A charge pump and filter for a phase-lock loop circuit are provided with common-mode voltage control for differential outputs to be used by a voltage-controlled oscillator. The common-mode voltage controller preferably initializes capacitors in the filter to an optimum common-mode voltage in response to a reset signal. Common-mode voltage is controlled using currents that are small compared to currents generated by the charge pump (less than 20 .mu.A).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to electronic clock circuits, and more particularly to an electronic clock for a microprocessor, that uses a phase-lock loop (PLL) circuit having an improved charge pump which compensates for common-mode voltages at the differential inputs of a voltage-controlled oscillator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic circuits that provide clock signals are used in a wide assortment of devices, and particularly in computer systems. Microprocessors and other computer components, such as random access memory (RAM), device controllers and adapters, use clock signals to synchronize various high-speed operations. These computer clock circuits often use a phase-lock loop (PLL) circuit to synchronize (de-skew) an internal logic control clock with respect to an external system clock.
A typical prior art PLL circuit 1 is shown in FIG. 1 and includes a phase/frequency detector (PFD) 2, a charge pump 3, a low-pass filter 4, and a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) 5. Phase/frequency detector 2 compares two input signals, a reference signal f.sub.ref (from the external system clock) and a feedback signal f.sub.fb, and generates phase error signals that are a measure of the phase difference between f.sub.ref and f.sub.fb. The phase error signals ("UP" and "DOWN") from detector 2 are used to generate control signals by charge pump 3 which are filtered by low-pass filter 4 and fed into the control input of voltage-controlled oscillator 5. Voltage-controlled oscillator 5 generates a periodic signal with a frequency which is controlled by the filtered phase error signal. The output of voltage-controlled oscillator 5 is coupled to the input f.sub.fb of phase/frequency detector 2 directly or indirectly through other circuit elements such as dividers 6, buffers (not shown) or clock distribution networks (not shown), thereby forming a feedback loop. If the frequency of the feedback signal is not equal to the frequency of the reference signal, the filtered phase error signal causes the frequency of voltage-controlled oscillator 5 to shift (upwards or downwards) toward the frequency of the reference signal, until voltage-controlled oscillator 5 finally locks onto the frequency of the reference; following frequency acquisition, phase acquisition is achieved in a similar manner. The output of voltage-controlled oscillator 5 is then used as the synchronized signal (for internal logic control). In cases where the incoming data is a self-clocking bit stream, the comparator system is used to extract the clock information from the data stream itself.
PLL's for microprocessors must exhibit high tolerance to electrical noise generated by the large number of rapidly switching logic circuits that are fabricated on the same die (silicon substrate or microchip). Differential circuits (rather than single-ended circuits) are accordingly preferred for these applications, but at present they are generally in use for only selected portions of the PLL, such as the voltage-controlled oscillator signal path (but not the control path of the voltage-controlled oscillator). See "A PLL Clock Generator with 5 to 110 MHz of Lock Range for Microprocessors," IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, vol. 27, no. 11, pp. 1599-1607 (November 1992), and "A Wide-Bandwidth Low-Voltage PLL for PowerPC.TM. Microprocessors" IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 383-391 (April 1995).
One problem that can arise with differential circuits in a PLL circuit relates to common-mode voltage. In a differential circuit, a value is based on the relative voltages of two signals, i.e., their difference, and not their absolute values. A common-mode voltage is a voltage that is applied equally to both signals, whereby the absolute values of the voltages are higher, although the difference between the voltages remains constant. A circuit element with differential inputs may be designed with an n-type field-effect transistor (nfet) source-coupled pair at the input, or a p-type field-effect transistor (pfet) source-coupled pair at the input. These transistors are sensitive to common-mode voltages that arise from the signal source, such as those resulting from excessive noise, leakage currents, and nfet or pfet operating characteristics. If the common-mode of the signal from the filter moves in such a way that the input stage begins to shut off (e.g., a high common-mode voltage for a pfet source-coupled pair), then the stability of the circuit can deteriorates dramatically and eventually fail to operate. This phenomenon is particularly troublesome with high-speed clock circuits, e.g., those with speeds greater than a few hundred megahertz.
One approach to handling such high common-mode voltages in a voltage-controlled oscillator would be to provide more sophisticated input stages. The resulting bandwidth reduction on the control input would, however, render such a voltage-controlled oscillator practically useless due to the loss of the required high frequency signal caused by the zero frequency in the transfer function. It would, therefore, be desirable and advantageous to devise an improved PLL clocking circuit having a differential component, such as a voltage-controlled oscillator, in which common-mode voltages of the inputs are controlled to alleviate the foregoing problems.

Differential charge pump and filter with common-mode voltage control

International Business Machines Corporation


A data network includes a switch that links a number of host processors to shared resources such as network ports of a cached storage subsystem. The switch routes resource requests from its inputs to selected ones of its outputs in accordance with programmed routing information. The routing information is changed dynamically based on measured loading characteristics of requests from the switch inputs or the respective hosts, in order to reduce the probability of blocked paths. In a specific example, respective subsets of output ports of the switch are assigned to each respective input port, the loading of each input port of the switch is measured, and the respective subset of output ports assigned to each input port are repetitively changed, and the respective subset of an input port is changed in response to blocking of the output ports assigned to the input port. A respective subset is selected based on the measured loading characteristics and a priority assigned to the input port, in order to balance loading on the output ports. In another specific example, a respective subset of the output ports is assigned to each host, based on host loading characteristics and a respective priority assigned to each host.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to data processing networks, and more particularly to a data processing network in which a multiplicity of host processors are connected to shared resources.
2. Related Art
In many data processing networks, a large number of host processors share resources such as a database or storage subsystem. Typically, each host has a high probability of obtaining immediate access, but immediate access is not guaranteed. The cost of guaranteeing immediate access is usually considered to be much greater than the benefit to the user.
The probability of obtaining immediate access can be increased by using various techniques. A direct but rather costly solution is to provide additional network paths and additional storage resources, such as additional paths to duplicate storage servers for read-only storage volumes. Other techniques, such as dynamic routing and load balancing, attempt to use existing network and storage resources more effectively.
Dynamic routing directs each data access requests along a path that is selected in accordance with the resources that are currently available in order to avoid overload of resources in the network. Load balancing assigns alternative resources to the hosts in order to avoid overload of any one of the alternative resources by receipt of simultaneous access requests from a large number of the hosts. For dynamic routing and load balancing to be particularly effective, however, additional resources are required in order to gather intelligence about the current or expected state of the network, and to control or restrict the path of the data access requests in a fashion that is beneficial. These additional resources tend to introduce cost and complexity into the data network and often reduce performance during usual operating conditions.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of routing resource requests through a switch in a data processing network. The method includes storing, in a memory, routing information defining respective outputs of the switch to which resource requests received at inputs of the switch should be routed. In response to resource requests being received at the inputs of the switch, each resource request received at each input of the switch is routed to an output of the switch by accessing the routing information in the memory to select a respective output of the switch to which the resource request should be routed, and routing the resource request to the selected output of the switch to which the resource request should be routed. The method further includes changing the routing information stored in the memory based on loading characteristics of the resource requests received at the switch inputs.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of routing storage access requests from host processors through a switch to a data storage subsystem. The switch has inputs coupled to the hosts to receive the storage access requests from the hosts, and the switch has outputs coupled to the data storage subsystem to transmit the storage access requests to the data storage subsystem. The method includes storing, in a memory, routing information defining respective outputs of the switch to which storage access requests received at inputs of the switch should be routed. In response to storage access requests being received at the inputs of the switch, each storage access request received at each input of the switch is routed to an output of the switch by accessing the routing information in the memory to select a respective output of the switch to which the storage access request should be routed, and routing the storage access request to the selected output of the switch to which the storage access request should be routed. The method further includes changing the routing information stored in the memory based on loading characteristics of the storage access requests received at the switch inputs.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a switch for routing resource requests in a data network. The switch includes plurality of inputs, a plurality of outputs, and a switch control computer programmed for routing the resource requests from the inputs to the outputs. The switch control computer includes memory storing routing information, and the routing information defines respective outputs of the switch to which resource requests received at the inputs of the switch should be routed. The switch control computer is programmed to respond to receipt of the resource requests at the inputs of the switch by routing each resource request received at each input of the switch to an output of the switch by accessing the routing information in the memory to select a respective output of the switch to which the resource request should be routed, and to route the resource request to the selected output of the switch to which the resource request should be routed. The switch control computer is further programmed to change the routing information stored in the memory based on loading characteristics of the resource requests received at the switch inputs.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a program storage device containing a program for a switch for routing resource requests in a data network according to routing information stored in a memory. The routing information defines respective outputs of the switch to which resource requests received at the inputs of the switch should be routed. The program is executable by the switch for responding to receipt of the resource requests at the inputs of the switch by routing each resource request received at each input of the switch to an output of the switch by accessing the routing information in the memory to select a respective output of the switch to which the resource request should be routed, and to route the resource request to the selected output of the switch to which the resource request should be routed. The program is further executable by the switch to change the routing information stored in the memory based on loading characteristics of the resource requests received at the switch inputs.
In accordance with a final aspect of the invention, there is provided a storage network including a cached storage subsystem and a switch. The cached storage subsystem includes a plurality of storage devices, a cache memory linked to the storage devices for filling the cache with data from the storage devices, and a plurality of port adapters providing storage ports for access to the cache memory. The switch has a plurality of inputs for receiving data access requests from a plurality of hosts, and a plurality of outputs linked to the storage ports for selectively routing data access requests from the inputs of the switch to the storage ports. The storage network further includes a memory containing routing information. The routing information defines respective outputs of the switch to which storage access requests received at the inputs of the switch should be routed. The switch is programmed to respond to receipt of the storage access requests at the inputs of the switch by routing each storage access request received at each input of the switch to a selected output of the switch by accessing the routing information in the memory to select an output of the switch to which the each storage access request should be routed, and to route the storage access request to the selected output of the switch to which the storage access request should be routed. The storage network further includes a processor programmed to change the routing information in the memory based on loading characteristics of the storage access requests.

Dynamic routing for performance partitioning in a data processing network


A switch assembly having a relatively fixed component, a first switch operating member rotatable relative to the fixed component between first and second stable positions, a second switch operating member rotatable with respect to the fixed component between first and second stable positions, switch contacts associated with each of the switch operating members in order to control the operation of respective electrical circuits, and a latch member responsive to the first operating member occupying its first position for applying a moment to the second operating member to restore it to its first position.

This invention relates to a rotary switch assembly, primarily, but not exclusively, intended for use as a lighting control switch for a road vehicle.
It is known to provide a rotary switch assembly where a rotatable operating member has three stable positions corresponding respectively to a off position, a side lights on position, and a side lights and headlights on condition. It is also known to provide a switching assembly for controlling fog lights of the vehicle the assembly having positions in which the fog lights are off; only the front fog lights are on; both front and rear fog lights are on.

Lucas Industries, Public Limited Company


A plunger pin assembly for locking engagement with a shuttle lock of a prosthetic limb socket assembly, includes: (a) a housing having an internal cavity and a center-hole extending into its distal end, communicating with the internal cavity; (b) a cradle retained within the cavity, having a distal-facing outer surface that is laterally slidable with respect to the proximal-facing inner surface of the cavity, where the cradle includes a plunger pin component extending distally therefrom; and (c) a resilient shock absorber positioned, at least partially, between the proximal end of the plunger pin component and the inner distal-facing surface of the cavity; where (d) the cradle includes a center hole extending axially therethrough, the plunger pin component includes a ball positioned on a proximal end thereof, the ball having a diameter larger than the diameter of the center hole of the cradle, and the ball of the plunger pin component is seated in the center hole of the cradle to provide a ball joint coupling between the cradle and the male coupling component. The sliding engagement between the cradle and the housing provides the plunger pin component with multiple degrees of lateral adjustability with respect to the housing, and the ball-joint coupling between the plunger pin component and the cradle provides the plunger pin component with angular and/or rotational degrees of adjustability.

The present invention relates generally to prosthetic devices and, more particularly, to a male coupling component, conventionally known as a xe2x80x9cplunger pin,xe2x80x9d extending from a sleeve or liner worn on the patient""s residual limb that is adapted to lock within a female coupling component, conventionally known as a xe2x80x9cshuttle lock,xe2x80x9d which is mounted within the rigid socket assembly of the prosthetic limb.
FIG. 1 shows a prior art socket assembly for a prosthetic limb. The prior art socket assembly includes a rigid molded plastic socket 10 sized and shaped to receive the patient""s residual limb therein, a locking device 12 (such as a xe2x80x9cshuttle lockxe2x80x9d) positioned at the distal end of the rigid socket 10, interconnection components 14 for maintaining the lock 12 within the socket and for mounting other components of the prosthetic limb to the distal end of the socket, and a silicone sleeve 16 adapted to be snugly fitted on (rolled onto) the patient""s residual limb. This silicone sleeve 16 includes a plate 18 molded therein having an internally threaded boss 20 extending therefrom. A plunger pin 22 includes a externally threaded proximal end 24 adapted to be attached to the internally threaded boss 20 of the attachment plate 18 and includes a racheted distal end 26 that is adapted to be received within the center hole 28 of the lock 12 and to be locked within the center hole by a spring-loaded pawl (not shown). An example of such a silicone sleeve 16 and plunger pin 22 combination is an Alpha(copyright) Locking Liner, commercially available from the Ohio Willow Wood Company, Mt. Sterling, Ohio.
To don the prosthetic limb, a patient will roll on or slip on the silicone sleeve 16 so that the plunger pin 22 extends distally from the patient""s residual limb and will then insert the residual limb into the plastic socket 10 such that the plunger pin 22 engages with the lock 12. To release the plunger pin 22 from the lock 12, a button 30 on the lock is activated to remove the pawl from within the hole 28, thereby releasing the racheted distal end 26 of the plunger pin from within the hole 28.
There are two main factors that typically cause problems with the prior art plunger pin 22 and lock 12 engagement. They are: 1) the patient has donned their locking liner 16 in a way that the plunger pin 22 is not oriented truly vertical from the center distal aspect of their limb, and 2) the lock 22 has inadvertently (during fabrication, for example) been positioned in the distal end of the socket 10 at an angle and/or dimensional offset from the distal center point. In the first case, the patient will have to re-don their locking liner 16 until the plunger pin 22 is vertical and centered on the distal end. In the second case, the socket 10 may need to be refabricated, thus positioning the lock 12 more neutrally or centered and perpendicular to the vertical axis of the limb.
The present invention provides an improved plunger pin that, in an exemplary embodiment, has multiple levels of adjustability, including rotatable, pivotal and lateral adjustability. The present invention also provides a locking liner or sleeve incorporating such an adjustable plunger pin.
A first aspect of the present invention is directed to a male coupling assembly for locking engagement with a locking device of a prosthetic limb that includes: (a) a housing having an internal cavity and a center-hole extending into its distal end, communicating with the internal cavity; and (b) a cradle retained within the cavity, having a distal-facing outer surface that is laterally slidable with respect to the proximal-facing inner surface of the cavity, and the cradle including (c) a male coupling component (such as a plunger pin, for example) extending distally therefrom, where the male coupling component is adapted to be coupled to a female locking component (such as a shuttle lock, for example) of a prosthetic limb socket assembly, and further where the male coupling component extends distally through the center-hole of the housing. Therefore, cradle, and, in turn, the male coupling component is provided with, at least, multiple degrees of lateral adjustability with respect to the housing.
In a more detailed embodiment, the cradle includes a center-hole extending axially therethrough and the male coupling component includes a ball positioned on a proximal end thereof, where the ball has a diameter larger than the diameter of the center hole of the cradle, and where the ball of the male coupling component is seated in the center hole of the cradle to provide a ball joint coupling between the cradle and the male coupling component. Therefore, the male coupling component also has multiple degree of rotational and/or pivotal adjustability. In a further detailed embodiment, the male coupling assembly further includes a resilient shock absorber operatively incorporated between a male coupling component and the housing. In a more detailed embodiment, the resilient shock absorber is positioned, at least partially, between the proximal end of the male coupling component and the inner distal-facing surface of the cavity. In a further detailed embodiment, this resilient shock absorber is a cushion. In yet a further detailed embodiment, the distal-facing outer surface of the cradle has a substantially is domed shape and the proximal-facing inner surface of the cavity has a complimentary concave shape.
In an alternate detailed embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the distal-facing outer surface of the cradle has a substantially domed shape and the proximal-facing inner surface of the cavity has a complimentary concave shape.
In another alternate detailed embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the male coupled assembly further includes a fastener extending from a proximal end of the housing, which is adapted to releasably mount the male coupling assembly to a distal end of a liner, sleeve or socket worn on a patient""s residual limb. In a more detailed embodiment, the fastener is an externally threaded boss that is adapted to be threaded into an internally threaded nut or projection extending from a plate integrally molded within, or otherwise attached to the liner, sleeve or socket worn on the patient""s residual limb.
In another alternate detailed embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the housing of the male coupling assembly is integrally molded within the liner, sleeve or socket that is adapted to be worn on the patient""s residual limb.
In yet another alternate detailed embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the housing includes a threaded outer circumferential surface that is adapted to be threaded into a threaded inner circumferential surface of a cavity extending into a distal end of the liner, sleeve or socket that is adapted to be worn on the patient""s residual limb.
In yet another alternate detailed embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention the male coupling component is a shaft having a plurality of tapered annular ribs longitudinally distributed therealong, where the annular ribs taper towards the distal end of the shaft. Therefore, the male coupling component is a plunger pin adapted for engagement with a spring-loaded pawl of the female locking component. In a further detailed embodiment, the cradle includes a center hole extending axially therethrough and the shaft of the male coupling component includes a ball positioned on a proximal end thereof, the ball has a diameter larger than the diameter of the center hole of the cradle, and the ball is seated in the center hole of the cradle to provide a ball joint coupling between the cradle and the shaft of the male coupling component. Therefore, the male coupling component is provided with multiple degrees of rotational and/or pivotal adjustability. In a further detailed embodiment, the male coupling assembly further includes a resilient shock absorber operatively incorporated between the male coupling component and the housing. In yet a further detailed embodiment, the resilient shock absorber is positioned, at least partially, between the ball positioned on the proximal end of the male coupling component and the inner distal-facing surface of the cavity. In a further detailed embodiment, the resilient shock absorber is a cushion. In yet a further detailed embodiment, the distal-facing outer surface of the cradle has a substantially domed shape and the proximal-facing inner surface of the cavity has complimentary concave shape.
A second aspect of the present invention provides a male coupling assembly for locking engagement with a female locking device of a prosthetic limb that includes: (a) a base having a hole extending into its distal end and opening onto a proximal-facing surface thereof, and (b) a longitudinal male coupling component having a ball provided on the proximal end thereof, where the ball has a diameter larger than the diameter of the proximal-facing surface opening on the base; (c) where the longitudinal male coupling component extends into the proximal-facing surface opening of the hole and out through the distal end of the base, and where the ball provided at the proximal end of the longitudinal male coupling component is seated against the proximal-facing surface of the base in the proximal-facing surface opening. Therefore, a ball joint connection is provided between the longitudinal male coupling component and the base, so that the longitudinal male coupling component is provided with multiple degrees of rotational and/or pivotal adjustability with respect to the base. In a further detailed embodiment, the base includes a cavity where the proximal-facing surface opening is provided on the inner proximal-facing surface of the cavity, and the ball of the male coupling component is maintained in the cavity. In a further detailed embodiment, the male coupling assembly further includes a shock absorber positioned, at least in part, between a proximal end of the ball of the male coupling component and the inner distal-facing surface of the cavity. In yet a further detailed embodiment, the shock absorber is a cushion.
In an alternate detailed embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, the longitudinal male coupling component is a shaft having a plurality of tapered annular ribs longitudinally distributed therealong, where the annular ribs taper towards the distal end of the shaft. Therefore, the male coupling component is adapted for engagement with a spring-loaded pawl of a female locking device of a prosthetic limb.
It is a third aspect of the present invention to provide a male coupling assembly for locking engagement with a female locking device of a prosthetic limb that includes: (a) a base, (b) a longitudinal male coupling component extending from a distal end of the base, and (c) a resilient shock absorber operatively incorporated between the longitudinal male coupling component and the base. In a more detailed embodiment, the base includes an interior cavity and a hole extending into the distal end of the base and opening into the interior cavity; the longitudinal male coupling component includes a proximal end maintained within the interior cavity, and a remaining distal portion extends out from the interior cavity, distally through the hole, and projects out through the distal end of the base; and at least a portion of the resilient shock absorber is positioned within the cavity of the base, between the proximal end of the longitudinal male coupling member and the interior, distal-facing surface of the cavity. In a more detailed embodiment, the resilient shock absorber is a cushion.
It is a fourth aspect of the present invention to provide a locking liner that is adapted to be donned onto an amputee""s residual limb that includes: (a) a sleeve having an open proximal end for receiving an amputee""s residual limb and a substantially closed distal end, and (b) a male coupling component extending distally from the distal end of the sleeve, where the male coupling component is adjustable in an angular, lateral or rotational orientation. In a more detailed embodiment, the male coupling component extends from a male coupling assembly that is mounted to the distal end of the sleeve.
In an alternate detailed embodiment of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the male coupling assembly includes a base from which the longitudinal male coupling component extends, and a resilient shock absorber operatively incorporated between the longitudinal male coupling component and the base. In yet another alternate detailed embodiment of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the male coupling assembly is releasably coupled to the distal end of the sleeve. In yet another alternate detailed embodiment of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the male coupling assembly is fixedly coupled to the distal end of the sleeve; where such fixedly coupling may include integrally molding the male coupling assembly within the sleeve.
It is a fifth aspect of the present invention to provide a male coupling assembly for locking engagement with a female locking device of a prosthetic limb that includes a base and a male coupling component extending from the base, where the male coupling component is coupled to the base utilizing a ball-joint connection. In a more detailed embodiment, the male coupling component includes a ball positioned on a proximal end thereof, and the ball is seated within the base. In a further detailed embodiment, the base includes at least a support component and a carriage component; the carriage component seats the ball of the male coupling component therein; and the carriage component is maintained within the support component and is laterally slidable with respect to the support component. In yet a further detailed embodiment, the male coupling assembly further includes a shock absorber operatively incorporated between the male coupling component and the base.
In an alternate detailed embodiment of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the male coupling assembly further includes a shock absorber operatively incorporated between the male coupling component and the base.

Adjustable plunger pin assembly for a prosthetic limb


A deceleration control apparatus is provided which can control a two-cycle engine of the spark ignition type for a vehicle, in which fresh air in a combustion chamber can be self-ignited at an ignition timing preferable for operation of the engine at least upon low load operation, so that, when engine sudden deceleration requirements are satisfied, the combustion condition is automatically changed over from an activated heat atmosphere combustion condition to an ordinary combustion condition to allow sudden deceleration of the engine. A sudden deceleration requirement discrimination CPU for discriminating requirements which require sudden deceleration of the vehicle receives, in addition to a detection signal from a throttle valve opening sensor, detection signals from a vehicle speed sensor, a kill switch, a main switch, a brake switch for detecting that the brakes are applied, a clutch switch for detecting that the clutch is disconnected, and a gear position switch for detecting that the shift operation position is operated to the neutral position, and when the requirements which require sudden deceleration are satisfied, the sudden deceleration requirement discrimination CPU sends an exhaust control valve opening correction signal to an exhaust control valve CPU.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a deceleration control apparatus which can control a two-cycle engine of the spark ignition type for a vehicle, in which a fresh air/fuel mixture in a combustion chamber can be self-ignited at an ignition timing preferable for operation of the engine at least upon low load operation, so that, when engine sudden deceleration requirements are satisfied, the combustion condition is automatically changed over from an activated heat atmosphere combustion condition to an ordinary combustion condition to allow sudden deceleration of the engine.
2. Description of Background Art
In a conventional two-cycle engine of the spark ignition type for a motorcycle or a like vehicle, an exhaust port and a scavenging port which are each opened or closed by a piston are formed on an inner periphery of a cylinder bore, and a fresh air/fuel mixture pre-pressurized in a crank chamber is supplied into the cylinder chamber through the scavenging port while combustion gas in the cylinder chamber is exhausted through the exhaust port. The fresh air/fuel mixture supplied into the cylinder chamber is ignited by means of an ignition plug. Since it is necessary during idling to supply a fresh air/fuel mixture by more than a certain amount into the cylinder, a throttle valve in an intake air passage must be opened to a certain valve opening, particularly by more than about 10% of the full throttle amount.
Further, in such a conventional two-cycle engine of the spark ignition type as described above, if the exhaust port is made large in order to set the output power and the efficiency in a high speed, high load operation region, then, in a low load operation region, the amount of unburnt hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas is increased by blow-by of fresh air or unstable combustion, resulting in deterioration of the fuel efficiency.
In order to eliminate this problem, the present inventors developed a two-cycle engine of the spark ignition type wherein an exhaust control valve is actuated to an exhaust opening ratio in response to the engine speed and the throttle valve opening. The invention controls the in-cylinder pressure when the exhaust opening is closed by the piston at least in a low load operation region so that fresh air in a combustion chamber can be self-ignited at an ignition timing preferable for operation of the engine as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. Heisei 5-187488.
The combustion wherein the ignition timing preferable for operation of an engine is controlled positively to cause activated heat atmosphere combustion to take place in this manner is hereinafter referred to as AR combustion.
In a two-cycle engine of the spark ignition type in which AR combustion can take place, as shown in FIG. 6, the engine can sufficiently make effective use, in a low load operation region in which the throttle valve opening .theta..sub.th is restricted, of heat energy included in burnt gas in the last cycle to activate a fresh air/fuel mixture in a combustion chamber to cause the engine to operate in a condition approximate to complete combustion. The two-cycle engine, therefore, has a higher output power characteristic than that in an ordinary combustion condition in which irregular combustion is involved. As a result, where the engine is utilized for driving a vehicle or the like, there is a disadvantage in that, even if the throttle valve opening .theta..sub.th is reduced by a great amount while the engine is operating in a high speed, high load operation condition, the effect of a so-called engine brake by a sudden reduction of the output power of the engine cannot be anticipated sufficiently.

Deceleration control apparatus for two-cycle engine of the spark ignition type for a vehicle


An analog baseband filter apparatus for a multi-mode and multi-band wireless transceiver and a method for controlling the analog baseband filter apparatus are provided. The analog baseband filter apparatus includes a plurality of Radio Frequency (RF) units, each of the plurality of RF units being for receiving RF signals of one of a plurality of frequency bands and outputting baseband signals, a plurality of filter blocks for filtering and amplifying the baseband signals, and a switching unit for connecting at least two of the plurality of RF units to at least one of the plurality of filter blocks according to a selected communication mode, wherein the at least one of the plurality of filter blocks is configured to be connected to a capacitor region of an adjacent filter block from among the plurality of filter blocks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for filtering an analog baseband signal in a multi-mode and multi-band wireless transceiver and a method for controlling the apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a receiver of wireless communication, an analog filter is used to filter unnecessary noise from a signal that is demodulated into a baseband by a mixer and to select a signal of a desired channel. In the analog filter, an accurate cut-off frequency setting has a significant influence upon system performance.
Generally, a filter has an input-to-output gain value which changes as a frequency value increases, and the filter has also a pass band and a stop band. A cut-off frequency fc refers to a boundary frequency that is between the pass band and the stop band. A Low Pass Filter (LPF) defines a cut-off frequency fc, which is a frequency having a gain value which is 3 dB lower than a gain value of a direct current or a low frequency in the pass band. The cut-off frequency fc is determined by a feedback resistor and a feedback capacitor, both of which are used in the analog filter.
A baseband used in mobile communication systems covers a very large range of frequencies from a bandwidth of 100 kHz for 2nd Generation (2G) communication systems to a bandwidth of 20 MHz for 3rd Generation (3G) or 4th Generation (4G) communication systems, wherein the highest bandwidth of the baseband is about 100 times the lowest bandwidth. A multi-mode mobile terminal, which uses a 2G mode for voice communication and uses a 3G or 4G (hereinafter, '3G/4G') mode for data communication, should have a multi-mode and multi-band wireless transceiver that uses an analog baseband filter that is capable of supporting the foregoing diverse bandwidths of the baseband.
However, a resistor value, which may also be referred to as a resistance, and a capacitor value, which may also be referred to as a capacitance, which determine the cut-off frequency fc of the analog baseband filter change according to temperature and process conditions, and the resistance and capacitance are difficult to accurately estimate, such that in an actual environment, the cut-off frequency fc may be different from a target value. Hence, the cut-off frequency fc is corrected by controlling a variable resistor and/or a variable capacitor with a digital algorithm, and an error of correction needs to be less than 4%.
The cut-off frequency fc is inversely proportional to a product of a resistor value and a capacitor value, such that in order to process a signal in a low band, such as 2G, a resistor and a capacitor having very large values are needed, and accordingly, an area and/or physical size of the analog filter may increase. A capacitor for processing a low band of 2G may be several times larger in size than that in a 3G/4G, thus increasing a circuit area of the analog filter several times. As such, when the 3G/4G mode operates, the circuit area of the analog filter significantly increases due to the idle 2G mode, thus increasing the processing cost with respect to power, computation and other similar resources. Moreover, as the circuit area increases, a path length of a signal travelling through the circuit increases, thus increasing an error of the signal and noise, and thus degrading characteristics of the signal.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.

Analog baseband filter apparatus for multi-band and multi-mode wireless transceiver and method for controlling the filter apparatus


A seaweed farming system may include a harvesting unit. The harvesting unit may include a harvest disintegrator. The harvest disintegrator may be configured to receive a plantation substrate having mature seaweed thereon after severing a vegetative portion of seaweed. The harvesting unit may further be configured to disintegrate the mature seaweed to separate the mature seaweed from the plantation substrate, the plantation substrate remaining intact during separation of the mature seaweed.

Aquatic plants, popularly known as seaweeds, form one of the important living resources of the ocean. Seaweeds are used in a large number of applications, including food for human consumption and also for commercial purposes. For example, carrageenan is a gelling agent extracted from red seaweeds, and is used as an emulsifier, a binder, or for suspension and stabilization in a wide range of products in the food processing, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Therefore, such aquatic plants are generally grown on a commercial scale.
Seaweed farming is the practice of cultivating and harvesting seaweeds. Today, seaweed production and processing have become a high value and important livelihood activity in many marginal sea farming communities as well as enterprises in urban centres of the country. Generally, seaweed farming is a very labour intensive activity involving substantial amount of human labour during various stages of cultivation and harvesting. Further, while certain seaweeds are cultivated from seeds and spores and have a distinct seeding and harvesting season, certain other types of seaweed, such as Kappaphycus and Gracilaria, do not have a distinct seasonality for seeding and cultivating.


A system, apparatus and method for treating or lessening sleep disorder symptoms. The system comprising a mask configured to establish a snug fit against a user's eyes and a device including a data management system and a user interface, wherein the device is coupled to the mask. The mask includes a printed circuit board, an accelerometer, one or more therapy lights, one or more electrodes, a pulse oximeter, and a thermometer, wherein the pulse oximeter, thermometer, accelerometer, and electrodes are connected to the printed circuit board, collect data, and send data to the printed circuit board. The device generates a light therapy schedule based on data received from the user through the user interface and data from the mask.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to a system, apparatus and method for treating or lessening sleep disorder symptoms. In particular, there is a light therapy mask coupled to a device having a data management system.
2. Background
Without limiting the scope of the invention, the present background is described in connection of treating or lessening sleep disorder symptoms. A circadian rhythm is any biological process that displays an endogenous, entrainable oscillation of about 24 hours. These rhythms are driven by a circadian clock, and rhythms have been widely observed in plants, animals, fungi, and cyanobacteria. Although circadian rhythms are endogenous ("built-in", self-sustained), they are adjusted (entrained) to the local environment by external cues called zeitgebers, commonly the most important of which is daylight.
The master network coordinating our circadian clock is based in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, where neurons exhibit circadian rhythms in their electrical activity and are driven by cell-autonomous molecular feedback loops. These neural activity rhythms are critical for circadian output and are reciprocally required for the sustained generation of their own internal molecular oscillations. Output from this SCN clock regulates oscillatory sleep and arousal control centers, leading downstream to the organization of our daily sleep-wake behavior.
Retinal light exposure is the preeminent synchronizer of circadian rhythms in mammals, including humans.
Human alertness demonstrates a circadian rhythmicity with a seemingly paradoxical nadir of sleepiness at the end of the day (the "Maintenance of Wakefulness Zone"), followed by a peak in difficulty sustaining wakefulness in the second third of the sleep period (approximately 3-5 A.M.) and then a gradual in-crease in alertness until the next evening. Pineal release of melatonin is stimulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus (SCN) starting about 1-2 h before habitual sleep onset time and continuing through the night, unless such stimulation is masked by light of more than 50-100 lx intensity.
The International Classification of Sleep Disorders lists approximately 60 disorders of human sleep including circadian rhythm sleep disorders (CRSD). CRSD usually present as a social problem in a person's sleep/wake timing. The most common complaints for CRSD are difficulty initiating or ending sleep at appropriate social times.
Circadian rhythm sleep disorders are classified into the following types according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine: advanced sleep phase disorder (ASPD), delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD), free-running sleep disorder (FRSD), irregular sleep-wake disorder (ISWD), jet lag disorder, and shift work disorder.
There is no fully automated, non-invasive method, currently available on the market, for treating circadian rhythms disorders. Commercially available solutions are ineffective, impractical or unwieldy.
There is accordingly a need for a solution to be fully automated, non-invasive to the user and handy such that the system could be used in all conditions, especially at work or while traveling.
There is a need to obtain benefits of using a system that will completely cure or minimize the disturbance caused by abnormal circadian rhythms (e.g. jet lag), such as: poor sleep during new night-times, including delayed sleep onset (after eastward flights), early awakening (after westward flights), and fractionated sleep (after flights in either direction); poor performance during the new daytimes at both physical and mental tasks; negative subjective changes (these include increased fatigue, higher frequency of headaches and irritability, and a decreased ability to concentrate); and gastrointestinal disturbances (indigestion, the frequency of defecation, and the consistency of the stools) and decreased interest in, and enjoyment of, meals.
Another problem to be addressed is to solve the automatic detection of sleep apnea, particularly in the patient's home.
Sleep apnea (SA) is a common sleep disorder characterized by multiple cessations of breathing during sleep that lead to intermit-tent hypoxia and sleep fragmentation. Each apnea, the period of the cessation of breathing, can last from 10 s to several minutes. The severity of SA is categorized as mild, moderate, or severe, based on the number of apneas per hour, and it is the most frequent medical cause of daytime sleepiness. Untreated SA has been shown to increase the risk of motor vehicle accidents, and evidence indicates that SA is a risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease-related mortality and morbidity.
There are many devices on the market that examine sleep apnea in the patient's home. They measure biological parameters such as finger pulse oximetry, movements of the chest, airflow in the mouth/nose. However, in order to determine sleep apnea, a sleep study is required to conclude that when the breathing has stopped the patient was asleep.
Accordingly, there is a further need for a system, apparatus and method that will automatically stage the patient's sleep, so one will be sure that the sleep apnea occurred during sleep or when the patient was awake.

System, apparatus and method for treating sleep disorder symptoms


A jewelry brush that exhibits improved jewelry cleaning and includes a plurality of bristles divided into at least two zones. Each zone has characteristics including a surface profile directed to cleaning a particular jewelry profile. The characteristics include modified bristle length, material characteristics, angle, grouping and grouping shape. Additional embodiments of the invention may further include additional zones of bristles trimmed with additional surface profiles. In addition, the brush can be constructed to include a bottle cap in the handle portion, allowing the jewelry brush to be include and retained in a bottle that itself may contain cleaning fluids.

The present invention relates generally to jewelry cleaning brushes and more particularly to brushes having bristles grouped as tufts and divided into zones, with each zone configured to clean a particular type or shape of jewelry.
Jewelry is currently cleaned by a variety of methods, including commercial jewelry cleaning liquids, steam cleaners, ultrasonic cleaners, boiling, aqua ammonia, and mechanical polishing. Commercial cleaning fluids typically include a small brush to aid in cleaning the jewelry. These small jewelry cleaning brushes are principally of a design employing a one-by-seven or two-by-seven tuft layout. In other words, these brushes are simply arranged in one or two straight rows (respectively) of seven tufts, trimmed with a flat top. Each tuft itself contains multiple single strands or filaments that are themselves either straight or crimped. Crimped strands are stiffer and create a different feel as compared to straight strands.
The reality is that most jewelry pieces provide a varied, multi-contoured surface profile. Chains present a flat or rounded cross section, rings present both rounded cross sections and highly detailed mount area and earrings can present an arbitrary shape. But flat trimmed tuftel brushes have difficulty in naturally conforming to such varied jewelry surfaces, ultimately requiring the user to spend considerable time cleaning. Thus, the prior art jewelry brushes are not optimal forjewelry cleaning because they do not account for the wide variation in jewelry surfaces and thus fail to provide a mechanism to clean multiple surface profiles.
One solution is to fabricate the bristles of a pliable material greatly increasing bristle flex thus allowing the brush to conform better to the jewelry surface. But this solution may require the user to exert additional force during brushing to conform the bristles to the surface, often causing the uncontrolled distribution of cleaning fluid in the area as each bristle springs away from the jewelry surface. In addition, over time the bristles would remain in their flexed configuration or would break off and embed themselves in the jewelry.
Thus, it is a goal of the present invention to provide a jewelry brush with improved cleaning capabilities.
It is an additional goal of the present invention to provide a jewelry brush capable of cleaning multiple surface profiles.
It is a further goal of the present invention to provide a jewelry brush capable of cleaning a variety of different jewelry pieces.
It is a goal of the present invention to provide an improved jewelry brush including a mechanism to store the brush with a cleaning solution.
These and other objectives will become evident from the following:
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a jewelry brush is provided which exhibits improved jewelry cleaning. The jewelry brush includes a plurality of bristles divided into at least two zones with preferred embodiments utilizing three zones. Each zone has characteristics directed to cleaning a particular jewelry profile. The characteristics include modified bristle length, material characteristics, angle, grouping and grouping shape.
In one embodiment of the invention, the brush comprises a shaft have a shaft axis, the shaft being divided into a handle portion and a head portion. The head portion has a tope surface and a bottom surface, with a plurality of bristles secured to the top surface. The bristles are divided into at least two zones, the first zone being located at the end of the head away from the handle. The first zone is composed of a either a single large bristle or a plurality of bristles forming one or more tufts, mounted at an angle such that the angle between the shaft axis and the bristle as measured from the handle side of the bristles is greater than 90 degrees. The bristles in the first zone may also be trimmed to present a rounded or flat contour at the top. The first zone bristles are shaped so as to facilitate cleaning small, detailed jewelry surfaces.
The second zone is composed of multiple groups of bristles mounted at substantially right angles to the shaft axis and located proximally to the first zone and toward the handle portion. The second zone bristles are adapted to clean a gemstone mounting or rounded jewelry portion. The second zone bristles are trimmed to provide an indented cup surface contour, allowing a gem stone mount to nestle within the bristles. This zone may be formed from two concentric ovals of tufts trimmed so as to create a concave cup.
In additional embodiments of the invention, the jewelry brush further includes a third zone of bristles mounted at substantially right angles to the shaft and located proximally to the second zone and toward the handle portion. The third zone bristles are adapted to clean an elongated jewelry profile, such as that presented by a chain. The third zone bristles are trimmed to provide an indented channel surface contour, allowing a chain or bar portion to nestle within the bristles.
Additional embodiments of the invention may further include additional zones of bristles trimmed with additional surface profiles. In addition, the brush can be constructed to include a bottle cap in the handle portion, allowing the jewelry brush to be include and retained in a bottle that itself may contain cleaning fluids.


A special notation that extends the notion of IDL by weighted operators. The Weighted IDL or WIDL can be intersected with a language model, for example an n-gram language model or a syntax-based language model. The intersection is carried out by converting the IDL to a graph, and unfolding the graph in a way which maximizes its compactness.

Text to text applications include machine translation, automated summarization, question answering, and other similar applications where a machine carries out the function of understanding some kind of input information and generating text. The input information is often "text", but can be any kind of information that is received and understandable by the machine.
Conventional text to text applications use heterogeneous methods for implementing the generation phase. Machine translation often produces sentences using application-specific decoders that are based on work that was conducted on speech recognition. Automated summarization produces abstracts using task specific strategies.
Text to text applications have struggled with use of generic natural language generation (NLG) systems, because they typically do not have access to the kind of information required by the formalisms of natural language generation systems. For example, natural language generation may require formalisms such as semantic representations, syntactic relations, and lexical dependencies. The formalisms also require information that is obtained from deep semantic relations, as well as shallow semantic relations and lexical dependency relation. Machine systems typically do not have access to deep subject verb or verb object relations.
A number of natural language generation systems are known, including FUF, Nitrogen, HALogen, and Fergus.
The formal language of IDL (Interleave; Disjunction; Lock) was proposed by Mark-Jan Nederhof and Giorgio Satta in their 2004 paper: IDLexpressions: a formalism for representing and parsing finite languages in natural language processing. Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research, 21: 287-317. Using IDL expressions, one can compactly represent word- and phrase-based encoded meanings. Nederhof and Satta also present algorithms for intersecting IDL expressions with non-probabilistic context free grammars.

Weighted system of expressing language information using a compact notation


A magnesium battery (10) is constituted of a negative electrode (1), a positive electrode (2) and an electrolyte (3). The negative electrode (1) is formed of metallic magnesium and can also be formed of an alloy. The positive electrode (2) is composed of a positive electrode active material, for example, a metal oxide, graphite fluoride ((CF)n) or the like, etc. The electrolytic solution (3) is, for example, a magnesium ion-containing nonaqueous electrolytic solution prepared by dissolving magnesium(II) chloride (MgCl2) and dimethylaluminum chloride ((CH3)2AlCl) in tetrahydrofuran (THF). In the case of dissolving and depositing magnesium by using this electrolytic solution, the following reaction proceeds in the normal direction or reverse direction.

In recent years, in order to enhance convenience, small-sized electronic appliances have been miniaturized, reduced in weight and made portable. Following this, batteries to be used for these appliances are being demanded to realize miniaturization, weight reduction and slimness more and more from now on.
In comparing energy capacities per unit mass, an energy capacity of a single substance of lithium is large and excellent as compared with energy capacities of other metals. For that reason, there have hitherto been reported a number of studies regarding lithium secondary batteries. However, the lithium secondary batteries involve a problem in safety. Also, lithium is restricted in natural resources and is expensive.
On the other hand, magnesium is abundant in natural resources and much more inexpensive as compared with lithium. Also, metallic magnesium is relatively large in ionization tendency and large in quantity of electricity per unit volume capable of being extracted by an oxidation reduction reaction. Moreover, when used for batteries, high safety can be expected. Accordingly, the magnesium battery is a battery capable of compensating drawbacks of the lithium secondary battery. As seen in such an example, metallic magnesium and a magnesium ion are a very promising material as an electrode active material in electrochemical devices and a charge carrier in electrolytic solutions, respectively.
In designing an electrochemical device using metallic magnesium or a magnesium ion, selection of an electrolytic solution is extremely important. For example, as a solvent constituting the electrolytic solution, not only water or protonic solvents but aprotonic organic solvents such as esters, acrylonitrile or the like cannot be used. This is because when such a solvent is used, a passivation film which does not allow a magnesium ion to pass therethrough is formed on the surface of metallic magnesium. A problem of the formation of this passivation film is one of bars in putting a magnesium secondary battery into practical use.
As an electrolytic solution which is free from a problem of the formation of a passivation film and which is capable of electrochemically utilizing magnesium, ether solutions of a Grignard reagent (RMgX, wherein R is an alkyl group or an aryl group; and X is chlorine, bromine or iodine) have been known from of old. When such an electrolytic solution is used, metallic magnesium can be reversibly deposited and dissolved. However, there is involved a problem that an oxidation decomposition potential of the electrolytic solution is low as about +1.5 V relative to an equilibrium potential of metallic magnesium so that its potential window is insufficient for use in electrochemical devices (see the description of D. Aurbach, et al., Nature, 407, pages 724 to 727 (2000) (pages 724 to 726 and FIG. 3) as described later).
On the contrary, in 1990, Hoffman, et al. in The Dow Chemical Company found an ether solution of Mg(ZR4)2 (wherein Z is boron or aluminum; and R is a hydrocarbon group) as an electrolytic solution capable of electrochemically utilizing magnesium (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,302 (columns 1 to 10 and FIG. 1) and T. D. Gregory, et al., J. Electrochem. Soc., 137, pages 775 to 780 (1990) (pages 775 to 780, Table 3 and FIG. 6) as described later). Also, in 2000, Aurbach, et al., in Bar-Iran University found a tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution of Mg(ZRnX4-n)2 (wherein Z is born or aluminum; R is a hydrocarbon group; X is a halogen; and n is from 0 to 3) (see JP-T-2003-512704 (pages 12 to 19 and FIG. 3) and D. Aurbach, et al., Nature, 407, pages 724 to 727 (2000) (pages 724 to 726 and FIG. 3) as described later). Not only they performed deposition and dissolution of metallic magnesium, but they made a prototype of a magnesium secondary battery and successfully measured charge and discharge thereof.
On the other hand, JP-A-2004-259650 (pages 4 and 5 and FIG. 1) as described later reports that the problem of a low oxidation potential of an electrolytic solution can be solved by using an ether solution of an aromatic Grignard reagent RMgX wherein R is an aryl group (wherein X is chlorine or bromine).

Magnesium ion-containing nonaqueous electrolytic solution and method for manufacturing the same, and electrochemical device

Abstract: According to this, there are provided a magnesium ion-containing nonaqueous electrolytic solution having a high oxidation potential and capable of sufficiently bringing out excellent characteristics of metallic magnesium as a negative electrode active material and a method for manufacturing the same, and an electrochemical device with high performances using this electrolytic solution.


A construction kit for producing lighting-tube systems or three-dimensional frameworks, comprising tubes connected by connecting pieces, wherein the connecting pieces each have at least one tubular extension, and wherein the tubes which are divided along axis-parallel surface lines into two interlockable tube shells. The tubes have, at each of their ends, a horseshoe-shaped end flange. The end flange is connected to one of the tube shells, and can be pushed in a radial direction onto the tubular extension of the connecting piece. The end flange is also connected to an arcuate closing flange which can be locked with the end flange to form a closed ring surrounding the tubular extension.

The present invention relates to a construction kit for producing lighting-tube systems or three-dimensional frameworks, comprising tubes connected by connecting pieces, wherein the connecting pieces each have at least one tubular extension, and wherein the tubes are divided along axis-parallel surface lines into two interlockable tube shells. The tubes have, at each of their ends a horseshoe-shaped end flange. The end flange is connected to one of the tube shells, and can be pushed in a radial direction onto the tubular extension of the connecting piece. The end flange is also connected to an arcuate closing flange which can be locked with the end flange to form a closed ring surrounding the tubular extension.
A construction kit of this type is known from European Patent No. 0,018,005 of the applicant. The end flange serves, together with the closing flange, to fasten the tube rotatably to the tubular extension of the adjoining connecting piece. The advantage of the horseshoe-shaped design of the end flange is that, when a tube is exchanged in an already-installed three-dimensional framework, the tube shell of a new tube to be inserted, which is connected to the end flanges, can be introduced into the gap in the three-dimensional framework with a purely radial movement. The tube shell can be connected to the tubular extensions by means of the closing flanges, without having to change the position of the adjacent, already-installed tubes.
In a conventional constructional kit, the closing flange can be released completely from the end flange. By means of leaf springs projecting tangentially from the outer periphery at both ends of the closing flange, the conventional closing flange can be locked on inner projections of the tube shell connected to the end flange.
A disadvantage of this conventional construction kit is that the closing flanges can easily be lost and have to be held in a suitable position by hand before being locked on the tube end. The axial position of the closing flanges often has to be corrected once again after locking.
An object of the present invention is to simplify the locking of the closing flanges in the position provided and to ensure that the closing flanges cannot be lost.
This object is achieved according to the present invention, due to the fact that the closing flange is articulated in the form of a hinge to the end flange by means of one arc end.
The closing flange is therefore always connected with the end flange. When assembling the tube, the fitter has both hands free to bring the tube into a suitable position in relation to the adjoining connecting pieces and to push it radially onto the tubular extensions when the closing flanges have been swung open. When the closing flanges are subsequently swung closed and locked, a correct fit of the closing flange is guaranteed because of the hinge-shaped connection to the end flanges.
Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of preferred emobodiments when considered together with the attached figures of drawing.

Construction kit for producing light-tube systems for three-dimensional frameworks


A stretching machine includes a center stand having horizontal bars, vertical stand bars and cross bars for providing a support for a person to hold onto. A pair of movable foot supports include brackets with rollers that translate along a pair of elevated translation bars which extend outward from the center stand to allow the person to easily extend his/her feet away from the center stand.

Engaging in athletic activities usually takes more muscular flexibility than non-athletic activities. One of the most difficult and time consuming aspects of engaging in athletic activity is obtaining proper and adequate flexibility through stretching conditioning. Indeed, it is typical for an athlete to spend much more time preparing for athletic competition in the form of stretching exercises than the athlete spends in competition, for failure to prepare oneself with adequate flexibility and stretching exercises can lead to serious injury.
The leg muscles in particular are critical to most forms of athletic activity. These muscles are the largest muscle group of the body and are perhaps the most susceptible to injury due to improper stretching and flexibility preparation. To complicate matters it is difficult to adequately perform stretching exercises with the legs in an upright position because the contact between the feet and the ground impair the maneuverability of the feet to extend outwards from the vertical axis of the body. Yet is highly desirable to condition the leg muscles to be able to extend fully out away from the body while the torso rests on the ground. This maneuver is traditionally called the "splits". Being able to comfortably due the splits is an indication that an athlete has maximum flexibility in his legs, thus minimizing the chances of muscular injuries in athletic competition. Because of the above mentioned problem, it is difficult for athletes to be able to condition themselves to do splits comfortably.
A machine which facilitates an athlete in conditioning himself or herself to obtain maximum flexibility in the legs is therefore highly desirable.


A portable food container for feeding animals is provided and includes a container having a threaded opening engaged with a threaded lid, a pair of bowls engageable with two ends of the container respectively and each including a protrudent retaining hole respectively engageable with a pair of retaining pins of an elastic arcuate handle. This disclosure is characterized in ready assembling or disassembling and in corresponding with the environmental sanitation.

The present invention relates to food containers and more particularly to a portable food container for feeding favorite animals which container is easy to assemble or disassemble and is portable on travelling or on a picnic.
To raise a favorite animal such as a dog or a cat is popular in modern families. Most of the people bring their favorite with them on outdoor activities. So they need a food container to contain animal's food in order to feed their animal on travelling or on a picnic. However most of them bring with them the canned animal food and pour the food on the ground when feeds the animal. Therefore, the ground is contaminated and the environmental sanitation is damaged.
A typical animal's food container 10 is shown in FIG. 1 which comprises a lid 11 and a container 12. The container has a threaded outer periphery 121 abutting the upper rim and the lid 11 has a threaded inner periphery abutting the lower rim made engageable with the threaded outer periphery 121 and a handle knob 111 on the top for facilitating the fastening of the lid 11 onto the container 12. The container farther has a strap around the body for facilitating the people to carry the container 10 with them. However, this type of food container contains small amount of animal which can only feed a single small animal and have nowhere to contain water. Besides, if the animal can not finish the food at one time, the residue may be rotten that could not feed the animal next time.

Portable food container for feeding animals


A tensioner for tensioning a strand of chain between two sprockets including a tensioner body and a ramp fixed to ground. The tensioner body has an oval shape defined by first and second arcuately curved sides. Each side has a distal end, a proximal end, and a blade spring. The first and second arcuately curved sides are coupled together at the distal ends and pivotally attached to ground at the proximal ends. When the first arcuately curved side is in contact with the ramp, the second arcuately curved side is in contact with the chain strand, and the tensioner body is positioned relative to the ramp such that the blade springs of the tensioner body are compressed, a tensioning force is applied to the strand of chain.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to the field of blade tensioners. More particularly, the invention pertains to a blade tensioner with opposing spans coupled by a pin joint.
2. Description of Related Art
Chain tensioners in engines are used to control power transmission chains as the chains travels around a plurality of sprockets. The length of the chain varies as the temperature in an engine increases and as the chain wears. When a chain wears, the chain elongates and the slack in the chain increases. The increase in slack may cause noise, slippage, or tooth jumping between the chain and the sprocket teeth. If the increase of the slack of the chain is not taken up, by a tensioner, for example in an engine with a chain driven camshaft, the engine may be damaged because the camshaft timing is misaligned by several degrees due to slippage or tooth jumping.
The tensioning of the chain varies as the blade spring, the tensioner, and the chain wear. Preload, the nominal chain tension applied to the chain by a tensioner, under static conditions is imparted to the chain by the tensioner. In the case of a blade spring tensioner, the preload or nominal tension, under static conditions, decreases as the chain wears. The decrease in preload is caused by the blade spring becoming closer to its rest length as the tensioner extends to take up chain wear.
Prior art FIG. 8 is an example of a single blade tensioner. The conventional blade tensioner 110 includes a single blade shoe 111 made of resin having a curved chain sliding face 122 and numerous blade springs 121, preferably made of metallic material. The blade springs 121 are arranged in layers on the opposite side of the blade shoe 111 from the chain sliding face 122, and provide spring force to the blade shoe 111. The ends of each spring-shaped blade spring 121 are inserted in the indented portions 114 and 115, which are formed in the distal portion 112 and proximal portion 113 of the blade shoe 111, respectively.
A bracket 117 is provided for mounting the blade tensioner 110 in an engine. Holes 118 and 119 are formed in the bracket 117, and mounting bolts are inserted into these holes 118 and 119. A sliding face 116 contacts the distal portion of the blade shoe 111 and permits sliding. The sliding face 116 is formed on the distal portion of the bracket 117. A pin 120 supports the proximal portion 113 of the blade shoe 111 so that it may move in either direction. The pin 120 is secured on the bracket 117.
Simpson's U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,493 discloses a blade tensioner having two shoes and a blade spring, with one shoe imparting tension to a chain and overlapping the other shoe, which is connected to the blade spring. The two shoes are not directly connected to each other.
Simpson's U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,652 discloses a tensioner having two tensioner arms, with one tensioner arm imparting tension to a chain and overlapping the other arm. A hydraulic tensioner applies force against the free end of the overlapping tensioner arms. The tensioner arms may have blade springs. As one of tensioner arms applies a force to the chain, the other arm damps the movement of the first arm.
Tada's U.S. Pat. No. 6,044,020 discloses a blade type tensioner that includes a blade shoe with a chain sliding face, a blade spring for biasing the shoe toward the chain, and a bracket to rotatably support the fixed end of the blade shoe. The blade spring length is shorter than the chain sliding face. The first end of the blade spring is attached to the fixed end of the blade shoe and slidably contacts the distal end of the bracket, at a contact point located between the fixed end and the free end of the shoe.
Tada's U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,953 discloses a blade type tensioner that includes a blade shoe with a chain sliding face, a blade spring for biasing the shoe toward the chain, and a bracket to rotatably support the fixed end of the blade shoe. The blade spring length is shorter than the chain sliding face. The first end of the blade spring is attached the tip of the distal end of the shoe. The middle portion of the blade spring contacts the bracket.
Therefore, there is a need in the prior art for a blade tensioner that takes into account preload and chain wear.


Bar codes used for various applications. A bar code can be used for biometrics, or for computer data entry. A special bar code is described that has additional information, but can be read by other readers.

The present application relates to bar codes, and to scanning of bar codes and other scannable type codes to obtain and enter information.
Bar codes are often used in scanning of information. A bar code provides information based on sizes of its different parts.
Typical linear/one-dimensional bar codes provide white and dark bars forming a bar code image. Linear bar codes may include Universal Product Codes (UPCs), Type 39 bar codes and type 128 bar codes. Two-dimensional bar codes, including a "matrix" code and the "Gettysburg Address" type bar code, are also known. Bar codes have been used for many purposes including inventory control.


The topology of a bus or network electric line system which is used to provide a plurality of electric consumers with low voltage from a feed block, is inputted into a computer. For several feed points, a measuring value is determined for the electric line system on the basis of at least one technical criterium and is transmitted to a user as a function of the feed point. It is assumed that the feed block is connected to the electric line system at the respective feed point.

In the industrial systems, in particular machines and machine systems, a large number of electrical low-voltage loads must be supplied with electrical power. The loads are often, but not necessarily, single-phase or three-phase AC voltage motors. A 500 V DC voltage, for example, supply is also known.
In the past, power was distributed to the loads in switchgear cabinets in which the feed module for the loads was also arranged. Separate cables were routed from the switchgear cabinet to the individual loads. A cable system thus had a star-like topology. On the basis of this topology, namely with a separate cable for each load, it was relatively simple to design the cables. This work could be done even by electricians using comparatively simple tables.
Recently, the electrical loads have been connected to an ever greater extent to the feed module via cable systems similar to busses or networks. A bus section of the cable system thus originates from the feed module, via which a network—which possibly may even have further branches—is passed to the individual loads. The bus section carries all the current for the connected loads. Further sections branch off to the individual loads, and these are referred to in the following text as single or end sections, which carry the current for only this single load.
The PCT application "Computer-aided test procedure for a cable system" (internal file reference 2000 P 03188 WO, priority date Mar. 20, 2000, priority file reference 100 13 521.8), which was submitted on the same date as the present application, describes a test procedure for a bus-like or network-like cable system, by which it is possible to check that the design of the cable system is adequate, and by which this cable system may even possibly be designed automatically. However, the topology of the cable system as such is not changed.
In the method described above, it is possible for the feed module to be arranged poorly by the user. This leads to disadvantages during operation of the cable system and, in the extreme, even to the possibility of the cable system no longer being adequately designed or no longer being correctly configurable.

Computer-assisted support method for projecting an electric line system


Disclosed is a vessel for melting and casting meltable materials. The vessel may be a surface temperature regulated vessel for providing a substantially non-wetting interface with the molten materials. In one embodiment, the vessel may include one or more temperature regulating channels configured to flow a fluid therein for regulating a surface temperature of the vessel such that molten materials are substantially non-wetting at the interface with the vessel. Disclosed also includes systems and methods for melting and casting meltable materials using the vessel.

When melting a metal alloy, the metal alloy is placed in a crucible and heated. Both the metal alloy and the crucible are heated up simultaneously to provide a molten alloy in the crucible. The interface between the molten alloy and the crucible are at high temperature of the melt. This high temperature allows the molten alloy and the crucible to physically and/or chemically react with each other and to form undesired products. For example, constituent elements from the crucible may be dissolved into the molten alloy and may further react with the metal alloy.
It is desirable to provide a vessel for melting metals or alloys with substantially no interaction between the vessel material and the melting materials. It is also desirable to provide a melting system including such vessel and methods thereof for melting and casting metals or alloys.

Temperature regulated melt crucible for cold chamber die casting


The present invention is directed to the etching of a material selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, boronphosphorus silicate glass, fluorosilicate glass, siliconoxynitride, tungsten, tungsten silicide and mixtures thereof under plasma etch conditions, particularly for cleaning operations to remove silicon dioxide or silicon nitride from the walls and other surfaces within a reaction chamber of a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition reactor. The etching chemicals used in the etch process are trifluoroacetic acid and it derivatives, such as; trifluoroacetic anhydride, trifluoromethyl ester of trifluoroacetic acid and trifluoroacetic acid amide and mixtures thereof.

The semiconductor industry utilizes various chemicals for etching materials and for cleaning reaction chambers where semiconductor materials are processed. These etch or clean chemicals are generally divided into two groups, wet chemicals and dry or gaseous chemicals. The semiconductor industry is moving away from the use of wet chemicals because of contamination and handling problems. As the semiconductor industry moves to a greater extent to the utilization of dry chemicals or gaseous chemicals for etching and cleaning operations, the disposal of such chemicals subsequent to use is becoming a significant problem.
In the use of dry gaseous etchant chemicals for etching materials of construction in semiconductor systems or for etching and cleaning reaction chamber walls, tools and surfaces, inevitably, some of the gaseous chemical is not reacted with the contaminants or species to be etched or cleaned, and these unreacted chemicals are removed as an effluent from the reaction chamber along with various reaction by-products formed during the clean or etch. Venting of such etching and/or cleaning chemicals is coming under increasing scrutiny. For instance, exemplary gaseous chemicals used for etching and cleaning include carbontetrafluoride, hexafluoroethane, nitrogen trifluoride and sulfur hexafluoride. As reported in the article "PFCs and the Semiconductor Industry: A Closer Look," by Maroulis, et al., Semiconductor International, November 1994, pp.107-110, these potential gaseous chemical etchants or cleaning agents all have Global Warming Potential (i.e., they induce temperature rise in the earth's atmosphere). Increasingly, governments and international treaties are requiring that the venting of such Global Warming Potential chemicals be reduced or eliminated.
Therefore, within the semiconductor fabrication industry, a need exists for appropriate etching and cleaning chemicals which have acceptable performance for etching and cleaning, but which do not constitute a significant Global Warming Potential when byproducts or unreacted chemical are vented to the atmosphere.
Currently, attempts to resolve the outstanding problem with gaseous etch and clean chemicals fall into one of four categories: (1) attempts to optimize etch and/or clean processes such that less Global Warming Potential chemicals are emitted into the atmosphere, (2) attempts to recycle etch and/or clean chemicals from an exhaust stream so that they can be properly disposed of or reutilized without atmospheric emissions, (3) attempts to abate etch and/or clean chemicals in exhaust streams by chemical reaction or burn boxes which incinerate and render the unreacted etch and/or clean chemical effluents inoffensive, particularly with regard to Global Warming Potential, and (4) lastly, attempts have been made to select or develop various replacement gaseous chemicals for etch and/or clean duty, but at the present time, no acceptable candidates have been identified.
In the article, "Some Chemical Aspects of the Fluorocarbon Plasma Etching of Silicon and Its Compounds," by Coburn, et al., appearing in IBM Journal of Research Development, Vol. 23, No. 1, January 1979, pp 33-41, various etchants were studied for the etch of silicon and silicon dioxide using active gases such as oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, water and tetrafluoroethene with carbon tetrafluoride. The article goes on to indicate the applicability of added oxygen gas to traditional gaseous etch chemicals for etching silicon. Oxygen was reported to increase the fluorine to carbon (F/C) ratio because it was identified as an carbon scavenger. The article's conclusion is that it is desirable to have lower F/C ratios for high SiO.sub.2 /Si etch ratios. Etching of silicon with chemicals which contain molecularly bound oxygen was also studied in the experiments on added oxygen, but oxygen was not added to the chemicals with molecularly bound oxygen. Trifluoroacetic anhydride was studied in the plasma etching of silicon as an example of a chemical with molecularly bound oxygen. Trifluoroacetic anhydride was reported to have only "medium" silicon etch rates. The article identifies that it is well recognized that the rate of etch of silicon and silicon dioxide are dissimilar.
Stanley Wolf, et al. in SILICON PROCESSING FOR THE VSLI ERA, Lattice Press, Vol. 1, Process Technology, pp 547-550, also describes the fact that silicon dioxide and silicon have different etch characteristics and etch preferably under different etch chemistry conditions, thus allowing for selectivities represented by the reported SiO.sub.2 /Si etch ratios.
Despite knowledge of the above recited problem with etch chemicals having significant Global Warming Potential and the known use of fluorocarbons for etching generally and etching silicon specifically, particularly the use of trifluoroacetic anhydride to etch silicon, the art has failed to identify gaseous etch and/or clean chemicals which are useful for removing silicon dioxide and silicon nitride from semiconductor materials of construction or plasma reactor chamber walls and surfaces which gaseous etch and/or clean chemicals are effective with regard to etch performance, while at the same time providing a reduction in Global Warming Potential when released as an effluent into the atmosphere. The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art by utilizing a family of etch and/or clean chemicals having a surprising reactivity or etch and clean performance, while providing low Global Warming Potential for unreacted chemical effluent or reaction by-products, as set forth in greater detail below.

Plasma etch with trifluoroacetic acid and derivatives


A method for isolating an ion in a QIT (1) employing values from a mass axis calibration chart to establish the maximum DAC value to scan to in order to scan out m(p)-1 and less during ramp up of RF trapping field while applying a specifically selected fixed supplemental frequency applied during said calibration; and employing values from the calibration curve to establish the DAC value to scan out m(p)+1 and greater during ramping down of RF trapping field, while applying a previously determined fixed broadband spectrum to the QIT end caps.

The quadrupole ion trap (QIT) was first disclosed in the year 1952 in a paper by Paul, et al. This paper disclosed the QIT and the disclosure of a slightly different device which was called a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS). The quadrupole mass spectrometer was very different from all earlier mass spectrometers because it did not require the use of a magnet and because it employed radio frequency fields for enabling the separation of ions, i.e. performing mass analysis. Mass spectrometers are devices for making precise determination of the constituents of a material by providing separations of all the different masses in a sample according to their mass to charge ratio. The material to be analyzed is first dissociated/fragmented into ions which are charged atoms or molecularly bound groups of atoms.
The principle of the quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) relies on the fact within a specifically shaped structure radio frequency (RF) fields can be made to interact with a charged ion so that the resultant force on certain of the ions is a restoring force thereby causing those particles to oscillate about some reference position. In the quadrupole mass spectrometer, four long parallel electrodes, each having highly a precise hyperbolic cross sections, are connected together electrically. Both dc voltage, U, and an RF voltage, V.sub.0 cos .omega.t, can be applied. When an ion is introduced or generated within the spectrometer, if the parameters of the quadrupole are appropriate to maintain the oscillation of those ions, such ions would travel with a constant velocity down the central axis of the electrodes at a constant velocity. Parameters of operation could be adjusted so that ions of selected mass to charge ratio, m/e, could be made to remain stable in the direction of travel while all other ions would be ejected from the axis. This QMS was capable of maintaining restoration forces in two directions only, so it became known as a transmission mass filter. The other device described in the above mentioned Paul, et al. paper has become known as the quadrupole ion trao (QIT). The QIT is capable of restoring forces on selected ions in all three directions. This is the reason that it is called a trap. Ions so trapped can be retained for relatively long periods of time which supports separation of masses and enables various important scientific experiments and industrial testing which can not be as conveniently accomplished in other spectrometers.
The QIT was only of laboratory interest until recent years when relatively convenient techniques evolved for use of the QIT in a mass spectrometer application. Specifically, methods are known for creating ions of an unknown sample after the sample was introduced into the QIT, and adjusting the QIT parameters so that it stores only a selectable range of ions from the sample within the QIT. Then by linearly changing, i.e., scanning, one of the QIT parameters it became possible to cause consecutive values of m/e of the stored ions to become successively unstable. The final step in a mass spectrometer was to sequentially pass the separated ions which had become unstable into a detector. The detected ion current signal intensity, as a function of the scan parameter, is the mass spectrum of the trapped ions.
U. S. Pat. No. 4,736,101 describes a quadrupole technique for performing an experiment called MS/MS. In U. S. Pat. No. 4,736,101, MS/MS is described as the steps of forming and storing ions having a range of masses in an ion trap, mass selecting among them to select an ion of particular mass to be studied (parent ion), disassociating the parent ion by collisions, and analyzing, i.e. separating and ejecting the fragments (daughter ions) to obtain a mass spectrum of the daughter ions. To isolate an ion for purposes of MS/MS the '101 patent discloses a method of scanning (ramping up) the RF trapping field voltage according to known equations to eject ions having atomic mass up to the m/e of ion of interest. Then, the RF trapping field voltage is lowered and the ions remaining are disassociated by collision. Finally, the RF trapping voltage is scanned up again and a mass spectrogram of the ejected daughter ions is obtained. One technique for obtaining collision induced disassociation (CID) to obtain daughter ions is to employ a second fixed frequency generator connected to the end plates of the QIT which frequency is at the calculated secular frequency of the retained ion being investigated. The secular frequency is the frequency in which the ion is periodically, physically moving within the RF trapping field.
The '101 patent also discloses use of a supplementary RF field voltage applied to the end cap electrodes of a QIT containing daughter ions while the RF trapping field is being scanned as a means of successively ejecting increasing mass ions to obtain a spectrum. In this instance, the patent employs a reduced maximum magnitude of the RF trapping field voltage.
The difficulty with the technique of the '101 patent is that after the ionization step, the parent ion, m(p), is selected for MS/MS using the so called mass instability method. This is where one of the quadrupole parameters, i.e. the RF field voltage, is varied to move the ions having M/e outside the range of interest into the instability region, i.e. q.sub.z >0.908. In the '101 patent this was accomplished by ramping up the RF trapping field voltage to cause those ions having M/e less than the selected parent ion, m(p), to be ejected. Ions of mass greater than m(p) are retained in the trap. The voltage level of the RF trapping field is then lowered and CID accomplished. This means that ions having greater than the M/e of the selected m(p) were present during CID. These ions can cause interference and/or unwanted reactions or daughter ions.
The problem of incomplete isolation in MS/MS of the parent m(p) ion is addressed in U. S. Pat. No. 4,749,860. In this prior patent, a second, supplemental RF field is applied to the end caps. The frequency of this supplemental RF field corresponds to the secular frequency of a specific ion having a M/e value which is one M/e unit greater than the selected parent ion, i.e. m(p)+1. The '860 patent applied this supplement RF field to the end caps simultaneously with the application of the ramping of the voltage of the RF trapping field to the ring electrodes. There are at least three problems with this '860 approach. First, the use of mass instability scanning to eject ions of mass less than m(p) suffers from poor mass resolution and thus results in significant loss in the intensity of the m(p) ion while attempting to completely move the m(p)-1 ion out of the stability region. Second, the stability boundary on the high side is flat so that this procedure also suffers significant loss of the m(p) ion when trying to eliminate the m(p)+1.
Finally, to use the '860 technique, it is essential to know the precise value of the trapping field operating on the ions in order to calculate the precise frequency to apply to the supplementary field. This precise frequency is difficult to know because of mechanical or electrical imperfections and because of space charge effects which act to significantly shift the stability region. The equation used to calculate the supplemental frequency which is given in the '860 patent is W=1/2.beta..sub.z W.sub.o, where W.sub.o is the frequency of the RF trap field.
The value .beta..sub.z is known to be defined by several approximating formulas, each of which are known to be accurate only for regions of the stability chart for lower values of the q.sub.z. Accordingly, it has become common to apply the supplemental frequency to eliminate the high m(p)+1 values at low values of q.sub.z parameter. In this low q.sub.z region, the relationship between the mass and resonant frequency is non-linear and the resolution at usual scan speed is poor. Furthermore, there is a limit to the maximum mass which can be ejected by this technique. To increase the value of the RF field beyond this value will also eject the parent ion of interest. To reach these higher mass value ions, the '860 patent adds an additional step of frequency scanning the supplemental frequency downward to low frequencies. This frequency scanning technique requires complex equipment and also introduces undesirable additional process time into the isolation process.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,545 discloses a technique called tailored excitation ion spectroscopy for employing Fourier synthesized excitation to create a time domain excitation waveform to cause tailored ejection of specific bands or ranges of ions. As pointed out in the '545 patent, the tailored FT method requires an extremely high power amplifier with high voltage output unless phase scrambling is employed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,234 discloses that phase scrambling distorts the excitation spectrum so that it is not possible to achieve arbitrary excitation frequency spectra at suitable low peak excitation voltages at the same time and that corrections are required for certain so called Gibbs oscillations. FT tailored excitation requires very expensive computational and RF synthesization equipment in order to be capable of tailoring to any desired frequency components.

Quadrupole trap improved technique for ion isolation