A request to access a vehicle is received from an electronic device of a user. The vehicle can be disposed at a designated geographic location. Next, geographic information of the user is received from the electronic device. The geographic information is determined with the aid of the electronic device of the user. The user is then provided access to the vehicle if, based on the received geographic information, a geographic location of the user is within a given distance from the designated geographic location of the vehicle.

The number of cars in cities continues to grow, placing an ever-increasing demand on a limited infrastructure of parking locations and roads. However, an appreciable fraction of these cars are in use only a relatively small fraction of the time. Drivers routinely commute without a car by walking, bicycling or by public transportation, and their cars remain idle most of the time. Still others may commute by car. Such cars make traffic worse and occupy a valuable parking spot most workdays.

Systems and methods for regulating vehicle access


Methods are described for encoding and decoding blocks of image data using intra block copying (IBC). A source block for intra block copying is selected from a source region of a current image that is closer to the current block than a threshold, wherein the source region does not include a portion of the current image that is further from the current block than the threshold.

The present disclosure relates to video coding techniques. In particular, the present disclosure relates to video coding, such as, but not limited to, the case of screen content coding, i.e. coding of screen content video. Screen content may include a mixture of content such as video, text, and graphics and, in some cases, non-camera captured content. In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to intra block copying (IBC). In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to deblocking filtering (DBF).
Modern video codecs such as MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 or HEVC (currently published as ISO/IEC 23008-2 MPEG-H Part 2 and ITU-T H.265) may include techniques such as IBC and deblock filtering to handle video coding, including screen content coding. IBC is a block matching technique in which, for a coding unit (CU) within a largest coding unit (LCU), the CU is predicted as a displacement from an already-reconstructed block of samples from a previously coded neighboring region in the current picture. For instance, a vector pointing to an already encoded/decoded area in the image may be specified and the referenced data may be used as a prediction signal for the current CU. DBF reduces blocking artifacts that arise due to block-based coding. DBF is typically an in-loop process applied to reconstructed samples before writing them into a decoded picture buffer in a decoder loop.
Traditional video coding techniques are inefficient in that they are complex and consume a relatively large amount of memory and/or bandwidth. Therefore, the inventor(s) perceived a need in the art for improved and simplified encoding and decoding processes with respect to both complexity and quality. The encoding and decoding processes described here reduce memory and bandwidth consumption, resulting in an improved experience at the decoder compared to conventional encoders, and may reduce blockiness, improve resolution and subjective quality, as well as reduce other artifacts and improve compression.

Techniques for resource conservation during performance of intra block copy prediction searches


The present invention provides in part dry powder inhaler (DPI) devices for dispensing dry powder and methods for using the same. The DPI devices feature exchangeable cartridges having drum mechanisms that prepare metered doses of dry powder, and are able to direct air in a turbulent manner sufficient to entrain and deagglomerate a dose of dry powder for delivery into a user's lungs. The DPI devices feature a reservoir of dry powder advanced by a plunger, as well as a gauge that advances with the plunger to indicate the amount of dry powder remaining in the reservoir.

Due to the well documented health hazards of traditional tobacco cigarettes to smokers and bystanders, there has been a shift in the marketplace to find suitable alternatives for the delivery of nicotine to the lungs of a subject. Ideally, nicotine should be delivered to the subject's lungs without the creation of second hand smoke, and without the unpleasant odors associated with traditional tobacco smoking. One mechanism to achieve this is via inhalation of nicotine as a dry powder formulation. In such systems, a dry powder inhaler is used to deposit the powder on the inner surfaces of the lungs for absorption into the bloodstream. Unfortunately though, most dry powder inhalers have numerous undesirable features.
For example, many devices that utilize powder reservoirs have difficulty delivering properly metered doses, advancing the powder through the reservoirs as they are being emptied, and delivering the powder doses adequately to a user. Current powder delivery devices, including the Turbuhaler®, the Twisthaler®, and the NEXThaler, are also limited by ease of use and general design. The above mentioned devices require a user to hold the device upright to ensure proper dose delivery, and have the distinct profiles of prescription medication.
Current powder delivery devise are also incapable of delivering adequate powder doses at flow rates comparable to traditional tobacco smoking. Medical dry powder inhalers require high inspiratory flow rates, typically in the range of 60 liters/min (L/min) to 100 L/min or higher. A flow rate that is too low, such as in the range of 15 L/min or lower, would take too long of a draw for each dose to feel natural. Ideally, the flow rate should be in the range of 30 L/min to emulate traditional tobacco smoking.
One existing device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,169 to Bulbrook ("Bulbrook"), which describes a cone shaped device that protrudes into a dry powder storage reservoir to generate a vortex-like effect inside the cone. The device uses the vortex to dip down inside the storage reservoir and pick up a slug of powder and deliver it to the airways of an individual. However, a significant limitation of the Bulbrook design is that it does not provide adequate energy inside the storage reservoir to deagglomerate the powder sufficiently to deliver the desired aerosol to the user. The Bulbrook design also lacks a reliable method of preventing accidental powder release or a feature for switching storage reservoirs.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a reservoir dry powder inhaler that can reliably meter a dry powder formulation independent of orientation and deliver a suitably deagglomerated dry powder for inhalation while maintaining ease of use in a discrete design. The present invention satisfies this need.


The present invention discloses a tethered stopper affixed to a bottle neck finish. The stopper includes a closure shell, a tamper band, and a strip connecting the closure shell to the tamper band at the perimeter of both the closure shell and the tamper band. The bottle neck finish includes a transport ring having a retaining feature configured to receive and retain the strip of the stopper when the closure shell is removed from the bottle neck finish. Also discloses is a method for securing the tethered stopper within the tamper band.

In the field of liquid packaging, it is common to seal the aperture of a container with a stopper, often made from a plastic material. Such a container is usually a plastic bottle, but other materials may be used as well.
The stopper typically has a tubular shape closed at its top edge by a top wall. The stopper comprises a closure shell attached to a tamper band through the implementation of bridges. Bridges are distributed around the circumference of the closure shell and the tamper band. Moreover, the bridges may be made when molding the stopper or after through undergoing a cutting step during the manufacturing process.
Usually the bottle neck finish comprises outer fixation features, such as threads to receive a screw-type stopper. For screw type stoppers, the closure shell typically comprises inner thread(s) arranged on an inner side wall that are intended to engage with outer thread(s) located on the bottle neck finish. Such combinations of outer and inner thread(s) allow the stopper to be screwed on a bottle neck finish to seal it and unscrewed for bottle entirely opening.
Alternatively, the bottle neck finish comprises outer fixation features, such as annular fixation rings to receive a snap-type stopper that secures the stopper onto the bottle neck finish. A snap-type stopper includes an inner annular area and the bottle neck finish fixation feature includes an outer fixation ring, in order secure (e.g., using a downward force) the stopper onto the bottle neck finish. A snap type stopper comprises a closure shell with a movable sealing roof from a closure position to a part opening, and reversely. The roof may be separating upon opening or may be connected with the closure shell.
In a sealing position of the stopper, the tamper band is secured around the bottle neck finish through inner tamper band retaining features or through the tamper band diameter being smaller than a diameter of a tamper evident ring of the bottle neck finish.
The closure shell is typically removable. During bottle opening, the bridges form a weakness line and are torn apart from the closure shell, so it can be separated from the bottle. The weakness line is torn when user unscrews the closure shell of the stopper or when user lifts the roof by tilting.
After opening, the closure shell can be completely removed and discarded (e.g., dropped), preventing subsequent closure of the bottle. Additionally, the removed closure can represent waste if not recycled.
Previous solutions to prevent the closure shell from being completely removed from the bottle have been considered. For example, known systems include a tethered stopper comprising a spiral strip. The spiral strip is formed within stopper during the molding without subsequent operations (e.g., cutting or slitting).
One problem with respect to the spiral strip is that once the closure shell is separated from the bottle neck finish after opening, the elastic properties of the plastic strip cause the strip to attempt to return to original configuration around the neck finish. As the strip attempts to return to the original shape, the closure shell may interfere with the bottle aperture at the neck finish, which can cause the closure shell to interfere with the user during drinking or pouring.

Strip for securing a stopper to a transport ring of a bottle


Described herein are apparatus, systems and methods for shadow assisted object recognition and tracking. The methods performed by the apparatus and system include identifying a blob within a video image, the video image having at least one object and at least one shadow of the at least one object, the at least one shadow of the at least one object cast by at least one light source. Identifying the blob includes identifying an object projection corresponding to the at least one object and a shadow projection corresponding to the at least one shadow. A location of an object portion of the at least one object is determined based on the shadow projection.

Video object tracking is the process of locating a moving object or multiple objects over time using one or multiple cameras. It has a variety of uses, some of which are: human-computer interaction, security and surveillance, video communication and compression, augmented reality, traffic control, medical imaging and video editing. Video object tracking can be a time consuming process due to the amount of data that is contained in video. Adding further to the complexity is the possible need to use object recognition techniques for tracking, a challenging problem in its own right.
The objective of video object tracking is to detect and then associate a target object's image projections in consecutive video frames as it changes its position. The association may be difficult when the object is moving fast relative to the frame rate or when multiple objects are being tracked. Another situation that increases the complexity of the problem is when the tracked object changes its orientation and pose over time. To address this complexity, video object tracking systems usually employ an object model which characterizes the object's appearance and motion.
Automated video object tracking applications are known in the art. Generally, such applications receive video frames as input, and act to detect objects of interest within the frame images, such as moving objects or the like, frequently using background subtraction techniques. Having detected an object within a single input frame, such applications further act to track the detected object from frame to frame, using characteristic features of the detected object. For example, establishing a track may be accomplished by detecting objects in a received input frame, determining the characteristic features of these detected objects, and, then, associating these detected objects with corresponding objects, detected in previously received input frames, based on matching characteristic features.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus, systems and methods for shadow assisted object recognition and tracking


A specification of a routine name of a root of a call tree and a specification of a desired depth of call tree tracing are obtained. Upon entering a given routine in a program, a determination is made whether the given routine is the root. Responsive to determining that the given one of the routines is the root, trace information for the routine forming the root is output. Furthermore, upon entering a given one of the routines called, directly or indirectly, by the routine forming the root, a determination is made whether the given one of the routines called, directly or indirectly, by the routine forming the root of the call tree is within the desired depth from the routine forming the root of the call tree; and if this is the case, trace information is output for given one of the routines called, directly or indirectly, by the routine forming the root of the call tree.

In order to get trace information from a program for specific method calls, a user defines a selection of methods to be traced. However, if the user wants to trace the call tree of a particular method (that is, all the "branch" & "leaf" methods called by a method of interest), there is currently no easy way to do this.
One current approach is to identify all the branch and leaf methods under the method of interest. Then, set options so as to trace all of these branch and leaf methods. This will result in a trace generated for all the hits of the branch and leaf methods. Depending on the frequency of usage of these methods in the system, most of the hits might not be associated with the method of interest. This will result in a huge amount of trace data, which needs to be filtered in order to get meaningful and/or useful data.
Consider the pseudo-code implementation of a "foo" routine 1100, as depicted in FIG. 2. In order to trace all methods called by foo, enable method tracing of methods foo( ) 1102, bar( ) 1104, hello( ) 1106, world( ) 1108, print( ) 1110, malloc( ) 1112, strlen( ) 1114, and free( ) 1116; for example, by specifying a trace option such as: trace_methods=foo:malloc:strle:free:bar:hello:world:print. Once this method tracing is enabled, all the required trace information will be obtained. However, there will be several irrelevant trace hits for malloc( ), strlen( ), and free( ), depending on the usage of these functions in the software of which foo( ) is a part. Thus, in the current technique, once a method is specified, it will be traced no matter in what context it is called, and no matter what other method calls the specified method.
Accordingly, it will be necessary to process the resultant trace data to filter the unimportant trace hits. Furthermore, this requires understanding of, and source access to, foo( ) and other methods involved, so as to specify all the methods it calls, as they need to be manually specified as trace options.
Note that in some current techniques, an agent performs byte code modification to update code of the methods (which need to be selected by specifying the package to trace, and so on) to include method entry and exit points. A trace is generated for all the invocations of these methods, no matter which routine is calling these methods. This trace is collected and post-processed (filtering out any invocations which are not part of a required call tree) to build call tree information and display it in a required format.

Tracing a calltree of a specified root method

International Business Machines Corporation


A device for balancing a turbomachine rotor includes at least one counterweight fitted to the rotor, wherein the counterweight includes two radial bearing surfaces oriented in two opposite radial directions, the said surfaces interacting with two radial bearing surfaces made on the rotor, the counterweight being held against the rotor by an axial retention device. In particular, the axial retention device can be a bolt with a nut, the bolt holding the counterweight against a coupling flange fixed ly attached to the rotor, including an axial bearing surface and the radial bearing surfaces.

Any rotating part of a turbomachine must be balanced after manufacture in order to ensure vibration-free operation. Most frequently the procedure is to place counterweights whose weight is determined according to the lack of balance and the distance to the axis of rotation of the machine. If possible, advantage is taken of the bolting of the flanges between two rotating parts to insert the required weights. Thus a counterweight may be slipped onto a fastening bolt between the flange and the clamping nut. An example of this type of assembly is reported in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,700. In another case, the rotor comprises a special radial flange for mounting the counterweights. U.S. Pat. No. 4,803,893 describes a device for balancing a turbine rotor according to which a radial groove turned towards the axis of rotation serves as a housing for the counterweights and is made on the rim of the turbine disc.
The applicant company has set itself the objective of perfecting a counterweight mounting means that is independent of any connecting flange between two pieces of a rotating part or of two rotating parts. Specifically, in the context of modular assembly of turbomachines, each rotary module must be supplied perfectly balanced, with no balancing intervention by the person mounting the module onto another module. The mounting of a counterweight by means of connecting flanges is therefore to be avoided.
The balancing device must be as light as possible while being reliable and easy to mount.

Balancing device of a turbomachine engine


The process meter comprises a sensor that can be mounted in a wall of a vessel for holding or conveying a process medium, and a meter-electronics case mechanically coupled to the sensor. In operation, the electronics case is at least intermittently subjected to vibrations either generated in the sensor itself or transmitted via the sensor. To reduce amplitudes of such vibrations of the electronics case, at least one vibration absorber is affixed to a wall of the electronics case. This vibration absorber is vibrated at least intermittently in order to dissipate vibrational energy taken into the electronic case. By the suppression of such case vibrations, spurious components in the measurement signal can be reduced to the point that a significant improvement in signal-to-noise ratio is obtained.

In industrial process measurement technology, process meters, so-called field meters, are used on site to generate measurement signals representative of analog or digital process variables, particularly in connection with the automation of chemical or other industrial processes. The process variables to be sensed may be, for instance, a mass flow rate, a filling or threshold level, a pressure, or a temperature. Such field meters are described, for example, in EP-A 984 248, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,878,725, 4,308,754, 4,468,971, 4,574,328, 4,594,584, 4,617,607, 4,716,770, 4,850,213, 5,052,230, 5,131,279, 5,363,341, 5,796,011, 6,236,322, 6,397,683, or WO-A 00/36379.
To sense one or more process variables, the field meter has a suitable sensor, generally in the form of a physical-to-electrical transducer, which is mounted in a wall of a vessel holding or conveying a, e.g. liquid, powdery, vaporous, or gaseous, process medium, for instance in a pipe or a tank, and which serves to generate at least one measurement signal representative of the process variable being sensed, particularly an electric measurement signal.
The sensor is connected to suitable meter electronics, which serve in particular to process or evaluate the at least one measurement signal. Via a data transmission system coupled to the meter electronics, field meters of the kind described are linked together and to process control computers, where they send the measurement signal via (4- to 20-mA) current loops and/or via digital data buses, for example. For the data transmission systems, Fieldbus systems, particularly serial systems, such as PROFIBUS-PA, FOUNDATION FIELDBUS, and the corresponding communications protocols are used. By means of the process control computers, the transmitted measurement signals can be further processed and visualized as corresponding measurement results, e.g. on monitors, and/or converted to control signals for process control elements, such as solenoid valves, electric motors, etc.
To house the meter electronics, process meters of the kind described comprise an electronics case which, as proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,683 or WO-A 00/36379, for example, may be located at a distance from the field meter and be connected to the latter by a cord, or which, as also shown in EP-A 903 651 or EP-A 1 008 836, for example, is disposed directly at the field meter. Frequently, the electronics case, as shown in EP-A 984 248, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,594,584, 4,716,770, or 6,352,000, for example, also serves to house some mechanical components of the sensor, such as diaphragm-, rod-, or sleeve-shaped bodies which deform or vibrate under mechanical action.
The advantage of a direct mechanical connection, particularly a rigid connection, between the electronics case and the sensor is that after installation of the sensor, virtually no further steps are necessary on site to fix the electronics case in position. However, any vibrations caused in the sensor or generated in the process and transmitted via the sensor, such as vibrations or pressure surges in a connected pipe, can be coupled into the electronics case nearly undamped. This coupling in vibrations, which is practically unavoidable particularly in the case of rigid connections, may, in turn, lead to vibrations with considerable amplitudes in the electronics case.
Acceleration forces or bending moments resulting from the case vibrations represent an increased mechanical load on the field meter as a whole and on the sensor supporting the electronics case in particular. During investigation of such case vibrations, acceleration forces of 10G (G=weight of the electronics case under test) were determined which caused deflections in excess of 50 μm.
It was also found, particularly in field meters with mechanical sensor components housed in the electronics case, that the case vibrations are superimposed as a spurious component on the useful component of the measurement signal or, in other words, are induced on the measurement signal as crosstalk.
If the case where vibrations have a resonant frequency which would lie approximately in the measuring range of the sensor or even in the range of a, e.g. operationally variable, frequency of the measurement signal, a separation of the useful component in the measurement signal from any spurious components may become virtually impossible. At any rate, since the meter electronics processing the measurement signal must be controllable over a comparatively wide signal level range and be highly selective while having a comparatively wide signal bandwidth, this separation of the useful component would require a considerable amount of additional circuitry, which would significantly increase the circuit complexity of the meter electronics and thus add to the manufacturing costs of the field meter.


A current limiting system for fuel cells includes a target current limit value setting device which sets a target current limit value for limiting the generated current taken out from the fuel cell stack in accordance with the cell voltage, and a current limit value setting device which sets a current limit value by replacing a present current limit value with the target current limit value when a difference between the present current limit value and the generated current value becomes smaller than a first predetermined value. The system also includes an output device which outputs the current limit value either to a current limiter for limiting the generated current in accordance with the current limit value or to an electric power consumption controller for controlling electric power consumption of loads that consume the generated current.

The present invention relates to a current limiting system and a current limiting method for fuel cells, for limiting electric current generated by a fuel cell stack in accordance with an electricity-generation condition of the fuel cell stack.
Fuel cell includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a hydrogen pole at one side of the membrane and an oxygen pole at the other side of the membrane to provide a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), which is further sandwiched between conductive separators to form a single cell. Several tens or several hundreds of single cells are stacked to form a fuel cell stack. In order to generate electricity stably and constantly in this kind of fuel cell stack, the fuel cell stack has to be driven under a certain constant temperature, for example, at 80° C., and as disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 7-272736 (paragraphs [0019] and [0020]), all the cell voltages are monitored and current limitation is performed in consideration of the lowest cell voltage such that the output voltage (cell voltage) of any one of these single cells does not become lower than a predetermined threshold value. In the case where the temperature of the fuel cell stack is lower than a predetermined temperature at the time of operation of the fuel cell stack, or in the case where the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is not sufficiently humidified to a predetermined humidified state and the ion conductivity has been deteriorated, the electricity generating efficiency deteriorates and the cell voltage of each single cell often lowers accordingly. While the cell voltage has been lowering, if generated electric current is taken out as much as in the case of the normal state where a decrease in cell voltage has not been occurred, the fuel cell stack becomes unstable, resulting a further decrease in the cell voltage or a deterioration of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane which ends in deteriorated durability of the fuel cell stack.
As to the problem regarding durability of the fuel cell stack, it may be solved by the technique disclosed in the Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 7-272736, in which the current limit value is set in accordance with the lowest cell voltage to limit the generated current. However, in this technique, notwithstanding the amount of generated electricity taken out from the fuel cell stack, the current control is carried out by changing the current limit value as soon as the lowest cell voltage varies. Therefore, even if the amount of generated current is so small, which is not required to limit the generated current, the current limit value is frequently renewed. Such unnecessary operations often make the control of the fuel cell stack unstable.
In view of the above, the present invention seeks to provide a current limiting system and a current limiting method for fuel cells, which enable a control in accordance with cell voltages of the fuel cell stack, and which contribute to a stable control for generating electricity at the fuel cell stack while eliminating unnecessary operations.

Current limiting system and current limiting method for fuel cells


A power converter includes: at least one pair of first and second semiconductor devices including multiple first and second semiconductor chips, having first and second switching elements providing upper and lower arms, and multiple first and second main terminals having at least one of multiple first and second high potential terminals and multiple first and second low potential terminals; and a bridging member providing an upper and lower coupling portion, together with the first low and second high potential terminals. The first and second semiconductor chips are arranged in line symmetry with respect to first and second axes and in line symmetry with the second axis as a symmetry axis to differentiate the arrangement of the second low potential terminal with respect to the second high potential terminal from the arrangement of the first low potential terminal with respect to the first high potential terminal.

A conceivable power converter includes two types of semiconductor devices configuring upper and lower arms. One of the semiconductor devices has two semiconductor chips on which an IGBT is formed, and the IGBTs are connected in parallel with each other to configure an upper arm. The remaining one of the semiconductor devices has two semiconductor chips on which an IGBT is formed, and the IGBTs is connected in parallel with each other to configure a lower arm.

Power converter with an upper arm and a lower arm and at least first and second semiconductor devices connected by a bridging member


A demountable door securing device includes a door edge engaging plate with a right angled bend adapted to rest against one face of the door and an extended portion terminating in a hinge on the opposite side of the door. A rotating door engaging member including a planar portion and a right angled portion can be rotated to engage a face of the door. A security bar through apertured tabs in the extended portion prevents rotation of the planar portion. The right angled bend includes an extended bar portion parallel to the door face at the free end of which a hasp is pivotally mounted. The hasp rotates into engagement with the door frame and is held in place by a securing bar extending outward from the right angled bend. A tongue on the free end of the securing bar fits through an aperture in the hasp and holes in the tongue can receive a locking device.

Many situations require a mechanism to immobilize a door in the closed position where locks have not heretofore been installed on the door or where keys to previously installed locks are not sufficiently controlled to prevent unauthorized entry. For example, construction sites, prior to completion, may use completed rooms with doors for the temporary storage of building materials and it is desirable that access be limited to authorized personnel.
Similarly, office buildings, hotels and hospitals may wish to secure, temporarily, otherwise unoccupied rooms which may not be provided with locks. Further, for those rooms with locks, it may be desirable to secure such rooms temporarily against use by persons who would normally have keys and therefore unrestricted access. Persons sharing living space such as multiple bedroom houses or apartments may wish to control access to rooms or closets without installing permanent locking devices. Condominium owners who permit rental of their dwelling may wish to keep personal property in room or closets without affording access to the renters and without wishing to install disfiguring locking arrangements.
Landlords may wish a simple device to bar entry to delinquent tenants or to protect property pending a change of the lock or in the event of damage to the lock as the result of an unauthorized forcible entry. Other instances will come to mind of situations where it would be desirable to have an easily demountable device that can be attached to a door and which can be quickly secured and released, using a padlock or a quick release pin, from either side, no matter which way the door opens.
Prior art devices have been proposed and generally fall into three categories: 1) Devices which are installed on an accessible side of the door and which engage the floor or a wall to resist movement of the door; 2) devices which are installed on the outside of an inwardly opening door and which provide a bar against the frame to hinder door opening; and 3) devices which are installed on a door frame or stop, but which can be secured from either side.
Patents illustrating devices of the first type include the patents to Tochihara, U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,088; Wilson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,192; Hudec, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,140; and Bell, U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,293. Patents teaching devices of the second type include the patents to Hudon, U.S. Pat. No. 3,181,319; Hagopian, U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,206; Sessions, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,146; Vidas, U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,259; and Tobey, U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,785.
The patent to Johns, U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,165, illustrates the third type of device and includes a planar member for engaging one of the planar surfaces of the door and a tongue member extending from the planar member and adapted to protrude through the space between the door and the jamb when the door is closed. A collar plate fits over the tongue member and engages both the other planar surface of the door and the door stop portion of the frame. The planar member includes a sliding plate which can be brought into engagement with the door stop on the door frame. Means are provided for locking both the collar plate and the sliding plate so that the door can be secured from either side.
While the Johns device appears to be universal in its application, it has shortcomings. For one thing, a door stop can frequently be a thin strip of wood that is fastened to a door frame with small finishing nails and may not withstand any forceful attempt to open the door.
For example, to secure an inwardly opening door from the outside, which is, by far, the most common situation, one must mount the door jamb engaging member to straddlingly grip the door stop portion of the jamb. This is accomplished by positioning the end edge of the flat plate so that it overlays the side edge of the door stop shoulder with a projection that is provided on the flat plate. The collar ring, previously adjusted and locked with a set screw so that the distance between it and the flat plate is just slightly greater than the width of the door stop shoulder.
The set screw is then tightened against the shoulder, fixing the flat plate in place. The door engaging member is then slid into place and the tabs are aligned so that a lock or pin can be placed in aligned apertures. The door is then closed with the tongue protruding from the space between the door edge and the jamb. The collar plate is then slid onto the tongue and a lock is passed through aligned apertures in the tongue and plate. It is clear that if the thickness of the door is greater than the length of the tongue, the collar plate cannot be locked in place.
To open the door from the inside, the lock or pin is removed from the aligned tabs and the set screw against the door stop must be released. In an emergency, apparatus to release the set screws may not be readily available.
To lock an outwardly opening door from the inside, door engaging member is placed on the door and the collar plate is fastened to the tongue with a pin, bolt or lock. The door is then closed and the door jamb engaging member is slid into engagement with the door engaging member. The collar ring is then secured to the door stop with the set screw and a bolt or lock is placed through the aligned apertures.
As can be seen, the door jamb engaging portion requires some tool to engage the set screws which makes for a semipermanent installation on the door frame. Further, until the set screws are released from the door stop, the device cannot be easily deactivated from the "inside" in an emergency. In addition, the device requires separable parts that must be properly fitted and secured, not only to the door frame but to each other. The door jamb engaging member can also be a hazard because it will protrude into the door opening at a height that may strike passers by.
What is needed and what is provided by the present invention is a demountable door securing device that is unitary, can be released from both sides and which can be frictionally held at a convenient height. It would also be desirable for the device to be universal so that it can be installed on any door, no matter which side it is hinged.


An automatic transmission for passenger cars has input and output shafts in alignment, three planetary gearsets, first, second and third control clutches and first and second control brakes, and can be coupled to a torque converter with or without a lock-up clutch. Five forward gears and a reverse drive are provided, with excellent ratio progression and high design versatility. As a rule, a direct drive available between third and fourth gears is not used. A first one-way clutch can be added in parallel with the first control brake to facilitate first/second and second/first power-on gearshifts. A second one-way clutch can be added in parallel with the second control clutch to facilitate fourth/fifth and fifth/fourth power-on gearshifts, without requiring an additional control clutch to be mounted in series to release it in other gears. The transmission is remarkably compact and can easily be substituted for existing four-speed transmissions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to automatic transmissions, in particular for passenger cars, comprising planetary gearsets controlled by hydraulically actuated friction elements such as clutches and brakes, and generally coupled to a start-up coupling device subject to slip, such as a hydraulic torque converter or a fluid coupling.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Most transmissions of this type now on the market offer four gears, and utilize a hydraulic torque converter, two simple planetary gearsets or a Ravigneaux gearset, five friction elements, and a one-way clutch to facilitate first/second and second/first power-on gearshifts. Very often, the torque converter includes a lock-up clutch to eliminate slippage outside transient conditions, so as to improve fuel economy.
Furthermore, a large number of such transmissions also utilize a second one-way clutch to facilitate second/third and third/second, or third/fourth and fourth/third power-on gearshifts and an additional friction element mounted in series with this one-way clutch to release it in other gears. Beside the planetary gearsets, the torque converter and possibly the lock-up clutch, these transmissions thus nowadays utilize a regular number of shift elements comprising five friction elements and one one-way clutch, or six friction elements and two one-way clutches, to provide four gears.
The object of the present invention is a higher performance transmission, which at once utilizes a more advantageous number of shift elements, i.e. five friction elements and one one-way clutch, or five friction elements and two one-way clutches, to provide five gears, sufficiently compact to be easily substituted for such known four-speed transmissions.

Five-speed three planetary gearsets automatic transmission for passenger cars


According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cleaning method including: cleaning a component in which a deposit adhering to the component constituting an apparatus is removed by supplying and discharging a cleaning gas, wherein the act of cleaning includes controlling the apparatus so that a signal, which indicates a concentration of a predetermined gas generated by a reaction of the deposit and the cleaning gas, reaches a predetermined upper limit value or less and then stays within a range between the predetermined upper limit value and a predetermined lower limit value for a predetermined time period.

There is available a batch-type substrate processing apparatus configured such that, in a state in which a substrate holder for holding substrates at multiple stages is loaded into a reaction furnace, the substrates held by the substrate holder are processed by supplying a process gas into the reaction furnace. For example, Patent Document 1 recites that a maintenance information image is displayed on an operation screen. Thus, the maintenance time of components constituting a substrate processing apparatus can be determined based on the use frequency of the respective components or the processing time.
Conventionally, in a substrate processing apparatus, each component that has reached a maintenance time is replaced by a new component. Therefore, the substrate processing apparatus is stopped. However, in recent years, from the viewpoint of improving an apparatus operation rate and automating an interior of a factory, it has been required to operate an apparatus in such a way as not to stop the apparatus as far as possible. Even in a vertical batch-type substrate processing apparatus, by executing a maintenance-purpose recipe from this viewpoint, a predetermined cleaning gas is supplied to remove byproducts adhering to members (a reaction tube, a substrate holder, etc.) that constitute an interior of a reaction furnace. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses that a deposit adhering to an inner wall of a reaction tube and so forth is removed by supplying a cleaning gas into the reaction tube. Furthermore, according to Patent Document 3, in a single-substrate-type substrate processing apparatus, if a deposited film deposited within a process chamber reaches a threshold value, a maintenance-purpose recipe is executed to remove an accumulated deposited film.
Incidentally, a step time for supplying a cleaning gas is calculated by calculating a cleaning completion time in advance and is set at the time thus calculated. Thus, it is not possible to determine whether the cleaning has been completed. In the meantime, if a film forming process is repeatedly performed, byproducts are generated. If the byproducts are left alone, they remain adhering to individual components which constitute an apparatus, thereby adversely affecting film formation. Thus, gas cleaning is performed at a predetermined period.
Conventionally, determination of completion of cleaning is made using a phenomenon that a temperature rise is generated by reaction heat at a cleaning time. That is to say, there has been used a method in which completion of cleaning is determined by setting a predetermined pre-cleaning temperature as a threshold value, comparing the threshold value with a predetermined measured value (temperature), and determining whether a pre-cleaning state comes back. However, in this method, an error is large and determination of completion of cleaning cannot be properly made.

Cleaning method, method of manufacturing semiconductor device, substrate processing apparatus, recording medium, and cleaning completion determining method


The present invention is directed to a socket connector to couple electrical plugs to sockets mounted on circuit boards or cable ends. The socket connector includes a socket that receives an electrical plug and a socket silo. The silo may contain a beveled outer surface that receives a beveled face on the plug. The plug is held in the socket by latches disposed on the plug. The latches include pawls that fit within pawl receiving chambers in the socket and couple the plug to the socket. The latch and hinged section may rotate into a recessed section on the plug from an extended to a retracted position. A locking portion on the pawl and the receiving chamber may be angled to develop a desired pullout force

With the increase in computing power experienced over the last decade, it is now common for individuals and businesses to possess computers capable of performing a wide range of data collection and analysis. Owners of such computers can capture this computing power by coupling many different devices to the computer. This is especially the case with medical diagnostic equipment. Using an available computer, doctors, nurses and support staff can economically collect and tabulate a multitude of different types of medical information, limited only by the different devices which can be interfaced with the computer. For example, when a patient's pulse is desired, a pulse oximeter may be fitted to the patient and the data it collects sent to the computer for translation and processing. Additionally, depending on the computing power available, it may also be possible to simultaneously collect and manipulate other data, such as a patient's blood oxygen content, respiration rate or body temperature, with a variety of other devices, each having a uniquely configured plug corresponding to a uniquely configured socket disposed on the computer. The coupling and decoupling of these devices to the computer exacts a large commitment of time and effort from users who must painstakingly match plugs with corresponding sockets. This situation is exacerbated when a patient's condition changes and new devices must quickly be coupled to the computer, or when a new patient is added to the computer and a new array of devices must be quickly coupled to the computer.
Several options currently exist to help medical staff quickly couple and decouple devices to a computer. One such option is shown in FIG. 1, which gives an isometric view of a plug 100 according to the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, the plug 100 has a plurality of metal pins 110 protruding from a flat inner base 112 disposed in a protected inner space 115 formed by a protective hood 117. Different devices have different plug configurations with different numbers and placement of pins 110 depending on the types and number of control and data signals required to be transmitted between the device and the computer. The different pin configurations of the various plugs 100 necessitate the inclusion of various sockets (not shown) located on the computer, or alternatively, on an end of a connecting cable with corresponding configurations of pin receivers to receive the various plugs 100. Once a plug 100, and thus its corresponding device, is coupled to a compatible socket, control and data signals from the device are transmitted over insulated wires inside of a cord 120 to respective pins 110. To protect against voltage spikes, electromagnetic interference (EMI), radio frequency interference (RFI) and transient voltages, a ferrite or capacitor structure 122 is placed in the cord 120.
FIG. 1 also illustrates a negative keyway 125 with a width 133 extending through the thickness 135 of the protective hood 117 from the flat inner base 112 to an outer end 130 of the protective hood 117. This negative keyway 125 can be used to prevent a socket from being used with an ill-suited plug. For example, in order to create a socket which will only mate with the plug 100 shown in FIG. 1, the socket should include a protruding positive keyway with a length less than or equal to the length of the negative keyway 125, as measured from the outer end 130 of the protective hood to the flat inner base 112, and a width less than or equal to the width 133 of the keyway 125. If the positive keyway on the socket is too long or too wide, it will obstruct the mating of the socket with the plug 100. Additionally, the positive keyway on the socket must be accurately placed to mate with the negative keyway 125 when the plug 100 mates with the socket. If this does not occur, even positive keyways with proper widths and lengths will obscure the mating of the socket to the plug 100, and the pins 110 of the plug 100 will not contact the pin receivers of the socket.
The negative keyway 125 has a large shortcoming, however, in that it is of no value in preventing the cross connection of plugs unless it is used in conjunction with sockets having positive keyways. For example, in the description given above, if the socket has no positive keyway it will mate with the plug 100 regardless of the size and location of the negative keyway 125 present on the plug 100.
Another method in which a socket can be readily indicated as compatible with a certain plug is through color coding. Using such a method, compatible plugs and sockets are created to be the same color, enabling users to quickly and easily couple plugs to corresponding sockets by matching their colors. This system is not fail-safe however, and it can be rendered useless by low light situations and scenarios in which users are unable to physically see both the plug and socket (such as when the socket is backed up against a wall adjacent to the computer, or the socket is in a hard to see location).
Still looking at FIG. 1, once the plug 100 is mated with an appropriate socket, the plug 100 is held in place by friction between the pins 110 and the corresponding pin receivers in the socket, as well as by friction between the other areas of the socket which contact the plug 100. The cumulative friction between these areas is often quite low, making it correspondingly easy for the plug 100 to be accidentally disengaged from the socket or to slip out of the socket due to factors such as the weight of the cord 120 hanging from the plug 100, or incidental contact between the plug 100 and objects brushing against it, which is a common occurrence in a busy medical atmosphere. Such slippage only needs to proceed far enough to pull the pins 110 away from their pin receivers to result in a failure of the connection.
A prior art improvement over plug 100 will now be discussed by referring to FIGS. 2a–b. FIG. 2a gives a top view of a plug 200 similar to plug 100, but with cantilever latches 210 disposed on its outer sides 220 at a centerline of the thickness of the plug 200. The precise function of these latches 210 is illustrated in FIG. 2b, which provides a cutaway view of an inside portion 221 of the socket engaged with one of the latches 210. According to the design of these latches 210, as the plug 200 is placed into contact and mated with a suitable socket, the pawls 230 disposed on the end of each latch 210 contact a catching device 222 located in the socket. As the plug 200 is advanced into the socket in direction 233, a sloping front surface 235 of the pawl 230 contacts a sloping receiving surface 237 of the catching device 222 and the force created by this contact initiates a bending of the latch 210 into a free space 238 (FIG. 2a) between the latch body 250 (also shown in FIG. 2a) and the body 239 of the plug 200.
Again referring to FIG. 2b as well as FIG. 2a, when the pawl 230 reaches the end of the sloping receiving surface 237 a vertical face 240 is encountered, at which point the latch 210 snaps out of free space 238 away from the plug body 239 and toward the inside portion 221 of the socket. The pawl 230 is then snared by the vertical face 240 which contacts a rear vertical surface 242 of the pawl 230, preventing the latch 210, and thus the entire plug 200, from moving in a direction opposite to direction 233 and decoupling from the socket.
When coupled, a portion of the plug body 239 extends out of the socket to an extent that sections of the latches 210 are readily accessible to the user. Additionally, as the latch pawl 230 couples with the catching device 222, the latch 210 snaps out of the free space 238 creating both an audible report and a vibratory indication to the user that the plug 200 has become coupled to the socket.
In order to reverse this process and release the latch 210 from the catching device 222, the user squeezes the accessible portions of the latches 210 toward the plug body 239. This moves the pawls 230 relative to the plug body 239, displacing them into the free space 238. When enough force is applied by the user, the rear vertical surfaces 242 of the pawls 230 clear the vertical faces 240 of the catching devices 222, and the plug 200 may be moved in a direction opposite to direction 233 and be decoupled from the socket.
Latches 210 are somewhat difficult to use however, since their cantilever configuration leaves them especially susceptible to entanglement with objects or wires small enough to fit into the free space 238. Additionally, the shape of the pawl 230 itself encourages snagging and entanglement with a wide variety of different materials. Such snagging problems can result in damage to the objects which become entangled, as well as deformation or destruction of the latches 210 themselves.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a plug with a robust latching mechanism that resists snags. Moreover, there is a need in the art for a socket connector in which a variety of plugs may be quickly and easily coupled to proper corresponding sockets by a user.

Latching medical patient parameter safety connector and method


A foldable bicycle has a rear frame, a folding assembly and a front frame. The rear frame has a seat tube, a bottom bracket, a rear fork and a rear wheel. The folding assembly is connected to the rear frame and has a supporting device, a rotating jacket and a locking device. The supporting device is connected to the bottom bracket and has a mounting bracket and a supporting element. The mounting bracket is connected to the bottom bracket. The connecting tube is pivotally connected to the mounting bracket. The extending tube is connected to the connecting tube. The rotating jacket is rotatably mounted around the extending tube. The locking device is connected to the rotating jacket and the seat tube of the rear frame. The front frame is connected to the folding assembly and has a top tube, a head tube, a front fork and a front wheel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a foldable bicycle, and more particularly to a foldable bicycle with enhanced structural strength.
2. Description of Related Art
Bicycles are more and more popular in recent years because of their convenience and ability to provide exercise for a rider. However, the conventional bicycle has a large volume, then transporting and carrying the conventional bicycle is inconvenient.
With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, a conventional foldable bicycle (70) is provided to solve the problem and usually comprise a front frame (71), a folding assembly (72) and a rear frame (73). The front frame (71) has a head tube (711) and a connecting shaft (712). The head tube (711) has a top end and an external surface. The connecting shaft (712) is formed on and protrudes from the external surface of the head tube (711) near the top end and has a rear end.
The folding assembly (72) is detachably connected to the front frame (71) and has a two linking tubes (721), two quick release fasteners (722), a mounting bracket (723) and a connecting tube (724). The linking tubes (721) are connected to the connecting shaft (712) and each linking tube (721) has a front end and a rear end. One of the quick release fasteners (722) is mounted on the front ends of the linking tubes (721) and is connected to the rear end of the connecting shaft (712). The other quick release fastener (722) is mounted around the linking tubes (721) near the rear ends. The mounting bracket (723) is mounted around the rear ends of the linking tubes (721). The connecting tube (724) is connected to the quick release fastener (722) that mounted around the linking tubes (721) near the rear ends and has a lower end.
The rear frame (73) is connected to the folding assembly (72) and has a seat tube (731) and a bottom bracket (732). The seat tube (731) is connected to the mounting bracket (723) and has a lower end. The bottom bracket (732) is connected to the lower ends of the connecting tube (724) and the seat tube (731).
However, the folding assembly (72) is transversely connected to the front frame (71) and the rear frame (73), and the connecting areas between the folding assembly (72) and the frames (71, 73) are small and this is an ineffective design for structural strength of the conventional foldable bicycle (70) and limits a weight bearing capacity of the conventional foldable bicycle or requires greater material usage for reinforcement.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a foldable bicycle to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.


A terminal response time analysis system is disclosed for measuring the response time of a terminal system connected to a host processor. The terminal system has a keyboard for inputing information to the host processor and a monitor with a screen for displaying information received from the host.

In todays business environment creating, processing, moving and accessing stored information are tasks that consume substantial amounts of time. Consequently, it is important to know how effectively and quickly these tasks are performed by the hardware and software systems utilized to accomplish these tasks.
A terminal system typically consists of a keyboard and a display monitor communicating with a host processor directly or via a controller. Terminal system response time is defined as the time elapsed from the instant a terminal user's request is generated by depression of a key on the keyboard until a response is received from the host and displayed on the screen of the display monitor.
Some commercially available terminals have built in features which allow them to internally measure their own response time measurements (RTM). While some of the built in RTM features do measure the response time fairly accurately, because they are internal to a system they are limited to a specific system, depend upon the internal timer resolution, are protocol specific and therefore cannot be directly compared to response times determined by terminal systems manufactured by other vendors.


An automated modular filtration system, particularly for low volume tangential flow filtration processes, comprises a plurality of filtration modules formed as separate assemblies and at least one control unit for jointly controlling filtration processes of individual filtration units. Each filtration module contains at least one individual filtration unit for executing a filtration process independent of the other filtration units, first input ports for receiving a first type of fluids, second input ports for receiving a second type of fluids, and exit ports for outputting unused system fluids. First type fluids are process fluids are specific to the filtration processes executed in individual filtration units. Second type fluids are system fluids not specific to filtration processes executed in the individual filtration units. The second input and exit ports establish inter-module connections so system fluids can be forwarded from one filtration module to an adjacent filtration module of the filtration system.

In the field of biopharmaceutical manufacturing ultrafiltration (UF) and diafiltration (DF) are commonly used as downstream processing steps for product concentration and/or buffer exchange. The basis of both UF and DF processing is filtration with a membrane that retains product and allows non-target molecules (e.g. water, salts, residuals, etc.) to flow through the membrane to waste. UF is most commonly used for concentrating a dilute product stream, while DF is most often used to exchange a product into a desired buffer (e.g. from an elution buffer into a final formulation buffer).
During UF, molecules in solution are separated based on size using membranes (filters) of a selected pore size. According to the concept of tangential flow filtration (TFF) the feed stream flows parallel to the membrane surface and is continuously re-circulated across the membranes with the primary objective of removing excess water and buffer from the feed stream. The target molecules flowing parallel to the membrane exit as retained product ("Retentate"), while unwanted molecules (e.g. water or buffer components) due to the transmembrane pressure (TMP) acting as the driving force pass through the membrane as waste ("Permeate").
The basic setup for DF is similar to the basic setup for UF. DF is generally used to change the chemical properties of the retained solution under constant volume. Unwanted particles pass through the membrane while the make-up of the feed stream is changed to a more desirable state through the addition of a replacement solution. Therefore, DF buffer is fed to the retentate vessel at the same rate that permeate is leaving the system (unlike UF processes, where there is no buffer being added to the system, or DF buffer is added before or after at least one concentration (UF) phase).
For most UF/DF processes, a series of defined steps are performed, including sanitization and pre-use testing, calibration, concentration, diafiltration, product recovery (harvest), cleaning and post-use testing, and storage.
Cleaning or sanitization of a membrane, which is usually held in a filter cassette, is necessary when a reusable membrane is employed. Sanitization is also optional without reuse of membranes in order to reduce contamination or lower bioburden. A sanitizing solution, compatible with the membrane materials of construction, is re-circulated through the membrane for a defined contact time in order to remove any microbial contamination from the system prior to contact with the product. After that, a water flux test is performed. The membrane and system are flushed with water, and the normalised water permeability (NWP) of the membrane is measured prior to the initial use to obtain flux and pressure baselines. If a membrane was not cleaned appropriately so that the pores were partially clogged, or if the membrane was damaged during storage or sanitation, the measured NWP value would significantly deviate from an initial NWP value of the membrane. The filter cassette including the membrane is "calibrated" in an integrity test using a buffer solution that is appropriate for the product, or water, before the product itself is introduced into the system and ultrafiltration and diafiltration are performed as previously described.
The concentrated and diafiltered product is then recovered from the system. A flush of the system, including the membranes, using diafiltration buffer may also be performed to recover any residual product held up by the membranes and by the UF/DF equipment. As indicated before, UF and DF membranes are typically reused for multiple product batches (i.e., cycles) due to cost reasons. Therefore, post-use membrane cleaning and testing to evaluate the cleaning effectiveness is important to ensure the membranes are acceptable for continued use. Often, the same procedure and solutions that are used for the pre-use sanitization step are also used for the post-use cleaning step.
After each processing batch the NWP of the membranes is measured again, following the post-use membrane cleaning step. By comparing the post-use NWP value to the previous and/or initial NWP value(s) it is determined how effectively the membranes were cleaned. The NWP usually decreases with repeated use of the membranes which may become detrimental to the course of the following experiment. If another processing batch does not immediately follow, the membranes are stored in a solution that will prevent the membranes from drying out and being microbially contaminated during the storage period.
With regard to the design of biological manufacturing processes, a key problem faced in the development of biological products is that small changes in the amino acid sequence in a protein biological product may have large unpredictable impacts on the behaviour of the protein in the late stages of UF/DF downstream processing in which the protein is concentrated and transferred to the formulation buffer. There is significant interest in the biomanufacturing industry in screening proteins for robustness and behaviours in UF/DF processes at earlier stages of development (in which typically only low amounts of the biological product is available), screening buffers for protective and detrimental effects on proteins during UF/DF processes earlier in development, and identifying process parameters that impact on or protect proteins during UF/DF. These desires lead to the need for systems capable of running multiple experiments to screen proteins, buffers and operating conditions. Another aspect in the development of biological products is that at different points in the development process or under different experimental strategies the number of individual TFF units ("channels") required at the same time varies.
Although multiple TFF systems are available in the market, they are inappropriately designed for the aforementioned needs. In a first format they comprise single channel, bench top, manually operated units. The problem with such systems is that the manual nature of such systems and the large recirculation volumes create an unsustainable demand for resources (labour, test sample(s), etc.). In a second format TFF systems are complex automated systems executing experiments in sequence. The critical issue arising is that the filter used is modified by the previous experiment. As such the results of a subsequent experiment are affected by the impact of the first experiment and therefore do not provide an appropriate data set for comparison. This is further constrained by the facts that a) a typically range for the number of experiments desired at the same time is between 4 and 16, and b) the nature of the samples under test, being in many cases the first time such proteins and experimental conditions have been tested in the process, means that adverse events such as increasing viscosity, aggregation and precipitation lead to a very high risk of the filter being compromised in any trial.
It is the object of the invention to overcome the above problems and to provide a reliable and flexible filtration system that allows various setups for preferably related experiments running independently at the same time.

THE AUTOMATION PARTNERSHIP (CAMBRIDGE) LIMITED


Processing separate audio input packets from each connection of a telephone conference assigns audio input packets from each connection to a sequence of output periods. Each connection is then sequenced a first time during each output period for processing any input packets assigned to that output period. Each connection is then sequenced a second time during each output period for preparing a separate audio output packet for each connection.

Telephone conferencing is widely used in business to enable groups of diversely disciplined individuals to have meaningful interactive discussions, which provide understanding of inter-related issues and thereby achieve progress on complex projects without the expense, time and inconvenience of travel. Most teleconferencing systems developed to date have used audio mixing techniques which are hardware based and thereby do not provide the greater sophistication available with software based systems. Such hardware based systems typically mix all incoming audio signals which can at times provide listeners with a confusing cacophony. Signal levels between the various conference connections can be normalized to compensate for audio volume variations between participants; however, significant sophistication for controlling the contents of the resulting audio output can still be lacking. Managing teleconferences using such technology is still very dependent upon the etiquette observed by the participants. Such hardware based mixing systems are also typically costly to install and maintain, making them useable only by telephone service providers and available to business users only as a subscription service.
It is desirable in teleconferencing systems to have greater sophistication in various aspects of each teleconference and particularly in the audio mixing aspect. It is also desirable to have a software based teleconferencing system which is more affordable to business users.

Telephone conferencing system and method


A radiation tolerant high-power DC/DC converter is disclosed. The converter does not incorporate radiation-hardened parts, but instead uses p-channel FET switches that have a negative gate threshold voltage. With exposure to radiation, the gate threshold voltage decreases, becoming more negative. Thus, the gate is still controllable.

DC/DC converters are electronic devices that use switching components, such as field effect transistors (FETs) to transform voltage from one level to another. Typically, the output voltage is regulated and protected against short circuits. In many cases, the input and output potentials are galvanically isolated from each other.
In an FET, current flows along a semiconductor path called the channel. At one end of the channel, there is a source electrode, and at the other end, a drain electrode. The physical diameter of the channel is fixed, but its effective electrical diameter is changed by applying voltage to a gate electrode. The conductivity of the FET depends, at any given time, on the electrical diameter of the channel. A small change in gate voltage can cause a large variation in current from the source to the drain. In this way, the FET switches current on or off.
Typically, FETs used for power switching are enhancement mode types, that is, they are normally non-conducting. When a gate voltage above a certain threshold is applied, the FET becomes conducting. Such FETs are used to control current flow and are available in two gate polarities; N channel and P channel.
Among many applications, DC/DC converters are used in spacecraft, satellites and in high energy physics instrumentation where they are subjected to many forms of radiation damage. When electrical components are exposed to radiation, they behave differently. For example, when an N channel FET is exposed to relatively low radiation levels, the gate threshold voltage ultimately falls close to zero. In this condition, the FET conducts current with little or no applied gate voltage. In other words, the FET is uncontrollable because the current running through the channel cannot be shut off.
DC/DC converters designed for general purpose use are typically constructed with N channel FETs because, for any given die size transistor, the N channel FET has a lower on resistance than a correspondingly sized P channel FET.
To use electrical components in high radiation environments, they are radiation-hardened to withstand the damage caused by radiation. The radiation hardening process usually involves removing or adding some specific element or ions to the materials used for making the components. Being radiation hardened, the gate threshold voltage experiences minimal change after exposure to radiation. One method for chemically radiation hardening DC/DC converters is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,836,836 to Cowett, Jr. (Cowett).
Radiation hardened components, however, have limited sources, are expensive and take a long time to produce, creating higher prices and longer delivery times for the radiation tolerant DC/DC converters that incorporate the hardened materials. It is desireable, therefore, to provide electrical components with ordinary (non-hardened) materials that can function when exposed to radiation.

Radiation tolerant DC/DC converter with non-radiation hardened parts


A method, computer program product and processor for quantitatively registering a 2D endoscopic ROI in a 3D volumetric imaging dataset. An endoscopic dataset and a volumetric imaging are registered to a common coordinate system. A 2D endoscopic ROI is generated within the endoscopic imaging dataset. A 3D surface ROI is generated within the volumetric imaging dataset corresponding to the 2D endoscopic ROI, based on a projection of the 2D endoscopic ROI to the registered common coordinate system.

Target delineation in many cancers is required when employing intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Methods to identify targets for delineation typically rely on volumetric imaging (e.g., computational tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR), positron emission topography (PET)) combined with non-volumetric imaging such as physical exam findings and endoscopy. At times, endoscopy and physical exams reveal areas of visible or palpable tumour extension which are not clearly demonstrated on volumetric imaging. However, interpreting endoscopy images as it relates to the volumetric imaging may be subject to error. This may be at least partly because localizing disease usually relies on remembering the relationship of the disease to fixed anatomic landmarks that are visible on both the volumetric imaging and endoscopy, which, by its nature, may be imprecise or inaccurate.
Radiotherapy planning is becoming more and more conformal, leading to concern that a tumor may be unintentionally 'missed' during the planning process and a desire to accurately delineate tumors during the planning process. One method of addressing this is to use relatively large planning margins to minimize the risk of missing tumors. However, using large margins to minimize this risk is associated with increased risk of morbidity and late side-effects. Ideally, one would like to limit the treatment to the tumor and avoid normal tissue as much as possible. Recent research has suggested that high quality radiation therapy (including proper identification of target) can be associated with a survival advantage. Of course, identifying the target is a useful important step in treatment of any malignancy1.
In patients with endoluminal malignancies, including, for example, head and neck, esophagus, bronchial, lung and lower gastrointestinal cancers, it is well accepted that the physical examination plays a critical role in determination of the 'target' for radiation therapy. Often, physical exam findings can reveal areas of visible or palpable tumor extension which are not clearly demonstrated on volumetric imaging studies. Using indirect fiberoptic endoscopy visualization of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and larynx, for example in head and neck cancers, can reveal subtle changes which alter the target that will be planned for radiation treatment. Variations on standard white light endoscopy can also be used to improve target delineation. Narrow band imaging2 and autofluorescence3 endoscopies have demonstrated increased sensitivity in determining the extent of disease, although at a cost in specificity. The combination of all of these has been shown to improve, for example, the early diagnosis of esophogeal disease such as Barrett's esophagous, and would possibly improve diagnosis in head and neck cancer as well4. This combination has also been found to be useful in other cancers, including, for example, lung and colon cancers. At present, the visual information available during endoscopy cannot be directly (or quantitatively) used in the planning process, rather, the clinician 'interprets' (i.e., qualitatively evaluates) the physical exam findings relative to the available volumetric planning data to create a 'composite' target. This usually requires reliance on relationships to anatomic landmarks or structures which are visible on CT and endoscopy.


A fuel injector (5) injects fuel to generate an air-fuel mixture that is burnt in the engine (1), and a sensor (16) detects an air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture from an exhaust gas composition of the engine (1). A controller (11) calculates a dead time representing a lag between the air-fuel ratio variation of the air-fuel mixture and the air-fuel ratio variation detected by the sensor (16), and calculates an estimated state quantity by applying a dead time compensation according to Smith method and a disturbance compensation to the air-fuel ratio detected by the sensor (16). By determining an air-fuel ratio feedback correction amount based on the estimated state quantity applying a sliding mode control process, the response and stability of air-fuel ratio control is improved.

This invention relates to application of a sliding mode control process to an engine air-fuel ratio control.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,266,605 discloses an application of a sliding mode control process to the feedback control of the air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture supplied to an internal combustion engine.
In this prior art technique, an air-fuel ratio sensor is provided upstream and downstream of a catalyst in an exhaust passage, respectively, and calculates an output target value of the upstream air-fuel ratio sensor for which the output of the down-stream air-fuel ratio sensor is a predetermined value by a sliding mode control process.
The fuel injection amount is then feedback controlled by the sliding mode control process so that the output of the upstream air-fuel ratio sensor coincides with the target output value.
The dynamic characteristic of the down-stream air-fuel ratio sensor output relative to the upstream air-fuel ratio sensor output is expressed as a secondary discrete model for feedback control which makes the output of the down-stream air-fuel ratio sensor coincide with a predetermined value. The output of the down-stream air-fuel ratio sensor after a dead time has elapsed is estimated using the model, based on the output of the upstream air-fuel ratio sensor, and the dead time between the outputs of the two sensors is compensated.
The compensation of the dead time in the prior art technique is limited between the output of the two sensors. No correction is made for the dead time from fuel injection to the output of the upstream air-fuel ratio sensor. Also, the classic proportional integral differential (PID) controller or a self-tuning regulator is applied to the feedback control of the fuel injection amount.
For this reason, if the feedback gain is increased in the low air flowrate region near idle operation of the engine, where there is virtually a large dead time, the air-fuel ratio will tend to oscillate.
It is therefore an object of this invention to stabilize an air-fuel ratio control under sliding mode control with a large feedback gain.
In order to achieve the above object, this invention provides an air-fuel ratio control device for an engine with a combustion chamber for burning a mixture of air and fuel. The device comprises a fuel injector which injects fuel in the engine to generate the mixture, a sensor which detects an air-fuel ratio of the mixture from a composition of exhaust gas of the engine, and a programmable controller.
The programmable controller is programmed to calculate a dead time which represents a lag between the variation of air-fuel ratio of the mixture in the combustion chamber and the variation of air-fuel ratio which is detected by the sensor, calculates an estimated state quantity by applying a dead time compensation according to Smith method and a disturbance compensation to the air-fuel ratio detected by the sensor, calculate an air-fuel ratio feedback correction amount based on the estimated state quantity and a predetermined target air-fuel ratio through a sliding mode control process, and control a fuel injection amount of the fuel injector based on the air-fuel ratio feedback correction amount.
This invention also provides an air-fuel ratio control method for an engine with a combustion chamber for burning a mixture of air and fuel, and a fuel injector which injects fuel in the engine to generate the mixture. The method comprises detecting an air-fuel ratio of the mixture from a composition of exhaust gas of the engine, calculating a dead time which represents a lag between the variation of air-fuel ratio of the mixture in the combustion chamber and the variation of a detected air-fuel ratio, calculating an estimated state quantity by applying a dead time compensation according to Smith method and a disturbance compensation to the detected air-fuel ratio, calculating an air-fuel ratio feedback correction amount based on the estimated state quantity and a predetermined target air-fuel ratio through a sliding mode control process, and controlling a fuel injection amount of the fuel injector based on the air-fuel ratio feedback correction amount.
The details as well as other features and advantages of this invention are set forth in the remainder of the specification and are shown in the accompanying drawings.


Methods are provided herein for determining antioxidant activity of a test sample in intact cells. The method includes determining the antioxidant capacity of a test sample in intact red blood cells, wherein the test sample is added to intact red blood cells and oxidative damage is measured by alteration of fluorescence intensity of an oxidation-sensitive fluorescent indicator dye.

Oxidative stress is a state that occurs when the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) exceeds a system's capacity to neutralize them. Similarly, nitrosative stress is a state that occurs when generation of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) exceeds the rate of neutralization. Oxidative and nitrosative stress are believed to play a role in aging and many diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, inflammatory diseases, metabolic disease (such as diabetes), and neurodegenerative diseases.
Antioxidants are compounds which have the capacity to absorb and neutralize free radicals generated by ROS and RNS. These compounds can play an important role in the prevention or treatment of diseases which include a component of oxidative stress. As such, there is an increased focus on antioxidant levels in the diet and other products, such as nutritional supplements.
Standardized tests have been developed which measure antioxidant levels in nutritional and natural products, as well as in blood samples from a subject before and after consuming such products. One such assay is the non-cell based oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay (ORAC) (see Cao et al., Free Radic. Biol. Med. 14:303-311, 1993). In the ORAC assay, a test sample is incubated with a fluorescent indicator dye which is sensitive to oxidative damage and a free radical generator, and fluorescence intensity is measured. The result is expressed relative to the protection provided by the antioxidant standard TROLOX®. Another commonly used non-cell based method is the TROLOX® equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay. In this assay, the formation of ferryl myoglobin radicals from metmyoglobin and hydrogen peroxide oxides 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ATBS) to produce a radical cation which is chromogenic and can be detected at 405 nm (Miller et al., Biochem. Soc. Trans. 21:95 S, 1993). As with ORAC, the antioxidant activity of the test sample is expressed relative to the antioxidant activity of the standard TROLOX®. A drawback of these assays is that they do not provide information on the ability of the products tested to penetrate the cell membrane.


A self-leveling foldable saw horse including a trestle formed as a downwardly opening box, two pairs of legs, each of which has three working surfaces for leveling the pairs of legs, stably supporting the weight on the trestle and enabling rotation of the legs from a closed position to an opened position and two rods for supporting the legs. The first operating surface on each leg of a pair of legs is in contact with the first operating surface of the other leg of its pair and the second surfaces of each leg of pair are in contact with the underside of the top surface of the trestle when the saw horse is in the open position. Exerting pressure on the top surface of the trestle causes sliding adjustment of the first operating surfaces of each pair to level the trestle and stably support the saw horse on uneven surfaces. Two saw horses can be attached together in a compact, efficient manner with handles to transport the pair of saw horses for use on uneven ground surfaces.

The invention is generally directed to a saw horse for use in construction and carpentry activities and in particular to a self-leveling and folding saw horse which is easily transportable in a folded position.
Saw horses are well known in the art for supporting work pieces of wood, metal, and other construction materials at a convenient height for working. Generally, two saw horses are used in unison to support a material between the two saw horses.
A saw horse generally includes a transverse member known as a cross bar or trestle which is supported by four legs attached to the corners of the cross bar. Traditional saw horses are large, heavy, bulky, and difficult to transport. In addition, they suffer from the need to be placed upon a flat surface to ensure the stability of the saw horses so that the material placed on the saw horse does not move while being worked on.
There have been various approaches to the composition of a folding or at least partially folding saw horse. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,951,233; 4,030,565; 4,152,834; 4,403,678; 4,325,463; 4,605,099; 4,640,386; 4,711,319; and 4,771,863, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Conventional saw horses are inconvenient and bulky to transport from working site to working site. The conventional saw horses are more appropriate in a fixed work shop, particularly one with a perfectly flat surface. Where the floor or ground is not level, the conventional saw horse with its fixed geometry tends to have at least one of the legs not touching the surface, thus creating an unstable and rocking support which is not conducive to the stable support intended to be provided by the saw horse. Collapsible or foldable saw horses of the various types described above and known in the prior art, were developed to aid in the movement of saw horses from work site to work site. However, many work sites do not have level surfaces and the saw horses do not provide a reliable, stable support surface for the work materials placed on them.
Accordingly, there is a need for a portable saw horse which will provide a stable, level support on a variety of level, near-level, and uneven surfaces.


Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a children's motion device configured to oscillate a child support about a substantially upright axis of rotation. In various embodiments, the portion of the child support configured for supporting the head of a child positioned therein is configured to remain substantially aligned with the axis of rotation as the child support oscillates.

Field of the Invention
Various embodiments of the present invention described herein generally relate to children's motion devices, particularly powered motion devices configured for providing a soothing oscillating motion.
Description of Related Art
Various types of motion devices for children, such as bouncers and swings, are well known in the art. In particular, pendulum swings configured to oscillate about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation are often used to provide a calming oscillating motion for a child.
More recent art suggests a children's motion device configured to impart an oscillating motion that mimics the motion a child experiences when being held by parent or caregiver. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,563,170 discloses a child motion device configured to reciprocate a child seat through a partial orbit around a vertical axis of rotation. However, many children may not be soothed by this type of motion, which results in the entire child being moved along the partial orbit. In addition, the child seat of the '170 patent is driven through its partial orbit by an electromechanical drive system that makes use of various gears and shafts coupled to an electric AC or DC motor. However, the motion generated by this drive system may be noticeably less smooth than the motion a baby experiences when being held by a parent. In addition, the noise generated by this type of drive system may be unsettling to some children.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved children's motion device configured to provide a quiet, smooth, and soothing motion for a child.


Apparatuses, methods, and systems are described herein for transmission of measurement while drilling (MWD) data from a MWD tool to a receiver. Such apparatuses, methods, and systems may modify MWD data to allow for transmission of the modified MWD data in a manner that conserves electrical power of the MWD tool. For example, the MWD data can be modified to allow for effectively slower transmission of the data while adhering to existing transmission settings. Such a technique allows for MWD data to be conveyed in an electrically efficient manner, reducing maintenance and recharging requirements of the MWD tool.

Underground drilling involves drilling a borehole through a formation deep in the Earth using a drill bit connected to a drill string. The drill bit is typically mounted on the lower end of the drill string as part of a bottom-hole assembly (BHA) and is rotated by rotating the drill string at the surface and/or by actuation of down-hole motors or turbines. A BHA may include a variety of sensors used to monitor various down-hole conditions—such as pressure, spatial orientation, temperature, or gamma ray count—that are encountered while drilling. A typical BHA will also include a telemetry system that processes signals from these sensors and transmits data to the surface. The drilling operations may be guided through MWD data obtained from the BHA. The MWD data may be obtained by the BHA and transmitted to the surface. The MWD data can then be used to understand the formations and make plans on completion, sidetracking, abandoning, further drilling, etc.
Current MWD telemetry systems require a transmitter (typically on the BHA) and a receiver (e.g., a computer at rig with attached hardware) to have matching settings in order to engage in transmission of telemetry data. Accordingly, the settings of the transmitter on the BHA typically cannot be modified without receiving a downlinked command from the rig site. Modification of settings without the transmitter receiving the downlinked command may result in lost connection if the receiver does not recognize the change in settings. Furthermore, existing telemetry systems, especially electromagnetic (EM) based telemetry, are generally configured to transmit at higher data rates. Such higher data rates will consume more power, decreasing endurance of the BHA.
However, MWD tools are typically battery powered and can only store finite energy. Thus, improved telemetry techniques that allow for conservation of battery life and, thus, increased time before recharge, are needed.

Power saving telemetry systems and methods


An apparatus and method for starting an engine having a starter generator for providing a rotational force to a pulley in order to provide the necessary torque to start an engine. The starter generator also receives a rotational force to the pulley wherein the starter generator generates a current when the pulley receives the rotational force. A valve deactivation system reduces the compression in a cylinder of the engine, thereby reducing the torque required to perform a starting sequence of the engine, either permitting this apparatus to be applied to larger engines, lower ambient temperatures, or some combination thereof.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for starting an internal combustion engine.
Increased fuel efficiency has been a primary goal of most vehicle designs. In addition, and in order to meet this goal, vehicle designs have been implemented in order to provide a more efficient vehicle without having to sacrifice passenger comfort and satisfaction.
A typical internal combustion engine includes both a starter motor and a generator. The starter motor provides an engine cranking force to the flywheel of the engine in order to rotate the crankshaft and facilitate the movement of the pistons prior to the ignition of the engine.
The generator provides an electrical output in order to meet the vehicle loads as well as the charge the vehicle""s battery. Generally, a rotational force is applied to a pulley of the generator in order to provide an electrical charge from the generator.
A dual function starter generator for starting the engine and for generating current for the electrical needs of the vehicle, the combination starting motor arrangement and generator cooperates with the engine during both initial starting and various running modes of the vehicle and engine.
More particularly, a motor vehicle has an internal combustion engine, a transmission, and a flywheel arranged between the engine and transmission for equalizing the non-uniformities of engine output torque.
The generator, which normally is specially and functionally separate from the electric starter, is combined in the present invention with the starter so as to form one structural unit. Moreover, the combined generator and starter is built into, and operates in conjunction with, a compression reduction system or valve deactivation system for reducing the required forces necessary for driving the crankshaft of the engine in order to start the engine.
The above-described and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims.

Apparatus and method for starting an engine


A deodorant has the genus butyric acid bacteria and the genus Bacillus subtilis as effective components and is used for deodorizing the excrement of various animals and other sources of foul odors. The combined use of the genus butyric acid bacteria and the genus Bacillus subtilis makes it possible to deodorize the sources of foul odors by decomposing hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, mercaptan, etc., contained in the sources of the foul odors.

The present invention relates to a bacterial deodorizer which is used for deodorizing the excrement of animals by being mixed into the feed of domestic animals such as cattle, horses, pigs and chickens and various other animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, foxes, raccoon dogs, guinea pigs, mice, minks, martens, squirrels, and hamsters, or which is used for deodorizing the excrement of the aforementioned various animals, fish, and garbage, or for deodorizing the sources of foul odors such as raw sewage treatment plants, waste incineration plants, aeration tanks used in sewage treatment tanks, and toilets.
Gut florae (microflorae) that live in the digestive tracts of large animals, such as domestic animals, exhibit nutritional functions such as the metabolism of nutrients and the synthesis of vitamins, as well as the prevention of contagion or infection from diseases, thereby playing an important role in the growth of animals and in the maintenance of their health. A disorder in the proportions of the gut florae manifests itself as diarrhea. Bacteria have been used as remedies for diarrhea or the like for a long time. Included among the bacterial agents used as such remedies are Bacillus toyoi, Clostridium butyricum miyairi, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus subtilis var.Natto, Bifidobacterium thermophilum, Streptococcus faecalis, and the like. However, these bacterial agents are conventionally employed singly, and they do not exhibit a noticeable effect of deodorizing feces or the like.
Included among the known conventional deodorizers are one using tetracoccus, one using Zeolite (brand name) whose principal components are SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, CaO, Na.sub.2 O, K.sub.2 O.H.sub.2 O, and one which has active humic acid as a principal component and to which calcium carbonate is added.
With the aforementioned conventional deodorizers, however, the one using tetracoccus displays a substantial deodorizing effect with respect to excrement, but the other deodorizers exhibit substantially no deodorizing effect with respect to excrement.
The feces and urine of animals, particularly the multiplicity of domestic animals bred in barns, give off foul odors, and not only constitute a public nuisance but also cause water pollution, so that it cannot be discharged as sewage for treatment. In addition, cleaning work at the barn involves discomfort due to the foul odors of the entire barn. If the feces and urine are left as they are, the barn becomes unsanitary, and may cause the domestic animals to cough, become restless and lose their appetite, resulting in bad growth. In addition, when feces is used as manure, a place for drying is required. With the conventional art, however, these problems cannot be solved.