An automatic corrosion measurement system and method enables rapid measurement and evaluation of corrosion on significant portions of straight and curved pipe sections and other surfaces from several square inches to several square feet, using a laser instrument which projects laser light across a scan area which includes corrosion, and detects reflected laser light therefrom. A positioning mechanism advances the laser instrument along the surface to permit evaluation of a large area, and a processor controls both the operation of the laser instrument and positioning mechanism. Automatic processing by the processor converts surface condition signals into readily usable output in the form of displays, printouts or maps, for immediate use.

The present invention relates to the measurement of pipeline corrosion, and in particular, to a laser mapping apparatus and method for evaluating external and internal pipeline corrosion.
Pipeline maintenance requires early and accurate detection of external corrosion in buried steel pipe. External corrosion detection is, initially, typically conducted from within the pipeline using in-line inspection vehicles (e.g. smart pigs) or from outside the pipeline using equipment to detect the leakage of cathodic protection current. Smart pigs typically utilize either magnetic flux leakage, eddy current or ultrasonic technology, or a combination thereof. After removal of scale by water blasting and other techniques, external corrosion is typically further evaluated by visual inspection.
Once an area of corrosion has been detected, corrosion measurement and evaluation follow. Typically, the pipeline is excavated and grit blasted in the area of corrosion in preparation for more accurate measurement of corrosion and pitting. There are several methods for manually measuring pitting, some using simple instruments such as pit gauges, scale and straight edge, wire contour gauges, and bridging bars with micrometers, and others using complex equipment such as ultrasonic detectors and radiographic equipment, all of which have their disadvantages.
Internal corrosion is evaluated using similar techniques, with cleaning, inspection and measurement techniques limited by the accessibility and purpose of the pipe, and type of material carried by the pipe.
Regardless of which surface of the pipeline is evaluated, once the effected area has been measured and depth of pits therein determined, the remaining wall thickness and strength of the corroded pipe is evaluated using one of several available algorithms. Informed decisions can then made whether to repair or replace the corroded section of pipe or allow it to remain in service.
Although generally effective, known methods and equipment for measuring pitting have several drawbacks. For example, known methods are performed primarily in a longitudinal direction along straight pipe sections, obviating desirable evaluation of elbows, bends and curved circumferential portions of pipe surfaces. In addition, existing corrosion measurement instruments have mechanical limitations which further restrict measurement of corrosion to small areas or points. As a result, evaluation of a larger area requires continual movement of instruments in two dimensions to establish a grid of data, and such movement introduces errors in the data. Thus, known methods typically obtain data whose accuracy and resolution is low. Where pipe diameters prevent entry, access to internal surfaces is limited to surfaces near openings.
Complex corrosion measurement instruments have further drawbacks. In particular, ultrasonic detectors, although accurate for point measurement, require transducer access to the bottom of the pit or fluid coupling of the transducer and pipe, making it very messy for evaluation of excavated pipes. Radiographic equipment presents an x-ray hazard to operators, and films produced require further time and equipment for development and analysis. Moreover, while radiography is good for qualitative detection of corrosion, it is not an accurate technique for quantitative measurement of corrosion. As a result, known methods for corrosion measurement are not only mechanically limited, but are also expensive and time consuming because of the labor involved to perform the method, process data, and interpret the results.
Accordingly, the need exists for a cost-effective automatic corrosion analysis apparatus and method which enables rapid measurement and evaluation of significant portions of both straight and curved corroded pipe sections.

Method and apparatus for measuring pipeline corrosion


A display device includes, on a display substrate having a display region, a proximity sensor arranged outside the display region, and a terminal section connected to the proximity sensor. The proximity sensor includes a plurality of conductors arranged so as to surround the periphery of the display region while being spaced apart from each other. The plurality of conductors are configured such that one ends thereof are connected to the terminal section, a predetermined voltage is applied thereto via the terminal section, and a capacitance is formed with an object to be detected. The proximity sensor includes capacitance adding regions that are provided in the vicinity of a gap portion at which the plurality of conductors are spaced apart from each other and that are adapted to compensate for the capacitance formed with the object to be detected in the gap portion.

In recent years, portable terminals, such as smartphones, provided with a proximity sensor has been in widespread use. The proximity sensor provided in a portable terminal is used for various purposes. For example, in order to prevent malfunctions of a touch panel of a smartphone due to the approach of a user's face, ear, or the like to the smartphone when the user makes a phone call, the proximity sensor detects the approach of an object to be detected, and the touch panel is controlled on the basis of the detection result (see JP 2015-014932 A).


An air responsive control forms the basis for a mouth-blown device having a series of pipes in side-by-side relation into which the user blows or sucks. Signals are produced to operate apparatus such as a music synthesizer for a typewriter or computer. Each pipe has at least a section of light transmitting material. Inside that section, movable actuator such as a ball moves out of a light path between a light source and a photo-sensitive responder by sucking on or blowing by an operator. When the ball blocks the light path there is now signal to the operated apparatus but when it moves out of the light path there is a signal. Both the light source and the photo-sensitive responder are outside the pipe, thus ensuring that there is no contact with saliva of any directly connected electrical part.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a breath controlled switching device, for operating a multiswitched system such as a music synthesizer or other instrument for generating visual or sound information in response to signals.
2. Background to the Invention
In the field of musical instrument simulation many efforts have been made to electronically simulate the playing of orthodox instruments, wherein the operation of various means have been used to control electronic switching by means of which tone generators or other forms of music synthesizer are energized.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,326 issued June 23, 1970 to Hilliaret et al, discloses a harmonica in which air flow variations are sensed by piston and cylinder arrangements and motion of this mechanical transponder is directly transformed into electronic signals. The transponder is within the environment within the pipe and is necessarily operating in wet conditions under the influence of the breath and saliva of the operator. It may be difficult or impossible to prevent the condensation of moisture from the breath and /or the accumulation of saliva within the pipes. Nobel et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,767,833, discloses a somewhat similar system to that of Hilliaret, but Noble's device has only one pipe, different notes being achievable by keying. It would be desirable to devise a system in which there is no direct electrical connection to the transponder.
It is an object of the invention to provide a breath controlled device for providing signals to a generator of visual or information or music synthesizer, e.g. a harmonica, which may include a simple, low cost arrangement utilizing components that are insensitive to environmental hazards, such as the presence of saliva, and which are robust and long lives.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide other instruments, such as suck/blow operated typewriters or computer keyboards which are especially useful for the disabled.

Device for breath control of apparatus for sound or visual information


A compound represented by the following general formula (I) which has ADAM17 inhibitory activity, or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof:

ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase) family is a membrane-associated protease having zinc in the catalytic site. ADAM17 cleaves a membrane-associated TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor alpha) and produces a soluble TNF-α, and is therefore referred to also as a TNF-α conversion enzyme (TACE). Soluble TNF-α causes inflammatory cytokine hypersecretion, cell apoptosis, obstruction of intracellular signal transduction, etc., and is to be a factor of bringing about cause and exacerbation of various diseases, as a result of primary and secondary tissue damages (see Non-Patent Reference 1). The pathological condition that TNF-α would participate in is considered to include typically rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as well as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Crohn's disease, Behcet's disease, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, sepsis, acute infection, asthma, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, etc.
ADAM17 (TACE) takes, as a substrate therefor, transforming growth factor (TGF)-α, heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF), etc., in addition to the above-mentioned TNF-α. TGF-α is highly expressed in some human cancers, and is activated after released from cell membranes by the action of ADAM17 thereon. Regarding HB-EGF, when the transmembrane form thereof is cleaved by protease on the surface of a cell, this releases an EGF-like domain-containing extracellular domain and gives a soluble HB-EGF. It is known that the soluble HB-EGF is released from various tissues and cells such as epidermal cells, cardiocytes, vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, macrophages, etc., and causes cell growth and differentiation, inflammatory reaction, etc.
Consequently, a compound that inhibits ADAM17 is considered to be a promising therapeutic agent for various inflammatory disorders, various cancers, etc., and heretofore various studies have been made about ADAM17 inhibitors (see Non-Patent References 2 and 3, and Patent References 1 to 17).
As a substrate for ADAM10, another membrane-associated protease that belongs to the ADAM. family like ADAM17, there are Notch that participates in cancer progression, E-cadherin, epidermal growth factor (EGF), erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 2 (ErbB2), etc., and it is reported that ADAM10 also releases TNF-α and HB-EGF, common to ADAM17. From these, it is suggested that ADAM10 would also acceleratingly participate in progression of pathological condition in disorders such as cancers, inflammations and others in which multiple factors would complexly interrelate with each other. Patent Reference 18 discloses an ADAM10 inhibitor; however, the compounds disclosed in Patent Reference 18 greatly differ from the compounds of the present invention in point of the structures thereof.

N-hydroxyformamide derivative and medicament containing same

Abstract: wherein X represents a phenylene group; Y represents a hydrogen atom, —(CH2)mR1 or the like; R1 represents —NR5COR2, —NR5SO2R2 or —NR3R4; R2 represents a C1-C6 alkyl group, an aryl group, or a C1-C6 alkoxy group; R3 and R4 represent a C1-C6 alkyl group and the like; R5 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-C6 alkyl group or the like; m indicates an integer of from 0 to 4; and Z represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-C6 alkyl group.


An apparatus for surface mounting an integrated circuit package onto a printed circuit board. Cantilever beams from a housing member extend inwardly toward a central opening and reside upon portion of the lead making contact to the printed circuit board. A tightening of the housing member onto the circuit board by retaining means causes the cantilever beam to provide a downward force to maintain lead contact to the electrical contact, as well as a sideward force for retaining the integrated circuit stationary.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the filed of integrated circuits, and more particularly, to devices for mounting integrated circuit packages.
2. Prior Art
Integrated circuit devices come in various shapes and sizes. Typically, integrated circuits (ICs) are fabricated on a semiconductor water. Each of the IC devices are then packaged in one of a variety of well-known packages. Typically, these packages are made from a dielectric material, such as ceramic, plastic or glass, in order to encase the IC within the package. In order to provide electrical connection to the electrical contact terminals of the IC, metallic leads are used. These metallic leads extend beyond the dielectric encapsulating material of the package. Prior art dual-in-line (DIP) packages, surface mount DIP packages which are also known as small outlines (SO), and flat packs are notable examples of packaging ICs.
In a typical application, these IC packages are mounted on circuit boards, modules, or sometimes directly onto the chassis or the casing of the equipment. In most of these instances the packages are designed to have the leads soldered to the attaching device, such as a printed circuit (PC) board. In such an implementation, the PC board is designed to have holes for receiving the leads of the IC package. The package is mounted on one side of the PC board with the leads extending through the holes to the other side of the PC board. The leads are then soldered for permanent physical and electrical connection to the PC board. This provides for a permanent attachment of the IC to the PC board.
A second technique for mounting IC packages onto a PC board utilizes surface mounting technology. Unlike the above described technique where the leads are inserted through the holes on the circuit board, surface mounted IC packages are mounted and soldered on the same side of the circuit board. Typically, solder pads are provided wherein the leads of the IC package are mated to its respective solder pad. The lead ends are formed to rest on the solder pad and are then soldered onto these pads.
However, a disadvantage of the above described techniques of soldering an IC onto a PC board is that it cannot be easily removed from the PC board. In order to provide for a less permanent affixation of the IC to the PC board, sockets are used on an intermediary between the IC and the PC board. When this technique is used, a socket is soldered onto a PC board and the IC is pressed onto the socket with the leads extending into contact portions of the socket. When a surface mount integrated circuit scheme is utilized, the socket is mounted onto the solder pad of the first side of the PC board, instead of having the leads of the socket pass through the circuit board. Then the surface mount IC is inserted into the socket for affixation to the PC board.
Although the use of IC sockets provides for a less permanent attachment of the IC package to the PC board, the additional lead length introduced, between the leads of the IC and the solder pad on the PC board, adds additional lead inductance which can be fatal in certain circuit applications. Furthermore, the IC socket still requires the use of solder to permanently affix the socket to the PC board.
It is appreciated then that a device for surface mounting an IC package onto a PC board without the use of solder or without the introduction of additional lead inductance would overcome the short comings of the prior art IC mounting techniques.

Apparatus for surface mounting an integrated circuit package


A remote selfie system is disclosed. A control mobile computing system is communicatively coupled to an imaging mobile computing system having a digital imaging functionality. Commands are exchanged to allow the control mobile computing system to remotely control the digital imaging functionality of the imaging mobile computing system. The control mobile computing system receives a digital image to be captured by the digital imaging functionality of the imaging mobile computing system. The control mobile computing system send commands to the imaging mobile computing system to capture a digital image.

With the increase of social media over the past twenty years, there has been a marked increase in taking selfies which are digital images taken of oneself, and perhaps others, typically with a camera functionality of a cellphone. Selfies can be taken by holding the camera at arm's length away from the subject, but the short shooting distance limits what can be captured. Additionally, many users are not able to steady the cell phone sufficiently when held at arm's length which reduces the clarity of the image.
Conventional selfie sticks are basically a telescoping pole that attaches to the cell phone or camera so that the camera can be held at a desired position greater than arm's length. By extending the shooting distance, selfie sticks allow more of the subject and background to be captured. However, like the arm's length selfie method, selfie sticks are also difficult to hold steady. Additionally, selfie sticks can only be so long (approximately one meter), before they are too cumbersome to use. Moreover, many locations at which a user may desire to take a selfie have banned selfie sticks because they may be hazardous or disruptive to others. Selfie sticks often require assembly which is time consuming and the components may deform with repeated assembly, use, and disassembly.
Another disadvantage of both the arm's length selfie method and selfie sticks is that it is difficult for a user to adequately discern many typical image considerations such as focus, camera angle, composition, balance, and shading. As a result, many selfies are not satisfactory.
Cameras have improved and can produce clearer, higher quality images at greater distances. Users may want selfies that are taken from greater distances than a selfie stick can, practically, extend. Users may want to capture more background or include more people in the image. For example, two friends who want to take a selfie while socially distancing would require the typical cell phone camera to be placed at a distance beyond what a conventional selfie stick could accommodate.
Another difficulty with conventional selfie schemes is that it is difficult to discern what image will be captured by the cell phone. Even when a conventional cell phone camera is in selfie mode, when holding the camera or the selfie stick it is often difficult for the user to see the image that will be captured. This may be due to the camera being at a distance or may be due to movement caused by not being held steady, or both.
These and other disadvantages of conventional selfie methods and devices may be addressed by the features, components, and concepts described herein.


A sill arrangement of a motor vehicle body is provided that has a sill outer plate, a sill inner plate, and a side wall outer plate, the sill inner plate and the sill outer plate being connected to one another with at least one flange extending essentially in the sill longitudinal direction, and the side wall outer plate fastened at least regionally on a lower side of the sill outer plate at a distance from the connecting flange.

With respect to a desirable reduction of the fuel consumption and an accompanying minimization of the emission gases in operation of motor vehicles, it is desirable to continuously minimize the vehicle weight. In addition to the use of light construction materials, in particular a reduction of the size and number of parts of individual vehicle body components certainly comes into consideration in vehicle body construction for this purpose.
Thus, FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a sill arrangement 100 known in the prior art, in which, according to the cross-section in FIG. 2, a sill inner plate 106 forms, with a sill outer plate 104, a sill structure similar to a hollow profile, which is substantially covered or paneled on the outside by a side wall outer plate 102. Sill inner plate 106, sill outer plate 104, and also the side wall outer plate 102 are connected to one another in this case at a common joint 108, 110, formed in each case by a connecting flange of the participating parts, typically by means of welding.
The side wall outer plate 102, which functions as a paneling part, extends, viewed in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x), beyond the longitudinal end of the sill structure located behind it and has an essentially level floor section 112 extending essentially in the vehicle transverse direction (y) adjoining the joint 110. In the further manufacturing process of the motor vehicle body, this floor section 112, which is formed substantially without undercuts, serves as a receptacle for a terminus part 114, which has already been preinstalled on a further vehicle body module, for example, an assembly of a reinforcement ring provided for the vehicle door.
In the course of a modular assembly of reinforcement ring and a side wall structure having the sill structure, it is necessary to join the two prefinished vehicle body modules essentially in the vehicle transverse direction (y). In this case, the terminus part 114 provided with a lower fastening flange 116 is brought essentially in the vehicle transverse direction (y), i.e., from left to right in the view according to FIG. 2, along the inner side of the floor section 112 of the side wall outer plate 102 into a final installation position shown in FIG. 1, in which the terminus part can essentially close the hollow profile formed by sill inner plate 106, sill outer plate 104, and side wall outer plate 102.
At least one objection is to provide an improved sill arrangement, which allows a reduction of weight, material, and costs, and is implementable as much as possible without adapting the described joining and manufacturing methods. In addition, other objects, desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

Sill arrangement of a motor vehicle body


To provide an image processing technique compatible with both a CCD and a CIS, which controls storage of image data read by each device in a memory and the read of the stored data for each rectangular area to obtain a high memory efficiency, an image processing apparatus includes a memory area control section which sets, for image data bitmapped on a first memory, a rectangular area divided in a main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction, an address generation section which generates address information to read out image data corresponding to the rectangular area in correspondence with the set rectangular area, a memory control section which reads out the image data corresponding to the rectangular area and DMA-transfers the image data to a second memory in accordance with the generated address information, and an image processing section which executes image processing for each rectangular area of the DMA-transferred data by using the second memory.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing the composition of a scanner image processing circuit in a conventional image processing apparatus. As an image reading device, an optical element such as a CCD 2010 or CIS 2110 is used. Data according to a predetermined output format is A/D-converted by a CCD interface (I/F) circuit 2000 or CIS interface (I/F) circuit 2100 and stored in a main memory 2200 for each line in the main scanning direction. In this case, the CCD 2010 outputs data corresponding to R, G, and B in parallel. The CIS 2110 serially outputs the signals of R, G, and B data in accordance with the order of LED lighting. Depending on different output data characteristics, the CCD and CIS have dedicated interface circuits. After predetermined A/D conversion processing, the read image data is stored in the main memory (SDRAM) 2200.
Referring to FIG. 27, image processing blocks (shading correction (SHD) 2300, character determination processing 2320, filter processing 2340, and the like) have dedicated line buffers 2400a to 2400d. In this circuit composition, data corresponding to a plurality of lines, which are stored in the main memory (SDRAM) 2200, are read out in the main scanning direction, stored in the dedicated line buffers (2400a to 2400d), and subjected to individual image processing operations.
However, in the circuit composition that prepares dedicated line buffers 2400a to 2400d for the respective processing sections, the maximum number of pixels that can be processed in the main scanning direction depends on the memory capacity of the dedicated line buffer of each processing section. This restricts the throughput of processing.
If the capacity of the line buffer is increased in the hardware configuration of the image processing circuit to improve the processing capability, the cost increases. This impedes cost reduction of the entire image processing apparatus. For example, when the resolution or main scanning width of the apparatus should be increased, the capacity of the line buffer must be increased.
A signal output from the CCD 2010 or CIS 2110 serving as an image reading device is processed by the dedicated interface circuit (2000 or 2100) in accordance with the output format. Bitmapping of read image data on the main memory 2200 depends on which device (e.g., the CCD or CIS) has been used, and image data input processing must inevitably be specialized. That is, the image processing circuit is customized depending on the employed image reading device. This impedes generalization and cost reduction of the image processing circuit.
A prior art having the above composition is disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-170372.

Image processing apparatus and image processing method


Provided is a signal transmission circuit capable of realizing the same effects as those in a conventional manner that employs a complicated circuit by using no complicated circuit, that is, by a simple circuit. The signal transmission circuit includes: a transmission path having a first impedance; a terminating resistor having a predetermined resistance; a transmission path having a second impedance, which is connected to the transmission path and the terminating resistor, the second impedance being higher than both of the first impedance and the predetermined resistance; and an input buffer for receiving a signal at a connection portion of the transmission path and the transmission path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a signal transmission circuit used for an information processing device or the like which transmits a serial signal at a high speed, and to an IC package and a mounting substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional signal transmission circuit reduces jitter with the use of, for example, an equalizer (for example, refer to JP 08-297924 A).
A frequency dependency of the loss of a passive equalizer is a frequency dependency lost reverse to the loss of a transmission path, and the loss of the total pass characteristics is kept substantially constant regardless of the frequency. For that reason, the receive waveform of a receiver IC (integrated circuit) has substantially the same amplitude in any bits, and the jitter of its eye pattern is reduced. Because the total frequency components are uniformly attenuated, the eye opening amplitude becomes small. However, the conventional circuit that reduces jitter by using the passive equalizer is configured by a circuit that includes elements such as an inductance, a resistor, and a capacitor. Therefore, forming such a circuit within an IC leads to a problem in that an IC process is complicated, and forming the circuit on a substrate in the form of chip parts leads to a problem in that the number of parts and the mounted area are increased.
Also, since the gain of an active equalizer has the characteristic that compensates the loss of a transmission path, the total pass characteristics are small in the loss over the total frequencies. For that reason, the receive waveform of the receiver IC is substantially the same as the output waveform of a driver IC (integrated circuit), and its eye pattern is reduced in the jitter and large in the opening amplitude. However, the conventional circuit that reduces the jitter by using the active equalizer uses a dedicated IC, or its function is integrated in the receiver IC. The use of the dedicated IC adversely increases the number of parts and the costs. In the case where the function is integrated in the receiver IC, not only the complicated IC, the increased IC area, the microscopic IC manufacturing process, and the resultant increased IC costs are caused, but also the waveform that has passed through the active equalizer cannot be observed from the external. In addition, either case leads to a problem in that the power consumption is remarkably increased in order to obtain the gain.
In addition, the output waveform of the driver IC which has been subjected to pre-emphasis is larger in the amplitude than the normal output waveform in only the bits immediately after being inverted. For that reason, the eye pattern of the output waveform of the driver IC has two kinds of levels in both of high and low. When the output waveform is attenuated in the high frequency component due to the loss of the transmission path, the receive waveform of the receiver IC becomes original level in all of the bits, and its eye pattern is small in jitter, bringing the opening amplitudes to a small level. The output waveform of the drive IC which has been subjected to de-emphasis has a normal amplitude in only the bits immediately after being inverted, and in the case of the same data as previous data, the amplitude is made small. For that reason, the eye pattern of the output waveform of the driver IC has two kinds of levels in both of high and low. When the output waveform is attenuated in the high frequency component due to the loss of the transmission path, the receive waveform of the receiver IC becomes small amplitude level in all of the bits, and its eye pattern is small in jitter, bringing the opening amplitudes to a small level. However, the conventional circuit that reduces the jitter by using pre-emphasis or de-emphasis requires a comparator circuit for comparing data of two continuous bits, and in the case where data is continuous, a control circuit that changes the amplitude of a first bit or a second bit, as a driver IC output, and a power circuit that changes the voltage across an output transistor. This configuration leads to a problem in that the complicated IC, the increased IC area, the microscopic IC manufacturing process, and the resultant increased IC costs are caused.

Signal transmission circuit, IC package, and mounting board


A vibrating gyroscope includes two input buffers each arranged to input voltage signals appearing at respective detection electrodes of one of two piezoelectric vibrators. An adding circuit adds up output voltages of the respective input buffers. An amplitude control circuit automatically controls a loop gain such that an output voltage of the adding circuit has a substantially constant amplitude. A phase-shift circuit controls the phase of a drive voltage supplied to the piezoelectric vibrators such that the piezoelectric vibrators oscillate by positive feedback. Two differential amplifier circuits each amplify a voltage difference corresponding to an angular velocity about an axis. Two synchronous detection circuits each perform detection using a synchronizing signal generated from an oscillation signal, and detect a voltage signal corresponding to the angular velocity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vibrating gyroscope including piezoelectric vibrators.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many digital video cameras and digital still cameras include an angular velocity sensor capable of detecting camera shake in order to correct motion blur caused by a shaking hand.
Such an angular velocity sensor drives piezoelectric vibrators, detects an electromotive voltage generated by vibrations of the piezoelectric vibrators caused by Coriolis force, and outputs a voltage signal corresponding to an angular velocity.
To correct motion blur caused by hand shake as described above, it is necessary to detect an angular velocity about a vertical axis (horizontal vibrations) and an angular velocity about a horizontal axis (vertical vibrations). To do this, a single sensor must have two detection axes perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to each other.
Conventionally, a two-axis vibrating gyroscope includes two sets each including a tuning-fork piezoelectric vibrator, a drive circuit (oscillation unit), and a signal processing circuit (detection unit), so that self-oscillation driving is performed independently for each axis.
When the two tuning-fork piezoelectric vibrators, which perform mechanical in-plane vibrations, are mounted on a single module, a difference in frequency between the two oscillation frequencies affects the oscillation frequency of each of the tuning-fork piezoelectric vibrators. This is due to mechanical propagation, aerial propagation, electrical propagation, and other characteristics of the vibrations. When a signal on which a difference frequency component is superimposed is synchronously detected by a detection circuit for each axis, the difference in frequency component appears as an interference wave in the output of the vibrating gyroscope. For example, when oscillation frequencies for first and second axes are about 25 kHz and about 31 kHz, respectively, a difference in frequency of about 6 kHz appears as an interference wave in the gyroscope output for each axis.
FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B illustrate examples of the interference described above. In the graph shown in FIG. 1A, the horizontal axis represents frequency and the vertical axis represents the level of an output signal of a vibrating gyroscope. In the example of FIG. 1A, an interference signal having a difference in frequency of about 6 kHz appears. In the graph shown in FIG. 1B, the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents the output signal level of the vibrating gyroscope for each axis. In the example of FIG. 1B, fluctuation components observed when a difference in oscillation frequency is about 11 Hz appear in output signals of the vibrating gyroscope for the two axes.
A camera in which the vibrating gyroscope is mounted amplifies the output signal of the vibrating gyroscope, converts the amplified signal into a discrete value through an analog-to-digital (AD) converter, sends the discrete value to a microcomputer, and calculates the amount of correction of motion blur caused by hand shake. If the level of noise resulting from an interference wave component is high enough to deviate from the resolution of the AD converter, erroneous detection of an angular velocity may occur.
Examples of a method for reducing such interference noise include a method in which oscillation frequencies of two vibrators are widely separated from each other, and a method in which an interference wave is attenuated by providing a filter.
However, the angular velocity sensitivity of a vibrator is inversely proportional to a difference in oscillation frequency. For example, if a difference in frequency between two axes of the vibrators is about 5 kHz, a sensitivity difference of about 25% will result. Therefore, when the oscillation frequencies of the two vibrators are widely separated from each other, a considerable difference in sensitivity of the vibrating gyroscope is observed between the two axes. As a result, a signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of the piezoelectric vibrator having a higher oscillation frequency is degraded.
When a filter for attenuating an interference wave is providing, the frequency of the interference wave (i.e., a difference in frequency between two axes) is about 1/5 to about 1/15 of the oscillation frequencies for the two axes. Therefore, for example, it is necessary to provide several stages of low-pass filters (LPFs) having a cutoff frequency fc as low as about 300 Hz. However, insertion of stacked low-pass filters may affect the primary sensitivity range (from direct current (DC) to about 50 Hz) of the vibrating gyroscope, degrade the response characteristics of the vibrating gyroscope, and cause an increase in phase delay with respect to an applied angular velocity.
FIG. 2 is a graph showing an example of different response characteristics of a vibrating gyroscope depending on the presence or absence of a low-pass filter. In the graph of FIG. 2, the horizontal axis represents the frequency of angular velocity, that is, the frequency of an input signal to the low-pass filter, while the vertical axis represents the phase delay. In the example shown in FIG. 2, by providing the low-pass filter, a phase delay at a frequency of about 30 Hz increases by about 5 degrees.
Japanese Patent No. 3698787 describes a multi-axis vibrating gyroscope including a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators, an oscillation drive circuit, and a detection circuit. The vibrating gyroscope includes one oscillation circuit arranged to cause a piezoelectric vibrator for a first axis to self-oscillate. Another piezoelectric vibrator for at least one remaining axis is caused to oscillate under excitation using an oscillation signal for the first axis.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a drive detection unit included in the vibrating gyroscope described in Japanese Patent No. 3698787. This vibrating gyroscope includes a drive detection circuit 41 and a detection circuit 42, which are respectively connected to two different piezoelectric vibrators (first and second piezoelectric vibrators) arranged with a space therebetween.
The drive detection circuit 41 includes an oscillation circuit 41a, a differential circuit 41b, a synchronous detection circuit 41c, and a rectifier circuit 41d. The detection circuit 42 includes a differential circuit 42a, a synchronous detection circuit 42b, and a rectifier circuit 42c.
The first piezoelectric vibrator is connected to terminals 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the drive detection circuit 41, while the second piezoelectric vibrator is connected to terminals 7′, 8′, 9′, and 10′ of the detection circuit 42.
In the drive detection circuit 41, the oscillation circuit 41a is connected to detection electrodes of the first piezoelectric vibrator, a drive electrode of the first piezoelectric vibrator, and the synchronous detection circuit 41c so as to define a self-oscillation circuit. At the same time, the oscillation circuit 41a is connected to a drive electrode of the second piezoelectric vibrator and the synchronous detection circuit 42b. With this configuration, an oscillation signal from the oscillation circuit 41a is supplied as a drive signal to the first and second piezoelectric vibrators, which are thus driven.
A detection signal from the first piezoelectric vibrator is supplied to the differential circuit 41b and differentially amplified.
The oscillation signal from the oscillation circuit 41a is supplied as a synchronous detection signal to the synchronous detection circuit 41c. The synchronous detection circuit 41c detects the differentially amplified signal in synchronization with the synchronous detection signal, and outputs the differentially amplified signal as a detection signal. The detection signal is rectified by the rectifier circuit 41d and output from an output terminal 41e as a first detection voltage signal.
Similarly, a detection signal from the second piezoelectric vibrator is supplied through the terminals 8′ and 9′ to the differential circuit 42a. The synchronous detection circuit 42b detects the output of the differential circuit 42a in synchronization with the synchronous detection signal, and outputs the output of the differential circuit 42a as a detection signal. The detection signal is rectified by the rectifier circuit 42c and output from an output terminal 42d as a second detection voltage signal.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-285977 describes a multi-axis angular velocity sensor including a plurality of tuning-fork vibrators. In such an angular velocity sensor including two tuning-fork vibrators, the drive frequencies (oscillation frequencies) of the two tuning-fork vibrators are separated such that a difference in resonance frequency between the two tuning-fork vibrators (f1−f2) is at least about 2% of an average favg of the resonance frequencies of the two tuning-fork vibrators. Thus, by separating the oscillation frequencies of the two tuning-fork vibrators by at least a specified value, interference noise between circuits including the two tuning-fork vibrators is reduced.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-322874 describes a multi-axis vibrating gyroscope including a plurality of tuning-fork vibrators. In the vibrating gyroscope, only arm lengths of each of the tuning-fork vibrators are varied such that a difference in oscillation frequency between the tuning-fork vibrators is adjusted to be at least about 1 kHz. Thus, interference noise between axes is reduced.
With the configuration described in Japanese Patent No. 3698787, since the first piezoelectric vibrator is driven by self-oscillation, it is easy to obtain gyroscope characteristics that match the resonance frequency of the first piezoelectric vibrator. However, since the second piezoelectric vibrator is driven by excitation, and is thus excited at a non-resonance point, it is difficult to obtain original gyroscope characteristics. Moreover, since the first and second piezoelectric vibrators differ considerably from each other in gyroscope characteristics, a large amount of characteristic correction must be performed by appropriate circuits.
With the configurations described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications Nos. 2007-285977 and 2006-322874, even when the resonance frequencies of the tuning-fork vibrators are separated from each other, interference noise is generated to some extent. Moreover, as a difference in resonance frequency between the tuning-fork vibrators increases, a difference in gyroscope sensitivity between axes increases.
As described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-322874, when a low-pass filter is provided on a detection circuit side, interference noise is attenuated as a cutoff frequency of the low-pass filter is reduced. However, at the same time, this causes degradation in response characteristics of the vibrating gyroscope (i.e., delay of a sensor output signal with respect to an angular velocity).


A programmable and configurable datapath unit (DPU) includes a configuration of single-bit multi-function processing units (PUs). The DPU can perform any of a variety of functions depending on the control applied to each PU. Functionality can be increased by utilizing multiplexers to direct data into, out of, and through each DPU dependent on the selected function being performed. Datapath units can also be configured and interconnected to form larger datapath circuits, arrays, and systems so as to increase the data throughput of the datapath system. A configurable and programmable datapath array includes rows of datapath units which can be interconnected to provide DPU circuits having varying input operand widths and functions. A datapath system can be constructed with a plurality of arrays of DPUs to further increase system data throughput.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to datapath circuits in computing systems.
2. State of the Art
Computing systems typically include a datapath for operating on data within the system. In general, the datapath of a computing system includes functional blocks (implemented in either software or hardware) each dedicated to performing a single function. FIG. 1 shows an example of a simplified datapath system having a typical set of functional blocks including an adder block, an incrementor block, logic function blocks (each performing a different logic function), a barrel shifter block. A common bus having a fixed width couples a dataword to the inputs of the functional blocks wherein only one of the outputs of functional blocks is multiplexed to the output of the datapath.
One problem with this design is that the datapath system is exclusively dedicated to the current operation it is performing such that only a single dataword can be operated on by a single functional block at one time thereby causing a bottleneck at the input of the datapath. In the field of communications in which high frequency real-time data is processed, a bottleneck at the input of the datapath represents a significant reduction in overall system performance. Alternatively, more functional blocks can be added, however, this represents an increase in design size.
In addition, since the common input bus is a fixed width, if a dataword having a width that is smaller than the common bus width is processed by the datapath only a portion of the common bus width is used and the remainder is wasted resulting in an inefficient utilization of bandwidth. Finally, in prior art systems the bus width into the datapath becomes the limit of your data throughput. For instance, if you have a 32-bit bus width into the datapath and it is desired to transfer 64-bits, it would be necessary to perform this in two transfer operations.
The present invention is a system and method of designing a configurable datapath which allows for a variable width datapath and which is programmable so as to perform a variety of data functions using the same datapath unit.
A programmable and configurable datapath unit (DPU) includes a configuration of N interconnected single-bit multi-function processing units (PUs) configured into at least a row of PUs. The PUs are controlled by the same control signal such that the datapath unit is programmable to perform a selected N-bit function dependent on the control signal. The DPU is configurable in that it can be interconnected with other DPUs to increase its data throughput. In one embodiment each PU is implemented as a modified adder, each having at least first and second single-bit inputs, a carry input, a control signal input, a carry output, and a sum output. In this embodiment, the adders are interconnected such that the carry output of a given PU in the configuration is coupled to the carry input of the adjacent PU in the configuration. Each of the adders are implemented with logic gates such that intermediate logic operation resultants can be obtained from each adder. The intermediate operation resultants are internally multiplexed to the sum output port of the adder along with the addition resultant. The control applied to the control input of each adder selects which resultant is internally multiplexed to the sum output port of each PU. Each PU can also include boolean logic circuitry for performing other logic functions which are multiplexed to its sum output port. In one embodiment, the DPU is controlled to perform any of the following functions including addition, subtraction, multiplexing, incrementing, standard and custom logic functions, and conditional operations. In another embodiment, multiplexers are used to direct input and output data through each PU dependent on the selected function being performed.
The DPU input operand width is dependent on the number of single-bit PUs in a given row. In accordance with a system and method of the present invention, more than one DPU can be interconnected and programmed to form a datapath circuit having a wider input/output bit operand. In one embodiment, each individual DPU has four single-bit PUs in a single row so that it can be combined with other similar DPUs to form 4(n)-bit datapath circuits.
In accordance with another system and method of the present invention, more than one DPU is configured into an array. Groups of DPUs are interconnected and programmed to form multiple datapath circuits. The datapath circuits, in turn, are interconnected to form a datapath system made-up of the multiple datapath circuits each capable of performing a different function and having a different input and output operand widths. In one embodiment, the array comprises eight DPUs in each row and the array includes 32 rows.
In another embodiment, the DPU is designed so that it can be configured to perform a multiplication function in addition to standard and customized logic functions, conditional functions, and arithmetic functions. The DPU includes an array of eight single-bit modified adders, having four adders in a top row and four adders in a bottom row so as to form four pairs of stacked adders. The DPU further includes sets of multiplexers for directing the dataflow through the configuration of adders dependent on the function being performed by the DPU. The DPU is adapted for stacking and interconnecting rows of DPUs to form an array of DPUs which performs a first step of the multiplication operation. Additional adder circuitry performs a second step of the multiplication operation. In one embodiment a portion of a 16xc3x9716 bit multiplication circuit is formed by stacking and interconnecting 4 rows of DPUs, each row including 4 DPUs.

High performance datapath unit for behavioral data transmission and reception


Circuits, systems and methods for improved monitoring of status of a storage controller in a storage system. A monitoring circuit external to the storage controller is adapted to couple to the internal bus structure within the storage controller. The monitoring circuit is adapted to sense status of the storage controller by monitoring bus transactions within the storage controller that indicate status of the control and/or of the storage system. In one aspect the monitoring circuit saves sensed status in a memory associated with the circuit. In another aspect, the monitoring circuit includes a network interface to transmit sensed/saved status to an external data processing system.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to storage systems and more specifically relates to a monitoring circuit adapted for coupling to a storage controller to sense the status of the operating or failed storage controller.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Present-day storage systems generally include significant processing power for reliable storage management and for high performance. Often, a storage subsystem may comprise a large number of storage devices (e.g., disk drives) with a plurality of high performance storage controllers coupled in a paired redundant fashion to the storage devices and coupled to one or more attached host systems. The controller storage controllers may cooperate in a number of ways to distribute processing load among them to improve performance of the storage system and may be adapted to provide redundancy within the storage system to enhance reliability.
It is also a generally known in the industry that the storage controllers within such high performance, high reliability storage subsystems include substantial monitoring features to evaluate the operating status of the storage subsystem as the storage controller initializes (e.g., "boots"). In other words, an aspect of the initialization process of the storage controllers in such advanced storage subsystems evaluates the health of the storage subsystem as the storage controller is booting. Presuming that the storage controller successfully initializes, anomalies detected in the initialization process may be reported to a cooperating, associated diagnostic application operable within an attached host system or server. An operator may then be notified by the diagnostic application of the anomalous condition to permit operator intervention in resolving the problem.
Despite such operational monitoring during the initialization process, such features may be unusable if the error condition is such that the storage controller is incapable of completing its initialization and boot process. Therefore when such fatal or near fatal errors are present in the storage subsystem there may be no effective means for reporting such a status to an associated diagnostic application to permit operator intervention and thus rapid resolution of the problem.
It is therefore evident from the above discussion that an ongoing need exists for improved diagnostic capabilities what to permit sensing and reporting of such fatal and near fatal anomalies in the operation of a storage controller and/or its associated storage subsystem to thus enable appropriate, rapid remedial actions.

Circuit, systems and methods for monitoring storage controller status


Three alternative methods of controlling transmit power in a basic service set (BSS) including a plurality of stations that have successfully synchronized with an access point include providing each BSS with one transmit power limit that is not more than the lowest one of the transmit power limits of all of its operating channels, providing each BSS with one transmit power limit that is fixed for physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data units (PPDU) with each channel bandwidth, or providing each BSS with one transmit power limit that is fixed for each 80 MHz channel.

The present invention relates to wireless systems and more particularly to the transmitting power limits associated with such wireless systems.
Referring to FIG. 1, the power limits associated with 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and 160 MHz channels in the US operating region are shown. Certain observations of the transmitting power limits can be made. Each 40 MHz channel has the same transmit power limit. Each 80 MHz channel has the same transmit power limit. A 160 MHz channel that is comprised of two adjacent 80 MHz channels may have a different regulatory transmit power limit. A 160 MHz channel that is comprised of two non-adjacent 80 MHz channels may also have different regulatory transmit power limits. It is not clear what the rules are regarding transmit power limits in a 160 MHz Basic Services Set (BSS) with different regulatory transmit power limits in different channels.
Therefore, what is desired is at least one clear set of rules for transmit power limits in a 160 MHz BSS.


An inflatable beach chair is disclosed having the appearance of a shoe. The inflatable beach chair comprises a seat portion which corresponds to a tongue of the shoe and a beach blanket which is detachably mounted to the seat portion. The chair has two side storage compartments which correspond to eyelets for laces of the shoe. A base corresponds to a sole of a shoe. A cavity has a cover, the cavity corresponding to a foot opening of a shoe while the cavity is adapted to receive a cooler. The beach chair is fabricated of a resilient sheet material thereby being capable of achieving a load supporting state when inflated and being stored in a small volume when deflated. The beach chair includes at least one fill stem and valve combination adapted to inflate or deflate the beach chair as desired.

There is widespread interest in recreational or leisure time visits to beaches. For more comfortable relaxation at the beach, particularly a sandy beach, a beach chair, usually a foldable fight-weight construction, is brought to the beach. Such a chair provides support for a user's back and is more comfortable than lying directly on a beach surface using a beach towel or the like. A beach towel is still useful for drying and cleaning purposes.
In addition to a beach towel and chair, beach goers often bring other items such as coolers, suntan lotion, books, radios to enhance the enjoyment of the beach environment. However, the transportation and carrying such items to a beach can be burdensome and act to diminish the beach experience.
Further, such items as wallets, loose change, car keys and the like are often needed at the beach. However, storage of such items for security purposes is often haphazard at best.
Given the wide popularity of beaches for recreational use, the reach of advertising in that environment would be dramatic.
U.S. Design Pat. No. D387,410 entitled "Inflatable Shoe Boat" which issued on Dec. 9, 1997 to Peterson shows an inflatable shoe boat.
U.S. Design Pat. No. D. 398,694 entitled "Inflatable Chair" which issued on Sept. 22, 1998 to Boddy shows an inflatable chair.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,558 entitled "Beach Blanket and Inflatable Chair Combination" which issued on Feb. 16, 1988 to Reiff shows an inflatable chair which is removably attached to the upper surface of a beach blanket.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,907 entitled "Beach Carry Bag" which issued on Jun. 18, 1996 to Trawick et al. discloses a beach carry bag including a carrier case having an insulated storage compartment for cooled beverages and a plurality of non-insulated compartments. A lower slot pocket storage compartment is provided for insertion of a flat beach towel which may be inflated to form a head rest or may be fully inflated to form a mattress.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,978 entitled "Tote `N Flote Water Vehicle" which issued on Mar. 29, 1994 to Ramsey discloses a water vehicle comprising an inflatable tube having a rigid seat portion, a dry duffel compartment, and detachable wet and dry stowage compartments. The vehicle may be stored as a lightweight tote.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,570 entitled "Chair-Boat Structure" which issued on Nov. 16, 1971 to Wilson et al. shows a floating chair structure which may be in the form of toys or the like. None of the known prior art disclose the device set forth herein.


First conductive layers extend in a first direction horizontal to a substrate as a longitudinal direction, and are stacked in a direction perpendicular to a substrate. An interlayer insulating layer is provided between the first conductive layers. The variable resistance layers functioning as a variable resistance element are formed continuously on the side surfaces of the first conductive layers and the interlayer insulating layer. A columnar conductive layer is provided on the side surfaces of the first conductive layers and the interlayer insulating layer via the variable resistance layers. First side surfaces of the first conductive layers are recessed from a second side surface of the interlayer insulating layer in the direction away from the columnar conductive layers.

As recent semiconductor memory devices become more integrated, the associated LSI devices become increasingly more compact. The more compact LSI devices require not only a smaller line width, but improved dimensional and positional accuracies of circuit patterns. As a technology to overcome such a problem, a ReRAM (Resistive RAM) is proposed that uses, as a memory, a variable resistance element that reversibly changes the resistance. Then, it is believed that the memory cell array can become more highly integrated by a VAL (Vertical Array Line) structure in the ReRAM that includes the variable resistance element provided between the side walls of word-lines extending in parallel with a substrate and the side walls of bit-lines extending perpendicular to the substrate.
It is required in the VAL structure that thinned interlayer dielectric films are formed between a plurality of stacked word-lines to provide a more integrated memory cell array. However, thinned interlayer dielectric films may reduce the withstand voltage between the memory cells. In this way, it is required in the VAL structure that a more integrated memory cell array is provided while improving the withstand voltage between the memory cells.

Non-volatile semiconductor memory device


A catheter tip assembly (50) is provided with a catheter tip (56) and an inner catheter (54). The catheter tip (56) has a tapered proximal end, an elongate center portion, and a tapered distal end. The inner catheter (54) includes a narrow proximal portion, a narrow elongate center portion (66), and a wide distal end (68). The catheter tip (56) is disposed within the wide distal end (68) of the inner catheter (54). One advantage of the catheter tip assembly is that no proximal-facing edge is formed at the transition between the narrow elongate center portion of the inner catheter and the catheter tip, which may help reduce the risk of the catheter tip snagging on a stent during use.

The present invention relates generally to medical devices and more particularly to delivery systems for implantable medical devices, such as self-expanding stents.
Stents have become a common alternative for treating vascular conditions because stenting procedures are considerably less invasive than other alternatives. As an example, stenoses in the coronary arteries have traditionally been treated with bypass surgery. In general, bypass surgery involves splitting the chest bone to open the chest cavity and grafting a replacement vessel onto the heart to bypass the stenosed artery. However, coronary bypass surgery is a very invasive procedure that presents increased risk and requires a long recovery time for the patient. By contrast, stenting procedures are performed transluminally and do not require open surgery. Thus, recovery time is reduced and the risks of surgery are minimized.
Many different types of stents and stenting procedures are possible. In general, however, stents are typically designed as tubular support structures that may be inserted percutaneously and transluminally through a body passageway. Typically, stents are adapted to be compressed and expanded between a smaller and larger diameter. However, other types of stents are designed to have a fixed diameter and are not generally compressible. Although stents may be made from many types of materials, including non-metallic materials and natural tissues, common examples of metallic materials that may be used to make stents include stainless steel and nitinol. Other materials may also be used, such as cobalt-chrome alloys, amorphous metals, tantalum, platinum, gold, titanium, polymers and/or compatible tissues. Typically, stents are implanted within an artery or other passageway by positioning the stent within the lumen to be treated and then expanding the stent from a compressed diameter to an expanded diameter. The ability of the stent to expand from a compressed diameter makes it possible to thread the stent through narrow, tortuous passageways to the area to be treated while the stent is in a relatively small, compressed diameter.
Once the stent has been positioned and expanded at the area to be treated, the tubular support structure of the stent contacts and radially supports the inner wall of the passageway. The implanted stent may be used to mechanically prevent the passageway from closing in order to keep the passageway open to facilitate fluid flow through the passageway.
Stents may also be used in combination with other components to treat a number of medical conditions. For example, stent-graft assemblies are commonly used in the treatment of aneurysms. As those in the art well know, an aneurysm is an abnormal widening or ballooning of a portion of an artery. Generally, this condition is caused by a weakness in the blood vessel wall. High blood pressure and atherosclerotic disease may also contribute to the formation of aneurysms. Common types of aneurysms include aortic aneurysms, cerebral aneurysms, popliteal artery aneurysms, mesenteric artery aneurysms, and splenic artery aneurysms. However, it is also possible for aneurysms to form in blood vessels throughout the vasculature. If not treated, an aneurysm may eventually rupture, resulting in internal hemorrhaging. In many cases, the internal bleeding may be so massive that a patient can die within minutes of an aneurysm rupture. For example, in the case of aortic aneurysms, the survival rate after a rupture can be as low as 20%.
Traditionally, aneurysms have been treated with surgery. For example, in the case of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, the abdomen is surgically opened, and the widened section of the aorta is typically dissected longitudinally. A graft material, such as Dacron, is then inserted into the vessel and sutured at each end to the inner wall of the non-widened portions of the vessel. The dissected edges of the vessel may then be overlapped and sutured to enclose the graft material within the vessel. In smaller vessels where the aneurysm forms a balloon-like bulge with a narrow neck connecting the aneurysm to the vessel, the surgeon may put a clip on the blood vessel wall at the neck of the aneurysm between the aneurysm and the primary passageway of the vessel. The clip then prevents blood flowing through the vessel from entering the aneurysm.
An alternative to traditional surgery is endovascular treatment of the blood vessel with a stent-graft. This alternative involves implanting a stent-graft in the blood vessel across the aneurysm using conventional catheter-based placement techniques. The stent-graft treats the aneurysm by sealing the wall of the blood vessel with a generally impermeable graft material.
Thus, the aneurysm is sealed off and blood flow is kept within the primary passageway of the blood vessel. Increasingly, treatments using stent-grafts are becoming preferred since the procedure results in less trauma and faster recuperation.
Self-expanding stents are one common type of stent used in medical procedures. Self-expanding stents are increasingly being used by physicians because of their adaptability to a variety of different conditions and procedures. Self-expanding stents are usually made of shape memory materials or other elastic materials that act like a spring. Typical metals used in this type of stent include Nitinol and stainless steel. However, other materials may also be used.
Traditionally, self-expanding stents have been used in a number of peripheral arteries in the vascular system due to the elastic characteristic of these stents. One advantage of self-expanding stents for peripheral arteries is that traumas from external sources do not permanently deform the stent. As a result, the stent may temporarily deform during unusually harsh traumas and spring back to its expanded state once the trauma is relieved. However, self-expanding stents may be used in many other applications as well.
The above-described examples are only some of the applications in which stents are used by physicians. Many other applications for stents are known and/or may be developed in the future.
To facilitate stent implantation, self-expanding stents are normally installed on the end of an inner catheter in a low profile, compressed state. The distal end of the inner catheter is typically attached to a tapered catheter tip having a lumen. When placed on the inner catheter, the self-expanding stent is positioned just proximal to the catheter tip. The stent is typically inserted into an outer catheter at the end of the catheter, which restrains the stent in the compressed state. The outer catheter is also known as a sheath. The stent and catheter assembly is then guided to the portion of the vessel to be treated. Once the catheter assembly and stent are positioned adjacent the portion to be treated, the stent is released by pulling, or withdrawing, the outer catheter rearward. Normally, a stop member or other feature is provided on the inner catheter to prevent the stent from moving rearward with the outer catheter or sheath. After the stent is released from the retaining outer catheter, the stent springs radially outward to an expanded diameter until the stent contacts and presses against the vessel wall. The inner catheter and attached catheter tip are then withdrawn through the lumen of the stent, leaving the stent in place within the vessel.
As previously noted, in stent delivery systems, the distal end of the inner catheter is attached to a tapered catheter tip. The tapered catheter tip facilitates pushing the stent delivery system through tissue or blood vessels to the desired location. FIG. 1 shows a conventional catheter tip assembly 10 for use in a stent delivery system. As shown in FIG. 1, the catheter tip 12 has a tapered distal end 14, a tapered proximal end 16 and a longitudinally-running lumen 18. The proximal end 16 of the catheter tip 12 is attached to the distal end 20 of the inner catheter 22. The distal end 20 of the inner catheter 22 is sized such that it fits within the proximal portion of the lumen 18 of the catheter tip 12. An adhesive is used to secure the catheter tip 12 to the inner catheter 22. As shown, a stop member 24 may be located on the inner catheter 22, which extends radially outwardly from the inner catheter 22. During use, a self-expanding stent 26 in a compressed state may be loaded on the inner catheter 22 between the stop member 24 and the catheter tip 12.
The manner of attachment between the inner catheter 22 and the catheter tip 12 shown in FIG. 1 poses a risk that the catheter tip 12 will snag or catch the distal end of the self-expanding stent 26 as the inner catheter 22 and catheter tip 12 are withdrawn through the lumen of the expanded stent 26. This is because the juncture between the distal end 20 of the inner catheter 22 and the proximal end 16 of the catheter tip 12 forms an edge 28. This edge 28 may be prone to catching on the stent 26 because it faces the proximal direction. Thus, as the inner catheter 22 and catheter 12 are withdrawn in the proximal direction, the edge 28 may catch on the stent 26. If the catheter tip 12 catches on the stent 26, it may dislodge the stent 26 from the desired location in the patient's body. The catheter tip 12 may also separate from the inner catheter 22 if it catches on the edge of the stent 26, leaving the catheter tip 12 lodged in the vessel where it may block the vessel or cause other complications.
The manner of attachment between the inner catheter 22 and the catheter tip 12 shown in FIG. 1 may also result in the formation of an undesirable gap 34 between a stent 26 loaded on the inner catheter 22 and the stop member 24 on the inner catheter 22. Typically, in conventional systems, the distal end 20 of the inner catheter 22 is threaded through the lumen of a compressed stent 26 and the outer catheter 30 is placed over the compressed stent 26 to prevent it from expanding. After the stent 26 is loaded, the catheter tip 12 is attached to the inner catheter 22, usually with an adhesive. In order to accommodate the process of bonding the inner catheter 22 to the catheter tip 12, a gap 34 may be formed between the stop member 24 and the proximal end 32 of the stent 26. For example, the gap 34 may be between 3 mm and 1 cm in length, as measured in the axial direction. When the outer catheter 30 is withdrawn, the stent 26 initially moves proximally with the retention sheath through the gap 34 until the proximal end 32 of the stent 26 contacts the distal end of the stop member 24. Once the proximal end 32 of the stent 26 contacts the distal end of the stop member 24, the stop member 24 prevents the stent 26 from continuing to move proximally, thereby resulting in relative movement between the outer catheter 30 and the stent 26. However, because the stent 26 initially moves proximally with the outer catheter 30 through the gap 34, a slight delay in deployment may occur. This delay in deployment may cause inaccuracy in placement of the stent.


A vibratory motor is provided with a detecting member for detecting rotational speed of a rotor member and a control circuit for stopping oscillation of a stator member of the motor when the rotational speed of the rotor member becomes less than a predetermined speed. When the rotational speed of the rotor member is less than the predetermined speed, the control circuit stops oscillation of the stator member. When the stator member stops oscillating, slippage is not generated between the rotor member and the stator member and deterioration of the motor due to friction is successfully decreased.

This invention relates to a motor which utilizes vibrations on a stator member as a driving source.
Conventionally, a motor which utilizes vibrations on a stator member is well known in the art. The motor rotates a rotor member due to transmitted vibrational energy from the stator member to the rotor member by frictional force. Accordingly, rotational speed of the rotor may be decreased due to an increased slippage between the stator member and the rotor member as a load connected to the rotor, is increased, i.e., as the load on the motor, is increased.
Thus, the conventional vibratory motor deteriorates in efficiency due to the slippage between the stator member and the rotor member if an excessive load is connected to the rotor member.


A master six-degree-freedom Force Reflecting Hand Controller ("FRHC") is available at a master site where a received image displays, in essentially real-time, a remote robotic manipulator which is being controlled in the corresponding six-degree-freedom by command signals which are transmitted to the remote site in accordance with the movement of the FRHC at the master site. Software is user-initiated at the master site in order to establish the basic system conditions and then a physical movement of the FRHC in Cartesean space is reflected at the master site by six absolute numbers that are sensed, translated, and computed as a difference signal relative to the earlier position. The change in position is then transmitted in that differential signal form over a high speed synchronized bilateral communication channel which simultaneously returns robot-sensed response information to the master site as forces applied to the FRHC so that the FRHC reflects the "feel" of what is taking place at the remote site. A system-wide clock rate is selected at a sufficiently high rate that the operator at the master site experiences the Force Reflecting operation in real time.

Space telerobot systems may present a master control site that is many, many, miles away from the remote site. Teleoperator mode of control with a back-driveable hand controller implies communication-intensive feedback to the master site. Moreover, both site locations must have essentially real-time information of what has transpired at the other site location. In a teleoperator mode, software such as a display readout/visual display is essential and further complicates the communication requirements. Commands on a hand-held grip at the master site must perform intricate and precise movement and manipulation of a robot's joints and it's end effector at the remote site.
Communication by data transmission links is obviously mandatory, and simple, yet efficient ways of handling large amounts of data is essential for an efficient system performance. Computer control at each site for sensing, encoding, transmitting/receiving, mathematically translating, viewing and responding to such robotic control information involves processor activities that are computational intensive at each site. Such computer control is eminently the most reasonable approach when the manual master controller is not a kinematic and dynamic duplicate of the robot arm, but instead takes the form of a generalized force-reflecting hand controller which is interfaceable to any robot. Such a master controller is exemplified by an experimental device that has been developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). In that experimental device, the kinematic and dynamic relations between master and robot arms are established through mathematical transformations embodied in computer programs in the control station. See A. K. Bejczy and J. K. Salisbury, Jr., Kinesthetic Coupling Between Operator and Remote Manipulator, Computers in Mechanical Engineering, Vol. 1, No. 1, July 1983, pp. 48-60. Such transformations per se are well known and do not form part of this invention.
The master location will often include a hand controller that is capable of movement in six degrees-of-freedom ("d.o.f."), which hand controller preferably is back-driveable in those degrees in order to supply a "feel" of what is taking place at the remote site. Control action, whether manual or computer-driven, involves many well known control modes including pure position, pure rate, hybrid position and rate, and/or a hybrid position and force control mode.
All of the aforementioned modes may advantageously benefit from software control programs, and each mode of control may require the hand controller to be software restricted to one or a limited number of the six possible degrees-of-freedom that are available. These numerous and inter-connected system requirements present a complex telemanipulation problem that is further complicated by the communication difficulties encountered by the great distances between the master and remote sites.
Future space operations relating to space station, satellite and space platform servicing, maintenance and assembly call for an increased application of telerobots. The term telerobot denotes a mobile and manipulative machine which can be controlled via (automatic/autonomous) modes of control. A typical machine of this category is illustrated in FIG. 1 of an article co-authored by the inventor hereto entitled "Universal Computer Control System (UCCS) for Space Telerobots", IEEE Proceeding of the International Conference On Robotics, 1987 which article forms the basis for the parent application of this continuation-in-part application. The typical machine of FIG. 1 of the above-identified article has redundant arms, multi d.o.f. end effectors, and several TV cameras and light sources on independent multi d.o.f. platforms. The number of actuators or motors required to drive the articulated elements of a typical telerobot machine of this category can be thirty or more. The large number of computer controlled motors in space telerobot systems, and the inherent requirement of their computer control coordination, was the motivation behind the JPL research and development of a Universal Computer Control System ("UCCS") which includes a Universal Motor Control ("UMC") for all of the motor elements of a space telerobot system as described and claimed in the parent application.
The UCCS and UMC portion of the parent application is not repeated in detail in this application but is highly useful for digital control over and digital feedback from the many joint motors involved in the master-slave interrupt-driven synchronized system of this application. In addition, it should be noted that the invention of that parent application involves a motor control system which is capable of fulfilling the diverse overall requirements faced in the novel telemanipulator system disclosed herein although other motor control systems would be applicable as well. Most of the lower-level details of that parent application will not be repeated herein and those details as well as some of the general system aspects will, instead, be incorporated by reference as is set forth more explicitly hereinafter.
Some of the prior art relevant to consideration of the novelty of this and the parent application will now be discussed. Robotic control articles and prior art patents of the parent application are simply listed herein and reference to the parent may be made for more detailed consideration of this prior art. Two published systems, of general interest, are described in Control of Remote Manipulators, Handbook of Industrial Robotics, Wiley, New York, Chapter 17, pp. 320-333, 1985 and S. Lee, G. Bekey, and A. K. Bejczy, Computer Control of Space-Borne Teleoperators with Sensory Feedback, Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, St. Louis, Mo., Mar. 25-28, 1985, pp. 205-214.
The patents resulting from a search in the parent application include the following:
______________________________________ Inaba 4,475,160 Hutchins et al. 4,488,241 Niedermayr 4,611,296 Japan 60-230206 Japan 60-214007 Japan 57-113118 Japan 60-209802 Eder 4,099,107 Lee 4,300,080 Iwata 4,621,331 Sugimoto et al. 4,621,332 Pollard et al. 4,362,978 Takahashi et al. 4,639,652 ______________________________________
A prior art search was conducted relative to this invention and the following patents were noted.
Murata U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,385 PA0 Mori U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,525 PA0 Engelberger U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,260,941 and 4,275,986 PA0 Devol U.S. Pat. No. 3,890,552 PA0 Takeda U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,507 PA0 Rohrle U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,862
None of these references teach or suggest the invention as herein described or claimed. For example, none of the references teach or suggest the use of sensory data at the robot site which is transmitted over a balanced-load communication channel to backdrive "feel" actuators on the hand controller of the master arm. These features involve computational intense problems that are solved by a novel synchronism and software/hardware configuration that is first presented in this disclosure.

Synchronized computational architecture for generalized bilateral control of robot arms

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


A method for fabricating an integrated optical interconnect includes disposing a layer over a substrate on which at least one optoelectronic transducer has been formed. A groove is formed in the layer in alignment with the optoelectronic transducer. A slanted mirror is formed in the layer at an end of the groove adjacent to the optoelectronic transducer to direct light between the optoelectronic transducer and an optical fiber placed in the groove.

Optical modules integrating optical fibers with optoelectronic transducers, such as semiconductor lasers and photodiodes, are utilized, for example, in high data rate, high bandwidth communication systems. These modules are fabricated using a variety of hybrid assembly techniques, which sometimes require high precision alignment processes when directing the light in the optical fiber core to the optoelectronic transducer.


An interior wall partition trim assembly for providing a decorative trim molding at the ceiling-wall junction and corners together with a decorative chair rail trim member for trimming walls and corners intermediate the ceiling and floor, the combination of ceiling trim splice members shaped to fit supportingly inside the abutted ends of elongated hollow ceiling trim moldings and chair rail trim splice members shaped to fit inside the abutted ends of hollow chair rail trim members to position the respective abutted ends in even registration when fastened to a ceiling junction and wall, respectively. The splice members and mounting fasteners are accessible for mounting or demounting by pivotable decorative panels on each ceiling and chair rail trim member which close to hide the respective splice members and fasteners. Right angled corner cap junction members have ceiling trim molding insert adapters. Right angled chair rail corner bodies have chair rail trim member insert adapters. The insert adapters are inwardly offset at an abutment edge from decorative surfaces on said arms matching decorative surfaces on the corresponding trim members when ends of said trim members are positioned to cover insert adapters in contact with an abutment edge. This provides a continuous appearing trim molding decorative surface around corners. The insert adapters are also accessible for mounting and demounting by means of the pivotable decorative panels on ceiling moldings or chair rail trim members. End cap members are provided for open ends of ceiling trim moldings or chair rail trim members.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is a decorative molding for the junction between vertical walls and a horizontal ceiling including a decorative chair rail assembly for mounting on walls intermediate a floor and a ceiling.
2. Background
It is commonly desired to dress-up what may be called the junction or intersection between the walls and the ceiling of the room. A decorative molding applied along the intersection between each wall and the ceiling of a room covers any unfinished gaps or defects and provides an asthetically pleasing finished look to the room.
Although various materials have been employed in the construction of such moldings, perhaps the most commonly used trim is made from wood. Wood has the advantage of being relatively inexpensive and easy to fabricate with various curved decorative surfaces which face the interior of the room when the trim is installed at the intersection of walls and ceiling. An example would be quarter round which is supplied in long lengths cut with square butt ends. The quarter round is nailed in place along the wall-ceiling junction and the end of one piece is butted against the end of another piece along the junction around the room. Such joints are necessary both because the quarter round may not be long enough in some cases, or simply for economy to avoid waste of molding material.
It is necessary to make 45 degree angled cuts in the molding at inside or at outside corners in order to achieve the desired finished look. These cuts must be made at the job site and it is often difficult to match the ends both because of deficiencies in wall-ceiling construction and tolerances in the molding material itself not to mention the errors inherent in making angled cuts to fit exactly together.
Hollow shapes fabricated from metal or plastic are sometimes used for trim molding, but it is always necessary to make butt joints in trimming the intersection between walls and ceiling for the reasons mentioned. Even though extruded molding or molding fabricated from inexpensive sheet metal, for example, may be produced with uniform cross-section, it is still difficult to make neat butt joints from one piece to the other or to make neat angled joints at the corner itself. Non-flush edges of abutting trim members mounted at the junction are easily caused by a all too common variations in the surfaces of the walls and ceiling along the intersection and the fact that one trim member is lying along one portion of the wall and another trim member is lying along a different part of the wall. Over a considerable length, these variations often make it difficult to get a neat butt joint on trim which is actually fixed at different parts of the wall. Even a small difference in the position of the edges at a joint in a trim molding are objectionable because they are easily seen, especially if highlighted by sunlight or other lighting conditions in the room.
An additional problem is the difficulty in fixing the molding to the wall junction intersections without leaving the fastening devices or vestiges of the fastening devices visible under certain lighting conditions which is similarly objectionable. Painting, wallpapering, or other repairs, provide a particular problem because it is necessary to remove the trim molding in order to perform renovating, decorating, and maintenance tasks followed by replacement of the molding back in its original location. Frequently, the removal of trim is accompanied by cracking, splintering or other damage that necessitates the purchase and installation of new trim molding. Thus, it would be desirable to have an attractive decorative molding assembly with neat joints between pieces, with the edges in close registration with each other, which was conveniently installable without visible fasteners and which is removable and reinstallable.
Decorative and asthetically pleasing chair rail trim assemblies are also commonly used by mounting along each wall around the room at a chair contacting height intermediate the floor and ceiling. The chair rail serves as a "bumper" in case the chair is accidentially pushed against a wall to prevent any damage to the wall itself. In addition, it adds a pleasing finished look to the wall. The same advantages and problems exist with the chair rail molding assembly as with the ceiling-wall trim molding assembly. Neat butt joints with convenient installation and removal and replaceability are desired as with the ceiling molding assembly. It is to this end that the present invention has been developed with a view to providing an interior ceiling-wall or partition trim assembly and a chair rail assembly which utilizes several unique components to provide a trim assembly with neat joints that is easy to install, economical, removeable, replaceable, and attractive in appearance.

Decorative wall and ceiling molding assembly


A printing ink composition is described which includes carbon black and an alkali metal hydroxide in combination with an alkenyl succinimide for the dispersion of the carbon black. Also disclosed is a method of preparing a carbon black printing ink composition which comprises dispersing the carbon black in a mineral oil in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide and an alkenyl succinimide.

News inks are prepared by mechanically dispersing carbon black in mineral oil. The oil serves as a vehicle for the carbon particles. The Theological properties of the dispersion are determined by the dispersion properties, and the concentration and the interaction of the oil and the carbon black. They are of great importance in the ultimate use of the ink.
When conventional furnace carbon blacks are dispersed in ordinary mineral oils to a concentration required for good printing, which usually is in the range of 10 to 20% by weight, the carbon particles tend to chain together to form a dispersion having undesirable thixotropic properties. This can be overcome by adding more oil to the dispersion, but it would ordinarily make the pigmentation too weak. It is customary, instead, to give the ink the required "length" by making use of a mineral oil containing resinous compounds or substances or asphaltic still bottoms rich in polar compounds, which will coat the carbon particles and reduce their tendency to chain together.
It is a common practice to use pigment concentrates in current manufacturing of printing inks. Thus, color inks are produced by the appropriate dilution of flushes containing between 25-40 wt. % of pigment. Similarly, black inks are made by letting down suitable bases containing 20 to 35 wt. % of carbon black.
The production of such concentrates allows for more efficient use of manufacturing equipment. It also offers an economical advantage when these concentrates are shipped to blending operations located out of town, or exported overseas. This is because the shipping costs per pound of finished ink can be proportionally reduced. Thus, there is a trend to produce concentrates with as high a pigment content as is practically feasible. However, the viscosity and consistency of concentrates increases very rapidly with an increase in pigment content. Although the application of heat can often assist the processing, it does not always lead to the most desirable results. For instance, during production of carbon black dispersions, generated heat during processing results in a highly structured, short mass which impairs the dispersion process and, thus, limits pigment loading. Further limitations in pigment content of concentrates are also imposed by the available production equipment for processing, and material handling considerations.
In the current state-of-the-art of news ink manufacturing, it is customary to produce dispersions of carbon black in a semi-continuous process consisting of premixing, shot milling, and letdown steps. The premix is conducted in high intensity mixing equipment at a relatively high pigment loading. The parameters of this step are designed to break up and deagglomerate pelletized carbon black. Resinous or polymeric additives are usually used to assist the wetting and dispersion of pigment. The most common additives are asphaltic still bottoms, gilsonite and hydrocarbon resins. These materials, although quite useful, offer limited help since they are effective only at a relatively low processing temperature. For example, at a temperature around 100.degree. C., dispersion of carbon black exhibited poor flow characteristics, limiting the mass flow necessary for efficient mixing and shot milling. Conversely, at ambient temperature, they produce an excessive flow and require the use of rheological additives such as bentonite clays which are expensive and contribute to high cost. This phenomenon is caused by the solubility/temperature equilibrium of these additives in mineral oils. At ambient conditions, their affinity for carbon black dominates their behavior. Thus, they adsorb at the surface of carbon black, producing a relatively stable dispersion with a low, low shear viscosity. At elevated temperatures, due to increased solubility, they desorb and migrate into the bulk of the mineral oil, thus exposing the surface of particles to flocculation and the formation of a network of chains. This flocculated state produces structure and short body, impairing mixing and compounding.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,964, describes the use of alkenyl succinimides as components of dispersing additive compositions for lubricating oils. E. S. Forbes and E. L. Newstadter's publication in Tribology, (April 1972, pp. 72-77) elucidates the mechanics of the action of polyisobutylene succinimide in stabilizing the suspension of carbonaceous matter and prevent the formation of sludge in motor lubricating oils. Polyisobutylene succinimide was therefore described as exhibiting good adsorption affinity towards particulates of carbon black. The rational is that long chains of surfactant extended from the surface of particles sterically hinder flocculation and the formation of agglomerates.
Despite the separate use of either sodium hydroxide or alkenyl succinimide, the desired high pigment loading of up to 40% by weight carbon black concentration could not be achieved while maintaining good rheological properties. Furthermore, while the use of each of these compounds separately improves the overall characteristics of the carbon black concentrates in mineral oil and in the final lithographic ink, additional improvement are still required. The present invention makes use of an alkali metal hydroxide in combination with an alkenyl succinimide in order to achieve surprising synergistic effects with regard to improving the Theological properties of ink concentrates and allowing for an increase in the concentration of black carbon in these concentrates.