text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|May 8, 2012
|Filing date
|Sep 24, 2008
|Priority date
|Sep 24, 2008
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|David Elberbaum
|Original Assignee
|Elbex Video Ltd.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (92), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (23), Classifications (7), Legal Events (2)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to home automation control including video interphone system for remotely operating AC power switches and electrical devices and appliances via two way IR remote control, fiber optic and light guide cables.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Wired or wireless remote control devices including InfraRed (IR) or RF transmitter for remotely operating AC powered electrical appliances such as television receivers, home heaters, air conditioners, motorized curtains, lighting and other electrical appliances in homes, apartments, offices and buildings in general do switch the appliances on-off, with the person operating the remote control device verifying the on or off status of the operated device by visual means, such as the TV is on, or the lights are off, or the aircondition unit is activated or not, by being at the site of the operated appliance. Most of the remote control devices, including IR or wireless remote control devices use the same power key to switch the appliance on and off, therefore without the operating person's self verification on site, with most of currently available remote control devices it is impossible to positively verify the on-off power status without being at the appliance site.
On the other hand home automation relay devices, operated via two way communication signals can update the system controller with the relay's status by a returned status signal. The problem such system represents is the cost for customizing of the AC electrical wiring, which are expensive and require expertise to configure, install and setup. One reason is that the wiring systems that are used for the light's (or other appliances) on-off switches do not require and do not include the neutral wire of the AC mains.
The commonly wired electrical systems provide only two wires for the switches, the AC live or hot wire and the load wire that leads to the light fixture or other appliance. Similar two only traveler wires are used for connecting several switches that are tied up to switch on-off the same light or appliance. The "two only AC wires" with no neutral wire at the switch's electrical box call for changes to the commonly used electrical wiring and thus prevent simple introduction of home automation,
Further, AC power devices that are directly connected to live AC power lines within the buildings must be tested to comply with electrical safety laws, rules and regulation and obtain approval and certification by organizations such as the UL in the USA, VDE or TUV in Europe, BS in the UK and similar organizations in other countries. Moreover, many of the known AC wiring regulations forbid the connecting of the AC wires and low voltage wired control systems inside the same electrical box and/or the connections of AC power wires and low voltage control wires to the same relay, remote switch and/or electrical power devices such as light dimmers. For this reason the remote control circuits of such power switching devices must be structured inside the switch and powered by the AC power.
The significance with remote controlling of home automation systems is the ability to switch electrical appliances on and off remotely via PCs through the Internet, via mobile telephones and/or via other PDA devices. The problem however for such remote controlling is the need for a verified on-off status of the appliances being operated and/or the availability of a status report covering all the remotely controlled appliances of a given house, office, apartment or a building.
Such devices for detecting the on-off status or a standby status is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/874,309 dated Oct. 18, 2007, and IR devices for communicating such on-off or standby statuses via an IR remote control system along with IR remote control devices for operating AC power switches and AC operated appliances are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/939,785 dated Nov. 14, 2007, with the content of both application Ser. Nos. 11/874,309 and 11/939,785, are incorporated herein by reference.
Similarly, such method and apparatuses for integrating remote control devices with video interphone systems and shopping terminals are also disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/024,233 dated Dec. 28, 2004 and U.S. application Ser. No. 11/509,315 dated Aug. 24, 2006.
For all the disclosed and known power switching and control devices, there is a need to access the devices for feeding control signals and retrieving switching status signal. But because of the electrical safety regulations in many countries including the US, it is forbidden to connect a low voltage communication line to an AC power switch or a dimmer inside the same electrical box.
The wireless and IR remote control devices can be used for the two way communications, however for the IR remote control a line of sight is necessary, and in the case of wireless, the signal may not reach devices in other rooms within the residence. This presents an uncertainty in commanding the switching on-off and the verifying of the appliance status and a solid verifiable communication via inter-connections between a low voltage powered control device and an AC power switch or a dimmer is needed.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for inter-connecting AC power relays, light dimmers and other AC power devices including an AC current on-off sensing devices disclosed in the U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/874,309 and 11/939,785 via fiber light guide or fiber optic cable with a wired low voltage IR control device that is installed separately in a designated electrical box.
Another object of the present invention is to operate and monitor the status of the electrical appliances through video interphones and/or "shopping terminals" and/or via a communication network including the generating of the control codes and signals from the video interphones and shopping terminals to the different appliances through a driver circuits as described in the above referenced application Ser. Nos. 11/024,233 and 11/509,315. "Shopping terminals" are disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 10/864,311 dated Jun. 8, 2004 and PCT international application PCT/US05/19564 dated Jun. 3, 2005 for method and apparatus for simplified e-commerce shopping via home shopping terminals. Video interphones systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,923,363, 6,603,842 and 6,940,957.
In the following description the term live AC refers to the "hot line" of the AC power or mains, as oppose to the neutral line of the AC power or mains. The term load refers to an appliance such as light fixture that is connected between the neutral line and the live AC line via an on-off switch or a dimmer.
In the following description the term transmitter refers to an LED, laser or other optical emitting devices that transform electric signals into IR or visual light signals.
The term transmitting refers to IR or visual light emission from a transmitter, in air such as from hand held remote control or into fiber optic or light guide cables.
The term receiver refers to photo diode, Pin diode, photo transistor or other photo detectors for receiving IR or visual light signals and converting them into electrical signals.
The term receiving refers to the receiving of IR or visual light, in air in line of sight, such as from an hand held IR remote control, or via fiber optic or light guide cables.
The term transceiver refers to a combined transmitter and receiver attached to an optical prism for propagating two way optical signals through a single optical medium cable by deflecting a received optical signal to the receiver and allowing the transmitted optical signal to pass into the optical medium cable, or to a combined transmitter and receiver for propagating two way optical signals via two optical medium cables.
The term optical signal refers to electromagnetic radiated signals within the visual spectrum and the IR spectrum.
The term IR AC switching device or AC devices or AC powered devices refer to a remote controlled AC power devices for switching on-off AC appliances, including mechanical contacts relays, semiconductor relays, triac relays, triacs for light dimming and for controlling motors, current sensors and AC outlets and combinations thereof, characterized by being powered through an AC power or in series with the controlled live AC line and remotely operated by IR or visual light signals.
Even though only IR or only visual light may be recited in the following descriptions, such as IR AC devices, the IR and the visual light term may refer to both. The term IR or visual light is used alternately and should not be restrictive to the one or the other.
The term low voltage IR or visual light control device refers to a control device powered by low DC or AC voltage such as 12V DC or 24V AC, for controlling the IR or visual light AC switching devices, including one or two way IR communication circuits and attachment facilities for attaching and securing light guide or fiber optic cables for connection with the AC switching device.
The term IR or visual light AC current sensor refers to a low voltage IR control device or AC powered current sensor circuit for detecting by induction the AC current drained through AC power wire, such as disclosed in above referred to U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/874,309 and 11/939,785 and for generating current drain status via one way or two way IR or visual light communication circuits, including attachment facilities for attaching and securing light guide or fiber optic cables for connection with the AC switching devices.
The term pending US applications refers to the U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/874,309 and 11/939,785 applied on Oct. 18, 2007 and Nov. 14, 2007 respectively.
The apparatus for remotely operating AC powered appliances and other objects of the present invention are attained by connecting a light guide or fiber optic cable between the IR AC switching device and a wired low voltage IR control device for communicating one or two way IR signals including commands to operate the electrical appliances and the IR AC switching device, and command confirmation including the AC current statuses of the connected electrical appliances, thereby generating on-off status signals from the appliances, in response to the received operational command or in response to an inquiry command (a request for status data) on the basis of the current sensor output, thereby providing error free remote controlling of the electrical home appliances.
The solution offered by the present invention, similar to the pending US application, is to install an add on IR or visual light operated AC devices that include relays, triacs and current sensors, packaged or encapsulated with wireless receiver and transmitter into a standard size casing of an AC switch or outlet, powered through the live AC line, and using such packaged device to augment any type of standard on-off switch for electrical appliances or lighting and not by replacing the whole existing electrical switches and wiring.
The IR receiver and transmitter of the add on IR AC devices are provided with attachment facilities for connecting light guide or fiber optic cable for propagating the one or two way IR communication signals between the IR AC switching device, the IR AC current sensor and a low voltage IR propagating devices, including a modified version of the IR repeater disclosed in the pending US applications, such that the IR repeater is also provided with a reciprocal light guide or fiber optic cable attachment. Because, the light guide and/or the fiber optic cable are an insulator, they can be attached to the IR AC switching device or the IR AC current sensor inside the same electrical box. By this arrangement it is possible to power the control circuit of the IR AC switching device from the AC power and propagate the IR communication signal via the light guide to operate the IR AC switching device and the IR AC current sensor.
The method of adding packaged IR AC switching devices and/or the IR current sensor devices to an existing standard electrical switches and outlets instead of replacing them, introduces several major advantages; one is the lowering of the overall cost of the switches and outlets, because standard low cost, mass produced switches and outlets can be used. The second advantage is that the "IR AC devices" provide dual operation, manual operation via the commonly used switches and outlets on one hand and remote operation, in parallel with manual operation, via the IR AC switching devices. These advantages are the other objects of present invention, attained in total harmony and with no conflict between the manual and remote switching operation as described in the pending US applications.
The pending US applications teach the use of two types of switches for AC appliances and light fixture, namely a single pole-double throw (SPDT) switches for on-off switching of a given appliance such as used to switch light fixture from two separate positions. In instances were three or more switches are needed to switch on-off the same light fixture, another type of dual pole-dual throw (DPDT) switches connected in a given straight-cross configuration in between the two SPDT switches described above. The DPDT switches and the DPDT relays are also known as "reversing" or 4 way switches or relays.
Accordingly one of the objects of the present invention is to attach a light guide to an IR controlled SPDT relay connected to an SPDT light switch for operating a light fixture or other electrical appliance, thereby maintaining the operation via a "commonly used" manual switch and provide remote switching via the IR controlled SPDT relay connected to the switch in a given configuration.
Another object of the present invention is to attach a light guide for propagating IR commands and for operating remotely a DPDT relay for switching on-off light fixture or other electrical appliance in a system connected to a manual SPDT switch and to a more comprehensive switching setup that includes two SPDT and one or more DPDT switches.
As explained in the pending US applications, the use of SPDT and DPDT relays as the "add on devices" of the present invention, or in other known home automation's electrical relays, switches and outlets, it will not be possible to identify the on-off status of the appliance, unless the data of all the switches and relays status of a given circuit are transmitted to the controller. This mandates the feeding and recording of all the switch's and the relay's data to the controller during the installation, which is complicated, troublesome and prone to errors. This may cause also complicated data handling and ensuing operational complications, requiring the transmitting of all the data every time a manual switch or relay is activated in the system, and this in return introduces substantial more data traffic and processing.
IR AC switching devices incorporating mechanical relay contacts require large physical size, because the initial current surge may be as high as 10 times the rated current of a light bulb. For example the current drain of a 600 W light fixture, which drains 5 A, may cause a surge of 50 A when it is switched on. Such heavy current calls for large relay contacts and driving current for the relay coil, which is expensive and bulky.
For this reason another object of the present invention is the use of dual triac circuit, termed also SPDT triac for its SPDT switching, because triac can well absorb 10 times surge current. Moreover the use of triac enables to limit the power fed to the appliance to, for example, 95% of the rated voltage, enabling the use of the residual 5% AC voltage to power the CPU for controlling the triacs including the IR receiver and transmitter, thereby providing a low cost and simple attachment of a light guide, and the use of the existing electrical wiring as is, by connecting the IR AC power device to the live AC wire and the load wire, requiring no neutral wire and no changes in the standard wiring of the electrical system.
Another important object of the present invention is the introduction of IR AC current sensor for identifying when the appliance is switched on. The connecting of live AC power line to an electrical circuit mandates a compliance with the electrical safety laws, rules and regulations such as the UL and it cannot be connected to low voltage communication line inside the same electrical box. Therefore the IR AC current sensor of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is not connected to the AC line, instead the current is detected by AC induction, same as disclosed in the pending US applications.
The disclosed IR AC current sensor includes an IR receiver and transmitter for receiving commands to operate an appliance and for transmitting in return the data pertaining the on or off status of the appliance. However, if such appliance is a television and the electrical AC outlet to which the television is connected to is hidden behind the television set, the on-off status of the television set cannot be propagated by the IR transmitter disclosed in the pending US applications, because it will not be in line of sight with the disclosed IR repeater. For this reason the IR AC current sensor is attached to a light guide for propagating the IR signals to the IR repeater disclosed in the pending US applications.
For example a television receiver can be powered via a standard AC outlet, with the live AC wire connecting to the AC outlet for the television receiver passes through said IR AC current sensor. While the power on command to the television may be transmitted via an hand held IR remote control or via an IR repeater disclosed in the pending US applications and/or through the video interphone disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,603,842 and 6,940,957 and/or the shopping terminal disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 10/864,311.
The IR receiver and transmitter of the IR AC switching device, including the IR AC current sensor through which the AC power is fed, for example, to the television receiver, transmits to the home automation controller, the video interphone or the shopping terminal, via the fiber light guide of the present invention and through the disclosed IR repeater, in return to a power-on command to the television receiver, a reply that a power-on is detected, thereby updating the home automation controller, or said video interphone or the shopping terminal with the television "on status" or "off status" if the command was to switch off the television.
The reference to home automation controller hereafter is to a panel device with control keys or touch screen and circuits similar to the video interphone and/or the shopping terminal disclosed in the pending US applications.
The foregoing and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Shown in
The basic switching circuit of
For error free remote switching of an appliance it is necessary to know the appliance on or off status. It is possible to know the on or off status when using a remotely operated single pole-single throw (SPST) relay, on the basis of the commands fed to the relay driver circuit, but it is far more reliable to provide a returned confirmation data from the appliance by detecting the current drain of the AC appliance. The pending US applications disclose two way IR communications for remotely operating appliances including the receiving of a returned data, however, because of movements within a room may obstruct the line of sight of an IR remote on-off command to a given appliances, including a command from an IR remote control repeater 70 or 90 shown in
Another issue is the connections via the travelers 1 and 2 shown in
Shown in
The triac switching circuits support high current surges, such as the rush current surges when incandescent lamps are switched on. The well known triac devices 223 and 224 provide for high current surges of over 10 times the rated current and can control the current flow through them, offering the added function such as dimming the lights, by delaying the trigger pulses, timed against the AC power zero crossing. To have the triacs fully conductive (full on state) calls for triggering the triacs at each consecutive zero crossing time.
The dual triac switching and dimming circuit 6MIR of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in
The shown SPDT dimmer circuit 6MIR is connected to a load (appliance) via two traveler terminals 1 and 2 and via the switch pole L of the SPDT switch S1. The live AC line is connected to the ground plane G of the circuit 6MIR through a high current toroidal or other chock coil L1. The DC power for operating the CPU 210 and other internal devices and circuits is drained from the AC power line connected between one of the traveler lines to which the SPDT switch S1 is connected and the ground plane (the live AC line) of the circuit. The AC is drained via two independent rectifier lines R1, C1 and D3 or via R2, C2 and D4 for feeding the rectified power to the zener diode D5 and the VCC regulator 227.
The independent first rectifier line comprising R1, C1 and D1 is shown connected between terminal 1 via traveler 1 (to the load) and the ground plane G, i.e., in parallel to triac 1. The rectifier diode D3 feeds the rectified AC current to the zener diode D5 and the VCC regulator 227. The zener diode D5 ensure stable voltage feed to the VCC regulator 227, and the capacitor C3 is a large, low voltage electrolytic capacitor to filter the 50 or 60 Hz ripple and for storing the rectified DC current for feeding the voltage regulator 227 with peak DC currents needed for operating all of the internal circuits and devices of the 6MIR.
When the SPDT switch S1 is switched over (switching the appliance off) it connects the traveler 2 to the load. This switches the power to the second rectifier circuit comprising R2, C2 and D2, connected between terminal 2 (to the load) via traveler 2 and the ground plane G, i.e., in parallel to triac 2. The rectifier diode D4 feeds the rectified AC current to the zener diode D5 and to the VCC regulator 227. This switch over connections via the traveler lines, between the SPDT dimmer 6MIR and the SPDT switch S1, and the dual rectifier circuits ensures that the rectified AC power is fed to the internal circuits of 6MIR irrespective to the pole position of the SPDT switch.
D1 and D2 are reversed polarity diodes for driving current during the negative cycle of the AC current, while C1 and C2 are low impedance capacitor approved by the respective authorization bodies such as UL (USA) or VDE (Germany) to be connected into live AC power circuit. The capacitors with a capacity from 0.1 Micro Farad and up 0.82 Micro Farad, having a selected impedance, for the 50 Hz or 60 Hz of the power line, for conducting small AC current of several mili Amperes, sufficient to drive all the internal circuits of the SPDT dimmer circuit 6MIR.
Because the rectifier circuits 1 and 2 are connected in parallel to the respective triacs 1 and 2, the voltage across the triac will be the full AC power line voltage, such as 120V in the US or 230V in Europe, when the triac is in off state. When the triac is in full on state, i.e., the triac is triggered to a full conductive state, the residual voltage across the triac will be a practical zero, thereby removing the power source from the rectifier line connected to it in parallel and cutting off the power (VCC) to the dimmer circuits.
For this reason the preferred embodiment of the present invention limits the on state current of the triacs 1 and 2 such that a minimum of 7V˜10 VAC residual voltage remains across the triac. Such limits provide on voltages of, for example, 113V AC for US powered appliances and 220V AC for European powered appliances, which represents 94% and 96% efficiency respectively. Yet even these minor deficiencies are simple to overcome by introducing a neutral AC line to the dimmer circuits 6MIR, 6M-2 and 6M of
As explained above and in the pending US applications the reason for not providing neutral line is the intent to connect the dimmer circuit 6MIR, 6M-2 and 6M in the same way as a mechanical, commonly used AC switch is connected. Since the standard lighting wiring use only live AC and load AC lines, i.e., only two wires are commonly found in the conduits and the back boxes, the intent of the present invention is to use only the commonly existing two wires of the lighting system, with no changes.
Yet, the existing rules and regulations of the known electrical wiring and codes do not prevent the introduction of AC neutral line into the conduit and any of the AC electrical back boxes, and the connections of such AC neutral line to the dimmer circuits 6MIR, 6M-2 and 6M are permitted.
Accordingly, the dimmer circuits 6MIR, 6M-2 and 6M can be provided with neutral terminal N, shown in
Returning back to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the dimmer circuits 6MIR, 6M-2 and 6M of
From the above description it becomes clear that the SPDT dimmer circuits 6MIR, 6M-2 and 6M can be installed into a standard electrical AC boxes and wired into standard, commonly used electrical wiring without any changes being made to the basic wired electrical systems, and that the triacs can be switched on for powering the appliances, such as light fixtures with 94%˜96% efficiency depending on the rated AC voltage standard of a given country, state or a region.
On the other hand the introduction of a neutral AC line to the dimmer circuits 6MIR, 6M-2 and 6M provides the dimmers with a rectifier circuit that enables the triacs 223 and 224 to switch the power on to its 100% efficiency.
As explained above the well known triac 223 or 224 switches on by feeding a trigger pulse T1 or T2 to the triac trigger terminal. The trigger switches on the triac for a duration until the next zero crossing of the AC power line. For a full 100% switch on periods the triacs must be re-triggered at each zero crossing with no delay. To dim the light the triac is fed with a delayed trigger. The time delay can be calculated on the basis of the AC line frequency such as the 60 Hz in the US and 50 Hz in Europe or other countries. The time duration between two zero crossings for the 60 Hz of the US is 8.33 mili seconds (half of one sinusoidal cycle of 16.66 m sec.) and for the 50 Hz of the EC is 10 mili seconds (half one sinusoidal cycle of 20 m sec.) respectively, of the AC power frequency.
The delay (as selected) in triggering the triac switches the triac on with a sharp rise or fall time that causes sharp switching current and noise. Such noise is reduced or eliminated by the use of large chock coil L1, using toroidal and other well known AC chokes and variety of AC capacitors, ferrites and other noise filters (not shown).
Shown in
The resistors R3 and R4 values are pre-configured such that the comparator circuit 225 or 226 will reverse its state whenever the AC voltage level, in either the positive or the negative sinusoidal curve, intersects the zero crossing point. Irrespective of when the comparator reverses its state from positive to negative or vice versa from negative to positive, such change of state becomes the zero crossing reference point fed to the CPU 30. The potential of the other non connected traveler line 1 or 2 (open line) is essentially the same potential as the ground plane potential, and thus will not cause the comparator circuit 225 or 226 to reverse its state. Accordingly the CPU is fed with zero crossing data only from the comparator associated with the traveler line 1 or 2 that is connected via the SPDT switch S1 to the load.
It is clear therefore that the CPU is refreshed with the zero crossing time and is updated with the identification of which traveler line is connected to the load. The CPU can therefore generate a trigger pulse T1 or T2 on the basis of the zero cross timing, the connected traveler 1 or 2 and the received command on or off or a given dimmer level that is fed to the CPU 30 through the IR remote control receiver 32 via the IR photo transistor or photo diode 12.
The trigger pulse T1 or T2 are fed to the trigger input of the triac 223 or 224 respectively with no delay for on command and with a programmed delay, commensurating with a received dimmer setting level command from an IR remote control device. When an off command is received the CPU 30 will stop feeding the trigger pulse T1 or T2 to the triac that is connected through a traveler 1 or 2, with the load (appliance) via the SPDT switch S1. Instead the CPU will feed a non delayed, i.e., full on trigger pulses to the other, the "non connected" triac. This enables the user to switch on the appliance via the manual SPDT switch S1 by switching over the switch lever from pos.1 to pos.2 or vice versa. This can also switch the appliance on via the IR remote control by a command to trigger the switched off triac. Such ability to freely switch the appliance via the commonly installed manual switch and via an IR command through the home automation networks is similar to the disclosed on-off switching in the pending US applications.
Moreover the CPU 3D is able to confirm if the load is connected to a switched on triac, switched off triac or "dimmed" state triac, thereby the CPU can positively identify the on or off or dimmed status of the appliance and feed such data via the IR driver 33 and the IR transmitter 13 to the system controller, to a shopping terminal or to the video interphone disclosed in the pending US applications.
When the user switches off the appliance via the SPDT switch S1, the CPU receives the zero crossing data through the newly connected traveler 1 or 2, but the CPU will memorize via its memory 30A the last entered trigger timing (switching over the mechanical switch S1 does not change the last received command memorized in the memory 30A), therefore the CPU will continue to feed repeatedly the on or a dimmer level command to the triac 223 or 224 that is no longer connected, on the basis of the zero crossing data fed from the other traveler line that was manually switched over to. This enables the use of dual triacs circuits 6MIR, 6M-2 and 6M in combination with the manual SPDT or DPDT switches for providing both a manual and a remote switching on-off, fully compatible with and a replacement to the disclosed relays in the pending US applications.
The trigger T1 or T2 fed by the CPU is buffered via the buffers 220 or 221 respectively for feeding a pulse level and current needed to trigger the triacs 223 and 224. The buffer is a well known buffer amplifier, such as transistor or IC, however depending on the level and the current capacity of the I/O ports of the CPU 30, the buffers 220 and 221 may not be needed and not used, in which case the trigger pulses T1 and T2 are fed from the CPU 30 directly to the triacs 223 and 224 trigger inputs.
The IR receiver 32, the photo transistor or photo diode 12, the IR driver 33 and the IR transmitter or LED 13 are well known circuits and devices, commonly available indifferent IC or discrete packages, encapsulated with IR pass filter and/or low pass filters. The IR receiver and transmitter circuits 32 and 33 are also disclosed in the pending US applications, for communicating IR signals in air and in line of sight, such as used by hand held remote control and via IR driver.
The shown rotary digital switches 34-1 and 34-n are address setting switches for identifying the room or zone in which the appliances are located and the type of the appliance and are also disclosed in the pending US applications. The switch 235 is a select switch such as a tact switch or a key for manually operating the dimmer by keying the dimmer level, one step at the time and one step after another in rotation, up-down or such as on-down-off or off-up-on and the like. Though the key or switch 235 is shown as a single key or switch, a plurality or set of keys, such as on, off, and preset dimmer level keys, switches or potentiometers can be used, providing direct switching and dimming selection through a given selector, key or button.
The two way remote communication between the command converter 259P and/or the TX/RX drivers 33A and 32A of the home automation system and the dimmer 6M-2 of
In contrast when using light guide cable instead of the fiber optic cable, the use of the visual spectrum band is much more efficient. Light guide is manufactured for example by Toray. Industry. The light guide cables are efficient in the red wavelength, in particular the least attenuated wavelength is the red color in the 650 nm band. The advantages of the light guide versus the fiber optic cables, within the context of home automation communications are many.
The light guide can be used with acceptable attenuation for up to 50 meter or 160 feet. The light guide can be bended into radiuses as small as 5 mm or 0.2 inch. It is soft and can be fed into conduit and it is not flammable and therefore can be loosely fed onto drop ceilings or behind paneled walls. Light guide does not require the termination processing of fiber optic cables, it can be cut by a sharp knife and requires no polishing and no lapping process. The cut surfaces end's of the light guide cables can be literally attached to the emitting surface of a low cost red LED 13A and to the receiving surface of a low cost visual spectrum photo transistor or photo diode 12A. The light guide cable end can be glued or crimped onto a self locking plastic plug (not shown), or otherwise attached to the LED 13A and to the photo transistor or diode 12A as shown in
The propagated protocol via the light guides or fiber optic cables can use the same protocols as used by the IR remote protocol to the dimmer 6MIR and the confirmation reply from the dimmer 6MIR. Alternatively a modified protocol or different protocols, structure and speed for communicating with the dimmers 6M-2 and 6M of
The combined two way TX-RX driver/receiver 33A and 32A, that is also referred to as a transceiver, of the command converter 259P feed and receive the protocols via the LED 13A and photo transistor or diode 12A, reciprocal to the LED 13A and the photo diode 12A of the dimmer circuit 6M-2. The command converter 259P further exchanges the communication protocols with the home automation system distributor 60M (shown in
The dimmer circuit 6M shown in
The prism 255 shown in
In the following the term "transceiver" may refer to a TX-RX circuits 33A and 32A including the LED 13A, the photo diode 12A with or without the prism 255. Because the two way communications via the prism are conducted in a simplex communication which enables a receive only state, or transmit only state, the cross talk or leakage of light signals from the transmitter 13A to the receiver 12A or vice versa, wherein a portion of the received signal reaches the surface of the transmitter 13A or leakage of a transmitted light reaches the photo transistor 12A surface, becomes non important and immaterial. The importance is that the intended direction is not attenuated severely by the prism 255. Such prism structure is obtained by the injected plastic method with good results and at a low cost. However well known prisms 255 with low cross talk can be used for communicating two way duplex signals, when duplex communications are needed.
Outside the DPDT switch addition the dimmer 6M-2 is identical in every respect to the dimmer 6M-2 shown in
Shown in
The current sensors assemblies using the coils 31 and 31B disclosed in the pending US applications are not connected to the AC power line and therefore can be mounted into electrical boxes accommodating low voltage wires. However, nothing is said in the electrical and safety codes and rules, such as published by the UL, about current sensors as disclosed in the pending US applications, because such current sensor assemblies never existed before. This represents a complex uncharted territory of electrical codes, rules and regulations. Accordingly the present invention covers AC current sensors shown in
The current sensors 4M, 4M-2 and 4MIR can be similar to the current sensors disclosed in the pending US applications or a range of current sensors that are built into or are an add on to an AC outlet socket, or are an integral part of an AC power outlet or socket, such as the integrated 4SM socket/sensor assembly. The integrated AC current sensors including 4SM that is connected via single fiber optic cable or light guide (not shown), the 4SM-2 connected via two fiber optic cables or light guide that is shown in
The current transformer 31T shown in
Even though
The difference between the two way IR and visual spectrum drivers and receiving circuits, comprising IR RX 32 and IR TX 33 versus the two way visual spectrum circuits comprising RX 32A and TX 33A, concern mainly the carrier frequency. The commonly used carrier frequency for IR remote control devices is 38.5 KHz. However other carrier frequencies such as 40 KHz˜60 KHz, or any other frequency in up to the 100 KHz range or higher, are used and can be used with the present invention. It is important to note that the carrier is encoded or AM modulated by the IR TX driver 33 using commands and data protocols that are stored in the memory 30A of the CPU 30 of
When a slow baud rate signals are propagated for switching LEDs (visual or IR) on-off and when such light or IR signals are propagated from point to point via light guides or fiber optic cables, it is far simpler to generate only the envelopes of the control commands and statuses. The communication circuits are simpler because there is no need to generate carrier signal or to modulate the carrier signal, nor to demodulate the received signal. Accordingly a carrier frequency generator as well as encoding or modulating and decoding or demodulating circuits are not needed and are not used. Instead the CPU 30 can generate and feed directly to the LED 13A or via a simplified driver 33A IR or light pulses i.e., the envelopes of the protocols. Similarly the photo diode 12A can be directly connected to the CPU 30 or via a simplified RX 32A, providing two way exchange of commands, statuses, confirmations and other data. Such substantially simplified processing circuits are incorporated in the CPU 30 and the TX and RX circuits 32A and 33A, thereby substantially cutting the hardware of the signal processing chain, reducing the components needed and the total cost of the current sensor assemblies, the AC relays and the dimmer circuits, providing lower costs products with greatly improved accuracy, performance and reliability.
The CPU 30, the memory 30A, the IR receiver and transmitters 32 and 33 and the switches 34-1 and 34-n that are used to set a room or zone address and identify the connected appliance, the current sensors 31T, 31 and the coil assembly 31A/31B along with the current detection processes are fully disclosed in the pending US application and are incorporated herein by reference.
When IR signals are communicated in line of sight, the visual spectrum circuits and devices 32A, 33A, 12A and 13A shown in
When propagating the two way IR signals through an IR link, in line of sight, instead of the fiber optic cables or light guides, the link between the IR components or the line of sight become important item that need to be addressed. The disclosed IR drivers in the pending US applications teach a simple adjustable structure, a similar structure for perfecting the IR link by adjusting the direction of the line of sight of the photo diode or photo transistor 12 and the LED 13 is implemented with the present invention. It is preferable of course to provide a similar adjustable structure to the AC current sensor assemblies 4MIR (not shown) and 4SMIR shown in
The IR LED 13 and the photo diode or photo transistor 12 shown in
The structure shown in
The dimmers 6MIR of FIGS. 7B and 6M-2 of
The advantages offered by connecting a single cable 252 versus two cables 252 to the dimmers (for dimming light fixtures and for switching on-off different electrical appliances), as well as for connecting the current sensors of the present invention, including current sensors integrated with an AC socket or outlet S such as shown in
The installation of a single cable 252 is a simple process explained below, while the installation of two cables 252 require the identification of the receive line and the transmit line. Of course it is possible to have the jackets of the light guide or the fiber optic cables 252 in different colors or markings, but as each of the cables is connected at one end to a transmitter (LED) 13A and in the other end to a receiver (photo diode) 12A, the installer or the electrician that connects the two light guides or fiber optic cables 252, such as shown in
The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a cable identification program embedded into the system controller, including the referred to above video interphone monitor or shopping terminal, such that all the transmitting LEDs 13A will switch on, thereby providing the installer or the electrician the ability to visually see and identify the propagated light through the light guide 252 (visual light such as red or yellow or green) and/or detect an IR radiation via an IR detector. Once a light guide or fiber optic cable 252 is identified as propagating a light or IR, it is clear that the other end of the cable should be installed into the receiving socket 252B-RX of the body 6MB shown in
The jaws shown in
The converters may include the setting switches 34-1˜34-n for setting the room, zone and/or appliance address, or they may be non intelligent devices such as receiving electrical signals via the wired network 10 or 10P and converting them into light signals via the light guide or fiber optic cables 252 and/or receiving light signals via the light guide or fiber optic cable 252 and converting them into electrical signal via the wired network 10 or 10P. Outside the TX/RX driver/receiver 33A and 32A the circuits of the converters can comprise, for example, the CPU 30, the memory 30A and the AC rectifier circuit shown in
The converters may use a separate low voltage DC power supply for powering the converters of a system and communicate via a wired network 10 with the distributor and power supply 60M shown in
The command converters 257 and 257L shown in
The current sensor for such application can be programmed to generate current status data whenever a change in the AC current is detected at random, caused either by a mechanical switch or by auto timer switch, as explained above. Of course such a single, one way command converters will have only TX circuit 33A and LED 13A for operating appliances, or only the RX circuit 32A and the photo diode or photo transistor 12A for receiving status or data from an appliance, and they are connected to their wired network through the shown terminals in
Shown in
There are endless possibilities for providing molded holders with endless shapes of self locking hooks. Further, the socket 252B-TX and RX can be part of the grooves 252G, in which case the LED 13A, the photo diode or photo transistor 12A and/or the prism 255 will be positioned at the end of the grooves. Instead of the two screws 252S shown in
Shown in
Outside the audio, video, alarm and data that is fed to the home owner through its video interphone system, he can also review the status of the home automation and the electrical appliances. The owner can further command and operate or switch off any or all of the appliances at will. The distributor and power supply 60M further provide for connecting video camera or the output of a CCTV video system selector into the input 67, thereby providing the owner of the house a video review of the house interior and/or exterior, particularly during alarm.
The shown wired data driver 69 and the wired data driver and power 69P are fully explained in the pending US application and are shown here for illustrating how to connect the protocol converters 259, 258, 259P and 258P into the system. The command converter 259P is fed with communication and power via terminal 10P, while the protocol converters 258 are shown powered individually via the DC power terminal 68-11 of the power supply 68.
The block diagram of
The shown current sensor with AC outlet 4SMIR is not connected via a twisted pair nor via light guide, it is controlled and operated via the two way IR signals, adjustable to in line of sight, between the current sensor 4SMIR and the IR drivers 70 or 90. Same applies to the dimmer 6MIR that includes adjustable LED and photo diode or transistor for communicating in line of sight with the IR drivers 70 or 90.
The command converter 259P is shown connected via the twisted pair 10P for communicating two ways and feeding the power for operating the command converter. The command converter 259P can be installed in a given electrical box with no AC power wire connections and be connected as shown in
The command converter 258 of
Also shown in
The IR RX and TX circuits 32 and 33, the LED 13 and the photo diode 12 are included in both versions of the command converters 258IR and 258IR-2 that is shown in
The addresses setting switches 34-1 and 34-n shown in
The mechanical SPDT light switch 1B is shown side by side with the dimmer 6MIR that is directly operated by the IR remote control 200, requiring no further interconnection via light guides or fiber optic cables 252. Another switch 1B is connected to a dimmer 6M-2, which receives commands from and transmit statuses to the IR ceiling driver 70.
It becomes clear that the interconnections in combinations with low voltage control lines 10P and 10 with or without carrying DC power, light guide of fiber optic cables and IR in line of sight, can all be harmonized for implementing low cost, highly efficient home automation including the many appliances used in homes, offices or business. Similarly the shown command converter 258IR-2 connected to the dimmer 6M-2 with both devices powered by the AC line. The setup fully comply with the electric code requirements and the devices 258IR-2 and 6M-2 can be mounted into electrical boxes and interconnected by the light guides 252 that are electrically safe. The light guides or fiber optic cables fully comply with the fire codes for such installations, offer a low cost solution to otherwise complex, expensive, and restricted by the electrical and fire hazard codes, rules and regulation. This harmonized interconnection and the two way commands in line of sight or via light guides can solve the complexity that have seriously held back the home automation penetrations, including multi apartment buildings.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purpose of the disclosure, which modifications do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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|U.S. Classification
|398/141, 398/110, 398/113, 398/167.5
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Nov 13, 2008
Owner name: ELBEX VIDEO LTD., JAPAN
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ELBERBAUM, DAVID;REEL/FRAME:021830/0700
Effective date: 20081024
|Nov 9, 2015
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hi guys
I hereby attaching full documentation about WEB ADI, it starts from what is meant by WEB ADI and goes step by step procedure to upload data in table. Please find the attachment
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Any link or way to get the countries and the amount they are owing the USA. The USA owe many countries money amounting to trillions of dollars, and i want to see the countries owing the US. How can te US pay china the trillions they are owing them? How will the US pay them back? What will happen if the us is not able to pay back? I need answers please.
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I can think of 500 billion that just went to Pakistan. But there has been lots and lots of money just given away.
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The second question you ask is the correct one: how can the U.S. pay China bach the trillions we have borrowed from them.
Though you are a couple of zeroes off, the answer is that up until now foreign investors and nations have been content with our ability to pay interest on the debt we owe them in the form of Treasury Bonds. Debt interest payments are a large and increasing portion of the federal budget that we all pay taxes to support.
Recently these nations have begun questioning our ability to repay our debts over the long term. If our creditors lose faith in our ability to repay, it will cost the U.S. more to borrow, the same way that it costs more to borrow to buy a car with bad credit than with good.
Because the U.S. dollar is no longer exchangeable for gold or silver, the U.S. is free to print as many dollars as it see fits to pay it's bills. This is Inflation, and it is how debtor nations of the past have repaid their bills: with increasingly worthless currency. It has always in the past had an unhappy ending.
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Well pendell2 - leading here to the question from bigmodo - "Did China ever pay the United States for all the help we provided them against Japan in WWII - to Mao AND Chiang?" - I doubted they had. Perhaps reconciling the "Books" is in order?
Everyone is dumping Obama for the state that America is in. No one is looking at the real man that cause the problem in the first place. Obama is just trying to clean up Bush mess. The American people alloud Bush to send American troops to the Gulf to fight a war that his father started. BUSH put America in the position that it's in now. So if you want to blame someone turn and look at him. If Hanging was still leagle someone should have took him out and leanch his A--. Obama is just trying to do any and everything he can to protect America and her citizens. But all u want to know is if he is a US citizen. Did anyone check Bush. You should have, because he's the one that didn't have the American's best at heart. Clinton had the US owing no one, but you people found fought in him too...There is no pleasing the American population.
The Dream ACT is a buch of BULL, The US is cutting back on teachers everyday. Trying to think of reasons not to pay them for putting up with your bad ---- kids. Now the US government is trying to bring others over here to work in the place off all the unemployed teachers. or the teachers that's working for little to nothing. Get real this country is becoming more and more of a joke every day.
The US citizens that need assistance can't get it but bring someone else over here from another country they can get not only assistance but assistance jobs and extra money is servive. Pluss they don't have to pay taxes. GET REAl FOKS!!!!
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The economic recession in America is not the first time. There were other times where America suffered with economic recession. The country over came with the crisis. This time also the country will be able over come the recession by dint of quality growth in industry, in the innovation of new technology and efficient administrative control over export & import with look out of America's interest.
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If US is not able to pay back, then it will lose all credibility in the world, and no foreign investors will risk investing in the US.
The Dollar will lose even more value and we will print more money to try to pay just for interest alone. Remember, when the US prints money, China will receive the equivalent of what's owe to them in Yuan, so they get their money no matter what. The US on the other hand will lose out since this action devalues the dollar (Remember Zimbawe's money became so worthless that one had to bring a wheelbarrel full of cash in order to buy a lb of rice). If ths were to happen, our economy will become very unstable, and societal problems wiill ensue. The US might work out a deal with China in terms of selling some of its assets, or exchange with China US's natural resources and raw materials. CNBC took out a poll and there was suggestion of selling our national parks and monuments to pay down our debt.
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text:
Hard work doesn't scare Olympic Gold Medallist Kim Brennan, this is the girl who trained the morning of her wedding & in this spine tingling clip you soon begin to realise why she truly is an exceptional athlete.
Brianna Davey was forced to quit AFL at a young age but she become an elite athlete in another football code.
Now she's back and has gone from Matilda to Marquee player for the inaugural Women's AFL League.
As many questions in 98.7 seconds as we get to know Olympic kayaker and all round awesome gal Jess Fox
The Brisbane Lions have released a powerful video in their bid for a team in the inaugural AFL National Women's League to be launched in 2017.
Olympic Kayaker Jess Fox takes us in the mind of a champion in this powerful clip revealing the harsh mental and physical demands of her sport.
Hollywood film, high school graduation & the World Junior Title, it's been a big year for Isabella Nichols. Why she's been hailed the next big thing in surfing!
See behind the scenes at how Madame Tussauds managed to sculpt Sally's figure and capture every intricate detail of the Olympic Champion.
Australian fast bowler Holly Ferling gives us a unique insight into what life is like for a female cricketer. Somehow she finds enough hours in a day to fit it all in.
Kylie Palmer opens up about her controversial ban from World Swimming, her fight to clear her name and battle to rediscover her love for the sport.
© 2016 document.write(y0); sportette :: all rights reserved


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Riccardo Tisci has announced his departure from Givenchy—a job he held for 12 years. Rumors about his departure started nearly two years ago, when he staged a grand runway show in New York. Many thought it could be his swan song. Obviously, it wasn't, but there have been whispers about his exit since.
WWD reports that the designer's last day was actually two days ago, on the 31st. Although Tisci just unveiled his couture and menswear collections for the house (and will be crafting custom pieces for attendees of the Grammy and Academy awards later this month), apparently he did not design a Fall 2017 womenswear collection. The range will or has been designed by an in-house team, and will be presented to buyers, however Givenchy will not hold a show during Paris fashion week.
Naturally, rumors are swirling as to whether or not he will head to Versace. Two weeks ago, WWD claimed that the Italian house was "chasing" the designer, although considering how close Tisci has become to Donatella Versace (when he cast her in Givenchy's in Fall 2015 campaign, both parties had nothing but gushing things to say about each other), perhaps "wooing" would be more accurate.
In fact, Donatella penned a tribute to Tisci when he was named one of 2016's Time 100, stating, "I am so proud of Riccardo and everything he has achieved at Givenchy as well as all his other work…Riccardo is so brave and fearless, I sometimes think he must have Versace blood somewhere in his body. He is more than just a friend to me—he is family."
FU reached out to both Givenchy and Versace for comments, but neither responded by press time. As for who is to replace Tisci at the storied French house…that's up in the air too, but there is no shortage of currently unemployed designers who could take the reins. Alber Elbaz? Peter Dundas? Some young thing we haven't yet heard of? The whole situation smacks of last year's Dior/Raf Simons/Calvin Klein saga (Will they? Won't they? Tune in next week to see how far we can drag out this affair!), because the fashion industry loves to play coy.


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Since taking over as director of the Dallas Museum of Art, Maxwell Anderson has stressed the need to acquire grant money and to enhance the museum's efforts at conservation. Thursday's announcement covers both mandates.
DMA officials announced that they have received funding from Bank of America to restore the Wittgenstein silver display case, or vitrine, as part of the bank's 2014 global Art Conservation Project. Since the program's inception in 2010, DMA officials say, Bank of America has provided grants to museums in 27 countries supporting 72 conservation projects.
The silver and gem-studded vitrine is "the most lavish piece of silverwork known from the Wiener Werkstätte [or Vienna Workshops], a guild of artists and craftsmen practicing in Austria in the early 20th century," reads Thursday's announcement. "Designed by Carl Otto Czeschka and presented at the 1908 Vienna Art Show, this vitrine marks a crucial time in the evolution of modern design. Acquired by the [DMA] last year, it is one of their most important pieces. Fran Baas, associate conservator of objects, working in close collaboration with Kevin W. Tucker, the Margot B. Perot senior curator of decorative arts and design at the Dallas Museum of Art and Mark Leonard, chief conservator, is currently carrying out the restoration and technical study of this unique masterpiece of decorative design and craftsmanship. The grant from Bank of America is fully funding the restoration of the piece, which is the centerpiece of the upcoming Modern Opulence in Vienna: The Wittgenstein Vitrine exhibition."
The exhibition will open Nov. 15 in the DMA's Conservation Gallery.
"We are deeply grateful to Bank of America for the inclusion of the Dallas Museum of Art in its annual Art Conservation Project Grant for the restoration of this sumptuous silver vitrine," Anderson said in a statement. "With this grant, we are able to ensure the care and restoration of this masterwork, preserving its beauty and highlighting its international importance for the community."
Richard Holt, Dallas market president for Bank of America, added his own statement: "Our Art Conservation Project is designed not only to conserve artworks and shine a light on the need for the preservation of artistic and historic treasures, but also to educate communities and convey respect for the varied cultures and traditions throughout the world. We're fortunate to have access to artistic masterpieces in Dallas and are glad to partner with the Dallas Museum of Art to restore this important piece."


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is-it possible to integrate dream deeply in G'MIC from google
Is it possible to separate serious, really useful filters and "one view is enough" "funny" filters in Gmic ???That would make VERY shorter lists to view !
You can add filters to your favorites list.
There are so many useful filters...A favorites of favorites list woul be necessary!


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Re: [S-R] Konska
Expand Messages
> I misread the small font of the 'Podrobny' index, (andYes, I agree. I use a magnifying glass to aid my failing eye sight.
> this was not the first time either).
> I for one, would welcome their index to use a larger font
> 'Povelkom'. Maybe stronger reading glasses would help.
Your message has been successfully submitted and would be delivered to recipients shortly.


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If you weren't paying careful attention last week you may have missed a very big FDA brouhaha over the diabetes drug Avandia. An FDA panel of experts did a U-turn and voted to ease restrictions on this controversial medication. What the heck is happening at the FDA?
A little history will help put this drug into perspective. A few years ago Avandia was riding high. In its heyday, it earned over $3 billion a year, making it the most successful diabetes drugs of all time. This medicine was marketed aggressively and doctors prescribed it enthusiastically.
Everything came to a screeching halt when cardiologist Steve Nissen, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic and his colleague, statistician Kathy Wolski, M.P.H., published an article in May of 2007 in the New England Journal of Medicine [NEJM] demonstrating a 43% increased risk of heart attack associated with Avandia use.
The spotlight immediately shone on Avandia and it became a highly controversial medication overnight. According to Dr. Nissen, the company was aware of potential cardiovascular problems associated with Avandia well before he published his NEJM article. Apparently the manufacturer even notified the FDA of an increased risk of heart attacks, but the agency chose to, in Nissen's words, "conceal this hazard from patients and practitioners."
When Nissen's analysis made headlines and Congressional testimony corroborated his research, it created a dilemma for the FDA. In an article in Forbes, Dr. Nissen notes:
"The leadership of CDER [FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research] was intensely embarrassed by these revelations and furious with us for publicly challenging the safety of Avandia (and indirectly the competence and integrity of CDER). The FDA appeared incredibly insensitive to the welfare of patients. GSK knew, FDA knew, but patients and physician were not warned."
Eventually, the FDA severely limited the use of Avandia to patients who could not tolerate other diabetes drugs. The manufacturer, GSK, paid a huge fine for suppressing some of the problems with Avandia. Drug regulators in Europe banned the drug outright. Case closed, right? Not so fast.
On June 5 and 6, 2013, the FDA reconsidered the safety of Avandia. The agency and GSK had asked Duke scientists to reanalyze the European data. In so doing, they concluded that there was no increased risk of heart attacks after all.
We won't go into the complexity of the new analysis. Dr. Nissen, in his Forbes article, describes why this study (the RECORD trial) was flawed and "totally unreliable." The reason: This was an "open-label" study in which both physicians and patients knew who was on Avandia and who was on placebo. Such trials are less convincing than double-blind studies where neither patients nor doctors know who is on the active medication.
The FDA expert panel reviewed the Duke data and recommended that restrictions on the drug be softened. GSK and the FDA may have felt vindicated by the panel's decision. We, on the other hand, think that everyone has missed the point.
Patients with type 2 diabetes take drugs not just to lower their blood sugar. Laboraotry numbers are not as important as quality of life and survival. The point of the exercise should be to reduce the likelihood of complications from diabetes. Heart disease is one of the most important hazards of this metabolic condition. A diabetes medicine should, at the very least, lower the risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular disorders dramatically. The best the Duke statisticians could manage, however, was a break even: no increased risk, but more importantly in our view, no reduced risk either! In our opinion, that is a huge failure of the medication.
But wait, there's more. Avandia does have other side effects! No one is disputing that the drug increases the risk of congestive heart failure, a potentially fatal disorder. In addition, there is concern that the drug raises the chances of developing pneumonia and fractures.
- Headache
- Lung infections
- Fluid retention, edema, swelling in hands and feet, weight gain
- Shortness of breath
- Congestive heart failure
- Chest pain, angina, heart attack
- Liver damage
- Fractures
- Macular edema
- Severe skin reactions (require immediate medical attention!)
- Severe allergic reactions (require immediate medical attention!)
We cannot speak to the FDA's motivations for revisiting the safety of Avandia. We can say, however, that a diabetes medication that does not lower the risk of heart attacks, strokes and early death is not high on our list of desirable drugs. For more information about how to lower blood sugar without medications and a overview of medicines that we think deserve your attention, see our Guide to Managing Diabetes.
Share your own story below and let us know what you think of the FDA's recent reversal.


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Machine Politics vs L'Équipe, August 2010. Photo by Steph Simcox
1st Bikepolo Ulm Single Player Shuffle Tournament
Registration date: Friday 9th until Sunday 11th of May (Lottery)
Registration infos:
- Players name & city?
- arrival date?
- tent or car?
- referee?
Please register via email at: (Email address to be announced)
Registration fee: 15,-€ per player (payable during registration at the court)
Player list is limited to 30 players maximum and will be published on Monday the 12th of May.
Date of Tournament: Thursday 29th until Saturday 31st of May
Housing: Camping & parking by the court (please let us know if you sleep in a tent or in a car!) Toilets and showers are next to the court.
- Thursday 29th of May:
-> from 10a.m. tent set up & pick up games (floodlights)
-> BBQ & party from 6p.m.
- Friday 30th of May:
-> from 8a.m. breakfast by the court
-> 9-10a.m. Registration
-> from 10a.m. swiss rounds (approx. 6-7 swiss rounds)
-> pick up games in the evening (floodlights)
-> BBQ all day long
-> short bike ride up the river Donau and having a party in a nice bar (www.stiege-ulm.de)
- Saturday 31st of May:
- from 8a.m. breakfast by the court
- 9a.m. double elimination
- prize giving, BBQ & party in the early evening
Staying overnight until Sunday is possible!!
Ruleset: NAH 2.4


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Master Yi General Guide by ANdrei3311
Not Updated For Current Season
This guide has not yet been updated for the current season. Please keep this in mind while reading. You can see the most recently updated guides on the browse guides page.
Thank You!
Your votes and comments encourage our guide authors to continue
creating helpful guides for the League of Legends community.
Assasin Master Yi
Master Yi Build
Ability Sequence
Not Updated For Current Season
The masteries shown here are not yet updated for the current season, the guide author needs to set up the new masteries. As such, they will be different than the masteries you see in-game.
This is my first GUIDE!
Guide for Master YI.
I hope you like this;)I don;t know what to say anymore..Soooo HOPE YOU LIKE IT;D
-Why do I choose these runes?
Well I use Quints and Marks Armor pen because you dont need ad runes you have great dmg from Wuju Style(e) so armor pen is way better.
-I use armor seals and magic rezist glyphs ..It gives you great resistance on early game so you wont have any problems.
For mastries I choose 21/9/0.It gives to Master Yi great power and resistance + Wuju Style (E) and Meditate(W) makes Master YI a super tanky with great dmg champion.
I choose these items because yi dont really need armor and hp with his Meditate(w) this is the best way (for me i dont know if for you too) to play master yi.
Pros / Cons
-Great Dmg
-Tanky with Meditate
-Great Mobility
-Ignore Slow when use ulti.
-Can solo Baron
-Die Fast if CCed


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Trade Ed. Random House Audio 2003
CD ISBN 0739302493 $14.99 Two CDs
Peter Hunt, a former Navy pilot who flew, as the title says, the A-6 Intruder, recalls his decade of service in this short memoir. Although he relates general details of his personal life, the emphasis is on the events of the Gulf War of 1991. He tells us in great detail of the plane he flew, pilot life, air combat, and the deadly ordnance he carried. L.J. Ganser's reading is energetic and lively. His quick delivery conveys the excitement of the combat scenes. M.T.F.
(c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 04]
Trade Ed. Random House Audio 2003
CD ISBN 0739302493 $14.99 Two CDs
Sign up to receive FREE email newsletters from AudioFile. Get audiobook recommendations and reviews straight to your inbox.


text:
On February 13, 2015, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana dismissed a major lawsuit that was filed by the Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority--representing a number of local South Louisiana levee boards--against 88 oil and gas companies operating in South Louisiana for many years. The case is Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East, et al., v. Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC.
The complaint, originally filed in state court and then removed to the federal courts, alleged that the defendants' operations in the areas subject to the jurisdiction of the levee boards--in particular the construction and operation of canals facilitating their enterprises--caused significant coastal erosion which in turn caused the destruction of thousands of acres of coastal lands that had protected South Louisiana by serving as a buffer against extreme weather conditions. In addition to the construction and operation of the canal system by the defendants, the plaintiffs identified a number of other oil and gas operations and activities that drastically affected the "natural hydrological pattern and processes of the coastal lands". The plaintiffs pled six causes of action based on the unique features of Louisiana law as well as federal law: negligence; strict liability; natural servitude of drain; public nuisance; private nuisance; and breach of contract--third party beneficiary.
The District Court, in a long and very interesting opinion responding to a plethora of cogent and well-argued pleadings by both parties, dismissed this lawsuit. The District Court held: (a) that none of the federal permitting statutes governing the lawsuit--the Rivers and Harbors Act, the Clean Water Act of the Coastal Zone Management Act-imposed a standard of care upon the defendants for the benefit of the plaintiff levee boards, and consequently the plaintiffs had not stated a viable claim for negligence; (b) the plaintiffs, seeking injunctive relief and damages from the defendants, under a theory of strict liability under Louisiana law, did not state a viable claim for strict liability; (c) the plaintiffs did not and cannot state a viable claim under Louisiana law for "natural servitude of drain"; (d) the plaintiffs' claims based on allegations of public and private nuisance for public and private nuisance were dismissed because they did not satisfy the requirements of Louisiana law; and (e) the plaintiffs cannot succeed on a claim that the levee boards are the intended third party beneficiary of the many federal operating permits granted to the defendants over the years.


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Our home group concluded last week with a potluck pool party. Kay & I awarded certificates, something to make everyone laugh and remember. The group stunned us in return by giving us a plaque with photos and the kindest words.
Why dissolve a perfectly good group? So that the virus will not remain contained but will spread. We experienced a different way of being church, and now everyone has been ruined; we will not settle for less again.
We love you guys so much.


text:
- Please select a date to see the proper prices!
Description of the accommodation:
Rooms, services Dormy Inn Express Meguro Aobadai Tokyo would be pleased to host you for a few days trip or a longer holiday in Japan. The hotel is offering 36 nicely furnished rooms to stay in to those seeking accommodation in Tokyo. If you wish to spend your leisure time actively, you may also take the nearby opportunities to rent a bike. In the safe your valuables may be the safely secured. In case you'd bring your laptop along, you may go online via wireless Internet connection (WiFi) available at the hotel. You can find the exact list of services provided by Dormy Inn Express Meguro Aobadai Tokyo (including those for extra fees) and the exact equipment of the rooms on the information sheet below.
Payment Credit card guarantee or advance bank card payment may be required for the reservation, depending on the chosen room, date and price.
Arrival, opening hours The earliest time for arrival and check-in is 15:00, the latest time for departure and check-out is 11:00. The personnel can communicate with you in the following languages: Japanese and English.
Dormy Inn Express Meguro Aobadai Tokyo rooms Rooms
- Please select a date to see the proper prices!
Accommodation services
Free WiFi in shared places
Bike rental at the accommodation
- Finnish sauna
Elevator, Safe deposit box
Hairdryer, Desk in the room, Washing machine


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A tower of light
1 comments post a comment
The strength, intensity and brilliance of this light sculpture continually change with the prevailing weather and atmospheric conditions unique to Iceland.
I guess I must be out of touch, because I just now heard about the Imagine Peace Tower, which is an outdoor work of art conceived by Yoko Ono in memory of John Lennon. Located on Viðey Island, which is just outside Iceland's Reykjavik Harbour, the "tower" is built from light. The strength, intensity and brilliance of the light continually changes with the prevailing weather and atmospheric conditions unique to Iceland.
Apparently the tower was first lit on October 9th 2007, which would have been Lennon's 67th birthday. The plan is for the tower to be lit every year from October 9th (John's Birthday) until December 8th (the day of his death).
The photos of the tower are gorgeous. I very much hope to get to see it in person one day.
Questions? Comments? Feel free to email me – Clive "Max" Maxfield – at email@example.com). And, of course, if you haven't already done so, don't forget to Sign Up for our weekly Programmable Logic DesignLine Newsletter.


text:
Dr Fabio Masi
Current affiliation: IRIDRA Srl
Subject: Environmental Sciences
Primary location: Italy
Constructed Wetlands for Combined Sewer Overflow Treatment—Comparison of German, French and Italian Approaches
Published in:Water
Publication date:2012-12-24
Evaporation–condensation of olive mill wastewater: Evaluation of condensate treatability through SBR and constructed Wetlands
Published in:Ecological Engineering
Publication date:2015-07-01
A New Concept of Multistage Treatment Wetland for Winery Wastewater Treatment: Long-Term Evaluation of Performances
Published in:The Role of Natural and Constructed Wetlands in Nutrient Cycling and Retention on the Landscape
Publication date:2014-07-19
A new approach for local waste water management sanitation case study of rural school (Chorfech 24)
Published in:Water Practice & Technology
Publication date:2015-08-01
Wineries wastewater treatment by constructed wetlands: a review
Published in:Water Science & Technology
Publication date:2015-04-01
Constructed wetlands for the Mediterranean countries: hybrid systems for water reuse and sustainable sanitation
Published in:Desalination
Publication date:2007-09-01
Water reuse and resources recovery: the role of constructed wetlands in the Ecosan approach
Published in:Desalination
Publication date:2009-09-01
Constructed wetlands for combined sewer overflow treatment: Ecosystem services at Gorla Maggiore, Italy
Published in:Ecological Engineering
Publication date:2016-04-01
Impact of influent wastewater quality on nitrogen removal rates in multistage treatment wetlands
Published in:Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Publication date:2014-10-11
Enhanced Denitrification by a Hybrid HF-FWS Constructed Wetland in a Large-Scale Wastewater Treatment Plant
Published in:Wastewater Treatment, Plant Dynamics and Management in Constructed and Natural Wetlands
Publication date:2008-01-01
Sustainable Sanitation by Constructed Wetlands in the Mediterranean Countries: Experiences in Small/Medium-Size Communities and Tourism Facilities
Published in:Efficient Management of Wastewater
Publication date:Not available
Transport of organochlorine pesticides across the air/sea interface during the aerosol process
Published in:Analytica Chimica Acta
Publication date:1995-12-01
Book review
Published in:Ecological Engineering
Publication date:2015-09-01
Greywater treatment as an option for effective wastewater management in small communities
Published in:Desalination and Water Treatment
Publication date:2009-04-01
Constructed wetland as a low cost and sustainable solution for wastewater treatment adapted to rural settlements: the Chorfech wastewater treatment...
Published in:Water Science & Technology
Publication date:2011-06-01
Large scale constructed wetland implementation projects in Turkey in Salt Lake Special Environmental Protection Area
Published in:Desalination and Water Treatment
Publication date:2013-06-01
Constructed and riverine wetlands design considerations for domestic and agricultural diffuse pollution treatment—a case study from Turkey
Published in:Desalination and Water Treatment
Publication date:2015-06-16
Innovative Urban Water Management as a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy: Results from the Implementation of the Project "Water Against Climate Ch...
Published in:Water
Publication date:2012-12-19
Treatment of industrial effluents in constructed wetlands: Challenges, operational strategies and overall performance
Published in:Environmental Pollution
Publication date:2015-06-01
Innovative Urban Water Management as a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy: Results from the Implementation of the Project "Water Against Climate Ch...
Published in:Improving Urban Environments
Publication date:2016-05-05
Green walls for greywater treatment and recycling
Published in:Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development
Publication date:2016-05-31
Dairy Wastewater Treatment by a Horizontal Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetland in Southern Italy
Published in:Natural and Constructed Wetlands
Publication date:2016-01-01
Application of the NaWaTech Safety and O&M Planning Approach Re-Use Oriented Wastewater Treatment Lines at the Ordnance Factory Ambajhari, Nagp...
Published in:Natural and Constructed Wetlands
Publication date:2016-01-01
UASB and aerated CWs for swine wastewater treatment
Published in:Water Science & Technology
Publication date:2017-03-27What's it about?
A pilot installation including a preliminar treatment by a UASB reactor and the secondary treatment performed by an aerated constructed wetland has...
20000 pe treatment wetland in Moldova for municipal wastewater
Published in:Water Science & Technology
Publication date:2017-03-29What's it about?
This paper reports the performances during the first years of operation of the currently largest Treatment Wetland based on French design guideline...


text:
Only a naked Osama would have been spared bullet
SEAL 6 were told to assume he was wearing a suicide vest if he was clothed.
London: Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden, who was killed by US Navy Seals in a commando strike earlier this week in Pakistan, might only have been spared his life by marines if he was found naked, a media report said.
The elite commando team that killed him was told to assume he was wearing a suicide vest if he was clothed, according to a briefing given to a congressional aide, the Daily Mail reported.
The aide - briefed on the rules of engagement - told the Los Angeles Times that Osama "would have had to be naked for them to allow him to surrender".
It has been reported that the terror mastermind was surprised by the attack while wearing his nightclothes.
The admission raises the question of whether the operation targeting bin Laden, in which he was shot in the head by a US commando at a hideout in Pakistan, would have done anything other than kill him.
Chief counter-terrorism advisor John Brennan had initially claimed that commandos were under orders to capture the terror head alive: "If we had the opportunity to take bin Laden alive, if he didn`t present any threat, the individuals involved were able and prepared to do that."
On Tuesday CIA director Leon Panetta said bin Laden "made some threatening moves".
Some US national security officials have, however, privately disclosed there was never any intention to capture bin Laden alive.
Attorney General Eric Holder, seeking to head off suggestions that killing Osama was illegal, said the US commandos who raided the hide-out had carried out a justifiable act of national self-defence.
Holder said bin Laden was a legitimate military target and had made no attempt to surrender to the US forces, who stormed his fortified compound near Islamabad and shot him in the head.
"It was justified as an act of national self-defence," Holder told the Senate Judiciary Committee, citing Osama`s admission of being involved in the Sep 11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people.
It was lawful to target Osama bin Laden because he was the enemy commander in the field and the operation was conducted in a way that was consistent with US laws and values, he said, adding that it was a "kill or capture mission".
"If he had surrendered, attempted to surrender, I think we should obviously have accepted that, but there was no indication that he wanted to do that and therefore his killing was appropriate," Holder said.


text: A street Cat named Bob (2016) User Ratings: GD Star Ratingloading... Release Date: Nov 18, 2016 Runtime: 103 min MPAA Ratings: Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama, Family Country: UK Language: English A street Cat named Bob Synopsis: A Street Cat named Bob is an American feel good comedy film about the friendship between a cat and a hopeless homeless man. He is struggling with addiction and a hardcore pessimistic point of view about life, and his life changes as he comes across an orange cat. He keeps it with him and christens him as Bob. Their friendship blossoms to some great extent and the story moves forward as the cat helps the man recover from his addictions and take steps to improve his life. The film is based on a novel of the same name written by James Bowen. A street Cat named Bob, 9.5 out of 10 based on 2 ratings Director: Roger Spottiswoode Writer: Maria Nation, Tim John StarCast: Anthony Head, Bob the Cat, Joanne Froggatt, Luke Treadaway, Ruta Gedmintas Producer: Alice de Sousa, Anders Erden, Laura Davison, Paul Brett Company: Iris Productions, Prescience, Shooting Script Films Watch A street Cat named Bob Trailers Online Rent / Buy A street Cat named Bob Movie Online