A charge transfer system includes a current-based input device for generating an input current signal, a temporary energy storage device, and an amplification device. A switching device couples the temporary energy storage device to the current-based input device during a first portion of a time period and to the amplification device during a second portion of a time period. The input current signal charges the temporary energy storage device, during the first portion of the time period, to generate an input voltage signal. The amplification device receives the input voltage signal during the second portion of the time period.

Certain signal processing systems simultaneously detect a plurality of analog information signals. Examples of these types of systems include computerized axial tomography (hereinafter "CT") scanners that are used to image the internal features of an object (e.g., a human body) by exposing the object to a preselected amount and type of radiation.
For example, certain CT scanners (called third generation scanners) typically include an X-ray source and an X-ray detector system secured respectively on diametrically-opposed sides of an annular-shaped disk, which is rotatable within a gantry support. The X-ray detector system includes an array of detectors. During a scanning procedure, the object being scanned is positioned within an opening of the annular-shaped disk (which continuously rotates about an axis of rotation), and X-rays pass from the X-ray source through the object and to the X-ray detector system.
In one type of system, the signals generated by the X-ray detector system are typically provided to the summing node input of an array of delta-sigma converters, such as the delta-sigma converters described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,252,531, entitled "Data acquisition system using delta-sigma analog-to-digital signal converters".
One type of X-ray detector system includes an array of detectors positioned as a single row or multiple rows in the shape of an arc of a circle or surface of a sphere having a center of curvature at the point (i.e., the "focal spot") where the radiation emanates from the X-ray source. The X-ray source and array of X-ray detectors are all positioned so that the X-ray paths between the source and each detector all lie in the same plane (i.e., the "slice plane" or "scanning plane") or planes which are substantially normal to the rotation axis of the annular-shaped disk.
The X-rays that are detected by a single X-ray detector at a measuring instant during a scan is considered a "ray." Because the ray paths originate from substantially a point source and extend at different angles to the detectors, the ray paths resemble a fan or cone, and thus the terms "fan" beam or "cone" beam are frequently used to describe all of the ray paths at any one instant of time. As a ray passes through the object being scanned, it is partially attenuated, thus generating a single intensity measurement as a function of the attenuation (i.e., the density of the mass in that path).
In other types of CT scanners (referred to as fourth generation scanners), the detection system comprises a circular array of detectors secured on and at equiangular positions around the gantry support, equidistant from the center of rotation of the disk, such that the source rotates relative to the detectors. For these scanners, the fan beam is defined as the ray paths from the rotating source to each detector where the point of convergence of each fan beam is the corresponding detector.
There are various types of detectors used in CT scanners, including solid state detectors (e.g., cadmium tungstate detectors, each of which includes a scintillation crystal or layer of ceramic material and a photodiode) and gas-type detectors (e.g., Xenon detectors). The X-ray source may provide a continuous wave or a pulsed X-ray beam.
Unfortunately, these detectors typically have a large detector diode capacitance (i.e., 50–200 picofarads). Since it is desirable to reduce the power consumption in multi-channel CT scanners (which typically include 50,000–60,000 channels), this high capacitance proves problematic when coupling detectors to the summing node input of a delta-sigma converter. Specifically, this high detector capacitance results in a high gain-bandwidth product and, therefore, an unacceptably high (i.e.,>one milliwatt) per-channel power consumption.


A crypt system comprising a front frame, a rear frame and a plurality of cells received between the front and rear frames, inclined longitudinally to form a column of cells. Drain and ventilation headers communicate with each cell and an attachment system for joining adjacent columns to each other is provided. The front frame comprises horizontal and vertical members that are spaced to be a close fit on the cells. Each cell is independently sealable by a sealing panel that is attached over the open front end of the cell. A plurality of discrete facing panels are mountable to the front frame of the crypt by way of rectangular section posts extending outwardly from the vertical members at predetermined intervals to abut angled corners of the facing panels and retaining members that hold the angled corners of the facing panels. The structure of the present invention provides a crypt structure that does not suffer from the maintenance problems of existing mausoleums. Resealing of facing plates can be efficiently and reliably accomplished as required. Removal of a facing panel from a cell is easy for inspection, repair or casket loading purposes. Furthermore, the retaining system for the facing panels of the present invention accommodates settling, building shrinkage or seismic disturbance of the surrounding mausoleum structure.

The conventional way to construct crypts is using cast-in-place concrete with an egg crate style formwork. This produces a series of rows and columns of cells, known as a crypt bank, built integrally with the mausoleum.
There are a number of problems with this type of construction. First, cracking of the concrete takes place due to shrinkage. Furthermore, the mausoleum building tends to settle around the concrete, egg crate construction. This leads to leakage of both fluid and gases from the crypt enclosure. This is, of course, unacceptable.
It is also important to maintain precise alignment on the front face of the crypt bank in order to ensure proper sealing and an aesthetic visual appearance. This is very difficult, if not impossible, to do with cast in place concrete which shrinks and settles over time as mentioned above. Also, during seismic activity joints can be easily skewed resulting in leakage and unsightly geometric lines.
A further problem with the conventional construction is in accurately placing and holding the facing on the crypts. Typically the facing will be marble slabs. Settlement and shrinkage causes marble facing panels to loosen. This is unsightly and also produces leaks around the front face seal. This is also unacceptable.
As a result of these disadvantages in the prior art, there is a substantial cost from constant maintenance required to maintain not only the sealing of the crypts but also in resealing the facing gaskets around the front of the crypt and in constantly adjusting the loose facing panels at the front of the crypts. The resealing of the crypts is particularly difficult. It must be done by removing the contents and attempting to grout the cracks. Retaining and positioning the facing marble panels by a single worker is difficult. At times, while installing or adjusting a single facing marble panel, the other adjacent panels can be loosened and seals disturbed.


A vehicle transmission system comprises a shaft and an electrical eddy current retarder itself comprising an annular inductor stator and a rotor. The rotor is connected to the shaft via independent fixing arms extending inwards to the free ends of axial metal tongues secured to the shaft and elastically deformable in a radial direction under the effect of the rotor being subjected to thermal expansion.

Document FR-A-1 138 752 describes an example of such a transmission system.
In the system described in that document, the radial deformation of the core disk under the effect of the high temperatures reached by said core disk while the retarder is in operation is accommodated solely by deformation of the arms for fixing the wheels of the rotor, with the inside ends of said fixing arms being rigidly united by an undeformable hub.
Consequently, the fixing arms are either complex in shape and therefore difficult to make, thus increasing the cost of the electrical retarder, or else simple in shape and poor at accommodating radial deformation, thereby increasing the mechanical stresses in the rotor and thus reducing its lifetime.

Vehicle transmission system fitted with an electrical retarder


A wireless remote controlled, adjustable and programmable freestanding mount and shutter release assembly for various styles of cameras. An enclosure body with adjustable legs houses a microcomputer which directs an electrically controlled piston which delivers its shutter releasing energy through a docked cable release. A collapsible bracket can be optionally secured to the enclosure to align a plunger assembly over a camera's shutter release button. A prominent visual display reveals the status of the control system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a remote control device which can be used with a wide variety of sizes, styles and formats of cameras to provide wireless and programmed control of a camera's shutter release while also allowing the device to provide mounting, support and direction for a camera.
2. Prior Art
There are a great many styles and sizes of cameras the most popular being the 110 style and the 35 mm style although the new disposable types are also gaining popularity. As is well known in prior art there are devices which provide control, in varying degrees, of a camera's shutter. The problem with these devices is that they are not everything to all cameras. An ideal shutter control system should allow such features as activation by remote control, a delayed release control, either one shot or multiple shot control, time exposure control for long exposures, a time lapse control for multiple exposures taken at intervals, an easy connection to an event controlled switch to actuate the shutter when an event happens, an auxiliary switched output to control peripheral equipment or a shutter and a visual display of the status of the control system. Unfortunately, not all cameras have all these features and a great many cameras have none of these features while other cameras have some but not all of these features. This invention encompasses all of the above mentioned ideal features.
When using one or more of the above mentioned shutter control features it is often necessary to have the camera mounted on a tripod or steadfastly held by some other means. This often requires carrying around a sometimes large, bulky and heavy tripod. And without such a tripod it often negates the use of a particular shutter control feature. Furthermore, some styles of cameras do not even have a standard tripod mounting capability. This invention provides a solution to these situations.
As is well known in the prior art a number of attachments are available which serve to overcome the shortcomings of cameras not having any or all of the above mentioned shutter control features. The ideal attachment of this sort should ideally be able to provide all of the above mentioned shutter control features, be readily adaptable to accommodate different sizes and styles of cameras, be removable and be portable. As a further desirable feature such an attachment should be able to hold the camera and provide some means to point the camera to orient it in a particular direction and elevation while providing the shutter control features mentioned above. Unfortunately, not all such attachments provide these features. Some only work with electronic shutter releases and not with mechanical systems. Some only work with tripod mountable cameras but not with other styles. Some only work with cameras that have a standardized cable release feature but not with other styles. Most do not provide a means for holding and pointing the camera while providing any or all of the shutter control features. This invention overcomes all of these shortcomings and provides all of the ideal features of such an attachment for a camera.
It is very common for an individual to have several cameras. It would be very desirable to have one device that could inexpensively transform all of the cameras into much more versatile cameras having features usually found only on more expensive cameras. For individuals having or wishing to acquire an inexpensive featureless camera it would be desirable to have access to an inexpensive device that could easily enhance the camera to have features only available on much more expensive cameras. This invention provides such a device.
Quite often tourists, individuals, families and vacationers wish to take photographs with themselves in the photographs. Common problems in achieving this are not having a tripod to hold the camera, no self timer, a self timer not activating exactly when its desired, no controlled succession of photographs or no remote control capability. Solutions to these problems often include asking a passerby to take the photograph, balancing the camera on a ledge or table,, one member of a group being absent from the photograph while taking it, setting a self timer and hoping to run into the photograph or hiring others to take the photographs. Sometimes these solutions do not provide satisfactory photographic results and result in a risk of damage to the camera should it fall from a table or ledge. This invention provides a dependable solution to these problems.
Photographers that wish to take a succession of photographs at a predetermined time lapse such as photographing a flower opening up are often required to be present to activate the shutter at the designated lapse which may be inconvenient or perhaps impossible. This invention solves that problem. Also, in the example above, a sequence of time lapse photographs may be required to have a long time exposure on each shot. This invention easily and economically performs that function with great precision.

Universal remote control device for cameras


The present invention relates to an LED emitting device. The LED emitting device includes: a converter converting an input voltage according to a switching operation of a power source switch to generate at least two output voltages; an LED panel unit including a plurality of LED channels having a plurality of LEDs; a micom board operated by a first output voltage among the at least two output voltages to control the operation of the LED emitting device; a regulator converting a second output voltage among the at least two output voltages into a voltage suitable for the operation of the LED panel unit; and a multi-channel control unit controlling an operation of the regulator according to a lowest minimum voltage among the voltages of a plurality of LED channels and receiving the first output voltage to generate a first feedback voltage VF1.

(a) Field
The present invention relates to an emitting device using an LED.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A light emitting device using LEDs supplies currents to the LEDs so as to drive the LEDs. Then, the LEDs emit beams having brightness corresponding to the currents. Such an LED light emitting device can be used as a light source of an LCD panel unit or for lighting. A light emitting device that uses LEDs and is used as a light source of an LCD panel unit or lighting is referred to as an LED light emitting device. An LED light emitting device provides a predetermined intensity by making a predetermined current flow in each LED channel including a plurality of LEDs connected in series.
The LED emitting device needs a main power source to respectively supply a current to a plurality of LED channels and an assistance power source required for operation of a main control unit to control operation of an LED emitting device. A conventional LED emitting device separately includes a main power supply device to generate the main power source and an assistance power supply device to generate an assistance power source.
The LED emitting device must include two power supply devices such that it supplies power to the LED emitting device and to the main control unit. Also, a power source control IC to control two power supply devices is separately required. This is causes an increase in the production cost of the LED emitting device.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


An internal chamber of a water pump is extended to a position so as to radially surround at least parts of the water pump bearing and water drain hole. Ribs may be provided in the internal chamber to reinforce the water pump casing.

In an engine of a motorcycle, an outboard motor, or a vehicle, there are known engines in which cylinders are serially arranged, in which cylinders are arranged so as to face each other, in which each cylinder bank is arranged in a V-letter shape, and the like.
The V-type engine is typically constructed by installing first and second cylinder heads onto first and second cylinder banks of the cylinder block. First and second cylinder head covers are attached to the first and second cylinder heads. A crankshaft which extends in the longitudinal direction of the engine is rotatably provided at a central portion of the cylinder block. Auxiliary apparatuses such as a cam shaft of a valve gear system, a water pump, and the like are driven by the crankshaft.
Such a water pump is disclosed in JP-U-4-79932. According to the water pump disclosed in this publication, an impeller is fixed to one end of a pump shaft which is pivotally attached to a pump housing through a bearing, a sealing device is provided between the impeller and the bearing, upper and lower side drain passages communicate a hollow chamber between the bearing and the sealing device with the outside of the pump housing, a dust cover faces an opening on the hollow chamber side of at least the upper side drain passage, and a concave portion is formed in the dust cover.
With this conventional water pump, as shown in FIG. 10, the water pump 154 is attached to a cylinder block 104 of a V-type engine 102. A timing chain (not shown) is interposed through a timing chain cover 152 around a casing 158 of the water pump 154. The timing chain cover 152 is arranged around the casing 158 through a seal member 160 comprising an O ring. A timing chain line exists between the timing chain cover 152 and the cylinder-block 104. A lubricating oil passage (not shown) is formed and lubricating oil flows in the lubricating oil passage.
The casing 158 has a hub or housing portion 168 for a water pump bearing 170, and the portions near water drain hole portions 174-1 and 174-2 are directly bleached to the lubricating oil. Thus, when the water drain hole portions 174-1 and 174-2 are thermally influenced by the lubricating oil and are set to high temperatures and cooling water leaks from mechanical seal 166, a component in, for example, an LLC (Long Life Coolant) which is used as a cooling water is precipitated by the high temperature and is deposited and chokes the water drain hole portions. The cooling water may then enter the water pump bearing so that the life of the bearing is reduced, and this is practically disadvantageous.
As also shown in FIG. 10, the water pump bearing 170 is inserted with pressure (i.e. a press fit) into the housing portion 168 of the casing 158. In the case where the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material of the casing 158 is larger than that of the material forming the outer race 184 of the bearing 170, when the heat of the lubricating oil acts on the housing portion 168 of the casing 158, the inner diameter of the housing portion 168 increases, and a magnitude of the pressure fit of the bearing 170 within the housing decreases, so that there is an inconvenience in that the bearing 170 may drop out. There are also inconveniences in that a holder 188, the lip seal 172, grease, etc., as component parts of the water pump bearing 170 itself, are also deteriorated by the heat. The life of the bearing is thus reduced, and this is practically and economically disadvantageous.
To eliminate the above inconveniences, according to the invention, there is provided a water pump which is arranged in a cylinder block of an engine and forms a passage for lubricating oil around a water pump casing which is covered. A water drain hole portion is formed around the water pump casing, a water pump bearing is provided on the inside of the water pump casing, and an inner chamber of the water pump is extended to a position at which it surrounds at least parts of the water pump bearing and the water drain hole portion so as to reduce the thermal influence of the lubricating oil on the water pump bearing or water drain hole portion.
There is also provided a water pump which is arranged in a cylinder block of an engine and forms a passage for lubricating oil around a water pump casing which is covered, wherein a water drain hole portion is formed around the water pump casing, a water pump bearing is provided on the inside of the water pump casing, an inner chamber of the water pump is extended to a position at which it surrounds at least parts of the water pump bearing and the water drain hole portions so as to reduce thermal influence of the lubricating oil on the water pump bearing or water drain hole portion, and ribs for reinforcement are provided in the inner chamber of the water pump casing.
There is also provided a water pump which is arranged in a cylinder block of a V-type engine such that first and second cylinder heads are installed in the cylinder block and first and second cylinder banks are arranged in a V-shape and forms a passage for lubricating oil around a water pump casing which is covered, wherein a water drain hole portion is provided for the water pump casing, a water pump bearing is provided on the inside of the water pump casing, and an inner chamber of the water pump is extended to a position such that it radially surrounds at least parts of the water pump bearing and the water drain hole portion so as to reduce thermal influence of the lubricating oil on the water pump bearing and the water drain hole portion.
There is further provided a water pump which is arranged in a cylinder block of a V-type engine such that first and second cylinder heads are installed in the cylinder block and first and second cylinder banks are arranged in a V-shape and forms a passage for lubricating oil around a water pump casing which is covered, wherein a water drain hole portion is provided for the water pump casing, a water pump bearing is provided on the inside of the water pump casing, an inner chamber of the water pump is extended to a position such that it radially surrounds at least parts of the water pump bearing and the water drain hole portion so as to reduce thermal influence of the lubricating oil on the water pump bearing and the water drain hole portion, and ribs for reinforcement are provided in the inner chamber of the water pump casing.
According to the invention as mentioned above, the inner chamber of the water pump extends up to a position such that it surrounds at least parts of the water pump bearing and the water drain hole portion to reduce the thermal influence by the lubricating oil on the water pump bearing and the water drain hole portion. The ribs for reinforcement are provided in the inner chamber of the water pump casing, hereby improving the rigidity of the casing.


A process for recovering oil from tar sands by subjecting the tar sands to aqueous extraction to produce a bitumen-rich layer containing bitumen, water and solids and a bitumen-lean layer containing relatively less bitumen and relatively more water and solids. The solids present in the bitumen-lean layer contain a substantial portion of finely divided clay having adhered organic matter. The clay solids are retained with the bitumen from the bitumen-lean layer and the bitumen-clay mixture is pyrolyzed. Pyrolysis of the bitumen-lean layer containing clay having adhered organic matter reduces the volume of aqueous tailings which would otherwise be produced and also results in increased hydrocarbon yields.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for recovering oil from tar sands. More particularly, the invention relates to a process whereby tar sands are extracted with water to produce a bitumen-rich layer and a bitumen-lean layer containing relatively more water and solids than the bitumen-rich layer and the bitumen-lean layer containing solids including clay having adhered organic matter is sent to a pyrolysis zone to provide for increased oil recovery.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Among the many approaches considered for separating the hydrocarbon fraction from tar sands, the aqueous extraction process represents a well-developed recovery technique. Typically, the tar sands are contacted with hot or cold water to form (i) a bitumen-rich layer containing bitumen, water and solids including sand and clay having adhered organic matter, (ii) a bitumen-lean layer containing relatively less bitumen and more water and solids than the bitumen rich layer and (iii) precipitated, relatively bitumen free sands. The water and solids are separated from the bitumen-lean layer and the resulting bitumen-lean stream is combined with the bitumen-rich layer which is thereafter diluted with naphtha, allowed to settle and then centrifuged to remove water and residual solids. After removal of the diluent, the bitumen is fed to a pyrolysis unit wherein the bitumen is heated to form distilled and cracked products including vaporized liquid oil products, normally gaseous products and carbon which is deposited on solids present in the pyrolysis zone.
One of the principle disadvantages of the tar sands hot and cold water extraction processes is the enormous volume of aqueous tailings. These tailings contain a stable suspension of inorganic fines. Since no economically viable schemes have been devised for removing these suspended fines, the tailings are held in sludge ponds which are both a major expense and potentially an environmental hazard.
A further disadvantage of the aqueous extraction process is the loss of oil present as adhered organic matter in the finely divided clay which is in admixture with the separated sands. The presence of organics in these clays is reported in Energy and Fuels 1988(3) 386-391.
Various solvent extraction schemes have been proposed as alternatives to the aqueous extraction of tar sands. For example, Hanson discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,433 a liquid slurry process for extracting tar sands in which the tar sands are slurried with an oil and divided in a centrifuge into streams containing course and fine sands. The fine sands stream is fed to a coker where the fines act as a nuclei in coke formation. The course sands stream is filtered by means of a hot oil filter and subsequently dried. Similarly, Irani et al. disclose in U.S. Pat. No. 4,036,732 the use of a C.sub.5 -C.sub.9 paraffin hydrocarbon solvent for the countercurrent extraction of tar sands.
Other references describe a non-extraction method for removing oil by the direct distillation of oil from bituminous sand in a fluidized solids bed. For example, Peterson and Gishler describe in The Petroleum Engineer, April, 1951, at pages 66-74 a fluidized solids technique for recovering oil from Alberta bituminous sand. In this process, raw bituminous sand is fed into a fluidized solids bed to distill and crack the bitumen present in the bituminous sand.
A review of the various known processes for recovering oil from tar sands is given by Chrones and Germain in their article entitled Bitumen and Heavy Oil Upgrading in Canada, Fuel Science and Technology International, 7(5-6), 783-821(1989).

Process for recovering oil from tar sands


The present invention relates to a mechanism for adaptive run time compilation of traces of program code to achieve efficiency in compilation and overall execution. The mechanism uses a combination of interpretation and compilation in executing byte code. The mechanism selects code segments for compilation based upon frequency of execution and ease of compilation. The inventive mechanism is able to compile small code segments, which can be a subset of a method or subroutine, and comprising only single path execution. The mechanism thereby achieves efficiency in compilation by having less total code as well as having only straight line, or single path execution, code to compile.

Run time compiling generally involves the use of a dynamic compiler. Run time compiling with dynamic compilers is commonly used in execution of JAVA code. A variety of dynamic compilers with varying attributes such as Just In Time (JIT) compilers have been employed for this purpose, some being optimizing compilers and some not.
These prior art dynamic compilers generally translate or compile entire methods or subroutines at a time. Therefore, even if only part of the method will actually be executed with substantial frequency, the entire method will still generally be compiled. The compilation of portions of a method or subroutine which will not be frequently executed represents an inefficient commitment of computational effort to the compiling process. This inefficiency remains even if the compiled method is frequently called by the calling routine, and if portions of the method are frequently executed.
Run time compiling may generally be improved through the use of various optimizing techniques. These techniques typically require that the compiler have substantial knowledge of the execution path which will be realized at run time. Prior art dynamic compilers typically do not have complete information on the execution paths likely to occur at run time, and therefore are not able to effectively optimize execution of the source code.
When using JAVA, "type" information describing what type of objects exist within the source code is embedded therein. The availability of this "type" information at run time permits still further optimization of execution at run time.
Therefore, it is a problem in the art that dynamic compilers must translate entire methods at a time even though only certain portions of the method will be frequently executed.
It is a further problem in the art that prior art dynamic compilers do not have complete execution path information, thereby preventing optimization of compilation and execution at run time.

Method and apparatus for trace based adaptive run time compiler

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Apparatus, systems, and methods implementing techniques for estimating a relative rotation between a first complex signal and a second complex signal. The first complex signal is quantized to produce a quantized signal, and the quantized signal and an additional signal are combined, where the additional signal corresponds to the second complex signal. An estimate of a relative rotation between the first complex signal and the second complex signal is generated in accordance with the combined signal.

The following disclosure relates to electrical circuits and signal processing.
Aligning the phases of two or more signals in a communications system can be useful. The signals can be information signals at multiple points in a signal path. For example, in a communications system that uses feedback, the phase of a feedback signal may need to be aligned with the phase of a forward path signal for the system to operate correctly or efficiently.
A complex signal (represented, for example, by an in-phase component and a quadrature component) can be used to transmit information using symbols that are specific combinations of the components of the complex signal. For example, an in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) representation of a complex signal can have four symbols, corresponding to the following combinations of the amplitudes of (I,Q): (1,1); (1,−1); (−1,1); and (−1,−1). FIG. 1A shows a plot 100 of the in-phase and quadrature components of two complex signals. Two constellations of symbols, each constellation corresponding to a complex signal, are shown. Each of the constellations includes four symbols that represent the symbols that can be transmitted by the corresponding complex signal. One constellation is represented by four circles (e.g., circle 110), and the other constellation is represented by four crosses (e.g., cross 120). The constellation represented by the crosses is rotated relative to the constellation represented by the circles by an angle of φ, indicating that the corresponding complex signals are rotated relative to each other.
A relative rotation between two complex signal constellations can have several causes. In a typical scenario, a first (I,Q) signal pair is used to modulate a radio-frequency (RF) carrier. The modulated carrier, an RF signal, undergoes analog processing steps, after which the modulated carrier is demodulated. A second (I,Q) signal pair results from the demodulation. Any difference in phase between the modulated carrier before the processing steps and the modulated carrier after the processing steps is manifested as a relative rotation between the baseband constellations corresponding to the first and second (I,Q) signal pairs.
FIG. 1B shows a plot 105 of the in-phase and quadrature components of the two complex signals from FIG. 1A where the phase of the complex signal with the constellation represented by the crosses (e.g., cross 120) has been rotated by −φ to align the two constellations and therefore align the two complex signals. Aligning two complex signals is equivalent to making the relative rotation between the signals substantially zero.
An example of a component in a communications system that uses feedback is a Cartesian feedback transmitter. In a Cartesian feedback transmitter, a complex feedback signal is subtracted from a complex input signal to produce a complex error signal. The complex error signal is amplified and filtered to produce an intermediate signal, which is then modulated for transmission. The modulated signal is also demodulated in the transmitter to produce the complex feedback signal. Using Cartesian feedback in a transmitter improves the linearity of the transmitter, but properly aligning the phases of the complex intermediate signal and the complex feedback signal is important.
The complex feedback signal typically has a different phase than the complex intermediate signal because of, for example, delays in the RF signal path or a phase difference between the oscillator signal used during modulation and the oscillator signal used during demodulation. A change in output power level or a change in carrier frequency can also cause a relative rotation between the complex intermediate signal and the complex feedback signal. The phase of the complex intermediate signal can be adjusted (e.g., by using a rotator circuit) to align the complex intermediate signal and the feedback signal. The adjustment of the phase of the complex intermediate signal can be controlled based on, for example, an estimate of the relative rotation between the complex intermediate signal and the complex feedback signal.
One technique that can be used to estimate the phase difference between the complex intermediate signal and the complex feedback signal is to multiply the in-phase component of the intermediate signal (IIN) by the quadrature component of the feedback signal (QFB) and to multiply the quadrature component of the intermediate signal (QIN) by the in-phase component of the feedback signal (IFB), all multiplication being done in the analog domain. The second product (QIN IFB) is then subtracted from the first product (IIN QFB), and the result is integrated. A rotator circuit uses the integrated result to rotate the phase of the intermediate signal with respect to the feedback signal.
In practice, use of the IIN QFB−QIN IFB phase alignment technique described above may require analog multipliers capable of handling signals that have a very large dynamic range. The analog multipliers can be difficult to design, and may require an unacceptable amount of power and/or complexity to implement.


In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a host machine that manages a plurality of virtual machines associated with an enterprise through a supervisory process, the host machine including a threat management facility coupled in a communicating relationship with the plurality of virtual machines and enforcing a security policy of the enterprise for the plurality of virtual machines; and a first virtual machine from among the plurality of virtual machines, the first virtual machine capable of operating in a first state on the host machine wherein the security policy is enforced by the threat management facility, and the first virtual machine capable of operating in a second state wherein a local security facility executable on the first virtual machine autonomously enforces the security policy in the absence of the threat management facility.

1. Field
The present invention is related to protection of a client machine, and more specifically the protection of a client machine in a virtualized environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Securing client machines in an enterprise is a constant challenge, especially when the client machines are part of a virtualized environment in a high availability mode where disconnection from the host system can leave the client exposed to threats (for example when mobile devices are moved off a corporate network), even when the disconnection is only a transitory state. Therefore there is a need for improved methods for protecting clients in a virtualized environment.

Multi-part internal-external process system for providing virtualization security protection


A wearing article is provided on at least one of front and rear waist covering regions with an indication element adapted to be visually recognized from the outside of the article. The waist covering region provided with the indication element includes a first composite sheet, a second composite sheet lying inside this first composite sheet and the indication element interposed between these two composite sheets. The first composite sheet comprises a first intermediate layer, a first outer layer and a first inner layer while the second composite sheet includes a second intermediate layer, a second outer layer and a second inner layer. The respective layers of the first composite sheet are joined together at joining spots arranged intermittently in a waist-surrounding direction. The first outer layer, the first inner layer, the second outer layer and the second inner layer are respectively formed from inelastic threads describing curves which are stretchable in the waist-surrounding direction between each pair of adjacent joining spots.

The present invention relates to a disposable wearing article and more particularly to a disposable wearing article including an indication element adapted to be visually recognized from the outside of the wearing article.
In disposable wearing articles such as disposable diapers or disposable training pants, it is well known to provide a front waist covering region and/or a rear waist covering region with indication element(s) adapted to be visually recognized from the outside of the wearing article. In the case of an absorbent article disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-657 (hereinafter referred to as "Citation"), a backsheet comprises a film printed with an illustration and a nonwoven fabric laminated on the surface of this film which is printed with the illustration adapted to be visually recognized through the nonwoven fabric.
Citation contains a description such that a luminous transmissivity of the nonwoven fabric laminated on the film must be enhanced in order to ensure a desired visibility of the illustration. Citation further contains a description such that the nonwoven fabric laminated on the film preferably has a basis weight in a range of 20 to 50 g/m2 and a thickness in a range of 0.5 to 3 mm on account of a fact that the basis weight of the nonwoven fabric may be decreased to enhance the luminous transmissivity of the nonwoven fabric but texture and touch are deteriorated as the basis weight of the nonwoven fabric is decreased. In this manner, an upper limit is imposed on the basis weight of the nonwoven fabric constituting the backsheet of such absorbent article as disclosed in Citation and quality or visibility of the illustration is deteriorated as the basis weight of the nonwoven fabric gets near to or exceeds the upper limit imposed thereon.


The present invention provides a method for maskless lithography. A plurality of individually addressable and rotatable micromirrors together comprise a two-dimensional array of micromirrors. Each micromirror in the two-dimensional array can be envisioned as an individually addressable element in the picture that comprises the circuit pattern desired. As each micromirror is addressed it rotates so as to reflect light from a light source onto a portion of the photoresist coated wafer thereby forming a pixel within the circuit pattern. By electronically addressing a two-dimensional array of these micromirrors in the proper sequence a circuit pattern that is comprised of these individual pixels can be constructed on a microchip. The reflecting surface of the micromirror is configured in such a way as to overcome coherence and diffraction effects in order to produce circuit elements having straight sides.

This invention pertains generally to a method for forming patterns on a semiconductor wafer and to an apparatus to practice the method and, more particularly, to maskless projection lithography.
At the present time, the patterns on semiconductor wafers, which represent electronic components and their interconnections, are produced by "writing" the pattern from a mask onto a photoresist covered wafer by a process such as projection lithography. The conventional projection lithographic process employed for producing electronic circuits on semiconductor wafers is similar to exposing a film negative onto photographic paper except that the transferred image is reduced (typically by from 4.times. to 10.times.) by a camera rather than enlarged, thereby making the circuit elements smaller. This process is illustrated in FIG. 1. Light from a light source 110 shines onto a mask 120 containing a circuit pattern. During the process, mask 120 is caused to move in one direction. The light that penetrates the mask pattern, representing the circuit pattern desired to be reproduced, is focused onto a photoresist coated wafer 130 by camera 140 which forms a focused image of the mask demagnified (reduced) by a factor of typically between 4.times. and 10.times.. The wafer 130 is moving in a direction opposite to that of mask 120 such that the image of the mask features are stationary on the wafer.
While effective, this process has numerous drawbacks associated principally with the masks such as the cost of fabricating masks, the time required to produce the sets of masks needed to fabricate microchips, diffraction effects resulting from light from light source 110 being diffracted from opaque portions of the mask, registration errors during mask alignment for multilevel patterns, color centers formed in the mask substrate, defects in the mask or the presence of dust particles on the mask that are rendered as imperfections in the circuit pattern, the necessity for periodic mask cleaning and the deterioration of the mask that follows therefrom. These drawbacks are particularly pronounced during the process of producing prototype microchips. Any minor error or flaw in the circuit design layout or any change in the circuit design can require the fabrication of a full set of masks; an expensive and time consuming process. The aforementioned drawbacks are particularly noticeable when producing small lots of microchips or specialty microchips. What is needed is a method for eliminating the use of a mask in fabricating circuit patterns on semiconductor wafers.
Responsive to these needs the present invention provides a method for producing circuit patterns on semiconductor wafers without the need for a mask.


A rebar forming apparatus includes a malleable material supply station for continuously supplying a malleable planar material and a malleable material forming station for forming the malleable material into first and second corresponding shell portions and related rebar products. The apparatus also includes a core pultrusion station and a cladding forming station for respectively forming core and cladding layers. A shell forming station is positioned downstream of the core and cladding forming stations which unites the first and second shell portions to form an outer shell with the core and cladding layers contained therein. The rebar product includes shell portions which are matably configured to form a disposable outer shell over the core and cladding layers. Related reinforcing composite product forming methods also include the use of a removable outer shell.

The present invention is directed generally to reinforced composite articles, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for producing reinforced composite articles.
Concrete and other masonry or cementitious materials have high compressive strength but relatively low tensile strength. When concrete is employed as a structural member, such as in a building, bridge, pipe, pier, culvert, or the like, it is conventional to incorporate reinforcing members to enhance the tensile strength of the structure. Historically, the reinforcing members are steel or other metal reinforcing rods or bars, i.e., xe2x80x9crebarxe2x80x9d. Such reinforcing members may be placed under tension to form prestressed concrete structures.
Although steel and other metals can enhance the tensile strength of a concrete structure, they are susceptible to oxidation. For example, ferrous metal rusts by the oxidation thereof to the corresponding oxides and hydroxides of iron by atmospheric oxygen in the presence of water. When it is poured, concrete is normally at a pH of 12 to 14 (i.e., at high alkalinity) due to the presence of hydroxides of sodium, potassium, and calcium formed during the hydration of the concrete. As long as a pH in this range is maintained, steel within the concrete is passive, which results in long-term stability and corrosion resistance.
Exposure to a strong acid, or otherwise lowering the pH of concrete, can cause steel contained in concrete to be corroded. For example, chlorine ions permeating into the concrete can cause corrosion. Sources of chlorine ions include road salt, salt air in marine environments, and salt-contaminated aggregate (e.g., sand) used in making the concrete. When the reinforcing steel corrodes, it can expand and create internal stresses in the concrete. These internal stresses can lead to cracking, and ultimately disintegration, of the concrete. Moreover, cracking and crumbling concrete exposes additional steel to atmospheric oxygen, water, and sources of chlorine ions.
Such structural damage has become a major problem in a wide variety of geographical areas. For example, bridges and other concrete building infrastructures in northern United States cities are constantly in need of repair because of the salting of roadways after winter snowstorms. Also, bridges leading to the Keys in Florida are continuously exposed to sea air; these bridges are regularly rebuilt because of the short lifespan of the concrete. As another example, buildings in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, where concrete is typically made using the acidic sand of the region, are often in need of repair.
Various solutions to the corrosion problem of steel rebar have been offered; however, these solutions have been largely unsuccessful. Noncorrosive coatings on the concrete, the steel rebar, or both have been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,193 to Olsen et al. proposes a steel-reinforced concrete product, such as a manhole cover, having a coating of a corrosion-resistant gel coat layer and an intermediate layer of fiberglass between the concrete and the gel coat layer. The gel coat layer is described as being a xe2x80x9chardenable polymeric fluid material.xe2x80x9d U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,491 to Goldfein proposes steel rebar members having chemical conversion iron oxide coatings, such as black iron oxide. U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,738 to Graf proposes steel rebar having an outer layer of a synthetic material (e.g., epoxy resin) and an intermediate layer of aluminum or aluminum alloy between the outer layer and the steel. Unfortunately, in general these exemplary coatings tend to be expensive and have received mixed results and acceptance.
There has also been interest in replacing steel with various fiber-reinforced resins. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,133 to Kakihara et al. proposes an inner filament bundle layer spirally wound around a fiber-reinforced core, a plurality of intermediate filament bundles oriented axially along the core, and an outer filament bundle spirally wound around the core and the other bundles. U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,401 to L""Espxc3xa9rance et al. proposes a fiber reinforced thermosetting resin core and a plurality of continuous fibers helically wound around the core and impregnated with the thermosetting resin. The fiber-reinforced rods proposed in L""Espxc3xa9rance have manufacturing limitations and are difficult to manufacture continuously and rapidly. Additionally, the winding of filaments onto a core tends to reduce the tensile strength of the core and can cause wicking problems. other solutions include a corrosion-resistant fiber-reinforced rebar, disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/467,157, which comprises a fiber reinforced thermoset core and an outer cladding formed of sheet molding compound (SMC), and a three-layered reinforced resin-based composition, described in co-pending and co-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/527,976, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. These materials are formed into rebar through modified pultrusion processes. Conventional pultrusion processes involve drawing a bundle of reinforcing material. (e.g., glass filaments or fibers) from a source thereof, wetting the fibers and impregnating them (preferably with a thermosettable polymer resin) by passing the reinforcing material through a resin bath in an open tank, pulling the resin-wetted and impregnated bundle through a shaping die to align the fiber bundle and to manipulate it into the proper cross-sectional configuration, and curing the resin in a mold while maintaining tension on the filaments. Because the fibers progress completely through the pultrusion process without being cut or chopped, the resulting products generally have exceptionally high tensile strength in the longitudinal (i.e., in the direction the filaments are pulled) direction. Exemplary pultrusion techniques are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,793,108 to Goldsworthy; U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,338 to Fuway; U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,957 to Harvey; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,844 to Tong. Exemplary pultruded articles include tool handles, mine shaft bolts, pipes, tubing, channel, beams, fishing rods and the like. In the patent applications cited above, a pultruded core is surrounded by a molded outer cladding layer formed of a reinforced resin.
Some rebar components are desirably curved or bent in order to follow the contour of the surrounding concrete structures. Unfortunately, one troublesome area for pultrusion processes is the manufacture of such nonlinear articles. Because a typical pultrusion process involves pulling material through an elongated heated die which at least partially cures, and therefore stiffens, the pultruded article, establishing bends or curves in the articles without sacrificing the advantages provided by pultrusion is problematic. As a result, conventional pultrusion processes for making linear rebar have proven to be particularly unsuitable for the production of nonlinear rebar.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and an associated method for producing nonlinear components with a pultrusion process.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a pultruded nonlinear rebar component.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a composite material suitable for pultruding into a nonlinear rebar component.
It is yet another object to provide a method and associated apparatus for forming either linear or nonlinear components.
These and other objects are satisfied by the present invention, which provides a precured rebar product (or other reinforced article) that can be formed into either linear or nonlinear rebar as desired. The precured rebar product includes a core of reinforcing fibers impregnated with a resin, a cladding of reinforcing fibers and other reinforcing material (such as ceramic powder or spheres) impregnated with a resin, and an outer shell, typically formed of a material that is sufficiently ductile to be formed into a desired shape, yet is sufficiently rigid to retain its shape once it is formed (such as aluminum or steel). The core and cladding can be formed by conventional pultrusion-type techniques, but the resins of the core and cladding are not completely cured. They are encased in the shell material, which preferably includes deformations into which the resin of the cladding can flow to form the deformations of the rebar. Once the precured rebar product has been produced, it can then be formed into a desired shape (either linear or nonlinear) and can then be completely cured. After curing, the shells can be removed to provide a composite structural rebar component.
An apparatus suitable for producing the aforementioned precured rebar product includes means for forming a core having unidirectionally oriented impregnated fibers, means for forming a cladding having unidirectionally oriented fibers and additional reinforcing material, and means for encasing the core and cladding with a shell of a desired shape. It is preferred that both the core and cladding be formed by pulling the reinforcing fibers through respective resin baths, then forcing them through shaping fixtures. The shell can be applied by also forcing it through a sleeve through which the core and cladding also travel, then forming a seam in the shell material to prevent the resin from escaping. Preferably, if linear rebar is to be formed, the resin is cured xe2x80x9cin-linexe2x80x9d with the formation of the core and cladding. If, instead, nonlinear rebar is to be produced, it is preferred that the precured rebar product be cut to length and bent to the desired shape prior to curing.

Reinforced composite product and apparatus and method for producing same


A telecommunications chassis, module, and repeater circuit for use with signals having data rates including STM-1 (155.52 megabits per second) are disclosed. The chassis provides structures for establishing shielding and heat dissipation for the circuitry modules it contains including an outer and an inner Faraday box with an integrated ventilation pattern for circulating air. The module provides its own structures for establishing shielding and heat dissipation including a Faraday box and a ventilation pattern. The repeater circuit provides the ability to bridge a data signal between a monitor jack of one device and a higher signal level input jack of another device through multiple amplification stages and circuit board structures. The telecommunications chassis, module, and repeater circuit can be used in conjunction.

A telecommunications chassis provides a mounting structure for telecommunications modules housing various types of circuitry. The telecommunications chassis must provide protection from externalities while also facilitating heat dissipation from the circuitry it contains. The chassis must also attempt to shield its interior from electromagnetic interference while limiting the amount of electromagnetic interference being emitted from the interior. For certain applications, such as providing uninterrupted service during maintenance, circuitry housed by the chassis may need to be moved from place to place. Thus, portability of the chassis for this type of application becomes important as well. As the data rate being handled by the circuitry within the chassis increases, the ability to shield and protect from externalities while dissipating heat becomes more difficult.
Similarly, with the telecommunications modules that may be housed by the chassis, the circuitry within the module must be protected from externalities within the chassis such as heat, flames, loose material, and interference that may be emanating from other circuits also housed by the chassis. Because circuits fail, the module must maintain its ability to be removed from the chassis and replaced while continuing to protect the circuitry is houses during normal operation. As with a chassis, the ability of the module to shield and protect the circuitry while dissipating heat becomes more difficult as the data rate being handled by the circuitry within the module increases.
Bridging repeater circuits, which may be housed by the modules and chassis previously discussed, must take a low-level electrical monitor signal from one device, such as a digital signal cross-connect, and recreate the electrical signal with the data and clock information intact and at a high level suitable for reception by another device. Bridging repeater circuits are useful where a device has failed or must otherwise be replaced but a break in service is to be avoided. The bridging repeater circuit bridges around the faulty device from one healthy device to a replacement device to establish signal transfer prior to the faulty device being disconnected. The bridging repeater circuit is generally housed by a portable structure which needs to provide protection from heat and interference so that it may be transported to the locations of faulty devices and successfully create the output signal. As the data rate increases, the repeater circuit's ability to recover the data and clock information from the low-level monitor signal to recreate the output signal becomes more difficult.
Therefore, there is a need for a chassis to provide protection to modules from externalities and interference while facilitating heat dissipation, even at high data rates and while being portable if necessary. There is also a need for a module to provide protection to circuits from externalities and interference while facilitating heat dissipation, even at high data rates. Additionally, there is a need for a bridging repeater circuit that can recover the data and clock portions from a low-level monitor signal to recreate a high-level output signal repeating the data and clock information, even at high data rates.

Telecommunications chassis, module, and bridging repeater circuitry


An apparatus in which propping mechanisms and seat mechanisms augment a throwing game target with the ability to alternately function as a chair when it is not in use as a target. The throwing target components, the components of the propping mechanisms, and the components of the seat mechanisms are all capable of collapse or removal to facilitate the apparatus to be carried, transported or stowed.

The invention is an improvement of a throwing target used in recreation games in which players throw objects at a target. The conception of the claimed invention occurred during a moment in which the inventor experienced a problem inherent in the use of a target for a throwing game. While the invention disclosed herein may be realized in a variation that uses another throwing target, the invention, at its initial conception, contemplated modification of the throwing target used in the game referred-to as "Cornhole." Hereafter, it is written as merely cornhole.
The target for playing cornhole is generally constructed from five parts. Four are straight lengths of constant section material forming a frame, and the fifth is a panel that lies atop the frame. Toward one end of the face, there is a hole for receiving a thrown object. To increase the view factor to the hole, the target face is inclined upward from the ground at the end at which the hole is located. Specific to cornhole, the thrown object is generally expected to be a bean bag, a pouch containing free media that fills the bag but does not so entirely fill it that the bag loses the ability to deform when it strikes a surface.
A bean bag does not deform and then resiliently recoil to an uncompressed shape. This gives it the general ability to engage a surface, without bouncing away from the surface. The ability to deform and remain in contact with a surface allows a bean bag striking the target face to generally slide across the surface, rather than roll. Use of a bean bag therefore allows for the game of cornhole to be free of impact deflection and instead include friction as a variable in achieving the task of delivering a thrown object into a target hole. Locating the target's hole closer to the inclined end, furthest from the bag-thrower, allows for most of the rest of the board to be used as a runway of greater area than the hole, which can compensate for errors in angle of trajectory and for distance of the thrown to make use of the greater area of the rest of the board to allow the excess velocity to keep the bag on the surface and occasionally carry the bag into the hole.
It is not uncommon for points to be allocated for bags which strike the target face and remain on the surface, in lieu of actually passing through the hole. Thrown too fast, a bean bag may skip-over the hole. Thrown too slowly or at too steep a trajectory, a bean bag may come to land on the target but not manage to slide up the face into the hole, for its relative lack of horizontal component of its velocity. However, a steep trajectory does increase the odds of a bean bag remaining upon the target surface, because of the friction and force-absorbing deformation of the bag preventing the smaller horizontal component from carrying the bag off of the surface.
Cornhole, because of its simple and generally affordable target assembly cost, and commonly expected proportions of gameplay, has become very popular. A large portion of the public can build a conforming board, and for minimal financial burden. As a result, individuals of a larger proportion of the public, stumbling upon a game of cornhole, is more likely to have played the game on a similar target, and wish to join-in, because of the greater odds of having accumulated skill from having played on another occasion, in a different location, with a different group of people. The regulation of proportions and their selection in order to enable use of simplest materials therefore fosters popularity.
The lack of additional equipment and moderate distance of the field necessary for gameplay lends itself to outdoor leisure events and social gathering. Two common settings for cornhole are beaches and parking lots at sporting events in which fans are engaging in the generally-pre-game social gathering practice known as "tailgating." Someone "tailgaters" may bring food for others, some may bring drink, others games, and others may be expected to bring chairs, in order for such a group to share in all of these benefits during the event. The inventor conceived of the present invention when attending a tailgating event, to which the inventor was carrying a target for cornhole from a significant distance. He was burdened with both carrying a cornhole game target and folding chairs, so that people not playing the game could sit, as well also other items to be used at the event, but which themselves were not pertinent to playing cornhole.
The game of cornhole is played standing up, so those participating in gameplay do not require a chair. However, between games, or after game play has ceased, anyone that might have been standing up would then need a chair. Any chair provided for an individual that begins playing the game would therefore be vacant during gameplay. Therefore, chairs and game targets are alternately necessary. Using a game target is in the alternative to a chair and vice-versa. Certainly, both could be provided. However, providing both chair and target requires undertaking the burdens of carrying the weight of both, and providing sufficient space in a vehicle for both, if carried in a vehicle. The space limitation is significant in the likely scenario of the additional chairs for attendees that will be present but not playing the game. It is the nature of playing cornhole as a part of an event that it will need to be provided space alongside other space-consuming objects, like chairs. While any single cornhole target is likely to be only modestly heavy and conveniently shaped for carry for individuals with two arms to commit to the task, it becomes dramatically more difficult to handle when said individual also must carry another object.
The prior art includes throwing targets that attempt to address the size and weight and shape limitations of a cornhole board by compromising the cornhole board. In most variations, the dimensions are significantly changed, and often the gameplay is negatively affected by the space saving features. One corruption of the continuous surface of a typical cornhole throwing target would be dividing the playing surface up the face of the board, along its length, with a hinge, as seen in published application "Portable bean bag toss game (Nally, 2014/0091526)."
A common example of a successful throw is one which lands on the middle of the board and has enough velocity to slide up the middle of the board, into the hole. A hinge running up the middle of the board negatively affects the throw, and denies reward to a performance that is generally capable of obtaining a goal on an uncompromised target. More detrimental to the desire to use such a target to play cornhole, or any other bean bag toss game, is not the corruption of the play caused by a feature that corrupts the playing surface, but the fact that the detrimental feature is not present in other cornhole targets. If the game target varies, the appeal of carryover skill or other familiarity-related appeal is not available, and fewer people have interest in playing the game. A high priority to an improvement in providing the target is to not compromise the target's conformance to common gameplay.
Taken in sum, the inventor recognized a general need to decrease the overall burden of providing cumulative objects to an event in which cornhole might be played, rather than alter a cornhole target's gameplay parameters. The decrease in the quantity of objects decreases the cumulative burden frequently present in any event in which cornhole might be provided. Folding chairs are one object carried that are only necessary during periods, when gameplay is not occurring. Therefore, combination of the two objects, the target and a chair, decreases the quantity of objects, wherein such combination sufficiently performs the ability to alternately provide an acceptable chair or an acceptable cornhole target.
The invention, as disclosed in the summary of the invention, and the detailed description of the invention, and as claimed, addresses the problem of reducing the burden of providing a throwing target. It provides, in a single apparatus, both an acceptable chair and an acceptable cornhole target, in the alternative.

Combination game throwing target and chair and method of assembly


Batteries comprise a carbon fiber electrode construction of the invention and have improved DCA and/or CCA, and/or may maintain DCA with an increasing number of charge-discharge cycles, and thus may be particularly suitable for use in hybrid vehicles.

A Pb-acid battery stores and releases energy by electrochemical reaction(s) at the surfaces of its electrodes. Each cell in the fully charged state contains electrodes of elemental lead (Pb) and lead (IV) dioxide (PbO2) in an electrolyte of dilute sulfuric acid (H2SO4). In the discharged state both electrodes turn into lead (II) sulfate (PbSO4) and the electrolyte loses its dissolved sulfuric acid and becomes primarily water. In the pasted-plate construction each plate consists of a lead grid initially filled with a paste comprising a mixture of leady oxide (Pb and PbO) and dilute sulfuric acid. This construction allows the acid in the paste to react with the leady oxide inside the plate during cell formation (first charge and discharge cycle during which linkages occur between neighbouring particles), increasing the electrical conductivity and active surface area and thus the battery capacity. The paste may also contain carbon black, blanc fixe (fine barium sulfate), and lignosulfonate.
Vehicle hybridisation driven by increasing worldwide demand for lower automotive emissions and/or increased fuel economy places increased demand on vehicle batteries, which are most commonly Pb-acid batteries. For example the European Union has set a long-term emissions target of not more than 95 g carbon dioxide/km to be reached by 2020 for new vehicles.
Many new internal combustion engine (petrol, diesel, or gas) powered vehicles also have idle elimination functionality—the engine is arranged to switch off when the vehicle is stationary or travelling at low speed. Such vehicles are referred to as stop-start vehicles or micro-hybrid vehicles. Each engine restart draws energy from the battery and if this occurs more quickly than energy can be replaced by recharging, during only relatively short engine on periods in commuter traffic for example, the battery charge (or state of charge) will not be maintained. Current is also drawn from the battery during periods in which the vehicle engine is off to maintain other functionalities in the vehicle such as air-conditioning, radio etc (referred to as "hotel loads"). Battery charge may fall sufficiently that the vehicle battery management system will then override the idle elimination functionality to prevent any further engine stop-starts until the battery's state of charge has recovered. Thus to maintain battery charge in even for example heavy commuter traffic a battery for such a stop-start or micro-hybrid vehicle should have a high dynamic charge acceptance (DCA) rate, which refers to the rate at which a battery will accept charge.
Vehicles with a higher level of hybridisation including vehicles comprising both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor typically comprise regenerative braking, in which braking force is applied by a generator the electric energy from which is stored in the vehicle battery. The vehicle battery is charged only by current from regenerative braking during time periods in which the internal combustion engine which also drives a generator (which here includes alternator) is not operating. Under regenerative braking relatively high charging currents are supplied to the vehicle battery for short time periods and thus batteries for hybrid vehicles with regenerative braking should also have high DCA. Full electric vehicles also comprise regenerative braking.
The charging system of a hybrid vehicle is arranged to use the engine-driven generator to maintain the charge state of the vehicle battery at less than full charge such as for example at about 80% charge, so that there is generally capacity available to accept additional charging energy from regenerative braking. However the battery DCA then typically declines over time with increasing number of discharge and charge (to less than full charge) cycles, with AGM batteries typically operating at around 0.1 to 0.3 A/Ah (or 0.1 to 0.3 C) within a few thousand cycles. This loss in charge acceptance reduces the fuel saving capability of the vehicle; automakers ideally want a battery that can accept up to 2 A/ah, or even 3 A/Ah over a 5 to 10 second period to maximise the fuel saving potential of the start/stop and regenerative braking functions. However, any improvement above the 0.1 to 0.3 A/Ah is a valuable improvement. Typically the charging system of a hybrid vehicle is arranged to allow the battery to discharge and then (using the engine-driven generator to) charge the battery. Generally, the cars Battery Management System will periodically fully charge the battery (or "recondition" the battery) to restore the battery DCA, such as every three months. An ideal Pb-acid battery, particularly for a hybrid vehicle, would maintain DCA without requiring periodic full charging, or at least would maintain a higher rate of DCA between reconditioning cycles.
In a Pb-acid battery DCA is primarily determined by the charging reaction at the negative electrode.
A battery should also meet other requirements, such as have high volumetric energy density. Volumetric energy density (VED) refers to the energy supplied per unit volume of electrode. A closed Pb-acid battery system should also have low water consumption. And an automotive battery in particular should be able to deliver high current for engine starting, at low temperature. A cold cranking amps (CCA) test tests the ability of a battery to do so.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,569,514 describes utilising activated carbon as an electrode in an absorbed glass mat battery to overcome sulphation to thereby increase the dynamic charge acceptance of the battery.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,442 describes a lead-acid battery plate comprising a metal grid and active mass and a layer of carbon fibrous material on the side of the active mass to enhance mechanical integrity of the active mass.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,343 describes a negative lead-acid storage battery plate with interconnected carbon fibres over the face of a pasted plate. During manufacture formability is enhanced by securing the fibres to a paper carrier and then pressing the same to the plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,617,071 describes an electrode having a conductive polymeric matrix formed over the surface of a grid plate where the conductive polymeric matrix comprises superfine or nanoscale particles of active material.
Our international patent application publication WO2011/078707 discloses a lead-acid battery comprising as a current collector a conductive fibrous material of filaments with low interfibre spacing and conducting chains of Pb-based particles attached to the fibres, which provides improved battery performance particularly DCA.


A saw having a power unit with a drive component and a housing for the power unit with a frame. A bar on the housing guides movement of an operatively positioned cutting chain driven by the drive component in an endless path. The bar is movable guidingly in opposite directions in a predetermined path relative to the housing to thereby vary tension upon an operatively positioned cutting chain. A bar fixing assembly has a knob that is turnable around a first axis relative to the housing in: a) a first direction to a tightened state; and b) a second direction to a loosened state. A first assembly resiliently bears against the knob to at least one of: a) inhibit turning of the knob around the first axis; b) provide a sensory indication to a user grasping and turning the knob that the knob is moving around the first axis; and c) reduce play in the knob.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to chainsaws and, more particularly, to a chainsaw with a mechanism for selectively tensioning an endless cutting chain thereon.
2. Background Art
Chainsaws are commonly configured with a main housing that contains a power unit. The housing has operating handles thereon that allow a user to conveniently lift and reposition the chainsaw. A trigger is provided on one of the handles through which operating speeds for the chainsaw are controlled.
The housing includes a frame to which a chain bar is operatively connected. The chain bar has a track for guiding movement of a chain in an endless path. With the chain bar operatively positioned, the chain can be trained around both the bar and a toothed component that is driven by the power unit.
Virtually every chain bar is connected to its supporting frame so as to be translatable guidingly in a line generally parallel to the bar length. By selectively shifting the chain bar lengthwise relative to the frame in opposite directions, the endless path for the chain, defined cooperatively by the chain bar and toothed drive component, can be effectively lengthened and shortened. Shortening of this path allows the chain to be initially installed in a slackened state upon the bar. Thereafter, the bar is shifted an amount to produce a desired tension upon the chain, whereupon the chain is fixed, as by tightening one or more threaded components that positively bear the chain bar against the housing frame.
As the chainsaw is operated, there is a tendency of the chain bar to shift in a manner whereby the chain may become slackened. This condition may be the result of pressures applied to the chain bar during cutting operations that cause the chain bar to shift. Additionally, the chain has a link construction that is prone to becoming lengthened over extensive use periods.
To compensate for this condition, chainsaws are commonly made with mechanisms that facilitate loosening of the chain and re-tensioning after the initial installation thereof. Early versions of these tensioners were quite basic and required tools to loosen fasteners and retighten the same after the chain tension was reset.
Tool-operated tensioners, while functionally effective, have drawbacks. First of all, the user is required to keep on hand and available the required tool or tools demanded by a particular design to operate the tensioner. If the necessary tools are for some reason not available, potentially the chainsaw will be inoperable. Alternatively, a user risks that a slackened chain might become damaged or, in a worst case, separate from the bar as the chainsaw is being operated.
Further, even if the user has on hand the necessary tool(s), manipulation of a separate tool is inherently inconvenient. This is aggravated by the fact that heavy gloves are recommended when using chainsaws. Thus, the operator is normally required to remove his/her gloves preparatory to changing the tension on the chain. This is particularly inconvenient in cold weather conditions and/or when there is precipitation.
The inconveniences associated with handling separate tools prompted the industry to develop tensioners that are characterized as "toolless". Toolless tensioning involves hand manipulation of components that at all times remain part of the chainsaw unit.
Those designing toolless tensioners are guided by a number of different criteria. First of all, the structure must be reliable and convenient to operate. A failure of a component of a toolless system may render the entire chainsaw unusable until a repair is effected. Further, the steps required to re-tension a chain must be such that they are less onerous than those to re-tension chains using separate tools.
It is also preferred that the tensioning system be relatively simple in terms of its design. Complicated mechanisms often become expensive by reason of the high cost of the parts themselves, as well as their assembly. Complicated designs inherently tend to be more prone to failure than those that are more simplified.
There are currently many different toolless tensioner designs available, including many which are patented and many in commercial form.
Common to many of these designs is the incorporation of a hand-graspable knob that can be turned to selectively release and fix the chain bar in a desired position. Various mechanisms have been developed to maintain the knob in a desired, tightened position. This has been accomplished through separate latching components, use of ratchet mechanisms, use of parts with engaging teeth, etc.
While the above types of mechanisms have been effective in terms of holding the operating knob in a desired position and preventing rattling thereof, they do have drawbacks. Use of separate latching components, aside from generally requiring a relatively complicated design, requires a user to releasably set the latch each time the chain is re-tensioned. This introduces a level of inconvenience to the operator.
Further, the cooperating structures on relatively movable components, that prevent loosening and rattle, generally require parts to act against each other in a manner whereby they are prone to wear, particularly after extended use of the chainsaw.
The industry continues to develop new designs for toolless tensioners. These new designs are motivated by a desire to offer an affordable toolless tensioning option that is reliable and convenient to operate. The design process is complicated by the fact that these objectives are often competing in nature.


Techniques and infrastructure are provided for supporting global customization. The invention enables persona profiles of user information to be maintained, and such persona profiles to be accessed by merchants. Via the persona abstraction, users control what information is grouped into a persona profile, and can selectively enable a merchant to read one of these profiles. The infrastructure of the invention employs a persona server that assists users in managing their personae. The infrastructure of the invention separates this from the profile databases at which persona profile information is stored, to eliminate any single point at which different persona profiles can be tied to the same user. Since merchants also have privacy concerns, the infrastructure of the invention provides a data protection model based on tainting, by which merchants can limit how the information they contribute can be exposed.

With the increasing user acceptance of performing purchasing transactions over a data network, such as the World Wide Web (hereinafter "web") or the Internet, merchants who host web sites at which users may purchase (or, at least, learn about) their products have an obvious financial interest in continuously attempting to improve the user's experience. Mass customization refers to the creation of a customized experience for online buyers by using technology that responds to their individual requirements and interests, see, e.g., J. Nelson, "Mass-Customization Marketing: Maximizing Value of Customers," IDC Bulletin #17726, December 1998, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. "Customization" is sometimes also called "personalization," though personalization also conveys the meaning of web content that the user can explicitly configure. For example, a user might create a personalized web page at a site by telling the site which stock quotes to display whenever the user visits. Here, we are primarily concerned with content that a site predicts the user will like based on information inferred about the user, rather than by explicit user instruction. Customization typically employs data mining and/or collaborative filtering to predict content that is likely to be of interest to that visitor, and presentation of customized content to the visitor at opportune moments. Customization can be particularly effective when the user identifies himself or herself explicitly to the web site. In this case, customization can be much more "accurate," in the sense that the site can employ the specific user's past browsing and purchasing history at that site to predict what content will be most effective for this user.
Global customization, by which a user's web history is shared across many merchant sites, is practiced today in several forms. A predominant form of such global customization is "ad networks" such as DoubleClick™. In this form, information about a visitor's activities at a merchant site is passed to DoubleClick™ via image hypertext links in the merchant's page. In response to these requests, DoubleClick™ returns banner advertisements customized to these activities. This customization is "global" in that this information is collected into a profile for the user (or more precisely, the browser) that is used to customize ads for the same user on his or her future visits to DoubleClick™-enabled sites.
Recently, even more ambitious sharing of consumer web activity has been developed by companies such as Angara™ and I-behavior™ (or Net Perception™). Both companies profile users, Angara using an opt-out approach and I-behavior using an opt-in approach, and provide targeted information to merchants about a user for the purposes of customization. However, none of these existing approaches provide support for users and merchants to specify policies that limit who can obtain information they contribute.
Further, electronic wallets, such as the Microsoft Passport™ and the Java Wallet™, may offer possibilities for global customization. Wallets vary with respect to what information they retain about user activities, and to what extent they share this information with participating merchants. However, to the extent that they do retain information (for example, they often retain receipts for purchases), such wallets pose a privacy risk to both users and merchants. From the user perspective, these wallets hold identifying information for the user in conjunction with any behavioral information, and, therefore, stored behavioral profiles are not anonymous. Moreover, to the extent that behavioral information is conveyed to merchants, merchants are unable to specify data protection policies about how information they contribute is to be shared with others. The above-mentioned privacy risks have been cited as a major tension between wallet vendors and both online merchants and users; see, e.g., K. Cassar et al., "Digital Wallets, Pursuing Dual Wallet Strategy Before Leverage is Lost," Jupiter Strategic Planning Services/DCS99-14, February 1999, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Still further, pseudonymous e-mail addresses, or "nyms," are known to be used in e-mail applications, see, e.g., D. Maziéres et al., "The design, implementation, and operation of an email pseudonym server," Proceedings of the 5th ACM Conference on Computer and Communication Security, pages 27–36, November 1998; and I. Goldberg et al., "Freedom Network 1.0 architecture," November 1999, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. Users post to newsgroups or send emails under a nym in a way that recipients may not easily be able to correlate multiple nyms as being the same user. However, nyms do not provide mechanisms and support for users and merchants to specify policies that limit who can obtain information they contribute such that global customization of network content may be performed in a sufficiently privacy-preserving manner.

Methods and apparatus for providing privacy-preserving global customization


Apparatus, systems, and methods implementing techniques for converting clock signals are described. A voltage-based input clock signal is received and converted into a current-based clock signal. An electrical current of the current-based clock signal is varied in response to the input clock signal while a voltage of the current-based clock signal remains substantially constant.

The following disclosure relates to electrical circuits and signal processing.
Digital circuits can use a central clock whose signal is distributed to multiple circuit components and allows the circuit components to operate synchronously. The clock signal is typically generated by an oscillator circuit, for example, a quartz crystal or RC oscillator circuit. In a wireless communications circuit (which may include analog and/or digital components), a clock signal from a local oscillator can be used to mix signals up to intermediate frequency (IF) and radio frequency (RF) bands.
Clock signals are conventionally distributed as voltages. A conventional clock signal typically alternates between a low voltage and a high voltage. A quick transition between the low voltage and the high voltage, which results in a sharp clock edge, is typically desirable. The frequency of the transitions between voltages determines the clock frequency.
In large integrated circuits, between integrated circuit chips, or in communications systems, the conduits along which a clock signal is transmitted can be long. A conduit typically has a parasitic capacitance that increases with the length of the conduit. The parasitic capacitance on long clock distribution conduits can be significant at the frequencies at which a modern clock can operate. As clock frequencies rise, detrimental effects of parasitic capacitance typically become more severe. The parasitic capacitance typically requires power to charge and discharge as the voltage on the conduit varies, thereby increasing the power used by a circuit. Charging and discharging the parasitic capacitance on a conventional clock distribution conduit typically slows the transition of the clock signal between the low voltage and the high voltage, resulting in a lower-quality clock signal. Voltage swings on a long conduit can capacitively couple to parts of a circuit to which the conduit is not connected, thereby introducing noise into the circuit from a clock signal on a conduit and into the clock signal from the circuit.
To mitigate the increased power consumption caused by parasitic capacitance and to sharpen clock edges, inductance can be added to a conventional clock distribution circuit. The amount of added inductance can be chosen so that the inductance in the conventional clock distribution circuit resonates with the parasitic capacitance at the clock frequency. When the inductance and the parasitic capacitance resonate, a high impedance is presented between the conduit and ground, reducing the power loss through the parasitic capacitance and sharpening the clock edge.
Monolithic inductors typically require a significant amount of area on an integrated-circuit chip. In addition, when process variations affect the amount of inductance or parasitic capacitance in a conventional clock distribution circuit, the resonant frequency of the inductance and parasitic capacitance can shift away from the clock frequency, degrading the clock signal and increasing power loss. The introduction of inductance into the clock distribution circuit typically decreases the bandwidth of the clock signal.


A karaoke system for providing improved services with customers, utilizing inherent network resources of a large-scale communication karaoke system is disclosed.. The karaoke system according to one aspect of the present invention has a host apparatus 2 and a plurality of remote terminal apparatuses 1 for playing karaoke music communicating with the host apparatus via a communication network 3. Each of the remote terminal apparatuses 1 stores karaoke data transferred from the host apparatus 2 and plays the karaoke data selected from among the stored karaoke data by a speaker 11 and a CRT display 15.. The host apparatus 2 stores a plurality of records of customers of the karaoke system.. Each of the remote terminal apparatuses 1 comprises a central processing unit 4 for identifying a customer to acquire an identifier of the customer, acquiring the corresponding customer record from the host apparatus, updating the acquired customer record according to the customer's using status of the karaoke system, generating messages for the customer based on the acquired customer record, outputting the generated messages to the customer, and uploading the updated customer record to the host apparatus to update the corresponding customer record stored in the host apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a karaoke system consisting of a host apparatus and a plurality of remote terminal apparatuses connected thereto via a communication network, specifically relates to a karaoke system providing new services to the customers utilizing network technologies.
2. Description of the Related Art
One of prevalent karaoke systems includes a host apparatus and a plurality of remote terminal apparatuses connected thereto via a communication network. This type of karaoke system is generally referred to as a "communication karaoke system". In the communication karaoke system, each of the remote terminal apparatuses stores karaoke data transmitted from the host apparatus. The stored karaoke data in the remote terminal apparatus is able to be played on demand. When a customer chooses a favorite karaoke music piece using such a device as a remote control of the terminal apparatus, the karaoke accompaniment for the selected tune is played by speakers and character strings of the lyrics of the tune is displayed on a CRT display in synchronism with the karaoke music. Timing marks for instructing a singer when to sing are also displayed with the character strings of the lyrics. Moving or still images are superimposed in the background of the displayed lyrics, which may go along with the karaoke music. Various services have been developed and applied to standalone karaoke players as well as the communication karaoke system. However, most of the services are directly related to convenience in singing of customers.
The communication karaoke system is a large-scale computer network including a host computer and a number of remote terminal apparatuses arranged nationwide communicating with the host computer via a communication network, in other words, a multimedia system handling various digital audio and image information, including moving pictures. Advanced functions and new usage using network resources of the communication karaoke system are now being extensively studied and developed.

Karaoke system having host apparatus with customer records