Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for deterministically skewing transmission of content streams. A content stream comprising one or more video frames is received. The content stream is buffered in a buffer, wherein the buffer allows simultaneous read access to the content stream at a plurality of locations. One or more video frames of the content stream are transmitted from the buffer to a first device associated with a first subscriber beginning at a first location in the buffer based on a first transmission delay parameter. One or more video frames of the content stream are transmitted from the buffer to a second device associated with a second subscriber beginning at a second location in the buffer based on a second transmission delay parameter.

Video that is transmitted in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum (e.g., distributed from a cable head-end) may use Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), or for terrestrial broadcasts (e.g., Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) over air in the US) 8-Vestigial Sideband Modulation (8VSB), or Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (COFDM) in Europe. Both convert the digital video into a modulated RF signal that is up-converted and transmitted in the analog RF spectrum. For example, 256-QAM has approximately a 5.1 MHz symbol rate at 6 MHz, with each symbol capable of representing 8 bits of information. This means a 256-QAM channel is able to transmit approximately 40 Mbps of digital data information within the 6 MHz RF Channel (note that Europe uses 8 MHz channels). Including noise reduction methods, such as Forward Error Correction (FEC), this translates into roughly ten (10) 3.75 Mbps digitally compressed video programs that fit within the 6 MHz channel bandwidth, instead of just a single analog program. The modulated digital video is formatted using MPEG-2 (for Moving Picture Experts Group) Transport Streams (MPEG-2 TS), and each home's television or set top box (STB) that is capable of receiving the transmission tunes to a particular RF channel to decode a program.
The RF spectrum limits the number of unique 6 MHz channels that are available for transmitting digital data and video. As a result, this limits the number of unique video programs that can be broadcast (or transmitted) at any one time to homes, especially when sharing the same Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC, as in a Cable deployment) since they all would share the same RF spectrum. This limitation is also true for homes sharing the same passive optical network (PON, such as a gigabit PON, or GPON) in a Telco deployment (typically a single wavelength is used for an RF overlay). Finding ways to reclaim the analog television RF spectrum is a high priority for cable providers. This means looking at Switched Digital Video (SDV) approaches to selectively provide more digital content, as well as an effort to move toward an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) infrastructure where the video is transported using IP data networks (e.g., Data Over Cable Interface Specification (DOCSIS)). In a cable deployment, QAM can still be used for transmitting digital data (i.e., DOCSIS), while in a Telco deployment Very high bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) and Passive Optical Networking (PON, such as a B/GPON) may be used. Each solution transports Ethernet frames and provides access to an IP network.
In IPTV networks, video data is typically wrapped in a transport layer (e.g., Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP)) and then multicast or unicast across the network. An IP packet would generally contain up to seven (7) 188-byte MPEG-2 TS packets, or some number up to the Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) of the network. IP multicast is common for distributing live content broadcast channels that are viewed or consumed in real-time by multiple subscribers, where IP unicast is used for per-subscriber delivery. For broadcast channels, each has a unique IP multicast address that devices (e.g., a STB) "join" (e.g., using the Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP)) in order to access a channel or program. Per-subscriber delivery uses a separate IP unicast address for each device. This allows viewing of content by a single device, such as for accessing on-demand content and for personalized broadcast video (e.g., with per-subscriber advertisement placements).
An MPEG-2 TS is typically used for transporting digital live content since MPEG TS includes timing information (e.g., a Program Clock Reference (PCR)) that creates a synchronous relationship between a real-time encoder and decoder (e.g., STB). When the content (e.g., a television program) is fed into an MPEG encoder, the process produces a Single Program Transport Stream (SPTS) containing audio and video data. The SPTS is comprised from Packetized Elementary Streams (PES) containing separate audio and video Elementary Streams (ES). A video ES may be coded as MPEG-2 or H.264/AVC (for Advanced Video Coding), depending on the requirements of the service provider. Typically, one or more audio PES is included in an SPTS (e.g., for multiple audio PES, each for a particular language) along with a video PES. Data may also be carried in the MPEG-2 TS, such as for Program Specific Information (PSI), Electronic Program Guide (EPG), and advanced services.
Once the SPTS is created at the encoder, the SPTS may optionally be fed into a multiplexer which inputs multiple SPTSs and creates a multiplex referred to as a Multi Program Transport Stream (MPTS). When an MPTS is received by a device, the device reads the PSI and the Program ID (PID) in each 188-byte MPEG-2 TS packet to de-multiplex the stream. The PSI associates each program's content with a PID, which the device uses to selectively extract the audio and video PES from the MPTS that the device uses to display (e.g., on a TV) or store (e.g., on a DVR).
The SPTS and MPTS may be transported as Constant Bit Rate (CBR) or as Variable Bit Rate (VBR) depending on the requirements of the distribution network (e.g., Edge Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (EQAM) in a Multiple System Operator (MSO) may require CBR) and the device decoder. For CBR delivery, MPEG-2 TS "Null" packets may need to be added to the data stream in order to maintain a constant bit rate. An MPTS multiplexer may also need to reduce the bit rate of one or more SPTS streams (i.e., clamping or trans-rating) when the coincident rate of the combined streams exceeds the target transport capacity (e.g., QAM, GbE, etc.). This operation is performed at the Elementary Stream (ES) level, and involves modifying Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) coefficients, variable length codes, removing coded Blocks, and skipping Macroblocks, etc. Processing at the ES level is generally considered an expensive operation, to be performed as necessary.
The coding standards for Digital Television involve inter-picture coding (ISO MPEG-2 and H.264/AVC, Microsoft VC-1, etc.) for higher coding efficiency, typically requiring one or more video pictures (interchangeably called frames) to decode many of the other pictures. The transmission order and the display order of an inter-picture coded Group of Pictures (GOP) is generally different, since B-pictures are bi-directionally predicted from a future picture (and possibly the next GOP). For example, the first two (2) B-pictures of a GOP may be backward predicted from the first I-picture (e.g., no forward prediction from a prior GOP). Such a GOP ends at the last P-picture, with no references made to that P-picture from a future GOP. The first I-picture needs to be sent and decoded first so that the I-picture can be used to decode the following B-pictures. Typically, I-pictures tend to be bigger than the size of P-pictures and P-pictures tend to be bigger than the size of B-pictures. If all of the SPTS streams are aligned at delivery (e.g., all the I-pictures are sent at the same time), then the bandwidth that is allocated to the transmission medium needs to be high enough to support the peak rate of all the I-frames.
In IPTV deployments, often times only the selected video (e.g., video that a subscriber has selected to watch) is sent to the device (e.g., to a device associated with the subscriber) over an IP data network (e.g., DOCSIS, VDSL, GPON, Ethernet, etc.) to the STB, making it possible to customize each viewing experience. This applies to both stored content (e.g., on-demand and timeshift TV) as well as live content broadcasts. In the case of live content broadcasts, multiple viewers may be watching the same program, but advertisements at commercial breaks may be customized based on, for example, geography and the learned preferences of each subscriber (e.g., per-subscriber advertising).
Live content broadcast video is synchronous by nature, since programs tend to start and stop at predetermined times (e.g., time according to the wall clock). For example, networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, etc.) satellite broadcast programs to local affiliates, which then rebroadcast the content. Channel changing is often clustered at the start and end of programming, since people tend to look for "what else is on," or what content is on other channels. Advertisements are generally placed at predetermined times, even across multiple television channels (e.g., at the beginning and the end of programs and at fixed intervals within the programs). There is also the occasional unexpected content (e.g., breaking news) or unusual event that occurs (e.g., an event not typically shown again by a network because that event is "not appropriate") that may also cause a large number of subscribers to simultaneously perform a Timeshift TV rewind. All these events, some separate and some combined, tend to create sharp spikes in subscriber activity at nearly the same time due to the synchronous nature of time driven broadcast.
IPTV networks supporting a unicast model of delivery observe the high correlation between program and time by receiving signaling events (e.g., from a STB) from each subscriber (e.g., using Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP)), nearly at the same time. These events may occur, for example, due to a channel change (e.g., channel changing at the top and bottom of the hour when channel surfing, looking for what else is on, primetime programming, etc.). The events may also occur during ad splicing (e.g., at the start and end of a program, predetermined intervals within program, etc.). The events may also occur during a focused rewind (e.g., something unusual or unexpected happens on popular content and everyone wants to see or hear the event, such as in Timeshift TV when everyone rewinds at same time, etc.)
Stored content selection can be naturally distributed over a larger time frame (e.g., due to different STB request times, since each user may request the stored content for viewing at unrelated times based on personal preference), and content access is generally more tolerant of delivery delay. However, in a live content unicast delivery system, where each subscriber receives a separate video stream (e.g., to their STB), possibly the same or different channel, the signaling requests from the subscribers (e.g., changing channels) can tend to be clustered in a very small time window as a result of the natural alignment of program delivery. The video delivery system is burdened with receiving and processing all of the requests in a very short window of time. This sharp peak in the request rate will often subside once subscribers find the programming they desire, and the signaling requests will fall to a relatively low number. This makes the peak to average ratio of request very high, and may result in a need for the video delivery system to be sized to handle the "peak" signaling events, or possibly increase the video delivery system's processing delay (e.g., a change channel may take very long time to happen during peak signaling events, while not long during average signaling events).
Fast channel change performance can be especially important in a unicast video delivery system, since the request to change channels is sent back to the video delivery system, rather than at the STB (e.g., by tuning to a different QAM RF). The video delivery system's ability to respond quickly is essential to the utility of the solution. If the number of channel change requests becomes too high during the same period in time, the signaling control may not be able to respond quickly enough to all requests.
Per-subscriber ad splicing in live content broadcast streams is similarly exposed to the synchronous nature of television, since ad placements tend to be located at the start and end of programs and at fixed intervals therein. This is generally also true across different television channels, resulting in the simultaneous access to stored advertisements that may or may not reside on the same video delivery system (e.g., each ad placement contends for access to the same storage device). If the number of simultaneous requests to storage exceeds the storage bandwidth capacity, such a condition may result in a video underflow or a missed ad placement. Further, there is a limited time window for determining an ad placement (e.g., a four second count down that is signaled in a live content broadcast feed), that compounds the control plane problem when all ad placements coincide in time.
Timeshift TV is an application where a live content program is broadcast in real-time and is also simultaneously stored. This allows a subscriber to "pause" live TV, rewind, and fast forward to "catch up" to live. In the case of many subscribers watching the same live content program, and something happens that causes everyone to rewind, this creates a problem similar to ad splicing, in that there are many highly correlated requests to access the storage system (to see something in the past that is stored). This can overwhelm both the control plane, as in channel changing, and the storage system (random access to multiple places in file).

Deterministically skewing transmission of content streams


A method and apparatus is disclosed for the instant intraoperative detection and biopsy of metastatic cancer using fluorescence spectroscopy. A photosensitizing agent selectively retained by cancerous tissue is administered prior to surgery. A fiberoptic probe integrated with a biopsy device illuminates the examined tissue and causes fluorescence which is recorded by a spectrograph and plotted as a spectral curve. The intensity ratio (S1/S2) for the fluorescence from the photosensitizing agent (S1) and autofluorescence (S2) for the examined tissue is compared with the intensity ratio at the same wavelengths for primary tumor and normal tissue. Tissue that displays an intensity ratio different from that of normal tissue can immediately be analyzed for the depth of tumor involvement and then excised for histological examination using the biopsy device.

Perhaps no disease known to modern civilization is viewed with as much general fear as cancer. Heart attacks and strokes tend to be thought of as natural hazards of age, and either a normal end to a satisfactorily long life or, when they occur in middle-age, the wages of a sedentary lifestyle. In contrast, cancer is thought of as an unpredictable disease that strikes indiscriminately at rich and poor, fat and thin, old and young, as if it owed nothing to external causes. J. Cairns, Mutation, Selection and Cancer, Nature, Vol. 255, pp. 197-200 (1975).
Each year in the United States, approximately 600,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed; and one out of every five people in this country will die from cancer, or from complications associated with its treatment. However, most of these cancer patients are not killed by their primary tumor. They succumb instead to metastasis: multiple, widespread tumor colonies established by malignant cells that detach themselves from the original tumor and travel through the body, often to distant sites. G. Nicholson, Experimental Tumor Metastasis: Characteristics in Organ Specificity, Bioscience, Vol. 28, No. 7, pp. 441-47 (July, 1978). If a primary tumor is detected early enough, it can usually be eliminated by surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or photodynamic therapy, or some combination of these treatments. Unfortunately, the metastatic colonies are harder to detect and eliminate because they often are not visible to the unaided eye, being microscopic in size or hidden within tissues or organs. This difficulty in detecting and eradicating metastasis enhances cancer's image as a fleeting and unpredictable disease.
Presently, primary tumor detection is accomplished by x-ray, ultrasonography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), positron emission tomography (PET), chemical laboratory analysis and biopsy. However, metastatic dissemination from the primary tumor often is impossible to detect with these methods. As a result, there is a definite need for an accurate and sensitive technique to detect and sample these elusive metastatic colonies.
Every diagnosis of cancer must be documented by a definitive biopsy. In addition, biopsy is a crucial technique in the management of cancer. Since different types of neoplasms have their own responses to the various modalities of therapy, a histological diagnosis is imperative in planning the appropriate management of malignant disease. Moreover, biopsy provides the pathologist with adequate samples of tumor. In addition to the biopsy, an immediate frozen section during intraoperative procedures is often necessary for final diagnosis of malignancy. However, frozen section histology is both time consuming and expensive. Performed during the operation, this procedure requires the surgeon to halt the surgery midstream until the pathology of the suspected cancerous tissue is determined. Once determined, the operation can then be resumed. Consequently, the availability of a device that provides an instant indication of metastasis, as well as a simultaneous biopsy sample of the suspected tissue during the operative procedure would satisfy the need for a definitive biopsy and eliminate the disadvantages of frozen tissue histology.
With this in mind, it has been known for more than sixty years that some porphyrins are selectively retained by neoplastic tissue. A. Policard, Etudes Sur Les Aspects Offerts Par De Tumeurs Experimentales Examineesa La Lumiere De Woods, C. R. Seanc Soc. Biol. 91:1423-4 (1924). These same porphyrins also emit a characteristic dual-peaked red fluorescence after being exposed to light containing the appropriate wavelength to excite fluorescence. Although any fluorescent agent selectively retained by cancerous tissue can be used, Lipson in 1961, used these two properties of porphyrins to develop a primary tumor detection system. Lipson also introduced hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) which demonstrated better tumor-localizing properties. R. L. Lipson, et al., The Use of a Derivative of Hematoporphyrin in Tumor Detection, J. Nat. Cancer Inst. 26:1-11 (1961). Dougherty then took advantage of HPD's photosensitizing properties to eradicate tumors, opening the door to HPD's use as a therapeutic cancer modality. Since that time, HPD's primary importance in the cancer arena has been as a potential cancer treatment, and extensive investigation has been done to refine its use. T. Dougherty, C.R.C. Critical Review in Oncology/Hematology, S. David, E. D. (C.R.C. Press, Florida, 1984).
Termed, "Hematoporphyrin Derivative Photodynamic Therapy," HPD's mechanism in cancer therapy is based on its affinity for malignant tumors relative to other tissues. When injected intravenously, HPD localizes at higher levels in malignant tumor tissues than in normal tissues. The HPD is then activated by light to catalyze the production of singlet oxygen from available triplet oxygen. Although the exact mechanism of necrosis is unclear, it has been suggested that the reactive singlet oxygen oxidizes unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds in amino acids and fatty acids. The ensuing loss of the structural integrity of cellular macromolecules results in cytocidal effects and tumor necrosis. Li, et al., Application of HPD and Laser-Induced Photo Dynamical Reaction in the Treatment of Lung Cancer, Laser in Surgery and Medicine, 4:31-7 (1984).
This use of HPD in photodynamic cancer treatment is a very exiting and rapidly developing possibility. However, a complete cure for cancer is impossible without specific detection and ablation of those cancer cells that have disseminated throughout the organism via the lymphatic or circulatory system. The present invention deals with this problem of metastasis and facilitates a potential cancer cure by utilizing HPD's tumor-seeking properties and fluorescence to instantly detect and simultaneously biopsy cancerous tissue undetected by conventional methods.
Although much of the research involving HPD has been with regard to cancer treatment, several investigators have looked at HPD's tumor detection capabilities. However, the goal of this detection work has been to use surface fluorescence to localize carcinoma in situ which by definition has not penetrated the basement membrane, and thus is not metastasizing. In contrast, the present invention is capable of detecting and biopsying metastatic sites, as well as determining tumor depth and size. In fact, the present invention is based in part on the discovery that metastatic sites which generally are undetected by conventional diagnostic methods produce a fluorescence spectra different from that of primary tumor and normal tissue. The photosensitizer enhanced fluorescence spectra of metastatic sites are consistently and significantly higher than the fluorescence spectra of both the primary tumor and normal tissue.
Profio, et al. described a fluorescence bronchoscopy system for localizing small lung tumors and carcinomas in situ by HPD fluorescence. E. Profio, Fluorescence Bronchoscopy for Localization of Carcinoma In Situ, Med. Phys. 10 (1), pp. 35-39 (Jan./Feb. 1983). Ankerst, Montan and Svanberg each studied HPD laser-induced fluorescence in normal and tumor rat tissue to determine optimal HPD surface fluorescence for tumor detection. J. Ankerst, et al., Laser-Induced Fluorescence Studies of Hematoporphyrin Derivative (HPD) in Normal and Tumor Tissue of Rat, Applied Spectroscopy, Vol. 38, No. 6, pp. 890-96 (1984); S. Montan, Multicolor Imaging and Contrast Enhancement in Cancer-Tumor Localization Using Laser-Induced Fluorescence in Hematoporphyrin-Derivative-Bearing Tissue, Optics Letters, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 56-8 (February, 1985); and K. Svanberg, Fluorescence Studies of Hematoporphyrin Derivative in Normal and Malignant Rat Tissue, Cancer Research, 46:3806-808 (August, 1986). Kato, et al. described four different bronchoscopic fluorescence detection systems that have facilitated the localization of HPD-labelled squamous cell carcinoma of the trachea and the central bronchi. H. Kato, et al., Early Detection of Lung Cancer by Means of Hematoporphyrin Derivative Fluorescence and Laser Photoradiation, Clinics in Chest Medicine, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 337-53 (June, 1985).
Others have attempted to utilize HPD's tumor seeking properties to detect cancer, but have failed. This failure was apparently due to an intrinsic abundance of free porphyrins in cancerous tissue and HPD's uptake in normal tissue. It therefore was concluded that HPD did not provide a good in vivo technique for detection. The present invention, however, overcomes these failures, and is capable of detecting cancer in situ as well as difficult to find metastasis. Moreover, once detected, the present invention also allows for the immediate biopsy of metastatic sites.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,516 to R. R. Alfano, there is described a method and apparatus for detecting the presence of tumors in situ using the native visible luminescence of the cell. The invention is based exclusively on the intrinsic fluorescence of the cell produced by native flavins and porphyrins found in abundance in subcellular organelles.

Apparatus and method of use for a photosensitizer enhanced fluorescence based biopsy needle


A novel crosslinkable composition comprising. (A) an organosilicon compound having radicals containing aliphatic carbon-carbon multiple bonds, PA0 (B) an organosilicon compound having Si-bonded hydrogen atoms, PA0 (C) a catalyst which promotes the addition of Si-bonded hydrogen onto aliphatic multiple bonds and, optionally, PA0 (D) agents which retard the addition of Si-bonded hydrogen onto aliphatic multiple bonds at room temperature, PA0 (a) on average per molecule, at least one structural unit of the formula EQU --Z--SiR.sub.x (OSiR.sub.3-a H.sub.a).sub.3-x (I), PA0 where. wherein the organosilicon compounds having Si-bonded hydrogen atoms (B) used are ones comprising. R is an identical or different monovalent, optionally halogenated hydrocarbon radical which is free of aliphatic multiple bonds and has from 1 to 8 carbon atoms per radical, PA1 Z is a divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms per radical, PA1 a is 1, 2 or 3, and PA1 x is 0 or 1.

Crosslinkers used for aliphatically unsaturated organopolysiloxanes are almost exclusively organopolysiloxanes containing hydrogenmethylsiloxane units, in the simplest case hydrogenmethylpolysiloxane end-blocked with triorganosiloxy groups. To increase the reactivity, it is useful to incorporate dimethylsiloxane units between the hydrogenmethylsiloxane units by equilibration. However, these measures are only limited improvements.
Apart from these crosslinkers based on hydrogenmethylsiloxane units, crosslinkers without methyl groups are also known. DE-B 1 955 511 and the corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 3,615,272 describe resins comprising hydrogensiloxane units, i.e., trifunctional units. However, such polymers are for restricted utility use as crosslinkers in addition-curing organopolysiloxane compositions since they hardly dissolve in the crosslinkable diorganopolysiloxanes.
EP-A 568 318 discloses organopolysiloxanes containing trifunctional siloxane units and monofunctional siloxane units containing Si-bonded hydrogen. According to EP-A 568 318, T units in the form of organosiloxane units are end-blocked with hydrogendimethylsiloxy groups, with a differing number of dimethylsiloxane or hydrogenmethylsiloxane units being incorporated between these groups.
According to DE-A 37 16 372, organopolysiloxanes containing Si-bonded hydrogen atoms and from 3 to 5 silicon atoms per molecule are prepared from [H(CH.sub.3).sub.2 Si].sub.2 O and trialkoxysilanes in a hydrolytic process.
Polym. Prepr. Vol. 34(2), 538 (1993) discloses that the self-cyclization of allyltris(dimethylsiloxy)silane is dominant when this compound reacts in dilute form under platinum catalysis.
Polym. Prepr. Vol. 34(2), 503 (1993) describes the self-cyclization. To avoid this, attempts are made to incorporate relatively long alkenyl groups into the monomeric compound of the formula alkenylSi(R.sub.2 SiH).sub.3. Isomerization of the .omega.-alkenyl double bond into an internal position takes place to an extent of from 15 to 16 mol % in the synthesis of the monomeric compound, as a result of which this percentage remains unreactive. In addition, the Si--H groups are further "diluted" because of the higher weight of C.sub.6 H.sub.11 or C.sub.8 H.sub.15 groups. The end products are unstable since the Si--H groups have to be protected to avoid gel formation.
According to Chemical Abstracts, Vol. 122, 56637, 1995, vinyltris(dimethylsiloxy)silane is prepared in a complicated process in which the volatile dimethyl-chlorosilane and the highly inflammable diethyl ether are required. In addition, auxiliary bases are needed for the work-up. The polymerization under various conditions forms self-polymers having average molecular weights of from 5,200 to 53,000 g/mol. Although hardly any cyclic products are formed, the polymerization can be controlled only with difficulty since the silane reacts strongly exothermically as soon as the platinum catalyst is added. The use as crosslinker is not described.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,054 describes a process for preparing compounds of the formula R.sub.4-n Si(OSiMe.sub.2 H).sub.n, with only aliphatically saturated radicals and no aliphatically unsaturated radicals being described as radicals R.

Organosilicon compounds having Si-bonded hydrogen atoms in crosslinkable compositions


A mobile phone, which is capable of reproducing a broadcast program supplied through a broadcast wave and stored programs stored in a program data storage, is provided with (i) a program ID extraction section that obtains a broadcast program ID for identifying a supplied broadcast program and a stored program ID for identifying a stored program, and (ii) a program reproduction control section that selects, as a reproduced program, at least one of a broadcast program and stored programs. On this account, a suitable program is selected and reproduced even if a broadcast program is broadcasted in a one-to-many manner. As a result, a suitable reproduced program is selected at suitable timing, in accordance with a supplied broadcast program and stored programs, and hence diversified needs of the users are satisfied.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a content reproduction device and a control method of the content reproduction device, for achieving a bidirectional content delivery service with the cooperation of broadcasting and communications.
2. Description of the Related Art
In tandem with the advancement of network technologies, the number of terminals connected to the Internet has dramatically increased, and new services based on the cooperation of conventional broadcasting services and network-based communications services have emerged. Broadcasting services are advantageous in that, through one-to-many broadcasting, a plurality of users can simultaneously enjoy a service.
As it has become possible to add, to such broadcasting services, network-based services, bidirectional services with the cooperation of broadcasting and communications are considered to become popular in near future.
More specifically, For example, under a bidirectional service with the cooperation of broadcasting and communications, contents are broadcasted on broadcast waves and received by receiving terminals (content reproduction devices) of many users. Those content reproduction devices receiving the contents can respond to the contents via a communications service. For example, access to a related information service is carried out via a network, based on information of an access target (e.g. server), which information is included in the delivered contents.
In the bidirectional services, service providers who provide contents are required to satisfy users' diversified needs and to provide fine-tuned services.
To achieve these requirements, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 8-115361 (published on May 7, 1996) discloses a technique in which, user-specific information is extracted based on a user identifier for specifying the user, and a user-specific service is added to common service information (for example, user-specific contents suitable for each user are delivered).
According to the technique above, however, it is not possible to provide fine-tuned services corresponding to diversified needs of the users, if the technique is adopted to push-model services such as one-to-many broadcasting of contents.
In addition to the above, the most suitable content to be reproduced by a content reproduction device of the aforesaid patent document changes in line with use conditions (e.g. which content is supplied (reproduced)). The technique of the patent document above cannot take into consideration this change.
In other words, to provide fine-tuned services corresponding to diversified needs of the users, each content reproduction device is required to make a change to a delivered content in line with the use conditions, and reproduce the most appropriate content at a suitable timing.

Content reproduction device and control method thereof


A method of automatic change quantification for medical decision support includes: automatically detecting a structure in a set of medical images; characterizing the detected structure including modeling of deformation characteristics of the detected structure; matching images based on the characterization of the detected structure, wherein a size measure of the detected structure is constrained according to the deformation characteristics; and quantifying a change in the detected structure.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to medical imaging and, more particularly, to systems and methods for providing automatic change quantification for medical decision support.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Computer-aided automatic change detection and quantification can be applied for computer-aided medical decision support to enable longitudinal studies of patient data. For example, computer-aided automatic change detection and quantification can be applied to support: computer-aided diagnosis; therapy monitoring of surgical, interventional, radiation, drug therapies; and computer-aided drug development and clinical trials.
Registration is the process of alignment of medical imaging data. FIG. 1 illustrates examples of conventional medical image registration results. Image registration using conventional algorithms may result in a "perfect" registration with no change detection (CD) or a reasonable registration with wrong change detection.
A change detection algorithm typically performs registration first and then performs subtraction or other difference operations. Given that these two tasks are mutually dependent, a sequential solution is not optimal and may produce false results. In fact, the purpose of image registration or image fusion is to discard geometrical changes. So there is a "chicken-and-egg" relationship between registration and change detection. In addition, existing solutions for image registration are highly susceptible to motion and algorithmic artifacts.

Systems and methods for automatic change quantification for medical decision support


An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (5-HMF) with suppressed production of byproducts. The present invention provides a method for producing 5-HMF, comprising the step of performing a dehydration reaction of a carbohydrate comprising a hexose as a constituent sugar or a derivative thereof to produce 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural, wherein the dehydration reaction is performed in the presence of activated carbon. The present invention also provides a method for producing a carbohydrate composition comprising 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural, comprising the step of heating a carbohydrate composition comprising one or more selected from the group consisting of a carbohydrate comprising a hexose as a constituent sugar and a derivative thereof, in the presence of an acid catalyst and activated carbon at a temperature of 90 to 400° C.

To establish a sustainable circulating society, the utilization of biomass which is a renewable organism-derived resource is attracting attention. As the utilization of biomass, 5-HMF, which is a product obtained by dehydration of a carbohydrate, is attracting attention. 5-HMF is known as a compound contained in foods such as honey, and the utilization thereof as a raw material for polymers, plastics and biofuels is contemplated. In particular, plastics prepared from biomass are referred to as bioplastics. In recent years, 100% bio-based polyethylene furanoate (PEF) is expected as a novel bioplastic. PEF is a condensation polymer of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and ethylene glycol. Produced is 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (hereinafter abbreviated as "FDCA" in some cases) via an oxidation reaction of 5-HMF.
It is known that 5-HMF can be produced through an intramolecular dehydration reaction using, for example, fructose having a hexose skeleton as a raw material by an acid catalyst. As the acid catalyst for this reaction, inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid and solid acid catalysts such as strongly acidic cation exchange resins, metal oxides and immobilized sulfuric acid catalysts are used (Patent Documents 1 and 2). A method using any of such catalysts can be used to produce 5-HMF, but the applicable raw material concentration is limited for reasons such as reduction in selectivity. Further, the solid acid catalyst is advantageous in that it can be easily removed later by filtration, centrifugation or the like after the reaction when 5-HMF is produced on an industrial scale, but involves the problems of expensiveness and difficulty in obtainment on an industrial scale. Further, when 5-HMF is inexpensively produced with a high yield on an industrial scale, it is indispensable to increase the raw material concentration. However, the above method causes production of large amounts of insoluble byproducts which are attached to a producing device, leading to the problem of difficulty in continuous production.

Method producing for 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural with suppressed by-product formation


Coatings containing at least 85% by volume crystalline mullite with less than 15% by volume of amorphous material and mullite dissociation phases are plasma sprayed onto the surface of a silicon based ceramic substrate by closely controlling the plasma spray parameters including the mullite feed stock and its particle size, the nozzle outlet stand-off distance, movement of the substrate past the plasma flow, back side heating of the substrate and the powder feed rate through the plasma spray gun.

(1). Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to plasma sprayed mullite coatings and to an improved method for plasma spraying mullite coatings onto silicon based ceramic materials. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved method for plasma spraying predominantly crystalline, crack-free, mullite coatings onto silicon based ceramics and composites without the need for preheating the substrate above the crystallization temperature of mullite.
(2). Description of the Prior Art
Silicon based ceramics such as silicon carbide and silicon nitride as well as composites of these materials have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to their high temperature capability and/or thermal stability in oxidizing environments. Such materials have found wide spread interest for the fabrication of high temperature structures such as gas turbine components, combustor components, compressor linings, nozzles and heat exchanger equipment.
It has been found desirable, if not necessary, in many applications to apply a protective coating to the silicon based ceramics and composites in order to limit thermal gradients and thereby reduce thermally induced mechanical stresses within the substrate. Coatings have also been applied to these ceramic materials to provide environmental protection or to bond other environmentally protective coatings, such as those which are zirconia based, to the substrates. Ceramic coatings have also been provided in the form of abradables, for example, to provide gas path sealing for rotating turbine components and the like.
It is known that mullite (3Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.2SiO.sub.2) is an excellent thermal barrier coating (TBC) for silicon based ceramics due to its low thermal conductivity. Mullite is stable in oxidizing atmospheres and also has a low thermal coefficient of expansion which nearly matches that of silicon carbide, for example. However, if mullite is thermally sprayed as a primarily amorphous coating, subsequent exposure to temperatures above about 1800.degree. F. (about 980.degree. C.) causes re-crystallization and sintering. This can result in shrinkage leading to severe surface cracking and eventually loss of the coating.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,404 issued to Kang N. Lee et al. on Feb. 21, 1995, discloses a method for plasma spraying adherent mullite coatings onto silicon based ceramic materials wherein a crystalline mullite powder is flame-sprayed onto a substrate inside a furnace which is heated to elevated temperatures for the spraying process. At temperatures above 1800.degree. F. (about 980.degree. C.) mullite can crystallize in the high temperature environment and the coating is observed to be free of any amorphous material after it is removed from the furnace.
One problem with this approach, however, has been that the coating must be applied at these high temperatures inside a heating furnace. This requirement limits the size and complexity of the substrate or part that can be coated using conventional thermal spray equipment. There is, therefore, a need in the industry for an improved method of plasma spraying mullite coatings onto silicon based ceramics and composites which does not require heating in a furnace.
Another problem with the approach taken by Lee et al. is that it involves depositing an amorphous aluminosilicate material onto the substrate and then recrystallizing this material in-situ within the furnace during spraying. This can result in volume shrinkage and associated stress in the coating, which can limit the coating life.

Plasma sprayed mullite coatings on silicon based ceramic materials


An epoxy resin molding material for sealing of electronic components comprising. (A) an epoxy resin; PA1 (B) a phenolic compound; PA1 (C) a resin mixture obtained by PA1 (D) an inorganic filler. dispersing, in a form of particulates, in a dispersion medium which is a portion or all of at least one of the epoxy resin and the phenolic compound, a mixture of a vinyl group-containing organopolysiloxane and a .tbd.SiH group-containing organopolysiloxane whose total volatile loss after heating at 105.degree. C. for three hours is not more than 3% by weight, and allowing the vinyl group-containing organopolysiloxane and the .tbd.SiH group-containing organopolysiloxane to react with each other and to cure; and. is excellent in thermal shock resistance, soldering resistance, moisture resistance, thermal stability, moldability and marking properties.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to epoxy resin molding materials for sealing of electronic components, particularly, to epoxy resin molding materials which are excellent in thermal shock resistance, thermal stability and moldability and are particularly suitable for the plastic packaging of large scale integrated circuits (LSI) for surface mounting.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Epoxy resin molding materials have been mainly and widely used for the sealing of electronic components, such as transistors and integrated circuits (IC). The reason for it is that epoxy resins have well-balanced properties including the electrical properties, thermal stability, mechanical strength and adhesive properties to inserts. In particular, the combination of o-cresol novolak epoxy resins and phenol novolak hardeners brings about especially well-balanced properties, and the use of base resins of such a combination has become the mainstream in the preparation of molding materials for sealing of integrated circuits.
However, as the packages of integrated circuits are given as typical examples, packages of electronic components are being miniaturized and becoming thinner, so that cracking of packages caused by cyclic cooling and heating has become a problem. A known means of improving the thermal shock resistance of epoxy resin molding materials is the modification of epoxy resins with silicone polymers. Silicone polymers in general are immiscible in epoxy resins and disperse in a form of particulates, thereby improving the thermal shock resistance of the molding materials. Although liquid silicone polymers improve the thermal shock resistance of molding materials because of their immiscibility, they have a shortcoming of bleeding during molding, which causes flash (bleeding from the clearances in molds) and deteriorates of the appearance of molded products.
When siloxane compounds reacted previously with epoxy resins or hardeners are used in molding materials in order to prevent the bleeding during molding, usual decrease in glass transition temperature becomes a problem.
In order to solve these problems accompanying the bleeding of the liquid silicone polymers, there have been proposed some methods, for example, a method wherein self-curing liquid silicone polymers are dispersed in base resins and are then allowed to self-cure, and the solidified resin mixtures obtained thus are mixed with other ingredients (Japanese Patent Application Kokai Koho (Laid-open) No. 63-20324 and Japanese Patent Application Kokai Koho (Laid-open) No. 63-241021). Nevertheless, such methods cannot be a satisfactory measures since self-curing liquid silicone polymers contain low molecular weight volatile matters, which causes the same problems as those caused by the modification with liquid silicone polymers.
As for the thinned integrated circuit packages for surface mounting, they are different from the conventional packages for pin-insertion mounting in the method of mounting. The conventional packages for pin-insertion mounting are not exposed directly to high soldering temperatures since soldering of the pins are carried out from the reverse of a wiring board after the pins are inserted in the lead mounting holes of the wiring board. On the other hand, since the packages for surface mounting are temporarily secured on the surface of a wiring board and are then connected by dip soldering, reflow soldering or the like on the same surface of the wiring board, they are directly exposed to the soldering temperature. When the integrated circuit packages have absorbed moisture, rapid expansion of the hygroscopic moisture occurs during soldering, resulting in the cracking of the packages. This phenomenon has become to a serious problem accompanying to surface-mounted integrated circuits.
This phenomenon is also due to flexibilizers which are additives for reducing the stress generated in the interface between large scale integrated circuit chips and sealing materials. The reason is that the conventional flexibilizers are siloxane compounds, which have high permeability of moisture and decrease the strength and the adhesive properties at high temperatures.
Since the problems described above are inevitable in the integrated circuit packages of the conventional base resin compositions, there are taken measures of shipping dampproofing-packed integrated circuits or drying sufficiently integrated circuits chips prior to mounting on wiring boards. These measures, however, require much labor and high cost.

Epoxy resin molding material for sealing of electronic component


The present invention relates to fatty acids. In particular, the present invention provides polyconjugated fatty acids, and methods of their synthesis and their use.

Fatty acids with conjugated double bonds are well known naturally occurring compounds. Most fatty acids or fatty acid derivatives are single chain hydrocarbon molecules, with from 3 to up to 22 or more carbons. Many naturally occurring fatty acids are unsaturated, which means that they have at least one double bond; a fatty acid with two or more double bonds is referred to as polyunsaturated fatty acid. (The presence of a single double bond results in an enyne, two in a diene, three in a triene, four in a tetraene, five in a pentaene, six in a hexaene, seven in a heptaene, etc.) Most double bonds in polyunsaturated fatty acids are unconjugated polyenes, or methylene-interrupted polyenes, in that the double bonds are separated by a methyl group. However, in fewer cases, double bonds are conjugated, in that two double bonds are separated only by a single bond. Among naturally occurring conjugated polyenes, conjugated dienes and trienes are the most prevalent. Each conjugated double bond can exist in one of two isomeric forms: cis (referred to as c or Z), or trans (referred to as t or E).
Conjugated fatty acids have numerous commercial utilities. One is in drying oils. Drying oils are of value due to their ability to polymerize or dry after application to a surface to form tough, adherent and abrasion-resistant films. Upon exposure to oxygen, unconjugated polyenes, such as those contained in linseed oil and tung oil, oxidize and cross-link to form such films; however, conjugated polyenes cross-link more rapidly, are thus valued by the paint and varnish industries for use in drying oils.
Another utility is in the area of health and nutrition. Research has shown that conjugated polyenes may inhibit tumor growth, prevent heart disease, and reduce body fat. For example, investigations of the biological activity of conjugated fatty acids have suggested that they possess anti-arteriosclerosis effects, boost the immune system, and affect energy metabolism, promoting protein deposition while decreasing fat deposition. Yet another use is the presence of conjugated fatty acids in many insect pheromone blends.
Yet another utility is as research reagents. Long chain conjugated polyenes can be both fluorescent and photoreactive, and thus useful as probes or markers. For example, parinaric acid, a naturally occurring polyconjugated fatty acid, has been utilized as a fluorescent membrane probe to detect phase transitions in bilayers as well as interactions between lipids and proteins. Parinaric acid can be biosynthetically incorporated into phospholipids, and its environment examined thorough spectroscopic characterization. Additional information about the dynamics of membrane behavior as well as interactions between proteins and lipids can be obtained by using other conjugated double bond systems (e.g., with the chromophore in the middle of the fatty acid or near the carboxyl group (Goerger M. M. and Hudson B. S. (1988) J. Org. Chem. Vol. 53, No. 14, pp. 3148–3153). It appears that both the number and location of the conjugated double bonds within the fatty acid chain can affect the utility of the molecule as a research probe.
Although some polyconjugated fatty acids are naturally occurring (for example, several examples have been identified in marine plants), these fatty acids occur in limited quantities and in limited conformations. Thus, there is a need to develop other polyconjugated fatty acids with different conformations. There is also a need to provide other polyconjugated fatty acids in sufficient quantities to use as research tools, and potentially to use as nutritional supplements or as drugs or as platforms for developing drugs.
Although some methods exist to prepare conjugated polyenes, investigators continue to seek more efficient methods, as well as methods which can manipulate either the number and/or the location of the conjugated double bonds within a single fatty acid or fatty acid derivative. Moreover, methods are also sought which control the isomeric form of each conjugated double bond.

Board of Trustees Operating Michigan State University


Non-volatile memory cells employing a transition metal oxide layer as a data storage material layer are provided. The non-volatile memory cells include a lower and upper electrodes overlapped with each other. A transition metal oxide layer pattern is provided between the lower and upper electrodes. The transition metal oxide layer pattern is represented by a chemical formula MxOy. In the chemical formula, the characters “M”, “O”, “x” and “y” indicate transition metal, oxygen, a transitional metal composition and an oxygen composition, respectively. The transition metal oxide layer pattern has excessive transition metal content in comparison to a stabilized transition metal oxide layer pattern. Methods of fabricating the non-volatile memory cells are also provided.

Non-volatile memory devices retain their stored data even when their power supplies are turned off. Therefore, non-volatile memory devices have been widely used in computers, mobile telecommunication systems, memory cards and so on. Flash memory devices are widely used as non-volatile memory devices. Many flash memory devices employ memory cells having a stacked gate structure. The stacked gate structure includes a tunnel oxide layer, a floating gate, an inter-gate dielectric layer and a control gate electrode, which are sequentially stacked on a channel region. Film quality of the tunnel oxide layer should be improved in order to improve reliability and program efficiency of the flash memory cells, and a coupling ratio of the flash memory cell should be increased.
Recently, novel non-volatile memory devices, for example, resistance random access memory (RAM) devices have been proposed instead of flash memory devices. A unit cell of a resistance RAM device includes a data storage element having two electrodes and a variable resistive material layer interposed between the two electrodes. The variable resistive material layer, that is, a data storage material layer, may be changed into a conductor or an insulator according to a polarity and/or a magnitude of an electrical signal (voltage or current) applied to the electrodes. In other words, the data storage material layer has a switchable state. The voltage required to convert the data storage material layer to the insulator is referred to as a reset voltage, and the voltage required to convert the data storage material layer to the conductor is referred to as a set voltage.
Resistance RAM devices are disclosed in U.S. patent Publication Nos. US 2003/00011789 A1, US 2003/0148545 A1 and US 2003/0003674 A1 as well as U.S. Pat. No. 6,583,003 B1. According to these conventional devices, a praseodymium calcium manganese oxide (Pr,Ca)MnO3) layer (hereinafter, referred to as a "PCMO" layer) is used as the data storage material layer. However, it is difficult to pattern the PCMO layer using a conventional photolithography/etch process, which is widely used in the fabrication of semiconductor devices. This patterning complexity may lead to difficulties in improvement of integration density of resistance RAM devices employing a PCMO layer. In addition, four kinds of materials should be mixed to form the PCMO layer. Thus, it may be difficult to form the PCMO layer having a uniform composition throughout the semiconductor substrate. Moreover, a ZnO-based data storage material layer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,296 to Hunter, Jr. et al. According to Hunter, Jr. et al., the ZnO-based data storage material layer has a switching characteristic at a high voltage of about 50 V.

Non-volatile memory cells employing a transition metal oxide layer as a data storage material layer and methods of manufacturing the same


Embodiments of application discloses a method and device for determining external parameters of a stereo camera. The method comprises: acquiring ground surface data of a location of the stereo camera; generating, according to three-dimensional coordinates of each pixel in the ground surface data in a camera coordinate system corresponding to the stereo camera, a first plane equation in the camera coordinate system that conforms to the three-dimensional coordinates of the pixels; determining, according to a distance between the origin of the camera coordinate system and the ground surface, a setting height of the stereo camera; and generating, according to the first plane equation, a plane normal vector corresponding to the first plane equation; and determining, according to the plane normal vector, a pitch angle of the stereo camera and an inclination angle of the stereo camera. The external parameters of the stereo camera can be determined without using a reference point in a scene.

With the rapid development of image processing technology, applications such as human detection, target tracking, object detection, distance detection, object scanning recognition and 3D reconstruction of a scene based on stereo vision images have also been rapidly developed.
In general, a stereo camera can be used to obtain stereoscopic images. Before obtaining a stereoscopic image using a stereo camera, the stereo camera should be calibrated in advance to determine accurate camera parameters. Specifically, the camera parameters include internal parameters and external parameters. The external parameters indicate the position and direction of the stereo camera in the world coordinate system. That is to say, the external parameters of a stereo camera represent the coordinate transformation relationship between the camera coordinate system and the world coordinate system. Further, the external parameters of the stereo camera have a great influence on the accuracy of the images captured by the stereo camera. Three parameters, i.e. the setting height of the stereo camera, the pitch angle of the stereo camera, and the inclination angle of the stereo camera are usually used as external parameters of the stereo camera. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of external parameters of a stereo camera. In the upper part of FIG. 1, the three-dimensional coordinate system formed by axis xc axis zc and axis yc is a camera coordinate system corresponding to the stereo camera, and the stereo camera is the origin of the camera coordinate, which is identified as 0c. On the ground plane of FIG. 1, the coordinate system formed by axis x, axis z and axis y represented by the dashed line is the world coordinate system, with the origin of 0. The camera coordinate system is translated to the ground plane, so that the origin 0c of the camera coordinate system coincides with the origin 0 of the world coordinate system. The distance H between the ground plane and the origin of the camera coordinate system is the setting height of the stereo camera; the angle P is the pitch angle of the stereo camera, and the angle I is the inclination angle of the stereo camera.
At present, a method for determining external parameters of a stereo camera generally include:
inputting an initial values of the external parameters of the stereo camera;
capturing a scene image to detect a vertical edge perpendicular to the ground in the scene image;
evaluating the accuracy of the external parameters of the stereo camera according to the approximation of the shape of the vertical edge in the scene that is projected onto the coordinate plane in the world coordinate system with a circle;
if the accuracy of the external parameters of the stereo camera does not conform to the evaluation criteria, adjusting the external parameters of the stereo camera, and iterating the above evaluation process until the external parameters of the stereo camera conform to the evaluation criteria.
It can be seen that, in the prior art, in the method for determining the external parameters of the stereo camera, the accurate external parameters of the stereo camera must be determined by means of a vertical edge perpendicular to the ground in the scene as a reference point, which has a high requirement for the application scenario.

Method and device for determining external parameter of stereoscopic camera

Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd.


A shingle ridge cover is formed from a rectangular sheet of shingle roofing material back folded on itself to provide a central thickened portion for the shingle ridge cover. An upper portion of lesser thickness provides a nailing margin for the shingle ridge cover, and cooperates with a centrally-located thickest portion of the shingle ridge cover to provide a safety space to allow for “pop up” of the roofing nails or fasteners. A lower portion of the shingle ridge cover overlies the thickened upper portion of a preceding shingle ridge cover as installed on a roof, and cooperates with the preceding shingle ridge cover so that they together provide three layers of protective shingle sheet material over all portions of a hip, ridge, or rake of a roof on which the shingle ridge covers are installed. The thickened central portion of a ridge cover and the overlying lower portion of a next-successive ridge cover cooperate also to provide a shadow line at a hip, ridge, or rake of a roof, which shadow lines provided by plural shingle ridge covers contributes to an attractive aesthetic appearance for the roof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an aesthetic shingle or ridge cover for roofing. More particularly, the present invention relates to a shingle ridge cover that is particularly efficient to manufacture, is durable, economical to ship, aesthetically pleasing as installed on a roof, and which provides a triple layer of shingle material over the underlying roof structure. As installed, the inventive ridge cover also has a particularly attractive appearance which is somewhat like a comparatively thick wood shake, so that the configuration of the present shingle ridge cover gives an appearance of depth and creates shadow lines at adjacent ridge covers. It is these shadow lines and appearance of depth which are considered among the principal aesthetically pleasing aspects of a wood shake roof. On the other hand, the present shingle ridge cover provides fire protection much better than conventional wood shakes.
2. Related Technology
A conventional low-cost organic asphalt composition ridge cover is known in accord with U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,294, issued 21 Oct. 1975 to B. Freiborg. The Freiborg patent is believed to teach a cover for the hips, ridges, and rakes of a roof wherein the cover includes a body of sheet organic filamentary material or felt layered first on an outer face with saturant asphalt penetrating somewhat through the felt sheet as well as saturating into the filaments of the felt, and then additionally layered with on outer asphalt layer securing a cosmetic and abrasion-resisting outer coating of granular mineral material.
The ridge cover of Freiborg is configured as an elongate trapezoid having a T-shaped slit extending along its length near the center thereof. Plural transverse score lines transect the upright of the T-shaped slit, and the ridge cover is back folded on itself at these score lines either two times or four times to provide a central thickening in the ridge cover. Primarily because the asphalt material tends to be brittle, especially when cool, the ridge cover of Freiborg while warm during manufacturing is folded lengthwise with the granular material outward. This lengthwise fold both to allows shipment of the ridge cover in a compact form, and insures that any bending along the lengthwise fold which occurs in the field preparatory to installation of the cover on a roof is in the direction of unfolding the ridge cover at this lengthwise fold.


The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for producing a three-hundred and sixty degree spherical visual data set using at least one lens. The lens encompasses a field of view of not less than one-hundred and eighty degrees. The field of view is represented by a hemisphere defined by a half-space which is, in turn, defined by a first plane having an origin point through which a vertical axis of the plane extends. The apparatus includes a mounting support member and a plumbing device. The mounting support member positions at least one camera having the at least one lens. The mounting support member is aligned with the vertical axis and rotatable in first and second directions through at least one-hundred and eighty degrees from a first position to a second position. The plumbing device is mounted to one of the camera, lens and mounting means and maintains the vertical axis plumb.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of photography. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for producing a three-hundred and sixty degree spherical visual data set in order to facilitate the production of computer generated images.
2. Brief Discussion of the Related Art
In the field of photography, cameras are often fitted with a variety of wide angle lenses so that still photographs of panoramic views can be taken. In addition, digital image processing has made possible the creation of computer generated images of panoramic views from multiple digital images which are, in turn, derived from pictures taken using cameras fitted with conventional lenses.
Each computer generated image is created by digitally stitching the multiple digital images together using software. However, it is difficult to create a seamless computer image from digital images which are derived from analog-based pictures taken using conventional photography techniques. The reason stems from the fact that it is hard to properly align the camera which is used to take those pictures.
Early attempts at digital image processing have produced computer generated images of panoramic views which are cylindrical in nature. In other words, the computer images generated using conventional digital image processing techniques do not provide any views which are either above or below the camera that produced the original analog based pictures from which the digital images are derived.
With the advent of new digital image processing techniques, software has been developed which allows for the transformation of 360 degrees of visual input data in accordance with a particular perspective. The inventor of the present invention recognized a need for devices and methods of taking pictures which capture 360 degrees of spherical visual input data in order to take advantage of the newly developed digital image processing techniques which have been implemented in software. By way of example, one such software algorithm is described in U.S. application Ser. No. 08/478,839, filed on Jun. 7, 1995 by the inventor of the present invention.

Method and apparatus for producing a three-hundred and sixty degree spherical visual data set


In a method for providing a substrate with an imprint, in which liquid printing ink is first printed on a strip and there made to dry at least partially, and in which the at least partially dried printing ink is transferred from the strip (B) to the substrate (S), in addition to the printing ink a transfer coating (F), in particular a decorative transfer coating, is also applied to the substrate (S). In particular, the transfer coating (F) can likewise be applied to the strip (B) first and transferred from the strip (B) to the substrate (S). Printing ink can be provided on the strip (B) next to, but also under or over the transfer coating.

The invention relates to a method as well as a device for providing a substrate with an imprint (in particular with printing ink). It also relates to such a substrate, provided with an imprint, which can be obtained using the method.
The starting point of the invention is a method with the following properties: Firstly, for instance with the aid of one or more inkjet print heads (e.g. inkjet technology), liquid printing ink is printed on a (transfer) strip. The printing ink is made to dry at least partially on the strip. In the case of drying, liquid (water, solvent) escapes from the printing ink, which substantially consists of this carrier liquid and pigment particles in particular dispersed therein, in particular with diameters of between 20 and 100 nm. In the case of partial drying, residual liquid remains in the printing ink. The partial drying is brought about in particular by heating the strip. The printing ink which is liquid when it exits the inkjet print head (low viscosity) changes here into a more solid paste (high viscosity) on the strip. In a subsequent step the at least partially dried printing ink, thus the paste, is moved from the strip to the substrate or transferred to the substrate.
The method makes it possible to print particularly small structures, in particular dot structures, in the range of between 5 μm and 50 μm in diameter. In particular, the printing ink does not run on the substrate, because it is already dried on the strip beforehand to form a highly viscous material.
A method on which the present method draws is described in WO 96/31808 A1. There, instead of a (transfer) strip to which the liquid printing ink is applied and on which it is dried, a corresponding roller is provided.
An offset printing machine is known from EP1 719 622 A2, in which a phase change ink is applied to a transfer apparatus of the printing machine and transferred to a substrate by means of this.
WO 93/07000 describes an inkjet printing system in which, by means of a print head, ink is applied to a transfer roller and transferred to a substrate by means of this.
DE 10 2009 040 359 A1 describes a method in which an adhesive layer is applied to a substrate, which is then provided with a film transfer layer.

Method and device for providing a substrate with an imprint and with a transfer coating, and finished substrate


A cart is described for use in transporting and loading kayaks and similar watercraft. The cart includes first and second side frame members having forward and rear ends; a support member extending between the frame members adjacent the frame member rear ends; a bracing member extending between the frame members adjacent the frame member forward ends; a wheel assembly adjacent the rear ends of the frame members, the assembly including first and second axle ends and wheels carried on the axle ends; and an anti-reverse braking means preventing rearward movement of the cart upon tilting of the cart upward. The braking means may include a first component attached to a frame member and a second component attached to a rotatable component of the wheel assembly, the first and second components being moved into locking engagement upon upward tilting of the cart.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a cart for transporting and loading kayaks, and in particular to a cart that will not roll backward when tilted to load a kayak onto the roof of a vehicle or into a pickup truck bed.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Kayaks are graceful and easy to manipulate when in the water. Circumstances change dramatically when the kayak must be moved on land or loaded onto a vehicle for transport. Movement of a kayak is particularly cumbersome when loading is attempted by a single individual. An apparatus to assist in the transportation of a kayak between two places, such as a vehicle and a body of water that would also minimize the difficulty of loading the kayak onto a vehicle would be of considerable value to individuals who are required to handle a kayak without assistance from others.


Direction input data and inertial sensor data are acquired from a controller including a direction input section and an inertial sensor. Movement of a player character is controlled on the basis of the direction input data. In addition, a control mode for a position of a cursor is switchable between a first control mode and a second control mode. When the control mode is the first control mode, a position further shifted, based on the inertial sensor data, from a position calculated based on a position and a direction of the player character is set as the position of the cursor. When the control mode is the second control mode, a position shifted, based on the inertial sensor data, within a predetermined range, in a virtual space, including a predetermined position in the virtual space, from the predetermined position is set as the position of the cursor.

Hitherto, a game in which a cursor can be moved in conjunction with movement of a player character has been known. In this game, a player character can be moved within a virtual three-dimensional space by operating a left analog stick. Then, a cursor located away from the position of the player character by a predetermined distance can be moved with the movement of the player character. That is, the player character and the cursor can be moved in conjunction with each other by operating the left analog stick. In addition, a player is allowed to cause the player character to throw a predetermined object toward a position indicated by the cursor.
As described above, the player is allowed to cause the player character to throw the predetermined object toward the position of the cursor. Meanwhile, movement of the cursor is linked to movement of the player character (an operation on the left analog stick in the above example). In this regard, occurrence of needs for more finely aiming at a position to which a predetermined object is to be thrown, is also assumed. For example, this is a case where a predetermined object is desired to be thrown at a "weak spot" of an enemy character. From such a viewpoint, there is room for further improvement of operability regarding movement of the cursor.
Therefore, it is an object of the exemplary embodiments to provide a game program, etc., that are capable of further enhancing operability regarding control of movement of a player character and movement of a cursor that moves in conjunction with the movement of the player character.
In order to attain the object described above, for example, the following configuration examples are exemplified.
A configuration example is directed to a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having stored therein a game program to be executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus, the game program causing the computer to: acquire operation data including at least direction input data and inertial sensor data, from a controller including at least a direction input section and an inertial sensor; control movement of a player character within a virtual space on the basis of the direction input data; switch a control mode for a position of a cursor used in a predetermined game process between a first control mode and a second control mode; when the control mode is the first control mode, set a position within the virtual space calculated on the basis of a position and a direction of the player character, as a first position, set a position further shifted from the first position on the basis of the inertial sensor data, as a second position, and determine the second position as the position of the cursor;
when the control mode is the second control mode, set a predetermined position within the virtual space as the first position, limit a movement range of the cursor to a predetermined range, within the virtual space, including the first position, set a position further shifted within the range from the first position on the basis of the inertial sensor data, as the second position, and determine the second position as the position of the cursor; and perform the predetermined game process on the position of the cursor within the virtual space in accordance with an instruction based on the operation data.
According to the above configuration example, for the position of the cursor, position designation can be performed such that the position of the cursor is linked to movement of the player character. Moreover, the position of the cursor can be further changed, for example, by changing the orientation of the controller, thereby enabling fine adjustment of the position of the cursor. Accordingly, the operability regarding operation for the position of the cursor can be further enhanced. Furthermore, when the control mode is the second control mode, it is possible to move the cursor only within a range based on a predetermined position. Accordingly, for example, in the case where more finely aiming at an object is desired, it is easier to aim at the object, so that the operability can be improved.
In another configuration example, when the control mode is the first control mode, a position shifted within the virtual space from the position of the player character by a predetermined amount in a direction along the direction of the player character may be set as the first position.
According to the above configuration example, for the position of the cursor, rough position designation can be performed only by an input operation for a movement direction of the player character, so that the operability can be improved.
In another configuration example, a change amount of an orientation of the controller from a predetermined reference orientation is calculated on the basis of the inertial sensor data, and a position corresponding to the change amount may be set as the second position.
According to the above configuration example, the position of the cursor can be finely adjusted by changing the orientation of the controller, so that intuitive and fine operability can be provided.
In another configuration example, a movement amount of the cursor with respect to the change amount of the orientation of the controller when the control mode is the second control mode may be made smaller than a movement amount when the control mode is the first control mode.
According to the above configuration example, in the case of the second control mode, finer and more precise cursor position designation can be easily performed. That is, fine cursor position adjustment can be easily performed.
In another configuration example, when switching between the first control mode and the second control mode is performed, a movement amount based on the inertial sensor data from the first position may be initialized, and the orientation of the controller when the switching is performed may be set as the predetermined reference orientation.
According to the above configuration example, when switching the control mode, for example, the position of the cursor can be finely adjusted on the basis of the inertial sensor data with the orientation of the controller at the time of the switching as a reference, and thus the operability can be further enhanced.
In another configuration example, when the control mode is switched from the first control mode to the second control mode, a predetermined position on a predetermined target object that is preset as a setting target may be set as the first position. Furthermore, when the control mode is the second control mode, if a plurality of the target objects are present within a predetermined range including the position of the cursor, a target object that is a setting target for the first position may be switched on the basis of the operation data, and a predetermined position on a target object after the switching may be set as the first position.
According to the above configuration example, for example, when a plurality of targets on which a predetermined game process (attack, etc.) is desired to be performed are present, the target can be switched while the second control mode is kept, so that the operability can be improved.
In another configuration example, a process of causing the player character to move a predetermined object toward the position of the cursor may be performed.
According to the above configuration example, for example, the operability in a game that is played in such a manner as to "aim" at a certain position within a virtual space and move a predetermined object or the like to the position, can be enhanced.
In another configuration example, the above configuration may be applied to a game system having a controller including at least a direction input section and a inertial sensor. In addition, in this case, the game system may have two controllers that are useable in combination as one controller. Each of the controllers may have a shape that allows the controller to face toward a player when the player holds the controller in order to play a game, and in which a predetermined side of a predetermined surface of the controller on which a predetermined operation section is provided is longer than another side of the predetermined surface. In a state where the two controllers are held by the player in a first orientation, a combination of the two controllers may be usable as one controller for operation for the game process. In a state where one controller of the two controllers is held by the player in a second orientation that is an orientation obtained by rotating the first orientation about a predetermined axis by 90 degrees such that a state where the predetermined surface faces toward the player is maintained, the one controller may be usable for operation for the game process.
According to the above configuration example, for example, in the case where two controllers having a generally parallelepiped shape are used, when the two controllers are used in combination as one controller in the orientation in which the controllers are vertically long, or when one of the controllers is used in the orientation in which the controller is horizontally long, an intuitive operation is provided for fine adjustment of the position of the cursor in the far side direction as seen from the player's perspective, so that ease of operation can be improved.
According to the exemplary embodiments, both rough control of movement of the cursor position in accordance with movement of the player character (a direction input operation, etc.) and control of fine adjustment of the cursor position based on the inertial sensor data can be used, so that the operability can be improved.

Computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having game program stored therein, game system, game apparatus control method, and game apparatus


Disclosed herein is a friction torque device with an improved damper for attenuating torsional vibrations. The improved damper provides the desired axial load for damping while reducing the weight, cost, complexity and size of a driven disk for a friction torque device. A friction torque device comprises a driving member having of rotation, a cover coupled to the driving member for rotation therewith, a pressure plate coupled to the cover for rotation therewith and a driven disk coupled to an axially extending driven shaft for rotation therewith. The driven disk is interposed between the driving member and the pressure plate, the driven disk includes a rotatable disk assembly and a hub assembly. The driven disk comprises at least one reinforcing plate having a plurality of undulations disposed therein for providing a load between the disk assembly and hub assembly. The reinforcing plate may be coupled to the disk assembly, the hub assembly or the plate may not be attached to another component. Damping is achieved by the disk assembly rotating relative to the hub assembly whereby torque is dissipated in the form of heat energy.

The present invention relates to the field of friction clutches, and more specifically, to friction clutches having torsional vibration dampers.
Torsional vibrations are the rotational irregularities of a rotatingly driven component. In a vehicle drivetrain, torsional vibrations are caused by the forces generated within a combustion engine by the combustion of gases during the periodic combustion process. Torsional vibrations of the second or third order which originate from the engine, as a result of the ignition frequency of four or six cylinder engines, respectively, are predominant in the vehicle driveline. Torsional vibrations not only emanate from the engine power pulses but also from torque spikes and from abrupt changes in driveline torque due to rapid engine acceleration and deceleration.
Torsional vibrations cause premature wear to driveline components as well as audible noise. In a conventional driveline, the flywheel, which is rigidly connected to the crankshaft, will generate high reaction forces on the crankshaft. Torque irregularities from a periodic combustion also engine adds additional stress in the form of high frequency torques to the transmission. Furthermore, when a manual transmission is in neutral, gear rattle occurs, which is also an audible event, due to the teeth of meshing gears lifting away from another and then striking each other as a result of high frequency torque fluctuations.
Along with gear rattle, order based responses from the second or third engine order may be passed through the drivetrain and into the body structure. This sound can be greatly amplified if the components forming the sound are excited at their resonant frequencies.
Torsional vibration issues are further compounded by efforts to improve vehicle efficiency. Reductions in vehicle size and weight as well as reductions in driveline component inertia, such as flywheel masses, as well as reductions in transmission oil viscosity have added to the existing torsional vibration challenges. Lower drivetrain inertia results in a higher natural frequency of the drivetrain. As the engine rotational speed passes through the drivetrain natural frequency, resonant frequency occurs. The input displacement of a system is amplified at resonant frequency.
It is well known in the art to incorporate torsional vibration damping mechanisms in a dry clutch. As rotation occurs, the energy storage means within the damper, typically coil springs, provide the rotational compliance between the rotating elements. Another component of the damper is hysteresis, which is provided by friction producing elements. The hysteresis cooperates with the energy storage component of the damper to remove energy from the system.
The prior art is replete with friction clutches with dampers for attenuating torsional vibrations. A variety of spring arrangements have been employed to provide frictional force for damping. Most frictional dampers employ a diagram spring in some form to provide force along the axis of rotation of the clutch disk. In order to reduce weight for fuel economy and size for packaging purposes drivetrain components are being optimized. One way to meet size and weight requirements is to provide multipurpose parts in component assemblies. Many clutches employ a damper having a separate frictional spring element to provide force along the axis of rotation of the clutch disk to increase the hysteresis. A lighter and more compact clutch damper may be available by eliminating the need for a separate frictional spring element.
Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide an improved damper for a friction clutch which is lighter and more compact than a conventional friction clutch damper.
A friction clutch comprises a driving member having an axis of rotation, a cover coupled to the driving member for rotation therewith, a pressure plate coupled to the cover for rotation therewith and a driven disk coupled to an axially extending driven shaft for rotation therewith. The driven disk is interposed between the driving member and the pressure plate, the driven disk includes a rotatable disk assembly. The rotatable disk assembly includes a disk plate which rotates about an axis of rotation. The disk plate has a plurality of apertures and a plurality of friction pads attached thereto. A hub assembly which includes a hub secured to at least one spring cover plate having a plurality of apertures rotates relative to the disk assembly. The apertures in the disk assembly and the hub assembly are at least partially aligned. Energy storage means are disposed within the apertures in the disk assembly and hub assembly for absorbing torque as a function of relative rotation between the hub assembly and disk assembly. At least one reinforcing plate is disposed between the disk assembly and the hub assembly. The reinforcing plate has a plurality of undulations providing a load between the disk assembly and hub assembly.
In an alternate embodiment, the reinforcing plate may be coupled to the hub assembly or the disk assembly. Furthermore, the undulations in the reinforcing plate may be continuous. Also, the undulations may be disposed about an outer circumference of the reinforcing plate. The reinforcing plate may have a plurality of apertures disposed therein which are at least partially aligned with the apertures disposed in the disk assembly and the hub assembly.
The friction torque device may include a first reinforcing plate and a second reinforcing plate coupled to the hub assembly, where the disk plate of the disk assembly is disposed between the first and second reinforcing plates, each of the first and second reinforcing plates have a plurality of apertures that are at least partially aligned with the apertures disposed within the disk assembly and the hub assembly.
The driven disk of the friction torque device may further include a first spring cover plate and second spring cover plate coupled to the hub assembly where each of the first spring cover plate and second spring cover plate have a plurality of apertures that are at least partially aligned with the apertures disposed with one or more reinforcing plates and the disk plate.
Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from analysis of the following written description, the accompanying drawings and appended claims.

Friction torque device with improved damper


A flight control system for a helicopter having a main rotor and a tail rotor is provided. The flight control system includes an automatic rotor speed control being configured to transition the main rotor and the tail rotor between a high speed and a low speed based upon a plurality of received information without requiring any pilot action, the plurality of received information comprising height above ground level, knot indicated air speed, outside air temperature, barometric altitude, pressure altitude, density altitude, and an engine operational status.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to helicopter rotor speed controls. More specifically, the present invention is directed to automatic dual rotor speed controls, which automatically transition between a high rotor speed and a lower rotor speed based upon received flight information.
2. Description of Related Art
Many helicopters include a main rotor and a tail rotor that are integrally connected together and driven by one or more engines. One known method for reducing a helicopter's noise level is to reduce the speed of the main and tail rotors. That is, it is known in the art to design a helicopter with a system, which incorporates a variable speed that enables the pilot to manually vary the speed of the main and tail rotors from a normal mode (e.g., high rotor speed) to a quiet mode (e.g., low rotor speed). More specifically, it is known, to design a helicopter with a pilot control system wherein when the pilot manually activates/deactivates the system so that the helicopter's flight control system reduces/increases the speed of the main and tail rotors so that the helicopter's noise levels are reduced/increased. To varying degrees and purposes, changing rotor speed has been automated, in particular based on density altitude and/or airspeed.
Future helicopters will strive to satisfy the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noise level requirements for the Quiet Aircraft Technology Designation (QATD). Accordingly, there is a continuing desire for helicopters and flight control systems that are capable of operating at lower noise levels.

Automatic dual rotor speed control for helicopters


An improved pulse detection circuit provides for a reduced delay response and noise immunity. The pulse detection circuit includes a comparator with a hysteresis circuit providing a hysteresis response on the order of a minimum pulse width and a reference circuit having a time constant which is a function of unexpected signal input level.

The present invention relates to the field of signal detection. More specifically, one embodiment of the invention provides an improved circuit for detecting a signal which is a pulse stream with at least some predetermined characteristics using those predetermined conditions to detect the pulse stream accurately through noise added to the signal.
Pulse detection is a well known form of signal detection. Typically, a binary (i.e., comprising logical "0"'s or "1"'s) data stream is encoded as pulses in a pulse stream. The presence of a pulse in a certain time window encodes for a logical "1" and the absence of a pulse in the time window encodes for a logical "0". In a variation of such a system, pulse widths carry the information, with a pulse's width representing a digital value. With this "pulse width encoding", there are a limited number of valid widths a pulse can have. In yet another variation, information is encoded in the falling or rising edges of a signal. Regardless of how the information is encoded, accurate detection and decoding rely on precise detection of the beginnings and/or ends of pulses.
Pulse detection is needed in, for example, modems, bar-code readers, and optically-coupled transmitter/receiver pairs. The latter includes fiber optic systems and optocouplers.
In such systems, the information is clearly encoded and the pulses are transmitted with very sharp rising and falling edges. However, during transmission, pulse edges get distorted due to channel bandwidth limitations, detection circuit bandwidth limitations and noise.
A detection circuit normally amplifies an incoming signal and then applies the amplified signal to a decision circuit. If the level of the amplified signal is below a predetermined level (the "detection threshold"), the decision circuit outputs a logical "0" as its estimation of the digital value encoded in the signal. If the signal is above the detection threshold, then the decision circuit outputs a logical "1".
An example of a known detection circuit 10 is shown in FIG. 1. Detection circuit 10 is shown comprising an amplifier 12, a peak detector 14 and a comparator 16. Waveforms at nodes 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 of detection circuit 10 are shown in FIG. 2 as waveforms W20, W22, W24, W26 and W28, respectively. The top portion of FIG. 2 shows the original signal which, after transmission and amplification by amplifier 12, is waveform W20. The signal at node 20 is applied to peak detector 14, resulting in a positive peak signal (W22) and a negative peak signal (W24), which are averaged (W26) and used as the detection threshold, which comparator 16 compares with the amplified input signal from node 20. Comparator 16 outputs a logical "1" at node 28 if node 20 is more positive than the sum signal at node 26, otherwise it outputs a logical "0". The output of comparator 16 changes when the signal at node 20 is about halfway between its positive and negative peaks.
Another known detection circuit 30 is shown in FIG. 3, with the waveforms shown in FIG. 4. While detection circuit 30 is more complex than decision circuit 10 shown in FIG. 1, it has additional capabilities. For example, detection circuit 30 has peak detectors 31 which are resetable. Each peak detector 31 acquires an updated peak value after each positive or negative transition of the output signal. Each peak detector 31 has a comparator 34 with a small hysteresis to prevent oscillations near the switching point. As with detection circuit 10, the input signal is amplified by an amplifier 32, and the outputs of peak detectors 31 are averaged at node 56 and used as the threshold voltage for comparator 38. The output of detection circuit 30 is at node 60. That output is also used to reset the switches in peak detectors 31, as the output signal at node 60 is fed to edge detectors 42 (one directly and one after being inverted by an inverter 40) coupled to the switches.
Waveforms at nodes 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64 of detection circuit 30 are shown in FIG. 4 as waveforms W50, W52, W54, W56, W58, W60, W62 and W64, respectively.
Yet another detection circuit 70 is shown in FIG. 5, with associated waveforms shown in FIG. 6. Detection circuit provides an output response with less delay than other detection circuits, and has better transition detection, but requires a noise-free environment. The increased noise sensitivity comes from a peaking circuit 82, which is needed for the improved signal transition detection. Peaking circuit 82 amplifies noise and interference more than the signal. Consequently, at the output of the peaking circuit, the signal-to-noise ratio is much worse than at the input. This makes the circuit unreliable in noisy environments. When the noise is amplified, multiple transitions might be spuriously detected at transition points, such as t1-t5 shown in FIG. 6., where only single transitions should have been detected.
From the above it is seen that an improved detection circuit is needed.

Analog signal processing circuit with noise immunity and reduced delay


A grid plate is comprised of a base and vertical one piece side walls which form chambers open to the top, the bottom of each chamber being provided with a drainage hole and the bottom having projections on a plate rim which protrude beyond the rim of the grid plate and grip the bottom area of an adjacent grid plate, the plate rim of the grid plate intersecting at least every second rim-bordering chamber, the chambers forming additional chambers with side walls of adjacent grid plates and the side walls of a pair of grid plates only coming into contact along their vertical edges.

This type of a grid plate is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,585, and is equipped With a bottom and vertical one-piece side walls which are arranged like the walls of a honeycomb, creating hexagonal chambers open toward the top. The bottom of each chamber is provided with a circular drainage hole. Grid plates of this type are used to sow grass by filling the chambers with soil. The grass takes root in the subsoil through the drainage holes.
To sow grass over larger areas, the grid plates are arranged side by side, wherein the rim-bordering side walls of adjacent plates contact one another. To prevent the grid plates from shifting, projections in the form of detents are provided on the plate rim at the bottom which protrude beyond the rim-bordering side walls and engage in detent recesses at the bottom of adjacent grid plates. Along an edge of the plate, detents and recesses alternate. The detents grip into the recesses of the adjacent grid plate from below.
To permit the grass to take root between adjoing chambers, the side walls are provided with slots on the upper part thereof.
These grid plates have a number of disadvantages. Since the peripheral side walls of adjacent plates must lie flush against one another, their proper placement is prevented when stones and soil enter between adjacent side walls. These stones and the soil must be removed as it is otherwise not possible for adjacent grid plates to come to rest against one another. Since the detents and recesses alternate along the plate rim, adjacent plates must be tilted so that the detents of one plate interlock in the recesses of the other plate and vice versa. A further disadvantage is that the slots on the upper part of the side walls are sharp-edged and could, therefore, cause injuries.