A transmission unit includes a transmission pulse signal generating circuit which generates a transmission pulse signal having pulses corresponding to a plurality of clock signals generated in a clock signal generating circuit, existing between a first pulse and a second pulse which are generated in an edge pulse generating circuit. A receiving unit is configured to decode a received pulse signal based on the transmission pulse signal received from the transmission unit via an isolated communication unit, as a signal that transitions from a first level to a second level when an initial pulse of the received pulse signal is detected and that transitions from the second level to the first level when a subsequent pulse is not detected within a predetermined first time period from when a most recent pulse of the received pulse signal is detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an isolated communication system which transmits a digital input signal from a transmission unit to a receiving unit isolated from the transmission unit, and a transmission unit and a receiving unit which are applicable to the isolated communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In regard to a device such as a switching power supply, or a motor driving device, which includes a high-voltage/high-current driving section such as a power device or the like and a relatively low-voltage/low-current control section such as a controller or the like for controlling (inverter controlling) of the driving section, there is known a configuration in which the driving section and the control section which have different breakdown voltages are electrically isolated from each other and transmission and receipt of signals between these sections is performed by means of isolated communication in order to prevent the control section from being broken down or operating abnormally due to high voltages and high currents used in the driving section. In such a device, isolated communication between the control section and the driving section is performed in such a manner that a digital input signal input to a transmission unit of the control section is, after its conversion into a pulse signal, transmitted to a receiving unit of the driving section. In this communication, if some transmission errors occur due to disturbance or the like in a transmission path used for such isolated communication, it becomes unable to transmit correct signals. For example, in a case where pulses are generated according to detection of a rising and a falling of a digital input signal, if it cannot be identified whether a pulse to be detected in the receiving unit is a rising or a falling of the digital input signal, decoding into a correct digital input signal in the receiving unit becomes impossible.
The addition of redundant signal lines or bits for the purpose of correcting errors, which is generally used in the digital communications or the like in order to prevent the transmission errors, is not preferable, because its structure will become complicated and its cost will increase. Besides, there are increases in delay time and power consumption. In particular, if there is an increase in delay time, it becomes impossible to increase a frequency of switching. Therefore, performance of device (for example, performance of power conversion) would be degraded significantly.
Also, there is known a configuration in which pulses corresponding respectively to a rising and a falling of a transmission signal are transmitted in different forms (for example, see U.S. Pat. No. 7,075,329 and JP-T-2001-513276). In U.S. Pat. No. 7,075,329, a pulse corresponding to a rising is a positive pulse while a pulse corresponding to a falling a negative pulse. In JP-T-513276, a single pulse is generated in correspondence to a falling while two pulses are generated in correspondence to a rising. Furthermore, there is known a configuration in which a pulse corresponding to a rising and a pulse corresponding to a falling are separately transmitted using different isolated communication paths (for example, see JP-T-2003-523147).


Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for providing an integrated development environment using a dynamic language. Input is received from a user in the form of a code command. Introspection is used to generate a list of one or more possible code command completion suggestions that are suitable completions for the input received from the user. A list of the possible code command completion suggestions are displayed to the user. Upon receiving input from a user to interact with a particular function in the integrated development environment, introspection can be used to analyze a source code section containing the particular function to extract at least one code comment contained within the function. The code comment is displayed to the user as documentation for the particular function.

JavaScript is one of the most popular programming languages in existence but there are few tools for building applications with JavaScript or any other dynamic language. The tools that exist typically require a Web developer to download and install a product in order to get developer productivity features such as command completion suggestions (called INTELLISENSE® in the VISUAL STUDIO® development programs offered by MICROSOFT®), or the developer must simply make do without such features. This experience (requiring developers to download and install software) is contrary to the kinds of applications that JavaScript encourages, which are typically browser-based and can be accessed simply by visiting a Web page.
When developers want to know how something works, they typically read the documentation. The process of creating documentation is often laborious, however, involving not just the developer of the feature in question but writers and editors who actually create the documentation. Most developers have already included substantial information in their source code in the form of comments.

Dynamic language-based integrated development environment


A novel small format touch screen user interface for displaying, adding and editing program setpoints is described. When editing a setpoint the user's input is constrained such that the user can only alter one parameter (either time or temperature). As soon as the user begins to drag a setpoint icon in either a horizontal (i.e. adjusting time), or vertical (i.e. adjusting temperature), the other parameter is constrained. Additionally, the disclosed user interface includes displaying information as to how the setpoint was most recently added or adjusted. For example the display can be used to indicate whether a setpoint was added or adjusted (1) on the thermostat itself; (2) by an automated learning algorithm; (3) by a user on a web client; or (4) by a user using a mobile client (such as a smart phone or tablet PC). Further, the name of the particular device is also displayed if known.

Particular challenges arise when designing a remote user-interface for a programmable thermostat where the remote user device is a smart phone or other space-limited touch screen device. On such space limited devices it can be difficult or confusing for a user to make simple programming changes such as adding, editing or deleting setpoints, as well as obtain information with would be useful in maintaining both comfort in the user's dwelling and energy efficiency of the HVAC system.
It is to be appreciated that although exemplary embodiments are presented herein for the particular context of HVAC system control, there are a wide variety of other resource usage contexts for which the embodiments are readily applicable including, but not limited to, water usage, air usage, the usage of other natural resources, and the usage of other (i.e., non-HVAC-related) forms of energy, as would be apparent to the skilled artisan in view of the present disclosure. Therefore, such application of the embodiments in such other resource usage contexts is not outside the scope of the present teachings.

User interfaces for HVAC schedule display and modification on smartphone or other space-limited touchscreen device


A shaft device which can ensure satisfactory lubrication for a shaft is provided. The shaft device includes a casing having a first insertion hole receiving a pin in a direction transverse to an axial direction. The shaft has a second insertion hole receiving the pin in a direction transverse to the axial direction. The pin is disposed through both the first insertion hole and the second insertion hole to fix the shaft to the casing relatively. The casing further has a space permitting the shaft to rotate in its circumferential direction with the pin partially inserted in the second insertion hole.

Conventionally there has been proposed a structure for a differential device mounted in an automobile or a similar vehicle. More specifically, a pinion shaft is inserted in a through hole provided in a peripheral wall of a differential casing and a pin is inserted in a pin insertion hole bored in the peripheral wall of the differential casing in a direction orthogonal to the through hole to engage the pin with the pinion shaft to fix the pinion shaft to the differential casing to prevent the pinion shaft from escaping (see Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2008-128440 (Patent Literature 1) for example).


The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition in a powder form for providing wound protection, hemostasis, or anti-adhesion in the gastrointestinal tract, which comprises a certain mucoadhesive polymer; and a certain hygroscopic agent.

Gastrointestinal bleeding is a fairly common medical problem. About 50% of patients suffering from gastric ulcer are diagnosed as hemorrhagic gastric ulcer. In about 80% of the cases, gastrointestinal bleeding mostly occurs in the upper-gastrointestinal tract. In upper-gastrointestinal bleeding, the bleeding originates in the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum, and results in haematemesis and melaena. A bleeding site in upper-gastrointestinal bleeding can be identified by an endoscopic method; and the identification rate thereof is about 90%. Gastric or colonic polypectromies, endoscopic mucosal resections, and endoscopic treatments are variously performed in order to treat gastric or colon cancer. However, during or after such treatments, sometimes bleeding from the stomach or colon occurs, which may require emergency surgical interventions or even lead to death of the patient.
Recently, endoscopic hemostatic methods are being performed in order to treat gastrointestinal bleeding. The endoscopic hemostatic methods include, for example, a direct local-injection of hypertonic saline, epinephrine, or alcohol; a coagulation therapy using electric heat, argon or laser; and a physical hemostatic method using a clip. However, the conventional methods aim at reducing the amount of bleeding, through pressing by injecting a liquid agent into blood vessels around an ulcer or through ligating blood vessels per se. Accordingly, the ulcer remains as its mucous membrane is exfoliated. As a result, even after the treatment, the bleeding often continues. According to research studies, the conventional endoscopic hemostatic treatment is successful in only 70 to 80% of the cases. Further, bleeding reoccurs in 20 to 25% of the cases, 3 to 4 days after the endoscopic hemostatic treatment. Re-bleeding refers to bleeding from a blood vessel, and occurs before the ulcer is completely cured by the regeneration of tissue around the ulcer. Thus, there are limitations difficult to be solved by the conventional endoscopic hemostatic methods that stop bleeding when the mucous membrane of the ulcer is exfoliated. That is, in the conventional endoscopic hemostatic methods, healing rate of the ulcer or the lesion is too slow and re-bleeding frequently occurs. In order to solve the problems, the Korean patent publication no. 10-2006-0040329 has disclosed a hemostatic agent for internal body use and a method of applying the hemostatic agent onto an ulcer inside the human body, in which a coating agent having a polymer-solution form is dispersed and coated onto the ulcer in an endoscopic manner to stop bleeding from the ulcer and minimize the possibility of re-bleeding.
Meanwhile, in order to increase the healing rate of the ulcer or the lesion and minimize the possibility of re-bleeding, a multi-functional formulation that can effectively protect wounds (e.g, ulcer and/or lesion) and prevent adhesion, as well as stop bleeding (i.e., providing hemostasis), is required. That is, there is required a formulation administered (or injected) into the gastrointestinal tract through an endoscopic catheter, thereby protecting wounds, providing hemostasis, and/or preventing adhesion. In order to perform local administration into the gastrointestinal tract, the formulation requires not only having an appropriate viscosity and mucosal adhesiveness (i.e., mucoadhesiveness), but also forming a physical protective shield for providing hemostasis in a target area.
For preventing adhesion in an operational region, formulations having a gel form or a sol-gel form have been developed. However, gel formulations having low-viscosity involve many losses thereof during the application to the upper gastrointestinal tract, which results in restricted formation of the physical protective shield. And, although gel formulations having high-viscosity have an excellent mucoadhesiveness, they have disadvantages, for example requiring a high-pressure ejecting device, involving many losses thereof, etc. Sol-gel formulations refer to a formulation changing from a sol form (e.g., before applying into the body) to a gel form at a certain temperature (e.g., body temperature). However, conventional sol-gel formulations have a very short gelation time, which may lead to forming a gel in a catheter before applying into the body; and still involve many losses thereof during the application.

Pharmaceutical composition for protecting wounds, providing hemostasis, or preventing adhesion in the gastrointestinal tract

UTAH-INHA DDS & ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS RESEARCH CENTER


An electronic device connects to another electronic device using a communication link, such as a Wi-Fi link as provided by a Wi-Fi access point. The electronic device includes a transport monitoring module that monitors outgoing communications (e.g., Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) packets) from the electronic device. When the other electronic device disconnects from the Wi-Fi access point, the transport monitoring module determines that a transport anomaly has occurred. In response to determining that the transport anomaly has occurred, a probe module of the electronic device sends a probe (e.g., an Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) dead peer detection probe) to determine whether the other electronic device is reachable.

The present disclosure relates generally to computer networks, and more particularly to quickly determining when a communication link disconnects.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
An electronic device may connect to another electronic device using a communication or physical link, such as a Wi-Fi link as provided by a Wi-Fi access point. Occasionally, the other electronic device may disconnect from the Wi-Fi access point (e.g., due to power drain, user-initiated disconnection, and so on). However, the electronic device may be unaware that the other electronic device has disconnected from the Wi-Fi access point, and continue sending data to the other electronic device without a response. It may take an excessive amount of time for the electronic device to realize that the other electronic device has disconnected from the Wi-Fi access point due to, (e.g., on the scale of several minutes for a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) timeout), resulting in a negative user experience. Moreover, repeatedly and actively confirming that the other electronic device is connected to the Wi-Fi access point, such as by using keepalive techniques, probing, or peer detection, may not be power-efficient.

Apparatus and methods for efficient link disconnection determination


The present disclosure relates to an image processing method and device, an electronic apparatus and a storage medium. The method comprises: acquiring an iris image group comprising at least two iris images to be compared; detecting iris locations in the iris images and segmentation results of iris areas in the iris images; performing multi-scale feature extraction and multi-scale feature fusion on an image area corresponding to the iris locations, to obtain iris feature maps corresponding to the iris images; performing comparison using the segmentation results and the iris feature maps respectively corresponding to the at least two iris images, and determining whether the at least two iris images correspond to the same object based on a comparison result of the comparison. Embodiments of the present disclosure realize accurate comparison of iris images.

Iris recognition technology uses the characteristics of lifelong stability and uniqueness of iris for identity authentication. The superiority of iris recognition makes it highly promising in the application in various aspects including finance, e-commerce, security, immigration control, and so on.
Currently, iris recognition algorithms generally use filters to extract features of the iris.

Image processing method and device and storage medium

SHANGHAI SENSETIME INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


An apparatus to be used in combination with an automotive vehicle and a frame rack, of the type having two substantially parallel and spaced apart longitudinal members, which is used for correcting the frame alignment of damaged vehicles. The apparatus comprises four carriages, with at least two carriages being mounted for independent movement on each member. Each carriage comprises a chassis with a dolly mounted thereon for movement transverse to the longitudinal movement of the carriage. Each dolly is capable of supporting one automotive support point even when the support points are out of alignment, permitting easy movement of the automotive vehicle on the frame rack and easy movement of the support points during repairs, and providing a means for determining the relationship of each automotive support point relative to one another.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus to be used in combination with an automotive vehicle and a frame rack for correcting the frame alignment of damaged vehicles. The apparatus comprises a plurality of carriages adapted for independent movement on a frame rack. Each carriage, being independently movable, is capable of supporting one automotive support point even when the support points are out of alignment, and permits easy movement of the automotive vehicle while bringing its center line in alignment with the center line of the frame rack.
2. Description of the prior art.
Lifting devices with a plurality of support points that are movable in relation to one another are well known in the art. One such device is disclosed by F. Aldinger in U.S. Pat. No. 1,675,015 which discloses a platform having a fixed jack at one end and a remotely raisable jack at the other end. The remote jack is movable horizontally in relation to the first jack. This permits remote positioning of the movable jack after placement of the fixed jack under the vehicle.
A patent to Brown, U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,781, discloses a pair of lifting apparatuses, each having two arms with slidable plates thereon. The slidable plates on one jack support a vehicle's front end and the slidable plates on the other jack support the rear end of the vehicle. As one jack raises one end, the sliding plates on the other jack move inwardly toward the first jack maintaining support of the vehicle. This permits one end of the vehicle to be lifted while the other end remains vertically stationary.
Other apparatus has been developed to assist in the inspection and repair of motor vehicle bodies that have received crash damage and require straightening. Generally, the straightening devices are attached to rolling platforms or devices similar to automotive lifts. The wheels are placed either on a fixed platform or on a movable platform that supports the wheels on a single axis in a fixed relationship to one another. When the body frame has been damaged, the wheels on a single axis may not be properly aligned with the body and will not fit properly in the wheel supports; thus, it will be difficult to properly load the vehicle upon the apparatus and properly align the center line of the vehicle on the center line of the apparatus.
Notwithstanding the existence of such prior art, it remains clear that there is a need for an apparatus that will accept the wheels of a damaged vehicle without regard to the misalignment of the axles and the body frame.

Positioning apparatus for a frame rack for inspection and alignment of automotive vehicle unibodies and frames


A transformer is provided with at least one core leg on which three windings are arranged side by side, whose discharges are designed to be mutually insulated. Each winding is formed by a near-core low-voltage winding, which are each wound by an associated high-voltage winding, and the discharges of the low-voltage windings are axially designed, so that the lateral spacing of the windings to each other is minimized.

Transformers which are needed for power converters, e.g., rectifiers or inverters, each have a plurality of windings which include a low-voltage winding and a high-voltage winding and which are used to transform the respective two-phase or three-phase AC voltage to the desired voltage level.
A current which has been rectified in this manner regularly has residual ripple, that is to say a still remaining AC voltage component of a smoothed or regulated supply voltage after the latter has been rectified by a rectifier and smoothed by a capacitor and/or has been reduced to a lower level by a voltage regulator.
In order to reduce this residual ripple further, 12-phase, 18-phase and 24-phase rectifier circuits are often used. As a result, it is often possible to entirely dispense with a smoothing capacitor. Another advantage is the virtually sinusoidal input current and the resultant low mains/transformer load with distortive reactive power. The transformer which is more complicated to wind and secondarily has a delta winding and a star winding each with the same pole voltage is disadvantageous. This arrangement results in a phase shift of 30° with 12 phases. For a phase shift of 20° with 18 phases or 15° with 24 phases, two adjacent phases must be correspondingly added, as a result of which the required transformer becomes even more complicated, since one complete winding, that is to say a low-voltage winding and a high-voltage winding, with a separate outgoing line is respectively required for each phase.
If such windings are arranged beside one another on a common limb, a sufficiently large intermediate space, which is accordingly needed space for the required insulated routing-out of the winding conductors, needs to be provided between the windings which are arranged beside one another. This results in a corresponding spatial extent of these transformers combined with a corresponding space requirement.
However, the space required thereby is often not available, which either results in considerable space problems or allows only simpler circuit variants which are associated with the disadvantage of undesirable residual ripple, that is to say remnants of AC voltage.
On the basis of the known techniques described above, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide a transformer of the type mentioned at the outset, which transformer allows better use of space by means of technical measures and thus allows the largest possible number of windings to be arranged with the smallest possible physical volume.


A clock data recovery apparatus includes an oscillator, a sampler circuit, and a frequency control circuit. The oscillator generates a clock signal according to a bias voltage. The sampler circuit samples an input data signal to generate a sampling signal according to the clock signal. The frequency control circuit generates the bias voltage by performing integration calculation, digital-to-analog conversion, and low-pass filtering for the sampling signal.

The invention relates to a clock data recovery scheme, and more particularly to a clock data recovery apparatus and corresponding frequency control circuit.
Generally speaking, a conventional clock data recovery device ideally can be adopted to track frequency offset for a data signal to lock the frequency of the data signal. The conventional clock data recovery device may include a single low-pass filter. However, practically, the conventional clock data recovery device is limited by the band width of its low-pass filter, process variation when manufacturing, and/or a severe environment condition such as rapid changes in temperature. For example, the conventional clock data recovery device inevitably cannot reduce more noise if the single low-pass filter is implemented with a wider bandwidth since the wider bandwidth can filter out less noise. However, if the single low-pass filter is implemented with a narrower band width, the conventional clock data recovery device certainly cannot track larger frequency offset of the data signal. This problem will become more critical if the conventional clock data recovery device is used in the severe environment condition.

Clock data recovery apparatus and method capable of reducing more noise as well as tracking larger frequency offsets


A method for manufacturing a hose with a protector layer 2 on the outer periphery of a tubular polyamide resin layer 1 includes steps of: preparing a rubber composition for forming the protector layer by separately preparing a first rubber material containing components (A) to (C) and a second rubber material containing components (a) and (b) but substantially free of a sulfur vulcanization agent and mixing them in a mixer; and forming the protector layer 2 by continuously vulcanizing unvulcanized rubber after continuous extrusion of the rubber composition onto the outer periphery of the previously formed polyamide resin layer 1.     (A) Ethylene-propylene rubber    (B) Sulfur vulcanization agent    (C) Thiuram vulcanization accelerator (mp. 66 to 105° C.)    (a) Ethylene-propylene rubber    (b) Vulcanization accelerator (mp. 120° C. or higher).

Generally, a fuel hose has a protector layer made of a rubber composition formed so as to cover an outer periphery of a resin layer made of fluorine resin or polyamide resin. A protector layer is formed in this manner to prevent a fire or the like when a resin layer of the fuel hose is torn and fuel is leaked on a vehicle clash. Heretofore, a high activation vulcanization accelerator, for example, a thiuram vulcanization accelerator has been used for such a protector layer of the fuel hose to accelerate vulcanization (to reduce vulcanization time) (for example, see Patent Literature 1).

Method for manufacturing hose with protector layer


The present invention is directed to a conductive electrolyte for use in high voltage electrolytic capacitors and to an electrolytic capacitor impregnated with the electrolyte of the present invention for use in an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The electrolyte according to the present invention is composed of a two solvent mixture of ethylene glycol and a polar organic cosolvent from the group of 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, 2-butoxyethanol, hexyl alcohol, or di(ethylene glycol). Dissolved in this mixture is a combination of boric acid with either an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid of carbon chain length from eight to thirteen (C8 to C13) or a very long chain dicarboxylic acid, where the acid functional groups are separated by 34 carbons (referred to as xe2x80x9cdimer acidxe2x80x9d). The solution is then neutralized with an amine. A cathode depolarizer, or degassing agent, from the group of nitro-substituted aromatic compounds (nitroaromatics) can be added to reduce the amount of gas produced during capacitor life. Hypophosphorous acid and/or a colloidal suspension of silica in ethylene glycol may be added to enhance the life characteristics of the electrolyte, resulting in lower leakage currents and better voltage droop characteristics. The water content may be adjusted with deionized water to achieve a Karl Fischer titration (water content) measurement of 1.0-8.0% to achieve proper age characteristics.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a conductive electrolyte for high voltage electrolytic capacitors and to an electrolytic capacitor impregnated with the electrolyte of the present invention for use in an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).
2. Related Art
Compact, high voltage capacitors are utilized as energy storage reservoirs in many applications, including implantable medical devices. These capacitors are required to have a high energy density since it is desirable to minimize the overall size of the implanted device. This is particularly true of an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD), also referred to as an implantable defibrillator, since the high voltage capacitors used to deliver the defibrillation pulse can occupy as much as one third of the ICD volume.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,388, incorporated herein by reference, typically use two electrolytic capacitors in series to achieve the desired high voltage for shock delivery. Electrolytic capacitors are used in ICDs because they have the most nearly ideal properties in terms of size, reliability and ability to withstand relatively high voltage. Conventionally, such electrolytic capacitors include an etched aluminum foil anode, an aluminum foil or film cathode, and an interposed kraft paper or fabric gauze separator impregnated with a solvent-based liquid electrolyte. While aluminum is the preferred metal for the anode plates, other metals such as tantalum, magnesium, titanium, niobium, zirconium and zinc may be used. A typical solvent-based liquid electrolyte may be a mixture of a weak acid and a salt of a weak acid, preferably a salt of the weak acid employed, in a polyhydroxy alcohol solvent. The electrolytic or ion-producing component of the electrolyte is the salt that is dissolved in the solvent. The entire laminate is rolled up into the form of a substantially cylindrical body, or wound roll, which is held together with adhesive tape and is encased, with the aid of suitable insulation, in an aluminum tube or canister. Connections to the anode and the cathode are made via tabs. Alternative flat constructions for aluminum electrolytic capacitors are also known, comprising a planar, layered, stack structure of electrode materials with separators interposed therebetween, such as those disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,388.
In ICDs, as in other applications where space is a critical design element, it is desirable to use capacitors with the greatest possible capacitance per unit volume. Since the capacitance of an electrolytic capacitor is provided by the anodes, a clear strategy for increasing the energy density in the capacitor is to minimize the volume taken up by paper and cathode and maximize the number of anodes. A multiple anode stack configuration requires fewer cathodes and paper spacers than a single anode configuration and thus reduces the size of the device. A multiple anode stack consists of a number of units consisting of a cathode, a paper spacer, two or more anodes, a paper spacer and a cathode, with neighboring units sharing the cathode between them. Energy storage density can be increased by using a multiple anode element, however, the drawback is that the equivalent series resistance, ESR, of the capacitor increases as the conduction path from cathode to anode becomes increasingly tortuous.
Typically, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator may utilize two 350 to 400 volt electrolytic capacitors in series to achieve a voltage of 700 to 800 volts. However, with the prospect for treatment of ventricular tachycardia with higher voltage pulses (up to 1000 volts), the need for a capacitor with a working voltage of greater than 400 volts becomes pronounced. There are numerous commercially available compositions of electrolyte for use in electrolytic capacitors than can conform to reasonable specifications, as long as the operating voltage of the capacitor remains at 400 volts or lower. However, once this limit is exceeded, the choices become more limited. There are relatively few electrolytes for this voltage regime, and the suitable electrolytes known in the art have several drawbacks, especially when used in a flat, stacked capacitor having a multiple anode configuration. First, glycol-based electrolytes suffer from relatively poor conductivity and ionic mobility. These electrolytes will produce a capacitor with significant energy loss due to a higher than acceptable equivalent series resistance (ESR). Second, xcex3-butyrolactone based electrolytes, which overcome the problems of ionic mobility, can not be used in conjunction with typical paper spacer pads. These require thicker, more expensive pads made out of manila fibers, and as a result of greater thickness, sharply reduce the energy density in flat stacked capacitor designs. Many high voltage electrolytes employ the use of very long chain dicarboxylic acids and large bases to achieve the necessary breakdown voltages, however, the resultant electrolytes have very low conductivities (xe2x89xa61 mS/cm). For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,169 to Dapo discloses an electrolytic capacitor for use in operation at voltages above 500 volts, produced by employing an electrolyte containing a straight chain saturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acid in which the carboxylic moieties are separated by at least 14 carbon atoms in a mixture of at least one polar organic solvent and water. The disclosed composition has a resistivity at 30xc2x0 C. of 1280 xcexa9.cm (781 xcexcS/cm), a pH of 9.68 and Scintillation voltage of 500V.
What is needed in the art is an electrolyte that provides acceptable breakdown characteristics with reasonable conductivity when impregnated in an electrolytic capacitor operating above 400 volts.
The present invention is directed to a conductive electrolyte for use in high voltage electrolytic capacitors and to an electrolytic capacitor impregnated with the electrolyte of the present invention for use in an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The electrolyte according to the present invention is composed of a two solvent mixture of ethylene glycol and a polar organic cosolvent. Preferred cosolvents include alcohols, alkoxyalcohols and glycols, such as 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, 2-butoxyethanol, hexyl alcohol, or di(ethylene glycol). Dissolved in this mixture is a combination of boric acid with an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, preferably either an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid of carbon chain length from eight to thirteen (C8 to C13), such as suberic, azelaic, sebacic, undecanedioic, dodecanedioic, or brassylic acid; or a very long chain dicarboxylic acid, where the acid functional groups are separated by 34 carbons (referred to as xe2x80x9cdimer acid,xe2x80x9d as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,481, incorporated herein by reference). The solution is then neutralized with an amine, such as ammonia, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, and diisoproplyethylamine. A cathode depolarizer, or degassing agent, from the group of nitro-substituted aromatic compounds (nitroaromatics), including nitrobenzene, nitrotoluene, nitrophenol, nitroacetophenone, nitrobenzyl alcohol, and nitroanisole, can be optionally added to reduce the amount of gas produced during capacitor life. Lastly, hypophosphorous acid and/or a colloidal suspension of silica in ethylene glycol can be optionally added to enhance the life characteristics of the electrolyte, resulting in lower leakage currents and better voltage droop characteristics. The water content can be adjusted with deionized water to achieve a Karl Fischer titration (water content) measurement of about 1.0% to about 8.0% to achieve proper age characteristics.
A representative composition according to the present invention that displays the desired properties is:
54.8% by weight ethylene glycol;
23.4% by weight 2-ethoxyethanol;
0.9% by weight boric acid;
5.3% by weight azelaic acid;
1.4% by weight ammonium hydroxide (30% in water);
0.9% by weight 3-nitroacetophenone;
9.7% by weight colloidal silica (20%) in ethylene glycol;
0.1% by weight hypophosphorous acid (50% in water); and
3.5% by weight water.
The electrolyte may be further neutralized with anhydrous ammonia to achieve a final pH of about 6.0 to about 10.0, preferably a pH of about 6.5 to about 7.5.
The electrolyte according to the present invention, when impregnated in an electrolytic capacitor, has a conductivity that is reasonable for use in a multiple anode stack configuration and a breakdown voltage of greater than 450 V.
The present invention is directed to a high voltage, highly conductive electrolyte for electrolytic capacitors and to an electrolytic capacitor impregnated with the electrolyte of the present invention for use in an ICD. The electrolyte according to the present invention may be used in a capacitor operating at a working voltage greater than 400 V, allowing for the possibility of a defibrillator that has a paired voltage greater than 800 V.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are now described. While specific configurations and arrangements are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustrative purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other configurations and arrangements can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that this invention can also be employed in a variety of other devices and applications.
The electrolyte according to the present invention is composed of a two solvent mixture of ethylene glycol and a polar organic cosolvent. Useful cosolvents include alcohols, alkoxyalcohols, and glycols, such as 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, 2-butoxyethanol, hexyl alcohol, di(ethylene glycol), propylene glycol, 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol, 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol, di(ethylene glycol) butyl ether and pentyl alcohol. Dissolved in this mixture is a combination of boric acid with an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, preferably either an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid of carbon chain length from eight to thirteen (C8 to C13), such as suberic, azelaic, sebacic, undecanedioic, dodecanedioic, or brassylic acid; or a very long chain dicarboxylic acid, where the acid functional groups are separated by 34 carbons (referred to as xe2x80x9cdimer acid,xe2x80x9d as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,481, incorporated herein by reference), such as is available from Sigma-Aldrich under the product number 432369 (xe2x80x9chydrogenated dimer acidxe2x80x9d). The solution is then neutralized with an amine, such as ammonia, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, diisopropylethylamine, methylamine and ethylamine. A cathode depolarizer, or degassing agent, from the group of nitro-substituted aromatic compounds (nitroaromatics), including nitrobenzene, nitrotoluene, nitrophenol, nitroacetophenone, nitrobenzyl alcohol, and nitroanisole, can be optionally added to reduce the amount of gas produced during capacitor life. Lastly, hypophosphorous acid and/or a colloidal suspension of silica in ethylene glycol can be optionally added to enhance the life characteristics of the electrolyte, resulting in lower leakage currents and better voltage droop characteristics. Phosphoric acid will produce similar results in small quantities. The water content may be adjusted with deionized water to achieve a Karl Fischer titration (water content) measurement of about 1.0% to about 8.0% to achieve proper age characteristics.
The electrolyte according to the present invention can be composed of the following ranges of components: about 40% to about 80% by weight ethylene glycol, no more than about 40% by weight of a polar organic cosolvent, no more than about 2% by weight boric acid, about 3% to about 6% by weight of either an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid of carbon chain length from eight to thirteen (C8 to C13) or a very long chain dicarboxylic acid where the acid functional groups are separated by 34 carbons, no more than about 5% by weight of an amine, 0% to about 2% by weight of a nitro-substituted aromatic compound as a degassing agent, 0% to about 10% by weight colloidal silica in ethylene glycol, 0% to about 2% by weight hypophosphorous acid and about 1% to about 10% by weight water.
A representative composition according to the present invention that displays the desired properties is: 54.8% by weight ethylene glycol, 23.4% by weight 2-ethoxyethanol, 0.9% by weight boric acid, 5.3% by weight azelaic acid, 1.4% by weight ammonium hydroxide (30% in water), 0.9% by weight 3-nitroacetophenone, 9.7% by weight colloidal silica (20%) in ethylene glycol, 0.1% by weight hypophosphorous acid (50% in water) and 3.5% by weight water. The electrolyte may be further neutralized with anhydrous ammonia to achieve a pH of about 6.0 to about 10.0, preferably a pH of about 6.5 to about 7.5. An exemplary electrolyte made according to this representative composition exhibited a conductivity (resistivity) at 37.0xc2x0 C. of 3.45 mS/cm (290 xcexa9-cm), a minimum breakdown voltage of 460 V, an index refraction, nD (20xc2x0 C.) of 1.4313, a viscosity of 33.8 cP at 37xc2x0 C. and a Karl Fischer titration (water content) measurement of 5.2%. A capacitor impregnated with the electrolyte according to the present invention may have a working voltage of greater than 400 V, preferably about 400V to about 450V, allowing for the possibility of a defibrillator that has a paired voltage of greater than 800 V.
An electrolytic capacitor according to the present invention is constructed of anode and cathode layers, stacked with a paper insulator or spacer between each layer. The anode layer is composed of one or more anode foils stacked together without any paper spacer, to form a high energy density anode element. The anode and cathode layers are then grouped together in a parallel connection to produce sufficient capacitance for the intended function. This finished stack is inserted into a case with a geometry closely following the contour of the stack, and designed to minimize the space occupied inside the finished defibrillator. A wound roll configuration may also be used, as would be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art.
Aluminum foil is preferred for the anode and cathode layers, because of its ability to produce a sufficient quality oxide layer, its conductive properties, and its wide commercial availability. Other valve metal foils conventionally utilized in electrolytic capacitors could also be used, including titanium, tantalum, magnesium, niobium, zirconium and zinc. Preferably, a strip of unetched, high purity (99.99%) aluminum foil with high cubicity, wherein at least 85% of the crystalline aluminum structure is oriented in a normal position (i.e., a (1,0,0) orientation) relative to the surface of the foil, is used. Such foils are well-known in the art and are readily available from commercial sources known to those skilled in the art.
The anode foil may be etched in an aqueous halide based etch solution, typically a hydrochloric acid or sodium chloride solution, according to a conventional etch process; for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,133 to Harrington et al. describes a suitable method of etching foil and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The etch solution preferably consists of about 1.3% by weight sodium chloride, about 3.5% by weight sodium perchlorate, about 0.35% sodium persulfate, and deionized water. The etch solution preferably is heated to about 60xc2x0 C. to about 95xc2x0 C., more preferably 85xc2x0 C. The foil is etched at a DC current density of about 0.01 A/cm2 to about 0.30 A/cm2, preferably 0.15 A/cm2. A charge of about 20 coulombs/cm2 to 100 coulombs/cm2 is passed through the foil during the etching process, with about 50 coulombs/cm2 preferred, which requires a time of about 2 minutes and 13 seconds to about 11 minutes and 7 seconds, with about 5 minutes and 30 seconds preferred.
The foil is then removed from the etch solution and rinsed in deionized water. Then the tunnels formed during the initial etch are widened, or enlarged, in a secondary etch solution, typically an aqueous based nitrate solution, preferably between about 1% to about 20% aluminum nitrate, more preferably between about 10% to about 14% aluminum nitrate, with less than about 1% free nitric acid. The etch tunnels are widened to an appropriate diameter by methods known to those in the art, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,518,471 and 4,525,249, entirely incorporated herein by reference.
After the etch tunnels have been widened, the foil is again rinsed with deionized water and dried. Finally, a barrier oxide layer may be formed onto one or both surfaces of the metal foil by placing the foil into an electrolyte bath and applying a positive voltage to the metal foil and a negative voltage to the electrolyte. The barrier oxide layer provides a high resistance to current passing between the electrolyte and the metal foils in the finished capacitor, also referred to as the leakage current. A high leakage current can result in the poor performance and reliability of an electrolytic capacitor. In particular, a high leakage current results in greater amount of charge leaking out of the capacitor once it has been charged.
The formation process consists of applying a voltage to the foil through an electrolyte such as boric acid and water or other solutions familiar to those skilled in the art, resulting in the formation of an oxide on the surface of the anode foil. The preferred electrolyte for formation is a 100-1000 xcexcS/cm, preferably 500 xcexcS/cm, citric acid concentration. In the case of an aluminum anode foil, the formation process results in the formation of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) on the surface of the anode foil. The thickness of the oxide deposited or xe2x80x9cformedxe2x80x9d on the anode foil is proportional to the applied voltage, roughly 10 to 15 Angstroms per applied volt.
The etched and formed anode foils are cut and the capacitor assembled as discussed above. An electrolytic capacitor stack according to the present invention consists of a number of units of: cathode, a paper spacer, one or more anodes, a paper spacer and cathode; with neighboring units sharing the cathode between them.
The electrolyte of the present invention is then prepared. In one embodiment, initially, ethylene glycol is heated to 60xc2x0 C. and azelaic acid and boric acid are added. The solution temperature is raised to 120xc2x0 C. and held at about 120xc2x0 C. to about 130xc2x0 C. for one hour. The 60xc2x0 C. temperature is chosen so that the acids (boric and azelaic) are soluble. However, these acids may be added at room temperature or at a higher temperature, provided that the solution is held at about 120xc2x0 C. to about 130xc2x0 C. for one hour after addition of the boric acid. The azelaic acid need not be added until after the one hour period, but before the solution cools to 60xc2x0 C. The solution is then cooled to about 90xc2x0 C. to about 100xc2x0 C., preferably 90xc2x0 C., and nitroacetophenone is added. The solution is allowed to cool to 60xc2x0 C. and methoxyethanol is added. The temperature is lowered before adding the methoxyethanol to prevent volatilization of the methoxyethanol. A colloidal suspension of silica in ethylene glycol may then be added to enhance the life characteristics of the electrolyte. Alternatively, a colloidal suspension of silica in ethylene glycol may be added prior to the addition of methoxyethanol to achieve similar results. The solution is then cooled to below 30xc2x0 C. and water, hypophosphorous acid and ammonium hydroxide are stirred in. Alternatively, hypophosphorous acid may be added prior to the addition of methoxyethanol to achieve similar results. The electrolyte may be further neutralized with anhydrous ammonia to achieve a final pH of about 6.0 to about 10.0, preferably a pH of about 6.5 to about 7.5.
The pre-assembled capacitor is then vacuum impregnated with the electrolyte of the present invention, by placing the capacitor in contact with the electrolyte and reducing the pressure to less than 50 cm Hg. The capacitor is held at this low pressure for 5 to 45 minutes with a preferred time of 15 minutes, and then pressure is restored, using the pressure to force the electrolyte mixture into the capacitor stack. The capacitor is then removed and placed in an oven at a temperature of about 65 EC to about 90 EC with a preferred temperature of 90 EC and a maximum oxygen atmospheric concentration of 2% for a period of about 2 hours to about 24 hours, with a preferred time of 4 hours. The capacitor is then aged in a normal manner by applying the working voltage to the capacitor, allowing the capacitor to reach this voltage, and then allowing the current to decrease. The electrolyte of the present invention allows for a working voltage of greater than 400 V, preferably about 400V to about 450V.
Electrolytic capacitors according to the present invention can be incorporated into implantable medical devices, such as implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), as would be apparent to one skilled in the art, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,851.

Conductive electrolyte for high voltage capacitors


A curable polymer composition comprising a polyarylsulphone thermoplastic component and a polymerizable cyanate ester thermoset component.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a polymer composition and more particularly to a composition containing a thermosettable cyanate resin precursor and a thermoplast effective to make said resin tougher when cured. It relates to also such a composition containing reinforcing fibres and to cured resin structures made of such a composition.
2. Description of Prior Art
Thermoset resins have been used for many years to make strong non-metallic structures, but have had somewhat limited fields of application because they are brittle. U.S. Ser. No. 253,596, filed Oct. 5, 1988, now abandoned, describes a polymer composition providing a useful improvement in fracture toughness and briefly reviews earlier attempts to meet this requirement. Whereas that U.S. Ser. No. mentions in a general way that the thermoset component of its compositions may be a cyanate resin, we have now identified particular compositions affording a significant advance in performance.

Curable blends of cyanate esters and polyarylsulphones


Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for wireless communications. Network slicing may be used to provide services for a wireless device. A network slice may be determined for the wireless device based on a required bandwidth for the network slice and/or charging information for the network slice.

A wireless network may provide a variety of mobile devices to communicate using wireless communication channels. Base stations within the network may provide wireless signal coverage for transmission of a variety of data. Network slicing may be used for different device or service types by, for example, creating virtual networks out of physical network resources.

Application-initiated network slices in a wireless network


A luggage-door lock device includes a latch having a pawl engaged with a striker secured to a body and a spring urging the pawl towards the striker. The engagement is assured by the engagement between the latch and a swing member, by removing the swing member from the latch as a result of a motor-operated mechanism, so that the pawl is removed from the striker. Due to the reaction of the spring after resulting removal, a lid to which the latch is secured is moved in an opening direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a luggage-door lock device and in particular to a device for locking a lid which is pivotally connected to a body of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a vehicle body is provided with a space for accommodating therein one or more pieces of luggage. A lid is provided for closing the opening through which the space is accessed. The lid is pivoted to the vehicle-body and has a pawl which is in engagement with a striker secured to the vehicle-body.
Upon transfer of the luggage or other things to and from the space to the outside, the above-mentioned engagement is released by removing the pawl from the striker so as to expose the opening to the outside. A solenoid is employed for moving the pawl.
However, the movement of the pawl in preparation for the unlocked condition of the lid generates relatively loud noise. In addition, the installation of the solenoid within the lid is cumbersome work since the solenoid is relatively large in mass.


A rotary folder-type mobile communication terminal is provided, including a body part, a folder part, a folding hinge part mounted on a prescribed axis for opening/closing the folder part, and a rotating hinge part mounted on another prescribed axis different from the axis of the folding hinge part while being spaced apart from the holding hinge part for rotating the folder part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotary folder-type mobile communication terminal, and more particularly to a rotary folder-type mobile communication terminal that is capable of providing a large arrangement space sufficient to arrange a camera having a great number of pixels and related camera parts therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
A rotary folder-type mobile communication terminal with a foldable and simultaneously rotatable folder part is known.
FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view, cut away in part, showing a conventional rotary folder-type mobile communication terminal. The construction and operation of the conventional rotary folder-type mobile communication terminal will be described below with reference to FIG. 7.
As shown in FIG. 7, the conventional rotary folder-type mobile communication terminal comprises: a body part 100 having a button-operating unit disposed on the upper surface thereof; a folder part 200 having an LCD window facing the body part 100; a rotating hinge part 300 comprising a hinge 301 and a fixing element 302 for rotatably connecting the body part 100 and the folder part 200; and a folding hinge part 400 for opening/closing the folder part 200.
The folder part 200 is folded to the body part 100 or unfolded from the body part 100 by means of the folding hinge part 400 so that the folder part 200 is closed or opened. The folder part 200 can be rotated by means of the rotating hinge part 300 while the folder part 200 is unfolded open. The rotating hinge part 300 and the folding hinge part 400 are mounted on the same axis.
Since the rotating hinge part 300 and the folding hinge part 400 are mounted on the same axis as described above, however, an arrangement space necessary for arranging a camera is limited to a left-side or right-side space of the folder part where the rotating hinge part is fixed. As a result, the conventional rotary folder-type mobile communication terminal does not provide a large arrangement space sufficient to arrange a large-sized camera having a great number of pixels, for example, several mega-pixels.
Especially in the case of the camera having a great number of pixels, a digital sensor is still used since no camera sensor for mobile communication terminals has yet been developed. The digital sensor is of a large size. Consequently, when the digital sensor is applied to the conventional rotary folder-type mobile communication terminal, it is very difficult to provide an arrangement space necessary for arranging the digital sensor and other parts of the camera inside the left-side or right-side space of the upper end of the folder part where the rotating hinge part is fixed. As a result, the thickness of the folder part is inevitably increased.

Rotary folder-type mobile communication terminal


A dynamic reporting tool presents conferencing data to customers in a useful and flexible manner. Customers may customize standard reports using dynamic, comprehensive search criteria. Customers may also create custom ad hoc reports as needed. Furthermore, customers may access unbilled usage data and conduct searches on the unbilled usage data.

A. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to billing systems for conferencing services and more particularly to billing systems for conferencing services that are chargeable to a client or project.
B. Introduction
Businesses today rely heavily on conferencing services to enable people to meet without having to be physically present in the same location. Audio conferencing, video conferencing, and Web conferencing are all well-known services available to businesses operating on a regional, national, or global scale. Typically, a business makes a reservation for a conference through a conferencing services provider (CSP). The CSP establishes a "virtual location," e.g., a dial-in phone number or a Website address, for the conference participants. After the conference is over, the CSP bills the business for the cost of the conference.
A traditional CSP utilizes one or more conference facilities that provide the hardware, e.g., telephone bridges or Web servers, to support conferences. The CSP may use standard scheduling software to process customer reservations and employ a customer help line to handle any problems. If the CSP uses commissioned salespeople to sell its services, it may also use a separate sales system to track its sales and commissions data. The CSP may use an off-the-shelf or internally-developed billing system to track customer accounts and produce bills for conferences.
Many conferencing customers bill conferencing charges to their own clients or divide conferencing charges over multiple projects. For example, a law firm or consulting firm may work for several different clients and wish to divide its conferencing charges among the appropriate clients and/or matters. Because a conventional CSP typically provides a customer with a paper bill or an electronic bill in a standard format for all of its customers, the customer must input or manipulate the billing data before using the customer's own client billing software. Thus, someone in the customer's financial services department must manually process each conference bill to enable the customer to pass conferencing charges on to its clients or divide a bill among several projects. For a customer with hundreds of clients or projects, this not only takes a great deal of time but can result in human mistakes billing one client or project for another's conferences, resulting in client-relation problems.
Furthermore, conventional CSPs rely on a patchwork of systems and software that must be modified to meet the specific demands of conferencing services. For example, conferences involve a number of different people, each requiring different levels of access and information. In addition to the participants in a conference, a company's secretarial staff may be involved in scheduling the conference. The company's financial staff may be involved in processing bills, and an administrator may be designated to oversee the company's contract with the CSP. Depending on individual needs and responsibilities, each person may need access to different information. This can be very difficult to manage for a conventional conferencing services provider that relies on several separate systems.
Another difficulty faced by conventional CSPs is the calculation of salesperson commissions. Traditional commission systems base a salesperson's commission on a single measure that is easily calculated. Examples of such measures include total amount of sales or number of items sold, over a time period. Such systems are generally not designed to calculate commissions based on more economically meaningful measures such as gross margin (i.e., revenues minus cost of services sold) because of the complexity of calculating such measures. Sources of complexity include: different rates charged to different customers; different costs of services in different periods of time; and different commission rates for different services. However, conferencing services cannot be measured in simple amounts. Instead, conferencing rates vary a great deal based on, e.g., number of minutes, number of participants, time of day, etc. Furthermore, in one time period, a single customer may use several different services, making it difficult to quantify exactly what a salesperson has sold.
Systems and methods consistent with embodiments of the present invention address these and other drawbacks of conventional conferencing services provider systems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dynamic reporting tool for conferencing customers

American Teleconferencing Services, Ltd.


A method and apparatus are provided for repacking of memory data. For at least one embodiment, data for a plurality of store instructions in a source code program is loaded from memory into the appropriate sub-location of a proxy storage location. The packed data is then written with a single instruction from the proxy storage location into contiguous memory locations.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to information processing systems and, more specifically, to dynamically repacking data to facilitate consolidation of multiple memory write instructions.
2. Background Art
As processor designers continue to make strides in the performance speed of processors, the gap between processor speed and the speed of memory hierarchy technology has widened. Accordingly, the performance penalty associated with memory fetches becomes relatively more expensive as processor speeds increase.
Various approaches have been implemented in an attempt to decrease the impact of memory fetches during the execution of a processor. One such approach is known as coalescing. Coalescing is an approach that can be implemented to optimize the binary code generated during compilation of a software program. In the coalescing approach, several memory accesses for individual data are lumped into one aggregate memory access for one aggregate datum. On most processors, coalescing can be seen as the replacement of two store instructions for x-wide data from contiguous memory zones with one store instruction for 2x-wide data, where the 2x-wide data represents the coalesced data of the two x-wide instructions. For example, the two lines of pseudo-code below:
store_1byte_starting_at (data1, address)store_1byte_starting_at (data2, address + 1)can be coalesced and replaced by a single line:store_2bytes_starting_at(coalesced_data_address).Accordingly, by storing multiple bytes of coalesced data at once, the cost usually associated with issuing a memory write operation (such as, e.g., a store instruction) may be amortized across the several such memory write operations. As used herein, the word "operation" is used to indicate the operation of a processor to process a single instruction, such as a store instruction. One skilled in the art will recognize that a single store instruction may be processed as a plurality of micro-operations, but that processing of the store instruction is nonetheless referred to herein as a single "operation."
Coalescing is a useful approach to avoid certain cache penalties associated with successive store operations. A cache penalty is any additional cost incurred in implementation-dependent corner cases, such as the inability of a cache implementation to service two stores to the same cache line within a 1-cycle time budget.
In addition, it has been observed that contiguous store instructions occur quite frequently in software programs. For instance, it has been observed that, for many software programs, a majority of execution time associated with the program is spent executing a small number of loops, referred to as "hot loops."
Consider the loop
for (i=0; i<N; i++) {Loop 1A[i] = B[i]}On successive iterations, the value of B[i] is loaded from memory and is stored at A[i]. Accordingly, consecutive store instructions modify contiguous memory addresses. In such a straightforward case, it may be that the successive load instructions in Loop 1 may be coalesced to load more than one piece of data from B in a single operation. It is also possible in the straightforward example of Loop 1, to coalesce the data to be stored in successive locations of the array, A.
A challenge arises, however, for many prior art coalescing schemes when one side of a statement within a loop is not amenable to coalescing. Many prior art coalescing schemes decline to coalesce data when the right-hand side of the assignment statement within a loop does not guarantee contiguous memory accesses. Another challenge for prior art coalescing schemes arises when the statements within a loop modify contiguous memory locations, but the contiguous memory locations are modified out of order. Embodiments of the method and apparatus disclosed herein address these and other concerns related to coalescing schemes.


A digital imaging device includes at least two image sensors carried by a body and having image axes oriented transverse to one another and facing in different directions transverse to one another. The image sensors are rotatable with respect to the body and each have a rotational axis parallel with a respective corresponding image axis. Each image sensor has an upright physical orientation corresponding to an upright orientation of the optical image and is capable of rotation about the rotational axis to orient the image sensor in the upright orientation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to digital video cameras. More particularly, the present invention relates to wearable or point-of-view (POV) digital cameras.
2. Related Art
Hands-free video recording and/or action videography/videotography can involve the use of a camera mounted on a user, such as a user's helmet and often referred to as a helmet cam. For example, see the GoPro HD helmet Hero digital camera. Such cameras can be bulky and awkward, and can require elaborate, bulky and awkward mounting hardware, as the entire camera is mounted to the helmet. In addition, such cameras may be limited in their mountability, e.g. only being mountable to a helmet. Other systems can use a remote camera or remote recorder. For example, see the V.I.O. POV.HD camera, and US Patent Publication Nos. 2008/0192114; 2009/0109292 and 2010/0103267. Such cameras can also be bulky and awkward to mount and use.
So called "spy" cameras have a digital camera build into a pair of conspicuous and unbelievable glasses.

Wearable video camera with dual rotatable imaging devices


A connector frame and a resilient pad positioned against the frame, both having an equal number of coaxial openings therethrough. A pin positioned in each opening of the pad and extending through the pad and frame with a collar abutting the pad. A back-up plate having the same number of coaxially positioned openings therethrough and abutting the opposite sides of the collars of the pins so that the pad is compressed to make the connector waterproof and reduce tolerance stack-ups.

In many applications it is necessary and/or convenient to provide external connectors on portable communications devices, such as portable radios and the like, for ready electrical access to the internal circuits. Because these portable communications devices are used under adverse weather conditions it is necessary to maintain the integrity of the housing. Thus the external connector must be waterproof.
In prior art connectors utilized for this purpose, solid connector pins are ultrasonically inserted into a plastic base which is then affixed over an opening in the housing of the communication device. The pins are expensive and complicated to manufacture and the connector is complicated to assemble and requires the use of special fixtures and machine set-ups. Thus, the prior art structures are expensive. Further, the pins of these prior art connectors are connected to the internal circuitry by a header and socket arrangement which is expensive and complicated.


A system and method for automatically reconfiguring a user interface based on a product lifecycle that changes a visual appearance of a product image in the user interface to reflect its age or ownership duration is described. In one embodiment, a method includes determining one or more products owned by a user and an ownership period associated with an age or ownership duration of each product. The ownership period is compared to a product lifecycle for the product and, based on the comparison, one or more temporal effects are overlaid onto a base product image for the product. The one or more temporal effects change a visual appearance of the base product image in a user interface on a user device in communication with the unified product application to reflect the age or ownership duration of the product.

The embodiments relate generally to methods and systems for automatically reconfiguring the visual appearance of a product presented to a user on a screen via a graphical user interface ("GUI") based on the product lifecycle.
Consumers may own multiple products, including products of different types and functions, that are produced and/or sold from the same company, parent company, or its divisions. For example, some consumers have brand loyalty that drives them to make multiple purchases from the same brand or family of brands. Other consumers may appreciate owning products that are part of the same "ecosystem" of products and services.
Such consumers may be able to use a single, unified user interface to conveniently access product information, additional products and/or accessories, product or user settings, and other services or information associated with products owned by the consumer and/or produced by the company or its divisions. Using such a unified interface provides one-stop access for the consumer for all products purchased or leased from the company or its divisions. However, it may be difficult for these consumers to easily gauge the age of their owned products without navigating through various menus and other settings.
There is a need in the art for a system and method that addresses the shortcomings discussed above.

Method and system for automated reconfiguration of user interface based on product lifecycle


Correction circuitry connectable in parallel with a conventional load cell output for compensating for various errors resulting from nonlinearity, creep, and temperature effects. Such circuitry includes an operational amplifier circuit employing the nonlinear characteristic of a diode to create a nonlinear correction signal and an operational amplifier circuit employing a long time constant RC circuit to correct creep.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates generally to load cells and, more particularly, to electronic circuitry for improving the electrical output of such load cells.
2. Description of Related Art
In the prior art, load cell circuitry is known wherein strain gauges are employed in a Wheatstone bridge circuit. The bridge is subject to excitation voltage and produces an output signal. While providing useful measurements in various applications, such as shear beam (single and dual bridge) load cells, column load cells, cantilever beam load cells, and platform load cells, such load cells are nevertheless subject to various inaccuracies in their output signals.
Inaccuracies in load cell outputs may arise from nonlinearity, creep, hysteresis, and modulus compensation error. "Nonlinearity" refers to the departure in the signal output voltage from a straight line from zero load through a range of measured force. Typically, a calibration curve is developed, which is a record of the comparison of load cell output against a range of standard test loads from a no load state up to the so-called "rated load," which is the maximum load (force) the load cell is designed to measure within its specifications. "Nonlinearity" then refers to the deviation of the calibration curve from a straight line drawn between the no load and rated load output.
"Modulus compensation error" refers to a variation of the load cell signal output with temperature. Such errors may be either positive or negative going.
Load cell "creep" arises because the steel or other metal to which strain gauges are attached in a load cell stretches over time when a force is applied to the load cell. Creep results in an increasing or decreasing, rather than level, output signal from the load cell, when all other variables, including the weight being measured, are constant. Strain gauges used in load cells typically have a built-in negative creep to compensate for the positive creep of the load cell metal. The amount of creep typically varies from load cell to load cell due to manufacturing variances. Hence, the built-in creep compensation is not entirely effective.


A driver circuit includes a fly capacitor with a first end and a second end. The driver circuit includes a laser diode having an anode and a cathode. The driver circuit is configured to operate in first and second operating states. The anode is coupled to the first end of the fly capacitor. In the first operating state, the cathode is coupled to a first voltage supply node, the first end of the fly capacitor is coupled to a second voltage supply node, and the second end of the fly capacitor is coupled to a first reference terminal. In the second operating state, the cathode is coupled to a second reference terminal and decoupled from the first voltage supply node, the first end of the fly capacitor is decoupled from the second voltage supply node, and the second end of the fly capacitor is coupled to a third reference terminal.

A growing number of technical applications utilize sub nanosecond pulses to drive laser diodes. Such applications include, but are not limited to, devices and methods related vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL) for single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) based time-of-flight (TOF) sensors. Controlling the current through a diode in a system with short duration pulses can be problematic. It can also be difficult to limit optical tailing in VCSELs in these and other conditions.

Laser diode driver circuits and methods of operating thereof


There are provided a multilayer ceramic electronic component, and a method of fabricating the same. The multilayer ceramic electronic component includes: a ceramic main body including a dielectric layer; first and second internal electrodes disposed to face each other within the ceramic main body; and a first external electrode and a second external electrode, wherein the first and second external electrodes include a conductive metal and glass, and when at least one of the first and second external electrodes is divided into three equal parts in a thickness direction, an area of the glass in a central part thereof is 35% to 80% of the total area of the central part. A multilayer ceramic electronic component having improved reliability may be implemented by enhancing chip air-tightness.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multilayer ceramic electronic component having improved reliability through enhanced chip air-tightness, and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, as electronic products have been reduced in size, a multilayer ceramic electronic component has also required to be reduced in size, yet have a large capacity.
In line with the requirements for a multilayer ceramic electronic component to have a small size and large capacity, an external electrode of the multilayer ceramic electronic component has also becoming thinner.
An external electrode paste may use a conductive metal such as copper (Cu) as a main material to guarantee chip air-tightness, electrical connectivity with a chip and may use glass as an auxiliary material to fill voids when the metal is sintered to be contracted and provide bonding force between an external electrode and the chip.
However, in the case that the content of glass in the external electrode paste is insufficient, chip air-tightness may be defective. If excessive glass is added to compensate the defect, the glass may be eluted from the surface to result in defective plating.
In particular, as the external electrode has become thinner, it has become difficult to implement a desired level of compactness (or denseness) therein, and the possibility of a defective product increases due to the shortage or excess of glass in terms of the high temperature behavior characteristics of the glass.
In addition, in the case of a small multilayer ceramic electronic component in which an external electrode applied thereto is thin, since the thickness of the external electrode in a corner portion thereof may be thin, corner coverage may deteriorate, causing a plating solution to infiltrate thereinto.

Multilayer ceramic electronic component and method of fabricating the same


A microcomputer controlled media and disk testing system having a media servowriting subsystem and a certification subsystem. The servowriting subsystem comprises a precision magnetic read/write (R/W) head positioning device based on a laser positioning device and pattern generating and writing circuitry. The certification subsystem comprises of an apparatus to open bit windows and adjust thresholds and to assess the quality and nature of defects from the positions of bits and their analog characteristics when read back relative to such windows.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the testing of magnetic media and drives, and specifically to servowriting a previously untested floppy disk first, then certifying the disk such that the locations of any and all media defects can be identified and logged.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are two principal operations involved in the prior art manufacture of magnetic media and disk drives. First, a certification of the quality of the media is done with specialized equipment. Second, a servowriting operation is done that places reference information on the surface of the media. ("Servowriting" places data on a disk that is used to for precise positioning of the heads on the media.) Certification usually means that 100% of the surface of the media is tested. In servowriting, the reference information is placed in very specific locations. The prior art practice has been to test and certify the media first and then write the servo information. Some prior art systems put down a magnetic index mark and record displacement angles of media defects with respect to the magnetic index mark. Then a physical index, typically a small punched hole, is placed such that identified media defects will not coincide with the physical index mark. The present invention puts the reference information down first, and then does the certification step. To do this means that there must be much more intricate control of the test process than had previously existed to avoid overwriting the reference information. But the advantage is media defects are very rapidly and precisely located.
As the capacity and performance of hard disks continue to advance, the number of tracks per inch (TPI) grows higher and higher. Higher density requires the use of servo positioning systems to accurately position the heads. Servowriters are required to properly write the servo position information on the disk.
Servowriting is a critical production step for a number of reasons. Since the drive can not be functionally tested until the servo information is in place, many production problems are discovered during servowriting or immediately after. If a problem does arise that prevents proper servowriting, the cause of the problem must be quickly determined. Diagnosis of the problem is often very difficult. Uncertainty about servowriter performance or reliability compounds the problem. Problems that affect more than a small percentage of hard disk assemblies (HDAs) may shut down production. Servowriters have a significant impact on development schedules too. The design of the servowriter is usually on the critical path to product introduction. Unless a servowriter is very similar to one that is already developed and successfully in use, the design and development process can be very arduous, delay production of the drive, and even delay the development process of the drive itself.
Magnetic disks and especially floppy disks consist of ferrite compounds on a substrate. Common floppy disks comprise MYLAR coated on both sides with ferric oxide. It is a common practice in the disk media industry to initially manufacture all floppy disks in a single batch, and then grade them into various classifications according to how well they test. The disks that are able to accept error free recordings in the highest density formats are certified for premium use, and carry the highest prices. Some disks will accept less dense formats, and so are certified as a standard, or economy grade. And, of course, those disks that cannot accept even the simplest of formats are discarded as waste.
Magnetic disk drives and their media have advanced to the point that even small media defects can cause serious data errors, or other problems, because the storage densities are so high. Track-to-track densities have now exceeded 2000 tracks-per-inch (TPI). Some media defects can be large enough to prevent using a particular disk in the industry standard high density ("HD") or in very high density ("VHD") format, and yet the same defects can still be minor enough that the same disk can be used in the (older) single density ("SD") or double density ("DD") formats . Very often defects occur only on one side of the media, so such a disk could also be certified and sold as single sided "SS," as opposed to double sided ("DS"). Disk media certifiers have evolved to test and grade floppy disks.
Read/write disk recording heads have been used in the prior art for both servowriting and certification functions. Single gap heads, using five to 60 milliamp currents and a center tap are typical. Floppy disk drives typically employ heads that are meant to contact the media during normal use. Various hard disks, such as Winchesters, literally fly the heads on an air cushion very close to the spinning media. The "flying height" reference (head to disk) varies from one disk type to the next. Pre-recorded servotracks need to have standardized servo track information recorded in them. The bit patterns within such servotracks can be single pulse or dipole. The issues related to servotrack recording include index-to-servo pattern tolerance, track-to-track timing tolerance, absolute track zero tolerance, and the so-called "D50" measurement. "D50" is a measure of high density recording performance. Usually, servo pulses are at lower density, so D50 is not directly related. Test programs should take into account such things as media errors, head checks, calibration checks, etc.
Various methods have developed in the prior art for measuring sector average amplitude (SAA) and the setting of thresholds for missing pulse, over-amplitude pulse, high frequency modulation, and bit shift. A prior art method of charging a capacitor with a given time constant for SAA has not been accurate enough, and some have suggested sampling the envelope to obtain a more accurate average. Methods of using automatic gain control (AGC) have also been used.
A significant problem with prior art disk media certification is that the locations of defects are not known except in the crudest of ways (e.g., the side and distance from an index mark).


This agricultural sealant relates to rejuvenating, sealing, and preserving asphalt pavements and concrete surfaces. More specifically, the sealant composition includes soy products and other vegetable products. More specifically, the agricultural sealant composition is a combination of soybean oil, alkyl esters of soybean oil, and at least one of d-limonene or other terpine hydrocarbons.

This invention relates to rejuvenating, sealing, and preserving asphalt pavements and concrete surfaces with an agricultural product. More specifically, this invention relates to a composition comprising soy products and other vegetable products.
Asphalt pavements are at their optimum performance shortly after they are properly designed, placed, compacted, and have cooled to ambient temperatures. From this point of time, they begin to oxidize from environmental elements. Two of the primary causes are water and ultraviolet light. This oxidation process causes pavements to become brittle and harden, resulting in cracking and raveling in just a few short years after placement. This is evidenced by the result of penetration and viscosity tests of asphalt cements before they are introduced to the manufacturing process versus test results after the mixing process is complete. And again, two to three years after their service life has began.
In recent years, highway agencies have recognized the necessity and benefits of early low cost treatments to asphalt pavements that will slow down this oxidation process. These early proactive treatments will become a necessity versus the current reactive maintenance and reconstructive practices we currently practice. This philosophy of early proactive treatments is just now becoming a part of the highway policy as we realize that our infrastructure is depreciating at a faster rate than it can be funded. Thus arises the need to economically as well as environmentally prolong new pavements in their new condition for a longer period of time, rather than letting them quickly deteriorate in five or six years and then trying to repair the damage that has occurred through natural oxidation.
Coal tar liquids, asphalt emulsion chip seals/slurry seals, and crack fillers, are a few of the maintenance processes placed on asphalt pavement as the signs of oxidation begin showing up and it is realized that something must be done.
This agricultural sealant for preserving asphalt is a combination of soybean oil, alkyl esters of soybean oil, and at least one of d-limonene or other terpine hydrocarbons. preferably, the agricultural sealant composition is a combination of:
The non aqueous composition is diluted with water as desired.
Deterioration of the pavement starts at the surface where water and ultraviolet light come into greatest contact with the pavement. Through the application of this product, a very oxidation-resistant material penetrates into the top xe2x85x9c inch of pavement and allows a protective barrier from the elements. This invention is a liquid applied at ambient temperatures (60xc2x0-120xc2x0 F.), which penetrates into the surface of the asphalt pavement quickly.
The agricultural sealant should be applied at a rate of 0.03 to 0.15 gallon per square yard. Rates below 0.03 will not provide an adequate seal, depending on the pavement""s mix composition. Rates above 0.15 may create an unstable pavement. Standard asphalt distributors should be used for application where a precise rate of application can be achieved. Computer-controlled machines with nozzles designed for fog seals of comparable rates would be the preferred device for application of this agricultural sealant. Methods of handling this material should be comparable to other sealants. Care should be taken with regard to any contamination with water or any other liquid to ensure the quality of the process.


A feature activation system provides a mixed computing environment that includes a server and cloud computing. The hybrid model splits the execution of a communication feature between the cloud and the enterprise server installed at or with the enterprise. Service activation is linked to a portal that can communicate with either an intermediary system or directly with an entity executing computer programs in the cloud. When the customer desires to use a feature, the customer accesses the portal and activates the feature the enterprise desires. In the background, the portal instantiates a virtual machine, on any cloud platform, and then installs the feature with virtual machine on that cloud server. To execute feature, the enterprise server and the virtual machine exchange information between the server and the cloud and allow the feature to access the enterprise server or enterprise data. When the user has completed feature execution, the instance of the feature may be stopped and discarded and any data may be saved either at the enterprise or within the cloud.

Communication systems often include features that a business can use to further enhance their communications abilities. These features could be, for example, exporting of call logs to travelers who are away from the office, recording calls or conferences, conferencing with external businesses, web conferencing, presence servers, analytics, and other features. Unfortunately, there are generally two ways of activating features with a communication system. The first method requires bundling the features within a feature server that is sold to the business. For small and medium size companies, the feature server is extremely expensive and generally is cost prohibitive. The other method requires the enterprise to activate or use the feature at a distant computing system, e.g., a remote server made available to the enterprise. The remote systems are not owned by the entity executing the software. As such, third-parties can provide computing services to entities on a subscription basis. However, the remote system for activating features is also not always practical because enterprises often have difficulty determining what features are needed or would be used. Thus, enterprises often purchase subscriptions that are not used or of little use. Further, the remote servers that are used for the features often fail and leave the enterprise with no ability to use the features.

On-demand feature server activation in the cloud