An energy transfer system comprising a central shaft, a set of vanes mounted to the central shaft, at least one pump, at least one pulley system, mounted between the central shaft and the pump and an electromagnetic generator located within the central shaft, whereby rotation of the set of vanes by the wind causes the pulley system to generate power and the electromagnetic generator to generate electricity.

With the rising costs of electricity, many people are searching for new ways to save money while still being able to operate their electrical devices. Different solutions involving the use of solar technology or wind aided technology are being designed and implemented to support this initiative. Another factor for many companies and individuals is the desire for "green" technology solutions which take environmental concerns into account when researching energy or power generation alternatives.
While different systems have been implemented and integrated, there are still many improvements to the technology and designs possible in order to further improve their efficiency, cost, effectiveness, weight and other factors.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide an improved wind energy transfer system.


A method and apparatus for identifying a radio transmitter. The transient frequency or phase history of the turn-on characteristics of a transmitter is detected and digitized. The history can be analyzed by a microprocessor operating a computer program to gather transient phase information from an unknown transmitter and to classify the transmitter in accordance with a transient characteristic.

In many situations, radio transmitters are identified by special identification codes. These codes are typically transmitted with the other communications a transmitter is sending. In many other situations, however, there is interest in identifying transmitters that are not deliberately identified. For example, it can be useful to have an apparatus and means for identifying radio transmitters that are operating clandestinely or in such a manner as to interfere with the transmissions of others.
Previous attempts to characterize radio transmitters have been based on using the signal amplitude of the transmitter as a function of time. Amplitude-based techniques, however, are susceptible to multipath propagation and path loss. These transmission phenomena can distort the received signal amplitude independently of any transmitter characteristics. Time-history amplitude characterization is also typically used on a transmitter which is already operating and is, therefore, fully warmed up. A warmed-up transmitter is relatively stable and is, accordingly, more difficult to characterize.
It has been determined that the phase or frequency (i.e., time rate of change of phase) response of a transmitter is essentially insensitive to some forms of multipath and path-loss propagation problems that plague amplitude-based signal characterization techniques.
It is therefore desirable to have a method and apparatus for characterizing a radio transmitter that is based on the transient phase history of the transmitter as it is being turned on.

Method and apparatus for characterizing a radio transmitter


A swim tank slightly longer than a human and slightly wider than the maximum spread between fingertips is divided into upper and lower channels by polycarbonate or members extending across the width of the tank and having a rectangular outlet at the top front through which water is expelled. A vaned wheel at the rear is driven by an induction motor from a power source of controlled frequency.

The present invention relates in general to flow controlling and more particularly concerns novel apparatus and techniques for controlling fluid flow, such as water in a tank or swim-in-place pool, to establish a range of relative velocities between the flowing fluid and an object in it, such as a swimmer, while the object remains substantially stationary relative to earth. An embodiment of the invention provides a compact environment for a swimmer to attain all the exercise and fun of swimming at the swimmer's pace. Thus, the invention may be said to provide the environment of a swimming pool of infinite length in a structure slightly longer and wider than a swimmer while providing a form of exercise that cannot be achieved in a conventional bounded swimming pool with stationary water.
It is known in the prior art to provide spas or tubs that create a flow through jets to allow a swimmer to swim upstream against the water jets. A difficulty with these prior art structures is that the jets create a turbulent current that often exerts sideward and up and downward forces on the swimmer and makes swimming against the longitudinal component of the current difficult. Examples of these prior devices are the swim-jet spa commercially available from Curtis Plastics of Huntington Beach, Calif., and the model AS-S1-SL3 swim spa available from Wiedemann Industries, Inc. of Muscatine, Iowa.
A search of subclasses 71 and 72 of class 272 and subclassed 488, 491 and 509 of class 4 uncovered U.S. Pat. Nos. 520,342, 1,285,259, 1,331,270, 1,630,797, 1,796,291, 1,992,891, 2,035,835 and 3,534,413.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,035,835 discloses confined flow channels in a tank; however, this patent does not disclose water driving means truly transverse to the length of the channel; therefore, the disclosed structure would create undesired turbulence. Furthermore, this patent discloses straight end walls having a tendency to create a head which would then empty wastefully into the swim channel and turbulently induce air and noise instead of contributing to establishing the desired current.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,285,259 and 1,331,270 disclose paddle wheels used for surface movement only and could not establish a current along the length of the channel having negligible velocity gradient along the width.
It is an important object of this invention to provide improved apparatus and techniques for flow controlling.


A receiving apparatus for receiving a downlink signal in which pilot symbols are mapped discontinuously, includes: a unit configured to extract reference signals from the downlink signal that is Fourier transformed by a Fourier transform unit; a unit configured to generate a first signal having a first window size by arranging the extracted reference signals on the frequency axis and by performing inverse Fourier transform on the reference signals; a unit configured to divide the first signal into a plurality of signals to extract a signal included in a second window; a unit configured to generate a second signal that includes the signal included in the second window and that has a window size similar to the first window size; a Fourier transform unit configured to generate a third signal from the second signal; and a unit configured to calculate received power based on the third signal.

As shown in FIG. 1, in a mobile communication system of the W-CDMA (Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access) scheme, a receiving apparatus (a mobile station, for example) performs despreading processing on a W-CDMA signal transmitted by a base station, and calculates downlink radio quality using an obtained common pilot channel (CPICH). The calculation of the downlink radio quality may include obtaining received power of a desired wave and an interference wave.
For example, in the mobile communication system of the W-CDMA scheme, the receiving apparatus calculates received power in the downlink by performing averaging processing on received signals rn and rn+1 of two pilot signals Sn and Sn+1 continuously transmitted in a time axis direction using the following equations.
                              λ          1                =                              1            /            2                                          N            s                    ×                                    ∑              1                              Ns                -                1                                                                                                                                      r                    n                                    +                                      r                                          n                      +                      1                                                                                                  2                                                          (        1        )                                          λ          2                =                              1            /            2                                          N            s                    ×                                    ∑              1                              Ns                -                1                                                                                                                                      r                    n                                    -                                      r                                          n                      +                      1                                                                                                  2                                                          (        2        )                                RSCP        =                              1            /            2                    ×                                                                λ                1                            -                              λ                2                                                                                    (        3        )                                ISSI        =                  λ          2                                    (        4        )            In the equations, RSCP (Received signal code Power) indicates received power of a desired signal, and ISSI (Interference Signal Strength Indicator) indicates received power of an interference signal. Also, rn=αSn+In and rn+1=βSn+1+In+1 hold true, wherein α and β indicate amplitude variation and phase variation that are effects of fading for the transmission symbols respectively, and In and In+1 indicate interference wave component including thermal noise of the symbols respectively.
In the mobile communication system of the W-CDMA scheme, two pilot symbols continuously transmitted on the time axis using a single frequency are used for calculating received power in the downlink.
In a time period during which channel variation between two pilot symbols is small, propagation paths can be regarded as almost the same propagation path. Thus, coefficients α and β of variation of propagation paths by which Sn and Sn+1 are multiplied respectively can be regarded to be almost the same, so that received power of the desired signal and the interference signal can be estimated accurately. That is, when rn and rn+1 can be regarded to be almost the same, λ1 represents components in which the desired signal component and the interference signal component of the two symbols are added, and λ2 represents only interference components of two symbols. Thus, the desired signal component can be obtained by |λ1−λ2|/2.
However, as shown in FIG. 2, the mobile communication system of the LTE (Long Term Evolution) scheme is configured such that pilot symbols are mapped on the time axis and the frequency axis discontinuously, and transmitted. In the mobile communication system of the LTE scheme, the pilot symbol may be called a reference signal (RS). Therefore, in the case in which the propagation path is estimated using two pilot symbols, if delay path and moving time are large, propagation paths between two pilot symbols cannot be regarded as the same propagation path. That is, α and β cannot be regarded to be the same, so that correlation between received signals (rn and rn+1) becomes small. Thus, in the equation (2), the interference signal component cannot be extracted, so that received power of the desired signal power cannot be estimated accurately.

Receiving apparatus and receiving method


This invention discloses a compound and pharmaceutically acceptable salts having the formula: ##STR1## wherein X and Y are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of OH and NH.sub.2 ; wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a first lower alkyl group, a nitroso group and an aldehyde; and wherein R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of a second lower alkyl group which is the same as or different than the first lower alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkylaryl group, a substituted aryl group and a substituted alkylaryl group, and each substituent of the substituted aryl group or the substituted alkylaryl group is the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of a third lower alkyl group which is the same as or different than the first lower alkyl group or the second lower alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a substituted alkoxyaryloxy group and a halogen; and wherein R.sub.3 is a fourth lower alkyl group which is the same as or different than said first lower alkyl group, said second lower alkyl group or said third lower alkyl group. Methods of preparing and using these compounds are disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to 5-alkyl-6-[[amino]methyl]pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. More specifically, it relates to compounds useful in resisting Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasmosis gondii infections in immunocompromised patients, such as, for example, patients with autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). These compounds may be useful, for example, as potential antitumor, antibiotic, antimalarial, antifungal or antiprotozoal agents or as synergistic agents with sulfonamides and may require the use of leucovorin rescue. Methods of preparing and using these compounds are also provided.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine ring system has been studied due to its involvement in the inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) enzymes activity. The pyrido [2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives inhibit the normal cell growth of a variety of cells. Methotrexate (MTX), trimetrexate (TMX) and piritrexim and other folic acid analogues function as inhibitors of cell growth by similar mechanisms involving the inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase. Inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase deprives the cell of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate. 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate is essential for cell growth. Dihydrofolate reductase reduces dihydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate. The inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase by the compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of this invention results in the inhibition of DNA synthesis and leads to cell death.
Elslager, Edward F., et al., "Folate Antagonists. 20. Synthesis and Antitumor and Antimalarial Properties of Trimetrexate and Related 6-[(Phenylamino)methyl]-2,4-quinazolinediamines" J. Med. Chem., Vol. 26 pp. 1753-1760 (1983), discloses the preparation of quinazolinediamines. This article states that the quinazolinediamines exhibit potent antimalarial, antibacterial and antitumor activity.
Methods to synthesize diaminopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines having various substituents are known. See Hurlbert, B. S., et al., "Studies on Condensed Pyrimidine Systems. XXIII. Synthesis of 2,4-Diaminopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines from .beta.-Keto Esters", J. Med. Chem., Vol. 11, pp. 703-707 (1968), and Hurlbert, B. S., and Valenti, B. F., "Studies on Condensed Pyrimidine Systems. XXIV. The Condensation of 2,4,6-Triaminopyridimine with Malondialdehyde Derivatives", J. Med. Chem., Vol. 11, pp. 708-710 (1968).
Hurlbert, B. S., et al., "Studies on Condensed Pyrimidine Systems. XXV. 2,4-Diaminopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines. Biological Data", J. Med. Chem., Vol. 11, pp. 711-717 (1968), discloses the antimicrobial activities of several subgroups of pyridopyrimidines. This article states that 2,4-diaminopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines bearing alkyl and aralkyl substituents in the pyrimidine moiety are inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductases having antibacterial and antiprotozoal activity and that these compounds potentiate sulfonamides.
Grivsky, E. M., et al., "Synthesis and Antitumor Activity of 2,4-Diamino-6-(2,5-dimethoxybenzyl)-5-methylpyrido[2,3-d]pyridimine", J. Med. Chem., Vol. 23, pp. 327-329 (1980), discloses the synthesis of 2,4-diamino-6-(2,5-dimethoxybenzyl)-5-methylpyrido[2,3-d]pyridimine (BW301U,7). This article states that BW301U,7 is as effective as methotrexate as an inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase purified from human leukemic cells and, in contrast to metoprine, has minimal activity as an inhibitor of histamine metabolism.
Werbel, Leslie M., et al., "Synthesis and Antimalarial Activity of a Series of 2,4-Diamino-6-[(N-alkylanilino)methyl]quinazolines [1,2]", J. Heterocyclic Chem., Vol. 24, pp. 345-349 (1987), discloses the synthesis of N6 substituted quinazoline dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors. This article states that these analogs demonstrate substantial activity against Plasmodium berghei infections in mice.
Piper, J. R., et al., "Syntheses and Antifolate Activity of 5-Methyl-5-deaza Analogues of Aminopterin, Methotrexate, Folic Acid, and N.sup.10 -Methylfolic Acid". J. Med. Chem., Vol. 29, pp. 1080-1087 (1986), discloses that 5-methyl-5-deaza analogues of aminopterin and methotrexate are much more growth inhibitory than methotrexate.
In spite of the prior art disclosures, there remains a very real and substantial need for an inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductases that is more active and more selective than known compounds having antitumor, antibiotic, antimalarial, antifungal or antiprotozoal activity or as synergistic agents with sulfonamides, and for methods of preparing and using such compounds.

5-alkyl-6-[[amino]methyl]pyrido[2,3-D]pyrimidine derivatives and methods of using these derivatives


A vehicle has a frame, a motor, a driveshaft operatively connected to the motor, a front differential operatively connected to the driveshaft, a pair of front half-shafts operatively connecting the front differential to front wheels, at least one rear wheel, a steering wheel, a steering column operatively connected to the steering wheel, a rack and pinion assembly operatively connected to the steering column, the rack and pinion assembly being disposed rearward of the front differential, a right tie rod having a left end operatively connected to a rack of the rack and pinion assembly and a right end operatively connected to the right wheel, and a left tie rod having a right end operatively connected to the rack and a left end operatively connected to the left wheel. The inner ends of the tie rods are disposed forwardly of a vertically and laterally extending central plane of the rack.

There exist various types of vehicles used mainly in off-road conditions. One such type is the side-by-side off-road vehicle. The name "side-by-side" refers to the seating arrangement of the vehicle in which the driver and a passenger are seated side-by-side. Some side-by-side off-road vehicles also have a second row of seats to accommodate one or more additional passengers. These vehicles typically have an open cockpit, a roll cage and a steering wheel.
To be able to operate in off-road conditions, a side-by-side off-road vehicle needs to be able to handle bumpy terrain to operate on various surfaces including, but not limited to, sand, dirt and mud. These conditions represent unique challenges not typically encountered when designing on-road vehicles such as cars. One such challenge is that the amount of travel of the suspension systems is generally greater than in on-road vehicles such as cars in order to handle the bumpy terrain.
Furthermore, side-by-side off-road vehicles are generally narrower and shorter than on-road vehicles such as cars. As such, there is less room for all the vehicle's components such as the steering system. In the steering system, having a long steering column increases the chance that the steering shaft will interfere with other components such as the suspension.
One solution used to accommodate the steering system consists in having a steering column made of multiple shafts connected to each other by articulations such as universal joints. However, having a lot of articulations usually results in more angle changes between the steering wheel and the rack and pinion assembly used in some vehicles due to play in the articulations. Therefore, the rack of the rack and pinion assembly moves less than it should for the amount by which the steering wheel is turned. Also, as the number of articulations increases, the force required to rotate the steering wheel also increases.
Furthermore, the tie rods connecting the rack of the rack and pinion assembly to the wheels are connected to the ends of the rack. While this helps prevent any contact between the tie rods and the rack and pinion assembly as the tie rods pivot with the travel of the wheels, the resulting tie rods are relatively short. Having short tie rods causes bump-steer as the wheels travel from their normal rest positions. Although the amount of bump-steer is minimal for a small amount of travel, this amount increases as the wheels travel more and becomes unacceptable beyond a certain amount of wheel travel. As such, the design of the front suspension assemblies has to be a trade-off between the amount of travel of the wheels and the amount of bump-steer resulting from the short tie rods.
Therefore, there is a desire for a steering system that has few articulations, is unlikely to cause interference with other components of the vehicle and permits large amounts of travel of the front wheels.


A self contained device for giving audible messages to occupants of a vehicle is disclosed. The device includes a housing having a top, a side, and a front, a power source disposed remotely from the housing, a VELCRO.RTM. strap disposed on the top of the housing so that the self contained audible message device can be mounted under the dashboard of the vehicle, a first negative electrode disposed from the housing, a first positive electrode disposed from the housing, the first positive electrode and the first negative electrode together connecting the present invention to the remote power source, an normally open switch disposed remotely from the housing, a light emitting diode, a second negative electrode disposed from the housing, and a second positive electrode disposed from the housing, the seecond positive electrode and the second negative electrode together connecting the normally open switch to the light emitting diode (L.E.D.).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for giving audible messages.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a self contained device for giving audible messages to occupants of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of a eat belt in an automobile for a means of preventing serious injury and death has been an undisputed fact since their first introduction. Since then, considerable energies have been focused on encouraging non-wearers to wear seat belts. These efforts have included extensive promotional campaigns, vehicle-installed warning buzzers and lights, passive restraint systems, and even fines. Unfortunately, thousands of lives are still lost every year that could have been saved by buckled seat belts.
Many people simply forget to wear their seat belts. Vehicle-installed warning lights and buzzers were intended as reminders to otherwise forgetful passengers. These indicators were viewed by many motorists as annoyances and were, in many cases, disconnected, thereby defeating their purpose.
Known synthesized voice systems are available and are largely well-received by most people. Telephone numbers are being given by synthesized voices, soda machines are suggesting different selections, and not virtually all car manufacturers offer automobiles with a synthesized voice to warn the motorist of various conditions, such as keys left in the ignition, 10W oil, and the like. The synthesized voice is being used to remind motorists to secure their seat belts. This approach is apparently better received and is resulting in a considerably greater number of motorists securing their seat belts.
While the use of synthesized voice systems for warning motorists to secure their set helt has been proven successful and necessary, a problem exists with the millions of older vehicles on the roads today with systems which are inadequate, disconnected or nonexistent.
Another consideration is that a driver may want to warn his passengers to buckle their seat belts well into their journey. Commercially available systems do not give the driver an opportunity to re-announce the warning to these delinquent passengers.
Accordingly, there exists a need for providing vehicles, seat belt systems that have the ability to be operated at will.
Numerous innovations for self contained devices or giving audible messages to occupants of vehicles have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to he used. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address they would no the suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofor described.

Self contained device for giving audible messages to occupants of a vehicle


A receiver in which sync data detection logic detects unencoded sync data at block boundaries of blocks encoded symbols received over a communications channel. Based on the detection of the sync data, the sync data detection logic determine synchronization information for one or more components of the receiver. It may also determine one or more system parameters by counting the number of symbols between successive instances of the sync data.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to synchronization of a communications system, and, more specifically, to detecting block boundaries and synchronizing the system based on this information.
2. Related Art
In current satellite broadcast systems compliant with the DVB standard, a standard encoded MPEG frame begins with a known sync byte. This byte is inserted into the frame prior to encoding by the convolutional encoder in the transmitter, and hence is encoded along with the rest of the frame. At the receiver, a decoder decodes the frame, and the receiver synchronizes the system after detecting the presence of the known sync byte.
If the code has low coding gain, as is the case with the first iteration of an inner code in a serially concatenated turbo code, there is a serious risk that the receiver will not be able to detect the presence of the sync byte. Consequently, the receiver will not be able to function since synchronization of the system cannot be achieved.
In the Japanese Digital Satellite standard, a xe2x80x98superframe headerxe2x80x99 contains several fields that convey system information to the receiver. This header does not perform any synchronization function. Thus, in order for this header to be interpreted, the receiver must already be synchronized and have knowledge of the location of this header. Accordingly, the acquisition process with such systems can be unduly prolonged. In addition, the header consumes system overhead, and thus adversely impacts system throughput.
A receiver configured for use in a communications system is provided for receiving blocks of data with unencoded sync data at block boundaries. Sync data detection logic detects the presence of the sync data after the blocks have been demodulated by the demodulator, but before the symbols have been decoded. Upon detecting the presence of the sync data, the sync data detection logic determines block boundaries. It may also derive any phase rotation of the symbol constellation and determine whether or not spectrum inversion has occurred. It may then communicate the timing information to the other components of the receiver, which may include the inner and outer encoders, and bit de-interleaver, of a turbo decoder. It may also communicate the phase rotation/inversion information to the demodulator. Through these tasks, the sync data detection logic synchronizes the system.
Various parameters, codes rates and settings may be embedded or implied by the number of symbols between two consecutive instances of the sync data. Examples include the type and code rate of one or more encoders employed at the transmitter, and the number and location of any pilot symbols which may have been inserted into the block at the transmitter. By counting the number of symbols between successive instances of the sync data, the sync data detection logic can derive the parameters, code rates, and settings. The receiver can then configure itself to these parameters, code rates and settings without the need of providing this information through a block header or the like.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

Synchronization of a communications system


Embodiments of the invention provide a method of controlling a gas-phase polymerization process. The method includes determining a difference between a control variable of the polymerization process, such as the production rate, and the desired value of the control variable; adjusting or maintaining a first manipulated variable to at least partially compensate for the difference between the control variable and the desired value; and adjusting or maintaining a second manipulated variable to at least partially compensate for the effect of adjusting or maintaining the first manipulated variable. The first and second manipulated variables can include process variables such as the fluidized bed weight, the catalyst concentration, the concentration of one or more monomers, the flow of one or more comonomers, the ratio of one comonomer to another comonomer, the activator concentration, the ratio of an activator to selectivity control agent, the concentration of a chain transfer agent, and the retardant concentration.

In a highly competitive market, olefin polymerization reaction systems are pushed ever closer to their operating constraints in order to increase production in existing equipment. Operating close to the constraints, the possibility of a reactor upset becomes greater. An upset is a reaction which deviates from normal operating constraints to a degree which requires a correction in production rate to prevent a significant economic loss by way of a shutdown, production of unusable product, loss of raw material, or the like. Thus, it is important to control upsets which would otherwise require a shutdown or other drastic or unusual operating action unless an effective amount of polymerization retarding agent is introduced imminently. Typically an upset could involve a significant increase in temperature in the reacting system, which may escalate the reaction further out of control and/or dangerously soften the product particles, causing them to stick together and form large unmanageable agglomerates. Unusual pressure values, superficial gas velocities, or static effects can also be harbingers of upsets, although not as common or always as dependable as temperatures. Upsets can also be the result of influences that are not measured or predicted, such as variations in reactant feed quality, irregular catalyst flow(s), and equipment malfunction. To maintain reactor operation and avoid expensive shutdowns, polymerization retarders can be fed into the reactor during or following an upset once it is detected, but manual intervention to introduce fast acting polymerization retardants may often not be timely enough or accurate enough to avoid the adverse consequences of major process upsets. Human monitoring cannot be expected to suffice where combinations of rapidly changing variables must be interpreted to anticipate runaway conditions.
One method for controlling reactors uses neural net based controllers. A neural network is an interconnected assembly of simple processing elements, units or nodes, whose functionality is loosely based on the animal neuron. The processing ability of the network is stored in the inter-unit connection strengths, or weights, obtained by a process of adaptation to, or learning from, a set of training patterns. In neutral net systems, a collection of process inputs and controllers are simultaneously used and controlled because of the nature of neural nets to achieve the improvement. Thus, when the controller is turned off, there is no effective control of resin properties, control of pressure, control of production rate, optimization of production rate. When the controller is activated, the multiple inputs and process variables are evaluated and the collective nature of these values results in a control effort. It would be desirable to provide a method that can control process variables without using a neural net approach.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of controlling a polymerization reactor


A high capacity magazine for high powered rimfire cartridges comprises a header portion that has a form factor to be received in a rotary magazine receptacle and an arcuate cartridge bank portion that holds a column of cartridges. A pair of clamshell halves define an arcuate cartridge bank and a lower portion of the header potion. A header caps the upper ends of the clamshell haves securing the clamshell halves together. The head and clamshell halves define the cartridge pathway to the magazine exit to be fed into the rifle chamber.

In shooting sports, high-performance low-cost ammunition is highly desirable. High 5 performance can mean, for example, high accuracy at long ranges. Traditionally, center fire cartridges provide such performance, but, they are relatively expensive. Rimfire cartridges have provided inexpensive cartridges with reasonable performance. In recent years, the .17 Horady Magnum Rimfire (.17 HMR) cartridge has become very popular in applications such as varmint hunting. This cartridge produces an extremely high muzzle velocity (e.g., twice the speed of 10 sound), much higher than conventional rimfire cartridges. This high muzzle velocity combined with the relatively low wind resistance of the .17 projectile combine to minimize bullet drop and produce a relatively flat trajectory thus offering the high performance of center fire cartridges at a rimfire price. Rifles that chamber the .17 HMR are commercially available, for example, from Savage Arms, Marlin Firearms and Sturm, Ruger & Company. Such inexpensive high performance cartridges are conducive to high volume firing, especially since a semiautomatic rifle, the model A17, that accepts such cartridges is now available from Savage Arms. The A17, and other rimfire rifles, particularly semiautomatic rimfire rifles, utilize a rotary magazine that fits within a magazine receptacle in such rifles and is within the form factor of the rifles. That is, the exposed surface of the magazine follows the contours of the rifle. Low-cost high capacity magazines are known that plug into the receptacle for the rotary magazines for 22 caliber rimfire cartridges. Improvements to such high capacity magazines to accommodate the larger and higher powered .17 HAIR cartridges would be well received.


An optical isolator has a sleeve with a longitudinal channel, a pair of optical fibers in the longitudinal channel, a first, second and third birefringent crystals, a GRIN lens, a Faraday rotator and a mirror element. The first birefringent crystal covers the end facet of one of the pair of optical fibers, and the second and third birefringent crystals cover the end facet of the other of the pair of optical fibers. The GRIN lens has first and second end faces with the first end face proximate the first, second and third birefringent crystals. The Faraday rotator is located between the mirror element and the second end face of the GRIN lens. Light in one direction from a first optical fiber of the pair passes through, and back from, the first, second and third birefringent crystals, the GRIN lens, the Faraday rotator and the mirror element into a second optical fiber of the pair. On the other hand, light in a reverse direction from the second optical fiber passes through, and back from, the first, second and third birefringent crystals, the GRIN lens, the Faraday rotator and the mirror element, but not into the first optical fiber so that an optical isolation function is achieved. Multiple optical isolators may be obtained with multiple pairs of optical fibers fixed in the channel of the ferrule.

The present invention relates to fiberoptic devices and, more particularly, to optical isolators useful in allowing the transmission of light signals in one direction along an optical fiber and blocking the transmission of light signals in the opposite direction.
In present day optical fiber technology, it is often very useful for light signals to move only in one direction along an optical fiber. For example, semiconductor lasers are typically used to generate and to relay light signals on optical fibers. These lasers are particularly susceptible to light signal reflections, which can cause a laser to become unstable and noisy. Optical isolators are used to block these reflected signals from reaching the laser. Ideally, an optical isolator transmits all of the light signals in the forward direction and blocks all of the signals in the reverse direction.
Of course, optical isolators do not attain ideal performance levels and improvements are constantly sought. Furthermore, lowered manufacturing costs are desirable to encourage the spread of optical fiber networks with their inherently large bandwidths. With an optical isolator generally required for each laser generating signals on an optical fiber, it is beneficial that the cost of the optical isolators be lowered as much as possible. Finally, for ease of installation, reliability and low material costs, a small size for optical isolators are desirable also.
The present invention substantially meets those goals by offering a miniaturized optical isolator having a high performance. The optical isolator is capable of being manufactured at lowered costs.

Highly miniaturized, folded reflection optical isolator


A high performance solid-state heading sensor for underwater towed arrays is taught that combines high quality MEMS sensor components with data processing filters to resolve performance limitations present in prior art heading sensors. The heading sensor employs rate gyroscopes, accelerometers, magnetometers and a customized Kalman filter formulation implemented on a micro-controller to improve performance in determining the roll, pitch and heading of a towed array.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to heading sensors for underwater towed arrays, and in particular to a high performance solid state heading sensor operated in conjunction with a data processing orientation formulation for towed acoustic arrays.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Current towed acoustic sonar arrays use magnetic heading sensors to measure the shape of the array to determine the azimuthal bearing of acoustic sources of interest and to allow for the determination of array shape for improved beamforming performance. The towed array application requires very high accuracy measurement of the horizontal angle between the axis of the array and the magnetic field vector, even at high earth latitudes where the horizontal component of the magnetic field vector may only be 10% of the total vector magnitude. Existing heading sensors use fluxgate floating ring-core gimbal magnetometers that suffer significantly from reliability and production problems. Due to the gimbal design of these sensors, the heading sensor output becomes very noisy and completely unreliable due to the flow induced vibration that excites the gimbal close to its resonance during vessel maneuvers and during erratic array motion.
For this reason, what is needed is a heading sensor that provides accurate heading measurements when the array is under dynamic motion within the constraints of power consumption, processing and space that are imposed by implementation into an underwater towed acoustic array.

High accuracy heading sensor for an underwater towed array

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A method and apparatus for growing crystals of a more than three multicomponents compound semiconductor from its growth solution in which a source material containing at least one solute element is immersed and dissolved in the growth solution by conducting DC electric current from a current supplying electrode immersed in the growth solution through the growth solution to the source material, and thus a desired composition of the growth solution can be constantly maintained. As a result, the composition of the grown crystals of the multicomponents compound semiconductor can be also controlled to a desired proportion.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a crystal growth method and, more particularly, to a method for growing crystals of the multicomponent compound semiconductor, for example, ternary and quaternary semiconductor compounds such as In.sub.1-x Ga.sub.x As, InAs.sub.x P.sub.1-x Ga.sub.x Sb, GaAs.sub.x P.sub.1-x, and In.sub.1-x Ga.sub.x As1-yP.sub.y compounds, in a saturated growth solution t. This invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the above crystal growth method.
The new growth method and apparatus of this invention are effective for controlling the composition of the growth solution and, therefore, the composition of the grown crystals to a desired proportion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, various two component compound semiconductors (also known as binary semiconductors) have been widely used in the production of semiconductor devices. Recently, compound semiconductors containing three or more components or elements, generally referred to as multicomponent compound semiconductors, are used for the same purpose, since they have excellent electrical properties similar to or higher then those of the binary semiconductors. Typical of these compound semiconductors are ternary and quaternary semiconductors of Group III-V and Group II-VI elements of the Periodic Table, for example, In.sub.1-x Fa.sub.x As, InAs.sub.x P.sub.1-x, In .sub.1-x Ga.sub.x Sb, In.sub.1-x Al.sub.x As, GaAs.sub.x P.sub.1-x, Ga.sub.1-x In.sub.x P, Ga.sub.1-x P, In.sub.1-x Ga.sub.x As.sub.1-y P.sub.y, and the like.
In the production of these multicomponent compound semiconductors in the form of crystals, there are several problems to be solved First, only limited types of the compound semiconductors can be prepared by the conventional method, since the number of binary or ternary compounds usable as the substrate in the crystal growth applications are limited, and the resulting compound semiconductors must be lattice-matched to the substrate. Further, although the In.sub.1-x Ga.sub.x As, InAs.sub.x P.sub.1-x, In.sub.1-x Ga.sub.x Sb, GaAs.sub.x P.sub.1-x, In.sub.1-x Ga.sub.x As.sub.1-y P.sub.y and similar bulk single crystals can be conventionally produced by well-known methods such as the encapsulated Czochralski and gradient freeze methods, they contain an unfixed proportion or ratio of the elements constituting them: caused by compositional variations of the growth solution during the crystal growth step due to depletion of the solute elements in the solution essential to complete the compound semiconductor crystals The saturated growth solution for use in the formation of the multicomponent compound semiconductor crystals is in the form of a solution or melt (hereinafter referred to as solution), and essentially consists of or contains two or more solute elements In addition, it is difficult to obtain a thick homogeneous epitaxial layer of the compound semiconductors by means of a liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) process, because, as described above, solute elements in the growth solution having a finite or limited volume are depleted during the growth of the crystals. The above problems will be now described with reference to the figures. FIG. 1 illustrates an X-Y compositional plane of InGaAsP quaternary compounds and FIG. 2 shows a phase diagram of quasi-binary system compounds. As illustrated in the diagram of FIG. 1, the InGaAsP quaternary compounds ideally can possess any composition of four essential elements In, Ga, As, and P. Further, the InGaAsP compounds have three important areas, one of which is a high speed area A. The compounds belonging to this area will enable the production of semiconductor devices having a high speed response. The second area is a carrier confinement area B, in which area the compounds have an increased capability for uptaking carriers The third area is a shorter wavelength area C, in which area the compounds are effective for the production of semiconductor devices capable of emitting visible radiation.
However, since the materials usable as the substrate in the production of the InGaAsP quaternary compounds are limited to only two types, namely, InP and GaAs (other binary compounds are not available), the scope of the resulting InGaAsP compounds is substantially outside the areas A, B, and C described above. In practice, possible InGaAsP compounds are indicated by two characteristic lines, a and b, since these can be lattice-matched to the substrates InP and GaAs, respectively. It is, therefore, desirable to provide bulk single crystals of the ternary compounds such as InGaAs, InAsP, InGaP, GaAsP, and the like: Since, if these crystals are available and usable as the substrate, an epitaxial layer of InGaAsP compounds with various lattice constants which covers the areas A, B, and C can be freely grown on the substrate. Further, if such InGaAsP compounds are available, they will remarkably increase the degree of flexibility and freedom in the design, fabrication, specification, and the like of the finally produced InGaAsP-based semiconductor device. Of course, these results are commonly applicable to all multicomponents compound semiconductors of Group III-V and Group II-IV elements in addition to the abovediscussed InGaAsP compounds.
The reason why crystals, namely bulk crystals or epitaxial crystals of the multicomponent compound semiconductors have not yet been provided, in spite of the widespread demand by users', is apparent from FIG. 2 showing a phase diagram of quasi-binary compounds AC and BC. In FIG. 2, it is assumed that AC and BC mean GaAs and InAs, respectively and therefore AC has a higher melting point than that of BC. It is apparent from a liquidus line l and a solidus line s that the composition X.sup.l of the growth solution is different from the composition X.sup.s of the crystals at the same growing temperature T.sub.G and, accordingly, if the growth solution used has a finite volume, the element A or Ga in the growth solution is gradually consumed and, therefore, the composition of the growth solution varies, as shown by arrow x in the line l. Further, accompanying the compositional variation of the growth solution, the composition of the growing crystals also varies, as indicated by arrow y in the line s. These results demonstrate that the use of the growth solution having a finite volume does not ensure the growth of crystals having a uniform composition, and necessarily results in bulk crystals or epitaxial crystals with compositional variation. Thus, it is conceived that homogeneous crystals of the multicomponents compound semiconductors will be produced when the high-melting compound AC or GaAs is supplied to the saturated growth solution under controlled conditions during the crystal growth step.
Recently, J. J. Daniele and A. J. Hebling, have reported in J. Appl. Phys., 52 (1981) 4325 that very thick epitaxial layers (up to 600 .mu.m) of A1.sub.1-x Ga.sub.x As having a uniform composition could be grown by the Peltier-induced liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) process. In their work, an A1.sub.1-x Ga.sub.x As shell floating on the top of the growth solution was used as a source material, namely, material capable of supplying solute elements. However, the Daniele and Hebling method is not intended to control the supply of the solute elements into the growth solution, and no controllable methods of supplying solute elements into the growth solution have been developed as yet.

Apparatus for growing multicomponents compound semiconductor crystals


A method of forming a multi-layered dual-polysilicon structure that forms a polysilicon gate prior to formation of an ion implantation barrier and that requires fewer steps, is more economical, and permits fabrication of more compact semiconductor circuits and devices than prior art methods.

Multi-layered structures with dual layers of polysilicon over oxide layers of differing thickness have many uses in integrated circuits. Such structures are particularly useful for construction of MOS integrated circuits including Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) cells and Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) cells, for example. The methods of manufacturing multi-layered dual-polysilicon structures currently require multiple and sometimes complicated processing steps including implantation barrier deposition and removal, polysilicon deposition, patterning, and etching.
These multiple, and sometimes repetitive, processing steps increase the fabrication time and expense of manufacturing integrated circuits and semiconductor devices. Moreover, fabrication tolerances are controlled in part by the type and number of processing steps. Thus, fewer and simpler processing steps will yield tighter manufacturing tolerances and denser integrated circuits and semiconductor devices.
Thus there exists a need in the art for a method of forming a multi-layered dual-polysilicon structure that overcomes the above-described shortcomings.

Method of forming a multi-layered dual-polysilicon structure


A current sensor includes first to fourth magneto-resistive elements each having a resistance value; and a compensation current line applying a compensation magnetic field to the magneto-resistive elements. A bridge circuit is formed by the magneto-resistive elements. Resistance values of the first and third magneto-resistive elements change together in one increasing/decreasing direction. Resistance values of the second and fourth magneto-resistive elements change together in the other increasing/decreasing direction. The compensation current is generated by a potential difference between the first and second junctions in response to application of voltage between the third and fourth junctions. The compensation current line includes first to fourth line portions. Each line portion extends in the same direction as the extending direction of the magneto-resistive elements, overlaps the corresponding magneto-resistive elements, and. The current-to-be-detected is detected based on the compensation current.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a small current sensor capable of detecting a change of a current flowing through a conductor with high precision.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, as a method of measuring a control current for controlling a control device or the like, there is used a method of indirectly measuring the control current by detecting a gradient of a current magnetic field generated by the control current. Specifically, for example, four magneto-resistive elements such as giant magneto-resistive elements (hereinafter, referred to as GMR elements) exhibiting giant magneto-resistive effect are used to form a Wheatstone bridge, the Wheatstone bridge is arranged in the current magnetic field, and the gradient thereof is detected (for example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,377).
As described above, by forming a Wheatstone bridge, influence of external noise (an interference magnetic field) or environmental temperature may be suppressed at relatively low level. Particularly, in the case where the characteristics of the four magneto-resistive elements are uniform, more stable detection property is obtainable.
In addition, there has been disclosed an example in which a change of an output voltage caused by environmental temperature or external noise is further reduced by providing a compensation current line (for example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,003).
Further, in the view of increasing requirements for detecting a weaker current, a magneto-resistive element with high impedance and higher sensitivity is demanded. However, in the case where a Wheatstone bridge is configured by using a magneto-resistive element with high impedance and high sensitivity, a large offset output is likely to be generated or large variation in connection resistance is likely to occur. Therefore, it is difficult to adjust balance between four magneto-resistive elements configuring the Wheatstone bridge. Thus, the applicants have previously proposed a current sensor capable of detecting a current magnetic field of a current-to-be-detected with high sensitivity and high precision while adjustment of an offset voltage in a zero magnetic field is easily preformed (for example, see Japanese Patent No. 4360998).


A composition is disclosed for aiding extraction of an emulsified oil from an oil and water emulsion. The composition includes silicon containing particles at a level of 0.1 wt. % to 30 wt. %; an emulsifying agent at a level of 1 wt. % to 30 wt. %; and water at a level of 40 wt. % to 99 wt. %. A method of extracting oil from an oil and water emulsion in a material is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of (a) dispersing silicon containing particles into the material using a mechanical blending device; and (b) separating the oil from the material. A method of extracting oil from an oil and water emulsion in a material is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of (a) providing a dispersion of silicon containing particles in water; (b) metering the dispersion into the material; and (c) separating the oil from the material.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to compositions and methods for aiding the extraction of an emulsified oil from an oil and water emulsion.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most commercial corn oil is produced by front end fractionation of corn germ during the wet mill corn process. Recently, a new source of corn oil has arisen as a by-product of the dry-mill process used in the ethanol industry. Dry milling is a process requiring less energy and less capital investment than wet-milling. Though corn oil captured at the tail-end of a dry mill process is not suitable for food use, it can be used as a biodiesel feedstock.
In the dry-mill ethanol process, yellow dent corn is milled, liquefied and sent to a fermenter. Enzymes and yeast are added to convert starch into ethanol, which is subsequently distilled off. This leaves a slurry called whole stillage. Whole stillage, which contains a concentrated oil fraction, is then separated via centrifugation into liquid and solid fractions called thin stillage and wet cake respectively. While part of the thin stillage is recycled to help liquefy the milled corn, the rest is concentrated via evaporation into thick stillage (or syrup), which is dried and mixed with the wet cake to form distillers' dried gains with solubles (DDGS). This is sold as cattle feed and is a good source of protein.
Due to the concentrating effect dry-milling has on the oil fraction, corn oil extracted from thick stillage has become a profitable co-product for the ethanol industry. Although removing corn oil lowers the energy density of DDGS, some studies suggest that high oil content in DDGS interferes with milk production in dairy cattle, and leads to undesirable pork bellies in swine. Therefore, removing some of the oil not only leads to a valuable co-product, but also may improve DDGS quality.
Current methods of extracting corn oil from thick stillage include solvent extraction (often hexane) and decantation. Hexane extraction, though effective, is energy intensive and requires a large amount of capital investment. Decantation requires little capital investment and has the potential of being just as effective as hexane extraction.
Decantation, using centrifuges takes advantage of the density difference between the oil and the aqueous phase to create buoyant force on the oil suspended in solution. In order for the buoyant force to be strong enough to overcome the interfacial interactions and surface friction acting on the oil, individual oil droplets must be large enough so that sufficient force can be generated. The current horizontal decanters used in industry can separate particles as small as twenty micrometers in diameter. The success of current corn oil decantation is highly dependent on upstream processing conditions. Plants using high temperature, high or low pH, smaller grind, and long periods of retention tend to have increased oil yields.
However, there still exists a need for improved methods for recovering corn oil from byproducts of the dry-mill process used in the ethanol industry.

Oil extraction method and composition for use in the method


An image forming apparatus that can prevent image deletion in carrying out image formation upon turning-on of power supply after main power supply is turned off before the image forming apparatus goes into a sleep state. A movable member is moved between a shielding position at which it shields a photosensitive drum from a charger and a retracting position at which the photosensitive drum and the charger are opened to each other. When power supply is turned on, a time period for which the photosensitive drum is rotated by a driving unit is controlled according to the position of the movable member detected by a movable member sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a facsimile, or a printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, in image forming apparatuses using an electrophotographic process, a surface of an image carrier such as a photosensitive member is uniformly charged, and then an electrostatic latent image is formed on the image carrier by exposing the image carrier to light according to image data.
In such image forming apparatuses, when the image carrier is charged using mainly a corona charger. The corona charger charges the image carrier by applying high voltage to a metallic wire to cause corona discharge.
On the other hand, stains inevitably become attached to the metallic wire itself due to corona discharge, and it is thus necessary to clean the metallic wire on a regular basis. Further, the metallic wire may be required to be replaced. Moreover, a large amount of ozone is produced due to corona discharge.
An electrophotographic photosensitive member is affected by ozone product (discharging or charging product) generated by reaction of ozone produced from a charger and moisture in the air, and hence when repeatedly used, the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member gradually becomes sensitive to humidity and tends to absorb moisture.
As described above, when ozone product becomes attached to the surface of the photosensitive member which have become sensitive to humidity, the surface resistance of the photosensitive member decreases due to ozone product, and so-called image deletion occurs in which an electrostatic latent image is deleted.
To prevent such image deletion, there has been proposed the technique that a photosensitive member is shielded from a charger when an image forming apparatus switches from a standby state of being ready to form images into a sleep state which is a power saving mode (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2007-72212). Here, when the image forming apparatus switches into the sleep state, the photosensitive member and the charger are shielded from each other so that ozone product can be prevented from becoming attached to the photosensitive member and deteriorating the durability of the photosensitive member and causing image deletion.
However, according to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2007-72212, if a user turns off main power supply to the image forming apparatus before the image forming apparatus switches from the standby state into the sleep state, the photosensitive member and the charger cannot be shielded from each other.
When the image forming apparatus is left in the state in which the photosensitive member and the charger are not shielded from each other, ozone product becomes attached to the photosensitive member. In this state, if main power supply is turned on, and a print job is executed, image deletion occurs during the execution of the print job because ozone product is attached to the photosensitive member.

Image forming apparatus that prevents image deletion


Methods and systems for controlling communication of data in an ultrasound system are provided. One method includes receiving ultrasound data from a plurality of channels of an ultrasound probe in an ultrasound system and digitally demodulating the received ultrasound data such that a data transfer rate of the digitally demodulated ultrasound data is lower than a data transfer rate of the received ultrasound data before digital demodulation. The method further includes processing the digitally demodulated ultrasound data, wherein the processing is performed using a processor of the ultrasound system.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to ultrasound systems, and more particularly to methods and systems for communicating data within an ultrasound system, particularly transferring data from a front end of the ultrasound system to a back end for processing.
Diagnostic medical imaging systems typically include a scan portion and a control portion having a display. For example, ultrasound imaging systems usually include ultrasound scanning devices, such as ultrasound probes having transducers that are connected to an ultrasound system to control the acquisition of ultrasound data by performing various ultrasound scans (e.g., imaging a volume or body). The ultrasound systems are controllable to operate in different modes of operation and to perform different scans. The signals received at the front end of the ultrasound system are then communicated to and processed at a back end.
In conventional ultrasound systems, the front end generally includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) that beamforms the received signals. However, this hardware implemented beamformer provide less flexibility. For example, the type of beamforming that is implemented is limited to the particular hardware implementation, such that only a specific beamforming is capable of being performed. Thus, the hardware components in the front end are specialized and do not allow changes to the beamforming algorithm once the algorithm is installed within the ASIC or FPGA.
Moreover, multiple beams may be created at the same time, for example, during four-dimensional (4D) imaging. In hardware implemented beamformers, the creation of these multiple beams at the same time requires intensive or significant processing, which can result in a costly implementation and an increase in the size of the ultrasound system.
In software implemented beamformers, the beamformer is implemented in the back end of the ultrasound system. In these software implemented beamformers, all of the channels of beamformed data created from the received signals must be communicated from the front end to the back end for backend processing. The amount of data that needs to be communicated from the front end to the back end in these software implemented beamformers is large and can increase significantly depending on the type of scanning being performed. Accordingly, higher bandwidth buses, more communication lines and/or higher processing power are required to operate these ultrasound systems. These components can also add size and cost to the ultrasound system. Moreover, the data rates needed to transfer the amount of data to be processed may exceed the highest data transfer rate of the communication lines (e.g., a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus) of the system.

Method and system for controlling communication of data via digital demodulation in a diagnostic ultrasound system


In a case where an execution request for a job to be executed by an external device is received, job information of the job is registered in a first database. A second database is searched for job information of a job for the external device which executes the job. Based on the found job information, predetermined processing is executed on a job corresponding to the job information. In a case where job information is searched for in accordance with registration of a job and at least the job information is not found, predetermined processing is executed, based on the registered job information held in an information processing apparatus, on a job corresponding to the job information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing technique of managing job information of a job to be executed by an external device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a business which opens a service to the public as a cloud service on the Internet has been developed. A print server is also required to provide a function as a print service on the Internet, that is, a cloud print service. This service releases a user from a large limitation that he or she cannot perform printing without connecting a terminal such as a personal computer (PC) to a printer and installing a specific printer driver to the terminal. In addition, the service provider can readily add server resources and improve design specifications in accordance with the load, that is, there are various merits for development.
A method using a database (to be referred to as a DB hereinafter) is available as a method of implementing a print job queue in a cloud print service like this. A print job having the highest priority in a desired printer can be decided by registering, in the DB, print jobs for different printers registered in the cloud print service together with information about, for example, the input date/time of each print job, and acquiring only a print job meeting appropriate conditions by using a database manipulation language such as SQL. Thus, print job queues of very many printers can be implemented by a single DB. This method has the merit that even an inexpensive printer incapable of implementing a print job queue by the hardware resources of the main body can implement a print job queue. In addition, many techniques for load balancing such as replication have been proposed for the DB. Since this can relatively easily enlarge the service scale, replication is one print job queue implementing method in the cloud print service.
Unidirectional replication is a technique for balancing the load on the DB. The unidirectional replication has an arrangement including a master DB for accepting a data update process, and one or more slave DBs for mirroring the state of the master DB. When compared to a DB configuration including only one DB, this arrangement can perform backup when a trouble occurs, and, in addition to that, can balance the access load on the master DB by performing access of reference only without any data update on the slave DB. The unidirectional replication is further classified into synchronous and asynchronous unidirectional replications in accordance with the data update process for the master DB, and the mirroring completion timing of the slave DB.
The synchronous replication ensures mirroring completion of the slave DB when data update to the master DB is complete, but has the demerit that the response speed of the data update process for the master DB decreases. In the asynchronous replication, the data update process for the master DB and mirroring for the slave DB are asynchronous, so the response speed of the data update process for the master DB is high. On the other hand, since a delay occurs in the completion of mirroring for the slave DB, a time during which data just registered in the master DB cannot be acquired from the slave DB is produced. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-210164 has disclosed a technique by which a job is backed up in preparation for down of the DB, and, even when no data can be acquired from the DB, the job is executed without any interruption.
The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-210164 is based on a recovery process when the DB is down. However, a job stored as backup data is not referred to unless the DB is down. In addition, the processing overhead is large because both a job transmission process and the backup process are performed.

Information processing system comprising one or more apparatuses which manage job information of a job


A vehicle suitable for use in high-altitude applications use may include a gas impermeable body and a flexible barrier separating the body into multiple sections or compartments. The compartments may include a lift compartment for holding lift gas, such as lighter than air gas, and a ballast compartment for holding a ballast, such as heavier than air gas. A valve may permit passage of the ballast from the ballast compartment to an exterior of the body. The body may have an oblong shape, with fins attached to an exterior back end thereof. The vehicle may have only internal ballast compartments, without including a hopper external to the body.

In lighter than air vehicles, such as the vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1, temperature and pressure changes resulting from altitude changes and varying atmospheric conditions may cause lift gas inside a hull of the vehicle 1 to expand or contract, resulting in a constantly varying volume of lift gas. To maintain a constant internal pressure, such vehicles may have one or more ballonets (not shown) within the hull 2. The ballonets may react to changes in volume by passively discharging air to or accepting air from the atmosphere, to maintain hull pressure within acceptable limits, to maintain hull shape. Additionally, the vehicle 1 may have ballast, in order to manage the large buoyancy difference between the launch and operational elevations. In high-altitude vehicles, fully inflated at launch, large ballast loads may be required. The ballast (such as fluid or sand) may be stored in a hopper 3 and a release mechanism may allow the ballast to be drained or jettisoned from the hopper during assent as needed. However, such configuration may impart large local loading at the attachment side, and therefore a large scar (i.e., drag-inducing) support structure to distribute the load into the hull 2 may be required. The supporting structure, hopper 3, and ballast release mechanism remain permanently affixed to the hull 2 after the ballast is jettisoned, imparting a large scar mass, adversely affecting performance. Additionally, due to the external location of the system, increased drag may result throughout the flight, even after the ballast has been drained from the hopper 3. High altitude flight may require larger hoppers, resulting in further loss of efficiency.


There is provided an apparatus that can prevent invoking of unintended functions in gesture operation. The apparatus displays gesture functions executable by movement of touch position, and when movement of touch position satisfies a first condition, confirms executable gesture functions to display confirmed functions. When the movement of touch position satisfies a second condition after the confirmation, the apparatus cancels the confirmation. When the touch input is released in the confirmed state, the apparatus executes the confirmed functions, and when the touch input is released in the canceled state, control does not execute gesture functions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display control apparatus for gesture operation input onto a touch panel and a control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, digital devices including a touch panel in a display unit, and enabling a user to perform an intuitive operation have appeared on the market. In these devices, it is possible not only to execute a function with a button icon placed on a display screen constituted by a touch panel, but also to call the function by performing gesture recognition.
In invoking a function by the gesture recognition, if an input trajectory on the touch panel matches a predetermined trajectory pattern, the function assigned in advance to the trajectory pattern will be invoked. Various functions can be assigned to the trajectory patterns, and a user can also assign arbitrary functions thereto.
When utilizing a function invocation by such the gesture recognition, the user may in some cases be aware that the user is doing wrong gesture operation halfway through dragging for gesture (hereinafter, may be sometimes referred to as gesture operation). For this reason, a technique for canceling a function invocation by the gesture recognition during gesture operation in progress is required.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-016314 discusses a method for canceling a function invocation by the gesture recognition, if gesture cancellation timeout period is exceeded while staying standstill halfway through a stroke by dragging, or a stroke is too large. Additionally, there is discussed a method for canceling a function invocation by the gesture recognition if an input from another input apparatus is performed while the gesture action is in progress.
However, according to a method discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-016314, the gesture recognition is executed only after a user has performed the gesture operation, and released the finger from the touch panel. For this reason, the user cannot confirm halfway through the gesture operation how the gesture operation performed until present time has been recognized by the apparatus, and cannot find what functions will be invoked before the user leaves the finger from the touch panel.
For this reason, there is a problem in that, even when a pattern, which may invoke an unintended function, is erroneously input, the user cannot aware of it, accordingly cannot cancel it. As a result, an unintended function may be eventually executed.

Display control apparatus and control method thereof


An underground water warmed by the geothermy in an aquifer is pumped up by a pumping means disposed in a pump-up well and the pumped up underground water is introduced into a heat exchanger located in the pump-up well near the opening thereof. The heat exchanger is connected to a heat radiating pipe laid under a road or a building structure on the ground through feed and return conduits. An antifreezing fluid is filled in the heat radiating pipe and circulates through the heat radiating pipe and the heat exchanger through the conduits. The antifreezing fluid warmed in the heat exchanger by the heat exchanging operation stores the heat in the road and transfers the heat to the snow on the ground during the passing through the heat radiating pipe by the heat radiating operation, whereby snow lying on the road is melted without sprinkling water. The underground water cooled after the heat exchanging operation is discharged from the heat exchanger to be introduced into a water returning artesian well to store the water or to be discharged into a public discharge channel.

This invention relates to non-water-sprinkling type snow melting method and system, and, more particularly, to a method and system for melting snow lying on roads or building structures in a cold snowy area without sprinkling water, wherein a heat exchanging means is provided in an artesian well at a level of the underground to improve heat exchanging efficiency, the heat exchanging means being connected to a heat radiating pipe means laid under the roads or building structures on the ground through conduits, and an antifreezing fluid is circulated through the heat exchanging means, the conduits and the heat radiating pipe to prevent the heat radiating pipe from being damaged due to the freezing thereof.
In the known art of this field, there is provided a snow melting system of non-water-sprinkling type, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No. 62-206,104 (206,104/1987), in which underground water warmed by geothermy is pumped up by a pumping means from within one artesian well as a pump-up well and fed to another artesian well as a water returning well through a conduit and a heat exchanging means disposed on the ground. A heat radiating pipe or pipes are laid under the road on the ground and the antifreezing fluid filled in the heat radiating pipe is circulated through the heat exchanging means disposed on the ground by the pumping means to carry out the heat exchanging operation to melt the snow which has fallen on the road and to prevent the same from freezing.
The snow melting system of the above described type, however, is accompanied by a significant problem such that, because the heat exchanging means is itself cooled by cold outside air in cold snowy season, and a relatively large amount of heat is lost, so that high heat exchanging efficiency is not expected. In addition, the location of the heat exchanging means requires much space on the ground.
In order to eliminate these problems, it may be required to apply a specific heat retaining or heat insulating installation or to further prepare a structure for accommodating the heat exchanging means so as not to cool the same. This, however, requires more complication for the establishment and increased cost for arranging the snow melting system.

Non-water-sprinkling type snow melting method and system

Nihon Chikasui Kaihatsu Kabushiki Kaisha


A system and method for operating a bipolar memory cell array including a bidirectional access diode. The system includes a column voltage. The column voltage switch includes column voltages and an output electrically coupled to the bidirectional access diode. The column voltages include at least one write-one column voltage and at least one write-zero column voltage. The system also includes a row voltage switch. The row voltage switch includes row voltages and an output electrically coupled to the bidirectional access diode. The row voltages include at least one write-one row voltage and at least one write-zero row voltage. The system further includes a column decoder and a row decoder electrically coupled to a select line of the column voltage switch and row voltage switch, respectively. The system includes a write driver electrically coupled to the select lines of the row and column switches.

This invention relates to memory in semiconductor devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for operating memory cells requiring bipolar programming in a three-dimensional array.
A central problem associated with present volatile and non-volatile memory devices is that peripheral circuitry provides a large area overhead on the semiconductor memory chip, which results in less space available for the memory cell array. For example, past solutions for implementing more efficient memory devices involved utilizing multiple semiconductor chips to fashion the memory device or stack bipolar memory cells on top of each other. These solutions, however, regularly experience problems with significant wiring.
Nonvolatile memory solutions are a growing focus for the next generation of memory systems. Where present floating-gate transistor based non-volatile memories satisfy many current enterprise and consumer needs, exponential growth in the amount of digital data generated in the information industry requires next generation of semiconductor memories to increase memory densities while reducing cost.

Decoding scheme for bipolar-based diode three-dimensional memory requiring bipolar programming

International Business Machines Corporation


A control system for a vehicle including a brake pedal operable by a driver and an engine includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: (a) execute cruise control, the cruise control selectively executed and stopped through an operation of the driver, (b) stop the engine upon depression of the brake pedal, when the cruise control is stopped, (c) stop the engine while the vehicle is being decelerated or stopped, even when the brake pedal is not depressed, when the cruise control is executed, and (d) keep the engine stopped even when the operation to stop the cruise control is performed, after the engine is stopped and the cruise control is executed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a control system for a vehicle, and in particular to a control system that performs control of an engine when automatic cruise control is stopped while the vehicle is stopped. The invention relates to a control method for the vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
A vehicle having an idling stop function is known in which an engine is automatically stopped while the vehicle is stopped, for example, so as to reduce the amount of consumption of fuel. As one example, the engine is automatically stopped upon depression of a brake pedal. In the meantime, when cruise control for automatically following a vehicle ahead is executed, the engine can be automatically stopped even when the brake pedal is not depressed while the vehicle is decelerated or stopped.

Control system for vehicle and control method therefor


The phase-locked loop circuit includes a gain setting circuit for setting a gain of a voltage controlled oscillator, and a time-constant setting circuit for setting a time constant, which is determined by the amount of current in a charge pump circuit and a capacitance value of a loop filter. The gain setting circuit sets the gain to a predetermined value, and the time-constant setting circuit sets the time constant to a predetermined value, whereby the loop band width of the phase-locked loop circuit is set to a desired value.

The present invention relates to phase-locked loop circuits, and more particularly relates to technology for controlling the loop band width of a phase-locked loop circuit. A phase-locked loop circuit (which will be hereinafter also called a frequency synthesizer) is essential for an integrated circuit, and recent developments in radio communication have provided significant improvements in phase-locked loop circuits. Among others, a frequency synthesizer, in which sigma-delta modulation technique is applied to a frequency divider, (which will be hereinafter referred to as a "sigma-delta modulation frequency synthesizer") has a large response time-constant, and is thus capable of responding quickly. In addition, sigma-delta modulation frequency synthesizers are capable of achieving very fine frequency resolution.
FIG. 11 illustrates the configuration of a sigma-delta modulation frequency synthesizer. Unlike a frequency divider in a typical phase-locked loop circuit, a frequency divider 50 (a dual modulus prescaler) in this sigma-delta modulation frequency synthesizer does not have a fixed frequency dividing ratio, and includes at least two frequency dividers (frequency dividers 51 and 52 in this example). When a sigma-delta modulator 100 uses the frequency dividers 51 and 52, the sigma-delta modulator 100 switches the frequency dividers 51 and 52 at a frequency higher than the loop band width. The oscillation frequency of the synthesizer is therefore determined by the use rates of the frequency dividers 51 and 52. For example, if the frequency divider 51, having a frequency dividing ratio of N+1, is used at a rate of 50%, and the frequency divider 52, having a frequency dividing ratio of N, is used at a rate of 50%, the oscillation frequency of the synthesizer is (N+½) times the frequency of input signal.
When the sigma-delta modulation frequency synthesizer switches the frequency dividers, switching noise is produced. However, by switching the frequency dividers at a high frequency and by performing sigma-delta modulation, the frequency components of the switching noise are centered in the high frequency region and removed by a loop filter 30, whereby the phase noise characteristics are improved. The frequency dividing ratio of the sigma-delta modulation frequency synthesizer is as low as about N, which allows the synthesizer to have a higher response frequency than a typical frequency synthesizer having a frequency dividing ratio of about the square of N.
In order to optimize the phase noise characteristics of a sigma-delta modulation frequency synthesizer, the loop band width thereof must be optimized. FIG. 12 is a graph indicating the switching noise characteristics of a sigma-delta modulation frequency synthesizer. The sigma-delta modulation frequency synthesizer's response shows low-pass filter characteristics to switching noise. Therefore, as the response frequency becomes lower, that is, the loop band width becomes lower, the switching noise is reduced further. FIG. 13 is a graph indicating the phase noise characteristics of the sigma-delta modulation frequency synthesizer. The sigma-delta modulation frequency synthesizer's response shows high-pass filter characteristics to VCO phase noise. Therefore, in order to reduce the VCO phase noise, the response frequency needs to be set high. As can be seen from the figures, since there is a trade-off between the switching noise and the VCO phase noise, the loop band width must be selected carefully so as to minimize the total amount of switching noise and VCO phase noise.
Nevertheless, so far there is no disclosed method for precisely optimizing the response characteristics of a phase-locked loop circuit, and there have only been techniques for partially controlling characteristics of a voltage controlled oscillator, etc. Under these circumstances, it might be difficult to enhance the performance of future sigma-delta modulation frequency synthesizers, etc.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


To perform data quality assurance, data values from a data source at discrete time points up to time point t are received. At least one estimated value is computed based on at least some of the received data values, and the received data values and estimated data values are applied to an algorithm. A data quality determination of the data value for time point t is performed based on the algorithm.

Companies or other organizations often gather data into data repositories, such as databases or data warehouses, for analysis to discover hidden data attributes, trends, patterns, or other characteristics. Such analysis is referred to as data mining, which is performed by companies or other organizations for planning purposes, for better understanding of customer behavior, or for other purposes.
A database can receive an input data stream from one or more data sources for collection and storage. As data is received, it is sometimes desirable to analyze data values to detect for validity of the data values. For example, an organization may desire to identify invalid or erroneous data values on a more or less real-time basis, such that the organization can act quickly upon detection of invalid or erroneous data values. The ability to act on data values that are invalid or erroneous allows an organization to more quickly identify problem areas such that the errors do not accumulate. The process of identifying errors in data values is referred to as a data quality assurance procedure.
Data quality assurance of data produced by a dynamically changing system is usually difficult to perform accurately. A dynamically changing system is a system that produces data that exhibits non-linear trends, seasonal effects, and heteroscedasticity (varying variability over time). For such dynamically changing systems, detecting for a change in the data that is indicative of a problem in the input data based on calculations of constant means and constant variance typically does not produce accurate results.

Performing quality determination of data

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An injection molding apparatus is disclosed for forming articles with internal undercuts by the use of lifter heads with transversely extending protrusions. The lifter heads are received in recesses in the mold projections which form the interior of the molded article. The transverse protrusions of the lifter heads extend into the voids surrounding the projections to form the undercuts. The lifter heads are extended outwardly from the projections to remove the article from the mold. Ejector pins move the molded article outwardly from the lifter heads. The lifter head protrusions have inward ramping surfaces which facilitate the removal of the molded article. A lifter head may include two, angularly offset protrusions which form two undercuts near the corner between intersecting internal walls of the molded article. The protrusions have beveled release surfaces which allow the molded article to shift transversely off the lifter heads.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a molding apparatus for use in plastic injection molding and, more particularly, to a molding apparatus which produces molded plastic articles having internal undercuts.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many articles may be economically constructed of injection molded plastic. A problem exists, however, when the article has undercuts which would prevent the article from being removed from the mold. One such article is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A molded plastic tank 10 for containing liquid is made of injection molded plastic top and bottom halves 12, 14 joined by flanges 16, 18 around the center of the tank. As best shown in FIG. 2, the tank halves are formed with internal walls, such as wall 20, which are provided to strengthen and rigidify the tank and to lessen liquid sloshing. In order to allow the liquid to flow through the internal walls, the walls are formed with openings such as opening 22. These openings are undercut, meaning that the axis through an opening extends transversely to the direction, represented by arrow 24, in which the article would be removed from the male die of an injection mold.
When the tank half 14 is formed in an injection mold, the undercut openings are formed by protrusions of the mold extending into the voids of the male mold which form the internal walls. Once the injected plastic has hardened, the tank half is locked into the male mold by the interengagement between the protrusions and the openings. The tank half cannot be removed from the mold unless the protrusions are disengaged from the openings.
In the past, molds have been provided with movable pins or rods which extend through the mold obliquely or perpendicularly to the direction in which the article is removed from the mold. The ends of the pins or rods protrude into the mold voids to form the undercuts. The pins or rods are withdrawn obliquely or transversely to release the molded article. This approach is not suitable, however, when a large number of undercuts are required. FIG. 2 shows three undercuts adjacent to a single wall intersection: It may be desired to mold a much larger tank with a great many wall intersections and undercut openings. In such a situation, it would be extremely expensive and difficult, if not impossible, to construct a mold having enough oblique or transverse pins to form all the required undercuts.

Molding apparatus for articles having internal undercuts


A memory system includes an address mapping circuit. The address mapping circuit receives an input memory address having a first set of address bits. The address mapping circuit applies a logic function to the input memory address to generate a mapped memory address. The logic function uses at least a subset of the first set of address bits in two separate operations that respectively determine two portions of the mapped memory address.

A processor circuit generates memory addresses for read and write requests to a memory circuit. A processor circuit may map logical addresses and/or virtual addresses, as used by software applications and an operating system, to device addresses that correspond to memory locations in the memory circuit.
Some types of memory cell technologies such as Flash, phase change memory (PCM), and resistive random access memory (RRAM) have less endurance to repeated writes to the same memory locations than dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and static random access memory (SRAM). For example, an RRAM circuit may be able to withstand a maximum of 109 to 1013 write accesses, and a DRAM circuit may be able to withstand a maximum of about 1015 write accesses.
Some software applications, due to their structure or use, generate numerous write requests targeting a small subset of logical addresses, and therefore a small subset of device addresses if a cache is ineffective in insulating main memory from the writes. Numerous writes to a small percentage of memory cells in a memory circuit that has limited write endurance may substantially reduce the service life of the memory circuit even though the overall average writes/cell for the circuit is still low, where service life ends when the most-used cells begin to wear out.
Wear leveling techniques have been used to prolong the service life of some types of memory circuits. A wear leveling technique converts a nominal device address for each write request to a physical device address using a process that, over time, shifts the same nominal device address to different physical device addresses. For example, some wear leveling techniques periodically move blocks of nominal device addresses to new blocks of physical device addresses. This causes the long-term effect of high write usage for a nominal device address to be spread over a larger number of physical memory cells. Wear leveling techniques typically increase the access latency and the energy consumption of a memory system.


Apparatus is described herein for supporting a length of hose extending from an outlet such as the waste disposal outlet of a recreational vehicle to a disposal inlet. The apparatus includes a trough-like support which may be in sections supported by vertical members removably clamped to bottom end edge portions of the trough-like support in an inclined position from the outlet to the inlet. The vertical members are designed with horizontal U-shaped clamping portions positioned with the end edges of the trough-like support clamped between the legs of the "U".

The present invention relates to an improved means for supporting waste disposal hose positioned between a disposal outlet and the inlet of a waste collecting means, and particularly to a novel support means adapted to support hose in an inclined position to facilitate drainage and at the same time support such hose above the ground surface or otherwise to avoid abrasion and/or contamination thereof. It relates more particularly to a means for providing such support composed of segments which can be easily assembled and disassembled at the point of use. It is especially suitable for providing support and protection to flexible hose, either straight or corrugated, such as used for the dumping or disposal of waste products from disposal tanks such as are commonly used in recreational vehicles or RV's as they are generally known.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4712755 of which applicant is a co-inventor, the conventional practice in using discharge hose temporarily attached to waste storage containers of RV's, for example, and the problems associated therewith are discussed in detail. Such problems are related to at least in part to the flexible nature of the hose used which is frequently of convoluted or corrugated construction. As described and claimed in that patent, the hose is supported while connected to the outlet of the RV's waste storage system by means of a pair of connected rails detachably interlocked and suitably extensible and supported from beneath at a given point by means of a slidable bracket.
It has been found that appropriate support and drainage for such a rail system can be provided in a simple and easily assembled and disassembled manner by certain improvements and modifications such as described below.