Disclosed is an ethylene copolymer composition having a density of 0.980 to 0.955 g/cm.sup.3 and a melt flow rate (MFR) of 0.1 to 100 g/10 min., which is formed from two kinds of ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymers having specific properties and having density and MFR different from each other. The ethylene copolymer composition of the invention is excellent in melt tension and flow index within the high-shear-region, and able to form films of high transparency, high mechanical strength and blocking resistance.

Ethylene copolymers have heretofore been molded by various molding methods, and used in many fields. The requirement for the characteristics of the ethylene copolymers differs depending on the molding methods and uses. For example, when an inflation film is molded at a high speed, it is necessary to select an ethylene copolymer having a high melt tension compared with its molecular weight in order to stably conduct high speed molding without fluctuation or tearing of bubbles. An ethylene copolymer is required to have similar characteristics in order to prevent sag or tearing in blow molding, or to suppress width shortage to the minimum range in T-die molding.
Further, in extrusion molding, it is important to have small stress under high shearing during extrusion in order to improve quality of molded article and reduce electric power consumption at molding.
By the way, Japanese Patent L-O-P Nos. 90810/1981 and 106806/1985 propose a method for improving moldability by improving the melt tension and blow ratio (die/swell ratio) of ethylene polymers obtained by using Ziegler type catalysts, especially a titanium type catalyst.
The ethylene polymers obtained by using a titanium catalyst, however, especially the low density ethylene polymers generally have problems such as their broad composition distribution and stickiness of their molded articles such as films.
Of the ethylene polymers prepared by using the Ziegler type catalysts, those obtained by using chromium type catalysts are relatively excellent in melt tension but have a defect of poor heat stability. This is thought to be caused by that the chain terminals of the ethylene polymers prepared by using the chromium type catalysts tend to become unsaturated bonds.
It is known that the ethylene polymers obtained by using a metallocene catalyst from among the Ziegler type catalysts have merits such as a narrow composition distribution and a low stickiness of their molded articles such as films. However, it is described in, for example Japanese Patent L-O-P. No. 35007/1985, that an ethylene polymer obtained by using a zirconocene compound formed from a cyclopentadienyl derivative contains one terminal unsaturated bond per molecule, and hence this ethylene polymer is presumably poor in heat stability similarly to the above-mentioned ethylene polymer obtained by using the chromium type catalyst. Further, because of its narrow composition distribution, this ethylene polymer might show poor flowability during the extrusion molding.
Accordingly, the advent of ethylene polymers having a small stress under the high-shear region, a good heat stability, a high mechanical strength and a narrow composition distribution will be of great industrial value.
The present researchers have earnestly studied in the light of the circumstances as described above. As a result, they have found that the ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer obtained by copolymerizing ethylene with an .alpha.-olefin of 3 to 20 carbon atoms in the presence of a specific catalyst for olefin polymerization comprising
(a) a compound of a transition metal in Group IVB of the periodic table which has a bidentate ligand formed by bonding two groups selected from specific indenyl or substituted indenyl groups through a lower alkylene group, or a compound of a transition metal in Group IVB of the periodic table which has a ligand having specific cyclopentadienyl skeleton, and
(b) an organoaluminum oxy-compound is excellent in melt tension and heat stability and has a narrow composition distribution. However, the ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer as mentioned above is not always well-balanced between the melt tension and the flowability, so that a problem sometimes occurs when the copolymer is subjected to extrusion molding to form a film.
The present inventors have further studied and found that the ethylene copolymer composition comprising two kinds of ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer different in both a density and an MFR from each other which are obtained by using the above-mentioned catalyst is excellent in heat stability, melt tension and flowability (FI) under the high-shear region, and films obtained from these compositions are excellent in transparency, mechanical strength and blocking resistance.


Systems and methods for transferring firmware updates using an in-band interface are described. In an embodiment, an Information Handling System (IHS) may include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution, cause the IHS to: receive a firmware update package having a payload; create a namespace in a persistent memory; copy the payload to a segment of the persistent memory associated with the namespace; and write, to an Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) variable, an Emulator Device Path (EDP) pointing to the payload.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is Information Handling Systems (IHSs). An IHS generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, IHSs may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in IHSs allow for IHSs to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, IHSs may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
In the context of IHSs, firmware is a specific class of computer software that provides low-level control for an IHS's specific hardware or device. Changing or updating the firmware of an IHS's device is a common procedure for fixing bugs or adding features to the device. In some cases, a Remote Access Controller (RAC) may be used by an IHS to provide an out-of-band management platform, including the performance of firmware updates, which may be received by the RAC over a network.
The inventors hereof have recognized, however, that firmware updates with payloads that are staged to a RAC are slow due to the high latency of the sideband bus data transfer that ordinarily couples the RAC to each of the IHS's devices. In those cases, a significant portion of the update time is spent in transferring a firmware image from the RAC to the device over the sideband bus. Other firmware update alternatives, such as the Remote BIOS Update (RBU) approach, for example, also produce high latency due to packet gathering and rebuilding processes, as the IHS scans an entire memory range to collate RBU packets and rebuild the firmware image.
To address these, and other issues, systems and methods described herein can reduce or overcome the latency involved in RAC-based firmware updates, at least in part, by using a employing an in-band interface rather than a sideband interface.

Transfer of firmware updates using an in-band interface


A magnetic speed sensor may comprise a digital component configured to estimate a zero crossing event based on a plurality of sensor signal samples. The digital component may output, to a control unit, a speed signal that is based on the estimated zero crossing event.

A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) may be implemented as a direct TPMS or an indirect TPMS (ITPMS). A direct TPMS may employ a pressure sensor mounted in and/or on a tire to physically measure tire pressure of the tire. ITPMS may not use a physical pressure sensor, but may instead indirectly measure tire pressure by monitoring another available signal, such as a rotational speed of a wheel.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Low noise zero crossing detection for indirect tire pressure monitoring


An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; a latent-image forming unit configured to form a latent image on the image carrier; a developing unit configured to develop the latent image on the image carrier with a developer applied onto a developer carrier; a temperature detector configured to detect an internal temperature or an ambient temperature of the developing unit, the internal temperature and ambient temperature varying depending on a temperature of the developer carrier; and a control unit configured to control restriction on number of pages on which image formation is allowed to be performed continuously and cancellation of the restriction, based on the temperature detected by the temperature detector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a temperature rise occurs in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and its components when a large amount of sheets is processed by the image forming apparatus continuously over an extended period of time; the temperature rise is caused because an image forming unit is kept to be driven over the extended period of time. Known typical examples that take countermeasure against this temperature rise include image forming apparatuses that use a cooling fan, a duct, and/or the like to prevent the temperature inside the image forming apparatus and temperatures of its components from increasing to a certain temperature or higher and image forming apparatuses of high-speed type that include an air conditioner for adjusting the temperature inside the apparatus and perform temperature control.
Known control schemes for such an image forming apparatus, in which the temperature of a fixing roller locally increases when the apparatus continuously processes small-size sheets, include control of directly monitoring the temperature of the fixing roller, thereby temporarily lengthening sheet-feed intervals or making uneven temperature distribution on the fixing roller even.
Disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-134407 is an image forming apparatus that calculates a developing-motor variable temperature based on an operation mode of the image forming apparatus, estimates a power-supply-off time over which a power supply is cut off based on a change in the temperature of a fixing thermistor, corrects the developing-motor variable temperature based on the power-supply-off time, and calculates an estimated temperature of the developing motor by adding an environmental temperature to the corrected developing-motor variable temperature in order to control the image forming apparatus appropriately in a manner to prevent an excessive temperature rise of the developing motor without directly detecting the developing motor. When the estimated temperature of the developing motor has increased to be equal to or higher than 100° C., this image forming apparatus performs an image forming process intermittently until the temperature decreases to be lower than 80° C. The intermittent image forming process is performed by repeatedly performing a loop of carrying out the image forming process in a continuous manner and entering a standby state where the image forming process is not performed.
Disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2006-251504 is an image forming apparatus that counts the number of dots in a toner image formed on an image carrier. When the counted value is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value, the image forming apparatus lowers the temperature of a toner layer on a developing roller in order to prevent toner from fixing and sticking to a toner regulating member when a large amount of toner is consumed by performing a series of image forming operations after suspending rotation of the developing roller for a predetermined period of time.
However, the conventional image forming apparatus that cools inside the apparatus using a cooling fan and/or a duct is disadvantageous in that limitation of size, structure, layout, or the like of an image forming apparatus body imposes restriction on the degree of temperature that can be reduced inside the image forming apparatus.
Furthermore, there can be a case that the temperature of some portion where a temperature rise matters in the conventional image forming apparatus cannot be monitored and therefore temperature control cannot be performed. Particularly when an image forming unit that includes a developing unit is continuously driven over an extended period of time, there can be a case where temperatures of a sliding portion(s), such as a bearing, and a developer itself inside the developing unit are considerably increased, undesirably causing the developer (toner) to fuse inside the developing unit. Unfortunately, it is difficult to directly monitor the temperature of the sliding portion and the developer itself.
The image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-134407 cannot prevent toner fusing caused by an excessive temperature rise of the toner on the developing roller inside the developing unit.
The image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2006-251504 has not solved a problem that the temperatures of the sliding portion(s), such as the bearing, and the developer inside the developing unit are undesirably considerably increased when the number of dots in the toner image is small, causing toner to fuse in the developing unit.
Therefore, there is a need for an image forming apparatus capable of preventing fusing of a developer on a developer carrier caused by an excessive temperature rise without performing computation of estimating the temperature of the developer carrier or the developer in a developing unit and while avoiding a decrease in efficiency during continuous image forming operation.

Image forming apparatus with temperature dependent control unit


An operation amplifier (op amp) having a bias current detection circuit that monitors the bias current flowing in an output stage of the op amp. When the bias current detection circuit detects that too much current is being wasted, e.g., sunk to ground, then the amount of bias current is reduced. Similarly, when the bias current detection circuit detects that insufficient bias current is being supplied to the output stage of the op amp, the amount of bias current is increased. In one implementation, the output of the bias current detection circuit may be signals indicative of, respectively, too much bias current and too little bias current, wherein those outputs are supplied to a state machine which is configured to control the amount of bias current being supplied in a stepwise fashion.

The operational amplifier (op amp) is an essential circuit building block of universal importance. Op amps are extremely versatile and are used in innumerable applications. One such application is to amplify an analog input signal to drive a load connected to an output of the op amp.
In a conventional class A operation op amp circuit, selected transistors are employed as bias current providers for providing bias currents. The control terminals of these transistors are coupled to constant bias voltages; hence the bias currents provided by these transistors have fixed values.
As such, after a conventional operational amplifier circuit is properly installed and supply voltages are applied to the operational amplifier circuit, power will be continually consumed by the op amp's bias current components. However, in practice, an op amp circuit may not have a 100% duty cycle. For example, if no signal is input to the operational amplifier, the op amp will not be under operation, and as such no driving operation (current supplied to a load) will be performed by the operational amplifier circuit. Nonetheless, even when the operational amplifier is not under operation, power will be continually consumed by the transistors that are configured to provide the constant bias currents. In other words, power associated with "unused" bias current is wasted.
The foregoing issue is particularly problematic in wireless applications, such as cellular telephones that have limited battery power. When an op amp is used as part of a front end of a receiver in a wireless device, that receiver is preferably capable of handling signals with wide dynamic ranges. With a typical class-A operation op amp, relatively high DC bias current is needed to accommodate received signals. For example, in a given wireless spectrum, a large "blocker" signal may be present adjacent a signal of interest. While such a blocker signal may not always be present, the receiver of the wireless device, i.e., a circuit including an op amp, must nevertheless be capable of handling the larger dynamic range that is driven by the intermittent (or low duty cycle) blocker signal. When the blocker signal is not present, the supplied bias current is wasted, thereby unnecessarily wasting battery power.
It is noted that a class AB operation op amp can provide high output current with low DC bias current, but such a configuration suffers from insufficient linearity, especially in the presence of relatively large blocker signals.
There is accordingly a need to provide an improved class A operation op amp that addresses the undesirable waste of bias current.

Adaptive operational amplifier bias current


Disclosed is a high-pressure generation apparatus, which comprises a pair of columnar-shaped anvils disposed in opposed relation to one another to define a pressure-generating space therebetween. The anvils are adapted to be applied with a load therebetween to generate a high pressure in the pressure-generating space. Each of the anvils has a top portion formed in an approximately circular truncated cone shape, and the top portion has a central region formed with a depression having a side surface which extends obliquely outward. The high-pressure generation apparatus also includes a cylindrical capsule disposed in a central area of the pressure-generating space, and a laminated member formed by alternately laminating a doughnut-shaped metallic thin plate and a doughnut-shaped insulating member along the outer periphery of the capsule. The improved shape of the depression makes it possible to significantly reduce damages of the components. In addition, the laminated member formed of the metallic thin plate and the insulating member originally used for sealing the pressure-generating space makes it possible to generate a higher pressure.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of a piston-cylinder type high-pressure generation apparatus which is the most typical type as a conventional high-pressure generation apparatus, wherein FIG. 5(a) is a sectional front view thereof, and FIG. 5(b) is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 5(a).
This high-pressure generation apparatus is designed to insert a piston 102 into a cylindrical cylinder 101 and apply a load to the piston 102 from either side thereof so as to generate a high pressure in a high-pressure space 103. This high-pressure generation apparatus can be comprised of members made of a hard or stiff material to generate a pressure of up to about 30,000 atms. However, the high-pressure generation apparatus has difficulty in allowing a maximum possible pressure to be increased beyond a mechanical strength of the cylinder 101 and the piston 102, and consequently cannot generate a pressure out of the bounds of the mechanical strength. In order to break through this restriction, a high-pressure generation apparatus as disclosed in the following Non-Patent Publication 1 has been developed. This apparatus is an innovative technology capable of generating a high pressure of up to about 60,000 atms in spite of a compact structure.
[Non-Patent Publication 1] Nakanishi T, Takeshita N and Môri N, A newly developed high-pressure cell by using modified Bridgman anvils for precise measurements in magnetic fields at low temperature, Rev. Sci. Instrum., 73, 1828, (2002)
The high-pressure generation apparatus disclosed in the Non-Patent Publication 1 comprises a pair of approximately circular truncated cone-shaped components disposed in opposed relation to one another, and a pressure-generating component interposed between the opposed components. Differently from the aforementioned piston-cylinder type apparatus designed to use components in an elastic region thereof, the pressure-generating component is designed to be used in a plastic region thereof. Based on these components, this high-pressure generation apparatus has succeeded in drastically expanding an upper limit of possible pressure and enhancing the efficiency of pressure generation to a certain applied load while significantly downsizing the apparatus. Further, each of the opposed components has a top portion formed with a cylindrical-shaped depression having a side surface which extends uprightly or vertically. The formation of the depression makes it possible to drastically increase the volume of a pressure-generating space, and encapsulate a liquid inside the apparatus to allow a pressure to be isotropically generated.
However, a maximum possible pressure of this high-pressure generation apparatus is limited to about 60,000 atms, due to breakage of the components caused by stress concentration.

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology


A method is disclosed for treating a solid or liquid medium, e.g., soil or groundwater, which is contaminated with a hydrocarbon contaminant, e.g. diesel fuel or gasoline, by adding to the medium in the presence of water and at least one microorganism capable of metabolizing at least one hydrocarbon contaminant present, ammonium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or potassium bicarbonate, or combinations thereof, such that said hydrocarbon contaminant is eliminated or reduced to a desired lower level. The bicarbonate is added to the contaminated medium as a solution prepared by dissolving the bicarbonate or combination of bicarbonates in water, or as a solid bicarbonate or mixture of solid bicarbonates.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved method for the elimination or reduction of contaminant hydrocarbons, e.g., in soil or groundwater, by biodegradation utilizing a bicarbonate.
2. Information Disclosure Statement Including Description of Related Art
The following information is disclosed in accordance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.56, 1.97 and 1.98.
An environmental problem that has been receiving increasing attention is the contamination of soil and groundwater by hydrocarbons which have leaked or spilled from storage, pumping, production, transportation and other facilities involving the handling of such hydrocarbons.
It is well known that certain microorganisms are capable of eliminating hydrocarbons by utilizing them in their metabolism. Some of these microorganisms may be indigenous to the soil or groundwater into which hydrocarbons may spill or leak and spontaneously act to eliminate all or part of such hydrocarbons. In this connection, it has been found that various techniques increase the activity of the microorganism in reducing the content of the contaminating hydrocarbon, e.g., the addition of nitrogen or phosphorus-containing nutrients or the aeration of the soil or groundwater. In other instances, such hydrocarbon-metabolizing microorganisms may be added to the soil or groundwater to enhance the destruction of the hydrocarbons.
Attention is directed to the following related art which may be pertinent to the invention claimed herein.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,616,204, issued Oct. 26, 1971 to Linn, discloses the restoration of soil contaminated by hydrocarbon spillage by first disturbing the soil, as by plowing or discing, followed by inoculation with a hydrocarbon-consuming microorganism while controlling the nutrient and oxygen content of the soil. A nutrient medium may be applied comprising an aqueous solution of various salts including carbonates and sodium, potassium and ammonium salts.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,843,517, issued Oct. 22, 1974 to McKinney et al., discloses methods for elimination of oil slicks including the steps of absorbing a culture of hydrocarbon-consuming microorganisms on a carrier such as a clay and applying the microorganism-containing carrier to the oil slick. The microorganisms are cultured in an aqueous nutrient medium of salts, e.g., sodium carbonate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,042,495, issued Aug. 16, 1977 to Marconi et al., teaches the removal of oil hydrocarbon pollutants from the surface of water by scattering over the polluted surface solid particles of nutrient salt containing nitrogen and phosphorus in a form assimilable by microorganisms capable of metabolizing hydrocarbons. The salt particles are coated with paraffin to render them buoyant and slowly soluble in water. Ammonium bicarbonate is included in the formation of tablets of the nutrient salt but is thermally decomposed to increase the porosity of the tablets prior to their utilization.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,501, issued Nov. 7, 1978 to Yen et al., discloses the purification of oil shale retort water by adding anaerobic bacteria to increase cell biomass and reduce sulfate ions to sulfide. The cell biomass is then aggregated into a flocculent mass and removed. Table 1 of the disclosure indicates that bicarbonate ions are included in the solids content of the oil shale retort water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,569, issued Aug. 30, 1983 to Jhaveri et al., teaches a method and apparatus for treating hydrocarbon and halogenated hydrocarbon-contaminated ground and groundwater utilizing microorganisms, the growth of which is enhanced by the addition of nutrients such as sodium carbonate.

Use of bicarbonates in the biodegradation of hydrocarbon contaminants


A steering column assembly (10) of the collapsible type includes a mounting plate (30) for rigid attachment to a vehicle body structure. The mounting plate (30) supports the steering column (12) during normal operation through interconnecting release capsules (24) which allow the steering column (12) to collapse, away from the rigidly attached mounting plate (30), during a frontal collision. An energy absorbing tear strip (44) in formed integrally in the mounting plate (30) and is connected via tab (43) to a fixed connection (42) which adjoins a portion of the column bracket (18). The column bracket (18) moves together with the steering column (12) during a collapse situation. The tear strip (44) simultaneously bends and tears in a peeling fashion as the steering column (12) collapses to provide energy absorption for the assembly (10). The transverse cross-sectional area of the tear strip (44) can be varied along its length to tune the energy absorption force exhibited by the tear strip (44) throughout the collapsing stroke.

Steering column assemblies for vehicles are available that collapse during a frontal collision. Energy absorption systems are used with the collapsible columns. These energy absorption systems cooperate with air bags to minimize the force exerted on a vehicle driver during a collision.
Current steering column energy absorption systems can take many forms. One such common form employs a column bracket that is secured through a releasable connection to a vehicle structure such as under a dash board. Energy absorption straps or coils become engaged as the releasable connection yields to the overwhelming force of a frontal collision. Energy absorption straps or coils, employed in many energy absorption systems, are expensive. These energy absorption straps or coils can be located in the releasable mounting connection of the column bracket to the vehicle structure, or between the steering column and an intermediate bracket. Energy absorption straps and coils require multiple threaded fasteners, and their assembly can be labor intensive, physically taxing and time consuming.
In some vehicle applications, special mounting requirements are imposed upon the steering column assembly to improve column stiffness, or to control the collapsing direction of the column in the event of a collision. Typically, a rigid mounting plate is required to accomplish either or both of these functions, or is incorporated into a steering column assembly for other reasons. A mounting plate, when required, typically provides at least three to four mounting points and may be fabricated from a durable gauge formed metal or plastic material. Thus, a mounting plate adds both weight and cost to the steering column assembly. This extra weight and cost is in addition to the cost, weight and complexity of energy absorption straps or coils that are required for collision management purposes.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an energy absorption system for steering column assemblies which require a mounting plate that is less expensive to manufacture, lighter in weight, and more easily assembled to a motor vehicle.

Tuneable energy absorbing mounting structure for steering column


A portable computing device may include a set of magnetic elements and a set of electrical contacts. An electronic device may include a sensor may also include a set of magnetic elements and a set of electrical contacts. The portable computing device may attach to the electronic device using the set of magnetic elements and may exchange data with the electronic device using the set of electrical contacts. A power source may also include a set of magnetic elements and a set of electrical contacts. The power source may couple with the portable computing device using the set of magnetic elements and may provide power to the portable computing device using the electrical contacts.

For certain age groups, such as the elderly, or people that engage in certain dangerous activities, such as firefighters and soldiers, it is desirable to track and understand human activity automatically. For example, a person that has fallen may be injured, unconscious, etc., and needs emergency assistance. In such circumstances, relying on the person to initiate a call to a public safety access point (PSAP) (e.g., 9-1-1 emergency services, an automated emergency call center, etc.) is not practical. Moreover, even if the person is capable of placing the call, the PSAP may be located outside the geographical jurisdiction for providing emergency services. An emergency services person located at a PSAP may need to manually place a second call to the local fire station, police, or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) squad, thereby wasting precious time that could be used to save the person's life. Further, if the person is unconscious, they would not be able to relate the nature of their injuries nor their physical location.
Portable computing devices such as smart phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular phones, media players, tablet computers, and electronic readers, are becoming more prevalent. Although these portable computing devices are used for a variety of purposes such as viewing digital media, connecting to social networks, placing phone calls, etc., these portable computing devices often do not perform health monitoring functions.

Multiple-application attachment mechanism for health monitoring electronic devices


An interative computer request processing system. In the preferred embodiment, the request processing system utilizes telephone and computer equipment to accept refill requests for patient prescriptions. The system receives information from a patient and performs prescription inquiries to a databank to determine patient information such as the status of prescriptions. The system remains operational whether or not interactive communications can be achieved with the databank. If communications are not available, the system stores the patient information. Therefore, the system always appears to the caller to be fully operational regardless of whether interactive communications are available. When communications are re-established, the databank and prescription inquiries are conducted, whereby the system validates or invalidates requests based on specified criteria. In a preferred embodiment, the system automatically attempts to notify a patient that the patient""s request is invalid, thereby alerting the patient that the patient""s prescription has not been filled.

This application is not referenced in any microfiche appendix.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to an interactive computer request processing system. More particularly, the invention relates to the field of refilling patient prescriptions using telephone and computer equipment even if patient databank computer interactive communications are unavailable.
2. Background Art
Patients require health care services, such as prescription refills, from health care service provider organizations, such as pharmacies. These organizations often provide automated services to their patients to increase efficiency. Consequently, automated pharmacy technologies must be developed and advanced to provide such services. The resulting technology has become increasingly complex. Multiple layers of automated computer equipment are being placed between a patient and the health care provider""s service. Therefore, multiple points of failure in such technology exist. Any point of failure can cause an automated system, such as an automated pharmacy prescription refill system, to be unavailable for use by a patient demanding the service if some component of the automated system has failed.
Existing automated pharmacy refill systems utilize an answering device to interact with a databank. The databank contains specific patient information including the status of prescriptions. A difficulty with such systems is that if the databank is unavailable to the answering device, the answering device is unable to perform prescription inquiries for the patient until such time as communication with the databank is re-established. If the patient databank computer""s interactive communications are unavailable to the answering computer, the answering computer cannot perform prescription inquiries on demand for the patients since it requires interactive communication with the patient databank computer. Typically, when encountering this situation, callers are informed that services are unavailable. A caller must, therefore, end the call without being provided the needed service.
Consequently, the primary objective of this invention is to allow a patient to request prescription refills on a client computer or answering computer regardless of whether interactive communications are possible with the patient databank computer. Interactive communications with the patient databank computer typically perform prescription refill inquiries and subsequent interpretation of an inquiry response. If the patient databank computer is unavailable, the client or answering computer accepts and stores patient refill requests until interactive communications with the patient databank computer are available. When interactive communications are re-established, the client computer retrieves refill requests from the local database and transmits inquiries to the patient databank computer for validation. The host computer checks each refill request to determine if the refill request is valid, i.e., if it is valid to refill the prescription. If the prescription is still active, the last fill date, the days supply and the grace period are used to determine when the prescription can be filled.
The invention presented herein is a means for allowing patients to request their prescription refills on demand even if the patient databank computer is unavailable for interactive communications with the client computer at the moment in time when the inquiry needs to be made. The invention consists of specific computer programming software algorithms and techniques, and also specific defined procedures performed by computer operators, which operate on a general purpose computer engineered and programmed for answering incoming telephone calls and performing pharmacy prescription refill processing.
More particularly, the invention enables patients using an ordinary telephone to place a telephone call that is answered by a client computer. The client computer collects from the calling patient specific information necessary to refill the patient""s prescription, preferably by touch-tone input from the patient""s phone. The client computer has interactive communications with a patient databank computer that contains specific patient information including the status of prescriptions. The client computer, using the collected patient information, queries the patient databank computer. The patient databank computer then returns a response with particular information about the patient""s prescription. The information is then interpreted and the client computer informs the patient whether or not the prescription can be refilled. However, if the interactive communications link with the patient databank computer is unavailable, then the client computer collects the calling patient""s specific information for future validation processing. The client computer then informs the patient that if the prescription refill is valid, the prescription will be available to the patient at some point in time.
In one embodiment of the invention, the client computer notifies the patient of the patient""s refill status once interactive communications with the host computer have been re-established and the patient""s request has been validated. In the notification step, the client computer extracts the telephone number and status associated with the request and attempts to contact the patient. The client computer then states whether the call was delivered for later reporting to an operator.

On-line pharmacy automated refill system


Disclosed are systems and methods of adding tags for use in detecting computer attacks. In one aspect, the system comprises a computer protection module configured to: receive a security notification, extract an object from the security notification, search for the extracted object in a threat database, add a first tag corresponding to the extracted object in the threat database only when the extracted object is found in the threat database, search for signs of suspicious activity in a database of suspicious activities based on the received security notification and the added first tag, and when at least one sign of suspicious activity is found, extract a second tag from the database of suspicious activities and add the second tag to an object database, wherein the object database is used for identifying signature of targeted attacks based on security notifications, objects, first tags and second tags.

At present computer attacks, alongside traditional malicious software (such as viruses, Internet worms, keyloggers, encrypters, etc.), have become widespread, especially targeted attacks ("TA") and advanced persistent threats ("APT") against an information system (the totality of computing devices and communications used to link them together; the information system is also known as a corporate infrastructure). Hackers may have various goals from simple theft of personal data of employees to industrial espionage. Oftentimes, hackers have information about the architectures of corporate networks, the principles of the internal document flow, the means used to protect the networks and the computer devices, or any other information specific to the information system. This information allows the hackers to get around the existing means of defense, which oftentimes do not possess flexibility in their settings to meet all the needs of the information system.
The existing technologies for defending against malicious software and computer threats, such as signature analysis, heuristic analysis, emulation, and others, have a number of deficiencies, preventing them from providing the proper level of protection against targeted attacks and other computer attacks. For example, existing technologies are unable to detect and investigate previously unknown threats, computer attacks without the use of malicious software, complex attacks (using technologies to get around the means of defense) and long-duration attacks (from several days to several years), the signs of which become known only after some period of time.
Thus, the technical problem arises of the poor quality of determining the signs of computer attacks against an information system.
However, the technology known in the prior art in many instances is unable to identify a computer attack and its signs, because this requires the sending of an executable file to a server, and furthermore many computer attacks, and especially targeted attacks, take place without the use of malicious software. Thus, the technology presented above is unable to solve the stated technical problem. For example, present-day targeted attacks may use PowerShell for the dynamic creation of malicious code and its loading directly into the computer memory without leaving any artifacts on the hard disk—in this case, there are no copies of the malicious software, while the PowerShell interpreter itself is not malicious software. Another example might be the use of legitimate tools for malicious purposes: a remote administration utility (LiteManager, TeamViewer and so on) for remotely controlling the compromised computers, legal Windows utilities (bitsadmin, certutil and so on) for loading malicious software onto compromised computers, administration tools (wmic, psexec and so on) for remote launching of commands, and a "lateral movement"-type attack in which the hacker successively hacks the account data of the users of a network to obtain account data of the domain administrator, and consolidate himself in the compromised infrastructure.

System and method of adding tags for use in detecting computer attacks


A method is provided for determination of an operating temperature in a thermally highly loaded device. Multiple individual passive measurement elements, having a measurable physical parameter depending on a constant temperature set during heat treatment, are provided. The parameter is set differently for each of the different measurement elements which are combined to form an array. In a first measurement, values of the physical parameter for the array are determined before the array is subjected to the operating temperature. The array is subjected to the operating temperature in the device and in a second measurement, values are determined for all the measurement elements in the array. First and second measurement values of the physical parameter for each of the measurement elements are compared and the temperature of the heat treatment of that measurement element whose value of the physical parameter has changed the least is taken as the measured temperature.

In the field of thermal machines (for example gas turbines) and boilers, it is of very major importance to know the actual operating temperatures (typically 700-1000° C.) at various points in the apparatus. However, it is frequently impossible to retrospectively additionally fit active (wired) sensors in an apparatus which is already in use, as a result of which passive sensors, which indicate the temperature by a (permanent) change in their physical characteristics, are the means of choice in situations such as these.
Thermal paint is known, a paint which changes its color permanently as a function of temperature. Among the various disadvantages of this solution, the necessity should be stressed, in particular, for the apparatus to be disassembled before the parts to be investigated can be painted, the relative inaccuracy of the temperature determination, and the need for a closely monitored "extra run" of the apparatus, as a result of which the measurement does not reflect the normal operating conditions. One major disadvantage is that the chemical reaction which leads to the color change is not reversible. It is therefore possible to measure only the maximum temperature reached on each occasion throughout the entire operation.
Furthermore, metallographic temperature determination is known, but this is not non-destructive and is therefore not feasible for the stated applications.
In addition to the thermal paint technique, there are numerous other experiments involving the part of the apparatus to be investigated being provided with a thick-film coating which has thermal memory characteristics, that is to say which uses a stable change in the molecular structure with a number of the high-temperature operations to which it was most recently subjected.
An ideally reversible process (reversible in the sense that the process follows the operating temperature and does not just register the highest temperature measured in each case) leads to a measurable change in the physical characteristics (variables, parameters), which may be electrical (resistivity), magnetic (permeability, magnetization, magnetic saturation), mechanical (hardness, modulus of elasticity, Poissin ratio, yield point, strain, density), acoustic (compression wave velocity, shear-wave velocity, bar velocity), thermal (thermal conductivity and strain) or optical (color change). Once the coating has cooled down, the aim is to determine the last high-temperature operation by subjecting the parts investigated to various heat treatments, and by finding the sought temperature through the use of empirical interpolation rules.

Method for passive determination of the operating temperature in a thermally highly loaded device, and apparatus for carrying out the method


A nozzle body and assembly for delivering atomized fuel to a combustion chamber. The nozzle body is rotatably mounted onto a substrate. One or more curvilinear fuel delivery channels are in flow communication with an internal fuel distribution cavity formed in the nozzle body. Passage of pressurized fuel through the nozzle body causes the nozzle body to rotate. Components of the nozzle assembly are formed of silicon carbide having surfaces etched by deep reactive ion etching utilizing MEMS technology. A fuel premix chamber is carried on the substrate in flow communication with a supply passage in the nozzle body.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to the art of fuel injector nozzle assemblies and more particularly to a rotating micro nozzle assembly having an integrated premixing chamber.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a combustion apparatus such as an engine, fuel distribution in the combustion chamber is an important factor relating to optimization of the combustion process.
Fuel injection nozzles used in present day combustion engines suffer from limited spray angle. For instance, fuel spray patterns are typically constrained to cone angles of less than 90 degrees, leading to combustion instabilities caused by non-uniform temperature distribution within the engine. This non-uniformity causes inefficient fuel combustion leading to emission of undesired combustion products. As a result, many nozzles are used to cover a wide area in an attempt to provide efficient fuel burning.
Some existing fluid delivery systems attempt to provide more optimal fuel distribution through the generation of smaller size droplets that provide a larger surface area for improved combustion. Nozzles with multiple holes and/or swirlers or air/fuel pre-mix capabilities are known in the art.
However, there is still a need in the art for improvement in uniform temperature distribution in the combustion chamber as well as reduced system complexity.
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are being used in a wide variety of applications. The present invention is directed to a MEMS-based spinning nozzle that addresses the needs in the art of fuel injectors.
The present invention provides a spinning micro nozzle mechanism with an integrated premixing chamber.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a micro nozzle assembly having a rotatable nozzle for providing atomized fuel to a combustion chamber.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a nozzle body having components formed by an etching process in silicon carbide.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of assembling a nozzle assembly having an integrated premix chamber and a rotatable nozzle member.
In the present invention, there is provided a nozzle assembly adapted to deliver fuel from an associated supply source to an associated combustion chamber. The nozzle assembly comprises a rotatable nozzle body having a first flange surface and including a supply passage aligned on a main axis thereof, the rotatable nozzle body being adapted for rotation about the main axis and defining an internal fuel distribution cavity in flow communication with the supply passage. The rotatable member further defines a curvilinear fuel delivery channel in flow communication with the internal fuel distribution cavity disposed in a plane generally perpendicular to the main axis. The curvilinear fuel delivery channel has an outlet opening through an exterior surface of the nozzle body. The nozzle assembly further includes substrate means having a bore aligned on the main axis for rotatably supporting the nozzle body. The substrate means includes a first seating surface for seating the flange surface.
According to one aspect of the invention, the nozzle assembly further comprises means carried on the substrate for premixing fuel from the associated supply source, wherein the premixing means are operative to deliver the fuel to the supply passage.
According to another aspect of the invention the nozzle assembly further includes means carried on the substrate for providing pressurized air to the associated combustion chamber, wherein the air providing means are operative to direct a stream of air past the outlet.
According to another aspect of the invention, the nozzle body comprises a spacer member having a hollow cylindrical body having first and second ends, wherein the supply passage is defined by an internal surface thereof; an anchor member fixedly secured to the first end of the spacer member, wherein the anchor member encompasses the first flange surface; and, a base member fixedly secured to the second end of the spacer member, wherein the base member encompasses the internal fuel distribution cavity and the curvilinear fuel delivery channel.
According to another aspect of the invention, the base member comprises a first body portion affixed to the spacer member; and, a second body portion affixed to said first body portion; wherein said first body portion and said second body portion cooperate to form said internal fuel distribution cavity and said curvilinear fuel delivery channel.
According to another aspect of the invention, the first body portion comprises a planar surface having an open cavity formed therein and an open curvilinear channel communicating with the cavity and extending through an exterior surface of the first body portion; and the second body portion has a planar surface abutting the planar surface of the first body portion to cap the open cavity and the open curvilinear channel.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for forming a nozzle assembly comprising the steps of providing a substrate having first and second surfaces and a bore extending therebetween; providing a spacer member having a hollow cylindrical body, first and second ends, and an internal surface defining a supply passage aligned on an axis thereof; providing an anchor member having a flange surface adapted to seat on the first surface of the substrate; providing a base member defining an internal fuel distribution cavity and at least one curvilinear fuel delivery channel in flow communication with the internal distribution cavity, the curvilinear fuel delivery channel extending through an exterior surface of the base member to define an outlet; inserting the spacer member through the substrate bore; affixing the anchor member to the first end of the spacer member; seating the flange surface on the first surface of the substrate; and affixing the base member to the second end of the spacer member.
According to another aspect of the invention, the step of providing a base member further includes the steps of providing a first body portion comprising silicon carbide having a planar surface; etching first body portion to form an open cavity in the planar surface and an open curvilinear passage communicating with the cavity, wherein the curvilinear passage extends through an exterior surface of the first body portion; and providing a second body portion having a planar surface; and bonding said planar surface of said second body portion to said planar surface of said first body portion to form said base member.
One advantage of the present invention is the improved spray angle achieved by the rotating nozzle member.
Another advantage of the present invention is the increased atomization of the fuel.
Another advantage of the present invention is the integrated premixing chamber allows further miniaturization of the nozzle assembly.
Another advantage of the present invention is that batch fabrication and batch assembly of the nozzle components reduces the cost.
Another advantage of the present invention is the reduction in number of components compared with other prior art nozzle assemblies.
Another advantage of the present invention is the use of silicon carbide allows the nozzle assembly to operate at higher temperatures than conventional systems.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the increase atomization of the fuel, due to the nozzle design and operation, provides for a reduction in the necessary pressure as compared to conventional systems.
Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.

Method for forming MEMS-based spinning nozzle

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


Introduced herein are techniques for producing sensory stimuli that increase the realism of content experienced by a user. Several embodiments pertain to scent delivery system that are able to dispense scented material(s) to the user. A scent delivery system could be a self-contained unit that is attachable to a head-mounted display (HMD) or could be integrated into the HMD itself. The scent delivery system can be used to improve the realism of content (e.g., visual content and audio content) presented to the user. More specifically, the scent delivery system can be configured to dispense one or more scented materials in response to determining a particular scene is being shown. Different scented materials can be dispensed based on characteristics of the content. In some embodiments, the scented material(s) are held in capsules that are housed within the scent delivery system. The capsules may be readily replaceable by the user.

Smell is one of our strongest senses. Certain scents often remind us of moments (both good and bad) that we first experienced days, weeks, or years ago. Scents can also make be highly effective in helping us distinguish items or locations from one another.
Some businesses (e.g., production studios, movie theaters, and amusement parks) have long attempted to enhance interactive experiences by introducing scents. For example, "Smell-O-Vision" was a system that released scents during the projection of a film so that the viewer could "smell" what was happening in the movie. Similarly, the "Smellitizer" was developed by the Walt Disney Company to deliver faint scents on cue at certain locations, such as attractions (e.g., Soarin' Over California® at Disneyland®) and storefronts (e.g., Main Street Bakery). Scent dispersal systems such as these were often shown to heighten the realism of a fabricated experience, increase sales, and improve customer satisfaction.
Accordingly, entities across different industries have begun using scent as part of a multi-sensory marketing strategy designed to enhance an individual's experience (e.g., of a location or a particular product/service). These enhanced experiences allow customers to develop deeper memories and emotional connections with certain brands, products, services, locations, etc. In fact, some brands have begun using scent to distinguish themselves in the market. Such techniques are generally performed as part of a scent marketing campaign.
Scent marketing campaigns can typically be readily introduced by merchants who occupy a physical storefront. However, scent marketing becomes increasingly difficult as merchants complete more transactions electronically and reduce the number of physical storefronts. Said another way, the proliferation of electronic transactions has made scent marketing more difficult because scents must be delivered to prospective customers.
Scent has also been proposed as one way of increasing the realism of digital content that is experienced by an individual on a computing device, such as a mobile phone, television, or virtual/augmented reality headset. For example, an individual's sense of smell can be tricked by replacing unrelated real-world stimuli with controlled stimuli. But delivering these scents to the individual at the appropriate time(s) in the appropriate amount(s) using conventional technology is difficult and, in many instances, impossible.
Scent is simply one example of a sense that is typically isolated from experiencing content presented by a computing device. In fact, the realism of digital content (e.g., augmented or virtual reality content) has been limited because only a single sense (i.e., the visual sense) is engaged. Increasing the realism and engagement of various experiences will depend on effectively engaging multiple senses (e.g., the olfactory sense, the gustatory sense, and the visual sense) simultaneously or sequentially.
The figures depict various embodiments for the purpose of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following Detailed Description that alternative embodiments of the technology illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the technology.

Head-mounted displays and attachments that enable interactive sensory experiences


A disclosed portable apparatus is connectable to a client terminal connected to a network and has a program stored therein for causing the client terminal to function as a device information acquisition unit and an analysis unit. The device information acquisition unit is configured to obtain operational information on a device that is assigned a network address and connected to the network, and the analysis unit is configured to delete at least a part of information on the network address which information is obtained together with the operational information, to analyze the obtained operational information, and to output results of the analysis of the operational information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a technology for obtaining operational information on devices connected to a network.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, total cost of ownership (TCO) has been a keyword in reducing costs incurred relating to the ownership of devices. For example, the TCO of electronic devices, for example, image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers, can be calculated by obtaining information including the purchase prices of the image forming apparatuses and the number of pages printed and thereby obtaining the running costs incurred by expendable supplies such as toner and paper.
To obtain running costs of electronic devices used by a client, it is necessary to obtain the operational information on the electronic devices. Such operational information is normally obtained by visiting the site where the electronic devices are installed.
Also, with the advancement of computer technologies, it has become possible to obtain the operational information on electronic devices via a network (see, for example, patent documents 1 and 2). Technologies disclosed in the patent documents 1 and 2 provide a program, apparatus, or system that is simply configured and makes it possible to monitor multifunction image forming apparatuses connected to a LAN by using a general-purpose network and existing facilities. In the disclosed technologies, the simple network management protocol (SNMP) is used for monitoring the multifunction image forming apparatuses. SNMP is a network management protocol. A network management model using SNMP includes a management apparatus called an SNMP manager and SNMP agents provided in devices to be managed by the SNMP manager. The SNMP manager sends requests to the SNMP agents and the SNMP agents return information requested. An SNMP agent in an SNMP-enabled device retains a management information base (MIB) that is management information on the SNMP-enabled device itself. Information items contained in the MIB are assigned standardized numbers called object identifiers (OID). The SNMP manager sends a request with OIDs specified to the SNMP agent and thereby obtains information from the SNMP agent.
[Patent document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-213110 (page 1)
[Patent document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-318843 (page 1)
It is preferable to make the process of obtaining a total cost of ownership as efficient as possible. When multiple devices are used in an office of a client (client's office), it is troublesome and time-consuming to go around in the client's office to obtain the information on the devices.
On the other hand, when obtaining operational information of devices via a network of the client, it is necessary to connect a computer for obtaining the operational information on the devices to the network. However, it is troublesome to configure the network settings of the computer each time to obtain the operational information of devices. Also, for security reasons, it is not desirable to connect a computer of an outsider to a corporate network.
Further, operational information of devices of a client must be managed with the greatest possible care.

Device information acquisition apparatus and device information acquisition program


An electric power steering apparatus includes a worm interlockedly connected to an output shaft of an electric motor, a first and a second bearing each supporting the respective side of the worm in a housing, and a gear wheel meshed with the worm. The housing includes a fitting bore in which the first bearing supporting a side of the worm closer to the electric motor is to be fitted, and an annular retaining portion located at a position corresponding to the second bearing and eccentrically oriented with respect to the center (axial center) of the fitting bore in a direction that shortens a distance L between the center of rotation of the worm and that of the gear wheel, and the annular retaining portion retains a coil spring around an outer circumference of the second bearing.

The present invention relates to an electric power steering apparatus that employs an electric motor as a generating source of steering assistance force.
An electric power steering apparatus for a vehicle includes an electric motor for steering assistance and a reduction gear mechanism that transmits rotational force of the electric motor to a steering unit, so as to assist the motion of the steering unit with the rotation of the electric motor in response to rotation of a steering means, thereby alleviating the labor imposed on the driver for the steering operation.
The reduction gear mechanism is supported by a pair of bearings each provided on a respective side thereof in a housing, and includes a worm serving as a pinion that moves interlocked with the rotation of the electric motor, and a worm wheel serving as a gear wheel meshed with the worm.
The electric power steering apparatuses including such reduction gear mechanism include, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-203154 for example, the one provided with a bent leaf spring, longer than the circumference of the bearing on the farther side from the motor and having an end portion warped radially of the bearing thus to be formed generally in an á-shape, so as to be fitted around the bearing inside the housing, so that the elastic restoring force of the end portion of the bent leaf spring biases the worm in a direction that shortens a distance between the center of rotation of the worm and the center of rotation of the worm wheel, to thereby reduce an amount of backlash at the meshing interface between the worm and the worm wheel and to thus minimize rattling noise due to the backlash caused when changing the steering direction.
The electric power steering apparatus can also be found in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-233224. FIGS. 1A to 1C are diagrams for explaining an assembly process of the worm according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-233224. The electric power steering apparatus includes a retaining cylinder 105 having a retaining bore 104 concentric with a bearing 103 closer to an electric motor fitted inside the housing 100 and around a bearing 102 located opposite to the bearing 103 across a worm 101. Inside the retaining bore 104 in the retaining cylinder 105, a coil spring 106 is wound such that the axial center thereof forms a ring-shape, and retained concentrically with the retaining bore 104 (Ref. FIG. 1A), so that, when assembling a worm wheel 107, the meshing interface between the worm wheel 107 and the worm 101 biases the worm 101 shown in FIG. 1B in a direction that extends the distance between the centers of rotation (L), i.e. the direction indicated by an arrow Y in FIG. 1C, to thereby slightly warp a circumferential portion of the coil spring 106 between an inner and an outer circumferential surface thereof, so that the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 106 biases the worm 101 in a direction that shortens the distance between the centers of rotation L (Ref. FIG. 1C), thus minimizing the backlash amount at the meshing interface.


A system and method are described for controlling a vehicle interior environmental condition. A biometric sensor senses a biometric condition of a vehicle seat occupant and generates a sensed biometric condition value. A controller receives the sensed biometric condition value, a sensed interior environmental condition value, and a sensed exterior environmental condition value. Each of multiple exterior environmental condition values has an associated biometric condition value defined as optimal for the vehicle occupant. The controller determines the optimal biometric condition value associated with the sensed exterior environmental condition value, compares the optimal biometric condition value to the sensed biometric condition value, and in response to a difference between the optimal biometric condition value and the sensed biometric condition value, generates a control signal to control an actuator to control the controllable interior environmental condition to reduce the difference between sensed biometric condition value and the optimal biometric condition value.

Automobile users often overcompensate conscious changes to vehicle system inputs as a means of correcting or adjusting their autonomic functions relating to physiological and/or phycological status. For example, a user experiencing and/or perceiving an uncomfortably low ambient air temperature in a vehicle cabin may overcompensate by adjusting a vehicle cabin temperature setting to a level intended to correct the experience or perception of the uncomfortably low ambient air temperature, but which ultimately results in an ambient air temperature that the user experiences and/or perceives as uncomfortably high and that necessitates further adjustment by the user of the vehicle cabin temperature setting.
Moreover, interest in the automotive industry in intuitive human-machine interfaces (HMI), user systems, and memory-based occupant settings is high. In that regard, both vehicle original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and end user customers seek a dynamic, automatic, and seamless user experience, which can be a primary basis for quality perception.
A need therefore exists for a system and method capable of automatically monitoring user autonomic functions and setting and/or adjusting vehicle conditions accordingly. Such a system and method would provide for integration of neuro-monitoring (e.g., electro-encephalogram (EEG)) with other user biometrics and which may utilize a long-term machine learning algorithm to provide for objective assessments that may be combined with subjective trends and both internal and external vehicle conditions. Such a system and method would automatically adjust vehicle conditions to put an occupant in the best scenarios based not on generalized case study data but also upon the occupant's own biometric inputs, surrounding conditions, and a continuously learning machine, thereby creating a highly personalized user experience in vehicle.
A system and method capable of monitoring, learning, and reacting in such a fashion would mitigate the problem of user over reaction or overcompensation described above. Such a system and method would also enable creation of a customized user profile, which could be dynamic. Such a user profile could also be shared so that other vehicle systems beyond the user's own vehicle systems would be able not only adjust to the user but also continue to learn and customize to the user.
Improving vehicle conditions to positively benefit occupant autonomic function (e.g., stress, drowsiness, etc.) would provide considerable short-term and long-term health and safety benefits. Moreover, the ability to not only transmit but receive data from multiple seat locations and vehicles to share and update information would improve user quality perception and user experience. Such a system design and method may also be particularly useful in fully autonomous vehicles.

System and method for controlling an interior environmental condition in a vehicle


A voice coil motor includes a case, a moving barrel, magnetic elements, a lower plate, an elastic plate, a first and a second coil assemblies. The case includes an upper plate and a sidewall extending downward from peripheral edges of the upper plate. The upper plate and the sidewall cooperatively define a receiving room. The moving barrel is received in the receiving room. The magnetic elements are received in the receiving room and surround the moving barrel. The lower plate is positioned on one end of the sidewall The elastic plate is connected between the upper plate and the moving barrel or between the lower plate and the moving barrel. The first coil assembly includes pairs of coils. Each pair of the coils is opposite to each other and attached on the moving barrel. The second coil assembly is annular shaped and sleeved over the moving barrel.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to voice coil motors (VCMs) and, particularly, to a lens module including a VCM.
2. Description of Related Art
Many lens modules include a lens, a VCM, and an image sensor module. The lens is movably received in the VCM. The VCM is positioned on the image sensor module and drives the lens to move relative to the image sensor module to focus or anti shake. The structure used for focusing is generally independent of the structure used for shaking correction, which resulted that the structure of the VCM is complex.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a lens module, which can overcome the limitations described.

Voice coil motor and lens module including same


A batt of acoustical/thermal insulation for use in insulating appliances, compressors, machines and the like is disclosed. The batt comprises a fiberglass blanket and a release liner assembly. The liner assembly features a carrier sheet for supporting layers or coatings of adhesive on opposite broad surfaces thereof. One adhesive coated surface of the carrier sheet is releasably adhesively attached to a conventional release liner which is coated with an adhesive release agent. The other adhesively coated surface is joined to exposed fibers of a surface portion of the fiberglass blanket while the adhesive coating is in a heated, uncured, liquid state so as to immerse surface fibbers of the blanket in the adhesive. The carrier sheet adds stability to the resulting laminate structure and prevents surface fibers from being torn from the blanket when the release liner is removed from the carrier at the time of placement of the batt in service. A method for forming the batt is also disclosed.

This invention relates generally to a fiberglass blanket having an adhesively attached release liner assembly and method for making the same. An important aspect of this invention is the replacement of a carrier sheet in the release liner assembly for carrying adhesive coatings on opposite surfaces thereof for joinder with a release liner and with surface fibers of the fiberglass blanket. Another important aspect of this invention is the application to either the surface fibers of the fiberglass blanket or to a surface of the carrier sheet of an adhesive coating in an uncured liquid state and the subsequent joinder of the blanket to the carrier sheet while the adhesive coating is in the liquid state such that surface fibers of the blanket are thoroughly coated with the adhesive.
It has long been known in the prior art to adhesively join a fiberglass insulation blanket directly to a sheet of silicone coated release paper. A difficulty encountered with this prior art process and the resulting prior art product is that when the release liner is peeled away from the surface of the blanket at the time it is being placed in service as a thermal or acoustical insulator, surface fibers are often torn away from the blanket as well. Another difficulty encountered has to do with adhesively joining the blanket to the release liner when the adhesive is in a semi-liquidous, plastic-like state because the adhesive does not thoroughly coat surface fibers of the blanket, whereby the tensil strength or "peel" strength of the resulting assembly can be less than a desirable or even suitable level.
By means of our invention, these and other disadvantages encountered using prior art fiberglass blankets with adhesively joined release liners are substantially overcome.

Fiberglass insulation blanket with release liner assembly and method


There is disclosed a tracing light for a saber saw in which the light source is located on the shoe of the saber saw, immediately adjacent the cut line marked on the work piece. In one embodiment, the light source is the terminal end of a fiber optic transmission tube which communicates with a light source mounted at another location on the saber saw. In an alternative embodiment, the light source is within a housing that is secured or supported directly on the shoe of the saber saw, with the light emitting element, either an incandescent bulb or a light emitting diode, located immediately adjacent the cut line of the work piece.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a tracing light for a hand held power saw and, in particular, to a tracing light for a saber saw.
2. Brief Statement of the Prior Art Floodlights have been used with power driven tools to illuminate the entire work surface in the vicinity of the tool such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,193,878 and 2,852,051 for a router, 2,525.588 for a hand drill, 2,588,288 for hand saws, and 4,230,453 for a dentist drill.
Lights have also been used on saber saws such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,393,309. U.S. Pat. No. 3,504,716 discloses an optical focusing guide for use on saber saws. While a focused beam of light has been used as a guide for a drill bit in U.S. Pat. No. 3,728,077, heretofore, there have been no prior attempts to use a narrow beam of focused light as a tracing guide for use on a saw and particularly for a portable hand saw. Instead, the prior art has concentrated on mechanical guides, fences, etc., for controlling the cutting paths of these saws.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,457,796 discloses a saber saw which has a light source 16 and a light guide of a fibre optic material which is supported on the saw housing and which terminates a substantial distance above the workpiece. U.S. Pat. No. 3,506,716 discloses a fiber optic element and magnifier to provide an improved visual guide or a sabre saw. U.S. Pat. No. 2,806,492 discloses a projector for a stationary circular saw which directs an elongated beam of light onto the cut line. U.S. Pat. No. 2,193,878 discloses a pair of flood lamps which are used to illuminate the surface of a work piece surrounding a cutting bit of a router.


A method for context-dependent in-call video codec switching includes receiving an indication that a far-side endpoint includes a capability to switch from an initial video codec to a secondary video codec during a call. During a call with the far-side endpoint, the method includes determining that a performance of an encoder satisfies a codec switching threshold. The codec switching threshold indicates that the performance of the encoder justifies switching from the initial video codec mid-stream of the call. During a call with the far-side endpoint, the method also includes switching from the initial video codec initially negotiated to govern the call to the secondary video codec.

As media data becomes increasingly more common in a wide range of applications, media streams (e.g., video streams) need to be transferred between users and across networks in a reliable manner. When transferring data in the form of a media stream, the endpoints involved in this media communication ensure that they understand the type of data they are receiving and transmitting using a codec. Typically, the codec that will be used when media streams are being transferred between endpoints is negotiated, by the endpoints prior to data transfer. This negotiation attempts to account for different applications and/or devices and their need to comply with bandwidth or resource constraints. Yet these constraints combined with other device or network issues during a media communication session, make media streams vulnerable to quality issues. Depending on the issue, a codec may become limited and have difficulty maintaining the quality of a media communication session. This may become particularly detrimental to the session when the codec has been negotiated for use throughout the entirety of the communication session.

Context-dependent in-call video codec switching


Disclosed is a semitransparent reflector having a whole light transmittance (T) of 10-80%, a whole light reflectance (R) of 20-90%, (T+R) of 80-100%, and (R−Rd) of 8-30% in which Rd is the whole light diffusion reflectance. When installed in a display device, the semitransparent reflector ensures efficient light transmission and reflection, and attains a high transmittance and a high reflectance of the display device, therefore significantly improving the letter visibility of the device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semitransparent reflector. Precisely, the invention relates to a semitransparent reflector that transmits the light from a light source on the back side thereof and reflects the light from a light source on the front side thereof to thereby realize a high brightness.
2. Description of the Background
A display device is known, in which the built-in light source is switched on in the dark to visualize the display image by the action of the transmitted light, but is switched off in the light to visualize the display image by the action of the external reflected light. Its typical constitution is shown in FIG. 1, in which the back side of the liquid-crystal cell is specifically noted. The constitution is characterized in that a polarizer and a semitransparent reflector are laminated on the back side of the liquid-crystal cell in that order.
In the liquid-crystal unit of the type, the semitransparent reflector functions for efficiently utilizing the light from the built-in light source in the dark and the light from the external light source in the light both for displays, and also for realizing displays that meet various objects. In general, glaring transmitted light and reflected light are disliked. For increasing the display visibility, the transmittance and the reflectance of the semitransparent reflector must be well balanced, and the display device must have high transmittance and high reflectance.
Heretofore, a semitransparent reflector fabricated by forming a coating layer with a filler such as pearl pigment, silica, alumina or the like therein on a transparent or opacity-controlled base film is used, and its whole light transmittance T and whole light reflectance R are specifically controlled. Also known is a technique of adding the same type of filler as above to the adhesive for bonding a polarizer and a semitransparent reflector to thereby specifically control the whole light transmittance T and the while light reflectance R of the reflector.
These semitransparent reflectors that have heretofore been known may enjoy the balance between the brightness from the transmitted light and the brightness from the reflected light, but could not often attain the intended transmission and reflection brightness in display devices, depending on the optical properties of the constituent components.
The present invention is to attain efficient light transmission and reflection in a display device with a semitransparent reflector installed therein, and to attain a high transmittance and a high reflectance of the display device so as to significantly improve the letter visibility of the device.


A tone reduction circuit for headsets designed to attenuate high frequency signals while permitting low frequency signals to pass undistorted. Input signal is supplied to a low-pass filter, a high-pass filter and an automatic gain control circuit (AGC). Outputs from both filters are input to a comparator, with the comparator output connected to the gain control input of the AGC. The AGC is configured to attenuate only the higher frequency signals. Thus, the comparator output controls gain imparted to the output signal produced by the AGC. The comparator output signals no gain in the automatic gain control circuit when low-pass filter output is greater than high-pass filter output, but when the high-pass filter output is greater than the low-pass filter output the comparator controls the automatic gain generator to attenuate the higher frequency input signal in proportion to the difference between high-pass filter output and low-pass filter output. Attenuation is further enhanced by having a low-pass filter with a shifting break point which is responsive to the comparator output. The low-pass filter break point is shifted down as the comparator output increases in amplitude, thereby further attenuating the input signal.

Headsets have long been used in conjunction with modem telephone equipment. Typically, headset users are ones whose jobs require either that they spend a substantial amount of time on the phone, or that their hands be free to perform other tasks. Examples of occupations where headsets are commonly used, include, among others, telephone operators, office receptionists, airline reservation clerks, stock brokers, customer service representatives, and police and fire department dispatchers.
The use of a headset provides many advantages. For example, a headset allows the user to perform other tasks while on the telephone. Examples of such tasks include taking messages, routing incoming calls, and using a computer terminal to enter or retrieve data. The use of a headset also reduces the amount of time required to answer an incoming call, thus making the headset user more efficient. In addition, the use of a headset eliminates the physical discomfort that can occur when a person talking on the telephone attempts to prop a regular telephone handset against his or her ear by tilting the head and raising the shoulder.
However, there are also disadvantages associated with the use of headsets. Since the headset's transducer (i.e. a speaker) is held in or against the user's ear, it is impossible to respond to any irritating tones or noises by moving the transducer closer to, or further away from the ear as one typically does with a regular telephone handset.
For example, if a calling party activates the dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) (tone dialing) keypad while his or her telephone station is connected to an operator wearing a headset, a tone signal as loud as--3 dBm to 0 dBrn can be generated on the telephone line at the operator's station. Often, aside from being annoyingly loud, such a tone is of a frequency that startles and annoys the headset wearer.
It is well known that excessive exposure to high-frequency noise causes fatigue and difficulty in concentration on one's work. This is particularly true if one experiences bursts of loud high-frequency noises, because human ears are most sensitive to frequencies in the range of 1-6 KHz. For voice grade telecommunications, high-frequency signals are defined to be in the range of 2-4 KHz. Thus, a reduction in exposure to high-frequency tones is desirable for both the comfort of employees wearing telephonic headsets and to prevent such employees from being unnecessarily fatigued and to meet the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
There are existing headset control circuits which address the problem of loud sounds. One is a peak limiting circuit which suppresses extremely loud signals. A peak limiting device redtrees the level of signals which exceed a predetermined level. Only those signals (voice or noise) which are extremely loud are attenuated by a peak limiter. This type of device prevents the headset user from suffering discomfort or injury which could be caused by excessively loud signals. However, this approach does not attenuate the lower level but annoying and sometimes startling high-frequency signals. These circuits fail to attenuate high-frequency signals and pass lower frequency signals, the goal desired. Additionally, most limiting circuits are clipping devices and simply clip off the excursion of a signal past a particular threshold causing odd harmonic distortion which is known to have a harsh sound to the listener.
Conventional automatic gain control (AGC) works in a well known manner to make the gain at a given stage of amplification a function which is inversely proportional to the signal level at a given point in the circuit. Most conventional AGC circuits simply feed back the output of a particular stage to provide a control signal which reduces the gain as the output increases. In most application of AGC circuits to audio signal paths, the AGC is simply a form of negative feedback and is most commonly used to provide a non-linear (normally approximating logarithmic) signal level to gain characteristic.
As is well known to those skilled in the art, automatic gain control circuits are devices which almost always respond to some form of integrated or average signal level. Those which respond very quickly may be thought of as devices having very short integration times, and thus are circuits which average a very short time window of the signal level. Slower responding devices make the gain a function of the history of the signal over a longer, most recent interval, i.e., they have a longer integration time. Those skilled in the art know that it is common to define and describe two characteristics of automatic gain control known as attack and release time. The attack time is the time period required after a sudden increase in the input signal amplitude for the gain of the AGC circuit to reach a predetermined percentage of the steady state change in gain it will make in response to continued application of the new input signal level. Similarly, release time is defined as a similar interval for the change in amplification which results from a sudden decrease in input signal level. Those skilled in the art know that many AGC circuits are designed to achieve varying desired attack and release times without introducing an excessive amount of distortion into the audio signal. Unfortunately, AGC's typically do not have quick attack times, which permits short bursts of high-frequency tones to pass through before responsive attenuation can occur.
Also, the goal of AGC circuits is dynamic range compression. Range compression serves to reduce the amplitude difference in audio signal between the loudest and softest signals present in the signal path. Although AGC's compress audio signals, unexpected high-frequency tones still cause problems for headset wearers. Even lower amplitude high-frequency signals often cause discomfort. In summary, both peak limiting and AGC's circuits act over the whole frequency spectrum, and do not take into account the ears added sensitivity to the higher frequency signals. Thus, a fast attack attenuator which only responds to and reduces higher frequency tones is needed.
Currently, two methods for reducing the effects of high-frequency tones exist. First, a low-pass filter could be placed on input signals. This would attenuate all higher frequency inputs. However, as one would expect, desired voice signals are attenuated and, thus, intelligibility is reduced and the output is distorted. This method is not acceptable.
Second, "Dolby-type" frequency sensitive compressors have been used in the recorded sound arts. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,631,365). The well known Dolby compression and expander system for use in recorded audio provides amplitude sensitive filtering over specified segments of the audio band width. The most common Dolby system is "Dolby B", which is designed for use with home magnetic tape recording equipment. The Dolby compressor/expander system is one for which low level inputs signals have their high frequency content expanded. In other words the gain over the higher frequency portion of a band width of interest is increased in response to a low signal level. This expanded signal is recorded on tape.
On playback, detection of a low intensity signal causes a complimentary compression of the same high frequency band. This has the effect of attenuating the high frequency noise, or "tape hiss," inherent in the recording process, thereby reducing the perceived noise level. Dolby B system does not attenuate at any frequency in the presence of high intensity signals because the high level signal will mask the tape hiss. Thus, an expanded signal is recorded, but only when the input signals is at a relatively low level. This prevents expansion of relatively high level signals in a manner that would cause clipping or saturation during the recording process.
Thus, while Dolby teaches frequency selective attenuation to reduce perceived noise levels, it does so only in the context of a complimentary expander/compressor for use in recording and playing back audio signals.
Therefore, it can be seen that a need yet exists for a high- frequency tone attenuator for headsets, wherein the attenuation of high-frequency tones is relatively fast and minimum attenuation of low-frequency signals occurs. Further, the attenuation should occur only when high-frequency input energy exceeds low-frequency input energy.