An arterial-pulse-wave detecting apparatus, including a plurality of pulse-wave detecting devices which are adapted to be worn on a plurality of portions of a living subject, respectively, and detect respective pulse waves that are produced in synchronism with each other from respective arteries of the plurality of portions of the subject, a memory device which stores the respective pulse waves produced in synchronism with each other and detected by the plurality of pulse-wave detecting devices, and a pulse-wave-display control device for controlling a display device to display the respective pulse waves produced in synchronism with each other and stored by the memory device, such that the respective pulse waves are superposed on each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an arterial-pulse-wave detecting apparatus which detects respective pulse waves produced from respective arteries of a plurality of portions of a living subject.
2. Related Art Statement
Since a pulse wave which is produced from an artery of a living subject includes various sorts of information related to the circulatory organ of the subject, the pulse wave is analyzed to make a diagnosis or judgment about arteriosclerosis, arteriostenosis, peripheral circulation, etc. However, since it is considerably difficult to identify a small change of shape or form of a portion of the pulse wave, a person may have failed to identify circulatory-organ-related information corresponding to the change of the waveform.
In the above-indicated background, it is possible to provide an arterial-pulse-wave detecting apparatus which detects respective pulse waves produced from respective arteries of a plurality of portions of a living subject, e.g., left and right portions located at respective positions symmetrical with each other with respect to a median line of the subject (because the circulatory organ is substantially symmetrical with respect to the median line), and which operates a display device to simultaneously display those pulse waves. However, if those pulse waves are displayed in a separated manner, it is yet difficult to identify a small change corresponding to an initial symptom of a disease, and accordingly a person such as a doctor may disadvantageously make a judgment influenced by his or her subjective factors.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an arterial-pulse-wave detecting apparatus which detects respective pulse waves produced from respective arteries of a plurality of portions of a living subject and which allows a person to, or can itself, make an accurate judgment about a change or a difference of a form or respective forms of one or more of the respective pulse waves detected.
The above object has been achieved by the present invention. According to the present invention, there is provided an arterial-pulse-wave detecting apparatus, comprising a plurality of pulse-wave detecting devices which are adapted to be worn on a plurality of portions of a living subject, respectively, and detect respective pulse waves that are produced in synchronism with each other from respective arteries of the plurality of portions of the subject; a memory device which stores the respective pulse waves produced in synchronism with each other and detected by the plurality of pulse-wave detecting devices; and a pulse-wave-display control means for controlling a display device to display the respective pulse waves produced in synchronism with each other and stored by the memory device, such that the respective pulse waves are superposed on each other.
According to this invention, the pulse-wave-display control means controls the display device to display the respective pulse waves produced in synchronism with each other, detected by the plurality of pulse-wave detecting devices, and stored by the memory device, such that the respective pulse waves are superposed on each other. Thus, each one of those waveforms can be easily compared with the other waveform or waveforms. Therefore, a person such as a doctor can easily and accurately identify a small change of any one of those waveforms. Thus, the accuracy of inspection of the waveform of each arterial pulse wave is improved.
According to a preferred feature of the present invention, the pulse-wave-display control means controls the display device to display the respective pulse waves produced in synchronism with each other, such that respective minimal points of the respective pulse waves coincide with each other.
According to this feature, the respective pulse waves produced in synchronism with each other, are displayed such that respective minimal points of the respective pulse waves coincide with each other. Thus, a person can more easily and accurately identify a small change or difference of the waveform of any of the arterial pulse waves.
According to another feature of the present invention, the pulse-wave-display control means controls the display device to display the respective pulse waves produced in synchronism with each other, such that respective rising points of the respective pulse waves coincide with each other.
According to this feature, the respective pulse waves produced in synchronism with each other, are displayed such that respective rising points of the respective pulse waves coincide with each other. Thus, a person can more easily and accurately identify a small change of the waveform of any of the arterial pulse waves.
According to another feature of the present invention, wherein the pulse-wave-display control means controls the display device to display the respective pulse waves produced in synchronism with each other, such that respective amplitudes of the respective pulse waves are equal to each other.
According to this feature, the respective pulse waves produced in synchronism with each other, are displayed such that respective amplitudes of the respective pulse waves are equal to each other. Thus, a person can more easily and accurately identify a small change of the waveform of any of the arterial pulse waves.
According to another feature of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises an area-difference determining means for determining a difference between respective areas of the respective pulse waves displayed on the display device by the pulse-wave-display control means such that the respective pulse waves are superposed on each other, wherein the pulse-wave-display control means controls the display device to display the difference determined by the area-difference determining means.
According to this feature, the difference of respective areas of the respective pulse waves superposed on each other, determined by the area-difference determining means, is displayed on the display device. Thus, the difference of the two waveforms is quantitatively determined. In addition, a slow or overall change of a waveform that cannot be easily recognized in a conventional manner, can be easily identified according to this feature.
According to another feature of the present invention, the plurality of pulse-wave detecting devices comprise two pulse-wave-detecting devices which include respective portions adapted to be worn on left and right portions of the subject, respectively, that are located at respective positions symmetrical with each other with respect to a median line of the subject, and detect the respective pulse waves produced from the respective arteries of the left and right portions of the subject, and wherein the pulse-wave-display control means controls the display device to display the respective pulse waves produced from the respective arteries of the left and right portions of the subject, such that the respective pulse waves are superposed on each other.
According to this feature, the plurality of pulse-wave detecting devices detect the respective pulse waves produced in synchronism with each other from the left and right portions of the subject that are located at the respective positions symmetrical with each other with respect to the median line of the subject, the memory device stores the two pulse waves, and the pulse-wave-display control means operates the display device to display the two pulse waves such that those pulse waves are superposed on each other. Thus, a person can more easily compare the two pulse waves with each other and accordingly can more easily and accurately identify even a small change of either one of the two waveforms. That is, the accuracy of inspection of waveform of each arterial pulse wave can be improved. Since the two waveforms should be basically identical with each other, the change of each of the waveforms can be more easily identified.


A computer chassis assembly that includes a heat pipe which thermally couples an electronic package to multiple fan units. The heat pipe provides a computer chassis that sufficiently cools internal heat generating components without placing the components in close proximity to the fans.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat pipe used in a computer assembly.
2. Description of Related Art
Most commercially available computers contain a fan that cools the components of the assembly. The fan is typically located in a wall of the computer chassis and is constructed to induce air flow across the various electronic packages of the computer.
To reduce the junction temperature of the electronic packages, the packages that generate the most heat are preferably located adjacent to the fan. Placing all of the hot components near the fan limits the routing of the printed circuit board and therefore is typically not feasible. Generally speaking, it is desirable to have a computer assembly, wherein the components can be located at any position within the computer chassis. For example, it may be desirable to place the central processing unit (CPU) and associated memory near the floppy and hard disk drives of the system, to reduce the length of the transmission lines between the various components. Having short transmission lines may be essential, particularly if the system operates at high speeds.
The hard and floppy disk drives are usually located on the front wall of the computer, so that the user can readily operate the floppy disk drive. For aesthetic reasons, the fan is typically located on the rear wall of the computer. With such an arrangement the fan must direct air across the entire chassis to cool the components located at the other end of the computer. Blowing air across the chassis reduces the velocity of the air and decreases the heat transfer rate from the electronic packages.
It would therefore be desirable to have a computer chassis with a rearwardly mounted fan that efficiently cools electronic packages located away from the fan. It would also be desirable to have a convection cooling system for a computer that can remove heat without direct contact between the electronic packages and the air stream of the fan, and which can efficiently utilize multiple fan units.

Multiple-fan microprocessor cooling through a finned heat pipe


Disclosed is a natural sunscreen composition comprising extracts of Hedychium spicatum and/or Alpinia galanga containing active sunscreen agents, the sunscreen composition devised to protect the skin from the harmful effects of short wavelength UV B rays and long wavelength UV A rays.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention, in general, relates to cosmetic compositions. More specifically, this invention relates to natural sunscreen compositions and processes for producing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Human skin is sensitive to solar rays and overexposure to sun can cause not only simple sunburn or an erythema, but also burns of varying severity. The other negative effects of over-exposure to solar rays are, tanning, immune suppression, photosensitivity or drug related photosensitivity and photo allergies. Sun can also cause the skin to lose its elasticity and form wrinkles, leading to premature ageing. Dermatosis may also be caused due to over-exposure to solar rays. In extreme cases, some people can develop skin cancer.
Outdoor activities including typical field-related jobs and sporting activities expose the skin to sun. It has been estimated that nearly 75 percent of the sun-inflicted skin damage on the average person's skin over a lifetime is the result of being just outdoors. Hence we require a protection so that we can expose ourselves to the sunlight without getting harmed. These concerns have been heightened by evidence that the earth's ozone layer has suffered severe depletion in recent years. Ozone is recognized as the stratospheric component shielding against the harmful forms of ultraviolet radiation. But still 5% of the sunrays coming to the earth are composed of the ultraviolet rays. These ultraviolet rays are composed of the shorter-wavelength (290-320 nm) UVB rays that cause indirect sun tanning and the longer-wavelength (320-400 nm) UVA rays that are responsible for direct sun tanning. Sunscreen compositions offer a scientific solution to the above-identified harmful effects of over-exposure to the ultraviolet rays.
Topical application sunscreen formulations are known. Sunscreen active are generally classified as organic sun screeners or inorganic sun screeners. Organic sun screeners absorb strongly at specific wavelengths and are transparent to visible light. However, some organic sun screeners such as Oxybenzone are known to cause photo allergic reactions. Inorganic sun screeners such as Titanium dioxide at higher levels leave visible residue referred as whitening of the skin.
To overcome these allergic side effects of organic sun screeners and non-aesthetics of inorganic sun screeners, there exist the need for devising newer formulations, that can protect the skin from the harmful effects of the ultraviolet radiations of sun without any undesirable side effects. It is against this background the present invention has been brought out.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,500,869 to Driller et al. discloses a sun protection formulation in solid or liquid form containing organic or inorganic sunscreen filters for a prophylactic action. Disclosed in this patent are substances of cinnamic acid derivatives, in particular octyl p-methoxycinnamate that function not only as light protection filters, but also as solvents for other UV filters and are therefore often used in combination with various filters.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,537,529 to Bonda et al. discloses a method of preparing a sunscreen including a solvent system and a filter system, as well as sunscreen compositions and compounds for producing sunscreen compositions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,014 to Perrier et al. discloses a composition to inhibit the formation of unwanted skin pigmentation. The active components of the composition include extracts of selected plants, namely, mulberry, saxifrage, grape and scutellaria root; and, preferably, ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,440,402 to Gonzalez et al. discloses the synergistic action of Kaempferia galanga root extract in sunscreen formulation. The invention also discloses a method comprising introducing into the composition an amount of extract of Kaempferia galanga plant sufficient to enhance the photostability of the sunscreen active.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,756,099 to Simpson et al. discloses a process of preparing natural, organic, topical tanning sunscreen compositions comprising extracting the embryonic, spongy mass of tissue of the coconut from the drupe and adding it to the flesh of papaya in a proportional ratio of 1:3.
Sunscreen compositions comprising herbal extracts that can act as antioxidants are known in prior art. Sunscreen compositions containing herbal extracts such as green tea, aloe vera, calendula, chamomile rosemary are also known in the art. Further, it is known in the art to devise sunscreen compositions having cinnamic acid esters, wherein the cinnamic acid esters act as sunscreen actives. The present invention is distinct from the above prior art compositions as described hereunder.

Natural sunscreen compositions and processes for producing the same


A method for uplink ACK/NACK for LTE TDD. The method includes receiving a frame having multiple subframes wherein a plurality of subframes being downlink subframes and at least one subframe being an uplink subframe. One uplink subframe can contain an acknowledgment/non-acknowledgment (ACK/NACK) corresponding to at least one of the plurality of downlink subframes. To transmit ACK/NACKs, one uplink subframe for ACK/NACK is used in response to one of the plurality of downlink subframes. In addition, ACK/NACK responses can be bundled into one uplink subframe for at least two of the plurality of downlink subframes. In an embodiment, multiple ACK/NACK responses can be used in one uplink subframe that corresponds to at least two of the plurality of downlink subframes in a multiple feedback configuration. One uplink subframe for ACK/NACK responses and bundling multiple ACK/NACK responses is for a bundled feedback configuration.

In a data frame have a plurality of subframes, it is known that the plurality of subframes can include multiple downlink subframes and multiple uplink subframes. In certain configurations there are fewer uplink subframes than are configured to include acknowledgment/non-acknowledgment messages (ACK/NACK) for the multiple downlink frames.
There is a coverage issue when multiple ACK/NACK bits are transmitted. User equipment in coverage-limited situations may schedule data reception using multiple subframes. Thus, ACK/NACK bundling has been proposed as a way to transmit a single acknowledgment. This can significantly increase the coverage of the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), and user equipments that are in poor coverage may be configured to operate in this mode. In this mode, a missed scheduling assignment can be problematic if an ACK is transmitted. To minimize this error case, the eNode B can either limit the number of downlink subframes it can schedule to a user equipment with this feedback mode or it an adjust the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmission power to minimize PDCCH error.
For user equipment that is in good coverage areas, there should be no issue in transmitted multiple acknowledgments in order to maximize system throughput. Nonetheless, it still needs to be determined whether user equipment will be configured to feedback a certain number of bits based on the configuration of downlink and uplink or with the user equipment have the flexibility to feedback based on actual number of downlink subframes received. There is the possibility of mismatch between what the user equipment is sending versus what the eNode B may be expecting due to missed scheduling assignments. Coverage can be affected as only one configuration will be supported in a cell.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need to determine how to transmit uplink ACK/NACK for Long Term Evolution wireless communication systems using time division duplex (TDD). In TDD one uplink subframe ACK/NACK from multiple downlink subframes should be transmitted. There are two known modes: single ACK/NACK, which can use ACK/NACK bundling, or multiple ACK/NACK. The question remains how to support both modes, how to transmit multiple ACK/NACK and how to implicitly ACK/NACK resource indication.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

Method for uplink acknowledgement/non-acknowledgement messages in a wireless communication system


Provided is a method and apparatus for objectively and non-intrusively measuring voice quality on live calls without disrupting the call session or the network. A communication system includes plural communities each including a switch that controls access to a packet-based data network for call sessions. Each of the communities is coupled to the data network by respective packet-based trunks. Quality of service (QoS) monitoring devices are coupled to the respective packet-based trunks to monitor quality levels of routes between any two given communities. Each QoS monitoring device receives packets containing streaming data (which may be actual packets or test packets). From the received packets, the QoS monitoring device can derive QoS parameters, particularly for audio and speech signals on live calls without disrupting the call session.

The invention relates to monitoring voice quality levels in substantially real time for communications over a packet-based data network.
Data networks are widely used to link various types of network elements, such as personal computers, servers, gateways, network telephones, and so forth. Data networks may include private networks (such as local area networks or wide area networks), and public networks (such as the Internet). Popular forms of communications between network elements across such data networks include electronic mail, file transfer, web browsing, and other exchanges of digital data.
With the increased capacity and reliability of data networks, voice communications and other forms of streaming communications over data networks have become possible. Voice communications over data networks are unlike voice communications in a conventional circuit-switched network, such as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), which provides users with dedicated, end-to-end circuit connections for the duration of each call. Communications over data networks, such as IP (Internet Protocol) networks, are performed using packets or datagrams that are sent in bursts from a source to one or more destination nodes. Voice data, and other forms of streaming data, sent over a data network typically share network bandwidth with conventional non-streaming data (e.g., data associated with electronic mail, file transfer, web access, and other traffic).
In a packet-based data network, each data packet is routed to a node having a destination address contained within the header of the packet. Data packets may be routed over separate network paths before arriving at the final destination for reassembly. Transmission speeds of the various packets may vary widely depending on the usage of data networks over which the data packets are transferred. During peak usage of data networks, delays added to the transfer of voice data packets may cause poor performance of voice communications. Voice data packets that are lost or delayed due to inadequate or unavailable capacity of data networks or resources of data networks may result in gaps, silence, and clipping of audio at the receiving end.
A need thus exists for a method and apparatus that monitors for real time voice quality levels in live calls in packet-based data networks.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Non-intrusive monitoring of quality levels for voice communications over a packet-based network


The present invention provides methods for treating, preventing or reducing the severity of allergic reactions. The present invention also provides methods for enhancing the efficacy and/or safety of an allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) regimen. The methods of the present invention comprise administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutic composition comprising an interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4Rα) antagonist such as an anti-IL-4Rα antibody.

Allergies and allergic diseases are serious medical conditions with consequences ranging from non-life threatening responses that resolve over time to life threatening effects such as anaphylaxis. Allergic reactions can result from contact or exposure to a variety of products such as certain food items, insect venom, plant-derived material (e.g., pollen), chemicals, drugs/medications, and animal dander. Current treatment options for allergies include avoidance, pharmacological symptom treatment and prophylaxis using allergen-specific immunotherapies (SIT). Unfortunately, these current treatment strategies are often inadequate, costly, impractical or involve significant risk. For example, avoidance of allergen is not always possible and can negatively impact on patient and caregiver quality of life. Immunotherapeutic approaches, on the other hand, involve deliberate administration of allergen to susceptible individuals and is therefore inherently risky with the potential for unwanted severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis. Accordingly, an unmet need exists in the art for novel therapeutic approaches that prevent or treat allergic responses and improve the safety and/or efficacy of immunotherapeutic treatment strategies.

Methods for treating allergy and enhancing allergen-specific immunotherapy by administering an IL-4R inhibitor


Techniques for automating the generation and analysis of fundus drawings are described. Captured images undergo image processing to extract information about image features. Fundus images are generated and recommended labels for the fundus drawing are generated. Fundus drawings can be analyzed and undergo textual processing to extract existing labels. Machine learning models and co-occurrence analysis can be applied to collections of fundus images and drawings to gather information about commonly associated labels, label locations, and user information. The most frequently used labels associated with the image can be identified to improve recommendations and personalize labels.

A fundus image is an image of an eye taken by cameras to obtain information about the eye's condition. Optometrists and ophthalmologists use those images to manually create fundus drawings, which record notes about the eye's condition. Fundus drawings can contain multiple types of markings, colors and labels to indicate different features. For example, blue stippled, circle markings can indicate cystoid degeneration, interrupted lines can outline a change in area or folds of detached retina, and yellow stippled markings can indicate Drusen.
Since fundus drawings are made manually, the task of creating the drawing can be time consuming. Manual drawings may also lead to inconsistency across various drawings from multiple doctors. Furthermore, doctors often keep the fundus drawings in their records but do not keep the original fundus image. As a result, errors, missing labels, and incompleteness can be hard to detect.


A cartridge comprising a bullet, the bullet providing a radially expanding array of bullet fragments upon entering a target and also providing an increase in effective surface area of the bullet within the target by structural features that facilitate tumbling or mushrooming in the target. In an embodiment a pair of axial core members are aligned in a bullet jacket with the forward core member being segmented with separation junctures formed by engaged faces of adjacent segments. Impact causing fracturing of the segments from a base portion.

Maximum stopping power is desirable in small arms ammunition utilized for hunting, personal protection, and law enforcement. Stopping power correlates to energy transfer from the bullet to the fluidic target which is associated with maximizes damage to the target. Conventional handgun ammunition, for personal protection and law enforcement may often be designed to "upset" or "mushroom" upon impact thereby presenting an enhanced surface area to the fluidic target and thereby the projectile will often dissipate its entire energy in the target while generating a significant wound cavity. Other ammunition may rely upon the bullet tumbling upon entering the target to cause maximum damage or injury and that dissipates the bullets energy and generates a significant wound cavity. Bullets that remain intact and do not tumble in a target often pass through the target reducing damage or injury to the target and may create a hazard to personnel behind the intended target. Other known ammunition have bullets that fragment, such fragmentation in small arms has been disfavored as smaller fragments may be inconsistent in the damage they inflict upon targets and often have a reduced wound cavities. Efforts have been made to prevent fragmentation of mushrooming bullets as such was deemed disadvantageous. One advantage to fragmenting projectiles is that fragments that disperse from the direct bullet path provide a greater chance of hitting a vital component in a soft fluidic target that is displaced from the direct bullet path.
Any improvement to the stopping power of small arms ammunition would be welcome by consumers and law enforcement.

Cartridge with combined effects projectile


The present invention relates to novel benzimidazole compounds, represented by general formula (I) in which o is 0, 1, 2 or 3; R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group, a phenyl group, or a monocyclic heterocyclic group, which groups may be substituted one or more times with substituents selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkyl-alkyl, alkoxy, halogen, trifluoromethyl, cyano, amino and nitro; or R.sup.1 represents a cyano group or a group of the formula -alkyl-CO.sub.2 R.sup.2, alkenyl-CO.sub.2 R.sup.2, --CO--R.sup.2, --CO.sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.m R.sup.2, or --C(R.sup.3).dbd.N--OR.sup.2, R.sup.11 represents a group of formula --CO.sub.2 --R.sup.9, or R.sup.11 represents a group of general formula (II) in which n is 0, 1, 2 or 3; or R.sup.11 may represent a group of general formula (III), in which n is 0, 1, 2 or 3; the novel compounds of the invention are useful in the treatment of central nervous system diseases and disorders, which are responsive to modulation of the GABA.sub.A receptor complex, such as for example anxiety, sleep disorders, anaestesia, memory disorders, and epilepsia or other convulsive disorders.

GABA.sub.A receptors for .gamma.-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are the most abundant inhibitory receptors in the mammalian brain. The GABA.sub.A receptors are structurally constituted as macromolecular heteropentameric assemblies (combinations of .alpha., .beta., and .gamma./.delta. protein subunits). Several subtypes of such GABA.sub.A receptors have been described by techniques of modern molecular biology.
Each GABA.sub.A receptor complex comprises a chloride ion channel that controls chloride flux across the neuronal membrane, and multiple recognition sites for small modulatory molecules such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, picrotoxin, and certain steroids. When GABA interacts with its receptor, the ion channel is opened, chloride influx is enhanced, the membrane is hyperpolarized and the cell becomes less responsive to excitatory stimuli. This GABA induced ion current can be regulated by diverse agents, including agents that interact with the benzodiazepine receptor or recognition site.
Agents that bind or interact with the modulatory sites on the GABA.sub.A receptor complex, such as for example the benzodiazepine receptor, can have either enhancing effect on the action of GABA, i.e. a positive modulatory effect of the receptor (agonists, partial agonists), an attenuating effect on the action of GABA, i.e.
negative modulation of the receptor (inverse agonists, partial inverse agonists), or they can block the effect of both agonists and inverse agonists by competitive block (antagonists or ligands without intrinsic activity).
Agonists generally produce muscle relaxant, hypnotic, sedative, anxiolytic, and/or anticonvulsant effects, while inverse agonists produce proconvulsant, anti-inebriant, and anxiogenic effects. Compounds with anxiolytic effects but without or with reduced muscle relaxant, hypnotic and sedative effects are characterised as partial agonists. Partial inverse agonists are considered to be useful as cognition enhancers.
Numerous compounds belonging to different chemical series of compounds having affinity for the benzodiazepine receptors have been synthesized during the last three decades. However, although the benzodiazepine receptor sites are still considered as very attractive biological sites for interfering with the CNS to treat various disorders and diseases, then nearly all previously synthesized compounds acting at these receptor sites have failed during clinical development because of unacceptable side effects.
Benzimidazole compounds for use in treatment of CNS disorders has been described in EP616807; Imidazole compounds as calcium channel blockers are described in EP 563001;

1-phenyl-benzimidazole compounds and their use as GABA-a receptor modulators


A collapsible shower chair is disclosed. The shower chair has a plurality of suction cups on an edge of the seat portion thereof permitting the chair to readily grip the wall of the shower stall when not in use. Each suction cup is received within a longitudinally extending slot in the seat portion of the chair and is readily movable therein permitting alignment of the suction cup with the surface of the wall of the shower stall. A ball and detent arrangement is provided for engagement of a support arm with the seat portion of the chair ensuring that the legs are firmly attached to the seat portion when the chair is in use.

Shower chairs or seats permit the user to be seated, rather than standing, while taking a shower or while coloring or conditioning one's hair while showering. Such chairs or seats, however, are typically not readily storable when not being used. This creates a problem in small bathrooms such as those which are usually present in apartments in large cities where space is at a premium. In such instances, a non-collapsible chair takes up an excessive amount of space which is very impractical.
In order to overcome this problem, some shower chairs or seats are permanently attached to the wall of the shower stall or to the wall adjacent the bathtub in a bathtub-shower combination. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,668 (Aronovitz) discloses a bath or shower seat in the form of a panel which is hingedly attached to the wall adjacent the bathtub. The panel is supported by the top surface of the bathtub and, when not in use, can be moved into an upward position so as to be adjacent the wall surrounding the bathtub. U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,100 (Kindrick) discloses a bath bench in the form of a panel which is hingedly attached to the wall adjacent the bathtub and is supported by the top surface of the bathtub when the panel is in the downward position. The bench disclosed in this latter patent differs from the seat disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,668 (Aronovitz) in that includes a storage catch member attached to the wall adjacent the bathtub to secure the panel in the vertical position when not in use. U.S. Pat. No. 1,923,428 (Frankenstein) discloses a bench or chair for a bathtub and differs from the seats or benches disclosed in the aforementioned patents in that the bench or chair is self-storing within the wall adjacent the bathtub. Thus, the chairs or seats disclosed in all of the aforementioned patents overcome the storage problem by being hingedly attached to the wall adjacent the bathtub or by providing a compartment within the wall for the storage of the chair when not in use. In any event, the chair is permanently mounted to the bathtub or shower stall enclosure and cannot be readily removed therefrom or replaced, if necessary.
In view of the foregoing, it has become desirable to develop a shower chair which is readily collapsible upon itself and which can be stored within the shower stall when not in use.


For a power cut-off saw, a debris-collection device pivotably mountable to the cut-off saw. The device has a collection chamber with a top slot and a front slot in communication with the top slot. Both slots are adapted to receive the cut-off saw blade; the front slot is adapted to capture dust from the cut. A debris-control component may, but need not, cover the top slot and permits entry of the saw blade but prevents dust from escaping. A discharge arm on the top of the collection chamber has a hollow channel which communicates with the collection chamber and facilitates the discharge of dust from the collection chamber by an externally connected vacuum source which suctions out the collected dust.

None
Not applicable
This present invention relates to a revolutionary device for capturing and displacing debris generated when using a power tool, and more particularly to a power cut-off or concrete saw of any size.
Cut-off saws are used to make cuts into concrete. Such saws ranged in diameter from 10 inches to 20 inches. The most commonly used ranged between 12-16 inches. Whether shallow cuts [of about one-quarter inch] or deeper cuts of several inches are being made, cutting into solid concrete generates large amounts of concrete dust. Dust from these saws in operation can actually black-out a room [if done indoors] or cause substantial down wind pollution of up to 200 yards from the cutting venue. The dust, if left uncaptured or undercaptured, can permeate and contaminate the workplace and surrounding environment. The workplace may be a food processing facility, may be a health care facility, may have dust-sensitive equipment (such as a computer or delicate scientific or medical instruments), or may be a home. Various governmental regulatory agencies mandate some forms of dust control under many, if not all, commercial situations.
The worker using the cut-off saw also is at risk, not only from using a potentially dangerous tool but also from inhaling the dust. On-lookers, passers-by, employees of the facility at which work is being performed also will inhale the dust generated by the saw.
The only viable means of keeping such volumes of dust and debris under control are (1) through a wet system by adding water to the blade, generally through water holes in the blade shield, as a wet suppressant for the dust; or (2) through a dry system by use of an external vacuum placed near to the point where the blade meets and cuts the concrete, generally requiring two workersxe2x80x94the cutter and the cutter""s vacuuming helper.
Using the wet system, though suitable for minimizing dust dispersement and pollution, creates another problem; water mixed with concrete dust results in the creation of an adhesive cementaceous mud which itself requires cleaning and removal. Usually a high-pressure stream of water will remove the mud. In many places, especially indoors or in environmentally critical habitats, such water removal is not possible or even permitted. Where it is possible and permitted, it is nonetheless expensive and labor-intensive. Using the dry system is not as efficient, requires an extra worker, and is, therefore, more costly.
Yet another method of curtailing dust contamination is use of a respirator or face mask to filter out dust before it can be inhaled. This method, however, is suited only for the worker or workers involved in the project and not for the passers-by, on-lookers, employees of the facility, nor the environment. Use of a respirator also increases costs associated with a project, is cumbersome, and adversely affects the mobility of the worker. As for a face mask, a good portion of the dust by-passes the face mask and is nonetheless inhaled by the worker.
Use of a dedicated vacuum in conjunction with the debris-collection device for capturing and removing concrete dust, as envisioned by the present invention is a remarkable and novel innovation.
There is no device available which is simple to use, which is easy to manufacture, and which captures virtually all the dust emitted by a cut-off power saw. The present invention embodies all these features and more; all which are not available in the prior art.
The present invention can be made of virtually any materials including, but not limited to, metals, plastics, and composites. It can be adapted to fit on virtually any type and size of cutoff power saw. When installed, it will not interfere with the operation of the saw; but, in fact, will enhance the life of the saw and the blade by preventing dust from entering and contaminating the saw motor and by removing excess dust from the blade immediately after a cut is being made. It is crafted to initiate the capturing of dust at or near to the initial point of dust creation; i.e., at the cutting point where the blade engages the material it is to cutxe2x80x94and, at that point, to capture and extract the dust. The device is crafted preferably to be used with an external vacuum system resulting in the ultimate capture and extraction of dust.
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are to:
a. capture virtually all dust emitted by a cut-off saw in operation;
b. enhance the useful life of a cut-off saw and the saw blade;
c. self-adjust to capture dust regardless of the depth of the cut;
d. create a safer and healthier work environment, indoors and outdoors, for a user of a cut-off saw and for all others in or near the vicinity where such use is ongoing;
e. provide a dust capture device capable of being mounted onto cut-off saws of virtually all shapes, sizes, and models without effecting the efficiency and effectiveness of the saw upon which the device is attached; and
f. provide an easy-to-install, easy-to-use, and economical dust capture device for cut-off power saws.
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the present invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The above-noted problems, among others, are overcome by the present invention. Briefly stated, for a power cut-off saw the present invention contemplates a debris-collection device having a collection member with an inner chamber, a bottom, a top with a top slot thereon, and a front with a front slot which is in communication with the top slot, both slots being adapted to receive a saw blade; a discharge arm on the top of the collection chamber with a hollow channel within in communication with the inner chamber and extending upward therefrom to an opening at its top; and a mounting member attachable to the discharge arm and removably attachable to the shield of the cut-off saw. The top slot may, but need not have, one or more debris-control components covering the slot but permitting entry of the saw blade. Across the bottom front is at least one debris-component for easing the movement of the cut-off saw and for preventing dust generated by the cut-off saw from permeating the environment.
The foregoing has outlined the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood so the present contributions to the art may be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the present invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the disclosed specific embodiment may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures and methods for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It also should be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions and methods do not depart from the spirit and scope of the inventions as set forth in the appended claims.

Debris-collection device for a power saw


A mother TFT substrate having plural TFT substrates, and a mother counter substrate having plural counter substrates are bonded together to form a mother panel. At this time, the interior of the mother panel is sealed only with a sealing material, without forming a sealant separately in seal portions. The mother counter substrate has plural counter substrates of liquid crystal cells. A sealing material is arranged in two rows surrounding the counter substrates in the periphery of the mother counter substrate, except for the seal portions in which seal portion sealing materials are arranged in two rows in a staggered manner on the short sides. When the mother counter substrate and the mother TFT substrate are overlapped and the inside air is let out, the sealing materials are heated. Then, the seal portion sealing materials are bridged together to seal the interior of the mother panel.

In a liquid crystal display device, a TFT substrate includes pixel electrodes, thin film transistors (TFTs), and the like, arranged in a matrix form. A counter substrate includes color filters, and the like, arranged at positions corresponding to the pixel electrodes of the TFT substrate. Liquid crystal is interposed between the TFT substrate and the counter substrate. In this configuration, the liquid crystal display device forms an image by controlling the transmittance of light of the liquid crystal molecules for each pixel.
The liquid crystal display device is flat and light weight, and is used in a wide range of applications in various fields. Small liquid crystal display devices are widely used in electronic devices such as mobile phone and DSC (Digital Still Camera). In the electronic devices such as mobile phone and DSC, there is a demand for reducing the thickness of the whole device in addition to reducing the weight. This leads to a strong demand for using a liquid crystal display device with the entire thickness reduced.
It is not efficient if small liquid crystal display devices are manufactured individually. Thus, the following method is used in order to increase the manufacturing efficiency. First, a mother TFT substrate in which a large number of TFT substrates are formed is manufactured. Also, a mother counter substrate in which a large number of counter substrates are formed is manufactured. Then, the mother TFT substrate and the mother counter substrate are bonded together to form a mother panel. Then, individual liquid crystal cells are cut off from the mother panel.
Meanwhile, in order to meet the demand for reducing the thickness of the liquid crystal display panel, it is necessary to reduce the thicknesses of the TFT substrate and the counter substrate that constitute the liquid crystal display panel. In recent years, the thickness of the TFT substrate or the counter substrate has been reduced to about 0.2 mm, or in some cases to about 0.15 mm. However, such a thin glass plate is not available as a standardized product. In addition, such a thin glass substrate has a low strength, and is difficult to be processed in the manufacturing process.
For this reason, a standardized glass substrate of 0.5 mm or 0.4 mm is used in the stage of forming a mother TFT substrate or mother counter substrate. Then, the mother TFT substrate and the mother counter substrate are bonded together to form a mother panel. Then, the outside of the mother panel is polished to reduce the thickness. The polishing is performed in combination of mechanical and chemical polishing methods. The mother TFT substrate or mother counter substrate is polished to a thickness of about 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm.
The chemical polishing tends to first polish the end portion of the glass substrate. Thus, after the chemical polishing, the thickness of the end portion of the mother panel is small. In particular, the mechanical strength is reduced in this portion, which is likely to cause a crack or cleft. Scribing is performed based on the outline of the mother panel in separating the individual liquid crystal cells from the mother panel. When the end portion of the mother panel is weakened and is cracked or damaged, the accuracy of the scribing is reduced.
JP-A No. 317983/2004 describes a technology that forms a coating portion of resin in a peripheral end portion of the mother panel, preventing the occurrence of such a thin end portion of the mother panel when the thickness of the mother panel is reduced by the chemical polishing. In this way, the technology of JP-A No. 317983/2004 is designed to ensure the thickness and strength of the end portion of the mother panel to increase the accuracy of the scribing.

Mother panel wherein a sealing material includes a first sealing material and a second sealing material wherein the first and second sealing material enables air tight sealing within a periphery of the mother panel

Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for during a first time period, identifying first digital components for presentation when an electronic document is presented at the client device; generating, using priority indicators assigned to each first digital component, a digital component priority queue that specifies an order of presentation of the first digital components; transmitting, to the client device, the electronic document, the first digital components, and the digital component priority queue; during a second time period that occurs after the first time period, identifying a second digital component for presentation when the electronic document is presented at the client device; and updating the digital component priority queue at the client device, including causing the second digital component to be inserted into the digital component priority queue based on a priority indicator assigned to the second digital component.

This document relates to techniques for transmitting high latency digital components in a low latency environment. For example, a large amount of digital components are distributed to portable computing devices, such as mobile phones, tablet devices, and other portable computing devices. Often, the digital components distributed to these portable devices are transmitted over wireless connections, including mobile phone networks (e.g., cellular communications networks). In some situations, the digital components that are distributed must be transmitted within a specified latency constraint, such that digital components that are not provided to the client device within the latency constraint are not available for use by the client device.

Transmitting high latency digital components in a low latency environment


A power supply controller including a MOSFET between a power source and a load, a ground terminal, a gate driving circuit structured to control a gate potential of the MOSFET to turn on power and control the gate potential of the MOSFET to turn off power based on a ground terminal potential, and a turn-off circuit structured to switch the MOSFET into a turn-off state regardless of control by the gate driving circuit when the ground terminal potential is at a higher value than a source potential of the MOSFET.

A power supply controller can be used as a so-called high side driver, which has an n-channel MOSFET inserted between a positive power source and a load to perform current control, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-217696, for example. When a power supply controller is used as a high side driver in such a manner, the gate voltage of the MOSFET must be driven to a level higher than a power supply voltage (typically to a voltage approximately twice the power supply voltage) for the MOSFET to reliably turn on. For this purpose, a gate driving circuit (for example a charge pump circuit) is required. In particular, a gate driving circuit receives a predetermined input voltage. When an ON signal for turning on the MOSFET is input from an external source to the power supply controller, the gate driving circuit rises the input voltage and outputs the risen voltage to the gate of the MOSFET to turn on the MOSFET.
The gate driving circuit controls the gate electric potential of the MOSFET on the basis of the electric potential at a ground terminal provided in the power supply controller to turn off the MOSFET. Accordingly, when the ground terminal is not grounded and the source of the MOSFET is properly grounded through a load, the electric potential at the ground terminal approaches the electric potential of the positive power source and, along with this increase, the gate electric potential of the MOSFET also increases and approaches the electric potential of the positive power source. As a result, regardless of input of the ON signal the potential difference between the source and gate (the gate-source voltage) of the MOSFET exceeds a threshold voltage of the MOSFET and can erroneously cause the MOSFET to turn on.


A combination candy wrapper and board game. The candy wrapper has board game indicia printed on its outside surface. The wrapper is initially sealed. Edible playing pieces, candy, are contained within the sealed wrapper. In order to play the board game, the wrapper is opened and the edible playing pieces are removed therefrom. The wrapper body is then deployed as a flat sheet converting the wrapper body into a game board. The edible playing pieces are then used in conjunction with the game board to play the game. A box for packaging several units of package wrapper/board games is provided.

The present invention relates to a board game wherein the playing board serves as the wrapper for edible play pieces.
Package wrappers for small edible items often have attractive designs and advertisements printed thereon. For example, candy wrappers usually have a trademark or other brand name printed thereon.
According to the present invention, the package wrapper is used for other purposes. Because small children often are the target consumers of certain candy items, the use of the wrapper for additional purposes, for example, as an educational medium or as a game, is appealing.

Combination board game and wrapper for edible play pieces


A method for processing multiple overlapping channels includes: transmitting, by a base station comprising a processor and a memory, a channel comprising a plurality of physical downlink shared channels (PDSCH) in a slot, the PDSCHs being organized into one or more sub-groups of overlapping PDSCHs; and receiving, by the base station and from a mobile station, an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgment (NACK) for two or more overlapping PDSCHs in at least one of the one or more sub-groups in the slot.

In cellular communications protocols, such as Release 15 of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Fifth Generation New Radio (5G-NR) specifications for mobile networks, downlink traffic from a base station to user equipment (e.g., a smartphone) is wirelessly transmitted in signals that include a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) which can be either dynamically scheduled (dynamic grant or DG) or semi-persistently scheduled (SPS).

System and method for processing semi-persistently scheduled or dynamically scheduled channels


The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling access to a disc storage device comprising a plurality of discs storing a plurality of second data obtained by dividing first data, the disc being configured such that a number of sectors included at tracks in an outer section of the disc is greater than a number of sectors included at tracks in an inner section of the disc. In particular, the method and device for controlling disc array decides the discs storing each of a plurality of the second data, and information comprising the addresses of the second data on the disc and the size of each item of a plurality of the second data in such a manner that the time required for accessing each of a plurality of the second data stored in the disc device becomes equal, with access then being carried out to the disc device on the basis of the decided information. Further, each item of information is decided on the basis of a gap expressed by angular differences between the heads and ends of the second data at the time of arrangement of the second data on the discs. In this way, the overhead at the time of accessing data on the disc device can be reduced, the time required for reading and writing data can be fixed and input/output time can be easily estimated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling access to a disc storage device and more particularly relates to a method and a device for controlling access to a disc storage device suitable for use in, for example, a so-called multimedia server demanding high capacity and a high transfer rate and that has to guarantee real time operation even for random accesses.
2. Description of the Related Art
A storage medium for use with multi-media data such as images and audio is referred to as a multi-media server. The following is usually demanded of multimedia servers.
1. High capacity and high transfer rate.
2. Random access.
3. Real time operation.
The background for the occurrence of these requirements and the technology for taking into consideration the fulfillment of these demands are described in the following.
Firstly, the reason why a large capacity and high transfer rate are required by a multi-media server is that the amount of data such as images and audio, etc., handled by multimedia servers is substantial and a high transfer rate is therefore required. With regard to these requirements, processing can then be carried out by adopting as a multimedia server a disc array system comprising a plurality of disc storage devices; i.e., it is possible to increase the transfer rate at the time of data reading and writing by running disc storage devices in parallel. Further, if a disc array system of a RAID (Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks) configuration is adopted as the multi-media server, system reliability can be improved.
Secondly, random accessing is successively accessing data existing at physically separated places. Sequentially accessing data at physically consecutive places is referred to as sequential accessing. Multimedia data is the gathering of data in which continuity has a meaning, with sequential access usually being considered to be the main constituent even at the server. However, when actual applications are considered, this does not have to be the case.
For example, typical multimedia servers include non-linear editors and VOD (Video-On-Demand) servers. Non-linear editors use an editing method where images held in image storing places that are physically remote are instantaneously joined together without interruption. VOD is a service where a number of different sequence moving images are simultaneously provided while being randomly accessed in accordance with requests by a plurality of observers. Random access occurs, however, in whichever case and the server therefore has to deal with this.
Thirdly, real time processing means that there is a guaranteed upper limit put on the processing time. For example, if a moving image is not displayed at 30 images per second shown successively at fixed intervals, movement becomes unnatural. Further, if the disc processing power is insufficient so that the audio data is lacking, the sound will be discontinuous and a disagreeable noise will occur. Therefore, even in the worst case, it is important to guarantee an upper limit where processing can be carried out in at least this much time. Therefore, whereas in storage for use with related computers it has been average performance that has been considered important, with multimedia servers it is the maximum value for the processing time that is to be kept low.
It can therefore be understood that guaranteeing real time performance with random access is important for these multimedia servers. At the same time, this also puts demands on the disc storage device units comprising these multimedia servers; i.e., in exactly the same way, the disc storage devices have to be capable of reading or writing data that is at places separated physically on a recording surface successively within a decided period of time.
A time T.sub.i/o for accessing a sub-block arranged at a prescribed track on a disc recording medium is given by the sum of a time T.sub.r/w for actually reading or writing while the disc head is passing the sub-block, a seek time T.sub.seek for moving the head to the desired cylinder and a rotation wait time T.sub.rd from after the head is moved to the desired cylinder until the head of the data within the track appears. EQU T.sub.i/o =T.sub.r/w +T.sub.seek +T.sub.rd
Here, T.sub.seek and T.sub.rd are overhead time. In the case of sequential access, this overhead time is close to zero without there being any limit but with random access, disc performance deteriorates as the overhead time increases.
However, a method referred to as a SCAN algorithm exists as a related technology for reducing the seek time that is one cause of overhead time. This method is an algorithm for carrying out processing where, as shown in FIG. 1A, when there is a plurality of "Input/Output" (hereinafter abbreviated to "I/O") requests (#1, #2, #3, #4, #5), these requests are sorted across the radial direction of the disc and replaced with the order (#3, #1, #2, #5, #4) as shown in FIG. 1B. As shown in FIG. 1A, the coming and going of the head that is likely to occur when the I/O requests are processed in the order of arrival can be prevented and the respective seek times can therefore be reduced.
On the other hand, the following shown as a technology for reducing the rotation wait time that is a further cause of overhead time in U.S. application Ser. No. 731,861 (filed on Oct. 21, 1996), now U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,632, and its continuation application Ser. No. 889,906, filed on Jul. 10, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,916. Namely, a method where sub-block arrangement is carried out using skew present at angular differences present for the circular directions between heads of sub-blocks and both seek time and rotation wait time are suppressed in combination with a scan algorithm. FIG. 2 shows an example of arranging sub-blocks in the case where the skew and gap values are fixed.
In this way, control can be exerted so that the head of the desired sub-block does not exceed the position of the head during the seek operation by making the skew value fixed. Therefore, when the desired sub-block is accessed, it is only necessary to wait for a rotation time that is the time for the head of this sub-block to return again to the head position so that the rotation wait time can therefore be reduced.
Further, having the gap for the angular difference of the head and end of each block fixed also means that the time T.sub.r/w for actually reading or writing each block is also fixed. In order to estimate the time for one I/O the overhead time has to be known in addition to the time T.sub.r/w and this can be estimated from the graph shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 shows the overhead time for a disc arranged with sub-blocks as shown in FIG. 2. Here, the horizontal axis shows the seek distance, i.e. the number of cylinders to be crossed over when the head for the disc is moved, and the vertical axis shows the time that this takes. The dotted-and-dashed line is the seek time T.sub.seek and the solid line is the overall overhead time. As the overhead time is the sum of the seek time T.sub.seek and the rotation wait time T.sub.rd, the difference between the solid line and the dotted-and-dashed line is therefore the rotation wait time T.sub.rd.
In the above method of the aforementioned US application, the rotation wait time could not be estimated. Therefore, the maximum values for the overhead time can be calculated, as shown by the dotted line in the graph, with this value being calculated as T.sub.seek plus the time for one rotation. From this graph, by carrying out the arrangements of sub-blocks shown in FIG. 2, the overhead time can be kept small as shown by the solid line when compared with that described above shown by the dotted line.
Further, when the application of a SCAN algorithm to the kind of sub-block arrangement method shown in FIG. 2 is considered, when I/O requests occur with respect to sub-blocks present at equal distances in the cylinder direction as shown in FIG. 4, this can be understood to be that which requires the most time. The cylinder spacing L.sub.avg at this time is the average seek distance and the maximum value for the overhead time at the total occurring in a scan of one time can be calculated from the overhead time when the seek distance occurring in FIG. 3 is L.sub.avg.
Not only was this value smaller than the time when just the SCAN algorithm was applied but was also extremely close to the maximum value that was actually observed. This can be taken as a reliable indication of the value estimated in the above way, with this being very useful in the design of multimedia servers.
There is, however, a formatting method for disc storage devices such as hard discs etc. referred to as "zone bit recording" (ZBR). Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the number of sectors per track is increased as the outer periphery is approached from the inner periphery under the conditions of a fixed recording density and a fixed disc rotational velocity. ZBR is a formatting method that increases the recording capacity of the disc by dividing the recording surface into a plurality of zones using distances from the center of the disc so as to make the number of sectors per outer zone greater than the number of sectors per inner zone.
FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the cylinder address and number of sectors per one track occurring at a disc storage device formatted using the ZBR method. Here, the horizontal axis shows the cylinder address and the vertical axis shows the number of sectors per track, with inner tracks having fewer sectors than outer tracks.
On the other hand, it is common for data such as images and audio etc. handled by a multimedia server to originally have been fixed length data. When this kind of fixed length data is stored on a multimedia server comprising m disc storage devices, a method is considered where the data are first divided into n (n.ltoreq.m) sub-blocks of the same size. Then, n devices are selected from m disc storage devices and writing is carried out so as to fill these storage devices up in an order from the outer disc storage devices or from the inner disc storage devices. FIG. 7 shows an example of a case where the number of disc storage devices m is taken to be 6, the number of sub-blocks n into which the data is divided is taken to be 4, and sub-blocks are written in order from disc storage devices at the outer periphery.
However, at this time, when it is wished to use a ZBR formatted disc storage device, with the arrangement of the sub-blocks on a single disc storage device, the gap value is not fixed depending on the arrangement place as shown in FIG. 8A. In FIG. SA the skew values have all been made 0 for convenience but in reality this skew value will not become fixed even if the skew value is a value other than zero.
FIG. 8B is a graph showing transitions in the size of gaps for each sub-block when going from the outer periphery towards the inner periphery. Here, the horizontal axis shows the track position and the vertical axis shows the size of the gap. The number of sectors per track becomes smaller when going from the outer periphery towards the inner periphery, with the gap value gradually becoming smaller in line with this gap value. Because of this, depending on the case it may not be possible for a sub-block to be fitted onto one track and a sub-block may therefore have to be put across two tracks, with the gap value therefore making a sudden jump from about 0 degrees to about 360 degrees.
When the gap is fixed, a method of arranging sub-blocks that is capable of suppressing rotation wait time can be easily obtained by setting the skew to an appropriate fixed value. However, when the gap is not fixed, methods for obtaining an appropriate skew are extremely complicated.
Further, the time T.sub.r/w for actually reading or writing while the head for the disc is passing over the sub-block is small when the sub-blocks are arranged from the outer periphery but is large when the sub-blocks are arranged from the inner periphery, as shown in FIG. 8C. In FIG. 8C, the horizontal axis shows the track position and the vertical axis shows the time necessary for reading or writing to and from each of the sub-blocks.
As described above with reference to FIG. 3, estimates for the maximum value for the time taken for one scan take place under the condition that the portion of time T.sub.r/w is fixed regardless of the place of arrangement of the sub-block. It is therefore possible to compare the portion of time T.sub.r/w with just the estimate deduced for the overhead time. However, when the time T.sub.r/w is changed by the arrangement place of the sub-block, an irregular element of T.sub.r/w has to be added to the overhead time. This complicates the estimation of the maximum value taken for the time taken for a scan of one time and further complicates the design of the multimedia server.
As the present invention sets out to resolve the aforementioned problems, it is the object of the present invention to provide a method and a device for controlling access to a disc storage device capable of providing gap and skew values for data that are constant for a plurality of the disc storage devices having a number of sectors per one track that is larger for tracks at the outer periphery than for tracks at the inner periphery even in the case of the arrangement of fixed length data.

Apparatus and method for controlling access to one or more disc storage devices


A filter with an equivalent circuit that functions as well as physically larger filters without substantial drop off in performance.

This invention enables development and production of high electrical performance filters in sizes much smaller than what is capable with existing technologies, using an improved equivalent circuit.
A ceramic body with a coaxial hole bored through its length forms a resonator that resonates at a specific frequency determined by the length of the hole and the effective dielectric constant of the ceramic material. The holes are typically circular, or elliptical. A dielectric ceramic filter is formed by combining multiple resonators. The holes in a filter must pass through the entire block, from the top surface to the bottom surface. This means that the depth of hole is the exact same length as the axial length of a filter. The axial length of a filter is set based on the desired frequency and available dielectric constant of the ceramic.
The ceramic block functions as a filter because the resonators are coupled inductively and/or capacitively between every two adjacent resonators. These components are formed by the electrode pattern which is designed on the top surface of the ceramic block couplings and plated with a conductive material such as silver or copper.
Ceramic filters are well known in the art and are generally described for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,692,726, 4,823,098, 4,879,533, 5,250,916 and 5,488,335, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
With respect to its performance, it is known in the art that the band pass characteristics of a dielectric ceramic filter are sharpened as the number of holes bored in the ceramic block are increased. The number of holes required depends on the desirable attenuation properties of the filter. Typically a simplex filter requires at least two holes and a duplexer needs more than three holes. This is illustrated in FIG. 9 where graph 10 represents the filter response with fewer holes than graphs 12 and 14. It is apparent that graph 14 which is the response of the filter with the most holes, is the sharpest of the three responses shown. Referring to FIG. 10, it can be seen that the band pass characteristic of a particular dielectric ceramic filter is also sharpened with the use of trap holes bored into the ceramic block. Solid line graph 21 represents the response of a filter without a high end trap. Dashed line graph 23 represents the response of the same filter with a high end trap.
Trap holes, or traps as they are commonly referred to, are resonators which resonate at a frequency different from the primary filter holes, commonly referred to simply as holes. They are designed to resonate at undesirable frequencies. Thus, the holes transmit signals at desirable frequencies while the traps remove signals at the undesirable frequencies, whether low end or high end. In this manner the characteristic of the filter is defined, i.e. high pass, low pass, or band pass. The traps are spaced from holes a distance greater than the spacing between holes so as to avoid mutual interference between the holes and traps. As shown in FIG. 11, whereas holes 31 are separated from each other a distance equal to D, a distance of 2D is placed between trap 33 and the transmission hole nearest to trap 33. The precise distance between trap and transmission pole is one of design choice for achieving a specified performance, but it is preferably 1 to 10 mm. Traditionally, the traps will be spaced from 1.5D to 2D from the holes.
Conventionally the holes 41 and traps 43 in a ceramic filter are positioned along a straight line. This design together with the spacing requirements addressed above limits the extent to which a filter may be reduced in size. Specifically, the performance characteristics of a given filter are a function of its width, length, number of holes and diameter of holes. The usual axial length L is 2 to 20 mm. The width w is determined by the number of holes. The usual width of the block filter is 2 to 70 mm. Reducing the number of holes, the diameter of the holes, or the spacing between holes, will effect the performance. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a design for a dielectric ceramic filter which can effectively reduce the size of a given filter while maintaining its given performance characteristics.
Equivalent circuits are generally those circuits with the same overall current, impedance, phase, and voltage relationships as a more-complicated counter part that it usually replaces.
There is a need for dielectric ceramic filters used in advanced communication applications such as CDMA and TDMA cellular phones with higher electrical performances and a smaller physical size. However the existing methods to develop a filter with higher electrical performance is to add additional transmission poles and/or trap resonators in a filter, which causes an increase in the size of the new filter.
This invention describes a new design for increasing the electrical performance without increasing the size of a high performance ceramic filter. To achieve this purpose, this invention describes a new equivalent circuit of dielectric ceramic filter with a new printed pattern on the filter to realize the new equivalent circuit.

Duplexer filter with offset resonator holes


A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system includes a primary enclosure and a secondary enclosure. The primary enclosure can include a fastening feature of a secondary enclosure receiver that is positioned adjacent to an aperture in the primary enclosure. The secondary enclosure can include a corresponding fastening feature that mechanically couples to the fastening feature of the primary enclosure, where the secondary enclosure surrounds the aperture when the secondary enclosure is mechanically coupled to the primary enclosure. The secondary enclosure can further include a passage through which a wire that traverses the aperture in the primary enclosure passes.

Recessed lighting is used in a number of different applications. In a number of cases, recessed lighting uses LED technology to provide one or more of a number of benefits, including but not limited to decreased energy consumption, reduced maintenance, and increased efficacy. LED technologies used with recessed lighting involve relatively confined spaces, and so connecting power and/or control wires to one or more components of a LED lighting system can be difficult.
At times, a splice or other secondary electrical connection is made to a LED lighting system. In such a case, the splice or other secondary electrical connection can be subject to the same electrical and/or mechanical standards as one or more other components of the LED lighting system.

Secondary enclosure for light-emitting diode-based lighting system


The present invention discloses a method for allowing an email request to be sent to a group of recipients which requires one person to accept the request or task. Obtaining notification of the acceptance and completion status of the task is accomplished solely through exchanged emails, without the use of standalone tracking or modification to the underlying email system functionality. One responder emails are sent to a group of recipients, and when an accepting recipient accepts the request, the sender and non-accepting recipients are notified via email that the request has been accepted. Similarly, emails can be sent to the sender and non-accepting recipients that the request has been completed.

Email applications are commonly used to communicate messages between a sender and one or more individuals. One type of email message which is commonly sent is that containing a task request, where any one person in a group of recipients is requested to perform certain actions. For example, a message may be sent to a group of system administrators with a critical request to fix a problem on a particular system. Any one of the group is able to fix the problem, but only one person is needed undertake the task, and each person is not necessarily available to undertake the task. Further, the task request may be time sensitive. Thus, there exists a need to timely inform each recipient about the task, and prevent multiple users from accepting the task and duplicating work.
Email messaging may be used to notify a group of persons when one person signs up for or undertakes the task. However, the individual who has decided to complete the task must often reply to the entire email recipient list and notify each recipient that the task has been undertaken or completed. This involves the exchange of numerous email messages, often to people who were unaware of or unable to execute the task.
One workaround for this problem is through the use of a method which assigns tasks according to a priority email address list. In this scenario, messages are first sent to the users most capable or most likely to complete the task, and if the user is unable to undertake the task, the next person in the priority list is contacted. Although this system is able to prevent duplicated work, this method of communication may take a large amount of time to operate, and is relatively inefficient.
What is needed in the art is a way to communicate to a group of recipients regarding a task and the status of the task via email in parallel, rather than sequential, fashion.

International Business Machines Corporation


Systems, methods, and devices for determining an acquisition threshold boundary value and applying that boundary value to identify which incoming signals are directed to a device, based on matching the device syncword with the syncword for the incoming signal. For some implementations using ANT protocol, syncwords composed of the last four bits of the preamble and first 14 bits of the network address identify each device. Incoming syncwords are correlated with the device's syncword, and the correlation compared to threshold boundary value which is based on the characteristics of the individual syncword, including syncword bit stream inter-symbol interference.

In many telecommunication systems, communications networks are used to exchange messages among several interacting spatially-separated devices. Networks may be classified according to geographic scope, which could be, for example, a metropolitan area, a local area, or a personal area. Such networks would be designated respectively as a wide area network (WAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), local area network (LAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), near area network (NAN) or personal area network (PAN). Networks may also differ according to the switching/routing technique used to interconnect the various network nodes and devices (e.g., circuit switching vs. packet switching), the type of physical media employed for transmission (e.g., wired vs. wireless), and the set of communication protocols used (e.g., Internet protocol suite, SONET (Synchronous Optical Networking), Ethernet, etc.).
Some devices use ANT protocol to communicate over wireless networks. ANT is a wireless sensor network protocol operating in the 2.4 GHz ISM band. ANT's low computational overhead and high efficiency enable ultra-low power and scalable wireless connectivity. ANT is embedded in a wide variety of devices including mobile phones, handheld GPS devices, sensors, medical devices, and fitness equipment for healthcare, fitness, communications, and industrial applications.
In many wireless communication protocols, including ANT, devices use syncwords to synchronize communicating devices. A syncword is a sequence of bits that identifies a device, and is known to both the sending and receiving device. Sending devices include the syncword for the intended recipient in transmitted signals. Intended recipients correlate the signal syncword with their device syncword. When the computed correlation is high (equals or exceeds an acquisition threshold value), the message is assumed to be intended for the device. When the correlation is less than the acquisition threshold value, the device assumes that the message is not intended for it. Due to a variety of communication and device imperfections which can affect a transmitted signal and the processing of the signal at a device receiving the signal, the received signal is not always identified as a match for a syncword even when it is supposed to match ("missed detects"). In other cases, the received signal may be incorrectly identified as a match for the device even when it is not supposed to match ("false alarms"). Accordingly, methods and apparatuses that can improve the accuracy of syncword acquisition are desired.

ANT syncword specific acquisition thresholding


A method for automating a process includes the following steps: providing a user interface which graphically presents a plurality of icons to a user, wherein each icon represents an operation step having at least one input and at least one output; enabling the user to select one or more of the icons; enabling the user to form connections between the selected icons to represent data flow between the operation steps represented by the icons; and generating computer instructions for executing the operation steps corresponding to the selected icons, and in accordance with the connections, in such a way that each operation step can only be executed when data is present at all of its inputs, and cannot be executed when data is absent at any one of its inputs.

The invention can be used in a large range of fields where process automation is required. The invention may be used for example to control machinery, such as a precision lathe or conveyor belts. It may also be used to automate processes in the fields of telecommunications, and to automate financial and business processes.
Traditionally experts in the field of a relevant technology or business formulate a set of requirements which for example may define a method of implementing a method or analyzing results. These requirements must then be translated into a formal set of processes and rules and converted into computer software processes which then implement the requirements.
For example a new pricing structure for gas and electricity may be devised by an energy supply company. The company managers and accountants will write a set of criteria by which the pricing structure is to be generated. In a simple example these criteria may include the cost to the company, the quantity used, the overheads and outgoings connected with supply and the profit to be achieved. These criteria, and their relationship to each other, might first be embodied in a written report. They must then be converted into a clear sequence of steps, for example by illustrating them in a flow chart diagram, and eventually a computer programmer translates the sequence of steps into computer code embodying the required process and rules to implement the new pricing structure.
This is an expensive and time consuming exercise and is vulnerable to the introduction of errors in the interpretation of the requirements and their translation into a finished software product because of the number of layers of personnel involved and the different "languages" or models of the world that they use.
Software packages are available to assist in the formulation of processes and rules but they are difficult for a non-computer expert to use directly and it is still necessary to employ an information technology expert. It is also known to use a data driven software model; see for example Dataflow Machine Architecture, Arthur H Veen, ACM Computing Surveys, Vol 18, No 4, December 1986.


Method and apparatus for messaging between disparate networks. A service control gateway (SCG) provides the capability to extend advanced intelligent network (AIN) services transparently between circuit switched and packet networks. In one embodiment, the invention works by translating signaling system 7 (SS7) transaction capabilities application part (TCAP) messages into session initiation protocol (SIP) INVITE messages. SIP messages, which may be responses to the translated messages referred to above, are translated back into TCAP messages. Data from messages is stored in an interaction database, a data structure maintained at the SCG. The SCG uses the interaction database to properly format translated messages for each network.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the translation of messages and responses being transferred between two different types of telecommunication networks. The messages are translated from the protocol of one network to the protocol of the other. More particularly, the invention relates to moving messages between a circuit-switched and a packet-based network. The invention is particularly useful to bridge the gap between an advanced intelligent network (AIN) and an internet protocol (IP) network that operates according to the session initiation protocol (SIP).
2. Description of the Problem
Evolution of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) has accelerated in recent years. Much of the PSTN still operates on circuit-switched connections. Integrated services digital network (ISDN) bearer channels often provide transport. In parallel with the PSTN, a packet based data network has evolved. This data network has largely been used for Internet traffic and data networking, and is mostly based in the internet protocol (IP). Although these networks have been mostly separate until recently, the two networks are starting to merge to create a so-called xe2x80x9cunified network.xe2x80x9d It is likely that future growth, at least in the developed countries, will be mostly accommodated by growth in IP based, packet networks.
As the PSTN evolved, it became desirable to provide many new, intelligent services such as caller-ID, automated callback, call forwarding, local number portability, and other custom calling features. To enable this new network intelligence, signaling information messages between switches in the telephone network are exchanged on a separate physical circuit or channel dedicated to that purpose. To support a separate signaling path running throughout the telephone network, an advanced intelligent network (AIN) was developed which operates in parallel with the voice circuit network of the circuit-switched telephone system. Today, the AIN uses a messaging protocol called signaling system 7 (SS7) to exchange call information between switches. SS7 is based on a set of international standards for highspeed digital communications and serves as the foundation for telephony infrastructures worldwide. In SS7, a layer of the protocol called the Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) handles queries and responses for databases. Other layers of the protocol include Message Transfer Part 2 (MTP2) and Message Transfer Part 3 (MTP3), and the Signaling Connection Part (SCCP). The SS7 standards are well known. For further information see Telcordia Technologies, GR-246-CORE, Specification of Signaling System Number 7, December, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference. The capabilities of SS7 have been extended by another layer, called Intelligent Network Application Protocol (INAP). A network which features this protocol is called an Intelligent Network (IN). INAP is described in European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) Publication, ETSI-CORE-INAP-CS2, Intelligent Network Application Protocol, Capability Set 2, March, 1996, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Reliable, flexible, multimedia and voice traffic over IP networks has been enabled by the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) as described in Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Request for Comments (RFC) 2543: Session Initiation Protocol, March 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference. SIP is an application layer control protocol that is used to establish, modify, and terminate multimedia sessions or calls. SIP provides proxiable messages used to perform call setup, modification, and termination functions. For example, one SIP message used to perform call setup functions is the INVITE message. The INVITE message is conventionally used to invite telephony devices to participate in a media stream communication, such as a voice communication, a data communication, a video communication, or any combination thereof. The INVITE message includes a session description protocol (SDP) portion that is used by end user devices to exchange media capabilities and other information.
As unified networks emerge, it is becoming increasingly important to provide calling services seamlessly across SIP based packet, networks and traditional AIN based signaling networks. In fact, this capability will become critical, as eventually, some new services will be provisioned only in the SIP based network. It will be desirable to access those services from the AIN based network, which will still be used for some time. The equipment and related protocols used to provide traditional AIN services are not readily adaptable to packet telephony networks. Currently, a few services have been provided across networks by using large, standing, centralized data-bases that slow down the routing of messages considerably. What is needed is a way to allow calling services to span cooperating circuit switched and packet switched networks, by seamlessly translating messages and responses between TCAP and SIP in a distributed manner, and in substantially real time.
The present invention solves the above problem by providing the capability to extend AIN services transparently between circuit switched and packet networks in a distributed fashion. Because the invention simplifies the provision of services that span the different network architectures, the services do not have to be fully deployed in multiple networks, and can therefore be deployed at lower cost. In one embodiment, the invention works by translating TCAP messages into SIP messages at each connection point between the two networks. SIP messages, which may be responses to the translated messages referred to above, are translated back into TCAP messages as appropriate. The proxy capability of SIP is used in conjunction with timers and default database entries to assure the circuit-switched network receives timely responses. It should be noted that any messages being handled will generically be referred to herein as xe2x80x9cmessages.xe2x80x9d However, the term xe2x80x9cresponsexe2x80x9d specifically refers herein to a message originating in one network in response to a message originating in another network.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a service control gate-way (SCG) is provided to translate messages being passed between the two networks. When the SCG receives a message from a first network, it stores network specific data from the message in an interaction database. The interaction database is a data structure maintained at the SCG to store information pertaining to a message as it traverses the unified network. The SCG determines network specific data for the second network that corresponds to the network specific data for the first network and stores that data in the interaction database. The message is then sent to a second network using the second network specific data so that the message is properly formatted. A response is received from the second network and is associated with the original message using information in the interaction database. The response is then formatted for the first network and sent to the first network for processing. In one embodiment, the first network is a circuit switched, AIN network using the SS7 protocol, and the second network is a packet network using SIP.
The interaction database, as referenced above, can be maintained within the memory system of the SCG. The database enables the fast translation of TCAP messages into SIP messages, and vice versa. The interaction database includes AIN network specific information, including a transaction identifier, session parameters, and routing data, corresponding to a message. The interaction database also includes SIP network specific information, including a call identifier and a sequence number corresponding to the message. All of the network specific information is accessible by a computer program that enables the service control gateway to translate messages and responses so that they can be passed between the two networks. In one embodiment, the information in the interaction database is organized into interaction data units (IDU""s). Information in the database is created as needed, maintained until the transaction is completed, and then erased. Multiple SCG""s can be used, one at each connection point between the networks, effectively distributing interaction databases across the IP network entry points. This distributed database structure, together with the capability to maintain only data needed for current transactions, makes the translation provided by the SCG""s much faster and more efficient than would be possible with a standing, centralized database.
The service control gateway is a hardware platform that includes connections for the two or more networks being spanned, and one or more processor units that control the operation of the SCG. The processors access a memory system, which includes the computer program code that implements the method of the invention, as well as the interaction database described above. The software and hardware in the SCG also provide a default response to the AIN if a message times out or a response cannot be sent from the packet network. The SCG is deployed between two constituent networks, a circuit switched network and the SIP based, packet switched network. The SIP network preferably includes a number server which can proxy INVITE messages for other entities within the SIP based constituent network.
As previously mentioned many aspects of the invention are implemented by computer program code. The computer program code together with the hardware described above provides the means to perform the functions of the universal mediation point. The computer program code can be stored independently from the device or transported over a network for shipping, back-up, or archival purposes. If the code is stored, storage media is used. The media can be magnetic such as diskette, tape, or fixed disk, or optical such as a CD-ROM.