Devices and methods of the invention use a plurality of Fin structures and or combine a planar portion with Fin structures to compensate for the first derivative of transconductance, gm. In preferred methods and devices, Fins have a plurality of widths and are selected to lead to the separate turn-on voltage thresholds for the largest, intermediate and smallest widths of the MIS HEMT fins flatten the transconductance gm curve over an operational range of gate source voltage.

All known transistor technologies are intrinsically non-linear. This non-linearity leads to signal distortion and power loss. Non-linearity is embodied in a decrease of the transistor current gain cut-off frequency, fT, and maximum oscillation frequency, fmax, with an increase in the drain current. Both fT and fmax are directly proportional to the transistor's transconductance, gm, which degrades at high drain currents. gm degradation is material dependent, and is caused by (1) mobility degradation due to interface roughness in Si devices; (2) real-space transfer of hot electrons into the barrier in GaAs and InGaAs based HEMTs; (3) self-heating effects, (4) scattering with nonequilibrium hot optical phonons, (5) emission of optical phonons, and (6) increase of the dynamic source access resistance in GaN based HEMTs. See, Palacios, T., Raj an, S., Chakraborty, A., Heikman, S., Keller, S., DenBaars, S. P., Mishra, U. K., "Influence of the dynamic access resistance in the gm and fT linearity of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs," IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices 2005, 52 (10), 2117-2123. In GaN devices, it has been argued that the measured saturation velocities, the current, and gm, are well below the theoretical limits Recent results have shown that there is an unharnessed opportunity to dramatically improve linearity in GaN based devices
Common circuit linearization techniques can inspire device layouts that enable intrinsically tunable ultra-wide band linear devices. The pioneering work of Barrie Gilbert in the late sixties and seventies outlined the use of differential pairs to obtain wideband linearity amplifiers. Gilbert, B., "A new wide-band amplifier technique," IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits 1968, 3 (4), 353-365. The approach became known as the multi-tanh principle in which an offset voltage, Vj, at the base of an element of the differential pair leads to the summation of the tail current of each stage which turns on sequentially. The transconductance becomes a sech function which is flat as a function of input voltage. In practical circuits, the offset voltage is generally of the order of VT in order to reduce the overall noise, and the wideband linearity cannot be sustained over a large input power without substantial increase of the amplifier's area.
In MOSFETs, the derivative superposition technique [Webster, D., Haigh, D., Scott, J., Parker, A., Derivative superposition-a linearisation technique for ultra broadband systems. 1996] and its variations [Kim, T. W., Kim, B., Lee, K., "Highly linear receiver front-end adopting MOSFET transconductance linearization by multiple gated transistors," IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits 2004, 39 (1), 223-229] including the modified derivative superposition technique [Aparin, V., Larson, L. E., Modified derivative superposition method for linearizing FET low-noise amplifiers. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques 2005, 53 (2), 571-581] has been heavily utilized for linearizing RF circuits. It extends the VGS bias range through the use of two or more parallel MOSFETs with different widths and gate biases. Similar to the multi-tanh approach, this technique is extrinsic, is costly for layout area, and cannot be extended to mm wave frequencies due to circuit patristics and bandwidth limitations of the impedance matching elements.
Over the years, various approaches for enhancing the intrinsic linearity of transistors have been proposed. In 1992, D. R. Green of AT&T Bell Laboratories proposed FETs of multiple quantum well channels with different widths, depths, and carrier concentrations that have different threshold voltages. [Green, D. R., U.S. Pat. No. 7,852,369, Method of making substantially linear field-effect transistor] The design predicts that different channels in different layers underneath the gate can turn on at different gate biases thereby leading to a gm linearity. Alternative variations of this idea have been proposed for HMETs and even in vertically stacked Si nanowire channels with double or all-around gates. Practically, this concept is hard to implement because of the limited control over the threshold voltage shifts while maintaining adequate current that will synthesize to a linear device. Additionally, screening of 2D charge density at the topmost channel reduces the gate modulation efficiency to the underlying channels and control over charge carrier density in these channels. Furthermore, gate leakage currents are expected to kick in before other channels can be reliably turned on.
Palacios WO2018/119037 discloses high-linearity transistors. Two gate controlled regions have different threshold voltages. FIG. 7A shows a nanowire or fin configuration with varying widths. The fins are arranged according to the magnitudes of the peaks and/or valleys or g″m, which is the second derivative of transconductance. This is known as the derivative superposition technique, previously used widely in communication circuits.

Intrinsically tunable and ultra-linear multi-fin MIS-HEMT devices

The Regents of the Unverslty of California


Systems and methods for enabling concurrent user interaction with a plurality of applications executing on a computer system are disclosed. Generally, the computer system includes a video game controller, a remote control including a plurality of buttons, and a video game system communicatively coupled with the remote control and the video game controller. While presenting video game output of video game in a foreground of a display and media output of a media application on the display, the video game system may maintain a mapping indicating that a first set of the plurality of buttons is used for controlling execution of a media application. Based on receiving a signal corresponding to a push of a button of the first set, and the mapping, the video game system may control the execution of the media application while continuing to present the video game output in the foreground.

Modern computer systems allow users to interact with multiple applications that are running on a computer system. For example, in a typical personal computer, a user may have multiple windows open at the same time. One window may display a document window from a word processing application, which allows the user to type into the document window. Meanwhile, another window may display a video feed from a video application, which the user may watch while simultaneously taking notes in the document window. In another example, a user may play a video game by interacting with a display screen of a video game system via a video game controller, whereby the video game controller issues commands to a video game application executing on the video game system. While playing the game, the user may play music generated from another music application on a speaker of the video game system. The user may periodically switch focus to the music application to advance to a desired track, and then return focus to playing the video game.
While, as described above, existing computer systems typically allow multiple outputs from applications (e.g., video feed, audio feed) to be concurrently presented on a device (e.g., display monitor, speaker) of the computer system in order for a user to interact with an application, these existing computer systems require a user to switch an application's focus from the (graphical user interface) GUI background to the foreground. However, these constraints introduce technical challenges for existing computer systems that support multiple applications concurrently running on the same computer system. Therefore, there is a need to improve user interaction with multiple concurrently executing applications on a computer system.


A media content updating method is presented, wherein the method is performed by a media transmit end, including obtaining a changed media object attribute on a side of the media transmit end; determining an updating operation instruction for the changed media object attribute according to a change type of the changed media object attribute; and sending a first announcement message to a media receive end, where the first announcement message includes the updating operation instruction and the changed media object attribute, so that the media receive end updates, according to the updating operation instruction and the changed media object attribute, media content that is on the side of the media transmit end and that is stored on a side of the media receive end. In embodiments of the present disclosure, an announcement message carries a changed media object attribute, so that a bandwidth occupancy rate can be reduced.

With development of videoconferencing and various intelligent terminals, in a conference, a device for conference participants develops from a conventional display with one camera, one live video, and one live image to a display with multiple cameras, multiple live videos, and multiple live images; and an intelligent terminal also develops from a conventional intelligent terminal with no camera to an intelligent terminal with multiple cameras. It can be learned that conventional point-to-point communication or multipoint communication is changing from a single audio/video stream to multiple audio/video streams.
To help each participant in multi-stream communication select media content from multiple angles, a media transmit end sends an announcement message to a media receive end, and the announcement message includes all media content on a side of the media receive end. The media receive end updates media content on the side of the media receive end according to the media content in the announcement message. In this manner of media content transmission between the media transmit end and the media receive end in the prior art, a large amount of bandwidth is wasted.

Media content updating method, apparatus, and system


A solid-state imaging device and a camera system capable of preventing the occurrence of invalid frames if a shutter and a gain are simultaneously set. The solid-state imaging device has a picture element array block on which a plurality of picture element circuits having features for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal and accumulating the electrical signal in accordance with an exposure time are arranged in a matrix manner, a picture element drive block drivable so as to execute a shutter operation of said picture element block and a read operation in accordance with setting data, and an interface section including functions of holding shutter setting data and gain setting data supplied from the outside and controlling a timing for reflecting shutter setting and gain setting onto at least said picture element drive block.

Recently, CMOS image sensors have been attracting attention as solid-stage imaging devices (image sensors) for CCDs.
This is because CMOS image sensors are able to overcome the following problems.
Namely, dedicated processes are required for the manufacture of CCD pictures elements, an operation of CCD picture elements requires a plurality of power supply voltages, and a plurality of peripheral ICs must be operated in combination.
Such CCDs involve various problems such as making a system very complicated, which can be solved by CMOS image sensors.
For the manufacture of CMOS image sensors, the same manufacturing processes as those used for general-purpose CMOS integrated circuits may be used. It is also practical to install, on a same chip, an analog circuit and a logic circuit that can be driven by a single power supply and are based on the CMOS process.
For the above-mentioned reasons, the CMOS image sensor provides a plurality of great merits, such as the reduced number of peripheral ICs.
An output circuit of the CCD is mainly one-channel (ch) output that uses an FD amplifier having an FD (Floating Diffusion).
In contrast, the CMOS image sensor has an FD amplifier for each picture element and the output thereof is mainly a column parallel output type in which a certain row in a picture array is selected and the selected row is simultaneously read in the column direction.
This is because it is difficult to get sufficient drive capabilities with the FD amplifier arranged in a picture element and, therefore, it is necessary to lower data rate, for which parallel processing is considered advantageous.
And, with CMOS image sensors, resetting picture elements in general is executed often by a method in which picture elements are sequentially reset for each row.
This method is referred to as a rolling shutter.
FIG. 1 shows a diagram illustrating an example of an CMOS image sensor configured by four transistors.
This picture element 1 has a photoelectric conversion element 11 based on a photo diode, for example, and, for this one photoelectric conversion element 11, has four transistors of a transfer transistor 12, a reset transistor 13, an amplification transistor 14, and a selection transistor 15 as active elements.
The photoelectric conversion element 11 photoelectrically converts an incident light into a charge (here, the electron) having an amount corresponding to the amount of the incident light.
The transfer transistor 12 is connected between the photoelectric conversion element 11 and a floating diffusion FD and a transmission signal (a drive signal) TG is given to its gate (transfer gate) through a transfer control line LTx.
Consequently, the electron obtained by the photoelectric conversion by the photoelectric conversion element 11 are transferred to the floating diffusion FD.
The reset transistor 13 is connected between a power supply line LVDD and the floating diffusion FD and a rest signal RST is given to its gate through a reset control line LRST.
Consequently, a potential of the floating diffusion FD is reset to a potential of the power supply line LDVV.
The floating diffusion FD is connected with the gate of the amplification transistor 14. The amplification transistor 14 is connected to a signal line 16 via the selection transistor 15 to configure a constant current source and a source follower outside the picture element.
Then, an address signal (a selection signal) SEL is given to the gate of the selection transistor 15 through a selection control line LSEL, thereby turning on the selection transistor 15.
When the selection transistor 15 is turned on, the amplification transistor 14 amplifies the potential of the floating diffusion FD and outputs a voltage corresponding to the potential to the signal line 16. Through the signal line 16, voltage outputted from each picture element is outputted to a column circuit (a column processing circuit).
This picture element reset operation denotes that the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element 11 is transferred to the floating diffusion FD for discharge by turning on the transfer transistor 12.
At this moment, the floating diffusion FD has discharged the charge on the power supply side in advance by turning on the reset transistor 13, thereby making ready for receive the charge of the photoelectric conversion element 11. Alternatively, the charge may be discharged directly to the power supply, while the transfer transistor 12 is on by concurrently turning on the reset transistor 13.
The sequence of these operations is simply referred to as "a picture element reset operation" or "a shutter operation."
On the other hand, in a read operation, the reset transistor 13 is first turned on to reset the floating diffusion FD and an excess charge (noise) is outputted to the signal line 16 through the selection transistor 15 turned on in that state. This is referred to as a P-phase output.
Next, the transfer transistor 12 is turned on to transfer a charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element 11 to the floating diffusion FD and its output is outputted to the signal line 16. This is referred to as a D-phase output.
Outside the picture element circuit, a difference between the D-phase output and the P-phase output is obtained and the reset noise of the floating diffusion FD is canceled, thereby providing an image signal.
For simplicity, the sequence of the these operations is simply referred to as "a picture element read operation."
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a general configuration example of a CMOS image sensor (a solid-state imaging device) with the picture element shown in FIG. 1 arranged in a two-dimensional array.
A CMOS image sensor 20 shown in FIG. 2 is configured by a picture element array block 21 in which the picture element circuit shown in FIG. 1 is arranged in a two-dimensional array, a picture element drive circuit (a vertical scan circuit) 22, and a column circuit (a column processing circuit) 23.
The picture element drive circuit 22 controls on/off of the transfer transistor 12, the reset transistor 13, and the selection transistor 15 of the picture elements of each row.
The column circuit 23 is a circuit that receives data of the picture element row read by the picture element drive circuit 22 and transfers the data to a signal processing circuit of a subsequent stage.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a timing chart of a rolling shutter operation of the circuit shown in FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG. 3, a picture element reset operation is row-sequentially executed and, by following this operation, a picture element read operation is row-sequentially executed.
The picture elements of each row accumulate each a signal in the photoelectric conversion element during a picture element reset operation and a picture element read operation, the signal being read by the picture element read operation.
Meanwhile, when a backlit scene or a scene having a great luminance difference of contrast is taken, a camera having a imaging device as described above causes white-out or black-out with a standard image with exposure time matched with the luminance of a subject.
So, dynamic range expansion is executed by taking a plurality of non-standard images having different exposure times and replacing areas too bright or dark in a standard image by an image obtained by applying a synthetic gain to the non-standard images, thereby executing compression in accordance with output bits.
For example, in the processing called wide dynamic range (WD), images having wide dynamic ranges (DR) are obtained by multiple exposures and the synthesis of plural images and the compression of dynamic ranges (DR) are executed.

Solid-state imaging device with delayed reflection of gain setting and camera system with same


A method is implemented in a computer infrastructure and includes receiving data defining a detected gas emission level of a power generation facility. The method also includes communicating the data defining the detected gas emission level to at least one subscriber device using one of Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) based communication and Session Initial Protocol (SIP) based communication.

Power generation may be controlled and settled through wholesale market operations driven by pricing and generation control systems driven to meet the demand requirements and economic dispatch. Even though power generation providers are sometimes required to meet certain environmental mandates, such as respecting a yearly quota of greenhouse gas emission level, these environmental criteria are yet to be considered when it comes to controlling and optimizing the power generation of a particular geographical area.
Moving forward, with the expected increased demand of electricity and the growing concerns regarding the environment and the effects of greenhouse gases on the global warming for instance, the wholesale market rules will gradually introduce constraints on the power generation utilities to favor the environmental friendly generating units. This will require changes to the market clearing engine of a market system, as changes to generation control applications located at the generation management system (GMS) to consider additional inputs.

Real-time monitoring, controlling, and optimizing electrical generation assets based on emission level measurements

International Business Machines Corporation


Medical devices, assemblies and methods for guarding sharp tips of medical needles are disclosed herein. Some embodiments include an expandable device configured to be at least partially disposed within the needle lumen. The device may include an expandable distal portion that is designed to shift between a first configuration in which the expandable distal portion has an outer diameter that is the same as or less than the inner diameter of the needle lumen and a second configuration in which the expandable distal portion has an outer diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the needle lumen. An elongated inner member may be used to shift the expandable distal portion from the first configuration to the second configuration.

A wide variety of medical devices have been developed for medical use, for example, medical needles having sharp tips, such as biopsy needles. In some situations, it may be desirable to provide a medical device, assembly, or method for guarding and/or protecting the sharp distal tip of a medical needle. Of the known medical devices and methods, each has certain advantages and disadvantages. There is an ongoing need to provide alternative medical devices as well as alternative methods for manufacturing and using such medical devices.

Expandable medical device for use with a needle


An optical imaging device, particularly an objective, is provided with at least one optical element, which is mounted in an inner ring, the inner ring being connected to an outer mount. A manipulator device serves for the displacement of the optical element in at least one direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis. By a system of peripheral slots between the inner ring and the outer mount with connecting members situated therebetween, a rotary joint between the inner ring and the outer mount, and at least one displacing rotary joint with an adjusting member between the inner ring and the outer mount as the manipulator device, a displacement of the optical element is attained with low deformation or controlled deformation of the optical element. The inner ring and the outer mount are preferably constituted monolithically.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an optical imaging device, particularly an objective, with at least one optical element, which is mounted in an inner ring, the inner ring being connected to an outer mount, and with a manipulator device for the displacement of the optical element in at least one direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis.
2. Discussion of Relevant Art
From European Patent EP 243 893 81, a lens mount is known with a lens as the optical element that is elastically connected to a mount element such that different expansions of the individual elements arising due to temperature differences or temperature fluctuations, can be compensated. In particular, radial movements or radial expansions are thereby compensated, but a central position is nevertheless to be maintained.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,482 shows a deformation decoupling of a lens from a mount.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,223, an objective is known in which lens tilting is possible.
In the assembly of an optical imaging device, e.g. an objective, which consists of a number of parts and several optical elements, mechanical manufacturing tolerances necessarily arise. During assembly, these tolerances, such as unevennesses of the individual parts, are summed. In particular, there is a risk of large unevennesses at the seating of the optical element such as, for example, a lens.
For the compensation of these manufacturing tolerances, it is known to move one or more optical elements on the x-axis or y-axis, i.e., on one or both axes perpendicular to the optical axis. Known manipulator devices for the displacement of the optical element consist, in general, of an outer mount, a manipulator ring, and an inner mount or an inner ring which supports the optical element.

Optical imaging device, particularly an objective, with at least one optical element


A method for automatically managing events based on time-zone difference is provided. The proposed method includes identifying at least one event associated with at least one of a secondary electronic device or the primary electronic device, wherein the at least one event is associated with a first time interval. Further, the proposed method includes identifying a second time interval associated with at least one of the primary electronic device or the secondary electronic device. Further, the proposed method includes determining a time-zone difference between the first time interval and the second time interval based on at least one time-zone parameter associated with the first time interval and the second time interval. Furthermore, the proposed method includes updating a time interval of the at least one event based on the time-zone difference.

In general, time is the basic unit which helps people sync with others around the world. People live and work in different time zones. They consequently face problems with syncing their times and have to put in extra effort to get on the same page for meetings, conferences, birthday reminders and so on. People also find it difficult to remember all their day-to-day activities and to respond to them at specific times, if their time zones change frequently.
For example, when the electronic device is enabled to process a calendar database transported to a time zone that is different from a time zone where it is usually located, resources at the electronic device are often used inefficiently to process event data (e.g., meeting data and reminder data associated with time-based events) that is not relevant to its current location.
Meanwhile, the user may move to another area or country from the current location for an overseas business trip or travel. In this case, the electronic device displays a different standard time zone depending on the area or country before the movement or after the movement. That is, the standard time zone may change as a standard meridian used in the area or country before or after the movement changes.
Accordingly, when the user presets a schedule in another area or country, the user may input a place and a standard time zone according to the place in order to set the schedule based on the standard time zone of the corresponding place. There exists no mechanism by which the reminders of the schedule can be effectively and automatically managed based on the change in time zone of the user of the electronic device.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the disclosure.

Method and electronic device for automatically managing events based on time-zone difference


A resource management system is disclosed herein that quickly and dynamically tailors application resource provisioning to real-time application resource consumption. The resource management system may service application requests using resources selected from a pool of servers, the pool of servers including a mixture of virtual server resources and serverless instance resources. The serverless instance resource may comprise software objects programmed using a machine image reflecting one or more states of a virtual application server booted using application-specific program code. Supporting an application using serverless instances enables dynamic scaling of application resources to support real-time application servicing loads.

Service providers, such as telecommunications service providers (TSPs), application service providers (ASPs), storage service providers (SSPs), and internet service providers (ISPs) may provide services in the form of application services to clients. One criteria by which a service provider is judged is the speed of delivery of their service. One factor which adversely effects application performance arises when the resources that are allocated to an application service by a service provider become overloaded.
Service providers typically allocate dedicated resources to application services in a manner that ensures that application servicing is not delayed due to resource bottlenecks. However, the demand for application services may vary over time, undergoing periods of high and low resource utilization. In an ideal world a service provider would secure resources sufficient to handle any peak demand, but such a solution is expensive and wasteful.
To overcome these drawbacks, enterprises may scale their resources in accordance with current application service traffic volume, increasing resources as needed and removing resources when peak demand has ebbed. However, typical scaling methods may require a significant amount of time to provision and boot new resources before a new resource can support application traffic. These delays with bringing resources online may cause delays and errors in application processes. As a result, service providers may over-allocate resources to an application. While increasing application servicing expense, such overallocation may be insufficient to address rogue spikes in application demand.

System and method for fast application auto-scaling


A drive unit for a motor vehicle with hybrid drive. The drive unit includes an input shaft which may be connected to the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle, a gearbox shaft which may be connected via a toothed hub of a clutch plate as an input shaft of the downstream gearbox, and an electric machine, the rotor of which is connected rotationally fixedly to the clutches. The components are accommodated in a housing having a radially extending housing wall as a bearing wall which forms a physical separation of a chamber of the electric machine and a chamber of the clutches.

In hybrid vehicles, generator operation and also operation with an internal combustion engine with electric motor support is possible. For example, a portion of the kinetic energy may be returned electrically with the drive unit.
Serial hybrid drive mechanisms that the internal combustion engine and the electric motor are connected in series without mechanical coupling. The internal combustion engine drives a generator which via a battery feeds an electric motor, which in turn generates the drive moment for the wheels.
In parallel hybrid drive, both the internal combustion engine and the electric motor are coupled mechanically with the wheels. The drive moment for the wheels may be generated by one or both drive machines.
Known drive units allow serial, parallel and also generator operation, and are arranged as a corresponding assembly between an internal combustion engine and a manual or automatic gearbox. The drive moment from the internal combustion engine may be disengaged via a clutch, and the drive moment with the electric motor support may be switched through to the gearbox via a further clutch. When the internal combustion engine is disengaged, purely electric drive is possible.
DE 102 97 305 T5 describes a transmission unit with two clutches and an electric machine for a motor vehicle. In this solution an extension of the crankshaft protrudes into the transmission unit.
EP 1 027 224 B1 shows a drive system with two clutches which may be switched independently, and with an electric motor. A flywheel sits directly on a shaft protruding into the drive system.
An electric drive motor for a motor vehicle in accordance with DE 10 2010 041 843 A1 has an annular stator, a rotatably mounted rotor coaxial thereto, a cooling channel running on the stator and a rotary position sensor. The fixed element of the rotary position sensor is arranged on a cover element delimiting the cooling channel.
A hybrid vehicle drive unit in accordance with DE 11 2005 002 200 B4 has a starter clutch in which the cylindrical region of a rotor support component is placed on a circumferential surface of a clutch drum, wherein a play exists between the cylindrical region and the outer circumferential surface.


In an image sensor having plural conversion elements for photoelectrically converting an image into electric signals and a matrix-wired electric circuit, connected to the plural conversion elements, for transmitting the signal therefrom, when reading out the image, all the plural conversion elements are reset at the same time. Thereafter, one of the plural conversion elements is sequentially selected in a predetermined order, and a signal from the selected conversion element is read out through the matrix-wired electric circuit.

The invention is concerned with an image sensor for reading images and its driving method.
An image sensor consisting of a photodiode array has been used for an image reading device for a facsimile, an image scanner, and the like.
Amorphous silicon has such excellent photoelectric conversion characteristics that it is used as the material to manufacture photodiodes.
A matrix drive system which consists of a small number of drive ICs, as compared with the number of pixels, is often used. The matrix drive system is composed of a photodiode array which is divided into a plurality of blocks. When an image is read, each block is selected in order and a signal corresponding to the amount of exposed light is read out block by block in order.
However, there is a problem in the matrix drive system in which image information is read out as an electric current. The problem is that precise image information can not be obtained because of a fluctuation in the inductance of the wiring connected to the photodiodes, and in stray capacitance between the wiring.
A reading circuit shown in FIG. 14 is proposed to solve the problem.
In FIG. 14, blocks, the number of which is n are connected with the circuit, wherein each block has photoelectric conversion elements the number of which is m. In this circuit diagram, the photoelectric conversion element is shown by an equivalent circuit. Bi is the common connection terminal of each block and connected with the bias potential -V when the block is selected or connected with the ground when the block is not selected. Bi is defined as the common electrode of the block the number of which is i when it is counted from the first block, wherein i is 1<i<n. SBi is the switch of the block the number of which is i, when it is counted from the first block, wherein i is 1<i<n. Each photoelectric conversion element is represented by an equivalent circuit consisting of blocking diode BD, photodiode PD, accumulating condenser Cp which is connected with photodiode PD in parallel, and condenser CB which is connected with blocking diode BD in parallel. BDij and PDij represent the elements which are in the block, the number of which is i when it is counted from the first block, and the number of which is j in the block i, wherein i is 1<i<n and j is 1<j<m. Portion M surrounded by a broken line is the matrix wiring unit. CRj is a condenser for reading out which is connected with each photoelectric conversion element and its capacitance is much larger than that of accumulating condenser Cp. Sj is a reset switch to reset reading out condenser CRj. Aj is a buffer amplifier to receive the potential of reading out condenser CRj. SRj is a selector switch which is used when the output of buffer amplifier Aj is read out. CRj, Sj, Aj, and SRj represent elements the number of which is j, wherein j is 1<j<m.
FIG. 15 is a diagram which shows potential being impressed on common electrode Bi which is used to drive the above-described reading cuircuit. Potential -V is impressed on the common electrode Bi in the sequence order, wherein i is 1<i<n. As shown in FIG. 14, photoelectric conversion elements are placed in the form of a line. An image is read by a line of photoelectric conversion elements. The time needed to read an image by a line of photoelectric conversion elements is defined as the reading period. Image reading conducted by a line of photoelectric conversion elements in the reading period is repeated.
FIG. 16 is a diagram which shows the time when switch S and SR should be turned on and off in order to read out the information in the block when the potential -V is impressed on common electrode B.sub.1. As shown in the diagram, while the potential -V is impressed on common electrode B.sub.1, the switches are turned on in the order of SR1.fwdarw.S1.fwdarw.SR2.fwdarw.S2 .fwdarw.. . . .fwdarw.SRm.fwdarw.Sm. In other words, SR is for reading out and S is for resetting condenser (or capacitor) CR after reading out of each block has been completed, referring to 16-i in FIG. 16.
When this type of reading circuit is used, the current corresponding to the amount of light projected to photodiode PD, is charged into condenser CR at the time of selecting a block. As a result, a light signal can be obtained in the sequence order as the voltage between both terminals of condenser CR.
FIG. 17 is a schematic illustration which shows an approximate layout of electric devices shown in FIG. 14, wherein they are laid out on a substrate. In FIG. 17, the numeral 1 is a substrate made from glass or ceramics. The numeral 2 is a diode unit in which photodiode PD and blocking diode BD are laid out. L is a lower layer electrode or a lower layer wire. L.sub.11 to Lnm are lower layer electrodes which guide the output of each photodiode PDij in the diode unit 2. U is an upper layer electrode or an upper layer wire. U.sub.1 to U.sub.6 are upper layer electrodes which guide the output from lower layer electrodes L.sub.11 to Lnm to IC4 for reading. Lower layer electrodes L and upper layer elecrodes U are made from such metals as Al, Cr, Ti, and Mo. The numeral 3 is an insulation layer of SiO.sub.2, SiN, and polyimide which is coated between lower layer electrodes L and upper layer electrodes U for insulation. Lower layer electrodes L and upper layer electrodes U are connected through contact holes. As described above, upper layer electrodes U and lower layer electrodes L are insulated by the insulation layer 3 and they are connected with each other through contact holes where connection is needed. FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a contact hole shown in FIG. 17. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken on line A--A' of FIG. 18. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken on line B--B' of FIG. 18. As explained above, the upper layer electrodes and the lower layer electrodes are insulated by the insulation layer 3 and connected with each other where connection is needed.
However, the signal conductors in matrix unit M are long and they are laid in the multilayer form. For that reason, there exists nonnegligible line-to-line capacitance among signal conductors, in other words among upper layer electrodes or among lower layer electrodes, and capacitive coupling occurs among signal conductors. This line-to-line capacitance can be the cause of crosstalk between adjacent elements or blocks.
FIG. 21 is a circuit diagram which shows an equivalent circuit of part of the matrix wiring unit shown in FIG. 17. In FIG. 21, C.sub.1 is line-to-line capacitance created among lower layer electrodes. C.sub.2 is line-to-line capacitance created among upper layer electrodes. C.sub.3 is capacitance created between upper layer electrodes and lower layer electrodes, especially where they cross. It can be understood from the equivalent circuit that unnecessary capacitive coupling is created between electrodes.
For instance, line-to-line capacitance between a pair of upper layer electrodes of a line sensor, the details of which will be described below, is as much as 120 pF. The reading length of the line sensor is 216 mm, which covers the length of A4 size paper. The pixel density of the line sensor is 8 dot/mm. The number of blocks is 27 and the number of elements is 64 element/block. Since a line sensor has such a large line-to-line capacitance, potential is induced in the adjacent signal conductor or signal line through the line-to-line capacitance when potential fluctuates in a signal conductor according to photoelectric conversion output. For example, when potential fluctuation occurs in upper layer electrode U.sub.2 in FIG. 17, potential is induced in the adjacent upper layer electrodes U.sub.1 and U.sub.3, and when potential fluctuation occurs in upper layer electrode U.sub.1 in FIG. 20, potential is induced in lower layer electrode L.sub.12, which is not connected with upper layer electrode U.sub.1, due to capacity coupling.
Crosstalk is caused in this way. Accordingly, the Modulation Transfer Function of the image sensor is decreased and resolution of the read image is degraded. It can be considered that the image sensor is not practical in the circumstances described above.
Since a plurality of lower layer electrodes, in other words plural blocks of lower layer electrodes, are connected with an upper layer electrode, crosstalk between blocks also occurs according to line-to-line capacitance among lower layer electrodes.


An electronic device may provide tactile outputs at a tactile output region of the electronic device. The tactile output region of the electronic device may be a surface of an input structure or a surface of an enclosure of the device. Tactile outputs may provide a sustained, physically-based notification of a particular item of interest. The tactile output may alter a physical characteristic of the tactile output region, such as the shape, texture, or density of a portion of the electronic device, in one or more tactile output regions. Furthermore, the tactile notification may provide a notification that is less intrusive and more tunable to user preferences than conventional notifications. The tactile output may be static in that the tactile notification is not transitory and remains throughout the duration of the tactile output. The tactile notification may be dynamic in that it includes motion.

Many electronic devices have an ability to notify a user of a particular item of interest. For example, an electronic device, such as a phone or watch, may notify a user of an incoming text, phone call, or electronic mail. Conventional notifications are temporary alarms or signals, such as an audio or vibration alarm, or temporary displays of a message, such as a text message. If the user does not respond to the text message, the text message will disappear. Such conventional alerting schemes can be distracting to the user or to parties adjacent the user. In some cases, conventional notifications may be so distracting that a user turns off the notification capability, resulting in missed receipt of urgent or critical notifications. Also, conventional notifications may be forgotten if not acknowledged during the temporary notification lifetime, as the notification frequently will get stored among a wealth of earlier notifications and data.

Tactile notifications for electronic devices


Disclosed is a liner for a traction sheave including a top surface and a bottom surface mutually spaced on a height-wise axis (H), a front surface and a back surface mutually spaced on lengthwise axis (L), and a plurality of side surfaces including a first side surface and a second side surface mutually spaced in a widthwise axis (W), wherein in a first cross sectional profile of the plurality of side surfaces forms convergent-divergent profile.

The embodiments herein relate to elevator sheaves and more specifically to a friction liner and a traction sheave.
Traction liners may be stretched over a sheave with the ends of a traction liner connected using a chain, or otherwise fastened to the sheave. These liners and method of attaching the liners may not work with liner materials having low elasticity. Using chain connectors may result in adverse effects on ride quality, may require special tooling, and may be difficult to install. Using wedge shaped liner that frictionally interlocked may be time consuming to install and remove.


Methods and apparatus are disclosed for automatically detecting when an operating channel needs to be changed in a wireless communication system. An alternate channel is selected by obtaining information about a plurality of available channels; assigning a score to each available channel; and selecting an alternate channel from the available channels based on the assigned score. The state of the selected alternate channel and the current channel are compared. A change to the selected alternate channel is initiated when one or more predefined criteria are satisfied.

Wireless communication systems are inherently subject to radio interference. The interference may come from a number of sources, including, for example, (i) radio systems operating on nearby frequencies that 'leak' energy into the operating channel; (ii) radio systems operating on the same frequency with an unknown access pattern or a modulation that cannot be understood, such as a cordless telephone; (iii) devices that emit radio frequency (RF) energy as a side effect, such as personal computers and certain types of lighting; (iv) devices that emit radio frequency (RF) by design, but are not capable of negotiating to share the channel or follow a channel access protocol, such as microwave ovens and radar systems; and (v) radio systems that are capable of negotiating to share a radio channel but consume too large a portion of the available channel capacity.
Wireless communication devices are often configured to operate on a fixed radio channel. In other implementations, a user's interaction may be required to notify the device that there is too much interference and that a jump to a different channel is desired. Often, this causes a perceivable interruption of the communication service. For example, in the presence of too much interference in an audio communication system, a user may detect a noise, such as a click, or the sudden absence of sound. Similarly, in a video communication system, a user may detect jerky movements or otherwise distorted images. For a data communication system, however, the interruption in communication service is generally less noticeable because the data transfer is typically less time-critical.
A need therefore exists for methods and apparatus that can automatically detect when an operating channel needs to be changed in a wireless communication system. A further need exists for methods and apparatus for automatically determining when to change the operating channel and automatically selecting a new operating channel. Yet another need exists for methods and apparatus that can automatically change an operating channel, while minimizing the time that the communication service is disrupted so that the channel jump has minimal perceivable effects to the user.

Method and apparatus for automatic change of an operating channel in a wireless communication system


This invention relates to the vacuum packaging of products and involves the use of a heat sealable thermoplastic bag in conjunction with a vacuum dome having a sealing edge disposed around its periphery and being connected to a source of vacuum, the thermoplastic bag being entirely closed except for an integral flat vent passage disposed at one peripheral location on the bag. One half of the vent passage is made up of material from one portion of the bag, and the other half of the vent passage is made up of a precisely equal amount of material from an opposite portion of the bag, such that the interior surfaces of said vent passage can tend to adhere together. The novel method in accordance with this invention comprises the steps of placing the thermopalstic bag in a supportive device having a desired configuration, placing the vacuum dome over the vent passage so the vent passage protrudes into the interior of the vacuum dome, with the peripheral edge of the dome in contact with bag portions surrounding the vent passage, reducing the pressure inside the dome so as to cause the egress of air from the interior of the bag out through the vent passage, thereafter removing the dome from contact with the bag, with the sidewalls of the vent member sealing together temporarily, and then taking the final step of heat sealing the opening of the vent passage to effectively prevent the return of air to the interior of the bag.

It is well known to vacuum package perishable food as well as certain other products in order to exclude oxygen, moisture, dust and various forms of contamination. One reason for vacuum packaging is that in the case of a perishable food product, such product will degrade quickly in the presence of oxygen, so by removing air during the packaging of the product, its shelf life can be greatly increased.
Another reason for vacuum packaging is that an evacuated package containing a compressible product will displace a smaller volume than a non-evacuated package, thus enabling more economical shipping and storage costs.
After the food, the precision instruments, or the other item to be protected has been placed in a bag or package, some patentees have taught the placement of such packages in a vacuum chamber in order to withdraw the air through a vent in the package. After air removal, the vent is sealed. Examples of this particular technology are the Woods U.S. Pat. No. 3,545,983, entitled "Method of Deoxygenating and Packaging of Food Products," which issued Dec. 8, 1970, and the Waldrop et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,851,437, entitled "Receptacle Evacuation Apparatus and Method," which issued Dec. 3, 1974.
In pursuing techniques of this type, the oxygen content in food packages, for example, may be is reduced down to 11/2 percent or less by initially stripping a portion of the oxygen by exposing the food to flowing inert gas before it is placed in the packages. After this, the packages are placed in a vacuum chamber, and the oxygen-containing atmosphere is withdrawn, so as to cause fluid flow from each of the packages. When the chamber reaches a certain level of vacuum, dictated by the desired package hardness, the package may be hermetically sealed by sealing jaws in the chamber. Other techniques for sealing the packages are of course available.
In packaging by utilizing techniques of this type, it is known to place the packages in shaping devices, so that the completed packages will have a certain desired contour . Inasmuch as the contents of some packages initially contain air at atmospheric pressure, it is important to place such packages in devices preventing the expansion and subsequent bursting of the package when placed inside the vacuum chamber, as the pressure in the chamber is lowered.
Other patentees have taken a different route, with the King U.S. Pat. No. 3,216,832 entitled "Suction Packaging Method" involving an improvement upon the use of packaging constituted by lower and upper films of stretch wrap material. The items to be packaged are placed on the lower film, after which the air is withdrawn from the package. Such packages are sealed together peripherally after the air has been withdrawn, so as to draw the film into snug engagement with the product. In this particular patent to King, the patentee taught a preshaping of the bottom film to the product, so that there is less space to be evacuated, so that the film is drawn more readily into contact with the product, and so that less residual air is enclosed.
A somewhat different packaging technique involves a flexible package in which the product is placed, with a probe being inserted into the package through an open end of the package. The end of the package closes around the probe, after which the gases are removed from the package through the probe. Subsequently the probe is removed, and the package heat sealed.
My U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,152 entitled "Self Sealing Vacuumed Package," which issued Aug. 13, 1985 represented an advance in the art by teaching a method for the vacuum packaging of heat sensitive powdered products, perishable cheese products, and the like. Such product is placed in a thermoplastic bag, in the end of which I utilize a tortuous vent passage. The package is then placed in a supportive container having a two section cover, through which the tortuous vent passage protrudes. In this way, the bag is prevented from expanding and bursting when subjected to a vacuum.
The supportive container is then placed in a vacuum chamber such that the air inside the package is withdrawn through the vent passage. The vent passage collapses at such time as the vacuum chamber has been opened to atmospheric pressure, with such collapse of the vent passage forming a temporary seal, thus giving ample time for the package to thereafter be permanently sealed.
It was in an effort to improve still further upon these techniques that the present invention was evolved, which makes possible the use of a vacuum dome in achieving the vacuum packaging of a product, thus making the employment of a vacuum chamber unnecessary in many instances.

Self sealing vacuum vent and dome process


An automotive single-phase electrical motor of a claw pole type includes a rotating motor rotor which rotates around a rotating axis, a stator defined by a pair of annular stator bodies, and a stator coil arrangement which magnetizes the stator bodies. The stator bodies includes a first stator body having a radial arm and at least two magnetic claws, and a second stator body having a radial arm and at least two magnetic claws. The at least two magnetic claws of the first stator body mesh with the at least two magnetic claws of the second stator body so that the stator bodies mate with each other. The stator coil arrangement is provided as a satellite of the stator bodies. The radial arm of the first stator body and the radial arm of the second stator body are magnetically connected to each other at the stator coil arrangement.

The present invention in particular relates to an automotive single-phase electric motor for driving secondary components or devices of an automobile. Such components or devices could be, for example, auxiliary units, actuators or pumps. The automotive electric motor according to the present invention is accordingly not an engine of the automobile for driving the vehicle. The automotive electrical motor comprises a motor rotor rotating around a rotation axis and a stator defined by a mating pair of annular stator bodies. Each body is provided with at least two magnetic pole claws meshing with the claws of the other body. The electrical motor further comprises a stator coil arrangement for magnetizing the stator bodies.
A claw pole type motor of this type is described in US 2007/0278894 A1. The claw pole type motor comprises a motor rotor which is rotatably provided in a motor stator. The stator is defined by two stator bodies which are provided coaxially to a motor rotor axis. Each stator body provides a plurality of pole claws extending in an axial direction. A stator coil is arranged axially between the stator bodies, thereby surrounding the claws of the stator bodies.
The dimension of the stator coil depends on the stator dimensions, in particular on the stator diameter. Different stator coils are accordingly required for different types of electric motors having different stator diameters. Many different stator coils must thus be manufactured and stored. This fact increases the manufacturing costs of the electric motor.


A cable may include a include an inner conductor and an outer conductor coaxially arranged around the inner conductor. A dielectric strength member may be positioned between the inner and outer conductors. The dielectric strength member may have a tensile strength of at least 10,000 MPa. Additionally, a jacket may be formed around the outer conductor.

Coaxial cables typically include an inner conductor and an outer conductor or outer shield that share a geometric axis. A dielectric layer, insulating layer, or spline provides separation between the inner conductor and the outer conductor. Conventional dielectric layers are often formed from solid plastic, foamed plastic, or plastic spacers. However, conventional dielectric layers typically provide relatively little structural support for the coaxial cables. Accordingly, there is as opportunity for improved coaxial cables that incorporate dielectric strength members as a dielectric layer between the inner and outer conductors. Additionally, there is an opportunity for improved coaxial cables that may be utilized in applications in which a cable must support its own load or weight, such as aerial applications.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Coaxial cable and method for forming the cable


Provided is a receiving apparatus that receives a data signal and a clock signal indicating a reference timing to acquire the data signal. The receiving apparatus includes a multi-strobe generating section that generates, based on a pulse of the recovered clock, a plurality of strobes of which phases are different from each other, a first detecting section that detects a position of an edge of the clock signal relative to the strobes based on values of the clock signal that are acquired at respective timings of the strobe, a first adjusting section that adjusts a phase of the recovered clock according to the edge position of the clock signal, and a second adjusting section that adjusts the timing to acquire the data signal according to a phase adjustment amount of the recovered clock made by the first adjusting section.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a receiving apparatus, a test apparatus, a receiving method and a test method.
2. Related Art
A device (DDR-SDRAM or the like) that sends a data signal and a clock signal has been known. A test apparatus testing such device uses a multi-strobe function to test a phase relationship between a data signal and a clock signal.
When a device that outputs a data signal and a clock signal concurrently is tested, a test apparatus needs to be adjusted such that it generates multi-strobes at appropriate timings. However, even after the adjustment is made, if a phase of the clock signal is shifted by jitter, wander, drift or the like, a phase relationship between a data signal and a clock signal is not retained and therefore it is not possible to perform testing accurately.

Receiving apparatus, test apparatus, receiving method and test method


A system and method for system and method data binding to type(s) of object(s) is provided. The system can be employed in a software application development environment to facilitate data binding to types of entity(ies) rather than instance(s) of the entity(ies). The system includes a binding source component that supports the ability to set its data source to a type, rather then a specific instance. For example, when the data source is changed, the binding source component can evaluate whether the data source (e.g., object) can be instanced and whether the data source (e.g., object) supports necessary designer interface(s). If the type isn't supported by the designer, using reflection, the binding source component can interrogate the public properties of the type. Additionally, the binding source component can analyze complex object(s).

Software vendors are continually advancing the latest in development tools for users to take advantage of software made available to consumers. Typically, such tools require some level of familiarity by developer with the tool(s) language and structure in order to use the development tool(s) and develop the appropriate interface. However, the rapid evolution in which such development frameworks are manufactured and sold impact the speed with which such tools can be understood and used to provide the software for which they are created. Developers are still left spending an inordinate amount of time learning and struggling with the development environment in order to provide a suitable product for a customer.
Conventional development tools have supported data binding to object(s); however, there was limited design-time support. In order to enable design-time support, developer(s) implemented base class(es) that inherited from a specific base class and/or implemented several interface(s). The addition of these base class(es) and/or interface(s) was time-consuming and added limited, if any, value at run-time.
Further, many developers require the ability to limit the creation of their object without providing specific parameters at construction of the object. Because of the varied design patterns, developers were very limited in participation in data binding from even a runtime perspective, much less a design time perspective.
Data binding in conventional system(s) required the ability to query an object for the available properties. If the object was not capable of being instanced, the system was unable to produce a list of bindable properties. Finally, with conventional system(s), once data binding has been established, there is no mechanism for changing the source of the data binding.


An ophthalmic apparatus provided with an alignment unit for projecting onto a light position detecting sensor the surface of the front eye part of one of an examinee's eyes looking into binocular openings which is opposed to an eye examining system for detecting the information of an eye to be examined, and effecting the alignment of the eye examining system to the eye to be examined on the basis of the light position output of the sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an ophthalmic apparatus, for example, an eye-refractometer, used for example in ophthalmic hospitals and capable of automatically effecting alignment.
2. Related Background Art
In an eye-refractometer according to the prior art, a face pad portion is generally provided with a chin pad and a forehead pad, and alignment for accurately projecting a light beam for measuring the refractive value onto an eye to be examined is accomplished by the examiner vertically adjusting the chin pad in accord with the examinee's face portion, and adjusting the position of the entire apparatus including an eye examining system by means of a sliding stand so that the projected position of the light beam may coincide with the eye to be examined while observing the front eye part of the eye to be examined through a monitor. An apparatus is also known in which rough adjustment is manually effected and fine adjustment is automatically effected to thereby accomplish alignment.
However, in the example of the prior art having the above-described construction, all the process of alignment are not automated and therefore in at least a part of the process, for example, the aforementioned rough adjustment, measurement of the refractive value cannot be accomplished unless the examiner operates an eye-refractometer.


A manually operable seeding device comprises an elongate body portion having a trough section formed therein, and a plurality of openings formed through the body portion in or adjacent the trough section. The plurality of openings is spaced one from another a distance that corresponds to a spacing at which it is desired that plants germinating from the seeds will grow. A method of manually seeding a plant bed is also provided, including: obtaining a seeding device that comprises an elongate body portion having a trough section formed therein and a plurality of openings formed through the body portion in or adjacent the trough section; positioning the seeding device atop or partially below the ground surface; and delivering at least one seed through each of the openings to bed the seed within or atop the ground surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices for use in planting or sowing seeds of various kinds. More particularly, the present invention relates to such devices that are manually operated.
2. Related Art
It is often the case that seeds are manually planted directly into earthen areas in which the resultant plants will exist until harvested or removed. Most such plants perform better if the seeding process includes proper spacing of the seeds one from another. While such spacing can be done by estimation (and nearly always is), it is often the case that such efforts result in an overuse of seed, and/or improperly spaced plants, and/or an overabundance of plant sprouts that must be thinned later. Each of these results is undesirable for reasons of economy and optimal plant health.

Manually operated seeding device and associated methods


A pharmaceutical composition is disclosed, which contains a short-acting .beta.-blocking compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 may be an alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkyl carboxymethyl, aryl carboxymethyl, aryl or aralkyl, A may be an alkylene or alkenylene, X may be independently amino, hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyl, cyano, amido or trifluoromethyl, n is an integer from 1 to about 4, R may be an alkyl, propargyl, dimethylpropargyl or hydroxyalkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in a hydroalcoholic solution further containing a physiologically acceptable buffering agent, ethanol and a physiologically acceptable liquid polyhydric compound. A method for treatment or prophylaxis of cardiac disorders using the composition of the present invention is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions which contain short-acting .beta.-adrenergic blocking agents. More particularly, the invention concerns novel compositions in which ester-containing .beta.-blocking drugs are stabilized against hydrolysis during shipping and storage.
In the past, the emphasis in .beta.-blocker research has been to develop stable drugs which could be administered to cardiac patients over relatively long periods of time. However, often it is desirable in the critical care setting to quickly reduce heart work or improve rhythmicity during a cardiac crisis, e.g., during or shortly after a myocardial infarction. Conventional .beta.-blocking agents can be employed for such treatment, but their long durations of action can cause undesirable side effects.
Recently, certain compounds containing ester functions have been found to possess .beta.-adrenergic blocking activity. (See U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,103 to Erhardt, et al., June 7, 1983.) These compounds generally have a short duration of action in vivo, and do not possess the disadvantages of the conventional .beta.-blockers described above. The ester groups in these compounds have, however, been found to be somewhat unstable in aqueous environments, such as intravenous infusion solutions. The practical effect of this instability is that conventional compositions containing the compounds have relatively short shelf lives, thus making commercial distribution and storage difficult.
Therefore, there remains a need for pharmaceutical preparations of short-acting .beta.-blockers which are stable in vitro and have a relatively long storage life.

Pharmaceutical composition and method of treatment or prophylaxis of cardiac disorders


A wheel assembly especially suitable for use on large heavy refuse carts. The wheel assembly includes an axis which has been heat treated and plated to provide a central core, an outer skin on the central core of substantially increased strength and hardness, and a chromium plating on the outer skin, and the associated hub of the wheel has been heat treated to provide an annular interior skin in journalling association with the axle having an increased hardness and strength as compared to the main body of the hub. The chrome plating on the axle has a hardness in excess of the hardness of the interior hardened skin of the wheel hub. The wheel assembly is mounted between spaced parallel mounting plates on the associated refuse cart with the ends of the axle passing through apertures in the lower ends of the mounting plates and with the assembly held in place between the mounting plates by a bolt carrying a washer and threadably engaging a blind bore in one end of the axle so as to position an end plate on the other end of the axle against the outboard face of the outboard mounting plate. A pair of seals are provided at each end of the hub of the wheel and an annular grease groove is provided in the hub inboard of each pair of seals.

This invention relates to wheel assemblies and more particularly to wheel assemblies especially adapted for use with large carts such as refuse carts.
With the ever increasing industrialization of our society, the need for a quick and efficient means of removing waste for ultimate disposal has steadily increased. The industry that has grown up to service this need has largely evolved in two directions. For relatively lighter and/or lower bulk waste disposal requirements, containers are provided at the user facility which, when filled with waste matter, are emptied into a refuse truck by a suitable hoisting mechanism and then replaced in position at the user facility to receive more refuse. In situations requiring larger volumes or heavier weights of refuse, the so-called "roll off" container or cart has been used. The roll off carts typically provide a capacity of between 12 and 40 cubic yards; may be used in association with an end compactor at the user facility; and are typically picked up and carried away when full on a custom vehicle, in piggyback style, with the vehicle carrying away the filled cart also delivering a new, empty cart to the user facility prior to pickup of the filled cart. These large refuse carts, in the course of loading and unloading onto the associated custom vehicle, receive considerable abuse. Since they must be dragged considerable distances both during the placement and the removal operations, they are typically provided with wheel assemblies at the four corners of the cart. The wheel assemblies sustain heavy abuse, not only because of the extremely heavy loads being carried in the carts, but also by virtue of the rough handling and the rough terrain over which the carts are dragged. The wheel assemblies in the past have generally comprised relatively standard designs in which a simple wheel is journalled on a hot rolled mild steel axle extending between parallel mounting plates on the corners of the cart. Due to the relatively unsophisticated design of the wheel assemblies and the extremely heavy abuse that the wheel assemblies receive, the wheel assemblies have become extremely high maintenance items. It is not unusual, for example, for the wheel assemblies to wear out to a point of being unusable in as short a time as three months. Typically the wheel assemblies are rebuilt, placed back in service, and then again rebuilt after which they again quickly wear out. A typical average total life of a wheel assembly, including several rebuilds, is about two years whereafter the entire wheel assembly must be replaced. In addition to the considerable expense associated with with rebuilding and ultimately replacing the wheel assemblies, the wheel assemblies may become dislodged during road transport on the associated vehicle and run wild and at high speed along the roadway, creating a potential for serious damage to other vehicles and/or personal injury. Further, since these containers are typically used in conjunction with an on site compactor, the cart can no longer be set at the proper height required for latching onto the compactor after it has lost a wheel assembly. Further, a container with a lost or severely damaged wheel assembly inflicts severe damage to the associated asphalt pavement onto which it is placed or over which it is dragged during the loading or unloading operation. Further, when a cart is taken out of service because of a damaged wheel assembly the cart must be brought into the main depot for maintenance and repair, resulting in time loss by the driver of the associated vehicle and revenue loss because the cart is out of service.
Various attempts have been made to introduce more sophistication into the wheel assemblies of these refuse carts in order to reduce the maintenance problem. For example, various attempts have been made to incorporate grease fittings so that lubrication can be added to the hub and axle assembly; other attempts have involved the use of roller or ball-type bearings in the wheel assemblies; and other attempts have involved the use of plastic or bronze bushings in the wheel assemblies. However, none of these attempts to improve the durability of the wheel assemblies has met with any degree of commercial success. Specifically, in the case of the lubricated wheel assemblies, the truck drivers are often remiss in greasing the axles on a regular schedule, the grease fittings become damaged and cannot be replenished with grease, or the grease fittings accumulate sand and dirt making it difficult or impossible to snap on the grease gun fitting or, even if greasing is possible, the greasing operation pumps in sand and dirt which in turn causes high abrasion failure of the axle and hub. In the case of the roller or balltype bearing designs, it has been found that the extremely high gross vehicle weights and extremely high shock load forces encountered by these refuse carts causes immediate or eventual catastrophic failure to the internal bearing parts. In the case of the plastic or bronze bushing designs, the extremely high gross vehicle weights cause material flow-type deformation with resultant immediate or eventual failure of the wheel assembly.

Method of securing a wheel assembly to an associated body structure


A safety joint for use in a subterranean well can include separable portions which, when separated, disconnect sections of a tubular string. Elongation of the safety joint can be permitted while longitudinal compression of the safety joint is prevented. A method of activating a safety joint in a subterranean well can include providing the safety joint with portions having end connectors which interconnect the safety joint between sections of a tubular string, permitting elongation of the safety joint, thereby facilitating disconnection of the tubular string sections, and then preventing longitudinal compression of the safety joint. Another safety joint can include separable portions, and a locking device which permits relative displacement between a generally tubular mandrel and a component of the safety joint in one direction, and prevents relative displacement between the mandrel and the component in an opposite direction.

This disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized and operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean well and, in one example described below, more particularly provides for locking a safety joint in an extended configuration.
A safety joint is typically interconnected in a tubular string to allow the tubular string to be parted at the safety joint, for example, in the event that a packer or other equipment becomes stuck in a wellbore. After the safety joint separates, the tubular string above the safety joint can be readily retrieved from the wellbore.
It will be appreciated that improvements are continually needed in the art of constructing safety joints.

Locking safety joint for use in a subterranean well


Described are methods and apparatus for collecting measured parameter data for applications such as deriving response models and information required for developing and maintaining processes and process tools. The methods and apparatus are capable of deriving correction factors for the measured data and applying the corrections factors to the measured data so as to provide corrected parameter data having increased accuracy.

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for deriving substantially correct parameter data for processing workpieces, more particularly, processing workpieces for electronic device fabrication.
The most successful processing of materials for electronic devices typically requires optimization and precise control of the processing environment at all process steps. Many of these process steps are performed under conditions that make it difficult or impossible to measure the desired process variables. In those cases where an important process variable cannot be readily measured, an attempt is made to correlate the parameter of interest to other measurable or controllable parameters. The accuracy and stability of these correlations, also called equipment response models, are a critical factor in determining the process capability and device yield at any given process step.
Descriptions of some of the available technologies and sensor apparatus for measuring process variables are available in the technical and patent literature. Examples of some of the technologies are described in United States patents U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,244,121, 6,051,443, 6,033,922, 5,989,349, 5,967,661, 5,907,820, and Patent Corporation Treaty application WO 02/17030.
Some of the available technologies are tethered systems in which sensors exposed to the process conditions that are to be measured have physical connections to remote facilities such as power sources and information processors, and electronic components. Other technologies use an electronics module that is coupled to the detectors on a support; the sensors and electronics module are part of a single unit that is exposed to the process conditions that are to be measured. The electronics module is necessary for a sensor apparatus with capabilities such as autonomous information processing capability, wireless communication capability, and other electronically controlled on-board capabilities.
In some applications, the presence of the tether or electronics module can introduce an unacceptable error in the measurement data. For the case of measuring temperatures using a sensor apparatus, the mere presence of the electronics module will distort the temperature field being measured. It is possible to reduce the distortion by using very small components in the module, thereby reducing the module""s overall size and thermal mass.
Of course, for some applications the module distortion effect may be ignored if a high degree of measurement accuracy is unnecessary. However, some of the critical process steps required for processing high-value workpieces such as semiconductor wafers for electronic device and optical device fabrication and substrates for flatpanel display fabrication do indeed require high accuracy for the values of the process conditions. For such applications, measurements of a parameter such as temperature need to be extremely accurate, particularly for the temperature uniformity across the area of the workpiece. Furthermore, applications involved with the manufacture, calibration, research, and development of process equipment for processing high value substrates require high accuracy measurements since the operation of the equipment can be limited by the accuracy of the measurements. Inaccurate data can result in the loss of millions of dollars of product in some instances. Alternatively, the inaccurate data can result in the production of products having poorer performance because the process conditions were optimized based on the inaccurate data.
Clearly, there are numerous applications requiring high accuracy methods and apparatus by which spatially resolved and time resolved equipment response models can be easily and economically developed and maintained. An example of an important application is the uniform processing of workpieces such as semiconductor wafers, flatpanel displays, and other electronic devices. Furthermore, there is a need for high accuracy methods and apparatus capable of collecting data for response models in a nonperturbing manner on unmodified process equipment running realistic process conditions. Still further, there is a need for methods and apparatus capable of correcting measurements errors that can be caused by the methods and apparatus used for the measurements.
This invention seeks to provide methods and apparatus that can improve the accuracy of measured parameter data used for processing workpieces. One aspect of the present invention includes methods of deriving substantially correct data for applications such as generating data for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing processes and process tools. Another aspect of the present invention includes apparatus for deriving substantially correct data for applications such as generating data for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing processes and process tools.
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out aspects of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The above and still further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed descriptions of specific embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Data collection and correction methods and apparatus


A method is provided for vehicle steering using a steering actuation apparatus operable by the driver. The vehicle steering device has electromechanical control assemblies for this purpose for controlling a steerable wheel, located on the right and left on a vehicle body, of a wheel pair of at least one steerable vehicle axis. A central control unit compares target value specifications of the steering actuation apparatus to ESP specifications and actual values of the wheel positions of the steerable wheels and adapts electronic specifications of the steering stops for the steerable wheels to the operating situations of the vehicle.

For this purpose, a vehicle steering unit and an axle steering module for a vehicle steering unit are known from the publication DE 101 14 600 A1, which have such a steering actuation apparatus, in particular a steering hand wheel, and in each case have an electronic control assembly for controlling a steerable wheel, located on the right and left on a vehicle body, of a wheel pair of a steerable vehicle axle. In addition, at least one target value generator for a steering angle to be set, which is operable by the steering actuation apparatus, and an actual value generator, which at least registers one of the steering angles of the vehicle wheels, of a central control unit are known from the publication.
The vehicle steering unit and the associated method known from DE 101 14 600 A1 accordingly disclose an electronic method, which specifies and sets the respective steering angle of the steerable wheels with the aid of a central control unit, the method disclosed therein allowing, in the event of failure of a controller of one of the steerable wheels, the steering angle of the still functional controller to be transmitted to the control assembly of the failed controller by a data transmission.
In the known vehicle steering units and axle steering modules, the electronic steering stops for the steerable wheels within the surrounding wheel case are specified by so-called soft stops, which thus limit the turning circle of a vehicle, since they do not use the complete wheel clearance via the vehicle body. The wheel clearance differs depending on the lateral acceleration/travel velocity at which the vehicle travels. Normally, the wheel clearance is greater in the case of slow travel with low lateral acceleration than in the case of travel with high lateral acceleration. However, mechanical steering ranges are designed for this purpose so that the wheel moves dynamically freely, i.e., the theoretically smallest possible turning circle, for example, at a standstill of the vehicle, cannot be achieved. In addition, so-called EPS specifications (electrical power steering specifications) ensure that the electronic steering stops or soft stops only limit a further steering movement close to the mechanical end stop of the steering unit by reducing the steering support and even by active counter steering. This has the result that the turning circle of the vehicle is restricted for safety reasons.
At least one object is to provide a method for vehicle steering using a vehicle steering device, which improves the turning capability of the vehicle, in particular for parking. In addition, other objects, desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

Method for a vehicle steering using a vehicle steering device


An extended use reminder device (100) operable on the exterior flat or curved surface of an article includes a selectable member (102) including a plurality of individually selectable positions. The selectable member comprises a deformable plastic structure (110) or plurality of plastic structures attached to a deformable sheet member (112). A movable pointer or selector (106) securely interlocks with the plastic structure at one of the selected positions to form a reminder. A single device fits a great variety of containers and allows for a high degree of customization. The device is suitable for manual or automated assembly and application to a container.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cost-effective device for reminding a user to perform a task or reminding a user when a task was performed. The device, which may be attached to an article, is engineered for extended use and remains functional under a variety of commonly challenging environmental conditions. When used in conjunction with a particular medication, the invention provides a simple visual representation of the patient's dosage schedule and when the next dose is due or when the last dose was taken.
2. Description of the Background Art
Extremely adaptive and inexpensive interactive reminder devices for use with medication containers have been disclosed. The disclosure of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/050,520 filed Jan. 18, 2002 and Ser. No. 10/212,761 filed Aug. 7, 2002, are incorporated herein by reference for the purpose of showing the various reminder device constructions and materials, manufacturing and application methods that may be associated in certain executions of reminder devices. Co-pending U.S. patent application for a "SECURABLE MEDICATION REMINDER DEVICE" Ser. No. 10/899,121 filed Jul. 27, 2004, the contents of which are also incorporated herein by reference for the same purposes, discloses improvements. The improvements include the use of a repositionably adherable portion in a member of the device to secure the selection of a chosen position (indicating the time for the next dose). Improper handling of these devices or use in adverse environments decreases adherence life. Transfer of oil from fingers, airborne contaminants, ambient temperature fluctuations and climate extremes can shorten usefulness. In some instances, such as when a high frequency regimen is coupled with a large quantity of medication, the longevity of the reminder can be exceeded. It would be of great value, when conditions dictated, to have a more robust device that substantially maintained the benefits of the aforementioned reminders.
Historically, purchase and preparation of food in quantities too large to consume in one sitting gave rise to a multitude of storage containers. The ability to seal well, store at freezer and refrigerator temperatures, and heat in the microwave oven, has fostered the growth of reusable plastic containers. While the best of such containers (ex. Tupperware) are relatively expensive, they perform well and some include an integral reusable reminder, a convenient cost-saving feature. Still, their cost has been a barrier to wider distribution. More recently, competitive more affordable reusable containers such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,696, the contents of which are incorporated here by reference, have become available and are gaining widespread use. They deliver many of the benefits of the costlier containers, but do not provide a storage reminder. A low-cost reusable reminder device that could be attached to these newer containers would add considerable value for the user.
One recent approach to a reusable reminder can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,267 to DuBarry. A molded base is vertically attachable to a medication container by adhesive or other mechanical means. A series of labeled arms independently pivot in the base frame in order to make a selection. The arms may be integrally molded and integrally hinged with the base or separately produced and then assembled with the base. The procedure for operating the device in conjunction with the taking of medication would require that the user reset the schedule after every cycle, every week in the case of one embodiment. It is not clear how this would serve as an effective or convenient reminder when medication is consumed only on certain days of the week or several times a day. The potential for confusion and error is significant. Manipulation of the necessarily small arms would present an additional concern for many users. Customization for an individual patient requires that a great number of different schedule devices be manufactured or that that the user or health-care provider possess the demanding skill and dexterity necessary to customize the device.
Another approach to a reusable reminder can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,698 to Deal. Movable components are limited to a selector, which is anti-displaceably held on a longitudinal strip (curved along width) by a raised button or depression having scheduling indicia. Squeezing opposite ends of the selector at the sides of the selectable member inwardly to deform the selector over the button or depression, longitudinally moving the selector along the strip to a new selectable position while engaged, and releasing the selector, selects a new schedule position. Although the procedure is far less confusing (than DuBarry) and does not require a cycle reset, grasping and squeezing the tiny selector while moving to a new position would appear to be quite challenging for many. Additionally the design dictates that squeezing the selector likely increases the total frictional contact force between the selector and the strip, making longitudinal movement of the selector along the strip even more difficult. Furthermore, given operation and structure of the device, assembly of the selector with the strip only seems possible by longitudinally sliding an end of the selector onto the strip at a longitudinal end of the strip, a hard task for many individuals. Construction and operation appear to limit device attachment to curved wall containers only and only with the longitude of the strip along the vertical orientation on the wall of the container. Customization for an individual patient would present difficulties similar to those in DuBarry.
While the relatively small parts in the DuBarry and Deal devices would challenge the manipulation capabilities of many patients, the device designs produce considerably large protrusions in undesirable locations on the wall of a container. These protrusions can interfere with patient ability to grasp the container when opening and closing the lid, particularly on small containers and those with safety closures.


An identification system is disclosed that is configured to identify communication devices on a network. The identification system is comprised of boot circuitry and an interface. The boot circuitry receives an identification request to identify communication devices. The boot circuitry scans memory addresses that represent communication paths with the communication devices. The boot circuitry generates identification query signals for each memory address scanned. The interface formats each identification query signal based on communication formats to generate formatted identification signals. The communication formats are based on the communication paths with the communication devices. The interface transmits the formatted identification signals to the communication devices based on the communication formats. The interface receives response signals from each of the communication devices and transfers the response signals to the boot circuitry. The boot circuitry identifies the communication devices based on the response signals. Advantageously, the boot circuitry comprises a BIOS chip, or some other convention boot chip, that is well known and relatively inexpensive.

Not applicable.
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to the field of communication systems, and in particular, to a method and system for identifying network communication devices on a network.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A communication device may need to identify the other communication devices that it will be communicating with when it is connected to a network. Currently, when a network administrator connects a new communication device to the network, he/she assigns the new communication device an address or some other identifier. The identifiers are generally kept in a central repository that can be accessed by the other communication devices. An example of this technology is the JINI system developed by SUN Microsystems. Unfortunately, today""s methods of identifying communication devices on a network requires some type of manual programming by a trained administrator before the communication device can identify, or be identified by, other communication devices.
With computer systems, a Central Processor Unit (CPU) identifies peripheral devices that are connected to a system bus by using boot circuitry, such as a system Basic Input/Output Software (BIOS) chip. The BIOS chip contains BIOS logic that describes a memory with an array of memory addresses. When executed, the memory addresses are logical representations of peripheral interfaces on the system bus. The BIOS logic steps through each memory address and transfers an identification signal to each peripheral device represented by the memory addresses. The peripheral devices that are connected to the system bus send a response signal back to the BIOS logic. The BIOS logic receives the response signal from each peripheral device. The BIOS logic identifies the peripheral devices based on the response signals. The BIOS logic then loads the appropriate device logic for the peripheral devices found. The BIOS chip described above is well known to those skilled in the computer arts.
Unfortunately, the BIOS chip works only with a hard-wired system bus and has not been adapted to operate with network communication paths. A network communication path differs from a system bus in a number of ways. Transfers over a system bus mainly concern the physical media and link protocols. On the other hand, transfers over a network communication path concern network protocols in addition to the physical media and the link protocols. The physical media of a network communication path could be a wireless communication path wherein a system bus is generally a wire connection. The link protocol of a network communication path is generally a serial transfer protocol whereas a system bus generally uses a parallel transfer protocol. A network protocol used to transfer over a network communication path, such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), is not addressed when operating a system bus. Therefore, the current methods and systems for identifying peripheral devices on a system bus have not been effectively adapted to identify communication devices on a network.
The invention helps to solve the above problems with an identification system that implements boot circuitry to identify communication devices on a network. Advantageously, the boot circuitry is mature and available at a reasonable price. The identification system can advantageously be used in dissimilar communication devices to provide uniform identification of all the communication devices.
The identification system is comprised of the boot circuitry and an interface. The boot circuitry is configured to receive a request to identify communication devices on a network. The boot circuitry is configured to scan memory addresses. The memory addresses represent communication paths with the communication devices. The boot circuitry is configured to generate an identification signal for each memory address scanned. The boot circuitry is configured to transfer the identification signals to the interface.
The interface is configured to format each identification signal based on communication formats to generate formatted identification signals. The communication formats are based on the communication paths with the communication devices. The interface is configured to transfer the formatted identification signals to the communication devices based on the communication formats. The interface is configured to receive response signals back from the communication devices and transfer the response signals to the boot circuitry. The boot circuitry is configured to identify the communication devices based on the response signals. In some examples, the identification system is on an expansion card that is plugged into a communication device. In some examples, the boot circuitry comprises a conventional BIOS chip.

Network communication device identification in a communication network