A method for preferentially shielding a signal to increase implicit decoupling capacitance is provided. The signal is preferentially shielded by using a probability of the signal being at a specific value to assign a shield potential. Further, an integrated circuit that preferentially shields a signal to increase decoupling capacitance by using a probability of the signal being at a specific value to assign a shield potential is provided. Further, a computer system for preferentially shielding a signal to increase decoupling capacitance by using a probability of the signal being at a specific value to assign a shield potential is provided. Further, a computer readable medium having executable instructions for preferentially shielding a signal to increase implicit decoupling capacitance by using a probability of the signal being at a specific value to assign a shield potential is provided. Further, a method to increase system performance by increasing implicit decoupling capacitance is provided.

A typical computer system has at least a microprocessor and memory. The microprocessor processes, i.e., executes, instructions to accomplish various tasks of the computer system. Such instructions, along with the data required by the microprocessor when executing these instructions, are stored in some form of memory. FIG. 1 shows a typical computer system having a microprocessor (10) and some form of memory (20). The microprocessor (10) has, among other components, a central processing unit (also known and referred to as xe2x80x9cCPUxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cexecution unitxe2x80x9d) (12) and a memory controller (also known as xe2x80x9cload/store unitxe2x80x9d) (14). The CPU (12) is where the actual arithmetic and logical operations of the computer system take place. To facilitate the execution of operations by the CPU (12), the memory controller (14) provides the CPU (12) with necessary instructions and data from the memory (20). The memory controller (14) also stores information generated by the CPU (12) into the memory (20).
The operations that occur in a computer system, such as the logical operations in the CPU and the transfer of data between the CPU and memory, require power. If the components responsible for carrying out specific operations do not receive adequate power in a timely manner, computer system performance is susceptible to degradation. As an added challenge, power consumption of modern computers has increased as a consequence of increased operating frequencies. Thus, providing power to the components in a computer system in a sufficient and timely manner has become an issue of significant importance.
Often, power supplied to a computer system component varies, which, in turn, affects the integrity of the component""s output. Typically, this power variation results from the distance between a power supply for the component and the component itself. This distance may lead to the component not receiving power (via current) at the exact time it is required. One approach used by designers to combat this performance-inhibiting behavior is introducing decoupling capacitance (also referred to as xe2x80x9cdecapxe2x80x9d) to a particular circuit by positioning one or more decoupling capacitors close to the component. These decoupling capacitors store charge from the power supply and distribute the charge to the component when needed. For example, if power received by a component from a power supply attenuates, one or more decoupling capacitors will distribute charge to the component to ensure that the component is not affected by the power variation on the power supply. In essence, a decoupling capacitor acts as a local power supply for one or more specific components in a computer system.
Within a computer system component, such as a circuit, there are two types of decoupling capacitance: implicit and explicit. Explicit decoupling capacitance is provided to the circuit through the use of decoupling capacitors as discussed above. Implicit decoupling capacitance (also known in the art as xe2x80x9cparasitic capacitancexe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cinherent capacitancexe2x80x9d) is capacitance that is inherent in a circuit. Implicit decoupling capacitance results from the electromagnetic effects between current-carrying wires. Further, implicit decoupling capacitance is a function of the distance between two such wires. Also, the ability to help supplement an attenuating voltage using explicit decoupling capacitors or implicit decoupling capacitance is a function of the potential applied to the decaps.
FIG. 2 shows the presence of explicit and implicit decoupling capacitance in a section of a typical computer system component (40). The component (40) has a power supply bus (44) and a ground bus (46) that provides power through a connection to a power supply (42). The power supply (42) may be a part of the component (40) or a separate element. Power from the power supply (42) is made available to multiple power supply lines (48) and (52) via connections to the power supply bus (44) and to multiple ground lines (50) and (54) via connections to the ground bus (46). Power from the power supply (42) is delivered to chip logic circuits (60) and (68) via the power supply lines (48) and (52), respectively, and ground lines (50) and (54), respectively. When there is power variation across the power supply (42), explicit decoupling capacitors (56), (57), (58), and (59) positioned in parallel with the power supply (42) provides charge, i.e., power, to the chip logic circuits (60) and (68).
Still referring to FIG. 2, the existence of implicit decoupling capacitances (64), (66), (72), and (74) is shown. A first occurrence of implicit decoupling capacitance (64) occurs between the power supply line (48) and a signal line (62) from the chip logic (60). A second occurrence of implicit decoupling capacitance (66) occurs between the signal line (62) and the ground line (50). The implicit decoupling capacitances (64) and (66) are dependent on the characteristics of the signal line (62), specifically, whether a signal on the signal line (62) is high or low. When the signal is low, the implicit decoupling capacitance provided to the chip logic (60) is equal to the implicit decoupling capacitance (64) between the power supply line (48) and the signal line (62). Alternatively, when the signal is high, the implicit decoupling capacitance provided to the chip logic (60) is equal to the implicit decoupling capacitance (66) between the signal line (62) and the ground line (50).
Still referring to FIG. 2, implicit decoupling capacitance is also present in a substantial number of additional circuits. For example, another first occurrence of implicit decoupling capacitance (72) occurs between the power supply line (52) and a signal line (70) from the chip logic (68). Another second occurrence of implicit decoupling capacitance (74) occurs between the signal line (70) and the ground line (54). The implicit decoupling capacitances (72) and (74) are dependent on the characteristics of the signal line (70), specifically, whether a signal on the signal line (70) is high or low. When the signal is low, the implicit decoupling capacitance provided to the chip logic (68) is equal to the implicit decoupling capacitance (72) between the power supply line (52) and the signal line (70). Alternatively, when the signal is high, the implicit decoupling capacitance provided to the chip logic (68) is equal to the implicit decoupling capacitance (74) between the signal line (70) and the ground line (54).
With reference to FIG. 2, it is apparent that even with a limited number of logic circuits (60) and (68), the number of connecting lines including power supply lines (48) and (52), ground lines (50) and (54), and signal lines (62) and (70) is numerous. As the number of logic circuits increase, generally, the number of connecting lines also increase. To manage the proper connection of power, ground, and/or signal lines, a program executed on a computer is used to route the connections, often called a xe2x80x9crouting programxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9crouterxe2x80x9d.
A database is used to maintain information necessary for the manufacture of an integrated circuit. The locations of the logic circuits, along with their connections to other circuits and power, are some of the information contained in the database. A routing program is responsible for making the appropriate connections between elements on the integrated circuit, often using a set of rules. The set of rules varies, but may include which signals are routed first, locations where a signal may or may not be routed, whether the signals must stay on a grid or can be freeform, width or the signal lines, spacing between signal lines, and which layers are allowed to be used in a multilayer connection arrangement.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for preferentially shielding a signal path having a value switchable between a first potential and a second potential comprises assigning a shield to shield the signal path in one of a plurality of routing channels, assigning the signal path in one of the plurality of routing channels, determining a probability of the value being at the first potential versus the second potential, and assigning a third potential to the shield depending on the probability.
According to another aspect, an integrated circuit comprises a signal having a value switchable between a first potential and a second potential, the value having a probability of being at the first potential versus the second potential; and a shield to shield the signal assigned to one of a plurality of possible routing channels, where the signal is assigned to one of the plurality of possible routing channels, and where the shield is assigned a third potential based on the probability.
According to another aspect, a computer system for preferentially routing a signal having a value switchable between a first potential and a second potential on an integrated circuit comprises a processor, a memory; and software instructions stored in the memory for enabling the computer system under control of the processor for determining a probability of the value being at the first potential versus the second potential; assigning a shield to shield the signal in one of a plurality of possible routing channels; and assigning the signal to one of the plurality of possible routing channels, where a third potential is assigned to the shield depending on the probability.
According to another aspect, a computer-readable medium having recorded thereon instructions executable by a processor, where the instructions are for using a probability of a signal value being at a first potential versus a second potential, assigning a shield to shield the signal to one of a plurality of possible routing channels, and assigning the signal to one of the plurality of possible routing channels, where the shield is assigned a third potential depending on the probability.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

Shield assignment using preferential shields


The invention relates to a composition containing cetrimide suitable for cleaning inflamed or non-inflamed ears of animals, preferably of companion animals such as dogs and cats. The composition further comprises one or more carriers, such as for example wetting agents and humectants.

The field of the invention is that of compositions for the use as a cleaning agent of ears of an animal, preferably companion animals such as dogs and cats.
Dogs show signs of ear problems when starting to shake his head suddenly. The reason can be amongst others a foreign body, such as for example a grass seed, in the pet's ear. Other foreign organisms such as tiny ear mites can also produce irritation and wax.
Sometimes ear disease is straightforward and easily treated, when caused by a foreign body for example, but many ear problems are recurrent. The ear canal may be very narrow or is lined with plenty of hairs inside so that wax gets trapped. Skin that lines the ears can also give rise to problems such as allergies. The result is excess wax production, inflammation, infection and pain.
Thus, regular ear cleaning is vital, especially also as the vigorous head shaking can result in breaking blood vessels in the earflap, which bleeds and forms a blood blister (haematoma).
Typical signs in cats that suffer of an ear disease include unusual odour, scratching or rubbing of ears and head, discharge in the ears, redness or swelling of the ear canal, shaking of the head or tilting it to one side, pain around the ears, and changes in behaviour such as depression or irritability. Ear disease is a common condition in cats.
Inflammation of the outer ear canal is otitis externa. Primary causes of otitis externa include parasites such as ear mites (very common in cats) or foreign bodies. Probably the most common primary cause of otitis externa is allergies, which can be either to inhaled substances (atopy) or food.
Perpetuating factors such as bacterial and fungal infections of the outer ear can increase the severity of the condition and play a major role in chronic or recurrent otitis externa. Otitis media, which is inflammation/infection of the middle ear, is often a source of constant re-infection of the outer ear. One of the most significant perpetuating factors is ear canal hypertrophy (thickening), which may progress into a complete closure of the outer ear canal and make medical treatment of the ear almost impossible.
Treatment of otitis externa has to be according to the underlying, predisposing and perpetuating factors that are present. Treatment options include ear cleaning or flushing, ear medications for infections and steroids to reduce inflammation.
Animals with atopy (inhalant allergy) and food allergies are unlikely to be cured and may require continual ear care to minimize flare ups of otitis externa.
Proper ear cleaning is an important factor as ear medication applied on top of earwax or pus is ineffective and may become inactivated. The ear cleaning agent should be mildly antiseptic, dissolve earwax and coat the ear canal to provide long lasting action.
Known products for this purpose make use of chlorhexidine in general as active principle, but its effectiveness depends strongly on concentration. When chlorhexidine is used at high concentrations, it can result in undesired collateral effects. Other known active principles are iodine compounds that have a wide spectrum of antiinfectives against bacteria, fungi, spores, protozoa, viruses, and yeasts. Aqueous iodine is less effective than alcoholic solutions, but alcoholic component is drying and irritating to abrased skin. Povidone iodine is convenient to use as it is less irritating, but not as effective.
The aim of the invention is to provide a new composition for companion animals, in particular for dogs and cats that can be used to clean healthy or inflamed ears more effectively. It is desired to use an active ingredient that is more effective at low concentrations as well as more tolerable compared to other otic compositions. The composition exhibits the properties of cleaning, maintaining/nursing and disinfecting ears of companion animals, especially of dogs and/or cats. Furthermore, the usage of this composition is animal and user friendly.


A provider computing system includes a bill pay application circuit configured to receive a request from a user to pay an amount of funds to a biller, determine a customer funds account number for the user, determine a biller funds account number for the biller, and generate a payment request. The provider computing system includes a transaction management system configured to receive the payment request from the bill pay circuit and provide a first post and a second post to a funds account circuit and generate a payment notification. The provider computing system includes a biller posting services circuit configured to receive the payment notification and determine a corresponding customer bill account number. The biller posting services circuit is configured to generate a data object that includes the payment notification and the customer bill account number and cause the data object to be provided to a biller computing system.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of systems and methods for executing real-time updates to digital account values. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to facilitating consumer-to-business bill payments by providing real-time, on-demand updates to multiple accounts associated with such a payment.
In a consumer-to-business bill payment, three "accounts" (i.e., digitally-stored data objects) are typically involved, including a customer funds account that tracks an amount of funds (e.g., money) available to a customer, a biller funds account that tracks an amount of funds available to the biller (e.g., received from customers), and a customer bill account that tracks an amount of funds owed to the biller by the customer. The customer funds account and the biller funds account are typically stored by a provider computing system, for example managed by a bank or other financial institution. The customer bill account is typically stored by a business biller computing system, for example managed by the biller or a billing service provider. Executing a digital consumer-to-business bill payment requires accurate updates to the values (i.e., amount of funds) electronically represented in each of the three accounts to reflect a decrease in value in the customer funds account, an increase in value in the biller funds account, and a decrease in value in the customer bill account.
To deal with these complexities, existing systems and methods require multiple separate entities and computing systems that cause substantial delays (e.g., several days) in fully executing customer-to-business bill payments. Such delays create confusion among customers, tie up funds in pending transactions that otherwise may be used for other transactions, require substantial computing resources, and otherwise reduce the usability of bill payment systems and graphical user interfaces such as those provided with mobile banking applications.

Systems and methods for real-time biller posting services


A headrest-mount display mounting structure is disclosed to include a rectangular open base frame for fastening to the headrest of a vehicle seat, the base frame having two pivot holders at two sides, a front shell adapted to accommodate a display, the front shell having two pivots respectively supported in the pivot holders of the base frame, two locating members respectively fixedly fastened to the pivot holders to hold the pivots of the front shell in place, and a front cover fastened to the base frame and covered over the front shell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a display mounting structure and, more particularly, to a headrest-mount display mounting structure, which can easily be installed in the headrest of a vehicle seat to hold a display.
2. Description of the Related Art
Following fast development of high technology, electronic display devices are made thinner, and cheaper. Nowadays, thin layer display devices are intensively used in motor vehicles. However, it is difficult to install a display device inside a vehicle without hindering the view of the driver or the passengers. According to conventional methods, an electronic display device may be installed in the instrument panel, the console, or the ceiling. When an electronic display device installed in the instrument panel, the passenger in the back seat cannot see the display. When an electronic display device installed in the console, it may hinder the movement of the driver. When an electronic display device installed in the bottom side of the ceiling of a vehicle, the driver may be unable to see the image of the rear side of the vehicle from the rear-view mirrors.
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a headrest-mount display mounting structure, which can easily be installed in the headrest of a vehicle seat to hold a display. It is another object of the present invention to provide a headrest-mount display mounting structure, which is practical for use in a motor vehicle without hindering the view angle of the driver. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a headrest-mount display mounting structure, which enables the user to adjust the angular position of the display conveniently.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the headrest-mount display mounting structure comprises a base frame shaped like a rectangular open frame for fastening to the headrest of a vehicle seat, the base frame comprising two pivot holders respectively fixedly provided at two opposite lateral sides thereof on the middle, the pivot holders each having a pivot bearing groove, and a plurality of coupling members arranged around the periphery thereof; a front shell adapted to accommodate a display, the front shell having two pivots symmetrically disposed at two opposite lateral sides thereof and respectively supported in the pivot bearing grooves of the pivot holders of the base frame; two locating members respectively fixedly fastened to the pivot holders to hold the pivots of the front shell in the pivot bearing grooves of the pivot holders for enabling the front shell to be turned relative to the base frame within an angle, the locating members each having a pivot bearing groove adapted to accommodate the pivots of the front shell; and a front cover fastened to the base frame and covered over the front shell, the front cover comprising a plurality of coupling members respectively coupled to the coupling members of the base frame. According to another aspect of the present invention, the pivot bearing grooves of the pivot holders and locating members and the periphery of each pivot of the front shell are respectively provided with fine teeth to increase friction between the pivots of the front shell and the pivot bearing grooves of the pivot holders and locating members.

Headrest-mount display mounting structure


A method and apparatus are provided for implementing enhanced, high speed updating and storing of electronic-commerce orders in a server computer system. A received electronic-commerce order is stored in a predetermined temporary read/write cylinder of a disk drive. Responsive to identifying that the predetermined temporary read/write cylinder is full, the stored electronic-commerce order is read. A customer type for the electronic-commerce order is identified. Responsive to identifying a predefined first customer type for the electronic-commerce order, the electronic-commerce order is transferred from the predetermined temporary read/write cylinder to a selected cylinder within a set number of cylinders from the predetermined temporary read/write cylinder. Responsive to identifying a predefined second customer type for the electronic-commerce order, the electronic-commerce order is transferred from the predetermined temporary read/write cylinder to a selected cylinder more than the set number of cylinders from the predetermined temporary read/write cylinder.

The present invention relates generally to the data processing field, and more particularly, relates to a method and apparatus for implementing enhanced, high speed updating and storing of electronic-commerce (E-commerce) orders in a server.
As a result of tremendous growth in transaction volume of E-commerce orders, it is increasingly important to provide computer systems capable of supporting the E-commerce traffic reliably and expediently.
It is expected that most of the online catalogs and order/shipping data will be stored on servers including redundant arrays of inexpensive disks (RAID). A common annoyance among E-commerce shoppers accessing a web site is the delay in service. The Internet response-time in establishing contact between the user or customer and the web site or E-commerce store is normally fast. However, the delay in getting data for browsing and for order processing typically is due to RAID system servers. Much of the server delay time is due to the mechanical actuator transverse access time and spindle rotational time of the hard disk drives (HDD). For example, the average 3.5 inch form factor HDD access time, that is the time for the head to traverse about ⅓ of the disk surface databand, typically is 3-5 milliseconds. An HDD operating at 10,000 revolutions per minute (RPM) will make one revolution in 6 milliseconds.
In RAID systems during peak periods, these mechanical access times for rotational and transverse motion accumulate, when simultaneously serving many customers.
It is desirable to minimize the effect of these mechanical access times on the E-commerce performance. A need exists for a mechanism for implementing enhanced, high speed updating and storing of E-commerce orders in a server.
A principal object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for implementing enhanced, high speed updating and storing of electronic-commerce orders in a server. Other important objects of the present invention are to provide such method and apparatus for implementing enhanced, high speed updating and storing of electronic-commerce orders in a server substantially without negative effect and that overcome many of the disadvantages of prior art arrangements.
In brief, a method and apparatus are provided for implementing enhanced, high speed updating and storing of electronic-commerce orders in a server computer system. A received electronic-commerce order is stored in a predetermined temporary read/write cylinder of a disk drive. Responsive to identifying that the predetermined temporary read/write cylinder is full, the stored electronic-commerce order is read. A customer type for the electronic-commerce order is identified. Responsive to identifying a predefined first customer type for the electronic-commerce order, the electronic-commerce order is transferred from the predetermined temporary read/write cylinder to a selected cylinder within a set number of cylinders from the predetermined temporary read/write cylinder. Responsive to identifying a predefined second customer type for the electronic-commerce order, the electronic-commerce order is transferred from the predetermined temporary read/write cylinder to a selected cylinder more than the set number of cylinders from the predetermined temporary read/write cylinder.
In accordance with features of the invention, the predefined first customer type includes a large and/or frequent customer and the predefined second customer type includes a smaller or medium size customer. For the large and/or frequent customer, the transverse access time is shorter for the transfer from the predetermined temporary read/write cylinder to a selected cylinder within the set number of cylinders from the predetermined temporary read/write cylinder. During idle time of the server computer system, electronic-commerce orders are read and transferred from the predetermined temporary read/write cylinder to the selected cylinders according to customer type.

Method and apparatus for enhanced, high speed updating and storing of E-commerce orders in a server

International Business Machines Corporation


An image forming apparatus which is capable of detecting occurrence of an abnormality that a fixing member which is actually in an unpressurized state is detected to be in a pressurized state, and supply of electric power to a heating member is continued. A fixing device includes a fixing belt and a pressure roller. The fixing belt and the pressure roller are pressed against each other such that a nip is formed therebetween, for nipping and conveying a transfer material through the nip while heating and pressing the same. A pressurizing unit selectively switches between a pressurizing state and an unpressurizing state. When the pressurizing unit is in the pressurized state, a heater heats the fixing belt. The heating of the fixing belt is stopped based on a temperature detected by a thermistor after a lapse of a predetermined time period from start of the heating.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a method of controlling a fixing device, and a device and method for detecting abnormality of the fixing device.
2. Description of the Related Art
As an image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine and a printer, there recently appeared on the market a color image forming apparatus capable of forming a color image on a sheet. A known fixing device for use in the color image forming apparatus includes a fixing roller having an elastic layer formed on a surface thereof. The fixing roller is heated until the temperature of the surface thereof reaches a suitable temperature (fixable temperature) for fixing a toner image on a transfer material. However, the fixing roller has a large heat capacity, and hence it takes a longer time period (warm-up time) to heat the fixing roller until the surface of the fixing roller reaches the fixable temperature.
On the other hand, as a fixing device which makes it possible to reduce warm-up time, there has been known one using a fixing film. The configuration of the fixing device using the fixing film will be described with reference to FIG. 14. FIG. 14 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of essential parts of the conventional fixing device using the fixing film.
As shown in FIG. 14, the fixing device is comprised of a fixing film 911 in the form of a hollow cylinder and a pressure roller 914. The fixing film 911 is supported on a supporting member 915. A heater 912 is disposed within the hollow of the fixing film 911 and is fixedly attached to the supporting member 915. A temperature sensor 913 is mounted on the heater 912, for detecting the temperature of the heater 912.
The pressure roller 914 is urged by a predetermined pressing force against the heater 912 such that the fixing film 911 is sandwiched between the pressure roller 914 and the heater 912, and a nip N is formed between the pressure roller 914 and the fixing film 911 so as to nip and convey a transfer material P carrying an unfixed toner image t formed thereon. The pressure roller 914 is driven by a drive motor (not shown) for rotation in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 14, and the rotation of the pressure roller 914 causes rotation of the fixing film 911 such that the inner surface of the fixing film 911 is moved in sliding contact with the lower surface of the heater 912 while being guided by the supporting member 915.
The unfixed toner image t is heated and pressed while the transfer material P carrying the same is passing through the nip N, and is fixed on the transfer material P.
The fixing film 911 is formed of a heat-resistant resin endless film, for example, which has a thickness of approximately 500 μm, and has a surface on which is formed a release layer (e.g. a fluorocarbon resin coating layer) having a thickness of approximately 10 μm. The fixing film 911 has no elastic layer formed thereon, so as to reduce the heat capacity of the same.
The heater 912 is comprised of a ceramic substrate and a resistive heater element formed on the ceramic substrate. A temperature detected by a temperature sensor 913 mounted on the heater 912 is input to a controller (not shown). The controller performs temperature adjustment control for adjusting the temperature of the nip N to the fixable temperature, based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 913. More specifically, the temperature of the heater 912 (i.e. energization of the heater 912) is controlled.
In the fixing device constructed as above, since the heat capacity of the fixing film 911 is set to a very small value, it is possible to raise the temperature of the nip N to the fixable temperature in a short time after the heater 912 is energized.
However, the fixing device using the fixing film 911 having no elastic layer is not suitable for a color image forming apparatus. When the fixing film 911 having no elastic layer is used, the surface thereof cannot come into intimate contact with recessed portions formed on the transfer material due to unevenness of the surface of the transfer material, irregularities caused by the presence/absence of a toner layer, and unevenness of a toner layer. As a consequence, the amount of heat applied to the surface of the transfer material via the fixing film 911 differs between projecting portions and recessed portions on the transfer material. More specifically, since the projecting portions come into intimate contact with the fixing film 911, the amount of heat transferred to the projecting portions from the fixing film 911 is larger than that of heat transferred to the recessed portions.
A color image is formed by superimposing toner layers of a plurality of colors one upon another, and hence unevenness of the color toner layer of the color image thus formed is larger than that of the monochrome toner layer of a monochrome image. Therefore, when the fixing film has no elastic layer, gloss unevenness of the fixed image is increased, which causes degradation of image quality. Further, when an image is formed on an OHP sheet, transmissivity of light through the OHP sheet used for projection is degraded, which is likely to cause degradation of image quality.
To solve this problem, there has been proposed a fixing device using a fixing belt (fixing film) formed with an elastic layer (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open publication (Kokai) No. 11-15303).
However, a material, such as silicone rubber, used to form the elastic layer of the fixing belt, has a high thermal conductivity and is easily deformed. As a consequence, if the fixing belt is left under pressure for a long time, the elastic layer does not sometimes return to its original state from the deformed state during a warm-up time period before the start of printing, which prevents a proper amount of heat from being transferred from the fixing belt to a toner image on a sheet. This causes a change in the surface reflectivity of a fixed image, leading to degradation of image quality.
Further, in order to prolong the service life of the fixing belt, it is required to provide an unpressurizing mechanism for automatically stopping the application of pressure to the fixing belt when the image forming apparatus enters an energy-saving mode or when the power of the same is turned off. The unpressurizing mechanism separates the fixing belt from the pressure roller to thereby stop the application of pressure to the fixing belt.
However, if the heater is energized when the fixing belt is in an unpressurized state due to occurrence of some abnormality, heat is not transferred to the pressure roller, and hence the temperature of the elastic layer of the fixing belt rises sharply. As a consequence, the heat damages the elastic layer, which leads to reduction of the service life of the fixing belt. Further, the sharp rise in the temperature of the heater can cause the breakage of the heater.
To solve this problem, there has been proposed a fixing device including a power cut-off circuit configured to detect an unpressurized state of a fixing belt and forcibly cut off supply of electric power to a heater (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open publication (Kokai) No. 2005-321511).
However, in the fixing device having the power cut-off circuit, even though the fixing belt is in the unpressurized state in actuality, this state of the fixing belt is sometimes not detected due to occurrence of some abnormality. In such a case, forcible interruption of supply of electric power is not executed by the power cut-off circuit despite the unpressurized state of the fixing belt. If electric power is supplied to the heater in such a state, damage is caused to the fixing belt and the heater.

Image forming apparatus, method of controlling fixing device, and device and method for detecting abnormality of the fixing device


A network device includes interface logic and processing logic. The interface logic receives data. The processing logic generates a checksum of the data and fragments the data into one or more cells. The processing logic further determines whether one of the one or more cells includes at least one of cell overhead bytes and cell pad bytes, and selectively inserts the checksum into the at least one of cell overhead bytes and pad bytes based on the determination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to data transfer systems, and more particularly, to systems and methods for end-to-end error detection in data transfer systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional networks typically include devices, such as routers, that transfer data from one or more sources to one or more destinations. A packet is one format in which data of variable size can be transmitted through a network. A router is a switching device that receives packets containing data or control information at input ports and, based on destination or other information included in the packets, routes the packets through output ports to the destinations or intermediary destinations. Conventional routers determine the proper output port for a particular packet by evaluating header information included in the packet.
Conventional routers include packet forwarding engines for receiving and forwarding incoming packets to their intended destinations. To forward incoming packets from input port to output port, routers typically must perform complex data manipulation actions that may lead to errors in the packet data. Additionally, storage and operations involved in storing and retrieving packets during the forwarding process can result in data corruption.
Though other error detection mechanisms, such as link cyclical redundancy checks (CRC) or memory error checks, exist to detect local errors, a secondary level of protection that detects packet data errors that may occur in network devices during the forwarding process would be desirable. Therefore, there exists a need for error detection mechanisms that can detect packet data errors that may occur during the packet data manipulation and storage that network devices typically perform during data transfer processes.

Systems and methods for implementing end-to-end checksum


A direct current voltage is applied between an anodic portion containing an oxidizing catalyst provided on one surface of a proton conductive solid electrolyte which separates the flow path of the gas to be treated into two parts, and a cathodic portion containing a reducing catalyst provided on the other surface of the solid electrolyte, the reducing catalyst comprising at least one selected from oxides of elements of Group 5A, Group 6A, and Group 7A of the periodic table, palladium, palladium alloys, transition elements carried on alumina, cerium oxide, and La.sub.1-x Sr.sub.x Co.sub.1-y Fe.sub.y O.sub.3 (where, 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1), while bringing a gas containing water vapor into contact with the anodic portion and bringing a gas containing nitrogen oxides into contact with the cathodic portion. As a result, the water vapor is electrolytically oxidized into protons and oxygen on the anodic portion, so that the protons having been transported to the cathodic portion can be utilized to reduce nitrogen oxides by the reducing power of hydrogen. The method efficiently reduces nitrogen oxides in a gas even under an oxidizing atmosphere.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for reducing nitrogen oxides from exhaust gases which are discharged from internal combustion engines, burners, nitric acid production plants, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
The exhaust gases which are discharged from internal combustion engines of automobiles, burners, nitric acid production plants, etc., contain acidic components such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), and are said to be the main cause of air pollution. Accordingly, methods for reducing nitrogen oxides are studied from various standpoints.
Conventional methods of reducing nitrogen oxides include various processes using catalysts. Among such processes, a process comprises adsorbing nitrogen oxides with a catalyst and simultaneously decomposing the adsorbed nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and oxygen, and then allowing the thus obtained oxygen to react with reducing substances such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and ammonium gas being incorporated in the atmosphere. In short, the process comprises reducing nitrogen oxides by using those reducing substances. The catalysts used in the processes are those comprising noble metals such as palladium, platinum, and rhodium, being carried on a porous carrier such as of alumina.
However, the aforementioned reducing methods suffer from a decrease in nitrogen oxide reduction under an oxidizing atmosphere; i.e., under atmospheric conditions in which no reducing substances such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and ammonia gas are present, or in which an excess amount of oxygen is incorporated. Under such atmospheric conditions of low concentration of reducing substances, the oxygen having been produced by decomposition of nitrogen oxides remains without being consumed, and even if a reducing substance may be present, the substance reacts preferentially with oxygen being present in excess, which prevents effective reduction of nitrogen oxides.
In exhaust gases from an automobile, for example, the amount of oxygen increases with the increase in the ratio of air to fuel (air-fuel ratio) and it exceeds the amount of oxygen necessary for complete combustion of the unburned components. Similarly to the aforementioned state of excess oxygen, nitrogen oxides can no longer be reduced under such a state.
In the light of such circumstances, one of the present inventors has studied a method for efficiently reducing nitrogen oxides in an oxidizing atmosphere to establish a method as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 190830/1992. The method comprises bringing a gas to be treated containing water vapor and nitrogen oxides into contact with a proton conductive solid electrolyte having an anodic portion and a cathodic portion on the surface thereof. According to this method, the proton is generated on the anodic portion by electrolytic oxidation of water vapor, while the proton thus generated is moved to the cathodic portion to be evolved thereon as hydrogen. The resulting hydrogen is used for reducing and removing the nitrogen oxides being incorporated in the gas to be treated. The cathodic portion contains reducing catalysts such as CuO, CoO, and Cu-ion exchanged zeolites to accelerate reduction of nitrogen oxides.
Although the method above enables reduction of nitrogen oxides even under an oxidizing atmosphere, the present day concern on environmental problems such as of exhaust gases demands a further increase in efficiency for reducing nitrogen oxides in an oxidizing atmosphere.


A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle when driving on uneven terrain includes classifying a terrain unevenness situated ahead of the vehicle in the driving direction, and ascertaining a piece of information for driving the vehicle in relation to the terrain unevenness based on a result of the classification.

Various comfort and safety functions, e.g., lane keeping systems, intelligent light control, traffic sign recognition, etc., are displayed today with the aid of mono or stereo front cameras (hereafter referred to MPC or SVC in short) integrated on the windshield. Such cameras detect, among other things, traffic lanes and objects which may be distinguished or classified in passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, and the like.

Method and device for assisting a driver of a vehicle when driving on uneven terrain


The present disclosure provides a method for sealing a fitment to a flexible container. In an embodiment, the method includes placing a fitment into the neck of a four panel flexible container formed from flexible film. The process includes complementarily aligning a multiseal around a base of the fitment. The process includes providing a plurality of primary seals (and flaps), secondary seals, and tertiary seals onto the base with respective primary sealing jaws, secondary sealing jaws, and tertiary sealing jaws to form the multiseal, wherein the secondary seals overlap the primary seals, and the tertiary seals overlap the primary seals and the secondary seals.

Flexible "stand-up" pouches and bottles for holding liquids and other pourable products are very popular. Such products are advantageous as compared to traditional containers for pourable products because, among other reasons, flexible plastic pouches and bottles help reduce solid waste and are less costly to manufacture. An early stand-up pouch design dubbed the "Doyen pouch" is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,646, and it is still in use today. A well-known version of traditional Doyen pouch, at least in the United States, is the Capri Sun® juice drink pouch. Subsequent modifications of the Doyen design included installation of fitments between the two panels at the top portion of the pouch to allow the pouch to be reclosed after opening.
A major difficulty with the installation of fitments in Doyen pouches, however, (and in other pouch designs as well) is that, according to early prior art fitment sealing methods, the fitment must be of the "canoe" style to create a joint that can be reliably sealed. Canoe style fitments are illustrated in, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,415,085, 4,732,299, and 5,660,477. The canoe type of fitment was an attempt to minimize the change in direction of pouch material as it comes into contact with the fitment. Put another way, the canoe type of fitment is designed to minimize the angle of divergence of two portions of container material that separate and move apart to envelope (and subsequently be sealed to) the fitment. In so doing, canoe style fitments improved the integrity of the joint where the two sides of the pouch come together at the fitment. However, even the use of a canoe shaped fitment does not completely solve the difficulties in sealing a fitment into a pouch, and a more reliable sealing means is desirable.
This problem was addressed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,832,852 and 7,147,597, both of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. As shown in the '852 and '597 patents, while canoe style fitments can be used in connection with the present invention, "cylindrical base" fitments are preferred. The sealing surface of a cylindrical base style fitment is preferably substantially parallel to the axis of the fitment, as in the canoe style, but it does not include external corners at sharply acute angles around its circumference, as do canoe style fitments. Rather, in accordance with a first style of cylindrical base fitment, the circumference is preferably comprised of smooth and preferably convex curves. Having the circumference comprised of smooth curves is intended to facilitate the sealing of web material to the base of the fitment with two overlapping sealing steps applied from different directions. These sealing steps include: (i) clamping bottle material to the fitment with a heated clamping means to create a seal between the bottle material and the fitment, and (ii) clamping the bottle material to the fitment with a heated clamp a second time, the second clamping being at a different radial angle. By this method, the fitment is installed (i.e., adhered to by heat and pressure) in a neck of the bottle by way of a leakproof seal formed by the clamps.
Suitable optionally refillable flexible containers for use in connection with the present invention may be formed, by way of non-limiting example, in accordance with the disclosures of the '852 and '597 patents, as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,231,029, 8,348,509, and 8,840,305, all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
Despite the technological advancements in the art provided by the '852 and '597 patents, there remains room for an improvement to the methods and devices described therein, particularly with respect to method of the sealing of the fitment to the bottle. For example, although the two-step multi-directional sealing process for attaching a substantially cylindrical fitment to the neck of a flexible bottle has proven to be substantially reliable, the strength and integrity of the seal at the respective surfaces of the fitment and the bottle neck are enhanced by way of the improvements described herein. This is particularly important with respect to containers constructed in accordance with the '852 and '597 patents, which may be used to contain larger volumes of flowable material than what is suitable for Doyen style pouches. For example, the containers of the '852, '597, '029, '509, and '305 patents can stand up on their own at volumes of 20 liters, whereas Doyen style pouches will typically fall over and/or are very unwieldy at such large volumes, particularly where the pouches have no carrying handles. These larger volumes, which are highly desirable in the flexible container market, put higher physical stresses on the fitment and the film structure, particularly at the junction of the fitment and the film neck of the container.
For example, because fitments are often sealed to varying layers of flexible material at different locations along the circumference of a fitment, it is a challenge to apply the proper temperature, pressure, time, and location of such seals on the fitment as would otherwise help to optimize the strength and reliability of the overall seal. Thicker layers of material will typically require a greater amount of heat and pressure to cause such layers to be reliably sealed to a fitment. However, the same amount of heat and pressure may compromise the integrity of thinner layers of material to be adhered to the fitment, which may become brittle. Therefore, there remains an unmet need in the art for flexible containers fabricated from flexible film and comprising a fitment, wherein an improved seal at the junction of the flexible film and the fitment is provided.
It has been found that larger volume flexible containers of the prior art, such as those having 20 liters of water inside, can withstand the physical stresses of being dropped vertically on their base from several feet. However, when dropped on their cap (i.e., at a top portion where the fitment is typically located and connected to the cap) from 6 inches, the prior art containers may burst open at the junction of the film and the fitment at the neck of the container. This integrity imbalance in drop performance between the ability of the container to sustain drops on its base as compared to drops on its cap needs to be addressed.

Method for sealing a fitment to a flexible container and flexible container comprising a fitment


An ECU of a four wheel drive vehicle controls a transmission torque of a driving force transmission apparatus provided between a rear differential and a left rear wheel. The ECU includes a first computation unit that computes a command torque to be transmitted to the left rear wheel by the driving force transmission apparatus, based on a traveling state of the four wheel drive vehicle; and a second computation unit that corrects the command torque computed by the first computation unit, if a difference between rotation speeds of a pair of side gears of the rear differential is larger than or equal to a predetermined value.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a control apparatus for a four wheel drive vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Four wheel drive vehicles, in which a driving force from a drive source (engine) is always transmitted to a pair of right and left main driving wheels (front wheels), and is transmitted to a pair of right and left auxiliary driving wheels (rear wheels) via a plurality of clutches, have been known (refer to Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-254058 (JP 2010-254058 A) and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-61923 (JP 2012-61923 A)).
In each of the four wheel drive vehicles described in JP 2010-254058 A and JP 2012-61923 A, a dog clutch is disposed between the drive source and a propeller shaft that transmits the driving force in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Further, a multiple disc clutch is disposed between an auxiliary driving wheel-side differential apparatus to which the driving force is transmitted by the propeller shaft and one of the auxiliary driving wheels. When the vehicle travels in a two wheel drive mode in which the driving force is transmitted only to the main driving wheels, the transmission of the driving force via the dog clutch and the multiple disc clutch is interrupted, and therefore, rotation of the propeller shaft and rotation of a differential case of the auxiliary driving wheel-side differential apparatus are restrained to reduce the travel resistance.
When the vehicle travels in a four wheel drive mode in which the driving force of the drive source is transmitted to the main driving wheels and the auxiliary driving wheels, the dog clutch is engaged, and therefore, a driving force in accordance with the transmission torque of the multiple disc clutch is transmitted to the auxiliary driving wheel side. The transmission torque of the multiple disc clutch is controlled by an Electronic Control Unit (ECU). The ECU computes a driving force that needs to be transmitted to the auxiliary driving wheel side, on the basis of signals from various sensors that detect the traveling state of the vehicle, and then controls the transmission torque of the multiple disc clutch according to a result of the computation.
The inventor of the present application measured the driving force transmitted to the auxiliary driving wheel side in a four wheel drive vehicle configured as described above, and found that the driving force transmitted to the auxiliary driving wheel side when the vehicle turns left is different from that when the vehicle turns right, even if the transmission torque of the multiple disc clutch is controlled in the same manner. The inventor of the present application earnestly investigated the cause of this phenomenon, and obtained a finding that the difference in the driving force transmitted to the auxiliary driving wheels depending on the direction of turn of the vehicle is related to the Torque Bias Ratio (TBR) of the differential apparatus at the auxiliary driving wheel side, and made the invention of the present application.

Control apparatus for four wheel drive vehicle


Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for rapidly identifying active nucleases and cells having nuclease-mediated genomic modifications.

Nucleases, including zinc finger nucleases and homing endonucleases such as I-SceI, that are engineered to specifically bind to target sites have been shown to be useful in genome engineering in basic research and in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology applications. For example, zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) are proteins comprising engineered site-specific zinc fingers fused to a nuclease domain. Such ZFNs have been successfully used for genome modification in a variety of different species. See, for example, United States Patent Publications 20030232410; 20050208489; 20050026157; 20050064474; 20060188987; 20060063231; and International Publication WO 07/014,275, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes. These ZFNs can be used to create a double-strand break (DSB) in a target nucleotide sequence, which increases the frequency of homologous recombination at the targeted locus (targeted integration) more than 1000-fold. In addition, the inaccurate repair of a site-specific DSB by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) can also result in gene disruption. Creation of two such DSBs results in deletion of arbitrarily large regions.
As nuclease-mediated genome modification facilitates basic science research and development of therapeutics, in vitro and in vivo assays have been developed to measure the activity of ZFNs. See, e.g., WO 2009/042163. These assays are based on different pathways to repair DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) catalyzed by the recruitment of ZFNs to a pre-determined location in the genome of eukaryotic cells. DSB are repaired by either non-conservative non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathways or the conservative homology directed repair (HDR). In addition, a non-conservative HDR pathway called single-strand-annealing (SSA) is also present in most cells. The SSA pathway shares some of the cellular machinery with the HR pathway.
In addition to detecting biologically active nucleases by measuring their increased capacity to bind and cleave their intended loci in the genome, it is also desirable to identify and enrich for cells having the desired nuclease-mediated genomic modifications. Currently, many existing methods rely on the integration and expression of a drug selection marker into the desired locus. The marker and/or drug selection genes are often integrated into the cell genome permanently or exist in an episomal form for a long period of time. The presence of these genetic elements in the final cell clone is often undesirable. Also, the high incidence of random integration can create a high background of cell clones with no modification at the intended target locus.
Thus, there remains a need for additional assays to screen for nuclease activity and to identify cells with the desired genomic modifications without using drug selection or a permanent marker that is integrated into the genome.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Rapid screening of biologically active nucleases and isolation of nuclease-modified cells


A surgical apparatus, including an instrument, a shaft part with a jaw opening at its distal end and a thread carrier guided by the shaft part displaceable from a retracted position, in which it exposes the jaw opening, and an advanced position, in which it crosses the jaw opening. A thread supported by the thread carrier can be guided through or around human or animal tissue to form a suture or ligature. The thread has a bulge at its end made of the material of the thread so that when the bulge is pushed through a passage opening of the jaw part it elastically deforms and is retained when the thread carrier is retracted.

Surgical apparatuses for suturing have been disclosed in various embodiments. There usually is an instrument that can be used to drive a needle, to which the thread has been attached, through the tissue to be sutured, whereupon the needle together with the thread can be pulled through the produced tissue channel, and so the thread is presented for the subsequent ligating. Here the front end of the needle that has been pushed through the tissue is held by a suitable clamping instrument. By way of example, such a suturing apparatus is disclosed in WO 92/12674 A1.
A surgical apparatus of the type mentioned at the outset has been disclosed in EP 1 306 056 B1. A needle can be displaced between a retracted position and an advanced position, in which it crosses a jaw opening in a jaw part of the instrument and protrudes through a passage opening in the jaw part situated distally from the jaw opening. The needle has a type of barbed hook that, when said needle is subsequently retracted, is used to carry along a loop of the thread that crosses the jaw opening in the jaw part, and so the needle constitutes a thread carrier. One of the two thread ends can subsequently be pulled through the tissue, whereupon the thread is presented for the subsequent ligating. A disadvantage of this apparatus is the relatively complicated handling. Furthermore, an appropriate size of the channel produced in the tissue is required for pulling back the needle with the hooked-in thread loop, and this leads to a corresponding injury.
A further surgical apparatus of the type mentioned at the outset has been disclosed in one of the exemplary embodiments described in WO 02/07609 A2. Here, an armoring part has been fixed to the end of the thread, the former being designed as a needle tip, which is carried along by the thread carrier when said thread carrier is displaced into its advanced position from its retracted position. A section of the jaw part situated distally from the jaw opening is, on its end side, designed with a snap-lock mechanism for the armoring part, which snap-lock mechanism is made of fork-like projections at the end of the jaw part. After pressing the armoring part through the passage opening, said armoring part is secured against being retracted by this snap-lock mechanism.

A.M.I. Agency for Medical Innovations GmbH


A buckle includes a triangular projection provided on a male member for deflecting a resilient force of a resilient member toward a direction of removal of the male member. When locking elements of the male member are disengaged from retaining elements of a female member in response to the movement of a pair of actuating members, the triangular projection is operated to thrust out the male member from the female member under the resiliency of the resilient member. Thus, the buckle can be detached with one hand.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a buckle used as a clasp fastener for belts, suspenders for trousers, or straps on bags.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One prior buckle shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Publication No. 2-19304 comprises a male member and a female member that are releasably coupled together to connect loose ends of a belt. The male member includes a pair of hook-like locking members. The female member includes a pair of actuating members each having a hook-like retaining portion. The actuating members are slidably mounted and linearly reciprocate toward and away from each other. A pair of coil springs urges the actuating members, respectively, in a direction away from each other. The sliding direction of the actuating members is restricted by guide portions which are formed by a pair of interior side surfaces of the female member. The female member further has a pair of stopper portions engageable with respective one end portions of the actuating members to retain the forces of the coil springs exerted on the actuating members.
To engage the buckle, the male member is inserted into the female member until the locking members are latched by the corresponding retaining portions. In this instance, since the actuating members are urged in a direction away from each other by the forces of the coil springs, the locking members are interlocked with the retaining portions. To disengage the buckle, the actuating members are forced inwardly toward each other against the forces of the coil springs until the locking members are released from the retaining portions. The male member is thus allowed to be detached from the female member. Then, the male member is pulled out from the female member to disengage the buckle.
In Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Publication No. 61-202212 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,725 granted Jun. 16, 1987 to Kasai, there is disclosed another prior buckle which is composed of a male member having a pair of resiliently deformable legs, and a female member having a pair of fixed retaining portions. The legs are interlocked with the retaining portions to couple together the male and female members. Thus, the legs serve as locking members. When the male and female members are to be disengaged, two confronting presser portions of the female member are pressed toward each other to resiliently deform or flex the front ends of the legs inwardly until the legs are released from the retaining portions. The male and female members are then pulled apart to disengage the buckle.
Still another prior buckle shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Publication No. 2-33614 includes a female member having a pair of pivotally movable actuating members each provided with a retaining portion. The retaining portions of the respective actuating members are engageable with a pair of locking members of a male member, respectively, to couple the male and female members. When the male and female members are to be disengaged, the actuating members are pivoted in one direction to release the locking members from the retaining portions. The actuating members are urged in the opposite direction by a resilient member. In order to limit the angular movement of the actuating members toward the opposite direction, the female member includes a pair of stopper portions which are engageable with the actuating members, respectively.
In the prior buckle shown in the first-mentioned Japanese publication, the forces of the coil springs act only in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the actuating members. As a result, due to a play resulting from the working tolerance between the locking members and the retaining portions, the male and female members being coupled together tend to wobble particularly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the actuating members. The play, however, cannot be practically dispensed with and is indispensable to facilitate a smooth and reliable engagement between the male and female members. In addition, when the buckle is to be disengaged, the male member is pulled out from the female member with one hand of the user while the actuating members are being pressed by the other hand. Thus, both hands of the user are occupied when the buckle is disengaged. Furthermore, the forces of the coil springs, which act in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the actuating members, are born by the stopper portions which retain respectively thereon one end portions of the actuating members. With this construction, each of the actuating members, as it is manipulated, produces a moment of force or torque which will increase a friction between the actuating member and the corresponding guide portion. Because of the increased friction, sliding surfaces and a coating layer, if any, are worn off irregularly. In addition, the movement of the actuating members becomes sluggish and, hence, smooth attaching and detaching operations of the buckle are difficult to achieve. Furthermore, it occurs likely that the actuating members and the coil springs are assembled in an unstable condition. The thus assembled actuating members are likely to tilt while the buckle is in use.
In the prior buckle disclosed in the second-mentioned Japanese publication, the resilient legs of the male member must be long enough to possess a certain degree of resiliency. The male member having such resilient legs is relatively large in size and enlarges the overall size of the buckle particularly in the longitudinal direction of the legs. In addition, since the legs and the retaining portions are not interlocked resiliently, the male and female members are permitted to cause wobbling. When the buckle is to be disengaged, the presser portions are compressed to resiliently flex the legs toward each until the legs are released from interlocking engagement with the retaining portions. When released, the legs tend to thrust out from the female member due to the resilient forces stored in the legs. In this instance, however, since the retaining portions extend in a direction perpendicular to the acting directions of the resilient forces, a certain muscle effort is needed in order to separate the male and female member against a friction between the legs and the retaining portions. In practice, the male member is pulled out from the female member by one hand of the user while the presser portions are being compressed by the opposite hand.
In the prior buckle shown in the last-mentioned Japanese publication, each of the actuating members is pivoted at one end thereof. There is no means provided for guiding the corresponding actuating member as it undertake a pivotal motion. Accordingly, the actuating members are unstable in operation. In addition, the female member includes a base plate and a cover plate attached together, with the actuating members and the resilient member held between the base and cover plates. When assembling the female member, the actuating members and the resilient member are placed on the base plate. In this instance, however, due to the resilient force acting on the actuating members, the actuating members are the resilient member are likely to displace and sometimes detached from the base plate before the cover plate is attached to the base plate.


An energy conserving device which reduces excess level of alternating current power fed to RUN windings of an a.c. electric induction motor whenever the motor is less than fully loaded. A voltage dropping reactor coupled between an a.c. power source and the motor produces about 10-30% reduction in applied motor terminal voltage under reduced motor load running conditions, while a semiconductor switch acts to instantly shunt out the voltage dropping effect of the reactor and couple an increased portion, or full level of a.c. terminal voltage to the motor whenever the motor load increases. Changes in instantaneous levels of motor loading may be determined by changes in motor speed slip, determined from the motor's operating power factor, or preprogrammed. As a result of less a.c. power being applied to the motor under all but full-load conditions, a considerable reduction in eddy current and winding resistance losses is obtained which may save 20% or more in electrical energy usage in refrigerators, air conditioners, and other major appliances and as a result considerably lessen power demand from utility lines.

Alternating current electric motors, and particularly a.c. induction motors, tend to waste a considerable amount of electric power when operating with anything less than a full load coupled with their output shaft. Induction motors are the mainstay of certain widespread applications: in particular, they are almost universally used in refrigerators and air-conditioners because they have many features which make them attractive for inclusion in the usual unitized "hermetic" motor/compressor assembly typical of such appliances. Such features include proven reliability, absence of brushes, simple and cheap construction, relatively quiet operation, and a good history of predictable design performance. Induction motors also find widespread application in other domestic and commercial appliances, such as washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers, pumps, compressors, and so forth. Again, their advantage is cheap, simple design and predictable performance.
Induction motors are particularly prone to ENERGY LOSS when operating with less than full load. A typical 1/3-horsepower induction motor, which might be typified by a General Electric model H35JN30T, draws about 6.6 amperes under full load and exhibits a power factor of about 80% or so. Under light load, and particularly under no-load, this same motor exhibits miserable actual efficiency because the internal losses remain high while the output power demanded from the motor lessens. Although the power factor may drop to 30% or so, the apparent current still remains high . . . on the order of 4.9 amperes. As such, even though the 607 watts draw under full load may drop to about 170 watts under no-load: it is the range of operation between full load and this later no-load (or lightly loaded) value which is the basis for considerable improvement in my invention. At half-load, the power draw remains high, being nearly 360 watts. The following BASIC computer routine may be used to determine not only running efficiency, but also wasted power:
__________________________________________________________________________ 10 REM MOTOR EFFICIENCY DETERMINATION MOTEFF-1.BAS V1.01 20 REM MBASIC-80 (c) H. Weber K1VTW 9/9/89 30 PRINT CHR$(27) + "[2J"+ CHR$(27) + "[f" ' clear screen and home cursor 40 PRINT "Enter A.C. LINE VOLTAGE: ";:INPUT LV 50 PRINT " Motor OUTPUT (Decimal H.P.) ";:INPUT HP 60 PRINT " APPARENT Motor CURRENT ";:INPUT MI 70 PRINT " ACTUAL POWER FACTOR ";:INPUT PF 80 EF = ((74600!/(MI*LV*PF))*HP)*100 90 PWX = (MI*LV*PF*(100-EF))/10 4 100 PRINT:PRINT "MOTOR EFFICIENCY is: "EF" percent" 110 PRINT "WASTED Motor POWER is: " PWX "watts" 120 PRINT:PRINT:END __________________________________________________________________________
Using this routine, you will obtain the following display when entering full-load and half-load values:
______________________________________ Enter A.C. LINE VOLTAGE: ? 115 Motor OUTPUT (Decimal H.P.) ? .333 APPARENT Motor CURRENT ? 6.6 ACTUAL POWER FACTOR (percent) ? 80 MOTOR EFFICIENCY is: 40.9121 percent WASTED Motor POWER is: 358.782 watts ______________________________________ Enter A.C. LINE VOLTAGE ? 115 Motor OUTPUT (Decimal H.P.) ? .167 APPARENT Motor CURRENT ? 5.8 ACTUAL POWER FACTOR (percent) ? 55 ______________________________________
It is well known that eddy current losses and winding losses contribute most of this power waste, particularly when operating under less than full load. This power waste appears as heat, producing "temperature rise" within the motor structure. Also known is that the apparent current (e.g., 5.8 amperes at half-load) must circulate through the winding, and the induced magnetic field must magnetize the core material of the stator. It is only that the energy stored in the inductance of the core "returns" energy to the system that some semblence of efficiency is obtained, observable as low power factor manifested as phase lagging current flow. Large power loss occurs because the apparent current flow must overcome all the possible "friction" losses of the core material and the winding resistance. In cheap commercial motors particularly, these losses can be substantial. Economy motors are designed to operate with high current density in their windings, and with near-saturation of the core material.
When an ordinary induction motor is lightly loaded, the rotor "speeds up" with the result that the stator inductance actually tends to increase, resulting in the low power factor intrinsic with unloaded or lightly loaded induction motor operation. Clearly it would be better if the motor's rotor did not speed-up, but instead that it would continue to slip or drag by about the same amount under light load as what it does under full load. By reducing the applied stator voltage, the field is weakened and the rotor torque is lessened resulting in this desirable condition of slip or drag. The benefit is that the current power factor remains high, nearly that obtained under full load with full power applied. Mere reduction of the applied stator voltage is, by itself, unacceptable in most motor applications because any unexpected increase in motor loading can result in stalling and unsatisfactory operating characteristics, and can even lead to motor burnout.
Modern high-permeability core materials may also exhibit a somewhat more abrupt "knee" where saturation occurs. With an economy design approach, wherein the operating point for the core material making up the motor's stator structure is established with a high flux density under normal line voltage, it can be seen that an unsual increase in line voltage can bring about a very serious decrease in efficiency as saturation of the core material is approached. Under such a condition, the increased line voltage contributes nothing except power waste to the overall operation of the motor. Such losses tend to be regenerative, in that the mentioned increase in losses produces more heating, which in turn increases the losses (i.e., winding resistance loss, etc.).
Electric utility companies frequently introduce "brown-out" conditions during peak-usage periods or during unseasonable load demand periods (such as most notably, during a hot and humid summer period when air-conditioners are working hard). In the ordinary motor construction, such a brown-out condition can cause failure of induction motors, with stalling and overheating. My invention might be useful in overcoming these brown-out attendant problems, at least in critical applications where the stoppage of a motor can not be afforded. For example, in this kind of "brown out resistant" configuration the motor may be designed to produce its full torque (e.g., horsepower) at a reduced voltage level of say 100 volts and the control system of my instant invention will allow the motor to still accomodate line voltage operating conditions of 117 or even 125 volts or more without undue electrical loss or malperformance.
Economy motor designs are not only found in motors like the mentioned major appliance motor, but also they are ubiquitously found in the motors used in hermetic sealed refrigeration and air conditioning motor/compressor units. Induction motors of ordinary split-phase or capacitor start design are known in hermetic units, such as a Whirlpool model S462544/H2269; General Electric model PS-36-1/4; Americold model ML090-1; Tecumseh model S4416; Matsushita model FN91F17R, and others.
In my prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,838 "A.C. Induction Motor Energy Conserving Power Control Method and Apparatus" and U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,067 "Energy Conserving Electric Induction Motor Control Method and Apparatus" I particularly teach how motor losses may be greatly reduced through the use of two separate parallel-acting RUN windings. One higher impedance RUN winding supplies a sufficient portion of the field strength flux to operate the motor under partial load, while the other lower impedance RUN winding is modulated with a.c. power to increase the field strength flux as the motor load increases. In the '838 patent, I sense the power factor of the motor and as the power factor decreases when the motor loading lessens, I reduce excitation to the modulated RUN winding thereby increasing the apparent power factor. In my other '067 patent I utilize load-related changes in sub-synchronous motor speed slip to establish corresponding changes in the modulated RUN winding excitation.
In both of these prior patents a unique motor winding arrangement is needed in order to obtain increased efficiency. It was not the purpose of these prior inventions to necessarily be applicable to pre-existing motors, such as found in refrigerators, air conditioners, and other appliances. It was more the intent for the invention of these prior patents to provide a convienent and effective arrangement for manufacturers to use in their new motor designs in order to obtain a major increase in efficiency.
Older motors may also benefit from the kind of a.c. power control taught under these prior patents, but in order to do so a motor controller is needed which can operate to produce a virtual control effect which is equivalent in ENERGY SAVINGS with that of my prior invention's unique multiple RUN winding embodiment. I therefore conceived a controller that produces such improvement, but requires no change in the older motor's design: e.g., it operates well with merely a single RUN winding arrangement in the motor.
The need for my current invention is to SAVE ENERGY in pre-existing motor applications, particularly such as found in air conditioners and similar equipment.
Manufacturer's of new equipment may also benefit from the ENERGY SAVING contribution of my invention without having to re-engineer the electric motor which may already be part of a proven product design, or consist of considerable inventory.

Energy conserving electric motor power control method and apparatus


An oscillator circuit (300) comprising: a resonator (Q) connected between an input (IN)and an output (OUT); an inverter having first and second driver transistors (MP, MN) connected in series via an output-coupled node; first and second biasing transistors (MPD, MND) for biasing the driver transistors; and first and second limiting means between the gate electrodes of the driver transistors respectively and the output. The CMOS circuit allows regulation of the oscillation amplitude without need for well-controlled DC current sources to polarize correctly the driver transistors, and without need for a start-up circuit to ensure that both driver transistors remain in saturation when the circuit is powered on. A simple oscillator circuit (600) has an inverter whose input is capacitively coupled to the input (IN), first limiting means coupled between the inverter input and the output (OUT), and second limiting means coupled between the input (IN) and the output (OUT).

This invention relates to oscillator circuits for use in integrated circuits.
One of the most frequently-used analog circuits in today""s IC""s is the Pierce-type two-pin oscillator. Typically, this type of oscillator is used to generate clock signals in microprocessors and other integrated systems.
Such an oscillator is typically formed by a resonator embedded between two capacitors connected to ground and between the input and output of an inverter. FIG. 1 shows the schematic circuit of such an oscillator.
This oscillator is of simple construction, but presents several disadvantages:
The amplitude at the output is limited by non-linearities generating harmonics which may cause electromagnetic coupling (EMC) problems.
The amplitude across the resonator is high, resulting in high power dissipation in the resonator, limiting its long-term frequency stability.
Since both transistors constituting the inverter conduct simultaneously during a large portion of the period of oscillation, the oscillator has high current consumption.
A high impedance current path is needed between the input and output of the inverter to ensure its correct biasing. Leakage of external components connected to this path may alter operating conditions of the oscillator.
Several solutions have been proposed to deal with these disadvantages. FIG. 2 shows a prior art circuit known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,906 which avoids the above mentioned drawbacks by regulation of the oscillation amplitude. In this known circuit two DC bias current sources polarize the driver transistors, whereas the currents from these current sources are sunk to the supply rails across transistors connected between the driver transistors common drain and their gate.
This known circuit presents two important drawbacks. Firstly, well-controlled DC current sources are needed to polarize correctly the driver transistors. Secondly, a start-up circuit is needed to ensure that both driver transistors remain in saturation when the circuit is powered on.
From U.S. Pat. No. 3,902,141 there is known a quartz oscillator circuit having an amplifier formed by two complementary semiconductors whose sources, gates and drains are connected in parallel in an alternate arrangement with a power supply, a quartz crystal connected between the drains and the gates, a detection capacitor connected between the gates and the sources and a charge capacitor connected between the sources and the drains. An integration capacitor is connected between the semiconductors"" gates so as to control the class of operation of the amplifier in dependence on the oscillation amplitude.
A very low current Pierce oscillator is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,360,789.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an oscillator circuit wherein the above-mentioned disadvantages may be overcome or at least alleviated.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided an oscillator circuit as claimed in claim 1.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided an oscillator circuit as claimed in claim 11.


A method for use with a stream of images defining a video. The method includes the steps of periodically conducting a face finding operation on an image in the stream. In respect to the last image in the stream preceding the image in which one or more faces was found, a tracker based upon wavelet decomposition is used to find a face for each face found in the last image for which no counterpart was found in the image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a method for use with a stream of images defining a video wherein the method includes periodically conducting a face finding operation on an image in the stream of videos and in respect of the last image in the stream preceding the image in which one or more faces are found, using a tracker based upon wavelet decomposition to find a face for each face found in the last image for which no counterpart was found.
2. Prior Art
Face detection plays a crucial role in a wide range of applications such as human computer interface, facial biometrics, video surveillance, gaming, video analytics and face image database management. Often, these real world applications rely heavily on the face detection as the first stage of the overall system. Typically face detection algorithms are built with one or more assumptions, such as, frontal face, illumination conditions and no occlusions. Consequently, these algorithms become quite unreliable when dealing with real world difficult scenarios. One such application area is "fitness to drive" where, sudden changes in the driver's face pose, illumination, reflections as well as occlusions cannot be avoided.
Most of the existing face detection algorithms address only few of these challenging scenarios. Consequently, many databases have been made public where one of the problems is the reoccurring theme in their respective database; the YALE database is the most common database used for variations in illumination. Variations in illumination proves to be an excessive challenge for researchers as there are infinite possibilities of lighting variations that can occur in real world scenarios. For example, lighting variations can range from variable light source location to multiple light sources. The HONDA database strictly focuses on different face orientations. Face orientation continues to be a challenge as face detection for a partially occluded face often becomes difficult as common classifiers typically rely on specific key features on the face.
The proposed algorithm attempts to tackle all three of the problems mentioned above simultaneously by applying preprocessing to the target frame to normalize the amount of illumination variation, applying a cascading set of classifiers to increase the overall range of face orientation the algorithm is confidently able to detect and applying an adaptive Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) based tracker to track the location of the face if the cascading classifiers fail.

Method for driver face detection in videos

Alcohol Countermeasure Systems (International) Inc.


A stowable rear seat includes a seat back unit; and a seat cushion unit. The seat back unit includes a tiltable seat back erected on a floor surface; a seat back locking mechanism for locking a tilt of the seat back; and a rocking member rocking in cooperation with a tilting operation of the seat back after unlocking the seat back locking mechanism. The seat cushion unit includes a seat cushion horizontally placed on the floor surface in front of the seat back, the seat cushion being foldable on a foot floor surface at a lower position than the floor surface; a lock shaft provided at a back end of the seat cushion; and a seat cushion locking mechanism provided in the floor surface, the seat cushion locking mechanism engaging with the lock shaft to lock a horizontal state of the seat cushion on the floor surface.

Some conventional vehicles include stowable rear seats to extend the spaces of rear passenger rooms when no passengers sit (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). Such a stowable rear seat includes a seat cushion and a seat back. In a seatable state, the seat cushion is placed in a substantially horizontal posture relative to a floor surface while the seat back is positioned in an upright state at the rear of the seat cushion. In a stowed state, the seat cushion is placed on a foot floor surface at a lower position than the floor surface in a substantially horizontal posture while the seat back is folded in a substantially horizontal posture relative to the floor surface. In order to change the seatable state to the stowed state, a user releases the locks for the seat cushion and for the seat back and then moves the seat cushion to the foot floor surface and then tilts the seat back.
In recent years, mechanisms have been developed which move a seat cushion to a foot floor surface in cooperation with the tilting operation of a seat back.


A charging device may include a shaft rotatably mounted on at least one slide bearing in a shaft bearing region. At least one flow opening for introducing and discharging a fluid may be defined on the shaft bearing region, wherein the shaft in the shaft bearing region may have two outer portions each running in a circumferential direction and axially binding an inner portion. At least one of the outer portions on its surface may include at least one microstructure.

A charging device, in particular an exhaust gas turbocharger comprises a shaft for the drive transmission between a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel. The shaft is usually arranged in a bearing housing of the charging device, wherein a rotatable mounting of the shaft can be ensured with a radial slide bearing. Usually, two such slide bearings are provided, which mount the shaft on axially spaced shaft mounting regions each. To avoid or reduce wear, a lubricant, in particular oil, can be introduced in the respective shaft bearing region.
Disadvantageous hereby is that between the shaft and the slide bearing, in particular at low rotational speeds or rotations of the shaft, friction can nevertheless occur. This is the case in particular during the starting of the charging device and thus during the starting of the rotation of the shaft, since the lubricant can then have flowed out of the shaft bearing region. In addition, more and more motor vehicles, in which the charging device can be arranged, have a so-called start-stop function. The start-stop function serves the purpose of lowering the energy consumption of the motor vehicle, in particular the fuel consumption, wherein a combustion engine of the motor vehicle, on which the charging device is usually arranged, is briefly switched off during rest phases of the motor vehicle, for example when stopping at a traffic light. Accordingly, the charging device is also switched off and subsequently started again. Consequently, with vehicles having said start-stop function, an increased friction between the shaft and the slide bearing and thus an increased wear occurs.


A distribution apparatus which distributes to multiple regions includes: a storage unit which stores each of radio communications systems usable for each of the regions; a selecting unit which selects, out of the multiple regions to which the distribution apparatus distributes, first regions in which a radio communications system in operation is the same; and a distribution unit which distributes, based on each of the radio communications system usable for each of the regions that is stored in the storage unit, all or some of information on the radio communications system for each of the first regions selected by the selecting unit. One or multiple radio communications systems are usable in each of the regions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to radio communications systems and specifically relates to distribution apparatuses, terminal apparatuses, systems, and methods.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wide bandwidths are necessary for conducting communications at high speed. However, it is difficult to secure wide frequency bandwidths which are common throughout the world since various radio communications systems are in operation. Thus, a technique is being studied in which are used multiple frequency bandwidths, each of which is provided with a frequency utilization priority, and in which multiple radio communications systems use the same frequency bandwidth according to the priority. Moreover, it is difficult to secure a frequency bandwidth which can be used in common throughout the world, so that it is necessary to select, at each country, one from multiple candidates. Thus, a terminal apparatus needs to have, in accordance with a region used in, a unit which identifies a radio communications system which is in operation at a region to which the terminal apparatus belongs. However, with a large number of ultra wideband radio communications systems in use, a large consumption power and/or a long identification time is needed to realize a function which identifies a radio bandwidth which can be used. Moreover, in an environment in which frequencies are shared for use, a low-priority radio communications system (below called an "additional system") conducts communications while using the same frequency bandwidth such as to ensure that interference is not caused on a high-priority communications system (below-called a "priority system"). Such a technique includes a technique which calculates and identifies an interference amount caused on the priority system using a propagation loss between the priority system and the additional system, and a technique which controls a transmission power of the additional system according to the interference amount identified. Moreover, a traffic amount at a time of communications by the priority system may be taken into account to calculate an allowable interference amount and to control the transmission power of the additional system. For example, the additional system may be controlled such that, in a time zone with a small traffic of the priority system, the allowable interference amount is increased, so that it is operated with a maximum transmission power which is larger than that in a time zone with a large traffic of the priority system.
When using such a technique, a frequency utilization method is dynamically changed, so that the terminal apparatus must always utilize a function which identifies a radio communications system and a frequency bandwidth which can be used.
Thus, as a way to respond to a dynamic change of the frequency utilization method, a cognitive pilot channel (CPC) is being proposed which distributes, to all of the radio communications systems in operation in each of regions, information such as frequency and radio technology used within each of the regions. The cognitive pilot channel may be applied to eliminate a process of scanning basic parameter information of a radio communications system to which a terminal apparatus can connect to. Moreover, by applying the cognitive pilot channel, changing some of parameters of a radio communications system is made possible by changing such control information as described above. Furthermore, the cognitive pilot channel may be applied without changing the terminal apparatus itself.
Therefore, adopting the present technique makes it possible to decrease the price of the terminal apparatus and to deal with changing of the radio communications system parameters. Moreover, as dealing with changing the radio communications system parameter is made possible, it is possible to expect an increase in frequency utilization efficiency.
In the present technique, an area covered by a base station apparatus is divided into multiple portions, each of which may also be called a mesh. In the area covered by the base station, a control signal is transmitted, and then, radio resource utilization methods such as radio communications system basic parameter information are reported multiple times mesh by mesh. Information reported may be the same. Moreover, as a method of distributing a control signal, there are two types, a broadcast-type distribution method and an on-demand type distribution method. In the broadcast-type distribution method, the base station apparatus periodically distributes control information corresponding to the mesh within a region which the base station apparatus is in charge of. In the on-demand type distribution method, the base station apparatus distributes control information for the mesh requested by the terminal apparatus in response to a request for distribution from a terminal apparatus. Moreover, a Hierarchical Advertiser CPC is being proposed in which some control signals to be distributed are divided and multiple distribution stations and units are utilized.
Non-Patent Document 1:    J. Perez-Romero, et al., "A Novel On-Demand Cognitive Pilot Channel enabling Dynamic Spectrum Allocation," IEEE Dyspan 2007.

Distribution apparatus, terminal apparatus, system, and method


A vehicle includes an engine, an exhaust system, an SCR device, upstream and downstream NOx sensors, and a controller. The controller is in electrical communication with the NOx sensors, and is configured for detecting a stuck-in-range fault condition of the downstream NOx sensor during a low exhaust flow condition. The controller detects the condition, receives the upstream and downstream NOx levels from the respective upstream and downstream NOx sensors, and compares these levels to a zero or near-zero threshold when the low exhaust flow condition is active. The controller is also configured for executing a first control action when the upstream NOx level is below the threshold and the downstream NOx level exceeds the threshold, and executing a second control action when neither of the levels exceeds the threshold. A method is also disclosed for diagnosing the stuck-in-range condition.

Internal combustion engines generate nitrogen oxide (NOx) gasses as natural byproducts of the fuel combustion process. NOx gasses may be present in an engine exhaust stream in various forms, including as nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and/or nitrous oxide (N2O). To reduce the levels of the various NOx gasses present in vehicle tailpipe emissions, modern vehicles may be equipped with certain catalytic devices which collectively reduce these gasses to inert compounds.
Within a typical vehicle exhaust system, a suitable reductant such as ammonia or urea may be added at precisely controlled rates to the NOx-containing exhaust stream and then passed through a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device. Catalytic action of the SCR device converts the NOx gasses into nitrogen and water. Sensors are positioned in the exhaust stream to measure NOx levels at various points of the exhaust system. Sensor measurements may be used to calculate the conversion efficiency of the SCR device and other values. The SCR device is typically replaced when the conversion efficiency drops below a threshold level.

Nitrogen oxide sensor stuck-in-range diagnostic tool