Devices and methods are provided to treat acute and chronic heart failure by using one or more implantable or non-implantable sensors along with phrenic nerve stimulation to reduce intrathoracic pressure and thereby reduce pulmonary artery, atrial, and ventricular pressures leading to reduced complications and hospitalization.

Heart failure is a complex disease with many forms and causes. In general heart failure is defined as a condition where the cardiac output is not adequate to meet the metabolic needs of the body, either at rest or with exercise. Heart failure may be preceded by heart dysfunction, including, but not limited to ventricular dysfunction.
There are two forms of heart failure, one where the hearts ability to expel the blood is impaired (systolic heart failure), another where there is a defect in ventricular filling (diastolic heart failure). Each can occur in isolation or together.
Current treatments for heart failure are available to slow the progress of the disease but do not cure the disease. Despite all the current therapeutic options, studies show that more than half of heart failure patients die within 5 years of their diagnosis.
Accordingly it would be desirable to provide new and useful treatments for heart failure or other cardiac/cardiovascular disease.
Pacemakers have been useful where there are cardiac bradyarrhythmias. Defibrillators are primarily used to prevent sudden cardiac death and therefore have not improved the status of heart failure patients nor have they improved quality of life. Cardiac Resychronization Therapy devices (CRTs) have been useful or in patients with significant interventricular delay or in preventing cardiac tachyarrhythmias or sudden cardiac death (CRT-Ds). There are many heart failure patients who may not substantially benefit from one or more of these treatments or may not have an improved quality of life from such treatments. For example, CRTs have not been approved for patients with ejections fractions greater than 35% and thus are not available for diastolic heart failure patients who typically have ejection fractions greater than 50%, or for systolic patients with an ejection fraction greater than 35%. Some studies show diastolic heart failure to account for up to ⅓ of the patients presenting with heart failure. In addition, because the current treatments do not cure heart failure, additional treatment that may be used in combination with existing treatment may be beneficial to the patients. Other devices such as temporary or chronic implants stimulate the vagal nerve or cardiac plexus nerves to reduce the heart rate and/or improve cardiac contractility and achieve improved cardiac output.
Many of the drugs such as calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, nitrates have had varying degrees of effect on different manifestations of heart failure. However, not all are useful to treat all heart failure patients. Furthermore, due to side effects some patients withdraw from treatment. Pharmacological therapeutic approaches to diastolic heart failure currently recommend diuretics and nitrates while the efficacy is uncertain for all diastolic heart failure patients with calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors. Inotropic agents are not recommended for diastolic patients. Accordingly it would be desirable to provide treatment for heart failure that may be used alone or in combination with other heart failure treatments. It would also be desirable to provide alternative or supplementary treatment for diastolic heart failure patients.
Another cardiovascular condition that may exist with or without heart failure is hypertension. Hypertension is believed to worsen heart failure. It is also believed that hypertension may lead to diastolic heart failure. Studies have shown that treatment of hypertension reduces the incidence of heart failure by 30% to 50%. Accordingly it would be desirable to provide a treatment for hypertension.
In addition, a large percentage of heart failure patients also suffer from one or more forms of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea or central sleep apnea, (each of which have significant clinical differences), or mixed apneas. These conditions are believed to worsen progression of heart failure. Obstructive sleep apnea is also believed to contribute to the development of heart failure, particularly through hypertension.
Oxygen desaturations at night, changes in intrathoracic pressure, and arousals may adversely affect cardiac function and eventually result in an imbalance between myocardial oxygen delivery and consumption. In heart failure patients with sleep apnea, there is believed to be an increased incidence of atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias and low left ventricular ejection fraction. Atrial fibrillation may be caused in part by increased right heart afterload due to hypoxic vasoconstriction which produces pulmonary hypertension. Periodic breathing such as Cheyne-Stokes associated with CSA, create wide fluctuations in intrathoracic pressure with a negative cardiovascular impact. Central sleep apnea sometimes goes undiagnosed in heart failure patients. The untreated central sleep apnea may trigger a negative chain of events that leads to worsening of heart failure.
Obstructive sleep apnea is believed to elicit a series of mechanical, hemodynamic, chemical, neural and inflammatory responses with adverse consequences for the cardiovascular system for example, as described in Sleep Apnea and Heart Failure Part I: Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Bradley, Douglas T, M D, Floras, John S., M D D Phil, Circulation Apr. 1, 2003. Many of these effects are believed to exacerbate conditions of heart failure. Among these responses, increases in blood pressure as well as increases in sympathetic activity are associated with obstructive apneas. Obstructive sleep apnea also causes significant changes in intrathoracic pressure during apneic episodes applying further pressure on the heart.
Accordingly it would be desirable to treat sleep apnea in heart failure to reduce the negative effects of the apnea on the patient's disease status.
CPAP is the most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea and has been proposed for central sleep apnea. CPAP requires an external device and patient compliance. In addition, its cardiovascular effects are currently unclear and some researchers believe that it can exacerbate heart failure in some patients, particularly where positive forced pressure has a negative effect on a heart failure patient, such as, for example, in patients where a reduced ventricular filling would significantly reduce cardiac output. Diaphragm stimulation has been proposed to treat central sleep apnea by stimulating when apnea has occurred. However, the stimulation is provided after the apnea event has occurred rather than preventing the apnea event. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation has been proposed to treat obstructive sleep apnea by increasing patency in the upper airway to allow respiration.
It would accordingly be desirable to provide a treatment for sleep apnea that has a symbiotic therapeutic effect in treating heart failure or other cardiac/cardiovascular disease.
It would further be desirable to provide a treatment for heart failure patients with sleep apnea that provides a separate or additional function of treating heart failure.
Research has shown that voluntary control of breathing can improve cardiac disease, including hypertension and heart failure. It is believed that the reason for this is a biofeedback that exists between the cardiac and respiratory systems due to baroreceptor based reflexes, and also a common central nervous control. Biofeedback systems for breathing control have been provided. However, they require patient compliance and diligence. Furthermore, because they require patient compliance, the therapy can only occur during waking hours.
Heart failure is a chronic condition which leads to a reduction in cardiac output and an increase in pulmonary pressures which in turn leads to pulmonary congestion and hospitalization. Yet various studies have shown significant increases in stroke volume and cardiac output, particularly in patients who have undergone a CABG procedure, when negative extrathoracic pressure is reduced. For example, results may be seen in further detail in the following:    Parker, J. et al, "Reducing Cardiac Filling Pressure Lowers Norepinephrine Spillover in Patients With Chronic Hear Failure", Circulation, 2000; 101:2053-2059.    CHATURVEDI, R. et al., "Use of Negative Extrathoracic Pressure to Improve Hemodynamics After Cardiac Surgery", The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 2008; 85, pp. 1355-1360, 2008.    GOTTLIEB, J. et al., "Hypoxia, Not the Frequency of Sleep Apnea, Induces Acute Hemodynamic Stress in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure", Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Vol. 54, No. 18, pp. 1706-1712, Oct. 27, 2009.    MERCHANT, F. et al., "Implantable Sensors for Heart Failure", Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, 2010; 3, pp. 657-667, 2010.    BOCCHIARDO, M. et al., "Intracardiac impedance monitors stroke volume in resynchronization therapy patients", Europace: Journal of the European Heart Rhythm Association, (2010) 12, pp. 702-707, Feb. 25, 2010.    KASZALA, K. et al., "Device Sensing: Sensors and Algorithms for Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators", Circulation, Journal of the American Heart Association, 2010; 122, pp. 1328-1340, Sep. 28, 2010.    LAU, C. et al., "Optimizing heart failure therapy with implantable sensors", Journal of Arrhythmia, 28(2012), pp. 4-18, Mar. 9, 2012.
Each of these references is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for any purpose.
Previous attempts have been made to utilize an implantable medical device to stimulate a patient's diaphragm to affect cardiac output. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 7,277,757 to Casavant et al. discloses an implantable medical device that stimulates a nerve, such as a phrenic nerve, associated with respiration to cause a diaphragm of a patient to contract. The implantable medical device receives a signal (e.g., detecting a ventricular tachyarrhythmia, sensing a pressure that indicates a need for increased cardiac output, or receiving a signal from a patient via a patient activator) that indicates a need for increased cardiac output and stimulates the nerve in response to the signal. Stimulation of the nerve may increase cardiac output of a beating or defibrillating heart.
However, Casavant et al. fails to disclosure pressure sensing and creating lung volume with a reduction in intrathoracic pressure. Moreover, Casavant synchronizes its stimulation to the pacing of the heart and increases the amplitude of at least some of the pacing pulses rather than providing for a sustainable stimulation over a continuous period of time.

Devices and methods for reducing intrathoracic pressure


A method of operating a non-volatile memory device includes maintaining a write voltage at a predetermined voltage level for programming and/or erasing a memory cell of the non-volatile memory device during a time between execution of consecutive write operations. For example, the write voltage may be activated at the predetermined voltage level responsive to an initial write command, and discharge of the write voltage may be prevented responsive to a signal indicating consecutive write commands. Related devices are also discussed.

Semiconductor memory devices may be classified as volatile and nonvolatile types, based on their ability to retain data therein without a power supply. Volatile memory devices may include static and dynamic random access memories, (i.e., SRAMs and DRAMs) while nonvolatile memory devices may include read-only memories (ROMs). ROMs may be of various types such as erasable and programmable ROMs (EPROMs), electrical EPROMs (EEPROMs), flash memories, and so on.
Nonvolatile memory devices may offer several advantages, as they may offer smaller sizes, lower power consumption, and/or advanced reading/writing performance. For example, flash memories may be used to provide on-chip memories for portable devices that may require relatively fast data updates, such as cellular phones, digital cameras, digital cameras, audio/video recorders, modems, smart cards, and so forth.
Some nonvolatile memory devices may need to be supplied with a voltage higher than a power source voltage, hereinafter, referred to as 'high voltage', for example, for writing operations by mechanisms of F-N tunneling, source-side channel hot electron injection, and so on. While the high voltage may be generated from the power source voltage, it may take time to generate the high voltage at a desired or target voltage level, also referred to herein as 'setup time'. Once the high voltage reaches the target level, it may be applied to a selected memory cell (or selected memory cells) for a predetermined time, also referred to herein as 'writing time'. A writing operation may include programming and erasing operations. After conducting a writing operation, the high voltage applied to a selected memory cell (or selected memory cells) may be discharged for a predetermined time, also referred to herein as 'discharge time'. FIG. 1 illustrates waveform variation of a high voltage during a writing operation as described above. As shown in FIG. 1, the aforementioned procedure, including a setup time, a writing time, and a discharge time, may be repeated if successive writing operations are performed.
Accordingly, as the amount of data to be successively written into a memory device and/or the number of successive writing cycles increases, managing the writing time may become increasingly important.

Methods for reducing write time in nonvolatile memory devices and related devices


A method is provided for controlling EGR flow in turbocharged engine. The method comprises operating a low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation (LP-EGR) system at a fixed EGR percentage rate of fresh airflow from mid-load down to a minimum engine load, even as load changes. In this way, errors in the delivered LP-EGR rate during transient conditions may be alleviated by providing a fixed EGR percentage of fresh airflow at all engine loads within a fixed mode range.

Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems divert a portion of the exhaust gases back to the intake to cool combustion temperatures and reduce throttling losses, thus improving vehicle emissions and fuel economy. In turbocharged engines, an EGR system may include a low-pressure EGR (LP-EGR) circuit, a high-pressure EGR (HP-EGR) circuit, or both. The LP-EGR circuit diverts exhaust gases after the gases pass through the turbine of the turbocharger and injects the gases before the compressor, while the HP-EGR circuit diverts exhaust gases before the turbine and injects the gases after the intake throttle. Traditionally, the amount of LP-EGR and/or HP-EGR routed through the EGR system is measured and adjusted based on engine speed and load during engine operation to maintain desirable combustion stability of the engine while providing emissions and fuel economy benefits.
However, the inventors herein have recognized an issue with the above approach. The LP-EGR circuit has a long transport delay, as the exhaust gases must travel through the turbo compressor, high pressure air induction plumbing, charge air cooler, and intake manifold before reaching the combustion chamber. As a result, it may be difficult to provide the desired amount of EGR to the cylinders, particularly during transient conditions. This is due to the fact that, by the time the EGR reaches the cylinder, the engine speed/load state may have changed and another EGR rate may be desired.
Thus, in one example, the above issues may be at least partially addressed by a method for controlling EGR flow in a turbocharged engine. The method comprises operating a low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation (LP-EGR) system at a fixed EGR percentage rate of fresh airflow from mid-load down to a minimum engine load, even as load, and thus airflow or air charge, changes.
In this way, as opposed to constantly changing the LP-EGR rate relative to the air, the LP-EGR circuit may have a fixed EGR percentage rate of fresh airflow across an area of the speed/load map, including a minimum engine load corresponding to closed throttle (e.g., due to drive pedal tip-outs). In one embodiment, a constant percent of LP-EGR may be provided in the areas most likely to experience problematic transient control of LP-EGR, such as the minimum load encountered during a driver pedal tip-out event.
The present description may provide several advantages. Because transient control issues may reduce the areas of the speed-load map under which EGR may be utilized effectively, improving transient control may extend the use of EGR under more operating conditions, reducing throttling losses and improving fuel economy. Further, EGR lowers peak cylinder temperatures, reducing the production of NOx. Thus, extending the use of EGR into more areas of the speed-load map may reduce engine-out emissions. Also, operating the LP-EGR circuit with a fixed percentage rate of fresh airflow may improve component durability. For example, not turning LP-EGR on and off during tip-outs and tip-ins reduces the number of thermal cycles on the EGR cooler, improving its durability. Additionally, the number of closing events of the EGR valve may be reduced, improving valve durability. Next, EGR mixing may be improved, as running a consistent LP-EGR amount can allow for optimized sizing of the EGR and air flow ducts to create even dispersion of the EGR into the air. Finally, running fixed LP-EGR may reduce the dynamic range requirements for the EGR valve and sensors and simplify the control strategy for the EGR throttle, reducing system costs and complexity.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.


Provided is a non-hydrolytic transparent composite composition having excellent transparency and heat resistance, and a low thermal expansion coefficient. Particularly, the transparent composite composition includes a glass filler dispersed in a crosslinked transparent resin produced by a non-hydrolytic reaction. The non-hydrolytic transparent siloxane resin is a resin having Si—O (siloxane) bonds, a resin having at least one kind of heterometal bonds, including Si—O bonds, or the resin further containing other ingredients. When the transparent siloxane resin produced by a non-hydrolytic reaction forms a composite in combination with the glass filler, the composite realizes high transparency and heat resistance, as well as a low thermal expansion coefficient. Therefore, the transparent composite composition is useful as a substrate for thin film transistor (TFT) devices, display devices and optical devices.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a non-hydrolytic transparent composite composition having excellent transparency and heat resistance and a low thermal expansion coefficient.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, glass plates have been used as a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate for liquid crystal display (LCD) or organic electroluminescent (EL) display device, color filter substrate, touch screen panel substrate, solar cell substrate, or the like. However, since glass plate is not flexible, is fragile and is heavy, it is not suitable for providing low-weight devices. Recently, due to such shortcomings, many studies have been conducted about plastic substrates including optical polymers or various composite resin materials as materials substituting for glass substrates.
Polymers used in the above-mentioned plastic substrates include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyether sulfone (PES), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyarylate (PAR), polycarbonate (PC), polyimide (PI), etc. However, such conventional plastic materials have a severe shortcoming in that they have a high thermal expansion coefficient. While glass generally has a thermal expansion coefficient of approximately several ppm/° C., the plastics have a relatively high thermal expansion coefficient of at least several tens [of] ppm/° C. The problem related with such a high thermal expansion coefficient may cause degradation of dimensional stability during the fabrication of a device, such as TFT. Moreover, because most plastic materials specifically show a rapid change in thermal expansion coefficient before and after the glass transition temperatures, they cause problems, such as bending or disconnection, during the fabrication of a device. Such problems result in an additional problem in that plastic substrates are used within a limited range of process temperatures, and thus the device is fabricated at a reduced temperature.
In the case of a PI substrate having a relatively low thermal expansion coefficient and a high glass transition temperature, PI has [a] very low transparency as determined by a light transmission of 30-60%, and shows a high birefringence, and thus is not suitable for a substrate material substituting for glass.
More recently, many studies have been conducted to develop composite resins that solve the above problems of plastic materials.
Particularly, such composite resin compositions include: a composition including a cycloaliphatic epoxy resin, an acid anhydride curing agent and a curing catalyst as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. Hei6-337408; a composition including an cycloaliphatic epoxy resin, a carboxylic [acid group-containing] acid anhydride curing agent and a curing catalyst as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 200159015; a composition including a styrene-methacrylate copolymer as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. Sho54-24933; a composition including an acrylic resin and a styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer as disclosed in Japanese Published Patent No. Hei6-94523; a composition including an N-substituted maleimide-olefin copolymer as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. Hei5-140367; or the like. However, substrates using such existing composite resins may cause degradation of transparency due to a yellowing phenomenon and have difficulties in adjusting the refractive index of the resin to the refractive index of the glass filler. In addition, the substrates still have a high thermal expansion coefficient to provide [reliable] dimensional stability and show insufficient heat resistance. Therefore, substrate materials that may substitute for glass preferably have a low thermal expansion coefficient, excellent optical transparency and heat resistance, and more preferably have no glass transition behavior in a range of temperatures where a device is fabricated.
More recently, in addition to the above-mentioned conventional plastic materials and composite resins, siloxane-based organic resins have been studied as materials for display and optical devices. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Nos. 2005-285778, 2005-285779 and 2005-285780 disclose a composition including a silicone resin and glass cross. In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 2004-109768 discloses a resin composition including a hydrolytic condensation product between metal alkoxides. However, such compositions are insufficient for providing substrates satisfying mechanical properties, transparency and flexibility at the same time.
Further, although there is no clear factor found to date, hydrolytic condensation using water and a solvent for carrying out condensation of a silicone resin still have problems in that it causes poor resin stability due to a trace amount of water remaining after the crosslinking of the resin, and it results in the shrinking of the resin due to the use of a solvent.
As materials capable of solving the above-mentioned problems, Korean Laid-Open Patent Nos. 10-0614976 and 10-0569220 disclose compositions including organic/inorganic hybrid oligomers having a functional organic group on the outside thereof. Such compositions are obtained by non-hydrolytic condensation with no water added during the condensation. The nanohybrid polymers obtained using such compositions alone have flexibility, light transmission, wear resistance, heat resistance and insulation property. However, such polymers still have a high thermal expansion coefficient and limited mechanical strength. Therefore, they are not suitable as substrate materials substituting for the existing glass plate.

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology


A tuning assembly for tuning the resonant frequency of a dielectric resonator in a cavity. The assembly includes a first resonator body (21) secured to a tubular sleeve portion (33) mounted in an opening (14a) of a mounting wall (14). The sleeve portion (33) is spring loaded so as to exert a clamping force on the first resonator body (21). A second resonator body (22) is secured to a shaft (35) which is journalled inside the tubular sleeve portion (31). The tubular sleeve portion (33) and the shaft (35) are axially slidable in relation to each other, whereby the position of one of the resonator bodies (22) is precisely adjustable in relation to the other resonator body (21).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to tuning assembly for tuning a dielectric resonator in a cavity defined by cavity walls. The invention also concerns a filter employing such a tuning assembly.
The dielectric resonator includes two resonator bodies, namely a stationary resonator body and a movable resonator body, each of the two resonator bodies being made of a low-loss, high dielectric constant material.
The tuning assembly comprises a support structure mounted in an opening in a mounting wall, constituting one of the cavity walls, for supporting the two resonator bodies within the cavity. The support structure includes two mutually slidable support elements, viz. a first support element, including a tubular sleeve portion, for supporting a first one of the two resonator bodies, and a second support element, including a shaft extending axially through the mounting wall opening and inside the tubular sleeve portion, for supporting a second one of the two resonator bodies. One of the support elements is displaceable from the outside by a tuning adjustment means to effect an adjustment movement of one resonator body in relation to the other resonator body, whereby a resonant frequency of the dielectric resonator in the cavity can be tuned.
2. Prior Art
Such a tuning assembly is previously known from the published international patent application WO 97/02617 (Allen Telecom). The known tuning assembly is disposed in a filter including a number of neighbouring cavities, each having a dielectric resonator and a plastic resonator support. The resonator support is mounted in one mounting wall only. Thus, unlike many similar support structures, it is not guided or supported in the opposite wall of the casing. A tuning assembly of the latter kind is disclosed in WO98/56062 (Allgon AB), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 8 through 10 of the first-mentioned document WO 97/02617, the dielectric resonator includes two cylindrical resonator bodies in the form annular ring members, one stationary and one movable, both of them being made of a low-loss, high dielectric constant ceramic material. The first, stationary resonator body is mounted on a plastic support in the form of a cylindrical sleeve having a plurality of longitudinal recesses and openings so as to make the support somewhat flexible. At the inner end, to be located inside the cavity, the sleeve is cut out so as to form a number of spaced apart holding elements or arms diverging from a shoulder. When mounting the first, stationary resonator body onto the plastic support, it is pushed with its central axial hole onto the diverging arms.
When the first, stationary resonator body reaches a position where it abuts the shoulder of the plastic support, the arms will snap radially outwardly and engage with cantilevered stops onto the upper or inner surface of the cylindrical resonator body so as to hold the latter with a clamping force between the cantilevered stops and the shoulder. In this way, the first resonator body will be held substantially stationary by the plastic support.
The second resonator body, on the other hand, is secured to an adjustment shaft, which is mounted so as to extend through the mounting wall opening and axially inside the supporting cylindrical sleeve. The adjustment shaft is threaded at an axially outer portion thereof and is rotatable so as to perform a linear movement in relation to the plastic support and the first, stationary resonator body. The rotational movement can be accomplished manually, by means of a knurled outer head on the shaft, or automatically by a stepping motor. Thus, tuning can be achieved by such a movement of the adjustment shaft and an associated displacement of the second resonator body in relation to the first resonator body.
However, the plastic material of the support structure, which is necessarily flexible to enable the desired snap locking of the first resonator body, will inevitably make the mounting of the first resonator body somewhat resilient and not quite exact in a fixed position. Moreover, the adjustment shaft, which extends freely inside the support sleeve, is allowed to orient itself at a slight inclinational angle in relation to the support sleeve, whereby the second resonator body will be tilted in relation to the first resonator body.
Accordingly, the mounting of the first resonator body onto the support structure is not quite exact, and the tuning can only be achieved approximately, i.e. for a given rotational movement of the adjustment shaft, the mutual positions of the first and second resonator bodies can vary somewhat with an associated shift of the resonant frequency.

Tuning assembly for a dielectrical resonator in a cavity


An engine power extraction control system controls the main propulsion engines and the electrical machines that are coupled thereto to supply an appropriate amount of aircraft thrust and electrical energy to the aircraft. The engines and electrical machines are also controlled so that the propulsion thrust that is generated is split between the various turbines in the main propulsion engines to maintain an adequate surge margin and to minimize residual thrust generation.

Aircraft main propulsion engines not only generate propulsion thrust for the aircraft, but in many instances may also be used to drive various other rotating components such as, for example, generators, compressors, and pumps, to thereby supply electrical, pneumatic, and/or hydraulic power. In multi-spool turbofan gas turbine engines, this is accomplished via a plurality of turbines. In particular, each turbine receives a flow of combusted gas from a combustor and, in response, generates shaft power that is used to drive one or more of these rotational components, via a plurality of concentric shafts. Thus, a portion of the shaft power that each turbine generates is used to provide propulsion thrust, while another portion of the generated shaft power is extracted and used to drive these other rotational components.
In recent years, aircraft architectures are being provided that rely that more and more on electrical power, and less on pneumatic (e.g., bleed air) and/or hydraulic power. In such architectures, shaft power extraction demand can increase significantly. For example, shaft power extraction demand can be as much as 200% to 300% more than traditional solutions such as bleed air and/or hydraulic power. Although these architectures are generally safe, robust, and reliable, the architectures may suffer certain drawbacks. For example, high shaft power extraction demand can negatively impact compressor surge margin. A relatively straightforward technique to mitigate this drawback is to increase the engine speed and bleed during high shaft power extraction demands. This solution, however, can increase both the fuel burn rate and the residual thrust that the engine generates, most notably during flight and ground idle conditions and during transients.
Hence, there is a need for a system and method for a more electric aircraft architecture that improves the surge margin of the propulsion engine compressors and/or improves engine operability and/or, at least during high power extraction demands, reduces fuel burn rate and/or reduces the residual thrust that the engines generate. The present invention addresses one or more of these needs.


An observer (404), operating during a time when open loop control (402) is being used to drive a synchronous motor (401), the output of the observer (404) being a signal, E_I_angle, related to the angle between a rotational EMF vector and the current excitation vector, the observer (404) determining the angle by an iterative calculation incorporating a summation term, the summation term summing the variation of the quadrature component of a rotational EMF vector relative to an estimated EMF position vector, and using the angle output of the observer to update the estimate of the rotational EMF position vector. In a further aspect of the invention the observer output signal, E_I_angle, can be used to determine the transition to closed loop control (405), when the observer output signal reaches a value indicating conditions close to pull out conditions.

The speed range of an electrical machine is determined by many factors, including but not limited to, pole number, turns per phase and supply voltage. Brushless electronically commutated synchronous motors include permanent magnet brushless dc and brushless ac, synchronous reluctance, flux switching and switched reluctance motors.
An electronically commutated motor relies on knowledge of the position of the rotor to correctly excite particular phase windings in the motor to deliver torque of the required magnitude and direction. This rotor position information can be obtained by using methods to detect the rotational EMF in the motor windings. Such methods are known as sensorless commutation methods because they do not rely on sensors to detect the angular position of the shaft of the motor. These methods are common and work effectively at high speeds but deteriorate at low speeds. This is due to the decrease in the value of the rotational EMF, reducing the signal to noise ratio to a level which makes it difficult to use the data for closed loop position control or electronic commutation. In such motors it is common to drive the motor in the lower part of the speed range by exciting the stator phase windings with maximum current at a driven frequency. This method is known in the prior art as driving the motor in an open loop manner. Open loop methods are commonly used to start a motor, increasing the frequency until the EMF can be detected and a reliable transition to sensorless control can be made. Such systems are however "unintelligent" in that the transition to the sensorless method will typically be made at a fixed speed. This can lead to destabilising effects since the decision does not take account of the effect of the load. A machine driven in open loop will typically have an excess of current relative to the current needed to run with closed loop electronically commutated control. Once the electronic commutation becomes dependent on knowledge of the machine position, the torque can increase rapidly as the higher open loop current levels are brought into correct alignment with the motor EMF. The rapid increase in torque can cause a speed oscillation.

Method and apparatus for controlling an electrical machine


A lightweight rigid turbine engine frame incorporates a one piece annular cast outer casing formed with a circumferential polygonal reinforcing section. The outer casing is separated and spaced from an inner ring by a plurality of radially extending spacer struts. The spacer struts are clamped in compression between the inner ring and outer casing by tensioning members such as bolts. A thermally free floating heat shield is mounted to the bolts in a manner which minimizes thermal stresses by avoiding all undesirable constraint of the heat shield by the engine frame.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a turbine frame having a simplified structure and particularly relates to a turbine frame assembly incorporating a spoked array of bolts and spacer struts for rigidly interconnecting inner and outer concentrically aligned frame members while supporting a thermally unconstrained heat shield assembly.
2. Description of Prior Developments
Aircraft turbine engines employ two or more structural assemblies known as frames to support and accurately position the engine rotor within the stator. Each frame includes a stationary inner casing supported within a stationary outer casing by a number of radial struts contoured for minimum interference with the engine flow. The frame at the rear of the engine, usually aft of the turbine, is typically protected from the extreme turbine discharge gas temperatures by air cooled heat shields which include flowpath liners and fairings.
The construction of prior turbine engine frames has required the formation of numerous welded joints between the outer casing, the struts, the inner casing and the heat shield. Although the resulting welded frames performed satisfactorily, they were permanently fixed configurations which did not readily accommodate the replacement or repair of individual frame components. Moreover, such welded frames were often heavy and relatively difficult to construct. In addition, the resulting frame assemblies typically required replacement or repair after moderate periods of operation. These characteristics have posed significant operational and maintenance problems in aircraft applications where simplified repair, reduced weight and extended life are most desirable.
The heat shields which protect the inner and out casings are known as flowpath liners and together with the fairings thermally shield the entire rear engine frame. Heat shields are necessary to protect the engine frame because of the limited heat tolerance of available frame construction materials. Heat shields are also used to limit the thermal expansion and distortion of the frames. Excessive expansion and distortion of the frames caused by thermal gradients adversely affects the alignment of the rotor within the engine thereby adversely affecting engine performance.
As the hot gasses exiting the combustion and turbine section of an advanced gas turbine engine can be above the melting temperature of the available materials used in heat shield construction, the heat shields themselves must be efficiently cooled. The more efficient the heat shield cooling system is, the less cooling air is required to cool the heat shields and the, more efficient is the overall turbine engine cycle.
One of the most efficient methods of cooling the heat shields combines impingement cooling with film cooling. In this dual cooling method the cooling air first passes through a perforated plate known as an impingement baffle. The impingement baffle divides the cooling air into a multitude of small high velocity jets which impinge on and cool the back surface of the metal heat shields forming the flowpath liners. This portion of the cooling method is called impingement cooling.
The cooling air is then introduced into the engine flowpath through slots or holes known as air cooling film injection holes which extend through the flowpath liners. This creates a thermally protective film of cool air on the surfaces of the flowpath liners which are directly exposed to the hot exhaust gasses. This portion of the cooling method is called film cooling.
A long standing problem in designing heat shields for turbine engine frames has been the constraint of the thermal expansion of the hot flowpath heat shield surfaces caused by various structural members used to reinforce and secure the heat shields to the engine frames. The constraint of the thermal expansion of the heat shields has resulted in buckling and cracking of the heat shield surfaces and has imposed severe limits on the useful life of turbine frame heat shield systems incorporated within modern high performance engines.
Accordingly, a need exists for a lightweight, low cost turbine engine frame having an extended operational life and a relatively simple design which avoids the use of permanent weld joints. A need also exists for a turbine engine frame design which facilitates assembly and construction procedures, which obviates the use of special assembly tooling, and which facilitates replacement and repair of the frame members. A further need exists for a turbine engine frame which incorporates a free-floating heat shield adapted to thermally expand and contract virtually without constraint in order to minimize thermal stresses during engine operation.

Lightweight gas turbine engine frame with free-floating heat shield


There are provided PRAMS having a plurality of active regions located vertically in sequence and methods of forming the same. The PRAM and the method provide an approach to rapidly changing phase in a phase change layer pattern with a given design rule. A semiconductor substrate defining at least one reference active region is prepared in a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region. Other semiconductor substrates on a vertical line passing a main surface of the reference active region are located in sequence. The other semiconductor substrates define other active regions, respectively. A lower cell gate pattern is formed on the semiconductor substrate of the reference active region, and upper cell gate patterns are disposed on the other semiconductor substrates of the other active regions, respectively.

Generally, a PRAM has a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region in which semiconductor discrete devices are arranged. The cell array region has gate patterns on a main surface of a semiconductor substrate and phase change layer patterns above the gate patterns. The cell array region has a plug for electrically connecting a gate pattern and a phase change layer pattern in one cell. In the PRAM, a change of phase of the crystal structure of the phase change layer pattern is initiated using current flowing through the gate pattern and the plug. The phase change of the crystal structure of the phase change layer pattern can change data of the cell of the PRAM. The peripheral circuit region has other gate patterns on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate, but does not have phase change layer patterns above the other gate patterns. Also, the other gate pattern is located adjacent to the cell array region and transmits the data of the cell of the cell array region.
However, the PRAM typically does not have a gate pattern having high design pattern fidelity on the semiconductor substrate due to gradual reduction of a given design rule. This is because a photolithography process has a limit in defining a pattern image on a photoresist layer corresponding to the reduced design rule. In addition, the gate pattern in the cell array region has a poor current driving capability compared to that prior to the reduced design rule, such that there is difficulty in rapidly changing the phase of the phase change layer pattern. Accordingly, the plug between the phase change layer pattern and the gate pattern needs to be formed in a material capable of minimizing current loss.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,429,484 to Bin Yu (the '484 patent) discloses a multiple active layer structure and a method of making such a structure. According to the '484 patent, the structure and the method include a first layer having an oxide layer, a first active semiconductor layer, and a first insulating layer stacked in sequence. A second active layer is formed on the first insulating layer and is recrystallized by using a first seed window in the first insulating layer. Further, a second insulating layer is formed on the second active layer.
The structure and the forming method further include a third active layer on the second insulating layer. The third active layer is recrystallized by using a second seed window. The second seed window aligns the first seed window. At least one transistor is located on at least a portion of the first active layer. At least other transistor is formed on at least a portion of the second active layer. Further, at least still other transistor is formed on at least a portion of the third active layer.
However, in the structure and the forming method, if the thicknesses of the first and second insulating layers are too small, source or drain regions of the transistors on the first through third active layers may contact each other. As a result, the respective transistor has source and drain regions having different resistance values. Accordingly, the transistors may exhibit undesired performance characteristics.


A viewpoint position sets, when a stereoscopic video image is provided that includes a left-eye parallax image and a right-eye parallax image having a predetermined parallax distribution and that is observed from a given viewpoint, a virtual viewpoint for observing a subject from another viewpoint. A parallax image generation unit generates a left-eye and a right-eye parallax image for providing a desired parallax distribution that are obtained when an observation is made from the virtual viewpoint, by shifting the image cut-out position of at least one of the left-eye or the right-eye parallax image. When the shift amount at the image cut-out position changes due to a position change of the virtual viewpoint, the parallax image generation unit generates a parallax image while changing the shift amount in stages from a shift amount obtained before the change to a shift amount obtained after the change.

1. Field of the Invention
The present inventions relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, an imaging device has become widely used that is capable of generating a stereoscopic image including a left-eye parallax image and a right-eye parallax image of a subject. Such an imaging device can be, e.g., a multiview camera having two or more optical systems for imaging or can generate parallax images by image processing of images captured from multiple different viewpoints using a single-lens camera.
On the other hand, a display device has also become widely used that is for presenting a video image with a depth to a viewer by presenting a left-eye image and a right-eye image included in a stereoscopic image to a left eye and a right eye of the viewer, respectively. In particular, three-dimensional televisions for consumer use that use shutter glasses are spreading rapidly, and there are more opportunities to view stereoscopic images freely in a living room that are captured by a general audience.
When viewing a stereoscopic image including a left-eye parallax image and a right-eye parallax image on a display device, the viewer tries to localize the stereoscopic image in the brain by mainly using binocular parallax as a cue. If an image displayed on the display device is not appropriate as a stereoscopic image, a burden associated with stereoscopic viewing while adjusting the convergence angle of both eyes, etc., can be imposed on the viewer. Even in the case of content provided by a provider of a stereoscopic image after performing proper parallax adjustment for realizing a stereoscopic video image, a case might occur where a video image that is not appropriate as a stereoscopic image is generated as a result of a viewer reducing or enlarging the stereoscopic video image for display or the viewer cutting out a part of the stereoscopic video image for display.

Image processing apparatus and image processing method for shifting parallax images


Controlling an event in a virtual environment is disclosed. A video image from one or more video cameras is received. A video enhanced script is executed to display the virtual environment in a video display within a web browser. An event in the virtual environment is controlled based on the video image. The video enhanced script is configured to communicate with a web browser extension module.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to networks enabled with digital video, and more particularly to a video plug-in for a web browser.
2. The Related Art
Video teleconferencing is typically implemented by sending video transmissions over standard telephone connections. In the typical video teleconferencing set-up each user has a video camera that transmits an image over standard telephone lines to a monitor at the site of the other user. Video teleconferencing over telephone lines, however, tends to limit users to configurations involving only two sites.
The rise of the Internet and inexpensive video cameras presently allows digitized video images to be transmitted across the Internet or any other wide area network (WAN). Video conferencing over a WAN involves sending a digitized video signal from a video camera to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) connected to the Internet or, more generally, to a server connected to a WAN. The digitized video signal is sent across the WAN to one or more computers that may each display the video signal on a monitor. Information such as digitized video may be transmitted across a WAN by packet switching between servers according to the TCP/IP protocol. This arrangement allows multiple computers to simultaneously share video with one another. Therefore, video conferencing over a WAN has advantages over video teleconferencing in that more sites than just two can be conveniently and inexpensively connected. Video conferencing over a WAN, however, is still limited to sharing real-time images and does not take advantage of image enhancement possibilities.
Other applications for digital video over the Internet and WANs have led to increased sharing of video files and the rise of "webcams." Video files, pre-recorded video ranging from several seconds to many minutes in length, may be transmitted from a sender to one or more receivers simultaneously across the Internet. A receiver may store the video file and view it repeatedly, provided that the receiver has the necessary software to play the video file. A video file may also be made available, for instance, on a webpage or a FTP site located on a remote server so that multiple users may choose to download it at their convenience.
A webcam is a digital video camera set up to provide live video to the Internet or a WAN such that any user connected to the network may choose to view what the camera is imaging. Webcams are increasingly used to make available, for example, live images of traffic conditions, weather, public meetings, and fish bowls, to users anywhere in the world with Internet access. To simplify the viewing process, some web browsers include a module designed to display live video, so that the user need not run a separate software program. It should be noted that as browsers become increasingly more powerful they become increasingly similar to operating systems. For the purposes of this application, a browser could be an operating system so long as the operating system includes the capabilities typically attributable to browsers such as the ability to connect to remote sites across a WAN and accept software extension modules.
Software extension modules, commonly known as a plug-ins, provide additional functionalities to other software programs. A plug-in, once installed, becomes a seamless part of the software within which it is installed. Plug-in programs may themselves accept additional plug-ins to expand their own capabilities. For example, ShockWave produced by Macromedia, a popular multimedia player plug-in for web browsers, has discrete modules for specific purposes, for example one module for playing sounds and another module for playing animations. ShockWave may be extended with additional plug-ins that act as further modules for other media applications such as live video.
Like text files, sound files, video files, and live video, anything in a digitized format may be sent across a WAN. Consequently, plug-ins are frequently made available over the Internet for downloading from a remote server. Other programs may also be obtained via the Internet. One such program designed to perform a specific operation is called a script. An example of a script is an Applet, a program written in the Java programming language, which can be distributed over a WAN and executed by a Java-enabled web browser. Scripts written in other programming languages may also be distributed over a WAN.
A script may require certain plug-ins to be available in order to perform its function properly. For example, one might design a script to guide a user to select an appropriate automobile for their needs by prompting the user to answer specific questions. As part of the selection process the script might display images of vehicles the user has to choose from. In order to display those images, the script would access the plug-in that enables image viewing and supply that plug-in with file names and locations of the images to be displayed. Those addresses may be on the same computer as the browser, or on a network server that the computer is attached to, or on a remote server accessible over a WAN.
The Internet has also expanded a user's options for communicating with others, in addition to providing a means for accessing programs and data from remote sites. Accordingly, a person can send and receive electronic messages ("e-mail") over a WAN with typically only a brief time delay. Electronic messages may also be shared in real-time between individuals connected to the Internet; this process has come to be referred to as "chat" and is frequently conducted in "chatrooms," that are dedicated websites where multiple individuals can converse simultaneously. A chatroom is the functional equivalent of the telephone party-line, except that the conversation is carried out with text rather than with voice.
As communications technologies have been developed for the Internet those technologies have been applied to gaming. It is now possible to download gaming software from a website and play it on a host computer. It is also possible to play a game over the Internet where the gaming software is located on a remote server rather than on the user's computer. Further, multiple players in multiple locations may take part in the same game over the Internet.
In addition to developments concerning the Internet, the recent development of low-cost image sensors used in cameras has led companies to develop more products that include imaging. For instance, Nintendo offers a black and white camera that attaches to a Game Boy personal video game system and a paint program that allows a user to manipulate and alter the images. The Game Boy camera has a lens that rotates so the user can obtain self-portraits. Mattel Media, too, offers a Barbie Digital Camera that takes color images and comes with software that lets children edit their images into Barbie scenes and to further print them on cards and stickers.
Further advancements have also been made in image analysis and recognition. For example, Scientific American reported on the development of a system called Person Finder that can track one person as he or she moves around in a room ("Smart Rooms," Scientific American, April 1996). The system records the image of the person and the room, determines where the person is, creates a virtual model of the person, and projects the model into a virtual world so that, for instance, imaginary characters can interact with the smart-room user.
Absent from this mix of digital technologies is software that will allow one or more live video images from one or more personal digital video cameras to be incorporated into a virtual environment displayed within one or more browsers so that the person or people can use their image or images to control events within the virtual environment.

Web based video enhancement apparatus, method, and article of manufacture


A resin material of high strength and high voltage equipment capable of improving the reliability by using the resin material, the resin material being a hardened product including fine particles and resin ingredients, in which the fine particles have hydrophobic groups on the surface and have a particle diameter of 200 nm or less, the resin ingredients have hydrophilic groups on the side chains, and the fine particles form a plurality of linear aggregates inside the resin, thereby forming a dendritic structure.

In high voltage equipment, for example, molded transformers, switchgears, motors, and inverters, efficiency has been improved by reducing the size with a view point of energy saving and resource saving. In the high voltage equipment using insulation resins, reduction in the size results in problems of cracking and degradation of insulation due to reduction in the thickness of the film of the insulation resins. Accordingly, increase in the strength and in the withstanding voltage for the insulation resins are essential.
For increasing the strength and the withstanding voltage of the insulation resins, use of a resin material with addition of fine particles to resins is effective. Particularly, since fine particles of 1 to 100 nm diameter have a large surface area relative to the volume of the fine particle, improvement in the property of the resins is expected with a small addition amount.
For insulation resin materials with addition of fine particles to resins the following techniques have been known. JP-A No. 2005-241977 describes that stability with time of heat resistance, adhesion, and electric insulation is improved by the addition of a polyhydroxyl carboxylic acid ester additive and silica to a carboxyl group-containing resin. It is described that a thixotropic property is improved thereby improving the coating property of the resin, particularly, by the use of a hydrophilic silica.
JP-A No. 2008-31193 describes that modulus of elasticity, heat resistance, and toughness are improved by adding nano-particles and a block copolymer to an epoxy resin. It is described that the dispersibility of them to the epoxy resin is improved, particularly, by hydrophobizing the surface of inorganic nano particles.
JP-A No. H09 (1997)-326559 discloses a prepreg improved in the adhesion between a resin and a copper foil by adding a fiber base material, brucite, and super fine particles of silica to an epoxy resin. It is described that the dispersibility is improved, particularly, with hydrophobized silica.
It has been known that when particles are aggregated inside an insulation resin the mechanical strength and the withstanding voltage of the resin are not improved but they are improved by uniformly dispersing the fine particles in the resin. However, it has been found that when fine particle are dispersed uniformly, the mechanical property and the withstanding voltage of a hardened resin material are not improved and, particularly, resistance to crack propagation is not improved. Accordingly, distribution of fine particles inside the resin is one of main factors that determine the property of the resin. It is an important subject to determine the distribution of fine particles capable of improving the mechanical strength and the withstanding voltage, and define a combination of the fine particles and the resin capable of realizing such a distribution of the fine particles.
The above-mentioned patent documents do not select the combination of the fine particles and the resin material and not disclose the optimum constitution with the view points described above.
The present invention intends to improve the mechanical strength and the withstanding voltage of a resin material and provide high voltage equipment capable of improving the reliability by using the resin material of the invention to the high voltage equipment.

Resin material and high voltage equipment using the resin material


A wheelchair backrest assembly is attachable to a wheelchair to replace the standard web or sling-type back. The backrest assembly is comprised of a rectangular frame having a central opening defined within it, the rectangular frame has sides curved forwardly to accommodate users of various sizes and shapes. A plurality of support members are attached to the frame and mountable to the upright cane portions of the wheelchair. The front portion of the rectangular frame, or that portion facing the wheelchair user, is covered by a cushioned pad, the back of which has a plurality of pockets designed to accommodate formable stays. The shape of each stay may be molded by hand and should be of a material resilient enough to withstand frequent reforming and yet should be strong enough such that when a user reclines against the backrest, the stays remain in place.

This invention relates generally to wheelchairs and to accessory items and assemblies for use with wheelchairs. More particularly, it relates to a flexible backrest support assembly that can be easily adjusted to fit the contours of a user""s back.
Conventional wheelchairs are normally equipped with a xe2x80x9csling-typexe2x80x9d backrest. That is, the backrest consists of a web of material that extends between two generally upright support members located to the rear of the wheelchair and adjacent the user""s back. Wheelchairs have been constructed using such webs or slings for many years because such a configuration permits easy folding and storage of the wheelchair. As originally intended, such wheelchairs were used, and are still used, for short terms and for very transient situations where a patient spends only that amount of time in the chair as it takes to go from one point to another within a healthcare facility. Such chairs were not really designed with long term usage in mind. However, prolonged use of a sling-type wheelchair backrest may negatively affect the user""s posture, comfort and overall health. In fact, long-term wheelchair users frequently develop a condition known as kyphosis, a front to back curvature of the spine. In the experience of this inventor, conventional web or sling-type backrests fail to provide any lateral support whatsoever. Over time, this lack of support can lead to a condition known as scoliosis, or sideways curvature of the spine. In the case of the institutionalized patient or the wheelchair user who must spend the greater part of his or her waking hours in such a chair, prior web or sling-type backrests are completely unacceptable.
Considering the above enumerated problems, there has long been a need for improvement in the art of producing wheelchairs and wheelchair back supports in particular. Unfortunately, inventors in this area face numerous problems. As alluded to, wheelchair users require the low weight, flexibility, foldability and simplicity of prior designs but also recognize that persons who need the assistance of a wheelchair often have other special needs not met by prior designs.
In response to these conflicting needs, adjustable tension seat backs have been introduced. These innovations attempted to preserve the low weight, flexibility and foldable characteristics of earlier chairs while accommodating users with the aforementioned spine and back problems. Unfortunately, these back supports still frequently fail to provide adjustments to accommodate the wide variety of users that use such chairs.
Another problem that wheelchair designers frequently face is that the end user is often not a specific individual with specific problems, but an assisted care facility with numerous individuals having a wide variety of problems. Therefore, a wheelchair that can be easily adjusted and readjusted for numerous users is required.
It is, therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a new, useful, and uncomplicated assembly for providing improved back support for a wheelchair user. It is a further object of this invention to provide such an assembly having means for lateral back support for the wheelchair user. It is also an object of this invention to provide such an assembly that requires only a minimal number of elements and a minimal amount of steps to utilize. It is yet another object of this invention to provide such an assembly that can readily be used by a wide variety of wheelchair occupants having upper body weakness or spinal deformities of every nature. It is still another object of this invention to provide such an assembly that is readily and quickly adjustable so as to accommodate the many shapes and sizes of persons needing to use the wheelchair that is equipped with the assembly of the present invention. It is still another object of this invention to provide such an assembly that may be variably used to apply support to the wheelchair occupant""s back and rib cage area.
In addition to the foregoing stated objectives, it is also an object of the present invention to provide a backrest support that is easily removable. It is yet another object of the present invention to employ a general wheelchair configuration so that present sling-back type wheelchairs can be retrofitted with this invention. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a wheelchair support assembly that does not require tools to install and is easily moldable. It is yet another object of this invention to employ a flame retardant material in the construction of the backrest assembly.
The present invention has obtained these objects. It provides for a wheelchair backrest assembly that is attachable to an ordinary wheelchair to replace the standard web or sling-type back. The backrest assembly is comprised of a rectangular frame having a central opening defined within it, said rectangular frame having sides curved forwardly to accommodate users of various sizes and shapes. The assembly of the present invention also includes a plurality of support members attached to said frame and mountable to the upright cane portions of the wheelchair. The front portion of the rectangular frame, or that portion facing the wheelchair user, is covered by a cushioned pad and the back has a plurality of pockets designed to accommodate a plurality of formable stays, said formable stays being supported solely by the top and bottom of the rectangular frame. The stays may also be made of a preformed material that is designed to accommodate a specific individual. The stays may either be removed from the pockets and formed or left within the pockets and formed or molded by hand. No tools are required. The formable stays should be of a material resilient enough to withstand frequent reforming and yet should be strong enough such that when a user reclines against the backrest, the stays remain in place. The foregoing and other features of the assembly of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows.

Support assembly for use with a wheelchair


A remote control apparatus for a saddle-type vehicle includes a handlebar lock module having a knob enabling at least a starting operation of an engine, and a handlebar lock cancellation operation in response to reception of a signal from a portable transmitter. The knob is disposed on a leg shield covering the front of the legs of a rider. An accommodation recess includes a lid member and is formed on the leg shield on one side of the handlebar lock module. An emergency unlocking key cylinder lock for enabling at least starting of an engine and handlebar lock cancellation without the necessity for a portable transmitter is disposed in the leg shield such that a keyhole thereof faces an inner side face of the accommodation recess. The invention allows operation of the vehicle using an emergency unlocking mechanical key even if a portable transmitter is not available.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to vehicles, and to remote control devices therefor. More particularly, the present invention relates to a remote control apparatus for a saddle-type, scooter type vehicle which includes a handlebar lock module having a knob which enables at least a starting operation of an engine. The knob is disposed on a leg shield which covers the front of the legs of a rider seated on a riding seat. The remote control apparatus may also include a handlebar lock cancellation operation, in response to reception of an ID signal from a normal portable transmitter carried by a vehicle user.
2. Description of the Background Art
A number of remote control devices for saddle-type, scooter type vehicles are known. One example of a known remote control apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-278154. However, conventional remote control apparatus do not provide a mechanism for access to operation of the vehicle, when the remote control is not functioning or is unavailable.
In a conventional remote control apparatus, as found in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-278154, the knob of the handlebar lock module is enabled for operation in response to reception of an ID signal from the normal portable transmitter carried by a vehicle user. In order to cope with situations in which the vehicle user loses the portable transmitter or the transmission is disabled due to an inadequate charge of the power cell of the portable transmitter, for example, there exists a need for a remote control apparatus configured to allow an emergency lock cancellation operation by a mechanical key for emergency unlocking. Also, a need exists for a keyhole of the emergency unlocking key cylinder to be disposed at an inconspicuous place, so as to reduce the risk that the keyhole could be tampered with.
The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a remote control apparatus for a scooter type vehicle which allows a user to operate the scooter type vehicle using an emergency unlocking mechanical key, even if a portable transmitter is not available, while configuring the key access to minimize risk of tampering therewith.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Remote control apparatus for a saddle-type vehicle


Self-organizing data-base that charges users who find data in it and pays users who supply the data found. Has a built in feedback mechanism, called the Pay-off Meter (POM), that tells users what data needs supplying based on the number of request for that data over time. The POM outputs an expected Pay-off for supplying a piece of data. A sensitive and potent feedback loop is created insuring that the more a piece of data is requested during a period of time, the more likely the data will be supplied by a requestor or by someone a requestor tells of the pay-off.

In building any data-base for a community to use, two general problems often arise: what data to collect and how to collect it. For example, the problem of how to collect data has prevented the formation of a complete and current U.S. data-base of phone numbers not controlled by the Bell companies. The problem is only worse when an international directory is contemplated. And it is even worse when networks like Internet are involved. On these networks, there is no "phone company" to forcibly register people's numbers. The problem of what data to collect can be equally vexatious. There are an infinite number of pieces of information one could enter into a data-base. How to know, for example, whether to list a certain phone number or obscure fact?
A system and method for solving these two problems in a broad range of cases is disclosed. It enables a data-base to fill itself and update itself with data that users need. This system and method can be called a self-organizing data-base (SODB). The inventor is not aware of any data-base system and method like the SODB. The SODB allows users who pay for data to also enter data and get paid royalties for doing so. Further, the SODB allows paying users to automatically find out the estimated royalty value of entering data. While other data-bases have allowed users to check the income a piece of data might generate, none have opened this route so directly to paying users in an elegant feedback system like the SODB.

Data collection and retrieval system for registering charges and royalties to users


Polymeric products of styrene, an acrylate, acrylic or methacrylic acid and polyethylene oxide, prepared in contact with a cobalt compound, are hydrophobic and can be used as rheology control agents in printing ink.

Ethyl hydroxyethylcellulose is commonly used as an additive for printing ink. This cellulose ester not only extends the ink but also provides rheological control at printing viscosities and gives an ink whose print has enhanced abrasion resistance. It is, however, quite expensive and tends to degrade the gloss of print.
It has now been found that blending such a cellulose ester with a polymeric product of the invention not only provides a less expensive additive without loss of abrasion resistance, but also gives an ink whose print has improved gloss and enhanced color intensity, especially at the red end of the spectrum.
In addition, the polymeric product of the invention, when laid down as a film on a substrate, demonstrates dramatic hydrophobicity, which makes it useful as a water-repellant coating for glass and metal wherever such things are employed.


In one embodiment, a method may determine a number of data transitions occurring in a forbidden zone at each of a first and second slice levels and adjust a slice level offset for an amplifier based on the number of data transitions at the first and second slice levels. Furthermore, a phase window of the forbidden zone may be adjusted to attain a desired bit error rate for a receiver.

Communication systems often transmit data with a clock embedded in a data stream, rather than being sent as a separate signal. When the data stream is received, a clock and data recovery circuit (CDR) recovers the embedded clock and retimes the received data to the recovered clock. Typically, a phase-locked loop (PLL) is used to perform the clock recovery operation. Such a PLL typically includes a phase detector, which receives the input data signal and a clock signal from a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The phase detector generates an error signal, which is a function of the phase difference between the input data signal and the VCO clock signal. The phase detector may also include additional circuitry to generate the reconstructed data.
The data stream is used to transmit digital information at high data rates. For data to be reliably transmitted and received, a system typically has a low bit error rate (BER). Typically, the BER is determined by counting the number of data transitions occurring within a certain time frame of a data eye.
Oftentimes, a CDR is implemented in an integrated circuit along with additional components, such as a limit amplifier (LA) and other such components. The LA may receive a voltage signal from a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) or other amplifier, which amplifies an incoming converted optical signal. Instead of a LA, an automatic gain control (AGC) amplifier may be used.
The function of the limit amplifier is to produce a consistent waveform from a TIA output which can be used by the CDR, regardless of incoming optical energy. In addition to amplifying the input signal, the LA may provide an adjustable slicing level to compensate for an asymmetric noise characteristic present in the incoming data. A slicing level is the threshold voltage at which an incoming signal is determined to be either a "1" bit or a "0" bit. At low levels of optical energy (corresponding to a zero bit level for example), the noise current is low. At higher levels of optical energy (corresponding to a one bit), the noise current may be higher.
Further, asymmetry in voltage levels corresponding to "1" and "0" level bits may exist, as shown in FIG. 1, which is a timing diagram of a typical data eye of incoming data. As shown in FIG. 1, at a slicing level of 0 mV, the horizontal opening of the data eye 5 is smaller than the horizontal opening at a slicing level of −0.2 mV. Thus, a slicing level of zero may give a smaller amount of margin for the positive swing compared to the negative swing. In FIG. 1, the data eye 5 is shown to have its widest opening at a slicing level of −0.2 mV. If the slicing level is set to roughly −2 mV in the case shown, the margin is more symmetric and better results are possible. This asymmetry may require an introduction of an intentional offset to create the most reliable output. Thus, introducing a small offset serves to optimize noise margin and signal strength. Current approaches for determining a slice offset typically require additional circuitry, consuming semiconductor real estate and power.
Accordingly, a need exists for improved analysis of signal quality and an improved manner of determining a slice level offset for an amplifier in a signal path.

Determining signal quality and selecting a slice level via a forbidden zone


A drain pan collects condensate water from an air conditioner. A drain line includes an elbow connecting the pan to a vertical pipe that drains the condensate water to outside. The drain line must be periodically cleaned to prevent clogging. A kit and method is provided to modify the drain line so that it can then be cleaned more easily, and components are provided to facilitate the drain line cleaning process.

It is well known in the art to provide a receptacle such as a tray or pan beneath the evaporator coils of an air conditioner to receive water that condenses from the air as it is cooled. A drain pipe line is generally connected to a side wall of the tray to drain the condensate water as it accumulates. The drain pipe line is commonly a horizontal pipe connected to the pan followed by an elbow, then a vertical line. The vertical line generally terminates outside the building in a water trap to drain to the atmosphere. The line is commonly formed of either one inch or three quarter inch rigid pipe, but other sizes may be used. Because water may stand still in the system, various microorganisms may grow in the tray and drain pipe until they clog up the drainage system. When this occurs, water overflowing from the tray may cause considerable damage. Because the drainage system and tray are out of sight and may be relatively inaccessible, they may be neglected until damage occurs. Clearing obstructions in the drain line and routine maintenance of the drain line are now generally done by manually disconnecting the drain line and blowing out, or sucking out, obstructions. The drain line is then reconnected. A less labor intensive and convenient system would encourage routine maintenance and avoid complete blockage.

Refrigeration condensate line maintenance kit


A computer terminal includes a first data generation section that generates first data associated with an identification number corresponding to each frame, a data communication control section that transmits and receives data, a synchronization control section that stores the first data in a first storage area and stores second data in a second storage area based on the identification number, and extracts the first data stored in the first storage area and the second data stored in the second storage area in synchronization based on the identification number, a calculation section that performs calculations every frame based on the first data extracted from the first storage area and the second data extracted from the second storage area, a communication delay time determination section that performs a test communication and determines a communication delay time based on the result of the test communication, and an input delay time setting section that sets an input delay time and transmits the input delay time to another computer terminal, the input delay time being equal to or longer than the communication delay time. The synchronization control section extracts data having an elapsed time after input of the data that has exceeded the input delay time based on the identification number and the input delay time.

The present invention relates to an information storage medium, a synchronization control method and a computer terminal.
An online game that allows a plurality of players to participate in and play a game through a network has been known. In such an online game, a game device exchanges data with another game device through a network, and proceeds with the game in synchronization with the other game device. For example, JP-A-2001-17735, JP-A-2002-186785, and JP-A-2005-6913 disclose technology that proceeds with a game while achieving synchronization between game devices.
Since a communication delay occurs when exchanging data through a network, it is necessary to reflect the operation input of the player in the game while taking account of the communication delay. However, since the communication environment of the player who participates in the online game varies according to time and circumstances, a long period of time may be required until the operation input of the player is reflected in the game, if the operation input of the player is reflected in the game on the assumption that the communication delay is constant. In particular, when implementing a game in which the operation input timing of the player is important (e.g., fighting game), the player cannot fully enjoy the game if the response to the operation input of the player is delayed.
JP-A-2006-32502 discloses a method that implements a quick-response game by predicting the movement of another player's character operated by another player based on the communication delay time of data received from another game device so that the player's character and the other player's character maintain consistency. However, a method that predicts the movement of another character is not suitable for a game in which the operation timing is important (e.g., fighting game). For example, when executing a fighting game, game calculations are sequentially performed when input information has been input by each player so that each character makes a motion. Therefore, it is difficult to employ a method that predicts the motion of each character.

Information storage medium, synchronization control method, and computer terminal


The invention concerns a textile product (6) for use in a paper machine, having a monofilament or a profiled structure as support element (1) on which is arranged a layered sensor for measuring pressure and/or temperature, and is characterized in that the sensor is constituted from at least three layers (2, 3, 4), the second layer (3) having piezoelectric properties and the layers (2, 4) in contact against the second layer (3) forming electrodes that are couplable or coupled to an analysis device.

A textile product of this kind is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,576. The known textile product comprises in its matrix a sensor that is excited by means of Nd:YAG laser radiation and as a result emits radiation having a wavelength different from the excitation wavelength. This radiation is detected by means of a detector in the vicinity of the textile product, thus making it possible, by means of the intensity and amplitude of the wavelength of the radiation emitted by the sensor, to ascertain information such as, for example, the speed or temperature of the textile product.
A principal disadvantage of this arrangement may be seen in the fact that the individual components, such as the Nd:YAG laser, detector, and analysis computer, are very cost-intensive. In addition, the individual components require a great deal of space, and their arrangement with respect to one another is relatively inflexible. Measurement can thus be performed only at specific measurement points, so that certain regions of the textile product cannot be reached by the specified measurement arrangement.
The document WO 93/21378 discloses a non-contact measurement method by induction. An electrically conductive or magnetizable metal strip is woven for this purpose into the textile product. Measurement serves to define the position of the textile product in the paper machine, and is accomplished by means of two detectors between which the textile product passes.
The disadvantage of a limited number of measurement points and the inaccessibility of specific process regions exists here as well. In addition, only positioning errors of the textile product in the paper machine can be detected by means of this measurement assemblage. It is not possible to measure the speed, pressure, or temperature of the textile product.
The document DE 43 11 402 A1 discloses a measurement apparatus, arranged outside a paper machine felt, for measuring the temperature and water permeability of the paper machine felt. The measurement apparatus comprises, for that purpose, a microwave head that is connected to a vacuum source. The measurement head is placed onto the felt, and the felt is aspirated against the measurement head by means of a vacuum source. A temperature transducer in the measurement head measures the temperature of the air and water that are sucked in. At the same time, the quantity of water pulled out of the felt is determined by means of a microwave radiator located in the measurement head. The temperature measurement allows uniform propagation of the press section's dewatering energy over the web, and also over the felt, to be tracked.
The disadvantage of this measurement apparatus is on the one hand that the measurement head must be placed onto the textile product or paper machine felt. On the other hand, the configuration of the measurement head, with a microwave radiator to measure the quantity of water in the felt and a temperature sensor to measure the temperature of the air sucked through the measurement head into the air conduit, is very complex and cost-intensive. The number of measurement points is moreover limited, both in structural terms and for cost reasons.

Textile product having an integrated sensor for measuring pressure and temperature

Abstract: The invention further concerns a method for producing such a textile product.


An arrangement for measuring pressure on a semiconductor wafer and an associated method for fabricating a semiconductor wafer are disclosed.

The present invention relates generally to semiconductor wafers, and more particularly to an arrangement for measuring pressure on a semiconductor wafer and an associated method for fabricating a semiconductor wafer.
During their fabrication, semiconductor wafers are typically subjected to processing by a number of semiconductor wafer processing tools, e.g. a chemical mechanical planarization tool. The processing of semiconductor a wafers by these tools results in the semiconductor wafers being subjected to various pressures. It is important that the pressures the semiconductor wafers are subjected to be measured and controlled to ensure that they remain within certain predetermined limits.
One current method to measure the pressure that a semiconductor wafer is exposed to during its processing includes utilizing a pressure sensor positioned within a chamber of a semiconductor wafer processing tool. Generally this method involves (i) positioning a semiconductor wafer within the chamber of the semiconductor wafer processing tool, (ii) processing the semiconductor wafer within the chamber with the semiconductor wafer processing tool, and (iii) measuring the pressure within the chamber with the pressure sensor as the semiconductor is being processed. The pressure measured within the chamber of the semiconductor wafer processing tool is then assumed to be the same pressure the semiconductor wafer is subjected to during its processing.
One problem with the above described approach for measuring pressure is that it only measures the pressure at a specific point in the chamber, and does not measure the pressure at specific locations on the semiconductor wafer. This is a problem since, under certain conditions, the pressure in the chamber is not equal to the pressure experience by the semiconductor wafer. Another problem with the above described approach is that the data generated by the sensor in the chamber can not be utilized to produce a xe2x80x9cpressure mapxe2x80x9d of the surface of the semiconductor wafer (i.e. the pressure experienced by the semiconductor wafer at specific locations across the surface thereof).
Thus, a continuing need exists for an arrangement for measuring pressure on a semiconductor wafer and an associated method for fabricating a semiconductor wafer which address one or more of the above described problems.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer includes a surface and a pressure measurement device supported on the surface of the semiconductor wafer.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an arrangement for measuring pressure. The arrangement includes a semiconductor wafer and a capacitor supported on the semiconductor wafer. The arrangement also includes capacitance measurement circuitry supported on the semiconductor wafer. The capacitance measurement circuitry is electrically coupled to the capacitor. The arrangement further includes capacitance to pressure conversion circuitry supported on the semiconductor wafer. The capacitance to pressure conversion circuitry is electrically coupled to the capacitance measurement circuitry.
In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of fabricating a semiconductor wafer. The method includes (a) subjecting the semiconductor wafer to a pressure and (b) measuring the pressure the semiconductor wafer is subjected to with a pressure a measurement device supported on the semiconductor wafer.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful semiconductor wafer.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved semiconductor wafer.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful arrangement for measuring pressure.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide an improved arrangement for measuring pressure.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful method of fabricating a semiconductor wafer.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of fabricating a semiconductor wafer.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the attached drawings.

Arrangement for measuring pressure on a semiconductor wafer and an associated method for fabricating a semiconductor wafer


A system, method, and computer product that accelerates encryption and decryption of data while using both a static key and a dynamic key. The present invention eliminates intermediate decryption of data that is transmitted between computer systems. More particularly, encryption efficiency is improved by eliminating decryption of the statically encrypted data while incorporating the advantages of a dynamic key such as enabling rapid change of the dynamic key. The efficiency improvements reduce the computer resources required to protect the data and therefore stronger data encryption may be enabled with the saved computer resources. End-to-end security of the data is maintained without the need for trusted data servers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to encryption systems, and more particularly to data encryption systems, methods, and computer program products for accelerated encryption and decryption of a data element using both static encryption and dynamic encryption.
2. Description of the Background Art
Data, such as audio and video data, is typically transmitted from an initiating computer system to a data server computer system and is then transmitted to a client computer system. In order to protect the data from theft or improper access, the data may be transmitted in an encrypted form and may be stored on a computer system in an encrypted form. It is desirable to protect data with strong encryption. Static encryption may be implemented as strong encryption.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that data encrypted with a static key that retains the same value during the transmission and storage of the data is statically encrypted data. For example, when data is encrypted at the initiating computer system, transmitted to the server system, and then transmitted to the client computer system before decryption, the data may be referred to as statically encrypted data. Such static encryption provides end-to-end security between the initiating computer system and the client computer system. Static encryption is limited since it requires significant computer resources to process and it is therefore difficult to rapidly change the static encryption key if necessary, especially for large data collections.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that dynamic encryption transformations are performed with a key whose value is typically assigned on a per-use basis and may be rapidly changed during transmission or storage operations associated with the data. In the past, the initiating computer system encrypted the data before transmitting the data on to the data server. Then the data server decrypted the data and dynamically assigned a protected key. The data server then encrypted the data with the new dynamic key prior to further transmission of the data thereby enabling encryption on a per-use basis. For example, when a client computer system requests data the data server may encrypt the data, using a client-specific encryption key, and then transmit the data to the client computer system. Dynamic encryption is typically used to transmit data over the Internet by techniques such as the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). Dynamic encryption is limited as it consumes significant computer resources since the dynamic encryption is performed each time the dynamic key is changed. Further, dynamic encryption is typically implemented as weak encryption and may not provide strong protection of the data.
Transmission of digital data, such as audio or video data, from the initiating computer system that is managed by a content provider to the data server, and then to the client computer system typically includes static encryption generated by the initiating computer system. If the content provider has a high degree of trust in the security of the data server the data may be decrypted and stored at the data server, and re-encrypted only when transmission to the client computer system is imminent.
Decryption of the interim data is inefficient. Since the content provider seeks to maintain control of the static key, decryption by the server system is limited to trusted intermediary data servers that the content provider has allowed to have access to the content provider's static key and to the decrypted data. Decryption eliminates end-to-end security since the data has been decrypted on an intermediate data server computer system prior to transmission to the client computer system. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that decryption and re-encryption may also occur on a trusted client computer system.
Typically, the data server is responsible for protecting and transmitting a large amount of digital data and therefore efficient encryption is required. The constraints of efficient encryption and the inefficiency of interim decryption often limit dynamic encryption to weak encryption, which typically does not provide sufficient protection for the data. Static encryption does not support rapid change of the encryption key, especially for large data collections, and therefore limits the protection of digital data.

Systems, methods, and computer program products for accelerated dynamic protection of data

International Business Machines Corporation