text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|30 Dec 1997
|Filing date
|16 Nov 1995
|Priority date
|16 Nov 1994
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Pascal Pons, Renzo Dal Molin
|Original Assignee
|Ela Medical S.A.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (12), Referenced by (27), Classifications (11), Legal Events (6)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
The invention concerns the automatic adjustment of certain electrical parameters of an electronic device, more preferably, to adjusting electrical parameters of circuits integrated on a monolithic chip component of an active implantable medical device, such as a cardiac pacemaker, cardioverter or defibrillator.
Although the following description mainly refers to the case of a cardiac pacemaker, the invention is applicable in a general manner to a very large variety of electronic devices. As used herein, the term "active implantable medical devices" includes, but is not limited to, those devices defined by the directive 90/385/CEE of 20 Jun. 1990, of the European Community Council.
The growing complexity of implantable devices and constraints of miniaturization render indispensable the utilization of one or more integrated circuits. But technological parameters of the manufacture of these circuits can introduce dispersions (i.e., variations) in characteristics of components of the same production run or lot from one device to another, and even from one circuit to another, with a correlative dispersion of electrical parameters of circuits of the assembled pacemaker. In other words, although produced under the same conditions, the resulting integrated circuits may have different operating characteristics.
It is believed by the inventors that it is for this reason that the clock frequencies of the various oscillators of the pacemaker, for example, the oscillator that defines the maximal stimulation pulse limit (the maximum pacing rate) or the oscillator controlling the microprocessor, are not at the desired values. As other electrical parameters also are subject to such dispersions, one finds also that the frequency related characteristics (mainly the cutoff frequency), notably of the various filters used in the detection of the cardiac activity, including in particular active and passive filters (such as high pass, low pass, and bandpass filters) are affected.
The adjustment of these various electronic circuit parameters results in the adjustment of the component values of the circuit.
One known series of techniques employed to overcome this problem is to add external passive components to the chip, for example, resistor elements which are adjusted by removal of matter by means of a laser or etching. Using this technique has a major disadvantage in that it increases the congestion and number of parts in the device, and has the limitation of using adjustable component types (essentially resistances) and a definitive (irreversible) character of the adjustments. Therefore, it is impossible to correct an overadjustment once the parameter has been adjusted to a certain degree.
When the adjustment concerns components situated on the chip, one can anticipate an adjustment by selective connection of selected ones of allocated components having values of decreasing weight, i.e., closing or opening circuits to connect selected ones of a plurality of elements in series or in parallel. This technique however is delicate to industrialize, necessitates a large number of pad surfaces and therefore consumes a large amount of chip surface. In addition, as in the above described technique, it is definitive in that the adjustments are irreversible and in certain circumstances cannot be modified by further irreversible adjustments.
Similarly, the known commutation technique of "Zener zapping" and "Fuse zapping" present the same disadvantages of irreversibility. They also require additional manufacturing processing steps and hardware, e.g. control lines, power supplies, etc., to perform the zapping.
A second known series of techniques consists of realizing the automatic parameter adjustment by use of software, more specifically, by preserving control values in an electronic memory which are used to correct the electrical circuit parameters subject to dispersion. These techniques, despite their advantage to allow an unlimited and reversible and thus most accurate modification of the adjustment, presents disadvantages of a notable increase in the complexity of the circuit structure and a sensitivity to declines of a power supply (RAM) and to effects of radiation that can be received (RAM or E2 PROM).
It is an object of the present invention to remedy the various disadvantages of the known techniques by proposing a process and a device that allows an adjustment of an electrical parameter of an electronic device, notably of an active implantable medical device, which adjustment is operated directly on components in both an automatic and a reversible manner (hereinafter referred to as "autoadjust" or "autoadjusting"). More precisely, as discussed below, the autoadjust according to the present invention presents advantages that have never been available up until now by the known techniques.
Advantageously, the device used to perform the adjustment is completely integrated in the chip. This results in a minimal circuit element congestion and a maximal utilization of the surface of the chip. Other advantages include avoiding the additional processing steps involved in bonding a circuit component to the chip, and avoiding the susceptibility to noise that would exist with such bonded circuit elements.
Advantageously, too, the process of adjustment does not entail a significant increase in power consumption, which is always an important parameter in the case of active implantable devices, where it is necessary to preserve the battery life as much as possible.
Another advantage is that the automatic nature of the adjustment insures a high reliability and a high stability at the same time, such that automatic control is possible at any given time during the life of the implantable device.
Yet another advantage is that the adjustment can take into account not only intrinsic dispersions in components of the circuit, but also those dispersions resulting from the environment in which the circuit functions (notably conditions of temperature).
A still further advantage is that the adjustment can be easily inhibited by telemetry, for example, for purposes of test or characterization of the circuit, and be restored thereafter.
Indeed, as one will see, it is possible, for example, during a total reprogramming of the implantable device, on demand, to enable or disable the autoadjust feature by means of a conventional external programmer.
One also will see that, the autoadjust according to the invention can concentrate on oscillator clock frequencies as well as bandwidths of filters with, in one case and in the other case, respective circuits comprising a very large number of similar components in common, simplifying as much as possible the construction of the chip for use in the implantable device.
To this end, one aspect of the invention broadly concerns a process comprising the steps of:
a) producing an oscillation having a period that is a function of the value of an adjustable component by selective commutation from among a plurality of additional components, the aforementioned electrical parameter to adjust being a function the value of this adjustable component, and the state of the additional component commutations being determined by a numerical, e.g., digital, value stored in a register of memory;
b) measuring the relationship between the period produced at step (a) and a predetermined reference period;
c) determining a difference between the relationship measured at step (b) and a predetermined value;
d) modifying the digital value stored in the register until finding a value minimizing the difference determined at step (c); and
e) latching the register on the digital value obtained at step (d) corresponding to the minimized difference.
Preferably, in step (b), the determination of the measured relationship is undertaken by counting a number of periods of the oscillation produced at step (a) during the duration of a reference period or, conversely, by counting the number of reference periods during the duration of a period of the oscillation produced at step (a); and, preferably in step (c), the determination of said difference is undertaken by comparing the number thus counted with the control value. Preferably also, in step (d), the aforementioned digital value is modified by increment or by decrement from a maximal or minimal value, respectively, and the minimization of said difference is considered as reached when a supplementary change of the digital value provokes a change of sign of this difference.
In a first embodiment of the process of the present invention, the aforementioned electrical parameter to adjust is a clock frequency and the oscillation produced at step (a) is the clock oscillation frequency.
In a second embodiment of the process, the aforementioned parameter to adjust is a filter cutoff frequency and the oscillation produced at step (a) is an oscillation produced by commuting (switching) the adjustable component in an oscillating circuit during the duration of the adjustment phase by commuting a component matched to the adjustable component which belongs to an oscillating circuit that is distinct from the filter to adjust.
In the foregoing two embodiments, the produced oscillation will generally have an amplitude that remains the same (absent the inclusion of an attenuating circuit element).
The process also may be extended to other embodiments wherein the parameter to adjust is a different electrical characteristic. One such example is the resonant frequency of a telemetry circuit such as those used in active implantable medical devices for communication with an external programmer. The resonating circuit typically includes at least one oscillating LC circuit and an external capacitor carried on the chip. The principle for adjusting the resonant frequency is the same as in the above described parameters. In particular, one counts the number of oscillations within the duration of the period (i.e., two zero crossings) of the resonating circuit. In this case, it is noted that the amplitude of the oscillations are attenuated over time.
Advantageously, the digital value of the memory register can be forced to a predetermined security value in response to an external or internal command.
Another aspect of the invention concerns an electronic device, notably an active implantable medical device, having a structure that employs the different aspects of the processes described above, described in more detail with reference to the drawings.
In particular, the invention allows one to integrate on the same monolithic chip the adjustable component with its additional components and its associated selective commutation switches, the memory register, a circuit to measure the relationship between periods, and a circuit to determine the difference and the modifications of the digital value.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent in view of the detailed description below of two embodiments of the invention, made with reference to the drawings annexed in which:
FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram illustrating an autoadjusting circuit of an oscillator frequency according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram illustrating an autoadjusting circuit of the cutoff frequency of a first order filter according to another preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 illustrates the oscillatory signal produced by the circuit of FIG. 2 during the phase of adjusting the filter.
FIG. 4 illustrates an active implantable device using the circuit of FIG 1; and
FIG. 5 illustrates an active implantable device using the circuit of FIG. 2.
Returning to FIG. 1, an example of an integrated RC oscillator in which one wishes to adjust the frequency is shown. The basic principle is to compare the oscillator frequency to a reference frequency, that is, a quartz oscillator present in the active implantable medical device. According to this embodiment, the frequency to be adjusted can be greater than or less than the reference quartz oscillator.
The first case, where the frequency of the oscillator to adjust is less than the frequency of the quartz oscillator is, for example, an oscillator that defines the upper limit of the cardiac rhythm (generally at approximately 190 beats per minute). Such an oscillator may be defined by a 1 Khz oscillator while the frequency of the quartz oscillator is 32 kHz. In this case, one compares the period of the oscillator to adjust to a predetermined number of periods of the quartz reference oscillator. One counts the number of periods (or the number of transitions) of the quartz reference oscillator contained in a period, or a multiple of a period, of the oscillator to adjust. The counted number is compared to a control value and a component of the circuit is adjusted by successive iterations in a manner to reduce to a minimum the difference between the counted number and the control value.
The second case, where the frequency of the oscillator to adjust is greater than the quartz oscillator, corresponds, for example, to the oscillator (clock) which drives the microprocessor being generally at 500 kHz or 1.0 mHz, while the quartz oscillator has only a frequency of 32 kHz. In this second case, one proceeds in an inverse manner, that is to say that one counts the number of periods (or transitions) of the oscillator to adjust contained in a period, or a multiple of a period, of the reference oscillator. The adjustment is then realized the same manner.
The adjustment of the frequency of a functioning oscillator RC can be obtained in various ways. In the following example, this is realized by adjusting the capacitance, in a manner that will be described in detail. This possibility is not, however, the only manner, and a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that there are a wide variety of other foreseeable ways of performing the adjustment, notably by an adjustment of the resistance (although this manner of proceeding is more delicate than others due to the fact of the inherent resistance Ron of switching transistors) or again the commutation of current sources, and the capacity of the oscillator then being loaded to a constant current.
With reference to FIG. 1, an integrated circuit chip 60 is shown which includes a reference oscillator 1, that is controlled by a quartz crystal 2, which one will be able to consider that the frequency thereof is perfectly stable. This oscillator produces a reference signal CK. The oscillator to adjust RC is implemented around a trigger 3, e.g., a Schmitt trigger inverter, with a resistor element 4, connected in this example between the trigger input and output, and a capacitor 5 connected between the trigger and a voltage source VDD. The consequent oscillator RC output signal, whose frequency is to be adjusted, is designated SOSC. The intergrated chip 60 may be any suitable intergrated circuit chip, thereby allowing all the elements that are a part of the present invention to be monolithically intergrated.
To realize the adjustment, a network of additional components (also referred to as "supplemental components") 6 is used, in this case capacitors which can be selectively and separately commuted in parallel with the main capacitor 5 by actuation of static MOS switches 7. Each switch 7 is, for example, separately controlled by a signal applied on respective corresponding lines of a bus 8, that is a bus of five bits corresponding to the five capacitors that it is possible to commute in this example. Capacitors 6 are preferably constructed in fractions of 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 and 1/16 as compared to the largest capacitance of the capacitors 6. This permits selecting an adjustment of one among sixteen possible combinations of capacity constants.
The signals on bus 8 used to control selectively the switches 7 come from an output of a register 9. Register 9 also has an input RAZ which resets the register contents to an initial zero, an input SECU for receiving a security code of five bits, and an input DOSC representing a code of adjustment.
This code of adjustment DOSC ("oscillator data") is a code of five bits generated by a circuit 10 which is capable of generating all possible five bit codes, preferably successively from the lowest to the highest (or vice versa). The circuit 10 is controlled by a counter 11 receiving on the one hand the reference frequency CK and on the other hand the frequency to adjust SOSC. This counter 11 can be re-initialized by a pulse INIT and rendered active by a signal AJUST which is applied during the entire duration of the operation of auto-adjusting.
As, in the present example, the frequency of the oscillator to adjust is greater than the quartz oscillator 1, the counter 11 counts the number of periods of the quartz oscillator output signal CK contained in a period of the oscillator to adjust SOSC. The number thus determined, that is a five bit word, is applied on one of the inputs of a comparator 12. The other input of comparator 12 receives a control value NPC (number of periods to count).
Described below is a manner in which auto-adjusting is obtained by using the aforementioned circuit. The operation begins with a reset to zero of the register 9 (signal RAZ is set to logical high or `1`). This generally occurs following a complete initialization of the implantable device, for example, as requested by an external programmer using a telemetry connection and an initialization command.
The implantable device is then placed in "standby" mode. This is so that the autoadjusting process occurs in normal conditions, with the quartz oscillator operational and all the other electrical parameters set at their nominal values. In this "standby" mode, the system forces automatically the value of the register 9 to a security code of adjustment (the value SECU). This code insures that the device has an "average" functioning frequency that is imprecise but satisfactory to insure a minimal security level of acceptable operations. The security code of adjustment thus provides a default value for operation.
One then commands the implantable device to pass from the mode "standby" to a "nominal" mode. One then begins the operation of adjustment, by setting to `1` the code AJUST. This renders operational the counter 11 and therefore the comparator 12 and the generator of adjusting codes 10 situated downstream of the comparator 12.
The generator 10 applies the first possible value as the code DOSC, for example, the maximal value `11111` corresponding to a command for closing of all switches 7. The circuit is then going to oscillate at its lowest possible frequency SOSC.
On a rising signal of the reference oscillator (signal CK) (i.e., a transition), one initializes the counter 11 by a pulse INIT=`1` of brief duration. Then, one proceeds to the counting properly of the number of periods of the oscillator to adjust (i.e., the number periods of the signal SOSC). On the rising signal following the signal CK, the counting ceases and the comparator 12 compares the content of the counter 11 to the control value NPC.
If the number of counted periods is less than the control value NPC, one commands the generator 10 in a manner that it decreases by a unit the value of the adjusting code DOSC. In the example given, the code is decreased to `11110`. Then, one repeats the cycle.
If, on the rising signal following the signal CK, one initializes the counter 11, one counts a number of periods of the signal SOSC, etc. When the number of counted periods becomes greater than or equal to the control value NPC, this means that one has reached the optimum, that is to say minimal difference or gap between the number of real periods and the number of control periods. One considers then that the oscillator is adjusted as best as possible and one deactivates the autoadjusting feature (AJUST is set low to `0`). This latches the code stored in the memory.
The implantable device can then function, in a nominal mode, with the oscillator RC adjusted on the last value of the adjusting word DOSC, a value which remains memorized (stored) in the register 9.
One will note that in case of a malfunction, the value of the register 9 will be automatically forced to the security code of adjustment SECU. This allows the implantable device to function suitably, although in a manner that is non-optimal in all circumstances.
The Table I below sets forth sample electrical parameters obtained with a circuit of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, realized according to the illustrated embodiment of the invention for autoadjusting the microprocessor clock speed.
TABLE I______________________________________PARAMETER VALUE______________________________________Nominal frequency of the oscillator 500 kHzRC (F.sub.OSC)Typical dispersion F.sub.OSC before 303 kHz < F.sub.OSC < 825 kHzadjustmentPercentage Variation -39%/+65%Frequency of the quartz oscillator 32.768 kHz(F.sub.q)Number of periods to count 30Error of sampling: to the maximum 1 <3.3%period on 30Number of bits (Nb) of the code 5adjustment DOSCMaximal fitting error: �2.1%(ΔT.sub.OSC /T.sub.OSC)/(2.sup.Nb - 1)Typical dispersion F.sub.OSC after 481 kHz < F.sub.OSC < 519 kHzadjustment______________________________________
FIG. 2 illustrates another circuit for autoadjusting according to the present invention, that is in this second embodiment an active RC filter of the first order.
In this circuit, one introduces temporarily the filter in an oscillating circuit, and adjusts the oscillating frequency in the same manner as was used in the preceding embodiment (by selective commutation of a plurality of capacitors). Then, one restores the RC circuit to perform its filter function once the adjustment has been performed. Proceeding in this manner is not, however, the only possible manner. One could, for example, envisage duplicating all components of the filter, yielding one series of components constituting the filter circuit proper and the other series serving to make a distinct RC oscillating circuit, functioning in a permanent manner.
Indeed, in the area of microelectronics, considering the presence of two elements (such as capacitors) formed by the same process and located proximate to each other one observes an excellent matching with the result that, if one adjusts the oscillator by an appropriate combination of commuted capacitors, one can estimate that the capacitance obtained by the filter using the same combination of commutations will be practically identical.
In one variation, instead of proceeding to use a duplication of the entire series of capacitors, a series of common capacitors, standard to all filters using the same values of components, are used to control the oscillator RC. The adjustment of the standard oscillator allows one to obtain thus the adjustment of all associated filters by applying on all circuits the same combination of capacitor commutations.
The circuit of FIG. 2 corresponds to the case that one introduces temporarily the filter in a oscillating circuit. A certain number of elements are common to the circuits of illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and are thus provided with the same reference numeral. To the extent that these elements function in a similar manner, they will not be further described here and one will be able to refer to the description that has been given already above.
Thus, the filter RC comprises a fixed resister element 4, a fixed capacitor 5, and a series of commutable additional components, i.e., adjustment capacitors 6, for example, three such capacitors. The three capacitors 6 are commutable, selectively and separately by static switches 7, which are controlled according to a three bit word applied on a bus 8. The 3bit word is output by a register 9.
The filter RC comprised of elements 4, 5 and 6 is connected to an input EFIL and to an output SFIL. To adjust this filter RC, one uses it temporarily to determine the frequency of an oscillator, a frequency that one will adjust in the same manner as that for the oscillator shown in FIG. 1, by means of elements 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. These elements perform the same functions and have the same structure as described in the case of the circuit of FIG. 1.
To realize this temporary commutation, one anticipates a switch 13 is provided that will be closed when the command of adjustment AJUST is applied. The closing of switch 13 will apply at the input of the counter 11 the output signal SOSC of an oscillator comprising an operational amplifier 14 having a first input connected to the common ground across a resistor 4 and capacitor 5 in series and in series with the parallel capacitors 6 (the common ground corresponding to the filter output SFIL) and whose output is connected to the input of the counter 11 via an inverter amplifier 15 and the switch 13.
The output of amplifier 14 also controls, via two inverters 16 connected in series, a switch 17 that applies to the second input of the operational amplifier 14 a low reference voltage VL, obtained, for example, by means of a divider bridge of two resistances 18 and 19 connected between the positive source voltage VDD and the negative voltage supply VSS. Switch 21 allows one to apply on the second input of the operational amplifier 14 a high reference voltage VH, obtained for example, by means of a divider bridge of two resistances 22 and 23 connected between sources VDD and VSS. One will note that, because the control of switches 17 and 21 is always inverted, the two will be never simultaneously closed.
With this configuration, the output signal SFIL is going therefore to alternate periodically between the high level VH and the low level VL (as illustrated FIG. 3), switches 17 and 21 changing position (state) on each crossing of the threshold VH or VL and making the RC circuit have a repeating cycle of charge and discharge.
With this oscillator implementation, the period of oscillations is given by the following relationship (R1, R2, R3 and R4 being values of resistances 22, 23, 18 and 19, respectively):
F.sub.OSC =1/(RC Log (R2/R1) (R3/R4)!)
This period is therefore independent of the voltages VDD and VSS and depends only on the resistor element 4, the capacitor elements 5 and 6 and the ratios of resistances 18:19 and 22:23. These parameters can be very well matched in integrated circuit technology.
One thus uses resistance elements 4, 5 and 6 of the filter to control an oscillator (signal SOSC), whose adjustment will be realized in the same manner as in the case of the circuit of FIG. 1.
The cutoff frequency, Fcutoff, is defined by the following relation:
F.sub.cutoff =1/(2πRC), which becomes:
F.sub.cutoff /F.sub.OSC =(Log R2/R1) (R3/R4)!)/(2π)=constant.
The adjustment of FOSC, will entail therefore the adjustment perfectly of cutoff. Once the adjustment is obtained, the signal AJUST is suppressed (set low). This has for an effect to open the switch 13, and therefore to restore the RC circuit that one has adjusted to its normal filter function, no signals being applied at the input of this filter other than the filter signal EFIL.
The Table II sets forth sample electrical parameters obtained with a circuit of the type illustrated in FIG. 2, realized accordingly to an embodiment of the invention.
TABLE II______________________________________PARAMETER VALUE______________________________________Nominal cutoff frequency F.sub.cutoff 250 HzTypical dispersion - cutoff before 173 Hz < cutoff < 391 HzadjustmentPercentage Variation -31%/+56%Nominal frequency of the oscillator 1024 HzRC (F.sub.OSC)Frequency of the quartz oscillator 32.768 kHz(Fq)Number of periods to count 32Sampling error to the maximum 1 <3.1%period on 32Number of bits of the adjusting code 3DFIL (Nb)Maximal adjustment error: �5.7%Δ(T.sub.OSC /T.sub.OSC)/(2.sup.Nb - 1)Typical dispersion cutoff after 236 Hz < cutoff < 265 HzfittingPercentage Variation -5.4%/+6.1%______________________________________
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, and active implantable device 70 shown in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention which includes a microprocessor 40 and monolithic chip 60. Other components of the active implantable device are omitted for clarity, but are well known in the art and form no part of the present invention.
Microprocessor 40 has a clock drive input 42 and a clock 44 to operate microprocessor 40. Clock input 42 is connected to the output SOSC from chip 60.
In operation, if the frequency of the oscillator to adjust is less than the frequency of the quartz reference oscillator, then the period of the oscillator to adjust is compared to a predetermined number of periods of the quartz reference oscillator. The number of periods (or the number of transitions) of the quartz reference oscillator contained in a period, or a multiple of a period, of the oscillator to adjust is counted. The counted number is then compared to a control value and a component of the circuit is adjusted by successive iterations in a manner to reduce to a minimum the difference between the counted number and the control value. The memory register 9 (FIG. 1) is then latched at the digital value corresponding to the minimal difference and the oscillator circuit clock frequency, which is the same as the clock frequency at the input 42, is thereby adjusted for maximal operation.
This situation exists, for example, when the frequency of the oscillator to adjust corresponds to the oscillator circuit output SOSC, which drives the microprocessor 40 being generally at 1 KHz, and the frequency of the quartz oscillator is 32 KHz. In this case, the oscillator to adjust defines the upper limit of the cardiac rhythm (generally at approximately 190 beats per minute).
On the other hand, where the frequency of the oscillator to adjust is greater than the quartz reference oscillator, for example, 500 kHz or 1.0 MHz, while the quartz oscillator has only a frequency of 32 kHz, one proceeds in the inverse manner.
Referring to FIG. 5, an active implantable device 90 in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown having an input 92 for receiving an analog signal 80. Input 92 is connected to the input EFIL of the filter RC. The analog signal 80 is generally comprised of a physiological component, e.g., heart rate, and an external component, e.g., noise.
With this configuration, the output signal SFIL alternates periodically between the high level VH and the low level VL (as illustrated FIG. 3), with switches 17 and 21 changing position (state) on each crossing of the threshold VH or VL, such that the RC circuit has a repeating cycle of charge and discharge.
The realization of the signal is controlled in the same manner as described in FIG. 4 and is therefore not here explained further. It is noted that the microprocessor 40 of FIG. 3 forms no part of the embodiment of FIG. 4 in that the clock frequency, similar to clock 44, is provided by the periodicity of the analog signal 80.
The preferred embodiments illustrated and described with respect to the drawings herein are given by way of example only and not by way of limitation. In view of the above description, it will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to make various modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
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|U.S. Classification
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|20 Feb 1996
Owner name: ELA MEDICAL S.A., FRANCE
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:PONS, PASCAL;MOLIN, RENZO DAL;REEL/FRAME:007813/0806;SIGNING DATES FROM 19960205 TO 19960208
|15 Dec 1998
|Certificate of correction
|30 May 2001
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|31 May 2005
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 8
|3 Jun 2009
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 12
|19 Jul 2013
Effective date: 20091210
Owner name: SORIN CRM SAS, FRANCE
Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:ELA MEDICAL S.A.S.;REEL/FRAME:030831/0859

subset: commoncrawl


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Today we get an early look at one product and the direction of the upcoming Comme des Garcons x Beatles collection.
"In fact, the logo of Apple Corps Ltd. — the London-based company that manages the legacy and musical catalogue of the British band — sits next to Kawakubo's signature polkadots on a range of travel bags, the core of the collection, along with shirts and T-shirts.
Priced from around $115 for a T-shirt up to $860 for the most expensive bag, The Beatles/Comme des Garçons label is to launch Nov. 20 in Tokyo at the Trading Museum, a new Comme store concept in the Gyre building. Dover Street Market, Kawakubo's multibrand emporium in London, is to host the British launch on Nov. 27, with a further commercial rollout planned for 2010." Via WWD.
We will keep you posted and can hopefully soon show you more from this exciting partnership.


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iPod Trade-Ins
I bought Jerry a new iPod for Christmas, and he's been having a blast with it ever since. I admit that I'm a bit jealous of how cool it is that he can watch videos on his iPod now, so I'm now stepping up efforts to get my own new iPod Nano a bit earlier than expected.
My original plan was to trade in my credit card rewards points for Best Buy gift cards so I can get the 8GB iPod Nano for free. But I still need 1,000 points in order to reach the required level, and at the slow rate that I'm spending money these days, it'll take me at least 3-4 months to get there.
So I've been looking at other ways to raise the money, and I've discovered that there a few merchants — and even Apple themselves — run iPod Trade-in programs that allow consumers to recycle their old devices and get cash back or credit towards a new purchase.
To take advantage of the Apple program, simply bring your used iPod to any Apple Store in the U.S., and you'll receive an immediate discount of 10% off any new iPod purchased that day. That means your old iPod could be worth up to $40, which of course is better than nothing.
Independent stores offer different prices for iPods, with some giving cash back and some giving trade-in credit. For example, I came across one site that would give me $25 for my 1st Gen iPod Nano, which is almost the same as I'd get with the 10% program at Apple.
At another store, however, I was offered a mere $5.
In both cases, I'd have to ship the iPod to the store on my own dime.
I would love to be able to get some cash for my old iPod instead of having it sit in my desk drawer collecting dust. I'm going to have to read more about these various programs to see which one is the best fit for my situation.


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Raise a Loud Hosanna
To play the media you will need to update yourFlash plugin.
SAB choir, congregation, organ and piano (with optional handbells (3-5 octaves), 2 trumpets, 2 trombones)
A Hymn Concertato on "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna". Composed by Mary McDonald. Sacred Anthem, Palm/Palm-Passion Sunday. Octavo. Lorenz Publishing Company #10/4086L. Published by Lorenz Publishing Company (LO.10-4086L).
Item Number: LO.10-4086L
Continuing her acclaimed hymn-concertato series, Mary McDonald has crafted a setting of the traditional tune ELLACOMBE guaranteed to become a staple for Palm Sunday worship. Accessible, rich vocals and beautiful melodies are accentuated by Mary's signature harmonies and keyboard style, and the optional brass and handbells add to the triumphant mood.


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For those who like to work on their notebooks using a laser mouse instead of the trackpad but keep on leaving their mouse behind, Logitech is making sure that it will never happen again with its new V550 Nano laser mouse. To make this possible, said mouse will come with its own clip-and-go dock for, for clipping your mouse onto your notebook. In fact, the only time that you'd probably forget about the V550 Nano mouse is when you clipped it onto your laptops.
The V550 Nano laser mouse features a Plug-and-Forget receiver which stays in a USB port and sits nearly flush against the side of your laptop. It doesn't obtrude nor is it a hindrance when you stow your laptop. This laser mouse also boasts of an extended 18 hours of battery life, ensuring that you won't run out of power during long hours of continued use. Best part is, the V550 Nano mouse automatically shuts off when it's docked or when the receiver is stored inside the mouse dock.
Other notable features of the V550 Nano mouse is its scroll wheel that spin freely when scrolling through long documents or web pages. You can also alternate on using click-to-click scrolling mode or by continuously pressing the wheel down.
The V550 Nano will be available in gray with silver accents or silver with cool-blue accents. It will set you back $59.99 for the laser mouse and two Clip-and-Go docks.
Read [Business Wire]


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Alchemy is the seemingly miraculous power or process of change in form, appearance or nature.
In writing, dramatic action that transmutes the character at depth over time magically produces thematic significance -- the gold.
Spend the 1st quarter, the Beginning, of a story gathering and showing the ingredients of the experiment.
In the Middle, apply heat in the form of outer and inner forces to test, challenge and hinder. Antagonists work well. As the energy blazes ever higher, keep an eye on the character.
In the final quarter of the story, the End, the Climax reveals the final transformation as the protagonist emerges changed at depth. The conclusion left behind form the meaning of the story. The act of writing becomes the miraculous act of alchemy at the exact moment of thematic significance.
To familiarize yourself with the Universal Story and the basic plot terms in the above blog post:
1) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master (The companion workbook is coming this summer and available for pre-order now ~~ The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories)
2) Watch the Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. A directory of all the steps to the series is to the right of this post. 27-step tutorial on Youtube
3 Watch the Monday Morning Plot Book Group Series on YouTube. A directory the book examples and plot elements discussed is to the left of this post.
For additional tips and information about the Universal S
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Blog: Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: alchemy, character transformation, parts of a story, Writers Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers 2012, Add a tag
Alchemy is the seemingly miraculous power or process of change in form, appearance or nature.
Blog: Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: parts of a story, Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master, character transformation and the Universal Story, memoir and plot, Add a tag
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is a character-driven memoir and motion picture of the same name.
The book is more prose writing than in scene, in that the author spends lots of time describing Italy and India and Bali, the three places where the three segments of the book unfold. In much of the book, the author also discusses her thoughts. Because of the subjects she described ~~ the history of meditation, descriptions of the Ashram, and the like ~~ are fascinating and extremely well-written, and most readers like to learn something new through reading, many will not object to the telling nature of much of the narrative.
When Gilbert does write in scene, the descriptions and discussions have depth and impact. However, the dramatic action, when in evidence, is secondary. Her character emotional development and search for resolution and God over time carries the significance.
A thematic significance statement for Eat Pray Love could be:
A spiritual journey is challenging but, when undertaken with passion, and dedication, can transform a person enough to overcome hurt and love again.
The Beginning (1/4)
The Beginning of Eat Pray Love functions in an introductory mode as all good Beginnings do. The protagonist's dramatic action goals are clearly outlined: 1) to spend one-third of the story in Italy learning the language, 2) one-third on her Guru's Ashram in India in meditation, and 3) one-third in Indonesia with a medicine man. Her character emotional development goals are clearly implied: 1) undergo intensive self-inquiry, 2) recover from her recent divorce, and 3) find balance and spirituality in her life.
The Beginning of the story takes place in Italy with a goal of learning Italian. This section functions on a sensory level with lots of eating great bread and pastries, drinking wine, and meeting terrific men. Of the three sections, Italy is the least challenging for the author, which is fine because this is where we find out her issues: she has had a spiritual crisis, which ended in a divorce and followed by an unfulfilling relationship.
In the Beginning, and into the Middle of the memoir, the protagonist freely shows her flawed self, which, at times, comes across neurotic enough that if her writing were not so compelling, the reader might not stay with her. However, the more flawed the character, the greater the possibility in the final transformation.
The Middle (1/2)
In the Middle third, the protagonist travels to her Guru's Ashram in India and spends her time there mostly in meditation. When she is in scene in this section, it is often with Richard from Texas who is a hoot and a compassionate mentor.
The more she has to devote to meditation, the more frustrated she becomes, which is an effective means of revealing more and more of the depth of who this person truly is. Take note: Although the project only covers one year in her life and the author has several memories of the past, there are only a couple of instances where she actually goes into a flashback.
The Middle is the territory of the antagonists and the bulk of this character's antagonism comes from her own mind. She can't concentrate. She can't meditate. She can't let go of the past. She engages in useless longings.
In her search for spirituality, "you revert from what attracts you and swim toward that which is difficult." The more difficult her journey becomes, the more flawed we see her character. Still, as challenged as she becomes,
Blog: Margo Dill's Read These Books and Use Them! (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Reading Skills, funny picture books, Creative Writing activities, Elementary Educators, Making Predictions, six traits of writing, Personal Connections, Preschool to 1st grade teachers, Shared Writing, Watt Melanie, story elements, parts of a story, Picture Book, illustrations, Add a tag
*Picture book for preschoolers through second graders
*A creative cat as the main character
*Rating: Chester is such a great illustrator and author–who needs that Melanie Watt? If you haven't read any of the Chester the cat series of books yet (with NO HELP FROM Melanie), then you must check one out. So cute and funny!
Short, short summary: Chester the cat has hidden his owner's, author and illustrator Melanie Watt's, supplies and has taken over the creation of the book with his red pen. Chester is trying to write a masterpiece. First he steals from Twas the Night Before Christmas, and then he goes through a series of exercises to break his writer's block. Once he's ready, he writes some stories about himself and mouse–always ending unhappily with something tragic happening to mouse! In the end, Melanie finds her art supplies in a terrible hiding spot. . .Kids and adults will get a kick out of this hysterical picture book.
So what do I do with this book?
1. This is such a cute book. I love how "Melanie Watt" leaves editorial notes to Chester on "yellow Post-it notes." Children will LOVE this book, and they will love to leave their own notes to Chester. While reading it, let them have some stickee notes and they can jot a few things down to Chester about his illustrations, his stories, etc.
2. This book has a lot of reading lessons in it. For example, Melanie tells Chester he needs a setting. They both draw a jungle. She asks what type of story he plans to write, and he goes through several genres like humor, action, and romance. They talk about endings, problems, and characters. It is full of things writers need to think about and address when writing a story. You can start a discussion with your class on these topics, using Chester and his masterpiece as a starting point.
3. For fun, let children try to guess where Chester hid Melanie's art supplies. See if anyone is correct by the end of the book!Add a Comment
Blog: Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: novel, beginning middle and end of a writing project, screenplay or memoir, plot your writing project, plotting out a story, plan the plot of your story on a Plot Planner, parts of a story, Add a tag
Plot your story using the universal story form for structure and impact.
A Plot Planner mimics the universal story and is the framework for developing a gripping story. Rather than creating a dry, episodic list of scenes to cover, arrange your story by cause and effect to best engage the reader.
Think of the Plot Planner as the route or map of the journey you envision for your story. When you first plan your plot, your route is likely to be sketchy with lots of gaps and dead ends. These gaps will smooth over and fill in as you come to know your story and characters better. Along your story's route, the plot elements of dramatic action, characters, and thematic significance will rise and fall, like waves cresting. The flow of these elements is like the flow of energy the Chinese call "qi" (pronounced "chi"). The qi is the mainstay of life force, inherently present in all things.
Within your story, the energy undulates. Although every story has its own energy, a universal pattern of energy rising and falling repeats itself. The greater your understanding of this stable format, the better able you are to determine where and when to allow the energy to crest, to make your story most compelling to the reader. Allow the energy of your story to direct the flow of your scenes. The closer you can re-create this pattern in your presentation to the reader, the stronger and more compelling your story. A plot planner helps you map your story's energy and direction.
All great stories have a beginning, middle and end.
1. The Beginning
The beginning usually encompasses one quarter of the entire story. Most of us start out strong in the beginning, but struggle to keep the momentum going.
2. The Middle
The middle is the longest portion of the project – one half of the entire story. It commands the most scenes, and is where many writers fall short. When the allure of the beginning is over, the story starts getting messy. Writers often know the beginning and the end of their story, but bog down in creating the middle. Crisis is the meat of the middle.
Place crisis – the scene of greatest intensity and highest energy in your story thus far – around the three-quarter point in your story, when your audience needs a recharge to combat fatigue, frustration, and irritation. Crisis is where tension and conflict peak – it is a turning point in your story. Crisis is developed through the scenes to provide the greatest impact in the energy flow of your story.
The crisis is the false summit of your case, where the audience can perceive the true summit. Here, your story's energy drops after the drama of the crisis, giving your audience the opportunity to rebuild energy in anticipation of reaching the climax.
3. The End
The final quarter of your presentation represents the end, which comprises three parts: the build-up to the climax, the climax itself, and the resolution. The build-up to the climax represents the steps you take to lead the reader to envision how the story should end. The climax is the point of highest drama in your story, the crowning moment when the thematic significance of your story becomes clear to the reader. The resolution is your opportunity to fully tie together that significance and make your story complete.
A Plot Planner helps you visualize your story. Use a Plot Pl
Wow, this post is really interesting! I'm currently planning a new novel, so I might incorporate this idea. Thanks for sharing!
Me thinks the plot whisperer is really doing some magic! I was just stating to plot a trilogy and durn if this isn't what I really needed.
Can I admit I love you? Well if I can't I've already did.
Thank you so much!
Thanks for this post. I want to plot my second far better than I did the first. This is filed for reference, thanks again.
Great information--this will be helpful for revision as well as pre-planning as I am trying to learn to plot more deliberately and purposefully. I have never been quite clear on the false summit 3/4 way through, followed by the actual climax closer to the end--it makes perfect sense now. Thanks for posting this! Great blog, I'm looking forward to exploring your other articles.
Laura, Great good luck with your new novel.
Sylvia, thank you for your declaration of love for me! Makes me feel warm all over. Thanks!
Glynis, The more we write, the better we write. Glad to hear you're already planning your next project.
Ruth, Glad things are clearer. May get a bit murky again but you're always welcome back. Have fun exploring!
Thanks to each of you for visiting and commenting!
Happy Plotting...


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mohu sky
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
Works great; pick up 45 channels easily.
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With most stereo and speaker purchases, we offer installation guides, dash kits, wiring harnesses, and speaker accessories at deep discounts. Also, you can just buy our installation guides for $10. (If you buy a new stereo or speakers from us within 60 days, we'll apply the $10 to your order.)Learn more
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Our experts help you pick the ideal gear for your needs.Meet our advisors
Free tech support for the life of your gear.Read about our one-on-one expert help
You may return items that are complete and like new for any reason within 60 days.See the details of our return policy
Earn one point for every dollar you spend and use those points to save on future purchases.Get full details on Crutchfield Rewards
We offer vehicle-specific installation instructions, dash kits, wiring harnesses, and speaker accessories at deeply discounted prices with car stereo and speaker purchases. Available for most vehicles.Learn more
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The manufacturer's warranty always applies.See more details
Item # 792SKY | MFR # Sky
This item is no longer available.
Mohu Sky mounted in an attic.
The long-range Sky HDTV antenna is the newest addition to the Mohu family, and offers a fresh take on the conventional rooftop or attic mounted antenna. Like Mohu's other models, the Sky is based on antenna technology developed for the U.S. military. With its compact design, the Sky can be easily mounted in an attic, and for rooftop use, its compact size makes it a more visually appealing alternative to typical large long-range antennas. You can also mount it to an exterior wall wall or under an eave.
The Sky can receive free over-the-air HDTV broadcasts from stations in the UHF and high-band VHF ranges (channels 7-51). It pulls in signals from multiple directions, so you don't have to move it to pick up signals from different TV towers. With a range of 60 miles, the Sky provides crystal-clear picture quality for signals that are simply too weak for lesser antennas to grab.
The Sky includes Mohu's high-performance antenna amplifier. Its patent-pending technology increases reception range while filtering out the RF noise that can harm picture quality. The compact amplifier module connects between the Sky antenna and your TV.
You have a couple of options for powering the amplifier. There's a mini USB port on the amplifier module, which allows you to power it off of any standard USB port on your TV — the USB-to-mini-USB cable is included. The advantage of USB power is that the amplifier will only draw power when the TV is turned on, instead of 24/7. If you don't have an available USB port on your TV, the amplifier also includes a regular AC power adapter, which you can plug into any standard wall outlet.
Works great; pick up 45 channels easily.
carmen, FL
Average Customer Review(s):
Works great; pick up 45 channels easily.
Decent antenna. Easy to install (attic installation). No reception with only the amp that came with unit. I ended up using the amp that came with the unit between the attenna and splitter in attic and a second amp downstairs at the TV set, and that has worked.
Pros: Easy to install.
Cons: If you are in a fringe reception area, the antenna and amp that comes with it may not be enough.
Live in a second story condo. Placed on screen porch, and hung it upside down, this small antenna gives me great channel reception. No need to point in anyone direction. Thanks to all that took the time to answer my question before I bought it.
Pros: Size and picture quality.
Cons: Price
The Mohu Sky is working great. We pick up all 13 of the local on-air channels, and the 5 that are broadcast in HD are as sharp and stable as they were when received via cable. After the cable company converted to digital-only, which reduced the number of channels in our basic package and upped our monthly fee by $48 (4 TVs x $7 per digital box + $5 per box for HD), we're doing fine with PBS programming and local/national news from the broadcast channels. I'll miss AMC and TBS, but our DVD/streaming service fills that gap nicely. Maybe someday the cable company will figure it out and provide a convenient delivery system at an attractive price, but until then it's free TV for me. The only stumbling block I had during installation was that the splitter serving our 4 TVs is on the external wall of the house where the cable was connected. So that I could connect the antenna amplifier in-line before the splitter, I to had install a weather resistant in-use outlet on that outside wall. The In-use outlet takes its power from an existing outlet on the interior wall. (I had the help of an electrician friend.)
Pros: Great HD signal.
Cons: Required external power for amplifier on the outside wall where cable enters the house via a splitter.
Product works great, disconnected cable tv, now saving money
This antenna worked fine for about a week, I had it outside on a a 20 ft. mast. No matter what the ads say, this antenna is pretty directional but I live pretty far from the nearest TV transmitters. After a week my signal strength would go from 0 - 75% in the slightest breeze and finally! no signal at all one morning. I think something inside must have failed. Crutchfield refunded my $$ and I purchased a regular big aluminum antenna and it works fine. When it worked, it did a good job, I may have just got a bad one.
Pros: Worked pretty good, received channel 12 from over 50 miles away.
Cons: Failed after 2 weeks.
I think this antenna would be best in an attic and not on a 20'ft mast like I had it on. It worked fine for a week or two and then the signal strength would continuously vary from 0 to 75%. Eventually, after two weeks it quit completely. It has been really windy here and I think something must have broken inside the antenna. It just doesn't seem tough enough to be outside all the time. Crutchfield was GREAT and let me return it, even waiving the shipping. I kept the distribution amp I bought and put up a real VHF/UHF antenna and am very satisfied, customer service with Crutchfield is excellent.
Pros: Works As advertised but it is pretty directional.
Cons: Just isn't built for mounting on a mast in the elements.
After installing the antenna , I was only able to receive about 7, channels , the next day when the sun hit the antenna I was able to pick up around 25 in perfect clear as cable channels. I contacted Mohu Sky and they said they were forwarding a new one. The only problem is that I'm a winter visiter in AZ and am returning home this weekend and probably not be able to have it installed until the fall when I return. When it works the picture is great I would recommend it .
Pros: Would like more channels
Cons: None
Easy to install. Antenna is very good, but the amplifier is a real piece of junk and I lost half the channels of (45) turning that on. Threw out the amplifier.
Pros: Antenna good
Cons: Amplifier junk, lost half the channels turning that on. Threw out the amplifier.
I'm pulling in 69 channels.......for FREE!!!! Many of them are HD and my picture looks as good or better than when I had cable. I was paying $80 a month for basic cable. This antenna has paid for itself in less than 2 months!!!! I don't miss cable at all!
Pros: Hook up was a cinch. Used existing cable wiring already installed in my walls. Installed in my attic. Easy! My husband was amazed when his petite little wife installed this without help!!!
Cons: I haven't encountered any cons with this product.
Very easy to assemble and hang. All the hardware was easily recognizable and easy to attach. Small and Compact so I can have it in my attic through New England Winters. Easy to attach to TV and quickly found 17 channels.
Pros: Small and Compact. My 2 year old loved the extra packing peanuts.
Cons: Didn't get a few of the channels I thought we would.
The antenna is light way, easy to install. Reception is very good.
Pros: Light, not that sensitive to direction, easy to install
Cons: Not sure the antenna amplifier is useful or not. I put it on and it does increase the signal strength. Could I got a bad one?
This antenna was very easy to install, light weight, and great reception. I needed an antenna that had a range of over 30 Miles and this one did the trick. It picked up over 30 channels, the HD signal was shocking. Everyone that comes over can't believe its just an HD Antenna responsible for the picture quality.
Pros: Easy to Install, Lightweight, Long Range
Cons: Price, needed masonry screws for brick installation.
When I decided to cut the cable I looked for a HD antenna for over the air channels. Performance not price was the main objective, after all what good is a cheaper antenna if it doesn't work. I also liked the size and that it came with a mounting bracket. I mounted the antenna in my attic (upside down since that was the best way for mounting it) and I was able to get 40 channels. I didn't use the supplied amplifier as I already had a better one I was using to boost the cable signal. I would definitely recommend this product.
Pros: Performance, size, mounting bracket
Cons: mounting screws are cheap so don't use them.
Antenna works very well. I can get around 30 channels in my area. Which is about 4 or 5 more than I could get with my previous antenna.
Pros: Small, Light Weight, Effective. Easy to install, good reach and angle of coverage. I have already recommended this antenna to friends.
Easy to install and receives all the channels available. I would definitely recommend this antenna to a friend.
Pros: Small and compact
Cons: None
My wife must watch the Tennis Channel which is only available on a sports tier plan with the accompanying extra costs that go with the pyramid of plans offered by Cable. This extra charge was vexing because we watch very little TV. I read about OTA's, especially the Mohu brand. I opted for the "Sky" (instead of the Sheaf) to mount in my attic. All the while, as I mounted (easily done) the antenna I was chuckling aloud, muttering that this was "old technology" and the result would be ghosts (literally) of the past on the screen. Well I was more than surprised when I went downstairs to the TV. The search for channels was up to 25% and yet there were no channels received. Then it started. I got 25 channels by 75% and a total of 37 channels when the scanning was 100% complete! The definition was identical to my CABLE HDTV reception. My wife agreed that the picture was excellent with no squirms, squiggles, nor ghosts. The bad news was that of the 25 channels (we found 12 duplicates) none of them included ESPN which was the alternate channel on which to watch Tennis matches. So back it went to Crutchfield where the return was made so easy with their UPS prepaid return address that was obtained on line. My wife suggested we keep the antenna installed in case ESPN became available. Well of course ESPN did become available two weeks after I returned The Sky antenna. I am not miffed because the product is easily installed and of rugged quality. I am delighted.
Pros: Solid construction and made in the USA. Crystal clear HD reception -you cannot distinguish between OTA and cable reception. Will no longer have to pay for 30 music other unwanted channels.
Cons: I can forsee no problems due to the heft and quality of the "Sky". And I am still impressed with the "Made in the USA" sticker.
I was using a Mohu Leaf antenna for OTA reception. It was an improvement over another retailer's indoor amplified antenna. But the new Mohu Sky is even better than their Leaf. All the hardware needed to mount it in my attic was in the box including a good 30-foot length of small diameter coax cable which was easy to snake through the stud wall behind the TV. The Sky improved my signal strengths about 10-20% across all the OTA channels I receive. That was definitely worth it.
Pros: Significant increase in signal strengths Easy to install in attic High quality mounting hardware included Generous return period to try it out
Cons: None
We receive strong signals from towers 30 miles away. This antenna is well built and includes an excellent in-line amplifier.
Pros: Good range for multi- directional and easy to set-up
Cons: expensive
Indoor/Outdoor Antenna: Weighing in at only 3lbs, the Sky HDTV indoor/outdoor antenna is a powerful, amplified TV antenna solution that was developed from research for the United States military. The Sky HDTV antenna is multidirectional and does not have to be constantly readjusted for optimal signal strength.
Amplifier w/ Clean Peak Filter Technology: The included digital antenna amplifier with Clean Peak Filter Technology is designed to amplify TV stations and filter out any RF signals that can hinder picture quality. The digital amplifier allows you to pull in a clearer picture, more stations, and increase overall performance.
Range: The Mohu Sky HDTV antenna is recommended for use within 60 miles (UHF) and 45 miles (VHF) of transmission towers.
USB/AC Powered: The digital antenna amplifier is powered via a USB port located on the amp which allows you to power the antenna amplifier using an open USB port on the back of your TV. The advantage of doing so is that the amplifier will only draw power when the TV is turned on, eliminating parasitic power consumption when the amplifier isn't needed. If you do not have an open USB port on the back of your TV, the antenna amplifier also includes an AC power adapter that will enable you to power the amplifier using any standard AC wall outlet.
Mounting Options: The Sky HDTV antenna is designed to be mounted in either your attic or on the outside of your house, preferably on the roof. Most users will receive the best signal the higher they mount the antenna. A mounting bracket is included. The antenna should be positioned vertically (not horizontally).
30' RF-Coax Cable: The Mohu Leaf includes a 30' detachable RF-coaxial cable.
At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team. They verify what's in the box, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.
I have mine hanging upside down in my garage attic and it works fine. I get several channels, some with a little pixilation, which is to be expected since I'm at least 30-50 miles from stations. The true test for me is when the trees leaf out! [ Joseph Apr 17, 2014 ]
I think the receprion of antenna signals is omnidirectional. If you purchase it and it does not receive enough strong signals, you can return it for a nominal shipping fee and then know no antenna would suffice. Ray. [ RAY P Apr 15, 2014 ]
Mine is hanging upside down in the attic and it works in that position. [ ARTHUR Apr 15, 2014 ]
Steve, I am pretty sure it will; and if not, Crutchfield has a great return policy! The reason I say so is that mine was temporarily mounted on the roof in late December and stabilized with bricks until my chimney gets new mortar. One of winter's wind/snowstorms blew the antenna flat. The mortar job is a month away, but I still get programming! Hope this helps! [ Alice Apr 15, 2014 ]
I don't know about upside down, but I hung mine right side up from two loops of speaker wire in the attic (criss crossed around the 'x') and it worked just fine. [ Amberin Apr 15, 2014 ]
You may be able to get some low band VHF signal, but this antenna is not really designed for those frequencies. With the transition to digital broadcasts VHF 2 to 6 are rarely used by broadcasters. This is due to channel 6 being close to the bottom of the FM band, and problems with noise in the other channels. [ Jeff Dec 18, 2013 ] Staff
If the TV is downstream and the Sky antenna is upstream the amplifier is mounted at the indoor splitter in my installation upstream of the splitter. I also have a cable amp downstream of the Sky antenna amp. I do not think the Sky amp is weather proof so it needs to be inside. Art [ ARTHUR Dec 17, 2013 ]
Hello, I installed this device a couple months ago. IF you install at the TV, you can power up from a USB port on the TV, if you install before split then you will need a power outlet. The unit has a male recepticle to power up. Harvey [ Harvey Dec 17, 2013 ]
After the included amp, or so this is what I saw on other websites; I would check the MOHU website which has a lot of info. [ Joseph Dec 17, 2013 ]
The amplifier itself needs to be indoors, or at least in an attic, covered porch or basement) because you've got to have a way to run power to it (an outlet or USB port) out of the rain. But the antenna could be outside. And though the wire coming off the amp is short - there's no reason you couldn't run a cable extension line (female-to-male) off it (inside) back outside to your splitter box. I had all mine together in the attic, but just because it allowed me to run shorter lines to all the TV's. And as I was feeding 5 TV's and 2 DVR's, I was worried about the longer lines weakening the signal. [ Amberin Dec 17, 2013 ]
Steve: I installed my amplifier right before the splitter in my system. Mine is inside in a utility room, but if you have yours protected in a weather proof box, an outside installation should work as well. Bear in mind that you need power to it from the USB (120V with adapter) source. Good luck! [ ANTHONY Dec 17, 2013 ]
Hey Steve, the amp is built into the antenna and there's a USB device that powers it thru the coax cable. But that has to be between the antenna and the splitter, if you try and put it after the splitter it won't work. There's a great video on the MOHU Sky that lays out the install and the design of the antenna. I have the antenna feeding the house across three splitters and I am more than impressed with the antenna and it really does the job of one of those massive antennas. I used TV Fool dot com and I got every channel it said I would and I live 45 miles from the transmitter. Hope this helps, Paul [ Paul Dec 17, 2013 ]
Hi Steve: The amplifier (which is a rectangle only 2 inches by three inches) should be connected before the spliiter. Ray. [ RAY P Dec 17, 2013 ]
The amplifier should be inserted before the splitter i.e. on the antennae side of the cable. [ RAY P Dec 17, 2013 ]
Hi Steve. The amplifier needs to be hooked up between the antenna and your splitter. I have my antenna in the attic with the amplifier next. It then goes to my splitter and out to 3 TV's via the wiring in the house. The amp indicates which wire to connect to the antenna. I had to go to Radio Shack to get the appropriate adapters. This antenna works great! Beats paying Comcast. [ MICHAEL Dec 17, 2013 ]


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Import Midi as Ghost Track / Play Along
I want to import one of my compositions, in midi format, so that my musicans can hear them while they are playing and recording. Its some way of combined lead-track and clicktrack.
Can I do this with Ardour?
Ardour doesn't do midi yet. You might want to take a look at running rosegarden or MusE in sync with ardour. Jack transport can sync multiple pieces of software together.
I will try that.
Maybe I just render my midis to a playalong wave.
Regarding the Google Summer of Code News:
MIDI editing
by Dave Robillard, Carleton University, Ottawa (mentored by Paul Davis). Dave picked the short straw and will be working 27 hours a day to implement every item of MIDI editing functionality known to man.
What does this mean for Playing Midi in Ardour?


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CLARION, Pa., July 7 (UPI) -- Police in Pennsylvania are searching for an emotionally disturbed woman who disappeared after jumping from a car traveling over 50 miles per hour on Interstate 80.
37-year-old Susan Bachman was being driven by her parents to a psychiatric center on July 4 to be voluntarily admitted for depression and anxiety, when she forced her way from the vehicle, leaping onto the highway and fleeing into nearby woods.
Search and rescue teams combed the area with dogs and helicopters for hours, but were only able to find Bachman's wallet and cellphone in an abandoned barn. She has not been heard from since.
"We are obviously incredibly concerned about my sister, we miss her and we are incredibly concerned about her and we are deeply hopeful that she has found shelter somewhere," Bachman brother Will told ABC News.
"My sister may be using an assumed name, she may be making up a story about her identity, she is potentially a risk to herself."
According to police, Bachman is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs roughly 120 pounds. She has red hair and green eyes and was last seen wearing a blue flannel shirt and blue jeans.
Will Bachman created FindSusanBachman.com to help spread the word about his missing sister and give those with potential information direct access to the family.
"We really want our daughter back," Bachman's mother Nancy pleaded in a video statement with her husband William.
"If you know where she is and you have contact with her please tell her that we love her and want her back very much."


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Director Alfonso Cuar¾n, prior to last year, had largely operated under the Hollywood radar. The director had helmed "The Little Princess" and a remake of "Great Expectations", two films that offered remarkably beautiful imagery and fine performances, but never quite connected with audiences. This year, Cuaron stepped away from Hollywood and made the Spanish-language "Y Tu Mama Tambien", a film that made a splash with its sexual content and was carried by strong buzz and word-of-mouth from audiences whose demographics extended far beyond the late-teen/20's audience that distributor IFC films likely expected.
The picture revolves around Julio (Gael GarcĒa Bernal) and Tenoch (Diego Luna), who have just graduated from high school. The two are funny and foul-mouthed, with their main concerns being either getting high or getting with their girlfriends. When said girlfriends leave for Europe for the Summer, the boys find that half of their plans are now missing. Lacking much ambition and quickly gaining much in the way of boredom, the two spy Luisa (Maribel Verd·), a beautiful older woman who is getting married to Tenoch's cousin. The two try and talk to her and invite her to go off with them, but find that she's got other plans. When she finds that her husband has not been faithful, she suddently accepts the duo's offer to head off on a road trip.
This results in talk...and talk...and talk between the three. Talk about sex, about love, about life. But it's not too long before the two start to compete for the love of Luisa, turning the former friends against one another before they start to realize some lessons about life from Luisa herself. Interestingly enough - and a factor that plays a big part - are the people and places that the three see during their drive. While the majority of the film is about the three characters, there's a real sense of place, culture and changing climate as the film presents various areas of Mexico. Occasional narration also tells more about the situation in the country and other aspects. While as much narration as there is here is usually frowned upon, it worked for the movie. I especially liked how the audio for the film turned silent while the narration came on. One saddening moment has the narrator discussing how a fisherman the three meet will eventually be put out of business by the combination of the tourism board and a soon-to-be-built hotel, forcing him to leave his little slice of paradise.
The performances and dialogue also make for considerably more than just another teen sex comedy. The two leads portrayed both the raunchy side of the characters and the the more serious second-half scenes very well. Verd·'s performance, as the older woman who begins to teach the two about life and themelves, is also outstanding. And, while the dialogue is raunchy and filled with curse words, the lines are often very funny and a bit more realistic than the one-liners that fill most movies of this genre.
While "Y Tu Mama Tambien" didn't seem to start off with a whole lot of potential, the film gradually reveals unexpected layers to the story and characters. Cuaron also offers a nice mix of joyful moments, heart and occasional drama. It's shot beautifully by ace cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, who manages to both bring us into the middle of the conversations while skillfully portraying the fascinating landscape. The film's insights are occasionally not particularly insightful, but "Y Tu Mama Tambien" is clearly a stronger piece than the kind of teen films that have been cranked out by Hollywood in the past few years. It starts off as silly and raunchy, but quickly starts becoming something more substancial, unpredictable, fresh and entertaining.
Note: This DVD edition offers the Unrated version of the film, which runs 105 minutes. Given that the film was UR in theaters, I'm guessing this is the theatrical version. There is also an R-rated DVD release, as well.
The DVD
VIDEO: MGM presents "Y Tu Mama Tambien" in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. The cinematography is by Emmanuel Lubezki, the gifted artist who turned director Cuaron's "Great Expectations" and Alfonso Arau's "Walk in the Clouds" into rich, dazzling visual masterpieces. His outstanding work can also be seen in Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow" and Michael Mann's "Ali". His work here is a bit more subdued, but he still offers marvelous, interesting compositions and a lot of nice hand-held camera work. MGM's presentation of the material isn't quite perfect, but it's good enough to do the film's imagery justice. Sharpness and detail were generally very good, if not too exceptional.
Flaws appeared, but not all of the usual ones were present. No edge enhancement appeared, nor did any pixelation. However, some occasional marks and a speck or two were seen on the print used, as was some slight grain. These flaws were noticable, but they were never a source of much irritation or bother.
The film's color palette is considerably more subdued than that of Cuaron's prior pictures. Still, colors remain natural looking and occasionally, richer colors pop in. Colors appeared crisp and nicely saturated, never appearing muddy or smeared. Black level also remained solid, while flesh tones appeared accurate. A very nice transfer.
SOUND: The film's Dolby Digital 5.1 (Spanish w/English subtitles) soundtrack is a fairly natural portrayal of the situations. While the surrounds aren't used much aside from a couple of sound effects, there is still a fine amount of ambience present. The occasional songs on the soundtrack also sounded good, with a decent amount of low bass. Although I don't speak Spanish, dialogue generally sounded natural and clear.
MENUS: MGM offers an animated main menu that uses clips from the film.
Commentary: This is a commentary from actors Gael GarcĒa Bernal, Diego Luna and Andres Almeida. The commentary sounds entertaining, but given the fact that it's in Spanish with no English subtitles, I couldn't understand it. This situation has happened before (see Columbia/Tristar's "Crimson Rivers" or TVA's Special Edition of "Brotherhood of the Wolf") and while I've heard various things about the cost of subtitling these tracks (Buena Vista's "Amelie" offered both an English and French commentary), it still would have been nice if MGM put forth the effort here.
Rounding out the DVD are a few additional features: we get "Me La Debes", a short film by Carlos Cuaron; a couple of deleted scenes; the film's trailer (which is very well-done; credit IFC Films for a nicely-handled marketing campaign) and TV spot, as well as a "making of". The 21-minute "making of" is a really nice little piece, as it doesn't simply restate the story and provide basic interviews. Instead, it's one of those featurettes where a camera follows around the cast/crew as they film a few scenes from the movie.
Final Thoughts: "Y Tu Mama Tambien" starts off as another film in a crowded genre, but it quickly develops into a very memorable cinematic journey, complete with great acting, beautiful cinematography and a great script. Although this is where I'd usually say the film's graphic content may make it one of those "not for everyone" pictures, I've talked to several people who I'd think would be easily offended by such content, but enjoyed the movie highly. MGM's DVD makes a mistake in not subtitling the commentary, but the other supplements are nice and the presentation of the film itself is quite good. Highly recommended.


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Improving the outcomes of place-based initiatives
For more than five decades, public, private and nonprofit entities have implemented a range of targeted neighborhood revitalization strategies designed to tackle the challenges associated with concentrated poverty. These efforts have included urban renewal programs, loans and grants motivated by the Community Reinvestment Act, housing redevelopment through HOPE VI, Empowerment Zones, New Markets Tax Credit investments, as well as foundation-led comprehensive community initiatives and local nonprofit ventures. The most ambitious of these initiatives have aimed to concentrate multiple investments in both infrastructure and human capital in a single neighborhood. ; At their core, these comprehensive initiatives try to tackle long-standing disparities in housing, employment, education, and health caused by public policy decisions, market forces and failures, and patterns of discrimination. Yet overcoming these inequalities has proven to be difficult. In some cases, place-based initiatives have led to measurable improvements; in others, efforts have struggled, failing to significantly "move the needle" on the challenges associated with deeply entrenched neighborhood poverty. ; Despite these mixed-outcomes, place-based strategies are receiving increased attention and funding from both the public and private sector. The Obama Administration has explicitly endorsed place-based policy, and has launched an evaluation of existing federal place-based policies in an effort to identify areas of overlap and to seek avenues for interagency coordination. Additionally, the administration has budgeted for a new cohort of place-based anti-poverty programs. On a more local scale, a number of California-based foundations and CDFIs, as well as local government agencies, have also expanded investments in place-based initiatives.
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Volume (Year): (2010)
Issue (Month): Spr ()
Pages: 3-7
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Loukas completed her five final-round dives with a total score of 332.10, improving on her ninth place finish from the 2008 Beijing Games in the same event.
Loukas was a top-eight diver during the entire three-day event, placing seventh after preliminaries with a score of 330.45 and sixth after semifinals with 339.75 points. Unlike Olympic Trials, scores in the Olympics are reset to zero before each round.
Loukas' performance on Sunday was not good enough to be near medal position, however, as China's Wu Minxia and He Zi earned gold and silver medals respectively. American teammate Cassidy Krug finished in seventh place, ahead of Loukas by 10.75 points.
While at IU, Loukas was the 2009 NCAA champion in the 3-meter dive and earned four Big Ten individual titles. She was named Big Ten Diver of the Year on multiple occasions and an NCAA All-American eight times.
Loukas left Bloomington in 2010, and told the IDS in July 2012 that at the time, she "felt out of place and needed a change, a new environment."
She now trains at the Woodlands Diving Academy in Texas under former Olympian and U.S.A. Diving coach Kenny Armstrong.
— Jordan Littman
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Medford boys play Lincoln-Sudbury Wednesday
Mike CugnoCHELMSFORD - The Medford High boys soccer team beat a tough Chelmsford High team, 1-0, on Saturday in the first round of the state Division 1 North soccer tournament.
Defender Jean Joseph scored the only goal the 10th-seeded Mustangs needed to beat the Lions on their home turf. Joseph shot from the 18 yard line with just one minute left to play in the first half of the late-afternoon game.
"It was a beautiful shot," Medford Coach Mike Petrides said after the game. "It went right up and in."
The Mustangs played a tight defensive game in the second half against Chelmsford, the Merrimack Valley Conference champs, who were 10-2-4 in regular-season play and the tournament's seventh seed.
"We wanted to protect our lead. We had the ball a lot of the time," Petrides said. "[Chelmsford] only got about two shots on our goal."
In the first half, Medford goalie Bryan Peguero got some key defensive help, when defender Gilbert Simas stopped a shot Chelmsford got off while Peguero was out of the net. "He came up big for us on that play," Petrides said of Simas.
Medford, cochamps of the Greater Boston League (11-4-1), now travels to Lincoln-Sudbury Wednesday for a 2 p.m. game against the unbeaten second-seeded Warriors (15-0-2) in the North quarterfinals.
Petrides said Saturday's win at Chelmsford proves the Mustangs can play anywhere. "When we play our game, we can beat anyone," he said.
Kathy McCabe can be reached at email@example.com.


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Producer Ahmad Ghaith has denied that Egyptian actor Nabila Obeid will play the role of "Fatima Al Yousif" in the new television drama series "Ana Sa?eeda Lakad Akalo Lahmi" (I'm Happy they ate my Flesh), and that the drama will be screened during the holy month of Ramadan.
Ahmad assured that the script of the drama is not yet complete, and the drama Nabila will appear in during Ramadan is "Hirasa Mushadadah" (Heavy Security), written by Mustafa Abrahim and directed by Khaled Al Hajjar.
Ghaith revealed that the reason Nabila chose this particular drama was because she thought it would provide her with a new style and a vehicle for a strong comeback after the severe criticism she received for her television drama "Al Ama Nour" (Aunt Noor).
A budget of nine million Egyptian pounds has been set for the drama, reported the UAE based daily, Al Bayan.
Obeid is trying to breathe life into a new singing career through her upcoming film "Ma Feesh Ghair Kida" (Nothing Besides This) that features 12 different musical performances.
The story revolves around a single mother struggling to raise her son and two daughters after her husband deserted them at a young age.
The film, directed by Khaled Al Hajjar, stars young Egyptian actors Sawsan Badr, Ahmad Azmi, Khaled Abu El Naja and new comer Arwa Joudeh, who play the roles of her children.
Throughout the course of the film, the family's status is changed when one of the daughters becomes famous. Nabila and her children perform a song written especially for them by Kawthar Haikal.
[1] http://www.albawaba.com


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I made this 'Patriotic Santa' wall hanging years ago. He stands tall over my collection of old fashioned Santas in my entry. I love the Jim Shore Santas. One of them says "Nice" on one side, turn it around and it says "Naughty". I always know when my son stops by, because he ALWAYS turns Santa around to the Naughty side! :D (Boys will be boys......)
"Nice" Jim Shore Santa
reverse side of 'Nice" Santa
small sign on left says "Dear Santa: Define Good"


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