Author: claimsbot

1. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus comprising:
an MRI system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images; and
a computer programmed to:
calculate a cost for each point to be acquired in k-space;
acquire MR data based on the calculated cost for each point; and
generate an MR image using the acquired MR data.
2. The MRI apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer is further programmed to calculate the cost based on a polar angle \u03b8 of k-space.
3. The MRI apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer is further programmed to calculate the cost based on a radial distance r from a center of k-space.
4. The MRI apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cost calculated for each point monotonically increases as a function of increased distance from a k-space center and as a function of an angular position from zero to 2\u03c0 radians in k-space coordinates.
5. The MRI apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer is further programmed to acquire the MR data beginning from a center of k-space and progressing to at least one edge of k-space and wherein the cost of each point is monotonically increasing during the acquisition.
6. The MRI apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer is further programmed to acquire the MR data beginning from an edge of k-space and progressing to a center of k-space, and wherein the cost of each point is monotonically decreasing during the acquisition.
7. The MRI apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer is further programmed to acquire the MR data such that:
a first portion of MR data is acquired beginning from an edge of k-space and progressing toward a center of k-space, wherein a set of points associated with the first portion of MR data has a monotonically decreasing cost; and
a second portion of MR data is acquired beginning from the center of k-space and progressing toward edges of k-space, wherein a set of points associated with the second portion of MR data has a monotonically increasing cost.
8. The MRI apparatus of claim 1 wherein the MRI apparatus performs one of an isotropic and an anisotropic scan.
9. A method of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging comprising:
calculating a cost for each encoding point in a plurality of encoding points to be acquired in k-space;
acquiring MR data for each encoding point based on the cost; and
reconstructing an MR image using the acquired MR data.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising sorting the plurality of encoding points monotonically from a low cost to a high cost using the cost calculated for each encoding point.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the monotonically increasing cost increases with increased distance from a k-space center and as a function of an angular position of k-space.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein acquiring MR data comprises acquiring at least a first portion of MR data having a progressively increasing cost.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first portion of MR data is acquired beginning at a center of k-space.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein acquiring MR data includes acquiring at least a second portion of MR data beginning at an edge of k-space, wherein the second portion of MR data has a monotonically decreasing cost.
15. A computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon and representing a set of instructions that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to:
calculate a cost for each MR data point to be acquired in k-space;
acquire a first portion of MR data points having a monotonically increasing calculated cost; and
generate an MR image using the acquired first portion of MR data points.
16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein the cost for the MR data points is monotonically increasing with increased distance from a k-space center and as a function of angular position in k-space coordinates.
17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein the computer is further programmed to acquire a second portion of MR data points having a monotonically decreasing cost as a function of increased distance from a k-space edge and as a function of angular position in k-space coordinates.
18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 wherein the second portion of MR data acquired begins from an edge of k-space and progresses toward a center of k-space.
19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein the cost is calculated based on a polar angle \u03b8 of k-space.
20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein the cost is calculated based on a radial distance r from the center of k-space.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1-30. (canceled)
31. A method for processing a biological material sample, the method comprising:
dispensing a sample into a plurality of wells of an array tape from a sample plate;
dispensing a reagent into the plurality of wells of the array tape from a reagent plate;
sealing the sample and the reagent in the array tape;
cooling the array tape; and
detecting biological material in the plurality of wells of the array tape.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the sample is dispensed using a pipettor and the reagent is dispensed using a dispensing jet or a reservoir dispenser.
33. The method of claim 31, wherein cooling the array tape prevents evaporation of the sample and the reagent from the array tape and inhibits the reaction.
34. The method of claim 31, wherein detecting biological material comprises detecting fluorescence of the biological material, detecting absorbance of the biological material, detecting radioactivity of the biological material, or detecting thermal activity of the biological material.
35. The method of claim 31, wherein the array tape is cooled while the sample is dispensed into the plurality of wells of the array tape.
36. The method of claim 31, wherein the array tape is cooled after the sample is dispensed into the plurality of wells of the array tape.
37. The method of claim 31, wherein the array tape is cooled while the reagent is dispensed into the plurality of wells of the array tape.
38. The method of claim 31, wherein the array tape is cooled after the reagent is dispensed into the plurality of wells of the array tape.
39. The method of claim 31, wherein the array tape is cooled while sealing the sample and the reagent in the array tape.
40. The method of claim 31, wherein the array tape is cooled after sealing the sample and the reagent in the array tape.
41. The method of claim 31, wherein the biological material is detected in real time while a chemical reaction proceeds.
42. The method of claim 41, wherein the chemical reaction proceeds isothermally.
43. The method of claim 31, wherein the biological material is detected after completion of a chemical reaction.
44. An apparatus for processing a biological material sample, the apparatus comprising:
a dispensing system for dispensing a sample and a reagent into a matrix of wells of a tape;
a sealing system for sealing the sample and the reagent in the tape, the sealing system comprising:
a sealing mechanism; and
a cooling system for cooling the tape; and

an amplification and detection system for detecting biological material in the matrix of wells of the tape.
45. The apparatus of claim 44, and further comprising:
a tape feeding system that feeds the tape into the dispensing system;
wherein the tape feeding system unwinds the tape prior to feeding the tape into the dispensing system.
46. The apparatus of claim 45, and further comprising:
a rewind system that rewinds the tape after receiving the tape from the amplification and detection system.
47. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the dispensing system comprises:
a sample plate stacker;
a sample dispenser; and
a reagent dispenser.
48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the sample dispenser is a pipettor and the reagent dispenser is a dispensing jet or a reservoir dispenser.
49. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the cooling system of the sealing system comprises a thermoelectric attachment.
50. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the amplification and detection system comprises:
one of a charge coupled device, a fluorescence detector, a photo multiplier tube, or a photon counter; and
a Peltier plate.

1. A method for assisting a user performing karaoke, comprising:
receiving the user’s voice signals;
comparing the user’s voice signals with expected voice signals;
determining whether the user is singing on keypitch based on the comparison; and
providing real-time feedback to the user while the user is still performing karaoke.
2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein comparing comprises:
calculating the difference in pitch between the user’s voice signals and the expected voice signals.
3. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the user’s voice signals are based on melodyharmony information from vocals received from the user.
4. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the expected voice signals are based on melodyharmony information from as-recorded music.
5. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the expected voice signals are based on melodyharmony information from vocals of an artist.
6. The method defined in claim 1, wherein providing comprises:
playing audible feedback signals to the user.
7. The method defined in claim 1, wherein providing comprises:
playing positive feedback audible signals when the user is on keypitch; and
playing negative feedback audible signals when the user is off keypitch.
8. A system for assisting a user performing karaoke, comprising control circuitry, an output device and a microphone, wherein the control circuitry comprises processing circuitry and at least one storage device, the control circuitry configured to:
direct the microphone to receive the user’s voice signals;
compare the user’s voice signals with expected voice signals stored in the at least one storage device;
determine whether the user is singing on keypitch based on the comparison; and
direct the output device to provide real-time feedback to the user while user is still performing karaoke.
9. The system defined in claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
calculate the pitch difference between the user’s voice signals and the expected voice signals.
10. The system defined in claim 9, wherein the user’s voice signals are based on melodyharmony information from vocals received from the user.
11. The system defined in claim 9, wherein the expected voice signals are based on melodyharmony information extracted from as-recorded music.
12. The system defined in claim 9, wherein the expected voice signals are based on melodyharmony information from vocals of an artist.
13. The system defined in claim 8, wherein the output device comprises an audio output device, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
direct the audio output device to play audible feedback signals to the user.
14. The system defined in claim 8, wherein the output device comprises an audio output device, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
direct the audio output device to play positive feedback audible signals when the user is on keypitch; and
direct the audio output device to play negative feedback audible signals when the user is off keypitch.
15. A system for assisting a user performing karaoke, comprising a user device and a host device remote to the user device, the host device comprising control circuitry and communications circuitry, wherein the control circuitry comprises processing circuitry and at least one storage device, the control circuitry configured to:
direct the communications circuitry to receive the user’s voice signals from the user device; and
compare the user’s voice signals with expected voice signals stored in the at least one storage device;
determine whether the user is singing on keypitch based on the comparison; and
direct the communications circuitry to transmit real-time feedback to the user device while the user is still performing karaoke.
16. The system defined in claim 15, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
calculate the difference in pitch between the user’s voice signals and the expected voice signals.
17. The system defined in claim 16, wherein the user’s voice signals are based on melodyharmony information from vocals received from the user.
18. The system defined in claim 16, wherein the expected voice signals are based on melodyharmony information from as-recorded music.
19. The system defined in claim 16, wherein the expected voice signals are based on melodyharmony information from vocals of an artist.
20. The system defined in claim 15, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
direct the communications circuitry to transmit positive feedback audible signals to the user device when the user is on keypitch; and
direct the communications circuitry to transmit negative feedback audible signals to the user device when the user is off keypitch.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A resonator for measuring a complex dielectric constant which measures the complex dielectric constant of a dielectric layer, said resonator for measuring a complex dielectric constant comprising:
first and second conductor layers disposed parallel to each other so as to sandwich said dielectric layer in between;
first and second opening parts that face each other and are formed in said first and second conductor layers, respectively;
a plurality of first vias which is disposed with gaps left in between around said first and second opening parts, and which connect said first and second conductor layers to each other; and
second vias formed without being in contact with said first and second conductor layers in said first and second opening parts and in regions of said dielectric layer that match these opening parts.
2. The resonator for measuring a complex dielectric constant according to claim 1, further comprising one or more conductor layers which are disposed parallel to each other between said first and second conductor layers so as to sandwich said dielectric layer in between, which have opening parts formed in positions matching said first and second opening parts, and which are connected to said first vias.
3. The resonator for measuring a complex dielectric constant according to claim 1, wherein the region surrounded by said first vias has a rectangular shape as seen in a plan view.
4. The resonator for measuring a complex dielectric constant according to claim 3, wherein the length of one side of said rectangular region is (\u03bb\u221a2) or greater, where \u03bb is the measurement wavelength of the complex dielectric constant.
5. The resonator for measuring a complex dielectric constant according to claim 1, wherein the distance between adjacent first vias is (\u03bb20) or less, where \u03bb is the measurement wavelength of the complex dielectric constant.
6. A printed board in which a plurality of conductor layers is insulated from each other by dielectric layers, said printed board comprising the resonator according to claim 1.
7. A method for measuring the complex dielectric constant of a dielectric layer, said method for measuring a complex dielectric constant comprising the steps of:
applying a high-frequency electric power to the second vias of a resonator, said resonator having first and second conductor layers disposed parallel to each other so as to sandwich said dielectric layer in between, first and second opening parts that face each other and are formed in said first and second conductor layers, respectively, a plurality of first vias which is disposed with gaps left in between around said first and second opening parts, and which connect said first and second conductor layers to each other, and second vias formed without being in contact with said first and second conductor layers in said first and second opening parts and in regions of said dielectric layer that match these opening parts; and
measuring the power loss between said second vias and said first and second conductor layers by the S parameter method.
8. The method for measuring a complex dielectric constant according to claim 7, wherein the measurement of the power loss is accomplished by a process in which external conductors on second end parts of a pair of coaxial cables whose first end parts are connected to a network analyzer are respectively connected to said first and second conductor layers, the central conductors of the second end parts of the pair of coaxial cables are respectively inserted from both end parts of said second vias and connected to said second vias, and S11 and S21 are measured by said network analyzer.
9. The method for measuring a complex dielectric constant according to claim 7, wherein said resonator further has one or more conductor layers which are disposed parallel to said first and second conductor layers so as to sandwich said dielectric layer between said first and second conductor layers, which have opening parts formed in positions matching said first and second opening parts, and which are connected to said first vias.
10. The method for measuring a complex dielectric constant according to claim 7, wherein the region surrounded by said first vias of said resonator has a rectangular shape as seen in a plan view.
11. The method for measuring a complex dielectric constant according to claim 10, wherein the length of one side of said rectangular region is (\u03bb\u221a2) or greater, where \u03bb is the measurement wavelength of the complex dielectric constant.
12. The method for measuring a complex dielectric constant according to claim 7, wherein the distance between adjacent first vias of said resonator is (\u03bb20) or less, where \u03bb is the measurement wavelength of the complex dielectric constant.
13. The method for measuring a complex dielectric constant according to claim 7, wherein said resonator is formed inside a printed board, and is used to measure the complex dielectric constant of said printed board.