A circuit module of a battery pack includes a pattern resistor having conductivity; a temperature sensor that is adjacent to the pattern resistor and that senses a temperature of the pattern resistor; and a current detecting unit that is electrically connected to both ends of the pattern resistor, that is electrically connected to the temperature sensor, and that detects a current flowing in the pattern resistor based on a voltage across the ends of the pattern resistor and a temperature of the pattern resistor.

1. Field
Aspects of embodiments according to the present invention relate to a circuit module and a battery pack including the circuit module.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to the development of wireless Internet or communication technologies, a supply of portable electronic devices that can be powered by a battery, without a power supply unit, has sharply increased. In order for the portable electronic devices to be used in various places without regard to the power supply unit, the portable electronic devices may include a battery pack. In this regard, the battery pack may include a battery cell that may be repeatedly charged and discharged.
The battery pack may include a circuit for improving stability of the battery pack by blocking or stopping over-current and over-charging, or for controlling charging and discharging of the battery pack by detecting a current of the battery pack. The current of the battery pack is a factor for not only checking charging and discharging, but also for checking deterioration and lifetime of the battery pack, and thus it is desirable to detect an exact or accurate value.

Circuit module and battery pack including the same


An embedded igniter for internal combustion engines consisting of a multiple ignition system with separate control for individual pairs of igniters that has been designed to replaces the spark plugs of internal combustion engines. This device allows for a more complete burn of the fuel/air mixture within the combustion chamber. The embedded igniter system will consist of one or more igniter units consisting of a pair of rectangular tantalum bars with iridium electrode pins at the ends. The paired igniter pins are encased in alumina ceramic, a high dielectric/high temperature housing positioned around the combustion chamber holding and insulating the electrodes relative to their position in reference to the combustion chamber. One or more igniter units may be incorporated around each cylinder opening of a head gasket made from a composite of polyamide, carbon fiber and copper or equivalent material or may be incorporated into an internal combustion engine that does not require a head gasket.

In a wide variety of internal combustion engines the fuel ignition characteristics have become important from the viewpoints of fuel consumption and exhaust gas emissions. With the rising costs of oil and the air pollution problems, it has become imperative that new methods of saving fuel and having a cleaner more complete burn within the combustion chamber be devised. In order to attain lower, more efficient fuel consumption it is necessary to increase the combustion efficiency of the internal combustion engines. The spark plugs used in internal combustion engines have not changed significantly since they were first installed in the automobiles of the past. It is known that the ignition and complete burning of the fuel/air mixture in the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine can be improved by using a dual spark plug ignition system. Multiple plugs have proven higher in performance and fuel economy over single spark plugs, but because of limited area in the surface of the cylinder head combustion chamber for valves and plugs, just two plugs can be used to aid in flame propagation and to diminish the pre-detonation in high compression low octane engines of a few high-end automobiles.
The burning of fuel in the conventional internal combustion engines has been improved in recent years due to regulations but is no where close to a complete burn of the fuel/air mixture, which is a major contributor to our air pollution problem. Even the gasoline powered lawn mower has been indicated as contributing significantly to the pollution problem.
The igniters for internal combustion engines of this patent has been designed by the inventor to replace the conventional spark plugs in the piston-driven internal combustion engines having one or more cylinders. More specifically this invention describes the replacement of the spark plugs with one or more unique pairs of igniters that are embedded around the periphery of the cylinder within the structure of the head gasket that is seated between the head and block of the internal combustion engine. The igniters can also be positioned around the periphery of the cylinder where the engine head and engine block are joined on internal combustion engines that do not use head gaskets. This invention provides that the igniters will last the life of the engine and not have to be replaced like conventional spark plugs along with giving increased fuel economy and minimizing unburned fuel emissions.
The recent discovery of new and exotic materials has led to the developments in reducing the size while increasing the capabilities of many products. A new material used in this product as a ceramic insulator is made of alumina. Alumina or aluminum oxide (Al2O3) is the most versatile engineered ceramic because of its high temperature service limit along with its chemical, electrical and mechanical properties. It is also relatively low in cost, is easily formed and finished, using a number of fabrication methods including injection molding for low cost, high volume production runs. It is often compounded with silica or trace elements to enhance its properties of fabrication and commonly will range from 92% to 99.8% Al2O3.
Iridium is a relatively new and exotic material that will be used for the contact points because it will transmit a spark and not glow at the combustion temperature to ignite the next incoming charge.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,436,068 of Norihiko Nakamura et al. describes an ignition system of an internal combustion engine comprising a metallic plate inserted between the cylinder block and the cylinder head. The metallic plate has an opening, upon the inner peripheral wall of which is mounted a plurality of T-shaped electrodes. Each of the T-shaped electrodes comprises an electrode piece and a conductive bar member connected to the electrode piece. The conductive bar member is surrounded by a tubular insulating member. The tubular insulating member is inserted into bores formed in the metallic plate for forming a condenser between the conductive bar member and the metallic plate. The electrode pieces are arranged in series for forming spark gaps between adjacent electrode pieces, and a high voltage is applied across the electrode pieces.
The Nakamura patent describes an ignition system using a metallic plate between the head and the block of the engine requiring two gaskets instead of the conventional single gasket. The electrodes are arranged in series applying an extremely low voltage across the electrode pieces. The innate spark occurring at each gap around the perimeter of the combustion chamber simultaneously will ignite the combustion with the power and explosion of a diesel engine rather than a controlled burn desirable in a conventional internal combustion engine. The problem may be exacerbated by timing advance, which could cause the combustion to explode early enough to deter the piston from reaching top dead center. The thickness of the metallic plate will have an undesirable effect on the area of the combustion chamber.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,392 of Toru Yoshinaga et al. describes a multi-gap spark ignition device to be installed in a spark ignition engine. The device comprises a metallic base member provided with a hole, which forms one portion of the combustion chamber of the engine. Within the wall defining the hole, a electrode, a plurality of intermediate electrodes and an earth electrode are embedded at regular intervals so that each end of the electrodes project into the hole to form a plurality of spark gaps between the adjacent ends of the electrodes. Each of the intermediate electrodes is composed of an electrode member and an insulating member for covering one end of the electrode member, and is closely inserted into a groove formed in one end surface of the base member along the hole thereof at regular intervals. By making the stray electrostatic capacity between the base member and the opposed electrode member of each intermediate electrode larger than the electrostatic capacity between the adjacent electrode members, the required voltage can be maintained small, irrespective of the number of the intermediate electrodes.
The Yoshinaga patent describes another attempt with the electrodes arranged in series applying an extremely low voltage across the electrode pieces. The innate spark occurring at each gap around the perimeter of the combustion chamber simultaneously will still ignite the combustion with the power of an explosion. The spark electrodes exposed to the chamber will not be able to endure the heat range associated with the chamber requirements. The electrodes may still be glowing and could ignite the next incoming charge. Instead of removing the spark plugs in the conventional manner in an internal combustion engine, this system would require the major job of removing the heads to replace the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,735 of Toru Yoshinaga describes a multi-gap spark ignition system. The system comprises a plurality of spark gaps, which are formed in series. The length of the spark gaps increases from the high voltage power source side towards the earth side. According to the present invention, necessary voltage to be applied to the spark ignition system can be decreased.
This patent describes still another attempt with the electrodes arranged in series applying an extremely low voltage across the electrode pieces. The multiple spark ignition system has an intrinsically short life span because all the gaps are firing all the time and the life span will emulate at best the conventional spark plug.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,466 of Frank F. Lipski describes a spark-ignition engine that incorporates a relatively unlimited number of spark sources within each combustion chamber, without conventional spark plugs being required. The engine includes a planar circuit module clampingly located between a cylinder assembly and a head assembly of the engine. The module includes an electrically insulative substrate; a pair of electrode members; a foil circuit on the substrate for connecting the electrode members to a pulser that generates a high voltage intermittent electric signal for producing spark ignition of the fuel within a combustion chamber of the engine; first and second seals for connecting the substrate to the cylinder assembly and the head assembly. Also disclosed is a kit for replacing spark plugs in an internal combustion engine, the kit including the circuit module and in one version, injector assemblies for use in place of the spark plugs.
The Lipski patent describes another attempt with the electrodes arranged in series. The multiple spark ignition patent and others show an exposed electrode in the combustion area. These electrodes are not insolated from sparking to the piston. The initial timing on most engines is about 6 degrees before top dead center. In the 6-degree position, the piston is close enough to the electrode to cause a spark to jump to the piston or head and result in damaging surrounding components.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,520 of William A. Clarke describes a gasket of non-conductive material formed of layers of ceramic between which is embedded a wire circuit for connecting spark electrodes, connectors and ground connectors of a spark ignition system. The wire circuit includes small diameter wires surrounding gasket openings for bonding and sealing the edges of combustion chambers defined by cylinders in an internal combustion engine. The small diameter wires are insulated by the high dielectric layers of the gasket as well as by high dielectric wrappings and a sheath of high dielectric material bonded to and within the layers forming the gasket.
The Clarke patent describes another attempt with the electrodes arranged in series that will not allow the capability of firing the electrodes individually.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,302 of Toshimi Kashiwagura et al. describes an in-cylinder injection type internal combustion engine is provided, which initially fires a first spark plug and thereafter fires a second spark plug when a required load is low and which first fires the second spark plug and thereafter fires the first spark plug when the required load is high.
This patent describes an in-cylinder injection type internal combustion engine with two separate spark plugs located in the cylinder head illustrating the capability of multiple spark plugs and desire to produce an internal combustion engine with a multiple spark ignition system.
None of the foregoing prior art teaches or suggests the particular unique features of the embedded igniter system and thus clarifies the need for further improvements in the field of spark ignition on internal combustion engines with one or more cylinders where a spark is required to ignite a combustible fuel/air mixture.

Embedded igniter system for internal combustion engines


A cable management system for use with electrical devices, such as, for example, a ultrasound imaging system, is provided comprising a rotatable reel coupled to an end of each of an elongated flexible circuit member and an elongated cable. Each of a plurality of wires of the cable is electrically coupled to a respective conductor of the flexible circuit member to create separate conductive paths or signal channels. The cable management system is configured such that, as the cable moves from a generally retracted configuration in which a majority of the cable is wound about the reel to a generally extended configuration, the flexible circuit member simultaneously contracts about the reel. As a corollary, the flexible circuit member relaxes or unwinds as the cable moves from the extended configuration towards the retracted configuration.

1. Technical Field
This application relates to cable management systems, and more particularly to cable management systems suitable for selectively extending and retracting a cable from an electronic device, such as, for example, an ultrasound diagnostic imaging system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various devices for managing cables or cords of electronic equipment have been developed ranging from simple bundling devices, such as cable ties, to more complex retraction devices, such as the cord retractor device shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,736. Cord retraction devices are typically used to manage excess cord lengths in a manner that is more efficient and aesthetically pleasing than bundling devices. Some cord retraction devices enable a user to operate an electrical tool, appliance or other apparatus remotely from a power source via an extended power cord, and then reel in the cord for storage. Such power cord retraction devices typically include brush contact mechanisms for maintaining a conductive path from a power outlet to the electrical tool, appliance or other apparatus as the power cord is extended and retracted. For example, the cord retractor shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,736 includes a brush contact mechanism in the form of electrically conductive rings secured to a rotatable drum that correspond to each of a live wire and neutral wire of a power cord and which are aligned with respective contacts on a base portion of the cord retractor. The contacts of the base portion are biased towards the conductive rings to maintain contact therewith as the drum rotates, and thereby maintain a conductive path. Cord retraction devices having such brush contact mechanisms are generally used for applications wherein only a few conductive paths are provided and for providing electrical power where appreciable signal degradation through the brush contacts is of no concern.
Applicant's new cable management systems are particularly well suited for extending and retracting electrical cables for a broader range of applications.


A method and apparatus by which lung deceases are identified uses computer analysis of sound signals that are picked up from various locations on the chest walls of a subject by a modified stethoscope. The modification includes a small microphone in one of the hoses of the stethoscope. Signals from the microphone are input to a computer such as a personal computer or PC for processing. The computer extracts from these signals features which are dominant for particular lung diseases. A classifier classifies these features, determines if the lungs are diseased, and identifies the disease.

The present invention relates generally to the field of medical equipment for the diagnosis of ailments, and in particular to a new and useful apparatus and method for helping with the diagnosis of lung diseases.
The Signal and Speech Research Group (SRG) of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) has carried out research on algorithms for signal processing and their application since 1981. The group has been led by Professor Michael Savic, the inventor of the present application. Since 1985 the SRG has focused on high-risk, innovative research in all aspects of signal processing. Current areas include speaker recognition, language identification, detection of cholesterol deposits in blood vessels, speech recognition, automatic pipeline leak detection, voice character transformation, speaker separation (the cocktail party problem) and others.
Patents have been awarded for some of this work to RPI and Professor Savic, including: U.S. Pat. No. 7,024,360 for System for reconstruction of symbols in a sequence; U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,506 for Detection of leaks in vessels; U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,421 for Monitoring pressurized vessels for leaks, ruptures or hard hits; U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,724 for Detection of leaks in pipelines; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,893 for Detection of cholesterol deposits in arteries. These patents are all incorporated here by reference.
Chest auscultation, that is, the act of listening for sounds made by the lungs to aid in the diagnosis of certain disorders, is an effective, nonintrusive and inexpensive way to assess the condition of a patient's lungs. Many clinicians use chest auscultation in a cursory manner because they are not skilled in recognizing certain lung sounds.
A brief explanation of this technique can be found in an article at URL: http://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/sites/emibank/clinicians/nursing/documents/auscul ta.pdf, entitled "Chest Auscultation," by Bob McMaster, February/2001.
The training of doctors for this technique is long and difficult. Moreover, the human ear is sensitive to a certain sound frequency range only (e.g. 15 to 20,000 Hz) and some significant lung sounds are not in this range and therefore will not be heard, even by the most highly trained practitioner.
To better understand the present invention, a brief description of breath sounds and of what is under investigation is necessary. Many distinctive sounds are generated by a diseased lung. These may be roughly grouped into two broad categories, the adventitious sounds and the abnormally transmitted sounds. See, for example, Lehrer, S., "Understanding Lung Sounds", W.B. Saunders Company, 1993. Sounds like crackles, wheezes and pleural friction rubs are included in the adventitious sounds group while sounds like egophony, pectoriloque, bronchophony, bronchial breathing and abnormally diminished breath sounds are included in the abnormally transmitted sounds group. Recent scientific investigations, aided by advances in acoustics and electronics, provide insights into the mechanism of production of these sounds.
Diseases that are explored here are identifiable in the adventitious breath sounds and especially in crackles. Crackles are short, explosive, nonmusical sounds that can be described as to quantity (scanty or profuse) and timing (inspiratory or expiratory, early or late). Two commonly accepted theories suggest that crackles can be produced by the bubbling of air through airway secretions or by sudden opening of small airways (see: Wilkins, L. R. at al, "Lung Sounds: A practical guide", Mosby-Yaer Book, Inc., 1996). Crackles associated with the movement of airways secretions in larger airways are typically coarse and may occur during both inspiration and expiration. They may clear with suctioning of effective coughing. Crackles associated with the sudden opening of airways may be produced by a rapid equalization of pressure between open and collapsed airways (see: Ploysongsang, Y. and Schondeld S. A., "Mechanism of production of crackles after atelactasis during low-volume breathing", Am Rev Resp Dis 126:413, 1982; and Forgacs, P., "The functional basis of pulmonary sounds", Chest 73:399, 1978). These crackles are inspiratory sounds, which may occur when peripheral airways pop open as atelectatic regions are inflated.
With atelectasis due to shallow breathing, the crackles often disappear after a few deep breaths or after changes in the position; whereas with pulmonary fibrosis, the crackles persist. In mild pulmonary fibrosis, a disease that is explored here, the crackles are predominantly heard late in inspiration, but may become pan-inspiratory with an end-inspiratory accentuation as the disease progresses. Late-inspiratory crackles are often repetitive with several respiratory cycles and initially identified in dependent lung zones. Late-inspiratory crackles indicate a loss in lung volume and are audible over the chest walls. Early-inspiratory crackles are scanty, low-pitched and audible at the mouth as well as over the chest.
Although the present invention to be disclosed here can be used to identify any lung disease that produces sounds that can be processed using the apparatus and method of the invention, two particular diseases have been used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the invention and, therefore are discussed in some detail here.
Chronic Bronchitis
This condition produces excessive secretion of mucus, resulting in chronic cough productive of sputum. Pathologically, bronchitis is characterized by proliferation and hyperplasia of the mucus glands in the large airways, extending abnormally into small airways, often without evidence of inflammatory changes, although the changes may be associated with bacterial infection. Chronic bronchitis is commonly caused by the inhalation of cigarette smoke, although the disease is found in a few nonsmokers as well, particularly miners and people living in polluted urban environments. The principal complication associated with chronic bronchitis is the development of obstructive airway disease.
Interstitial Fibrosis
This condition, also called interstitial pneumonitis, is associated with interstitial and alveolar infiltrates and fibrosis. Patients complain of coughing, or difficulty in breathing and, although rarely, of fever. Pulmonary function studies show restriction and are sensitive indicators of the extend of the illness. Interstitial fibrosis may be caused by cancer chemotherapeutic agents (bleomycin, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate), radiation therapy, the antibiotic nitrofurantoine, high oxygen concentrations inhaled over a long period, and heavy metals such as gold. It is most often idiopathic.

Computer aided diagnosis of lung disease


A method of obtaining a measure of asymmetry between optical fibers of a forward and reverse paths is provided in order to synchronize clocks of optical nodes connected by asymmetrical optical fiber paths. The method includes receiving, at first and second arrival times, from a first optical network device, a first optical signal transmitted on a first optical fiber and a second optical signal transmitted on a second optical fiber, calculating a first time difference between the second arrival time and the first arrival time. The method includes determining a measure of asymmetry between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber based on the first time difference and a second time difference between a first time of transmission by the first optical network device of the first optical signal and a second time of transmission by the first optical network device of the second optical signal.

Optical networks are commonly employed to transmit data. Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) and dense wavelength-divisional multiplexing (DWDM) techniques may be used to transmit data in optical signals over a common or shared optical fiber, sometimes referred to as an optical link. In these techniques, clocks at the respective network elements, nodes, and/or devices are synchronized. To ensure synchronization of the clocks, the network elements include a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and an external GPS antenna to receive exact time information. External disturbances from an environment can introduce errors in clock synchronization via the GPS receivers and the GPS antennas.
Another approach to synchronizing clocks is to distribute Time of Day (TOD) information using a Precision Time Protocol (PTP) defined by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 1588v2. The IEEE 1588v2 standard defines synchronization and distribution of Time Of Day from a master clock of a master node to one or more slave clocks of slave nodes, remote slave clients, or another master node. In the PTP, the clocks are synchronized throughout a packet-switched network. Synchronization is achieved using packets that are transmitted and received in a session between the master clock and the slave clock. Messages are received after "some time" because of a delay in propagation of signals through the physical medium (optical fibers). This propagation delay is an error that is to be calculated and compensated for when synchronizing clocks. The PTP calculates the round trip delay between the master clock and the slave clock. The delay or latency between the master node and slave node(s) is assumed to be half of a round trip latency delay. Accordingly, the PTP calculations assume that the optical fiber of a forward path and the optical fiber of a reverse path are symmetrical. The PTP calculations introduce error when the optical fibers are asymmetrical.


A method is provided for applying a self-fluxing, self-bonding alloy coating of a hard facing alloy in powder form to a ferrous metal plate or substrate of melting point substantially higher than that of the hard facing alloy. The method comprises providing a plate of a ferrous metal substrate to be coated in which a surface of the plate to be coated is cleaned, e.g., by grit blasting. A retaining bank is formed substantially about a predetermined periphery of the plate by forming a ridge of a predetermined height on the clean surface to provide a confining zone into which a powder of the hard facing alloy is smoothly applied to a predetermined thickness to provide a composite of the alloy powder and the substrate. The powder may have an average particle size ranging from about 40 mesh to about 400 mesh (U.S. Standard) e.g., about 80 mesh to about 325 mesh. Following the application of the alloy powder to the confining zone to provide a composite, the composite is heated under substantially non-oxidizing conditions at a temperature sufficiently high to melt the alloy powder but below the melting temperature of the metal substrate, and thereby provide a dense alloy coating bonded to the ferrous metal plate or substrate. The coated plate is then cooled under substantially non-oxidizing conditions to solidify the coating.

Hard surfaced steel plates by arc welding have been employed for wear parts protection. Such plates have been manufactured by open-arc welding or by using submerged welding procedures. On the other hand, metal-sprayed procedures have been used, including fusing sprayed alloy powders, these procedures being employed for the same purpose.
In this connection, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,034 which relates to the production of alloy coatings on cast iron parts by thermal spraying using plasma transfer arc welding. The alloys disclosed are nickel-base self-fluxing, self-bonding alloys.
Another patent is U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,394 which relates to a method for producing a wear-resistant layer on a metal base using autogenous flame spraying to produce a bonded layer of at least 1 mm.
A disadvantage of the foregoing methods is the limitation on the thickness of the coating or the tendency for substantial dilution of the coating metal with the base metal. Because of the tendency of dilution of the coating, it is difficult to retain the primary composition of the alloy coating and, because of the reactions in the flame, the hardness expected of the self-fluxing, self-bonding alloy.
In addition, it is sometimes necessary to apply the coating in multiple passes on the base metal in order to assure the required hardness. This is usually attended by certain inconveniences such as the following: (1) additional welding labor costs; (2) increased production hours, (3) the decrease in hardness approaching the metal substrate because of dilution; (4) the difficulty of controlling thickness together with the dilution of the coating because of overheating; and (5) the fact that the final coated plate does not always meet specifications.
Moreover, in carrying out the self-bonding powder fusing procedure of the prior art, it is very difficult to produce a thick layer of the coating with the desired hardness and because of surface cracking and lifting of the coating. Thick coatings are especially desirable for wear parts produced from metal plates, particularly where long life of the coated substrate is essential.
Another disadvantage of producing coated metal substrates by thermal spraying is considerable loss of powder during spraying which adds to the cost of producing the final product.
The invention will now be described in light of the following disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims.

Alloy coated metal base substrates, such as coated ferrous metal plates


A method of creating a user-defined function in a spreadsheet application is provided. The user-defined function is callable by a calling label in the spreadsheet application. A formula is received in the spreadsheet application. The formula is transferred to a function sheet of the spreadsheet application to define at least a portion of a function body. An interface is defined by identifying the calling label, an input parameter and a result parameter of the user-defined function. The function body operates on an argument corresponding to the input parameter and generates a result corresponding to the result parameter. The interface is stored in association with the function body to create the user-defined function.

Much of the utility of a spreadsheet application lies in the ability of a user to capture data and algorithmic operations in an organized structure, such as a worksheet, without the need for professional programming capabilities. A non-programmer user can specify complex data relationships, including summing operations, amortization operations, and so on, without learning a programming language. The user, for example, may enter a formula into a cell of the worksheet (e.g., "=A1+B1"), and the result of the formula is returned and displayed in the cell.
One of the problems with existing user-defined spreadsheet formula techniques, however, is that formulae are not encapsulated or labeled to support reuse or parameter passing. As such, when a task becomes more complex, professional programming languages are employed, instead of the less complicated spreadsheet-oriented formula interface. Furthermore, when a correction or customization is required to a set of formulae (e.g., formulae instantiated in multiple cells or multiple spreadsheets), the changes must be made to each formula instance, amplifying the chance of error during the edits. Reusable application-provided functions (e.g., SUM( )) and third-party pluggable functions exist in spreadsheets, but these functions are built-in (or plugged in), programmed in an advanced programming language, and not customizable by a user.


Disclosed herein are Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) 9-based system related compositions and methods of using said CRISPR/Cas9-based system related compositions for altering gene expression and genome engineering. Also disclosed herein are compositions and methods of using said compositions for altering gene expression and genome engineering in muscle, such as skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle.

Synthetic transcription factors have been engineered to control gene expression for many different medical and scientific applications in mammalian systems, including stimulating tissue regeneration, drug screening, compensating for genetic defects, activating silenced tumor suppressors, controlling stem cell differentiation, performing genetic screens, and creating synthetic gene circuits. These transcription factors can target promoters or enhancers of endogenous genes, or be purposefully designed to recognize sequences orthogonal to mammalian genomes for transgene regulation. The most common strategies for engineering novel transcription factors targeted to user-defined sequences have been based on the programmable DNA-binding domains of zinc finger proteins and transcription-activator like effectors (TALEs). Both of these approaches involve applying the principles of protein-DNA interactions of these domains to engineer new proteins with unique DNA-binding specificity. Although these methods have been widely successful for many applications, the protein engineering necessary for manipulating protein-DNA interactions can be laborious and require specialized expertise.
Additionally, these new proteins are not always effective. The reasons for this are not yet known but may be related to the effects of epigenetic modifications and chromatin state on protein binding to the genomic target site. In addition, there are challenges in ensuring that these new proteins, as well as other components, are delivered to each cell. Existing methods for delivering these new proteins and their multiple components include delivery to cells on separate plasmids or vectors which leads to highly variable expression levels in each cell due to differences in copy number. Additionally, gene activation following transfection is transient due to dilution of plasmid DNA, and temporary gene expression may not be sufficient for inducing therapeutic effects. Furthermore, this approach is not amenable to cell types that are not easily transfected. Thus another limitation of these new proteins is the potency of transcriptional activation.
Site-specific nucleases can be used to introduce site-specific double strand breaks at targeted genomic loci. This DNA cleavage stimulates the natural DNA-repair machinery, leading to one of two possible repair pathways. In the absence of a donor template, the break will be repaired by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), an error-prone repair pathway that leads to small insertions or deletions of DNA. This method can be used to intentionally disrupt, delete, or alter the reading frame of targeted gene sequences. However, if a donor template is provided along with the nucleases, then the cellular machinery will repair the break by homologous recombination, which is enhanced several orders of magnitude in the presence of DNA cleavage. This method can be used to introduce specific changes in the DNA sequence at target sites. Engineered nucleases have been used for gene editing in a variety of human stem cells and cell lines, and for gene editing in the mouse liver. However, the major hurdle for implementation of these technologies is delivery to particular tissues in vivo in a way that is effective, efficient, and facilitates successful genome modification.
Hereditary genetic diseases have devastating effects on children in the United States. These diseases currently have no cure and can only be managed by attempts to alleviate the symptoms. For decades, the field of gene therapy has promised a cure to these diseases. However technical hurdles regarding the safe and efficient delivery of therapeutic genes to cells and patients have limited this approach. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is the most common hereditary monogenic disease and occurs in 1 in 3500 males. DMD is the result of inherited or spontaneous mutations in the dystrophin gene. Dystrophin is a key component of a protein complex that is responsible for regulating muscle cell integrity and function. DMD patients typically lose the ability to physically support themselves during childhood, become progressively weaker during the teenage years, and die in their twenties. Current experimental gene therapy strategies for DMD require repeated administration of transient gene delivery vehicles or rely on permanent integration of foreign genetic material into the genomic DNA. Both of these methods have serious safety concerns. Furthermore, these strategies have been limited by an inability to deliver the large and complex dystrophin gene sequence.

RNA-guided gene editing and gene regulation


A spur system including a body having arms adapted to extend on either side of a heel of a footwear, such as a boot. A nib is pivotally coupled to the body, and selectively moveable between an activated and an unactivated position.

The present invention generally relates to spur systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a retractable spur which can be selectively moved into use and non-use positions while retaining the spur on the rider's boot.
Spur systems may comprise a spur body for attaching the assembly to a shoe or boot of the rider, and a spur nib attached to the spur body, where the spur nib may be the part of the spur used to control an animal, such as a horse.
A spur body may comprise a generally U-shaped configuration, which may fit around the heel of the rider's boot. Each arm of the body may have an orifice at one end configured to receive a strap. The strap can be fastened around the foot section of the boot, thus providing a configuration for removably attaching the spur system to the boot. The spur system may further comprise a projection, or nib, extending perpendicularly from the middle of the outer surface of the curved section of the spur body.
Sometimes a rider or user may ride a horse for which a spur is needed, and some times a spur may not be needed. This may not be determined until the rider is mounted on the horse, or at different times during a ride. If spurs are not needed a rider may have to remove the spurs so that they are non-functional, which may be cumbersome and time consuming. Furthermore, the rider must then store the removed spur either on the horse or at another location. This may also be cumbersome, and may increase the likelihood that the spurs will be lost.
Accordingly, what is needed is a spur system that may be rendered non-functional without removal of the entire system from the boot of a user. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.


Disclosed is a method of treating tumors capable of being treated with interferon which is comprised of interferon and dipyridamole, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, in amounts sufficient to enhance the anti-tumor effect of interferon. Further disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition comprised of interferon and dipyridamole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the treatment of tumors, in particular the treatment of tumors using an interferon. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of dipyridamole for enhancing the tumor-growth inhibitory action of an interferon, a method of treating a patient suffering from a tumor by combined therapy with dipyridamole and an interferon, the use of dipyridamole and interferon for preparing such pharmaceutical preparations for treating tumors, and to pharmaceutical preparations so produced.
2. Brief Description of the Backoround Art
Information on the inhibitory action of human interferon (HuIFN) on the growth of cultured cell lines has been accepted as viable for clinical trials of HuIFN as antitumor therapy (Adv. Cancer Res., Vol. 46, Academic Press. London (1986), and Stewart, The Interferon System. Springer-Verlag, Wien/New York, (1981).
Recently, it has been found that the susceptibility of human cells to the anticellular effects of HuIFN correlated with radio-sensitivity and/or DNA-repair capacity. Suzuki et al., Virology. 135:2029, (1984); Mutation Res., 106:357-376, (1982); J. Gen. Virol., 67.651-661 (1986), Yarosh et al., Carcinooenesis. 6:883-886 (1985) Biophys. Res. Commun., 72:732 (1976). It has also been found that the cellular response mechanisms for DNA damage are modified by HuIFN treatment itself; for example, the increase of DNA-repair synthesis levels and enhancement of survival of cells treatment with agents which can cause structural damage of DNA. Suzuki et al., Virology, 135:20-29, (1984); Mutation Res., 175: 189-193 (1986). Therefore, it seems undesirable to carry out antitumor therapy by HuIFN in combination with other anti-cancer agents which damage DNA because of HuIFNinduced resistance to the agents, and there is a need for an agent which does not itself cause DNA damage but can enhance the antitumor activity of interferon.
The compound 2,6-bis(diethanolamine)-4,8-dipiperidino-pyrimido[5,4-d]pyrimidin, which has the generic name dipyridamole, and its preparation have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,031,450.
Dipyridamole is a well known vasodilator and also has platelet aggregation inhibiting properties. In view of these properties, it has found widespread use for many years in the treatment of chronic coronary insufficiency and in the prophylaxis and treatment of heart infarcts as well as in the prophylaxis of arterial thrombosis.
More recently, the possible use of dipyridamole in tumor therapy has been investigated. This interest has derived from the observation that while it does not damage DNA, dipyridamole is an effective blocker of the salvage pathway of DNA synthesis, and that it can inhibit nucleoside transport through the cell membrane and so block restoration of internal cellular nucleoside levels, thus potentially inhibiting important steps in tumor cell synthesis. Biochem. Biophys. Acta, 58:435-447, (1968), and Biochem. Biophys. Acta. 211:88-94, (1970).
In view of this property, the effects of dipyridamole, both alone and in combination with various anti-cancer agents, have been investigated. Thus, Chan et al., Cancer Treat. Rep., 69:425-430, (1985) found that dipyridamole can potentiate the activity of N- phosphoracetyl-L-aspartate (PALA) in vitro and in vivo. PALA is a pyrimidine anti-metabolite which is thought to inhibit an early step in de novo pyrimidine synthesis, causing depletion of intracellular pyrimidine nucleotides. In another study Chan et al., Cancer Research, 45:3598-3604 (1985) reported that dipyridamole increased PALA activity against a human ovarian carcinoma cell line while exhibiting no cytotoxicity of its own.
Zhen et al., Cancer Research, 43:1616-1619, (1983), reported that the addition of a combination of cytidine, deoxycytidine and guanosine at an optimal concentration of 8 .mu.M each protected rat hepatoma 3924 A cells from the growth-inhibitory action of the antiglutamine drug Acivin, and that this protection was blocked by dipyridamole at a concentration of 6 .mu.M.
Nelson et al., Cancer Research 44: 2493-2496, (1984) reported that dipyridamole enhanced the toxicity of methotrexate (MTX) towards chinese hamster ovary cells both in vitro and in vivo: however, the antitumor activity of MTX towards certain other tumors, namely ridgway osteogenic sarcoma and LIZIO leukemia was not dramatically improved.
Various other publications describe the testing of dipyridamole together with anti-cancer agents against tumor cells, e.g. with cytarabine (Cancer Treat. Rep. 68: 361-366, (1984) and 2'-deoxyadenosine (Cancer Research 45: 6418-6424, (1985)
In addition, some investigations have been carried out on the use of dipyridamole alone as an anti-cancer drug. Thus, in the investigation on the combined action of dipyridamole/acivin, Weber, Cancer Research 73: 3466-3492, (1983), also showed that dipyridamole was effective in killing Hepatoma 3924A cells. Bastida, Cancer Research 45: 4048-4052, (1985), reported a potential metastatic effect of dipyridamole, possibly resulting from inhibition of tumor cell metabolism or suppression of one or more of the mechanisms involved in the ability of tumor cells to activate platelets.
Work has also been carried out on the structurally related compound 2,6-bis-(diethanolamino)-4-piperidino-pyrimido[5,4-d]pyrimidine (Mopidamole) as an anti-cancer drug.
Gastpar, Laryng, Rhinol., Otol, 62: 578-525 (1983) reported that mopidamole potentiates the antimitotic effect of interferon and its natural killer cell activating activity. He reports in the same article that " the adding of mopidamole to a culture of a human promyelocytic leukemic cell line promotes a reverse transformation of malignant cells to normal which appears to be a permanent phenotypic change. Furthermore, mopidamole was shown to diminish significantly spontaneous lung metastases in syngeneic Wilms Tumor (nephroblastoma) of the rat, the C1300 neuroblastoma of the mouse and the HMKim mammary carcinoma of the rat."
The use of mopidamole in the above investigation was based on its ability to increase cAMP levels, resulting in an inhibition of .sub. 3Hthymidine incorporation into neoplastic cells and a direct inhibition of the mitotic rate. The effect on cAMP levels derives from mopidamole's inhibition of PDE induced decomposition of cAMP, it may also stimulate the synthase and/or release of prostacyclin from the vessel wall which in turn activates adenylate cyclase involved in cAMP synthesis. Dipyridamole is, however, known to be much weaker PDE inhibitor than mopidamole.
It must also be observed that the teaching in the literature of the combination of mopidamole with interferon is confusing. Ambrus, J.L. et al. Proc. Am. Assoc. Cancer Res. 23: 183 (1932) state that mopidamole potentiates the antitumor effect of leukocyte and fibroblastic interferon in tissue culture, and in Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 177: 487-490 (1984) state that mopidamole potentiates the growth inhibitory effect of human fibroblastic .beta.-interferon. Wolf et al., J. MED. 15-21 (1984) concludes that, in contrast to its effect with human fibroblast interferon, no synergistic inhibitory effect between mopidamole and a variety of .alpha.and .gamma.interferon could be observed. Finally, Ambrus et al. Proc. Am. Assoc. Cancer Res. 24: 309 (1983) state that, in contrast to some previous reports, no synergism was seen between interferon and mopidamole.
Galabov et al. Acta. Virol. 26 (3): 137-174 (1982) described a investigation with dipyridamole. European Patent Application 0.084.953. Galabov et al, reported that dipyridamole induced interferon production in vitro in explanted mouse peritoneal leukocytes and other cells and it induced interferon in mice after I.V. administration. However, this work has not been confirmed by other groups.
It is no where taught or suggested in the literature either to use dipyridamole in combination with an interferon in antitumor therapy, or suggested that any worthwhile results could be expected from such a combined therapy.

Methods and pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of tumors


A pipe jack including a sprocket head having radial projections, a hydraulic jack having a ram plunger at a top end and a base at a bottom end, a base plate and a roller chain sized to engage with the radial projections in various embodiments. In one embodiment, arc sprockets are provided in parallel on the sprocket head with each sprocket having a chord, connecting the arc ends, defining a flat surface across the arc sprocket. The chain engages with the arc sprockets and are adjacent and axially offset. The sprocket head having a support plate with a top and bottom surface, the top surface fixedly engaged with the arc sprockets. A receiving tube can be axially centered on and fixedly engaged with the support plate bottom surface. The pipe jack can be used to lift and position a half sole repair sleeve along a pipe to be repaired.

Pipes are used in numerous industries and pipelines are used to carry liquids, viscous materials, slurries, and steam from one location to the next. The pipes can have diameters ranging from an inch or less up to 144 inches or more. Over time, the pipe can become damaged or weakened. Repair of the pipe can involve shutting down the pipeline impacting operational activities and costs. It is known in the pipeline industry to repair the pipe while maintaining operations by installing half sole repair sleeves or split sleeves over the pipe. Once in place, the sleeves can be welded in place or a tightening or compression system can be used to hold the pipe halves together.
Especially in the case of larger diameter pipes, the sleeves are heavy and not easily manipulated. The first issue is getting the sleeve properly positioned in relation to the pipe to allow for the subsequent raising and alignment of the pipe and sleeve. The second issue is simply raising the sleeve which is heavy and cumbersome. The third issue is that once the sleeve is properly situated on the bottom half of the pipe and mated to the top half (or two sleeves each positioned along opposite sides of the pipe and mated), maintaining the positioning of the sleeve can be a challenge. Various methods are used in an attempt to hold the sleeves in position, including, but not limited to, pipe jacks, blocking, strapping, manual means, bracing, machine mounted platforms, etc.
Of the above methods, the use of pipe jacks is well known. An example of one common configuration of a pipe jack is custom made by Allan Edwards, Inc., of Tulsa, Okla., U.S.A. (depicted in FIG. 1). The pipe jack consists of a bracing support block that sits on top of the pipe to be repaired and a raising block that sits atop the bracing support block. A chain is affixed to one side of the raising block and removably attached on the other. A threaded rod is provided in the raising block so that rotation of the rod causes the raising block and bracing support block to separate thus tensioning the chain.
It is an accepted practice with known pipe jacks that the chain must circumferentially follow the pipe and that it must contact the pipe squarely. To achieve this, known pipe jacks are configured so that the ends of the chains, when connected to the lifting device, are coplanar. Thus, when attached, the chain that is looped around the pipe, the lifting head and the chain ends attached to the lifting mechanism are on the same axial plane with the axial plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe. This is intended to prevent twisting of the chain and undue forces on the pipe.
One problem with current pipe jacks is that rotation of the threaded rod results in side forces that can cause instability of the pipe jack. Another problem is that, as the tension on the chain increases, the force required to turn the rod is also increased. There is a propensity for the tightening wrench to slip off of the rod with the increasing force requirement, which can cause injury to the worker. Another problem is that pipe jacks of this type can be heavy and cumbersome to lift in place and to operate. A further problem is that rotation of the threaded rod is not ergonomically conducive.
In view of the shortcomings of known pipe jacks, there is a demand for a pipe jack which is simple to employ but capable of lifting and exerting distributed compression forces against the half sole repair sleeve to effectively position and install the sleeve. In addition, the pipe jack should be easy to use, be easy to manipulate, and remain stable as the half sole sleeves are secured in place.


An ergonomically friendly terminal position assurance device for use with an electrical connector. The device includes a terminal position assurance device for use with an electrical connector. The device includes a terminal engaging section and an engagement section. The terminal engaging section has a first end and an oppositely facing second end. The engagement section extends from the first end and has a bearing surface, the bearing surface has a surface area which is wider than the width of the terminal engaging section. The engagement section extends at least part of the length of the terminal engagement section. The bearing surface of the engagement section is configured to allow an assembler to push the terminal position assurance device during assembly of the electrical connector in an ergonomically friendly manner.

Some electrical connectors are designed for multi-pin connections. The electrical connectors may be mated to mating connectors terminated to wires or mounted on circuit boards. Such multi-pin connectors are generally assembled by coupling terminals to wires, then loading the terminals into a cavity in a connector housing. Generally, there is a retention feature on the terminal and/or in the cavity that is engaged once a terminal reaches a designated position within the length of the cavity in order to prevent the terminal from backing out of the cavity unintentionally during use of the connector. Sometimes the retention feature fails to prevent the terminal from exiting the cavity, such as if the retention feature is dysfunctional or the terminal was not inserted far enough into the cavity to properly engage the retention feature. If a terminal is not properly retained within a cavity, when the electrical connector is mated to a mating connector, a corresponding mating contact may not connect properly to the subject terminal. For example, the incoming mating contact may drive the terminal back out of the housing, preventing a proper electrical connection between the terminal and the mating contact. Each housing may hold up to twenty or more terminals, and even a single missed electrical connection may compromise the functionality of the entire connector system and the devices they connect.
Electrical connectors in the art may attempt to prevent terminals from unintentional movement in the cavities by adding a restraining device or terminal position assurance device. For example, a device may be added to a rear of the housing that is configured to act as a barrier and/or push any terminals that are not at the designated position further into the respective cavities towards the designated position. One example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,063 granted to William L. Stein, Sr. which discloses a separate bifurcated lock member which is inserted into a connector housing in the direction of insertion of the terminals into the cavities to prevent withdrawal of the electrical terminals disposed in the terminal cavities. The bifurcated lock member acts as a stop behind the depending stop tabs of the electric terminals.
However, such terminal position assurance devices have various problems. For example, the bearing surface on known devices is small and difficult to access and may have sharp edges, making it difficult to insert the terminal position assurance device into the connector housing. In addition, as the bearing surface is also used to mate the connector housing to a mating connector, the mating/insertion of the connector housing to the mating connector is made difficult. This can cause injuries to the assemblers of the connectors and damage to the connectors if the insertion of the terminal position assurance device or of the connector housing is not done properly.
A need remains for a terminal position assurance device which can be easily and effectively inserted into the connector housing. In particular, it would be beneficial to provide a device with an ergonomically friendly bearing surface which allows for ease of insertion of the terminal position assurance device in the connector housing and which allows for the ease of insertion of the connector housing in a mating connector housing.

Ergonomic terminal position assurance member


A method of regression testing a software application in an execution environment is disclosed. The software application interacts with a data storage and is run a first time. While running the software application for the first time, interactions of the software application with the data storage are monitored. Also while running the software application for the first time, first output data written from the software application to the data storage are recorded, and input data received by the software application from the data storage are recorded. The software application is run a second time after the first time. While running the software application the second time, when the software application calls for data from the data storage, at least a portion of the recorded input data is provided to the software application, and, when the software application writes data to the data storage, second output data written by the software application are recorded. The second output data are compared with the first output data to evaluate whether the software application has passed the regression test.

Computer software applications often are developed through a trial-and-error testing process. In such a process, an application is written and the behavior of the application is tested. The application is then modified based on the tested behavior, and the modified application is retested. Testing the application after a modification has been made is useful for determining whether the behavior of the application has regressed as a result of the modification. Such testing may be referred to as "regression testing."
Regression testing of software applications that interact with other applications or external sources/destinations for data (e.g., a database) may pose particular difficulties because of the complexity of the interactions with the external sources/destinations. For example, testing an application that interacts with a database may require restoration of all or a portion of the database to a known state at the start of each test to ensure that the application is always tested against the same data. Custom-built software scripts can be used to simulate a database by sending and receiving only the data required by a software application during a regression test. However, when a computation is performed by executing a sequence of software applications that interact with, and sometimes alter, a database, regression testing the individual software applications may be difficult because each application may require that the database be in a particular known, intermediate state when the application begins to interact with the database.

Automated recording and replaying of software regression tests

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A surge suppressor device includes a first housing defining a first cavity, input and output conductors disposed in the first cavity of the first housing, a capacitor connected in series with the input conductor and the output conductor, a first spiral inductor having an inner edge connected to the input conductor and an outer edge and a second spiral inductor having an inner edge connected to the output conductor and an outer edge. The surge suppressor device further includes a second housing defining a second cavity and connected to the first housing, a feed-through connecting the first cavity to the second cavity, a non-linear protection device positioned in the second cavity of the second housing and a first electrical wire passing through the feed-through and connecting the outer edge of the first spiral inductor to the non-linear protection device.

1. Field
The present invention generally relates to surge protectors and improvements thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to RF protectors having surge suppression modules and improvements thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Communications equipment, computers, home stereo amplifiers, televisions and other electronic devices are increasingly manufactured using small electronic components that are vulnerable to damage from electrical energy surges. Surge variations in power and transmission line voltages, as well as noise, can change the operating frequency range of connected equipment and severely damage or destroy electronic devices. Electronic devices impacted by these surge conditions can be very expensive to repair or replace. Therefore, a cost effective way to protect these devices and components from power surges is needed.
Harmful electrical energy surges can originate from a variety of possible causes. One such cause is radio frequency (RF) interference that can couple to power or transmission lines from a multitude of sources. The power or transmission lines act as large antennas that may extend over several miles, thereby collecting a significant amount of RF noise from such sources as radio broadcast antennas. Another source of RF interference stems from equipment connected to the power or transmission lines that conducts along those lines to the equipment to be protected. A further cause of harmful electrical energy surges is lightning and typically arises when a lightning bolt strikes a component or transmission line that is coupled to the protected hardware or equipment. Lightning surges generally include DC electrical energy and AC electrical energy up to approximately 1 MHz in frequency and are complex electromagnetic energy sources having potentials estimated from 5 million to 20 million volts and currents reaching thousands of amperes.
Surge protectors protect electronic equipment from damage due to the large variations in the current and voltage resulting from lightning strikes, switching surges, transients, noise, incorrect connections or other abnormal conditions or malfunctions that travel across power or transmission lines. Ideally, an RF surge suppression device would have a compact size, a low insertion loss and a low voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) that is capable of protecting hardware equipment from harmful electrical energy emitted from the above described sources.

DC pass RF protector having a surge suppression module


The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle having an operating device, which includes a speech recognition and language determination device. A recognition of a voice input of a user of the motor vehicle, and a check as to whether a language of the voice input corresponds to the first operating language take place in a first operating mode with a first operating language. Depending on a result of the checking process, a confidence value is assigned to the voice input, which describes a probability with which the language of the voice input is the second operating language. Depending on the assigned confidence value, a query signal is generated, which describes a request, understandable in a second operating language, to the user for indicating the operating mode to be set or the operating language to be set. In response to a received operating signal, the operating mode to be set or the operating language to be set are set.

In motor vehicles, the focus is increasingly placed on comprehensive convenience electronics, by means of which convenience systems, such as a navigation device, an auxiliary heater, or air conditioning, may be electrically operated. In order to enable a user of the motor vehicle to operate both the convenience electronics and the actual drive of the motor vehicle, a corresponding operating device, i.e., a device or a device component, which serves as a user interface between the user and the system to be operated, must be provided. Such an operating device may be designed, for example, as a multimedia interface ("MIMI") or infotainment system, and may include, for example, a touch-sensitive screen and/or push-button. The operating device may be operated in different operating languages, i.e., multiple languages may be stored, in which a text is output, for example, for explaining a function of a menu item. In conventional operating devices, for example, the user may select a corresponding operating language in a language menu.
In order to distract the user as little as possible from a driving process, the operating device may also output pieces of information, for example, navigation instructions, via a speaker. However, to change a voice output or speech recognition into a desired or native language, the user must again navigate through a written menu.
However, with the verbal language of the operating device, a switch is also made to the written language, i.e., also the language of the menus for the language switch. Thus, for example, an Englishman may be offered the option "Select Language" in a menu in German, but if he does not speak German, he is unable to understand the menu. It is even more difficult if the font is foreign, for example, Arabic characters for a German user or Latin letters for an Arabic user. In addition, the switch via the font menu requires time, is troublesome, and possibly the user only determines during a trip that a language is set that he/she does not understand. This results not only in user dissatisfaction but also in an unnecessary distraction.
DE 601 09 979 T2 describes a navigation device having a guidance language, which corresponds to a language used. A speech recognition and language determination device examines a voice input by a user, the language accordingly being determined as the language used, based on each word contained in the voice input.
WO 2015/185464 A1 discloses an assistance system which is controllable by means of voice input. A speech recognition and language determination device assigns a meaning to voice inputs in accordance with particular systems and rules.
However, in these methods, the user is unassisted in choosing through an operating menu in order to set a preferred language. Even if the operating device recognizes which language he is currently speaking, he must select the language he wants by navigating through the operating menu of the operating device.
One object underlying the disclosure is to assist the user of the motor vehicle in quickly selecting or changing the operating language.
The stated object is achieved by the method according to the disclosure and by the devices according to the disclosure in accordance with the subordinate patent claims.

Method for operating a motor vehicle having an operating device


A fuel analysis system and method wherein an x-ray source emits x-rays at an energy level below but proximate the absorption edge of sulfur. A monochromator is in the optical path between the source and a fuel sample for directing x-rays at a single energy level at the fuel sample to limit excitation of any sulfur in the fuel sample. A detector is responsive to x-rays emitted by the sample and an analyzer is responsive to the detector and configured to determine the amount of silicon and aluminum in the sample.

Crude oil is processed by a variety of means to produce the valuable light fractions such as gasoline, kerosene, and the like. Since these products are valuable commodities, it makes economic sense to try and convert as much of the oil as possible to these components. As much as 75% of a barrel of oil can be utilized in this way by a combination of distillation and catalytic cracking. In catalytic cracking, the heavy oil components which were left over from distillation are broken into smaller molecular weight components with the aid of a cracking catalyst. The catalysts are porous aluminum-silicate structures. At the end of the cracking process the material which was not broken down remains in the product. The sludge oil contains significant amounts of catalysts, called "fines" or "catfines" typically as very small particles (0.1 to 8 um) in size. The sludge oil is mixed with other feedstock to produce the heavy fuel oils used for large marine diesel engines. The presence of high (>80 ppm) levels of aluminum and silicon and other catalyst fines in the fuel can cause problems when the fuel is injected into the engine. The catalyst fines are very hard materials which can cause rapid wear on the engine components such as the cylinder, pistons and valves. For this reason, one standard dictates that all fuel must be prepared with a total combined Al+Si concentration of <80 ppm.
Fuel oil analysis often involves several specialized pieces of equipment operated by scientists in a laboratory. The current method used for measuring low concentrations of catalyst fines is an ISO method, ISO 10478: 1994. This standard method states that the amount of aluminum and silicon should be measured by using Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) spectroscopy analysis. ICP is a sensitive technique that is able to measure most elements down to the 1-10 ppb level in the sample introduced into the spectrometer. However, the ICP technique requires that the sample be in liquid form so that it can be sprayed into the plasma. This means that for solid samples or viscous liquids, some form of dissolving and dilution is required. Then, the detection limits in the original sample are 10-100 times higher, depending on the amount of dilution that has occurred. The major drawbacks of ICP for testing in the field (e.g., on-ship or dockside) are that such systems are relatively expensive instruments that use expensive consumables such as liquid Argon, and are not portable. In addition this method is time consuming and requires several analytical steps that require a skilled technician to carry out the procedure.
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is a non-destructive technique used to analyze samples with a minimum of preparation. To make a compact XRF spectrometer, however, requires the use of an energy dispersive detector. This means that the detector collects and measures all energies simultaneously. The detector electronics separates out the different x-rays. The alternative is a "wavelength dispersive" system which separates the x-rays into different energies by using a crystal. The x-rays of each single energy are then counted sequentially.
The elements in the catalyst fines (Al and Si) are amongst the lightest elements that can routinely be measured at low levels with XRF. In a typical bench top XRF system, the detection limits for these elements are typically 500-1000 ppm, which is 100 times larger than is required for accurate quantification of Al and Si in fuel. Hence, there are several technological problems which must be overcome.
The fluorescent x-rays from Al and Si have relatively low energies of 1.486 keV and 1.740 keV respectively. These x-rays travel a relatively short distance through solids or air before being absorbed.
The yield of x-rays from elements is proportional to the atomic number Z. This means that for every x-ray absorbed by an atom, the chance of producing a fluorescent x-ray is low for Al and Si. The highest probability of producing a fluorescent x-ray occurs when the exciting x-ray is at just a slightly higher in energy than the energy to be emitted. This means that to best excite Al and Si with the same x-rays, an ideal energy of approximately 2 keV is needed. But, most x-ray tubes have a very low intensity output at such a low energy due to a relatively thick Be window (75 um) which cuts out much of the intensity below 2 keV and also because the standard anode materials used have no lines in this region of the spectrum.
In heavy fuels there is a further complication, in that the fuel contains greater than 0.5% sulfur. In some cases the sulfur content can be as high as 5-6%. In an energy dispersive XRF system, the amount of data that can be collected per second is limited by the x-ray detector. The presence of high levels of sulfur affects both the amount of Al and Si x-rays which can be collected and also changes the shape of the spectrum in the region where Al and Si are observed.
Moreover, XRF techniques for analyzing fuel oils have not yet been employed in the field because the laboratory equipment used for the analysis is not engineered for use outside of a laboratory.


Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for judging four key moments in a whole process (a feeding starting moment, an idling process, a cutting starting moment, cutting, a cutting ending moment, an idling process and a feeding ending moment) of a machining step for computer numerical control machine tools. The method includes that: the feeding starting moment and ending moment are determined according to a real-time execution state of a numerical control code; input power of a spindle of a machine tool is compared in real time with idling power to determine the cutting starting moment and ending moment; and for a special machining step in which power does not change obviously in a feeding process, the cutting starting and ending moments are determined in combination with a historical statistical average time of an idling process duration and a feeding moment.

A whole process of a machining step for a machine tool consists of multiple steps, from a feeding starting moment, to idling process, to cutting starting moment, to cutting process, to cutting ending moment, to idling process and then to the feeding ending moment. Wherein, a cutting process refers to a process that when a cutting tool of the machine tool contacts with a workpiece and removes material. Online automatic judgment in the cutting process is a core for acquisition of key running parameters of the machine tool such as effective running time (cutting time) and the effective utilization (cutting time/running time). Besides, wear of the cutting tool, energy consumption for cutting, consumption of cooling fluid are all exist in the cutting process. Therefore, judgment about key moments in the whole process of the machining step plays an important role in contributing to real-time acquisition of service time of the cutting tool, online monitoring of effective energy utilization and online monitoring of the production status of the machine tool and the like.
At present, an existing cutting time acquired by communication of the computer numerical control machine tools is actually a tool feeding time of the machine tool, also called cutting feed time. However, the tool feeding time of the machine tool includes the cutting time and idling process time. As the service time of the machine tool increases, the idling process time also increases, so a cutting time error, generated by this method, of the machine tool will also increase.
Researches on cutting processes of machine tools are made throughout the world. According to Chinese Patent No. CN103838181A, a working process of a machine tool is judged according to a change characteristic of a current signal when a spindle of the machine tool is loaded. However, since current change characteristics in some finish machining processes are not so obvious and uncontrollable random fluctuations of current signals are relatively great, it is difficult to judge cutting starting and ending moments of such machining. According to US Patent (US 20140212236 A1), multi-element sensors are mounted at a cutting tool and a spindle to judge a cutting process of the computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools. However, mounting the sensor at the spindle of the machine tool may cost too much and even may influence normal work of the machine tool. In Canadian Patent (CA 2063887), a multi-displacement monitoring device is adopted to monitor a path of a cutting tool in a cutting process of a machine tool, but the accurate moment when the cutting tool contacts with a workpiece cannot be directly judged. In Chinese Patent No. CN104808584A, a device utilization state of a machine tool is monitored on line by use of a power change characteristic of the machine tool and a man-machine interaction method. However, cutting fluid and transparency of a safety door may influence accuracy of manual visual judgment, which reduces monitoring accuracy.
From the above, existing technologies for judging a cutting process for a machine tool mainly have the problems of high apparatus cost, inconvenience for mounting, lower judgment accuracy of some finishing cutting processes, difficulty in judgment about idling process and the like.

Method for judging key moments in whole process of machining step for computer numerical control machine tools


A user interface device includes: a proximity sensor configured to detect proximity of a user; an electrostatic switch configured to detect capacitance changes of a plurality of electrodes; an acceleration sensor configured to detect an acceleration; and a microcomputer configured to control supply of electric current to the electrostatic switch and the acceleration sensor based on a detection result of the proximity sensor, and recognize a plurality of user operations based on detection results of the electrostatic switch and the acceleration sensor.

User interface devices are generally configured to accept user operations via a mechanical switch or a touch panel.
When a mechanical switch is used, irregularities are generated on the surface of a device, which may impair the design of the device. In addition, operations based on user's gestures may not be performed by using mechanical switches.
On the other hand, when a touch panel is used, operations may be performed based on a user's gestures. However, touch panels are relatively expensive, which may pose a cost problem. Since touch panels are always in a sensing state, the current consumption increases.

User interface device and electronic device including the same


A clip comprised of two pivoted clamping plates with a V-shaped plate spring supported thereinbetween, wherein said two pivoted clamping plates are each comprised of a heart-shaped knob at one end and a heart-shaped clamping portion longitudinally aligned, said knob having an elongated retaining hole, said clamping portion having a first vertical side wall and a second vertical side wall at two opposite sides, a rectangular pressure board curving inwards between said first and second vertical side walls, and a clamping end spaced from said knob, said clamping end having a series of rectangular teeth, said rectangular pressure board having a projecting strip obliquely projecting upwards and outwards, said first vertical side wall having an eye end, said second vertical side wall having a stubbed tube, the stubbed tube on one clamping plate being inserted into the eye end on the other clamping plate; said V-shaped plate spring comprised of two opposite spring boards extending from a corrugated connecting portion, said spring boards each having a projecting strip inserted into said elongated retaining hole and an elongated retaining hole into which the projecting strip of said rectangular pressure board is inserted.

The present invention relates to clips and more particularly to such a clip which can conveniently and rapidly be assembled, and is suitable for mass production.
Several clips have been known for use in holding objects together. FIG. 1 illustrates a clip according to the prior art which is generally comprised of two symmetrical clamping plates (1), (2) secured by a pin (4), and a torsional spring (3) sleeved on the pin (4) with its two opposite ends (10), (11) respectively stopped against the clamping plates (1), (2). The clamping plates (1), (2) each have a knob (4) or (5) for pressing the hand, two vertical side walls (6), (7) at two opposite sides, and a curved clamping end (12) or (13), wherein each vertical side wall (6) or (7) has a pin hole (8) or (9) aligned with each other for fastening the pin (4). This structure of clip is not easy to assemble because the outward spring force of the torsional spring (3) tends to push the two clamping plates (1), (2) apart from each other during the insertion of the pin (4) and, the two opposite ends of the pin (4) must be hammered into heads or clinched, to lock them into place. Further, this structure of clip is not as practical in use because the two opposite ends (10), (11) of the torsional spring (3) are respectively stopped against the two clamping plates (1), (2) at offset locations causing the clamping ends (12), (13) to bear a torsional force, and therefore, a stable clamping effect is not easy to achieve.

Suite 1, 11F, 95-8 Chang Ping Road, Sec. 1


A vehicle suspension system including a pair of spring seat retainers. One of the spring seat retainers includes a flange and a pocket portion extending from the flange to a distal rim. A jounce bumper is mounted to the pocket portion of the spring seat retainer and extends from the rim. A band encircles the rim for preventing deformation of the rim upon compression of the jounce bumper.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an assembly for a suspension system of a vehicle of the type using a coil spring isolator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Vehicle suspension systems of the prior art typically include spring seat assemblies each having a pair of opposing spring seat retainers with a coil spring disposed therebetween. Spring seat retainers of a variety of configurations are well known in the art. An example of a configuration of a spring seat retainer is shown in European Publication No. 0 778 166 B1. The spring seat retainer disclosed in this European Publication is formed of a polymeric material and includes a flange extending radially from a central axis. A pocket portion extends axially from the flange to a distal rim for defining a groove to support a coil spring encircling the pocket portion. The pocket portion also defines a cavity for supporting a jounce bumper. The design and material considerations of the spring seat retainer disclosed in the European Publication provides significant advantages over other prior art retainers.
During operation, the coil spring can be compressed to the point where the jounce bumper engages an opposing spring seat retainer to cause the jounce bumper to compress and exert forces radially outwardly against the rim. These radial forces on the rim can be large enough to cause the rim to deform or bulge, especially if the rim is made out of the polymeric material, i.e., plastic. The functionality of the spring seat retainer can be lost after the rim radially stretches and permanently deforms the cavity, which can cause the jounce bumper to fall out of the cavity.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to develop a spring seat retainer that incorporates the advantages of the prior art retainers while avoiding the potential drawbacks of these retainers.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


In a heat storage tank, a discharge port of an introduction passage is covered by a cup-shaped collision member constructed by a shield portion and a guide cover. In addition, a mixture protection plate having plural through holes is disposed in a tank body between the collision member and an inner surface of the tank body. Therefore, a high-speed water stream, upwardly injected from the discharge port, collides with the shield portion, and turns its flow direction by an approximately right angle. Thereafter, the water stream is guided by the guide cover to a lower side of the mixture protection plate. Accordingly, it can prevent water stored in the tank body from being mixed even when the injection water stream has a high speed.

This application is related to and claims priority from Japanese Patent Applications No. 2001-203660 filed on Jul. 4, 2001, and No. 2001-346242 filed on Nov. 12, 2001, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat storage tank in which a fluid is thermally insulated and stored, and is suitably applied to a vehicle heat storage tank in which cooling water (hot water) for cooling a vehicle engine is thermally insulated and stored.
2. Description of Related Art
For example, in a heat storage tank disclosed in JP-A-10-71840, a mixture protection plate having plural holes is provided around a water inlet, so that it can restrict engine-cooling water (hot water) in a tank body from being forcibly agitated and mixed due to an injection water from the water inlet.
However, in this heat storage tank, the following problems have been found by detail studies performed by the present inventors. Here, opening areas of the water inlet and a water outlet provided in the tank body are need to be made as small as possible to improve thermal insulation performance of the heat storage tank. When the opening area of the water inlet is made smaller, a flow speed of injection water from the water inlet into the tank body becomes higher in a case that an amount of water flowing into the tank body is large. Therefore, the injection water may directly passes through the holes provided in the mixture protection plate while its flowing direction is not largely changed by the mixture protection plate. Accordingly, water in the tank body is stirred, and forced convention of water in the tank body is generated.
In view of the above problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide a heat storage tank which can effectively prevent a fluid in a tank body from being mixed due to a fluid injection from a discharge port even when the fluid flowing from the discharge port into the tank body has a high speed.
According to the present invention, in a heat storage tank, a first pipe member defining an introduction passage has a discharge port from which a fluid introduced through the introduction passage is injected into a tank body, a collision member is disposed in the tank body so that the fluid flowing from the discharge port collides with the collision member, a second pipe member defining a discharge passage has an introduction port from which the fluid in the tank body is introduced to be discharged outside the tank body through the discharge passage. The introduction port is positioned in the tank body at a side opposite to the discharge port with respect to the collision member. In addition, the collision member includes a shield portion disposed opposite to the discharge port to be separated from the discharge port by a predetermined dimension, and a guide portion, extending from the shield portion to a side of the discharge port, for guiding the fluid flowing along the shield portion toward a side of the discharge port. Accordingly, even when the flow speed of the fluid flowing from the discharge port is high, it can effectively prevent the fluid in the tank body from being mixed due to the fluid flowing from the discharge port. Thus, heat-storage performance of the fluid in the tank body can be improved.
Preferably, a mixture protection plate, for preventing the fluid in the tank body from being mixed due to the fluid flowing from the discharge port, is provided to have a plurality of through holes through which the fluid flowing from the discharge port flows. In addition, the mixture protection plate is disposed between the collision member and an inner surface of the tank body. Therefore, the fluid from the discharge port passes through the through holes of the mixture protection plate after colliding with the shield portion and after being guided by the guide portion. Accordingly, it can further effectively prevent the fluid in the tank body from being mixed due to the injection fluid from the discharge port.
On the other hand, according to the present invention, a plate-like shield portion is disposed in the tank body, instead of the collision member. In this case, the shield portion includes a collision wall surface with which the fluid flowing out from the discharge port collides, and a guide wall surface extending from the collision wall surface for guiding the fluid after colliding with the collision wall surface. The collision wall surface is disposed to face the discharge port and to be separated from the discharge port by a predetermined distance, and the guide wall surface is provided such that the fluid after colliding with the collision wall surface is prevented from directly flowing toward the introduction port. In addition, the introduction port and the discharge port are positioned at both opposite sides relative to the shield portion, and the collision wall surface and the guide wall surface of the shield portion have a moment center (G) that is located at a position separated from the discharge passage. Accordingly, it can effectively prevent the fluid in the tank body from being mixed due to the fluid injection from the discharge port.
Preferably, the moment center (G) is located at a position offset to a side of the discharge passage relative to the introduction passage. Therefore, the fluid after colliding with the collision wall surface can be effectively guided by the guide wall surface.


A camera includes both film for recording an image and a solid state image sensor. The solid state sensor determines the brightness level after the flash has been fired in order to determine whether enough light has reached the camera for a proper exposure. If insufficient light is returned from the flash, as in a "stadium" shot, the camera indicates either to the operator or to the printer that this problem exists. Appropriate steps may then be taken either by repeating the shot or by adjusting the printing process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photographic camera and more particularly to a camera including both photographic film and a solid state sensor.
2. Discussion of the Background
Cameras are known which both record an image on photographic film and also produce an image electronically. In general, these cameras include not only traditional optics and film handing mechanisms for the film but also include a solid state imaged to view the image electronically. The electronic image is used to preview a scene before exposing the film or to review a shot to ascertain that the composition in the picture is correct.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,369 shows a camera having both photosensitive film and a solid state imaging element. This camera as well as other prior art includes basically two separate systems to record the film image and the electronic image.
A more advanced camera has recently been described in copending application 288,887 which was filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Dec. 20, 1988. In this device, the electronic and film recording mechanisms are integrated so as to form a less expensive and less complicated device. This camera also has a number of functions which are controlled by &he solid state image sensor. Thus, functions such as exposure control and autofocus can be accomplished. Furthermore, the image sensed electronically can also be displayed to the operator. However, this camera does not provide for the function of determining whether proper illumination has resulted from the use of a flash and in particular no mechanism is available for taking remedial steps if the flash is insufficient.


Methods, program products, and apparatus for reporting the location of packages or parcels as they move from a reception location through various vehicles and distribution locations to a delivery location. The methods, products, and apparatus enable any interested user to access a consolidated display showing the detailed progress of a package toward delivery, including real-time location information of any delivery vehicle carrying the package.

Several trends in today's society have combined to produce a need for rapid and dependable delivery of parcels or packages (the terms being used interchangeably herein). These trends include the consolidation of parts warehouses for economic reasons, just-in-time manufacturing methods, consumer empowerment which includes internet shopping and the ever-growing need for rapid gratification. These trends have resulted in the establishment and growth of several business concerns whose service is parcel and package delivery by various means including air, rail, and ground, with promised transit times inversely related to fees.
Business and personal consumers have become dependent on these services, as exemplified by just-in-time manufacturing. Businesses can suffer serious disruption in the event of a lost or delayed shipment. Consumers become anxious or angry when shipments are lost or don't arrive when promised or expected. In order to resolve those concerns in an efficacious manner, shipping companies have come to provide tracking services. As practiced prior to this invention, each time a package is handled, a package tracking number or other identifying information (the "package identifier") and the location, time, and date are recorded in a database, often after capture by means of a bar code scanner or other automated method. The term package identifier as used herein includes instances where such an identifier may, in fact, refer to more than one package. Some shipping systems allow more than one package to be shipped under a single tracking number, or identifier. In such instances, the packages would be bound for the same destination and would, therefore, travel together from source location to destination location. In this way, the single package identifier could be used to track the location of the multiple packages shipped together.
The sender or recipient of a package can utilize the identifier assigned to the package to query the delivery company's database via e-mail inquiry, web browser or other method to find out its current status and whereabouts. FIG. 1 shows a sample tracking report form according to such prior art systems for a package which has been delivered. If a package is not delivered when expected, the shipping company can use the information in the database to begin looking for it at the point where it was last scanned. Where multiple packages were shipped under a single identifier, the group of packages could be tracked in the same way using the identifier.
This method of package tracking has served customers well, but it suffers from certain limitations which can become problematic. When a package in transit is not handled frequently, e.g., if it is on a cross-country aircraft, truck or rail car, new information is not made available to the database or to the requesting user. Considering the delivery example shown in FIG. 1, if a user were to make an inquiry about the package during any or all of the days between its departure from San Francisco on June 11 and its arrival in Greensboro on June 16, he would see no updates. Any inquiry made during this relatively long period of time would show only the information shown in FIG. 2. As a result, a user might be tempted to conclude that the package had been lost, misplaced or delayed. This might result in unnecessary inquiries to the delivery company, customer complaints and dissatisfaction, etc., all of which are undesirable and can potentially cost the delivery company time and money.
Additional information regarding the location of the transporting vehicle such as a truck or rail car is often available to the shipper, but is not made available to the package sender or recipient. There are a number of means by which trucks are regularly tracked; in addition to driver check-in, trucks may be tracked electronically, using the OmniTRACS® or TrailerTRACS® satellite systems from Qualcomm Incorporated, for example. Rail cars are also electronically tracked. In addition, evolving Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology increasingly allows exact vehicle location information to be available at all times. Vehicle location information may be tracked and stored in a database or can be delivered in real time by the tracking mechanism.
What is needed is an efficient and reliable way of linking package and vehicle information, including real-time vehicle location information, in a way that is accessible to interested users.

In-transit package location tracking and reporting

International Business Machines Corporation