A processing system is provided for regulatory or tax status certification of investors. Certificates are generated and synchronized with data. The certificates are indicative of entitlements to own or receive income on securities in accord with various governmental, tax or contractually determined constraints. Interest or dividend income can be paid to eligible investors free (or at reduced rates) of withholding tax once a valid certificate is obtained. Certificates can also be provided to permit a certified entity to purchase investments that are otherwise restricted from sale. Investors or investor banking representatives can introduce investor details into the system for use in generating certificates. Such certificates are sent out for execution (e.g., signature), and electronically transmitted back into the system. Tracking elements are provided to allow the certificates to be automatically matched to electronically stored investor data, thus forming the basis of an executed certification.

Recent tax withholding legislation has created onerous duties on securities issuers. For example, the kingdom of Spain passed a law on Jul. 4, 2003 entitled Law 19/2003. Law 19/2003 requires issuers of interest-bearing and preferred equity securities in Spain who wish to sell their securities to investors outside of Spain (without the income from such securities becoming subject to Spanish withholding tax) to collect certain information on the identity and tax status of every investor, prior to such investor being paid income on such securities without the application of such tax. Such investor information must be collected together with corresponding government-designed tax certificates containing information about the investor, the tax status of the investor, the income that the investor is to receive, and whether or not tax will be withheld from the payment of income to said investor. Such tax certificates must be generated and certify the accuracy of the corresponding investor information, and must be executed by officials of the banks or other securities intermediaries through which investors hold their securities. According to Law 19/2003, each issuer must compile this investor information in relation to all of the investors of a particular security, as well as receive and review all corresponding executed tax certificates, before any payment of income to the investors of said security without the application of withholding tax. Because such securities generally pay interest or dividends bi-annually or quadra-annually, and due to the fact that the investor base for such securities is always changing, and can certainly change significantly over a period of several months, the entire process of collecting information and executed tax certificates must be completed at the time of each and every payment of income with respect to the securities in question. This creates a data collection, verification, processing and reporting burden for any such issuer.
Law 19/2003 allows for certain investors who are exempt from Spanish Non-Resident Withholding Tax to be paid their income in full, without any withholding tax, provided that their identifying information, including country of residence, and the details of the income to which they are entitled, have been properly provided by the relevant bank or intermediary through which the securities are held, legally certifying that such information is all factual and accurate.
On the other hand, should an investor not be exempt from Spanish Non-Resident Withholding Tax, the withholding tax (currently 18% of such income) will be deducted from the income paid to said investor on the payment date. Should the issuer not manage to collect investor information, tax status information and a executed tax certificate on behalf of any such investor prior to the payment of income, Law 19/2003 requires that the issuer collect the appropriate amount of withholding tax against any payment of income due such investors, and promptly remit such amount to the Spanish government.
Moreover, there are severe penalties for an issuer's noncompliance with these requirements. Such penalties can include extremely costly fines and penalties that are levied by the Spanish tax authorities (i.e., the Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria, or "AEAT") that can amount to 50% of the total amount of income paid to all investors of the securities in question.
Law 19/2003 effectively requires that for any interest-bearing and preferred equity security issued or guaranteed by a Spanish entity and sold to investors outside of Spain, prior to the issuer paying any interest or preferred dividends without applying the collection of withholding tax, (on whatever periodic basis such payments are to be made), the issuer must locate and interact with every bank and intermediary institution through which investors hold such security and request that such banks and intermediaries create, populate and physically sign paper-based tax certificates. The required tax certificates contain (i) the identity of the investors holding securities through them, (ii) the residence such investors, and (iii) the amount of income to be paid to such investors, (with or without subtracting the appropriate taxes) which is commonly based on fixed or variable rates. If variable, the rates are set on a periodic basis close to the date of payment, and this often involves difficult mathematical calculations for each investor. Further, a representative of each such bank or intermediary institution is required to review and sign all such certificates to certify on behalf of their institution that all of the information contained in such tax certificates is completely true and accurate, and mail or hand-deliver the certificates to the issuer. Due to the free-form nature of these tax certificates, the relative complexity of the certificates and the information contained within them, and their multilingual nature, the tax certificates received and processed under Law 19/2003 were often incorrect, improperly formatted, or otherwise not in compliance with the legal specifications for tax certificates mandated by it.
The certificates are generally required to be delivered to the issuer a certain number of business days prior to the actual coupon payment date for such securities in order to help offset the time required by the issuer to manually process such tax certificates and investor information. The issuer then needs to organize the tax certificates according to the security to which they relate and the specific payment of income for each such security, and then hand re-key-enter the investor identity, tax status information, and income amount, and organize that data into a format from which the issuer could later produce an annual tax reporting filing to AEAT (called a modelo 198, 193 or 296, each containing records of payments to different types of investors). The issuer would then need to determine the validity of the tax certificates and corresponding information received and direct that income be paid to some investors and some banks and intermediaries at the tax-exempt rate of 0% withholding, or the tax-withheld rate of 18% of total income received. Each such bank or institution would need to receive an aggregate amount of income resulting from the combined taxable or tax-exempt status of all the underlying investors holding through such bank or intermediary institution, and such bank or intermediary institution would have to then determine how to allocate the income among their underlying investors as the total amount received would not be sufficient to credit each investor their income free from withholding tax. Due to the complexity and operational burden these requirements represented for both the issuers and the banks and intermediaries, issuers would often initially withhold tax from all investors on the scheduled income payment dates to allow themselves several days to sort through the stacks of paperwork and determine which investors were unfairly taxed and issue refunds of the withheld amounts to any such investors. Such delay in delivery of the withheld income resulted in costs to investors in lost revenues that such monies could have otherwise generated. Nonetheless, issuers felt that they had no choice due to the intense manual data compiling and checking processes required, and the need to avoid incurring the penalties associated with non-compliance with the law.
In addition to the above described direct effects upon issuers, the labor intensive processes of compiling investor information and hand-generating, via word processor, corresponding tax certificates on behalf of each and every individual investor (of which there could be thousands per security per payment), required to be carried out by the tax operations departments of the banks and brokerage firms through which investors would obtain such Spanish securities, and which further would have to be carried out by such banks or brokerage firms several times each year, was deemed by many banks and brokerage firms to be an unacceptable operational burden. Thus, many banks and brokerage firms either refused to allow such securities to be purchased through them, or refused to cooperate with the requirements of Law 19/2003 and therefore prevented investors holding such securities through them from being paid the full income to which they were entitled, regardless of whether or not they were actually exempt from such tax. The net effect of this marketplace reaction in the countries, specifically the United States, where Spanish issuers would seek to issue securities to be sold to and purchased by US investors, was that due to such refusal of many bank and brokerage firms to act as outlets for the distribution of such securities into the hands of investors the market for such securities, despite high investor demand for the securities themselves, was artificially limited, reducing the financial viability of the securities to be issued.
Furthermore, were any such securities actually issued and sold to investors through the remaining limited channels comprised by the minority of financial institutions willing to accept the securities, the refusal or inability of this minority of banks and brokerage firms to comply with the requirements of Spanish Law 19/2003 resulted in many such investors being taxed at 18% on any income to which they would be entitled, thereby significantly reducing the effective interest rate of the securities, affecting the realized market value of such securities adjusted to reflect this effectively lower interest rate, and thereby further tarnishing the marketability of the securities. The effective outcome of this situation was that from the time that Law 19/2003 was enabled essentially no Spanish securities subject to the law were issued into the US market. This created an artificial vacuum of Spanish securities in the US dollar-denominated securities inventory and a corresponding hardship for Spanish corporate issuers who were effectively cut-off from a major and important capital base. In turn, this affected the cost to those issuers of raising the capital required to operate and maintain their businesses and potentially could have secondary effects on the Spanish economy and any other capital markets to which such Spanish corporations would need to turn to satisfy their capital requirements.
Many countries around the world have followed Spain's lead and adopted equivalent legislation to Law 19/2003 with similar effects on each such country's domestic securities issuers. Many such markets, including but not limited to Portugal, Lebanon, Mexico, Iceland and Italy suffer from similar if not identical operational obstacles to raising foreign capital due to legal requirements for tax certification and reporting that are substantially similar to those of Spanish Law 19/2003 described above. It is estimated that the unrealized market in Spanish US Dollar denominated securities under Spanish Law 19/2003 without a solution such as is provided by the present invention would be approximately $180 Billion. It is further estimated that the unrealized market in US Dollar denominated securities issued from all of the countries that have enacted similar legislation to be on the scale of $600-800 Billion.
What is thus needed in the art is a system and method that can overcome the operational inefficiencies and mechanical impediments inherent in compliance with investor information reporting and tax certification requirements imposed by legislation and/or regulation such as Spanish Law 19/2003 and similar laws and requirements in other jurisdictions. What is further needed in the art is a system and method which facilitates such compliance in an effective and efficient way.

Document processing systems and methods for regulatory certifications


A bicycle electric power source assembly comprises a tubular member, an electric power source member and a restricting member. The tubular member includes an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface and a through hole that passes through the tubular member between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface. The electric power source member is disposed inside the tubular member. The electric power source member includes a restriction accepting part. The restricting member is disposed in the through hole. The restricting member includes a restricting part that engages with the restriction accepting part to restrict relative movement of the electric power source member with respect to the tubular member in an axial direction of the tabular member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a bicycle electric power source assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bicycle electric power source assembly equipped with an electric power source and a tubular member. Also the present invention relates to an electric power source member and to a tubular member into which an electric power source member is inserted.
2. Background Information
In the bicycling field, there are known electric power source assemblies (e.g., see U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,881) in which a battery or other electric power source is held in a seat post and supplies electric power to an electrical component installed on a bicycle. The conventional electric power source assembly basically includes a tubular member having the form of a seat post, an electric power source member, a cap, a spring member provided on the cap and a receiving part. The power source member is inserted into the interior of the tubular member. The cap is screwed onto a second end portion of the tubular member that is opposite from a first end portion on which a saddle is mounted. The spring member presses one end of the electric power source member toward the first end portion. The receiving part receives a spring force from the spring member by contacting the other end of the electric power source member, which is pressed by the spring member. With the conventional electric power source assembly, relative movement of the electric power source member in an axial direction is restricted by the electric power source member being pressed by the spring member and the spring force being received by the receiving part.


An oil-in-water emulsion cosmetic containing (A) to (E) as essential components and having a pH of 6 or less:                (A) an L-ascorbyl tetra fatty acid ester derivative represented by the following general formula (I)        Formula 1

The L-ascorbyl fatty acid ester has bioactive and pharmacological effects of vitamin C, and is lipophilic unlike L-ascorbic acid and L-ascorbate. Thus, it has been used particularly in cosmetics containing a large amount of oil phase components, for imparting vitamin C activity to the cosmetics (see, Cosmetics Handbook, p. 395-398, edited by Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd., published on Nov. 1, 1996; JP-A 9-65864 and JP-A 7-232051).
However, the L-ascorbyl fatty acid ester has a melting point as high as 110° C. to 120° C. and low solubility in fat and oil and is not soluble in water. Accordingly, blending of the L-ascorbyl fatty acid ester is necessary for obtaining sufficient bioactive functions into a cosmetic requires the L-ascorbyl fatty acid ester to be added first into an oil phase component in a heated state of 80° C. or more, then to be mixed and dissolved.
To solve the above problems, JP-B 3253735 proposes inventions of a certain L-ascorbyl tetra fatty acid ester derivative and a cosmetic containing the same.
Further, JP-A 2003-238380, JP-A 2003-342159, JP-A 2003-306419, and JP-A 2004-51566 propose inventions of cosmetics containing the certain L-ascorbyl tetra fatty acid ester derivative described in JP-B 3253735.
To improve the stability of the L-ascorbyl tetra fatty acid ester in a preparation, a method for preventing coloration and generation of odor by using sulfurous acid, sulfite, bisulfite, hydrogensulfite, pyrosulfurous acid, and pyrosulfite (JP-A 2004-331524) has been reported, but the results were not sufficiently satisfactory.

Abstract: wherein R represents a branched alkyl fatty acid residue having 8 to 18 carbons;        (B) a polar oil which is liquid at 25° C. and having an IOB value of 0.1 to 0.5; (C) a chelating agent; (D) an antioxidant; and (E) water.


A polarizing beam splitter having a film made of a high-refractivity material and a film made of a low-refractivity material alternately stacked on a substrate. When an incidence angle with respect to a film surface in a particular wavelength is set as θ (°), the following conditional expressions are satisfied in the range of 40≦θ≦50(°):0.99≦Rs(45)/Rs(θ)≦1.04, 0.96≦Tp(45)/Tp(θ)≦1.05, where Rs(θ): reflectivity of polarized light s at a θ incidence; Tp(θ) transmissivity of polarized light p at a θ incidence angle; Rs(45): reflectivity of polarized light s at a 45° incidence angle; and, Tp(45) transmissivity of polarized light p at a 45° incidence angle. The transmissivity of the polarized light p does not decrease and the reflectivity of the polarized light s is nearly 100% with respect to even a broad angle region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polarizing beam splitter, and more particularly to a polarizing beam splitter and a polarizing beam splitter film. The polarizing beam splitter may be suitable for, for example, a light pickup optical system using a blue laser, a projection optical system, or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A light pickup optical system for a blue region requires a polarizing beam splitter having polarization separation characteristics such that a transmissivity of a polarized light p and a reflectivity of a polarized light s in a wavelength region of around 405 nm are both nearly 100%. Currently, however, the divergence angle of a blue laser is significant. Therefore, when an ordinary polarizing beam splitter film is used, the transmissivity of the polarized light p is largely decreased due to varying the angle of incidence.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 08-146218 and 09-184916 disclose polarizing beam splitters having predetermined polarization separation characteristics with respect to even a broad angle region, where a divergence angle of incident light is ±5° or above. For example, a polarizing beam splitter film disclosed in No. 09-184916 includes a first stack constituting 0.8×λ/4≦H≦1×λ/4 and 0.7×λ/4≦L≦1×λ/4, and a second stack constituting 1.3×λ/4≦H≦1.5×λ/4 and 1.2×λ/4≦L≦1.5×λ/4, where λis central wavelength of a split light, H is an optical film thickness of a film made of a high-refractivity material, and L is an optical film thickness of a film made of a low-refractivity material.
However, in the case of the polarizing beam splitter films disclosed in No. 08-146218 and No. 9-184916, an angle dependency of the polarized light scan only be controlled at approximately 20% in terms of the transmissivity, which shows insufficient polarization separation characteristics. Thus, when the polarizing beam splitter film is used in a light pickup optical system using a blue laser, projection optical system, or the like, there is a problem of a decreased light quantity.


A tool support attachment for a ladder for supporting carpentry and building tools upon a ladder. The tool support attachment for a ladder includes two panels having first and second side edges and also having a plurality of elongate tool-mounting slots being disposed through the second side edges and being extended in the panel for supporting carpentry and building tools; and also includes clip members being pivotally attached to front edges of the panels for removably and securely attaching the panels to the ladder; and further includes tool retainer members being attached to the panels to prevent the carpentry and building tools from slipping out of the panels.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to tool supports for ladders and more particularly pertains to a new tool support attachment for a ladder for supporting carpentry and building tools upon a ladder.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of tool supports for ladders is known in the prior art. More specifically, tool supports for ladders heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,916; U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,710; U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,573; U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,574; U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,581; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 322,163.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new tool support attachment for a ladder. The prior art includes tool holders which are blocks that are fastened with fasteners to building structures.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new tool support attachment for a ladder which has many of the advantages of the tool supports for ladders mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new tool support attachment for a ladder which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art tool supports for ladders, either alone or in any combination thereof. The present invention includes two panels having first and second side edges and also having a plurality of elongate tool-mounting slots being disposed through the second side edges and being extended in the panel for supporting carpentry and building tools; and also includes clip members being pivotally attached to front edges of the panels for removably and securely attaching the panels to the ladder; and further includes tool retainer members being attached to the panels to prevent the carpentry and building tools from slipping out of the panels. None of the prior art includes the combination of the elements of the present invention.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the tool support attachment for a ladder in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new tool support attachment for a ladder which has many of the advantages of the tool supports for ladders mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new tool support attachment for a ladder which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art tool supports for ladders, either alone or in any combination thereof.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new tool support attachment for a ladder for supporting carpentry and building tools upon a ladder.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new tool support attachment for a ladder that is easy and convenient to set up and use.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new tool support attachment for a ladder that allows the user to keep one""s needed tools close by while being on the ladder rather than the user having to continually climb on and off the ladder to retrieve one""s tools.


Slide switches include an electrically insulated support housing having opposing pairs of side walls which establish an interior space. An upper wall is joined to an upper edge of the opposing pairs of side walls to close an upper end of the interior space and defines an opening in communication with the interior cavity. An electrically insulated slide body which is slidably disposed within the interior space of the support housing so as to be movable reciprocally between at least first and second positions therewithin. The slide body also defines a cavity and has a knob which projects through the opening defined in the upper wall of the support housing to allow movement of the slide body between the first and second positions. At least one pair of elongate conductors are fixed to the support housing such that the at least one pair of fixed elongate conductors extend parallel to one another but are positioned in spaced relationship transversely relative to the reciprocal movement of the slide body. The slide body includes an electrically conductive movable contact disposed in the cavity. This movable contact has a protruding contact surface which contacts both the fixed conductors when the slide body is in at least one of the first and second positions. In addition, the movable contact has an opposed pair of upturned sides which exert a bias force outwardly against the slide body cavity and to thereby frictionally retain the conductive strip within the cavity.

As noted above, this invention is related to, and is an improvement of, the slide switch disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,549 (hereinafter more simply referred to as "the '549 Patent"). In this regard, the slide switch of the '549 Patent includes an electrically insulated slide body which is slidably disposed within an interior cavity defined in an electrically insulated support housing. The slide body has a knob which projects through an opening defined in an upper wall of the support housing so as to allow manual movement of the slide body between its first and second positions. At least one pair of elongated conductors is provided in the slide switch according to the '549 Patent such that the conductors' opposed ends are fixed to an opposed pair of side walls of the housing and are thus disposed parallel to one another, but positioned in spaced relationship transversely relative to the reciprocal movement of the slide body within the support housing.
The slide body of the slide switch according to the '549 Patent carries a movable conductor which is sized and configured so as to be in contact with the pair of elongated fixed conductors when the slide body is in its first position so as to make an electrical circuit therebetween. More specifically, the movable conductor of the slide switch according to the '549 Patent is disclosed as preferably being a spherical conducting member which is seated within an interior hollow portion of the knob of the slide body and urged into contact with the fixed conductors by means of a compression spring. Also, the possibility of the conductor being in the form of a U-shaped piece is noted at column 3, lines 9-12 of the '549 Patent.
There exists the possibility, however, that the combination of a spherical conducting member will present some problems during manufacture of the slide switch according to the '549 Patent. That is, since the spherical conducting member must be depressed against the bias force of the compression spring during manufacture, there is the possibility that the spherical conducting member and/or the spring will be forcibly expelled from the interior hollow of the slide switch knob prior to final assembly. Thus, positionally maintaining the spherical conducting member/compression spring prior to final assembly becomes a tedious task when accomplished manually and is problematic when assembly is accomplished automatically (e.g., via robotics).
It would therefore be desirable if a slide switch was provided having the beneficial attributes of the slide switch disclosed in the '549 Patent, but without at least some of the possible problems during manufacturing as noted above. It is towards providing such an improved slide switch that the present invention is directed.
The slide switches according to this invention include an electrically insulated support housing having opposing pairs of side walls which establish an interior space. An upper wall is joined to an upper edge of the opposing pairs of side walls to close an upper end of the interior space and defines an opening in communication with the interior cavity. An electrically insulated slide body which is slidably disposed within the interior space of the support housing so as to be movable reciprocally between at least first and second positions therewithin. The slide body also defines a cavity and has a knob which projects through the opening defined in the upper wall of the support housing to allow movement of the slide body between the first and second positions.
At least one pair of elongated conductors are fixed to the support housing such that the at least one pair of fixed elongate conductors extend parallel to one another but are positioned in spaced relationship transversely relative to the reciprocal movement of the slide body. The slide body includes an electrically conductive movable contact disposed in the cavity. This movable contact has a protruding contact surface which contacts both the fixed conductors when the slide body is in at least one of the first and second positions. In addition, the movable contact has an opposed pair of upturned sides which exert a bias force outwardly against the slide body cavity and to thereby frictionally retain the conductive strip within the cavity.
The movable contact itself may take several forms. Thus, for example, the movable contact may be in the form of an elongated strip having upturned sides which thereby exert the above-mentioned bias force against the slide body. The movable contact may also include upper spring flanges which are each connected integrally at one end to a respective one of the sides and which converge toward (and even possibly beyond) one another. That is, one of the upper spring flanges may define a terminal end groove, while the other spring flange includes an outwardly extending tongue disposed in such end groove.
Alternatively, the upper spring flanges may include generally C-shaped recesses which are interengaged with one another. Furthermore, the upper spring flanges may have a first inwardly turned segment connected integrally to a respective one of the sides and an outwardly turned segment connected integrally to said first segment (e.g., such that the upper spring flanges are generally U-shaped or V-shaped in profile).
Further aspects and advantages of this invention will become more clear after careful consideration is given to the following detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments.


A method and computer program product include defining one or more filter criteria based upon, at least in part, an organizational structure. A body of content is filtered based upon, at least in part, the defined filter criteria. At least a portion of the filtered body of content is provided. The organizational structure may be defined within a corporate directory. The body of content may include one or more of a document library, a tag repository; a threaded discussion, a wiki, and a blog. Defining one or more filter criteria may include defining one or more filter criteria based upon, at least in part, an organizational hierarchy. Defining one or more filter criteria may further include defining one or more filter criteria based upon, at least in part, one or more positions defined within the organizational structure.

Social bookmarking, semantic tagging, and technologies around community centric collaboration are resulting in a tremendous amount of noise and data content. That is, a large volume of data is created through such community centric collaboration, however, the vast majority of the data is often irrelevant to any given user at any given time. As such, a user wishing to extract specific information from the large volume of data must sift through all the irrelevant data, the noise, in order to extract the specific information the user is looking for. In a community setting, such as a social network, such noise presents problems for a broad audience in terms of how much of the data is relevant, and in terms quickly getting to the content that is relevant to them. These problems are expanding in a proportional way to how the body of collaborative data conventionally expands. As the audience collaborating and adding to the content grows, the aspect of data relevance (or irrelevance to any given user at any given time) grows exponentially.
As one example of this problem, individuals who state that they are expert on arbitrary topics may believe they are in fact experts. However in some social circles, or from some viewpoints, the "expert's" input, comments, and additions may be seen as distracting, noise, irrelevant, or even junk. As an extension of this problem, the same metaphor applies to activity centric computing where activities and threads can be matured by a plurality of individuals that make up an unbounded, or even bounded, community. A great many of the activities or threads may be nothing but noise to any given user at any given time. Likewise, in a team room or document library there is a great deal of noise, in terms of information that is not relevant to a given user at a given time. The challenge is to reduce that noise to allow access to relevant information.

System and method for providing user-tailored views

International Business Machines Corporation


Vibration dampener for dampening vibration of a tubular member, such as an instrumentation tube of the type found in nuclear reactor pressure vessels. The instrumentation tube is received in an outer tubular member, such as a guide thimble tube. The vibration dampener comprises an annular sleeve which is attachable to the inside surface of the guide thimble tube and which is sized to surround the instrumentation tube. Dimples are attached to the interior wall of the sleeve for radially supporting the instrumentation tube. The wall of the sleeve has a flexible spring member, which is formed from the wall, disposed opposite the dimples for biasing the instrumentation tube into abutment with the dimples. Flow-induced vibration of the instrumentation tube will cause it to move out of contact with the dimples and further engage the spring member, which will flex a predetermined amount and exert a reactive force against the instrumentation tube to restrain its movement. The amount by which the spring member will flex is less than the unrestrained amplitude of vibration of the instrumentation tube. The reactive force exerted against the instrumentation tube will be sufficient to return it to its original axial position within the thimble tube. In this manner, vibration of the instrumentation tube is dampened so that in-core physics measurements are accurate and so that the instrumentation tube will not wear against the inside surface of the guide thimble tube.

This invention generally relates to antivibration apparatus and more particularly relates to a vibration dampener for dampening the vibration of a tubular member, such as an instrumentation tube of the type typically found in nuclear power reactor pressure vessels.
However, before discussing the current state of the art, it is instructive first to briefly describe the structure and operation of a typical nuclear power reactor, which contains tubular members, such as instrumentation tubes. In this regard, a nuclear power reactor is a device for producing heat by the controlled fission of fissionable material. The fissionable material is in the form of fuel pellets disposed in an elongated hollow rod which serves as cladding for the fuel pellets. A plurality of the elongated rods are bundled together by a plurality of spaced-apart grids having open cells therein for receiving each fuel rod therethrough. Moreover, a plurality of elongated movable control rods slidably extend through preselected ones of the grid cells, not containing fuel rods, for controlling the fission process. A plurality of these fuel rod assemblies are grouped to define a nuclear reactor core, which is sealingly enclosed within a reactor pressure vessel. Liquid moderator coolant (i.e., demineralized water) is caused to flow past the rods of each fuel assembly for assisting in the fission process and for removing the heat produced by the fission process. The heat carried away by the liquid moderator coolant is ultimately transferred to a turbine-generator for generating electricity in a manner well known in the art of electric power generation.
Disposed in the reactor pressure vessel are an upper core plate and an upper support plate that is spaced above the upper core plate, the upper support plate and the upper core plate being horizontally disposed in the reactor pressure vessel. Each fuel assembly is vertically spaced apart from and located below the upper core plate. Moreover, vertically extending through the upper core plate and into each fuel assembly is at least one elongated instrumentation tube that houses at least one detector to measure desired core physics quantities (e.g., neutron flux) in the fuel assembly.
However, during normal operation of the reactor, the liquid moderator coolant circulating in the reactor pressure vessel causes vibration of the internal components, including the instrumentation tubes, which are disposed in the pressure vessel. Moreover, off-normal operation caused by seismic events and postulated accidents (e.g., loss-of-coolant accident) also causes vibration of the internal components, including the instrumentation tubes. It is desirable to dampen the vibration of the instrumentation tubes during normal and off-normal conditions because excessive vibration may lead to inaccurate measurement of core physics values and premature wear of the instrumentation tube.
Therefore, a problem in the art is to provide means for dampening vibration (i.e., decreasing the amplitude of vibration) of the instrumentation tube when the instrumentation tube is subjected to the normal vibrations caused by routine operation of the reactor and when the instrumentation tube is subjected to off-normal vibrations caused by seismic events and postulated accidents.
Anti-vibration devices are known. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,304 entitled "Instrumentation Tube Features For Reduction Of Coolant Flow-Induced Vibration Of Flux Thimble Tube" issued Feb. 5, 1991 in the name of John A. Rylatt and assigned to the assignee of the present application. This patent discloses dimples formed in an instrumentation tube to constrain a flux thimble tube within the instrumentation tube, the flux thimble tube containing a neutron flux detector. This patent also discloses inwardly-projecting spring fingers formed in the instrumentation tube to contact the flux thimble tube. Although this patent discloses dimples and spring fingers to constrain a flux thimble tube within an instrumentation tube, this patent does not appear to disclose a vibration dampener for dampening the vibration of a tubular member, as described and claimed herein.
Therefore, what is needed is a vibration dampener for dampening the vibration of a tubular member, such as an instrumentation tube of the type typically found in nuclear reactor pressure vessels.


An apparatus and method for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system is disclosed, in which the apparatus for OFDM transmission in the WLAN system includes a signal repetition unit to repeat an encoded signal based on a block unit and output the encoded signal and a repeated signal, an interleaver to interleave the encoded signal and the repeated signal and output an interleaved signal, a modulator to modulate the interleaved signal and output modulated symbols, and a phase rotation unit to phase shift the modulated symbols.

In general, development of wireless local area network (WLAN) technology has advanced in three directions.
One direction indicates technology for improving a transmission rate and includes WLAN technology using a 60 gigahertz (GHz) band and WLAN technology using a 5 GHz band. Another direction indicates wideband WLAN technology using a frequency band under 1 GHz to extend coverage when compared to existing WLAN technology, and still another direction indicates technology for reducing link set-up time of a WLAN system.
Wideband WLAN technology may support a multi-bandwidth and adopt an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission method. The OFDM transmission method may have an issue related to a high peak to average power ratio (PAPR).

OFDM transmission method and device in wireless LAN system

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


An invention for positioning information tracks that are on a recording medium so that the scan path of a replay transducer is aligned with respect to those tracks has been discovered. The invention relieves tracking systems of the requirements of having dedicated servo heads, servo tracks, embedded servo recordings or preformatting procedures. A replay transducer "looks" for a synchronization mark on a data track to arrive at a prescribed time determined in a calibration step. The correct arrival time of the synchronization mark assures the correct positioning of the data track with respect to the scan path. Alternatively, an early or late arrival time signals an incorrect position and triggers a correction adjustment to the recording medium advancement mechanism.

The current invention is concerned with the record and replay of stored information. In common magnetic information storage systems, the information is usually recorded along a line called a track. During replay, it is necessary to accurately follow the information track with a playback transducer. Various methods of following the information track, or "tracking", are used in information storage systems. The scheme in which the tracks are placed may affect the method of tracking. For example, tracks on computer disks follow concentric paths, and tracks on video tape are linear and are adjacent to each other. One linear format, called helical-scan format, is most commonly used with video cassette recorders, VCRs. The recording medium in VCRs, usually a long continuous tape, may have been recorded on a machine that is different from the playback machine. Tracking systems must therefore be machine independent. To accomplish machine independent tracking, a portion of the recording medium is reserved for a control track. The control track, which is free from playback information, has position information encoded on it to help the tracking system correctly position the tape with respect to the playback transducer scan path. The control track requires space on the magnetic tape that could otherwise be used for information. It is a disadvantage to use the recording medium in this way because it limits the amount of useful information that can be stored on a cassette. The information in the control track is read by a second transducer called a servo head which is dedicated to this purpose. The electronics to support the dedicated servo head, the servo head, and the extra space required by the control track on the recording medium, are all necessary for many tracking systems.
Depending upon the application, the degree of accuracy required of the tracking mechanism varies. Some of the newer formats used for recording and playing of information at very high bandwidth, require higher recording densities at higher track densities and at higher head velocities.
Some such systems have an improved tracking system, which also has the benefit of eliminating the wasted space of a control track. The control information consists of deep-layer low frequency tone recordings, usually beneath and between the information tracks, which are recorded at high density, near the surface of the media. This scheme provides separation between the servo and the information. Some such systems still require Pre-formatting of the recording medium.

Method of helical tape tracking adjustment using histogram of signal quality versus tape advance distance


A semiconductor memory device has a memory cell matrix in which a plurality of memory cells are connected in rows by work lines and in columns by bit lines. The device comprises cell row groups each of which is formed by memory cell rows commonly activated by several row address signals at a first selection stage, a row group selection decoder having the smallest decoding circuits as a first stage decoder each connected to the row group(s) by first stage word line and commonly activating any group(s) at the first row selection stage by several row address signals, and a row selection decoder as a second stage decoder having the smallest decoding units entirely provided in the matrix and each activating any cell row(s) at a second selection stage by remaining row address signals.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device having a plurality of memory cells arranged in a two-dimensional (row and column) matrix array, and more particularly relates to a semiconductor memory device having a large-scale storage capacity and high-speed operation for reading information out of memory cells by decoding signals for row selection in two stages.
The miniaturization and high performance of electronic apparatus have been accompanied by increasingly large-scale storage capacity and high-speed operation of semiconductor memory devices mounted on electronic apparatus.
At present, some semiconductor memory devices which have more than one million memories within a one square centimeter chip, and in which the access time is less than 50 nano-seconds (5.times.10.sup.9 sec). Furthermore, technological advancement continues to demand large-scale capacities and higher speed operation of semiconductor memory devices.
In a conventional semiconductor memory shown in FIG. 1, a device is basically comprised of memory cell arrays 10 which are constructed by a plurality of memory cells 11 respectively arranged in a matrix and each storing one piece of data, a row selection decoder 20 for selecting a desired word line 12 which connects a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows, and a column selection decoder (not shown) for selecting a desired bit line (not shown) which connects memory cells arranged in columns.
Decoding operation in the conventional semiconductor memory device shown in FIG. 1 is performed as follows. A plurality of address signal lines 21 supplies the row selection decoder 20 with different row address signals for causing the decoder 20 to select a specified word line 12 corresponding to one of the address signals. In the selected word line 12, the column selection decoder (not shown) selects the specified memory cell or cells 11 by column address signals.
A control circuit (not shown) controls the memory cell 11 selected by the above process for writing or reading data to or from the cell 11.
As shown in FIG. 2, the row selection decoder 20 comprises a decoder 22 such as a NOR logic circuit, buffers 23 and 24 such as NOT circuits.
However, when the conventional semiconductor memory device has a large-scale memory capacity, the memory cells 11 connected by one word line 12 increase, so that the capacitance C of the capacitor 25 shown in FIG. 2 increases in order to drive the decoder 22 and buffers 23 and 24. Accordingly, it is necessary that transistors of the buffers 23 and 24 be large, or of the bipolar type having a higher driving ability.
When the transistors of buffers 23 and 24 are large-sized, the area of memory cells and decoder has to be small even though the wiring patterns are miniaturized.
Furthermore, use of the bipolar transistors requires a larger area than metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) type transistors even though the patterns are small-sized, so that it is difficult for the memory device to be large.

Semiconductor memory device having two-dimensional matrix array


An operations support system is provided for an engine receiving fuel. The system includes a diagnostic engine model unit configured to receive engine data from the engine and to generate diagnostics data based on the engine data, the diagnostics data including scalars. The system further includes an engine-specific model unit coupled to the diagnostic engine model unit and configured to receive the scalars and the engine data. The engine-specific model unit includes a fuel flow calculation module configured to determine a current fuel flow for the engine and a set point module configured to generate set point information for the engine using a thermodynamic model that reduces the current fuel flow to the engine, the thermodynamic model being based on component maps associated with the engine. The system further includes a data storage unit coupled to the engine-specific model unit and configured to store the set point information.

Fuel efficiency is an important consideration for engine operation, particularly aircraft engine operation. Fuel efficiency may depend on many different parameters associated with engine operation, including speed, engine geometry, and bleed characteristics. However, it may be difficult to determine the correct set of parameters that result in the most efficient operation while maintaining power and performance. At times, it even may be difficult to measure the amount of fuel used during operation.
Some engine systems attempt to make adjustments to improve fuel efficiency. However, these attempts may not be sufficient to provide immediate efficiency improvements, especially for an individual engine.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide improved operations support systems and methods that generate improved fuel efficiency and engine operation. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Engine operations support systems and methods for reducing fuel flow


An anti-roll hand clip for handbells aids in the support of the handbell when resting on the playing table. The clip is a simple, wire device which attaches to the handle of the handbell and, more particularly, to the circular hand guard portion of the handle. The clip contains two feet which contact the table top providing a stable support. The clip is rotatable around the hand guards so that an angular position of the handbell handle with respect to the table top can be selected and maintained. The clip may be coated with an electrostatic powder coating of vinyl or the like to increase its non-slip quality and for abrasion resistence.

Handbells are typically played by a group of musicians in a choir. Each musician playing two or more handbells, which represent a different note on the musical scale. While performing, the handbell musicians stand behind tables on which the handbells rest when not in use. The handbells rest on the tables either between performances, or during a performance when an individual ringer is assigned more than two handbells. In these situations, it is often that handbells are picked up and put down on the table top during a single performance. The handbells generally rest on their sides with their handles in a substantially horizontal orientation.
When resting on the table, most of the weight of the handbell is placed on the circular mouth of the bell which is its largest diameter. Because the bell mouth is circular and the table top is flat, a problem exists with handbells rolling from one side to another when being picked up and put down during a performance. Furthermore, there is a danger that between performances, the bells may inadvertently be bumped by those around the handbell tables which may cause the handbells to roll from the table and fall to the floor, possibly causing serious damage to the rather delicate instruments.
There is, therefore, a need in the musical arts for a handbell stand which can be conveniently used by handbell musicians while playing the instrument. As well as the need for the convenience and safety, there is also a need for an implement to hold the handle firmly at rest so that the orientation of the handle is consistently presented to the ringer to facilitate a quick grasp and release of the instrument as it is being picked up and put down during a performance.


A load control arrangement includes a communication channel configured to transmit information. A controller unit is coupled to the communication channel and configured to at least one of send and receive information via the communication channel. A load control device is coupled to the communication channel, comprising a disconnect switch configured to be coupled to a power line. The load control device is further configured to determine a power consumption of a load connected to the power line. The load control device provides measurement data representing the determined power consumption via the communication channel to the controller unit. The load control device drives the disconnect switch depending on drive information received via the communication channel or depending on the determined power consumption.

Automatic meter reading (AMR) has been introduced by utility providers, such as energy or gas providers, for example, in order to be able to automatically collect consumption, diagnostic and status data from energy or water metering devices. This data is transferred to a central database for billing, troubleshooting and analyzing. This makes information about consumption available almost real-time. This timely information coupled with analysis may help both utility providers and consumers to better control the use and production of electric energy, gas usage or water consumption.
Originally, AMR devices just collected meter readings electronically and matched them with accounts. As technology has advanced, additional data may now be captured, stored, and transmitted to the main computer located at the utility providers, and often the metering devices can be controlled remotely. Many AMR devices can also capture interval data, and log meter events.
The logged data can be used to collect or control time of use or rate of use data that can be used for water or energy usage profiling, demand forecasting, demand response, flow monitoring, water and energy conservation enforcement, remote shutoff, and many more.
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is the new term introduced to represent the two way communication technology of fixed network meter systems characterized by demand-response application. The meters in an AMI system are often referred to as smart meters, since they often can use collected data based on programmed logic.
A smart meter is usually an electronic device which is coupled to the power line and which is adapted to measure the power consumption and to store measurement data representing the power consumption in a memory device. Instead of a power line, smart meters might also be coupled to gas, water or heating lines, for example, and measure and store a respective consumption. The memory can be read out on-site. Alternatively, the smart meter may have an interface which connects the smart meter to a communication network. Via the network the utility provider can read out the memory so that there is no need to have an employee on-site. Some smart meters include a switching arrangement which can be remotely operated by the utility provider in order to interrupt or limit the power supply when, for example, the customer is consuming an excess of power.
Smart meters are also a tool to help consumers better manage their energy, gas water or heating use. Smart meters connected to a display can provide up to date information on flow (gas, water, heat) and electricity consumption and the associated price information in the currency of that country and in doing so may help people to better manage their energy use and to reduce their energy bills and carbon emissions.
As the smart meters are just gateways between homes and utilities, and home loads can only be controlled jointly via the network, the advanced meter infrastructure enables distributed control of the homes major loads.
There is, therefore, a need for an arrangement, to actively monitor and control individual home loads.

Active monitoring and controlling of home loads


Methods, system and apparatus are provided for reducing power loss in an electric motor drive system that includes an electric machine and an inverter module. A controller determines whether a torque command (Tcmd) is less than a minimum torque threshold (Tmin) that is required to disable the inverter module, and if so, increments a counter and determines whether the torque command (Tcmd) remains less than the minimum torque threshold (Tmin). When the torque command (Tcmd) remains less than the minimum torque threshold (Tmin), the controller checks to determine whether a current count value (n) maintained at the counter is greater than a count threshold (nth), and if so, the controller can generate a disable signal to disable switching within the inverter module.

Electric motor drive systems, such as those used in hybrid and electric vehicles (HEVs), typically include an alternating current (AC) electric motor, a power converter and a direct current (DC) power source, such as a storage battery. The power converter typically includes an inverter module that coverts energy from the power source to drive the electric motor. Motor windings of the AC electric motor can be coupled to inverter sub-modules of the inverter module. Each inverter sub-module includes a pair of switches that switch in a complementary manner to perform a rapid switching function that convert the DC power to AC power. This AC power drives the AC electric motor, which in turn drives a shaft of HEV's drivetrain.
One drawback of many conventional electric motor drive systems is that the electronics (e.g., transistors such as IGBTs) in the inverter module are enabled and continue switching even when the commanded torque is zero (i.e., no torque is commanded from the AC electric motor). In other words, the switches of inverter module are active not only when torque is required from the motor, but also when torque is not and will continue switching even when no torque is required from the motor. This unnecessary switching can result in unnecessary power loss, which reduces efficiency of the system.
It would be desirable to provide improved methods, systems and apparatus for reducing electrical power losses in electric motor drive systems that include an electric machine and inverter module. It would also be desirable to improve efficiency of electrical motor drive systems, and to improve the usage of direct current (DC) power source(s). For instance, it would be desirable to provide methods, systems and apparatus for reducing or minimizing power loss due to unnecessary switching within an inverter module. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Methods, systems and apparatus for reducing power loss in an electric motor drive system


Capacitive couplers and methods for communicating data over an electrical power delivery system are disclosed. A device for coupling a signal onto a conductor of an electrical power delivery system includes a conductive member having a length of at least six inches but less than 200 feet and a data signal generator connected to the conductive member for supplying a data signal to the conductive member. The conductive member is adapted to capacitively couple the data signal onto the conductor. The conductive member may comprise an outer layer of a coaxial cable wherein an inner conductor of the coaxial cable is adapted to be connected to the conductor of the electrical power delivery system. The conductor may comprise a grounding wire of a surge arrester wherein the conductive member comprises a conductive medium adapted to be wrapped around the grounding wire. A method of installing a device for capacitively coupling a signal onto a conductor of an electrical power delivery system is also disclosed. The method includes selecting a conductive member having a length of at least six inches but less than 200 feet and providing a data signal generator to supply a data signal to the conductive member. The conductive member is then positioned to capacitively couple the data signal onto the conductor. Other couplers and methods are also disclosed.

Modems have been used to couple a data signal onto the power lines of an electrical power delivery system. An example of such modems has used a toroid one-turn transformer inserted around an overhead conductor of the power delivery system. By this method of magnetic coupling, the output current of the modem, consisting of the high frequency communication signal, induces a voltage of the same frequency and in series with the overhead conductor. Farther down the line, a second such toroid one-turn transformer may be inserted around the overhead conductor so that the high frequency communication signal is magnetically induced to appear across the terminals of the second toroid one-turn transformer. The signal is then processed to recover the data. The data can then be recoupled onto the line with the same coupler to pass the data to the next coupler/modem down the line. Through use of a large number of such couplers/modems, data can be transmitted a long distance over power distribution lines.
An advantage of the toroid one-turn transformer as a coupling device is that it can readily provide isolation between the high voltage overhead conductor and the modem. Further, such a transformer has bilateral properties meaning that the coupling coefficient from the modem to the line is equal to the coupling coefficient from the line to the modem. Notwithstanding these advantages, such toroidal transformers have a relatively low coupling coefficient and insufficient gain.
There is a need for a capacitive coupler which has a relatively high coupling coefficient and gain, and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, install and maintain.


An image-processing unit for an electronic device is disclosed. The image-processing unit may include a digital signal processor (DSP), a first control interface configured for receiving an AP-instruction from an application processor (AP) external to the image-processing unit, and a second control interface configured for transmitting an intermediary-instruction generated by DSP based on the AP-instruction. The image-processing unit may further include a first data interface configured for receiving sensor-data generated in response to the intermediary-instruction by a sensor external to the image-processing unit, and a second data interface configured for bi-directionally transmitting intermediary-data to the AP or receiving AP-data from the AP, wherein the intermediary-data is generated by the DSP based on the sensor-data.

Today's portable electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or wearable electronic devices, are commonly equipped with camera modules, which contain compatible hardware and software modules that allow the portable electronic devices to take photos and videos. As technologies (e.g., pixel resolutions) associated with these camera modules are getting more advanced, consumers' demands for better image qualities in terms of e.g., clarity, color, distortion, are also getting higher. For example, there are increasing demands for portable electronic devices that can produce high-quality images and provide advanced image-capturing capabilities.
In conventional design, the image-processing functionalities of a portable electronic device are often provided by its main application processor (AP). In other words, the AP and the camera module may be directly connected via control links and data links. As all the image-related operations have to be issued by the AP, and all data generated by the camera module have to be processed by the AP, the overall performance of the portable electronic device, as well as its image-processing capabilities, may be restricted by the AP.
all arranged in accordance to at least one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

Image-processing microprocessor for supporting an application processor and multiple cameras


The invention provides for restoration of lost peer-to-peer offline transaction records. The lost offline transaction records may include access rights to digital media. In one embodiment, a demand for restoration of a plurality of lost peer-to-peer offline transaction records is made. In response, an attempt is made to verify each transaction for the plurality of lost transaction records. This attempt is made through another party to the corresponding transaction. An accuracy indicator is assigned to each transaction to indicate whether the transaction is verified directly through another party to the corresponding transaction. A determination is made as to whether each transaction record of the plurality of lost transaction records should be restored based on the assigned accuracy indicators.

Music and video content is increasingly being distributed via the Internet. Recent advances in audio and video compression, higher bandwidth Internet connections, and the decreasing cost of memory have made it practical for users to download audio and video content via the Internet to personal computers and other dedicated digital devices. The downloaded content can also be transferred to compact disks (CDs), mini-disks or digital video disks and played on other audio and video devices such as MP3-format digital players. MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer 3) format is a compression system for digital music that helps reduce the size of a digitized song without significantly degrading the sound quality.
Digital music converted to MP3 format is currently available on the World Wide Web for individual use. MP3 files can be downloaded from the Internet using a computer and special software. Furthermore, a personal computer programmed with appropriate software can convert digital music from a CD to MP3 format. Currently, MP3 files can be played in different ways: an MP3 file can be played directly on a personal computer; an MP3 file can be decompressed and recorded onto CD; and an MP3 file can be played on an MP3 player. MP3 players are relatively small, lightweight, portable devices that can interface with a personal computer. Thus, a user can download MP3 files from the Internet and load such MP3 files onto the MP3 player. Typically, the MP3 player can be connected to a personal computer's parallel or USB port in order to receive the downloaded MP3 files.
The practice of downloading media from the Internet, particularly music, has been the source of much controversy. Peer-to-peer software such as Napster, Morpheus and Kaza has been utilized to provide consumers with the ability to freely share copyrighted digital media. In a sense, such software makes it possible for consumers to arguably commit intellectual property theft with relative ease. As a result, consumers have little or no motivation to go a record store and purchase CDs, albums or the like when they can simply download the desired music via a web site. Needless to say, media providers, as well as creators of the music, are opposed to such practices since they do not receive any financial compensation when the copyrighted digital media is downloaded and transferred between users.
Accordingly, what is needed are techniques for addressing problems related to the peer-to-peer transaction of digital media. It is toward these ends that the present invention is directed.

Restoration of lost peer-to-peer offline transaction records

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method to control an LD (laser diode) is disclosed. The method compares the operating temperature of the LD with a transition temperature. When the former temperature exceeds the latter, the modulation current is set based on the bias current, which is independently determined by the APC loop. On the other hand, the operating temperature is less than the transition temperature; the modulation current is determined by the operating temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method to driver a semiconductor laser diode (hereafter denoted as LD), and an optical transmitter using the same.
2. Related Background Art
Various driving circuit have been well known in the field of the optical communication to drive an LD. The U.S. Pat. No. 6,697,400 has disclosed a method where the circuit provides a plural memories each storing the driving current Iac and the bias current Idc with respect to the temperature. The circuit reads out two currents depending on the temperature and determines the driving current. The Japanese patent application published as JP 2005-019546A has discloses another circuit where not only the bias current is adjusted depending on the temperature, but the modulation current is adjusted based on the optical output of the LD detected by a photodiode (hereafter denoted as PD) to keep the optical output and the extinction ratio in constant.
Another Japanese patent application published as JP 2008-270287 has disclosed a driving circuit where the bias and modulation currents are adjusted based on the temperature but the output of the temperature sensor exponentially varies to the temperature which enhances the accuracy of the driving.
The method to control the bias and modulation currents by a look-up-table (hereafter denoted as LUT), which stores values of those currents linked with temperatures, requires a large number of data for higher temperatures. Or, when the number of data is limited, the accuracy of the control or adjust of the optical output degrades. Because the threshold current of the LD exponentially varies in higher temperatures which results in considerable change in the modulation current to keep the average power and the extinction ratio of the LD in constant; accordingly, a large number of data for the modulation and bias currents is necessary for higher temperatures.
On the other hand, because the change of the driving current becomes gentle at lower temperatures, the driving current is sometimes necessary to be fine. In other words, a precise control of the driving current for the LD requests a fine temperature step at higher operating temperatures; while, requests a fine values for the current in lower temperatures, which inevitably expands the bit width for both the temperature and the driving current when the LD is digitally controlled.


In a vehicle skid recovery system skid recovery can be accelerated when an automotive vehicle begins to skid as a result of ice accumulation on the road surface. The system can control operation of ice removers (e.g., blades or heaters), which are mounted within the wheel wells forward of the wheel, based on information received from the vehicle's outside temperature sensor and anti-lock braking system (ABS). When the temperature sensor indicates that the outside temperature is below a predetermined temperature and when the anti-lock braking system is activated as a result of detected skid, a controller activates the ice remover in one or more of the wheel wells and, thereby cause the ice remover to remove ice from the road surface forward of the corresponding wheel. Clearing the ice allows the vehicle's tires to gain traction on the road surface and, thereby stops the skid.

1. Field of the Invention
The embodiments disclosed herein relate to automotive vehicle safety and, more particularly, to an automated system that assists with skid recovery, when an automotive vehicle begins to skid on an icy road surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional braking systems for automotive vehicles tend to fail when road surface conditions are icy. Specifically, when road conditions are icy, vehicles have a tendency to skid (i.e., slide) when the brakes are applied and, particularly, when they are applied suddenly. Such skidding, under icy conditions, is due to a low coefficient of friction between the tires of the vehicle and the road surface on which the vehicle is traveling. As ice accumulation increases, friction decreases and skidding occurs. For purposes of this disclosure, it should be understood that the term "automotive vehicle" refers to any self-propelled wheeled vehicle including, but not limited to, a car, a truck, a semi-truck, a sports utility vehicle, a van, a tractor, etc. Additionally, it should be understood that the term "ice" refers not only to solid ice, but also to any form of frozen precipitation containing ice particles such as snow, sleet, slush, hail, and freezing rain.
Vehicle safety under icy conditions has been addressed by governmental agencies that provide road maintenance crews that take measures (e.g., plowing, spreading salt, etc.) to limit and/or reduce ice accumulation. Vehicle safety under icy conditions has also been addressed by vehicle manufacturers, which have installed safety systems such as Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS). ABSs improve vehicle safety by overriding an unsafe action of a driver. Specifically, during a skid, it is safer for a driver to pump the brake pedal and, thereby the brakes rather than to press the brake pedal down continuously. If a skid occurs, the ABS will override a driver's unsafe action of slamming on the brakes (i.e., locking-up the brakes) and instead automatically operate the brakes in a safe manner by iteratively applying and releasing the brakes.
Unfortunately, the above-mentioned safety measures still do not solve the problem. Due to limited resources, oftentimes not all roads are maintained and, even when roads are designated for maintenance, maintenance crews may not be able to keep up with ever-worsening weather conditions. Furthermore, while ABS ensures that the driver of a vehicle doesn't make matters worse, it does not accelerate skid recovery in the presence of ice accumulation. Therefore, there is a need in the art for an automated system that is able to accelerate skid recovery, when an automotive vehicle begins to skid as a result of ice accumulation on the road surface.


A backpack with an adjustable lumbar support belt, having a front panel, a bottom panel, and a top panel which define an interior capable of containing various items which create a load weighty. The front panel has a front panel extension which extends below the bottom surface of the pack. The lumbar support belt having a pair of lumbar belt straps which attach around the waist and a lumbar support body which is positioned against front panel extension and immediately below the bottom surface of the pack for supporting a portion of the weight of the pack upon the waist and hips.

The invention relates to a backpack with adjustable lumbar support belt. More particularly, the invention relates to a backpack which includes a detachable and adjustable lumbar support belt which helps distribute the weight of the backpack on the wearer, away from the back of the wearer.
When full, a typical backpack can present a significant weight load upon the wearer. Unfortunately traditional backpacks place the majority of the weight on the shoulders and on the middle or lower back. A xe2x80x9csoftxe2x80x9d backpack will actually press downward and inward against the middle or lower back in a very painful and even harmful way. Hiking backpacks provide a framework which at least attempts to distribute the weight along the back. However typical backpacks provide very little support to the lower back. Accordingly the lower back suffers great strain when a person is toting around a backpack filled with heavy objects.
When wearing a conventional backpack, all weight supported by the upper body is typically compressed along the vertebral column, and the largest amount of pressure and chance of injury is ordinarily placed on the lumbar region of the spine since it is the last mobile segment of vertebrae in the human body (Lumbar 1-5). Excess stress on this region frequently results in misalignments which is responsible for many weight bearing spinal injuries.
What is needed is a backpack that will evenly distribute its weight load so that the strain on the lower back is not nearly as great.
Our previous U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,131,199 and Des. 426,051 disclose a combination vest and backpack which provides support to the lower back with a lumbar support. However in the realm of the traditional backpack there still exists a need for a system which effectively supports the lower back while redistributing the weight of the pack in a healthier manner.
Others have proposed systems which seek to provide alternatives to the conventional backpack. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,707 to Parker et al. discloses a utility vest with an integrally carried pack. U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,802 to Puco et al. discloses a vest backpack including a hood and a xe2x80x9cmackxe2x80x9d. U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,143 to Buxton discloses a vest pack with back and neck supports. U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,579 to Baclawski discloses a backpack with integral vest. U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,409 to Test discloses a sportsman""s vest for supporting a variety of articles used by shooters.
While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.
It is an object of the invention to produce a backpack which is well supported on the body so as to distribute weight in a healthier and more effective manner. Accordingly, the backpack distributes weight around the waist and hips using a lumbar support belt.
It is another object of the invention to provide a backpack which allows the lumbar support to be adjusted so that it effectively provides a shelf which directly supports the pack and accommodates wearers of different sizes, and different degrees of loading of the pack. Accordingly, a front panel extension extends below the bottom surface of the pack, and the lumbar support is selectively mateable with the front panel extension at various vertical positions thereon to engage and support the bottom surface of the pack to support the weight thereof.
The invention is a backpack with an adjustable lumbar support belt, having a front panel, a bottom panel, and a top panel which define an interior capable of containing various items which create a load weight. The front panel has a front panel extension which extends below the bottom surface of the pack. The lumbar support belt has a pair of lumbar belt straps which attach around the waist and a lumbar support body which is positioned against front panel extension and immediately below the bottom surface of the pack for supporting a portion of the weight of the pack upon the waist and hips.

Backpack with adjustable lumbar support belt


In an active matrix display device utilizing electro-optical elements such as organic EL elements capable of obtaining a high image quality with a low power, each pixel circuit is provided with: a sampling circuit for sampling a signal voltage on a signal wiring line synchronously with a scan pulse; a reference voltage; and a comparator circuit. In the pixel circuit, the sampled signal voltage is compared with the reference voltage and the display time of each EL device is controlled by the period until the relation between the signal voltage and reference voltage is inverted, to thereby control the light emission time in one frame period.

The present invention relates to an organic EL display device capable of gray scale display by varying a duty ratio, a display device capable of binary display such as liquid crystal and FED, and to their drive method.
An organic EL display device of an active matrix type is a self luminescence display device characterized in high efficiency, high luminance and a wide viewing angle. Practical applications of such organic EL display devices are being developed. In order to realize gray scale display, an analog memory and a voltage-current conversion circuit are provided in each pixel circuit, and an organic EL element drive current is controlled by the voltage in the analog memory. However, there is a large variation in transistor characteristics so that a variation in emission luminance is large and display luminance is irregular, resulting in a difficulty of improving the image quality. In a digital display drive method, EL devices are controlled to take either an on-state or an off-state by using a pixel switch transistor.
This technique is detailed in JP-A-08-241048. Each pixel circuit has a digital memory made of one TFT and one capacitor, the on/off state of the organic EL devices are controlled by an output from the memory. This technique has considerably improved the luminance uniformity in the pixel on-state.
With the display device of this type, one frame period is divided into a plurality of sub-field periods, and a predetermined display period starts after scanning one frame to control the on/off state of each pixel. This operation is repeated to realize gray scale display of each pixel. If a large scale matrix is used, the wiring delay to be caused by wiring resistance and capacitance becomes considerably large, so that the necessary scan time for each sub-field prolongs and the display time becomes insufficient. In order to improve display luminance, it is necessary to use a large current operating point which provides a low light emission efficiency of EL, resulting in a possibility of an increase in the panel power consumption. If the panel is made large, the wiring delay increases considerably, and the frame period prolongs. In this case, flicker and the like occur and the performance of moving image display lowers.
According to the conventional technique described above, organic EL devices of a pixel circuit are driven to have a binary state in order to remove a variation in display luminance. In order to obtain gray scale drive, one frame period is divided into a plurality of sub-field periods. All pixels are scanned in each sub-field period to write binary display data corresponding each gray scale level bit, and during the display period, each pixel is turned on at a predetermined luminance and for a predetermined time.
If the number of gray scale levels is increased to improve the image quality, the number of sub-fields increases and the scan frequency becomes high. For example, if a display device having 640xc3x97480 pixels is driven at an 8-bit gray scale level, a frame frequency of 60 Hz, a horizontal blanking period of 20%, and a display period of a half of one sub-field period, then the scan frequency is 60xc3x97480xc3x971.2xc3x978xc3x972=552 kHz and one horizontal scan period is 1.8 xcexcsec. As compared to a scan frequency of the analog drive type is 34.6 kHz, an operation speed 16 times faster is required.
Therefore, as compared to the analog drive type pixel, a wiring delay to be caused by wiring resistance and capacitance in a pixel circuit is required to be reduced further by considerably lowering the wiring resistance and capacitance. It is therefore necessary to thicken wiring lines and interlayer insulating films, which results in a low manufacture yield, a complicated process and an increased cost. If high precision and the increased number of gray scale levels are to be realized for improving the image quality or if the display device is made large, the scan frequency becomes higher so that a high image quality and a large screen display device are difficult. An increase in the scan frequency results in an increase in a circuit power consumption and a necessity of using a high speed signal processing circuit, so that a heat generation amount of the panel increases.
In consideration of the above-described problems associated with the conventional technique, it is an object of the present invention to provide a display device and its driving method capable of gray scale display at a high precision and reduction of a power loss.
In order to achieve the above object of the invention, an on/off of each pixel is controlled in order to make display luminance of pixels uniform, and in order to effectively use the display period, gray scale control is realized by controlling the ratio of turn-on time to the frame period of each pixel not by using sub-fields of conventional technique.
To this end, according to a first aspect of the invention, each pixel is provided with a signal sampling circuit, a time constant circuit or constant current circuit and a voltage comparator circuit. The signal sampling circuit is made of a transistor and a capacitor, and samples an analog signal voltage corresponding to display luminance. The time constant circuit or constant current circuit changes the sampled signal voltage with time. The voltage comparator circuit compares a continuously changing sampled voltage with a comparison reference voltage to judge an amplitude state of both the voltages.
According to a second aspect of the invention, in addition to the circuits described above, each pixel is provided with a reference voltage sampling circuit, a time constant circuit or constant current circuit and a voltage comparator circuit. The reference voltage sampling circuit samples a reference voltage. The time constant circuit or constant current circuit changes the reference voltage with time. The voltage comparator circuit compares a continuously changing sampled reference voltage with the sampled signal voltage to judge which one of both the voltages is higher.
According to a third aspect of the invention, each pixel is provided with a signal sampling circuit and a reference voltage sampling circuit. The signal sampling circuit is made of a transistor and a capacitor, and samples an analog signal voltage corresponding to display luminance. The reference voltage sampling circuit samples a reference voltage. A reference voltage capacitor sampled the reference voltage is coupled between the reference voltage and a voltage comparator circuit so that the voltage comparator circuit compares a difference voltage from the sampled reference voltage with the sampled signal voltage.
With the first to third aspects of the invention, driving the pixel circuit is controlled to control the ratio of a turn-on time.
In the first aspect of the invention, a signal voltage is sampled at a pixel selected by a scan line under line-at-a-time scan. The signal voltage at the end of the selection period sampled in the capacitor lowers with time in the time constant circuit. The voltage comparator circuit compares the sampled voltage with the reference voltage. A control voltage at the output terminal of the voltage comparator circuit changes when the amplitude state of both the voltages is inverted. The control voltage controls the conductive/non-conductive state of the main circuit of an EL driver circuit. Only while the main circuit is conductive, the organic EL devices of the pixel circuit are turned on.
In the second aspect of the invention, a signal voltage and a reference voltage are sampled at a pixel selected by a scan line under line-at-a-time scan. The reference voltage at the end of the selection period sampled in the capacitor lowers with time in the time constant circuit. The voltage comparator circuit compares the signal voltage with the reference voltage. A control voltage at the output terminal of the voltage comparator circuit changes when the amplitude state of both the voltages is inverted. Specifically, when the reference voltage is lower than the signal voltage, the comparator output is inverted. The control voltage controls the conductive/non-conductive state of the main circuit of an EL driver circuit. Only while the main circuit is conductive, the organic EL devices of the pixel circuit are turned on.
In the third aspect of the invention, a signal voltage and a reference voltage are sampled at a pixel selected by a scan line under line-at-a-time scan. The reference voltage at the end of the selection period sampled in the capacitor is inserted between the reference voltage wiring line and the input terminal of the voltage comparator circuit. In this case, this connection inverts the polarity of the voltage relative to the voltage comparator circuit. Therefore, a relative reference voltage corresponding to the reference voltage input terminal voltage of the voltage comparator circuit immediately after the selection period is generally 0. Thereafter, this voltage at the input terminal changes relatively in accordance with a voltage change on the reference wiring line. The voltage comparator circuit compares the signal voltage with the relative reference voltage. A control voltage at the output terminal of the voltage comparator circuit changes when the sign of subtraction between both the voltages is inverted. The main circuit of an EL driver circuit is made conductrive and non-conductive by the control voltage. Only while the main circuit is conductive, the organic EL devices of the pixel circuit are turned on.
According to the present invention, a pixel circuit uses organic EL devices and has a built-in comparator circuit. Accordingly, the light emission time of each pixel can be controlled so that even if the characteristics of transistors constituting the pixel circuit vary, a variation in luminance is small and a display device capable of gray scale display at a high precision can be provided. Since a pixel power consumption depends on the on/off state of OLED, the drain power loss of the transistor can be reduced and a display device capable of high efficiency and low power consumption can be realized.
In the pixel circuit with the comparator circuit, a time constant circuit is used so that the circuit structure can be made simple. The number of components is therefore small and a display device with a high precision can be provided. In the structure that an external triangular wave is applied to compare it with a sampled voltage in the pixel and control the light emission time, the light emission time can be controlled at a high precision and this structure is effective for multi-level gray scale.

Display device and driving method thereof


A lane departure warning system (LDWS) installed on vehicles is revealed. The LDWS includes a camera that captures road images and the data of images is sent to an electronic control unit (ECU) for processing and recognition. The ECU is directly connected with a global positioning system (GPS) that provides vehicle speed signals so as to check whether dangerous driving occurs. Once the dangerous driving occurs, a warning unit is turned on to send an alert. The conventional LDWS that complicatedly connects with vehicles parts such as turn signal lights or speedometers is replaced by connection with a GPS. Thus the convenience of installation of LDWS in vehicles is improved.

The present invention relates to a lane departure warning system (LDWS), especially to a lane departure warning system that connects with a global positioning system (GPS) for receiving vehicle speed signals so as to achieve the warning effect while vehicles departing the lane.
As a popular transportation tool, cars are equipped with various electronics such as global positioning systems (GPS), lane departure warning systems (LDWS), or event data recorder (EDR) according to users' needs. The global positioning system (GPS) is a mature product in the market. In combination with a GPS receiver that receives information from GPS satellite to calculate users' own position in real time. Together with a preset electronic map and a display screen, users can know their positions, areas, directions and vehicle speed, accurately locate where they are and easily navigate to where they want to go.
A conventional LDWS mainly includes a camera disposed in vehicles and facing forward to track road images in front the vehicle. For example, while on freeways, images of white lines on two sides of vehicle lanes are captured and input into an electronic control unit (ECU) of LDWS. The ECU consists of a digital signal processor (DSP) and a memory unit such as random access memory (RAM) for dealing with images recognition. The ECU further connects with turn signal lights or speedometers in vehicles so as to obtain vehicle signals for checking whether the dangerous driving occurs. For example, when a car runs at the speed of 60 Km/hr on a highway and the driver haven't turn on turn signal lights (for the lane change), the LDWS gives an alarm by sending signals to initiate a warning unit such as an audible warning unit and/or visual warning unit so as to alert (warn) the driver once the driver departs his lane without signaling.
Until now the ECU of the conventional LDWS still connects to the steering wheel, turn signal lights or speedometers so as to get vehicle (body) signals such as turn signals or vehicle speed. Together with images of the white line between the lanes, the LDWS detects whether is moving out of the lane and gives (or not give) a warning. However, the installation of LDWS affects circuits and equipments in vehicles and causes changes of the equipments or interior design of vehicles. There are various brands and models of cars. Moreover, each car is fitted with different equipments. Thus the installation of LDWS is more troublesome and difficult. People are not willing to change the equipments of interior design of the vehicle for installation of electronic devices so that the willingness to set the LDWS is lowered. This reduces the prevalence of the LDWS. Furthermore, the space inside the vehicle is limited. Yet most of cars are equipped with GPS. The GPS and the LDWS need to be installed respectively and this is inconvenient for users. Moreover, the GPS and the LDWS are independent from each other and unable to be integrated so that the cost of equipments and installation is increased.


An optical set-reset (SR) latch is formed from a first electroabsorption modulator (EAM), a second EAM and a waveguide photodetector (PD) which are arranged in an optical and electrical feedback loop which controls the transmission of light through the first EAM to latch the first EAM in a light-transmissive state in response to a Set light input. A second waveguide PD controls the transmission of light through the second EAM and is used to switch the first EAM to a light-absorptive state in response to a Reset light input provided to the second waveguide PD. The optical SR latch, which may be formed on a III-V compound semiconductor substrate (e.g. an InP or a GaAs substrate) as a photonic integrated circuit (PIC), stores a bit of optical information and has an optical output for the logic state of that bit of information.

Optical logic gates have been the subject of research for several decades due to the possibility of achieving higher operating speeds than logic based on electronics. The advantages of digital signal processing in the optical domain include higher signal bandwidth, lower signal cross-talk, and greater protection against electronic eavesdropping.
In the development of optical signal processing, there is a desire for optical latches to provide optical memory to store optical information being processed. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention address this desire. The use of all-optical signal processing may also eliminate the need to convert signals from the optical domain into the electronic domain for processing using electronic signal processing circuitry, and then to re-convert the processed signals from the electronic domain back into the optical domain. Thus, all-optical signal processing may be advantageous to reduce the cost, electrical power requirement, size and weight compared to optical-to-electronic converters, electronic signal processing circuitry, and electronic-to-optical converters which are currently being used.
These and other advantages of exemplary embodiments of the present invention exemplary embodiment become evident to those skilled in the art.