Author: claimsbot

1. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:
a first imaging execution unit configured to, after applying a labeling RF (radio frequency) pulse to blood flowing into a myocardium of a subject, acquire multiple non-contrast MR (magnetic resonance) data for which the time intervals between labeling and acquiring data are different by performing sequential imaging of an imaging area including the myocardium in each segment of a k-space for a given time interval;
an identifying unit configured to identify, on the basis of the acquired multiple MR data, a time interval taken by the labeled blood to reach a given position in the imaging area; and
a second imaging execution unit configured to set the identified time interval as a corresponding parameter of a pulse sequence and, after applying a labeling RF pulse to the blood flowing into the myocardium of the subject, acquire non-contrast MR data by imaging the imaging area including the myocardium.
2. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a receiver configured to receive a setting of the parameter regarding the given time interval,
wherein the first imaging execution unit positions the given time interval on a time axis of the pulse sequence in accordance with the received setting of the parameter and performs the sequential imaging.
3. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the first imaging execution unit repeatedly executes the cycle including the given time interval,
the receiver receives, as the parameter regarding the given time interval, a setting of any one of a first time interval between a trigger regarding a cardiac phase of the subject and an application of a first RF pulse, a second time interval that is the duration of the given time interval, a third time interval between the end of the given time interval and the start of the next cycle, and a fourth time interval between the first RF pulse and the start of the given duration.
4. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first imaging execution unit performs sequential imaging of the imaging area including the myocardium for the given time interval including diastole.
5. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the first imaging execution unit acquires two-dimensional MR data, and
the second imaging execution unit acquires three-dimensional MR data.
6. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identifying unit outputs multiple MRA (magnetic resonance angiography) images generated from the acquired multiple MR data to a display and, by receiving an input specifying a given MRA image from an operator, identifies a time interval between labeling and acquiring data corresponding to the specified MRA image as the time interval taken by the labeled blood to reach the given position in the imaging area.
7. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the identifying unit performs an alignment when generating the multiple MRA images from the acquired multiple MR data.
8. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identifying unit identifies the time interval taken by the labeled blood to reach the given position in the imaging area on the basis of an analysis result of signal values analyzed from the acquired multiple MR data.
9. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identifying unit outputs an analysis result of signal values analyzed from the acquired multiple MR data and, by receiving an input with respect to the analysis result from an operator, identifies the time interval taken by the labeled blood to reach the given position in the imaging area.
10. A magnetic resonance imaging method performed by a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, the method comprising:
a first imaging execution step of, after applying a labeling RF pulse to blood flowing into a myocardium of a subject, acquiring multiple non-contrast MR data for which time intervals between labeling and acquiring data are different by performing sequential imaging of an imaging area including the myocardium in each segment of a k-space for a given time interval;
an identifying step of identifying, on the basis of the acquired multiple MR data, a time interval taken by the labeled blood to reach a given position in the imaging area; and
a second imaging execution step of setting the identified time interval as a corresponding parameter of a pulse sequence and, after applying a labeling RF pulse to the blood flowing into the myocardium of the subject, acquiring non-contrast MR data by imaging the imaging area including the myocardium.

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

I claim:

1. An apparatus for the production of wood composite boards, comprising:
(a) a press having platens for forming the board; and
(b) means for regulating the temperature of the platens, the regulating means including:
(i) means for circulating a heating fluid through the platens,
(ii) means for detecting the temperature of the heating fluids as it exits the platens; and
(iii) means for responding to the detected temperature for heating the fluid supplied to the platens.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the press is selected from the group consisting of multi-platen press and continuous press.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating fluid is selected from the group consisting of heated natural gas, superheated steam, and heated oil.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating means comprises a heat exchanger.

1. A method, comprising:
obtaining timing of one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits to be examined from a received indication of the timing of the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits;
examining a value of the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits in a predetermined region in a received downlink time division duplex subframe of wireless data transmission, the predetermined region indicated by the obtained timing; and
determining a time division duplex uplinkdownlink configuration for a predetermined configuration period using the examined value of the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
receiving the downlink time division duplex subframe including the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits,
wherein the received downlink time division duplex subframe comprises a fixed subframe.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined configuration period comprises one of a current configuration period and a next configuration period.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determined time division duplex uplinkdownlink configuration comprises one of an uplink allocation and a downlink allocation for at least one non-fixed subframe in the predetermined configuration period.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined region comprises a physical control channel associated region in the received subframe.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein:
the physical control channel associated region comprises a physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel associated region,
the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits are included in at least one predetermined resource of the physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel, and
the indication of the timing of the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits comprises an indication of the timing of the at least one predetermined resource.
7. The method according to claim 5, wherein:
the physical control channel associated region comprises a physical downlink control channel associated region,
the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits are included in a predetermined control channel element of the physical downlink control channel, and
the indication of the timing of the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits comprises an indication of an index of the predetermined control channel element.
8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
obtaining a length of the predetermined configuration period from a received indication of the length of the predetermined configuration period,
wherein the predetermined configuration period indicates a time period during which the time division duplex uplinkdownlink configuration indicated by the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits is valid.
9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:
in response to a predetermined value of the received indication of the length of the predetermined configuration period, determining a next time division duplex uplinkdownlink configuration using received system information.
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the timing of the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits indicates a location of the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits in the downlink time division duplex subframe.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits indicate that each of non-fixed subframes in a time division duplex radio frame is allocated for uplink use or allocated for downlink use during the predetermined configuration period.
12. An apparatus, comprising:
one or more processors, one or more circuits, or any combination thereof configured to:
obtain timing of one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits to be examined from a received indication of the timing of the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits;
examine a value of the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits in a predetermined region in a received downlink time division duplex subframe of wireless data transmission, the predetermined region indicated by the obtained timing; and
determine a time division duplex uplinkdownlink configuration for a predetermined configuration period using the examined value of the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising the one or more processors, the one or more circuits, or any combination thereof configured to:
receive the downlink time division duplex subframe including the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits,
wherein the received downlink time division duplex subframe comprises a fixed subframe.
14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined configuration period comprises one of a current configuration period and a next configuration period.
15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the determined time division duplex uplinkdownlink configuration comprises one of an uplink allocation and a downlink allocation for at least one non-fixed subframe in the predetermined configuration period.
16. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined region comprises a physical control channel associated region in the received subframe.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:
the physical control channel associated region comprises a physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel associated region,
the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits are included in at least one predetermined resource of the physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel, and
the indication of the timing of the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits comprises an indication of the timing of the at least one predetermined resource.
18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:
the physical control channel associated region comprises a physical downlink control channel associated region,
the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits are included in a predetermined control channel element of the physical downlink control channel, and
the indication of the timing of the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits comprises an indication of an index of the predetermined control channel element.
19. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising the one or more processors, the one or more circuits, or any combination thereof configured to:
obtain a length of the predetermined configuration period from a received indication of the length of the predetermined configuration period,
wherein the predetermined configuration period indicates a time period during which the time division duplex uplinkdownlink configuration indicated by the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits is valid.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising the one or more processors, the one or more circuits, or any combination thereof configured to:
determine a next time division duplex uplinkdownlink configuration using received system information, in response to a predetermined value of the received indication of the length of the predetermined configuration period.
21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a data processing system, cause the data-processing system to:
obtain timing of one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits to be examined from a received indication of the timing of the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits;
examine a value of the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits in a predetermined region in a received downlink time division duplex subframe of wireless data transmission, the predetermined region indicated by the obtained timing; and
determine a time division duplex uplinkdownlink configuration for a predetermined configuration period using the examined value of the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits.
22. A radio network node, comprising:
one or more processors, one or more circuits, or any combination thereof configured to:
obtain timing for one or more time division duplex uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits;
determine a length of a configuration period for a time division duplex uplinkdownlink configuration; and
generate the one or more time division duplex uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits indicating a time division duplex uplinkdownlink configuration for the configuration period with the determined length; and

a transmitter configured to:
transmit an indication of the obtained timing of the one or more time division duplex uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits;
transmit an indication of the determined length of the configuration period; and
transmit the generated one or more time division duplex uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits in a region indicated by the obtained timing in a downlink time division duplex subframe of wireless data transmission.
23. A method, comprising:
examining a value of one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits in a predetermined region in a received downlink time division duplex subframe of wireless data transmission; and
determining a time division duplex uplinkdownlink configuration for a predetermined configuration period using the examined value of the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits,
wherein:
the predetermined region comprises a physical control channel associated region in the received downlink time division duplex subframe; and
the physical control channel associated region comprises one of a physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel associated region or a physical downlink control channel associated region, and
wherein:
in response to the physical control channel associated region comprising a physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel associated region, the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits are included in at least one predetermined resource of the physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel; or
in response to the physical control channel associated region comprising a physical downlink control channel associated region, the one or more uplinkdownlink configuration indication bits are included in a predetermined control channel element of the physical downlink control channel.

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 method for converting output data from a computer tomography (CT) device to linear attenuation coefficient data, comprising the steps of:
receiving output pixel data from a CT device for a pixel of a CT image;
comparing a value of the pixel data to a predetermined range;
if said value is within said predetermined range, calculating a linear attenuation coefficient from said pixel data using a first function;
if said value is outside said predetermined range, calculating said linear attenuation coefficient from said pixel data using a second function; and
storing said calculated coefficient in a memory as part of a linear attenuation coefficient map.
2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said first function is a function independent of a transmission energy related to said pixel data and said second function is a function of said transmission energy.
3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said first function includes an air-water approximation and said second function includes a water-bone approximation.
4. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising a step of estimating an effective transmission energy associated with said pixel data.
5. The method recited in claim 4, wherein said first function is a function independent of said effective transmission energy and said second function is a function of said effective transmission energy.
6. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising a step of converting said pixel data to Hounsfield units prior to said comparing step.
7. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said predetermined range comprises a range of Hounsfield units for water to Hounsfield units for air.
8. The method recited in claim 4, further comprising the steps of:
generating a histogram for said CT image;
determining a dominant bone peak from said histogram; and
wherein said dominant bone peak is used for estimating said effective transmission energy.
9. The method recited in claim 8, wherein said first function is a function independent of said effective transmission energy and said second function is a function of said effective transmission energy and a value of said dominant bone peak.
10. The method recited in claim 8, wherein said first function varies based upon a relationship between an emission energy related to said pixel and a transition energy.
11. The method recited in claim 8, wherein, if no dominant bone peak is determined, the following additional steps are performed:
calculating a Laplacian of said histogram;
determining a local maximum from said Laplacian;
setting said effective transmission energy based on said local maximum; and
setting said dominant bone peak based on said local maximum.
12. A method for converting output from a computer tomography (CT) device to a linear attenuation coefficient map, comprising the steps of:
receiving output pixel data from a CT device for each pixel of a CT image and for each pixel:
comparing a value of the pixel data to a predetermined range;
if said value is within said predetermined range, generating a first function and calculating a linear attenuation coefficient from said pixel data using said first function; and
if said value is outside said predetermined range, generating a second function and calculating a linear attenuation coefficient from said pixel data using said second function; and

generating a linear attenuation coefficient map based upon each linear attenuation coefficient calculated for each pixel.
13. The method recited in claim 12, wherein said first function is a function independent of a transmission energy related to said pixel data and said second function is a function of said transmission energy.
14. The method recited in claim 12, wherein said first function includes an air-water approximation and said second function includes a water-bone approximation.
15. The method recited in claim 12, further comprising a step of estimating an effective transmission energy associated with said pixel data.
16. The method recited in claim 15, wherein said first function is a function independent of said effective transmission energy and said second function is a function of said effective transmission energy.
17. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising a step of converting said pixel data to Hounsfield units prior to said comparing step.
18. The method recited in claim 12, wherein said predetermined range comprises a range of Hounsfield units for water to Hounsfield units for air.
19. The method recited in claim 15, further comprising the steps of:
generating a histogram for said CT image;
determining a dominant bone peak from said histogram; and
wherein said dominant bone peak is used for estimating said effective transmission energy.
20. The method recited in claim 19, wherein said first function is a function independent of said effective transmission energy and said second function is a function of said effective transmission energy and a value of said dominant bone peak.
21. The method recited in claim 19, wherein said first function varies based upon a relationship between an emission energy related to said pixel and a transition energy.
22. The method recited in claim 19, wherein, if no dominant bone peak is determined, the following additional steps are performed:
calculating a Laplacian of said histogram;
determining a local maximum from said Laplacian;
setting said effective transmission energy based on said local maximum; and
setting said dominant bone peak based on said local maximum.
23. A system for generating a linear attenuation coefficient map, comprising:
an input for receiving pixel data;
a processing unit configured to compare a value of the pixel data to a predetermined range, to select a function based on whether said value is within said predetermined range or outside said predetermined range, and to calculate a linear attenuation coefficient from said pixel data using the selected function; and
an output for outputting said calculated linear attenuation coefficient.
24. The system as recited in claim 23, further comprising:
a storage unit coupled with said processing unit and configured to store conversion data.
25. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein said processing unit is further configured to calculate a transmission energy of said pixel data, and wherein
if said value is within said predetermined range, said processing unit generates a function that is independent of said transmission energy related to said pixel data, and if said value is outside said predetermined range, said processing unit generates a function that is dependent upon said transmission energy.
26. The system recited in claim 23, wherein if said value is within said predetermined range, said processing unit generates a function that includes an air-water approximation, and if said value is outside said predetermined range, said processing unit generates a function that includes a water-bone approximation.
27. The system as recited in claim 23, wherein said processing unit is further configured to estimate an effective transmission energy associated with said pixel data.
28. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein said processing unit converts said pixel data to Hounsfield units.
29. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein said predetermined range comprises a range of a Hounsfield units value for water to a Hounsfield units value for air.
30. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein said processing unit is further configured to generate a histogram for said CT image, determine a dominant bone peak from said histogram, and use said dominant bone peak for estimating said effective transmission energy.
31. The system as recited in claim 30, wherein if said value is outside said predetermined range, said processing unit generates a function based on said effective transmission energy and a value of said dominant bone peak.
32. The system as recited in claim 30, wherein if said value is inside said predetermined range, said processing unit generates a function based upon a relationship between an emission energy related to said pixel and a transition energy.
33. A computer program product, residing on a computer readable medium, for interactively constructing, editing, rendering and manipulating pixel data for a CT image, said computer program comprising computer executable instructions for causing the computer to perform the following:
receiving output pixel data from a CT device for a pixel of a CT image;
comparing a value of the pixel data to a predetermined range;
if said value is within said predetermined range, calculating a linear attenuation coefficient from said pixel data using a first function;
if said value is outside said predetermined range, calculating said linear attenuation coefficient from said pixel data using a second function; and
storing said calculated coefficient in a memory as part of a linear attenuation coefficient map.
34. The computer program product recited in claim 33, wherein in the computer executable instructions, said first function is a function independent of a transmission energy related to said pixel data and said second function is a function of said transmission energy.
35. The computer program product recited in claim 33, wherein in the computer executable instructions, said first function includes an air-water approximation and said second function includes a water-bone approximation.
36. The computer program product recited in claim 33, wherein said computer executable instructions causing the computer to further perform a step of estimating an effective transmission energy associated with said pixel data.
37. The computer program product recited in claim 36, wherein in the computer executable instructions, said first function is a function independent of said effective transmission energy and said second function is a function of said effective transmission energy.
38. The computer program product recited in claim 33, wherein said computer executable instructions causing the computer to further perform a step of converting said pixel data to Hounsfield units prior to said comparing step.
39. The computer program product recited in claim 33, wherein in the computer executable instructions, said predetermined range comprises a range of Hounsfield units for water to hounsfield units for air.
40. The computer program product recited in claim 36, wherein said computer executable instructions causing the computer to further perform the steps of:
generating a histogram for said CT image;
determining a dominant bone peak from said histogram; and
wherein said dominant bone peak is used for estimating said effective transmission energy.
41. The computer program product recited in claim 40, wherein in the computer executable instructions, said first function is a function independent of said effective transmission energy and said second function is a function of said effective transmission energy and a value of said dominant bone peak.
42. The computer program product recited in claim 40, wherein in the computer executable instructions, said first function varies based upon a relationship between an emission energy related to said pixel and a transition energy.
43. The computer program product recited in claim 40, wherein in the computer executable instructions, if no dominant bone peak is determined, said computer executable instructions causing the computer to further perform the steps of:
calculating a Laplacian of said histogram;
determining a local maximum from said Laplacian;
setting said effective transmission energy based on said local maximum; and
setting said dominant bone peak based on said local maximum.
44. A system for generating a linear attenuation coefficient map, comprising:
input means for receiving pixel data;
processing means for comparing a value of the pixel data to a predetermined range, selecting a function based on whether said value is within said predetermined range or outside said predetermined range, and calculating a linear attenuation coefficient from said pixel data using the selected function; and
output means for outputting said calculated linear attenuation coefficient.
45. The system as recited in claim 44, further comprising: storage means for storing conversion data.
46. The system as recited in claim 44, wherein said processing means calculates a transmission energy of said pixel data, and wherein
if said value is within said predetermined range, said processing means selects a function that is independent of said transmission energy related to said pixel data, and if said value is outside said predetermined range, said processing means selects a function that is dependent upon said transmission energy.
47. The system recited in claim 44, wherein if said value is within said predetermined range, said processing means selects a function that includes an air-water approximation, and if said value is outside said predetermined range, said processing means selects a function that includes a water-bone approximation.
48. The system as recited in claim 44, wherein said processing means estimates an effective transmission energy associated with said pixel data.
49. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein said processing means converts said pixel data to Hounsfield units.
50. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein said predetermined range comprises a range of a Hounsfield units value for water to a Hounsfield units value for air.
51. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein said processing means generates a histogram for said CT image, determines a dominant bone peak from said histogram, and uses said dominant bone peak for estimating said effective transmission energy.
52. The system as recited in claim 51, wherein if said value is outside said predetermined range, said processing means selects a function based on said effective transmission energy and a value of said dominant bone peak.
53. The system as recited in claim 51, wherein if said value is inside said predetermined range, said processing means selects a function based upon a relationship between an emission energy related to said pixel and a transition energy.