A coupling for connecting two rotatable members in a manner to isolate the torsional vibrations in one member from the other member even where radial, angular and axial misalignment is present and is constantly varying between the two rotatable members. Torsional stiffness and damping can be readily and independently altered to accommodate any application.

In the operation of various devices such as internal combustion engines, air compressors, and like machinery, undesirable torsional vibration on the rotating members will be present. There will also be present a degree of radial and angular vibration depending on the number and arrangement of components undergoing linear and oscillatory motion. In the case of internal combustion engines where the revolutions per minute can vary over a wide range, it is particularly difficult to directly and flexibly couple the output shaft member to an input shaft member which has a considerable moment of inertia and, at the same time, avoid resonant harmonic frequencies between the input and output members in applications where the magnitude of oscillation at resonance can be destructive. This problem becomes particularly critical where design criteria demand the use of a single cylinder, two-cycle engine that yields maximum horsepower for minimum weight in order to provide hand portability without vibrations beyond the coupling.
In these applications, there will be a minimum mass of crankshaft flywheel and counterweights and the engine RPM may inadvertently exceed 15,000 . Further, the engine itself will be suspended within and isolated from the unit frame and all other components by means of very flexible rubber mounts. Thus, the engine output shaft member is free to oscillate torsionally, radially, angularly, and axially with respect to the frame-mounted driven shaft member. Furthermore, the magnitude of these oscillations vary somewhat independently of each other as engine RPM and engine load vary independently. Resonant frequencies, harmonics, and parasitic oscillations may not always occur at specified points of engine RPM because of a varying engine load at these specified points. Thus, there is a need in the art to provide a flexible coupling which will operate under these critical conditions.


An automatic umbrella includes: a central shaft, a plurality of umbrella ribs, an umbrella-opening spring, an umbrella-closing spring, and a control device having a push button which may be pushed upwardly for opening the umbrella and may be pushed downwardly for closing the umbrella for preventing a confusing or false operation when extending or folding the umbrella.

A conventional automatic umbrella is provided with a push button having an upper button portion which is depressed for opening the umbrella and a lower button portion which is depressed for closing the umbrella. Whenever opening or closing the umbrella, the umbrella user should be very careful to watch the marking or position of the upper or lower button portion. Otherwise, he or she may depress the false button portion to influence the operation of the umbrella. If it is dark or at night time, the vision is too unclear to distinguish the location of the upper or lower button portion, confusing the umbrella opening or closing operation and causing inconvenience therefor.
The present inventor has found the drawbacks of a conventional automatic umbrella and invented the present umbrella for a clearer operation for opening or closing the umbrella.

Automatic umbrella with upwardly and downwardly thrusted push button


A computer program product for problem isolation through a weighted search of knowledge bases includes computer useable program code that generates an aggregate relevance index which ranks the search results. The aggregate relevance index is calculated using a measure of relevance of each of said pertinent documents across all keyword searches. A method for problem isolation through the weighted search of knowledge bases comprises searching knowledge bases using extracted keywords to identify pertinent documents contained within said knowledge databases; and generating a global rank associated with each of the pertinent documents, the global rank being calculated using a measure of the relevance of each of the pertinent documents across all keyword searches and a measure of the relevance of each of the keywords to the records as a whole.

In general, the present invention provides a method for matching problems occurring in computer systems or networks with possible solutions contained in knowledge bases. When a computer system encounters an unrecoverable error or other technical problem, the computer system may extract information relating to the technical problem from the runtime stack, the exception stack, error stack, or other location. This extracted information is recorded in log or trace files. The information contained in the log or trace files can be helpful in determining the cause of the technical problem and in matching the technical problem to a potential solution.
Sifting through the log or trace files is often difficult because there may be hundreds of files related to a single problem. The log or trace files may contain multiple entries that indicate abnormal actions or other symptoms of the underlying technical problem. Ordinarily, these symptoms are identified, extracted from the log or trace files, and organized into a set of rules that define the symptoms. The rules are then compared to various databases in an attempt to identify the underlying technical problem and find a solution to that problem.
A technote is a typical format for recording and archiving technical problems/solutions that have been previously encountered by the technical community. In the specification and appended claims the term "technote" is used to identify any technical support document. A technote may take a variety of forms and may be served to customers using a range of media. By way of example and not limitation, technotes may be embodied in media such as printed documentation, emails, wiki entries, web pages, or internal archives.
Ordinarily, a technote contains a brief description of the symptoms of a specific technical problem and a detailed solution to that problem. However, even with the use of software tools, it is difficult to match the rules that define the symptoms of the technical problem with the appropriate technote or technotes. The software tool may produce hundreds of matches to various technotes, many of which are repeated. The user is generally forced to search through multiple technotes and decide how well the symptom descriptions within the technotes apply to the current situation. After determining the relevance of the results, the user refines the rule set to eliminate superfluous results, and repeats the search. This process is repeated until a potential solution is eventually identified.

Problem isolation through weighted search of knowledge bases

International Business Machines Corporation


A dental implement for dispensing and compacting amalgam includes separate dispensing and compacting assemblies at opposite ends of a handle. The assemblies each have an amalgam carrier cooperating with a plugger portion which extends from an end of the handle. A spring-biased lever maintains the amalgam carrier in a normally lowered position capable of receiving amalgam. Each assembly features a lock for releasably retaining the amalgam carrier in a raised position whereby the plugger portion extends beyond its respective amalgam carrier for tamping the amalgam into a tooth cavity.

This invention relates to a dental implement for dispensing and compacting amalgam into a tooth cavity. It concerns, more particularly, an amalgam dispenser adapted to be locked with the plugger or amalgam tamper in an extended position so that the implement may be used to condense the filling.
Conventionally, the dentist has used an amalgam dispenser in filling a patient's cavity and then another dental implement was used to compact the amalgam to the proper degree of firmness. From a practical standpoint, this procedure was both time consuming and inconvenient. To avoid the inconvenience of changing dental instruments, the disclosure of an amalgam carrier in U.S. Pat. No. 1,797,866, issued Mar. 24, 1931, to C. S. Ivory, suggests at page 2, lines 47-65, that the dispenser also may be used to pack the amalgam into the cavity. This is accomplished by depressing a spring-actuated lever which raises a tubular amalgam carrier on a plunger shaft thereby dispensing the amalgam into the cavity. By maintaining the lever in the lowered position the plunger remains extended beyond the end of the tubular carrier. Provided the dental practitioner's finger is not released, the plunger may be used to tamp the amalgam. Although the device represents an improvement over the practice of using a separate dental implement for the compacting operation, it requires the practitioner to first, physically hold the lever in a particular lowered position and second, adopt a grip on the implement that maintains the lever in the lowered position while at the same time permitting a workable compacting motion. Thus, in practice, hand movement is restricted and the compacting process becomes cumbersome and time consuming.


An audio/video (A/V) device and a method of controlling the operation thereof, which visualize operation states in or among A/V devices into a flow of content. The A/V device includes an on screen display (OSD) processing unit to OSD process information, and a control unit to control the OSD processing unit so that the OSD processing unit OSD processes a plurality of modules constituting the A/V device and functions thereof. Accordingly, it is possible for a user to easily recognize operations in and among the A/V devices, which provides convenient operation to the user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to audio/video (A/V) devices. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to A/V devices and a method of controlling the operation thereof, which provide a user interface in which operations in or among A/V devices are visualized so that a user easily recognizes the operations.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the recent development of digital technologies, a network environment has been provided in which A/V devices each performing independent functions, such as a digital TV (DTV), a video cassette recorder (VCR), a digital versatile disk player (DVDP), a DVD recorder (DVDR), and/or a set-top box (STB), are connected to a network for transmitting and receiving contents thereamong.
Further, a number of combination systems have been developed in which the A/V devices that perform independent functions as described above are incorporated into a single system. In the combination systems, since parts performing common functions are incorporated into a single unit, operational convenience is achieved and the amount of physical space required is reduced as compared to discrete devices.
The conventional A/V device is considered as a black box in that the internal operation thereof is not revealed to users, as shown in FIG. 1. Interacting with a conventional A/V device does not pose a problem if the A/V devicee only handles and/or reproduces content between one source and one destination. The term "content" is used in its broadest sense to include, not by way of limitation, audio signals, video signals, and the like.
Interaction with a conventional A/V device becomes problematic as the number of sources and destinations of content handled by the A/V device, and the number of tasks performed on the respective contents increase, as they have recently. This is because such a conventional scheme displays only processing results according to a user's operation making it difficult for a user to understand the operation of the A/V device.
Furthermore, it is difficult for the user to recognize how a particular content item is being processed in the A/V device, whether current scenes on the display device are provided from a particular content source, and what operation is required for a desired task. Thus, operation becomes inconvenient for a user.

Audio/video devices for visualizing operational states therein or thereamong into content flow and method of controlling operations thereof


A jewelry article comprising a sleeve having a groove at one end and a central bore hole going substantially therethrough the sleeve, and a face piece having at least one tongue and spring bias means, which when a tongue of the face piece is inserted into the groove of the sleeve secures the two together such that when an earring post is inserted into the borehole of the sleeve the tongue will, under the spring bias means, secure the earring post to the sleeve. The sleeve and face are made of inert materials. If the tongue is indented from the plane of the face piece then when the face piece is tilted away (i.e., at an acute angle to the axis of the central borehole from being perpendicular to the axis of the bore hole, then even larger diameter earring posts can be entered. The jewelry article will upon the above-described assembly prevent irritation and inflammation due to contact from non-hypo-allergenic and hygroscopic materials with the skin because the earring post never touches the skin due to the sleeve barrier.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pierced earrings and to the matter of providing a barrier between earlobes and pierced earrings of the variety which are manufactured from non-hypo-allergenic and hygroscopic materials.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Pierced earrings, as is well known, consist of three sections. The first section is a `face` configuration which rests against the front of the earlobe. The second section is the `post` configuration which is attached to the `face`; which post extends completely thru the pierced opening in the earlobe. The third section is the `clasp` configuration which grips the `post` behind the earlobe and holds the earring firmly in place.
Because of the rising costs of precious metals a great percentage of pierced earrings are manufactured from metals containing materials which are neither non-allergenic nor non-hygroscopic. As a consequence to wearing pierced earrings made from such materials, many wearers suffer the problem of earlobe infection and inflammation.
In an effort to minimize the problem of infection and inflammation existing with the prior art some pierced earrings have been manufactured with hypo-allergenic and non-hygroscopic posts. However, while that might reduce the inflammation inside the pierced opening in the earlobe it does not reduce the problem at the front or back of the earlobe.
Other inventions have gone a step further by providing a non-hypo-allergenic barrier between the `face` and the `post` of the non-hypo-allergenic and hygroscopic pierced earrings. However, such inventions have the disadvantage of being awkward to handle and are easily broken. The main disadvantage of such inventions is that while they may provide some protection for the front of the earlobes and for the insides of the pierced holes in the earlobes, they do not provide protection for the back of the earlobe because such inventions rely on the non-hypo-allergenic and hygroscopic clasps of the non-hypo-allergenic and hygroscopic pierced earrings to secure them in place in back of the ears. Such clasps continue to make contact with the skin in back of the ear thus offering no protection against infection or inflammation in that area.
Another problem associated with the prior art is the damage caused by the tearing of earlobes due to the heavy weight of some pierced earring designs. Such damage often necessitates surgical repair work by medical practitioners. As a result of such circumstances many wearers are unable to wear pierced earrings over again.


The present invention is for the purpose of measuring the increase in growth or length of a sheathed heating element as it is reduced in transverse size to compact the refractory material therein, and feeding the growth to a logic control unit which is preset by an operator to obtain the desired final target length of the element within acceptable limits. The logic control unit, by computation, automatically subtracts the growth length from a preset length growth reference and makes the necessary additional computations that will send the proper signal to a motor control unit. The motor control unit translates the signal fed to it and in turn sends a signal to operate stepper motors, the latter controlling the bight between final compression rolls to compress the element just enough to elongate it within the target length range.

The normal tubular heating element comprises a rectilinear metal sheath, usually round in cross section, and having a helically-coiled resistance wire within the sheath and held centered within the sheath by powdered refractory material. Terminal pins are connected to opposite ends of the resistor coil and extend outwardly of opposite ends of the sheath. Dielectric plugs surround the terminal pins at the sheath ends to contain the refractory material. U.S. Pat. No. 2,272,282, issued to E. L. Wiegand, illustrates a tubular heater of the general type referred to.
In normal manufacture, the tubular element above described is subjected to a rolling operation to reduce the diameter thereof and thus compress and densify the refractory material to a rock-like hardness. The rolling operation increases the length of the tubular element as the diameter of the tubular unit is reduced and the present invention is for the purpose of automatically measuring the growth of a sample length of the tubular element and for automatically making machine adjustments to hold the growth of the entire element within acceptable limits. In another aspect of the invention the full length of the tubular element is subjected to a measuring operation so that the full growth is measured.
In the manufacture of well-known surface units, a tubular element, after rolling, is put into a spiralling machine to provide a finished unit having a flat intermediate spiralled portion and a pair of terminal portions extending from opposite ends of the spiralled portion. A typical surface unit is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,350,674, issued to L. S. Kozbelt and D. M. Cunningham.
It is important that the final length of a rolled tubular element be held within certain tolerances, since if the rolled element is too long or too short, the terminal portions of the spiralled surface unit will be too long or too short or uneven in length and this causes problems, especially in a surface unit of the plug-in type. If the rolled element is too short, the spiralled unit cannot be used for plug-in purposes and most likely would be scrapped. If the rolled element is too long, the longer terminal portions may be trimmed to proper length, but this represents additional labor. If the terminal portions are uneven in length, with the shorter one within acceptable limits, the longer one may be trimmed but again this requires additional labor. The present invention provides for measuring a sample length of a tubular unit (or the full length) after having been reduced in the reducing rolls during the rolling operation, and utilizing the measurement in length growth to effect means for holding the tubular unit within prescribed tolerances.


A propeller comprises a hub (1) rotatable about a propeller axis and formed with a hub barrel (1) with a central hub axis that extends radially of the propeller axis, a blade (9) having a support assembly (3) at its inner end received within the hub barrel (1) and including at least one bearing (11,16) that supports the blade (9) for rotation about the hub axis, a locking recess (7,25,33) formed at least in part in the support assembly (3) and at least in part in the hub barrel (1) and a key element (26) located within the locking recess (7,25,33) to restrain radial outwards movement of the blade (9) along the hub axis. The key element (26) is insertable into and retractable from the locking recess (7,25,33) while the inner end of the blade (9) is assembled in the hub barrel (1). The locking recess (7,25,33) extends circumferentially within the hub barrel (1), and the key element (26) is flexible to follow the recess when inserted. A threaded pre-loading ring (22) pre-loads the key element (26), and simultaneously pre-loads the bearings (11,16). The key element (26) and locking recess (7,25,33) are shaped to produce a wedging action when loading by the pre-loading ring (22).

Such propellers are usually formed from a plurality of propeller blades each being located by a radially inner end, called a shank, in a barrel of a hub of the propeller. Conventionally, the hub is made in separable halves to allow insertion of bearings between races on the shank and races on the hub. These bearings permit rotation of the blade in the hub to vary the pitch of the propeller.
EP 0322344 discloses a one-piece hub arrangement in which the shank of a propeller blade is inserted into a barrel of the hub. Bearings are fed between the barrel and the shank until they are positioned between races provided by the shank and barrel. The bearings are pre-loaded by outwards movement of a race insert in threaded engagement with the hub barrel. Such a method is complicated and time consuming. Further, the use of threads in the hub barrel can lead to failure of the assembly.
The inner bearing of EP 0322344 also provides the means for retaining the blade within the hub by acting against an inner race provided by an inwardly extending portion of the barrel wall. This portion is integrally formed in order to avoid discontinuities.


An optical sensor has a waveguide having a core, a cladding having an outer surface and a long period fiber grating. The core, the cladding and the long period fiber grating collectively provide at least two resonant wavelengths. The optical sensor also has binding sites on the outer surface of the cladding for binding to elements to be detected to the outer surface of the cladding. The cladding may be thinned down to a thickness sufficiently low produce the resonant wavelengths. The binding sites include agents for binding to the elements to be detected with the agents being covalently bonded to the surface of the cladding. Example binding sites can include bacteriophages for detecting E. coli bacteria, Palladium for detecting hydrogen, or synthetic DNA for detecting viruses of certain molecules for example.

Pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria are one of the most dangerous agents of food-borne disease. Consumption of contaminated food or water can be deadly, especially for children and the elderly. Although E. coli bacteria infections are most common in developing countries, many recent outbreaks in Europe and Northern America have been attributed to a strain of E. coli bacteria which has been identified among the most common causes of diseases related to food safety. Accurate routine testing is crucial for outbreak prevention.
There are available techniques for detecting E. coli bacteria. The current techniques require time-consuming amplification of samples and the standard detection process of E. coli bacteria takes about 24 hours to obtain results from culturing methods. Although more recent detection techniques such as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay) and IMS (Ion Mobility Spectrometry) offer a more rapid detection, an analysis time of several hours is still required. For the specific and rapid detection of such pathogens, bio-recognition elements such as antibodies, nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) and bacteriophages have widely been used for the specific capturing of the target bacteria. Their binding can be detected by fluorescence labeling methods or by label-free methods. Each of these recognition elements has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, recognition based on nucleic acid, though offering high specificity, suffers from the inability to discriminate between viable and non-viable cells. For antibody-based recognition elements, the drawbacks are high manufacturing cost, lack of stability/repeatability in measurements and cross-binding to other bacteria which may result in false positives.


A computer system identifies a subset of a plurality of channels as candidates for repeat visits by a plurality of users of a content sharing platform. The identifying of the subset of the plurality of channels as candidates for repeat visits includes determining, for a channel of the plurality of channels, a repeat visit score indicating whether the channel is a candidate for repeat visits by the plurality of users, wherein the repeat visit score for the channel is based on activity of the plurality of users with respect to one or more media items of the channel, and selecting, from the plurality of channels, the subset of channels that are candidates for repeat visits, the selecting being based on repeat visit scores of the plurality of channels. The computer system then causes promotion content for one or more of the subset of channels to be provided to one or more users of the plurality of users to facilitate repeat visits of the one or more channels by the one or more users.

On the Internet, content sharing platforms or other applications allow users to upload, view, and share digital content such as media items. Such media items may include audio clips, movie clips, TV clips, and music videos, as well as amateur content, such as video blogging, short original videos, pictures, photos, other multimedia content, etc. Users may use computing devices (such as smart phones, cellular phones, laptop computers, desktop computers, netbooks, tablet computers, gaming consoles, television consoles) to use, play, and/or consume media items (e.g., watch digital videos, and/or listen to digital music).
The content sharing platforms can include one or more channels, which can be viewable over the Internet. A channel is a mechanism for providing certain media items and/or for providing access to media items to users for consumption. Media items for the channel can be selected by a user, uploaded by a user, selected by a content provider, or selected by a broadcaster.
Traditional search systems, recommendation systems, and/or promotion systems evaluate a source of media items (e.g., videos) to generate search results, recommendations of the media items, and/or promotions of the media items generally based on how likely users are to watch the media items in the short term. For example, conventional solutions typically identify standalone viral videos, which are videos that become popular through the process of Internet sharing, usually through video sharing websites, social media and email. The videos may be famous for a spike of time, such as a month or a few weeks. The viral video may be one of multiple videos that are offered by a channel. With such traditional solutions, a user generally watches the viral video multiple times and/or a significant number of users watch the viral video to cause the video to become popular. The users, however, typically do not return to the channel that provides the viral video, and as a result, the other videos that are offered by the channel are usually not consumed.
Other conventional solutions generate search results, recommendations of the media items, and/or promotions of the media items generally based on how likely users are going to subscribe to a channel. Users may subscribe to one or more channels to be able to automatically view media items (e.g., videos) of the channel. For example, Channel-ABCD may have over one million subscribers. The traditional solutions may be successful in recommending and promoting certain channels in order to get users to subscribe to the channels, but generally, the subscribers of the channels do not return back to the channel to consume the media other items that are provided by the channel.
Traditional solutions that identify media items for short-term consumption (e.g., viral videos), and conventional solutions that focus on obtaining subscriptions, generally do not predict the likelihood of users visiting a channel multiple times.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Identifying media channels that have a high likelihood of multiple consumptions by one or more users


An expansible laparoscopic tunneling apparatus for creating an anatomic working space. The apparatus provides laparoscopic observation both during tunneling operations, when the apparatus is advanced bluntly to a desired location within the body of a patient, and during subsequent tissue dissection when a balloon associated with the apparatus is inflated to create the working space. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a hollow tunneling member and an inflatable balloon disposed at the distal end of the tunneling member to cooperatively form a blunt tipped obturator. The tunneling member has a bore sized to accept a conventional laparoscope, and a blunt distal end to facilitate tunneling. A trocar can be inserted into the incision to provide access back to the previously created space where the surgical procedure is to be performed. The apparatus is prepared for use by inserting the tunneling member into the interior of the balloon, forming the balloon into a generally cylindrical roll about the tunneling member, and preferably, through the use of an integral balloon cover, securing the balloon roll to the tunneling member wherein the combination of the tunneling member and rolled balloon forms a semi-rigid blunt tipped obturator. A horseshoe shaped balloon for dissecting around obstructions within the body is also disclosed.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for developing an anatomic space for laparoscopic procedures.
In the past, in developing spaces and potential spaces within a body, blunt dissectors or soft-tipped dissectors have been utilized to create a dissected space which is parallel to the plane in which the dissectors are introduced into the body tissue. This often may be in an undesired plane, which can lead to bleeding which may obscure the field and make it difficult to identify the body structures. In utilizing such apparatus and methods, attempts have been made to develop anatomic spaces in the anterior, posterior or lateral to the peritoneum. The same is true for pleural spaces and other anatomic spaces. Procedures that have been performed in such spaces include varocele dissection, lymph node dissection, sympathectomy and hernia repair. In the past, the inguinal hernia repair has principally been accomplished by the use of an open procedure which involves an incision in the groin to expose the defect in the inguinal floor, removal of the hernial sac and subsequently suturing the ligaments and fascias together to reinforce the weakness in the abdominal wall. Recently, laparoscopic hernia repairs have been attempted by inserting laparoscopic instruments into the abdominal cavity through the peritoneum and then placing a mesh over the hernia defect. Hernia repair using this procedure has a number of disadvantages, principally because the mesh used for the hernia repair is in direct contact with the structures in the abdominal cavity, as for example the intestines, there is a tendency for adhesions to form between these structures. Such adhesions are known to be responsible for certain occasionally serious complications. Such a procedure is also undesirable because typically the patch is stapled to the peritoneum, which is a very thin unstable layer covering the inner abdomen. Thus, the stapled patch can tear away from the peritoneum or shift its position. Other laparoscopic approaches involve cutting away the peritoneum and stapling it closed. This is time consuming and involves the risk of inadvertent cutting of important anatomic structures. In addition, such a procedure is undesirable because it requires the use of a general anesthesia. There is therefore a need for a new and improved apparatus and method for developing an anatomic space and particularly for accomplishing hernia repair by laparoscopy.

Expansible tunneling apparatus for creating an anatomic working space with laparoscopic observation


Systems and methods improve tracking performance of an ultra-wideband (UWB) tracking tag positioned on a player on a sporting field. A UWB antenna is formed with power radiated disproportionately in forward and backward directions as compared to sideways. The UWB tracking tag is aligned with the UWB antenna when positioned on the player such that less power is absorbed by the player than radiated away from the player. The UWB antenna is monopole and may be folded from a single metal sheet forming: a flat top; a first side folded at an acute angle from one edge of the top; a second side folded at an acute angle from another edge of the top; a first solder tab folded at an obtuse angle from the first side; and a second solder tab folded at an obtuse angle from the second side, to join in parallel with the first solder tab.

Wireless ultra-wideband (UWB) tracking tags are used to track the location of athletes on a sporting field. Attaching tracking tags to athletes presents a challenge to the system designer. These tracking tags are designed to be as small as possible and are commonly mounted to shoulder pads of the athletes for contact sports, such as American Football. However, when positioned near the human body, transmission performance of the tracking tag is degraded.
The electrically short monopole antenna of the tracking tag is a wide-band and compact radiating element for the tracking tag. However, the human body and the pads are mostly absorptive of energy at UWB frequencies. Since the tracking tags are asymmetrically mounted onto the body, the typical omnidirectional pattern of the short monopole antenna results in loss of energy in one or more directions, such as when the energy is absorbed by the human body or shoulder pads.

Folded UWB monopole antenna for body mounted transmitter and manufacturing method


An automatic drinking-trough which can only be used by animals for drinking purposes has a pressurized water duct the aperture of which is closed by a valve. The opening of the valve is controlled by a tube displaceable in all directions. The valve is arranged under a hood situated above the bowl, with the end of the control tube protruding vertically below the hood and in the bottom of the bowl. Thus the animal has to drive its snout down to the bottom of the bowl in order to reach the tube and cannot tamper with it inadvertably or playfully.

The present invention relates to an improvement to automatic watering devices for animals.
It is known to make automatic drinking-troughs by providing a bowl above which is arranged a pallet mobile about a horizontal axis. The animal, by exerting a pressure on said pallet, operates a tap from which flows water into the bowl standing under said pallet.
It has proved that this type of device did not give satisfactory results with some animals such as piglets since they operate correctly only if the pressure is exerted in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the pallet, whereas such animals exert their action in a very confused manner.
Therefore, it has been proposed to place in the enclosures where the animals are kept, taps called teats, operated by a central tube, said tube causing the opening of the duct whatever the direction in which they are operated and conducting the water to the mouth of the animal.
Such a disposition offers many disadvantages: some young animals have shown a tendency to play with the apparatus and cause its operation not by acting on it only with their snout, but by rubbing themselves against it, with any portion of their body so that they splatter inappropriately and waste water; moreover, some animals, and this is particularly frequent with piglets, can bite and even eat the stem which, protruding obliquely, projects sufficiently for being caught between their teeth.


A photoelectric switch, including: a main body, an upper cover, an infrared tube, an elastic shading mechanism, a bridge piece, a slidable switch member, a key, a sound mode trigger block, a silent mode trigger block, and an accommodating space. The slidable switch member is transversely slidable between the main body and the upper cover. The handle of the slidable switch member protrudes out of the main body. Both the sound mode trigger block and the silent mode trigger block are up-down movably disposed on the slidable switch member and move along with the slidable switch member. When the slidable switch member is slid to one side, the sound mode trigger block is disposed right beneath the key; and when the slidable switch member is slid to the other side, the silent mode trigger block is disposed right beneath the key.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a sound/silent switchable photoelectric switch.
Description of the Related Art
Micro switches are electric switching devices that can open/close an electric circuit rapidly when being actuated. They are classified into sound micro switches and silent micro switches. Sound micro switches provide good touch experience but the sound they produce may be annoying to users. Silent micro switches, on the other hand, do not produce any sound but provide poor touch experience.
Conventional micro switches are only able to realize one or the other mode, and cannot freely switch between the two modes. In addition, the micro switches adopt metal materials as movable and static contacts which are easily oxidized, leading to malfunction of the switches.

Sound/silent switchable photoelectric switch

Dongguan City Kaihua Electronics Co., Ltd.


To guide a process whose output variable (c) depends on a plurality of influential variables (v, a, h, .alpha.) acting on the process, the process is controlled by a controlling variable (p*) in such manner that the output variable (c) assumes the value of a guiding variable (c*). Correcting variable (p*) is calculated from guiding variable (c*) on the basis of a model of the process, with the model being adjusted on the basis of a comparison of the results (c.sub.M) supplied by the model with measured variables (c, v, h, a) of the process to the process event.

The present invention relates generally to methods and devices for controlling processes, and more particularly to a method and device for controlling a process, in which an output variable, which depends on several influential variables acting on the process, is influenced by a correcting variable through a correcting element acting on the process in such fashion that it assumes the value of a predetermined controlling variable.
It is generally known that a process can be controlled in such fashion that the output variable of the process, in other words the regulated variable, is compared with a controlled variable and the regulating difference thus obtained is supplied to a regulating device, which generates a correcting variable at the output, with which the process is influenced by a correcting element. In addition to the correcting variable, a number of other influential variables also act on the process, with the relationship between the correcting variable and the influential variables on the one hand and the output variable of the process on the other hand being represented by graphs obtained by measuring the variables. These graphs, which in practice are almost always nonlinear, are usually not known exactly, however, and can change as the result of varying process conditions. This leads to the problem of adjusting the regulation of the process to changing process conditions to ensure that the regulating device always operates at the optimum working point.
The present invention is therefore directed to the problem of developing a method and a device for controlling a process in which the control is adjusted optimally to the actual process event, despite changing process conditions.

Method and device for controlling a process


A circumferential shaft seal comprising two sealing rings held to a rotating shaft by means of a surrounding elastomeric band. The rings are segmented and are of a rigid sealing material such as carbon or a polyimide and graphite fiber composite.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fluid seals and more particularly to circumferential shaft seals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fluid seals incorporating one or more sealing rings to provide a collar sealably enclosing a rotating shaft journaled in a housing are well known. One problem associated with the design of such seals is that expensive machinery and lapping are required to effectively seal off the leakage paths through the seals. Another disadvantage of prior art designs is the inability of the seal rings in the seals to respond adequately to shaft runout so that the useful shaft speed is severely limited.

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration


A system for and method of monitoring memory transactions in a data processing system are disclosed. The method includes defining a set of memory transaction attributes with a monitoring system and detecting, on a data processing system connected to the monitoring system, memory transactions that match the defined set of memory transaction attributes. The number of detected memory transactions occurring during a specified duration are then displayed in a graphical format. In one embodiment, the data processing system comprises a non-uniform memory architecture (NUMA) system comprising a set of nodes. In this embodiment, the detected transactions comprise transactions passing through a switch connecting the nodes of the NUMA system. The set of memory transaction attributes may include memory transaction type information, node information, and transaction direction information. The data processing system may operate under a first operating system such as a Unix(copyright) based system while the monitoring system operates under a second operating system such as a Windows(copyright) operating system. The set of memory transactions may include memory address information. In this embodiment, defining the memory address information may include defining a memory window size, subdividing the memory window into a set of memory grains, and displaying the number of detected memory transactions corresponding to each memory grain in the memory window.

1. Field of the Present Invention
The present invention generally relates to the field of data processing systems and more particularly to an application for monitoring and graphically displaying memory transactions in a distributed memory system.
2. History of Related Art
The use of multiple processors to improve the performance of a computer system is well known. In a typical multi-processor arrangement, a plurality of processors are coupled to a system memory via a common bus referred to herein as the system or local bus. The use of a single bus ultimately limits the ability to improve performance by adding additional processors because, after a certain point, the limiting factor in the performance of a multiprocessor system is the bandwidth of the system bus. Generally speaking, the system bus bandwidth is typically saturated after a relatively small number of processors have been attached to the bus. Incorporating additional processors beyond this number generally results in little if any performance improvement.
Distributed memory systems have been proposed and implemented to combat the bandwidth limitations of single bus systems. In a distributed memory system, two or more single bus systems referred to as nodes are connected to form a larger system. Each node typically includes its own local memory. One example of a distributed memory system is referred to as a non-uniform memory architecture (NUMA) system. A NUMA system is comprised of multiple nodes, each of which may include its own processors, local memory, and corresponding system bus. The memory of each node is accessible to each other node via a high speed interconnect network that links the various nodes. The use of multiple system busses (one for each node) enables NUMA systems to employ additional processors without incurring the system bus bandwidth limitation experienced by single bus systems. Thus, NUMA systems are more suitably adapted for scaling than conventional systems.
In a NUMA system, the time required to access system memory is a function of the memory address because accessing memory local to a node is faster than accessing memory residing on a remote node. In contrast, access time is essentially independent of the memory address in conventional SMP designs. Software optimized for use on conventional machines may perform inefficiently on a NUMA system if the software generates a large percentage of remote memory accesses when executed on the NUMA system. The potential for performance improvement offered by scaleable NUMA systems may be partially offset or entirely negated if, for example, the paging scheme employed by the NUMA system allocates a code segment of the software to the physical memory of one node and a data segment that is frequently accessed by the processors of another node. Due to variations in memory architecture implementation, paging mechanisms, caching policies, program behavior, etc., tuning or optimizing of any given NUMA system is most efficiently achieved with empirically gathered memory transaction data. Accordingly, mechanisms designed to monitor memory transactions in NUMA systems are of considerable interest to the designers and manufacturers of such systems. Hardware mechanisms suitable for gathering memory transaction information in a NUMA system have are disclosed in the above referenced patent applications. To take full advantage of the information the monitoring hardware is capable of gathering, it is desirable to implement an elegant and powerful user interface that enables the user to capture, display, and analyze information provided by memory transaction monitoring hardware.
The problem identified above is addressed by a system for and method of monitoring memory transactions in a data processing system. The method includes defining a set of memory transaction attributes with a monitoring system and detecting, on a data processing system connected to the monitoring system, memory transactions that match the defined set of memory transaction attributes. The number of detected memory transactions occurring during a specified duration are then displayed in a graphical format. In one embodiment, the data processing system comprises a non-uniform memory architecture (NUMA) system comprising a set of nodes. In this embodiment, the detected transactions comprise transactions passing through a switch connecting the nodes of the NUMA system. The set of memory transaction attributes may include memory transaction type information, node information, and transaction direction information. The data processing system may operate under a first operating system such as a Unix(copyright) based system while the monitoring system operates under a second operating system such as a Windows(copyright) operating system. The set of memory transactions may include memory address information. In this embodiment, defining the memory address information may include defining a memory window size, subdividing the memory window into a set of memory grains, and displaying the number of detected memory transactions corresponding to each memory grain in the memory window.
The invention further contemplates a system for monitoring memory transactions on a data processing system such as a NUMA system. The system includes a processor, a device driver configured to receive memory transaction information from a switch connecting the nodes of the NUMA system, and user code configured to enable a user to define a set of memory transaction attributes. The user code is further suitable for displaying the number of memory transactions matching the defined set of memory attributes during a specified duration. The device driver and user code may execute under a first operating system while the NUMA system is operating under a second operating system. The set of memory transaction attributes may include memory transaction type information, memory transaction direction information, and memory transaction node information. The set of memory transaction attributes may include memory address information.

Memory transaction monitoring system and user interface

International Business Machines Corporation


A multi-core fiber performs communication using light up to an xth-order LP mode (where x is an integer of 1 or more) in a communication band. The multi-core fiber includes: a plurality of signal light propagation cores that propagate light up to an (x+1)th-order LP mode; and at least one high-loss core that has a higher loss of propagated light than the signal light propagation cores. Crosstalk occurs between light of the (x+1)th-order LP mode propagated through at least one signal light propagation core and light of a primary LP mode propagated through at least one high-loss core.

Presently, an optical fiber used for an optical fiber communication system spreading generally has a structure in which outer circumference of one core is surrounded by a clad and an optical signal is propagated through the core, so that information is transmitted. Recently, an amount of information transmitted increases drastically with the spread of the optical fiber communication system. According to the increase in the amount of information transmitted, in the optical fiber communication system, a large number of optical fibers such as dozens or hundreds of optical fibers are used and large-capacity long-distance optical communication is performed.
It is known that, in the optical fiber communication system, a multi-core fiber in which outer circumferences of a plurality of cores are surrounded by one clad is used and a plurality of signals are transmitted using light propagated through the individual cores.
An example of the multi-core fiber is described in Patent Literature 1 described below. In the multi-core fiber, one core is disposed on a center of a clad and six cores are disposed around the core disposed on the center. Because such an arrangement is a structure in which the cores can be disposed in a closest packing state, a large number of cores can be disposed with respect to an outer diameter of a specific clad. In addition, in the multi-core fiber described in Patent Literature 1, propagation constants of light propagated through the cores adjacent to each other are different from each other to suppress crosstalk of light propagated through the individual cores.
However, there is a request for suppressing the crosstalk more than the case in which effective refractive indexes of the cores adjacent to each other are changed like the multi-core fiber described in Patent Literature 1. Therefore, a multi-core fiber in which a low refractive index layer having a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the clad is disposed to surround an outer circumferential surface of each core and the crosstalk is further prevented is known. This multi-core fiber is described in Patent Literature 2 described below. When the multi-core fiber is viewed from a viewpoint of the refractive index, the low refractive index layer has a shape of a trench. For this reason, the multi-core fiber is called a trench type and a configuration from the core to the low refractive index layer is called a core element. Even in the trench type multi-core fiber, propagation constants of light propagated through the cores adjacent to each other are preferably different from each other to suppress the crosstalk of light propagated through the individual cores.
[Patent Literature 1] JP2011-170336 A
[Patent Literature 2] JP2012-118495 A
However, it is necessary to change refractive indexes or diameters of the cores adjacent to each other to change the propagation constants of the light propagated through the cores adjacent to each other as described above. When communication is performed using light of a desired mode in a desired wavelength band, a range of obtained values of the refractive indexes or the diameters of the cores is narrow and there is a limitation in a degree of freedom for design to change the refractive indexes or the diameters of the cores adjacent to each other.
In addition, in the trench type multi-core fiber, there is a tendency that it is hard to escape light of a higher-order mode in light propagated through a specific core or core element and a cutoff wavelength increases, when the core element is disposed to surround the specific core or core element. Therefore, to suppress propagation of light of a higher-order mode as compared with a mode of light propagated when the core element exists alone, a core pitch cannot be decreased greatly and there is a limitation in a degree of freedom for design.

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY


Techniques for forming a header for an implantable medical device via a two-shot molding process are described. The two-shot molding processes may include a first molding step that creates a first-shot assembly and a second molding step that creates a second-shot assembly. The first-shot assembly may be formed to include one or more protrusions configured to interact with a second-shot mold and/or molding material in the second molding step. The second molding step may be configured to overmold the first-shot assembly. The header may include an attachment plate at least partially embedded in molding material and configured to be mechanically coupled to a body of the implantable medical device.

Implantable medical devices (IMDs) may be configured to provide one or more therapies to a patient. For example, an IMD may be implantable within the body of a patient to deliver electrical stimulation therapy such as cardiac stimulation therapy or neurostimulation therapy. An example of cardiac stimulation therapy is cardiac pacing, which may include bradycardia pacing, antitachycardia pacing, or cardiac resynchronization therapy. An IMD may that delivers cardiac stimulation therapy may also provide cardioversion or defibrillation. Examples of neurostimulation therapy include spinal cord stimulation, deep brain stimulation, gastric stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, or pelvic floor stimulation. In other examples, an IMD may be configured to deliver drug therapy to a patient.
In addition to, or instead of delivering therapy, an IMD may be configured to sense one or more physiological parameters of a patient. For example, an IMD may be configured to sense various electrical signals of a patient, such as a cardiac electrogram signal, an electroencephalogram or other brain signal, or an electromyogram signal. As other examples, an IMD may be configured to sense a cardiovascular or cerebral spinal fluid pressure or flow, heart sounds, patient movement or posture, temperature, blood oxygen saturation, respiration, edema, or pH.
In some examples, an IMD may include a hermetically sealed housing that encloses internal circuitry such as a hybrid circuit board and one or more batteries. The IMD may also include a header portion, referred to as a header, which may include an insulating block configured to isolate one or more conductors from each other and the surrounding environment. The header portion may be configured to house one or more components of the IMD, such as an antenna or electrode.


An improvement of roller blinds controller is provided, it mainly comprises a cylindrical rod passing through a side cover and fixing therewith; a bead chain sprocket and a number of torsion springs fitted on the cylindrical rod, and an outer sleeve cover fitted on the outside, wherein: the cylindrical rod has a ridge portion protruded from the circumferential surface thereof, while the side cover has a has a central aperture with a annular edge portion, the cylindrical rod can be fixed with the side cover by the snap-fitting of the annular edge portion between the flange portion and the ridge portion.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improvement of roller blinds controller, more particularly to a roller blinds controller easy in locating and assembling purpose, in which a ridge portion is provided on limiting rod for secure fixing so as to achieve the purpose of easy assembling.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Conventional window curtain structure, other than window blinds and horizontal draw-pull window covering, still has a roller blinds structure enabling to roll up and down in vertical direction. Ordinary roller blinds structure substantially has a controller provided at one end of a roller tube on which a rolling fabric is rolled up. Two side brackets are respectively provided at the other end of the roller tube and the head end of the controller. Meanwhile, a pulling cord, usually a bead chain, is provided on the controller, and whereby up-down of the fabric, upon pulling of the cord by users, can be controlled by the controller and the rolling fabric can be stopped at any intermediate position as desired by users.
Conventional roller blinds structures have been proposed, such as Taiwanese Patent Gazette No. 395220 entitled "A roller blind controller", No. 428468 entitled "A spring structure adapted to roller blinds controller", or No. 579803 entitled "Improvement of roller blinds controller structure". Each of theses structures is substantially formed, as depicted in FIG. 4, by a limiting rod (71), a sleeve cover (72), a side cover (73), and an outer sheath (74). The limiting rod (71) has an inserting segment at one end, and an open slot (711) and an engaging protrusion (712) at the other end thereof. A bead chain sprocket (721) for meshing a bead chain (75) is fitted on the inserting segment, and one end of the bead chain sprocket (721) is connected to the sleeve cover (72) which is rotated simultaneously upon the pulling of the bead chain (75). The sleeve cover (72) has a hollowed portion (722) the two edges of which are abutted by the two ends of a torsion spring (76) fitted on the limiting rod (71). Finally, an outer sheath (74) is assembled in such a manner that the engaging protrusion (712) of the limiting rod (71) is snap-fitted on the outer sheath (74); thereby a roller blinds controller (7) is completed. In the assembly process of the above structure, when the limiting rod (71) is inserted through the side cover (73), it is only in free state without being positioned in place so that the limiting rod (71) is in a state of possibly coming off the side cover (73). Even after the subsequent fitting of the sleeve cover (72) and the torsion spring (76), all the members are in unseated messy state until the outer sheath (74) is assembled to be snap-fitted with the engaging protrusion (712) of the limiting rod (71). Thus, the assembly is inconvenient.


At least a portion of a total spectrum bandwidth of a wireless system may be allocated to each of a plurality of users by assigning at least one unique spreading code to each of the plurality of users. At least two of the plurality of users may have different spectrum capabilities and may transmit simultaneously. Each of the assigned spreading codes may have a different code length. The number and/or the code length of the spreading codes assigned to each user may be indicative of a portion of the total spectrum bandwidth allocated to each user.

1. Field of the Invention
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to wireless communications systems. For example, at least some example embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for providing a scalable spectrum, spectrum bandwidth and/or throughput to users in a wireless communication system.
2. Description of the Conventional Art
Code division multiple access (CDMA) techniques (e.g., IS-95, cdma2000, Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), etc.) employ code channels for transmitting information to multiple users simultaneously. Each code channel is distinguished by a unique spreading code (e.g., Gold codes, Walsh codes, OVSF codes, etc.). WCDMA is a 3rd Generation wireless technology that utilizes a higher spectrum bandwidth than, for example, IS-95 CDMA. With the increased spectrum bandwidth, WCDMA provides higher data rates or throughput to wireless users. Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems (UMTS) may utilize WCDMA as a suitable transport mechanism.
FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a CDMA wireless system referred to as a CDMA cell site or cell. As shown, the CDMA cell site includes a base transceiver station (BTS) 110 and a radio interface part. The BTS 110 may communicate with a radio network controller (RNC) (not shown) as is well-known in the art. The combination of one or more BTSs and an RNC is referred to as a radio access network (RAN).
The BTS 110 may include multiple radio transceivers for communicating with the RNC and a plurality of users UE1, UE2, UE3, . . . UEn via the radio interface part. As used herein, the term "user," may be synonymous with mobile station, mobile user, user equipment (UE), subscriber, wireless terminal and/or remote station and may describe a remote user of wireless resources in a wireless communication network. For example, user equipment may be a mobile phone, wireless equipped computer, wireless equipped personal digital assistant (PDA), etc.
Referring still to FIG. 1, BTS 110 and the plurality of users UE1, UE2, UE3, . . . , UEn may communicate in the forward link (e.g., from BTS to user) or the reverse link (e.g., from user to BTS) simultaneously via code channels. The code channels in the forward link, for example, may be differentiated from each other by a unique spreading code (e.g., a Gold code, Walsh code, OVSF code, etc.). A unique spreading code may be assigned to each user by the BTS 110. The code channels in the reverse link may also be differentiated in a similar manner.
Combining data signals with a unique spreading code spreads each individual data signal over a much wider spectrum (e.g., 5 MHz for WCDMA) than the spectrum (e.g., 15 kHz for speech data signal) occupied by the data signals prior to spreading. After spreading, the BTS 110 combines all spread data signals, and transmits the resultant signal to each user served by the BTS 110. Each user is informed of its assigned spreading code via a separate signaling channel as is well-known in the art. Spreading the data signal over a wider spectrum allows for reduced transmission power while still obtaining a suitable data rate and/or throughput.
In one example, upon receiving the resultant signal transmitted from the BTS 110, user UE1 identifies the data signal intended for user UE1 using the same unique spreading code used to spread the data signal at the BTS 110. Other data signals spread using other spreading codes are seen by user UE1 as noise. The length of a spreading code assigned to each user is dependent upon the information data rate assigned to the user and/or the spectrum capability of each user. For example, the wider the spectrum capability of the user, the longer the assigned spreading code will be for the same information data rate. This is a result of the larger spectrum over which the data signal may be spread.
Referring still to the above example, at user UE1 the de-spread data signal is sent to a filter that allows the energy associated with the received data signal to pass, while reducing the interference. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is determined by the ratio of the data signal power to the sum of all of the other signal powers. The SNR is enhanced by the processing gain, that is, the ratio of the spectrum over which the data signal has been spread to the baseband data rate.
To provide higher throughput and/or information data rates required by wireless applications, for example, on the forward link, the BTS 110 and users UE1, UE2, . . . , UEn may operate in a larger spectrum (e.g., 10 MHz or 20 MHz). Conventionally, these higher spectrum bandwidth requirements are satisfied by allowing users to access multiple carriers (e.g., multiple 5 MHz carriers in WCDMA) simultaneously while maintaining each individual carrier structure. This is referred to an Nx system. An Nx system allows backward compatibility with existing systems. However, utilizing an Nx system may increase the cost of radio-frequency (RF) design for users due to added RF path components and/or may introduce cross-carrier interference due to imperfect filter response in single carrier frequency designs.

Scalable spectrum CDMA communication systems and methods with dynamic orthogonal code allocation


A strapping tool for tensioning a loop of strap having first and second strap portions about an article is provided with a tension sensing mechanism which includes a gripper member for gripping the second strap portion and restraining it from movement during tensioning of the loop. A first arm is pivotally mounted to the tool frame for pivoting movement in a first direction and in a second, opposite direction. A first spring biases the first arm in the first direction. A second arm is pivotally mounted on the first arm for pivoting movement in the first and second directions away from and towards the strap portions, respectively. A second biasing spring is provided for biasing the second arm in the second direction. A tensioning wheel is mounted on the second arm for being pivoted with the second arm to engage the first strap portion and for being operated to tension the loop when the second strap portion is restrained by the gripper whereby, at a predetermined tension level, the loop tension reaction force transmitted from the second arm to the first arm urges the first arm to overcome the first spring and pivot relative to the frame in the second direction. A control means is provided for responding to the pivoting movement of the first arm in the second direction for terminating the operation of the tensioning wheel at the predetermined loop tension level.

The assembly of the present invention is particularly well suited for certain types of strapping tools wherein a tensioning means, such as a motor driven tension wheel, is brought into contact with one of the overlapping strap ends of the strap loop and rotated to pull that strap end to constrict the loop about the package. Such tools typically draw tension in the loop to a predetermined or preset level and then subsequently crimp a seal about the overlapping strap ends and sever the trailing portion of the strap. Examples of such tools are described in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,506,041 to Angarola, and the U.S. Pat. No. 3,198,218 to Ericsson et al.
With tools of the type described above, mechanisms have been devised to automatically sense the tension level in the loop and to terminate the tensioning when that level is reached. In the tool described in the aforementioned Angarola patent, the tensioning action is terminated when a predetermined resistance torque in the strap tensioning wheel is encountered. This corresponds approximately to the desired final loop tension level. Specifically, the supply pressure to an air motor is controlled such that, at the desired tension, the supply pressure can no longer rotate the output shaft of the motor to turn the feed wheel against the loop tension and the motor "stalls." Further, in the tool described in the Angarola patent the subsequent strap severing and seal-crimping actions are effected in response to the sensing of a predetermined back-up pressure in the air supply line leading to the tensioning motor when the air motor stalls or approaches stall.
Although the tool described in the aforementioned Angarola patent functions well under a variety of conditions with many types of strap, it would be desirable to provide a more direct control of the termination of the tensioning sequence and of the initiation of the strap severing and seal-crimping sequences rather than to rely upon sensing of air pressures in the tool.
It would be desirable to provide a strapping tool having an air motor actuatable by depressing a lever which opens a valve to supply air to the air motor. It would be advantageous if the valve could be subsequently automatically latched in this open position so that the operator can then release the lever while the strap loop is automatically tensioned. After the preset tension level has been reached, the valve would preferably be automatically unlatched to terminate the tensioning. However, where low elongation strap is used and where the strap is pulled relatively tightly around an article by hand before initiating the tensioning cycle, it is possible that the operator might not be able to release the lever quickly enough to allow the valve to open upon automatic release of the hold down latch. In this situation the air motor would then tension the loop beyond the desired preset tension level. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an actuation system that would permit the tension motor to be automatically stopped when the preset tension level is reached even if the operator is still depressing the actuating lever.

Tension sensing mechanism for strapping tool


An image processing apparatus comprising: a first coding device for coding input image data into code data having a variable length; a second coding device for coding code data having the variable length and coded by the first coding device into code data having a fixed length; and a memory for storing code data coded by the first coding device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a video signal recording apparatus for recording a video signal in such a manner that the video signal is compressed before it is recorded.
2. Related Background Art
Hitherto, an Adaptive Discrete Cosine Transform, (hereinafter abbreviated to "ADCT") method, for example, disclosed as in Document 1 (ISO/JTC1/SC2/WG8N800) has been known as an image compression method. According to the above-described method, a function is realized which is capable of, regardless of the image content, compressing an image signal into a predetermined amount of encoded data by a repetition process in which plural trial and error operations are performed. The adjustment function thus-realized will now be described.
According to the above-described method, the amount of data is, as disclosed in Document 1, converged by using a Newton Raphson Method or a method disclosed in Document 2 ("Method of Controlling Code Amount in DCT Coding", 1989, Autumn National Conference of the Electronic Information Society, p. 45, Exposition No. D45, Pre-Exposition Theses, disclosed by a group including Nemoto). Furthermore, the data amount has been desired to be converged at an even higher speed. For example, according to Document 2, two or three repetitions will cause an effect to be obtained in that the data amount can be compressed to a desired ratio while revealing an effect of reduction ratio of errors which is smaller than .+-.5%.
According to the ADCT method, the compression ratio (that is, the amount of encoded data) can be controlled by using parameter F for quantizing image data. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the relationship between quantization parameter F and amounts of encoded data. As shown in FIG. 3, the compression ratio is a monotone decrease function of F. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the relationship between F of various images and compression ratios. As can be seen from FIGS. 3A and 3B, although the relationship between F and the compression ratio depends upon the content of the image, the compression ratio necessarily becomes a monotone decrease function. Therefore, by performing plural trial and error operations while adjusting F, image data can be converged to a desired compression ratio (amount of encoded data).
As an example of hardware capable of performing the high speed DCT operations required to transform the frequency in accordance with the above-described ADCT method, A121 manufactured by INMOS or the like has been available. The IC employed in A121 is capable of executing the DCT operation for one frame at about 30 milliseconds. Assuming that operations (for example, zigzag scanning and Huffman coding) except for the DCT can be subjected to a parallel process, it takes 30 milliseconds or longer to perform one trial-and-error operation (that is, the compression ratio is obtained by performing the compression while giving F of a certain value). In a case where an image taken by the CCD of an electronic still camera is compressed by the ADCT method before it is recorded to a magnetic disk, a time about 40 milliseconds is actually required because the time to perform recording to the magnetic disk is furthermore taken.
On the other hand, if the amount of encoded data may be changed depending upon the image in a case where the ADCT method is employed, a method may be employed which is arranged in such a manner that the conversion of the data amount by the repetition process is not performed but the compression is performed while fixing F. In this case, recording of about 25 images per second can be enabled. As a result, satisfactory continuous photographing performance for an electronic still camera can be realized. However, a problem arises in that the number of images recordable in a memory having a certain capacity becomes indefinite because the amount of encoded data undesirably becomes variable in length.
In order to record a predetermined number of images, the amount of encoded data must be converged by plural repetition operations as described above. Assuming that three times of trial-and-error operations must be performed to converge the amount of encoded data, only about 8 images can be recorded in one second because a time of about 120 milliseconds is taken. Therefore, satisfactory continuous photographing performance for an electronic still camera cannot be realized as yet.

Image processing method and apparatus for encoding variable-length data


Technology for a memory pool arbitration apparatus is described. The apparatus can include a memory pool controller (MPC) communicatively coupled between a shared memory pool of disaggregated memory devices and a plurality of compute resources. The MPC can receive a plurality of data requests from the plurality of compute resources. The MPC can assign each compute resource to one of a set of compute resource priorities. The MPC can send memory access commands to the shared memory pool to perform each data request prioritized according to the set of compute resource priorities. The apparatus can include a priority arbitration unit (PAU) communicatively coupled to the MPC. The PAU can arbitrate the plurality of data requests as a function of the corresponding compute resource priorities.

Memory devices are typically provided in various forms and implementations in computers as well as other electronic devices. There are many different types of memory including volatile memory, such as dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), for example, and non-volatile memory such as flash memory, for example.
Flash memory devices typically use a one-transistor memory cell that allows for high memory densities, high reliability, and low power consumption. Changes in threshold voltage of the cells, through programming of a charge storage node (e.g., a floating gate or charge trap) determine the data state of each cell. Other non-volatile memories such as phase change (PRAM) use other physical phenomena such as a physical material change or polarization to determine the data state of each cell. Common uses for flash and other solid state memories include personal computers, digital cameras, digital media players, digital recorders, games, appliances, vehicles, wireless devices, cellular telephones, and removable portable memory modules to name a few.
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation on invention scope is thereby intended.

Arbitration across shared memory pools of disaggregated memory devices


An intersection between a first circular arc traced around a given measuring point on a toroidal surface on one side by the extreme end of a segment with a length equal to the curvature radius of traction surfaces of discs and a second circular arc traced around a given measuring point on a toroidal surface on the other side by the extreme end of the segment is obtained in a cross section along the central axis of the power roller. A plurality of intersections are obtained by repeating the process for obtaining the intersection for each of different measuring points on the toroidal surfaces. That specific one of the intersections which is situated nearest to the reference surface of the power roller is selected and it is concluded that the selected intersection is the tilting center of the discs.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-206926, filed Jul. 7, 2000, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a measuring method for obtaining, for example, the tilting center of a power roller for a toroidal type continuously variable transmission.
FIG. 13 shows a variator that constitutes a principal part of a double-cavity half-toroidal type continuously variable transmission 10. The transmission 10 comprises an input disc 12 and an output disc 13, which constitute a first cavity 11, and an input disc 12 and an output disc 13, which constitute a second cavity 14. A pair of power rollers 15 are provided between the input and output discs 12 and 13 of the first cavity 11. The outer peripheral surface of each power roller 15 is in contact with the respective traction surfaces T of the input and output discs 12 and 13. A pair of power rollers 15 are also provided between the input and output discs 12 and 13 of the second cavity 14.
Each power roller 15 is rotatably mounted on a trunnion 17 by means of a power roller bearing 16. The trunnion 17 is rockable around a trunnion shaft 18. The input discs 12 are rotatable integrally with an input shaft 20. The input shaft 20 is connected to a drive shaft 21 that is rotated by means of a drive source, such as an engine. The paired output discs 13 are connected to each other by means of a connecting member 22. An output gear 23 is provided on the connecting member 22. A loading cam mechanism 25 is located at the back of the input disc 12 of the first cavity 11. The rotation of the drive shaft 21 is transmitted to the input disc 12 by means of the loading cam mechanism 25. The rotation of each input disc 12 is transmitted to its corresponding output disc 13 through the power rollers 15. As the output discs 13 rotate, the output gear 23 rotates.
As shown in FIG. 7, each substantially hemispherical power roller 15 has toroidal surfaces 30 that touch the respective traction surfaces T of the input and output discs 12 and 13 and a reference surface 31 that extends at right angles to a central axis Q of the roller 15. Curvature centers OL and OR of the toroidal surfaces 30, which are situated bisymmetrically with respect to the central axis Q in a cross section of the power roller 15 along the central axis Q, are kept at a distance D from the central axis Q and a distance A from the reference surface 31 each. Each toroidal surface 30 is a convex surface with the curvature radius r. The toroidal surfaces 30 touch the respective traction surfaces T of the input and output discs 12 and 13 in a tiltable manner. Each traction surface T is a concave toroidal surface with a curvature radius Rt. In FIG. 7, OD designates the curvature center of the traction surface T.
If the curvature center OD Of the traction surfaces T of the discs 12 and 13 is deviated from the tilting center of each power roller 15, slipping is caused at contact portions between the power roller 15 and the discs 12 and 13. This slipping lowers the torque transmission efficiency, and rolling fatigue that is attributable to heating shortens the life of the variator. If the deviation between the respective positions of the curvature center OD and the tilting center of the power roller 15 is great, a contact ellipse along which the roller 15 and the discs 12 and 13 are in contact is deviated from the boundaries of the effective traction surfaces. In this case, excessive pressure acts on the boundaries between a part of the contact ellipse and the effective traction surfaces, thereby drastically shortening the rolling fatigue life. Thus, the aforesaid positional deviation also exerts a bad influence upon an appropriate pressure at the rolling contact portions between the power roller 15 and the discs 12 and 13.
For these reasons, it is to be desired that the power rollers 15 should be rotated synchronously and that the tilting center of each power roller 15 and the curvature center OD of the traction surfaces of the discs 12 and 13 should be made coincident while this transmission is driven. To attain this, the curvature radius of the toroidal surfaces 30 of the power roller 15 and the tilting center of the roller 15 must be accurately obtained so that the discs 12 and 13 and the roller 15 can be positioned accurately.
Thereupon, the toroidal surfaces 30 of each power roller 15 are measured. A shape measurer of the straight-moving type and a three-dimensional measurer are known measuring devices for the power rollers 15. An alternative measuring device is developed and described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKOKU Publication No. 59-44561. This device comprises a rotatable spindle, a micrometer attached to the spindle, a probe to be in contact with a curved surface of a workpiece, etc. In this measuring device, the probe is kept in contact with the workpiece to measure the distance of separation of the workpiece surface from a predetermined circle or circular arc. This measuring device can obtain the curvature radius r of the toroidal surfaces 30, distance 2D between the curvature centers OL and OR, distance A from the reference surface 31 to the curvature centers OL and OR, deviation of shape from an imaginary toroidal surface obtained by approximation to a representative circle with the curvature radius r, tilting center of each power roller 15, etc.
Since each toroidal surface 30 has a narrow measurable region, it is subjected to representative circle approximation by computation based on measured values, its radius, curved surface shape error (distance of separation from the predetermined circle or circular arc), etc. are obtained, and the tilting center is obtained from those values. If each toroidal surface 30 that has a slight shape error xcex94r, such as deformation or waviness, which is caused when the power roller 15 is worked, is subjected to representative approximation, as shown in FIG. 8, therefore, there is a deviation or error between the curvature center OL of a normal shape E-F-G and a curvature center OLxe2x80x2 of an actual shape E-F-Gxe2x80x2. In consequence, an estimated position of the tilting center of the power roller 15 is inevitably subject to an error after the roller 15 and the discs 12 and 13 are assembled.
According to a known curved surface measuring method described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 8-285506, the curvature radius and curvature center of a concave surface are measured by means of a plurality of reference spheres with different diameters and a cramping member. However, this method serves only to measure concave surfaces and cannot be applied to the measurement of convex surfaces such as toroidal surfaces of power rollers.
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a measuring method for a power roller, capable of easily measuring various data, such as the tilting center of a power roller for a toroidal type continuously variable transmission, with reduced errors.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a measuring method for a power roller for a toroidal type continuously variable transmission, the power roller having a reference surface extending at right angles to the central axis thereof and toroidal surface in contact with traction surfaces of discs, the measuring method comprising: a process for obtaining an intersection between a first circular arc traced around a measuring point on the toroidal surface on one side by the extreme end of a segment with a length equal to the curvature radius of the traction surfaces and a second circular arc traced around a measuring point on the toroidal surface on the other side by the extreme end of the segment, in a cross section along the central axis of the power roller; a process for obtaining a plurality of intersections by repeating the process for obtaining the intersection for each of different measuring points on the toroidal surfaces; a process for selecting that one of the intersections which is situated nearest to the reference surface and concluding that the selected intersection is the tilting center of the discs; and a process for obtaining the distance from the tilting center to the reference surface.
According to the present invention, moreover, there is provided a method for measuring a toroidal surface of a workpiece, such as a power roller, the workpiece having a reference surface extending at right angles to the central axis thereof, the measuring method comprising a process for bringing the workpiece into a concave spherical surface of a jig with a curvature radius greater than that of the toroidal surface and obtaining the distance from the reference surface to the center of the concave spherical surface.
According to the present invention, furthermore, there is provided a method for measuring a toroidal surface of a workpiece, the workpiece having a reference surface extending at right angles to the central axis thereof, the measuring method comprising: a first process for bringing the workpiece into contact with a first concave spherical surface of a first jig with a curvature radius greater than that of the toroidal surface, thereby obtaining the distance from the reference surface to the center of the first concave spherical surface; a second process for bringing the workpiece into contact with a second concave spherical surface of a second jig with a curvature radius greater than that of the first concave spherical surface, thereby obtaining the distance from the reference surface to the center of the second concave spherical surface; a third process for bringing the workpiece into contact with a third concave spherical surface of a third jig with a curvature radius greater than that of the second concave spherical surface, thereby obtaining the distance from the reference surface to the center of the third concave spherical surface; and a process for calculating the curvature radius and curvature center of the toroidal surface in accordance with at least the individual distances obtained in the first to third processes and the respective known curvature radii of the first to third concave spherical surfaces.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.

Power roller for toroidal type continuously variable transmission


For fabricating an image sensor, an isolation structure is formed to define a first active region of a semiconductor substrate. A first transistor and a second transistor of a unit pixel are formed in the first active region. In addition, a threshold voltage lowering region is formed in a portion of the semiconductor substrate near a portion of the isolation structure abutting the second transistor in the first active region. The threshold voltage lowering region causes the second transistor to have a respective threshold voltage magnitude that is lower than for the first transistor. The threshold voltage lowering region is formed simultaneously with a passivation region in a second active region having a photodiode formed therein.

This application claims priority under 35 USC §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0058047, filed on Jun. 19, 2008 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to image sensors, and more particularly to fabrication of a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor having an improved spatial signal to noise ratio (SNR).
2. Background of the Invention
An image sensor converts an optical image into electrical signals. Image sensors are now widely used in electronic devices such as digital cameras, camcorders, personal computer (PC) systems, game devices, security cameras, medical micro cameras, or robots due to recent developments in the computer and communication industries.
An image sensor is classified as one of a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. Generally, a CMOS image sensor has simple operations and is compatible with CMOS process technology for reduced manufacturing cost.
A CMOS image sensor may be implemented with various types of structures. For example, a CMOS image sensor may be implemented with each unit pixel having four transistors for each photodiode. Each photodiode converts received light into an amount of electric charge corresponding to the intensity of the received light. A transfer transistor transmits the accumulated electric charge from the photodiode to a floating diffusion region. When a select transistor is turned on, a drive transistor configured as a source follower amplifier outputs a voltage in response to an electric potential at the floating diffusion region.
For improved display quality of the CMOS image sensor, a high spatial signal to noise ratio (SNR) is desired. For improving the SNR, a respective threshold voltage of the select transistor is desired to be lower than a respective threshold voltage of the drive transistor. If the threshold voltage of the select transistor is higher than the threshold voltage of the drive transistor, the output signal from the drive transistor is disadvantageously reduced resulting in reduced gain and reduced spatial SNR.
In addition, the select transistor and the drive transistor of the CMOS image sensor are manufactured according to general CMOS fabrication processes. In the prior art, a channel ion implantation is performed for simultaneously determining the threshold voltages of the select transistor and the drive transistor. Accordingly, the select transistor and the drive transistor typically have same threshold voltages in the prior art.
FIG. 13A shows a plot of an output voltage Vout and a gain with respect to an input voltage Vin of a conventional image sensor having a select transistor and a drive transistor with the same threshold voltages such as Vth1. Further in FIG. 13A, as the input voltage Vin is increased, the output voltage Vout is increased according to a first curve V11 corresponding to a first gain curve G11.
Alternatively, if the select transistor and the drive transistor have same threshold voltages Vth2 lower than Vth1, as the input voltage Vin is increased, the output voltage Vout is increased according to a second curve V12 corresponding to a second gain curve G12. In that case in FIG. 13A, the gain curve G12 is widened at the lower region of the voltages Vin and Vout but not at the higher region of the voltages Vin and Vout. Accordingly, the spatial signal to noise ratio (SNR) is not increased significantly.
However, a CMOS image sensor having increased spatial signal to noise ratio (SNR) is desired with low manufacturing cost of the CMOS image sensor.

Fabrication of image sensor with improved signal to noise ratio


The imidazole derivatives of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, A.sub.1 and A.sub.2, which may be the same or different, each is an alkylene or an alkylene group, m is 0 or 1, and Z is ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be the same or different, each is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and the terminal carbon atom bonded to the hetero atom of Z may be bonded to either A.sub.1 or A.sub.2 or COOR group (in the case of m being 0); and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These compounds have a strong inhibitory effect on thromboxane synthetase from human or bovine platelet microsomes, and are useful as therapeutically actives for inflammation, hypertension, thrombus, cerebral apoplexy and asthma.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to novel imidazole derivatives. More particularly, this invention relates to novel imidazole derivatives of the formula: ##STR3## wherein R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, A.sub.1 and A.sub.2, which may be the same or different, each is an alkylene or an alkenylene group, m is 0 or 1, and Z is ##STR4## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be the same or different, each is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and the terminal carbon atom bonded to the hetero atom of Z may be bonded to A.sub.1 or A.sub.2 or COOR group (in the case of m being 0); and to pharmaceutical compositions containing them.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Up to now, of the compounds having an imidazole skeleton, it has been reported that imidazole, 1-alkylimidazoles, 1-benzylimidazole, 1-(2-isopropylphenyl)imidazole and their analogues possess an inhibitory action for thromboxane synthetase [Prostaglandins, Vol. 13, No. 4, 611- (1977), BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS, Vol. 80, No. 1, 236- (1978)]. However, since imidazole and 1-lower alkylimidazoles of these compounds above show only very weak inhibitory effect, these compounds are hardly applicable as practically effective medicines. On the other hand, 1-benzylimidazole, 1-(2-isopropylphenyl)imidazole, 1-higher alkylimidazoles such as 1-nonylimidazole and 1-decylimidazole, and their analogues show a strong inhibitory effect as compared with the imidazole and 1-lower alkylimidazoles, but the inhibitory potency of these compounds is yet far from satisfactory one as therapeutically active agents. In addition, the action of these compounds is not a specific inhibitory action for thromboxane synthetase because of possessing both inhibitory actions for thromboxane synthetase and cyclooxygenase. Furthermore, in the case of 1-(2-isopropylphenyl)imidazole, the preparation of this compound is difficult, so that the problem of industrial application remains still unsettled.
Meanwhile, many compounds which have an imidazole skeleton and which might be considered superficially to be similar to the compounds of this invention from a chemical structural standpoint have been reported, e.g., in J. Chem. Soc., 1670-(1975), Monatsch Chem., Vol. 108, No. 5, 1059- (1977), J. Med. Chem., Vol. 18, No. 8, 833- (1976), J. Amer. Chem. Soc., Vol. 79, 4922- (1957), U.S. Pat. No. 3,541,109, French Pat. No. 7,799M, French Pat. No. 1,486,817, Chemical Abstracts, Vol. 71, 90,645g (1969), ibid., 83, 164,069u (1975), ibid., 88, 36,814z (1978), J. Org. Chem., Vol. 22, 1323- (1975), British Pat. No. 1,148,103, etc. However, all compounds disclosed in the above literature are not reported as to whether or not they exhibit an action for thromboxane synthetase.
Therefore, research for some compounds possessing a much stronger and more specific inhibitory effect on thromboxane synthetase has been long demanded in the medical field.
As a result of extensive research and experimentation carried out for imidazole derivatives, it was found that such demand was satisfied with use of the compounds of the formula (I).
The imidazole derivatives of this invention possess a strong and specific inhibitory effect on thromboxane synthetase and are useful as therapeutically active agents for the treatment of inflammation, hypertension, thrombus, cerebral apoplexy and asthma.

Imidazole derivatives and pharmaceutical use thereof