A system for acquiring a received spread spectrum signal having a code component, the acquiring including matching the phase of a replica of the code component to the phase of the received code component and also determining a possible shift in the carrier frequency away from a nominal carrier frequency, the acquiring having an intrinsic bandwidth that is substantially the inverse of a predetermined fraction of a code period and also having a design bandwidth that is a fraction of the intrinsic bandwidth including possibly the entire intrinsic bandwidth, the system including means for performing various correlations over sections of a code period, the number of sections determining the intrinsic bandwidth, and adjusting the design bandwidth to be possibly less than the intrinsic bandwidth, so as to alter the characteristics of the acquisition.

This method relates, in general, to CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) spread spectrum receivers, and more specifically, to fast acquisition GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers.
Spread spectrum communication in its basic form is a method of taking a data-signal that is used to modulate a sinusoidal carrier and then spreading its bandwidth to a much larger value, e.g. in a global positioning system (GPS) application by multiplying a single-frequency carrier by a high-rate binary (xe2x88x921,1) pseudo-random noise (PRN) code sequence that is known to GPS users. Thus, the signal that is transmitted includes a data component, a PRN component, and a (sinusoidal) carrier component.
At the receiver, a synchronized replica of the transmitted PRN code is required to de-spread the data sequence. Initial synchronization, called acquisition, is followed by fine synchronization, which is called tracking.
The present invention relates to acquisition of a spread spectrum signal. Acquisition is the process by which the replica PRN code is synchronized (to within a small timing offset) with the code conveyed by the received signal either for the first time or after losing a previously acquired signal, and also by which the carrier frequency of the received signal is determined. Thus, to acquire a signal, an acquisition system must accurately determine any frequency-shifting of the received signal from the transmitted frequency in order to accurately wipeoff (remove) the carrier signal. Frequency-shifting can be caused by relative motion of the transmitter and receiver (Doppler-shifting) as well as by clock inaccuracies (so that a transmitter and receiver sometimes do not agree on what is in fact the same frequency). The carrier frequency-shifting results in a modulation of a code component after carrier wipe-off in the receiver. Thus, in acquiring a signal, it is also necessary that the replica code sequence be not only time-aligned with the received code sequence, but also modulated to compensate for the frequency-shifting so as to fully eliminate the PRN sequence and leave behind only the data conveyed by the received signal. The acquisition process is therefore a two-dimensional search, a search both in code phase and in frequency.
For GPS signals the search interval in the frequency domain can be as large as +/xe2x88x926 kHz. In addition, the phase of the received code relative to the replica can be any possible value of code phase, due to uncertainties in position of the satellite and time of transmission of the received signal. A PRN code period is typically 1023 chips, the term chips being used to designate bits of code conveyed by the transmitted signal, as opposed to bits of data. Thus, the acquisition module of a receiver must search a 12 kHz-wide interval with 1023xc3x97ks different code phases, where ks denotes the number of samples per chip.
Ordinary GPS receivers, i.e. those designed only for operation with unobstructed satellites, search for the frequency shift with a granularity of around 1 kHz. Thus, such receivers must search 12xc3x971023xc3x97ks different code/frequency combinations.
A GPS receiver designed for indoor operation must have an operating mode with equivalent noise bandwidth on the order of 10 Hz in the acquisition stage. Even with an equivalent noise bandwidth as small as 10 Hz though, for reliable tracking some post-detection filtering must still be performed as well as some further refining of the value determined for the carrier frequency in the acquisition stage. The granularity of 10 Hz requires that the receiver search 1200xc3x97ksxc3x971023 different code/frequency combinations and makes the sequential search so time-consuming as to be unrealistic, motivating the use of parallel and fast search methods.
Some existing methods often intentionally modulate the signal being acquired, sequentially or in parallel, to advance the search in frequency.
Existing methods are promising and useful in many situations, but what is needed is a spread spectrum acquisition system that performs the code/frequency acquisition search in a way that is computationally efficient and still as accurate as is needed for a given application. In other words, what is needed is a way to tailor an acquisition system so as to be able to balance the competing requirements for accuracy and speed appropriately for a given application.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a method, a corresponding apparatus, and a corresponding system, for acquiring a received spread spectrum signal, the received signal having a carrier component at a carrier frequency, a code component having a code period, and a data component, the acquiring including matching the phase of a replica of the code component to the phase of the received code component and also determining a possible shift in the carrier frequency away from a nominal carrier frequency, the acquiring having an intrinsic bandwidth that is substantially the inverse of a predetermined fraction of a code period and also having a design bandwidth that is a fraction of the intrinsic bandwidth including possibly the entire intrinsic bandwidth, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining samples of the received signal spanning one code period after the received signal is demodulated at the nominal carrier frequency, the obtaining of the samples being performed at a sampling rate, the samples being distributed over a number of sections as a predetermined number of samples per section, the inverse of the product of the number of sections and the code period determining the intrinsic bandwidth; determining a first frequency from among an ordered set of first frequencies spanning a frequency interval to be searched for the possible shift in the carrier frequency; mixing a sinusoid at the first frequency with the samples of the received signal, to provide a once-mixed received signal segment; assigning a value to the replica code phase, the assigning of a replica code phase amounting to associating a value of the replica code phase with a given position of the replica compared to the received signal; performing a series of section correlations with the sections of replica code of the once-mixed received signal segment, the samples spanning one code period, each section correlation being calculated using one section of the replica, phase-shifted by the replica code phase, the first correlation in the series being performed over the samples spanning the first section, and so on; determining an ordered set of second frequencies, the second frequencies lying in the interval between the selected first frequency and the next first frequency in the ordered set of first frequencies; coherently combining each of the section correlations using for the first section correlation a compensating factor including a sinusoid derived from the first second frequency in the ordered set of second frequencies, and so on, to provide a correlation with a code period of the replica at the code phase compensated by a compensating factor including a sinusoid derived from each of the frequencies in the ordered set of second frequencies; and repeating, for each further replica code phase in the ordered set of replica code phases, the series of section correlations and the coherent combining of the section correlations for each replica code phase a number of times equal to the number of frequencies in the ordered set of second frequencies using a different compensating factor for each coherent combining, the compensating factor for the first coherent combining including a sinusoid derived from the first second frequency in the ordered set of second frequencies, and so on, to determine a correlation at each of the further replica code phases and, for each of such replica code phases, at each of the second frequencies; wherein the parameter of design bandwidth is adjusted so as to alter characteristics of the acquisition.
In a further aspect of the invention, to achieve a desired tradeoff between design bandwidth in the sense of a portion of the frequency separation between successive first frequencies, cancellation of aliasing introduced by integration of the received signal with the replica code in computing a correlation of the received signal with the replica code, and frequency resolution, two parameters from among the set of three parameters consisting of the design bandwidth B, the number of second frequencies Nf, and frequency resolution fres, indicating the spacing between adjacent frequencies in the ordered set of second frequencies are independently selected, and the other parameter is determined based on the relation,
xe2x80x83B=fresxc2x7Nf
In yet another further aspect of the invention, the correlations used in the acquisition process are continued over several code periods, the correlations over the several code periods being coherently combined (i.e. taking into account both the sign and the magnitude of each term being combined) using compensation factors based on different trial second frequencies.

Method, apparatus and system for fast acquisition of a spread spectrum signal


There is disclosed an improved spindle construction for use in connection with harps of the type having a linkage assembly associated with foot pedals for controlling the action of harp strings. The improved spindle is designed to eliminate friction between the spindles and the action plates which are connected to the two ends of the spindle. The spindle is formed by a cylindrical body portion having a reduced diameter shaft at one end and proportioned to extend into a bore of one of the pair of action plates and to be rotatably retained therein. A bearing sleeve is press-fitted onto the cylindrical body portion at the other end thereof, the sleeve having a chamfered outer peripheral surface which corresponds with a chamfered bore formed in the other one of the pair of action plates into which the sleeve seats. The spindle having the sleeve press-fitted thereon is designed such that the sleeve permits the rotation of the spindle relative to the sleeve, and also permits the spindle to be rotatable relative to the bore into which it seats. Hence, the provision of a sleeve press-fitted onto the cylindrical body reduces the coefficient of friction with respect to the spindle when it is moved by the ultimate action of the foot pedals and thereby improves the sound of the harp strings.

This invention relates, generally, to an improved harp and, in particular, to an improved spindle for harps for substantially reducing or eliminating friction between the spindles and the harp's action plates in which the spindles are secured and for eliminating "freezing" of the spindles.
All harps have a disc associated with the respective ones of the harp's strings. These discs each carry two disc prong which are integrally formed therewith and are in spaced-apart relationship, such that when the disc is rotated, the disc prongs will grab the string tightly enough for the string to sound clear and not buzz when played. The discs each are affixed to one end of the spindle which is disposed between and supported by a pair of spaced-apart action plates secured to the neck of the harp. The spindles are rotatably operated by the linkage assemblies which comprise the harp's action and are operated respectively by one of the harp's foot pedal assemblies. The spindles, in turn, rotatably operate the discs which are affixed to them to grab the strings which are associated with the respective one of them.
The action plates between which the spindles are carried are of brass, and the spindles generally are of stainless steel or other metallic material which is of sufficient strength to rotatably support the linkage assemblies and which will create the least amount of friction as possible with the brass action plates when the spindles are rotatably operated. The harp can include as many as 90 such spindles and each linkage assembly includes a number of them. Any friction associated with the spindles included in any one linkage assembly has an accumulative affect when a foot pedal is operated, hence the more friction, the more difficult it is to operate the foot pedals.
Over the years, the design of these spindles has remained basically the same in spite of the fact that the friction between the spindles and action plates always has been a problem. In many cases, the spindles "freeze up" and cannot be rotated at all. Attempts have been made to eliminate this problem, yet none have provided a viable solution. For example, in many cases, special lubricants have been used and while initially the special friction is reduced, constant maintenance is required and the spindles must be relubricated. In extreme cases, hydraulic systems have been incorporated into the harp's action. These systems do not reduce the friction but simply reduce the effort required to operate the foot pedals. With these arrangements, the possibility of damaging the linkage assemblies and the pedal rods is greatly increased should one or more of the spindles "freeze up". Accordingly, none of these solutions has been satisfactory, for one reason or another.
An illustration of typical prior art type spindles insofar as harp linkages are concerned is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 617,514 to Robins, which illustrates a spindle connecting the action plates and fixedly securing the discs to the action plate. A typical prior art spindle is also shown in U.S. Pat. No. 509,022 to Durkee wherein the spindle is shown to be interconnected between the action plates, and includes a tapered end which seats into a bore in one action plate, and holds the disc with the string grabbing prongs formed thereon. As shown in the Durkee patent, the chamfered surface is intended to permit rotation of the spindle relative to the one action plate, as the foot pedals are manipulated in order to rotate the discs. The Durkee reference clearly represents the typical prior art spindle, and illustrates the manner in which the friction is created as the spindle rotates. As indicated previously, over time, the chamfered portion of the spindle has a tendency to bind in the bore, and eventually, freezes in the bore area, thereby affecting the sound of the harp, and ultimately requiring replacement.
A more recent harp construction is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,406,347 to Clark, which again shows the action plates having a spindle interconnected therebetween, and which holds the disc with the prongs on one end of the spindle. Once again, the spindle is shown to have a tapered end which seats in a bore in the one action plate and holds the disc securely thereon. It will be observed that in the time that passed between the issuance of the Durkee patent, and the issuance of the Clark patent, no significant changes were ever made to the spindle construction.
More recent technology has in fact been applied to musical instruments, and for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,421,398 to Whiteside does show the use of plastic bearing inserts to facilitate the movement of a hinged member on a woodwind instrument. However, the problems associated with harp linkages clearly required a solution to prevent the spindles from freezing in the bores, and for also improving the sounds emanating from the harp strings by permitting the free rotational movement of the spindles with respect to the action plates. The solution to the problem required that the spindle be freely rotatable in the bore, and it has been found to be just as important that the spindle be freely rotatable relative to the friction free bearing insert.


An inductive distance detecting circuit has a control circuit, an inductive distance detector, and an evaluation circuit (demodulator). The control circuit is an LC- oscillator which comprises a parallel circuit having a capacitor and which uses coils of the inductive distance detector, connected in series. An operational amplifier uses the capacitor and coil to determine distance.

Inductive metering devices are known, for instance, disclosed in the book "Der Hydrauliktrainer, Volume 2, Proportional- und Servoventiltechnik" of Mannesmann Rexroth GmbH, Lohr am Main on page D7. A distance detecting device of the type shown in this book is disclosed in FIG. 1 below. Another known design of a distance detecting device is further shown in FIG. 2 below.
Said known distance detecting devices require a substantial number of components with the consequence, that the space requirement on an electronic card are undesireably large. Moreover, said known distance detecting devices require a relatively large amount of power with the inherent disadvantages. Finally, the sinus voltage at into the distance detecting device has a large distortion factor and therefore a correspondingly large distortion factor when occur at the output of the evaluation circuit (a demodulator) which is arranged following the detecting device.

Inductive distance sensor using a particular oscillator impedance ratio


In order to make observation of localizations of in vivo expressed genes possible in an entire individual living organism such as animals, and plants, a living genetic recombinant specimen containing a marker that can be detected at the time when specific genes are expressed is sequentially severed, sectional images each of which corresponds to an image of sections severed are photographed in every scissions of the living specimen, and three-dimensional observation of the living specimen is implemented on the basis of the images photographed in every scissions described above, whereby three-dimensional localizations of expressed genes are observed in the living specimen.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for observing three-dimensional localizations of in vivo expressed genes as well as a method and an apparatus for observing minute three-dimensional localizations of in vivo expressed genes, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for observing three-dimensional localizations of in vivo expressed genes as well as a method and an apparatus for observing minute three-dimensional localizations of in vivo expressed genes used suitably in the case when an expressed situation in a variety of genes is observed in living organisms such as animals and plants.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, such a procedure that a living organism to be used for a specimen (an expression "living organism to be used for specimen" is hereinafter referred optionally to as "living specimen" in the present specification) is sliced, and the sliced living specimen is observed, whereby a two-dimensional configuration of expressed genes is observed in the living specimen has been adopted in case of observing a localization of genes expressed inside a living organism, i.e., in vivo expressed genes.
Furthermore, it becomes possible to discriminate expressed sites of specific genes inside a living specimen in accordance with such a manner that a marker (label), which can be detected at the time of gene expression, is incorporated in genes being objects to be observed, and then, a resulting living genetic recombinant specimen containing the genes into which the marker has been incorporated is observed in the case where the observation technique as described above is applied.
In this case, fluorescent materials, luminescent materials, coloring matters and the like may be used for such marker as described above. Specific examples thereof include GFP, EGFP, YFP, RFP, luciferin, melanin pigment and the like.
However, the observing techniques as described above involve such problems that a range, which can be observed, is limited in the case where an entire living specimen is looked through, because a stereoscopic microscope is used in comparatively broad macro observation as well as that observation is difficult upon a minute site, so that resolving power becomes poor.
For this reason, there has been such a problem that it is very difficult to observe localizations of in vivo expressed genes in an entire individual living organism according to a conventional observing technique.
On hand, while there is "in-situ Hybridization" as a method for observing sliced expressed genes, it is necessary for infiltrating a marker such as fluorescent materials, coloring matters and the like into the interior of a living specimen in this method, so that it is difficult to dye homogeneously the interior of the living specimen.
Besides, when the observation as described above is implemented, such an observing technique wherein a confocal laser microscope is used has been applied in case of micro observation by which a minute region is observed. In this case, however, a range, which can be observed by such technique as described above, is narrow, in other words, an extent of which is only up to around 100 μm from its surface of a living specimen to be observed in the thick direction thereof.
Therefore, there has been such a problem that it is extremely difficult to observe three-dimensional localizations of in vivo expressed genes in an entire individual living organism.

Method and apparatus for observing three-dimensional localizations of in vivo expressed genes as well as method and apparatus for observing minute three-dimensional localizations of in vivo expressed genes


Adaptive applications of affinity propagation are described to facilitate effective and computationally efficient means of clustering computer-based objects such as items of content, and/or to determine exemplars associated with a set of objects. Affinity propagation is also applied by the present invention to define system user affinity groups and/or exemplar users. The present invention applies usage behaviors as a basis for influencing clustering through methods such as initializing exemplar attractor values based on usage behaviors and/or basing similarity values between pairs of objects or users on usage behaviors associated with system objects, or usage behaviors that are associated with, directly or indirectly, specific system users.

In network-based computing structures, most generally comprising a plurality of computer-based objects and associated relationships among some or all of the objects, it is often the case that it is desirable to conveniently cluster subsets of the network for various purposes, such as improving user navigation. It may also be desirable to cluster or create affinity groups of other system aspects or elements, such as system users. However, historically, automatically clustering large networks of objects has been computationally intensive, to the point of being prohibitively time consuming for many otherwise desirable clustering applications. Further, prior art approaches to clustering information in network-based computing structures have exhibited arbitrariness in the outcomes of the clustering process due to dependence on the initial selection of the loci of clusters. The process for initializing clustering loci in prior art approaches typically has required either random selection of cluster loci or some degree of manual intervention. The former approach requires many separate runs with different selected foci to achieve reasonable results, often being computationally prohibitive, and the latter approach also does not necessarily ensure best results, and, of course, is not a fully automatic. Further the prior art does not address effective and efficient clustering procedures that are not only automatic, but that are adaptive to system use. The lack of adaptation to use of computer-based system clustering results in "brittle" clustering approaches that fail to deliver a high degree of value to systems users on a sustained basis.
Therefore a computationally more efficient and less manual system and method of clustering network-based computing structures, and one that is also adaptive to system use, is highly desirable.

Affinity propagation in adaptive network-based systems


An electro-active spectacle lens is disclosed. The disclosed lens includes a first lens optic. The disclosed lens also includes a first electro-active zone positioned in a cooperative relationship with the first lens optic. In certain embodiments, the electro-active lens includes a range finder positioned in a cooperative relationship with the electro-active lens.

This invention relates to the following co-pending applications, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety:
xe2x80x9cSystem, Apparatus, and Method for Correcting Vision Using an Electro-Active Lensxe2x80x9d, Ser. No: 09/602,013 filed Jun. 23, 2000;
xe2x80x9cSystem, Apparatus, and Method for Correcting Vision Using Electro-Active Spectaclesxe2x80x9d, Ser. No. 09/602,012 filed Jun. 23, 2000; and
xe2x80x9cSystem, Apparatus, and Method for Reducing Birefringencexe2x80x9d, Ser. No. 09/603,736 filed Jun. 23, 2000.
The present invention relates to the field of vision correction, and, more particularly, to a system, apparatus, and method for correcting vision using an electro-active lens.

Method for refracting and dispensing electro-active spectacles


An optical multiplexer that adjusts the wavelength response and compensates for temperature effects by using rotatable mirror. The wavelength response of the device is adjusted by aligning the mirror at a correct angle with respect to the surface terminating the optical waveguide grating. The temperature dependence of the index of refraction of the material comprising the waveguides is compensated for by rotating a reflecting surface of the mirror, the rotation based on differential thermal expansion. Some exemplary embodiments may comprise a slab waveguide on a substrate (the slab waveguide having a first and second arcuate end surfaces) attached to a submount, a mirror assembly rigidly attached to the submount (the mirror assembly comprising a first and second materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion), and an optical waveguide grating (upon the substrate attached to the submount) optically coupled between the second arcuate surface and the mirror assembly. A portion of the mirror assembly between the reflector surface and where the mirror assembly is rigidly attached to the submount deforms as a function of temperature to change an angle between the optical waveguide grating and the reflecting surface.

1. Field of the Invention
Various embodiments of the invention are directed to temperature compensated optical multiplexers. More particularly, embodiments of the invention are directed to a reflective arrayed waveguide grating multiplexer having a mirror that rotates based on differential thermal expansion to compensate for differences in index of refraction caused by temperature changes.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Optical multiplexers may comprise waveguides within which light of varying frequencies is allowed to propagate. However, the index of refraction within the waveguides changes with operating temperature, which therefore changes the optical path lengths and adversely affects operation. In order to obviate the adverse effects of temperature, some related art systems attempt to precisely control the temperature of optical multiplexers. Precise temperature control may be difficult and costly, particularly in remote locations.
Other related art devices may attempt to compensate for temperature changes rather than perform temperature control. Published United States Patent Application No. 2002/0097961A1 to Kazarinov discloses such a system. In the Kazarinov system, a rigid mirror is rotationally fixed to the substrate upon which the waveguides are formed. The mirror is rotated as a function of temperature by a thermally conductive body, e.g. a copper block, pushing on the reflective surface. However, it is difficult to rotationally mount the mirror on the substrate, and further the thermally conductive body pushing on the reflective surface and the substrate tends to distort the mirror and produce stress in the grating, degrading performance.

Temperature compensated optical multiplexer


In a semiconductor circuit device having a data output buffer circuit for driving an external circuit under the control of an output control signal, the device comprises an output detecting circuit for detecting the level changes in the data signal which is inputted to the data output buffer circuit. The output detecting circuit may also detect the level changes in the output control signal. The device further comprises a holding circuit for holding the output level of other related input circuits, for example an external signal input circuit, based on the detection of the level changes by the output detecting circuit, whereby possible output noises attendant on the data outputting operation of the data output buffer circuit are prevented from affecting the operation of the other related input circuits.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and, more particularly, to a semiconductor device having a data output buffer circuit controlled by an output control signal, in which output noises attendant on data outputting operation of the data output buffer circuit do not affect the operation of other related input circuits.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, for driving an external circuit, a semiconductor device of the type to which the present invention relates utilizes MOS field effect transistors (hereinafter referred to as "FET"s) in a data output buffer circuit. The data output buffer circuit also comprises an inverter, a NAND gate and a NOR gate. The data which is read out from an internal storage cell in the semiconductor device and amplified is outputted to the external circuit under the control of an output control signal. Such a conventional semiconductor device suffers from a problem such that, when the data is outputted, a transitional change (hereinafter referred to as an "output noise") in the power supply potential or the ground potential is unavoidably transmitted to other related circuits constituting the semiconductor device. Transmission of such an output noise occurs because a power supply line and a ground line connected to the data output buffer circuit are respectively in common with a power supply line and a ground line for other related circuits such as an external signal input circuit. This was a defect in the device since such an output noise had to cause changes in the input threshold voltage. An example of such a problem is that the logical level of the external input signal was inverted due to the influence of the output noise on the circuit.

Semiconductor device having output buffer circuit controlled by output control signal


A system for presenting an electronic programming guide in a media system is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) media receiver having a controller element to transmit to a portal information associated with an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG). The portal processes the information to present a Graphical User Interface (GUI) window corresponding to a slideable canvas of the EPG in an Internet browser of a communication device requesting the EPG. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Current implementations of Electronic Programming Guides (EPGs) are typically presented in a flat graphical user interface. Navigating through listings of media channels and their respective media programs in an EPG can be cumbersome. Consequently, some subscribers resort to navigating between media channels until they find a program of interest, which can be inefficient and frustrating.
A need therefore arises for a system for presenting an electronic programming guide in a media system.

System for presenting an electronic programming guide in a media system


A method for diagnosing and correcting errors at a data processing system is disclosed includes detecting at a first device of the system, such as a network interface device, an error at a second device of the system, such as a data processor. In response to detecting the error, the first device communicates a help request via a network. In response to the help request, the first device receives diagnostic and error correction routines from a remote system. The first device executes the routines and provides information to the remote system to diagnose and correct errors at the second device.

The use of data processing systems, such as computer devices, cell phones, personal data assistants, and the like, continues to increase. Further, the functions for which data processing systems are employed also continue to grow. This has led to a commensurate increase in the complexity of the data processing device. For example, data processing systems can frequently employ multiple processors, as well as specialized hardware such as graphics cards and input/output controllers. However, as the complexity of the data processing device has grown, so too has the difficulty in diagnosing the cause of errors at a particular system. This difficulty is exacerbated when the error is a catastrophic error that renders the data processing device partially inoperable or inaccessible to a system user. Accordingly, an improved method and device for diagnosing and correcting errors at a data processing system would be useful.
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Remote access diagnostic mechanism for communication devices


Melamine foams exhibiting a very low level of water absorption and low residual formaldehyde are provided. The foams may be prepared by repeatedly soaking a melamine foam with an aqueous polysiloxane emulsion and squeezing out the emulsion, followed by a drying step and then a high-temperature annealing step.

Melamine foam has a very fine pore reticulated structure, and is typically hygroscopic and hydrophilic. Under high humidity conditions, the foam may absorb moisture, and some degree of dimensional change can take place. In environments where the product is exposed to water and water based fluids, it readily absorbs these fluids. Melamine foam also contains residual retained formaldehyde, which can be released over time, especially in the presence of liquid water or high atmospheric humidity.
Melamine foams are highly temperature resistant, and can typically withstand temperatures up to 375° F. in continuous service. The product produces extremely low smoke and flame levels and is suitable for use in architectural and aerospace type applications. The byproducts of combustion have very low toxicity.
Unfortunately, the typically hygroscopic nature of many prior art melamine foams makes them unsuitable for use in a number of applications, such as for example pressurized aircraft applications where significant condensation occurs at elevated altitudes. This becomes particularly problematic when considering the material for use as fuselage insulation. Similarly, the residual formaldehyde is a negative attribute that causes the product to be unsuitable in many applications, such as automobile interiors.
There is thus still a need for a melamine foam product that is hydrophobic rather than hydrophilic, and exhibits reduced formaldehyde release.


Disclosed herein are medical devices comprising a single-lobed, thin-walled, expandable body and a flexible, elongated delivery device for treating saccular vascular aneurysms and occluding segments of blood vessels and other biological conduits. The expandable bodies may include gold and other metals that can be compressed, positioned in the lumen of an aneurysm, or other biological conduit and expanded. The external surface of the expandable bodies can be configured to promote local thrombosis and to promote the growth of tissue into and around the surface in order to reduce migration of the expandable body and to occlude and seal the aneurysm or biological conduit. For the treatment of saccular aneurysms, the expandable body may be deployed in combination with one or more coiled wires that contact both the wall of the aneurysm and the expandable body and exert force on the expandable body to aid in sealing the aneurysm neck.

An aneurysm is an abnormal outward bulging of a blood vessel that can occur anywhere in the body. This bulge weakens the blood vessel wall, making it susceptible to rupture, which can result in bleeding or hemorrhage. Aneurysms are common in the arterial circulation of the brain, where they are known as cerebral or intracranial aneurysms. When cerebral aneurysms rupture, this often leads to a hemorrhagic stroke, brain damage, and sometimes death. Cerebral aneurysms are a common condition, affecting an estimated 2% of the adult population. Approximately 90% of cerebral aneurysms are saccular with a rounded, sac, or pouch-like shape. Invasive surgery is the traditional mode of treatment, with the surgery involving opening the skull and sealing the aneurysms by placing a small surgical clip on the outside of the neck or body of the aneurysm, thereby limiting blood flow into the aneurysm sac.
Alternatively, minimally invasive, catheter-based, endovascular treatments have been used wherein a series of small metal coiled wires ("coils") are used to fill aneurysm sacs, blood vessel segments, or biological conduit segments to effect occlusion. In order to occlude an aneurysm or blood vessel with coils, a physician inserts a catheter into a lumen of the vascular system and maneuvers the catheter tip to the location where occlusion is desired. With the catheter tip in position, the physician passes the coils through the catheter into the lumen or inner cavity of the aneurysm, blood vessel segment, or biological conduit segment.
Although effective, coiling of saccular cerebral aneurysms has drawbacks. First, coil placement is difficult to control, often resulting in coil protrusion into the parent vessel or coil migration to non-target locations. Second, coils only partially fill and occlude the aneurysm sac. The accumulation of thrombus and fibrous tissue is required to seal the aneurysm, a process that often takes weeks to months to occur and is sometimes incomplete, which can reduce the effectiveness of coils in the treatment of acute aneurysm rupture with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Even when the use of coils is initially effective, recanalization of the aneurysm, blood vessel, or biological conduit is a common occurrence, resulting in a return of blood flow to the aneurysm and increasing the risk rupture over time. Incomplete filling of saccular aneurysms with coils is especially common in the neck region of saccular aneurysms, where coil density can be low and blood flow rates high. Third, numerous coils are usually required to treat the aneurysm, resulting in high costs and long treatment times. Fourth, coils are susceptible to compaction, further exposing the aneurysm neck and thereby contributing to the high rate of aneurysm recurrence.
More recently, traditional tubular stents have been adapted for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms. These stents are placed on catheter delivery devices and positioned in the parent vessel adjacent to the aneurysm. These stents are then expanded in the parent vessel with the delivery device, followed by removal of the delivery device. The expanded metal stent acts to reduce blood flow into the aneurysm sac and promote aneurysm thrombosis. Although effective, the use of these "flow diverting" stents has drawbacks. First, the stents may cover and divert blood flow away from important arterial branches adjacent to the aneurysm, sometimes resulting in ischemia and stroke—a problem especially seen with the treatment of bifurcation aneurysms. Second, these stents are a source of thrombus and intimal hyperplasia formation in the parent vessel, which can result in narrowing in the parent vessel lumen, ischemia, and stroke.
In other clinical situations, patients can benefit from the occlusion of certain artery or vein segments. Clinical settings where endovascular vessel occlusion is beneficial include reducing bleeding from an injured vessel, reducing blood flow to tumors, and rerouting the path of blood in the vascular system for other purposes such as to reduce blood flow to vascular anomalies and malformations. Minimally invasive, catheter-based, endovascular treatments have been developed to occlude blood vessel segments. Endovascular medical devices for blood vessel occlusion include balloon catheters wherein the balloon can be inflated to fill the lumen of a blood vessel segment and detached from the catheter. There are two major drawbacks to the use of detachable balloon catheters for blood vessel occlusion. First, the balloons are made of polymers that generally resist tissue incorporation. This limits fixation of the devices where they are placed and increases the risk of migration. Second, the balloons are configured with elastic walls, which are expanded with pressurization, and valves designed to maintain that pressure after detachment. Unfortunately, there is a substantial rate of balloon and valve failure, resulting in deflation. Without tissue incorporation, balloon deflation can lead to blood vessel or biological conduit recanalization or balloon migration and occlusion of non-target vessel segments.
More recently, endovascular medical devices for blood vessel occlusion have been developed that include basket structures that are used to fill a portion of the lumen of a blood vessel segment to induce thrombosis and occlusion of the blood vessel segment. Although only a single basket structure is usually required to occlude a blood vessel segment, and the devices are generally easier to control, these devices only partially fill the blood vessel and require the accumulation of thrombus and fibrous tissue to occlude the blood vessel. As with coils, this process takes weeks to occur and is sometimes incomplete, often resulting in incomplete occlusion or recanalization and a failed treatment.
Therefore, there remains a need for medical devices, systems, and methods for treating saccular aneurysms, including cerebral aneurysms, which result in a more effective and complete reduction of blood flow to saccular aneurysms that is more effective in sealing the neck, and more durable and permanent. It is further desired to have medical devices, systems, and methods that reduce the flow of blood into saccular aneurysms and seals the aneurysm neck more quickly. Finally, it is desired to have medical devices, systems, and methods for treating saccular aneurysms that can be used more easily and in less time, with a lower risk of complications, and at a lower cost when compared with existing treatments.
There also remains a need for catheter-based medical devices, systems, and methods for the occlusion of segments of blood vessel segments and other biological conduits that are simple to perform, result in a rapid, controlled, and complete occlusion, have a low risk of recanalization, device migration, or other complications, and can be purchased at a reasonable cost.

Expandable body device and method of use


A mechanism is provided for providing resource affinity for multi-queue network adapters via dynamic reconfiguration. A device driver allocates an initial queue pair within a memory. The device driver determines whether workload of the data processing system has risen above a predetermined high threshold. Responsive to the workload rising above the predetermined high threshold, the device driver allocates and initializes an additional queue pair in the memory. The device driver programs a receive side scaling (RSS) mechanism in a network adapter to allow for dynamic insertion of an additional processing engine associated with the additional queue pair. The device driver enables transmit tuple hashing to the additional queue pair.

The present application relates generally to an improved data processing apparatus and method and more specifically to mechanisms for providing resource affinity for multi-queue network adapters via dynamic reconfiguration.
As Ethernet media speeds continue to increase, there is a greater need to use more system resources to achieve theoretical maximum performance at a lowest possible latency. System resources, in terms of Ethernet adapter requirements, involve a large physical memory footprint and corresponding direct memory access input/output memory mapping resources due to the need for a large number of transmit/receive descriptors and buffers. A 10 Gbps Ethernet driver typically consumes approximately 150 to 300 MB of physical system memory and direct memory access input/output memory per adapter.
Under traditional driver models, a device driver allocates transmit/receive resources to an amount that would permit the adapter to achieve its theoretical maximum performance. However, if the workload or network traffic is such that the maximum performance limits are not required, then the driver is consuming more resources than needed, which is a waste of system resources. Furthermore, this model does not have the capability to efficiently handle varying workloads.

Resource affinity via dynamic reconfiguration for multi-queue network adapters

International Business Machines Corporation


An electronic motorcycle helmet. The electronic motorcycle helmet includes a helmet having an aperture therein that can receive a head therethrough. A visor is disposed on a front side of the helmet and a display is disposed on an interior surface of the visor. A microprocessor, including a logic that receives a command input directed to one of a plurality of subsystems, toggles the subsystem between an activated state and a deactivated state, and displays a status window on the display corresponding to the subsystem. The plurality of subsystems includes a plurality of cameras disposed about the helmet, wherein each of the cameras is operably connected to the display and can apply a low-light filter for low-light conditions. Other subsystems include a wireless transmitter to wirelessly communicate with an external device, a GPS system, and a battery disposed at a lower edge of the rear side.

The present invention relates to motorcycle helmets. Specifically, the present invention relates to electronic motorcycle helmets having a plurality of subsystems to provide an augmented reality display.
Many individuals ride motorcycles and are required by law in many states to wear motorcycle helmets. While providing increased protection, motorcycle helmets can reduce a user's range of motion and can decrease the visibility of the surrounding area. This can lead to serious injury as a user may not notice a vehicle or other obstacle, potentially leading to the user causing an accident. Additionally, traditional motorcycle helmets limit the hearing of a user, further contributing to a potential accident. Furthermore, while riding a motorcycle, additional features such as GPS and radio can be difficult to use due to road noise and the need to focus on the road. Therefore, a motorcycle helmet that allows a user to have a panoramic view of his surroundings while providing a variety of other features, such as GPS and radio is desired.
In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing motorcycle helmets. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.


Techniques for limiting synchronization conflicts during file synchronization in a computing system are described herein. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a change to a local copy a computer file on a client device. The local copy is associated with a local token. The method also includes obtaining a server token associated with a server copy of the same computer file on a file server and determining whether the local token matches the server token. If the local and server tokens match each other, the method includes uploading the local copy to the file server to overwrite the server copy even though the server copy contains a change to the computer file that is different than a change to the local copy of the same computer file.

In computing, file servers are computers configured to provide shared storage of documents, sound files, photographs, movies, images, databases, or other suitable types of computer files over computer networks. File servers can facilitate multiple client devices to access the same computer files stored in an on-premises or remote repository. Users utilizing suitable client devices can retrieve, edit, save, or perform other suitable file operations on computer files while file servers track versions of the computer files, last edited date/time, users who edited and/or accessed the computer files, and/or other suitable information.

File synchronization with reduced conflicts in computing systems


A test element, analytical system and method for optical analysis of fluid samples is provided. The test element has a substrate and a microfluidic channel structure, which is enclosed by the substrate and a cover layer. The channel structure has a measuring chamber with an inlet opening. The test element has a first level, which faces the cover layer, and a second level, which interconnects with the first level such that the first level is positioned between the cover layer and the second level. A part of the measuring chamber extending through the first level forms a measuring zone connecting with a part of the measuring chamber that extends partially into the second level, forming a mixing zone. Optical analysis of fluid samples is carried out by light guided through the first level parallel to the cover layer, such that the light traverses the measuring zone along an optical axis.

The present disclosure relates to microfluidic elements and, in particular, test elements for the optical analysis of a fluid sample with a substrate and a microfluidic channel structure that is enclosed by the substrate and a cover layer. The channel structure exhibits a measuring chamber with an inlet opening for the fluid sample.
In diagnostic tests (in vitro diagnostics), microfluidic elements are used to analyze a liquid sample and to thoroughly mix a fluid with a reagent. Body fluids are tested for an analyte contained therein for medical purposes. For this purpose, the fluid is mixed with a reagent, for example a liquid reagent. If the reagent is a solid, it is dissolved and homogenized by the fluid.
Measuring chambers of this type constructed as detection cuvettes are known. They are preferably inserted into rotary test elements or centrifugal test carriers (disks). The necessary steps of a method are carried out in the fluid structures of the test elements in order to carry out the appropriate reactions to detect an analyte in a fluid.
Both rotary and also non-rotary test carriers or test elements each have a microfluidic channel structure to accommodate a fluid sample. The channel structures often comprise a plurality of chambers so that complex, multi-step test procedures (test protocols) can be carried out. Such test carriers, as a rule, have at least one, frequently a plurality of fluid channel structures so that a plurality of tests can be carried out in parallel.
In so-called dry chemical test elements, the reagents required for the tests are initially introduced into the reagent chamber in the liquid form and dried therein. The reagent is normally dissolved using the fluid sample. After dissolving and thorough mixing in order to produce a homogeneous fluid sample, the mixed fluid is directed via further channels from the reagent and mixing chamber into an analysis or measuring chamber, where evaluation of the fluid sample takes place in order to detect and determine a specific analyte in the sample.
The sample fluid reacts with the reagent in the test element, resulting in a change in a measured parameter that has a definite relationship with the test analyte. This change in the measured parameter is measured in the test carrier itself. In addition to electrochemical evaluation methods, optical evaluation methods are routine, in which a change in color or other optically measurable parameter is detected.
There is a need in the art for test carriers that, before the measurement, mix the sample fluid as homogeneously as possible with the desired reagents. At the same time, the test elements and microfluidic channel structures employed are becoming ever more compact in order to produce as many parallel channel structures as possible on one test carrier.

Microfluidic element with multi-functional measuring chamber for the analysis of a fluid sample


An aqueous degreasing composition which is free of silicates, chelates and inorganic phosphates and a method for degreasing metal substrates which are sensitive to these types of compositions. The composition of the present invention includes: an alkali builder constituent which contains no phosphates, silicates or chelates; and a nonionic surfactant effective amounts for removing oils from a substrate, a hydrotrope constituent in effective amounts for solubilizing the soils removed and for solubilizing the nonionic surfactant and an amphoteric surfactant in effective amounts for removing long chain soils from substrates and a salt of polymerized alkyl naphthalene sulfonic acid as a dispersant with the remainder being water. In the method of the present invention, the above composition is diluted from about 1% to about 100% by volume with water to provide a desoiling solution. The solution is then heated to a temperature from about 100.degree. F. to about 200.degree. F. A part requiring removal of soils is immersed into the solution and thereafter some type of agitation is used with the part and solution for an effective amount of time to remove soils from the part.

The present invention relates to an aqueous desoiling or degreasing composition which in particular is free of silicates, chelates and inorganic phosphates. More particularly, the present invention relates to a composition and method of desoiling or degreasing metal substrates which are sensitive to silicates, chelates and inorganic phosphates.
Detergents and degreasing compositions have long relied on inorganic phosphates and silicates in their formulas for providing advantageous emulsification of oils and greases and the like. While such compositions are clearly effective in degreasers or other types of detergents these compositions are environmentally undesirable and also are undesirable from the standpoint of certain metals which may be detrimentally affected by the presence of these substances. For instance, brass, zinc, white metals, and aluminum base metals are particularly susceptible to attack by phosphates and chelates. Additionally, some types of metals may also be detrimentally affected by the presence of silicates. Similarly, chelating agents are also undesirable both from an environmental standpoint and from an incompatibility to certain substrates standpoint. Thus. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,010,907; 3,031,408; 3,738,943; 3,741,913; 4,137,190; 4,214,915; 4,521,332; 4,539,134; and 4,857,114 all disclose various cleaning compositions which include silicates, inorganic phosphates and/or chelates in their compositions, which are undesirable as set forth above. In addition, these patents do not recite a salt of a polymerized naphthalene sulfonic acid dispersing agent which is critical in the building of silicate chelate and phosphate free de-greasing compositions of the present invention.
Thus, it is a goal in the present invention to provide a silicate, chelate and inorganic phosphate-free degreasing composition which will be effective in dilute quantities to decrease heavy soils from machine parts.
In the remainder of the specification all percentages are by weight unless otherwise recited.

Aqueous degreasing composition and process


A device for separating a flowing medium mixture into at least two different fractions with differing average mass density, comprising an elongate separating space which is circle-symmetrical in axial direction and enclosed by a stationary casing (2), wherein the casing is provided with feeds for a mixture for separating and at least two discharges (9, 10) for discharging at least two fractions with differing mass density, and rotation means located in the separating space for causing the mixture to rotate as a vortex in the separating space. Also disclosed is a method for separating a flowing medium mixture.

The separation of a flowing medium mixture has very diverse applications. For purposes of the present disclosure, medium mixture means a mixture of at least one liquid or a gas which can be mixed with solid material parts, such as a powder or an aerosol. Examples are a gas/gas mixture, a gas/liquid mixture, a liquid/liquid mixture, a gas/solid mixture, a liquid/solid mixture, or any of the mixtures provided with one or more additional fractions. The separation of a flowing medium mixture is, for instance, known from various applications of liquid cleaning, (flue) gas cleaning and powder separation. Separation of fractions with a great difference in particle size and/or a great difference in mass density is relatively simple. Large-scale use is made of processes such as filtration and screening. In the separation of fractions with a smaller difference in mass density, chemical separating techniques and/or separating techniques such as sedimentation and centrifugation are used. A relatively simple and, therefore, inexpensive technology, with which large volumes can be separated in line, makes use of the differences in mass density of the fractions for separating by applying a centripetal force to the mixture by means of rotating the mixture in, for instance, a centrifuge or a cyclone. A relatively simple separating device comprising a stationary housing in which a vortex, i.e., a rotating mixture, can be generated is, for instance, described in International Patent Application Nos. 97/05956 and 97/28903. These devices are also referred to as "hydrocyclones" and are particularly suitable for liquid/liquid separation. It is noted that the fractions obtained after separation can still have (or be contaminated with) a part of the other fraction even after separation, although the fractions both have a composition clearly differing from the composition of the original mixture.
As a result of the rotation of the mixture in a stationary housing of the cyclone, a lighter fraction will at least substantially migrate to the inner side of the vortex and a heavier fraction will migrate to the outer side of the vortex. The heavier fraction and the lighter fraction are discharged at spaced-apart positions from the cyclone.
French Patent Application No. 2134520 describes a cyclone comprising a first feed part connecting radially to the separating space. The cyclone is also provided with a throughfeed part which allows passage of the mixture in a lateral direction and to which a guide with curved guide elements is connected, whereby a radial flow direction is obtained. Once the mixture has been set into rotating movement, the mixture is carried through a separator tube. Use of this construction will at best result in a mediocre separating result.

Device and method for separating a flowing medium mixture with a stationary cyclone


An electronic variable valve apparatus may be stably controlled regardless of variations of engine condition with minimized usage of map tables by employing a sliding surface calculation for controlling the electronic variable valve apparatus in order to achieve a target cam angle.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling an electronic variable valve apparatus of an internal combustion engine.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Performance of an internal combustion engine, especially a gasoline engine, substantially depends on how efficiently an air can be drawn into a combustion chamber.
For better intake efficiency, a variable valve apparatus for varying valve timing is employed such that optimal amount of air can be drawn into the combustion chamber for various engine speeds.
A hydraulic variable valve apparatus that is typically employed has a drawback in that, when the engine speed is low or engine oil is at a low temperature, a torque for operating the apparatus is increased. In addition, such a hydraulic variable valve apparatus does not usually provide sufficient variation of cam angle.
In order to solve such drawbacks, an electronic variable valve apparatus is widely studied as an alternative for such a hydraulic variable valve apparatus.
The electronic variable valve apparatus shows many merits. For example, it shows higher response speed that a conventional hydraulic variable valve apparatus. An oil pump of an engine may be downsized since the electronic variable valve apparatus does not require a hydraulic pressure. The electronic variable valve apparatus can be properly operated even if the engine speed is low or the engine oil is at a low temperature, which means that a load for starting the engine may be reduced. Furthermore, an exhaust gas may be reduced when the engine is at a low temperature.
In addition the electronic variable valve apparatus may be operated at a wider range of an angle, such that the merits of varying the valve timing may be maximized.
The electronic variable valve apparatus are typically driven by an electronic clutch or a motor.
The scheme employing the electronic clutch costs less but it is harder to control. The scheme employing the motor cost more but it is easier to control.
An example of the electronic variable valve apparatus can be found in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-276310.
In order to control an angle of a camshaft according to the conventional scheme, an engine control unit calculates an angular difference Δθ between a reference angle depending on an engine state and a current angle detected by a cam angle sensor, and determines whether the angular difference Δθ is above a predetermined error value.
When the angular difference Δθ is less than the predetermined error value, the current control is maintained, and a clutch release coil and a brake control coil is not applied with a current.
When the angular difference Δθ is above the predetermined error value, it is determined whether the angular difference Δθ is positive or negative. If the angular difference Δθ is positive, a current is applied to the clutch release coil and the brake control coil so as to perform an advance control. If the angular difference Δθ is negative, a current is applied to the clutch release coil and the brake control coil so as to perform a retardation control.
According to the above scheme where a current to be applied to the clutch release coil and the brake control coil is on/off controlled in order to control an angle of a camshaft, calibration maps should be provided depending on control responsiveness, angular error, and engine states.
According to such a scheme, huge amount of experimentation is required in order to prepare sufficiently precise calibration maps, which causes the cost for newly designing a vehicle to increase very high.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Method and apparatus for controlling electronic variable valve apparatus of internal combustion engine


A display structure is provided. The display structure includes a substrate, a dam, a first film layer, a second film layer, and a third film layer. The third film layer has a first spread rate for the first film layer, the third film layer has a second spread rate for the second film layer, and the first spread rate is less than the second spread rate. The spread rates of the third film layer on the first and second film layers are different, so as to slow the spread rate of the third film layer near an area of the dam, thereby reducing the risk that the third film layer overflows the dam, so that the encapsulation reliability of the display structure can be improved.

In recent years, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display devices require to use a thin-film encapsulation (TFE) process to encapsulate elements in order to isolate moisture and oxygen from damaging the elements, for device reliability. Currently, one commonly used film encapsulation method is provided by stacking inorganic/organic/inorganic multilayer films, where a main function of the inorganic layer is to isolate moisture and oxygen, and a main function of the organic layer is to cover particles generated during the previous process and release stress generated when the film is bent. In order to prevent organic material of the organic layer from overflowing with an encapsulation area, resulting in an inorganic layer disposed thereon without completely covering the organic layer and the encapsulation fail, a barrier structure (dam) structure is generally formed at a bezel (i.e., the organic layer set boundary) of the OLED elements, so as to prevent the organic material from overflowing at the bezel. However, such dam still has a risk that the organic material may overflow, which leads to decrease encapsulation reliability. Furthermore, this dam design will increase a total thickness of the film encapsulation, result that affects bendability of the OLED display.
Therefore, it is necessary to provide a display structure to solve the problems in the conventional art.
TECHNICAL PROBLEM: The dam design in the conventional art still has a risk that the organic material may overflow, which leads to decrease encapsulation reliability. Furthermore, this kind of dam design will increase a total thickness of the film encapsulation, result that affects a bendability of the OLED display.

WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


An external heat engine has a piston mounted for movement between a first upper position and a second, lower position, a heater for heating a working gas to forcibly move the piston from the upper position to the lower position (power stroke), a crankshaft rotatable about a main axis, the piston and crankshaft being linked so that movement of the piston from the upper position to the lower position during the power stroke is transformed into rotational movement of the crankshaft during a first portion of one rotation of the crankshaft about the main axis. The piston moves from the lower position to the upper position during a second portion of one rotation of the crankshaft (compression stroke). The piston and crankshaft are linked by a disk, a piston rod connected to the piston and a connecting ring for rotatably supporting the disk. The disk is rotatable about its central moveable axis, and is connected to the crankshaft at a point offset from the disk's axis, for rotation about the disk's axis in response to rotation of the crankshaft about its main axis, the axis of the disk being disposed so that when the piston is in the upper position, the axis of the disk is substantially aligned with the main axis of the crankshaft during a third portion of one rotation of the crankshaft about the main axis. With this structure, the piston is maintained in the upper position for substantially 180.degree. of rotation of the crankshaft.

In general, in an external combustion engine, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,221 (to Maeda), combustion takes place outside of a gas expansion chamber. A working gas is heated by the combustion, and enters the expansion chamber where the gas expands due to the heat and pushes a piston downward to deliver a power stroke. Through a linkage between the piston and crankshaft, the power stroke causes the crankshaft to rotate. After the power stroke, the piston moves upward and the gas is pushed out of the expansion chamber through an exhaust. In a closed cycle process, the exhausted gas is cooled and recirculated for use in the compression chamber, and later is reheated and re-enters the expansion chamber. In an open cycle, the gas is simply exhausted.
To make such an engine as efficient as possible, it is necessary to transform as much of the combustion energy as possible into heat energy of the gas. The longer the piston remains in the up position, the longer heat transfer between the combustion chamber and the gas can occur. It is thus desirable to create an external combustion piston-type engine in which the piston remains in the up position for a substantial portion of each cycle. It is also desirable to have the piston in the up position for a substantial amount of the cycle so that combustion can take place more thoroughly and therefore burn the fuel more efficiently.

External combustion engine with improved piston and crankshaft linkage


Control circuit is arranged to move a mold releasing agent coating roller in contact with end toward and away from a fixing roller in a timing a sheet passing through a pair of fixing rollers is detected whether it is a film or not. In the case when the sheet is a film, the mold releasing agent coating roller is brought in contact with the fixing roller in the timing the leading end of the mold releasing agent reaches a nip section of the fixing roller after the leading end of the sheet has run into the nip section, while it is moved away from the fixing roller when the rear end of the sheet leaves the fixing roller simultaneously with the timing the rear end of the mold releasing agent passes through the nip section.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fixing device for fixing a toner image transferred on a recording material, and more particularly, to a fixing device which is provided with a pair of fixing rollers which rotate in pressing contact with each other and a mold releasing agent supply means for feeding a mold releasing agent to the fixing rollers.
2. Description of Related Art
In a conventional fixing device, it has heretofore been arranged to apply a mold releasing agent onto the surface of fixing rollers in order to prevent toner from being offset to the fixing rollers, and various proposals have been raised to regulate the amount of mold releasing agent to be applied.
For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,165 discloses a fixing device wherein a supply roller for feeding a mold releasing agent to a fixing roller is provided to be movable toward and away from the fixing roller to prevent excessive supply of the mold releasing agent. In the U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,295, there is disclosed a fixing device wherein a mold releasing agent supply roller is fixedly disposed relative to a fixing roller with the same purpose as mentioned above, and a mold releasing agent supply pad is provided to be movable toward and away from the supply roller.
In such fixing devices, however, when a toner image is fixed onto a transparent film made of resin (hereinafter called as OHP film) which is used as an original for overhead projectors, the mold releasing agent tends to be somewhat excessively remained on the surface of the fixing roller after the toner image is fixed onto the OHP film which causes to lower the quality of an image formed on the OHP film. Especially, when an image formed on the OHP film is reproduced by a light transmissible colored toner, the reproducibility of the image is remarkably lowered. Further, it was also found by the inventor of the present invention that the OHP sheet often slipped by the mold releasing agent coated on the surface of the fixing rollers and is not properly taken into nip section of the fixing rollers.
In the device disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,295, there is a problem that foreign substance such as toner and paper dust particles sometimes adhere to the portion of the supply pad where it is brought in contact with the supply roller, and the particles collected in the portion of the supply pad prevents the mold releasing agent from being uniformly supplied on the surface of the supply roller and therefore causing continuous lines on the surface of the supply roller in the direction of circumference thereof by scraping off some of the mold releasing agent.

Fixing device for fixing a toner image on diverse types of recording material


Spring assemblies and a test socket using the spring assemblies. The spring assemblies are used in a test socket electrically connecting lead terminals of a semiconductor chip to test terminals of a test device by contacting the lead terminals and the test terminals, and include: first springs in which a first steel wire having elasticity and conductivity is coiled in a spiral in one direction; and second springs in which a second steel wire having elasticity and conductivity is coiled in a spiral in an opposite direction to the direction in which the first springs are coiled, which have outer diameters narrower than inner diameters of the first springs, and are inserted into the first springs. Accordingly, electric resistances and inductances of two spring assemblies coiled in a spiral are reduced to improve electricity transmission characteristic. A height of a test socket is easily adjusted using spring assemblies having desired lengths. Also, since only plating is performed on the springs to form the spring assemblies, the spring assemblies are formed at a very low cost and have a wide range of applications.

In general, when a process of manufacturing a semiconductor chip such as an integrated circuit (IC) or the like is ended, an electric performance, a poor quality, etc., of the semiconductor chip are tested. When the semiconductor chip is tested, a test socket is provided between a test device and the semiconductor chip to electrically connect lead terminals of the semiconductor chip to test terminals of the test device. A current flows from the test terminals of the test device into the lead terminals of the semiconductor chip through the test socket, and signals respectively output from the lead terminals are analyzed to determine whether the semiconductor chip is abnormal.
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional test socket is installed on a test device 20 and includes pogo pins 50 and a housing 30 that supports the pogo pins 50.
The housing 30 has through-holes formed in positions corresponding to test terminals 22 of the test device 20 and lead terminals 12 of a semiconductor chip 10, and the pogo pins 50 are respectively installed in the through-holes to electrically connect the lead terminals 12 to the test terminals 22.
The pogo pins 50 include barrels 52, upper plungers 54, lower plungers 56, and springs 58. The upper and lower plungers 54 and 56 are respectively connected to the lead terminals 12 of the semiconductor chip 10 and the test terminals 22 of the test device 20. The springs 58 are disposed between the upper and lower plungers 54 and 56 and provide elasticity and electric conductivity. The barrels 52 support and enclose the upper and lower plungers 54 and 56 and the springs 58.
The pogo pins 50 have serial structures of the upper plungers 54, the barrels 52, and the lower plungers 56. Since the pogo pins 50 also include the springs 58, manufacturing heights of the pogo pins 50 are greatly limited. Also, since the pogo pins 50 have wide areas as a whole, mutual inductance and capacitance between the adjacent pogo pins 50 increase. As a result, lengths and magnetic inductance values of the pogo pins 50 increase due to the springs 58, thereby deteriorating signal (electricity) transmission characteristics.
A semiconductor chip which includes lead terminals having narrow distances from one another and thus has a fine pitch has been developed. Therefore, a pitch of a test socket is also narrowed. However, it is not easy to reduce distances between barrels of conventional pogo pins and to form metal plating layers in the barrels.
Also, manufacturing cost of a test socket is very high due to micromachining of the upper and lower plungers 54 and 56 and the barrels 52 of the pogo pins 50.
In order to solve these problems, a technique for using a single spring in a test socket, as shown in FIG. 2, has been applied. In other words, the test socket is mounted on a test device 20 and includes spring pins 70 having spring shapes and a housing 30 that supports the spring pins 70.
Through-holes 60 are respectively formed in positions of the housing 30 corresponding to test terminals 22 of the test device 20 and lead terminals 12 of a semiconductor chip 10. The spring pins 70 are respectively installed in the through-holes 60 to electrically connect the lead terminals 12 to the test terminals 22.
A metal steel wire is coiled in a spiral to form the spring pins 70. Manufacturing cost of the spring pins 70 is less than that of the pogo pins 50 illustrated with reference to FIG. 1. However, when testing the semiconductor chip 10, the spring pins 70 generate a circulating current and thus have inductances, thereby deteriorating signal transmission characteristics of the spring pins 70. Also, if lengths of the spring pins 70 lengthen with an increase in a height of the test socket, it is difficult to maintain the shapes of the spring pins 70.
In addition, if compression and extension are repeated in a repetitive test process, a fatigue failure occurs.

Spring structure and test socket using thereof


A satellite communications system includes a feed array and reflector receiving antenna coupled to a dual-mode network, for generating two channels, with independent signals representing two beams, one for each channel. Each output channel of the dual-mode network contains redundant information relating to a plurality of information channels. In the absence of an interfering signal or intrusion, the combined signals are amplified and block frequency-converted, then de-multiplexed into separate channels, which are each applied through selection switches to a transmitter multiplexer for retransmission. An alternate signal is tapped from each of the two received signal channels, phase controlled, and combined, to produce a combined signal representing a receive antenna beam with a null controllable in position in response to phase. The combined signal is demultiplexed into separate information channels. In the presence of an intrusion in one of the channels, the selection switch for that channel is set to an alternate position, in which the alternate signal is selected for transmission. Since the alternate signal includes a null in the receive beam, the position of the null may be set to the location of the intrusion signal to suppress the signal.

This invention relates to satellite communications systems generally, and more particularly to satellite communications systems in which uplink antenna beam nulling is used to reject interference from a particular location within the beam.
European Patent Office Publication No. 414,534 A2, based upon U.S. patent application Ser. No. 397,229 filed Aug. 23, 1989 in the name of Benden, describes an anti-intrusion defeating arrangement for communications satellites. As described therein, commercial communications satellites require inexpensive, lightweight, and low power consumption techniques for combating uplink interference. As described in the publication, each feed horn of the receive antenna receives signals from earth stations in different regions of the coverage area. Each horn can receive up to twelve channels from its own particular region. The output from each of the horns is applied by way of a hybrid power divider to a power combining system, and then to a low noise amplifier (LNA) and converter. The signal divided off at the hybrids is applied to a further variable power combining system and to a second LNA. Thus, there is a "main" and an "ancillary" system, and each channel is available from a main LNA and from an ancillary LNA. An array of single pole, double throw (SPDT) switches selects either the main or ancillary channel output for each channel, and the channels are combined for re-transmission to the earth by an output multiplexing arrangement. The assumption is made in the Benden publication that an interfering signal in a particular channel originates from a feed horn other than the feed horn which receives the desired signal which is interfered with. With this assumption, (a) the variable power combiners in the ancillary system are adjusted to combine signals only from the horn receiving the desired signal in the ancillary channel to thereby reject the interfering signal in that particular channel, and (b) an appropriate switch of the array of SPDT switches selects the desired channel from the ancillary system in which the interfering signals is rejected, not from the main system. The above-described Benden system has the disadvantage that the received signal is power divided in hybrid circuits before low noise amplification, and thus reduces the amount of signal available before low noise amplification, which undesirably degrades the gain-to-temperature ratio (G/T) in every channel. If the ancillary-system signal is 7 dB below the main system signal, the through loss in the main channel, which is the degradation of G/T, is almost 1 dB. This degradation of the G/T could be avoided by placing an LNA within each channel, but this increases the complexity and weight of the system, and decreases its overall reliability, especially in view of the fact that the low noise amplifier is ordinarily redundant. Thus, if twelve communications channels are provided, twelve LNAs would be required in each of the main and ancillary systems, together with an additional twelve redundant units in each of the main and ancillary systems.

Uplink null intrusion rejection for satellite communications systems


A particulate material for powder bed fusion has specific particle size characteristics and includes a thermoplastic and a sulfonate salt having the structure (A), wherein Z is a phosphorus atom or a nitrogen atom; each occurrence of X is independently halogen or hydrogen provided that at least one X is halogen; b, d, and e are integers from zero to 12; c is 0 or 1 provided that when c is 1, d and e are not both zero; R11_13 are each independently C1-C12 hydrocarbyl; R14 is C1-C18 hydrocarbyl; and Y is selected from (B)—wherein R15 is hydrogen or C1-C12 hydrocarbyl. Also described is a method of powder bed fusion utilizing the particulate material.

Powder bed fusion is a type of three-dimensional printing in which objects are formed by laser or electron beam fusion of fine particles of a polymer-based material. Due to the low electrical conductivity of polymer-based materials, static charge is generated during powder spreading and other steps of the process. The static build-up causes the polymer-based particles to adhere to equipment used for preparation and printing of the powder. There is therefore a need for polymer-based particulate materials to minimize the undesired effects of static charge build-up.


A system and method is provided for performing lossless switching in a redundant multicast network. An exemplary method includes receiving a primary media stream and a redundant media stream over different forwarding network paths by network ports of a receiver communicatively coupled to an A/V device. Furthermore, the receiver outputs media data of the media streams to the A/V device to be presented thereon. In response to a control signal to switch the receiver to a new primary media stream, the method disconnected either the primary ort the redundant media streams from the respective network port of the receiver receiving that stream. Furthermore, the method includes controlling the disconnected network port to receive the new primary media stream and then outputting media data of the new primary media stream to the A/V device to be presented thereon.

Media channels, such as audio and video channels, have long been transmitted using application specific cables. More recently, media signals have been transmitted on computer based networks using protocols such as unicast or multicast. Unicast is a method of sending packets on a computer network to a single destination. Multicast is a protocol for efficiently sending data streams to multiple receivers at the same time on TCP/IP networks by use of a multicast address.
One technical issue with multicast data transmission is that when media signals are transmitted to a receiver, IP packets in the signal can often be lost due to various connection issues. In order to recover lost IP packets and reconstruct original streams, media networks can allow for redundant media packet streams to be transmitted and received. For example, a transmitter using the SMPTE 2022-7 communication standard duplicates the input stream and sends it via two different paths to the destination receiver. FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a conventional system using redundancy (i.e., "seamless protection switching") to reconstruct a data stream with lost IP packets.
As shown, the system includes a transmitting device 10 and a receiving device 20 (both referred to as "edge" devices) that communicate by one or many IP data communication networks 30. Using the SMPTE 2022-7 standard, for example, the transmitter 10 continually processes the primary media packet input stream, duplicates the stream, and transmits it via the network 30 over two separate paths in the network (or two or more separate networks, for example). The receiver 20 combines the streams from both paths and reconstructs the original stream. Thus, path 1 can provide a primary data flow and path 2 can provide a redundant data flow. If a packet is lost in path 1, the receiver 20 is configured to take the packet from path 2. If path 1 is completely gone (i.e., a broken transmission path in the network), the receiver switches to path 2. Once the switch occurs, the receiver 20 ignores the primary media packet stream and processes the redundant copy from path 2.
Network redundancy is an effective way to efficiently transmit a data stream to a receiving device while minimizing potential loss of IP packets. However, there are certain drawbacks from network redundancy when a device that is receiving a multicast stream attempts to transition from the currently received multicast stream to a new multicast stream. For example, with the infrastructure shown in FIG. 1, the transmitting device 10 can send plural multicast streams using the networks 30 and receiving device 20 can join the multicast streams. The receiving device 20 will always be able to receive streams from transmitting devices as long as one of the network paths is functional. However, this type of network redundancy doubles the total bandwidth usage as all streams (primary and redundant) are transmitted over the networks.
Thus, if the receiving device 20 attempts to switch from a first multicast stream to a second multicast stream, the receiving device 20 can first join the new multicast stream and then leave the current multicast stream. However, this type of switching protocol has the drawback that there is a time when the current multicast stream and new multicast stream are both being received. While this time can be minimized, the time when both multicast streams are joined is always greater than zero. During the time when both multicast streams are joined, the total bandwidth consumption is the sum of both multicast streams. In cases where the current multicast stream and new multicast stream use the same amount of bandwidth the total bandwidth required is doubled when switching is performed using this method.
Alternatively, if the receiving device 20 leaves the current multicast stream and then joins the new multicast stream, there will be a discontinuity during the time when the current multicast stream has been dropped and the new multicast steam has been joined. While this time can be minimized, the time when no multicast stream is available is always greater than zero. The time when no multicast stream is available results in data loss which prevents lossless switching using this method.
Accordingly, a system and method is needed for lossless switching of multicast streams while efficiently minimizing bandwidth consumption.

System and method for performing lossless switching in a redundant multicast network


A centrifugal pump for separating an entrained gas from a working fluid in which the pump housing has a hollow chamber therein, an axially extending inlet into the chamber, an outlet leading out of the chamber, and a gas vent for the chamber; a rotatable shaft mounted in the housing in axial alignment with the inlet; an impeller is disposed in the chamber and mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, the impeller includes a plate for dividing the chamber into a first chamber portion communicating with the inlet and outlet and a second chamber portion communicating with the vent. The plate has an aperture extending therethrough for allowing the passing of working fluid and gas therethrough; and is further provided with at least one pumping vane disposed in the chamber portion for pumping the working fluid into the first chamber portion through the inlet and out of the first chamber portion through the outlet. The second chamber portion is partitioned into a plurality of spaces by a plurality of back vanes secured to the plate and a liquid rotatable within the second chamber portion upon the impeller rotating whereby to create pressure differences in the spaces for removing gas in the second chamber portion through the vent.

There are several known methods and apparatus for pumping high consistency pulp. Previously only displacement pumps, such as screw pumps or like, were used to pump high consistency pulp. Nowadays there is a tendency to replace the displacement pumps because of their inherent deficiencies and drawbacks. One of the first problems encountered when trying to pump pulp with the consistency of more than 8% is that the pulp does not independently flow to the impeller of the pump in the suction opening. A solution to this problem is a so-called fluidizing centrifugal pump, manufactured and sold by A. AHLSTROM CORPORATION of Karhula, Finland and by AHLSTROM PUMPS, INC. of Peace Dale, R.I. There fluidizing pumps are designed to treat medium and high consistency pulps by the action of the fluidizing rotor extending into the suction opening of the pump or in some cases through it as far as into the mass tower. By using this kind of fluidizing rotor it has been possible to pump pulp having a consistency of about 15%, which does not, however, satisfy all requirements for pulp pumping in the pulp and paper industry, as the consistency demands have risen up to about 25%.
Another difficulty in connection with the pumping of medium and high consistency pulps is that pumping of fluids containing gases, with higher gas contents, is unsuccessful without a gas discharge system because the gases collect in front of the center of the pump impeller forming a bubble which will grow thus tending to clog the entire inlet opening of the pump. This results in a considerable decrease of the yield, vibration of the equipment, and in the worst case ceasing of the pumping action altogether. This problem has been experienced in a very intense form with, for example, centrifugal pumps.
These problems have been attempted to be solved in many different ways by discharging gas from the bubble. In the equipment presently known and used, degasification is effected by either drawing gas through a pipe being disposed in the middle of the inlet channel of the pump and extending to the hub of the impeller, by drawing gas through a hollow shaft of the impeller, or by providing the impeller with one or more perforations through which the gas is drawn to the back side of the impeller and further away by some kind of a vacuum device arranged usually outside the pump.
Several different arrangements are known by means of which it has been attempted to eliminate or minimize the disadvantages or risks caused by contaminants. The simplest arrangement is a gas discharge duct which is so wide that clogging thereof is out of the question. Other methods used are, for example, arrangements with various types of vanes or vaned rotors on the back side of the impeller. A commonly used method has been to provide the immediate back surface of the impeller with radial vanes for pumping the fluid together with its contaminants. Thereby the fluid is carried with the gas through the gas discharge openings of the impeller, to the outer periphery of the impeller and through its clearance back to the liquid flow. In some cases, a similar arrangement has further been provided on the back side of the impeller with a vaned rotor mounted on the shaft of the impeller. The vaned rotor rotates in a separate chamber, being adapted to separate the liquid, which has been carried with the gas, to the outer periphery of the chamber, whereby the gas is drawn to the inner periphery thereof. The fluid accumulated at the outer periphery of the chamber is led, together with the contaminants, through a separate duct to either the inlet side or the outlet side of the pump. The gas is removed from the inner periphery by means of suitable vacuum device.
As can be seen all centrifugal pumps for pumping medium or high consistency pulps require some gas separation or discharge device which is most often arranged outside the pump as an entirely separate unit. All means described above operate satisfactorily if the amount of contaminants carried with the liquid is somewhat limited. It is also possible to adjust the pumps to operate relatively reliably with liquids containing large amounts of solids, e.g. with fiber suspensions in the pulp industry. It is known that the gas contained in the fiber suspension is a drawback in the stock preparation process. Accordingly this drawback should be avoided as much as possible. Therefore, it is a waste of existing advantages to feed the gas which has already been separated back to the stock circulation. It is also a waste of stock if, on the other hand, all stock conveyed along with the gas were separated from the stock circulation by discharging it as a secondary flow of the pump.
Another disadvantage is that when the consistency of the pulp varies the amount of gas in the pulp also varies but at a much larger scale. Since the pump has usually, for practical reasons, been adjusted to remove nearly all the gas from the pulp, in a case when the amount of gas is at its minimum, all the gas exceeding that amount will be returned to the pulp flow. In some cases when the amount of gases is expected to vary at a large scale, more than half of the gas is returned back to the circulation.
The most disadvantageous feature of nearly all of the prior art gas discharge device has, however, been the separate vacuum pump having a separate driving motor with separate installation etc. A separate vacuum pump with a drive motor has added to the costs of constructions, which has been one of the obstacles to a wider acceptance of centrifugal pumps for stock handling. The present invention, however, has rendered possible the combination of a vacuum pump with the centrifugal pump impeller for removing gas from the pump.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,758 discloses a centrifugal pump having fluidizing vanes in front of the centrifugal impeller and a vacuum pump arranged in a separate chamber and on the same shaft with the impeller. Thus, a separate vacuum pump and drive motor have been omitted, but the structure of the pump itself is, however, complicated as both the vacuum impeller and the centrifugal impeller have housings of their own separated by a common wall member. Thus, the impellers are entirely separate structures and the common wall has to be manufactured as a separate part for practical reasons, as one has to be able to install the vacuum impeller on the shaft. The vacuum pump used in said patent is a so-called liquid ring pump.
One object of the present invention is to simplify even further the structure of a centrifugal pump having a gas separating vacuum pump arranged therein. A characterizing feature of the pump in accordance with the present invention is the combination of the centrifugal pump impeller with the vacuum pump impeller so that the vacuum impeller is arranged on the back side of the centrifugal impeller without the necessity of a separating wall. Another feature of the apparatus in accordance with the invention is the presence of several pressure areas or spaces each with differing pressure and located behind the impeller. The differing pressure areas are provided by arranging the clearances between the impeller back plate and the impeller back vanes with respect to their opposing or counter surfaces as small as possible thereby preventing the pressurized gas/liquid/gas containing medium from escaping therefrom. The spaces between the back vanes of the impeller are forming these differing pressure stages/areas by being sealed off as efficiently as possible by maintaining only small clearances between stationary and moving parts or by arranging the ends of the back vanes near the shaft of the pump by firmly and tightly attaching the vanes to an impeller hub portion extending substantially axially from the impeller back plate.
The advantages of the method and apparatus of the present invention are as follows:
a separate vacuum pump and its driving motor are not needed; PA1 the structural changes in the pump housing are minimal compared to the known MC-pumps; PA1 the manufacture of a separate vacuum pump impeller has been avoided; and PA1 a known MC-pump can be easily converted to include the new impeller and a vacuum pump housing in accordance with the present invention.

Pump for and method of separating gas from a fluid to be pumped