Method and apparatus for decoding a one-point algebraic geometric code of dimension k and length n, in order to identify the position of the errors in a received word, the syndromes matrix S, of dimension (n−k)×(n−k) is defined, of which the elements Sij of each line i are calculated, for j between 1 and w(i), where the boundary w is a decreasing function, using the syndrome s of the received word, as well as the matrix S* obtained by “extending” the matrix S, that is to say by calculating the value of certain elements S*ij where j is greater than w(i). This method makes it possible in certain favorable cases to find the erroneous positions of the received word when the number of errors is greater than (n−k+1−g)/2, even if it is not possible to calculate all the elements of S* conventionally required by a two-stage algorithm to perform that correction.

It will be recalled that channel "block encoding" consists, when the "codewords" sent to a receiver or recorded on a data carrier are formed, of introducing a certain level of redundancy in the data. More particularly, by means of each codeword, the information is transmitted that is initially contained in a predetermined number k of symbols taken from an "alphabet" of finite size q; on the basis of these k information symbols, calculation is made of a number n>k of symbols belonging to that alphabet, which constitute the components of the codewords: v≡(v0,v1, . . . , vn−1) (the symbol "≡" means "by definition"). The set of codewords obtained when each information symbol takes some value in the alphabet constitutes a sort of dictionary referred to as a "code" of "dimension" k and "length" n.
When the size q of the "alphabet" is a power of a prime number, the alphabet can be given the structure of what is known as a "Galois field" denoted Fq, of which the non-zero elements may conveniently be identified as each being equal to γi for a corresponding value of i, where i=1, . . . , q−1, and where γ is a primitive (q−1)th root of unity in Fq.
In particular, certain codes, termed "linear codes" are such that any linear combination of codewords (with the coefficients taken from the alphabet) is still a codeword. These codes may conveniently be associated with a matrix H of dimension (n−k)×n, termed "parity check matrix": a word v of given length n is a codeword if, and only if, it satisfies the relationship: H·vT=0 (where the exponent T indicates the transposition); the code is then said to be "orthogonal" to the matrix H.
At the receiver, the associated decoding method then judiciously uses this redundancy to detect any transmission errors and if possible to correct them. There is a transmission error if the difference e between a received word r and the corresponding codeword v sent by the transmitter is non-zero.
More particularly, the decoding is carried out in two main steps.
The first step consists of associating an "associated codeword" with the received word. To do this, the decoder first of all calculates the vector of "error syndromes" s≡H·rT=H·eT. If the syndromes are all zero, it is assumed that no transmission error has occurred, and the "associated codeword" will then simply be taken to be equal to the received word. If that is not the case, it is thereby deduced that the received word is erroneous, and a correction algorithm is then implemented which is adapted to estimate the value of the error e; the algorithm will thus provide an estimated value ê such that (r−ê) is a codeword, which will then constitute the associated codeword. Usually, this first step is divided into two substeps: first identification is made of what the components are in the received word whose value is erroneous, and then the corrected value of those components is calculated.
The second step simply consists in reversing the encoding method. In the ideal situation in which all the transmission errors have been corrected, the initial information symbols are thereby recovered.
It will be noted that in the context of the present invention, reference will often be made to "decoding" for brevity, to designate solely the first of those steps, it being understood that the person skilled in the art is capable without difficulty of implementing the second step.
The purpose of an error correction algorithm is to associate with the received word the codeword situated at the shortest Hamming distance from that received word, the "Hamming distance" being, by definition, the number of places where two words of the same length have a different symbol. The shortest Hamming distance between two different codewords of a code is termed the "minimum distance" d of that code. This is an important parameter of the code. More particularly, it is in principle possible to find the position of the possible errors in a received word, and to provide the correct replacement symbol (i.e. that is identical to that sent by the transmitter) for each of those positions, each time the number of erroneous positions is at most equal to INT[(d−1)/2] (where "INT" designates the integer part) for a code of minimum distance d (for certain error configurations, it is sometimes even possible to achieve better). However, in all cases, the concern is not with a possibility in principle, since it is often difficult to develop a decoding algorithm achieving such performance. It should also be noted that, when the chosen algorithm manages to propose a correction for the received word, that correction is all the more reliable (at least, for most transmission channels) the smaller the number of positions it concerns.
The capability of a correction algorithm to propose a correction of a received word is faithfully represented by the formula:2t≦Δ, où t where Δ is the number of erroneous symbols in the received word, and is a strictly positive integer which we will call the "solving capability" of the algorithm. If the value of (2t) is less than or equal to the solving capability, the correction algorithm will be capable of correcting the received word. If the value of (2t) is greater than the solving capability, the algorithm can:                either simply fail in its correction attempt,        or be capable of proposing a correction of the received word; in this case, if that correction is accepted, the risk is taken of it being erroneous, i.e. that the codeword proposed is not in fact the word sent; clearly, the greater (2t) is with respect to Δ, the higher the risk.
Taking into account the above considerations concerning the minimum distance d of the code, the algorithm considered will be said to be "maximum" ifΔ=d−1,and "sub-maximum" ifΔ<d−1.
Among known codes, "Reed-Solomon" codes may be cited, which are reputed for their efficiency. They are linear codes, of which the minimum distance d is equal to (n−k+1). The parity check matrix H of the Reed-Solomon code of dimension k and length n (where n is necessarily equal to (q−1) or a divisor of (q−1)) is a matrix with (n−k) lines and n columns, which has the structure of a Vandermonde matrix. This parity check matrix H may for example be defined by taking Hij=α(i+1)j (0≦i≦n−k−1, 0≦j≦n−1), where α is an nth root of unity in Fq. For more details on Reed-Solomon codes, reference may for example be made to the work by R. E. Blahut entitled "Theory and practice of error-control codes", Addison-Wesley, Reading, Mass., 1983. If the parity check matrix H of dimension (n−k)×n of a Reed-Solomon code is replaced by a matrix H′ obtained by deleting certain columns of H, the code orthogonal to H′ is said to be a "shortened" Reed-Solomon code.
For modern information carriers, for example on computer hard disks, CDs ("compact discs") and DVDs ("digital video discs"), it is sought to increase the density of information. When such a carrier is affected by a physical defect such as a scratch, a high number of information symbols may be rendered unreadable. This problem may nevertheless be remedied by using a very long code. However, as indicated above, the length n of the words in Reed-Solomon codes is less than the size q of the alphabet of the symbols. Consequently, if a Reed-Solomon code is desired having codewords of great length, high values of q must be envisaged, which leads to costly implementations in terms of calculation and storage in memory. Moreover, high values of q are sometimes ill-adapted to the technical application envisaged. For this reason, it has been sought to build codes which naturally provide words of greater length than Reed-Solomon codes.
In particular so-called "algebraic geometric codes" or "Goppa geometric codes" have recently been proposed (see for example "Algebraic Geometric Codes" by par J. H. van Lint, in "Coding Theory and Design Theory" 1st part, IMA Volumes Math. App., volume 20, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1990). These codes are constructed from a set of n pairs (x, y) of symbols belonging to a chosen Galois field Fq; this set of pairs is termed a "locating set". In general terms, there is an algebraic equation with two unknowns X and Y such that the pairs (x, y) of that locating set are all solutions of that algebraic equation. The values of x and y of these pairs may be considered as coordinates of points Pj (where j=1, . . . , n) forming an "algebraic curve". Furthermore, in the context of the present invention, the set of the pairs (x, y) having the same value of x will be said to constitute an "aggregate".
An important parameter of such a curve is its "genus" g. In the particular case where the curve is a simple straight line (the genus g s then zero), the algebraic geometric code reduces to a Reed-Solomon code. In certain cases, algebraic geometric codes make it possible to achieve a length equal to (q+2g√{square root over (q)}), which may be very high; for example, with an alphabet length of 256 and a genus equal to 120, codewords are obtained of length 4096.
For a "one point" algebraic geometric code a parity check matrix is conventionally defined as follows: With every monomial h≡XsYt, where s and t are positive integers or zero, a "weight" is associated (see below for details). If, for an integer ρ≧0, there is at least one monomial of which the weight is ρ, it is said that ρ is an "achievable" weight. Let ρ1<ρ2< . . . <ρn-k be the (n−k) smallest achievable weights, and let hi (where i=1, . . . , n−k) be a monomial of weight ρi. The element in line i and column j of the parity check matrix is equal to the monomial hi evaluated at the point Pj (where, it may be recalled, j=1, . . . , n) of the algebraic curve. Each point Pj then serves to identify the jth component of any codeword.
Algebraic geometric codes are advantageous as to their minimum distance, and, as has been said, as to the length of the codewords, but they have the drawback of requiring decoding algorithms that are rather complex, and thus rather expensive in terms of equipment (software and/or hardware) and processing time. This complexity is in fact greater or lesser according to the algorithm considered, a greater complexity being in principle the price to pay for increasing the error correction capability of the decoder (see for example the article by Tom Høholdt and Ruud Pellikaan entitled "On the Decoding of Algebraic-Geometric Codes", IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory, vol. 41 no. 6, pages 1589 to 1614, November 1995).
It should be noted that for these algorithms, most often only a lower bound of their solving capability Δ is available, except in the "trivial" case of a maximum algorithm for correction of Reed-Solomon codes, called the "Berlekamp-Massey algorithm", for which the solving capability is precisely known and is equal to Δ=n−k.
An algorithm for decoding algebraic geometric codes defined on a curve of non-zero genus, termed "basic" algorithm, has been proposed by A. N. Skorobogatov and S. G. Vl{hacek over (a)}dut in the article entitled "On the Decoding of Algebraic-Geometric Codes", IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory, vol. 36 no. 5, pages 1051 to 1060, November 1990). That algorithm comprises:                a) constructing a "syndromes matrix" S of dimension (n−k)×(n−k), of which each coefficient Sij, where j is less than or equal to a "boundary" value w(i), is equal to a judiciously chosen linear combination of the elements sv (v=1,2, . . . , n−k) of the syndrome s, the coefficients Sij beyond the boundary being undetermined; it is conveniently arranged for the order of the lines of that syndromes matrix S to be such that the function w(i) is decreasing, that is to say that w(i)≧w(i+1) for all i=1,2, . . . , n−k−1;        b) considering the system of linear equations
                                                        ∑                              i                =                1                            β                                                                  l                i                                                          S                ij                                              =          0                ,                              for                                                                          j                    =          1                ,        2        ,        …                                          ,                  w                                (            β            )                          ,                            (        1        )            where the unknowns li belong to the same alphabet of symbols as the elements of the codewords, and where β is an integer between 1 and (n−k) such that the system permits a non-trivial solution (that is to say a solution in which the coefficients li are not all zero), and determining the values of the coefficients li corresponding to the smallest possible value of β, which will be denoted λ;                c) calculating the roots of the "error-locating polynomial"
                                          Λ                                      (                              x                ,                y                            )                                ≡                                    ∑                              i                =                1                            λ                                                                  l                i                                                                            h                  i                                                                  (                                      x                    ,                    y                                    )                                                                    ,                            (        2        )            these roots comprising all the pairs (x,y) corresponding to positions of the received word for which the component in that position has suffered a transmission error; and                d) correcting the erroneous symbols of the received word of which the position is now known.
The "basic" algorithm guarantees a solving capability at least equal to Δ=n−k−2g. However, the minimum distance d for an algebraic geometric code is at least equal to (n−k+1−g). It is thus clear that the basic algorithm is "sub-maximum", and this is all the more so the greater the genus g of the algebraic curve.
With the aim of improving the solving capability, Skorobogatov and Vl{hacek over (a)}dut proposed, in the same article cited above, a "modified" version of the "basic" algorithm. This "modified" algorithm has a solving capability at least equal to Δ=n−k−g−s, where s is a parameter dependent on the algebraic curve chosen, which may furthermore sometimes be zero (this is the case for example for so-called "hyperelliptic" algebraic curves.
Algorithms are also known (which may be maximum or sub-maximum according to the manner in which they are implemented) which operate according to an iterative principle: each new iteration of such an algorithm uses an additional component of the syndromes vector s≡H·r{dot over (T)}.
An example of such an iterative decoding algorithm is disclosed in the article by M. Sakata et al. entitled "Generalized Berlekamp-Massey Decoding of Algebraic-Geometric Codes up to Half the Feng-Rao Bound" (IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory, vol 41, pages 1762 to 1768, November 1995) This algorithm can be viewed as a generalization of the Berlekamp-Massey algorithm to algebraic geometric codes defined on a curve of non-zero genus.
Another example of an iterative decoding algorithm has been disclosed by M. O'Sullivan in the article "A Generalization of the Berlekamp-Massey-Sakata Algorithm" (preprint 2001).
For any received word r, the set of error locating polynomials defined above associated with the transmission errors affecting that word is termed is termed a "Gröbner ideal". It is possible to generate this Gröbner ideal by means of a finite set of polynomials which constitutes what is known as a "Gröbner basis" of the ideal. The O'Sullivan algorithm which has just been cited produces such a Gröbner basis from a matrix S* obtained by "extending" the matrix S, that is to say by calculating the value of certain elements S*ij, for j greater than w(i). This extension is possible each time the number of errors in the received word is less than or equal to (n−k+1−g)/2.
When the number of errors in the received word is less than or equal to (n−k+1−g)/2, it is in general necessary to know further elements of the syndromes matrix than those obtained from the components of the error syndromes vector s, to be able to correct those errors. It is fortunately possible to calculate these elements of "unknown" value by a method comprising a certain number of "majority decisions", for example by using the "Feng-Rao algorithm". This algorithm, the essential object of which is to extend the matrix S by providing the value of at most g "unknown" elements per line of S, is disclosed in the article by G.-L. Feng and T. R. N. Rao entitled "Decoding Algebraic-Geometric Codes up to the Designed Minimum Distance" (IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory, vol. 39, No. 1, January 1993); more details about this algorithm are given below.
It will be noted that the calculation of the elements of unknown value may either be performed prior to the decoding algorithm (this is normally the case for the Sakata algorithm mentioned above, which also uses the "extended" matrix S*), or be integrated with the steps of the decoding algorithm (this is the case for the O'Sullivan algorithm).
Thus let S* be the syndromes matrix so "extended", and consider the system of linear equations
                                                        ∑                              i                =                1                            μ                                                                  l                i                                                          S                ij                *                                              =          0                ,                              for                                                                          j                    =          1                ,        2        ,        …                                          ,                              w            *                                          (            μ            )                          ,                            (                  1          *                )            in which the unknown values li are to be found in the same alphabet as the symbols of the codewords, and in which u is such that for j=1, . . . , w*(μ), S*μj is known, either directly from the components of the syndromes vector, or indirectly by using an algorithm for calculating the unknown matrix elements (the similarity will of course have been noted between that equation (1*) and the equation (1) used in the "basic" algorithm; in general, it is found that w*(λ)>w(λ), in other words, the "boundary" is pushed further back when S and S* are compared).
For any non-trivial solution of the system (1*), that is to say a solution where the coefficients li are not all zero, the polynomial
                              Λ                                (                          x              ,              y                        )                          ≡                              ∑                          i              =              1                        μ                                                        l              i                                                                  h                i                                                          (                                  x                  ,                  y                                )                                                                        (                  2          *                )            is an error locating polynomial.
Now consider the case in which the number of errors is greater than (n−k+1−g)/2. The "majority decision" algorithms, such as the Feng-Rao algorithm, are not then always capable of providing an adequate value for the unknown elements of S, and consequently, a decoding algorithm using the values of those matrix elements cannot be used.
In general terms, the principle of iterative decoding (such as in the algorithms cited by way of example above) is the following. Each iteration, except for the last, of an iterative decoding algorithm uses a sub-matrix of the matrix S*. Such an iteration then provides a certain number of polynomials which, like the true error locating polynomials of equation (2*), are constituted by a linear combination of monomials hi, but for which it is not certain that the common roots include all the erroneous positions of the received word r. In other words, the status of error locating polynomials is guaranteed for all the polynomials obtained by the algorithm only provided that the number of errors is less than or equal to (n−k+1−g)/2 and that the iterations are continued right to the end, which requires the use of the elements of matrix S*ij where j>w(i).
It is for this reason that, according to the state of the art, an error is considered impossible to correct for which those elements of the matrix S* are required but cannot be calculated.

Error locating methods and devices for algebraic geometric codes


A processing fixture can be employed for processing a glass cover plate and include: a fixture body, a first sensing component, a roller component, and a control module connected with the first sensing component. The fixture body is made from flexible materials and provided with a positioning groove matched with shape of an outer surface of the glass cover plate. The first sensing component is configured to detect current dimension parameter of the glass cover plate and/or an attaching layer attached to the glass cover plate in the positioning groove, and transmit the detected current dimension parameter to the control module. The control module is configured to control cooperation of the roller component and the fixture body according to the current dimension parameter, so as to correct the current dimension parameter of the glass cover plate or the attaching layer as a target dimension parameter.

With the development of mobile terminal technologies, display screens such as full screens and flexible screens have been more and more widely used in mobile terminals. A display screen typically includes a glass cover plate and a display body attached to the glass cover plate. The display body is formed by stacking layers of formula materials.

BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.


This application relates to the field of wireless communications technologies, and provides a short message transmission method. The method includes: receiving, by a communications device, uplink data and indication information used to indicate that the uplink data belongs to a short message service; determining identification information used to identify a short message function entity device that processes the short message service; and sending the uplink data to the short message function entity based on the indication information and the identification information; or includes: receiving, by a communications device from a terminal device, uplink data and a session identifier that is used to identify a session for processing the short message service; determining identification information associated with the session identifier; and sending the uplink data to the short message function entity based on the identification information.

A short message service (SMS) is a widely applied telecommunications service. A short message is a non-real-time reliable data packet that can be transmitted in a public land mobile network (PLMN) through a signaling channel. A point-to-point data transmission service can be implemented by using the short message service. A point-to-point short message service includes a mobile terminated short message (MT SM) service and a mobile originated short message (MO SM) service.
In an existing 4G network, when a short message service needs to be performed, a short message may be transmitted to a short message center through an SGs interface between a mobility management entity (MME) and a mobile switching center (MSC). With the development of 5G networks, how to implement transmission of a non-access stratum (NAS) short message in a 5G network architecture needs to be urgently resolved.

Short message transmission method, device, and system


A covering element for an alternator pole includes a body which is provided with a portion adapted to be fitted on the alternator pole and a portion adapted to be fitted on the cable that is connected to the alternator pole. The portion of the body which is adapted to be fitted on the alternator pole is provided with coupling teeth which are adapted to allow coupling to a coupling flange of the alternator pole. At least one of the teeth is elastically yielding so as to allow the coupling of the covering element to different diameters of the coupling flange.

As is known, positive poles of alternators have pins of different sizes for an interface for coupling the covering element of the pole.
In practice, the pole is provided with a disk that acts as a support for the coupling and which can have different diameters depending on the manufacturer. This makes it necessary to have covering elements for the pole of different sizes depending on and complying with the different sizes of the disk for supporting the coupling.
This obviously translates to drawbacks from a point of view of the costs of storing different covering elements, and also of increased mounting times caused by the need to choose the correctly-sized covering element for the particular alternator pole that is to be covered.


An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an exposure portion to form an electrostatic latent image by exposing the surface of an image carrier, a developing device to form a developer image by developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer and a detecting device that has a specified detecting area on the image carrier and detects the quality change of an image formed on the detecting area. The image forming apparatus of the present invention further includes a means to decide a minimum examination image forming area that is nearly in accord with the detecting area of the detecting device by forming an examination image for the image change detection on the image carrier by the exposure portion and the developing device, detecting the formed examination image by the detecting means and changing the examination image forming area according to the detection result of the detecting device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, printer, etc., which forms images according to the electrophotographic system and an examination image forming method in such image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electro-photographic copying machines, printers, etc. are widely known as image forming apparatus. For instance, in case of electro-photographic copying machines, etc., after uniformly charged by a main charger, the surface of a photo-conductive drum is exposed and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to a desired image is formed on the surface of the photo-conductive drum. Then, this electrostatic latent image is developed by a developer supplied from a developing device and a developer image is formed and further, this formed developer image is transferred on a transfer paper by a transfer charger and an image is formed thereon.
On this type of copying machine, in order for the stabilized image forming, the quality of a formed image is examined periodically and if it is out of a specified proper range, charging amount, exposing amount, etc. are adjusted or replacement of a photo-conductive drum is urged so as to prevent the quality change.
A method to judge the image quality by measuring the density of an examination image by an image density sensor after forming this examination image in a specified pattern on the surface of a photo-conductive drum and comparing it with a specified value has been known as a method to examine the image quality.
The formation of such an examination image consumes a developer irrelevant of a developer that is used for the normal image formation by user and it is therefore desirable to form an examination image as could as small and minimize the consumption of developer.
On the other hand, in order to measure the density of an examination image accurately, it is needed that the image forming area of an examination image is in accord with the detecting area of a sensor. Normally, a size of an examination image is set larger than an actually required size by taking a solid difference of the main body of a copying machine and a solid difference of a sensor into consideration so that the examination image forming area certainly agrees with the detecting area of a sensor.
The solid difference of the main body of a copying machine referred to here denotes a fluctuation between a plurality of same model of copying machines manufactured at a plant, for instance, the different mounting position of a photo-conductive drum or mounting position of a sensor.
The solid difference of a sensor denotes a fluctuation in the width of detecting areas or a fluctuation in the sensitivity of sensors.
However, when detecting a change in image quality using an unnecessarily large sized examination image as described above, the consumption of developer will increase unnecessarily and becomes a problem from the economical viewpoint.
Further, for the purpose of reducing consumption of developer by reducing an examination image size, it is possible to manually adjust the examination image forming position and the sensor detecting position for each copying machine. In this case, however, much adjusting time is needed and the drop of manufacturing efficiency and increase in manufacturing cost will result.

Image forming apparatus and examination image forming method in image forming apparatus


An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and a control program for an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. According to an embodiment, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound waves to and from a subject in three dimensional space, a position sensor, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine whether or not a first region and a second region configure the same three dimensional region across a first scanning surface and a second scanning surface. The processor is configured to perform, based on the determining result, processing to obtain information representing the size of the three dimensional region in a direction intersecting the first scanning surface and the second scanning surface. The processor is configured to perform control for notifying the information.

Ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses are used in a variety of applications, taking advantage of the ability thereof to observe the cross-section of a subject in real time. For example, in recent years, ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses have become widely used as a means for breast cancer examinations other than mammography. Accordingly, there is a need to perform more accurate and speedy investigations. For example, with breast cancer examinations, elastography may be used in which ultrasound waves are implemented to measure the strain amount or elastic modulus of living tissues at an examination site and in which elastic images are displayed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and control program thereof for detecting the three dimensional size of a low echo region


A barrel for a musical instrument is disclosed herein. The barrel includes a top section, a bottom section, an adjustment ring and a bore through the center. The barrel and bore length are configured to be adjusted with the adjustment ring. The barrel may include haptic features which provide feedback to a user regarding adjustments to the length of the bore and barrel. A trilobe socket and trilobe plug may be included and are configured to connect to prevent the barrel from slipping when manipulated and provide structural support. A tapered bore and bore choke provide additional structural stability and acoustic flexibility to the barrel.

A clarinet generally includes five separable parts: a mouthpiece, barrel joint, upper joint, lower joint and bell. The barrel joint or barrel is the part of the clarinet that connects the mouthpiece to the rest of the body and specifically the upper joint. The barrel directs the sound through the instrument and affects the quality of sound. Due to the design of the clarinet and barrel, the pitch of the instrument is fairly temperature-sensitive. In some clarinets the barrel can be used to tune the clarinet, either through adjustments to the barrel, changes in the barrel's position, or replacement of the barrel. Compensation for pitch variation and tuning can also be effectuated by pulling out the barrel and thereby increasing the clarinet's length. Some clarinets will have multiple interchangeable barrels whose lengths vary slightly to change the pitch produced by the clarinet. Some clarinets may also have a means to adjust the barrel length to tune the clarinet.
The ability to tune a clarinet through these mechanisms is beneficial in various settings. For instance when a number of musicians are playing together, it is necessary to tune clarinets to other instruments. In addition, the pitch of a given note played by a specific clarinet can depend upon instrument-specific factors and environmental factors, such as the ambient temperature. The ambient temperature can raise or lower the temperature of the clarinet. The temperature of the clarinet may also rise through playing the instrument, or lower when a musician changes instruments or stops playing for an interval during a musical piece. In these instances, the pitch of a given note will rise as the temperature of the clarinet increases, and the pitch of a given note will lower as the temperature of the clarinet decreases. When the pitch is changed in this manner it is necessary to retune the clarinet to achieve the desired pitch.
While it is possible to retune clarinets through adjusting the barrel, changing the barrel's position, or replacing the barrel, these current methods of retuning have drawbacks. For instance the movement of the barrel's position only provides limited adjustments and replacing the barrel requires extra barrels to be on hand and time to change out the barrel. Current methods of adjusting the barrel are also limited. Current methods of adjusting the barrel may employ a thumbwheel on the barrel which allows the barrel to be inadvertently adjusted during playing. Current adjustable barrels also are not sufficiently accurate and the changes to the barrel length are not readily apparent without measurement or inspection. There is, therefore, a need for an improved adjustable barrel with the ability to fine tune a clarinet without visual inspection and with a reduced risk of inadvertent changes in tuning while manipulating the clarinet. It is to these and other objectives that the present invention is directed.

Adjustable length barrel with haptic feedback for musical instrument


The present invention relates to a bicycle seat post structure, and more particularly, to a structure provided with a hydraulic actuator within which is configured with an upper oil compartment, an intermediate oil compartment, and a lower oil compartment; the three oil compartments intercommunicate. It is characterized in that the bicycle seat post structure provides an upper valve moving simultaneously with the pin and configured between the upper oil compartment and the intermediate oil compartment; the upper valve will be closed to disconnect the upper oil compartment from the intermediate oil compartment when the pin is in a state of locking. Thus, the valve will stop moving up because it is positioned above the upper and the intermediate oil compartments and consequently controlled by the oil within the compartments, so as to stop the seat sliding upward and further to be combined with the bicycle frame as a whole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bicycle seat post structure, and more particularly to a structure that the bicycle seat cannot be adjusted either up or down when the seat height is set.
2. Background of the Invention
A bicycle seat post is mounted to the bottom of the seat for supporting the seat so as to be fixed to the bicycle frame. The bicycle seat post has a top end fastened to the bottom of the seat and a bottom end inserted into and secured to the seat tube of the bicycle frame. The bicycle seat post is generally disposed with mechanical adjustment mechanisms or oil hydraulic adjustment mechanisms; the bicycle seat post with mechanical adjustment mechanisms employs mechanical mechanisms to control the relative position of the inner and the outer tubes of the seat post so as to adjust the seat height; the bicycle seat post with oil hydraulic adjustment mechanisms employs the hydraulic force from hydraulic members to control the relative position of the inner and the outer tubes of the seat post so as to adjust the seat height. As disclosed in Taiwan Patent Application No. 089221346, No. 097206782, and No. 099137166, those cases provide the aforesaid bicycle seat post with oil hydraulic adjustment mechanisms. A prior art bicycle seat post with oil hydraulic adjustment mechanisms is provided with an actuator inside the seat post. The actuator includes a cylinder barrel that is arranged with a floating piston and an axial displacement valve driven by a pin, and wherein the cylinder barrel is provided with an upper oil compartment between the floating piston and the axial displacement valve, a lower oil compartment under the axial displacement valve, and an air compartment above the floating piston. When the prior art bicycle seat post with oil hydraulic adjustment mechanisms is in use and the height thereof is set and further it is locked by a pin, the oil within the upper and the lower oil compartments stops flowing and the lower oil compartment is filled with oil so as to cause the seat to stop moving down and to be fixed. In addition, the air compartment is arranged above the floating piston; when the user pulls the seat upward, consequently, the pin and the valve compresses the air within the air compartment and they simultaneously move upward with the seat, so that a sliding space between the bicycle seat and the bicycle frame is produced when the user lifts the bicycle by holding onto the seat of the bicycle. Thus, it doesn't seem to the user that the bicycle seat is combined with the bicycle frame as a whole because the bicycle seat seems disconnected from the bicycle frame in the beginning when the bicycle is lifted by holding onto the bicycle seat. It is against this background and the problems associated therewith that the present invention has been developed.


The invention is a method for fabricating molecular filters which can separate objects approximately 1-5 nm in range, where the filtration size is controlled by using thin films of materials and technologies to form a filtration channel or pore in a middle thin film layer in a multilayered structure. Lithography is used to define two offset arrays of blind holes into the opposing sides of a multi-layer membrane. The blind holes extend across a thin central filtration layer. A selective etch is used to attack the filtration layer to form a communicating channel between the two holes. The only connection between one side of the filter and the other is through the channel in the filter layer, whose thickness, d, determines the largest size object which can traverse the filter.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates the field of nano-scale technology and in particular to a method of making a molecular filter and the resulting filter so made.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The sorting and filtration of molecules is becoming an increasingly important technology. In the past, anodized aluminum filters have been fabricated for the filtration of bacterial and viruses from a solution. Such filters, with minimum hole sizes of about 10 nm, can also be defined lithographically by electron beam lithography and etching. However, it is much more challenging to filter structures with sizes even smaller than 10 nm, since the common self-assembly methods produce a large variations of hole sizes, and conventional lithographic methods are not capable of reaching resolutions of 1-5 nm.
What is needed is a method which will allow the fabrication of filters which can separate objects within this size range.

Method for fabrication of a molecular filter and apparatus formed by the same


The present invention relates to a cementitious coating with hydrochromatic properties for micro-concrete or normal concrete, mortar, or other construction materials based on cement and ceramics. This cementitious coating in acrylic solution changes its opacity depending on the presence of water and moisture. This color change is reversible after some drying time leaving invisible the markings already existing on the substrate. This cementitious coating comprises the following components, in percentage in weight of the components relative to the total weight of the composition: a) 0.5-30% of hydrochromatic acrylic copolymer emulsion; b) 5-30% of white or gray Portland cement; c) 0.1-30% of finely ground limestone filler; d) 0.01-2% of powdered super-plasticizer; e) 0.01-3% of modified polyvinyl resins; f) 0.01-5% of dispersant of vinyl acetate and ethylene copolymers; g) 15-70% of aqueous acrylic emulsion; and optionally h) 0.1-15% of inorganic pigments.

Exposed concrete, i.e. with high performance at architectural level, is nowadays a widely used material in architecture and civil engineering, helping to answer to many technical and aesthetic challenges required by current architectonic trends. The same happens with coating mortars and finishing pastes generally covering actual buildings.
The possibility of transmitting changes, due to the presence of water, to the surface appearance of concrete and plaster or other mortars has the largest interest in architectural area, as well as in the communication and information areas.
Patent KR100890863 describes a thermochromatic concrete, i.e., a product obtained by the introduction of a thermochromatic pigment in a normal concrete, allowing the color to change as a function of temperature.
Also patent KR20100072530 refers to the use of thermochromatic pigments for insertion into concrete surface during its casting, by surface coating of the mold, so as to change surface color by the effect of temperature.

White or colored cementitious coating with hydrochromatic properties

SECIL, S.A.—Companhia Geral de Cal e Cimento of Outao


A processor for performing calculations based on an instruction code, the number of bits of which is not an integer multiple of a byte. The instruction code is divided into higher order bits and lower order bits. The number of the lower order bits is an integer multiple of one byte. A memory stores the lower order bits in a lower order bit storage section and the higher order bits in a higher order bit storage section. The lower order bits and the corresponding higher order bits are read from the memory in the same cycle when generating the instruction code.

The present invention relates to a processor, and more particularly, to a processor for reading instruction codes that are stored in a memory to perform calculations in accordance with the instruction codes.
There are recent processors that perform calculations based on instruction codes having a bit length that is not an integer multiple of one byte. Such a processor functions as described below.
When, for example, storing an instruction code having 18 bits in a memory section configured by a plurality of 16 bit-length sectors, the processor stores 16 bits of the instruction code in a sector located at a first address. The 16 bits are stored during a first write cycle. The processor then stores the remaining 2 bits in a sector located at a second address during a second write cycle. The cycles are in accordance with clock signals.
To store another 18-bit instruction code, the processor stores 16 bits of the instruction code in a sector located at a third address during a third write cycle. The processor then stores the remaining 2 bits in a sector located at a fourth address during a fourth write cycle.
When reading the. stored instruction codes, the processor reads 16 bits of an instruction code from the sector located at the first address during a first read cycle, and reads the remaining two bits from the sector located at the second address during a second read cycle. The processor synthesizes the 16-bit and 2-bit instruction codes to generate an 18-bit instruction code and perform a calculation in accordance with the instruction code.
In such processor, each of the sectors storing 2 bits of instruction code has a vacant area of 14 bits. Therefore, the storage of a plurality of instruction codes in a plurality of sectors increases the number of vacant areas and decreases the data storage efficiency. This increases the required memory capacity.
Further, two clock signal transmission cycles are necessary to write or read an 18-bit instruction code. This limits the calculating speed.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a processor and a information processing method that efficiently stores instruction codes in a memory and decreases the time for transmitting instruction codes.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a processor for performing calculations based on a plurality of instruction codes. Each of the instruction codes includes a higher order bit and lower order bits. The number of lower order bits is an integer multiple of one byte. The processor includes a memory for storing the instruction codes. The memory includes a lower order bit storage section, for storing the lower order bits of each of the instruction codes, and a higher order bit storage section, for storing the higher order bit of each of the instruction codes. An instruction code generation circuit is connected to the memory. The instruction code generation circuit receives a first address signal including data corresponding to an address of the memory, reads the lower order bits and the higher order bit of the instruction code located at the address corresponding to the first address signal, and generates the instruction code. An arithmetic unit is connected to the instruction code generation circuit to provide the first address signal to the instruction code generation circuit, to receive the instruction code generated by the instruction code generation circuit, and to perform a predetermined calculation.
The present invention also provides a processor for performing calculations based on a plurality of instruction codes. Each of the instruction codes includes a higher order bit and lower order bits. The number of lower order bits is an integer multiple of one byte. The processor includes a memory for storing the instruction codes. The memory includes a lower order bit storage section, for storing the lower order bits of each of the instruction codes, and a higher order bit storage section, for storing the higher order bits of more than one of the instruction codes at the same address.
The present invention further provides a information processing method for performing calculations based on a plurality of instruction codes. Each of the instruction codes includes a higher order bit and lower order bits. The number of lower order bits is an integer multiple of one byte. The method includes storing the lower order bits of each of the instruction codes in a lower order bit storage section of a memory at a plurality of addresses, storing the higher order bit of more than one of the instruction codes in a higher order bit storage section of the memory at a single address, generating an instruction code in response to an address signal indicating an address of the memory by reading the lower order bits of a predetermined one of the instruction codes and the corresponding higher order bit in the same cycle, and performing a calculation in accordance with the instruction code.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.

Method and apparatus for compactly storing instruction codes


A method and an apparatus for drying plastic pellets utilizes a venturi air mover (20) in a recirculation loop communicating with a drying hopper (10) containing the plastic pellets. A portion of moist air flow in the recirculation loop is vented to the ambient atmosphere upstream of the venturi air mover. A conventional source of compressed air (16) is dried and supplied to the venturi air mover to provide the exclusive motive power for moving air through the recirculation loop.

This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for drying granular solids with venturi powdered gas circulation, and more particularly relates to a method and an apparatus for drying plastic pellets in a continuous-flow dryer using venturi powered gas circulation of dry compressed air.
The process of drying granular solids in a continuous flow is done in a conventional manner using a funnel bottom vessel in which the material to be dried is fed into the top by gravity, and is discharged from the bottom of the vessel. During the time the material is moving through the vessel, a counter flow of a drying gas is passed into the bottom of the vessel, and disperses evenly through the granular material to remove water and other volatile substances that are present in the feed stock material. Alternatively to this counter flow method, a concurrent flow of drying gas may be used, in which the drying gas is fed through the vessel in the same direction as the granular solids being fed through the vessel. The drying medium may be air or other selected gases depending on the desired interaction of the material and drying medium.
It is typical in the processing of granular plastic pellets to use very dry air or inert gases to remove the water or other volatiles (e.g. vapor phase substances emitted by the plastic) from the material. The flow of gas may come from several different methods of supply. One of the simplest is to use a continuous source of clean, dry gas. This is particularly desirable when the material to be dried off-gases volatile fractions that are not returned to the process, and can be removed or disposed of without concern as to its affect on the process if reintroduced. Since the drying process is continuous, a continuous flow of dry gas is required to process the material to be dried. The usual method to supply dry gas to the drying vessel is a process dehumidifier, which is typically a physically large device, or use the full required flow of dry compressed gas reduced to atmospheric pressure, and disposing of the gas after use. However, the use of "new" gases in most cases will render the economics of the process unsatisfactory.
In the normal construction of these devices, the gas is moved by a fan, blower, or pump to the drying vessel to remove the water and other volatiles from the process material. The gas recovered from the top of the vessel is collected since the amount of water/moisture present is far less than the water/moisture levels found in the usual atmospheric conditions. This low dewpoint air is then further dried to reduce the water/moisture content to an absolute minimum. It can then be sent back to the drying vessel to again absorb water and other volatiles from the material being processed.
In the construction of some small devices of this type, the use of dry compressed plant air utility in a manufacturing facility is done to enable the user to work with only a minimum size vessel on the next stage of the material process, and not use the recirculating gas device due to size and space constraints.

Method and apparatus for drying granular solids with venturi powered gas circulation


To provide a status display apparatus or the like which can permit the user of a plurality of nodes connected by a serial bus according to the serial bus standard to recognize whether the transmission of the audio information or the like has become possible by the connection between the nodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technical field of a status notification apparatus, a status notification method and a status notification program, or more in particular to a technical field of a status notification apparatus, a status notification method and a status notification program for notifying the user of the operating conditions, etc. of an information processing apparatus such as an information reproducing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the IEEE1394 standard has been widely applied as a standard of a method for connecting an information reproducing apparatus such as a player for reproducing the audio information recorded in an optical disk, for example, and an amplifier unit (an amplifier) for amplifying the reproduced audio information and outputting it to a speaker or the like.
The IEEE1394 standard is officially referred to as "IEEE Std. 1394-1995 IEEE Standard for a High Performance Serial Bus", which is a standard used when the information reproducing apparatus and the amplifier are connected to each other by a serial bus constituted of a wire.
Next, an outline of the IEEE1394 standard will be explained in general terms. The IEEE1394 standard (hereinafter referred to simply as the serial bus standard) stipulates that a plurality of types of information processing apparatuses (hereinafter referred to simply as nodes) including the information reproducing apparatus and the amplifier described above are connected to each other by a serial bus, and information of a plurality of channels is transmitted between the nodes by time division. Hereat, according to this serial bus standard, a maximum of 63 different channels can be used for information transmission within the same series connected by a series of serial bus systems which do not include any branches.
Also, according to the serial bus standard, the information from the nodes is transmitted collectively in units called the isochronous cycle (where "cycle" indicates one cycle formed by time division on the serial bus). The isochronous cycle includes an isochronous transmission area containing the information (specifically, the image information, the audio information, etc.) transmitted in synchronism with the information contained in other isochronous cycles and an asynchronous transmission area containing the information (specifically, the control information for controlling the output, etc. of the image information or the audio information) transmitted asynchronously without regard to other information. The information existing in the isochronous transmission area is divided by time for each different channel so that different information is transmitted for each channel.
According to the aforementioned serial bus standard, the control information is transmitted at high speed from an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer. In this way, the electric home appliances and audio/visual devices such as an information reproducing apparatus can be centrally controlled. At the same time, the audio information or the like can be accurately transmitted between the nodes.
With the conventional nodes connected according to the serial bus standard described above, however, even when the audio information or the like is transmitted or the process for the transmission is actually executed with other nodes, the fact that the particular process is being executed is not indicated to the user.
In this case, the user of the node cannot recognize whether the audio information or the like is actually being transmitted or whether the node is in a position to transmit the audio information. Thus the problem is posed that even when the transmission of the audio information or the like becomes impossible or the desired music or the like cannot be heard for some reason or other, the user cannot recognize the cause thereof.
The unnecessary time is consumed to trace the cause of this problem, thereby leading to the problem that the user is driven into an extremely inconvenient situation.

Status notification apparatus status notification method and status notification program

Abstract: A status display apparatus included in a receiver R for transmitting/receiving audio information with a player to display the status of the receiver comprises a system control unit 13 and an indicator 15B which makes inquiry about whether the player P has a configuration for transmitting/receiving the audio information to/from the receiver R and upon confirmation that the player P has the required configuration, displays that the player P has such a configuration.


Apparatus and method for providing a shock absorbing bicycle carrier engageable with a transporting vehicle is disclosed. The carrier includes an interconnecting frame to which mounting members are arranged for fixed orientation thereto and support arms are connected thereto for limited and controlled relative motion therebetween. A shock absorber is coupled within the carrier between the shock inducing carrying vehicle and the bicycle support arm. The shock absorber may be selectively chosen for variable resistive force or may be selectively variable by an operator. Among other embodiments, the shock absorber may take the form of an elastomeric shock, a coil spring shock, and/or a compressed fluid shock.

Many types of sports equipment are useable only under certain conditions and/or in specific locales. Examples of such sports equipment include surfboards that are ridden at beaches and snow skis that are normally used at ski resorts. The beach and ski areas are often remotely located from the homes of those who use them, therefore the need for transporting sports equipment upon vehicles to these locations has long been recognized.
In the instance of bicycling, a rider will often desire to ride his or her bicycle in different areas without having to ride the bicycle to those areas. To facilitate the transportation of one or more bicycles, bicycle carriers mountable to passenger vehicles have been developed. The carriers are typically mountable to the rear end of a vehicle, however, the carriers may be configured to be mounted at other locations upon a vehicle as long as the location is convenient for loading the bicycles onto the carriers and neither the bicycles nor the carrier inconveniences the driver or obstructs visibility. Examples of such bicycle carriers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,323 to Chimenti et al for a BICYCLE CARRIER ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON THE BACK OF A VEHICLE and U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,996 to Raaber et al also entitled BICYCLE CARRIER ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON THE BACK OF A VEHICLE, each of which is commonly owned together with the present invention and whose disclosures are expressly incorporated herein.
The carriers of the above referenced patents are mountable to the rear end of a carrying passenger vehicle. The carriers incorporate rigid mounting members that engage surfaces of the vehicle and clippable straps that when tightened secure the carrier to the vehicle. The carrier further includes support arms that extend away from the vehicle and upon which one or more bicycles may be secured. Once the carrier is properly configured for the particular vehicle upon which it is to be installed and it is secured thereupon, the orientation of the mounting members and support arms is fixed so that relative movement therebetween is prevented.
It has been discovered that the rigidly fixed orientation within a bicycle carrier as described hereinabove results in undue and potentially damaging forces or loads being generated within the structure of the carrier under certain circumstances during use. In some cases, these forces may be detrimentally communicated to the bicycle or other equipment carried upon the support arms. More typically, however, detrimental forces will be experienced at the cantilever connection of the support arm to the carrier. As with all cantilevers, the reaction forces at the cantilever connection required to resist moments caused by forces applied upon the cantilever at locations distal to said connection are greater than those distally applied forces. The amplification is due to the leveraging effect of the distance between the connection and the point at which the force is applied.
The forces are generated in the carrier when the carrying vehicle moves rapidly in the vertical direction. These vertical movements typically result from the vehicle passing over irregularities in the roadway being traveled. Obvious irregularities would include speed bumps and "chuck-holes", but any depression or rise in the roadway may result in the vehicle moving rapidly upward and/or downward depending upon the depth or height of the irregularity and the speed at which the vehicle is travelling. It has been found that forces induced within the carrier and imparted upon the equipment being carried may exceed several times that of gravity. While padding material has been provided between the carrier and the vehicle for protecting each from the other, the cushioning effect of the padding may not be sufficient to dampen the forces transferred therebetween.

Shock absorbing carrier mountable to a vehicle for carrying sports equipment


Provided is a method for preparing a one-dimensional spin photonic crystal device and a one-dimensional spin photonic crystal device prepared by the same. The method comprises forming magnetic and nonmagnetic regions by the interference of laser beams generated from a femtosecond laser light source. The method of the present invention enables production of one-dimensional spin photonic crystals having excellent properties by a rapid and simple process, and is therefore suitable for high integration and large-scale production of desired devices. Further, the prepared photonic crystals exhibit excellent magneto-optical effects and are therefore applicable to development of novel optical devices, and the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a one-dimensional spin photonic crystal device and a one-dimensional spin photonic crystal device prepared by the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for preparing a one-dimensional spin photonic crystal device, which enables fabrication of a one-dimensional spin photonic crystal device having excellent properties by an inexpensive and efficient method, and a one-dimensional spin photonic crystal device prepared by the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A great deal of attention has recently been focused on photonic crystals as a promising material necessary for the development of the next-generation optical communication devices such as nanolasers, superprisms capable of processing multiwavelength optical information, waveguides, and the like, and photon computers having ultra-high-speed information processing capacity (e.g. several tens of Terabit/sec transmissions).
Photonic crystals are composed of periodic structures of materials having different refractive indices. Prominent examples of the photonic crystals are found in the naturally occurring gemstone opal, the morpho butterfly's wings, peacock feathers and the like. An important property of the photonic crystals is in that the color of reflecting light appears to vary according to the incident direction of light. Based on this principle, techniques for preparation of photonic crystals have been actively researched which are capable of controlling a direction of travel of light by modifying a crystal structure of a light-reactive material. Out of those attempts, a great deal of interest has been given to spin photonic crystals (SPCs, or magnetic photonic crystals (MPCs)), particularly for interactions between charges and spins of electrons and photons.
Optical properties of SPCs may vary with external application of a magnetic field. In addition, temperature is another important variable that may affect the optical properties of SPCs, since the magnetic transition at their Curie or Nèel temperature may lead to changes in the magnetic permeability. As a consequence, the dielectric constant of SPCs is altered.
Conventionally, spin photonic crystal devices have been fabricated by selective-area reactive ion etching or electron-beam lithography followed by ion milling. However, the conventional fabrication methods, such as selective-area reactive ion etching or electron-beam lithography followed by ion milling, usually involve chemical reactions. Therefore, precise control of reaction conditions is essential including pressure, temperature, and the like. In addition, such conventional methods suffer from various disadvantages such as complexity of processes, long production time, high production costs and therefore consequent lack of economic rationality.

Method for preparing one dimensional spin photonic crystal device and one dimensional spin photonic crystal device prepared by the same

IUCF-HYU (Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University)


A system and a method of controlling transmitter power in a wireless communication system in which user data is processed as a multirate signal having a rate N(t) and in which the user data signal having rate N(t) is converted into a transmission data signal having a faster rate M(t) for transmission. The transmission power is adjusted on a relatively slow basis based on quality of data received by a receiver of the transmitted data. The transmitter power is determined as a function of N(t)/M(t) such that a change in the data rate in the multiple channels or the rate of the transmission data signal is compensated in advance of a quality of data based adjustment associated with such data rate change. Preferably, the user data signal having rate N(t) is converted into the transmission data signal having the faster rate M(t) by repeating selected data bits whereby the energy per bit to noise spectrum density ratio is increased in the transmission data signal.

Various methods of power control for wireless communication systems are well known in the art. An example of an open loop power control transmitter system for a single rate data system is illustrated in FIG. 1. An example of a closed loop power control transmitter system for a single rate data is illustrated in FIG. 2.
The purpose of both systems is to rapidly vary transmitter power in the presence of a fading propagation channel and time-varying interference to minimize transmitter power while insuring that data is received at the remote end with acceptable quality. Typically, in a digital implementation, transmitter power is varied by applying a varying scale factor to the digital data, as opposed, for example, to varying the gain of an RF amplifier.
In state-of-the-art communication systems such as Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Time Division Duplex (TDD) and Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) systems multiple channels of variable rate data are combined for transmission. FIGS. 3 and 4 represent prior art open and closed power control transmission systems, respectively. Background specification data for such systems are found at 3GPP TS 25.223 v3.3.0, 3GPP TS 25.222 v3.2.0, 3GPP TS 25.224 v3.6 and Volume 3 specifications of Air-Interface for 3G Multiple System Version 1.0, Revision 1.0 by the Association of Radio Industries Businesses (ARIB).
Such open and closed loop power control systems for variable multirate wireless communications systems respond relatively slowly to data rate changes, resulting in sub-optimal performance such as relating to excessive transmitter power and below-quality received signals. It would be desirable to provide a fast method and system of power control adaptation for data rate changes resulting in more optimal performance.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Fast adaptive power control for a variable multirate communications system


An overlay dual balloon catheter. Two balloons composed of differing materials are employed, the balloons being disposed so as to overlap one another but not being bonded to one another, so that adjacent surfaces of the two balloons are permitted to move relative to one another, to provide improved surface and structural characteristics in a balloon unit. Preferably, an outer balloon, disposed on the exterior of the catheter is composed of latex, silicone, or a thermoplastic elastomer while an inner balloon, disposed underneath the first balloon is composed of a material employed in existing angioplasty balloons such as polyester or polyurethane. The overlay dual balloon catheter may be used in angioplasty, embolectomy and thrombectomy.

This invention relates to balloon catheters and relates particularly to the employment of multiple materials and overlay construction in a catheter balloon unit for both improving and tailoring of the characteristics of the balloon unit.
Balloons in a balloon catheter are employed in a patient's body canal, commonly a blood vessel, primarily for three purposes: occlusion, distension (e.g., angioplasty) and vessel cleaning or removal of clots and foreign substances (e.g., embolectomy, thrombectomy). For serving the first purpose, the balloon must be supple enough when inflated to conform completely to the interior surface of the body canal and the surface must have an adequate frictional characteristic to hold the balloon in place. For the second purpose, the balloon must be stiff enough to inflate symmetrically even while being influenced by asymmetric forces. And for the third purpose, the surface must be tear resistant, with good tensile properties, and again must have an appropriate frictional characteristic. Especially because both surface and structural characteristics, such as strength, rigidity and tear resistance, are important, a balloon comprising a single material generally requires the acceptance of trade-offs in the characteristics of the material. Even in view of this, there appear to be few attempts to employ multiple materials in a balloon in an effort to minimize trade-offs so as to optimize desirable characteristics. One reference, Wang, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,969 ("Wang"), proposes "CO-EXTRUDED MEDICAL BALLOONS AND CATHETER USING SUCH BALLOONS" comprising a multi-layered balloon including a base structural layer of relatively thick ethylenic polymeric material and a second layer co-extruded and apparently bonded co-extensively with the base layer, the second layer preferably being a polyolefin such as polyethylene.
However, even a multiple material balloon such as that proposed by Wang has disadvantages. For example, it is often desired that the balloon present a non-convoluted surface to the interior of the body canal when the balloon is deflated, to facilitate passing the balloon therethrough. If a strong base material is co-extruded with, for example, a soft surface material, the base material is often insufficiently elastic for relaxing to a smooth surface configuration when the balloon is deflated. Moreover, deflation and complete collapse of the balloon, which is resisted by employing a stiff, strong base material, is not aided appreciably by employing a soft co-extruded surface layer.
Accordingly, there is a need for a novel balloon catheter and method for use thereof that employs multiple materials and provides an overlaid construction for optimizing both the surface and structural characteristics of a balloon unit.

Overlay dual balloon catheter and method for use thereof


The present invention relates a plant which may comprise a modified F5H gene homolog, wherein said gene homolog may comprise a modification as compared to its corresponding wild type F5H gene homolog, wherein the presence of the modified F5H gene homolog in the plant leads to a reduction of wound-induced surface discoloration in comparison to a plant not comprising the modified F5H gene homolog. The invention also relates to a modified F5H gene homolog that leads to the reduced wound-induced surface discoloration. The invention further relates to use of the gene in breeding and producing plants that show reduced wound-induced surface discoloration.

In recent years, consumer convenience as well as the development of new products has contributed to the increasing choice of processed vegetables and fruits available on the market. Ready-to-eat products, i.e. in a cut, washed and packaged form, may include lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and other leafy vegetables such as chicory (Cichorium intybus) and endive (Cichorium endivia), either individually processed or in mixed compositions. One of the most important and frequently encountered problems during harvesting, processing and storage of vegetables is the development of wound-induced surface discoloration visible by a pink discoloration at the wound surface of the plants or parts thereof which gradually turns brown after prolonged storage. Other crop plants such as potato (Solanum tuberosum), onion (Allium cepa), artichocke (Cynara cardunculus var. Scolymus), rice (Oryza sativa), corn (Zea mays), peach (Prunus persica), eggplant (Solanum melongen), celery and celeriac (Apium graveolens), apple (Malus domestica), banana (Musa acuminate), soy (Glycine max), pear (Pyrus×bretschneideri), wheat (Triticum aestivum), radish (Raphanus sativus), cabbage and cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) etc. may also be subject to the wound-induced surface discoloration visible on the plant or parts thereof, such as leaves, whole plant heads, fruits, inflorescences, seeds, curds, stems, tubers, bulbs and roots etc.
Wound-induced surface discoloration or wound-induced discoloration is caused by a strong wound response at and around the wound and leads to a rapid deterioration of the harvested and optionally processed product. Consumers consider discoloration of vegetables and fruits to be unattractive and to compromise the product quality, thus reducing the product's marketability and/or leading to a waste of harvested and optionally processed products.
The wound response is a means of a plant or part thereof to heal the wound and defend itself against pathogens by creating a new insulation barrier. The response is a complex biological response of a plant to physical injury such as cutting or bruising, and implies the activity of numerous proteins. The local response is mainly aimed at closing the wound surface which is effectuated by the local death of cells at or just behind the wound surface. In addition to these visible effects, other responses like increased respiration or ethylene production are known to be induced.
At the biochemical level, studies have shown that wounding can lead to the induction of the phenylpropanoid pathway (PP pathway) which is required for inter alia the production of polyphenols and other compounds important for the plant.
The first step of the PP pathway is the conversion of the amino acid phenylalanine into cinnamic acid by the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL). PAL is enhanced upon wounding by the induction of gene expression of at least one of its isoforms. This response leads to the formation of polyphenols which are oxidized by the polyphenol oxidase (PPO). PPO is residing in plastids and is released and activated upon wounding. Oxidation of polyphenols lead to the formation of highly reactive quinones, that can react with amino acids or proteins which leads to pink, brown or black discoloration.
In order to reduce the wound-induced surface discoloration in vegetables such as lettuce, many post-harvest and post-processing treatments have been developed and applied. Examples of chemical or physical treatments are the packaging of fresh cut leafy vegetables under a modified atmosphere, the application of edible coatings, heat-shock treatment and the addition of chemicals.
Although these treatments prevent the appearance of the wound-induced discoloration, the harvested and eventually processed product is still susceptible to discoloration if the package is damaged or shortly after opening the package. In addition, the use of chemicals and the need for specialized equipment for such treatments significantly increases costs. For these reasons, a more viable genetically-based solution which works to reduce wound-induced surface discoloration in plants is preferred.
Citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention.

Plants showing a reduced wound-induced surface discoloration


A wc disposable ostomy bag has a wall formed from an inner layer of polyethylene and an outer layer of polyvinyl alcohol. Two flexible layers of aluminum are located between the inner and outer layers to reduce odor transmission through the wall. The material of the walls may be formed by vapor depositing the aluminum layers on respective faces of the inner and outer layers and then laminating the inner and outer layers together with the aluminum layers facing one another. Alternatively, both aluminum layers may be deposited on the same one of the inner or outer layers with a thin non-metallic layer between them to prevent the aluminum layers having common grain boundaries.

This invention relates to ostomy bags, to materials for making such bags, and to methods of making such materials.
Ostomy bags are used for various purposes, for collecting material discharged from colostomies, ileostomies and urostomies. These bags are generally of a lightweight, flexible plastics material and may be disposable by flushing in a w.c.
In order to prevent odor transmission through the wall of previous bags it has been the practice to use a layer of PVDC or similar material as an odor barrier. In some circumstances, however, such as in w.c. disposable bags this may not be suitable, and odor release from the bag may be a problem leading to embarrassment by the user.

Water closet disposable ostomy bags and materials

Smiths Industries Public Limited Company


An apparatus and method for disabling wireless communication devices establishes a disabling zone. Inside the disabling zone, one or more capabilities of the wireless communication devices are disabled. The wireless communication devices may include cellular phones, beepers, pagers, portable computers, electronic personal attendants, and/or similar wireless devices. In a first embodiment, the zone is formed in conjunction with a power monitoring unit proximate the zone. In a second embodiment, the zone is formed in conjunction with a position monitoring system determining the geographical position of the wireless communication devices. In both the first and second embodiments, the zone may be either geographically fixed or moveable.

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Cellular phones, beepers, pagers, portable computers, electronic personal attendants, and other wireless communication devices are an integral part of modern life. For instance, cellular phones offer convenience in our personal relationships and business dealings, by allowing us to stay in communication with the world in practically any public location. However, one person""s convenience can be another person""s annoyance.
Often, cellular phones ring and phone conversations occur, in some of the most inappropriate locations. For example, the peaceful enjoyment of a movie, play, or musical performance can be destroyed by the chirping of cellular phones in the audience. The concentration of students taking an exam or listening to a lecture can be broken by a cellular phone""s ringing, or by another student""s engagement in a conversation on a cellular phone. Also, a cellular phone can be disturbing to the public, and embarrassing to the cellular phone""s owner, during church services, dining at a restaurant, or during quite times observed in public, such as opening prays, the pledge of allegiance, and the national anthem.
Often certain locations have restrictions, rules or laws forbidding the operation of cellular phones due to safety concerns. For example, it is illegal to operate wireless communication devices in airports and some train stations because of concerns that important communications controlling the operations of the airplanes and trains will be interrupted or distorted. Also, some schools forbid students to use cellular phones or beepers on school grounds, in order to reduce the likelihood of drug trafficking and gang activity. Further, many commercial and governmental establishments, such as theaters, libraries and courtrooms, restrict the use of cellular phones, beepers, and other types of wireless communication devices in order to avoid disruptions. In these restricted locations, the cellular phone user has discretion to abide by, or ignore, the rules, requests or public etiquette curtailing the use of wireless communication devices.
This invention relates to communications, and specifically to wireless communications.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method which removes the public""s discretion to ignore rules and requests forbidding the use of wireless communication devices in specific locations.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for disabling some or all of the functions of wire communication devices in specific locations, at specific times or continuously.
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method, useable by law enforcement and military personnel, to cutoff the communications abilities of persons, such as hijackers, hostage takers, and fleeing suspects, in specific fixed or moving areas.
These and other objects are achieved by an apparatus and method for establishing a disabling zone, wherein one or more capabilities of wireless communication devices inside the zone are disabled. The wireless communication devices may include cellular phones, beepers, pagers, portable computers, electronic personal attendants, and/or similar wireless devices. In a first embodiment, the zone is formed in conjunction with a power monitoring unit proximate the zone. In a second embodiment, the zone is formed in conjunction with a position monitoring system determining the geographical positions of the wireless communication devices. In both the first or second embodiments, the zone may be either geographically fixed or moveable.
Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

System for disabling wireless communication devices


A linkage assembly for a multiple level stack mold molding machine having a fixed platen, a movable platen, a plurality of carriage assemblies. The linkage assembly includes an arm on each carriage assembly pivotally connected to a central pivot point on one of the carriage assemblies. An arm also extends between the fixed platen and an end of one of the arms on a carriage assembly. Another arm extends between the movable platen and an end of another of the arms on another of the carriage assemblies. A pair of arms extend between each adjacent carriage assembly, each one of the pair of arms extends from an end of an arm of one carriage assembly to a central pivot point on an adjacent carriage assembly. Each arm of the pair of arms is shaped to extend around a periphery portion of a mold opening to enable full access to the core and cavity plates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, generally, to an injection molding machine, and more particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to three level stack mold injection molding machine.
2. Background Information
The state of the art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,666 that provides a four level mold having linkage for moving the molds that is capable of moving the molds simultaneously and in unison so that the molds open and close together. The linkage would not permit the use of a side entry robot nor does it show open and easy access through the top of the machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,387 describes a swing arm device for removing parts from a mold. The motion of the swing arm device is synchronized with the opening and closing of the mold to speed up part retrieval.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,119 shows a stack mold in Tandem configuration with cores aligned the same way. In this machine the mold is operated on alternate cycles so each side opens sequentially rather than simultaneously.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,027,681 and 6,099,784 describe a stack mold that has unequal strokes so that different parts can be molded in the adjacent molds.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,811 describes a two level mold that is mounted on linear bearings. This is the type of machine that has been modified by the present invention to provide a three level stack mold in the space occupied by the two level stack mold described in this patent.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,908,597 and 6,036,472 describe multiple stack mold machines that use rack and pinion devices to open and close the mold and includes part ejection means that is operated independently of the rack and pinion devices.
An article on page 14 of the September, 1991 issue of Plastics World describes a mold change system that includes self-locating/leveling mold guide slots.
An article by P. Glorio of Incoe Corp. published in ANTEC '88, pages 255 to 258 describes the development of quick mold change systems including systems that use hydraulically actuated wedge-lock clamps.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,346 describes a single level molding system where the molding dies are insertable and removable in either the horizontal or vertical direction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,274 describes a quick-change mold system that includes adapter plates provided with service fittings that interconnect and disconnect upon insertion and removal of the molds together with the adapter plates.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,275 describes a quick-change mold system that includes a locator clamp for facilitating the insertion and removal of a mold from a molding machine
U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,263 describes the use of locator wedge clamp assemblies mounted on and extending from the platens
U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,404 describes the use of rollers and guide rails for aligning a mold press in a vertical plane above the injection molding machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,405 describes a mounting plate attachable to a molding machine platen. The mounting plate has a plurality of retention slots with hydraulically actuated clamps in the slots. Actuation of the clamps presses a mold part toward the platen in an adjusted position.
With the cost of injection molding machines and the competitive pricing of products made thereon, it is essential that the machine be as productive as possible. In the case where the machine must be capable of making a number of different parts, this requires that mold changes be quick and inexpensive. It is also cost effective to minimize the space requirements of the machine. In addition, it is essential that parts be removed from the molds as quickly as possible so the cycle time of the machine can be as short as possible. It is also advantageous to provide a machine that requires only a single set of hot runner plates for all moldsets usable on the machine.
The present invention provides an injection molding machine that enables mold changes to be made quickly and easily, provides robot accessibility to the parts that may be of a variety of heights without modifying the space requirements of the mold and allows a three level stack mold for high profile parts to be placed in space that was previously fully occupied by a two level stack mold.
The invention is achieved by creating a three level stack mold that provides open access to the molds from all sides when the molds are open. Side access is provided by designing a linkage for the stack mold that surrounds the mold opening but does not cross it when the molds are open. Moving all physical connections such as water and electrical lines to the side edges of the mold provides access through the top and bottom. To avoid any electrical faults caused by water leaks from occurring, the electrical connections are made at the top of the mold and the water connections at the lower point of the mold. Air connections are also provided at the top of the machine to avoid or minimize contamination of the air lines by a failure in the water supply system.
When the molds need to be changed, the mold is closed and each cavity plate is latched to its respective core plate. The mold is then opened and each moldset of a cavity plate and a core plate is removed from the machine as a single unit along guides. When the cavity and core plate moldset is fully removed, a new moldset of a cavity plate and a core plate is inserted into the mold and guided by the same grooves. The grooves guide the core plate so that it is slightly separated from the platen until it is very near its home position. When it reaches this position a wedge surface forces the core plate against the platen and automatically locks it into position on the platen. At the same time the air and water connections automatically connect to the core plate by automatic docking mechanisms. When the core plate is in position, the mold is closed and the cavity plate is disconnected from the core plate and firmly attached to the hot runner plate.
The invention also provides a machine in which all three moldsets in the three level stack mold are oriented in the same direction. This enables uniform robot actuation for all three moldsets without the need to reorientate molded parts. This further simplifies the retrieval of molded parts.
With this configuration, the robot can be located in the same position for all parts and enter between the cavity and core faces without interference with either face. The linkage assembly surrounds the mold opening when the mold is open and eliminates the need for robot adjustment when the molds are changed. This also provides weight distribution and manufacturing benefits.

Linkage assembly for a multiple level stack mold molding machine


A heat dissipation apparatus. A fan frame includes an air inlet, an air outlet, a passage, and a curved expansion portion. The air inlet is opposite the air outlet. The passage is between the air inlet and the air outlet, guiding airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet. The curved expansion portion is radially and outwardly extended from an inner peripheral wall of the passage at the air inlet or air outlet. An impeller is disposed in the fan frame and includes a plurality of blades. Each blade is disposed in the passage and includes an extension end extending to the curved expansion portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a heat dissipation apparatus, and more particularly to a heat dissipation apparatus providing reduced noise.
2. Description of the Related Art
As performance of electronic devices is promoted, heat dissipation apparatuses or systems are indispensable and thus used in the electronic devices. If heat generated by an electronic device is not efficiently dissipated, performance of the electronic device may deteriorate or the electronic device may be damaged.
Fans serve widely as heat dissipation apparatuses. FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a conventional fan 1, and FIG. 1B is a schematic cross section taken along A-A′ of FIG. 1A. The conventional fan 1 is composed of a fan frame 11 and an impeller 12. When the fan 1 operates, the impeller 12 is activated by a motor 13, providing airflow to a heat source (such as a heat-generating electronic device, not shown) and thus dissipating heat therefrom. The fan frame 11 has a through hole forming an air inlet 112 and an air outlet 114 on two ends of the fan frame 11, respectively. The air inlet 112 is connected to the air outlet 114 by way of a central passage 116, such that the airflow provided by the impeller 12 can freely pass the air inlet 112 and air outlet 114. Additionally, four threaded holes 14 are formed on the corners of the fan frame 11, by means of which the fan 1 can be fixed to the shell of a system having electronic devices, such as a computer.
FIGS. 1C, 1E, and 1F are schematic cross sections of conventional fans and fan frames. A bevel angle C (as shown in FIG. 1C) or a tapered angle D (as shown in FIG. 1E) is formed near the air inlet 112 or air outlet 114 of the fan frame 11 in order to increase the area through which the airflow passes. As shown in FIG. 1D, although the bevel angle C increases the area of the air outlet 114, output airflow cannot be concentrated, thus reducing the airflow pressure provided by the fan frame 11. Alternatively, a recessed opening E (as shown in FIG. 1F) is formed near the air outlet 114 of the fan frame 11, increasing the area through which the airflow passes. However, the airflow is easily dispersed from the recessed opening E.
Conventionally, when airflow passes through the air outlet 114, the airflow directly contacts the periphery of the inner wall of the central passage 116 (as shown in FIG. 1B), bevel angle C, tapered angle D, or wall of the recessed opening E. Accordingly, the airflow can not pass through the air outlet 114 smoothly and is slowed. Also, noise is generated by friction between airflow and the inner peripheral wall of the central passage 116. Specifically, the higher the rotational speed of the fan, the more the noise generated thereby.


Monoalkyl phosphinate and monoalkyl phosphonate derivatives of low molecular weight water soluble polymers are preferentially prepared by copolymerizing hypophosphorous acid, monoethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid(s) and an effective amount of a C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid.

Low molecular weight copolymers, and their salts, are useful as dispersants, scale inhibitors, detergent additives, sequestrants, etc. They can also act as crosslinkers for hydroxyl-containing substrates via esterification reactions or for amine-containing substrates via aminolysis reactions. Generally, molecular weights below 50,000 are necessary for effective performance, and often very low molecular weights, below 10,000, are most effective. It is common to use chain transfer agents in the polymerization reaction to produce low, and especially the very low, molecular weight polymers. Hypophosphorous acid or its salts (commonly sodium hypophosphite) are particularly desirable chain transfer agents, chosen primarily because they introduce phosphinate and phosphonate functionality into polymer molecules which confers superior performance properties in some applications. Phosphorous acid is also known for use as a chain transfer agent, although it is considerably less reactive than hypophosphorous acid. As used hereinafter, and in the appended claims, the term "hypophosphorous acid" is intended to include alkali metal, ammonium and amine salts thereof, unless a clearly different meaning is indicated.
The use of hypophosphorous acid and its benefits have been taught in several U.S. patents. U.S. Pat. No. 2,957,931 teaches the use of hypophosphorous acid to make organo-phosphorus compounds including organo-phosphorus telomers. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,046,707, 4,105,551, 4,127,483, and 4,159,946 teach a method of inhibiting the formation of scale-forming salts using acrylic acid telomers made by hypophosphorous acid chain transfer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,127 teaches the use of hypophosphorous acid as a decolorizing agent in a polymerization process. Japanese Patent No. 02-34694 teaches the use of hypophosphorous acid chain terminated polymers and copolymers as detergent additives.
The use of hypophosphorous acid as a chain transfer agent results in the formation of several different polymer species. The reaction products include polymeric dialkyl phosphinate, polymeric monoalkyl phosphinate and polymeric monoalkyl phosphonate polymers. For certain applications, it is desirable to have either the di- or mono-alkyl derivative.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,686 ('686 patent) discloses cotelomers made using hypophosphorous acid as a chain transfer agent. The cotelomers are prepared from a wide range of comonomer types for use as corrosion and scale inhibitors, dispersants, and sealing smut inhibitors. The '686 patent discloses a preference for the polymeric dialkyl phosphinate products.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 371,467 filed on Jun. 26, 1989, commonly assigned, teaches a method of increasing the efficiency of the incorporation of the hypophosphorous acid which subsequently results in an increased yield of the di-alkyl phosphinate species. In that application, the invention required from 20-100 percent in-process neutralization of the acid monomers in order to achieve efficient incorporation of the hypophosphorous acid.

Low molecular weight monoalkyl substituted phosphinate and phosphonate copolymers