Systems and methods for spatial analysis of analytes are provided. A data structure is obtained comprising an image, as an array of pixel values, of a sample on a substrate having a identifier, fiducial markers and a set of capture spots. The pixel values are used to identify derived fiducial spots. The substrate identifier identifies a template having reference positions for reference fiducial spots and a corresponding coordinate system. The derived fiducial spots are aligned with the reference fiducial spots using an alignment algorithm to obtain a transformation between the derived and reference fiducial spots. The transformation and the template corresponding coordinate system are used to register the image to the set of capture spots. The registered image is then analyzed in conjunction with spatial analyte data associated with each capture spot, thereby performing spatial analysis of analytes.

Spatial resolution of analytes in complex tissues provides new insights into the processes underlying biological function and morphology, such as cell fate and development, disease progression and detection, and cellular and tissue-level regulatory networks. See, Satija et al., 2015, "Spatial reconstruction of single-cell gene expression data," Nature Biotechnology. 33, 495-502, doi:10.1038.nbt.3192 and Achim et al., 2015, "High-throughput spatial mapping of single-cell RNA-seq data to tissue of origin," Nature Biotechnology 33: 503-509, doi:10.1038/nbt.3209, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
An understanding of the spatial patterns or other forms of relationships between analytes can provide information on differential cell behavior. This in turn, can help to elucidate complex conditions such as complex diseases. For example, the determination that the abundance of an analyte (e.g., a gene) is associated with a tissue subpopulation of a particular tissue class (e.g., disease tissue, healthy tissue, the boundary of disease and healthy tissue, etc.) provides inferential evidence of the association of the analyte with a condition such as complex disease. Likewise, the determination that the abundance of an analyte is associated with a particular subpopulation of a heterogeneous cell population in a complex 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional tissue (e.g., a mammalian brain, liver, kidney, heart, a tumor, or a developing embryo of a model organism) provides inferential evidence of the association of the analyte to the particular subpopulation.
Thus, spatial analysis of analytes can provide information for the early detection of disease by identifying at-risk regions in complex tissues and characterizing the analyte profiles present in these regions through spatial reconstruction (e.g., of gene expression, protein expression, DNA methylation, and/or single nucleotide polymorphisms, among others). A high-resolution spatial mapping of analytes to their specific location within a region or subregion reveals spatial expression patterns of analytes, provides relational data, and further implicates analyte network interactions relating to disease or other morphologies or phenotypes of interest, resulting in a holistic understanding of cells in their morphological context. See, 10×, 2019, "Spatially-Resolved Transcriptomics," 10×, 2019, "Inside Visium Spatial Technology," and 10×, 2019, "Visium Spatial Gene Expression Solution," each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Spatial analysis of analytes can be performed by capturing analytes and/or analyte capture agents or analyte binding domains and mapping them to known locations (e.g., using barcoded capture probes attached to a substrate) using a reference image indicating the tissues or regions of interest that correspond to the known locations. For example, in some implementations of spatial analysis, a sample is prepared (e.g., fresh-frozen tissue is sectioned, placed onto a slide, fixed, and/or stained for imaging). The imaging of the sample provides the reference image to be used for spatial analysis. Analyte detection is then performed using, e.g., analyte or analyte ligand capture via barcoded capture probes, library construction, and/or sequencing. The resulting barcoded analyte data and the reference image can be combined during data visualization for spatial analysis. See, 10×, 2019, "Inside Visium Spatial Technology," which is hereby incorporated by reference.
One difficulty with such analysis is ensuring that a sample or an image of a sample (e.g., a tissue section or an image of a tissue section) is properly aligned with the barcoded capture probes (e.g., using fiducial alignment). Technical limitations in the field are further compounded by the frequent introduction of imperfections in sample quality during conventional wet-lab methods for tissue sample preparation and sectioning. These issues arise either due to the nature of the tissue sample itself (including, inter alia, interstitial regions, vacuoles and/or general granularity that is often difficult to interpret after imaging) or from improper handling or sample degradation resulting in gaps or holes in the sample (e.g., tearing samples or obtaining only a partial sample such as from a biopsy). Additionally, wet-lab methods for imaging result in further imperfections, including but not limited to air bubbles, debris, crystalline stain particles deposited on the substrate or tissue, inconsistent or poor-contrast staining, and/or microscopy limitations that produce image blur, over- or under-exposure, and/or poor resolution. See, Uchida, 2013, "Image processing and recognition for biological images," Develop. Growth Differ. 55, 523-549, doi:10.1111/dgd.12054, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Such imperfections make the alignment more difficult.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for systems and methods that provide improved alignment. Such systems and methods would allow reproducible identification and alignment of tissue samples in images without the need for extensive training and labor costs, and would further improve the accuracy of identification by removing human error due to subjective alignment. Such systems and methods would further provide a cost-effective, user-friendly tool for a practitioner to reliably perform spatial reconstruction of analytes in tissue sections without the need for additional user input during the spatial mapping step beyond providing the image.

Systems and methods for spatial analysis of analytes using fiducial alignment


In a general aspect, a trench-gate field-effect transistor can include an active region and a termination region. The termination region can include a structure where a portion in which formation of a PN junction is prevented (e.g., a termination extension and one or more semiconductor mesas) is overlapped with a portion of the trench-FET that includes a boundary (edge, etc.) between trenches (or portions of trenches) lined with only shield (thick oxide) and trenches lined with a stepped-shield dielectric (SSO) structure (e.g., shield dielectric and gate dielectric). That boundary can be referred to an SSO edge. Prevention of PN junction formation (e.g., during a channel and/or body implant for the trench-FET), in the disclosed approaches, can be accomplished using a polysilicon layer to block formation of, e.g., a p-type layer, in a semiconductor substrate (e.g., an n-type semiconductor region, epitaxial layer, etc.).

Power semiconductor devices, such as trench-gate field effect transistors (trench-FETs) are widely used in a number of commercial and industrial applications, such as consumer electronic devices and industrial control devices, as some examples. In such trench-FET devices, approaches taken to achieve improvements in one or more operational parameters can negatively affect one or more other operational parameters of the trench-FET. For instance, approaches taken to improve on-resistance, or specific resistance (Rsp), can result in undesired reductions in breakdown voltages of the trench-FET (e.g., drain-to-source breakdown voltage and/or gate-to-source breakdown voltage). As another example, measures taken to improve Rsp of a trench-FET (or other device operational parameters) can cause increases in leakage current, e.g., as a result of reduced integrity of a gate dielectric (gate oxide) disposed in, and on tips of trenches disposed in a termination region (junction termination region, etc.) of an associated trench-FET.

Termination structures for trench-gate field-effect transistors

SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC


Disclosed are a stringed musical instrument and related methods and apparatus. A longitudinal axis is situated along a length of the body of the stringed musical instrument. The body includes a soundboard having a lower region on a bass side with respect to the longitudinal axis and a higher region on a treble side with respect to the longitudinal axis opposite the bass side. The lower region of the soundboard is shaped to have a flat contour, while the higher region is shaped to have an arched contour. A neck is attached to the body. The neck has a hub adapted to couple one or more strings at a first end. A bridge is fitted to the soundboard. The bridge is adapted to seat the one or more strings when extended over at least a portion of the neck and body and coupled to the body at a second end opposite the first end.

The present invention relates to musical instruments and, more particularly, to stringed musical instruments having soundboards, such as guitars.
Stringed musical instruments have been played and enjoyed, both by players and listeners, for many years. These instruments are often characterized by a body, a neck attached to the body, and one or more strings suspended under controllable tension from a bridge mechanically coupled to a soundboard of the body to a hub located at one end of the neck. As the string is vibrated by suitable means such as picking, plucking, strumming, bowing, hammering, tapping, or scratching, the vibrations induced in the string are transmitted by the bridge to the soundboard. The body collects and directs the sounds by exciting air proximate the soundboard.
While stringed musical instruments have been refined and improved over the years, they have been characterized by some drawbacks, such as non-linear frequency response. In particular, unacceptably low output amplitudes for the lower notes of the instrument's voice and lack of clarity between courses, that is, frequencies generating by sounding one or more strings, are drawbacks of conventional stringed musical instruments.
The "Sound Bubble" series of instruments addressed some of the drawbacks of conventional stringed musical instruments. The Sound Bubble is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,362,079, Ribbecke, issued Dec. 7, 1982, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The Sound Bubble instrument includes a thin, dome-shaped accentuator plate located on the bass side of the soundboard. The Sound Bubble instrument achieved an articulate clean bass and separation between courses often associated with an arch-top. However, more bass output, i.e., higher amplitude of the lower frequencies, was desired.
Therefore, a need still exists for an improvement in stringed musical instruments that both enhances the bass response, that is, increases the volume of the low notes or bass frequencies, and provides the desired articulation and separation between courses.

Stringed musical instrument having a hybrid arch-top and flat-top soundboard


A method and apparatus for providing improved phase error measurement as shown and described. The measured phase error (.phi..sub.E) is used as an input to a SYNCHROPHASER.RTM. control which provides for phase control of a slave propeller with respect to a master. The phase error (.phi..sub.E) is the sum of the sensed phase error and 360.degree. divided by N.sub.p times .phi..sub.count minus .phi..sub.ref. .phi..sub.count is a counted number of phase discontinuities which occur in .phi..sub.S, the sensed phase. The values of .phi..sub.count and .phi..sub.E, measured phase output, may be limited in number and magnitude.

Propeller phase synchronizer controls, or SYNCHRONPHASER.RTM.(SYNCHRONPHASER is a registerd trademark of United Technologies Corporation) are known in the prior art for use on multi-engine, propeller driven aircraft to maintain a selected phase angle relationship between a selected "master" propeller and each of the other propellers (designed "slave"propellers). When the propellers are synchronized the aircraft fuselage experiences minimum acoustic noise and vibration.
The prior art synchronizer controls utilize an electrical pulse to detect the time (T) that each propeller is at a particular blade orientation. This time relationship between successive pulses of the master propeller blakes (T.sub.M) and the blade pulses of the slave propeller(s) (T.sub.D) is shown in FIG. 1.
The phase relation between any two propellers is then determined from a combination (a) measurement of the time interval between successive pulses from a master propeller (T.sub.M) and (b) a measurement of the time delay of a pulse from the master propeller to the next succeeding pulse from a slave (or other) propeller (T.sub.D). An example of the time relationship of the pulses (T) from two propellers (designated master propeller (T.sub.M) and slave propeller (T.sub.D) ) and the method for determining the propeller phase relationship (.phi..sub.s) is shown in equation 1. ##EQU1##
Where NP is the number of pulses per revolution of the propeller.
In equation 1, an increasing delay in the interval (T.sub.D) yields an increasing sensed phase (.phi..sub.s) until the slave pulse is sufficiently delayed to occur with the next master pulse. As the pulses T.sub.D and T.sub.M align, the value of T.sub.D abruptly changes from the value of t.sub.m to 0, resulting in the sensed phase abruptly changing from a maximum value to 0. The sensed phase (.phi..sub.s) in comparison to the actual phase is shown in FIG. 2.
Phase error (.phi..sub.E) is sensed phase .phi..sub.s minus a reference phase (.phi..sub.REF) as shown in equation 2. EQU .phi..sub.E =.phi..sub.S -.phi..sub.REF ti 2
The (.phi..sub.REF) in equation 2 is the phase offset from perfect alignment of blades which is often necessary in providing the lowest noise synchronization of propellers. If minimum noise and vibration occur when the pulses from the master and slave propellers are coincident then no (.phi..sub.REF) is required. .phi..sub.REF is determined by the characteristics of the particular aircraft and its engines.
The present prior art phase synchronizer controls typically utilize one electrical pulse per propeller revolution (NP=1) so that sensed phase between discontinuities provide a phase error measurement up to .+-.180.degree. . In addition, present phase controls utilize some form of "start circuit" to assure that the master and slave propeller speeds are nearly the same so that the phaser control laws can prevent the phase error from reaching the sign ambiguity that occurs at the phase measurement discontinuity.

Method for synchrophaser measurement and synchrophaser control


A multibeam transmitting/receiving apparatus is provided that is capable of increasing the accuracy of a direction in which a transmission beam is to be transmitted, with a simple arrangement. Signal power measuring units (8-1 through 8-L) of signal processing means (40-1 through 40-L) measure reception signal power levels averaged over a given time, using outputs from reception beam formers (5-1 through 5-L), and indicate the measured reception signal power levels to transmission antenna weight generator (30). Transmission antenna weight generator (30) generates transmission antenna weights, which has been weighted by a reception signal level, from a transmission antenna weight corresponding to reception signal power level P1 and a beam number B1 of a finger having a maximum reception signal power level, and a transmission antenna weight corresponding to reception signal power level P2 and a beam number B2 of a finger having the same path timing as the finger having the maximum reception signal power level. The generated transmission antenna weights are used in transmission beam former (16).

CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) has attracted much attention as a wireless transmission process capable of greatly increasing the subscriber capacity and is expected as a wireless access process for the next-generation mobile communication cellular system. However, CDMA has a problem in that a base station receiver tends to suffer interference from another user's signal which is making simultaneous access with the same carrier, and a mobile station receiver is liable to cause interference due to a signal set to another user. One approach to remove such interference is the use of an array antenna. An array antenna has a plurality of antennas for receiving signals and combining complex-weighted values thereof to control the amplitudes and phases of the received signals for thereby forming a directivity beam to receive a desired user's signal and suppress other user's interference signals. A multi-beam process as one of control processes for such an array antenna is known from Document 1 shown below.
Document: JP 11-266228A
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing by way of example a conventional multi-beam transmitting/receiving apparatus disclosed in Document 1. It is assumed that the number of antennas is N, N being an integer of 2 or greater, the number of multipaths is L, L being an integer of 1 or greater, and the multi-beam transmitting/receiving apparatus is assigned to a kth user, k being an integer of 1 or greater).
As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional multi-beam transmitting/receiving apparatus, which is assigned to the kth user, comprises N antennas 1-1 through 1-N, duplexers 2-1 through 2-N, L signal processing means 40-1 through 40-L corresponding to L multipaths, adder 10, decision unit 11, searcher 12, reception multibeam controller 13, maximum signal power selector 14, transmission multibeam controller 15, and transmission beam former 16.
L signal processing means 40-1 through 40-L corresponding to L multipaths are identical in construction to each other. L signal processing means 40-1 through 40-L comprise delay units 3-1 through 3-L, despreading circuits 4-1-1 through 4-L-N, reception beam formers 5-1 through 5-L, channel estimating circuits 6-1 through 6-L, complex conjugate circuits 7-1 through 7-L, signal power measuring units 8-1 through 8-L, and multipliers 9-1 through 9-L.
Searcher 12 generates delay profiles for respective preset beams, using reception signals received through N antennas 1-1 through 1-N and duplexers 2-1 through 2-N. Searcher 12 detects delay times (path timing) of L multipaths from the generated delay profiles for respective preset beams, indicates the timing of the detected delay times of L multipaths to delay units 3-1 through 3-L, and indicates the beam numbers of beams, with respect to which the delay times of multipaths are detected, to reception multibeam controller 13.
A beam refers to a directivity pattern formed by assigning a preset antenna weight to each of antennas 1-1 through 1-N, and a beam number refers to a number for specifying one of the preset beams.
Delay units 3-1 through 3-N delay reception signals received by N antennas 1-1 through 1-N by certain times based on multipath delay times set by searcher 12, thereby delaying the reception signals depending on the L multipaths to differentiate the L multipaths as a first path to an Lth path. The reception signals output from delay units 3-1 through 3-N are despread by despreading circuits 4-1-1 through 4-L-N, and thereafter sent to reception beam formers 5-1 through 5-L.
Reception multibeam controller 13 selects the reception antenna weights of beams corresponding to the beam numbers indicated by searcher 12, sends the selected reception antenna weights to reception beam formers 5-1 through 5-L, and indicates the beam numbers to maximum signal power selector 14.
Reception beam formers 5-1 through 5-L weights and combines the signals which have been delayed by delay units 3-1 through 3-N and despread by despreading circuits 4-1-1 through 4-L-N, using the reception antenna weights indicated by reception multibeam controller 13.
The above operation of searcher 12 to indicate the timing of the delay times of the multipaths to delay units 3-1 through 3-L of signal processing means 40-1 through 40-L and also to indicate the beam numbers to reception multibeam controller 13 to enable them to start signal processing, is referred to as the assignment of fingers. A path detecting method disclosed in Document 2 entitled "Path detecting method, path detecting apparatus, and array antenna reception apparatus" may be used as a path detecting process performed by searcher 12.
Document 2: JP-2002-232326A
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of each of reception beam formers 5-1 through 5-L. Reception beam formers 5-1 through 5-L are identical in construction to each other, and each comprise multipliers 20-1 through 20-N, adder 21, and complex conjugate circuits 22-1 through 22-N. For the sake of brevity, signal processing means 40-1 will be described by way of example below.
Complex conjugate circuits 22-1 through 22-N of reception beam former 5-1 generate complex conjugates of reception antenna weights selected by reception multibeam controller 13 and sends the generated complex conjugates to multipliers 20-1 through 20-N. Reception signals that have been despread by despreading circuits 4-1-1 through 4-1-N are multiplied by the complex conjugates of reception antenna weights which have been generated by complex conjugate circuits 22-1 through 22-N, by multipliers 20-1 through 20-N. The multiplied reception signals are then added together by adder 21. Therefore, the reception signals are weighted and combined. The output from adder 21 is sent to channel estimating circuit 6-1, signal power measuring unit 8-1, and multiplier 9-1. Thus, reception beam former 5-1 controls the amplitudes and phases of reception signals from antennas 1-1 through 1-N to receive a reception signal with the directivity of a beam that has been formed in a certain direction.
Channel estimating circuit 6-1 estimates a channel distortion using the output from reception beam former 5-1, and sends the estimated channel distortion to complex conjugate circuit 7-1. Complex conjugate circuit 7-1 generates a complex conjugate of the channel distortion estimated by channel estimating circuit 6-1. Multiplier 9-1 multiplies the complex conjugate of the channel distortion which has been generated by complex conjugate circuit 7-1, by the output from reception beam former 5-1, thereby compensating for the channel distortion. The output from multiplier 9-1, which has been compensated for the channel distortion, is added by adder 10 for rake combination, and input to decision unit 11. Decision unit 11 outputs its output as the reception data of the kth user.
Signal power measuring units 8-1 through 8-L measure signal power levels averaged over a desired time, using the signals weighted and combined by reception beam formers 5-1 through 5-L, and sends the measured signal power levels to maximum signal power selector 14. Maximum signal power selector 14 selects the beam of a finger with respect to which the maximum signal power level has been obtained, using the signal power levels measured by signal power measuring units 8-1 through 8-L and the beam numbers indicated by reception multibeam controller 13, and indicates the selected beam to transmission multibeam controller 15. Transmission multibeam controller 15 selects the transmission antenna weight of a corresponding beam from the beam number of the finger having the maximum signal power level indicated from maximum signal power selector 14, and sends the selected transmission antenna weight to transmission beam former 16.
Transmission beam former 16 weights and combines transmission signals, using transmission antenna weights generated by transmission multibeam controller 15.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of transmission beam former 16. Transmission beam former 16 comprises multipliers 23-1 through 23-N and complex conjugate circuits 24-1 through 24-N. Complex conjugate circuits 24-1 through 24-N of transmission beam former 16 generate complex conjugates of transmission antenna weights selected by transmission multibeam controller 15 and sends the generated complex conjugates to multipliers 23-1 through 23-N. The transmission data of the kth user is multiplied by the complex conjugates of transmission antenna weights which have been generated by complex conjugate circuits 24-1 through 24-N, by multipliers 23-1 through 23-N. The multiplied transmission data is then transmitted through duplexers 2-1 through 2-N from antennas 1-1 through 1-N.
Generally, the beams of a multibeam pattern are disposed so as to cover a given spatial area (e.g., a sector) as uniformly as possible. There are two ways of disposing the beams. According to one way, as shown in FIG. 4, the beams are disposed using an orthogonal multibeam pattern such that the peak direction of a beam is aligned with the null direction of another beam. According to the other scheme, as shown in FIG. 5, the beams are disposed using an equally spaced multibeam pattern such that a plurality of beams are arranged at equally spaced intervals. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the number of antennas is 6 and the number of beams is 6, with the horizontal axis representing angles in the given spatial area and the vertical axis beam gains. In the vicinity of a point of intersection between two adjacent beams, their beam gains are several dB lower than the peaks of the beams. Therefore, a desired signal coming from the direction of the point of intersection may be received with the two beams adjacent to the point of intersection, and the beam outputs may be combined with each other to compensate for a reception power level.
However, the conventional multi-beam transmitting/receiving apparatus suffers the following problems: Even if the beam of a finger having the maximum signal power level is selected using the signal power levels measured by signal power measuring units 8-1 through 8-L and the beam numbers indicated by reception multibeam controller 13, and a downlink transmission is performed using the selected beam, the transmission is not optimized. The reasons for the problem are as follows: If the user who is to transmit data is positioned near a point of intersection between two adjacent beams, then when one of the beams is selected and the data is transmitted with the selected beam, since the user is present in a position displaced off the peak direction of the beam, the direction of the beam for transmitting the data is not optimum, and the transmission tends to given interference to another user who is present in the peak direction of the beam. One solution to the above problem is to increase the number of beams of the multibeam pattern for increasing the resolution in the transmission direction. However, the solution is not practical as the amount of calculations required for searcher 12 to generate delay profiles is increased.

Multi-beam transmitting/receiving apparatus and transmitting/receiving method


There is provided a heat-conductive flexible sheet that is formed of a non-silicone material and excellent in flexibility as well as durability such as heat-aging resistance, hydrothermal resistance, and thermal shock resistance, and a heat dissipation structure using the same, as well as a resin composition that exhibits excellent handleability in the kneading step in producing a heat-conductive sheet and can be suitably used as a binder material for a heat-conductive flexible sheet. A resin composition comprising a blocked urethane prepolymer, a predetermined epoxy compound, and a curing catalyst, the blocked urethane prepolymer being a reaction product of an aliphatic diisocyanate compound and a hydrogenated polybutadiene polyol having a hydroxy group at each of both ends, wherein the reaction product has at an end thereof an isocyanate group blocked with an aromatic hydroxy compound; a heat-conductive flexible sheet formed of a cured product of a mixed composition comprising the same and a heat-conductive inorganic filler; and a heat dissipation structure using the same.

Electronic members such as LEDs, CPUs, and power ICs used in electronic/electric devices involve large heat generation when using these devices. Such heat generation may interfere with normal operation of the devices and further may cause a failure or breakdown thereof. Therefore, heat generated from a heating element such as an electronic member described above is dissipated outward via a radiator such as a heatsink or a metal frame.
For this purpose, a sheet formed of an insulation material having high heat conductivity is sandwiched between the heating element and the radiator in order to enhance the dissipating effect, efficiently conducting heat from the heating element to the radiator. Such a sheet is generally called a heat dissipation sheet, a heat-conductive sheet, or the like.
The heat-conductive sheet is generally composed of a heat-conductive filler as a main component and a binder such as a resin or a rubber as a sub-component. For the heat-conductive sheet, required are the heat conductivity and the heat insulating property as a matter of course, and also the flexibility to provide good adhesion between the heating element and the radiator as well as long-term durability such as heat resistance (heat-aging resistance), hydrothermal resistance, and thermal shock resistance (resistance to hot-cold cycles).
Under such circumstances, silicone rubbers and silicone resins are widely used as a binder hitherto (see, for example, PTL 1).
A sheet using a flexible epoxy resin (PTL 2) or polyurethane (PTL 3) as a non-silicone material is proposed.

Resin composition, heat-conductive flexible sheet using same, and heat dissipation structure


Apparatus 10 discloses a freestanding frame 16 providing means for mounting a garbage bag 12 therein. The freestanding frame 16 has a relatively conic-like shape in cross section with the top orifice 18 smaller than the bottom orifice 20. Extending between the top and bottom members are a number of struts 22, which may be telescopic, completing the frame 16 that provides means for removing the frame from a full refuse bag 12 as opposed to lifting the bag from the frame. Additionally the apparatus incorporates means 24 for selectively fastening the plastic bag to or about the top of the frame 16. In the preferred embodiment, the shape of the rim for the top 18 and bottom 20 is circular, which affords the largest possible area with the least amount of material but does not exclude the use of polygonal shapes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to receptacles and, more specifically, to a freestanding frame providing means for mounting a garbage bag therein. The freestanding frame has a relatively conic-like shape in cross section with the top orifice smaller than the bottom orifice. Extending between the top and bottom members are a number of struts, which may be telescopic, completing the frame that provides means for removing the frame from a full refuse bag as opposed to lifting the bag from the frame.
Additionally the present invention incorporates means for selectively fastening the plastic bag to or about the top of the frame providing a maw diametrically increasing in area to the foundation.
Preferably, the frame is constructed to be lightweight, since the frame will be moved instead of the bag. The actual materials used in its construction can be wood, metal, plastic or composite thereof in rod or tube-like shape.
Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, the shape of the rim for the top and bottom is circular, which affords the largest possible area with the least amount of material but does not exclude the use of polygonal shapes. Nor are the members excluded from comprising a number of elements having fittings for erecting the freestanding frame. The obvious advantage being that the stored footprint may be smaller than the assembled footprint.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other frame devices designed for bags. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 261,458 issued to Holekamp on Jul. 18, 1882.
Another patent was issued to Gibbins on Oct. 17, 1911 as U.S. Pat. No. 1,005,956. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 2,117,689 was issued to Tatsch on May 17, 1938 and still yet another was issued on Nov. 13, 1973 to Meeh as U.S. Pat. No. 3,771,752.
Another patent was issued to Ferreira et al. on Nov. 13, 1979 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,085. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,167 was issued to Stillwell on Jun. 16, 1981. Another was issued to DeVilbiss on May 26, 1987 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,912 and still yet another was issued on Jun. 27, 1995 to Stromsmoe et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,340.
Another patent was issued to Siu on Jul. 31, 2001 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,334. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,505 was issued to Fan on Sep. 25, 2001. Another was published to Sidor on Dec. 23, 2003 as International Patent Application No. W003/106293 and still yet another was issued on May 13, 2004 to Callahan et al as Canadian Patent No. CA2409401.


A cathode ray tube includes a panel with a substantially flat outer surface and an inner curved surface. The inner curved surface of the panel has a phosphor screen. A funnel is connected to the panel while externally mounting a deflection unit for deflecting electron beams. A neck is connected to the funnel while internally mounting an electron gun for emitting the electron beams. A color selection apparatus is internally fitted to the panel such that the electron beams land on correct phosphors of the phosphor screen. The panel has an effective screen with short and long axis. The panel bears a first thickness Th at the ends of the effective screen in the long axis direction, and a second thickness Tv at the ends of the effective screen in the short axis direction. The second thickness Tv of the panel is established to be larger than the first thickness Th of the panel. The color selection apparatus has a mask with short and long axis while bearing a plurality of beam-guide holes, and a frame combined with the mask such that the mask maintains a tensioned state. The mask is tensioned in the long axis direction while being supported by the frame.

This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119 from an application for CATHODE RAY TUBE HAVING A TENSIONED MASK earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on 27 Mar. 2001 and there duly assigned Ser. No. 2001-15951.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cathode ray tube and, more particularly, to a cathode ray tube which has a color selection apparatus bearing a tension mask.
2. Description of the Related Art
A cathode ray tube, the most popular display device, has been developed in various formats while keeping pace with the times. Recently, a wide screen cathode ray tube has been the choice of electronic consumers.
In order to enlarge the screen size, the screen panel should be flat in consideration of the quality of the screen images displayed at the periphery of the screen.
As the panel becomes enlarged and flattened, a shadow mask for the color selection apparatus is also enlarged in size. In consideration of various difficulties related to the enlargement of the curved shadow mask such as a weak strength thereof, a new-modeled color selection apparatus has been now employed for use in the cathode ray tube.
Such a color selection apparatus has a structure where a mask with a plurality of beam-guide holes is not curved but flattened while bearing a predetermined tension. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,107 by Kume et al. for Grid Apparatus for a Color Cathode Ray Tube which Eliminates Vibration of the Grids discloses a grid apparatus bearing such a structure.
The grid apparatus has a plurality of slender and long grid members fitted to a frame while being tensioned in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction). The frame has a pair of support bars arranged parallel to each other, with a predetermined distance between them, and connected to the grid members, and elastic members attached to the ends of the support bars while being positioned between them.
The grid apparatus further has metallic members attached to the elastic members, and has a thermal expansion coefficient greater than that of the latter. The metallic members prevent the grid members from suffering thermal deformation during the heat treatment process.
Meanwhile, a plurality of phosphors are formed at the internal surface of the panel in the X-axis direction (in the direction of the short axis of the panel) while corresponding to the pattern of beam-guide holes formed by the grid members. A black matrix is formed between the neighboring phosphors.
However, in the above-structured cathode ray tube, when the plurality of phosphors are arranged in the above-described manner to form a phosphor screen, mis-landing of the electron beams is liable to occur at the periphery of the screen while causing deterioration in picture quality due to the color spots.
The electron beams should correctly land on the phosphors at the periphery of the screen under the influence of the vertical magnetic field component of the terrestrial magnetism. However, with the above structure, the electron beams move in the direction vertical to the X-axis direction (the direction of Y-axis), and land on the incorrect phosphors.
In order to solve such a problem, it has been suggested that the phosphors should be arranged in the direction of the long axis of the panel (or in the horizontal direction). For instance, such a cathode ray tube is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 91-10602 by Yim et al. for Color Cathode Ray Tube, U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,169 by Vriens for Shadow Mask Color Display Tube, U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,102 by Sluyterman et al. for Picture Display Device, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,889,362 by Barten for Color Display Tube having a Reduced Deflection Defocusing.
However, the above patents are only related to a cathode ray tube having no tension mask.
In order to prevent miss-landing of the electron beams with the cathode ray tube bearing a tension mask, various conditions, such as the arrangement pattern of phosphors, the tensioned state of the shadow mask and the shape of the panel, should be satisfied in an appropriate manner. In this way, the resulting flat cathode ray tube can have good picture quality.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a color correction apparatus for a cathode ray tube that prevents mis-landing of electron beams at the periphery of the display screen.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cathode ray tube that prevents possible explosion with the enlarged flat panel.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cathode ray tube that has a reasonable weight even with the enlarged flat panel.
These and other objects may be achieved by a cathode ray tube with the following features.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a color selection apparatus for the cathode ray tube includes a mask having a short and a long axis, and a frame combined with the mask such that the mask is kept in a tensioned state. The mask is provided with a plurality of beam-guide holes. The mask is tensioned in the long axis direction while being supported by the frame.
The mask has a plurality of strips spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and real bridges disposed between the neighboring strips while being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. The beam-guide holes are formed with a plurality of slots longitudinally proceeding in the long axis direction while being partitioned by the real bridges.
Alternatively, the mask may have only a plurality of strips spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. In this structure, the beam-guide holes are formed with single slots longitudinally proceeding in the long axis direction while being disposed between the neighboring strips.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the cathode ray tube includes a panel with a substantially flat outer surface and an inner curved surface. The inner curved surface of the panel has a phosphor screen. A funnel is connected to the panel while externally mounting a deflection unit for deflecting electron beams. A neck is connected to the funnel while internally mounting an electron gun for emitting the electron beams. A color selection apparatus is internally fitted to the panel such that the electron beams land on correct phosphors of the phosphor screen. The panel has an effective screen with a short and a long axis. The panel has a first thickness Th at the ends of the effective screen in the long axis direction, and a second thickness Tv at the ends of the effective screen in the short axis direction. The second thickness Tv of the panel is established to be larger than the first thickness Th of the panel. The color selection apparatus has a mask with a short and a long axis while having a plurality of beam-guide holes, and a frame combined with the mask such that the mask is kept in a tensioned state. The mask is tensioned in the long axis direction while being supported by the frame.
The panel has a third thickness Tc at the center of the effective screen while satisfying the following condition: V/Hxe2x89xa71.1. where V(%) is (Tv/Tc)xc3x97100, and H(%) is (Th/Tc)xc3x97100.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the cathode ray tube includes a panel with a substantially flat outer surface and an inner curved surface. The inner curved surface of the panel has a phosphor screen. A funnel is connected to the panel while externally mounting a deflection unit for deflecting electron beams. A neck is connected to the funnel while internally mounting an electron gun for emitting the electron beams. A color selection apparatus is internally fitted to the panel such that the electron beams land on correct phosphors of the phosphor screen. The phosphor screen is shaped with a short and a long axis, and the phosphors are longitudinally arranged on the phosphor screen in the long axis direction. The color selection apparatus has a mask with a plurality of beam-guide holes corresponding to the phosphors, and a frame combined with the mask such that the mask is kept tensioned in the long axis direction. The electron beams emitted from the electron gun are directed toward the phosphor screen in a line while being parallel to the short axis of the phosphor screen.


Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for triggering server state change using references. A method includes receiving a request to change a state of the server system, interpreting the request to determine which property is indicated by the reference, computing a value for the property, and using the value to change the state of the server system in accordance with the request. In that method, the request is received at a first program residing at a server system, the request is from a second program residing at a client system, and the request includes a reference to a property.

The present disclosure relates to data processing by digital computer, and more particularly to triggering server state changes with references.
In a client/server system, clients can obtain services offered by a server. The services offered can include functionality, such as, analytical application, financial planning, customer resource management, and supply chain management. To obtain services, a client can have a series of interactions with a server. For example, a client can request an initiation of a session including financial planning services. Then, a server can respond with a confirmation that the session has been initiated and the server can send content to the client which is rendered through a client system's user interface. In some scenarios, interactions from a client to a server can include a request to change a server state. For example, a client can send a request to a server to change a data selection to a data selection for a certain customer.

Triggering server state changes with references


A vibration damper comprising at least two damper assemblies connectable in series, coupled with one another through a floating intermediary flange, and torque transmission devices and/or damping coupling devices and rotation angle limiting devices between the floating intermediary flange and a damper component of one of the damper assemblies, wherein the damper component is disposed in a force flow in front and/or behind the floating intermediary flange.

Vibration dampers, in particular, configured as series dampers, including at least two damper stages connectable in series, are known in the art in various configurations. We are referring to a genus defining type according to DE 10 2008 032 009 A1, which includes two coaxially disposed damper assemblies, which are coupled with one another through an intermediary flange. Each of the damper assemblies includes torque transmission devices and damping coupling devices which are functionally implemented by a component configured as a spring unit. The floating intermediary flange forms a portion of both damper assemblies, wherein the input component of the first damper assembly is disposed in front of the intermediary flange in the force flow, while the output component of the second damper assembly is disposed after the intermediary flange in the force flow. The intermediary flange itself functions as an output component for the first damper assembly and as an input component for the second damper assembly. The input component of the first damper assembly in the embodiment illustrated in the recited printed document forms the drive side main damper component and includes two lateral disks, disposed offset in axial direction, and coupled with one another non-rotatably. The non-rotatable coupling is performed in a radial direction outside of the radially outer damper assembly and within the extension of the outer circumference of the intermediary flange, wherein the devices for non-rotatable coupling are being simultaneously used for rotation angle limiting between the intermediary flange and the input component of the first damper assembly. Thus, the intermediary flange is configured with protrusions oriented in a radial direction, which are offset from one another in a circumferential direction and form stop surfaces at the attachment devices for the two side disks of the main damper component. This embodiment is characterized by additional space requirement in a radial direction, since the rotation angle limitation is disposed in the radial direction herein.
From the printed document EP 2 085 654 1A, an embodiment of a device for damping vibrations in a force transmission device with an actuatable clutch device and a hydrodynamic component is known. This device is respectively disposed after the actuatable clutch device and the hydrodynamic component respectively in the force flow and includes at least two damper stages which are coupled to one another through an intermediary flange functioning as a transmission element, wherein depending on the operating mode, the coupling of the particular damper stages is performed in different ways and the intermediary flange is connected non-rotatably with the input component of the device or forms the input component of the device in one operating mode. For a force transmission through the actuatable clutch device, the transmission component functions as an output component of the first damper assembly and as an input component of the second damper assembly, wherein a rotation angle limitation between the input component and the output component of the first damper assembly, and thus, the component disposed in the force flow in front of the transmission element, and the transmission element is generated in that axial protrusions are disposed at the component disposed in front of the transmission element, which extend in an axial direction into the pass-through openings at the transmission element. In a second operating mode, the transmission element is coupled non-rotatably with the turbine shell of the hydrodynamic component. This embodiment does not include a floating intermediary flange and the intermediary flange is simultaneously used for axially supporting the spring units.


Embodiments of the present invention provide a cell selection and reselection method and apparatus, so as to resolve a problem existing in the prior art that repeated reception of data by using an existing cell selection and reselection method causes a waste of resources and an increase in power consumption. The cell selection method includes: measuring signal quality of a cell, and acquiring a coverage class offset value that is preconfigured by a network side for the cell; and selecting a target cell according to the signal quality of the cell and the acquired coverage class offset value of the cell.

Machine to machine (M2M), that is, machine type communication (MTC), refers to information and data transmission from one machine to another by using a wireless network. Machine to machine is widely applied to multiple fields, including intelligent transportation, a building control system, a smart home control system, a video surveillance system, industrial monitoring and measurement, and the like. As the fourth revolution subsequent to computer, Internet, and mobile communication network in the information industry, the machine-to-machine industry is a development direction for a future network. A typical network structure is shown in FIG. 1.
A deployment location of an M2M device, such as a sensor, an electricity meter, and goods, may be in a place with poor coverage, such as a corner or a basement. It is predicted that by 2022, a quantity of user equipment of this coverage type will reach 1.55 billion. To enable these devices that are located in an area with poor coverage to successfully use an M2M network, coverage of the M2M network needs to be better than that of a current cellular network. Therefore, the coverage of the M2M network needs to be increased by 20 dB.
To meet a requirement of a coverage increment of 20 dB, a narrowband system enhances cell coverage in a manner of time-domain spectrum-spreading. A cell in which an enhanced coverage area exists may be referred to as an enhanced coverage cell, and a cell in which an enhanced coverage area does not exist may be referred to as a normal cell. In an enhanced coverage cell shown in FIG. 2, an area A is a normal coverage area of the enhanced coverage cell, and spectrum spreading is not required (referred to as 1×) for the area A; an area B/C is an enhanced coverage area of the enhanced coverage cell, and a spectrum spreading manner needs to be used for the area B/C, where a spread spectrum multiple used in the area B/C is 8 or 64 (referred to as 8× or 64×), respectively. In cells that need to be selected by user equipment (UE), both an enhanced coverage cell and a normal cell may exist. A measured cell that includes both an enhanced coverage cell and a normal cell is referred to as a multi-coverage-class cell. A measured cell that includes only a normal cell is referred to as a single-coverage-class cell.
Due to network coverage enhancement, an overlapping area certainly exists between a normal cell and an enhanced coverage cell. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a cell in which an area A and an area B are located is an enhanced coverage cell, where the area A is a normal coverage area, and the area B is an enhanced coverage area. For example, a spread spectrum multiple used in B is 8 (referred to as 8×). A cell in which an area C is located is a normal cell. When the UE is located in an area covered by both the area B and the area C, and a spectrum spreading manner needs to be used in the enhanced coverage area B, where for example, the spread spectrum multiple used in B is 8 (referred to as 8×), data needs to be repeatedly received or measured eight times when the user equipment camps on the area B. A cell selection and reselection method specific to an enhanced coverage cell does not exist in the prior art. In a case shown in FIG. 3 in which an enhanced coverage cell and a normal coverage cell exist, according to an existing cell selection and reselection method, an enhanced coverage cell may be directly selected and data is repeatedly received, which causes a waste of resources and an increase in power consumption.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Cell selection and reselection method and apparatus


A reflective dynamic projector includes a light projection device. The light projection device includes a reflective element with a reflective surface, a plurality of first light sources, and a first driving unit. There are bump textures arranged on the reflective surface which make the reflective surface to be a diffuse reflection surface. The reflective surface surrounds the plurality of first light sources and each of the plurality of first light sources is arranged towards the reflective surface; or an outer surface of the reflective element is the reflective surface, the plurality of first light sources surrounds the reflective element, and each of the plurality of first light sources is arranged towards the reflective surface. The first driving unit is connected with the reflective element or the plurality of first light sources and drives the reflective element or the plurality of first light sources to rotate.

With the development of society, people's quality of life is getting higher and higher. In a variety of environmental occasions, different lamps are usually used to decorate and light. Due to the fast rhythm of life, modern people don't have enough time to enjoy the beautiful night sky in the wild. In addition, due to the weather, geographical locations and other factors, it is usually difficult to see all kinds of strange astronomical views. Therefore, people have designed some lamps to simulate the starry sky. At present, existing starry sky projection lamps on the market generally adopts direct light sources to realize the light effect projection. However, this kind of technology needs larger size glass lens, and the lens itself is heavy and difficult to manufacture, which may affect the shape and structure design of the starry sky projection lamps. In addition, the glass lens is also heavy, which is more prone to be damaged when falling down, thus affecting the service life of the starry sky projection lamp.

Reflective dynamic projector and starry sky lamp


There are provided a composition for a ceramic electronic component having excellent sinterability and magnetic characteristics (Q), a manufacturing method thereof, and an electronic component using the same. The magnetic material composition for the ceramic electronic component is composed of ferric oxide (Fe2O3) of 47.0 to 49.0 parts by mole, nickel oxide (NiO) of 16.0 to 24.0 parts by mole, zinc oxide (ZnO) of 18.0 to 25.0 parts by mole, and copper oxide (CuO) of 7.0 to 13.0 parts by mole, wherein a portion of ferric oxide may be substituted with boron oxide (B2O3). The ceramic electronic component manufactured by using the magnetic material composition for the ceramic electronic component has an excellent Q.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic material composition for a ceramic electronic component, a method of manufacturing the same, and a ceramic electronic component using the same, and more particularly, to a magnetic material composition for a ceramic electronic component having excellent sinterability and magnetic characteristics (Q), a method of manufacturing the same, and a ceramic electronic component using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of various electronic communications devices such as cellular phones and the like, the demand for a multilayer electronic component is gradually increasing, in order to implement various functions of an electronic circuit board. In the multilayer ceramic electronic component manufactured by a magnetic ceramic material, since an internal wiring circuit is made of Ag, Cu, or the like, which is a low melting point material, a magnetic ceramic material which may be sintered at a low temperature is required.
In general, nickel-zinc ferrite, nickel-zinc-copper ferrite, or the like is primarily used as a magnetic material of a low-temperature sintered magnetic material ceramic component such as a multilayer chip inductor, a multilayer chip bead, a power inductor, and the like. A nickel (Ni)-zinc (Zn)-Copper (Cu) ternary composition contains copper in order to improve a sintering characteristic of nickel-zinc ferrite. Fe may be substituted with positive trivalent ions such as Al, Cr, and the like or positive tetravalent ions such as Sn, Ti, and the like, and Ni, Zn, and Cu may be substituted with positive divalent ions such as Mn, Co, Mg, and the like.
In order to improve magnetic characteristics of nickel-zinc-copper ferrite, NiO, ZnO, CuO, and Fe2O3 are used as main ingredients, and Li2O, SnO2, Co3O4, Bi2O3, Mn3O4 which are sub ingredients of 5 wt % or less, with respect to the main ingredients, are added to control initial permeability, sintering density, saturated magnetization, and the like. However, the materials added as the sub ingredients are not completely solid-soluble at an A-site or a B-site within a ferrite lattice, thereby generating hematite (α-Fe2O3) or a secondary phase such as CuO, Cu2O, or the like. As a result, the magnetic characteristic of the nickel-zinc-copper ferrite is reduced.

Magnetic material composition for ceramic electronic component, method of manufacturing the same, and ceramic electronic component using the same


A system for cooling or heating a body part includes at least one bladder, a pump, a heat exchanger, a first fluid line in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and the at least one bladder, a second fluid line in fluid communication with the at least one bladder and the heat exchanger, a main reservoir and a separator. The heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the pump. The first fluid line is located downstream from the heat exchanger and the second fluid line is located downstream from the at least one bladder when the system is operating to cool or heat the body part. The separator is in fluid communication with the main reservoir and the pump and is located below the main reservoir to receive fluid under the influence of gravity from the main reservoir and to deliver fluid to the pump via gravity.

The pump and cooling fluid liquid sources have been described as a reservoir surrounded by a cooling unit which is supplied refrigerant from a compressor, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,502 B2. Ice baths in which ice has been placed into a reservoir of water have also been used as a cooling fluid source.

System and method for cooling or heating a human body part


A sprinkler device has an inlet-driving assembly mounted in by a rotary seat, and an outlet valve whose one end is mounted through the rotary seat and in the inlet-driving assembly and the other end has multiple through holes. A spray nozzle assembly is mounted on the outlet valve and has multiple first and second spray holes communicating with the through holes of the outlet valve and the rotary seat, and has a block flange formed around a periphery thereof. A first and a second O-rings are sequentially mounted on the block flange. One end of the spray nozzle assembly is mounted through a cover mounted on the inlet driving assembly. Subjected to a same pressure from water filled in all parts of the sprinkler device, the first and second O-rings reduce friction between the block flange and the cover to enable a smooth rotation of the spray nozzle assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sprinkler device, and more particularly to a sprinkler device driving flow direction and position of water flowing therein so as to spray different water patterns.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional sprinkler device sprays the water inputted therein through water holes of a nozzle of the conventional sprinkler device due to water pressure. With specific structure and design of the water holes of the conventional sprinkler device, water is sprayed out through the water holes of the nozzle in a particular pattern to sprinkle a lawn and decorate with the water pattern formed by the conventional sprinkler device.
With reference to FIGS. 14 to 17, a conventional sprinkler device has a base 80 and a sprinkling assembly. The base 80 has a hollow chamber 801, a hole 802 and a water inlet 803. The hole 802 is formed through a top of the base 80 and communicates with the chamber 801. The water inlet 803 communicates with the chamber 801 for inputting water with a constant water pressure into the chamber 801. The sprinkler assembly has a shaft seat 81, a spin element 82, an outlet valve 83, a rotary seat 84 and a spray nozzle 85.
The shaft seat 81 has a bottom board, at least one water hole 811, a spindle 812 and a mount hole 813. In the present embodiment, the shaft seat 81 has four water slots 811. The four water slots 811 are formed through the shaft seat 81. A bevel wall inside each water slot 811 obliquely intersects with the bottom board so that water with the constant pressure obliquely passes through the water slot 811. The spindle 812 is centrally formed on the bottom board of the shaft seat 81. The mount hole 813 is non-circular and is formed in a top of the spindle 812. The spin element 82 has a shaft hole 821, multiple cutouts, multiple blades 822, two slots 823 and two balls 820. The shaft hole 821 is centrally formed through the spin element 82 and is mounted around the spindle 812. The cutouts are radially formed through the spin element 82 and around an outer wall of the shaft hole 821. The blades 822 are radially and separately formed on a bottom of the spin element 82 and respectively correspond to the water holes 811 of the shaft seat 81. The slots 823 are oppositely formed in a periphery of the spin element 82. The balls 820 are respectively received in the slots 823. The outlet valve 83 has a disk, multiple through holes 832, a shaft column 831 and a center bore 833. The through holes 832 are formed through the disk. The shaft column 831 has a non-circular section and is centrally formed on and downwardly protrudes from a bottom of the outlet valve 83 and corresponds to and is mounted in the mount hole 813 of the shaft seat 81 through the shaft hole 821 of the spin element 82 so that the spin element 82 is positioned on the top of the spin element 82 and is rotated along with the spin element 82. The center bore 833 is centrally formed through the disk and formed in the shaft column 831.
The rotary seat 84 has an annular wall and two protrusions 841. The two protrusions are formed on and protrude from an inside wall of the annular wall. The spray nozzle 85 has a top, a side periphery, a bottom, a block flange 850, multiple first spray holes 851, multiple second spray holes 852, two buckle tongues 853, multiple center water channels 854, multiple side water channels 855 and a shaft 856. The block flange 850 is annularly formed around the side periphery of the spray nozzle 85. The first spray holes 851 are formed through the top of the spray nozzle 85. The second spray holes 852 are formed through the side periphery of the spray nozzle 85. The buckle tongues 853 are oppositely formed on and protrude downwardly from an edge of the block flange 850 and respectively engage the buckles 842. The center water channels 854 are longitudinally formed through the bottom of the of the spray nozzle 85 and respectively communicate with the first spray holes 851. The side water channels 855 are formed through the side periphery of the spray nozzle 85 and respectively communicate with the second spray holes 852. The shaft 856 is mounted on and protrudes downwardly from the bottom of the spray nozzle 85, and is inserted in the center bore 833 of the outlet valve 83 so that the spray nozzle 85 is rotated with the rotary seat 84, the first and second spray holes 851, 852 communicate with the hole 802, the block flange 850 abuts against to block the hole 802, and an edge of the bottom board of the shaft seat 81 is integrated and fixed with an inner wall of the base 80. When the water with high pressure is entered the chamber 801 of the base 80, the water with high pressure flows through the water holes 811 and hits the blades 822 of the spin element 82 to drive the spin element 82 rapidly rotate. Due to a centrifugal force, the balls 820 are moving radially and outwardly to respectively abut against the protrusions 841 so that the rotary seat 84 is pushed to rotate and the spray nozzle 85 is synchronously rotated.
Alternatively, the water with high pressure passes through the spin element 82 and the through holes 832 of the outlet valve 83, selectively goes through the center water channels 854 or the side water channels 855 and are spayed out through the first spray holes 851 and the second spray holes 852. However, the water with high pressure is also filled in the chamber 801 above the shaft seat 81. The water pressure is directly applied to the rotary seat 84 and the spray nozzle 85. Subjected to the water pressure, the block flange 850 abuts against the base 80 and a friction between the block flange 850 and the base 80 results in an issue that the spray nozzle 85 is not rotated smoothly.


Techniques for ontology expansion are provided. In one disclosed method, an ontology is first identified. Terms in the ontology are disambiguated to identify term senses. Additional senses are identified using a lexical database. The additional senses are then added to the ontology to generate an augmented or expanded ontology.

The World Wide Web ("Web") provides a wealth of information and services to people around the world. The ability to discover information from around the globe often requires no more than a click of a mouse. At the same time, the Web is best suited for use by people. For example, tasks such as finding a specific translation of a word, searching for the lowest price on an item for sale, or making reservations at a restaurant or with an airline are often difficult for a machine to accomplish without human assistance.
As a result, work is being done to make the Web more understandable. The Semantic Web, for example, tries to provide a framework to make the Web more understandable to both humans and machines by defining the meaning of information and services available on the Web. The goal is to enable the understanding and satisfaction of requests from various sources. The Semantic Web aims to enable machines, for example, to perform some of the tasks that are performed by humans today.
Making the Web more understandable has many applications that include data integration, data classification, searching, content rating, data description, or the like. In order for these applications to come to fruition, however, it is necessary to identify the meaning or semantics of data and/or services on the Web.
One of the tools used to determine the semantics of data and services on the Web is ontologies. Ontologies are used to express relationships among resources. For instance, there are many different terms that can be used to describe the same things in various data sets. Ontologies can identify these relationships and make it easier to determine the semantics of these data sets. Unfortunately, constructing ontologies is a labor intensive and costly process. In addition, ontologies are often incomplete and unfocused.


A tape measure system with primary and secondary locking assemblies. A housing has a first face and a second face with a peripheral wall therebetween. A slot is provided in at least one linear extent on the peripheral wall. A length of flexible, essentially inextensible tape, is adapted to be rolled up in a spool-like configuration within the housing. The tape is formed of a flexible material with an arcuate cross-sectional configuration and has a central axis of rotation extending perpendicularly through central extents of the first and second faces, an interior end and a free exterior end extending through the slot to exterior of the housing, and a generally rigid stopper to preclude the exterior end of the tape from entering the housing. A locking assembly includes a first component operatively coupled with respect to the linear extent of the housing and a second component positionable in spaced operative proximity to the fixed component for the positioning of a portion of the tape therebetween. A connecting member couples at least one edge of the second component and one adjacent edge of the second component for allowing the frictional securing of a portion of the tape between the components.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tape measure system with primary and secondary locking assemblies and more particularly pertains to facilitating the convenient and accurate use of a tape measure system when measuring, particularly heights.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of tape measures of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, tape measures of known designs and configurations heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of facilitating the convenient and accurate measuring of objects through known methods and apparatuses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,785 to Benarroch discloses a locking and measure device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,803 to O'Sullivan discloses a tape measure and fixture. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,007 to Harris discloses a tool guiding tape measure.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a tape measure system with primary and secondary locking assemblies that allows facilitating the convenient and accurate use of a tape measure system when measuring, particularly heights.
In this respect, the tape measure system with primary and secondary locking assemblies according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of facilitating the convenient and accurate use of a tape measure system when measuring, particularly heights.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved tape measure system with primary and secondary locking assemblies which can be used for facilitating the convenient and accurate use of a tape measure system when measuring, particularly heights. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

Tape measure system with primary and secondary locking assemblies


A temperature sensing sootblower that may be configured as a modification to an existing sootblower or a specially constructed sootblower that, in addition to its normal soot blowing functions, has the capability to measure the flue gas, lance tube, and/or cleaning fluid temperatures. One or more thermocouples or other temperature measuring devices are carried by the sootblower lance tube that is inserted into the boiler. This allows for the temperature of the flue gas, lance tube, and cleaning fluid to be measured as the sootblower lance tube is inserted into and retracted from the boiler. Multiple temperature measuring devices may be located on the sootblower lance to measure the temperature across heat transfer surfaces and at different locations along the lance tube. A data transfer device transmits the temperature measurements from the rotating thermocouple to a non-rotating data acquisition unit for use in boiler cleaning and other operations.

The entrainment of fly ash particles from the lower furnace of an industrial boiler to the convection sections of the boiler is an inevitable process. The accumulation of these particles in the fireside heat exchanger surfaces reduces the boiler thermal efficiency, creates a potentially corrosive environment at the boiler tube surfaces and, if the accumulation is not properly controlled, may also lead to costly unscheduled boiler shutdowns due to plugging of the gas passages.
Knowledge of the flue gas temperatures across the boiler heat transfer surfaces is therefore an important piece of information that can be used to evaluate fireside deposit characteristics, to improve boiler cleaning operation through intelligent deposit removal processes, and to optimize boiler operation and combustion processes. Conventional temperature sensors positioned in fixed locations on boiler walls or other internal boiler structures do not monitor flue gas temperatures across the boiler heat transfer surfaces. There is, therefore, a continuing need for effective ways of monitoring the internal temperature of flue gasses across heat transfer surfaces inside of industrial boilers.
Sootblowers are by far the most widely used equipment to remove the fireside deposit accumulations in industrial boilers, such as oil-fired, coal-fired, trash-fired, waste incinerator, as well as boilers used in paper manufacturing, oil refining, steel, and aluminum smelting and other industrial enterprises. A sootblower consists of a lance tube with one or more nozzles. During the deposit removal process, the sootblower lance rotates and extends through a small opening in the boiler wall, while blowing high pressure cleaning fluid (e.g., steam, air or water) directed into the tube banks. After the lance is fully extended, it rotates in the opposite direction as it retracts to its original inactive state.
The sootblower carriage consists of one or two electric motor(s), a gearbox and a packing housing. The electric motor is the main drive that moves the lance tube forward and backward during the cleaning cycle. The motor converts electrical energy into rotation motion, which is then used by the gearbox to rotate and move the lance tube along the gear rack. As the steam enters a sootblower, it is directed to four components in the following order: poppet valve, feed tube, lance tube, and nozzles. The lance tube is the main component that travels within the boiler while supplying the sootblower nozzles with high pressure steam directed by jets toward the boiler tubes. The lance travel includes insertion into and retraction from the boiler. During the cleaning process, the lance extends into the boiler and forms a structure similar to a cantilevered beam. Hence, the lance has to be designed to have sufficient strength to support its own weight in a high temperature environment.
To avoid overheating the lance tube during internal boiler operation, the blowing fluid, which also acts as a cooling medium, needs to be supplied continuously to the lance. The minimum amount of the cleaning media required to prevent the lance from overheating is known as the minimum cooling flow. The minimum cooling flow of a lance tube depends on the material, the length of the lance tube, the steam and flue gas temperatures. Knowledge of the lance tube temperatures as the lance is being exposed to hot flue gas inside the boiler is very important to prevent lance tube overheating and to devise emergency sootblower retraction control strategy. A continuing need therefore exists for effective ways for monitoring the temperature of the lance tube as the lance is exposed to hot flue gas inside the boiler.


An integrated circuit device with a single via layer, in which the via layer includes selectable via sites and/or jumpers. The selectable via sites and/or placement of jumpers may be used to configure and interconnect components and circuitry between distinct layers of multilayer circuits. In some implementations, selectively enabling via sites, such as by filling via opening and/or using jumpers, may form a deserializer circuit with a first via configuration or a first-in first-out (FIFO) circuit with a second via configuration.

This disclosure relates to an integrated circuit device used to support different applications by configuring via connections of a via layer.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Integrated circuit devices are used in numerous electronic systems. Computers, handheld devices, portable phones, televisions, industrial control systems, robotics, and telecommunication networking—to name just a few—all use integrated circuit devices. Integrated circuit devices may be developed using lithography techniques that pattern circuitry onto a substrate wafer that is diced to form a number of (generally identical) individual integrated circuit die. Each integrated circuit die for a particular application may include many different components, such as programmable logic fabric, digital or analog signal transmission circuitry, digital signal processing circuitry, application-specific data processing circuitry, memory, and so forth. The lithography techniques to form circuits on an integrated circuit die may involve using a variety of different steps, possibly including one or more photomasks (e.g., a photomask set) corresponding to that specific circuitry on the integrated circuit die. In other words, manufacturing an integrated circuit die that has a first functionality may involve a completely different process and/or photomask set as compared to an integrated circuit die that has a second functionality.

Configurable first in first out and deserializer circuitry


A printing control apparatus includes a defective nozzle detecting section that detects a defective nozzle included in the plurality of nozzles; and a complementing section that forms a complementary dot which complements dots of a first raster to be recorded using the defective nozzle on at least one of a second raster and the first raster using a complementary nozzle included in the plurality of nozzles. The complementing section includes an adjusting section which sets main scanning being performed after the defective nozzle is detected as a first main scanning, sets main scanning being performed M times after the defective nozzle is detected as a M-th main scanning, and allows a usage rate of ink in the first main scanning to be greater than a usage rate of ink in the M-th main scanning, regarding the usage rate of ink discharged using the same complementary nozzle.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a printing control apparatus and a printing control method.
2. Related Art
The ink jet printer, for example, reciprocates a plurality of nozzles, which are arranged in a predetermined nozzle arrangement direction, and an object to be printed in a reciprocation direction intersecting with the nozzle arrangement direction, discharges ink droplets (liquid droplets) from nozzles according to nozzle data which indicates presence or absence of dots in each pixel so as to form dots onto the object to be printed. The ink jet printer which performs multipath printing repeats main scanning and sub scanning so as to form dots in each raster by passing (main scanning) twice or more. As a representative example of such an ink jet printer, there is a serial printer.
When the ink droplets are not discharged from the nozzle or a trace of the discharged ink droplets is not correctly drawn due to clogging or the like in the serial printer, a "dot missing" raster connecting to the pixel on which the dots are not formed in the main scanning direction is formed, so that a line such as a white line is generated in the printed image. In order to suppress such a line, a complementary dot, which complements dots to be formed using a defective nozzle which is defected to form dots, is formed using the complementary nozzle. In the ink jet printer which performs the multipath printing, the complementary nozzle which can be used for forming dots on the "dot missing" raster is present, and thus, the complementary dot can be formed by discharging the ink droplets from the complementary nozzle. An ink jet recording apparatus disclosed in JP-A-2005-246840 confirms a non-discharging nozzle before printing, and distributes and allocates recording of the pixel which is recorded using the non-discharging nozzle in the multipath printing of a three-pass or more to a plurality of fungible nozzles.
The defective nozzle may be generated during printing. Here, it is preferable that the complementary dot is formed when the defective nozzle is generated during printing. In the ink jet recording apparatus described above, when the non-discharging nozzle is generated during printing without confirming the non-discharging nozzle before printing, a line such as a white line is generated in the printed image. Moreover, such a problem is also present on various printing apparatuses.

Printing control apparatus and printing control method


A method and apparatus for coupling a conductor-based transmission line, such as a strip transmission line, to a waveguide. The transmission line may be separated from a corresponding conducting ground plane by a first dielectric substrate layer. The ground plane may be adhesively coupled to a portion of the waveguide, and may be offset from the interior of the waveguide, so that adhesive squeezed out between the ground plane and the waveguide may be at least partially shielded from the waveguide, and thus does not significantly perturb electromagnetic signals within the waveguide.

In microwave circuit design, it is often necessary to interface circuit boards with other circuit components such as microwave waveguides. Circuit boards typically communicate via one of various conductor-based transmission lines, such as microstrip, stripline, coplanar waveguide or slotline. Three-dimensional microwave waveguides typically have rectangular or circular cross sections, and are hollow with metallic shells or are filled with a conductive dielectric material. These three-dimensional waveguides are referred to herein as microwave waveguides or simply waveguides.
Adaptors or transitions, also referred to herein as probe launches or simply probes, are mechanisms employed to interface conductor-based transmission lines with waveguides. Such transitions typically suffer from losses due to attenuation and impedance mismatches (reflections), and also may result in perturbations in microwave signals sent or received by the probe.
Conventional transitions to a microwave waveguide are made from stripline or microstrip transmission lines. The transition may be disposed at an end of a microwave waveguide section, or laterally through a side of a microwave waveguide.

Multi-substrate microstrip to waveguide transition


An aircraft noise-reduction apparatus comprise a flow-facing element (1) and a flow control device (2) positioned downstream of the flow-facing element (1). The flow control device (2) is arranged, in use, to reduce noise induced by unsteady flow downstream of the flow-facing element (1).

Flow around bodies generates noise, which is detrimental in particular aerodynamic applications for example where low noise emissions are a design requirement. One such application where the level of noise emissions is important is in the design of commercial aircraft. Over the past decades engine noise has been significantly reduced, for example by the introduction of high-bypass ratio turbofan engines. However, maintaining the minimum engine ground clearance with such high-bypass ratio turbo fan engines results in longer landing gear. Thus, landing gear on commercial aircraft have been identified as major noise contributors during approach and landing. The design of a landing gear is primarily based on its structural and dynamic function. This complex geometric design gives rise to unsteady flow which leads to unwanted noise generation.
Fairings have been proposed as a means of reducing landing gear noise. For example, a noise reduction fairing for an aircraft landing gear is disclosed in WO 01/04003A1. Such noise reduction fairings at least partially shield downstream components such as struts stays and actuators from high-speed flow.
Embodiments of the present invention seek to provide improved or alternate noise-reduction apparatus for aircraft. Some embodiments may also reduce the noise generated by noise reduction fairings themselves.

Splitter plate for aircraft noise reduction apparatus


A method for measuring a program-controlled machine tool using a measuring sphere. According to this method the measuring sphere having known dimensions is positioned on a machine part. A sensing element installed in the machine is moved to a selected initial position in which it is located approximately 10 mm above the vertex section of the sphere. Then the sensing element is repeatedly moved until it contacts various points on the surface of the sphere, and the coordinate values of those points of contact are input into the controller. Thereafter the spatial position of the center of the sphere is calculated and compared with target values stored in the controller.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for measuring a program-controlled machine tool using a measuring sphere.
2. Background Discussion
To comply with the high accuracy requirements of modern machine tools an accurate measurement of the individual machine components during the production process and of the whole machine after its production is indispensable so that possible defects can be detected in an early stage and compensated for by corresponding corrective measures, if required. After certain periods of operation further measurements are necessary to detect and analyze the state of wear of individual machine components as well as defects caused by improper handling.
For the purposes mentioned above various measuring methods are known with the aid of which, for example, the pivot length, the displacement of the axis of a spindle head or a round turntable, as well as the slack, can be detected by special measurement programs. To carry out the individual measuring operations in milling and drilling machines, one method employs a sensing element mounted in the work spindle which is used in connection with a polished block clamped to the machine part to be measured, particularly the workpiece table. Such measuring methods are extremely time-consuming and require numerous rectification and measuring operations.
For measuring the rotational axes of a milling machine, for example, of milling heads of various types, a method referred to as FIDIA head measuring system is known in which a special calibration and measuring device is used. With this known measuring method a positioning error compensation for the two round axes as well as the automatic detection of their zero point can be carried out. In addition, an examination of the parallelism of the rotational planes of the round axes with respect to the linear axes, as well as an extended volumetric compensation, can be carried out. The calibration and measuring device required to accomplish this method comprises a stator to be mounted on the machine part, for example, the machine table, and includes three struts angularly displaced by 120° and carrying sensing elements positioned in a predetermined angle of inclination at their upper ends. A measuring tool comprising a cylindrical shaft and a measuring sphere disposed at its free end is mounted in the work spindle of the machine. The measuring sphere is positioned by corresponding movements of the work spindle so that all three sensing elements contact the surface of the sphere. This known measuring method is also connected with certain expenditures since relatively complex calibration and measuring devices are required.
German patent 31 32 383 C describes a device and a method for testing the measuring accuracy of coordinate measuring devices. Two measuring spheres machined with a high surface quality are disposed on a common carrier in an adjustable spacing and provided with bores along a measuring beam. Changes of the distance between the spheres are measured by an interferometer arrangement. The exact original distance between the two measuring spheres needs to be known. The spatial position of the two measuring spheres can be detected by the coordinate measuring device by means of a multiple point sampling. A control computer detects and compares the distance values of the measuring spheres detected by the laser interferometer and the values measured by the coordinate measuring device during the sampling of the spheres. Measuring machine tools, particularly the round axes, is not possible.

Method for measuring a program-controlled machine tool


A resonant, quasi-square wave, pulse width modulated (PWM) power source (33) for a connectorless power system is disclosed. The power source (33) supplies constant amplitude, fixed-frequency current to a supply loop (31) that is inductively coupled to a plurality of pickup loops (35), each of which supplies power to a remote unit, such as the seat regulator that supplies power to a group of commercial airplane seats (37). Precise, fixed-frequency control is provided by triggering a PWM with fixed-frequency sync pulses. Current control is provided by sensing the current applied to the supply loop, converting the magnitude of the sensed current to a voltage and using the voltage to control the width of the pulses produced by the PWM. The PWM pulses, in turn, control the width of the power pulses applied by the power source (33) to the supply loop (31). Stability and efficiency are improved by maintaining the output of the power source nearly resonant, i.e., maintaining the phase angle between the output voltage and current low. This is accomplished by determining the phase angle between the output voltage and current and using the result to control the magnitude of capacitance connected in series with the supply loop.

When ordering commercial aircraft, airline companies often specify a number of design options to the manufacturer, including passenger seating layouts. The manufacturing inventory costs associated with providing different seating arrangements and spacing between seats can be significant. These costs will become more important to the next generation of aircraft, which will offer new personal entertainment and service facilities to each passenger. Designers of such facilities are planning to install an entertainment system and passenger service system in the back of each aircraft seat for use by the passenger in the following seat. In order to supply power to these facilities, conventional wiring techniques will typically require that each different seating arrangement that an airline company specifies have a different length power lead harness. The cost and weight penalty associated with providing power for each seat using conventional wiring techniques is likely to be unacceptable to most passenger carriers. In addition to unacceptable costs in terms of weight, conventional wiring techniques inhibit the ability to rearrange classes of seating (by sliding seats to change seating pitch) in order to optimize the payload return on a flight (even within 30 minutes of departure). The ability to rearrange classes of seating on a short-term basis is a profitable feature that is desired by most airlines.
An alternative to wiring each seat to a power source utilizing a conventional power lead harness is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,078 (C. Kuo). This patent discloses what is referred to therein as a "wireless" system for supplying power to a plurality of multiple-turn pickup coils disposed in the base of seats throughout an aircraft cabin. Perhaps this technology could more accurately be described as a "connectorless" power supply system, because power is inductively coupled from a power supply loop that is disposed in the floor of an aircraft cabin to pickup coils attached to each seat group. The power is used to operate the passenger entertainment and service systems installed in the seats. This wireless system permits seats to be moved about in different arrangements as required by individual airline carriers, without concern for providing different length interconnecting wire harnesses.
In order for a connectorless power supply system to be practical in an aircraft environment, the system power source must meet certain criteria. The power source must have: (i) high efficiency (in order to maintain power dissipation low); (ii) very tight frequency regulation; (iii) reasonably well-regulated current amplitude over load and line variations; (iv) low weight; (v) low output and input wiring harmonic fluctuations; and (vi) high reliability. Furthermore, the power source must be producible for a reasonable cost and be fairly easy to manufacture.
High efficiency is mandated by the maximum allowable power dissipation in certain size enclosures dictated by present commercial aircraft specifications (ARINC 600). For an eight MCU enclosure, power dissipation must be less than 200 watts with forced air cooling. As a result, power dissipation is the requirement that must be met, not efficiency per se.
Fixed frequency is required because variable frequency would require autoresonating in the seat regulators of the aircraft, which adds cost and weight. More specifically, since a modern commercial aircraft has many seats, typically, many seat regulators are required. As a result, the weight and cost of seat regulators is a significant factor when it comes to choosing a power supply system. Varying frequency has the further disadvantage of causing interference with the RF transmission (and eventually the audio system) of an entertainment and service system. Because such interference will vary in an unpredictable fashion, its elimination is expensive and, therefore, undesirable.
The constant amplitude current requirement is also designed to make it easier for the seat regulators to maintain a constant DC output voltage. More specifically, the voltage induced in pickup coils is proportional to the current in a supply loop. If the supply loop current is maintained at a constant amplitude, the voltage induced at the pickup coils is relatively constant, whereby the job of the seat regulator to maintain a constant DC output voltage is eased. Contrariwise, if constant voltage is used as the power source requirement, the primary impedance associated with one seat pickup coil would consist of not only the power source output impedance and the supply loop inductance but also the impedances of all the other seat pickup units in the system. Because the impedances of the pickup units can vary widely, because required power can vary over a wide range as powered items (e.g., TVs) are turned on and off, the variation in pickup unit impedance would appear as a variation in source impedance. A varying source impedance increase would make it very difficult and, thus, more expensive for the seat regulators to maintain a constant output voltage.
A further factor that needs to be taken into consideration is the fact that contemporary aircraft power supplies generate 400 Hz power. An unacceptable number of supply loop and pickup coil turns are required to provide adequate power to seat regulators at 400 Hz. In order to reduce the number of turns in the supply loop and the pickup loop to an acceptable level, the 400 Hz power created by contemporary aircraft generators must be changed to a higher frequency. Obviously, too high a frequency cannot be chosen because of EMI considerations. More specifically, while higher frequencies increase the efficiency of a connectorless power supply system, in a commercial aircraft, the chosen fundamental frequency and, preferably, the third harmonic of the fundamental frequency must be below the frequency bands of the automatic direction finder and other navigation systems of the aircraft. In the past, 38 KHz was picked as a frequency low enough to avoid the EMI problem and to allow synchronization with the FM pilot of FM entertainment systems. The preferred embodiment of the present invention was designed based on using this frequency, i.e., 38 KHz, as the fundamental power switching frequency.