Abstract: A propagation delay time measuring system 100 includes a propagation delay time measuring apparatus 110 and a reply apparatus 120. The propagation delay time measuring apparatus 110 continuously transmits plural measuring packets a. A clock time of transmission is stored in the measuring packet a. The reply apparatus 120 sends back the measuring packets a, transmitted from the propagation delay time measuring apparatus 110, to the propagation delay time measuring apparatus 110. In the propagation delay time measuring system 100, the propagation delay time measuring apparatus 110 receives the measuring packets a sent back from the reply apparatus 120, and the propagation delay time measuring apparatus 110 measures a propagation delay time between the propagation delay time measuring apparatus 110 and the reply apparatus 120 using at least one of the received measuring packets a.

Abstract: A method for determining a mobility of an object includes the steps of measuring at least a portion of a shape of an object under an initial increment of a weight load of a plurality of increments of a total weight load using a device and measuring at least a portion of the shape of the object under a next increment of a total weight load of a plurality of increments of a weight load using the device. Repeating the measurements until a total weight load is achieved and comparing the measurements from the device under the plurality of incremental weight loads, thereby determining a mobility of at least the portion of said object under the plurality of increments of weight loads. The method further includes adjusting the elevation and angular orientation of a support surface for the object to achieve further measurements and a device for obtaining such measurements. The method further includes comparing the mobility of a present object to a normal-object to determine a deviation.

Abstract: An aerosol valve actuator with a top portion rotatable on a bottom portion. The entire top portion in one rotatable position is depressible vertically to actuate the valve. A click post and clicking rib provide a single click in each direction of rotation. Flanges on top and bottom portions interact to stop rotation as soon as each click occurs. Plastic springs interact with spring biasing members only when the top portion is in actuating position, and assure return of the actuator top portion to full upward position for rotation after actuation of even a short-stemmed valve. Downwardly extending flexible connecting flanges connect the actuator top and bottom portions. The top portion has a lower periphery with a plurality of upwardly extending indentations to overlie lateral ribs in the lower portion in actuation position. The top and bottom portions have interfitting cylinders to stabilize the top portion and maintain verticality.

Abstract: A hemodialysis apparatus includes a blood processing machine, a blood circuit through which blood led from a patient flows, a blood pump attached to the blood circuit to pump blood, a dialysate circuit, a clamp disposed downstream of the blood pump for the blood circuit to block the blood circuit, a blood pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of a part of the blood circuit between the blood pump and the blocker, and a control unit connected with the blood pump and the blood pressure sensor. The control unit is configured to determine, based on the pressure detected by the blood circuit pressure detector, whether or not the blood circuit has encountered abnormal conditions while the blood circuit blocked by the clamp is filled with liquid by the blood pump (steps SA2, SA3, and SA5).

Abstract: A signal separating device includes an iterative estimator, a repeating calculator, a result output unit, and a repetition controller. The repeating calculator repeatedly causes the iterative estimator to iteratively perform independent component analysis on an observed signal matrix, and to further perform independent component analysis on the source signal matrix obtained as a result. The result output unit outputs the product of the respective mixing matrices obtained during each repetition as a mixing matrix with respect to the observed signal matrix, while also outputting the source signal matrix obtained during the final repetition as a source signal matrix with respect to the observed signal matrix. The repetition controller causes the repeating calculator to repeat the calculation control until all mixing matrices and all source signal matrices satisfy a convergence condition. The iterative estimator may perform a fixed number of iterations, or perform iterations until convergence is obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus for purifying and humidifying air which enables separate supply of purified air and humidified air and controls the amount of humidified air discharged and which includes dual flow paths to increase the efficiency of air transfer. The apparatus includes a case having a suction port through which external air is introduced thereinto and a discharge port through which the introduced air is discharged, a circulation fan for causing the introduced air to flow toward the discharge port, a filter unit disposed in the case to filter the introduced air, a humidification unit disposed at a low position in the case to supply the air passed through the filter unit with moisture, and a flow path control unit disposed between the suction port and the humidification unit to control flow of the air passed through the filter unit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an FMCW signal generation circuit includes a voltage-controlled oscillator, a digital phase detector, a differentiator, a comparator, a low-pass filter, an amplifier, a D/A converter, and an integrator. The voltage-controlled oscillator generates an FMCW signal including an oscillation frequency corresponding to a control signal. The digital phase detector detects phase information of the FMCW signal to generate a detection signal. The differentiator differentiates the detection signal once to generate a differential signal. The comparator compares the differential signal with a target frequency to generate an error signal. The low-pass filter suppresses a high-frequency component of the error signal to generate a filtered signal. The amplifier amplifies the filtered signal to generate an amplified signal. The D/A converter converts the amplified signal to analog to generate an analog signal. The integrator integrates the analog signal to generate the control signal.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for providing a credit evaluation report, the method comprising: searching a reference file of entities; identifying an entity of interest; determining user specified rules or criteria; selecting at least one relevant trade experience from a database of trade experiences for the entity of interest based upon the user specified rules or criteria, records for comparison to the relevant trade experience, and/or peer groups; and generating the credit evaluation report of the entity of interest based upon the relevant trade experience.

Abstract: Cleaning sheets are provided, which attach to known wet and/or dry cleaning devices such as a mopping device. The cleaning sheets are reusable and have material and/or a geometric configuration that provides efficient cleaning performance, while maintaining a predetermined cleaning force during use.

Abstract: Recognition of proper nouns by an automated speech recognition system is improved by augmenting the pronunciation of each proper noun or name in the natural language of the speech recognition system with at least one “native” pronunciation in another natural language. To maximize recognition, preferably the pronunciations are predicted based on information not available to the speech recognition system. Prediction of pronunciation may be based on a location derived from a telephone number or postal address associated with the name and the language or dialect spoken in the country or region of that location. The “native” pronunciation(s) may be added to a dictionary of the speech recognition system or directly to the grammar used for recognizing speech.

Abstract: A system and a method for stabilization control may control position and direction of an object having first and second bodies connected to each other. The system may include an artificial vestibular apparatus for outputting a movement signal corresponding to movement of the first body and a rotation signal corresponding to rotation of the first body; a translating actuation unit connected between the first and second bodies and controlling position of the second body in response to the movement signal; and a rotating actuation unit connected between the first and second bodies and controlling rotation of the second body in response to the rotation signal. If the system and the method are applied to a vision system of a mobile robot, the vision system may obtain stabile image information even when the mobile robot is moving. Thus, it is possible to prevent any blurring from occurring at the image information.

Abstract: The invention relates to an unmanned air vehicle control system and method, designed such that, in one mission mode, the vehicle follows the mission route. The system comprises means (400, 450) for storing data indicating at least one auxiliary route (4000, 4001, 4002, 4003), such that each of a plurality of the mission route segments (10, 20), is assigned at least part (30, 31, 32, 33) of at least one auxiliary route. Furthermore, the system comprises route change means (53) designed for, as a response to a mission abandonment event (52), determining which part of which auxiliary route is assigned to the mission route segment where the vehicle is located, such that the vehicle can change the mission route to the corresponding auxiliary route.

Abstract: A dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner is provided. The dust collecting apparatus includes a dust separating chamber separating dust from dust-laden air, a dust collecting chamber storing the dust separated by the dust separating chamber, and an air discharge guide duct guiding the air discharged from the dust separating chamber to an air outlet at a lower end of the dust collecting chamber. The air discharge guide duct includes a first duct formed on a rear surface of the dust collecting apparatus so as to guide the air discharged from the dust separating chamber downwards, a second duct being coupled with the first duct and extending into the dust separating chamber, and a third duct formed in the dust separating chamber so as to connect the second duct with the air outlet.

Abstract: When a user makes a remote log-in to a server apparatus from a terminal apparatus, a password managing apparatus, which manages the name of a user of the server apparatus, his/her direct log-in password and transformation rule, displays an authentication purpose symbol sequence on a display apparatus. The user transforms the displayed sequence by his/her transformation rule and supplies, via the terminal apparatus, his/her user name and the post-transformation symbol sequence to the server apparatus, which then sends them to the password managing apparatus. If the result of applying the user's transformation rule to any authentication purpose symbol sequence generated in the past coincides with the post-transformation symbol sequence, the password managing apparatus sends the direct log-in password to the server apparatus to pass the remote log-in to the server apparatus by the terminal apparatus as a success.

Abstract: A high availability system includes a first computer on which a first virtual computer and a first hypervisor managing the first virtual computer operate, and a second computer on which a second virtual computer and a second hypervisor managing the second virtual computer operate. The first hypervisor includes an acquisition unit which acquires synchronization information associated with an event, wherein the event has occurred in the first virtual computer and accompanies an input to the first virtual computer, and a transmission unit which transmits the acquired synchronization information to the second hypervisor. The second hypervisor includes a reception unit which receives the synchronization information from the first hypervisor, and a control unit which performs control to match an input to the second virtual computer with an input to the first virtual computer in accordance with the received synchronization information.

Abstract: A reversible fuse structure in an integrated circuit is obtained through the implementation of a fuse cell having a short thin line of phase change materials in contact with via and line structures capable of passing current through the line of phase change material (fuse cell). The current is passed through the fuse cell in order to change the material from a less resistive material to a more resistive material through heating the phase change material in the crystalline state to the melting point then quickly quenching the material into the amorphous state. The reversible programming is achieved by passing a lower current through the fuse cell to convert the high resistivity amorphous material to a lower resistivity crystalline material. Appropriate sense-circuitry is integrated to read the information stored in the fuses, wherein said sense circuitry is used to enable or disable circuitry.

Abstract: A lip-openable lid is provided for use in connection with a container or container cap having a valve seat and an opening for egress of container contents. A lip-openable container is also provided that employs the lip-openable lid. The lid is comprised of a gasket with a lip-engageable annular wall, a central portion radially inward of the wall, and a peripheral flange that is engageable with the valve seat. The lid includes a rigid support that has liquid flow openings, supports the central portion of the gasket and positions the gasket against the valve seat. The lid can also include means for securing the gasket to the support. The central portion of the gasket is comprised of a flexible elastomer and is capable of flexing and stretching to displace the flange from the valve seat when downward pressure is applied against the gasket. When downward pressure is applied, the central portion of the gasket contacts the rigid support and flexes and stretches downward from and/or over the rigid support.