The invention provides an organic light-emitting diode which includes at least two electroluminescent layers (ELR, ELB), both of which are fluorescent or phosphorescent and emit at different wavelengths, as well as a hole- and electron-conducting buffer layer (T) arranged between the electroluminescent layers. The buffer layer is a bi-layer having an electron-transport layer (T2) and a hole-transport layer (T1), each one of the hole- and electron-transport layers being made of one or more materials in which the HOMO level(s) are comprised between or equal to the HOMO levels of the electroluminescent layers, and in which the LUMO levels are between or equal to the LUMO levels of said electroluminescent layers, with a tolerance of 0.3 eV.

The color white is defined by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE).
Organic light-emitting diodes (known by the acronym "OLED") are fast-developing optoelectronic components.
Whereas a "conventional" light-emitting diode consists of inorganic semi-conducting materials, an OLED consists of a stack of layers of organic materials, among which is included at least one electroluminescent, fluorescent or phosphorescent layer. This results in a fabrication technology which is much simpler and less expensive to implement.
OLEDs emitting a white light can find application in domestic lighting and in the back-lighting of flat screens (liquid-crystal or filtered screens).
To generate a white light it is necessary to combine at least two emitters of different colors. Consequently, white OLEDs comprise at least two distinct electroluminescent layers, exhibiting two different emission wavelengths, or else a single layer containing a mixture of two electroluminescent materials also exhibiting two different emission wavelengths.
FIG. 1 shows a flat band diagram of a white OLED with two spatially separate fluorescent emitters. Depicted from left to right are an anode A, a hole-transport layer HTL, a red electroluminescent layer ELR, a blue electroluminescent layer ELB, an electron-transport layer ETL and a cathode C. The rectangles represent the forbidden bands of the various materials, lying between the HOMO ("highest occupied molecular orbital") and LUMO ("lowest unoccupied molecular orbital") levels. The electroluminescent layers are composed of a matrix and of a fluorescent dopant; the dashed lines represent the HOMO and LUMO levels of the dopants, the continuous lines those of the matrices. The reference NV indicates the level in vacuo.
The chromatic coordinates of the two emitters must be situated, in a CIE1931 diagram, on two points joined by a segment passing through the region of said diagram corresponding to white (in the case of three or more emitters: the polygon obtained by joining the points representing the emission colors of the emitters must contain at least one portion of the white region of the CIE1931 diagram).
However, the emission spectrum of a white light source that is to be used as lighting is not characterized satisfactorily by just the coordinates of the corresponding point in the CIE1931 chromatic space. It is also necessary to take account of a parameter known as the color rendering index (CRI). A satisfactory CRI requires that white be formed on the basis of emitters whose representative points in the CIE1931 diagram are very remote. In particular, at least one of these emitters must generate a light exhibiting a very saturated color. Generally, this entails the blue emitter, thereby making it possible to minimize its proportion of luminance while ensuring emission exhibiting the desired chromatic coordinates. This choice makes it possible to limit the electrical stress imposed on the blue organic emitters, which exhibit a smaller lifetime than those emitting light of greater wavelength and thus constitute the factor which limits the lifetime of white OLEDs. However, it is also necessary to consider that, for one and the same luminance level, the wider the forbidden band of the blue emitters, and therefore the more saturated the blue color of the light they emit, the shorter their lifetime. Consequently it is necessary to find a compromise, not always satisfactory, between CRI and lifetime.
"Blue" emitters or emitters "with wide forbidden band" mean electroluminescent materials exhibiting a forbidden band lying, by way of indication, between 2.48 and 3.26 eV, corresponding to emission wavelengths of between 380 and 500 nm. In a manner known per se, these materials generally consist of a non-luminescent matrix (or host material) containing a fluorescent or phosphorescent dopant. When one speaks of the forbidden band of an emitter, one is referring to the dopant; the forbidden band of the matrix is slightly wider.
The lifetime of an organic material with wide forbidden band is limited by several physical and physicochemical phenomena.
Firstly, these materials oxidize easily on account of their LUMO level being close to the void level.
Secondly, numerous blue emitters are stable in an ionic form and deteriorate rapidly in the ionic form of opposite sign. Thus, these materials need to be used to conduct electrons mainly (case of FIG. 1), or holes mainly; the presence of minority carriers or of excitons (this being necessary to produce light emission) causes a degradation of electrochemical nature.
Thirdly, it is known empirically that these materials conduct carriers relatively poorly, and therefore undergo significant electrical stress.
These phenomena, which lead firstly to a progressive decrease in luminance over time, and then to a failure of the diode, also occur when blue emitters are used alone (in blue OLEDs), but in this case it is possible to compensate for them, at least up to a certain point, through a progressive increase in the supply voltage. On the other hand, in the case of intimate association of two or more emitters, the difference in their lifetimes causes a progressive and difficult-to-compensate modification of the color point, that is to say of the chromatic coordinates of the emitted light.
Furthermore, in the case of intimate association of two or more emitters, the excitons generated in the emitter of large forbidden band ELB have a tendency to diffuse toward the emitter of smaller forbidden band ELR, reducing the luminance of the blue emitter ELB, which must therefore be subjected to a higher electrical stress.
These problems are not solely specific to white OLEDs, but affect all OLEDs comprising a blue emitter associated with an emitter of narrower forbidden band.
It is known to separate the electroluminescent layers of a white OLED (more generally, with two or more emitters) with an electron-blocking and/or hole-blocking layer intended to control the color point by modifying the distribution of the carriers in the device. A blocking layer is defined by a less (more) energetic LUMO (HOMO) level than the LUMO (HOMO) level of the adjacent layer on the cathode (anode) side when dealing with an electron-blocking (hole-blocking) layer. A barrier height or difference of electronic level is considered to have a blocking effect provided that it is greater than 0.3 eV. This solution is described in the article by CH. Kim and J. Shinar "Bright small molecular white organic light-emitting devices with two emission zones" Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol 80, no. 12 (2002) pp 2201-2203. It exhibits the drawback of reducing the conductivity of the diode, since precisely the blocking layer constitutes a barrier to the transport of the carriers. Consequently, at equal luminance, a higher potential difference must be applied across the terminals of the OLED, thereby limiting the gain in terms of lifetime.
It is also known from the prior art to form the emitter layer as two adjacent sub-layers of distinct host materials doped with the same electroluminescent dopant, the whole being dubbed D-EML for Double Emissive Layer (M. Ben Khalifa et al. "Efficient red phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes with double emission layers", J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 41 (2008) 155111). This organic junction exhibits the advantage of associating a hole-conducting host on the anode side and an electron-conducting host on the cathode side. Thus the carrier recombination zone is situated at this junction, and limits the diffusion of the excitons toward adjacent layers external to the D-EML. However, it is very difficult, or even impossible, to apply this solution in the case of a diode associating two or more emitters, since this makes it necessary to considerably increase the number of evaporated layers (4 for two emitters and 6 for three), and on the other hand since the sub-layers in contact of the two or three D-EMLs must ensure non-negligible conductivity both for the holes and for the electrons.
It is also known from the prior art to introduce an exciton blocking layer provided that fluorescent and phosphorescent emitters are associated in one and the same diode. See the article by Sung Hyun Kim, Jyongsik Jang and Jun Yeob Lee "High efficiency phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes using carbazole-type triplet exciton blocking layer" Applied Physics Letters 90, 223505, 2007. Indeed, phosphorescent emitters are beneficial for low-luminance applications, where they exhibit very high efficiencies. But as there is currently no phosphorescent emitter with wide forbidden band exhibiting a sufficient lifetime, it is not possible to produce an entirely phosphorescent white light-emitting diode. Hence the benefit of associating a blue fluorescent emitter and a phosphorescent emitter with greater wavelength. However, if the precaution were not taken of separating the phosphorescent emitter and the fluorescent emitter with an exciton blocking layer and these two emitters were directly juxtaposed, the triplet excitons of the phosphorescent material could diffuse toward the fluorescent material, where they would de-excite in a non-radiative manner. An exciton blocking layer typically exhibits a thickness of 3-10 nm, and a LUMO (HOMO) level which is lower (higher) than that of the dopant of the phosphorescent emitter. The exciton blocking layer, likewise, reduces the conductivity of the OLED, necessitating the use of a high operating voltage which has an unfavorable effect on the lifetime of the emitters.
The documents EP 1 784 056 and EP 1 936 714 disclose OLEDs exhibiting a plurality of electroluminescent layers separated by intermediate exciton blocking layers. The electroluminescent layers consist of one and the same host material containing various dopants; the intermediate layers consist of this same host material, but without doping. As explained above, the exciton blocking layers reduce the conductivity of the OLED, this having an unfavorable effect on the lifetime of the emitters.
The document US 2009/0001875 discloses OLEDs comprising two electroluminescent layers separated by an intermediate hole-conducting layer. Once again, such a configuration can only reduce the conductivity of the OLED, and consequently the lifetime of its emitters.
The documents DE 10 2007 058005 and US 2010/0314648 disclose OLEDs exhibiting three electroluminescent layers separated by two buffer layers, the latter consisting of a mixture of an electron-transporting material and of a hole-transporting material.

Organic light-emitting diode comprising at least two electroluminescent layers

Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives


Devices and methods for applying sealants to surgical instruments. In one embodiment, a surgical device is described that can include at least one nozzle formed at a proximal end of the device that is configured to receive a sealant, as well as an applicator formed at a distal end of the device that is configured to deliver the sealant received by the at least one nozzle. The applicator can be configured to interface with at least one of a first and second jaw of a surgical stapler such that the sealant delivered from the applicator can be deposited into a plurality of openings formed in the surgical stapler.

Surgical staplers are used in surgical procedures to seal, divide, and/or transect tissues in the body by closing openings in tissue, blood vessels, ducts, shunts, or other objects or body parts involved in the particular procedure. The openings can be naturally occurring, such as passageways in blood vessels, airways or an internal lumen or organ like the stomach, or they can be formed by the surgeon during a surgical procedure, such as by puncturing tissue or blood vessels to form a bypass or an anastomosis, or by cutting tissue during a stapling procedure.
Most staplers have a handle with an elongate flexible or rigid shaft having a pair of opposed jaws formed on an end thereof for holding and forming staples therebetween. At least one of the opposed jaws is movable relative to the other jaw. In the case of laparoscopic surgery, often one jaw is fixed and the other is movable. In some devices (for example an open linear stapler), the opposed jaws can be separated by the operator and reassembled providing the relative motion needed for tissue placement. The staples are typically contained in a staple cartridge, which can house multiple rows of staples and is often disposed in one of the two jaws for ejection of the staples to the surgical site. In use, the jaws are positioned so that the object to be stapled is disposed between the jaws, and staples are ejected and formed when the jaws are closed and the device is actuated. Some staplers include a knife configured to travel between rows of staples in the staple cartridge to longitudinally cut the stapled tissue between the stapled rows. Placement of the device, manipulation of components or systems of the device, and other actuations of the device such as articulation, firing, etc. can be accomplished in a variety of ways, such as electromechanically, mechanically, or hydraulically.
There are various types of staplers suited for particular surgical procedures. For example, linear staplers include a handle with an elongate shaft having a pair of opposed jaws formed on an end thereof for holding and forming staples therebetween. At least one of the opposed jaws is movable relative to the other. The staples are typically contained in a staple cartridge assembly, which can house multiple rows of staples and is often disposed in one of the two jaws for ejection of the staples to the surgical site. Circular staplers have a handle and an elongate shaft with an anvil and a cartridge assembly disposed on a distal end of the elongate shaft, the anvil axially movable relative to the cartridge assembly and configured to form staples therebetween and deploy the staples into tissue.
While surgical staplers have improved over the years, a number of problems can potentially arise. Although rare, as illustrated in FIG. 1, one problem is that leaks can occur due to staples S forming tears H when penetrating a tissue T or other object in which the staples S are disposed. Blood, air, gastrointestinal fluids, and other fluids can seep through the tears H formed by the staples S, even after the staples S are fully formed. The tissue T being treated can also become inflamed due to the manipulations and deformations that can occur during stapling. Still further, staples, as well as other objects and materials implanted during stapling procedures, generally lack the same characteristics as tissue in which they are implanted. For example, staples and other objects and materials can lack the natural flexibility of the tissue in which they are implanted. A person skilled in the art will recognize that it is often desirable for tissue to maintain as much of its natural characteristics as possible after staples are disposed therein.
In the particular case of stapling bronchial tubes, such as during lung resection, it is important for no leaks to be present after stapling so that air does not inappropriately enter or exit the lung and/or the thoracic cavity. Air escaping a stapled bronchial tube through a leak can interfere with breathing and lung function, such as by preventing full intake of air. Air exiting a stapled bronchial tube into the thoracic cavity through a leak is unsterile and can cause infection and/or other complications in the otherwise sterile environment of the thoracic cavity. However, it can be difficult to prevent leaks in bronchial tubes for a variety of reasons. The small size of bronchial tubes can make delivery of any sealing materials into bronchial tubes difficult, inflammation due to implanted staples and/or other objects and materials can cause bronchial tubes to close or nearly close since they have small diameters, and/or it can be difficult for sealing materials introduced into a bronchial tube to withstand the repeated expansion and contraction of the lung without failing and/or moving within the tube so as to break the seal of the bronchial tube.
In the particular case of stapling a colon, it is important that the staple line of the anastomosis is substantially sealed so that gastrointestinal solids and fluid remain in the organ. Leakage from the tubular body organ, e.g. a colon, can interfere with normal digestive function and can introduce bacteria into other portions of the body, causing infection. However, it can be difficult to prevent leaks in a tubular body organ for a variety of reasons. For example, it can be difficult for the tissue disposed near the staple line to withstand repeated expansion and contraction that occurs when solids and fluid passes through the colon. Additionally, it can be difficult to deliver sealant to the tubular body organ and control the position of the sealant when it is curing from a liquid state to a solidified state
Accordingly, a need exists for improved devices and methods for sealing staples in tissue.

Devices and methods for sealing staples in tissue


A computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes operations of receiving a query to be executed, the query including an indication of a data source at which input data is be to obtained, wherein the query is to be executed on the input data, determining a schema of the input data, determining fields of the input data that are required for execution of the query by analyzing a sequence of operators forming the query, determining one or more alterations to the query to improve efficiency of the execution of the query based on the fields of input data required for the execution, and generating an altered query be altering the query in accordance with the one or more alterations. The method may further include converting the query to a directed acyclic graph (DAG) and providing the DAG to a distributed processing engine configured to execute the DAG.

Information technology (IT) environments can include diverse types of data systems that store large amounts of diverse data types generated by numerous devices. For example, a big data ecosystem may include databases such as MySQL and Oracle databases, cloud computing services such as Amazon web services (AWS), and other data systems that store passively or actively generated data, including machine-generated data ("machine data"). The machine data can include log data, performance data, diagnostic data, metrics, tracing data, or any other data that can be analyzed to diagnose equipment performance problems, monitor user interactions, and to derive other insights.
The large amount and diversity of data systems containing large amounts of structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data relevant to any search query can be massive, and continues to grow rapidly. This technological evolution can give rise to various challenges in relation to managing, understanding and effectively utilizing the data. To reduce the potentially vast amount of data that may be generated, some data systems pre-process data based on anticipated data analysis needs. In particular, specified data items may be extracted from the generated data and stored in a data system to facilitate efficient retrieval and analysis of those data items at a later time. At least some of the remainder of the generated data is typically discarded during pre-processing.
However, storing massive quantities of minimally processed or unprocessed data (collectively and individually referred to as "raw data") for later retrieval and analysis is becoming increasingly more feasible as storage capacity becomes more inexpensive and plentiful. In general, storing raw data and performing analysis on that data later can provide greater flexibility because it enables an analyst to analyze all of the generated data instead of only a fraction of it. Although the availability of vastly greater amounts of diverse data on diverse data systems provides opportunities to derive new insights, it also gives rise to technical challenges to search and analyze the data in a performant way.
Furthermore, over the last few years, a data analytic platform compatible across different programming languages and different libraries has been urgently needed by the data science community, as data scientists are relying on a wider selection of data analytic development tools. For example, many data scientists are utilizing their JUPYTER® notebooks as their data analytics development tool. JUPYTER® notebooks are client-based interactive web applications that allow users to create and share codes and visualizations. Given that these notebooks provide an interactive computing environment that supports multiple (two or more) programming languages, it has become a technical challenge to provide a search capability that efficiently and effectively supports multiple programming languages without unacceptable search latency caused from programming language translations.
Additionally, search queries are becoming more complex given the growing usage of artificial intelligence (AI) in the gathering and processing of data. One AI type is referred to as "machine learning," which generally involves software configured to build a mathematical model based on sample data, sometimes referred to as "training data," in order to make predictions or decisions without the software being explicitly programmed to make such predictions or decisions. Data scientists are attempting to use ML models and/or ML streaming algorithms as part of query searches into data repositories, but there is no current framework that allows for ML models and/or ML streaming algorithms to be deployed within any search workflow or ML pipeline independent of programming language or origination. Also, there is no mechanism to formulate portions of ML-based pipelines for use and re-use by data scientists in development of pipelined search queries.
Furthermore, over the last few years, a data analytic platform compatible across different programming languages and different libraries has been urgently needed by the data science community, as data scientists are relying on a wider selection of data analytic development tools. For example, many data scientists are utilizing their JUPYTER® notebooks as their data analytics development tool. JUPYTER® notebooks are client-based interactive web applications that allow users to create and share codes and visualizations. Given that these notebooks provide an interactive computing environment that supports multiple (two or more) programming languages, it has become a technical challenge to provide a search capability that efficiently and effectively supports multiple programming languages without unacceptable search latency caused from programming language translations.
Additionally, search queries are becoming more complex given the growing usage of artificial intelligence (AI) in the gathering and processing of data. One AI type is referred to as "machine learning," which generally involves software configured to build a mathematical model based on sample data, sometimes referred to as "training data," in order to make predictions or decisions without the software being explicitly programmed to make such predictions or decisions. Data scientists are attempting to use ML models and/or ML streaming algorithms as part of query searches into data repositories, but there is no current framework that allows for ML models and/or ML streaming algorithms to be deployed within any search workflow or ML pipeline independent of programming language or origination. Also, there is no mechanism to formulate portions of ML-based pipelines for use and re-use by data scientists in development of pipelined search queries.
Further, search queries are often written in a manner that make the most intuitive sense to the data scientist developing the search query. However, more often than not, the most intuitive ordering of operators to a data scientist may not correspond to the most efficient manner in executing the search query. Execution efficiency is an important factor when executing search queries at scale, especially on large amounts of data. In the current technology, there is no search execution platform that analyzes the operators of a search query and alters the search query to improve the efficiency of execution, especially with an emphasis on execution in a distributed runtime environment.

Systems and methods for decoupling search processing language and machine learning analytics from storage of accessed data


A brake driving apparatus of a tape recorder includes a reel braking part for driving brakes with a force transferred from a capstan motor to stop the rotation of reels, and a reel releasing part for releasing the brake of the reels by being slidably driven and down with a force transmitted from a loading motor.

The present invention relates to a tape recorder, and more particularly to a brake driving apparatus for stopping the rotation of reels which wind a tape rotated by the driving force of a capstan motor in a tape recorder such as a video tape recorder or digital audio tape recorder.
In most of tape recorders, the reel for winding the tape is rotated by receiving the driving force from a capstan motor and is stopped by a brake which is driven by a solenoid. Due to the use of the solenoid to drive the brake, however, the cost is increased and space must be allocated for its placement.
In some tape recorders, a reel is stopped by transmitting the driving force of a tape loading motor to a brake through a power transmitting member.
Using the driving force of the tape loading motor, however, can cause the loading motor to be overloaded since it operates many parts in addition to the brake. To overcome the problem, the capacity of the tape loading motor must be increased.
Since the tape loading motor is large in size, the tape recorder is larger and has an increased weight.
Furthermore, due to the establishment of many members for power transmission from the loading motor to the brake, the structure was complicated and the cost was also increased.
Also, since this brake driving apparatus has employed many power transmitting members, a point of time for driving the brake is delayed as much as the time required for power transmission. Thus, the brake driving apparatus is not suitable for the reels which are rotated fast by a fast search function according to the trend toward the development of high function.

Apparatus for driving brakes in a tape recorder


A method for controlling an elevator installed in a building that includes an elevator car arranged to travel in a hoistway between floor landings that are at different heights, one or more ropings connected to the elevator car, a hoisting machine for moving the elevator car, and a control for control the hoisting machine is provided. In the method, the sway data of the building is determined, which data describes the strength of the sway of the building, and the starting position data of the elevator car is determined, which starting position data contains data about the starting position of the elevator car and/or data about how long the elevator car has been in the starting position, and the settings for the run speed of the next run are determined on the basis of the starting position data and the sway data. An elevator is configured to perform the method.

The invention relates to solving the problems caused by the rope sway of an elevator. A problem in elevators according to prior art, in which roping or ropings is/are connected to the elevator car, has been the sway of the ropes. These types of ropings are, inter alia, the suspension roping of the elevator car and possible compensating roping, which hangs while supported by the elevator car, e.g. between a possible counterweight and the elevator car. Swaying roping causes problems particularly during movement of the elevator car. Sway of the roping acts on the elevator car swinging the car in the lateral direction, owing to its laterally moving mass, which might be transmitted to a passenger, causing discomfort. Lateral forces can also exert additional loads on guide shoes, produce vibration or otherwise disrupt the movement of the car. A swaying rope also produces vertical vibration in the elevator car. At worst, rope sway can result in a dangerous situation, because a strongly swaying rope can in theory become entangled in the structures of the hoistway or even jump out of the groove of a diverting pulley. Minor vibration of the elevator car, although it could be harmless, causes discomfort to passengers and concern about the operation of the elevator. For these reasons, an elevator in solutions according to prior art has been taken out of service during strong swaying. This has been implemented such that sway of the ropings of the elevator has been determined, and when the sway exceeds a limit value, the next run of the elevator car has been prevented until the sway returns back to below the limit value. A problem in solutions according to prior art has been, inter alia, awkward measuring of rope sway directly from the ropes. On the other hand, indirect measurement has also been used, but the solutions have been complicated and in them the elevator has also sometimes been taken out of service unnecessarily. A need has, in fact, arisen for a more advanced solution for preparing for situations of sway of the roping of an elevator.

Method for controlling an elevator, and an elevator using starting position data of the elevator and sway data of the building


A wireless base station apparatus communicates with first terminal devices belonging to the present cell by means of IDMA. The apparatus receives signals sent from the first terminal devices and at least a signal sent from a second terminal device belonging to another cell; separately extracts each received signal from the first terminal devices and the second terminal device from the signals received by the receiver and computes a channel value for each received signal, by using interference replica signals; sends information for requesting a second wireless base station apparatus which communicates with the second terminal device to send a log-likelihood ratio obtained based on a signal received from the second terminal device; performs decoding using the channel value for each first terminal device, and generates a log-likelihood ratio as a decoding result and the corresponding interference replica signal; and performs decoding using the log-likelihood ratio received from said second wireless base station apparatus and the channel value for the second terminal device, and generates a log-likelihood ratio as a decoding result and the corresponding relevant interference replica signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention basically relates to a wireless base station apparatus and a wireless communication method.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-016856, filed Jan. 28, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Accompanied with a recently increasing demand for wireless communication, in particular, by using a portable wireless terminal device, a technique for improving the efficiency of frequency usage has been actively performed.
In Non-Patent Document 1, IDMA (interleave division multiple access) is proposed so as to identify each channel using a plurality of channel interleave patterns. In communication based on the IDMA method, instead of a spreading process of each terminal device during transmission in CDMA (code division multiple access), a wireless base station apparatus performs user separation using individual interleave patterns assigned to communication terminals in advance. In such a case, the entire processing gain can be allocated to encoding, thereby implementing a higher degree of processing gain in comparison with CDMA.
In addition, since no spreading process is performed in each terminal device during transmission, it is necessary for a wireless base station apparatus to perform chip-level multiuser interference cancellation. Since each terminal device uses an individual interleave pattern, it is possible to approximate interference by signals transmitted from another terminal device to a Gaussian distribution. Accordingly, in comparison with a multiuser detector generally used for CDMA, a multiuser detector generally used for IDMA can perform interference cancellation with a low amount of computation.
Additionally, since multiuser reception is assumed in the IDMA communication, application of the relevant communication to uplink in transmission of a cellular (phone) system from each terminal device to a wireless base station apparatus has been widely examined In Non-Patent Document 2 relating to the application of the IDMA method to a cellular system, an individual interleave pattern is assigned to each cell so that the wireless base station apparatus can cancel interference from terminal devices belonging to an adjacent cell.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the general structure of a wireless base station apparatus 9 which performs communication with a plurality of terminal devices by means of IDMA. As shown in FIG. 5, the wireless base station apparatus 9 includes an antenna 91, a receiver 92, an interference canceller 93, and decoding processors 941-1, . . . , 941-K, 942-1, . . . , and 942-N, where K and N are natural numbers.
The receiver 92 receives a signal synthesized using signals sent from a plurality of terminal devices via the antenna 91, and outputs the received signal to the interference canceller 93.
Similar to the CDMA method, the interference canceller 93 performs interference cancellation using estimated channel values (relating to channels) for the respective terminal devices and interference replica signals output from the decoding processors 941-1, . . . , 941-K, 942-1, . . . , and 942-N. In the interference cancellation, interference elements included in the received signal are cancelled, and an estimated channel value is computed for each transmitted signal. The interference canceller 93 outputs the estimated channel values to the decoding processors 941-1, . . . , 941-K, 942-1, . . . , and 942-N.
The decoding processors 941-1, . . . , 941-K, 942-1, . . . , and 942-N have the same structure, and each have a metric computation unit 95 and a log-likelihood ratio computation unit 96. In addition, the decoding processors 941-1, . . . , and 941-K in the present cell perform decoding for the channel values of terminal devices belonging to the present cell, while the decoding processors 942-1, . . . , and 942-N in the present cell perform decoding for the channel values of terminal devices belonging to the other cells.
The metric computation unit 95 computes a metric for a channel value input from the interference canceller 93. Based on the computed metric, the log-likelihood ratio computation unit 96 computes a log-likelihood ratio (LLR) and an interference replica signal, and outputs the computed interference replica signal to the interference canceller 93. The interference replica signal is computed using the log-likelihood ratio obtained in the decoding process, and fed back to the interference canceller 93.
In the wireless base station apparatus 9 having the above-described structure, the interference canceller 93 subtracts the interference replica signal fed back from each decoding processor from the received signal, thereby cancelling interference signals. Repeating such an operation improves the quality of the relevant channel value.
Additionally, the communication using IDMA employs an error correction code having a very low coding rate. Therefore, even if a symbol having a low likelihood is included in the present (target) frame, a desired likelihood can be obtained by means of the coding gain of the relevant error correction code. More specifically, the above-described feedback operation between the interference canceller 93 and the decoding processors 941-1, . . . , 941-K, 942-1, . . . , and 942-N is repeated so as to effectively cancel the interference. In addition, the quality of the signal received by the wireless base station apparatus 9 from each terminal device can be improved by increasing the number of iterations for the feedback of the interference replica signals from the decoding processors 941-1, . . . , 941-K, 942-1, . . . , and 942-N.
Due to such repetition, accuracy of the decoding result and the interference replica signal is improved, and the accuracy is further improved by using an interference replica signal whose accuracy has been improved.
Non-Patent Document 1: Li Ping et al., "Interleave-Division Multiple-Access", IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 938-947, April, 2006.
Non-Patent Document 2: Yunzhou Li et al., "Inter-cell Interference Mitigation based on IDMA", IEEE C802.16m-07/115, pp. 1-6, June, 2007.
However, in the wireless base station apparatus 9 in FIG. 5, when electric power of the received signal form a terminal device belonging to another adjacent cell decreases due to attenuation through the relevant channel, a desired likelihood may not be obtained by the error correction through the repetition of the decoding process. In such a case, the interference replica signals generated by the decoding processors 941-1, . . . , 941-K, 942-1, . . . , and 942-N have low accuracy and thus low reliability, which causes a decrease in the convergence speed for the iterative operation, and also causes degradation for the convergent point of the bit error rate. Furthermore, the wireless base station apparatus 9 may degrade the quality of the signal received from a terminal device which belongs to the present cell of the wireless base station apparatus 9.

Wireless base station apparatus and wireless communication method


An eyeglass retainer is provided for holding eyeglasses afloat in the event the eyeglasses accidentally fall into a body of water. The eyeglass retainer is comprised of an elongated, water impervious, resilient hollow flexible tube having open ends which grip the bows of an eyeglass frame and a float in the form of an open celled plastic block having a pair of parallel openings therethrough. The flexible tube is threaded through the openings prior to attachment of the ends of the tube to the eyeglass bows. The block has a buoyancy greater than the weight of the eyeglasses to thereby hold the eyeglasses close to the surface of a body of water.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a floating eyeglass retainer and a method of preventing eyeglasses from sinking in water.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One continuous hazard which has long existed for people who wear eyeglasses and engage in activities near or upon a body of water is the eve present danger that their eyeglasses will fall into the water and become irretrievably lost. Eyeglasses are formed of glass or plastic lenses which are held within a frame that has a pair of temples extending rearwardly from the lenses. The extremities of the temples remote from the lenses are turned downwardly to form a pair of eyeglass frame bows.
Some people are forced to wear eyeglasses having prescription lenses so as to correct defective vision Other people wear eyeglasses with tinted lenses, such as sunglasses, which may or may not have prescription lenses so as to reduce eyestrain by shading the ambient light and by cutting the glare of the sun on a body of water. In either case the construction of conventional eyeglasses is such that the eyeglasses will promptly sink to the bottom of a body of water if they accidentally fall into the water. Eyeglasses are frequently lost from boats, piers and docks in this manner. The expense of replacing eyeglasses which have sunk irretrievably beneath the surface of a body of water is considerable, both for prescription and nonprescription eyeglasses.
Various eyeglass leashes have been devised to attempt to prevent eyeglasses from inadvertently falling into the water and becoming lost. One type of eyeglass leash employs an elastic band that terminates in plastic fasteners which grip the bows of the eyeglass frame. The elastic band passes around the back of a person's head to hold the eyeglasses in position on a person's face. This type of eyeglass retainer is somewhat uncomfortable, since the elastic band causes the frames of the eyeglasses to be pressed against the nose and forehead of a person's face. Also, the plastic fasteners at the end of the elastic band frequently become brittle with exposure to the sun and will break.
Another type of conventional eyeglass retainer employs an inelastic cord which terminates in loops at both ends that can be cinched about the temples of eyeglass frames. The cord passes loosely about the back of a person's head and does not press the eyeglass frames against the face of the wearer. Yet another type of conventional eyeglass retainer is formed of an elongated, flexible, resilient hollow tube constructed of rubber or neoprene. The ends of the tube are inserted onto the ends of the eyeglass frame bows so that the tube passes about the back of the head of the wearer.
Eyeglasses can still be dislodged from the face of the wearer even if the conventional types of eyeglass retainers are employed. Flapping flags and sails, moving lines and boat rigging and even gusts of wind can cause eyeglasses to be plucked from the face of a wearer and cast into the sea. None of the conventional types of eyeglass retainers will prevent the eyeglasses from thereupon sinking to the bottom of a body of water into which they have fallen.

Method and apparatus for preventing eyeglasses from sinking in water


A cooled blade or vane for a gas turbine has a main blade or vane part which starts from a blade or vane root and a blade or vane shank and has a leading edge and a trailing edge, as well as, inside the main blade or vane part, a plurality of cooling ducts, which extend in the radial direction, are connected in series in terms of flow and of which a first cooling duct has a main stream of a cooling medium flowing through it along the leading edge. A second cooling duct has a main stream of a cooling medium flowing through it along the trailing edge, from the blade or vane root to the tip of the main blade or vane part. The outlet of the first cooling duct is in communication, via a first diverting region, a third cooling duct arranged between the first and second cooling ducts, and a second diverting region, with the inlet of the second cooling duct.

A blade or vane of this type is known for example from U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,400.
Modern high-efficiency gas turbines use blades or vanes which are provided with a cover strip and, during operation, are exposed to hot gases at temperatures of more than 1200 K and pressures of more than 6 bar.
FIG. 1 illustrates a basic configuration of a blade or vane with cover strip of this type. The blade or vane 10 comprises a main blade or vane part 11 which toward the bottom merges via a blade or vane shank 25 into a blade or vane root 12. At the upper end, the main blade or vane part 11 merges into a cover-strip section 21, which, in a complete ring of blades or vanes, together with the cover-strip sections of the other blades or vanes, forms a continuous, annular cover strip. The main blade or vane part 11 has a leading edge 19, onto which the hot gas flows, and a trailing edge 20. A plurality of radial cooling ducts 13, 14 and 15, which are connected to one another in terms of flow by diverter regions 17, 18 and form a serpentine with a plurality of turns, are arranged in the interior of the main blade or vane part 11 (cf. the flow arrows in the cooling ducts 13, 14, 15 in FIG. 1).
On account of the single passage of the cooling medium through the cooling ducts 13, 14, 15 which are connected in series in the form of a serpentine, the temperature of the cooling medium increases as it flows through the cooling ducts, reaching a maximum in the final cooling duct 15 of the trailing edge 20. Therefore, under certain operating conditions the trailing edge 20 of the blade or vane 10 may reach excessively high temperatures in terms of the cooling medium and the blade or vane material or metal. The resulting mismatch of the metal temperature over the axial length of the blade or vane may lead to high-temperature creep and consequently to deformation of the trailing edge 20. A secondary effect of the trailing-edge deformation for a blade or vane with cover strip as shown in FIG. 1 is tilting of the cover-strip segments 21 in the axial, radial and circumferential directions. The tilting of the cover-strip segments 21 can lead to the gaps between individual cover-strip segments opening up, allowing high-temperature hot gas to enter the cover-strip cavity. This can significantly increase the temperatures of the cover-strip metal and can rapidly give rise to creeping of the cover strip and ultimately can lead to high-temperature failure of the cover strip.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,400, which was mentioned in the introduction, has already proposed a multiple supply of medium for cooling blades or vanes with a cooled tip and finely distributed cooling openings at the leading edge (film cooling). An ejector is arranged transversely to the direction of flow of the main cooling stream at the end of a 90° diversion of the main cooling stream, which injector injects an additional stream of cooler cooling medium into the cooling duct running along the trailing edge. The ejector is supplied with cooling medium via a duct running radially through the root. The cooling medium which flows out of the nozzle of the ejector at an increased velocity generates a reduced pressure, which draws the heated cooling medium out of the cooling duct of the leading edge into the cooling duct of the trailing edge. Approximately 45% of the cooling medium flowing along the leading edge emerges through the cooling openings at the leading edge. 40% is sucked in by the injector. The remainder is discharged through cooling openings at the blade or vane tip.
This known way of effecting multiple supply of cooling medium has various drawbacks: the injector hugely changes the pressure conditions and flow conditions in the cooling ducts compared to the configuration with a single supply through the inlet of the cooling duct at the leading edge. In particular, it is necessary to find an equilibrium between the cooling medium flowing out for film cooling at the leading edge and the cooling medium sucked in by the injector and then to set this equilibrium. This requires a completely new design of the blade or vane cooling, which can only be adapted to changing requirements with difficulty. The injector principle and the associated reduced-pressure generation are unsuitable for blades or vanes without film cooling of the leading edge and blades or vanes with a cooled cover strip.


The invention is directed to the automatic determination of a quantity which represents the rpm ratio between the transmission and the wheels. For this purpose, first and second rpm values are first detected which represent the rpm of at least one wheel and the rotational speed of a transmission component. Furthermore, a driving state quantity is formed which represents the instantaneous driving state of the motor vehicle. The essence of the invention is that a pregiven driving state can be determined when the formed driving state quantity indicates an essentially steady state driving state. The determination of the rpm transmission ratio which is sought takes place in dependence upon the detected rpm values when the pregiven operating state is detected. Furthermore, the invention relates to a stepped method which, for example, ensures a rapid determination of the differential transmission ratio after a transmission control apparatus is newly built in.

From the state of the art, it is known to control (open loop and/or closed loop) the transmission functions via an electronic control apparatus. In this connection, reference can be made, for example, to the publication "Bosch Automotive Handbook", 3rd edition, pages 548 to 551. A differential transmission (axle differential) is arranged between the transmission and the driven wheels and has a specific rpm ratio. The transmission ratio of the axle differential transmission is a quantity which is used in an electronic transmission control in order, for example, to determine the transmission output rpm from the wheel rpms when a transmission output rpm sensor is defective.
It is conventional to build in differential transmissions having different differential transmission ratios into different vehicle models of a series of vehicles. If one would have to provide these different differential transmission ratios in the software of the transmission control apparatus, then this would cause increased complexity because of the different software for the individual vehicle models. In order not to have to provide the differential transmission ratio in the software, a function is integrated into the transmission control apparatus via which the built-in differential transmission ratio can be learned.

Method and arrangement for automatically determining the differential gear ratio


A composition comprising a blocked and/or unblocked isocyanate compound and surface-modified nanoscale solid particles that comprise on the surface thereof organic radicals which comprise groups with an active hydrogen or precursors of such groups.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to compositions which comprise surface-modified nanoscale solid particles with groups having active hydrogen or precursors thereof, preferably hydroxyl groups and/or epoxy groups, and at least one optionally blocked isocyanate compound, and to coatings and molded bodies which are preparable from these compositions and are cured to form urethane bonds or corresponding bonds.
2. Discussion of Background Information
Abrasion-resistant layers with high optical transparency for optical components or high-transparency layers on optical components have become an important field of investigation. Nanocomposite coatings based on sol-gel processes, in which organosilanes are cocondensed together with nanoparticles and form hard layers, have been found to be significant. When silanes which contain polymerizable groups (methacrylates or epoxides) are used, such layers may also be UV-curable and photostructurable. However, the disadvantage of such coatings is the lack of UV stability and also the insufficient scratch resistance associated with high brittleness.
It would therefore desirable to be able to provide coatings or moldings which have high transparency and additionally exhibit high attrition resistance.

Wear-resistant optical layers and moulded bodies

Leibniz-Institut fuer Neue Materialien Gemeinnuetzige GmbH


An aquatic trap, the aquatic trap including a chamber, the chamber being bounded by a netted periphery that is permeable by water, at least one inlet passing through the netted periphery, the inlet converging toward the interior of the chamber, a rotatable wall portion formed in the netted periphery, the rotatable wall portion being connected to the netted periphery by a pivotal connection, the rotatable wall portion being rotatable about the pivotal connection from a closed position in which the rotatable wall portion is substantially within the plane of the netted periphery to an open position in which the rotatable wall portion is substantially outside of the plane of the netted periphery, a biasing mechanism for biasing the rotatable wall portion toward the closed position, and a stop mechanism for abutting the rotatable wall portion in the closed position against the biasing action of the biasing mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of aquatic traps, most specifically, those designed for the trapping of bait fish, such as shiners, minnows, and other aquatic life.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,328 relates to a trap for small fish that includes annular top and bottom panels and a peripheral side panel extending therebetween about a substantial portion of the periphery, the ends of the side panel being directed inward from the peripheral edges to define an opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,756 relates to an entrance gate for fish and crab traps that includes a rectangular frame to which is attached a plurality of flexible plastic finger assemblies which collectively form a converging passageway into the trap.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,800,465 relates to a fish and crab trap that includes a basket having a resilient mouth, a cable attached to the basket near the mouth and an anchor likewise attached to the basket near the mouth but substantially opposite the cable attachment.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,748,776 relates to a fish and bait trap that floats and that includes a cylindrical cage within which fish may live when trapped, a shelter having spaced floats being superimposed over the cage in journaled relationship therewith allowing the cage to be rotated relative to the shelter.
Design U.S. Pat. No. 269,109 discloses an ornamental design for a fish trap.


Encoder arrangement including the cascade connection of a data source (VSS), an encoder circuit (ENC) and a buffer circuit (BUFC) which is part of a preventive policing circuit (PPC) adapted to reduce the data output rate of said buffer circuit when said output rate does not satisfy a predetermined probability distribution function (CCCP/CR) of said output rate. The PPC at the end of each measurement interval measures this data output rate, determines the interval (BRI) to which the measured data output rate belongs and generates an alarm signal (AL). Via a gating arrangement (AG, GC) the alarm signal controls the connection of a clock signal (CLO/3) with a reduced output rate to the read-out input (RO) of the buffer circuit (BUFC) when for the measured interval the cell rate has to be decreased.

Such an encoder arrangement is already known in the art, e.g. from the article "Definition of a Universal ATM Video Coding Architecture" by W. Verbiest et el, published in VISICOM 90, Workshop on Packet Video in Morristown, USA.
Therein the preventive policing circuit which is provided in a terminal of a switching network is only represented schematically and its operation is not described in detail.

Encoder arrangement having preventive policing circuit (PPC) with statistical measurement circuit (SMC) and data output rate reduction circuit (CRRC)


The adjustable nozzle assembly for a trigger sprayer comprises a nose bushing and an integral nozzle cap capable of being screwed upon the bushing. The nozzle cap has a discharge orifice located in its front face and a flange skirt extending from a front wall thereof. A nozzle cap flange skirt is threaded inside the rear portion thereof and an internally contoured or stepped surface is located forwardly of the threads to provide reduced diameter annular surfaces at two locations rearward of an inner wall surface of the cap and forward of the internal threads inside the nozzle cap flange skirt. The nozzle cap is screwed upon (threaded on) an externally threaded portion of the nose bushing and is selectively threadably positionable between three selective positions such that the positioning of the inner wall surface and the annular surfaces of the nozzle cap flange skirt selectively cooperate with a front face and annular periphery of a nose bushing face disc having two angular grooves in the annular periphery thereof thereby selectively to provide a stop mode position for containment of liquid, a spray mode position to discharge liquid in a spray pattern from the discharge orifice, and a stream mode position to discharge liquid in a stream pattern from the discharge orifice.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adjustable nozzle assembly for mounting to a trigger sprayer which is used in dispensing liquids and more particularly to an assembly for dispensing liquid in a spray or jet mode and for containing the liquid in an off mode.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed under 37 CFR .sctn.1.97-1.99.
A variety of simple and inexpensive hand-operated pumps for use as dispensers of liquid have been developed which include means for coupling to a container from which a liquid is to be dispensed under pressure. Such a dispenser typically includes a trigger which is intended to be moved manually to operate a pump piston within a cylinder in a body of the dispenser, usually against the force of a return spring, so that liquid may be pumped from the container and dispensed through an ejection nozzle or outlet orifice.
To meet consumer demands for convenience it has been found highly desirable that the nozzle be adjustable to provide widely varying discharge patterns such as a spray pattern and a stream pattern. It is further preferable that the nozzle assembly not only be adjustable to accommodate a stream or spray mode of operation in a highly reliable fashion, but that it also conveniently engage into an off mode position to contain the liquid in the dispenser to prevent leakage or inadvertent discharge of the liquid and to promote easy storage of the container of liquid by the ultimate consumer.
To minimize cost, the various parts of the prior art dispensers are increasingly made of plastic resins suitable for injection molding. Further, it has been found to be highly desirable that the design of the dispenser be increasingly simplified such that the number of separately molded parts are minimized and so that the assembly of the parts may be mechanized at minimum cost and with maximum economy.
Heretofore, various designs or configurations of nozzle assemblies have been proposed to accommodate the above referenced desirable features, particularly the feature that the nozzle assembly be adjustable to provide widely varying discharge patterns, i.e. a spray pattern and a stream pattern.
Examples of prior dispensers, including adjustable nozzle cap assemblies for selectively dispensing a liquid in spray or stream mode, are disclosed in the following U.S. Patents:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. PATENTEE ______________________________________ 4,767,060 Shay et al. 4,706,888 Dobbs 4,247,048 Hayes 4,234,128 Quinn et al. 3,843,030 Micallef ______________________________________
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,060 there is disclosed a nozzle assembly which is capable of selectively dispensing a liquid product as a foam or a spray by means of a selectively movable member to establish a swirl chamber located in between and in liquid communication with a passageway and a nozzle outlet orifice. Such member can be moved forward into the nozzle cap where it offers no interference with the vortical liquid sheet to effect a spray mode of delivery. The member can be moved rearwardly to a point where the swirl chamber interferes with the vortical sheet to produce a stream pattern. Gas passageways are provided in this structure to achieve aeration of the turbulent fluid and the resultant dispensing of the liquid as a foam.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,888 there is disclosed a nozzle assembly capable of being opened and closed in selective rotative positions of a nozzle cap of the assembly with respect to two discreet passageways formed between a discharge conduit and a discharge orifice to provide an alternating off, stream and spray position for a liquid dispenser. Such multiple passages in a cylinder and the nozzle cap cooperate to move in and out of alignment and communication thus providing the spray and stream mode of operations depending upon alignment and registry of the various described passages and grooves. U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,888 alleges the following drawbacks in the devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,843,030 and 4,234,128:
"For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,843,030 has its nozzle cap containing an off-centered discharge orifice which must be shifted upon cap rotation between alignment with the spin chamber at the end of an internal probe for producing a spray, and a channel on the probe for producing a stream. The off center location of the discharge orifice not only presents problems for the consumer in properly targeting the discharge, but gives rise to a shearing action during cap rotation in that the inner edge of the discharge orifice must traverse the plug surface containing the spin chamber and associated tangentials which could cause abrasions or snags between the rotating parts resulting in undue wear and leakage . . . The nozzle assembly of U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,128 like--wise requires the spin chamber and associated tangential grooves to be formed on the underside of the cap end wall, and passages and slots on an internal plug arranged to produce a stream or spray discharge or shut-off. Thus, some of the details for the dispense function are on the cap end wall and some others are on the plug confronting this end wall, such that a shearing action results between these details as they pass one another upon cap rotation. Due to such abrasive and interrupted engagement between rotating parts, scoring, snags and/or undue wear occurs with consequent leakage."
With respect to U.S. Pat. No. 3,843,030 it is observed that the tubular extension described therein includes a free end having a staggered recess for cooperation with the cap in producing spray and stream modes of operation. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,048 there is disclosed a two-piece nozzle assembly which features a tubular member having a circular, planar face at its terminal end with a recess in the planar face. When a cap is rotatably mounted to the tubular member it has an end wall with a planar inside surface which will form an interface with the circular planar face of the tubular member. The dispensing orifice of the cap is radially displaced from the center axis of the cap which is registerable when properly aligned with the recess of the planar face.


Systems and method for generating graphical visualizations of an integrated circuit (IC) design may comprise configurations for generating interactive graphical visualizations of the IC design configured for providing informative overlays to the graphical visualizations based on a selected zoom level of the graphical visualization. In certain embodiments, the graphical overlays may be generated over corresponding objects for providing information regarding hierarchies of objects, or for generating perceptible overlays over objects regardless of a zoom level of the interactive graphical visualization.

In the following Background, Summary, and Detailed Description, headings should not be construed as necessarily limiting. In the following Background, Summary and Detailed Description, the citation or identification of any publication does not signify relevance or status as prior art for any of the claimed or described embodiments. Paragraphs for which the text is all italicized signifies text that is common to multiple Synopsys patent specifications.

Hierarchical dynamic heat maps in full custom EDA applications


A contaminated solvent recycling system is disclosed and claimed. The system comprises a distillation vessel having an upper distillation zone and a separate, lower, waste collection zone. A heater heats contaminated solvent feed within the distillation zone to distill off the solvent. By separating the distillation zone from the waste collection zone, the distillation zone can process consecutive batches of contaminated solvent feed. The waste collection zone can accommodate waste accumulating from the distillation process for extended periods of time between waste removal operations.

Volatile solvents are used in many industrial processes in which the volatile solvent is used for cleaning purposes. As a result of such use the volatile solvent becomes contaminated with foreign matter. Such contamination may be in a variety of forms. For example, in an auto body shop, it would be in the form of paint residue from spray guns, which are normally cleaned with solvent in a gun washer. In an auto repair shop, the contaminants may well be oil and grease from the cleaning of mechanical parts. Due to the cost of such solvents, environmental concerns, and the cost of disposing of such contaminated volatile solvents, it is desirable to maximize the use that can be made of the solvent by removing the contamination from it by recycling it into the purified solvent form for further use in the industrial process. Various recycling systems exist for use in paint or body shops and as an example, reference is made to our published PCT application no. WO01/03810. In these systems, a batch of contaminated solvent is manually fed into a distiller and processed for use by the operator. When the recovered solvent from the batch is used up, the process is repeated. The contaminant in the form of a sludge is collected in a liner bag which is located in the distillation vessel and the bag is removed at the end of each batch for storage in a separate waste container until such time as the container is removed—typically by a recycling company which will visit the shop periodically and collect the sludge for disposal off-site.
The foregoing has a number of disadvantages. Firstly, the necessity for providing sufficient capacity to accommodate a relatively large quantity of sludge which can accumulate over the period of time between sludge removal operations, coupled with the necessity for providing sufficient recycled solvent from each batch for cleaning operations, translates to the need for a relatively large waste collection container and a relatively large distillation vessel, the combination of which is inefficient in terms of cost and space requirements. Furthermore, since the foregoing process requires that the distiller be run only periodically, this means that a relatively large mass of contaminated solvent must be heated to boiling each time, which is energy intensive, and a relatively large capacity cooling medium is required to condense the solvent vapour from the distillation. Also, operator intervention is inevitably involved to initiate and terminate the batchwise operations. The foregoing disadvantages are particularly pronounced in the case of small operations such as auto repair and paint shops.


Available storage media capacity for personal video recording increases continuously. metadata can be used to organize the recordings, search for content and access specific recordings. If metadata are embedded within the multimedia content itself, like DVB specific Service Information, which are multiplexed with the audio and video streams to form a MPEG-2 transport stream, a search based on this metadata would require an inefficient and time consuming search through all multimedia content stored. According to the invention metadata information is gathered, analyzed and processed to form metadata entities, which are amended by a reference to the content itself. A descriptor stream is formed from the resulting pairs of metadata entities and references to the content and is stored separately from the files comprising multimedia content. In this way, for data of an MPEG-2 transport stream the metadata can be accessed without a need to reparse the entire stream.

Available storage media capacity for personal video recording increases continuously, approximately doubling every 2 years. Currently it is possible to store about 20 full-length movies on a single 100 GByte hard disk. In 2005, it will likely be possible to store about 80 movies on a single 400 GByte hard disk.
Similar figures apply to optical recording: currently about 5 GByte can be stored on a single layer single sided DVD disc but the DVR recorder as a successor of the today's DVD recorder will allow storage of up to 35 GBytes on a corresponding disc. Furthermore, two or even more layers can be used per side and these can be applied to both sides of the disc. Finally, it is possible to combine several discs in a special magazine.
This enormous amount of data requires new ways to organize the recordings, search for content and access specific recordings, because it is no longer possible to find recordings in a user's book shelf by just looking at the video cassettes/discs and some annotations on their cover. One possible solution for this is to use so-called metadata, defined as data about data, for the recorded content.
Metadata can be embedded within the multimedia content itself. For example, the MPEG-2 systems standard as specified in ISO/IEC 13818-1 defines program specific information (PSI) which is multiplexed with the audio and video streams. Similarly, the DVB standard used for the transmission of digital television signals specifies Service Information (DVB-SI) included in a DVB compliant MPEG-2 transport stream multiplex.
Cecarelli et al.: "Home multimedia systems: on personal video libraries", MULTIMEDIA COMPUTING AND SYSTEMS, 1999, IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN FLORENCE, ITALY, 7-11 Jun. 1999, LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., USA, IEEE COMPUT. SOC, US, 7 Jun. 1999, pages 1082-1085, XP010342599, ISBN: 0-7695-0253-9" describe a system, where Metadata are extracted from the multimedia content and are stored separately from the multimedia content in a Multimedia Database Management System (MM-DBMS). The described system stores the multimedia content on tape and stores the database of the MM-DBMS on hard disk. This approach is targeting a hard disk based archive system, where the extracted Metadata always stays within the device and is not intended for metadata exchange by means of removable media, like it is required for optical recording.

Method and apparatus for simplifying the access of metadata


Apparatus for producing electrical energy from the rise and fall of waves on a body of water. A vertical column is anchored to the floor of the body of water. A buoyant, spherical float is telescopically mounted to the vertical column in a manner that allows it to rise and fall with the waves, guided by the vertical column. A drive shaft is mounted to the vertical column and above the float. A downstroke drive transfer mechanism is mounted to the drive shaft. A first cable is attached to the float and to the downstroke drive transfer mechanism. A second cable is attached to a counter-weight and to the downstroke drive transfer mechanism. As the float falls as a wave trough passes, the downward motion of the float is transferred to the downstroke drive transfer mechanism through the first cable, causing the drive shaft to rotate. The drive shaft does not rotate as the float rises. The drive shaft is connected to an electrical energy generating system.

It is well known that the periodic rising and falling of waves on the surface of a body of water provides a potential source of energy for conversion to useful power by man. Various structures have been proposed to harness this energy. The apparatus that will be most beneficial to man will be one that can be economically constructed and operated for use in locales that are suitable environments for wave energy conversion. These locales will generally be removed from more conventional sources of power generation. Additionally, a successful wave energy conversion apparatus must operate reliably in a harsh environment that could consist of salt-water, high winds, and constant wave action. Furthermore, the apparatus must be easily maintained.

Apparatus for converting wave motion into electrical energy


A reversible short circuit device in the form of a metal loop. The metal loop has a first base side which forms a first contact. Extending from the base side are second and third generally parallel sides. The second side includes a contact portion for engagement with an external object to provide an electrical connection therewith. The second and their sides are connected by a frangible fourth connection side. One of the second and third sides is subject to a recoiling force, which, when the connection side is interrupted or broken displaces the contact portion of the second side so as to reverse the short circuit. The short circuit device has particular application to photoelectric tubes to provide a means for interconnection of the tube components during manufacture, which may subsequently be reliably disconnected.

The present invention relates to a short-circuit device which is reversible by recoiling. The invention also relates to the use of the short circuit in a photoelectric tube provided with a photocathode and having a Joule effect evaporator of a material constituting the photocathode.
The technical problem to be solved with any short-circuit which is reversible by recoiling, notably remotely reversible short-circuits, is to obtain a device which is not very bulky, is inexpensive and, above all, is reliable in the sense that the short-circuit can be reversed with great reliability. French Patent Specification No. 81 22 380 describes a short-circuit which reversible by recoiling and is constituted by a fusible conductor wire which is subjected to tensile stress a tensile force and which breaks after fusion by heating by means of a high frequency radiation. This known short-circuit has the advantage of having small dimensions and being inexpensive. However, it has proved to have insufficient reliability with too weak heating and due to the difficulty of obtaining a reproducible tensile force.
The general technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to realize a short-circuit which is reversible by recoiling, is inexpensive, is not bulky and is reliable, notably when remotely reversed by means of a high-frequency radiation. An advantageous embodiment of the short-circuit according to the invention comprises a photoelectric tube provided with a photocathode and having a Joule effect evaporator of a material constituting the photocathode and at least two dynodes each held at an electric potential via polarization conductors. The present Application propounds as its particular technical problem to be solved the capability of using the conductors of the dynodes to evaporate, by the Joule effect, the material constituting the photocathode without increasing the number of lead-throughs in the base of the photoelectric tube.

Reversible short-circuit and the use of said short-circuit in a photoelectric tube


According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording head in a magnetic disk drive with a recording medium includes a magnetic core including a plurality of magnetic poles which form a closed magnetic path, and a recording coil wound around a part of the magnetic core and produces a magnetic field to the magnetic core. The magnetic core includes a write gap formed of a nonmagnetic material in a disk-facing surface of the recording head, a magnetic gap portion located at a position off from the disk-facing surface and magnetically isolated, and a nonmagnetic material in the at least one magnetic gap portion. The recording coil is wound around the nonmagnetic material in the magnetic gap portion.

Magnetic heads for perpendicular magnetic recording have recently been proposed in order to increase the recording density and capacity of a magnetic disk drive or reduce its size. In one such magnetic head, a magnetic recording head comprises a main pole configured to produce a perpendicular magnetic field, trailing shield, and coil. The trailing shield is located opposite the main pole with a write gap therebetween and configured to close a magnetic path that leads to a magnetic disk. The coil serves to establish magnetic flux through the main pole. The coil is wound around a magnetic core that comprises the main pole and trailing shield.
In the magnetic recording head constructed in this manner, an alternating current is passed through the coil, whereupon a magnetic field produced by the coil changes the direction of magnetization in the magnetic core. Thus, recording on the magnetic disk can be performed with the magnetic field from the write gap in an air-bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic head.
In the case of high-transfer-rate recording, however, the magnetization reversal response in the magnetic core cannot follow the reversal of the magnetic field created by the coil that is rapid.
Therefore, the timing of the next reversal is inevitably reached before the magnetization in the magnetic core is saturated. If the magnetization is not saturated, the strength of the magnetic field from the write gap of the magnetic core is reduced, so that the quality of signals recorded on the magnetic disk is degraded. Thus, it is difficult to improve the linear recording density.

Magnetic recording head, head gimbal assembly with the same, and disk drive


A multiple stator for an electrical machine includes an excitation winding (5) assembled of a plurality of compound coil members (6) each including a main winding element (8, 9) and a shunt winding element (7). All shunt winding elements (13-16) are made in a single winding operation from a continuous insulated wire (46) wound on winding formers (18-21) created by folding perforated parts of a band-shaped support (17) whereby openings matching the cross-section of respective poles result in the band material. The band-shaped support is provided with notches for anchoring the ends of respective winding elements. The support is arched to match the inner wall of a stator and inserted into the housing whereby chain-link shaped main winding elements (8, 9) surround the individual shunt winding elements. The poles are then inserted into the openings of the winding support and secured to the housing.

The invention relates to a multipole stator for an electrical machine which includes an excitation winding assembled of a plurality of compound coil members arranged around respective poles of the stator. Each coil member includes a main winding element and a shunt winding element. In such a four-pole stator, the four individual windings are in each case wound separately as four main windings and four shunt windings. One main winding and one shunt winding are then, in each case, assembled to form a combined winding member. The combined windings are held together by a winding tape, which is applied in most cases manually. In subsequent operations, the ends of the windings are connected to form an excitation winding. The ends are prepared by laying, insulating, combining and providing them with contact parts for the voltage connection before the combined windings are bent into shape adapted to an inside diameter of a pole housing. The ends are connected to form the excitation winding as a coil body. The connected joints must then still be insulated, and the excitation winding must be impregnated before it is mounted in the pole housing. Such an exciter winding has the disadvantage of not being able to be produced by an automated process and is, thus, too expensive, especially for mass production.


An RF transmitting device (10) includes an RF amplifier (22) formed having components formed on a common semiconductor substrate (14). RF amplifier (22) includes MOS transistors (42) and (44) and an RF choke (46) stacked between a ground node (32) and a Vdd node (36). Transistors (42) and (44) are directly connected together and are biased by a control terminal bias network (58) so that the voltages appearing across their conduction terminals are about equal. Control terminals (56) and (62) of transistors (42) and (44) are driven by in-phase versions of an RF input signal (20).

Portable radio frequency (RF) transmitting devices, including cellular phones, portable radios, wireless modems, wireless routers, blue-tooth devices, and the like, are often energized by batteries. Currently, lithium-ion (Li-ion), nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), and alkaline batteries in configurations that produce an operational voltage in the range of 3-7 Vdc when fully charged are popular for use in portable RF transmitting devices.
Portable RF transmitting devices are often mass produced for competitive markets. In other words, a vast multiplicity of a given make and model of an RF transmitting device is likely to be manufactured and widely distributed to the consuming public as inexpensively as possible. Accordingly, a need exists for RF transmitting devices that are easily compatible with the popular styles of batteries used in RF transmitting devices, inexpensive, yet robust and reliable.
In an attempt to meet this need, mass market RF transmitting devices tend to incorporate integrated circuits that include as many different functions on a single IC as practical and are manufactured using processes that achieve reliable results at a high yield. One such process is a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process. Standard CMOS processes are highly desired for use in forming RF transmitting device circuits because the resulting circuits tend to be reliable, robust, and relatively inexpensive.
One challenge of using standard CMOS processes for the formation of an RF amplifier portion of an RF transmitting device concerns the low breakdown voltages that characterize standard CMOS processes. In particular, low transistor breakdown voltages in the range of 2.8-3.6 volts routinely result from the adherence to standard CMOS processes. But this low breakdown voltage is not easily compatible with the batteries popularly used in portable RF transmitting devices. Additional circuits, techniques, and/or non-standard processes are conventionally used to accommodate the relatively high voltage delivered by the currently popular batteries. But these additional circuits, techniques and/or non-standard processes lead to increased costs.
A conventional RF amplifier configuration for a portable RF transmitting device may use Si bipolar, SiGe HBT, GaAs HBT, and/or other transistor formation processes. These transistor formation processes can result in higher breakdown voltages better matched to popular battery voltages. Unfortunately, each of these processes increases costs when compared to a standard CMOS process.
Costs are increased in at least two ways, transistor area and support circuitry, which dramatically drive up costs. For example, a large number of RF chokes (i.e., inductors) and large-valued bypass capacitors tend to be used in RF amplifiers that use these types of transistors for their active components. The excessive use of chokes and/or large bypass capacitors consumes precious semiconductor substrate area, leading to further increases in costs.
A conventional RF amplifier configuration for an RF transmitting device may alternatively use a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor for the active component of an RF amplifier, but limit its voltages using a voltage regulation circuit. This technique is also undesirable because the inclusion of a voltage regulator increases semiconductor substrate area and thereby increases costs. Moreover, a voltage regulator is likely to be an inefficient section which wastes power, and the wasting of power is highly undesirable in a battery-powered device.
Another technique conventionally used to adapt CMOS processes to a battery-powered, RF amplifier application stacks MOS transistors so that the available voltage is distributed across transistors in the stack.
One conventional version of this stacked-transistor technique forms a modified cascode amplifier, where a common gate transistor configuration is stacked with a common source transistor configuration, the common source transistor is driven with an RF input signal, and the gate biasing of the common gate transistor is modified so that the total voltage at DC is evenly distributed across the transistors. But this version suffers from undesirably low gain, undesirably low output impedance, and it fails to maintain an even distribution of voltage across the transistors. Low gain is a challenge when using any CMOS technique to form an RF amplifier, so the lower-gain amplification techniques are particularly unwelcome. The low gain and low impedance characteristics may be addressed using known techniques, but in addressing these characteristics even more semiconductor substrate area is consumed. And, to the extent that voltage distribution is uneven under RF conditions, the risk of catastrophic failure due to exceeding the breakdown voltage on the transistor with the greatest voltage increases.
Another conventional version of the stacked-transistor technique is particularly unsuited for a linear amplification application. This technique uses multiple inductors in the transistor stack and concurrently switches the different transistors using out-of-phase versions of the RF input signal. Resorting to the use of many inductors in an RF amplifier design is undesirable because inductors consume an inordinate amount of semiconductor substrate area. And, when many inductors are used the RF amplifier size increases considerably. Moreover, RF amplifiers that fail to operate in linear amplification applications are undesirable because many of the more modern modulation standards call for amplification to a high degree of linearity.

RF amplifier with stacked transistors, transmitting device, and method therefor


The thermal printing postage meter includes a base supporting a registration wall and a deck, a micro controller and a thermal tape cassette detachably mounted to the registration wall. A position assembly is provided for causing a platen roller to assume a print position or a non-print position and for causing the ejection roller to assume an engaged or disengaged position. A single motor is under the control a micro controller. A linkage system is provided which communicates with the motor and a take-up spool. The linkage system sequentially causes the position assembly to position the platen roller in the print position, position the ejection roller in the disengaged position and communicating with the take-up spool when the motor is rotated in a first direction by the micro controller, rotatively drives the platen and rotatively driving the take-up spool when the rotation of the motor is now driven in a reverse direction by the micro controller, causing the first position means to position the platen roller in the non-print position, position the ejection roller in the engaged position and terminating communication with the take-up spool when the motor is again rotated to its first direction by the micro controller, and rotatively driving the ejection rollers when the rotation of the motor is now again driven in the reverse direction by the micro controller.

The present invention relates to the drive system for a thermal printing apparatus and, more particularly, to the drive system of a thermal printing postage meter.
A thermal printing postage meter system, of the type more particularly described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/950,341 (Attorney Docket C-912), is composed of a number of system modules. Generally, upon the placement of an envelope on the deck of the thermal printer by an operator, the envelope is caused to encounter a position sensing assembly that includes an envelope stop arrangement. The envelope stop arrangement prevents the envelope from being longitudinally mis-positioned. Upon proper positioning of the envelope on the deck, the position sensing assembly senses the presence of the envelope and informs a micro controller to first duck the positioning sensing assembly out of the way, inclusive of a stop assembly, by actuating a first motor and initiate the print sequence. The first motor and its associated drive assembly are also responsible for repositioning the platen roller to bias the print area of the envelope into contact with the print ribbon of a ribbon cassette. During the print cycle, the micro controller issues a command to cause a second motor in combination with its associated drive assembly to then drive the platen roller. Rotation of the platen roller causes the envelope and cassette print ribbon to simultaneously traverse the print head while the micro controller concurrently enables the thermal print head. A third motor under the control of the micro controller is provided which acting through the associated drive assembly acts on the take-up spool of the thermal cassette to assure that the thermal ribbon remains tight during the printing process. Following completion of the print cycle, the micro controller causes the first motor and its associated drive assembly to duck the platen roller below the deck and engages the pressure roller for ejection of the envelope by the second motor and its associated drive assembly. The ribbon takeup motor stops. This allows the envelope to advance while the ribbon remains stationary, thus not using ribbon in non-print areas.
It is really appreciated, that the presence of three motors represents a substantial cost consequence to the thermal print system. It shall be further appreciated that the cost consequence is compounded since the thermal printing system must be precisely controlled and, thereby, requiring a precise motor control system and associated motors.


There is provided a method for producing a polarizing film having far superior water resistance to conventional polarizing films by contacting a liquid containing cationic polymers with a surface of a polarizing film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing a water-resistant polarizing film in which organic dyes are oriented.
2. Description of the Related Art
A method for producing a water-resistant organic thin film by applying a solution including a multivalent metal salt or an amino compound salt (a compound having two amino groups or more in a molecular) onto an organic thin film including an organic dye (dye) containing a sulfonic acid group is well known (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. JP 11-21538 A). The solution including an amino compound salt has lower toxicity than a solution including a multivalent metal salt and is easy to use. The water resistance of an organic thin film obtained by the use of an amino compound salt was, however, far lower than the one using a multivalent metal salt, which did not meet requirements for the applications of a polarizing film.

Method for producing water-resistant polarizing film


Airbag assemblies and active vents for airbag assemblies are disclosed. An airbag assembly can include an airbag cushion that defines an inflatable chamber and an active vent that comprises an aperture and a patch configured to plug the aperture. A first control tether is coupled to the patch and coupled to the airbag cushion. The first control tether is drawn taut as the cushion expands during deployment to draw the patch toward the aperture from a first position that allows unobstructed venting through the aperture to a second position that obstructs venting through the aperture. The first control tether, or a second control tether, is configured to be drawn taut to close the active vent. Responsive to impact with the airbag cushion, a control tether is configured to slacken to open the active vent.

Airbags can be mounted in a steering wheel or other vehicular structure and deployed so as to prevent a vehicle occupant from impacting the vehicular structure in a collision event. In some instances, the airbags can suffer from one or more drawbacks or may perform less than optimally in one or more respects. Certain embodiments disclosed herein can address one or more of these issues.


An improved biomechanical ankle is provided which imitates the three primary categories of movement in a human foot. Parallel sole and limb supporting plates are held in spaced relationship by an upright post. The limb supporting plate is connected to the post with a ball and socket joint. A helical spring is fixed between the plates to provide resilient support to the anterior portion of the foot in imitation of normal muscular control. The ball and socket joint, in cooperation with the spring, permits the biomechanical ankle to imitate the inversion-eversion, plantar flexion-dorsiflexion, and lateral rotation found in a normal human foot.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a prosthetic foot and more particularly to a prosthetic foot imitating the movement of the human foot about three axes.
2. Description of the Problem and Prior Art Solutions
The process of terrestrial locomotion in humans involves a complex interaction of muscular contractions around a variety of joints in the foot. The interaction of these complex movements gives the foot an ability to adapt to its external environment and permits travel with relative ease over a variety of terrestrial surroundings.
There are three primary categories of movement in the ankle and foot: dorsiflexion and plantar flexion, inversion and eversion, and lateral rotation.
Dorsiflexion and plantar flexion are defined as the upward-downward motion of the foot in a plane perpendicular to the line of forward progression. Dorsiflexion is the movement of the foot upwardly and plantar flexion is the movement of the foot downwardly around an axis running between the bony protuberances of the ankle (hereinafter the "ankle axis"). Movement of the ankle in this plane is possible through a range of approximately 70.degree., 20.degree. of dorsiflexion and 50.degree. of plantarflexion.
Eversion is defined as the moving of the sole of the foot outwardly at the ankle joint while inversion is defined as the moving of the sole of the foot inwardly at the ankle joint. These movements take place around the subtalar axis, which is somewhat parallel to the line of forward progression. More precisely, the subtalar axis extends from the lateral aspect of the heel to the medial aspect of the sole adjacent the big toe. In terms of anatomic structure, the motion here described takes place in the subtalor joint of the ankle/foot.
Movement about the subtalor axis may be analogized to that found in an oblique hinge in which outward rotation of a vertical hinge member results in inward rotation of a horizontal hinge member. Similarly, inward rotation of an upper hinge member results in outward rotation of a lower hinge member. Anatomically, the inward rotation of the foot so that the sole faces inwardly (inversion) occurs as a result of bones in the lower leg being rotated outwardly around an axis running longitudinally through the leg. Outward rotation of the foot so that the sole faces outwardly (eversion) occurs as a result of the inward rotation of the bones in the lower leg about a longitudinal axis through the leg. The typical range of inversion is 20.degree., while a typical range of eversion is 5.degree.. This aspect of movement in the ankle/foot complex gives an individual the ability to walk on uneven terrestial surfaces and slopes without difficulty.
The third type of movement in the ankle and foot is lateral rotation, also known as tibia torsion motion. This action occurs through a transverse, oblique hinge action of the ankle and foot. Laterial rotation moves the foot through a vertical plane substantially parallel to the ground.
The complex interplay among the three categories of motion described above gives rise to the natural gait observed in terrestial locomotion in humans. The walking cycle begins when initial floor contact is made with, for example, the heel of the right foot. Progressive dorsiflexion occurs throughout the first 30% of the walking cycle until the right foot is substantially flat on the ground. Plantar flexion next occurs as the heel is lifted off the ground, such flexion reaching a maximum at 60% of the walking cycle at which time "liftoff" occurs and the right foot swings forward through a step. The process of plantar flexion-dorsiflexion here described continues through each successive step.
In addition to plantar flexion-dorsiflexion, the foot is also simultaneously experiencing inversion-eversion. The inversion-eversion movement causes initial floor contact to occur at the lateral aspect of the heel as heel contact of the right foot occurs. As plantar flexion progresses, the pressure on the sole shifts diagonally from the lateral aspect of the heel to the medial aspect of the sole adjacent the big toe just as liftoff occurs. More precisely, inversion occurs until approximately 40% of the walking cycle has been completed, at which time eversion is experienced to transfer weight to the medial aspect of the foot to prepare for liftoff and swinging of the leg through a step.
If the foot were only permitted to move through a horizontal plane (dorsiflexion-plantar flexion) and about the subtalar axis (inversion-eversion), the foot would be limited in its adaption to the variety of terrains over which locomotion could smoothly occur. It is fortunate, therefore, that the human foot is also provided with lateral rotation, or movement through a horizontal plane about an imaginary axis running vertically through the leg and heel. This third motion enhances the fluidity of locomotion by permitting the smooth transfer of weight through an arc running diaganolly across the sole from the outside rear heel to the inside of the sole adjacent the big toe.
It is therefore desirable that a biomechanical ankle be provided which will imitate all three of the basic movements of the ankle and foot described above.