The invention relates to a refrigerant accumulator combined with a heat exchanger for a motor vehicle air conditioning unit. The accumulator includes a collector chamber having a liquid disposed therein and a neighboring flow chamber. The collector chamber includes a valve which selectively permits a flow of the liquid from the collector chamber into the flow chamber.

Motor vehicle air conditioning units serve to air condition the passenger compartment, frequently including a refrigerant system that functions based on the cold vapor process. The refrigeration systems in mobile applications are mostly provided with a refrigerant accumulator, which may be combined with an internal heat exchanger.
The improvement according to the invention relates to the oil recirculation device of a refrigerant accumulator.
In air conditioning units using the refrigerant R744, an internal heat exchanger is often used to enhance efficiency. The internal heat exchanger functions by supercooling the high-pressure side refrigerant. The internal heat exchanger system-internally transfers heat to the low-pressure side refrigerant, which is thereby superheated.
In vehicle air conditioning units, for reasons of space, the accumulator and the internal heat exchanger are usually combined to form one component.
The combined accumulator with the internal heat exchanger integrates the functions of both single components within one component. The combined component is preferably used in mobile R744-refrigeration systems for the air conditioning of vehicles. The refrigerant accumulator with the internal heat exchanger is disposed, on the low-pressure side, between an evaporator and a compressor and on the high-pressure side, between a gas cooler and an expansion element. In a refrigeration system or a heat pump, the accumulator is positioned downstream of the evaporator, serving to collect varying refrigerant filling quantities due to varying operational conditions and having refrigerant in reserve in order to compensate for leakage losses occurring during the maintenance interval.
Compared to the single components, the combined and, hence, compact component adapts better to the limited space in the engine compartment, also enhancing cost efficiency of the total system.
In most cases, such combined refrigerant accumulators consist of two concentric containers, the inner container serving as accumulator/collector while the internal heat exchanger is positioned in the annular space.
The refrigerant enters the accumulator and is directed through a transfer opening into an annular gap between the inner container and an outer container where the internal heat exchanger is disposed. Typically, the internal heat exchanger is a tube coil heat exchanger having tubes passed by high-pressure fluid. In the space between the tubes, the low-pressure side refrigerant flows. After the low-pressure side refrigerant has left the heat exchanger, it reaches the region of a space between the containers called a flow chamber.
Because an accumulator inevitably also removes recirculating oil from the refrigerant circuit, devices must be created in the accumulator ensuring that the oil is continuously returned to the refrigerant circuit to maintain lubrication of the compressor when the refrigeration system is operated.
From prior art, different designs of refrigerant accumulators, particularly combined with internal heat exchangers, are known.
Oil return from the collector into the refrigerant circuit is established in various ways.
According to DE 102 61 886, a collector and an internal heat exchanger are one component. An inner container functions as the collector having refrigerant in reserve. In an annular gap between the inner and an outer container a tube coil heat exchanger is disposed, which is connected to the high-pressure side of the refrigerant circuit. On the low-pressure side, the refrigerant enters the collector. In the upper range of the collector, an inlet opening of a U-tube is disposed, which leads to the bottom of the collector. There, in the 180°-bend, a little hole is made, through which oil collected in a sump of the accumulator can enter the U-tube. From there, the oil is re-entrained by gaseous refrigerant flow re-entering the system. The U-tube leads upwards entering the heat exchanger.
This solution is particularly disadvantageous due to the space requirements of the U-tube which are at the expense of the collector volume.
From U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,757, a combination component designed coaxial is known, where a collector for oil return designed annular is provided with a small hole in a bottom of the collector. Through the hole the oil can drip from the collector sump into a flow of gaseous refrigerant, which entrains the oil, transporting it to a low-pressure side outlet.
The known refrigerant accumulators are disadvantageous in that in a switched off state of the refrigeration system, refrigerant oil or liquid refrigerant of the collector sump enters the flow channel of the low-pressure side refrigerant in an uncontrolled manner until the liquid level in the accumulator and in the flow channel, or annular space, respectively, have leveled out. During start-up of the refrigeration system, the liquid refrigerant outside the accumulator container must first be evaporated. This causes increased refrigerant mass volume and reduced efficiency for a while. Only after a certain operational time, the refrigerant to be stored will again become completely deposited in the accumulator.
Depending on the liquid level in the flow channel, the danger continues that liquid refrigerant would be entrained to the low-pressure side outlet, thus flowing to the compressor through the suction line. The liquid hammer involved leads, as a rule, to a destroyed or damaged container.
The solutions using a U-tube, on the one hand, to a great extent prevent larger refrigerant quantities from being evaporated quickly, and entering the compressor in liquid state. On the other hand, space requirements of the U-tube are at the expense of the storage volume of the collector. However, because it is required that the necessary storage volume of the accumulator is minimized, particularly for vehicle air conditioning units, this solution is undesirable.
Therefore, the invention is aimed at establishing a refrigerant accumulator that, particularly at a standstill of the compressor, prevents oil and liquid refrigerant from outflowing in an uncontrolled manner from the collector chamber into the flow chamber. At the same time, the useful volume of the collector is to be enlarged or the design volume of the component be made smaller. Also, safe operation of the air conditioning unit is improved by the avoidance of an inflow of large quantities of liquid refrigerant, or oil, into the compressor.

Refrigerant accumulator for motor vehicle air conditioning units

Halla Visteon Climate Control Corporation


An article support stand for removably or permanently mounting an article holder on the stand includes a main body which may be formed in the shape of a truncated pyramid. The body has the ability to contain a moveable weight which shifts the center of gravity when the stand is repositioned. The body has a mounting side, and first and second support sides for supporting the stand on a workbench or table top. An elongated bracket defining a T-slot is mounted on the mounting side of the body. The article holder includes an elongated member configured as a T-shaped rail which is receivable by the bracket of the stand so that the article holder may be mounted on the stand. The stand may be rotated 90 degrees from one support side to the other so that the mounting side and the article holder mounted on the mounting side may be disposed in different mounted positions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to support stands and more particularly to a multi-positionable support stand having a movable center of gravity for supporting an article in two or more dispositions either independently or in combination with an article holder which can be selectively interlocked with the support stand.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The term "article" hereinafter refers to a planar type object which the user desires to mount on the stand such as a picture, mirror or chart as well as those objects, both modified and unmodified, such as watches, jewelry, paintable items, printed circuit boards and so forth which thru the cooperation of a variety of interlocking object holding means may be removably mounted on the multi-positionable support stand.
The term "hold" hereinafter refers to the ability to maintain a mounted article on a support stand either by a restraining means which is an integral part of the stand itself or via the cooperation of the stand's mounting means with a variety of interlocking, removably mountable article holders which are capable of either permanently or temporarily restraining an article.
The term "article holder" hereinafter refers to that type of device which is adapted to hold an article, such as in the form of a clamp, vise, heat sink, threaded rod or the like, as well as conventional articles and article support devices, such as will be described, which are modified in accordance with the principles of this invention.
Article support stands for supporting an article or article holder are well-known in the art and come in a variety of configurations and structure.
To my knowledge the most recent art which is somewhat related to the inventive concepts of this application can be found in two of my previous applications the disclosures of which are herby incorporated by reference. The first application, has been issued U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,595 and is entitled "Multi-positionable Document Support Stand and Interlocking Document Holder". The second application, filed Nov. 18, 1988 is currently copending. These two disclosures do not, however, provide for multi-positionable stands which cooperate with an assortment of interchangeable workholders, nor does the issued patent provide for shifting the center of gravity when the stand is placed in different rest positions. Furthermore, the previous disclosures do not present a multi-positionable article support stand which has both a permanently attached article holder, such as a stand for holding pictures, which further includes a means to shift the center of gravity with each new rest position of the stand.
The inadequacy of other multi-positionable article support stands having fixed sides has resulted in stands which present articles at similar angles, no matter what the stands purpose. The need for stability in different dispositions has required that the stand must be manufactured within certain angular limits. The advantages of presenting a mounted article at various angles on the same stand having fixed sides have been unrecognized.
For example, current workholding devices require much adjustment and realignment when working on an article. No current work stand permits the repositioning (without adjustment) of a firmly mounted article, such as a figure or model to be painted, allowing the article to be placed in a different disposition, and yet maintaining the stability of the stand if the respective angular dispositions are considerably different.
A further disadvantage of current support stands for holding a workpiece is that they do not provide for a common supporting means for mounting and accurately repositioning a selection of different article holders on both stationary and multi-positionable workholding stands. Although slots are available on stands such as drill presses they are limited in that they are simply used to hold a workholding piece such as a vice. The vice must be readjusted each time a new angle is desired.
The state of the art prior to the present invention required that the manufacturer of multi-positionable stands plan for the weight distribution of parts and how they related to function in order to make certain that the stand would remain stable in all dispositions.
Another important disadvantage of conventional support stands is that they are limited in the degree of angularity and stability which they can provide to removably mountable article holders.
It may be desirable to display an article by means of a stable stand having fixed sides and various angles of presentation. For example, a stand which can present a picture not only in both landscape and portrait views but also at two different angular orientations with respect to the horizontal in each respective view. Such a stand would provide for a different angle of viewing depending whether the stand were at workbench level or if it were on a high shelf where a larger viewing angle with the horizontal would be desirable. Current stands trying to achieve such a purpose would topple if the respective angles were considerably dissimilar. Current stands do not provide for moving the center of gravity when necessary in order to insure stability in different dispositions.
Many conventional stands such as easel type stands for supporting articles like pictures or mirrors are designed to rest on a workbench or table top, and to support the article at a mounting angle to the horizontal.
One of the primary disadvantages of many conventional multi-positionable article support stands is that they are limited in the degree of angularity and stability which they can provide to the mounted article.
For example, picture stands of the plexiglass type are often small, having a small "footprint" and light in weight and thus are often capable of supporting a picture in only one disposition (portrait or landscape view). However, when a stand is required to provide support both in the landscape disposition (long side of stand lies horizontally) as well as in the portrait disposition (short side of stand lies horizontally) the physical forces which are present require that the stand be larger, having a larger footprint, to provide adequate support. Additionally, the combination of a lightweight stand and dual disposition support requirements results in limiting the angles of inclination which can be used in order that the stability of the stand in both dispositions is maintained.

Multi-positionable support stand with movable center of gravity


A method of decoding data includes: receiving an encoded data stream transmitted as a plurality of variable length symbols; dividing the data stream into a sequence of blocks, each block having a sequence of adjacent bit positions starting a first bit position and ending with a last bit position; pre-processing each block prior to fully decoding each block, wherein pre-processing includes, for each block, selecting a bit position in a current block and determining a starting position of a first symbol in an adjacent block based on the selected bit position, wherein determining is initially performed for the last bit position in the current block, and is repeated sequentially for each preceding bit position through and including the first bit position; and fully decoding each block by decoding a first block starting at the first bit position and decoding each adjacent block starting at the starting position.

Some coding and/or compression algorithms transmit data in encoded streams that are represented by symbols having varying lengths. For example, huffman encoded files include symbol lengths that can vary from 1 bit to 28 bits long. Such variable length symbol encoding schemes typically require that encoded data be decoded sequentially, which can significantly restrict throughput.

High throughput decoding of variable length data symbols

International Business Machines Corporation


A tube-in-tube joint includes a rectangular coupling having a longitudinally extending slot the entire length of the coupling which is inserted into opposed ends of two rectangular elongated tube members. Each elongated tube member is provided with an opening therein to receive a bolt therethrough, preferably a carriage bolt, wherein a squared shoulder portion adjacent the head of the carriage bolt fits within the slot of the coupling and the bolt opening. Alternatively, socket head cap screws extend through the bolt openings in the elongated tubes and the coupling slot receives T-nuts which are held in place in the longitudinally extending slot.

The present invention relates to a splice joint for elongated tubes and more particularly relates to a joint connection for two elongated tubes using a smaller tube inside the two elongated tubes as the means for splicing the two elongated tubes together.
In the assembling of structures which are comprised of a plurality of elongated tubes, it is common practice to use different types of splices to join the tubes together in an assembly. For example, the tubes may contain female or male threadings on each end and couplings having male or female threads are mated with adjacent ends of two elongated tubes. In the case of tubes of rectangular configuration, it is not feasible to use threaded connections and therefore other devices must be used to make these spliced connections.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tube-in-tube joint for joining tubes of a rectangular configuration.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a tube-in-tube joint connection which requires no special tools for assembling.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tube-in-tube joint that makes a rigid alignment between the two tubes to be joined.
It is even another further object of the present invention to provide a tube-in-tube joint for rectangular shaped tubes which are easy to install and easy to take apart.
More particularly, the present invention provides for a coupling member for use in a tube-in-tube joint wherein the coupling member is of rectangular configuration with a slot extending the entire length of the coupling member. The coupling member is sized to fit within opposed ends of two elongated rectangular tubes.
Even more particularly, the present invention provides for a tube-in-tube joint which includes a first elongated tube having a first bolt opening at a preselected location adjacent one end of the first tube, a second elongated tube having a second bolt opening at a preselected location adjacent one end of said second tube which is opposed to the one end of said first elongated tube and a coupling member which is relatively short fits within the opposed ends of the first and second tubes and is provided with a slot which extends the length of the coupling member. A first bolt extends through the slot of the coupling member in the first bolt opening and a second bolt extends through the slot of the coupling member and said second bolt opening with mating nuts on each of the bolts holding the bolts in place and completing the connection of the tube-in-tube joint.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment exemplifying the best modes of carrying out the invention as presently perceived. The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:


A golf tee retrieval system for retrieving a golf tee lying atop the ground utilizing a golf club. The system includes a golf tee having one member of two part releasably engagable hook and loop system connected atop the golf ball receiving and supporting surface of the golf tee. The other portion of the hook and loop system is connectable onto the upper end of a golf club. Thus, the hook and loop members so opposingly connected, cooperate to allow the user to simply touch the golf tee head with any portion of the upper end of the golf club to quickly retrieve the golf tee after use.

The present invention relates generally to golf tees, and more particularly to a golf tee retrieval system for quickly and easily recovering golf tees after use.
No prior art devices known to applicant accomplish the primary desired object of this invention, i.e. the quick retrieval of golf tees from atop the ground after use at a driving tee. Typically, the tee may be dislodged from the ground as the ball is driven there from and may be flipped through the air away from the golfer. Because golfers are fanatic about the high cost of tees, they must always be retrieved manually by bending over to allow at least for the inspection of broken shafts so that they may be either kept or discarded. Because a considerable number of golfers are aged or have weak back muscles, back strains resulting from the retrieval of these valuable accessories, which may be entangled in grass, is common.
Applicant has found that, in developing the present invention, a secondary benefit has manifested itself. This benefit derives from the textured surface of one part of the two part VELCRO releasable attaching system adhered atop the golf ball supporting portion of the head of a golf tee. This benefit is in the form of increased drive distance of golf balls struck there from. Applicant suggests that the textured surface, particularly when utilizing the VELCRO "hook" portion atop the golf tee, effects the spin of the golf ball as it is driven from the tee so as to enhance the roll of the golf ball once it contacts the fairway.
Applicant is now aware of a number of devices which are intended to modify the flight of a golf ball as it is driven from the tee. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,909 to Messana which teaches the use of an adhesive surface added atop the golf ball supporting portion of a tee. Another device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. 4,783,077 invented by Lemon which discloses a golf tee having a plurality of flutes which project upwardly and outwardly so that the golf ball is supported only on a plurality of points. Another device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,473,812 to Pelzmann is directed to a golf tee having an enlarged asymmetric golf ball supporting surface. Finally, applicant is aware of the invention to Post as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,288,470 which provides a uniquely structured golf tee for correcting a hook or a slice.
The present invention provides a golf tee retrieval system for use in conjunction with any golf club, or its equivalent, available to the golfer whereby, after use, a tee may be quickly retrieved from atop the ground without the painful and anguishing gymnastics of having to bend over to manually grasp and retrieve the tee from the grass by hand. Additionally, the invention provides for enhanced ball flight dynamics which appears to increase the roll of golf ball struck from the present invention.


An exhaust manifold has a plurality of branched exhaust passages connected to respective exhaust ports of individual cylinders; a plurality of first collector segments each of which joins the branched exhaust passages for the cylinders which are not adjacent in the exhaust order sequence; a plurality of middle exhaust passages connected to the downstream of the first collector segments, respectively; and a second collector segment that joins the middle exhaust passages. In at least low and middle speed ranges in a high load region of the engine, a valve opening time of an exhaust valve is changed according to the engine speed so that a predetermined amount of a valve overlap period is ensured and that negative pressure waves from exhaust pressure pulses reach an exhaust port during the valve overlap period in a plurality of engine speed ranges.

Conventional spark ignition engines are known whose torque is improved by using exhaust pressure pulses. In this type of engines, a valve overlap period during which intake and exhaust valves are kept open is made and negative pressure waves from the exhaust pressure pulses is induced to reach an exhaust port during the valve overlap period over an engine operation region in which torque should be increased, improving the effectiveness of the scavenging action.
For example, Patent Document 1 describes to make phases of the valve overlap period changeable and timing of a negative pressure wave is adjusted so that it reaches an exhaust port during a valve overlap period.
In addition, Patent Document 2 describes to provide valve opening time changing means which makes a valve opening time of an exhaust valve changeable, and to control the valve opening time changing means according to the engine speed so that negative pressure waves from exhaust pressure pulses reach an exhaust port during a valve overlap period, thereby improving the effectiveness of the scavenging action and improving the torque over a wide rotation speed range of the engine.


A light emitting device including a transistor structure formed on a semiconductor substrate. The transistor structure having a source region, a drain region, a channel region between the source and drain regions, and a gate oxide on the channel region. The light emitting device including a plurality of nanocrystals embedded in the gate oxide, and a gate contact made of semitransparent or transparent material formed on the gate oxide. The nanocrystals are adapted to be first charged with first type charge carriers, and then provided second type charge carriers, such that the first and second type charge carriers form excitons used to emit light.

In conventional light emitting diodes (LEDs), a direct current is applied through the device to create excitons in its active region, which in turn are emitted as light. However, when the direct current is applied to the bulk semiconductor material of the LEDs, many of the charge carriers that make up the applied current do not form excitons in the active region of the device. Hence, much of the applied energy is wasted.
Because of the availability and maturity of silicon microelectronics technologies, it would be beneficial to use silicon for the fabrication of optoelectronic devices. Light emission in conventional bulk silicon-based devices, however, is constrained in wavelength to infrared emission, and is inefficient because of the indirect band gap of silicon. Due to its poor light emitting properties, silicon is typically not used to fabricate light emitting devices.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a silicon or other semiconductor based light emitting device which is very efficient, such that only minimal energy is wasted in constructing the electron-hole pairs that generate the necessary excitons.

Sequentially charged nanocrystal light emitting device


A non-metallic bracket for a bicycle hydraulic component is basically provided with a non-metallic body and a rupturing member. The non-metallic body has a hydraulic hose attachment port and an internal fluid passage. The hydraulic hose attachment port has an insertion opening disposed at an exterior surface of the non-metallic body and an internal attachment bore extending from the insertion opening towards the internal fluid passage. The rupturing member is disposed in the non-metallic body at a location spaced from the insertion opening of the hydraulic hose attachment port.

Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a non-metallic bracket for a bicycle hydraulic component. More specifically, the present invention relates to a non-metallic bracket for a bicycle hydraulic component including a rupturing member disposed in a non-metallic body.
Background Information
A hydraulic bicycle system is well known for connecting hydraulic components with a hydraulic hose. A first hydraulic component, such as a brake lever, is fluidly coupled to a second hydraulic component, such as a brake caliper, by the hydraulic hose. The second hydraulic component is hydraulically controlled by hydraulic fluid flowing through the hydraulic hose in response to operation of the first hydraulic component. The hydraulic hose is coupled to metallic bodies of the hydraulic components.

Non-metallic bracket for a bicycle hydraulic component


The present invention relates to a method for producing astrocytes comprising obtaining neural progenitor cells from stem cells so as to continuously produce astrocytes with high purity and same traits, followed by two steps of differentiating the neural progenitor cells into the astrocytes, and astrocytes produced therefrom. Since the method of preparing the astrocytes provided in the present invention enables not only production of the astrocytes with high purity and faster production of the astrocytes with same characteristics, but also rapid differentiation of the astrocytes using the neural progenitor cells when necessary, it can be widely used for effectively treating a patient with a disease which requires transplantation of the astrocytes.

As mammal neurons do not regenerate if damaged, neurodegenerative diseases such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, or Alzheimer's disease may occur when the neurons are damaged. Accordingly, treatments that can cure diseases due to neuronal death have been actively studied worldwide for a long time, but an adequate treatment has not yet been developed.
Recently, research has been actively carried out to develop a method for treating the neurons damaged by differentiating stem cells, which are pluripotent cells capable of differentiating into various cells, into neurons. As the stem cells can be differentiated into various cells, such method may be fundamental in treating a disease that induces tissue damage. However, as it is not easy to obtain the stem cells or differentiate the stem cells into desired cells, and as the possibility of the stem cells themselves being rejected by patients' immune system can be problematic, the method has not been used universally. However, a cranial nerve disease accompanied by neural damage is considered to be the most appropriate object for the treatment using the stem cells because unlike other tissues, there is little rejection by the immune system in the cranial nervous system tissue, thereby making it possible to expect long-term survival of transplanted cells when the cells are transplanted from outside.
Studies for developing a method for applying the stem cells to treatments of diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, demyelinating disease, and spinal cord injury are actively under way. For example, International Publication No. WO 2005/003320 discloses a method for inducing the stem cells into neurons, comprising sequentially adding and culturing a basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), fibroblast growth factor 8, sonic hedgehog (SHH), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and ultimately co-culturing with astrocytes. Korean Patent Application No. 10-0495532 discloses a method for differentiating mesenchymal stem cells into neurons by culturing in a culture medium comprising an epidermal growth factor (EGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and for proliferating the neurons.
Astrocytes, also known as astroglia, which are a type of neurons, as main supporting cells of the nervous system, are known to play a role in aiding neuronal activities while appropriately eliminating neurotransmitters secreted by neurons and controlling ion concentrations in the brain. Recently, as astrocytes have been revealed to play certain roles, such as in synapse formation of neurons, regulation of synapse number, and synaptic plasticity, and in the onset of degenerative nervous system diseases as well as differentiation of neural stem cells into nerves, more active research has been carried out on whether the astrocytes can be used for treating or improving the neurodegenerative diseases by differentiation.
According to what has been reported so far, a method for differentiating from nerve stem cells into astrocytes via astrocyte progenitor cells (Korean Application Publication No. 10-2014-0071512) and a method of differentiating astrocytes using DMEM/F-12 comprising B-27™ medium supplement (Gibco Life Technologies Corporation, 3175 Staley Road, Grand Island N.Y. 14075, acquired by, and B-27™ medium supplement now distributed by, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, Mass., USA), bFGF, and heparin (U.S. Pat. No. 6,897,061) are known. However, the astrocytes differentiated by the conventional method include other cells in addition to pure astrocytes, thereby causing a problem in that differentiation efficiency and purity of the astrocytes are low, and this problem has not yet been resolved.

Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology


The helmet stabilization apparatus includes a helmet adapted to be worn by a user, a night vision goggle unit attached to a front portion of the helmet, and a removable counterweight attached to a rear portion of the helmet that balances with the weight of the night vision goggle unit, wherein said removable counterweight can be connected in a variety of manners, such as a magnetic means of connection, a hook and loop connection, or a mechanical means of connection. Furthermore, the helmet may provide staggered connections, such that the removable counterweight may be positioned on the helmet at the user's desired orientation. This allows the user to move the center of mass of the system such that it is self-stabilizing on the user's head. Moreover, the removable counterweight may be formed such that when it is removed, it may be coupled with an attachable handle to form a plurality of tools or weapons. This is beneficial in that it provides a collection of tools while only one object need be carried.

Protective helmets are used in a variety of activities, such as in the military and in law enforcement. These helmets often comprise a rigidly formed shell for protection and a support system for supporting the helmet in relation to the user's head. The support system typically comprises straps that extend from the rim of the shell of the helmet to wrap around a portion of the user's head or neck, usually around the chin or the nape of the neck.
For some helmets, different attachments are desired or necessary based on the activity to be performed. One such attachment includes a night vision goggle unit. During activities or operations under darkened conditions, a user may wear the night vision goggle unit to facilitate vision in low levels of light. The night vision goggle unit attaches to the front of the helmet in the region approximate to the location of the user's forehead. Ideally the center of mass for such a system would be directly over the top of a user's head; such that there is no offset to the weight, as an offset weight causes a tendency to rotate that must be counteracted by the user's neck muscles to maintain equilibrium. The night vision goggle unit is quite heavy (often 2 pounds or more), and users may have to wear the system for hours at a time, typically causing neck strain and fatigue. Because the additional weight of the night vision goggle unit may cause the center of mass of the helmet to be shifted forward, causing the helmet to tilt down over the user's face, the shift forces the user to activate neck muscles to prevent the tilt.
Due to the weight of the night vision goggle unit, the support straps of the helmet may often be inadequate to hold the helmet with the attached night vision goggles in place upon a user's head such that the rim of the helmet is parallel to the ground. Furthermore, the center of mass offset typically allows a relatively heavy helmet and night vision goggle attachment to swing about on a user's head with unintentionally high degrees of freedom. This means the helmet may have mobility free of the user, and thus may not remain as securely in place as desired.
Therefore, for the purpose of balancing the weight of the night vision goggle unit such that a helmet may remain stable upon a user's head, current products addressing the issue utilize a counterweight system that uses mechanical means of attachment to the back of a helmet, such that the counterweight hangs from the bottom rim of the helmet based on the geometry of the counterweight. Current products lack adjustability of the placement of a counterweight, such that the product is not capable of accommodating various preferences or parameters of different users. Moreover, current products must be removed to maintain balance if the night vision goggle unit is removed, leaving the necessity to store the current product when not in use. Contributing to this problem, military and law enforcement personnel typically carry heavy and cumbersome equipment, such that there is a strong benefit associated with multi-purpose equipment capable of various tasks.
Thus a need exists for a counterweight system that will move the center of mass of a helmet with front-loaded attachments to an ideal position, acting through the center of the user's neck, and thus preventing the tilt caused by the weight of the night vision goggles. This change of the effective locus of the center of mass reduces or removes any neck strain of the user that is required to hold the helmet in place, as the helmet may then balance evenly upon the user's head without exertion by the user. There is also a need for a counterweight system that is adjustable for different users depending upon their physical specifications and preferences. Furthermore, it is desired that the design limit unintentional degrees of freedom of the helmet, while not restricting head movement of the user. It is to these ends that the present invention has been developed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Techniques are provided for managing frequency access in a shared spectrum available to a radio local access network (RLAN) in a wireless network. A shared spectrum system may perform operations including retrieving a plurality of parameters for one or more high-priority users in the wireless network; computing, based on the retrieved parameters, a plurality of interference-to-noise power ratio (I/N) contours; storing the plurality of I/N contours in a database; receiving, from an RLAN device in the wireless network, a request for spectrum availability, wherein the received request includes at least a first value; extracting, based on the first value in the request for spectrum availability, an I/N contour from the database matching RLAN parameters; determining, based on the extracted I/N contour, available frequency information corresponding to the received request for spectrum availability; and transmitting, to the RLAN device, the available frequency information.

Radio frequency (RF) spectrum is the foundation for many wireless communications systems in use today, including radar and cellular communications systems. Specified frequency ranges, sometimes identified as bands or channels, in the RF spectrum may be allocated for use by different entities, for different purposes, or in different geographic locations. As used in this disclosure, "spectrum" refers to any frequencies, frequency bands, and frequency channels in the RF spectrum that may be used or allocated for wireless communications.
Because the available RF spectrum is finite, frequency allocations in the spectrum are highly valued and often highly regulated. In the United States, for example, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) regulate and manage spectrum allocations, allotments, and assignments. Frequency allocation is the process by which the entire RF spectrum is divided into frequency bands established for particular types of service. These frequency allocations are then further subdivided into channels designated for a particular service or "allotment." Assignment refers to the final subdivision of the spectrum in which a party (i.e., cellular operator) receives one or more frequency assignments, in the form of a license, to operate a radio transmitter on specific frequency channels within a particular geographic location.
The system of spectrum allocation, allotment, and assignment is failing to keep pace with the increasing demand for spectrum. There is, therefore, a need to improve how the available spectrum can be efficiently allocated, allotted, and assigned in the face of growing demand. Unless otherwise noted, "allocation" is used in the present disclosure to generally refer to the process by which spectrum is allocated, allotted, and assigned.
In view of this increasing demand for spectrum, a dynamic spectrum access (DSA) system may be used to share available spectrum among multiple users. A DSA system, for example, may include a Spectrum Access System (SAS) that manages access to a shared spectrum, such as the 3.5 GHz band recently made available for commercial use in the United States. In another example, a DSA system may be used to share access to unlicensed spectrum, such as Television Whitespace (TVWS). Coordinating and managing multi-user access to a shared spectrum present challenges in a DSA system.
There has been research and development of computer-automated techniques for the optimization and organization of spectrum allocation in standalone wireless networks, e.g., Self-Organizing Network (SON) techniques in 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) networks. A SON may comprise one or more interconnected standalone networks, e.g., sharing access to at least one SAS. These standalone networks typically use a single radio access technology, such as described in the 3GPP standards for Long Term Evolution (LTE). Further, these networks are usually managed by a single operator, e.g., Verizon or AT&T, which has an exclusive license to use a portion of spectrum in a geographical area.
As wireless demands grow, shared spectrum usage is becoming more common, e.g., in TVWS bands and in the 3.5 GHz Federal band. In these environments, a SAS may control spectrum access among users assigned to different priority levels (or "tiers") of spectrum-access privileges. The SAS may implement spectrum management policies for users in each tier. For example, the SAS may be configured to protect spectrum usage by higher-priority "primary users" in shared bands from harmful interference that would result from communications by lower-priority "secondary users." In some cases, such high-priority users may comprise "incumbent" users, such as military or other government users, that had access to a spectrum before that spectrum was shared with other "non-incumbent" users. As used herein, a "user" may refer to a user equipment (such as a mobile phone) or a person using a user equipment as will be apparent in context. In many cases where there are relatively few primary users, spectrum usage by primary users is low, so secondary users can dominate overall resource usage. Nonetheless, in regions with primary users, the SAS should ensure that any spectrum allocations to secondary users will not create unacceptable levels of interference with the primary users.
To assist the SAS with spectrum management, base stations serving secondary users are often required by regulation (e.g., FCC requirements) to share their operating parameters (e.g., location, antenna characteristics, desired operating power, air interface technology, requested data rates) and measurements (e.g., neighboring base station interference, overall interference, bit/block/frame error rates, latencies, buffer status) with the SAS. Secondary users may also opt to share operating parameters and measurements with the SAS, since such sharing may result in improved secondary user performance.
Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) shared-spectrum systems are currently being deployed to provide commercial use of 150 MHz of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band, and new bands such as the 6 GHz band (5.925 to 7.125 GHz) may soon be available for shared spectrum use. To expedite the rollout of services in new shared spectrum bands, software systems used to coordinate shared access of these bands and protect band incumbents must be simple and capable of rapidly determining spectrum availability at a particular location. Moreover, what is needed is a solution tailored to 6 GHz shared spectrum coordination using an approach that also may be easily adjusted for use in other bands, e.g., by modifying the propagation model, protected incumbents, and protection criteria.
A wireless communication device is generally referred to herein as a radio local access network (RLAN) device, whereas a shared spectrum controller (e.g., SAS) is referred to herein as an Automatic Frequency Coordinator (AFC) or AFC controller. In some implementations, the wireless network may comprise one or more 6 GHz RLAN devices and the AFC may be a shared spectrum controller, such as an SAS, for managing access to spectrum in the 6 GHz band. As used herein, RLANs may comprise non-incumbent users that share access to spectrum with higher-priority incumbent users in a wireless network. In some embodiments, an RLAN may refer to an RLAN device in a wireless network. In some embodiments, RLAN device may refer to an access point (AP), such as a WiFi AP, and/or a base station. Additionally or alternatively, RLAN device may comprise a transmitter and a receiver. In some embodiments, RLAN clients may refer to clients and/or user equipment (UE). Additionally or alternatively, RLAN clients may comprise a transmitter and a receiver. In some embodiments, RLAN device may be capable of sharing any necessary information associated with its RLAN clients to the AFC and disseminating a response from the AFC to its RLAN clients.
More than 100,000 incumbents of the 6 GHz band that require protection from RLAN interference are registered in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Universal Licensing System (ULS) database. The ULS database includes, for example, the location, frequency, and other characteristics of incumbent receivers that should be protected from interference from other users. Additional incumbents, e.g., those not included in the ULS database, can also be protected given incumbent-associated protection criteria.

Automated frequency coordination for shared spectrum wireless systems


An electrostatic actuator includes: a fixed driving electrode that is disposed on a silicon substrate; a movable driving electrode that is disposed so as to face the fixed driving electrode and approaches the fixed driving electrode with an electrostatic force generated between the movable driving electrode and the fixed driving electrode; and a pair of spacers that comes in contact with the movable driving electrode in an approaching state in which the fixed driving electrode and the movable driving electrode approach each other and forms a prescribed air gap between the fixed driving electrode and the movable driving electrode, wherein each of the spacers has a spacer electrode portion that comes in contact with the movable driving electrode via an insulator and has the same potential as one of the electrodes at least in the approaching state.

A known variable capacitance capacitor has a variable capacitance portion composed of a signal line and an electrode facing the signal line and a pair of actuator portions of a bridge structure in line with both sides of the variable capacitance portion (see Patent Document 1). Each of the actuator portions has a movable-side upper electrode and a fixation-side lower electrode facing the upper electrode. Further, when a voltage is applied between the upper electrode and the lower electrode, a potential difference is caused between the upper electrode and the lower electrode. As a result, an electrostatic force is generated between the upper electrode and the lower electrode, whereby the upper electrode and the lower electrode are caused to approach each other. In addition, the lower electrode is covered with an insulating film, and the upper electrode and the lower electrode come in contact with each other via the insulating film over the almost entire areas thereof in an approaching state in which both of the electrodes approach each other.
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2008-278634

Electrostatic actuator, variable capacitance capacitor, electric switch, and method for driving electrostatic actuator


The operator terminal receives input of the terminal status of the recovery target terminal 10 from an operator, extracts a recovery item for recovering the terminal status of the recovery target terminal 10 and a recovery set value being a value recovered corresponding to the recovery item based on the input terminal status, and generates a recovery code at least including the recovery item and the recovery set value. The recovery target terminal 10 decodes the recovery code in response to input of the recovery code to acquire the recovery item and the recovery set value and executes a recovery process for the terminal status based on the acquired recovery item and the acquired recovery set value.

In recent years, various services have been provided for users by connecting portable terminals with a web server and the like through a public line network. In particular, advanced services, which have been provided for personal computers conventionally, has become possible to provide for mobile phones by the appearance of smart phones (highly functional mobile phones).
In order to maximize the use of such advanced web services and the high functionality of smart phones, users need to know the operation of configuration and the function of a smart phone. In addition, if users who are not used to operation configuring their own terminals for the first time, the settings that should not be deleted may be actually deleted, or inappropriate configuration may be conducted to cause an error.
For approaching such problems, there has been a known method of remotely supporting (remote maintain) a user's terminal from a system so as to remotely configure the user's terminal and so as to remotely login the user's terminal to change the settings and to guide the setting operation. For example, PLT 1 discloses that a server acquires the screen information of each client to be supported and constantly displays a list of this screen information so as to improve the performance of support and monitoring for a user.
In addition, PLT 2 discloses the technology capable of remote support by transferring the screen information of a user terminal through the use of augmented reality achieved by means of the camera of a mobile phone.

Terminal recovery method, terminal recovery system, and program for the same


A dot region discriminating method discriminates a dot region of an image which is described by a digital input image signal. The method includes detecting one or more extreme points from a first local region within the image. Each of the extreme points corresponds to a peak or valley of a density change of a picture element within the first local region. The method further comprises detecting whether or not one of (1) a center picture element within one of said local regions of the image or (2) one of the second local regions, belongs to a dot region, this second detecting step being based on a distribution of the extreme points detected in the first local region by the first detecting step. Finally, the method involves discriminating the dot region of the image based on the second detection step.

The present invention generally relates to dot region discriminating methods, and more particularly to a dot region discriminating method for automatically discriminating a dot region from a line region within an image.
In copying machines and facsimile machines, an image which is copied, transmitted or received may be a composite image in which a dot image and a line image coexist. The dot image refers to a photograph, a picture or the like which is described by dots, while the line image refers to a character or the like which is described by lines. In order to improve the quality of the copied, transmitted or received image, it is desirable to carry out a process of eliminating the moire with respect to the dot region such as a dot photograph and to carry out a sharpening process with respect to the line region such as a character. In addition, when transmitting the composite image, it is desirable from the point of view of improving the compression rate that a coding process is carried out after processes appropriate for characteristics of various regions of the image are carried out.
As a method of discriminating the dot region from the image, there is a method proposed by H. Ueno, "Reproduction of Dot Photograph by Dot Printer", Oki Denki Research and Development, No. 132, Vol. 53, No. 4, Oct. 1986. This method proposed by H. Ueno will hereinafter be referred to as the Ueno method.
FIG. 1 shows the basic processes of the Ueno method. An input image signal is generated by making a raster scan of a document image in a step 1. This input image signal is a digital multilevel signal. Then, in a step 2, a difference signal is generated from the input image signal by calculating a density difference of the brightness between each two mutually adjacent picture elements along the direction of the raster scan. An extreme point (peak or valley) of the density change of the picture elements is detected from the difference signal in a step 3. The extreme point is detected when one of the following conditions are satisfied.
Condition (i): The picture element is regarded as the extreme point when the sign of the difference signal changes before and after this picture element as shown in FIG. 2A.
Condition (ii): The picture element is regarded as the extreme point when the sign of the difference signal changes before and after this picture element which has a difference value of zero as shown in FIG. 2B.
Condition (iii): The picture element is regarded as the extreme point when a distance between this picture element and a previous extreme point becomes a predetermined threshold value L.sub.th0.
Then, a dot region is detected in a step 4 based on the extreme points detected in the step 3. The dot region is detected when the following two conditions are simultaneously satisfied.
Condition (iv): A distance L(i) between two successive extreme points is within threshold values L.sub.th1 and L.sub.th2, that is, L.sub.th1 <L(i)<L.sub.th2.
Condition (v): A difference between the distance L(i) at the present position and a distance L(i-1) at a previous position is within a threshold value L.sub.th3, that is, .vertline.L(i)-L(i-1).vertline..ltoreq.L.sub.th3.
Finally, in a step 5, an output image signal which corresponds to the line image or the dot image is generated depending on the discrimination result, that is, whether or not the dot region is detected in the step 4.
The Ueno method discriminates the dot region on a premise that the peaks and valleys of the density level of the dot region occurs regularly. But in general, a large number of extreme points exist in regions such as character regions and continuous gradation photograph regions which are other than the dot region. For this reason, the Ueno method suffers a problem in that the dot region cannot be discriminated with a high accuracy.
In addition, the Ueno method detects the dot region by making a one dimensional comparison of the two successive picture elements which are arranged on the raster scan line. As a result, the distance L(i) between the two successive extreme points becomes long in cases where the dot region occupies a large or small area of the document image and in a case where a skew of the document occurs and a screen angle shifts from a horizontal direction. In such cases, there is a problem in that it is extremely difficult to discriminate the dot region from other regions of the document image such as the character region.


A system for saturating a liquid with a gas includes a first screen box, a particulate material provided in the first screen box, a liquid inlet disposed in fluid communication with the first screen box, a second screen box disposed in fluid communication with the first screen box, a gas inlet disposed in fluid communication with the second screen box; and an outlet conduit disposed in fluid communication with the second screen box.

Systems are known for saturating a liquid with a gas in a variety of applications. For example, a variety of fuel systems for introducing a fuel/air mixture into an internal combustion engine are known. Some internal combustion engines include a carburetor in which a liquid fuel is vaporized in a fixed or variable venturi as air from the atmosphere is fed through the venturi, drawing the vaporized fuel into the intake manifold and cylinders of the engine. Modern gasoline and diesel engines include a fuel injection system in which fuel is injected directly into a combustion chamber under high pressure and a spark does not ignite the fuel. Typically, air is drawn into the combustion chamber and compressed prior to injection of the fuel into the chamber. Fuel injection systems have also been adapted for use with conventional spark-ignition internal combustion engines to improve the fuel efficiency of the engines.
Other conventional carburetor-type fuel systems facilitate bubbling of air through a liquid fuel in order to vaporize the fuel. Rather than saturating the fuel with air or oxygen, however, these systems vaporize the liquid in the air. In some fuel systems, gases are fed into a carburetor at the same time a hydrocarbon fuel is vaporized in the carburetor.
In some applications, liquids have been saturated with gases such as carbon dioxide to form soda water or to increase the gas content in malt drinks such as beer. Saturated liquids, however, must be maintained under pressure until just prior to use to maintain the gases in a saturated state in the liquids. A need remains for a system and method which overcome the drawbacks of conventional systems and methods that saturate a liquid with a gas.

System and method for saturating a liquid with a gas


An improved apparatus is disclosed for removing and installing faulty printed circuit cards laterally through a side wall of a computer system, while the remaining cards of the computer system remain under power and operational. The computer system incorporates zero insertion force (ZIF) connectors for receiving the printed circuit cards, and a special interlock mechanism prevents each ZIF connector from being moved from its open position to its closed position until an associated card has been fully installed into the connector. In addition, a special centering mechanism is used to adjustably position the printed circuit card with its electrical contacts precisely aligned with the contacts of the ZIF connector.

This invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for removing and installing printed circuit boards from/into computer systems and the like and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus of this kind in which the printed circuit boards are extracted and installed laterally from a multi-card chassis without the need to disassemble the system, disturb other cards, or disrupt electrical power from being applied to the chassis.
Personal computers (PCs), PC servers, UNIX servers, and other computer systems typically incorporate chassis that carry a number of printed circuit boards, including input/output (I/O) cards, in connectors arranged in spaced, parallel relationship on a mother board or other support structure. Computer systems of this kind typically incorporate printed circuit boards or cards that are compatible with the standardized Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus. PCI cards have variable heights and widths, but all have a multiple-contact connector along their lower edges and a bulkhead mounted along an adjacent side edge.
Computer systems of the kind described above typically must be powered down while a faulty PCI card is being removed and replaced. In addition, in many instances, more than just a single card must be removed, because a small-outline card might be located adjacent to one or more full-size cards and thus be inaccessible. This card replacement procedure has proven to be lengthy and disruptive, and it has given rise to the need for a means that allows such cards to be removed and replaced without having to shut down electrical power to the remainder of the system. This is referred to as On-Line Replacement (OLR).
A fully capable OLR system includes OLR hardware, system software and OS support, device drivers, and a user interface. The hardware and software function together to ensure that any OLR activity is benign to other devices connected to the PCI bus. Typically, the PCI OLR hardware isolates the logic and the power signals of a single PCI slot from all other devices connected to the PCI bus. A digital OLR controller arbitrates for the PCI bus and controls all of the logic signals for each slot. Power control electronics allows for power sequencing on the PCI bus, ensuring that power to the card slot is switched off for on-line replacement, while stable power continues to be delivered to other devices on the PCI bus.
OLR solutions have been provided in the past by systems compatible with other industry standards, including VME or Compact-PCI cards, which are of a fixed size, or at most two fixed sizes. In these other systems, the cards are configured to be supported by card guides such that they can be removed and installed without contacting neighboring cards. Typically, the bulkheads of such cards are oriented orthogonal to the direction of extraction, and they incorporate handles and latches, for convenient replacement.
In contrast with the cards of such other industry standards, standard PCI cards are not of a fixed size, but instead have upper and rearward side edges with widely variable positions. In addition, the bulkhead of a PCI card is in line with the normal direction of extraction and is free of handles or other detail for facilitating its extraction. The force required to insert a 64-bit PCI card into a standard connector can be as high as 60 pounds.
Some OLR systems have been devised for use with PCI cards, but they are not considered to be entirely satisfactory. For example, one such system incorporates special adapters and handles, while another incorporates special dividers and guides, along with handles for accommodating size variations and obviating potential electrical shorting of adjacent cards. These known OLR systems for use with PCI cards use standard connectors and maintain a standard extraction procedure, in line with the bulkhead. This generally requires a removal of covers and/or drawers to gain access to the card cage.
It should therefore be appreciated that there is a need for an improved OLR system for use with PCI cards and the like, which facilitates a safe and convenient removal and replacement of the cards in a lateral direction and without requiring a shutdown of electrical power to any other cards. The present invention fulfills this need.

On-line replacement apparatus for printed circuit cards


A photoelectric conversion device with an excellent photoelectric conversion characteristic with a silicon semiconductor material effectively utilized. The photoelectric conversion device includes a first unit cell including a first electrode, a first impurity semiconductor layer, a single crystal semiconductor layer, and a second impurity semiconductor layer; and a second unit cell including a third impurity semiconductor layer, a non-single-crystal semiconductor layer, a fourth impurity semiconductor layer, and a second electrode. The second and third impurity semiconductor layers are in contact with each other so that the first and second unit cells are connected in series, and an insulating layer is provided for a surface of the first electrode and bonded to a supporting substrate.

As a measure against global warming, solar photovoltaic power generation has become popular in the world. For the solar photovoltaic power generation, a photoelectric conversion device (also called a solar cell) in which light energy is converted into electrical energy by using photoelectric characteristics of a semiconductor is applied in many cases, as compared to the case of utilizing solar heat.
Production of photoelectric conversion devices tends to increase year after year. For example, the total production of solar cells in the world in 2005 was 1,759 MW, which is a drastic increase of 147% as compared to that in the previous fiscal year. Photoelectric conversion devices which have become popular worldwide use a crystalline semiconductor; photoelectric conversion devices using a single crystal silicon substrate or a polycrystalline silicon substrate constitute a large part of the production.
The thickness of a crystal-type photoelectric conversion device using silicon, which is needed to absorb sunlight, is only about 10 μm. Nevertheless, a single crystal silicon substrate or a polycrystalline silicon substrate manufactured as a product has a thickness of about 200 to 300 μm. That is, the photoelectric conversion device using a single crystal semiconductor substrate or a polycrystalline semiconductor substrate has a thickness ten or more times as large as the thickness needed for photoelectric conversion, and thus the single crystal silicon substrate or the polycrystalline silicon substrate is far from being effectively utilized wholly. Speaking of extremes, most part of the single crystal silicon substrate or the polycrystalline silicon substrate functions only as a structural body for keeping the shape of the photoelectric conversion device.
With the increase of production of photoelectric conversion devices year after year, short of supply of polycrystalline silicon, which is the material of a silicon substrate, and resulting rise of cost of the same have become problems of the industry. The production of polycrystalline silicon is expected to be about 36,000 tons in 2007; in contrast, 25,000 tons or more of polycrystalline silicon is needed for semiconductor (LSI) and 20,000 tons or more of polycrystalline silicon is needed for solar cells, which means polycrystalline silicon seems to be in short of supply by about 10,000 tons. This short of supply is predicted to continue.
There are a variety of structures of photoelectric conversion devices. In addition to a photoelectric conversion device having a typical structure in which an n-type or a p-type diffusion layer is formed in a single crystal silicon substrate or a polycrystalline silicon substrate, a stacked photoelectric conversion device in which different kinds of unit cells, i.e., a unit cell formed of a single crystal semiconductor and a unit cell formed of an amorphous semiconductor, are combined is known (see Examined Patent Application Publication No. H6-044638). The photoelectric conversion devices are the same in that a single crystal silicon substrate or a polycrystalline silicon substrate is used. Here, as another mode of a photovoltaic device using a single crystal semiconductor substrate, a photovoltaic device using a single crystal semiconductor layer formed into a slice is given. For example, Patent Document 4 (Patent Document 4: Japanese Published Patent Application No. H10-335683) discloses a tandem solar cell in which hydrogen ions are implanted into a single crystal silicon substrate, a single crystal silicon layer which is separated from the single crystal silicon substrate in a layer shape is disposed over a support substrate in order to lower the cost and save resources while maintaining high conversion efficiency. In this tandem solar cell, a single crystal semiconductor layer and a substrate are bonded to each other with a conductive paste.
On the other hand, photoelectric conversion devices using a crystalline silicon thin film have also been developed. For example, a method for manufacturing a silicon thin-film solar cell in which a crystalline silicon film is deposited over a substrate by a plasma CVD method using a VHF of 27 MHz or higher which has been pulse modulated is described (see Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2005-50905). Further, a technique for controlling plasma process condition to optimize dopant concentration in crystal grains and crystal grain boundaries when a polycrystalline silicon thin film is formed by a plasma CVD method over a special electrode called a texture electrode which has minute unevenness on its surface is disclosed (see Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2004-14958). However, a crystalline thin-film silicon solar cell is still inferior to a single crystal silicon solar cell in crystal quality and photoelectric conversion characteristic. Moreover, a crystalline silicon film needs to be deposited to a thickness of 1 μm or more by a CVD method, which leads to a problem of low productivity.

Photoelectric conversion device and method for manufacturing the same

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A signal detecting system using telephone lines for signal transmission includes at least one detecting device, at least one alarm device, and at least one telephone line. Each detecting device includes an RF receiver, a filter, a signal amplifier, a direct converting receiver, and a level converter. Each alarm device includes a controller and a warning device. By means of the signal detecting system, abnormal signals (such as signals from a pinhole camera) around a detecting area can be detected and transmitted through telephone lines, and thus activate a warning device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to signal detecting systems and, more particularly, to a signal detecting system using telephone lines for signal transmission.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, hidden or pinhole cameras have been used for immoral spying on private affairs in houses or certain locations such as hotels. The behavior immoral spying with hidden or pinhole cameras is a serious offence against public interests, particularly privacy and intimacy.
To solve the problems of immoral spying with hidden or pinhole cameras, a "System and Method for Preventing to Use Portable Terminal Having Camera As Secret Spy Camera," as disclosed in U.S. Publication No. 2005/0075117 A1, uses a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) module to pause the camera function of a portable terminal, such that the camera function can be automatically limited at a specific place to prevent illegal photographing. Nevertheless, radio frequency through wireless transmission can be easily disrupted by terrain or topography, and as such, the effectiveness of camera function pausing is greatly reduced. Besides, in receiving, transmitting or identifying signals, it is necessary to employ a specific device, accompanied with an RFID technique but this increases the cost of system construction and the complexity of design.

Signal detecting system using telephone lines for signal transmission


A brassiere or breast shaping garment has a pair of breast-receiving cups, each of which is formed with an inner fabric layer and an outer fabric layer. The inner fabric layer is placed in an angular orientation relative to the outer fabric layer. Further, the inner fabric layer and the outer fabric layer have sufficiently isotropic hysteresis.

The field of the invention is generally related to body-shaping garments, and more specifically, to a brassiere construction or body-shaping garment construction fabricated with multiple layers of elastomeric fabric.
In the garment industry designers seek to develop women's body-shaping garments (e.g., brassieres, lingerie, girdles, stretch pants, and swimsuits) that are comfortable to wear, figure-enhancing, lightweight and aesthetically pleasing. In particular, brassiere constructions have two principal goals: (a) wearer comfort and (b) lift support for the breasts. The two principal goals can be mutually exclusive.
Various types of brassieres have been designed to be lightweight, comfortable and give breast support. Many brassieres incorporate stretchable or elastic materials for wearer comfort. However, many of these brassieres support the breasts by utilizing constrictive materials. For example, constrictive materials may press the breasts against the body with such pressure as to cause irritation and discomfort. Alternatively, constrictive materials may press, bend or poke the wearer's skin. Examples of such constrictive materials used in bra design include, but are not limited to, underwires, heavy elastic materials, pads and seams that press directly on the skin of the wearer. Additionally, as the body moves, the wearer may experience several changes in brassiere position. These changes may impact negatively the comfort of the wearer. For example, the movement may cause the wearer to have areas where the body and the garment are not in direct contact. Furthermore, the garment may slide along the body as movement occurs. The separation of the garment from the wearer's bust during movement typically results in an undesirable loss of body shaping or support. Comfort of the garment may be impacted as well. Wearer movement and resulting shifting of the garment may cause the wearer to reposition the garment back to its original position on the body to achieve original comfort and shaping
U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,951 to Cole et al., entitled "Method of Fabricating Two Layer Cups and Brassiere," which issued Nov. 13, 1984, discloses a brassiere cup molded from two layers of stretchable materials. However, the resulting cup has a non-stretchable crown portion, a substantially non-stretchable longitudinal cup portion and a unitary multidirectional stretchable periphery. The lack of stretch in the cup after molding, limits wearer comfort and garment shaping ability.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,462 to Smith et al., entitled "Fabric Laminate and Garments Incorporating Same," which issued Sep. 5, 1995, discloses a multiple-layer stretch fabric used to form discrete portions of a garment in which it is desired to provide certain control properties. Although the selective use of stretch control laminate fabrics provided a step forward in the art, the fabric laminates of the '462 patent are intended to be used only selectively and not over the entire body of the garment. If the materials of the '462 patent were used as the principal fabric forming the garment, either the garment would be too constricting, and/or the entire garment (rather than only selected portions of the garment) would have the same controlling features throughout.
German Patent No. DE20114873, entitled "Brassiere," which published Nov. 11, 2001, discloses two padded bra cups that are at least partly isolated from each other. In addition, each padded bra cup includes two stretchable woven fabric layers. However, the two stretchable woven fabric layers are essentially flexible along only one axis (i.e., either along the X-axis or Y-axis, but not both). That is, the '873 patent discloses the inner and outer fabric layers are each only elastic in one direction while they exhibit in all other directions practically no or at least very little elasticity. Although the use of these stretchable woven fabrics was yet another step forward, the limitation of the stretchable direction to only one axis restricts the potential level of comfort and control provided by the brassiere formed with such fabrics. In addition, the '873 patent shows a woven fabric with capability of stretching in one direction rather than an elastomeric knit fabric that would have increased capability of stretching in multiple directions. Furthermore, brassieres with woven fabric cups are a niche market, with the majority of brassieres being made with knitted fabrics.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/506,228 to Falla entitled "Brassiere" which published Oct. 6, 2005, discloses a brassiere that has two layers of fabric and an anchor support panel in the cup. The three layers are preferably made of fabric with one-way stretch. The anchor causes the brassiere to remain flat against the body of the wearer. The application teaches away from the garment of the present invention as it states that brassieres formed primarily of stretchable fabrics may not provide sufficient support.
It should be noted that three dimensional shaping ability with minimal garment slippage on the body and dynamic body shaping typically is not available in brassiere cup designs (e.g., cups made from two-ply stretchable fabrics). In fact in typical brassieres, wearer movement causes loss of shaping ability and garment slippage. Moreover, though brassiere constructions have been implemented with LYCRA® (a registered trademark of and commercially available from Invista S. à r. I. of Wichita, Kans. and Wilmington, Del.) elastane products, further improvement in the level of comfort, shaping ability and support of such LYCRA®-based products is a desirable goal.
Therefore, there is a need for body-shaping garments that have multiple layers of elastomeric knitted fabrics, such as LYCRA® spandex-containing fabrics, or at least fabrics stretchable in more than one direction, that can provide improved comfort, shaping ability and support to the wearer.

Brassiere construction using multiple layers of fabric


An apparatus for a heat exchanger includes first and second flat tubes, a corrugated fin which is connected to and between said flat tubes and which is subjected to an air flow passing across the heat exchanger. The corrugated fin has a plurality of vanes or gills disposed transverse to the air flow direction and a stiffening bead formed thereon between two of the plurality of gills. The stiffening bead is disposed transverse to the air flow direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a corrugated fin for a flat tube heat exchanger which is used, for example, in water/air radiators.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional water/air radiators for motor vehicles, corrugated fins are arranged between the flat tubes of the radiator and are soldered to the flat tubes. In addition to the function of transferring heat, these corrugated fins also perform a supporting function in that they prevent the flat tubes from bulging out when the flat tubes are subjected to internal pressure. Since the corrugated fins are made as thin as possible so that they have a high heat-transfer capacity, and are lightweight, a risk exists in that these corrugated fins will buckle under the pressure exerted by the flat tubes which tend to "inflate" when subjected to internal pressure. This problem is described in the applicant's previous application, P 40 31 577 (which is incorporated herein by reference), wherein the problem is solved by other means, namely the use of so-called supporting means between the flat tubes in the region of the tube bottoms.

Corrugated fin for flat-tube heat exchangers


A mold manufacturing method for monocoque bicycle components comprises the steps of i) providing a first female mold comprising a pair of first half molds delimiting first surfaces to circumscribe a first mold cavity to form first component portions; ii) providing a second female mold comprising a pair of second half molds delimiting second surfaces to circumscribe a second mold cavity to form second component portions; and iii) interposing at least part of third female molds between the first and second female molds, so that third surfaces delimited by the third female molds join with continuity the first and the second surfaces, the third surfaces being configured to form third component portions in a single piece with the first and second component portions. Step iii) comprises a sub-step of manufacturing at least part of the third surfaces of the third female molds by rapid prototyping.

The prior document WO 03/089291 A1 illustrates a system of molds for the production of custom-made bicycle frames, where such frames are initially made of two separate molds, which in a later stage must be mounted to each other by mechanical attachment means.
In such known system, each mold consists of mold modules that may be assembled in various ways to obtain a finite number of desired frame geometries.
The solution taught in document WO 03/089291 A1, although satisfactory in some respects, does not resolve the problem of obtaining a custom frame in a single piece (so-called monocoque frame), e.g. from a mold.
Moreover, according to the present system, it is not necessary to manage all possible dimensional variables—e.g. frame length and/or height—as in the prior art, inasmuch as such circumstance would make the system excessively expensive due to the large number of mold modules required.
The present invention is part of the preceding context and aims to provide a manufacturing method that assumes to provide at least one pair of standard molds, mutually joined together through special molds, shaped or molded to measure, preferably at low cost.
In this way, the proposed method, in addition to severely limiting the overall investment for manufacturing the molds, allows the scope of applicability of the monocoque components production to be extended beyond the mere bicycle frame.


A method is provided for producing a data storage medium by recording disc information on the data storage medium.

The present invention related to a method for optically recording data on a data storage medium such as an optical disc.
Data storage mediums for optically recording data have received attention as mediums for recording a large amount of digital data.
A phase-change optical disc is one of recordable data recording mediums. The phase-change optical disc has a recording film melted by heating. By irradiating a rotating disc with a light beam of a semiconductor laser modulated based on data to be recorded, a phase change occurs on a part irradiated with the light beam on the recording film and data is recorded.
In the case of an intensive light beam, the part irradiated with the light beam on the recording film is heated to a high temperature and is rapidly cooled thereafter. Thus, the part irradiated with the light beam on the recording film becomes amorphous. In the case of a relatively weak light beam, the part irradiated with the light beam is heated to a moderate high temperature and is gradually cooled thereafter. Thus, the part irradiated with the light beam is crystallized. Normally the part having become amorphous is referred to as a mark and the part crystallized between marks is referred to as a space. Binary data is recorded by using the mark and the space. The string of the marks and the spaces is formed on a track which is spirally provided on the optical disc. Normally a laser power of an intensive light beam is called peak power and a laser power of a weak light beam is called bias power.
When data recorded on the phase-change optical disc is read, a weak light beam not causing a phase change of the recording film is emitted to the optical disc and reflected light is detected. Normally the mark having become amorphous has a low reflectivity and the crystallized space has a high reflectivity. Thus, a difference in quantity of reflected light between the mark and the space is detected to generate a reproduction signal, the reproduction signal is binarized, and then demodulation is performed so as to acquire recorded data.
As a method for recording data on the phase-change optical disc, mark position recording and mark edge recording are available. Normally mark edge recording (mark length recording) can obtain a higher recording density of information. A longer mark can be recorded in mark edge recording as compared with mark position recording.
When a light beam at peak power is emitted to the phase-change optical disc to record a long mark, the rear of the mark has a larger width in the radius direction due to the heat accumulation of the recording film. Thus, there arises a problem that undeleted data remains during direct overwriting and signal crosstalk occurs between tracks, which results in the seriously degradation of the signal quality.
In order to solve the problem, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-7176 discloses that a mark formed by the mark edge recording is divided into a leading edge, an intermediate portion, and a trailing edge, the leading edge and the trailing edge are each formed by a single laser pulse of a predetermined length, and the intermediate portion is formed by a plurality of laser pulses each having a predetermined period. According to the method, since the intermediate portion is formed by the plurality of laser pulses, it is possible to suppress heat accumulation and prevent an increase in mark width. On the other hand, since the leading edge and the trailing edge of the mark is formed by the laser pulse of a predetermined length, sufficient thermal energy is applied to the recording film. Hence, even in the case of direct overwriting, it is possible to reduce jitter on the edges of a formed mark.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show examples of the waveforms of laser pulses used for forming marks of various lengths according to the conventional art. For example, data to be recorded is recorded according to mark edge recording, which uses recording modulation codes converted according to Run Length Limited (2, 10) modulating scheme. In this case, the recording modulation codes are present with the shortest length 3 T to the longest length 11 T where T represents a reference period of the recording modulation code of a recording mark. The mark and space, on which recording is performed according to mark edge recording, have a continuous length expressed by a length of the recording modulation code.
When these marks are formed on the optical disc, as described above, a plurality of laser pulses are employed as shown in FIG. 2, in each of marks having respective lengths. FIG. 6 shows a recording pulse train which generates a laser pulse for forming a mark of 6 T. In FIG. 1, a pulse 801 at the front is referred to as a first pulse and a pulse 804 at the backend is referred to as a last pulse. Further, a pulse 802 and a pulse 803 between the first pulse and the last pulse are referred to as a multi-pulse train constituted of pulses of a period T.
The multi-pulse train of the mark 6 T includes two pulses and the multi-pulse train of mark 7 T includes three pulses. Moreover, the multi-pulse train of mark 5 T is actually constituted of a single pulse. The number of pulses is increased by one as the mark length is increased by T. Conversely one pulse is reduced as the mark length is reduced by T. Therefore, mark 4 T is only constituted of a first pulse and a last pulse and has no multi-pulse train. Moreover, mark 3 T is constituted of a single pulse. Normally the first pulse has a width of 0.25 to 1.5 T and the last pulse has a width of 0.25 to 1 T. A single pulse constituting the multi-pulse train has a width of 0.25 to 0.75 T.
In the waveform of a laser pulse shown in FIG. 2, although the width of the last pulse is different from that of the waveform of the laser pulse shown in FIG. 1, a relationship between a mark length and the number of multi-pulse trains forming an intermediate portion is the same as the laser pulse of FIG. 1.
When marks are formed according to the above-described method, marks of different lengths can be readily formed by changing the number of pulses in the intermediate portion. However, according to this conventional method, when a speed for recording data is increased, for example, when data is recorded on an optical disc at a high transfer rate, since the response speed of a laser diode is not ideally high, the rising edge and the falling edge of a pulse becomes dull in a luminous waveform. Thus, a predetermined quantity of heat cannot be applied to the recording film of the optical disc. Particularly since the multi-pulse train has a pulse width of about 0.25 to 0.75 T, for example, it becomes difficult to generate a pulse of a sinusoidal wave in some rising times and falling times of a laser. Hence, a correct mark cannot be formed.

Recording method and media having marks and spaces with lengths defined by a predetermined modulation method


A fluorescent tube type LED lamp includes an elongated lamp body that has a largest dimension in a longitudinal direction, a light source substrate mounted on the lamp body, a light transmissive cover attached to the lamp body, and an LED unit mounted on the light source substrate such that the LED unit extends in the longitudinal direction of the lamp body. The LED unit includes a plurality of LED chips mounted on the light source substrate, and a transparent encapsulant encapsulating the LED chips. The encapsulant is molded such that the encapsulant is raised from the light source substrate. The LED unit radiates light from an entire surface of the encapsulant in an angular range including a region lateral to the lamp body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fluorescent tube type LED lamp using light emitting diodes (LEDs) as light sources.
2. Related Art
Related art fluorescent tube type LED lamps are configured such that a plurality of LED light sources are arranged on a substrate accommodated in an elongated lamp body.
For example, a related art fluorescent tube type LED lamp includes a substrate and LED light sources arranged on the substrate in a line, and the substrate is supported so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the substrate, so that the light distribution amount in the widthwise direction of the lamp body can be adjusted (see, e.g., JP2007-122933A).
According to another related art, a plurality of light source substrates are arranged in a line in the longitudinal direction of the lamp body, and LED light sources are arranged on each of the substrates. The adjacent substrates are connected together via respective connectors (see, e.g., JP2010-153384A).
However, according to the related art fluorescent tube type LED lamps, due to the use of multiple LED light sources, the light sources appear in a spotted manner. Thus, continuous light emission as in a fluorescent tube lamp cannot be obtained. Further, because the LEDs have a strong directivity, although sufficient light quantity may be obtained in a region directly below the lamp, there is a lack of light quantity in a region lateral to the lamp. For example, as shown in a broken line in FIG. 4, with respect to 1 being the illuminance at the radiation angle of 0° (directly below the lamp), relative illuminance lowers as the radiation angle becomes wide, and may become 0 at the radiation angle of 90° (directly lateral to the lamp).


To suitably perform a random access procedure (e.g., random access preamble transmission) in future radio communication systems, a user terminal for communicating with a cell where predetermined numerology is applied has a control section that controls a random access procedure in the cell, and a transmission section that transmits a random access preamble with a predetermined subcarrier spacing applied among random access preambles for supporting a plurality of subcarrier spacings.

In UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) networks, for the purpose of higher data rates, low delay and the like, Long Term Evolution (LTE) has been specified (Non-patent Document 1). Further, for the purpose of wider bands and higher speed than LTE, successor systems (e.g., also referred to as LTE-A (LTE-Advanced), FRA (Future Radio Access), 4G, 5G, 5G+ (plus), NR (New RAT), LTE Rel. 14, 15˜, etc.) to LTE have been studied.
In the existing LTE system (e.g., LTE Rel. 8-13), when UL synchronization is established between a radio base station and a user terminal, the user terminal is capable of transmitting UL data. Therefore, in the existing LTE system is supported the random access procedure (also referred to as RACH procedure: Random Access Channel Procedure, access procedure) to establish UL synchronization.
In the random access procedure, the user terminal acquires information (Timing Advance (TA)) about UL transmission timing by a response (random access response) from the radio base station to a preamble (random access preamble) selected randomly, and based on the TA, establishes UL synchronization.
After establishing UL synchronization, upon receiving downlink control information (DCI) (UL grant) from the radio base station, using UL resources allocated with the UL grant, the user terminal transmits UL data.

User terminal and radio communication method


A steering wheel assembly includes an airbag module having an airbag; and a centrally-located steering pad housing said airbag module and includes; a deployment segment located around a peripheral region and adapted to be forcibly displaced by inflation of the airbag; and a stationary segment located in a central region and kept in its fixed state even when the inflation of said airbag. The stationary segment is provided with a manual operation section adapted to be manually operated based on rotational or sliding movements to control an in-vehicle device, wherein said steering pad has a concave portion formed on a surface of the stationary segment; and said manual operation section is disposed within said concave portion in such a manner that a lateral surface of said manual operation section is spaced apart from a lateral wall surface of said concave portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a steering wheel assembly comprising a centrally-located steering pad which houses an airbag module having an airbag adapted to be inflated during a vehicle collision. More specifically, the present invention relates to a steering wheel assembly comprising a centrally-located steering pad which houses an airbag module and includes a peripheral segment adapted to be forcibly displaced by an airbag during inflation and a central segment adapted to be kept in its fixed state even during the inflation of the airbag.
2. Description of the Related Art
Late years, in vehicles, such as automobiles, one type where an airbag module adapted to inflate an airbag during a vehicle collision so as to protect a driver from a secondary collision is housed in a steering pad of a steering wheel assembly has been increasingly prevalent. For instance, in this steering wheel assembly with an airbag module, a steering pad is designed to have a driver-facing wall (a wall facing a driver seated in a driver's seat) which includes a peripheral segment adapted to be forcibly displaced by an airbag during inflation, and a central segment adapted to be kept in its fixed state even during the inflation of the airbag and provided with an ornamental member and various types of manual operation sections.
US Patent Publication No. 2002/135163 discloses a steering wheel assembly equipped with a so-called doughnut-shaped airbag module, in which an airbag is inflated toward a driver's seat during a vehicle collision while forcibly displacing a peripheral segment of a steering pad and leaving behind a central segment of the steering pad. In the steering wheel assembly, a touch panel serving as a manual operation section for manually controlling an in-vehicle device is mounted on the central stationary segment of the steering pad adapted to be kept in its fixed state even during inflation of the airbag, in such a manner as to largely protrude from a driver-facing wall surface of the steering pad, so that a driver can touch the touch panel to variously control the in-vehicle device.
In the steering wheel assembly disclosed in the above patent publication, a manual operation section is made up of the touch panel. Thus, during operation of the manual operation section, a passenger is required to check respective positions of plural touch switches (fields) in a screen image displayed on the touch panel. Moreover, the screen image is displayed in various patterns, i.e., respective positions of the touch switches (fields) are variously changed, depending stages of a series of touch operations, and therefore the passenger has to look down at the touch panel for each of the touch operations. When the passenger moves his/her glance to the steering wheel in the above manner, he/she hardly recognize outside environments. On the other hand, if the passenger sufficiently pays attention to outside environments, he/she will hardly recognize the touch switch positions to cause a problem about deterioration in operational performance of the manual operation section.
In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a steering wheel assembly with an airbag module, capable of achieving enhanced operational performance of a manual operation section for manually controlling an in-vehicle device while suppressing damages of the manual operation section and reducing driver's uncomfortable feeling.

Steering wheel assembly with airbag module