-dye transfer systems is an alternative that can potentially provide images having depth, excellent flesh tone replication, excellent tone scale, and superior image sharpness.
Prior-art labels that are applied to packages comprise a base for holding the image and a pressure-sensitive adhesive, previously attached to a liner (carrier). The label media (on which the image is printed) can optionally be in the form of sheets that comprise material for a plurality of labels and are typically made by laminating the necessary single or multi-layer films comprising the media. The images are printed on the label media utilizing a variety of printing methods. After printing, the media surface can be protected by an over-laminate material or a protective coating. Optionally, a plurality of individual labels can be cut into a label media after or before printing and prior to application to packaging or other uses. The completed imaged label consisting of a protection layer, printed information such as an image, base, and pressure-sensitive adhesive, is applied to packages after removing the liner utilizing high-speed labeling equipment.
One method of printing label media is flexography which is an offset letterpress technique where the printing plates are made from rubber or photopolymers. The printing on pressure-sensitive label media is accomplished by the transfer of ink from the raised surface of the printing plate to the surface of the material being printed. The rotogravure method of printing uses a print cylinder with thousands of tiny cells that are below the surface of the printing cylinder. The ink is transferred from the cells when the print cylinder is brought into contact with the pressure-sensitive label media at the impression roll. Printing inks for flexography or rotogravure include solvent-based inks, water-based inks and radiation-cured inks. While rotogravure and flexography printing do provide acceptable image quality, these two printing methods require expensive and time-consuming preparation of print cylinders or printing plates which make printing jobs of less than 100,000 units expensive as the set-up cost and the cost of the cylinders or printing plates is typically depreciated over the size of the print job.
Recently, digital printing has become a viable method for the printing of information on packages. The term "digital printing" refers to the electronic digital characters or electronic digital images that can be printed by an electronic output device capable of translating digital information. The main digital printing technologies are inkjet, electrophotography, and thermal dye transfer.
Digital inkjet printing has the potential to revolutionize the printing industry by making short-run color-print jobs more economical. However, the next commercial stage will require significant improvements in inkjet technology; the major hurdle remaining is to improve print speed. Part of this problem is the limitation of the amount of data the printer can handle rapidly. The more complex the design, the slower the printing process. Right now they are about 10 times slower than comparable digital electrostatic printers.
Another printing technique for labels is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,566,024 issued May 20, 2003 to Bourdelais et al., titled "Quintessential Pictorial Label And Its Distribution" and involves silver-halide photography. Such printing on label media can provide higher quality images to packaging materials, including the printing of images using an optical digital printing system with the Pantone color space of printed inks.
In recent years, thermal transfer systems have been developed to obtain prints from pictures that have been generated electronically. According to one way of obtaining such prints, an electronic picture is first subjected to color separation by color filters. The respective color-separated images are then converted into electrical signals. These signals are then operated on to produce cyan, magenta, and yellow electrical signals. These signals are then transmitted to a thermal printer. To obtain the print, a cyan, magenta, or yellow dye-donor element is placed face-to-face with a dye-receiving element. The two are then inserted between a thermal printing head and a platen roller. A line-type thermal printing head is used to apply heat from the back of the dye-donor sheet. The thermal printing head has many heating elements and is heated up sequentially in response to the cyan, magenta, and yellow signals. A color hard copy is thus obtained which corresponds to the original picture viewed on a screen. Further details of this process and an apparatus for carrying it out are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,271 issued Nov. 4, 1986 to Brownstein, titled "Apparatus And Method For Controlling A Thermal Printer Apparatus."
Thermal-dye-transfer receiving elements ("receivers") used in thermal-dye-transfer generally comprise a polymeric image-receiving layer coated on a support. Supports are required to have, among other properties, adequate strength, dimensional stability, and heat resistance. For reflective viewing, supports are also desired to be as white as possible. Cellulose paper and plastic films have been proposed for use as dye-receiving element supports in efforts to meet these requirements. Recently, microvoided films formed by stretching an orientable polymer containing an incompatible organic or inorganic material have been suggested for use in thermal dye-transfer receivers.
Thermal-dye-transfer receiving sheets for labels or stickers are known in the art including, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,153,558 issued Nov. 28, 2000 to Shirai et al., titled "Thermal Transfer Image-Receiving Sheet For Sticker And Method Of Manufacturing Same;" U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,517 issued Dec. 19, 2000 to Oshima et al., titled "Image-Receiving Sheet For Thermal Transfer Printing;" and U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,823 issued Jan. 15, 1991 to Ishii et al., titled "Label Having Sublimation Transferred Image." U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,517 issued Dec. 19, 2000 to Oshima et al., titled "Image-Receiving Sheet For Thermal Transfer Printing," for example, discloses a label comprising, disposed between a dye receptor layer and an adhesive layer, a foamed resin film layer and a non-foamed resin film layer. A bonding layer can be disposed between the foamed and non-foamed layers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,823 to Ishii et al. discloses a label portion comprising an image-receiving layer, a sheet substrate, and an adhesive layer. The sheet substrate can be a resin film such as foamed polyethylene terephthalate, synthetic paper, and the like.
There is a continuing need for high-quality labels that can be printed from digital label files that contain graphics, text, and images. Digital printing of labels takes advantage of the growing amount of label data that is resident in digital files. Digital printing, as opposed to the analog flexographic printing of labels, also enables the use of distributive printing of label files, which allows a digital label file to be created in one central location, sent to remote locations, and printed on digital label printers.
Although thermal-dye-transfer receivers for non-label applications have achieved high quality, the construction and nature of thermal dye-transfer media used for making labels are different. For example, labels are usually thinner than the media from which they are made. Thermal-dye transfer media can be more expensive than the media used in other printing techniques, thus making the development of new materials and structural configurations that are competitive for use in high-volume or low cost commercial applications a challenging endeavor.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Thermal-dye-transfer media for labels comprising poly(lactic acid) and method of making the same


An apparatus and method of interfacing between a source media device and a destination media device. A wireless module passes through an audio signal from the source device to an output device, and transmits a wireless signal to a wireless device that outputs the audio signal. In this manner, the number of devices used for the connections may be reduced.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
A television may generally include an audio output, such as an analog output or an optical output, for outputting an audio signal. The audio output may be connected to an external audio production device, such as one or more loudspeakers (e.g., a soundbar), an audio/video receiver, etc., to output the audio signal. Alternatively, the audio output may be connected to a wireless module (e.g., an IEEE 802.15.1 module such as a Bluetooth™ module) to transmit a wireless signal containing the audio signal to a wireless headset. Furthermore, some external audio production devices may include an integral wireless module, and some televisions may include an integral wireless module.
Providing the audio signal to a wireless headset is a growing use case, as it allows the user to experience the audio without disturbing others nearby.

Audio connection and transmission device

Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation


A resonant converter and burst mode starting method thereof are provided. The resonant converter includes a converting stage, a transformer to induce the output of converting stage from the primary side to the secondary side, a rectifying stage to rectify the output of the transformer, a filtering and load stage to filter the output of the rectifying stage, and a charge pump circuit coupled to the transformer or the rectifying stage. The charge pump circuit is for raising a voltage level of the filtering and load stage to higher than a predetermined value so that a feedback voltage of the resonant converter varies. The burst mode of the resonant converter is than started in accordance with the variance.

Recently, the power supply develops toward high efficiency, high power density, high reliability and low cost the same as the most power manufactures. Especially for the purpose of energy saving and environment protection, lower and lower power loss is required when the power supply operates at light load or zero load condition.
The burst mode control method is more and more widely utilized as a power saving technique for the resonant converter of the power supply. For example, the burst mode control has been introduced into a flyback AC/DC converter of a notebook adapter and a buck DC/DC converter of a mobile phone.
In the burst mode control, when operating at light load or zero load condition, the switching mode power supply operates at the normal switching frequency fs for a period Ton and stops working for another period Toff, and then operates at the normal switching frequency again, wherein 1/(Ton+Toff) is always smaller than fs. And the power loss reduction ratio is Toff/(Ton+Toff).
From the above description, it is understood that the key point of the burst mode control is to generate a signal indicating the load status of the converter and the signal must be easy to be detected to activate the burst mode control. There are many methods in the prior art to detect the load status of the converter such as monitoring the secondary current of the transformer in the converter, or an intermediate voltage e.g. the feedback voltage in close-loop in the switching mode power supply.
The control method for using the close-loop feedback voltage as the intermediate voltage to trigger burst mode control is usually applied in boost type topologies, such as boost, buck boost and flyback, and in buck type topologies, e.g. buck, forward, half bridge and full bridge topologies. When the converter utilizing these topologies operates under light load condition, the operating current is discontinuous (DCM mode), which leads a significant change on the gain of output voltage to input voltage and the significant changes reflects in the sharp voltage variation in the compensation loop. Thus the load status of the converter can be accurately caught through sensing the feedback voltage in the compensation loop.
But it is a little bit difficult using the detecting method of the feedback voltage in the compensation loop in resonant converters. For example, for a resonant DC/DC converter 10 in the prior art as shown in FIG. 1, which is composed of a converting stage 11, a transformer Tx, a rectifying stage 12, and a filtering and load stage 13, wherein the converting stage 11 includes a resonant capacitor Cr, a resonant inductor Lr, and a magnetizing inductor Lm; the rectifying stage 12 includes diodes D1 and D2, and the filtering and load stage 13 includes a filtering capacitor Cout and a load Rload. The working principle of the resonant DC/DC converter 10 is to start with switching a DC voltage via the switches Q1 and Q2, then receiving a high-frequency carrier wave by the converting stage 11, following by rectifying the output of the converting stage 11 by the rectifying stage 12, and finally the output of the rectifying stage 12 is filtered by the filtering and load stage 13 which outputs to the load Rload.
When using the detecting method of the feedback voltage in the compensation loop in the resonant converter 10 as shown in FIG. 1, which is always controlled by FM (frequency method), the operation frequency doesn't change much between different loads. If the operation frequency doesn't have to vary much, the feedback voltage doesn't change much. So it is hard to implement the burst mode control by monitoring an intermediate voltage. The displacing program is to implement the burst mode control by monitoring the secondary current of the transformer Tx, but it is much complicated than the method described above.
In order to overcome the drawbacks in the prior art, a resonant converter and burst mode starting method thereof is provided. The particular design in the present invention not only solves the problems described above, but also is easy to be implemented. Thus, the invention has the utility for the industry.

Resonant converter and burst mode starting method thereof


A device can receive, from a node of a set of nodes, a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) discovery request. The device can determine a DHCP offer based on metadata associated with the node. The device can transmit, to the node, pre-boot execution environment (PXE) instructions, which can cause the node to load a minimal operating system image and execute a node installation service. The device can receive, from the node installation service, a request for information associated with a node type. The device can provide the information associated with the node type to the node, causing the node to generate configuration data relating to the node type. The device can receive, from the node, a request for a full operating system image, which can be provided to the node and can support one or more capabilities included in the configuration data.

Bootstrapping can refer to loading an operating system into memory to provide an environment within which programs can operate. For example, a server device can utilize dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) or Bootstrap protocol (BOOTP) to assign internet protocol (IP) addresses to a group of servers connected to a network, and can bootstrap the group of servers by providing the group of servers with an operating system.

Automatic bootstrapping and dynamic configuration of data center nodes


A system for reducing purging of a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) to reduce operating system overhead in a system running multiple levels of virtual machines. A system typically must purge TLB entries whenever an underlying page table entry is invalidated due to paging activity on the host machine, or an underlying guest machine. A system for reducing the number of cases in which guest translations are based on host page table entries is provided. Additional logic is supplied to analyze each invalidate page table entry (IPTE) instruction to minimize the extent of purging required as a result of that instruction. When the region relocate facility is in operation, or when no pageable TLB's have been constructed, only the entry corresponding to the page table entry to be invalidated need be purged. This limited purging reduces the overhead by reducing the time spent in purging and the time required in address translation to rebuild the TLB. This time saving results in increased performance in systems with multi-level guests.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer systems and, more particularly, to virtual machine systems which provide for instruction processing in multiple levels of virtual machines. More particularly, the present invention is directed to the efficient use of a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) for address translation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Mainframe computer systems such as the IBM 3090 computer system comprise a plurality of processors and large random access and sequential access storage devices. These large systems ar capable of processing a large number of tasks in a short period of time. It is frequently desirable to divide this host processing power into separate partitions or "virtual machines" that can be operated by different users. The division is accomplished by the use of host control program softward such as the IBM Virtual Machine/Extended Architecture (VM/XA) system product. Each of the virtual machines defined above can accept a "guest" operating system that may be different from the host operating system. Thus, for example, if the host is running the VM/XA operating system, the guest could operate the IBM MVS/XA system program. The guest virtual machines may in turn be divided into additional virtual machines for performance of certain tasks.
The host control program or operating system is typically referred to as the level 0 machine. A guest operation on the host is typically referred to as a level 1 guest and guests built upon the first guest as level 2 guest systems. The operating systems operating at levels 1 or 2 issue instructions that, they believe, are causing a real access to a processor or memory. The IBM System/370 architecture manages this through a process known as interpretive execution of the virtual machine instructions. The System/370 architecture is described in the IBM Publication GA22-7000. The IBM System/370-XA implementation of interpretive execution is described in IBM Publication SA22-7095.
Interpretive execution requires the translation of instructions and memory addresses from the guest machine to the underlying real machine and real storage. An example of the translations required is the translation of memory addresses from the guest machine to real storage. U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,954, issued on June 26, 1984 and assigned to the assignee of this application, describes interpretive execution and address translation under interpretive execution and is incorporated herein by reference.
The host machine initiates a guest operating system through a Start Interpretive Execution (SIE) instruction. The SIE instruction invokes interpretive execution hardware in the host causing the host to enter interpretive execution mode for the purpose of executing a program in a level 1 guest. SIE provides for the mapping of addresses by the level 1 virtual machine. In a like manner, a level 1 guest can be a host for a level 2 guest.
Each virtual machine to be operated as a guest of the host machine is described in a state description maintained in real storage. When an SIE instruction is encountered, the state description is used to establish the virtual machine environment for execution. At the same time, the existing host environment must be saved so it can be restored upon exit from the virtual machine. Upon completion of the SIE instruction, the current status of the guest virtual machine must be stored in the state description and the previous host environment restored to the real machine.
Among the interpretive execution facilities are dynamic address translation and guest timing services. Dynamic address translation is the process which translates a guest virtual address into a host real address allowing access to the real storage in the machine. The IBM System/370 employs a virtual memory mechanism in which real memory is divided into pages of a constant size, e.g., 4K bytes, which are addressed by segment and page indices. Thus, the virtual address of a memory location will be represented as a segment table index value, a page table index value, and a displacement within the page. To locate the actual data, the segment table, page table, and memory page must each be accessed. If the virtual address is specified in a guest operating system, the address that guest believes to be a real address must be further translated by the lower level guests and the host machine. As a result, several steps of address translation must occur as shown by the arrows in FIG. 3.
Address translation can be made more efficient by the use of a translation lookaside buffer (TLB). The translation lookaside buffer captures the results of dynamic address translation and provides a shortcut for future guest address translations. The TLB has a limited capacity, so only a certain number of recent translations are maintained (e.g. 512). The System/370 hardware provides the ability to test whether or not a translation from virtual to real for the virtual address request is available in the TLB. If the translation is available, it is used and dynamic address translation is bypassed. This can result in significant time savings. The translation lookaside buffer maintains several pieces of information including an indicator of whether the entry is for the host system or a guest, the logical address translated, the real address that resulted from the translation, and the segment table origin (STO) address of the logical address.

Apparatus and method for TLB purge reduction in a multi-level machine system

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and device for processing files of distributed file system are disclosed, in which the method involves dividing the file into at least one data group according to the size of the file, and determining first mapping information from the file to the at least one data group, in which each of the at least one data group includes content blocks and verification block of file, and determining second mapping information from each of the at least one data group to data storage servers storing the each of the at least one data group (102), and providing the first mapping information and the second mapping information to a client for executing a writing operation of files (103). The technical solution can improve availability of memory space and decrease costs of constructing a distributed file system.

The file system's functions contained in the existing operating systems are responsible for organizing persistent contents required by the systems, applications and the final users, storing the contents in a local storage device, and providing such functions as reading, modifying, deleting and transferring the persistent contents under control of access permissions. With the development of storage and network technologies, file systems are greatly changed in terms of its composition and base for implementation.
The prior art has provided a distributed file system that stores multiple copies of each block of a file that is under its management, so as to ensure reliability of the file contents. As long as any copy is valid in the entire system, the data represented by that copy is valid, and a user can successfully access to the data. The reliable manner provided by independent copies belongs to the parallel system amongst reliability models. The parallel system is a system of enhanced reliability for providing reliability in parallel.
However, in order to ensure higher reliability, the aforementioned prior-art technology divides a file into blocks and subsequently stores the blocks in a plurality of data storage servers in direct redundancy mode, whereby the storage space utilization becomes low, thus bringing about high cost for system construction. Specifically when individual data storage server costs much, direct redundancy causes higher cost such that it is difficult to construct the system.

Method and device for processing files of distributed file system


To permit miter cuts clear through a workpiece, or for selected depths, a saw band carrier (6) supports a pair of saw band wheels (7, 8) above and below a workpiece support (2), and the saw band wheel carrier (6) is pivotable about a substantially vertical axis of rotation (29). The axis of rotation (29) is preferably located at the initial cutting engagement point of an endless saw band (9) looped about the saw band wheels (7, 8), and the pivoting position can be arrested at any desired pivoted or angular position. In addition, the saw band carrier can be arranged to tilt about an essentially horizontal tilt axis.

In known vertical band saws of this kind the axes of rotation of the runner wheels preferably have an inclination of 45.degree. in relation to the cutting plane, to which there should however be no limitation. Furthermore, as a rule clamping means for the material are provided, which for the secure retention of the material are arranged preferably on both sides of the cutting plane.
The known vertical band saws enable the material to be sawn to be severed in an arrangement of the cutting plane normal to the direction of feed of the material. Miter cuts, in which the cutting plane is pivoted in relation to the feed direction of the material, are not, however, possible in this case.
Known vertical band saws with a work bench of the machine frame not provided with clamping means do permit freehand sawing to a certain extent wherein the material piece to be machined is fed by hand at an appropriate angle to the cutting plane formed by the saw band.
In order to produce miter cuts, cold circular saws are used in which the saw blade and thus the cutting plane can be pivoted to the miter angle. Such cold circular saws have, however, the disadvantages that the material cross-section is limited by the size of the radius of the saw blade in relation to the possibilities of a vertical band saw of the stated kind, and that a circular saw blade has an arcuate rather than straight-line cutting course so that there is no possibility of producing rectilinear incisions, i.e. straight cuts which do not completely sever the material.
Cold circular saws are, incidentally, in no way suitable for freehand machining or cutting of workpiece material in the manner described above. Freehand sawing with circular saws is extremely hazardous.

Keuro Besitz GmbH & Co. EDV-Dienstleistungs KG.


A gain control signal (VCTRL) is provided to a temperature compensating circuit (12) which produces a differential temperature compensating gain control signal (VDT). A gain compensating circuit (14) receives the differential temperature compensating gain control signal (VDT) and provides a differential gain and temperature compensating gain control signal (VDTG) to an amplifier (16). The differential gain and temperature compensating gain control signal (VDTG) varies the gain of the amplifier (16) to be substantially linear with respect to variation of the gain control signal (VCTRL) and to compensate for variation in temperature.

Electronic variable gain amplifiers (VGA) that provide a decibel linear gain response in relation to a gain control signal are known. Such a VGA has an input for receiving a signal and an output for providing the input signal amplified by the gain of the VGA which is determined by a gain control signal.
In operation, one requirement of the VGA is that its gain response in decibels be linear with respect to the level of the gain control signal. While this can be accomplished when the VGA is operating at relatively low gain, when a higher gain is required the gain of the VGA in decibels can become non-linear in relation to the level of the gain control signal. This occurs because beyond a certain gain, the gain of the amplifier begins to reduce or roll off. Another requirement of the VGA is that its gain response in decibels versus the level of the gain control signal be less sensitive to variations in temperature.
One method of obtaining a linear relationship between the gain in decibel and the gain control signal was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,772 by Klotz where feedback is employed to generate a conditioned control voltage.
A disadvantage of this method is that there is no effective temperature compensation. Another disadvantage is the need for good matching between the stages to avoid discontinuities in the gain versus gain control signal characteristic of the VGA.

Temperature compensated decibel linear variable gain amplifier