On a circuit arrangement for a motor vehicle that is equipped with a multitude of functional modules, which are connected with a joint gateway via at least two bus systems, the gateway is equipped with a receiving channel and a transmitting channel, respectively, for each bus system. The gateway contains testing instruments, which monitor the successful transmission of data to a functional module of a data bus system and/or the successful reception of data from a functional module of a data bus system. The gateway is also equipped with blocking instruments, which block the receiving channel if transmission was not successful and/or block the transmitting channel if reception was not successful.

This application claims the priority of German Application No. 100 26 124.8, filed May 26, 2000, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for a motor vehicle that is equipped with a multitude of functional modules, which are connected through at least two bus systems with a joint gateway.
Such a circuit arrangement is known for example from German Patent document DE 196 00 644 A1. This familiar circuit arrangement is equipped with two bus systems and a joint gateway, which consists of two intelligent control devices that have been combined into one central unit. The control devices, however, can also each be functional modules. Each control device of this central unit is allocated a bus system. For the purpose of data exchange among the buses, the control devices are equipped with a defined interface. In this familiar circuit arrangement, emphasis is placed on flexibility. A mechanism for handling errors is not mentioned in the reference.
In the future, different, preferably linear, bus systems are supposed to be cross-linked with each other increasingly in motor vehicles, onto which particularly a logical ring structure is supposed to be superimposed, i.e. the functional modules transmit across the buses in a specified sequence one after the other. The transfer interruption between the bus systems has a particularly unpleasant effect because the entire network is disrupted.
The object of the invention, particularly with regard to planned future bus systems in motor vehicles with communication among the buses, consists of increasing the availability of the motor vehicle functions.
This problem is solved with a circuit arrangement for a motor vehicle that is equipped with a multitude of functional modules, which are connected through at least two bus systems with a joint gateway. The gateway is equipped with a receiving channel (EA, EB, EC) and a transmitting channel (SA, SB, SC), respectively, for each bus system (A, B, C). The gateway contains testing instruments, which monitor the successful transmission of data to a functional module (2, 3, 5; 1, 4, 6; 7) of a data bus system (A; B; C) and/or the successful reception of data from a functional module of a data bus system. The gateway is also equipped with blocking instruments, which block the receiving channel if transmission was not successful and/or block the transmitting channel if reception was not successful. Advantageous developments of the invention are further described herein.
The circuit arrangement for a motor vehicle in accordance with the present invention is equipped with a multitude of functional modules, which are divided between at least two bus systems. The bus systems in turn are connected via a joint gateway. The gateway is equipped with a receiving channel and a transmitting channel, respectively, for each bus system. Additionally, the gateway contains testing instruments, which monitor the successful transmission of data to a functional module of a data bus system and/or the successful reception of data from a functional module of a data bus system. The gateway is also equipped with blocking instruments, which block the receiving channel if transmission was not successful and/or block the transmitting channel if reception was not successful.
These receiving and/or transmitting blocking instruments prevent, for example, that ring information of the bus system with the defective transmitting and/or receiving channel appears on the other bus systems. In this way, an interruption of the logical ring can be recognized promptly for all bus systems. The logical ring for all bus systems is therefore purposely abandoned and, while taking the blocked bus system into consideration, a new logical structure is re-formulated so as to pass on ring information among the bus systems only via the non-blocked bus systems. The blocked bus system continues to work on its own, in a decoupled manner. This way, calculation time intensive disruption routines during data transfer are largely avoided.
As an additional note, it should be pointed out that the receiving and transmitting blockage can also occur for other reasons, e.g. from application or diagnostic functions.
In a beneficial embodiment of the invention, the gateway is equipped with repeating instruments with which a repetition of the transmission of data across the transmitting channel that is allocated to the blocked receiving channel and/or with which the reception of data via the receiving channel that is allocated to the blocked transmitting channel is attempted under specific conditions. The gateway opens the blocking instruments when renewed transmission attempts and/or reception attempts are successful.
Such a xe2x80x9crevival methodxe2x80x9d further increases availability because an emergency run in the form of a re-formulation of the bus systems, which can lead to at least minor functional restrictions, is not maintained unnecessarily.
The gateway is preferably an integrated intermediate unit between the bus systems that are connected to the gateway and another functional module. The additional functional module is considered an autonomous bus system in the form of a virtual bus. The gateway and the additional functional module can form a central unit, which has only one CPU.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A method of manufacturing a light emitting device includes preparing a light emitting element and a wavelength converting member. The method further includes bonding the light emitting element and the wavelength converting member to each other by surface activated bonding. The light emitting element includes a semiconductor stacked layer portion formed on a substrate. The wavelength converting member includes a support member selected from the group of aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, YAG without activator, and yttrium oxide. The wavelength converting member further includes a fluorescent material contained in the support member. Bonding the light emitting element and the wavelength converting member entails bonding the substrate and the support member to each other.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a light emitting device in which a light emitting element and a wavelength converting member are bonded, and a method of manufacturing the light emitting device.
2. Description of Background Art
Conventionally, there has been proposed is alight emitting device capable of emitting light of mixed color, by combining light from an LED chip which serves as a light emitting element and light from a fluorescent material which served as a wavelength converting member. For example, Patent Literature 1 describes that a "nucleation layer" made of GaN is grown on a growth substrate made of sapphire, and the "nucleation layer" and a "ceramic phosphor" are bonded at high temperature and high pressure.

Method of manufacturing light emitting device including light emitting element and wavelength converting member


A semiconductor system may include a controller and a semiconductor memory device. The controller may provide an external command, an external address and a first external clock. The controller may be configured to transmit a second external clock and receive a third external clock for receiving/transmitting external data. The semiconductor memory device may be configured to synchronize and receive the external address and the external command with the first external clock. The semiconductor memory device may be configured to synchronize and receive the external data with the second external clock. The semiconductor memory device may be configured to transmit the external data and the third external clock to the controller.

1. Technical Field
Various embodiments generally relate to a semiconductor integrated circuit device, and more particularly, to a semiconductor system.
2. Related Art
A semiconductor system may include a semiconductor circuit and a control circuit configured to control the semiconductor circuit. For example, the semiconductor system may include a semiconductor memory device and a controller.
The semiconductor memory device may be configured to store data. The controller may control the semiconductor memory device.
In order to manufacture the semiconductor system including the semiconductor memory device and the controller with a high speed, it may be required to provide the semiconductor memory device with a rapid data-processing speed, a rapid data-storing speed, and a rapid data-transmitting speed.


A data processor comprises a number of databases for storing records and a plurality of user systems capable of accessing the databases. The user systems each include a datastore/application environment instance with which users can interface. Host systems may include more than one instance. The datastores contain time-versioned views of records. The data processor is operable in at least two modes, a normal operation mode in which an evaluation in response to a user enquiry can be carried out using records relevant to a current viewpoint time and time span, and a recovery operation mode in which records relevant to a viewpoint time and time span for a previous evaluation are accessed and used to exactly reproduce the previous evaluation.

This invention relates to data processing and in particular to data storage and database management systems.
In our GB Patent Application GB 9818819.6 (C1398) (corresponding to U.S. application Ser. No. 09/354,035 filed on Jul. 15, 1999, and European Published Application Serial No. 0984369) there is disclosed a time-versioned data storage mechanism that supports the ability to view the state of the data from any selected point in time, and also permits changes to be made to past and future states not just the current state. In this prior application a single computer system with a single database was considered. The present invention is, however, concerned with multiple computer systems and one or more databases.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a data processing apparatus comprising one or more databases for storing respective pluralities of records and a plurality of user systems capable of accessing the one or more databases, wherein the user systems each comprise a respective datastore/application environment instance with which users may interface, wherein the datastores contain time-versioned views of records, wherein the data processing apparatus is operable in at least two modes, a normal operation mode in which records relevant to a current viewpoint time and time span are accessed and employed in an evaluation in response to a user enquiry, and a recovery operation mode in which records relevant to a viewpoint time and time span for a previous evaluation are accessed and employed to reproduce exactly the previous evaluation, and wherein the time-versioned views of records each include
(a) at least one attribute;
(b) a time span indicating the time span for which the attribute is valid;
(c) a creation time indicating when the record was created, and
(d) a type field indicating whether the record is a concrete record, or a delta record that possibly modifies the attribute value of a previous concrete or delta record.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a data processing method comprising storing respective pluralities of records in one or more databases, and permitting a user to access the one or more databases by means of a respective one of a plurality of user systems, each comprising a respective datastore/application environment instance with which users may interface, the datastores containing time-versioned views of records, wherein there are at least two modes for data processing, a normal mode in which records relevant to a current viewpoint time and time span are accessed and employed in an evaluation in response to a user enquiry, and a recovery mode in which records relevant to a viewpoint time and time span for a previous evaluation are accessed and employed to reproduce exactly the previous evaluation, and wherein the time-versioned views of the records each include
(a) at least one attribute;
(b) a time span indicating the time span for which the attribute is valid;
(c) a creation time indicating when the record was created, and
(d) a type field indicating whether the record is a concrete record, or a delta record that possibly modifies the attribute value of a previous concrete or delta record.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an information carrier holding a program for performing a data processing method, the method comprising storing respective pluralities of records in one or more databases, and permitting a user to access the one or more databases by means of a respective one of a plurality of user systems, each comprising a respective datastore/application environment instance with which users may interface, the datastores containing time-versioned views of records, wherein there are at least two modes for data processing, a normal mode in which records relevant to a current viewpoint time and time span are accessed and employed in an evaluation in response to a user enquiry, and a recovery mode in which records relevant to a viewpoint time and a time span for a previous evaluation are accessed and employed to reproduce exactly the previous evaluation, and wherein the time-versioned view of records each include
(a) at least one attribute;
(b) a time span indicating the time span for which the attribute is valid;
(c) a creation time indicating when the record was created, and
(d) a type field indicating whether the record is a concrete record, or a delta record that possibly modifies the attribute value of a previous concrete or delta record.

Multiple-computer data processing system and method with time-versioned data storage


A concentrator for a local area network with loop topology uses a connector to which a first workstation is connected and a relay contact for switching between a state in which second and third workstations positioned at both sides of the first workstation are connected to each other and another state in which the first workstation is connected via the connector between the second and the third workstations. The concentrator includes an activation member for activating the relay contact and a pair of condensers to be charged by direct current from the first workstation when the first workstation is connected. The activation member is operated by discharging the direct current. A controller controls the discharging of one of the pair of condensers by detecting the changes in connection conditions of the first workstation.

The present invention relates to a concentrator for a local area network (LAN) system with loop topology.
FIG. 2 shows a local area network with loop topology using the conventional concentrators as disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,630, "LOCAL AREA NETWORK STATION CONNECTOR" granted to Annunziata et al., issued on Oct. 20, 1987.
In FIG. 2, there are provided three concentrators N.sub.1 -N.sub.3 with the same construction. Workstations, in this example, seven, WS.sub.1 -WS.sub.7 as terminals are connected to each of the concentrators N.sub.1 -N.sub.3. Each of the workstations WS.sub.1 -WS.sub.7 is electrically coupled to a line L via a relay circuit R. To transmit data from one of the workstations, say, WS.sub.2 to another the workstation, say, WS.sub.4, an address code A.sub.4 peculiar to the receiving workstation WS.sub.4 is affixed to the data transmitted from the transmitting workstation WS.sub.2. The transmitted data once received by the adjacent workstation WS.sub.3 the address code A.sub.4 is then checked. When it is determined that the address code A.sub.4 does not agree its own peculiar address code, the transmitted data is transferred to the next workstation WS.sub.4. When the transmitted data is received by the workstation WS.sub.4, the destination address code A.sub.4 is determined to agree to its own peculiar address code A.sub.4, so that the workstation WS.sub.4 finally receives the transmission data to process data according to the input data.
In order to add a new workstation WS.sub.8 to the above-described network, the new workstation WS.sub.8 is connected to the relevant concentrator N.sub.2. A controller (not shown) incorporated in the concentrator N.sub.2 sets the relay circuit R to couple the new workstation WS.sub.8 to the line L. In order to remove one of the workstations, say, WS.sub.2 from the network, the workstation WS.sub.2 is separated from the concentrator N.sub.2. Then, the controller incorporated in the concentrator N.sub.2 resets the relay circuit R so that adjacent workstations WS.sub.1 and WS.sub.3 are directly coupled via the line L.
In the conventional concentrators N.sub.1 -N.sub.3, an AC power source AC is provided for activating the relay circuit R. The AC power source is connected to each of the concentrators N.sub.1 -N.sub.3 via a respective one of cables C.sub.1 -C.sub.3. The AC power source AC enables the switching operations to become rapid and certain, advantageously. However, a cable C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 is required for each of the concentrators N.sub.1 -N.sub.3. In particular, when the size of the network is large and a great number of concentrators are needed, a great number of cables are required. Therefore, the work for the wiring of the great number of cables takes a lot of time.

Concentrator for local area network with loop topology


A silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material capable of providing a dye image having improved spectral absorption characteristic as well as high color-forming property and excellent dye image fastness is disclosed. The light-sensitive material comprises at least one silver halide emulsion layer having a cyan color-forming property, wherein the silver halide emulsion layer having the cyan color-forming property contains at least one cyan coupler represented by the following formula (I) or (II) and at least one of a sparingly water-soluble homopolymer and/or copolymer: ##STR1## wherein Za and Zb each represents --C(R.sub.3).dbd. or --N.dbd., provided that one of Za and Zb is --N.dbd. and the other is --C(R.sub.3).dbd.; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each are an electron attractive group having a Hammett's substituent constant .sigma..sub.p of 0.2 or more and the sum of the .sigma..sub.p values of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is 0.65 or more; R.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; and X represents a hydrogen atom or a group capable of splitting off upon a reaction with an oxidation product of an aromatic primary amine color developing agent.

A silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material is subjected to an imagewise exposure and then to development with an aromatic primary amine type color development agent to result in generating an oxidation product of the developing agent, which reacts with a dye-forming coupler (hereinafter referred to as a coupler) to thereby form a dye image. In the silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material, usually used as the coupler are a yellow coupler, a cyan coupler and a magenta coupler in combination. The dyes formed by these couplers have undesired sub-absorptions in many cases, and in employing them for a multi-layer constitutional silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material, the color reproducibility thereof is inclined to be deteriorated. Accordingly, there have so far been proposed the use of couplers which form an image with less sub-absorption.
Above all, a phenol type or naphthol type cyan coupler is generally used for forming a cyan dye image. However, the dyes formed by these couplers have unfavorable absorptions in the range of 400 to 450 nm and therefore have the serious problem that color reproducibility is markedly deteriorated. Accordingly, the solution of this problem is desired.
There are proposed as a means for solving this problem, cyan couplers such as pyrazoloazoles described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,183 and 2,4-diphenyimidazoles described in EP249,453A2. The dyes formed by these couplers have less unfavorable absorptions in a short wavelength region as compared with the dyes formed by the conventional cyan couplers. However, these couplers are not deemed to have enough color reproducibilities and in addition, there still remain problems that coupling activity is low and that fastness to heat and light is notably low. Further, a dye image faded by heat and light leads to a deteriorated color reproducibility.
In recent years, further higher performances are requested color reproducibility and fastness of a dye image obtained, and the light-sensitive material satisfying an excellent color reproducibility and having a superior fastness of a dye image is desired.

Silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material


The invention proposes a repeater designed for indoor transmissions. The useful frequency band is split into two frequency bands and the repeater amplifies the signals from one of the bands and translates them to the other band. The transposition of frequency bands results in preventing creating significant interference effects on the signal to be amplified. A management circuit is used to address, at lower cost, interference problems between the bands.

Radio communication repeaters are used to amplify the signal to increase the range of a transmitter. The use of repeaters for broadcast signals is known. A receive antenna directed at a transmitter receives the signal which is amplified and then transmitted via another antenna the radiation of which does not cover the receive antenna. In some cases the broadcast signal comes from a satellite and is translated to another frequency band in order to be broadcast in a more restricted frequency band.
For indoor communications, the use of frequency bands situated at around 2.4 GHz and at around 5 GHz and intended for wireless domestic networks is known. However, these radio frequencies do not propagate easily, even not at all, through walls and ceilings. Such systems struggle to cover large houses which have several floors and a large number of internal walls.
One idea is to use one or more repeaters to overcome the propagation problems associated with the indoor environment and with the frequencies used. However, domestic networks are bidirectional networks which must make provision to repeat signals from various positions in multiple directions. Furthermore, these signals are strongly reflected by obstacles, creating interference with the transmitted signals.
Presently, there is no repeater designed for indoor transmissions and adapted to overcome echoes.


A manual breast pump, including a housing; a funnel connected to the housing and forming a passage for breast milk; a cup for receiving a breast; a lid connected to an upper portion of the housing; a handle assembly connected to the lid; a substantially semi-circular finger grip connected to the housing; a piston movably connected to the handle assembly and reciprocally movable within the housing to create a negative pressure for the expression of breast milk from the breast; a flexible insert sealably secured to the cup and forming an isolated air volume between the cup and the flexible insert. A valve is removably connected to a lower portion of the housing; and a receptacle for receiving the breast milk, the receptacle being removably attached to a lower portion of the housing. The isolated air volume expands and contracts as the piston moves reciprocally within the housing, causing the flexible insert to move.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices and methods to obtain breast milk. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device and method for expressing breast milk through use of a breast cup and manual pump.
2. Description of the Related Art
Breast pump systems that use either manual or automatic means for obtaining breast milk are known in the art. Typically, these systems use a vacuum source to generate a negative pressure through a hood or cup that is applied to the breast.
Previous manual breast pump systems do not provide sufficient comfort and ease of use. Previous pumps have pump handles that are not ergonomically designed to fit a woman's hand, especially those women with small hands. Previous breast pump designs often require the woman to extend her hand in an uncomfortable manner. After repeated cycles of pumping, such designs can result in prolonged discomfort and lingering pain in the user's hand. Previous manual breast pump systems further fail to facilitate cleaning of the devices through use of easily separable components.
Additionally, previous manual breast pumps often create excess noise and vibrations that are annoying to a user, may cause further discomfort, and prevent the user from using the breast pump discretely.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An action control device for a small boat can include a running condition detecting device, a running environment determining device configured to determine a running environment based upon the running condition, and a steering control device configured to set a steering handle operative characteristic in response to the running environment.

1. Field of the Inventions
The present inventions relate to an action control device for a small boat having a propulsion unit such as, for example, an outboard motor and a stern drive.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, Japanese Patent Document JP-B-2959044 discloses a boat having an electrically operated steering unit which is designed to provide smooth steering movement of the associated outboard motor. Japanese Patent Document JP-A-Hei 10-310074 discloses another steering device by which a force used to cause a pivotal movement of the propulsion unit of the outboard motor can be adjusted in response to running conditions, allowing the steering operation to be made with less force. Under a normal steering condition such as when a water surface is calm, it is preferable that such a power steering unit, which is operated electrically, provides a light steering force.
On the other hand, when a small boat encounters large waves, strong wind or the like, a position and/or orientation of the boat can change quickly. Consequently, the running resistance (e.g., the hydrodynamic resistance against the movement of the hull) and bilateral balance of the boat vary, which can make the riders of the boat uncomfortable. Quick steering adjustments can be used to counteract the external forces caused by the waves and wind and thus can reduce or inhibit listing (leaning) of the hull or other movements that can make the riders of the boat uncomfortable.
However, in some environments of use, such as fishing for example, the operator of the boat is normally stands near the steering wheel while operating the boat, in contrast to the position of a driver's seated position while driving a car. When such a boat rolls and bounces in rough water due to waves and/or strong wind, operators stand can become tired by continuously shifting their balance to compensate for the rolling and bouncing. Additionally, it can be difficult for an operator to quickly and accurately counteract the forces caused by the waves and wind.
In the art of land vehicles, Japanese Patent Document JP-A-2004-155282 discloses a steering unit which detects a drive condition of land vehicle such as, for example, a vehicle speed and a magnitude of acceleration and provides a drive environment in response to the detected values. Conventionally, however, no such means are available for assisting the steering operation of a boat by detecting an action of the boat.


The line-data generating unit of this apparatus automatically reads a map image through an image scanner, generates a digital-image signal in a pattern-recognition module, prepares line data in a line-data image processing unit, and stores the line data in RAM (I). A data converter retrieves the line data from the line-data generating unit, prepares plane data, and issues the plane data to a property-data preparation unit. Through a closed-area-data image processing unit, the property-information preparation unit, based on instructions input from a keyboard, interpolates points of discontinuity in the plane data; assigns properties corresponding to such points, and prints the output. RAM (II) stores completed data. The interpolation of points of discontinuity in the plane data is performed jointly and simultaneously by input terminals PCi (i=1, 2, . . . , n). Using this method, accurate plane data can be easily and rapidly prepared by reading an original topographical map or the like so that vector line-data is transformed into plane data whose points of discontinuity have been corrected-thus making the plane data completed and accurate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for preparing a map data with regional properties, and more particularly to a method and apparatus that facilitates the preparation of map information that indicates the regional characteristics and properties of regions and points on the map.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Until now, maps have been used in various ways to indicate information graphically. Maps, presented in color have been widely used to indicate the properties of regions and spots wherein individual colors correspond to a particular property or characteristic. Such color maps include maps that show land-use conditions of fields, residential areas, industrial areas, and the like wherein the properties of the land are indicated by respective colors; regional maps of a nationwide census that illustrate different region in different colors; soil maps that depict different geological features in different colors administrative-district maps that show urban and rural prefectures, as well as cities, towns and villages in different colors; and, charts or maps that depict public utility systems for electricity, water supply, sanitation, and the like. These maps are widely used by local government as control data, and by school systems as educational material.
It is advantageous to store such map data in computers, because map information can then be updated relatively easily. Further, storing map data on computer also makes it possible to create new maps by overlapping maps that show different types of information for the same geographical area. For example, a map prepared by superimposing a regional map for planned road construction over a soil map is convenient for checking the soil conditions prior to beginning construction. Further, maps that contain the same type of information can be used to numerically grasp the degree of, say, environmental contamination and improvements thereof in a given area provided that the measurement results on the maps being superimposed were obtained at different times.
In one conventional used to store map information into a computer, the input terminal of a digitizer is first manually passed along the edges of a graphical form (which shows blocks and spots on an original map). In this way, motion data read by the input terminal is stored in the computer as plane data that outlines graphical forms for the various regions and points.
However, even when land-use maps of Japan's relatively small prefectures, (such as Okinawa and Tottori) are prepared on a scale of 1/25000, approximately 100,000 pieces of plane data are required. Since this plane data is manually input using the digitizer as described above, preparation of the data requires an enormous amount of time and labor.
Moreover, in order to assign properties corresponding to the plane data thus input for each individual region and point through computer processing, each item of plane data must form a closed plane. If the boundary (outline) obtained by the plane data is interrupted, the properties corresponding to this plane data flow out of such interrupted point to the periphery. On the other hand, even if an operator feels that the outline of the plane data displayed on a computer screen is continuous, the computer in fact often registers a discontinuity in the data. Consequently, the operator must be extremely careful when manually inputting plane data using the above mentioned digitizer technique, taking care to avoid the generation of discontinuities. As a result, such inputting operations require highly-skilled operators and sophisticated procedures.
For the above reasons, it is said that a 50% to 90% of the preparation costs of map information are allotted to manual labor. And because maps prepared in this way are very expensive, the wide application of map information to various fields is economically difficult.
In addition, since it may take as much as several months to complete the plane data, when used as control data, such plane data tends to be outdated.
For contour maps as widely used in civil engineering and surveying, there is a conventional apparatus for automatically compensating for distortions in graphical forms. The method works picking up the original map data, such as that used for topographical maps through an image scanner, and then storing the graphical form data in a computer. With this system, it is possible to update graphical form data relatively easily using manual input operations. However, with this apparatus, there is no concept of the above-mentioned plane data applied to the graphic data to be processed. Consequently the graphical form data is processed as vector data which merely represents lines. Another drawback of this system is that it does not allow one to automatically detect points discontinuity. In addition, if houses and roads are individually recognized after the graphical form data thus stored are transformed into vector data, and further if an object to be recognized through such vector data classification is, for example, a pair of adjacent houses, each of which is hexagonal in shape, it is impossible to identify one of the adjacent houses because the outline of the house cannot be divided into six items of line data and such items cannot be automatically transformed into vector data so as to combine as a single polygon. In this case, it is necessary for the conventional apparatus to prepare a traced drawing in which the pieces adjacent to each other are previously removed. Doing so entails much time and labor.
As described above, the prior art does not provide for method or apparatus for preparing map information from original maps precisely or automatically.

Apparatus for preparing map data with regional properties


Systems and aircraft are provided. An avionics system includes a storage device and one or more data processors. The storage device stores instructions for monitoring an actual performance of the aircraft. The one or more data processors are configured to execute the instructions to: determine a first measured value of a flight characteristic of the aircraft at a first position of the aircraft; execute at least one flight maneuver between the first position and a second position of the aircraft; generate a predicted energy change between the first position and the second position based on the at least one flight maneuver and an energy state model; determine a second measured value of the flight characteristic of the aircraft at the second position; and generate an adjustment to the energy state model based on the first measured value, the second measured value, and the predicted energy change.

Determining the forces acting on an aircraft during flight utilizes complex equations that require computation of the drag acting on the aircraft. Such complex equations would require very large computational capacity onboard an aircraft to predict potential aircraft performance.
Instead of using the complex equations, energy methods have been developed to indicate the aircraft climb capability and acceleration capability of an aircraft at maximum thrust of aircraft engines. One such energy method utilizes a "specific excess power" (PS). At a given altitude and airspeed, the difference between a maximum power available and a power required for maintaining the altitude and airspeed of the aircraft is known as the excess power of the aircraft. Dividing the excess power by the weight of the aircraft gives PS.
PS indicates the sum of the potential climb capability (dH/dt) and the potential acceleration capability ((V/g) (dV/dt) of the aircraft. PS methods were developed and refined for air combat analysis of various fighter aircraft to identify areas of strength and weakness in threat aircraft performance. These PS methods consider only the amount of energy gained or depleted, rather than considering how or why energy is gained or depleted.
The maximum PS value at maximum throttle has been used to determine optimum climb rates, time to climb, ceilings, and other maximum characteristics. Autopilot recovery systems have utilized a maximum PS value to determine whether aircraft have enough power to clear obstacles. Although these conventional methods may be used for some aspects of aircraft trajectory modeling, they have typically been limited to use in determining maximum capabilities of an aircraft.
Furthermore, these conventional methods depend on accurate weight and condition information. For example, the actual weight of the aircraft may be different from the weight used to determine PS due to a crew programming the Flight Management System with the wrong cargo count, passenger count, or incorrect fuel amount. Similarly, ice build-up and/or wind shear conditions may cause the actual PS to vary from the expected value due to decreased performance of the aircraft.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide methods, systems, and aircraft that provide actual aircraft performance corrected for incorrect weight and/or degraded performance in energy state models. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present disclosure will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Performance capability determination for aircraft


Methods and systems are provided, for persistent querying in a federated database system. A federated database system has a plurality of connectable database management system nodes, each database node having at least one database. Persistent querying includes: receiving a query at a first database node and propagating the query from the first database node to other database nodes in the federated database system. A responding database node satisfying the query: obtains a query results set; defines a topic identifier for the query; and publishes subsequent messages relating to the topic identifier when data updates are available. The first database node receives query results sets from one or more responding nodes and the first database node subscribes to topic identifiers for publications of subsequent messages from the responding database nodes. Subsequent messages are published relating to the query along the connection through which the query is returned.

Aspects of the present invention relate to the field of querying in federated databases, and in particular, to a persistent query mechanism in a federated database.
Smart push technologies, and smart pull technologies provide different paradigms for exchanging information across a network comprised of distributed information sources and users of the exchanged information. An example of a smart push technology is a message broker technology. An example of a smart pull technology is a Distributed Federated Database technology.
Traditional message broker technology uses a publish/subscribe paradigm for distributing information from publishers to subscribers. While such networks are asynchronous, a mechanism is still necessary for discovering which topics are being published. Moreover, traditional message broker technology requires routing to be set up between all publishers and subscribers in the network.
In contrast, federated databases use distributed database query mechanisms to discover distributed information sources that can respond to a query. Further, the federated databases can aggregate query-responsive information across the network to return a single consolidated result-set to the querying node. This synchronous mechanism finds the nodes that can contribute the required information and returns data to the requesting node by the current 'fastest path'. However, federated databases pay a penalty by using a constrained flood query to discover the sources of information called upon to return query results to a querying node.

Persistent querying in a federated database system

International Business Machines Corporation


Methods and systems for predicting statistically probable systematically assigned identifiers are disclosed, as are methods and systems for determining the likelihood that a systematically assigned identifier provided by a purported assignee of the identifier is legitimate. In one example, determining the likelihood of legitimacy includes determining the likelihood that the provided identifier is a valid identifier and determining the likelihood that the provided identifier was assigned to the purported assignee. To accomplish this validation, the present disclosure employs patterns of assignment discernable for systematically assigned identifiers in combination with statistical methods.

In information-based economies, sensitive and/or valuable information may be available through transactions relying on systematically assigned identifiers. The identifiers can identify financial accounts, persons, personal property (e.g., a VIN number used to uniquely identify an automobile), transaction records (e.g., medical records), and many other sources of information.
One example of such an identifier is a Social Security Number (SSN), issued to citizens, permanent residents, or temporary residents of the United States by the Social Security Administration. Originally created as an identifier for an account tracking an individual's earnings, the SSN is now frequently used as an identifier to verify the identity of an individual. Identity verification using an SSN may be required, for example, when applying for credit, opening a bank account, verifying immigration status, seeking health care, and many other transactions critical to participation in a modern economy. As such, the SSN is commonly sought by identity thieves or falsified as part of fraudulent activities.

Validating legitimacy of a social security number or other identifier


A drink straw container includes a hollow, elongated body that has a first end, a second end, an inner wall and an outer wall. The body has a frangible seal at the first end and a one-way valve located adjacent the second end that permits passage of fluids only from the second end toward the first end. The elongated body securely encloses a predetermined quantity of a consumable liquid. The inner and outer walls extend below the one-way valve to protect the valve from contacting a container surface. The lower end of the body may have a sealing membrane and a sliding puncture device to pierce the membrane. The straw may have an inner tube with a series of penetrating apertures for combining the consumable liquid with a mixing beverage. The straw may have a manually operated valve and a diameter reducing choke at the lower end of the straw.

Personal beverage containers have long been popular with traveling partygoers for carrying a small quantity of a favorite beverage for onsite consumption in locations not providing liquid refreshments. Hip flasks, hollow canes, ski poles and even crutches have been used for such purposes. These devices, while serving their intended purposes, are often inconvenient as one must clean and fill them and plan for their use ahead of time. A more convenient solution involves providing a sealed, disposable container housing the desired quantity of the favorite beverage. Often these favorite beverages are a form of liquor that is suitable for mixing with soft drinks or other non-alcoholic beverages. These mixers are typically packaged in cans or bottles. The present invention provides a convenient means to rapidly combine the favorite beverage or liquor with a mixer in its can or bottle. In addition, the invention provides a means for the consumer to experience a "shot" of the favorite beverage followed immediately by a drink of the mixer. The present invention includes several versions of a drink straw container providing these capabilities. A number of straw and container related inventions have been developed.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,867,536, issued to Mead, discloses a drinking straw where a soluble flavoring material is contained within an annular space between an inner and an outer tube. The inner tube has a bore through which drink flavored by the material can be drawn when drinking straw is inserted in consumable liquid. During use, the upper and lower caps are removed, the flavoring material emptied into the liquid and the flavored liquid drawn up through the inner tube and into the mouth.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,483, issued to Visconti is directed to a dispensing device for liquid medication formed in the shape of a straw. The device has a passage extending therethrough with the upper end closed by a removable cover. The lower end has means to permit the introduction of air into the passage whereby suction on the upper end of the passage results in the liquid medication within the passage being dispensed into the month of the user. The device is filled to a predetermined level with the liquid medication. The ends of the passages are sealed adjacent the openings by a cup-shaped closure member. The closure member is removed from the upper end of the members. When the patient sucks on the upper end of the tubular member, air is introduced into the passage in the member whereby the liquid medication is sucked through the upper end of the passage into the patient's mouth. The lower end of the passage is closed by a membrane formed of a suitable material that will permit air to flow into the passage when suction is applied at the upper end of the passage, while preventing the flow of liquid medication from the passage through the membrane. When the liquid medication in the passage in the tubular member is to be taken, the closure member at both ends are removed. Then suction on the upper end of the passage results in the liquid medication being sucked from the passage due to the air flowing through the membrane.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,713, issued to Fowler illustrates a straw assembly for imparting flavor to otherwise neutral liquids such as milk or water which includes a first section of straw for immersion in the neutral liquid and a second section of straw for placing in the user's mouth. Intermediate to the two sections of straw is a chamber, which may be an intermediate section of the straw, for containing flavor imparting material. The flavor imparting material may take the form of a separate enlarged chamber containing the flavor material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,940, issued to Wilk disclose a device for facilitating administration of medicine to a patient comprising a straw having a lower end and an upper end, a cup-shaped member defining a receptacle space, and graduation markings or other indicators on the cup-shaped member for providing a volumetric indication of an amount of liquid deposited into the receptacle space. The cup-shaped member is connected to the straw at the lower end so that a lower tip of the straw communicates with a lower region of the receptacle space.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,681, issued to Manning is directed to a medication delivery straw which delivers medication held within the straw tube. When the patient drinks fluid through the straw, the medication is dissolved and ingested by the patient. A particle barrier at one end of the straw prevents viscous or powdered medicines, or crushed tablets, from falling out of the straw. The particle barrier has apertures which allow fluid to enter the straw during use. The fluid dissolves the medication in the straw while the patient is drinking. Optional features include disposable funnels (which may be preloaded with medicine) for filling the straw with the correct dosage of medication. Other embodiments use preloaded straws which may contain either crushable tablets or breakable cartridges. In an alternative embodiment the invention stores medicine in a flexible neck prior to use. A thin breakable membrane holds medicine inside of the flexible neck so long as the flexible neck is not extended. The flexible neck and breakable membrane form a medicine storage compartment (i.e., a pocket).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,284, issued to Green discloses a method of preparation of an edible plug for sealing an end of a drinking straw containing liquid nourishment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,284, issued to Wong discloses an oral active agent delivery system and method for delivering an active agent formulation to a patient. An active agent formulation chamber containing the active agent formulation and having a fluid passing active agent formulation retainer is placed at one end into a fluid and at a second end into a patient's mouth. The active agent is delivered when the patient sips on the end of the chamber. When the patient applies suction to the second end of the device it causes delivery of the fluid and the active agent formulation into the patient's mouth. A removable end cap and a one-way plug are disclosed. See also the following related patents issued to Wong: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,989,590; 6,106,845; 6,210,713; 6,333,050.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,538, issued to Villani discloses a straw for adding a flavoring to a liquid passing through the straw. There are spaced apart screens disposed in the lumen of the tube. A flavoring object is disposed in the lumen between the screens.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2001/0038871, published for Nardi discloses an agent-delivery system for dispensing active agents of choice into ingestible materials of choice. The agent-delivery system includes a component for retaining the agent, typically in an extract form, which component is directed by the user into contact with an ingestible material. The extract is preferably water-soluble so that it may be dissolved into a fluid, generally a beverage of choice. The agent-retaining component may be a straw. A predetermined quantity of a water-soluble extract is preferably sprayed onto the interior surface of the straw The agent will be ingested by a user when a fluid is transferred from a container through the straw to the user until the extract is dissolved. The straw may be individually wrapped as for one-time agent purchases, or it may come packed with a plurality of similarly treated straws.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,451, issued to Baron discloses a flavoring receptacle containing a predetermined portion of flavoring agent for sale and use in conjunction with a compatible pre-packaged unflavored beverage of appropriate relative volume. The flavoring receptacle is generally elongate and tubular in shape and contains end caps. The flavoring receptacle is thereby adapted for use as a straw. Passage of the unflavored beverage through the flavoring receptacle provides for mixing with the flavoring agent to produce a flavored beverage.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,451,055, issued to Luzenberg discloses a porous article for dispensing a soluble dispensate into fluid. It may be attached to a sports bottle straw to introduce the substance into a fluid coming in contact with the article.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,951, issued to Wong is directed to a closure system for an oral active agent delivery device. The device comprises an elongate tubular member having first and second ends. The closure system includes a deformable closure means adapted to allow delivery of the active agent upon deformation. The closure system prevents spillage and maintains the integrity of the dose within the device. In use, the closure system is deformed and separated from the second end of the tubular member, liquid is drawn up into the first end of the member, and the liquid and active agent are drawn out of the second end of the member and into the patient's mouth.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0109858, published for Sedaghat Kerdar discloses an administration form for oral administration of active ingredients, vitamins and/or nutrients, comprising a straw with a sealing device in the form of a straw part which can he bent in a reversible manner between the formulation and the opening of the straw providing free access to the formulation, When the part is bent, the formulation is prevented from exiting from the straw. The invention also relates to a kit consisting of the administration form and a transport liquid, and to a method for the production of the administration form. The drinking straw contains a precisely determined dose of substance.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0142252, published for Brown discloses an additive lozenge in a solid form which is attached to the lower end of a straw. The lozenge dissolves when stirred in a liquid Once dissolved, the person mixing the additive lozenge into the liquid can drink the modified drink through a sip end of the straw.
U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2005/0116057 and 2006/0065758, published for Hamer disclose a straw containing a jellied shooter, a granita or a slush which preferably contains a potable alcohol. The straw has end caps which may he heat sealed or attached with adhesive. In one embodiment, a 12 inch straw is disclosed. The straw may be sold as a preloaded product for single use. See FIGS. 1 & 5. A party game employing the device is disclosed. This patent also references "Tooters Shooters" which are disposable test tube shot glasses.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0169791, published for Taylor, discloses a sip straw with an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member. The outer tubular member is formed of a spirally wound paper wrapper which is wound onto the outer surface of the inner tubular member. The inner tubular member is formed of an edible substance such as chocolate, which imparts a flavor to a fluid being drawn through the inner tubular member by a user. The consumable component may comprise a wide variety of materials including but not limited to, nutritional materials such as vitamins, minerals and/or other nutrition enhancers.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2007/0262164, published for Gelfand discloses a drinking straw which includes a tube having a distal opening and a proximate opening as well as a one-way valve attached to the distal opening of the straw. The valve is preferably made from a flexible material so that it can easily and conveniently be removed from the distal opening of the straw. In one preferred embodiment, the valve at the proximal opening comprises a cylindrical elastomeric body with a first end and second end. The first end is connected by a cylindrical midsection to the second end which has an oval shaped outer wall terminating in an open mouth.
The valve further includes parabolically tapered walls located near the first end converging towards an elongated slit defined by lips. A collar is also positioned near the second end which projects radially outwardly from the outer wall of the midsection. In another preferred embodiment, the straw is part of a kit which includes devices for measuring and loading substances into the drinking straw. Also disclosed are methods for using the drinking straw to administer medications. In one preferred embodiment, a user loads a substance through the proximate opening of the tube of the straw, places the opposite opening of the tube into a beverage of choice and sips on the proximal opening of the tube so the beverage is drawn up through the elongated slit of the valve into the tube, mixes with the loaded substance and is then drawn into the mouth of the user. Liquid substances may be preloaded.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2008/0075809, published for Anderson discloses a drinking straw that can be used to dispense a substance such as vitamins, pharmaceuticals, or diet supplements that is stored inside of the straw body. The straw includes a one-way liquid flow valve at one end of straw that prevents drawn liquid and any of the dissolved materials from returning to the initial liquid source that is drawn through the straw when the straw is not in use. The straw may include a one-way valve or crimp for acting as a one-way valve. The enclosed substance can dissolve during the drawing action. In an alternate embodiment to further enhance the containment of liquid in the straw, the straw body can be pressed close together at each end to act as a liquid restrictor but still permit liquid to flow therethrough under suction when the user sucks on the moist straw bulbous end. This crimping of the straw at each end forms an internal chamber that contains a dissolvable substance that cannot pass through the crimped areas of the straw. However, the liquid still can pass through the crimped areas when the straw is in operation (suction) allowing loose beads to be trapped in a straw for dissolution during operation.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2008/0197141, published for Felfodi discloses a drinking straw which is sealed and/or re-sealable at the ends and which can serve as a supply container for a dry food product. This patent discloses a variation on the invention wherein it is a one-piece design and is equipped with a mouthpiece at each end which is conical and tapering towards the straw. In a further variant of the invention, the straw is a one-piece design and it is sealed at both ends. One of the ends is welded and, after filling the container with the dry food product, the other end used for filling up is also welded. The welded ends of the straw are rounded off, preventing injuries to the mouth or lips. Around the grooving the flow of fluids (of water, milk, spirits or similar) is at its strongest and the flow is lead directly to the dry contents of the straw. With this embodiment, the closure is located between straw end and end-piece. The closure is then opened by way of mechanical impact such as rubbing or squeezing or by way of contact with the liquids. In a further variant of the present invention, the straw is a one-piece design. It consists of a middle section and is equipped with a mouthpiece at each end which is conical, tapering towards the straw. Below this conical range the straw is deformed by 90 degrees creating a cross-shaped opening. The opening has two braces and is sufficiently large to ensure the flow of liquid inside the straw without requiring too much suction.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a secure container for a small quantity of a favorite beverage, such a container should be flexible and resistant to impact. It is a further objective to provide such a container that is size compatible with the openings of typical mixer bottles and cans. It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a container that includes a one-way valve at one end that can be opened by suction from the consumer. It is yet a further objective to provide a container that can be easily protected from dirt and contamination. Finally, it is an objective of the present invention to provide such a container that is attractive in form, durable and inexpensive to produce.
While some of the objectives of the present invention are disclosed in the prior art, none of the inventions found include all of the requirements identified.


A method is disclosed for determining whether to use a preempt/resume protocol or an alternate protocol in transmitting data packets from a local system to a remote system. Each system informs the other whether it supports preempt/resume and provides the sizes of the largest low priority data packets it can send and receive. The local system always elects the alternate protocol unless both support preempt/resume. The local system then selects the lesser of (a) the largest low-priority data packet it can send and (b) the largest low-priority data packet the remote system can receive. Use of prompt/resume is initiated by the local system only where a packet of the selected size would be delayed in reaching the remote system by more than a predetermined interval.

Communications systems traditionally have used packet switching techniques for carrying bursty data traffic and have used circuit switching techniques for carrying multiplexed real-time traffic such as voice and video. Circuit switching techniques are typified by a time-division multiplexed voice telephone network in which the traffic is sent as a continuous stream of bits. Packet switching techniques, on the other hand, have been developed to handle bursty data over digital networks in which destination and drop-off addresses are combined with the message data. Each packet is delimited by flags and contains address/routing headers, priority definers and error checkers. Traditional packet networks are characterized by significant per packet processing in the intermediate nodes of a network. This processing has limited the throughput of packet nodes and introduced high delays for packets. To achieve higher throughput and to reduce this delay, fast packet switching networks have been defined which minimize the amount of processing required in intermediate nodes.
This simplified intermediate node processing now makes it feasible for packet networks to carry, in the form of packets, traffic traditionally carried only over circuit switched networks. In addition, this traffic in packetized form can share the same packet network including communication links with the bursty data traffic. However since the traditional circuit switched traffic had stringent bounds on total allowable delay across the network as well as variability of delay, nodes in the packet network must ensure that this traffic receives priority handling. To accomplish this, packets carrying bursty data traffic can be assigned to a non-real-time priority while packets carrying the traditional circuit model traffic can be assigned a higher, real-time priority. A node in a fast packet network contains buffers for holding packets waiting for transmission on its communication links. Packets waiting for transmission can be held in buffers managed differently, depending on the priority, assigned to the packets.
A communication node in a network can adopt a number of different service policies in order to transmit packets from the different priority buffers: priority with no preemption, preemption with retransmission, and preemption with resume. When no preemption is used, the packet priority is only examined to determine from which buffer to select the next packet for transmission. If a high-priority packet is placed in the buffer while a low-priority packet is being transmitted, the high-priority packet must wait until the current transmission is completed. A preemption with retransmission service policy means that the node will abort the transmission of a low-priority packet upon the arrival of a high-priority packet and immediately transmit the high-priority packet. Once all high-priority packets have been transmitted, transmission of the preempted low-priority packet will be restarted from the beginning of the packet. A preemption with resume service policy is similar except the preempted low-priority packet is restarted from the point of interruption rather than the beginning.
The selection of the appropriate service policy is dependent on the characteristics of the communication link, the delay requirements of the high-priority packets, and the size of the low-priority packets. If the transmission rate of the communication link is high enough compared to the size of the longest low-priority packet, then the delay incurred by a high-priority packet waiting for a low-priority one to complete may be acceptable. In this case, the priority with no preemption service policy is preferable since it is easier to implement and may have slightly lower link overhead. If the usage efficiency of the communication link is not important but the delay associated with waiting for completion of the low-priority packets is too high, than the preemption with retransmission service policy may be acceptable. However, if the usage efficiency of the communication link is important and the priority with no preemption service policy does not meet the delay requirements, then the preempt with resume service policy may be required.
Various schemes exist for transmitting packetized information over communication links. The typical scheme used over low speed serial links up to T3 speeds is based on the HDLC MAC-layer protocol. Each packet is delimited by starting and ending flags (X`7E`). The ending flag for one packet may also be the starting flag for the next packet. The packet itself consists of an integral number of bytes of data. Since the contents of the packet may include bit patterns that are the same as the flag pattern, a technique known as bit stuffing is used to differentiate the data from the flags. The transmitter inserts a `0` bit after any sequence of five contiguous `1` bits in the packet data. Likewise, the receiver removes any `0` bit immediately following a sequence of five `1` bits in the received bit stream. When no packets are waiting to be transmitted, flags are repeatedly transmitted.
Both the priority with no preemption and the preemption with retransmission service policies can be implemented using the existing HDLC MAC-layer protocol.

Method of determining whether to use preempt/resume or alternate protocol for data transmission

International Business Machines Corporation


An institutional table is of the type in which the table tops and the seats for table users are assembled as an integral (as well as foldable and storable) structure. The table has first and second flat table tops pivotally coupled to one another at a hinge section. A center leg component is coupled to the table tops at the hinge section and supports the table at such hinge section when the table is erected ready for use. The table has a plurality of seat support frames coupled to the table tops. At least one of those seat support frames includes a self-adjustable frame coupled to the first table top by a sliding joint. In a specific embodiment, the seat support frames includes first and second endframe seat supports coupled to the first and second table tops, respectively. Two of the seat support frames, i.e., the first and second midframe seat supports are, respectively, between the center leg component and one of the endframe seat supports. Sliding joints at the midframe seat supports permits both of such seat supports to contact the floor when a user is seated.

Schools, churches, universities and the like are primary users of tables of the type generally known as institutional tables. Such tables are aptly named because they represent a good value and they are rugged and able to withstand hard use. Often, such tables are configured to be folded for storage and/or movement from place to place on wheels and to be unfolded for use. Examples of such tables are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,511,532 (Tringali et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,715,143 (Gerken et al.).
Such tables often have a center leg and two outer legs, each with seats mounted to them. Legs intermediate the center and outer legs also have seats mounted to them and are intended to provide additional points of floor-contacting support. However, that occurs only if (a) the entire table structure is fabricated with such accuracy that the points of contact of all of the legs define a plane, or (b) the "unevenness" of the lower ends of the legs and the unevenness of the floor surface exactly correspond. Usually, neither occurs.
As a result, an intermediate leg having mounted, unoccupied seats might not contact the floor. On the other hand, an intermediate leg having occupied seats may unduly stress the table as the weight of the user urges the intermediate leg into contact with the floor. And, of course, it is possible that the intermediate legs might be too long to permit the center and outer legs to firmly contact the floor.
The known prior work in this field does not address this problem. Certainly, the table disclosed in the Tringali et al. patent does not. It presumes a center leg support that contacts the floor and permits one to adjust the height of the inner ends of the table top sections by loosening bolts, making the height adjustment and then re-tightening the bolts.
A new table which addresses problems and shortcomings of the prior art would be a notable advance in this field of technology.

Table with self-adjusting midframe support


A patient (B) is disposed in a region of interest of a magnetic resonance apparatus (A). During an imaging sequence, changing magnetic field gradients and radio frequency pulses are applied to the region of interest. The changing magnetic field gradients induce a corresponding electrical response in the patient. Electrodes (40) of a cardiac monitor (C) sense the electrocardiographic signal of the patient as well as the electrical response to the magnetic field gradient changes and produces an output signal having a cardiac component and a noise component. The bandwidth of the noise component varies in accordance with the changes of the magnetic field gradients. An adaptive filter (80) filters the output signal to remove the changing magnetic field gradient induced noise. The bandwidth of the filter function with which the output signal is filtered is varied or adjusted in accordance with the magnetic field gradient changes. The magnetic field gradient changes are monitored (84), their rate of change determined (88), and the bandwidth of the filter function is adjusted (92) in accordance with the rate of change. Alternately, the magnetic field gradient changes are determined a priori from a knowledge of the imaging sequence. As the imaging sequence progresses, a look-up table (150) is addressed to retrieve preprogrammed filter function information for various views or stages of the imaging sequence.

The present invention relates to the art of non-invasive anatomical examination. It finds particular application in conjunction with cardiac and respiratory gated magnetic resonance imaging and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the invention may have application in other non-invasive examination techniques in which the examination is controlled, gated, or modified in accordance with anatomical motion.
Magnetic resonance imaging sequences commonly include the application of a radio frequency pulse concurrently with a slice select pulse in order to excite magnetic resonance in a selected slice of the patient or subject. A phase encode gradient pulse is applied to encode phase into the resonating nuclei. Another radio frequency pulse is applied, either before or after the phase encode gradient pulse, to invert the magnetic resonance and cause a magnetic resonance echo. A read gradient pulse is applied during the echo to provide a second dimension of encoding in the retrieved magnetic resonance signal or view. Commonly, this sequence is repeated a multiplicity of times, each time with a different amplitude phase encode gradient in order to generate a corresponding multiplicity of differently phase encoded views.
Anatomical movement, such as cardiac and respiratory motion tend to degrade the resultant images. The amount of degradation is related to the amount or magnitude of physiological displacement from view to view, the rate of movement, and the like. Various anatomical condition monitors have been utilized to control the collection, processing, or use of magnetic resonance and other noninvasive imaging data in accordance with physiological motion. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,763,075 to Weigert and 4,545,384 to Kawachi.
A patient's cardiac cycle is normally sensed with electrocardiographic electrodes mounted to the patient's skin and connected by electrical leads with processing circuitry. In magnetic resonance imaging, the changing gradient magnetic fields induce an electrical response in the patient as well as in the electrocardiographic leads. This electrical response becomes superimposed on the electrocardiographic signal.
Conventionally, the magnetic resonance field gradients were applied as square pulses. A square pulse is the sum of sine waves--predominantly high frequency sine waves. The frequency content of the noise induced by square gradient pulses was significantly higher than the R-wave portion of the cardiac signal, the highest frequency portion of a normal cardiac signal. This difference in frequency enabled the R-wave and the gradient pulse induced noise to be separated, e.g. with a slew rate filter.
One of the problems with square gradient pulses is that they are relatively energy consumptive. It has been found that utilizing more rounded gradient pulses produces equally good images, but with significantly less energy. However, rounding the square wave pulses has reduced their frequency content. More significantly, the electrical response induced in the patient and leads by the rounded gradient pulses includes significant components that have a frequency in the same range as the frequency of the R-wave.
The present invention contemplates a new and improved anatomical gating system which overcomes the above referenced problems and others.

Adaptive filtering of physiological signals in physiologically gated magnetic resonance imaging


An optical pickup apparatus comprising: a laser diode; an objective lens made of a synthetic resin configured to focus laser light emitted from the laser diode to a signal recording layer of an optical disc; and a collimating lens having a diffraction grating and arranged in an optical path between the laser diode and the objective lens, the collimating lens being so moved in an optical axis direction of the laser light as to correct spherical aberration occurring in response to a change in temperature when performing a recording operation for the optical disc, and the collimating lens correcting by the diffraction grating chromatic aberration occurring when switching from the recording operation to a reproducing operation for the optical disc.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical pickup apparatus that executes an operation of reading a signal recorded in an optical disc or an operation of recording a signal in the optical disc with laser light.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optical disc devices has been widespread each of which is capable of a signal reading operation and signal recording operation by applying laser light emitted from an optical pickup apparatus to a signal recording layer of the optical disc.
The optical disc devices using optical discs called CDs or DVDs are available in general, however, optical discs whose recording densities are improved, that is, those using Blu-ray standard optical discs have recently been developed.
Infrared light with a wavelength of 780 nm is used as the laser light executing the operation of reading a signal recorded in a CD standard optical disc, and red light with a wavelength of 650 nm is used as the laser light executing the operation of reading a signal recorded in a DVD standard optical disc.
In contrast to cases of such CD-standard and DVD-standard optical discs, laser light with a short wavelength, or a blue-violet light with a wavelength of 405 nm, for example, is used as the laser light executing the operation of reading a signal recorded in a Blu-ray standard optical disc.
The thickness is 0.1 mm of a protective layer provided on an upper surface of the signal recording layer in the Blu-ray standard optical disc, and the numerical aperture is specified at 0.85 of an objective lens used for the operation of reading a signal from this signal recording layer.
For such an optical pickup apparatus compliant with the optical disc standard with improved recording density, strict optical characteristics are required to improve signal recording quality in accordance with improvement in the recording density.
The optical pickup apparatus is made up such that a driving current to be supplied to a laser diode can be controlled so as to be able to obtain a laser output suitable for reading a signal recorded in the optical disc or a laser output suitable for recording a signal in the optical disc. The above operation of controlling the laser output is performed such that a monitor signal, which is obtained from a photodetector for front monitor provided at a position where the laser light emitted forward from the laser diode is applied, is fed back to a driving circuit for supplying the driving current to the laser diode, as known.
If glass is used as material of an objective lens for focusing the laser light to the signal recording layer included in the optical disc, since it is not affected by temperature, signal recording characteristics and signal reproducing characteristics can be improved, however, there is a problem of high cost. As a method for solving such a problem, a method is generally performed of manufacturing an objective lens by injection-molding a synthetic resin.
The objective lens made of a synthetic resin has a problem that spherical aberration and chromatic aberration occur due to a change in temperature, and especially when the laser output is greatly changed as in the case of switching from a recording operation state to a reproducing operation state, a problem called mode hop occurs, which is a problem that a focal position of the objective lens is moved in response to a change in wavelength of the laser light, so that the focal point is deviated.
Such a phenomenon of deviation of the focal position is mainly caused by aberration called chromatic aberration which occurs in the objective lens due to a change in wavelength of the laser light, and when the focal position is deviated due to such a cause, a problem occurs that the operation of reproducing a signal recorded in the optical disc or the like cannot normally be performed. As a method for solving such a problem, a technology has been developed for improving the chromatic aberration by forming a diffraction grating at the objective lens (See Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 9-311271).
The above-mentioned Patent Document discloses the technology to correct the chromatic aberration by providing a diffraction grating at the objective lens, and in the optical pickup apparatus using the objective lens with a large numerical aperture such as the optical pickup apparatus for the Blu-ray standard optical disc, the objective lens with a small radius of curvature is used.
If a diffraction grating such as an annular diffraction grating is formed at an objective lens with a small radius of curvature, transmittance of the laser light is reduced, so that the intensity becomes insufficient of the laser light applied to the signal recording layer of the optical disc, which is a problem. Considering such reduction in laser light intensity, the size of a driving signal to be supplied to the laser diode needs to be increased, and thus, the heat generated from the laser diode is further increased so that the spherical aberration and chromatic aberration of the objective lens are increased, which is a problem.


A method is provided for operating an internal combustion engine having an injection system comprising at least one injector indirectly driven by means of an actuator, and a high pressure accumulator. According to the method, the actuator of the at least one injector has electrical test pulses of iteratively increasing energy continuously applied thereto, and the idle stroke of the actuator is continuously determined by hydraulic and/or electric means. Upon detecting a change in the idle stroke, a corresponding correction of the injection time of the injector is carried out.

In indirectly driven fuel injectors, an actuator, in particular a piezo-actuator, controls the valve piston of a control valve with which the pressure ratios between the control space and the valve space are influenced. The movement of the control valve piston is determined here by the respectively prevailing force conditions (pressure in the control space and actuator space as well as the force/expansion brought about by the actuator). If an injection is to be triggered, electrical energy is applied to the actuator. The actuator can be actuated here, for example, in an energy-controlled fashion. For this, the charge current and the voltage at the actuator are measured in parallel and the current energy is determined according to the formula E=0.5*(I_PIEZO)dt*U_PIEZO.
In the case of a piezo-actuator, the actuator expands owing to the piezo-electric effect and applies a force to the valve piston of the control valve. If the actuator force exceeds the opposing force, the control valve opens and the pressure in the control space is reduced. The force conditions at the valve needle change as a function of the ratio of the fuel quantity running into the control space and the fuel quantity running out of the control space, said valve needle moving in accordance with the resulting force and clearing the injection holes. In order to end the
injection, the actuator is discharged after a predetermined time and the control valve is closed. The pressure which builds up in the control space closes the injection valve by means of the movement of the valve needle.
The quantity tolerances of the individual injectors, in particular over their service life, are influenced here, in particular, by mechanical tolerances, the temperature, the run-in behavior and the wear. As a result, a switching leak can occur in the corresponding injector. The energy requirement of the actuator, in particular piezo-actuator, which is required to open the control valve plays a central role in the size of the respective quantity tolerances. This energy requirement corresponds to a stroke which is to be overcome by the actuator and which is referred to as an idle stroke. For this reason, the ACTUAL INJECTION differs from the SETPOINT INJECTION as a result of changes to this idle stroke due to wear, service life, temperature, load profile, etc.

Adaptive idle stroke compensation for fuel injection valves


Programmable safety electrical socket controller apparatus for controlling operation of an electrical socket by distinguishing between an actual electrical load and a false load created by human contact, thereby substantially eliminating the risk of electrocution. The controller initially operates in a standby mode wherein the rated voltage of the electrical power system is effectively disconnected from the socket terminals. A data value group representing the electrical characteristics of the connected load is obtained at safe voltage levels and these are examined by a microprocessor, in which there is stored a set of electrical characteristics based on known physiological data relating to the human body. By comparison of the data value group with the stored characteristics, the microprocessor is able to determine whether any of the data value group parameters are inconsistent with those of an actual electrical load, before applying electrical system power in an energization mode, thus reducing hazards caused by accidental contact of a human being. After it has been determined that an actual load is connected and power has been applied, additional protection is provided in the energization mode against leakage current conditions, overload overvoltage, and overheating. Remote communication and monitoring functions are also provided.

The prior art of safety electrical socket and connector design includes many electrical wall outlets and light bulb sockets constructed for tamper-proof and shock-proof operation. A common feature of the prior art designs is the provision of a mechanical internal switch, generally operated upon insertion of an electrical plug or electrical load device, such as a light bulb, into the socket or receptacle. Operation of the mechanical switch completes the electrical connection of the electrical plug or load device with live contacts to which power is continuously applied. Examples of this design can be found in the following U.S. Patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,271,337 to Barkas; PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,175 to Farnworth et al.; PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,557 to Busch et al.; PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 4,148,536 to Petropoulsos et al.; PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,336 to Rose; PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,536 to Glantz; PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 3,895,195 to Morrison et al.; PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 3,699,285 to Leatherman; PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,019 to Koester; PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,171 to Woodward; and PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 2,735,906 to Avrunin. PA0 (a) it has limited sensitivity, and is dependent on a critical calibration setting; PA0 (b) it operates on stored spring energy, and with the passage of time, friction, dirt, and ageing of mechanical parts, reliability is reduced; and PA0 (c) it has a slow response since it depends on mechanical amplification which is accomplished in several stages which proceed in serial fashion.
Another design also intended for shock-proof operation is that disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,120 to Karabakakis, in which an electrical safety plug carries a small magnet which magnetically activates an internal switch within a socket upon insertion. A variation of this design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,285 to Sackett in which the magnetically operated switch is accessible from outside the socket.
In all of the above outlined prior art designs, the attempt to limit the risk of electrocution is based on mechanical barriers, actuators, etc. which attempt to prevent a person from touching live contacts. Because they are based on mechanical designs, they can only limit the risk of electrocution but do not eliminate it since they are subject to mechanical failure, corrosion, wear and tear, and the possibility of tampering to defeat their function. If mechanical or actuation failure is encountered in any of these designs, the results may be disastrous, since the electrical socket contacts are always energized by the power distribution system, and these may become accessible to human touch.
Another electrical safety device in widespread use on 220 volt-single phase residential power systems is a differential circuit breaker, designed to prevent the risk of electrocution. An example of this device is known as a "Schutzschalter" (also known as an earth leakage circuit breaker) which is manufactured and marketed by Siemens AG of Germany. This device contains a toroid, which is wound with a phase, neutral and pickup winding. The device operates on the principle of imbalance in the current between phase and neutral, which leads to induced electromagnetic flux in the toroid, and which can be detected by a pickup winding. The pickup winding is connected to a tiny solenoid which pulls a lever and triggers a mechanical arrangement for operating the breaker.
Since the phase and neutral windings usually do not produce exactly the same electromagnetic flux, there is always a small difference which is detected by the pickup winding, producing an induced voltage. To compensate for this problem while achieving maximum sensitivity, a small magnet is provided which can be calibrated by rotation so as to exert a counterforce on the trigger lever of the mechanical arrangement which operates the breaker. However, the calibration must be done at the factory and since it is a force-balance device, its calibration tolerance is critical.
Typically, the rated circuit breaker protection is for 30 mA leakage current. This leakage current trip rating is dangerous in the case of the human body, which will experience quite a shock at this level. If, however, the sensitivity is increased for response to smaller leakage current levels, the device will malfunction. This is because usually the device is installed to protect the entire household, and since it must serve many loads each of which has an inherent small leakage current, increasing its sensitivity may cause false tripping.
Another problem with the differential circuit breaker device is the design of the tripping mechanism, which requires mechanical amplification to permit the small solenoid to break high current contacts. The common approach is to use a "mechanical amplifier" which operates based on stored spring energy, and it has been reported that 30% of these devices do not function after one year in use.
Still another problem with this device is the speed of response. Because it is a mechanical design, the best expected response is in the tens of milliseconds range, and this exposes a person to an electrical shock, although it may not be fatal.
As outlined above, the differential circuit breaker device suffers from at least three inadequacies:
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a safety electrical socket which does not depend on the operation of mechanical parts, and therefore achieves a greater level of reliability and safety in assuring substantial elimination of electrocution risks.


A powered respirator is provided with a device sensitive to the pressure within the respirator in the region of the user's face and adapted to sound a warning in the event that the sensed pressure goes below a selected threshold value. The device includes a flexible diaphragm exposed on its opposite sides to the sensed and atmospheric pressures respectively, and an infra red emitter and receiver arranged so that the level of energy received by the receiver from the emitter depends upon the flexural position of the diaphragm. In different embodiments the diaphragm may be arranged to reflect the radiation from the emitter onto the receiver or not, or to interrupt a beam of radiation from the emitter to the receiver or not, depending on the pressure differential across it. In either case, when a sufficient energy level is detected at the receiver, indicating a pressure level below the selected threshold, power is switched to a sounder to warn the user of the low pressure condition.

The present invention relates to powered respirators, by which is meant respirators of the kind where a pump provides a forced flow of filtered air to the face of the wearer to ensure (in normal operation) that he has an adequate supply of clean breathable air when worn in a dusty or otherwise contaminated environment--for example as described in United Kingdom patent specification no. 1495020 and of which examples are marketed by the assignee of the present application under the trade marks AIRSTREAM and JUPITER. Such respirators are generally arranged to deliver air at a sufficient rate to maintain a slight positive pressure in the region of the user's face throughout the breathing cycle, so that there can be no inward leakage of contaminated air from the surrounding environment. However, circumstances can sometimes arise in which this pressure will not be maintained at a superatmospheric level during inhalation--with a consequent danger of contaminants being breathed in--for example if the user is breathing at an exceptionally high rate or if the airflow is reduced due to filter blockage or battery exhaustion. In such circumstances it is desirable to provide some means of warning the user that the supply pressure is approaching a negative condition in order that he can take appropriate corrective action.
In the past attempts to devise such warning devices for powered respirators have generally been based on monitoring the rate of flow of air delivered by the pump, rather than by monitoring the actual pressure within the user's visor or mask. However, flow measurement is difficult and expensive and in any event may not give a true indication that the pressure as supplied to the user has fallen below a safe level, e.g. if the user is breathing particularly hard or if air from the pump is being dumped to the atmosphere through an ill-fitting or raised visor. It is recognised, therefore, that there is a need for a device which is capable of monitoring the pressure within the visor or mask of a powered respirator and of responding to even slight departures of that pressure below a selected level.
In United Kingdom patent specification no. 2130893 there is disclosed a performance monitor for a powered respirator helmet in the form of a float-type pressure gauge mounted inside the visor of the helmet and comprising a ball which changes its position along the length of a transparent tube in dependence upon the pressure within the visor. Such a gauge is, however, extremely difficult for the user to monitor effectively at anything other than odd intervals as he must adjust his field and focus of view specifically to the gauge in order to accurately assess the position of the ball at any time; indeed, the presence of this gauge may act as an unwelcome distraction to the user. The normal head movements of the user may also disturb the position of the ball. It is furthermore impossible for this kind of monitor to give an audible warning to the user in the event of a pressure reduction below a selected level, which form of warning is much to be preferred as the most practical way of drawing his attention to this potentially hazardous situation.