A method and apparatus for controlling an air/fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine having a programmable air/fuel ratio control. The method and apparatus includes pre-programming a coarse air/fuel ratio setting, determining a condition of the air/fuel ratio being at an undesired value, and programming a fine air/fuel ratio setting using a display interface.

Internal combustion engines are typically tuned to operate under a variety of conditions. Factors such as engine performance and emissions control cannot always be set up for simultaneous optimal specifications, especially in light of the different conditions under which the engine must perform. For example, reducing undesired emissions usually requires sacrificing some degree of engine performance.
One of the factors to consider in engine operating setup is the emission of acceleration smoke, i.e., unburned fuel being exhausted during acceleration caused by a lag in air intake resulting in a rich fuel mixture for a brief period of time. Although the air/fuel ratio may be properly tuned during normal operations, the ratio momentarily becomes excessively rich during acceleration. The excess fuel does not all burn and emits through the exhaust system, thus resulting in a puff of white smoke.
Many attempts have been made to compensate for acceleration smoke. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,268, Kolarik describes an apparatus which retards the increase in fuel flow during acceleration to reduce exhaust smoke. The apparatus described by Kolarik, however, is a mechanical structure which cannot be easily modified for varying operating conditions.
The advent of programmable controllers to perform many engine operating functions by the use of software programming has provided the means to be much more flexible in setting up an engine. For example, the amount of air and fuel to be delivered to an engine can be controlled electronically, thus allowing programmable control of the air/fuel ratio. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,300, Moore-McKee et al. disclose a method by which software can be produced for engine controllers. Among the many applications of this software, maps can be created which control the air/fuel ratio under different operating conditions. For example, maps of engine speed, boost pressure, and fuel delivery amount can be created to control the air/fuel ratio to some degree.
These maps, however, are designed to accommodate a wide range of engines and operating conditions. Therefore, they must be programmed to a broad degree, i.e., to coarse settings, in order to be applicable to the many engines coming off the assembly line which are destined for many different uses. The coarse settings of the maps, by their very nature, prevent an operator from getting exactly the desired performance being sought from the engine.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.

Air/fuel ratio control using a display interface


A system for performing a surgical procedure includes an OCT unit for scanning an object region volume with an OCT scanning beam and a control unit for setting the position of the object region volume. A surgical instrument having an effective section is arrangeable in an object region of the object region volume and is localizable in the object region volume with the OCT unit. A computer unit has a first computer program for determining the position of the effective section by processing scan information obtained by scanning the object region volume and a second computer program compares the scan information to reference data and provides a set value for the position of the effective section. The second computer program determines deviation information as to the spatial deviation of the effective section from the set value.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,295 has disclosed a surgical system of the type set forth above. This surgical system is embodied as a surgical microscope and comprises an OCT device which produces an OCT scanning beam path defined by short coherent laser radiation. The OCT device contains an analysis unit for evaluating interference signals. It comprises a device for scanning the OCT scanning beam path, comprising two scanning mirrors which may be adjusted about two movement axes. The OCT scanning beam path in the surgical microscope is coupled into the illumination beam path of the surgical microscope by way of a splitter mirror. With the latter, it is deflected through the microscope main objective to an object region in a patient eye.
United States patent application 2012/0184846 A1 discloses a surgical microscope system having an OCT-device which makes possible to update the OCT-image of the spatial position of a surgical instrument in a surgical region.
DE 2009 040 687 A1 discloses an OCT-device having a displaceable measurement probe which makes it possible to determine location resolved structural information in an object region.


An intake air passage, formed through a motorcycle body frame, reduces changes in pressure within an air routing duct member due to opening and closing of a throttle, and also reduces pipe resonance of the air routing duct member. The air routing duct member extends longitudinally from the intake air passage and directs fresh air to another air passage. The air routing duct member includes openings that communicate with hollow sections provided in a portion of an adjacent support structure, such as an instrumentation support member. When the throttle is opened rapidly, air from the hollow sections is temporarily supplied to the air routing duct member, reducing changes in internal air pressure in the air routing duct member due to throttle operation. Resonance chambers are formed above the air routing duct member, and communicate through communication pipes with a space within the air routing duct member to reduce duct pipe resonance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motorcycle, and particularly relates to a motorcycle having an improved intake air passage structure.
2. Description of the Background Art
For the purpose of increasing the efficiency of air intake in a motorcycle engine, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2004-115018 has proposed providing an air passage through a portion of a vehicle body frame. In this published reference, a duct member, which directs fresh air to the air passage, is oriented longitudinally in a front-rear direction of a vehicle body. The air is first introduced through a fresh air inlet, located frontward of the vehicle body frame, and is then routed to the duct member.
In the known motorcycle having such a structure, the air intake efficiency is increased. However, in addition to increased air intake efficiency, further benefit would be achieved if changes in negative pressure (vacuum) within the air routing duct member, due to opening and closing of a throttle, and reducing pipe resonance of the air routing duct member could be further reduced.

Air routing structure for a motorcycle, and motorcycle including same


Ambient assistance is described. An assistant device can detect speech in its environment and determine that the speech includes words or phrases of a local dictionary of the assistant device. The assistant device can then generate an interaction opportunity based on the words or phrases of the speech.

The Internet of Things (loT) allows for the internetworking of devices to exchange data among themselves to enable sophisticated functionality. For example, devices configured for home automation can exchange data to allow for the control and automation of lighting, air conditioning systems, security, etc.
In the smart home environment, this can also include home assistant devices providing an intelligent personal assistant to respond to speech. For example, a home assistant device can include a microphone array to receive voice input and provide the corresponding voice data to a server for analysis, for example, to provide an answer to a question asked by a user. The server can provide the answer to the home assistant device, which can provide the answer as voice output using a speaker. As another example, the user can provide a voice command to the home assistant device to control another device in the home, for example, a light bulb. As such, the user and the home assistant device can interact with each other using voice, and the interaction can be supplemented by a server outside of the home providing the answers. The home assistant device should be able to respond to the user in a satisfying manner.


A modified Gauss type lens system of 5-group, 6-element is disclosed, which lens system comprises first to third and fifth groups each consisting of a single lens element and a fourth group consisting of a doublet and fulfills the following conditions:. 2.8f<f.sub.1,2,3 <10f PA1 0.25<(d.sub.1 +d.sub.2 +d.sub.3 +d.sub.4 +d.sub.5)/.SIGMA.d<0.35 PA1 (N.sub.1 +N.sub.2 +N.sub.5 +N.sub.6)/4>1.72 PA1 1.0<r.sub.6 /.vertline.r.sub.7 .vertline.<1.5 PA1 0.2f<.vertline.r.sub.7 .vertline.<0.35f PA1 N.sub.1, N.sub.2 >1.71 PA1 30<.nu..sub.1, .nu..sub.2, .nu..sub.5, .nu..sub.6 <56 PA1 28 <.nu..sub.3, .nu..sub.4 <40

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a Gauss type lens system and more particularly to a modified Gauss type lens system in which the doublet in the second lens group of the typical 4-group, 6-element Gauss type lens system is separated into two single lens elements to form a 5-group, 6-element lens system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is known in the prior art, an exchangeable objective lens for use in a single lens reflex camera requires a sufficient back focal distance to allow the movement of the swingable reflex mirror in the camera body. A Gauss type or modified Gauss type lens system, however, is generally difficult to be designed to have a relatively great back focal distance with various aberrations well corrected. In fact, the back focal distances of conventional Gauss type or modified Gauss type lens systems are only about 70 percent of the focal length of the system, if they are designed to be of aperture ratio, about F/2.0 or still higher aperture ratio.


There are provided an information providing system, a reproduction device and method, an information providing device and method, a recording medium, and a program capable of comparatively freely utilizing the content recorded on a disc according to the user preference. When download of an audio file of Japanese language is instructed, the update file of the content recorded on the optical disc (11) is downloaded. The Audio stream file as an audio file of Japanese language, the Clip Information file accompanying it, the Play List file controlling the reproduction of the Audio stream file, and the navigation program file which has been updated are recorded as the update file in a local storage (12). By the navigation program which has been updated, for example, the Audio stream file of Clip 3 as the Japanese language audio is reproduced. The present invention can be applied to a player to which a recording medium where the content has been recorded is detachably attached.

The DVD video format is one of the read-only standards set for DVD (digital versatile disc). With the DVD video format in use, content data such as video and audio data and various kinds of sub picture data such as subtitles are multiplexed into program streams that are recorded to a disc. Also recorded to the disc is navigation data for interactively reproducing the recorded program streams.
Interactive reproduction involves allowing the user to reproduce recorded data by making use of diverse DVD functions. These functions include: the basic function of letting the data be reproduced from any desired positions or in any desired order; a multi-angle function whereby images taken from diverse angles are reproduced; a multi-language function whereby the data is reproduced in any one of a plurality of languages; and a parental control function whereby violent or other undesirable scenes are prevented from getting reproduced.
A plurality of audio streams and a plurality of sub picture streams may be multiplexed into a program stream. This feature makes it possible record on a disc a single video content such as a movie together with a plurality of languages as audio and subtitle data. At the start of or during video reproduction, the user is allowed to select a desired language for audio and subtitle output.
Illustratively, Patent Document 1 discloses a system that allows a user easily to download contents such as sound effects and moving or still images used as materials for video works. Patent Document 2 discloses techniques for replacing certain portions of an integral set of music data with other data.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-140662
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-311967

Information providing system, reproduction device and method, information providing device and method, recording medium, and program


An anti-saturation clamp for a word decoder utilizes a Schottky Barrier Diode (SBD) S.sub.x in combination with a transistor T.sub.x. The transistor T.sub.x is in circuit with a switching transistor T and diverts the majority of pull down current from the switching transistor. The saturation capacitance of the transistor T is negligible even at high temperature operation, and the transistor T does not operate in saturation. The SBD clamp S.sub.x is in circuit between transistors T.sub.x and T, and can be significantly smaller than a conventional SBD clamp since the clamp current is amplified by transistor T.sub.x. The improved anti-saturation clamp eliminates delay otherwise resulting from saturation capacitance of the switching transistor and results in a performance gain of about 40% for nominal operations. Also contemplated by the invention are improved word decoder systems per se (those which incorporate the aforementioned anti-saturation clamp), and improved methods for enhancing the performance of word decoder systems to, for example, support advanced computing applications.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an improved anti-saturation clamp for use with word decoders. The clamp is particularly useful in connection with Harper/PNP arrays in which large word line swings are required to guarantee array functionality at extreme conditions.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a known two-stage decoder system, commercially available as part of the IBM System 3090 ("IBM" is a registered trademark of the International Business Machines Corporation), the first stage is a regular ECL current switch to handle the initial swing. The second stage completes the word line pull up or drain line pull down by a saturation inversion device comprising a transistor. A resistor is employed as the pull up device to provide the drive for word line selection. When the word line is deselected at the down level, a large current must be pulled down from the resistor through the inversion transistor while the transistor is in saturation, resulting in high saturation capacitance and delay in the word line upswing.
Known anti-saturation clamps that may be used to alleviate these problem can be classified in three (3) different categories, namely: (1) clamps in which base current is diverted to the collector, such as commonly employed SBD clamps; (2) clamps providing brute force voltage bias at the collector node to prevent the collector node from falling into the saturation region, such as cavaliere clamps or other voltage pull up bias circuits; and (3) anti-saturation clamps which combine the two aforementioned devices.
The general state of the prior art with respect to solving the aforementioned high saturation capacitance and related problems may be best illustrated and understood with reference to the several publications and patents to be described immediately hereinafter.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 32, No. 2, pages 272-274 (July, 1989), discloses a high performance word decoder for Harper/PNP cells including a clamping network providing a deselect level which tracks with the select level and the margin needed during write operation. In this system, the depicted LWL levels are clamped to a level that tracks with the Vcc voltage. However, the deselect is slow, many devices are needed for operation of the system, and high standby power is required because the pull down current is from Vcc.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 30, No. 6, page 382-383 (November, 1987), discloses a low power word line driver. However, the system operates very slowly because it employs a PNP pull up.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,017, to Montegari, issued Jan. 15, 1985, discloses a decode circuit utilizing NPN and PNP transistors. This system operates very slowly because PNP transistors are employed in the decoder, even though one stage may be reduced. This reference also advocates against the use of any anti-saturation clamps by choosing parameters which will avoid saturation. (See Column 13, line 20-28).
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 22, No. 8B, pages 3736-3737 (January, 1980), discloses a two-stage decoder circuit which operates very slowly as a result of saturation operation and pulsing.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 23, No. 9, pages 3747-3748 (January, 1982), discloses a high speed decoder circuit which is a variation of the two-stage decoder circuit (IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 22, No. 8B, pages 3736-3737), discussed hereinabove. The modified circuit is employed for high density, low power arrays. However, the circuit performance is extremely low, i.e., not acceptable for present day advanced computing applications.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 30, No. 7, page 134 (December, 1987), discloses an up-level clamp for push-pull off chip drivers.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 20, No. 2, pages 562-563 (July, 1978), discloses one form of an array true-complement generator with power drive. This reference, like the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,017, to Montegari, advocates against the use of any anti-saturation clamps.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,588, to Gaudenzi, issued Jul. 19, 1983, discloses a circuit driver for limiting the di/dt down transition to minimize di/dt. The system is particularly directed to an off-chip driver for allowing switching of multiple drivers while limiting the di-dt current for down going transition.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,484, to Hutson, issued Feb. 4, 1975, discloses a driver circuit employing a PNP transistor which operates slowly. The output device base node levels are controlled with standard SBD (Schottky Barrier Diode) clamps.
None of the aforementioned references, which exemplify the state of the art, teach, claim or even suggest an anti-saturation clamp (or any other anti-saturation means), for use in connection with word decoder systems, which assures that a switching transistor will not operate in saturation to thereby improve system performance by eliminating the delay resulting from saturation capacitance.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to be able to provide a new and improved anti-saturation clamp which eliminates the aforementioned delay resulting from saturation capacitance.
Furthermore, it would be desirable to be able to provide improved word decoder systems that exhibit operating characteristics that are enhanced by virtue of including the improved anti-saturation clamp contemplated by the invention.
Still further, it would be desirable to provide improved methods for enhancing the performance of word decoder systems in general.


A clamping device for machine tools is disclosed that is capable of ensuring the clamping force for a tailstock while maintaining a small overall size of the device and a reduced number of parts. The tailstock (movable carriage) movably mounted on a fixed bed is clamped at a specified position to the fixed bed. A stationary rack (stationary fitting member) extending in a direction of movement is fixed to the fixed bed. A movable rack (movable fitting member) is provided on the tailstock so as to be movable in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the tailstock. Wedge-shaped fitting surfaces are formed at mutually opposing portions of the stationary rack and the movable rack. The movable rack is driven to perform advance-and-retreat motions between a clamping position where the movable rack fits together with the stationary rack and an unclamping position where the clamping state is released.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clamping device for machine tools which have a movable carriage which is linearly movable on a fixed bed and which needs to be clamped to the fixed bed at a specified position during machining.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In a lathe, for example, a headstock with a spindle fitted thereto is secured on one side of a fixed bed while a tailstock is provided linearly movable on the other side. A workpiece is retained between the tailstock and a chuck of the headstock to keep the workpiece subjected to machining. In this case, in order to prevent the workpiece from swaying, the tailstock is fixed to the fixed bed with a clamping device.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-263358 discloses a clamping device disposed in a recessed portion of the fixed bed that extends along the direction of motion of the tailstock. A force is applied to the right and left inner walls of the recessed portion by means of a plurality of pistons arranged on the tailstock so that a movable rack fixed to the pistons is engaged with a stationary rack fixed to an inner wall of the recessed portion, thereby firmly positioning the tailstock.
With the adoption of the above-mentioned related art structure, the clamping force is applied to the right and left inner walls of the recessed portion by means of pistons to clamp the tailstock. This structure requires an increased number of pistons to ensure the fixing force, thereby causing an increase in the overall dimension and the number of parts of the clamping device.


In an embodiment, a method comprises: receiving a first request for network management information, the first request identifying at least one of a user, a user device, or a user application; determining a first set of user information for a given user, the determination being based on the first request and data stored in a network database, identifying one or more interrelations in the first set of user information that represent logical connections within the first set of user information; creating a first information tree rooted at data representing a user location and organized according to the one or more interrelations, the first information tree being based on the first set of user information and being created in memory of a network management computer; and displaying, based on the first information tree, the one or more interrelations and the first set of user information, network management information for the user.

The approaches described in this section could be pursued, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Network performance monitoring applications usually collect, process and display network information in various formats, such as graphs, charts, panels and other displays. However, the collected and displayed information is usually application-specific, and provides only those network characteristics that were specifically requested by the individual applications. Usually, each application separately collects data and displays the collected data, but none of the applications generates a cross-application view of the network.
Furthermore, data collected by individual network monitoring applications is usually separately searchable and modifiable by the respective individual applications. However, the data sets collected by a multiplicity of applications are typically not linked with each other and do not provide an integrated view of the network.

Integrated view of network management data


A metrology system, method, and computer program product that employ automatic transitioning between utilizing a library and utilizing regression for measurement processing are provided. In use, it is determined, by the metrology system, that a predetermined condition has been met. In response to determining that the predetermined condition has been met, the metrology system automatically transitions between utilizing a library and utilizing regression for measurement processing.

Metrology generally involves measuring various physical features of a target component. For example, structural and material characteristics (e.g. material composition, dimensional characteristics of structures and/or critical dimensions of structures, etc.) of the target component can be measured using metrology systems. In the example of semiconductor metrology, various physical features of a fabricated semiconductor component may be measured using a metrology system.
Currently, metrology systems employ either libraries or regression for performing the measurement. However, each of these measurement processes inherently exhibit their own respective limitations, such that there is a need for addressing these and/or other issues associated with the prior art.
For example, when making a measurement, non-linear least square is often used to fit a set of observed signals collected from one or a combined set of metrology tools with calculated signals from a non-linear model containing a set of floating parameters, including those characteristics to be measured. If Maxwell's equations are solved vigorously in real-time to obtain the calculated signals for a corresponding floating parameter set, it is referred to measurement with real-time regression (or RTR). On the other hand, a parametric non-linear model may be created offline to approximate the solutions of Maxwell's equations. During the measurement, the parametric model can be used for fast and accurate approximation to the calculated signals. The parametric model is called a library, and its corresponding measurement is denoted as a library measurement.
RTR measurement generally uses a large computing farm to evaluate theoretical signals for given set of parameters by vigorously solving Maxwell's equations in real-time. RTR measurement can quickly adapt to process changes without a need of lengthy library changes. Therefore, the time to make process changes and to keep measurement is short. Unfortunately, however, it requires a more expensive computing platform to support real-time computations. Furthermore, overall throughput of the metrology system is slowed down by the calculations linked to solving Maxwell's equations in real-time. This results in a high cost of metrology using RTR, both from the perspective of computations and a number of metrology tools required.
Library measurement is generally very fast and only needs a workstation or a server to provide adequate computing power. However, in the event of large process changes that are beyond the pre-defined range of parameters in the library, it will take a significant amount of time to change and re-qualify a new library in order to recover the measurement credibility. Until the measurement creditability is recovered, the measurement process is at risk of an excursion that cannot be detected since no metrology is available (i.e. the measurement is generally skipped), possibly impacting the yield on a significant number of components under measurement.

Metrology system, method, and computer program product employing automatic transitioning between utilizing a library and utilizing regression for measurement processing


A display card for jewelry has at least one and preferably a pair of posts protruding from at least the rear face thereof that serve as gripping members for pin formed jewelry articles. The posts have bores that are formed with a wide mouth for ease of insertion and the bore tapers to a small gripping portion to hold the jewelry pin. A decorative layer preferably overlies the central area of the card. The decorative layer may in some versions be frictionally held in place by the posts. In another form, an integral compartment is formed on the card to store jewelry parts.

This invention relates to a display card for jewelry items and more particularly, for displaying earrings. It has long been the practice in the industry to utilize display cards that can hang from some support for displaying pierced earrings. For example, the display cards that have been used in the past consist of a substantially flat card that has a pair of apertures therethrough, through which one would assemble by hand the posts of earrings and retain the earring on the card by placing the clutch on the post after it has been assembled, the clutch, therefore, lying against the rear side of the card and gripping the earring thereto. This forms a rather attractive means of displaying earrings and the like in retail establishments.
The difficulty with this system of display lies in the fact that it has become a manual operation to assemble earrings onto display cards. This means that there is a labor cost involved which is significant. In my prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,705, it was proposed to provide a display card for jewelry which eliminated the need for placing the clutches on the posts of the earrings after they were placed on the card by using a card having encapsulated resilient material and by storing the clutches in a separate compartment. It has been found, however, that this is not a cost effective card and it is desirable to find a construction which embodies some of the features of my prior invention and yet is sufficiently inexpensive to produce so as to compete with existing earring display cards.


An analog front end device with temperature compensation is provided. The analog front end device comprises a bandgap voltage reference circuit, a clock generator, a temperature compensation circuit, one to three identical converting circuits and a Sync-on-Green circuit. The temperature compensation circuit is adapted to sense the temperature variations of the analog front end device and dynamically compensate the bandgap voltage reference circuit, the clock generator and the Sync-on-Green circuit as the temperature varies, which thereby controls the thermal drift in the analog front end device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an analog front end (AFE) device with temperature compensation so as to solve a thermal drift due to temperature variation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditionally, AFE devices are being applied to two categories of display systems. First, an AFE device applied to a liquid crystal display (LCD) controller without a decoder is used to receive three analog image signals R, G, B from a VGA card of a computer system. Second, an AFE device applied to a video decoder is used to receive a signal from a tuner or a DVD player. Wherein, the signal includes three kinds of video signals as follows. The first is a composite video signal, often called a CVBS signal, which combines the luminance (Y) and chrominance (C) signals into a single channel. The second is a separate video signal separating the luminance (Y) and the chrominance (C) signals. The third is a component video signal which is split into three separate signals Y, Pr, Pb.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a conventional AFE device. An AFE device 100 comprises a bandgap voltage reference circuit 130, a clock generator 140 and one to three identical converting circuits 150. Each converting circuit 150 further comprises a clamper (101, 111, 121), an input buffer (102, 112, 122) and an analog to digital converter (ADC) (103, 113, 123). Take the AFE device in the LCD controller, for example—three converting circuits 150 are required to convert three analog image signals R, G, B into three digital signals D1, D2, D3, respectively. Each converting circuit 150 uses the clamper (101, 111, 121) to calibrate the DC level of the respective analog image signal, then uses the input buffer (102, 112, 122) to buffer the respective analog image signal and finally supplies the respective analog image signal to the ADC (103, 113, 123). The clock generator 140 receives either a horizontal sync (HS) signal or a vertical sync (VS) signal to provide a periodic clock signal to the ADCs (103, 113, 123) for sampling. A reference voltage Vref, generated by the bandgap voltage reference circuit 130, is provided to either the input buffer (102, 112, 122) for making modifications to both a gain and an offset voltage or the ADC (103, 113, 123) for making modifications to a full-scale voltage or a bias current.
In general, the interior of an integrated circuit is divided into a digital circuit and an analog circuit. Normally, there is no thermal drift in the digital circuit. By contrast, the thermal drift could occur in the analog circuit. For example, its voltage varies according to the temperature and its frequency also varies according to the temperature. In applications of display system controllers (including the LCD controllers and the video decoders as mentioned above), users would like the display system to have the same characteristic both at start-up (at a lower temperature) and after warm-up (at a higher temperature), e.g., a consistent display color and a consistent optimum sampling phase of the ADC (103, 113, 123). In other words, it implies that the thermal drift is not allowed to occur in the clampers (101, 111, 121), the ADCs (103, 113, 123), the clock generator 140 and related circuits (e.g., the Sync-on-Green circuit).
Conventional analog circuit designs make use of a variety of techniques, such as generating either a voltage or a current independent of the temperature, to eliminate the thermal drift in the clampers (101, 111, 121), the ADCs (103, 113, 123), the clock generator 140 and related circuits. However, these techniques have little effects on improving the thermal drift and waste hardware resources as well.

Analog front end device with temperature compensation


A heavy-duty flame propagation engine has control systems and exhaust aftertreatment systems adapted to provide ultra-low emissions relative to Diesel engines while achieving comparable fuel consumption at reduced emission levels. The control systems include exhaust gas circulation, variable valve actuation, cylinder deactivation, pilot fuel injection, high energy ignition systems and combinations thereof to provide substantially stoichiometric combustion conditions over an entire load range of the engine. In one embodiment, the engine has direct in-cylinder fuel injection, is adapted for lean air-fuel mixture operation, and includes an oxidation catalyst and a lean NOx adsorber.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to a reciprocating engine fueled on any fuel that can be ignited by ignition spark or other high energy ignition system suitable for use in heavy-duty vehicle applications, and more particularly to such an engine having high efficiency while producing low emissions. For purposes of this invention, flame propagation engines are ones in which a mixture of fuel and air is created and ignited in-cylinder by suitable means. The resulting flame travels through the fuel-air mixture. Conventional spark ignition engines are examples of this type of engine. This is opposed to a diffusion burn type engine, like a conventional Diesel engine, in which most of the fuel burns in a diffusion manner.
2. Background Art
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set very stringent emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles that would reduce smog-causing emissions from trucks, buses and motor homes. The emissions standards set forth for model year 2007 include two components, emissions standards and Diesel fuel regulation. The first component of the regulation introduces new, very stringent emission standards, as follows:                Particulate matter (PM)—0.01 g/bhp-hr        Nitrogen oxide (NOx)—0.20 g/bhp-hr        Non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC)—0.14 g/bhp-hr.
The particulate matter emissions standard will take full effect in the 2007 heavy-duty engine model year. The NOx and NMHC standards will be phased in for Diesel engines between 2007 and 2010. The phase-in would be on a percent-of-sales basis: 50% in 2007–2009, and 100% in 2010. Gasoline engines are subject to the same standards based on a phase-in requiring 50% compliance in 2008 and 100% compliance in 2009. The Diesel fuel regulation limits the sulfur content in on-highway Diesel fuel to 15 ppm (wt.), down from the previous 500 ppm. Refiners will be required to start producing the 15 ppm sulfur fuel beginning Jun. 1, 2006. Ultra-low sulfur Diesel fuel has been mandated as a "technology enabler" to pave the way for advanced, sulfur-intolerant exhaust emission control technologies, such as catalytic Diesel particulate filters, lean NOx adsorbers, and NOx catalysts, all of which will be necessary to meet the 2007 emissions standards. Moreover, it is anticipated that significant engine modifications will be required, such as a high pressure common rail, massive cooled exhaust gas recirculation, low pressure loop exhaust gas recirculation after a particulate matter trap, high boost provided by a supercharger or turbocharger, NOx sensors, model-based control schemes, and on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems. PM control will require catalyzed particulate matter traps, and NOx control will require NOx adsorbers. Therefore, it is essential that low sulfur fuel be available to meet the performance requirements of the catalyzed PM traps and NOx adsorbers.
Diesel engines have traditionally been considered as the most efficient reciprocating engine. However, NOx emissions are typically one hundred times those produced by spark ignition engines and PM emissions are one thousand times those produced by spark ignition engines. Moreover, Diesel engines cost twenty to forty percent more than a comparable horsepower flame propagation engine. When comparing the viability of a flame propagation engine to replace a Diesel engine in heavy-duty applications, the comparison must be made at the same emissions levels. The Diesel engine needs PM traps and lean NOx adsorbers. Thus, Diesel engine costs at the same emissions level are a factor of 2–3 more. Morever Diesel efficiency approaches that of flame propagation engines at the future mandated emissions levels.
For heavy-duty Diesel vehicles, the EPA categorizes Classes 2B thru 5 (8,501 to 19,500 gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)) as light heavy-duty, Classes 6 and 7 (19,501 to 33,000 GVWR) are categorized as medium heavy-duty, and Class 8 (33,000 GVWR and above) as heavy heavy-duty.
The present invention is directed to overcoming the inherent problems, i.e., the difficulty and expense associated with achieving future emissions reductions in Diesel engines. It is desirable to have an engine for heavy-duty vehicular applications that takes advantage of the lower cost and lower emissions inherently provided by flame propagation engines and has an operating efficiency (BSFC) comparable to that of Diesel engines. Such an engine would readily replace Diesel engines in all classes of heavy-duty vehicular applications, thereby greatly reducing pollution attributable to vehicles falling within those classes.

High-efficiency, low emission gasoline engines for heavy-duty applications


A head trimmer machine for cutting off excess material from a cylindrical portion of a blow molded bottle includes a fixture, a spindle rotatably mounted in the fixture, a cutting head attached to the spindle for rotation therewith, a cutter mounted to the cutting head, and a vacuum source for collecting the trimmed material by suction. The cutting head has a central passage so that it can fit down over the head of the blow molded bottle. The cutter is supported in the cutting head for movement between retracted and extended positions. In the extended position, the cutter extends into the central passage of the cutting head to cut the head or other excess material from the neck of the bottle as the cutting head turns. The spindle includes a central passage aligned with the central passage of the cutting head and the excess material is removed by being drawn through these passages by a gaseous flow created by the vacuum source. Movement of the cutter can be pneumatically controlled by a pair of air pistons located on the cutting head, with the air pistons receiving pneumatic control signals from an outside source via rotational pneumatic couplings between the fixture and spindle.

Plastic bottles and other articles made by blow molding are formed from a tubular section of parison which is extruded from a die and then clamped between a pair of mold sections. The bottom of the parison is squeezed together by the two mold sections and, as a result, is sealed together to form a closed bottom of the bottle. The top of the parison becomes the neck of the bottle and is typically kept open to allow for insertion of a blow pin. After the bottle has been formed and cured, the mold sections are separated and the bottle either drops under the force of gravity into a receptacle or is removed by a take-off mechanism. U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,873, issued Mar. 12, 1991 to M. W. Martin et al. describes the construction and operation of an indexable blow molding machine suitable for carrying out this process.
Once the bottle has been removed from the mold, excess material located at the mouth of the bottle must be cut away and removed for disposal or recycling. Since many of the articles produced by blow molding are used in the food industry to store beverages and other foodstuffs, it is particularly important that the excess material be cut away and removed without it or fragments of it falling into the bottle.
The excess material at the mouth of the bottle can be formed during the blow molding process into a predetermined shape that remains attached to the neck of the bottle. Sometimes the excess material is formed into a conical (dome) or other rotationally symmetrical shape so that so that an oscillating cutter head can be used to trim the excess material from the bottle. In a known prior art cutting machine, the cutter head includes a cutter that is brought into contact with the neck of the bottle while the cutter head rotates through 360.degree. to trim the excess material, which then falls away under the force of gravity. Rotation is controlled by a rotary actuator with the direction of rotation being reversed for each successive bottle due to the reciprocation of the rotary actuator.

Trim cutter apparatus for blow molded articles


Wax-based compositions for making barrier layers used in oral treatment devices are thermally stable when formed into a flat sheet or three-dimensional article to a temperature of at least 45° C. and are plastically deformable at room temperature (25° C.). The wax-based compositions include a wax fraction homogeneously blended with a polymer fraction. The wax fraction includes at least one wax and the polymer fraction includes at least one polymer selected such that, when the at least one wax and at least one polymer are homogeneously blended together, they yield a wax-based composition having the desired properties of thermal stability and plastic deformability. Barrier layers in oral treatment devices made from such wax-based compositions are dimensionally stable to a temperature of at least 40° C. without external support and can be plastically deformed in a user's mouth to become at least partially customized to the size and shape of user's unique dentition.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of wax-based compositions and dental treatment devices and other articles made from such compositions.
2. The Relevant Technology
Dental treatment trays and strips are commonly used to deliver bleaching compositions and medicaments to a user's teeth. "Trays" are pre-shaped barriers designed to fit over some or all of a user's teeth and can be customized or non-customized. Trays can be pre-loaded with an oral treatment composition or filled with a treatment composition by the user at the time of use. "Strips" are generally non-customized sheet-like barriers that include a treatment composition on one side or embedded within the barrier layer and which can be placed over and folded around a user's teeth in a tray-like configuration.
One type of customized dental tray is made by thermoforming a sheet of moisture-resistant thermoplastic polymer material, such as ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), over a stone model of a user's teeth and then trimming the intermediate molded form to yield the desired tray-like shape. A blockout material can be applied to the stone model to form reservoirs in the customized tray, which can accommodate placement of additional treatment composition next to a person's tooth surfaces. Reservoirs can provide additional comfort by reducing orthodontic forces, particular with more rigid trays. Drawbacks of customized trays formed in this manner include the time and cost of forming an impression of a person's teeth, typically at a dentist office, using the impression to form the stone model, thermoforming the sheet, and trimming the molded form to yield the customized tray. The main benefit is that such trays typically provide the best fit, comfort and effectiveness in delivering a medicament to a user's teeth as compared to oral strips and other types of dental trays.
Another type of customized tray is made using a person's own teeth as the template (e.g., so called "boil-and-bite" trays). In a typical customization process a non-customized tray blank made from a thermally softenable polymer material is initially heated (e.g., in hot water or microwave oven) to temporarily soften the polymer tray material. The softened tray is then placed over the user's teeth and custom-formed to the user's teeth using forces applied by one or more of biting, suctioning, or externally applied pressure using fingers. When the customized tray has cooled sufficiently to retain its form, it can be removed from the user's mouth and is then ready for use. A drawback of self-customized trays is that they can be bulky and uncomfortable, particularly when in the form of sports mouth guard, which typically have a wall thickness of at least 3 mm and usually more. And while there have been patents directed to thin-walled, self-customizable trays, such trays can be difficult for a non dental practitioner to use, have poor fit, and have had little market acceptance.
Non-customized trays lack features corresponding to a user's unique dentition but can be made to roughly approximate the size and shape of a variety of differently sized and shaped dental arches. A major drawback of non-customized trays is poor fit. Thicker walled trays can be bulky, uncomfortable and often have large gaps between the side walls and the user's tooth surfaces. Thinner, more flexible trays can better adapt to the shape of a user's teeth but have their own drawbacks. The thinnest and most comfortable of such trays can be flimsy and difficult to install and are more easily dislodged during use compared to custom-fitted trays or more rigid non-customized trays. Thin-walled trays made from materials that are sufficiently rigid and/or resilient so as to better maintain their tray-like shape and facilitate installation over a user's teeth tray are less adaptable and have tray walls that are more likely to pull away from a user's teeth during use, particularly the lingual wall. This can be both annoying to the user and permit ingress of saliva into the trough, which can cause diffusion of treatment composition into the person's oral cavity.
Conventional dental treatment strips typically comprise a flexible plastic barrier layer coated or impregnated with a treatment composition on the side of the strip facing the user's teeth. To install the strip, a portion of the strip is placed over the front surfaces of the user's teeth and the remainder is folded around the occlusal edges of the teeth and against the lingual surfaces. A drawback of strips is that they are generally more difficult to install over a user's teeth in the proper location compared to trays, which already have a trough into which the teeth are to be placed, which directs correct installation. Nevertheless, a properly placed strip can remain in place and provide a high level of comfort during treatment, perhaps even more comfort than a dental tray. An improperly placed strip, however, can fail to properly cover all tooth surfaces to be treated, may require adjustment, and can permit treatment composition to rapidly diffuse into the user's oral cavity. Moreover, strips with less adhesive treatment compositions are prone to slip off the teeth during use as a result of even minimal movement of the user's mouth, jaw or tongue. It is usually recommended that users not eat, drink, smoke or sleep while wearing the treatment strip. In some cases, the strip can become so dislodged or mangled that it must be removed and replaced with a fresh strip to complete the desired treatment.
Ultimately, the main impediment to successful treatment is the failure of a user to complete the prescribed treatment regimen. If the treatment apparatus is uncomfortable to wear, difficult to install and/or is prone to prematurely dislodge from the user's teeth, the user may simply give up and prematurely abort the prescribed regimen. Thus, even if dental treatments are possible using a particular treatment apparatus or method, they are less likely to be properly completed if the inadequacies of the treatment apparatus or method cause a user to become discouraged before the desired results are attained.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Wax-based compositions, articles made therefrom, and methods of manufacture and use


A force limiting adjustable basketball goal includes a support member and counter-weight to rotate a basketball goal around a support pole to vary the rim elevation above a playing surface. An anchor chain secured to the pole and counter-weight includes a safety link that breaks when a pre-selected force is exerted upon the rim by a player dunking a basketball or hanging on the rim. When the safety link breaks, the basketball goal falls slowly to the playing surface, thereby requiring the replacement of the safety link before play is allowed to resume.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to adjustable basketball goals and, more particularly, to basketball goals that limit the force exerted on the basketball rim, thereby avoiding damage to the rim and support structure and injury to the player.
2. Background of the Prior Art
Regulation basketball requires a rim elevation of ten (10) feet above the playing surface. The elevation makes participation difficult for children and some adults. An adjustable basketball goal provides different elevations above a playing surface for people of all ages to enjoy the game. However, being able to lower the basketball goal makes the goal much more accessible for dunk shots and for players to hang on the rim.
Prior art basketball goals (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,133,547; 4,801,142; and 4,465,277) utilize complex and expensive designs that include complicated support framework, resilient components, winch assemblies and intricate biasing techniques to absorb the total force exerted upon a basketball rim, irrespective of the magnitude of the force. Simply stated, prior art basketball goal designs absorb the total applied force, then return to their original elevation. Over time, this design required replacing expensive components and substantial downtime to replace the components. It is not uncommon to witness college and professional basketball games during which a player tears off a basketball rim and shatters the fiberglass backboard, or breaks the supporting structure, both examples causing substantial game delays and repair expenses.

Force limiting adjustable basketball goal


Methods are disclosed for nondestructive testing and measuring the structural health of prestressed concrete structures, such as slabs, columns, girders, bridges, towers, elevated storage tanks, silos, cooling towers, wind power generation towers, liquefied gas storage tanks, nuclear power containment buildings, and the like. Measurements are made as the structure undergoes tensioning and detensioning operations. By measuring actual movements of cardinal points on the structure, in an absolute three-dimensional coordinate system, and comparing the measurements to a model—as tension on a tendon is changed—a margin of safety is assured. High accuracy measurements are made by electronic distance measurement (EDM) instruments over hundreds of meters, which yield coordinates of cardinal points with an uncertainty of the order of one part per million. The methods are proposed as possible alternatives to prior failures of post-tensioned concrete, including the Las Lomas Bridge, the Kapiolani Interchange On-Ramp, Turkey Point Unit 3 Nuclear Power Plant, and Crystal River Unit 3 Nuclear Power Plant. An extensive review of the most closely related prior arts is included.

This is the fourth US patent application in an ongoing family of patents related to the use of electronic distance measurements in a triangulation/multilateration architecture for large-scale metrology applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,895,015 Method for measuring the structural health of a civil structure, is drawn to methods using trilateration/multilateration for measuring structural health parameters for a bridge, a building, and a crane. U.S. Pat. No. 8,209,134 Methods for modeling the structural health of a civil structure based on electronic distance measurements, is drawn to methods using differences between measurements made by trilateration/multilateration and finite element models, or empirical models, to determine a structural health parameter for a civil structure. U.S. Pat. No. 9,354,043 Methods for measuring and modeling the structural health of pressure vessels based on electronic distance measurements, is drawn to methods using trilateration/multilateration to determine a structural health parameter of a pressure vessel.
This application is drawn to methods using differences between measurements made by trilateration/multilateration and a finite element model of prestressed concrete for the process of tensioning/detensioning the concrete.
This is a pioneering field that brings together heretofore unrelated disciplines of those skilled in the art of high precision electronic distance measurement metrology instrumentation, those skilled in the art of nondestructive testing, those skilled in the art of finite element modeling, and those skilled in the art of large-scale structural engineering. Due to the fact that these disciplines typically belong to non-overlapping professional societies, read different journals and trade magazines, attend different conferences and trade shows, and work in different industries, a large section of the cumulative application is necessary in order to teach the fundamentals and nomenclature of the most closely associated prior arts in order to bring together those unrelated disciplines.
At least part of the motivation for the inventions is drawn from lessons learned from past experiences. A survey of some examples related to each invention is described in the BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION. The state-of-the art of conventional instrumentation for each discipline is also included.

Methods for measuring and modeling the process of prestressing concrete during tensioning/detensioning based on electronic distance measurements


A dressing for applying to the skin is characterized in that the adhesive mass is applied discontinuously in a strip or wave and contains an active substance.

1. Field of the Invention
The self-adhesive dressings comprise support material that is stretchable and reboundable in one direction, onto which adhesive masses are applied, in stripe form and/or wave form, crossways relative to the stretching direction, said adhesive masses comprising one or more active substances.
2. Discussion of Background Information
Warming products have for many years played an important role in the treatment of muscular pain. For example, since 1928 there has been the ABC Plaster® with capsaicinoids as active substances. Besides this plaster, there are various other products on the market which use active substances with capsaicinoids or derivatives thereof.
The mode of action of these products is based firstly on the promotion of circulation in the affected areas and secondly on the influence on the metabolism. Thus, for example, capsaicin stimulates the release of substance P, a neuropeptide made of eleven amino acids. This molecule actively intervenes in the pain cycle and contributes to a reduction in perceived pain.
Cellulite (medical term: Dermopanniculosis) is not a disease, but a cosmetic problem.
The causes of cellulite lie primarily in the specific structure of the female skin and the reaction to female hormones. Fat cells are stored in the subcutaneous skin. The amount of these is established as early on as in the infant stage and cannot be influenced by nutrition or sport. In the fat cells, the fatty acids from food are converted to fats and are incorporated in nodular form in connective tissue. If these fats are not broken down over a prolonged period (e.g. sport), and if the body is additionally overnourished, the cells can expand to many times their size. The increased cells then squeeze through the connective tissue, resulting in the dreaded orange peel, also known as cellulite.
Other consequences in old age are spider veins, varicose veins, thromboses and leg ailments. Often, the thighs are also storage for excess fat that is absorbed via the diet. The unsightly, lateral thickenings of the thigh, also called saddlebags, combined with cellulite, is often a great worry for those affected.
An annoying cosmetic phenomenon is marks in the skin following pregnancy, which have a detrimental effect on the aesthetic appearance. So-called stretch marks are also called striae or pregnancy stretch marks. These too are not necessarily a disease, but a purely cosmetic problem.
Skin stretch marks (striae) are cracks in the subcutaneous tissue. They are formed on the stomach, hips or breasts. Striae are firstly bluish-red, later yellowish-white. They have a similar appearance to scars. They are formed when the skin is overstretched and also the ability of the skin to stretch has decreased. A high cortisone level promotes the formation of stretch marks. This hormone allows the skin to retain more water and it reduces the elasticity of the skin.
If the skin becomes stretched as a result of pregnancy or weight gain, small cracks are formed in the elastic tissue. The skin becomes thinner at the points affected and the blood vessels show through with a bluish color. Later, the areas heal and the marks become white. Unfortunately, the marks cannot be expected to disappear. Pregnant women, people in puberty, athletes, people receiving hormone treatment and people with increased body weight are the groups of people predominantly affected by striae.
In pregnancy, the cortisone level in the blood is increased. For many women, stretch marks appear in the belly skin. These are called "striae gravidarum" or pregnancy stretch marks.
If stretch marks are present, to current knowledge, they can no longer be completely reduced. However, a reduction and alleviation up to 50% is possible. It is also the case for laser treatments that they do not have the desired success in most cases.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dressing which permits a treatment of the areas of skin affected by striae and cellulite and brings about a cosmetic improvement in these skin areas.
DE 10056009 A1 discloses matrix plasters containing active substance for the controlled release of hyperemic active substances.
DE 19650471 A1 describes plasters containing active substance with a support material and a hot-melt adhesive mass applied thereto which comprises at least one hyperemic active substance. The adhesive mass can be applied over the whole area or to parts, the latter in order to improve the air and water vapor permeability. The document is silent regarding stretchability, kinesio or special adhesive mass coatings.
DE 19749467 A1 describes plasters containing active substance with a support material and a hot-melt adhesive mass applied thereto which comprises at least one active substance, where the adhesive mass is foamed.
It is also mentioned that no displacement of dressings results on account of the foamed adhesive mass.
DE 19804604 A1 discloses devices for releasing substances, where the devices comprises an adhesive mass with SEPS (styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) block copolymers. The document is silent regarding stretchability, kinesio or special adhesive mass coatings.
DE 19804774 A1 discloses support materials for medical purposes, where the support material comprises a nonwoven fabric oversewn by means of sewing threads and having a maximum tensile strength of at least 10 N/cm. The adhesive mass applied to the support can include active substances. The support material generates a compressive force of 0.2 to 10 N/cm at an elongation of 20 to 70%.
DE 19825499 A1 discloses plasters containing active substance, where the adhesive mass is applied in the form of spun fibers or threads, also in random form.
DE 10012582 A1 describes a method for applying adhesive mass to support materials, where the application takes place in wave form in the direction of the longitudinal direction of the support.
Besides the classic pain preparations, active-substance-free treatment methods such as, for example, kinesio, have become established in recent years.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,348 describes and claims kinesio therapy for the first time. Of importance and the basis here is the wave-like application of an adhesive mass without active substance influence.
Here, the treatment effect is primarily based on a mechanical effect. The skin area to be treated is subjected to a certain pretensioning and then stuck with a stripe of the elastic kinesio tape. If the skin of the treated area now relaxes, the tape makes folds which are oriented crossways to the direction of travel of the tape. As a result of the combination of these folds with the normal movements of the skin, a constant stimulatory effect is exerted on the area in question, and this has a positive influence on muscle tension and/or pain.
The adhesion of the tape to the skin and the mechanical displacement triggered as a result during performed body movements results in a stimulation of the mechanoreceptors in the skin. This results in pain suppression at a direct spinal level. The prior art relating to kinesio points to no adhesives of any kind or similar substances which can trigger intolerances or allergies in many cases being present in the tape used.
Similarly, there are no kinds of active substances (drugs) in the support materials and adhesive masses and thus adversely affect neither medicamentous nor homeopathic treatments carried out in parallel.
For example, a kinesio tape is known under the brand ChiroTape®. Herein, wave-like raising of the skin lead to a pressure reduction in the tissue as a result of an increase in space between skin and musculature. This in turn results in regulation of the lymph and blood circulation.
Kinesio is to be differentiated from pure "taping".
WO 2006/018 340 A2 describes tapes containing active substance for the treatment of joint diseases.
"Taping" is another term for "functional dressing technology". This term describes dressings which help, as a result of partial immobilization of joints, to perform desired movements and to avoid other (painful) movements. The term is derived from the American term "tape" for dressing plasters.
Taping on the one hand aims to imitate the capsular ligament structures and, in doing so, achieve a selective support and stabilization, and on the other hand to also attain a promoting effect on the healing process by tape dressings constantly leading to tensile and pressure loadings of superficial and deeper muscle areas. This increases tension and circulation in these muscle areas; the rate of healing is increased, and muscle loss is avoided. The muscle pump can furthermore provide for the removal of metabolic products through veins and lymph vessels. In the joints, the cartilage is restored to its function as a result of the furthermore possible stressing and destressing.
Taping is nowadays a care method for the prophylaxis and treatment of injuries, diseases and changes to the locomotor apparatus that has proven successful for many years and been documented by numerous investigations. It assists, protects and deburdens a functional unit, but is not a substitute for total immobilization, but is rather indicated by a targeted immobilization only of the injured structure for all injuries or changes that do not require complete immobilization.
The actual tape dressing here is applied in stripes of preferably inelastic self-adhesive bands, so-called reins, or in connection with self-adhesive bands with a short elasticity of extension. It protects, supports and relieves vulnerable, damaged or defective parts of a functional unit. It permits selective strain in the pain-free sphere of movement, but prevents extreme or painful movements.
The application of such dressings requires expert skill and experience and can therefore not usually be carried out by lay persons without taping experience.
Taping is completely different to kinesio therapy from the underlying physiological orientation and mode of action. In contrast to this, in kinesio, no type of immobilization is exercised; complete mobility of the taped area is entirely retained in the case of the kinesio therapy.
What the two therapy forms do have in common, though, is that they dispense with active substances.
Nevertheless, it is desirable to combine kinesio with the advantages of an active substance treatment.
Furthermore, it is desirable in particular to combine heat treatment with kinesio so as to increase the effect of the constant stimulatory effect on the skin.


A method, data processing system, and computer program product for applying a setting. A request for a set of resources is received. The request is to use the set of resources over a network connection. An address associated with a device from the request is identified. A geographic location of the device is identified based on the address. A set of settings for the set of resources is identified based on the geographic location of the device. The set of settings is applied to the set of resources.

1. Field
The disclosure relates generally to access of resources over a network connection and more specifically to a cloud computing environment. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to an application of settings to resources in a cloud computing environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Users access resources to perform different tasks. Before the resource may be accessed, an administrator provisions the resource. Resource provisioning is a set of actions to prepare a resource with systems, data, and software to make the resource ready for network operation. Tasks when provisioning a resource include selecting a resource from a pool of available resources, loading software, configuring the system and the software for the resource.
Cloud computing describes a model for accessing resources over networks. In general, users of cloud computing systems do not own the physical infrastructure. Instead the users can pay for the resources they use. Cloud computing provides the resources to the user as if the resources are physically located with the user. As a result, a user can access a resource physically residing in any place in the world.
While cloud computing systems can provide access to resources physically residing in any place in the world, the location of the resources may still present issues. For example, when provisioning resources for cloud computing systems, administrators may not know the location of the user that will use the resource. Additionally, in cloud computing systems, users from different locations may use the same resource. Without knowledge of the user's location, settings established when provisioning the resource may not be the same as settings that are commonly used at the user's location. As a result, the user may experience issues with using resources that are not physically located with the user. The use of a cloud computing system may be less desirable for a user in certain scenarios.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a method and apparatus, which take into account one or more of the issues discussed above as well as possibly other issues.

Applying settings in a cloud computing environment based on geographical region

International Business Machines Corporation


A field emission device (110, 210, 310, 410) includes an electron emitter (124), a first dielectric focusing layer (122) defining a first aperture (127), and a second dielectric focusing layer (123) defining a second aperture (133). Second dielectric focusing layer (123) is disposed on first dielectric focusing layer (122). The dielectric constant of second dielectric focusing layer (123) is less than the dielectric constant of first dielectric focusing layer (122). During the operation of field emission device (110, 210, 310), electron emitter (124) emits an electron beam (134), which is focused as it travels through first aperture (127) and then through second aperture (133).

Field emission displays are well known in the art. A field emission display includes an anode plate and a cathode plate that define a thin envelope. The anode plate and cathode plate can be separated by dielectric spacer structures. The cathode plate includes column electrodes and gate extraction electrodes, which are used to cause selective electron emission from electron emitters, such as Spindt tips or emissive surfaces.
The separation distance between the anode plate and the cathode plate has a lower limit. The minimum distance is determined by the break down voltage of the dielectric spacer structures and by the need to avoid arcing between the anode plate and the cathode plate. Especially at high anode voltages, the minimum separation distance can result in electron beams that have unacceptably large cross-sections at the anode plate. It is known in the art to use additional electrically conductive layers or electrically resistive layers for the purpose of focusing the electron beams to achieve a desired cross-section at the anode plate. Benefits, such as improved resolution of a display image, can be realized by the focusing.
It is also known in the art to use an electrically conductive or electrically resistive layer, which circumscribes an emissive surface, for reducing leakage currents at the gate extraction electrode.
However, the use of these additional layers can result in problems, such as suppression of the electric field at the electron emitter as well as unacceptable, spurious electron emission from the additional material.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a field emission display having an improved focusing structure, which overcomes at least some of these shortcomings.

Field emission device having dielectric focusing layers


A surgical staple for use in surgical procedures. The surgical staple has a crown having a hollow frame. The frame has a top slot in communication with the interior of the crown frame. At least two legs are pivotally mounted in the frame such that when the staple is inserted into tissue and the legs are rotated inwardly, the staple secures tissue and the legs are locked in a fixed position. In an alternate embodiment, at least one leg is pivotally mounted to the frame and at least one leg is fixedly mounted to the frame.

Surgical staples are well known in the surgical arts. These staples have been widely used by physicians to close incisions. Surgical staples have proven to be a useful alternative available to the physician in lieu of conventional sutures.
Surgical staples have also been used in various surgical procedures. For example, when performing a surgical procedure to repair an inguinal hernia, one common technique is to affix a biocompatible surgical mesh over the site of the inguinal hernia. This is typically done by stapling the surgical mesh to the tissue and muscle surrounding the site of the hernia. The staples used in this procedure are, typically, conventional metal staples made from stainless steel, titanium, tantalum, or the like. There are several disadvantages associated with the use of metal staples in such an operation. One obvious disadvantage is that the metal staple remains inside of the patient indefinitely. In addition, it is not uncommon for a nerve to be entrapped and compressed by a metal staple. It is believed that this may cause residual pain in the patient. In order to alleviate such pain, a subsequent operation may be required to remove and/or replace the staples.
The use of absorbable staples may help to overcome this problem and eliminate the need for additional surgery since the absorbable staple would absorb over time, thereby relieving any pressure upon a compressed nerve. Although absorbable staples are known in this art, such staples typically require access to both sides of a tissue site since they typically consist of an upper section having a crown and legs and a lower receiver. The lower receiver engages and locks the legs of the staple. Therefore, the absorbable staples known in the art are typically not usable in surgical procedures such as repair of an inguinal hernia where there is only access to one side of the tissue.
Therefore, there is a need in this art for an absorbable staple which does not require a second separate piece to lock the staple into place in tissue and which can be applied and secured from one side of the tissue in an endoscopic or open surgical procedure.


A method for reducing the effects of rotational vibration in a disk drive comprising generating a self-induced vibration in the disk drive, and sensing the self-induced vibration in the first and second sensors and generating a corresponding first and second sensor data. The method further comprises comparing the first and second sensor data to determine a gain-differential, and scaling at least one of the first and second sensor data to reduce the gain-differential between the first and second sensors.

Disk drives are commonly used to store large amounts of data in a readily available form. Typically, the primary components of a disk drive are a head disk assembly and a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) which, when fixed to one another, form a functional unit that is then connected to a computer. The head disk assembly includes a head, an actuator arm, and a data storage disk that is rotated near the head by a spindle motor so that read/write operations may be performed on the disk.
A widely used measure of performance of a disk drive is the number of I/O operations performed by the disk drive. As such, it is essential that factors that adversely interfere with such operations be removed or reduced to within acceptable limits. One such adverse factor is rotational vibration. Rotational vibration can be induced due to a number of factors, such as when other disk drives in the same chassis spin or perform seek operations, or external forces on the rack or chassis containing the drive. When rotational vibration exceeds acceptable limits of a drive's tolerance, the head may be shaken off-track during the read/write operations, causing delays in the scheduled operations of the drive and resulting in overall performance degradations.
To reduce the effects of the rotational vibration, sensors are mounted on the disk drive, such as on the PCBA, to detect induced rotational vibration. Currently, linear sensors are preferred over rotary sensors in today's competitive market because of their significantly lower cost. The use of linear sensors, however, is not without shortcomings as it may require screening of sensors to minimize gain differential between sensors and a relatively close alignment of each sensor's sensitivity axis to reduce the occurrence of an apparent gain mismatch between the sensors. A gain mismatch can reduce the reliability of the data received from the sensors.
Accordingly, what is needed is a method for improving the cost and reliability associated with the use of linear sensors in disk drives.

Scaling linear vibration sensor data in disk drive


A circuit for securing a power supply is provided. The circuit consists of an energy storage means for supplying current to a load. The energy storage means receives current from the power supply at first and second current levels. The first current level is greater than the average current necessary to supply the load and the second current level is less than the average current necessary to supply the load. The current level of the power supply alternates between the first and second current levels as a function of a comparator means and a switching means assuring an adequate supply of current to the load. The comparator means compares the voltage across the energy storage means to a reference voltage and actuates the switching means. Hence, the current supplied by the power supply is different than the current supplied by the energy storage means to the load and the electrical characteristics of the load remain undetectable from the radio frequency emissions of the power supply.

Power supplies typically draw current from a source of power, (such as a generator or electric utility grid, etc.). A power supply typically generates radiation that correlates with the amount of energy required by the load connected to the output of the power supply. By monitoring the current driven by the power supply, or the energy radiated from the power supply, it may be possible to ascertain the nature of the load. In some applications, however, it is desirable that the characteristics of the load be kept secret. For example, the load could be a telephone, teleprinter, or computer handling secret or classified information. Absent some precaution to secure the power supply, it may be possible for one to monitor the current provided by the power supply or the radiation emarating from the power supply and ascertain the nature of the secured load. A device for operating a power supply so that the electrical characteristics of a load cannot be determined by monitoring the energy radiated from the power supply is desirable in these circumstances.
Prior attempts have been made to develop circuits to secure a power supply. These circuits typically involve operating a complimentary load in parallel with the load that has to be kept secure. This type of circuit is illustrated in FIG. 2. The complimentary load is in parallel with the load desired to be kept secure. In this conventional arrangement, the power supply output is held at a substantially constant arbitrary level, which is at least as high as the maximum voltage required to power the true load being secured. The complimentary load is controlled in a way that ensures that the sum of the current across both loads is constant. Therefore, a constant current is driven from the power supply. Hence, if the energy radiated from the power supply is monitored, constant output will be detected, preventing the characteristics of the load from being ascertained.
The conventional circuit operates, not by isolating the power supply from the load, but rather by having the power supply operate at a substantially constant load above what is necessary for operation of the true load. Since the power supply is operating at full load capacity all the time, a large part of the energy of the power supply is wasted on a complimentary load. A second disadvantage is that this type of circuit is that it is hard to operate at high frequencies. A third major disadvantage of this type of circuit is that, in case there is more than one secure load connected to the power supply, each load requires its own complimentary load. This circuitry is not only costly but inefficient as well. Moreover, this type of circuit is relatively complex and results in a slight delay in the time the current necessary to power the true load reaches the load.
Thus, a need exists for a simple, efficient, economical, effective, and reliable secure power supply. The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by using a "constant current" or "constant power" power supply that provides energy to an energy storage device. The load current is driven from this energy storage device but does not have any direct influence on the "constant current" or "constant power" provided to the power supply. In this system, the momentary value of the load current does not influence the current supplied by the power supply. Thus, the electrical characteristics of the load are isolated from the radiated energy spectrum of the power supply. The characteristics of the load cannot be detected by monitoring the current of the power supply.


A mold box apparatus for casting cementitious building blocks having special channels formed in the sidewalls thereof in which thermally insulative foam is castable.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for fabrication of cementitious building blocks, and more particulary to an apparatus for casting cementitious building blocks with special channels therein for containment of thermally insulative material.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As a result of the current interest in energy conservation, the well known cementitious building block, which has been used for many years in the construction arts, has become the subject of much criticism due to its lack of thermally insulative properties, and this has resulted in many attempts to improve the heat transfer characteristics of such blocks.
One prior art technique employed to improve the heat transfer characteristics of cementitious blocks includes the filling of the vertical passages formed through the block with insulative material. This does improve the heat transfer characteristics of the block somewhat, but the benefit derived is limited in that the end walls and center rib wall of each block remains uninsulated and thus, a finished wall built of these blocks has a multiplicity of uninsulated cementitious thermally conductive passages extending transversely therethrough. While this technique does improve the thermal energy characteristics somewhat, it causes further problems in that the vertical passages of the blocks, which are often used as passageways for plumbing, wiring, wall reinforcing bars, cementitious grouting and the like, can no longer be so used due to the presence of the insulative material, which if omitted from selected passageways will reduce the thermally insulative properties of the finished block wall.
Another prior art attempt at improving the thermally insulative characteristics of cementitious blocks includes the casting of inwardly facing notches in the end walls and center rib wall of otherwise conventionally configured blocks. Two prefabricated, rigid planar members of insulative material are manually inserted into the blocks so as to be held in place by the special notches. This locates the inserted members so that each spans a different one of the vertical passages of the blocks. This prior art attempt at improving the insulative properties of cementitious blocks has the same shortcomings as the previously described technique of filling the verticl passages with insulative material in that the block's end walls and center rib wall remain good conductors of thermal energy and the vertical passages are at least partially blocked.
Continuing attempts to provide cementitious blocks with substantially improved thermally insulative properties progressed from the above described prior art techniques to cementitious blocks which are cast in various special configurations for containing insulative barriers that are in turn cast in place within the special blocks. In general, these special blocks are cast with a channel extending through the block. The channel, which may be centrally located or offset toward one of the vertical sidewalls of the block, are parallel to the sidewalls of the block and are of substantially equal size with respect thereto. When the block is fully cured, insulative foam is cast within the channel so as to become an integral part of the block. In theory this is ideal in that the insulative foam barrier extends the full length and height of the block thus retarding heat transfer between the opposite vertical sidewalls or faces, of the block. However, in actual practice this technique causes some problems with the production of the blocks themselves and further problems with the casting of the insulative foam in the special blocks.
With regard to the casting of the special blocks, it will be appreciated that they cannot be cast without some means for interconnection of the block parts which are separated by the channel which will subsequently contain the insulative foam barrier. In the absence of interconnecting structure or structures, the separated block parts will simply be free to move relative to each other. In this situation the desired shape of the block will be difficult if not impossible, to maintain during casting, transporting, and curing of the block itself, and would need special positioning and supporting structures when the insulative foam is being cast in the channel.
In view of this need for block part interconnection, one prior art special cementitious block was cast with a U-shaped channel formed in at least one of its vertical sidwalls so that interconnection was provided by the closed bottom which defined the channel. This configuration was quickly discarded in that the lack of support at the upper ends of the U-shaped channel resulted in sagging of the block parts.
Another prior art special block was provided with a spaced pair of relatively thick structural interconnecting walls which were equally spaced along the length of the channel and extended from the open bottom of the channel to a point about half way to the top of the channel. To provide sufficient interconnecting support of this particular prior art block, the two interconnecting structural walls were relatively thick and thus, the resulting block was provided with two large cementitious passageways which were good conductors of thermal energy.
As hereinbefore mentioned, the prior art special blocks which were cast with the channels therein also presented problems with regard to the casting of insulative foam therein. As is known, some insulative foams, such as polystyrene, have little or not adhesive properties, i.e., they will not adhere to the cementitious surfaces. Thus, such foams will add little or no structural strength to the interconnected parts of the block which define the channel and therefore the interconnection members must be either increased in number or size, and such increases defeat the objective of improving the thermal insulative properties of the block.
A particular insulative foam, namely, polyurethane foam is well known to be an excellent insulator and is a highly tenacious material in that it will form a very strong bond when cast and cured in contact with virtually anything. Polyurethane foam is the ideal material for use in the especially cast blocks in that it will add considerable structural strength to the special blocks and thus allow the use of a minimum number and minimum size of the interconnecting members. This tenacious characteristic of polyurethane foam however, causes production problems when cast in the channels of the above described prior art special cementitious blocks. The open ends, and in some instances, the open or at least partially open, bottoms of the channels cast in the prior art special blocks must be temporarily closed during the casting of the polyurethane foam within the channels. The polyurethane foam will form a strong bond with the channel closing members just as it does with the block surfaces, and thus without the application of some sort of a releasing agent, the channel closing members are very difficult, if not impossible, to remove without destroying the product or the channel closing members. The use of a releasing agent is costly, time consuming, and not entirely satisfactory. The channel closing members must be recoated with the releasing agent prior to each use, and even with such recoating, production must be interrupted periodically to grind off the polyurethane foam which invariably adheres to the channel closing members at locations of inadequate application of the releasing agent.
Further, in production operations, complex and costly equipment is needed to position the channel closing members and firmly hold them in place against the pressures exerted by the curing polyurethane foam. And, the channel closing members must tightly close the otherwise open channels in that the curing polyurethane foam will escape through any cracks, gaps or other openings and stick to anything it comes in contact with. It is virtually impossible to completely close the sides and bottom of the block's channel due to manufacturing tolerances. For example, the channel closing members may completely close the channel of one block, and be a loose fit in the channel of subsequent blocks.
The above described shortcomings and problems which have been encountered in the prior art attempts to produce a thermally efficient cementitious block have been overcome, to a great extent, in a particular block which is fully disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 109,520, filed on Jan. 4, 1980 by the same inventor. Briefly, this special block includes a cementitious block of substantially conventional configuration which is cast with an open top channel in at least one of its vertical sidewalls or faces. The bottom of the channel is closed by a thin-wall web or skin, and the opposite end of the channel are similarly closed. Thin-wall stabilizer webs are also provided in spaced increments between the block parts which are separated from each other by the channel. The thin-wall webs provide the needed interconnection of the separated block parts, and the bottom and end closing thin-wall webs or skins, allows polyurethane foam to be cast within the block's channels, thus eliminating the need for external channel closing members.
To the best of my knowledge, none of the above described prior art special blocks have achieved any appreciable amount of commercial success in that the above described production problems associated with casting of the blocks per se, and subsequent in-block casting of the insulative foam panels have kept these prior art blocks from being economically mass produced. Since the prior art blocks have not solved the inherent production problems, it is believed that no sophisticated production equipment has been developed or suggested, and it is further believed that such equipment has not been developed or suggested for the production of the specific special block disclosed in the hereinbefore referenced U.S. patent application Ser. No. 109,520, filed on Jan. 4, 1980.


There is provided a process for improving the resistance to corrosion of stainless steel by ion plating process, the process comprising coating a component-adjusted stainless steel having an Mn/S ratio of less than 100 as substrate with a Ti-layer for surface preparation, coating directly the resulting Ti-layer or indirectly a TiC-layer, which has been coated onto the Ti-layer in advance as intermediate, with a TiN-layer in a total thickness of 1 to 3 .mu.m.. The TiN-coated stainless steel according to the present invention may be widely used as corrosion-resistant metallic materials for preparing articles which can be employed under wet conditions such as tableware.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for improving the resistance to corrosion of stainless steels. The process may be widely employed for preparing metallic substrates for use in the making of tableware.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
The stainless steels designated "SUS 304 steel" in JIS G4303 and having the composition as shown in Table 1 have been known as corrosion-resistant metallic materials, widely used as substrates for preparing TiN-coated stainless steels by ion plating process.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ (% by Wt.) ______________________________________ C Si Mn P S Ni Cr <0.08 <1.0 <2.0 <0.04 <0.03 8.0-10.5 18.0-20.0 ______________________________________
As is well known to those skilled in the art, various metals or metal compounds can be coated by ion plating the desired thickness onto a metallic substrate.
By ion plating, the metallic substrate can be isolated and protected from a severely corrosive environment, thus retaining its useful properties for a long period of time. Therefore, ion plating is a popular method used in developing various corrosion-resistant materials for preparing metallic articles.
In TiN-coating by conventional ion plating processes, when the amount of nonmetallic impurities such as sulfide-base impurities is too large in the steel, the environment-isolating effect of the coating cannot be exerted sufficiently under wet conditions due to the presence of defects caused by the impurities.
Therefore, conventional ion plating processes do not provide improved corrosion resistance to the metallic substrate for preparing metallic articles which can be used under wet circumstances.

Process for improving the resistance to corrosion of stainless steel