An optical transmission system with automatic startup functions to optimize the power level of optical signals entering each optical amplifier and operate those amplifiers in appropriate mode. In the process of starting up an optical transmission system, upstream and downstream optical transmission devices set up themselves under the coordination of their internal controllers. The downstream device controller adjusts its local variable optical attenuator by utilizing optical noise emission from a post-amplifier in the upstream optical transmission device, and it selects and sets a preamplifier unit to work in appropriate operating mode. The upstream device controller, on the other hand, selects and sets operating mode of its local post-amplifier unit. During this process, the upstream and downstream device controllers exchange messages over supervisory control channels to achieve the purpose.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical transmission system, and more particularly to an optical transmission system which transports optical signals using wavelength-division multiplexing techniques.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) techniques are widely used in today's optical communications infrastructures. A WDM system carries many transmission signals (e.g., forty to one hundred waves) over a single fiber-optic medium, with different optical wavelengths assigned to different channels. Long-haul WDM systems employ a number of optical amplifiers to boost optical signals. They include: preamplifiers, post-amplifiers, and inline amplifiers. Preamplifiers are placed at the front end of each node to receive and amplify WDM signals received from the preceding node. Post-amplifiers are placed at the output of each node to increase the power of processed WDM signals before they are transmitted to the next node. Inline amplifiers are intermediate boosters placed at one or more points on a repeater section between a sending node and a receiving node.
The input dynamic range of optical amplifiers designed for a WDM system is typically 7 to 12 dB. Large input signals above this range would worsen the noise factor (NF) or produce an increased gain tilt over multiple signal wavelengths. To avoid those problems, optical signals have to be adjusted to an appropriate power level to meet the dynamic range requirement of an amplifier before they are supplied thereto.
The fiber-optic transmission lines of a WDM network may be segmented into a plurality of sections separated by intermediate repeater devices. Each repeater section has a different amount of signal power loss, depending on the length and type of the fiber that is used. It is therefore important to set the input power level of preamplifiers and inline amplifiers, which receive and amplify optical signals to help them propagating over a transmission line. Such input level adjustment has conventionally been achieved by inserting an optical attenuator with a fixed attenuation ratio, or by manually tuning the attenuation ratio of a variable attenuator that is employed in each network node.
FIG. 20 shows signal power level adjustment in a conventional WDM system, focusing on its essential elements for explanatory purposes. The illustrated system includes a fiber-optic transmission line that connects two end nodes 110 and 120 via a repeater node 130 disposed between them. The nodes 110 and 120 are optical add/drop multiplexers (OADM), which extract optical signals with particular wavelengths out of the incoming WDM signals and insert new optical signals to outgoing WDM signals, which are referred as "drop" and "add" functions, respectively. Attached to the leftmost node 110 in FIG. 20 is a transponder 111, which converts wavelengths or interface of signals supplied from a tributary to add them into the outgoing WDM optical stream. The repeater node 130 contains an attenuator (ATT) 131 and an inline amplifier (ILA) 132. The receiving node 120 has an attenuator 121, a preamplifier 122, and a post-amplifier 123.
As part of a system setup process, optical attenuators have to be tuned to provide an appropriate level of signal reduction. The attenuator adjustment needs some amount of input light, and it is typical to use add-channel optical signals from a transponder for this purpose. In the example of FIG. 20, the transponder 111 serves as a light source for attenuator adjustment, delivering add-channel light through the node 110. To start up this conventional WDM system, a service engineer conducts a power level measurement at point p1 in the repeater node 130. This measurement yields the intensity of the add-channel optical signal received over the first repeater section A1. Based on the measurement result, he/she then adjusts the attenuator 131 so that the observed signal level at point p1 will match with a specified input level that the inline amplifier 132 requires.
In the case the attenuator 131 is a fixed attenuator, the service engineer has to remove it (and give a bypass to make optical signals go through) before conducting the above measurement at point p1. The measurement permits him/her to determine how much attenuation is required and thus to choose and insert an appropriate fixed attenuator that reduces the signal strength by the required amount.
The attenuator 131 will be allowed to sit there if it is a variable attenuator. In this case, the service engineer first sets up the attenuator 131 with a minimum attenuation (so that the signal can just go through it) before measuring the signal power level at point p1. He/she then adjusts the attenuator 131 manually to bring the signal to a desired power level.
The same adjustment procedure is applied to another point p2, at which an optical signal coming over the next repeater section A2 is observed. The service engineer measures the power level of this signal and configures the attenuator 121 in the receiving node 120, so that the observed signal level at point p2 will match with a required input level of the preamplifier 122.
With both attenuators 131 and 121 adjusted, the inline amplifier 132, preamplifier 122, and post-amplifier 123 are now receiving add-channel optical signals with intended amplitudes. The amplifiers are thus allowed to enter a specified control mode, which may be automatic level control (ALC) mode or automatic gain control (AGC) mode. ALC mode regulates the output power level of an optical amplifier, canceling the effect of input power fluctuations. In ALC mode, the power of each wavelength is maintained at a constant level, meaning that the target power level is a function of the number of wavelengths. AGC mode, on the other hand, tries to maintain the gain of an optical amplifier at a given value. Every optical attenuator in the system is adjusted in this way, and every optical amplifier is brought to a prescribed operational state, whereby the entire system can start to run.
A more specific example of a conventional technique is disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-174421, in which paragraphs [0020] to [0119] and FIG. 6 are particularly relevant. This literature proposes a technique to stabilize the optical amplifier output by adjusting an optical attenuator placed at the input end of the amplifier, such that the output power will be maintained at a particular level specified through a supervisory control signal.
One thing to consider about attenuator adjustment is that it is a series of manual tasks performed by service engineers. This fact means the following problems: First, such tasks are not error free. Second, they need knowledge and skills. Third, they are quite time-consuming since adjustment should take place at each individual node.
To address the problems enumerated above, some systems use remotely-controllable variable attenuators. Those attenuators can communicate with a remote site through the use of appropriate protocols, such as the Transaction Language 1 (TL1), a set of network management commands developed by Telcordia Technologies Inc (formerly Bellcore). This type of variable attenuators permit an engineer to monitor their input power levels and set attenuation depths by sending commands and receiving response messages.
Although the workload of attenuator adjustment can be reduced by the use of such remote control facilities, service engineers are still burdened with some amount of manual tasks that they have to perform through a terminal console. Also, the remote attenuator control requires the system to provide an additional interface environment for that purpose.
Another issue to consider here is how to supply optical power for attenuator adjustment. As mentioned earlier, one option for this is to use an add-channel signal from a transponder. In this case, however, an additional system has to be organized for startup processing using transponders as a light source. Since telecommunications carriers direct their efforts toward quick service provisioning at minimum cost, their recent approach is to install transponders on an "on-demand" basis. That is, they construct a new WDM system without transponders connected. When a specific service demand arises, they attach transponders to the existing multiplexer/demultiplexer equipment to provide service. This means that there are no transponders when we need them to use as an optical power source for attenuator adjustment.
Another difficulty lies in the fact that some systems have protection links to back up working links for enhanced availability and reliability. Protection links carry no optical signals in normal circumstances, as mentioned in paragraph [0102] of the Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-174421. This means that we have to prepare some other light source for adjustment of attenuators on a protection link.
For the above reasons, optical transmission systems need improved startup functions that do not require signal light from transponders. It is, however, costly and inefficient to employ a separate light source with a variable wavelength only for that purpose.

Optical transmission system with automatic signal level adjustment and startup functions


A vehicle has a reference receiver installed at an outer edge position of a desired detection area in a compartment to receive a signal transmitted from a transmitter in the compartment. The level of signal transmission output of the transmitter is adjusted based on the reception result of the reference receiver. It becomes possible to adjust the signal transmission output of the transmitter in the compartment so as to obtain a desired detection area at all times irrespective of change of the detection area reached by the request signal from the transmitter determined by the compartment or irrespective of variation in the electromagnetic wave environment in which the vehicle is placed.

As a system for remotely controlling vehicle-mounted equipment, an electronic key system is proposed. This system operates to change over the locked state and the unlocked state of vehicle doors based on the result of collating the ID codes accomplished by the bidirectional communication between a portable electronic key (portable device) carried by a vehicle user and a unit mounted on the vehicle. This system resets a steering lock and permits an engine to be started when the user holding the electronic key is inside the vehicle compartment.
The unit mounted in the vehicle of the electronic key system includes an exterior transmitter provided outside the vehicle compartment to transmits a request signal, an interior transmitter provided inside the vehicle compartment to transmit the request signal, a receiver that receives a response signal from the electronic key, and an ECU that controls vehicle-mounted equipment such as doors based on the results transmitted to, and received from, the electronic key. The exterior transmitter and the interior transmitter transmit the request signals maintaining a predetermined electric transmission output power. Therefore, an area for detecting the electronic key is established in a range reached by signals from the exterior transmitter and the interior transmitter. This makes it possible to monitor a user holding the electronic key who approaches the vehicle, who gets in the vehicle or who gets off the vehicle.
For example, if the user holding the electronic key who is going to get in the vehicle approaches the vehicle and enters into the detection area, the electronic key transmits a response signal including an ID code to the vehicle-mounted unit in response to the request signal. When it is determined that a predetermined relationship is satisfied, such as the ID code in the response signal from the electronic key is in agreement with the registered ID code, the vehicle-mounted unit transmits a control signal to a door lock control unit which is vehicle-mounted equipment to place the doors in an unlock standby state. When the user holding the electronic key touches the door handle in this state, the door lock control unit detects it through a touch sensor and unlocks the doors.
When the user holding the electronic key gets in the vehicle causing the electronic key detection area to be shifted into the interior of the compartment from the exterior of the compartment, the vehicle-mounted unit works to control the vehicle-mounted equipment, such as resetting the steering lock and permitting the engine to be started based on the collated result of ID codes.
When the user holding the electronic key gets off the vehicle after having stopped the engine of the vehicle, the electronic key detection area shifts to the exterior of the compartment from the interior of the compartment. In this case, when, for example, a door lock switch provided near the door handle is operated, the vehicle-mounted unit so instructs the door lock control unit as to lock the doors. However, when the electronic key detection area remains interior even if the door lock switch is operated, the vehicle-mounted unit inhibits the door lock control units from locking the doors to prevent the key from being locked interior.
In the above electronic key system, a variety of controls are executed depending upon whether the electronic key detection area is interior or exterior. Therefore, the detection areas of the exterior transmitter and of the interior transmitter must be properly set.
In particular, when the detection area inside the vehicle is narrow and does not cover the entire compartment, it may happen that the electronic key is not detected interior even if the electronic key, in practice, is interior. In this case, it may happen that the steering lock of the vehicle is not reset or the engine is not started. Conversely, when the detection area inside the vehicle is too broad covering even the exterior of the compartment, it may happen that the doors are not locked even if the user holding the electronic key who is off the vehicle to lock the doors.
Therefore an electric current flowing into the antenna of the transmitter may be adjusted by varying the resistance of a current-limiting resistor for each of the models of vehicles in the stage of developing the vehicle. The signal transmission output of the interior transmitter is thus adjusted to obtain a desirable detection area.
Even if the signal transmission output is adjusted for each of the models of vehicles, however, the detection area may often vary depending upon the individual vehicles. The conventional method is not capable of coping with the variation for each of the vehicles.
Further, the expansion of the detection area varies depending upon the electromagnetic wave environment in which the vehicle is placed. The conventional method is not capable of coping with the variation in the expansion of the detection area that is dependent upon the electromagnetic wave environment.

Remote control system and method for vehicle


An electronic device can be inserted into a pocket formed with a main cover through between a side cover and the main cover. A part of the electronic device where an operating stick is formed can be stored in a flap formed with the side cover. The upper end of the flap rim of the side cover is positioned further away from the center line C1 of the case than the lower end is. The pocket rim of the main cover gets closer to the center line C1 of the case as it goes from the upper end to the lower end. According to a case including the main cover and the side cover, insertion/removal work of the electronic device can be facilitated, undesired exposure of the electronic device can be prevented, and a load applied to the operating stick can be readily reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a case of a portable electronic device that is made of stretch material.
2. Description of the Related Art
Portable electronic devices having, on the front surface thereof, a display screen and an operating stick arranged on at least one of the right and left sides of the display screen have been used (see U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0202956 as an example). The operating stick projects from the front surface of the electronic device. Conventionally, special cases for the electronic device, which is made of stretch material, may be used to protect the electronic device.


A support for a baby is disclosed having a flap portion, a seat portion, and a handle portion. The flap portion has at least one pocket. A pair of cushion blocks is removably attached to the seat portion, one on each side of the baby. The seat portion has a central area between the cushion blocks, composed of a non-slip material. Straps are included for securing the baby in a shopping cart or other seat. A handle is preferably attached to the handle portion for carrying the support. The cushion blocks support a baby too young to sit up alone in a seated position. Since the cushion blocks are removably attached on two surfaces, the support can also be laid flat for use as a changing pad.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to changing pads, and to seats with strapping devices for infants.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many caregivers of infants find it convenient to carry very young infants in a semi-reclining position in a carry seat. Such a seat provides excellent support for an infant who cannot yet sit up alone. However, as the infant grows heavier, carrying the infant in this manner quickly becomes difficult and awkward. The seats for children provided in typical strollers, high chairs, shopping carts, and the like are designed for older babies and toddlers and do not provide sufficient support for an infant who cannot sit up alone.
The child seats of shopping carts have other problems. Babies often find them uncomfortable. Safety for the child is a well-known problem with shopping carts. While some stores provide safety belts to surround the child's waist, many others do not. Even if a waist belt is provided, a very small or active child may be able to slip through it, since the surface of a typical seat in a shopping cart has a slippery surface.
Strapping devices are known for securing babies in shopping carts; however, such devices are often bulky and take up space in a diaper bag. Further space in a diaper bag is taken up by the need for carrying a separate changing pad.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,489,194 to Hoover discloses a diaper changer bag. The bag has a rectangular cushioned pad with zippers on the sides and handles on the ends. Cushioning is provided by polyurethane foam, which can be removed for washing. Unfolded flat, the pad provides a diapering station. Folded, the pad forms a compact unit like a brief case. A separate inside pouch with compartments for bottles, soiled diapers, and other items fits inside the foldable pad.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,130 to Coates teaches a diapering station which can also be used as a carrying bag for infant accessories. The station has a middle section, two end sections which fold over the middle section, and a handle for carrying. A removable pouch stores dirty diapers and provides a waterproof changing surface. Diapers are used for cushioning. A pocket in one of the end sections stores clean diapers, bottles, and other infant accessories.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,862 to Mairs discloses a combination bassinet, baby carrier, and diaper bag which includes a shell, a resilient pad, and a padded liner. The shell is collapsible and can be used alone as a tote bag for carrying baby items, or with the pad and liner as a padded bassinet. The shell may have pockets for storage. The liner can be used alone as a front or back carrier for carrying a baby strapped to an adult's torso. Straps hold the baby in a vertical position when used as a carrier. The liner can also be used as a car seat cover.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,300 to Aranow teaches a convertible tote bag. Zipped open and unfolded flat, the bag can be used for diapering and includes an absorbent pad under the baby. The bag has a carrying handle at each end and exterior pockets. A flap with Velcro (trademark) fasteners holds the bag shut.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,150 to Fitzsimmons discloses a baby changing device and diaper bag. The device includes a rectangular panel with a central change area, bordered by a pair of end panels containing pockets. For carrying, the ends are folded over the change area to form a compact, purse-like article. Handles are provided at each end of the change area. A changing pad is attached to the change area with Velcro (trademark) strips.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,505 to Bullard et al. discloses a rectangular pad with an outer liquid-impervious layer and an inner cushioning layer of plastic foam. Unfolded, the pad serves for diaper changing. The pad can be folded to form a bag, or into a U-shaped configuration for use as a sun visor on a stroller or other carrier. Fastening strips allow the pad to be fastened to the carrier or secured closed. The pad includes a pocket for insect netting.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,508 to Koutsis, Jr. teaches a convertible sack which in various embodiments functions as a tote, blanket, diaper bag, changing pad, seat, tent, etc. The sack is converted from a flat surface to a sack by pulling a cord through access openings.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,829 to Celestina-Krevh discloses an adjustable and removable head support for an infant or toddler, for use in a car seat. The support has an upper body portion with two flanking pillow sections, a pair of harness belt apertures, a central portion, and a lower portion with a pair of flanking leg pillow sections. The upper pillow sections are attached by flexible securing straps so the lateral separation can be adjusted. A soft foam material serves as padding.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,835 to Rogers et al. teaches a convertible shopping cart seat liner and diaper bag. The seat liner has a flexible container with a bottom and front, rear, and side walls attached to the four edges of the bottom. The container is sized and shaped to flexibly position within a shopping cart seat. An attached handle allows for carrying. The seat liner may include pockets for child-related items. A detachable infant pad may be used to extend over the leg openings in the front wall when the liner is used as a diaper bag. The pad may also be used to line the bottom of the liner, allowing a very small infant to lie down, surrounded by the front, rear, and side walls. A securing strap may be included for securing the liner to a shopping cart, as well as a child restraining strap to secure the child. An auxiliary bag may be snapped to the liner for more storage space for diaper items, toys, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,412 to Smith et al. teaches a shopping cart seat cushion and diaper bag. The cushion has a rectangular seat panel and foldable front, back, and side panels attached to the seat panel. A top panel depends from the back panel and may fold over a shopping cart seat backrest. A separate diaper changing cushion may be removably attached to the upper surface of the seat panel to provide additional comfort for the child. The panels fold up into a rectangular diaper bag and are secured with Velcro (trademark) attachments. The side panels have storage pockets for diapers and the like. The top panel also has an accessory panel with storage compartments.
United Kingdom Patent Application No. 2 061 712 teaches a bag with a detachable absorbent sheet for changing an infant. The sheet may be attached with Velcro, and is secured in its store position with zips.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,336 to King discloses a tote bag having a central U-shaped compartment and two side storage panels; the bag converts to a seat cover for use on chairs and the like. British Patent No. 722,867 to Bornstein discloses a mattress which can be folded to convert it to a container. British Patent No. 943,965 to Askaroff discloses a resilient mat for changing a baby, having compartments for toilet requisites. British Patent No. 1,264,919 to Hudson teaches a cushion which can be folded to form a carrier bag. European Patent 0 233 097 to Achour shows a sack which can be zipped open to form a flat surface.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a support for a baby solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


A television receiver is shown and described for receiving and displaying to a viewer a program content rated television program transmission which includes a data signal. Within the receiver the program content rating, which preferably conforms to the U.S. standard age-based rating and content categories, is derived from the data signal. A viewing control circuit, in response to user inputs, stores one or more program rating viewing authorizations. The derived program rating is compared with the stored viewing authorization for the viewer to develop a blanking control signal. A signal integrity monitoring circuit monitors the signal to provide a rating default control signal in the absence of a reliable program rating signal after a predetermined delay. A blanking circuit, responsive to the blanking control signal and the rating default signal, blanks the program video and mutes the program audio in the event the program level is not authorized to the viewer or the program content rating is not reliable. The rating default control signal may, in one operating mode of the receiver, be applied directly to the blanking circuit to blank the program, or, in another operating mode of the receiver, may, depending on the stored viewing authorization, inhibit the blanking of the program by the first control signal and the rating default signal to allow viewing of the program. In a preferred embodiment, the monitoring circuit monitors the parity error rate in the digital data signal component and provides the control signal when the parity error rate exceeds a predetermined threshold level.

The present invention relates generally to television broadcast systems, and more particularly to analog or digital television broadcast receivers and methods wherein program content rating data transmitted concurrently with a television program signal is utilized to provide parental control over the viewing by children of television programs broadcast over the system.
Various systems and receivers have been proposed for conveying program rating data along with a conventional NTSC television transmission. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,584 to Carl Elam et al. describes a system wherein program content rating data is transmitted as digital codes along with conventional closed captioning data as part of a data component on line 21 in the vertical blanking interval. A receiver is described wherein this information is compared with stored user-selected program limits or viewing authorizations and the program is selectively blanked if it is not authorized by the stored selection criteria.
One problem which may arise in the implementation of the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,584 is that in certain cases the received television program signal may be so weak or degraded by interference as to prevent the decoding of reliable closed captioning data or program content rating data. Under the latter circumstance, the receiver may ultimately provide access to an unauthorized program, or deny access to an authorized program. Moreover, the parental control afforded by the receiver of the Elam et al. patent could potentially be defeated by a viewer weakening the television program signal sufficiently, as by disconnecting a portion of the antenna, so that reliable program content rating characters in a received, unauthorized program are not derived by the receiver for comparison with the stored viewing authorizations and the receiver defaults to a viewing enabled state.
The present invention is directed to an improvement in the system proposed by Elam et al. wherein in an analog or digital television receiver the integrity of a data signal transmitted with the television program transmission is monitored to determine whether the data signal is being reliably received, and hence whether reliable rating characters are being received. In the event the integrity of the data signal falls below an acceptable threshold level, the program is either blanked, or, depending on the operating mode of the receiver, a determination is made whether to blank depending on either 1) the viewing authorization then in effect for the viewer, or 2) whether a default to view or default to blank authorization has been stored for the viewer.
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a television receiver which provides conditional access to received television programs.
It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide an analog or digital television receiver which provides conditional access to received television programs depending on the presence of reliable rating data in the received program signal.
It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide an analog or digital television receiver which provides conditional access to received television programs depending on the presence of reliable rating data in the received program signal and on the applicable viewer authorization then in effect.
It is a still more specific object of the present invention to provide an analog or digital television receiver wherein the presence of reliable program rating data is confirmed by monitoring parity error rate in a digital data signal component of the received television broadcast signal.

Receiver apparatus and method for providing conditional access to received televison programs


In a described example, an integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed that includes a transistor. The transistor includes a substrate, and a buffer structure overlying the substrate. The buffer structure has a first buffer layer, a second buffer layer overlying the first buffer layer, and a third buffer layer overlying the second buffer layer. The first buffer layer has a first carbon concentration, the second buffer layer has a second carbon concentration lower than the first carbon concentration, and the third buffer layer has a third carbon concentration higher than the second carbon concentration. An active structure overlies the buffer structure.

Gallium-nitride (GaN) is a commonly used Group IIIA-N material for electronic devices, where Group IIIA elements such as Ga (as well as boron, aluminum, indium, and thallium) are also sometimes referred to as Group 13 elements. GaN is a binary Group IIIA/V direct band gap semiconductor that has a Wurtzite crystal structure. Its relatively wide band gap of 3.4 eV at room temperature (vs. 1.1 eV for silicon at room temperature) affords it special properties for a wide variety of applications in optoelectronics, as well as high-power and high-frequency electronic devices.
GaN-based high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) are known which feature a junction between two materials with different band gaps to form a heterojunction (or 'heterostructure'). The high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) structure is based on a very high electron mobility, described as a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) which forms just below a heterostructure interface between a barrier layer (that typically comprises AlGaN) on a generally intrinsic active layer (that typically comprises GaN) due to the piezoelectric effect and a natural polarization effect. As with any power field effect transistor (FET) device, there is a gate, source electrode, and drain electrode, where the source electrode and the drain electrode each include contacts that generally extend through a portion of the barrier layer to form a low resistance ohmic contact with the underlying 2DEG in the surface of the active layer.

Transistor with buffer structure having carbon doped profile


A PAP system for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a flow generator to generate a supply of breathable gas to be delivered to the patient; a humidifier including a heating plate to vaporize water and deliver water vapor to humidify the supply of breathable gas; a heated tube configured to heat and deliver the humidified supply of breathable gas to the patient; a power supply configured to supply power to the heating plate and the heated tube; and a controller configured to control the power supply to prevent overheating of the heating plate and the heated tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The present technology relates to humidification and heater arrangements used to control the humidity of breathable gases used in all forms of respiratory apparatus ventilation systems including invasive and non-invasive ventilation, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), Bi-Level therapy and treatment for sleep disordered breathing (SDB) conditions such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), and for various other respiratory disorders and diseases.
2. Description of Related Art
Respiratory apparatus commonly have the ability to alter the humidity of the breathable gas in order to reduce drying of the patient's airway and consequent patient discomfort and associated complications. The use of a humidifier placed between the flow generator and the patient mask, produces humidified gas that minimizes drying of the nasal mucosa and increases patient airway comfort. In addition in cooler climates, warm air applied generally to the face area in and about the mask, as may occur inadvertently by a leak, is more comfortable than cold air.
Many humidifier types are available, although the most convenient form is one that is either integrated with or configured to be coupled to the relevant respiratory apparatus. While passive humidifiers can provide some relief, generally a heated humidifier is required to provide sufficient humidity and temperature to the air so that patient will be comfortable. Humidifiers typically comprise a water tub having a capacity of several hundred milliliters, a heating element for heating the water in the tub, a control to enable the level of humidification to be varied, a gas inlet to receive gas from the flow generator, and a gas outlet adapted to be connected to a tube that delivers the humidified pressurized gas to the patient's mask.
Typically, the heating element is incorporated in a heater plate which sits under, and is in thermal contact with, the water tub.
The humidified air may cool on its path along the conduit from the humidifier to the patient, leading to the phenomenon of "rain-out", or condensation, forming on the inside of the conduit. To counter this, it is known to additionally heat the gas being supplied to the patient by means of a heated wire circuit inserted into the tube that supplies the humidified gas from the humidifier to the patient's mask. Such a system is illustrated in Mosby's Respiratory Care Equipment (7th edition) at page 97.
Alternatively the heating wire circuit may be located in the wall of the wire heated tube. Such a system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,918,389 which describes a number of humidifier arrangements for supplying low relative humidity, high temperature humidified gas to the patient. Some of these arrangements include pre- or post-heating of the gas to reduce the relative humidity.
None of these prior art devices provides an entirely satisfactory solution to the provision of comfortable humidified breathable gas to the patient, nor the ease of construction and hygiene requirements and the energy and patient comfort requirements at startup.

Wire heated tube with temperature control system, tube type detection, and active over temperature protection for humidifier for respiratory apparatus


An antisurge controller for a turbocompressor system stores multiple control algorithms in a memory for the antisurge controller. The antisurge controller identifies capabilities of field devices in the turbocompressor system. The field devices include an antisurge valve and multiple sensors. The antisurge controller selects one of the multiple control algorithms based on the identified capabilities and applies the selected control algorithm to the turbocompressor system. The selected control algorithm provides the smallest surge control margin, of the surge control margins in the multiple control algorithms, that are supported by the identified capabilities.

Compressor surge of axial and centrifugal turbocompressors can lead to compressor damage. Surge may be considered an event where the compressor can no longer maintain an adequate pressure difference to continue forward flow and a bulk flow reversal occurs.
Flow reversal of surge can result in an increase in temperature within the compressor. At the same time, the reversed flow and pressure variations between the intake and discharge ends of the compressor cause rapid changes in axial thrust, thereby risking damage to the thrust bearing and causing blades or vanes to rub on the compressor housing. Furthermore, abrupt speed changes may occur, possibly resulting in overspeed or underspeed of the compressor rotor.
An antisurge controller is used to protect a compressor from surge by continuously monitoring the difference between the compressor's operating point and its surge limit line. Generally, the antisurge controller modulates a recycle or blow-off valve to prevent the compressor's operating point from reaching the surge limit while maintaining other process variables within safe or acceptable limits.
Compressor performance is a function of antisurge performance and other elements, such as speed, process capacity, and interactions between other turbomachines and drivers. Many of these elements are managed with a controller connected to a control valve and actuator.

Systems and methods for adapting compressor controller based on field conditions


The invention provides a cab roof of a vehicle with a movable panel. The cab is provided with a front windscreen, a rear deck or rear walls, and door frames at both sides. The door frames are connected with the front windscreen at the front side, with the rear decks or rear walls at the rear side, forming the enclosing sidewalls of the cab. The connecting cover is hinged with the enclosing sidewalls at the front end, and is provided with rear windscreen at the rear end. The entire cab roof is consisted of the connecting cover and the rear windscreen. A telescopic bellow is at the bottom of the cab roof, which connects the enclosing sidewalls at the lower portion. A raising and lowering device is at the bottom of the rear side of the cab roof. The vehicle can be used as a car where passengers can be seated in the rear seats, and as well as a sports car where the cab roof drops on the enclosing sidewalls by pressing the telescopic bellow. The vehicle, which can play the two roles, is applied to various kinds of cars and sports cars.

As we all know, in a full-size passenger car and a sport car, a front windshield and a rear structure are provided at the front side and the rear side of a cabin respectively. The rear structure, such as a separator wall or plate, separates the cabin from the trunk of the car. A rear windshield is provided above the rear side of the rear structure. Door frames are provided at both sides of the cabin. A surrounding border of the cabin is formed by connecting the car door frames with the front windshield at the front side and connecting the car door frames with the rear structure and the rear windshield at the rear side. A fixed cabin roof cover plate is provided above the front windshield, the door frames and the rear windshield. In a compact car, a front windshield and a rear surrounding border are provided at the front side and the rear side of a cabin respectively. The door frames are provided at both sides of the cabin. A surrounding border of the cabin is formed by connecting the car door frames with the front windshield at the front side and connecting the car door frames with the rear surrounding border at the rear side. A fixed cabin roof cover plate is provided above the front windshield, the door frames and the rear surrounding border. The front and rear parts of the roof cover plate of the car cabin have substantially the same height. In comparison with a sport car, the car with a fixed cabin roof cover plate, which has substantially the same height in the front and rear, provides lower traveling speed, poor stability and high fuel consumption. To reduce the resistance and the fuel consumption, and to increase the traveling speed and improve stability, the backward slope of the cabin roof plate of a sport car is large, the rear part of the cabin roof plate is much lower than the part. The sport car with a fixed cabin roof plate, which has large backward slope and has a much lower height in the rear side than in the front side, can not provide enough space in the back seat for adult people, and only children and pets can be fitted into the back seat.


A system for monitoring a patient by using a local area network (LAN) to connect a central monitor, located at a nurse's station, to one or more bedside monitors, wherein the bedside monitor measures the patient's condition, for instance an electrocardiogram (ECG). The LAN provides data from the bedside monitor to the central monitor at a rate sufficient for the central monitor to disply all information contained within the bedside monitor in substantially real time. The LAN also allows a user at the central station or at another bedside monitor to remotely read or adjust the bedside monitor settings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for monitoring a patient by using a LAN. More particularly, it relates to a system for monitoring a patient by using a LAN, in which an apparatus having no data, such as a central monitor, and an apparatus having data, such as a bedside monitor, are connected by the LAN.
2. Description the Related Art
Generally, an apparatus for monitoring, that is to say, a monitor has been originally used in order to continually monitor the electrocardiogram etc. of a patient with an advanced disease accommodated in ICU, CCU etc.
However, the range of the use of the monitor has been recently increasing and, for example, the monitor is also used for patients housed in the general ward.
Accordingly, the monitor has become an apparatus necessary to clinical medicine.
The monitor is divided into a monitor for monitoring a single patient, that is to say, a bedside monitor, and a monitor for monitoring a great many patients from a nurse's station, that is to say, a central monitor.
The bedside monitor receives data from an electrocardiogram or similar device connected to a patient.
However, the central monitor has no data, because the central monitor is located in the nurse's station away from a patient, and the electrocardiogram is not directly connected thereto.
In the conventional system for monitoring a patient, the central monitor having no data and the beside monitor having data are connected by cable.
In this conventional system, the wave form of the living body signal is transmitted in analog, and the other controls or numerical signals are transmitted in digital.
As aforementioned, the central monitor and the bedside monitor are connected by cable.
However, the cable has a very low transmission rate, since the cable transmits both analog and digital signals. Therefore, the overall system processes data late (i.e. there is a delay between the ECG registering a patient and the central monitor displaying the ECG measurement). In addition the system only processes data in one direction.
Hence, in the prior art, all the contents of the bedside monitor cannot be observed at the central monitor and all the setting operations of the bedside monitor cannot be performed at the central monitor.
That is, the prior art system has the defect that the control of observing all the contents and of doing all the setting operations, of the bedside monitor, cannot be respectively carried out by the central monitor.

System for monitoring patient by using LAN


Provided is an imaging device having an information protection function, comprising an imaging control unit, an interface control unit, and at least two interfaces, and further comprising a changeover switch unit provided between the interfaces and the interface control unit, configured to change over the physical communication or physical isolation between the interfaces and the interface control unit. The imaging device provided in the solution maintains the physical communication or physical isolation between the interfaces and the interface control unit via the changeover switch unit, reduces the possibility of communicating between the interfaces via the interface control unit, thus avoiding the leakage of user data via the communicated interfaces, and reducing potential network security risk.

As one of the most important equipments in current working environment, imaging device has become an essential equipment for offices or homes. Generally, a plurality of computers share one imaging device such as a printer, a scanner and the like, for resource conservation.
Taking the printer for example, a plurality of computers can use one common printer for imaging usually by means of sharing, that is, a first computer which is connected with the printer provides the printer with property of sharing by setting the device attributes, and based on the sharing mode, a second computer controls the printer via the first computer, thereby to implement printing tasks. However, this operation mode is under the condition that the first computer has to be in a working state, obviously, keeping the first computer in working state just for enabling the second computer to print will lead to energy waste.
To solve the problem above, printer manufacturers have introduced printers with multiple universal serial buses (Universal Serial Bus, USB), which can simultaneously connect to a plurality of computers, of which the specific structure is as illustrated in FIG. 1. In addition to a conventional imaging control unit 10, the imaging device also includes one USB control unit 20 and n USB interfaces 30, where the USB control unit 20 controls the data transmission of each USB interface 30, specifically the USB control unit 20 performs the changeover to control which USB interface 30 transmits data with the imaging control unit 10. N computers (PC) 40 utilizes n USB buses to connect to n USB interfaces 30 of the imaging device respectively, thereby realizing the communication with the imaging control unit 10.
In the foresaid mode, due to the existence of the situation that a plurality of PCs are simultaneously connected to the USB control unit for communication, it is possible to realize communication among multiple PCs via the USB control unit, however the security of user data in the PCs is threatened. Especially when the plurality of PCs belong to different networks, for example, when some PCs belong to a local area network (with requirement of encryption protection) and some belong to a public network, the local area network will be threatened by security risks in the public network, such as hackers filching data, computer virus attacking and destroying data, which will result in data lost, network breakdown, etc. in serious cases.

Imaging device having information protection function


An apparatus for securing air hose couplings together, and for protecting such air hose couplings. A method of securing air hose couplings together.

Air hoses are used in various industries for various purposes. The term "air" is broadly defined herein to include air or other gases or gas mixtures and any solids or liquids entrained therein. Air hoses are often joined together using air hose couplings, often with one male coupling and one female coupling. Examples of such couplings include couplings available from Dixon Quick Coupling based in Dallas, N.C.
Air hose couplings can be both dangerous and expensive. Some dangers include inadvertent disconnection of air hose couplings while air is being sent through a hose associated with the couplings. The hoses and couplings can flail violently and cause injury to persons in proximity to the hoses and couplings. Although some air hose couplings have features that help to better secure a connection between air hose couplings, connections between air hose couplings can still easily become loose or become disengaged altogether. The relative ease at which such couplings can be disconnected also makes them susceptible to theft.
What is needed, therefore, is a device and method to overcome the issues mentioned above related to air hose couplings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Air hose coupling securing apparatus for securing air hoses and associated couplings together


An active material for a rechargeable lithium battery and a rechargeable battery, the active material including an active material core; and a thin film graphite layer on the core.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to an active material for a rechargeable lithium battery and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lithium rechargeable batteries have recently drawn attention as a power source for small portable electronic devices. Lithium rechargeable batteries may use an organic electrolyte solution. Thus, they may have twice the discharge voltage of conventional batteries using an alkali aqueous solution, and, accordingly may have high energy density.
Positive active materials for a rechargeable lithium battery may include lithium-transition element composite oxides capable of intercalating lithium, e.g., LiCoO2, LiMn2O4, LiNi1-xCoxO2 (0<x<1), and so on.
Negative active materials may include diverse carbon-based materials capable of intercalating/deintercalating lithium, e.g., artificial graphite, natural graphite, and hard carbon, or lithium composite compounds, e.g., a metal-based material including Si or a lithium vanadium oxide.

Active material including a thin film graphite layer and rechargeable lithium battery


A surface liner member includes an external wall which is provided with multiple holes, a spacer structure, and tubes which are respectively associated with the holes in the external wall. The surface liner member is intended to be applied to a base surface in order to reduce, by acoustic absorption, an acoustic wave reflected on this base surface. The acoustic absorption efficiency is improved, particularly for frequencies below 500 Hz, by varying the shape of the holes in the external wall such that the ratio of the hole perimeter to the hole area varies. Such a surface liner member may be adapted to form a surface portion of an aircraft engine nacelle, or of a leading edge of an aircraft wing.

It is known to apply a liner to a base surface in order to reduce, by acoustic absorption, an acoustic wave reflected on the base surface through the liner. The liner has an external wall which is held at a distance in front of the base surface by a rigid spacer, for example by a honeycomb structure. The acoustic absorption is essentially produced by the external wall, which has holes to allow the acoustic waves to pass through this external wall, between the outside of the liner and the intermediate space between the external wall and the base surface. Such liners are used in particular to form a surface portion of an aircraft engine nacelle, or a portion of a leading edge of an aircraft wing. Typically, the gap between the external wall and the base surface is about a quarter of the acoustic wavelength which corresponds to the maximum absorption efficiency, in order to produce a resonance effect that exacerbates acoustic absorption. However, such liners are not very effective for acoustic frequencies below 500 Hz (hertz).
However, UHBR ("ultra high bypass ratio") type aircraft engines have nacelles that are shorter and thinner, and therefore require liners having an improved acoustic absorption efficiency below 500 Hz.
In another field of application, document CN2527764 proposes increasing the acoustic absorption of a duct wall inside an air blowing apparatus, by providing this wall with holes similarly to the external wall of a liner as described above, and additionally providing a tube from each hole opposite the passage of the blown air. The tubes fill the intermediate space between the wall of the duct for blown air and an external casing of the apparatus. The acoustic absorption is increased due to the length of the acoustic wave propagation path in each tube. However, the resonance effect obtained by a cavity having a depth of about a quarter of the wavelength of the acoustic wave to be absorbed is not implemented.
Lastly, it has also been proposed to combine the resonant cavity effect and the absorption effect which is increased by conduction of acoustic waves inside tubes, in particular in the article by F. Simon entitled "Low frequency sound absorption of resonators with flexible tubes", Proceedings of ICA2013, June 2013, and during the presentation entitled "'Low Frequency' Acoustic Resonators for Aircraft Engine Nacelle Application", CFA 2016, Le Mans. In particular, it has been suggested that the tubes have individual lengths that are smaller than the depth of the resonant cavity. Such a surface liner member comprises:                the external wall which is provided with multiple holes, each hole individually forming an open passage through this external wall;        a spacer structure, which is connected to an inner face of the external wall and which is adapted to establish a gap between the latter and a base surface on which the liner is applied, so as to form at least one acoustic cavity between the inner face of the external wall and this base surface; and        tubes, which are connected to the external wall and which extend into the acoustic cavity from the inner face of the external wall, in the direction of the base surface, each tube being open at two opposite ends of this tube and being dedicated to one of the holes in the external wall with a hole section that is contained in an inner section of the tube at the external wall.
In addition, the length of each tube, measured in a direction perpendicular to the inner face of the external wall, is less than the gap between the external wall and the base surface, such that at least 10% of this gap is devoid of tubes, against the base surface.

OFFICE NATIONAL D'ETUDES ET DE RECHERCHES AEROSPATIALES


A superconducting current limiting apparatus includes a first container, a superconducting current limiting element accommodated in the first container, a refrigerant filling the first container for cooling the superconducting current limiting element accommodated in the first container, a second container for accommodating the first container in such a manner that the first container is heat insulated, and a conductor for connecting the superconducting current limiting element to an external power supply system. Such a superconducting current limiting apparatus can be used to limit a short-circuit current. It can be incorporated in a short circuit controlling superconducting system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a superconducting current limiting apparatus which employs a superconductor, and, more particularly, to a superconducting current limiting apparatus which is capable of limiting the flow of short circuit current which an electric power system delivers when a short circuit is established so as to lower the level at which the components of the power system are required to withstand short-circuit currents. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a superconducting current limiting apparatus which employs as a current limiting element a superconductor which exhibits superconductivity at a temperature above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the steady increase in the demand for electric power which we have seen in recent years, the level of short-circuit current which a power transmission or transformation system delivers when a short circuit is established in it is gradually rising. This rise in the voltage of short-circuit current represents a threat to the components of the electric power system, as well as to circuit breakers adapted to interrupt the flow of this short-circuit current, and, hence, there has been a demand for the development of a current limiting apparatus which is capable of limiting the flow of short-circuit current. This is in line with the demand for a current limiting apparatus which is capable of limiting current flow immediately so that currently used components of a power supply or transmission lines can continue to be used without replacement and also so that manufactured components or transmission lines can be designed to have a low short-circuit current capacity.
Further, the level of short-circuit current which flows in household distribution systems is also rising, and a demand has arisen for a high quality power supply which does not suffer from instantaneous power failures, just like the one supplied to electronic calculators that have grown in popularity. In household distribution systems, a protective device for limiting the current such as a fuse may be used in a case wherein there is no need for specifying any abnormally connected points in a circuit and providing for selective breaking of the circuit. However, such a fuse must be replaced to restore power each time a short-circuit occurs, even when instantaneous short-circuiting caused by such events as lightning is the cause. This means that the power supply is frequently interrupted for a long period of time, and is therefore undesirable from the viewpoint of ensuring a stable power supply. Such a prolonged interruption of service is not permissible in a power supply system. No currently available current limiting apparatus is capable of limiting current flow and of speedily restoring power to normal when the detrimental excess current has been eliminated, and hence, current limiting apparatuses have not been used in power supply systems.
Research has been conducted on current limiting apparatuses in the United States of America for many years, and various reports have been issued so far. Among them is the EL-276-SR Special Report for the Electric Research Institute (EPRI): Symposium Proceedings, "New Concepts in Fault Current limiters and Power Circuit Breakers". The basic requirements of a current limiting apparatus are to increase impedance at the time of an abnormal connection between two points of a circuit and to limit the flow of a short-circuit current. Various current limiting apparatuses which fulfill this function have been proposed. However, only current limiting apparatuses with a fuse are practical from the viewpoint of stabililty of operation and the ability to restore power supply. This type of current limiting apparatus is disclosed, for example, in the specifications of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 56-57236 and 47-40146. These current limiting apparatuses with a fuse utilize changes in the state of metal of alkali type. However, this type of current limiting apparatus has the disadvantage that it is difficult to develop a large voltage drop, and use thereof is therefore limited to limitation of low voltages of up to several thousands volts.
Research on current limiting apparatuses which utilize superconductors have also been conducted. However, a conventional current limiting apparatus employing liquid helium involves the problem that it is difficult to radiate the heat generated in a normal conducting state, and these have not yet been put into practical use.
Recently, high-temperature superconducting materials have been developed rapidly, and materials which exhibit superconductivity at a temperature beyond the liquid nitrogen boiling point of 77 K have been developed. Such superconductive materials include a ceramic formed of Y-Ba-Cu-O compounds.
Superconducting current limiting apparatuses limit the flow of a short-circuit current utilizing an increase in an electrical resistance which occurs after the superconducting material has been rendered to a normal conducting state (after it has quenched). In order to suppress the rise in a temperature which occurs when the material quenches, superconducting materials which are employed in the current limiting apparstus must have a relatively low current density and a large cross-sectional area. Further, it must be elongated in order to obtain a large resistance. Use of such a superconducting material may allow a resultant current limiting apparatus to be used even when it generates a large amount of heat after the current density of the material has exceeded a critical current density Jc and the superconducting material has been rendered to a normal conducting state. This is because, when compared with a conventional current limiting apparatus employing a superconducting material which exhibits a superconductivity at a temperature of the boiling point of liquid helium, a current limiting apparatus employing the above-described superconducting material can be used at a higher temperature and therefore has a higher specific heat and because it has a critical temperature higher than the boiling point of liquid nitrogen, and therefore has a larger heat capacity.
Current limiting apparatuses which employ a superconducting wire so as to limit the flow of a short-circuit current utilizing a rise in the electrical resistance which occurs when the superconducting wire quenches have been proposed.
In such an apparatus, the superconducting wire produces Joule heat once it has been rendered to a normal state, and the heated superconducting wire must be therefore cooled by a refrigerant to restore a superconducting state and the refrigerant must be poured to a predetermined level. These operations normally take a time ranging between several tens minutes to a few hours, and the line cannot be used during that time. Normally, in a power supply system, power must be restored 0.3 to 0.5 seconds after the current flow has been interrupted so as to avoid occurrence of a power failure. In the case wherein a relay system for specifying abnormally connected points and for interrupting the flow of a current in the required portion of a circuit is used, since it takes about 2 seconds for the relay system to start operation, the short-circuit current is made to flow during that time (short-time duty). Thereafter, the superconducting wire must be returned to a superconducting state from a normal state in 0.2 seconds since the power must be restored (speedy closing of a circuit) 0.2 seconds after the flow of the short-circuit current has been interrupted. In other words, the superconducting wire which has been heated by Joule heat as a resistor for 2 seconds must be cooled to a superconducting transition temperature (a critical temperature) 0.2 seconds after the flow of the current has been interrupted.
Thus, in order to maintain a superconducting current limiting element to a superconducting state, provision of an effective cooling means for maintaining the temperature of the element below a superconducting transition temperature is essential.


A forming apparatus for shaping a long plate member (31), converts on initial cross-section into a final sectional configuration, e.g., into a U-shaped final sectional configuraiton. The forming apparatus has an upper die (32) and a lower die (33) defining a forming part with pressing surfaces which are movable toward each other for a pressing operation. The long plate member is appropriately fed into the forming part. A drive mechanism reciprocates the upper die (32). The forming part defined by the upper die (32) and by the lower die (33) includes an initial forming region which is located on an inlet for the long plate member. The initial forming region has a forming configuration corresponding to a flat sectional configuration. A final forming region located at an outlet for the long plate member has a forming configuration corresponding to a U-shaped sectional configuration. Intermediate forming regions located between the inlet and the outlet have regions, of sectional configurations that change continuously along a feed advance direction so that the forming configuration of the initial forming region approaches or merges into the forming configuration of the final forming region.

A roll forming apparatus is known as an apparatus for manufacturing a sectionally L-shaped long plate member as shown in FIG. 8 or a sectionally U-shaped long plate member as shown in FIG. 9. FIGS. 13A to 13E schematically illustrate such a roll forming apparatus, which is adapted to form a sectionally U-shaped long plate member. FIG. 12 is a side elevational view showing this apparatus, and FIGS. 13A to 13E are illustrative front sectional views taken along the lines A--A, B--B, C--C, D--D and E--E in FIG. 12 respectively.
The roll forming apparatus comprises a first forming part 4, a second forming part 5, a third forming part 6, a fourth forming part 7, and a fifth forming part 8. A flat plate member 3 is continuously fed into the apparatus along an arrow X shown in FIG. 12.
Referring to FIG. 13A, the first forming part 4 has a support roller 9 for supporting the lower portion of the plate member 3, and a presser roller 10 for pressing the plate member 3 from above. The plate member 3 passes through the first forming part 4 while maintaining a flat configuration.
Referring to FIG. 13B, the second forming part 5 has a support roller 11 for supporting the lower central portion of the plate member 3, a presser roll 12 for pressing the plate member 3 from above, and inclined rollers 13a and 13b for supporting lower side portions of the plate member 3. As shown in FIG. 13B, the inclined rollers 13a and 13b are located at angles slightly inclined with respect to the support roll 11. When the plate member 3 passes through the second forming part 5, both side portions of the plate member are slightly bent upwardly by the inclined rolls 13a and 13b.
Referring to FIG. 13C, the third forming part 6 comprises a support roller 14, a presser roller 15 and inclined rollers 16a and 16b. The inclined rollers 16a and 16b are larger in inclination than the inclined rollers 13a and 13b shown in FIG. 13B. Therefore, the side portions of the plate member 3 are further bent at larger angles when the same passes through the third forming part 6.
Referring to FIG. 13D, the fourth forming part 7 comprises a support roller 17, a presser roller 18 and inclined rollers 19a and 19b. The inclined rollers 19a and 19b have a larger inclination than the inclined rollers 16a and 16b shown in FIG. 13C. Therefore, the side portions of the plate 3 are further bent at larger angles when the same passes through the fourth forming part 7.
Referring to FIG. 13E, the fifth forming part 8 comprises a support roller 20, a presser roller 21, and inclined rollers 22a and 22b. The inclined rollers 22a and 22b are positioned substantially orthogonally to the support roller 20. When the plate member 3 passes through the fifth forming part 8, therefore, the side portions thereof are bent substantially at right angles to the central portion. Thus, the plate member 3 is shaped into a sectionally U-shaped long plate member along a desired configuration.
In the aforementioned forming roller apparatus, the forming parts must be spaced apart with at least constant distances, due to a restriction imposed by mechanical characteristics of the apparatus itself and due to a limitation in the strength of the object to be formed. Thus, the overall length of the apparatus is considerably increased.
Further, when the forming roller apparatus is applied to forming a sectionally U-shaped long plate member 23b shown in FIG. 11 from a flat plate member 23a, which is provided with slits 24 as shown in FIG. 10, it is impossible to smoothly bend portions located at the back of the slits 24 as viewed in the direction for feeding the plate member 23a.


A photovoltaic system having a photovoltaic generator, whose strings with series-connected photovoltaic modules have a positive pole and a negative pole, and with an inverter whose DC input is connected to the two poles. The voltage of the positive pole and/or of the negative pole is measured with respect to ground, and a first switching element located between the positive pole and the DC input of the inverter and/or a second switching element located between the negative pole and the DC input of the inverter is opened, while a third switching element located between the positive pole and the negative pole is closed, when the voltage of the positive pole or of the negative pole exceeds a predefined first or second limit value.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a photovoltaic system with a photovoltaic generator, which comprises multiple parallel strings of series-connected photovoltaic modules, wherein the strings have a positive pole and a negative pole, between which is present a predetermined string voltage over the number of series-connected photovoltaic modules, and with an inverter whose DC input is connected to the two poles and whose AC output can be connected to a supply grid. The invention also relates to a method for operating such a photovoltaic system.
2. Description of the Background Art
A photovoltaic system is known from EP 2 086 020 A2, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 8,138,411, and which is incorporated herein by reference.
When designing a photovoltaic system, care must be taken to ensure that the maximum permissible voltage (Uz) between the positive pole and the negative pole on the DC side of the inverter is not exceeded. The reason for this is that an exceedance results in destruction of the inverter and the part of the photovoltaic modules at which a voltage above a permissible voltage is present.
For this reason, the photovoltaic system customarily is designed such that even in the most unfavorable case of a no-load condition, the string voltage, which is then referred to as the no-load voltage or open-circuit voltage (UL), remains below the maximum permissible string voltage (Uz). In a design with a plurality of parallel-connected strings, the maximum number of strings is determined by the output of the inverter to which the strings are connected. In this context, the inverter can be designed for a DC input voltage of approximately 900V to 1000V.
In an implementation of the photovoltaic system (PV system) with 11 photovoltaic modules (PV modules) in each string, each of which has 120 photovoltaic cells (PV cells), a total of 1320 cells are thus connected in series with one another. A voltage of 0.75V is present at each cell in the no-load condition, resulting in a string voltage of 990V. This value is below the maximum voltage of 1000V specified by the manufacturers of the PV modules.
During operation of the PV system, the open-circuit voltage of the PV cells drops to an operating voltage of approximately 0.5V so that a voltage of 660V is present between the ends of the conventional strings. If the PV system should be taken off the grid unexpectedly, for example due to a short circuit in the supply cable, then the voltage abruptly jumps to the said 990V, which is not critical for the PV modules and the PV system. However, if a higher voltage is present, this can lead to destruction of at least some PV modules and of the inverter as well as the entire PV system.
Now, on the one hand it is desirable, especially with regard to new types of PV modules with relatively high rated voltages and open-circuit voltages, to operate the PV modules and also the inverters at a higher voltage than 660V in normal operation, ideally at the maximum permissible voltage of 1000V. For better utilization of the dielectric strength of the cabling, generally 1000V, it is additionally desirable to increase the number of PV modules per string in order to utilize the 1000V voltage during operation of the PV system. This is not readily possible, however, since a voltage of approximately 1500V in the no-load condition would then lead to the destruction of the PV modules and the inverter as well as the system.
To avoid these impermissibly high voltages, it is known from EP 2 101 391 A2 to arrange a short-circuit switch between the positive pole and the negative pole that short circuits the poles in the event of an impermissibly high voltage between them. In addition, it is known from EP 2 086 020 A2, mentioned earlier, and from DE 20 2006 008 936 U1 to fix the positive pole or the negative pole at a fixed, permissible voltage of, for example, the said 1000V and to allow the PV system to float up or down from this voltage in operation, which is referred to as floating.
This measure is not possible for PV systems with a free floating voltage. In PV systems with a free floating voltage of the positive pole and of the negative pole, voltages of, e.g., plus (+) 600V to minus (−) 600 volts occur with respect to a virtual ground. Virtual ground here means that the strings are not connected to ground at any point. However, if the center of the string is placed at ground, then corresponding voltages of (+) 600V and (−) 600V with respect to the grounded center of the string would be present at the positive and negative poles, respectively.
For such PV systems, it is possible to provide a switch between the center of the string and ground that is closed in the event of a ground fault and actually grounds the center of the string. As a result, then, only voltages of up to 600V occur at the PV modules. However, this measure entails substantial cabling effort, since the center of every single string must be reachable through the switches. Moreover, when the modules known as TCO modules are used, corrosion problems occur, because the edge of the modules is eroded on account of cathode discharge.

Photovoltaic system with overvoltage protection


The present invention includes vaccine compositions and methods for using these vaccine compositions in active immunotherapy. The vaccine compositions include allogeneic activated Th1 memory cells. The compositions can also include one or more disease-related antigens. The methods include administering the vaccine compositions to provide a Th1 footprint in normal individuals or patients susceptible to disease or having minimal residual disease.

Harnessing the power of the immune system to treat chronic infectious diseases or cancer is a major goal of immunotherapy. Vaccination (a/k/a, active immunotherapy) methods are designed to activate the immune system to specifically recognize and protect against invading pathogens. For over 200 years, active immunotherapy approaches have been used to prevent numerous infectious diseases, including small pox, rabies, typhoid, cholera, plague, measles, varicella, mumps, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B and the tetanus and diphtheria toxins.
Active immunotherapy concepts are now being applied to develop therapeutic cancer vaccines with the intention of treating existing tumors or preventing tumor recurrence, as well as being applied to the treatment of chronic viral infections. However, existing active immunotherapy technology has not been successful in protecting against many of the modern disease targets such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and cancer. This is in part due to the inability of current vaccination technology to elicit the correct type of immune responses.
The type of immune response generated to infection or other antigenic challenge can generally be distinguished by the subset of T helper (Th) cells involved in the response. Immune responses can be broadly divided into two types: Th1 and Th2. Th1 immune activation is optimized for intracellular infections such as viruses and involves the activation of Natural Killer (NK) cells and Cytolytic T-cells (CTL) that can lyse infected cells, whereas Th2 immune responses are optimized for humoral (antibody) responses. Th1 immune activation is the most highly desired for cancer therapy and Th2 immune responses are directed more at the secretion of specific antibodies and are relatively less important for tumor therapy. Prior art vaccine compositions are specialized in eliciting Th2 or humoral immune responses, which is not effective against cancers and most viral diseases.
Cancer eradication and maintenance of remission requires Th1 immune activation. Therefore, one of the goals of active immunotherapy is to develop methods which are capable of deviating a resident Th2 response to a Th1 response. However, in some patients which develop a potentially effective Th1 immune response against a tumor or are therapeutically immunized to develop a Th1 immune response, the tumors still continue to grow unaffected.
This lack of efficacy in Th1 immune patients and the ineffectiveness of native immune responses against tumors has been attributed to the ability of tumors to employ various strategies for evasion from immune attack. These immunoavoidance mechanisms employed by tumors render the immune system tolerant and permit tumors to grow unimpeded by immune surveillance even after specific upregulation of anti-tumor effector mechanisms by active immunotherapy. Therefore, active immunotherapy strategies require in addition to an immunomodulatory mechanism of action, a strategy to overcome tumor immunoavoidance mechanisms.
Establishment of self-tolerance to a tumor is thought to be related to existing natural immune mechanisms which are normally employed to prevent autoimmune disease. That this normally beneficial effect may be responsible for tumor immune evasion is supported by the observation that many of the tolerance mechanisms that prevent autoimmunity are the same as employed by tumors to prevent immune destruction. The "danger hypothesis" proposes that the immune system does not primarily discriminate self from non-self, but instead is mainly adapted to recognize and respond to antigens depending on the context in which the antigens are presented to the immune system.
The use of adjuvants has long been a strategy for influencing the immune response to antigens in a vaccine composition. Aluminum salts, and squalene oil in water emulsion (MF59) are the most widely used adjuvants in human vaccines. However, these adjuvants predominately promote Th2 responses to antigens, and while effective at elevating serum antibody titers do not elicit significant cellular immune responses.

Th1 vaccination priming for active immunotherapy


A method for cell voltage balancing is disclosed. A plurality of cells is coupled to a plurality of cell interface circuits, and the cell interface circuits are driven with a balancing transformer such that a balancing current flows between the cell interface circuits. Control gates of the cell interface circuits are driven with a gate drive transformer such that two adjacent circuits of the cell interface circuits are activated with opposite phase.

Lithium ion batteries that operate at voltages higher than a single cell can provide are generally comprised of multiple cells connected in series. Lithium ion battery cells may function non-optimally when subjected to an over-voltage or under-voltage condition due to overcharging or undercharging. Over a life of a battery, a battery cell may develop an internal leakage resistance mismatched higher or lower relative to other battery cells. Current through the battery, may cause one or more battery cells to become overcharged or undercharged due to over-voltage or under-voltage across the internal resistance.

System and method for cell voltage balancing


Automatically setting a new threshold for a computer metric by detecting a first threshold for the computer metric, continuously taking measurements of the value of the computer metric at a predetermined rate, calculating the average of the measurements of the value of the computer metric over a predetermined time period, and calculating a second threshold for the computer metric based on the average of the values of the measurements. Calculating the second threshold may comprise establishing a base value for the threshold, establishing a maximum deviation of the threshold, and determining the average of the value of the measurements with respect to the base value and the maximum deviation.

There is monitoring information in computer systems that depicts the health of the system, and alerts that denote important and urgent actions. Typically, a user would like to know the status of various monitored computer metrics at the time when an alert occurred, or the number of alerts that occurred during periods when the metrics are being monitored. This might enable better diagnosing of a problem and may also indicate a possible resolution mechanism.
There can be various sources within a system from where monitored computer metrics and alerts are obtained. Whenever the measured value of the metric exceeds a certain threshold, the system administrator is notified using a notification (like Email, SMS, or an Alert), Once the Administrator gets such a notification, he or she analyses the error situation and tries to resolve the issue. In order to get these notifications, administrator needs to configure the thresholds for required metrics. Some metric thresholds may not be accurate or might change over time, resulting in false notification.

Method and system for auto-adjusting thresholds for efficient monitoring of system metrics


A junction box and ballast circuitry assembly including a ballast housing for attachment to the junction box. The junction box is provided with two opposed open ends, one of the ends being in alignment with a side of the ballast housing and the opposed open end being adaptable for electrical communication with a lighting fixture. The junction box is provided with brackets on opposed sides for alignment with outwardly extending tabs on opposite sides of the ballast assembly to receive a fastening bolt through the tab and an opening in the aligned bracket.

The present invention relates to ballast circuitry adaptable for mounting to an open end of a junction box and more particularly to a combination of a junction box with ballast circuitry.
In the design and development of fluorescent lighting fixtures, it has been common place for the design of these fixtures to include fluorescent lamps of varying wattages and lengths, as well as a plurality of lamps enclosed in a single fixture. Thus, there is an ever increasing need for the development of junction boxes which receive the electrical components therethrough for incorporating into the lighting fixtures as well as different sizes of ballast circuitry and the housings in which these ballast circuitries fit. Moreover, there is an ever increasing problem in the design of ballast housings enclosing ballast circuitry which are adaptable for combining with the ever increasing number of junction boxes to be used with lighting fixtures. In many instances, the designers of ballast circuitries and housings for the circuitry have run into problems with fitting the ballast circuitry and housings onto junction box doors and these doors have to be redesigned for reception of specific ballast housings. Furthermore, in a number of junction box designs, the junction boxes include doors and springs as means to adapt to the receipt of ballast housings which require extensive costs, extra tooling, and the like, as well as greater assembly lime in attaching the ballast housings to the junction boxes.

Junction box and ballast module assembly


A T-divider secures meal carts against lateral movement, and is at least partially deflectable to allow the meal carts to be removed from a restricted environment. The T-divider is secured in linear orientation via a latch with one or more indicators; one indicator indicates if the latch is locked; another indicator indicates if the T-divider is secured. The movement of the T-divider is defined by a track. One or more stops on the track define a linear, secured orientation and a fully deflected orientation.

In commercial passenger aircraft galleys, maximizing cart stowage is a key requirement for airlines, especially if they operate long haul services. Where a galley is located in an aircraft access door area, the structure of the door including the door bustle can project into the space available for accessing the galley carts, rendering the innermost bay unusable when the door is closed during flight.
If a door facing galley has a single cart bay on its innermost side (adjacent to the fuselage) it is impossible to extract a half-size let alone full-size meal service cart from the bay. If a double bay is used, a fixed aluminum rail called a T-divider is required to restrain the carts against side loads.

Moveable T-divider for meal cart stowage


A binocular display deals with an optical contrast imbalance problem between display screens manifest over a range of interpupillary distances by orienting contrast asymmetries between the display screens in opposite directions.

Conventional binocular displays present images to the left and right eyes of a user as created by left and right display screens. Optics relay images of the display screens, generally as virtual images, to the user's eyes. Such binocular displays are used in a wide variety of applications including, head, hand, table, or otherwise mounted displays for reproducing still or moving images in monoscopic or stereoscopic form.
One characteristic of such binocular displays that contributes or detracts from the comfort of the user is the relative optical contrast presented to the user's eyes from left and right display screens. If one of the user's eyes receives an image that has perceptively greater contrast than the image received by the user's other eye, the user may experience visual discomfort, headaches, or the like, and as a result, may be unable to use the binocular display for extended periods of time. This invention has, as one of its objects, a goal of improving contrast uniformity of such binocular displays.
It is a characteristic of certain display screens that the optical contrast varies substantially with the viewing angle. While display screens are generally thought to provide optimum contrast along an on-axis viewing direction (generally, normal to the surface of the display screen), some display screens produce optimal contrast at a slightly different viewing angle, for example twelve degrees from the on-axis direction. Moreover, the deviation from optimal contrast in some display screens is not symmetrical about the optimal viewing angle. That is, contrast may reduce gradually as the angle is increased in one direction and may decrease precipitously as the angle is increased in the opposite direction.
While it is possible to create a binocular display having the left and right display screens positioned so that uniform contrast is produced for users having a given interpupillary distance (IPD), the interpupillary distances of individual users tend to vary throughout populations of users. For example, most members of the adult population have interpupillary distances within a range from approximately 52 to 72 millimeters. The viewing angles presented to users' left and right eyes tend to vary in opposite directions with changes in the users' interpupillary distances (assuming as is ordinarily the case that the users' eyes remain evenly spaced from the center of the binocular display). It can now be appreciated that if the known binocular displays are set to produce equal contrast for an average interpupillary distance of, say, 61 millimeters, deviations from this spacing may not only produce reduced contrast but may also produce unequal changes in contrast for the left and right eyes, resulting in the physiological discomfort described above.

Binocular display with improved contrast uniformity


An image data processing method is for registering two four-dimensional image data sets, each representative of a time-series of three-dimensional image frames. The method comprises an initial pre-registration step in which 3D image frames of the two image data sets are rotated and translated (16) relative to one another so as to bring into alignment respective dominant motion vectors identified (14) for each, the dominant motion vector being a 3D motion vector representative of motion of an identified three-dimensional sub-region exhibiting maximal spatial displacement over course of the time series.

Multi-perspective medical imaging, for instance in the field of ultrasound imaging, is a frequently applied imaging approach. The approach is based on imaging a same common anatomical region of a subject's body but from two different viewpoints. This allows greater detail to be obtained in respect of the imaged region. It in addition allows parts of the region not visible from one viewpoint (e.g. due to obstructions) to nonetheless be represented in a final image, due to the additional image information acquired from the further viewpoint.
To obtain a single final image from the image data sets acquired at each viewpoint, it is necessary to perform a process of image registration. Registration consists in aligning the image data acquired in each data set such that the common visual features captured in each are rendered in alignment with one another (e.g. that they overlap with one another). The two can then be combined or fused.
One field in which this process is of particular applicability is that of ultrasound imaging.
The registration or fusion of two real-time 3D ultrasound volumes (also known as 4D volumes or 4D image data sets) is a key step in multi-perspective echography, allowing the imaged field of view to be extended, and for missing information in one captured image data set to be supplemented by the information captured in the other. Moreover, fused echography provides for improved image quality and surgical device visibility.
Prior-art methods for achieving registration of 4D ultrasound volumes typically make use of an optimization process based on combined similarity scores of intensity-normalized 2D images from selected 2D slices of the volumes to obtain the correct alignment of the 4D volumes. This optimization process may further use representations of each 4D volume at different levels of detail (as represented in a so-called scale space) in order to increase the chances of converging to a meaningful solution.
However, the performance of this known approach has proven far from satisfactory in practice, as it often leads to inaccurate alignment of the 4D volumes, and hence a poor quality final fused image.
Methods for registering 4D image data sets are therefore sought which are able to achieve improved results.

Image data processing method, device and system


A phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit includes a phase/frequency detector (PFD), a charge pump, a loop filter, a control circuit, a VCO, and a feedback circuit. The control circuit generates a digital control signal in response to the up signal, the down signal, and the oscillation-control voltage. The VCO generates an output signal of which a frequency is changed in response to the oscillation-control voltage and the digital control signal. Accordingly, the PLL circuit can automatically tune the frequency of the output signal of a VCO using a digital circuit having a simple structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to frequency tuning, and more particularly to a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit having a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) and a delay-locked loop (DLL) circuit having a voltage-controlled delay line (VCDL) and methods of tuning output frequencies of the PLL and the DLL.
2. Description of the Related Art
Phase-locked loop (PLL) circuits are widely used to synchronize clocks that are applied to circuit blocks. PLL circuits are used in various electronic systems including, for example, communication systems, multimedia systems, and in various other applications such as frequency modulation (FM) demodulators, clock recovery circuits, tone decoders, etc.
The PLL circuits commonly include a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The operating characteristics of the VCO can have a significant impact on the performance of both the PLL and the system in which the PLL is employed. In many applications, the frequency range of a clock generated by the PLL may be determined depending on the frequency range of an output signal of the VCO.
FIG. 1 is a graph illustrating frequency characteristics of an output signal of a VCO according to operating conditions in a conventional PLL circuit.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the output signal of a VCO may have different frequency curves according to operating conditions such as process, voltage, and temperature. In the best conditions, the output signal of a VCO may have a higher frequency than the frequency in typical conditions. In the worst conditions, the output signal of a VCO may have a lower frequency than the frequency in the typical conditions. In FIG. 1, VH denotes an upper limit voltage that the oscillation-control voltage VCON may have, and VL denotes a lower limit voltage that the oscillation-control voltage VCON may have.
In the conventional art, changes in VCO characteristics may be compensated for by a temperature-compensating circuit included in the PLL circuit or by securing an increased design margin. However, the temperature compensating circuit may not compensate for changes in VCO characteristics when a fabrication process is changed, and when the design margin has a limit. Further, the operation speed of the VCO should be decreased in order to cover the minimum operational frequency under the best conditions. On the contrary, the operation speed of a VCO should be increased in order to cover the maximum operational frequency under the worst conditions.
Accordingly, a PLL circuit capable of securing a maximum frequency and a minimum frequency regardless of the changes in operating conditions is required.

Phase-locked loop circuit, delay-locked loop circuit and method of tuning output frequencies of the same


A self-priming starting device for a centrifugal pump is mounted on a water inlet pipe of the centrifugal pump and includes an outer housing, an inner housing, a primary spacer, a secondary spacer, an opening and closing disc and a tertiary spacer which are sequentially provided in the outer housing from top to bottom, and an elastic steel plate provided in the water inlet pipe. A drum is provided in the inner housing, and air inlet pipes and air discharging pipes are provided on the inner housing. The drum is provided with drum chambers and a three-blade support is provided in the drum. The opening and closing disc is provided with a vertical rod. A gas-liquid cutter is provided between the primary spacer and the secondary spacer. The primary spacer, the secondary spacer, the opening and closing disc and the tertiary spacer are provided with through-holes.

As important fluid machinery, centrifugal pumps are widely used in various conveying systems in agriculture, industry, biology and medicine. However, the centrifugal pumps currently used in the market require irrigation to the inside of the pump cavity before each start, which is a complex operation with a large workload and a long start-up cycle, making it difficult to meet the requirements for rapid water transfer.
Although the self-priming centrifugal pump requires irrigation except for the first start, the subsequent start-up process can be carried out directly, but the complex structure of the self-priming centrifugal pump, the internal flow field has a large turbulent energy loss, and gas-liquid mixing and gas-liquid separation occur inside the pump cavity, which will damage the internal hydraulic components and make replacement and maintenance very difficult. At the same time, in the self-priming start-up process, the gas-liquid separation process occurs inside the pump chamber, which is very easy to form a gas nucleus inside the pump chamber, resulting in incomplete gas-liquid separation and reducing the self-priming efficiency.

Self-priming starting device for centrifugal pump