A digital arithmetic operation circuit includes a plurality of arithmetic operation blocks, a control signal generator and a selector. The plurality of arithmetic operation blocks receive a plurality of digital input signals and perform different arithmetic operations on the received digital input signals, in parallel, to output operation result signals. The control signal generator receives a plurality of digital input signals and generates a control signal based on the digital input signals. The selector selects one of the operation result signals, in response to the control signal, to output the selected operation result signal. After the control signal generator supplies the control signal to the selector, the selector outputs the selected operation result signal as soon as the selected operation result signal is supplied to the selector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a semiconductor integrated circuit device and, more particularly, to a semiconductor integrated circuit device having a signal processor which processes signals read from a recording medium such as a magnetic disk. The signal processor includes a user data processing circuit having an A/D converter and a maximum likelihood decoder, and a servo data processing circuit which has an integrating circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a demand for a faster reading/writing speed for semiconductor integrated circuit devices, which process a digital signal associated with data read from a magnetic disk. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the operation speeds of a user data processing circuit and a servo data processing circuit which are used in such semiconductor integrated circuit devices.
A system for processing signals from a magnetic disk or other communication system decodes reception signals, using a maximum likelihood decoder, which performs maximum likelihood decoding, as one type of decoding means. In a communication system which transfers information in the form of a finite signal series, there are a plurality of transmission signal series which have probably been transmitted in association with one reception signal series. According to the maximum likelihood decoding, the reception side determines a transmission signal which is considered most appropriate based on some evaluation standards. A reception signal is associated with a transmission signal series in accordance with the decoding rules.
When a transmission signal which is not specified by the decoding rules is sent, a decoding error occurs. By way of example, Yi represents a reception signal series and X(Yi) represents a corresponding transmission signal series. When a transmission signal series X(Yi) has actually been transmitted and is received as a reception signal series Yi, no decoding error occurs. Given that the probability that such a event occurs is P(X(Yi), Yi), the probability PE that a decoding error occurs is expressed by the following equation: ##EQU1## Assuming that the probabilities of occurrence of transmission signal series are all the same, P(X(Yi)) becomes constant in any decoding rule. The minimum probability p.sub.E is therefore acquired by selecting X(Yi) which maximizes P(Yi.vertline.X(Yi)) with respect to Yi as a transmission signal series. Maximum likelihood decoding is carried out in this manner. A maximum likelihood decoder which executes this maximum likelihood decoding includes a plurality of metric arithmetic operation circuits. Each metric arithmetic operation circuit performs an operation on a transmission signal series X(Yi) and, based on the arithmetic operation result, selects transmission data corresponding to the transmission signal series X(Yi) from expected values of the transmission data written in a pass memory.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conventional maximum likelihood decoder. The maximum likelihood decoder has first to fourth metric arithmetic operation circuits 1a to 1d each having two inputs to respectively receive two digital signals A1 and A2, B1 and B2, C1 and C2, or D1 and D2. The first to fourth metric arithmetic operation circuits 1a-1d perform addition or subtraction of the digital signal pairs A1 and A2 to D1 and D2, and output first to fourth operation result values respectively. The maximum likelihood decoder further has a selector 2 and a fifth arithmetic operation circuit 1e. The selector 2 receives a first control signal CL1 indicative of the value of the most significant bit (MSB) of the second operation result value, and a second control signal CL2 indicative of the value of the MSB of the third operation result value. The selector 2 further selects one of the second to fourth operation result values in accordance with the first and second control signals CL1 and CL2 and outputs the selected operation result value to the fifth arithmetic operation circuit 1e. The fifth arithmetic operation circuit 1e has two inputs to respectively receive the first operation result value and one of the second to fourth operation result values. The fifth arithmetic operation circuit 1e performs addition or subtraction of the first operation result value and the operation result value selected by the selector 2, and outputs a fifth operation result value.
However, it is difficult to improve the operation speed of a maximum likelihood decoder equipped with the above-described metric arithmetic operation circuits, for the following reason. The processing from the input of the digital signal pairs A1 and A2 through D1 and D2, to the output of the operation result value from the fifth arithmetic operation circuit 1e, requires the arithmetic operation time and the selector operation time in two stages. After the first and second control signals CL1 and CL2 are produced based on the second and third operation result values, the selector 2 selects one of the second to fourth operation result values according to those control signals CL1 and CL2. The fifth arithmetic operation circuit 1e then performs an operation on the first operation result value and one of the second to fourth operation result values.
If the operation speed of either the second or third arithmetic operation circuit 1b or 1c is slow, the time from the generation of the first and second control signals CL1 and CL2 to the supply thereof to the selector 2 is greater. This delays the selector operation and the arithmetic operation of the fifth arithmetic operation circuit 1e. Consequently, the operation speed of a maximum likelihood decoder having multistage metric arithmetic operation circuits becomes slower. This reduced operation speed affects the operation speed of the overall signal processing system which reads data from a magnetic disk and makes it difficult to improve the recording density of magnetic disks.
An operation test is conducted to check the product reliability of semiconductor integrated circuit devices, including maximum likelihood decoders such as that described above. The operation test for the maximum likelihood decoder supplies a serial signal from a testing device to a digital filter located at the preceding stage of the maximum likelihood decoder from a testing device. The maximum likelihood decoder receives the serial signal from the digital filter and decodes it. The testing device compares the decoded data with the serial signal to determine if the maximum likelihood decoder is operating properly.
In executing the operation test on a fast maximum likelihood decoder, the testing device should supply the serial signal at a high speed. That is, the testing device should also operate at a high speed. However, it is difficult to easily improve the operation speed of the testing device. In the operation test, generally, the internal circuit of a semiconductor integrated circuit device (LSI) operates in accordance with a scan clock signal supplied from the testing device, not a system clock signal. To date, however, the operation test of an LSI which operates in response to a system clock signal having a high frequency, cannot be conducted using a scan clock signal having a lower frequency than the system clock signal. In particular, for a fast LSI equipped with digital and analog circuits, as the ratio of the analog circuits to the digital circuits increases, a sufficient operation test cannot be accomplished with the slow testing device.
A signal processor which processes a read signal read from a magnetic disk includes a user data signal processing circuit, including the aforementioned maximum likelihood decoder, and a servo signal processing circuit. The user data signal processing circuit converts an analog signal, associated with user data included in the read signal, to a digital signal, and then performs a decoding operation on the digital signal and outputs data information to a disk controller. The disk controller extracts user data from the received data information. The servo signal processing circuit processes a servo signal associated with servo control and included in the read signal, and outputs servo information to the disk controller. Based on this servo information, the disk controller controls the drive head to position the head on the target track.
The servo signal processing circuit and user data signal processing circuit share an auto gain control amplifier (AGC) and a filter. The servo signal has a low frequency characteristic and the signal associated with user data has a high frequency characteristic. In this respect, the AGC has both low and high frequency characteristics and the ability to switch between the two. The filter has switchable first and second frequencies, the first one for cutting off a frequency higher than that of the servo signal and the second one for cutting off a frequency higher than that of the signal associated with user data. Under the servo operation, the frequency characteristic of the AGC is switched to the low frequency characteristic and the cutoff frequency of the filter is switched to the first frequency. In a read mode, the frequency characteristic of the AGC is switched to the high frequency characteristic and the cutoff frequency of the filter is switched to the second frequency. The switching of the frequency characteristic of the AGC and the switching of the cutoff frequency of the filter are executed in response to a control signal from the disk controller. However, it takes time to perform switching operation of the AGC and filter, which hinders an improvement to the signal processing speed of the hard disk drive system.
The user data signal processing circuit further includes an A/D converter, which is connected to the filter and converts a read signal that is treated as an analog signal to a digital signal having a plurality of bits. It is desirable that the A/D converter have a characteristic such that the value of the input analog signal and the value of the digital signal are positively proportional to each other. Due to a productional variation, however, some of manufactured A/D converters may have an offset voltage so that a digital value and an analog value are not positively proportional to each other. Using such an A/D converter having an offset voltage, it is difficult to perform highly accurate processing of a read signal supplied from the drive head. Therefore, the offset voltage is canceled either at the time of factory shipment of semiconductor integrated circuit devices, each of which include a signal processing circuit having an A/D converter, or at the time such signal processing circuit is operated. For instance, the offset of an A/D converter may be canceled immediately after the disk drive is powered on.
The long usage of a disk drive increases the temperature of the peripheral circuits of the A/D converter, thus resulting in a variation in the input/output characteristic of the A/D converter. The ratio of the change increases as the ambient temperature increases. This variation undesirably produces an offset voltage again, even though the offset canceling process has been performed once. Moreover, an A/D converter which is designed to output a digital signal having multi-bits (e.g., 6 bits) has a relatively large circuit area. This inevitably increases the circuit area of the associated semiconductor integrated circuit device and hinders improvements on the operation speed and conversion precision of the A/D converter.


The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device, an electronic apparatus, a lens control method, and a vehicle capable of suppressing deterioration in quality of a captured image. A sub block includes a plurality of pixels of the same color, a block includes a plurality of sub blocks including different colors, and phase difference detection pixels are disposed at positions corresponding to each other in two or more sub blocks in a case in which the phase difference detection pixels are disposed in two or more sub blocks among the plurality of sub blocks configuring the block. For example, the present technology is able to be applied to a camera that calculates an amount of a deviation of a focus and performs focus control on a basis of a calculated defocus amount.

In recent years, an imaging device such as a digital still camera or a digital video camera that images a subject such as a person or an animal using an image sensor such as a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor and records image data obtained as a result of thereof has become widespread.
In such an imaging device, a technology in which a phase difference detection function is given to the image sensor and an autofocus (AF) of a phase difference detection type is realized without using a dedicated automatic focus detection (AF) sensor is known. For example, Patent Literature 1 proposes that one block includes 2×2 (=4) pixels of the same color and one pixel in the block is used as a phase difference detection pixel.
In an example of Patent Literature 1, in the blocks of 2×2 green (G) pixels on a center left side, the phase difference detection pixel is disposed in an upper right pixel. On the other hand, in the blocks of 2×2 green (G) pixels on a center right side, the phase difference detection pixel is disposed in an upper left pixel.
In the phase difference detection pixel, for example, a light shielding portion is provided in a right half or a left half of the pixel, and a side opposite to the light shielding portion is used as a light transmitting portion. A phase difference is detected from a difference between outputs of a pair of phase difference detection pixels of which positions of the light shielding portions are opposite, and a defocus amount is calculated on the basis of the phase difference. In addition, a focus state is controlled on the basis of the calculated defocus amount.

Solid-state imaging device, electronic apparatus, lens control method, and vehicle


A system for developing and implementing empirically derived algorithms to generate decision rules to determine participant noncompliance and fraud with research protocols in clinical trials allows for the identification of complex patterns of variables that detect or predict participant noncompliance and fraud with research protocol, including performance and enrollment goals, in the clinical trial. The data may be used to overall predict the performance of any participant in a clinical trial, allowing selection of participants that tend to produce useful, high-quality results. The present invention can also be used to monitor participant compliance with the research protocol and goals to determine preferred actions to be performed. Optionally, the invention may provide a spectrum of noncompliance, from minor noncompliance needing only corrective feedback, to significant noncompliance requiring participant removal from the clinical trial or from future clinical trials. The algorithms and decision rules can also be domain-specific, such as detecting non-compliance or fraud among subjects in a cardiovascular drug trial, or demographically specific, such as taking into account gender, age or location, which provides for algorithms and decision rules to be optimized for the specific sample of participants being studied.

Evaluation of the compliance of a clinical trial participant with research protocols, including research goals, typically looks at only one variable at a time. Such evaluation is not empirically derived by quantitative analysis of existing datasets, instead relying on the researcher's or sponsors' judgment and biases to determine whether and what type of corrective action is required. Furthermore, evaluation of compliance of a clinical trial participant with clinical trial protocols has typically not taken into account the domain of the clinical trial or the characteristics of the participants. Finally, such evaluation often cannot be made in a timely way, but is made only after serious noncompliance has already occurred.
Each year, many resources, including money and time, are wasted on clinical trial sites that fail to comply with research protocols, including failure to produce any data, a sufficient amount of data or reliable data. For example, many clinical trial sites provide inaccurate data due to poor training or non-compliance with research protocol. Resources may be devoted to clinical trial sites that fail to enroll a sufficient number of subjects, or even one subject, producing little useful data in view of the amount of resources devoted to setting up the clinical trial. Further, participants in the clinical, such as subjects, trial investigators, research coordinators, site staff, and study monitors, may on occasion falsify data for the trial, possibly resulting in erroneous conclusions and creating liability for the trial's sponsor. Therefore, identification of clinical trial sites or other clinical trial participants that tend to produce results that are adequate in quantity and quality, and those that do not produce adequate results may provide enormous conservation of resources.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for prediction and management of participant compliance in clinical research


A technique of reducing the Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) of Multi-Carrier (MC) modulated signals in which peaks in the baseband signal that lie above a threshold amplitude are detected and used to generate a pulse sequence signal which, after shaping, is subtracted from the baseband signal to reduce its PAPR. The method is spectrally efficient, has a low degree of implementation complexity and hence it is also suitable for low-power, portable implementation. Moreover, it is compatible with existing standard-based Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) systems. As an example of the performance of the proposed scheme, the amplifier back-off requirement in a Terrestrial Digital Video Broadcast (DVB-T) system can be reduced from 12 to 6 dB, while satisfying the of out-of-band emission specifications imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) spectral mask.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for reducing peak-to-average power ratio in telecommunications systems.
Multi-Carrier (MC) modulation techniques [1] and in particular Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) [1] constitute efficient modulation schemes, which are suitable for wireless broadband communications. In recent years several industrial standards based on OFDM have emerged, such as the Terrestrial Digital Video Broadcast (DVB-T), the IEEE 802.11 Wireless Local Area Network (W-LAN) scheme, as well as the IEEE 802.16 Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) standard. The more extensive employment of these systems is limited by their relatively high implementation cost, which is a consequence of requiring high-linearity, Class A amplifiers having a low power-efficiency. This requirement is imposed by the high Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) of the OFDM signal, potentially resulting in non-linear distortions producing upper harmonics of the signal and associated out-of-band emissions [2,3]. The most problematic non-linear component within the transmission chain is the Power Amplifier (PA).
The most straightforward method of improving the linearity of the PA is to use an amplifier 'back-off', implying that the PA is configured to operate at a certain power, which provides a sufficiently high head-room for the high modulated signal peaks to be amplified without clipping. This allows the entire input signal to be amplified within the PA's linear range. Back-off results in inefficient operation of the PA. In some systems the power back-off requirements are as high as 12 dB. In terms of system costs, this translates into requiring a more than 10 times more powerful PA, which may be significantly more expensive. Therefore, the only attractive solution for improving the cost efficiency of MC systems is the reduction of the PAPR of the signal.
The PAPR properties of MC signals are now discussed. The non-linear distortion effects imposed by the PA manifest themselves as a reduction of the signal amplitude peaks according to the PA's Amplitude-to-Amplitude (AM/AM) conversion characteristic. A typical AM/AM transfer characteristic can be seen in FIG. 1. The intercept point in the figure indicates the so-called 1 dB compression point, where the output power level is 1 dB below the expected linear transfer function as a consequence of the compression of high output signal peaks.
The power of the distortion products produced by the PA is often defined as the amount of signal energy fed into the PA in excess of that corresponding to the 1 dB compression point. This quantity may be further characterized by the Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) properties, i.e. by quantifying the statistical deviation of the input signal power peaks from the Root Mean Square (RMS) power. The signal's PAPR properties can also by characterized by the Threshold Crossing Probability (TCP), i.e. by the probability that the signal amplitude exceeds a certain threshold level. The TCP plot recorded for several single carrier modulation schemes and for a 1024-subcarrier OFDM scheme is depicted in FIG. 2.
In case of OFDM the transmitted baseband signal may be represented as:
                                          s                                      (              t              )                                =                                    ∑                              k                =                0                                            K                -                1                                                                                (                                                      a                    k                                    +                                      j                                                                                b                      k                                                                      )                                                          exp                                                  (                                                            -                      j                                                                                2                                                                                πω                      k                                                            t                                    )                                                                    ,                            (        1        )
where K is the number of subcarriers, while ak and bk are the real and imaginary components of the complex modulating symbols of the K subcarriers, respectively. For example, for 16-QAM modulation ak and bk may assume the equiprobable values of {−3, −1, 1, 3}. From the central limit theorem it follows [8] that for large values of K (in practice for K exceeding 64), both the real and imaginary component of s(t) become normally distributed variables having a mean of zero. Hence the amplitude of the complex baseband OFDM signal (for K>64) is complex Gaussian, or—synonymously—Rayleigh distributed. The distribution of the instantaneous power level hence becomes a central chi-square distribution with two degrees of freedom. In tangible physically interpreted terms the high PAPR is a consequence of the constructive superposition of high subcarrier values of numerous subcarriers.
Numerous studies have been published in recent years [1] which provide alternative solutions to the PAPR problem, for example [18, 14, 11, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 15, 16, 24, 9, 25, 26, 27, 28, 17, 29]. However, only a few of these have found their way into practical implementations. Some examples of previously proposed solutions, along with their associated limitations are as follows.
1. The introduction of a spectral guard band has the potential of preventing the spectral spillage of high-order non-linear distortion products into adjacent bands and hence mitigates the associated power back-off as well as linearity requirements. However, this approach is spectrally inefficient.
2. The employment of specific coding schemes reducing the PAPR [4,5,6] affects the design of the Forward Error Correction (FEC) coding scheme and hence may degrade the efficiency of the FEC code, as well as reduce the effective throughput, since they introduce redundancy by setting the parity bits of the associated block codes, such that they minimize the PAPR. Moreover, it is not a trivial task to find appropriate PAPR reduction codes for systems having a large number of subcarriers.
3. The set of distortionless techniques proposed in [12,13,14,15,16,17] may increase in importance for employment in future systems, although they exhibit a high complexity.
4. Clipping and filtering the modulated signal [7,8] as well as employing peak windowing [8,9,10,11] can be useful, but may introduce severe in-band distortions of the modulated signal, as now discussed.
The method introduced in [9] proposes to reduce the peak-to-average power ratio of the modulated signals such as OFDM or CDMA by canceling the large signal peaks with the aid of subtracting an appropriately designed reference function. Since the OFDM modulated signal is a composite multicarrier signal, while that of CDMA is a multichip signal, in [9] they were termed as composite-carrier signals. More specifically, the reference function is time shifted and scaled in such a way that after subtracting it from the original signal it reduces the peak power of at least one signal sample. In [9] it was proposed that the reference function should be selected such that its bandwidth was approximately or exactly the same as the bandwidth of the transmitted signal. This assures that the peak-to-average reduction procedure will not impose any out-of-band interference. An example of such a reference function was introduced in [9] which is a sinc function. It can be inferred therefore that the power of the peak cancellation signal is accommodated within the bandwidth of the information-carrying signal, hence causing significant in-band interference. Furthermore, in [9] the peak detection procedure is performed directly after the IFFT stage of the transmitter, resulting in poor peak-capture accuracy.
A technique somewhat similar to that of [9] is proposed in [11] for employment in CDMA-based systems. In [11] the PAPR reduction procedure is performed after oversampling the signal. Furthermore, an error signal is generated first by comparing the original oversampled signal with an amplitude threshold. The resultant error signal is then filtered by a shaping filter, reducing the associated out-of-band emission. Finally, the filtered error signal is subtracted from the original signal for the sake of producing a reduced-PAPR signal. Similarly to [9], the major disadvantage of the method advocated in [11] is that it imposes significant in-band distortion of the resultant signal.
The technique advocated in [17] utilizes one or more frequency tones of a Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT) signal for accommodating a PAPR reducing signal, where the modulating signal was chosen for minimizing the PAPR. In [17] it is proposed to choose the appropriate set of frequency tones for PAPR reduction based on the a posteriori information about the transmission link's frequency-domain transfer function. While this choice of the redundant sub-carriers is attractive, the technique assumes the explicit knowledge of the channel's transfer function at the transmitter, which is not readily available unless it is explicitly signaled by the receiver. Other disadvantages of the approach of [17] will be highlighted later in this section.
The method proposed in [17] was further developed in [15], where the reduction of the peak-to-average power ratio was also achieved by introducing a peak-reduction signal, conveyed by a certain subset of frequencies within the transmitted signal's information carrying bandwidth. An implementation example is provided where a reference function termed as a kernel signal is generated, which accommodates the peak-reduction signal by a specific subset of frequencies. First, similarly to [9] and [11], a time-domain peak detection procedure is invoked. Then the reference function is adjusted and subtracted from the original signal to negate at least one peak sample of the transmitted signal at a time. The PAPR reduction procedure of [15] can be performed iteratively for removing any new peak samples produced during the previous PAPR reduction operation. The appropriate subset of frequencies invoked for accommodating the redundant signal can be chosen randomly, pseudo-randomly or based upon various other criteria, such as the channel's transfer function. The techniques outlined in [15] and [17] have the disadvantage that they impose a certain spectral efficiency degradation, since part of the useful bandwidth is employed for conveying a PAPR reduction signal. Moreover, the methods of [15,17] require the transmission of additional side information about the frequency position of the subcarriers used for accommodating the redundant PAPR-reduction signal. Finally, the techniques of [15,17] are not amenable to employment in the context of the existing family of standardized multi-carrier communication systems, such as the 802.11, or DVB-T systems.
Crest factor reduction was also achieved by applying a correction vector to the transmitted data vector in [18]. The method of calculating the corresponding correction vector is briefly introduced in [18] in the context of OFDM and DMT. However, the method of [18] exhibits significant disadvantages. Specifically, a poor performance is achieved as a consequence of implementing it before oversampling. Furthermore, an in-band signal-to-noise ratio degradation is imposed by the correction vector. Finally, the method of [18] exhibits a high degree of implementation complexity as a result of its iterative nature.

Method and apparatus of peak-to-average power ratio reduction


A position sensor generates a signal representative of the angular position and, if desired, angular velocity of a rotating object using only a single circular track and plural brushes that ride on the track when the object rotates. The single circular track can have plural segments, and the sensor can generate more than one signal cycle per revolution.

The present assignee has provided several systems for either lowering or raising a window covering, or for moving the slats of a window covering between open and closed positions, under control of a hand-held remote or other control device. These systems include a motor that is coupled through gears to the window covering activation mechanism. When the motor is energized in response to a user command signal, the activation mechanism moves the window covering. Such assemblies are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,433,498, incorporated herein by reference.
The present assignee has also provided systems for determining the position of the window coverings based on counting motor pulses. By knowing the position of the window coverings, features such as automatic repositioning the window covering to a preset position can be provided.
As recognized herein, brush-based position encoders for outputting the positions of rotating shafts have been provided, and advantageously tend to be inexpensive and reliable. In brush-based systems, brushes are provided that ride on tracks each of which describes a portion of a circle and each of which is staggered relative to the other two, i.e., the three tracks have different radii than each other. Either the brushes rotate with the shaft and the tracks are stationary, or the tracks rotate with the shaft and the brushes are stationary. In either case, to provide a quadrature signal output, three tracks and three brushes are used, one brush per track.
As further recognized herein, such brush-based systems require sufficient space to accommodate the three tracks, making them difficult to fit into small systems. Also, each brush must be lined up with each track, to ensure it rides on its track and only its track. The positioning of the brushes is thus critical, requiring tighter tolerances between components and, thus, higher manufacturing costs. Having made the critical observation that a brush-based quadrature position encoder is needed that can fit into small systems and/or that permits the use of looser tolerances for positioning brushes than is currently possible, the present invention has been provided.

Single track brush-based position encoder for rotating shaft


A flexible dressing for direct application to a wound for absorbing exudates. The dressing comprises an alginate fiber sheet having honey fully impregnated through the fiber sheet such that the dressing has moist surfaces, and on application to the wound, the dressing becomes gel-like as exudate is absorbed.

The need for alternatives in chronic wound care has been identified. Products available in the chronic wound care market have been developed to shorten the "episode of care" associated with managing hard-to-heal wounds. An increased awareness of moist wound healing, particularly the chronic wound care has also developed significantly over the last few years in both the public and private healthcare sectors.
Chronic wounds are identified as wounds that are unable to heal by primary intervention, and are assessed on three major indices:    a) exudate level,    b) tissue types present; and    c) depth of wound.
Other important factors include the presence of infection, underlying disease aetiology, the patient's general condition, and co-existing disease or medications.
In relation to chronic wound care, two main categories of wounds can be recognised with which appropriate wound care products as described by the present application would be applied. These two main categories are:    a) exudating wounds that are not infected; and    b) exudating wounds that are infected.
The majority of chronic wounds fall within the first category. These wounds may be managed by moist wound healing principles, although the healing process is not complicated by infection.
The second category includes chronic wounds that will not heal until complete eradication of the infection has first been achieved. Accordingly, within this category of wounds, wound healing is not the primary aim. However, once the infection is under control, non-active healing products are generally used.
This second category of wounds is among the hardest sector to treat, whilst there is a wide range of products used both topically and systemically for clearing wound infections, (including iodine-based preparations and so forth), the main therapeutic intervention for infective wounds however, is the use of systemic antibiotics.
However, existing antibacterial treatments may have varying effectiveness, and some have been shown to cause tissue damage and slowing down of the healing process. Honey on the other hand, appears to actually promote the healing process with no corresponding tissue damage. Historically, honey has been identified as having healing properties. Recently however, anti-microbial properties of certain honey and their potential use in wound care have attracted attention.
In New Zealand, the "unique Manuka factor" (UMF™) activity identified in Manuka tree-based honey products, and in other active honey products produced from the plant species Leptospermum, has been identified to be useful in relation to infected wounds. Although, ordinary honey may nevertheless also have application for non-infected wounds.
The beneficial properties of some particular honeys, (particularly Manuka honey) include both its anti-bacterial, non-peroxide activity, as well as its peroxide activity. The non-peroxide anti-bacterial activity of these honeys has been shown to inhibit the growth of various species of bacteria and limit the production of the undesirable bi-products of bacterial growth. Honey with at least 10% non-peroxide activity (10% phenol equivalent) demonstrates such therapeutic value.
Whilst the application of honey to wounds is known within the prior art, the use of honey in relation to dressings applied to wounds is still developing.
However, it is important when a dressing is applied to a wound that the dressing itself does not stick to the wound. When the dressing is removed, any healing that may have begun, in terms of skin replacement and so forth may be undone where the surface of the skin sticks to the dressing and is removed when the dressing is removed. As can be appreciated this delays the healing process and recovery overall.
However, healing processes will not usually occur unless infection is cleared from the wound.
Honey based products, particularly UMF™ honey, play a role in managing infected wounds when applied or used in conjunction with appropriate dressings. Honey based wound dressings inherently have a number of properties that lend them to use as general chronic wound care dressings in particular. These properties include:    a) osmotic absorption of excess exudate; and    b) inherent peroxide (antibacterial) activities; which is both wound cleansing and helps with wound bed oxygenation; and    c) provision of beneficial nutrients to the wound bed.
Whilst honey can be applied to an area, the usual fluidity of honey has made localised application difficult. Even the use of absorbent material (such as existing bandages or gauzes), have not successfully addressed inherent difficulties relating to the application of honey to, and its maintenance on, the wound area. Given exudating wounds exacerbate this problem the need is identified to produce an appropriate dressing in conjunction with honey in a form that overcomes the above problems.
In addition, to facilitate wound healing it is preferable that the honey be of a preferred viscosity (whether achieved via specific processing of the honey or not) and/or include concentrated beneficial properties.
It would also be beneficial to make maximum use of the hygroscopic characteristic of honey—(capable of absorbing moisture from the air) that provides an advantage to using honey in moist wound care.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to develop the use of honey-based wound dressings that may be used:    a) in relation to the care of chronic wounds, including non-infected as well as infected wounds; and    b) to meet the requirements of moist wound care practices; and    c) to promote the healing barrier, as opposed to the use of dressings which when removed may delay overall healing; and    d) including honey-based products containing higher proportions of active and/or honey with preferred properties; and    e) in the care not only of wounds, but also burns and skin ulcers for more rapid healing, with minimal scarring.
Modern hydro-colloid wound dressings are presently favoured as moist dressings, although such wound dressings are expensive. Foams, gels and alginates are also available for treating chronic wounds. However, whilst moist wound care enhances the healing process through tissue re-growth, such moist conditions favour the growth of infecting bacteria.
The use of honey in conjunction with dressings has shown however that infecting bacteria are disadvantaged.
It is an object of the present invention to at least provide a wound dressing with which honey is used that addresses the above-mentioned problems, and/or provide the public with a useful choice.
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.


A toilet bowl pump apparatus and method for reducing the water level in a toilet bowl.

A toilet bowl pump apparatus and method for reducing the water level in a toilet bowl.
In the field of sanitary cleaning and maintenance of toilets, the application of chemical cleaner/disinfectant requires the lowering the water level in the toilet bowls. Specifically, it is desirable to lower the water level in the toilet bowl so that the cleaner/disinfectant can operate at full strength on all surfaces located above and normally below the water level. If the water level in the toilet bowl is not lowered, the cleaner/disinfectant is diluted with the water contained in the toilet bowl, and the cleaner/disinfectant concentration is reduced below a level at which it is effective for both cleaning and disinfectant purposes.
It is current practice to wet mop out a toilet bowl with a device configured like a large cotton swab. This device is configured to enter and clean the toilet bowl drain while forcing water down the toilet bowl drain. A person operating such an existing device must repeatedly plunge the toilet bowl drain for approximately three to five minutes to reduce the water level in the toilet bowl to a sufficient extent necessary for properly cleaning and disinfecting the toilet bowl. Specifically, the water level is preferably reduced at or below the height of the toilet bowl drain.
The existing cleaning operation is time consuming and places the person cleaning the toilet in close proximity therewith making the job a dirty and undesirable job.
Thus, there exists a need for an apparatus and method for reducing the amount of time to reduce the water level in a toilet bowl, and making the job easier and more convenient for a person cleaning toilets.
An object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for reducing the water level in a toilet bowl.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a toilet bowl pump apparatus for suctioning water from a toilet bowl then forcing the water back into the toilet bowl to cause a siphoning effect through the toilet bowl drain reducing the original water level in the toilet bowl for chemically cleaning/disinfecting the toilet bowl.
A third object of the present invention is to provide a toilet bowl pump apparatus including a cylindrical-shaped cylinder with a piston slidably disposed therein.
A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a toilet bowl pump apparatus including a cylindrical-shaped cylinder with a piston slidably disposed therein with an elbow for diverting the water towards the toilet bowl drain.
A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a method of reducing the water level in a toilet bowl including the steps of suctioning the water from a toilet bowl above an existing water level in the toilet bowl and then forcing the water back into the toilet bowl to create a siphoning effect through the toilet bowl drain causing the water level to to be reduced below the existing water level for chemically cleaning/disinfecting the toilet bowl.
The present invention is directed to an apparatus configured to reduce the water level in a toilet bowl for chemical cleaning and disinfecting purposes. The apparatus is preferably a manually operated pump apparatus configured to suction water from the toilet bowl and then subsequently force the water back into the toilet bowl so as to create a siphoning effect through the toilet bowl drain. Alternatively, the device can be configured with a manual or electrically driven pump configured for suctioning the water out of the toilet bowl into the apparatus above an existing water level in the toilet bowl, and then subsequently forcing the water back into the toilet bowl causing the water to be siphoned from the toilet bowl through the toilet bowl drain.
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is a hand operated toilet bowl pump configured to suction the water from a toilet bowl above an existing water level in the toilet bowl, and then force the water downwardly into the toilet bowl to create a siphoning effect causing the water to flow into the toilet bowl drain and reduce the existing water level in the toilet bowl to allow cleaning and disinfecting of the toilet bowl with a chemical application. The apparatus includes a cylindrical-shaped housing with a piston slidably disposed therein. The apparatus is configured so that a user can grip a handgrip located on an upper portion of a piston rod connected to the piston and the user can grip the housing with the other hand. When the piston rod is raised the piston creates a suction for drawing liquid into the housing.
In a preferred embodiment, a lower end of the housing is provided with an elbow for diverting the water from a substantially vertical direction to a horizontal direction and directed towards the toilet bowl drain. When the water is forced from the apparatus by the user pushing downwardly on the piston rod, the water is forced from the housing along the elbow and diverted towards the toilet bowl drain. The water diverted towards the toilet bowl drain creates a flow therein creating a siphoning effect that continues to drain water from the toilet bowl through the toilet bowl drain.

Toilet bowl pump apparatus and method for reducing the water level in a toilet bowl


An audio processing system for a vehicle includes a plurality of loudspeakers positioned to form a single line array. The loudspeaker line array is positionable in a vehicle on a dashboard of the vehicle substantially at the convergence of the dashboard and a window of the vehicle. When the loudspeaker line array is driven by an audio signal, a vertically and horizontally focused and narrowed sound pattern is perceived by a listener in the vehicle. The sound pattern is the result of the constructive combination of the direct sound impulses and the reflected sound impulses produced by each loudspeaker in the array. Using delay, attenuation and phase adjustment of the audio signal, the sound pattern may be controlled, limited, and directed to one or more locations in the vehicle.

1. Technical Field
The invention generally relates to loudspeakers. More particularly, the invention relates to a loudspeaker array in a vehicle.
2. Related Art
Loudspeaker line array technology has been used for numerous years. Typically loudspeaker line arrays are used in sound reinforcement systems. In their simplest form, the interaction of adjacent line-array transducers modifies the total acoustic radiation characteristics of the line array. In commercial applications, the major axis of the line array is usually oriented vertically. An example vertically oriented line array is the JBL Pro VerTec loudspeaker arrays used in large performance venues.
Vehicles typically include some form of audio system having loudspeakers. Tuning and optimization of audio systems in vehicles is usually more difficult than in a typical room such as in a home. In a vehicle, loudspeakers must be placed where space is made available by the vehicle manufacturer, instead of at the optimum listening location, such as the typical location of loudspeakers in a home theater system. In addition, barriers, such as the front seats, passengers, etc., create obstructions to the sound waves emanated from loudspeakers. Further, glass, plastic and other highly reflective surfaces as well as seats, headliners, etc. that create sound absorptive surfaces tend to create sound fields that are less than desirable. Reflected sound may be out of phase with the sound waves emanating from a loudspeaker and may cause comb filtering. In addition, absorption of the sound may eliminate frequencies or ranges of frequencies. As a result, the image formed by the stereo sound may be imprecise, and/or have other less desirable characteristics.

Harman International Industries, Incorporated


A field emission device providing electric-field induced electron emission includes an annular edge emitter for emission of electrons. Emitted electrons are collected, at least in part, by an anode centrally disposed with respect to the annular edge emitter.

Cold-cathode field emission devices (FEDs) are known in the art. These FEDs employ an electric field in concert with a geometric discontinuity of small radius of curvature to reduce the potential barrier and provide for increased electron tunneling from the surface of the emitter electrode. In many practical devices, the electric field is realized by supplying a voltage between the electron emitters and a gate extraction electrode. These prior art FEDs may be formed by a variety of methods, all of which yield structures with the primary purpose of emitting electrons from an emitter electrode.
In some prior art embodiments, the emitted electrons are collected by an anode that resides on a supporting structure. The anode supporting structure is generally made of insulating material and resides on the structure in which emitter electrodes and gate extraction electrodes have been formed. In other prior art embodiments, an anode may be disposed substantially co-planar with an electron emitting tip.
Although these prior art FEDs are functional, they suffer from a number of shortcomings. First, anode placement in those embodiments employing non-coplanar anodes is difficult to realize; non-coplanar FEDs require complex fabrication methods. In addition, for structures employing co-planar anode electrodes, electron emission is effected from individual sharp tips that do not maximally benefit from electric field enhancing effects. Accordingly, a need arises for an improved FED that does not suffer from these deficiencies.

Field emission device having a central anode


A target holder comprising a frame including a vertical frame assembly and a horizontal frame assembly connected to a bottom portion of the vertical frame assembly. The target holder includes a supply roll assembly disposed along a top portion of the vertical frame assembly, a motor support disposed on the vertical frame assembly below the supply roll assembly and a motor having a rotatable drive shaft, the motor fastened to the motor support assembly. The target holder includes a take-up roll assembly rotatingly engaged with the drive shaft and target roll rotatingly disposed on the supply roll assembly, the target roll including a plurality of targets. The target holder may include a motor control circuit for controlling the operation of the motor, remote receiver in communication with the motor control circuit and a remote transmitter for transmitting a signal to the remote receiver.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to target holders and specifically to target holders having a targets which may be remotely replaced.
2. Description of Related Art
Target holders or target stands typically include taped or stapled paper targets. Replacement corrugated boards may be used for weather resistance. Once the target is used, the person firing ammunition at the target must approach the target, remove the target and then replace the used target with a new target, either by taping or stapling the target to the holder. If multiple people are practicing at one time, the user of the stand must wait for all other users to finish in order to approach the target holder.


The present invention is an improvement upon the process for making block copolymers of vinyl aromatic hydrocarbons and/or conjugated dienes, and polydimethylsiloxane by first anionically polymerizing the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon to make a living polymer block and then adding hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane and a polar promoter to polymerize a polydimethylsiloxane block at the end of the living polymer block. The improvement comprises reacting the living polymer blocks with a crossover reagent to decrease the crossover time from the living polymer block polymerization to the polydimethylsiloxane polymerization.

This invention relates to an improved process for making block copolymers of vinyl aromatic hydrocarbons and/or conjugated dienes and polydimethylsiloxane. More specifically the invention relates to the use of specific crossover reagents to speed up the process for making such block copolymers.
Linear block copolymers of polystyrene and polydimethylsiloxane have been synthesized, both by graft and block copolymerization. In block copolymerization of such linear polymers, polystyrene is produced by anionic polymerization with an organo lithium promoter and the living polymer (PS.sup.- Li.sup.+) created thereby is reacted with hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane, (Me.sub.2 SiO).sub.3, in the presence of a polar ether promoter wherein a block of polydimethyl-siloxane grows on the end of the living vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon polymer block.
The kinetics of the polymerization reaction of styrene are quite good and the reaction proceeds relatively quickly. Unfortunately, the crossover reaction for the living polystyrene polymer blocks to begin the growth of the polydimethylsiloxane blocks on the ends thereof exhibits considerably less favorable reaction kinetics, causing the reaction to be quite slow. This is the reaction from PS.sup.- LI.sup.+ to PS--[Si(Me).sub.2 O].sub.2 --Si(Me).sub.2 O.sup.- Li.sup.+. This reaction generally requires a large excess of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane monomer--a monomer to lithium ratio on the order of 100 to 1--to drive it to completion. The large excess results in significant die-out of the living polystyrene blocks due to impurities in the siloxane monomers, thereby generating homopolystyrene and possibly adversely affecting the desired molecular weight for the polydimethylsiloxane block copolymer.
Thus, it would be advantageous to provide an improved process which does not require a large excess of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane monomer to decrease the cost and to minimize the die-out of the polystyrene blocks. The present invention provides such an improved process.

Process for making block copolymers of vinyl aromatic hydrocarbons and/or conjugated dienes and polydimethylsiloxane


A method of authentication and accessing resources is provided. A client device may send a request to a proxy device to access a resource, such as an enterprise resource. The proxy device may authenticate with one or more servers associated with the resource. During authentication, the proxy device may receive a request for a signature controlled by the client device. In response, the proxy device may send a request to the client device for the signature. The request may also include context information that identify a data structure of authentication information exchanged (or to be exchanged) during the authentication session. If the client device verifies the context information, the client device may send the requested signature.

Traditionally, client devices connected to public networks connect to private networks using virtual private networks (VPNs). In a VPN, a proxy device, simply acting as a transparent pipe, may provide the necessary connection between the client device and the private network. Various problems with traditional VPNs exist. First, a lot of trust is put on the client device because the client device can directly access resources on the private networks. Second, the client device must be configured for the communication protocol of the resource and/or private network. Third, the proxy device cannot control or monitor the activities of the client device.

Secured access to resources using a proxy


A laser processing method for a wafer such that a laser beam is applied to a work surface of the wafer along a separation line formed on the work surface to thereby form a laser processed groove along the separation line on the work surface by ablation. The laser processing method includes a protective material coating step for coating the work surface of the wafer with a liquid protective material mainly containing a water-soluble silicone oil and a laser processed groove forming step for applying the laser beam to the work surface coated with the protective material along the separation line in the condition that the protective material has fluidity, thereby forming the laser processed groove along the separation line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laser processing method for a wafer such that a laser beam is applied to a work surface of the wafer along a separation line formed on the work surface to thereby form a laser processed groove along the separation line on the work surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
As well known in the art, a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of semiconductor chips such as ICs (Integrated Circuit) and LSIs (Large Scale Integration) arranged in a matrix on the upper surface of a semiconductor substrate such as a silicon substrate is fabricated in a semiconductor device fabrication process. In such a semiconductor wafer, the semiconductor chips are separated from each other by a plurality of separation lines called streets preliminarily formed on the semiconductor substrate, and the semiconductor wafer is cut along these streets to obtain the individual semiconductor chips. Further, in an optical device wafer, the upper surface of a sapphire substrate or the like is partitioned into a plurality of regions by a plurality of streets formed in a matrix, and a gallium nitride compound semiconductor or the like is stacked in each of these partitioned regions of the substrate to thereby form an optical device. Such an optical device wafer is cut along the streets into a plurality of optical devices such as light emitting diodes and laser diodes, which are widely used for electrical equipment.
Cutting of a wafer such as a semiconductor wafer and an optical device wafer along the streets is usually performed by using a cutting device called a dicer. This cutting device includes a chuck table for holding a wafer as a work, cutting means for cutting the wafer held on the chuck table, and moving means for relatively moving the chuck table and the cutting means. The cutting means includes a rotary spindle adapted to be rotated at high speeds and a cutting blade mounted to the rotary spindle. In cutting the wafer by using such a cutting device, there is a limit to a feed speed and the devices on the wafer may be contaminated by chips generated in cutting.
As a method for separating a plate-like work such as a semiconductor wafer into a plurality of semiconductor chips or the like, there has recently been proposed a method including the steps of applying a pulsed laser beam to the work along a plurality of separation lines formed on the work to thereby form a plurality of laser processed grooves by ablation and next breaking the work along these laser processed grooves by using a mechanical breaking device (see Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 10-305420, for example).
Such laser processing has advantages over cutting such that a processing speed is higher and a wafer formed of a hard material such as sapphire can be processed relatively easily. However, in performing the ablation by the application of a laser beam to the wafer along the separation lines, thermal energy is concentrated at a region irradiated with the laser beam, causing the generation of debris, and this debris may stick to the surfaces of the chips formed on the wafer, causing a degradation in quality of the chips.
To solve this problem due to the debris, there has recently been proposed a laser processing method including the steps of coating the work surface of a wafer with a protective film formed of liquid resin such as polyvinyl alcohol and next applying a laser beam through the protective film to the work surface of the wafer (see Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2004-188475, for example). Further, there has been proposed a laser processing device including protective film forming means for forming a protective film of liquid resin such as polyvinyl alcohol on the work surface of a wafer, so as to efficiently perform laser processing (see Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2004-322168, for example).
The protective film of liquid resin such as polyvinyl alcohol as formed on the work surface of the wafer is solidified at ordinary temperatures. Accordingly, the laser beam is applied through the solid protective film to the work surface of the wafer to form the laser processed grooves by ablation, so that the protective film is separated from the work surface of the wafer, causing the deposition of debris on the work surface of the wafer on both sides of each laser processed groove. Further, in the case that the debris that has scattered falls onto the protective film and that the debris is relatively large, the solid protective film is melted by the heat of the debris, so that the debris comes into direct deposition onto the surface of any device formed on the wafer, causing a degradation in quality of the device.
Further, the protective film is absent in a region where the laser processed grooves have been formed along the separation lines extending in a first direction. Accordingly, in forming the laser processed grooves along the separation lines extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, the debris that has scattered comes into deposition to the wall surface of each laser processed groove already formed. The deposition of the debris to the wall surface of each laser processed groove causes a problem that the wafer cannot be reliably broken along each laser processed groove in the next breaking step.


A user interface providing results to a user's search also facilitates user interaction with their social network. Such interaction includes a search context by which individuals from the user's social network can perform an equivalent search or access equivalent search results. The user can select individual search results to be shared and, in response to a search query, the user is provided with responsive search results, and also identification of individuals, from the user's social network, that are responsive to the user's search query. The sharing of search results includes a search context, through which the individuals to whom such search results are shared can perform an equivalent search and be presented with equivalent search results. The sharing of search results also includes the provision of a social context within which such search results are being shared.

As network communications among multiple computing devices have become ubiquitous, the quantity of information available via such network communications has increased exponentially. For example, the ubiquitous Internet and World Wide Web comprise information sourced by a vast array of entities throughout the world, including corporations, universities, individuals and the like. Such information is often marked, or "tagged", in such a manner that it can be found, identified and indexed by services known as "search engines". Even information that is not optimized for search engine indexing can still be located by services, associated with search engines, which seek out information available through network communications with other computing devices and enable a search engine to index such information for subsequent retrieval.
Due to the sheer volume of information available to computing devices through network communications with other computing devices, users increasingly turn to search engines to find the information they seek. Search engines typically enable users to search for any topic and receive, from this vast volume of information, identifications of specific content that is deemed to be responsive to, or associated with, the users' queries. To sort through the vast amounts of information that is available, and timely provide useful responses to users' queries, search engines employ a myriad of mechanisms to optimize the identification and retrieval of responsive and associated information.

Social network interaction facilitation from search results interface


The invention provides a vertical injection molding machine capable of stopping the repeatedly revolved turntable at predetermined positions. During operation of a vertical injection molding machine 1 having one or more lower molds 15 mounted on a turntable 14 and an upper mold 16 mounted on an upper retention plate 13, lubricant is periodically fed from a pump 30 to a slide portion S of the revolving turntable 14. Thereby, the slide resistance of the sliding portions S of the turntable 14 is maintained constant, by which the repeatedly revolved turntable 14 is enabled to stop accurately at predetermined positions. Thus, the present machine enables the lower molds 15 which are repeatedly clamped with the upper mold 16 to stop at predetermined positions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vertical injection molding machine for molding a product by clamping and releasing molds in the vertical direction, and more specifically, relates to a vertical injection molding machine capable of stopping a turntable at predetermined clamping positions and the like for stopping the lower molds revolved with the turntable at predetermined positions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, a so-called two-station type vertical injection molding machine has been used, having two lower molds mounted on a turntable which are moved to positions capable of being clamped with a single upper mold by the revolving motion of the turntable, and being clamped in the vertical direction. According to this so-called two-station vertical injection molding machine in which a plurality of lower molds are clamped with an upper mold, a mold product in which a metallic insert component is integrally molded with resin is manufactured by assembling a metallic component for insert-molding to the lower mold positioned on the opposite side from the lower mold being clamped with the upper mold during a mold clamping process, and after completing assembling, revolving the turntable to a predetermined position so as to clamp the lower mold having the metallic component assembled thereto with the upper mold to form a mold product.
In order to produce such molded products in which metallic insert components are integrally molded with resin, it is necessary to assemble the insert component in advance to one of the molds before clamping the molds, so the lower mold being revolved together with the revolving movement of the turntable must be stopped accurately without displacement at a predetermined position capable of being clamped with the upper mold. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the relevant portion of such two-station vertical injection molding machine according to the prior art described above, which will be described with reference to the drawing. According to the illustrated vertical injection molding machine, a turntable 102 on which two lower molds 100 and 101 are mounted is revolved in both directions by a servomotor 104 via a timing belt 103. A stopper pin 105 is integrally formed to a lower surface of the turntable 102 on which the lower molds 100 and 101 are mounted that are clamped with the upper mold not shown. When the turntable is revolved by the operation of the servomotor 104, the stopper pin 105 that moves together with the revolution of the turntable 102 comes in contact with the stopper 106, the state of which is illustrated in FIG. 6, and the lower mold is held at a position capable of being clamped with the upper mold by the stopper pin 105 being pressed against the stopper 106 with predetermined torque until the mold clamping process in which the lower mold 100 and the upper mold are clamped is completed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-172646 (patent document 1) discloses a prior art turntable of an injection molding machine having a structure related to the prior art described above.
However, since according to the vertical injection molding machine of FIG. 6 the stopper pin is repeatedly pressed against the stopper for molding by the revolutions of the turntable in both directions, the contact portions of the stopper pin and the stopper are both worn. When the vertical injection molding machine is operated for a long period of time, the components such as the stopper pin used for positioning are worn away, making it difficult to stop the lower molds at predetermined positions. Moreover, if the vertical injection molding machine is continuously operated in the state in which the contact portions are worn away, the molds subjected to clamping are displaced from the predetermined positions, and in some cases, the molds may even be damaged during clamping. Further, since it is necessary to replace worn components such as the stopper pin and the stopper periodically, the replacement of worn components requires much time and work, the operation of the molding machine must be interrupted each time the component is to be replaced, and the manufacturing costs of molded products are increased in vertical injection molding machines producing molded products having insert components made of metal or the like integrally molded with resin.
Further, when the stopper pin collides against the stopper, not only the stopper pin and the stopper but also the drive system of the turntable may be damaged. Therefore, it becomes necessary to stop the turntable without fail immediately before the stopper pin contacts the stopper, which is enabled by taking a large reduction distance before the stop position. However, by increasing the reduction distance, the time required from the starting of the revolution of the turntable to the stopping thereof is increased, and as a result, the overall molding cycle is elongated. Further, as in the case with the two-station vertical injection molding machine having two molds mounted on the turntable as shown in FIG. 6, if the two molds on the turntable are revolved in reciprocating motion for 180 degrees at a time with the revolution of the turntable, the lower molds can be stopped at predetermined positions by having a stopper pin contact a stopper fixed to a base or the like, but in a three-station machine or a four-station machine, the turntable must be revolved for 120 degrees at a time in the former machine and 90 degrees at a time in the latter machine in the same revolving direction, which requires a complex mechanism and control to engage or release the stoppers correspondingly, not only deteriorating reliability but also increasing costs.
Furthermore, according to the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the turntable is stopped by having the stopper pin press against the stopper, but if such structure is not adopted and the revolving turntable is stopped only by the control of the servomotor being the driving source of the turntable, the turntable not only fails to stop within a predetermined range but also the stop position is displaced greatly along with the passing of turntable operation time. Therefore, the inventors of the present invention have conducted various tests, and arrived at the following conclusions regarding the mechanism of dispersion of the stop position of the turntable.
According to test results, when the turntable revolution is reduced and stopped, if the rotational resistance of the turntable is smaller than the rotational inertia, the turntable continues to revolve by inertia resisting against the rotational resistance even when the servomotor is at reduction, so the turntable overruns the predetermined stop position, and therefore, the turntable is stopped at an overrun position even when the servomotor performs a turntable positioning control. On the other hand, if the rotational resistance of the turntable becomes greater than the rotational inertia, the force acts in the opposite direction, and as a result, the turntable tends to stop before the predetermined stop position. Thus, the present inventors have discovered that the rotational resistance of the turntable is influenced by the sliding conditions of the sliding portions of the turntable or the shaft bearing portion, and especially influenced greatly by the sliding conditions of the sliding portions of the turntable having a large sliding resistance. When the sliding portions are fed with a sufficient amount of lubricant and the sliding condition thereof is good, the rotational resistance is small, but when the sliding portions lack lubricant and the sliding condition thereof is deteriorated, the rotational resistance is increased correspondingly. Therefore, the dispersion in the stop position of the turntable is recognized to be caused mainly by the sliding resistance being varied greatly, which is caused by the change in sliding conditions of the sliding portions of the turntable.


A detection apparatus extracts an account and a source address of the account from authentication information obtained from an authentication apparatus configured to perform user authentication, groups accounts for each of time slots at predetermined time intervals and each of source addresses in accordance with a timestamp and the source address of the account, and extracts an account group from which duplication of an identical account in an identical group has been excluded. Subsequently, the detection apparatus calculates the number of duplicate accounts among the extracted account groups. The detection apparatus determines that an identical source address is an address of an attacker in a case where the number of account groups of the identical source address in which the number of calculated accounts exceeds a first threshold exceeds a second threshold.

In many services on the Internet, account authentication is used to confirm identity. For example, a user attempts account authentication to use a service, and can use the service by logging into the service solely in a case where the authentication is successful. Generally, account authentication uses an account and a password. In recent years, there are incidences of a damage of an unauthorized login using an account and a password accidentally authenticated by account hacking of performing repeated attempts of account authentication using a large number of accounts and passwords.
To cope with this, in order to prevent the damage by the account hacking, there is a method of counting the number of account authentications and authentication failures within a fixed period of time and detecting the case as account hacking in a case where the number of authentication failures exceeds a fixed number. Even with normal use, an authentication failure does occur at a certain rate due to a forgotten password, or the like. In a case where a plurality of users shares an identical Internet protocol (IP) address or an identical channel, such as within a company or a wireless local area network (LAN) spot, the number of authentication failures from an identical address or an identical channel is increased, leading to a case where the number of authentication failures within a fixed period of time exceeds the fixed number. Even the case like this case might be erroneously detected as account hacking. Therefore, in practice, it is common to use a ratio of the number of authentication failures and the number of authentication successes within a fixed period of time to the number of authentication attempts, namely, an authentication failure rate and an authentication success rate.

Detection system, detection apparatus, detection method, and detection program

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION


A mechanism for adjusting the angular position of an optical device with respect to a field helmet is disclosed. The mechanism includes an optical device mounting component for coupling to the optical device. A field helmet mounting component is provided for coupling to the field helmet. The field helmet mounting component is rotatably coupled to the optical device mounting component about an axis of rotation. An angular adjustment mechanism is engaged between the optical device mounting component and the field helmet mounting component. The angular adjustment mechanism includes a translating member that is moveably translatable along an axis of translation for engaging a surface of either the field helmet mounting component or the optical device mounting component. Translation of the translating member along the axis of translation induces rotation of the optical device mounting component about the axis of rotation for adjusting the angular position of the optical device.

Field helmet mounted optical devices, such as night vision devices, are designed for a wide variety of uses. Users typically operate the night vision device in a variety of positions, such as standing erect, lying flat on the ground, sitting in a cockpit of an airplane, hiding behind protective cover, and so forth. Given the variety of positions a user may operate a night vision device, it would be beneficial to provide adjustments for tilting (i.e., rotating) and translating the optical device with respect to the field helmet for adapting the night vision device to the body orientation of the user.
Additionally, helmet mounted night vision devices frequently require translational adjustments with respect to the field helmet to accommodate anthropometric variation of multiple users or to accommodate additional equipment worn by the user, such as, gas masks or glasses.
Thus, there is a continuing need to further develop devices for adjustable and/or removable mounting of an optical device to a field helmet in the interests of enhanced functionality, cost and convenience.

Screw actuated night vision goggle tilt mechanism


A contextual organization chart based on two selected individuals is constructed from a database of individual names, manager names, and profiles. Awareness data is provided for people in the organization, a people awareness indicator and a nesting control indicator are appended to names in the constructed view. A user may access profile data by selecting a name in the view, expand the view to show additional individuals by selecting a nesting control indicator, or initiate a communication with an individual by selecting an awareness indicator.

Various application programs provide a computer user information about the reporting structure of an organization in a graphical or organization chart format. For example, Robertson et al. in U.S. Patent Publication 2002/0030703 A1 describe creating and displaying a visual hierarchy of data objects. The objects may be individuals in an organization. The display of an object or person within a first hierarchy can be gradually transformed or morphed into the display of the same object or person within a second hierarchy. Techniques are described to morph between first and second hierarchies.
Lowry, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,617 describes rendering a hierarchical graphical listing or chart on a display. Further information may be retrieved from a database record leaving plural fields by selecting a node on the chart.
McFarlane et al., in U.S. Patent Publication 2002/0,111,887 A1 describe using an organization chart to provide summary reports of employee online activity. The summary reports include information on the employee as well as all other employees under the employee in the company organizational structure.
Other programs are available for drawing an organization chart using 'drag and drop' techniques or to create charts based on target individuals. The publication "Organization Charting Software" by Advanced Personnel Systems, P.O. Box 1438, Roseville, Calif. 95648 dated 2002 describes such programs.
Yasutaka also describes in Japanese patent abstract 08329156A, a device for preparing an organization chart by decoding hierarchical parameters in an organization plan data base.
Hess, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,867 describes an interactive computer display system for manipulating a hierarchy of information. A hierarchical arrangement of information is constructed with a minimum of steps and errors.
The abstract of Japanese patent 2001350883A to Okura Osamu describes an organization chart processor for displaying an organization chart on the screen of a display device. A user may input a 'movement' causing the processor to update the contents of a personnel database. Also an official announcement of the change is prepared, printed, and stored in a history file.
Masahiro describes in Japanese patent abstract 08329156A, an organization chart processor that prepares an organization chart in a tree structure from data in an employee master file. The processor also reads out an employee's face photograph from a face photograph file or other personal information from the employee master file and displays these on the organization chart.
Computer users in hierarchical organizations such as industrial companies, service organizations, educational organizations, non-profit companies, and the like frequently want to understand how a particular individual in their organization relates to themselves on the organization chart. Answering this question is a difficult process with all of the above described systems and methods, requiring multiple searches or scrolling up and down management chains. The larger the organization, the more difficult the task becomes because only a small part of the overall organization chart may be viewed on a computer screen at any given time. A system which rapidly and easily shows the relationship between only two individuals in an organization would therefore constitute a significant advancement in the art.
In addition to showing the relationship between two individuals, a user typically wishes to learn more about the second individual as well as those in their respective and common manager chains. It is therefore a desirable feature to have the ability to easily request individual profile data or graphics, photograph, or the like for any such individual by merely clicking on an individual name, or an icon, or selection button associated with an individual name. For example, in the Lowry patent listed above one may request additional information by selecting a node on a hierarchical chart.
Recently presence technology systems and methods have been developed. For example, Cuomo et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,328, describe providing information to a target user about other users in an online environment. The target user is informed as other users enter or leave the networked environment. The target user may be notified through use of a list where other users' names appear or change color as they log onto or off of the network. An audio signal may also be used to alert the target user to another user's change in status. U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,328 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Instant messaging systems such as SAMETIME® product (SAMETIME is a trademark of IBM Corporation) provided by IBM Corporation of Armonk, N.Y. include such a presence information display in a window on a user's computer screen.
In addition to a person's on-line status, presence technology as described by Lisa Guernsey in the New York Times article "You Can Surf, but You Can't Hide" dated Feb. 7, 2002, may also show whether another person's phone is in use, or for a cellular telephone, whether it is even turned on. According to Guernsey, presence technology is also being considered for hand-held computers, wireless Web pads, communication systems in cars, or nearly any wired or wireless device of the future including household appliances or exercise machines at the gym. Some planned systems will use tracking systems like the Global Positioning System (GPS) to detect the location of a person who is logged on.
Glenn et al. describe, in U.S. Patent Publication 2002/0021307 A1, a method of displaying a presence indicator if a user is connected to an interconnection fabric. The method also provides for initiating an instantaneous communication interface to an initiating user when the presence indicator is selected and the receiving user is connected to the interconnection fabric.
It would therefore be a highly desirable and inventive feature if the desired relationship chart above could include presence information about the second individual and those in their respective and common manager chains. Furthermore it would be highly desirable if the first individual could establish communication with any of those persons on the relationship chart by selecting a presence indicator associated with that individual.

Displaying a contextual organization chart with awareness

International Business Machines Corporation


Cleaning of multi-pore diffusion elements in place with cleaning gases while submerged in liquid media by applying said elements in improved gas cleaning apparatus. Such apparatus may for example include diffusion element retaining rings or other retaining devices, positioned at the peripheries of the respective elements, for securing them in gas-tight relationship with their respective plenums for preventing escape of treating and cleaning gas. Another aspect of the apparatus includes diffusers having diffusion elements with upper and lower surfaces bounded by porous peripheral sides, said diffusers also including apparatus for preventing escape of air through the element sides. In another embodiment of diffusers with diffusion elements having upper and lower surfaces bounded by peripheral sides, there are plenums comprising gas tight enclosures that enclose these lower surfaces and that include upstanding walls facing and adjacent to said sides. In yet another embodiment, upward force exerted on diffusion elements by treating gas under pressure is employed to force the elements upwardly against peripheral sealing members and overlying members of peripheral retainers to increase the sealing integrity of the sealing members.

The aeration of waste liquid media, including for example domestic sewage and industrial waste waters, is an old art. The activated sludge process, which includes aeration of liquors containing domestic sewage, has been in continuous use for about sixty years.
The liquid media treated in such aeration processes very commonly contain organic and/or inorganic foulants such as for example relatively insoluble salts which are responsible for the hardness of the water, and living and non-living organic residues which contribute to the formation of scales and slimes. Upon aeration of these media with submerged aeration devices, there is a tendency for the foulants to progressively foul such devices at the point of release of oxygen-containing gas into the liquid media, closing up or otherwise modifying the openings through which the oxygen-containing gas is released into the media with various undesirable results.
Such fouling can impair the uniformity of gas distribution from aeration devices, especially when such devices are of the area discharge type, such as for example the flat porous ceramic plates which were used to discharge air into sewage liquors in early activated sludge plants. Also, fouling can in certain circumstances increase the pressure differential required to drive oxygen-containing gas through the aeration devices at a given flow rate, thus either reducing the flow of oxygen available, and therefore the oxygen transfer rate of the aeration system, and/or increasing the amount of power consumed in maintaining the desired rate of flow, thus substantially increasing the energy requirements and cost of the process.
Since these fouling phenomena are often progressive in nature they can eventually lead to a complete or near complete disablement of the aerating devices if permitted to continue long enough. However, a long-standing recognition of the intolerable circumstances that can result from failure of a sewage treatment plant has provided considerable encouragement for persons skilled in the art to explore remedial measures.
The fouling problem has been discussed and confronted in various ways with varying degrees of success for many years. Literature references discussing the problem and proposed solutions were available in the 1930s. These and subsequent publications demonstrate the severity of the problem and the elusiveness of any truly satisfactory solution. At a very early stage it was recognized that the removal of diffusion elements from an aeration tank for cleaning was both inconvenient and relatively expensive in view of the labor costs and the loss of use of the facility. Accordingly various attempts were made to develop satisfactory processes for cleaning the aeration devices in place, i.e. without removal from the aeration tanks and, wherever possible, without draining the liquid media from the tanks.
One of the techniques tried was injection of chlorine gas into the aeration system in admixture with air while the aeration system was in operation. A measure of success was obtained in that there was reduction of flow resistance and apparently some prolongation of the life of the elements. However, such techniques were only sporadically successful.
For example, R. B. Jackson reported in his article "Maintaining Open Diffuser Plates With Chlorine," Water Works & Sewerage, September 1942, pages 380-382, that the application of chlorine, whenever required, was effective in maintaining operation for a period of time, following which it again became necessary to drain the aeration tank and clean the decommissioned diffusion elements with liquid cleaners including acids. But Jackson was only one of a number of individuals who experimented with in place cleaning with gaseous cleaning agents in a variety of plants. See for example W. M. Franklin, "Purging Diffuser Plates With Chlorine," Water Works & Sewerage, June 1939, pages 232-233; "Manual of Practice No. 5," Federation of Sewage and Industrial Wastes Associations, Champaign, Ill., 1952, pages 60-61; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,686,138 to Klein.
However, despite the early attempts at perfecting this technique, it has not been widely regarded as generally acceptable heretofore for large sewage treatment plants with multipore diffusion elements.
It is of interest to note that sewage treatment plant designers are generally familiar with the tubing-type diffusers for the sewage treatment ponds or lagoons used by small communities. Such systems usually employ rows of small diameter plastic tubing resting on or suspended above the bottom of a lagoon or basin and having small holes or slits formed in the tubing at relatively widely spaced intervals along the length of the tubing. For example, one commercially available type of tubing-type diffuser marketed by Lagoon Aeration Corporation under the trademark LASAIRE is weighted tubing having an inside diameter of approximately one-half inch with a small bore on the order of 0.012" in diameter about every four inches along the crown of the tubing. Another commercially available form of tubing type diffuser employs slits instead of bores. Still another type employs rigid plastic tubing having small porous ceramic inserts cemented into the tubing wall instead of the bores or slits previously mentioned. Sanitary engineers are, of course, aware of the successful cleaning of such tubing type diffusers by the addition of a cleaning gas such as hydrogen chloride to the oxygen-containing gas, which mixture is forced through the bores, slits or small ceramic inserts, while the latter are in place submerged in the liquid media, to remove incrustations of organic and/or inorganic foulants.
Notwithstanding the apparent success of in place gas cleaning of tubing-type diffusers and the long-standing knowledge of and early attempts at in place gas cleaning of the multi-pore area release diffusion elements customarily employed in the tank-type aeration facilities generally used by large cities and counties, gas cleaning in place has not been generally adopted for such facilities. Considering the long-standing nature of the fouling problem and the fact that the technology relating to in place gas cleaning of tubing type diffusers has been readily available to sewage plant designers for years, it might seem reasonable to assume that in place gas cleaning would have long ago become the technique of choice for the tank-type aeration facilities equipped with multi-pore diffusion elements. That it has not become a commonly used method bears silent but effective witness to the fact that a practical, economical and dependable technique for in place gas cleaning of multi-pore diffusion elements in tank-type aeration facilities was not obvious to plant designers and operators of ordinary skill in the art.
Further evidence of such non-obviousness is provided by the willingness of facility operators to indulge in such inconvenient, time consuming and expensive measures as removing the unit from service, draining the tank, doing preliminary cleaning of the tank and of the fouled diffusion elements with fire hoses and the like, removing literally tons of elements from the tanks, transporting them to a cleaning facility, subjecting them to acid and/or caustic solution cleaning, drying the elements, refiring them at elevated temperatures, replacing the rather substantial number of elements which are inevitably destroyed by cracking or warping in the refiring process, transporting the elements back to the plant, reinstalling them with removal of damaged gasket material from the holders, installation of new gaskets, retightening and torqueing of the means for holding the diffusion elements in their holders, refilling the tank and returning the facility to operation.
Additional evidence has been provided by a study entitled "Survey and Evaluation of Fine Bubble Dome Diffuser Aeration Equipment," by Daniel H. Houck and Arthur G. Boon, completed Sep. 1, 1980, in fulfillment of a grant from the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies and the British Water Research Centre under the partial sponsorship of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. While making an in-depth review of the designs, operating procedures, performance and maintenance procedures of U.S. and overseas activated sludge plants equipped with fine bubble diffusers, the investigators surveyed fouling problems and cleaning methods. None of the plants which required periodic cleaning employed in-place gas cleaning. Among the cleaning methods used for ceramic diffusion elements were refiring, acid washing combined with clean water- and steam-cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, hand brushing and others. The study provided detailed information and observations on the costliness of and limited economic justification for refiring. Nevertheless, it was recommended on grounds of established effectiveness that refiring and/or acid washing be used where possible. But the study also uncovered evidence that acid washing did not adequately clean ceramic diffusion elements fouled with scale, apparently calcium carbonate, and that the diffusion elements should be refired for proper cleaning.
Plainly the need for an in-place gas cleaning apparatus suitable for tank-type plants with the multi-pore diffusion elements has existed for more than forty years. However, the willingness of plant designers, operators and government officials to accept or even promote the above described disruptive, lengthy, troublesome and expensive procedure shows that the solution to the problem is not in fact evident. The present invention is aimed at fulfilling this need.
As suggested in our U.S. Pat. No. 33,177, the holders of diffusion elements used in gas cleaning, as well as their respective retaining means, can take a wide variety of forms, including those which secure the diffusion elements by direct or indirect contact about their entire peripheries, or at spaced points about their peripheries or at other locations. For example, see the center bolt arrangements shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,046,845 to Richard K. Veeder and 3,532,272 to Eric S. Branton. However, as our patent also taught, attachment of the diffusion elements by central or other fasteners which extend through holes in the active diffusion surface produce detrimental effects, the prediction of which would not have been obvious.
In much of the prior art, sealing between element and plenum is accomplished through vertically loaded elastomeric gaskets. The required loading to effect adequate seal of the porous diffusion element may be high, e.g. 50 pounds/lineal inch of seal. Greater strength and rigidity of the diffuser and plenum is required to distribute these forces about the periphery than in the preferred embodiments of this invention wherein continuous peripheral clamping or retaining is employed.
Further, fasteners extending through the element into the plenum typically require holes with clearance. Unless the interiors of the holes are sealed in their entireties, free passage of air is provided in these clearances that promotes excessive flow from the diffusion element in the vicinity of the fastener. Enlarging the sealed area under the lower horizontal surface of the retaining means, to lengthen the path of air from the clearance zone to the diffuser surface does not correct this deficiency, since the reduction in unit flow (flux) in the vicinity of the fastener resulting from the additional sealed area at the surface, similarly reduces the frictional pressure drop in that region, and the problem of non-uniform distribution persists.
The detrimental effects of the "through-hole" type fasteners above described may be overcome by the use of the preferred peripheral clamping or retaining methods employed in our invention.

Apparatus for in place gas cleaning of diffusion elements