A system and method for a skateboard and for propelling the skateboard. The skateboard system includes a board including a first end and a second end, the first end offset from the second end, and the second end defining a board plane. The skateboard system also includes a truck assembly attached near the first end of the board, and a caster assembly attached near the second end of the board. The caster assembly has a caster pin at an angle with respect to the board plane. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to a system and method for a human powered vehicle. In particular, the present invention relates to a three-wheeled skateboard system and method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Over the years, conventional skateboards have become familiar to both children and adults. FIG. 1 is a perspective view diagram showing a general embodiment of a conventional skateboard of the prior art. Skateboard 100 includes a front truck assembly 102 and a rear truck assembly 104. As illustrated, the truck assemblies each include an axle and two wheels.
As illustrated, the conventional skateboard is constructed of an elongate board having a set of axially coupled wheels mounted beneath the board at each end of the board. In the past, this conventional design has been altered only slightly. For example, each two wheel set always included two wheels, but the sets may have been sized differently. In addition, the axle for each set may have been extended, and the elongate board may have been shaped differently to give an alternative look. Further, many aesthetic variations of the design have been implemented over time. These variations in aesthetic design have created a popular market that provides lucrative rewards to manufacturers and aesthetic designers of conventional skateboards. However, recently the conventional design of the skateboard has been modified significantly.
The conventional design of the skateboard has been modified such that each set of axially mounted wheels has been removed. FIG. 2 is a perspective view diagram showing a general embodiment of a contemporary skateboard 200 of the prior art. Contemporary skateboard 200 is illustrated to show an example of the skateboard including a front footboard and caster assembly 202 and a rear footboard and caster assembly 204. These two footboard/caster assemblies are mechanically coupled by means of a connecting element 206 which is often constructed of resilient and/or flexible material.
In contemporary skateboard designs, the conventional two wheel set at each end of the elongate board has been replaced with a single caster on each of two footboards. This single caster design has greatly enhanced a rider's enjoyment on a skateboard. This latest innovation in fundamental skateboard design has been well received throughout the world. As a result of the acceptance of the contemporary skateboard design, various manufacturers have begun competing for customers. At this point, businesses compete for consumers of the contemporary skateboard, again, mostly through altering aesthetics of the contemporary two caster skateboard design.
Aside from aesthetics, consumers appear to be drawn to the contemporary skateboard, at least in part, for the unusual riding techniques that are required to operate the contemporary skateboard. Unfortunately, as users seem to ignore, these unusual riding techniques that are required to operate the contemporary style of skateboard can be detrimental to skills that are learned in analogous winter or even water sports. For example, a sport such as snow boarding appears to be similar, but does not work the same muscle sets of a rider of the contemporary skateboard. Of note, when snow is unavailable, riders sometimes ill advisedly use the contemporary skateboard as a substitute for teaching/learning snow boarding skills. Riders seem to be unaware of the detrimental effects of the contemporary skateboards and, even if aware, seem to simply ignore the problem.
Further, riders/consumers may be confused by the similar look of the contemporary skateboard to a snow board. Still further, consumers may believe that they may improve their snow boarding skills by non-snow surface training on the contemporary skateboard. However, the unusual riding technique required by the contemporary skateboard, when the athlete uses the contemporary skateboard for snow board training, could actually reduce an athlete's snow board performance. In addition, the athlete simply seeking the feel of a snow board through the use of the contemporary skateboard when off the snow surface may be disappointed when discovering such deficiencies after purchasing the contemporary style skateboard.
Unfortunately, riders/consumers have mostly ignored these problems because of the new and exciting challenge associated with the contemporary skateboard. In fact, consumers that may not be familiar with snow board or surf board techniques have turned the contemporary skateboard market into a lucrative business, thereby discouraging manufacturers from changing the fundamental design of the contemporary skateboard. In addition, experienced snow board/surf board consumers do not look to the contemporary skateboard to meet their cross-training needs, but look to the contemporary skateboard for entertainment value. Therefore, manufacturers have not seen a need to change the fundamental skateboard design and have focused mostly on improving/changing skateboard aesthetics to capture market share.
From the foregoing discussion, what is unapparently needed, therefore, is a system and method for a skateboard that provides a user with a feel that is similar to a snow or surf board. Ironically, because contemporary skateboards are often considered unsafe for stability reasons, thrill seeking consumers often seek the contemporary skateboard exactly for these instability reasons and do not seek a more stable skateboard.
Recent advancements/alternatives in skateboard technology do not address this cross training aspect. In fact, the recent advancements even teach away from addressing cross training aspects. For example, some skateboard advancements fail to even slightly appear like a snow or surf board. Further, recent advancements often lead to a decrease in skateboard stability.
For example, "Caster Skate Apparatus" US 2007/0284835 A1 (Choi) addresses problems such as an inconvenient turning radius. Choi's solution to the inconvenient turning radius leads directly to creating more instability and absolutely no cross training benefits. Still further, cross training is ignored in "Two-wheeled Skateboard" U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,328 (Tipton) where the need for in-line skateboard skating is addressed. Of note, the in-line wheels preferred in Tipton also clearly teach away from increasing stability in a conventional skateboard.
In addition, "Skateboard With Direction Caster" U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,259 (Gang) addresses the steering aspect of skateboards by disclosing techniques to improve steering of a conventional skateboard. Among other things, Gang alters the wheel arrangement of conventional skateboards by including two or even three direction casters in place of the conventional two wheel set arrangements. Of note, even with the three wheel arrangement of Gang, the wheels are constructed such that less stability is offered with the three wheel arrangement.
Among all the different types of advancements in conventional skateboard technology, aside from the failure to address cross training appeal in a skateboard, stability appears to be an advancement that has actually been avoided. Apparently, stability has been intentionally avoided due to consumer choice.
Of note, neither conventional nor contemporary skateboard designs have addressed performance adaptations by means of providing subtle adjustments to truck, hanger (axle), or wheel position dimensions. Thus, skateboard adjustments to accommodate for both environmental conditions and the sometimes significant differences between experienced and inexperienced skateboard users have been ignored.
For example, skateboard changes such as the use of a reverse kingpin truck having a reverse kingpin have been reserved for more advanced skateboard designs such as high speed long-boards. As a result, inexperienced skateboard users are unable to perform minor adjustments to these more advanced skateboards that would make the more advanced skateboard conducive to use by the inexperienced skateboard user.
In addition, key spacing in both "wheelbase," which is defined as the space between front and rear axles, and "clearance," which is defined as the space between wheel axles and deck has not been made readily adjustable in skateboards of the past. Moreover, these adjustments differ on a traditional skateboard where front and rear wheels and trucks are essentially the same dimensions. Whereas, according to principles of the three-wheeled skateboard of the present invention, as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following disclosure, the predominantly one-directional design of the past makes these adjustments far more significant.
Also of note, as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the instant application, a caster pin may also be referred to herein as a "caster kingpin" and vice-versa.
In view of the prior art, the effort to improve the conventional skateboard appears to have skateboard manufacturers focused on creating a more challenging and/or aesthetically pleasing skateboard. Apparently, the practical nature of stability and/or cross training has been completely and intentionally ignored in the prior art.

Three-wheeled skateboard system and method


A container for receiving a gift, having an articulating closure feature such that arms extending from the flap mimic a waving or hugging motion of a character or other design depicted on the character. The container includes pleated sides to accommodate different size gifts and may further include a closing tab to securely close the container and a handle for carrying the container.

Existing containers that incorporate motion or similar features typically have flaps that are engaged along a container wall and pivot along an arc substantially parallel with a major axis of the container. These containers, however, may not realistically mimic the motion of a character depicted thereon nor securely close the container.


Data compression and decompression methods for compressing and decompressing data based on an actual or expected throughput (bandwidth) of a system. In one embodiment, a controller tracks and monitors the throughput (data storage and retrieval) of a data compression system and generates control signals to enable/disable different compression algorithms when, e.g., a bottleneck occurs so as to increase the throughput and eliminate the bottleneck.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to data compression and decompression and, in particular, to a system and method for compressing and decompressing data based on an actual or expected throughput (bandwidth) of a system that employs data compression. Additionally the present invention relates to the subsequent storage, retrieval, and management of information in data storage devices utilizing either compression and/or accelerated data storage and retrieval bandwidth.
2. Description of Related Art
There are a variety of data compression algorithms that are currently available, both well defined and novel. Many compression algorithms define one or more parameters that can be varied, either dynamically or a-priori, to change the performance characteristics of the algorithm. For example, with a typical dictionary based compression algorithm such as Lempel-Ziv, the size of the dictionary can affect the performance of the algorithm. Indeed, a large dictionary may be employed to yield very good compression ratios but the algorithm may take a long time to execute. If speed were more important than compression ratio, then the algorithm can be limited by selecting a smaller dictionary, thereby obtaining a much faster compression time, but at the possible cost of a lower compression ratio. The desired performance of a compression algorithm and the system in which the data compression is employed, will vary depending on the application.
Thus, one challenge in employing data compression for a given application or system is selecting one or more optimal compression algorithms from the variety of available algorithms. Indeed, the desired balance between speed and efficiency is typically a significant factor that is considered in determining which algorithm to employ for a given set of data. Algorithms that compress particularly well usually take longer to execute whereas algorithms that execute quickly usually do not compress particularly well.
Accordingly, a system and method that would provide dynamic modification of compression system parameters so as to provide an optimal balance between execution speed of the algorithm (compression rate) and the resulting compression ratio, is highly desirable.
Yet another problem within the current art is data storage and retrieval bandwidth limitations. Modern computers utilize a hierarchy of memory devices. In order to achieve maximum performance levels, modern processors utilize onboard memory and on board cache to obtain high bandwidth access to both program and data. Limitations in process technologies currently prohibit placing a sufficient quantity of onboard memory for most applications. Thus, in order to offer sufficient memory for the operating system(s), application programs, and user data, computers often use various forms of popular off-processor high speed memory including static random access memory (SRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), synchronous burst static ram (SBSRAM). Due to the prohibitive cost of the high-speed random access memory, coupled with their power volatility, a third lower level of the hierarchy exists for non-volatile mass storage devices. While mass storage devices offer increased capacity and fairly economical data storage, their data storage and retrieval bandwidth is often much less in relation to the other elements of a computing system.
Computers systems represent information in a variety of manners. Discrete information such as text and numbers are easily represented in digital data. This type of data representation is known as symbolic digital data. Symbolic digital data is thus an absolute representation of data such as a letter, figure, character, mark, machine code, or drawing.
Continuous information such as speech, music, audio, images and video, frequently exists in the natural world as analog information. As is well known to those skilled in the art, recent advances in very large scale integration (VLSI) digital computer technology have enabled both discrete and analog information to be represented with digital data. Continuous information represented as digital data is often referred to as diffuse data. Diffuse digital data is thus a representation of data that is of low information density and is typically not easily recognizable to humans in its native form.
Modern computers utilize digital data representation because of its inherent advantages. For example, digital data is more readily processed, stored, and transmitted due to its inherently high noise immunity. In addition, the inclusion of redundancy in digital data representation enables error detection and/or correction. Error detection and/or correction capabilities are dependent upon the amount and type of data redundancy, available error detection and correction processing, and extent of data corruption.
One outcome of digital data representation is the continuing need for increased capacity in data processing, storage, and transmittal. This is especially true for diffuse data where increases in fidelity and resolution create exponentially greater quantities of data. Data compression is widely used to reduce the amount of data required to process, transmit, or store a given quantity of information. In general, there are two types of data compression techniques that may be utilized either separately or jointly to encode/decode data: lossless and lossy data compression.
Over the last decade, computer processor performance has improved by at least a factor of 50. During this same period, magnetic disk storage has only improved by a factor of 5. Thus one additional problem with the existing art is that memory storage devices severely limit the performance of consumer, entertainment, office, workstation, servers, and mainframe computers for all disk and memory intensive operations.
For example, magnetic disk mass storage devices currently employed in a variety of home, business, and scientific computing applications suffer from significant seek-time access delays along with profound read/write data rate limitations. Currently the fastest available (15,000) rpm disk drives support only a 40.0 Megabyte per second data rate (MB/sec). This is in stark contrast to the modern Personal Computer's Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Bus's input/output capability of 512 MB/sec and internal local bus capability of 1600 MB/sec.
Another problem within the current art is that emergent high performance disk interface standards such as the Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI-3), iSCSI, Fibre Channel, AT Attachment UltraDMA/100+, Serial Storage Architecture, and Universal Serial Bus offer only higher data transfer rates through intermediate data buffering in random access memory. These interconnect strategies do not address the fundamental problem that all modern magnetic disk storage devices for the personal computer marketplace are still limited by the same typical physical media restriction. In practice, faster disk access data rates are only achieved by the high cost solution of simultaneously accessing multiple disk drives with a technique known within the art as data striping and redundant array of independent disks (RAID).
RAID systems often afford the user the benefit of increased data bandwidth for data storage and retrieval. By simultaneously accessing two or more disk drives, data bandwidth may be increased at a maximum rate that is linear and directly proportional to the number of disks employed. Thus another problem with modern data storage systems utilizing RAID systems is that a linear increase in data bandwidth requires a proportional number of added disk storage devices.
Another problem with most modern mass storage devices is their inherent unreliability. Many modern mass storage devices utilize rotating assemblies and other types of electromechanical components that possess failure rates one or more orders of magnitude higher than equivalent solid state devices. RAID systems employ data redundancy distributed across multiple disks to enhance data storage and retrieval reliability. In the simplest case, data may be explicitly repeated on multiple places on a single disk drive, on multiple places on two or more independent disk drives. More complex techniques are also employed that support various trade-offs between data bandwidth and data reliability.
Standard types of RAID systems currently available include RAID Levels 0, 1, and 5. The configuration selected depends on the goals to be achieved. Specifically data reliability, data validation, data storage/retrieval bandwidth, and cost all play a role in defining the appropriate RAID data storage solution. RAID level 0 entails pure data striping across multiple disk drives. This increases data bandwidth at best linearly with the number of disk drives utilized. Data reliability and validation capability are decreased. A failure of a single drive results in a complete loss of all data. Thus another problem with RAID systems is that low cost improved bandwidth requires a significant decrease in reliability.
RAID Level 1 utilizes disk mirroring where data is duplicated on an independent disk subsystem. Validation of data amongst the two independent drives is possible if the data is simultaneously accessed on both disks and subsequently compared. This tends to decrease data bandwidth from even that of a single comparable disk drive. In systems that offer hot swap capability, the failed drive is removed and a replacement drive is inserted. The data on the failed drive is then copied in the background while the entire system continues to operate in a performance degraded but fully operational mode. Once the data rebuild is complete, normal operation resumes. Hence, another problem with RAID systems is the high cost of increased reliability and associated decrease in performance.
RAID Level 5 employs disk data striping and parity error detection to increase both data bandwidth and reliability simultaneously. A minimum of three disk drives is required for this technique. In the event of a single disk drive failure, that drive may be rebuilt from parity and other data encoded on disk remaining disk drives. In systems that offer hot swap capability, the failed drive is removed and a replacement drive is inserted. The data on the failed drive is then rebuilt in the background while the entire system continues to operate in a performance degraded but fully operational mode. Once the data rebuild is complete, normal operation resumes.
Thus another problem with redundant modern mass storage devices is the degradation of data bandwidth when a storage device fails. Additional problems with bandwidth limitations and reliability similarly occur within the art by all other forms of sequential, pseudo-random, and random access mass storage devices. Typically mass storage devices include magnetic and optical tape, magnetic and optical disks, and various solid-state mass storage devices. It should be noted that the present invention applies to all forms and manners of memory devices including storage devices utilizing magnetic, optical, neural and chemical techniques or any combination thereof.
Yet another problem within the current art is the application and use of various data compression techniques. It is well known within the current art that data compression provides several unique benefits. First, data compression can reduce the time to transmit data by more efficiently utilizing low bandwidth data links. Second, data compression economizes on data storage and allows more information to be stored for a fixed memory size by representing information more efficiently.
For purposes of discussion, data compression is canonically divided into lossy and lossless techniques. Lossy data compression techniques provide for an inexact representation of the original uncompressed data such that the decoded (or reconstructed) data differs from the original unencoded/uncompressed data. Lossy data compression is also known as irreversible or noisy compression. Negentropy is defined as the quantity of information in a given set of data. Thus, one obvious advantage of lossy data compression is that the compression ratios can be larger than that dictated by the negentropy limit, all at the expense of information content. Many lossy data compression techniques seek to exploit various traits within the human senses to eliminate otherwise imperceptible data. For example, lossy data compression of visual imagery might seek to delete information content in excess of the display resolution or contrast ratio of the target display device.
On the other hand, lossless data compression techniques provide an exact representation of the original uncompressed data. Simply stated, the decoded (or reconstructed) data is identical to the original unencoded/uncompressed data. Lossless data compression is also known as reversible or noiseless compression. Thus, lossless data compression has, as its current limit, a minimum representation defined by the entropy of a given data set.
A rich and highly diverse set of lossless data compression and decompression algorithms exist within the current art. These range from the simplest "adhoc" approaches to highly sophisticated formalized techniques that span the sciences of information theory, statistics, and artificial intelligence. One fundamental problem with almost all modern approaches is the compression ratio to encoding and decoding speed achieved. As previously stated, the current theoretical limit for data compression is the entropy limit of the data set to be encoded. However, in practice, many factors actually limit the compression ratio achieved. Most modern compression algorithms are highly content dependent. Content dependency exceeds the actual statistics of individual elements and often includes a variety of other factors including their spatial location within the data set.
Of popular compression techniques, arithmetic coding possesses the highest degree of algorithmic effectiveness, and as expected, is the slowest to execute. This is followed in turn by dictionary compression, Huffman coding, and run-length coding with respectively decreasing execute times. What is not apparent from these algorithms, that is also one major deficiency within the current art, is knowledge of their algorithmic efficiency. More specifically, given a compression ratio that is within the effectiveness of multiple algorithms, the question arises as their corresponding efficiency.
Within the current art there also presently exists a strong inverse relationship between achieving the maximum (current) theoretical compression ratio, which we define as algorithmic effectiveness, and requisite processing time. For a given single algorithm the effectiveness over a broad class of data sets including text, graphics, databases, and executable object code is highly dependent upon the processing effort applied. Given a baseline data set, processor operating speed and target architecture, along with its associated supporting memory and peripheral set, we define algorithmic efficiency as the time required to achieve a given compression ratio. Algorithmic efficiency assumes that a given algorithm is implemented in an optimum object code representation executing from the optimum places in memory. This is almost never achieved in practice due to limitations within modern optimizing software compilers. It should be further noted that an optimum algorithmic implementation for a given input data set may not be optimum for a different data set. Much work remains in developing a comprehensive set of metrics for measuring data compression algorithmic performance, however for present purposes the previously defined terms of algorithmic effectiveness and efficiency should suffice.
Various solutions to this problem of optimizing algorithmic implementation are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,195,024 and 6,309,424, issued on Feb. 27, 2001 and Oct. 30, 2001, respectively, to James Fallon, both of which are entitled "Content Independent Data Compression Method and System," and are incorporated herein by reference. These patents describe data compression methods that provide content-independent data compression, wherein an optimal compression ratio for an encoded stream can be achieved regardless of the data content of the input data stream. As more fully described in the above incorporated patents, a data compression protocol comprises applying an input data stream to each of a plurality of different encoders to, in effect, generate a plurality of encoded data streams. The plurality of encoders are preferably selected based on their ability to effectively encode different types of input data. The final compressed data stream is generated by selectively combining blocks of the compressed streams output from the plurality of encoders based on one or more factors such as the optimal compression ratios obtained by the plurality of decoders. The resulting compressed output stream can achieve the greatest possible compression, preferably in real-time, regardless of the data content.
Yet another problem within the current art relates to data management and the use of existing file management systems. Present computer operating systems utilize file management systems to store and retrieve information in a uniform, easily identifiable, format. Files are collections of executable programs and/or various data objects. Files occur in a wide variety of lengths and must be stored within a data storage device. Most storage devices, and in particular, mass storage devices, work most efficiently with specific quantities of data. For example, modern magnetic disks are often divided into cylinders, heads and sectors. This breakout arises from legacy electromechanical considerations with the format of an individual sector often some binary multiple of bytes (512, 1024, . . . ). A fixed or variable quantity of sectors housed on an individual track. The number of sectors permitted on a single track is limited by the number of reliable flux reversals that can be encoded on the storage media per linear inch, often referred to as linear bit density. In disk drives with multiple heads and disk media, a single cylinder is comprised of multiple tracks.
A file allocation table is often used to organize both used and unused space on a mass storage device. Since a file often comprises more than one sector of data, and individual sectors or contiguous strings of sectors may be widely dispersed over multiple tracks and cylinders, a file allocation table provides a methodology of retrieving a file or portion thereof. File allocation tables are usually comprised of strings of pointers or indices that identify where various portions of a file are stored.
In-order to provide greater flexibility in the management of disk storage at the media side of the interface, logical block addresses have been substituted for legacy cylinder, head, sector addressing. This permits the individual disk to optimize its mapping from the logical address space to the physical sectors on the disk drive. Advantages with this technique include faster disk accesses by allowing the disk manufacturer greater flexibility in managing data interleaves and other high-speed access techniques. In addition, the replacement of bad media sectors can take place at the physical level and need not be the concern of the file allocation table or host computer. Furthermore, these bad sector replacement maps are definable on a disk by disk basis.
Practical limitations in the size of the data required to both represent and process an individual data block address, along with the size of individual data blocks, governs the type of file allocation tables currently in use. For example, a 4096 byte logical block size (8 sectors) employed with 32 bit logical block addresses. This yields an addressable data space of 17.59 Terabytes. Smaller logical blocks permit more efficient use of disk space. Larger logical blocks support a larger addressable data space. Thus one limitation within the current art is that disk file allocation tables and associated file management systems are a compromise between efficient data storage, access speed, and addressable data space.
Data in a computer has various levels of information content. Even within a single file, many data types and formats are utilized. Each data representation has specific meaning and each may hold differing quantities of information. Within the current art, computers process data in a native, uncompressed, format. Thus compressed data must often be decompressed prior to performing various data processing functions or operations. Modern file systems have been designed to work with data in its native format. Thus another significant problem within the current art is that file systems are not able to randomly access compressed data in an efficient manner.
Further aggravating this problem is the fact that when data is decompressed, processed and recompressed it may not fit back into its original disk space, causing disk fragmentation or complex disk space reallocation requirements. Several solutions exist within the current art including file by file and block structured compressed data management.
In file by file compression, each file is compressed when stored on disk and decompressed when retrieved. For very small files this technique is often adequate, however for larger files the compression and decompression times are too slow, resulting in inadequate system level performance. In addition, the ability to access randomly access data within a specific file is lost. The one advantage to file by file compression techniques is that they are easy to develop and are compatible with existing file systems. Thus file by file compressed data management is not an adequate solution.
Block structured disk compression operates by compressing and decompressing fixed block sizes of data. Block sizes are often fixed, but may be variable in size. A single file usually is comprised of multiple blocks, however a file may be so small as to fit within a single block. Blocks are grouped together and stored in one or more disk sectors as a group of Blocks (GOBs). A group of blocks is compressed and decompressed as a unit, thus there exists practical limitations on the size of GOBs. Most compression algorithms achieve a higher level of algorithmic effectiveness when operating on larger quantities of data. Restated, the larger the quantity of data processed with a uniform information density, the higher the compressions ratio achieved. If GOBs are small compression ratios are low and processing time short. Conversely, when GOBS are large compression ratios are higher and processing time is longer. Large GOBs tend to perform in a manner analogous to file by file compression. The two obvious benefits to block structured disk compression are psuedo-random data access and reduced data compression/decompression processing time.
Several problems exist within the current art for the management of compressed blocks. One method for storage of compressed files on disk is by contiguously storing all GOBs corresponding to a single file. However as files are processed within the computers, files may grow or shrink in size. Inefficient disk storage results when a substantial file size reduction occurs. Conversely when a file grows substantially, the additional space required to store the data may not be available contiguously. The result of this process is substantial disk fragmentation and slower access times.
An alternate method is to map compressed GOBs into the next logical free space on the disk. One problem with this method is that average file access times are substantially increased by this technique due to the random data storage. Peak access delays may be reduced since the statistics behave with a more uniform white spectral density, however this is not guaranteed.
A further layer of complexity is encountered when compressed information is to be managed on more than one data storage device. Competing requirements of data access bandwidth, data reliability/redundancy, and efficiency of storage space are encountered.
These and other limitations within the current art are solved with the present invention.

Bandwidth sensitive data compression and decompression


A plurality of imaging optical systems includes at least two imaging optical systems having different focal lengths. Each imaging optical system includes in order from an object side, a front lens unit having a positive refractive power, a diaphragm member, a focusing lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a rear lens unit. The front lens unit includes one of a positive lens and a negative lens as a common lens, and each of at least two imaging optical systems from among the plurality of imaging optical systems includes at least one common lens. At the time of focusing, only the focusing lens unit moves on an optical axis. Each imaging optical system satisfies the following conditional expression (1), and the plurality of imaging optical systems satisfy the following conditional expression (2).0.06<|ffo/f|<0.4  (1)1.02<ffoLA/ffoSM<2.50  (2).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plurality of imaging optical systems, and in particular, to a plurality of imaging optical systems where some of the lens units in each imaging optical system are let to be common in the plurality of imaging optical systems. Moreover, the present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus that includes the plurality of imaging optical systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, imaging optical systems of various specifications have been developed. Particularly, in an interchangeable lens camera, the imaging optical system can be changed in accordance with a scene. Therefore, a user is capable of capturing various scenes. An increase in options of the imaging optical system can be said to be a favorable situation for the user.
On the other hand, with an increase in types of the imaging optical systems, the number of components in the imaging optical system has also increased. Therefore, a period of time and a cost necessary for the development of the imaging optical system, and moreover, the number of manufacturing lines and a production equipment cost have also increased. In such manner, the increase in the types of the imaging optical systems has led to an increase in a burden on a manufacturer.
To solve such problems, a technology of using optical systems in common has been invented. A technology in which, commonality of components in imaging optical systems having different specifications is contemplated, has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication Nos. Hei 7-199067, 2010-191211, and 2006-126806.

Plurality of imaging optical systems and image pickup apparatus using the same


A flat panel display device. The device includes a plurality of self-luminant devices, each of which includes at least a light emitting layer, formed on every pixel, and a lens sheet having a plurality of condensing lenses that correspond to the self-luminant devices and direct the light emitted from the self-luminant devices toward a predetermined direction. A distance between the light emitting layer and an exterior portion of the condensing lens in the direction of propagation of the light is between 50 and 500 microns so as not to overlap images of neighboring sub-pixels, that are expanded by the condensing lenses. Therefore, a lowering of image sharpness that is caused by the condensing lenses can be prevented, while a light coupling efficiency and a brightness are improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flat panel display device, and more particularly, to a flat panel display device having improving a light coupling efficiency from a self-luminant device without sacrificing image sharpness.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a light coupling efficiency of a flat panel display using a self-luminant device is determined by refractive indices of layers from the light emitting layer to the outside of the flat panel display. One portion of the display that lowers the light coupling efficiency is at the interface of a transparent substrate having high refractive index and air having low refractive index. At such an interface, total reflection can occur when the incident angle of light is greater than the critical angle, thus lowering the light coupling efficiency.
In the conventional flat panel display having the self-luminant device, the light coupling efficiency of light emitted from the self-luminant device to air via the substrate is based on an equation (Nout/Nin)2/2. In the above equation, N denotes the refractive index.
When the light coupling efficiency in a state in which a glass substrate is used in the above equation, the refractive index Nin of the glass substrate is about 1.52 and the refractive index of the air Nout is about 1.00, and the light coupling efficiency is about 21.64%. That is, more than 70% of light incident on the substrate is extinguished in the substrate.
In addition, because the light emitted by the self-luminant device is emitted in all directions, there are some solutions for solving the above problem. For example, if a supplied voltage is rises, the brightness can be improved, however, a capacity of a battery must be increased, resulting in an increased weight of the device and reduced life span of the battery and the self-luminant device. Therefore, there are some suggested technologies for reducing the supplied voltage and improving the brightness.
Japanese Laid-open Patent No. hei 4-192290 discloses an electroluminescence (EL) device including a plurality of micro lenses for condensing the light, each of which has a size that is equal to that of a pixel or larger and formed on an exterior surface of a light-transmittable substrate on which the inorganic EL device is formed. The light that is incident onto an interface between the light-transmittable substrate and the air at a critical angle or larger has an incident angle that is less than the critical angle in the micro-lens to reduce the total reflection, and an emitting direction of the light is directed to a predetermined direction to increase the brightness in that direction. However, according to the above invention, since the EL device is a surface source, diffused EL light is generated inevitably when the micro-lens has a size equal to or larger than the size of the pixel. In addition, images are overlapped due to adjacent EL devices, thus the sharpness of the image is degraded.
Japanese Laid-open Patent No. hei 7-037688 discloses an EL device that is formed on a substrate having a high refractive portion that is made of a material having higher refractive index than that of surrounding material in a thickness direction thereof. The light of the EL device transmits the high refractive portion and is emitted, in order to increase the light coupling efficiency. However, in this invention, since the EL light transmitting through the high refractive portion is the diffused light as shown in FIG. 1 of the invention, the brightness is not greatly improved.
Japanese Laid-open Patent No. hei 10-172756 discloses an organic EL device in which one or a plurality of condensing lenses are formed between a lower electrode and an exterior surface of a light-transmittable substrate that forms an organic EL device, and the organic EL device corresponds to the condensing lenses. The light of the EL device transmitting the condensing lens is incident into the interface between the substrate and the air at the critical angle or lower, in order to increase the light coupling efficiency. However, according to that invention, images are overlapped with those of adjacent EL devices, thus degrading the sharpness of the image.

Flat panel display device with a lens sheet having condensing lenses thereon


A pair of ball bearings 19, 19 and a roller clutch 20 are provided between the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 18 fitted and fixed onto the rotating drive shaft of a starter motor and the inner peripheral surface of the pulley element 17 around which an endless belt for starting an engine extends. The roller clutch 20 has a concave section 32 on the inner peripheral surface of the clutch outer ring 30 to define a cam surface 31. After the engine is started, the rollers 33, 33 move toward the bottom of the concave section 32 against the resilient force of the springs 40. And, the rolling contact surface of the rollers 33, 33 is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the clutch inner ring 29. Consequently, the friction heat which would be produced after the engine start is suppressed, and a structure having an excellent durability as a unit for starting the engine of the idling-stop vehicle is realized.

In recent years, with the purpose of saving energy and suppressing the emission of carbon dioxide, performing an idling stop by automatically stopping the engine without idling when the automobile has stopped, has been considered, and some idling-stop vehicles having this kind of idling-stop function are actually being used. In the case of this kind of idling-stop vehicle, when the automobile stops, the vehicle-speed sensor detects a zero-speed signal, and the engine is automatically stopped (without operating the ignition switch) based on the zero-speed signal. On the other hand, when starting the automobile moving again, based on a signal from a clutch sensor (in the case of a manual-transmission automobile) that detects movement of the clutch pedal, or an accelerator sensor or brake sensor (in the case of an automatic-transmission automobile) that detects when the accelerator pedal or brake pedal moves, the automobile engine is automatically started again (without operating the ignition switch). With this kind of idling-stop automobile, it is possible to save energy and to suppress emission of carbon dioxide during this idling stop of the engine.
In the case of this kind of idling-stop automobile, it is necessary to be able to start the engine more quickly than in the case of a normal automobile. Therefore, it is difficult to employ the typically used construction in which a pinion that is fastened to the drive shaft of the start motor meshes, only during starting, with a large gear that is fastened to a flywheel. Taking this into consideration, as shown in FIG. 55, construction has been proposed in which an endless belt 7 runs around a follower pulley 3 that is fastened to the end of the crankshaft 2 of the engine 1, and to the drive-pulley apparatus that is fastened to the end of the rotation-drive shaft 5 of the starter motor 4. When employing this kind of construction in the starting apparatus of an engine, a drive-pulley apparatus 6 having a built-in one-way clutch is used, so that power is transmitted from the rotation-drive shaft 5 to the endless belt 7, however, that power is not transmitted from this endless belt 7 to the rotation-drive shaft 5. In an actual engine, there are various auxiliary drive apparatuses installed such as an alternator and water pump, however, since this invention is not directly related to these drive apparatuses, they are omitted in the drawings.
With the starting apparatus for an engine having the construction described above, when starting engine, electric power flows to the starter motor 4 to rotate and drive the drive-pulley apparatus 6, which then rotates and drives the crankshaft 2 by way of the endless belt 7 and follower pulley 3. At this time, the one-way clutch that is built into the drive-pulley apparatus 6 is engaged (becomes locked), and transmits power from the rotation-drive shaft 5 to the endless belt 7. As a result, after the engine has started, the connection with the one-way clutch is disconnected (becomes the overrun state), and the rotation-drive shaft 5 of the starter motor 4 does not rotate, even though the endless belt 7 is running due to the rotation of the crankshaft 2. Therefore, this starter motor 4 is not a resistance against the operation of the engine 1, and the durability of this starter motor 4 is not damaged.
As disclosed in patent document 1 and patent document 2, using a roller clutch as the one-way clutch in a pulley apparatus with built-in one-way clutch that is installed in the drive-pulley apparatus 6 of this kind of engine starting apparatus has been proposed. With construction using a roller clutch, it is possible to reduce vibration, noise and friction that occur when not connected better than when using a ratchet mechanism. Also, it is possible to reduce the internal friction that occurs when not connected better than when using a sprag-type cam clutch. The following patent documents are given as the prior art of the present application.
Patent Document 1
Japanese Patent Publication No. Tokukai Hei 11-63170
Patent Document 2
Japanese Patent Publication No. Tokuko Hei 7-72585
Patent Document 3
Japanese Patent Publication No. Tokukai 2002-174270
Patent Document 4
Japanese Patent Publication No. Tokukai Hei 9-196090
Of the patent documents listed above, the pulley apparatus with built-in one-way clutch disclosed in patent documents 1 and 2 is intended to be located on the end of the rotating shaft of the alternator which is an engine auxiliary apparatus, and thus the state of use differs greatly from that of the starting apparatus of an engine. Therefore, even when this pulley apparatus with built-in one-way clutch is mounted as is on the end of the rotation-drive shaft of a starter motor, it is not possible to obtain sufficient durability. In other words, one reason for using a pulley apparatus with built-in one-way clutch for the rotating shaft of an alternator is to make the direction of the friction acting between the inner peripheral surface of the belt and the outer peripheral surface of the pulley constant, even though there are small changes in the rpm of the engine, in order to maintain the durability of the belt. Moreover, another reason is to increase the generating efficiency by keeping the rotor of the alternator rotating due to its inertia when the rpm of the engine drops.
Therefore, a pulley apparatus with built-in one-way clutch for an alternator basically operates in the locked state, and the amount of time that it operates in the overrun state is very short when compared with the overall time of operation. Also, the amount of continuous time in the overrun state is extremely short. Taking this into consideration, in order for a roller clutch installed in a pulley apparatus with built-in one-way clutch for an alternator to securely achieve the locked condition when the engine is operating, well-known construction as shown in FIG. 56 and as disclosed in patent documents 1 and 2 is used.
In a first example of a roller clutch 8 using the conventional construction shown in FIG. 56, an inner race 9 and outer race 10 are placed such that they are concentric with each other, and there are a retainer 11, a plurality of rollers 12 and a plurality of springs 13, 13 between the outer peripheral surface of the inner race 9 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer race 10. The outer peripheral surface of the inner race 9 is a cam surface having a plurality of concave sections 14 called ramp sections, and the inner peripheral surface of the outer race 10 is a simple cylindrical surface. The convex sections 15 formed around the inner peripheral edge portion of the retainer 11 is fitted with the aforementioned concave sections 14 to prevent the rotation of retainer 11 relative to the inner race 9. In other words, the retainer 11 and inner race 9 are such that they rotate in synchronization. Also, the springs 13 push the rollers 12 in the same circumferential direction toward the shallow side of the concave sections 14.
In the case of this kind of roller clutch 8, when there is a tendency for the inner race 9 to rotate relative to the outer race 10 in the clockwise direction of FIG. 56, the rollers 12 bite into (fit into) the space between the outer peripheral surface of the inner race 9 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer race 10, and rotation force is transmitted between the inner race 9 and the outer race 10. On the other hand, when there is a tendency for the inner race 9 to rotate relative to the outer race 10 in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 56, the rollers 12 are moved against the elastic force of the springs 13 to the deep sections of the concave sections 14, and there is decrease in the surface pressure at the points of contact between the rolling contact surfaces of the rollers 12 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer race 10, and the rotation force stops being transmitted between the inner race 9 and the outer race 10.
However, even when rotation force is not transmitted between the inner race 9 and outer race 10 in this way, rubbing at the points of contact between the rolling contact surfaces of the rollers 12 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer race 10 is unavoidable. Therefore, when the overrun state continues for a long time, friction heat that cannot be neglected occurs at the points of contact, causing the temperature inside the roller clutch 8 to rise, and making it easy for the grease inside this roller clutch to degrade. Furthermore, the temperature of the support bearing adjacent to this roller clutch 8 also rises, making it easy for the rubber or synthetic resin seal plate in this support bearing to degrade. In the case of a pulley apparatus with a built-in one-way clutch for an alternator, since operation is mainly in the locked state as described above, and the amount of time of operation on the overrun state is short, it is difficult for the rise in temperature due to the friction heat described above to become a problem.
On the other hand, in the case of the one-way clutch that is installed in a drive-pulley apparatus 6 for an idling-stop vehicle described above and as shown in FIG. 55, the amount of time that the clutch is in the locked state is only a short time when the engine starts, and after the engine starts, the clutch is in the overrun state as long as the engine is running. Therefore, it is difficult to maintain sufficient durability even when the roller clutch 8 as shown in FIG. 56 is installed in the engine starting apparatus for an idling-stop vehicle.
Taking this problem into consideration, the rotation-transmission apparatus with built-in roller clutch for starting an engine of this invention is made to make it possible to sufficiently secure durability.

Engine start roller clutch-housed type rotation transmission device


Disclosed is a taekwondo uniform. At least a portion of the taekwondo uniform has the shape corresponding to that of the human body, and the taekwondo uniform is prevented from being loosed, so that women and men put on the uniform in common with improved wearability and convenient use. Gap adjusting unit mutually corresponding to each other at the back part and the front part of the uniform are provided, so that the wearability of the uniform is improved.

In general, uniforms are clothes which users wear for the exercises such as taekwondo or judo. In particular, the uniform for taekwondo is called a taekwondo uniform.
In addition, the taekwondo uniform is divided into a top and bottoms. The top and bottoms include cotton blends or a spandex material having predetermined elasticity. Each of the top and bottoms are made by sewing symmetric front and back parts.
In relation to the taekwondo uniform, a technology for a taekwondo uniform that is conveniently usable is disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 302788. The taekwondo uniform includes a body part 10 corresponding to the upper body of a user, a neck part 20 having a collar 100 provided at the upper side of the body part 10 and provided around the neck of the user, and a sleeve part 30 extending from both sides of the body part 10 and the neck part 20 to surround the arm of the user as shown in FIG. 1. In this structure, an armpit part 200 formed between the body part 10 and the sleeve part 30 is stitched in the shape of a wide round to the extent that a marginal space is sufficiently ensured, so that the user can conveniently put on the taekwondo uniform and freely move the arms.
A sleeve end portion 300 is provided at the bottom portion thereof with an upward inclined portion so that the sleeve part 30 of the top of the taekwondo uniform is narrowed toward the sleeve end portion 300. Accordingly, when the user moves the arm, the sleeve end portion 300 is prevented from being fluttered.
However, as described above, since the neck part of the top of the taekwondo uniform is deeply recessed, the breasts may be revealed to the outside in the case of women, thereby making the women unnaturally and carefully behave. Accordingly, in the taekwondo exercise or the taekwondo match, the woman may not conveniently behave.
In addition, generally, women wear T-shirts inside the taekwondo uniform and wear the taekwondo uniform on the T-shirts. However, the public opinion that the style of the taekwondo uniform of the women is a sex discrimination style has been increased. Furthermore, when T-shirts are put on inside the taekwondo uniform, the behaviors of the women are restricted, and it is very hot in the summer season to irritate the women, so that the taekwondo exercise or the taekwondo match may not be smoothly performed.
In addition, since the taekwondo uniform is not matched with the body type of a user, the taekwondo uniform may be turned, so that the user may not concentrate on the exercise. In addition, when the user wearing the taekwondo uniform carries out the daily life such as driving before or after the exercise, the user may not store important objects.
Further, the taekwondo uniform is fitted to the body of the user by a uniform band when the user puts on the taekwondo uniform. However, since the taekwondo uniform has no structure of fixing the uniform to the uniform band, the uniform may be out of the uniform band in the taekwondo exercise or the taekwondo match, so that the user may not concentrate on the taekwondo match.


A regulating or control unit actuates a stop/start unit for an internal-combustion engine in a motor vehicle. At least one sensor is provided for detecting at least one parameter which is dependent on a steering wheel position of the motor vehicle. The regulating or control unit actuates the stop/start unit as a function of the detected parameter information.

This application claims the priority of German patent document 103 33 603.6, filed Jul. 24, 2003, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The invention relates to a system having a device for actuating a stop/start unit for operating a combustion engine.
Automatic stop/start units are used particularly in motor vehicles in order to save power when switching off an internal-combustion engine during traffic light phases or in congested traffic. However, if switch-off phases are too short, the saving of power is overcompensated by an expenditure of power during the start of the internal-combustion engine. It is therefore particularly important to recognize a driving situation, and to adapt the operation of the automatic stop/start unit to the driving situation.
German Patent Document DE 101 61 343 A1 discloses a system which has a control unit for actuating an automatic stop/start unit for an internal-combustion engine with a transmission. The automatic stop/start unit comprises a starter for starting the internal-combustion engine and an interruption unit for interrupting a fuel supply. Several sensors are provided for detecting parameters as a function of which the stop/start unit is actuated during the operation.
The internal-combustion engine is stopped automatically when an automatic stopping condition has been met while the internal-combustion engine is running, and is started automatically when an automatic starting condition has been met. The stop condition has been met when all of the following individual conditions have been satisfied: (1) The vehicle speed is lower than a desired value, which differs from zero; (2) an idling switch is switched on; and (3) a drive position of the transmission corresponds to a neutral position.
The automatic start condition has been met when one of the following individual conditions has been met: (1) The clutch is changed into a disengaged condition, starting from a completely engaged or semi-engaged condition; (2) the drive position of the transmission is not the neutral position; (3) an idling switch is switched off; or (4) the condition of a booster vacuum is present.
One object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic stop/start unit, with improved adaptation to various driving situations, particularly maneuvering situations and traffic jam situations.
This and other objects and advantages are achieved by the invention which includes a regulating and/or control unit for actuating a stop/start unit, particularly for an internal-combustion engine of a motor vehicle. At least one sensor is provided for detecting at least one parameter, as a function of which the unit actuates the stop/start unit during operation.
In one embodiment of the invention, the sensor detects a parameter which depends on a steering wheel position and/or a steering wheel movement of the motor vehicle. Based on this information, it is possible to detect a driving situation, such as a maneuvering situation, and to distinguish it from a traffic jam situation. If a maneuvering situation has been detected based on steering behavior, the related information can (for example, by way of a CAN bus of the motor vehicle) also be utilized by other control and regulating units of the motor vehicle. The person skilled in the art will recognize that the unit can be a component which is separate from the stop/start unit, or can at least partially be integrated into the latter, particularly in a control and/or regulating unit of the stop/start unit.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the regulating and/or control unit deactivates at least one function of the stop/start unit when the parameters, particularly a steering angle and/or a steering speed, in each case, exceed at least one threshold value. As a result, it is possible in a simple manner, to distinguish between a traffic jam, which is typically characterized by small steering angles and steering speeds and a maneuvering situation, with large steering angles and steering speeds. Expediently, two threshold values are provided respectively, which include an interval of steering wheel positions and/or steering speeds, and the unit deactivates an automatic stop function of the stop/start unit as soon as the amount of the steering angle and/or of the steering speed exceeds a threshold value.
In still another embodiment of the invention, the regulating and/or control unit has at least one sensor which detects a parameter for driving speed, as a function which the unit actuates the stop/start unit during the operation. As a result, it is possible to avoid mistaking a fast drive of the motor vehicle on a winding road for a maneuvering situation, which can be detected with still greater certainty.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a sensor is provided for the detection of a drive position parameter, as a function of which the unit actuates the stop/start unit during the operation. The stop/start unit can advantageously be deactivated as soon as the transmission is shifted into a reversing position which occurs almost exclusively in maneuvering situations.
The system may also be equipped with a time measuring device, and the regulating and/or control unit activates the stop/start unit as a function of at least one detected time during the operation. A deactivated stop function of the stop/start unit can advantageously be activated after a preadjusted time period, which can be determined from experimental values for the time required for a maneuvering operation.
In one embodiment of the invention, at least one threshold value is automatically and/or manually adjustable, so that the device can be adapted to driving situations determined from additional parameters or to individual driving habits of a vehicle driver.
According to a further feature of the invention, the regulating and/or control unit is constructed to actuate a hybrid machine. In a detected maneuvering situation, an operating mode of the engine designed for driving situations can advantageously be replaced by a particularly economical operating mode of the engine designed for maneuvering situations.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

System having a unit for actuating a stop/start unit


The present invention discloses a DNA marker ladder useful in Southern blot hybridizations. The ladder is made up of pooled DNA restriction endonuclease digests, where each restriction digest contains at least one fragment complementary to a probe and at least one fragment not complementary to the probe. The regions of complementarity between the probe and the complementary fragments are double-stranded segments of the fragments. The ladder is characterized by an approximately even spacing of bands, resulting from choosing fragments having an logarithmic size distribution. Kits incorporating this ladder and a probe or means for making a probe or a probe and a means for labeling a probe are also disclosed.

A number of mixtures of nucleic acid fragments are commercially available that can be used as markers for determining the sizes of nucleic acid molecules of experimental interest. For example, Collaborative Research, Inc. (Lexington, Mass.) has sold a marker ladder ("Quik-Kit Size Markers", cat. no. 30013) that is a mixture of 12 bacteriophage .lambda. (lambda) fragments. They are visualized by hybridization with two .sup.32 P-labeled 12-nucleotide synthetic oligonucleotides, complementary to the left and right bacteriophage cos sites.
A large number of other DNA marker fragments are available from numerous suppliers. In every case, except the Collaborative markers, these marker fragments are restriction digests of several bacteriophage or plasmid DNAS. Every DNA fragment in the digests can then be visualized by hybridization to the same bacteriophage or plasmid DNAS.
Other DNA marker ladders often use collections of fragments that have a quasi-random size distribution. For example, the quasi-random size distribution may be made by a digest of a DNA, often .lambda. DNA, by a single restriction enzyme. Alternatively, the fragments may vary linearly with molecular weight, i.e. adjacent bands may differ by about 1000 base pairs (e.g. "1 Kb DNA Ladder", cat. no. 5615SA, BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.). Bands in these linear ladders are not evenly spaced after electrophoresis, they are "compressed" in the "upper", higher molecular weight region of a gel. However some ladders have been constructed and sold that are logarithmically spaced ("GenePrint.TM.", cat. no. DG1911, Promega, Madison, Wis.).

Size markers for electrophoretic analysis of DNA


A bimetallic switch comprising a bimetallic element having an outer edge and being adapted to snap between an open mode and a closed mode; a movable contact disposed on the bimetallic element; a first terminal in electrically conductively coupled to the movable contact; a fixed contact disposed adjacent the movable contact such that, when the switch is in a closed position, the fixed contact and the movable contact are in engagement with one another, and when the switch is in an open position, the fixed contact and the movable contact define an open contact gap therebetween; a second terminal electrically conductively coupled to the fixed contact; a step disposed adjacent the outer edge of the bimetallic element such that a clearance is defined therebetween when the bimetallic element is in its closed mode, the clearance being positioned and dimensioned such that, when the outer edge of the bimetallic element deforms prior to a snapping open thereof, the clearance isolates a deformation of the outer edge thereby keeping the switch closed until the snapping open of the bimetallic element.

The invention relates to a bimetallic switch having a bimetal disc as the switching element.
Temperature controlled bimetallic switches are well known in the art. The bimetal supplies the force to open or close the contact system of the switch. These switches are used to prevent overheating or overcurrent conditions in a great number of electrical appliances, both large and small, such as household appliances, automobile components, and office automation equipment.
Various shapes of bimetallic elements are available, such as discs or cantilever strips. The thermal deflection of a strip element is usually easier to predict because formulas to predict deflection due to temperature are readily available. On the other hand, snap-acting bimetallic discs are also useful. These tend to change from a concave shape to a convex shape in response to changes in temperature.
There are three classifications to the type of bimetallic switches available in the art. These are: automatic reset, manual reset and one shot. Automatic resets have two distinct temperature points. A normally closed switch will open when exposed to heat at the higher of the two temperature points. When the switch cools, it will then automatically close at the lower temperature threshold. Manual reset switches, on the other hand, are typically closed, and have only an open threshold temperature. They require an outside force (such as, for example, a push button), to reset the bimetal disc after it has been opened. One shots will snap open only once and will not reset under normal conditions. They are actually automatic devices, except that the disc has been formed to have a low temperature point below xe2x88x92100xc2x0 Celsius. While one shots and manuals are typically used to protect a process, automatics are used on the other hand to control a process. There is, in addition, a hybrid version of an automatic switch, which is called a power down reset. The device includes a heat source which is activated when the contacts are opened because of increased temperature. This heat source produces enough heat to keep the bimetal above the low reset temperature threshold. In order for the device to reset, power to the switch must be removed and the temperature be low enough for the device to reset.
Bimetallic discs are said to xe2x80x9csnapxe2x80x9d when they change state from a crown up or dome shape to a crown down or dish shape when exposed to increased temperature. The time that the disc takes to snap is related, among other things, to the temperature change that it is exposed to.
One problem associated with the use of bimetallic switches is creep. The snapping over of the disc does not occur evenly across the snap time. There is in fact a transition state where the disc moves very slowly when compared to the total action time. This slow rate of movement is called xe2x80x9ccreepxe2x80x9d. Thus, when a formed snap acting bimetallic element gets close to its snap temperature (i.e. the threshold temperature at which the bimetallic element snaps in order to open or close the switch), it begins to deflect slightly. Depending on how the contact system is arranged, this small deflection or creep may lead to a contact gap prior to a snapping over of the bimetallic element. It is to be noted that the size of the arc is additionally related to electrical load and voltage as well as to other environmental factors. As a result, some thermostats may not arc because of the loads they switch.
Among examples of bimetallic switches of the prior art which may exhibit the problem of creep are those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,862,133, 4,517,541, 4,424,506, 3,577,111, 3,067,306, 2,724,753 and 2,340,056.
Various designs for bimetallic switches have been proposed to resolve the problem of creep.
Japanese Patent Number 63-292539 discloses a bimetallic switch designed to prevent malfunction and vibrations during normal service. Here, as seen in the figures of that patent, the bimetallic disc 4 is supported by support pieces 7 having supporting surfaces 6, which are formed alongside the locus of the ends 8 of disc 4 under the service temperature thereof. Even though the disc deforms within the temperature range of its service temperature, the convex side of the central part 5 of bimetal 4 does not push the base 1 or movable contact piece 3, or separate therefrom, to a great extent. In this way, malfunction due to creep, and vibrations, may be prevented.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,095 uses an elaborate spring member independent of the contact arms to remove creep. The switch contacts are actuated via the bimetal to a spring member, to an insulated pin, and to a contact arm system.
Other current designs remove creep through an expensive measurement and custom part assembly process which involves the installation of a pin measured to very small tolerances, such as 0.001xe2x80x3, in each thermostat assembly. In such a case, a manufacturer must stock numerous pins to allow for the tolerance stack of the final assembly.
The above devices, which address the problem of creep, nevertheless do so at the cost of having to provide complicated and difficult to manufacture designs for bimetallic switches. Attention must be paid to the costs of manufacture including both labor and material costs.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a simple and cost effective bimetallic switch which allows for a creepless contact system. It is a further object to provide a bimetallic switch having a small footprint. It is a further object of the invention to provide a bimetallic switch where the disc is placed vertically, thus allowing for a relatively larger sized disc.
The above objects, and others to become apparent as the description progresses, is achieved by the provision of a bimetallic switch comprising a bimetallic element having an outer edge and being adapted to snap between a first mode and a second mode; a movable contact disposed on the bimetallic element; a first terminal in electrically conductively coupled to the movable contact; a fixed contact disposed adjacent the movable contact such that, when the switch is in a closed position, the fixed contact and the movable contact are in engagement with one another, and when the switch is in an open position, the fixed contact and the movable contact define an open contact gap therebetween; a second terminal electrically conductively coupled to the fixed contact; a step disposed adjacent the outer edge of the bimetallic element such that a clearance is defined therebetween when the bimetallic element is in its first mode, the clearance being positioned and dimensioned such that, when the outer edge of the bimetallic element deforms prior to a snapping thereof out of its first mode, the clearance isolates a deformation of the outer edge until the snapping of the bimetallic element. Advantageously, the bimetallic element is a bimetallic disc.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the switch further comprises a housing having inner walls defining an enclosure therein, wherein: the bimetallic element, the movable contact and the fixed contact are disposed within the enclosure; and the step is integral with the inner walls of the housing.
According to another embodiment, the bimetallic switch further comprises a cantilever, movable arm supporting the bimetallic element at one end thereof; and a stationary arm disposed adjacent the cantilever arm and supporting the fixed contact thereon.
Optionally, the bimetallic element is oriented such that a snapping direction thereof is perpendicular to a direction of current flow into and out of at least one of the first terminal and the second terminal. Preferably, the first terminal and the second terminal are substantially planar, and the bimetallic element is a bimetallic disc oriented such that a plane including its outer edge is orthogonal relative to a plane of the first terminal and the second terminal. According to a further embodiment, the step is configured such that, when the outer edge of the bimetallic element has deformed just prior to a snapping thereof, the outer edge rests upon an engaging surface of the step substantially without a clearance therebetween.
Preferably, the housing is parallelepiped shaped, the bimetallic switch further including a cover for closing the enclosure.
According to another embodiment, where the bimetallic switch is a disc, the step is dimensioned and shaped to extend in a plane that is substantially parallel to a plane including the outer edge of the bimetallic disc and which intersects the bimetallic disc at a point within a predetermined range of 65 to 95 percent of a radius thereof when the bimetallic disc is in its closed mode.
According to one embodiment, the first mode of the bimetallic element corresponds to a closed position of the switch, and the second mode of the bimetallic element corresponds to an open position of the switch. In such a case, the movable contact may be positioned with respect to the fixed contact for maintaining a minimum open contact gap therebetween thereby isolating creep during contact closure. Alternatively, the first mode may correspond to an open position of the switch, and the second mode to a closed position of the switch.

Creepless snap acting bimetallic switch having step adjacent its bimetallic element


A new and distinct cultivar of Aeschynanthus plant named ‘Twister’, characterized by its cascading and pendulous plant habit; small leaves that are reflexed and concave; dark green-colored upper leaf surfaces and lighter green-colored lower leaf surfaces; and large bright red-colored flowers.

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Aeschynanthus plant, botanically known as Aeschynanthus hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Twister.
The new Aeschynanthus is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of the Aeschynanthus hybrida cultivar Rasta, not patented. The new Aeschynanthus was discovered and selected from within a population of plants of the cultivar Rasta in a controlled environment in Sleeuwijk, The Netherlands in May, 2003.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings since August, 2003 in Sleeuwijk, The Netherlands has shown that the unique features of this new Aeschynanthus are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


Automatic business software application is provided. Aspects of business, including objects and activities are classified and described in a comprehensive, standard manner. When a business software component is installed, a discovery manager identifies capabilities and requirements of the software based upon information describing the software in accordance with the standardized classification. The software component is selectively bound to one or more roles of a model-driven bus. In some aspects, a standardized software adapter is able to facilitate use of embodiments of the present invention with prior art software systems. Additional software layers and overhead facilitate the management and operation of multiple software components.

The present invention relates to business software solutions. More specifically, the present invention relates to integrating business software applications automatically by applying prescriptive taxonomies, data models and schemas.
Integrated business software solutions typically include multiple functional products that support business segments and interact with enterprise hub and spoke networks. Such products include software applications related to financial information, human resource management, customer relationship management, professional services automation, distribution, supply chain management, and more.
Individual business software solutions have typically been provided by software vendors that generally provide an application development environment to allow the software to be customized for individual business applications. Traditionally, these business software solutions were designed as relatively stand-alone offerings in that they were complete in their database, data model, automation interface, screen technology, screens, and customization tools. Thus, a user of such solutions would purchase a given solution from a vendor; customize the solution for the specific business requirement; and provide the customized solution to an end user. Examples of business solutions include software systems sold under the trade designations: Solomon, Axapta, and Navision all of which are available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.
As a given customer's needs change, the customer may wish to add additional functionality to their business solution. This was typically done by either buying a new business solution that was capable of providing such features, or buying an add-on business solution that could be configured to cooperate with the legacy business solution. Difficulties generally arise whenever two discrete software systems are used in conjunction with one another, which software systems had not been designed for interoperation together. This problem gave rise to an industry that could generate customized interface adapter software to allow one software system to communicate with another software system. Generally, such adapters are one example of software known as middleware. The necessity of middleware and the degree to which it is focused upon individual combinations of software systems and business environments generally caused a significant increase in the overall system implementation cost because relatively large amounts of highly skilled software development engineer time was required. The design and implementation of middleware can include any number of known methods and techniques for interacting with business software systems. These can include techniques as simple as keystroke injection, screen shot analysis, interaction with the individual databases of the software systems, modification of the source code of the various software systems, or simply the provision of an adapter application that receives an output from one application, transforms the output into suitable input for the second application and feeds the input to the second application.
Another way that businesses adapt their application to changing business needs involves making customizations to the applications they have. Customizations are often applied at the time a new application is sourced, whether as a new purchase or as an adjunct purchase to meet the need described above. The challenge that business software vendors face is supporting this end customer requirement for customizable applications. There are a number of different techniques which have been conventionally used in order to enable a given system to be customized. These include source code customization approaches as well as integrated tool based approaches that allow end customers to add fields to tables and forms themselves. Each of the techniques listed above generally increases overall system cost, either by increasing the cost of developing the application in the first place, or passing the customization development burden on to the end customer. One example, source code modification, entails providing customers with copies of the source code for the product. It thus allows a well-trained practitioner to change significant portions of an application. Those changes can be made to look as if they are part of the product because, in effect, they are part of the modified source code product.
However, source code modification carries with it significant drawbacks. For example, source code modification costs a significant amount of money prior to using the product, because the user or customer must often hire expensive consultants and developers who have been specifically trained in the nuances of how the product is built. The user must then endure the risk of estimating a problem, which is a very difficult and imprecise task. Even if these problems can be overcome and persevered, the result is modified source code. When the manufacturer of the original source code for the modified application ships additional software, such as bug fixes, updates, and new versions, the customer is either forced to again hire talented engineers or developers (and hopefully the same ones who made the original modifications), in order to merge those modifications into the new source code shipped by the manufacturer, and to resolve issues, one-by-one, as they arise in the newly modified source code. Alternatively, the user can simply go without the bug fixes and new features that may benefit the user's business.
All of the above problems set forth with respect to source code modification are equally present with respect to the creation of individual software adapters that act in conjunction with middleware to go between discrete business software solutions. An adapter is generally configured to transform the given output from a first software system, for example, a customer ID number to a usable input for a second system. For example, the customer ID field in one system may need to be changed from a character string to a long integer to import the data into a second system. A change to the first system as simple as padding the customer ID number string with a letter prefix can cause the application integration adapter to fail because the prefix cannot be converted.
Most forms of middleware and/or adapters that are based on data transformation result in a relatively brittle set of code and/or cooperative software components. The fragile nature of adapter based integration approaches complicates the decision to apply important software updates to any of the components of an integrated set of software. Integration strategies based on middleware and adapters break down due to inherent fragility as well as the expense of reintegrating the entire system whenever an update to any of the individual systems is performed.
A new system for automatically integrating discrete stand-alone business solutions in a manner that is extensible, stable, and automatic is needed. Such a system would allow competing (and cooperating) software vendors to design and provide components that could easily be integrated into a business solution with minimal customization cost while similarly not adversely affecting system stability. Finally, such a system would be easily amenable to patches and updates such that individual product improvements could be easily applied to address concerns, shortcomings, and/or vulnerabilities that may be discovered in the future.

Automated business software application integration


Method and device for wavelength conversion using type II phase matching are characterized by employing a crystal consisting essentially of doped MTiOXO.sub.4 (wherein M is K, Rb and/or Tl and X is P and/or As) containing Fe, Nb and/or Ta dopant in an amount, totalling at least about 100 ppm, effective to increase the n.sub.z -n.sub.x optical birefringence of the doped crystal at least about 0.001 compared to a crystal without the dopant. Generation of output waves of an optical birefringence higher than the highest corresponding optical birefringence of a crystal without the dopant is disclosed. Among the useful crystals are crystals consisting essentially of doped MTiOXO.sub.4 containing at least about 100 ppm Ta.

Potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) is an excellent nonlinear optical (NLO) material with numerous nonlinear optical applications. It is widely used for the second harmonic generation (SHG) of Nd: YAG/YLF lasers, sum frequency generation (SFG) of YAG, dye, and diode lasers, and optical parametric oscillation (OPO) in nanosecond to femtosecond regimes. More recently, applications of KTP for SHG and SFG of short wavelength diode lasers in waveguided, intracavity, and external resonator geometries have been rapidly developing. Isomorphs of KTP, such as potassium titanyl arsenate (KTA), are known to have similar nonlinear optical properties. Their application in nonlinear optics is also being developed.
Phase-matching is one of the key considerations for all applications involving frequency conversion. Phase-matching describes a propagation condition in which all electromagnetic waves travel through the NLO material with matching velocities such that the wave vectors total zero. (i.e., for three wave interaction, k.sub.1 +k.sub.2 -k.sub.3 =0; where k.sub.m =i.omega..sub.m n.sub.m /c, and where k.sub.m, .omega..sub.m, n.sub.m, and i denote the wavevector, frequency, index of refraction, and unit vector of propagation direction for each wave (m=1, 2, or 3) respectively, and c is the speed of light.) For most applications, phase-matching is simply achieved through the use of the natural birefringence in the NLO material. Depending on the polarization states of these waves, birefringence phase-matching is classified as type I and type II. Although KTP is type I phase-matchable for SHG throughout its transparency range, the type I effective nonlinearity is small and therefore not very useful (see F. C. Zumsteg, et al., J. Appl. Phy., 47, p. 4980 (1976)). For type II phase-matched SHG using KTP, where relatively large effective nonlinearity is accessed, the fundamental wavelength is limited to about 994.3 nm and longer, preventing efficient SHG into the technologically important blue region of the visible spectrum. Even for the phase-matchable wavelengths, the phase matching condition is generally very critical, requiring precise control of propagation direction in the material, of the wavelength, and of the material temperature. For KTP, phase-matched SHG of the Nd:YAG laser at 1.064 .mu.m has relatively tolerant conditions; with an angular bandwidth of about 15 mrad-cm, a wavelength bandwidth of about 0.56 nm-cm, and a temperature bandwidth of 25.degree. C.-cm (see J. D. Bierlein, et al., JOSA B, 6, p. 622 (1989)). In addition, double refraction can lead to spatial separation of the fundamental and 2nd harmonic waves (walk-off), limiting the interaction length and significantly reducing the performances in intracavity and resonator SHG applications.
For wavelengths that are phase-matched when propagating along a principle axis (generally known in the art as non-critical or 90.degree. phase-matching) the angular bandwidth restriction is significantly relaxed. For SHG using KTP, a wavelength of, 994.3 nm is noncritically phase-matched (NCPM) along the y axis, affording a broad angular bandwidth of 173 mrad-cm.sup.1/2, a wavelength bandwidth of 0.7 nm-cm, a temperature band width of 175.degree. C.-cm, and zero angular walk-off (see Risk et al., Appl. Phys. Lett., 55, p. 1179 (1989)). Along the x axis, where the effective nonlinearity is twice that along the y axis, the NCPM wavelength is at 1.08 .mu.m, with angular bandwidth that is about four times that of the critically phase-matched case at 1.064 .mu.m as well as zero walk-off (see Garmash et al., Tech. Phys. Lett., 12, p. 505, (1986)). Also, with NCPM the bandwidths decrease as the square-root of crystal length, instead of the linear dependence in critical phase-matching. Clearly, NCPM is highly desirable, especially for applications with long crystals and with multimode lasers. However, for pure KTP, given its natural birefringence and dispersion, NCPM is limited to two discrete wavelengths where there are no convenient laser sources. Similar considerations can be made for KTA and the other KTP isomorphs. There is a need for materials with increased birefringence to provide type II phase matching for other optical wave inputs.

Increasing the birefringence of KTP and its isomorphs for type II phase matching


A transporter for transporting a load over a surface. The transporter includes a support platform for supporting the load. The support platform is characterized by a fore-aft axis, a lateral axis, and an orientation with respect to the surface, the orientation referred to as an attitude. At least one ground-contacting element is flexibly coupled to the support platform in such a manner that the attitude of the support platform is capable of variation. One or more ground-contacting elements are driven by a motorized drive arrangement. A sensor module generates a signal characterizing the attitude of the support platform. Based on the attitude, a controller commands the motorized drive arrangement.

A wide range of vehicles having a motorized drive arrangement are known for conveying various subjects, either for purposive locomotion or for recreational purposes.
The means used to command the motorized drive arrangement of these vehicles varies greatly. For example, an operator may manipulate an accelerator pedal to control forward motion of an automobile, while steering is typically performed using a steering wheel. Or the motion of a sporting vehicle may be controlled by rocking a foot board upon which a user is balanced towards the front or rear to mechanically move a throttle cable, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,548 (Francken). Based on the operator's physical attributes for example, or the transporter's intended functionality, alternative methods for controlling motion of a transporter may be desirable.

Control of a transporter based on attitude


A method of fabricating reclosable bags comprising: disposing a releasably engaged closure between a first and a second bag film portions, the closure including a loop-engageable fastener strip comprising an array of loop-engageable fastener elements integrally molded with a sheet-form resin substrate, and a loop strip comprising a plurality of loops carried on a sheet-form resin base; and applying energy to bond the resin substrate of the loop-engageable fastener strip to the first bag film portion and to bond the resin base of the loop strip to the second bag film portion; wherein the loop-engageable fastener strip is not bonded to the loop strip when the energy is applied.

There has been much development over the last thirty years in the field of hook-and-loop fasteners. Early touch fastener products of this type consisted of two mating tapes, each being knit or woven. One tape would include loops of filament woven into a base, and the other would include filaments woven to form loops and then cut to form hooks. In some cases free ends of drawn plastic filaments on the male tape would be melted to form protruding heads. This shape of fastener element is sometimes called a "mushroom", to distinguish it from "hook"-shaped elements with re-entrant crooks. In some cases, arrays of similar discrete fastening elements on two parts are shaped to engage with each other to form a releasable closure, these being known as "self-engageable" hooks or closures.
More recently, continuous molding of fastener elements extending from a common sheet-form resin base has resulted in less expensive and thinner male tapes. Significant improvements in this area include the development of continuous fastener tape molding using fixed mold cavities (see Fischer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,028), and the ability to provide loops on the back side of the male fastener tape as the fastener tape substrate and elements are being formed (see Kennedy et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,015), thus creating a composite fastener tape capable of fastening to itself. Further improvements have reduced the size of the fastener elements moldable by such techniques, to heights of 0.015 inch or less, which provide a very smooth touch when arranged in dense arrays.
Another example of molded fastener tape involves molding perform stems or similar structures integral with a plastic backing substrate, and thereafter performing a forming operation to convert outer portions to a J hook, a mushroom head or similar engaging structure.
As molded fastener tape has been improved to be more flexible and less expensive, it has found application in disposable garments, such as diapers. Further improvements are desirable to extend the applicability of molded touch fastener products to other uses.
One such use that is discussed in more detail below is as a closure for reclosable bags and other such packaging.
Other types of repeated use closures for bags have included, for instance, rib-and-groove type of locking or zipper closures such as are marketed under the name ZIPLOC. These have very different fastening characteristics and exacting requirements for joining to sheet or film in comparison to touch-fastener closures. For example, on zipper style (interlocking rib and groove) products, in order to maintain alignment and the integrity of the seal once it is closed, the ends of such a closure are required to be permanently closed and sealed, to provide a beginning point for effecting closure. Other limitations relating to manufacture and use are also known.


A method of tracking an animal in a population of animals is disclosed that includes applying a visual identifier to the animal, associating reference identifier data of the visual identifier to animal data of the animal, capturing a digital image of the visual identifier applied to the animal, recognizing the visual identifier by digitally processing the captured digital image, and identifying the animal upon recognition of the visual identifier.

Many studies in research and development or breeding of animals involve populations of animals. Thereby, it typically is desired to track single and/or groups of animals within the population for collecting data about those animals as well as for performing and registering activities. Such data and activities can be crucial for evaluation within the study, e.g., for finding out how a particular substance or environmental condition affects the population and/or the individual animals.
For example, in pharmaceutical research and development, rodents such as mice or rats are often used in animal studies. For identification of the animals it is common to clip a particular combination of the toes of the animal. Thereby, a specific combination of clipped and unclipped toes can be unique for a single animal in a population. For identifying the animal, it is lifted such that the toes are visible, the toe combination is gathered and the toe combination is associated to the animal. Such identification of animals requires that the animals are physically picked which may cause undesired effort and costs. Also, the lifting or picking of the animals for identification may cause stress to the animals or population.
As an alternative it is known to tattoo or otherwise provide a unique mark onto each single animal. For example, in some studies a number is tattooed to the tails of mice forming the population of the study. However, also such identification typically requires the single mouse to be picked or otherwise isolated such that the number can be read off the tail. This may have similar disadvantages as described above in connection with the toe combination based identification.
For allowing a more automated tracking of the animals of a population it is also known to attach or implant a radio frequency identification (RFID) responder to each animal of the population. Even though such RFID responder allows for automatically identifying the single animals it is comparably costly and typically involves an invasive step. Also the effort for maintaining such identification systems usually is comparably high.
Therefore, there is a need for a method or system allowing an efficient and reliable identification of animals in a population which advantageously can be applied at semi or fully automatically.

Method of and system for tracking an animal in a population of animals