A semiconductor module with a plurality of interface circuits has a configuration for the self-test of interface circuits, with two equally sized groups of interface circuits such that each interface circuit of the first group is assigned exactly one interface circuit of the second group. A circuit interacts with the first group and serves for generating test signals which can be output via the interface circuits of the first group. Another circuit interacts with the second group and serves for receiving and processing test signals received via the interface circuits of the second group, so that a connection of the assigned interface circuits of the first and second groups enables a self-test, the first and second groups of interface circuits having a separate voltage supply. This enables good test coverage by separate variation of the voltage of transmitting and receiving group.

Field of the Invention
The invention lies in the semiconductor technology field. More specifically, the present invention relates to a semiconductor module with a plurality of interface circuits and a configuration for the self-test of interface circuits. The application furthermore relates to a method for the self-test of interface circuits of such a semiconductor module.
All semiconductor modules communicate with other devices via I/O interface circuits. With fast interface circuits, for example LVDS (Low-Voltage Differential Signals) or DDR (Double Data Rate), the necessary functional tests require a very high accuracy with regard to timing control and voltage.
The most widespread test method uses external test systems having very high accuracy with regard to timing control and voltage, which are connected via a multiplicity of signal lines to the modules to be tested. However, this procedure is increasingly encountering its limits, since test systems having the high accuracy required for the present-day fast interface circuits are very costly and in some instances are not commercially available with the required specification.
One possibility for dispensing with an external test system consists in providing an on-chip test logic with PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) or DLL (Delay-Locked Loop). However, this procedure is very complex and requires a very large chip area for the integration of the high-precision PLL or DLL test logic.
Published German patent application DE 198 32 307 A1 discloses an integrated circuit with a self-test device for the self-test of the integrated circuit, in which an output of the self-test device is connected via an output drive to an external contact-making point of the circuit, which, for its part, is connected via an input driver to the input of the circuit unit to be tested. In the test operating mode, the self-test device passes a test signal via the output driver to the contact-making point and from there via the input driver to the circuit to be tested.
German patent DE 199 01 460 C1 discloses an integrated semiconductor circuit with a plurality of pad cells which each comprise a terminal pad and an output driver and can be monitored in an operating mode of the circuit using a functional test. In this case, a signal generator generates periodic signal sequences which are fed to the pad cell and the transfer response of the pad cell is measured externally at the output of the cell in the frequency domain.
This marks the starting point for the invention.

Semiconductor module with a configuration for the self-test of a plurality of interface circuits and test method


A printing apparatus that enhances light transmittance of overhead projector (OHP) sheets while preventing any deterioration in printing speed. The apparatus can compare a divider assembly located between a printing unit and a printed paper tray. The divider assembly feeds print media selectively to an OHP processing unit or to the printed paper tray. An OHP sheet printed in color is fed by the divider assembly to the OHP processing unit which prepares the sheet for OHP applications. An OHP sheet printed in monochrome is fed by the divider assembly to the printed paper tray without passage through the OHP processing unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and, more particularly, to a printing apparatus capable of performing overhead projector (OHP) processing for the purpose of enhancing light transmittance of ink in printing on an OHP sheet.
2. Description of Related Art
FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) are views showing how a typical prior art ink jet printer operates. As depicted in FIG. 7(a), a printer head 17 comprises nozzles 63 filled with ink 62 and piezoelectric elements 64 furnished on the walls of the nozzles 63. On the surface of the printer head 17, the surface tension of the ink 62 prevents it from oozing out of the head 17.
A print command from a CPU 37 applies a voltage to appropriate piezoelectric elements 64. The voltage deforms the piezoelectric elements 64 in a convex fashion toward the corresponding nozzles 63, pressurizing the ink 62 within the nozzles 63, as illustrated in FIG. 7(b). When pressurized, a part of the ink 62 spurts out of the printer head 17 and adheres to a sheet 14.
When characters and figures are printed on an overhead projector (OHP) sheet 68, the ink 62 sticks protrusively on the surface thereof, as shown in FIG. 8(a). The protrusion of the ink 62 causes the light transmitting therethrough to scatter. The scattering of the transmitted light makes it difficult to obtain vivid colors of the characters and figures which are projected from the OHP sheet 68 onto a screen.
One method to solve the above problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,473. This method involves using a coating roller arrangement or the like to apply a coat of special coating material 70 over the printed surface of the OHP sheet 68. The coating smooths out the ink protrusions on the sheet surface after printing and eliminates the scattering of the light that passes through the OHP sheet 68, as shown in FIG. 8(b), whereby vivid colors of the print are obtained upon projection on the screen.
Another method proposed to address the same problem is to use a pressure roller assembly or the like to pressurize the printed OHP sheet 68. The roller flattens the protrusions of the ink 62, as illustrated in FIG. 8(c). The flattened ink eliminates the scattering of the transmitted light and ensures vivid colors of the print as it is projected on the screen.
Yet another method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,706 involves heating the printed OHP sheet 68 above a melting point of the ink 62. When heated, the ink 62 liquefies and spreads over the OHP sheet 68. When the ink 62 is cooled, the surface thereof becomes smooth and does not cause the transmitting light to scatter, as shown in FIG. 8(d). This also ensures vivid colors of the print as it is projected onto the screen.
One disadvantage of the proposed prior art methods is that it generally takes disproportionately longer for the printing apparatus operating using these methods to perform the so-called OHP processing than the time necessary to print the OHP sheet 68. The OHP processing, as described above, refers to the measures taken to render vivid the colors of the ink 62 as the print is projected from the OHP sheet 68 onto the screen. Another disadvantage of the prior art is that while the OHP sheet 68 printed in black obviously need not undergo OHP processing for higher transmittance, the prior art apparatus deals with both monochromatic (i.e., black) and multiple color sheets indiscriminately. The OHP processing of the prior art thus reduces a printing speed unavoidably and unnecessarily.

Printing apparatus for performing overhead projector processing


A cable management system having a base section and a cap section with an attachment mechanism to connect the cap to the base. The base of the cable management system includes opposing side projections to form a C-shaped cross-section with an opening between ends of the side projections, while the cap is crescent-shaped and configured to cover the opening when attached to the base. The attachment mechanism is fixed to an interior surface of the base to form two distinct channels. The cap is removable to allow addition, removal and/or adjustment of cords and cables.

The use of cable to carry electricity, data, video and audio signals to and from electronic devices used in nearly every home and business on a daily basis, is ubiquitous. And despite the growing use of WiFi and Bluetooth® to fuel wireless technology, the need for power cords, charging cords, connecting cable for video/audio devices, and the like, may never be completely eliminated.
With the use of such cabling comes the unsightliness of the web-like configurations that can detract from a room's aesthetics. Further, the cords can become tripping hazards if run along traveling paths. The cords can be damaged as well, from a constant impact brought about by moving of furniture and daily foot traffic. And, if all that wasn't enough, the cables can become a twisted, intertwined mess over time, making it difficult to determine which cord is attached to which device.
Cable raceway channeling currently exists in many forms. However, until the invention of the present application, prior art systems and devices were unable to solve all of the above problems, as well as other problems associated with cable usage. The present invention provides a protective cover which performs multiple functions without sacrificing design, style or affordability.


There is provided a process for producing an organic PTC thermistor including the steps of:                mixing an organic binder with a filler to obtain a mixture;        forming on a first conductive foil, a mixture layer including the mixture to obtain a laminate; and        laminating on the laminate, a second conductive foil or another of the laminate to obtain a sandwich so that the mixture layer can be sandwiched by the opposing conductive foils.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an organic PTC thermistor and a production process therefor
2. Related Background Art
Organic PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) thermistors provided with a thermistor body that utilizes an organic material such as thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin include the known examples of the following dispersions to be used as the thermistor body: the dispersion formed by dispersing metal powders or carbon black in a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene (e.g., U.S. Pat No. 3,591,526); the dispersion formed by dispersing a fibrous conductive substance such as carbon fiber or metallic fiber (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,729); and the dispersion formed by dispersing bubbles in a composition containing a polymer material and a conductive material (e.g., JP-A 4067508 and JP-A 10125506).

Abstract: At least one of the mixing step, the layer-forming step and the laminating step is conducted under reduced pressure. An organic PTC thermistor obtained by the production process is also provided.


A plasma torch electrode has a copper outer shell on an inner portion of which is provided a more durable composition of a silver alloy by pressing or casting to achieve longer lifetime under arcing conditions in air or oxygen while minimizing the cost of materials and fabrication.

This invention relates to plasma torches such as for heating a gas and particularly to plasma torch electrodes, their composition, and methods of manufacture.
Plasma torches to be improved by the present invention typically contain two tubular shaped, water cooled, electrodes colinearly arranged along an axis. In direct current operation, one electrode is at a high potential and the other is normally at ground potential. There is a small gap, typically about 1 mm, between adjacent ends of the electrodes where an arc is initiated during startup. Gas to be heated is forced through this small gap into the inside of the tubular electrodes, thereby causing the arc to be extended into their inside diameter. Field coils surrounding the electrodes cause the arc to rotate within the electrode bores at a high velocity. The cold gas, coming through the small gap and then through the rapidly moving arc, is thus heated by the arc.
One electrode is referred to as the upstream electrode and normally has a closed end and is normally the electrode to which a high potential is applied. The other electrode, at ground potential, has an open end from which the heated gas passes and is referred to as the downstream electrode. The heated gas may be utilized for any number of heating purposes including chemical processes such as ore reduction.
Further background on relevant torches may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,705,975 and 4,214,736, whose description as to the construction and manner of operation of plasma torches is incorporated herein by reference.
Electrode life, particularly at the upstream, high voltage electrode, is a concern with the foregoing and similar torch designs, particularly when operating with an oxidizing gas such as air as the torch gas with copper electrodes.
As a consequence, a limited life of the electrodes for a given power level and torch size has limited the use of torches in commercial applications.
Another important factor is that in most industrial torch applications, the replacement of worn electrodes results in significant lost operating time for the process. Hence, longer lasting electrodes are desirable even with somewhat added cost for such electrodes.
During normal direct current operation on copper electrodes with the upstream electrode being the anode, the life of the upstream electrode may be less than about 100 hours and the life of the downstream electrode may be less than 300 hours. Oxide particles coming from the upstream electrodes tend to cause unstable torch operation. Copper oxide is stable at high temperature. These small particles enter the gap between electrodes, causing periodic short circuits and damage to the gap area. Reversing the polarity does not avoid the problem. Torch operation on alternating current alleviates the gap shorting problem somewhat but the electrode life of the two electrodes is merely made substantially equal at about 200 hours or less.
While copper has been the commonly used electrode material (typically OFHC copper with purity greater than 99%), exhibiting the above-mentioned wear problems, some longer life torch electrodes have been made of silver and copper alloys in the range of 72% to 90% silver. While the use of electrodes of such a composition has been found favorable in terms of lifetime when operating on air or oxygen, the expense of the electrodes has prohibited very widespread use. The relatively high cost results both from the cost of the silver electrode material itself as well as from the required fabrication operations.
Some electrodes in small torches made by Westinghouse have consisted entirely of a silver-copper alloy of the eutectic composition of 72% silver-28% copper. The electrodes were made by extruding the material from a rod. In other work reported by C. B. Holden of PPG Industries, Inc. in a paper "Electrode Life in An Arc Heater" (publication citation not known), life problems of electrodes are reported and discussion of the characteristics of silver alloy electrodes is given. The 72%-28% silver-copper alloy was recommended; certain commercial arc heater electrodes were made of the 80%-20% silver-copper alloy. Both the anode and cathode had a copper ring brazed onto one end to permit a threaded connection. Also, it is reported that a step joint and silver solder were used to fit deteriorated electrodes with new noses to replace the damaged area of the same 80%-20% alloy. In the case of some rear electrodes, this joint technique is also reported to have been used using a length of silver alloy tubing where the arc attachment was expected and copper tubing at both ends. The silver alloy tubing used for these electrodes was of cast material. It is mentioned that at the end of their lifetime of 5,000-10,000 hours (with an arc drawing about 550 amperes), they could be repaired with a new section of silver alloy tubing replacing the eroded part, giving even greater length of useful life.
The foregoing results in considerable material cost and, also, concern about the integrity of soldered joints which are required to be water tight. In some torches of particular current interest, the current drawn is in the range from about 1000-2000 amperes which aggravates the problem of electrode life.
In general, silver electrode material is typically more expensive than copper by a factor of about 30. Further, the fabrication of silver into the shape required for manufacturing electrodes might double this unfavorable ratio. Actual test data measuring wear on an anode indicates electrode life extended by factors of about 7 to 10 times in the high wear region of the electrode surface when using silver alloy material as compared to copper. An objective of the present invention is to provide designs for electrodes and their fabrication that are sufficiently economical so that the cost disadvantage does not greatly offset the improvement in life time.
In accordance with the present invention, a torch electrode comprises a tubular outer shell of a first material such as copper. On the inner surface of the outer shell, or preferably merely a portion of the inner surface, is directly fabricated an arcing portion of a second, more durable, metal such as silver-copper alloy. The second metal is provided, at least, in the region where the arc normally attaches to the electrode surface under the operating conditions to be encountered. In one method a silver alloy powder is compacted onto the shell by a hot isostatic pressing process. In another method, the silver alloy in the form of a powder or other form such as a wire can be placed in a cavity between the shell and a liner and then melted in a furnace to form a cast layer of alloy in the proper location. By such techniques, the occurrence of the silver alloy can be minimized both in axial extent as well as in thickness. A silver alloy thickness of no greater than about 6 mm, on the copper outer shell, is sufficient to provide a lifetime extension of about 7-10 times as compared to copper with an economical cost. The silver alloy thickness is generally no more than about half of the total electrode thickness. This is to extend life with lower material cost. A complete electrode, or complete thickness of silver alloy provides only a marginally greater improvement in life but at a considerably greater cost. While significant advantage can be taken of such electrodes as provided in a unitary integral structure, it is also a suitable design to provide the copper shell in detachable sections, as by having threaded ends, with the use of O-ring seals as desired, in order to permit replacement of only a section of the shell when the section having the arcing portion becomes worn.

Plasma torch with extended life electrodes


Chemical methods, optionally in combination with physical methods, may be used to increase the strength of the bond formed by a braze material between a polycrystalline material and a hard composite. Such polycrystalline materials brazed to hard composites may be found in various wellbore tools include drill bit cutters. An exemplary method may include forming a bonding layer on a bonding surface of a polycrystalline material body that comprises a hard material, the bonding surface opposing a contact surface of the polycrystalline material body, and the bonding layer substantially formed by a [111] crystal structure of the hard material, a [100] crystal structure of the hard material, or a combination thereof; and brazing the bonding layer to a hard composite using a braze material.

The present application relates to bonding hard composites to polycrystalline materials, including but not limited to, polycrystalline diamond ("PCD") materials and thermally stable polycrystalline ("TSP") materials.
Drill bits and components thereof are often subjected to extreme conditions (e.g., high temperatures, high pressures, and contact with abrasive surfaces) during subterranean formation drilling or mining operations. Hard materials like diamond, cubic boron nitride, and silicon carbide are often used at the contact points between the drill bit and the formation because of their wear resistance, hardness, and ability to conduct heat away from the point of contact with the formation.
Generally, such hard materials are formed by combining particles of the hard material and a catalyst, such that when heated the catalyst facilitates growth and/or binding of the hard material so as to bind the particles together to form a polycrystalline material. However, the catalyst remains within the body of the polycrystalline material after forming. Because the catalyst generally has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the hard material, the catalyst can cause fractures throughout the polycrystalline material when the polycrystalline material is heated (e.g., during brazing to attach the polycrystalline material to the drill bit or a portion thereof like a cutter or during operation downhole). These fractures weaken the polycrystalline material and may lead to a reduced lifetime for the drill bit.
To mitigate fracturing of the polycrystalline material, it is common to remove at least some of the catalyst, and preferably most of the catalyst, before exposing the polycrystalline material to elevated temperatures. Polycrystalline materials that have a substantial amount of the catalyst removed are referred to as thermally stable polycrystalline ("TSP") materials.
Specifically for drill bits, TSP materials are often bonded to another material (e.g., a hard composite like tungsten carbide particles dispersed in a copper binder) to allow the more expensive TSP materials to be strategically located at desired contact points with the formation. However, separation of the TSP material and the surface to which it is bonded during operation reduces the efficacy and lifetime of the drill bit.

Chemically strengthened bond between thermally stable polycrystalline hard materials and braze material


An azimuth calculation program is a computer-executable program that performs an azimuth calculation using output of a magnetic sensor. The azimuth calculation program includes a first step of generating one triangle in three-dimensional space using three output values of a magnetic sensor unit, a second step of determining a circumcircle of the triangle, and a third step of performing an azimuth calculation using center coordinates of the circumcircle and output values of the magnetic sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an azimuth calculation program that performs an azimuth calculation using output of a magnetic sensor, and also to an electronic compass including the azimuth calculation program.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic compass is a device that calculates an azimuth angle from a reference direction using output of a magnetic sensor. In recent years, mobile terminals, such as mobile phones, including such an electronic compass have been developed. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-309228 discloses a method with which an azimuth calculation can be performed in such a mobile terminal, regardless of the place of measurement. In the method disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-309228, an output value of a magnetic sensor is obtained repeatedly a predetermined number of times or more, so that a circle where the resulting plurality of output values are located is used to perform an azimuth calculation.
However, in the method disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-309228, since an output value of the magnetic sensor is obtained repeatedly a predetermined number of times or more, a long time is required for the azimuth calculation. Moreover, when an inclination direction of the mobile terminal changes, for example, when the azimuth of the mobile terminal changes while the inclination direction thereof changes, the azimuth calculation cannot be accurately performed with the method described above.

Azimuth calculation program and electronic compass


In one embodiment, the invention provides a method, comprising detecting data fields on a scanned document image; generating a flexible document description based on the detected data fields, including creating a set of search elements for each data field, each search element having associated search criteria; and training or modifying the flexible document description using, for example, a search algorithm to detect the data fields on additional training images based on the set of search elements.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to data capture by means of optical character recognition of forms, and specifically to a method and system for creating a flexible structure description for a form.
2. Related Art
Data on paper documents may be extracted and entered into a computer system for storage, analysis, and further processing. Examples of said paper documents include invoices, receipts, questionnaires, tax return forms, etc. These paper documents may have varying structures. Advantageously, if the number of documents to be processed is large, automated data and document capture systems can to be used.
A form is a structured document with one or more pages to be filled out by a human, either manually or using a printing device. Typically, a form has fields to be completed with an inscription next to each field stating the nature of the data the field should contain.
Two types of forms can be identified-fixed forms and flexible forms. A fixed form has the same positioning and number of fields on all of its copies (instances) and often has anchor elements (e.g. black squares or separator lines), whereas a flexible, or semi-structured form may have different number of fields which may be positioned differently from copy to copy. Examples of flexible forms include application forms, invoices, insurance forms, money order forms, business letters, etc. (FIGS. 4a-4d). For example, invoices will often have different numbers of fields located differently, as they are issued by different companies (FIGS. 4a and 4b). Further, common fields e.g. an invoice number (401) and total amount (404) may be found on all invoices, even though they may be placed differently.
Flexible forms may be converted into electronic format and made editable by means of a data capture system using Optical Character Recognition (OCR). For efficient data capture, the data capture system has to be trained in advance to detect the useful data fields on documents of the various types that the system will handle. As a result, the system can detect the required fields and extract data from them automatically. A highly skilled expert is required to train the system to detect the necessary data fields on documents of a given type. The training is done in a dedicated editing application and is very labor-intensive.

Creating flexible structure descriptions


Single-site catalyst systems useful for polymerizing olefins are disclosed. The catalyst systems comprise an organometallic complex and an activator. The complex includes a Group 3-10 transition metal, M, and at least one indenoindolyl ligand that is pi-bonded to M. The activator is a reaction product of

The invention relates to catalyst systems useful for polymerizing olefins. The catalyst systems include (1) a complex, which incorporates at least one indenoindolyl ligand, and (2) an aluminoboronate activator, which is the reaction product of an organoboronic acid and an alkylaluminum compound.
While Ziegler-Natta catalysts are a mainstay for polyolefin manufacture, single-site (metallocene and non-metallocene) catalysts represent the industry""s future. These catalysts are often more reactive than Ziegler-Natta catalysts, and they produce polymers with improved physical properties. The improved properties include narrow molecular weight distribution, reduced low molecular weight extractables, enhanced incorporation of xcex1-olefin comonomers, lower polymer density, controlled content and distribution of long-chain branching, and modified melt rheology and relaxation characteristics.
Recently, non-metallocene, single-site catalysts that incorporate a Group 3-10 transition metal and pi-bonded heterocyclic ligands that are isolobal with the cyclopentadienide anion have been described. Examples of such xe2x80x9cCp-likexe2x80x9d ligands are boraaryl (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,554,775 and 6,034,027), azaborolinyl (U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,866), and indenoindolyl (U.S. Pat. No. 6,232,260; see also PCT Internat. Appl. WO 99/24446). Indenoindoles having a wide variety of substituent groups are easy to synthesize. Because substituent effects are readily exploited, the corresponding indenoindolyl complexes can be fine-tuned to achieve higher activity or to make polymers with a desired set of physical properties.
Single-site catalysts, including those containing indenoindolyl ligands, have traditionally been used with only a limited variety of activators. An important function of the activator is to generate a non-coordinating or weakly coordinating counterion for the cationic polymerization site. The activator helps in achieving an acceptable catalyst productivity. Usually, the activator is an alkyl alumoxane (e.g., methyl alumoxane), or an ionic borate or aluminate (e.g., trityl tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate). Unfortunately, alumoxanes are normally required in large excess, i.e., hundreds or even thousands of times the molar amount of the transition metal complex, which makes the catalyst system expensive. Ionic borates are sometimes more efficient than alumoxanes, but they are often costly to synthesize.
Recently, reaction products of organoboronic acids and alkylaluminum compounds (hereinafter sometimes called xe2x80x9caluminoboronatesxe2x80x9d) have been suggested as catalyst components for olefin polymerizations. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,180 teaches to react an alkyl- or arylboronic acid with a trialkylaluminum compound, and to use the reaction product in a metallocene-catalyzed olefin polymerization process. The metallocene complex used is typically bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride. In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,440 describes reaction products of organoboronic acids and trialkylaluminums and the use of these products as activators for bridged and unbridged metallocene complexes. This reference suggests that an advantage of these aluminoboronates is the ability to reduce the aluminum to transition metal mole ratio [Al:M] needed for satisfactory activity. Still unclear, however, is how well these aluminoboronate activators would perform with non-metallocene, single-site catalysts based on indenoindolyl ligands.
In sum, improved catalyst systems for polymerizing olefins are needed. Preferably, the catalyst systems would avoid the need for conventional activators, which are expensive to use. Ideally, the catalyst systems would take advantage of the flexibility of indenoindolyl ligand-containing complexes and would give polyolefins with a favorable balance of physical properties.
The invention is a catalyst system useful for polymerizing olefins. The catalyst system comprises an organometallic complex and an activator. The complex includes a Group 3-10 transition metal, M, and at least one indenoindolyl ligand that is pi-bonded to M. The activator is an xe2x80x9caluminoboronate,xe2x80x9d a reaction product of an alkylaluminum compound and an organoboronic acid.
We surprisingly found that catalyst systems of the invention significantly outperform known catalyst systems that employ a metallocene complex (e.g., bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride) and aluminoboronate activators. Moreover, we found that the aluminoboronate activators can be used to boost the performance of an alumoxane-activated catalyst system.

Aluminoboronate activators for single-site olefin polymerization catalysts

Abstract: an alkylaluminum compound and an organoboronic acid. Catalyst systems of the invention significantly outperform known catalyst systems that employ a metallocene complex and similar aluminoboronate activators.


A testing arrangement provided for speech recognition systems in vehicles. Preferably included are a “mobile client” secured in the vehicle and driven around at a desired speed, an audio system and speaker which plays back a set of prerecorded utterances stored digitally in a computer arrangement such that the speech of a human being is simulated, transmission of the speech signal to a server, followed by speech recognition and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) computation. Here, the acceptability of the vehicular speech recognition system is preferably determined via comparison with pre-specified standards of recognition accuracy and SNR values.

Speech recognition technology, such as that developed by the IBM Corporation, has hitherto been finding its way into automotive applications. For instance, ATX Technologies, a telematics company based in Dallas, is incorporating 113M speech recognition system in Mercedes-Benz cars. In such a typical setup, the speech input is picked up by a microphone mounted on the ceiling of the car halfway between the driver and the front passenger positions and transmitted by a cellular channel to a remote server where the recognition takes place. The outcome of the recognition, e.g., a reply to an inquiry regarding a stock quotation, is typically generated by a text-to-speech synthesizer at the server and transmitted back to the vehicle via the cellular network as well.
An evolving need has been recognized in connection with being able to test conveniently the performance of this type of vehicular speech recognition setup. Just as car manufacturers routinely carry out quality control testing on the conventional components of a car, such as the air-conditioning unit or the ignition system, a need has oft been recognized in connection with subjecting to a given test regimen speech recognition systems such as those installed in vehicles. For example, a manufacturer could specify that speech recognition performance be checked on every one-hundredth vehicle or so coming out of the assembly line. This could thus confirm that manufacturing or installation defects are not compromising the quality of the recognition system.
Conventional test procedures have hitherto involved the recruitment of a pool of speakers who are driven in the test vehicle while they read a fixed script. The data are then transmitted to the server where speech recognition and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) computation are carried out to determine performance quality. There are a number of disadvantages to this process, however. Each vehicle to be tested needs to use a pool of speakers, likely making the process quite expensive. A separate person is needed to drive the vehicle, adding to the expense. If the set of speakers also changes from one test to another, the results will not be readily comparable to each other, as speaker variations will inevitably be introduced. Even if the speaker set is fixed, some inter-speaker variations are unavoidable from one trial to another, making the results difficult to compare and standardize. Other disadvantages, such as speaker error in reading the designated script, can potentially compound the aforementioned problems.
In view of the foregoing, a need has been recognized in connection with providing testing arrangements which overcome the shortcomings and disadvantages presented by conventional arrangements.

Apparatus, program storage device and method for testing speech recognition in the mobile environment of a vehicle

International Business Machines Corporation


A redeemable coupon disbursement control and reporting system especially for modified and improved automated teller machines including either a bar code scanner attachment used with preprinted continuous roll or single sheet automated teller machine receipt paper or a printer responsive to signals from the user of the automated teller machine. In either form, first recording means are communicably attached to the disbursing or printing means and remote optical scanning means are employed at the point of coupon redemption, such scanning means being attached to either such first or a second recording means reconcilable with information recorded on such first recording means.

The present invention is a redeemable coupon disbursement control and reporting network especially for use with modified and improved automated teller machines such as those currently used in the banking industry. At the present time, it has been estimated that over four billion transactions each year take place between banking customers and their banks through the use of automated teller machines. It has also been estimated that an even larger number of redeemable coupons are printed each year of which only a fraction are actually redeemed, and it is not possible in existing systems to control the disbursement and redemption of such printed coupons in an inexpensive and flexible manner.
Automated teller machines vary widely in specific design but common elements of all varieties in current use include the use of continuous roll receipt paper which is conveyed through the automated teller machine. The use of single sheet receipt paper is possible but is not believed to be a current practice. The automated teller machine receipt is printed individually for each transaction and is then cut and issued to the customer for his record. The paper is loaded into the automated teller machine at one end of the paper path into or onto a paper holder and then is fed through the machine to an external opening where the customer receives it. The transaction is summarized and printed onto the receipt, and information concerning the transaction is relayed to a recording device, generally a computer. The length of the receipt is often determined by signals sent to the conveyer by a diode which reads solid marks preprinted on the continuous roll of receipt paper at given intervals.
Automated teller machines also have means for communicating with the customer. Generally, the automated teller machine has a visual display device for providing instructions and information to the customer, and the automated teller machine has a manually-operated keyboard, panel or set of switches by which the customer supplies information to the bank regarding each transaction.
Advertisers frequently seek to target customer groups such as those conducting banking business in a given geographical area. Because banks are generally unwilling to provide customer lists to prospective advertisers and because banks are often unable to determine which branches their customers most frequently use, such advertisers must seek other means of reaching such groups effectively and efficiently. Historically, coupon promotion success has been capable of being measured in general terms only, by comparing gross sales before, during and after the promotion. A comparison of the number of coupons actually distributed to the number of coupons actually used is generally inaccurate because of the inability to track printed coupons which for one reason or another are discarded prior to distribution to a customer. In addition, it is difficult to control disbursement, and it is not unusual to find coupons being accumulated for multiple use by the same customer.
In addition, banks are finding costs continuing to increase but have generally not developed any means for effectively using the reverse side cf automated teller machine receipts for generating income. Instead, banks charge users of their automated teller machines a fee for each transaction. Many automated teller machines are capable of handling the transactions of customers of more than one banking institution through a networking arrangement, and the fees charged per transaction are generally higher for users who are not customers of the bank owning the particular automated teller machine. The fees for both bank customers and nonbank customers, though generally small, are usually substantially higher than the fee charged for writing a check, and some customers avoid using automated teller machines to avoid the fee, instead, writing checks or otherwise handling their banking needs. Because the overhead associated with a bank's automated teller machine fluctuates only slightly with greatly increased volume, increased volume can significantly increase profitability (or decrease losses) from the automated teller machine and therefore banks seek to increase the use of their automated teller machines. The fees charged for use of automated teller machines are generally in amounts similar to the amounts frequently found in redeemable coupon promotions conducted by fast food restaurants and other vendors.
It is believed that the most frequently occurring transaction at automated teller machines is that of cash withdrawal from the customer's account. Thus, customers of automated teller machines are likely to have cash in hand at the time of receipt of the automated teller machine receipts. Further, automated teller machines are frequently used after regular banking hours but during hours in which fast food and other vendors remain open, and automated teller machines are generally designed to limit the number of transactions which may be conducted by a given customer within a given time period.
Finally, it is difficult to devise inexpensive and effective systems for distributing single coupons to individual customers. Printed materials that are widely distributed as through mailings or publication of advertising in newspapers and magazines are subject to accumulation in the hands of a few customers for multiple use, requiring the vendor to honor coupons, usually done at a loss for promotional purposes, without the intended widespread goodwill and diversity of customers.

Redeemable coupon disbursement control and reporting system


A riding vehicle may include a battery compartment and one or more grip tabs. The battery compartment may be configured to house a battery of the riding vehicle. The one or more grip tabs may be disposed in the battery compartment and may extend from one or more walls of the battery compartment to engage the battery in response to insertion of the battery into the battery compartment. The one or more grip tabs and the battery compartment may be formed from a same unitary piece of material.

Lawn care tasks are commonly performed using various tools and/or machines that are configured for the performance of corresponding specific tasks. Certain tasks, like grass cutting, are typically performed by lawn mowers. Lawn mowers themselves may have many different configurations to support the needs and budgets of consumers. Walk-behind lawn mowers are typically compact, have comparatively small engines (e.g., less than 200 cubic centimeters (cc)) and are relatively inexpensive. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, riding lawn mowers, such as lawn tractors, can be quite large and sometimes have engines exceeding 400 cc. Riding lawn mowers can sometimes also be configured with various functional accessories (e.g., trailers, tillers and/or the like) in addition to grass cutting components. Manufacture of these often complex machines can be expensive and every additional component of the vehicle adds further cost and time to the production process.
Riding lawn mowers, like many other riding vehicles, can experience a relatively high amount of vibration during operation. Moreover, depending on the terrain on which they are used, riding vehicles may also encounter a significantly rough or bouncy ride. The vibrations and undulations experienced during normal operation may cause shocks that induce certain components, such as the battery and cables, to shift position or even break if these components are not properly secured. Elastic straps or screw down clamps are often used to secure at least the battery within the riding vehicle.


A digitally sampled spread spectrum signal is received, despread, and accumulated at a center frequency lower than the sampling rate and higher than zero.

This application is related to the following co-pending applications, all filed on the same day and naming the same inventors as this application: xe2x80x9cProcessing a Spread Spectrum Signal in a Frequency Adjustable Systemxe2x80x9d; xe2x80x9cBandpass Correlation of a Spread Spectrum Signalxe2x80x9d; xe2x80x9cAcquiring a Spread Spectrum Signalxe2x80x9d; and xe2x80x9cReceiving a Spread Spectrum Signalxe2x80x9d.
The invention relates to processing a spread spectrum signal.
In wireless systems, information typically is transmitted by modulating the information onto carrier waves having frequencies that lie within preassigned frequency bands. Radio frequency (RF) receivers demodulate the carrier waves to recover the transmitted information.
Spread spectrum communication systems spread transmitted signals over bandwidths much larger than those actually required to transmit the information. Spreading a signal over a wide spectrum has several advantages, including reducing the effects of narrow band noise on the signal and, in many situations, providing increased protection against interception by unwanted third parties. In a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) system, the bandwidth of a transmitted signal is increased by modulating the signal onto a known pseudo-noise (PN) signal before modulating onto the carrier wave. The PN signal typically is a digital signal having an approximately equal number of high and low bits (or xe2x80x9cchipsxe2x80x9d), which maximizes the spectrum over which the signal is spread. A typical implementation of a DSSS receiver recovers the transmitted information by demodulating the carrier wave and then multiplying the resulting signal with a local replica of the PN signal to eliminate the PN signal. The DSSS technique offers heightened security because the receiver must know the PN sequence used in the transmission to recover the transmitted information efficiently. Other spread spectrum techniques include frequency hopped spread spectrum (FHSS).
In one aspect, the invention features processing a spread spectrum signal digitally sampled at a selected sampling rate. The digitally sampled signal is received and despread at a center frequency lower than the sampling rate and higher than zero, and is accumulated at the center frequency.
Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The center frequency may be limited to no greater than approximately one-half of the sampling rate, and it may be set to equal approximately one-quarter of the sampling rate. A DC filter may be used to filter any DC offset from the digitally sampled spread spectrum signal. The center frequency may be selected so that no data embedded in the spread spectrum signal is blocked by the DC filter. The spread spectrum signal may include a pseudo-noise (PN) spreading sequence, and the reference signal may contain the PN spreading sequence.
Advantages of the invention may include one or more of the following. A spread spectrum signal may be processed without demodulating the signal to DC until the processing is complete. An AC-coupled filter or other DC block may be used to eliminate DC offset from the spread spectrum signal before it is processed. A direct sequence spread spectrum signal may be processed using a correlator with an implementation efficient structure, which will lower the cost of receivers in which the invention is used and improve the efficiency of such receivers.
Other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the claims.

Bandpass processing of a spread spectrum signal


A kit for the assembly of a building structure has a plurality of side walls, a floor, and a roof. The kit comprises a plurality of precut building members, each building member having end portions configured to abut adjacent building members to form a building structure, each building member having a predetermined location relative to the remaining building members in the building structure. The kit also comprises means for properly positioning predetermined building members relative to one another, the positioning means having first and second members. The first member is prefabricated to include a lip for partially overlapping a side wall and a bevelled edge. The plurality of building members may include a plurality of precut studs and rafters and the first member further may comprise a plurality of notches in spaced-apart relation, the notches being sized to permit the insertion of the studs therein.

The present invention relates to building structures, and particularly to pre-cut, ready to assemble buildings. More particularly, the present invention relates to buildings having portions thereof prefabricated to reduce waste and facilitate construction.
Conventional building assemblies include a plurality of building members of various shapes and sizes. Assembly of these conventional buildings can be difficult, especially to an individual who is not experienced in assembling a building. Because different building members have shapes and sizes that can be confusingly similar, it can be extremely time consuming to assemble the building according to a predetermined specification. A method for marking the building members so that selected building members to be interconnected can be determined by visual inspection would facilitate assembly of a building.
Coded indicia for use on the building members for indicating the predetermined position of each building member is known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,963 to Campbell, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
While the use of coded indicia facilitates the positioning of building members in their predetermined locations relative to each other, their use has been limited to indicating that certain building members abut, or are adjacent to, certain other building members. The coded indicia do not eliminate the need for accurate measuring and marking of the building members by the builder to ensure accurate placement. The builder must measure and mark the certain building members to determine the exact location of abutting or adjacent members so that predetermined building members, such as studs and rafters, are properly positioned and aligned. A mechanism that would facilitate the construction of a building by reducing or eliminating the need for measuring and marking positions on various building members would provide an improvement over conventional building assemblies. Such a mechanisms would reduce the likelihood of mistakes, and therefore waste, and reduce the skill level required of the assembler of the building.
According to the present invention, a kit for the assembly of a building structure includes a plurality of precut studs and rafters and precut panels for use as side walls, a floor, and a roof. The kit also includes a prefabricated "magic rail" for properly positioning the studs and rafters relative to one another.
The "magic rail" includes a first member having a plurality of notches for properly locating stud members in parallel spaced-apart relation to one another. A second member is attached to the first member so as to form a ridge for positioning the rafter members relative to the stud members. Thus, when the stud members are properly positioned in the "magic rail", the stud members are properly aligned and the rafters are properly positioned relative to the floor.
According to one aspect of the invention, the second member is positioned at an angle to the first member to provide a hip in the roof structure that partially overhangs at least one of the side walls. According to another aspect of the invention, coded indicia are located on the end portions of the building members for indicating a predetermined location of the building members to facilitate the assembly of the kit. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the coded indicia include color coding indicia.
Additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.


A method and apparatus for establishing a personalized connection with a network from a variety of different terminals and/or ports connected with the network. Subscribers to the network can be provided with a unique subscriber ID that may be used by the network to identify the subscriber. Furthermore, based on the subscriber ID, the network or a network customizing device can access a subscriber profile in order to personalize a connection with the subscriber. Additionally, the subscriber profile can be used by the network service provider for billing purposes.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing personalized connections with a communication network.
2. Description of Related Art
Presently, subscribers to a communications network service can establish a connection between their terminals and the network via a network access link. The network access link can be a wired (multiple twisted pair cable, coaxial cable, optical fiber cable) or wireless (radio frequency, optical wavelength) link to the network. Because of recent improvements in the speed and availability of network access links between the network and the subscriber""s terminal, such as gigabit Ethernet, DSL, cable modems, digital cable modulation, radio, over-the-air optical links, and direct broadcast satellite transmission, digital terrestrial broadcast TV, many new types of terminals have been developed to take advantage of these high speed links. For example, subscriber terminal devices, such as WebTV(trademark) set-top boxes, digital set-top audio/video decoders, hard disk-based personal digital video recorders, screen equipped web phones, voice and video telephone sets, streaming audio and video media players, integrated intelligent digital television receivers, thin-client network computers, PCS wireless Internet phones, mobile satellite receivers, or GPS navigator terminals can permit a subscriber to access and communicate over the network and utilize the high speed access links.
As the number and availability of terminal types used by subscribers increases, and the number and types of voice, video and data information communications and entertainment service offerings increases, so too will a need for the subscriber to become more knowledgeable as to the use of each of these new terminals and services. Furthermore, subscribers are becoming more mobile and switching between terminals at different locations, such as home Internet, digital television or video telephone terminals and hotel Internet, digital television, or video telephone terminals, and/or a mobile wireless Internet PCS phone terminal, or mobile satellite Internet receiver. The mobile subscribers will need to be able to customize terminal configuration, network connection, and service choices as to their preference and what they are willing to purchase, without having to proceed through an elaborate customization process at each use location, whether fixed or mobile.
Accordingly, there exists a need for providing a subscriber with a method of uniformly customizing the use of varied terminals and services in accordance with a subscriber""s preferences and purchased entitlements. Additionally, such a method also supports the ability of a network operator/service provider to offer either separate or integrated billing for multiple services and to control the authorization of entitlements commensurate with an amount that the subscriber has purchased.
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for establishing a personalized connection with a communications network and access to varied levels of network capabilities and services from a variety of different terminals and/or ports connected with the network. The network to which the present invention pertains includes both wired and wireless networks regardless of physical medium, including, but not limited to, multiple twisted pair cable, coaxial cable, optical fiber, radio, over-the-air optical wavelength, terrestrial broadcast radio or television, satellite transmission, or a combination thereof.
The variety of different terminals to which the present invention pertains is any terminal device which allows a subscriber to connect to and use a network""s capacity, features and services, and access (and copy) information or program content available through the network. Such terminals include, but are not limited to, Internet over TV set-top boxes, digital set-top audio/video decoders, personal digital video recorders, screen equipped web phones, voice and video telephone sets, streaming audio and video media players, integrated intelligent digital television receivers, personal computers, thin-client network computers, PCS wireless Internet phones, mobile satellite receivers, GPS receivers, or automated teller machines.
Subscribers to network services can be provided with a unique subscriber ID. Based on the subscriber ID together with any other personal information input by the subscriber at the subscriber terminal, a network or network customizing device can access a subscriber profile that includes the subscriber""s preferences in order to personalize the network connection. The subscriber profile can also be used to authorize any service entitlements which the subscriber has purchased and will be billed for.
The types of information contained in the subscriber profile include, but are not limited to, subscriber preferences and service entitlements related to long distance, local or wireless phone calling plans (e.g., rates and peak/off-peak hours, calling circles), communication link attributes (e.g., speed, guaranteed information rate), television programming (e.g., premium encrypted or basic unencrypted programs, programming genres, program time-shifting), information resources, the type of network the user wishes to use, communication protocols corresponding to particular networks, multimedia content access (e.g., Internet or intranet site access, software downloads) and any rights to copy such content. The subscriber""s profile information can either contain the types of aforementioned information directly or it can contain locator information pointing to one or more storage locations throughout the network where the types of aforementioned information can be found.
The subscriber profile can also store the subscriber""s preferences and entitlements in a manner that is dependent upon a type of subscriber terminal. For example, user interfaces and feature sets for the suite of subscriber terminal types to which the subscriber has subscribed (e.g., the general look and feel of how the subscriber terminal takes in, displays and reacts to the subscriber""s inputs and operation, channel tuning/program guide on a TV set-top box, URL or e-mail preferences on an Internet terminal or computer, features on a cell phone or wired phone, picture resolution or audio quality on a video phone).
The subscriber profile can also be used by the network service provider for billing purposes to generate separate or integrated itemized bills for the complete suite of services according to service and terminal type, usage, and entitlements. The subscriber or service provider can access certain information fields of the particular subscriber profile to update or revise. The subscriber profile can be automatically updated.
Information contained in or pointed to in the subscriber profile can also include billing account, credit card number and transaction history, or an e-wallet account and associated transaction history to facilitate personalized e-commerce transactions, including automatic bill payment on the subscriber""s own network services account.
Once such a subscriber profile has been stored, it may be used to customize the terminals, the connection between the terminals and the network, the type of network to which the terminal is connected, and/or the services the subscriber desires. The customization can occur, at any subscriber terminal location where the subscriber may travel and access the network, regardless of whether such access is wired or wireless, using any subscriber terminal type for which the subscriber is entitled.
Storage of the subscriber profile information may reside in a single point or be distributed throughout multiple points in the network, within the subscriber terminal, or within a device in the subscriber""s personal possession (e.g., a smart card), or a combination of these.
As an example of operation, assume that a subscriber""s home has one or more terminals (can be same or different terminal types) connected to the network. Each of the terminals has been customized by the subscriber, and the subscriber""s preferences, entitlements, e-wallet transactions, payments and billing information have been stored in the subscriber""s profile or storage locations pointed to by the profile information. Subsequently, the subscriber travels across the country where the subscriber rents a hotel room. The hotel room also has one or more terminals, which correspond to the types of terminals in the subscriber""s house, connected to the network. Once the subscriber is in the hotel room, the subscriber may quickly and conveniently configure each of the one or more terminals the same as the corresponding home terminals in accordance with the subscriber""s stored profile. This configuration is initiated by entering the subscriber""s ID information into a terminal or ID reader device associated with the terminal. The subscriber ID information can be entered by the subscriber typing a password, inserting or swiping a smart card or magnetic strip card, or by scanning a fingerprint or eye retina, voice pattern recognition, or by the use of some other personal identification recognition reader device coupled to or integrated within the subscriber terminal.
The present invention may further provide a plurality of preferred or entitled subscriber terminal user interfaces or functionality attributes within the subscriber profile that can be transferred to said subscriber""s terminal for use, based on the type of transaction or session invoked by the subscriber. For example, if the subscriber is using a terminal connected with a telephone network, such as an automatic teller machine (ATM), then, based on this bank-type of transaction and the subscriber""s ID information, the subscriber""s ATM interface would be displayed for the subscriber to use while making the transaction. The subscriber would then operate and interact with the ATM through the subscriber""s personalized interface. A subsequent subscriber using the same ATM terminal can later interact with the ATM through a different personalized ATM interface or a default interface of the ATM terminal.
As another example, if the subscriber is using a terminal, such as a TV audio/video decoder set-top box, connected with a video delivery network at a friend""s house, based on this entertainment, home shopping or e-commerce type of subscriber session a personalized interface can be provided. In this example, based on the subscriber""s ID information, and the subscriber""s profile, the subscriber""s customized programming guide, programming entitlements or home shopping purchase rights e-wallet interface could be displayed and activated by the subscriber. As a result, the subscriber could watch his or her favorite TV programs or special events or make home shopping purchases on their own account while using a friend""s terminal.
As yet another example, if the subscriber is using a terminal, such as a computer or Internet terminal, connected with a high speed data network at an airport, then, based on this browsing or remote access type of session, the subscriber""s ID information and the subscriber""s profile, the subscriber can access a restricted intranet or virtual private network and receive restricted content. In all of the above examples, the appropriate usage billing rates, if applicable, could automatically be charged to the subscriber""s account which is linked to the subscriber""s stored profile.
As a further example, if the subscriber is using a terminal, such as a computer, connected to, or having access to a variety of networks, such as cable TV, telecommunications, DSL, and/or Internet networks, the terminal may select and use a particular network based on the subscriber""s preferences. If the subscriber wishes to use the terminal for watching a television show, then the terminal can be connected to the cable television network to provide the subscriber with video programming. Alternatively, if the subscriber wishes to use the terminal for accessing the Internet, then the terminal may be connected to an Internet network such as the World Wide Web, or to a DSL which is directly connected to an Internet service provider (ISP). Accordingly, the terminal may connect with a preferred network based on the particular use of the terminal and a subscriber""s network preferences.
The present invention further provides a method for personalizing ports of a network, which may then be used by the subscriber or the subscriber""s terminal to connect with the network. Ports can include any point at which a communication signal may be transmitted into or out of the network. Some examples of ports can include telephone RJ-11 jacks, coaxial cable xe2x80x9cFxe2x80x9d connector jacks, RJ-45 ethernet connections, fiber optic connections, radio frequency air interfaces and infrared links as used in the types previously described with reference to the high speed access links.

Method and apparatus for establishing a personalized connection with a network


A cardiac rhythm management system provides both a safe maximum pacing rate limit and a physiological maximum pacing rate limit. In one embodiment, a normal maximum tracking rate (MTR) and a hysteresis MTR are provided. The hysteresis MTR is set higher than the normal MTR and functions as a maximum pacing rate. When an atrial rate exceeds the hysteresis MTR limit, the maximum pacing rate limit is set to the normal MTR. Once the atrial rate falls below a predetermined threshold, the maximum pacing rate limit is set to the hysteresis MTR. This provides for a more rapid and natural maximum pacing rate limit for a patient, while still protecting the patient from being paced at abnormally high rates.

When functioning properly, the human heart maintains its own intrinsic rhythm, and is capable of pumping adequate blood throughout the body's circulatory system. However, some people have abnormal cardiac electrical conduction patterns and irregular cardiac rhythms that are referred to as cardiac arrhythmias. Such arrhythmias result in diminished blood circulation. One mode of treatment includes use of a cardiac rhythm management system. Such systems are often implanted in a patient and deliver electrical stimulation therapy to the patient's heart.
Cardiac rhythm management systems include, among other things, pacemakers, also referred to as pacers. Pacemakers deliver timed sequences of low energy electrical stimuli, called pacing pulses, to the heart, typically via one or more intravascular leadwires or catheters (referred to as "leads") each having one or more electrodes disposed in or about the heart. Heart contractions are initiated in response to such pacing pulses (this is referred to as "capturing" the heart). Pacemakers also sense electrical activity of the heart in order to detect depolarization signals corresponding to the electrical excitation associated with heart contractions. This function is referred to as cardiac sensing. Cardiac sensing is used to time the delivery of pacing pulses with the heart's intrinsic (native) rhythm. By properly timing the delivery of pacing pulses, the heart can be induced to contract in a proper rhythm, greatly improving its output of blood. Pacemakers are often used to treat patients with bradyarrhythmias (also referred to as bradycardias), that is, hearts that beat too slowly. For that application, the pacemakers may operate in an "on-demand" mode, such that a pacing pulse is delivered to the heart only in absence of a normally timed intrinsic contraction. The on-demand pacing function is often embodied in algorithms exhibiting pace inhibition, in which pacing in a lead is prevented (inhibited) for one heart beat when a cardiac depolarization is detected in the same lead prior to the pace. In bradycardia patients, for example, on-demand pacing can ensure that pacing pulses are delivered only when the patient's intrinsic heart rate drops below a predetermined minimum pacing rate limit, referred to as a lower rate limit (LRL). Some pacemakers provide for two lower rate limits, a first LRL, sometimes called a normal LRL, to provide a minimum necessary heart rate during awake or exercise periods, and a second LRL, sometimes called a hysteresis LRL, to allow the heart to reach naturally slower rates during sleep. When the patent's heart rate falls below the hysteresis LRL, the pacemaker switches to the normal LRL to ensure the patient will have sufficient cardiac output by protecting the patient against abnormally slow heart rates.
Cardiac rhythm management systems also include cardioverters/defibrillators that are capable of delivering higher energy electrical stimuli to the heart. Defibrillators are often used to treat patients with tachyarrhythmias (also referred to as tachycardias), that is, hearts that beat too quickly. Such too-fast heart rhythms also cause diminished blood circulation because the heart is not allowed sufficient time to fill with blood before contracting to expel the blood. Such pumping by the heart is inefficient. A defibrillator is capable of delivering a high energy electrical stimulus that is sometimes referred to as a defibrillation countershock. The countershock interrupts the tachyarrhythmia and allows the heart to reestablish a normal rhythm for efficient pumping of blood.
Cardiac rhythm management systems also include, among other things, pacemaker/defibrillators that combine the functions of pacemakers and defibrillators, drug delivery devices, and any other implantable or external systems or devices for diagnosing or treating cardiac arrhythmias.
One problem faced by cardiac rhythm management systems is the treatment of congestive heart failure (also referred to as "CHF"). CHF, which can result from long-term hypertension, is a condition in which the muscle in the walls of at least one of the right and left sides of the heart deteriorates. By way of example, suppose the muscle in the walls of the left side of the heart deteriorates. As a result, the left atrium and left ventricle become enlarged, and the heart muscle displays less contractility, often associated with unsynchronized contraction patterns. This decreases cardiac output of blood, and in turn, may result in an increased heart rate and less resting time between heart contractions. This condition may be treated by conventional dual-chamber pacemakers and a new class of biventricular (or multisite) pacemakers that are termed cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices. A conventional dual-chamber pacemaker typically paces and senses one atrial chamber and one ventricular chamber. A pacing pulse is timed to be delivered to the ventricular chamber at the end of a programmed atrio-ventricular delay, referred to as AV delay, which is initiated by a pace delivered to or an intrinsic depolarization detected from the atrial chamber. This mode of pacing is sometimes referred to as an atrial tracking mode. The heart can be paced with a shortened AV delay to increase the resting time between heart contractions to increase the amount of blood that fills the ventricular chamber, thus increasing the cardiac output. Biventricular or other multisite CRT devices can pace and sense three or four chambers, usually including the right atrial chamber and both right and left ventricular chambers. By pacing both right and left ventricular chambers, the CRT device can restore a more synchronized contraction of the weakened heart muscle, thus increasing the heart's efficiency as a pump. When treating CHF either with conventional dual-chamber pacemakers or CRT devices, it is critical to pace the ventricular chambers continuously to shorten the AV delay or to provide resynchronizing pacing, otherwise the patient will not receive the intended therapeutic benefit. Thus the intention for treating CHF patients with continuous pacing therapy is different from the intention for treating bradycardia patients with on-demand pacing therapy, which is active only when the heart's intrinsic (native) rhythm is abnormally slow.
Conventional pacemakers and CRT devices in current use rely on conventional on-demand pacing modes to deliver ventricular pacing therapy. These devices need to be adapted to provide a continuous pacing therapy required for treatment of CHF patients. One particular problem in these devices is that they prevent pacing when the heart rate rises above a maximum pacing limit. One such maximum pacing limit is a maximum tracking rate (MTR) limit. "MTR" and "MTR interval," where an "MTR interval" refers to a time interval between two pacing pulses delivered at the MTR, are used interchangeably, depending on convenience of description, throughout this document. The MTR presents a problem particularly for CHF patients, who typically have elevated heart rates to maintain adequate cardiac output. When a pacemaker or CRT device operates in an atrial tracking mode, it senses the heart's intrinsic rhythm that originates in the right atrial chamber, that is, the intrinsic atrial rate. As long as the intrinsic atrial rate is below the MTR, the device will pace one or both ventricular chambers after an AV delay. If the intrinsic atrial rate rises above the MTR, the device will limit the time interval between adjacent ventricular pacing pulses to an interval corresponding to the MTR, that is, ventricular pacing rate will be limited to the MTR. In this case, the heart's intrinsic contraction rate is faster than the maximum pacing rate allowed by the pacing device so that after a few beats, the heart will begin to excite the ventricles intrinsically at the faster rate, which causes the device to inhibit the ventricular pacing therapy due to the on-demand nature of its pacing algorithm. The MTR is programmable in most conventional devices so that the MTR can be set above the maximum intrinsic atrial rate associated with the patient's maximum exercise level, that is, above the physiological maximum atrial rate. However, many patients suffer from periods of pathologically fast atrial rhythms, called atrial tachyarrhythmia. Also some patients experience pacemaker-mediated tachycardia (PMT), which occurs when ventricular pacing triggers an abnormal retrograde impulse back into the atrial chamber that is sensed by the pacing device and triggers another ventricular pacing pulse, creating a continuous cycle of pacing-induced tachycardia. During these pathological and device-mediated abnormally elevated atrial rhythms, the MTR provides a protection against pacing the patient too fast, which can cause patient discomfort and adverse symptoms. Thus, to protect the patient against abnormally fast pacing, the MTR often is programmed to a low, safe rate that is actually below the physiological maximum heart rate. For many CHF patients with elevated heart rates, this means that they cannot receive the intended pacing therapy during high but physiologically normal heart rates, thus severely limiting the benefit of pacing therapy and the level of exercise they can attain. Therefore, there is a need for addressing this MTR-related problem in therapeutic devices for CHF patients as well as other patients for whom pacing should not be suspended during periods of fast but physiologically normal heart rates.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Cardiac rhythm management system with maximum tracking rate (MTR) hysteresis


A headgear suitable for wearing a respiratory mask system wearing on the head of a user is provided, wherein it can be easily manufactured, the leakage of the positive pressure gas when pressurized is reduced, and a good wearing feel is achieved. The headgear is adapted to secure a respiratory mask, which contacts the face of the user to supply a positive pressure gas for respiration to the user, to the head of user. The headgear has a head mounted portion which is worn on the occipital of the user and a strap (3) connecting to this head mounted portion. The head mounted portion has at least one closed curved belt (1) which has thereon at least one junction (2). At least one junction provides the closed curved belt with a nonplanar structure adaptable to the shape of the head of the user.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is one of the most effective treatments for sleep apnea syndrome. This treatment utilizes respiratory equipment providing a positive pressure gas in the range of 400 to 2000 Pa in the nostrils, or the nostrils and the mouth, or the face of a user during sleep. Further, Nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) is one of the most effective treatments for ventilatory insufficiency, utilizing respiratory equipment providing an intermittent positive pressure gas in the range of 400 to 2400 Pa in the nostrils of a user.
As respiratory used in these therapies, there are nasal masks providing a positive pressure gas in the nostrils under pressure, full-face masks providing the positive pressure gas holding the nostrils and the mouth, and total face masks providing the positive pressure gas over the entire face.
These respiratory masks are secure to the head of a user by a strap portion connected to a head mount of a headgear worn in the proximity of the opistocranion of the head of the user (JIS Z8500, ISO 7250).
When performing treatment using the above stated equipment, in order to provide a continuous positive pressure gas to the nostrils and the like of a user generally, the respiratory mask is comprised of an elbow connecting a hose guiding the positive pressure gas for respiration, a frame connecting with the elbow to hold a mask cushion in a specified position, and a hollow mask cushion which is closely attached to the face of a user. Such a respiratory mask is closely attached to the face of a user by the tension of the stretchable strap portion of the headgear (for example, see Japanese Patent Kokai No. 11-000397; Pamphlet of International Publication No. WO01/097893, and Pamphlet of International Publication No. 98/04310).
However, once, the respiratory mask is normally installed, it is known that displacement of the mask cushion occurs due to various causes while wearing. Because of that, measures have been taken which prevent or reduce the displacement corresponding to the respective causes. For example, to this end, a bellows is provided between the frame portion and the face contact portion of the mask cushion, in the nasal respiratory masks described in Japanese Patent Kokai No. 11-000397 and Pamphlet of International Publication No. WO 01/097893 to prevent an influence on the mask cushion from the displacement of the frame portion which occurs by contact with bed clothing. Further, in a respiratory mask described in Pamphlet of International Publication No. WO 96/17643, a flexible material is used for the wall around the connection portion of the positive pressure gas supply hose in order to reduce the displacement of the frame portion caused when it is pulled by the positive pressure gas supply hose connected to the frame.
Such a displacement causes the supplied positive pressure gas to leak, from the boundary between the mask cushion and the face, giving discomfort, irritation to the ocular region, and chills and the like to the user due to gas leaks, and depending on the case treatment is obliged to be discontinued. The gas leakage from the mask cushion in such conventional technology remarkably takes place in the root of nose region, nasal alae region and the like. For preventing such gas leaks, there is but one method which further strongly tightens the belt for securing a respiratory mask regardless of the location of the leak, but it is indicated that when wearing all night long for a long period of time during sleep and the like, it is possible that a respiratory mask can harm the face of a user.


An apparatus such as a television signal receiver controls an external device such as a digital recording/reproduction device via a digital data bus by remapping keys on a user input device. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes an input/output terminal operative to enable signal transfer between the television signal receiver and an external device via a digital data bus. A processor is operative to detect a first command signal of a first control protocol from a user input device, and to detect one of first and second modes of the television signal receiver. The processor detects the first mode in response to making a connection between the television signal receiver and the external device via the digital data bus, and detects the second mode in response to terminating the connection between the television signal receiver and the external device via the digital data bus. The processor enables the input/output terminal to output a second command signal of a second control protocol to the external device via the digital data bus responsive to the first command signal if the first mode is detected. The processor enables a function of the television signal receiver responsive to the first command signal without enabling output of the second command signal to the external device if the second mode is detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a technique for controlling an external device, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for controlling an external device such as a digital recording/reproduction device via a digital data bus by remapping keys on a user input device.
2. Background Information
A digital data bus can be utilized for transmitting digital data in a network among digital devices, such as television signal receivers, personal computers (PCs), display devices, video cassette recorders (VCRs), digital versatile disc (DVD) players, direct broadcast satellite (DBS) receivers, home control devices (e.g., security systems, temperature control devices, etc.), and/or other devices. A digital data bus is typically compliant with a particular standard or specification. An example of a wired digital bus standard includes the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 1394 High Performance Serial Bus standard, which is well known in the art. Wireless digital bus standards, such as Hiperlan2, are also known in the art.
Certain bus devices may not include their own remote control device or on-screen display (OSD). As a result, such devices may be difficult for users to control. For example, certain digital recording/reproduction devices such as audio/video hard disk drives (AVHDDs), and digital video cassette recorder (DVCRs), which are compliant with IEEE-1394 may not include their own remote control device or OSD, and may therefore be difficult for users to control.
One approach for enabling user control of a bus device not having its own remote control device or OSD is to use another bus device, which does include a remote control device and OSD. For example, certain television signal receivers compliant with IEEE-1394 may include a remote control device having a predetermined key (e.g., DISPLAY key) which, when depressed, produces an OSD including a list of commands for an external device such as a digital recording/reproduction device connected to the television signal receiver via an IEEE-1394 bus. The user may then use the remote control device to navigate through the on-screen list of commands and select a desired command (e.g., play, record, stop, etc.) for controlling the external device. This type of control method, however, tends to be inconvenient and time-consuming for users since it requires them to interact with an OSD and make multiple key inputs before the external device can be controlled.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus that avoids the foregoing problems, and thereby enables an external device such as a digital recording/reproduction device on a digital data bus to be controlled in a more direct manner. The present invention addresses these and/or other issues.

Method and apparatus for controlling an external device by remapping keys on a user input device


A porous substrate capable of adsorptive filtration of a fluid having a porous self-supporting substrate and one or more porous, adsorptive coatings comprising from about 1 to about 80% of the void volume of the pores of the substrate. The resultant substrate has good convective and diffusive flow and capacity. The substrate may be crosslinked, have one or more capture chemistries attached to it and is useful as a chromatography media for the selective filtration of desired species including biomolecules such as proteins and DNA fragments.

Chromatography is a general separation technique that uses the distribution of the molecules of interest between a stationary phase and a mobile phase for molecular separation. The stationary phase refers to a porous media and imbibed immobile solvent. Columns with associated end caps, fittings and tubing are the most common configuration, with the media packed into the tube or column. The mobile phase is pumped through the column. The sample is introduced at one end of the column, and the various components interact with the stationary phase and are adsorbed to or in the media or traverse the column at different velocities. The separated components are collected or detected at the other end of the column. Adsorbed components are released in a separate step by pumping an eluant solvent through the column. Chromatographic methods included among other methods, gel chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, reverse phase chromatography, affinity chromatography, immunoadsorption chromatography, lectin affinity chromatography, ion affinity chromatography and other such well-known chromatographic methods. Current "state of the art" chromatographic or adsorptive separations use bead-based, monolith or membrane media to accomplish the desired separation. These three technologies (beads, monoliths and membranes) accomplish separations via differing physical forms and therefore operate in phenomenologically different ways. A major difference between these three media is the relationship between the adsorbing surface (where adsorption of an entity to a ligand or ligands occurs) and the convective fluid flow.
Bead based media have convective flow occurring at the bead surface while most of the adsorbing surface is internal to the bead and can only be reached via diffusion. The convective fluid flow properties are determined by the bead size. Smaller beads require higher pressure to attain equivalent flow in a column. However, the equilibrium adsorbing capacity is not determined by the bead size. Therefore, the static capacity and the flow properties of the materials are not necessarily coupled or interdependent. However, because most of the capacity is accessed through diffusion, the dynamic binding capacity (capacity in a flow-through mode at a given flow rate) is coupled to the bead size and therefore to the convective flow properties of the adsorbent.
Typically in the area of chromatographic separations, polysaccharide polymers, such as agarose, are used to make gel media by thermally phase separating the polymer from an aqueous solution. This can be done because these polymers have a melting point and a gel point. To process agarose for example, the polymer must be heated above its melting temperature, which is about 92° C., and dissolved in the presence of water. At or above that temperature, the polymer melts and the molten polymer is then solvated by water to form a solution. The polymer remains soluble in water as long as the temperature is above the polymer's gel point, which is about 43° C. At and below the gel point, the polymer phase separates and becomes a hydrogel that takes on whatever shape the solution was just before gelling. Additionally as the agarose approaches its gel point, the viscosity of the solution becomes higher and higher as the hydrogel begins to form.
Traditionally, for polysaccharide beads, such as are used in chromatography media, the heated solution is kept above its gel point and it is stirred into an immiscible, heated fluid, such as mineral or vegetable oil, to form beads. The two phased material (beads of agarose in the immiscible fluid) is then cooled and the beads are recovered. The beads themselves are diffusionally porous and can then be used as made for size exclusion chromatography. Preferably, they are further processed by crosslinking, the addition of various capture chemistries such as affinity chemistries or ligands, positive or negative charge, hydrophobicity or the like or combinations of crosslinking and chemistries to enhance their capture capabilities.
The beads are then loaded into a chromatography column forming a bed of media through which a fluid containing the material to be captured is passed. The beads are then washed to remove unbound contaminants and then the captured material is eluted from the beads and collected.
Several problems exist with this type of media. The packing of the beads into a column is a difficult and laborious task. One needs to be sure that the column is properly packed so as to avoid channeling, bypass and blockages within the column. Packing of columns is often considered as much an art as it is a science.
The use of beads limits the depth of the media in process applications because of the pressure that must be overcome. Excess pressure may compress the beads or require expensive pressure retaining capacity for the column. Softer beads tend to compress more than rigid beads. Compression is indicated by a steep increase in pressure drop across the bed at sufficiently high flow rates. High pressure drop is due to compression of the beads and subsequent reduction of void volume in a small zone near the column outlet. The cumulative drag force of the flowing liquid through the bed causes compression. Drag force increases with higher flow rates, resulting in higher flow resistance and with bed height. One often needs to run a soft gel bead system at a slower rate in order to ensure that the pressure drop is within acceptable bounds.
As the beads are porous and the selected molecule to be captured must diffuse into the pores of the media to be captured, the speed and capacity of the system are diffusionally limited. There are two diffusional limitations, one surrounding the bead where a film of material may form and inhibit movement of the selected molecule to the surface of the bead and a second internal diffusional resistance which is determined by the size, number and length of the pores formed in the bead surface. Additionally, the permeability of the media is related to bead size (which can vary widely) as well as the media stability. Larger beads and beads with larger pores tend to have higher permeability. Beads that are not subject to or less subject to compression (by the weight of the beads above them coupled with the pressure under which the fluid flows through the bed) also tend to have greater permeability. However, at high flow rates, permeability does decrease and dynamic capacity also decreases.
An alternative has been to use membrane or monolithic adsorbers. For membrane and monolithic media, the convective flow is directly in contact with absorbing surface. Absorbing entities do not have to rely on diffusion to reach the absorbing surface. Because the convective flow is in direct contact with the absorbing surface in monolithic and membrane media, the fluid flow and absorbing capacity are coupled. For example, the surface area of a membrane decreases with increasing average pore size. Because the binding capacity is a surface phenomenon in this design, as the pore size increases the binding capacity decreases. However, one advantage of this surface dominated binding is that the dynamic capacity is essentially the same as the equilibrium or static capacity because there is no mass transfer resistance provided by the structure of the media to absorption. Equilibrium or static capacity refers to the quantity of the target molecule that is absorbed or adsorbed after a contact time sufficient to ensure thermodynamically complete utility of absorption or adsorption sites in the media. Unfortunately, because the surface area dictates the binding capacity, there are limits to the binding capacity one can achieve for a given permeability due to the coupled flow and binding properties.
One example of a surface functionalized monolith is taught by Cerro et al., Biotechnol. Prog 2003, 19 921-927 (Use of ceramic monoliths as stationary phase in affinity chromatography), in which thin, surface-active only, agarose coatings on ceramic monoliths were created by impregnating the monolith with the traditional hot solution of agarose, followed by removal of excess hot agarose solution from the cells within the monolith using compressed air and subsequently cooling the monolith to gel the agarose coating.
One of the major problems with this coating process is that the coatings are difficult to effect on porous materials. In the article mentioned above, the agarose had to be applied in a heated state (thus requiring a substrate that is heat stable) making its application difficult to control as gelling occurred as the temperature dropped. A further problem is that only very thin coatings that have only surface activity can be created as occurs in membrane adsorbers. In part, this may be due to the method used for removing excess agarose. It may also be a function of the agarose gel point and the higher viscosity that occurs as the temperature of the agarose approaches the gel point. Moreover, the prior art process would be very difficult if not impossible with substrates having pores that are relatively small in comparison to the cell size of the monoliths of the prior art. The reason for these difficulties is that in some cases, air cannot be readily forced through certain porous materials without disrupting or otherwise damaging the porous structure as is the case with certain fabrics or porous membranes. Therefore relatively large pored, rigid monolithic structures must be used.
WO 00/44928 suggests another approach by forming a temperature stable agarose solution through the use of high levels (8M) of chaotropes such as urea. Agarose of this invention is imbibed into a porous support to form a continuous phase. Water is carefully added such that a gel layer forms at the interfaces between the agarose solution and the added water. The gel layer prevents migration of the agarose but allows further migration of the water and urea molecules out of the agarose solution into the added water. This process continues until the agarose solution turns into a gel within the interstices of the pores of the porous substrate.
One major problem with this prior art method is that the process by which it is made causes the pores of the substrate to be substantially blocked, severely limiting convective flow through the porous support. Additionally, the diffusional resistance is high, limiting the ability of the media to work rapidly.
What is desired is a porous adsorptive or chromatographic media having good convective and diffusional flow. More particularly, what is desired is has a porous adsorptive or chromatographic media formed of a porous substrate having a porous coating that allows for good convective flow through the porous substrate with diffusive flow within the coating itself that provides for good dynamic capacity.

Porous adsorptive or chromatographic media