A non-volatile memory of an embodiment includes a plurality of memory cells, each of the memory cells including a plurality of transistors including a first to fourth transistors, a first non-volatile element, a second non-volatile element, a first node, and a second node, the first and second transistors being connected in series with the first non-volatile element, the third and fourth transistors being connected in series with the second non-volatile element, the first node being disposed between the first and second transistors, the second node being disposed between the third and fourth transistors, gates of the first and third transistors being connected to one of first wiring lines, a gate of the second transistor being connected to the second node, a gate of the fourth transistor being connected to the first node, the first transistor being connected between one of second wiring lines and the first node.

Processors incorporated in portable information terminals are expected to consume low power. In order to reduce the power of processors, a method is suggested, in which an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory)-based cache memory that consumes a large standby power is replaced with an SRAM including non-volatile elements. As the transistors in SRAMs are downsized, leakage power increases in both the operating mode and the standby mode. If a cache memory is replaced with a non-volatile SRAM, unnecessary power supply can be cut off. This leads to a reduction in standby power consumption.
A non-volatile SRAM that is based on SRAM cells each including, for example, six MOS transistors has been suggested as a non-volatile memory that can perform high-speed SRAM operations. For example, a non-volatile SRAM including SRAM cells each including six transistors and two magnetic tunnel Junction (MTJ) elements as magnetoresistive memory devices is suggested. Such a non-volatile SRAM has an SRAM cell configuration in which there is a leakage current path from a power supply to GND. This non-volatile SRAM can reduce standby power consumption because of its non-volatile characteristics, but cannot reduce the operating power consumption.

Non-volatile memory, writing method for the same, and reading method for the same


This disclosure details reinforcement assemblies and associated methods for reinforcing a battery pack of an electrified vehicle. An exemplary battery pack may include a battery internal component (e.g., a battery array), an enclosure assembly for housing the battery internal component, and a reinforcement assembly secured to the enclosure assembly. The reinforcement assembly may include a beam and a bracket secured to the beam. The reinforcement assembly may be positioned at expected high impact load locations of the enclosure assembly and is configured for absorbing and transferring energy during vehicle impact loading events, thereby minimizing transfer of the impact loads inside the battery pack where relatively sensitive battery internal components are housed.

The desire to reduce automotive fuel consumption and emissions has been well documented. Therefore, electrified vehicles are being developed that reduce or completely eliminate reliance on internal combustion engines. In general, electrified vehicles differ from conventional motor vehicles because they are selectively driven by one or more battery powered electric machines. Conventional motor vehicles, by contrast, rely exclusively on the internal combustion engine to propel the vehicle.
A high voltage battery pack typically powers the electric machines and other electrical loads of the electrified vehicle. The battery pack may be susceptible to various vehicle loads, including loads that are imparted during vehicle impact loading events (e.g., front, side, side pole, rear, etc.) during operation of the electrified vehicle.


An example method of implementing internationalization and localization for a software application includes: receiving, at a service, a first request from the software application for a localized resource corresponding to a target locale, the localized resource including a string or a format; sending a second request from the service to a backend server for the localized resource; receiving the localized resource from the backend server in response to the second request; and returning the localized resource from the service to the software application.

In today's fast-paced world, the goal of software internationalization and localization is to deliver a consistent product and user experience to users throughout the world with efficiency and agility. Internationalization includes the design and development of a software product that enables localization for target users that vary in culture, region, and/or language. Internationalization is often abbreviated as "i18n." Localization includes the adaptation of a software product to meet the language, cultural, and/or other requirements of a specific target market (a "locale"). Localization is often abbreviated as "l10n."
Today, software developers rely on the libraries provided by the underlying programming languages, frameworks, and operating systems (OS'es) to internationalize and localize a software product. Due to different implementations of such libraries, however, the software product, which is often developed using more than one programming language, will exhibit different behaviors in the user interface (UI). For example, the libraries of different programming languages can present date and time in different formats for the various locales, can exhibit different locale fallback mechanisms, and the like. Since the libraries are part of the programming languages and frameworks, the libraries are tied to each individual software product. As a result, software developers experience difficultly in implementing efficient and consistent localization when updating the software product over time.

Software internationalization and localization protocol in a computing system


The present invention provides a device for dynamically counteracting torque steer which includes a processor adapted to calculate a correction factor from a calculated axle torque on front wheel drive half shafts of the vehicle. A power circuit is provided responsive to the calculated correction factor to provide an offset current through the power steering unit or the braking system of the vehicle to counteract the torque steer.

Front wheel drive vehicles commonly undergo a phenomenon known as torque steer. Torque steer is a vehicle's desire to turn left or right during acceleration. The causes for torque steer are numerous. However, these causes are rooted in the component architecture of the front wheel drive vehicle.
In front wheel drive vehicles, the power plant which drives the vehicle is operationally engaged to the front wheels. The power plant drives a transaxle which in-turn drives half shafts that extend between the transmission and the vehicle's front wheels. Each half shaft extends from one portion of the transmission to a corresponding wheel. Depending on the lateral and angular location of the transmission with respect to the vehicle, each half shaft commonly has a different length and angle than the other. The difference in length and angle of one half shaft from the other creates a moment arm about the steering axis of the vehicle. As a result, when the vehicle is accelerated, the rotational torque applied to the half shafts causes the vehicle to steer. This effect creates an unintended tendency for the vehicle to steer, which is undesirable for a vehicle driver. Numerous other causes for a vehicle torque steer also exist such as asymmetric tire slip. The present invention was developed in light of these and other drawbacks.

Control system for active attenuation of torque-steer via electric power steering


An optical image capturing system comprising, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element, a sixth lens element and a seventh lens element. The first lens element with negative refractive power has a concave image-side surface. The second lens element, the third lens element and the fourth lens element have refractive power. The fifth lens element has refractive power. The sixth lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region and includes at least one convex shape in an off-axial region, wherein the surfaces thereof are aspheric. The seventh lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region and includes at least one convex shape in an off-axial region, wherein the surfaces thereof are aspheric.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an optical image capturing system and an image capturing device. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a compact optical image capturing system and image capturing device applicable to electronic devices.
Description of Related Art
In recent years, with the popularity of mobile terminals having camera functionalities, the demand of miniaturized optical systems has been increasing. The sensor of a conventional optical system is typically a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) sensor. As the advanced semiconductor manufacturing technologies have allowed the pixel size of sensors to be reduced and compact optical systems have gradually evolved toward the field of higher megapixels, there is an increasing demand for compact optical systems featuring better image quality.
A conventional optical system employed in a portable electronic product mainly adopts a four-element lens structure or a five-element lens structure. Due to the popularity of mobile terminals with high-end specifications, such as smart phones, tablet personal computers and wearable apparatus, the requirements for high resolution and image quality of present compact optical systems increase significantly. However, the conventional optical systems cannot satisfy these requirements of the compact optical systems. Moreover, the conventional optical systems applied to the vehicle device cannot satisfy the demand of the image clarity with the lack of the resolving power.
Other conventional compact optical systems with six-element lens structure enhance image quality and resolution. However, the arrangement of the refractive power of the first lens element cannot moderate the incident light and cannot adjust a chief ray angle on the periphery of the image on an image surface. Therefore, the dim periphery of the image is resulted under the insufficient light source environment.

Optical image capturing system, image capturing device and electronic device


Apparatus and method for data sensing circuitry that uses averaging to sense small differences in signal levels representing data states. The apparatus periodically switches the coupling of input terminals and output terminals of an integrator circuit from a first configuration to a second configuration, where the second configuration changes the polarity of the integrator circuit from the first configuration. The output signals of the integrator circuit are periodically compared, and based on the comparison, output signals having a voltage representative of a value are generated. The values of the output signals are then averaged over time to determine the data state.

Computer systems, video games, electronic appliances, digital cameras, and myriad other electronic devices include memory for storing data related to the use and operation of the device. A variety of different memory types are utilized in these devices, such as read only memory (ROM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), flash memory (FLASH), and mass storage such as hard disks and CD-ROM or CD-RW drives. Each memory type has characteristics that better suit that type to particular applications. For example, DRAM is slower than SRAM but is nonetheless utilized as system memory in most computer systems because DRAM is inexpensive and provides high density storage, thus allowing large amounts of data to be stored relatively cheaply. A memory characteristic that often times determines whether a given type of memory is suitable for a given application is the volatile nature of the storage. Both DRAM and SRAM are volatile forms of data storage, which means the memories require power to retain the stored data. In contrast, mass storage devices such as hard disks and CD drives are nonvolatile storage devices, meaning the devices retain data even when power is removed.
Current mass storage devices are relatively inexpensive and high density, providing reliable long term data storage at relatively cheap. Such mass storage devices are, however, physically large and contain numerous moving parts, which reduces the reliability of the devices. Moreover, existing mass storage devices are relatively slow, which slows the operation of the computer system or other electronic device containing the mass storage device. As a result, other technologies are being developed to provide long term nonvolatile data storage, and, ideally, such technologies would also be fast and cheap enough for use in system memory as well. The use of FLASH, which provides nonvolatile storage, is increasing in popularity in many electronic devices such as digital cameras. While FLASH provides nonvolatile storage, FLASH is too slow for use as system memory and the use of FLASH for mass storage is impractical, due in part to the duration for which the FLASH can reliably store data as well as limits on the number of times data can be written to and read from FLASH.
Due to the nature of existing memory technologies, new technologies are being developed to provide high density, high speed, long term nonvolatile data storage. One such technology that offers promise for both long term mass storage and system memory applications is Magneto-Resistive or Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM). FIG. 1 is a functional diagram showing a portion of a conventional MRAM array 100 including a plurality of memory cells 102 arranged in rows and columns. Each memory cell 102 is illustrated functionally as a resistor since the memory cell has either a first or a second resistance depending on a magnetic dipole orientation of the cell, as will be explained in more detail below. Each memory cell 102 in a respective row is coupled to a corresponding word line WL, and each memory cell in a respective column is coupled to a corresponding bit line BL. In FIG. 1, the word lines are designated WL1-3 and the bit lines designated BL1-4, and may hereafter be referred to using either these specific designations or generally as word lines WL and bit lines BL. Each of the memory cells 102 stores information magnetically in the form of an orientation of a magnetic dipole of a material forming the memory cell, with a first orientation of the magnetic dipole corresponding to a logic "1" and a second orientation of the magnetic dipole corresponding to a logic "0." The orientation of the magnetic dipole of each memory cell 102, in turn, determines a resistance of the cell. Accordingly, each memory cell 102 has a first resistance when the magnetic dipole has the first orientation and a second resistance when the magnetic dipole has the second orientation. By sensing the resistance of each memory cell 102, the orientation of the magnetic dipole and thereby the logic state of the data stored in the memory cell 102 can be determined.
The stored logic state can be detected by measuring the memory cell resistance using Ohm's law. For example, resistance is determined by holding voltage constant across a resistor and measuring, directly or indirectly, the current that flows through the resistor. Note that, for MRAM sensing purposes, the absolute magnitude of resistance need not be known, the inquiry is whether the resistance is greater or less than a value that is intermediate to the logic high and logic low states. Sensing the logic state of an MRAM memory element is difficult because the technology of the MRAM device imposes multiple constraints. In a typical MRAM device, an element in a high resistance state has a resistance of about 950 kΩ. The differential resistance between a logic "1" and a logic "0" is thus about 50 kΩ, or approximately 5% of scale.
Therefore, there is a need for a sensing circuit for a resistance measuring circuit to repeatably and rapidly distinguish resistance values for devices having small signal differentials.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Noise resistant small signal sensing circuit for a memory device


A motion chair includes a pair of side frames, each of which has a front leg, a rear leg and a side rail brace member interconnected therebetween. A seat is located between the side frames, and includes a pair of resilient spring-type seat frames. A seat mounting arrangement interconnects each seat frame with one of the side frames. The seat mounting arrangement includes a bracket-type mounting member to which the seat frame is secured. A seat support member is interconnected with the side rail member, and the seat mounting member is secured to the support member. In one form, the seat support member is a metal reinforcement member connected to the side rail member, which is preferably formed of a wood material. The reinforcement member distributes loads and stresses applied to the seat mounting member to and throughout the length of the brace member. In another form, the seat support member is a planar side member that spans across a joint between the leg and the side rail member. The side member is mounted to the front leg and is connected to the side rail member at a location spaced rearwardly from the joint, to isolate the joint from loads and stresses applied to the side member. The seat mounting arrangement allows use of a motion-type seat mounting mechanism in a conventional wood frame chair having a side rail member, in a manner which isolates the chair frame connections from the loads and stresses applied to the seat mounting member when a user is seated on the seat.

This invention relates to a motion chair, and more particularly to an arrangement for mounting a seat to the legs or frame of a motion chair.
Motion type chairs are shown and described in Leib U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,435 issued Nov. 15, 1988 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,224 issued Aug. 7, 1990, as well as in Leib et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,758 issued Sep. 3, 1996, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The ""435 patent discloses a motion chair having a metal frame that includes a pair of front legs, each of which has a mounting bracket attached to its inside area. A seat is mounted to the brackets, and includes side frame members which form both the seat support and back support areas of the chair. Each side frame member is connected to one of the mounting brackets, such that the seat is cantilevered at the front legs. The side frame members have spring action mechanical properties, to enable the seat support area to deflect downwardly and the back support area to deflect rearwardly and downwardly when an individual sits in the chair. The ""191 patent discloses a similar arrangement, but in which each seat-mounting bracket is connected to a metal support bar, which in turn is anchored to the inside portion of one of the front legs, which are made of wood. This results in a combination wood-metal chair, in which seating loads are borne by the vertical portion of the front leg to which the support bar is attached.
The ""758 patent discloses a motion chair having a metal frame, with a mounting bracket 14 being connected to each vertical upright leg portion of the frame. The seat includes a pair of side members, each of which is mounted to one of the brackets. As in the ""435 patent, the side members have a spring action to impart motion to the seat and back of the chair.
In a metal frame chair, such as is disclosed in the ""435 and ""758 patents, the seat mounting support brackets are connected to the front legs of the chair by welding, wherein the weld connection and the metal front leg are capable of handling the loads and stresses resulting from a user sitting in the chair seat. In a wood frame chair, such as is disclosed in the ""224 patent, the seat mounting brackets are welded to a vertical support bar, which in turn is connected to the vertical wood legs of the frame. The support bar functions to distribute loads and stresses applied to the support bar by the mounting bracket, throughout the length of the connection of the support bar to the vertical front portion of the wood frame. While this construction allows use of a motion-type connection in a wood frame chair, it is somewhat disadvantageous in that it requires a sturdy and strong front leg structure, which can detract from the aesthetic appearance of the chair and which provides limitations in design alternatives for a motion chair of this type.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a seat mounting arrangement for a motion chair, which does not rely solely upon connection of the chair frame mounting bracket to the vertical upright portion of a chair leg for support. It is a further object of the invention to provide such a seat mounting arrangement capable of being used in a chair having a conventional wood frame configuration, in which the size of the frame components is not dictated by the ability to handle loads and stresses applied on a seat mounting bracket, to which the seat is movably secured. It is a further object of the invention to provide such a seat mounting arrangement which can be used in any type of chair frame, to provide a wide variety of design options for a motion-type chair. A still further object of the invention is to provide such a seat mounting arrangement which is relatively simple in its components and construction, yet which provides highly satisfactory operation and a wide variety of design options.
In accordance with the invention, a motion-type chair includes a frame assembly having a pair of side frames, each of which has a front leg and a back leg. Each side frame further includes a side rail support member that extends in a front-rear direction. Each side rail support member is connected at a front end to one of the front legs, and at a rear end to one of the rear legs.
The motion-type chair further includes a seat adapted to support a user, which is typically in the form of a combination seat and back arrangement. The seat has a pair of side seat frame members, each of which is located adjacent one of the support members of the frame. Each seat frame member is preferably formed of a spring steel, as in the prior art, and is connected to a seat mounting bracket for providing resilient, biased movement of the seat relative to the frame assembly.
The present invention contemplates a seat support member that is interconnected with the side rail support member of each side frame. Each seat mounting bracket is connected to one of the seat support members, such as by welding. The seat support member extends in a front-rear direction. The seat support member is arranged so as to be located adjacent, and connected to, one of the side rail support members of the frame. In one form, the seat support member may be an elongated member applied to an edge or other surface of the side rail support member. The seat support member is preferably configured so as to correspond in shape to an edge portion of the side rail support member, so as to blend in with the side rail support member. This enables the seat support member to be incorporated into the chair frame without detracting from the overall appearance of the frame. This construction connects the seat mounting bracket to the frame without relying upon connection to the front leg of the frame to withstand all of the loads and stresses applied by a user sitting on the seat of the chair. In another form, the seat support member may be connected to an inside surface of the side rail support member. The seat support member may be configured to span the joint between the front leg and the side rail support member to avoid stressing the joint, and is preferably located so as not to be visible from the exterior of the frame.
In either form, the loads and stresses applied to the seat mounting bracket are transferred to the seat support member, and in turn are transferred to and absorbed by the side rail support member and the front and rear legs.


A sheet turning device in a sheet transporting path for receiving a sheet transported in a predetermined direction turning the sheet and transporting the sheet in the predetermined direction. A pair of rollers are provided with a belt extending between the rollers for turning the sheet. A switch is provided for stopping the sheet transported onto the lower inner surface of the sheet turning belt. A driving shaft circulates the sheet turning belt to transport the sheet kept on the lower inner surface of the sheet turning belt in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. A pressing member is provided for stopping and pressing the sheet on the upper inner surface of the sheet turning belt, and a sheet transporting roller for transporting the sheet pressed by the pressing member in the predetermined direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present imvention relates to a device for turning a sheet of paper and, more specifically, to such a device usable for copying on both sides of a sheet of paper in a copying machine.
2. Disclosure of the Background Art
An image formation apparatus, such as a copying machine or a laser printer, capable of forming an image on both sides of a sheet of paper is commercially available. In such an image formation apparatus, the sheet must be turned. For that purpose, a switchback type sheet turning device as shown in FIG. 6, for example, is commonly employed. The sheet turning apparatus is provided with a sheet transporting path 52, which makes a loop-shaped path with a printing unit 51 therein, to transport the sheet in the counterclockwise direction in the figure. The sheet is turned in the course of the circulation in the sheet transporting path 52 by rollers 53 which rotates in both the forward and reverse directions. Specifically, after printed with an image on one side in the printing unit 51, the sheet is transported to the rolllers 53 and moved by the rollers 53 until the tail portion of the sheet is nipped by the rollers 53. Then, the sheet is stopped once and transported with its original tail portion first by reverse rotation of the rollers 53. Since the sheet is turned by the transportation through which the original tail portion of the sheet goes first, the other side of the sheet is then formed with an original image when the sheet is transported through the printing unit 51 again. After that, the sheet with two images on both sides is discharged onto a sheet receiver 54 by the forward rotation of the rollers 53.
When a two-sided copy is carried out with the above device turning the sheet, the directions of the images on both sides of the sheet may be opposite to each other. For example, in the case where a direction of the sheet transportation is the same as that of the images, an image shown in a solid line in FIG. 7 is made on the first face of the sheet which is transported in the direction of an arrow A shown in FIG. 7. However, after the rollers 53 turns the sheet so that the tail of the sheet goes first, the sheet is transported in direction of an arrow B. Therefore, the direction of the image formed on a second face of the sheet is opposite to that of the image on the first face as can be seen from an illustration of a broken line in FIG. 7.
In order to solve the above disadvantage, image information stored in memory can be read from the end of the information in, for example, a laser printer. In this manner, however, the control must be complicated.
Transporting a sheet in a direction orthogonal to the transporting direction may come to turn the sheet as proposed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 22787/1980. According to the description of the publication, first a sheet having an image on one side is turned so that the first character train in the image goes first, that is, the sheet is turned in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction when the image is automatically copied on both sides of the sheet through a copying machine. Second after the sheet goes through a fuser, the sheet is received by the sheet turning device. In the device, the sheet is transported in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction so that one side of the sheet goes first, and then the sheet is turned. Third, the sheet is transported in the predetermined direction so that the original head of the sheet goes first, and then the sheet is turned. Fourth, the sheet is transported in order to copy an image on the second face of the sheet. Fifth, the sheet having two images on both sides is received from the fuser by the sheet turning device and turned. After that, the sheet is transported to a sorter.


There is provided a mobile radio with Global Positioning System (GPS) capability. The mobile radio with GPS capability includes a GPS receiver and a mobile radio transceiver. The GPS receiver receives position information from GPS satellites for presentation to a user of the mobile radio. The mobile radio transceiver transmits and receives radio frequency (RF) signals. The RF signals include at least one of speech and the position information.

The present invention relates generally to mobile radios and global positioning systems and, in particular, to a mobile radio with global positioning system capability.
GPS is a world-wide radio navigation system formed by a group of 24 satellites and their associated ground stations. GPS uses these satellites, appropriately called NAVSTAR (Navigation Satellite Timing and Ranging), to calculate ground positions. The basis of GPS operation is the use of triangulation from the satellites. To triangulate, a GPS receiver measures distance using the travel time of radio signals. However, to measure travel time, GPS needs very accurate timing, plus it needs to know exactly where the satellites are in space. To solve this problem, each of the 24 satellites is inserted into a high enough orbit (12,000 miles) to preclude interference from other objects, both man-made and natural, and to insure overlapping coverage on the ground so that a GPS receiver can always receive from at least four of them at any given time. In addition, compensation is inserted for any delay the signal experiences as it travels through the atmosphere to the receiver.
With the satellites operating at 12,000 miles above the earth""s surface, they are arranged in strategic positions and orbit the earth every 12 hours. Each satellite transmits a low-power radio signal in the UHF frequency range; the frequencies used are designated as L1, L2, and so forth. GPS receivers listen on the L1 frequency of 1575.42 MHZ. This signal, since it is line-of-sight, will reach the ground receiver unless it is obstructed by solid objects, such as buildings and mountains.
The L1 signal is accompanied by a pair of pseudo-random signals (referred to as pseudo-random code) which is unique to each satellite. These codes are identified by the GPS receiver and allow for the calculation of the travel time from the satellite to the ground. If this travel time is multiplied by the speed of light, the result is the satellite range (distance from satellite to receiver). The navigation information provided by each satellite consists of orbital and clock data, plus delay information based on an ionospheric model. Signal timing is provided by highly accurate atomic clocks. The GPS receiver uses NAVSTAR satellite signals as a way of determining exact position on earth. Exemplary uses of GPS include security, emergency response, travel guidance, and so forth.
Mobile radios, such as for example those that operate in accordance with the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) and Family Radio Service (FRS), are becoming increasingly popular. Such mobile radios can be used to communicate, for example, when vacationing, hiking, biking, walking, driving, hunting, fishing, and so forth.
GMRS and FRS are two-way voice communication services. GMRS includes 23 channels, and FRS includes 14 channels. The first seven GMRS channels are on the same frequencies as the first seven FRS channels. Thus, the user of a GMRS mobile radio can communicate with the user of a FRS mobile radio, but only on the first seven GMRS channels. While GMRS requires a license from the Federal Communication Commission, FRS does not.
GMRS and FRS are only two of many radio services. For example, there are six Citizen Band Radio Services including FRS.
However, while handheld GPS devices and mobile radios provide useful features and services to users of the same, there is still a need for a mobile radio that can communicate its position (and hence the position of its user) to other, similar devices.
The problems stated above, as well as other related problems of the prior art, are solved by the present invention, a mobile radio with global positioning system capability.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile radio with Global Positioning System (GPS) capability. A GPS receiver receives position information from GPS satellites for presentation to a user of the mobile radio. A mobile radio transceiver transmits and receives radio frequency (RF) signals. The RF signals include at least one of speech and the position information.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the mobile radio further comprises a user input device for selecting between a mobile radio mode, a GPS mode, and a mobile radio with GPS mode.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the mobile radio transceiver transmits an utterance of a user of the mobile radio to at least one other mobile radio with GPS capability.
According to still yet another aspect of the present invention, the mobile radio transceiver transmits an utterance of a user of the mobile radio to at least one other mobile radio without GPS capability.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.


An improved structure of three-dimensional (3D) spectacles is provided, including a spectacle frame on which an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip is mounted. The 3D spectacles are specifically for use in a 3D auditorium or 3D theater and are composed of a frame, lenses, and temples. The RFID chip is combined with the spectacle frame by being embedded in the frame or attached to a surface of the frame. With the RFID chip so mounted, a theater worker may use a reader to identify if a specific pair of 3D spectacles has already been sanitized. Also, the 3D spectacles can help in entrance and exit management, ticketing management, distribution of souvenirs, and toilet guiding service. In file-out, a reader may be used to confirm the returning of 3D spectacles. In this way, the theater service quality can be significantly improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structure of three-dimensional (3D) spectacles, and in particular to 3D spectacles specifically for 3D auditoria or 3D theaters, which belong to the field of application of 3D spectacles and are used in combination with an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip and reader for the purposes of simplifying the management of theater and improving service quality of theater.
2. The Related Arts
Three-dimensional (3D) spectacles are commonly used in various fields, including education, entertainment, conference and exhibition, and scientific research. One of the most common uses of 3D spectacles is for watching purposes in 3D theaters of movie houses, playgrounds, and museums. It is important for these institutes to get the spectacles back for re-use. Apparently, an efficient and workable management mechanism is desired for these institutes to dispense the spectacles, get the spectacles back, and disinfect the spectacles. However, the conventional 3D spectacles are not provided with individual and unique identifications and this makes the conventional 3D spectacles a problem for management of theaters.
On the other hand, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is commonly used in daily living of a modern society. Examples include pre-paid fare cards for public transportation, electronic toll collection (ETC) cards for highway fair, pet identification chips, anti-theft chips for library, and electronic locks for household entry control (such as MiFare chip card). For industrial and commercial applications, RFID is often used in control, tracking, and identification of cargos and products in sale channels or production channels, and examples include warehousing for product shipping and wholesales. RFID is a mature technique in the named applications, but is not yet been used in theater management.

Three-dimensional spectacles and a management system therefore


A pointing device includes an operation body that operates a cursor moving on a display screen, a detection unit that detects an operating force applied to the operation body, a cursor control unit that generates cursor movement data according to the operating force, a communication control unit that outputs the cursor movement data to the outside, and a central control unit that controls the operation of the units. The cursor control unit includes a cursor-speed determining unit and a recording unit. The cursor-speed determining unit determines cursor moving speed in an X-Y plane direction by a predetermined reference function from an operating force in an X-Y plane direction and an operating force in a perpendicular z axis direction perpendicular to the X-Y plane direction that are detected by the detection unit. The recording unit stores the reference function. The cursor-speed determining unit changes the reference function in accordance with the magnitude of the operating force in the perpendicular Z axis direction, and determines the cursor moving speed in the X-Y plane direction by the changed function.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a pointing device that controls the motion of a cursor moving on a screen, and more particularly, to a pointing device that changes the cursor moving speed in accordance with an operating force.
2. Related Art
When an operator operates a pointing device, the moving distance, the direction, and the speed of a cursor are generally adjusted by the magnitude of a force applied to an operation body of the pointing device.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-34644 discloses a pointing device that changes a function to be used for each magnitude range of a force applied to the pointing device and determines cursor moving speed according to the applied force. A previously set function is used as a reference function that reflects a signal which generates the cursor moving speed in X and Y directions.
However, in the pointing device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-34644, in the determination of cursor moving speed, the reference function is configured to depend on only the magnitude of an operating force in the X-Y plane direction on an X-Y plane, and a component in the perpendicular (Z axis) direction was not reflected.
That is, if the same operating force was applied to the pointing device in the X-Y plane direction, a cursor was moved on a computer screen at the same speed when the operation body was operated so as to be strongly pushed in the perpendicular (z axis) direction as when the operation body was operated so as to be lightly touched.
For this reason, for example, an operator (beginner), who is poor at operating, does not know about the increase and decrease of the force applied to the operation body. Accordingly, a beginner may operate the pointing device with an extremely small or large force. In addition, since it is typical that a beginner feels that the cursor moving speed is high during the operation, there is a problem in that it is very difficult to move a cursor to a target position.
Meanwhile, an operator (expert), who is good at operating, can operate the operation body by lightly touching the operation body without applying an excessive force. However, a cursor moving speed, which is felt to be high by a beginner, may be felt to be low by an expert, and the expert cannot instantly move the cursor to a target position. For this reason, an expert may be often dissatisfied.
Since respective operators have different habits as described above, there has been a limit on obtaining operability that could satisfy all operators.
These and other drawbacks exist.

Pointing device capable of determining cursor-speed


The present invention provides a wireless communication circuitry including a processor, a communication path and a channel detection path. The communication path is configured to wirelessly communicate with an electronic device by using a first channel. The channel detection path is configured to detect at least one channel different from the first channel to generate a detection result while the communication path is wirelessly communicating with the electronic device by using the first channel. The processor determines a second channel based on the detection result, and the processor controls the communication path to switch to the second channel from the first channel to communicate with the electronic device.

In a region having many basic service sets (BSS), the BSSs may interfere each other if the operating channels are overlapped, and the quality of the wireless communication may also be interfered by digital phones. In order to have better wireless communication performance (Wi-Fi performance), the device is preferred to use the channel with fewer users/devices, however, the efficiency of a receiver may be influenced if a channel scanning operation is performed to determine a better channel. In addition, if the device prepares to use a dynamic frequency selection (DFS) channel, the device needs to continuously monitor the DFS channel (i.e. monitor for presence of Radar signals) for several minutes to satisfy a channel availability check (CAC) requirement.

Wireless communication circuitry and wireless communication method


A slide projector that is portable, easy to use and suitable for use by an individual, or individuals in the home. The slide projector comprises means in which to project an image perpendicularly from a slide onto a projection surface. In use, the projected image of the slide lies in a substantially planar surface. The slide is located in a rotating carousel which can be automatically, or manually, rotated, thus providing accurate simulation of the orientation of stars and other celestial bodies at a specific date and time.

The present invention relates to a slide projector, and more specifically to a portable planetarium projector for use in the home.
As we move into the next Millennium, there is an increase in the already high interest in the scientific study of astronomy, and also in astrology. Many people visit exhibitions and shows which demonstrate, in simple terms, the movements of stars and other celestial bodies during an hour, day, month or year. Such demonstrations are usually held in large areas and in front of large audiences, due to the complexity and cost of the planetarium required in order to demonstrate the astronomy as accurately as possible.
A planetarium has, by dictionary definition, a projector that projects the positions and movements of stars and planets on to a hemispherical domed ceiling in order to simulate the night sky to an audience seated below. Although this definition stipulates a the presence of a hemispherical domed ceiling, a planetarium, for the purposes of this specification, should be interpreted to include a substantially planar display surface.
Hereto, all mechanical planetarium projectors use spherical or hemispherical surfaces on which a star field representation is held before being projected onto a dome shaped surface. A computer-based planetarium projector is known, which has a star field projected from a flat computer screen, as described for example in UK Patent No. 2,050,775. The software is, however, written for the projection of the star field image onto a domed surface.
The problem with all current planetarium projectors is that purpose-built domed auditoria must be built in order to accurately display the night sky, with the all the celestial bodies in their correct orientations and positions.
Temporary domed structures, such as large inflatable domes, of about 3.5 to 4.5 meters diameter, can be filled with air to demonstrate astronomy, although experts are required to run the demonstration, and the costs can be as large as £10,000. Such planetariums are more suitable for hiring by schools to demonstrate simple astronomy to their pupils.
A children""s toy is currently available that comprises a bulb within a transparent ball that may provide some sort of night sky display, when projected on to an outside surface. This is very much limited to being a toy, however, and does not provide an accurate projection for the purposes of studying astronomy.
A conventional planetarium projector comprises a spherical body located around a central light source. The spherical body has an array of pinholes in its surface, through which light is projected from the internal light source. The pinholes do not have any lens assembly. This leads to a projection of dim and fuzzy star, and celestial body, representations.
Furthermore, conventional planetarium projectors require a great deal of skill and training to be operated effectively.
There are currently no accurate planetarium projectors available that are suitable for use by an individual in the home, due to the size, complexity and cost of planetarium projectors, and the requirement for a large domed surface on which to project the star field.
The present invention seeks to alleviate the aforementioned disadvantages by. providing a slide projector that is portable, easy to use, of reasonable cost, and is suitable for use by an individual, or individuals, in the home. In particular, the present invention eliminates the necessity for a domed surface on which to project the night sky in the case of planetarium projector.
Accordingly, there is provided, a slide projector comprising projection means for directly projecting an image from a slide perpendicularly onto a projection surface, the projection means being such that the projected image of the slide lies, in use, in a substantially planar projection surface, the projection means comprising a light source and at least two vertically juxtaposed slides, parallel to each other.
Preferably, images are projected vertically from the slide onto a substantially planar projection surface and the slides are in the horizontal plane.
In a preferred embodiment, the slide projector comprises two vertically-juxtaposed slides, parallel to one another in the horizontal plane.
Preferably, one of the slides is rotatable while the other slide remains in a fixed position. Alternatively, both slides may be rotatable or both slides may remain in fixed positions.
The slide projector may also have means for retaining the slides in a set position, preferably by providing an air flow above and below the slides. Preferably, the slides are retained due to a sub-atmospheric pressure that is formed below the slides.
Preferably, the slide will display images of astronomy such as starfields and other celestial bodies
Preferably still, the fixed slide is one that, in use, displays an image of the sky""s horizon. The rotatable slide is preferably one that, in use, displays the image of night sky showing a starfield and/or various other celestial bodies.


Coating compositions and methods providing a high build, fast drying, fast hardening non-amine containing aqueous latex binders are provided, wherein the coating composition is applied to a substrate at a wet film thickness to about 15 mils that ensure drying times of less than 10 minutes. The binder requires the use of at least one specific coalescent solvent with both anionic and non-anionic surfactants.

Aqueous latex binders are fluid systems which contain polymer particles distributed in stable disperse form as the disperse phase in the aqueous dispersing medium. Aqueous polymer emulsions have the ability to form polymer films on evaporation of the aqueous dispersing medium, and it is for this reason that these emulsions are widely used as binders for surface coatings. The type of dispersed polymer and the temperature at which film formation takes place determine whether an aqueous polymer emulsion forms a cohesive film or a brittle, easily cracked layer after the evaporation of water. The lowest temperature at which a crack-free film is just formed is referred to as the minimum film formation temperature (MFFT) of the relevant composition.
It is generally known that aqueous emulsions of polymers that contain only polymerized monomers with homopolymers that have low glass transition temperatures, Tg, are known as soft monomers that are capable of forming polymer films at proper and sufficiently low temperatures. However, a disadvantage of the resulting films is that they are too soft and too tacky for many applications, and such films readily become soiled and loose permanence quickly.
It is also generally known that aqueous emulsions of polymers that contain essentially only polymerized hard monomers (monomers with homopolymers have a high glass transition temperature, Tg) generally require a high temperature for film formation.
In the area of traffic paint, for example, it is desirable to use aqueous compositions that can be applied in a single coat thick application (i.e., high build), yet can dry and harden soon after application under ambient conditions and have high water resistance in the finished coatings. Problems that have been experienced with various waterborne traffic marking paint formulations include slow dry times and relatively poor durability, particularly when such formulations have been applied under humid conditions.

Fast drying aqueous amine free coating composition(s)


A polymer for an electron injection layer, an electron injection layer, an OLED device, and a display device are disclosed. The polymer includes a unit A and a unit B, in which the unit A is an aromatic group; and the unit B is a group represented by one of six possible formulae disclosed herein. The electron injection layer includes the polymer. The OLED device includes an anode, a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a light-emitting layer, an electron transport layer, the electron injection layer, and a cathode stacked in sequence.

As compared with LCDs, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) devices are a new generation of display devices with self-luminous, fast response, wide viewing angle, high brightness, colorful, thin and light.
At present, the mainstream OLED manufacturing technology is to sublime the organic material by heating it in a vacuum chamber, and then to deposit it on an array substrate. This manufacturing technique requires not only a chamber with a high vacuum, but also a fine metal mask (FMM) for the preparation of RGB sub-pixels. Moreover, due to the manufacturing technology has high equipment cost maintenance, low material utilization rate (10% to 20%), and is difficult to be made in big size, it is suitable for preparation of small-sized OLED.
Ink-jet printing (IJP) technology or spin coating technology has potential applications in the preparation of various functional layers of OLED devices, as well as of large-size OLED displays. In particular, ink-jet printing technology, due to its high material utilization, is considered to be a key technology to solve the cost problem of large-size OLED displays. In addition, as compared with the conventional vacuum evaporation process, ink-jet printing technology has many advantages in the preparation of various functional layers of the OLED device, such as mild process conditions, large size, and uniform film formation.
However, due to material limitations, current ink-jet printing or spin coating techniques can print a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, a light-emitting layer, or even an electron transport layer, but cannot print an electron injection layer. The current electron injection layer is mainly composed of an alkali metal fluoride, such as LiF, an alkali metal compound Cs2CO3, or a low work function metal, such as Yb or Tm. The electron injection layer is usually prepared from these materials using a vacuum evaporation method. However, the high vapor deposition temperature is not conducive to reducing the manufacturing cost.

Polymer and method for preparing the same, electron injection layer, OLED device and display device

CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A system and method is disclosed for determining an optimal direction and a minimum directional negative distance between two objects. The system and method uses an iterative process involving rotating a vector about two or more axes to obtain a group of new vectors, determining which one of the new group of vectors has the smallest directional negative distance, comparing the vector having the smallest directional negative distance to a preset value, and repeating the above operations as needed until a vector is obtained which does not exceed the preset value, and which is then identified as the optimum directional vector having a minimal directional negative value.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Present day software tools are available for three dimensional (3D) visualization and mockup modeling of parts or structures. One such visualization software package is "Lifecycle Visualization Mockup" which is available from Siemens PLM Software of Plano, Tex. Another such software visualization package is available from "Catia" modeling software available from 3DS Dassault Systems.
However, when attempting to separate partially overlapping first and second 3D models, the software needs to determine both a direction (i.e., vector) and a directional negative distance by which one model needs to be moved relative to the other, to eliminate the overlap between the two 3D models. This presents a particular challenging task for present day visualization and modeling software tools. The error in this determination can range 100% or more for certain present day visualization/modeling systems and software tools.

System and method for determining minimal negative distance between two objects


A vibration unit assembly for a belt conveyor has a vibration element, and vibration generator and a connection assembly. The vibration generator is operatively connected to the vibration element for inducing vibrations in the vibration element. The connection assembly connects the vibration element to the belt conveyor so that the vibration element may move relative to the belt conveyor. A contact surface of the vibration element engages a material to vibrate and compress the material as it is transported on the belt conveyor. The vibration element may include a plate or a roller. A method for treating a material involves applying a vibration force and applying a compressive force to compact the material. A method for drying a material involves applying a vibration force to the material to release fluid and applying a compressive force to compact the material.

The following discussion of the prior art is intended to present the invention in an appropriate technical context and allow its advantages to be properly appreciated. Unless clearly indicated to the contrary, however, reference to any prior art in this specification should not be construed as an express or implied admission that such art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Vacuum belt filters are used to dewater materials (i.e. separate liquids from solids in the material) so that the dry material is has a reduced volume to reduce storage and transport costs. The dry material is usually transported by rail or boat, or stored as a waste by-product in a tailings dump or dry stack. The dewatering of materials is typically governed by the Transportable Moisture Limit (TML) of a material. This is the maximum allowable moisture content a material can have, to be loaded on a ship. If the moisture exceeds this TML value, the material is at risk of liquefaction, which could potentially capsize a vessel.
In addition, the vacuum belt filter avoids the risk of liquefaction of the material, minimises the amount of fluid or any runoff of fluid when the material is disposed in landfill or a tailings dump and enhances the drying process. The size of the belt filter machine varies, depending on the desired throughput, moisture content and mineralogy of the material. Common materials which utilise vacuum belt filters include bulk materials such as iron ore, coal, manganese and other minerals; grain; flour; waste and chemical slurries; and pulp.
One type of vacuum belt filter is a horizontal vacuum belt filter (HVBF) that uses a horizontal belt conveyor comprising an endless belt upon which is disposed a filter cloth. The filter cloth is usually composed of a semi permeable material designed to allow liquid to pass through, while retaining the solid. The material slurry is fed onto this filter cloth and is transported along the belt conveyor. A vacuum system is connected to the underside of the endless belt to apply a vacuum suction force to draw out liquid from the material (often called "filter cake") to leave behind a dry solid.
Finer materials present challenges when dewatered using this method, as the voids within the filter cake tend collapse on themselves under the application of vacuum, trapping the water inside, and limiting airflow. Consequently, this problem limits the application of HVBFs typically to materials with particle sizes greater than 100 microns. Due to this limitation, fine materials are typically dewatered using a filter press arrangement which forces high pressure air through a slurry of the material to remove the liquid from the material. In comparison to a HVBF, these filter press machines have high installation, operation and maintenance costs. In addition, the filter press machine is limited to being operated as a batch process, compared to a continuous process that occurs in a HVBF.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative. It is an object of the invention in at least one embodiment to provide a vibration unit assembly for a HVBF that enables it to process finer particles below 100 microns.

Vibration unit assembly for a belt conveyor


A knob assembly (22) for a door (20) includes a spindle (30) and a latch (108) in communication with the spindle (30) and extendable from an edge (132) of the door (20). An inner knob portion (36) is secured to the spindle (30), and an outer knob portion (38) faces the inner knob portion and freely rotates on the spindle (30). A lug (102, 104) projects from a second surface (106) of the outer knob portion (38) for engagement with a notch (58) formed in a first surface 54 of the inner knob portion (36). The outer knob portion (38) is selectively operable to positively engage the lug (102, 104) with the notch (58) for enabling rotation of the spindle (30) in response to rotation of the outer knob portion (38) to move the latch (108) from a normally latched position (110) to an unlatched position (146).

In many countries, drowning is one of the leading causes of unintentional injury-related deaths to children ages fourteen and under. More than eighty percent of the drownings occur in residential backyard pools or spas. The speed with which swimming pool submersions and drowning can occur is of special concern. By the time a child's absence is noted, the child may have already drowned.
Pool safety guidelines recommend the use of layers of barrier protection between the child and water to warn and impede. These layers of protection include, for example, alarms on doors and windows leading to the water, pool safety covers, a non-climbable, five-foot fence separating the pool/spa from the residence, and self-closing and self-latching gates and doors leading to the pool/spa with latches above a child's reach.
Regarding self-closing and self-latching gates and doors, the prior art includes latches which are located relatively high on the door or gate, typically at or above fifty inches above the threshold. Unfortunately, a determined child can usually find a chair or other device upon which to climb to operate the latch. This problem is exacerbated by the common use of lever door handles with self-closing and self-latching systems. Opening a lever door handle merely entails pressing down on the handle's flat surface, and pushing, pulling, or sliding open the door. As such, children and mentally impaired adults can readily operate lever door handle. Consequently, such a lever door handle mounted relatively high on the door or gate has proven to be ineffective.
The prior art also teaches of various lock and key arrangements to prevent child access. Such mechanisms, however, require a key for any person to use it. If the key is accessible, the prohibited area is as well, regardless of the user's age or mental acuity. Likewise, if the key is not available, in an emergency situation for example, the area will be inaccessible to all persons not possessing the key.
Yet another solution to the problem is to provide a latch mechanism that requires substantial strength to operate. Unfortunately, the elderly, handicapped, or other adults may not be strong enough to operate such a latch.
Accordingly, what is needed is a self-latching mechanism for a door or window that is difficult to operate by unauthorized individuals, such as, small children and those adults whose mental acuity is in some way diminished so as to warrant restricted access to a particular area, such as to a pool/spa area.


A network device may include one or more processors. The one or more processors may receive a call from a services processor to allocate network address translation resources for a data packet. The one or more processors may determine an identifier associated with the services processor. The one or more processors may allocate network address translation resources using a network address port translation manager based on the identifier. The network address translation port manager may be a two-level port bitmap management system that determines a translated source port for the data packet.

In computer networking, a network address translation (NAT) is a networking service that allows devices on a private network to communicate with devices on a public network, such as the Internet. Using a NAT allows one or more devices, on a private network, to be viewed, by devices outside the NAT, as having the same Internet connection or the same network address, thereby providing security to the one or more devices on the private network. Port forwarding or port mapping is an application of NAT that redirects a communication request from one Internet protocol (IP) address and port number combination to another while packets (e.g., segments of data) traverse a network device (e.g., a services gateway).

NAT port manager for enabling port mapping using remainders


A cosmetic skin care product comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a honey extract is described, the honey extract having a phenolic compound to saccharides ratio of at least 5 times greater than the raw honey from which the extract is derived and including a mixture of at least ethanol, water and one or more MMP inhibitory phenolic compounds.

Honey is a well known active ingredient in many products including use in culinary applications, topical medical treatments including incorporation into existing cosmetic skin care formulations. Cosmetic skin care formulations often may not have sufficient honey included to confer any activity or if present, or the type of honey chosen only provides a low level if any of MMP inhibition. This is because honey at higher concentrations leads to formulation issues such as stickiness and high viscosity form the honey plus the inventors have found that only certain honey types confer MMP inhibition.
Matrix-metalloproteinases (MMP's) play an important role in skin aging. Activated by ultra-violet radiation (UV), an overexpression of MMPs can lead to a breakdown of collagen in the skin. This in consequence can cause reduced skin elasticity and the formation of wrinkles. MMP inhibitors are useful ingredients in anti-aging skin care formulations as they reduce photo-aging of the skin caused by collagen degradation. Natural MMP inhibitors have recently gained favour in the market.
The inventors have found that some honeys, for example manuka honey, can have MMP inhibition effects. Manuka honey is derived from the plant species Leptospermum scoparium and contains a wide range of phenolic and flavonoid compounds some of which have been identified and others remain as yet unknown. The exact activities of the various phenolics and flavonoids is still an area of rich research with many new compounds being identified and the activities elucidated. Manuka honey is a particularly well known honey for it's non-peroxide effects thanks in part to acceptance into topical medical applications and in particular, the anti-bacterial effects of methyl glyoxal (MGO) in this honey. Other Leptospermum genus honeys also have similar anti-bacterial effects linked with MGO such as Leptospermum subtenue and Leptospermum polygalifolium. In addition to the Leptospermum genus honeys, further honeys derived from Kunzea and Knightia genus such as kanuka (Kunzea ericoides) and rewarewa (Knightia excelsa) honeys also have high levels of phenolic and flavonoid concentrations. These honeys do not contain MGO but nevertheless show promise in having other forms of activity in vivo.
According to the inventor's work and knowledge, the phenolic component of honey appears to be the main component responsible for MMP inhibitory effects. Whilst the exact phenolic compounds conferring the activity are not known, the inventors have identified that phenolic extracts have this activity.
Methylsyringate (although itself not active) is a basic building block of many phenolic compounds. It can be measured easily (for example via HPLC) and is found in phenolic rich honeys. Methyl syringate can be found in existing commercialized skin care formulations in concentrations ranging from 8 to 40 μg/mL and by inference, a range of methyl syringate related phenolic compounds are also present in these products. In any case, the presence and extent of MMP inhibition effects appear to correlate to the concentration of methyl syringate in the extract.
While honey has useful MMP inhibitory effects as identified by the inventor's, honey does present a significant challenge when formulating skin care products. On the one hand, the formulator wants to maximize the concentration of honey in the formulation in order to maximize the MMP inhibition activity. On the other hand, even at low concentrations of 5% (w/w), the sugars in the honey can prove troublesome in skin care formulations. The sugars can cause an unpleasant, sticky skin feel and there can be issues with skin absorbtion. This therefore limits the concentration of honey possible and hence limits the activity of the final product.
To achieve a useful MMP inhibiting effect with honey, unpleasantly high sugar concentrations have to be introduced into the skin care formulation potentially rendering the product unmarketable due to poor cosmetic properties.
It should be appreciated that it would be useful to increase the MMP inhibitory effects of a skin care formulation whilst also avoiding the negative effects of honey in the formulation or at least to provide the public with a choice.
Further aspects and advantages of the extract and methods of use will become apparent from the ensuing description that is given by way of example only.

Matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitory extract and methods of use thereof


In this embodiment, a mask material is formed above a film to be processed, and a plurality of sacrifice films are formed above the mask material, each of the sacrifice films having a columnar shape. Then, a sidewall film is formed on a sidewall of the sacrifice films, and then the sacrifice films are removed. Thereafter, the sidewall films are caused to flow. In addition, a plurality of holes are formed in the mask material using the sidewall film as a mask. Then, isotropic etching is performed for the mask material to etch back the sidewall of the mask material with respect to a sidewall of the sidewall film by a first distance. Thereafter, a deposition layer is deposited inside the plurality of holes to close an opening of the plurality of holes with the deposition layer. Anisotropic etching is conducted to remove the deposition layer in the opening.

In a semiconductor device, e.g., a semiconductor memory device, a device where many holes penetrating through stacked films are formed is known. In miniaturization of semiconductor devices, it is required not only to reduce a line width and a pitch of wirings, but also to reduce a diameter of these plural holes and an arrangement pitch thereof. However, when aiming such miniaturization, there is a problem that variation in diameter of holes becomes remarkable.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof


A device for storing an excess length of a cable, the device includes two separate guide members configured to guide the cable, each guide member presenting a groove for receiving the cable, the relative position of the guide members being adjustable with a longitudinal part extending having a first end and a free second end, the first end being secured to one of the guide members, the longitudinal part being suitable for being fastened to the other guide member from the free second end and being capable of being moved relative to the other guide member while remaining fastened thereto.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for storing an excess length of at least one optical fiber or some other type of cable.
The invention relates to the technique of cabling using electrical cables or harnesses and optical fibers or some other type of cable in an environment, e.g. but not exclusively, in an airplane or in a similar apparatus.
2. Discussion of the Background
As is well known, optical fibers serve in particular to convey signals at a very high rate and in reliable manner. In particular, sensitivity to electromagnetic interference (EMI), i.e. sensitivity to an external electromagnetic field, is greatly reduced. Nevertheless, the strand of glass that constitutes the optical fiber is very fragile and runs the risk of breaking if it is subjected to stresses that are too high, in particular as a result of bending with too small a radius of curvature within the intended equipment.
When fitting an airplane with information transmission means, determining the exact length required for electrical and optical fiber cabling constitutes a major problem. If the cabling is provided with a length that is too short, then it cannot be put into place. In contrast, if the cabling is provided at a length that is too long, then the question arises of what to do with the excess length of cabling, and in particular of optical fiber.
Certain airplane designers cause optical fibers to follow helical paths over the periphery of an electrical harness so as to be able to compensate for the excess length of fiber by modifying the pitch of the helix. That installation technique presents certain drawbacks. If it is necessary to remove an electric cable from the harness, the optical fiber installed around the periphery of the harness runs the risk of impeding access to the cable and to its replacement. In addition, since the optical fibers are located on the outside of the harness, involuntary handling of the optical fiber runs the risk of damaging it.

Storage device for the overlength of an optical fiber or other type of cable


The present invention provides speed dial capability for traditional telephones, which are coupled to a terminal adaptor to facilitate calls over a packet network. In operation, the terminal adaptor will receive a speed dial code, such as 12#, from a traditional telephone and use the speed dial code to attempt to initiate a session over the packet network. A proxy will intercept the session request, recognize the speed dial code in the session request, and access an address associated with the speed dial code. The proxy will then use the address corresponding to the speed dial code to initiate a session between the terminal adaptor and another device to facilitate the call. The terminal adaptor will provide the necessary translation between the packet network and the traditional telephony interface to which the traditional telephone is coupled.

Traditional telephony systems provide telephones that are loosely associated with specific users and are represented by numeric addresses in a coordinated, global numbering plan. Modern telephones generally have a simple keypad with ten digits and two special symbols, * and #, to initiate calls. These calls support and are generally limited to voice sessions.
In the world of Internet communications, a voice session is just one of numerous types of media sessions. Given the dominance of voice-based communications, many IP-based multimedia communication networks will start out with voice as the dominant media. As such, it is predicted that a significant community of initial users will find it attractive to use their familiar, traditional telephone sets, in conjunction with an adaptor that effectively provides a gateway between the traditional telephone and an IP network over which calls may be initiated and received.
IP networks typically use very flexible hierarchical alphanumeric addressing systems where a user's personal identity is associated with a domain identity. The user addresses or identities are often lengthy, complex, and include not only a significant number of letters, but also characters such as dashes, the at symbol @, and periods. Accordingly, simplistic number dialing that is easily accomplished from the keypads of traditional telephones is not sufficient for effective and ready initiation of calls that are not associated with a traditional directory number.
Due to the inherent complexity of the alphanumeric addressing scheme of IP networks, most of these IP networks use directory structures to store and rapidly call frequently accessed contacts. Often, these directories are made visible on a display of a user's client terminal and users can simply click on a contact, or scroll through a directory list to select the desired contact and initiate a call thereto.
Traditional telephony devices are normally only configured to generate a serialized number pattern to initiate a call. Further, to assist users in maintaining the efficient dialing of directory numbers, speed dialing has been implemented using both telephone-specific and network-centralized techniques. In general, speed dialing allows a user to input an abbreviated number sequence, generally with at least one special symbol, to initiate the dialing of a corresponding directory number. Unfortunately, such speed dialing is not available in an IP communication environment for those users having traditional telephony equipment coupled to the IP network via a terminal adaptor. Accordingly, there is a need for providing an effective speed dialing system for such users to afford the traditional benefits of speed dialing as well as overcome the difficulties in entering an alphanumeric address for the user.


This invention is a lockable and retractable safety cap for covering the needle of a hypodermic syringe to prevent accidental needle-stick. There is a unitary cap assembly of a resiliently flexible plastic material including a hub portion disposed concentrically about a base portion of the needle and attached to the barrel, a sliding safety hub portion having a bore therethrough slidably disposed with the needle passing through the bore and extending over a point end of the needle, and a plurality of slats extending between the hub portion and the sliding safety hub portion. The slats are parallel to the needle whereby a longitudinal compressive force against the sliding safety hub portion is resisted by a longitudinal compressive resistance of the slats which must be overcome before the slats will deform and flex outward from the needle to expose the needle for use. A releasable safety latch assembly can be disposed over the slats for preventing deforming and outward flexing thereof. The preferred assembly comprises a coil spring disposed over the slats, a sliding collar carried by an outer end of the coil spring, a retaining button located on one of the slats adjacent the inner end for holding the sliding collar to retain the coil spring in a compressed state, and a release for releasing a hold on the sliding collar when the slats bends outward whereby following use of the syringe the coil spring is released and returns to an extended state.

This invention relates to safety covers for the needle of a hypodermic syringe and, more particularly, in a hypodermic syringe having a barrel with a needle extending outward therefrom, to a retractable safety cap for covering the needle to prevent accidental needle-stick therefrom comprising a unitary cap assembly of a resiliently flexible plastic material including a hub portion disposed concentrically about a base portion of the needle and attached to the barrel, a sliding safety hub portion having a bore therethrough slidably disposed with the needle passing through the bore and extending over a point end of the needle, and a plurality of slats extending between the hub portion and the sliding safety hub portion, the slats being spaced from one another along adjacent edges thereof at radially equal intervals about the periphery of the needle and being parallel to the needle whereby a longitudinal compressive force against the sliding safety hub portion is resisted by a longitudinal compressive resistance of the slats which must be overcome before the slats will deform and flex outward from the needle to allow the sliding safety hub portion to slide along and expose the needle for use.
So-called "needle-stick" is a major problem among health workers such as doctors, nurses, and the like. Needle-stick is the accidental puncturing of the skin of a health worker while working with hypodermic syringes. Needle-stick, per se, is not a new phenomenon for health care workers. In the past, however, it was more of an inconvenience than anything else. The present level of activity of serum-transmitted diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS, however, has transformed needle-stick from a mere inconvenience to a major consideration for health care workers. When a health care worker is stuck, he or she must be tested for exposure to the various serum-transmitted diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS. Even if such diseases were never actually contracted from the invasion of the needle through the skin, the costs of such testing would be (and are) considerable. Unfortunately, the diseases are contracted by such accidental needle-stick. Thus, the health care worker who is stuck must suffer the mental anguish of possibly having contracted hepatitis or AIDS by virtue of the accident.
The typical syringe in use today is as depicted in FIG. 1 where it is generally indicated as 10. The syringe 10 has a cylindrical barrel 12 into which a cylindrical plunger 14 is slidable inserted at one end. A needle 16 is attached to the opposite end of the barrel 12. For ease of puncturing the skin of a patient, the end of the needle 16 terminates in an extremely sharp chisel point 18. The needle 16 is covered with a removeable cylindrical cap 20 which typically lockingly attaches to the barrel 12. To remove the needle cap 20 for use of the syringe 10, the cap 20 is rotated to unlock it from the barrel 12 and then removed from over the needle 16. Once the protective cap 20 is removed, the point 18 is exposed and available for unintended needle-stick. For example, the syringe 10 could be dropped and stick into the user or anyone in the area at any point of the body in the path of descent. The cap 20 is also replaced on the syringe 10 after use for safety purposes. That process itself is a major contributor to needle-stick as it is easy for the user to miss the opening to the cap 20 with the needle 16 and stick a finger which is holding the cap 20.
Needle-stick is not a problem which has gone un-noticed in the art. Unfortunately, with one exception which will be addressed shortly, those persons inventing with an eye to preventing needle-stick have not done so in a realistic manner. Typically, what is offered as a solution is a complicated hypodermic syringe construction which (while it may work to prevent needle-stick) is so complex as to drive the cost of a syringe beyond that which the health care industry is willing to pay. For example, one popular prior art approach is to have the needle 16 be mounted for automatic retraction into the barrel 12 after use. As can be appreciated, not only is such construction complex and, therefore, extremely expensive; but, it does not take into consideration how such parts can be produced. As can be appreciated, the cylindrical barrel 12 and plunger 14 of the prior art syringe 10 of FIG. 1 are easily and inexpensively produced employing injection molding techniques with plastic. The syringes come pre-sterilized in a plastic wrap and are discarded after a single use thereby minimizing the costs associated with each single injection.
The single known exception to the general and complete impracticality of prior art approaches to preventing needle-stick is that suggested by Dr. Marcial Alvarez in his 1979 U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,009. This is not to say that Dr. Alvarez's retractable needle cap is a complete solution to the problem. There are, in fact, problems with Dr. Alvarez's approach which account for the fact that despite the extreme nature of the problem and the fact that Dr. Alvarez's design has been available to the art for over eleven years, the Alvarez solution has not been adopted by the suppliers of syringes. What the Alvarez cap suggests, however, is that there can be a simple and inexpensive approach to solving the needle-stick problem employing standard disposable syringes. The Alvarez approach is depicted in greatly simplified form in FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein his retractable cap is generally indicated as 22. The cap 22 comprises a cylindrical hub 24 which attaches to the barrel 12 of the syringe 10 in the same manner as the prior art cap 20. An annular slider member 26 fits over the needle 16 adjacent the point 18. A plurality (four being suggested) of bowed members 28 (four being suggested) extend from the hub 24 to the slider member 26 and extend out over the point 18 of the needle 16 so as to completely encase the needle 16. In use, the slider member 26 can be pressed against the rubber cover of a bottle (to fill the syringe 10) or against the skin of a patient (to inject from the syringe 10). By pushing the syringe forward, the slider member 26 is urged backward along the needle 16 as the bowed members 28 bow outward to a retracted position as in FIG. 3. Alternately, the slider member 26 can be gripped and retracted as, for example, when doing an intravenous injection in which the positioning of the needle 16 must be observed.
On paper and as a first impression, the Alvarez apparatus appears to be an ideal solution to the needle-stick problem. When one contemplates the totality of its operation and investigates the practicalities of producing it on a commercial level, however, certain shortcoming become apparent. For one thing, it is virtually impossible to mold the retractable cap 22 of Alvarez. Moreover, if one counts the parts in the retractable cap 22 of Alvarez as depicted in the patent drawings, there are five parts to each cap. As those skilled in the art are readily aware, each part of a device adds to the cost of manufacture and assembly. When manually retracting the cap 22 of Alvarez by gripping the slider member 26, it can be seen and appreciated that it would be an easy matter to have a finger in the line of movement of the needle point 18 and be stuck by it. Moreover, with the cap 22 in its "safety" position of FIG. 2, if one were to longitudinally bump the slider member 26, it is highly likely that the slider member 26 would retract sufficiently to allow the point 18 of the needle 16 to stick someone sufficiently to puncture the skin. This can be seen with reference to the graph of FIG. 4. As soon as some longitudinal force is applied to the slider member 26 of the Alvarez cap 22, the slider member 26 begins to move back and expose the point 18 of the needle 16. What would be desirable would be a retractable cap which would perform as depicted in FIG. 5; that is, have a step force which must be overcome before the cap begins to retract. The step force should be sufficient to prevent retraction from normal bumping force. Even more ideal would be a way of locking the cap from retraction until actual retraction was desired.
Two approaches somewhat similar to Alvarez are contained in the 1988 patents to Hagen (U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,618) and Dombrowski et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,828).
Wherefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a retractable safety cap for covering the needle of a hypodermic syringe to minimize the opportunity of needle-stick which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a retractable safety cap for covering the needle of a hypodermic syringe to minimize the opportunity of needle-stick which is reliable in operation.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a retractable safety cap for covering the needle of a hypodermic syringe to minimize the opportunity of needle-stick which can be employed with prior art syringes without any necessity of modifying the syringe.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a retractable safety cap for covering the needle of a hypodermic syringe to minimize the opportunity of needle-stick which has a safety threshold of force necessary to retract the cap which will avoid retraction from normal longitudinal bumping forces.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a retractable safety cap for covering the needle of a hypodermic syringe to minimize the opportunity of needle-stick which has a safety lock associated therewith which will avoid retraction until desired.
Other objects and benefits of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description which follows hereinafter when taken in conjunction with the drawing figures which accompany it.

Safety syringe cap minimizing needle-stick probability


A method and an apparatus for an integrated high definition television controller are described. The integrated high definition digital television controller includes two or more the following functions in a single chip: MPEG2 Transport, Audio and Video Decoders, Video input capture and converter, flexible video scan rate converter, de-interlace processor, display controller and video D/A converters, graphics controller, a unified local bus, N-plane alpha blending, a warping engine, audio digital signal processor, disk drive interface, peripheral bus interfaces, such as PCI bus and local bus interfaces, various I/O peripherals, a bus bridge with a partitioned chip, and a CPU with caches. The integrated controller, in one embodiment, is designed to handle multiple television standards (for example ATSC, ARIB, DVB, AES, SMPTE, ITU) and designed to be deployed in various countries in the world.

As television systems are gradually being outfitted with high definition capabilities, manufacturers are faced with the need to provide advanced functionality systems while minimizing cost. Conventional digital television controller systems incorporate multiple hardware processor chips. The use of separate chips increases overall system and production costs, leading to a higher cost for high definition television systems. Thus there is a need for a cost-effective platform for providing high definition television capability.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional digital television controller system incorporating multiple hardware processor chips. These processors typically include dedicated memory controller bridges to external memory storage. Control and synchronization among the various processor units is achieved using one or many control buses connected in various ways.

Method and apparatus for an integrated high definition television controller


A method for counting photons using a photomultiplier includes obtaining a measurement signal from a raw signal produced by the photomultiplier by correcting the raw signal for a noise signal and/or an offset, wherein an incident photon produces a pulse in the raw signal. The measurement signal is integrated over time to form an analog integrated measurement signal. A number of photons that are incident in the photomultiplier is ascertained by comparing a value of the analog integrated measurement signal to an integral proportionality value which corresponds to a specific number of photons incident in the photomultiplier.

Light detectors having the highest possible sensitivity are used for example in confocal microscopy to capture the fluorescence light emitted by the sample with the best possible signal-to-noise ratio and quantitatively as accurately as possible. Various types of photomultipliers are suitable herefor. It is in particular desirable to use semiconductor photomultipliers (SCPM) such as silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) for this purpose, since these offer advantages in terms of sensitivity, temporal resolution and robustness at relatively small costs.
In an SCPM, an analog pulse 100 is produced from each detected photon, wherein a typical signal profile (intensity over time) is shown in FIG. 1. The pulse shape is divided into a rapid increase 101 in the ns to sub-ns range and a drop 102 in the range of typically 20-100 ns. The signal height is given substantially by the bias voltage above the avalanche breakdown and the capacitance of the individual cell, and of course by amplification factors of the subsequent electronics. The rapid increase is a consequence of the breakdown, at which the capacitance of the biased diode is discharged to below the breakdown voltage, and the slower drop is the result of the RC time constants in combination with what is known as the "quenching" resistance. The area under the signal curve corresponds, as it were, to the charge liberated during the breakdown. An SiPM having dimensions that are reasonable for confocal microscopy (e.g. 1.3 mm×1.3 mm; 200-1500 individual cells connected in parallel) offers, in addition to great homogeneity, signals of equal size or the same charge for each cell impinged upon by a photon.
In principle, the data recording in photomultipliers can be effected either in the counting mode or in the integration mode (also referred to as digital or analog mode).
One possible approach for obtaining a signal that is proportional to the number of the incident photons is to count the events by comparing the analog signal to a threshold and by increasing a counter each time the latter is exceeded. As soon as pulses superpose, however, the measured counting rate is smaller than the actual number of events. Knowing the instantaneous photon statistics and the pulse shape, it is possible to draw conclusions with respect to the error and possibly correct it. In the case of pulsed excitation, it is also necessary to know the fluorescence lifetime to perform successful correction. That is to say, the correction must be effected in dependence on the sample, which entails additional outlay.
A further possibility to keep the errors as small as possible when counting pulses is to bring the pulses into as short a form as possible. This can be accomplished either by high-pass filtering of the output signal or by way of a capacitive tap between the diode and quenching resistor, such as for example shown in US 2013/0099100 A1. However this reduces the signal height.
The methods mentioned have in common that a saturation effect occurs during counting and that for example pulses with twice the height cannot be differentiated from simple pulses.
WO 2012/017762 shows a method in which a measurement signal is subjected to threshold value processing such that only signal values that lie above the threshold value are taken into account. The area under the pulses is then ascertained to determine the number of photons therefrom. However, due to the threshold value processing, the area and number of photons are not always proportional. For this reason it is necessary to calculate both a reference value and the threshold value.
It is therefore desirable to specify an improved method for counting photons.

Method for counting photons by means of a photomultiplier


To provide a combustion apparatus that has a vaporizer capable of vaporizing liquid fuel completely without complicating the structure of the combustion apparatus. The combustion apparatus has an evaporating part for heating and vaporizing the liquid fuel into combustion gas, and a premixed gas spout part for spouting out premixed gas in which the combustion gas is mixed with primary air, with an inflow port of the premixed gas spout part being provided at a position higher than the evaporating part. By configuring the combustion apparatus like this, a space for accumulating unvaporized liquid fuel is formed between the evaporating part and the inflow port, and sufficient time to completely vaporize the liquid fuel can be afforded. Therefore, unevaporated fuel in a liquid state can be prevented from flowing into the premixed gas spout part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a combustion apparatus for combusting premixed gas of combustion gas vaporized from liquid fuel and primary air.
2. Related Background Art
There has been conventionally known a combustion apparatus that has a vaporizer heated by a heater, supplied with liquid fuel, and generating combustion gas by heating and vaporizing the liquid fuel. The generated combustion gas is mixed with primary air to obtain premixed gas, which is then spouted out from a burner and combusted.
In such a combustion apparatus, if the liquid fuel is not vaporized sufficiently in the vaporizer, the liquid fuel that is not completely vaporized is deposited in the form of tar, causing poor vaporization, or the fuel reaches the burner directly as liquid, causing poor combustion. For this reason, various improvements have been made in order to vaporize the liquid fuel completely.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-170030 contrives a burner that has a vaporizer structured to spray primary air and liquid fuel into a vaporizing chamber to generate premixed gas, and further spray the premixed gas generated in the vaporizing chamber into a vaporizing mixing chamber, thereby completely vaporizing the liquid fuel that is not completely vaporized in the vaporizing chamber.
With this configuration, vaporization can be performed twice in the vaporizing chamber and the vaporizing mixing chamber, making the vaporization efficiency higher than that of the conventional technology.