Provided are a plating method and a plating apparatus for a cylinder, which are capable of forming a plating layer having a uniform thickness in a technology of plating a cylinder, effectively preventing current concentration in cylinder end portions when being combined with a plating technology using divided insoluble electrodes, and performing plating with a more uniform thickness over the full length of a cylinder without generating defects such as rashes and pits irrespective of the size of the cylinder. The insoluble electrode has a shape in which a lower part thereof is curved inward, and is capable of rotating about an upper end thereof. Further, a thickness of a plating layer on an outer peripheral surface of the cylinder is adjusted by controlling an interval of closeness to the cylinder.

In gravure printing, minute concave portions (cells) are formed on a gravure cylinder in accordance with plate-making information to produce a printing surface, and the cells are filled with ink so that the ink is transferred to an object to be printed. In a general gravure cylinder, a cylindrical iron core or aluminum core (hollow roll) is used as a base, a plurality of layers such as an underlying layer and a separation layer are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the base, and a copper plating layer (plating material) for forming a printing surface is formed on the plurality of layers. Then, cells are formed on the copper plating layer in accordance with plate-making information by a laser exposure apparatus, and thereafter, the resultant base is plated with chromium or the like for enhancing printing durability of a gravure cylinder. In this manner, plate making (production of a printing surface) is completed.
Conventionally, as a method and apparatus for performing copper plating on an outer peripheral surface of a gravure cylinder, the use of a phosphorus-containing copper ball as a soluble anode is well known. According to the conventional method and apparatus, both ends in a longitudinal direction of a gravure cylinder are held so as to be rotated and energized by a pair of roll chucks, the gravure cylinder is accommodated in a plating bath in which a plating solution is stored while the gravure cylinder is being rotated, and a current with a current density of about 10 to 15 A/dm2 is allowed to flow between the phosphorus-containing copper ball (soluble anode) in the plating solution and the gravure cylinder (cathode), to thereby deposit copper on an outer peripheral surface of the gravure cylinder, which functions as a cathode, with the result that copper plating is performed (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
However, in general, a phosphorus-containing copper ball used in a copper plating method and apparatus for a gravure cylinder contains 350 to 700 ppm of phosphorus and 2 to 5 ppm of oxygen, and the rest of the ball contains copper and impurities. Due to the impurities contained in the ball inevitably, anode sludge is generated during plating treatment, which causes defects such as rashes (minute protrusions) and pits (pinholes) on the outer peripheral surface of the gravure cylinder. Although there is a phosphorus-containing copper ball of high purity for producing a semiconductor and the like, such a ball is expensive and is not adopted for a gravure cylinder in terms of cost-efficiency. Further, in order to prevent the dissolution amount of a phosphorus-containing copper ball in a copper plating solution from increasing excessively to enhance the copper ion concentration, making it impossible to perform appropriate plating treatment, it is also necessary to dilute the solution by removing a plating solution periodically, thereby adjusting the copper ion concentration appropriately and disposing of a waste liquid. Further, a current is concentrated in the vicinity of both ends of the gravure cylinder, and hence the peripheral surface in the vicinity of both ends is plated thicker than a body portion, with the result that it is necessary to separately perform treatment for obtaining a uniform thickness of plating by follow-up polishing or the like.
On the other hand, in addition to a method using a phosphorus-containing copper ball as a soluble anode, a copper plating method using an insoluble anode is known. As a copper plating method and apparatus for a gravure cylinder using an insoluble anode, for example, a titanium plate coated on the surface with iridium oxide or the like is used as an insoluble anode, a plating bath and a copper dissolution bath are prepared, the copper plating material (e.g., copper oxides or copper carbonates) is dissolved in the dissolution bath, the resultant solution is supplied to a plating solution in the plating bath, and a current is supplied between an insoluble anode and a gravure cylinder forming a cathode. In this manner, copper plating is performed (for example, see Patent Document 3).
According to the above-mentioned method and apparatus, anode sludge is not generated so that defects such as rashes and pits are not caused, but there is still a problem that the peripheral surface in the vicinity of both ends of a gravure cylinder is plated thick. In order to solve this problem, the applicant of the present application has already proposed a copper plating method and apparatus for a gravure cylinder in which an insoluble anode positioned below a gravure cylinder is configured so as to be lifted in a plating bath, and the insoluble anode is brought close to a lower surface of the gravure cylinder with a gap of 5 mm to 30 mm in accordance with gravure cylinders of various sizes, with the result that a current is not concentrated in the vicinity of both ends of the gravure cylinder, plating with a uniform thickness can be performed over the full length of the gravure cylinder, and the concentration of copper and the concentration of sulfuric acid in the plating solution can be adjusted automatically (see Patent Document 4).
Still further, in the above-mentioned proposal, there are the following problems. That is, an insoluble anode is placed directly in the plating solution, and hence the consumption amount of additives such as a brightener and a burn prevention agent is remarkably large. A current density is about 15 to 20 A/dm2 and a voltage is about 10 to 15 V for the purpose of preventing a burn, and hence plating treatment takes a long time, which results in a large power supply cost. The uniformity of a plating thickness is insufficient. The insoluble anode is positioned below the gravure cylinder, and hence visibility and operability are poor. Considering these problems, the applicant of the present application has already proposed a copper plating method and apparatus for a gravure cylinder, in which a hollow cylindrical gravure cylinder is held at both ends in a longitudinal direction and accommodated in a plating bath filled with a copper plating solution, the gravure cylinder is rotated at a predetermined speed and supplied with a current so as to become a cathode, and a pair of anode chambers in the shape of a long box that is vertically installed slidably so as to face both sides of the gravure cylinder in the plating bath and contains insoluble anodes supplied with a current so as to become an anode are brought close to both side surfaces of the gravure cylinder with a predetermined interval to perform copper plating on an outer peripheral surface of the gravure cylinder (Patent Document 5).
According to the above-mentioned proposal, a copper plating method and apparatus for a gravure cylinder that provide good visibility and operability can be provided, in which copper plating with a uniform thickness compared to the conventional example can be performed over the full length of a gravure cylinder without generating defects such as rashes and pits irrespective of the size of the gravure cylinder, the concentration of a copper plating solution can be managed automatically, the consumption amount of additives can be reduced, plating treatment can be performed in a short period of time, and a power supply cost can be reduced. However, from the viewpoint of the uniformity of a thickness of copper plating over the full length of a gravure cylinder 300, the uniformity is not necessarily sufficient, and the following phenomenon has not been solved sufficiently. That is, in the vicinity of both ends of the gravure cylinder 300 (particularly, portions of about 50 mm to 200 mm from both ends), a current is concentrated, and hence, a peripheral surface in the vicinity of each end is plated thicker than a body portion, with a result that a thick plating layer of about 150 μm is formed.
The applicant of the present application has further continued to study extensively, and obtained a new landmark finding that, by dividing an insoluble electrode and adjusting a potential of each divided electrode, the current concentration in cylinder end portions can be prevented effectively. Thus, the applicant of the present application has provided a plating method for a cylinder and an apparatus therefor that provide good visibility and operability, in which copper plating with a more uniform thickness can be performed over the full length of a cylinder without generating defects such as rashes and pits irrespective of the size of the cylinder, the concentration of a copper plating solution can be managed automatically, the consumption amount of additives can be reduced, plating treatment can be performed in a short period of time, a power supply cost can be reduced, and the vicinity of both ends of the cylinder is capable of greatly preventing from being plated thicker than the body portion, to thereby eliminate or simplify treatment for obtaining the uniform thickness of plating, such as follow-up polishing (Patent Document 6).
The above-mentioned plating method for a cylinder is a plating method for a cylinder in which a long cylinder is held at both ends in a longitudinal direction and accommodated in a plating bath filled with a plating solution, the cylinder is rotated at a predetermined speed and supplied with a current so as to become a cathode, and a pair of electrode chambers in the shape of a long box that is vertically installed slidably so as to face both sides of the cylinder in the plating bath and contains insoluble electrodes supplied with a predetermined current are brought close to both side surfaces of the cylinder with a predetermined interval to perform plating on an outer peripheral surface of the cylinder. In this method, the insoluble electrode is divided into a large number of divided electrodes, and the insoluble electrode portions at least corresponding to the vicinity of both ends in a longitudinal direction of the cylinder are respectively divided into at least three divided electrode groups. Each divided electrode group has one or more divided electrodes, and a potential of the divided electrode group is controlled so as to adjust a thickness of a plating layer on the outer peripheral surface of each end of the cylinder (Patent Document 6, claim 1).
Further, the above-mentioned plating apparatus for a cylinder includes a plating bath to be filled with a plating solution, chuck means for holding a long cylinder at both ends in a longitudinal direction so as to be rotated and energized, and accommodating the cylinder in the plating bath, and a pair of electrode chambers in the shape of a long box that is vertically installed slidably so as to face both sides of the cylinder in the plating bath and contains insoluble electrodes supplied with a predetermined current, the electrode chamber being brought close to both side surfaces of the cylinder with a predetermined interval to perform plating on an outer peripheral surface of the cylinder. The insoluble electrode is divided into a large number of divided electrodes, and the insoluble electrode portions at least corresponding to the vicinity of both ends in a longitudinal direction of the cylinder are respectively divided into at least three divided electrode groups. Each divided electrode group has one or more divided electrodes, and a potential of the divided electrode group is controlled so as to adjust a thickness of a plating layer on the outer peripheral surface of each end of the cylinder (Patent Document 6, claim 10).


In a control of a vehicular automatic transmission, an engaging device provided in a power transmission path between an engine and driving wheels is brought into a slipping state or a release state when a certain neutral control condition is satisfied while a shift lever is placed in a running position, the engaging device is engaged so as to increase a torque transmission capacity thereof when a certain neutral control cancellation condition is satisfied during neutral control under which the engaging device is in the slipping state or the release state, and an engaging pressure of the engaging device is held at a constant pressure level for a given period of time when an accelerator pedal is depressed while the engaging device is engaged so as to increase the torque transmission capacity thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a control device of a vehicular automatic transmission, and in particular to control executed when neutral control is cancelled.
2. Description of the Related Art
A vehicular automatic transmission is known which is operable under neutral control when certain neutral control conditions, for example, that a foot brake (brake pedal) is in the ON position and the vehicle speed is equal to zero, are satisfied while the shift lever is in one of running positions, such as D range. Under the neutral control, an engaging device provided in a power transmission path between an engine and driving wheels is caused to slip or is released when the neutral conditions are satisfied, so as to restrict power transmission through the power transmission path, thereby to reduce the idling load of the engine.
One example of control device for the above type of automatic transmission is described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-304127 (JP-A-2000-304127). According to the technology disclosed in JP-A-2000-304127, when the accelerator pedal is operated (e.g., depressed) during cancellation of the neutral control, a target rate of change of a turbine speed is corrected to increase, so that an engaging device to be engaged upon cancellation of the neutral control is brought into an engaged state before racing of the engine takes place.
The technology for reducing shock by rapidly engaging the engaging device through correction of the oil pressure applied thereto during cancellation of the neutral control, as described in JP-A-2000-304127, is also described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-304128 (JP-A-2000-304128) and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-230327 (JP-A-11-230327). In any of the control methods described in the above-identified publications, the oil pressure applied to the engaging device is corrected uniformly or in the same manner irrespective of variations in the time at which the accelerator pedal is operated during cancellation of the neutral control; therefore, it is difficult to reduce shock with stability. Namely, during cancellation of the neutral control, an engaged state of the engaging device to be engaged and a shift stage in the process of shifting the automatic transmission naturally vary depending on a point in time at which the accelerator pedal is operated. However, according to the control methods as described in JP-A-2000-304127, JP-A-2000-304128 and JP-A-11-230327, the oil pressure is corrected uniformly or in the same manner without taking account of the above-mentioned variations; therefore shock may occur during cancellation of the neutral control, depending on the timing of operation of the accelerator pedal.

Control device of vehicular automatic transmission


Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of equalizing received wireless communication signals. For example, a device may include a pre-decoding equalizer to determine a plurality of filter weights by applying both a blind-equalization and a least-mean-squares (LMS) equalization to a wireless communication signal received over a wireless communication channel; a channel estimator to estimate a channel frequency response of the channel based on the filtering weights; and a turbo-equalization scheme including a decoder to decode the wireless communication signal and a turbo equalizer to equalize the decoded wireless communication signal using the estimated channel frequency response.

Some wireless communication systems ("non-OFDM systems") may implement a communication scheme other than Orthogonal-Frequency-Division-Multiplexing (OFDM), e.g., a single-carrier communication scheme.
A receiver operating in a non-OFDM system may utilize a time-domain Decision-Feedback-Equalizer (DFE), for example, to suppress inter-symbol interference. However, the DFE may be relatively complex, for example, in systems utilizing long impulse response channels, e.g., in Digital Television (DTV) systems.

Frequency domain equalization for wireless communication


A method and apparatus for enhancing performance of a packet service of a mobile communication terminal is disclosed. When the mobile communication terminal uses a packet service, an RAB set between the mobile communication terminal and a base station is compared to a reference value and the priority level of a packet service task processed in the mobile communication terminal is raised only when the mobile communication terminal is connected to the base station at or above the reference value. When the packet service is terminated, the priority level of the packet service task is returned to an original low priority level. The mobile communication terminal uses a maximum transmission speed for the packet service and when the mobile communication terminal uses a concurrent service requiring both real time service and packet service, packet service performance may be improved without affecting the real time service.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for enhancing packet service performance of a mobile communication terminal and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for enhancing packet service performance of a mobile communication terminal by varying a priority level of a packet service task according to a reference value such that a service required for real time processing in a communication network using the mobile communication terminal is not affected.
2. Description of the Related Art
Presently, mobile communication terminals supporting a third-generation communication network may provide a multimedia stream, such as a VOD (Video On Demand), or a multimedia message service using a packet service. A picture call communication service has been generalized and is currently used. In addition, a concurrent service capable of transmitting information data while performing a voice communication may also be available.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conceptual view of a hierarchical structure for processing a packet service in a mobile communication terminal supporting the general third-generation communication network. The third-generation mobile communication terminal 1 for providing a packet service including a multimedia stream includes an embedded application 10 called a TE (Terminal Equipment) and a communication protocol unit 20.
The application 10 is a function for processing a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)/IP (Internet Protocol)/PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) stack, and may include a user interface. The application 10 is an upper application adopted for the mobile communication terminal 1, which supports a packet service and an Internet communication protocol to transmit and receive various packet data to and from a user and provide a user interface. The communication protocol unit 20 includes a protocol part (TCP/UDP, IP, PPP) 22 for processing an actual packet service and a socket API (Application Program Interface) 21 for enabling the protocol part 22 to interface with the application 10.
The mobile communication terminal 1 has an operating system for processing tasks internally in order to support various services. In the operating system, priority levels are assigned to various tasks with the various tasks processed according to their priority level in order to implement multitasking within an overall system.
Generally, a priority level assigned to a task for processing a packet service in the mobile communication terminal 1 is relatively low, but higher than a task for processing a sleep mode or for processing a menu, which have the lowest priority levels. In other words, when the mobile communication terminal 1 does not perform any operation or processing, it can process a packet service.
Since a task for processing a packet service cannot be processed until other tasks with higher levels are processed, the processing of a packet service is frequently delayed and the packet service processing speed of the mobile communication terminal is slower than the data transmission speed provided by a communication network. Therefore, performance of the packet service is degraded.
For example, the packet service supported in a present third-generation communication network is a maximum 64 kbps uplink data rate and a 384 kbps downlink data rate. However, even if a radio access bearer (RAB) between a mobile communication terminal and a base station is set at 384 kbps, performance of the packet service cannot be implemented at the maximum speed if the priority level of the packet service task is too low.
One related art method of solving this problem is to set the priority level of a packet service task higher than that of other tasks affecting the performance of the packet service. However, other services may be affected, such as a voice service and a picture phone service implemented on a real time basis. Therefore, the performance of the packet service is enhanced such that the priority level of the packet service task is set higher only when the mobile communication terminal performs the packet service. When the packet service is terminated, the priority of the packet service task returns to its original priority level.
In the related art packet service method, when the mobile communication terminal processes the packet service, the performance can be enhanced without affecting other services. However, when at least one other service, such as voice service, and the packet service are simultaneously implemented such that two or more services are concurrently executed, raising the priority level of the packet service task inevitably affects the other services processed on a real time basis.
In one related art packet service method, since the packet service task, which does not need to be performed on a real time basis, has a very low priority level, performance of the packet service is degraded. In another related art packet service method, the priority level of the packet service task is raised, thereby affecting other services that are simultaneously processed on a real time basis.
Therefore, a method and apparatus is needed that enhances the performance of a packet service of a mobile communication terminal without affecting other services that are performed on a real time basis. The present invention meets these and other needs.

Method and apparatus for enhancing packet service performance of a mobile communication terminal


A method and apparatus for continuous data protection is provided. In one embodiment, the method for continuous data protection comprises receiving a write request for writing at least one data segment to storage; computing, using at least one processor, a signature for the at least one segment; comparing, using at least one processor, the signature that is associated with the at least one segment with a plurality of data signatures for previously stored data segments; and processing the data segment in a manner dependent upon whether the signature matches any one of the plurality of data signatures.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to data protection systems and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for continuous data protection.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many enterprises utilize block level incremental backup (BLIB) technologies to regularly backup critical data. Recently, continuous data protection (CDP) systems have been developed to ensure that all new data stored and all modifications to previously stored data are continuously replicated to a storage appliance. A CDP system is configured to remotely store data associated with every write request that is sent to local storage of a computer. By storing the data associated with every write request, the system ensures that a copy of data stored on a vulnerable, local disk drive is remotely stored and made available in case of disk drive failure. Since every write request is stored, upon restoring the data, no data will be lost.
A CDP appliance is typically connected to a data network to enable a plurality of computers to simultaneously utilize the appliance. In enterprise systems, many computers may alter a particular file within a server or the computers may store and alter the same file locally. Such editing leads to multiple copies of the same file stored on the same server or on multiple computers in a network. Each copy of the file and every modification/addition of data blocks within the file are stored in the CDP appliance. Since every write request generated by each computer within the network is communicated to the CDP appliance, the common files and portions thereof on the various computers are duplicated within the CDP appliance. Such duplication inefficiently uses storage space and processor bandwidth of the CDP appliance.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for continuous data protection that improves storage space utilization and data processing efficiency.

Method and apparatus for continuous data protection


A method of monitoring health parameters of subjects within a defined space and over a period of time includes collecting first data corresponding to a physiological parameter of an ambulatory subject, collecting second data corresponding to a behavioral and cognitive parameter of the ambulatory subject, collecting third data corresponding to an identity and a location of the one of the subjects, collecting fourth data corresponding to the one of the ambulatory subjects from third party sources, generating a data record for the one of the ambulatory subjects based upon the first, second, third, and fourth data, and outputting a modified data record, the modified data record containing portions of the data record, the portions selected based upon an access level of a person requesting the data record and a format of the modified data record selected based upon the access level and community needs.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to a health monitoring apparatus, and more specifically to a system method for medical information mining and delivery.
2. Description of the Related Art
A subject's health status is typically evaluated by reference to a plurality of vital signs that may include, for example, pulse rate, respiration rate, temperature, blood oxygen saturation, weight, and body hydration. Additional considerations include observations as to subject appearance and movement. These latter factors are also indicative of the subject's mental health, e.g., cognitive ability. Other cues are the degree of animation, compliance with responsibilities such as self-medication, forgetfulness, socialization, participation in individual or group activities, and the like.
In traditional long term care facilities, these indices are measured and observed by caregivers. While measurements are sometimes recorded, only a small portion of the observations are retained in the institution's memory. This fact is especially true in the case of cognitive health cues.
Care giving personnel serve the critical role of observing and preserving the meaning and functionality of health data. Interacting with a patient over a period of time, a caregiver learns a great deal about the habits and individual health trends of that patient. The large volumes of observed data provide evidence to support the diagnostics of health care professionals. Raw data pertaining to a subject's health status provides the context in which present parameter values can be assessed.
With the frequent turnover of caregivers, this context is minimized or lost unless the observed information has been reduced to writing for the new personnel. Typically, only a small fraction of the total observed data is recorded. Sub-clinical observations are frequently useful in assessing the subject's health status, especially cognitive abilities. These data include the subject's demeanor, alertness, regularity, and mobility. The common denominator is that these characteristics change gradually. They are therefore less noticeable to new personnel, who have not observed the subject over time and are not familiar with these characteristics.
Caregiver turnover is in part a result of the constant pressure care givers are under to record and understand the daily routines of the subjects. By tailoring the information acquisition and feed back to their personal abilities and needs this pressure is reduced and they are able to experience more job satisfaction, thus reducing turnover.
Short institutional memory produces a lengthening of the time before caregivers or other health professionals become cognizant of a slow decline in a subject's health status. The delay in appreciating a decline causes a corresponding delay in responding to the health deterioration of the subject. As a result, the quality of health care received by a subject may be degraded.
Embodiments of the invention address these and other disadvantages of the conventional art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for medical information monitoring and processing


A sleeve is fixedly fitted onto a terminal of an optical cable, and a disengagement preventing claw formed on the sleeve by cutting and raising its peripheral wall is brought into engagement with an inner surface of a recess which is formed in an inner surface of a cable receiving port of a connector housing. With this construction, the optical cable can be connected to the connector housing without using the conventional plug.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an optical connector, which is capable of connecting an optical cable to a connector housing without using a plug.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, heretofore, for connection of a plastic optical cable to a connector housing, a plug 2 is fitted onto a terminal of an optical cable 1 with its end face exposed at one end face of a ferule 3 projecting forwardly of the plug 2, and the ferule 3 is inserted into a plug receiving hole 5 of the connector housing 4. Then, a coupling 6 fitted onto the plug 2 is brought into engagement with an outer peripheral surface of the plug receiving hole 5, and at the same time a tab 8 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the plug receiving hole 5 is fitted into a retaining hole 7 which is formed in the coupling 6. As a result, the optical cable 1 is connected to the connector housing 4 through the plug 2. An end face (optical cable end face) of the ferule 3 of the plug 2 is placed opposite to an optical element 9 such as an LED accommodated within the connector housing 4, with a terminal 10 of the optical element 9 projecting outwardly of the connector housing 4 so as to be connected to a printed circuit board, etc.
Because plastic optical cable is very cheap compared with glass optical cable, the former is used in many cases. As the use of the plastic optical cable is increased, a reduction in cost of the connector structure is increasingly demanded. However, there is a limit in the cost reduction available by simplifying the plug structure.


A window comprising a frame structure and a relative to the frame structure openable, top-hung sash structure with an insulating pane (4), a pivoting hinge provided at the top members (1, 5) of the frame and sash structures, the axis of which pivoting hinge is defined by engagement between a hook member (39) integral with the metal sheet profile of the sash top member and a hinge pin forming member (38) of a fitting member (37) connected with the frame top member, the hook member (39) being substantially V-shaped and the fitting member (37) substantially L-shaped. For maintaining the engagement between the hook member and the hinge pin forming member securing means in the form of holding means (40, 41) are provided, which are fastened to at least one adjacent pair of the side members (2, 6) of the frame and sash structures at a comparatively short distance from the axis of the pivoting hinge and which hold the V-shaped hook member (39) and said hinge pin forming member (38) in mutual engagement, but which, when turning the sash structure beyond said opening angle range, allow removal of the sash structure from the frame structure.

The present invention relates to a window, in particular for mounting in an inclined roof surface, comprising a frame structure with top, bottom and side members and a relative to the frame structure openable, top-hung sash structure with an insulating pane enchased between top, bottom and side members of metal sheet profiles with a substantially L-shaped cross-section with a first wall portion covering a narrow edge zone of the exterior surface of the insulating pane and a second wall portion extending substantially in parallel with an edge surface of the insulating pane, a pivoting hinge provided at the top members of the frame and sash structures, the axis of which pivoting hinge is defined by engagement between a hook member integral with said second wall portion of the metal sheet profile of the sash top member and a hinge pin forming member of a fitting member connected with the frame top member, as well as securing means for maintaining the engagement between the hook member and the hinge pin forming member within a predetermined range of opening angle for the sash structure.
A window of this type is known from EP-A-0 410 369 and from international patent application No. WO93/11332. In these windows the entire sash structure and the fitting member connected with the frame top member are manufactured as extruded profiles. In the first-mentioned window the hinge members are constituted by a curved upward protrusion on the frame top member and a gasket placed in a downwards open groove in the sash top member and are permanently engaged without any possibility of disengagement, the movement of the sash top member being limited by adjacent parts of the frame top member or a superjacent sash profile. In the latter window the securing means comprise a block which is displaceably positioned in a groove in a sash side member and which may serve partly as an anchoring element for a locking member fastened in the frame structure in case of a not openable window, partly for releasable coupling with an operating arm in case of an openable window.
In consideration of the release of this coupling by manual operation, said block should normally be placed at a considerable distance from the pivoting hinge at the frame and sash top members, which on account of tolerances in the coupling members does not give full safety against unintentional release of the coupling. Furthermore, each release of the coupling, also within the opening angle range, will make it possible to dismount the sash relative to the frame.


In a keyboard-video-mouse (“KVM”) system in which a target computer may be wirelessly accessed by a plurality of remote stations, a method includes, by the target computer: obtaining a frame of video data; transmitting packets for the frame; transmitting a query packet; obtaining a list of requests from at least one of the remote stations, each request from a particular remote station identifying packets missed by that particular remote station; and resending at least some of the requested packets.

Systems exist to facilitate remote control of and access to a computer by an operator at a remote station. Such systems typically use a device or mechanism that enables an operator at a remote station to control aspects of a so-called target (or local) computer. More particularly, such systems typically allow a remote station to provide mouse and keyboard input to the target computer and further allow the remote station to view the video display output, and hear the audio output of the target computer. These types of systems are typically called keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) systems.
Traditional KVM systems rely on wired technology to connect remote and target computers. It is, however, sometimes desirable to allow wireless connection between remote stations and target computers (included as part of a target system). For example, in addition to minimizing the number of actual wires needed in a KVM system, a wireless KVM system allows for target systems and remote stations to be added to the system without the addition of switches or wires.


Methods, systems, and computer program products for applying actions during server system processing. Functional processing blocks where actions may be applied to a service request are identified. actions are dynamically associated with functional processing blocks. During execution of a functional processing block, a check is performed to determine whether an action is associated with the functional processing block. If an action is associated with a functional processing block, the action is applied during the functional processing block's execution. An evaluation may be performed to determine if an action should be applied before or after the functional processing block. The server system may comprise an XML data repository, providing access to XML data, based on identity information which is received with a client system request. A portion of the server system may be described in accordance with an XML schema.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of computer services. Specifically, the present invention relates to methods, systems, and computer program products for applying one or more functions during processing that may occur in a server providing one or more services.
2. Background and Related Art
Typically, before being deployed in a live system, services undergo significant testing to uncover programming errors and to evaluate performance. While useful, such testing often is able only to estimate full-scale use. As a result, certain program errors or performance problems may go undetected in development or testing environments. Finding these latent problems usually involves monitoring the operation of a service in one form or another. Furthermore, independent of programming errors or unexpected performance considerations, monitoring a service may be helpful in uncovering hardware failures and system attacks.
However, monitoring services for purposes of debugging, performance, hardware problems, system attacks, and the like, often involves various complex issues. For example, services by nature tend to be accessed by large numbers of clients. The shear volume of transactions can make monitoring services a significant exercise. Moreover, monitoring itself may introduce some amount of processing overhead. While the overhead for a single transaction is relatively small, the aggregate overhead for a large number of transactions may result in unacceptable levels of performance and skew any conclusions that are reached from the monitoring.
As a general rule, discovering problems through monitoring is an iterative process. For example, as noted above, it may be impractical to produce all possible monitoring information at all times, either due to the amount of monitoring information that will be produced or due to the negative effect that such monitoring may have on overall system performance. Therefore, monitoring often begins by detecting some type of high-level irregularity. Once discovered, the high-level irregularity may lead to more specific monitoring of increasingly specific processing or functionality until the problem's cause is discovered and corrected. After a particular problem is corrected, monitoring often returns back to the high-level system view.
In some systems, the iterative process of moving back and forth between high-level system monitoring and relatively lower level monitoring of specific service processing or functionality may require shutting services and/or servers down and restarting them. Furthermore, certain monitoring tools may require significant expertise to use, including programming skills. For many, the level of skill required may reduce the effectiveness of a particular monitoring tool or prevent its use all together. Also, monitoring tools are often specific to the environment in which they run, requiring administrators of heterogeneous systems to use different monitoring tools for each distinct system. Accordingly, methods, systems, and computer program products are desired for dynamically applying a function during any of various processing steps that may occur in providing a service to a client system.

Executing dynamically assigned functions while providing services


A method of controlling electronic data transmission between a mobile communication device located in a movable or moving vehicle and a mobile communication network includes obtaining at least one of location data and movement data relating to the current position of the vehicle. At least one of location data and movement data relating to a predicted position of the vehicle is calculated based on the at least one of location data and movement data relating to the current position of the vehicle. A current capacity situation of the mobile communication network is determined and a future capacity situation of the mobile communication network is predicted. Network and service parameters associated with a mobile communication system are dynamically adapted based on the current position and the predicted position of the vehicle and on the current capacity situation and the predicted future capacity situation of the mobile communication network.

The availability of state-of-the art communication, information and entertainment services such as telephony, eMail, internet access, music on demand, video on demand, online navigation, remote maintenance services, etc. in vehicles (private cars or public cars (i.e. taxis), trains or public transportation in general) is an increasing requirement from people travelling. An important prerequisite is data connectivity to the vehicles with data rates and QoS (Quality of Service) sufficient for the requested services.
For connectivity to moving vehicles a wireless connection is required, which can be provided by cellular mobile networks, such as GSM/GPRS/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA or LTE—or in some situation also by short range wireless networks, such as wireless local area networks (WLAN) or Bluetooth. For using information and entertainment services in vehicles, a connection to the required networks and service platforms can be established either directly by a mobile consumer device (e.g. smart phone, laptop, tablet) used in the vehicle or by a dedicated connectivity device integrated in the vehicle. Such approach is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,558,603 B2.
However, due to nature of radio wave propagation, due to different load situations in the mobile networks, due to different technologies available for radio access and due to different network topologies, the availability and performance of the connectivity (in terms of data throughput, delay, etc.) may be very different for different positions of the moving vehicles. This may lead to the situation that ongoing services will be degraded (e.g. browsing or downloading will become very slow, streaming will be disturbed) or even be interrupted.
In current mobile communication networks, there is no awareness of the connectivity requirements of specific services (e.g. differentiation between real-time and non real-time services) at the Physical Layer and MAC Layer. In particular, there is no possibility to anticipate the future connectivity requirements of moving vehicles and to dynamically adapt and optimize network and service parameters in order to provide an optimized service in the vehicles.

Method and system for proactive and dynamic cross-layer optimization of data transmission to vehicles


Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a system and method for receiving a request for TV programming schedule information via an interactive programming guide, obtaining the TV programming schedule information associated with a period of time, displaying one or more program icons having the TV programming schedule information associated with the interactive programming guide; adjusting at least one of a date toolbar for selecting one or more dates and a time toolbar for selecting one or more time periods of a day in response to receiving one or more commands; and displaying the one or more program icons having the TV programming schedule information associated with the interactive programming guide based at least on one of the selected one or more dates and the selected one or more time periods of the day.

Televisions are popular with consumers. Because of advances in recent technology, television-watching has evolved into a multimedia experience. For example, consumers may now watch TV in high-definition on a large flat-screen with stereo surround sound in the comfort of their homes. To add to this comfort, interactive electronic on-screen programming guides have enabled viewers to quickly find and watch desired programs without bulky paper-bound guides. These interactive program guides allow viewers see what TV programs are playing, or scheduled, on all the channels available to the viewer. As a result, television-watching experience has become much more convenient and pleasurable. However, most interactive program guides have limited capabilities to enable a viewer to view TV programming schedule information. For example, some interactive program guides may allow a viewer to advance the TV programming schedule information in one hour increments, thus making it time consuming in the event that a viewer wants to select a date that is one week away. Therefore, the viewer may waste time and effort in selecting the desired dates/times for the interactive program guides. As a result, conventional systems and techniques for searching TV programs on interactive program guides are inadequate for finding out information on TV programming.
These and other embodiments and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the various exemplary embodiments.

System and method for providing an interactive program guide having date and time toolbars


An optical device for optically multiplexing or demultiplexing light of different predetermined wavelengths is provided, the optical device comprising at least one first waveguide (11) and at least one second waveguide (12) formed on a substrate (10), wherein the at least one first waveguide and the at least one second waveguide intersect at an intersection, comprising a diffraction grating structure (13) formed at the intersection. There exists a first wavelength or wavelength band travelling within the first waveguide (11) exciting the grating structure and being diffracted an angle corresponding to an outcoupling direction and there exists a second wavelength or wavelength band, different from the first wavelength or wavelength band, travelling within the second waveguide (12) exciting the grating structure and being diffracted at an angle corresponding to the same outcoupling direction. The two radiation beams comprising radiation of two different wavelengths or wavelength bands are spatially separated into the optical waveguides (11 and 12) or combined into single outcoupling direction, e.g. into a single optical element, e.g. a single optical fiber (21). An optical device may be used in local access communications such as fiber to the home, office or curb applications.

Photonic integrated circuits hold the potential of creating low cost, compact optical functions. The application fields in which they can be applied are very diverse: telecommunication and data communication applications, sensing, signal processing, etc. These optical circuits comprise different optical elements such as light sources, optical modulators, spatial switches, optical filters, photodetectors, etc., the optical elements being interconnected by optical waveguides.
Optical waveguides are typically implemented as solid dielectric light conductors, which allow to route light over the integrated optical circuit and to interconnect the various optical components integrated on the circuit. They also provide the interfacing between the optical fiber and the optical circuit, typically by physical abutment of the optical fiber to the waveguide. Due to the large difference in mode size between the optical fiber and the integrated optical waveguide, this typically leads to high coupling losses at the coupling interface.
Whereas these coupling losses can be kept within acceptable limits for low refractive index contrast optical waveguides, this is not the case for high refractive index contrast waveguide systems in which the fiber to waveguide coupling losses are in the order of 20 dB. However, these high refractive index contrast optical waveguide systems hold the promise of creating large scale integrated optical circuits providing lower cost and higher functionality compared to the low refractive index contrast integrated circuits.
Therefore, there is a great interest in improving the coupling efficiency between an optical fiber and the optical waveguide circuit. While various optical coupling schemes were originally developed for fiber-chip interfaces, these can also be applied to the optical coupling between an integrated optical waveguide and an integrated opto-electronic device (e.g. light source, modulator, optical amplifier, photodetector). Different technologies are presented in the literature to enhance the coupling efficiency to an optical fiber.
In a first approach, the optical mode of the single mode optical fiber is transformed to a smaller spot-size by using a lensed optical fiber or a high numerical aperture fiber. While these types of coupling interfaces provide lower coupling loss, the sub-micron alignment accuracy required to position the optical fiber with respect to the optical waveguide is very critical and implies therefore a high packaging cost of the integrated optical circuit.
Another approach is to use an integrated spot-size converter to expand the size of the integrated optical waveguide mode to match that of a single mode optical fiber. Both planar spot-size converter approaches and three dimensional spot-size converter approaches are applied. Three dimensional spot-size converters allow low coupling losses between the integrated optical waveguide and a single mode optical fiber, but fabrication of these components using standard planar waveguide technology is difficult. It has been shown that planar spot-size converter approaches allow low coupling losses to a standard single mode optical fiber in a low refractive index contrast material system. However, the use of this spot-size converter approach in high refractive index contrast devices always implies the need of a lensed optical fiber or high numerical aperture optical fiber, again resulting in the requirement of high alignment accuracy.
Moreover, these coupling approaches (physical abutment using standard optical fiber or lensed optical fiber and the use of a spot-size converter) all require a polished facet to couple light into the optical circuit. This excludes its use for wafer scale optical testing of the integrated optical functions to identify the known good dies on a processed wafer.
In order to improve the coupling efficiency to a standard single mode fiber in a high refractive index contrast system, and in order to relax the alignment accuracy of the optical fiber and to allow for wafer scale testing, one-dimensional grating structures have been proposed. These structures allow direct physical abutment from the top or bottom side of the structure with a standard single mode optical fiber, while the diffraction grating directs the light into the optical waveguide circuit. They allow coupling of light of a selected wavelength or wavelength band from a single mode optical fiber to a waveguide or from a waveguide to a single mode optical fiber.
The optical bandwidth of this type of devices is however limited by the dispersive nature of the grating structure, implying that the angle, under which light is coupled out of the grating, when excited from the optical waveguide, changes as a function of wavelength. Due to the limited numerical aperture of the optical fiber, wavelengths that deviate too much from the central wavelength, defined as the wavelength for which the angle of diffraction matches the tilt angle of the optical fiber, are less efficiently collected in the optical fiber.
Moreover, the performance of these one-dimensional gratings is critically dependent on the polarization of the light in the optical waveguide. Typically, only a single polarization state at a certain wavelength can be efficiently collected in the optical fiber, resulting in a very polarization dependent operation of the one-dimensional grating coupler. As in typical applications this polarization is unknown and varying over time, the applicability of the one-dimensional grating structures is limited. Only in the cases where polarization maintaining fiber is used or where a polarization scrambling approach is adopted, these one-dimensional gratings can be used. Also in the case where the one-dimensional grating structure is used to optically couple an integrated light source, generating, processing or detecting light with a known and fixed polarization, these devices can be used.
In order to circumvent the problem of polarization sensitivity, a two-dimensional grating coupler structure has been proposed (U.S. Pat. No. 7,065,272), which comprises two optical waveguides intersecting at a substantially right angle and a two-dimensional diffractive grating structure created at the intersection. When the diffractive grating is physically abutted with a single mode optical fiber, a polarization split is obtained that couples orthogonal modes from the single-mode optical fiber into identical modes in the first and second waveguide. While the ratio of coupled optical power between both optical waveguides is still dependent on the polarization of the incident light, this two-dimensional fiber coupling structure can be used in a polarization diversity approach, in order to achieve a polarization independent integrated circuit.
Besides the fact that fiber to chip coupling efficiencies comparable to the one-dimensional grating structure still have to be demonstrated, for some practical applications the optical bandwidth of the fiber-to-chip coupling efficiency is too small. This limited bandwidth is related to the intrinsic dispersive properties of the diffraction grating and the limited numerical aperture of the optical fiber. Whereas this is sufficient for applications requiring only a single optical wavelength or a set of closely spaced optical wavelengths, this is insufficient for other types of applications where the use of optical signals over a large wavelength span is required. This is typically the case for data communication applications where two different wavelengths, not closely spaced, are used for achieving a bidirectional data link. An important class of applications for which this is the case, is in Fiber-To-The-Home optical networks (FTTH), in which a 1310 nm upstream data signal, a 1490 nm downstream data signal and a 1550 nm downstream television signal are used, transmitted through one single mode fiber. Due to the large wavelength span used in this application the use of a prior art waveguide grating coupler structure is no longer applicable, as its optical bandwidth is too small.

Method and system for multiplexer waveguide coupling


This invention relates to an apparatus that regulates thermodynamic energy-flow within a human body for producing beneficial effects such as, for example, improvement in strength, improvement in stamina, pain relief, etc. According to one embodiment, the invention provides a wearable apparatus that may include biomolecular components for building-up of a thermomagnetic energy within the human body. According to another embodiment, the invention provides a wearable apparatus that may include biomolecular components for dilution of a thermomagnetic energy within the human body. According to yet another embodiment, the invention provides a wearable apparatus that may include biomolecular components having orthomolecular and/or non-orthomolecular organic materials which are capable of thermomagnetic levororotary action and/or thermomagnetic dextrorotatory action.

Jewelries including ring, necklace, bracelets, and pendants are typically used for decorative purpose. However, there is a segment of the jewelry market that concerns itself for a purpose other than decorative. Examples of jewelries that are designed for the purpose other than decorative include copper bracelets and magnetic jewelries.
Copper bracelet is believed to perform functions of relieving pain and helping to alleviate symptoms of arthritis for a user. A mode of operation for these functions has been proposed as mobility of copper ions from the copper bracelet through the user's skin and into the user's blood stream. If the mobility of copper ions is the mode of operation of a copper bracelet, then an individual or a user could not obtain immediate relief from pain, etc., due to a long period of time required for this mode of operation to become effective. Accordingly, a drawback of existing systems with respect to a copper bracelet is that the therapeutic response—if any—takes place over a relatively long period of time. Another drawback of the existing systems is that the copper bracelets have a limited and narrow field of use.
Various types of magnetic jewelries are believed to perform functions of relieving pain and improving circulation. Clinical studies performed with magnetic jewelries indicated that there is an effect going on other than a placebo effect. An effect of a magnet on a human body could be due, in part, to the fact that human blood contains iron. In one theory, the iron in the blood causes the blood to be attracted to a part of the body in which the magnet is worn, resulting in improvement in circulation. However, there are biophysicists who question the efficacy of a magnetic jewelry. For example, it is well known that the DNA contains Hydrogen bonds. Because a magnet is polar in nature, a back emf from the magnet to the Hydrogen bonds may be possible. This might cause the hydrogen to spin in opposition to what is normal and disassemble the DNA of that cell. In any case, long term studies of magnets as they apply to humans are needed. Another drawback of the existing systems with respect to a magnetic jewelry, is that the therapeutic response—if any—is limited and narrow with respect to the field of use.
Therefore, with respect to jewelries that may be utilized for the purpose of achieving a therapeutic effect, there is a need for an alternative to the copper bracelet and the magnetic jewelries that are found in the present market. Such alternative may require a mode of operation that is different from the modes of operation of the existing copper bracelet and magnetic jewelries. In this regard, an examination of alternative modes of operation for a passive therapeutic jewelry needs to be considered.
First, referring to eastern philosophies, and specifically the Indian belief of a human CHAKRA SYSTEM, a representation of what is referred to in eastern medicine and philosophy as the human Chakra system is described. According to eastern philosophy, the human Chakras are points in the body in which a vortex-like flow reversal occurs, establishing a strong energy point in the human body. Like acupuncture, the concept of a "Chakra" system in human beings has not been embraced by conventional western medicine. However, it is interesting to note that the Chakra points do coincide with acupuncture points. Furthermore, the Chakra point of the Heart (#4, Anahata/Anandakanda) has special relevance to the invention disclosed here.
Referring now to publicly available HUMAN ACUPUNCTURE CHARTS, a representation of various human acupuncture and acupressure points are described. Unlike the "Chakra" concept, acupuncture has had some acceptance in western medicine, although this acceptance has only happened over a period of decades. As may be seen in Acupuncture Charts, there is a strong Chi (energy) point at the same point as the #4 Chakra. This is known as the Shanzhong point, and is indicative of the primary energy flow point in the human body. For further clarification, this point is located on the anterior midline, at the level of the fourth intercostals space. An additional point of interest is the Zhongji point, located 4 cm below the umbilicus, and is indicative of the crossing point of the ren channel. This is not to say that there are not additional points of interest in the acupuncture system.
Referring now to the work of Davis and Rawls (Magnetism and its effect on the living system by Albert Roy Davis and Walter C. Rawls, April 1996, Acres USA Publications), a view has been illustrated for actual electrical measurements made on the front surfaces of a human body. These measurements were performed by Albert Roy Davis and Walter Rawls at the Albert Roy Davis Research Laboratory in Florida. The findings of these two researchers indicate that the right side of the human body is positively (electrically) charged and the left side of the human body is negatively charged. These findings also indicate the average voltages that were recorded at various locations of the human body. It is worth noting that the vicinity of the #4 Chakra point shows the highest voltage among all the points on the human body. This would also coincide with the belief in the acupuncture system that the Shanzhong point is the strongest Chi point in the human body.
Referring again to Rawls and Davis (Magnetism and its effect on the living system by Albert Roy Davis and Walter C. Rawls, April 1996, Acres USA Publications), a view has been illustrated for the electromagnetic equators of the human body. Of interest with respect to the invention disclosed here is the point in the center of the chest, which Davis and Rawls state that according to their findings, this point is where voltage change is noted, and at this point there is zero voltage when measuring from the crotch to this point. Again, this corresponds well with the Chakra system and the acupuncture system.
In addition, the body of evidence supporting acupuncture has reached the point of being irrefutable. This said, a conclusion may be reached that in addition to blood flowing through the human body, there is also an energy flow through the human body.
In order to understand the energy flow through the human body, a phenomenon of a thermomagnetic field may need to be considered. A thermomagnetic field may be obtained when a group of dissimilar metals is arranged so as to form a coil, with each dissimilar metal junction being alternately heated and cooled. To illustrate this effect, reference is now made to the work of Schroeder, with publicly titled documents (U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,350 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,976) entitled THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR AND MAGNETIC ENERGY STORAGE UNIT invented by Schroeder. In operation, this device is capable of obtaining a low voltage, high current within the ring structure resulting in a magnetic field of 10 to 20 tesla. The magnetic field produced is so strong that the ring requires structural reinforcement with Keviar or the like. The point made here is that this device produces a magnetic field in a novel manner, a method that does not use an electrical input but rather an input of heat.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a human body as illustrated relates to temperature differential. As illustrated in FIG. 1, human beings maintain a core temperature that is higher with respect to the extremities of the hands and feet. This differential is well known in the art and may be viewed in detail via infrared imaging techniques well known to those of skilled in the art. Due to this temperature differential as well as other factors, the conditions necessary for the production of thermomagnetic fields within the human body may be present. This phenomenon is scientifically plausible when one considers temperature differential, the presence of dissimilar metal components in the body such as Iron (blood) and Copper (collagen, enzymes, etc.), and the manner in which the blood flows via the circulatory system (flow reversals at extremities). In eastern philosophy, the thermomagnetic field is referred to as the "Aura", and is shown to extend several inches from the body. This would be consistent with magnetism. Furthermore, Kirlian photography technique records a field of energy emanating several inches from humans and plants, again consistent with magnetic fields.
If there is indeed a magnetic energy field that extends from the surface of a human body, then it should be possible to construct a passive apparatus that would be capable of interacting with this field, and altering the properties of this field. As an example, in acupuncture, a practitioner utilizes known techniques to detect "blockages" to energy flows in the human body. When the locations of these blockages are determined, then either needles or pressure is applied to this point for the purpose of relieving and removing the blockages. Accordingly, another drawback of the existing systems is a lack of an apparatus that can be placed over specific acupuncture points and that can interact with a humans' energy field and promote energy flow and circulation in a similar mode of operation to acupuncture but without needles or physical contact.
When considering the flow of either fluids or energy, we now consider vortex flows that consist of either centripetal or centrifugal forces, and how these flows might be produced passively. As will be recalled, a vortex may have an inward spiraling flow (centripetal) or an outward spiraling flow (centrifugal). In nature, the tornado is an example of a phenomena that illustrates both flow types. Further, it is often stated that an inward spiraling vortex is associated with a build-up of energy, such as the destructive tip of the tornado, while an outward spiraling vortex is associated with a dilution of energy.
Various chemical species in the human body and biochemical materials may also need to be considered since they may play a role in interacting with energy fields within the human body. To this end, Left-Handed and Right-Handed molecules may need to be considered. It is known that the Left-Handed group of molecules known as amino acids are utilized in the body for the purpose of building protein structures such as muscle tissue. This process of the amino acid forming a "building block" for a larger protein structure is generally recognized as being a solely chemical process. However, if all naturally occurring amino acids are considered Left-Handed (amino acids are isomers and demonstrate the phenomena of optical chirality), and the light passing through an amino acid will bend to the left, a thermomagnetic field in the presence of an L-amino acid would orient itself to the left as well. Accordingly, at the molecular level, in the process of the amino acid being used to form a protein, the human thermomagnetic field twists to the left in the presence of the L-amino acid, causing the thermomagnetic field to spin clockwise (inward) which creates a buildup of energy, with this energy assisting in the formation of the new protein structure.
Similarly, some sugars such as sucrose may play a role in the human body. Common table sugar is a right-handed molecule. Thus, the human thermomagnetic field in the presence of sugar would spin counter-clockwise thereby creating a centrifugal flow which would lead to the dissipation of an energy field. This would at first seem to be inconsistent with the role that sugar plays in the body, which would be to create the basic building blocks of energy units (ATP). However, if we examine the actual chemical process that sugar is involved in, then we know that in order for sugar to enter the ATP cycle, it must first be broken down. Accordingly, at the molecular level, in the process of the sugar being broken down so that it may be used for the creation of ATP, the human thermomagnetic field twists to the right in the presence of the sugar, causing the thermomagnetic field to spin counter-clockwise (outward) which creates a dissipation of the structure, with this energy assisting in the destruction of the sugar molecule.
If these effects are occurring within the human body, then it should be possible to create a device that passively interacts with the human body in such a way so as to promote the build-up or flow of energy within the human body.
Therefore, another drawback of the existing system is a lack of an apparatus and a method for regulating the energy-flow, thereby producing a beneficial response within the human body.
These and other drawbacks also exist.


Provision of a material, which has activity of inhibiting endothelin-converting enzyme and is effective for skin whitening or antihypertension. An endothelin-converting enzyme inhibitor comprising, as an active ingredient, at least one selected from the group consisting of Hiptage candicans, Piper sarmentosum, Solanum stramonifolium, Anaxagorea luzonensis, Smilax corbularia, Ardisia elliptica, Erythrina suberosa, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Hopea ferrea and extracts thereof.

Endothelin (ET) is a bioactive factor, which continuously contracts vascular and non-vascular smooth muscles via direct and indirect actions. An increase in the action of endothelin is considered to provide a continuous vasoconstriction to blood vessels in peripheral sites, kidney and brain, and is considered to cause various diseases such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, acute renal failure, Raynaud's syndrome, atherosclerosis, asthma and prostate cancer. Three types of endothelin family peptides (ET-1, ET-2, and ET-3) having similar structures to one another are present in animals including humans, and all of these peptides have vasoconstriction action and vasopressor action.
In recent years, the role of endothelin in various cells other than vascular smooth muscle cells has been elucidated. For example, it has been reported in Non-Patent Documents 1-3 that generation of ET-1 and other factors is increased in keratinocytes when the skin is exposed to UV irradiation, and that ET-1 is suggested to be associated with melanogenesis in melanocytes exposed to UV irradiation. Accordingly, suppression of the expression of endothelin is considered to be useful, not only for prevention and/or treatment of the aforementioned various diseases, but also for prevention or amelioration of skin pigmentation.
Endothelin is a peptide consisting of 21 amino acid residues. In the biosynthetic process of endothelin, a prepropeptide is generated from mRNA, and it is then processed into an intermediate (wherein the intermediates of ET-1, ET-2, and ET-3 are referred to as Big ET-1, Big ET-2, and Big ET-3, respectively). Thereafter, such an intermediate is converted to a mature endothelin consisting of 21 amino acid residues. The intermediate has almost no vasoconstriction action, whereas the mature endothelin has strong vasoconstriction action. The enzyme, which converts the intermediate to the mature endothelin, is endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE). Conventionally, it has been reported that examples of a plant material having ECE inhibitory activity include extracts obtained from burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis), hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata), clove (Syzygium aromaticum), rose fruit (fruit of Rosa multiflora), gambir (Uncaria gambir), linden (Tilia miqueliana), licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), mulberry bark (Morus alba), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Assam tea plant (Camellia sinensis var. assamica), Japanese white birch (Betula platyphylla var. japonica), tormentilla (Potentilla tormentilla), thyme (Thymus), gentian (Gentiana lutea), geranium (Geranium nepalense), ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Mayer), cinchona (Cinchona succirubra), Japanese green gentian (Swertia japonica), centella (Centella asiatica), capillary artemisia (Artemisia capillaris), rehmannia root (Rehmannia glutinosa), honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), and peppermint (Mentha piperita) (Non-Patent Document 4, and Patent Document 1).
(Patent Document 1) Japanese Patent No. 3441395                (Non-Patent Document 1) Photochem. Photobiol., 63, 1-10 (1996)        (Non-Patent Document 2) J. Biol. Chem., 267, 24675-24680 (1992)        (Non-Patent Document 3) J. Invest. Dermatol., 105, 32-37 (1995)        (Non-Patent Document 4) Biol. Pharm. Bull. 24, 688-692 (2001)


The reciprocating floor conveyor floor slat (50) and seal (102) includes a horizontal upper section (82) with an upper cargo support surface and a bottom surface (90) that is supported by and slides on a bearing surface (56). Slide walls (86) are integral with and extend downwardly from the upper section (82). A lip (94) on one side of the upper section (82) extends outwardly from a side wall (86) and has a downwardly facing sealing surface (108). A seal retainer (96) is integral with the other side wall (86). The seal retainer (96) includes a bore (98) and a slot (100) extending the length of the floor slat (50). The seal (102) includes a base (104) and an integral blade (106). The base (104) is telescopically received in the bore (98) and the blade (106) extends out through the slot (100). The blade (106) of the seal ( 102) contacts the lower surface (109) of a lip (92), extends across the gap (85) between the floor slat (50) and an adjacent floor slat and contacts the downwardly facing sealing surface (108) on the lip (94) of the adjacent floor slat. Relief areas (105 and 107) are provided between the seal (102) and the seal retainer (96) to reduce the force required to pull a seal (102) into the bore (98) and the slot (100). Flanges (88) are provided on the side walls (86) to limit upward movement of the slat (50) away from the slide bearings (52).

This invention relates to reciprocating floor conveyors and more particularly to floor conveyors with seals between the floor slats.
Reciprocating floor conveyors have been used for several years in van bodies and in trailers for unloading cargo. These conveyor systems are widely used for transporting bulk material such as ground plant material for animal feed, saw dust, wood chips, bark and plant material for human consumption. The conveyor systems include a plurality of parallel floor slats. Each floor slat is mounted so that it can slide back and forth in a direction parallel to its long axis.
Several different drives and drive systems have been employed in reciprocating floor conveyors to reciprocate the floor slats back and forth. A commonly used drive system includes three hydraulic cylinders that move all the slats simultaneously to the rear toward a rear discharge, carrying the cargo with them. The first cylinder is connected to and drives every third floor slat. A second cylinder is connected to and drives all the floor slats that are adjacent to a common side of the floor slats attached to the first cylinder. A third cylinder is attached to and drives the floor slats that are between the floor slats driven by the first cylinder and the floor slats that are driven by the second cylinder. The first, second and third cylinders are activated one at a time to move every third floor slat forward and away from the rear discharge without moving cargo forward. The floor slats do not convey cargo when two thirds of the floor slats are stationary while one cylinder moves one third of the floor slats forward. The third cylinder moves the floor slats connected to it forward while the floor slats connected to the first and second cylinders remain stationary. The second cylinder then moves the floor slats connected to it forward while the floor slats connected to the first and third cylinders remain stationary. The first cylinder then moves the floor slats connected to the first cylinder forward while the floor slats connected to the second and third cylinders remain stationary. The above procedure is then repeated to move the cargo through the rear discharge opening. The procedure continues to be repeated until all the cargo is discharged.
Floor slats are commonly made from aluminum or other suitable material. Gaps are provided between aluminum floor slats to accommodate thermal expansion of the floor slats and to prevent galling which can occur when aluminum floor slats are in contact with each other. The gaps between adjacent floor slats in reciprocating floor conveyors create two problems. One of the problems is loss of cargo. This is not a serious problem if the cargo is non-toxic and inexpensive. Loss of cargo is a serious problem, however, if the cargo is a toxic material or if the cargo is expensive. Another problem is cargo contamination. Cargo can be contaminated by water and other material on a road surface that is thrown upwardly by vehicle wheels and passes through slots between the floor slats. Cargo contamination is an extremely serious problem if the cargo is for human or animal consumption.
Two basic types of solutions to the problem caused by the space between the floor slats have been tried. One solution is to catch the material that passes between the floor slats in either direction. This solution adds weight and expense to reciprocating floor conveyor systems. Catching material that passes down between the slats also adds disposal problems if it is necessary to dispose of the material that is caught. Seals between the floor slats have been the preferred solution to the problems. Seals between the floor slats can virtually eliminate cargo loss as well as cargo contamination. Seals between reciprocating floor slats are generally resilient and rely upon their resilience to maintain sealing contact. Seals that can be inflated have also been tried. Inflated seals are deflated during conveying operations.
The seals that are currently in use are carried by one floor slat and are in sliding contact with a vertical or near vertical surface on the side of an adjacent floor slat. These seals are made from materials that have a low coefficient of friction that are tough and that are resilient. The low coefficient of friction is required to minimize the force required to reciprocate the floor slats back and forth and to prolong seal life. The seals must be made of tough material to prolong seal life and to prevent the penetration of cargo. Resiliency is required to accommodate variations in the size of the gap between floor slats and to maintain sealing contact between the seals and the sliding contact surfaces on adjacent floor slats.
The floor slats slide fore and aft on bearings that support and guide each floor slat. These bearings allow limited lateral movement of the floor slats. Cargo can therefore move the floor slats laterally. If the reciprocating floor is slightly lower on one side than on the other the cargo will tend to move the floor slats toward the low side. This results in a decrease in the gap between some floor slats and an increase in the gap between other floor slats. The seals must have the ability to accommodate the changes in the gap between adjacent floor slats. Seals that have been used in the past can accommodate only small changes in the size of the gap between adjacent floor slats.
The seals that are currently in use are compressed when the gap between adjacent floor slats decreases. With a few seal designs a portion of a seal can become pinched between surfaces on adjacent floor slats. The pinching increases the load between seal surfaces and floor slat surfaces. The increased load due to seal compression or due to pinching the seal increases the power required to reciprocate the floor slats and increases wear.
Cold temperatures tend to stiffen resilient seals. It has been found that seals that are stiffened by low temperatures can wear through the side of a floor slat thereby destroying the floor slat in a relatively short period of time.
Abrasive cargo can increase the wear between floor slats and seals that are in sliding contact with surfaces on floor slats. Some parts of floor slats cannot accommodate much wear without the floor slat being essentially destroyed.
Floor slats seal designs that are currently in use generally create a pocket which catches and retains solids and liquids that pass through the space between the upper portions of floor slats. In cold weather the liquid and solids freeze. The frozen liquids and solids exert large forces on some seals due to the expansion of the liquid during freezing, increase the force required to reciprocate the floor slats and increase the wear on the seal contact surfaces and on the seals. The solids held by the frozen liquids also increase wear on the floor slats and the seals if they are abrasive.

Reciprocating floor conveyor floor slat and seal


Dual-modal-shaping capability is added as a new feature in bed lounges of the type having a fabric slip-cover enclosing foam padding on a main structure formed from plastic sheet material. User adjustment is provided for back tilt, head-rest tilt and height, arm-rest spacing, and back support location. Modal transition is provided by an internal mechanism that interlinks the two arm-rests via a weighted lock-pin that locks the arm-rests in place for normal use but that can be disengaged by merely inverting the bed lounge so the lock-pin drops out from the linkage gravitationally, thus allowing the arm-rests to be folded out to convert to an overall flat modal-shape that can be conveniently stored, e.g. under a bed or hanging in a closet. For re-deployment, when the bed lounge is manually placed in its normal modal-shape in an upright position, as the arm-rests are moved together to their normal spacing, the weighted lock-pin automatically drops back down into place so as to again lock and retain the bed lounge in its chair-like normal modal-shape.

For those who spend periods of time sitting in a bed, or even on a floor or against a wall, it is important to provide proper support to the body to avoid discomfort, fatigue and/or body deformation. Ordinary cushions and pillows fail to provide necessary support, which requires a chair-like bed lounge typically with at least a back portion with two attached arm-rests, one at each side, and preferably a neck support/head-rest. To accommodate the needs of different individuals with regard to size, weight, age, etc., the bed lounge is preferably provided with several user adjustment capabilities, e.g. relating to tilt-back, arm-rest spacing, lower back support, neck-rest height and inclination.