Abstract: In a cleaning apparatus that can clean multiple endoscopes simultaneously, a combination authorization information memory unit stores combination authorization information that specifies whether or not simultaneous cleaning in the cleaning apparatus is allowed for every combination of various types of endoscopes. A determination unit determines, referring to the combination authorization information stored in the combination authorization information memory unit, whether or not the combination of endoscopes set in the cleaning apparatus to be simultaneously cleaned falls into one of the allowed combinations.

Abstract: A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include receiving, from a user system, one or more protocol analysis request messages via a network, transmitting, to one or more multipurpose interface devices, one or more control signals based on the one or more protocol analysis request messages, receiving, from the one or more multipurpose interface devices, protocol analysis data associated with data traffic transmitted on one or more test networks in response to the transmitted control signals, and outputting, to the user system, the protocol analysis data via the network.

Abstract: A frequency detection circuit and a detection method thereof suitable for a clock data recovery (CDR) circuit are provided. The frequency detection circuit includes a phase detector, a first delayer, a frequency detector, and a logic circuit. The phase detector samples a data signal according to a first clock signal provided by the CDR circuit and provides a phase instruction signal according to the sampling. The first delayer delays the first clock signal to obtain a second clock signal. The frequency detector samples the data signal according to the second clock signal and provides a frequency instruction signal according to the sampling. The logic circuit generates a clock instruction signal according to the phase instruction signal and the frequency instruction signal. The CDR circuit adjusts the frequency of the first clock signal according to the status of the clock instruction signal.

Abstract: A multi-touch positioning method for a capacitive touch panel includes following steps. A candidate touching position array including a first and a second candidate position groups is generated when the capacitive touch panel is touched by two objects. The first and the second candidate position groups include two first and second candidate positions, respectively. Next, the signal magnitude sensed by a sensing element and respectively corresponding to the first and the second candidate position groups are compared. Then, when the signal magnitude corresponding to the first candidate position group is greater than that corresponding to the second candidate position group, one of the two first candidate positions closer to the sensing element along a first direction is determined as a first actual touching position, and one of the two second candidate positions farther from the sensing element along the first direction is determined as a second actual touching position.

Abstract: A metal interconnection including a substrate, a first conductive structure, a second conductive structure, a complex plug and a plug is provided. The substrate includes a first region and a second region. The first conductive structure is disposed on the first region. The second conductive structure is disposed on the second region. The complex plug is disposed on the first conductive structure and includes a tungsten layer and a plurality of insulator columns, wherein an extended direction of each of the insulator columns is perpendicular to a surface of the substrate and the tungsten layer is electrically connected with the first conductive structure. The plug is disposed on the second conductive structure and electrically connected with the second conductive structure.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an endoscope for picking up an image in a body cavity by an image pickup apparatus provided in a distal end of an insertion portion; a position detecting apparatus for detecting, based on luminal information acquired by the image pickup apparatus, position information used for inserting the distal end of the insertion portion; a recording apparatus for recording, in a time-sequential manner, the position information detected by the position detecting apparatus; a determining apparatus for determining whether or not the detecting operation of the position information performed by the position detecting apparatus satisfies a set condition; and a direction calculating apparatus for, when the determination result shows that the set condition is not satisfied, reading out the position information recorded in the recording apparatus and outputting information on a direction in which the distal end of the insertion portion is to be inserted.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer readable media for providing a collaborative communication environment. The method embodiment comprises receiving user profiles, establishing a collaborative communication environment where a plurality of users simultaneously interact over a network, converting data to be sent to each user in a collaborative environment based on the respective user's profile, and presenting a localized experience to each user using the converted data.

Abstract: A sphere decoding method applied to a MIMO channel is provided. T signals transmitted via the MIMO channel are received. A first triangular matrix corresponding to a channel matrix is generated and mapped from the complex domain into the real domain to obtain a second triangular matrix. A first zero-forcing soft-output solution corresponding to a first estimation layer is found, and multiple preferred points P(1) are obtained. Multiple n-th zero-forcing soft-output solutions corresponding to an n-th estimation layer are obtained according to multiple preferred points P(n?1), and multiple preferred points P(n) are obtained according to PEDs of multiple n-th constellation points. Multiple 2T-th zero-forcing soft-output solutions are obtained according to the preferred points P(2T?1) and multiple preferred points P(2T) are obtained correspondingly. The preferred point P(2T) corresponding to the least PED is mapped from the real domain into the complex domain to generate an optimal solution of the T signals.

Abstract: A car and ship blind spot-free collision avoidance system includes a plurality of image acquiring units and detecting units externally spaced along the car or the ship, an image processing unit, at least one image display unit, and a power supply unit, all being electrically connected to a control unit. The power supply unit supplies power needed by the system to operate normally. The control unit can determine the car or the ship position and moving direction via gear position of a shift lever and turning direction of a steering wheel, and enable real-time images shot by the image acquiring units corresponding to that position or direction to be processed by the image processing unit and then synchronously displayed on a split screen of the image display unit, so as to eliminate blind spots in driving the car or steering the ship and minimize collision and other accidents.

Abstract: A sphere decoding method applied to a MIMO channel is provided. Multiple constellation points of an nth detection layer corresponding to a MIMO channel matrix are enumerated based on an enumeration rule, and at least one nth sub-set of the nth detection layer is defined. K constellation points are obtained from each of the at least one nth sub-set as preferred points, and Kn preferred points are selected from all the K preferred points of the at least one nth sub-set. K1 preferred points are transferred to a second detection layer from a first detection layer. K(T?1) preferred points are transferred to a Tth detection layer from a (T?1)th detection layer. An optimal solution is determined according to Kn preferred points of the nth detection layer. K and at least one of K1 to KT are determined by the The characteristic of the MIMO channel matrix.

Abstract: To provide a technique of supplying a voltage generated in any of a plurality of semiconductor chips to the other chip as a power supply voltage to realize a stable operation of a semiconductor device in which the semiconductor chips are stacked in the same package. In an example of the main technique, two chips are stacked with each other, first to third pads are disposed along corresponding sides of the respective chips, which are arranged close and in parallel to each other, and these pads are commonly connected to each other with first to third metal wires, respectively. In another example, fourth and fifth pads are disposed along a side different from a side along which the first to third pads are disposed, and further connected to each other with a fourth metal wire directly between the chips.

Abstract: In a gaming system of the present disclosure, a game server manages with respect to each player through a password an insurance amount which increments when an insurance bet is set at a gaming machine. Accordingly, when a player leaves a gaming machine, the player can retain his/her insurance amount by setting a password. After that, when the player resumes a game in the same gaming machine or another gaming machine, the insurance amount retained by the player can be reproduced through an entering of the same password as the password set by the player.

Abstract: The present invention is a modular handgrip for rifles and other long guns. The handgrip features a base with a locking dovetail rail on a first side and a second opposite side configured to receive a rail. Back strap additions are provided capable of receiving the rail on the body, which are customizable to a user's preferences while fore straps are provided with rails in a similar manner. Also provided is a storage compartment inside the main body, accessible from a bottom of the grip. As such, an organization, such as an armory, can provide a number of customizable options for handgrips while only stocking a basic grip and a number of optional modules at lower unit and storage costs. Of particular note is a modular fore strap design with an integrated trigger guard.

Abstract: In certain example embodiments, a coated article includes a Zn-doped zirconium based layer before heat treatment (HT). The coated article is heat treated sufficiently to cause the Zn-doped zirconium based layer to transform into a Zn-doped zirconium oxide based layer that is scratch resistant and/or chemically durable. The doping of the layer with Zn has been found to improve scratch resistance and/or corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A system and computer-readable medium for designing a network are disclosed. A network is designed by a system having modules configured to perform steps that generate the network wherein nodes originate and terminate traffic to keep delay related to node-to-node delay-sensitive communication below a threshold. The computer-readable medium stores instructions for controlling a computing device to design the network. The instructions comprise obtaining an initial network topology including links and traffic routing based on a volume of traffic, allocating a maximum delay to each link in the network topology in proportion to a square root of an imputed cost for each of the links, sizing a bandwidth required for each of the links based on a current traffic routing and at least one of a maximum delay allocated to the link, determining link lengths and rerouting traffic according to shortest paths with respect to the determined link lengths.

Abstract: A control element for a luminaire constituted of a first and a second manually variable non-momentary impedance and a first and a second time dependent gating circuit, each responsive to a respective manually variable non-momentary impedance and operative to provide a time dependent gating of a respective polarity of an alternating current power signal, the amount of time of the gating reflecting the present value of the respective manually variable non-momentary impedance, wherein the first time dependent gating circuit and the second time dependent gating circuit are restrained to maintain a minimum predetermined power towards the solid state lighting unit.

Abstract: A direct backlight module supporting apparatus and a direct backlight module are provided. The direct backlight module comprises a backboard, an optical film, at least one light source and at least one direct backlight module supporting apparatus. At least one light source is fixed on the backboard; and at least one direct backlight module supporting apparatus is placed between the backboard and the optical film, wherein the direct backlight module comprises a base and a main body. The base is fixed on the backboard. The main body is a pillar formed on the base. The main body has an opening stretching down from the top of the main body to make a backlight projected to the top of the direct backlight module supporting apparatus. The top of the direct backlight module supporting apparatus supports the optical film.

Abstract: A coated article is provided that may be used as a vehicle windshield, insulating glass (IG) window unit, or the like. An ion beam is used during at least part of forming an infrared (IR) reflecting layer(s) of such a coated article. Advantageously, this has been found to improve sheet resistance (Rs) properties, solar control properties, and/or durability of the coated article. Other layers may also be ion beam treated in certain example embodiments.

Abstract: A light guide plate, a backlight module and a liquid crystal display are provided. The light guide plate has a first surface at least having one first structure and one second structure formed thereon. The first structure and the second structure are adjacent arranged and are mirror reflection with each other. Each of the first structure and the second structure has a first protrusion having a cross section of eccentric triangle.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first light source unit that emits light in a first wavelength band to a subject; a second light source unit that emits light in a second wavelength band, which is a part of the first wavelength band, to the subject; an image pickup unit that picks up an image of the subject and outputs the image as an image pickup signal; a light cut filter unit that cuts light in the second wavelength band reflected from the subject; and a complementary processing unit that applies complementary processing to a component equivalent to the second wavelength band cut by the light cut filter unit in the image of the subject picked up by the image pickup unit in a state in which the subject is illuminated by the light in the first wavelength band.