In a wireless communication system, an apparatus and method for managing an uplink communication between a network and a plurality of terminals is achieved by transmitting a response condition parameter from the network to the plurality of terminals subscribing to a multicast service. The parameter is associated controlling the uplink communication of the plurality of terminals. The terminal then applies the response control parameter to a predetermined test and responds to the network if the terminal determines that it is qualified to respond to the network in response to a result of the predetermined test. The network evaluates whether the parameter needs to be transmitted to the plurality of terminals and whether the parameter needs to be updated based on at least part of responses received by the network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communicating in a wireless communication system and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling access to a network by mobile terminals.
2. Description of the Related Art
A universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) is a European-type, third generation IMT-2000 mobile communication system that has evolved from a European standard known as Global System for Mobile communications (GSM). UMTS is intended to provide an improved mobile communication service based upon a GSM core network and wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA) wireless connection technology.
In December 1998, a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) was formed by the ETSI of Europe, the ARIB/TTC of Japan, the T1 of the United States, and the TTA of Korea. The 3GPP creates detailed specifications of UMTS technology. In order to achieve rapid and efficient technical development of the UMTS, five technical specification groups (TSG) have been created within the 3GPP for standardizing the UMTS by considering the independent nature of the network elements and their operations.
Each TSG develops, approves, and manages the standard specification within a related region. Among these groups, the radio access network (RAN) group (TSG-RAN) develops the standards for the functions, requirements, and interface of the UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN 20), which is a new radio access network for supporting W-CDMA access technology in the UMTS.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary basic structure of a general UMTS network. As shown in FIG. 1, the UMTS is roughly divided into a terminal or user equipment (UE) 10, a UTRAN 20, and a core network (CN) 30.
The UTRAN 20 includes one or more radio network sub-systems (RNS) 25. Each RNS 25 includes a radio network controller (RNC) 23 and a plurality of Node-Bs (base stations) 21 managed by the RNC 23. The RNC 23 handles the assignment and management of radio resources and operates as an access point with respect to the core network 30.
The Node-Bs 21 receive information sent by the physical layer of the terminal 10 through an uplink, and transmit data to the terminal 10 through a downlink. The Node-Bs 21 operate as access points of the UTRAN 20 for the terminal 10.
The UTRAN 20 constructs and maintains a radio access bearer (RAB) for communication between the terminal 10 and the core network 30. The core network 30 requests end-to-end quality of service (QoS) requirements from the RAB, and the RAB supports the QoS requirements the core network 30 has set. Accordingly, by constructing and maintaining the RAB, the UTRAN 20 can satisfy the end-to-end QoS requirements.
The services provided to a specific terminal 10 are roughly divided into the circuit switched (CS) services and the packet switched (PS) services. For example, a general voice conversation service is a circuit switched service, while a Web browsing service via an Internet connection is classified as a packet switched (PS) service.
For supporting circuit switched services, the RNCs 23 are connected to the MSC 31 of the core network 30 and the MSC 31 is connected to the GMSC 220 that manages the connection with other networks. For supporting packet switched services, the RNCs 23 are connected to the SGSN 35 and the GGSN 37 of the core network 30. The SGSN 35 supports the packet communications with the RNCs 23 and the GGSN 37 manages the connection with other packet switched networks, such as the Internet.
The 3GPP system can provide multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS). The 3GPP TSG SA (Service and System Aspect) defines various network elements and their functions required for supporting MBMS services. A cell broadcast service provided by the conventional system is limited to a service in which text type short messages are broadcast to a certain area. The MBMS service is a more advanced service that multicasts multimedia data to terminals (UEs) 10 that have subscribed to the corresponding service in addition to broadcasting multimedia data. An example of MBMS service includes news channels, music channels, movie channels, etc.
The MBMS service is a downward-dedicated service that provides a streaming or background service to a plurality of terminals 10 by using a common or dedicated downward channel. The MBMS service is divided into a broadcast mode and a multicast mode.
The MBMS broadcast mode facilitates transmitting multimedia data to every user located in a broadcast area, whereas the MBMS multicast mode facilitates transmitting multimedia data to a specific user group located in a multicast area. The broadcast area signifies a broadcast service available area and the multicast area signifies a multicast service available area.
Users who desire to receive the MBMS service first receive a service announcement provided by a network. The service announcement provides the terminal 10 with a list of services to be provided and related information. In addition, the users must receive a service notification provided by the network. The service notification provides the terminal 10 with information related to the broadcast data to be transmitted.
If the user intends to receive the multicast mode MBMS service, the user subscribes to a multicast subscription group. A multicast subscription group is a group of users who have completed a subscription procedure. Once a user has subscribed to the multicast subscription group, the user can join a multicast group to receive a specific multicast service. A multicast group is a group of users that receive a specific multicast service. Joining a multicast group, also referred to as MBMS multicast activation, means merging with the multicast group that has users who wish to receive the specific multicast service. Accordingly, the user can receive the specific multicast data by joining a multicast group (i.e., MBMS multicast activation).
The RNC 23 transfers the MBMS user data to the terminal 10 through the base station (Node-B) 21 via the user plane of the UTRAN protocol. The UTRAN 20 transfers the MBMS user data by constructing and maintaining a radio access bearer (RAB) for a call communication between the terminal 10 and the core network 30. The MBMS user data is transferred only by downlink. The MBMS radio bearer facilitates transferring, only to a specific terminal 10, the user data of a specific MBMS service transferred by the core network 30 to the UTRAN 20.
The MBMS radio bearer is divided into a point-to-multipoint type and a point-to-point type. The UTRAN 20 selects one of the two types of MBMS radio bearers to provide the MBMS service. To select one of the two MBMS radio bearers, the UTRAN 20 should recognize the number of users (terminals 10) of a specific MBMS service existing in one cell.
The UTRAN 20 may count the number of terminals to determine the type of MBMS radio bearer. The UTRAN 20 informs the terminals that it is counting the number of terminals when it provides information about the MBMS service via a MBMS common control channel or performs paging for a specific MBMS service group.
When a terminal 10 receives a service notification of an MBMS service indicating that counting is being performed on the corresponding service, the terminal establishes a connection between an RRC entity of the terminal 10 and an RRC entity of the UTRAN 20 by transferring an RRC connection request message to the UTRAN through an uplink common channel. The RRC connection request message informs the UTRAN that the terminal desires to receive the corresponding MBMS service.
By counting the number of terminals 10 that have transferred an RRC connection request message, the UTRAN 20 can recognize users who desire to receive the specific MBMS service in one cell. The UTRAN 20 then sets up an MBMS radio bearer on the basis of the count.
If the number of users existing in a corresponding cell is smaller than a certain threshold value, the UTRAN 20 sets a point-to-point MBMS radio bearer. If the number of users existing in a corresponding cell is greater than or equal to a certain threshold value, the UTRAN sets a point-to-multipoint MBMS radio bearer. However, the conventional paging method through which the UTRAN 20 recognizes the number of terminals 10 that desire to receive an MBMS service has the shortcomings.
When the UTRAN 20 performs the MBMS service notification, response messages, such as RRC response messages, are sent from terminals 10 that desire to receive the MBMS service. The response messages are simultaneously concentrated at uplink channel, resulting in an increase in interference and load on the uplink. Because the UTRAN 20 performs the MBMS service notification to the plurality of terminals 10 using the MBMS common control channel and the corresponding terminals 10 simultaneously inform the UTRAN 20 that they want to receive the corresponding MBMS service through the uplink common channel both the interference and load on the uplink increases.
Because the interference and load increases, an undesirably long period of time may be required for the terminals 10 to send response messages. For this reason, some terminals may fail to transmit the response message by the time when then UTRAN 20 should set up the MBMS radio bearer.
Once the UTRAN 20 receives a number of response messages from the terminals 10 that is above the threshold for setting up the MBMS point-to-multipoint radio bearer up to, the UTRAN does not need to receive any additional response messages because all requirements for selecting the radio bearer have been met. However, in the conventional art, even if the UTRAN 20 has already received above a threshold number of response messages, the UTRAN continues to receive response messages up until the MBMS radio bearer is set. Therefore, uplink radio resources are undesirably wasted.

Apparatus and method for controlling access to network in wireless communication system


Disclosed herein is an electric generating system using a solar cell, including: a DC/DC converter that converts output voltage generated from a solar cell into DC voltage and has a converter switching device; a snubber device that has a snubber switch clamping voltage applied to the converter switching device; and a control device that detects the voltage applied to the converter switching device and controls an operation of the snubber switch according to a detected voltage level applied to the converter switching device, thereby increasing the efficiency of the electric generating system using a solar cell while reducing switching loss and conduction loss.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a DC/DC converter and an electric generating system using a solar cell having the same, and more particularly, to a DC/DC converter generating electricity using sunlight and an electric generating system using a solar cell having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, as a power demand is suddenly increased, the expansion of power infrastructures has emerged as a very important issue. In the case of the power demand, standby power becomes insufficient due to the sudden increase in power load used at a specific season, a specific time, such that accidents such as power outage may occur.
As a result, in order to prevent the occurrence of the above-mentioned problem, various attempts to expand power infrastructures, limit the use of power, or the like, have been conducted. As one of these attempts, a method of using a photovoltaic cell (PV), which is an infinite clean energy source and be used with a domestic semiconductor technology has been in the limelight.
Meanwhile, an electric generating system using a solar cell includes a plurality of solar cell modules each having power converters mounted on the backs thereof. Each power converter is configured to include a DC/DC converter, a DC/AC converter, and a control device that controls the operation of the converters.
Among others, the DC/DC converter includes a snubber device that clamps voltage spike generated from a switching device. The snubber device is operated during the turn-off of the switching device to reduce voltage applied across the switching device, thereby clamping the voltage spike.
However, since the existing snubber device is operated during a low-voltage period in utility line which the snubber device is not heavily affected by the voltage spike, the switching loss and the conduction loss of the snubber device may be increased.
Therefore, the overall efficiency of the electric generating system using a solar cell may be degraded.

Electric generating system with a controller controlling a snubber device

Sungkyunkwan University Foundation for Corporate Collaboration


Method for measuring the degree of intermingling of yarns where an optical sensor is used to register intermingled and non-intermingled yarn sections, which comprises performing the measurement on a yarn which has been laid with no or low tension onto a moving support which transports the yarn past the optical sensor at a selectable, constant speed at a distance suitable for registering the yarn properties, and an apparatus for carrying out this method.

The present invention relates to a method for the continuous measurement of the degree of intermingling of yarns and to a suitable measuring apparatus therefor.
Their cohesion is of decisive importance for the further processing of yarns. In the production of yarns, yarn cohesion is obtained for example by twisting, or by intermingling the individual filaments in jet nozzles. Intermingling is a particularly economical measure. However, it does not produce completely uniform yarn cohesion over the entire length of the yarn, but leads to the formation of individual more or less regularly spaced-apart intermingled places where the filaments are closely bonded together, and looser, bulkier areas in between of low yarn cohesion. This structure on the one hand confers a particular textile overall appearance on the yarns, but on the other also affects their further processibility.
The prerequisite for any non-damaging and problem-free further processing of intermingled yarns is that the intermingled areas are sufficiently close together. Missing intermingled areas have an adverse, in certain circumstances even catastrophic, effect on fabric quality and loom. It is therefore of particular importance to monitor the uniformity of the intermingling continuously.
One problem with the monitoring of yarn intermingling and the detection of non-intermingled areas (yarn bulges) is that any tension applied to the yarn serves to thin out and hence to disguise the non-intermingled areas, which makes their detection very difficult.
At present, four methods are used in industry for detecting non-intermingled areas in weaving counts:
(1) Visual examination by an experienced yarn examiner ("water test") In this test method, described in DE Offenlegungsschrift No. 2,901,165, yarn sections are introduced without tension into a water-filled vessel having a dark floor and the intermingled areas are then detected visually. Even if this visual assessment were replaced by an automatic optical apparatus, this water test would remain unsuitable for continuous measurement. PA0 (2) Further merely batchwise test methods are the needle test and the falling hook test, based on the same principle described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,985,995. PA0 (3) A continuous electrostatic test method is described in "Chemiefasern/Textilindustrie" (1978) page 788 et seq. In this method, the yarn is subjected to the impingement of a high electric charge and then guided through a grounded tube, and the filament spreads out considerably in the non-intermingled areas. The consequently more prominent yarn bulges can then be counted with a light barrier along which the yarn is passed. This method requires a relatively complicated measuring means and again only works satisfactorily if the yarn tension is not too high. PA0 (4) In mechanical sensing methods, which hitherto have permitted the highest yarn speed, the intermingled yarn is pulled through a gap between a stationary abutment and a force- or distance-recording sensing head supported by and liftable off the abutment. An instrument of this class is described for example in "Chemiefasern/Textilindustrie" volume 36 (1986), page 99 to 103. These instruments utilize the fact that the intermingled yarn sections cannot be pressed as flat as the non-intermingled yarn sections. The intermingled areas therefore exert a greater force on the sensing head than the non-intermingled areas.
An unsatisfactory feature with all four methods is the very low test speed. The yarn cannot be analyzed at a transport speed of more than 10 meters per minute (in the case of mechanical sensing). The production speed, however, is in general several hundred meters per minute. For this reason, the measurement of the degree of intermingling is at present possible only batchwise.

Measurement of degree of intermingling and measuring apparatus therefor


This invention proposes a process to form planarized twin-wells for CMOS devices. After depositing pad oxide and a silicon nitride layers, a high-energy phosphorus ion implantation is performed to form the N-well by using a photoresist as a mask. A thick oxide layer deposited by liquid phase deposition process is then grown on the N-well region part of the silicon nitride layer, but not on the photoresist. After stripping the photoresist, a high-energy boron ion implantation is carried out to form the P-well by using the LPD-oxide layer as a mask. The thick LPD-oxide layer is removed by BOE or HF solution. Trenched isolation regions are formed to isolate and define active regions. After removing the pad oxide and the silicon nitride layer, the CMOS device is fabricated by standard processes.

The metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor, including N-channel MOS (NMOS), P-channel MOS (PMOS) and complementary MOS (CMOS), is one of the most important devices in integrated circuit technology today. And, because of the high loss of energy and the high generation of heat, the stability and the reliability of NMOS and PMOS are poor. They are gradually replaced by CMOS when the integration of the semiconductor device becomes higher and higher.
There are three types of CMOS devices: P-well type, N-well type and twin-wells type. The CMOS devices of P-well type are fabricated by forming N-channel devices in P-wells, while the P-channel devices are formed in the N-type substrate outside the P-wells. Contrarily, the CMOS devices of N-well type are fabricated by forming P-channel devices in N-wells, while the N-channel devices are formed in the P-type substrate outside the N-wells. The devices with twin-wells structure are fabricated with both types of wells built in either type substrate independently, while there is one MOS devices of opposite type formed in each well respectively.
The selection of the well types described above depends mostly on the circuit application. For example, the N-well technique is often used for fabricating dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) because P-channel devices have low substrate current whereas the high substrate current can be easily sunk from the P-type substrate. And the P-well technique has a benefit in its simpler fabrication because the P-well devices are less sensitive to field inversion and then the P-well itself can be used to be the channel stop for N-channel. The twin-wells structure, wherein the doping profiles in each well could be set independently to optimize both device types, is suitable to be used in the high integration circuit of sub-micron devices. In addition, the twin-wells structure has lower junction capacitance and lower body effect, and it has the flexibility of selecting substrate type without affecting performance. These advantages make the twin-wells a better structure than the N-well and the P-well structure.
Recently, there are three methods provided for fabricating the twin-wells structure These are disclosed in the following references Ruojia Lee, et al. in U. S. Pat. No. 5,024,961 titled "Blanket Punchthrough and Field-isolation Implant for Sub-micron N-channel CMOS Devices", Douglas C. H. Yu, et al. in "Low Threshold Voltage CMOS Devices with Smooth Topography for 1 Volt Application" IEDM Tech. Dig., Vol. 94, p. 489, (1994); and C. T. Liu, et al. in "0.2-.mu.m n-Channel and p-Channel MOSFET's Integrated on Oxidation-Planarized Twin-Tubs" IEEE Electron Device Letter, Vol. 17, p. 500 (1996). But all of these three methods will also have poor topographies, that is, a nonplanar surface occurs at or near the interface of the P and the N-well due to the high temperature oxidation used over one well. Although a height difference is useful for subsequent lithography for fabricating these devices, a large difference makes the transitional area between the P-well and N-well wasteful. Therefore, there is a need for a simplified and an improved method for fabricating CMOS devices with twin-wells structure.

CMOS process for forming planarized twin wells


The invention relates to a device for generating light, in particular for a vehicle passenger compartment ceiling lamp (100), comprising: a separating tube (7) made of a material that is opaque to the radiation used, which is intended to be placed in an aperture (101) forming an exit for the illuminating light, is tubular along an axis orthogonal to the aperture and is of “c”-shaped radial cross section, forming an axial window (71), a bounding light guide (53) encircling the separating tube (7) having an annular exit dioptric interface (55), a base (57) in the axial extension of the exit dioptric interface, axial extensions (59), extending axially at least in segments the base (57), comprising entrance dioptric interfaces (61), which are placed facing bounding light sources (51), an illuminating light guide (33), which is located axially facing the illuminating light source (31) of the separating tube and axially removed from the aperture (101) comprising an entrance dioptric interface (35), which is placed facing an illuminating light source (31), a total reflection surface (39), from which light entering via the entrance dioptric interface (35) is reflected at a predefined angle of inclination with respect to the normal to the entrance dioptric interface (35), and an exit dioptric interface (37), via which the light reflected from the total reflection surface (39) is emitted in the direction of the aperture (101).

Vehicle passenger compartments are generally provided with an overhead illuminating device, also known as a ceiling light, that provides the driver or a passenger with additional lighting allowing, for example, a map to be consulted or a text to be read.
These devices generally comprise one or more light sources, which are located in the vehicle ceiling light, and the driver or passenger actuates a switch to turn the light source on or off. The light beam generated by the source is formed (so as to concentrate it and increase its uniformity) then directed toward an expected position of the driver or passenger—generally the seats they are supposed to occupy.
In the context of esthetic choices made to give the passenger compartments of vehicles an uncluttered appearance, it is known practice to place the light sources behind a window, most of the area of which is covered with an opaque layer, and which is covered with a touch surface, actuation of which by contact with the finger or hand of a user turns on or off the lighting, the beam of which passes through the window via an aperture in the opaque layer.
To delineate the segment of the touch surface, the actuation of which triggers the lighting to turn on, a backlit outline, encircling the aperture through which the illuminating beam passes, may be used. Backlighting has the advantage of making the segment of the touch surface forming the actuator visible in the dark or the half-light of a vehicle passenger compartment at night.
To obtain this backlit outline, a bounding light source is placed in the ceiling light, with an associated light guide.
The presence of two sets of diodes forming the illuminating and bounding light sources, with associated guides or lenses, and the potential presence of other elements, such as ceiling speakers (in the context of a multimedia device), on a printed circuit board bearing the diodes requires there to be a gap between said printed circuit board and the visible surface, with which the user interacts.
This gap, associated with the presence of two nested, bounding and illuminating, light sources, makes routing the light beams complex, especially given that the light beams must be inclined and oriented toward the driver and the passenger from a central ceiling light.

Illuminating device for vehicle ceiling lamp


An apparatus and a method for generating electrical power are disclosed. The apparatus includes a mud motor including a rotor. The rotor is capable of eccentric motion and has a rotor end. The apparatus further includes an inverse magnetostrictive device having a magnetostrictive element. The magnetostrictive element has a flexing end that is affixed to the rotor end.

As the use of horizontal and directional drilling has grown, and more sensors and actuators are integrated into the drilling assemblies, the need for power in the borehole has also grown. Various types of equipment, from surveying to bit positioning, formation evaluation to fluid control all require some form of power. Numerous methods of transmitting power from the surface to devices within the borehole have been used, including placing cables in an annulus formed between the borehole and casing and using electrical conduction through the casing. Batteries have also been used. However the use of batteries within boreholes presents problems with respect to space and battery life, which can become particularly acute in high temperature boreholes. Various types of downhole power generation have been used. However, these methods often involve equipment that may be unwieldy, due to either length or circumference, or are underpowered for the power demand.
What is needed is a downhole power generation method and apparatus with an extended life time for generating electricity that is self-contained and can be proportioned for various boreholes.

Downhole apparatus for electrical power generation from shaft flexure


An apparatus for introducing test gas commonly containing an inert gas and carbon monoxide to a patient through a mouthpiece which, in turn, is attached to a sample chamber within which are arranged sensors enabling measuring of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, an inert gas or other gases. Valving permits the test gas to be inhaled by the patient and then exhaled into the chamber. Further valving at the outlet of the chamber permits evacuation through a gas volume measuring device after measurements within the chamber have been completed. Sample chambers may be of various shapes but preferred forms are essentially linear or closed loop arrangements.

The primary purpose of the lungs is to transfer oxygen into and carbon dioxide out from the blood. Diagnostic testing for lung disease is called pulmonary function testing. Most commonly, this testing is done on three categories of lung function, the mechanics of the lungs or the ability of the lungs to move air in and out, the measurement of lung volumes and the testing for the ability of the lungs to transfer oxygen into and carbon dioxide out from the blood, or diffusing capacity. Measuring the diffusing capacity for oxygen is difficult because of the inability to measure the mean partial pressure of oxygen in the pulmonary capillaries. Carbon monoxide (CO) on the other hand diffuses rapidly into the blood and attaches to the hemoglobin, which has a great affinity for CO. Because of this affinity, the test commonly employed uses CO and is called the diffusing capacity test for carbon monoxide or DLCO.
DLCO requires equipment designed to perform the test according to specifications of the American Thoracic Society (ATS); the latest version of this specification was adopted March 1987. This equipment must provide a means for a measured volume of test gas comprised of CO, air and an inert gas such as helium to be inhaled by the patient. The gas is held in the lung for 10 seconds and then exhaled. CO and the helium concentrations are known or measured before and measured after breathhold. The CO concentration is reduced by the amount diffused into the blood. The helium does not diffuse, but is diluted by the residual volume of the lung and thus reduced in concentration. Other inert gases may be used such as argon.
In the prior art the DLCO equipment has divided the expired sample into three parts. The first part, 750 ml, is discarded because it comes from the anatomical dead space in the lung. The next 500 ml to 1000 ml is collected in a sample collection bag. The remainder of the exhaled gas is also discarded. The sample collected in the bag is then transferred to gas analyzers, one for CO and one for helium. Scrubbers to remove water vapor and carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) as interferences in the gas analyzers may also be used.
The measurement of the mechanics of the lung is done with a volume spirometer or pneumotach. Lung volumes can be measured with various equipment. Spirometry has been known and used in some forms in diagnosis of lung disorders for a long time. However, what can be learned from spirometry alone is limited. Measurement of pulmonary diffusing capacity has been understood since about 1915, but was not a practical tool for many years. Equipment for clinical use of pulmonary diffusing capacity was developed in the 1950's. Since that time, such equipment has been used in hospital pulmonary function labs to assist in the differential diagnosis of lung disease. Automatic valve sequencers developed early in the 1970's made differential CO measurements less difficult and more reproducible. These sequencers made handling of the inhaled gas and the exhaled sample more automatic. However, the same pieces of equipment for gas analysis and scrubbing are still required by equipment today.
Interstitial lung diseases, such as asbestosis, coal workers pneumoconiosis, and silicosis, caused by the inhalation of inorganic dusts, can be diagnosed by such equipment. Annual spirometry is now required by law for workers exposed to those enumerated and many other diseases produced by inorganic dusts. However, unavailability of portable, easy-to-use devices for testing diffusion capacity has made impractical enactment of the legislation requiring use of such devices.
It is widely recognized that clinical screening of patients with interstitial lung disease would be enhanced by diffusion capacity testing. Such testing would much more readily demonstrate a significantly impaired gas exchange in many patients who have no significant defect in the mechanics of breathing, as indicated by the spirometer. Furthermore, many of these patients have normal chest X-rays. Therefore, testing for diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide is the only objective evidence of lung disease. Such testing is rapid and noninvasive. If the equipment were more readily available, especially in the field, far better testing for lung disease could be accomplished.
The long time availability of equipment for determining diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide has been limited to special clinical installations because heretofore the equipment has been heavy and bulky, complex and usually quite expensive. Also, prior equipment has often required the collection of a sample of expired gas followed by the transfer of the sample or parts thereof to discreet gas analysis equipment, one for carbon monoxide and one for helium. Transfer of the sample has required a pump or some other motor driven device, although it could be done by a hand syringe. The various steps take technician time. It is alternatively possible to use a gas chromatograph, an additional expensive equipment, to identify the gases. Therefore, these techniques have been too expensive for general use. In addition, the involvement of many mechanical and electronic components has increased the potential for malfunction. This same complexity has tended to make the equipment heavy so that, as a practical matter, it must be used at one place.

Module for determining diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide and method


A vibration sensor is used in conjunction with perimeter security systems. The sensor is comprised of two conductive spherical elements each resting on a pair of parallel conductive arcs. A plurality of sensors are attached to mounting device and placed at spaced intervals on a security fence. The sensors are used to detect persons who attempt to cut, climb, lift, or contact the security fence.

The present invention relates to security devices, and more particularly to motion sensing apparatus for use in a perimeter intrusion detection system.
It is quite common to employ a wire fence as a barrier surrounding an area to be protected. Various devices have been employed to provide a warning if any attempt is made to interfere with the protective function of the fence. A number of these intrusion detection systems, particularly those protecting large-scale high security facilities, typically provide a combination of a physical barrier and an electronic detection capability. Often times, sensing devices of the type described herein are used to detect persons who attempt to cut, climb, lift, or contact the fence. Vibration sensors are one type of such devices. In a typical implementation, at least one vibration sensor is mounted on a fence section such as a chain link fence segment. When an intruder contacts the chain link fence, the vibrations are transmitted to the sensor and detected. A control station receives the vibration indication and generates a corresponding alarm condition.
However, these prior art vibration sensing systems suffer from a number of disadvantages. Primary among these is the extreme difficulty of properly aligning the vibration sensor when mounting on the fence. Improper alignment of the sensor can greatly affect its sensitivity, causing it to detect vibration in response to either too little or too great of a force. Additionally, prior art constructions lacked the ability to set the direction of sensitivity for the sensor, which may be required for objects tending to naturally move along one direction, such as fences.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, a vibration sensor includes a housing and a directional actuator. The actuator includes two pairs of conductive arcs as part of an actuator assembly. Each pair of arcs includes one smooth and one irregularly shaped arc. Two movable conductive spherical elements normally rest in contact with each pair of arcs, respectively, and thus produce an electrical interconnection therebetween. In operation, in response to the application of predetermined force to the actuator, the two movable conductive spherical elements break contact with at least one of the arcs, thus opening the respective electrical connections. Each pair of conductive arcs is coupled to a logic circuitry processing unit for sensing the interruption in the electrical interconnection and determining in response thereto whether an alarm condition should be reported.
The actuator assembly is located inside an actuator cover, which is divided into two atmospheres, each containing a pair of conductive arcs and a movable conductive spherical element. The actuator cover is placed inside an ellipse-shaped sensor cover made up of two halves. A coupling ring of the cover is inserted into a mounting means, which is attached to a fence. A plurality of such sensors are connected by an electrical cable and placed on a wire fence at spaced intervals between each divided section of the fence. The system therefore protects against attempts of persons to climb, lift, or cut the fence itself.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a vibration sensor employed for detecting movement of a physical barrier that includes a sensor cover and an actuator assembly. The sensor cover includes a coupling portion for coupling the sensor to a physical barrier at a first orientation. The sensor cover is also adapted to secure an actuator assembly in at least one predetermined orientation relative to the level horizontal when the sensor is coupled to the physical barrier at said first orientation. The actuator assembly includes a first pair of conductive arcs and a second pair of conductive arcs, where each pair of conductive arcs is coupled as a corresponding ends of a switch to a control circuit. The first pair of conductive arcs is positioned substantially parallel to the second pair of conductive arcs. The actuator assembly also includes a first conductive sphere and a second conductive sphere. The first sphere rests between and engages each arc from the first pair of conductive arcs to provide an electrical connection between the first pair of conductive arcs while the second sphere rests between and engages each arc from said second pair of conductive arcs to provide an electrical connection between the second pair of conductive arcs. The sensor also includes a control circuit coupled to at least each arc of the first pair of conducive arcs and the second pair of conductive arcs. The control circuit indicates an alarm to a sensor output in response to a break in the electrical connection between arcs of a pair of conductive arcs.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for installing a sensor on a physical barrier, the sensor including an actuator assembly adapted to sense vibrational disturbances to the sensor, where the actuator assembly is associated with varying sensitivity to vibrations based on the angular orientation of the actuator assembly relative to the level horizontal. The method includes securing the actuator assembly at an angular orientation relative to a sensor body by employing a securing pin. This securing pin is coupled at a first end to a pivoting anchor and is coupled at a second end to the exterior surface of the sensor body within a channel opening, which allows for displacement of said securing pin second end along said channel. The method also includes rigidly coupling the sensor to the physical barrier. Finally, the method includes adjusting the angular, internal, position of the actuator by adjusting the position of the second end of the securing pin to set the sensitivity of the sensor.


Systems and methods for encoding linear position information in amplitude-based servopositioning systems, suitable for linear data recording on a medium such as magnetic tape, through use of amplitude or frequency modulation of the signal forming the servopositioning pattern on the medium.

This invention concerns systems and methods for encoding linear positioning information in amplitude-based servopositioning systems suitable for linear data recording on a medium such as magnetic tape.
Modem data storage systems use servopositioning (or xe2x80x9cservoxe2x80x9d) systems to guide their recording and playback components with respect to a recording medium, and thus enable high track density, which increases data storage capacity. Errors in the ability to follow the servopositioning signals on the medium can cause unacceptable reductions in storage capacity, recording/playback rates, and other parameters that are important to consumers (and thus to system manufacturers).
One type of servo patterns or formats for linear magnetic tape recording systems employs so-called time-based servo techniques, examples of which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,689,384; 5,930,065; and 6,021,013 (all of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties). Commercial magnetic tape drives such as the IBM model 3570 and drives known under the names xe2x80x9cUltriumxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cAccelisxe2x80x9d as described by the Linear Tape Open consortium, use time-based servopositioning systems. In such systems, as taught in the patents noted above, one may encode linear position information by a type of common mode timing modulation.
Other types of servo schemes having encoded linear position information include that taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,070, in which encoding is accomplished by modulating the size of the xe2x80x9cwindowxe2x80x9d portions of a servopositioning pattern. Another approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,439, in which a carrier burst of increased frequency represents a digital value. Yet another approach, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,973,869, synchronizes position error signal and linear position signals by using a jump in carrier frequency.
The invention is a servopositioning method and system for a data recording system employing a linear data recording medium, preferably magnetic recording tape. An amplitude-based servo signal format is written or recorded on the medium. The format comprises first, second, third, and fourth sections, each section having a respective amplitude, and each written over a respective period. The first and second sections together comprise a first interval, and the third and fourth sections together comprise a second interval. In each interval, the amplitudes of the sections are different from each other, and thus the system further comprises circuitry responsive to the signal amplitudes of the intervals for determining a position error signal (PES), i.e., a signal which measures the distance the servo head is away from the desired track center.
In one embodiment, the mean amplitude of the first and second intervals are different from each other, but the PES, because it is normalized, is not sensitive to this difference in mean amplitudes. That is, PES is proportional to the ratio of the amplitude of the second section to that of the first section, as well as to the ratio of the amplitude of the fourth section to that of the third section. The system further comprises circuitry responsive to signal amplitude for decoding linear position information encoded into the servo format. The encoding may be any scheme in which there are first and second states representative of information; for example, the first interval may represent a digital one and the second interval may represent a digital zero, or vice versa. Thus, the information is encoded according to an amplitude modulation (AM) scheme.
In another embodiment, the frequencies of the signals used to create the first and second sections (i.e., the first interval) are the same, as are the frequencies of the third and fourth sections (the second interval), but they are not necessarily equal to each other. The system further comprises circuitry, responsive to the signal frequency, for decoding linear position information encoded into the servo format. The encoding may be any scheme in which there are first and second states representative of information; for example, the first interval may represent a digital one and the second interval represent a digital zero, or vice versa. Thus, the information is encoded according to a frequency modulation (FM scheme.
In the AM scheme, the frequencies of the signals written to create the respective sections may or may not be equal to each other. In the FM scheme, the mean amplitudes of the first and second intervals may or may not equal each other. Thus, it is possible (but not required) to combine the AM and FM schemes by varying both the amplitude and frequency of the signals.

Linear positioning encoding in amplitude-based servopositioning systems


A composition, comprising L-alanine or a salt thereof, L-glutamine or a salt thereof, and an oligopeptide containing either a L-alanine residue or a L-glutamine residue, or both, is disclosed. A composition made up of (i) L-alanine or a salt thereof, (ii) L-glutamine or a salt thereof, and (iii) an oligopeptide containing a L-alanine or a L-glutamine residue is also discloed. The L-alanine and the L-glutamine are present in these compositions in an available molar ratio of from 1:0.1 to 1:10, respectively. These compositions are useful in the therapy or prevention of hepatic disorders.

1. Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to drugs and foods useful in the therapy of patients suffering from alcoholic hepatic disorders as well as its prevention.
2. Discussion of the Background:
The excessive ingestion of alcoholic (ethanolic) beverages chronically elicits various diseases, especially hepatic disorders and dysfunctions, such as fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis and so on. The liver is attacked because ethanol is catabolized specifically in this organ.
Total abstinence from alcoholic beverages is strongly recommended to patients with alcoholic hepatic disorders. These patients also receive therapy with drugs containing vitamins, phospholipids, glucocorticoids or insulin. In addition, drugs containing glucuronate or an amino acid, for example, L-arginine hydrochloride, are available to treat these patients.
Nonetheless, these treatments and prescriptions often fail to provide a complete regression of the disease. This is at least in part due to the fact that the patients still indulge in an occasional drink despite strongly recommended total abstinence.
Recently, it has become clear that some amino acids, for example, Ala etc., are quite potent at enhancing the survival rate of mice who have received a lethal dose of ethanol. In particular, concurrent treatment with Ala and L-ornithine has been reported to be synergistically effective (Petition for Japanese patent, Showa No. 61-50917).
It can also be recognized that rats display a preference for Ala as well as for Gln under dietary ethanol loading for periods of time (6 months or more), and that pretreatment of rats with both compounds ameliorated either ethanol clearance from the blood or recovery from a comatose state and the subsequent depression behavior which follows the ethanol loading. But these facts cannot be extrapolated to determine if a therapy of Ala and Gln for a progressed state of alcoholic hepatic disorders is effective or not.
It is known that the dizziness experienced after drinking is closely related to the concentration of acetoaldehyde in the drinker's blood. The concentration of this metabolite of ethanol in the blood is substantially elevated after drinking. Pretreatment with Ala, L-glutamate or aspartate decreases the toxicity of acetoaldehyde as a catabolite of ethanol, but does not suppress serum enzymatic activities, which are released from a damaged liver by ethanol loading, has ever occurred (Petition of Japanese patent, Showa No. 61-134313).
Therapy for patients suffering from alcoholic hepatic disorders induced by the excessive ingestion of ethanolic beverages has usually focused on attempts to ameliorate the degree of hepatic damage, mainly the parenchymal cell. However a complete regression is difficult for patients when the condition of the liver becomes worse and chronic. In addition, it is very hard to normalize serum enzymatic activity which is elevated by alcoholic hepatic damage because patients still indulge in drinking. Drugs for the hepatic damage and its prevention have been sought.
In view of the fact that the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages is a widespread international phenomenon, there is a strongly felt need for a composition useful for therapy in the treatment of hepatic disorders and/or its prevention.

Compositions useful for the treatment and/or prevention of hepatic disorders, and their pharmaceutical use


Thermally stable diamond constructions comprise a diamond body having a plurality of bonded diamond crystals and interstitial regions disposed among the crystals. A metallic substrate is attached to the body. The body includes a first region substantially free of a catalyst material that extends a partial depth from a surface into the body, and a second region that includes the catalyst material. The body can include natural diamond grains and/or a blend of natural and synthetic diamond grains, and is treated to form the first region. Before treatment, a portion of the body to be treated is finished to an approximate final dimension so that the depth of the first region of the finished product is substantially the same as when treated. During treatment, catalyst materials as well as non-catalyst metallic materials are removed from the diamond body to provide a further enhanced degree of thermal stability.

Polycrystalline diamond (PCD) materials and PCD elements formed therefrom are well known in the art. Conventional PCD is formed by combining synthetic diamond grains with a suitable solvent catalyst material to form a mixture. The mixture is subjected to processing conditions of extremely high pressure/high temperature, where the solvent catalyst material promotes desired intercrystalline diamond-to-diamond bonding between the grains, thereby forming a PCD structure. The resulting PCD structure produces enhanced properties of wear resistance and hardness, making PCD materials extremely useful in aggressive wear and cutting applications where high levels of wear resistance and hardness are desired.
Solvent catalyst materials typically used for forming conventional PCD include metals from Group VIII of the Periodic table, with cobalt (Co) being the most common. Conventional PCD can comprise from 85 to 95% by volume diamond and a remaining amount solvent catalyst material. The material microstructure of conventional PCD comprises regions of intercrystalline bonded diamond with solvent catalyst material attached to the diamond and/or disposed within interstices or interstitial regions that exist between the intercrystalline bonded diamond regions.
A problem known to exist with such conventional PCD materials is that they are vulnerable to thermal degradation, when exposed to elevated temperature cutting and/or wear applications, caused by the differential that exists between the thermal expansion characteristics of the interstitial solvent metal catalyst material and the thermal expansion characteristics of the intercrystalline bonded diamond. Such differential thermal expansion is known to occur at temperatures of about 400° C., can cause ruptures to occur in the diamond-to-diamond bonding, and eventually result in the formation of cracks and chips in the PCD structure, rendering the PCD structure unsuited for further use.
Another form of thermal degradation known to exist with conventional PCD materials is one that is also related to the presence of the solvent metal catalyst in the interstitial regions and the adherence of the solvent metal catalyst to the diamond crystals. Specifically, the solvent metal catalyst is known to cause an undesired catalyzed phase transformation in diamond (converting it to carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or graphite) with increasing temperature, thereby limiting practical use of the PCD material to about 750° C.
Attempts at addressing such unwanted forms of thermal degradation in conventional PCD materials are known in the art. Generally, these attempts have focused on the formation of a PCD body having an improved degree of thermal stability when compared to the conventional PCD materials discussed above. One known technique of producing a PCD body having improved thermal stability involves, after forming the PCD body, removing all or a portion of the solvent catalyst material therefrom.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,308 discloses a PCD element having improved wear resistance comprising a diamond matrix body that is integrally bonded to a metallic substrate. While the diamond matrix body is formed using a catalyzing material during high temperature/high pressure processing, the diamond matrix body is subsequently treated to render a region extending from a working surface to a depth of at least about 0.1 mm substantially free of the catalyzing material, wherein 0.1 mm is described as being the critical depletion depth.
Japanese Published Patent Application 59-219500 discloses a diamond sintered body joined together with a cemented tungsten carbide base formed by high temperature/high pressure process, wherein the diamond sintered body comprises diamond and a ferrous metal binding phase. Subsequent to the formation of the diamond sintered body, a majority of the ferrous metal binding phase is removed from an area of at least 0.2 mm from a surface layer of the diamond sintered body.
In addition to the above-identified references that disclose treatment of the PCD body to improve the thermal stability by removing the catalyzing material from a region of the diamond body extending a minimum distance from the diamond body surface, there are other known references that disclose the practice of removing the catalyzing material from the entire PCD body. While this approach produces an entire PCD body that is substantially free of the solvent catalyst material, is it fairly time consuming. Additionally, a problem known to exist with this approach is that the lack of solvent metal catalyst within the PCD body precludes the subsequent attachment of a metallic substrate to the PCD body by solvent catalyst infiltration.
Additionally, PCD bodies rendered thermally stable by removing substantially all of the catalyzing material from the entire body have a coefficient of thermal expansion that is sufficiently different from that of conventional substrate materials (such as WC—Co and the like) that are typically infiltrated or otherwise attached to the PCD body. The attachment of such substrates to the PCD body is highly desired to provide a PCD compact that can be readily adapted for use in many desirable applications. However, the difference in thermal expansion between the thermally stable PCD body and the substrate, and the poor wetability of the thermally stable PCD body diamond surface due to the substantial absence of solvent metal catalyst, makes it very difficult to bond the thermally stable PCD body to conventionally used substrates. Accordingly, such PCD bodies must be attached or mounted directly to a device for use, i.e., without the presence of an adjoining substrate.
Since such PCD bodies, rendered thermally stable by having the catalyzing material removed from the entire diamond body, are devoid of a metallic substrate they cannot (e.g., when configured for use as a drill bit cutter) be attached to a drill bit by conventional brazing process. The use of such thermally stable PCD body in this particular application necessitates that the PCD body itself be mounted to the drill bit by mechanical or interference fit during manufacturing of the drill bit, which is labor intensive, time consuming, and does not provide a most secure method of attachment.
While these above-noted known approaches provide insight into diamond bonded constructions capable of providing some improved degree of thermal stability when compared to conventional PCD constructions, it is believed that further improvements in thermal stability for PCD materials useful for desired cutting and wear applications can be obtained according to different approaches that are both capable of minimizing the amount of time and effort necessary to achieve the same, and that permit formation of a thermally stable PCD construction comprising a desired substrate bonded thereto to facilitate attachment of the construction with a desired application device.
It is, therefore, desired that diamond compact constructions be developed that include a PCD body having an improved degree of thermal stability when compared to conventional PCD materials, and that include a substrate material bonded to the PCD body to facilitate attachment of the resulting thermally stable compact construction to an application device by conventional method such as welding or brazing and the like. It is further desired that such a compact construction provide a desired degree of thermal stability in a manner that can be manufactured at reasonable cost without requiring excessive manufacturing times and without the use of exotic materials or techniques.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Thermally stable diamond polycrystalline diamond constructions


A roll forming machine for continuously forming a sheet into a joint section of a tube may include a plurality of roller stations arranged longitudinally on a frame and configured to bend the sheet to form the tube, and a carriage slidably secured to the frame. A pleat die assembly may be mounted on the carriage and can be configured to repeatedly engage the tube to form a series of pleats thereby bending the tube to form the joint section. A crimp die assembly may be mounted on the carriage and can be configured to engage the tube to crimp an end of the joint section and sever the end of the joint section from the tube. The carriage may be configured to be selectively moved relative to the frame while the tube is engaged with at least one of the crimp die assembly and the pleat die assembly.

Roll forming machines may be configured to bend an elongated sheet of material into a desired shape as the sheet moves though a plurality of roller stations arranged along the length of the roll forming machine. At each station, the sheet passes through one or more rollers that bend the sheet to alter its cross-sectional profile. Roll forming machines can be configured to produce elongated features with a variety of different cross-sectional shapes. For example, roll forming can be used to produce parts with open cross-sections, such as a U-shaped channel, as well as parts with closed cross-sections, such as a circular pipe.
To break the elongated roll formed components into smaller, separate sections, some roll forming machines can include secondary cutting mechanisms configured to cut the elongated component after the desired cross-sectional shape has been achieved. Cutting mechanisms may also be configured to crimp the end of a component so that it may fit within another part. Further, some roll forming machines can include secondary bending mechanisms configured to bend the elongated component to produce curved features with the desired cross-sectional shapes.


Systems and methods for providing for display hierarchical views of content organization nodes associated with captured content and for determining organizational identifiers for captured content are disclosed. A method includes providing a hierarchical taxonomy including a plurality of nodes. The method further includes receiving a plurality of captured content items. The method further includes associating a plurality of content organization nodes from the plurality of nodes with the plurality of captured content items. Each of the plurality of captured content items is associated with at least one of the plurality of content organization nodes. The method further includes providing for display a hierarchical view including the plurality of content organization nodes. The hierarchical view includes, for each of the plurality of content organization nodes, a graphical representation that the content organization node is associated with at least one of the plurality of captured content items.

Field
The present specification generally relates to displaying information pertaining to captured content and to processing captured content and, more particularly, to systems and methods for providing for display hierarchical views of content organization nodes associated with captured content and for determining organizational identifiers for captured content.
Technical Background
A team of users may review a variety of content and/or documents in order to perform a task, such as information collection, legal research, or the like. As the users of the team review multiple pieces of content, the users may wish to capture content from several of the sources for later review or analysis. It may be difficult for the users to recall how various pieces of captured content are classified or relate to other pieces of captured content, particularly when a variety of content is captured for later use. It may also be difficult and cumbersome for the users to organize such captured content. Furthermore, it may be difficult for each user of team to keep track of content captured by other members of the team and understand how the content captured by the team is related. Even in a context in which only a single user captures content from a variety of sources, it may be difficult for the user to recall how various pieces of captured content are classified or relate to other pieces of captured content.
Accordingly, a need exists for alternative systems and methods for providing for display hierarchical views of content organization nodes associated with captured content and for determining organizational identifiers for captured content.

LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.


A new and distinct Quercus rubra tree named ‘QRMTF’ is disclosed, characterized by dark green mature foliage and a significant red flush on new growth, which occurs through the Summer. Trees have been observed to have good heat tolerance in the Southern United states and a rapid growth rate. The new variety is a Quercus tree, typically used for landscapes and gardens.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The new variety was discovered growing as a seedling among a group of crossbred Quercus rubra trees at a tree farm in Washington, Ga. The inventor made this discovery in the Summer of 2013. The exact seed and pollen parents cannot be identified.
Asexual reproduction by grafting of the new cultivar 'QRMTF' was first performed during February of 2014 at a farm in Washington, Ga. The cleft grafting system developed by the inventor has resulted in progeny that have proven the characteristics of the new variety to be genetically stable. This grafting process involved taking cuttings in February, being grafted, and being placed in calloused chambers for approximately three weeks. They are then moved into 3″×6″ tree band pots and placed in humidity chambers for approximately four weeks. Furthermore, these observations have confirmed that the new variety represents a new and improved variety of Quercus rubra tree as particularly evidenced by the superior heat tolerance. These genetic traits can be consistently reproduced by asexual propagation.


A thin film resonator comprising a piezoelectric material and having a controllable or tunable resonant frequency. The resonator is formed on a substrate having a cavity formed therein below the piezoelectric film material. A bending electrode is disposed within the cavity and the application of a voltage between the bending electrode and one of the resonator electrodes, creates an electric field that causes the substrate region to bend. These stresses caused: by the bending are transferred to the thin film resonator, subjecting the piezoelectric film to stresses and thereby changing the resonant properties of the thin film resonator.

This invention relates generally to thin film resonators and more specifically to a method and apparatus for adjusting the resonant frequency of a thin film resonator.
As is known in the art, a quartz crystal exhibits mechanical deformation when a voltage is applied across opposing faces of the crystal. Conversely, if the crystal is mechanically strained, a voltage differential is produced across the crystal faces. This phenonenom is referred to as the piezoelectric effect. Electrically, the quartz crystal operates as a parallel inductor-capacitor tuned circuit. Typically, crystal filters have an extremely high Q (a figure of merit defining the filter bandwidth) and excellent frequency stability.
Piezoelectric crystals formed on a semiconductor substrate are referred to as thin film resonators or thin film acoustic devices. These thin film devices are electro-mechanical resonators whose resonant frequency is determined by the thickness and acoustic properties of the piezoelectric film. Typically, the devices resonate in the radio frequency to microwave range, for example from about 0.5 gigahertz (GHz) to about 5 GHz in response to an electrical signal applied across, opposing surfaces of the piezoelectric film. The film is conventionally comprised of piezoelectric crystalline material, such as zinc oxide, aluminum nitride, or other crystalline materials that exhibit the piezoelectric effect. The fundamental resonant frequency of the piezoelectric material is determined by dividing the acoustic velocity of the film by twice the film thickness, i.e., fr=v/2 t. When subjected to an alternating electrical field having a fundamental frequency and harmonics, the piezoelectric film will mechanically vibrate if one of the frequency components is equal to the piezoelectric resonant frequency.
Since the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric material is determined by the thickness and acoustic properties of the piezoelectric film, it is established at the time of fabrication and not tunable thereafter. Since manufacturing process variations can influence the film thickness, considerable effort is expended to rigidly control the manufacturing processes to maintain tight control over the thickness. For example, to achieve the desired resonant frequency requirements, it may be necessary to control the film thickness with a tolerance of less than about 0.1% of the thickness. For example, in one embodiment, deposition of a 1000 nanometer film must be achieved with an accuracy of 0.1%, which is 1 nanometer. Current semiconductor manufacturing processes for thin film deposition are difficult to control beyond about 1% of the film thickness.
The present invention teaches a method for tuning the resonant frequency of a thin film resonator disposed on a semiconductor substrate. Two electrodes are also disposed on the substrate and a voltage applied between them to create a deformation in the substrate. This deformation is also communicated to the thin film resonator, thereby modifying the resonant frequency thereof.

Method and apparatus for adjusting the resonant frequency of a thin film resonator


Embodiments for dynamically allocating journal space for Do streams across multiple applications. A shared Do stream process has a dynamic block allocation component that provides a certain amount of buffering of a data flush for an application, using space that would normally be allocated for, but unused by, other applications, thus preventing the need for one or more of the applications to move to fast-forward mode when possible. Certain machine learning techniques are used in order to predict the required Do stream for each application according to past experience with the application, and this prediction is used to intelligently allocate Do Streams between the different applications.

In data storage systems, a continuous replication process is used to create a copy of the data in a directory on a first storage device and transfer it to a directory on a second storage device. Continuous replication typically takes the latest changes to data and replicates them without requiring scheduling into an existing backup job.
One of the present challenges in continuous replication is how to deal with applications that flush large amounts of data at once, but have traffic patterns that are normally low and quiet. Examples for such applications are in-memory databases (e.g., SAP-HANA), and applications which perform calculations creating data and persist it periodically. The challenge in these cases is a storage resource requirement and need for larger replication journals, specifically space for the journals' "Do Stream", which is used to buffer input/output transfers (I/Os). In cases where there is not enough storage space available, some modern replication systems (e.g., Dell EMC RecoverPoint for VMs (RP4VMs)), can switch to a "fast forward" (FF) replication mode, which requires less storage and compute resources at the expense of losing the application's any-point-in-time journal.
It would be advantageous to maintain the any-point-in-time journal even during a fast forward replication mode. What is needed, therefore, is a method and system to prevent the loss of the any-point-in-time journal by dynamically allocating journal space for Do Streams across multiple applications.
The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.

Efficient utilization of storage resources on data recovery sites using machine learning


Disclosed in some examples, are methods, systems, GUIs, and machine-readable mediums for providing an improved command bar interface that assists a user in entering commands by implementing a scope operator to specify a command scope and also visual controls for entering parameters of commands. The command bar may have a default global scope that may be modified by users by entering a scope operator and a scope identifier. The command bar may render a set of parameter segments to assist users in entering parameters for the commands.

Graphical User Interfaces (GUI)s have revolutionized the computing industry by providing visually appealing and easy to use interfaces to various applications. Traditional GUI design eschews the use of text-based interfaces such as command lines in favor of menus and buttons. Limited screen real-estate along with the use of visually appealing graphic icons means that screen real-estate for buttons and other controls are reserved for the most commonly used functions. Other functions are embedded in menus and other dialogs.
Accessing functions in menus and dialogs can be tedious for users. First, a user must find where the function resides within a maze of menus. Repeating this step multiple times can be time consuming over the course of a day. To enable quick use of various functions, applications often have short cut keys. Short cut keys are key combinations that allow for quickly executing a function or changing a setting. For example, pressing the control key and the 'b' key at the same time may change a font to bold in a word processing application. These keys quickly enable fast selection of functions in the application, however, users find it difficult to remember the various key combinations and their functions.


Method for manufacturing a small radio frequency IC tag, where the radio frequency IC tag which can obtain sufficiently long communication distance with radio wave in the microwave band even if an antenna is made small and the radio frequency IC tag is embedded in metal material. An O-shaped antenna is formed to narrow the width of a neck part in which an IC chip is mounted and widen the width of radiating electrodes constituting radiating part of radio wave. The radiating electrodes are formed into offset structure on right and left sides of the feeding point so that areas of right and left radiating parts of the feeding point in which the IC chip is mounted are unsymmetrical. Further, a ground electrode is provided so that a dielectric body is held between the radiating electrodes and the ground electrode and the radiating electrode is connected to the ground electrode at the side of the dielectric body.

The present invention relates to a radio frequency IC tag and a method for manufacturing same and more particularly to a radio frequency IC tag having improved structure of an antenna part provided therein and its manufacturing method.
Recently, radio frequency IC tags are widely used for information management or distribution management of articles and structures. Such radio frequency IC tags each include a small IC chip in which information is recorded and a small antenna for transmitting the information recorded in the IC chip by radio and are attached to articles or embedded in structures to be utilized. When information (information concerning attributes of individual articles or structures) recorded in the IC chip is read, a reader/writer is merely held to the radio frequency IC tag to make it possible to communicate with the radio frequency IC tag and read the information recorded in the IC chip without contact.
As such a radio frequency IC tag, the technique disclosed in JP-A-2003-298464 (paragraphs 0067 to 0071 and FIG. 6), for example, is known. In such technique, a microstrip antenna (dipole antenna) including a radiation conductive layer (antenna layer) and a ground layer formed on both sides of a dielectric body is held between a dielectric case made of polypropylene having relatively small dielectric loss. Accordingly, since an antenna part containing an IC chip is covered by a case, the radio frequency IC tag has excellent weather-proof and dust-proof characteristics.
Generally, when the radio frequency IC tag is attached to metal to be used, the communication distance thereof is remarkably reduced due to influence of metal. The technique that the communication distance of the radio frequency IC tag is not reduced even if the tag is attached to metal is disclosed in JP-A-2003-85501 (paragraphs 0010 to 0016 and FIGS. 1 to 3). In the technique disclosed in JP-A-2003-85501, a first antenna is formed through an insulating layer on a conductor constituting the ground and the conductor constitutes a second antenna. A potential difference occurs between the first and second antennas (conductor) due to electrostatic coupling, so that the strength of radio wave radiated by the first antenna is not weakened due to reflection of radio wave by the second antenna and reduction of the communication distance is prevented even if the radio frequency IC tag is attached to metal.

Method for manufacturing radio frequency IC tag


A headlamp holder device for use with a user's helmet having an outer generally convex shape including a base member having an upper surface and a lower surface having a generally concave curvature so as to conform to at least a portion of the convex outer surface of the user's helmet; an upper member having a pair of opposing support members extending outwardly and upwardly in a lateral direction to the base member providing a support for mounting a conventional underwater self-powered flashlight thereon. The upper member includes a strap for releasably attaching the flashlight on the upper member. The upper member is pivotally attached to the base member so that the light beam of the flashlight is selectively adjustable in a forward vertical arc direction by the user. The headlamp holder device also includes fasteners for releasably attaching the base member to the user's helmet. In a preferred embodiment the headlamp holder device is formed of a lightweight rigid plastic material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to flashlight holders and more particularly to a new and improved headlamp holding device which incorporates a detachable self-powered flashlight and may be mounted to the helmet of the user such as the hood of an underwater diver.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Headlamps are useful in situations where temporary illumination is required and both hands must be free. Head mounted lamps have been used for many years in the field of mining for illuminating the work area of the miner. Furthermore, helmets have been provided with lighting systems to be used by under water divers such as scuba divers. While many designs for headlamps exist in the prior art, there still exists a need for a headlamp holder for underwater use which utilizes existing underwater flashlights as a detachable light source.
The present state of the art is believed to be exemplified in the following U.S. Patents:
______________________________________ 2,421,643 4,462,064 3,852,587 4,638,410 ______________________________________
Accordingly, a principle desirable object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
Another desirable object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved headlamp holder for underwater use which utilizes existing underwater type flashlights as a detachable light source.
Another desirable object of the present invention is to provide a headlamp holder device which is easily mounted on the headpiece, such as a helmet or hood of the user.
Another desirable object of the present invention is to provide an improved headlamp device which is constructed and arranged whereby the light beam of the flashlight employed is adjustable in a forward vertical arc direction.
A still further desirable object of the present invention is to achieve the above desirable objects with an essentially simple structure lending itself to inexpensive mass production,
These and other desirable objects of the present invention will in part appear hereinafter and will in part become apparent after consideration of the specification with reference to the drawings and the claims.


A method of spatially measuring a plurality of nano-scale structures in a sample comprises the steps of: marking the individual structures at different locations with fluorescent markers, coupling the individual structures to individual positioning aids whose positions in the sample are known, exciting the fluorescent markers with excitation light for emission of fluorescence light, wherein an intensity distribution of the excitation light has a local minimum, arranging the local minimum at different positions in a close-up range around the position of respective positioning aid whose dimensions are not larger than the diffraction limit at the wavelength of the excitation light, registering the fluorescence light emitted out of the sample separately for the individual fluorescent markers and for the different positions of the minimum, and determining positions of the individual fluorescent markers in the sample from the intensities of the fluorescence light registered.

A method of spatially measuring at least one nano-scale structure in a sample, in which the position of an individualized fluorescent marker in the sample is determined at a precision beyond the diffraction limit at the wavelength of the excitation light and at the wavelength of the fluorescence light, is known as MINFLUX microscopy, see Balzarotti F, Eilers Y, Gwosch K C, Gynnå A H, Westphal V, Stefani F D, Elf J, Hell S W: Nanometer resolution imaging and tracking of fluorescent molecules with minimal photon fluxes, Science 355; published online Dec. 22, 2016. In MINFLUX microscopy, the position of the individualized fluorescent marker is determined in that a zero point of an intensity distribution of excitation light is arranged at a center of a measurement area around an estimated position of the individualized fluorescent marker and at three positions uniformly distributed around the center at a border of the measurement area. At these overall four positions of the zero point, the intensity of the fluorescence light from the respective fluorescent marker is measured separately, and the position of the individualized fluorescent marker is determined from the intensities of the fluorescence light from the respective fluorescent marker separately registered for the different positions of the zero point. The tighter the four positions of the zero point are arranged but nevertheless span the sought-after position of the respective fluorescent marker, the more precisely the position of the fluorescent marker can be determined from just a few photons of the fluorescence light, which are registered for each of the positions of the zero point.
In so-called drug screening and other methods in which a plurality of substances are searched for whether they include substances with particular properties with regard to other substances or biological objects, the substances are each contacted several times with the other substances or with several copies of the objects, and the resulting reactions of the other substances or objects are monitored. The overall number of the reactions to be monitored typically amounts to a plurality of the number of the substances to be searched as several identical pairs are necessary to get statistically significant results and as, on the other hand, the substances often should show the desired properties with regard to different other substances or different biological objects. Generally, systematically ascertaining such a high number of reactions is laborious. Often, reactions on a molecular level may also only be ascertained by means of analytical reactions. Monitoring reaction dynamics is thus often not possible at all.
WO 2014/108455 A1 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 9,267,888 B2) discloses a method of spatially high resolution imaging a structure of a sample marked with fluorescent markers, in which the sample, like in STED fluorescence microscopy, is subjected to excitation light and to stimulation light as fluorescence inhibition light to delimit the area of the sample, to which fluorescence light emitted out of the sample and detected may be assigned, to the area of a zero point of the stimulation light. To protect the fluorescent markers against the high intensities of the stimulation light in the area of its intensity maxima neighboring the zero point, the sample is additionally subjected to excitation inhibition light whose intensity distribution has a local minimum which coincides with the zero point of the stimulation light. This excitation inhibition light may particularly be switch-off light which switches switchable fluorescent markers outside the minimum of the excitation inhibition light off into an inactive state in which they cannot be excited by the excitation light for emission of fluorescence light. Particularly, the fluorescent markers may be switchable fluorescent dyes as they are used in high resolution RESOLFT fluorescence microscopy.
DE 10 2016 117 096 A1 (corresponding to US 2017 0082844 A1) discloses a method of spatially high resolution imaging a structure of a sample marked with fluorescent markers, which also is a method of STED fluorescence microscopy in which the sample besides excitation light is subjected to stimulation light as fluorescence inhibition light to reduce the area of the sample to which fluorescence light emitted out of the sample and registered may be assigned is limited to an area of a zero point of the stimulation light. To protect the fluorescent marker against high intensities of the stimulation light in the area of intensity maxima neighboring the zero point and the resulting dangers of a photochemical bleaching, the zero point is only arranged within a close-up range in the sample whose dimensions are significantly smaller than a distance of these intensity maxima. Additionally, the sample, outside the close-up range, may be subjected to switch-off light, which switches switchable fluorescent markers outside the close-up range off into an inactive state in which they are not excitable for emission of fluorescence light by means of the excitation light. Particularly, these fluorescent markers may be switchable fluorescent markers as they are used in high resolution RESOLFT fluorescence microscopy.
There still is a need of a method by which at least one nano-scale structure can be measured quickly, even repeatedly, to record reactions of the nano-scale structure to altered surrounding conditions as it is, for example, required in the context of a drug screening in which the altered surrounding conditions are due to adding one of the substances to be searched.

Method of and apparatus for spatially measuring nano-scale structures

MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN


A hand-operated chain block having a hand chain wheel portion light in weight and simplified in construction and which permits safe and smooth hand chain operation. A hand chain wheel cover is mounted on a plurality of stays disposed on side plates of a chain block body in such a manner as to cover the upper, lower and front portions of the hand chain wheel, and a pair of hand chain guide plates are mounted on an upper pair of stays to cover the side portions of the hand chain wheel, thereby covering substantially the entire periphery of the hand chain wheel. Each of the hand chain guide plates is formed of one metal plate in a folded pattern, and the pivotal support portion at its upper end part is inserted into the upper stay, and the hand chain guide plate is oscillatably suspended and supported, while a hand chain wound around the hand chain wheel is inserted through a hand chain guide portion formed at the lower end portion so as to be guided. A guide plate fixing member is detachably fitted to a lower stay to simultaneously fix the lower end portion of each of the hand chain guide plate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to hand-operated chain blocks and, more particularly, to a hand-operated chain block which is light in weight and simple in construction with respect to its hand chain wheel portion and which permits safe and smooth hand chain operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hitherto, various different types of hand chain wheel construction for hand operated chain blocks have been developed which are provided with measures for safe hand chain operation and which are reduced in weight and simplified in construction for the purpose of reduction in weight of the entire chain block.
In such situation, the present applicant has already proposed two types of chain block construction, namely, one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 19725/1973, and the other disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 36204/1974.
The chain block disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 19725/1973 comprises a positioning dowel formed on a hand chain guide plate, and a small slit formed in a hand chain wheel cover, the hand chain guide plate being adapted to be fixedly mounted to the chain block by a stay for hand chain wheel cover mounting and through engagement of the dowel with the small slit. The hand chain guide plate has a guide portion formed in such an overhanging pattern that it covers an upper edge portion of a side window of the hand wheel chain cover.
The other chain block disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 36204/1974 has a hand chain cover of such split-type construction that it consists of an upper cover having a key-shaped section which covers a front upper peripheral portion of a hand chain wheel and a U-shaped lower cover which covers a front peripheral portion of the hand chain wheel other than covered by the upper cover. The lower cover is formed of a plate material having greater thickness than the upper cover and has at its opposite side ends a hand-chain guide plate integrally formed therewith. Opposite side ends of a front plate portion of the upper cover are placed in superposed relation with the corresponding ends of an upper portion of the lower cover, the superposed portions being secured by a common bolt to side plates of a chain block body, a median portion of the lower cover being secured by another bolt to the side plates.
However, these types of chain block construction are not fully satisfactory because of a number of deficiencies found therewith which are pointed out below; hence, further improvement has been demanded.
In the first mentioned disclosure, i.e., Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 19725/1973, the mounting arrangement for the hand chain guide plate is comparatively simple in itself, but the work required for engagement of the positioning dowel with the small slit in connection with the mounting of the guide plate is troublesome, which fact is disadvantageous from the standpoint of assembly work efficiency.
Another difficulty is that since the guide portion of the hand chain guide plate is located in an upper edge portion of the hand chain wheel cover, the entire side portions of the hand chain wheel are open and accordingly the hand chain is outwardly exposed, which fact is disadvantageous from the stand point of safety because the operator may possibly touch the hand chain wheel portion by hand at the open side portion, or because some falling object may possibly become engaged by the wheel portion.
In the second mentioned disclosure, i.e., Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 36204/1974, the guide plates for guiding the hand chain are small-sized plates provided at opposite ends of the lower cover and therefore the side portions of the hand chain wheel are substantially entirely open, which fact is disadvantageous from the standpoint of safety as is the case with the first mentioned disclosure.
Another drawback is that the lower cover for the hand chain wheel is comparatively thick walled, so that further reduction in weight is required of it, while on the other hand reduction in thickness for such purpose may possibly result in decreased strength of the lower cover.
Furthermore, both of the foregoing chain blocks have a deficiency in that in the case where the hand chain is pulled at comparatively high speed, if such operation is made in such condition that, for example, no load is being hung by a load chain, possible twists (snarls) cannot completely be straightened out by the hand chain guide plate. This means that the hand chain is wound in twisted condition around the hand chain wheel, smooth hand chain operation being thus prevented.


A process for the production of polyimide fibers and polyimide fibers obtained by the process. The process includes thermal or chemical imidation of a polyamic acid which has been obtained by reacting a specific diamine and a particular tetracarboxylic dianhydride in the presence of a dicarboxylic anhydride represented by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein Z represents a divalent group selected from the group consisting of monocyclic aromatic groups, fused polycyclic aromatic groups and non-fused polycyclic aromatic groups with aromatic rings bonded together directly or via a crosslinking member.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for the production of polyimide fibers having excellent heat resistance, chemical resistance, radiation resistance, mechanical strength and productivity.
(b) Description of the Related Art:
Aromatic polyimide fibers produced by direct heat melt spinning have heretofore been disclosed only once before in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 211319/1988, by the present assignee. This publication discloses high-strength and high-elasticity polyimide fibers made of a novel polyimide which permits melt spinning and has good processability. However, the above polyimide fibers are accompanied by problems such that the discharge rate tends to decrease upon long-time continuous spinning due to thickening of the molten resin and/or clogging of the filter and end breakage also takes place frequently upon spinning or stretching. They are therefore still not satisfactory in productivity.
In the meantime, the present assignee filed an application with the Japanese Patent Office (Japanese Patent Application No. 266191/1987). The application claims a specific process for the production of a polyimide, wherein the production process comprises conducting the reaction between a specific diamine and a particular tetracarboxylic dianhydride in the presence of a specific dicarboxylic anhydride. This process can provide a polyimide in which each high-molecular chain is blocked at both ends thereof with the dicarboxylic anhydride. A resin which can be obtained by thoroughly pre-drying the polyimide to adjust its water content to less than 200 ppm, preferably to less than 50 ppm does not undergo any substantial flowability reduction even when exposed to high temperatures for a long time, so that the resin has excellent processability in melt forming such as injection molding and extrusion.


In an electric power steering apparatus using a direct drive electric motor for assisting steering force, the electric motor is operated with three-phase alternating current obtained from a direct-current power supply through an inverter, the three-phase alternating current being controlled by detecting the value of the direct current being supplied to the inverter. The difference between the detected direct current and a target current calculated on the basis of detected vehicle speed and steering torque is determined, based on which the three-phase alternating current is controlled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric power steering apparatus which uses an electric motor to provide power to assist the steering force for a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electric power steering apparatus has been developed in which the speed of the vehicle and the steering torque applied to the steering wheel are detected and, when the detected torque exceeds a prescribed dead zone, a driving current, whose magnitude is determined according to the detected torque and vehicle speed, is supplied to drive a steering assisting electric motor whose rotating force is used to assist the force required for the vehicle steering, thereby providing a comfortable steering feel to the driver.
Such an electric power steering apparatus usually employs a direct drive motor as the steering assisting electric motor. The direct drive motor is suitable for use as a steering assisting electric motor since it does not require the use of a reduction gear and thus has the advantage of reducing the size of the motor-related hardware. In the electric power steering apparatus equipped with such a direct drive motor, a motor current controller sets a target current according to the detected torque and vehicle speed, and the direct drive motor is operated with three-phase alternating current supplied through an inverter according to the target current. However, the problem with this type of steering apparatus has been that the output torque of the electric motor is affected by a variation in the battery supply voltage as well as by the load change of the steering system, thereby causing an unnatural steering feel.
One previous approach to resolving this problem has been by current feedback control wherein the value of the three-phase alternating current for operating the motor is detected and the result of the detection is fed back to the motor current controller to control the three-phase alternating current in such a manner as to correct any deviation between the detected three-phase alternating current value and the target current value. More specifically, a current detecting resistor is inserted in an electric circuit path between the inverter and the electric motor; the three-phase alternating current value is detected using this current detecting resistor, and the thus detected three-phase alternating current value is dq converted by software (coordinate transformation of rotor windings to the static coordinate system), the dq current obtained as a result of the conversion being fed back to the motor current controller.
However, the above current feedback control of the prior art requires the use of a high-precision current sensor for detecting the three-phase alternating current value, but such a high-precision current sensor is large in size and not suitable for use in an electric power steering apparatus where miniaturization of hardware is a desired condition. Another problem with the prior art is that the complicated feedback control involving dq-converting the detected three-phase alternating current value increases the complexity of the software. This has created the further problem that the increased complexity of the software decreases the control response.

Current control for electric power steering apparatus motor