A method and apparatus for synchronously piecing rovings applied to a ring spinning frame in combination with a system of transporting roving bobbins by a bobbin carriage between a roving room and a spinning room, wherein rovings supplied from corresponding bobbins of a bobbin carriage in a creel portion of the ring spinning frame are synchronously pieced with corresponding supplemental rovings taken from respective full packaged roving bobbins held by another bobbin carriage in the creel portion of the ring spinning frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Sho 62 (1987)-57957, it is well known that, in a conventional system, when roving bobbins from which rovings are fed to draft parts of a ring spinning frame become almost exhausted and small in size and the yarn packages of the spinning frame reach a predetermined size after the completion of forming a starting portion thereof, i.e., one-third of a full package size thereof, supplemental rovings are taken from the full packaged roving bobbins. These bobbins are prepared in advance in a creel part of a ring spinning frame, during a predetermined period between a time at which the size of the yarn packages reaches one-third of the full yarn package size and a time at which the size of the yarn package becomes 90% of the full yarn package size, and these rovings are carried to positions right above trumpets of the corresponding draft parts of the ring spinning frame, respectively. Thereafter, the above-mentioned supplemental rovings are combined with corresponding rovings fed from the almost exhausted roving bobbins, respectively, and the rovings, which are connected to the respective roving bobbins, are separated from the combined portion of the rovings immediately after the above-mentioned combination. The above-mentioned unit operation is carried out from one end of the spindle alignment of the ring spinning frame to the other end, by utilizing a roving piecing apparatus having a function of synchronously carrying out the unit operation for a group of a plurality of successive spindles, for example, two to six spindles. It is also possible to carrying out the above-mentioned unit operation manually.
In the above mentioned roving piecing operation utilizing the apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned prior art, the unit operation by the apparatus is carried out by successive operations such as a first operation for reserving supplemental rovings at the respective positions close to the trumpets of the corresponding draft parts, and a second operation, i.e., the joint piecing operation of supplemental rovings with the corresponding rovings, which are fed from the respective roving bobbins, at the above-mentioned positions, and a third operation of cutting the rovings which are supplied from the respective roving bobbins arranged at the creel portion of the ring spinning frame, at the respective positions upstream of the corresponding trumpets of the draft parts, and the above-mentioned unit operation by the apparatus is successively carried out by displacing the apparatus along the spindle alignment. Therefore, the time required to carry out the roving piecing operation at the time of exchanging almost exhausted roving bobbins for the full packages roving bobbins, utilizing the above-mentioned known apparatus is fairly long. This problem becomes more serious when producing a coarse count yarn, which is preferably produced by utilizing a ring spinning frame having a larger number of spindles than the standard size spinning frame, because the time required to produce the full size yarn package is shorter than the time required to complete the successive roving piecing operation for all spindles of the ring spinning frame. Accordingly, the above-mentioned roving piecing method and apparatus are not suitable for producing a coarse count yarn.

Method and apparatus for synchronously piecing roving for a continuous feeding thereof to a ring spinning frame


A configurable antenna system and method of implementing is disclosed, having particular use with a wireless access point of the type used with a wireless local area network. The antenna system includes an antenna arrangement for selectively varying between first and second operational positions. In the first operational position, the antenna arrangement operates in an omni-directional antenna mode. In the second operational position, the antenna arrangement operates in a directional antenna mode. A signal reflecting member is further provided for cooperating with the antenna arrangement in the second operational position, to substantially establish the antenna arrangement in a directional configuration.

Wireless networking is becoming increasingly common in offices, retail establishments and other networked facilities. A wireless local area network (WLAN) has obvious benefits over a typical wired LAN in that it offers client users mobility to move around from place to place within a coverage area or "cell," without having to operate from a wired port in a fixed location. And by not relying on wired ports, a WLAN reduces the amount of wiring necessary in a networked area, resulting in reduced deployment cost and lower ongoing maintenance.
In a WLAN, a client device (such as a laptop computer or hand-held device) includes a radio component such as a wireless card having an antenna and suitable radio electronics circuitry for converting electronic signals back and forth into wireless radio frequency signals. The mobile client device communicates with the WLAN through a wireless Access Point (AP) that also includes an antenna system with a radio electronic package, and further includes a wired connection to the network, which can include one or more servers, and shared peripheral devices such as printers, etc.
At the present time, WLANs typically operate in either the 2.4 GHz or the 5 GHz wireless radio bands, in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 (a) and (g) wireless protocols. However, with the increase in wireless networking, there is an ongoing need to improve wireless throughput and increase the number of channels through which wireless clients may communicate with the APs. As a result, there is interest in utilizing the unlicensed UNII bands.
The UNII bands are specified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). These UNII bands are low-power bands adjacent to higher-power bands licensed for fixed wireless, commercial services, etc. The power requirements for UNII bands are kept low to as to avoid interference with adjacent licensed and military usage bands. In order to preserve the low-power requirements, the FCC rules for the UNII-1 band (5150 MHz-5250 MHz) require that radio devices operating in these bands have integral or captured antennas, rather than removable antenna devices joined to the radio with a connector. The antenna cannot be replaced with a higher-gain antenna that would violate the FCC power limitations. WLAN devices which operate in the UNII-1 band may not employ an antenna connector, prohibiting the user from selecting a specific antenna to meet an application requirement. This lack of flexibility, which is not encountered in equipment designed for UNII-2, 3 and the ISM bands, must be resolved in accordance with the UNII-1 standards.
It would also be desirable to provide omni-directional coverage as well as directional coverage patterns, so as to provide an end user with a variety of deployment options. Most users in the 2.4 GHz band currently deploy either a low-gain omni-directional antenna arrangement in a ceiling mount configuration, or, alternatively, a low gain patch antenna arrangement in a wall mount configuration. Therefore, there is a strong motivation to provide the same types of antenna patterns in an AP operating in the UNII bands. However, the omni-directional antenna may operate with a different gain than a directional antenna leading to different peak radiated emissions levels from the system. So an AP system which is capable of exceeding these emissions levels by virtue of its conducted power capability and its complement of antenna deployment alternatives must be able to adjust its conducted transmit power in order to maintain compliance with all FCC rules.

Configurable diversity antenna system for wireless access points


A semiconductor memory system may include a plurality of memory devices each configured to have multiple planes, and an access controller configured to access each of the multiple planes corresponding to each of the plurality of memory devices as a unit memory.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to semiconductor design technology, and more particularly, to a semiconductor memory system and an operating method thereof including a plurality of memory devices of multi-plane array.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, semiconductor memory devices are classified into volatile memory devices, such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and a static random access memory (SRAM), and nonvolatile memory devices, such as a programmable read only memory (PROM), an erasable PROM (EPROM), an electrically EPROM (EEPROM), and a flash memory device. The distinguishable characteristic between the volatile memory device and the nonvolatile memory device from each other is whether or not data stored in a memory cell is retained.
Whether data is retained or not may be dependent on a memory cell structure. That is, a volatile memory device and a nonvolatile memory device have different memory cell structures. From a viewpoint of the memory cell structure, data stored in a volatile memory device is not retained after a certain time, whereas data stored in a nonvolatile memory device is retained even after a certain time. Accordingly, in the case of a volatile memory device, a refresh operation must be performed in order to retain data. In contrast, in the case of a nonvolatile memory device, a refresh operation is not essential, which is suitable for a recent tendency toward lower power and high degree of integration and makes nonvolatile memory devices widely used as storage media for portable devices.
Recently, package technology for semiconductor memory devices is developing in order to meet user's needs. A multi-chip packaging is recently being proposed as package technology for semiconductor memory devices. The multi-chip packaging refers to the formation of a plurality of semiconductor devices into a single chip, wherein homogeneous semiconductor devices are stacked to increase the memory capacity or heterogeneous semiconductor devices of different functions are stacked to improve desired performance.
A semiconductor memory system capable of controlling semiconductor memory devices more efficiently is proposed below.

Semiconductor memory system and method for controlling order of access operation on a plurality of memory devices of multi-plane array


A noise suppression apparatus includes: a conversion unit to convert a recorded sound signal in a time domain into a spectrum in a frequency domain; a setting unit to set a suppression gain indicating a degree of suppression on each spectrum for each frequency spectrum on the basis of a nonstationarity-value variation in time of the respective spectrum; a suppression unit to suppress each of the spectrum on the basis of the suppression gain set by the setting unit for each frequency spectrum; and an inverse conversion unit to perform an inverse conversion to the conversion by the conversion unit on the spectrum having been subjected to the suppression processing by the suppression unit.

Several audio-signal processing techniques that reduce noise components included in a recorded sound signal obtained by recording a sound of a speaker by a microphone, etc., have been known. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 10-003297, 2007-318528, 2004-341339, and 2000-172283 are some examples.
First, as a first technique, there is a technique in which an output signal having a different noise elimination characteristic is selected on the basis of whether a signal component of a human voice included in an input audible signal is a voiced sound or an unvoiced sound. By the first technique, it is possible to eliminate background noise. Also, in the first technique, a short-time average and a long-time average are calculated on the time axis of the input audible signal. And in the first technique, if a difference between the calculated short-time average and long-time average is greater than a first threshold value, it is determined that the audible signal includes a voice component. Alternatively, in the first technique, whether a voice component is included in an input audible signal or not is determined on the basis of a comparison result between a signal-to-noise ratio of the input audible signal and the first threshold value. Also, in the first technique, whether a voice component included in an input audible signal is a voiced sound or an unvoiced sound is determined by a magnitude relationship between a signal-to-noise ratio of the input audible signal and a second threshold value, and a magnitude relationship between a power ratio of a maximum value on the frequency axis of the input audible signal to an estimated background noise and a third threshold value.
Also, as a second technique, a technique in which an audio signal originated from a sound source in a certain direction is emphasized and surrounding noise is suppressed is known. In the second technique, when an audio signal including voices, noise, etc., originated from sound sources existing in a plurality of directions are input using a plurality of microphones, processing for determining whether the audio signal is coming from a direction of a speaker or not is performed on the basis of phase differences among the microphones for each frequency.
Also, as a third technique, spectral shapes of audio signals divided into a plurality of frequency bands are analyzed for each frequency, and are grouped into voices, noise, or voice-like noise. And in the third technique, a technique, in which best-suited noise suppression processing selected in accordance with the group is performed for each band, is also known.
In this regard, as another technique, a technique of determining whether it is a state of including a voice signal or a state of not including a voice signal in order to perform efficient audio coding is known. For example, an element value to be a basis of determination of whether a frame-divided voice signal is included or not is calculated for each section further divided into a shorter section than that frame, which is a processing unit of audio coding processing. And in this technique, it is known that the above-described determination is made on the basis of a size of the calculated value and degrees of change.

Noise suppression apparatus, method, and a storage medium storing a noise suppression program


An automotive vehicle is equipped with an on-board microcomputer having a function of pre-diagnosing and indicating a possibility of arising of an automotive trouble in response to electrical informations relatable to the trouble which informations are stored in a memory device. Additionally, an acoustical coupler is mounted on the vehicle and electrically connected to the memory device to convert the electrical informations to acoustic signals. The thus converted acoustical signals are to be transmitted via a telephone line to a computer for automotive trouble diagnosis purpose which computer is located remote from the vehicle, for example, in the head office of a service firm, thereby making it possible to achieve automotive trouble diagnosis without carrying the memory device to a service factory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a system for diagnosing a problem of an automotive vehicle, and more particularly to such a system consisting of an automotive trouble pre-diagnosing device mounted on the automotive vehicle which device warns or notices occurrence of the trouble to a driver.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, technical developments in the field of automotive vehicles have been proposed and promoted to more effectively achieve a functional inspection and problem diagnosis of the automotive vehicle, in which for example a self-diagnosing device consisting of an on-board microcomputer is mounted on an automotive vehicle and a diagnosing device consisting of a computer is provided to a service factory.
However, with the thus developed automotive trouble diagnosing techniques, it is usual that at least a memory device of the on-board microcomputer is carried to the service factory and then is connected to the computer for the automotive trouble diagnosis purpose thereby to achieve the diagnosis of the automotive vehicle. This requires a longer time and a troublesome labour for repairing the automotive vehicle.


This invention is directed to a non-flammable plating resist with improved adhesion and edge covering characteristics which permits its selective removal by an ordinary laser ablation process or an energy efficient laser assisted process, and to the preferred method in using same to selectively plate a metal substrate, such as a nickel plated, electrically conductive metal with a precious metal. The preferred method comprises the steps of applying a thin uniform layer of such resist onto the substrate and drying the same in situ to a thickness greater than 100 microinches and less than 500 microinches, and drying same in situ, where such resist (a) is resistant to deterioration by chemical plating solutions of such precious metal, (b) is readily strippable in alkaline solutions, and (c) has a flashpoint in excess of 100.degree. F. A preferred formulation for such resist comprises, by weight, the following:. ______________________________________ Styrene acrylic co-polymer 61.5% suspension Butyl cellosolve 3.1% Butyl carbitol 7.4% Water, essentially the balance. ______________________________________. Thereafter, selected areas of said resist coated substrate are subjected to a controlled excimer laser pulse to remove such resist within said areas by an ablation process or a "patch blow off" energy efficient process, followed by plating the exposed areas of said substrate with a precious metal, and stripping said resist from the remaining portions of said metal substrate.

The present invention relates to a method which allows for the selective plating of a metal substrate, such as an electrical contact. The selective plating thereof, such as by plating with a precious metal, is achieved herein by first applying to all surfaces of such contact a thin coating of a sprayable styrene-acrylic co-polymer resist, drying the resist, preferably followed by the selective removal thereof by a technique called laser ablation, precious metal plating of such selective areas, and removal of the remaining resist from such contact. However, the plating resist of this invention is also applicable to other plating methods such as by the use of a mask or other means for selective plating as known in the art.
A preferred embodiment of this invention is the selective plating of electrical terminals. Typically, such terminals are stamped and formed from metal strip and are attached to a carrier strip which is useful for strip feeding the terminals through successive manufacturing operations. One necessary manufacturing operation involves plating; i.e., electroplating, the electrical contact surfaces of the strip fed terminals with precious metal or semi-precious metal, such as gold or alloys thereof. Such metals are characterized by good electrical conductivity and little or no formation of oxides that reduce said conductivity. Therefore these metals, when applied as plating, will improve conductivity of the terminals. However, the high cost of these metals has necessitated precision deposition onto the contact surfaces of the terminals, and not on surfaces of the terminals on which plating is not necessary. By being able to initially control the selective resist removal procedure, one can ultimately control and limit the application of the precious metals.
Ablation is defined as the process of removal of a part such as by melting or vaporization. The laser is the mechanism by which one may achieve the selective melting or vaporization. By the use of different lasers, particularly ones utilizing a broadly differing wavelength, the general process of laser ablation is affected. For example, by the use of an excimer laser, operating in the U.V. range, coupled with a resist essentially transparent to the wavelength of such laser, and a metal substrate from which the resist is to be removed and which absorbs such wavelength, as taught in co-pending application, Ser. No. 180,417, a different laser assisted material removal process is observed. The latter process, which is more energy efficient, may be termed "patch blowoff." That is, rather than melting or vaporizing the resist, an interesting phenomena occurs at the resist/substrate interface resulting in the overlying resist being blown off, essentially as solid particles. Thus, while laser ablation has been broadly used to define any process where a laser is used to assist in a material removal process, it will be appreciated that the certain parameters applied will render the various approaches quite distinctive.
Returning now to the broad concept, it can be acknowledged that selective removal of a resist may be accomplished by the technique known as laser ablation. Reports have appeared in the literature regarding attempts at laser ablation of polymer coatings on metals, and regarding methods of multi-shot removal of polymer coatings on non-metals. R. Srinivasan et al, in the JAP 59, 3862 (2986) and JVST, B1, 923 (1983) describe, for example, the use of excimer laser wavelengths which are strongly absorbed directly in the polymer itself to achieve removal of polymer by chemical bond-breaking or heating to vaporization, or a combination of both. However, the authors found that polymer ablation occurs when the laser light is absorbed within about the first 0.2 micron or less of the polymer surface. Then only that polymer material within the characteristic absorption depth was removed In order to remove a thicker polymer film, such as is necessary for most electroplating requirements, multiple laser shots would be required. The use of multiple shots is much less desirable than single shot removal One problem associated with the method of Srinivasan et al, wherein the laser light is directly absorbed in the polymer, is that choosing a laser wavelength too strongly absorbed in the polymer necessarily implies a small absorption depth and small thickness removed. On the other hand, choosing a wavelength too weakly absorbed in the polymer precludes depositing sufficient energy per unit volume of polymer to achieve ablation. The compromise value between these extremes dictates that no more than about 0.3 micron per pulse can be removed in the best case. Cole et al, in Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 72, 241 (1986), concur with Srinivasan et al in this finding The above process represents the current state of the art on excimer laser ablation of polymers.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,848 to Miller et al, a method for the removal of a dielectric coating from a conductor, by means of a focused, high energy radiation source, is taught. More particularly, in said method a laser source is focused to a point above the coating which results in a plasma ionized region being formed. As a consequence, the coating is removed in a preselected region on the underlying conductor. In other words, the laser ablation depends on absorption of laser light by ionized air or other plasma and transmission to the dielectric. A difficulty of this method is the ability to control and adjust the air breakdown so as to ensure there is no damage to the conductor, i.e. underlying substrate, and to achieve removal of the residual layer. Another difficulty is that only a small area corresponding to the tight focus region can be removed on each shot. Miller et al state that extended areas are to be ablated by multiple shots while moving the workpiece, or the laser focus.
Notwithstanding such prior art teachings, co-pending application, Ser. No. 180,417 discovered, among other features, a more energy efficient laser process alternative to complete ablation of the material being removed. A single excimer laser shot which is not appreciably absorbed by the coating material penetrates through the entire thickness of the coating and causes heating of the metal substrate surface. The heated metal substrate causes vaporization of a thin layer of the coating material next to the metal, thereby destroying the bond of the coating to the metal and providing expanding gasses which cause the blowoff of a patch of coating material covering the total area of the exposed region. The entire thickness of the coating in the patterned exposure area is thereby removed with only a single laser shot with the utilization of only a fraction of the energy required to volatilize the entire volume of the material so removed.
Thus, an important recognition to come from the work of such co-pending application was the criticality in correlating the operating parameters and characteristics of the laser with the properties and characteristics of the plating resist and the properties and characteristics of the underlying metal substrate. It is known from such prior work that the resist must be sufficiently transparent to allow most of the laser radiation to pass through without appreciably decomposing the coating so as to provide heating of the metal surface in the intended ablation patch area.
However, it has now been discovered that additional attributes are necessary. Through continued investigation, the present invention has found that in order for a resist coating to be removed by the above mentioned energy efficient process, it must have additional attributes such that the resist coating will:
a) soften enough when heated by the laser heated metal substrate surface to allow stretch tearing at the patch peripheral boundary between heated and non-heated material to insure patch removal; PA0 b) not soften so much when heated by the laser heated metal substrate surface so that "balloon burst" failure occurs, i.e. rupture tear failure of the center of the ballooning heated patch first, thus relieving blister pressure and allowing the patch edges to fall back into the intended ablation patch area; PA0 c) adhere strongly to the metal substrate so that the resulting resist sidewall bordering the removed areas maintains a sharply defined profile with no undercutting or breaking thereof; PA0 d) provide excellent edge coverage; and PA0 e) possess a high flash point, i.e. outside flammable category. PA0 a) be sufficiently transparent to allow most of the laser radiation to pass through the coating so as to provide heating of the metal surface in the intended ablation patch area; PA0 b) gasify enough when in contact with the laser heating metal substrate surface to provide an expulsion means for the patch being removed; PA0 c) adhere strongly enough to protect the covered surface during plating operations; PA0 d) not deteriorate in the plating bath chemical environment; PA0 e) be strippable after the plating operation is completed; and PA0 f) be able to be applied by spraying or printing. PA0 a) handling characteristics by being classified as non-flammable, PA0 b) edge coverage of object being resist coated, PA0 c) adhesion to the substrate, and PA0 d) maintenance of resist edgewall profile integrity along removed patch boundaries;
as well as preserve the previously established requirements that the resist coating will:
As a result of the improved formulation, the plating resist hereof provides for a superior performance, the manner of which will become apparent from a reading of the specification which follows.

Non-flammable and strippable plating resist and method of using same


Methods implemented by a processor in a wireless device for detecting the presence in a network of a jammer or non-benign entity that targets physical layer channels in a communication network are disclosed. Various embodiments may determine a first signal measurement quantity based on a first physical layer communication, determine a second signal measurement quantity based on a second physical layer communication, determine a difference between the first signal measurement quantity and the second signal measurement quantity, determine whether the difference between the first signal measurement quantity and the second signal measurement quantity satisfies a threshold, determine whether a jammer or non-benign entity is present in the network in response to determining that the difference between the first signal measurement quantity and the second signal measurement quantity satisfies the threshold, and perform a mitigation operation in response to determining that a jammer or non-benign entity is present in the network.

Long Term Evolution (LTE), 5G new radio (NR), and other recently developed communication technologies allow wireless devices to communicate information at data rates (e.g., in terms of Gigabits per second, etc.) that are orders of magnitude greater than what was available just a few years ago. Today's communication networks are also more secure, resilient to multipath fading, allow for lower network traffic latencies, and provide better communication efficiencies (e.g., in terms of bits per second per unit of bandwidth used, etc.). These and other recent improvements in communication technologies have facilitated the emergence of the Internet of Things (IOT), large scale Machine to Machine (M2M) communication systems, autonomous vehicles, and other technologies that rely on consistent and secure wireless communications. As a result, billions of small, mobile, or resource constrained computing devices (e.g., smartphones, watches, smart appliances, autonomous vehicles, etc.) now use Internet protocol (IP) and cellular communication networks to communicate critical and mundane information.
Concurrent with the above trends, software defined radio (SDR) chips and universal software radio peripheral (USRP) boards have become less expensive and are now widely available. Open source LTE/3G stacks (srsLTE, openLTE, OpenBTS-UMTS, etc.) allow programmers to quickly install and operate a base station via a laptop computer. These technologies have dramatically reduced the costs associated with setting up and operating a base station in a shell telecommunication network.
Due to these trends, wireless devices and cellular communication networks are increasingly vulnerable to the potential threat posed by fake base stations and jammers. Someone with malicious intent could set up a fake base station or jammer to deliberately transmit communication signals to jam or overwhelm the base stations of network service providers, launch denial of service attacks, drain the battery and processing resources of resource constrained computing devices (e.g., IOT devices, smartphones, etc.), or otherwise disrupt or hinder the services provided by legitimate communication networks and service providers.

Selective jamming detection based on comparing two or more signal measurement quantities


A telephone apparatus is disclosed which comprises: a receiving portion for receiving a telephone signal and generating a voice signal from the received telephone signal; a frequency conversion portion responsive to a control signal for frequency-converting the voice signal; and a reproducing portion for reproducing the voice signal from the frequency conversion portion. The frequency converting amount may be controlled externally or may be predetermined. The frequency converting amount data may cleared every communication for various circumstances. The circumference noise level and the frequency conversion amount data are stored when the frequency conversion is commended in an automatic mode during a communication. In the later communication, the frequency conversion may be effected automatically when the circumference noise level is larger than the stored circumference noise level.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a telephone apparatus with hearing assistance.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A telephone apparatus with hearing assistance is known. In such a prior art telephone apparatus, an intensity of reproduced voice is increased by a user.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a prior art telephone apparatus with an intensity of the received voice controlled. An intensity of a voice produced by the speaker 11 from the received voice signal is controlled by a volume 12. However, easiness in hearing was not sufficient.
The aim of the present invention is to provide an improved telephone apparatus.
According to the present invention, a first telephone apparatus is provided, which comprises: a receiving portion for receiving a telephone signal and generating a voice signal from the received telephone signal; a frequency conversion portion responsive to a control signal for frequency-converting the voice signal; and a reproducing portion for reproducing the voice signal from the frequency conversion portion.
In the first telephone apparatus, the frequency conversion portion frequency-converts the voice signal by a predetermined frequency conversion amount.
In the first telephone apparatus, the frequency conversion portion is further responsive to a frequency conversion amount signal and the frequency conversion portion frequency-converts the voice signal in accordance with the frequency conversion amount signal. In this case, it further comprises a storing portion for storing the frequency conversion amount signal and ON-HOOK detection portion for detecting an ON-HOOK condition, and a control portion for storing the frequency conversion amount signal in the storing portion in response to the frequency conversion amount signal and erasing the frequency conversion amount signal in the storing portion in response to the detected ON-HOOK condition.
According to the present invention, a second telephone apparatus is provided which comprises: a receiving portion for receiving a telephone signal and generating a voice signal from the received telephone signal; a frequency conversion portion for frequency-converting the voice signal in accordance with a control signal; a reproducing portion for reproducing the voice signal from the frequency conversion portion; a circumference sound noise level detection portion for detecting a circumference sound noise level; and a control portion for generating the control signal in accordance with the detected circumference sound noise level.
According to the present invention, a third telephone apparatus coupled to a telephone network is provided which comprises: a receiving portion for receiving a telephone signal and generating a voice signal from the received telephone signal; a frequency conversion portion responsive to a control signal for frequency-converting the voice signal in accordance with a frequency conversion amount signal; a reproducing portion for reproducing the voice signal from the frequency conversion portion; a first storing portion for storing the frequency conversion amount signal; a communication condition detection portion for detecting a communication condition; a circumference sound noise level detection portion for detecting a circumference sound noise level; a second storing portion for storing the detected circumference sound noise level; a first control portion responsive to the communication condition detection portion and a frequency control signal for generating the frequency conversion amount signal, operating the frequency conversion portion, storing the frequency conversion amount signal in the first storing portion, and storing the circumference sound noise level in the second storing portion in a communication condition; a comparing portion for comparing the detected circumference sound noise level with the circumference sound noise level in the second storing portion; a second control portion responsive to the communication condition detection portion for reading and supplying the frequency conversion amount signal from the first storing portion to the frequency conversion portion when the detected circumference sound noise level is larger than the circumference sound noise level in the second storing portion in the next communication condition.

Telephone apparatus with hearing assistance

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An integrated device (e.g., an integrated PCI bridge device) buffers received PCI bus strobe signals and distributes strobe signals for PCI receive data relative to the PCI data lines, enabling all PCI receive data to be latched using locally-generated PCI strobe signals generated based on the same PCI bus strobe signals. In addition, data line latch modules having primary and secondary flip-flops enable the PCI receive data to be held for an entire clock cycle, optimizing conversion between a PCI clock domain and a local clock domain of the PCI bridge device. A transmission circuit also can be configured to transmit data according to either double data rate (DDR) mode or quad data rate (QDR) mode in an efficient manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to integrated network devices having Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bridges.
2. Background Art
Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) interfaces have been used to provide high-speed connectivity between devices in a multi-device system, such as a processor based system such as a personal computer.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional implementation of a PCI bus system architecture 100. The system 100 includes a processor 102 coupled to a memory controller 104 via a local bus 106. The processor 102 and the memory controller 104 are coupled to a PCI local bus 106 (labeled PCI Local Bus #0) via a host bridge 108.
The host bridge 108 provides a low latency path through which the processor 102 may directly access PCI devices 110, for example a network interface card 110a providing access to a local area network, a disc drive (SCSI) controller 110b providing access to disk drives 114, an audio card 110c, a motion picture card 110d, or a graphics card 110e configured for driving a monitor 116. The host bridge 108 also provides a high bandwidth path allowing PCI masters on the PCI bus 106 direct access to the system memory 118 via the memory controller 104. A cache memory 120 is independent of the system memory 118 for use by the processor 102.
The term "host bridge" refers to the bridge device 108 that provides access to the system memory 118 for the devices 110 connected to the PCI bus 106. A PCI-to-PCI bridge 122 also may be used to connect a second PCI bus 124 to the PCI bus 106, the second PCI bus 124 configured for connecting other I/O devices 126.
Newer PCI bus protocols are being published, including PCI-X Mode 2, that provide enhanced PCI functionality. These newer PCI bus protocols include the PCI Local Bus Specification, Rev 2.3, the PCI-X Protocol Addendum to the PCI Local Bus Specification, Rev. 2.0a, and the PCI-to-PCI Bridge Architecture Specification, Rev 1.2.
The PCI-X Electrical and Mechanical Addendum to the PCI Local Bus Specification Revision 2.0a, Aug. 22, 2003 (hereinafter "PCI-X E/M Addendum"), specifically "Appendix C—PCI-X Mode 2 Device Design Guidelines and Examples" describes on pages 123-132 a proposal for implementing Double Data Rate (DDR) and Quad Data Rate (QDR) transmissions. In particular, the PCI data on the PCI-X bus is edge triggered (i.e., data is valid on the PCI-X bus when the PCI clock transitions from one state to another), such that the PCI data is latched on each rising and falling clock edge.
The implementation as suggested in the Appendix C suffers from the disadvantage that the disclosed technique for latching incoming data from the PCI-X bus creates numerous timing synchronization problems. According to the proposed implementation, multiple flip-flops inside the PCI device are arranged into an array for storing the incoming PCI data, where a selected flip-flop is used for latching a corresponding PCI data bit: decision logic outputs a signal used as the clock for latching the data into the selected flip-flop.
However, the proposed implementation as suggested in the Appendix C suffers from the disadvantage that the timing within the device is harder to predict, resulting in timing synchronization problems during implementation, for example due to implementation variations such as aligning strobe signals with the data, differences in board wire lengths, duty cycle variations, variations between drivers, and data pattern intersymbol interference.

Arrangement for receiving and transmitting PCI-X data according to selected data modes


A method for chemically modifying a tobacco material during a curing process involves treating the tobacco material in a curing enclosure at a temperature and for a time sufficient to produce cured tobacco. The method also involves contacting the tobacco material with a chemical reagent before and/or during the time period that the tobacco material is cured so that the chemical reagent can interact with the tobacco material, thus resulting in further change in the chemical nature of the cured tobacco material. An exemplary chemical reagent is an ammonia source, which can be applied to a tobacco material in a variety of ways, including by spraying an aqueous ammonia source onto the tobacco or by introducing gaseous ammonia into the curing enclosure during the curing process.

Popular smoking articles, such as cigarettes, have a substantially cylindrical rod shaped structure and include a charge, roll or column of smokable material such as shredded tobacco (e.g., in cut filler form) surrounded by a paper wrapper thereby forming a so-called "tobacco rod." Normally, a cigarette has a cylindrical filter element aligned in an end-to-end relationship with the tobacco rod. Typically, a filter element comprises plasticized cellulose acetate tow circumscribed by a paper material known as "plug wrap." Certain cigarettes incorporate a filter element having multiple segments, and one of those segments can comprise activated charcoal particles. Typically, the filter element is attached to one end of the tobacco rod using a circumscribing wrapping material known as "tipping paper." It also has become desirable to perforate the tipping material and plug wrap, in order to provide dilution of drawn mainstream smoke with ambient air. A cigarette is employed by a smoker by lighting one end thereof and burning the tobacco rod. The smoker then receives mainstream smoke into his/her mouth by drawing on the opposite end (e.g., the filter end) of the cigarette.
The tobacco used for cigarette manufacture is typically used in blended form. For example, certain popular tobacco blends, commonly referred to as "American blends," comprise mixtures of flue-cured tobacco, burley tobacco and Oriental tobacco, and in many cases, certain processed tobaccos, such as expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco and processed tobacco stems. The precise amount of each type of tobacco within a tobacco blend used for the manufacture of a particular cigarette brand varies from brand to brand. See, for example, Tobacco Encyclopedia, Voges (Ed.) p. 44-45 (1984), Browne, The Design of Cigarettes, 3rd Ed., p. 43 (1990) and Tobacco Production, Chemistry and Technology, Davis et al. (Eds.) p. 346 (1999).
It has been common practice to flue-cure certain tobaccos, such as Virginia tobaccos, in barns using a so-called flue-curing process. Cooper et al., VPI Bull., 37(6), 3-28 (1939); Brown et al., Agric. Eng., 29(3), 109-111 (1948); Johnson et al., Job. Sci., 4, 49-55 (1960); Johnson, Rec. Adv. Tob. Sci., Inag. Vol., 63-78 (1974); Peele et al., Rec. Adv. Job. Sci., 21, 81-123 (1995). Tobacco leaf is harvested, placed in barns, and subjected to the application of heat in order to dry and "cure" the tobacco.
There have been reports of investigations associated with curing conditions within tobacco curing barns. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,768,142 to Pike et al. Carbon dioxide levels within tobacco curing structures during tobacco curing processes have been monitored. See, Johnson et al., Tob. Sci., 7, 85-92 (1963). Changes in oxygen levels within the atmospheres within tobacco curing structures also have been monitored. See, Watkins et al., Tob. Sci., 6, 92-97 (1962). It has been suggested to introduce oxygen into tobacco curing barns during the flue-curing process. See, U.S. Pat. No. 2,708,441 to Viglione. The effects of chemicals, such ethylene, on tobacco during the flue-curing process also have been studied. See, Sisler et al., Tob. Sci., 17, 68-72 (1973) and Walker et al., Tob. Sci., 29, 92-98 (1985). Nitrous oxides in exhaust gases, particularly from direct fire liquid propane powered heating units, have been implicated with the formation of tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNA) in flue-cured Virginia tobacco. See, US Pat. App. Pub. 2001/0000386 to Peele and U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,808 to Hempfling et al., which are incorporated herein by reference.
During the growing season, numerous environmental factors, such as the amount of rainfall, can impact the chemical properties of tobacco. For instance, in drought conditions, harvested tobacco leaves exhibit higher nicotine levels and lower levels of carbohydrates; and cured tobacco leaves exhibit higher nicotine levels and lower levels of sugars that serve as precursors to aromatic and flavorful compounds (e.g., pyrazines). In growing seasons where rainfall is above average, harvested tobacco leaves contain greater amounts of carbohydrates, and a more moderate nicotine concentration. As a result, due to the volatile and unpredictable nature of the environmental conditions experienced by the tobacco during the growing season, the chemical properties of harvested tobacco and cured leaf are rarely consistent from one year to the next.
It would be desirable to provide an efficient and effective method for chemically modifying tobacco at an early stage of production, such as during the curing process. It would be particularly desirable to adjust the chemical properties of tobacco in a manner that provides greater consistency despite changes in environmental factors from year-to-year.

Method for chemically modifying tobacco during curing


A method of sensing vehicle engine ignition status is disclosed wherein samples of only the electrical system voltage levels are used. Sampling voltages that drop sufficiently (in magnitude and quantity over a period of time) will signify an “engine off” state.

Vehicle ignition sensing is conventionally obtained by sampling a variety of electro-mechanical phenomena related to the engine and ignition circuitry. Prior art attempts suffer from disadvantages, including installation difficulties (e.g. properly calibrated connections are required to the various electro-mechanical sensors related to the vehicle engine and performance attributes thereof) and quiescence characteristics of the electrical systems (e.g. the effective capacitance and inductance of many circuits differ in their timing characteristics and often resist rapid changes in voltage and thus are untimely sources of information and inference during the transition towards recognizing the "off" state of ignition).


An adjustable length leash (10) includes a handle portion (11) having a grip (13) and a neck (20) extending from the grip (13) for taking up undesired length in the lead (12). The lead (12) attaches to the neck (20) by being knotted through an aperture (22). A minor flange (32) provided at the top of the neck (20) helps retain the loops of the lead (12) on the neck (20) to achieve a desired lead length. A catch flange (30) is capable of catching the lead (12) at the bottom of the neck (20) such that one who utilizes the leash (10) may adjust the length of the lead (12) by winding the lead (12) around the neck (20) until the desired length extends from catch flange (30). The catch flange (30) includes a lead lock (36) which allows for a more secure fixing of the lead (12) length. The grip (13) is angled with respect to the neck (20) such that no matter at which length the lead (12) is retained, the forces exerted on the lead (12) are focused substantially straight through the wrist and arm of one using the leash (10) thereby substantially eliminating any torque upon the user's wrist.

The typical leash used to control a pet consists of an elongated strap, or lead, which attaches to a pet's collar, and some type of grip or handle which the handler grasps in order to control the pet attached to the lead. With a common leash, the pet is free to move around an area defined by the length of the lead. The length of the lead is not normally adjustable although many people simply wrap excess lead length around their hand when they desire to decrease the pet's freedom of movement. This can be damaging to the hand and is thus undesirable. However, adjustable length leashes are desirable because, when greater restriction of the pet's movement is required, such as when walking the pet through a busy street or a crowded walkway, or when another animal appears and makes the pet uneasy, the handler can readily adjust the length of the lead in order to lessen the pet's freedom of movement and keep the pet under control. Because of the degree of control it provides to the handler, an adjustable length leash is also useful in training a pet.
Common in the marketplace today are retractable leash devices wherein the lead is wound around a spring-biased spool retained within the handle portion of the leash device. The spring bias ensures that slack in the lead is constantly taken up by the spool; however, the length of the lead may be fixed by operating a switch located on the handle that causes a pawl to engage the spool and stop its biased rotation. Because of their relatively complex construction, these devices are more complicated to manufacture and therefore much more expensive than the common leash. Also these devices are more likely to wear out and break due to the multiple components employed in their construction.
Attempts have been made to provide adjustable length leashes which are more simple to manufacture and therefore inexpensive. These leash devices include a handle portion having a grip from which extends a thin neck having an upper flange and a lower flange. A lead is connected to the handle portion, and the length of the lead may be adjusted by wrapping the lead around the neck until the desired lead length is achieved. The upper and the lower flanges are designed in an attempt to prevent the lead from de-spooling from around the neck.
This leash, while inexpensive and simple to manufacture, has its own drawbacks. For example, having two flanges capable of retaining the lead creates a situation where the force of the pet's pull may alternate between the upper flange and the lower flange when the lead length is adjusted. This is uncomfortable and can cause soreness in the handler's wrist. Also, the thin design of the neck requires a large amount of winding in order to adjust the length of the lead or to wind the lead for storage. Additionally, this leash device fails to address the desirable concept of a locking mechanism by which the length of the lead, when extended or retracted to the desired length, can be more fixedly secured so as to ensure that, even when a pet forcefully pulls upon the lead, the lead will not have a tendency to de-spool from the neck portion.
Improvements over the prior art may also be achieved by concentrating on the ergonomics of the handle design. Specifically, it is desirable, although not addressed by the prior art, that regardless of what length the lead is retained at, the forces exerted on the lead and handle portion be focused substantially straight through the wrist and arm of one using the adjustable length leash, thereby substantially eliminating any torque upon the user's wrist.
Thus, the need exists in the art for an improved adjustable length leash which allows the handler to selectively adjust and secure the length of the lead extending from the handle portion, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, having few or no component parts readily susceptible to breaking or wearing out, and which focuses the forces exerted on the lead and handle portion straight through the wrist and arm of the handler.


A monorail toy train is suspended from an overhead guideway, which guideway is secured to a ceiling or other fixed support structure. The elongated tubular guideway includes a plurality of guideway sections connected together at a joint by a short tubular coupler and a hanger secured to the ceiling. Each guideway section is connected to like length guide rails and rack rails, which, together, define a track for cars of the monorail toy. Trucks of driven and nondriven cars ride on the track defined by the rack rail and guide rail. The driven car includes a drive frame including a motor, drive gear and pinion gear, which pinion gear meshes with the rack rail to provide motive force for the monorail train.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to monorail trains and, more particularly, to model, or toy, trains.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Toy trains have been a staple of children growing up and hobbyists for almost as long as trains themselves have been in existence. Along the same vein, toy monorail trains, the vehicles and their rail system, have been the subject of previous interest, as seen U.S. Pat. No. 3,115,845 issued to A. Girz. No prior art has proposed a suspended monorail toy train particularly designed for suspension from a ceiling or other support structure. The advantages of such an orientation lie principally in the space-saving considerations inherent in such an arrangement as well as the novelty associated with the arrangement. Other advantages of the monorail toy train include the out of the way storage inherent in the train and the dramatic inclusion of height in the train layout.
Hanging or suspended vehicles are shown in the prior art, a truck is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 719,751 issued to D. Condon. Condon is not a toy but does show racks which mesh with pinions of the truck to enable the truck to make vertical climbs in a spiral elevator configuration.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,970 issued to H. Glastra shows a miniature train system including a track formed from two cylindrical elongated elements defining rails. A power truck of the driving car fits between the rails and the carrying unit of the cars, and envelopes or other goods to be transported hang outward or below the track as the car travels on the track. The car is capable of moving along the track in an inverted position and includes a positive drive means, including pins on the rails and cog wheels on the cars, in order to make vertical travel possible.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,540,153 issued to M. Aoki shows toothed wheels in the mating track which enable a toy vehicle to travel up inclines and in an inverted orientation. Aoki is a toy and does disclose both vertical climbing and inverted travel.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,974,330 issued to E. Groff shows a toy train having coupling means between adjacent cars. U.S. Pat. No. 2,106,698 issued to J. Bonanno shows a wheel with vestibule section coupling adjacent trains.
West German Patent No. 1,085,553 shows the use of flexible intermediate sections to pivot track sections about a pin, forming a switch.
The only toy monorail, and that of a non-suspended type, is noted in the aforesaid patent to A. Girz.
A suspension device for carrying a door or the like is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,889,112 issued to R. Shoemaker. Shoemaker shows a wheel truck for relatively easy transition between intersecting track portions.
The prior art does not show or suggest a suspended toy monorail train and consequently, the structural means for accomplishing a suspended monorail toy train are not shown.
Though there is a showing in the prior art, i.e., Condon, of a suspended transportation system, such a suspended transportation system does not show connection of a number of guideway sections to form an electrically-conductive track for receiving a power truck for a drive car of a monorail train.


An antenna comprising: a longitudinal support member for supporting components of the antenna and a method of assembling such an antenna is disclosed. The components supported by the longitudinal member comprise: at least one signal feed probe configured to capacitively supply a signal to a corresponding at least one radiating patch; the at least one radiating patch mounted to at least partially wraparound the longitudinal support member; and signal supply circuitry for supplying a signal to the at least one signal feed. The signal supply circuitry is mounted on an outer surface of the inner longitudinal support member; and the longitudinal support member is formed of a conductive material and forms a ground plane for the antenna.

The structure of an omnidirectional antenna is conventionally provided by the outer structure or radome which provides the structural support. Omnidirectional antennas seek to emit radiation uniformly in all directions in one plane and this restricts the materials from which the outer structure can be made, and in particular, means that they cannot be reinforced with metallic parts without impacting the radiation patterns. The radiating elements inside can be made from printed circuit board (PCB), metallic parts, etc., but these do not generally play a role in the structure of the antenna. The architecture of many omnidirectional antennas is one of a long length and a relatively small profile. This makes it difficult to build such antenna that are able to withstand harsh conditions such as high winds, gust effects, vibrations, and temperature changes. It would be desirable to provide a robust multi directional antenna.

Antenna and method of assembly of such antenna


A manual skiver for conveyor belts and the like includes a base with a flat bearing surface for engaging an associated belt face, and a blade receiving opening through the bearing surface. A handle is connected with the base to facilitate drawing the skiver across the belt face. A thin cutting blade is mounted in the base at a predetermined angle, and includes a U-shaped cutting edge defined by a flat central area and upstanding side areas at opposite sides of the central area. The U-shaped cutting edge extends through the blade opening, and is positioned a predetermined distance below the bearing surface to cut a groove in the belt face having a uniform depth.

The present invention relates to skivers, and in particular to a manual belt skiver for removal of a portion of the top layer from a conveyor belt or the like.
Manual belt skivers are generally known in the prior art, and serve to remove the top layer or a portion of the top layer at the end of a conveyor belt. In this context, it is common to secure the belt against slippage in a support apparatus, and to then undertake processing with the skiver, whereby the skiver is pulled manually across the belt. In general, the construction of the belt skiver resembles that of a manual carpenter""s plane. The planar bearing surface of the belt skiver thus lies upon the conveyor belt, whereby the slanted knife that projects beyond the bearing surface cuts away strips from the top layer, such that U-shaped or wave-shaped depressions in the conveyor belt are formed. A large number of grooves can be created in the conveyor belt by repeatedly drawing the belt skiver across the entire width or breadth of the conveyor belt, thus removing the top layer or a portion of the top layer from the end of the conveyor belt. Use of the belt skiver requires a high degree of skill and physical strength, and does not ensure that the free, skived surface is absolutely even, or that the residual wall thickness of the belt is absolutely uniform at all points.
A manual belt skiver of the above-named type is disclosed in DE-PS 11 12 279. There the knife is constructed as a stable, hollow molding cutter, the cutting edge of which lies in a plane perpendicular to the plane of symmetry of the knife""s cross section, which plane, along with the outer side of the knife, encloses an acute angle, whereby two further cutting edges are provided on the exterior of the cutter head, which cutting edges deviate away from the back of the knife and which likewise lie in a plane perpendicular to the plane of symmetry of the knife""s cross section, but form a rearwardly opening acute angle with the back of the knife. A belt skiver such as this only allows grooves to be created in the top layer of the conveyor belt. The construction of the knife as a hollow molding cutter is such that only a small portion of the top layer can be removed in each cutting step during manual use of the belt skiver.
EP 0773 089 A1 discloses a manual belt skiver suitable for compressive use. In any case, its base is not moved across the conveyor belt in order to remove the top layer or the portion of the top layer from the conveyor belt, but rather along its end face. A knife in the form of a thin blade, the end of which curves upward, is held in the base and projects laterally from it. In addition, a hold down mechanism is mounted in the base which lies upon the top layer of the conveyor belt and precedes the blade during the cutting process.
An apparatus for the removal of the top layer or a portion of the top layer from a conveyor belt is disclosed in DE GM 8702 754. It is not a matter of a hand tool in this case, but rather of a mechanical apparatus with which the potential exists to introduce longitudinal grooves in a previously vulcanized conveyor belt. Here it is to be ensured that a groove of an exactly defined depth, width and contour is created in the belt""s top layer. The conveyor belt is moved relative to the stationary cutting apparatus so that a belt strip of unlimited length can be processed. These devices include a stationary holder for a blade. The blade is U-shaped in form, whereby the free ends of both of the blade""s legs are mounted in the holder.
One object of the present invention is an improved manual belt skiver of the above-named type configured so that a relatively large portion of the top layer of a belt or a portion of the top layer of a belt can be removed with minimal expenditure of energy, whereby it is ensured that the cutting forces are optimally transferred from the belt skiver into the conveyor belt via the blade.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the knife is constructed as a thin blade with a U-shaped cutting edge, whereby the blade has a central area with its cutting edge section arranged parallel to the bearing surface of the base and oriented perpendicular to the direction of motion of the belt skiver, as well as two lateral or side areas with cutting edge sections emanating from the cutting edge section of the central area and angled into the opening of the base.
One operating principle of the belt skiver according to the present invention is that its base is moved across the top layer of the conveyor belt, in combination with the specific construction of the knife as a thin blade with bilateral curved cutting edge sections at each end. Motion of the belt skiver with its bearing surface above the conveyor belt ensures that the forces introduced into the belt skiver via the handle are directly transmitted to the blade, so that no tilting moments (as noted for belt skiver contact using another functional type in which the base is guided alongside the conveyor belt) are introduced into the belt skiver. As a consequence, the belt skiver according to the present invention also needs no hold down mechanism. Based on the type of belt skiver in which the inclined knife traverses an opening in the base, and on the particular construction of the blade, it is possible to remove a top layer from the conveyor belt with each stroke of the belt skiver, the cross section of which, as limited by the bearing surface of the base, corresponds to the cross-sectional surface of the blade.
It is considered particularly advantageous if the belt skiver is moved across the conveyor belt under compression. In this regard, the central area of the blade should be arranged at an angle to the bearing surface of the base in substantial correspondence to that angle at which the compressive force for using the belt skiver is introduced into the handle. It is expedient that this angle correspond to 5 degrees to 15 degrees, preferably 7.5 degrees to 12.5 degrees, and in particular 10 degrees.
According to a particular embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the blade be constructed symmetrically. Independent thereto, the cutting edge section for each lateral area of the blade is to be arranged at an angle of 90 degrees to 120 degrees, preferably 100 degrees to 110 degrees, relative to the cutting edge section of the central area of the blade.
Particularly good cutting results can be achieved if the blade itself is constructed so as to conically widen, beginning at the cutting edge. In this context, it is expedient that the angle of the cutting flanks adjacent to the cutting edge of the blade correspond to 15 degrees to 25 degrees, preferably 17.5 degrees to 22.5 degrees, and in particular 20 degrees. In particular, the cutting flank of the blade directed away from the base is oriented parallel to the bearing surface of the base.
If the top layer of the belt or a portion of the top layer of the belt is to be removed at a distance from the end face of the conveyor belt, it is considered advantageous for the belt skiver to include a guide apparatus that serves to provide lateral contact with the end face of the conveyor belt. The guide apparatus is preferably constructed as a bar connected to the base. It should be adjustable relative to the base.
These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings.

MATO Maschinen-und Metallwarenfabrik Curt Matthaei GmbH and Co. KG


An optical element may include a substrate. The optical element may include a first anti-reflectance structure for a particular wavelength range formed on the substrate. The optical element may include at least one layer disposed on a portion of the first anti-reflectance structure. The optical element may include a second anti-reflectance structure for the particular wavelength range formed on the at least one layer. A depth between a first surface of the first anti-reflectance structure and a second surface of the second anti-reflectance structure, a first index of refraction of the first anti-reflectance structure, a second index of refraction of the second anti-reflectance structure, and a third index of refraction of the at least one layer may be selected to form a diffractive optical element associated with a particular phase delay for the particular wavelength.

A diffractive optical element (DOE) may be used for directing a beam. For example, a DOE, such as a diffractive lens, a spot array illuminator, a spot array generator, a Fourier array generator, and/or the like, may be used to split a beam, shape a beam, focus a beam, and/or the like. A DOE may be integrated into a multicast switch, a wavelength selective switch, a gesture recognition system, a motion sensing system, and/or the like.
A multi-level surface relief profile may be selected for a surface relief DOE. For example, a two-level (sometimes termed "binary") surface relief profile may be selected for the surface relief DOE. The multi-level surface relief profile may be selected to approximate a continuous surface relief profile and to enable use of a photolithographic procedure and/or an etching procedure to manufacture the DOE. A two-level thin film stack may be used to create a single order binary DOE, such as a diffractive lens. Some materials used for DOEs may require an etch depth of greater than a threshold, thereby resulting in a threshold etch time to manufacture the DOE.

Multi-layer thin film stack for diffractive optical elements


A light scanning apparatus, including: a light source; a light intensity detecting portion configured to detect a light intensity of the light beam emitted from the light source; and a light intensity controller configured to control the light intensity based on a detection result of the light intensity detecting portion, wherein the light intensity controller is configured to supply, in advance, to the light source, a bias current smaller than a threshold current at which the light source starts emitting the light beam, and is configured to control a supply of a drive current to the light source, the drive current being generated by superimposing, on the bias current, a switching current for controlling the light source in accordance with an image signal, and the light intensity controller includes a current stopping unit configured to stop a supply of the bias current and the drive current to the light source.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light scanning apparatus which includes a light intensity controller configured to control the light intensity of a light beam, and to an image forming apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
Some known a light scanning apparatus provided in an image forming apparatus uses a method of irradiating a photosensitive drum via an fθ lens with a light beam which is deflected by a rotary polygon mirror after exiting a light source. In recent years, an image forming apparatus has been demanded to form a high quality image at high speed and, to meet the demand, uses a multi-beam light source, which is configured to emit a plurality of light beams concurrently from a plurality of light emitting points, as a light source for emitting light beams.
Meanwhile, a light scanning apparatus switches the rotation speed of the rotary polygon mirror and the number of light emitting points of the light source in response to a change in printing speed (transmission), a change in image resolution, or a change in the rotation speed of the photosensitive drum which depends on the thickness of the recording medium. In U.S. Pat. No. 8,305,416, there is disclosed a light intensity control under which light for an image forming area on a surface of the photosensitive drum is emitted from a smaller number of light emitting points that is suited to image data, and light for a non-image forming area on the drum surface is emitted from all light emitting points on light emission schedules different from one another.
However, in the case where the number of light beams is changeovered by using laser drive substrates of the same type in which control for supplying a bias current to a plurality of light emitting points is exerted in order to improve the light beam output responsiveness for different types of light scanning apparatus, a bias current is supplied also to a light emitting point that is not in use. This presents a difficulty in reducing the power consumption of the light scanning apparatus. When the light source used is a VCSEL or another light source that emits a large number of light beams, power consumption due to the current supplied to light emitting points that are not in use is particularly large, which is a problem.

Light scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus


An appliance vent duct cover includes a first cover portion, and a second cover portion including a plurality of openings, wherein the second cover portion is slidably coupled to the first cover portion such that the second cover portion is selectively positionable with respect to the first cover portion to enable the plurality of openings to be substantially covered by the first cover portion.

This invention relates generally to an appliance exhaust system, and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for an appliance exhaust duct cover.
At least some known ovens include an oven cavity, at least one heating element in the oven cavity, and a plurality of electric heating elements and/or gas burners on an upper surface of the oven. The heating elements and/or gas burners facilitate cooking food positioned on the heating elements and/or gas burners. During the cooking process, undesirable gases and/or fumes may be generated by the heating elements and/or gas burners in the cooking area and subsequently released into the surrounding environment.
To facilitate reducing the release of such gases and/or fumes into the environment, at least some known ovens include a separate venting system, e.g. a range hood, positioned above the oven. Known range hoods include an electric fan/blower that channels the gases and/or fumes generated during the cooking process through a vent duct, wherein the gases and/or fumes are either filtered and re-circulated back into the kitchen, i.e. ductless venting, or released directly to the outside atmosphere, i.e. ducted venting. Typically, the appliance owner selects whether the range hood should be configured to re-circulate the gases and/or fumes, or discharge the gases and/or fumes directly to the environment, and the vent duct is then permanently installed for the desired configuration. More specifically, if the owner selects a re-circulated configuration a vent duct that includes a plurality of openings within the kitchen is installed. Alternatively, if the owner selects to discharge the gases and/or fumes directly to the environment, i.e. a non-re-circulated configuration, a vent duct that does not include a plurality of openings is installed.
Since the gases and/or fumes may contain moisture, at least one known vent duct is fabricated from a galvanized metallic material. To increase the aesthetics of an exposed vent duct within a kitchen, for example, a one-piece vent duct cover may be positioned over an exterior surface of the galvanized metallic vent duct. However, different venting configurations require the use of different duct covers. For example, a one-piece vent duct cover used with a re-circulated vent duct may not be utilized as a vent duct cover with a non-recirculated configuration. Fabricating multiple vent duct covers not only increases design and fabrication costs, but also increases the quantity of parts that must be maintained by the appliance vendors and the likelihood of an incorrect vent duct cover being installed.

Appliance exhaust duct cover and method of assembling same


There is presented a casing arrangement for a gas turbine engine. The casing arrangement includes a plurality of tip treatment bars extending between a pair of spaced-apart annular supports, with each tip treatment bar being elongate and supported at each end by a respective support such that each end of the bar is received within an opening formed in the respective support. At least the ends of each tip treatment bar are tapered in transverse cross-section so as to have a wedge-shaped profile, and the openings in the supports have a complementary tapered shape for receipt and retention of the bar ends therein.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to tip treatment bars for a gas turbine engine. Aspects of the disclosure relates to a casing arrangement for a gas turbine engine, having tip treatment bars.
2. Description of the Related Art
W094/20759 discloses an anti-stall tip treatment means in a gas turbine engine, in which an annular cavity is provided adjacent the blade tips of a compressor rotor. The cavity communicates with the gas flow path through the compressor past a series of bars extending across the mouth of the cavity.
Such tip treatments are applicable to both fans and compressors of gas turbine engines, and their purpose is to improve the blade stall characteristics or surge characteristics of the compressor.
Movement of the blade tips past the bars creates vibrations in the bars which, over time, can result in high cycle fatigue failure of the bars. This failure is caused by vibration resonance between the tip treatment bars and the natural engine order modes. It has therefore been proposed previously to isolate the tip treatment bars from the support structure which is used to support the bars in position. An example of such isolation involves supporting the opposite ends of each tip treatment bar in respective apertures provided in axially spaced-apart annular supports, with damping elements being provided between the surfaces of the bar ends and the internal walls of the support apertures. In prior art arrangements of this type, it is usual for the tip treatment bars to incorporate shoulders towards each end to ensure proper axial location of the bars in the apertures provided in the annular supports. It has been found that this type of arrangement can be relatively complicated and expensive to produce.

Tip treatment bars in a gas turbine engine


Aerogel composites and bonded aerogel composites are described. The aerogel composites include monolithic aerogel material located in cavities between a base layer and a structured layer that is bonded to the base layer. Additional layers may be bonded to the base layer and/or the structured layer to form bonded aerogel composites.

Escalating energy costs and urbanization have led to increased efforts to provide more effective thermal and acoustic insulation materials for pipelines, automobiles, aerospace, military, apparel, windows, and houses as well as other equipment and appliances. Aerogels are low density, high porosity materials making them useful in many applications, e.g., as thermal and/or acoustic insulators. Aerogels may also be useful in other applications, e.g., as filtration media and catalytic supports.


An authentication relay and a NAT module of a telecommunication system facilitate communication between authentication clients and an authentication server. The authentication relay identifies authentication messages from the authentication clients intended for the authentication server. The authentication relay repackages the identified authentication message to add additional information. The NAT module translates the private IP address and UDP port number of the authentication client included in the original authentication message into a public IP address and unique UDP port number included with the repackaged authentication message sent to the authentication server. The same public IP address is used for authentication messages from a plurality of authentication clients thereby reducing the number of IP addresses required by the system. When a reply message is received from the authentication server, the NAT module uses the unique port number in the reply message to readdress the reply message for the authentication client.

The present application generally relates to systems and methods for facilitating communication between an authentication client and an authentication server.
Network providers or carriers can require their subscribers or users (authentication clients) to authenticate with an authentication server before permitting access to a network. Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) is one type of protocol that can be used for the authentication of subscribers or users. When using RADIUS for authentication, the RADIUS client (authentication client) must exchange a series of messages with a RADIUS server (authentication server) during a single session. In order for the RADIUS client to exchange messages with the RADIUS server, each RADIUS client must have an Internet Protocol (IP) address. However, there are a limited number of available IP addresses, and many networks have a large number (e.g., thousands) of RADIUS clients that communicate with a RADIUS server.
To address the problem of needing a large number of IP addresses, some network providers or carriers have used a RADIUS proxy between the RADIUS clients and the RADIUS servers. When using a RADIUS proxy, the network provider or carrier uses a private network to connect the RADIUS clients (each having a private IP address) to the RADIUS proxy, and then the RADIUS proxy (having a single public IP address) is connected to the RADIUS server over a public network.
The RADIUS proxy receives the authentication requests and messages from the RADIUS clients addressed to the RADIUS proxy, disassembles the requests and messages, rebuilds the requests or messages and addresses the requests and messages for the RADIUS server. Similarly, the RADIUS proxy receives the authentication messages from the RADIUS server addressed to the RADIUS proxy, disassembles the messages and rebuilds and addresses the messages for the RADIUS clients. Unfortunately, the processing performed by the RADIUS proxy adds significant delay to the messages communicated between the RADIUS server and clients. In addition, the circuitry required to implement the RADIUS proxy can be complex, thereby undesirably increasing the costs to the network service provider.

Systems and methods for facilitating communication between an authentication client and an authentication server


A silicon substrate is disposed parallel with an optical disc. A prism for transmitting an incident beam is installed on the silicon substrate. A diffraction grating on a side surface of the prism. A beam splitter for partially reflecting and partially transmitting the laser beam is positioned inside of the prism to be slanted. The beam irradiated from the laser light source is reflected by the beam splitter after having transmitted through the diffraction grating. The reflected beam focuses onto the optical disc via a selective light-transmitting part formed on the upper surface of the prism. The beam is totally transmitted through an inner circular portion of the selective light-transmitting part and half transmitted through a peripheral portion of the selective light-transmitting part. The beam reflected from the optical disc partially is transmitted through the beam splitter, and then reflected a reflecting layer formed on the lower surface of the prism, and received a photodetector formed on an upper surface of the prism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical pickup device, and more particularly to an optical pickup device of which the respective optical constituents are integrally manufactured for compaction and simplification of the device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Information reproducing/recording systems for using optical discs such as laser discs or compact discs have been developed in recent years. Such optical information reproducing/recording systems reproduce/record a variety of information. A digital audio disc player for reproducing musical sounds and a digital video disc player for reproducing images serve as examples. It is the trend that the recording media of these optical information reproducing/recording systems has higher densities for making discs more compact and smaller, and also the disc players of these optical information reproducing/recording systems are more compacted and miniaturized. Also, the compatible systems are developed such as the recording of High Definition Television (HDTV) compatible video discs.
A construction and operation of a general optical pickup device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,921 or 4,868,377.
The conventionally general optical pickup device will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1 below.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the conventionally general optical pickup device. In FIG. 1, a reference numeral 11 denotes a light source for generating laser beam, which is a laser diode 11. The laser beam emitted from laser diode 11 is diffracted while transmitting through a diffraction grating 12. The diffracted beam proceeds toward a beam splitter 13.
Here, beam splitter 13 is provided in such a manner that two right-angled prisms are installed to oppose to each other against respective inclination planes of 45.degree., and a coating layer 13a is formed along the contacting portion of the prisms, thereby transmitting some of the incident beam and reflecting the other incident beam to be perpendicular to the incident beam while securing the property of travelling straight of the incident beam.
The diffracted beam is reflected toward optical disc 15 by means of beam splitter 13. The beam reflected from beam splitter 13 focuses onto a recording plane 15a of an optical disc 15 while passing through an objective lens 14 installed in front of a recording medium such as optical disc 15. A positional accuracy, i.e., focusing error and tracking error, of the pickup device with respect to optical disc 15 is detected from an image of the beam received into a photodetector 16, and therefore, the focusing and tracking are controllable. Also, the information is read out on the basis of the amount of the reflected light determined by pits in recording plane 15a of optical disc 15.
Meantime, in the above-mentioned conventional optical pickup device, since such optical components as the beam splitter, the diffraction grating, the laser diode, and the photodetector should be individually manufactured and respectively located at their accurate positions, manufacturing and controlling of the optical pickup device are very difficult. Also, the optical pickup device and the optical disc player need to be compacted and miniaturized to act up to the recent trend relating to the optical disc player.
Furthermore, according to the conventional optical pickup device, discs of two different kinds can not be reproduced or recorded by means of a single optical pickup device. For example, if the recording capacity of the disc is to be four times like that of the digital video disc as compared with the digital audio disc, the width of pits in the disc is consequently decreased by 1/2. For this reason, a focused spot size onto the digital video disc should be half of that onto the digital audio disc with the consequence of necessarily employing different optical pickup devices in reproducing the digital video disc and digital audio disc by means of the conventional optical pickup devices. That is, in order to accurately read out data respectively recorded on the digital audio disc and digital video disc, it is required to separately apply one optical pickup device for digital audio disc of which beam spot size is approximately 1.6 .mu.m when focusing onto the digital audio disc and another optical pickup device for digital video disc of which beam spot size is approximately 0.8 .mu.m when focusing onto the digital video disc.


In a network auction, bidder clients are enabled to recognize ongoing auction sessions substantially on real time. An information image which integrates as a single handling unit an image information pertaining to an auction exhibit item and a related information which guides to establish communication with a particular network auction server through operation of the operator in accordance with this image information is created, and down-linked to the bidder clients to speed up the auction procedure. Thereby, enabling the bidder client to access to a bidding home page on the auction site simply and easily, and to know the ongoing bidding competitive situation almost on real time by tracking the information image created.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an auction server that is connected to a network to which information terminals mainly such as personal computers and the like are connected. More specifically, it relates to a method of conducting a network auction capable of improving an efficiency of bidding procedures by displaying a current state of bidding at all times to a bidding client.
2. Related Art
Recently, with a proliferation of the internet, many trading sites are emerging on the internet, which, by displaying a photograph and a text describing a trading item on a home page, invite an interested client to apply for its purchase, thus carrying out the trading to sell and buy the item on the internet. In such trading sites, if a quantity of trading items is limited, a so-called auction approach is used. There are several types for determining a winning bidding price on auction. For example, in case there is only one item to sell, an approach to determine only one bidder who placed a highest price to win is adopted. In case there are a plurality of items to sell, an approach to determine winners from one who placed a highest price to those who placed a second highest price, a third highest price and so on is adopted, or another approach in which while the winners are determined in the same manner described above, however, all the bidding prices are set at a lowest winning price placed by the last winning bidder is adopted.
Generally, in these auctions, a last winning bidder(s) is determined in such a manner that when its auction exhibit item is disclosed on the server connected to the network, a respective bidder monitoring the exhibited item on the server offers a respective price that he/she considers appropriate or affordable to pay, then the server after comparison of respective bidding prices offered from a plurality of bidder clients, finally determines the winner bidder(s).

Methods of network auction and network auction support, systems of network auction server and auction support server, and recording medium


A fuel supply apparatus for an engine, includes a first cylinder group, a second cylinder group, first fuel injection valves, second fuel injection valves, a fuel supply pipe, a branch portion, a first connecting pipe, a second connecting pipe, a first delivery pipe, and a second delivery pipe. The branch portion has an inflow direction along which fuel is to flow from the fuel supply pipe into the branch portion. The branch portion has a first outflow direction along which fuel is to flow from the branch portion into the first connecting pipe. The branch portion has a second outflow direction along which fuel is to flow from the branch portion into the second connecting pipe. All of the inflow direction, the first outflow direction, and the second outflow direction are provided not to lie in a same straight line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to a fuel supply apparatus for an engine.
2. Discussion of the Background
In the related art, there are engines having a fuel injection valve installed on each cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine. For example, in some V-type engines or horizontally opposed engines, two rows of cylinders are provided, and a single fuel supply passage from a fuel tank (fuel pump) branches out to each of delivery pipes extending in the direction of the corresponding cylinder row (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2004-132231).
In engines with a fuel injection valve installed on each cylinder, injection of fuel produces a pressure pulsation in each delivery pipe. Further, in the case of engines having a pair of cylinder rows such as V-type engines or horizontally opposed engines, the pressure pulsation may induce vehicle vibration or noise, or may lead to deterioration of fuel economy or emission increases due to unstable combustion resulting from inability to obtain a desired pressure for the fuel in the fuel supply pipe.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2004-132231 mentioned above, a pair of connecting pipes each connected to the corresponding delivery pipe are connected to a single fuel supply pipe connected to the fuel pump, in a T-shaped configuration. The pair of connecting pipes extend in opposite directions coaxially in the same straight line. Such a piping structure has a problem in that the pressure pulsation is amplified along the axial direction of the pair of connecting pipes.
In the case of V-type engines, in particular, the direction of vibration differs between the two cylinder rows. Accordingly, the impact of vibration on the delivery pipes, the connecting pipes, and the fuel supply pipe, and also the connecting portion between the fuel supply pipe and each connecting pipe needs to be taken into consideration.