A vehicle includes a vehicle system, an outside air temperature (OAT) sensor, a clock, and a controller. The controller includes recorded garage temperatures and actual OAT profiles. At the key-on event, a controller-executed method includes recording an initial temperature reading from the OAT sensor and corresponding time of day from the clock. The controller determines whether the vehicle is in a garage using the profile of recorded temperatures and the time of day, and estimates an OAT for the corresponding time of day when the vehicle is in the garage. An operation of the vehicle system is controlled using the estimated OAT before the vehicle leaves the garage. The system may be a navigation system, and the operation may be modification of a calculated electric vehicle range. The system may be an HVAC or other system in another embodiment.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) can operate in an electric-only drive mode, also referred to as electric vehicle (EV) mode. When operating in EV mode, output torque delivered to the drive wheels is provided solely by a high-voltage electric traction motor using electrical power drawn from a rechargeable battery module. While EREVs use a small onboard gas engine to extend the EV range as needed. However, a BEV will become inoperable if the battery module is depleted before reaching the driver's intended destination. Therefore, accurate EV range information is essential to proper trip planning for a BEV driver, and may also be useful to drivers of EREVs who wish to limit the use of the onboard gas engine.

Vehicle control using an estimated outside air temperature


A skate wheel disassembling and assembling apparatus including a frame having a wheel support platform adapted to support a skate wheel in a bearing-removal position, a push-pull member mounted on the frame for back and forth movement along an axial path and provided with a hooked tip at one end for engaging a bearing seated in a skate wheel in the bearing-removal position, and provided at the other end with a pusher heat for reinstalling the bearings in the skate wheel. When a skate wheel is positioned on the wheel support platform in the bearing-removal position, a retracting movement of the push-pull member causes the hooked tip to engage the bearing extracting it from its bearing seat. A wheel guide and support assembly is mounted on the frame for receiving and supporting the unassembled components of the skate wheel and is pivotal to a position where the components are in alignment with the push-pull member. A retracting movement of the push-pull member causes the pusher head to engage and force the bearings into the bearing seats.

The present invention relates to a device for quickly and accurately disassembling and assembling skate wheels.
Roller skating and skate boarding are experiencing renewed popularity, especially among younger people. Many people now prefer to participate directly in sporting activities rather than remain spectators, for participation offers the satisfaction of accomplishment plus the benefits received in the exercise involved with the activity. Skating rinks and skateboard courses provide the environment in which the participants can enjoy their activity and improve their skills. Advances in skate wheel design, especially the use of rubber-like synthetic materials, have increased the performance capabilities of skates and skateboards. The skate wheels manufactured from rubber-like synthetic materials have the desired coefficient of friction to provide the required traction and are tough enough to withstand prolonged use over a variety of surfaces. These skate wheels are equipped with bearing assemblies to provide for smooth and frictionless rotation of the wheels on the spindles on which they are mounted. Because the bearings are prone to collect dust or other foreign particulate matter, they periodically must be removed, cleaned, lubricated and reinstalled in the skate wheel. The bearings must be removed in a manner that will not damage the wheels and must be precisely reinstalled with respect to the axis of rotation of the wheel so that the wheel can rotate smoothly.
It is the general object of this invention, therefore, to provide a skate wheel disassembling and assembling apparatus.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a skate wheel disassembling and assembling apparatus that enables the quick removal of the skate wheel bearings by a direct straight pulling action on the bearing so as to avoid damage to the skate wheels.
It is another object of the invention to provide a skate wheel disassembling and assembling apparatus that provides for the quick and accurate installation of bearings in a skate wheel to insure the proper alignment of the bearings relative to the skate wheel.

Apparatus for disassembling and assembling skate wheels


A predictor usable for rapid and accurate calculation of joint commands of an articulated mechanism describes relationship between the joints in the form of a differential equation. The predictor solves this differential equation by direct substitution of a power series for each of its variables and the combining of selected sets of coefficients of these power series into linear systems of equations which may be solved to determine power series coefficients to arbitrary order.

The present invention relates to articulated mechanisms, such as but not limited to robot arms, and more particularly to a predictor for determining joint positions and rates for multiple joints based on a desired movement of one or more other joints, such as is necessary for control or design of articulated mechanisms.
Articulated mechanisms such as a robot arm can be understood as a set of rigid links connected to each other by joints. The joints for a robot arm may be associated with actuators such as motors to move the joints and sensors providing an indication of joint position. Common joints include so-called revolute joints acting like a hinge to provide rotation about an axis and prismatic joints acting like a slide to provide translation along an axis. These types of joints are termed "lower-pair joints". The absolute or global position of each joint is determined by the previous joints in the form of a kinematic chain where one joint is attached to and thus referenced to the "ground" which provides a global reference frame.
A typical robot arm, for example, might provide for six joints of various kinds describing six degrees of freedom. For example, a robot arm may swivel about a waist joint which supports a pivoting shoulder joint which in turn supports a pivoting elbow joint, which attaches to an extension for an arm joint allowing forearm rotation, in turn attaches to a pivoting and swiveling wrist joint the latter of which is attached to a tool such as an actuatable clamp, a paint sprayer, or welding gun, or any other such tool fixed to one link of that robot arm.
The position of the robot arm and its tool fixed to the terminal link may be readily calculated by using standard trigonometric formulas applied to each joint starting at the joint attached to ground to successively determine the locations and orientations of the later joints along with their intermediate links until the "effector" link is reached (sometimes but not always the last link in the chain). This calculation is termed the "forward kinematic" problem and requires knowledge of the axis values (e.g. joint angles) of each joint and of the structure of the mechanism (e.g. the link lengths, relative orientation of joints at each end of a link, types of joints etc.). This information, which describes the articulated mechanism, defines a "kinematic equation". The kinematic equation may be readily expressed in a matrix form such as the Denavit-Hartenberg (D-H) matrix. That D-H matrix fully characterizes the translation and orientation of a link in an articulated mechanism from a reference position.
An important robot control problem involves determining the angles or extensions of the various joints necessary to position the robot tool (effector) in a desired orientation and location. This is the so-called "inverse kinematics" problem and again requires finding a solution to the kinematic equation meeting the desired tool position. In one approach to the inverse kinematics problem, the kinematic equation is formed into a loop equation by adding a final fictitious joint connection between the tool link and the work surface fixed to ground so that the entire mechanism satisfies a closed-loop kinematic equation. That fictitious joint constrains the spatial motion to be taken by the tool over one segment of a desired robot work task. The desired tool positions and orientations at the start and end of that segment of the work task define the type, location, and movement range of this final fictitious joint.
Some industrial robots, especially those with a "spherical wrist" having the roll, yaw, and pitch axes intersecting on a common center, have a mathematically closed-form inverse kinematic solution. For other robots, especially those with a non-spherical wrist or incorporating redundant joints to achieve a high level of dexterity, determining motion of the effector as part of the inverse kinematics problem from this loop equation may be done by differentiating the loop equation to determine its local slope which may be used to estimate the necessary joint movements in a process roughly analogous to the Newton Raphson method. Determining higher derivatives of a complicated loop equation may be done symbolically with significant manual effort or with a symbolic algebra software package, but quickly becomes intractable owing to the rapid growth in the number of terms that precludes checking such symbolic expressions for correctness or their practical implementation in computer software.

Kinematic predictor for articulated mechanisms


A method for intensifying combustion of gas-fuel mixtures consists of stimulating the combustion mixture in a combustion chamber by a pulsed high-voltage discharge of nanosecond duration, wherein the discharge amplitude is set up according to a condition of maximising a heat input in electronic degrees of freedom and in a gas dissociation and preventing the passage of plasma electrons to an escape mode at a main discharge stage, the high-voltage pulse leading edge build-up time is limited by the condition of obtaining a homogeneous filling of a discharge gap by plasma and a pulsed energy efficient transmission to the plasma, a high-voltage pulse time is limited by the condition, wherein a highly-unstable plasma state is attained, the discharge gap resistance is reduced, the discharge gap is better matched to a generator, and an efficient electric power input into the plasmas is obtained.

There are several methods aimed at intensification of combustible mixtures combustion in internal combustion engines combustion chambers. Most widely-spread methods are those using preliminary preparation of combustible mixture, including electric-discharge treatment of air, inject fuel treatment with electromagnetic field, methods based on improvement of electric spark ignition of combustible mixtures, and in the latter case the result is achieved by way of modification of electric ignition spark plugs design (SU No. 1728521, SU No. 1838665, RU 2099550).
There is a known method of combustion processes activation allowing to increase effectiveness and uniformity of combustible mixture combustion in internal combustion engines, to reduce combustion induction time, ignition temperature and to provide controlled increase of combustion front propagation rate (RU No. 94028477, F02M25/10, 1996). Such a method consists in treatment of air fed to the internal combustion engine by the system of volumetric self-maintained discharges with set-up parameters.
Disadvantages of known methods are the requirement for modifications in the engine design and imperfection of usual electric spark ignition method for combustible mixture ignition which does not provide complete combustion of mixture in chambers.
The nearest prior art to the present invention is the method of combustible mixture ignition using streamer spark plug (RU No. 2176122, H01T13/20, 2001). In this invention streamer phenomenon is used for increase of ionization rate in the zone of generation of main electric discharge by means of creation of favourable conditions for stable spark formation. The solution of this aim consists in placing voltage between the plug centre and side electrodes which provides ionization of space between them. At that at the centre electrode insulator streamer is formed, ionization field in the zone limited by ground starting electrode circuit is amplified, and electric discharge between the centre electrode and the spark-receiving surface of the ground electrode main part is formed. This invention provides stability of operation of internal combustion engines, including those used in motorcycle systems, in all possible modes of operation.
The above prior art is of limited application as it is intended for use only in gasoline engines (car and motorcycle engines).

Method for igniting, intensifying the combustion or reforming of air-fuel and oxygen-fuel mixtures


An addressable lighting device and control system uses a DMX protocol controller to selectively generate an electronic address for the addressable lighting device on which the device will respond to all future signals from the controller corresponding to that electronic address. The addressable device has a program mode for setting the address and a working mode for receiving control signals on the set address. The addressable device may have the address set and changed remotely using the DMX protocol controller and a remote control to switch modes, thereby avoiding the problems associated with using DIP switches to set device electronic addresses.

The present invention relates generally to the field of control systems for lighting devices and in particular to a new and useful electronically addressable device and DMX protocol addressing system for the device.
Theater lighting systems used in stage productions are of ten elaborate and include many different lighting devices and effects devices to produce a desired lighting combination. In recent years, many different aspects of lighting systems have been computerized to improve the ease and speed with which a lighting program for a particular stage show can be set up. While many different control systems are available for this purpose, one protocol which is is generally accepted for use in theater lighting in particular is the DMX protocol. DMX protocol refers to a protocol standard as defined by the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Inc. (USITT).
Presently, a DMX protocol controller has up to 512 channels transmitted serially to each of any number of connected lighting system devices. Known devices each contain a manually set address circuit which identifies the particular channel or channels that the device will take instructions from the DMX controller. Each of the DMX controller channels has multiple levels, or amplitude settings, to produce different conditions in the connected lighting devices, whether they be dimmers, color mixers, etc. The DMX controller does not produce a digital signal; that is, a binary address cannot be programmed on any one of the DMX controller channels.
A drawback to the known lighting devices used with DMX protocol systems is that the addresses of the devices must be set manually using DIP switches by a person having physical contact with the device. In order to change the address of a particular device, the DIP switches must be reset in the proper configuration for the new address.
When the lighting devices have been mounted on fly rods many feet above a theater stage, this can present a problem. Either the entire fly rod must be lowered to the level of the stage or a stage hand must climb up to the position of the lighting device. When the lighting devices are not mounted on movable theater equipment, but rather in a fixed spot this difficulty is increased. The address switches may be obstructed by other objects as well, including the mounting brackets for the lighting device, further increasing the difficulty of changing the address of a device.
The DMX protocol control system is discussed in connection with the lighting system taught by U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,302. The lighting system is programmable with intensity changes, movements, etc., but the addresses of the lamps and other devices are not programmable.
Other types of lighting systems with digitally addressable devices are known.
For example, a lighting system with programmable addressable dimmers is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,332, which discusses the problems associated with manually set addressable dimmers and teaches a dimmer which is addressed by first entering a program mode by depressing buttons. An address is then set in the dimmer memory by using a central controller to generate the address location data and send the address to the dimmer. The address location data is a binary word.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,871 teaches a lighting system in which individual lamp controllers may have their addresses programmed electronically from a central controller unit. When one of the lamp controllers is placed in a programming mode, a Master Control Unit (MCU) in the central controller unit is used to generate an identification (ID) for the lamp controller. The particular ID is set by incrementing or decrementing any channel on the central controller between 1 and 31. The ID value is shown in binary code on a LED display. The ID in the lamp controller is the address used to select the lamp(s) connected to the lamp controller. The lamp controller may be a dimmer or on/off switch, for example.
A control system with programmable receivers for controlling appliances is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,957. The receivers may control lights, for example. The original addresses for the controlling receivers are initially set manually, but may be changed electronically once the receivers are connected to the control system. The addresses of the receivers are set automatically based on their positioning within the system, rather than by a person on an arbitrary basis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,705 discloses a memory addressing system in which a central control unit sends a message signal with an address code to several attached devices over a bus interface. Devices which are encoded to accept the address code respond to the message signal. At column 6, lines 3-8, this patent indicates that the functional addresses recognized by a device may be changed using a control message. The memory addressing system is not specifically for a lighting system, but rather, is for use in a general data processing system.
Lighting systems using addressable lamps controlled by computers are also known in the prior art.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,176 teaches a lighting system controlled by a personal computer. The computer can address individual lamps which have pre-programmed addresses. However, changing the addresses of the lamps using the computer is not taught.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,187 discloses a console-controlled lighting system having addressable lights of the manual set type. The electronic address of each light is set using manual thumb switches. The console sends instructions which are interpreted by the light to which they are addressed.
A series of lighting cues can be programmed and stored in memory in each lamp of the lighting system disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,806. The different lighting cues, or setups, can be recalled by a signal sent from a central controller. The electronic addresses of the individual lamps are not changed using the controller.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,216 discloses a track lighting system having individual lights with manually set address switches contained in the light housings.
None of these prior systems provides a method or system for using a DMX protocol controller to remotely change or set the address of devices connected to the controller.

Addressable light dimmer and addressing system


A multistage collector for electron-beam tubes, in particular for klystrons, comprising a plurality of electrode rings (7 to 11 ) which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of the electron beam and which are connected to gradually decreasing electric potentials, and comprising insulating ceramic spacer rings (12 to 16) which interconnect adjacent electrode rings (7 to 11) in an electrically insulating vacuum-tight manner. Flashovers between the collector stages are precluded in that radially outwardly extending first ring-shaped metal casings (19, 20), which can be manufactured in a simple manner are soldered in a vacuum-tight manner to the end regions of the spacer rings (12 to 16), and in that second ring-shaped metal casings (21, 22) are soldered in a vacuum-tight manner to the electrode rings (7 to 11), an annular disc area (21a, 22a) of each of said ring-shaped casings engaging an associated annular disc area (19a, 20a) of a first ring-shaped casing (19, 20) and said annular disc areas being welded together in a vacuum-tight manner, so that two welding collars are formed, and in that the ambient air-accessible outer surfaces of the ring-shaped metal casings (19 to 22) and hence the welding collars are covered by an insulating material.

The invention relates to a multistage collector for electron-beam tubes, in particular for klystrons, comprising a plurality of electrode rings which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of the electron beam and which are connected to gradually decreasing electric potentials, and comprising insulating ceramic spacer rings which interconnect adjacent electrode rings in an electrically insulating manner.
A radiation-cooled multistage collector of this type is described in DE-PS 26 36 913.

Multistage collector for electron-beam tubes having collector electrodes indirectly connected by collar members


A method and an apparatus for adding tokens in traffic shaping are provided. According to the method, a weight of each data stream is configured, and each data stream is added to corresponding token schedulers based on the weight of the each data stream. Based on a weight of each token scheduler, each token scheduler is sequentially added to corresponding token scheduler groups, and all the token scheduler groups are aggregated into a token scheduler of a total data stream. The token scheduler of the total data stream is added to a top token scheduler. Based on a preset cycle, a token is assigned to the token scheduler of the total data stream in the top token scheduler, and the assigned token is delivered to each token scheduler group or to a respective data stream.

With development of the network, the transmission mode of shared medium becomes the mainstream of the network. The service level of one connection may be defined from three aspects, i.e., an effectiveness of connection, a time delay of connection, and a bandwidth of connection. The three aspects decide the quality of service. The traffic management system plays an important role in the aspect of controlling the time delay and the bandwidth of the connection, thereby affecting the quality of service (QoS) of the connection. One important method for ensuring the quality of service is performing traffic management by the traffic management system. The functions of the traffic management system mainly include: classification, traffic supervision, traffic shaping, scheduling, and statistics. The traffic shaping means forwarding data packets at a preset rate so as to follow a protocol with downstream devices, smooth traffic output, and reduce downstream congestion. During the traffic shaping, adding tokens for a mass of different data streams is a key factor for affecting the effect of the traffic shaping.
At present, a WFQ (Weighted Fair Queuing) method is generally utilized for traffic shaping. This method is particularly performed by: setting one weight corresponding to one maximum rate, converting a shaping rate configured for each data stream into a corresponding weight, and distributing the remained weight to one idle stream so as to occupy the remained bandwidth. However, when using the above WFQ method to add tokens for a mass of data streams having the same relatively small rate, there is a situation in which the tokens are intensively added into the idle stream and no data steam acquires the token during a period of time. In addition, the WFQ method can only allocate the bandwidth proportionally. When a sum of rates for shaping the data steam is greater than the set maximum weight, there is no idle stream. In this case, the data steam can only acquire the tokens according to the weight proportion, and thus the number of tokens which may be acquired by each data steam cannot reach the number deserved by the configured weight.

Method and apparatus for adding token in traffic shaping


The electronic component tester includes: a socket configured to supply power to connection terminals for operating an electronic component; an electronic component mount member on which the electronic component is to be mounted; and a temperature adjusting member which is configured to come into contact with the electronic component mount member to keep the electronic component at a predetermined temperature. The electronic component mount member includes a heat transfer plate on which the electronic component is to be mounted and which is configured to come into contact with the temperature adjusting member, and an electronic component cover for covering the electronic component. The heat transfer plate includes through holes.

The present disclosure relates to electronic component testers configured to test electronic components.
Processes for fabricating electronic components such as semiconductor devices include, as a test, a burn-in test to measure the characteristics of the electronic components while the electronic components are operated in a high temperature environment. In the burn-in test, the quality characteristics of the electronic components are measured while the electronic components are operated in an environment in which temperature is higher than the normal temperature. For such a test, a dedicated burn-in apparatus is used (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). There are two temperature control systems for burn-in apparatuses; one is a system in which the temperature of electronic components is indirectly controlled by an atmospheric gas in a thermostat, and the other is a system in which a temperature adjusting part is directly brought into contact with electronic components to directly control the temperature of the electronic components.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-121625    Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-078388


This invention relates to a process and apparatus for the manufacture of viscose products which includes a motor means having a constant torque in the viscose during ripening wherein the resistance on said motor means changes as the viscose ripens because of the change in viscosity and the temperature is adjusted in response to said change in viscosity to heat or cool the viscose, and thereby control its rate of aging.

The present invention relates to an improvement in the process for the manufacture of viscose from a cellulose raw material. It is well known that the preparation of the spinning or casting solution of viscose in the manufacture of rayon or cellophane is conventionally effected by steeping the cellulose in caustic soda, expressing the excess caustic, shredding and aging the resulting alkali cellulose to a desired molecular size, reacting the aged alkali cellulose with carbon disulfide to form cellulose xanthate, and dissolving the latter in dilute caustic soda to form a viscose solution. This solution is aged or ripened and filtered prior to spinning or casting into a film.
The properties of the final product depend upon a number of different factors. One important factor is the ripening of the viscose.
The process of viscose aging involves a spontaneous breaking down of some of the xanthate sulfur linkages, resulting in a lower xanthate sulfur content, a lower solubility of the cellulosic material and easier coagulability.
If the degree of ripening is not kept constant, then the properties of the resultant fiber or fibers will vary widely. In fact, if the chemical age is far from specification, the coagulation properties of the viscose may be incompatible with the particular spinning conditions being used, and the viscose may not spin at all.
In conventional practice the determination of the proper chemical age or degree of ripeness is done by periodically testing samples by either a salt test for determining its coagulability or by a chemical analysis of xanthate and the total sulfur content of the viscose.

Automatic aging analyzer using a motor having a constant torque


The invention relates to surface-modified platelet-like pigments based on platelet-like substrates which are coated with a titanium dioxide layer and a thin alkaline earth metal titanate film on top of it, in which the pigment, in order to increase the photostability and to decrease the surface reactivity towards organic compounds, is ignited at temperatures of at least 800.degree. C.

The invention relates to surface-modified platelet-like pigments, i.e., platelet shaped, based on platelet-like substrates which are coated with a titanium dioxide layer and a thin alkaline earth metal titanate film on top of said layer of titanium dioxide.
Platelet-like substrates coated with titanium dioxide, such as, for example, mica platelets are often used for pigmenting plastics, cosmetics or coating compositions, such as, for example, paints or printing inks. However, a disadvantage is the low photostability of titanium dioxide, which, for example, in the case of white pigments, leads to a gradual greying. Upon incorporation of platelet-like substrates coated with titanium dioxide in a polymer matrix, surface reactions between the titanium dioxide surface and the surrounding polymer matrix are observed in many cases, which impair the aesthetic impression of the pigmented polymer. Thus, for example, reaction of the hydroxyl-containing titanium dioxide surface with phenolic stabilizer additives often leads to yellowing of the polymer; however, in addition there may be further impairing surface reactions.
The previous proposals for avoiding these problems frequently do not lead to satisfactory results or are only suitable for solving part of the problem. Thus, for example, silanization of the pigment surface proposed in DE 4,041,663 effectively suppresses surface reactions in many cases, whereas virtually no increase in photostability is observed. The application of further metal oxide layers is, inter alia also unsuitable, since, for example when colored oxide layers are used, such as, for example, iron oxide, the coloristic properties of the pigment underneath which is coated with titanium dioxide are altered completely and moreover the metal oxide layers then deposited on top often also have high surface reactivity.

Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung


An optical system for alternative or simultaneous direction of light from two scenes to the eye of a viewer comprising (a) a first lens (42) having a first focal length; (b) a second lens (44) having a second focal length, the first and second lenses being positioned aside one another in front of one of the eyes of the viewer, such that a single light beam from any of the scenes (48, 50) passes only through one of the first and second lenses; and (c) an optical arrangement for directing incident light originating from the first scene and passing through the first lens into the eye of the viewer, and at the same time, for directing incident light originating from the second scene and passing through the second lens into the eye of the viewer, the optical arrangement being positioned between the first and second lenses and the eye of the viewer.

The present invention relates to an optical system for alternative or simultaneous direction of light originating from two scenes to an eye of a viewer, and more particularly, to an optical system which employs a planar opyics approach for alternative or simultaneous direction of light originating from two scenes to the eye of a viewer. The system according to the invention may thus be used to provide inventive bifocal eyeglasses, using which does not require inconvenient head and eye positioning relative to the viewed scene as associated with using conventional bifocal eyeglasess. The present invention further relates to an optical system for simultaneous direction of light originating from two scenes to an eye or both eyes of a viewer using geometric or planar optic approaches. The system according to the invention does not employ active radiation for display.
As used herein in the specification and claims, the term xe2x80x98scenexe2x80x99 refers to an object or set of objects as perceived by a viewer through passive radiation, i.e., through radiation which comes from outside the system of the present invention.
The passive radiation may for example be radiation reflected or scattered by the object or objects and it may also be radiation which is emitted from the object or objects. In other words, passive radiation is radiation which comes from outside the system of the present invention and which would have perceived by the viewer even without the system of the present invention.
By contrast, the term xe2x80x98active radiationxe2x80x99 as used herein is intended to include radiation which originates from a component of the system in question. Thus, for example, a conventional head-up-display (HUD) system includes a cathode ray tube (CRT), so that the radiation generated by the CRT is active radiation. A view of active radiation as herein defined is defined herein as a display.
The term xe2x80x98scenexe2x80x99 as referred herein specifically excludes any type of a display formed by active radiation, as used for example in HUD systems. The term xe2x80x98imagexe2x80x99 as used herein reads upon both scene and display, whereas a real image refers to a scene and a virtual image refers to a display.
Since the system of the present invention includes no source of radiation, all the radiation perceived by the viewer using the system of the present invention is passive radiation. It is to be noted that, as defined herein, in the context of the present invention, even radiation which is emitted, for example, from a television screen or computer monitor, is considered passive radiation since neither the television screen nor the computer monitor is a part of the system of the present invention.
A high percentage of the population is in need of eyeglasses due to various vision defects.
Conventional eyeglasses typically include a frame to support the glasses in a suitable position in front of the eyes of the viewer, and two lenses implemented within the frame, one for each of the eyes of the viewer. Each of the lenses is acquired a focal characteristic to compensate for its specific eye vision defect.
Thus for example, in cases of myopia, which is a vision defect of focus, resulting from too much power in the eye lens and cornea and/or too long an eyeball, the image of a distant object falls ahead of the retina and cannot be focused sharply due to extensive amount of positive focal power, a negative lens is chosen so that its image is formed at the most distant point on which the myopic eye can focus.
On the other hand, in cases of hyperopia, the reverse of myopia which results from too little power in the refracting elements of the eye and/or too short an eyeball, the image of a distant object is formed (when the eye is relaxed) behind the retina. Hyperopia is therefore compensated for by a positive lens.
Myopia and hyperopia are vision defects associated with viewing distant objects. Presibyopia, on the other hand, is an example for a vision defect associated with viewing close objects, which in many cases impairs the ability to read. Presibyopia results from the hardening of the material of the lens which typically comes with age, and leads to a limited ability to focus (accommodate) the eye with respect to close objects. Presibyopia is therefore compensated for by a positive lens which enables a user to comfortably read.
However, in many cases a single eye suffers from both a long distance vision defect such as myopia or hipermyopia limiting its landscape vision capabilities and a short distance vision defect such as presibyopia limiting its reading capabilities.
A person with such a dual eye defect is in need of either two sets of eyeglasses, the first offers corrective optics for the long distance vision defect and the other offers corrective optics for the short distance vision defect, or alternatively, a set of what is known in the art as bifocal eyeglasses which include bifocal lenses, each is in fact the combination of two lenses having given (yet different) focal lengths and optical characteristics, arranged one aside the other. Multifocal eyeglasses are also known although less frequently used due to their high price and the inability of many individuals to accommodate to their use.
Nevertheless, both these solutions suffer limitations. Using two pairs of eyeglasses, one pair for reading and the other for long distance viewing, requires changing the glasses each time a user moves his site from a close to a distant object, and wise versa. Using bi- or multifocal eyeglasses dictates different lines of site for viewing close and distant objects and limits the field of view in both cases. Typically, for reading the user is required to lower his eyes while maintaining a substantially straight forward head position. Should the close object be positioned straight ahead relative to the viewer, in order to sharply view the close object, the viewer is required to tilt his head backwards and at the same time to lower his eyes. All this leads in many cases to head and neck problems, which is the reason why many individuals prefer not to use bifocal eyeglasses.
There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, an optical system for alternative or simultaneous direction of light originating from two scenes to the eye of a viewer, as such a system can be used to provide bi- or multi focal eyeglasses, using which does not require inconvenient head and eye positioning relative to the viewed scene.
Many situations exist in which a viewer is interested in viewing scenes located in different locations with respect to the viewer. Examples include but are not limited to (i) taking notes while viewing a blackboard, a lecturer or a display (e.g., a slides screen), in this case the viewer is interested at viewing both his notes, which are typically located on a table or a writing board, and the blackboard, lecturer or display; (ii) drawing while viewing the object to be drawn (e.g., landscape), in this case the viewer is interested at viewing both his drawing board and the drawn object; (iii) typing on a keyboard while viewing the screen, in this case a non professional typist is interested at viewing both the keyboard and the screen; (iv) locking at or reading from a printed matter (e.g., a map, a guide book, etc.) while viewing another scene (e.g., a road, an instrument, etc.), in this case the viewer is interested at viewing both the printed matter and the other scene.
However, since the field of view in which a viewer can focus is relatively narrow, in the above and similar situations the viewer is required to move his eyes site back and forth between the scenes, such that at any given time the viewer sees only one of the scenes. This in turn creates disadvantages since (i) when the viewer sees one scene he may not become aware to a change in the other scene, thus for example, a driver or a pilot, while viewing a road or navigation map, cannot at the same time view the road or sky ahead; and (ii) the viewer finds it difficult to compare between scenes, thus for the painter it is difficult to compare his drawing to the object being drawn, for the typist it is difficult to detect a typological error, for the student it is harder to accurately copy schemes from the blackboard or display into his notes, etc.
There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, an optical system for simultaneous direction of light originating from two scenes to the eyes of a viewer.
According to the present invention there is provided an optical system for alternative or simultaneous direction of light originating from at least two scenes to the eye of a viewer. There is further provided an optical system for simultaneous direction of light originating from two scenes to an eye or both eyes of a viewer which can be used to enable the viewer to simultaneously view a first scene and a second scene. The optical system according to the present invention involves use of only passive radiation originating from the viewed scenes and in sharp contrast to head-up-display (HUD) systems does not employ active radiation.
According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, the system comprising (a) a first lens having a first focal length; (b) a second lens having a second focal length, the first and second lenses being positioned aside one another in front of one of the eyes of the viewer, such that a single light beam from any of the scenes passes only through one of the first and second lenses; and (c) an optical arrangement for directing incident light originating from the first scene and passing through the first lens into the eye of the viewer, and at the same time, for directing incident light originating from the second scene and passing through the second lens into the eye of the viewer, the optical arrangement being positioned between the first and second lenses and the eye of the viewer.
According to another embodiment of the invention the system comprising (a) a magnifying-collimating eyepiece lens having a short focal length, for magnifying a close scene and for collimating light passing through the magnifying-collimating lens; (b) an optical arrangement for directing incident light originating from the close scene and passing through the magnifying-collimating lens into the eye of the viewer, and at the same time, for directing incident light originating from a distant scene into the eye of the viewer; and (c) a corrective eyepiece lens for compensating for a long distance visual defect, the corrective lens being positioned between the optical arrangement and the eye of the viewer.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the optical arrangement includes a holographic plate.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the holographic plate includes at least one holographic optical element.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the holographic plate includes a first input holographic optical element for permitting incident light passing through the first lens to enter the holographic plate.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the holographic plate includes a first input holographic optical element for permitting incident light passing through the magnifying-collimating lens to enter the holographic plate.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the holographic plate further includes a second input holographic optical element for permitting incident light passing through the second lens to enter the holographic plate.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the holographic plate further includes a second input holographic optical element for permitting incident light originating from the distant scene to enter the holographic plate.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the holographic plate further includes an output holographic optical element for permitting light entering the holographic plate to leave the holographic plate and reach the eye of the viewer.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the optical arrangement includes at least one reflective optical element.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the system further comprising (d) a light blocking mechanism for, at least at a given period of time, blocking light of one of the first and second scenes from arriving onto the eye of the viewer.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the optical system further comprising (d) a light blocking mechanism for, at least at a given period of time, blocking light of one of the close and distant scenes from arriving onto the eye of the viewer.
According to another embodiment of the invention provided are eyeglasses comprising two optical systems as in any of the above described embodiments.
According to another embodiment of the invention provided is a headset for three-dimensional viewing comprising two optical systems including a light blocking mechanism.
According to another embodiment of the invention provided is an optical system to be used by a viewer to acquire a three-dimensional perception of a scene presented by a first image and a second image each of the first and second images contain parallax information of the scene, the system comprising a first holographic plate and a second holographic plate, each of the first and second holographic plates including (a) a body made of a light transmitting material, the body having a first side and a second side; (b) at least one input holographic optical element formed in the first side of the body, the material and each of the input holographic optical elements are selected such that incident light entering the body and having a given direction is diffracted and undergoes substantially total internal reflection; and (c) at least one output holographic optical element formed in the second side of the body, such that light arriving at any of the output holographic optical elements exits the body in a direction substantially similar to the given direction of the incident light; wherein, the first holographic plate is for permitting substantially only light originating from the first image to arrive at one eye of the viewer, whereas the second holographic plate is for permitting substantially only light originating from the second image to arrive at the other eye of the viewer.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments each of the holographic optical elements further includes a light blocking mechanism to effect the permissions.
According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, provided is a method for enabling a viewer to view a first scene and a second scene, the method comprising the steps of (a) providing the viewer with a first eyepiece lens having a first focal length; (b) providing the viewer with a second eyepiece lens having a second focal length, the first and second lenses being positioned aside one another in front of one of the eyes of the viewer, such that a single light beam from any of the scenes passes only through one of the first and second lenses; and (c) providing the viewer with an optical arrangement for directing incident light originating from the first scene and passing through the first lens into the eye of the viewer, and at the same time, for directing incident light originating from the second scene and passing through the second lens into the eye of the viewer, the optical arrangement being positioned between the first and second lenses and the eye of the viewer.
According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, provided is a method to be used by a viewer to view a close scene and a distant scene, the method comprising th steps of (a) providing the viewer with a magnifying-collimating eyepiece lens having a short focal length, for magnifying the close scene and for collimating light passing through the magnifying-collimating lens; (b) providing the viewer with an optical arrangement for directing incident light originating from the close scene and passing through the magnifying-collimating lens into an eye of the viewer, and at the same time, for directing incident light originating from the distant scene into the same eye of the viewer; and (c) providing the viewer with a corrective eyepiece lens for compensating for a long distance visual defect, the corrective lens being positioned between the optical arrangement and the same eye of the viewer.
According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, provided is an optical system for enabling a viewer to simultaneously view a first scene and a second scene, both the first and second scenes are perceived by the viewer through passive radiation, the system comprising (a) a head arrangement for mounting the system on the head of the viewer, for positioning the optical system in front of an eye of the viewer; and (b) a beamsplitter being positioned such that light originating from the first scene and light originating from the second scene both are simultaneously directed into the eye of the viewer.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the first scene is a close scene and the second scene is a distant scene, such that light originating from the distant scene is naturally substantially collimated, the system further comprising (c) a collimating lens for collimating light originating from the close scene, the collimating lens being supported by the head arrangement.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the first and second scenes are both close scenes, such that light originating from any of the scenes is a non-collimated light, the system further comprising (c) a first collimating lens for collimating light originating from the first scene, the first collimating lens being supported by the head arrangement; and (d) a second collimating lens for collimating light originating from the second scene, the second collimating lens being supported by the head arrangement.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the system further comprising (c) at least one reflector being supported by the head arrangement, the at least one reflector being for directing light originating from the first scene onto the beamsplitter.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the system further comprising (c) a corrective optical lens for correcting a vision defect of the viewer, the corrective optical lens being positioned between the beamsplitter and the eye of the viewer, the corrective optical lens being supported by the head arrangement.
According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, provided is a method for enabling a viewer to simultaneously view a first scene and a second scene, both the first and second scenes are perceived by the viewer through passive radiation, the method comprising the step of (a) providing the viewer with a beamsplitter positioned such that light originating from the first scene and light originating from the second scene both simultaneously directed at an eye of the viewer.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the first scene is a close scene and the second scene is a distant scene, such that light originating from the distant scene is naturally substantially collimated, the method further comprising the step of (b) providing the viewer with a collimating lens for collimating light originating from the close scene.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the first and second scenes are both close scenes, such that light originating from any of the scenes is a non-collimated light, the method further comprising the steps of (b) providing the viewer with a first collimating lens for collimating light originating from the first scene; and (c) providing the viewer with a second collimating lens for collimating light originating from the second scene.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the method further comprising the step of (b) providing the viewer with at least one reflector, the at least one reflector being for directing light originating from the first scene onto the beamsplitter.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the method further comprising the step of (b) providing the viewer with a corrective optical lens for correcting a vision defect of the viewer, the corrective optical lens being positioned between the beamsplitter and the eye of the viewer.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the beamsplitter is moveable with respect to the head arrangement for permitting the viewer to adjust the system at viewing the first and second scenes when the viewer moves his head and for permitting the viewer to select another pair of scenes to be simultaneously viewed.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the first and second scenes are both distant, such that light originating from the scenes is naturally substantially collimated.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments at least one of the at least one reflectors and the beamsplitter is moveable with respect to the head arrangement for permitting the viewer to adjust the system at viewing the first and second scenes when the viewer moves his head, and for permitting the viewer to select at least one replacement scene to be simultaneously viewed with the second scene.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the beamsplitter and the reflector are formed as a first surface and a second surface, respectively, of a single optical element having a volume.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the reflector is a collimating reflector and the beamsplitter is a collimating beamsplitter, such that light originating from the first scene is collimated by the collimating reflector before reaching the beamsplitter.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the beamsplitter and the at least one reflector are arranged with respect to the first scene and with respect to the eye of the viewer such that the first scene is viewed in a steep angle.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the beamsplitter is a collimating beamsplitter, such that light originating from the first scene is collimated by the collimating beamsplitter before reaching the eye of the viewer.
According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, provided is a headset for enabling a viewer to simultaneously view a first scene and a second scene comprising two optical systems as described above each of the two systems being positioned in front of one of the eyes of the viewer.
According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, provided is a headset for enabling a viewer to simultaneously view a first scene with one eye and a second scene with the other eye, the headset comprising an optical systems as described above, the optical system being positioned in front of the one eye of the viewer, the beamsplitter functions substantially only as a reflective surface, so that light originating from the first scene is directed onto the one eye of the viewer while the one eye of the viewer is directed towards the second scene, whereas at the same time, the second eye of the viewer is directed at the second scene.
According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, provided is an optical system for enabling a viewer to simultaneously view a first scene and a second scene, both the first and second scenes are perceived by the viewer through passive radiation, the system comprising a holographic plate, the holographic plate including (a) a body made of a light transmitting material, the body having a first side and a second side; (b) at least one input holographic optical element formed in the first side of the body, the material and each of the at least one input holographic optical elements are selected such that incident light entering the body and having a given direction is diffracted and undergoes a substantially total internal reflection; and (c) at least one output holographic optical element formed in the second side of the body, such that light arriving at any of the at least one output holographic optical elements exits the body in a direction substantially similar to the given direction of the incident light (i.e., enters from one side of the plate, exits from the other) and reaches an eye of the viewer; wherein, the holographic plate is positioned with respect to the eye of the viewer, and the at least one input and output holographic optical elements are positioned with respect to the body, such that light originating from both the first and second scenes is simultaneously directed into the eye of the viewer.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the body is curved at least at one location.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the first scene is a close scene and the second scene is a distant scene, such that light originating from the distant scene is naturally substantially collimated, the system further comprising (d) a collimating lens for collimating light originating from the close scene.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the first and second scenes are both distant, such that light originating from both scenes is naturally substantially collimated.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the first and second scenes are both close scenes, such that light originating from any of the scenes is a non-collimated light, the system further comprising (d) a first collimating lens for collimating light originating from the first scene, the first collimating lens being positioned between the first scene and the holographic plate; and (e) a second collimating lens for collimating light originating from the second scene, the second collimating lens being positioned between the second scene and the holographic plate.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the system further comprising (d) a collimating lens being positioned between the holographic plate and the eye of the viewer, for collimating light originating from both the first and second scenes.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the system further comprising (d) a corrective optical lens for correcting a vision defect of the viewer, the corrective optical lens being positioned between the holographic plate and the eye of the viewer.
According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, provided is a headset for enabling a viewer to simultaneously view a first scene and a second scene comprising two optical systems as described above, each of the two systems being positioned in front of one of the eyes of the viewer.
According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, provided is a headset for enabling a viewer to simultaneously view a first scene with one eye and a second scene with the other eye, the headset comprising an optical systems as described, the optical system being positioned in front of the one eye of the viewer, the system permitting light from the first scene to arrive to the one eye of the viewer, while at the same time blocking light originating from the second scene from arriving at the one eye while the one eye of the viewer is directed towards the second scene, whereas, at the same time, the second eye of the viewer is directed at the second scene.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the first and second scenes form a pair of related scenes, the pair of related scenes is selected from the group of pairs of scenes consisting of a notexe2x80x94a blackboard, a notexe2x80x94a lecturer, a notexe2x80x94a screen, a drawxe2x80x94a drawn object, a keyboardxe2x80x94a screen, a printed matterxe2x80x94screen, a printed matterxe2x80x94a road ahead and a printed matterxe2x80x94sky ahead.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments provided is a method for enabling a viewer to simultaneously view a first scene and a second scene, both the first and second scenes are perceived by the viewer through passive radiation, the method comprising the steps of (a) providing the viewer with a holographic plate through which the viewer sees the scenes, the holographic plate including (i) a body made of a light transmitting material, the body having a first side and a second side; (ii) at least one input holographic optical element formed in the first side of the body, the material and each of the at least one input holographic optical elements are selected such that incident light entering the body via at least one input holographic optical element and having a given direction undergoes a substantially total internal reflection; and (iii) at least one output holographic optical element formed in the second side of the body, such that light arriving at any of the at least one output holographic optical elements exits the body in a direction substantially similar to the given direction of the incident light and reaches one of the eyes of the viewer; and (b) positioning the holographic plate with respect to the eye of the viewer, and the at least one input and output holographic optical elements with respect to the body, such that passive light radiation originating from both the first and second scenes is simultaneously directed into the eye of the viewer.
The present invention successfully addresses the shortcomings of the presently known configurations by providing an optical system for alternative or simultaneous direction of light from two scenes to the eye of a viewer, as such an optical system (i) may replace bifocal eyeglasses and be used with more ease and comfort as it requires no change in head positioning, nor a change in the direction at which the eyes of the viewer are directed at, as bifocal eyeglasses require upon changing from long distance to short distance viewing; (ii) may be used for three-dimensional viewing and for (iii) bringing visual information typically outside the field of view of the viewer into that field of view, without the viewer required to change his head positioning and/or eyes direction. The present invention further addresses the shortcomings of the presently known configurations by providing an optical system for simultaneous direction of passive light radiation originating from two scenes to the eye of a viewer which can be used to enable the viewer to simultaneously view pairs of related scenes.
Additional features, objectives and advantages of the optical systems according to the present invention are described in the following sections.

Optical system for alternative or simultaneous direction of light originating from two scenes to the eye of a viewer


A method and apparatus for presenting subliminal visual and/or audio messages which allows user verification of message content and presence, as well as proper adjustment of message obviousness while accounting for ambient conditions and user sensitivities is disclosed. This method and apparatus also presents synchronized reinforced sensory input of subliminal messages. This is performed by simultaneously overlaying images received from a VCR over a plurality of television signals. This apparatus directs overlay images over RF television signals having both audio and video components.

Many apparatus are in the market place today which purport to influence individuals' behavior through use of signals presented below the level of the individual's conscious awareness. Among uses for these subliminal message presentation devices, they are well accepted as a form of selfhelp. Applications for such device include: loosing weight, stopping smoking, developing better study habits, etc.
Such devices are found in several forms. One of the most common of these forms is audio cassette tapes with music or natural sounds, such as waves or wind, masking verbal audio suggestions. Individuals play these tapes in their stereos or portable tape players, generally while working, resting or conducting other activities.
Another common form of subliminal device found in the market today is subliminal video cassette tapes. Such tapes generally show relaxing scenes; such as a beach at sunset or a pine forest in the mountains, while presenting sound tracks of music or natural sounds. Subliminal messages may be present in the visual and-or the audio portion of such tapes. These tapes require the individual to watch a television set to get the tapes' full benefits.
Many problems are presented by these subliminal devices. First, there is no way an individual may verify if any subliminal messages are being presented by such devices. By definition, the messages presented are at levels which are not readily detectable.
Continuing, there is no way an individual may positively verify what subliminal messages he or she is receiving. This is a major drawback because an individual must trust the manufacturer to place correct and positive subliminal messages on the tape. Some of these devices supply scripts and-or recordings of what they claim has been subliminally recorded. But there is no proof that these are accurate.
Next, there is no way an individual may adjust the level at which such subliminal messages are presented. These devices have their subliminal messages recorded at a fixed level of obviousness relative to their visual and/or audio masking signals. An individual has no means to alter this level.
Next, there is no way an individual may adjust the level of the subliminal signal to account for local environmental conditions. As an example, a subliminal audio tape being played in a quiet room may have its messages presented at an acceptable level of obviousness, but the same tape played in a noisy room may have its messages drowned out and reduced to a level which has no influence whatsoever, even on an individual's subconscious.
Next, there is no way an individual may adjust the level of the subliminal signal to account for the individual's own levels of perceptions and awareness. Some individuals are keenly aware of low level visual and/or audio signals while others take little or no notice of the same signals. But current devices have no means for an individual to adjust subliminal signals to account for their own sensitivities.
These devices also compel individuals to listen to and/or watch the same masking signals every time the device is used. A water fall scene or a passage of music may seem pleasing on its first playing, but after several repetitions, an individual may not wish to continue using the device.

Subliminal device having manual adjustment of perception level of subliminal messages


An anti-theft and anti-carjacking system for an engine powered vehicle. The system has a remote transmitter which selectively operates a vehicle mounted receiver and switch. The switch, when actuated to a selected position, interrupts electrical continuity. The transmitter is compact and is preferably embodied in an article carried or worn by the driver such as a wristwatch. In the preferred embodiment, activating the system to the anti-theft or armed condition will also engage an internally mounted lock in the engine compartment to prevent attempts at circumventing the system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device to deter and prevent theft of vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a remotely actuable device which will interrupt the electrical system of the vehicle so that the operator of a vehicle may safely disable the vehicle from a distance when it is parked or immediately after the owner has been forced from the vehicle in a carjacking.
2. Background of the Invention
Automobile theft is a serious crime which is increasing in magnitude. Theft of automobiles results in enormous cost to society in the form of higher insurance rates and taxes for additional police enforcement. In some instances automobiles are stolen for their value. It has recently been estimated that auto theft is about the sixtieth largest "business" in the United States. Stolen automobiles may be sold by the thieves or the automobile may be stripped of its valuable components such as electronic components and other parts. However, recently increases in a type of auto theft known as "carjacking" has occurred. Carjackings are particularly serious because the automobile is generally stolen from the driver of the vehicle while it is occupied. The driver is ordered from the automobile at gun point and the hapless driver watches the thieves drive away in the automobile. The stolen automobiles are sometimes used for joy-riding or may be used in the commission of another crime. Drivers who resist carjackers are subject to being assaulted or shot.
Various anti-theft devices for vehicles can be found in the prior art. One of the most common types is an internal lock on the steering mechanism of the vehicle. However, these locks can easily be broken and circumvented by thieves. Other locking devices such as steering wheel lock bars such as the widely advertised device advertised under the trademark "The Club" are used.
Various electronic alarms have been employed which emit an audible signal or siren in an effort to reduce or deter theft. However, these devices are often ignored by passers-by since they are subject to falsing.
While the aforementioned alarms and anti-theft devices are, to some extent, effective in discouraging theft of unattended automobiles, they generally have little or no effect on carjackings. Carjackings often occur in parking lots or at traffic control signals and the operator is threatened and forced to exit the automobile. Thereafter the thief drives away with the vehicle.
The present invention addresses the need for an effective system to prevent and deter carjacking. Also, the present invention is described with reference to use in an automobile but it is to be understood that the present invention has application to various types of vehicles including boats, trucks and even construction equipment where theft is a problem.
The present invention is effective in carjacking situations and also is an effective theft preventative device when a car is left unattended in a parking area.
Various prior art patents which are representative of the current state-of-the-art-art relative to vehicle security devices for deterring and preventing are as follows.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,728 describes a system which allows the owner of a stolen automobile to dial a telephone number which causes a signal code to be transmitted from a mobile telephone network. When the signal is received by the automobile and matches a program disabling code, the automobile is disabled.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,267 discusses vehicle anti-theft devices of the type having a self-contained battery powered transmitter which are activated by a push button and which may be carried by the user. By depressing the push buttons, the user may send a coded signal at a high frequency which is received by a central unit. If the correct code is received, the central unit will activate or de-activate the device which blocks operation of the vehicle engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,948 discloses an anti-carjacking device which may be remotely operated by the vehicle operator who has been forcibly removed from his or her vehicle. The device performs alarm signaling functions and also operates to lock the vehicle doors and windows to confine the thief within the vehicle.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,298,878 and 5,360,997 disclose somewhat similar devices. These devices rely on the use of a hidden or disguised switch which may be operated by the driver in the event of a carjacking. After a predetermined period of time, the switch will operate to disable the automobile. The device of the '878 patent also has provision for a device that will activate the horn and disperse teargas through the vehicle ventilation system once the vehicle is disabled.
Accordingly, while there are various vehicle tracking and anti-theft devices available, there still exists a need for a simple, effective system to protect vehicles and deter carjackings.
It is therefore a broad object of the present invention to provide a remotely activated automobile disabling system which allows the driver to disable the vehicle exteriorly of the vehicle by interrupting the electrical system of the vehicle.
It is a broad object of the present invention to provide a vehicle security system of the general type which is adaptable for retrofit installation in existing vehicles and may be provided as original equipment on new vehicles.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle security system which can be remotely activated by a carjacking victim after the victim has exited the car and is a safe distance from the vehicle.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a remotely actuable security system which has a transmitter which is worn or carried by the operator and which will also when activated lock the engine compartment to prevent the would-be thief from destroying, disarming or bypassing the system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system that utilizes the existing vehicle horn as an audible alarm device.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a security system for vehicles which includes a motion or vibration sensor that is sensitivity adjustable to detect attempted break-ins.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle security system which is simple, relatively low in cost and which is easily installed by the mechanic or vehicle owner.

Remotely activated vehicle anti-theft and anti-carjacking device


A power storage system includes a power generation element that performs environmental power generation, a first storage battery that receives power generated by the power generation element and supplies the power to a load device, a second storage battery that has a capacitance smaller than that of the first storage battery and is connected in series with the first storage battery, a first switcher that is connected in parallel to the second storage battery, short-circuits both terminals of the second storage battery in a closed state, and releases a short-circuited state of the second storage battery in an open state, and a switching unit that controls the opened and closed states of the first switcher.

In recent years, energy harvesting devices (environmental power generation elements) such as wireless sensors or remote control switches that operate without wiring or battery replacement by obtaining electrical energy from a surrounding environment due to realization of low power consumption of an electronic circuit or a wireless technology have attracted attention. Therefore, for example, a low-illuminance dye-sensitized solar battery for energy harvesting assumed to be used in indoor light of a fluorescent light, LED illumination, or the like has been developed.
There is a power supply device using a related lithium ion capacitor (see Patent Document 1). The power supply device described in Patent Document 1 is a power supply device including a lithium ion capacitor, and includes a power control unit that operates the lithium ion capacitor in a voltage range from 2.0 V to 3.2 V.
Further, Patent Document 1 describes that an appropriate amount of power generation required for a solar battery is obtained on the basis of a power demand amount, and the amount of power generation of a solar battery is adjusted according to a required generated power amount.
Further, attempts have been made to cause a solar battery to generate power under a low-illuminance environment such as indoor light, accumulate the generated power in a storage battery, and drive a load device with the stored power. In this case, it is desirable to use a lithium ion capacitor as the storage battery since the lithium ion capacitor has a large capacitance and a low leakage current.
Lithium ion capacitors that are commercially available are mainly lithium ion capacitors with 40 F (farads) or more, such as 40 F or 100 F. Further, it is preferable for a lithium ion capacitor to be used at a voltage of 2.0 V or higher from the viewpoint of prevention of deterioration of cells, as described in Patent Document 1. Therefore, a power supply device prevents a voltage of a lithium ion capacitor from becoming a voltage of 2.5 V or lower, for example, in consideration of a margin. Therefore, when a charging voltage of a lithium ion capacitor decreases and is lower than 2.5 V, an operation of a load device is temporarily stopped and supply of power is stopped. Thereafter, in the power supply device, when the power generation element starts power generation, recharging of the lithium ion capacitor is started by the power generation element.

Power storage system and power storage method


Provided herein are compounds of formula I:

Chromatin modification plays an essential role in transcriptional regulation (T. Kouzarides, 2007, Cell 128: 693-705). These modifications, which include DNA methylation, histone acetylation and hsitone methylation, are disregulated in tumors. This epigenetic disregulation plays an important role in the silencing of tumor suppressors and overexpression of oncogenes in cancer (M. Esteller, 2008, N Engl J Med 358:1148-59. P. Chi et al, 2010, Nat Rev Canc 10:457-469.). The enzymes that regulate histone methylation are the histone methyl transferases and the histone demethylases.
Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1; also known as BHC110) is a histone lysine demethylase reported to demethylate H3K4mel/2 (Y. Shi et al., 2004, Cell 119: 941-953) and H3K9mel/2 (R. Schule et al., 2005, Nature 437: 436-439). LSD1 is overexpressed in multiple human cancers, including prostate where it is associated with more frequent relapse (P. Kahl et al., 2006, Canc. Res. 66: 11341-11347), breast (J. Kirfel et al., 2010, Carcinogenesis 31: 512-520) and neuroblastoma (J. Kirfel et al., 2009, Canc. Res. 69: 2065-2071. G. Sun et al., 2010, Mol. Cell. Biol. 28: 1997-2000). LSD1 is essential for transcriptional regulation mediated by a number of nuclear hormone receptors, including androgen receptor in prostate cancer (R. Schuele et al., 2005, Nature 437: 436-439. R. Schuele et al., 2007, Nat. Cell Biol. 9: 347-353. R. Schuele et al., 2010, Nature 464: 792796), estrogen receptor in breast carcinomas (M. G. Rosenfeld et al., 2007, Cell 128: 505-25518), and TLX receptor in neuorblastoma (S. Kato et al., 2008, Mol. Cell. Biol. 28: 3995-4003). These studies have shown that knockdown of LSD1 expression results in decreased cancer cell proliferation. Additionally, LSD1 is overexpressed in multiple cancer types that are nuclear hormone receptor-independent. Those tumors include ER-negative breast (J. Kirfel et al., 2010, Carcinogenesis 31: 512-520), small-cell lung, bladder, head & neck, colon, serous ovary, and kidney Wilm's tumor.
There is a need for treatments for cancer and other diseases. There is also a need for inhibitors of LSD1 that may be useful for the treatment of various diseases (e.g., cancer)

Abstract: and salts thereof and compositions and uses thereof. The compounds are useful as inhibitors of LSD1. Also included are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and methods of using such compounds and salts in the treatment of various LSD1-mediated disorders.


Provided is a power supply device integrally combined with an electrical device body including a motor, comprising a rechargeable battery for supplying power to the motor, a microcomputer for detecting a residual capacity and a battery voltage of the battery, and a switching element provided between the battery and the microcomputer. The microcomputer stops charging the battery when the detected residual capacity has become 100%, and when the detected value of the battery voltage has become lower than a peak value after the value of the battery voltage passes the peak value, making it possible to prevent overcharging of the battery. The microcomputer also controls to turn off the switching element to stop the power supply from the battery to the microcomputer when the residual capacity becomes less than a predetermined threshold value, making it possible to reduce power consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power supply device comprising a rechargeable battery for supplying power to a load of a motor, a lamp or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a power supply device comprising a rechargeable battery for supplying power to a load of a motor, a lamp or the like, it is necessary to prevent overcharging of the rechargeable battery so as to prevent overheating and explosion of the battery. Thus, conventionally, a microcomputer in many such power supply devices is provided with a function to detect a residual capacity of the rechargeable battery (residual capacity detection function) so as to stop (end) charging the rechargeable battery when the microcomputer detects that the residual capacity has become 100% (full charge). However, in the full charge detection method using the residual capacity detection function, it is required to continuously operate the microcomputer to control at least the amount of charged current to the rechargeable battery and the amount of discharged current from the rechargeable battery to the load, resulting in the problem of power consumption in the microcomputer. Japanese Laid-open Patent Publications No. 2005-278371 and No. Hei 7-143687 disclose power supply devices of this kind with a residual capacity detection function.
On the other hand, a nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery has a characteristic such that the moment when it reaches a state of full charge is a moment when the value of the battery voltage becomes slightly lower than a peak value after (reaching and) passing the peak value. More specifically, the nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery has a charge characteristic (hereafter referred to as a first charge characteristic) that if the charging is started when the nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery has a residual capacity less than a certain threshold value, it reaches a state of full charge when the value of the battery voltage has become slightly lower than the peak value after the value of the battery voltage passes the peak value. Thus, there has been an increase in the number of power supply devices, comprising a nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery and using the first charge characteristic, that determine that the battery has reached a state of full charge when the value of the battery voltage has become slightly lower than the peak value after passing the peak value, so as to stop charging the nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery. Such power supply devices, in contrast to the power supply devices with the residual capacity detection function described above, do not make it necessary to continuously operate the microcomputer to control the amount of charged current and the amount of discharged current, making it possible to reduce power consumption.

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


An integrated circuit includes a memory having an address space and a memory controller coupled to the memory for accessing the address space in response to received memory accesses. The memory controller further accesses a plurality of data elements in a first portion of the address space, and reliability data corresponding to the plurality of data elements in a second portion of the address space.

Consumers continue to demand computer systems with higher performance and lower cost. To address higher performance requirements, computer chip designers have developed integrated circuits with multiple processor cores on a single chip. In addition, various die stacked integration technologies have been developed that package the multi-core integrated microprocessor and associated memory chips as a single component. However memory chips are susceptible to various fault conditions. In the case of memory chips used in stacked die configurations, when a permanent fault occurs, it is not possible to easily replace the memory chip without replacing all other chips in the stack.
In the following description, the use of the same reference numerals in different drawings indicates similar or identical items. Unless otherwise noted, the word "coupled" and its associated verb forms include both direct connection and indirect electrical connection by means known in the art, and unless otherwise noted any description of direct connection implies alternate embodiments using suitable forms of indirect electrical connection as well.


A CPU heat sink mounting structure including a CPU, a heat sink attached to one side of the CPU to hold an electric fan for dissipating heat from the CPU, and a plurality of clamps fastened to the heat sink to hold down the CPU, each clamp having a forked mounting portion fastened to a respective retaining hole on the heat sink and a clamping portion clamped on the CPU to hold down the CPU on the heat sink.

The present invention relates to a CPU heat sink mounting structure for detachably fastening a heat sink to a CPU by clamps permitting heat to be quickly carried away from the CPU by the radiating fins of the heat sink and the fan, which is installed in the heat sink within the radiating fins.
The CPU of an electronic apparatus will release heat during its operation. If heat cannot be quickly carried away, the operation of the CPU and the nearby electronic components will be affected, causing operation errors. Electric fans are now commonly used for this purpose. However, the installation of an electric fan still cannot quickly effectively carry heat away from the CPU.

3F., No. 4, Lane 327, Alley 11, Chung Shan Rd.


A network element controls congestion in a link of a packet data network. A congested link is identified and a throttle rate is determined for one or more of the traffic groups traversing the congested link. The central controller determines the throttle rates using a weight of the group and the current traffic rate of the group through the link. The throttle rates are sent to switches to throttle traffic for each affected group.

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) has been used as a reliable transport layer protocol for packet data networking for decades. It is particularly seen combined with Internet Protocol for TCP/IP and has been improved continuously over the years.
In the Internet, packet loss can occur because of transmission errors, but occurs more commonly because of congestion. TCP's has a congestion control mechanism that sees end-to-end packet loss and reacts by reducing the number of outstanding unacknowledged data segments allowed in the network.
However, not all Internet applications use TCP and therefore do not follow the same concept of congestion control. Some audio/video streaming applications, for example, use UDP (User Datagram Protocol) not TCP. Streaming is currently used for Internet audio players, IP-telephony, video conferencing and similar types of real-time applications. Since these applications commonly do not integrate TCP-compatible congestion control mechanisms, they treat competing TCP flows differently from how TCP flows treat other flows. Typically upon encountering congestion, all contending TCP-flows reduce their data rates in an attempt to dissolve the congestion, while the non-TCP flows continue to send at their original rate. This can lead to starvation of the TCP traffic, or even to a congestion collapse. The available bandwidth in a network is almost exclusively occupied by packets that are discarded because of congestion before they reach their destination. Congestion control is further limited in TCP and other mechanisms because the operations are performed in a distributed manner and are based on a limited knowledge about the congestion status of the overall network.

Congestion control in packet data networking