A dual battery system includes a starter battery and a battery of the vehicle electric system, a starter and electric consumers that are divided up into start-relevant consumers and consumers of the vehicle electric system. At least one starter switch is interposed between the starter and the starter battery. A first, electronically fully locking switch element is interposed between the starter battery and the start-relevant consumers and a second electrically fully locking switch element is interposed between the battery of the vehicle electric system and the start-relevant consumers. An element is interposed between the starter battery and the battery of the vehicle electric system that prevents the flow of current from the starter battery to the battery of the vehicle electric system and the consumers of the vehicle electric system.

The present invention relates to a two-battery system and a method for controlling the two-battery system.
Such a two-battery system having a vehicle electrical-system battery and a starter battery, which are interconnected when the generator is running, is described in German Published Patent Application No. 38 41 769. In the case in which a small amount of current is being supplied by the generator, this has the disadvantage of the electrical-system battery being charged at the expense of the starter battery, due to charge equalization, when the state of charge of the electrical-system battery is worse than that of the starter battery. In the conventional vehicle electrical system, a switch is also installed between the electrical-system battery having the electrical-system loads, and the remaining part of the vehicle electrical system, the switch being opened in response to the generator shutting down, as soon as the starter-battery voltage falls below a permissible limiting value. This measure only protects the starter battery from being completely discharged when the generator is stopped, and it also allows the starter battery to be partially discharged. This poor initial condition increases the load on the starter battery at the beginning of the trip, when the charge of the two batteries is equalized at the expense of the starter battery. In the extreme case, this can result in the complete discharge or destruction of the starter battery.
A two-battery system is described in German Published Patent Application No. 40 28 242, where the connection between the starter battery and the electrical-system battery can be opened, when the electrical-system battery would otherwise be charged by the starter battery. The two batteries are connected to each other, when the voltage of the electrical-system battery is greater than the starter-battery voltage. If the voltage of the electrical-system battery is less than that of the starter battery, then the two batteries are disconnected from each other. The separation can be performed in various ways, e.g. by disconnecting the starter battery from the rest of the vehicle electrical system. In this manner, the starter battery is not loaded by a discharged electrical-system battery, and, in the working mode, the generator can power the most important consumers and simultaneously charge the electrical-system battery. The two batteries can also be disconnected from the rest of the vehicle electrical system by switching off the electrical-system battery. The starter battery can then be charged, when the generator and the starter battery are connected.
When space is limited, the positioning of the starter battery in the motor vehicle is a general problem in two-battery systems. In order to reduce the fire hazard from electrical short-circuiting during accidents, the starter line, which electrically connects the starter to the starter battery in a permanent manner, must be laid through impact-resistant zones in the motor vehicle. This also applies to the starter line in single-battery systems. As an alternative, pyrotechnic battery terminals may be used, which are irreversibly severed from the batteries in an explosive manner prior to or during an accident, and thus interrupt the flow of electric current. In this context, the firing control of the pyrotechnic terminals is mostly performed by a precrash sensory system, which, e.g., evaluates the signals of an airbag control unit. In addition to their high cost, the complex firing control of the pyrotechnic terminals is disadvantageous, since inadvertent triggering must be prevented or the motor vehicle can no longer be started. The irreversibility is generally disadvantageous, since the terminals must be replaced after each instance of triggering.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a two-battery system and a method for controlling the system, which permit simple starter management and charge management for the starter battery. It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple and cost-effective reduction of the fire hazard.
The above and other beneficial objects are achieved by providing a two-battery system and a method as described herein.
To this end, a first, electrically fully-blocking switch element is arranged between the start-relevant load circuits and the starter battery, and a second, electrically fully-blocking switch element is arranged between the electrical-system battery and the start-relevant consumers. An element that blocks current from flowing from the starter battery to the electrical-system battery and the electrical-system consumers are arranged between the starter battery and the electrical-system battery. Using the switch elements, the start-relevant consumers may be positioned on alternate sides of the starter battery or the electrical-system battery, while the element prevents the starter battery from being discharged by a discharged electrical-system battery. Electrically fully-blocking means that no significant current may flow through the switch element in the open or blocked state. In particular, this includes all indirect-coupled, direct-connected or direct connecting switches such as relays. However, simple power MOSFET""s may not be suited for this purpose, since they may not be completely blocked, due to a technologically necessary, parasitic diode. However, two power MOSFET""s connected back-to-back may principally be used as a switch element, since the reverse diode currents are negligible.
The element between the starter battery and the electrical-system battery may take the form of an automatically controlled, self-regulating, diode or a controllable switch or relay.
When at least one electronic pole terminal, by which the starter line may be switched off-circuit, is positioned between the starter and the starter battery in a two-battery system, the starter line, which is normally off-circuit, may be arbitrarily positioned in the motor vehicle, without representing a fire hazard. This increases the degree of freedom in the wiring, since space restrictions are largely eliminated. To this end, the electric pole terminal is only switched through in the actual starting phase and is otherwise operated in the off state. In two-battery systems, depending on the further circuit diagram, it may be ensured that, if the electrical-system battery is directly connected to the starter or may be connected to the starter to support the starting operation, the electrical-system battery may also be disconnected from the starter line by an electronic pole terminal, so that the de-energized state of the starter line is ensured. In this context, the electronic pole terminals may be of the same kind or may be configured differently, depending on the circuit layout. Another advantage is that, in the standing phase, the electronic pole terminals disconnect the starter battery, along with the consumers relevant for starting, from the rest of the vehicle electrical system, so that the starter battery may provide a sufficient starting capacity over long standing phases.
When an intended start is detected, the method provides for a start signal (terminal (50)-signal) being generated, by which the electronic pole terminals are switched through in the starting phase and blocked again after the start has occurred. If the motor vehicle is configured to have a mechanical ignition lock, then the terminal (50)-signal is directly generated by turning the ignition key, and the starting procedure is immediately initiated, if the starter battery and possibly the electrical-system battery may provide sufficient voltage. If, however, the motor vehicle is connected to an electronic ignition lock, then a start-enabling control device initially checks if the start-relevant consumers receive a sufficient supply voltage. If this is the case, then the start-enabling control device generates a terminal (50)-signal, and the electronic pole terminal of the starter battery, and possibly that of the electrical-system battery, are switched through, so that the starter line, which carries a voltage, supplies the starter with a starter voltage and starts the motor or engine. The electronic pole terminals are then blocked again, and the starter line is switched off-circuit. Regardless of the configuration of the ignition lock, it may be ensured that the starter line is only connected in circuit in the immediate starting phase, and is otherwise switched off-circuit.
In a further example embodiment, an additional electronic pole terminal is arranged between the starter and the electrical-system battery, the starter being able to be started by the electrical-system battery, via the additional electronic pole terminal, without the starter voltage being reduced by voltage drops across the element. In this example embodiment, the element may take the form of a relay.
In a further example embodiment, the high-load starting consumers, which are only active during the starting phase or a short time after the start has occurred, are permanently assigned to the starter battery, so that their current does not have to flow through the relays, and the relays may therefore be dimensioned to have a lower capacity and are less expensive.
The generator may be in the form of a controllable generator, which may adjust its voltage, using a controllable regulator. In this manner, the control unit triggering the relays may instruct the generator to adjust its output voltage to the starter-battery voltage, prior to a switching operation of the relays, so that high load currents do not have to be directed in the switching operation.
The electronic pole terminals may be in the form of switchable power semiconductors, by which appropriately large amperages may be switched, using small control currents. In a further example embodiment, the electronic pole terminal may take the form of a CMOS-FET, so that an electrical power loss essentially occurs only in the switching operations. In order to generate appropriate gate voltages, the FET is configured with a charge pump, which functions up to an electrical-system voltage of, e.g. 3 V, and builds up the appropriate gate voltage. However, the closed-circuit current through the CMOS-FET may be neglected in the stationary case, so that the batteries are not loaded. In the switched-through state, such CMOS-FET""s have a contact resistance of 0.5 to 0.6 mxcexa9, so that the voltage drop at 1200 A is only 0.6 to 0.72 V. In the case of cold starting, the resistance is only approximately 0.4 mxcexa9, so that the voltage drop is 0.48 V. Therefore, almost all of the battery voltage is available to the starter.
When the starter battery is discharged, the electronic pole terminal between the starter and the starter battery prevents an external start from occurring any longer in the engine compartment. To this end, the starter battery is assigned a tap, e.g., in the form of a busbar, which may then connect an external battery to the starter battery. This tap constitutes an external-start aiding point, which may be arranged at an arbitrary location in the motor vehicle, but, e.g., in the direct vicinity of the starter battery.


The present disclosure relates to circuitry for selecting a bias voltage to output at a bias voltage output node of the circuitry. The circuitry comprises a first circuit node configured to receive a first voltage from a first, unregulated, voltage source and a second circuit node configured to receive a second voltage from a second, regulated, voltage source. A switch arrangement configured to selectively couple the bias voltage output node to the first circuit node or the second circuit node is also provided.

Many electronic devices include transducers such as microphones, force sensors and the like that require a bias voltage in order to operate correctly. The bias voltage is typically generated in circuitry (e.g. one or more integrated circuits) of the device, with the circuitry providing one or more bias voltage output nodes to which a transducer can be coupled so as to receive an appropriate bias voltage.
The performance of many transducers is related to the quality, accuracy, stability or other properties of the bias voltage supplied to the transducer. For example, the sensitivity of a microphone may depend, in part, on the power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) of a voltage regulator that is used to supply a bias voltage to the microphone.
In some circumstances it may be desirable to be able to switch between a high quality bias voltage whose generation entails relatively high power consumption (e.g. a bias voltage provided by a low drop-out regulator that receives a supply voltage from a charge pump), and a lower-quality bias voltage whose generation entails relatively lower power consumption (e.g. a bias voltage that is provided directly from an available power supply of a host electronic device).
For example, a device such as a mobile telephone, tablet computer, smart speaker, headphones, earphones, earbuds or the like may be able to respond to spoken commands from a user. The device may be operable in an always-on "listening" mode, in which one or more microphones and associated signal processing components are powered on in order to detect a spoken command, trigger or wake word or phrase uttered by a user, or some other trigger or wake sound (e.g. a handclap, whistle or the like) generated by the user. On detection of the trigger or wake word, phrase or sound, the device enters an "active" mode of operation in which it is able to receive and respond to spoken commands from the user.
As will be appreciated, operating the device in this manner may give rise to undesirably high power consumption, since the microphone(s) and signal processing components continue to receive power even when no trigger or wake sound is present.
One approach to reducing the power consumption of a device operating in an always-on "listening" mode is to bias the microphone(s) using a relatively lower quality power supply when the device is in the "listening" mode and to switch to a relatively higher quality power supply when a trigger or wake word, phrase or sound has been detected and the device must enter an "active" mode of operation. The sensitivity of the microphone(s) in the "listening" mode in this approach is reduced as compared to their sensitivity in the "active" mode, but is sufficient to enable detection of the trigger or wake word, phrase or sound. In this way the power consumption of the device when operating in the "listening" mode can be reduced, as components required in order to supply a high quality bias voltage for the microphone(s) can be switched off, disabled or powered down in the "listening" mode, and switched on, enabled or powered up only when the device enters the "active" mode.


A power management method includes a step A of specifying an influence of a distributed power supply on a power demand-supply balance by a power management server, the power management server managing a plurality of facilities and the distributed power supply being individually provided in each of the plurality of facilities; and a step B of transmitting distributed power supply information from a local control apparatus to the power management server, the local control apparatus being individually provided in each of the plurality of facilities and the distributed power supply information including information indicating an operation state of the distributed power supply, wherein the step A includes a step of specifying the influence on the power demand-supply-demand balance based on the distributed power supply information.

In recent years, a technology of suppressing a power flow amount from a power grid to a facility or a reverse power flow amount from the facility to the power grid in order to maintain a power demand-supply balance of the power grid has been known (see, for example, Patent Literatures 1 and 2).
Further, a system (hereinafter, referred to as a virtual power plant (VPP)) that uses distributed power supplies provided in a plurality of facilities as power supplies for supplying a power to a power grid has attracted attention. In the VPP, there is a need to interchange a power among the plurality of facilities, and a power management server that manages such power interchange is required.

Power management method, power management server, local control apparatus, and power management system


A method for detecting an operating state of a vehicle, includes selecting the operating state from at least a first or a second operating state for a vehicle that includes a pneumatic brake system and a pneumatic control connection for connecting the pneumatic brake system to a further pneumatic brake system of a trailer. The method includes the following steps: applying pressure to the control connection until a starting pressure in the control connection is set; opening the control connection such that a pressure between the control connection and an environment is equalized; detecting a temporal pressure pattern during the pressure equalization; comparing the temporal pressure pattern to a reference pressure pattern; determining an evaluation result based on the comparison of the temporal and the reference pressure pattern; and assigning the evaluation result to the first or the second operating state of the vehicle.

The detection of an operating state of a vehicle, in particular whether a trailer is coupled, or not, to a (commercial) vehicle, e.g., to a truck, is typically carried out or queried in the prior art via a CAN connection between the vehicle and the trailer or via a corresponding CAN signal. Vehicles and trailers also exist, however, that do not have such a CAN connection. It is also possible that the CAN connection is defective or either only the vehicle or the trailer has a CAN connection such that a status query of the vehicle cannot be carried out via the CAN connection.
It would therefore be desirable, in addition to or instead of the status query via a CAN connection, to provide a method and a device, which provide for the detection of the operating state of a vehicle, specifically the state of the vehicle in which a trailer (trailer mode) is attached, or in which a trailer is not attached (solo mode). A plurality of methods for this purpose are known from the prior art.
For example, a method for checking a vehicle/system by way of a control unit is described in the document DE 42 00 302 C2. The control unit comprises a pressure line, which is connected via a coupling point to a pressure line of a further system, e.g., of a trailer. A state of the system is determined by evaluation of the pressure in the pressure line.
In addition, it is known from the document DE 197 44 066 B4 to use a method for the detection of a trailer with respect to a vehicle, in which the control pressure going to the trailer is detected in such a way that a pressure build-up-characterizing variable is determined from a pressure signal and is evaluated.
Document DE 199 55 798 A1 describes a trailer detection for a combination of towing vehicle having a hydraulic brake system and a trailer having a pneumatic brake system, wherein the trailer is attached to the towing vehicle. For the detection as to whether a trailer is actually attached to the towing vehicle, the temporal behavior of the pressure in a pneumatic space, which is closed with respect to the atmosphere, is determined.
The patent application DE 33 02 236 A1 also describes a test device for a pressure change in a compressed-air system, in particular in a multi-circuit brake system. In addition, a method for testing a brake system of a vehicle in the static mode is known from document DE 40 39 957 A1.
The methods and devices known from the prior art have the disadvantage that they can be used only under certain conditions or prerequisites, specifically only when, e.g., a special brake system or a particular valve is available for use.
In this regard, the problem addressed by the invention is that of providing an improved method and an improved device for detecting an operating state of a vehicle, in particular a state of a vehicle with or without a trailer attached, without the use of a CAN signal. In particular, the problem addressed by the invention is that of providing a method, which can be used independently of a system or independently of a vehicle.

Method and system for identifying operating states of a vehicle, and a vehicle which comprises such a system


In the communications system of the present invention, a communications terminal determines a precoding matrix index in a pilot signal received through a specific downlink channel, examines channel quality information of the downlink channel according to the determined precoding matrix index, and transmits feedback information to a serving base station, which determines a priority factor by using the examined channel quality information, and compares the priority factor with other priority factors. The comparison is used such that a base station having a high priority suggests the use of the precoding matrix to the neighboring base station.

Generally, a communications system provides various multimedia services including a voice service. Recently, the communications system is implemented with a multiple-input multiple-output type so that this multimedia service may be provided with a high quality at high speed. That is, in the communications system, the channel capacity is increased by using a plurality of antennas within restricted frequency resources. Hence, the multimedia service can be provided at high speed.
This communications system is made of a plurality of cells which mutually neighbors. At this time, the communications system includes a plurality of base stations for controlling each cell and a plurality of communications terminals connecting to one among base stations. And, in a unit cell, the base station and the communications terminal can perform the communications for the multimedia service. However, in the above described communications system, there is a problem that an interference between cells is generated in a boundary of the cells. This is because that the communications terminal can receive a signal of a plurality base stations in the boundary of cells. At this time, in the communications terminal, a signal for other communications terminal can be operated as interference. Thus, existing techniques repressing the interference between cells exist. By using a decentralized method, a signal of other base station can be prevented from operating as interference with respect to a communications terminal connected to a specific base station. That is, a corresponding base station can restrict or recommend that a precoding matrix index which can generate interference in the communications terminal is used in other base stations. Accordingly, the generation of interference between cells of the communications terminal can be prevented.

Communication system and method for communicating thereof


A flexible and scalable method for handling telecommunication equipment through the control of ATM access networks, characterized in that the Board Relay (BR) functionality is attributed to any Device Processor (DP) and in that the Central Processor (CP) is connected to all the other Device Processors (DP) by simply addressing the messages to the Board Relay (BR) and relaying them through it. According to this method, the BR board supervises of all the other Device Processors (DP) on behalf of the Central Processor (CP).

I. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a flexible and scalable method for handling telecommunication equipment through the control of ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) access networks, in particular by implementing it within the ANx (Access Network, version x) platform, an Ericsson technology broadband access network. So far two different types of access have been provided based on the ANx platform: the ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) service and a broadband radio access service LMDS (Local Multipoint Distribution Service). As the invention can be embodied indifferently in both types of access, we will refer in the following only to the ADSL architecture.
II. Related Art and Other Considerations
In the ANx system three different proprietary communication protocols are currently used, namely:    SIP (Shelf Internal Protocol) for SC-BC communication (SC=Shelf Controller, BC=Board Controller) between the SC and the BC.    SEP (Shelf External Protocol) for SC-NT communications (NT=Network Termination) between the SC and the NT.    ICS (Internal Control Support) for CP-DP communications (CP=Central Processor, DP=Device Processor) between the CP and the DP board, either using Ethernet or AAL5 (ATM Adaptation Level 5) connections.
In the technical solutions currently adopted in telecommunication equipment, it is known that one CP controls all the boards in the system node via direct ICS connections (over Ethernet or ATM, ICS/Ethernet and ICS/ATM in the following) for each DP board.
The current technical solutions have the following limitations:                For each device processor DP to be controlled by a central processor CP, one ICS pre-configured connection shall be provided. This means that, when using ATM, each connection shall be set up through the ATM network/switch, resulting in a massive usage of the ATM bandwidth for control purposes. Moreover, this would represent a cost for the operator leasing these connections and considerable work in setting up and maintaining the transport network. When using Ethernet, as many leased lines as DP boards are required, representing a massive cost for the operator.        When using the protocol stack ICS over ATM, the ATM adapter on the CP imposes the use of a single management connection PVC for each board to be reached. (PVC=Permanent Virtual Connection, is represented by a couple of VPI/VCI values, where VPI=Virtual Path Identifier, VCI=Virtual Channel Identifier).        Using commercially available ATM adapters on the CP side, only a limited number of VPI/VCI cross connections (i.e. DP boards) can be handled by one CP in case of ICS/ATM. This implies that the CP can handle a system node structured with a limited number of shelves. When several users have to be connected, they can be divided into more than one system node in order to be controlled by the CP; this is often a problem for an operator who wishes to serve sites with a high user density, because it would require maintaining more than one system node and to lease an increased number of lines for control.
The access architecture has a very low degree of scalability.
Specifically regarding ANx, the problem of the limitation on the control structure (i.e. the number of addressable DPs) could be solved by using an ATM adapter with better performance and modifying accordingly the management-connections set-up mechanism. On the other hand, this is a high cost solution in terms of re-design (big impact on software and hardware). Moreover, all the other limitations still exist and they would be of vital importance in the realization of a product from a prototype.

Flexible and scalable method for handling telecommunication equipments through the control of ATM access networks


In encoding high-definition video signals, the method includes overlapping panels with a single row in the overlap, selecting the better-encoded one of the rows in the overlap, removing the unselected row, and merging bit streams from the panels. In deciding which one of the rows in the overlap is better encoded, a heuristic approach may be used, for example, a panel with the fewer bits, or with fewer errors or the panel as suggested by the motion vectors. Optionally, panels may be synchronized by copying the selected row in the overlap in place of the unselected row in the overlap.

The present invention is related in general to methods of encoding video signals, and in particular, to a method of encoding high-definition video signals using overlapping panels.
As with all digital communication systems, in the case of television signals, compression and decompression techniques are important in reducing the amount of digital data that must be transmitted. The International Standards Organizationxe2x80x94Moving Picture Experts Group (ISOxe2x80x94MPEG) proposed an international standard for encoding and decoding digital video data. This standard has been described in ISO/IEC 13818-2 xe2x80x9cGeneric Coding of Moving Pictures and Associated Audio Information: Videoxe2x80x9d, and ATSC document A/54 xe2x80x9cGuide to the Use of the ATSC Digital Television Standardxe2x80x9d and defines a system commonly known as MPEG-2. MPEG-2 achieves data compression by encoding digital video data as a series of code words in a complex scheme resulting in a reduction in the average length of the code words compared to other methods. The MPEG-2 standard allows for encoding high-resolution video images, known as High Definition Television (HDTV).
A common technique known as prediction is typically used in video compression systems. To reduce the amount of data to be transmitted, some predictable or redundant property of a picture data is identified, and the property can be exploited to predict the data to be transmitted. Prediction is performed in combination with entropy coding, differential coding etc. MPEG uses a particularly powerful prediction scheme involving motion-compensated prediction from previous and/or subsequent frames. In motion-estimation, the encoder searches for a portion of a previous frame, which is similar to the part of the new frame to be transmitted. It then sends (as side information) a motion vector telling the decoder what portion of the previous frame it will use to predict the new frame. It also sends the prediction error so that the frame may be reconstituted with good quality. It should be noted, however, that an accurate estimation of object motion is not essentialxe2x80x94any part of the previous frame that is similar to the current frame would be helpful.
In some cases, certain information may be unpredictable from a previous frame. For example, in a start-up condition, or in the case of a change of scene, a non-differential frame must be encoded, thereby requiring more data than for predicted frames. In MPEG, these are called intra-coded or xe2x80x9cIxe2x80x9d pictures. Other situations where information may be unpredictable from a previous frame include newly uncovered information due to object motion across a background, or at the edges of a panned scene. MPEG achieves a reduction in transmitted data by sending a bi-directionally encoded picture, or xe2x80x9cBxe2x80x9d picture.
After analog video signals are digitized (or when a device such as a digital camera generates a video signal in a digital form), the digital data is organized into basic units of motion compensation. According to MPEG-2, pictures are made up of pixels. A block is an 8xc3x978 array of pixels. A macroblock is a 16xc3x9716 array of pixels or a 2xc3x972 array of luminance blocks (it also contains 2, 4 or 8 chrominance blocks) and is the finest level of granularity into which a frame can be divided for motion compensation. Each macroblock is a unit of motion compensation and adaptive quantization. A macroblock defines a predetermined spatial region in a picture, and contains luminance and chrominance information. MPEG provides for the arrangement of macroblocks into slices. A slice, which is of a medium level of granularity, is an integer number of consecutive macroblocks from a raster of macroblocks. Further levels of granularity include frame and Group of Pictures.
While MPEG compression encodes motion vectors on a macroblock basis, no technique is specified as to how to compute motion vectors. Thus, a variety of different motion estimation techniques can be implemented consistent with the MPEG standard.
The conceptually simplest way to compute motion vectors is to search a xe2x80x9creferencexe2x80x9d image to find the 16xc3x9716 area with the best match to the current macroblock. A common measure of the match is the sum of the absolute differences between corresponding pixels in the two blocksxe2x80x94the smaller the sum, the better. The search range is often the largest permitted by the hardware, and is usually centered at the same position as the current macroblock. This approach evaluates the match for every pixel displacement in that range. The search can then be refined by interpolation to half-integer resolution.
Another technique, for example, is to compute motion vectors from the frame-to-frame correlation of blocks of pixels in the luminance signal, resulting in a motion vector for the luminance component of the macroblock.
It has been discovered that overlapping panels by a single row improves the state of the art by reducing the encoder complexity. The row in the overlap may be subdivided into multiple slices. Furthermore, whether to use the encoding from the upper or lower panel could be decided by a heuristic approach disclosed herein. In one aspect, the row (in the overlap) can be split into multiple subdivisions, so that this decisionxe2x80x94of which encoding to usexe2x80x94can be made at a finer level of granularity.
Additionally, macroblocks in the overlap region are encoded twice. Considering the case of an overlap, the encoding of the upper panel would include an encoding of the row in the overlap. Likewise, the lower panel would include the encoding of the row in the overlap. After encoding, these encoded panels are typically synchronized, so that they both have the same reconstruction for the row in the overlap. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the reconstructed picture is synchronized. This synchronization step is not necessary for B-pictures because they are not used to predict other pictures.
Advantageously, according to the disclosed method, the synchronization step can be bypassed, thereby further reducing the encoder complexity. While bypassing the synchronization step may introduce some error, it is discovered that for high quality coding, little difference exists between two reconstructions of the macroblocks in the overlap.

Encoding high-definition video using overlapping panels


A butterfly valve comprising a valve body, a throttle plate located within a throat of the valve body, and opposed projecting pins connected to the throttle plate and extending into two opposed bores of the valve body. At least one pin has an annular bearing surface. A spring urges either a thrust bearing against a needle bearing which in turn bears against the annular bearing surface or a needle bearing against the thrust bearing to bear against the annular bearing surface. This urges the throttle plate against an opposed thrust bearing which bears against the opposed projecting pin connected to the throttle plate to center the throttle plate within the throat of the valve body. A set screw can be provided to accurately position the throttle plate within the throat of the valve body. Preferably the throttle plate has tapered end sections to diminish turbulence within the valve throat. Additionally, the throttle plate can be provided with end bores into which sections of the pins extend in a force fitting relationship.

The present invention relates to a butterfly valve having a throttle plate adapted to be rotated between open and closed positions within a throat of the valve. More particularly, the present invention relates to such a valve in which the throttle plate is centered by an adjustable thrust bearing acting against a spring loaded thrust bearing located on the opposite side of the throttle plate.
Butterfly valves are employed in many well known machines and devices for controlling flow conditions within a passageway. For instance, butterfly valves are employed for throttling purposes within an automotive carburetor. As another example, butterfly valves are employed for throttling purposes in connection with vacuum process chambers that are used to provide a pressure controlled manufacturing environment such as required in the manufacturing of semiconductors.
A butterfly valve comprises a throttle plate located within a throat of the valve. The throttle plate is rotatable between a closed position in which the throat of the valve is obstructed and an open position in which the throat is open. Generally, in the prior art, the throttle plate is attached to a rotatable shaft with screws. Rotation of the shaft rotates the throttle plate within the valve throat. In case of a vacuum process chamber, the screws can present a contamination hazard or an incompatibility with the process or process environment. In addition, the shaft and screws can produce turbulence in the flow. Although there are many different shaft mountings employed in the art, carbon filled, teflon bearings are often used where the butterfly valve is to undergo many cycles of operation. End plugs bear against the ends of the shaft to center the throttle plate within the valve throat. Such end plugs add to the complexity and expense involved in manufacturing the valve. Additionally, after repeated cycling of the valve, the end plugs tend to wear out. This is particularly critical for a butterfly valve used in a vacuum process chamber because the valve tolerances can be very tight, with very minute clearances between the throttle plate and valve throat.
As will be discussed the present invention provides a butterfly valve designed for simplicity and cost effectiveness in its construction and its maintenance.


A special tool that can engage and manipulate a Jeep mounting screw commonly known as “Jeep Wrangler Hardtop Freedom Top Targa Mounting Knob Screw” Embodiments may include a handle that can contain indentations or ribs totally or partially extending its length for better grip. The handle abuts a flat head. A pair of screw engagement members are mounted on the flat head, separated, and spaced apart a pre-determined distance. The center region between the engagement members can be part of the flat head. Each engagement member is arc-shaped, or semi-circular in cross-section to fit into the knob screw head. The two engagement members are typically mounted in opposition and each extends approximately ⅓ the circumference of the head. This arrangement allows perfect engagement with the Jeep mount screw.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to hand tools for manipulating screws and more particularly to a special tool that fits a jeep mounting knob screw.
Description of the Prior Art
Numerous hand tools used for fitting and manipulating various types of screws and fasteners are known in the art. However, JEEP® vehicles are manufactured with a special type of mounting knob screw used to secure a removable modular roof commonly known as a FREEDOM TOP®. The fastener typically holds the rooftop to the roll bar by insertion into a threaded part in the roof panel. These mounting knob screws have a particularly shaped head that is virtually impossible to engage with standard hand tools such as screwdrivers and the like. These mounting knob screws are typically tightened and loosened by hand which, by reason of the location and fastener head design, are very difficult to (yip or engage with a standard tool. In fact, the fastener head is smooth and round, and located in areas where it is very difficult to obtain a good hand grip or allow for good leverage to tighten or loosen the screw.
It would be advantageous to have a special hand tool that is designed to mate with and interface a Jeep mounting knob screw for easy installation, removal, tightening or loosening regardless of where it is located.

Special tool for jeep mounting knob screw


A water-based cement for producing tyres includes 5 to 80% by weight of water, 10 to 60% by weight of a cross-linkable unsaturated-chain polymer base, 1 to 15% by weight of emulsifiers, and a quantity of metal oxide depending on the desired degree of adhesion.

In tyre manufacturing, cements are normally organic-solvent-based. Cements of this sort are highly adhesive and easy to use, mainly on account of rubber dissolving readily in organic solvents and so blending with other rubber to form practically one piece once the organic solvent evaporates.
This type of cement has the major drawback of containing a large amount of organic solvent, which, as is known, is highly volatile, and constitutes a hazard both to the environment and, above all, to the health of workers coming into contact with it. Moreover, on evaporating, solvents form potentially explosive mixtures with air.
For all these reasons, recent European directives have imposed a drastic reduction in the use of organic solvents in tyre manufacturing, thus forcing manufacturers to devise alternative solutions to ensure correct adhesion of rubber layers.
A need is therefore felt within the tyre industry for non-organic-solvent cements capable of ensuring adequate adhesion of the various rubber tyre component parts.


A traffic control method, a mobile station device and a base station device for mobile data communications that can realize improvement of communication quality and effective utilization of radio frequencies used in a mobile communication system using spread signals such as CDMA are disclosed. In a mobile communication system of a scheme using spread signals including CDMA, where two types of communication channels including a common channel and a plurality of individual channels are provided such that the common channel is set to be used by a plurality of users together and each individual channel is set to be used exclusively by one user, a communication using the common channel and the individual channel is carried out between a mobile radio terminal and a radio base station, and an admission judgement for a shift from the common channel to the individual channel is carried out at the radio base station or the mobile radio terminal, when a communication traffic at the mobile radio terminal is shifting from a sparse state to a dense state during the communication.

In the mobile data communication system using CDMA or the like, channels for carrying out actual communications between a radio base station and a mobile radio terminal (mobile station) within a service area managed by the radio base station are classified according to their use as follows.
Namely, one is a common channel and the others are individual channels having a plurality of channels, where the former is a common channel to be used by a plurality of users together, which is used when a traffic from a user is sparse. The latter is a channel to be used exclusively by a user, which is set to be used when a communication traffic is dense. The data communications are carried out by appropriately switching between these two types of channels depending on a state of traffic from a user.
Also, in the mobile communication system using CDMA or the like, the judgement as to whether or not a call admission is possible is made by using a magnitude of an amount of interferences received at the radio base station, an information on a power level transmitted from the radio base station, and their respective prescribed thresholds. Moreover, in the mobile radio terminal, it is possible to judge a call admission autonomously at the mobile radio terminal by receiving a notification of information on an uplink interference amount and a downlink transmission power, information on thresholds, etc., from the radio base station through a broadcast channel.
However, in the mobile data communications which exchange data while switching a physical channel as described above, conventionally the judgement as to whether or not allocation is possible has not been carried out at a time of switching the physical channel, so that it has not been possible to prevent the quality degradation in the case where data traffics from a plurality of mobile stations are concentrated.
On the other hand, the call admission control that has conventionally been applied at the call level is also applicable to the data communications, but this method cannot suppress data transmission in the common channel, so that there has been a serious problem that no effect can be achieved by the straightforward application. Namely, when the admission is not possible as a result of the judgement, the mobile station will stay in the common channel and carry out data transmission in the common channel, but there has been a possibility of the quality degradation as the transmission radio signals sometimes give rise to interferences with respect to the other users who are communicating in the same band.

Traffic control method for mobile data communication, mobile station device and base station device


A facsimile apparatus includes a network interface device connected to a network and capable of transmitting and receiving facsimile data therebetween; an advertisement information acquiring device for acquiring advertisement information from an advertisement server connected to the network via the network interface device; a displaying device for displaying the advertisement information acquired from the advertisement information acquiring device; and a displaying control device for controlling the displaying of the advertisement information.

1. Field
This patent specification relates to a facsimile apparatus, and in particular relates to a facsimile apparatus connected to a network and capable of transmitting and receiving image data via the network.
2. Discussion
More recent facsimile machines often have a network interface to connect to a network. Some can be connected to the Internet such that facsimile image data can be transmitted and received via the Internet, and are called "Internet facsimile" machines.
The Internet has rapidly become more popular and more widely used for exchange of information such as electronic mailing and news broadcasting. Also, the Internet has created new industries such as on-line shopping, electronic money, etc.
Internet facsimile machine have not yet become so widespread, perhaps in part because of the cost of the network interface and because they are typically limited to using the Internet only for transferring or transmitting facsimile image data.

Facsimile apparatus, a method of displaying advertisement information through the facsimile apparatus and a communication system provided with the facsimile apparatus


A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named xe2x80x98Fiselfi Pinkxe2x80x99, characterized as having bright pink colored, pointed bracts; medium sized, star-shaped inflorescence; uniform dark-green foliage with distinct lobes; compact and round, well-branched plant habit; and early flowering response.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Euphorbia pulcherrima.
Variety denomination: Fiselfi Pink.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of poinsettia plant known by the variety denomination xe2x80x98Fiselfi Pinkxe2x80x99, and botanicallyknown as Euphorbia pulcherrima.
xe2x80x98Fiselfi Pinkxe2x80x99 was derived from a naturally occurring mutation in the variety xe2x80x98Fiselfixe2x80x99 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,736). xe2x80x98Fiselfixe2x80x99 is characterized by bright red colored, pointed bracts, dark-green foliage with distinct lobes, and relatively compact plant habit.
The mutation was discovered by Andrea Moes, the inventor, in a greenhouse in Dorsten, Germany, in November, 2000, where among a group of flowering branched plants, a partly pink colored plant was found. The plant was taken to Hillscheid, Germany, and was left to develop vegetative shoots. Cuttings from the mutated branched were used for vegetative propagation in the first act of asexual reproduction, in the spring of 2001. The resulting plants appeared uniform, and the pink bract color was stable. This result was confirmed when the propagation and examination was repeated on a larger scale in the fall of 2002.
Horticultural examination of the clone starting in 2001 and continuing thereafter has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for xe2x80x98Fiselfi Pinkxe2x80x99 are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of xe2x80x98Fiselfi Pinkxe2x80x99, which in combination distinguish this Poinsettia as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. bright pink colored, pointed bracts;
2. medium sized, star-shaped inflorescence;
3. uniform dark-green foliage with distinct lobes;
4. compact and round, well-branched plant habit; and
5. early flowering response.
xe2x80x98Fiselfi Pinkxe2x80x99 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day-length. The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Hillscheid, Germany, under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice.
Of the many commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to xe2x80x98Fiselfi Pinkxe2x80x99 is the parental cultivar xe2x80x98Fiselfixe2x80x99, and the comparison cultivar xe2x80x98Fissonosaxe2x80x99 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,182).
In contrast to the red colored bracts of xe2x80x98Fiselfixe2x80x99, xe2x80x98Fiselfi Pinkxe2x80x99 has pink colored bracts, a somewhat smaller plant habit, and slightly less distinct expression of lobes of bracts and leaves.
In comparison to xe2x80x98Fissonosaxe2x80x99, xe2x80x98Fiselfi Pinkxe2x80x99 has a somewhat deeper and more uniform tone of bract color (a relatively little difference of color between older and younger bracts), and the bract aspect is somewhat upward directed, while the bract aspect of xe2x80x98Fissonosaxe2x80x99 is horizontal or directed slightly downward. Furthermore, the plant habit of xe2x80x98Fiselfi pinkxe2x80x99 is more compact, and plants are generally more tolerant to low temperature during cultivation.


An image forming apparatus includes a first setting unit that sets a setting value of individual setting information for a login user, and a second setting unit that sets, in a case where a logout request is received, a setting value of common setting information, wherein the second setting unit omits, in a case where a login request of a new user is received while the user is logged in, a process for setting the setting value of the common setting information based on the common setting information, and the first setting unit sets a setting value of individual setting information for the new user based on individual setting information associated with user identification information for identifying the new user.

Field
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to an image forming apparatus having a function for customizing for each user, and a control method thereof.
Description of the Related Art
Recent image forming apparatuses include various functions, and operation contents performed by users have also become more complex.
In general, an image forming apparatus is often shared by some users. There is thus an auto clear function for automatically clearing, if a user has changed setting values of the image forming apparatus, the changed setting values after a predetermined time. A subsequent user is then prevented from using the image forming apparatus without noticing that the setting values have been changed. In such a use case, it is necessary for a user to select a desired setting screen from an initial menu of the image forming apparatus each time the user uses the image forming apparatus and change the setting values. As a result, even if setting values of setting information regularly used by each user are fixed, it is necessary for each user to set the same setting values every time, and thus it becomes burdensome.
For example, it is assumed that a setting value of display language information is set to Japanese in an image forming apparatus. A user who desires to use the image forming apparatus with the display language set to English is required to perform the following operation. The user changes the setting value of display language information from Japanese to English, uses the desired function, and then changes the setting value of display language information from English to Japanese.
To address the above-described situation, there is an image forming apparatus which includes a customize function to be used by a user to set individual setting values. The initial values and behavior of the image forming apparatus can thus be changed according to the individual setting values, and use of the functions can be limited to an individual user who registers a shortcut function.
However, it is desirable that setting values of setting information for an individual user are automatically set to setting information of the image forming apparatus, for further improving user-friendliness. However, if the setting values of individual user are left to be set, it may not be useful for a different user when the different user uses the image forming apparatus. It is thus desirable that the setting information of the image forming apparatus is automatically changed to common setting values when a user ends using the image forming apparatus.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-26972 discusses a technique for associating language identification information indicating a type of language with personal authentication data, and switching a language to be used on an operation screen or printing of a report to a language indicated by the associated language identification information. According to the above-described technique, when execution of a job has been completed, a non-operating state has continued for a predetermined time, or a job input operation has been completed after the language has been switched, the language used on the operation screen is switched back to the previous language.
The image forming apparatus on which the setting value of display language information can be set for each user performs an authentication process (i.e., a login process) for identifying a user when the user uses the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus performs a process for switching the setting value of display language information to a setting value of setting information for the user, at the time of login. Then, when the user ends using the image forming apparatus, the user logs out (hereinafter, the process for changing from the logged-in state to a not logged-in state will be referred to as a logout process). The image forming apparatus switches the setting value of display language information to a setting value of common display language information, at the time of logout.
Further, the image forming apparatus is capable of employing integrated circuit (IC) card authentication or biometrics authentication as an authentication process for identifying a user. A user brings an IC card close to a receiving unit of the image forming apparatus, or a part of the body relating to the biometrics authentication close to an identification unit of the image forming apparatus, and can thus log into the image forming apparatus.
According to the above-described configuration, a user can interrupt another user by the IC card authentication or the biometrics authentication and log into the image forming apparatus without using operation keys while another user is using the image forming apparatus.
In such a case, the logout process of a previous user is performed as the authentication process, and the login process of an interrupting user is then performed. As a result, the image forming apparatus switches the display language to a common display language when the previous user logs out and further switches the display language to a display language of login user when the interrupting user logs in. An unnecessarily switching process is thus involved, and a login operation becomes delayed.
For example, when a user A is logged in the image forming apparatus using French as the display language, a user B whose setting value of display language is English may log in. The image forming apparatus once switches the display language to the common display language (e.g., Japanese) when performing the logout process and then switches the display language to English when the user B logs in.
Further, there is an image forming apparatus capable of switching setting values of setting information other than the display language. With such an image forming apparatus, setting values of all types of setting information are switched to setting values of common setting information when a user logs out. As a result, excessive processing is involved and the login operation becomes delayed.

Image forming apparatus, and control method of image forming apparatus


A centralizer for centralizing a tubular in a conduit is described. The centralizer comprises a body comprising a upper body portion and a lower body portion and a plurality of arms linking the upper body portion to the lower body portion. Relative movement of the upper and lower body portions towards each other causes the arms to buckle radially outwards into a set configuration in which the arms are engaged, in use, with a conduit.

During well completion operations it is often desirable to cement a tubular inside another conduit. This other conduit may be a cased well bore or an open hole formation or the like. To ensure optimal efficiency of the cementing process, it is desirable to have the tubular spaced away from the sides of the conduit to permit cement to flow between the tubular and the conduit around the entire circumference of the tubular. This spacing of the tubular with respect to the conduit is achieved using a centraliser.
There are a number of types of conventional centraliser on the market. For example, bow centralisers centralise, as their name suggests, by bowing a piece of metal into engagement with a conduit wall to space a tubular centrally in the conduit. Bow spring centralisers have drawbacks. For example, bow spring centralisers have limited load bearing capacity meaning they can fail to move the tubular into an optimum centralised position with respect to the conduit.
Other centraliser assemblies are provided which have a greater load bearing capacity but are made of many components such as legs, buttons, pistons etc. which are necessary to energise their centralising feature.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A spar buoy pen system (10) formed of a net pen (14), vertical spar buoys (16), and anchors (18). The spar bouys (16) are formed of elongated tubular columns having a center of ballast above the center of gravity to flow in a substantially upright position. Anchor lines (22), auxiliary floats (24), and attachment lines (32) deflect the spar buoy (16) at a predetermined angle such that the spar buoys (16) and the anchors (18) cooperate to hold the net pen (14) in a predetermined configuration and in a taut condition.

Fish pens are generally constructed of fish netting that is formed to have a closed bottom, closed sides, and an open or closed top. A horizontal floating frame structure that lies flat on the ocean surface is used to shape the netting and provide a working platform. Weights are hung from the netting to provide draft and shape for the pen. Although these horizontal frame systems have been generally suitable for their purposes, they have several drawbacks.
When used in closed or protected waters, horizontal frame systems are visually objectionable, are inefficient in the use of pen volume, and tend to accumulate waste that pollutes the aquatic environment. While use of the pen system in open waters will avoid this pollution, the horizontal frame systems currently in use with these pen systems are not usable in open waters because of the roughness of the water and the unsteadiness of current flow. In particular, the surface-supported horizontal frames are subject to wave-induced forces, responding quickly to the passing of waves with violent motions that cause extreme stress on the structural components of the frame. Furthermore, the use of weights to shape the pen vertically is not compatible with the open water because water currents will move the weights, thus reducing the usable volume of the pen. In other words, the weights become less effective as current increases. As a result, the floating frame pen systems using suspended weights are limited to shallow, vertical configurations that can only be used in closed or protected waters where strong currents and wave conditions are not present. Hence, there is a need for a floating pen system that is stable enough to maintain a workable configuration without undue stress in large bodies of open water or bodies of water where strong currents are present.


An interactive character system that includes one or more toy characters and an environment, such as a theme park. Each toy character has one or more one or more electronic signal receivers, and an electronic system. The electronic system is structured to produce oral communication and has a programmable memory structured to store software. The software is structured to interact with the electronic signals and to cause the electronic system to produce the oral communication. The environment has one or more environmental electronic signal transmitters disposed therein. The toy character, one or more one or more electronic signal receivers interact with the one or more environmental electronic signal transmitters to cause the toy character electronic system to produce the oral communication.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is a system of communication between characters at a theme park. The inventors have created a plush toy that interacts audibly and verbally in response to fixed stimuli, within a controlled and enhanced environment to appear intelligent.
Currently in the field of art, there are interactive plush toys that react to other similar plush toys. There have also been interactive plush toys that interact with television shows. There have been interactive plush toys that interact with personal computers. To date there are no interactive plush toys that interact with human beings within a controlled environment and respond or react to pre-programmed stimuli within a controlled environment. There are no interactive plush toys that have the combined features of interaction, memory, personalized speech and intelligence within an environment as well as the ability to perform functions such as play games interactively with a human being.
The interactive toys have not interacted within an environment that can be traveled through. No other interactive toy has performed intelligently within its surroundings and in response to those surroundings. No other interactive toy has committed experiences of an environment to memory for recall at a later date. No other interactive toy has combined the expanse of features of this invention.
2. Description of the Background Art
A visit to a theme park can be a very important vacation for a child, which will include preparation for the visit to heighten expectations and improve the quality of the visit. This invention responds to a need to enhance to a greater degree the interaction that a child has with a theme park to improve the child""s experience at the theme park and to increase the desire to return to the theme park. Depending upon the age of the child, the degree of involvement that the child feels with the characters at the theme park as well as the fixed features within the theme park environment, will improve the experience for the child. The purpose of this invention is to increase the enjoyment and excitement experienced by a child upon a visit to a theme park.
There are various features of the theme park environment which are fixed, which do not move and with which there can be some pre-arranged electronic device embedded within the feature which will react with a mobile device with which it comes in contact. This reaction will be in the form of a verbal communication between the fixed feature of the environment and a mobile device such as a plush toy held by a child visiting the park. The content of the interaction can be in the form of information to assist a visitor in finding another location or to assist a visitor in experiencing to a greater degree the attraction relative to the feature with which the plush toy is interacting.
Personal electronic devices have been designed and an example is such is as set forth in the Albukerk patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,929,848) which receive IR (infrared) signals from objects or exhibits in a facility. In the case of Albukerk, the facility is most likely a museum. These signals identify which object is closest to the device. The device then pulls information about that object from its internal memory and provides audio feedback to the user about the object. The Albukerk device is designed to enhance the experience of museum viewer to the museum display. Albukerk also teaches personal devices that can be linked via infrared so that one device can operate as the master device. This master device can receive object identification information and pass that information on to other personal devices. Similarly, prior art, specifically Rose (U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,030) teaches devices (dolls) which communicate with similar devices via RF (radio frequency) in order to stimulate an intelligent conversation between two or more dolls. The Interactive Character System interacts within a theme park environment, an exterior environment, not within one particular building. The plush toy character in the interactive plush concept will receive identification information about a specific location within a theme park. The location could be the park""s main entrance, a particular ride or attraction""s main entrance, or a section or part of a ride. Some of these places within the theme park will be within facilities and some will be outdoors within the theme park grounds. The Interactive Character System can also receive information relative to timing within a ride. For example, in the event that most of a particular ride takes place within one main location, for example an elevator, one transmitter within the elevator can transmit different signals to let the devices know which feature of the ride is occurring. The combination of place and time signals can allow the device to provide anticipatory information to the user such as xe2x80x9cWe""re at the pirates of the Caribbeanxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cHold on, there""s a waterfall up aheadxe2x80x9d.
The interactive plush character toy will also receive infrared (line of sight) and radio frequency (non-line of sight) transmissions. This will allow the device to react more intelligently. Infrared signals will be used to let the user know about objects or places within the user""s eyesight. For example, it will exclaim xe2x80x9clook at the dancing bearsxe2x80x9d in response to receiving a transmission from the dancing bears. Radio frequency signals will be used to let the user know about objects or places that lie ahead. For example, the device will xe2x80x9cseexe2x80x9d a waterfall that is around a corner and is not yet visible to the child and react by saying something like, xe2x80x9cThere""s a waterfall coming up.xe2x80x9d
Unlike Albukerk, the Interactive Character Systems allows the user to own the interactive plush devices, which gives rise to additional possibilities for communication not found in prior art. The device, being the toy, will learn about the facility as the user tours by storing identification information in its memory for future use.
The interactive plush character in the current invention will also send communications between other personal devices, but unlike the type of communications referred to the Albukerk patent (used to spread information about objects in a particular facility), the interactive plush concept will use this electronic communication to simulate an oral communication between multiple devices or characters. This type of interdevice communication is not found in Albukerk. It is also unlike Rose in that it will make use of both infrared and radio frequency communication to seem more intelligent than the Rose dolls. It is also an improvement over the Rose invention in that the interactive plush character can have the owner""s name in memory. The interactive plush character can then make direct references to its owner during conversation between two or more characters. For example, xe2x80x9cHi Mickey, this is my friend Billy.xe2x80x9d The interactive plush character can xe2x80x9clearnxe2x80x9d about its environment and introduce that knowledge into its play pattern. None of the communication that occurs in the prior art is triggered by environmental stimuli. So, the interactive plush character can appear to xe2x80x9clearnxe2x80x9d from xe2x80x9cseeingxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cdoing.xe2x80x9d The prior art cannot accomplish this.
The Interactive Character System includes communication between the device, the small plush character and large mobile characters that move throughout the theme park. This type of communication will be similar to the device communication in that it can simulate a conversation between characters. The communication in the current invention will not be between two similar devices but instead between the plush character owned by the child and a large mobile character owned by the theme park. It will also be quite different in that it can help the child owner to locate by using radio frequency communication the large mobile characters within the park. This feature is completely unique.
The present invention will allow the child/owner to program its own name into its memory. This allows the character to refer to its owner by name during all activities.
The interactive plush concept will have an event memory such that if a child moves through the theme park, the device will store information about each location, object or character that interacted with the device. This memory can later be accessed by the child owner so that the character can appear to intelligently reminisce about a visit to the theme park once the child is back home. For example, xe2x80x9cWe had a lot of fun today at the Magic Kingdom. My favorite ride was Space Mountain. What was your favorite ride, Billy?xe2x80x9d or weeks later and triggered by switches activated by an adult, xe2x80x9cRemember when we went to Disney World? I loved the Haunted Mansion. Did that scare you?xe2x80x9d
The interactive character will have within its memory a feature which may be activated by parents to remind the child of their trip to a theme park and to indicate to the child that a return trip will be planned.
The Interactive Character System will have a feature to welcome the child by name to the theme park when the child receives the toy for the first time. For example, xe2x80x9cHi, Billy! Welcome to Disney World. We""re going to have a great time.xe2x80x9d
As an additional feature, the Interactive Character System will include the capability to insert cartridges with additional speech and game play activities. Thus, adding game play allows the character to help a child build a puzzle, play a game or read a book, which may or may not be related in some way to the theme park visit.
The Interactive Character System includes a transmitter in the form of a badge for the child owner of the toy which will allow the toy to react personally with its child owner. To facilitate this, the child would receive a personal transmitter to wear on his or her body which will transmit a signal to the plush character when the child, whose name is stored in a plush character""s memory, is within eye contact or infrared transmission contact. At that point, the toy will react personally with its child owner welcoming the child to the theme park.
The Interactive Character System is unique in that the theme park environment will contain receivers as well as transmitters. In the prior art, the devices supply information (receivers only) to the user based on objects within an environment. Thus, intelligent communication is transmitted only one way from the device to the owner. The current invention allows for two-way intelligent communication because it includes receivers as well as transmitters. The Interactive Character System allows for the environment to react to the plush character. For instance, a character within a theme park ride can sense via reception of an IR or RF signal that a plush character is nearby and may initiate a conversation with that character. For example, xe2x80x9cThere""s Mickey. Hi, Mickey. Are you enjoying the ride?xe2x80x9d
If plush characters that their owner""s name in memory, a theme park character within a ride (or anywhere within the theme park) or one of the large mobile characters may communicate by name with the child owner of the plush character. If the plush character sends a signal to the theme park environment that it is present, it can also transmit the name of its owner. Now the theme park environment can react personally with the child owner. For example, xe2x80x9cHi, Billy. I see you brought Mickey with you. How do you like the ride?xe2x80x9d
The interactive plush character can also provide helpful hints to the child owner and the child owner""s parents concerning the theme park environment, such as when and where a particular character will be at a certain place and suggestions for particular rides which may be appropriate for certain age children.
The invention is a system of interaction of a toy character to its owner throughout an environment. The invention includes embedded IR (infrared) and RF (radio frequency) transmitters/receivers placed in characters and in other locations throughout a controlled environment to trigger appropriate (intelligent) responses from a toy character (most likely a plush toy) carried by a child through a theme park. The IR or RF transmitters/receivers are placed, for example in locations throughout structures, within large mobile licensed characters, in a badge held by the owner and in the plush toy itself. IR is used when direct line of sight communication is either preferred or necessary. RF is used when direct line of sight communication is neither possible nor desired. The software and speech data in the plush toy will be developed to cause appropriate (intelligent) responses to occur in response to these interactions. The software will also contain simple yes or no speech recognition for further interaction with the owner. The toy character reacts to an environment consisting of structures and mobile characters. This provides for guide capabilities and intelligent audio responses which add value to the toy and make it more magical to its child owner.
The invention consists of the entire system made to work within a controlled environment. The toy character will be programmed to remember its visit to the environment to be recalled and recounted at a later time by the owner.
The invention creates an intelligent toy character by allowing it to know, recognize, and react to its immediate surroundings. It allows a child to relive his or her recent vacation through memory sharing and interaction with the child when the child leaves the park.
This invention is based on the concept of creating a toy that interacts with another toy of the same type, its owner and a controlled environment. The toys will most likely be plush and reflect the likeness of licensed theme park characters. The preferred embodiment consists of toy characters that interact with other characters or with fixed objects or human beings in response to stimuli within a theme park environment, where the toy character will interact verbally as a friend and tour guide to the child.
1. Toy Character:
The toy character will have IR (infrared) and RF (radio frequency) transmitter/receiver parts imbedded within its body that will allow for communication between the toy character and (i) other characters, (ii) its owner or (iii) the surrounding theme park environment. The toy characters will contain electronics capable of reproducing speech, sound effects and music. The speech may be programmed in any foreign language or English. The toy characters will contain software which will react appropriately to signals received from the theme park environment by outputting appropriate messages through electronic speech. The toy characters may be pre-ordered to contain personalized speech data so that the owner""s name and other personal information will be programmed into audio responses. Also, some of the speech may be related to particular theme parks (i.e., Disney WorldR versus DisneylandR). Toy characters may be pre-programmed and distributed to the appropriate theme park as added value features of a visit to the park. The toy characters will store information about each new location (triggered by IR or RF communications) in memory for future play by the owner following the visit to the park. The toy character will also have a childproof switch whereby parents may activate the toy character to suggest a return trip to the theme park. The toy characters will contain electronic hardware and software for simple (yes or no responses) speech recognition. Each toy character may contain a cartridge connection for future expansion of speech and/or play features.
2. Cartridges/Peripherals:
The cartridges will consist of memory containing electronic speech data and additional program information. This information will allow the toy characters to play games, make puzzles, read books and perform other interactive functions with the owner. The peripherals may include games, puzzles, books or other interactive activities designed to work with software contained in either the character itself or an attached cartridge.
3. Owner""s Transmitter:
The owner will have a device, most likely a badge that will contain an IR transmitter. This device will transmit a signal to the toy character so that the toy character will react to the owner""s presence via electronic speech.
4. Stationary Environmental Transmitters:
The environment, for example, a theme park, will contain many IR and RF transmitters placed in strategic locations (on rides, at hotel lobbies, in restaurants, in transportation vehicles or other auxiliary places). The transmitters will send signals to each toy character to indicate where the toy character is located in the theme park. The toy characters will then output speech relevant to the current location to act as a guide or to prompt recognition of target areas within the park. IR transmitters will be used in locations where the line of sight communication is the most appropriate form, i.e., where the toy character and thus the visitor holding the toy character is within the line of sight of the target area. RF transmitters will be used for non-line of sight communication.
5. Roving Environmental Transmitters:
The theme park environment may contain IR and RF transmitters located on moving objects, such as large mobile licensed characters. These transmitters will allow, through transmitted signals, for the toy characters to react to the large licensed mobile characters when nearby through electronic speech.
6. Stationary Environmental Receivers:
IR and/or RF receivers will be placed within the environment at fixed locations, which will allow for the environment to react to the presence of a toy character by appropriate electronic speech. Further, receivers paired with a transmitter will be programmed with electronics capable of outputting speech, sound effects or music.


Electrical energy buffering system, comprising an energy source for delivering electrical energy, an energy buffer for buffering electrical energy delivered from the energy source, the energy buffer comprising a plurality of supercapacitors, and control logic for controlling the operation of the energy buffer by selectively switching the supercapacitors, wherein the plurality of supercapacitors are switchably connected in parallel to each other in a circuit comprising the energy source and an electrical power output, and the control logic comprises a buffer monitor for monitoring a parameter representing the charge or discharge state, respectively, of each of the supercapacitors and is adapted to sequentially switch single supercapacitors or groups of supercapacitors on, responsive to the detection of a first predetermined charge or discharge state, respectively, and to switch them off, responsive to the detection of a second predetermined charge or discharge state, respectively.

According to the heavily growing importance of renewable energy in global energy production on the one hand and of electric and hybrid drives for cars on the other, the development of sophisticated energy buffering and storing systems has become a crucial aspect. Whereas wind farms and solar energy plants produce a rapidly increasing share of electrical energy in a couple of developed countries, the buffering of the energy produced by such power plants and the smart management of future electrical power supply systems ("smart grids") is, to a large extent, still unresolved. Likewise, the smart buffering and management of electrical energy is crucial for a significant market share and for an ecologically beneficial operation of electric cars on a broad scale. Such systems have to be tailored both to the typically discontinuous production or consumption of electrical energy and to the physico-chemical peculiarities and restraints of available battery systems.
In electronics and low-voltage systems, capacitors, and in particular electrolytic capacitors, have long been known as devices for storing energy. However, relatively low capacitances and, resulting therefrom, low energy storage capacities preclude capacitors from use in electrical energy supply systems. Recently, electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLC), or supercapacitors, have been used in "energy smoothing" applications and momentary-load devices, and have further been used for energy-storage in vehicles and in smaller power-plant applications, like home solar energy systems.


A label which can conform to the deformations of a squeezable container to which it is affixed and tearing of which during container use does not occur and which can be applied to the containers continuous labeling by automatic labeling machines comprises a single or a multilayer composite polyethylene film attached to a release liner by pressure-sensitive adhesive, which film is formed from a low density polyethylene homopolymer resin and an amount of a linear low density copolymer resin of ethylene and an amount of another .alpha.-olefin effective to increase the elastic deformation of the label, either as a mixture thereof in the same layer or as separate layers formed from the homopolymer and from the copolymer, respectively, or from one of them and from a mixture of the homopolymer and the copolymer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel label adapted for attachment to squeezable containers, such as soft squeezable bottles used for mayonnaise, ketchup, shampoo, and the like, and to a novel squeezable container with the label attached thereto.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Decorative labels are affixed to many containers of commercial products for the purpose of stimulating consumer demand.
Printed label film or label paper is stored as a laminate tape in which the label film or label paper is temporarily attached to a release liner by a layer of a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The label film or the label paper on the release liner is transferred and permanently attached continuously and automatically to the surface of containers of commercial products by charging the label film or the label paper into an automatic labeller continuously.
Hard bottles made of high density polyethylene resins used for dressing and the like are attached with labels made of paper, YUPO.RTM., PET, and the like. However, soft squeezable bottles used for mayonnaise, ketchup, shampoo, and the like are not affixed with such labels.
Ordinary paper labels, PET labels, synthetic paper labels, polypropylene labels, and the like are not easily attached to the surface of soft squeezable bottles. Moreover, when the contents of the bottles are squeezed therefrom, the labels cannot follow the large deformation formed by the squeezing action, and shearing takes place between the labels an the surface of bottles, resulting in separation of the labels from the surface of the bottles,
Even labels made of soft polyvinyl chloride resins compounded with conventional amounts of plasticizers are generally not soft enough to follow the deformation of the squeezing action. When the amounts of the compounded plasticizers are increased to improve the situation, difficulties arise in the printing operations. Moreover, the adhesive property of the labels deteriorates because the adhesive layer is softened by migration of the plasticizers onto the adhesive layer.
A label made of a specific low density polyethylene homopolymer has been proposed for attaching to the surface of soft squeezable bottles (U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,158; International Publication WO 86/01550). Although the proposed label can follow the deformation, it creates a problem in the labeling operation because separation from the release liner does not occur smoothly in the automatic labeling process.
When a low density polyethylene resin is utilized, a film exclusively made of low density polyethylene causes high rates of defective products in the process of automatically labeling the squeezable bottles. Thus, this type of film is not suitable for labeling such bottles.

Label for a squeezable container and squeezable container bearing same


A hot-fill container has a body portion that may utilize interchangeable dome-like top portion. A top portion is located above the body portion and has a bumper portion located thereon. A bottom portion is located below the body portion and has a bumper portion located thereon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to the field of containers. In particular the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a hot-fill container having a tapered body and dome.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Plastic containers are frequently used due to their durability and lightweight nature. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is used to construct many of today's containers. PET containers are lightweight, inexpensive, recyclable and manufacturable in large quantities.
PET containers are used for products, such as beverages and semi-solid foods. Often these liquid products, such as juices, isotonics and sauces, are placed into the containers while the liquid product is at an elevated temperature, typically between 68° C.-96° C. (155° F.-205° F.) and usually about 85° C. (185° F.). When packaged in this manner, the hot temperature of the liquid is used to sterilize the container at the time of filling. This process is known as hot-filling. The containers that are designed to withstand the process are known as hot-fill containers.
A variety of methods can be used to manufacture PET containers. One such method is called the "two-step" process. The "two-step" process first involves forming a plastic preform for use in the blow molding process.
A plastic "preform" is typically a tubular shaped object that comprises a finish, a neck and body. The preforms are then placed into molds and subjected to the blow molding process. This step may be formed at some point later in time. The two step blow molding process is used in order to manufacture large amounts of containers using the preforms.
Another type of blow molding process is a one step blow molding process. The one step blow molding process, in contrast to the two step blow molding process discussed above, involves forming the preform and the finished container without the need to cool the preform fully to form the preform such as in the two step process discussed above. Instead the preform in the one step blow molding process is only cooled to the point in which it can be removed from the mold. The formed preforms in the two step blow molding process are then immediately subjected to the blow molding process.
The blow molded containers may then be filled, with either a cold fill or alternatively, hot-filled. After being hot-filled, the hot-filled containers are capped and allowed to reside at about the filling temperature for a predetermined amount of time. The containers and stored liquid may then be cooled so that the containers may be transferred to labeling, packaging and shipping operations. As the liquid stored in the container cools, thermal contraction occurs resulting in a reduction of volume. This results in the volume of liquid stored in the container being reduced. The reduction of liquid within the sealed container results in the creation of a negative pressure or vacuum within the container. If not controlled or otherwise accommodated for, these negative pressures result in deformation of the container which leads to either an aesthetically unacceptable container or one which is unstable. The container must be able to withstand such changes in pressure without failure.
The negative pressure within the container has typically been compensated for by the incorporation of flex panels in the sidewall of the container. Traditionally, these paneled areas have been semi-rigid by design and are unable to accommodate the high levels of negative pressure generated in some lightweight containers. Currently, hot-fill containers typically include substantially rectangular vacuum panels that are designed to collapse inwardly after the container has been filled with hot product. These flex panels are designed so that as the liquid cools, the flex panels will deform and move inwardly. The adjacent portions of the container, such as the so-called lands, or columns, which are located between, above, and below the flex panels, are intended to resist any deformations which would otherwise be caused by hot-fill processing. Wall thickness variations, or geometric structures, such as ribs, projections and the like, can be utilized to prevent unwanted distortion. Generally, the typical hot-fillable container structure is provided with certain pre-defined areas which flex to accommodate volumetric changes and certain other pre-defined areas which remain unchanged.
During the fill process, existing machinery typically only permits two points of contact, which typically are located on the body of the container. The need to have the points of contact located on the body results in a restrictive geometry and shape for containers that have domes. This is because the dome needs be shaped in order to avoid interfering with the machinery that grips the containers on the fill line. Therefore, there exists a need in the field to have a container that is able to use differently shaped domes that are able to accommodate having a point of contact located on the dome so as to permit more varied design in the construction of plastic containers.

Hot-fill container having a tapered body and dome


Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) species having a molecular weight of about 70,000 daltons is isolated in a purified form from a crude tPA preparation containing various tPA species having different molecular weights by bringing the crude tPA preparation into contact with a cation exchanger in advance and separating the desired tPA species selectively from the cation exchanger by means of the salt gradient elution method.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for the purification of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA).
More particularly, it relates to a process for the purification of tPA which comprises bringing a crude tPA preparation containing various tPA species of different molecular weights into contact with a cation exchanger in advance and separating tPA having a molecular weight of about 70,000 daltons selectively from the cation exchanger by means of the salt gradient elution method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
No practical processes have yet been known to refine tPA having a desired molecular weight from a culture medium which has cultured tPA-producing cells and thus contained a crude tPA preparation with various tPA species of different molecular weights.
As processes to separate proteins having different molecular weights, it has been known that the gel-filtration process is generally applicable and that cation exchangers are used for the purification of tPA (Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 174727/1985). However, no purification processes have been known at all, which purify and prepare a tPA species of a desired molecular weight by removing other tPA species than that having the particular molecular weight, for example, about 70,000 daltons as in the process of the present invention.


A compiler includes a register allocation method making use of the concept of assigning temporary items to lifetime holes if such holes exist that are suitable. The compiler includes a front end for converting the input code to an intermediate representation, then this input representation is traversed to identify all of the temporary items, and to find all of the holes in the temporary items. Lists are maintained of the identified temporaries and holes. Register allocation then includes assigning temporaries to registers so long as there are free registers, and if holes are available in already-assigned temporaries then these holes are used in assigning registers. After all the available registers and holes are used, remaining temporaries are unallocated and thus represent memory references.

This invention relates to optimizing computer code, and more particularly to a method of register allocation in an optimizing compiler or the like.
A compiler usually operates by accepting as an input computer language in one form, e.g., source code in a high level language, and producing as an output computer language of another form, usually object code for a particular target architecture. The objective, of course, is for the high level language to be as easy as possible for the programmer to use in expressing the algorithms, and yet make the object code as fast and efficient as possible at runtime. Alternatively, the compiler may operate as a translator for converting assembly code written for one machine to object for another machine, as set forth in copending applications Ser. No. 666,196, filed Mar. 7, 1991 by Richard L. Sites, for "Automatic Flowgraph Generation for Program Analysis and Translation", now pending, or Ser. No. 666,083, filed Mar. 7, 1991 by Thomas R. Benson, for "Use of Stack Depth to Identify Architecture and Calling Standard Dependencies in Machine Code", now pending. In either event, whether operating as a conventional compiler or as a code translator, the input code is first converted to an intermediate representation by doing a syntactical and lexical analysis, producing a stream of n-tuples or like data structures, where each tuple represents in intermediate language a primitive operation. A symbol table is also generated for all references to variables, labels, subroutines, etc. A flow graph is generated using the tuple stream and the symbol table, where the program is broken into blocks, with each block being a section of linear code with an entry at the beginning and exits (branch, etc.) at the end. The blocks are connected to form a representation of the program as written, in the flow graph. This intermediate language expression of the program is updated, annotated, and rearranged by the compiler to generate an improved representation of the program, using various optimization techniques, then a code generator produces object code from the intermediate representation as it has been optimized. At some point in this process, either before or after generation of the object code, actual register and memory references are substituted for the generic references used in the source code.
Most modern computers contain a form of high performance memory elements, called registers, that need to be used effectively to achieve high performance at runtime. The process of choosing language elements to allocate to registers and the data movement required to use them is called "register allocation." Register allocation has a major impact on the ultimate quality and performance of the code. A poor allocation can degrade both code size and runtime performance. The performance penalty caused by using a memory reference instead of a register reference, even for a processor using hierarchical memory with high speed cache, is perhaps several cycles, on average. The object, then, is to allocate the register usage so that a maximum amount of the code involves manipulation of operands in registers and that data movement between registers and lower levels of the memory hierarchy is minimized. However, finding a truly optimal solution has been proven to be computationally intractable. Two general approaches to global register allocation are the bin packing method and the graph coloring method. Register allocation by graph coloring was described by Chaitin et al in Computer Languages, Vol. 6, pp 47-57, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,678 to Chaitin for "Register Allocation and Spilling via Graph Coloring". While graph coloring uses an n-squared algorithm to find a "good" solution (registers allocated for all quantities that need them) if one exists, the bin packing method uses a linear algorithm which runs faster but may miss some "good" solutions. It is the object of the present invention to obtain some register allocation solutions achievable with graph coloring, but using a method requiring less compiler execution time.
Allocation with lifetime holes as described herein is an improvement to one instance of the bin packing algorithm which allows a better register allocation by finding some of the "good" solutions not found by the standard bin packing algorithm, white retaining good compile time performance.

Compiler allocating a register to a data item used between a use and store of another data item previously allocated to the register