A composite rim for a bicycle wheel generally includes a radially outer tire-engaging portion, a radially inner spoke-engaging portion and first and second sidewalls. The second sidewall is spaced apart from the first sidewall. The first and second sidewalls extend between the tire engaging and spoke-engaging portions. The rim includes at least one through-hole and a pattern of through-thickness stitching reinforcement at the through-hole. The tire-engaging and spoke-engaging portions and first and second sidewalls form a toroid.

This present invention relates to bicycle composite rims, and more particularly, to a bicycle composite rim having a three-dimensional reinforced hole and the method of manufacturing the composite bicycle rim.
A composite rim is made up of a plurality of fibrous sheets or plies that are cured within a bed of epoxy or resin. The fibers within the bed of epoxy or resin may be oriented in the X or Y directions and made of carbon, ceramic, glass or the like. Although fibers are very strong in their direction of orientation, they are less strong in their cross or perpendicular directions. Due to the anisotropic nature of fiber-reinforced composite sheets, the sheets oriented in the X-Y directions are reinforced by the fibers themselves, which can create and support load paths running along their length. However, in the sheet Z-direction, or out-of-plane direction, the fibers are only reinforced by the resin binding the sheets together. Further, the resin works best when it only has to transmit shear forces between sheets.
Problems arise in the area of through-holes on the rim because compression forces are concentrated at severed fiber ends at the through-hole edges, creating large tensile and shear forces in the resin itself. Ultimately, the high forces cause the resin to shear apart between the laminates, a failure mode known as interlaminar shear or delamination. This creates near infinite stress risers or concentrations at the crack edge between the plies of reinforcing fiber. Any subsequent loading causes the cracks to propagate very quickly. Ultimately, the sheet laminate loses its ability to withstand the compression loading and the laminate around the perimeter of the through-holes buckles. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a rim having 3-dimensional reinforced through-holes.


A contour line characteristic point detecting apparatus arranged so that direction codes of respective tracing points are obtained by contour line data, and then, their directional difference values are found by a directional difference value calculating part. Thus, permutational direction codes are obtained through addition of the directional difference value at the tracing point, to the direction code at the tracing starting point or to the permutational direction code at the previous tracing point by an adder. Thus, by inputting this permutational direction code into a calculation table through delay registers of a plurality of stages, the linear component detection and corner detection can be effected without depending on the directions.

The present invention generally relates to a detecting apparatus, and more particularly, to a contour line characteristic point detecting apparatus for detecting an object by obtaining linear components and corners from contour line tracing data of an image in which edges of the object are represented by lines, in the case where position, attitude, and configuration, etc. of the object are to be found through processing of images picked up by a television camera and the like as in a so-called "robot-vision".
In recent years, the contour line characteristic point detecting method as referred to above has been widely employed for the "robot-vision", "machine-vision" or the like as an effective method for detecting an object.
Hereinbelow, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, one example of the conventional contour line characteristic point detecting method as stated above will be explained.
FIG. 3 shows a contour line L of a binary image, a line image obtained by an edge detection or the like. For respective picture elements constituting such a contour line L, tracing numbers are written for convenience of explanation. Meanwhile, FIG. 4 shows direction code numbers to be used in the explanation. In other words, FIG. 4 shows directions of subsequent tracing picture elements in the picture elements to which attention is directed i.e. in the noticed picture elements, and at each 45.degree. in the clockwise direction, with a horizontal leftward direction being set as 0, directions are indicated by numbers from 0 to 7. Table 1 given below represents steps for extracting linear portions by processing the contour lines shown in FIG. 3.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ (a) Tracing No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ______________________________________ (b) Direction 5 4 4 5 4 4 5 code (c) Smoothing -- -- 22 21 22 22 21 code (d) Average value -- -- 22 21.5 21.67 21.75 21.6 (e) Average value -- -- 0 1 0.5 0.33 0.75 difference (Absolute value) (f) Linear label -- -- 1 1 1 1 1 No. ______________________________________ (a) 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 ______________________________________ (b) 4 4 5 4 4 5 6 6 (c) 22 22 21 22 24 25 28 30 (d) 21.67 21.71 21.63 21.67 24 24.5 28 30 (e) 0.4 0.33 0.71 0.37 2.33 1 3.5 2 (f) 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 4 ______________________________________ (a) 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 ______________________________________ (b) 7 6 6 7 6 6 7 6 (c) 31 32 32 32 32 32 31 32 (d) 30.5 32 32 32 32 32 31.83 31.86 (e) 1 1.5 0 0 0 0 1 0.17 (f) 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 ______________________________________ (a) 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 ______________________________________ (b) 6 7 0 0 7 0 0 7 (c) 26 19 20 14 7 14 14 7 (d) 26 19 19.5 14 7 14 14 7 (e) 5.86 7 1 5.5 7 7 0 7 (f) 6 7 7 8 9 10 10 11 ______________________________________ (a) 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 ______________________________________ (b) 0 0 7 0 0 7 0 0 (c) 14 14 7 14 14 7 -- -- (d) 14 14 7 14 14 7 -- -- (e) 7 0 7 7 0 7 -- -- (f) 12 12 13 14 14 15 -- -- ______________________________________
In the above Table 1, there are provided columns for the tracing numbers (a), direction codes (b), smoothing codes (c), average values (d), average value differences (e), and linear label numbers (f). The smoothing code (c) is obtained through addition of some direction codes (b) before and after the noticed tracing number (a) and the direction code (b) at the noticed point, and here, the smoothing is effected by five tracing points, including two points before and after the noticed tracing number (referred to as the smoothing of tap numbers 5). The average value (d) is obtained by obtaining the total sum of the smoothing codes (c) of the respective tracing points before the noticed tracing point and judged to be of the same straight line and the smoothing code (c) of the noticed tracing point, and dividing the total sum by the number of the tracing points. The average value difference (e) represents the absolute value of the difference between the average value (d) at the tracing points before the noticed tracing point and the smoothing code (c) at the noticed tracing point. The linear label number (f) intends to form into a group, the tracing points regarded to be the same as a result of the linear judgement, in order to detect the linear component. Subsequently, a method of detecting a linear component "a" in FIG. 3 will be explained with reference to Table 1 referred to above. With respect to the tracing numbers 1 and 2, since part of the data to be smoothed is unknown at this time point, they are to be calculated later when the contour line is in a loop, and neglected when it is not in a loop. Thus, in the first place, a linear label number 1 is given to the tracing number 3. Then, a difference between the smoothing code (c) at the tracing number 4 and the average value of the smoothing codes up to the tracing number 3 is obtained, and when the difference is small, the same linear label number 1 as that for the tracing number 3 is given. Thereafter, in the similar manner as above, provided that there is not a large difference between the average value of the smoothing code (c) in the same linear label number prior to the noticed point and the smoothing code (c) at the noticed point, the same linear label number (f) is imparted, with the noticed point regarded as the same straight line. Specifically, in the above case, when the difference between the average value (d) and the smoothing code (c) is smaller than 1, it is regarded to be of the same straight line.
At the tracing number 12, since the average value difference is 2.33, thus exceeding 1, another linear label number 2 is given and the average value is started to be newly calculated.
If the above result is regarded as the linear component when the number of the same linear label number exceeds a predetermined number, the linear component "a" is to be detected. In the similar manner, the linear component "b" is also detected as the linear label number 5.
The practice as described so far is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication Tokkohei No. 2-8347 as a method of separating images according to modes.
In the above conventional method, however, if it is intended to detect the linear component "c" in FIG. 3, in the case where the direction codes are displaced between 0 and 7 as represented by the tracing numbers 27 to 37 in Table 1, the linear component can not be detected, since the correct smoothing code is not obtained due to formation of level difference therein.
Meanwhile, when the smoothing code is to be calculated by software, in order to avoid the problem as described above, there is such a practice that in the presence of displacement between 0 and 7 in the direction code data, the total sum is obtained after addition of the direction code dividing number 8 to the direction codes larger than 0 and smaller than 3, and remainder of dividing thereof by a value obtained through multiplication of the dividing number by the smoothing tap number (40 in the case where the tap number is 5), is used as the smoothing code. However, the above practice also has such disadvantages that the calculating time is increased, and upon realization thereof by hardware, the circuit scale becomes undesirably large.
Another main disadvantage inherent in the above practice is such that, in the case where filtering such as smoothing is to be effected by a comparatively large number of taps, correct result can not be obtained in the data in which the direction code turns by more than one round.

Contour line characteristic point detecting apparatus

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Automatic transfer switch for switching an electrical load between two power sources. In one example, the automatic transfer switch includes four latching relays and an electronic controller. A first power source line connection is connected to an electrical load line connection via a first latching relay. A first power source neutral connection is connected to an electrical load neutral connection via a second latching relay. A second power source line connection is connected to the electrical load line connection via a third latching relay. A second power source neutral connection is connected to the electrical load neutral connection via a fourth latching relay. The electronic controller connects the second power source to the electrical load when a voltage of the first power source is less than a first threshold, and connects the first power source to the electrical load when the voltage is greater than a second threshold.

The disclosure relates to systems and methods of switching an electrical load (for example, a lighting load) between primary and backup power sources.
Power distribution systems for critical electrical devices (such as emergency lighting) often include a primary power source and a backup power source. These power distribution systems include automatic transfer switches which automatically switch the electrical devices to the backup power source when the primary power source fails. General-purpose automatic transfer switches that are designed to comply with electrical safety standards (such as those typically used for feeder circuits) are large and expensive. Smaller conventional automatic transfer switches (such as those used for branch circuits) often do not comply with current electrical safety standards such as National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 1008, and the like.


The outer rotor-type blushless motor comprises: a stator including a cylindrical housing, a stator core having stator pole teeth and a bearing coaxially incorporated in a cylindrical hole of the hosing; and a rotor including a rotor yoke, a rotor hub provided to the rotor yoke and a rotor shaft rotatably supported by the bearing. A first resin washer, through which the rotor shaft is pierced and which contacts an end face of the rotor hub, and a second resin washer, which contacts an end face of the bearing incorporated in a center hole of the stator core, contact each other. The second resin washer has an elastic projected section fitted in a concave section formed in the center hole of the stator core.

A conventional outer rotor-type DC brushless motor will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3A-4.
Firstly, a structure of a stator 50 will be explained with reference to FIG. 3A. An oil-impregnated sintered bearing 52, which is formed into a cylindrical shape, is coaxially provided in a center hole 51a of a cylindrical housing 51. A stator core 53, in which a plurality of pole teeth 53a are radially outwardly extended and coils 54 are respectively formed on the pole teeth 53a, is attached on an outer circumferential face of one end part of the housing 51. In the stator core 53, each of the coils 54 is formed by winding a copper wire on each of the pole teeth 53a coated with and electrically insulated by a resin film. A mounting plate 55 is fixed on the outer circumferential face of the other end part of the housing 51 by press fit or caulking. A motor driving circuit board 56 is provided on the mounting plate 55. A sensor (not shown) including a Hall element is mounted on the mounting plate 56.
Next, a structure of a rotor 57 will be explained with reference to FIG. 3A. One end part of a rotor shaft 58 is fixed to a rotor hub 59, which is formed by pressing a metal plate, e.g., brass plate, by press fit. A rotor yoke 60, which is formed into a cup shape, is integrally attached to the rotor hub 59 by caulking. A ring magnet 61, in which a plurality of magnetic poles are arranged in the circumferential direction, is fixed on an inner circumferential face of the rotor yoke 60. After assembling the stator 50, the rotor shaft 58 of the rotor 57 is inserted into the oil-impregnated sintered bearing 52. The pole teeth 53a and the magnet 61 are faced each other. Since the rotor shaft 58 is rotatably supported by the oil-impregnated sintered bearing 52, the rotor 57 can be rotated with respect to the housing 51.
Since the rotor shaft 58 of the rotor 57 is supported by the oil-impregnated sintered bearing 52 incorporated in the center hole 51a of the housing 51, a vertical load of the rotor 57 is received by a pair of metal or resin washers, or a combination of a metal washer and a resin washer, which are provided between the rotor hub 59 and the oil-impregnated sintered bearing 52.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, a first resin washer 62 is provided on an end face of the rotor hub 59, and a second resin washer 63 is provided on an end face of the oil-impregnated sintered bearing 52. With this structure, directly sliding the end face of the rotor hub 59 on the end face of the oil-impregnated sintered bearing 52 can be avoided. The first resin washer 62 and the second resin washer 63 are ring-shaped resin washers having high slidability and high abrasion resistance. Therefore, the first resin washer 62 and the second resin washer 63 slide on each other while rotating the rotor 57, so that abrasion of the oil-impregnated sintered bearing 52 can be prevented (see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publications No. 7-15907, No. 2007-247663 and No. 2008-312286).
However, the first resin washer 62 shown in FIG. 3B is press-fitted to the rotor shaft 58 and placed on the lower end face of the rotor hub 58. On the other hand, the second resin washer 63, whose outer diameter is smaller than an inner diameter of the center hole of the housing 51, is inserted in the center hole and placed on the upper end face of the oil-impregnated sintered bearing 52.
With this structure, in some cases, the first resin washer 62 is rotated together with the second resin washer 63 by the rotation of the rotor 57. Especially, the first resin washer 62 and the second resin washer 63 will be stuck on each other by surface tension of oil included in the oil-impregnated sintered bearing 52, so the first resin washer 62 and the second resin washer 63 will be easily integrally rotated. By integrally rotating the first resin washer 62 and the second resin washer 63, the second resin washer 63 slides on the end face of the oil-impregnated sintered bearing 52, and an outer circumferential face of the second resin washer 63 slides on an inner circumferential face of the housing 51. Therefore, sludge or abrasion powders, which are formed by the sliding actions, invade into the center hole of the housing 51, so the rotor shaft 58 will be abraded and decentered and a span of life of the oil-impregnated sintered bearing 52 will be shortened.
Note that, in the conventional technology disclosed in said Japanese Laid-open Patent Publications No. 7-15907, No. 2007-247663 and No. 2008-312286, two or more washers are stuck, on the bearing, in the thrust direction. Therefore, number of parts must be increased, a production cost must be increased and assembling efficiency must be lowered.
In case that the second resin washer 63 is a ring-shaped washer having two projected sections 63a and that concave sections 51a facing the projected sections 63a are formed in an inner wall of the housing 51 as shown in FIG. 4, the integrated rotation of the first and second ring washers 62 and 63 can be prevented. However, the inner wall of the housing 51 must be cut, so a production cost must be increased.
Further, the second resin washer 63 is formed into the non-circular shape. Therefore, in case that the second resin washer 63 is detached from the center hole of the housing 51 by surface tension of the lubricant oil when the rotor 57 is lifted in the axial direction by an external load or a treatment in an examination step, the second resin washer 63 cannot always correctly fitted into the center hole of the housing 51. Therefore, there is a possibility that the projected sections 63a of the second resin washer 63 are not fitted into the concave sections 51a of the housing 51. If the projected sections 63a are not fitted into the concave sections 51a, abrasion of the bearing 52 cannot be prevented.


The present document relates an audio encoding and decoding system (referred to as an audio codec system). In particular, the present document relates to a transform-based audio codec system which is particularly well suited for voice encoding/decoding. A quantization unit configured to quantize a first coefficient of a block of coefficients is described. The block of coefficients comprises a plurality of coefficients for a plurality of corresponding frequency bins. The quantization unit is configured to provide a set of quantizers. The set of quantizers comprises a plurality of different quantizers associated with a plurality of different signal-to-noise ratios, referred to as SNR, respectively. The plurality of different quantizers includes a noise-filling quantizer; one or more dithered quantizers; and one or more un-dithered quantizers. The quantization unit is further configured to determine an SNR indication indicative of a SNR attributed to the first coefficient, and to select a first quantizer from the set of quantizers, based on the SNR indication. In addition, the quantization unit is configured to quantize the first coefficient using the first quantizer.

General purpose perceptual audio coders achieve relatively high coding gains by using transforms such as the Modified Discrete Cosine Transform (MDCT) with block sizes of samples which cover several tenths of milliseconds (e.g. 20 ms). An example for such a transform-based audio codec system is Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) or High Efficiency (HE)-AAC. However, when using such transform-based audio codec systems for voice signals, the quality of voice signals degrades faster than that of musical signals towards lower bitrates, especially in the case of dry (non-reverberant) speech signals.
The present document describes a transform-based audio codec system which is particularly well suited for the coding of speech signals. Furthermore, the present document describes a quantization schemes which may be used in such a transform-based audio codec system. Various different quantization schemes may be used in conjunction with transform-based audio codec systems. Examples are vector quantization (e.g., Twin vector quantization), distribution preserving quantization, dithered quantization, scalar quantization with a random offset, and scalar quantization combined with a noise-fill (e.g., the quantizer described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,447,631). These different quantization schemes have various advantages and disadvantages with regards to one or more of the following attributes:                operational (encoder) complexity, which typically includes the computational complexity of quantization and of generation of the bitstream (e.g., variable length coding);        perceptual performance, which may be estimated based on theoretical considerations (rate-distortion performance) and based on features of the associated noise-filling behavior (e.g. at bit-rates that are practically relevant to low-rate transform coding of speech);        complexity of the bit-rate allocation process in the presence of an overall bit-rate constraint (e.g., maximum number of bits); and/or        flexibility with regards to enabling different data-rates and different distortion levels.
In the present document, a quantization scheme is described which addresses at least some of the above mentioned attributes. In particular, a quantization scheme is described which provides improved performance with regards to some or all of the above mentioned attributes.


A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system according to one embodiment includes a reader having a receive antenna in communication therewith, and a plurality of transmitters in communication with the reader and spatially separated from the reader. Methods of use are also presented.

Automatic identification ("Auto-ID") technology is used to help machines identify objects and capture data automatically. One of the earliest Auto-ID technologies was the bar code, which uses an alternating series of thin and wide hands that can be digitally interpreted by an optical scanner. This technology gained widespread adoption and near-universal acceptance with the designation of the Universal Product Code ("UPC")—a standard governed by an industry-wide consortium called the Uniform Code Council. Formally adopted in 1973, the UPC is one of the most ubiquitous symbols present on virtually all manufactured goods today and has allowed for enormous efficiency in the tracking of goods through the manufacturing, supply, and distribution of various goods.
However, the bar code still requires manual interrogation by a human operator to scan each tagged object individually with a scanner. This is a line-of-sight process that has inherent limitations in speed and reliability. In addition, the UPC bar codes only allow for manufacturer and product type information to be encoded into the barcode, not the unique item's serial number. The bar code on one milk carton is the same as every other, making it impossible to count objects or individually check expiration dates, much less find one particular carton of many.
Currently, retail items are marked with barcode labels. These printed labels have over 40 "standard" layouts, can be mis-printed, smeared, mis-positioned and mis-labeled. In transit, these outer labels are often damaged or lost. Upon receipt, the pallets typically have to be broken-down and each case scanned into an enterprise system. Error rates at each point in the supply chain have been 4-18% thus creating a billion dollar inventory visibility problem. However, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) allows the physical layer of actual goods to automatically be tied into software applications, to provide accurate tracking.
The emerging RFID technology employs a Radio Frequency (RF) wireless link and ultra-small embedded computer chips, to overcome these barcode limitations. RFID technology allows physical objects to be identified and tracked via these wireless "tags". It functions like a bar code that communicates to the reader automatically without needing manual line-of-sight scanning or singulation of the objects.
A problem frequently encountered is that of "hot" tags. Because tags communicate with the reader by backscattering the carrier signal, those tags very close to a reader create a very strong backscatter that can interfere with communications between other tags and readers located far away. Two types of interference, or "jamming", are prevalent: forward link jamming and backscatter jamming. Consider a situation in which passive tag-1 is located 0.5 meters from Reader #1. The communications therebetween include the forward link from the reader to tag, and the backscatter signal from the tag to the reader. The maximum effective range of Reader #1 is 10 m. Passive tag-2 is located 10 meters from Reader #2. Readers #1 and #2 are located 200 meters apart. A "hot" tag-1 located only 0.5 meter from Reader #1 will generate backscatter 400 times greater at 0.5 m than it would at the 10 m maximum range of the reader, as calculated by (max range/actual distance)2=(10/0.5)2=400×. As will soon become apparent, tag-1 generates so much backscatter that it can jam communications between tag-2 and Reader #2, even though both tag-2 and Reader #2 are located 200 meters away from tag-1. In fact, for acceptable communications, Reader #2 would need to be located over 600 meters from tag-1 and/or Reader #1 based on square-law attenuation of RF energy over distance in free space, as calculated by the following equation:D=a×b×(d2/d1)   Equation 1where:
D is the distance between Reader #1 and Reader #2,
a is the extra distance necessary to provide a minimum "tag-2 to tag-1 signal to noise ratio" of at least 10 db (which is a typical minimum ratio that allows tag-2 to successfully communicate with Reader #1) [value can vary depending on system and environmental situation],
b is the maximum effective range of Reader #1,
d2 is the distance between tag-2 and Reader #2, and
d1 is the distance between tag-1 and Reader #1.
Performing the calculation, 3×10×(10/0.5)=600 meters. This is unacceptable in situations where multiple readers may be present in close proximity, as in a shopping mall. In the US, there are about 50 channels available to RFID systems. In Europe, there are currently only 10 channels. Accordingly, as RFID becomes more prevalent, readers will be using the same channels and will be using the same frequency, and the "hot tag" problem will become a serious issue that must be overcome.
Using long-range Class-3 tags and readers makes this "hot tag" problem even worse. For example, a "hot" Class-3 tag-3 located 0.5 m from Reader #3 running at a full 4 Watt (W) Effective Incident Radiated Power (EIRP) power can jam a Class-3 tag-4 located 100 meters from Reader #4 at a range of 60,000 meters in free space, where D=3×100×(100/0.5)=60,000 meters. In English units, this "hot tag" can jam every reader operating in its channel at a range of up to 40 miles away (in free space).
One proposed solution is to have the tag detect its own incident power. If the tag detects a strong signal, it will attenuate its own backscatter. However, this adds complexity and cost to each and every tag, making it cost prohibitive.
What is needed is a cost effective and efficient way to both dramatically reduce the severity of the hot tag backscatter problem and also reduce reader-to-reader interference in the forward link as well.

RFID system with distributed transmitters


A hydraulic vibration isolator with sub-orifices having each rubber valve is provided, such that is aimed at ensuring a sufficient orifice length for a main orifice (22). An intermediate cylinder (32) disposed between an inner and an outer cylinders (12, 14) is comprised of fitting peripheral walls (34, 36) at both ends and joining walls (38, 40) between them; a first and a second liquid chambers (18, 20) are delimited by a vibration-isolating base body (16) interconnecting the joining walls and the inner cylinder; the fitting peripheral walls and the inner cylinder are interconnected by end walls (42) of rubber-like elastomer, and orifice-forming parts (44, 46) are provided on the outer surface sides of the joining walls. At the orifice-forming parts, a channel (50) having a first rubber valve (24) forming a first sub-orifice (26), a channel (56) having a second rubber valve (28) forming a second sub-orifice (30), and fitting recessed portions (48, 54) are provided. In the first and second liquid chambers, main orifice-forming members (60, 70) having respective channels (64, 74) on their outer peripheral surfaces are disposed, and fitting protrusions (66, 68, 76, 78) on both ends thereof are fitted in the fitting recessed portions, whereby the main orifice through which both liquid chambers communicate is formed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a hydraulic vibration isolation device and more particularly, to such a hydraulic vibration isolation device that abrupt hydraulic pressure fluctuation between two liquid chambers can be alleviated by flowing the liquid through by opening and dosing of orifices each equipped with a rubber valve.
2. Description of the Related Art
For a hydraulic vibration isolation device of this type, WO 03/033936 A1 discloses the one which comprises an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder, a vibration-isolating base body made of rubber-like elastomer interposed between both cylinders, an intermediate cylinder, a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber provided to interpose the inner cylinder on both sides thereof, a main orifice bringing both liquid chambers into communication with each other, a first sub-orifice for flowing the liquid only from the first liquid chamber to the second liquid chamber through a first rubber valve, and a second sub-orifice for flowing the liquid only from the second liquid chamber to the first liquid chamber through a second rubber valve, wherein the intermediate cylinder includes a pair of ring-like fitting peripheral walls on axially both ends thereof to which the outer cylinder is fitted, and a pair of joining walls situated to interpose the center axis of the intermediate cylinder and joining the pair of fitting peripheral walls, and the first sub-orifice and the second sub-orifice are formed on sides of outer peripheral surfaces of the joining walls.
In this hydraulic vibration isolation device, when the hydraulic pressure difference between the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber is below a preset value, the first rubber valve and the second rubber valve retain a dosing state and the liquid fluidizes within the main orifice, by fluidization action of which a damping force is exhibited and vibration is absorbed. On the other hand, when the hydraulic pressure difference reaches the preset value and for instance, the hydraulic pressure on the first liquid chamber side is higher, the first rubber valve is resiliently deformed to open owing to the hydraulic pressure and the liquid flows through the second sub-orifice from the second liquid chamber to the first liquid chamber. Thereby the hydraulic pressure of the second liquid chamber is depressed and durability of the rubber wall forming the second liquid chamber is prevented from lowering.
Heretofore the aforesaid main orifice has been configured merely by forming an orifice channel in the rubber portion provided on each of the outer peripheral face sides of the joining walls and covering the orifice channel with the outer cylinder.
According to the conventional configuration described above, because the main orifice was provided on the outer peripheral face sides of the joining walls of the intermediate cylinder, it was difficult to ensure a sufficient orifice length accommodated to the vibration isolating characteristics as required. In particular, with the above-mentioned vibration isolating device, the first sub-orifice and the second sub-orifice as well as the main orifice were formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the joining walls and consequently, it was unable to ensure a sufficient space to form the main orifice.


Intelligent delegation of codes for mapping between versions of a classification system includes a method for receiving data that is classified with a first code. The first code is defined by a first version of the classification system, and the first code is to be re-classified to a second code that is defined by a second version of the classification system. The method also includes searching a database of profiles for content that matches at least a portion of the data, sending the data to a converter system having one of the profiles that is associated with the content responsive to the searching, and receiving, from the converter system, a mapping of the first code to the second code. The method further includes updating a database of codes with results of the mapping.

The present invention relates to data processing and, more specifically, to intelligent resolution of codes in a classification system.
Code mapping is generally a manual process in which one or more individuals are tasked with associating codes defined by one version of a classification system to codes defined by a different version of the classification system, or alternatively, converting codes between two different classification systems. One example of a classification system is the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), which is an international standard diagnostic classification system for epidemiological use, as well as health management and clinical use purposes. This classification system has been recently updated from version 9 (ICD-9) to version 10 (ICD-10).
Migrating between classification systems or between versions of any classification system can be time consuming and error prone, particularly when the data used in the mapping process is ambiguous. Using the ICD example above, there are multiple structural changes and exponential increases in the number and possible combinations of codes between version ICD-9 and version ICD-10. For example, version ICD-9 employs approximately 18,000 diagnostic and procedure codes, while version ICD-10 employs about 141,000 diagnostic and procedure codes. This increase in the number of codes is due, in part, to the level of detail added in the ICD-10 version with respect to clinical descriptions of signs, symptoms, conditions, and procedures.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Intelligent resoluton of codes in a classification system

International Business Machines Corporation


A plurality of component holder members for a purse, each having a base plate arranged at one or both sides pockets or cases for carrying any of credit cards, bank cards, calling cards, commutation tickets, a driver's license, coins, banknotes, etc. and provided at one edge with joints, are applicable and a desired number of them can be joined together with a binder through their joints in order to form a particular configuration of the purse which is required by a user.

The present invention relates to a purse which comprises a combination of pocket holder members for carrying articles such as credit cards, bank cards, calling cards, coins, banknotes, commutation tickets, a driver's license, etc.
A conventional purse has compartments and pockets formed in a fixed combination for holding coins, banknotes, credit cards, and the like separately.
Hence, it is necessary for purse manufacturers to provide different types of the conventional purses to offer every user a choice. This requires the implementation of multiple-items and small-lot production and will result in high cost and low productivity. Also, the different purse types to be offered are limited in number and will hardly satisfy the users' demands.


A machine for injecting liquids. An air booster pump is adapted to receive injectate. The air booster pump is in fluid communication with one or more heads having apertures for nozzles. A hollow tube is preferably, but not necessarily, located within each head and is in fluid communication with the air booster pump. Injectate flows from the air booster pump into the head, preferably through the apertures in the wall of the hollow tube. Preferably, but not necessarily, the head is designed so that upon installation one point of the inside of the head will be at the highest elevation. Near such point the head has an escape aperture so that any gas within the injectate that enters the head will tend to flow to and through such escape aperture. Furthermore, a return line preferably, but not necessarily, takes injectate that flows through the escape aperture to the low-pressure side of the air booster pump. And also, a drain, in a work surface to which the head is preferably, but not necessarily, mounted, preferably, but not necessarily, reclaims injectate and transports it to the low-pressure side of the air booster pump. Filters exist for the injectate; a main injectate filter can preferably be replaced while the Machine is operating. And the Machine preferably includes a computer device for controlling its components and operation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a machine for injecting liquids into materials having the consistency of foodstuffs.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,237 of Deloy G. Hendricks and Conly L. Hansen provides an apparatus for the needleless injection of injectate into meat.
According to lines 33 through 40 in column 4 of that patent, xe2x80x9c[A] nozzle injection apparatus causes the injectate to travel from a reservoir under pressure through a valve and out of a nozzle. Sufficient pressure must be provided such that the injectate can travel completely through the cut of met, if desired. At the same time, temperature controls must be provided so that the injectate leaves the nozzle at a temperature within a desired temperature range.xe2x80x9d
Lines 41 through 48 of column 6 and lines 3 through 26 of column 7 consistently explain:
xe2x80x9c . . . The injection apparatus 10 will, in most cases, include a temperature control feature, such as a water bath 12, for controlling the temperature of the fluid to be injected (xe2x80x9cinjectatexe2x80x9d). The actual injectate fluid will be contained within reservoir 14 disposed within the confines of water bath 12. It is crucial that the temperature be controlled within certain ranges in order to provide for proper injection.
xe2x80x9cThe apparatus of the present invention also includes a pump 16 and an adjustable relief valve 18 or pressure control assembly. Thus, the injectate can be pumped in a controlled manner from the reservoir through a nozzle assembly 20.
xe2x80x9cAlso useful in the present apparatus is an electric solenoid valve 22, which may be placed in communication with an adjustable timer to control duration of the bursts of injectate. Thus, the volume of injectate can be carefully controlled as can the amount of injectate which leaves the system. This apparatus can then be connected to a starter and relay to operate the valve 22.
xe2x80x9cThe injection apparatus will include a nozzle assembly 20. The nozzle assembly will function to direct the injectate in the proper direction and to maintain the stream of injectate at the proper volume. The nozzle assembly 20 may include a plurality of individual nozzles 24.
xe2x80x9cThe various components of the apparatus are placed in fluid communication by lines including recycle line 26 , a feed line 28, and reservoir line 30.
xe2x80x9cFinally, the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 9 includes an injection table 32 to provide support for the meat being injected.xe2x80x9d
U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,528 of Yoshihiko Tanaka et al. discloses another apparatus for the needleless injection of injectate into meat, which it terms a xe2x80x9cpickle injector.xe2x80x9d This patent asserts, on line 66 of column 9 through line 8 of column 10:
xe2x80x9cThe pickle injector of the invention is a device for injecting the liquid substance into the green meat. The pickle injector is provided with a high-pressure liquid generator, a liquid-substance injecting section, and a pressure controller which can control the injection pressure while injecting the liquid substance when the liquid substance is injected from the injecting section to the green meat.xe2x80x9d
xe2x80x9cThe high-pressure liquid generator in the pickle injector the invention may be any mechanism, as long as it can increase the pressure of the liquid substance to a high level . . . xe2x80x9d
No recognition is given in U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,528 is given to the fact that the injectate will be heated by passing through the pump and the pressure controller; nor is there any discussion concerning reclaiming injectate that does not find its way into the meat.
The apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,528 does, however, preferably employ a manifold, as described in line 33 through 60 of column 10:
xe2x80x9c . . . the high-pressure liquid substance is transferred from the high-pressure liquid generator via the high-pressure piping to the injecting section, and it is preferable to use the injecting section which has a member called a manifold for branching a single flow from the high-pressure piping to plural flows. The manifold is preferably placed on the tip end of the injecting section, but can be placed midway in the piping as the case may be.
xe2x80x9cThe injecting section of the conventional high-pressure liquid generator is of a single-hole type or has a form in which the piping in the manifold is branched radially. The present inventors have manufactured a manifold especially suitable for a pickle injector for meat, and a piping in the manifold is branched and the branched pipes are parallelly arranged. Here, the parallel arrangement includes not only the arrangement where the pipes are arranged parallel in a row but also the arrangement where the pipes are arranged zigzag or parallel in multiple rows. By arranging nozzles parallel, a nozzle interval can be narrowed to 10 mm or less, e.g., 5.6 mm for injection. Therefore, a highly dense and uniform injection is feasible. Further preferably used is a manifold which has multiple coherent stream injection nozzles arranged parallel in this manner.
xe2x80x9cWhen the manifold is used, the high-pressure liquid substance is injected as the coherent stream from the nozzle on the tip end of each piping. The liquid substance is injected simultaneously from the parallel arranged nozzles to the green meat. . . . xe2x80x9d
Subsequently, U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,528 explains, in lines 44 through 47 of column 17, xe2x80x9c The liquid substance is injected as a coherent stream from the tip end of the injection nozzle of the manifold 7 in contact with the green meat.xe2x80x9d Thus, the nozzle actually touches the meat, creating an increased risk of contamination.
In lines 42 through 45 of column 18, similar language describes another embodiment. Also for this other embodiment, however, lines 34 through line 36 of column 18 indicate, xe2x80x9cThe manifold 7 is . . . lowered from above to hit against the green meat.xe2x80x9d
Although in lines 10 through 11 of column 17 and in line 16 of column 18, U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,528 states that high-pressure piping 6 is xe2x80x9cconstituted of a flexible hose,xe2x80x9d no purpose is given for this flexibility. Thus, it is logical to assume that the flexibility is for the traditional purpose in high-pressure lines, viz., absorbing forces associated with the pressure that could damage a more rigid line.
Finally, in its Description of the Related Art, U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,528 provides a summary of needleless injectors and related devices.
To the best of the inventors"" knowledge, all previous needleless injectors have utilized pumps, such as positive displacement pumps, which must run continuously in order to maintain the fluid to be used as an injectate under constant high pressure. Heat generated by such continuous operation is transferred to the injectate as it passes through the pump.
Moreover, in the practical implementation of U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,237, once the pressure in the system reached the desired level, a pressure relief valve 18 would prevent the continuously running pump 16 from further raising the pressure. This was accomplished by allowing the injectate to flow from the pump 16, through the pressure relief valve 18, and back to the reservoir 14 that supplied the pump 16 with injectate. A solenoid valve 22 allowed the injectate to flow to the nozzles 24 of the nozzle assembly 20 when desired. The re-circulation of the injectate through the continuously running pump 16 tended to raise the temperature of the injectate even more.
Not only is a cooling system necessary to keep the injectate within the required temperature range, but the added volume in plumbing necessary to provide the recycling and the additional capacity within the reservoir 14 to account for the injectate that is being cooled within the water bath 12 requires a greater quantity of injectate than would otherwise be necessary. This, in turn, mandated the use of a larger pump 16. More energy was required both because of the larger capacity of the pump 16 and because of the continuous operation. And since injectate is purged when it is desired to use another fluid as the injectate, the cost of injectate was higher.
The present inventors recognized the preceding disadvantages of the systems in the prior art and developed a needleless injection apparatus that utilizes one or more commercially available air booster pumps. Such a pump generates less heat by operating only when necessary to maintain a desired pressure.
The Machine also employs a head which preferably, but not necessarily, has injectate introduced into the head through apertures in the walls of a hollow tube inside the head that is in fluid communication with the air booster pump. The head has apertures for one or more nozzles. The apertures are preferably, but not necessarily, designed so that an input end of the nozzle lies within the head at a point with enough distance to the interior of the wall of the head that any particles within the injectate will tend to fall to a level below the input end of the nozzle and not enter and thereby clog the nozzle.
The head is preferably, but not necessarily, designed so that upon installation one point of the inside of the head will be at substantially the highest elevation. Near such point the head has an escape aperture so that any gas within the injectate that enters the head will tend to flow to and through such escape aperture. Furthermore, a return line preferably, but not necessarily, takes injectate that flows through the escape aperture to the low-pressure side of the air booster pump. And also, a drain, in a work surface to which the head is preferably, but not necessarily, mounted, preferably, but not necessarily, reclaims injectate and transports it to the low-pressure side of the air booster pump.
In order to improve performance of the Machine and minimize outgassing from the injectate, either the source of the injectate is pressurized or a pump is inserted between the source and the air booster pump.
Preferably, but not necessarily, a main injectate filter is located between the source of the injectate and the air booster pump; and, preferably, but not necessarily, the design of the Machine permits this main injectate filter can be replaced while the Machine is operating.
A cleaning aperture is preferably, but not necessarily, located in each end of the head.
A conveyor belt is preferably, but not necessarily, in a work surface to which the head or heads are, preferably, but not necessarily, mounted and has an endless belt containing apertures so that the head or heads can be mounted either above or below the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is preferably, but not necessarily, one which may operate at different speeds.
Ozone may be added by the Machine to the injectate or applied to the subject of the injection.
And a computer device preferably, but not necessarily, controls many of the components and functions of the Machine.


An apparatus performs transmission and reception of messages via which a plurality of services coordinate with each other in a message control system. The apparatus integrates a plurality of messages into a first message, based on relationships between message transmission and message reception caused by the plurality of services, and transmits the first message to another information processing device in the message control system. The apparatus receives a second message integrated by another information processing device, and decompose the received second message into messages including a third message. The apparatus further integrates the decomposed third message and a fourth message into a fifth message, and transfers the integrated fifth message to another information processing device.

In recent years, in a cloud service, a service is built on a distributed system that is referred to as a microservice architecture in many cases. Many of microservices are small services, each of which has a single function such as a search function or an authentication function. A service is built by combining a plurality of microservices.
For example, an internet sales service is built by combining five microservices, which are a web interface service, an authentication service, a search service, a shopping service, and a database service in some cases.
As a method of combining microservices, messaging is widely used. The messaging is a method of causing services to communicate a message with each other and coordinate with each other. The messaging is suitable for asynchronous execution in which a message transmitter executes a next process without waiting for message reception by a message receiver.
For example, a room environment service composed of a room temperature monitoring microservice and an air conditioner control microservice is assumed.
The room temperature monitoring microservice converts room temperature information acquired from a temperature sensor into message data in a predetermined format and transmits the message data to the air conditioner control microservice. The room temperature monitoring microservice transmits next temperature information immediately after acquiring the next temperature information, regardless of whether the air conditioner control microservice processes the transmitted message. The transmitted message is stored in a buffer that is referred to as a queue.
The air conditioner control microservice extracts the message from the queue and repeatedly executes a process based on details of the message. For example, upon extracting the message indicating a room temperature of 30 degrees Celsius, the air conditioner control microservice turns on an air conditioner.
Examples of the related art are Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 07-282011 and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2006-31238.

Effective communication of messages based on integration of message flows among multiple services


The present invention relates to a multi-lens monitoring system for bed elevation around a pier according to the present invention comprises a container, a holder, a plurality of photographing units, and a processing module. The container is disposed on the pier; the holder is disposed inside the container; and the plurality of photographing units are disposed on the holder for photographing the bed under water and producing a monitoring image. The processing module is used for activating one of the plurality of photographing units for photographing the bed under water. The processing module also analyzes the monitoring image, gives the elevation variation of the bed, and transmits the elevation variation of the bed to a remote monitoring unit for real-timely monitoring and recording. During the monitoring process, the processing module will change activating one of the plurality of photographing units according to the monitoring image, and hence the electrical power can be saved.

In recent years, wind and flood disasters occur frequently worldwide. The disasters usually swell rivers and creeks, making the foundations of bridge piers be scoured severely and thus exposing the piles of the piers. Consequently, the lateral resistance of a bridge is deficient, which results in tilt or break of the bridge. If the floods are heavy, the piers will be broken directly, and hence collapsing the bridge in a sudden and endangering traffic safety. The situation not only results in traffic breakdown, but also brings a great loss of civilian lives, public properties, and local constructions in a short time. Presently, in order to understand the scouring condition of the bed around a pier and thereby launching immediate early warnings, a monitoring system is developed. Accordingly, the traffic safety can be assured; the secondary injuries owing to bridge break can be avoided; and the lifetime of the bridges can be extended by timely reinforcement and repair. Furthermore, the monitoring data can be recorded in the long term for establishing complete database of pier scouring, which can be used for pier protection and bed remediation in the future.
Currently, the mostly adopted monitoring methods among many related techniques for monitoring pier scouring are described as follows.
Ground-penetrating radar method: This is a non-destructive inspecting technique, which uses high-frequency electromagnetic wave source to transmit radar wave for penetrating various material layers and deducing the elevation variations of the bed. The advantage of the present method is that the elevation variation of the bed can be recorded continuously; while the drawbacks thereof are that the operation is time-consuming and that the professional training is required for operation.
Numbered bricks method: This method uses a brick array composed of a plurality of bricks with fixed size. Each of the bricks is numbered sequentially and marked, and is buried under the bed upstream to the bridge pier. When the floods come, the elevation variations of the bed can be approximated by measuring the displacement and amount of bricks scoured from their original locations. The drawbacks of the present method include the need of digging out the bed and single use only. Besides, only the scoured depth can be measured while the silt depth is not available.
Sliding magnetic collar method: A hollow sliding shaft with an external collar is disposed on the surface of the pier post. When the bed is scoured, the collar will move downward, providing the scouring depth of the specific location. A magnetic sensor is disposed inside the sliding shaft. The magnetic sensor can move synchronously to the external collar and transmit the moving signal outside by using a circuit. The drawback of the present method is that only the scoured depth can be recorded while the silt depth is not available.
Water-level identification using outdoor monitoring lenses: This method extracts the image of the water level under test using an image extraction apparatus. The extracted image is conducted by a series of image process to give the elevation of the water surface. However, the present method cannot monitor pier scouring.
Self-moving lens monitoring method: This method is the Taiwan invention application number 098131157 by the present applicants. According to the method, a hollow container is buried in the bed beside the pier and fixed on the pier. The container includes a photographing apparatus disposed on a carrier for monitoring. A motor is used for controlling vertical movement of the carrier for monitoring the scouring condition of the sand surface. When the sand surface is raised by silting or lowered by scouring, the real-time image identification system can be used for tracking the sand surface. Thereby, both silting and scouring can be detected. The drawbacks of the method include huge power consumption used for controlling the movement of the carrier. In addition, because data are transmitted wirelessly, the transmission quality tends to be interfered by the motor.
Gravity-type scour measurement apparatus: When the sand surface is lowered by scouring, the detector will also sink lower owing to the gravity effect. Thereby the scouring depth can be given by reading the lowered height. The drawback of the apparatus is that only scouring can be detected. Silting cannot be measured.
Radio-transmitter-type scour monitoring system for soil layers: Multiple radio transmitters are buried in the soil layers. When the sand surface is scoured to a certain depth, the radio transmitter will be move or vibrated. Thereby, the scoring condition of the sand surface can be detected. The system's drawback is that only scouring can be detected. Silting cannot be measured.
Optical-fiber sensing system: This is a measurement system using optical-fiber gratings for monitoring. Because a medium attached to the optical fiber changes the internal refractivity of the optical fiber and shifts the wavelength of the internal light, the depth of the medium can be located and deduced. The drawback of the system is that the fragile optical fiber has to be attached directly to water or sand surface, and hence the optical fiber tends to be damaged.
According to the monitoring methods mostly adopted currently as described above, it is known that how to monitor the scouring condition of the bed around a pier in a better method for extending the lifetime of a bridge is a major subject at present.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a multi-lens monitoring system for bed elevation around a pier, which can solve the drawbacks according to the prior art and can real-timely monitor the elevation variations of the bed around the pier.

Multi-lens monitoring system for bed elevation around a pier


The present invention relates to a joint mechanism connected to at least two supporting components of a supporting device. The joint mechanism includes a first joint component connected to one of the at least two supporting components, a second joint component connected to the other of the at least two supporting components and pivoted to the first joint component, and a triggering component movably connected to the first joint component for selectively engaging with or separating from the second joint component. The joint mechanism facilitates folding or unfolding the supporting device. The present invention further relates to the supporting device with the joint mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a joint component and a supporting device therewith, and more especially, to a joint component and a supporting device therewith with convenient and easy operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are different kinds of infant carriers in the market, such as a traditional weaving basket and a carrier adapting to a child safety seat in vehicle. An infant carrier shows its excellence and applicability as moving a child by hand or by vehicles. It can solve a problem of being unable to put down a baby even though a career feels tired as carrying baby in arms or that the baby is too little to be fastened by a seatbelt or other fasten belt. It is convenient for parents in taking the child outdoors as using the infant carrier.
However, the infant carrier needs to be put on a particular infant carriage or a particular supporting device. There are many kinds of the infant carriers, and each supporting device is adapting to one certain kind of the infant carrier accordingly. Besides, it is inconvenient to fold the supporting device, and the folded supporting device is not able to stand so as to be carried inconveniently. The conventional mechanical design of the supporting device brings limitation in using the supporting device. Therefore, it is a significant issue to solve these problems.

Joint mechanism and supporting device therewith


A method for determining local defocus distance in a scanned image of a non-planar original object is provided comprising scanning at least a portion of the non-planar original object to produce first scanned image data at a first focal plane and scanning same the at least a portion of the non-planar original object to produce at least second scanned image data at a second focal plane. The first scanned image data is different from the second scanned image data wherein a distance between the first focal plane and the second focal plane is a predetermined quantity. The method further comprises estimating an out-of-focus distance of the object from the first and the second scanned image data.

Scanning a bound book, or other non-planar objects, using a conventional document scanner can result in three image quality defects: geometric distortion, illumination variation, and defocus. The present disclosure relates to the art of digital imaging. It finds particular application in conjunction with estimating local defocus distance and correcting defocus blur and geometric distortion in a scanned image of a bound book, and will be described with particular reference thereto. It is to be appreciated, however, that the disclosure will also find application in conjunction with correction of defocus blur and geometric distortions in other three-dimensional objects on a variety of image acquisition and output devices, such as scanners, xerographic copiers and printers.
Optical systems in document scanners and scanning copiers, such as a Selfoc® lens systems and conventional optical systems, possess a depth of field over which the optical system produces an image that meets resolution and distortion specifications. Conventionally, when a book or other bound, multi-page original is scanned by the scanner, the resulting digital image contains geometric distortions and blurring in the region adjacent the non-planar areas. In other words, portions of certain non-planar original objects, such as books, wrinkled sheets, and three-dimensional objects, may lie outside the depth of field of the imaging system. For these originals, the distance between the original object and the ideal object plane, e.g. the scanner platen surface, varies from point to point which may cause a spatially varying blur in the acquired image. In addition to blurring, geometric distortion and illumination falloff often occur due to the varying defocus distance across the original being scanned.
One solution to the above problem is to modify the platen to have a sloping edge portion whereby the bound portion of the book, or other original object, is placed in a corner position such that the entire surface of the page being copied is in close contact with the platen surface. This system suffers from a limited magnification range because of restriction on scanned component movement near the sloping corner edge. In addition, operability and production are limited by the inability to perform a "split scan," where both pages of a book are scanned without repositioning.
Another solution to the defocus blurring and geometric distortion problems employ an infrared distance sensor to determine the object defocus distance. In this method the plurality of sensed object defocus distances are used in a subsequent digital restoration algorithm. Another prior art technique uses one or more standard reference targets in order to determine the defocus or degraded states of specific scanner systems. The scanned image is then filtered with a fixed or time-varying image restoration filter, which utilizes correction coefficients pre-selected for the state of defocus or degradation. In addition, profile detectors have been inserted into the scanning system in order to measure the defocus distance of an object by using a reference image plane of the scanning system. The above techniques suffer from the disadvantage of additional required component costs as well as unwanted image processing complexity.

Method for estimation of image defocus and defocus restoration


A device for DNA repair phototherapy is provided. A method of use for the device to provide DNA phototherapy to damaged DNA is also disclosed.

Red light exposure can have phototherapeutic effects on skin cells and other biological cells and tissues affected by UV damage. However, existing methods and devices using red light in DNA phototherapy have not identified the proper duration, intensity, or delivery mechanisms for optimal DNA repair. If the radiant intensity of the red light is too low, then exposure is inadequate and the repair biomarkers are not activated. Conversely, prolonged exposure to excessive electromagnetic radiation only furthers DNA damage. Moreover, in the context of skin treatment, excessive radiant intensity can burn tissue or have carcinogenic side effects.
Thus, there is a need for a device and methods of use that provide safe, effective, and targeted red light DNA phototherapy.

Methods and device for stimulating DNA repair

The Regents of the University of California


An ultrahigh molecular weight polymer, such as ultrahigh molecular weight polyisobutylene, is used as an additive to enhance the coating properties of a solvent. The polyisobutylene has a molecular weight of at least 2.5-3.0 million daltons, preferably greater than about 6 daltons, and is provided in a preferred concentration of 0.05 to 0.3%. The solvent can be a medicinal grade mineral oil. Other suitable solvents include hydrocarbon oil and low viscosity, synthetic compositions. In all cases, the coating properties of the solvent are greatly enhanced by the addition of ultrahigh molecular weight polyisobutylene. In another aspect of the invention, ultrahigh molecular weight polyisobutylene is used as an additive to enhance the viscoelasticity of a mineral oil based sunscreen formulation. In still another aspect of the invention, the fibers of a fabric material are coated with an ultrahigh molecular weight polymer to greatly strengthen the fabric. Other applications include improved automobile polishes and paint sealers, rust removers, and leather treatments.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to coatings and, more specifically, to the use of an ultrahigh molecular weight polymer as an additive for coating and protective products.
2. Description of the Related Art
Polymeric additives, such as polyisobutylene, are known to improve certain properties of coatings. High molecular weight, however, is viewed as a liability because shear degradation can destroy qualities imparted to a coating by the polymer additive, especially when very low concentrations of polymer are used in the product. Moreover, ultrahigh molecular weight polymers, such as polyisobutylene, are exceedingly difficult to put into solution, especially in viscous hydrocarbon oils, at even very low concentrations, without excessive shear degradation. Thus, up to now, high concentrations of relatively low molecular weight polymers, such as low molecular weight polyisobutylene, have been used as coating additives.
The inventors have discovered, unexpectedly, that very low concentrations of ultrahigh molecular weight polymer, such as ultrahigh molecular weight polyisobutylene, serves as an excellent additive for coating purposes. For example, a medicinal grade mineral oil or other solvent can be transformed from a poor coating material to a much better than average coating material through the addition of less than one percent ultrahigh molecular weight polyisobutylene, and no other additives are required. Both the solvent and the polymer are nontoxic, and the resulting product likewise is nontoxic.
More specifically, the present invention is a method of using an ultrahigh molecular weight polymer, preferably ultrahigh molecular weight polyisobutylene, as an additive to enhance the coating properties of a solvent.
The ultra-high molecular weight polymer, preferably polyisobutylene, used in the present invention has a molecular weight of at least about 2.5-3.0 million daltons, preferably greater than about 6 million daltons, and is provided in a concentration in the final product of about 0.05 to about 5 percent. Commercially available ultrahigh molecular weight polyisobutylene, such as BASF Oppanol B-246 can be used, for example. Polymers useful in the present invention currently are being developed which have increasingly higher molecular weights, some in excess of 10 million daltons, and at least one has been developed with a molecular weight as high as 50 million daltons. Such polymers are expected to be commercially available, and are considered to be within the scope of the invention.
As stated above, the solvent can be a medicinal grade mineral oil. Other suitable solvents include hydrocarbon oil and synthetic compositions. In all cases, the coating properties of the solvent are greatly enhanced by the addition of ultrahigh molecular weight polyisobutylene.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a coating product is provided that contains a solution of a solvent of an ultrahigh molecular weight polymer, again preferably ultrahigh molecular weight polyisobutylene having a molecular weight and provided in the concentrations described above. Again, the solvent can be a medicinal grade mineral oil, a hydrocarbon oil or any synthetic composition.
In yet another aspect of the invention, an ultrahigh molecular weight polymer, preferably ultrahigh molecular weight polyisobutylene, is used as an additive to enhance the coating properties of a mineral oil-based sunscreen formulation. In still another aspect of the invention, the fibers of a fabric material are coated with an ultrahigh molecular weight polymer to greatly strengthen the fabric.
Additional examples of the present invention include, for example, metal, non-metal, rubber, ceramic, glass, fabric, and wood treatment products. The products are produced by dissolving high and ultrahigh molecular weight polymers, particularly polyisobutylene, in other solvents and additives.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.

High molecular weight polymer additive for coating and protective products


A starting clutch control device controls such that the transmission torque capacity of a starting clutch (clutch torque) becomes a value required to transmit a torque equal to an engine absorption torque at the time of power-off running. A control of gradually increasing a clutch torque is carried out with a delay after an accelerator pedal is depressed during power-off running, to thereby prevent the occurrence of surging vibrations when an accelerator pedal is abruptly depressed during power-off running.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle starting clutch control device in which the transmission torque capacity of a starting clutch can arbitrarily be controlled by an actuator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, disclosed as a control device of this type in JP-B-6-67695 is a vehicle starting clutch control device for controlling an actuator so that the transmission torque capacity of a starting clutch becomes a value required to transmit a torque equal to an engine absorption torque corresponding to the then engine speed at the time of power-off running where the accelerator pedal is not substantially depressed. According to this control device, being different from a control device in which the starting clutch is kept in a complete engaged condition at the time of power-off running as well as power-on running, the starting clutch can be momentarily disengaged so as to prevent the engine stall when the brakes are applied abruptly.
With the aforesaid conventional control device, when the accelerator pedal is depressed abruptly during power-off running the transmission torque capacity of the starting clutch is controlled to gradually increase in order to shift the starting clutch to a completely engaged condition. However, the output torque of the engine does not build up as soon as the accelerator pedal is depressed, and the transmission torque capacity of the starting clutch has increased to some extent during this delay of response. Then, in a case where the above conventional art is applied to the control of a starting clutch for a normal manual transmission which comprises a mechanical friction clutch, drive torque for the drive wheels builds up abruptly through transmission of torque via the starting clutch when the output of the engine builds up, whereby there may be a risk that surging vibrations (longitudinal vibrations) are generated in the body of the vehicle.
The present invention was made in view of the above situation, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle starting clutch control device which can prevent the generation of surging vibrations when the accelerator pedal is abruptly depressed during power-off running.
With a view to attaining the object, according to the invention, there is provided a vehicle starting clutch control device for arbitrarily controlling a transmission torque capacity of a starting clutch through an actuator, said vehicle starting clutch control device comprising:
first control means for controlling said actuator so that said starting clutch is put in a state in which said starting clutch completely transmits the output torque of an engine at the time of power-on running with an accelerator pedal being depressed;
second control means for controlling said actuator so that the transmission torque capacity of said starting clutch becomes a value required to transmit a torque equal to an engine absorption torque corresponding to the engine speed at the time of power-off running without said accelerator pedal being depressed;
third control means for controlling said actuator so that the transmission torque capacity of said starting clutch gradually increases to shift said starting clutch to a state in which said starting clutch completely transmits the output torque of said engine when said accelerator pedal is depressed during power-off running; and
delay means for delaying the start of control based on said third control means until a predetermined time after said accelerator pedal is depressed.
According to the aspect of the invention, the time when the third control means starts to control to gradually increase the transmission torque capacity of the starting clutch is delayed from the timing when the accelerator pedal is depressed. Therefore, even if there is a delay in building up of the output torque of the engine, the transmission torque capacity of the starting clutch has not increased as high as the conventional art when the output torque of the engine actually builds up, and there is produced a slippage in the starting clutch. Thereafter, as the transmission torque capacity of the starting clutch increases, of the output torque of the engine, the ratio of output torque which is to be transmitted to the drive wheels via the starting clutch is increased. Consequently, even if the accelerator pedal is abruptly depressed during power-off running, the drive torque of the drive wheels is allowed to build up moderately, whereby the generation of surging vibrations is prevented. The predetermined time may be determined depending upon time that has elapsed since the accelerator pedal is depressed, or time may be determined as the predetermined time when a detected engine output torque exceeds the transmission torque capacity of the starting clutch.
Incidentally, the engine absorption torque is equal to a torque required to drive the engine reversely and varies depending upon the engine speed. The engine absorption torque also varies depending upon engine temperature, the adaptability of the engine, oil volume, oil type, oil level inclination and the like, and therefore it is difficult to set an accurate value. Due to this, in the conventional art, it is presumed that the transmission torque capacity of the starting clutch during power-off running is controlled to be a value which is higher by some extent than the reference value of the engine absorption torque corresponding to the engine speed, for example, a value obtained by multiplying the reference value by a relatively large safety factor, so that there is produced no slippage in the starting clutch even when the actual value of the engine absorption torque exceeds slightly the reference value. This is because when a smaller safety factor is used, the actual value of the engine absorption torque exceeds the transmission torque capacity of the starting clutch, and a slippage is likely to be generated in the starting clutch, leading to a further risk that the effect of engine braking is reduced or the durability thereof is deteriorated. Thus, a larger safety factor needs to be adopted. As a result, the transmission torque capacity of the starting clutch at the time of power-off running becomes relatively large, and the disengagement of the starting clutch is delayed when the brakes are applied abruptly, leading to a risk that the engine stalls.
To cope with this, the second control means is constructed to control the actuator by setting as a control target value a control amount of the actuator in which the transmission torque capacity of the starting clutch becomes equal to a set value for the engine absorption torque which is a value obtained by multiplying a reference value of the engine absorption torque corresponding to the engine speed by a predetermined safety factor, detecting the specific slippage of the starting clutch and feedback correcting the control target value such that the specific slippage becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value. According to this construction, even if a relatively small safety factor is adopted, there should be produced no excessive slippage which is not good to the starting clutch. As a result, the transmission torque capacity of the starting clutch at the time of power-off running can be suppressed to a required minimum of limit, whereby the drawback inherent in the conventional art can be prevented.
Incidentally, while it is considered that the transmission torque capacity of the starting clutch is maintained to a value just before the accelerator pedal is depressed until the control by the third control means is started, in order to ensure that the occurrence of surging vibrations is prevented, the transmission torque capacity when the third control means starts to control should be made as low as possible. To cope with this, the delay means is preferably constructed to start the control by the third control means after the transmission torque capacity of the starting clutch is maintained to a value corresponding to the engine absorption torque resulting when the engine speed is around 1000 rpm for a predetermined time after the accelerator pedal is depressed.
Note that in an embodiment of the invention which will be described later, step S2 shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to the first control means, steps S4 to S6, S11 and S12 in FIG. 4 to the second control means, and steps S18, S19 in FIG. 4 to the third control means, and steps S14 to S17 in FIG. 4 to the delay means.


The concentrated winding coil is mounted onto a tooth such that a coil end portion is housed inside a concave space that is formed by the trunk portion and first and second guide portions at two axial ends of the tooth. Third cover portions of an insulating sheet that is disposed on two circumferential sides of the tooth are folded over so as to overlap with each other and extend so as to cover the coil end portion of the concentrated winding coil, and a second leader line that projects outward from a radially inner end portion of the concentrated winding coil is bent and led radially outward parallel to the coil end portion that is covered by the third cover portions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotary electric machine that is used in an automotive electric motor, etc., that is mounted to an automobile, for example, and particularly relates to an insulating construction for a concentrated winding that is wound edgewise onto teeth of a stator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional stators in which concentrated windings are applied to pole tooth portions of a stator core include insulating sheets that axially cover concave slot portions that are formed on two sides of the pole tooth portions, and straight portions and coil end portions of winding bodies are insulated by the insulating sheets (see Patent Literature 1, for example).
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-61286 (Gazette)
In conventional stators, the straight portions and the coil end portions of the winding bodies are covered and insulated by the insulating sheets, but no mention is made of insulating leader lines that are led out from winding start end portions and winding finish end portions of the winding bodies.
In winding bodies that are wound into concentrated windings on the pole tooth portions, because the electric potential difference between the winding start end portions and the winding finish end portions of the winding bodies is increased, it is necessary to ensure sufficient insulating distance between the leader lines that are led out from the winding start end portions and the winding finish end portions of the winding bodies. If a conductor wire that has a circular cross section is wound onto a pole tooth portion in multiple rows in multiple layers from radially outside, for example, the leader line at the winding start is led radially outward from the radially outermost position of the innermost layer of the winding body (the winding start end portion), and the leader line at the winding finish is led radially outward over a coil end portion from the radially innermost position of the outermost layer of the winding body (the winding finish end portion). Thus, an insulating distance that corresponds to the layer thickness of the coil end portion is ensured between the two leader lines.
However, if a conductor wire that has a rectangular cross section is wound onto a pole tooth portion in multiple rows in a single layer in an edgewise winding, the leader line at the winding start is led out from the radially outermost position of the winding body (the winding start end portion), and the leader line at the winding finish is led radially outward over a coil end portion from the radially innermost position of the winding body (the winding finish end portion). The insulating distance between the two leader lines is then a distance between the leader line at the winding finish and a row that is positioned at the outermost radius of the winding body. Thus, in order to ensure sufficient insulating distance between the two leader lines, it is necessary to increase the distance between the leader line that is led out from the winding finish end portion and the coil end portion, and one problem has been that axial length of the stator is increased, and reductions in size cannot be achieved.


A voltage overstress protection device consists of a four-layer diode having a buried region of higher impurity concentration adjacent the central junction of the device. The buried region is divided into a plurality of small regions to ensure an even distribution of energy dissipation across the structure. The cathode of the device may be perforated by shorting dots of the material of the second layer to determine the holding current of the device, and where this is done the small buried regions are aligned with parts of the cathode and not with the shorting dots. Two devices may be formed in opposite senses in the same body of semiconductor material and connected together in antiparallel to provide protection against voltage surges of either polarity. Two antiparallel pairs of devices may be formed in a single semiconductor body to provide protection against separate voltage surges on two lines and also against different voltage surges between the two lines.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor device for providing electrical overstress protection in particular by shorting to ground excessively high voltage transients.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Semiconductors are becoming widely used in modern telephone systems which has radically altered the need for protection against overvoltage transients caused by, for instance, lightning strikes. At the subscriber line interface in a telephone exchange, protection is conventionally provided by semiconductor secondary protectors which can withstand voltages up to 2 kV. These protectors capture the residual overvoltage stress which has been let through by the primary protectors. On the main distribution function (MDF) of the exchange, extremely high energy dissipation requirements have so far precluded the use of a semiconductor device for primary protection. This requirement is generally met by gas discharge tubes which initially clip the voltage transients at approximately 600-700 V and eventually switch to a low resistance mode. Although these devices are capable of absorbing high energies, their protection characteristics deteriorate with time and more of the overvoltage stress is allowed through to the subscriber line interface.
A semiconductor transient suppressor structure is described in UK Patent No. 2,113,907. It is a thyristor type structure with a controlled holding current and an additional n-layer through which reverse breakdown of the central junction of the structure takes place to control the initial avalanche breakover voltage. The controlled holding current of this type of suppressor may result from the provision of an array of shorting dots of gate electrode material perforating the cathode so as to join the cathode resistively to the gate. In an avalanche structure, the breakdown always starts at localized sites called microplasmas. The localized high voltage gradients set up due to these microplasmas are primarily responsible for the conduction spread during the breakdown period (This effect is different from the more conventional plasma spreading during the post turn on phase.). As the breakdown current increase, the microplasma area increases until a critical current density is reached where the device latches on regeneratively and the voltage collapses to a low value.
In the structure described in the above patent the turn on tends to start in a limited area where the energy dissipation can be very high and conduction spreads only relatively slowly across the whole structure. During this turn on phase the energy dissipation in the limited area can become sufficiently high to cause destruction of the device. This is clearly a disadvantage.

Semiconductor device for electrical overstress protection


A box intended to be submerged within a home aquarium contains a platform for supporting small pet crabs in a dry environment. The box, completely open at the bottom, loosely fits over the platform and receives pumped air which leaks into the aquarium from below platform level. At one end of the platform is a ladder formed of a plastic sheet containing a plurality of holes that enable the crabs to climb upon the platform from the bottom of the aquarium. The box, platform and base upon which it stands are easily disassembled.

This invention relates generally to aquariums and in particular to a crab habitat which is to be submerged in an aquarium but which has a dry air chamber accessible by crabs from the aquarium and through which air flows.
Aquariums found in the modern home often contain, in addition to the usual tropical fish, crustaceans including various types of small and perhaps unusual crabs. In general, crabs are amphibious, requiring water and also desiring dry areas where they may rest in a rocky environment simulating a protected rocky beach area. For housing two or three small pet crabs, a small aquarium containing the usual tropical fish would normally require a dry ledge or rock outcropping above water level upon which the crabs may climb. To prevent the crabs from climbing over the edge of the aquarium, the ledge must either be an "island" spaced from a side of the aquarium or the aquarium wall must be sufficiently high, or the water level low. Such accessories require an unusually large aquarium, normally larger than desired in a private residence.
In the invention to be described, crabs in an aquarium climb up a broad ladder and onto a rock or gravel covered tray enclosed in an inverted submerged air chamber the top of which may also be rock or gravel covered. Outside air is pumped into the inverted chamber and leaks from the bottom edges to supply oxygen to the aquarium. The chamber may be made of any desired material that will remain air tight. Clear plastic chamber walls permit the studying of crabs in the chamber, or the walls of the chamber may be painted to blend with the rock roof to appear as an undersea rock formation surrounded by tropical fish.


A method and apparatus for increasing user capacity in a multi-user communication system. The method comprises transmitting a signal multiple times in the communication system with a predetermined delay between each retransmission. A receiver receives the signals and makes multiple delayed copies of the signal which are then summed. A second signal is then transmitted multiple times in the communication system with a different delay time between each retransmission than the first signal, and then received by a receiver which makes multiple delayed copies of this second signal which are then summed and decoded. This process is then used on subsequent signals in the communication system.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to methods and apparatuses for transmitting signals, and more particularly to a method and apparatus where each transmitted signal is resent multiple times on the same frequency with a delay between each retransmission thus allowing for efficient use of a spectrum by the simultaneous use of one channel by various transmitters.
2. Description of Related Art
Heretofore a wide variety of methods and apparatuses have been proposed and implemented for transmitting multiple signals on the same frequency. One example is TDMA where each signal source is allocated a time interval on a frequency to transmit data. In this type of system, several sources use the same frequencies but are each allocated a unique time interval in which to transmit data. Another type of prior system is spread spectrum where, in one version the signal is simultaneously transmitted over several channels at once and summed together at the receiving end. Another example is CDMA which works by spreading a signal across a wide bandwidth using a spreading function. Each signal source uses a unique spreading function. The receive site uses the known spreading functions to decode each signal. Another system, Demand Assigned Multiple Access (DAMA) is used in satellite communications where a controller is used to assign a channel as needed for each transmitter to receiver communication.
The present invention is a unique and novel method with associated apparatus which allows multiple transmitters to simultaneously access the same channel at the same time. By allowing multiple transmitters to simultaneously access the same channel at the same time, increased and efficient use of the spectrum is achieved.
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the more efficient transmission of data or voice signals in any given range of the electromagnetic spectrum, where each transmitted signal is resent multiple times on the same frequency with a delay between each retransmission. Multiple transmitters each transmit their repeated signals on the same channel at the same time. Any receiver can detect the desired transmission by making multiple copies of the incoming signal, delaying each copy by the reverse delay from the known delay set, and then summing the multiple time adjusted copies of the incoming signal. The method of the present invention is easily implemented and is highly efficient, effective, economical, and increases the use and potential of a data transmitting spectrum. It also allows multiple data signals to be transmitted on the same frequency.
Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for the simultaneous use of a channel in a communication spectrum by various transmitters where each transmitted signal may be resent multiple times on the same frequency with a unique preselected delay between each retransmission. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

Method and apparatus for multiple accesses to a communications channel


Aggregation of particulate matter is facilitated. Provision is made for an electrode that is arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine with a voltage to be applied thereto being able to be changed, a detection device that detects an electric current passing through the electrode, a determination device that determines whether a pulse current has been generated in the electric current detected by the detection device, and a control device that reduces the voltage to be applied more than that at this time in cases where a determination has been made by the determination device that a pulse current has been generated.

There has been known a technique in which a discharge electrode is arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, and a corona discharge is caused to occur from the discharge electrode, whereby particulate matter (hereinafter also referred to as PM) is charged and condensed or aggregated (see, for example, a first patent document). By the condensation or aggregation of the particulate matter, the number of particles in the particulate matter can be decreased. In addition, the sizes of particles in the particulate matter become large, so when a filter is arranged at a downstream side, it becomes easy to trap the particulate matter with the filter. Moreover, in a particulate matter processing apparatus using a corona discharge, there has been known a technique of ensuring insulation of a discharge electrode (see, for example, a second patent document).
However, when a corona discharge is caused to be generated, particulate matter will be crushed into fine particles by means of high-speed electrons resulting from a strong electric discharge. Then, the effect of causing particulate matter to aggregate will become low. For this reason, the particle size of the particulate matter will become small, and the number of particles in the particulate matter will increase.