The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions of nitrites such as inorganic nitrites, or any pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, or prodrugs thereof, and the medical use of these compositions. The pharmaceutical compositions, which can be formulated for oral administration, can provide immediate release or extended release of the nitrite ion (NO2−). The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are useful, for example, for treating or reducing pain, improving symptoms of a microvascular disease, and improving nerve conduction velocity.

Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in many physiological processes and plays a key role in redox signaling. In particular, endothelial-derived NO regulates normal vascular function by stimulating NO-dependent activation of soluble guanylate cyclase, which leads to the activation of a signaling cascade resulting in smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilation. Dysfunction in NO-dependent signaling processes can occur either through a deficit in NO synthesis, NO bioavailability, or both. For instance, studies have shown that endothelial-derived NO production is reduced in patients with peripheral artery disease. Thus, reduced NO bioavailability might substantially contribute to the development of microvascular disease.
Studies have also indicated that NO plays a complex and diverse role in the incidence of pain. For instance, NO is an essential neurotransmitter involved in the nociceptive process and contributes to central sensitization in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. In contrast, other studies have implicated that NO can inhibit nociception in the central and peripheral nervous system. NO has also been shown to mediate the analgesic effect of opioids, such as morphine.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the medical field to develop safe and effective treatments that restore NO bioavailability in patients with microvascular disease and that provide a source of NO to mitigate pain. Thus, therapeutic strategies that modulate NO are highly desirable.

Pharmaceutical formulations of nitrite and uses thereof


Disclosed herein are customizable kits of parts for the fabrication of polymer fibers. In some embodiments, the kits provided herein comprise a scaffold comprising first and second opposite surfaces and one or more pores extending through the first and second surfaces, wherein each pore comprises a first channel and a first conjunction interface. The kits additionally comprise a plurality of nozzles, wherein each nozzle comprises a second channel and a second conjunction interface, and wherein the second interface can be removably and stably coupled to the first conjunction interface of each pore while allowing a fluid through the first channel and the second channel. The kits further comprise a plurality of closure structures, wherein each closure structure comprises a third conjunction interface, and wherein the third interface can be removably and stably coupled to the first conjunction interface of each pore to seal the pore. In some embodiments, at least the second channel of each nozzle has an internal diameter configured to allow formation of a fiber.

Fiber spinning devices are used to extrude a fluid, e.g., a polymer solution or polymer melt, to form a fiber. Such devices typically include a reservoir operatively coupled to a plate comprising a plurality of spinnerets, where the reservoir contains the fluid to be extruded. Streams of the viscous fluid exit via the spinnerets of the plate into air or a liquid, thereby leading to a phase inversion which allows the fluid to solidify into fiber form. Fiber spinning devices may also include a collection means (e.g., a bath, platform, etc.) to collect the formed fibers.
Fibers, e.g., polymer fibers, are used in a variety of diverse applications. For instance, polymer assemblies or webs are used in filters, medical and protective garments, insulation, ceiling tiles, battery separator media, tissue engineering scaffolds, etc. Accordingly, it is often necessary and/or desirable to be able to finely tune the characteristics and attributes associated with the fibers. There is thus a need in the art for a general and customizable fiber spinning device for highly tunable fiber formation.


A method and system for forming a planar cross-section view for an electron microscope. The method comprises directing an ion beam from an ion source toward a first surface of a sample to mill at least a portion of the sample; milling the first surface, using the ion beam, to expose a second surface in which the end of the second surface distal to the ion source is milled to a greater depth relative to a reference depth than the end of the first surface proximal to the ion source; directing an electron beam from an electron source to the second surface; and forming an image of the second surface by detecting the interaction of the electron beam with the second surface. Embodiments also include planarzing the first surface of the sample prior to forming a cross-section.

Charged particle beam systems are used in a variety of applications, including the manufacturing, repair, and inspection of micro-fabricated devices, such as integrated circuits, magnetic recording heads, and photolithography masks. Dual beam systems, such as the DualBeam instruments commercially available from FEI Company, the assignee of the present invention, typically include a scanning electron microscope (SEM) that can provide a high-resolution image with minimal damage to the target, and an ion beam system, such as a focused or shaped beam system (FIB), that can be used to alter substrates and to form images. Such deal beams systems are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,161,159 to Hill, et al., which is incorporated by reference in its entirety in the present application. In some dual beam systems, the FIB is oriented an angle, such as 52 degrees, from the vertical and an electron beam column is oriented vertically. In other systems, the electron beam column is tilted and the FIB is oriented vertically or also tilted. The stage on which the sample is mounted can typically be tilted, in some systems up to about 60 degrees.
A common application for a dual beam system is analyzing defects and other failures during micro-fabrication to troubleshoot, adjust, and improve micro-fabrication processes. Defect analysis is useful in all aspects of semiconductor production including design verification diagnostics, production diagnostics, as well as other aspects of microcircuit research and development. As device geometries continue to shrink and new materials are introduced, the structural complexity of today's semiconductors grows exponentially. Many of the structures created with these new materials are re-entrant, penetrating back through previous layers. Thus, the defects and structural causes of device failure are often hidden well below the surface.
Accordingly, defect analysis often requires cross-sectioning and viewing defects on a three-dimensional basis. With the growing use of copper conductor devices on semiconductor wafers, better systems capable of performing three dimensional defect analyses are more important than ever. This is because there are more defects that are buried and/or smaller, and in addition, chemical analysis is needed in many cases. Moreover, structural diagnostics solutions for defect characterization and failure analysis need to deliver more reliable results in less time, allowing designers and manufacturers to confidently analyze complex structural failures, understand the material composition, and source of defects, and increase yields.
For example, dual beam systems can be used to detect voids in copper interconnect trenches fabricated by a damascene process. In a typical damascene process, the underlying silicon oxide insulating layer of a substrate is patterned with open trenches where the copper conductor should be deposited. A thick coating of copper that significantly overfills the trenches is deposited on the insulator, and chemical-mechanical planarization is used to remove the copper to the level of the top of the insulating layer. Copper that is deposited down in the trenches of the insulating layer is not removed and becomes the patterned conductor. Any voids in the copper within the trenches can cause an open circuit defect. To evaluate the quality of the fill within the trenches, a dual beam system can be used to expose and image a cross section of the trench.
FIG. 1 shows a method for exposing a cross-section using a dual beam SEM/FIB system as known in the prior art. Typically, to analyze a feature within the sample 102, a focused ion beam (FIB) exposes a cross section, or face 108, perpendicular to the top of the surface 112 of the sample material having the hidden feature to be viewed. Because the SEM beam axis 106 is typically at an acute angle relative to the FIB beam axis 104, a portion of the sample in front of the face is preferably removed so that the SEM beam can have access to image the face. One problem with the prior art method is that a large number of cross-sections must typically be exposed along the length of the trench to form a set of samples of a sufficient size to properly characterize the trench.
For features that are deep relative to the opening that is being made by the FIB, the prior art method suffers from a reduced signal to noise ratio. The situation is analogous to shining a flashlight into a deep hole to try to form an image of the side of the hole. For example, a typical copper interconnect trench is 5-8 nanometers (nm) wide by 12 nanometers deep. Many of the electrons from the SEM remain in the trench and are not scattered back to the detector.
A common application for a dual beam system is in the field of biological sciences. For example, electron microscopy allows the observation of molecular mechanisms of diseases, the conformation of flexible protein structures and the behavior of individual viruses and proteins in their natural biological context. One technique employed with electron microscopy for analyzing biological materials, for example, is called "Slice-and-View." This technique is typically performed with a dual beam SEM/FIB system.
In the slice and view technique, the FIB cuts and slices a sample with high precision to reveal its 3D internal structures or features. After obtaining an image of the face by the SEM, another layer of substrate at the face may be removed using the FIB, revealing a new, deeper face and thus a deeper cross-section of the feature. Since only the portion of the feature at the very surface of the face is visible to the SEM, sequential repetition of cutting and imaging, or slicing and viewing, provides the data needed to reconstruct the sliced sample into a 3D representation of the feature. The 3D representation is then used to analyze the sample feature.
The processing of a sample through a slice and view procedure can take a long time if a large section of the sample is processed. This is also true even if the feature of interest is relatively small in relation to the sample because the location of the feature is not typically known with sufficient accuracy to direct the beams of the FIB and SEM to the immediate region of the sample containing the feature. Therefore, a large section of the sample suspected of having the feature is processed in order to locate the feature. With a typical maximum field of view for the SEM being about 150 microns, slice milling and imaging an area this size can be a significant time investment, especially with high resolution settings on the SEM. Alternatively, many smaller portions of the area may be imaged, but doing so generates a vast amount of image data, and the resulting images are typically required to be stitched together to form a larger composite image. Such processes currently can last anywhere from a few hours to several days.
In prior art methods a relatively large section has been required to be processed with every iteration of the slice and view procedure because the shape or direction of the feature through the sample has not been accurately predicted. This problem is especially exacerbated with certain features that have long, winding shapes through the sample, such as is the case with blood vessels or nerves.


A window air conditioning mounting system comprising a base subassembly having generally I-shaped configuration. There is also a shackle being coupled to the base subassembly. There is a strut having a generally T-shaped configuration coupled to the shackle and to the base subassembly. Lastly there is an upper cross member comprising a pair of generally C-shaped components. The components slidably receiving each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a window air conditioner unit mounting system and more particularly pertains to an improved way to mount a window air conditioner unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of window mounts is known in the prior art. More specifically, window mounts previously devised and utilized for the purpose of affixing an air conditioning unit to a window opening are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
While the prior art devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the prior art does not describe window air conditioner unit mounting system that allows an improved way to mount a window air conditioner unit.
In this respect, the window air conditioner unit mounting system, according to the present invention, substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing an improved way to mount a window air conditioner unit to a window opening.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved window air conditioner unit mounting system which can be used for mounting a window air conditioner unit in a window opening. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

Window air conditioner unit mounting system


A system used to synchronize the clock frequency of a receiver with that of a transmitter, where both the receiver and transmitter communicate using the ADSL Annex C standard. The transmitter continuously transmits pilot tones to the receiver. The receiver determines the phase error between sequential pilot tone symbols to determine a phase error. The receiver uses the phase error to adjust the receiver clock frequency. However, if the most recently received symbol is subject to near end cross talk or is subject to far end cross talk and is a boundary symbol, the receiver ignores the phase error and does not adjust the receiver clock frequency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to digital subscriber line transceivers for communicating using telephone subscriber loops, and more particularly, to techniques for performing clock frequency synchronization (timing recovery) for asymmetric digital subscriber line transceivers under TCM-ISDN cross-talk.
2. Description of Background Art
FIG. 1 depicts in a block diagram a relationship between a single transmitter 102 (central office (CO)) and single receiver 104 (customer premises equipment (CPE)) that use digital subscriber line (DSL) communications over copper telephone wires 106. The wider bandwidth needed for DSL transmission generates cross-talk interference among copper wire pairs bundled in the same cable binder. The level of cross-talk varies for different cable structures and materials. Some countries such as Japan and Korea use telephone cables with a paper-based xe2x80x9cpulpxe2x80x9d insulator rather than the plastic insulated cables (PIC) used in the United States. These pulp cables have high level of cross-talk between different services over copper wires bundled in the same cable binder. ISDN service has been deployed widely over copper wires. Cross-talk caused by ISDN service is one of the major interferences to other newly deployed DSL services since portions of the transmission band for ISDN service overlap with portions of the transmission band for DSL services.
In countries such as Japan, where the noisy pulp cables are installed, a special TCM-ISDN system is deployed. This system is described in the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) specification G.961, Appendix III. The G.961 Appendix III system reduces cross-talk interference by switch synchronizing ISDN cards at the central office using Time Compression Multiplexing (TCM). TCM provides for ISDN signal transmission and reception during different time periods to reduce near-end cross-talk between ISDN services.
ITU-T ADSL standards G.992.1 and G.992.2 Annex C (hereafter xe2x80x9cADSL Annex Cxe2x80x9d) describe the operation of DSL modems under TCM-ISDN interference. Signal transmissions from DSL modems are switch synchronized to a 400 Hz TCM Timing Reference (TTR) generated at the central office. The TTR signal is the master clock signal for determining when the central office modem (the xe2x80x9cCO 102 modemxe2x80x9d) and the customer premises equipment (the xe2x80x9cCPE 104 modemxe2x80x9d) should transmit and receive ISDN and DSL signals.
Within the same cable binder, TCM generates a time varying noise environment. During the first half period of the TTR signal, the CO modem is dominated by near end cross-talk (NEXT) interference, and roughly speaking, during the second half period the CO modem is dominated by far end cross-talk (FEXT) interference. The reverse is true for the CPE 104 modem. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between TTR, ISDN, and G.992.2 timing.
The TCM-ISDN cross-talk environment can be different depending on the length of the subscriber loop. On long subscriber loops, because the received signal is heavily attenuated, the NEXT interference is large compared to the received signal. The channel capacity in the NEXT period can be greatly reduced, sometimes be zero. On the other hand, in the FEXT period, the channel typically has good signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) because the FEXT interference is much weaker than NEXT, and small relative to the received signal.
FIG. 3 illustrates the relationship between the TTR signal, the ISDN NEXT/FEXT interference, and ADSL Annex C transmit frames. A xe2x80x9cSliding Windowxe2x80x9d operation specified in G.992.1 and G.992.2 Annex C defines the procedure for transmitting symbols under ISDN interference synchronized to the TTR signal. The FEXTR symbols are symbols completely inside the FEXTR period. The NEXTR symbols are symbols inside any portion of the NEXTR period. Thus, there are more NEXTR symbols than FEXTR symbols, as shown in FIG. 3. The CO modem 102 decides if a particular symbol is a FEXTR symbol or NEXTR symbol according to the sliding window and transmits the symbol according to bit maps corresponding to FEXTR and NEXTR symbols. Similarly, the CPE 104 modem decides if a particular symbol is a FEXTC symbol or NEXTC symbol and transmits the symbol according to bit maps corresponding to FEXTC and NEXTC symbols. The bit map for NEXT symbols can be all zero. In that case, only one bit map is used in each direction for FEXT symbols only. Although the exact symbol time is sliding relative to the TTR signal, the pattern is fixed by ADSL Annex C to be periodic with the period 345 symbols long, which is hereafter referred to as a xe2x80x9chyperframe.xe2x80x9d
Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown the 345 training symbols that make up a hyperframe, and its relationship to the TTR signal including the mapping of NEXTR/FEXTR symbols. The only significant difference between the NEXTR and FEXTR symbols is the additive TCM-ISDN interference. Any symbol that is partially affected by NEXT interference is treated as NEXT symbol. The FEXT symbols represent a signal treated as transmitted entirely during the FEXT period. The remaining training symbols are treated as though they were transmitted during the NEXT period From FIG. 4, it is observed that the TTR signal and the CO modem symbols are not aligned. However, over a period of 345 symbols, the TTR signal spans 32 or 34 periods, depending on the cyclic prefix selected by the CO modem. This least common multiple period is used by ADSL Annex C to define the hyperframe.
ADSL Annex C specifies a Discrete Multi-tone (DMT) system, which includes a plurality of tones having different carrier frequencies, each of which is modulated with different data. Tone 64 is used to transmit a xe2x80x9cpilot tonexe2x80x9d which enables synchronization of the clocks of the CO and CPE modems. The pilot tone is transmitted by the CO modem 102 (master) and synchronized to by the clock of the CPE modem 104 (slave). Using a conventional pilot tracking technique, the CPE modem checks the received pilot signal continuously to control the CPE modem clock. However, under the TCM-ISDN interference environment, use of a pilot tone transmitted during both NEXT and FEXT periods can lead to inaccurate synchronization of the clocks of the CO and CPE 104 modems because the pilot signal during NEXT period may be badly corrupted by the TCM-ISDN NEXT.
What is needed is a method and apparatus that improves the synchronization of the clocks of the CO and CPE under TCM-ISDN cross-talk.
One embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus used to perform timing recovery, namely, synchronize the frequency of the receiver clock with a reference clock of a remote transmitter. For example, in this embodiment, the frequency of the reference clock or a representation thereof is transmitted to the receiver. When this embodiment is used in an environment such as ADSL, near end cross talk periodically disrupts the integrity of the reference signal. In this embodiment, a computer implemented method is provided that includes the following acts. First, receiving a first pilot tone symbol from the transmitter. Second, receiving a second pilot tone symbol from the transmitter later. Third, determining a phase error between the first and second pilot tone symbols. Fourth, selectively setting the phase error to zero based on the cross talk environment of the second pilot tone symbol. The TCM-ISDN cross talk environment is predictable and periodic. Fifth, adjusting the frequency of the receiver clock based on the phase error. In this embodiment, the act of setting the phase error to zero occurs if the cross talk is near end type. By setting phase error to zero, clock adjustment is skipped. Alternatively, in this embodiment, the act of setting the phase error to zero occurs if the cross talk is far end type, the receiver is in early training mode, and the pilot tone symbol is a boundary symbol adjacent to a NEXT symbol.
One embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus that determines a phase error to use to synchronize a receiver clock frequency with that of a transmitter, where the system includes: a transmitter that transmits at least one pilot tone and a training mode indicator to the receiver; a sample clock that generates a sample clock signal; a symbol identifier that receives the sample clock signal and that indicates a symbol index associated with the most recent symbol; a phase error measurer device that measures the phase error between the two pilot tone symbols and outputs the phase error; and a phase error determination device (xe2x80x9cPEDDxe2x80x9d) that receives the phase error from the phase error measurer device, the symbol index from the symbol identifier and the training mode indicator from the transmitter, wherein the PEDD determines whether to ignore the phase error based on the symbol index and the training mode indicator. In this embodiment, the PEDD determines the cross talk environment of the most recent symbol by using the symbol index and ignores the phase error if the cross talk is near end type. In one embodiment, the PEDD determines the cross talk environment of the most recent symbol by using the symbol index, determines whether the most recent symbol is a FEXT boundary symbol and ignores the phase error if the cross talk is far end type, the training mode indicator signals early training mode, and it is a boundary symbol, namely the FEXT symbol adjacent to a NEXT symbol.
Advantageously, the above described embodiments use pilot tone symbols transmitted in tolerably noisy environment to synchronize the receiver clock with the transmitter clock; this embodiment avoids using signals transmitted in an intolerably noisy environment.

Method and apparatus for timing recovery in ADSL transceivers under a TCM-ISDN crosstalk environment


Technologies are described for analyzing interactions with data objects stored by a network-based storage service. The analysis of the interactions can identify patterns of the data object interactions and outcomes that can result from the patterns. Models can be developed that include the patterns and the outcomes corresponding to the patterns. As requests related to data object interactions are subsequently obtained by the system, the requests can be analyzed with respect to the models to identify an outcome that may be associated with the requests.

Network-based storage services store data for customers that the customers can later access. Customers or the network-based storage services can analyze the data to identify problems that may have arisen with respect to the data of the customer. In some examples, the data stored by a network-based storage service can be analyzed to determine whether fraud has occurred with respect to an account of a customer. Often, the amounts of data analyzed to identify an issue with data of a network-based storage service customer are quite large. Consequently, the processing resources and memory resources utilized to analyze the data are also large.
The disclosure made herein is presented with respect to these and other considerations.

Analysis of interactions with data objects stored by a network-based storage service


The invention is composed of a base structure (2) with first and second annular symmetric parts linked by a connecting element with a space to introduce a suspension system, the structure (2) can be folded thanks to the connecting element so that the first and second parts face one another. An independent coin support system is disposed in the structure (2) and is made of two identical superimposed internal rings (5) which define an opening that houses a coin or an adaptive structure (9) for a coin with a smaller diameter. Each ring defines on first or second parts of the structure (2) an outer support lip (7) to hold independent protection interfaces (11) on each side of the coin. Closing systems are curved with a U-shaped section and placed in periphery of the device (1). Interposition rings (13) (14) can be placed inside.

The devices known for preserving a coin generally comprise a case of protection with a glass frame, in which the coin is laid out such as described in the document U.S. Pat. No. 3,100,567. Some known devices, such as the one described in the document U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,214 adapt to various diameters of coins by means of a ring whose internal and external diameters are adapted respectively to the coin and to the internal frame of the case.
The majority of the known devices only allow the protection of the coin, and not its everyday use. Thus, the structure of such devices is generally rigid and comprises closing systems that work by screwing, interlocking, or fitting. However, these devices are not easy to implement and cannot always be reopened in a simple and reliable way. Other systems have a simple structure, but are not able to ensure a sufficient protection of a coin, when the latter is meant for everyday use.

Device for protecting, displaying and using a coin for standard ornamentation purposes


A method for enabling a distributed computing system to tolerate system faults during the execution of a client process. The method includes instantiating an execution environment relating to the client process; executing instructions within the execution environment, the instructions causing the execution environment to issue further instructions to the distributing computing system, the further instructions relating to actions to be performed with respect to data stored on the distributed computing system. An object interface proxy receives the further instructions and monitors the received to determine if the execution environment is in a desired save-state condition; and, if so, save a current state of the execution environment in a data store.

It has become commonplace to use computers, and networks of computers, to facilitate a wide variety of activities including work and recreation. Modern computer networks incorporate layers of virtualization so that physically remote computers and computer components can be allocated to a particular task and then reallocated when the task is done. Users sometimes speak in terms of computing "clouds" because of the way groups of computers and computing components can form and split responsive to user demand, and because users often never see the computing hardware that ultimately provides the computing services. More recently, different types of computing clouds and cloud services have begun emerging.
Cloud service platforms vary in the types of services they provide and the types of applications they are intended to support. At one end of the spectrum are "low level" services, such as platforms that provide access to the operating system, one or more development frameworks, databases and other like facilities. A primary goal for these platforms is to reduce hardware and IT costs without otherwise restricting the application developer's choice of technical solution or application space. At the other end of the spectrum are platforms that provide facilities to create applications in the context of a preexisting application with a well-defined purpose. Such "high level" cloud services typically focus on one or more well-defined end user applications such as business applications. A goal of these platforms is to enable the creation of extensions to a core application. The services provided in this case are typically skewed toward the context of the embedding application and away from low-level services and choice of technical solution. Some high level cloud services provide an ability to customize and/or extend one or more of the end user applications they provide, however high level cloud services typically do not provide direct access to low level computing functions. This can be problematic with respect to fault tolerance, for example, maintenance of data and/or behavioral integrity after experiencing an unexpected or interrupting event such as a power or communications network failure, since conventional approaches typically use low level computing functions to implement fault tolerance.
FIG. 1 depicts aspects of an example computing environment 100 that may benefit from at least one embodiment of the invention. A variety of client applications (not shown) incorporating and/or incorporated into a variety of computing devices 104 may communicate with a multi-tenant distributed computing service 108 through one or more networks 112. Examples of suitable computing devices 104 include personal computers, server computers, desktop computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones, cell phones, computers, and consumer electronics incorporating one or more computing device components such as one or more processors. Examples of suitable networks include networks including wired and wireless communication technologies, networks operating in accordance with any suitable networking and/or communication protocol, private intranets and/or the Internet.
The multi-tenant distributed computing service 108 may include multiple processing tiers including a user interface tier 116, an application tier 120 and a data storage tier 124. The user interface tier 116 may maintain multiple user interfaces 128 including graphical user interfaces and/or web-based interfaces. The user interfaces 128 may include a default user interface for the service, as well as one or more user interfaces customized by one or more tenants of the service. The default user interface may include components enabling tenants to maintain custom user interfaces and otherwise administer their participation in the service. Each tier may be implemented by a distributed set of computers and/or computer components including computer servers. The data storage tier 124 may include a core service data store 132 as well as a data store (or data stores) 136 for storing tenant data.
The application tier 120 of the multi-tenant distributed computing service 108 may provide application servers 140 for executing customizable and/or extendible end user applications. For example, the application tier may enable customization with a programmatic language such as a scripting language. Custom program code may be executed in a controlled execution environment instantiated 144 by the application servers 140. For example, custom scripts may be executed by a scripting language interpreter.
Conventional attempts to enable customization of high level cloud services, such as the multi-tenant distributed computing service shown in FIG. 1, while addressing fault tolerance issues are inefficient, ineffective and/or have undesirable side effects or other drawbacks.
For example, programs running under a conventional computer operating system can typically use low-level mechanisms provided by a database to ensure that data consistency is maintained in the presence of unexpected interruptions. For particularly long running processes, other mechanisms may be employed to track the progress of a program in order to support recovery from unexpected events such as power loss, network interruptions or other system failures. For example, a program performing a repeated operation on a homogenous list of data objects can encapsulate each identical operation in a database transaction and include information to indicate completion of each unit of work. If the process is interrupted, when the system restarts, the program can query for the unprocessed objects and resume without sacrificing consistency in the data.
A process running on a cloud-based platform may not, however, have access to the same low-level facilities available to one written directly on the operating system. On such a system, data consistency may only be guaranteed within a scope of one system-level data access operation, such as the read or write of a business object. Even in a case where a long-running process is built from multiple identical computational units, these units may include more than a single data access operation. This can leave the process vulnerable to data inconsistencies if an unexpected interruption occurs, not between computational units, but in the midst of a single computational unit.
Users of low-level platforms are in a position to manage consistency issues because they typically have access to facilities available to conventional (non-Cloud, on-premise, etc.) development environments. For example, the transactional nature of a relational database may be combined with an architecture that minimizes a number of operations performed in a single transaction as the basis for ensuring consistent, durable data state.
On high level platforms, however, a program may not have direct access to a database transaction. Instead, the underlying database transactions may be used to ensure consistency of data access to the higher level business objects that these platforms interact with. In order to create an atomic process that spans multiple high-level data access operations, these platforms may provide a restricted form of transaction management that spans a small number of accesses and/or impose further limits on the types of platform services that may be utilized during the transaction.
Such a high level platform, such as the multi-tenant distributed computing service shown in FIG. 1, may be susceptible to intermittent interruptions including system failure, a resource governance mechanism, planned system restart, and monitoring-initiated restart. Resource governance may include resource utilization tracking on a per tenant basis by the platform and resource utilization limitation in accordance with an agreement between the tenant and the platform service provider. However, advantageously to the service provider, interruptions need not be guaranteed to provide signals that allow a client process to safely shut down. Such interruptions can be classified as (i) those occurring during a data write operation and (ii) those occurring outside a data write operation. In the former case, interruptions occurring inside a data write operation may not leave a business object in an inconsistent state because they are protected by an underlying database transaction. However, during the latter type of interruption, data consistency between business objects may be lost.
Embodiments of the invention are directed toward solving these and other problems individually and collectively.

Fault tolerance for complex distributed computing operations


The apparatus for etching a thin film using the plasma includes a reaction chamber having a diffusion area and a reaction area; an upper electrode disposed in the top of the reaction area; a lower electrode spaced apart from the upper electrode and arranged at the bottom of the reaction area; a RF power supply applying RF power to the upper and lower electrodes so as to form the plasmas between the upper and lower electrodes; a gas inlet applying processing gases to the diffusion area; gas-exhausting members sucking the residual plasmas and byproducts of the plasma etch; a buffer plate surrounding the lower electrode at the bottom of the reaction chamber and having a plurality of vent holes and vent hole protectors; and a shielding member between the lower electrode and the buffer plate, the shielding plate protecting the lower electrode from the plasmas.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2000-83768, filed on Dec. 28, 2000 in Korea, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma processing apparatus, and more particularly to a plasma etching apparatus which dry-etches thin films or layers formed on a substrate for a liquid crystal display.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Plasma is an electrically neutral, highly organized gas composed of ions, electrons and neutral particles. The plasma is a phase of matter distinct from solids, liquids, and normal gases. Because plasmas are conductive and respond to electric and magnetic fields and can be efficient sources of radiation, they are usable in numerous applications where such control is needed or when special sources of energy or radiation are required. In recent years, such plasmas are introduced in the areas of plasma technology, such as thin film deposition, display systems (e.g., Plasma Display Panel (PDP)), bulk materials work, plasma-based lighting systems, environmental and health applications and materials synthesis. Among the various areas of plasma technology, plasmas are especially adopted in the field of manufacturing semiconductor devices and liquid crystal display devices, which need large-scale integrated circuits.
A plasma etching apparatus generally etches polymer and metal layers using plasmas generated by the glow discharge at a low temperature, thereby forming the large-scale integrated devices. The plasma etching apparatus widely includes a reaction chamber, a gas feeding member and a voltage supply. The reaction chamber is a sealed container containing processing gases and the gas feeding member introduces reaction gases into the reaction chamber. The voltage supply is connected to electrodes inside the reaction chamber and applies a radio frequency (RF) power to generate plasmas in the reaction chamber. The processing gases from the gas feeding member are converted into the plasmas in the reaction chamber by the electrodes.
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional plasma etching apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional plasma etching apparatus 1 includes a reaction chamber 1a, a radio frequency (RF) power supply 17 and gas-exhaust members 22 and 24. The reaction chamber 1 widely includes a gas inlet 6 through which processing gases are introduced, a plasma diffusing area 2 where the processing gases diffuse, and a reaction area 4 where plasmas are generated from the processing gases and etch an object 14. A diffusion plate 8 having a plurality of holes or slits therein is located inside the plasma diffusing area 2. The diffusion plate 8 diffuses the processing gases introduced from the gas inlet 6, whereby the processing gases are easily spread into the reaction area 4. An upper electrode 10 formed of a metallic material is disposed between the plasma diffusing area 2 and the reaction area 4, and acts as a first electrode to generate an electric field when creating the plasmas. An insulator 12 is adjacent to the upper electrode 10. The upper electrode 10 and the insulator 12 generally have a great number of holes (about ten thousands of holes) therein in order to freely ventilate the processing gases.
Still referring to FIG. 1, an object 14, such as a glass substrate or a semiconductor wafer, is located in the reaction area 4. A lower electrode 18 receiving the RF power from the RF power supply 17 is arranged at the bottom of the reaction area 4. The lower electrode 18 serves as a second electrode when forming the plasmas using the processing gases. In the reaction area 4, the object 14 (e.g., the substrate or semiconductor wafer) is etched by the plasmas generated by the upper and lower electrodes 10 and 18.
The lower electrode 18 is preferably made of a metallic material coated with aluminum, and the object 14 is disposed on the aluminum-coated lower electrode 18. A buffer plate 20 having a plurality of vent holes surrounds the lower electrode 18 at the bottom of the reaction area 4. A shielding member 16 made of a ceramic material is disposed between the lower electrode 18 and the buffer plate 20, and surrounds the lower electrode 18 in order to prevent the lower electrode 18 from being exposed. Accordingly, the buffer plate 20, shielding member 16 and lower electrode 18 are located on the same plane at the bottom of the reaction area 4. Further, the object 14 is mounted on an exposed portion of the lower electrode 18. At the bottom of the reaction chamber 1a, the gas-exhausting members 22 and 24, such as vacuum pumps, are disposed in order to remove the gaseous byproducts from the reaction area 4.
The plasma etch processes performed in the above-mentioned plasma etching apparatus 1 will be explained hereinafter. The object 4 having the polymer or metal layer for plasma etching is loaded on the exposed portion of the lower electrode 18. At this time, the object 4 has substantially the same size as the exposed portion of the lower electrode 18. Thereafter, the processing gases flow into the plasma diffusing area 2 through the gas inlet 6, and then the processing gases are diffused by the diffusion plate 8. The diffused processing gases are then spread into the reaction area 4 through the plurality of holes of the upper electrode 10 and insulator 12.
Thereafter, the RF power supply 17 applies the RF power to the lower electrode 18, such that an electric field is induced between the upper electrode 10 and the lower electrode 18. Therefore, the processing gases in the reaction area 4 are ionized to be the plasmas. The plasmas (e.g., the anions and cations) move toward the lower electrode with a high kinetic energy. The plasmas generated in the reaction area 4 allow for the ability to provide an anisotropic etch which is believed to depend on the bombardment with energetic ions on the surface of the object 14. When etching the object 14, the byproducts from the plasma etching are sucked through a plurality of holes through the buffer plate 20 by the gas-exhausting members 22 and 24, which are below the reaction chamber 1a. Accordingly, the layers on the object 14 are patterned by the above-mentioned plasma etching processes.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the buffer plate 20 surrounding the shielding member 16 and lower electrode 18. As shown in FIG. 2, the buffer plate 20 includes a plurality of holes 21 therein though which the gaseous byproducts and the residual plasma etchant are removed. Further in FIG. 2, the gas-exhausting members 22 and 24 (e.g., the vacuum pumps) sucking the gaseous byproducts and the residual plasma etchant are located below the reaction chamber 1a of FIG. 1 in areas corresponding to areas xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d of FIG. 2. When the gas-exhausting members 22 and 24 are operated, the gaseous byproducts and the residual plasma etchant are sucked by these gas-exhausting members 22 and 24 through the plurality of vent holes 21. However, since the gas-exhausting members 22 and 24 are located in the areas xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d, the gaseous byproducts and the residual plasma etchant converge in these areas xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d.
In other words, when exhausting the gaseous byproducts and the residual etchant through the plurality of vent holes 21 of the buffer plate 20, suction power is relatively larger in the areas xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d than the other area of the buffer plate 20 because the gas-exhausting members 22 and 24 are arranged under the areas xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d. Therefore, the density of the byproducts and etchant increases in the areas xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d, and then a convergence of the byproducts and etchant occurs in the areas xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d. Thus, the convergence of the gaseous byproducts and residual plasma etchant brings about the irregular etch of the object 14 (in FIG. 1) and additionally causes arcing in areas xe2x80x9cBxe2x80x9d of the lower electrode 18.
The arcing phenomenon occurring in the lower electrode 18 will be explained referring to FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the buffer plate 20 having the plurality of vent holes 21 is located at the bottom of the reaction area 4. Additionally, the lower electrode 18 surrounded and protected by the shielding member 16 is located at the center of the buffer plate 20. The object 14 is put and fixed on the exposed portion of the lower electrode 18. However, a gap occurs and exists between the object 14 and the shielding member 16 because of the surface irregularity of the object 14 and shielding member 16. This gap is large enough for the plasmas to pass through. Accordingly, since the gaseous byproducts and residual etchant converge in the areas xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d, the plasmas strongly strike the lower electrode 18 through the gap in the areas xe2x80x9cBxe2x80x9d of FIG. 2, thereby causing the arcing. Due to the strong and continuous strike of the plasmas, aluminum film coating the lower electrode 18 comes apart from the lower electrode and the lower electrode 18 is exposed in the areas xe2x80x9cBxe2x80x9d of FIG. 2. This arcing phenomenon shortens the life span of the lower electrode 18, and thus the lower electrode 18 should be exchanged after the plasma etching processes. Namely, the convergence of the gaseous byproducts and residual plasma etchant causes the arcing in the lower electrode and then shortens the electrode""s life. Additionally, the convergence of the gaseous byproducts and residual plasma etchant causes the irregular etch of the object, thereby decreasing the stability of the electronic devices that have been etched by this plasma etching process.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a plasma etching apparatus that substantially overcomes one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An advantage of the present invention is to provide a plasma etching apparatus that prevents convergence of plasmas and gaseous byproducts.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a plasma etching apparatus that has an improved etching efficiency and conducts uniform plasma etch.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
In order to achieve the above advantages, a plasma etching apparatus includes a reaction chamber having a diffusion area and a reaction area; an upper electrode disposed in the top of the reaction area; a lower electrode spaced apart from the upper electrode and arranged at the bottom of the reaction area; a RF power supply applying RF power to the upper and lower electrodes so as to form the plasmas between the upper and lower electrodes; a gas inlet applying processing gases to the diffusion area; gas-exhausting members sucking the residual plasmas and byproducts of the plasma etch; a buffer plate surrounding the lower electrode at the bottom of the reaction chamber and having a plurality of vent holes and vent hole protectors; and a shielding member between the lower electrode and the buffer plate, the shielding plate protecting the lower electrode from the plasmas; wherein the buffer plate is divided into a first portion, a second portion and a third portion; wherein the first portion has a size defined by multiplying a length of the shielding member by a distance between the top edge of the shielding member and the top edge of the buffer plate; wherein the second portion has a size defined by multiplying a length of the shielding member by a distance between the bottom edge of the shielding member and the bottom edge of the buffer plate; wherein the plurality of vent holes are arranged in the third portion of the buffer plate; wherein the vent hole protectors are arranged in the first and second positions; and wherein the each vent hole protector corresponds to each gas-exhausting member.
In the aforementioned plasma etching apparatus, the vent hole protectors occupy about 50% space of the first and second portions of the buffer plate, respectively. The plasma etching apparatus further comprises a diffusion plate in the diffusion area, whereby the diffusion plate diffuses the processing gases that flow from the gas inlet.
The aforementioned plasma etching apparatus further comprises an insulator that is arranged adjacent to the upper electrode and has a plurality of holes to ventilate the processing gases. The upper electrode also includes a plurality of holes to ventilate the processing gases. The shielding member is made of a ceramic material.
The first portion of the buffer plate has substantially the same size as the second portion of the buffer plate. Each gas-exhausting member is a vacuum pump.
The vent hole protectors are formed when forming the buffer plate. Alternatively, the vent hole protectors can be made by way of attaching additional plates upon the first and second portions of the buffer plate. Here, the additional plates are an insulating material and has a enough thickness not to affect the plasma etching process.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.


In a pressurized water reactor (PWR), emergency core cooling (ECC) responds to depressurization due to a vessel penetration break at the top of the pressure vessel by draining water from a body of water through an injection line into the pressure vessel. A barrier operates concurrently with the ECC to suppress flow of liquid water from the pressure vessel out the vessel penetration break. The barrier may comprise one or more of: (1) an injection line extension passing through the central riser to drain water into the central riser; (2) openings in a lower portion of a central riser to shunt some upward flow from the central riser into a lower portion of the downcomer annulus; and (3) a surge line providing fluid communication between a pressurizer volume at the top of the pressure vessel and the remainder of the pressure vessel which directs water outboard toward the downcomer annulus.

The following relates to the nuclear power generation arts, nuclear reactor safety arts, nuclear reactor emergency core cooling (ECC) arts, and related arts.
In a loss of coolant accident (LOCA), the nuclear reactor core is to be kept immersed in water so as to provide for removal of decay heat and to prevent exposure of the fuel rods to air which can lead to chemical reactions and release of airborne radioactivity. The system which provides this water injection is referred to as the emergency core cooling (ECC) system. In a typical arrangement, a refueling water storage tank (RWST) is located with the nuclear reactor inside radiological containment to provide water for use during reactor refueling, and this RWST also serves as a water source for the ECC system. The RWST is located above the reactor core so that the passive ECC system can operate by gravity-driven water flow.
Water injected into the depressurized pressure vessel by the ECC system is converted to steam by decay heat from the nuclear reactor core. Preferably, this steam is recaptured by condensing it into the RWST so as to form a closed-loop recirculating heat exchange system. In practice, some steam is lost from the break that caused the LOCA. This lost steam condenses inside the surrounding radiological containment, thereby contributing to heat transfer from the reactor core although not in a recirculating fashion. In some embodiments, the water collects in a containment sump, and a sump pump is provided to recirculate the water back into the RWST. However, this approach is susceptible to failure if the diesel generators or other power source driving the sump pump fail, and moreover there is the potential to transfer contamination into the RWST that can interfere with operation of the ECC system.

Passive techniques for long-term reactor cooling


A high pressure charge air feed arrangement for an internal combustion engine is provided. The arrangement includes an intake having a high pressure output, a rocker cover having an intake runner defining a high pressure charge flow path, and a gas and oil separator having a flow accelerator with input and output sides. The high pressure output of the intake is attached to one end of the path and the accelerator is attached to the other end. The path is connected between the input and output sides of the accelerator. The separator includes upper and lower plenums divided by a wall having an oil and gas diffuser. The input side is connected to the lower plenum and the output side is connected to a crankcase oil return line. The flow accelerator may be any type of fluid accelerator, including, but not limited to, a venturi pump and a jet pump.

During the combustion stage of the air-fuel mixture within an internal combustion engine, exhaust gases are created that exit the engine via the exhaust manifold. However, not all gases exit the engine at this time. Some of these gases are forced to bypass the piston and enter the crankcase because of the pressure created during combustion of the air-fuel mixture.
Relief of these collected gases is necessary to avoid damage to engine gaskets caused by the extra crankcase pressure. Such damage results in oil leakage. An early and direct solution to the build-up of exhaust gases in they crankcase was simply to exhaust the collected gases directly to the atmosphere via, for example, a road draft tube. However, this is an undesirable solution to the presence of these gases due to the negative environmental impact generated by these unburned hydrocarbon emissions.
As an alternative, these gases can be re-introduced into the engine by evacuating them from the crankcase and adding them to the air-fuel mixture entering the engine via the intake manifold. Oil separators are known for this purpose.
A common solution to separating oil from water includes the use of a mesh filter in which oil droplets are trapped in the mesh (typically composed of a microfiber) and air is allowed to pass through. Another simple approach to separating oil from air is to provide a tube through which passes the recycled gas. The tube has holes formed on its side. Air passes through the holes and oil droplets, being heavier, fall to the bottom of a reservoir. A moving unit, such as a centrifuge, may also be used to separate oil from the air. The separated oil is directed back into the crankcase.
A very typical solution has been to have the crankcase gases flow from the crankcase to the intake manifold by way of a positive crankcase ventilation ("PCV") system as regulated by a valve located along the PCV path. According to one PCV example, the path for the PCV begins at the valve cover and ends at the intake manifold. During engine operation, the PCV valve increases a restriction between the intake system and the crankcase in periods of higher intake manifold vacuum, thus reducing the restriction between the intake manifold and the crankcase during periods of lower intake manifold vacuum. According to this system, a slight vacuum is maintained in the engine crankcase thereby drawing hydrocarbons from the engine crankcase and directing them into the engine intake system.
Some known systems rely on a PCV valve typically fitted to the valve cover. An external PCV hose is fitted between the air/oil separator and the intake manifold. Hose connections may also include a hose connection on the cam cover and one on the intake manifold. Joints are required for each connection. While providing an environmentally sound method of relieving the collected gases, the reliance on rubber hoses introduces potential failure of the system due to aging of the hoses or leakage caused by accidental disconnection of the hose from the valve.
To avoid the need for hose connections, it is possible to bolt the oil separator to the rocker cover for gravity-induced drainage. However, in such an arrangement, separated oil does not drain due to a high delta pressure between the drain outlet and the crankcase pressure on the other side of the rocker cover.
Accordingly, as in so many areas of vehicle technology there is room for improvement related to the use and operation of oil separation systems associated with the internal combustion engine.

Internal charge air feed from rocker cover integrated intake runners


The invention provides catalysts that are not corroded in acidic electrolytes or at high potential, have excellent durability and show high oxygen reducing ability. In a process of producing fuel cell electrodes containing a metal oxide and an electron conductive substance, the process includes steps in which a sugar is applied and carbonized on a support layer supporting the metal oxide and the electron conductive substance.

Fuel cells are classified into several types according to the electrolytes or electrodes used therein. Typical types are alkaline types, phosphoric acid types, molten carbonate types, solid electrolyte types and polymer electrolyte types. In particular, polymer electrolyte fuel cells that can operate at temperatures ranging from low temperatures (about −40° C.) to about 120° C. attract attention and are progressively developed and practically used as low-pollution power sources for automobiles.
To increase the reaction rate in fuel cells and enhance the energy conversion efficiency, a layer containing a catalyst is conventionally provided on the surface of a cathode (air electrode) material or an anode (fuel electrode) material of fuel cells. (Hereinafter, electrodes in which a catalyst-containing layer is provided on the surface of a cathode material or an anode material will be also referred to as the fuel cell electrodes.)
Platinum that has high activity has been generally used as the catalyst. However, since platinum is expensive and exists in a limited amount, alternative catalysts have been desired.
Metal oxides are possible alternative catalysts to platinum. Further, to increase oxygen reduction potential, metal oxides containing nitrogen or carbon, such as metal oxynitrides, metal oxycarbides and metal oxycarbonitrides, have been studied as catalysts.
However, these metal compounds have so high electric resistance that they do not pass an electric current. Because of this drawback, electron conductive particles are used in combination therewith.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an oxygen-reducing electrode material using a metal oxynitride as a catalyst.
However, even this electrode permits the passage of far below current than practically required.

Process for producing fuel cell electrode by applying a sugar to a precursor supporting a metal oxide and conductive substance and carbonizing the sugar


A camera includes a cartridge receiving chamber for receiving a film cartridge having a rotatable film spool with an accessible end cavity, and a winding spindle for rotationally engaging the film spool inside its end cavity to wind exposed film into the film cartridge. The winding spindle has a concentric outer collar that is elastically expandable inside the end cavity to effect frictional torque contact with the film spool, and a concentric inner spool core that is rotatable within a center hole in the outer collar to force the outer collar to expand into frictional torque contact with the film spool. A slight reverse rotation of the inner spool core relative to the outer collar allows the outer collar to resiliently retract out of frictional torque contact with the film spool. Then, the winding spindle can be removed from the end cavity to permit the film cartridge to be removed from the cartridge receiving chamber.

It is well known for a camera to include a cartridge receiving chamber for receiving a film cartridge having a rotatable film spool with an accessible end cavity, and a winding spindle for rotationally engaging the film spool inside the end cavity to wind exposed film into the film cartridge. Typically, the winding spindle has a free end that is forked to rotationally engage a split rib or tine in the end cavity. The spit rib is spaced some distance from the opening to the end cavity. Thus, the forked end must be received in the end cavity far enough to reach the split rib in order to rotationally engage the split end.
When the film cartridge is inserted in the cartridge receiving chamber, initially it must be tilted to allow the forked end to enter the end cavity. The forked end must be received in the end cavity far enough to reach the split rib in order to rotationally engage the split rib. Alternatively, the winding spindle can be substantially removed from the cartridge receiving chamber, in which case the film cartridge does not have to be tilted when it is initially inserted in the chamber. The winding spindle then must be moved back into to the cartridge chamber far enough for the forked end to re-engage the split rib in the end cavity.

Camera with winding spindle expandable to rotationally drive film spool


A system for tactile presentation of information to a pilot of an aircraft. The system comprises a pilot seat, a plurality of tactors, and a controller configured to control the plurality of tactors to tactually present the threat information to the pilot by producing one or more tactile stimuli based on situational awareness information. The tactors in the plurality of tactors are physically coupled to the pilot seat and the threat information is indicative of a threat to the aircraft. In some embodiments, at least one pressure sensor may be physically coupled to the pilot seat and the plurality of tactors may be configured to tactually present the threat information to the pilot based at least in part on data obtained by the at least one pressure sensor.

Aircraft pilots must assimilate and prioritize a large amount of information being presented to them during flight. A pilot may be presented with many types of information such as navigational information, information about the aircraft, threat information about any potential threats to the aircraft, mission status information, and many other types of information. The information may be presented using one or more types of interfaces such as audio interfaces and/or visual interfaces such that information may be presented using audio cues and/or visual cues.
It is challenging for a pilot of any aircraft to process all the information presented to the pilot, let alone to process the information while performing other tasks such as controlling the aircraft and/or communicating with one or more other parties (e.g., mission control). As a result, pilots are often inundated with information being presented to them and are unable to adequately process it. In turn, this leads to pilot confusion and delays the pilot in making important and/or time-sensitive decisions.
One conventional approach for addressing this problem of information-overload has been to present pilots with information by using other types of interfaces instead of or addition to using audio and/or visual interfaces. Some techniques involve relying on a pilot's sense of touch to present him with information. To this end, a pilot may be outfitted to wear one or more devices, referred to as "tactors," that are configured to tactually stimulate the pilot to present him with information such as navigational information. The tactors may be provided as part of any suitable wearable article such as a pilot's suit, a vest, gloves, etc. For example, a pilot may be provided with gloves containing tactors. The tactors in the glove may stimulate the outside of the pilot's right hand to indicate that the pilot should move the hand to the left and may stimulate the inside of the right hand may indicate the pilot should move the hand to the right. The tactors in the glove may stimulate the top/bottom of the pilot's wrist to indicate that the pilot should move the stick forward/aft. The left glove's top and bottom tactors can stimulate the pilot's hand to indicate that the pilot should move the power control up/down or forward/backward.

System and method for tactile presentation of information


Methods and devices for forming a series of samples of a filtered version of an input signal. Multiple tap current cells each generate a tap current from the signal. Multiple distribution means couple the tap current cells with multiple integrating means. The distribution means is controlled by a first clock signal. The multiple integrating means integrate tap currents that they receive and these integrating means form the samples. The tap currents generated are each sent to each integrating means in a predetermined sequence according to the first clock signal. The integrating means each use integrating and sampling phases controlled by a second clock signal. During the integrating phase an integrating means receives tap currents in sequence, while during the rest phase, no tap currents are received and the contents of the circuit are sampled and the integrator means is reset.

In communication systems designs, analog filters are usually required for image removal/rejection or anti-aliasing. Analog filters are the family of filters that are capable of taking analog signals and outputting analog, continuous-time or discrete-time signals. It is desirable to have analog filters integrated onto an integrated circuit to reduce the overall cost and the size of the system. Two types of filter are commonly used in integrated circuit applications: the switched capacitor (SC) filter and the transconductance-capacitor (gm-C) filter. The SC filters have very precisely defined filtering characteristics because the time constants associated with the frequency response depend only on the capacitor ratios and the clock frequency. SC filters are known to have a number of drawbacks. First, when used at a typical intermediate frequency (IF) in a radio system, it is capable of causing aliasing of interfering signals. Secondly, it has a noise problem which can only be mitigated at the price of increased power consumption. On the other hand, gm-C filters typically provide lower noise and consume less power than SC filters but suffer in the area where SC filters perform well. Since the time constant in a gm-C filter are determined by gm and C, the frequency response is sensitive to process variations, temperature drift and power supply variations. Calibration loops are required to cancel out these effects but complicates the designs significantly. For these reasons, it is difficult to construct very high-order high-precision gm-C type of filters. Both of these filter types have difficulties producing area-efficient FIR filters.
Recently, another type of analog filter has been attempted. It involves generating one current or multiple currents from an input voltage signal, selectively integrating the current(s) to a pair of capacitors (as for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,829,311) or multiple capacitors for a predetermined time interval, and then sampling the charges accumulated on the capacitors and then resetting for the next current integrating cycle. The selective current integration operation realizes a finite impulse response (FIR) filter. In one reference, multiple currents are generated to be selectively integrated on a capacitor. The currents are generated in such a way that the currents are proportional to the input signal and the tap coefficients of a desired FIR filter. The current generation is realized by having multiple transconductance amplifiers with gains corresponding to the tap coefficients. Since transconductance of the amplifiers are dependent upon process variations, temperature drifts and power supply variations, the resultant filter frequency response is sensitive to these variations as in the case of the conventional analog filters. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,829,311, a single current converted from the input voltage signal is sent to a pair of capacitors. The FIR filter taught by this reference substantially reduces the above sensitivity problem as its frequency response depends only on the clock frequency and matching accuracy of the current integration capacitors. However, it is limited to filters with tap coefficients comprising 0's and 1's which prevent it from realizing arbitrary FIR filters. The limitation can be worked around by quantizing an arbitrary set of tap coefficients using a delta sigma technique. Since there are only two quantization levels, 0 or 1, the resulting quantization error in the filter frequency response can be very high which requires additional filtering to reduce it to acceptable levels.
It should also be noted that sampling filters in the prior art have shortcomings that reduce their effectiveness when applied to real-world applications. Prior art sampling filters do not disclose filters with an impulse response longer than the period of the output sampling frequency. This does not allow for high sampling frequencies for narrow band filters that require long impulse responses.
Another drawback of present sampling filters is that they require extra filtering to remove quantization error in the tap coefficients when the tap coefficients are Delta-Sigma quantized. They are also excessively sensitive to analog mismatches in the tap currents.
Finally, in a sampling filter, the tap current at any given current integrating circuit increases from zero to the final value for every given predetermined interval. However, this introduces distortions to the filter transfer function or noise because of the tap current switching transients.
A need therefore exists for an analog filter with well controlled frequency response but with minimum quantization error in the transfer function. Furthermore, there is a need for methods and devices that avoid or mitigate the shortcomings of the prior art.


[Task] To enable a test of an optical transmission path using an MMF with a simple configuration in an optical pulse test apparatus which is used for an SFM for long-distance transmission.

As an optical fiber which forms an optical transmission path, there are an SMF which has small transmission loss and is suitable for long-distance transmission and an MMF which has comparatively large transmission loss but is inexpensive and suitable for short-distance transmission.
An optical fiber has a coaxial structure in which a clad portion having a smaller refractive index surrounds the periphery of a core portion. In the optical fiber, light which enters the core portion is reflected (refracted) from the boundary portion between the core portion and the clad portion and propagates in the length direction. An SMF has a minute (in general, 9.2 μm) core such that there is a single propagation mode (passage) when passing through the core portion, and an MMF has a thick core (in general, 50 μm, 62.5 μm) such that there are a plurality of propagation modes.
As shown in FIG. 5, an optical pulse test apparatus which tests a transmission path formed by an optical fiber provides an optical pulse Pin emitted from a light source 11 to a connector 13 through an optical coupler 12. The optical pulse Pin enters a test-target optical transmission path 1 connected to the connector 13, and return light (backward-scattered light or Fresnel reflected light) Pr from the optical transmission path 1 enters an optical receiver 14 through the connector 13 and the optical coupler 12. Data regarding the intensity of return light Pr received by the optical receiver 14 from the entering timing of the optical pulse Pin is continuously acquired for a given time, and the presence/absence of the occurrence of failure in the optical transmission path 1, or the like from acquired data is examined.
As described above, with regard to the optical fiber which forms the optical transmission path 1, an SMF is used for long-distance transmission, and an MMF is used for short-distance transmission. In the optical pulse test apparatus of the related art, however, it is not possible to test an optical transmission path using an SMF and an optical transmission path using an MMF by a single test apparatus due to a difference in the core diameter.
For example, in the case of an optical pulse test apparatus for SMF measurement, a connection portion of the connector 13 to the core of the optical fiber is designed for the core diameter of the SMF. When an MMF having a significantly thick core diameter is connected to the connector 13, an optical pulse enters from a small core diameter to a large core diameter, such that a large loss does not occur. Meanwhile, with regard to return light from the MMF, return light enters from a large core diameter to a small core diameter, such that a considerable loss occurs.
To the contrary, in the case of an optical pulse test apparatus for MMF measurement, a connection portion of the connector 13 to the core of the optical fiber is designed for the core diameter of the MMF. For this reason, if a SMF having a significantly fine core diameter is connected to the connector 13, a considerable loss occurs when an optical pulse enters the SMF.
As a technique for solving this type of problem, in an optical pulse test apparatus for MMF measurement, a technique is known in which outgoing light is excited in a low-order mode, thereby reducing a loss when light enters from the MMF to the SMF. The polarization of outgoing light is changed to prevent fluctuation in the light reception intensity due to the polarization dependency of an optical path conversion element (corresponding to the optical coupler 12) (for example, Patent Document 1).

Optical pulse test apparatus and method of testing optical transmission path

Abstract: [Means for Resolution] An optical coupler 22, a light source 21, a connector 23, and an optical receiver 25 are respectively connected to each other by SMF optical paths Fa to Fc. A signal processing unit 30 includes fiber type designation means 31a for designating the type of an optical fiber of a test-target optical transmission path 1 as either an SMF or an MMF, SMF parameter designation means 31b for, when an SMF is designated, designating test parameters including the refractive index of the SMF, and MMF parameter designation means 31c for, when an MMF is designated, designating test parameters including the refractive index of the MMF. The transmission characteristic of the optical transmission path 1 using the designated optical fiber with respect to distance is obtained on the basis of the parameters including the refractive index of the designated optical fiber and intensity data of return light Pr and displayed on a display unit 50.


A fault detection system for detecting a fault in a lifter oil manifold assembly (LOMA) of a displacement on demand engine that is operable during transition from activated and deactivated modes includes a first fluid circuit of the LOMA that selectively provides pressurized fluid to regulate operation of the engine between activated and deactivated modes. The fault detection system further includes a sensor that is responsive to fluid pressure of the LOMA and that generates a pressure signal based thereon. A control module outputs a control signal to switch operation of the engine between the activated and deactivated modes. The control module further determines a pressure differential based on a first pressure prior to switching between the modes and a second pressure after switching between the modes.

Some internal combustion engines include engine control systems that deactivate cylinders under low load situations. For example, an eight cylinder engine can be operated using four cylinders to improve fuel economy by reducing pumping losses. This process is generally referred to as displacement on demand (DOD). Operation using all of the engine cylinders is referred to as an activated mode. A deactivated mode refers to operation using less than all of the cylinders of the engine (i.e., one or more cylinders not active).
In the deactivated mode, there are fewer cylinders operating. As a result, there is less drive torque available to drive the vehicle driveline and accessories (e.g., alternator, coolant pump, A/C compressor). Engine efficiency, however, is increased as a result of decreased fuel consumption (i.e., no fuel supplied to the deactivated cylinders). Because the deactivated cylinders do not compress fresh air, pumping losses are also reduced.
A lifter oil manifold assembly (LOMA) is implemented to activate and deactivate select cylinders of the engine. The LOMA includes lifters and solenoids associated with corresponding cylinders. The solenoids are selectively energized to enable hydraulic fluid flow to the lifters to disable cylinder operation, thereby deactivating the corresponding cylinders. It is possible that one or more of the solenoids could seize or become slow to actuate and cause the system to operate improperly. As a result, the LOMA may need to be replaced.

Detection of a specific faulted DOD electrohydraulic circuit


A resin-bonded body of a fuel injection apparatus includes a first resin material and a second resin material, which are bonded together and have different properties, respectively. The resin-bonded body has a fuel seal portion to limit leakage of fuel from a boundary surface between the first resin material and the second resin material to an outside. The fuel seal portion is formed in a portion of the boundary surface and is surface-modified to increase hydrophilicity of the fuel seal portion.

A fuel injection apparatus is installed in a vehicle (e.g., an automobile). The fuel injection apparatus injects fuel into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, such as a diesel engine.
In a previously known fuel injection apparatus, an injector is provided to directly inject high pressure fuel, which is supplied from a high pressure generating device (e.g., a fuel injection pump or a common rail), into the cylinder of the internal combustion engine.
One such an injector is a fuel injection valve that has a fuel injection nozzle and a solenoid valve, which are integrally assembled together. The fuel injection nozzle includes an injection hole and a needle. The needle axially reciprocates to open and close the injection hole. The solenoid valve controls opening and closing movement of the needle. This kind of injector is disclosed in, for instance, JP4363369B2 and JP2007-205263A.
FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a previous proposed injector of one such a type. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the injector has a solenoid valve, which includes a valve 103, an armature 104, a spring 105 and a solenoid (also known as a solenoid actuator). The valve 103 opens and closes a valve hole 102 of a valve seat 101. The armature 104 is made of a magnetic metal material. The armature 104 drives the valve 103 toward the valve hole 102 in a valve-opening direction. The spring 105 urges the valve 103 in a valve-closing direction, which is opposite from the valve-opening direction. The solenoid includes a coil 106. When the coil 106 is energized, a magnetic attractive force, which magnetically attracts the armature 104 is generated from the solenoid.
The solenoid includes a coil device and a stator 109. The coil device includes the coil 106, a resin bobbin 107 and a resin mold 108. The stator 109 is made of a magnetic metal material and magnetically attracts the armature 104 upon the energization of the coil 106.
The armature 104 is slidably supported in a slide hole 112 of a valve body 111 made of a non-magnetic metal material. A housing 113, which is made of a non-magnetic metal material, is placed at an upper end portion of the stator 109. A connector 114, which is made of a synthetic resin material, is molded at an upper end portion of the housing 113.
The coil device of the solenoid further includes terminals 115, 116 besides the coil 106, the resin bobbin 107 and the resin mold 108.
Fuel drain passages 121-127 are formed in an inside of the injector, particularly in the solenoid valve to return fuel, which is leaked from the inside of the fuel injection nozzle, to a fuel tank.
In the injector, it is important to limit the leakage of the fuel, which is guided into the inside of the solenoid valve, to the outside. That is, it is important to limit the leakage of the fuel from the fuel drain passages 121-127 to the outside.
However, in the solenoid valve of the previously proposed injector, the resin bobbin 107 is molded from a thermoplastic resin material, and the resin mold 108 is molded from a thermoset resin material. Thus, the resin materials, which respectively have different coefficients of thermal expansion, are used to form the resin bobbin 107 and the resin mold 108, respectively.
Furthermore, in order to electrically insulate between the housing 113 and the terminals 115, dielectric bushes 118, 119 are received in a terminal receiving hole 117 of the housing 113.
The dielectric bushes 118, 119 are molded from a thermoplastic resin material. Therefore, a coefficient of thermal expansion of the dielectric bushes 118, 119 differs from the coefficient of thermal expansion of the housing 113 and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the terminals 115.
With the above construction, fuel leak passages 131, 132, which are located on the radially inner side of the resin bobbin 107, and a fuel leak passage 133, which is located on the radially outer side of the resin bobbin 107, are provided at a boundary surface between the resin bobbin 107 and the resin mold 108, a boundary surface between the resin bobbin 107 and the stator 109, a boundary surface between the resin mold 108 and the stator 109, a boundary surface between the resin mold 108 and the terminals 115 and a boundary surface between the dielectric bushes 118, 119 and the terminals 115.
In the previously proposed solenoid valve, in order to limit leakage of fuel from the fuel drain passage 122 to the outside through the fuel leak passages 131-133, two O-rings 141, 142 are placed in the terminal receiving hole 117.
In this way, the fuel leak from the inner passages to the outside can be limited.
However, in the solenoid valve installed in the previously proposed injector, the shape of the terminal receiving hole 117 and the outer shapes of the dielectric bushes 118, 119 become complicated due to the use of the two O-rings 141, 142. Furthermore, the size of the solenoid in the axial direction cannot be reduced. In addition, in the solenoid valve of the previously proposed injector, the two O-rings 141, 142 are required. Therefore, the number of the components and the number of the assembling steps are disadvantageously increased to cause an increase in the product costs.


A portable, hand-held glucose testing device includes a housing configured to accommodate a plurality of test sensors in a stacked arrangement and having a wall with an opening defined therein. A plurality of packaged test sensors is stacked in alignment with one another within the housing. Each of the test sensors is packaged within a blister package. The blister package includes a blister package housing and a cover foil overlying a surface of the blister package housing and the test sensor. A drive slide is configured to displace one of the plurality of packaged test sensors out of alignment with other packaged test sensors. A knife mechanism is configured to pierce through the cover foil, and to engage and urge the test sensor to extend through the opening for receiving a sample. A meter contact is configured to engage the test sensor when the test sensor extends through the opening.

It is often necessary to quickly obtain a sample of blood and perform an analysis of the blood sample. One example of a need for obtaining a sample of blood is in connection with a blood glucose monitoring system, which a user must frequently use to monitor the user's blood glucose level.
Those who have irregular blood glucose concentration levels are medically required to regularly self-monitor their blood glucose concentration level. An irregular blood glucose level can be brought on by a variety of reasons including illness such as diabetes. The purpose of monitoring the blood glucose concentration level is to determine the blood glucose concentration level and then to take corrective action, based upon whether the level is too high or too low, to bring the level back within a normal range. The failure to take corrective action can have serious implications. When blood glucose levels drop too low—a condition known as hypoglycemia—a person can become nervous, shaky and confused. That person's judgment may become impaired and that person may eventually pass out. A person can also become very ill if their blood glucose level becomes too high—a condition known as hyperglycemia. Both conditions, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, are potentially life-threatening emergencies.
One method of monitoring a person's blood glucose level is with a portable, hand-held blood glucose testing device. The portable nature of these devices enables the users to conveniently test their blood glucose levels wherever the user may be. The glucose testing device includes a test strip to harvest the blood for analysis. One type of test strip is the electrochemical test strip. The electrochemical test strip includes a regent designed to react with glucose in the blood to create an oxidation current at electrodes disposed within the electrochemical test strip which is directly proportional to the users blood glucose concentration. Such a test strip is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,120,420, 5,660,791, 5,759,364 and 5,798,031, each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. Another type of sensor is an optical test strip, which incorporates a reagent designed to produce a colorimetric or fluorescent reaction indicative of a user's blood glucose concentration level. The colorimetric reaction is then read by a spectrometer incorporated into the testing device. Such optical test strips are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,194,393 and 7,477,404, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
In order to check a person's blood glucose level, a drop of blood is obtained from the person's fingertip using a lancing device, and the blood is harvested using the test strip. The test strip, which is inserted into a testing unit, is brought into contact with the blood drop. The test strip draws the blood, via capillary action, inside the test strip and the ensuing electrochemical reaction is measured by the test unit which then determines the concentration of glucose in the blood. Once the results of the test are displayed on a display of the test unit, the test strip is discarded. Each new test requires a new test strip.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an example of a testing device 10 and a package 30 of test strips 12 ("test strip pack") are shown, respectively. The test strip pack 30 is designed to be housed within the testing device 10. Prior to each test, a collection area 14 of an individual test strip 12 is pushed by a mechanism within the testing device 10 through its packaging and is extended from the testing device 10 through a slot 16 for harvesting a sample of blood. The testing device 10 includes a slider 18 for advancing the test tensor 12. In FIG. 1, a test strip 12 is shown extending from the testing device 10. The collection area 14 extends from the testing device 10, while a contact area, disposed at the opposite end of the test strip 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, remains inside the testing device 10. The contact area includes terminals that electrically couple the electrodes to a meter disposed within the testing device 10 for measuring the oxidation current produced at the electrodes by the reaction of glucose and the reagent. The test unit includes a display 20.
Referring now to FIG. 2, test strips 12 are shown disposed in the test strip pack 30. The test strip pack 30 is made up of a circular disk 32 having only ten individual compartments (blisters) 34 arranged radially. The disk is made from an aluminum foil/plastic laminate which is sealed to isolate the sensor from ambient humidity and from other sensors with a burst foil cover 36. Each test strip 12 is kept dry by a desiccant located inside a desiccant compartment 37 disposed adjacent to the compartment 34.
To retrieve a test strip, a mechanism disposed within the testing device 10, such as a knife, is driven down through the burst foil into an individual elongated compartment 34 at the end closest to the hub of the disk 32 and then moved radially toward the perimeter of the blister 34. In doing so, the knife engages the contact area 38 (fish tail) of the sensor in that compartment. Radial travel of the knife pushes the tip of the sensor out through the burst foil 36 and through parts of the testing device 10 such that the collection area 14 of the sensor 12 is completely out of the testing device 10 and ready to receive a fluid test sample such as blood. For this stage, it is essential that the bond between the base and lid of the test strip withstand the sheer forces generated when the test strip bursts out through the foil 36. This method of providing a test strip ready for use is more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,403, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Further details of the operational and mechanical aspects of the testing device 10 and test strip pack 30 are more fully described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,575,403, 5,630,986, 5,738,244, 5,810,199, 5,854,074 and 5,856,195, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
A drawback associated with this flat array of testing devices is the large area that is occupied. The size of testing devices that internally house such a flat array package constrains the size of the package (i.e., the number of test strips), thus making it difficult to increase the number of test strips per package. Accordingly, there exists a need for a testing system capable of storing and dispensing numerous test strips.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Sensor storage and delivery system where the test sensors are individually foiled and arranged in a stack


A network interface cassette for coupling signals between a wireless network and a tape head in a cassette tape player. The network interface cassette includes an enclosure that is conformed to the cassette tape form factor. It contains a transceiver that converts base band signals for radio frequency communications within the wireless network. It also contains a network controller that is coupled to communicate the base band signals with the transceiver. The network controller converts digital audio signals to and from the base band signals. There is an audio processor that converts the digital audio signals to analog audio signals. A coupling means converts the analog audio signals to magnetic audio signals. The coupling means is aligned to couple the magnetic audio signals to the tape head. A power supply with batteries and a generator driven from the cassette player capstan are provided. A wireless user interface adapter is provided to couple microphone and audio signals to the apparatus. Plural communications requests are processed, and include a priority scheme to manage resource contention.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates electronic audio transmission and reproduction. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for coupling audio content through a wireless network and to a cassette tape player for acoustic reproduction.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, users obtained audio content either from receipt of commercial broadcast services or by purchasing prerecorded media. Music and spoken audio content have been continually transmitted by commercial AM and FM broadcast radio stations for many years. Vinyl records were once the dominant form of prerecorded media. Later, 8-track cartridges, cassette tapes, and compact discs became popular forms of distribution for prerecorded audio content media. Mobility during receipt and playback of audio content has always been an important and desirable feature. For example, automotive AM/FM-cassette and CD players have become a standard accessory in modern cars and trucks. Portable radio and cassette players are in common use today as well. In fact, there is a huge installed base of radio receivers and prerecorded media players, such as cassette tape players, in the market today. Virtually all consumers of prerecorded audio content possess some form of high fidelity stereo system.
Recently developed technologies are changing the way that users receive and playback audio content. These technologies include the ubiquitous deployment of personal computing devices, Internet networking, and local area wireless data networks. Today, users are able to download digital audio files from service providers over the Internet and store them in a personal computing device. Systems consisting of a personal computing device and a connected amplifier with loud speakers can then reproduce the digital audio files directly or through interconnection to a conventional high fidelity stereo system. Wire or fiber optic cables have typically interconnected the components of such systems. Portable devices are also available, which can receive compressed audio content data files and reproduce them at a later time. An example of such a device is a portable MP3 audio player, which typically reproduces audio files through a pair of headphones or earphones.
Modern technologies have also enabled other sources for audio content. Such devices include direct broadcast satellite radio receivers, wireless and cellular telephones, GPS receivers, weather radios, digital cameras, video cameras, digital audio recorders, and even personal computing devices, such as personal digital assistants ("PDA") and laptop or palm-top computers. All of these devices have relied upon cables for interconnection and transfer of audio content. However, wireless technologies are now available that enable interconnection of various audio content devices without the use of physical wires and cables.
Wireless interconnectivity is available in a number of configurations. Simple point-to-point systems have been available for some time. Recently, standardized systems and protocols have been developed that enable multiple devices to wirelessly communicate within a local area network ("LAN"). An example of this is the Bluetooth protocol that forms wireless "piconets" designed specifically to replace the interconnecting wires and cables among several portable devices. Audio and data signals can be transmitted within such wireless LAN's. Another wireless connectively solution is the wireless Ethernet standard promulgated by the IEEE as the IEEE 802.11 et. seq. standard, known to those skilled in the art. This standard defines a wireless extension of the Internet using the TCP/IP protocol standard in a 2.4 GHz (ISM band), 5.8 GHz band and other wireless Ethernet environments. The implementation of such a system is colloquially known as an Internet Wi-Fi Hotspot. The IEEE has promulgated other wireless TCP/IP network solutions. Other wireless connectivity standards are known and even more will certainly be developed as the demand for wireless connectivity continues to grow.
With respect to the acoustic reproduction of audio content, each of the aforementioned devices, whether connected by cable or wirelessly, requires an electro-mechanical transducer to create sound. Headphones and earphones are frequently used, but many users prefer audio reproduction through loudspeakers. When there is a plurality of audio content sources, the implementation of a plurality of amplifier and loudspeaker systems quickly becomes impractical. In fact, even a single dedicated amplified loudspeaker for one of these devices is cumulative to existing amplifier and loudspeaker systems that most users already possess, such as the aforementioned portable stereo, the automotive stereo, and the home high-fidelity stereo system. Thus, there is a need in the art for a system method for connecting wirelessly coupled audio content delivery terminal devices to existing high-fidelity stereo systems.

Network interface cassette adapter and method