A two wheel motorcycle of the scooter type employing a power unit with an engine mounted forwardly of the rear wheel, a power train extending rearwardly on one side of the rear wheel to couple the engine and the rear wheel and a muffler extending along the other side of the rear wheel. A carburetor is mounted above the power train and an air cleaner for that carburetor is mounted above the muffler. A connecting tube extends transversely of the vehicle between the air cleaner and the carburetor at a lcoation above and forwardly of the axis of the rear wheel.

The field of the present invention is motorcycle design and the layout therefor.
Typically motorized cycles of the motor scooter variety have included intake systems including air cleaners and carburetors located together on a vehicle. Because of this, the sizes and shapes of such devices have bene limited. In addition, when positioned near the exhaust system, special requirements were imposed as well upon the muffler.
With greater power requirements, the amount of air filtering capability and muffling capability can be inadequate given current systems. Consequently, muffling can be inadequate and, in the case of two stroke engines, exhaust length for proper tuning can be complicated. Similarly, appropriate intake tube length and diameter may also be compromised.

Air cleaner and carburetor layout for motorcycles


A combined wet etching method for stacked films which is capable of performing etching processes in a collective manner while controlling an amount of side-etching on each of stacked films and of making uniform side edges. In the wet etching method, two or more types of etching methods are performed in combination, on stacked films containing first and second films being deposited sequentially on a substrate and each having a different film property. The two or more types of wet etching methods include, at least, a first wet etching method in which side-etching on the first film is facilitated more than side-etching on the second film and a second wet etching method in which side-etching on the second film is facilitated more than side-etching on the first film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a combined wet etching method for stacked films and a wet etching system used in the combined wet etching method for stacked films and more particularly to the combined wet etching method for stacked films for performing wet etching processes employing a plurality of types of wet etching methods in combination and in a collective manner on stacked films containing a plurality of films each having a different film property.
The present application claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-332954 filed on Nov. 15, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
In processes of manufacturing liquid crystal display devices and semiconductor devices, in order to perform thin-film patterning, an etching process is indispensable. However, in wet etching processes to be performed on a thin film, so-called a "side-etching" phenomenon occurs, in which the thin film is excessively etched not only from a direction of a surface of the thin film but also from a direction of a portion surrounding the thin film, thus making it impossible to achieve a uniform shape of the thin film to be obtained after having been etched. In process for patterning a wiring layer by using a wet etching process to form wirings made of metal materials in particular, very high etching accuracy is required. This is because, if an irregularity occurs in a pattern shape due to insufficient accuracy in the side-etching, it exerts a large influence on electrical properties of devices.
Moreover, with recent widespread usage of multi-layered liquid crystal display devices and/or semiconductor devices, an influence of a step existing on a lower-layer pattern wielded over a step coverage characteristic of the lower-layer pattern by an upper-layer pattern becomes large. In an etching process for patterning wiring layers in particular, in order to maintain an excellent step coverage characteristic by an upper-layer pattern, to ensure an insulation pressure resistance of an interlayer dielectric being put between an upper-layer and a lower-layer, to achieve normal conduction through upper-layer metal wirings, and to obtain reliability by avoiding occurrence of a defect in a protective film covering upper-layer metal wirings, so-called a "taper etching" process, in which a tapered portion is formed on a surface being wet-etched at time of patterning on lower layer wirings, is an important factor.
To achieve this purpose, when a single wiring material (single layer) is wet-etched, in many cases, impregnation of an etching liquid between a resist and wiring material is used by making an adjustment to the chemical composition of the etching liquid or by controlling resist adhesion.
FIGS. 10A and 10B each are an outline of a general wet etching process conventionally employed. As shown in FIGS. 10A and FIG. 10B, in the conventional wet etching, after a substrate to be treated 1 has been carried into an etching chamber 2 by a substrate carrying roller 9, by performing an etching process 2a using a single method, that is, using wet etching such as immersion etching (static etching using a static etching liquid) in which the substrate is immersed in an etching liquid, or spray etching (dynamic etching using a dynamic etching liquid) in which an etching liquid is sprayed on a substrate, or a like, parts (specified regions) of a thin film formed on the substrate to be treated 1 are etched.
Next, after the substrate to be treated 1 has been carried into a water cleaning chamber 3, a cleaning process 3a, as shown in FIG. 10B, is performed to remove the etching liquid (etchant) being left on the substrate to be treated 1. Then, after the substrate to be treated 1 has been carried into a drying chamber 4, a drying process 4a is performed to remove cleaning water being left on the substrate to be treated 1. Thus, patterning is achieved by performing the wet etching process on the thin film. Moreover, a wet etching system using the conventional spray etching method as described above is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Sho 57-094572. Also, another conventional wet etching method employed for etching on a single-layered film in which the spray etching method and the immersion etching method are used in combination, however, each of the spray etching method and the immersion etching method is performed in etching systems being different from each other is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 08-158069.
However, a following problem occurs when the conventional wet etching methods as described above are employed for etching on stacked films. That, there is a problem in that, when an etching process by using a same etching liquid is performed, in general, a etching characteristic (that is, etching rate) varies depending on each wiring material and in that, when an etching process by using a same etching liquid is performed on a same wiring material, a etching characteristic varies depending on an etching method to be employed.
Due to this, if an etching process is performed by a single method on a plurality of stacked wiring materials (stacked films) in the same manner employed in the etching on a single-layered film, if an etching rate of a lower layer film is larger than that of an upper layer film, which is caused by a difference in the etching rate of each of the stacked films, a side-etching phenomenon in the lower layer film excessively occurs compared with that in the upper layer film, causing occurrence of a overhanging shape of the upper layer film in which the upper layer film protrudes toward the lower layer film in a hood form in some cases. This overhanging shape of the upper layer causes degradation of a step coverage characteristic of a film to be further stacked on the upper layer, thus causing occurrence of structural defects in the upper layer film.
In order to eradicate such the difference in an etching rate which varies depending on a wiring material, an etching method may be available in which formation of a tapered portion is controlled by using two kinds of etching liquids each having a different etching characteristic. However, due to deterioration in each of the etching liquids and/or due to complicated management of concentrations of the etching liquids, actual operations of this etching method is not easy.

Combined wet etching method for stacked films and wet etching system used for same


A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that in an embodiment convert e-mail into physical mail. In various embodiments, if a recipient identifier in the e-mail is an e-mail address, the recipient identifier is retained. But, if the recipient identifier in the e-mail is not an e-mail address, the recipient identifier, or a street address associated with the recipient identifier, is printed on an envelope, and the e-mail is also printed. Postage may also optionally be printed on the envelope. In this way, persons who do not have an e-mail address may still receive the contents of e-mail via physical delivery.

The development of the EDVAC computer system of 1948 is often cited as the beginning of the computer era. Since that time, computer systems have evolved into extremely sophisticated devices, and computer systems may be found in many different settings. Computer systems typically include a combination of hardware (such as semiconductors, integrated circuits, programmable logic devices, programmable gate arrays, and circuit boards) and software, also known as computer programs.
Although computer systems were once stand-alone devices, computer systems today are increasingly connected via networks. One such network is the Internet or World Wide Web, in which electronic document transfer and message communication such as electronic mail (e-mail) are commonplace. More and more users globally are communicating via e-mail, which is considerably less expensive and more convenient than telephone calls, faxes, or letters.
Users of e-mail in the Internet are typically provided with a user e-mail address, which serves as an electronic mail box. A user is able to create an e-mail and transmit it to one or more other users via their respective user address. Messages are thus capable of being transmitted to multiple recipients, simultaneously. This is usually accomplished when the sender or originator of the e-mail enters the respective addresses of each desired recipient in a destination address location (e.g., the "To," "CC," or "BCC" fields) of the user interface provided by the e-mail application software being utilized to transmit the e-mail.
Another method of designating recipients is to send the e-mail to an automated mailing list manager that uses an application, often called a mail exploder, to turn a single alias for a distribution list into a series of individual mail addresses. The mailing list manager may also forward the e-mail to a storage space dedicated to the distribution list on a post office server and accessible by all client members of the list. The post office server then notifies the respective clients that a message is being retained. Mailing list managers such as listserv, listproc, and majordomo allow a client to subscribe or unsubscribe to a given mailing list.
Due to the pervasiveness of e-mail correspondence, an e-mail distribution list can contain hundreds or even thousands of recipients. Yet, despite the seeming universal nature of computers, many people still do not have computers and thus cannot receive e-mail or participate in e-mail distribution lists. These people still rely on post office mail or other physical delivery services to their street addresses. But, senders of e-mail seldom take the time to manually print off a copy of the e-mail, address an envelope, affix the proper postage, and drop the envelope in a mail box.
Without a more convenient way to send e-mails to street addresses, persons without an e-mail address or without access to a computer will continue to be unable to enjoy the benefits of e-mail.

International Business Machines Corporation


An interface cable is configured to connect a host instrument to a physiological sensor. The interface cable has an ID signal input from the sensor and a LED drive signal input from the host instrument sensor port. The interface cable also has a data signal output to the host instrument sensor port. The LED drive signal and the data signal provide an encrypted handshake to and from the host instrument. The handshake is responsive to the ID signal so as to enable normal operation of the host instrument and the sensor.

Pulse oximetry is a widely accepted noninvasive procedure for measuring the oxygen saturation level of arterial blood. FIG. 1 illustrates a pulse oximetry system 100 having a sensor 200 attachable to a patient 10, a host instrument 310 for monitoring oxygen saturation and pulse rate, and a patient cable 350 that connects the sensor 200 and the host instrument 310. The sensor 200, can be attached to an adult patient's finger or an infant patient's foot, for example.
FIG. 2 illustrates a sensor 200 having both red and infrared LEDs 210 and a photodiode detector 220. The sensor 200 is configured so that the LEDs 210 project light through the blood vessels and capillaries of a tissue site. The photodiode 220 is positioned at the tissue site opposite the LEDs 210 so as to detect the LED emitted light as it emerges from the tissue site. The sensor 200 has LED pinouts 240 and photodiode pinouts 250 that provide a connection to the host instrument 310 (FIG. 1) via the patient cable 350 (FIG. 1). A pulse oximetry sensor is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,523 entitled "Low-Noise Optical Probes," assigned to Masimo Corporation, Irvine, Calif. and incorporated by reference herein.
As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor 200 may also have a identification (ID) element 230. The ID element 230 may be any circuit element, such as a resistor having a predetermined value, that provides information regarding the sensor 200. This information may be used, for example, to indicate the sensor manufacturer or supplier. The ID element 230 may be located in parallel with the LEDs 210 so as to share the LED pinouts 240. The host instrument 310 (FIG. 1) may be programmed to operate only if it is connected to a sensor 200 that it recognizes is from an authorized source. This feature maintains sensor and measurement quality control and ensures patient safety. Sensor identification and information elements and are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,986 entitled "Manual And Automatic Probe Calibration," which is assigned to Masimo Corporation, Irvine, Calif. and incorporated by reference herein.
FIG. 3 functionally illustrates a pulse oximetry system 100 having a sensor 200, a host instrument 310 and a patient cable 350. The host instrument 310 has LED drivers 312 that alternately activate the sensor red and IR LEDs 210. A signal conditioner 315 processes the resulting current generated by the photodiode detector 220, which is proportional to the intensity of the detected light. A signal processor 316 inputs the conditioned detector signal and determines oxygen saturation based on the differential absorption by arterial blood of the two wavelengths emitted by the LEDs 210. Specifically, a ratio of detected red and infrared intensities is calculated by the signal processor 316, and an arterial oxygen saturation value is empirically determined based on the ratio obtained. Computed oxygen saturation and pulse rate are provided on the host instrument display 318. An ID reader 314 is capable of determining the ID element 230. A host instrument signal processor is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,081,735 entitled "Signal Processing Apparatus," which is assigned to Masimo Corporation, Irvine, Calif. and incorporated by reference herein. A patient cable 350 has shared LED drive/ ID lines 352 that provide communications between the host instrument LED drivers 312 and ID reader 314 and the sensor LEDs 210 and ID element 230 via shared LED pinouts 240 (FIG. 2). Photodiode lines 354 provide communications between the sensor detector 220 and the host instrument signal conditioner 315.


Apparatuses, methods, and systems for distributing resource block between interfering cells, are disclosed. One method includes allocating resource blocks to a plurality of macro-cells and a plurality of sectors of a supercell, wherein the supercell includes a wireless communication cell that provides wireless coverage to a larger region than the plurality of macro-cells and includes the plurality of sectors, wherein each of the macro-cells provide wireless coverage that at least partially overlaps with a region of wireless coverage of the supercell, wherein the supercell includes one or more supercell sector coverage areas that are interfered by at least one macro-cell. The allocating the resource blocks includes determining which of the plurality of macro-cells wirelessly interfere with which of the plurality of sectors, and determining, for each interfered sector, a total unmet demand of the interfered sector and interfering macro-cells for a coverage area of the interfered sector.

There is a constant need to improve and supplement wireless communication networks. It is desirable to have methods, apparatuses, and systems for distributing resource blocks, which are spectral resources allocated to a certain user for a certain period of time, between interfering cells in a brown-field deployment in order to avoid interference.

Distributing spectral resources between interfering cells


The invention relates to an illumination device for a medical care unit. The illumination device comprises a plurality of light units arranged on a fixing unit to illuminate a room and a display area. At the same time, the color temperature and the distribution thereof as well as the brightness of the individual light units can be tuned to each other, for instance.

Common illumination concepts for illuminating rooms generally include direct room illumination and, where applicable, indirect room illumination which can be arranged, for example, at a wall of the room or within a ceiling bar. The arrangement of the direct and/or indirect room illuminations generally is not adapted to objects which are arranged within the room, such as a sickbed in a sickroom. As a result, patients may be dazzled by the arrangement of the room illumination.
Implementing this type of room illumination generally requires separate electric installation and assembly, which leads to additional work and, therefore, to additional costs, in particular during retrofitting or renovation of the room illumination.
Further, the line of sight of a sleeping patient in the sickroom is mainly directed to the room ceiling. The ceiling may have unsightly air outlets, which is a disadvantage for the patient and does not facilitate the healing progress.

Illumination device for a medical care unit


In a particular embodiment, a method includes determining, at a processor, a first destination based on a communication associated with a source, wherein an account is associated with the source. The method further includes determining a storage value associated with the account, wherein the storage value is associated with an amount of available storage associated with the account. The method further includes routing the communication based on a comparison of the storage value to a threshold.

Speech recognition systems are specialized computers that are configured to process and recognize human speech and may also take action or carry out further processes. Developments in speech recognition technologies support "natural language" type interactions between automated systems and users. A natural language interaction allows a person to speak naturally. Speech recognition systems can react responsively to a spoken request. An application of natural language processing is speech recognition with automatic call routing (ACR). A goal of an ACR application is to determine why a person is calling a service center and to route the caller to an appropriate agent or destination for servicing a request. Speech recognition technology generally allows an ACR application to recognize natural language statements so that the caller does not have to rely on a menu system. Natural language systems allow the caller to state the purpose of their call "in their own words."
Natural language ACR systems attempt to interpret the intent of the caller based on the spoken language and then selects a routing destination. When a speech recognition system misinterprets the caller's intent, significant problems can result. A caller who is misrouted is generally unhappy. Misrouted callers realize that there has been a mistake with the automated phone service and often terminate the call by hanging up. If a caller does not hang up they will typically be routed to an operator who will attempt to manually route the call. Routing a caller to an undesired location and to human operators leads to considerable inefficiencies for a business. Most call routing systems handle a large volume of calls and, even if a small percentage of calls are abandoned, the costs associated with abandoned calls are significant. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved automated method and system of routing calls.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for speech-enabled call routing


Compositions comprising polyamides, polyolefins and ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers useful as compatibilizers, related processes and articles made therefrom. A composition comprising from 50 to 99.4 percent by weight of a polyolefin, from 0.5 to 50 percent by weight of a polyamide, from 0.1 to 10 percent by weight of an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer comprising from 50 to 95 mole percent ethylene groups and from 5 to 50 mole percent vinyl alcohol groups and less than 5.0 mole percent and preferably less than 2.0 mole percent unhydrolyzed vinyl acetate groups.

This invention relates to compositions comprising polyamides, polyolefins and ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers useful as compatibilizers, and related processes and articles made therefrom.
Blends of polyamides and polyolefins are well known. Such blends have been described in the art as being homogeneous and heterogeneous. A review of the distinction between homogeneous blends and heterogeneous blends is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,482 and related U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,817. These references disclose a variety of dispersant materials used to form homogeneous blends of polyolefins and polyamides. U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,482 is directed to "heterogeneous" blends of polyolefins and polyamides. Such a heterogeneous composition is useful in forming articles having improved barrier to fluid permeation and improved mechanical properties. These patents disclose that a polyolefin and a condensation polymer incompatible with the polyolefin can be formed into an improved composition by using an alkylcarboxyl-substituted polyolefin as a compatibilizing agent. A review of the compatibilizers used in these referenced patents is found beginning at column 6, line 4, of U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,482.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,857,754 and 3,975,463 disclose blends of compositions of polyolefin, saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (also known as ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer) and a carbonyl containing thermoplastic polymer.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,468,427 and 4,427,825 disclose a composition comprising a polyamide, preferably polyepsiloncaprolactam and from 1 to 65 percent of an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer composition. The composition is indicated to be a heterogeneous melt-blended composition wherein there are regions of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer having an average diameter of less than 500 angstroms in the polyamide.

Blends of polyamide, polyolefin, and ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer


There is provided a power output control system for an internal combustion engine, which enables the vehicle to smoothly perform refuge travel to find a place to park when an electric throttle control device becomes incapable of controlling a throttle valve, while ensuring adequate traveling performance. An ECU determines whether or not the electric throttle control device is incapable of controlling the throttle valve, and interrupts energization of the electric throttle control device when it is determined that the electric throttle control device is incapable of controlling the throttle valve. At this time, the opening of the throttle valve is held at the default opening degree by a spring. Further, basic ignition timing is calculated according to the engine rotational speed and load on the engine, and ignition timing of the engine is determined by correcting the calculated basic ignition timing according to the amount of operation of the accelerator pedal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a power output control system for an internal combustion engine including an electric throttle control device for electrically controlling a throttle valve, and more particularly to a power output control system for controlling the power output of the engine when the electric throttle control device is in a condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, a power output control system of the above-mentioned kind has been disclosed e.g. in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-22530. According to the power output control system, when a throttle valve has become uncontrollable e.g. due to an electrical or mechanical failure of an electric throttle control device, the electric throttle control device is deenergized, and at the same time the degree of opening of the throttle valve is held at a default opening degree so as to avoid an engine stall and allow the vehicle to travel to find a nearby place to park.
Further, the power output control system is configured such that when the accelerator pedal is not stepped on at all or completely released, the torque generated by the engine is reduced to an amount corresponding to an idle engine rotational speed by correction of the air-fuel ratio of a mixture and the ignition timing, and when the accelerator pedal is stepped on from the released state, the rotational speed of the engine is increased to thereby prevent degradation of drivability.
As described above, according to this power output control system, when the throttle valve becomes uncontrollable due to failure of the electric throttle control device, if the accelerator pedal has been stepped on, i.e. the vehicle is actually traveling to find a nearby place to park (hereinafter, this travel carried out in case of uncontrollability of the throttle valve will be referred to as xe2x80x9crefuge runningxe2x80x9d), the degree of opening of the throttle valve is held in the default opening degree which makes the rotational speed of the engine slightly higher than the idle engine rotational speed. Therefore, it is impossible to secure a sufficient amount of intake air when the vehicle is performing refuge running, and although the refuge running is possible, the vehicle cannot attain adequate traveling performance.
It is an object of the invention to provide a power output control system for an internal combustion engine, which enables the vehicle to smoothly perform refuge running while ensuring adequate traveling performance, when an electric throttle control device becomes incapable of controlling a throttle valve.
To attain the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power output control system for an internal combustion engine including an electric throttle control device for electrically controlling a throttle valve that controls an amount of intake air to be supplied to the engine, and an accelerator pedal,
the power output control system comprising:
uncontrollability-determining means for determining whether or not the electric throttle control device is in a condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve;
energization-interrupting means for interrupting energization of the electric throttle control device when it is determined by the uncontrollability-determining means that the electric throttle control device is in the condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve;
default opening-holding means for holding a degree of opening of the throttle valve at a default opening degree when the electric throttle control device is determined to be in the condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve;
rotational speed-detecting means for detecting a rotational speed of the engine;
load-detecting means for detecting load on the engine;
basic ignition timing-calculating means for calculating basic ignition timing according to the rotational speed detected by the rotational speed-detecting means and the load on the engine detected by the load-detecting means;
accelerator pedal operation amount-detecting means for detecting an amount of operation of the accelerator pedal; and
ignition timing-determining means for determining ignition timing of the engine by correcting the basic ignition timing according to the detected amount of operation of the accelerator pedal when the electric throttle control device is determined to be in the condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve.
According to this power output control system, when it is determined that the electric throttle control device is incapable of controlling the throttle valve, first, energization of the electric throttle control device is interrupted to stop control of the throttle valve by the electric throttle control device. At the same time, the degree of opening of the throttle valve is held at the default opening degree by the default opening-holding means to supply intake air in an amount enabling the vehicle to perform refuge running, i.e. to find a nearby place to park. Further, ignition timing of the engine is determined by the ignition timing-determining means by correcting basic ignition timing calculated based on the rotational speed of the engine and load on the same by the basic ignition timing-calculating means, according to the accelerator pedal opening.
Therefore, when the electric throttle control device is determined to be incapable of controlling the throttle valve, the basic ignition timing is corrected according to the amount of operation of the throttle valve to thereby determine the ignition timing. This makes it possible to obtain the power output of the engine according to the amount of operation of the throttle valve, i.e. driver""s demand, which enables the vehicle to smoothly perform the refuge running. As a result, the default opening degree of the throttle valve can be configured to be larger than in the case of the conventional power output control system, thereby ensuring adequate traveling performance of the vehicle during the refuge running.
Preferably, the ignition timing-determining means determines the ignition timing by correcting the basic ignition timing such that the ignition timing is retarded by a largest amount when the amount of operation of the accelerator pedal is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, and as the amount of operation of the accelerator pedal becomes larger than the predetermined value, the ignition timing becomes closer to the basic ignition timing.
To attain the above object, according to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a power output control system for an internal combustion engine including an electric throttle control device for electrically controlling a throttle valve that controls an amount of intake air to be supplied to the engine, and an accelerator pedal,
the power output control system comprising:
an uncontrollability-determining module for determining whether or not the electric throttle control device is in a condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve;
an energization-interrupting module for interrupting energization of the electric throttle control device when it is determined by the uncontrollability-determining module that the electric throttle control device is in the condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve;
a default opening-holding module for holding a degree of opening of the throttle valve at a default opening degree when the electric throttle control device is determined to be in the condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve;
a rotational speed-detecting module for detecting a rotational speed of the engine;
a load-detecting module for detecting load on the engine;
a basic ignition timing-calculating module for calculating basic ignition timing according to the rotational speed detected by the rotational speed-detecting module and the load on the engine detected by the load-detecting means;
an accelerator pedal operation amount-detecting module for detecting an amount of operation of the accelerator pedal; and
an ignition timing-determining module for determining ignition timing of the engine by correcting the basic ignition timing according to the detected amount of operation of the accelerator pedal when the electric throttle control device is determined to be in the condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve.
According to the second aspect of the invention, the same advantageous effects as provided by the first aspect of the invention can be obtained.
Preferably, the ignition timing-determining module determines the ignition timing by correcting the basic ignition timing such that the ignition timing is retarded by a largest amount when the amount of operation of the accelerator pedal is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, and as the amount of operation of the accelerator pedal becomes larger than the predetermined value, the ignition timing becomes closer to the basic ignition timing.
To attain the above object, according to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a power output control method for controlling power output of an internal combustion engine including an electric throttle control device for electrically controlling a throttle valve that controls an amount of intake air to be supplied to the engine, and an accelerator pedal,
the power output control method comprising the steps of:
determining whether or not the electric throttle control device is in a condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve;
interrupting energization of the electric throttle control device when it is determined that the electric throttle control device is in the condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve;
holding a degree of opening of the throttle valve at a default opening degree when the electric throttle control device is determined to be in the condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve;
detecting a rotational speed of the engine;
detecting load on the engine;
calculating basic ignition timing according to the detected rotational speed and the detected load on the engine;
detecting an amount of operation of the accelerator pedal; and
determining ignition timing of the engine by correcting the basic ignition timing according to the detected amount of operation of the accelerator pedal when the electric throttle control device is determined to be in the condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve.
According to the third aspect of the invention, the same advantageous effects as provided by the first aspect of the invention can be obtained.
Preferably, the step of determining the ignition timing includes correcting the basic ignition timing such that the ignition timing is retarded by a largest amount when the amount of operation of the accelerator pedal is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, and as the amount of operation of the accelerator pedal becomes larger than the predetermined value, the ignition timing becomes closer to the basic ignition timing.
To attain the above object, according to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided an engine control unit including a control program for causing a computer to control power output of an internal combustion engine including an electric throttle control device for electrically controlling a throttle valve that controls an amount of intake air to be supplied to the engine, and an acceleration pedal,
wherein the control program causes the computer to determine whether or not the electric throttle control device is in a condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve, interrupt energization of the electric throttle control device when it is determined that the electric throttle control device is in the condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve, hold a degree of opening of the throttle valve at a default opening degree when the electric throttle control device is determined to be in the condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve, detect a rotational speed of the engine, detect load on the engine, calculate basic ignition timing according to the detected rotational speed and the detected load on the engine, detect an amount of operation of the accelerator pedal, and determine ignition timing of the engine by correcting the basic ignition timing according to the detected amount of operation of the accelerator pedal when the electric throttle control device is determined to be in the condition incapable of controlling the throttle valve.
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the same advantageous effects as provided by the first aspect of the invention can be obtained.
Preferably, when the program causes the computer to correct the basic ignition timing such that the ignition timing is retarded by a largest amount when the amount of operation of the accelerator pedal is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, and as the amount of operation of the accelerator pedal becomes larger than the predetermined value, the ignition timing becomes closer to the basic ignition timing.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Power output control system for internal combustion engine


An apparatus and process for automatically, repetitively sampling blood from conscious animals. The apparatus can simultaneously extract blood from a number of conscious, catherized animals at programmable time intervals. The apparatus is characterized as a system of computer controlled valves and pumps connected by tubing filled with saline solution to a catherized animal. Blood samples are collected via a cannula from the animal and placed in a fraction collector for analyses.

The removal or extraction of blood from conscious animals has been utilized to determine the presence of bacteria, hormones, parasites, toxins, as well as the metabolism of drugs and other substances in the animal. Heretofore, the removal of blood from animals has been performed manually or on an as necessary basis. Therein, the cannulized animal is anaesthetized and the sample is collected as required at intermittent time intervals with a syringe.
A system for automatic collection of small samples of blood from conscious animals has been described (Clark, R. G. et al, xe2x80x9cAutomated Repetitive Microsampling Of Blood: Growth Hormone Profiles In Conscious Male Rats,xe2x80x9d J. Endocr. (1986) Vol. 111, pp. 27-35). Therein rats bearing indwelling intravenous catheters were connected via swivels to a solenoid operated, three-way fitting and tubing to a multi-channel peristaltic pump, valves and a fraction collector. The tubing was filled with heparinized saline from a reservoir. Blood samples from the rats are drawn past the three-way fitting using a peristaltic pump. A small portion of the blood is pushed past the three-way fitting into a collector and the remainder of the sample is returned to the animal. This system, particularly, if the animal is small, fails to address the problem of a replacement substance for the animal""s blood that has been removed. The reference further fails to suggest a solution for the problem of contamination of the blood sample with saline solution or excess dilution of sample therewith.
There is now a need for an automated blood sampling system that can sample blood from a conscious animal and address the problems of replacement of sampled blood to maintain the animals metabolism. There is a further need to address the problem of contamination and excess dilution of the blood sample with heparinized saline solution. The present invention addresses and resolves the problems associated with the automatic blood sampling system described herein above.
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for automatically, repetitively sampling blood from a conscious animal, characterized as:
a) means for confining a conscious, catheterized animal;
b) a cannula having first and second ends, said first end connected to the catherized animal, said cannula being suitable for sampling blood from the animal;
c) a cannula valve having first and second ends, said first end connected to the cannula, said cannula valve opening and closing being computer controlled;
d) a cannula T-fitting having first, second and third ends, said first end connected to the second end of the cannula valve;
e) an outlet valve having first and second ends, said first end connected, via tubing, to the second end of the cannula T-fitting, said outlet valve opening and closing being computer controlled;
f) a dispensing tip having first and second ends, said first end connected to the second end of the outlet valve, said second end being suitable for discharging blood into a sample, collection vial;
g) means for horizontal and vertical movement of the dispensing tip, said means for movement being computer controlled;
h) an air T-fitting having first, second and third ends, said first end connected to the third end of the cannula T-fitting;
i) an air valve having first and second ends, said first end connected to the second end of the cannula T-fitting, said second end exposed to the check valve;
j) a syringe pump suitable for transferring blood and saline through the apparatus, said pump having first and second ends, said first end connected, via tubing, to the third end of the air T-fitting, said pump being computer controlled;
k) a rotary, programmable valve having four ports for receiving and discharging fluids, wherein the ports open and close by computer control, said first port being connected, via tubing, to the second end of the syringe pump;
l) a heparinized saline source, said saline source connected to the second port of the programmable valve;
m) a fraction collector, comprising:
i) a base having two horizontally, opposed, parallel tracks, and a single track horizontally positioned above and perpendicular to the horizontally opposed, parallel tracks,
ii) a temperature controlled rack in slidable contact with the horizontally opposed, parallel tracks,
iii) means for sliding the rack along the tracks, said means being computer controlled, and
iv) a plurality of sample, collection vials removably located in the rack, said vials being suitable for receiving samples from the dispensing tip; and
n) computer means for accepting timing commands for collecting samples from the animal in coordination with the opening and closing of valves, sliding of the temperature controlled rack, pumping of the syringe pump, and dispensing samples into the collection vials,
wherein samples can be collected at predetermined time intervals.
The invention is also directed to a process for automatically collecting samples from a conscious animal utilizing the apparatus described herein.


Improved techniques are provided for modeling a target Volterra series using an orthogonal parallel Weiner decomposition. A target Volterra Series is modeled by obtaining the target Volterra Series V comprised of a plurality of terms up to degree K; providing a parallel Wiener decomposition representing the target Volterra Series V, wherein the parallel Wiener decomposition is comprised of a plurality of linear filters in series with at least one corresponding static non-linear function, wherein an input signal is applied to the plurality of linear filters and wherein outputs of the non-linear functions are linearly combined to produce an output of the parallel Wiener decomposition; computing a matrix C. for a given degree up to the degree K, wherein a given row of the matrix C corresponds to one of the linear filters and is obtained by enumerating monomial cross-products of coefficients of the corresponding linear filter for the given degree; and determining filter coefficients for at least one of the plurality of linear filters, such that the rows of the matrix C are linearly independent.

Power amplifiers 1508 are an important component in many wireless communication systems 1500, but they often introduce non-linearity. Digital pre-distortion (DPD) is a technique used to linearize a power amplifier 1508 in a transmitter to improve the efficiency of the power amplifier 1508. A digital pre-distortion circuit 1504 inversely models the gain and phase characteristics of the power amplifier 1508 and, when combined with the amplifier 1508, produces an overall system that is more linear and reduces distortion than would otherwise be caused by the power amplifier 1508. An inverse distortion is introduced into the input 1506 of the amplifier 1508, thereby reducing any non-linearity that the amplifier 1508 might otherwise exhibit. When developing an effective DPD 1504, it is often challenging to capture the nonlinear distortion and memory effects of the power amplifier 1508 using an accurate behavioral model.
Volterra series have been used to model the non-linear behavior of a non-linear system, such as a DPD system 1504 or a power amplifier 1508. Among other benefits, a Volterra series can capture the memory effects of the modeled non-linear system. The Volterra series can be used to approximate the response of a non-linear system to a given input 1502 when the output 1510 of the non-linear system depends on the input to the system at various times. Volterra series are thus used to model non-linear distortion in a wide range of devices including power amplifiers 1508.
Due to the complexity of a Volterra series, however, such as a large number of coefficients, the Volterra series is often modeled using a generalized memory polynomial (GMP) model, which reduces complexity by pruning the Volterra series to a reduced number of terms. Thus, GMP is a simplification of an ideal Volterra series. Pruning of terms can result in loss of performance in some cases. A need remains for improved techniques for modeling a target Volterra series.

Modeling of a target volterra series using an orthogonal parallel wiener decomposition


A plurality of automated vehicle inspection routines are provided keyed by user identification. Implementation relies on presence of a programmable computer installed on the vehicle with user input/output interfaces through which a user may enter user identification. Once entered the computer matches the user to an inspection routine, which may be customized to the particular individual, or which may apply to a class of users.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to an automated vehicle inspection system and more particularly to an inspection system which automatically reconfigures the inspection protocol to adapt to changes in the identity of the user of a vehicle, potentially of the vehicle operator and of the context of the inspection.
2. Description of the Problem
Commercial transport regulations provide for periodic inspection of, generation of inspection reports relating to, and documentation of maintenance on, commercial vehicles. Inspections include checking numerous operational aspects of the vehicle for conformity to normative operational standards, implementing a check off system for maintenance when indicated by inspection, as well as for scheduled maintenance, and validating the reports generated and keeping copies of the reports for a minimum time period.
Vehicle interactive on board computers (OBC) have been suggested in the art for use in implementing inspection programs directed to meeting these regulations. The OBC suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,328 was preferably a personal or lap top computer, which is used for receiving data inputs from a driver or maintenance personnel as part of an inspection, and for providing for the collection of data from various sensors placed on the vehicle. However, the '328 patent did not describe a mechanism for actually collecting data from vehicle sensors. The OBC may electronically store inspection reports, and provide copies of the same on a display or be used to reproduce copies in hard copy form.
Contemporary designs for the control and management of vehicle components increasingly rely on methods derived from computer networking. Digital data is exchanged between component controllers over a common physical layer such as a twisted shielded pair of wires. Intelligible communication between two or more device controllers among a greater plurality of devices, all occurring over the common physical layer, depends upon the communicating devices being able to discriminate among messages they receive and to respond to those messages directed to them. Such methods are well known in the art and are part of the standards which the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has published and continues to publish as part of the SAE J1939 protocol and the OBC may readily be configured to operate with these networks by an adaptor. The J1939 protocol provides an open protocol and a definition of the performance requirements of the medium of the physical layer, but also allows for development of proprietary protocols. The SAE J1939 protocol is a specialized application of a controlled area network (CAN) and may be readily implemented utilizing commercial integrated circuits such as the C167 Integrated Circuit from Siemens of Germany.
Digital data communications over serial data paths are an effective technique for reducing the number of dedicated communication paths between the numerous switches, sensors, devices and gauges installed on the vehicles. Multiplexing the signals to and from local controllers and switches promises greater physical simplicity through displacing much of the vehicle wiring harness, reducing manufacturing costs, facilitating vehicle electrical load management, and enhancing system reliability.
Vehicle network communication systems also offer opportunities for increasing automation in vehicle functions. Implementation of an automated inspection system over a vehicle controller area network was taught in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,650,977 to Miller. U.S. Pat. No. 6,650,977 is assigned the assignee of the present patent and is expressly incorporated herein by reference. In Miller's system a combination of automatic and prompted data collection helps drivers effect the efficient and complete collection of data required for commercial vehicle operation. The inspection protocol was systemized through a sequence represented by a flow chart. However, notwithstanding partial automation of the inspection process and the assistance provided to a driver by prior art systems in performing the manual aspects of an inspection, there exist other vehicle users who could be helped by improving the adaptability of the inspection programming.

User adaptive automated pre-trip inspection system

International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC


A manual transmission includes a coaxially arranged input shaft and output shaft, a first intermediate shaft and parallel second intermediate shaft, spaced from the input shaft, a drive side gear pair with a drive gear rotationally fixed on the input shaft and an intermediate gear rotationally fixed on the first intermediate shaft, and an output side gear pair with a second intermediate gear rotationally fixed on the second intermediate shaft and an output gear rotationally fixed on the output shaft, wherein, drive torque is transferred from the input shaft to the output shaft over the drive side gear pair, while no drive torque is transferred over the output side gear pair and, with at least three other switchable gears, drive torque is transmitted from the input shaft to the output shaft over the output side gear pair, while no drive torque is transmitted over the drive side gear pair.

The invention relates to a manual transmission with several switchable gears for a motor vehicle, wherein the manual transmission comprises an input shaft, an output shaft disposed coaxially with the input shaft, as well as a first intermediate shaft and a second intermediate shaft, which are disposed parallel to and at a distance from the input shaft.
Such a transmission, which is also referred to as an inline transmission, is known, for example, from DE 10 2011 052 440 A1. The inline transmission, disclosed there, comprises a gear pairing on the drive side, which has a drive gear and a first intermediate gear. The drive gear is arranged on the input shaft in a rotationally fixed manner and meshes with the first intermediate gear, which is disposed in a rotationally fixed manner on the first intermediate shaft. Via the gear pair on the drive side, a drive torque, which is generated by a motor and is guided into the input shaft via a clutch, is passed on to the first intermediate shaft. The drive torque can be switched from the first intermediate shaft over several gear pairings to the output shaft. The gear pairings each have a fixed gear and a switchable idler gear, each idler gear being connected rotationally over a gear shift clutch with one of the gear shafts. Accordingly, a gear shift clutch can be assigned to each gear of the transmission. If the gear shift clutch is closed or if it is located in a shift position, the gear in question is engaged.
Due to the gear pairing on the drive side, a constant transmission between the input shaft and the first intermediate shaft, which determines the total transmission of each gear, is preset. In the following, this constant transmission is referred to as the drive constant. At a value clearly greater than 1, the drive constant has a positive effect on the acting gearing forces in the transmission and the efficiency of the manual transmission, because the intermediate shaft rotates slowly. Basically, a large drive constant is helpful for realizing the lower gear with large overall transmissions.
However, if the gear pairing on the drive side has a drive constant, which is too large, the realization, in particular, of the total transmission of a highest gear (that is, the gear with the smallest ratio of the rpm of the input shaft to the rpm of the output shaft) becomes difficult. The required total transmission of the highest gear of the manual transmission may possibly no longer be achievable under the given boundary conditions (axle distances, packaging) because the drive constant simply is too large. If a smaller value is selected for the drive constant, there is more freedom for the design of the higher gears; however, it is obtained at the expense of the lower gears. In the manual transmission of the DE 10 2011 052 440, this problem is solved with a second intermediate shaft. In spite of a comparatively small drive constant, which determines the individual total transmissions of all gears of the manual transmission, this makes it possible to realize large enough transmissions for a reverse gear and for a crawler gear.
In addition, manual transmissions with an output constant are also known from the prior art. The respective manual transmission, moreover, has a gear pairing on the output side with an output gear disposed rotationally fixed on the output gear. Large output constants lead to a comparatively rapidly rotating intermediate shaft with a better ability to switch gears. The overall transmission ratios of the individual gears always depend on the output constant, so that here also basically the difficulty arises of providing a manual transmission of simple structure with several gears, which covers as large as possible a range of different overall transmissions.

Inline transmission with two intermediate shafts


A communication protocol includes a packet protocol, which includes a protocol field for indicating the type of protocol, a length of data field for listing the length in bytes of the data field, a data field containing sub protocol data, and a checksum for determining the integrity of the packet.

This invention is related in general to the field of network control systems. More particularly, the invention is related to an Internet control system communication protocol and method.
In a fully automated environment, appliances that change the various parameters of the environment can be inked to a control area network (CAN) and a controller. The appliances may include heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, lighting systems, audio-visual systems, telecommunications systems, security systems, surveillance systems, and fire protection systems, for example. One or more easy-to-use user interface, such as a touch panel, may be electronically linked to the control area network to accept user input and display current system status. Panja, Inc. of Dallas, Tex. designs and manufactures such networked appliance control systems.
In accordance with the present invention, a system and method of Internet control network is provided which eliminates or substantially reduces the disadvantages associated with prior control systems.
In one aspect of the invention, the boundaries between the Internet and the control area network are made transparent and the Internet becomes a device on the control area network. The Internet is controllable by user input entered on the user interface, such as touch panel. The Internet is further capable of receiving commands from the master controller in the control area network.
In another aspect of the invention, Internet applications such as web browsers and applications executing on web servers of information content providers become devices on the control area network. The Internet applications are capable of sending commands to and receiving commands from the control area network.
In yet another aspect of the present in invention, a communication protocol is provided. The communication protocol comprises a packet protocol. The packet protocol has a protocol field for indicating the type of protocol, a length of data field for listing the length in bytes of the data field, a data field containing sub protocol data, and, a checksum for determining the integrity of the packet.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a dynamic message protocol generator is provided to enable a scripting language such as VBScript or JavaScript capable of directly communicating on any TCP/IP network connection.


Aryl substituted thiophenes 3-ols, its dihydro derivatives, 1-oxide and 1,1-dioxide analogs, as well as aryl substituted furans, are 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors useful in the treatment of inflammation and other leukotriene-mediated diseases.

This invention relates to aryl-substituted thiophene 3-ols, its dihydro derivatives, 1-oxide and 1,1-dioxide analogs, as well as aryl substituted furans, alal having the general formula: ##STR1## wherein Z represents the number of double bonds and is 1 or 2; Y is S, SO, SO.sub.2 or O; R.sub.1 forms an alcohol derivative or ester, acetal, carbonate, carbamate, aralkyl or acetol group; and R.sub.2 is H, alkyl, or aryl.
The compounds of this invention are 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors and are useful in the treatment of inflammation and other leukotriene-mediated diseases.
Among various potent biological mediators derived from the oxygenation of arachidonic acid, compounds characterized as prostaglandins or leukotrienes have been linked to various diseases. Notably, the biosynthesis of prostaglandins has been identified as a cause of inflammation, arthritic conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout), psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, and pain. Furthermore, the formation of leukotrienes has been connected to immediate hypersensitivity reactions and proinflammatory effects. It has been established that arachidonic acid undergoes oxygenation via two major enzymatic pathways:
(1) The pathway catalyzed by the enzyme cyclooxygenase; and PA0 (2) The pathway catalyzed by the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase. PA0 5 membered ring and Z is 1 or 2; and PA0 Y is S, SO, SO.sub.2 or O; PA0 R.sub.1 is H, acyl, aroyl, carbonate, carbamoyl, alkoxyalkyl, or alkylthioalkyl; PA0 R.sub.2 is H, phenyl, substituted phenyl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, aralkyl, alkyl, alkoxy, haloalkyl, halo, aminoalkyl, alkylaminoalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, amino, nitro, cyano, acyl, aroyl, acylalkyl, alkylthio, alkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, bridged methylene, alkylthioalkyl, alkylsulfinylalkyl, alkylsulf-onylalkyl, arylthio, arylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, or cycloalkyl; wherein at least one R.sub.2 group must be an aryl or heteroaryl. PA0 Ac.sub.2 O=acetic anhydride PA0 ag.=aqueous PA0 DBU=1,8-diazobicyclo [5.4.0] undec-5-ene PA0 DDQ=2,3-dichloro 5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoguinone PA0 4-DMAP=4 dimethylaminopyridine PA0 Pyr=pyridine PA0 t-BuOK=potassium tert-butoxide PA0 THF=tetrahydrofuran PA0 R.sub.1 is PA0 R.sub.2 is PA0 R.sub.2 is aryl at the 2 position of thiophene or the 5-position thereof, or both;
Interruption of these pathways by enzyme inhibition has been explored for effective therapy. For example, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as aspirin, indomethacin and diflunisal are known cyclooxygenase inhibitors which inhibit the process wherein arachidonic acid is oxygenated via cyclooxygenase to prostaglandins and thromboxanes.
Recently, it has been observed that certain leukotrienes are responsible for diseases related to immediate hypersensitivity reactions such as human asthma, allergic disorders, and skin diseases. In addition, certain leukotrienes and derivatives thereof play an important role in causing inflammation (B. Samuelson, Science, 220, 568 (1983); D. Bailey et al, Ann. Rpts. Med. Chem., 17, 203 (1982))
For example, acute systemic anaphylaxis and other immediate hypersensitivity reactions are accompanied by the release of several mediators, including three leukotrienes, LTC.sub.4, LTD.sub.4 and LTE.sub.4. These three leukotrienes have the properties of inducing bronchoconstriction and alteration in vascular permeability. A fourth leukotriene, LTB.sub.4, has potent effects on chemotoxis and adherence of leukocytes. All four of these leukotrienes are produced by action of the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase on arachidonic acid. See, e.g. D. R. Robinson et al., J. Exp. Med. 163, 1509 (1986).
Through recent research, 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors have also been linked to the treatment of eye inflammation and used as cytoprotective agents.
To be an effective and acceptable topical agent for treating eye inflammation, a drug must not only penetrate the ophthalmic tissues to reach the active sites within the eye, but it must also be devoid of those side effects including irritation, allergic reaction and the like, which are contra-indications to long term administration.
With respect to the cytoprotective activity, it has been known that (1) gastric cytoprotection does not involve inhibition of gastric acid secretion. For example, prostaglandin F2B does not inhibit gastric acid secretion, but it does induce gastric cytoprotection (S. Szabo et al., Experimentia, 38, 254, 1982); (2) lower effective dosages of cyto-protective agents are required than that of gastric acid inhibitors; and (3) the cytoprotective activity of a compound may be observed in both animals and man by noting the increased resistance of gastrointestinal mucosa to strong irritants. For example, animal studies have shown that cytoprotective compounds will prevent gastric lesions induced by oral administration of strong acids, strong bases, ethanol, hypertonic saline, etc.

Aryl-substituted thiophene 3-ols, derivatives and analogs useful as lipoxgenase inhibitors


An air exhaust mixer assembly includes an upstream intake section with an upstream elbow and a downstream elbow. A mixing tube is configured to introduce exhaust gas into the upstream intake section at a location upstream of the downstream elbow. An internal combustion engine utilizing the air exhaust mixer assembly is also provided.

An exhaust gas recirculation system may be used to reduce the generation of undesirable pollutant gases during the operation of internal combustion engines. Exhaust gas recirculation systems generally recirculate exhaust gas generated during the combustion process into the intake air supply of the internal combustion engine. The exhaust gas introduced into the engine cylinders displaces a volume of the intake air supply that would otherwise be available for oxygen. Reduced oxygen concentrations lower the maximum combustion temperatures within the cylinders and slow the chemical reactions of the combustion process, which decreases the formation of oxides of nitrogen (NOx).
The intake air supply is often compressed through a turbocharger and then supplied to an intake manifold. Exhaust gas is introduced into the intake air supply between the turbocharger and the intake manifold. Structures for mixing the exhaust gas with the intake air supply may take many different forms. The flow characteristics of the intake air supply and the exhaust gas affect the degree to which the air and the exhaust gas mix. Consistent mixing of the air and exhaust gas typically results in improved engine performance.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,624,722 discloses a system for recirculating exhaust gas within an internal combustion engine. An intake air conduit receives an intake air stream and an exhaust gas stream and blends or mixes the two streams together. A volute redirects the exhaust gas stream into the intake air stream to achieve the desired mixing.
The foregoing background discussion is intended solely to aid the reader. It is not intended to limit the innovations described herein nor to limit or expand the prior art discussed. Thus the foregoing discussion should not be taken to indicate that any particular element of a prior system is unsuitable for use with the innovations described herein, nor is it intended to indicate any element, including solving the motivating problem, to be essential in implementing the innovations described herein. The implementations and application of the innovations described herein are defined by the appended claims.

Mixing system for engine with exhaust gas recirculation


The invention relates to a method for carrying out monitoring in packet-oriented telecommunication networks and data networks. The method makes it possible to reduce the processor performance required to carry out legal monitoring of telecommunication subscribers in switching nodes of packet-oriented telecommunication and data networks. To reduce the high number of comparably short data packets which must be respectively compared with the full list of subscriber connections which are to be monitored throughout the network and the computer power resulting therefrom required to carry out the tasks in each network node, the method is based on a reduced individual node list which is automatically generated and maintained and the number of individual verifications is kept to a minimum within a network node.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for carrying out monitoring in packet-oriented telecommunication and data networks.
2. Description of Related Art
The fundamental procedure for carrying out subscriber monitoring in telecommunication networks is described in ETSI GSM 03.33 (Tdoc SMG10 98 D047). In the Federal Republic of Germany, telecommunication services are monitored in line with the applicable legal provisions.
Packet-oriented telecommunication networks are cellular mobile radio networks based on the GSM standard using GPRS transmission methods (ETSI 03.60), for example. In contrast to line-conducted services, in this case the individual data packets are transmitted individually in the network using the TCP/IP protocol (in line with Internet Engineering Task Force IETF standard RFC 793/RFC 791), which means that the usual association between data transmission channel and communication subscriber does not exist.
The same method is applied on the public Internet. The same problems arise there.
When carrying out legal monitoring, particular problems are encountered with this type of transmission. The transmission channels are used by a large number of different customers with relatively short data packets in each case.
When monitoring is carried out, all data packets therefore need to be compared with a list of the subscribers which are to be actively monitored in order to filter out (to copy) those packets which can be attributed to the subscribers to be monitored in the transmission or reception direction.
Accordingly, the technical complexity rises as the bandwidth increases (more packets per unit time) and as the number of monitoring instances rises (longer list needing to be verified for each packet).
The components involved in switching (switching nodes, routers, gateways etc.) are equipped with microprocessor systems and their switching power is impaired quite considerably by the technical monitoring tasks. This is reflected in the costs because, as the monitoring tasks increase, more and also more powerful components need to be installed than would be the case for the pure switching tasks.
Since the monitoring tasks are among the legal requirements, these services have to be provided by the network operators, who need to bear the financial costs themselves.
It would therefore be of great commercial advantage if the processor complexity which needs to be provided for the legal monitoring tasks (Lawful Interception) could be reduced.

Method for carrying out monitoring in packet-oriented telecommunication and data networks


A method, system, and computer usable program product for adjusting processor utilization data in polling environments are provided in the illustrative embodiments. An amount of a computing resource consumed during polling performed by the polling application over a predetermined period is received at a processor in a data processing system from a polling application executing in the data processing system. The amount forms a polling amount of the computing resource. Using the polling amount of the computing resource, another amount of the computing resource consumed for performing meaningful task is determined. The other amount forms a work amount of the computing resource. Using the work amount of the computing resource, an adjusted utilization of the computing resource is computed over a utilization interval. The data of the adjusted utilization is saved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an improved data processing system, and in particular, to a method for determining utilization of computing resources in a data processing system. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a computer implemented method, system, and computer usable program code for adjusting processor utilization data in environments that include polling applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Software applications, hardware components, and firmware applications often have a provision to perform tasks upon the occurrence of certain events in a data processing system. An event may be a status or a change of status of a register, code, information, data, process, component, or application in the data processing system. For example, a network card being able to connect to a data network may be an event. Availability of data requested from a hard disk may be another example of an event. A function returning a computed value may also be an event. A switch being turned on or off may be an event. A register or a variable attaining a certain value may also be one of many possible examples of an event.
Software applications, hardware components, and firmware applications are collectively called applications for the purposes of this disclosure. In some instances, an application may learn about an event asynchronously, such as when the operating system informs the application that the event has occurred. In other cases, an application may poll a component of the operating system or a hardware component to determine whether the event of interest has occurred.
Polling is the process of requesting information, often repeatedly, at certain predetermined intervals or upon existence of certain conditions. Furthermore, polling allows the polling application to continue executing and remain in control as to when the requested information will be received. As an analogy, polling is similar to repeatedly asking questions like, "do you have that information for me?" or "has this event occurred yet?".
An application that uses polling is called a polling application. A polling request is also called a poll.
A polling application polls a polled application. A polled application may be another application, such as the operating system. The polled application may respond to the polling request in any manner suitable for a particular data processing environment. For example, an operating system may not respond at all, respond selectively, respond in the affirmative or negative, respond with data, or a combination thereof, in response to a polling request.
Latency of a data processing environment is a measure of the time the data processing environment takes to identify and respond to a request. A low latency data processing environment is a data processing environment that is able to respond to a request within a preset threshold time limit. In some example low latency data processing environments, the latency may be only a few microseconds between a request and a response.
Data processing environments, and particularly low latency environments, often include polling as a way for providing quick response when events occur in the data processing environment. A polling application polls repeatedly and responds as soon as a poll returns the desired information. Data processing environments often include a number of polling applications that may poll for a variety of information.
Reporting applications or reporting tools are applications that generate reports using data collected from various data sources. A type of reporting tool can generate a report that provides information about the utilization of computing resources in a data processing environment. Utilization of a resource is a factor of the portion of time used to perform work and the total time over which utilization is determined.
A variety of reporting tools presently exist to generate reports, including utilization reports. Often, reporting tools use different data acquisition methods, such as application program interfaces (APIs), to gather the information from which to compute the report. Additionally, the data acquisition methods of reporting tools are designed to look for and collect the commonly known parameters from well-known system components.

Adjusting processor utilization data in polling environments


A system and method for the automated preparation of one or more samples for analysis is disclosed. The system comprises a processing mechanism configured to process the one or more samples, wherein each sample is contained in a separate sample container. The system further comprises a cover configured to enclose the sample containers while the processing mechanism is operating, a first holder comprising a first pivot point and a second pivot point, wherein the first pivot point of the first holder is hingedly connected to the cover, a second holder comprising a first pivot point and a second pivot point, wherein the first pivot point of the second holder is hingedly connected to the cover, a first actuator interface arm hingedly connected to the second pivot point of the first holder, and a second actuator interface arm hingedly connected to the second pivot point of the second holder.

In scientific examination of plants and their cellular structures and components, it is often necessary to extract certain materials for close inspection, replication, experimentation, etc. These materials include nucleic acids, proteins, starches, carbohydrates, oils, and the like. In other disciplines, it is often necessary to grind, crush, or otherwise process materials in preparation for analysis. For example, it may be necessary to grind, crush, or otherwise process a solid material such as a rock or mineral to determine its chemical composition.
An apparatus for tissue preparation is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,477, ("the '477 patent"), the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. In one embodiment of the invention of the '477 patent, an apparatus and method for preparing tissue samples for DNA, RNA or protein extraction includes a reciprocating saw mounted to a frame and connected to a plurality of tissue sample containers containing tissue samples and processing members. By activating the reciprocating saw, the tissue samples are ground by the processing members. Prior to activating the reciprocating saw, the tissue sample containers must be securely mounted to the frame.
Securing of sample containers to the frame is typically performed manually. To provide for high throughput extraction of various materials from the samples, there is a demand for automated systems and methods for preparing samples for analysis.

System and method for preparation of a sample


A method for measuring the access time or speed of PROM devices is described. The PROM (10) includes a matrix of erased memory cells (30-70) each selectable by an address, and readable by a sense amplifier (112). The method comprises providing an invalid address and reading the level at the sense amplifier (112). A valid address is then provided, and the memory cell addressed is read. The above steps are repeated until all memory cells are read. In this manner, the time required to access an erased memory cell after accessing a programmed memory cell, as simulated by a nonexistent memory cell, may be measured.

In order to ensure the performance and quality of their products, semiconductor memory device manufacturers perform a battery of tests on the devices. Among these tests are measurements of device performance parameters. One important device parameter is access speed.
Formerly, PROMs and EPROMs (electrically programmable read only memories) have been tested by actually programming the memory cells, testing the devices, and then erasing the devices by exposure to ultraviolet light for a period of time. To permit the penetration of ultraviolet light, the devices are contained in expensive packaging with light transmitting windows. Although this test method has been somewhat satisfactory, the expense of providing the transparent window packaging has prompted development of alternate test methods.
An apparatus and method to improve the testability of one-time programmable memory devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,925, issued to Kaszubinski et al. on Apr. 26, 1988, and assigned to Texas Instruments. Kaszubinski et al. provide an extra row of memory cells which are programmed during testing. Speed measurement is performed by alternately reading memory cells in an extra programmed row and memory cells in the rest of the rows in the device.
However, in a memory device which has segmented memory cell arrays, an extra row of memory cells and its associated decoding circuitry are required for each segment of the arrays. A method is herein provided that does not require the extra row of memory cells and associated circuitry to perform the speed measurement test.
The present invention provides for a method for measuring the speed of PROMs and is directed to overcoming the problems as set forth above.


An apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information on and/or from an optical card, including a plurality of control system units and a driving system unit; in addition the control system units are arranged to be exchangeable. A user selects one of the control system units, which corresponds to an arrangement of an optical card to be used, and applies it to the apparatus, while the driving system unit select operational parameters of the optical card and an optical head which are suitable for driving the optical card to be used in response to a command from the selected control system unit, so that a plurality of optical cards each having a different arrangement can be applied for only one optical card apparatus.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing optical information on and/or from an optical card and particularly relates to an apparatus comprising exchangeable controlling system units, which are for setting an operational mode of the apparatus, and a driving system unit, which is for relatively driving an optical head and an optical card with respect to each other in response to an output of one of the controlling system units, the controlling system units being exchanged by a user in accordance with a type of optical card to be used. Therefore, in the apparatus according to the invention it is possible to apply a plurality optical cards, each of them having a different arrangement of the information recording area.
2) Description of the Related Art
On an optical information recording medium such as an optical card, it is impossible to rewrite optical information, which has already been written thereon. However, the optical card has a great memory capacity, i.e., about several thousand times to ten thousand times as large as that of a magnet card. The optical card has a memory capacity of about from one to two megabytes, so that a great number of applications such as a bankbook, a pocket map and a prepaid card for shopping can be considered.
On the optical card, there are arranged a plurality of information tracks in a straight and parallel manner in a given area of the surface thereof. In the apparatus for recording/reproducing optical information using an optical card as an information recording medium, it is arranged that a light beam spot is made incident upon the information track area formed on the surface of the optical card, and then the optical card and the optical head are relatively moved with respect to each other in a track direction, which is parallel with an extending direction of the information tracks, to record and/or reproduce optical information on and/or from the optical card. In such an apparatus, it is further arranged that the optical card and the optical head are relatively moved to each other in a tracking direction, which is perpendicular to the track direction, to place the light beam spot on a desired information track.
In such an apparatus, the optical card is reciprocally moved with respect to the optical head in the track direction while generally being contained in a container, a so called "shuttle"; on the other hand, the optical head, by which the light beam spot is made incident upon the information track area of the optical card, is driven with respect to the optical head in the tracking direction.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a general construction of a conventional apparatus for recording and/or reproducing optical information on and/or from an optical card.
As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional apparatus comprises a shuttle 1 for containing an optical card; a shuttle driving means 2 for moving the shuttle 1 in the track direction for a given distance at a given constant speed in a reciprocal manner; an optical head 3 for making a light beam spot incident upon the information track area formed on the optical card; an optical head control means 4 for driving the optical head 3 in the tracking direction and controlling a light intensity of the light beam emitted from the optical head 3 in accordance with an operation mode of the apparatus, i.e., information recording mode or information reproducing mode; a driving section control means 5 for controlling the movements of the shuttle 1 and the optical head 3; and an internal control means 6 for controlling the driving section control means 5 and for reading out information picked up by the optical head 3 and/or writing optical information on the information tracks via the optical head control means 4. Further, an external control means 7 is connected to the apparatus; operations in the apparatus are performed in accordance with signals supplied from the external control means 7.
The operation of the conventional apparatus is as in the following.
In an initial condition of the apparatus, in response to a signal supplied from the external control means 7, the internal control means 6 sends commands to the driving section control means 5 and the optical head control means 4, respectively, to relatively move the optical head 3 and the shuttle 1 containing the optical card therein in the track and tracking directions and to recognize the position of the optical head with respect to the optical card. That is to say, the shuttle 1 is driven in the tracking direction in a reciprocal manner in response to a signal supplied from the driving section control means 5 via the shuttle driving means 2, and a light beam emitted from the optical head 3 traces one of the information tracks formed on the optical card by the movement of the shuttle 1; and then the internal control means 6 reads out a track address of the information track traced by the light beam to recognize the position of the optical head 3 with respect to the optical card.
The operation of the conventional apparatus when recording and/or reproducing optical information on and/from a specific track of the tracks formed on the optical card is as follows.
A desired track is sought in the following manner. Track address information of the desired track is supplied to the internal control means 6 from the external control means 7; and then the internal control means 6 sends track address information to the driving section control means 5. In the driving section control means 5, an optical head control signal is output to the optical head control means 4, firstly; the optical head control means 4 produces an optical head driving signal to the optical head 3 to move the optical head 3 on the desired track in response to the optical head control signal. Second, the driving section control means 5 sends a shuttle control signal to the shuttle driving means 2; the shuttle driving means 2 generates a shuttle driving signal to drive the shuttle for a given distance at a given constant speed in response to the shuttle control signal. Meanwhile, the internal control means 6 reads out track information of the relevant track via the optical head control means 4. If track address information of the relevant track read out thereby is different from a track address of the desired track, the above mentioned operation is repeated until the optical head 3 is positioned on the desired track.
When recording information on the specific track of the optical card, the internal control means 6 sends a signal representing an information recording mode to the driving section control means 5; and then the driving section control means 5 provides a signal representing that the next operation is for recording information to the container driving means 2 and the optical head control means 4, respectively. In response to this signal, the shuttle driving means 2 serves to reciprocally drive the shuttle 1 in the track direction for a given distance at a given constant speed, while, the optical head control means 4 serves to change a light intensity of the light beam emitted from the optical head 3 to an intensity for recording information. The internal control means 6 outputs information to be recorded, which is sent from the external control means 7, to the optical head 3 via the optical head control means 4; then the light beam spot emitted from the optical head 3 traces the relevant information track on the optical card with the aid of the movement of the shuttle 1, so that information is recorded on the optical card.
When reproducing information from the optical card, the internal control means 6 sends a signal representing an information reproducing mode to the driving section control means 5, then the driving section control means 5 provides a signal representing that the next operation is for reproducing information to the shuttle driving means 2 and the optical head control means 4, respectively. In response to this signal, the shuttle driving means 2 serves to drive the shuttle 1 for a given distance at a given constant speed in the track direction; while, the optical head control means 4 serves to change the light intensity of the light beam emitted from the optical head 3 to an intensity for reproducing information. The light beam spot having the intensity for reproducing information traces the relevant information track formed on the optical card with the aid of the movement of the shuttle 1, so that the internal control means 6 reads out information which has been recorded on the optical card thereby. Additionally, the thus read out information is sent to the external control means 7.
By repeating the operations stated above in accordance with the signal supplied from the external control means 7, it is possible to record and/or reproduce information on and/or from the optical card.
However, in such a conventional apparatus, one apparatus can be applied for only one type of optical cards having the same structure. Therefore, in case of an application dealing with a plurality of types of optical cards, it is necessary to provide a plurality of apparatuses corresponding to the types of optical cards to be used, and further necessary to provide a suitable system in each apparatus. But it takes much money, a lot of time and great labor.
If the apparatus were arranged to be able to apply for the plurality of types of optical card, a circuit construction thereof would be very complex, and since elements having great capacitances are required, the apparatus would become large in size. Contrarily, if such an apparatus were used in an application for which only one type of optical card were applied, it would cause an over specification problem, and thus it would be difficult to operate such an apparatus.
Furthermore, in the case optical cards having different arrangement of information track areas or optical cards having different minimum track addresses and different maximum addresses are used in such apparatus, there would be many troubles caused in the apparatus due to the differences; and in the worst case the apparatus would be out of order.

Recording and reproducing system for use with different arrangements of optical cards


Disclosed are a mobile terminal and a control method therefor. The mobile terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a camera provided to a main body; a display unit for displaying a preview image for the photographing of the camera; and a control unit for detecting the entering into of a subject recognition mode while the preview image is being displayed, and in the subject recognition mode, analyzing objects included in the preview image so as to recognize a subject to be photographed, and applying, to the preview image, a camera effect matched with the recognized subject. In addition, while the matched camera effect is being applied to the preview image, the control unit may further provide, on the display unit, on the basis of a touch input applied to the preview image, a list of camera effects additionally applicable to the recognized subject.

Terminals may be divided into mobile/portable terminals and stationary terminals according to mobility. Also, the mobile terminals may be classified into handheld types and vehicle mount types according to whether or not a user can directly carry.
Mobile terminals have become increasingly more functional. Examples of such functions include data and voice communications, capturing images and video via a camera, recording audio, playing music files via a speaker system, and displaying images and video on a display. Some mobile terminals include additional functionality which supports electronic game playing, while other terminals are configured as multimedia players. Specifically, in recent time, mobile terminals can receive broadcast and multicast signals to allow viewing of video or television programs
As it becomes multifunctional, a mobile terminal can be allowed to capture still images or moving images, play music or video files, play games, receive broadcast and the like, so as to be implemented as an integrated multimedia player.
Recently, various camera functions or shooting modes used in a professional camera are provided since there have been a noticeable increase in camera use of a mobile terminal and an improvement in camera pixels. However, it is not only cumbersome for a user to manipulate these functions/options before shooting, but also inconvenient since camera effects or settings need to be changed when a type of a subject to be photographed is changed.

Mobile terminal for displaying a preview image to be captured by a camera and control method therefor


A system and method for fast converging gain calibration for phase lock loops (PLL) are herein disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method includes receiving, with a voltage generation circuit, an input value representing a difference between a sampled voltage and a reference voltage, and adjusting, with the voltage generation circuit, the reference voltage by generating a voltage output based on the difference represented by the input value.

Digital-to-time converter (DTC) based fractional-N phase lock loops (PLL) have demonstrated low power consumption, low phase noise and good figures-of-merit compared to other fractional-N PLL architectures. DTC-based fractional-N PLLs can be realized in both digital PLL form and analog PLL form.
Both the digital and analog forms of DTC-based fractional-N PLLs require DTC gain calibration to identify the average resolution of the DTC. DTC gain calibration should be performed in the background while a PLL is running, as a fixed DTC gain value cannot be specified due to voltage and temperature variations as well as random mismatches. Without an accurate estimation of the DTC gain, a DTC-based fractional-N PLL would suffer from worse phase noise and worse fractional spurs.

System and method for fast-converging digital-to-time converter (DTC) gain calibration for DTC-based analog fractional-N phase lock loop (PLL)


Disclosed is a compact for containing a loose powder, such as cosmetic finishing powder, including a base, a cover, a sifter, and a platform compressible against the sifter. The platform may comprise an inner portion flexibly coupled to an outer portion via a gasket disposed on at least a portion of a bottom surface of the inner portion. The compact may have an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the cover may apply a downward force on the inner portion, compressing the gasket against the sifter and creating a seal to isolate the loose powder.

Cosmetic materials such as those used for cosmetic foundation or finishing are typically provided as a compacted or a loose material. Loose materials, including loose powder, are becoming more common in part because loose material provides improved coverage of the material on a surface. The loose material may be provided in a container with a base, cover, and perforated divider or sifter so that the container may be opened and the powder may be shaken out of the perforations and applied to an applicator.
A typical loose powder container will have a means for opening and closing the cover, such as a threaded screw-type mechanism. Some containers may also include a sealing platform, internal lid, or rotating sifter held in place over the perforated divider. These features prevent loose material from moving up through the perforations during handling and/or jostling of the container, such as the movements associated with carrying the container in a handbag, pocket, or purse.
Although some users apply cosmetic products in their homes without concern for time, many apply cosmetic products hurriedly, for instance while driving a car, using a public restroom, working in an office, walking, or taking a break. In these uses, interfacing with additional features and locking mechanisms can become burdensome for the user, especially when the vessel contains a fine powder. The multiple internal components and locking mechanism in some loose powder compacts may make it difficult for a user to cleanly and easily access the contained material in a hurried manner. Accordingly, there remains a need for improved cosmetic containers.

Loose powder compact with compressible platform


An electronic device includes a semiconductor substrate and a dielectric layer over the substrate. A resistive link located over the substrate includes a first resistive region and a second resistive region. The first resistive region has a first resistivity and a first morphology. The second resistive region has a second resistivity and a different second morphology.

Incorporation of fusible links into an integrated circuit design is a well-known method of providing for the alteration of fabricated IC devices to repair defects. The method typically includes the use of electrical power or laser irradiation to open a fusible link fuse. Other methods used to alter IC devices include design revision and focused ion beam (FIB) modification, both of which generally involve considerable expense.
The severing of fusible links is a destructive process that is used to remove circuit elements from active use. Thus, metal fuses, for example, typically reside near the surface of the device (at an upper interconnect level) so that they can be blown without impact to other materials or circuit elements nearer to the substrate. Collateral damage from the fuse-opening process is a reliability concern that may result in decreased device yield and/or early failure after delivery to a customer.

Allotropic or morphologic change in silicon induced by electromagnetic radiation for resistance turning of integrated circuits