Described is a finite-difference methodology for efficiently computing the response from a model subject to changes within sub-volumes with the sub-volume enclosed with an extrapolation surface within an injection boundary using Green's functions to update the injection boundary and transmitting an updated wavefield from the injection boundary back into the altered sub-volume to include higher order reflections from outside of the altered sub-space.

A wide variety of modeling, processing and inversion algorithms require the recalculation of the response after local alterations to an initial model. For example, pre-stack finite-difference migration of seismic data provides a highly accurate means of producing images of the Earth's interior. The migration algorithm consists of recalculating the finite-difference response of small local changes to the seismic model. However, full finite-difference migration is rarely performed because of computational limitations restricting migration algorithms to the use of less accurate asymptotic techniques. Another example relates to finite-difference inversion, where recalculating the finite-difference response is the core (forward modeling step) of the algorithms.
Yet another example which is considered as being an important area of the present invention refers to so-called time-lapse seismics (or 4-D seismics). In this application it is of interest to investigate the effects that small (local) changes to the model have on the seismic response, e.g., varying water-oil-contact levels in a producing reservoir.
Also, in forward modeling, it may be of interest to re-compute the response of an altered seismic model. Forward modeling may serve as a means of learning what effects certain features of a seismic model have on the full response. Also, as the knowledge of the model evolves, or as it becomes more refined, a simulated response may need to be updated.
Another area of interest regarding the present invention lies in Amplitude Variation with Offset (AVO) calculations, where the effects of, for instance, changes of the degree of anisotropy of a cap-rock may be the target of investigation.
Furthermore, FD modeling has been used in connection with borehole measurements, simulations of tool behavior and characteristics in their operational environment. Typically, it is of interest to investigate the effects that small changes to the tool design or model parameters have on the propagation of waves in the vicinity of the tool.
The common feature of these problems is that changes to the model are often restricted to a small sub-volume, but finite-difference simulations are required for the full model with several alterations. A method that would allow full finite-difference simulations for the complete model to be corrected for these changes while only requiring calculations in the sub-volume and its neighborhood could significantly reduce the computational cost both in terms of the number of calculations and memory for storage of material parameters and variable fields.
Finite-difference methods provide an accurate way of computing seismograms from complex seismic models. However, as mentioned above, the finite-difference simulations tend to become prohibitively expensive to run on even state-of-the-art computing equipment. Therefore, different approaches have been taken to make highly accurate numerical modeling methods such as finite-difference schemes more efficient. Two major directions of effort to achieve significant computational savings can be found in the literature: (1) hybrid techniques; and (2) grid-refinement techniques.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,330, in the background art as cited therein, and in: Robertsson and Chapman, Geophysics Vol. 65, No. 3 (May-June 2000), p. 907-918, there are described methods of injecting an analytical source solution recorded during an initial simulation on a full model on a surface surrounding a smaller domain, to drive a finite-difference computation on the smaller domain. In the proposed FD-injection approach the injection surface is transparent for waves scattered by the perturbations, allowing them to "leak trough" the injection surface and to be extrapolated to a set of receivers. However, even as an improvement over other known methods, the proposed method places still high demands on the performance of absorbing boundary conditions and significantly increases the size of computational domain (and thus the computational cost).
Exact non-reflecting boundary conditions have been proposed in: Ting and Miksis, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 80, 1825 (1986) for scattering problems based on the Kirchhoff integral. These methods use extrapolating the wavefield from an artificial surface surrounding the scatterer to the boundary of the computational domain, the exact boundary conditions are found, necessary to truncate the computational domain without generating spurious reflections. The known scheme has several advantages in that it is explicit, it only requires past values on the extrapolation surface and if an explicit difference scheme is used in the interior, the boundary condition can be solved at each time step independently. The extrapolation surface can be of arbitrary shape or size, the size of the computational domain can be of the same order as the scatterer. However the method as proposed by Ting and Miksis and as tested by others makes use of free-space Green's functions thus assuming or enforcing a homogenous background medium where the values of the extrapolated wavefield on the boundary depend only the values of the wavefield on the extrapolation surface at the retarded times t−r/c, where r/c is the traveltime of the wavefield between the extrapolation surface and the boundary.
The boundary is non-reflecting. The process neglects scattering due to an inhomogeneous medium outside the volume enclosed by the extrapolation boundary.
In Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 164301 (2005) and in the co-owned international patent application PCT/GB2005/003852, entitled "Processing Data representing Energy propagating through a Medium" and filed on 6 Oct. 2005, the inventors of the present invention described methods using the representation theorem for the wave-equation in combination with time-reversal invariance and reciprocity, to express the Green's function between two points in the interior of the model as an integral over the response in those points due to sources regularly distributed on a surface surrounding the medium and the points. In the application reference is made to the above-cited U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,330 and it is proposed to combine the method of FD-injection of the latter with the efficient calculation of Green's calculation of the former.
In view of the above cited prior art it is an object of the invention to provide methods for improving the efficiency of seismic wave-field calculation as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,330. It is a more specific object of the invention to improve the effectiveness of boundary conditions around sub-parts or domains in a larger finite-difference model.

Method of evaluating the interaction between a wavefield and a solid body


Driver circuit that generates a drive waveform with a static bit swing and a pre-emphasis bit swing. The driver circuit includes an input (IN) node, a complementary input (INB) node, an output (OUT) node and a complementary output (OUTB) node. The driver circuit includes a fundamental swing determination mechanism (FSDM) that is coupled to the output (OUT) node and a complementary output (OUTB) node. The fundamental swing determination mechanism (FSDM) determines or sets the fundamental swing of the drive waveform by generating a fundamental current. The fundamental swing determination mechanism (FSDM) includes at least one switched resistor circuit. The driver circuit also includes a modulation swing determination mechanism (MSDM) that is coupled to the output (OUT) node and a complementary output (OUTB) node. The modulation swing determination mechanism (MSDM) determines or sets the modulation swing of the drive waveform by generating a modulation current. The modulation swing determination mechanism (MSDM) includes at least one switched current source. The pre-emphasis bit swing of the drive waveform is generated when the modulation current is added to the fundamental current. The static bit swing is generated when the modulation current is subtracted from the fundamental current.

Interface circuits are important for converting signals between systems that have different signal requirements (e.g., a first integrated circuit that has a first set of signal requirements and a second integrated circuit that has a second set of signal requirements). These interface circuits can be incorporated in the first IC as a last output stage, in the second IC as a first input stage, or as a stand-alone circuit that is interposed between the first IC and the second IC.
One trend in electronic systems is the reduction in the power supply voltage (e.g., Vcc). These systems that operate with lower power supply voltages are especially conducive for low-power consumption applications (e.g., portable electronic devices) since a lower power supply voltage leads to lower power consumption. However, as the supply voltage in systems is reduced, it becomes more of a challenge to meet certain electrical specifications. For example, certain requirements, such as voltage swing and common mode voltage, are increasing difficult to meet especially as the supply voltage for electronic systems decreases.
One example, of a specification with strict electrical requirements is the InfiniBand™ Architecture Specification. InfiniBand Trade Association publishes InfiniBand™ Architecture Specification Release 1.1, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 (released Nov. 6, 2002) (see http://www.infinibandta.org/specs/register/publicspec/). This specification sets forth various parameters and requirements for the electrical, optical, mechanical specifications for use by designers of products and components that are compliant with the InfiniBand™ Architecture.
Specifically, as the power supply voltage decreases, there are certain design parameters that may become more difficult to meet. For example, one parameter related to the differential output is the common mode voltage (VCM). Commonly used CML drivers, which are described in greater detail hereinafter, have good power supply noise rejection, but usually have a higher output VCM, which is sometimes constrained by the electrical requirements or specifications of a system.
The InfiniBand Architecture Release 1.1, for example, specifies common mode voltage (VCM) with a maximum of 1.0V and a minimum of 0.5V. The common mode voltage (VCM) is determined by the expression: (Vhigh+V low)/2. Another parameter related to the differential output is the differential output (Vdiff). The InfiniBand Architecture Release 1.1, for example, specifies a Vdiff with a maximum of 1.6V and a minimum of 1.0V. The Vdiff is the peak-to-peak differential voltage with a 100 ohm differential load. On the other hand, voltage mode H-bridge drivers can have a relatively lower VCM, which is generally set by Vcc/2.
Many modern high speed communication systems require a single-ended output impedance of 50 ohms for the driver and the load differential impedance across the output nodes of 100 ohms. Under these conditions, the maximum differential output swing is limited or restricted to the voltage supply magnitude (Vcc) (that is, a single-ended swing of Vcc/2). It would be desirable to remove this voltage swing limitation or increase the voltage headroom with respect to the minimum voltage swing.
Interface circuits typically employ a wave-shaping or conditioning circuit to generate an output waveform to drive the next stage with signals that conform to the requirements of the next stage (e.g., a system compliant with the InfiniBand™ Architecture Specification). A driver circuit is typically designed for generating the drive waveform.
As can be appreciated, selecting a driver architecture is an important aspect of designing the wave shaping or conditioning circuit. Some of the different approaches to designing a driver circuit are now described.
There are two primary driver architectures. The first driver architecture is a current mode driver (also referred to as a CML driver). In CML drivers, current sources are defined, and the output swing is determined by a current proportional to the defined current source flowing through a load resistance.
The second driver architecture is a voltage mode driver. Unlike the CML driver, the voltage mode driver does not have current sources. Instead, the voltage mode driver determines the output swing by the switching behavior of transistors employed in the driver.
Between these two driver architectures, voltage mode drivers (see the following example) have a lower power consumption and a lower common mode voltage (VCM) as compared to current mode drivers when provided with the same operating voltage supply (Vcc) and output voltage swing (Vdiff). Power consumption is generally measures by the expression V*I, where V represents the power supply voltage (e.g., Vcc) and I represents the power supply current.
In this regard, the voltage mode driver architecture may be preferred to meet the requirements of some standards, such as InfiniBand Architecture.
One example of a voltage mode driver design is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,445,530 entitled, "Class AB H-bridge using current sensing MOSFETs" (Inventor: John M. Baker). U.S. Pat. No. 6,445,530 is directed to the use of H-bridges to create different current flowing through an output load. Unfortunately, one disadvantage of this approach is that when applied to a modern high-speed communication systems with a 50-ohm output impedance and a 100-ohm differential load impedance, the maximum output swing is limited to the supply voltage as mentioned earlier, which can be a challenge when designing with strict requirements for power consumption and output high voltage.
Examples of driver architectures that employ a current mode logic (CML) are now described. One example of a CML driver is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,437,599 entitled, "Programmable Line Driver" (Inventor: Eric Groen). This approach employs two differential pairs with programmable bias current to pre-emphasize the output signal.
A second example of a CML driver is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,373,346, entitled, "Laser Driver pre-emphasis and de-emphasis method and/or architecture with tuning and duty cycle control" (Inventor: Kevine Wesley Kobayashi). This approach employs two additional control circuits of differential pairs to pre-distort the output signal generated by the main differential driver.
A third example of a CML driver is described in a paper entitled, "A 0.4-um CMOS 10 Gb/s 4-PAM Pre-emphasis Serial Link Transmitter," by Farjad-Rad, Ramin; Yang, Chih-Kong Ken; Horowitz, Mark A.; Lee, Thomas H., IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Volume: 34, No. 5, May 1999, pages 580 to 585. This approach employs drivers in combination with FIR filters to generate a pre-emphasis signal. One disadvantage of this approach is that for certain applications (e.g., low common mode applications) where voltage headroom is needed, this type of driver is difficult to implement, especially with a low voltage supply and large voltage swing.
One significant drawback of the CML driver architecture is that the CML driver consumes more power than its voltage mode counterpart (i.e., a voltage mode driver architecture).
Another approach to driver design employs passive components for pre-emphasis. An example of this approach is described in a paper entitled, "Development of the high-band 8 mm video system," by Tsuneki, K.; Ezaki, T.; Hirai, J.; Kubota, Y., IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, Volume: 35, Issue 3, pages 436 to 441, August 1989. One disadvantage of this approach is that if this technique is utilized in the design of a driver integrated circuit (IC), excessively large capacitance will be required to provide sufficient bandwidth for high speed application. As can be appreciated, it may be difficult and problematic to integrate large capacitances in integrated circuits.
Another approach is driver design employs DAC controlled current sources to add/subtract with a main current source to generate a pre-emphasis signal. An example of this approach is described in a paper entitled, "A Low-Power 8-PAM Serial Transceiver in 0.5-um Digital CMOS," by Foley, David J.; Flynn, Michael P., IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Volume: 37, No. 3, pages 310 to 316, March 2002. One disadvantage of this approach is that the design is tailored for single-ended output applications and not differential applications.
Based on the foregoing, there remains a need for a driver circuit for generating a drive waveform that overcomes the disadvantages set forth previously.

Voltage mode current-assisted pre-emphasis driver

Avago Technologies Fiber IP (Singapore) Pte.Ltd.


Symptoms of Parkinson's disease and psychogenic male erectile dysfunction (MED) can be ameliorated through the use of apomorphine. The adverse side effects of apomorphine administration, such as nausea, vomiting, yawning, and cardiovascular effects, can be significantly reduced by a dose escalating method of acclimatization. An initial dose of apomorphine is administered to the patient, and subsequently increased over a period of time until a final apomorphine dose in excess of a desired therapeutic dose has been received by the patient. Thereafter a therapeutic dose of apomorphine, less than the final apomorphine dose, is administered to the patient with attendant reduced side effects.

Apomorphine has been used to treat Parkinsonian patients. See, for example, Deffond et al., J. Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 56:101-103 (1993) and Durif et al., Clinical Neuropharmacology 16(2):157-166 (1993). Additionally, apomorphine has been considered for the treatment of alcoholism, schizophrenia, dystonia musculorum deformans, hallucinations, migraine headaches, hiccups, Huntington's chorea, tardative dyskinesia, and more recently male erectile dysfunction.
Administration of large doses of apomorphine to mammals such as humans, dogs and the like usually results in nausea and vomiting, and is believed to be due to the action of apomorphine on the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) of the medulla oblongata, a structure of the mammalian central nervous system. It is also believed that additional chemoreceptors triggering emesis are present in the gastrointestinal tract as well.
Impotence or male erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to achieve and sustain an erection sufficient for intercourse. Impotence in any given case can result from psychological disturbances (psychogenic), from physiological abnormalities in general (organic), from neurological disturbances (neurogenic), hormonal deficiencies (endocrine) or from a combination of the foregoing.
These descriptions are not exact, however. There is currently no standardized method of diagnosis or treatment. As used herein, psychogenic impotence is defined as functional impotence with no apparent overwhelming organic basis. It may be characterized by an ability to have an erection in response to some stimuli (e.g., masturbation, spontaneous nocturnal, spontaneous early morning, video erotica, etc.) but not others (e.g., partner or spousal attention).
The effect of apomorphine on penile tumescence in male patients afflicted with psychogenic impotence has also been studied. These studies show that while apomorphine can indeed induce an erection in a psychogenic male patient, the apomorphine dose required to achieve a significant erectile response is usually accompanied by nausea or other serious undesirable side effects, including hypertension, flushing and diaphoresis (sweating). The specific mechanisms by which apomorphine acts to produce an erectile response in a human patient are not yet completely understood, however.
Moreover, apomorphine has been shown to have very poor oral bioavailability. See, for example, Baldessarini et al., in Gessa et al., eds., Apomorphine and Other Dopaminomimetics, Basic Pharmacology, Vol. 1, Raven Press, N.Y. (1981), pp. 219-228. Thus the search is continuing for an effective treatment of psychogenic impotence in male patients as well as for diagnostic methods that can identify such patients.
It has now been found that certain delivery systems for apomorphine can provide a practical therapeutic and/or diagnostic "window" while reducing the likelihood of undesirable side effects.
Acute and subacute testing of apomorphine HCl has been reported in studies with daily doses ranging to over 300 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) in lower vertebrates (amphibian and birds), and to 10 mg/kg in higher mammals (primates). In mammals, it appears doses of apomorphine HCl are tolerated up to about 13 mg/kg in a single bolus subcutaneous injection. Doses at or above this amount have been reported lethal in mouse, although, the LD50 is considerably higher (>50 mg/kg) in this species. Continuous infusion of apomorphine has been tolerated and reported to doses of 420 .mu.g/kg/hr for 14 days. Larger doses (1,500 .mu.g/kg/hr were found to be minimally lethal over the course of the 14 day study). In primates, multiple doses of apomorphine HCl have been administered for up to four days at 100-400 .mu.g/kg without major adverse effects.
However, in 1995, The Pharmacology of Sexual Function and Dysfunction (J. Bancroft, editor), in an article at pp. 225-229 entitled "Dopamine agonists and their effect on the human penile erectile response" by R. T. Segraves, M.D., summarized evidence concerning the use of dopamine agonists especially apomorphine to induce erectile responses in human males. The article concludes that "[c]learly, apomorphine has too many side effects to have therapeutic usefulness."
Notwithstanding the Segraves article, apomorphine dosage forms have been found to be effective in treating Parkinson's disease as well as in male patients suffering from psychogenic erectile dysfunction for the induction and maintenance of an erection sufficient for intercourse (i.e., vaginal penetration). While at relatively lower dosages apomorphine can be administered without nausea or other undesirable side effects, such side effects do manifest themselves as the dosages of apomorphine are increased.
When the plasma concentration of apomorphine is maintained at no more than about 5.5 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml), the incidence of adverse side effects is minimal. Such monitoring, of course, requires either an invasive procedure, such as blood analysis or urinalysis, to determine proper dosing requirements.
The present method provides for the amelioration of adverse effects due to apomorphine use without the invasiveness of previous methods.

Amelioration of apomorphine adverse effects


An elastomeric band exercise device is modified by adding a cushion to the band to permit it to be comfortably stepped on with a bare foot without discomfort. The modification is particularly advantageous when the device is used in performing aquatic exercises. Each handle has a waterproof friction grip covering a steel weight bar. The handle is connected to the band by a retainer ball in the end of the band and a washer inserted between the ball and a throat in the handle through which the band is extended.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to exercise devices and methods and, more particularly, to an improved exercise device of the type disclosed in my 6,692,415 patent and having particular advantages when used in swimming pools.
2. Description of the Related Art
The exercise device disclosed in my 6,692,415 patent includes a longitudinally resilient elastomeric tube serving as a resistance exercise device. The tube is secured to and extends between two handles permitting the tube to be alternately stretched and relaxed by a person exercising with the device. The tube is removably engaged at each handle by extending the tube through a bore or channel, and inserting a retainer ball of greater diameter than the tube and bore into the diametrically stretched end of the tube. With the end of the tube stretched about the retainer ball, the retained ball prevents the tube from becoming loose and disengaged from the handle during use. The handle has a hollow cylindrical grip with a weighted cylindrical bar disposed therein to add to the muscle exercise value of the device. One valuable exercise routine with which the device can be used involves the person standing with one or both feet on the approximate center of the tube with the tube on the floor or ground to trap the tube in place. The person grasps the handles with respective hands and then moves the handles upward and/or outward to achieve different muscular exercises for the person's arms. The described device serves this and other exercise functions quite well.
With the increasing popularity of aquatic exercising, it is desirable that the described exercise device be used in a swimming pool. However, a barefoot person who steps on the elastomeric tube, trapping it between the sole of his/her foot and the bottom surface or floor of the pool, experiences considerable pain or discomfort. Specifically, much of the person's weight bears on the tube which presses up into a small linear portion of the ball or sole of the foot which, in most people, is relatively tender. Consequently, the force of much of the weight is concentrated on a small area resulting in a relatively large pressure. This limits the use of the device in aquatic exercising activities.
Another potential disadvantage of the device disclosed in my prior patent pertains to the fact that the retainer ball disposed in the stretched end of the band to retain the band in the handle is, in some instances, difficult to remove when replacing the band. Specifically, the base of the handle includes an opening through which the band extends, and the portion of the band extending into the interior space in the handle is stretched over the retainer ball. The band is then pulled distally until a portion of the ball extends into the handle opening. In some instances the ball is inserted so tightly into the opening as to make removal difficult without damaging the band.


The invention relates to an information transmission system capable of transmitting target information via voice, as well as to an information encoding apparatus and an information decoding apparatus for use with the system. The information encoding apparatus (31) converts input text information to an intermediate code in accordance with a predetermined encoding method, and outputs a voice derived from voice information based on the intermediate code and supplemented with music arrangement information. The voice is transmitted either directly or via a broadcasting or communicating medium to a receiving side. The information decoding apparatus (34) on the receiving side receives the generated voice, recognizes a voice waveform from the received voice, and reproduces the original target information by decoding the intermediate code based on the recognized voice waveform. During the encoding, the intermediate code is assigned to at least one element of the voice, and the music arrangement information is used as a basis for determining at least one other element of the voice. This provides the kind of voice agreeable to the human ear.

A transmission apparatus of a conventional voice communication system typically uses microphones or the like to convert into an electrical signal speeches or sounds emitted by humans, musical instruments, or speakers and pieces of instrumental or synthesized music, before transmitting the electrical signal thus generated to remote locations. A reception apparatus of the system receives the transmitted electrical signal and reproduces the original sounds therefrom using speakers so that the reproduced sounds can be heard by humans. This type of voice communication system may also transmit text information. That is, text information is first vocalized by the sending side having the text read aloud by humans or synthesized by a voice synthesis apparatus for voice information transmission. On the receiving side, the received voice information is recognized as or converted to the original text information on a one-to-one correspondence basis.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a voice communication setup based on conventional voice recognition technology. In this setup, text information such as URL addresses is transmitted by voice as follows: text information is first input from an input unit 10 to a storage unit 11. A voice synthesis unit 12 converts the stored text information into a voice signal. At this point, the voice synthesis unit 12 turns the text into the close equivalent of a human voice. The synthesized voice signal is converted by a DAC circuit 13 into an analog waveform, which in turn is output as a voice waveform by a speaker 14 onto a communication channel 15 (space in this example) . The voice waveform propagates through space to reach a microphone 16 on the receiving side. The voice waveform, picked up by the microphone 16, is converted to a digital signal by an ADC circuit 17. The digital signal is submitted to a voice recognition unit 18 for band-pass filtering and extraneous signal element removal before text-to-voice signal pattern matching for conversion to the original text information. The resulting text information is stored into a storage unit 19. This is how text information is typically transmitted by voice from one side to another.
In another setup involving voice modems, speeches are encoded and decoded for transmission using a speech bandwidth. This setup typically utilizes a closed voice-grade communication channel 15 such as a telephone line (wired). FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a voice communication setup based on a conventional voice modem arrangement.
In the setup of FIG. 2, text information is first input by an input unit 20 to a storage unit 21. The stored text information is converted by a data transmission unit 22 to a digital signal train that can be interpreted by a voice modem 23 based on character codes. The data transmission unit 22 outputs the digital signal train of 0s and 1s, which are not recognized as text by the voice modem 23. The voice modem 23 converts the input digital signal train into voice-grade signal waveforms. The signal waveforms thus generated are transmitted over a telephone line 25 through a modular jack 24 identical to that, which is used by the telephone for analog voice communication.
On the receiving side, the signal waveforms are received through the telephone line 25, i.e., a voice-grade communication channel, and input to a voice modem 27 via a modular jack 26. The voice modem 27 converts the signal waveforms to a digital signal using a demodulation method corresponding to the modulation method adopted by the voice modem 23 on the sending side. The digital signal is input to a data reception unit 28 whereby the digital signal data are recognized as text information. The resulting text information is stored using ASCII codes into a storage unit 29.
One disadvantage of the conventional voice-based information transmission system outlined above is a low recognition rate combined with a low processing speed in converting human speeches to voice information. Another disadvantage is a lack of privacy; what is desired to be transmitted can be overheard by a third party. If the content to be sent is encrypted, the resulting audio effect can be awkward and unpleasant to the human ear.
Furthermore, the encoding and decoding setup based on the conventional voice-grade communication arrangement, such as modems, has the disadvantage of the encoded voice being disagreeable to the human ear. That means the setup cannot be used where the encoded voice needs to be broadcast aloud to a large number of people.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and provides an information transmission apparatus as well as an information encoding apparatus and an information decoding apparatus for use with the system. The information encoding apparatus on a sending side converts target information to voice format for voice transmission to a receiving side through an I/O interface of conventional audio equipment, such as speakers and microphones, the information decoding apparatus on the receiving side reproduces the target information based on the voice information received.

Information transmitting system, information encoder and information decoder


A cab for a power machine having a side window and a rear window each hingedly connected to the same one of a right rear cab frame post and a left rear cab frame post such that when the side window and rear window are both opened by latches to rotate outward relative to the same rear post an airflow path is created diagonally across the operator between a front corner of the cab and an opposite rear corner of the cab.

This disclosure is directed toward power machines. More particularly, this disclosure is directed to cabs for power machines and windows and window arrangements for such cabs.
Power machines, for the purposes of this disclosure, include any type of machine that generates power to accomplish a particular task or a variety of tasks. One type of power machine is a work vehicle. Work vehicles, such as loaders, are generally self-propelled vehicles that have a work device, such as a lift arm (although some work vehicles can have other work devices) that can be manipulated to perform a work function. Work vehicles include loaders, excavators, utility vehicles, tractors, and trenchers, to name a few examples.
Power machines having enclosed cab structures frequently have heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to control the environmental conditions within the cab. However, not all power machine cabs include HVAC systems. Further, even with an HVAC system, at times the ambient temperature outside of the cab is sufficiently comfortable for an operator and energy savings can be achieved by not running the HVAC system. Also, some operators may prefer fresh air to conditioned air from the HVAC system. It is desirable to provide an airflow path through the cab that allows air to flow over the operator. In cab structures with one-piece windows covering all or substantially all of a side of the cab, this can be a challenge.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.


A method and apparatus for selecting and updating a replacement candidate in a cache is disclosed. In one embodiment, a cache miss may initiate the eviction of a present replacement candidate in a last-level cache. The cache miss may also initiate the selection of a future replacement candidate. Upon the selection of the future replacement candidate, the corresponding cache line may be invalidated in lower-level caches but remain resident in the last-level cache. The future replacement candidate may be updated by subsequent hits to the replacement candidate in the last-level cache prior to a subsequent cache miss.

Microprocessors may utilize multi-level cache designs in order to reduce the latency of memory accesses. The cache levels closer to the processor cores (level one (L1) caches) may have a design emphasis on low latency, while the cache levels farthest from the processor cores (last-level caches (LLC)) may have a design emphasis on larger capacity. Intermediate cache levels, if present, may be designed for performance with a tradeoff being made between low latency and large capacity.
When a memory access (e.g. read or write) is made to a cache, a determination is made whether the requested memory location is present in the cache (a cache "hit") or not (a cache "miss"). If a miss occurs, then room in the cache must be made for the requested line to be loaded from an upper-level cache or from system memory. Caches generally have a replacement method for determining which existing cache line should be evicted to make room for this new cache line. This process may often be referred to as "victimization". Replacement methods may include well-known methods such as the least-recently-used (LRU) method, the random selection method, and the first-in-first-out (FIFO) method. Each of these and other methods may have advantages and drawbacks.
To preserve cache coherency in a multi-processor core system, snooping for requested cache lines is often performed. In a multi-level cache system, this would in general mean that snoop messages would need to be propagated downward, starting at the last-level caches and continuing all the way down to the L1 caches. Partially in order to reduce the latency produced by these snoop messages, many caches are designed to be inclusive. An inclusive cache maintains the property that any cache line present in a lower-level cache is also present in that inclusive cache. Therefore, snooping may in many circumstances need only be performed to the last-level caches: if a particular cache line is not present in the last-level cache, then by the inclusive property it will not be present in any lower-level caches either. However, the inclusive property may produce performance-reducing artifacts of its own.

Method and apparatus for run-ahead victim selection to reduce undesirable replacement behavior in inclusive caches


A method for selecting an internal circuit according to a USB interface status includes: connecting a first pin of a USB interface of a terminal to a power supply through a pull-up resistor, where the first pin is a D− or D+ pin; when detecting that an external USB device is inserted into the USB interface, detecting whether the level status of the first pin is high or low; if the level status is low, connecting the D− and D+ pins to corresponding pins of a USB data communication module of the terminal and controlling charging of the terminal according to a first policy; if the level status is high, determining whether the level statuses of the D− and D+ pins are consistent, and if consistent, controlling charging of the terminal according to a second policy; if inconsistent, controlling charging of the terminal according to a third policy.

Nowadays, more and more terminal devices such as mobile phones begin to use USB interfaces, and use one USB interface for both charging and data communication. Computer USB interfaces and power adapters (Adapters, including standard power adapters and non-standard power adapters) may serve as a power supply to provide currents for terminal devices to charge the terminal devices. However, because the charging currents provided by computer USB interfaces and power adapters are usually different, and the currents provided by power adapters vary according to adapter types, the type of external power supply inserted into a USB interface needs to be identified before a terminal is charged; otherwise, if charging currents are too large, the normal work of a computer or a power adapter is affected, and even the computer or the power adapter is damaged, and if the charging currents are too small, the charging time is prolonged, and therefore the functions of the power adapter capable of fast charging with large currents are not brought into full play.
When a user charges a terminal device with a power adapter through a USB interface, or charges the terminal device through a computer USB interface, or performs data communication through a computer USB interface, the terminal first detects the external USB device connected to the terminal and then performs charging or data communication accordingly.
At present, some processor chips can support the Battery Charging V1.1 and/or Battery Charging V1.2 protocol and have the function of detecting and identifying the power supply type of a USB interface. However, not all processor chips can support the preceding protocols. Sometimes, due to the overall design scheme of a terminal, an external USB interface is not directly a USB interface of a processor, but another interface of the processor such as an NFI or SDRAM interface which is converted by an interface conversion chip into a USB interface and made external. In this case, the power supply type cannot be identified directly through the processor.
In view of the disadvantages of the preceding technology, some semiconductor manufacturers have launched dedicated chips for identifying the type of USB power supply, but the costs are high.
Another solution is to directly connect other peripheral detection devices such as a comparator in parallel on the USB bus. However, the solution is only capable of detecting standard power adapters whose D+ and D− pins are shorted, and incapable of detecting non-standard power adapters with a not-connected D+ pin and a not-connected D− pin or without D+ and D− pins.

Method and terminal for selecting internal circuit according to USB interface status


A bag closure comprising a cylindrical tube having a slit along its length, a notch in line with the slit on at least one end of the tube and an elevated bead formed around at least one end of the tube, the bead functioning to maintain the tube in its cylindrical shape. The bag closure may additionally include a flange or pad to aid in attaching the bag closure to a second structure.

The present invention relates to a closure for use in obtaining a generally air tight seal on a bag. In addition the closure is inexpensive to form and easy to apply and remove. Prior art closures are of several types including mechanical clips, molded clamps and cylindrical devices prepared by slitting an extruded plastic tube. The mechanical clips and molded clamps are more expensive to fabricate than the slit tube construction. However, the slit tube construction, because of residual stresses molded into the tube, demonstrates a tendency for the slit edges to overlap each other forming a spiral configuration which is harder to use or to spread apart, each variation having less than desirable sealing properties.
Thus there is a need for a simple, lower cost design which will hold the desired cylindrical configuration during use.


Radial head implant apparatuses and methods are provided in accordance with the subject matter disclosed herein wherein a shaft and a head portion can be axially movable within a stem portion. In one embodiment, a radial head implant can include a head portion for articular engagement with a humerus bone, a stem portion for engagement with a radius bone, and a shaft for engagement with the stem portion. The head portion can include an upper surface for engaging the humerus bone. The stem portion can have an axial opening for receiving at least a portion of the shaft, and a collar can be disposed around the stem portion at a proximal end thereof. An upper portion of the shaft can be configured for engaging the head portion, while a lower portion of the shaft can be elongated and cylindrical for axially fitting into and moving within the axial opening of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also disclosed for axial movement for a radial head implant. Various structures are disclosed for locking the shaft in position within the stem portion.

Fractures of the radial head account for two to five percent of all adult fractures and are typically treated with a variety of surgical and non-surgical options depending upon the severity of the injury. For example, surgical options for more severe injuries to the radial head can include open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF), radial head resection, hemi-arthroplasty of the radial head, and total elbow replacement. Hemi-arthroplasty of the radial head involves resecting the fractured and damaged radial head and replacing the natural articulation with an artificial one by use of an implant. The implant articulates with the natural cartilage surface of the capitulum of the distal humerus. Over time, radial head implant apparatuses and methods utilized for treatment have evolved to continuously improve surgical outcomes.
As can be appreciated by those of skill in the art, indications which can be associated with the use of radial head implant apparatuses and methods can include:                Comminuted radial fracture with or with associated elbow instability;        Comminuted radial fracture with associated rupture of the interosseous membrane, the Essex-Lopresti lesion;        Post-traumatic arthritis involving the radiocapitellar or proximal radioulnar joint;        Primary osteoarthritis involving the radiocapitellar joint or proximal radioulnar joint;        Rheumatoid arthritis involving the radiocapitellar joint or proximal radioulnar joint; and        Revision of a failed radial head prosthesis.
It is well known that a number of factors typically have a significant impact on the clinical outcome of a radial head implant. Four such factors, for example, are: biocompatibility of the implant; implant stiffness, which should be sufficient to prevent joint collapse under physiological loading; ability of the implant to restore correct head height and tissue balance and prevent gross changes in joint kinematics (i.e., a valgus laxity); and ability of the implant to minimize stress placed upon the capitellar articulation. It is therefore desirable for a radial head apparatus to be biocompatible, sufficiently stiff, allow for enough surgical flexibility to restore natural joint kinematics despite anatomical variations, and minimize the stress placed upon surrounding tissues.


A fixture for covering the track joint between the rotary plate of the swivel joint and the bellows or concertina walls of an articulated vehicle comprises a frame to hold the track joint covering bellows, the frame (7, 9) having a mouth (11) that can be used to hold the end of the joint covering bellows (5) is place.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fixture for covering the track joint between the rotary plate of a swivel joint and the expansion or concertina bellows of an articulated vehicle and comprises a frame to hold the track joint covering bellows. The track joint covering bellows constitutes a tunnel-like hollow, runs parallely to the medium longitudinal axis of an articulated vehicle and angularly to the expansion or concertina bellows. The track joint covering bellows not only serves as a cover for the track joint between the rotary plate and the expansion or concertina bellows, but it also offers the facility to guide supply wires from one part of the vehicle to the other in the tunnel-like hollow constituted by the track joint covering bellows.
2. Description of the related art including information disclosed under 37 CFR .sctn..sctn.1.97-1.99
In order for the supplying wires to be accessible, the track joint covering bellows has to be removable. The state of the art provides therefore a connection between the frame and the track joint covering bellows, this connection being particularly characterized in that the frame and the track joint covering bellows are provided with bores through which turn-lock fasteners are protruding, the turn-lock fasteners allowing a positive fastening of the bellows onto the frame. This connection between the track joint covering bellows and the frame is very complicated and thus very expensive to manufacture. Moreover, problems occur in the manufacturing techniques due to the fact that the bores of the bellows and the bores of the frame are not always placed in true alignment so that the turn-lock fastener cannot be led through the corresponding bore.
Several prior art patents are listed below:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. Patentee ______________________________________ 4,257,645 Balogh 4,294,485 Engelhard 5,280,984 Paul et al. ______________________________________
The Balogh U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,645 does not disclose a fixture for covering the track joint between the rotary plate of the swivel joint and the expansion or concertina bellows of an articulated vehicle, but instead teaches an air- and water-sealed connection being designed as a bellows-like inflatable doughnut. Moreover, the bellows according to this U.S. Patent specification requires a manufacturing implying in the present case that a clamping element incorporated into the material is provided onto the bellows.
The Paul et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,984 discloses a bellows for the connection of two vehicle parts. Such a bellows has at one end a retaining member that can be clampingly received by a corresponding recess in the two vehicle parts connected to each other by means of the bellows. The inconvenience of such a bellows is that the holding elements located on the end of the bellows have always to be fastened separately onto the bellows. Accordingly, a series production is actually not possible. This is all the more true taking into consideration that, if need be, bellows of different lengths have to be used.

Device for covering the track joint between the rotary plate of a swivel joint and the expansion or concertina bellows of an articulated vehicle


A client-directed pre-stage operation of a cache memory used to access data blocks from a mass data storage device attached to a host computer through a channel control processor is provided by a method and apparatus comprising a channel control processor for retrieving data blocks from the mass storage device to be pre-staged within the cache memory, a channel interface coupled between the channel control processor and the host computer, a mass storage device interface coupled between the channel control processor and the mass storage device, and a cache memory coupled between the channel interface and the mass storage interface; the cache memory is further coupled to the cache control processor to provide the cache control processor access to data stored within the cache memory. The cache control processor receives a cache bitmap from the host computer to specify the data blocks from the mass storage device to be pre-staged into the cache memory. Each bit within the cache bitmap corresponds to a data block within the mass storage device which may be pre-staged into the cache memory.

Modern data processing systems typically comprise a host computer, consisting of an arithmetic and logic unit and a main memory unit for containment of data and instructions presently being processed, and mass storage means for storage of data and processing instructions at other times. The mass storage means is typically connected to the host computer by means of a channel. When the host desires a particular data set or record, it issues a command over the channel to the mass storage means, which then reads the data, from whatever medium it is stored upon, e.g., magnetic disk or tape memory media, over the channel into the main memory of the host. The substantial length of time required to retrieve data from long term storage limits the throughput or usage of the host computer. To minimize this loss of use of the host computer, the host will typically issue a series of requests for data and then perform other tasks while the data is being retrieved from long term disk or tape media. However, even when this "queuing" is performed there is substantial host computer computation time lost due to the time required for accessing data.
Many computer systems use a variety of different memory or data storage devices arranged in a hierarchy. For example, each processor of the computer system has dedicated registers to hold relatively small amounts of data which is frequently and rapidly accessed during processing. In addition random access memory (RAM) is also provided to hold greater amounts of information which can be accessed on a somewhat slower but nonetheless relatively rapid basis. Cache memory is used to hold even greater amounts of data which is accessed less frequently but which nonetheless must be rapidly accessed to avoid significant restrictions in the performance of the computer system. Main memory is employed to hold massive amounts of data, any particular part of which is typically accessed infrequently.
Access time for a memory refers to the amount of time for the processor to gain access to the memory in response to an input request to receive or read data from the memory, or to gain access to the memory in response to an output request to record or write data into the memory. In general, access time is that time which occurs after an input/output (I/O) request and before a read/write operation is accomplished. The amount of access time of a computer system is dependent upon the inherent speed characteristics of the memory device itself, and the ability of the system as a whole to accommodate the I/O request. To increase the amount of data processing, it is important to minimize the access time. Increased access times result in greater time periods of inactivity from the computer system, thereby decreasing its performance.
The hierarchy of memory devices is intended to reduce access times and improve computer system performance by minimizing the non-productive times when the processor is waiting to read or write data. Because the registers associated with the processors are written to and read from frequently and continually during processing, the registers are typically solid state devices which have very quick access times comparable to the clock or cycle times of the processor. The RAM which is also solid state memory provides greater data holding capacity and still obtains relatively quick access times. Cache memory typically has a much higher capacity than the RAM but has slower access times. The cache memory is typically implemented larger amounts of slower solid state memory. The main memory may be one or more mass storage disk drives, tape reel devices, a library of tape cartridges and other types of extremely high capacity mass storage devices.
In general, as the capacity of the memory increases the access time also increases. It is therefore important to attempt to move the data which is more likely to be needed for a particular processing operation up the hierarchy of memory, to make that data more rapidly available in less access time when it is needed for a processing operation. In general, higher performance computer systems use memory management control processors associated with cache and main memory to process I/O requests and transfer data from the main memory to the cache memory, so that the transferred data will be more quickly available for processing.
Because of the reduced access time of the cache memory, as compared to the main memory, the overall performance of the computer system is greatly enhanced if all I/O requests may be satisfied from cache memory. Each successful satisfaction of an I/O request from cache memory is sometimes referred to as a "hit". When it is not possible to satisfy an I/O request through the cache memory, further processing by the host computer is stopped or "blocked". A blocked I/O request results in a system "disconnect," during which time the cache memory is disconnected from the processor. A system disconnect is required to read the requested information from the main memory and to write it to the cache memory. A system disconnect also occurs when previously recorded data in the cache memory is eliminated or discarded by freeing space from the cache memory in order to accommodate an output request from the processor. A disconnect can account for hundreds of milliseconds of time delays while the demand for data not presently contained in the cache memory or the demand for free space not presently contained in the cache memory is resolved.
Data caching as part of mass storage devices is a well known technique for eliminating delays in memory access due to mechanical limitations of a storage device. For example, in the case of a disk drive, plural disks rotate at a fixed speed past read/write heads which may either be stationary with respect to the disk or move radically back and forth with respect to the disk in order to juxtapose the heads to various portions of the disk surfaces. In either case, there is a finite average time (access time) required for a particular data record to be located and read from the disk. This "access" time includes the time for a head to move to the correct cylinder (seek time) and the time required (or latency) for the disk to rotate with respect to the head until the beginning of the particular record sought is juxtaposed to the head for reading and writing.
Cache data storage eliminates these inherent delays by storing records in frequently accessed tracks in a high speed system memory (e.g., solid-state RAM). The idea is simply to allow as many memory accesses as possible to immediately retrieve data from the high speed system memory rather than wait for the data to be transferred (or staged) from the slower disk storage device to the high speed system memory. To accomplish this task, data may be staged into the high speed system memory before data access is required (i.e., pre-staged).
Clearly, the effectiveness of the cache data storage system is limited by the system's ability to anticipate the needs of future memory accesses and transfer those data records from disk storage to the high speed system memory prior to the memory access. If a sequence of memory accesses is random in nature, the cache data storage system cannot anticipate future memory accesses. Accordingly, one method of anticipating future memory accesses is to identify sequential or near sequential memory accesses. Once a sequential or near sequential access is identified, future records/tracks in the sequence can be immediately pre-staged into the high speed system memory in advance of future memory accesses.
Since the memory subsystem utilized for cache buffers has a smaller capacity than the total capacity of the mass storage system, the memory subsystem is managed by a local CPU which attempts to keep the most recently accessed data in the cache buffers. When the cache buffers become filled, older data in the cache buffers must be discarded to make room for newer, more recently accessed, data to be stored in cache buffers. To make room for new data in the cache buffers, the local CPU of the memory subsystem of prior designs locates the least recently referenced (typically referred to as least recently used or LRU) cache buffer and discards it. New data, more recently referenced is then placed in the vacated cache buffers.
Prior methods used to locate the LRU cache buffer maintain various linked list data structures, one data structure per cache buffer in the memory subsystem. As each cache buffer is referenced by a request from a host computer system, that data structure is unlinked from the linked list in its current position and relinked to the top of the linked list. Over time, these methods migrate the more recently used cache buffers toward the top of the list and the least recently used cache buffers toward the bottom of the list. Some prior methods have maintained a doubly linked list to reduce the processing time required for moving a data structure from its current position in the list to the top of the linked list. All of these methods for trying to predict which data located on mass storage devices will be requested by a host computer fail to effectively predict the location of this data under different circumstances. While each method is effective under some circumstances, all methods are likely to fail under some other set of data processing environments.
It is against this background of information that the improvements in managing the use of cache memory in a computer system according to the present invention have evolved.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for providing client-directed staging to improve non-sequential access performance in a caching disk storage system


A drip irrigation tape consists of a strip of flexible material having an elongated, indented channel formed along a first side edge, the channel being of serpentine configuration, the strip being folded lengthwise so that the side edges overlap to form a first conduit, and the opposite side edges being joined together at least along spaced seal lines along opposite edges of the channel to define a secondary conduit. Inlets and outlets are provided along the length of the channel. A method for manufacturing the tape includes the steps of forming the indented channel on a mandrel before sealing the overlapping edges of the strip together by heat sealing or ultrasonic welding.

This invention relates generally to drip irrigation tape and to methods and apparatus for fabricating such tape.
The drip irrigation system consists of lengths of plastic tubing or tape placed above ground or underground near the roots of plants, the tubing having numerous small outlets supplying drops of water continuously to the plants. This allows the amount of water supplied to be controlled more precisely, conserving water, improving crops and reducing salt accumulation and fertilizer loss in the soil.
In my previous U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,722,759 and 4,807,668, referred to above, a drip irrigation tape is described in which a strip of flexible material is formed with an indented groove extending lengthwise adjacent one side edge of the strip, the other side edge being folded over to overlap the first side edge and form a first or main water conduit. The overlapping side edges are sealed together on opposite sides of the groove to form a seam in which the groove defines a secondary conduit. Spaced inlets from the first conduit to the secondary conduit and outlets from the secondary conduit are provided, so that fluid supplied to the first conduit flows into the secondary conduit and from there leaks slowly out of the outlets into the surrounding soil.
A method and apparatus for fabricating such tape was described in my previous patents, which consisted of first forming the groove on a vacuum drum, then folding the strip lengthwise before sealing the overlapping edges at or close to the opposite sides of the groove by means of a heat sealing wheel.
In my previous patents the secondary conduit was formed by a straight, continuous or segmented channel. However, there is some advantage in providing a non-straight path to create some turbulence in the fluid flowing along the channel or conduit. Thus, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,191 of Chapin one of the embodiments shows a drip irrigation tape in which the flow restricting passage is in the form of a zig-zag or serpentine path. In this case the passage is formed by depositing a flat ribbon of plastic onto one side edge of the tape and then deforming the ribbon to form the serpentine path using a suitable molding wheel. One problem with zig-zag flow restricting passages is that small particles of soil or dirt may become trapped in the confined space of the passage, blocking flow along the passage and thus reducing or stopping the flow of water into the soil.

Drip irrigation tape and method of manufacture


A system and method for signaling, marketing, and advertising alternative fuel-based vehicles that easily installs into new or pre-existing alternative fuel-based vehicles. In a preferred embodiment, the system comprises an electronic control unit (“ECU”) installed in the vehicle, which determines whether an internal combustion engine or alternative power source powers the vehicle. The system further comprises a driver display and in-car display both of which are connected to the ECU. The ECU monitors the power status of the vehicle and illuminates vehicle displays and transmits a signal to illuminate exterior advertising displays when the vehicle is operating on the alternative power source or in a fuel-efficient mode.

As oil and other petroleum resources are depleted and become scarcer around the world, the cost of conventional petroleum-based automotive fuels such as gasoline and diesel will continue to rise. With the rise of conventional automotive fuel costs and the desire to limit, reduce, or eliminate air pollution from automobiles and emissions of so-called "greenhouse gases," the development and sales of electric, hybrid, and other alternative fuel-based vehicles such as liquid natural gas, bio-fuel, hydrogen cars and trucks have increased as well. The term "hybrid" vehicle is commonly used to refer to a hybrid electric-petroleum powered vehicle, with an electric motor powered by electric batteries and an internal combustion engine powered by gasoline, diesel, bio-fuel, or a variety of other fuels. However, the number and percentage of electric, hybrid, and other alternative fuel-powered cars on the road are still small compared to conventional gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles. The cost to develop and manufacture electric, hybrid, or alternative fuel-powered vehicles are typically higher than for comparable conventional gasoline or diesel power vehicles. As a result, these higher costs have contributed to inhibiting sales of electric, hybrid, and other alternative fuel-powered vehicles.
In virtually every city or metropolitan area, traffic congestion on the roads and highways is a fact of life. When drivers, passengers, and their vehicles are caught in traffic congestion, this usually creates significant tension and frustration on the part of millions of drivers and passengers every day. The anxiety of traffic congestion is heightened and feels more emphatically inescapable during rush hours, not to mention road construction or an unanticipated road-clogging accident. Such feelings of tension, anxiety, and stress while ensnared in slow-moving traffic are exacerbated even further with the realization that money used for expensive conventional gasoline or diesel is literally being burned up and completely wasted, day after day, sitting at a standstill or in slow-moving traffic.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a system and method for signaling, marketing, and advertising alternative fuel-based vehicles for others to readily identify the uses and economic benefits of operating an alternative fuel-based vehicle.

System and method for signaling, marketing, and advertising alternative fuel-based vehicles


A pressure cooker includes a container intended to hold cooking produce and which can be closed pressure tight with a cover that can be set on a rim of the container and locked thereto. The cover includes closing members movable between radially inward open positions, whereat the cover can be removed from the container, and radially outward locking positions, whereat the circumference of the cover is pressed against a region of the container rim with a circumferential sealing ring therebetween. The inside of the wall of the container in the region of the container rim includes a locking shoulder directed, for example, toward the container bottom, and a sealing shoulder directed, for example, toward the container opening. In the radially outward locking positions, the closing members are braced against the locking shoulder, thus pressing the sealing ring against the sealing shoulder.

The invention relates to a pressure cooker including a container which is intended to hold a cooking produce and which can be closed in a pressure tight manner by a cover that can be set on a rim of the container and locked therewith. The cover includes closing members that can be moved between open positions, in which the cover can be removed from the container, and locking positions, in which the circumference of the cover is pressed against a region of the container rim with a circumferential sealing ring therebetween.
Such a pressure cooker in known, for example from EP-A 0 108 203. In such known arrangement, the cover includes a centered hood and a frame. The frame sits by way of a sealing profile on a container rim that is bent down towards the outside. Locking members in radially inward locking positions thereof reach with an outer flange that is bent inwardly toward the bottom under the container rim. The cross section of the sealing profile is somewhat U-shaped and one sealing lip formed on a bottom end thereof rests against the container rim.
It is desired to impart to pressure cookers the least commercial appearance as possible despite expensive equipment thereof necessary to maintain safety requirements, to guarantee ease of handling when putting on, locking and unlocking the cover on the container, and to meet high safety requirements during use and handling of parts that are as simple as possible. The known pressure cooker cannot meet in a satisfactory manner these different requirements. In particular, a relatively complicated seal is necessary. Also, setting the cover on the container requires considerable dexterity, because, when viewed from the top, the outer diameter of the cover that is defined by the closing members does not correspond to the cover opening that is intended to accommodate the container rim. Further, the appearance of the cover is determined automatically by the closing members, because they have to envelope outwardly the hood, the frame and the container rim.
A pressure vessel for food to be used in a microwave oven is known from EP-A 0 112 295. The cover of such pressure vessel can be set pressure-tight on the container. In so doing, a cover body lies on an inner shoulder of a container wall. A gap between the outer circumference of the cover and the inner surface of the container wall is covered by a sealing ring that is arranged in an inner circumferential groove of the container wall at a distance above the inner shoulder that can be removed from such groove by means of a pull strap. To close the vessel the cover body is set on the inner shoulder of the container wall. Then the sealing ring, separated by hand, is inserted into the inner circumferential groove. While the vessel is being used for cooking, the entire inner pressure is absorbed by the sealing ring, whose clear inner diameter is somewhat less than the outer diameter of the cover body. Thus, necessary safety requirements cannot be met if operation is to be at higher pressure as in a pressure cooker, especially if additional measures to relieve the pressure are not taken, which, however, also can fail. When such known vessel is closed and opened, the cover body and the sealing member must be handled separately in an awkward manner.
A similar cooking vessel is known from CH-A-273 354. Here, too, in order to subsequently close the cover with respect to the container, a sealing ring, which is provided with a strap for removal, has to be inserted into a circumferential groove of the container rim that is accessible from the top.
A pressure cooker known from FR-A 2 531 847 has a cover equipped with a bracket that can be adjusted in axial distance from a cover body. In a locking position, outer ends of the bracket reach under two diametrically opposite catch hooks attached to the container rim. In the locking position the cover body itself rests with an O-ring, disposed in a circumferential groove, against an upper end of the container rim. The locking and opening of such a pressure cooker is relatively tedious, since the bracket must be adjusted with a spindle relative to the cover body. In addition, such a pressure cooker does not offer the requisite safety because the bracket is braced only at its two ends, and the catch hooks and/or the bracket can deform when subjected to considerable pressure. There is also the problem that the pressure prevailing in the vessel interior must be detected by the spindle.


A radar apparatus includes a transmission section, a delay device, a reception section, a switch control section, a switching frequency detection section, and a relative distance calculation section. The transmission section transmits a signal wave, which is spectrum spread by using a spread code. The delay device gives delay to the spread code. The reception section receives a wave reflected by an object and spectrum despreads the reflected wave with using the delayed spread code to output a despread signal. The switch control section switches at a switching frequency an operation of at least one of the transmission section, the reception section, and the delay device. The switching frequency detection section detects the switching frequency from the despread signal. The relative distance calculation section calculates a distance to the object based on a detection result provided by the switching frequency detection section and an amount of the delay.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radar apparatus, which transmits a signal wave that is spectrum-spread by using a spread code, despreads a reflected wave by using the delayed spread code, and calculates a distance from an amount of the delay, and particularly relates to a radar apparatus, which outputs alternating current signals with a simple configuration.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, various radar apparatuses have been widely used for detection of an object and measurement of a distance. For example, JP-A-2002-286855 discloses a radar apparatus, which measures presence or absence of, and a distance to an object exiting at a short distance such as in the ground. In this radar apparatus, a detection depth is extended without lowering a resolution, by disposing switch circuits for shutting-off/attenuating a signal path at a front end of a transmission antenna and a rear end of a reception antenna.
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,980 discloses a radar apparatus, which utilizes a single antenna by switching it at the time of transmission and at the time of reception. Thereby, U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,980 realizes preventing a noise component from wrapping around between a transmission side and a reception side, and cost reduction.
Further, US2001/035838A discloses a radar apparatus, which removes a low frequency component generated at the time of frequency modulation of a transmission signal, by use of a filter and a switch, and realizes high accuracy demodulation, which is not influenced by output fluctuation of the transmission signal.
Also, JP-A-2002-228745 discloses a radar apparatus, which switches a plurality of reception side paths with using a switch and stops the switching during such a period that there is no necessity to process a reception signal, and reduces electric power consumption and a heat release amount.


A sigma-delta modulator is provided with a filter for noise shaping, with the filter having at least one delay line (DL). The delay line (DL) is a clocked line.

To begin with, it should be noted that the terms "sigma-delta modulator (SDM)" and "sigma-delta converter" are used interchangeably below. In terms of hardware, an SD AD converter comprises a modulator with a downstream digital filter.
Basic details of the prior art of sigma-delta modulators can be found in: Norsworthy, S. R.; Schreiber, R.; Temes, G. C.: Delta-Sigma Data Converters: Theory, Design, and Simulation.—IEEE, November 1996 (ISBN: 0780310454).
Sigma-delta modulators form the basis of the AD converters which are preferably used in wire-based and wire-free communication. The trend towards increasingly more advanced digital signal processing and, as a result thereof, towards AD conversion as close to the input or antenna as possible means that there is a need for converters having an ever higher resolution and wider bandwidth.
The object of providing converters having a wide bandwidth and high resolution in conjunction with a simultaneously moderate power consumption therefore arises for mobile applications.
There are, in principle, three ways of increasing the resolution of sigma-delta modulators:                by increasing the resolution of the quantizer (more bits)—this is associated with linearity problems on account of element mismatch;        by raising the order and/or Q-factor of the filters in the modulator—this is associated with stability problems;        by increasing oversampling—in this case, the power loss increases with at least the square of the clock frequency. In addition, the requirements imposed on the maximum permissible clock jitter become more stringent as the clock frequency increases.
There are two customary SDM embodiments in the prior art:                a) Discrete-time converters based on switched-capacitor technology. The input signal is sampled at the SDM's input. This embodiment is resistant to parameter fluctuations, not very sensitive to clock jitter and is therefore the most common embodiment. Its fundamental disadvantage is the need to select the bandwidth of the operational amplifiers such that it is at least five times to ten times the magnitude of the clock frequency. In addition, the capacitor reset noise (kTC noise) predetermines a minimum size for the capacitors used. As a result, these converters increasingly draw a very large amount of current at high clock frequencies of above approximately 50 MHz and/or high resolutions (above approximately 16 bits). Sampling at the SDM's input requires additional input filters in order to avoid aliasing, said input filters occupying an even larger area and further increasing the power consumption. They therefore do not constitute a suitable solution for mobile applications having a high resolution and wide bandwidth.        b) Converters based on continuous-time integrators. The integrators are usually implemented using RC, IC or gmC technology. These converters are sensitive to parameter fluctuations which affect the time constant. However, their fundamental disadvantage in customary embodiments is the considerably higher jitter sensitivity than SC solutions. The reason for this is integration via the feedback signal, so that the time integral via the signal which has been fed back (generally a current) determines the circuit's response. As a result, the clock jitter directly affects the feedback signal. Since the amplitude of the feedback signal is, in general, considerably higher than the amplitude of the input signal, the jitter sensitivity is increased further as a result. These continuous-time converters are thus suitable for higher clock rates, since the bandwidth of the operational amplifiers has to correspond only approximately to the clock frequency in this case. Low-pass filtering of the input signal is generally carried out together with noise shaping in the same filter blocks within the SD modulator, so that an anti-aliasing input filter is not usually required.        c) In accordance with a new proposal by Prof. Hernandez, University of Madrid, it is also possible to implement SDMs based on delay lines instead of integrators. Although, conceptually, this provides a good compromise between speed (since time-continuous) and jitter sensitivity, suitable continuous-time delay lines cannot, in practice, be integrated in silicon ICs. Customary and suitable separate delay lines are based on SAW, BAW or distributed LC concepts. All of these embodiments have a very low impedance (typically 50 to 200 ohm), again giving rise to a high power consumption. Therefore, neither does this interesting concept constitute a practical solution for the requirements mentioned.

Sigma-delta modulator having a clocked delay line


A telecommunications system SYST including a local area network WLAN, a main network INTNW, and an intermediate element INTM through which data packets Dpo, Epi/Tepi must pass in transit between the local area network WLAN and the main network INTNW. The system evaluates a volume of calls supported by the local area network WLAN, and truncates data packets if said volume is above a predetermined threshold. In the event of an overload, the size of data packets in transit through the local area network is automatically reduced without recourse to systematic and discriminatory elimination of a particular type of data.

Such methods are routinely used to enable local area network users to communicate with the Internet network. These local area networks may be made available to a particular population, for example, such as hotel guests or passengers at an airport, and may be produced using a data packet transmission technology compatible with an Internet-type protocol, whether that technology be a cable technology such as the PLT (power line telecommunication) technology, for example, or a wireless technology such as that known to the person skilled in the art as the Wi-Fi technology, defined by the IEEE 802.11 standard, for example. These local area networks are increasingly widespread, deployed and used, because they complement or offer an alternative to wireless networks belonging to telecommunications operators such as GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) networks, GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) networks, and UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) networks. These local area networks are also very simple to install and to configure, have minimum utilization costs, and offer perfect integration with the Internet Protocol (IP). This protocol is a benchmark for all forms of telecommunication using the Internet.
The present invention is linked to the following considerations, which are the result of work carried out by the inventors.
A local area network such as those described above usually offers a bandwidth that is shared between all the users of the network, with the implication that the available bandwidth may vary considerably from moment to moment, as a function of the volume of calls in progress at the time concerned, which volume depends among other things on the number of terminals connected to said network and the nature of the applications being executed in said terminals, i.e. the nature of the data being transmitted by or to the terminals. The volume of calls generated by downloading is much greater than that generated by merely visiting an Internet site or by a voice-only call. Likewise, the volume of calls generated by viewing an audiovisual program such as a cinematographic work is much greater than that generated by merely reading an electronic mail message.
Accordingly, the inventors have realized that in the event of overloading of the local area network caused by connecting too many users or by a disproportionate consumption of bandwidth by certain applications, said local area network can offer users only a degraded quality of service, the degraded service usually resulting from losses of data packets that are reflected in missing elements in the information transmitted or received by the users of the local area network when it is overloaded.

Method and system for data transmission between a local area network and a main network authorizing format adaptation of said data


An optical space communication apparatus includes a transmission device for transmitting a first optical beam, a receiving device for receiving a second optical beam, a deflecting device for deflecting the first and second optical beams, which is arranged as rockable about at least two axes, and voice coil motors for driving the deflecting device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical space communication apparatus for performing communication by propagating an optical beam in a free space.
2. Related Background Art
FIG. 1 is a drawing to show the structure of a conventional optical space communication apparatus which can correct an offset of alignment of an optical axis for communication, in which there are lenses 1, 2 and a movable mirror 3 provided on an optical path for communication with a mate apparatus and there are a polarization beam splitter 4, a partial reflection mirror 5, a lens 6, and a light-receiving element 7 successively arranged on the reflection side of the movable mirror 3. The movable mirror 3 is engaged with a gimbal mechanism 8 so as to be rotatable as shown in the partial structural drawings of FIGS. 2A and 2B, and the gimbal mechanism 8 is engaged with a fixed member 9, such as a main body of a lens barrel, so as to be rotatable, whereby the movable mirror 3 can be rotated about orthogonal pitch axis and yaw axis.
Also, a light-emitting element 11 is provided through a lens 10 on the reflection side of the polarization beam splitter 4, and a position detector 13 such as a CCD or a segmental device is provided through a lens 12 on the reflection side of the partial reflection mirror 5. Further, an output of the position detector 13 is connected through a signal processing circuit 14 with a drive circuit 15, and an output of the drive circuit 15 is connected with an actuator 16 for driving to rotate the movable mirror 3 about the X-axis and with an actuator 17 for driving to rotate the gimbal mechanism 8 about the Y-axis.
For transmission in optical space communication, an optical beam emitted from the light-emitting element 11 is reflected by the movable mirror 3, while for reception an optical beam from the mate apparatus is guided via the movable mirror 3 onto the light-receiving element 7.
FIG. 3 shows a state in which an apparatus A happens to change its posture about the pitch axis because of an external factor such as vibration, impact, etc. For this reason, since a transmission beam from the apparatus A deviates, an apparatus B becomes incapable of receiving the beam signal.
In FIG. 4 which shows details of the apparatus A shown in FIG. 3, an optical path of a receiving beam Lr from the polarization beam splitter 4 to the light-receiving element 7 and the position detector 13 in a state in which the apparatus A does not happen to change its posture is depicted by dashed lines. As shown in FIG. 4, in the apparatus A the posture of which has been changed, the light spots respectively on the light-receiving element 7 and the position detector 13 move as depicted by solid lines. When the movement of the light spot is large such that the light spot goes beyond the light-receiving surface, the apparatus A becomes incapable of receiving signals.
In this case, a distance of movement of a light spot is first detected by the position detector 13, as shown in FIG. 4, and the change in posture of the apparatus is calculated in the signal processing circuit 14. Then the drive circuit 15 drives the actuator 16, based on the information, to rotate the movable mirror 3 in the direction of arrow J as shown in FIG. 5. By this, the position of the spot on the light-receiving element 7 can be kept at an initial position where the spot was located before the posture change, so that the transmission beam Lt can be directed toward the apparatus B, enabling to perform transmission and reception in communication with the apparatus B, as shown in FIG. 6.
In case of a change in posture about the yaw axis, the actuator 17 is driven to rotate the movable mirror 3 about the yaw axis, thus correcting an alignment offset.
In the conventional apparatus, dc motors or stepping motors are used as the actuators 16, 17.
The conventional apparatus, however, had the following problems. If the dc motors were used in the above-described conventional example, because the dc motors can supply only a small torque as compared with its large occupying volume, dissipation power would be increased and frequency response would be degraded. Further, an increased scale of the motors would result in increasing the size of the entire apparatus, increasing the weight, etc. In case of the stepping motors being employed, a problem is that alignment age accuracy is degraded because of the limit of angular resolution.
In addition, a problem of a drop in performance and reliability will arise because of abrasion of brushes in either case of the dc motors or the stepping motors.
Further, a drive force is transmitted to the mirror or the gimbal member through a rocking shaft supporting the mirror or the gimbal member in the conventional example. In that case, the diameter of the shaft is set relatively large in order to reinforce the rocking shaft and to realize joint structure with a motor shaft, resulting in necessitating a large bearing. This increases the frictional resistance, which degrades frequency characteristics.


A voltage reference circuit for providing a predetermined reference voltage at an output terminal which is independent of variation in supply voltage. The voltage reference circuit includes first and second semiconductor elements coupled between supply voltage terminals of a power supply, with the first and second semiconductor elements being connected in series with first and second impedances. The reference voltage is provided at the common terminal of the first and second impedances. The temperature coefficient of voltages produced by the first and second semiconductor elements in combination with the first and second impedances provide a reference voltage with a predetermined temperature coefficient. A tuning circuit is also included to permit fine adjustment of voltage level changes due to process variations.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to voltage reference circuits for providing a constant reference voltage as an output from the circuit, and more particularly, to a voltage reference circuit utilizing the differences in threshold voltage changes with temperature based on a depletion mode MOSFET transistor and an enhancement mode MOSFET transistor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art several techniques have been utilized to produce a voltage reference from a power supply subject to variations in voltage and temperature, however none of the techniques have been totally successful. One technique which has been utilized is a voltage divider which is connected across the power supply and the reference voltage is taken from a tap on the voltage divider. This arrangement is not satisfactory for variations in the supply voltage.
A second technique known in the prior art is the utilization of bandgap techniques utilizing bipolar transistors. This type of voltage reference is described in an article entitled "A Floating CMOS Bandgap Reference Voltage for Differential Applications" by M. Ferro et al. in the IEEE Journal of Solid State Circuits, Vol. SC-24, pp. 690-697, June, 1989. Although this type of circuit provides an accurate voltage reference which can be built on a CMOS chip, it is often not used on a CMOS chip because the substrate currents caused by the bipolar transistors may be unacceptable.
A third voltage reference circuit known in the prior art is based on the use of the difference between the threshold voltages of depletion mode and enhancement mode field effect transistors. However, this technique utilizes a circuit which does not permit fine adjustment of the voltage reference value and complete temperature compensation is not possible. A circuit of this type is described in an article entitled "A New NMOS Temperature-stable Voltage Reference" by R. Blauschild, in the IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. SC-13, pp. 767-773, December 1978. The circuit described in Blauschild et al. is not economically feasible for 5 volt power supplies because special processing of the devices used in the voltage reference circuit is required. The threshold voltage difference in the Blauschild et al. circuitry may be larger than the power supply voltage in some applications, rendering the circuit useless for the application.

Tunable voltage reference circuit to provide an output voltage with a predetermined temperature coefficient independent of variation in supply voltage


A device that determines gradients of a signal compares the change in a signal level between two instants with reference values, and determines a measure for the signal gradient as a function of the comparison. The device functions to effect signal reconstruction, where, for example, the phase of the signal processing clock relative to the gradient measurement clock can be adjusted, or a measure for the signal values between multiple sampling points can be determined. A method for controlling signal curves based on gradient values determines a measure for the gradient curve or the curvature of the signal from the immediate time sequence of multiple gradients. Based on a sequential evaluation of these measures, it is possible to determine the direction of the phase drift of the signal and, for example, to utilize this for synchronization or phase control.

The invention relates to the field of digital signal processing and in particular to determining a measure for a signal change and a corresponding method of phase control.
Gradient detection for phase control is implemented using a continuous measuring circuit, for example, an operational amplifier wired as a differentiator. A gain adjustment may be implemented following the differentiator, followed by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that digitizes the gradient information at a given point in time.
The signal path is, however, continuously under load by a frequency-dependent current flow. In addition, an integrated circuit to implement this operation becomes expensive due to an increased surface-area and power requirement. The phase response of a corresponding sensor circuit must be known and must accordingly be taken into account during the phase control.
Phase control may be performed several different ways. In a first approach, a multiple sampling per pixel period is implemented. The disadvantage here is that, particularly in the case of fast sampling in the signal path, an additional increase in the sampling rate can result in a significant reduction in the resolution of the analog-to-digital converters, and can excessively increase the power drain of these converters.
In a second approach, a transmission is effected with an additional reference signal with a known curve or a known pixel frequency. However, an additional reference signal with a known curve or a known pixel frequency is not available for all applications and may entail a significant additional technical cost.
In a third approach, phase control is effected using statistical techniques, for example, by maximizing the average difference between two successive sampling values. It is possible for large latency times to occur which are critical specifically in regard to moving images. In addition, it may not be possible to correct a phase drift quickly enough.
In a fourth approach according to published German Patent Application DE 10 2004 027 093, a method is described in which digitized gradient values and sampling values are utilized to estimate the phase position of a steady-state signal segment. In this approach, the quality of the control algorithm is a function of the signal curve. If this signal curve deviates from a sinusoidal shape, the control algorithm may no longer operate efficiently.
What is needed is an improved device to determine a measure for a signal change and an improved method to effect phase control.

Device for determining a measure for a signal change and a method of phase control