A process for the preparation of a vanadium/phosphorus mixed oxide catalyst precursor is described, comprising the reaction of a vanadium source in selected organic media in the presence of a phophorus source. The medium comprises: (a) isobutyl alcohol or a mixture of isobutyl alcohol and benzyl alcohol and (b) a polyol in the weight ratio (a) to (b) of 99:1 to 5:95. After its activation, the vanadium/phosphorus mixed oxide catalyst precursor is an excellent catalyst in the conversion of non-aromatic hydrocarbons like n-butane to malic anhydride.

The invention relates to a process for the production of a vanadium/phosphorus mixed oxide catalyst precursor, its transformation into the active catalyst and a process for the production of maleic anhydride using this catalyst
Maleic anhydride is a well known and versatile intermediate for manufacturing unsaturated polyester resins, pharmaceuticals or agrochemicals. It is usually produced by catalytic partial oxidation of aromatic (e. g., benzene) or non-aromatic (e. g., n-butane) hydrocarbons.
The main component of the active catalyst in the oxidation of non-aromatic hydrocarbons like n-butane to maleic anhydride is vanadyl pyrophosphate, (VO)2P2O7, which as a rule is obtained by thermal treatment of vanadyl acid orthophosphate hemihydrate of the formula (VO)HPO4xe2x80xa20.5H2O, acting as catalyst precursor. Both vanadyl pyrophosphate and vanadyl acid orthophosphate hemihydrate may, if desired, be accompanied by a promoter element selected from the groups IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIIB, IVA, IVB, VA, VB, VIA, VIB and VIIIA of the periodic table of elements, or mixtures of such elements.
Methods for preparing the precursor compound conventionally involve reducing a pentavalent vanadium compound under conditions which will provide vanadium in a tetravalent state (average oxidation number +IV).
Prior art knows a great many different procedures, which however in general involve the use of vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) as a source of pentavalent vanadium and orthophosphoric acid (H3PO4) as the phosphorus source (see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,860 or EP-A-0 804 963).
As a reducing agent in principle any inorganic or organic compound containing elements which are able to act as a redox couple possessing an oxidation potential suitable for this kind of reaction may be suitably applied.
The most common reducing agent is hydrogen chloride in aqueous solution.
Also favourably applied are organic media like primary or secondary aliphatic alcohols or aromatic alcohols such as benzyl alcohol as these compounds seem to at least in part dissolve the reactants and thereby facilitate the redox reaction.
The most preferred organic reducing agent is isobutyl alcohol as isobutyl alcohol combines optimal characteristics such as (i) a boiling point of 108xc2x0 C. at atmospheric pressure, (ii) dissolution of the vanadium alcoholates formed from V2O5, thus favouring a complete redox reaction in the liquid phase and (iii) achieving a redox potential for the couples isobutyl alcohol/isobutyraldehyde and isobutyl alcoholrisobutyric acid suitable to let the alcohol act as reducing agent. The tetravalent vanadium reacts with phosphoric acid (H3PO4) and leads to precipitation of the precursor vanadyl acid orthophosphate hernihydrate of the formula (VO)HPO4xe2x80xa20.5H2O. The precipitate is usually washed with isobutyl alcohol and subsequently dried.
A major disadvantage of the conventional method as described above is that even after drying the precursor contains some percent of organic compounds from the organic reaction medium, compounds which are supposedly either (i) strongly adsorbed at the solid surface, and therefore not easily removable by the washing and drying treatment, or (ii) physically trapped in between the crystals of the precursor, or (iii) physically or chemically trapped a (xe2x80x9cintercalatedxe2x80x9d) in the crystalline structure of the precursor.
It has been found that this percentage of organic compound which remains trapped in the precursor is a fundamental parameter which can adversely affect the performance characteristics of the active catalyst obtained after the thermal treatment.
The object of the present invention therefore was to provide a method for controlling the carbon content in a vanadium/phosphorus mixed oxide catalyst precursor and accordingly to provide a superior catalyst precursor which, when activated, leads to superior results in the conversion of a non-aromatic hydrocarbon to maleic anhydride.
It was found that the objectives could be achieved with a new process for the preparation of a vanadium/phosphorus mixed oxide catalyst precursor according to claim 1.
The invention comprises reducing a source of vanadium in the presence of a phosphorus source in an organic medium which comprises
(a) isobutyl alcohol or a mixture of isobutyl alcohol and benzyl alcohol and
(b) a polyol
in the weight ratio of 99:1 to 5:95.
In a mixture of isobutyl alcohol and benzyl alcohol the benzyl alcohol content is as a rule between 5 and 50 wt %.
As a source of vanadium a tetravalent or pentavalent vanadium compound may be applied. Representative examples, although not limiting, are vanadium tetrachloride (VCl4), vanadium oxytribromide (VOBr3), vanadium pentoxide (V2O3), vanadyl phosphate (VOPO4xe2x80xa2nH2O) and vanadium tetraoxide (V2O4). Vanadium pentoxide is the preferred vanadium source.
As mentioned above, the vanadium source may, if desired, be accompanied by promoter elements selected from the groups IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIIB, IVA, IVB, VA, VB, VIA, VIB and VIIIA of the periodic table of elements, or mixtures thereof.
Preferred promoter elements are selected from the group consisting of zirconium, bismuth, lithium, molybdenum, boron, zinc, titanium, iron and nickel.
Orthophosphoric acid (H3PO4) is the preferred phosphorus source.
Isobutyl alcohol is the preferred component (a).
Polyols which can be used as the component (b) are expediently C2-6 aliphatic polyols, preferably C2-6-alkanediols such as 1,2-ethanediol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol, 1,2-pentanediol, 1,3-pentanediol, 1,4-pentanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 2,4-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,3-hexanediol, 1,4-hexanediol, 1,5-hexanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,4-hexanediol, 2,5-hexanediol and 3,4-hexanediol.
Most preferred polyols are the C2-4-alkanediols 1,2-ethanediol, 1,3-propanediol and 1,4-butanediol.
The preferred mixture of alcohols contains 5 to 30 mol % of polyol with respect to isobutyl alcohol.
As a rule the vanadium source together with the phosphorus source is suspended in the organic medium and the mixture is kept under agitation at a temperature of expediently 90xc2x0 C. to 200xc2x0 C., preferably 100xc2x0 C. to 150xc2x0 C. over a period of 1 h to 24 h.
The ratio of vanadium source to phosphorus source is conveniently such that the P/V atomic ratio is in the range of 1:1 to 1.3:1, preferably 1.1:1 to 1.2:1.
As a rule after the reduction the precursor vanadyl acid orthophosphate hemihydrate of the formula (VO)HPO4.0.5H2O is formed which is filtered, washed and subsequently dried at a temperature of expediently 120xc2x0 C. to 200xc2x0 C.
Due to the reduction treatment according to the invention the carbon content of the precursor can be controlled in the range of 0.7 wt. % to 15.0 wt. %, preferably in the range of 0.7 wt. % to 4 wt. %.
It has been found that best results are obtained with catalyst precursors which, after an additional thermal treatment at about 300xc2x0 C. for about 3 hours in air have a residual carbon content of 0.7 wt. % to 3 wt. %, most preferably 0.8 wt. % to 1.5 wt. %.
Once prepared the precursor can in view of its further activation treatment be formed into defined structures with defined properties. Such procedures may include wet grinding to a specific particle size, the addition of additives to improve attrition resistance, and the a formation of a convenient shape.
A spherical shape for instance is most suitable for the application of the catalyst in a fluidized bed.
The further transformation of the so formed precursor into the active catalyst can be performed following a great number of activation processes known in the art, but in general include a heat treatment applying temperatures of up to 600xc2x0 C. More in detail, these processes may involve:
(a) an initial heating of the precursor to a temperature not to exceed 250xc2x0 C.
(b) a further heat treatment from about 200xc2x0 C. to at least 380xc2x0 C. to 600xc2x0 C. at the maximum
(c) maintaining the temperature of stage (b) over a certain time and
(d) cooling the activated catalyst, thereby maintaining an individually controlled atmosphere in all steps.
In a preferred embodiment, the activation of the precursor is accomplished using the procedure described in EP-A-0 804 963.
In a more preferred embodiment, the activation comprises the steps of
(a) heating the catalyst precursor from room temperature to a precalcination temperature of about 300xc2x0 C. in air or oxygen-depleted air
(b) keeping at said pracalcination temperature,
(c) further heating the precalcined catalyst precursor in nitrogen up to a calcination temperature of about 550xc2x0 C. and
(d) keeping at said calcination temperature.
After the transformation into the active catalyst the catalyst is ready to be applied for the conversion of non-aromatic hydrocarbons to maleic anhydride.
Such processes are well known in the art, e. g. from U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,433, U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,860 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,652.
In general the non-aromatic hydrocarbon is converted with oxygen or an oxygen containing gas at a temperature from about 320xc2x0 C. to 500xc2x0 C. to maleic anhydride. The non-aromatic hydrocarbon is expediently selected from aliphatic C4-10 hydrocarbons, preferably nbutane. The conversion can take place in a fixed bed or a fluidized bed reactor but preferably in a fluidized bed reactor. The following examples are given by way of illustration only and arc not construed as to in any way limit the invention.

Vanadium/phosphorus mixed oxide catalyst precursor


A silicon carbide substrate including a first layer having first conductivity type, a second layer having second conductivity type, and a third layer having the first conductivity type is formed. A trench provided with an inner surface having a side wall surface and a bottom surface is formed, the side wall surface extending through the third layer and the second layer and reaching the first layer, the bottom surface being formed of the first layer. A silicon film is formed to cover the bottom surface. A gate oxide film is formed on the inner surface by oxidation in the trench. The gate oxide film includes a first portion formed by oxidation of the silicon carbide substrate, and a second portion formed by oxidation of the silicon film on the bottom surface. Accordingly, a method for manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device having a high breakdown voltage is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for manufacturing silicon carbide semiconductor devices, and particularly to a silicon carbide semiconductor device having a trench and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Background Art
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 7-326755 discloses a silicon carbide semiconductor device having a trench. This patent publication states that a gate thermal oxidation film has a larger film thickness on a bottom surface of a trench than the film thickness thereof on a side surface of the trench, so that a threshold voltage becomes low and breakdown voltage between the gate and the drain becomes high. It is also stated that the bottom surface of the trench corresponds to a carbon plane, which allows for fast oxidation rate, of hexagonal single-crystal silicon carbide, whereas the side surface of the trench corresponds to a plane perpendicular to this carbon plane and allowing for slow oxidation rate. Hence, by performing a thermal oxidation process once, a thermal oxidation film can be formed such that the thickness of the thermal oxidation film on the side surface of the trench is greatly different from the thickness of the thermal oxidation film on the bottom surface of the trench.
According to a study conducted by the present inventors, however, it was difficult to selectively increase the film thickness of a gate oxide film to a sufficient degree on a bottom surface of a trench merely by using the difference in oxidation rate of silicon carbide dependent on the crystal orientation.

Method for manufacturing silicon carbide semiconductor device


A clothing wire for a clothing roller of a carding machine extends in a wire longitudinal direction and having a base segment, which is thicker transversely to the wire longitudinal direction. A leaf segment, which is narrower compared to the base segment, protrudes from the base segment. A plurality of teeth is formed on the leaf segment along the clothing wire in the wire longitudinal direction. Each tooth has two leaf segment lateral surfaces adjoining the base segment. On at least one of the leaf segment lateral surfaces, at least one projection is formed on each tooth. The cross-sectional profile of the projection is asymmetric and preferably has the contour of a nose. The design of the clothing wire results in a homogenization or parallelization of the fibers, with little wear of the clothing wire and less damage to the fibers.

Carding machines or scribblers are used to open (separate) or align, homogenize (in the production of fleece) and/or parallelize (in the production of yarns) fibers of a fiber material, for example, wool, cotton or even synthetic fibers or a fiber mixture. By means of the carding process it is possible to produce a fiber web from a fiber material. The fiber web consists of a loose structure of ordered individual fibers. For example, it is possible to produce a fleece from such a fiber web. The fiber web is formed during the carding process in that the fibers are taken up and combined by a large clothing roller referred to as the drum of the card with the aid of a removal means.
The carding machine may comprise different clothing rollers. Each clothing roller is provided with radially outward pointing teeth, serrations, tips or the like. The number and/or the size or the density of the teeth, serrations or tips, their shape and configuration may vary.
Usually, the clothing rollers are provided with all-steel card clothings. The latter consist of a profiled clothing wire that is wound under tension onto the respective clothing roller. The clothing wire has a base segment and a leaf segment. The base segment may have a rectangular or square cross-section, for example. The base segment extends away from the leaf segment, i.e., in operative position, approximately transversely relative to the generated surface of the clothing roller. A sawtooth profile is provided on the leaf segment in order to form the teeth or serrations. The clothing wire is wound around the generated surface of the clothing roller while being tensioned in longitudinal direction, and the two ends are fastened to the clothing roller.
The all-steel card clothing should display the longest possible useful life. It must not or only insignificantly damage the fibers and should allow an optimal homogenization or parallelization of the fibers during the production of the fiber web.
Clothing wires that have leaf segments provided with structures have been known from prior art.
For example, the clothing wire known from publication DE 40 38 352 A1 has a base segment and a leaf segment with a sawtooth profile. Both lateral surfaces of the leaf segment are provided with a profile. The profile may be convoluted or serrated. Also, a similar clothing wire is known from publication DE 42 40 026 C2.
Publication DE 39 40 714 A1 shows a clothing wire that has a non-symmetrical projection on the wire lateral surface in the region of the tooth base.
Publication EP 0 322 474 A1 introduces a clothing wire, wherein the tooth tips a laterally bent. However, there are no elevations on the tooth tips.
Publication EP 1 408 142 A1 describes a clothing wire with a base segment and a leaf segment having lateral surfaces potentially displaying differently configured profiles. For example, one lateral surface may have a convexly elevated profile, whereas the respectively other lateral surface is provided with a profile having concave recesses.
Referring to the clothing wire known from publication U.S. Pat. No. 3,391,429 A (or U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,789 B1), at least one lateral surface of the leaf segment—viewed in cross-section of the wire—is corrugated or serrated (or convoluted).
Publication WO 2011/138322 A1 describes a clothing wire, wherein the leaf segment may be configured with a flat lateral surface and with a profiled lateral surface. As the profile—viewed in cross-section—there are two semi-circular convex elevations on the lateral surface of the leaf segment.
Publication WO 94/05837 A1 (or JP 61006320 A) suggests the provision of a clothing wire having a surface that can be coated for increasing the friction (or for increasing the abrasion resistance and the corrosion resistance).
Publication EP 2 508 658 A shows a clothing wire, wherein it is not the lateral surfaces but the faces of the teeth that are structured by means of projections having a nose-like profile.

Clothing wire for a roller of a carding machine


A system for charging a plurality of power storage devices includes a first charging device and at least one other charging device coupled to the first charging device to form a network. The first charging device includes a processor programmed to determine whether said first charging device possesses a network token, and if so, to determine a first charging parameter and a first priority associated with said first charging device, a second charging parameter and a second priority associated with said second charging device, and to determine a second amount of current to be at least one of received from the electrical supply or supplied to the first power storage device, based on the determined first and second charging parameters and first and second priority.

The present application relates generally to charging devices and, more particularly, to a system, a charging device, and a method of supplying current to a power storage device.
As electric vehicles and/or hybrid electric vehicles have gained popularity, an associated need to manage delivery of electrical energy to such vehicles has increased. In addition, a need to provide safe and efficient charging devices or stations has been created by the increased use of such vehicles.
At least some known charging stations include a power cable or other conductor that may be removably coupled to the electric vehicle. The charging stations receive electricity from an electric utility distribution network or another electricity source, and deliver electricity to the electric vehicle through the power cable.
In at least some electric utility distribution networks, a plurality of charging devices receive electricity from a common electrical distribution component, such as a transformer. However, if each charging device operates concurrently to supply charging current to an electric vehicle, the current supplied to the electrical distribution component may exceed a rated current limit of the component. In such situations, the electrical distribution component may be damaged and/or a circuit breaker or another protection device may activate to disable power to all charging devices coupled to the electrical distribution component.
At least some known electric vehicle (EV) charging stations or other electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) employ a dedicated master control to manage current draw from a group of EVSEs that are connected to the same electrical supply such as a utility distribution network, and are protected by the same overcurrent protection such as main breaker.
Such a conventional master controller or device is typically employed to monitor and control the maximum amount of current an EV charger or EVSE can provide to a vehicle based on the electrical supply the EVSE is connected to.
When some conventional electric utility distribution networks are connected to a plurality of EVSE chargers, particularly when those EVSE chargers are functioning to provide charging currents at or near their maximum ratings, the networks are not able to support all the chargers. For example, if the group of EVSE chargers exceeds the a predetermined current limit for the distribution network, circuit protection devices in the network may trip or open to shut off current flow to the EVSE chargers resulting in no vehicles being charged.
Additionally there is a need for conventional EVSE charging networks to selectively draw current from the distribution network, or provide charging current to a storage device based at least in part on a relative priority that is assigned to an EVSE charger or user.

System, charging device, and method of charging a power storage device


Processing related datasets includes receiving over an input device or port records from multiple datasets, the records of a given dataset having one or more values for one or more respective fields; and processing records from each of the multiple datasets in a data processing system. The processing includes: analyzing at least one constraint specification stored in a data storage system to determine a processing order for the multiple datasets, the constraint specification specifying one or more constraints for preserving referential integrity or statistical consistency among a group of related datasets that includes the multiple datasets, applying one or more transformations to records from each of the multiple datasets in the determined processing order, where the transformations are applied to records from a first dataset of the multiple datasets before the transformations are applied to records from a second dataset of the multiple datasets, and the transformations applied to the records from the second dataset are applied based at least in part on results of applying the transformations to the records from the first dataset and at least one constraint between the first dataset and the second dataset specified by the constraint specification, and storing or outputting results of the transformations to the records from each of the multiple datasets.

This description relates to processing related datasets.
A dataset is a collection of data that is stored, for example, in a data storage system hosted on any number of physical storage media (e.g., stored in a database hosted on one or more servers). Properties of a dataset such as its structure and storage location(s) can be described, for example, by an entity such as a file or other form of object (e.g., an object stored in an object oriented database). In some cases, an entity describing a particular dataset (e.g., a file) also stores the data in that dataset. In some cases, an entity describing a particular dataset (e.g., an object pointing to a database table) does not necessarily store all of the data in that dataset, but can be used to locate the data stored in one or more locations in a data storage system.
The data in a dataset may be organized using any of a variety of structures including a record structure that provides individual records with values for respective fields (also called "attributes" or "columns"), including possibly a null value (e.g., indicating that a field is empty). For example, the records can correspond to rows in a database table of a database system, or rows in a spreadsheet or other flat file. To access records stored in a given format, a data processing system typically starts with some initial format information describing characteristics such as names of fields, the order of fields in a record, the number of bits that represent a field value, the type of a field value (e.g., string, signed/unsigned integer). In some circumstances, the record format or other structural information of the dataset may not be known initially and may be determined after analysis of the data.
Datasets can be related to each other in any of a variety of ways. For example, a first dataset corresponding to a first table in a database can include a field that has a primary key/foreign key relationship to a field of a second table in the database. The primary key field in the first table may include values that uniquely identify rows in the first table (e.g., customer ID values uniquely identifying rows corresponding to different customers), and the rows in the second table (e.g., rows corresponding to transactions made by a given customer) containing a foreign key field that corresponds to the primary key field in the first table may use one of those unique values to identify each of one or more rows in the second table that represent transactions made by a given customer. Preserving referential integrity among multiple datasets can include preserving relationships between different fields, including foreign key/primary key relationships, or other relationships for which a value in a field of one dataset depends on a value in a field of another dataset.


The present disclosure provides a method for treating and/or preventing nephrotic syndrome, such as but not limited to minimal change disease and membranous nephropathy, and conditions related to nephrotic syndrome, such as but not limited to, proteinuria and edema, as well as diabetic nephropathy, diabetes mellitus, lupus nephritis or primary glomerular disease. The present disclosure further provides methods for reducing proteinuria and other disease states as discussed herein. Such methods comprise the therapeutic delivery of an Angptl4 polypeptide or Angptl4 polypeptide derivative to a subject.

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a general term that refers to the loss of protein in the urine (proteinuria), hyperlipidemia (hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia), and edema. Nephrotic syndrome involves changes in the pathology of cells in the kidney, such as podocytes. Proteinuria is defined as the presence of an excess of serum proteins in the urine. Albuminuria, a specific type of proteinuria, is a pathological condition wherein albumin is present in the urine.
Podocytes (or visceral epithelial cells) are cells in the outer layer of the glomerular capillary loop in the kidneys. The glomerulus filters blood, holding back large molecules such as proteins, and passing through small molecules such as water, salts, and sugar, as the first step in forming urine. The long projections, or "foot processes," of the podocytes wrap around the capillaries, and come to rest on the glomerular basement membrane. The foot processes are connected by a porous structure called the slit diaphragm. The innermost layer of the glomerular capillary loop is made of fenestrated endothelial cells. Kidneys affected by nephrotic syndrome have abnormalities in the glomerular capillary loop that cause leakage of blood proteins, resulting in proteinuria.
When protein is lost in the urine, its plasma concentration decreases, allowing water to move into other areas of the body, which leads to swelling known as edema. Edema is commonly observed in the feet and legs, in the belly or abdomen (ascites), and around the eyes, but can occur anywhere, especially in response to gravity. Additionally, because of this extra fluid that stays in the body, people often gain weight, experience fatigue and may find that they urinate less often
Many conditions are categorized as nephrotic syndromes, including minimal change disease (MCD), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), membranous nephropathy (MN) (also called membranous glomerulonephritis, MGN), and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). For years pathologists found no changes in MCD tissue when viewing specimens under light microscopy, hence the name minimal change disease. With the advent of electron microscopy, the changes now known as the hallmarks for the disease include diffuse loss of podocyte foot processes, vacuolation of the podocyte foot processes, and growth of microvilli on the visceral epithelial cells. Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome.
Hypertriglyceridemia may occur due to changes in the activity of enzymes that degrade triglycerides, such as lipoprotein lipase (LPL) (2-4). Certain proteins involved in the etiology of nephrotic syndrome and proteinuria, such angiopoietin-like 4 (Angptl4), inhibit the activity of LPL.
The molecular basis of nephrotic syndrome is not known. Increased levels of Angptl4 have been noted in nephrotic syndrome, such as MCD, MN/MGN, and MPGN, but increased circulating levels of Angptl4 have not been associated with causation of proteinuria in nephrotic syndrome. However, the role of Angptl4 in nephrotic syndrome, such as but not limited to, MCD, FSGS, MN/MGN, and MPGN, and related conditions, such as, but not limited to, proteinuria have not been previously reported. Furthermore, the association of proteinuria and glucocorticoid sensitivity in nephrotic syndrome and the link between proteinuria and hypertriglyceridemia, two key components of nephrotic syndrome, have yet to be established. Therapy designed to reduce proteinuria further complicates the study of disease mechanisms. For example, glucocorticoids used to treat proteinuria in MCD independently raise plasma triglyceride levels (5), and normalization of plasma triglyceride levels lags behind the response of proteinuria to glucocorticoids in certain forms of nephrotic syndrome, such as MCD (6).
The present disclosure show that increased circulating levels of Angptl4 reduce the severity of nephrotic syndrome and conditions associated therewith, such as but not limited to, proteinuria. As a result, the present disclosure provides method for treating and/or preventing nephrotic syndrome, such as but not limited to, MCD, FSGS, MN/MGN, MPGN and diabetic nephropathy as well as methods of alleviating symptoms associated with nephrotic syndrome, including, but not limited to, proteinuria and edema. The present disclosure further provides methods for reducing proteinuria and edema.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods for treatment of nephrotic syndrome and related conditions


An antenna switch module connected to a common antenna for switching the connection of the antenna to a transmission circuit or a receiving circuit in plural transmitting/receiving systems having different passbands, comprising a diplexer circuit comprising a low-pass filter and a high-pass filter; a first switch circuit connected to the low-pass filter and for switching a transmitting line and a receiving line, a second switch circuit connected to the high-pass filter for switching a transmitting line and a receiving line; a third switch circuit connected to the first switch circuit for switching the receiving line from the first switch circuit; and a fourth switch circuit connected to the second switch circuit for switching the receiving line from the second switch circuit; at least part of transmission lines constituting LC circuits in the diplexer circuit and the first and second switch circuits being electrode patterns formed in a multilayer substrate constituted by plural dielectric layers; and chip elements constituting part of the LC circuits, diode elements constituting the first and second switch circuits, and semiconductor elements constituting the third and fourth switch circuits being mounted onto the multilayer substrate.

Because of rapid development of mobile phones, etc. worldwide, mobile phones utilizing plural frequency bands and plural communications systems have been put into practical use. Because they should be operated as multiband terminals adapted for different frequency bands and communications systems, they have complicated circuits, resulting in increase in the number of parts and their size and cost. Accordingly, the reduction of the number of parts and the sharing of parts are actively pursued by circuit integration.
Because the sharing of a particularly large antenna greatly contributes to the miniaturization of terminals, it is important to develop a small antenna switch circuit capable of switching one antenna between plural bands.
Practically used in Europe as a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) are triple-band mobile phones adapted for an extended global system for mobile communications (EGSM) of a 900 MHz band, a digital communication system (DCS) of a 1.8 GHz band, and a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) of a 2 GHz band.
For instance, EP1265370 (JP 2002-246942 A) discloses an antenna switch circuit capable of switching one antenna between three bands. In this antenna switch circuit, a first high-frequency switch comprises a pin-junction diode as a switching element to switch a GSM transmitting path and a GSM receiving path, and a second high-frequency switch comprises three sets of serially connected field effect transistors (FETs) as switching elements to switch a WCDMA transmitting/receiving path, a DCS transmitting path and a DCS receiving path.
These antenna switch circuits are generally supported by multilayer substrates. The multilayer substrate is obtained by printing an electrode material comprising silver or copper as a main component onto each ceramic sheet to form electrode patterns for transmission lines and capacitors for constituting the circuit, laminating these sheets, and sintering the resultant laminate. Switching elements such as pin-junction diodes, FET switches, etc. are usually mounted onto the upper surface of the multilayer substrate.
The circuit disclosed in EP1265370, however, fails to achieve an antenna switch applied to worldwide usable multiband mobile phones for four bands or more including not only EGSM and DCS, but also 850-MHz-band GSM850 (global system for mobile communications 850) and 1.9-GHz-band PCS (personal communication system) practically used in the U.S. This is because a GaAs-FET switch of SP6T as shown in FIG. 18 should be used when an antenna switch circuit adapted for four bands is constituted by using the GaAs-FET switch. Because the SP6T switch is generally larger and more expensive than conventional SPDT or SP3T, it is disadvantageous in the miniaturization and cost reduction of an antenna switch circuit. In addition, the control of the SP6T switch needs 6 or 7 control terminals, resulting in increase in the number of terminals in a module.
Multilayer substrates comprising FET switches are poor in isolation between transmitting paths and receiving paths. In the case of the GaAs-FET switch circuit shown in FIG. 18, isolation between transmission and receiving is only about 25 dB, needing improvement in a circuit structure for improved isolation characteristics. This results in a larger chip size of the GaAs-FET switch, and difficulty in miniaturization and cost increase. Because isolation characteristics between transmitting paths and receiving paths are affected by the interference of electrode patterns in the multilayer substrate, etc., the influence of the arrangement of electrodes, etc. in the multilayer substrate should be taken into consideration for the miniaturization of the module. However, EP1265370 fails to teach how the miniaturization and cost reduction of an antenna switch module, the improvement of isolation, electrode arrangement in the multilayer substrate, etc. should be achieved.

Antenna switch circuit and antenna switch module


The delivery systems of the present disclosure are configurable to administer either single-dose or multiple-doses of one or more substances to a user, for example to the eye, nose, mouth, ear or rectum of the user. The precise and repeatable dosing features of the presently disclosed delivery systems overcome many of the disadvantages associated with known methods for dispensing substances to, for example, the eye of a user. The delivery systems administer precise doses of a substance to a precise location from unit dosage forms that may be single-dose or multiple-dose unit dosage forms, which may be externally or internally pierced.

While the development of pharmaceutical drugs is important for continued improvement of therapeutic alternatives, pharmaceutical drug delivery methods can also play a crucial role in making drugs readily available to patient populations. The easier a therapeutic drug is to administer, the more interested a potential patient will be in the drug, thereby resulting in greater compliance with taking the drug. For example, transdermal patch delivery of nitroglycerin more than tripled the nitroglycerin market, because it made the benefits of this drug conveniently available to patients. Other drug delivery systems that have increased the availability of pharmaceutical drugs to patients are lozenges, topical creams and gels, oral cancer drugs, sustained release medicines, liposomes, and medical device applications, to name but a few.
Despite the advances made in other areas for novel drug delivery systems, the ophthalmic industry has lagged behind in improving the administration of drugs to users. Eye drops have been used for over 100 years for front of the eye diseases, and are still the most widely used method for administering drugs to the eye. In fact, over 95% of all ophthalmic drugs are delivered through a traditional eye drop bottle delivery system. But because drops administered from an eye drop bottle are relatively large, the instinctive blink that is provoked by the arrival of the large drop severely limits the amount of or proportion of fluid that actually contacts the target area on the eye. For example, less than 20% of a 50 μl drop may deliver effective treatment for a patient's eye, while the remainder is lost by drainage. The problem of drainage is further compounded by the natural limitations of the human eye to hold 7 μl to 12 μl before overflow occurs. This loss of expensive drug treatments is wasteful, and leads to uncertainty about the effectiveness of a treatment. For chronic users of certain ophthalmic drugs, this problem of overflow can also cause allergic reactions to the eyelid or in some cases staining of the skin surrounding the eye.
Another problem with overdosing the eye is systemic uptake of the drug as excess flows through the nasolacrimal duct to the back of the throat and potentially into the nasal cavity and stomach. For certain drugs such as beta blockers, undesirable systemic uptake can cause adverse respiratory or cardiac side effects. Thus, this traditional method of ophthalmic drug delivery, while affording a measure of simplicity for the user, has a number of problems, including waste and cost arising from errors in drug administration; over or under dosing arising from inexact administration of the drug; the need for preservatives in the drug to protect the efficacy of the drug once the dropper bottle is opened and exposed to air; eye irritation from exposure to preservatives required to maintain drug shelf life; loss of sterility or cross contamination of the drug; waste arising from discarding partially used bottles of the drug; accidental injury to the eye during administration; and no easy means of tracking compliance to the prescribed use of the drug. Still another disadvantage of conventional eye-droppers is that the amount of substance dispensed with an eye-dropper will depend on the amount of force the user applies to the eyedropper bottle, which presents an uncontrolled variable into the administration of a substance to the eye.
Ophthalmic drug delivery systems have been difficult to develop primarily because the eye has natural protective barriers, and is particularly sensitive to devices, implants and compounds that deliver drugs to the eye. Within the past decade, there have been a limited number of new device technologies developed that attempt to treat "front of the eye" disorders and diseases. These devices have been largely limited to reservoir based pump dropper systems that claim to maintain the sterility of the drug after the package has been opened. The commercial success of these systems is limited because they do not meet the critical challenge of making drug administration to the eye simple, precise and convenient. There is a market need for an effective multiple unit dose delivery system for ophthalmic drug administration, as evidenced by a study conducted by Beta Research Corporation, Syossett, N.Y., of a single unit dose administration using a first generation device to administer an ophthalmic drug to the front of the eye as an alternative to eye drops.
Another important consideration for the continued development of drug delivery systems is our aging population, and the increased care that people in this category need over time. For example, there are approximately 11.5 million people in nursing and assisted care centers in the U.S., and 59% need their medication administered by an assistant, taking up valuable resources, and depriving these people of their independence. As a result, there is a need for a comprehensive solution for certain patient populations, for example the elderly or those who are incapacitated, to self-administer pharmaceutical drugs in an easy and correct way. Some of the challenges facing institutional healthcare environments with respect to the administration of ophthalmic drugs to patients and residents include the time spent by caregivers administering eye drops to patients; potential liability as a result of accidental eye injuries which occur from faulty administration; increased cost due to waste; effective ophthalmic drug administration to uncooperative elderly and pediatric patients; cross contamination arising from using large institutional eye drop bottles; and the rising cost of drugs. Thus, an effective solution for addressing the shortcomings of using eye drop bottle delivery systems is needed.


A system (100) and method for outputting data from a detector (104). The novel system (100) includes a first controller (118) that samples the detector (104) at a first rate, a memory (112) for storing the sampled data, and a second controller (120) that outputs data from the memory (112) at a second rate. In a illustrative embodiment, the first rate is symmetrical from field to field, while the second rate is asymmetrical from field to field.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to sensors. More specifically, the present invention relates to thermal stabilization of imaging detector arrays.
2. Description of the Related Art
This invention addresses a problem that can occur with heat sensitive detector arrays used for infrared imaging systems. On the displayed video, a field-to-field flicker can occur when the detector array is sampled at a rate that is synchronous with interlaced display formats such as NTSC or PAL. For interlaced formats, the timing is asymmetrical for the odd and even fields. That is, the time duration from the odd field to its spatial equivalent point on the even field is different than that from the even field to the odd field. To avoid design complexity, most imaging systems apply the interlaced display timing format to the detector assembly directly.
For highly heat sensitive detectors such as bolometers and other uncooled detectors, the output signal from each pixel is a function of that pixel's temperature. Ideally, the pixel's temperature would only change as the image that is projected onto the array changes. However, the process of sampling or sensing the array information increases the temperature of the array. During the time the array is not being sampled, the array cools. Sampling at uneven intervals, as would be consistent with interlaced timing, causes a pixel to cool to a slightly different temperature every other field. This causes unwanted offsets between fields, with a magnitude that can vary nonlinearly as a function of operating time and absolute temperature. The result of the offset is a field-to-field video picture bounce or flicker, which is unpleasant to the human eye.
Prior attempts to solve this problem involved the averaging of two consecutive fields. For detector arrays where the detector size is equal to the display field size (i.e., the same detector rows are used for both fields), the displayed field was created by averaging two consecutive fields read from the detector. This eliminates the flicker but reduces the sensitivity or resolution of the system and causes blurring during scene motion. For detector arrays that have a unique row set for each display field (for example, the odd rows displayed on one field and the even rows displayed on the other field), averaging would not work unless the entire array was sampled every field, even though only every other line is being displayed. This would require doubling the sampling frequency which is usually not a feasible option. Simple methods of adding a fixed offset to a given field could reduce the problem, but since the offset can drift over time and temperature it would not be eliminated.
Hence, a need exists in the art for an improved system or method for sampling and displaying output from detector arrays that avoids the problems associated with asymmetrical display timing.

Digital timing rate buffering for thermal stability of uncooled detectors


The present invention provides genetically engineered cell lines, recombinant vectors, and vaccines. The present invention also provides methods for generating an in vitro system for Varicella zoster virus (VZV), and the in vitro systems generated by these methods. The present invention further provides methods for reactivating VZV, and VZV reactivated by these methods. Finally, the present invention provides a method of screening for an agent for treating VZV infection.

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is the cause of chickenpox (varicella) and shingles (zoster). Varicella is a primary infection in which VZV infects a naïve host. Zoster is the result of the reactivation of VZV, which has remained latent in its host, often for many years. A major paradox has impeded research on VZV for many years: VZV is highly infectious and spreads readily from an infected host to susceptible individuals, yet, it is extremely difficult to propagate in vitro, because it spreads only by direct cell-to-cell contact when it is grown in tissue culture. The dissemination of VZV among a population of susceptible subjects is mediated by cell-free virions, which are thought to be airborne. Cell-to-cell spread of VZV in vitro does not depend on cell-free virions, which are not released in viable form by infected cells in tissue culture. Instead, cells that are infected in vitro fuse with their uninfected neighbors enabling infection to be transferred intracellularly.

Genetically engineered cell lines and systems for propagating

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York


A model and die system includes a working quadrant having an upper flat surface. Pin-receiving tapered bores are formed in the upper flat surface and a thin metallic foil covers the bores. Cast teeth are supported by the working quadrant and each cast tooth has at least one tapered pin depending from it. Each pin includes a tapered main body that matches the taper of the tapered bore, a reduced diameter section of the same taper that accommodates torn or ruptured foil, an annular ramp section that sharply crimps the foil about the entry of the tapered bore, and a tapered rim that matches the taper of the tapered bore to lock the pin into its fully seated position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, generally, to dentistry. More particularly, it relates to a model and die system for making casts of dental impressions for the shaping of crowns and dentures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the die and model systems now in use, a plurality of tapered bores are formed in a working quadrant. Each tapered bore slideably receives a tapered pin that depends from a cast tooth. A thin, metallic foil covers each tapered bore. The foil is pierced when a pin is introduced into its associated tapered bore.
The seating of a pin in a pin-receiving tapered bore has been a problem in the industry for quite some time. The foil, after having been pierced, often gets in the way and interferes with a proper seating.
In view of the prior art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, however, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how to improve the current, unacceptable methods for seating a tapered pin in a tapered bore.

Pin construction for two-piece model and system


A multi-purpose wire tool which is capable of slitting and cutting the outer insulation sheath of commonly used 12/2 and 14/2 gauge multi-conductor insulated electrical cabling (Romex-style cable), as well as stripping, twisting, capping and hooking the individual insulated wires for both rough-in and finish electrical trim work.

The present disclosure relates generally to wire tools for electricians and more particularly to a multi-purpose wire tool which is capable of slitting and cutting the outer insulation sheath of commonly used 12/2 and 14/2 gauge multi-conductor insulated electrical cabling (Romex-style cable), as well as stripping, twisting, capping and hooking the individual insulated wires for both rough-in and finish electrical trim work.
Wire cutting and stripping tools are well known in the art and typically comprise opposed jaw type tools with varying holes and gripping surfaces for manipulating the wires.
Trimming electrical boxes consists essentially of 5 basic steps:                slitting the outer sheath or casing        cutting the excess sheath and paper wrap from the cable to expose the individual wires        stripping the individual hot and neutral wires        twisting the grouped ground, hot and neutral wires (wire sets) together        capping the twisted wire sets        hooking/looping the terminal ends of lead wires for connection to the electrical device.
The first two steps involve cutting using a standard utility knife with a large, sharp exposed blade. This is a known safety hazard resulting in many injuries which impede or prevent work.
The later three steps require a significant amount of wire manipulation and twisting, typically with pliers which involves repeated twisting of the wrist, which is a known source of injury to many professional electricians.
While many of the existing wire tools make some of the work for stripping the wires easier, there is no existing tool that can handle all of the basic steps for roughing out and terminating electrical cable and wires.

Wire tool for stripping and terminating electrical wires and methods of using the same


A holographic wavefront sensor inclusive of a multiplexed hologram that can reconstruct one or more diffracted beams from a single object or input beam onto a distant image plane. The position of the reconstructed beams on the distant image plane indicates the relative amounts of different aberrations present in the input beam. Optical and computer realization of the employed hologram are accomplished along with sensor configurations in simple and more complex uses.

An extremely spherical (or flat) wavefront is needed for diffraction-limited (i.e., perfect) optical imaging; a wavefront with phase errors less than a quarter of a wavelength is generally desired in such usage. In most instances, however, such imaging is less than perfect due to phase distortions present in the final wavefront. For example, when viewing scenes through the atmosphere, variations in refractive index due to pockets of hot and cold air can distort a wavefront significantly, blurring images and limiting the resolution. Adaptive optics is a technique which can correct for these aberrations3,4. (Numbers such as these refer to the list of references included at the close of this specification. Each reference in this list is hereby incorporated by reference herein.) The adaptive optics process involves detecting the shape of a distorted wavefront and then applying the inverse error to return the wavefront to a perfect surface.
Wavefront sensors are devices capable of determining how the phase of the observed wave differs from a perfectly flat or spherical ideal wavefront. In typical cases of wavefront analysis, the wavefront sensors are designed to extract phase information that is generally then reduced into complex mathematical terms. With such complex formulae, intensive computations are often required to dynamically characterize the wavefront. Such wavefronts may however change very rapidly. In the case of an adaptive optics application such as a telescope, such calculations may need to be performed hundreds of times a second for thousands of points over the wavefront. Such calculations require dedicated circuitry and/or extremely fast data processors.
There are several different techniques which have been developed for wavefront sensing. Some of the more commonly adopted methods include:
An interferometric sensor (IS): interferometry is a means of extracting phase information by mixing one wavefront with another and using the difference signal as a measure of wavefront error1. The result is usually some form of contour map of the surface of the wavefront. This map can be analyzed to give an absolute phase measurement. The general process can be divided into two possibilities:
Phase mixing with a "reference" wave. In this case, an interference pattern is produced by combining the unknown wavefront with a wavefront of predetermined phase (typically a diffraction-limited plane wave). The unknown wavefront can be determined by finding the difference between the two. This technique is primarily useful for coherent wavefront sources or extremely bright incoherent sources.
Self referencing. In this case the unknown wavefront is divided into two beams—one of which is modified (e.g. being shifted laterally) before being recombined. The interference can then be analyzed to determine the global phase of the original beam. A pyramidal sensor11,17 is one example of a wavefront sensor using this technique. U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,467 discloses an example of this type of wavefront sensor; this patent and each of the other patents identified in this document is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
A Shack-Hartmann-type Wavefront Sensor (SHWFS)6,18,22,23,27: this is a method by which a wavefront is divided into small sections (either using holes or lenslets or micromirrors). The local slope of the wavefront over each subaperture used is calculated (e.g. by focal shift). With the assumption of continuity, the final wavefront is generated by piecing together the slopes of each sub-aperture. Several variations of this type of sensor are included in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,141,651, 4,399,356, 4,725,138, 5,493,391, 5,912,731, 5,936,720, 6,052,180, 6,130,419, 6,184,974, 6,199,986, 6,299,311 and 6,396,588.
A Phase Diversity Sensor (PDS)7,13-16,20,21: this method requires the unknown wavefront to be imaged at two planes in the vicinity of the pupil of the instrument. By analyzing the differences in the two beam profiles, the initial wavefront error can be determined. Many different methods have been discovered to produce and analyze the wavefront using this technique. These include curvature sensors based on a simple focusing of the beam with a conventional lens, as well as more complex sensors involving diffraction gratings.
The latter two Phase Diversity Sensor methods are generally considered when referring to "wavefront sensors" as they can operate equally well on beams of coherent or incoherent light as well as at light levels much lower than those required for interferometry. However, there are resolution limits on wavefront sensing, and it is computationally intensive to determine an entire surface map of the wavefront. Ideally one would like to have a method of sampling wavefronts at high resolution and low light levels with minimal computational requirements to permit operation at high speeds (large bandwidths). The present invention introduces a completely new method for analyzing a wavefront.

United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


A tree stand includes programmable circuitry allowing various messages to be played and lights to be illuminated responsive to actuation of various switches. The various switches are placed on the floor surface adjacent the tree stand and presents are placed over the various switches. Each switch is connected to a programmable control device designed to play a particular message responsive to activation of the switch. The message is designed to be specifically created for the recipient of the present which has been placed on the particular switch which has been activated.

The present invention relates to a programmable tree stand. In the prior art, tree stands are known. U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,805,649 to Werimine, 1,971,300 to Garrett and 2,847,175 to Farley et al. are examples of tree stands.
However, applicant is unaware of any tree stand which is associated with switch means designed to activate a programmable controller to cause selective activation of a program playing device and illumination means.

Free stand with programmable music program playing means


Provided are an apparatus and a method for generating mesh models of feathers. The apparatus for generating the mesh models of the feathers includes a geometrical model analyzing unit that analyzes groups of barbs included in a geometrical curve model of the feather; a calculating unit that calculates the number of grids for each of the groups of barbs by applying curve lengths of the barbs and an average length of the curve lengths included in each of the groups of barbs; and a mesh model generating unit that constructs the geometrical curve models as polygonal mesh models based on the number of grids. According to the present invention, it extracts curved points by using characteristics of a model of a feather and constructs polygonal meshes by using the extracted curved points, thereby making it possible to physically and realistically express the forced physical variation of the polygonal meshes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for generating mesh models of feathers, and in particular, to an apparatus and a method for generating mesh models of feathers capable of constructing a polygonal mesh model by using curved data of a geometrical curve model in order to express interaction between CG (Computer Graphics) models and physical forces such as wind, gravity, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
Increasing demand for high-quality images is due to the expanded distribution of visual contents in the fields of CG and VR (Virtual Reality). In order to create high-quality images, objects having a complex shape are modeled similar to real objects by using the CG technology. Generally, the objects are modeled by using polygons (polygonal meshes); however, in order to more accurately perform the modeling, a free curve and a free curved surface which have an excellent power of expression has been used.
When a 3D scanner is used to model the complicated object, curved surface points in a grid form are provided or curved surface points in a line form are provided. In order to reconstruct the provided objects by a computer, the polygonal meshes should be constructed by using these points.
The reason for using the polygonal meshes is that current graphic hardwares are designed to express the polygonal meshes and can approximately express the characteristics of the curved surface included in static models, for example, curvature, change in curvature, and so on. The free curve or the free curved surface may be suitable to more accurately express the characteristics of the curved surface; however, it is difficult to express physical variations.
Technologies constructing the polygonal meshes by using the curved data acquired by using the 3D scanner, etc., have been developed.
The related art provides a method that converts the curved surface points in the curved line form or the curved surface points in the grid form into the polygonal mesh model; however, the method does not consider the physical variations changed by the external physical forces.

Apparatus and method for generating mesh models of feathers

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A battery housing for a vehicle driven by an electric motor comprises a tray part including a bottom and side walls integrally formed thereon, and furthermore comprises a frame structure surrounding the tray part on the outside, wherein a gap remains between the side walls and the frame structure disposed on the outside thereof. At least two side walls of the tray part located opposite one another with respect to the tray volume each have at least one embossment, which is designed to point away from the tray volume and is supported on the frame structure. A brace disposed in the tray part is supported with the end-face ends thereof in the mutually opposing embossments.

The present disclosure relates to a battery housing for a vehicle driven by an electric motor, comprising a tray part having a bottom and side walls integrally formed thereon, and furthermore comprising a frame structure surrounding the outside of the tray part, wherein a gap remains between the side walls and the frame structure disposed on the outside thereof.
Vehicles driven by electric motors, such as passenger cars, industrial trucks or the like, use battery modules as power storage devices. Such battery modules are typically composed of a plurality of individual batteries. These batteries are what are known as high-voltage batteries. The accommodation of such battery modules necessary for operating such a vehicle is subject to certain requirements. It is essential that the battery module is, or the battery modules are, protected against outside conditions in the battery housing. In particular, these must meet the necessary safety requirements when exposed to crash-induced applied loads.
DE 20 2016 102 223 U1 discloses a battery housing comprising a tray part and a cover part detachably connected to the tray part. The two parts comprise an outwardly projecting mounting flange extending around the circumference on the mutually facing sides thereof.
A tray part for a battery housing can be produced cost-effectively by deep drawing a steel blank, for example. This causes the side walls integrally formed on the bottom of the tray part to be integrally formed on the bottom, forming a draft angle. This means that the side walls include an angle with the bottom which is a few degrees greater than 90°. Customarily, draft angles are approximately 3°. When such a configuration of the side walls is present, these include an angle with the bottom of 93°. This is necessary to be able to pull the molding tool out of the molded battery volume after the molding process.
In order to provide mechanical protection for the battery housing, and in particular for the battery module or battery modules accommodated therein, the tray part is or the tray parts are surrounded by a frame structure, which is disposed on the outer side with respect to the side walls. Such a frame structure is formed of individual profile sections assembled to form a frame profile. A battery housing comprising such a tray part is known from US 2011/0143179 A1. Light metal hollow chamber profiles extruded for weight savings purposes, and typically extruded aluminum profiles, are used as profile sections. The outer contour of the tray part in the region of the upper termination of the side walls thereof and the inside width of such a frame part are matched to one another. For cost reasons, it is standard procedure to use hollow chamber profile sections, in particular such that have a rectangular cross-sectional geometry. The inner side of the frame profile is supported on the outer side of the side walls of the tray part in the upper end section thereof, and more particularly directly below the transition of the side wall into the mounting flange projected outwardly therefrom. The mounting flange then rests on the upper side of a profile section of the frame profile. As a result, a gap is present between the outer side of the side walls and the outer side of the provided frame structure due to the inclined arrangement of the side walls.
The frame structure is provided to absorb impact, such as that which occurs during a collision, for example. The frame structure is thus intended to protect the battery volume present in the tray part against damage at least to a certain degree. At times, longitudinal and transverse braces are disposed in the tray volume for reinforcement purposes, the end faces of these braces being supported on the surfaces of the mutually facing side walls. Due to the inclined orientation of the side walls, the ends of such braces must be mitered at an angle that is complementary to the draft angle so that the end surfaces thereof rest against the side wall across the full surface of the end surfaces. These braces are provided to reinforce the tray part. The impact energy acting laterally on a profile section of such a frame profile in the event of a collision is transferred on to the side facing away from the impact via the brace or braces extending in the direction of the impact. This typically acts against an abutment. Finishing the ends of the braces used is a complex aspect of this concept. Moreover, it has been shown that the action of a force into the braces across the full surface only takes place when the profile section of the frame part receiving the impact has already been deformed to a certain degree.
Moreover, attaching the braces in the tray part is quite problematic. It is desirable that the ends of the braces are welded to the side walls. Due to the high heat input during welding, however, this causes significant warpage of the tray part. While it is possible to eliminate such warpage again in a subsequent straightening process, this necessitates an additional process step during production.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.


The variety ‘T-885’ ripens around the first week of June in southern Georgia. The fruit of the new variety ‘T-885’ are generally small. The fruit of the new ‘T-885’ variety ripens progressively and not all at once creating multiple-colored fruit clusters. The new ‘T-885’ variety is highly vigorous with an estimated chilling requirement of about 500 to 550 hours at or below approximately 7° C. The variety is reliably propagated vegetatively.

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of blueberry hybrid plant botanically known as a Vaccinium sp. hybrid and herein referred to as 'T-885', as herein described and illustrated. The blueberry plant contains mostly rabbiteye germplasm.
The new blueberry plant variety 'T-885' was selected while growing in a cultivated area in Griffin, Ga. in 2005. The new variety 'T-885' ripens around the first week of June in southern Georgia. The fruit of the new variety 'T-885' are generally small to medium size. The new variety's fruit ripens progressively and not all at once, creating multiple colored fruit clusters. The new variety 'T-885' is highly vigorous with an estimated chilling requirement of about 500 to 550 hours at or below approximately 7° C.
Pedigree and history—The new blueberry plant variety 'T-885' was selected in 2005 at the Georgia Experiment Station in Griffin, Ga. It originated from a cross of 'Climax' X US 1056. 'Climax' (unpatented) is an older standard rabbiteye cultivar (V. ashei), while US 1056 is an unpatented breeding line with a complex pedigree containing V. ashei, V constablaei, V. corymbosum, and V. darrowii. The selection has been asexually propagated by softwood cuttings in Alapaha and Griffin Ga. The new cultivar has been tested in plantings at Alapaha and Griffin, Ga. since 2006.
The new 'T-885' blueberry plant has been shown to maintain its distinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagations by softwood cuttings. Plants from softwood cuttings have been directly planted in the ground.

University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.


An uplink scheduling apparatus and method in a communication system are provided. In the uplink scheduling method, a scheduling metric is calculated for each Mobile Station (MS). An MS with a high priority level is selected according to the calculated scheduling metric. The number of subchannels and a product of a modulation order and coding rate (MPR) are extracted according to input variables for the selected MS. The number of subchannels to be allocated to the selected MS is determined according to the MPR and the subchannels are allocated to the selected MS. The scheduling metric is updated for the each MS.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a scheduling apparatus and method in a communication system, and in particular, to an apparatus and method for uplink scheduling in a communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Providing services with diverse Quality of Service (QoS) levels at about 100 Mbps to users is actively being studied for a 4th Generation (4G) communication system, which is a future-generation communication system. Particularly, there is ongoing research concerning the development of a new communication system that supports high-speed services by ensuring mobility and QoS to a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) supporting relatively high data rates and a Wireless. Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN).
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16a and IEEE 802.16e communication systems adopt Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing/Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDM/OFDMA) for the physical channels of the WMAN system in order to support a broadband transmission network. Because a physical channel signal is transmitted on a plurality of sub-carriers in OFDM/OFDMA in the WMAN system, IEEE 802.16a and IEEE 802.16e system enable high-speed data transmission. In effect, IEEE 802.16a and IEEE 802.16e are OFDM/OFDMA-Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) communication systems.
IEEE 802.16a considers only a single-cell structure without regards to the mobility of Subscriber Stations (SSs). In contrast, IEEE 802.16e supports the mobility of the SS to the IEEE 802.16a communication system. For the IEEE 802.16e system to ensure the mobility of SSs in a multi-cell environment, the operations of the SS and the Base Station (BS) must be modified. There is ongoing study, particularly regarding handover for the SS in the multi-cell structure. Hereinafter, a Mobile SS is called an MS.
FIG. 1 illustrates the configuration of a typical BWA communication system. Referring to FIG. 1, the BWA communication system is configured in a multi-cell structure. Thus, it includes cells 100 and 150, a BS 110 that covers the cell 100, a BS 140 that covers the cell 150, and a plurality of MSs 111, 113, 130, 151 and 153. Signaling between the BSs 110 and 140 and the MSs 111, 113, 130, 151 and 153 is based on OFDM/OFDMA.
In OFDMA provided for the BWA communication system, subchannels include subcarriers, which constitute one OFDM symbol, and a plurality of OFDM symbols form one frame.
FIG. 2 illustrates a structure of a data frame in the typical BWA communication system. Particularly, the data frame is an UpLink (UL)/DownLink (DL) frame for an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access-Time Division Duplex (OFDMA-TDD) BWA communication system.
Referring to FIG. 2, the data frame is divided into a DL frame and a UL frame in time. A transmission gap, called a Transmit/receive Transition Gap (TTG), is interposed for transition from the downlink to the uplink, and a transmission gap, called a Receive/transmit Transition Gap (RTG), is interposed for transition from the uplink to the downlink. The horizontal axis represents OFDMA symbol numbers and the vertical axis represents the logical number of subchannels.
On the downlink, a preamble resides in a Kth OFDMA symbol, for synchronization acquisition, and data information broadcast most common to MSs such as a Frame Control Header (FCH) and a DL-MAP is located in a (K+1)th OFDMA symbol.
The preamble delivers a synchronization signal, i.e. a preamble sequence by which synchronization is acquired between a BS and an MS. That is, the preamble is required for the MS to acquire synchronization to data transmitted by the BS. The MS extracts the synchronization information from the preamble through its MODEM.
The FCH includes two subchannels, carrying basic information about subchannels, ranging, and modulation. An analysis of the FCH indicates the size of the DL-MAP and the frequency reuse factor (referred to as reuse) of the BS, for example, reuse 1 or reuse 2.
The DL-MAP delivers a DL-MAP message. The DL-MAP message has information required for extracting data and providing service provisioning to MSs, such as the positions and sizes of data in the DL frame. Therefore, data can be extracted from the DL frame by analyzing the DL-MAP information.
In (K+3)th through (K+15)th OFDMA symbols, DownLink bursts (DL bursts) are positioned, for example, as DL burst #1 to DL burst #6. Data is extracted from the DL bursts based on general data information, such as information acquired from the DL-MAP.
On the uplink, UpLink bursts (UL bursts), for example UL burst #1 to UL burst #5, are located in (K+17)th to (K+26)th OFDMA symbols. A Ranging Subchannel also occupies the (K+17)th to (K+26)th OFDMA symbols. Ranging subchannels for ranging are transmitted in the Ranging Subchannel. Data is extracted from the UL bursts based on general data information such as information acquired from an UpLink MAP (UL-MAP), which is delivered in DL burst #1.
Each subchannel is composed of a plurality of subcarriers. Depending on system conditions, one subchannel is composed of a predetermined number of subcarriers. As described above, the IEEE 802.16e OFDMA communication system configures subchannels each being a set of subcarriers according to system condition and allocates resources to a plurality of users (i.e., MSs) by the subchannels.
FIG. 3 illustrates traffic transmission in the typical BWA communication system. Particularly, a BS 350 allocates uplink resources to, for example, an MS 320 and the MS 320 transmits traffic using the allocated resources.
Referring to FIG. 3, the BS 350 selects an MS (e.g., the MS 320) to allocate resources to from among MSs 310, 320 and 330 within its coverage area by a predetermined scheduling procedure. The BS 350 determines the amount of resources and a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) for the MS 320. Also, the BS 350 determines the position of the resources by which the MS 320 transmits data. This operation is repeated until all uplink resources are allocated.
After scheduling is completed, the BS 350 broadcasts uplink scheduling information indicating the result of the scheduling in a UL-MAP message to all of the MSs 310, 320 and 330 within a cell.
The MSs 310, 320 and 330 receive the UL-MAP message and, if resources have been allocated to them, they transmit traffic at the positions of the allocated resources on the uplink. For example, if the UL-MAP message indicates the existence of resources allocated to the MS 320, then the MS 320 transmits uplink traffic at the position of the allocated resources.
Basically, the BS seeks to maximize radio channel throughput and minimize the transmission delay of traffic in uplink scheduling. Besides, the BS aims to reduce interference with neighboring sectors, reduce UL-MAP overhead, expand cell coverage, reduce the power consumption of the MSs, and maintain stable link performance between the BS and the MSs. Thus, the BS selects an operation method for achieving the above objectives. However, some objectives of the BS scheduling may contradict each other. Hence, the scheduler of the BS attempts to fulfill the objectives appropriately according to their priority levels by adjusting parameters like an MCS level preference and the amount of resources allocated per time.
Yet, there is no specified scheduling method and apparatus for satisfying the above various objectives and that flexibly using weights, in allocating uplink resources through frame-basis uplink scheduling in a broadband mobile communication system, particularly an OFDMA-TDD mobile communication system.

Apparatus and method for uplink scheduling in a communication system


Cogeneration of at least electricity and refrigeration with low NO.sub.x combustion of fuel gas supplied at high pressure involves expanding the gas, after preheating, in a turbo-expander which drives a centrifugal compressor for the refrigerant vapor of a refrigeration system. The expanded fuel gas admixed with a limited amount of air is fed to a porous fiber burner to effect flameless combustion on the outer surface of the burner and yield a flue gas with a very low content of NO.sub.x and other pollutants. Combustion heat is used to produce high-pressure steam which is fed to a steam turbine that drives an electric generator. The flue gas can be passed through an absorption system for the recovery of carbon dioxide, part of the steam being utilized in the absorption system. When desired, recovered carbon dioxide can be liquefied with refrigeration produced by the cogeneration system.

This invention relates to the cogeneration of electricity and refrigeration by the low NO.sub.x combustion of natural gas or like fuel gas rich in methane and other gaseous hydrocarbons. More particularly, the combustion of fuel gas with low NO.sub.x emission makes it feasible to recover carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) as a product of cogeneration.
Cogeneration systems have received considerable attention in recent years. Many processes have been proposed for the cogeneration of electricity and saleable refrigeration or heating steam. Many cogeneration schemes are based on the use of gas turbines which have certain disadvantages. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,811 to Stahl shows several cogeneration systems involving the combustion of fuel gas and passage of the hot combustion products through a gas turbine. Stahl points out that gas turbines are normally operated with about 300% excess air over the stoichiometric requirement. Any large amount of excess air naturally decreases the thermal efficiency of the system. Moreover, in light of the rapidly growing concern about atmospheric pollution by combustion processes, a further disadvantage is being recognized in that the gaseous effluents of gas turbines contain high amounts of nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x), usually in excess of 100 parts per million (ppm), as well as carbon monoxide (CO) and unburned hydrocarbons.
Accordingly, a principal object of this invention is to avoid the use of gas turbines in congeneration systems by substituting therefor steam turbines.
A related principal object is to generate steam for the steam turbines by introducing fuel gas admixed with air into a porous fiber burner and effecting flameless combustion on the outer surface of the burner to minimize NO.sub.x formation.
A further object is to limit the amount of excess air used in the combustion of fuel gas to yield a flue gas of increased CO.sub.2 content.
Another important object is to recover CO.sub.2 from the flue gas and to utilize the cogenerated refrigeration to liquefy the CO.sub.2.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will be evident from the description which follows.

Cogeneration system with low NO.sub.x combustion of fuel gas


The present invention, in a preferred embodiment, is a photoresist stripper formulation, comprising: Hydroxylamine ; Water; a solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethylsulfoxide; N-methylpyrrrolidine; dimethylacetamide; dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether; monoethanolamine and mixtures thereof; a base selected from the group consisting of choline hydroxide, monoethanolamine, tetramethylammonium hydroxide; aminoethylethanolamine and mixtures thereof; a metal corrosion inhibitor selected from the group consisting of catechol, gallic acid, lactic acid, benzotriazole and mixtures thereof; and a bath life extending agent selected from the group consisting of glycerine, propylene glycol and mixtures thereof. The present invention is also a method for using formulations as exemplified in the preferred embodiment.

In the manufacture of semiconductor circuits on wafers, the wafers are periodically coated with photoresist to fabricate the various layers of circuitry, electrical devices and vias and interconnects. After photoresist is developed and used, etching and ashing are performed resulting in residues that must be removed before further processing. Strippers have been utilized to remove unwanted photoresist and the residues of etching and ashing. The photoresist, etch residue or ash residue is difficult to selectively remove without damaging the desired circuit structures. The stripper must be compatible with dielectric and metal conductive materials. The corrosion rate of either of these differing types of materials must be within acceptable levels.
Commercially available strippers for the application of thick dry film (usually range from 70 to 120 micrometer (micron (μm))) removal comprise a mixture of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH). These strippers usually operate at elevated temp (>90° C.) and suffer from short bath-life issues. Strippers in this field are described in U.S. 2005/0263743, U.S. 2006/0094613 and U.S. 2006/0115970.


Disclosed are hybrid heterodyne transmitters and receivers for use in communications systems, or other systems, and the corresponding methods for hybrid heterodyne transmitting and receiving. A heterodyne receiver for converting a continuous time modulated signal to a discrete time digital baseband signal includes a sigma-delta modulator. The sigma-delta modulator is a signal-delta analog-to-digital converter constructed and arranged to receive a modulated signal at an RF carrier frequency and provide a quantized output at a first intermediate frequency. The heterodyne receiver may also include a digital mixer constructed and arranged to receive a data stream quantized by the sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter and receive a signal at a second mixing frequency. The digital mixer then provides digital signals representative of a baseband signal suitable for digital signal processing.

Modern communication systems use digital transmission since it provides improved efficiency and the ability to detect and correct transmission errors. There are several digital transmission formats such as binary phase shift keying (BPSK), quaternary phase shift keying (QPSK), offset quaternary phase shift keying (OQPSK), m-ary phase shift keying (m-PSK), orthogonal frequency division modulation (OFDM), and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). There are different communication systems such as code division multiple access (CDMA) communication systems, or high definition television (HDTV) systems.
In digital transmission, the digitized data is used to modulate a carrier sinusoid using one of the above-listed formats. The modulated waveform is further processed (e.g. filtered, amplified, and up-converted) and transmitted to a remote station. At the remote station, the transmitted RF signal is received and demodulated by a receiver. A typical receiver includes an antenna that receives the signals and a filter that limits the received signals to the desirable carrier frequency range. The frequency band limited signal received by the antenna is then applied to a low noise amplifier where it is amplified to an amplitude suitable for subsequent processing, as described below.
Wireless telecommunications systems such as cellular telephone communications systems use several base stations that receive and transmit signals over a particular carrier frequency or channel within an allocated frequency band to communicate with a terminal handset. The terminal handset typically tunes to receive one narrow band channel within the wider frequency band at a time while base stations are typically required to tune in multiple channels and communicate with multiple terminals at a time.
In general, communications systems can use several types of RF receivers. A homodyne receiver is perhaps the most basic of RF receivers. The homodyne receiver usually includes a low noise amplifier (LNA) that accepts an RF signal received by an antenna, and amplifies the detected signal. The amplifier provides the amplified signal to an RF filter and to an analog mixer that multiplies the filtered RF signal with an analog mixing signal provided by a frequency generator including a local oscillator (LO). The analog mixer down-converts and recovers the desired baseband signal. (The analog mixing signal may have its frequency tuned for channel selection by a synthesizer.) This homodyne technique is sometimes called a "zero IF" architecture since the RF modulated signal is down-converted directly to zero frequency without an intermediate frequency (IF). In "zero IF" architectures, the LO signal is at the same frequency as the RF receiver signal. The use of the substantially same RF frequency signal (LO) for mixing can have the undesirable effect of the LO signal being radiated out through the antenna. In addition, coupling within the mixer can create a design issue in that the LO appears on the output of the mixer as a large DC offset, potentially jamming the desired signal.
A super-heterodyne receiver is another type of an RF receiver. A super-heterodyne receiver has several advantages over the zero-IF architecture. A super-heterodyne receiver also includes a low noise amplifier and a filter for filtering the modulated amplified RF signal. The receiver uses an analog RF mixer that receives the modulated RF signal for down-converting. The receiver uses a first frequency generator for providing a first mixing signal (LO1) that is offset from the RF carrier by an intermediate frequency (IF). The analog mixer receives the two offset RF signals and provides the modulated output at the IF frequency to a filter (e.g., a surface acoustic wave filter) having a high Q and a narrow band.
In super-heterodyning, the difference between the frequency of the modulated signal and the LO1 signal provides advantageous ability to isolate and filter non-idealities from the desired signal. The high Q and narrow band filter provides the filtered IF signal to a second mixer (usually an analog mixer) operating at the IF frequency. The second mixer also receives a second mixing signal (LO2) provided by a second frequency generator. (The second mixer may be replaced by a modulator that also digitizes the analog signal.) The mixer down-converts the IF frequency signal to a baseband signal suitable for processing. Usually, this architecture provides the signal of interest at the frequency RF+/−IF, and an image signal at RF−/+IF. Therefore, the receiver performs image rejection using a surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter. Alternatively, the receiver may use Weaver mixer architecture to remove the unwanted image. The Weaver mixer architecture separates the modulated signal into an in-phase (I) signal and a quadrature (Q) signal to perform the mixing separately for the I & Q signals. This is done in two stages further separating each signal into two 90° shifted signals for mixing down to a baseband frequency. The baseband signals are combined by first appropriately shifting the phase.
There is still a need for communications systems and other systems that use hybrid heterodyne transmitters or receivers.

Hybrid heterodyne transmitters and receivers


The electrospray generator system described herein uses a soft X-ray source instead of a radioactive source to generate bipolar ions for the neutralization of the initially charged particles. In one example, the soft X-ray source is directed at an orifice from which the charged particles emanate, thereby allowing the neutralization of the particles to happen faster than in prior art configurations and, in some instances, even neutralization occurring immediately on a droplet before it passes through the electrospray orifice.

The invention generally relates to electrospray aerosol generators.
A prior art charge-neutralized electrospray aerosol generator is disclosed by Kaufman et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,842 and is manufactured by TSI, Inc. as, by way of example, Electrospray Aerosol Generator Model 3480. This device generates small, highly charged liquid droplets and accelerates them through a small orifice into a neutralization chamber where their high charge states are reduced by a radioactive (bipolar) neutralizer. The liquid droplets contain dissolved materials or suspended solid particles. As soon as the droplets are generated they begin drying such that when they enter the neutralization chamber they have dried to solid particles.
The charge fraction of particles after passing through the neutralization chamber is determined by the size of the final dried particles, hence the smaller the particle is, the lower the charged fraction. Since the charged particles are used for subsequent analysis, achieving higher charge fractions or allowing a higher proportion of droplets generated by the electrospray device to be neutralized before they are lost would be advantageous.

Electrospray with soft X-ray neutralizer


Provided is a signal separation system including a rendering unit which receives a first and a second input signal and positions the first input signal according to rendering information.

Demands for separating and extracting a specific signal component from a given input signal having a plurality of mixed signal components are encountered in a variety of scenes in daily life. An example of such scenes is recognition of conversation or desired voice in a noisy environment. In such a scene, conversation and/or desired voice are generally captured using an electroacoustic transducer element, such as a microphone, at a point in space. The captured conversation and/or desired voice are converted into an electric signal, and manipulated as an input signal.
One conventionally known system applied to an input signal containing a plurality of signal components comprising desired voice and background noise is a noise suppression system (which will be referred to as a noise suppressor hereinbelow), which enhances the desired voice by suppressing the background noise. The noise suppressor is a system for suppressing noise superposed over a desired acoustic signal. In general, the noise suppressor uses an input signal transformed into a frequency domain to estimate a power spectrum of a noise component, and subtracts the estimated power spectrum of the noise component from the input signal. Alternatively, there is a widespread method including multiplying the input signal by a gain less than one to obtain a result equivalent to that by subtraction. Noise mixed into a desired acoustic signal is thus suppressed. Moreover, such a noise suppressor may be applied to suppression of non-stationary noise by continuously estimating the power spectrum of noise components. A technique related to such a noise suppressor is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example (which will be referred to as first related technique).
Generally, the noise suppressor, which is the first related technique, has a tradeoff between residual noise left from suppression, i.e., a degree of separation of desired voice from background noise, and distortion involved in enhanced output voice. A higher degree of separation to reduce residual noise results in increased distortion, while reduced distortion causes the degree of separation to decrease and residual noise to increase. Particularly, for a smaller power ratio of desired voice to noise, distortion contained in an output obtained by a least noise suppression effect is more significant.
On the other hand, the fact that a human auditory organ has ability to discriminating differently localized signals is disclosed in Non-patent Document 1. Perception of localization requires multi-channel signals. Therefore, in a case that a monophonic signal is input, it must be converted into a multi-channel signal. One method of controlling signal localization is rendering processing for manipulating the amplitude and phase of a given signal. A technique related to the rendering processing is disclosed in Patent Document 2. In a case that at least two channels of signals are input, the human auditory organ uses the difference in amplitude and phase (a relative delay at a reception point) between these signals to spatially localize these signals. Based on this principle, rendering controls a localized position by manipulating the amplitude and phase of an input signal. For example, there is a rendering system for convoluting an unlocalizable monophonic signal with a plurality of transfer functions defined by the amplitude and phase having a specific relationship to generate a multi-channel output. Such a rendering system is shown in FIG. 20 (which will be referred to as second related technique).
As shown in FIG. 20, a rendering system according to the second related technique receives monophonic input 0 at a rendering section 9, and outputs Mo-channel signals including output 0-output Mo−1. The rendering section 9 applies rendering to input 0 based on rendering information, and outputs a result as output 0-output Mo−1. In a case that input 0 contains a plurality of signal components, all the signal components are localized at the same point in space, because the same rendering processing is applied to all signal components.
Patent Document 1: JP-P2002-204175A
Patent Document 2: JP-P1999-46400A
Non-patent Document 1: "Mechanism of Calculation by Brain—Dynamics in Bottom-up/Top-down—," Asakura Publishing Co., Ltd. (2005), Pages 203-216

Signal processing system, apparatus and method used on the system, and program thereof


Recommending and activating scenes in a multimedia system are provided. The techniques of the present disclosure can allow the states of the components in the multimedia system to be captured in a scene. Once the scene has been saved, the scene can be activated at a later time. A controller device for recommending scenes by comparing the current state with states of components in saved scenes is also provided. The controller device can also determine if media is playing in a current scene, and activate a selected scene without playing the media content. Once the selected scene is activated, the media playing in the current scene can be switched, and the media playing in the selected scene can be played.

This relates to portable electronic devices and more particularly to systems and methods for saving and restoring scenes in a multimedia system. As used herein, a scene includes the states of one or more components in the multimedia system. States of components that can be captured in a scene can include, for example, the states of lights (e.g., whether they are turned on or off and their brightness levels), the states of speakers (e.g., volume level and balance), media that is playing on a media playback application, metadata associated with the media that is playing, or any other suitable states.
Remote controls, such as dedicated remote controls for controlling devices in a multimedia system, are known. Devices in the multimedia system can include consumer electronic devices, such as televisions, set-top boxes, stereo receivers, and computers, and appliances, such as lights, window shades, and fireplaces. In addition, universal remote controls have been designed to interact with a wide variety of devices, so that a single universal remote control can be used to control more than one device. For example, a universal remote control can control both a television and set-top box. Most of these remote controls communicate with the devices using infrared (IR) signals.
However, in order to configure a conventional remote control to work with multiple devices, a user must first specify the devices that are in the user's multimedia system. For example, the user may specify a TV, a stereo receiver, and a DVD player. Furthermore, although conventional remote controls can save and restore different pre-defined scenes (e.g., "watch TV," "watch DVD," and "play game"), a user has to spend time manually defining the scene (e.g., by specifying which device inputs to use, etc.).
Furthermore, in most conventional remote controls, a user must use a computer to define a scene. In some cases, however, a user may want to be able to define a scene without being restricted to using a computer. For example, the user may be watching a horror movie and may adjust the lighting and sound of the scene accordingly. The user may want to save the states of the devices so that the scene can be restored when, for example, the user watches another horror movie a few days later. The user may want to do this save instantaneously without having to use a computer.
In addition, these conventional remote controls may wait for a user to activate a certain scene instead of recommending scenes based on past activities of the user or external parameters (e.g., genre of media that is playing, time of the day, and special occasions). For example, a conventional remote control may not be able to detect that a user is viewing a horror movie, and, as a result, suggest a saved scene that has been configured for horror movies.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide systems and methods that allow a user to save and restore scenes in a multimedia system with minimal configuration. It would also be desirable to provide suggestions of suitable recommended scenes based on states of devices in the scenes and usage patterns.

Systems and methods for saving and restoring scenes in a multimedia system